An Airbus A380 aircraft takes off in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, October 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

KHARTOUM - Sudan government on Wednesday said it purchased two Airbus planes in favour of Sudan Airways at a cost of $60 million with a fund by a Chinese company.

"Sudan Airways has purchased two Airbus planes at a cost of $60 million with a fund by a Chinese company," said Makawi Mohamed Awad, Sudan's Transport Minister, when delivering a statement to the parliament Wednesday.

He said that Sudan Airways, a government company, has recently rehabilitated two aircraft, disclosing a plan for increasing the national airline's fleet to 7 planes by 2018.

The Sudan Airways has suffered a lot from the US sanctions which had been imposed on Sudan for about 20 years, where its fleet decreased to only one plane, besides two others chartered from Arab air companies.
Qualcomm's annual Snapdragon Summit to broadcast live News oi -Vijeta The second annual Snapdragon Summit from Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has been scheduled for December 5, 2017, and Qualcomm has announced that the summit keynote will be broadcast live.

The second annual Snapdragon Summit from Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has been scheduled for December 5, 2017, and Qualcomm has announced that the summit keynote will be broadcast live. The summit will be held in Hawaii and the event will be hosted by Cristiano Amon Executive Vice President, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and President, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies.

Cristiano Amon, Executive Vice President, QTI, and President, QCT, "Snapdragon is the premium tier mobile platform of choice. We look forward to sharing the first-time exciting announcements and advancements live with press and analysts in the room and customers and enthusiasts around the world via the live webcast. We will be joined on stage by several major industry leaders who we are collaborating with to enable many significant technological achievements that will change the way we use our smartphones and other mobile devices."

The Snapdragon Summit will feature an overview of the latest innovations in the processor industry that is being pushed by Qualcomm. The event will also feature demonstrations that exhibit upcoming technologies and advancements that will have an emphasis on mobility usage. There will also be an exhibit showcasing always-connected PCs and other future technologies.

The Snapdragon Annual Summit is the biggest event from Qualcomm where the processor manufacturer reveals its most ambitious ventures.

The live stream will broadcast on www.qualcomm.com. Users can also follow live updates regarding the keynotes through Qualcomm's Twitter handle.

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Samsung Galaxy S9 Mini with 4-inch full-screen design likely on tow News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu

Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, the next generation smartphones are rumored to be launched early next year. In the meantime, the recent reports have tipped that the South Korean tech giant is also prepping another smartphone with a smaller footprint.

According to ValueWalk citing a report by Business Korea, a mysterious 4-inch smartphone is in the making and it is believed to be called the Galaxy S9 Mini. The report speculates that the information that has been shared by a leakster on Weibo hints that Samsung is prepping a premium smartphone measuring less than 5 inches and that it will feature an Infinity Display as in the Galaxy S8 duo.

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones were announced earlier this year with 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch Infinity Display panels. The yesteryear models featured 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch displays with a dual-curved screen on the Galaxy S7 edge. Though there has been a significant increase in the size of the display on the Samsung flagship models, the recent reports point out that the upcoming flagships will have the same size as the existing models.

Apple iPhone SE 2 is in the making At the time when the big screen smartphones are mainstream, there is demand for the small-sized smartphones even now and the iPhone SE is an evidence. Apple is rumored to come up with three full-screen iPhones in the next year and the rumors. The company is speculated to come up with a 4-inch iPhone SE 2 in the first quarter of 2018. Apparently, we can expect Samsung to come up with the Galaxy S9 Mini to compete with the iPhone SE 2. No mini variants for three years For the past three years, Samsung did not launch the mini edition. To be specific, the Galaxy S6, S7 and S8 did not get the mini variants. Going by the same, there is a possibility for the company to not announce the compact edition of the upcoming flagship smartphone too. Could be a Galaxy A smartphone Moreover, we already know that Samsung is in plans to introduce the Galaxy A5 (2018) and Galaxy A7 (2018) editions to feature Infinity Displays of 5.5 inches and 5.7 inches. These smartphones have already received the necessary certification from FCC and Bluetooth SIG approval and are expected to be launched sometime before January 2018. Maybe, the speculated 4-inch premium smartphone could belong to the Galaxy A lineup.

As of now, we need to consider the existence of the Galaxy S9 Mini and iPhone SE 2 as mere speculations. We shouldn't be taking these reports seriously as there is no official confirmation regarding these devices.

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RCom is under standstill period till Dec 2018, not making payments to any lenders News oi -Priyanka 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.

Anil Ambani- owned Reliance Communication said that it not making any payment to any lenders as the company is under 'standstill period' till December 2018.

RCOM said that that is in standstill period until December 2018 pursuant to the SDR (Strategic Debt Restructuring) guidelines.

"The Company has also announced various asset sales and a comprehensive debt resolution plan, as advised per our earlier letter dated 30th October 2017. Accordingly, for the time being, no payment of interest and/or principal is being made to any lenders and/or bondholders of RCom," company further said in BSE filing.

The company has issued a clarification on report around it is defaulting on payment of a US dollar bond.

To recall, the company has recently come up with the new strategy for its debt. where it has made comprehensive debt resolution plan to its domestic and foreign lenders.

Under the new 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. Debt of Rs. 7,000 crore is proposed to be converted into 51 percent of the Company's equity, as per the SDR guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India.

Meanwhile, shareholders of the RCom at the Annual General Meeting have already approved the issuance of equity shares to lenders by conversion of loans.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Colonel Ryan Dillon, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Spokesman; Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway, Pentagon Spokesman November 14, 2017

Department of Defense Press Briefing by Colonel Dillon via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq

MAJOR ADRIAN RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Good morning, everyone. Today, we're joined by Colonel Ryan Dillon. Colonel Dillon is the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and joins us from Baghdad, Iraq.

We'll start with a quick radio check. Sir, how do you hear us?

COLONEL RYAN DILLON: Adrian, I hear you well. How about me?

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: I hear you, sir. If you have an opening statement, please take it away.

COL. DILLON: All right.

Good morning, everyone. I'll begin in Syria and then discuss Iraq.

Our Syrian Democratic Force partners are keeping pressure on ISIS, advancing toward the confluence of the Khabur and Euphrates River Valleys, thus far clearing more than 4,000 square kilometers since the beginning of operations in September.

We've not shown a graphic since my last Pentagon press briefing about a month ago, so we'll show two slides covering 16 October to 13 November.

And so, I want to just make sure that you see right now the first map that shows from the last time over a two-week period. So you should be looking at the SDF progress to the 31st of October.

Okay. Go ahead to the next slide.

And you should now be looking at a map from 16 to 13 November which shows the progress.

The coalition continues supporting our Syrian partners through surveillance and combat advice, as well as more than 40 precision strikes in the past week targeting ISIS fighters, weapons, logistics and command nodes. We will continue to deprive ISIS remnants of their resources and safe havens, and continue our defeat-ISIS missions so long as they pose a threat.

Even as we remain focused on the defeat and discretion of ISIS, the coalition is supporting stabilization efforts, so Syrian cities like Raqqa and Tabqa can recover after years of fighting and brutal ISIS occupation.

To ensure lasting security and safety so residents can return home, we continue supporting local solutions, such as the Raqqa Internal Security Force, which includes more than 2,000 coalition-trained members from the surrounding areas.

They are now working directly with the SDF, the Syrian Democratic Forces, to cordon off dangerous areas and clear explosives and booby traps left behind by ISIS terrorists.

We anticipate the fielding and training of security forces such as the RISF, that they will grow in importance and as ISIS' conventional force continues to face defeat and reverts to its terrorist roots. The coalition will continue to support our partners, their needs for effective forces tailored to meet the needs of the Syrian and Iraqi people.

As explosive remnants of war are carefully cleared, residents can begin to return home. This week, thanks to coalition-enabled efforts, nearly 8,000 civilians were able to return to their homes in Mishlib after the Syrian Democratic Forces cleared the area.

The inclusive and locally governed Raqqa Civil Council has led the way in public health, safety, economic and educational efforts in the area, with continued support from the coalition.

As an example, coalition members delivered interagency emergency health kits to the Tabqa General Hospital in support of the Raqqa Civil Council's health care initiative. These kits provide approximately two months of emergency medical supplies to those in need in Tabqa, to include IDPs from Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor residing in nearby camps.

The Raqqa Civil Council also facilitated the opening of a municipal building that provides essential services in Karama, a sign that a city is returning to normal operations.

Many of these stabilization efforts in Syria are coordinated through the U.S. State Department's Syrian Transition Assistance and Response Team, or START. And they support the locally led civil councils.

And if you do not already have it, I will provide you with contact information for the START forward public affairs officer after this brief, so you can contact him directly with any type of stabilization efforts that are underway in Syria.

Moving to Iraq, our partners in the Iraqi Security Forces continue steady progress in their clearance of Western Anbar province, targeting Isis in their final remaining holdouts in Iraq.

In the past week, they have completed back-clearance operations in al-Qa'im, eliminating ISIS weapons caches, including IEDs and mortars. As the ISF secure and hold these recently cleared areas, they are also continuing their advance against ISIS in the city of Rawa.

As with all these operations planned and executed by the capable ISF, the coalition continues to provide intelligence, advice and support. To that end, we have conducted six strikes against ISIS in Rawa during the past week, targeting tactical units and fighting position.

With regards to relations between the governments in Baghdad and Erbil, we reiterate the importance of continued dialogue. We have seen recently, when military attention and security resources are diverted from the fight against ISIS, that terrorist groups seize on opportunities to launch attacks against civilians and security forces.

As with Syria, areas liberated of ISIS still require attention to ensure lasting security and to set conditions for long-term stabilization. Therefore, continue supporting development -- we continue to support development of our ISF partner forces.

At the same time, the global coalition is working with the government of Iraq to support various economic and education initiatives. A number of rehabilitation projects are restoring essential services. Renovations to the main hospital in Shirqat are complete, four public health centers and the Shirqat Health Management building are also complete and are ready to be handed over to the Directorate of health.

Ongoing UNDP cash-for-work activities include, the cleanup of the Al Jadidah area in western Mosul, which is employing 200 workers, while other productprojects include cleanup of Ninawa University.

USAID funding is helping rehabilitate the Tikrit water network and an electricity substation, three schools, 100 small business grants for micro and small enterprises, and cash for work emergency deployment  employment for debris removal, solid waste collection and minor repairs to damaged houses.

UNDP estimates more than 60,000 residents in Tikrit now have access to clean water and 50,000 residents have electricity in their homes as a result of this initiative.

Across Iraq, we are seeing this kind of progress and stabilization. To consolidate and secure these gains, we must remain committed to ensuring long-term security, which will require the united efforts of Iraqi Security Forces and partners of the global coalition.

Customary for many of my briefings, I will close with providing the newest names of Daesh associates who are no longer leading fellow terrorists.

Yusuf Demir, an ISIS militant tied to media operations and ISIS terror networks throughout the Middle East and Europe, was killed by a coalition airstrike on October 26th. He was killed while traveling with his brother Omer Demir, also an ISIS external operations coordinator with links to ISIS networks in the Middle East and Europe.

Abu Yazin, an ISIS senior leader and weapons facilitator, was killed in an air strike on November third, near Mayadin, Syria.

And finally, Abdellah Hajjoui, a Syrian-based ISIS operative was killed by a coalition airstrike on November 5th, near Abu Kamal, Syria. Hajjoui facilitated external attack plotting with ISIS terrorists in multiple countries.

And as per normal, you will also have these names in a press release waiting for you by the time you return to your desks.

These are three more ISIS high-value individuals of 117 who have been hunted down and killed by the coalition this year. Our professionals are constantly looking for Daesh leaders to include Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. And to preempt questions, we do not know where Baghdadi is. We're looking for him, and if we find him, we'll be after him.

Allow me to reiterate that despite recent and significant military successes against Daesh, the threat of its hateful ideology persists. We must and will pursue them and we will remain committed to partner support that enables the enduring defeat of these criminals. We are proud to stand by our Iraqi and Syrian partners as they continue to strive toward a better life for future generations.

And with that, I will now take your questions.

STAFF: All right, we'll start with Harry Lowe from BBC.

Q: Yes, hello. I'm sure you saw our report, which demonstrated that a lot of fighters were allowed to leave Raqqa in the last month. I'm just wondering if you know how many foreign fighters were in the buses and trucks and was the coalition aware that tons of ammunition and weaponry were smuggled out in the same convoy?

COL. DILLON: All right.

So just to go back and to reiterate and to talk about Quinton's article, you know, this is -- was not a secret and the information that we provided on the 10th and the 14th in the form of press releases in my open statements and interviews with the media had, you know, talked a lot of the agreement that was made between the Raqqa Civil Council, the Syrian Democratic Forces and the tribal elders in that area.

So to address, number one, the foreign fighters, when the civilians that were coming out of Raqqa as a part of this agreement for the sole purpose of stopping or saving civilians, to prevent any further civilian casualties as a result of the conflict -- as they were coming out, there was an agreement that was made that ISIS-aged males or civilians that came out would be screened and would be -- and also we would take biometrical data from them, screen them to see if they were in our system. And then if not, to be processed in that system.

In the course of that screening, there were four foreign fighters that were identified and were detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces. Out of the rest of the -- out of the 3,500 civilians that came out of the -- Raqqa at that time, approximately less than 300 were identified and screened as potential ISIS fighters.

So I think, without going on much further, I'll go ahead and address that. I'll go ahead and ask for a follow-up or ask if you need any more clarification.

Q: Thank you very much for that. That's a comprehensive answer. I'm just wondering if you're aware about the buses and trucks carrying tons of ammunition and weaponry as well, that was smuggled out in the same convoy. Were you aware of that in advance?

COL. DILLON: So, I -- what we have -- what we understand was, there was -- the 3,500 family members and the 300 ISIS fighters. We were not aware of, and certainly cannot corroborate, the amount that was described in the story, nor can we also corroborate the statements that were made by those bus drivers. So the -- we followed these buses as they departed the Raqqa area.

And as with other events like these, if opportunities presented themselves to conduct strikes any potential ISIS fighters that were -- had decided to flee, then we would have -- we would have provided strikes. That did not present itself and there were many civilians that were part of that convoy, so that did not happen.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: All right, next to Kasim Ileri with Anadolu.

Q: I will follow up with this question first, and then I will have my own question. So, back in 17 October when you briefed us and then also the press releases came out on 14 and 10 of October, you were saying that there was an arrangement or there was some kind of an effort by the SDF to take -- to help the civilians who were stranded in the city, out of the city to the safety -- to safe areas.

And then you also mentioned at the time that 350 ISIS militants had surrendered to the SDF at a time. But the BBC story does not say that it was a surrender, or it was kind of an -- you know, a rescue operation. Rather, there was an agreement with the -- the militants in Raqqa City, and then with the SDF and the Arab elders, whoever they are. And then they smuggled out -- or they smuggled fighters, they smuggled weapons out of the city.

So that's -- I think the way that you expressed the thing and the way that the BBC story is saying are seeming, I think, somehow different things or different conceptualizations. They are claiming that those fighters ran or escaped the city and then went somewhere else, while your statements say they were detained or they were there under detention of SDF.

Can you clarify the differences between your statement and then whatever the BBC story is saying?

COL. DILLON: Okay. I caught most of that. And I think the way that we'll address that is that, you know, there were surrenders that happened both before the agreement and after the agreement.

So, I know that prior to that agreement being made, there were about four to five ISIS fighters per week that were -- had been -- had been identified, to include emirs, to include some of the leaders in that area. And they were either captured trying to escape by blending in with civilians, or they turned themselves in.

So, then we had the agreement that, as we stated on much -- throughout that entire period that, while we had an opportunity to present our position on what they wanted to do, we were not active participants in those discussions.

And then after that agreement was made, after the buses had departed, there were an additional about a hundred ISIS fighters that had surrendered after the fact.

So, during these very short amount of time, during this week and -- there was a lot of people that were turning themselves in and surrendering. So, I don't know if there was confusion with that, but I know that we were open with the number of civilians and the number of fighters that had been a part of this arrangement.

Q: Can you say that no ISIS fighters escaped or, kind of, found their way out of the city within the scope of this agreement? So, based on this agreement, they were not allowed to leave the city and go somewhere else; can you say that?

COL. DILLON: I mean, we -- we are always going to do our very best and our partners are going to do our very best to identify fighters. And when you have thousands of people that are, you know, coming out of the city, you know, there have been those that even prior to that were also, you know, blowing themselves up.

But regardless, I can't say with a 100 percent certainty that every single fighter was identified coming out of Raqqa. And that's either leading up to this agreement or even prior to, with the other civilians that were able to break out and -- and to get free.

Q: And then the other question -- just one more question; sorry.

About the Raqqa Internal Security Forces, can you tell us what are the composition of this force? And I -- you know -- yeah, what's the composition of this force?

COL. DILLON: I don't know what you mean by their composition.

You know, the Raqqa Internal Security Force operates in and around the environs of Raqqa. They maintain checkpoints. They have, you know, gone on patrols. So, they -- they play a myriad of different roles, you know, with the security in and around Raqqa. They work for the Raqqa Civil Council.

I know that they are also doing their very best to prevent civilians from danger, as civilians are attempting to move back into their homes. And I've gotten reports on that to say they -- Raqqa Internal Security Force, because they are from the area and the surrounding areas, are, you know, much -- are being very effective with the interaction that they have with the -- the Raqqawis from the area.

Q: Colonel Dillon, how many ISIS fighters have been detailed? Do you have a specific number? And how many ISIS detainees are in U.S. custody or are being interrogated under -- under the U.S. military?

COL. DILLON: Okay. Answers will be, number one, don't have number of total ISIS detainees. So if we're talking Iraq and/or Syria, because, you know, the Syrian Democratic Forces or the Iraqi Security Forces, they maintain any of those who have been detained. And regarding your second question about Americans citizens that have been detained, that is a question for the State Department on any kind of repatriation or anything that is happening with American citizens in Iraq or in Syria.

Q: I'm -- Colonel Dillon, I meant both in Syria and Iraq, how many ISIS fighters are in U.S. custody now, are being interrogated under the supervision of the U.S. military?

COL. DILLON: As far as I know, right now, there are no ISIS detainees that are underneath American detention. I will have to go back and check for, you know, for -- to be 100 percent on that. But what I understand right now is that we do not have anybody in custody.

Q: No one of those who are being detained by the SDF is a high-value target maybe close to Baghdadi for example?

COL. DILLON: Mr. Tabet, I don't know. So again, if -- if we -- if the Syrian Democratic Forces or the Iraqi Security Forces have any kind of detainees or high-value individuals they can be questioned and if we have information that leads -- that we can exploit either, you know, what they through what they have on their person, then we will use that to identify and find other ISIS targets to include Baghdadi. But as of right now, I do not know of any ISIS members that are being detained by a U.S. forces.

Q: Thank you, sir.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Laurie Mylroie, Kurdistan 24.

Q: Thank you, Colonel Dillon for this.

I have two questions, one is in your opening remarks, you emphasize the importance of continued dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil. Could you elaborate on that? And particularly, I know you've undertaken mediation efforts to stop the fighting between the Iraqi and Peshmerga forces. Could you give us some insights into that mediation effort?

COL. DILLON: What I would say is that just because I know that that is a topic of interest and continues to be a topic of interest here in Iraq, well, certainly prior to the earthquake, but that is a continuing beat of what is in the news. So I addressed that because it's a good sign that dialogue continues. So that is kind of where -- that's why I brought I up in the first place.

Number, you know, two on that is that, you know, there has been fewer face-to-face meetings, but I understand that they are in constant dialogue over the phone working towards a resolution for the posture in Northern Iraq.

Q: Are coalition officers involved in mediating those discussions between Baghdad, between the Iraqi and Peshmerga forces?

COL. DILLON: We did have a U.S. -- or coalition general officers that were present for some of these meetings, I think he even had General Gerard here a couple weeks ago who said that he personally was sitting in on some of these meetings.

Because of those face-to-face meetings are no longer in effect, I know that our coalition members and leaders are still in contact with Kurdish and with Iraqi security force leaders who are also playing a part in the mediation -- in the efforts to, you know, to come to a final solution on what is going to happen going forward.

Q: Thank you, and my second question has to do with Abu Kamal. I would -- and last week, there was a claim that Syrian forces from Syria, including Lebanese Hezbollah, and then Iraqi forces are shared militias, and specifically the two that the House has identified in a bill as Iranian proxies, that they had liberated Abu Kamal, and I wonder if you had any advanced knowledge or -- of that operation?

COL. DILLON: We don't have information on that operation, I would also say that I think that there still remains a fight in Abu Kamal, so despite what was said earlier by the Syrian regime, I think that they have not liberated that area.

The other thing is that to touch on, you know, a quote that I have seen recently that Prime Minister Abadi has said that any Iraqi security forces would not participate or not go into Syria, not cross the border.

So those elements that fall underneath the Iraqi security forces that go into Syria, they are violating the Prime Minister's direction and I think that Iraqi security forces and the government of Iraq have made other statements about what they will do.

But the Iraqi security forces, to include the popular mobilization forces, should be falling under and following the directions of the Prime Minister.

Q: Are you confident that the Prime Minister has full control over these militias that were involved with Syria in the effort to liberate Abu Kamal from ISIS?

COL. DILLON: Yes.

Q: Even though they seem to have acted without his authorization?

COL. DILLON: Mr. Abadi has shown that he is very much capable of leading, and doing a very good job of being a commander-in-chief. We have all the confidence in him, and, you know, the -- he has made a lot of progress in the fight to defeat ISIS as we have seen, we're down to the last 1 percent of the area that remains to be cleared of ISIS. So, we've shown that he is very effective, and he has proven that he is a wartime commander-in-chief and has done a very good job.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Now to Ryan Browne, CNN.

Q: Colonel, thank you for doing this.

Just a quick last follow up on this evacuation deal that the SDF made. You talked about the screening process with biometric enrollment with the 300 ISIS-aged fighters. Were there any coalition advisers present for that screening?

COL. DILLON: Ryan, there was not. I know that we have provided instructions and we have also showed that there was -- how to use these -- the equipment -- to fingerprints for photos for retina scans and otherwise. So, not that I know of that there was not coalition presence, or it was the Syrian democratic forces that did the screening for these personnel.

Q: So, you said, not that you know. Is it possible to take the question and find out whether or not there were coalition forces present for that?

COL. DILLON: I will look into that to see if they were present. I know that they were not actually doing the screening, but whether or not there was someone like -- we had leaders who were in the room, but not active participants I will look into that and provide you an answer.

Q: And just off the word -- the combo itself -- was that surveilled by coalition assets after it left Raqqa? I mean, was there efforts to be made to track the movement of the people once they left the city?

COL. DILLON: Yes, there was. And as I stated previously, with the other events similar to this where we saw a smaller element in Tabqa and as we saw the other element that happened between the deal that was made with Hezbollah that had to do with a transfer of fighters.

We did everything we can, at that point, to prevent further movement but with -- particularly with this agreement and the movement out of Raqqa, there were several family members that were part of the convoy and they were staying inside of Syria. So, if anyone were to move on to other ISIS-held territory, it was just a matter of time before they would have been -- we would have fought them again, wherever they moved to.

Q: On a different topic, you mentioned the civil councils being set up to govern liberated areas. I assume the SDF have kind of made inroads into the Omar gas fields and oilfields and some of the other gas fields out east.

Who's paying for salaries for officials that are operating on the civil councils? And is the coalition working to help -- I know they're talking about helping -- or the USAID is helping rebuild areas. Is there an effort to also rebuild some of this oil and gas infrastructure or help get that up and running?

COL. DILLON: Ryan, I don't know who pays the Raqqa Civil Council members. I can look into that, but my guess is that I will probably punt that to the START forward team. And the same thing goes for putting forth efforts to assess and/or repair and/or operate the stuff that these oilfields -- the equipment that are at these oilfields.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Next to Sylvie Lanteaume from AFP.

Q: You know, Colonel, thank you for doing that. Are you -- in Syria, are you scaling down the number of your advisers with the SDF?

COL. DILLON: Okay. Right now, we are not. The fight continues in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. But as we see in Iraq and as we see in Syria, as ISIS continues to lose territory, commanders will make an assessment and will make recommendations to the chain of command to either -- to say they don't need other further forces or to, perhaps, transition for the type of you know, to the type of support that the coalition will provide in the future.

So does that mean more niche personnel that are going to help train future RISF or RISF-like elements, that is something that those commanders on the ground, they make those assessments and they make those recommendations to the chain of command for what is needed.

Q: So does it mean that these -- the special operations forces could be sent elsewhere?

COL. DILLON: I don't want to speculate on anything that could happen. You know, I'll just go back to what I said before, those commanders will look and see what is happening on the ground. They'll continue to see what is required to militarily defeat ISIS, and then to help with the enduring defeat of ISIS and they will tailor their forces accordingly and will make requests based off of what they know and what they're going to have to put forth towards that future fight.

Q: Thank you.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Paul Shinkman, U.S. News and World Report.

Q: Yes, hi Colonel. I wanted to ask you about a -- a report yesterday that -- in the Syrian town of Afrin, there are Kurdish forces that contributed to the fight to retake Raqqa and that -- that are there. And that there are Turkish forces nearby that are poised to attack them. Can you confirm any -- any part of that?

COL. DILLON: I cannot. I can look into that. That is a first that I've heard on that. So, you know, we'll take that down and -- and look into that for you.

Q: And can you just confirm generally speaking what responsibility does the coalition have to protect forces, like Kurdish forces, for example, that have contributed to any anti-ISIS operations now?

COL. DILLON: I think I caught most of that. Is there a responsibility for the coalition to -- to defend or support our partner forces? I would say yes, you know, we have shown and we have proven that we will support our partners and that partner force is the Syrian Democratic Forces.

So does that mean -- you know, that is everyone falls underneath the umbrella of them, the Arabs, the Kurds, the Yazidis, the Christians. So underneath that blanket, if -- as they are fighting for -- against ISIS you know, we will support them and we will defend them, if necessary.

Q: Clarify, Colonel, if any of those forces, any contributing, fighting force to the coalition is attacked by somebody other than ISIS, is the coalition still under a responsibility to protect them?

COL. DILLON: Okay. You cut out there again, I'm going to leave this right here. But I would say that, you know, we will support our partners who are fighting against ISIS. I think we've shown once in the past that with the element who were working out of Al-Tanf who did not want to fight ISIS and had other endeavors.

We cut our ties with them because that's what they wanted to pursue and then they were not going to be supported by the coalition any further. So, I think that indirectly answers your question. If you're not fighting ISIS and you're not working towards the same mission that we are, then you don't get that support.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Carlo Munoz with Washington Times.

Q: Hey, sir, thanks for doing this. Just two quick questions on Iraqi Kurdistan. One, can you provide the coalition assessment or commanders' assessment of how many forces are still sort of amassed along sort of the borderline between Iraq and the KRG region, particularly in some of the disputed areas Kirkuk, Sinjar, those sorts of areas? And two, have you seen an uptick, drop in numbers or have the numbers maintained the same since the temporary cease-fire was called a few weeks ago?

COL. DILLON: Okay. So, I'll answer the first one since I think I heard that pretty clearly. And that is the array of forces in northern Iraq. I'm not going to speak on behalf of the KRG or the government of Iraq. What I can say is that, you know, the coalition forces are not there in a large presence. We do have some training areas that are located in that particular area, where we continue to work and train, but as far as the disposition of Iraqi or Kurdish forces, that's not for me to answer.

Can you ask your second question again? We're having some audio issues here.

Q: Sure, sir. I just wanted to see if the coalition had detected any sort of increase in Iraqi troop numbers? A decrease in those numbers? Or have those numbers sort of maintained -- have those numbers been static since the temporary cease-fire was called a few weeks ago?

COL. DILLON: I think -- so, you're not asking about coalition forces, you're asking about the disposition of Iraqi forces and Kurdish forces? We've not seen much of a -- from our perspective, where we've seen -- we've not seen any buildup, if you will, or a drawdown, if you will, from either side.

Q: Thanks, sir.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Back to Kasim from Anadolu.

Q: Hello. Colonel, you said you were confident that Prime Minister Abadi has full control over those militias crossing into Syria to help Abu Kamal operations. Do you know, whether -- did the Prime Minister Abadi have any role in mobilizing those forces into Syria or did he approve that movement?

COL. DILLON: Sorry about that, Kasim, I didn't get any of that. Please, we'll try one more time, and if we've got issues, we'll go to backup.

Q: So, you -- responding to a question, you said that Prime Minister Abadi has full control over those militias closing into Syria to help Abu Kamal operation. Did the Prime Minister Abadi have any role in mobilizing those forces into Syria to help Abu Kamal? Or did he approve that movement?

COL. DILLON: So, Kasim, anything that has to do with the Iraqi forces is completely -- those decisions are completely made by the government of Iraq. So I think -- I hope that answers your question. We don't have a say in which Iraqi forces go where, in particular, the Popular Mobilization Forces. I know that the government of Iraq and the Iraqi security forces know that we are -- who we can support and who we can't support.

And so, I think they also are smart to know how to tailor their forces and their efforts so that they can receive that support as they conduct their operations.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Next to Ryan Browne, CNN.

Q: Colonel, I just wanted to follow up with you, thank you again for doing this. So the Russian Ministry of Defense put out a statement today accusing the U.S. air and coalition air forces of helping ISIS around Abu Kamal and using them to promote American interests in the Middle East. Do you have a response to that statement, sir?

COL. DILLON: Ryan, I would say that the Russian Ministry of Defense statements are about as accurate as their air campaign, and I think that is a reason for them to start coming out with their latest barrage of lies. They are currently having some setbacks, particularly with the civilian casualty allegations of the 50 who were reportedly killed by their strikes in Aleppo. You've got what happens in -- with their partners in the Syrian regime in Abu Kamal saying that they liberated the city and they're not in the city and they're still fighting there and then some setbacks in Deir ez-Zor recently.

So I think that these -- this is consistent -- consistent in that almost anything that comes out of the Russian MOD is suspect and inaccurate. So these are all things that I think they would put out to deflect from their issues and their challenges. I do take comfort in many of the journalists who are in the room there that, when these accusations come, that you see them for what they are and their lies.

And I appreciate that you almost laugh them off because they are as ridiculous as today's was, as an example. And I certainly can't verify, but I've seen the report that one of the pictures came from a video game. So again, that is pretty consistent with what we have seen come out of Russian MOD as being baseless, inaccurate and completely false.

Q: Thank you, sir.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Next to Laurie Mylroie with Kurdistan 24.

Q: To follow up on Kasim's question, if the Iraqi Security Forces take actions without consulting you, without informing you, like in Abu Kamal, and in this case, the two militias have been identified by the -- the House -- the House committee as Iranian proxies, are you not concerned that these movements of forces that you don't know about, because you can't deal with them, are not part of an Iranian effort to establish that land bridge to the Mediterranean?

COL. DILLON: So, ma'am, what I'll say is that, you know, in -- the government of Iraq is a sovereign country, and -- and they are making, you know, these decisions and they are ordering their Iraqi Security Forces. This is, you know, something that is to be addressed by the government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces.

We will continue to support the Iraqi Security Forces as they continue to defeat ISIS.

So, I would -- I think question is best posed to the government of Iraq.

Some of the other things that I will, you know, point to while we're talking about the Iraqi Security Forces, is that they are continuing to show their ability to, you know, take care of and secure their citizens.

As a most recent example, we've seen in the pilgrimage that happened in -- in (inaudible), which has traditionally had attacks associated with it. This is a massive congregation that traveled through the area, and Iraqi Security Forces were able to provide that security.

So there are several opportunities to identify and show where the government of Iraq and Iraqi Security Forces are very capable of, you know, maintaining their citizens' safety.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Elizabeth McLaughlin from ABC.

Q: Hi, Colonel Dillon. Thank you for doing this briefing with us.

To go back to the Raqqa BBC story just one more time, what do you think explains that discrepancy between four foreign fighters and several dozen that's in that reporting?

COL. DILLON: Can you ask that one more time, you know, please? Sorry.

Q: OK. I'm going to try this with the mic. Is that better?

COL. DILLON: Yes. That's good.

Q: OK.

Just looking for what you think explains the discrepancy between taking four foreign fighters when that screening occurred versus the allegations in the -- in the BBC reports that there were several dozen that left in that convoy.

COL. DILLON: So -- so, I -- I had mentioned a little bit earlier, you know, you know, what possibly could have happened. Again, we can't corroborate, you know, what those -- and drivers had said.

But what I can tell you is you know, the screening by the Syrian Democratic Forces, they were looking for this. And the stipulation was that any foreign fighters that were identified would be detained. And that was -- that was something that was put into place and was a part of the -- the screening criteria.

Whether or not there were some of these fighters that were -- that were able to move in with the civilians or as a local ISIS affiliate, that could have been the case. But this is all, you know, speculation on our part. And so, I can't make, you know, the big difference or tell you why there was difference between the dozen versus the four.

Q: Thank you.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: We are at the end of my queue. Are there anymore questions for Colonel Dillon? All right.

Sir, thank you very much. Do you have any closing words for the group?

COL. DILLON: Nope. Thank you very much. And thanks for your patience. Sorry about the audio challenges. Thanks.

MAJ. RANKINE-GALLOWAY: Thank you very much. Have a good day.

-END-

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1372261/

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Norway - AIM-120 C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No: 17-51

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Norway for AIM-120 C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) for an estimated cost of $170 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 14, 2017.

The Government of Norway requested a possible sale of sixty (60) AIM-120 C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four (4) AMRAAM guidance section spares. Also included are missile containers, weapon system support, support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training, training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, logistics, technical and support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total case value is $170 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally which continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

The proposed sale will improve Norway's capabilities for mutual defense, regional security, force modernization, and U.S. and NATO interoperability. This sale will enhance the Royal Norwegian Air Force's ability to defend Norway against future threats and contribute to current and future NATO operations. This is a follow-on buy of additional AIM-120 C-7 missiles. Norway will be able to absorb these additional missiles and support into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government personnel or contractor representatives to Norway.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

-30-

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Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

15 Nov. 2017

(As delivered)



Dobrodosli,

Good evening, it's good to see you all and it's good to be here and welcome to President Vucic, it is great to have you back at NATO Headquarters. And it's great to see that our partnership and our friendship, Aleksandar, is improving as good as we have seen today.

And your visit to the NATO Headquarters demonstrates that strong partnership between NATO and Serbia. And it's great to see that we are able to strengthen that partnership in so many different ways.

We developed our partnership with many new activities and we are strengthening the partnership in full respect of the military neutrality of Serbia. There is no contradiction between the military neutrality of Serbia and the good and strong partnership with NATO. Actually, NATO has many partners who are neutral and at the same time have a strong cooperation and partnership with the Alliance.

We just finished a very good meeting with the North Atlantic council with all the 29 Allies and we welcome the fact that we can meet together in this way because NATO and Serbia face common security challenges, and working with NATO can bring real benefits to Serbia and its citizens and the wider region. Our partnership makes Serbia safer and more secure, and it also contributes to the security of NATO Allies.

We have more than one hundred partnership activities every year. We work with Serbia on the reform of your national security forces and institutions. We train Serbian officers so they can participate better and more safely in international peacekeeping exercises. And Serbia cooperates with NATO Allies and with NATO in joint military exercises  24 so far this year.

NATO also provides a framework for Serbia to work with its neighbours in response to natural disasters. In September, Serbian first responders participated in NATO's disaster management exercise in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I'm delighted that Serbia has offered to host next year's exercise in Serbia.

Our partnership can also make differences in the fight against terrorism.

NATO Allies and partners regularly train together with Serbian professionals at the Chemical, Biological and Nuclear Centre in Krusevac.

And next month, Serbia will begin work with NATO to train Iraqi military medics.

So our partnership is growing and today, we discussed how to deepen that relationship.

We also discussed the security challenges facing the Western Balkans. A strong, democratic and prosperous Serbia means more security and stability for the whole region.

Working together is important as Serbia advances its European agenda. I welcome your progress towards the European Union. Especially today, when NATO and the EU are working more closely together than ever before.

So President, it is really an honor to have you here at the NATO Headquarters and thank you for your personal commitment to Euro-Atlantic cooperation, which is indispensable for building security for all our citizens.

So Aleksandar, welcome to NATO, and please, you have the floor.

Moderator: We have time for some questions. Lady over there, Tanjug.

Q: Marina Maksimovic (Tanjug): Marina Maksimovic, Tanjug News Agency: For Mr. Stoltenberg, did you speak today about the creation of the Kosovo army and what is your position regarding this?

And for Mr. Vucic the question is [Interpreter] what are the benefits that cooperation between NATO and Serbia can produce when it comes to integration [inaudible] Serbia [End of interpretation]

Jens Stoltenberg (Secretary General of NATO): When it comes to Kosovo Security Forces I have clearly stated my position many, many times, and that is that any change in the mandate for the Kosovo Security Forces has to be done in accordance with the constitution and it requires the necessary constitutional amendments, so that's the way we have approached that issue all the time because it is important that any decisions, any transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces is done in accordance to the constitution.

Aleksandar Vucic (President of the Republic of Serbia): [Interpreter] I believe I spoke really concretely about it but I'll try to say it briefly. Our officers and soldiers will be trained in a better way and they will gain new experiences. Don't forget that we have joined programs, we take part in 10 international missions: six are under the auspices of the U.N. and four under the E.U. auspices. Those soldiers speak more languages, they have better training, they see things in the world in a better way.

Number two, we will be much better equipped for different things. Secondly, here we are supported and helped here. What are we going to do with unexploded ordinances? How we are going to train our people? This is one of the way how we would do that even better. And please don't forget strong presence of NATO in Kosovo with our dialogue that we have been having in the past years has contributed to the fact that we can praise with that today, even [inaudible] running from that because I know what we should do, speak all the words about each other from quite an unknown reason to me, but we managed in past 4.5 years not to have any hurt, when I say hurt I mean kill. There were some injured people but we don't have any killed Serbs or Albanians. We used to have such conflicts and we all did something and all these difficult discussions, painful discussions, gave some results, and those are the facts.

Of course, today I spoke at this important big meeting, I also spoke about many other things that are troubling Serbian people and citizens of Serbia but this is not the moment to speak about it here because it is important to speak what is our job in the future and what we can do that we could have some benefit from, and I hope that our hosts will not have any damage from it. If somebody in Serbia thinks that we do not need good relations with NATO while NATO is in Kosovo and many countries in the neighbourhood, not in all neighbouring countries but in many of them, if you don't think that we don't need good relations I'll say immediately please come here and run Serbia by yourselves.

I don't understand why someone would want to jeopardize us. It's quite an unknown thing to me. I'm not hiding what I think about what happened in 1999, I've never hid it, but people we must look into the future sometimes. I'm saying to the people from NATO we are not interested in joining military alliances and they say that it's not a problem, you have chosen your path, and we say yes we did as an independent and sovereign country we have chosen our path, but we do need good cooperation with NATO.

And I'm grateful to Jens because he is working on it and nobody can convince me that Jens Stoltenberg hates Serbia. I don't want to say any things differently from that and nobody can say that he doesn't want good future for it. We're going to put a lot of energy, a lot of effort to help our people both in Kosovo but entire Serbia safe and secure. We have our army that we are strengthening, we want to defend and preserve that kind of military neutrality and we are going to have success on that path. On the other side, we will cooperate with NATO and try to give the best possible results in the future. I was not hiding today, they asked me about relations with Russia and everything that I say in Belgrade I said it here today. And this is the strength of Serbian politics and the honesty of Serbian politics: not to lie to anyone but to say to everybody what we really think.

Q: Yes, [inaudible], Serbian TV. Mr. Secretary General you have confirmed the respect for the military neutrality of Serbia. Have you discussed the close ties and cooperation that Serbia has with Russia? Is that something that you see as compatible with the cooperation with NATO? And in this context also, position on the Russian Humanitarian Centre in Serbia, do you have a position on that?

And to Mr. President, if I can add [Interpreter] ~Among the ambassadors of the member states, is there a consensus whether Serbia should be intensively cooperated with regardless of its commitment for military neutrality?

Jens Stoltenberg: We have discussed both in the meeting I had with the President before we met with all the 29 allies in the North Atlantic Council. we of course also discussed military neutrality of Serbia, and there is no doubt whatsoever that we absolutely respect the decision by Serbia to remain a military neutral country because Serbia is a sovereign independent nation and I strongly and the whole alliance strongly believe in the right of every nation to choose its own path, and Serbia has decided to be a military neutral country and we absolutely respect that.

And we have to remember that NATO has many partners which are neutral. I'm from Norway and we have two neighbours, Sweden and Finland, they are neutral but they are very close friends of NATO and Norway as a NATO ally. So there is no contradiction, there is no mutual exclusion of being, no contradiction between being a neutral country and having a close partnership, cooperation, good relationship with NATO or NATO allied countries. And I have reiterated that very clearly today.

That also means that it's for Serbia to decide how they want to cooperate with Russia, and there are military activities, there are some exercises, but there are many exercises and military activities also with NATO and NATO allies. And Aleksandar went through some very interesting numbers and figures where he described how many activities Serbia has with Russia and how many activities there are with NATO and NATO allies. And again this is for Serbia to decide. We respect what Serbia desires on these issues.

When it comes to this humanitarian centre, again, that is for Serbia to decide. We welcome that we are expanding the cooperation with NATO and that we have more than 100 different activities addressing a wide range of issues which are important for Serbia, training Serbian officers, helping with reforming defence and security institutions, addressing the challenges related to explosive devices, but also different signs for peace projects, and again this is partly NATO helping Serbia but it's also Serbia helping NATO because Serbia has now decided to help us with training of Iraqi officers or Iraqi medical medicine, which is important for our efforts to try to fight terrorism.

So, again, this is respecting an independent country making its own decisions. And let me also add that in the meeting today we had a very frank and open discussion also on some of the sensitive issues about the past, about history, what happened back in 1999. But I think that the only way to overcome that is to be honest and frank about those issues and then look to the future and strengthen our partnership because that's good for Serbia and good for NATO.

Aleksandar Vucic: [Interpreter] Once again I want to thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for all his words and I want to answer your question. Today, we've been respected by all member states and almost all of them intervened to the floor. Maybe representatives of three countries did not make any interventions but almost everybody else took the floor. They wished to ask some questions, we did not agree on everything beyond any doubt, but I want people in Serbia to know that I believe that we protected in a good and smart way the interests of our country and we represented it in a good light.

We really had respect and we were appreciated guests today here and I'm really grateful to the NATO member states. Whether they had questions about our relations with Russia? Yes, they did. Did they have any other questions regarding our friendship with China? Yes, they did. And we answered all those questions so this didn't have much to do with military alliances but with some trade and economic ties, but I believe that we answered rationally to all that, and I believe that our relations will be stronger and we are going to strengthen them because the much respect we have among us, not only that we have better trained officers but the more trust the less risk there is for our country, and people in Serbia should understand that.

If somebody thinks that it is time for playing great heroes and facing half of the world then I don't know who else? I believe it is important to stay on our course, that our boat is sailing towards a safe harbour, but to preserve peace and stability because this is the only way to make economic progress, visible or even more visible than it has been until today. Anyway, I'm really pleased with the hospitality and the respect that was given to Serbia today. Thank you.

Moderator: Thank you very much. This concludes this press point. Good evening.

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U.S. House passes 700-bln-USD defense policy bill

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:08, November 15, 2017

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives easily passed a defense policy bill worth nearly 700 billion U.S. dollars on Tuesday for the 2018 fiscal year.

The Republican-controlled House voted 356-70 to approve the 692-billion-dollar compromise National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reached after negotiations between the House and Senate.

The annual NDAA, a substantial increase over the 2017 funding of 619 billion dollars, which authorizes the level of defense spending and sets policies over how the money is spent, would earmark 626.4 billion dollars for the base defense budget and 65.7 billion dollars for war operations.

The NDAA also puts forward a spate of measures, including a 2.4-percent pay raise for service members, an increase of active duty and reserve troops across the services, beefed-up missile defense, enhanced operations in Afghanistan, and more purchases of weapons and military equipment.

The bill, which tallies nearly five percent more than U.S. President Donald Trump's 603 billion dollars budget request, will take effect after it passes the Senate, also controlled by the Republicans, and is signed into law by the president.

But the spending will be automatically cut if there is no deal in Congress to raise budget caps, which the proposed funding bursts through, under the rules of sequestration.

Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, on Tuesday urged Congress to work out an appropriations bill to pave the way for the NDAA.

"Securing those appropriations must be Congress' top priority before the year ends," the Republican representative said in a statement.

But Republicans are expected to face an uphill battle in the Senate as Democrats may not agree to an increase in military funding at the cost of curbing spending on non-defense programs.

The United States outpaces all other countries in military spending. With a 700-billion-dollar budget, the U.S. military spending would exceed the total spending of its next ten rivals put together, going off of 2016 military spending estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Enditem

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Zimbabwe military appears to have taken over government institutions

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:12, November 15, 2017

HARARE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean military appears to have taken control of state institutions, saying that it is targeting criminals in government who are bent on destabilizing the country.

Chief of staff in the Zimbabwe National Army Sibusiso Moyo appeared on state television early Wednesday, saying that the position taken by the military since the statement made by Zimbabwe Defense Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga Monday had reached "another level."

"Firstly we wish to assure the nation that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed.

"We are only targeting criminals around him (President Robert Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice," he said.

He did not say where Mugabe was.

Mugabe last week fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his political ally for more than 40 years, on allegations of disloyalty and deceit.

Chiwenga issued a statement on Monday, saying purges against senior ruling party officials should end "forthwith."

On Wednesday, Moyo assured Zimbabweans at home and abroad as well as the international community that this was not a military takeover and that the situation would soon return to normal.

"To both our people and the world beyond our borders we wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government," he noted.

"What the Zimbabwe Defense Forces is doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation in our country which if not addressed may result in a violent conflict," he said.

Leave has been canceled to all military personnel who were instructed to return to their barracks immediately.

Moyo urged the people to minimize movement but said those going to work and with essential businesses should carry on.

He urged other security sectors to cooperate with the military.

"Let it be clear that we intend to address the human security threat in our country and any provocation shall be met with an appropriate response," he warned.

State television was playing liberation war songs all early morning, indicating that the military was in charge of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

Moyo said an impending purge of civil servants by some top members of government would be stopped and the judiciary allowed to exercise its role without undue interference.

Traffic was moving smoothly in the suburbs but a motorist travelling to the Robert Gabriel International Airport said that soldiers were checking identification of people passing by.

Earlier reports said several loud explosions were heard in central Harare and gunfire was heard near Mugabe's private residence early Wednesday.

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UN agrees to deploy extra peacekeepers to Central African Republic

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 06:54PM

The United Nations will send an extra contingent of troops to the Central African Republic amid warnings that lack of international support would leave the country at a real risk of ethnic cleansing.

During a Wednesday session of the UN Security Council, member countries unanimously agreed to beef up the UN mission in CAR, which is known as MINUSCA.

The agreement came after negotiations between France, a main foreign power present in CAR, and the US, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping. That led to a 15-0 vote to extend MINUSCA mandate in Central Africa for one more year and a deployment of 900 extra peacekeeping troops to the country, as requested by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres had previously warned that Central Africa was at the brink of an ethnic cleansing if the UN failed to contribute more.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre hailed the decision and said the US approval of an extended mandate was very crucial.

"The Security Council cannot afford to take the risk of allowing the CAR to relapse into a crisis in which it was mired," Delattre said, adding, "With our American friends, the more the discussions are based on a pragmatic approach, about life-and-death issues, about effects on the ground, the better."

France intervened in CAR in 2013 to push back Seleka rebel alliance that had toppled longtime leader Francois Bozize. However, the country has seen widespread violence since then as various groups continue to vie for power across provinces.

MINUSCA's chief resigned in 2015 in the face of rising allegations of sex abuse against the UN peacekeepers, further complicating the situation of foreign troops in the country.

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Zimbabwe crisis seems like coup: African Union

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 06:28PM

The African Union has expressed concern about the ongoing political crisis in Zimbabwe, calling on the country's military to halt their actions in what "seems like a coup" against President Robert Mugabe.

Alpha Conde, the head of the AU, said Wednesday that the bloc condemned the actions of military commanders in the southern African nation as "clearly soldiers trying to take power by force."

"The African Union expresses its serious concern regarding the situation unfolding in Zimbabwe," he said in a statement sent to AFP, expressing support for Zimbabwe's "legal institutions."

Conde said the African body wanted "constitutional order to be restored immediately and calls on all stakeholders to show responsibility and restraint," it added.

The AU Commission also addressed the situation in a statement later in the day, saying it was crucial that the crisis be resolved in a way that promotes democracy and human rights.

AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement that the commission was closely following the developments.

UN chief calls for calm

Earlier, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for "calm and non-violence" in Zimbabwe, a spokesman for the UN chief said.

Guterres also called for the fundamental rights of Zimbabwean citizens to be preserved.

Zimbabwe's military forces took control earlier in the day, after soldiers and armored vehicles began blocking roads to the main government offices, the parliament, and the courts in central Harare.

Mugabe and his military forces, who had long helped him stay in power, have recently been at odds over the 93-year-old president's successor. The power clash has culminated in the sacking of the vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The military, which insists it is only going after "criminals" and is not planning to take power, has also detained Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, a leading member of the so-called 'G40' faction of the ruling ZANU-PF party, run by the president's wife, Grace Mugabe.

Mugabe and his wife have been on the EU's sanctions list along with other key figures in Zimbabwe's ruling elite, facing travel bans and asset freezes abroad.

ZANU-PF said in a statement earlier that Mugabe's decades-long grip on power was coming to an end in a "bloodless transition."

The embattled president "indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine," according to a statement by the South African government.

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Egypt's cassation court rejects Muslim Brotherhood leader's appeal

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 05:01PM

The leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, has lost his appeal against a life sentence over his alleged role in protests following the 2013 ouster of the country's first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi.

Judicial sources said the judgment by the court of cassation against the sentence could not be appealed.

In the same case, the court on Wednesday upheld life sentences against seven other people and handed 10-year sentences to 39 and three-year sentences to 19 others.

Last year, an Egyptian court found Badie and dozens of other defendants guilty of participating in clashes in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia that left three people dead in 2013. They were also charged with attempting to kill 16 others. Thuggery and vandalizing public property were among other offences related to the clashes in Ismailia.

Egypt's military courts have been under fire by human rights groups for their harsh verdicts.

The Brotherhood has faced a crackdown since Morsi was ousted in the coup led by the then head of the armed forces and current president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in July 2013.

Since the ouster of Morsi, thousands of anti-government protesters, mostly Brotherhood supporters, have been sentenced to jail by civilian and military courts.

The Brotherhood was later blacklisted as a terrorist organization by authorities in a bid to prevent its affiliates from running in elections.

International rights groups have repeatedly blasted the government of Sisi for launching a heavy-handed crackdown on anti-government protesters and stifling the freedom of speech.

The clampdown has led to the deaths of over 1,400 people and the arrest of 22,000 others, while hundreds have been sentenced to death in mass trials, according to figures provided by various human rights groups.

Morsi himself has been sentenced to death.

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'Fresh US drone strike kills several militants in Somalia'

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 04:42PM

The United States military says it has killed "several militants" in yet another drone strike in Somalia, bringing to 28 the total of such raids this year.

The US Africa Command (AfriCom) broke the news in a statement on Wednesday, saying the Tuesday evening attack against the al-Shabab terrorist group took place 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu, and was coordinated with Somalia's government.

"Al-Shabab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the US and our partners in the region," the force said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Washington warned its diplomatic staff in Mogadishu of an imminent threat and ordered all non-essential staff to leave the city.

The AfriCom statement did not provide further details about the exact number of the casualties. It was not clear if there were any civilian casualties either.

The US military has stepped up its airstrikes in the Horn of Africa nation after getting President Donald Trump's approval for expanded military operations there.

AfriCom said Sunday that it had carried out more drone attacks in Somalia over the weekend, hitting three al-Shabab and Daesh targets in less than 24 hours.

"US forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats," said an AfriCom spokeswoman.

Al-Shabab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and "has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the US and our partners in the region," she added.

The Pentagon has been carrying out airstrikes and ground raids in Somalia for a decade, initially using helicopters and AC-130 gunships.

In June 2011, American forces began using drones to carry out the strikes, in a mission which has so far failed to uproot militancy in the country.

Despite being ousted from large parts of the south and central Somalia, al-Shabab continues deadly attacks across the country, which has been ravaged by decades of war and poverty.

The militant group aims to oust the western-backed government in Mogadishu and drive out African Union peacekeeping troops. It has been carrying out militancy since 2006.

The AU announced last week that it was withdrawing 1,000 of its troop as part of a plan to fully withdraw from the heavily-fractured country by 2020.

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Russia rejects Catalonia's cyber-meddling claims as 'hysteria'

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 03:33PM

Russia has dismissed claims by Spanish authorities that Moscow interfered through its cyber campaign in a political standoff in Catalonia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that the allegations by Madrid were part of a broader campaign in the West that sought to create "hysteria" about Russia's alleged intervention in Western democracies.

"We consider these claims to be groundless and more likely a deliberate or inadvertent continuation of the same hysteria that is now happening in the United States and a number of other countries," Peskov said, adding, "The Spanish authorities, NATO and the newspapers did not bring up a single worthwhile argument to back these claims."

Spanish authorities have been the latest to accuse Russia of using its propaganda and hacking power in the cyberspace to influence the political situation in other countries. Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said on November 13 that a "disinformation and manipulation" campaign had come from Russia to encourage the independence drive in Catalonia since a referendum was held in the region in early October. Dastis would not elaborate whether the Russian government was involved.

"I will raise the question of how disinformation and manipulation around the referendum and subsequent events in Catalonia have developed," Dastis said.

Spain's Defense Minister Dolores de Cospedal has also repeated same claims, saying a lot of the messaging on social media around the Catalan crisis, which culminated in a crackdown in late October by Madrid, had come from Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also lambasted the Spanish authorities, saying the allegations were engineered to allay concerns about Spain's inability to contain the crisis in Catalonia.

"Probably they are arranging this kind of scandalous, sensational hysteria in order to distract the attention of their electorate from their inability to resolve their problems at home," Lavrov said Wednesday while addressing reporters in Moscow.

Russia is accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential election in the US. The issue has badly strained ties between the two countries while sparking retaliatory moves by both sides.

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Besieged from abroad, blockaded at home, Yemenis' suffering goes on

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 03:09PM

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is deepening as the regime in Riyadh and its allies tighten the screws on all land, sea and air borders amid an international silence over the catastrophic situation in the impoverished Arab country.

According to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), prices have soared in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, since the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia upped the pressure on the country a week ago.

The UN aid chief, Mark Lowcock, has told the UN Security Council that unless the Saudi-led blockade is lifted, Yemen will face "the largest famine the world has seen for many decades with millions of victims."

The UN has already warned that seven million people in Yemen are on the verge of starvation with Jamie McGoldrick, the UN aid coordinator in Yemen, saying on Tuesday that keeping the Yemeni ports closed was unacceptable.

"We can't have those ports closed or those airports closed while we wait for discussions on new (inspection) mandates to go ahead," McGoldrick said, adding, "The humanitarian impact of what is happening here right now is unimaginable."

The cost of fuel has gone up by nearly two-thirds in Sana'a as the price of trucked water has increased by 133 percent and bus fares have doubled or even tripled.

"We are besieged from abroad, we are besieged at home. We don't have gas to cook. People are dying in their houses because of the gas shortages," said Ameen Mohammed, a Yemeni citizen living in Sana'a, who then asked, "Why are they besieging Yemen? What do they get out of it?"

"We've been here for almost one week, waiting for fuel," said Fuad al-Harazi, another citizen, noting, "Every day, they say the fuel truck is here but that isn't true."

Amer Ali, a local employee, echoed the despair, saying, "The higher price of fuel is making the food prices go way up. The average person can't survive."

At a hospital bed in Sana'a, Mohammed al-Ayzari, a physician, said, "The malnutrition cases are up more than ever before... There is an acute shortage of medical supplies and laboratory materials."

On Tuesday, Saudi warplanes targeted the international airport in Sana'a, worsening the already terrible humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.

More than 12,000 people have been killed since the onset of Saudi Arabia's deadly military campaign against Yemen in March 2015. Much of the Arabian Peninsula country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been reduced to rubble due to the war.

Another 2,100 people have died of cholera since April as hospitals struggle to secure basic supplies across the country.

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EU urges 'peaceful resolution' to Zimbabwe crisis

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 02:52PM

The European Union has called for a "peaceful resolution" to the unfolding crisis in Zimbabwe, after the army put long-time President Robert Mugabe under house arrest in a move that military officials insist is not a coup.

"It is a matter of concern for the EU," European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday, shortly after soldiers and armored vehicles began blocking roads to the main government offices, the parliament, and the courts in central Harare.

"We call on all the relevant players to move from confrontation to dialogue with the aim to a peaceful resolution," she added, underscoring the need for respecting "the constitutional order and democratic governance."

Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU-PF, said in a statement earlier that the 93-year-old president's decades-long grip on power was coming to an end through a "bloodless transition."

Mugabe and his military forces, who had long helped him stay in power, have been at odds over the past few weeks.

After taking control of the country's state broadcaster, a spokesman for the military said the armed forces were not taking over the government and had only taken action to "target criminals."

A government source told Reuters later on that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo was among those detained. He was a leading member of the so-called 'G40' faction of the ZANU-PF party, run by the president's wife, Grace Mugabe.

Mugabe and his wife have been on the EU's sanctions list along with other key figures in Zimbabwe's ruling elite, facing travel bans and asset freezes abroad.

The Zimbabwean president has called sanctions, which were first imposed by the US and the EU in 2002 over rights issues, "wrong," blaming them for his government's failure to pay its workers on time, which led to a crippling strike last year.

France watching closely

France also reacted to the situation in the African country, saying that it was closely following the events.

"We reiterate our attachment to constitutional law and respect of the legitimate aspirations of the Zimbabwean people," French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne told reporters.

"We encourage all parties to find a peaceful solution within this framework and without violence," she added.

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Hariri's prolonged stay in Saudi Arabia mysterious: Lebanon FM

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 02:10PM

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has questioned Prime Minister Saad Hariri's prolonged stay in Saudi Arabia, calling it "mysterious" as the country is teetering on the brink of a political crisis following the premier's abrupt resignation.

"It is the first time in the history of the republic that an official announces his resignation from abroad," Bassil told Egyptian Arabic-language al-Ahram daily newspaper on Wednesday, stressing that Hariri's return to Lebanon has now become a "national priority".

Bassil said Lebanon had launched a campaign to explain "the circumstances of Hariri's resignation from abroad within the context of current events," and also to highlight "the need to respect the international agreements and conventions that regulate political relations between states and ensure total immunity for sovereign state officials."

Bassil's remarks came after Lebanese President Michel Aoun said earlier on Wednesday that Saudi officials had detained Hariri, calling it an act of aggression against Lebanon.

"Nothing justifies Hariri's lack of return for 12 days. We therefore consider him detained. This is a violation of the Vienna agreements and human rights law," Aoun said at a meeting with Lebanese journalists and media executives.

The Lebanese president further noted that Saudi Arabia was holding Hariri's family as well, saying, "We have not previously asked for their return, but we have confirmed that (his family) is also detained and family members are being searched as they enter and leave the house."

French foreign minister to meet Hariri in Riyadh

Meanwhile, an unnamed French diplomatic source said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was to meet with the Lebanese prime minister during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

Le Drian is to arrive in Riyadh later on Wednesday to discuss political developments regarding Lebanon with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and hold talks with Hariri in person.

The Lebanese president further noted that Saudi Arabia was holding Hariri's family as well, saying, "We have not previously asked for their return, but we have confirmed that (his family) is also detained and family members are being searched as they enter and leave the house."

French foreign minister to meet Hariri in Riyadh

Meanwhile, an unnamed French diplomatic source said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was to meet with the Lebanese prime minister during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

Le Drian is to arrive in Riyadh later on Wednesday to discuss political developments regarding Lebanon with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and hold talks with Hariri in person.

Hariri became prime minister in 2016 after serving another term between November 2009 and June 2011.

Iran has vehemently rejected Hariri's remarks, saying his resignation and rehashing of the "unfounded and baseless" allegations regularly leveled by Zionists, Saudis and the US were another scenario to create new tensions in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East.

"The sudden resignation of Mr. Hariri and its announcement in another country are not only regrettable and astonishing, but also indicative of him playing in a court that the ill-wishers in the region have laid out," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi commented.

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President Aoun calls Saudi detention of Hariri 'aggression against Lebanon'

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:21AM

Lebanese President Michel Aoun says Saudi Arabia is holding Prime Minister Saad Hariri, calling the detention as an act of aggression against his country and a violation of international human rights regulations.

"Nothing justifies Hariri's lack of return for 12 days. We therefore consider him detained. This is a violation of the Vienna agreements and human rights law," Aoun said at a meeting with Lebanese journalists and media executives.

Aoun underlined the need for Hariri's immediate return to Lebanon, saying, "We cannot wait a long time for Hariri's return, we cannot stop the state's work."

Later on Wednesday, Hariri repeated his previous statements that he would return home. "I want to repeat and affirm that I am perfectly fine and I will return, God willing, to dear Lebanon as I promised you, you'll see," he wrote on Twitter.

Hariri announced his surprise resignation in Riyadh on November 4, shortly after traveling to Saudi Arabia. The televised announcement saw him reading out from a statement.

Lebanese government officials and senior sources close to Hariri believe that Riyadh forced him to step down and placed him under effective house arrest since he touched down in Saudi Arabia on November 3, a day before he announced his shock resignation.

Lebanon's Foreign Ministry has pledged to keep up pressure on Saudi Arabia not to impede Hariri's return, the al-Akhbar paper reported, citing sources within the ministry.

In a Sunday interview, the first since he flew to Saudi Arabia, Hariri described himself as a "free man" who intended to "return" to his home country "within days," denying widespread speculations that he had been under house arrest.

Observers say even if he returned to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia could still hold his family "hostage."

Hariri had taken to Twitter on Tuesday, saying he is "well" and will return to Lebanon "within days," but that his family will stay in Saudi Arabia.

Hariri has cited several reasons, including the security situation in Lebanon, for his sudden decision. He also said that he realized a plot was being hatched against his life. Furthermore, Hariri also accused Iran and the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, of meddling in the Arab countries' affairs; an allegation the two have strongly rejected. Hezbollah is part of the coalition government led by Hariri.

In the interview, Hariri added that he would be willing to "rescind the resignation" if intervention in regional conflicts - particularly "by Hezbollah" - stopped.

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Zimbabwe in 'bloodless transition' away from Mugabe

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 07:43AM

Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU-PF, says the series of military activities underway in the country mark a "bloodless transition" of power from long-time President Robert Mugabe.

The army has deployed soldiers to the streets across the capital. Soldiers and armored vehicles have blocked roads to the main government offices, the parliament, and the courts in central Harare. The army has also taken over the headquarters of the national broadcaster.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Mugabe's own ruling party denied that the totality of those activities amounted to a coup.

"Zimbabwe has not had a coup. There has been a decision to intervene because our constitution had been undermined, in the interim Comrade E Mnagngawa will be president of ZANU PF as per the constitution of our revolutionary organization," it said in one tweet, referring to Emmerson Mnangagwa, who Mugabe sacked as his vice president earlier in the week.

"Last night the first family was detained and are safe, both for the constitution and the sanity of the nation this was necessary. Neither Zimbabwe nor ZANU are owned by Mugabe and his wife," it said in another.

It was not clear who exactly was posting the tweets, and whether they reflected the mentality of the entire party.

Zimbabwean soldiers overran the headquarters of the state broadcaster and ordered staff to leave overnight Tuesday. After taking control of the national broadcaster, a spokesman for the military interrupted taped programming and read out a statement early on Wednesday.

"To both our people and the world beyond our borders, we wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government," said Major General S.B. Moyo.

He insisted that the army had taken action to "target criminals," who were "committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering" and was planning to "bring them to justice."

"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy," he added.

The statement did not clarify who it was referring to as "criminals" around Mugabe, but a government source later told Reuters that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo had been among those detained. The minister was a leading member of the so-called 'G40' faction of the ZANU-PF party, run by the president's wife, Grace Mugabe.

Moyo called on security services to "co-operate for the good of our country" and warned that any provocation would "be met with an appropriate response."

He said all soldiers on leave "should return to barracks immediately."

The major general also urged the public to remain calm but called on them "to limit unnecessary movement."

Shortly after the army seized the national broadcaster, a number of loud explosions were heard in the capital, Harare.

Mugabe talks to Zuma, confirms 'house arrest'

Later in the day, Mugabe talked to South Africa's President Jacob Zuma on the phone, confirming that he was under house arrest but that he was fine, Zuma's office said in a statement.

Zuma said he was sending special envoys to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the Zimbabwean Defense Force.

The South African president would be sending the envoy in his capacity as chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is an inter-governmental organization among 16 southern African states. The organization works to resolve economic and political challenges faced by the regional countries.

And so begins a coup

Zimbabwe has been on edge since Monday, when army chief General Constantino Chiweng held a press conference warning that the army was prepared to act to end purges within Mugabe's ZANU-PF party. The ruling party accused the army chief of "treasonable conduct."

Political tension started to rise in the South African country after Mugabe, in a sudden decision, sacked Mnangagwa this week.

Mnangagwa had previously been considered the most likely to succeed the president if Mugabe resigned or died while in power. His sudden dismissal, however, raised speculations that Mugabe was clearing the way for his wife, Grace, to take the position.

Mugabe, 93, came to power in the 1980s. He has been the longest serving leader in Africa.

'Coup by any name'

A former political aide to ex-Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangari, told the CNN that the army's action was "a coup by any other name."

"They are being very careful in their words," said Alex Magaisa. "They might be trying to give a fig leaf to the notion that President Mugabe is still the leader. But de facto they are obviously the military force."

US, UK issue warnings to citizens

The United States and the United Kingdom both issued warnings to their citizens inside the African country.

US State Department encouraged the Americans in the country to "shelter in place until further notice" due to ongoing uncertainty and political unrest. A US embassy spokesman in Zimbabwe also said the embassy would be closed to the public on Wednesday.

The UK Foreign Office, meanwhile, advised Britons in Zimbabwe to avoid demonstrations and rallies, saying it was "monitoring the situation closely."

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Saudi jets target Yemeni capital's airport

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 12:01AM

Saudi Arabian fighter jets have targeted the airport in Yemen's capital Sana'a, worsening the already terrible humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.

According to Yemeni officials on Tuesday, the airport's ground navigation tower and parts of its runway are damaged in the airstrike.

The UN has confirmed the attack, noting the damage resulting from the strike will not stop the arrival of aid shipments if the Saudis honor their promise of loosening the blockade.

Early this month, Saudi Arabia announced that it was shutting down Yemen's air, sea, and land borders, after Yemeni fighters targeted an international airport near the Saudi capital with a cruise missile.

"This will have no impact on our operations once they resume," said the UN's Jamie McGoldrick.

Earlier in the day, McGoldrick noted that there has so far been "no indication" that the Saudis would lift the blockade as they recently announced.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric also told reporters that without Sana'a airport and Hudaydah and Salif seaports fully functioning and able to receive cargo "the dire humanitarian situation will deteriorate further."

He added that "seven million people are already on the brink of famine, and the blockade will only bring them closer to it."

Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to crush Ansarullah and reinstate former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a staunch ally of the Riyadh regime.

More than 12,000 people have been killed since the onset of the campaign more than two and a half years ago. Much of the Arabian Peninsula country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been reduced to rubble due to the war.

Another 2,100 people have died of cholera since April as hospitals struggle to secure basic supplies across the country.

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Serbia Hosts Joint Military Drills With U.S. As Bosnia Hosts NATO Delegation

RFE/RL's Balkan Service November 15, 2017

At the invitation of the Serbian government, U.S. Army paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, will conduct a bilateral Serbian and U.S. airborne exercise this week.

Exercise Double Eagle begins on November 17 at Batajnica Airfield, in Belgrade.

Double Eagle is designed to enhance U.S. and Serbian relationships, foster areas of mutual interest, and contribute to regional security and peace, U.S. European Command officials said.

About 100 service members from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and two C-130Js and their aircrews from the 86th Airlift Wing based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, will participate in the exercise.

In addition to extensive joint military training, service members will exchange jump wings as a token of the joint cooperation, officials said.

NATO and Serbia have steadily improved cooperation and dialogue since the country joined the Partnership for Peace program and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 2006. Serbia signed its individual partnership action plan with NATO in 2015.

A military neutrality resolution was adopted by the Serbian Parliament in 2007. According to this document, Serbian cannot became a NATO member.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at a joint news conference with visiting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels on November 15, said "there is no doubt whatsoever that we absolutely respect the decision by Serbia to remain a military neutral country, because Serbia is a sovereign, independent nation, and I and the whole alliance strongly believe in the right of every nation to choose its own path."

"We have to remember that NATO has many partners which are neutral," Stoltenberg added.

Belgrade also insists on a balanced policy between Russia and western partners, and Stoltenberg said that "It is for Serbia to decide how they want to cooperate with Russia."

Meanwhile, neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina moved to develop closer ties with NATO as a delegation of the NATO Military Committee residing in Sarajevo visited the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces on November 14.

General Petr Pavel. the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, called for unity in light of new moves by Russia in the region, as well as the threats posed by terrorism and migration.

Bosnian Defense Minister Marina Pendes stressed that she expects Bosnia will be granted approval by the end of the year to activate a NATO Membership Action Plan.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-hosts-joint-military-drills-us- bosnia-nosts-nato-delegation/28854582.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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Armenian Defense Ministry Takes The Offensive To Close Deferment Loophole

Tony Wesolowsky, RFE/RL's Armenian Service November 15, 2017

The Armenian military has set its sights on potential conscripts who may not be so eager to join its ranks, giving students an offer they literally can no longer find a way to refuse.

If the army has its way, certain university students would no longer be able to defer the country's mandatory two-year military service until after they finish school, which currently opens a slight window to dodge the draft in perpetuity.

Under a new bill proposed by the Defense Ministry, everyone would face the same choice: either sign up for three years of service or be drafted into the military when you turn 18.

The draft legislation, if approved, would close a loophole that allows some university students to defer service. Critics, many of them students, are fighting the idea.

Some fear academics in the Caucasus nation of 3 million will suffer if the bill passes. Some fear it signals the creeping militarization of society. And then there are the common concerns -- the very real prospect of war, the sometimes deadly hazing within the military -- that lead many young Armenian men to try to avoid service in the first place.

Hundreds of students at Yerevan State University have held daily protests outside the school since the start of November, and dozens are boycotting classes. On November 14, several students took things to a new level by announcing a hunger strike.

Backers of the bill say it will affect a small percentage of male students -- about 15 percent -- at state-run universities who are eligible, or have received, government scholarships who can currently defer military service until they end their studies. They say it will stop the "trade" in scholarships they claim many of the country's elite secure to avoid the army.

Despite the backlash, the Armenian parliament on November 15 passed the legislation on a second and final reading.

Eighty-six members of the 105-seat National Assembly dominated by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and its junior coalition partner, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), voted in favor of the legislation, with six lawmakers -- all from the opposition Yelk faction -- voting against it.

President Serzh Sarkisian has expressed his support for the bill and is expected to sign it into law.

If and when he does, the law will come into effect in January 2021, meaning that it will not apply to students who have already been granted deferments.

Things are far from clear at this point, however. After the vote in parliament, student leaders announced they were suspending their protest action pending a "roundtable" discussion on the bill with government officials sometime next week.

The proposal comes a year after some of the worst violence over Nagorno-Karabakh -- the ethnic Armenian-populated breakaway region of Azerbaijan that was the cause of a deadly war between Armenia and Azerbaijan -- since a cease-fire was worked out in 1994. In April 2016, nearly 100 were killed over the course of four days of intense fighting.

Ethnic Armenian fighters in Nagorno-Karabakh, who receive backing from Yerevan, lost control of some of the territory that Armenia and Azerbaijan have disputed for decades.

The development put the Armenian military on the hot seat, with critics both in the public and politics questioning its ability to defend the country's interests.

Since then, Sarkisian and his government have talked about the need to overhaul the country's military, based on a so-called "army-nation" model.

"The Armenian Army has been in a deep crisis for a number of years," says Olesya Vartanian, a South Caucasus analyst at the International Crisis Group.

"The government generally supports a deeper militarization of society, and this law project is part of this plan. The reforms discussed plan to merge everyday life with military service  the so-called 'army-society' model," Vartanian said in an e-mail response.

Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian has also repeatedly stated that the new bill is aimed at restoring equality when it comes to male students who get draft deferments and exemptions from military service and those who don't.

Education Minister Levon Mkrtchian has insisted that it will not hamper the development of science and scholarship in the country, a concern expressed by some critics.

In an apparent reference to Israel, he has argued that science and technology has "spiked" in other countries that have not had draft deferments.

Besides, he told reporters earlier this month, "if we look at who has pursued and obtained doctoral degrees [in Armenia] and how many of them have stayed in science, we won't see a nice picture."

Meanwhile, the protests seem to be gaining some traction.

Five members of the protest group For Science Development locked themselves inside a lecture hall at Yerevan State University on November 14, saying they would stop their hunger strike only after the bill is withdrawn from parliament. A day later, however, they joined the protests outside the university, even as they vowed to continue their hunger strike.

One of the protest leaders, David Petrosian, told RFE/RL's Armenian Service that they were stepping up their efforts after parliament ignored their concerns over the bill and scheduled a second reading of the legislation.

"Besides, with this hunger strike we are trying to show citizens that their voice matters," said Petrosian. "Public apathy that has spread among us is very sad. With this action, we hope to play a part in overcoming this apathy."

Petrosian, who already served in the army, said that three other students in the five-member group had also completed their military service.

"Four of us have served in the army. And by this we want to prove that this is a movement for fairness and justice," he says.

According to RFE/RL's Armenian Service, about three dozen students from the Yerevan State Conservatory have also joined.

Students are especially wary that, if they sign a three-year contract, the Armenian military would send them to Nagorno-Karabakh or another potential hot spot.

Many also fear hazing that could await them from within their own ranks.

In its World Report 2016, Human Rights Watch said that "Armenian rights groups reported that violence among conscripts and a higher number of noncombat deaths remain concerns."

The Safe Soldiers database from the Armenian activist group Peace Dialogue records fatalities in the Armenian armed forces.

According to the database, from 2010 to 2016, the Armenian armed forces (including the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army) suffered a total of 472 fatalities.

This number includes 133 fatalities during frequent cease-fire violations and 80 during the April 2016 Four-Day War, the bloodiest clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact since 1994.

Other causes of death recorded by the Safe Soldiers database are: suicide, murder, health issues, violations of safety rules, negligence, and "undefined."

However, few if any defense officials or their supporters in the government appear eager to tackle hazing.

Ending deferrals for university students, meanwhile -- many of whom are seen to be from elite families -- is popular with the general public.

"In my opinion, this is probably not the best way to reform Armenia's army, but might be the cheapest way, with results in a shorter period of time," explains Vartanian. "Otherwise, the government would need to invest in profound military reform, including in education. That would lead to changes in the system [only after] a decade or so."

Politicians, she says, can't wait that long. "This is all about money and time."

Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Tony Wesolowsky, based on reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia- deferment-loophole-students-conscripts- resistance-army/28855928.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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Armenian Lawmakers Adopt Controversial Military-Service Bill

RFE/RL's Armenian Service November 15, 2017

Armenia's parliament has passed in its second and final reading a controversial bill that would restrict draft deferments.

Eighty-six lawmakers in the 105-seat National Assembly approved the proposed legislation on November 15, with six lawmakers voting against it.

The votes against the bill came from the opposition Yelk faction in the legislature, which is dominated by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and its junior coalition partner, Dashnaktsutiun.

President Serzh Sarkisian is expected to signed the text into law.

The bill, which passed in its first reading late last month, has sparked protests among students, several opposition parties, and public figures in Armenia.

Under the proposed legislation, to get a draft deferment all male students who want to pursue a higher education must sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense and agree to serve three years in the military after completing their studies in a place and in conditions that the Defense Ministry will establish.

Otherwise, the students will be drafted once they turn 18.

The protesting students as well as several opposition parties and public figures in Armenia say the legislation will harm the development of science in the country by allowing interruptions in the education process and discouraging students from pursuing scientific careers.

Proponents of the legislation deny it will harm scientific development while saying it will ensure fairer treatment of young men who do not get draft deferments and exemptions.

Also on November 15, leaders of a student movement protesting against the bill declared a halt in their weeklong protests after meeting with lawmakers inside the National Assembly.

Leading student activist David Petrosian and deputy parliament speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said that a roundtable discussion will be held on November 22 to discuss the bill.

"This roundtable discussion will be attended by all stakeholders, including scientists, scholars, and lecturers named by these students," Sharmazanov said. "Both the issue of draft deferments and various other issues of concern to students will be discussed. All that will be public and transparent."

Petrosian said the students agreed to stop their protest actions to "get ready for the round table."

The activist was among five members of the For Science Development group that started a hunger strike earlier this week against the legislation and barricaded themselves inside a lecture room at Yerevan State University.

Several hundred students have boycotted classes since November 7 and marched on government buildings to protest the bill.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenian-studen-activists-oppose- military-draft-hunger-strike/28854586.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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EU Parliament Hails Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova Reforms; Eyes Russia Pressure

RFE/RL November 15, 2017

BRUSSELS -- European Parliament lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a resolution praising reforms in Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova and said the three former Soviet republics could eventually be considered for membership in the European Union.

The resolution on November 15 also vowed to maintain "collective pressure on Russia to resolve the conflicts in eastern Ukraine, the occupied territories" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Transdniester.

The move by parliament members comes ahead of the 2017 Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for November 24 in Brussels. The partnership was created in 2009 to deepen EU ties with six Eastern European partners -- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The recommendations had been approved on October 10 by the parliament's foreign affairs committee.

The text is nonbinding, but EU lawmakers said they welcomed "significant progress" made since the previous Eastern Partnership summit held in Riga in 2015.

The text called on member states to "agree to an ambitious declaration for the 2017 Summit that sets relevant long-term goals" and highlights that the association agreements signed with the three countries "do not constitute the final goal in their relations with the EU."

The lawmakers said they were in favor of "clear benchmarks for future cooperation" and that the EU would make no further deals with any Eastern Partnership country that does not respect EU values or "intimidates human rights defenders and journalists."

Economic Reforms

The text was not specific, but the parliament has in the past criticized some of the countries for alleged rights violations. On November 13, 47 members of the parliament condemned the treatment of imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist Afqan Muxtarli and demanded his immediate release.

Diplomats told RFE/RL that the final declaration of the upcoming summit will acknowledge the EU aspirations of the partners but will not make any specific commitments toward potential membership.

The lawmakers did recommend providing aid to Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova in the form of trust funds to focus on private and public investments in social and economic infrastructure.

One of the goals, they said, would be to support economic reforms "aimed at phasing out monopolies, limiting the role of oligarchs, and preventing money-laundering and tax evasion."

"The summit must not only talk about what has been achieved, but what needs to be done and where to do homework," said Knut Fleckenstein, an MEP from Germany.

The lawmakers also vowed to "keep pressure on Russia to resolve conflicts in the EU eastern neighborhood," without going into detail.

The resolution also stated that the MEPs supported the deployment of an "armed" police mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in eastern Ukraine.

Russia occupied and seized the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and backs separatists whose war against Kyiv's forces has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April of that year.

Russia has also unilaterally recognized the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia following a brief war with Georgia in 2008. And Moscow maintains troops in Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region over the repeated objections of the Moldovan authorities.

With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-parliament -georgia-ukraine-moldova-reforms- russia-pressure/28855898.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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Kyrgyz President Continues Kazakh War Of Words

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service November 15, 2017

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has criticized Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbaev again amid persistent tension between the neighboring Central Asian countries, saying he will not apologize to the "aged president."

Atambaev said on November 15 that Kyrgyzstan "has been cut off the Eurasian Economic Union at the whim of Kazakhstan's leadership."

Kyrgyzstan joined the Eurasian trade bloc, which also includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, in August 2015.

Bishkek has blamed Kazakhstan for long lines and slow movement of travelers, cars, and truck across their shared border, delays that began when Kazakh authorities stepped up checks at the frontier on October 10.

The bottlenecks began after Atambaev accused Kazakh authorities on October 7 of throwing their support behind Omurbek Babanov, the chief rival of Atambaev's favored successor, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, in Kyrgyzstan's October 15 presidential election.

The accusations came after Nazarbaev, 77, met with Babanov in September.

Kazakh officials have denied any political motive for procedures at the border.

In his remarks on November 15, Atambaev called the situation along the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border "a blockade" and compared it with a time in 2014 when Islam Karimov, then president of neighboring Uzbekistan, ordered the cutoff of natural-gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan.

"In spring 2014, at the whim of a similar aged dictator in another neighboring republic, our southern regions were cut off from natural gas. I remember how our political wirepullers, our lawmakers shouted then saying that Atambaev must go and bend to the aged dictator," Atambaev said, adding that the current situation is very similar. Karimov died in 2016.

"Some people seem to say that Atambaev must bend his knees in front of the rich neighbor and apologize.... It is not Atambaev but those who impertinently meddle in our affairs who must apologize; those who wanted to put their flunky on the chair of the sovereign Kyrgyzstan's president," he said.

"Yes, their flunky will sit. However, not on the presidential chair but in a prison cell."

Although Atambaev did not name the "flunky" by name it was clear that he meant Babanov, who came in second in the election and fled the country days later as investigations were launched against him on suspicion of inciting ethnic hatred.

Atambaev had called Babanov "a foreign country's flunky" on the eve of presidential election.

Jeenbekov won the election and is scheduled to take office on November 24.

Atambaev was limited by the constitution to a single presidential term.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-kazakhstan-atambaev- nazarbaev-aged-president/28855520.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian, Armenian Leaders Hail Close Ties After Moscow Meeting

RFE/RL's Armenian Service November 15, 2017

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has hailed his country's close ties with Russia after meeting with President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow to mark the Days of Armenian Culture in Russia celebrations.

Sarkisian on November 15 said the "advancement of Russian-Armenian cooperation is evident in all directions."

"Close contacts between our people, cultural, educational, scientific ties are of particular importance to us," Sarkisian added.

A Kremlin statement said the two leaders discussed "interaction of the two countries in the political and economic spheres, in the sphere of security, and humanitarian cooperation."

No official mention was made of talks scheduled for November 16 in Moscow between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to discuss the longstanding conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war that killed some 30,000 people. Intermittent fighting has continued since a 1994 cease-fire and diplomatic efforts to resolve the territorial dispute have brought little progress.

Seeking 'Concrete Results'

Edward Nalbandian, Yerevan's foreign minister, and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, are expected to meet in talks sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, which is jointly led by Russia, the United States, and France.

Mammadyarov told reporters in Baku ahead of his trip to Moscow that Azerbaijan does not want "negotiations to be held for the sake of negotiations. We demand concrete results."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan early next week, ostensibly to mark the 25th anniversary of Russia's establishing diplomatic relations with Yerevan and Baku after the former Soviet republics' independence

But Russian state-run TASS news agency quoted Lavrov as saying the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh would also be discussed.

"We will try to understand at what stage our efforts on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement are after the meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Geneva," Lavrov said.

During meetings in the Swiss city on October 16, Sarkisian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pledged to intensify the peace process and bolster the cease-fire regime in the region's conflict zone.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenian-sarkisian-visit-moscow- putin-nagorno-karabakh/28856181.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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Al-Yarmouk 2 military drill between Saudi and Jordanian land forces wraps up

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 1439/2/26 - 2017/11/15

Riyadh, Safar 26, 1439, November 15, 2017, SPA -- Al-Yarmouk 2 joint military drill between Saudi and Jordanian land forces came to an end today in the presence of the commander of the northern region major general Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mitair and a number of senior officers.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Al-Mitair lauded the performance of the forces taking part in the joint exercise to reach the highest levels of preparedness.

--SPA

21:01 LOCAL TIME 18:01 GMT

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US Heavy Armor Arrives in Romania as Part of Atlantic Resolve Deployment

Sputnik News

21:43 15.11.2017(updated 21:46 15.11.2017)

NATO continues to increase its buildup in Europe.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  An armored unit of the US Army located at the Mihail Kolganicecanu Airbase in Romania is set to receive approximately 40 armored vehicles for use in joint training operations with the Romanian military.

"Tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and supporting vehicles are scheduled to arrive at Mihail Kolganicecanu Airbase, Romania on Nov. 20," the US Army in Europe has announced.

The upcoming deployment comes in the wake of a statement made by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who has announced that NATO members had agreed on a new adaptive command structure to improve the alliance's ability to move military forces across Europe.

The announcement came amid the unprecedented NATO military buildup in Eastern Europe which has been further boosted since 2014 in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly voiced its protest against the alliance's buildup, saying that it would undermine regional stability and result in a new arms race. Nevertheless, in 2017, the alliance has decided to approve sending four multinational battalions to each of the Baltic States  Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia  and to Poland.

 Sputnik

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South African President Says Zimbabwe Leader Mugabe Fine, Confined to His Home

Sputnik News

14:13 15.11.2017(updated 15:43 15.11.2017)

On Tuesday, media reported armored vehicles moving toward Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, but the country's military has explained that it was mobilizing against criminals. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is reportedly under heavy guard.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  South African President Jacob Zuma has announced that he was contacted by Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe, who has been "confined to his home but said that he was fine."

"President Zuma has called for calm and restraint and has expressed hope that developments in Zimbabwe would not lead to unconstitutional changes of Government as that would be contrary to both [The Southern African Development Community] SADC and African Union positions," the South African government said on its Twitter.

Zuma, as Chair of SADC, has also voiced an intention to send special envoys to Zimbabwe.

Situation in Zimbabwe

Zuma's statement comes amid recent media reports claiming that armored vehicles had been moving toward the Zimbabwean capital.

The speculations were followed by reports claiming that the military had allegedly seized the state-run television broadcasting station ZBC.

The ruling party in Zimbabwe has announced that the recent activities, which were believed to be a coup attempt, were a "bloodless transition" of power from long-time leader Robert Mugabe, who had been reported to be heavily guarded by the military and preparing to announce his resignation.

However, a Harare City Council spokesperson told Sputnik earlier in the day that there were no military personnel in the city and everybody was just going about their business as usual.

Mugabe, the nation's president since 1987 and prime minister from 1980-1987, has easily won every election despite charges of voter fraud and intimidation, while announcing that he would run again in the 2018 presidential election.

 Sputnik

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'Non-Aligned' Sweden Joins Fledgling European Military Alliance

Sputnik News

11:03 15.11.2017(updated 11:30 15.11.2017)

Sweden, which has remained neutral for about two centuries, is now gradually phasing out its non-alignment. By joining the newly-founded European military alliance Pesco, Sweden has taken yet another step in this direction.

The European Defense Union Pesco, which was established on paper earlier this week and was lauded by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini as a "historic moment in European defense," is fully compatible with Sweden's non-alignment, Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom argued.

"We believe this is fully compatible with our non-alignment. We think it's good that the EU is indicating that they now want to collaborate and actually better coordinate what we do. We could become a truly important global player, both civilian- and military-wise," Wallstrom said as quoted by the Swedish Sydsvenskan daily.

Pesco, which stands for Permanent Structured Cooperation, implies a greater focus on joint drills to improve rapport and cooperation among the participating nations, and Sweden is ready to conduct winter exercises in its vast and largely unpopulated northern regions.

Margot Wallstrom, who signed the Pesco agreement in Brussels together with Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist, explained that there have already been talks of using the Vidsel Test Range for joint drills.

"I believe we can also find many civilian elements to share," Margot Wallstrom added.

"This has nothing to do with the EU army or any defense organization. This is merely a collaboration that deals with concrete projects where different countries contribute in order to add competence to each other's defense forces," Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist commented.

Located in Sweden's northernmost counties of Norrbotten and Lappland, the Vidsel Test Range is operated by the Swedish Defense Materiel Organization (FMV), a part of the Swedish Ministry of Defense. It consists mostly of uninhabited woods and marshes and is regarded as the largest overland test range for warplanes, missiles and drones in Western Europe. It also has a permanently restricted airspace.

At present, neither Pesco's strategic nor tactical steps have been made known. In December a formal decision will be announced, and the basis of future joint projects will be presented.

However, the EU Commission's document on Pesco from 2015 indicated that the military alliance is aimed at being a counterweight to China, Russia and Saudi Arabia amid shrinking military budgets across the EU.

Finland, the only formally non-aligned Nordic nation apart from Sweden, chose to join Pesco, a decision its Foreign Minister Timo Soini, known as a consistent EU critic, lauded as "historic."

Interestingly enough, though, Sweden's southern neighbor Denmark, which as a NATO member is far more involved in the alliance's affairs, opted out of Pesco.

 Sputnik

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Central African Republic: UN mission mandate extended, additional 'blue helmets' authorized

15 November 2017  The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the Organization's peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), until 15 November 2018, increased the mission's troop level by 900 military personnel.

The increase in the number of the Mission's 'blue helmets' comes against the backdrop of increasing fighting in the African nation and the resulting added insecurity and misery of its civilian population.

The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR, known by its French acronym, MINUSCA, has also come under numerous attacks, which have killed at least 12 peacekeepers this year and injured many more.

In an effort to draw attention to the fragile situation in the country that, in his words, is "often far from the media spotlight," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres travelled to CAR in late October.

In CAR, the UN chief warned of religious divisions in the country, stressing that these rifts are a result of "political manipulation that must be condemned and avoided at all costs."

Security Council condemns incitement to ethnic, religious hatred

Through a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member Council condemned "in the strongest terms" incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence and the multiple violations of international humanitarian law and the widespread human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, committed  in particular  by the mainly Muslim ex-Seleka and mainly Christian anti-Balaka elements, as well as other militia groups, and the targeting of civilians from specific communities.

The Council also reiterated its serious concerns over the "dire humanitarian situation" in the country because of the deteriorating security situation, and the lack of access for and attacks against relief workers.

According to estimates, over 600,000 people have been internally displaced within the country and more than 500,000 have sought refuge beyond CAR's borders. This total figure of more than 1.1 million displaced  internally or abroad  is the highest ever recorded for the country.

Also by the resolution, the Security Council called on the national authorities to take concrete steps, "without delay and as a matter of priority," to strengthen justice institutions and to fight impunity and urged them continue their efforts to restore the effective authority of the State over the whole territory of the CAR.

Human rights, including child protection and sexual violence in conflict

Concerning the human rights situation in the country, the Council reiterated the urgent need to hold accountable all perpetrators of violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law.

It also called upon all parties to conflict, including ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka elements, to end all violations and abuses committed against children, in violation of applicable international law, including those involving their recruitment and use, rape and sexual violence, killing and maiming, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals.

"[The Council] further calls upon the CAR authorities to swiftly investigate alleged violations and abuses in order to hold perpetrators accountable and to ensure that those responsible for such violations and abuses are excluded from the security sector," read the resolution.

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Somali Government Releases List of Deadly Car Bomb Suspects

By Mohamed Olad November 15, 2017

The Somali government has released the names and the photos of the suspects behind last month's deadly truck bombing that killed more than 350 people and injured more than 400 others in Mogadishu.

Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow named seven suspects, including Husein Aden Madey, identified as the suicide bomber who drove the truck that blew up in the middle of busy intersection on October 14, and Mukhtar Mohamud Hassan aka (Gardhuub), who is accused of masterminding the attack.

Other suspects include, Ali Yussuf Wa'eys, the would-be bomber of another car bomb foiled by Somali security forces the same day of the huge explosion, his aide Hassan Adan Isack; and Abdiweli Ahmed Dirie, reputedly al-Shabaab's chief explosive expert in Mogadishu; and Abdullahi Abdi Warsame.

The minister said five of the six living suspects are in government custody and the owner of the truck used for the bombing is still being sought by police. He identified the owner as Abdullahi Ibrahim Hassan.

He said the suspects were arrested following investigations and tips from local residents.

The deadliest blast in Somalia's history, has widely been blamed on al-Shabab, but the militant group has not claimed responsibility.

On Tuesday, a month after the attack, CCTV footage released by Somali security agencies showed an explosives-packed truck running into other vehicles at Zobe intersection.

Retaliation

Somali officials say U.S. and Somali government forces conducted several military strikes during the past weeks to retaliate for the truck bomb attack.

Abdifitah Haji Abdulle, the deputy governor of the Lower Shabelle region, said the latest drone strike killed six militants early Wednesday in the village of Idow Jalad.

Somalia's Security Ministry Spokesman Abdulaziz Ibrahim Hildhiban reported another drone attack on Monday in the town of Awhiigle.

"It is part of an ongoing efforts to target the militant hideouts and bases, from where they organize attacks against our people," said Ibrahim, "The government and its partners are still assessing the results."

U.S. Africa Command also said Tuesday it is assessing the results of the strike, the sixth in Somalia since Thursday and 27th in the country this year.

Attacks on IS

The United States has also carried out its first drone strikes against Islamic State fighters in Somalia. The U.S. Defense Department said "40 terrorists" were killed in five airstrikes. But Somali government officials put the militant death toll in one location alone at 81

A local official told VOA three civilians were among at least 13 people killed Saturday when drone-fired missiles targeted militants in Basra village, about 30 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

But a Security Ministry spokesman denied the reported civilians' death, dismissing it as al-Shabab propaganda.

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Former Colonial Power Britain Urges Peaceful Change in Zimbabwe

By Henry Ridgwell November 15, 2017

Zimbabwe's former colonial power, Britain, has urged restraint following the apparent ouster of the country's president, Robert Mugabe.

A former leader in Zimbabwe's fight for independence in the 1970s, Mugabe has had an increasingly fraught relationship with Britain, which along with U.S. and European allies accuses him of directing widespread human rights abuses.

Outside the Zimbabwean embassy in London, celebrations began early Wednesday among some opposition supporters as the Mugabe era appeared to be nearing its end.

"We really appreciate what he had done before. But unfortunately, he couldn't make a good move when he was supposed to step down. He should have stepped down a long time ago," Chipo Parirenyatwa of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organization told VOA.

Instead, Robert Mugabe has clung to power for close to four decades, routinely crushing political dissent and persecuting or imprisoning political rivals.

Britain and the European Union imposed a travel ban on the president following the 2002 election violence. His apparent ouster should be treated with caution, argues analyst Nick Branson of the Africa Research Institute.

"There's a need for cool heads, some back-channelling and some quiet discussions behind the scenes, rather than megaphone diplomacy, which is what Britain has historically fallen into."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also says the situation needs to be handled carefully.

"Nobody wants simply to see the transition from one unelected tyrant to the next, no one wants to see that. We want to see proper free and fair elections next year and that's what we will be working towards."

Britain's prime minister offered a brief reaction to the military takeover.

"We are monitoring those developments very carefully, the situation is still fluid. We would urge restraint on all sides and we would call for an avoidance of violence," she told lawmakers Wednesday, a sentiment echoed by the European Union.

"The fundamental rights of all the citizens need to be respected and the constitutional order and democratic governance to be upheld," said the EU Commission's spokesperson Catherine Ray.

Veterans of Zimbabwe's struggle for independence remain the driving force within the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Among them is the former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, viewed as heir apparent until his firing last week by President Mugabe. That decision triggered the military takeover.

"(The army) is merely trying to manage the transition, having clearly been quite alarmed by Mugabe's side-lining of Emmerson Mnangagwa, and working on the assumption that he was going to try to install Grace Mugabe, who has no liberation war credentials," says analyst Nick Branson.

Those credentials led Mugabe to power. Now fellow veterans have decided his time is up. African governments and the international community are likely planning for a future Zimbabwe without Mugabe at the helm.

"There's a great deal of desire to invest in Zimbabwe once the government is receptive to foreign direct investment and not seen as a threat to it," says Branson.

Millions of Zimbabweans live in poverty after decades of economic mismanagement. The country's public debt stands at over $11 billion, or more than 200 percent of GDP. But with an educated workforce and a developed, if dilapidated, infrastructure analysts say the fundamentals of the economy are still strong - and Mugabe's ouster offers a chance to transform the country's fortunes.

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Trump Reviews Asia Trip, Says US Global Standing 'Never Been Stronger'

By VOA News November 15, 2017

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that "America's standing in the world has never been stronger" after his just-completed two-week trip to Asia.

Trump stood in the White House and gave a recap of his five-nation tour, which he called "historic" and a "tremendous success."

"Everywhere we went, our foreign host greeted the American delegation ... with incredible warmth, hospitality and, most importantly, respect."

Along with a handful of trade and investment deals with China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed there could be no "freeze for freeze" agreement with North Korea. That is a deal in which the North would freeze its nuclear program if the U.S. and South Korea froze military exercises on the peninsula.

Trump said Xi recognized that a nuclearized North Korea is a "grave threat" to China.

Trump said past deals with the North by previous U.S. administrations had "consistently failed." He said while all options remained on the table in dealing with Pyongyang, time was running out.

Targeting trade deficit

On trade, Trump said the U.S. was going to start "whittling down" its trade deficit with Asia as fast as possible.

He said insisting on fair and reciprocal trade with America's Asian partners was one of the goals of his trip.

The president said unfair trading practices that steal U.S. intellectual property and jobs could not be tolerated.

Trump took a swipe at his predecessors in the White House, saying they had failed to protect and promote the interests of the American people, as he repeated his promise to put U.S. interests first.

"We will never again turn a blind eye to ... cheating," he said, referring to longtime accusations that trading partners have violated trade deals and rules.

China has been on the receiving end of many of Trump's past complaints. Some of the president's critics said he was not forceful enough in making those concerns known when he came face to face last week with Xi.

Trump made no mention of human rights during Wednesday's speech, and except for North Korea, the topic scarcely emerged during his Asian visit  including in the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Duterte has been accused of encouraging extrajudicial police killings of suspected drug users and dealers.

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Bulgaria Considering Boeing Super Hornets to Complement MiG-29s

Sputnik News

02:34 16.11.2017

The Bulgarian Air Force will look into buying Boeing F-18 Super Hornets following a review of competitors Saab, Lockheed Martin, and the consortium of European companies that make the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said on Bulgarian radio Monday that the ministry will send requests for proposals to the above defense manufacturers by the end of November. The country plans to add eight new aircraft. In addition to the F-18, the Bulgarian Air Force is eyeing the F-16, the JAS-39 Gripen and the Typhoon as part of a fleet growth program. One of the fighters is expected to emerge victorious by July 2018, Defense News reports.

The new warplanes will join Bulgaria's seven operational Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 fighters. Due to a lack of planes, "some pilots at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base lack confidence because they have insufficient flying hours," Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov said October 24, according to a ministry news release.

Bulgaria's MiG-29s have actively participated in NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defense System since 2004, when the Balkan nation joined NATO. Last November, the Aviationist reported that Rumen Radev, then-president elect of Bulgaria, who was sworn in in January, was an active MiG-29 pilot during his time with the Bulgarian Air Force despite being a high-ranking commander.

 Sputnik

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Zimbabwe - Introduction

Zimbabwe was once one of southern Africas most vibrant, productive, and resilient countries. However, over the past decade, the nation has faced a series of political and economic crises that have led to the general decline of the standard of living and a breakdown in public health, education, and infrastructure.

Zimbabwe is constitutionally a republic. President Robert Mugabe, his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party, and its authoritarian security sector have dominated the country since independence in 1980. The security situation in Zimbabwe is unpredictable, due to high levels of unemployment, economic instability, including intermittent shortages of medical supplies, basic goods and food, and the unreliable provision of services such as power, water and transport.

Zimbabwe is a beautiful country in Southern Africa that is known for its dramatic landscapes, its diverse wildlife and its hardworking people. Home to the Great Zimbabwe Monument, the mighty Victoria Falls and the majestic Eastern Highlands, the country also boasts of world class national parks in which a variety of animals, including the Big Five, can be found. The largest of these are Hwange National Park in the west, and the Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park in the South. Zimbabwe has a total land area of 390 000 square kilometres and a well educated population of around 14 million people.

Indigenous culture merges with Western culture to shape the behavior of people here. In Zimbabwe, the dominant Shona culture often exists side by side with Western culture and locals see no conflict. Many Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) agencies and officials switch between the two whenever it is to their advantage.

Political parties and civil-society groups that oppose ZANU-PF and President Mugabe routinely encounter state-sponsored intimidation and repression from government security forces and ZANU-PF-linked activists. This environment persisted even during the period of the coalition government when the main opposition parties, the Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and the Movement for Democratic Change-Ncube (MDC-N), joined ZANU-PF in a Government of National Unity (GNU) from February 2009 to June 2013. Individuals and companies out of favor with ZANU-PF routinely suffer harassment and bureaucratic obstacles in their business dealings.

There were many other human rights problems. Prison conditions were harsh. The governments expropriation of private property continued. Executive political influence and interference in the judiciary continued, and the government infringed on citizens privacy rights. The government generally failed to investigate or prosecute state security or ZANU-PF supporters responsible for violence. Authorities restricted freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and movement. The government continued to evict citizens; invade farms, private businesses and properties; and demolish informal marketplaces and settlements. The government arrested, detained, prosecuted, and harassed nongovernmental organization (NGO) members. Government corruption remained widespread, including at the local level. Violence and discrimination against women; child abuse; trafficking of men, women, and children; and discrimination against persons with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons, and persons with HIV/AIDS were problems. The government interfered with labor-related events.

It is illegal to photograph sensitive places, including airports, military establishments, government offices, the President's Residence and security forces, without special permission of the Ministry of Information. The President's official residence (State House, Chancellor Avenue, The Avenues, Harare) is particularly sensitive, and visitors should not look through the gates or linger outside the walls.

A severe cholera outbreak affected most of Zimbabwe between August 2008 and July 2009. The disease may break out again with little warning. Malaria is a risk in all areas except Harare and Bulawayo. Other mosquito-borne diseases (including filariasis) are also prevalent in Zimbabwe. Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, tuberculosis, measles and rabies) are prevalent, with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time.

The highest danger to a persons physical well-being in Zimbabwe is being involved in a serious road accident. Large, overloaded trucks ply the main roads; highways are often narrow and have abrupt step-downs off the asphalt onto the shoulders. Large potholes are always found in the cities and frequently on the highways (causing drivers to swerve at high speed). At highway speeds, the potholes can be very dangerous (and not seen due to poorly illuminated roadways). Livestock and pedestrians can pose hazards to traffic on urban and rural roads. Nighttime travel outside of the larger cities is substantially more dangerous and should be avoided if at all possible.

With little maintenance and frequent power outages, traffic lights are often either non-functional or there is only one light working per intersection. Due care should be used in crossing any intersection that is not clearly marked by the lights. The absence of street lights makes driving hazardous after dark in the cities as well. Always wear seatbelts and drive defensively.

Travelers are frequently stopped at police roadblocks and are often told they have committed some traffic infraction. Increased traffic/vehicle violations (fines) went into effect on January 1, 2016, and police officers may indicate that a spot-fine has been levied and demand money. Speed traps and other moving violations are strictly enforced, as there has been publically announced increased enforcement of traffic violations due to the high number of traffic deaths due to speeding, poor driving, unsafe vehicles, and aggressive driving.

Civil unrest is a growing likelihood due to the economic hardships, drought, and political instability as 2018 national elections loom. The government restricts large gatherings of people and generally issues permits for demonstrations only if the demonstration is clearly in favor of the government or a cause that the government supports. If a demonstration is approved by the government, but considered possibly inflammatory, the demonstrators will be accompanied by a considerable number of riot police.

There is anti-American, and to a certain extent, anti-Western sentiment. The government publicly blames economic sanctions imposed by the US and other Western countries as one of the main reasons for its economic problems.

The government attempts to exercise strong control within its borders and over its population, and as a result, there are very few acts of extremism in the country. However, due to the lack of adequate funding, equipment, and resources, and due to multiple unofficial crossing points and a lack of airborne or electronic monitoring, it is possible that there are nefarious individuals transiting/residing in Zimbabwe (who departed from other African countries) .







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About 15 Percent Of U.S. Agencies Have Kaspersky Software On Computers

RFE/RL November 15, 2017

About 15 percent of U.S. government agencies have detected Kaspersky Lab's software on their systems in a review prompted by concerns that the Russian antivirus firm is vulnerable to Kremlin influence, a security official has told Congress.

Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security, testified on November 14 that 94 percent of agencies responded to an order to survey their networks to identify any use of Kaspersky products and to remove them.

Manfra said her department did "not currently have conclusive evidence" that any networks had been breached because of their use of Kaspersky software.

The administration of President Donald Trump ordered civilian U.S. agencies in September to remove Kaspersky software from their networks. U.S. officials are concerned that the company's antivirus software could be used by Russian intelligence agencies to spy on the U.S. government.

The decision was a sharp response to what U.S. intelligence agencies have described as a national security threat posed by Russia in cyberspace, including allegations that Moscow attempted to influence last year's U.S. presidential election through cyberattacks and leaks.

Kaspersky has repeatedly denied that it has ties to any government, and said it would not help a government with cyberespionage. Moscow has denied any interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The chief executive of the software company, Yevgenny Kaspersky, is a mathematical engineer who attended a KGB-sponsored school and once worked for the Russian Defense Ministry.

His critics say it's unlikely that his company could operate independently in Russia, where the economy is dominated by state-owned companies and the power of spy agencies has expanded dramatically under President Vladimir Putin.

Trump's September order required civilian agencies to identify any use of Kaspersky products within 30 days and to discontinue their use within 90 days.

Ninety-six of 102 federal agencies have reported on whether they found Kaspersky software on their networks, Manfra told the oversight subcommittee of the House of Representatives Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

The department is working with the remaining six "very small" agencies to assess their networks, she said.

The government was generally complying with the directive to remove the software, she said.

Manfra told lawmakers it is possible the move against Kaspersky could prompt litigation.

Asked if the company was considering suing the U.S. government, a spokeswoman for Kaspersky said the company "continues to consider all possible options."

The U.S. government's order to purge all computers of Kaspersky products gave the company an opportunity to respond and mitigate concerns about possible Kremlin influence.

Kaspersky provided a "significant" response under a deadline of November 10, Manfra said, adding that the response was still being reviewed by department lawyers.

Some lawmakers expressed agitation at why the U.S. government, having had suspicions about Kaspersky Lab for years, did not move more quickly to purge its software from networks.

Manfra said she became personally aware of concerns about the firm in 2014, and that while her agency promptly took steps to remove software, other agencies may have lagged because they did not have access to classified information.

The company's products generally appeared to land on U.S. government networks through larger technology purchases that included Kaspersky in prebundled software, Manfra said.

Kaspersky has said previously that its footprint in the U.S. federal government market was small.

To address suspicions, Kaspersky said last month it would submit the source code of its software and future updates for inspection by independent parties.

Manfra said such a step, while welcome, would "not be sufficient" to address concerns the U.S. government has about Kaspersky.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-agencies-15-percent- have-kaspersky-software-computers-no-breaches -detected/28854587.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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Afghan Opium Production Increases by 87 Percent

By Ayaz Gul November 15, 2017

Afghanistan has produced a record 9,000 metric tons of opium this year, up 87 percent compared with 2016 levels.

The sharp increase is recorded in a new joint survey released Wednesday by the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics and U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The production in 2016 stood at 4,800 metric tons in Afghanistan, the world's top cultivator of the poppy from which opium and heroin are produced.

The new survey noted the rise in production is mainly an outcome of an increase in the area under poppy cultivation, while an increase in opium yield per hectare also contributed.

"The area under opium poppy cultivation also increased to a record 328,000 hectares (ha) in 2017, up 63 percent compared with 201,000 hectares in 2016," according to the survey.

The largest increase of yields, it said, occurred in the southern Afghan region where the average yield grew by 19 percent and the northeastern region, with a 14 percent rise.

The Afghanistan director of UNODC, Mark Colhoun, called for an effective crackdown on revenue from the drug business among the steps needed to tackle the problem.

"More attention needs to be paid to preventing illicit financial flows, identifying drug-money laundering, and enabling effective prosecution and confiscation of assets. This needs to be done in conjunction with other international experts and actors, as much of the illicit funds derived from drug trafficking are not located in Afghanistan but are located in banks outside of the country," Colhoun said.

The U.S. military estimates more than 60 percent of the funding for Taliban insurgent activities comes from the illegal narcotics production.

The United States has invested more than $8 billion in Afghanistan since 2002 to counter the illegal drugs, but the production levels continue to soar to record levels.

"Increased insurgency and funding to terrorist groups is likely within Afghanistan, while more high quality, low cost heroin will reach consumer markets across the world leading to increased consumption and related harmful consequences," the survey noted.

The number of poppy-free provinces in the war-torn country has also decreased from 13 to 10, it said. The provinces that lost their decade-old poppy-free status are Ghazni, Samangan and Nuristan.

In the largest Afghan province, Helmand, where nine out of 14 districts are controlled or influenced by the Taliban, cultivation increased by 79 percent, accounting for about half of the total increase, the survey said.

U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, John Sopko, while testifying before a congressional hearing earlier this month, blamed security and lack of a U.S. strategy to fight the illicit narcotics.

"What concerns me is that when General Nicholson ... [testifies] that 60 percent of the funding going to the Taliban terrorists comes from narcotics trafficking and we have no strategy ... we are never going to win in Afghanistan if we don't focus on the whole narcotics problem," Sopko said.

General John Nicholson is the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban insurgency in support of Afghan security forces.

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Militant Convoy That Left Raqqa Contradicts America's New Counter-IS Strategy

By Carla Babb November 15, 2017

When the Trump administration rolled out a new campaign in May to "annihilate" Islamic State, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis praised tactical changes that would provide "no escape" for the terrorists.

But a convoy of thousands of Syrians  including hundreds of Islamic State (IS) fighters  permitted by U.S.-backed forces last month to leave the city once touted as the terror groups' de facto capital, challenges that notion. Several officials told VOA it also highlights the "limitations of fighting by, with and through" local forces.

"This [convoy] is not our ideal," U.S. Army Col. Ryan Dillon, the spokesman for the counter-Islamic State coalition, told VOA on Tuesday. "We did not want a negotiated surrender."

According to Dillon, the convoy included about 300 potential IS fighters and 3,500 civilians who were relatives of the militants. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told the coalition the deal would prevent further civilian casualties as a result of the conflict in Raqqa.

The convoy deal was brokered by the Raqqa Civilian Council, the Syrian Democratic Forces and tribal elders in the area. While the U.S. did not take part in the deal, it was aware of the convoy agreement and carefully watched the convoy as it left the city.

Dillon told VOA he had been surprised by the large number of family members and fighters.

"In Mosul, a lot of the hard-core fighters stayed to fight to the death. We expected the same here," he said, adding about 100 more IS fighters tried to take the deal after the convoy had left, but it was too late.

Strategic questions

Back in May, Mattis called for a new approach counterterrorism approach: "From shoving ISIS out of safe locations in an attrition fight to surrounding the enemy in their strongholds so we can annihilate ISIS," he said, using an acronym for the militant group.

Some defense officials are frustrated that allowing the convoy fails to follow that strategy. But Dillon points out that the convoy deal did follow Mattis' stated goal of "prevent(ing) the return home of escaped foreign fighters."

Dillon said that as part of the convoy agreement, U.S.-backed fighters had gathered and processed biometric data from all potential fighters. That screening led to the discovery of four foreign fighters in the convoy, who were identified and detained by the SDF.

He said, had the U.S. seen an opportunity to strike any of the fighters without harming the civilians in the convoy, they would have done so, but the opportunity never arose.

Escaping with heavy weapons

The IS convoy recently was highlighted in an article by the BBC. The BBC claimed that a "secret deal" allowed hundreds of fighters to escape Raqqa, but the deal actually was announced in a press release on October 14.

While the deal might not have been secret, some of the details the BBC obtained from sources who took part in the convoy are worrisome. BBC's sources report that the convoy included dozens of foreign fighters, along with tons of weapons and ammunition.

Dillon told reporters at the Pentagon he did not know why there was such a discrepancy between the U.S. data and the BBC reporting on the number of foreign fighters in the convoy.

"We are not aware of and certainly can't corroborate the amount [of weapons] that were described in the story," Dillon added.

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Xi returns with overseas successes

People's Daily Online

By WANG QINGYUN,AN BAIJIE (China Daily) 07:44, November 15, 2017

President says mutual trust will build up a win-win environment with Laos

President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that his visit to Laos was a success and he is "fully confident" of the future of China-Laos ties.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark when Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachith came to his hotel to bid farewell.

Xi said that during the visit he and Bounnhang, also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, had agreed to jointly build a community of a shared future with strategic importance for the two countries and planned for cooperation to strengthen synergy of strategies and to achieve mutual benefit.

He said that the two countries should fully implement the outcomes achieved in the visit and promote better development of the bilateral comprehensive strategic co operative partnership.

Bounnhang said Xi's successful visit to Laos has lifted Laos-China ties to a new level and that the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as well as Laos are "full of expectation" for the future development of the ties.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a cooperation deal between the two foreign ministries.

Xi wrapped up his two-day visit to Laos and returned to Beijing on Tuesday night.

Earlier in the day, Xi also met with Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Xi said China and Laos should push forward the construction of the China-Laos economic corridor and ensure smooth progress in the construction of the China-Laos railway.

Cooperation between China and Laos is highly complementary, Xi said, adding that the two countries should expand and deepen cooperation in energy resources, electric power and finance and strengthen cooperation in areas concerning people's livelihood, including education, healthcare and poverty alleviation.

The two countries are friendly neighbors and the two peoples cherish a traditional friendship that has a long history, Xi said, adding that China will continue sticking with friendly policies toward Laos.

He emphasized the two countries should continue maintaining high-level contacts, deepen exchanges of the experience of governing the parties and the countries, strengthen cooperation in defense, law enforcement and security, and enhance friendship between the two peoples.

Also, both sides should keep enriching and developing their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership featuring a high level of mutual trust, mutual support and mutual benefit, Xi emphasized.

Thongloun said the Laotian people had long been looking forward to Xi's visit and that he believed the visit will promote the two countries' comprehensive strategic co op erative partnership.

In a meeting in Vientian on Tuesday with Pany Yathotu, president of the Laotian National Assembly, Xi said the exchanges and cooperation between the National People's Congress of China and the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is an important part of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation.

He encouraged the two countries' legislatures to keep up the tradition of high-level exchanges.

Vientiane is the final leg of Xi's first overseas trip after the 19th CPC National Congress.

The trip also took him to Da Nang, Vietnam, to attend the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, and to Hanoi for a state visit.

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North Korea Sentences Trump 'to Death' for Calling Kim Jong-un 'Short and Fat'

Sputnik News

22:09 15.11.2017(updated 02:21 16.11.2017)

A North Korean news outlet has blasted US President Donald Trump with a furious diatribe, sentencing him "to death" for insulting "the dignity of the supreme [leader]," Kim Jong-un.

The editorial ran in Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party. Issued just after Trump's return from a 12-day tour of Asia, it called the American president, "no more than an old slave of money" who "dared point an accusing finger at the sun he is just a hideous criminal sentenced to death by the Korean people."

"The Korean people will regard the face of Trump as a symbol of wolf-like US imperialism and as a target of merciless retaliation and send him to the hell he likes so much to tout."

Rodong Sinmun also accuses Trump, who they described as an "old lunatic, mean trickster and human reject" of cowardice for not visiting the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas, as his three most immediate predecessors all did.

The US claimed that Trump intended to make a "surprise" visit to the DMZ, but bad weather forced him to turn back. North Korea saw things differently, claiming that Trump "was just too scared to face the glaring eyes of our troops."

In his time in South Korea, Trump encouraged Kim to sit down at the negotiating table alongside him. In a speech before the South Korean National Assembly, he mouthed his usual threats of retribution, but generally avoided the bombastic boasts and insults that have been typical of his previous comments to the North.

"We will not allow American cities to be threatened with destruction," Trump said. "The world cannot tolerate the menace of a rogue regime that threatens it with nuclear devastation."

That only lasted for a few days. "Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me 'old,' when I would NEVER call him 'short and fat?'" Trump asked in a Sunday Tweet. "Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend  and maybe someday that will happen!"

Trump has in the past referred to Kim as "Little Rocket Man" and told him that he was "on a suicide path for him and his regime." But a shot at Kim's appearance was a bridge too far, it seems.

"The worst crime for which [Trump] can never be pardoned is that he dared [to] malignantly hurt the dignity of the supreme leadership," the editorial read. "He will be forced to pay dearly for his blasphemy any moment."

Trump meanwhile claimed victory in his Asia trip, which saw visits to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. "Our great country is respected again in Asia. You will see the fruits of our long but successful trip for many years to come!" he tweeted.

 Sputnik

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China Sends Special Envoy to North Korea

By VOA News November 15, 2017

China is sending a special envoy to North Korea later this week.

The official Xinhua news agency says Song Tao, the head of China's Communist Party's external affairs department, will leave for North Korea on Friday to discuss China's recently concluded national congress with North Korean officials. The report gave no further details about Song's upcoming trip to Pyongyang.

China is North Korea's largest trading partner and closest diplomatic ally, but relations between the two have become frayed recently. Beijing is upset with Pyongyang over the regime's continued tests of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, in defiance of numerous international sanctions, and has backed a series of new United Nations sanctions imposed on the North.

U.S. President Donald Trump urged China and other regional leaders to increase their efforts to resolve the crisis on the Korean peninsula during his just-concluded five-nation, 12-day trip to Asia.

But China fears that any measure that could topple North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's regime, could lead to a flood of refugees across its border with the North, and deprive Beijing of a strategic buffer with democratic South Korea.

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India Envisions Early Deployment of Modern Tanks Along Chinese, Pakistani Border

Sputnik News

21:34 15.11.2017

The Indian Army chief has said that ultra-modern armored vehicles are the need of the hour for India to be prepared for hybrid warfare along the Pakistani-Chinese border.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  The Indian Army is looking to induct modern tanks and ICVs (Infantry Combat Vehicles) from 2025-2027. Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has stressed the need for platforms that are lighter in weight so that they can be operated in complex terrain, as well as be integrated with other systems.

"Whatever be the future armored vehicle we are looking at, we must have the capability to operate on the western border and the northern border. Whatever equipment we are going to introduce must be capable of interoperability on both fronts," General Rawat said during a Future Armored Vehicles India 2017 seminar in New Delhi.

"It is a very complex system we are looking at and we cannot make any mistakes," he added.

The army chief's remark came days after the Indian Army issued a global Request for Information (RFI) for the development and manufacturing of Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) under a strategic partnership model.

"We will have to look at technology to reduce the weight of our war-fighting machines. We will have to overcome terrain with maneuvering space reducing even down south in the desert, in that sector hardening of the desert has started," the army chief added.

In the RFI, the Indian Army has specified the requirement of a 50-ton "new generation, state-of-the-art combat vehicle platform." The proposed new tanks are not only meant to replace the vintage T-72 tank fleet, but will also form the base platform for the main battle tank.

It is estimated that replacing approximately 2,400 T-72 tanks will cost India approximately $8 billion. The procurement will involve the transfer of technology of at least 25 components including engine technology, automatic transmission system, tracks and suspension systems, energy storage technology, gun barrel metallurgy, advance technology tube launched ATGM, third generation thermal imaging sights, armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) projectiles, ammunition for tanks with DoP>650 mm, full solution fire control systems, among others.

 Sputnik

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India's Opposition Smells Rat in Rafale Deal

Sputnik News

16:29 15.11.2017(updated 17:08 15.11.2017)

The Indian National Congress has questioned the rationale behind the Narendra Modi-led government's decision to purchase French Rafale jets at an inflated price.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  With France pushing for the sale of more Rafale combat jets to India, India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), has charged the Narendra Modi-led government with violating serious defense purchase rules and has alleged that the Rafale deal undermines national interest and national security.

Citing a the series of questionable developments that led to the signing of the "costly" Rafale deal, the INC has demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi answer every doubt the opposition has about the deal.

"Why is the Modi government buying 36 Rafale aircraft at a highly inflated price compared to the originally negotiated base price by the previous government? Is it not correct that the Modi government is buying 36 Rafale aircraft without the transfer of technology for $8.7 billion while the previous government had negotiated 126 Rafale aircraft at a base price of $10.2 billion along with the transfer of technology," Randeep Singh Surjewala, principal spokesperson of INC said.

Surjewala said that a "huge scam" is brewing with regard to the procurement of fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. "Why was this done by Prime Minister bypassing the interests of a reputed public sector undertaking like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)? Why has the joint venture for the biggest ever Indian defense deal between Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence Limited not gone through the proper procedure of approval by the Union Cabinet, Cabinet Committee on Security and Foreign Investment Promotion Board?" Surjewala said.

The corruption allegation comes just a few days after the French defense minister along with Dassault Chairman Eric Trappier laid the foundation stone of Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited's (DRAL's) manufacturing facility at Mihan in India. The plant is expected to start production as early as 2018, and the first Rafale is expected to land in India in 2019. During his recent Indian tour, Trappier tried to evade the Indian media's question on why Dassault had inflated the price of 36 Rafale. "You have to ask the [Indian] government this question," Trappier had replied.

 Sputnik

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Iraqi army forces, allies retake over dozen villages in Anbar

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 03:26PM

Iraqi government forces, backed by allied fighters from Popular Mobilization Units, have established control over more than a dozen villages in the country's western province of Anbar as they are trying to purge the Euphrates Valley, which straddles the Iraqi-Syrian border, from the last remnants of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

The commander of the al-Jazira and Upper Euphrates liberation operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, said on Wednesday that army troops and pro-government fighters  better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi  had completely retaken 13 villages, including al-Jadish, al-Deir, al-Khour, al-Bawadiyah, al-Sammah, al-Baydhah, al-Hassaniyah, and al-Samsiyah over the past three days, and killed more than 38 Daesh extremists, Arabic-language al-Mawazin news agency reported.

Yarallah noted that government forces and their allies had also detonated six car bombs, killed three bombers, and destroyed eight motorcycle bombs as well as 10 vehicles carrying personnel and military hardware to Daesh terrorists.

The senior Iraqi military official further noted that the forces had defused or detonated more than 100 improvised explosive devices during the mentioned period as well.

Yarallah went on to say that military units were continuing to advance towards the town of Rawah, located about 300 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad.

On November 11, Iraqi army soldiers and Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters launched a major operation to retake Rawah.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in a statement released on November 8, announced that Daesh had taken about 2,500 families, equivalent to some 10,000 individuals, hostage in Rawah.

The OHCHR also appealed to the Iraqi government and security forces involved in the Rawah liberation operation to open safe exit routes for civilians to frustrate terrorist schemes aimed at using ordinary people as human shields.

Late last month, the Iraqi prime minister formally ordered the launch of operations to purge Daesh terrorists from the towns of Rawah and al-Qa'im.

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Iraqi PM urges Kurds to withdraw to pre-2003 borders

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 07:11AM

The Iraqi prime minister has welcomed a decision by Kurdish officials to respect a recent court ban on secession, but called on them to hand over control of the territory they have illegally overrun since 2003.

"We will not back down, our forces are there and I urge officials of the (Kurdish) region to abide by their previous statements and return to 2003 borders and, secondly, to hand over borders to the federal authority," Haider al-Abadi said during a weekly news conference on Tuesday.

He further urged the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to "coordinate and cooperate" with Baghdad on issues related to oil revenues, airports and borders.

Iraq's constitution recognizes a semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the country's north administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The region is comprised of three provinces of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk.

However, the Kurds took advantage of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq to expand their territory to include disputed regions such as Kirkuk.

Kurdish militants further swept through more areas in 2014, when they joined Iraq's fight against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

"I would not say that our patience will run out, but we will not wait forever and we will take measures," Abadi said.

The premier, however, predicted that his government's forces would regain control of the border areas without confrontation.

Abadi further added that the Iraqi constitution protects the nation's integrity, "ensuring security, stability and enforcing the federal authority in all places. This stance serves the interests of our citizens, especially Kurdish citizens."

The premier's remarks came hours after the KRG said it would abide by a recent top court ruling that bans any secession from the mainland, expressing hope that the decision will set the stage for dialog between Baghdad and Erbil.

It followed a controversial referendum on the secession of the Kurdish region, which was held on September 25 in defiance of strong objection from both Baghdad and Iraq's neighbors, particularly Iran and Turkey.

The plebiscite prompted the Iraqi government to take a number of punitive measures, including a military campaign to seize back the positions overrun by the Kurdish militants.

Iraqi government forces have accused the Kurds of delaying the handover of control of border crossings.

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In Myanmar, Tillerson rules out major bans over Rohingya crisis

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:20AM

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has met with Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, expressing deep concerns about "credible reports" of government-sanctioned violence against Rohingya Muslims.

Tillerson held talks with Suu Kyi on Wednesday in Myanmar's capital of Naypyidaw during his one-day visit there.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Suu Kyi, Tillerson said that Washington would consider targeted sanctions against individual people if they were found responsible for the violence.

He insisted, however, that he would not advise "broad-based economic sanctions" against the entire country.

"All of that has to be evidence-based," Tillerson said. "If we have credible information that we believe to be very reliable that certain individuals were responsible for certain acts that we find unacceptable, then targeted sanctions on individuals very well may be appropriate," he said, diplomatically.

The top US diplomat was also due to meet with Myanmar's military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, who is in charge of the operations in Rakhine, where government military operations have led to the exodus of more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims from their country.

A senior US State Department official said on Tuesday that Tillerson would use the visit to "express concerns over the displacement and violence and insecurity affecting Rohingya populations and other local populations and discuss ways to help Burma (Myanmar) stakeholders implement commitments aimed at ending the crisis and charting productive ways forward."

Myanmar's military denies widespread reports of such atrocities, most recently with a statement Monday.

Military authorities claimed they had interviewed thousands of people during a month-long probe into the conduct of troops in Rakhine. While the report said battles with alleged Rohingya-affiliated militants had killed 376 "terrorists," it also claimed that its military forces had "never shot at the innocent Bengalis" and "there was no death of innocent people."

The government in Myanmar refuses to recognize the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine as a local ethnic group even though they have lived there for generations.

Meanwhile, Tillerson's visit was reportedly prompted by bipartisan anger among US lawmakers about the persisting atrocities in Myanmar.

"In recent weeks, we've also witnessed the appalling images of atrocities being committed by the Burmese military against the Rohingy minority," said Republican Senator Bob Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, during a Tuesday hearing to examine the US policy toward Myanmar.

"Hundreds of men and women and children systematically killed. Hundreds of thousands of people fled as their homes burned," he said.

Another Republican Senator, James Risch of Idaho, said, "There is no difference in our feeling, all of the committee... We all share this frustration. We all share this outrage."

Moreover, lawmakers in the House and Senate have also recommended a series of new sanctions on Myanmar's military, which, Corker said, "continues to control key ministries and large swaths of the economy" even after the 2015 election a civilian government.

Suu Kyi's government has remained almost entirely silent in the face of outcry. On the once occasion that she spoke, she defended the military's activities.

Corker said, "Her failure to acknowledge the seemingly systematic campaign of brutality by the Burmese military continues to undermine the civilian government and Burma's democratic transition as a whole,"

He voiced his "shock and dismay at her dismissiveness" of concerns about what has been happening to the Rohingya.

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Tillerson in Myanmar on Mission to Resolve Rohingya Crisis

By VOA News November 15, 2017

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on a visit to Myanmar, expressed concern over "credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by security forces and vigilantes" in Rakhine state but said "broad-based economic sanctions" against the country would not be advisable.

"I have a hard time seeing how that helps resolve this crisis," Tillerson said, speaking of what the United Nations has called "textbook ethnic cleansing" of the Rohingya Muslim minority, adding that targeted sanctions against individuals "may very well be appropriate." He spoke alongside Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"We want to see Myanmar succeed," he said, announcing that the U.S. will provide an additional $47 million in aid to Rohingya refugees, bringing the total this year to $87 million.

Tillerson called scenes in the troubled Rakhine state "just horrific" and urged Myanmar to fulfill the recommendations of a report lead by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, which included creating a path to full citizenship for Rohingya.

Ann San Suu Kyi responded by thanking Tillerson for acknowledging the challenges of the situation, and for keeping an open mind.

"An open mind is very rare these days," she said.

Shortly after arriving in the capital of Naypyidaw on Wednesday, Tillerson met with army chief Min Aung Hlaing, whose forces have been accused of launching a scorched-earth campaign against Rohingya villages in northwestern Rakhine state in response to attacks on Myanmar police outposts by Rohingya militant forces in August. The campaign led to a mass exodus of 600,000 Rohingyas into neighboring Bangladesh, who told human rights groups of serious atrocities committed by government security forces, including random shootings, rapes and villages being set ablaze.

Myanmar military officials said an internal investigation found no evidence its soldiers committed any such atrocities against the Rohingyas, and that troops only killed 376 Rohingya "terrorists" during battles with the insurgents. The report was denounced by the New York-based Human Rights Watch as an attempt by the military to "whitewash" its actions.

Aung San Suu Kyi's reputation as a Nobel peace laureate and pro-democracy icon has been tarnished by criticism over a perceived slow response to the crisis. Because she shares power with the military, many Western governments have been reluctant to ostracize Aung San Suu Kyi during a fragile transition to democracy.

The Rohingya minority have long been denied citizenship and other rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which views them as immigrants from Bangladesh despite the fact that many families have lived in Myanmar for generations.

VOA's Nike Ching contributed to this report.

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Rosneft Chief Sechin A No-Show -- Again -- At Russian Minister's Trial

RFE/RL November 15, 2017

The chief of state-owned Russian oil giant Rosneft, Igor Sechin, has for a second time failed to report to a Moscow court to testify in a high-profile extortion trial.

Sechin, who is seen as a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, did not show up on November 15 at Zamoskvoretsky district court, where he had been summoned to testify as a witness in the trial of former Economy Minister Aleksei Ulyukayev.

Judge Larisa Semyonova had ordered the second summons to be issued on November 13, when Sechin failed to appear after an initial summons.

Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontyev said on November 15 that Sechin was on a business trip, the Interfax news agency reported.

A longtime former deputy chief of staff to Putin, Sechin is a key figure in the case: Prosecutors say that he handed Ulyukayev the $2 milllion that the then-minister allegedly extorted from him in exchange for a favorable decision on a major acquisition by Rosneft.

The oil company chief's failure to appear in court so far has attracted additional attention to a case that has already thrown rifts in Putin's ruling elite into sharp relief.

It could raise questions about the outcome of the trial -- an unusual development in Russia, where rights groups say courts are beholden to the Kremlin and the verdict in politically charged cases often seems obvious in advance.

'Health Problems'

Ulyukayev, who is being held under house arrest and has looked gaunt and grim in court appearances, is one of the highest-ranking officials to be arrested in Russia since the Soviet era.

He is accused of extorting the bribe from Sechin in exchange for his ministry's approval for Rosneft to acquire a majority stake in the regional oil company Bashneft.

Prosecutors say Ulyukayev, 61, was caught taking a case full of money from Sechin at Rosneft headquarters in a sting operation.

Ulyukayev's trial began in August. He says he is not guilty and accuses Sechin and the Federal Security Service (FSB) of tricking him by telling him the case was full of wine.

Putin fired Ulyukayev shortly after he was detained in November 2016.

Ukyukaev is suffering health problems including "a suspected eye retina rupture, cataract, severe headaches and dizziness, and critical weight loss," one of his lawyers, Larisa Kashtanova, said in court.

Defense lawyers asked the court to let him visit a medical establishment on November 17 for diagnostic procedures and dental treatment.

The judge, Semyonova, said at the hearing that the second summons had been sent to Sechin by fax, regular mail, and e-mail.

She said the document sent by post might be still on its way, while the e-mail had been read by a recipient but it was not clear whether Sechin opened it himself.

Semyonova ordered court offices to summon Sechin a third time, for a hearing scheduled on November 22.

Rosneft spokesman Leontyev declined to comment on whether Sechin would attend, saying that "information about the work schedule of the Rosneft chief executive officer is not public," Interfax reported.

Ahead of the hearing on November 13, Leontyev said that Sechin had not received the first summons, and Semyonova said company employees had refused to accept it when it was delivered to Rosneft's headquarters in Moscow.

Later that day Sechin attended meetings in the southern Russian city of Sochi, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with Putin.

Ulyukayev told reporters in court on November 15 that he has read "probably about 50 books" since he was placed under house arrest, Interfax reported.

He said he was also writing his own book "about the good life."

With reporting by Interfax, Meduza, and Rapsinews

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-sechin-second-no-show- ulyukayev-extortion-trial/28855460.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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Sechin's No-Shows At Big Trial Provide New Twist In Russia's Power Game

Tom Balmforth November 15, 2017

MOSCOW -- There was a sense of inevitability as Igor Sechin, the powerful CEO of Russia's sprawling state oil giant and a trusted lieutenant of President Vladimir Putin, failed to turn up in court this week -- not once, but twice.

The 57-year-old St. Petersburg native had been summoned to testify as a witness in the landmark corruption trial of the first serving minister to be arrested since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Sechin has a fearsome reputation within a shadowy political system where power often trumps process and political heavyweights can wield more clout than the courts.

For a second time, Judge Larisa Semyonova told a packed Moscow courtroom on November 15 that Sechin had been formally summoned to testify -- this time by post, fax, and e-mail. She added that he would be called by the court a third time to testify, on November 22.

In a hint that law enforcement agencies might be prepared to act on the matter, a spokesman for the Prosecutor-General's Office then told state news agency RIA Novosti that it "hopes" Sechin will attend this time, adding that he "doesn't think any of the trial's participants intend to insult the court."

It is just the latest intrigue in an opaque and potentially explosive extortion trial that appears to pit formidable Kremlin clans against each other and has been watched closely by Russia's business and political elite for clues as to which faction might be gaining the upper hand.

The twists and turns could be more than routine jockeying, with some analysts saying they signify a broader battle for rival visions of Russia's future ahead of a presidential election in March.

Sechin is associated with the so-called silovik factions dominated by security-service veterans. He backs greater state control over the economy -- in particular, energy resources -- and tighter domestic political control.

The 61-year-old former economy minister on trial, Aleksei Ulyukayev, was a member of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet until his arrest and sacking a year ago. He is accused of soliciting a $2 million bribe from Sechin in return for approval of that company's acquisition of oil major Bashneft.

Ulyukayev is accused of demanding the payoff at an encounter with Sechin in Goa, India. He was arrested a month later, at Rosneft's Moscow offices, in an apparent sting operation with Sechin's cooperation.

But the pushback against Sechin has been clear since the trial began, and the order for him to appear to testify in court surprised many.

"This is not just a personal conflict between Sechin and Medvedev. It's more systemic," says Dmitry Oreshkin, head of the Moscow-based Mercator think tank.

"Sechin wanted to turn everything to the advantage of the siloviks: full control over Russia and its resources, isolation, and other Soviet things. But it turns out that there is a force that allows itself to resist. A systemic force."

The first arrest of a sitting federal minister on Russia's territory since around the time of Josef Stalin's death in 1953 sent shock waves through the elite.

There was speculation that it marked the ascendancy of Sechin and his group of associates in the battle for influence under Putin, whose has steadily consolidated his grip on power since 1999.

But Ulyukayev launched an extraordinary attack against Sechin from the dock in August as the trial began, alleging that the Rosneft head had fabricated the case and set him up and saying he had been lured to their meeting to discuss innocuous corporate matters.

The trial has produced other awkward moments for Sechin.

A purported transcript was read out in court in which Sechin could be heard offering Ulyukayev a "little basket of sausages." It emerged that Sechin often gifts friends and business partners baskets of meats from animals he has hunted himself, and the basket rapidly became an online meme at Sechin's -- and occasionally Putin's -- expense.

Later, an anonymously sourced story in Rosbalt, an outlet that regularly publishes leaks touching on sensitive cases, suggested that Sechin had made a crucial misstep during the sting because it wasn't clear from the transcript that Ulyukayev knew he was receiving a bribe. The source also said he was astonished the trial was open to the public, potentially favoring Ulyukayev.

A former Kremlin adviser, Gleb Pavlovsky, has argued that the court summonses have been particularly uncomfortable for Sechin, who emerged as a loyal deputy to Putin during the latter's rise from St. Petersburg deputy mayor to Russia's ruler of 18 years.

Pavlovsky told Echo Moscow radio station that "of course he is experiencing extreme discomfort because the case against Ulyukayev, which was meant to confirm his power, has exposed the schemes of his presence, his mode of operating, his political and bureaucratic know-how. And he is trying any way he can to step back into the shadows."

Political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin said he thinks the very fact that Sechin was summoned to court indicates there is a powerful "systemic" force challenging him. He also speculated that the confrontation cuts along ideological lines at an important juncture for Russia.

Russia holds a presidential election in March that Putin is widely expected to run in and win for a fourth term, extending his rule until 2024.

Russia is slowly emerging from a two-year recession aggravated by waves of Western sanctions designed to punish Moscow for annexing Ukraine's Crimea, backing separatists in eastern Ukraine, and allegedly interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Oreshkin said pushback against Sechin could indicate resistance to his more isolationist vision of Russia and doubt among the elite at a continuation of the current course.

"There is discord," said Oreshkin. "The Putin consensus that was built in the 2000s is still maintained; it is not collapsing. But certain tensions have been delineated."

He suggested decision makers in the Kremlin were struggling to find a way forward.

"Should they tighten the screws and therefore lose investments and come under further sanctions?" Oreshkin said. "Or should they loosen them and demonstrate a certain openness, and observe Western standards to at least a moderate extent, and so on? This strategic line hasn't been decided, and these doubts are refracted in the Ulyukayev trial."

Putin has been remained publicly neutral about the case.

The Kremlin did not appear overly concerned with Sechin skipping his first summons date on November 13, as Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the same day that Sechin would later be taking part in Putin's meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the southern resort city of Sochi.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-sechin- ulyukayev-corruption-trial-no-show-putin- kremlin-tensions/28855796.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Justice Ministry Warns RFE/RL As Duma Passes New Media Restrictions

RFE/RL's Russian Service November 15, 2017

Russia's lower house of parliament has unanimously approved legislation that would authorize the government to designate media outlets receiving funding from abroad as "foreign agents."

Within hours of the measure's passage, the Justice Ministry sent warnings to at least three RFE/RL news services. The letters did not specify what potential restrictions they could face, but lawmakers have said designated media could be required to meet a detailed financial reporting requirement and to label published material as coming from a foreign agent.

The State Duma approved the amendments -- which Amnesty International said would deal a "serious blow" to media freedom in Russia -- in the third and final reading on November 15.

The move came two days after the Russian state-funded television channel RT registered in the United States under a decades-old law known as the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

RT officials had complained repeatedly about being forced to comply with the law, and warned of retaliation.

RFE/RL was one of several media outlets that Russian officials warned could be labeled a foreign agent, a list that included CNN, Voice of America, and Germany's international broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Earlier on November 15, Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin described the legislation as a "symmetrical response" to what he said was U.S. pressure against Russian journalists. And deputy Duma speaker Pyotr Tolstoi said it "will in no way affect freedom of speech in Russia."

But Amnesty International said the authorities would "tighten their stranglehold" if they approve the measure, worsening "what was already a fairly desperate situation for press freedom in Russia."

Russia's upper house was expected to take up the measure on November 22, after which it heads to President Vladimir Putin for his signature.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say whether Putin would sign the measure, but he added that the bill gives Moscow the ability to respond to any "restrictions to the freedom of Russian media abroad."

Under the legislation, articles and broadcasts by registered media must be accompanied by a disclaimer informing audiences of the outlet's status as a "foreign agent."

It is unclear if the Justice Ministry will be able to shut down foreign-funded media outlets that refuse to register themselves as foreign agents. Tolstoi said on November 14 that media outlets which refuse "will stop working on the territory of the Russian Federation."

Shortly after the legislation's passage, the ministry sent letters to RFE/RL's Russian Service and to Idel.realii, a Russian-language web project of RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service which focuses on news from Russia's central Volga region.

Current Time, a Russian language TV project run by RFE/RL in cooperation with Voice of America, also received a warning.

The letters did not make any specific threats, except to note that the news operations might face restrictions under the new law.

For months, Moscow has complained that RT and a state-funded news agency called Sputnik have come under increasing pressure in the United States in the past year and has vowed to respond by targeting U.S. media in Russia.

Garri Minkh, the presidential administration's representative at the Duma, told state-run news agency TASS that Putin's administration "supports" the Duma bill.

A U.S. intelligence finding in January asserted that RT and Sputnik spread disinformation as part of a Russian-government effort to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Moscow has denied any such effort.

In a November 15 statement, RFE/RL said that the "situation regarding Russian media in the U.S. and U.S. media in Russia remains vastly unequal."

"RT and Sputnik distribute freely in the U.S., whereas RFE/RL has lost its broadcast affiliates in Russia due to administrative pressures, and has no access to cable," it said. "RFE/RL reporters are subject to harassment and even physical attack in Russia."

"RFE/RL's job is to provide accurate and objective journalism to our Russian-speaking audiences worldwide, including in Russia," the statement concluded. "We look forward to continuing our work."

The Duma also approved amendments to the mass-media law that would allow the extrajudicial blocking of websites that the Russian government deemed "undesirable."

Currently, 11 international nonprofit organizations have been declared "undesirable" in Russia, but none of their websites has been blocked.

'Onerous Obligations'

Amnesty International said that the bill would impose "onerous obligations to declare full details of their funding, finances, and staffing."

Independent media outlets and journalists in Russia face "reprisals and risk attacks on an almost daily basis," said Denis Krivosheev, the organization's deputy director for Europe and Central Asia.

"This latest legislation takes obstacles for media working in Russia to a whole new level," Krivosheyev said.

Deputy speaker Tolstoi said on November 14 that foreign-funded news organizations that refused to register as foreign agents under the proposed legislation would be barred from operating in the country. The measure would not affect Russian media that were partially financed by foreign capital, he said.

Mikhail Fedotov, head of the presidential human rights council and an author of Russia's original mass-media law, criticized the amendments, telling the RBK news service that there was no need to amend the existing mass media law and that any "symmetrical response" should be implemented by the executive branch.

Former Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin also criticized the legislation

"The amendments on giving foreign agent status are being adopted hastily and are badly thought out," he wrote.

U.S. officials say that the existing Russian law regarding foreign agents differs from FARA, which was passed in 1938 to counter fears of Nazi propaganda and disinformation being spread in the United States.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said last month that the need for registration under FARA "is simply triggered when an entity or an individual engages in political activity."

The developments come as ties between the United States and Russia continue to be severely strained over issues including Moscow's alleged interference in the U.S. presidential election last year and its military intervention in Ukraine.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on November 14 that "our relations are degrading day by day" and "have reached the lowest point in recent decades."

With reporting by Meduza and TASS

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-amnesty-foreign -media-bill-repressive/28854885.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian bombers strike Daesh-held Bukamal in eastern Syria

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 05:06PM

Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bombers have launched fresh airstrikes against the positions of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group near the town of Bukamal in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, days after the extremists recaptured the territory from government forces, supported by allied fighters from popular defense groups.

Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that six planes took off from an air base in Russia, flew over Iran and Iraq, and bombarded fortified areas, manpower, supply depots and armored vehicles of the terrorists.

The statement added that satellite and drone surveillance had confirmed that all of the designated targets had been destroyed.

It said Sukhoi-30SM fighter jets, based at Russia-run Hmeimim air base southeast of Syria's western coastal city of Latakia, had escorted the bombers while they were in Syrian air space, and that all the bombers had safely returned to their bases.

On November 4, TU-22m3 bombers flew from Russia across Iran and Iraq, and conducted airstrikes against Daesh targets near Bukamal.

Russia's Defense Ministry said at the time that command centers and weapons depots were among the targets hit by the bombers.

Russia's Kolpino submarine launched six Kalibr cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea against Daesh outposts in Bukamal on November 3.

Six Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers launched a massive aerial assault against designated terrorist targets near Bukamal on November 1, destroying fortified areas, arms and ammunition depots.

The development came only a day after the Russian Black Sea Fleet's submarine, Veliky Novgorod, carried out a major strike with three Kalibr cruise missiles on important Daesh positions near Bukamal.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that Daesh terrorists' command posts, a fortified area where militants and armored vehicles were present, as well as a large arsenal of weapons and munitions were destroyed as a result.

Since September 2015, Russia has been conducting aerial attacks against terrorist positions in Syria at a request from the Damascus government.

Backed by Russian air power, Syrian ground forces have managed to make numerous gains against terrorists on various fronts.

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Russia-Based Bombers Hit Islamic State Sites In Syria, Military Says

November 15, 2017

Six long-range bombers taking off from home bases in Russia overflew Iran and Iraq to strike sites held by Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria's Deir al-Zor Province, the Russian military says.

The Russian Defense Ministry on November 15 said the TU-22M3 bombers hit IS targets near the town of Albu Kamal in Deir al-Zor Province.

The sites included supply depots, militants, and armored vehicles identified through satellite and drone surveillance, said the ministry, which added that all of the designated targets had been destroyed.

The ministry said Russian Sukhoi-30SM fighter jets based at Syria's Hmeymim air base escorted the bombers while in Syrian air space. It said all aircraft safely returned to their bases.

The mission came a day after Russia accused the United States of only acting as if it is fighting terrorism and of actually providing air cover for IS units in Syria.

The ministry said U.S. air forces had attempted to hinder Russian strikes on militants around Albu Kamal.

Colonel Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State, called the allegations the "latest barrage of lies" by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russia's initial allegations included images purporting to show "irrefutable evidence" that U.S. forces were defending IS targets. Some of the images later were identified as coming from a video game.

The Kremlin said that "mistakes happen" and that the person responsible for the fake images was punished.

Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and The Washington Post

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/syria-russian-bombers-hit- islamic-state-targets/28856047.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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Air Force locates signal that may be from missing Mirage-2000

ROC Central News Agency

2017/11/15 21:20:12

Taipei, Nov. 15 (CNA) The Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force announced on Wednesday that it has located a signal similar to that sent from the black box of a Mirage-2000 fighter jet, as the search for a fighter jet that went missing last Tuesday continues.

Two days after the Air Force reportedly detected a signal in the vicinity where the jet disappeared, it released a press statement Wednesday evening saying the location of the signal has been pinpointed at 145 kilometers north by northeast of Keelung.

According to an unnamed Air Fore official, Navy vessels are already conducting a search in the area.

However, there has been no official confirmation as to whether the black box has been found, given that such signals are regularly distorted by ocean currents and the seabed, the official added.

The source of the signal must be found before it can be confirmed whether it is the missing Mirage-2000's black box.

The aircraft, piloted by Captain Ho Tzu-yu (), took off at 6:09 p.m. on Nov. 7 on a regular nighttime training exercise before losing contact with the control tower at 6:43 p.m. about 90 nautical miles north-northeast of Keelung.

Despite an intensive search launched the night of the plane's disappearance, rescue teams have so far failed to locate the missing aircraft or its pilot.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Kuan-lin Liu)

Enditem/AW

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'Broken' British army '20 years out of date': Ex-military commander

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 03:16AM

A retired British military chief has warned that his country's army is "20 years out of date" due to defense cuts and falling behind other comparative nations in the face of terror threats.

General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Forces Command, made the remarks before the House of Commons defense committee on Tuesday as part of a government review of national security capabilities and defense budget.

Speaking alongside counterparts from the navy and air force, Barrons warned MPs that a lack of money and policy of denial had left the British army "not fit for purpose," and at risk of "institutional failure."

"All three armed forces are falling behind the rate of innovation you see in our peers," he told the committee. "The people who are in defense, they have to keep going every day so they are never going to say publicly, or to themselves, or to their enemies, or to their allies, that we're broken."

Barrons cited a lack of air defenses, unmanned drones and cyber warfare capabilities as reasons for a push to an increase in the military budget, saying that "defense is close to breaking and unless you put more money in it, it will fall over."

"If we want an Army that can actually fight, we have got to acquire some modern capabilities. It is miles from being able to do that," he said.

"When they fly, sail or deploy on the land and they look at their equipment, they look at their sustainability, they look at the shortfalls in their training and they look at their allies, they know they are not fit for purpose," the retired general added.

UK faces threats posed by Russia, North Korea and Daesh

During the Tuesday session, Barrons also warned of multiple "existential threats" to Britain and that the army needed to be prepared for countering them.

"We now live in an age where people who are not on our side have capability that they could - not saying they will, they could - inflict on the UK homeland at short notice, which we can't deal with," he said.

"[These threats] come in the form of Daesh (ISIL) who, if they could, would find weapons of mass destruction and apply them to the UK; thankfully, so far that has been comprehensively seen off," Barrons added.

"We are locked in a daily confrontation with Russia, we are looking at North Korea which, within the next 12 to 18 months, will mate a nuclear missile to an intercontinental-range ballistic missile that can reach London  we can't deal with that," he noted.

This comes as the British armed forces have been asked to come up with a list of options for cuts as part of the Ministry of Defense's struggles to control spending through an overall review.

Calling on the committee to reconsider proposed cuts to defense spending, Barrons stressed that all three branches of the armed services were already stretched to the limit.

Since 2010, the UK's military approach has been conditioned by the reality of a dramatically shrinking budget. Since then, the size of the armed forces has also shrunk by around one sixth.

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US military leaders can reject 'illegal' nuclear strike order by Trump: ex-general

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 15, 2017 05:00AM

US military commanders could refuse to follow a possible presidential order to carry out a nuclear first strike should they view it as illegal, a retired military general has told a Senate hearing.

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing was held on Tuesday to examine the president's authority to launch a nuclear strike amid rising tensions with nuclear-powered North Korea.

Congressional approval is required for the use of conventional military force, but the nuclear powers fall under the authority of the president. That has left some Democrats worried who argue that the president should be deprived of the power to order a preemptive attack, particularly a nuclear one, if there is no threat of an imminent strike.

Among the people who testified before the committee were former high-ranking Pentagon officials, who said that Trump, like previous presidents, has the authority to order a retaliatory nuclear strike, but not a preemptive one.

Retired Air Force General Robert Kehler, commander of US Strategic Command under former President Barack Obama, said he would have refused to carry out a nuclear first strike on presidential orders, if he believed it did not meet the requirements of proportionality and necessity under the law of armed conflict.

"I would have said, I'm not ready to proceed," Kehler told the senators.

"Fortunately, these are all hypothetical scenarios. There is the human factor in our system. There is a human element to this."

"It would be a very interesting constitutional situation, I believe. The military is obligated to follow legal orders but is not obligated to follow illegal orders," Kehler noted.

The retired general and others testified that nuclear protocols ensure the execution of a presidential order for a nuclear strike only in the event of a nuclear attack on the United States.

Duke University's Peter Feaver, a political science professor, said that such an order by the president "requires personnel at all levels" to sign off on it.

Feaver added the secretary of defense, military leaders and lawyers would vet such an order. "The president cannot by himself push a button and cause missiles to fly," he noted.

Former US Defense Department undersecretary Brian McKeon however said that a preemptive military strike against North Korea or other countries would be "war in the constitutional sense that Congress should authorize." He also argued that a military commander refusing to obey a nuclear strike order could lead to the president replacing him with a commander that would certainly carry out the order.

Worried that the president could start off a nuclear war against North Korea, Democrats have drafted legislation stipulating the president must obtain a declaration of war from Congress before ordering a nuclear first strike.

"The system as it is set up today provides the president with the sole and ultimate authority to use nuclear weapons," said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, ranking Democrat on the Senate committee.

"We are concerned that the president of the United States is so unstable, is so volatile ... that he might order a nuclear weapons strike," said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

Republicans warned against the message that restricting the president's ability to use nuclear weapons would send to the world about America's determination to respond to threats.

Senator Bob Corker, the committee's Republican chairman, acknowledged that many senators have raised questions about Trump's authority to use nuclear weapons. However, Corker said the hearing was not intended to target Trump. "This is not specific to anybody," he said.

"I do not see a legislative solution today, but that doesn't mean that over the course of the next several months one might develop," he told reporters after the hearing.

Tensions have been building up on the Korean Peninsula over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests. The North Korean leader ordered the production of more rocket warheads and engines in August shortly after the United States suggested that its threats of military action and sanctions were having an impact on Pyongyang's behavior.

Pyongyang says it will not give up on its nuclear deterrence unless Washington ends its hostile policy toward the country and dissolves the US-led UN command in South Korea. Thousands of US soldiers are stationed in South Korea and Japan.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The Google Nexus Player was first introduced back in late-2014 around the time that Android Lollipop launched. Since then, Googles TV Nexus device powered by Android TV has been receiving updates. It was updated to Oreo a couple of months ago which brought a brand-new interface to the streaming device.

Although the device is clearly missing from Googles list of devices supported with software updates, the Nexus Player received an update with the latest security bulletin from Google. When booting the Nexus Player back up, a prompt introduces Google Assistant for the device. You can use either the bundled remote or the Android TV app to talk to Google Assistant.

Considering that Google is still updating the Nexus Player, we could speculate that it may be working on releasing a TV streaming box that would launch alongside Googles Chromecast offerings. Although the Nexus Player is running the latest version of Android, its 1GB of RAM, 8GB of onboard storage and 1.8GHz Intel Atom SoC may be reaching the end of its life. Though, given its 5GHz Wi-Fi compatibility, its still good for streaming.

Via




Haiti - PetroCaribe : Laurent Lamothe categorically rejects the conclusions !





Suite a la publication du rapport sur l'enquete menee autour de l'utilisation du fonds PetroCaribe https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22687-haiti-flash-conclusion-of-the-petrocaribe-report-the-commission-accuses.html who claims that the PetroCaribe funds were the subject of a large-scale fraud. The former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, whose name appears in the report repeatedly as Minister of Planning and External Cooperation and then as prime minister following the resignation of Garry Conille, as co-signatory of many contracts reacted to the accusations of this report.



Also the report recommends against Laurent Lamothe "Against the members of the tender committee which are [...] Laurent Salvador Lamothe, former Prime Minister and Minister of the Planning and the External Cooperation, for flattery, concussion, misappropriation of public money and evasion of public funds, facts provided for and punished by articles 127, 128, 135, 340 and 130 of the Penal Code, and in accordance with articles 5.5, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.12 of the law of 12 March 2014 on preventing and combating corruption;"



"The Private Secretariat of Former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe categorically rejects the hasty general conclusions and abusive extrapolations of the report of the Senate Special Committee to deepen the investigation into the use of PetroCaribe funds, led by the Senator Evaliere Beauplan.



While no compelling evidence has been advanced to justify the gratuitous allegations contained in this document, the Special Secretariat notes with great astonishment the flippancy with which the commission conducted its work by totally disregarding the principles of ethics and impartiality that should characterize such an approach. The Secretariat denounces the inherently subjective and particularly prejudicial nature of this "investigation report".



The Special Secretariat condemns with the utmost vehemence the proven manipulation and slander of the drafters of the document who have worked to construct a vast scheme whose primary objective is to tarnish the reputation of the former high officials of the State in question. The Secretariat can not accept the fabrication of "facts", that are fabricated "cases" of every piece and that false allegations are fomented with obscure political motives.



Indeed, the three main charges relayed by the said report against former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe have not been subject to rigorous verification, thus proving the negligence or even bad faith of the drafters of the document. All this brings the former Head of Government to question the real motivations of this exercise which is once again a false pretext to force the citizens who served their country in the difficult context of the post-earthquake of 2010 by trying to tarnish their image and obscure their achievements.



The Special Secretariat is willing to confront the data and review each proven lie referred to in this report. The former Head of Government remains unmistakably committed to the Republican principle of accountability and is determined to shine the truth in this case."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Ministers bless new IAM building, which is dedicated to David Cook

The Rev. Tom Jones of the Hendersonville Rescue Mission lights a candle to signify the blessing of IAM's service to the poor.

Volunteers, donors, supporters and staff members blessed the work of the Interfaith Assistance Ministry on Tuesday and stood for an extended ovation when it was announced that the new $2.6 million IAM facility would be dedicated to longtime leader, David Cook.

IAM President Lynn Pope thanked past presidents Bob Henson and Sherri Metzger.

Metzger thanked Cook for his leadership and announced the dedication of the building in his honor.

Hes been the guiding force for this organization, she said. He has been the epitome of a servant leader. He cares passionately about helping those in the community who need that hand up and for this we will be forever grateful. From the beginning of the process of building this building, David has reminded us that first and foremost we must continue to take care of the needs of those in the community who need that hand up.  David was always there to remind us not to lose sight of why we were doing this. He has helped us to keep the faith on this journey.

Sherri Metzger and David Cook.Cook, who retired last summer, was succeeded by Elizabeth Willson Moss.

Its not about me. Its about the least of these, Cook said. Its about you and your hearts. Youve opened up your checkbooks and your heart to the least of these. Thats why were here. Its all about them and its all about the volunteers who come here every day, and the staff and the leadership of the board of directors. Thank you all and thank the Lord and remember the least of these.

In separate prayers of dedication, the Revs. Alfredo Oviedo of Grace Lutheran; Tim Jones of the Hendersonville Rescue Mission; and Steve Scoggins of First Baptist Church; and Rabbi Rachael Jackson of the Agudas Israel congregation blessed the food pantry, intake counselors, administration and the clothing closet.

We are grateful, Oviedo said, that you have given us a mission: to provide emergency relief to Henderson County residents who are in financial crisis by offering food, clothing, funds, guidance and referrals in an atmosphere of compassion and respect.

Praying for administration, Scoggins asked for blessings on executive director Elizabeth Moss and her staff.

Give them wisdom, he prayed. You said if any lacks wisdom you would give it to us liberally. Were going to need a lot of wisdom, wisdom to be able to discern when people come for help, wisdom to be able to keep these volunteers happy. I pray you give them great people skills as well. I pray that you would uphold their spirit. Its so easy in a ministry like this to burn out, so Lord give them an unending supply of encouragement and strength. And Lord it would help, to continue to get them to give joyously.

Capital campaign committee members raised $2.6 million.The capital campaign committee led by Jay Thorndike raised $1.8 million to start the building.

Because of the generosity of about 800 county donors, our campaign brought in $2,623,000, exceeding our goal, Thorndike said. The staff, board members and volunteers accounted for 32 percent of the total raised. The capital campaign committee and members like Grace Poli, a fountain of optimism when the challenge seemed at times to be insurmountable.

Grace would say, as we were concluding our meeting, God will provide, Thorndike said, and did he ever.

IAM plans a ribbon-cutting and will host the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
A judge has thrown out a case in which four people were claiming 240,000 damages against a motor insurer.

Circuit Court president Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said he would have to be blind not to see there was a hand orchestrating a number of accidents.

"These accidents were planned and all four plaintiffs were willing participants in them and party to a fraud," he said.

Injuries

Judge Groarke told Paul Murray SC, counsel for Zurich Insurance which defended all cases, that 41-year-old undertaker Peter Slattery would be entirely comfortable engaging in a scam arising from set up accidents.

He had but a passing familiarity with the truth and none of his evidence was credible.

In one of four 60,000 claims Slattery, of Charlemont, Griffith Avenue, Dublin, had sued his girlfriend Belinda McLoughlin and Zurich for damages for neck and back injuries arising from a rear-ending crash.

McLoughlin, of Holywell Crescent North, Swords, was a joint defendant with Zurich in all of the four claims involving separate accidents. She had admitted liability in all.

Samantha Byrne (28), of Suncroft Drive, Tallaght, and her sister Jessica Byrne (25), of Bawnlea Avenue, Jobstown, Tallaght, also sued McLoughlin and Zurich for 60,000 each for damages arising out of a rear-ending of their car by McLoughlin at Fortunestown Road on February 12, 2015.

In another rear-ending on July 21, 2014, again admittedly caused by McLoughlin, Ian Doyle (33), of Academy Building, Parkwest, Dublin, a mechanic, sued McLoughlin for 60,000 damages for neck and lower back injuries.

Judge Groarke also named 16 other people who had made claims, not all before his court. He said Slattery had been common to five of them.

None of the accidents before the court had been reported to gardai and all involved minimal damage.

Mr Murray was awarded costs, likely to run to 20,000 in each case, against all four plaintiffs.
A 15-year-old boy arrested for "holding" two loaded handguns which were set to be used in an attack on a Finglas mobster linked to the Kinahan cartel was still being questioned by gardai last night.

Officers seized the firearms when they raided a property in Gortbeg Road, Finglas, yesterday morning and arrested the teenager.

Sources said gardai were investigating if the boy was "bullied and intimidated" by a jailed gang boss involved in the brutal turf war to "hold the weapons" which were to be used on a drug dealer known as 'Mr Flashy'.

Sinister

They said the boy came from a respectable family and had never been in trouble with the law before, which made him an ideal target to be "used" by the mob led by a 35-year-old armed robber who was recently jailed.

"All the indications are that this unfortunate young boy has been used by this sinister gang and was effectively bullied and intimidated into holding the guns," one source said.

"The belief is that the guns were to be used in an attack on a criminal whose gang headquarters were blown up by the rival faction last week."

The boy's arrest is the latest development in the deadly feud which has seen a number of tit-for-tat incidents, including shots being fired at two properties in the area during recent days.

In the first of the incidents last Friday, shots were fired at the Kippure Park home of an innocent relative of a woman who is in a relationship with a gangster at the centre of the dispute.

The following night a shot was fired at a house in the Cardiffsbridge Road area in an incident which was not reported to gardai.

As tensions continue to simmer, there has been a huge increase in armed garda checkpoints and patrols in the beleaguered north Dublin suburb.

The Herald revealed that lives could have been lost when a house in Finglas was blown up shortly before 3am last Wednesday.

The targeted property had been used as the headquarters of 'Mr Flashy' ever since a notorious local hitman fled the country after he was arrested for a number of Kinahan-Hutch feud-related murders.

Meanwhile, gardai in nearby Blanchardstown who are dealing with a separate localised feud arrested a reckless 24-year-old criminal who was caught with a suspected firearm in the Mulhuddart area at 2pm on Tuesday.

Unarmed officers stopped the suspect on a bicycle and discovered the suspected weapon hidden in his bag.

Balaclava

He was arrested and taken to Blanchardstown Garda Station where he was later released without charge.

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the suspected firearm was forwarded for ballistic and forensic examination.

The man arrested on Tuesday is the chief suspect for a shotgun attack on a house earlier this month.

In another case, gardai in Coolock have made no arrests after a gunman who wore a balaclava fired two shots into a Chinese takeaway in Priors- wood at 9pm on Tuesday.

He fired the shots through the window but two local women and a foreign national in the takeaway at the time were uninjured.
A 15-year-old girl who suffered an electric shock while getting out of a whirlpool tub was used in a staff training video at the gym where the accident happened, a court has heard.

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said he would be "very upset" if it was proved that the girl, now 16, had featured in a CCTV recording in which she could be clearly identified.

Thrown

Conor Kearney, the Dublin girl's counsel, said that apart from the teenager's physical injuries, her solicitor Blake Horrigan had learned since the incident in September last year that she had featured in a training video for gym staff.

The teenager had suffered an electric shock due to the presence of a faulty floor light.

She had been thrown several metres back into the tub at Sportslink, Swords, Co Dublin.

Her mother told the court her daughter was in her bathing suit and had just stepped from the tub when she received "a severe electric shock".

She was taken to the emergency department of Temple Street Children's Hospital and treated for spasm in her body and hand.

She has since complained of chest pain and palpitations and cramps in her legs.

The girl had gone to school the following day but suffered cramp in her right leg during physical exercise and while playing badminton.

Mr Kearney said Sportslink had made a settlement offer of 15,000 to include legal costs with an extra 1,000 for special damages, but he was not recommending it to the court because ongoing psychological injuries could arise.

He said the teenager and her mother had been upset to learn that the gym had used CCTV footage of the incident for training purposes without their consent.

Aggravated

This could lead to a finding by a trial judge that the gym had aggravated the situation.

Judge Groarke adjourned an application for the court's approval for five weeks to allow for further talks with the defendant.

"I would be very upset if I felt that CCTV was used in a situation where the girl was videoed in her swimwear for staff training purposes," Judge Groarke said.

"That would considerably enhance any settlement the court might be asked to approve."
An apprentice carpenter has been charged with seriously assaulting a student who died from injuries he suffered in a "one-punch" attack on Halloween night.

Jack Hall Ellis (20) drank 20 measures of Captain Morgan rum before allegedly attacking 20-year-old Luke O'Reilly in the early hours of November 1, a court heard yesterday.

During a bail hearing Dublin District Court was told that Mr O'Reilly was struck once on the side of the head as he walked home with friends from Halloween celebrations, "didn't know what was coming" and fell to the ground where he hit his head.

He died in hospital from his injuries earlier this week.

Mr Hall Ellis had drunk 20 measures of Captain Morgan rum on the night before he allegedly assaulted Mr O'Reilly, the court was told.

Concrete

Judge Anthony Halpin granted him bail after hearing that gardai expect to bring a further, more serious charge.

Mr Hall Ellis, of Old Court Mill, Tallaght, is charged with assault causing harm to Mr O'Reilly (20) in Old Blessington Road, Tallaght, in the early hours of November 1.

Garda David Morris said he arrested the defendant at Tallaght Garda Station at 5.45pm on Tuesday.

Mr Hall Ellis made no reply to the charge after being cautioned at 6.04pm, he said.

He was handed a copy of the charge sheet.

Gda Morris said he was objecting to bail, citing the nature, degree and seriousness of the charge, which carries a potential five-year prison term on conviction.

Outlining the allegations, he said a serious assault happened at 2.45am on November 1.

Mr O'Reilly, from Kiltipper, had just left the Metro pub in Tallaght after he had been out socialising with friends on Halloween night.

They were walking down the road when a man approached Mr O'Reilly from behind and proceeded to punch him to the side of the head.

The student "didn't know what was coming", Gda Morris added. The punch caused him to fall on to the concrete footpath where he hit his head on the ground.

Mr O'Reilly was attended to by his friends straight away and the attacker left the scene.

Mr O'Reilly's friends called an ambulance and he was taken to Tallaght Hospital.

It was decided that his injuries were more severe than first thought and he was transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he was treated in the intensive care unit before he died as a result of his injuries on Monday, Gda Morris said.

The officer arrested the accused as a suspect and he was detained and interviewed.

Mr Hall Ellis "fully admitted" assaulting Mr O'Reilly, Gda Morris told Judge Halpin.

He said an extensive file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, more medical evidence was awaited and the gardai expected a further, more serious charge to be brought in the near future.

Gda Morris said it was alleged that Mr Hall Ellis was "caught red-handed", witness statements had been taken and there was CCTV evidence.

Defence solicitor Padraig O'Donovan said gardai had been contacted by his office and a solicitor accompanied the accused to the station.

Mr Hall Ellis presented himself at the station "without them having to go looking for him", he added.

Gda Morris agreed with Mr O'Donovan that the accused said he went out only rarely but had "a good bit to drink that night" - 10 double shots of Captain Morgan.

Mr O'Donovan said what happened was "unfortunate for both families", who were in court, and "very tragic" for Mr O'Reilly's family.

Sober

Gda Morris agreed with him that it was "one punch".

Judge Halpin granted bail in the defendant's own cash bond on 1,000, subject to conditions.

Those are that he lives at his uncle's address in Ratoath, Co Meath, is of sober habits, observes a nightly curfew and does not interfere with any witnesses.

The court granted free legal aid after the accused's solicitor made an application and handed in a statement of his financial means.

"The facts in this case are tragic, there is no doubt about that," the judge said.

He said he would adjourn the case to January.

The defendant, wearing a grey jacket and jeans, did not address the court during the hearing and has not yet indicated how he intends to plead.
Myles Berry was given a suspended sentence and fined

A young man caught trespassing at a historical picture company has avoided being sent to jail.

Myles Berry was caught in an area of the building where he should not have been.

Judge Miriam Walsh fined the 24-year-old 250 and gave him a three-month prison sentence which she suspended for 12 months.

Berry, of Labre Park, Kyle- more Road, Ballyfermot, admitted a charge of criminal trespass.

Blanchardstown District Court heard that the incident took place at the Red House, in Ballyowen, Lucan, on April 18 last year.

Gda Barry O'Shea said the defendant entered the Irish Historical Picture Company as a trespasser, but was caught before he could do anything.

Berry also admitted failing to turn up at court on April 12.

Cancer

The court heard that he had one previous conviction for possession of articles.

Defence solicitor Paula Egan said the defendant's mother died from cancer when he was a teenager and his father lived in England.

Ms Egan said Berry was raised with his cousins but added that essentially he had "raised himself".

Berry completed his primary education and sat his Leaving Certificate as well as completing a number of FAS courses and getting a safe pass, Ms Egan said.

She added that he had been in a relationship for the past two years.

The solicitor told the court that Berry had no drink or drug problems and that he wished to apologise to gardai for his behaviour.

Ms Egan said the defendant, who was unemployed and on social welfare, realised he was somewhere he should not have been.
How good are these two guys, Penn State fans? It may surprise you ...
Doing Homework on Vaccines this Back-to-School Season? Here are 10 Ways to Separate Fact from Fiction.
F inding that special present need not be difficult. Many of the capitals craft workshops hold Christmas open studios with handmade decorations, mulled wine, mince pies and the chance to buy unusual, intriguing one-off gifts not available on the high street or online.

Meet the makers, commission gifts, browse or buy special-offer items and explore workshops and studios not normally open to the public.

LONDON GLASSBLOWING

November 23 to Christmas Eve at 62-66 Bermondsey Street, SE1. Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm

450: Klimt Circle of Hope by Peter Layton at London Glassblowing

Sumptuously coloured glass vessels and decorations by Peter Layton and colleagues will delight. Makers blow glass daily on site, with a special exhibition day on December 4.

KINGSGATE WORKSHOPS

November 24-26 at 110-116 Kingsgate Road, West Hampstead NW6. Friday 6pm to 9pm, Saturday noon to 9pm, Sunday noon to 6pm

Potters, silversmiths and artists in this historic Victorian warehouse include Angela Cork and Nan Nan Liu, whose silver was recently shown at the V&A, and ceramicists Deborah Jaffe and Daphne Carnegy. Freya Bramble, a contestant in BBC2s The Great Pottery Throw Down, will serve mulled wine in limited-edition mugs for sale.

COSMIMA

November 23-26 at The Clerkenwell Gallery, 20 Clerkenwell Green, EC1. Thursday and Friday noon to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday noon to 5pm (cosmima.co.uk)

Silver goodies here include vessels patinated in blues, greens and browns by Rebecca de Quin and vases striped in blues and greens by Scottish silversmith Hazel Thorn. In jewellery, find Jessica Turrells enamels and Kathie Murphys beautifully coloured resin.

THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

November 23-26 at Farleigh Place, N16. Friday 4.30pm to 9pm, Sat and Sun 11am to 6pm

35: Helen Rawlinsons Panama cotton cushion at The Chocolate Factory

Striking functional ceramics by Jo Davies, Susan Nemeth and Akiko Hirai are here in Stokey, plus glass by Michele Oberdieck, contemporary jewellery by Lina Peterson and interior textiles from Deborah Colman.

CRAFT CENTRAL WINTER MARKET

November 24-26 at The Forge, 397-411 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs E14. Friday 5pm to 8pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm

The first Winter Market in Craft Centrals new home, a converted 19th-century Victorian forge, features home accessories, fashion and jewellery. Find porcelain by Tamsin Arrowsmith-Brown, platters patterned with modernist buildings by People Will Always Need Plates and Sato Hisaos paper pop-ups.

COCKPIT ARTS CHRISTMAS OPEN STUDIOS, OVER TWO VENUES

November 23-26, Northington Street, Holborn WC1. Thursday 6pm to 9pm, Friday to Sunday 11am to 6pm. Tickets bought on the door in Holborn, 6, also include entry to Cockpit Arts Deptford. Tickets in advance, 5, include entry to both sites.

A good mix of ceramics, textiles and jewellery, with textured ceramics by Helen Johannessen and vessels encrusted with porcelain flowers by Vanessa Hogge.

COCKPIT ARTS DEPTFORD

December 1-3 at 18-22 Creekside, SE8. Friday 11am to 9pm, Sat and Sun 11am to 6pm. Tickets 4. Friday free entry from 11am to 2pm

2,300: Katharine Morlings 45cm-long Strange Cargo train in porcelain with black stain at Cockpit Arts Deptford

Exciting craftwork on offer here includes small silver bowls by Adele Brereton, glass by Shelley James, ceramics by Anja Lubach and delightful, playful ceramic sculptures by Katharine Morling.

PULLENS YARDS

December 1-3, Clements, Iliffe and Peacock Yards in Iliffe and Crampton Streets, SE17. Friday 6pm-9.30pm, Saturday 10am-9.30pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

A mix of ceramics, glass and metals with fashion accessories, jewellery and art thrown in. Theres Rimmington Vian glass, pewter platters and vessels by Gordon W Robertson, ceramics by Daniel Reynolds and lovely jewellery by Hidemi Asano.

VANGUARD COURT

December 1-3 at 36-38 Peckham Road, SE5. Opening 11am to 5pm daily (020 7701 2940)

A must for ceramics fans, with work by Chris Keenan, Carina Ciscato, Sun Kim, Kaori Tatebayashi and Robert Cooper.

KATE MALONE CERAMICS

December 2-3, Balls Pond Studio, 8b Culford Mews, N1. Open 11am to 7pm

Celebrated ceramicist and judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down, Kate Malones annual open studio weekend is the only time her work is for sale other than through her dealer. Also on sale are works by Anna Barlow, Miray Mehmet Fontanelli, Erika Albrecht and Malones Great Pottery Throw Down colleague Rich Miller of Froyle Tiles. All the makers are contributing a piece as prizes for a charity raffle in aid of Clay College in Stoke, of which Malone is a patron.

SELVEDGE FAIR

December 2, Mary Ward House, 5-7 Tavistock Street, WC1. Open 11am to 5pm, tickets 5

Products from 5 to 500 include Japanese shibori textiles by Romor Designs and monochrome cushions and blankets knitted from Yorkshire-spun Merino wool by Rose B Brown.

WALLACE SEWELL

December 5-9 at 24 Lloyd Baker Street (corner with Amwell Street), WC1. Tuesday-Friday 10.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm

Christmas sample and seconds sale features throws and cushions, silk and cashmere scarves, plus woollen items.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART CHRISTMAS FETE

December 8-10 at RCA, Jay Mews entrance, Kensington Gore, SW7. Open noon to 8pm, Sunday 2pm to 6pm

Current students and alumni sell fascinating pieces. Seize the chance to buy work from emerging stars.

CLOCKWORK STUDIOS

December 8-10 at 38 Southwell Road, SE5. Friday 6pm to 9pm, Sat and Sun noon to 6pm

For anyone who fancies a tie like TV news anchor Jon Snows, or has seen his show Colour is my Brand at the Design Museum, this is the home of his tiemaker-in-chief Victoria Richards. Also find ceramics, hats and textiles here.

DESIGNER MAKER XMAS FAIR

December 14-17, The Carriage Ramp at Deptford Market Yard, SE8. Thursday 6pm to 9pm, Fri and Sat 10am to 6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

From 22: large Offcut tray and dishes by Sebastian Cox at Designer Maker Xmas Fair

Furniture designer Sebastian Cox and friends will be selling a range of products including pieces from Coxs Underwood and Offcut collections. Plus workshops.
Visit expo > BMP Whole Blood Analyzer: GEM Premier ChemSTAT Gold Supplier Rheumatoid Factors (RF) Rheumatoid Factors (RF) Test New BRAHMS sFlt-1 KRYPTOR Pre-Eclampsia Screening Assay New FD150 Lyophilizer

Richard Wolf GmbH (Knittlingen, Germany) will be presenting its product highlights under the slogan feel the spirit of excellence at MEDICA, the world's leading medical trade fair taking place in Dusseldorf, Germany, from November 13 to 16, 2017.Among the product highlights from Richard Wolf at MEDICA 2017 will be its Endocam Logic 4K camera platform, comprising of the Endocam Logic 4K camera controller, a powerful and energy-efficient LED light source, a lighter, more ergonomic and autoclavable camera head, and specially-developed, light-intense endoscopes with bright edge margins. Visitors will also be able to learn more about the companys range of flexible sensor endoscopes for the Endocam Logic 4K platform, including the MAMBA vision flexible sensor cystoscope, BOA vision flexible single channel sensor ureterorenoscope, and the COBRA vision flexible dual channel sensor ureterorenoscope.Richard Wolf will also be highlighting its fully network-based operating room (OR) management system named Core Nova with new features. Core Nova offers several different options for launching integration in the OR and ensuring efficient and universal integration of devices and systems, and can be expanded at any time independently of the initial configuration.Other product highlights from Richard Wolf at this years MEDICA will be its 70-watt laser MegaPulse 70+ for stone and BPH therapy in urology. The system is suited for a wide variety of treatment options and provides users with power, versatility, and an excellent cost-performance ratio. Additionally, visitors will be able to learn more about the companys Endocam Flex HD for pulmonology and urology, which features a compact design for a smaller footprint and simple, plug-and-play operation. It offers excellent image quality and brilliant LED illumination and comes with an optional camera head for the use of rigid endoscopes with conventional, optical systems.
The new AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown, a chic and modern 144-room property in the heart of Gainesville, F.L., is nearing completion and is slated to open in early 2018. Located just a Heisman"s throw from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, more popularly known as "The Swamp," the property will be managed by Concord Hospitality and marks the third AC Hotel in Florida and the first outside of Miami.

Just steps from the University of Florida, consistently ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S., AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown features 144 European-inspired guestrooms. Designed with AC Hotels" signature entrepreneurial aesthetic, the spacious guestrooms are outfitted with sleek furnishings, warm, wood tones, local artwork and essential tech gadgets for travelers on the go, including Smart TVs to stream Netflix or Hulu and multiple, strategically placed USB ports.

Primed for both business and leisure travelers, the hotel features two meeting rooms with 1,000 square feet of flexible indoor space including The Prairie Room, named after Gainesville"s popular nature park, Paynes Prairie. The hotel will be home to Gainesville"s first rooftop fitness center, a glass-enclosed structure with cardio equipment and a selection of free weights, as well as AC Bar where guests and locals can enjoy handcrafted cocktails, local craft beers and nosh on tapas-style bites. Rounding out the amenities is a rooftop spa pool with sweeping, panoramic views of the UF campus, including "The Swamp," which roars to life on Saturdays during fall home games.

The property will be part of the newly constructed The Standard at Gainesville, a 10-story, multi-use complex that includes luxury student housing, shops and restaurants.

Hotel website
The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina has announced the appointment of Jenny Lorenz as Sales & Marketing Manager. The 100-room boutique hotel opened its doors this summer on the private, 220-slip Stock Island Marina with features that include spacious guest rooms with waterfront views, two seafood-driven restaurants, and a posh pool deck with hammocks, a fire pit and direct marina access. In her new role, Jenny will be responsible for implementing operational objectives to drive sales, developing field sales action plans, analyzing The Perrys target markets and executing marketing plans to reach said markets. She will also oversee the coordination of meetings, events and room block sales in an effort to create unique group experiences and maximize revenue potential for the areas newest hotel. A Chicago native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Jenny moved to Key West more than six years ago to pursue a career in marketing. In addition to bringing an expert knowledge of the destination to The Perrys executive team, she has worked in various sales and marketing positions to hone her skills in sales, strategic planning, and event coordination. Prior to working with The Perry, Jenny was Senior Marketing Strategist at Two Oceans Digital in Key West, Florida  a digital marketing agency that offers web design, SEO and advertising services. Here, she managed a diverse base of more than 200 clients, developed full digital marketing campaigns, and handled client recruitment. In her previous position as Marketing & Events Coordinator at Old Town Manor Inn & Rose Lane Villas Guesthouse in Key West, she was responsible for interpreting Google Analytics to increase web traffic and engagement, promoting local events, designing advertising graphics to align with company brand image, and social media management.
ALPHARETTA, GA  The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, today announced that it ended the third quarter of 2017 with record-setting performance and growth, advancing its position as a global technology leader.

Since July 1, Rainmaker has expanded its reach in both the number of customers and the number of properties using its groundbreaking solution suite, which include guestrev, grouprev, revcaster, and revintel. Year-over-year, the company has seen a nearly 30 percent increase in hospitality property deployments; additionally, in this same period, the company realized 30 percent growth in its customer base.

Las Vegas-based Station Casinos is among the customers that recently selected Rainmaker solutions. In Q3, the company chose revcaster for 11 of its properties, totaling more than 4,800 rooms. Station Casinos had already purchased the guestrev and grouprev solutions and wanted to expand its use of the Rainmaker suite. The solutions will help the company optimize revenue, secure the most profitable guests, and streamline operations.

"As the hospitality industry becomes increasingly competitive, it's critical that properties invest in technology that drives revenue and profitability," said John Brown, executive director of revenue management at Station Casinos. "We reviewed a number of revenue management and profit optimization solutions and determined that the Rainmaker suite was the ideal fit for us, with all the features and functionality we needed. These solutions will give us the tools we need to maximize revenue, make more informed business decisions, and gain an edge on the competition."

Rainmaker's revenue and profit optimization product suite includes:

guestrev , an intuitive and easy-to-use revenue management solution that analyzes total guest value across a hotel or casino property to forecast and price rooms;

, an intuitive and easy-to-use revenue management solution that analyzes total guest value across a hotel or casino property to forecast and price rooms; grouprev , an innovative group pricing solution that streamlines the process of responding to group RFPs by analyzing historical data, future demand, and price sensitivity to recommend the best pricing for group business;

, an innovative group pricing solution that streamlines the process of responding to group RFPs by analyzing historical data, future demand, and price sensitivity to recommend the best pricing for group business; revcaster , a powerful rate shopping tool that gives hoteliers access to real-time actionable market data, so that rates can be set against the competitive landscape; and

, a powerful rate shopping tool that gives hoteliers access to real-time actionable market data, so that rates can be set against the competitive landscape; and revintel, an intuitive business intelligence solution that improves day-to-day revenue management by mining various data sets and providing deep insights at a granular level.

"Our revenue and profit optimization platform continues to deliver exceptional results," said Tammy Farley, president of The Rainmaker Group. "In fact, performance in Q3 has exceeded our expectations. This is due to our deep commitment to solution innovation and to the dedicated employees who partner with our customers to ensure their success. This is an exciting time to be in the hospitality industry, and we look forward to ending the year with record-setting growth."

About Rainmaker

The Rainmaker Group, a Cendyn company, is the premier provider of revenue and profit optimization solutions to the hospitality industry. Rainmaker's intelligent profit platform helps hotels, resorts and casinos optimize revenue, drive increased profitability, save valuable time & outperform competitors. As part of Cendyn, Rainmaker offers a complete set of software services for the industry, aligning marketing, sales and revenue teams to optimize their strategies and drive performance and loyalty across their business units. To learn more about Cendyn and its suite of hotel revenue management and profit optimization solutions, visit LetItRain.com or www.cendyn.com.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is the leading innovative cloud software and services provider for the hospitality industry. With a focus on integrated hotel CRM, hotel sales, and revenue strategy technology platforms, Cendyn drives sales, marketing and revenue performance for tens of thousands of hotels across the globe. The Cendyn Hospitality Cloud offers a complete set of software services for the industry, aligning marketing, sales and revenue teams to optimize their strategies and drive performance and loyalty across their business units. With offices in Boca Raton, Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, London, Munich, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok and Tokyo, Cendyn proudly serves clients in 143 countries, delivering over 1.5 billion data-driven, personalized communications on behalf of their customers every year. For more information on Cendyn, visit www.cendyn.com.

Dana Glaze

Marketing Manager

470-440-2041
PITTSBURGH  Aptech Computer Systems announced Milestone Hospitality Management and Bellstar Hotels & Resorts implemented the PVNG enterprise accounting system. PVNG is Aptech's next generation enterprise accounting hotel software solution that is deployed in the cloud. Aptech is the leading provider of hospitality enterprise accounting, budgeting and forecasting, and business intelligence hotel software systems. Click here for more on Aptech's products and services.

"Milestone selected PVNG because Aptech is a hospitality-focused company," said Brendon Ratley, corporate controller for Milestone Hospitality Management. "Aptech understands hospitality accounting and designed PVNG's financials to conform to the hotel industry uniform system of accounts. Every other system we reviewed required a report generator to convert their system's reports. Aptech hosts our system and PVNG interfaces with our payroll and property management systems." Milestone will finalize its four-property implementation in 4Q 2017.

PVNG is a totally new financial system with an easy to navigate architecture. Drawing on Aptech's vast experience and thousands of existing hospitality users, Aptech had the perfect blueprint for the next generation application.

"Bellstar Hotels & Resorts operates six resorts and a home office in Alberta, Canada. The home office will use PVNG for enterprise general ledger, accounts payables and financials. Our property GMs and department heads will use PVNG to review expenses and financial statements," said Leslie Ducommun, Bellstar's corporate controller. "We went live November 1st, 2017. PVNG allows us to enter our budgets and forecasts in the system and compare those numbers with the current period. PVNG also lets us download results from the Resort PMS." Ducommun noted that Stagewest Hospitality is a shareholder of Bellstar. "Stagewest installed PVNG over a year ago and it has worked well for them."

Cam Troutman, Aptech vice president, said, "We built PVNG from the ground up for the web based on Aptech's 45+ years of hotel accounting knowledge. We used the most current technology platform incorporating AP, GL, Statistics, Financials, and a Bank Reconciliation, all with easy to use, familiar browser navigation." The PVNG system easily handles single or multi-property accounting, and is deployed as a hosted service, streamlining common daily accounting procedures and offering highly flexible reporting.

Aptech Computer Systems is both an IBM and Prophix Business Partner offering Execuvue web-enabled Business Intelligence, Targetvue Budgeting and Forecasting, and PVNG Enterprise Accounting systems that are 100% hospitality specific. Aptech is the only company that provides a complete suite of financial management and analysis solutions for the hotel industry.

About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement.

The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner.

Incorporated in 1970, Aptech's state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue, and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit www.aptech-inc.com.

Cam Troutman

Vice President

+1 800 245 0720
Multi-Property, Multi-Brand Operators Standardize Accounting on Easy-to-Use PVNG

Aptech Computer Systems announced Milestone Hospitality Management and Bellstar Hotels & Resorts implemented the PVNG enterprise accounting system. PVNG is Aptechs next generation enterprise accounting hotel software solution that is deployed in the cloud. Aptech is the leading provider of hospitality enterprise accounting, budgeting and forecasting, and business intelligence hotel software systems. Click here for more on Aptechs products and services.

Milestone selected PVNG because Aptech is a hospitality-focused company, said Brendon Ratley, corporate controller for Milestone Hospitality Management. Aptech understands hospitality accounting and designed PVNGs financials to conform to the hotel industry uniform system of accounts. Every other system we reviewed required a report generator to convert their systems reports. Aptech hosts our system and PVNG interfaces with our payroll and property management systems. Milestone will finalize its four-property implementation in 4Q 2017.

PVNG is a totally new financial system with an easy to navigate architecture. Drawing on Aptechs vast experience and thousands of existing hospitality users, Aptech had the perfect blueprint for the next generation application.

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts operates six resorts and a home office in Alberta, Canada. The home office will use PVNG for enterprise general ledger, accounts payables and financials. Our property GMs and department heads will use PVNG to review expenses and financial statements, said Leslie Ducommun, Bellstars corporate controller. We went live November 1st, 2017. PVNG allows us to enter our budgets and forecasts in the system and compare those numbers with the current period. PVNG also lets us download results from the Resort PMS. Ducommun noted that Stagewest Hospitality is a shareholder of Bellstar. Stagewest installed PVNG over a year ago and it has worked well for them.

Cam Troutman, Aptech vice president, said, We built PVNG from the ground up for the web based on Aptechs 45+ years of hotel accounting knowledge. We used the most current technology platform incorporating AP, GL, Statistics, Financials, and a Bank Reconciliation, all with easy to use, familiar browser navigation. The PVNG system easily handles single or multi-property accounting, and is deployed as a hosted service, streamlining common daily accounting procedures and offering highly flexible reporting.

Aptech Computer Systems is both an IBM and Prophix Business Partner offering Execuvue web-enabled Business Intelligence, Targetvue Budgeting and Forecasting, and PVNG Enterprise Accounting systems that are 100% hospitality specific. Aptech is the only company that provides a complete suite of financial management and analysis solutions for the hotel industry.

About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement.

The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner.

Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue, and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit www.aptech-inc.com.

CONTACTS:

Aptech Computer Systems

Cam Troutman, Vice President

135 Delta Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Email: vueinfo@aptech-inc.com

Phone: 800-245-0720 or 412-963-7440

www.aptech-inc.com

Media Contact

Julie Keyser-Squires, APR

Softscribe Inc.

609 SW 8th Street, Ste 600

Bentonville, AR 72712

Phone: 404-256-5512

Email: Julie(at)softscribeinc.com

www.softscribeinc.com
A big political move was made yesterday when half a dozen Democrats filed an impeachment against Donald Trump. Article II Section IV of the Constitution of the United States of America was drafted for a time such as this and a president such as Trump, Rep. Al Green told reporters at a news conference at the Capitol, via ABC News. This president has committed misdeeds that merit impeachment.

The articles filed against the President list five obstructions against his name since taking office. The six Democrats have stated the following as a means to get Donald out of office:

 Obstruction of justice regarding the Russia investigation and firing of FBI Director James Comey

 Violation of Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution  Foreign Emoluments

 Violation of Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution  Domestic Emoluments

 Undermining the Independence of the Federal Judiciary and the Rule of Law

 Undermining Freedom of the Press

The move may be a long-shot since the vast majority of the House are Republicans. We have taken this action because of great concerns for the country and our Constitution and our national security and our democracy, Rep. Steve Cohen said.

These six Democrats have apparently been going back and forth for months on whether they will officially launch in taking matters into their own hands. Steve cited the past Charlottesville demonstrations and Donalds actions on the matter as a perfect example of why they have finally made the move of impeachment.

Theres some others who might think they just want Mr. Trump to hang himself and think that we dont need to help him, Steve said. I cant stand by when [President Trump] allows Klansmen and neo-Nazis to demonstrate as they did.

Donald has yet to tweet a reaction.

Watch a snippet of the press conference below. Do you guys think this move will make an impact?
After news broke that Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years behind bars, it didnt take long for people to stir up an uproar. The reasoning behind his sentence was unjust and the judge responsible for the sentencing reportedly had it out for Meek in the first place. Despite all of this, his lawyer was not going to let Meek go to jail without a fight.

Meek has officially filed to be released from prison, TMZ reports. In addition to his release, hes also demanding to have his probation completely terminated. They say the documents were filed earlier this morning in PA and it reportedly cites Judge Genece Brinkleys personal beef with him as a result of the unfair sentencing. They documents theyve acquired say Meeks lawyer cites two separate incidents that violated his probation were ultimately dismissed charges. They even say Meeks probation officer testified that he did well under probation. On top of that, they want his probation cleared due to the fact that hes matured over time and hes proven to be a responsible father, has a profession and has also shown that hes generally been rehabilitated. They says hes requested to be granted time served as well as his release.

The recently filed documents come at the heels of controversy surrounding Judge Genece Brinkley. After Meeks attorney said that she had a personal vendetta against the rapper, he also filed to have the judge removed from the case completely. That came shortly after it was reported she was under investigation by the FBI for possible extortionate demand. Shortly after that, documents surfaced showing that she was allowing Meek associate with a convicted felon, which were against his probation conditions.

Earlier this week, fans and peers gathered in Philadelphia to rally for Meek Mill in freedom. Rick Ross and Dr. J as well as a large group of supporters were seen outside of the Criminal Justice Center in Meeks hometown where they chanted Free Meek. At one point during the protest, Rick Ross stepped up to the microphone to not only show support for Meek but also
XXXTentacion is looking to give to the community in a way that we havent seen before: he wants to hire some fresh faces to join his fast-growing rap empire.

The controversial emcee took to social media yesterday to announce that he was offering jobs to anyone who feels they could add something to his brand via graphic design, photography or with their artwork. The best way to help the community is to give them jobs, he remarked at the beginning of the clip, proceeding to ask fans to hit him up with their portfolios for a chance to make some cash from the man himself. You can check out a screencap of the full video below.

The prospect of working for a public figure as polarizing as XXXTentacion might scare some people off, and with good reason. Domestic abuse charges from an ex-girlfriend surfaced earlier this year, where she claimed that she not only physically beat her but also barred her from contacting anyone from the outside world using her phone. That trial is coming up in December, so who knows if the outcome of those legal proceedings will permanently affect his career or tarnish his current bankability in the hip-hop community in any way.

Then, there was the recent mix-up from a dust-up the young rapper was involved in during some time spent in Los Angeles. Two assailants, who seemed to come out of nowhere, jumped X and did their best to rough him up significantly. The 17 emcee mistook those men for members of the well-known trio Migos, railing against them on social media and even threatening to sue over the incident. Only one problem: neither of the two guys who jumped XXXTentacion were Quavo, Offset or Takeoff  in fact, besides the fact that the word Migo was etched into pendants they were wearing at the time, there was no connection between them and the rap group whatsoever.

Would you work for XXXTentacion? Or does his reputation for erratic behavior make him a less-than-appealing boss? Let us know in the comments.
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter 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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Elon Musk got candid about his personal life in a recent, in-depth Rolling Stone interview.

He spoke of his recent breakup with ex-girlfriend Amber Heard, expressing his heartbreak over their parting.

It's an usual move for Musk, who said in 2010 that he would "rather stick a fork in my hand than write about my personal life."

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX went on to discuss how difficult it is for him to meet people, saying he is looking for a long-term relationship -- and a soul mate. Musk even asked interviewer Neil Strauss if there was anyone Strauss thought he should date.

"If I'm not in love, if I'm not with a long-term companion, I cannot be happy," he told Rolling Stone. "I will never be happy without having someone. Going to sleep alone kills me. It's not like I don't know what that feels like: Being in a big empty house, and the footsteps echoing through the hallway, no one there -- and no one on the pillow next to you. F--. How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that?"

Here's a look at some of the tech titan's past relationships:

Elon Musk arrives at the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition II in California (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Musk told Rolling Stone he's struggled with loneliness since childhood. "When I was a child, there's one thing I said," Musk said. "'I never want to be alone.'"

Musk met his first wife, Justine Wilson, at Queen's University in Ontario. Writing in Marie Claire, Justine -- who uses Musk's last name -- recalled Musk invited her out for ice cream.

She decided to stay in to study, but he showed up with "two chocolate-chip ice cream cones dripping down his hands." Musk transferred to Wharton, but kept sending Justine roses. They went their separate ways, but reconnected as Musk started working on his first startup and Justine started working on her first novel after graduation.

The Canadian novelist said Musk wooed her by giving her his credit card to buy as many books as she wanted. The pair tied the knot in 2000.

The couple moved to Los Angeles and had a son named Nevada, whom they lost to SIDS. They ultimately had twins and triplets -- five sons in total. In her 2010 Marie Claire article, Justine said her children are "thriving."

And in 2013, Musk said he strives to spend time with his sons. In 2010, he called his children "the love of my life."

Picture: (Getty Images)

The couple split in 2008, and Justine kept her husband's last name for the sake of their kids. After his divorce, the tech mogul began dating actress Talulah Riley.

While Musk and his first wife became estranged, Justine wrote in Marie Claire that she and Riley ended up getting along very well. She even sent her ex-husband's girlfriend an email saying: "I would rather live out the French-movie version of things, in which the two women become friends and various philosophies are pondered."

Riley and Musk married in 2010. Two years later, news of their divorce became public when Musk tweeted: "It was an amazing four years. I will love you forever. You will make someone very happy one day" at Riley on Twitter.

The couple remarried in 2013. Musk filed for -- then withdrew -- a second divorce the following year.

In 2016, Riley filed for divorce from Musk, which was finalized in late 2016. The two are still on good terms, however -- Riley even made an appearance during Strauss' Rolling Stone profile of Musk. "We still see each other all the time and take care of each other," she told People.

Musk began dating actress Amber Heard in 2016, but they broke up a year later due to their intense schedules.

Amber Heard (Getty)

Commenting on one of Heard's Instagram posts, Musk said he and his ex were "still friends, remain close and love one another" and added "who knows what the future holds." He later told Rolling Stone: "I was really in love, and it hurt bad."

Read more:

 How much the best paid workers in 20 professions earn

 Seven outdated mens style rules that you can now ignore

 16 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2017. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
Rolls-Royce Holdings worries border checks after Britain leaves the European Union will disrupt its global supply chain and is looking at measures to offset the rise in national protectionism that it represents, a member of its executive leadership said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the launch of a new partnership with Indian software firm Tata Consultancy Services, the enginemaker's head of strategy and marketing Ben Story laid out a range of concerns over the Brexit process for one of Britain's highest profile industrial exporters.

"We are worried about border checks and whether that will make our supply chain flow less fluidly," Story, formerly head of Citibank's UK Investment Banking and Broking unit, told Reuters.

"We are worried about the talent and making sure that we always get the right talent. We also work very closely with European universities and we worry that may break down and some of the research funding may fall away. We worry about regulations."

Business leaders told Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday that she needs to speed up negotiations with the European Union amid concern that Britain will crash out of the world's biggest trading bloc in 2019 without a deal.

Slow progress in the talks with Brussels has unsettled businesses and drawn warnings that unless a transition is agreed soon, some may begin activating Brexit contingency plans - which may include moving out of the country.

"We built our whole supply chain assuming a kind of a globalising world and an open world," Story said.

"What Brexit has made us do is ... step back and think about that a little more. Going forward we need to be thoughtful and careful about where we make investments, where we build capabilities, how to build in redundancy."

Story said the engineering major has "a lot of flexibility and choice" as it has manufacturing facilities outside Britain, in Germany and Singapore among others.
CityJet is in talks with Air France to extend an existing agreement to operate flights out of Paris on behalf of the larger carrier, according to CityJet executive chairman Pat Byrne.

An existing agreement to operate six routes from Paris for Air France, including one to Dublin, expires next March.

But Mr Byrne told the Irish Independent that the talks with Air France on extending the arrangement are progressing well.

Dublin-based CityJet serves Dublin, Dusseldorf, Newcastle, Stuttgart, Turin and Hanover from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, where it has four aircraft. "I'd hope there will be another extension," said Mr Byrne, who added that CityJet had previously secured an extension to the deal up to the end of March next year.

Air France acquired full ownership of CityJet, which was founded by Mr Byrne, in 2000. Air France sold it in 2013 to Germany's Intro Aviation, which in turn sold it to Mr Byrne and investors in 2016.

Mr Byrne said that within the past two weeks, CityJet has also added a fourth jet to its wet leasing service for Brussels Airlines, part of the Lufthansa group, boosting the number deployed there to four.

CityJet signed an initial deal with Brussels Airlines earlier this year and began operating flights for the carrier in April. The jets in use by CityJet at Brussels Airlines are Sukhoi SuperJets.

Mr Byrne said the aircraft had been well received by customers and Brussels Airlines, prompting the deployment of the fourth Sukhoi with the carrier. CityJet currently has six Sukhois in its fleet.

He said that the certification process for the Sukhoi SuperJet for use at London City Airport continues.

The aircraft's winglets have already been redesigned in order to help slow it on approach, allowing it to land with a greater weight on board, he explained.

Mr Byrne said he expects that certification will be secured for use at London City towards the end of 2019, allowing CityJet to use the jet there that year or by 2020.

CityJet posted a 30.2m loss last year due to exceptional costs. Its loss from operations was 1.8m. Revenue hit 198.2m in 2016 and is expected to be 276m this year. The airline is increasingly focused on generating more revenue from wet leasing activity than from scheduled operations.
Google is close to signing a deal to acquire the entire Boland's Quay scheme in Dublin's docklands, the Irish Independent can reveal. News of the US web giant's bid to buy the 170m development which is located next to its European headquarters on Barrow Street comes just days after this newspaper's sister title, the Sunday Independent reported that the company is now in the process of acquiring the Treasury Building on Dublin's Grand Canal Street for a figure in excess of 120m.

Google's latest foray into the capital's property market will, according to sources familiar with the matter, see it "step into the shoes of the receiver" appointed by Nama to develop out the entirety of the Boland's Quay project. It would also see the international tech titan take its place as one of Ireland's biggest and most important property owners and investors.

While Google had been identified earlier this year as being one of number of parties interested in acquiring a part of the scheme known as Boland's Mills for an estimated 11m, the Irish Independent understands the company effectively removed the competition by stating its desire to purchase the entire project.

Designed by Dublin architectural practice Burke Kennedy Doyle, Boland's Quay will, upon completion, include three new landmark buildings, with the tallest rising to 53 metres (173 ft). There will also be a 15-storey apartment block rising to 47.8 metres (157 ft) and a 13-storey office block of 49 metres (161 ft).

Capable of accommodating 2,500 workers, the scheme will comprise some 36,851 square metres of office, residential, retail and cultural space. This will be made up of 25,455 sq m (274,000 sq ft) of office space, 41 waterfront apartments, and retail and commercial space of 1,394 sq m (15,000sq ft). The project will also include a new pedestrian bridge, two new civic plazas with water frontage to Grand Canal Dock and a cultural/community space of 549 sq m (5,910 sq ft).

BAM Ireland won the contract to deliver the scheme earlier this year.

Both the Boland's Quay and Treasury Building transactions are in keeping with Google's preference for owning its own premises. In 2011, the company bought its European headquarters on Barrow Street and the nearby Montevetro building for 100m and 99m respectively.

Google's two latest deals also serve as a statement of its intent to deepen its investment in Dublin, and to grow its 6,100-strong workforce in the capital.

In the case of the Treasury Building, the Irish Independent first revealed Google's interest in buying the building outright last February. Around the same time, the company increased its presence on Grand Canal Street with an agreement to lease 51,096 sq ft from Irish Life at the newly-constructed Velasco Building.

The Velasco, Treasury Building and Boland's Quay are all located within a five-minute walk of each other, and in close proximity to Google's European headquarters on Barrow Street, the acknowledged heart of an area now commonly known as 'Googletown'.
Red tape is delaying the installation of CCTV cameras in rural locations by up to two years, farm leaders have claimed.

Communities throughout the country have stepped up the campaign for increased garda visibility and expansion of rural CCTV after the recent attack on Richie McKelvey, a 54-year-old farmer, who was assaulted in his home in Brosna, on the Tipperary/Offaly border.

Gardai attended IFA meetings in Tipperary and Limerick last week and heard farmers express "real fear" for their safety.

IFA spokesman Jer Bergin (Laois) told the meeting in Tipperary that the time-frame for installing CCTV cameras at motorway exits and other locations needed to be speeded up "because two years is too long".

He also supported a plea from gardai for farmers to ID-mark their equipment.

"We are going to make ID-marking an issue to be raised at branch meetings, which are now commencing," he said.

"We will see if it is possible that a service to mark and photograph equipment for farmers can be organised at local level in each branch area."

Sergeant Tom O'Dwyer, Crime Prevention Officer, Thurles said that the installation of cameras to monitor public roads has to be a "community-based" undertaking and requires the approval of the Garda Commissioner.

The lengthy delays in the process are due to issues under Data Protection Act and rights to privacy.

He added that while farmers are entitled to install cameras within their own farmyards and lands, these cameras cannot be used to monitor public roads without procedural approval.

Three CCTV schemes at M8/M7 motorway junctions in Littleton, Burgess and Birdhill which were initiated in early 2016 have yet to be completed.

Meanwhile, farmers at an IFA meeting in Adare, Co Limerick also heard a garda plea for more ID-marking.

"We have recovered tons of farm equipment, but tracing the owners of the property is the trouble," said Garda Inspector Alan Cullen, Newcastlewest.

"We cannot bring a prosecution without proof of ownership - that is a big problem for us," he said.

"A quad with a tracking devise was taken in the area and abandoned a short distance away because they knew that there was nothing that they could do with it. If the equipment is marked, it cannot be sold on."

He also warned farmers that they should "stay away from intruders if you find them on your property - stay at a distance and call the gardai".

IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy told the meeting that greater garda presence and visibility is required to tackle rural crime.

"I have travelled over 100,000km since May last year at all hours of the day and night and I have been stopped by gardai not more than three times. There is no visibility of gardai on the ground," said Mr Kennedy.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, today announced that 85pc advance payments under new Sheep Welfare Scheme are commencing on time this week to all eligible farmers.

The Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched By Minister Creed in December 2016 and provides support of 10 per ewe to farmers for undertaking actions which make a positive contribution to flock welfare. Under the scheme farmers were required to choose actions which would improve the overall welfare of a flock. Farmers chose two actions from a menu of actions based on whether the farmer had a lowland flock or hill flock.
When considering rolling out a chain of shoe shops its important to ensure the business has been tested in other locations and is a good fit for the franchise model

Q: I work as a senior manager in a wholesale company. We have one retail outlet also for which I am responsible as well as for all of the sales in the wholesale side. I am struggling to manage the retail shop and attend to my other duties. Any thoughts?

A: You do seem to have a massive workload and from the sales figures you provided, your shop seems to have strong potential. You are never going to be able to maximise the sales of the shop if you are also responsible for the whole commercial sales operation of the business. They are two different jobs with each requiring significant dedication and focus.

For the retail shop to succeed it will need focus on standards, marketing, margin improvement and a plethora of other retail headings.

I recommend that you draw up a business case for the appointment of a supervisor/junior manager for the shop. They would report to you but would be dedicated to spending 100pc of their time in the retail unit. It shouldn't be too difficult for them to achieve sales growth greater than 10pc to 15pc and probably margin and other improvements. You should also count in incremental growth you will be able to get from the wholesale side because of greater focus here.

Arrange a meeting with the directors of the business and put the business case to them. It might be an idea to run it as a trial for nine-to-10 months, so that it could be reversed if it was not working. I have little doubt from the picture you painted, that it won't be a success but you just might want to give the directors a get-out clause, should they have any concerns.

Finally, do make sure that you recruit the right person, as the success of this will be entirely dependent on the calibre of person you bring in. Ideally recruit someone from the industry who will hit the ground running and bring with them new expertise and ideas.

Q: WHAT's your view on how customer service has changed in Ireland over the decades?

A: A lot depends on the sectors you are looking at and even, to some degree, stories you hear from other people.

A good friend told me a story recently which has really got me thinking about customer service. His wife is ill and confined to a wheelchair. With their daughter they were heading abroad last year. The airline in question told them that their baggage was well over the limit and they would have to pay 100 more for the excess.

While he was willing to pay, he did explain that most of the extra weight could be attributed to additional equipment and medicine which was required for his wife.

The staff member called a supervisor and after some debate, they agreed that they would not charge him.

That's not the full story however. This year, when heading off on holidays with a different airline, they were again faced with the same situation and knew going to the airport that their bags were overweight.

When they put the bags onto the scales, the check-in staff member smiled and said: "The extra weight is not a problem. We will look after that."

If anyone told you the first story on its own, we would probably say it was good customer service.

In reality, the second story is great customer service and probably still happens too rarely. The member of staff on check-in clearly recognised the situation in front of them, and rather than cause embarrassment, made the decision there and then, much to the relief of everyone travelling.

Some companies have a long way to go to achieve 'great' status with their customer service. Good is not the space any business wants to be aiming for. Your customers are not going to remember good. They will only remember really bad service and great service.

Q: I have a shoe shop which is running quite well and I am thinking of creating a franchise model so I can roll more branches out faster. Do you think this is suitable?

A: It might indeed be possible, but as a general rule I would take a view on this that it is too soon, with only one site, to roll out a franchise.

Proof of concept can't really be defined as an operation working in one location. You might have been lucky with the demographics or the location itself and your success needs to be proven in at least one or two other locations before I would advise you to consider a franchise model.

The other key component of developing a franchise is that every single step and process in the business needs to be documented. You will need a standard operating procedure (SOP) so somebody else, who doesn't know your business, can take these SOPs and successfully implement them in their own shop with supported training.

What you also need to think about with this model, is that once you get your first franchise outlets open, you will then have to audit these on a regular basis in order to ensure that the franchisee is complying. If you don't do this, the franchisee could be tempted to start making changes to the model, or buying from approved sources which would cause your concept to potentially collapse.

There are lots of franchise shows on an annual basis and I would encourage you to attend some of these as this will help you to understand the dynamics of the sector and help you to prepare for your journey.

Franchising is a good model, but you need to know the intricacies of it and be prepared before you roll one out.
Donald Trump won the war over hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks for projects like Trump Tower after a battle with former New York City mayor Ed Koch

Donald Trump goes back farther than I thought. I don't mean the man but the manner - that chilling combination of bombast, bullying and bluster. It was all on view in an interview shown recently about his first great achievement, the building of the Trump Tower in New York.

That was the early 1980s but already he was using the surprisingly effective defence that anything printed in the 'New York Times' is untrue. It would appear that rather than reality TV making Mr Trump, he was made for reality TV.

Trumpery, however fascinating, is not the subject of this column. It is the content of the interview shown on the UK Channel Four series; whether there should be a tax break of a couple of hundred million dollars for the building of Trump Tower - located, in what was admittedly a master stroke, on just about the most fashionable corner in New York.

The then city mayor, Ed Koch, who apparently hated Trump with a vengeance, refused. Mr Trump lost that battle but won the war. An even grander project later was allowed to write off taxes worth a multiple of the original claim.

Every other investor won the war with him. The problem with tax incentives goes beyond those available to giant multinationals and is a lot more local than sun-drenched islands.

The domestic version was probably the single most important cause of the property bubble and bust, providing the offal on which the banks could indulge their feeding frenzy.

Despite this, the multinational regime gets most attention, although one can see why. The amounts involved are staggering; they are the subject of international attention, and Ireland is an extreme case - perhaps, in this particular type of arrangement, the extreme case.

When it comes to the European Union, international attention is nothing new. In his review of the corporate tax regime for the government, UCC economist and chairman of the Fiscal Advisory Council Seamus Coffey traced the history of the Irish regime.

It is noteworthy that, when Ireland joined the EEC (as it was) in 1973, its tax relief for manufactured goods was deemed to be illegal state aid.

It could hardly be otherwise, since it singled out a particular sector but it is worth remembering that this principle is part of the founding arrangements of the EU, not some new attempt based on increased integration.

The EEC was already working on corporation tax harmonisation and hoped, before that, to harmonise cross-border tax reliefs. Irish legislation was changed to make it more compatible with these ideas but, as we know, things took a very different path - at least so far.

The Shannon free zone was even more outside EEC rules but the entry terms agreed that these special arrangements were necessary for Ireland, "to take account of the objectives of economic expansion and the raising of the standard of living of the population".

Naturally, that no longer applies but back even then, Ireland had to agree that they would be phased out by 1990. Irish policy since has been to find ever more complex ways of keeping the attractions of the system while staying within EU law.

For some years, the Commission continued to take a fairly benign view, including something which it may now regret; the extension of reliefs to the Dublin financial centre, the IFSC.

It changed its stance as Ireland grew more prosperous but Irish governments did not alter theirs. In what looked like a final showdown, until the Apple case, a 12.5pc rate was applied to all activities. Along the way though, the type and scale of activities was transformed in ways no-one would have foreseen.

One of the first was the growth in tax-based financing and leasing, making use of capital allowances - a subject in the news again in recent months. Irish institutions would purchase plant and machinery, claim accelerated capital allowances as well as IDA grants, and then lease it to companies which qualified for export or manufacturing tax reliefs.

In a phenomenon which was to be repeated, legislation to curb tax avoidance ended up providing further opportunities for it. The so-called Section 84 loans were a major part of the financial scene in the 1980s.

And so matters have continued, with foreign hostility to Ireland's regime increasing, and evidence that Irish policymakers have become more and more enmeshed in the business of attracting and retaining multinational investment; to such an extent that it often seems government is no longer in charge of policy.

Things became immensely more difficult with the arrival of the Information Age. The Irish system already offered opportunities and it would have seemed obvious, and certainly irresistible, to make any changes that would deliver even modest taxes from this cornucopia.

Not so modest either. Corporation tax receipts averaged 4bn from 2011 - 2014 but 7bn in the following two years, as intellectual property (IP) moved to Ireland. The Coffey report was optimistic that much of the recent increases in corporation tax would be maintained in the medium term but Mr Coffey himself calculated that a possible 1bn in tax revenues was foregone by that decision, as almost 300bn in IP was moved here in 2015.

What was supposed to be a tool of economic development became the cornerstone of the economy. It would also seem that most of the revenue has been consumed rather than invested in making the economy more productive.

The extra 6bn in revenues over the last two years has been absorbed with barely an increase in public investment; which is scheduled to grow by just 3bn over the next four years.

Along the way, multinationals may have unintentionally harmed the domestic exporting sector, with their impact on wages, prices and resources.

Certainly, that sector is quite incapable on its own of maintaining our present standard of living and international financial position.

One worry is that Brexit will widen the imbalance, as multinationals hoover up staff, space and housing just as the indigenous sector is losing out in the UK market and trying to improve competitiveness to break into new and more difficult markets.

If the Coffey report is right about such revenues being sustained in the medium term, they should be used for genuine economic development as Ireland prepares, not to defend the present system to the last ditch, but instead to wind it down in the most orderly and least disruptive manner, replacing it with something more akin to the original intentions of 50 years ago.
The banks had better watch out. Culture is coming. In the wake of the tracker mortgage scandal, there is a growing sense of the need to fundamentally examine and change the culture at Irish banks.

The tracker scandal wasn't just a few mistakes by a couple of banks. It was widespread, and as Ed Sibley, deputy governor of the Central Bank told an event in Dublin this week, all the main banks will most likely be subject to enforcement proceedings.

It sounds like a pretty stern rap on the knuckles but in a way it might have been better if some had reacted better than others. If all of the main banks end up getting punished, they could comfort themselves with the fact that they were all at it and therefore no worse or better than some other banks.

Mr Sibley compared and contrasted the approach to regulation and compliance at Irish banks before and after the crash. His verdict on the banks is not very positive. When it comes to the high-growth boom years of the past, there was insufficient follow-up and enforcement.

Since the crash, there has been a much more proactive and intrusive form of compliance regulation and enforcement. According to Mr Sibley, when there was lighter regulation the banks didn't have the right culture and problems happened - well 60bn worth of bank crash problems.

But the recent tracker mortgage scandal, he said, showed that with greater levels of compliance, more rules and more active regulation, problems still occurred anyway.

The regulatory pendulum has shifted but not enough has changed.

All of this will be factored into a review of culture at the banks about to be undertaken by the Central Bank. It will involve a series of processes aimed at assessing and even measuring culture inside the banks.

The event, organised by legal firm Eversheds Sutherland, also heard from Wijnand Nuijts, head of governance, culture and development at the Dutch financial regulator, DNB.

He outlined a post-crash relationship between the banks and the regulator in the Netherlands which is heavily focused on culture within the banks. The Dutch regulator ensures the boards of banks conduct oversight of the culture within the organisation. It also ensures that internal audits on culture are performed, along with ensuring each bank has the right attitude to whistle-blowers.

It has even hired a team of psychologists who help in assessing the culture of the organisation. This involves actually sitting in on board meetings and observing behaviour.

Is the chairman open enough to discussion happening? Is there too much conformity without challenge? Is there evidence of an in-group among the board members ?

The Dutch regulator regularly presents findings of these reviews to the banks. This is followed by what Mr Nuijts described as "challenging" conversations with the bankers.

The sceptics might argue that such an open approach between the regulator and the regulated will never happen or catch on in Ireland. Perhaps, but there is a window now through which the question of culture at Irish banks can be addressed.

Ed Sibley outlined several initiatives that are open to the Central Bank to consider as a regulator when it comes to influencing the culture of the banks. He mentioned greater board oversight on culture, internal audits, regular interviews and the possibility of board sub-committees dealing with culture.

He also expressed an interest in the approach to individual accountability that has been taken in the UK.

There has been a clamour for greater accountability in banks in the wake of the tracker scandal here.

There is a sense that it will eventually end up running into the sand because many people in senior positions will say they were not aware of specific actions being taken.

Ciaran Walker of Eversheds Sutherland, a regulatory lawyer and former head of enforcement at the Central Bank, talked about the concept in the UK of "wilful blindness". The British regulations now counter that by putting in place a regime where if somebody responsible for a particular part of the bank says they didn't know about something untoward, they must be able to give a reasonable account of why they didn't know.

Mr Sibley said he has looked at the UK approach, and while he had some reservations about how it has been applied, he did not rule it out for Ireland. In fact, he seemed quite open to it. This would be a major move in bringing about greater personal accountability in the sector.

The Dutch model, which appears to be working, is based on trust - between the regulator and the regulated. This cannot be created overnight.

In the wake of the tracker mortgage scandal, Ireland doesn't appear to be starting in the best place at all. There is a clear sense that trust has broken down, as the banks have been dragged into taking a new and more customer-focused approach to cleaning up that mess.

Bankers will have their own perspective on all of this. They see a world of greater regulation, more compliance and more rules to be observed. The idea of imposing a new set of regulatory measures around culture will not sit well.

There is a big debate in the corporate world about the role of culture in certain sectors. Banking is one which has been shown to fall foul of short term thinking and profit, at the expense of long term more sustainable business models.

Bankers might also want to see an opportunity for being rewarded in some way for showing positive attributes of culture in their organisations. When asked about this, Mr Sibley pointed out that while there had been 13 published breaches by banks in the last year, in reality there had been "hundreds" of breaches discovered or reported by the banks themselves.

He gave this an example of how the Central Bank is prepared to be flexible and ensure there are benefits to self-disclosure where rules have been breached.

The event also heard from Dan Denison of the University of Michigan, a leading scholar on Organisation Development and Culture Change. He talked about the need to incentivise management at banks to do things better. He said it was part of a longer term commercial imperative that they put their customers first.

It is quite extraordinary to think that just a few years after a 60bn taxpayer bailout of Irish banks, a regulator would point to obvious current failings within the culture of banks.

The review of culture is expected early in the New Year and the Central Bank has said it has already developed a framework for going about it. Its terms of reference and methodology will be drafted in the coming weeks.

It is clear that the Central Bank is aiming high - it wants to see culture change led from the top. Mr Sibley talked about the gender imbalance that still exists at the top of banking and the need for greater diversity of different kinds on boards.

He alluded to international studies around the tendency to appoint optimists and not pessimists who will question and challenge boards. He also referred to the 'consensus seekers' often found on boards internationally.

A big focus of the Central Bank in all of this will be how bankers are incentivised to behave. What are they rewarded for doing and how?

It seems highly unlikely that a regulator will be able to influence the culture of banking organisations in Ireland in a meaningful way without carrying a big stick behind its back at the same time.

Corporate governance, risk assessment and management systems have all improved at the Irish banks since the crash. They don't want to go bust again.

But transforming their entire culture to become more customer-driven, is a tall order. Surely, it has to come from within the banks themselves.

There are some senior figures in Irish banking who want to make those changes. Perhaps there is a chance to begin that process now.
The overall winner of the 2017 Bank of Ireland National Enterprising Town Awards has been announced, with Tralee taking the top spot.

As part of the award the town will receive a 23,000 prize fund to invest in the further development of enterprise in the town.

The county Kerry town was chosen due to what the award judges described as the immense collaboration they experienced while visiting the town from local business groups and the wider community.

In addition the judges cited the overwhelming sense of purpose and pride from those living, working and doing business in Tralee as factors behind the town being awarded the top spot.

Other prominent winners at the event were the Dublin Docklands, Cootehill in Cavan and Carrick-on-Shannon in county Leitrim, who received 8,000 each in funding for their town.

The aim of the awards is to assist in the promotion of enterprise across the country by bringing business and community groups together to showcase to a panel of judges the spirit of enterprise in their local area.

Overall a total of 38 towns shared in the prize fund at the awards ceremony.

"The support of city and county councils all over Ireland contributed to the success of the awards and Bank of Ireland is extremely grateful for their support.

I would like to congratulate Tralee on taking the top prize and to commend all of our winners," David Tighe, head of open enterprise and innovation at Bank of Ireland, said.
The MV Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, the worlds biggest container ship  AP Moller-Maersk posted a third-quarter-loss after having its business disrupted by a cyberattack last summer

A major shipping company is under attack. With help from a corrupt executive, an international hacking syndicate called Scorpius, has penetrated the computer networks of Fast Freight Ltd. The hackers have taken control of servers and compromised the systems that control Fast Freight's vessels and its portside machinery. The company's cybersecurity consultants have 48 hours to uncover the breach and repulse the attackers before they cripple Fast Freight's business and cause serious economic damage.

It sounds like the plot for a blockbuster thriller. But this was the fictional scenario 42 budding computer security experts faced at the annual UK Cyber Security Challenge competition earlier this week in London.

With demand for cybersecurity expertise exploding, but qualified people in short supply, war-gaming competitions like this have become key recruiting grounds for companies and government security agencies.

"We want to find untapped talent to fill roles in our own operation and in the industry as a whole," said Rob Partridge, BT's head of commercial development for penetration testing.

BT is one of a half-dozen companies, including Airbus, Cisco Systems and smaller, specialist cybersecurity firms Darktrace and CheckPoint Software Technologies, that sponsored this year's Challenge competition. The UK's National Crime Agency, the Bank of England and law firm 4 Pump Court also supported the competition.

Partridge also said he hopes the competition will help raise the profile of cybersecurity as a profession, encouraging more students to pursue a career in the field. There are about one million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally, according to an estimate from Cisco. And computer security firm Symantec forecasts that the number of positions will grow to 1.5 million by 2019. In the UK, advertised cybersecurity roles exceed interested candidates by about 3 to 1, according to online recruitment site Indeed.

It's this gap that Cyber Security Challenge UK, a non-profit organisation set up by the British government with support from corporations and universities, is supposed to help fill. The group runs a series of online games that allow amateur cybersleuths and white-hat hackers to test their skills. Those who score well online are invited to a series of regional, in-person competitions. The top performers at these events are then invited to the annual three-day masterclass and team-based competition where they face a realistic scenario created by experts from the sponsoring companies.

About 70pc of finalists wind up being hired for cybersecurity jobs within 12 months, Nigel Harrison, co-founder and acting CEO of Cyber Security Challenge, said.

The challenge began in 2010, amid growing concern about the cyberwarfare capabilities of other countries, including China and Russia, Harrison said. It was loosely modelled on similar events in the US, such as those run by the US Department of Energy's National Laboratories and the US Department of Homeland Security.

This year's competition focused on potential cyberattacks on the shipping industry largely because it was held at Trinity House, a Georgian building that houses a 500-year-old charity empowered by the British government to maintain lighthouses and other aids to maritime navigation, Harrison said. But he added that ports and shipping are important components of critical national infrastructure which are increasingly targeted by hackers.

AP Moller-Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies, posted a third-quarter-loss after having its business disrupted by a cyberattack last summer.

As Sophia McCall's team struggled to repel attackers who had compromised five of its six computers, forcing the group to work on one machine, the 19-year-old student from Bournemouth University said the competition was the toughest she's ever participated in. "It's good but it's definitely been really challenging," she said.

McCall said she normally practises hacking networks, not defending them and was finding that defending was teaching her to think differently.

"But it is good to be on the flip side and see what that is like."

The push for realism also extended to requiring the competing teams to brief the board of the fictional shipping company on their investigation. They also had to present forensic evidence and the competition organisers brought in actual UK trial lawyers in their wigs and gowns to grill the competitors.

"It's not just about technical skills," Jones said. "We need people with business knowledge too, and presentation skills. It even reaches into psychology, since human factors are one of the major vulnerabilities in any network."

Jess Williams, now a cybersecurity technical consultant at BT, was talent-spotted at the competition in 2015, when she was a computer game design student. She advanced all the way through the finals, where she caught the attention of BT, which offered her a job. This year, Williams returned to help run the competition.
What would the richest man in the world do if he was living on $2 a day, like the nearly one billion people living in extreme poverty?

He'd raise chickens, he explained in a recent blog post.

"Theres no single right answer, of course, and poverty looks different in different places," he writes.

"But through my work with the foundation, I've met many people in poor countries who raise chickens, and I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of owning these birds. It's pretty clear to me that just about anyone whos living in extreme poverty is better off if they have chickens."

He'd do it for four main reasons: They're cheap and easy to take care of, they're a good investment, eating chicken (and eggs) is good for you, and they can generate income that empowers women to take active entrepreneurial roles in their community.

Read More

As Chris Weller at Tech Insider reports, "Through research and trips to West Africa, Gates has found that after a period of three months, a typical owner of eight to 10 chickens can yield a flock of 40 chicks. With a sale price of $5 per chicken, which Gates notes is typical in West Africa, an owner can earn over $1,000 a year. The extreme-poverty line, meanwhile, hovers around $700 a year."

Melinda Gates is on the same page as her husband. That's why their foundation has partnered with Heifer International, a charity that donates livestock to poor families around the world, and made it a goal to help 30pc of families in sub-Saharan Africa raise chickens, up from 5pc today.

"It sounds funny, but I mean it when I say that I am excited about chickens," Gates writes.
A man who went on a drug and alcohol binge after a woman told him she was pregnant with his child has been jailed for 13 months for car theft.

Sean Dowdall (23) of Rutland Grove, Dublin was off his head on drugs when he stole a taxi driver's car and crashed it into a lamp post shortly afterwards, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Oisin Clarke BL, defending, told the court that a woman that Dowdall wasn't overly familiar with indicated that she was pregnant and he was the father.

Mr Clarke said that Dowdall went on a binge of alcohol and drug use and stole two cars over two days. He said it later emerged his client was not actually the father of the child.

Dowdall pleaded guilty to stealing a car from a petrol station on Tir Chonaill Road, Inchicore, Dublin on February 12, 2016. He has 57 previous convictions including convictions for assault, theft and car theft.

Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of 13 months imprisonment.

Pieter LeVert BL, prosecuting, told the court that Paul Gannon was using his car as a taxi and had driven into the petrol station on Tir Chonaill Road to buy petrol.

He left his keys in the car when he went in to pay, and when he came out the car was gone.

After his arrest Dowdall told gardai that he had been drinking and taking drugs nearby. He was off his head when he saw the parked car ticking over.

He said he drove off in the car. He broke red lights and hit another car but continued to drive on.

A short time later he lost control of the car and crashed into a lamp post. Dowdall was injured but flagged down a taxi and went to hospital where gardai arrested him.

The stolen car was written off due to the extent of the damage. The court heard the insurance company did not compensate Mr Gannon for the car because he had left the keys in the car.

Last year Dowdall pleaded guilty to stealing a car from a petrol station in Dublin on the day before this offence and Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment.

On that occasion, the court heard that there was a teenage girl in the back of the car but that Dowdall only realised that after he had taken the car. He subsequently pleaded guilty to theft and false imprisonment.
A husband charged with the murder of his wife Anne Colomines who was stabbed to death in her apartment in Dublin city-centre has been further remanded in custody.

The body of Ms Colomines who was originally from France but who lived in Dublin for several years with her husband Renato Gehlen was found on the night of October 24 last after she sustained stab wounds.

Gardai in Mountjoy responded to a call at approximately 11.30pm of an incident at the their home at Dorset Square Apartments in Dublin 1.

The senior team leader in PayPal and cat rescue volunteer, who was aged 37, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her 35-year-old Brazilian husband Renato Gehlen, who also had serious injuries was hospitalised for several days, following the discovery of Ms Colomines body.

However, he was remanded in custody on Monday after he was charged with her murder.

He faced his second hearing when he appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Cloverhill District Court and was further remanded in custody to appear again on December 14 next. He listened to the proceedings with the assistance of an interpreter but did not address the court.

His lawyer consented to the adjournment. Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions are awaited.

At his first hearing on Monday, Garda Sergeant Kenneth Hoare said in response to the charge after caution, he had no reply to make.

A judge had also directed medical attention for him in custody.

A bail application will have to be made in the High Court because he is facing a murder charge.
An Italian chef has avoided a prison sentence after being caught with over 30,000 of drugs.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Lino Simonetti (38) had previously being a decent law abiding person but began an unfortunate descent into cocaine use when he came to Ireland.

Simonetti of Aungier Street, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on September 28, 2016.

Garda Brian Quinn told Dean Kelly BL, prosecuting, that gardai searched Simonetti's home after obtaining a warrant and he pointed out all items of interest to gardai before his arrest.

Gardai recovered cannabis herb valued at 29,600, cocaine valued at 3,080, as well as small amounts of MDMA and ketamine. Simonetti also directed gardai to bagging and a weighing scales.

Simonetti, who has no previous convictions, told gardai he had a cocaine and cannabis habit and was spending about 300 a week on it. He began selling in order to obtain drugs for himself.

Gda Quinn agreed with Sean Gillane SC, defending, that Simonetti had been pulled into a particular orbit through his use of cocaine. The garda agreed a debt could be built up quickly.

Mr Gillane handed in testimonials on his clients behalf, including one from his employers.

He said Simonetti had worked in hospitals in Kenya and other African countries. His work prior to coming to Ireland also included education projects for children with special needs.

Counsel said that in every respect before coming to Ireland Simonetti had been decent and law abiding. He said there was nothing in his client's past that would have given anyone a clue that he would commit this offence.

He said Simonetti came to Ireland about four years ago and had begun a terribly unfortunate descent into cocaine use. He said Simonetti had dealt with his use of drugs and was now in much better fettle and appearance. He asked the court to treat him as leniently as possible.

Judge Martin Nolan noted Simonetti had rehabilitated himself as far as drug dealing was concerned. He noted his early guilty plea, cooperation and work history.

He said it was unlikely Simonetti would come before the courts again in relation to this type of offending.

He imposed a four-year sentence which he suspended in full on strict conditions.
Gardai at Robinsons Court, where Mr Rodgers was found in his hallway. Photo: Mark Condren

A 36-year-old man accused of murdering Anthony Rogers, who was stabbed to death in his Dublin home last year, has claimed he was raped by the victim when he was a child.

Alan Harte, with an address at Island Quay Apartments, East Wall, Dublin 3 was remanded in custody today after he was charged with the murder of Anthony Rogers (60) at his home at Robinson's Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8 on November 6 last year.
A Cavan sex offender has been jailed for five years for the sexual assault and defilement of a 14-year-old boy he met following contact through a website.

Michael Galligan (40), who is on the sex offenders register, has four previous convictions including one for sexual assault and one for a breech of the sex offenders act.

Galligan, with an address at Springfield, Cavan, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court guilty to three counts of defilement of a child under the age of 15 years old and two counts of sexual assault of the boy on dates in 2015. He has been in custody since 2015.

The court heard the child had gone on to a particular website and indicated he was 18 years old.

The prosecuting garda told Orla Crowe SC, prosecuting, that following online contact Galligan and the boy met on three dates during 2015 when the offences occurred. She said that the boy had been wearing his school uniform on the second occasion he met Galligan.

She said that the boy's family became aware of mobile phone contact and the gardai were alerted.

Judge Martin Nolan said Galligan should have known the age of the boy after the first meeting. He said part of the law was to protect 14-year olds from themselves and said Galligan knew what he was doing was seriously wrong.

Judge Nolan imposed a seven year sentence and suspended the final two years on strict conditions.

The garda said the investigation involving technical evidence and mobile contact had been quite complex. Galligan was interviewed and ultimately made admissions in relation to these charges.

The court heard the boy did not wish to make a victim impact statement and was endeavouring to move on with his life. The garda said during her evidence that the boy had been frightened, distressed and felt worthless during the offending.

The garda agreed with defence counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, that the boy had made first contact with Galligan.

Mr McGrath said this was not a case where Galligan had gone out looking for an under-age child but accepted that once he met the child he knew he was under-age.

Mr McGrath handed in letters from Galligan to the injured party and the court. He said Galligan accepted what he had done was wrong and that he should have walked away from the situation. He accepted that he had caused injury to this young man.

Counsel said that Galligan had begun to engage with psychiatric services in prison to deal with his problems and difficulties. He handed in a report outlining Galligan's personal history and difficulties coming to terms with his own sexuality. He had attended for counselling.

He asked the court to take into account his client's admissions and early guilty plea. He said there were no threats or violence involved. He asked the court to be as lenient as possible.
A leading judge threw out claims against an insurance company by four people worth a joint 240,000, stating: "These accidents were planned and all four plaintiffs were willing participants in them and party to a fraud."

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke told counsel for Zurich Insurance that 41-year-old undertaker and part-time airport driver Peter Slattery would be entirely comfortable to engage in a scam of fraudulent claims arising from set-up accidents. He had but a passing familiarity with the truth, and none of his evidence was credible, the judge said.

Mr Slattery, of Charlemont, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9, had sued his girlfriend Belinda McLoughlin and Zurich for damages for neck and back injuries arising from a rear-ending crash.

Ms McLoughlin, of Holywell Crescent North, Swords, Co Dublin, was a joint defendant with Zurich in all of the four claims involving separate accidents. She had admitted liability in all - but took no part in any of the cases.

Expand Close Samantha Byrne of Suncroft Drive, Tallaght, Dublin, leaving court after an earlier hearing. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook

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Whatsapp Samantha Byrne of Suncroft Drive, Tallaght, Dublin, leaving court after an earlier hearing. Photo: Collins Courts

Samantha Byrne (28), of Suncroft Drive, Tallaght, Dublin 24, and her sister Jessica Byrne (25), of Bawnlea Avenue, Jobstown, Tallaght, also sued Ms McLoughlin and Zurich for 60,000 each for damages arising out of a rear-ending of their car by Ms McLoughlin at Fortunestown Road on February 12, 2015.

In a fourth rear-ending on July 21, 2014, Ian Doyle (33) of Academy Buildings, Parkwest, Dublin 12, Co Dublin, sued Ms McLoughlin for 60,000 damages for neck and lower back injuries.

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The court heard Mr Slattery had been an injured passenger in Ms McLoughlin's car in this incident.

Judge Groarke in his reserved judgment also named several more people who had made claims, not all before his court.

He said Mr Slattery had been common to five of them and his girlfriend Ms McLoughlin had been party to three of them.

None of the accidents had been reported to gardai and all involved minimal damage.

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The judge said it was inescapable Mr Slattery had adduced or caused to be adduced misleading evidence. He saw no injustice in dismissing his case.

Mr Doyle, the judge said, had lied when denying knowing Samantha Byrne and "his credibility, too, is in tatters".

Judge Groarke said Jessica Byrne had impressed him in the witness box but had lost confidence when cross-examined by Peter Murray about her attendance on a cruise with all of the plaintiffs in much earlier road traffic claims.

"Coincidences happen in life but the evidence in this case, which discloses coincidences of a most astonishing nature, really push the explanation of coincidence off the cliff," Judge Groarke said. "These accidents were planned and fraud is the rational and cogent conclusion to be drawn and I am satisfied all four plaintiffs were willing participants in these accidents.

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"All are party to fraud and I dismiss their actions."

Mr Murray, who appeared with David Culleton of DAC Beachcroft for Zurich, was awarded costs, likely to run to 20,000 in each case, against all four plaintiffs.
The owner of a pub restaurant, overlooking Dublins 200-year-old HaPenny Bridge, has been told by a judge he can extend his licensed premises back into Temple Bar.

Kilkenny native Tom Doone, owner of the Merchants Arch Bar and Restaurant on Wellington Quay, said in the Circuit Civil Court Thursday he turns away dozens of tourists every day due to lack of space.

Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, granted him a Declaratory Order for a 1million restaurant extension to the former 18th Century Tailors Guild Hall which ensures he will be granted a drinks license for the development if completed in accordance with planning permissions.

Constance Cassidy SC, counsel for Merchants Arch Restaurant Company Limited, said the current proposal was to extend the permitted licensed premises at ground and first floor levels to accommodate an extra 90 diners.

Ms Cassidy, who appeared with Fiona Tonge of Lorraine Compton Solicitors, said Mr Doone had bought the then almost derelict premises from a bank in 2006 and spent 1.3 million on a major refurbishment of the building.

Architect Frank Kenny, of Kenny Kane Associates, told the court the premises, built over brick vaults, was originally constructed by permission of the Wide Street Commissioners for the Guild of Merchant Tailors which had been inaugurated in 1418 and disbanded in 1841.

Mr Kenny, in a detailed report for the court, stated that in 1873 the building became a Protestant Boys School and was later turned into a shirt factory until its closure in 1993. It had lain vacant until it was turned into a licensed pub and restaurant by Mr Doone.

He said the protected structure contained a stone cantilevered helical (corkscrew) staircase that remained a major feature of the building and which, for months, had survived the imposition of tons of concrete slabs to test its structural integrity.

Judge Groarke, who granted the company a Declaratory Order, heard that the building was a major heritage asset on the Dublin tourism trail and spanned the famous Merchants Arch which maintained an important pedestrian link between Dame Street via Temple Bar and Henry Street on the north side of the River Liffey via the HaPenny Bridge.

Mr Doone, who on Friday celebrates the 10th anniversary of the opening of the licensed premises, told Judge Groarke the premises catered for daytime and evening tour groups with an emphasis on food. The added restaurant space would provide the capacity and flexibility to host larger groups that were currently being turned away due to lack of capacity.

He said work would begin early in the new year on the extension.
Arts students are used to being the butt of a joke. They can't make up their minds, they just want to doss at the college bar for three years, they'll end up behind the counter in a fast food chain. So the cliches go, and with the increased focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) in recent years, arts faculties have come under further pressure.

This year has seen notable shifts as universities carry out a major revamp of arts, humanities and social sciences to place more of a focus on "employability" and equipping students with the skills required for the modern workplace.

According to Professor Cathal O'Donoghue, Dean of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies at NUI Galway, "It's apparent that's what students want. It's a serious investment both in terms of money and time to go to university, and people do that to help them develop their knowledge of a subject and also to have an interesting and rewarding career."

He adds: "It's not to miss the point that we can be proud of the value of a liberal arts education. Very often what we're doing in making these changes is not diminishing that but re-emphasising the employable advantages from a liberal arts education, and communicating it better both to employers and to students."

Prof O'Donoghue acknowledges that arts faculties "have been slower" in rethinking their offerings than science and engineering departments, but now NUI Galway is determined to "increase our skills focus within our programmes and to create specific programmes for specific employment areas" with more targeted programmes.

NUI Galway has launched seven new arts degrees with four-year courses such as the BA Film and Digital, the BA International and the BA Arts and Data Science.

Prof O'Donoghue explains it is the first strand in a five-year plan of programme developments which aims to enable graduates to pursue "flexible careers".

UCD, home of Ireland's largest single entry degree which takes more than 1,200 arts students each year, is also revamping its arts, humanities and social sciences programmes.

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As well as offering new subject combinations, some of the degrees will be extended to four years, to allow time for an internship, a period of study abroad or a research project. The three-year BA Arts will still be available, but with a reduced intake.

Professor Colin Scott, President of UCD's College of Social Sciences explains: "We're interested in giving students better preparation for careers, which we understand will not be lifetime careers, but are likely to involve quite a lot of change. We're preparing our students with a deepening of the kind of skills that will assist them both in understanding and participating effectively in the workforce."

The internships will be available across private, government and NGO sectors and, generally, will not be paid. "We'll be assessing them on what they undertake during their internship, so it's a core part of their education, rather than work experience," says Prof Scott.

Professor John Doyle, Executive Dean of DCU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, notes that much of the reporting around arts graduates focuses on how many are in employment after six months, but that this isn't the best way to measure employability. A large portion of arts, humanities and social science students pursue postgraduate degrees after completing undergraduate study, and statistics on postgraduate employment offers a more promising outlook.

"Comparing someone with three years of education and someone with four or five years of education is, I think, not comparing like with like, and it's suggesting arts degrees have less utility for employment in life than in fact they do have," he says, noting that based on 2016 data, 66pc of DCU humanities/social sciences undergrads were working and 21.5pc in further study, while 86pc of postgrads were in employment, over half of whom were earning over 25,000.

Nobody expects arts to provide a quick path to riches, but the difference in starting salaries between arts and STEM graduates can be remarkable. According to the annual Higher Education Authority survey of graduates nine months after leaving college, in spring 2016, 31pc of information and communication technology graduates earned between 29,000-33,000, while 21pc of arts graduates were on less than 13,000.

Prof O'Donoghue says that the situation is significantly different mid-career.

"I think it just reflects the different trajectory that different types of graduates have. There are some degrees like medicine where you go straight into working as a doctor, and it's really well-paid at that time, although they spend longer studying and training.

"But most graduates come to a specialist career over time, and that accounts for some of their earnings differential at the start, but that doesn't stay the same over their career. The earnings at the start are not necessarily a reflection of your career."

Maynooth University revamped its curriculum in recent years while Trinity is reviewing its offerings. At the University of Limerick, recent introductions include a BA in conjunction with Mary Immaculate teacher training college. An innovation at UCC was its BA Digital Humanities and Information Technology, weaving digital age skills into the study of arts and the humanities.

For students filling out their CAO forms, the relatively low points for arts (generally 320-350) suggest that these are not the courses for the very best students, but Prof Doyle argues that "what people sometimes forget is that the published points published are the lowest points achieved by any student who got into the course; there's going to be a huge range."

Like O'Donoghue and Scott, he insists that employers do see the value in arts degrees: "There's a lot of focus on the STEM shortages, but. equally. employers are talking about language skills and critical thinking shortages.

"In an arts degree, you have those transferable skills that employers are increasingly talking about, as well as learning about English or politics or law."

He recalls an international relations student whose dissertation he supervised a few years ago: "He was looking for a job with a major international bank to get a bit of work experience and clear some debts.

"The interview ended up being dominated by his thesis discussion on the Bosnian war, and he was thinking this is terrible, how do I get back to my business skills?

"But they offered him a job before he left the room, and when they asked him if he had any questions, he asked the one you're never supposed to ask: why did you offer me a job? They said, 'Well, if you can figure out a Bosnian war, you can figure out banking regulations.'"
Dr Graham Love (left),chief executive of the HEA, and Katherine Donnelly, education editor, Irish Independent, with the winners of the Irish Independent/HEA Making an Impact Award 2017, Joanne Duffy, from NUI, and Eoin Murphy, also from NUI, at The Helix in DCU. Photo: Frank McGrath

The use of barnacle genes as the basis for a surgical glue and the deletion of human genes that increase the risk of Huntington's Disease - these were the two winning ideas at the annual 5,000 Irish Independent/Higher Education Authority (HEA) Making an Impact student research competition.

Coincidentally, the honours were shared by two PhD students at NUI Galway - Joanne Duffy and Eoin Murphy - each of whom received 2,500. Both are in the College of Science, but involved in different research.

The aim of the competition, which was held in The Helix, Dublin City University, is to encourage the effective communication of research to a lay audience.

One winner was selected by a panel comprising Katherine Donnelly, education editor, Irish Independent; Dr Graham Love, chief executive of the HEA; and Tony Donohoe, head of education and social policy at Ibec. The second winner was selected by an audience of second-level pupils.

Ms Duffy, an Irish Research Council scholar, is investigating the genetic engineering of the sticky qualities of barnacles for medical use. Mr Murphy's research is concerned with ways to use genetic editing to tackle the relatively high incidence of Huntington's Disease in Ireland.
Elderly people are facing a means test and are likely to be forced to make a payment towards their home help for the first time under a new Government-backed scheme.

The proposed scheme will give people assessed as 'in need of support' a statutory right to a minimum level of care hours to allow them to remain in their own homes. It will be in place in two to three years' time.

However, health officials signalled yesterday that HSE-provided home help and home care packages are likely to involve a financial contribution when the scheme is in place.

Services for an older person or people with a disability who qualify for the supports are currently free.

Department of Health official Frances Spillane revealed a public consultation on the scheme, which is currently being devised, generated 2,600 responses and 1,700 of these have been analysed.

"We need to come up with a scheme that is as equitable and fair as possible.

"In consultation we asked questions on funding to get a feel from people and asked would they be willing to contribute to the cost of care," she said.

Read more: The true cost of nursing home care in Ireland

A majority said they would be willing to contribute - and also top it up by buying supplementary home care privately, she added.

"That would suggest there is an understanding that there are finite resources.

"Obviously that is going to be a sensitive issue and one of the main issues we have to develop," she told the Oireachtas Health Committee.

She added: "The new scheme will improve access to home care in an affordable and sustainable way."

It would be applied in a consistent and fair way across the country, she added.

The level of co-payment or type of means-test are still to be worked out but the assessment is likely to involve an examination of income, assets and savings.

Jean Long, of the Health Research Board, who looked at statutory home care schemes in four countries, pointed out there was evidence they were coming under pressure.

"Scotland has increased the budget allocated to home care and asked citizens who earn over 16,000 (17,800) to pay for household tasks," she said.

Members of the committee stressed the current crisis faced by many families who are pleading for some form of home help.

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Sinn Fein Senator Rose Conway-Walsh said she was aware of people in their 90s who are being denied care.

However, although they are assessed as being in need, they have no automatic entitlement to home care and there is a waiting list of 2,456 who are desperate for some support.

Age Action's Justin Moran told the committee that around 50,875 older people should be getting home help - but 22,300 of these were not receiving the home care they needed.

"The reality is that home help hours and home care packages are simply not available in many parts of the country," he added.

It is being exacerbated by the postcode lottery which exists in different counties.

North Dublin, Cork and Kerry are waiting-list blackspots for people needing home help from the HSE.

There are also waiting lists in Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.

The crisis is worsened further by the difficulty in recruiting home helps who face uncertain contract hours, the committee was told.

Ms Spillane said when the new scheme was introduced it would also involve regulation of home help services for the first time. The aim is to make this "pragmatic" - with regulation applying to the providers, rather than inspectors visiting people's homes.

Ms Spillane said that in the recent Budget a further 37m had been made available for older people's services, particularly to speed up their discharge from hospital over the winter.

"A significant proportion of this additional funding will go toward home care services," she added.

But the resources are limited as demand grows annually.
The timescale for the introduction of minimum pricing to outlaw cheap drink here remains uncertain despite the legal path being cleared for the same law to be imposed in Northern Ireland.

The UK Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Scotland can set a minimum price for alcohol, rejecting a challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Legislation was approved by the Scottish Parliament five years ago but has been tied up in court challenges. In a unanimous judgment, seven Supreme Court judges said the legislation did not breach European Union law.

The challenge had meant that minimum pricing proposals were put on hold in the UK, including Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said the plan is for minimum pricing in the Republic to coincide with its introduction in the North to avoid an exodus of shoppers across the Border.

The provision is part of the Public Health Alcohol Bill which recently returned to the Seanad but has now been parked again to allow for more consultation with retailers about how alcohol will be displayed in small to medium-sized shops.

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Mr Harris said yesterday: "I welcome the fact that Scotland is set to become the first country in the world with a minimum price for alcohol sales. They have shown real global leadership on this issue. We want to do the same here in Ireland.

"Our Public Health Alcohol Bill is a very important piece of public health legislation and it is my hope that following an engagement with retailers we will be in a position to return to the Seanad for report stage before Christmas.

"In relation to minimum pricing what is important is that we get this into legislation. The Government took the decision some time ago, for a number of reasons, that it would try to align with its introduction in Northern Ireland. However, we may have to reconsider that if there continues to be political stalemate in the North. It is important to note that Northern Ireland has already taken a number of steps in relation to minimum pricing.

"I do take great encouragement from the fact that in the debate in Seanad Eireann last week there was huge support for minimum pricing as a way to tackle the real harms caused by alcohol in our society."
Elber Twomey with her husband Con and son Oisin, who were both killed in a car crash in 2012

Families of road accident victims have gathered in Dublin this morning to remember their loved ones.

The special service, organised by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), marks the beginning of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which takes place this Sunday.

Each year, the RSA highlights this day of commemoration with a reception for those families whose loved ones were killed or seriously injured and road traffic victims groups who have done so much to support the promotion of road safety.

Among those in attendance was Cork woman Elber Twomey, who lost her husband Con, infant son Oisin and unborn daughter Elber Marie after a collision with a suicidal driver.

Since the crash, Ms Twomey has become a road safety campaigner and advocate for mental health and suicide prevention.

"Today, I'm thinking of my beauties, of course, and what life could have been like," she told Independent.ie.

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"I want that they'll never die and that they were here for a reason and that they left their mark and that they will have saved many lives. Please God."

Ms Twomey added that events where grieving families can speak to each other and mourn together are important, since it brings more awareness to an important issue.

"I think we all try and support one another in bringing about change and creating awareness.

"Every one of them here are similar to me. Everybody has lost somebody that they love dearly and miss greatly and they want to see them remembered and change being brought about in their honour, like myself."

Dublin woman Lisa Marie Maher, whose father was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2015, says it's still something she hasn't fully come to terms with.

"My dad was my best friend. He was my hero. He was my mentor in life. He supported me through good and bad," she said.

"Like most fathers, he was everything to me and I have to deal, every single day, knowing that I'll never see him again.

"I cannot believe my dad is a statistic. He was never meant to be a statistic. He had a legacy and a huge impact on this world and on so many people."

The event was organised alongside An Garda Siochana, Local County Councils, Emergency Services and victim support groups. The service, held in Dublin's Smock Alley theatre, included poetry readings and songs from Dublin Gospel Choir.

It was a day of reflection for those impacted by deaths on Irish roads, according to RSA CEO Moyagh Murdock.

"It gives us an opportunity to to remember those who have died on our roads, lives cut short too soon." she said.

"Behind every life lost or serious injury, there are families, friends and communities who have been left devastated."

So far, 137 people have died on Irish roads in 2017, which is a reduction of 33 deaths compared to the same dates in 2016.

In total, 24,103 people have been killed and a further 79,761 seriously injured due to road collisions since records began in 1977.

Events to mark World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday, November 19:

* Cork: Remembrance service takes place in the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Roman Street (Shandon), Cork city at 11.30am.

* Cavan: A special memorial event will take place in Castle Saunderson, Belturbet, Cavan, from 2pm to 4pm.

* Dublin: A special memorial Mass will be celebrated in St Michan's Church, Halston Street, Dublin 7, at 11am.

* Galway: A commemoration to remember all road traffic victims in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, at 2pm.

* Kerry: A special Mass for road victims at 9am in St Mary's Church, Listowel, and in St. Mary's Cathedral, New Street, Killarney, at 12pm.

* Louth: A special memorial Mass will be celebrated in the Augustinian Church, Drogheda, at 1.15pm.

* Mayo: There will be a service at Knock Shrine at noon.

* Waterford: A special commemoration in the Tower Hotel, Waterford, at 2pm.

* Westmeath: The Irish Road Victims' Association is hosting a memorial service for road traffic victims in the Belvedere and Uisneach suites, Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, at 2pm.

Details of all events can be found on www.rsa.ie.
Garda Headquarters has directed officers of all ranks to scrutinise their personal email accounts, handwritten notes and laptops for any material relating to Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

In an unprecedented move, an assistant commissioner has been appointed to oversee the collation of potentially reams of electronic and written data from gardai that will then be forwarded to the Disclosures Tribunal.

In a memo sent to all Garda divisions, seen by the Irish Independent, Garda management laid down the diktat ahead of the next phase of the tribunal, which is examining an alleged smear campaign against Sgt McCabe.

The blanket search even includes emails sent from officers' own personal Gmail accounts.

"Members using Gmail accounts to send and receive work-related emails are also requested to check emails and attachments relevant to the terms of reference and disclose same," the memo from Garda Headquarters stated.

The memo tells all officers they must hand over:

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Minutes and briefing documents from internal meetings held between July 1, 2012 until May 31, 2014;

Any handwritten notes including diary, journal and scrapbook entries;

Data on shared drives, official laptops and desktops;

Relevant details on Garda diaries.

The news of the major fishing expedition is believed to stem from previous criticism levelled at management by whistleblower Keith Harrison.

During recent hearings before Judge Charleton, lawyers for the Donegal-based garda said they had sought full disclosure of documents, both written and electronic, but that not all of this data was provided.

The tribunal also heard submissions from Mr Harrison's legal team that further searches of documents should be carried out as a matter of necessity after new files were found.

One of the documents discovered, minutes of a monthly Garda regional management meeting on November 5, 2013, included a single line that Chief Superintendent in Donegal Terry McGinn "updated the meeting on the investigation into Garda Harrison".

This stems from a statement given to gardai in October 2013 by Gda Harrison's partner Marisa Simms.

Failing

It led to a Garda referral to the HSE over child welfare issues. The case was closed in March 2014, with the HSE saying there was no cause for concern.

Gda Harrison is taking separate High Court action against the Garda Commissioner for breaching a court order.

Former commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan was accused of failing to fulfil an order to furnish Gda Harrison with the full Garda file in relation to a personal injury claim.

Acting Garda Commissioner Donall O Cualain may be forced to appear in court to defend the claim.
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Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..

Tonight

Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Social media is rewriting the rules of politics but this week Fine Gael is finding itself at the centre of an unwanted storm.

A member of their executive council has been the subject of a complaint over alleged abuse against a number of people.

In particular Barry Walsh has targeted the voice of TV3s Blind Dates Tara Flynn and the controversy is top of the agenda for todays Floating Voter.

On this weeks episode INMs Group Political Editor Kevin Doyle is joined by correspondents Philip Ryan and Niall OConnor.

Philip argues troll shaming is welcome and should become common place.

Meanwhile Niall sets the scene for Sinn Feins Ard Fheis which takes place in Dublin this week, predicting that Gerry Adams will signal his intention to step down as party President in the near future.

And the team discuss why Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Government are attempting to fight back against the negative publicity around the housing crisis.
A couple who lost two baby girls at Portiuncula hospital have criticised the HSE as "insensitive and thoughtless" after it emerged that a review into their deaths would be released just before Christmas.

Lorraine and Warren Reilly from Loughrea, Co Galway, are among the families whose cases were included in a review into serious deficiencies in maternity care.

The review, which was started in March 2015, was due to be completed within five months. More than two-and-a-half years later it remains unpublished.

Each of the families received individual family reviews in the spring, aspects of which were then to be incorporated into the full review. They were told the full report would follow in a matter of weeks.

However, following months of delays the families have now been informed the full report will finally be published in the week before Christmas.

They have hit out at the 'insensitive' timing of the release.

"To send those reports out to families the week before Christmas is clearly going to cause upset. Even if you decide 'I'm going to park it and not look at it until after Christmas', it's going to be in your head the whole time," said Mr Reilly.

"You're going to have to look at it and see what it says. It's going to open up Pandora's Box all over again for families. It's insensitive and thoughtless."

He and other families are now urging the Saolta Health Care Group, which has responsibility for the hospital, to bring forward the release date.

The Reillys lost babies Asha and Amber in 2008 and 2010. Asha was stillborn, while baby Amber, who was rushed to Holles St hospital in Dublin, survived for a week. The Saolta Group later apologised unreservedly to the family for failures of care. A spokesperson for the Saolta Group said the review team was "in the process of finalising the review report".

"We are in contact with the families involved to update them on the progress."

They added that in the meantime it was progressing with the implementation of the recommendations from the individual system analysis reports.
This is the dossier of nasty tweets by a member of Fine Gaels national executive.

Over recent weeks Barry Walsh has posted a series of abusive tweets, targeting people who favour repealing the Eighth Amendment.

Last night Dublin Bay South TD Kate OConnell handed out screengrabs of his twitter activity and informed party colleagues she has written to Fine Gael secretary general Tom Curran to complain about the abuse.

Mr Walsh has made particularly crude references to actor Tara Flynn, who is the voice of Blind Dates on TV3.

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Independent.ie initially censored an abusive tweet about Ms Flynn  but she has now said that the full extent of the post should be publicised.

Ms Flynn has spoken about her own experience of seeking an abortion in the past and vocally supports a change in Irelands restrictive laws.

On October 1 Mr Walsh tweeted: From what Tara Flynn says, she was pregnant and just couldn't be bothered having a baby. So she had it killed. Why is she a feminist hero?

Speaking to Independent.ie, Ms Flynn said: Its genuinely frightening when it seems a senior member of a party in government is allowed to get away with misrepresenting you.

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Im glad to see Fine Gael, and Kate OConnell in particular, taking it seriously.

She has now also written a letter of complaint to Fine Gael bosses.

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In other tweets Mr Walsh described Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald and Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall as b**ches.

In an unprecedented move Ms OConnell printed out the social media posts and passed them around at a private meeting of Fine Gael TDs and senators last night.

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She has written a formal letter of complaint to the Fine Gaels General Secretary Tom Curran.

On Saturday Mr Walsh posted a Twitter message in which he claimed that after an even-tempered debate on abortion, Ms OConnell yodelled Look at all them men, discussing our uteruses!

He later accused her of using wrong statistics to back up her arguments, adding: Looks like someone following tactic of hard-left pols: hear a false statistic that sounds good, dont bother to check it, then repeat it as fast.

Mr Walsh has been unavailable for comment.

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Meanwhile, Social Democrats' Roisin Shortall described the tweets as "nasty".

He is like one of these many keyboard warriors who sits at home tweeting nasty things about people. Unfortunately there is lots of people like that. The difference with him is he has a fairly senior position within Fine Gael and I suppose its up to the Taoiseach to deal with that," she told Independent.ie.

It is matter for Fine Gael. I certainly wouldnt be happy with someone involved at a senior level in Social Democrats behaving like that and it would be dealt with it within the party.

Its not appropriate that someone senior within the party is expressing such unpleasant views.

It doesnt bother me that someone is calling me a b***ch, things like that happen all the time but he is actually wrong about me voting twice for budgets in the last government. I voted for one of them but he was inaccurate about that.

A spokesman for the party said that "a letter of complaint against a party member has been received by Fine Gael"

"This will be referred to the partys Executive Council. The party will not be making any other comment at this time," he said.

Independent.ie understands that the complaint will most likely be referred to the disciplinary committee of Fine Gael by the Executive Council and Mr Walsh will be given the right to reply to the complaint.
Two men who were arrested in connection to the murder of a 21-year-old GAA star have been released without charge.

Joseph Deacy (21) of St. Albans in England, was discovered outside a house at Gortnasillagh, Swinford at approximately 6.00am on August 12.

The alarm was raised by a passer-by and gardai and emergency services attended the scene immediately.

The man was taken by ambulance to Mayo University Hospital and later removed to Beaumont Hospital where he was pronounced dead on August 13.

Gardai investigating the death arrested two men yesterday but they were released without charge today.

The investigation is ongoing.

Victim Joseph Deacy was on holiday in the area and had been visiting friends.

Mr Deacy was a regular visitor to the Swinford area and would come over quite often, according to Superintendent, Tony Healy.

"He was on holiday, he had some friends here in Ireland," Supt Healy said.

"He would be over and back here quite regularly and had a circle of friends he'd visit," he added.

It is understood the most substantial injuries sustained by Mr Deacy were to the head.

"He was found in the driveway of the house he had been staying in with his friends," Supt Healy said.

"He had been socialising in Kiltimagh town and would have returned to the house he was staying at in Gortnasillagh, Swinford," he added.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by the State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy and the death is being treated as a homicide.

A forensic examination of the scene has been carried out and an incident room has been established at Claremorris Garda Station.

Gardai are appealing for anyone with information to contact Claremorris Garda Station 094-9372080
Fota Wildlife Park is in search of a name for its two-month-old Brazilian Tapir calf.

The calf was born last September 13, to mother Maya and father Basil, but he still doesnt have a name.

He joins his brother Thiago (two and a half years old) and his sister Sofia (16 months).

This species is also known as the South American Tapir or Lowland Tapir and their numbers have been dwindling in the wild, mostly due to habitat destruction and poaching for meat and hide, so its important that we have been so successful at breeding Tapirs here over the years, Aidan Rafferty, Lead Ranger said.

The Tapirs habitat is currently being redeveloped and we have designed a purpose-built house featuring underfloor heating and its location at the edge of their habitat allows our visitors to look inside.

He added: The Tapirs really enjoy the heat so they tend to spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months, and the specifically designed viewing areas will give the public better insight into how the Tapirs live.

The name Tapir comes from the Brazilian word for thick, which is a reference to its tough skin.

The Tapir inhabits the rainforests of South America; it lives near water which it uses to escape from predators such as jaguars and pumas and they are capable swimmers and divers. Brazilian Tapirs have splayed toes, four on the front feet and three on the rear feet to help them navigate through muddy ground.

If you wish to suggest a name for the new calf and be in win a chance of winning a Conservation Membership, Fota Wildlife Park are accepting suggestions via their blog - www.fotawildlife.ie/blog
Joe and Mary Bonallie pictured near their home at Newgrange, Co Meath. They both travelled to Belfast for procedures. Photo: Frank McGrath

This time last year, pensioners Joe and Mary Bonallie were in severe pain - Joe, who has osteoarthritis, needed a hip replacement, while his wife Mary was in agony from carpal tunnel syndrome in her left hand.

Both were on HSE waiting lists but, says the couple, nothing appeared to be happening.

"I had osteoarthritis for several years and in recent years it got very bad. I was put on a waiting list for investigations into severe hip problems in August 2016," recalls Joe.

"I was in very bad pain; I was barely able to move with my left leg."

Then one day his daughter-in-law heard about an initiative called the Cross Border Healthcare Directive (CBD) on the radio.

She told Joe about it; he'd never heard of it, he says.

So the 75-year-old Newgrange, Co Meath resident went to his computer and researched the Cross Border Healthcare Directive on the internet.

This health initiative, which began in Ireland in 2014, and was implemented under legislation prepared by the European Commission, allows patients, who have a referral letter from their GP, to travel to another EU country to access healthcare that they would be entitled to in their own country.

Under the scheme, patients pay for treatment themselves upfront and later claim it back from the HSE. Any treatment available in an Irish hospital or funded by the HSE is covered - from hip operations to cataracts and oncology treatment (see table).

Joe was immediately interested. "I rang the CBD office in Kilkenny and was sent all of the necessary forms," he says, recalling that the form asked him to specify where he wanted to go for the operation. Because he lives in Co Meath, Belfast seemed to be a good option:

"I rang the health service in Belfast and they sent me a list of both private and public hospitals. I picked out a private hospital."

Joe got a referral letter from his GP and, within two weeks, was attending a consultation and pre-op check-up at Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast.

"The hospital filled in the forms for me and everything was organised. I sent away the paperwork."

The operation on his left hip took place in May 2016, within two months of that first phone call to the CBD office. "The cost was stg9,000. This was paid by me upfront. I got about 95pc of it back from the HSE afterwards, about six weeks after the operation. Later today I'm being admitted for an operation on my right hip. I paid again, and will again be reimbursed by the HSE," he says at the time of this interview.

Joe is delighted with the service.

"It couldn't have been better - they looked after me like I was a guest at a four-star hotel," he says.

"The programme worked extremely well and the HSE were very helpful. I'd recommend it." He adds: "You have to have a referral letter from your doctor. I got that from my doctor, who was very interested in hearing about the directive."

His wife Mary (75) was similarly delighted with her experience of the CBD.

"I had carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand. It has been bad for the last few years, but it got even worse over November and December 2016," she recalls.

She saw her GP about the hand in December 2016 and was put on a waiting list for further investigation. "Nothing happened," she recalls.

At the end of June 2017, Mary applied to participate in the CBD initiative.

"I got a referral letter from my GP to Kingsbridge Hospital and was accepted for an operation for carpal tunnel."

The operation was carried out last July, two weeks after she had initially contacted the hospital.

"It was very fast. I had to pay stg950 to the hospital and I am now waiting to be reimbursed by HSE.

"A few days after that operation I got a letter from the HSE offering me an appointment just to have my hand checked out - for June 2018! I was delighted with my operation and Joe is hugely improved now - people who haven't seen him for a while cannot believe how well he is - it's unreal!"

The CBD scheme is working effectively, agrees Catherine Donohoe, general manager of the HSE Acute Hospitals Division, who points out that anyone in Ireland, once they have a letter of referral from their GP, is eligible.

Many patients will use personal savings, a credit union loan or a mixture of both to fund the up-front payment to the hospital in question. If patients need to take out a loan, the HSE will provide a letter of prior authorisation, stating that the patient is eligible for reimbursement:

"There's no waiting list - once people have the referral letter they can organise care abroad and typically, for example with an operation such as a hip replacement, this operation can be organised within a month.

"You organise your own appointment and choose your own doctor," says Donohoe, who adds that the scheme covers both private and public hospitals. When the operation has taken place you submit your invoices, receipts and proof of travel," she explains, adding that shopping around is recommended, as more reasonably-priced treatment is available in countries like Germany, France, Poland or Czechoslovakia. The HSE, for example, is prepared to pay up to 10,000 for a typical hip replacement through the HSE. However, prices vary and some hospitals may charge up to 13,000 for the same operation. Hence the need to shop around.

"If you're willing to think about travelling further afield, you'll get healthcare that's more affordable."

The only problem is that - although CBD is working well - there's very low take-up.

In 2016, just over 5,500 nationwide inquiries were received by the CBD office in Kilkenny, but these translated into just 1,303 claims for reimbursement - so, as Donohoe points out, just 23pc of the queries actually transposed into people who ultimately sought treatment under the directive.

This low number, says Donohue, is the result of a number of factors, one of which is that, culturally, Irish people are not comfortable about going abroad for treatment. They worry about language barriers, she says.

The fact that patients have to foot the bill for their travel and any accommodation is also a disincentive for some.

Other reasons for low take-up include a belief that the scheme is "too good to be true", and a significant lack of awareness about it, both within the general public and amongst GPs, she says, even though the service has written to every GP and every consultant in the country to inform them about CBD. This concern is underlined by Dr Andrew Jordan, Chairman of the National Association of GPs, who said that in July the organisation announced its intention to undertake an information drive highlighting the benefits of the Cross Border Healthcare Directive to members and patients.

"Feedback from our members highlighted the considerable lack of awareness among GPs and patients that they have the right to seek healthcare in another EU country," he says. "This has resulted in low levels of uptake."

He adds that the scheme has potential to alleviate the pressure on hospitals and cut waiting times,

Dr Jordan, a practising GP, said he himself didn't fully understand the initiative until earlier this year.

"I thought patients had to be on a public waiting list; I thought that to avail of the programme you had to be in the system, on a waiting list and I wasn't aware that we as GPs could refer someone," he said, adding that he now has a "number of patients" in the CBD system for issues like hip and knee replacements, and nose and throat problems.

"The HSE is committed to it and very strong - it is a very robust system in place to process all applications in a timely manner. I want to see more and more patients successfully going through the system.

"My experience of it has been good and I'm very happy if I can find some way to get a person seen to - for example, someone with osteoarthritis in a hip. You know it will take three to five years of pain, of taking anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers while they wait. At the moment we have 687,000 people on waiting lists to be seen for an assessment and 87,000 awaiting surgery of different kinds.

"We have 3,000 GPs in Ireland and if every GP only referred two or three patients that would be up to 9,000 patients off the waiting lists, so it has the potential to make a huge impact on waiting lists for surgical care."

 The CBD allows for patients that are normally resident in Ireland and availing of public health services to be referred to and avail of healthcare funded publicly in Ireland in another EU/EEA membe state. The UK withdrawal from the EU could affect patients being able to access care in NI and the rest of the UK under this directive. For more, see hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd

'They carried out the pre-op and did the paperwork for me'

Julie Barrett from Kildare had her hip replacement in Belfast

* Julie Barrett began to experience pain in her right hip in 2013.

"I put it on the long finger," she confesses.

However, by October 2016 the pain had become unbearable and, she recalls, her hip had "basically locked."

"I was unable to move," recalls Julie, who is in her sixties and from Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

* At the time she was on a HSE waiting list for a hip operation, but concerned about her pain levels, her three adult children had begun exploring the possibility of having a hip replacement carried out privately.

"One of my sons read about CBD on the internet and phoned the office in Kilkenny," she says.

"He was told we needed a letter from the GP - a referral saying that I needed a hip replacement."

* The family contacted Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast to make an appointment for a pre-op consultation in February of 2017.

"They carried out the pre-op consultation and did the paperwork with me."

* Julie was told she could have had the hip operation carried out within four weeks of the consultation, but decided to wait for her daughter-in-law who had arranged to travel from India to care for her while she was recovering.

* "I waited for her to come and I had my hip operation in the first week of June," recalls Julie, who added that her children paid the cost stg9,000, and were subsequently reimbursed. "I'd certainly recommend it to other people."
An expert meeting was held at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Serbia to discuss the upcoming early presidential elections, as well as the progress and dynamics of systemic political reforms carried out by the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Speaking out: Rose McGowan says she was assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. Photo: AP

Harvey Weinstein and Rose McGowan at an after party for the 'Grindhouse' movie premiere in Los Angeles in 2007 Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

Rose McGowan, the Harvey Weinstein accuser who is facing a drugs charge, could have had cocaine planted in her luggage, her lawyer has suggested.

The actress said she will deny the charge brought after police alleged the drug was found in her belongings left on a flight into Washington Dulles International Airport.

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The 44-year-old handed herself into police in nearby Loudoun County, Virginia, on Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued.

She told the New Yorker I will clearly plead not guilty, while the magazine reported her lawyer Jim Hundley had argued the drugs could have been planted.

Depending on when and where the wallet was lost, individuals other than Ms McGowan had access to the wallet for somewhere between approximately five hours 40 minutes and more than 11 hours, he wrote to the Loudoun County prosecutor Jim Plowman.

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McGowan said she had left her bag containing her wallet unattended during the January flight and filed a lost-luggage claim after noticing it was missing while waiting at baggage claim, and also tweeted to United Airlines.

The Planet Terror and Scream star previously suggested the warrant was an attempt to silence her after she became one of dozens of women to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault.

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She alleged she had been raped by Weinstein after The New York Times published its bombshell investigation detailing claims of sexual harassment and abuse.

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The newspaper reported that Weinstein paid her a 100,000 dollar (76,000) settlement in 1997 to avoid litigation and buy peace over an incident in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival.

The 65-year-old producer has unequivocally denied allegations of non-consensual sex.

Police are investigating in Los Angeles, New York and in the UK, where seven women have told officers they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein between the 1980s and 2015.

Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lupita Nyongo were among the high-profile actresses who came forward to publicly accuse him of sexual harassment.

McGowan was bailed on a 5,000 US dollar (3,800) bond and is due to appear in court on Thursday.
Japan is famous for the punctuality of its trains so when one departed 20 seconds early, the rail company (naturally) apologised.

The train, which was supposed to leave Minami-Nagareyama Station just north of Tokyo at 9.44am, had an unprecedented early departure.

According to SoraNews24, the management team at Tsukuba Express issued an official apology on the companys website.

Impressed commuters took to social media to express their surprise, with some sharing the news with their local train operators.

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Japan is known to have one of the worlds most reliable railways where trains rarely depart at a different time to the one scheduled.

The mistake was believed to have happened because staff had not checked the timetable, and the company added that their error didnt result in any customer complaints.
The Donegal man working as Director of Australia's Equality Campaign has expressed his delight at the country's overwhelming vote for same-sex marriage.

Australia's chief statistician revealed that 61.6pc of voters favoured marriage equality, with 38.4pc against.

It will become the 26th nation to formalise the unions if the legislation is passed by parliament - which is expected, despite some vocal opposition.

Tiernan Brady, who has been working on the campaign since April 2016, is delighted with the result, but says it doesn't come as too much of a shock.

"The more I travelled, the more I realised the values of Australia are aligned with the values of the Irish. It's no surprise at all that the results almost match that of Ireland's vote," he said.

Despite the similarity to Ireland's result, Mr Brady, who formerly worked as Political Director during Ireland's referendum, says there were enormous differences too. "The great challenge we had here was the scale of the country. In Ireland, we could get up in the morning and drive to the other side of the county, have lunch and be home again later. We don't have that here. The challenge from that was how do you make sure people in towns and villages across Australia know how powerful their vote is."

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Children's Minister Katherine Zappone said that Northern Ireland should be next to endorse marriage equality. The minster said the ban on gay marriage in the North "continues to cast a shadow over the progress made not just in the south, but also in England, Scotland and Wales".

"It is simply wrong that our brothers and sisters cannot marry the person they love. I will travel to Belfast next month to meet campaigners and brief them on our experiences on the long road to equal marriage," Ms Zappone said.

"As well as offering solidarity, I will encourage them to be resilient. It is often forgotten that the journey to marriage equality here, as in Australia, was marked by setbacks.There were dark days in the courts, at political level and even in the wider community."
Salt and vinegar flavoured grass may sound like a bonkers Willy Wonka creation, but the real thing has been found growing in a remote part of the Australian desert.

Researchers were analysing samples of spinifex, a type of drought-resistant grass endemic to Australia, when one of the team licked their hand and instantly recognised a familiar taste.

"We were doing late night experiments, handling specimens of that species," University of Western Australia (UWA) biologist Matthew Barrett told ABC.

"Someone licked their hand at some point and tasted that flavour."

Dr Barrett, along with UWA PhD student Ben Anderson, discovered eight new species of spinifex in Western Australia, with the unique flavour coming from droplets on the grass that "sparkle in the sunlight".

"It looks pretty inconspicuous when you first get to it, but if you look at it very closely it has very, very minute sparkling droplets on the stems," he said. "When you lick them, they taste like salt and vinegar chips. But I wouldn't recommend going out and licking spinifex.

"We have discovered quite a lot of new species tucked away in little, out-of-the-way pockets that no one's ever really looked at before."

The study was published in the journal 'Australian Systematic Botany'.
A British judge working with an EU mission in Kosovo has quit

A European Union mission that monitors Kosovo's justice says a British judge who served with the initiative is under investigation for unspecified "serious allegations against him".

The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, or EULEX, said a team overseen by the EU's highest court is investigating Malcolm Simmons.

He has been a judge with the mission since 2008 and its chief judge since 2014.

The nature of the probe not included in the statement, which said: "The EU and EULEX operate a zero-tolerance policy toward inappropriate behaviour and wrongdoing."

Mr Simmons has also lodged complaints against EULEX.

He told France's Le Monde newspaper that he has resigned because neither Britain nor the EU supported calls to investigate corruption in the Kosovo programme.

He told Le Monde he had complained about the "piracy of my private email by another EULEX judge" and a romantic relationship between that judge and a Kosovo jurist who allegedly received favouritism in a trial assignment.

"All of this goes against normal procedure," Mr Simmons said in the Le Monde interview. "I asked the UK Foreign Office and the EU to refer it to the police. They both refused to support me."

The EU mission in Kosovo responded by saying: "Simmons was requested to furnish all evidence in his possession to support his allegations, but - regrettably- has not done so yet."

Mr Simmons also attacked EULEX itself, saying it was "not a mission to promote the rule of law. It is a political mission. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either naive or stupid."

"EULEX wanted to bring down part of the Kosovar political class," he said.

Apparently responding to the claim, EULEX underlined in its statement "that it is a Rule of Law Mission with the mandate to assist Kosovo authorities".

The EULEX mission has supported Kosovo on its path to European integration in the areas of rule of law and fighting corruption since 2008, when Pristina declared independence from Serbia.

AP
The Co-operative Bank has launched a search for a new chairman ahead of Dennis Holts retirement next year.

The Press Association understands that Mr Holt is set to step down in spring 2018 ahead of his 70th birthday next autumn.

It will end his three-year stint as the banks chairman, having been appointed in October 2014.

The move will coincide with his plans to step down as non-executive chairman of specialist insurance firm Beazley, with the company revealing last month that he will be replaced by Nationwide Building Society chairman David Roberts as of March 2018.

The Co-op Banks own search for Mr Holts successor is currently under way.

The Co-op Bank declined to comment.

It is the latest executive change for the bank after announcing plans to replace finance chief John Worth for director and chief restructuring officer Tom Wood back in September, and follows the successful completion of a 700 million deal that saved the troubled lender from a potential collapse.

The 700 million refinancing and restructuring package  agreed to by the Co-op Banks hedge fund investors earlier this summer  saw the bank effectively sever its historic relationship with the Co-operative Group and separate itself from the wider mutuals pension scheme.

The rescue package gives the Co-op Bank the ability to meet regulations on long-term capital requirements, avoid it being wound down and allow it to continue as a standalone lender.
Daryll Rowe (26) who has been found guilty of ten charges of deliberately trying to infect men he met on Grindr with HIV in Brighton, East Sussex and the North East (Press Association)

One of the men who a hairdresser deliberately tried to infect with HIV - along with nine other male lovers - has branded him a "sociopath whose actions were grotesque".

The 42-year-old victim said he was preyed upon by Daryll Rowe, 27, who became the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus.

He was convicted of 10 charges - five of grievous bodily harm with intent and five of attempting to do so - at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday.

The victim who only ever knew Rowe by his alias Gary Cole said he was pleased with the verdicts and said he hoped he would be locked away for life.

Speaking to the Press Association from his home in North Tyneside, he said: "What he has done, it's just grotesque.

"When I found out, it was awful. I almost lost the plot."

The man said he is relieved he has not been diagnosed with HIV after becoming involved with Rowe but fears he is not completely clear of the risk just yet.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I've taken two tests since we were together but I'm worried that because you have to wait to be tested and the symptoms can appear later on, I could still contract it.

"Knowing what he did to all of those other people is horrific, and that he did infect some of them. I feel lucky but also very sad for them."

He said he felt completely betrayed by Rowe who he met on dating site Plenty Of Fish.

He said: "We talked for a long time.

"I confided in him. He was very charming but quite persistent.

"I have a lot of health problems so I wasn't used to the attention.

"I now feel like he knew exactly what he was doing. He picked me out as someone who was an easy target.

"I never knew the real him at all. He is a sociopath. He needs to be locked up for life."

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After being diagnosed in April 2015 in Edinburgh, Rowe met men on gay dating app Grindr and had sex with eight of them in Brighton, East Sussex, between October that year and February 2016, before fleeing to the North East where he went on the run from police and targeted two more men.

His six-week trial heard he embarked on a cynical and deliberate campaign to infect men with HIV, refusing treatment and ignoring advice from doctors.

He insisted on having unprotected sex with men, claiming he was "clean". When they refused, he tampered with condoms, tricking them into thinking he was practising safe sex.

Afterwards he would become aggressive and taunt them over text.

He repeatedly lied to police and throughout his evidence during the trial, claiming he thought he was cured and accusing his victims of being untruthful.

After 18 hours of deliberations, the jury of seven women and five men returned unanimous guilty verdicts on four counts and majority verdicts on the further six charges on the indictment.

Rowe, now of no fixed abode but originally from Edinburgh, was remanded in custody until he is sentenced in the new year.

He could face a life sentence with an extended term for being a danger to the public.

The case is the first where prosecutors have successfully been able to prove the intent to infect people with HIV, Sussex Police said.
Russia's parliament has passed legislation to declare international media "foreign agents" in response to US scrutiny of the Kremlin's RT channel.

Amendments to a mass media law approved yesterday would allow the justice ministry to apply the label, which can also refer to spies, to media that receive funding from states, companies or individuals abroad. These media would have to brand themselves "foreign agents" in all online and offline publications and regularly submit their financial information to the state.

Those that don't comply could be fined, imprisoned and eventually shut down. The legislation is expected to affect US government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of the America, as well as the private channel CNN.

"When they spit in your face, you can of course wipe it off Or you can let the other side know that it's unacceptable to do that, and it will have certain consequences," Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy speaker of parliament, told the news site Fontanka.

Russian lawmakers had promised to retaliate after the production company behind the American branch of state channel RT, also known as Russia Today, grudgingly registered as a foreign agent in the US.

The channel, which broadcasts news in English and often with a pro-Kremlin slant, has come under increasing pressure since a US intelligence report in January said it was part of a Russian attempt to influence the US election. Last month, Twitter banned ads from RT and another Kremlin outlet, Sputnik, over allegations of election meddling.

Amnesty International called the legislation a "blow to what was already a fairly desperate situation for press freedom in Russia".

Independent outlet Meduza argued that the legislation's definition of foreign media is so vague that even RT could technically fall under it, since the channel has branches abroad that make money off advertising on YouTube.
Mafia "boss of bosses" Salvatore "Toto" Riina, is seen behind bars during a trial in Rome in 1993 (AP/Giulio Broglio)

One of Sicily's most notorious Mafia bosses may be visited by family at the hospital where he is in a coma and still a prisoner serving more than two dozen life sentences, Italy's justice minister has said.

Justice minister Andrea Orlando said relatives of Salvatore "Toto" Riina could see him at a hospital in the northern city of Parma.

Ministry officials said Riina, who turned 87 on Thursday, was in a medically-induced coma.

Italian media have reported that his health deteriorated after two recent surgeries.

Riina is serving 26 life sentences for murder as a powerful Cosa Nostra boss.

Nicknamed "the beast" for his reputation as a killer, he was captured in Palermo, Sicily's capital, in 1993 after 23 years as a fugitive.

He has been imprisoned under a law that requires strict security measures for top mobsters, including limits on family visits, detention in isolated sections of prisons and drastically-reduced time out of their cells.

Prosecutors accused Riina of masterminding a strategy, carried out over several years, to assassinate Italian prosecutors, police officials and others who were going after Cosa Nostra when he allegedly held the helm as the so-called "boss of bosses".

The bloodbath campaign ultimately backfired on Cosa Nostra.

After bombs killed Italy's two leading anti-Mafia magistrates, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two months apart in 1992, the state stepped up its crackdown on Sicily's mafiosi.

Riina was captured in a Palermo apartment six months after Borsellino and his police escorts were killed by a car bomb.

Born in Corleone, a Sicilian hill and Mafia stronghold, he steadfastly refused to collaborate with law enforcement after his capture.

Riina was incarcerated at a Milan prison before he was taken to hospital.

In July, a court denied a request by Riina's family to transfer the convicted mobster to house arrest because of his ailing health.

AP
Carles Puigdemont is facing extradition back to Spain from Belgium (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP/PA)

The jailed leader of the main grassroots group pushing for Catalonia to become independent from Spain has resigned his post and will run as a candidate in the December 21 regional election.

The Catalan National Assembly says Jordi Sanchez will be a candidate in the list headed by fugitive Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who is facing extradition back to Spain from Belgium along with four members of his ousted Catalan cabinet.

Mr Sanchez and another secessionist activist were jailed provisionally on October 16 for sedition for their alleged roles in a secession-related protest that trashed police vehicles in September.

The 53-year-old can run unless he is convicted.

Spain called the election after seizing control of Catalonia when local lawmakers declared the region's independence on October 27.

Eight ex-Catalan cabinet members have also been jailed provisionally.

AP
Saad Hariri has not returned to Lebanon since his resignation (Future TV/AP)

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to go to France after his surprise resignation from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago that stunned Lebanon and rattled the region.

An official in French President Emmanuel Macron's office said Mr Hariri is expected in the country in the coming days.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun welcomed Mr Hariri's decision to accept the invite, saying he hoped it "opened the door for a resolution" of the crisis.

"I wait for the return of president (of the council of ministers) Hariri to decide the next move regarding the government," Mr Aoun said in comments published on his official Twitter account.

Mr Aoun had refused to accept Mr Hariri's resignation and accused the Saudis of holding him against his will.

In his strongest statements yet about the crisis, Mr Aoun said on Wednesday there was no reason for the prime minister not to return to Lebanon.

In Riyadh, Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said the kingdom "rejected" allegations it is holding Mr Hariri against his will.

"The accusation that the kingdom would hold a prime minister or a former prime minister is not true, especially a political ally like president Saad Hariri," Mr al-Jubeir said during a press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is visiting Saudi Arabia.

"I don't know the source of these accusations. But they are rejected and are baseless and untrue," Mr al-Jubeir said.

Mr al-Jubeir said Mr Hariri - a dual Saudi-Lebanese citizen - is in Saudi Arabia according to his own will. "He leaves when he wants to," he said.

Mr Hariri announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago, citing concerns over the meddling of Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in regional affairs. He also said he fears for his life.

Saudi Arabia is locked in a feud with Iran over regional influence. Both countries support different groups in Lebanon.

The resignation of Saudi-aligned Mr Hariri was seen as engineered by Saudi Arabia and raised concerns it would drag Lebanon, with its delicate sectarian-based political system, into the battle for regional supremacy.

Hezbollah accused the kingdom of seeking to sow chaos in Lebanon.

Mr al-Jubeir railed against Hezbollah, calling it a "first-class terrorist organisation" that should lay down its arms and respect Lebanon's sovereignty.

"Hezbollah has kidnapped the Lebanese system," he added.

France, Lebanon's one-time colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate the crisis.

On Wednesday, Mr Macron invited Mr Hariri and his family to travel to France, apparently as a way to put an end to allegations the prime minister is being held against his will.

The announcement that Mr Hariri will head to France came after Mr Le Drian met with the Saudi crown prince and the Saudi king.

AP
An artists impression of the planet Ross 128b, with its red dwarf parent star in the background. Photo: PA

A newly discovered planet orbiting a nearby star could be the closest world to Earth providing a comfortable home for life.

The Earth-sized planet, named Ross 128b, is just 11 light years away and thought to have a "mild" climate with temperatures ranging between an icy -60C and balmy 20C.

That could mean it has oceans and lakes in which life may have evolved. But the best news for any plants or animals living on Ross 128b is the planet's peaceful parent star.

Like many other exoplanets, it orbits close to a dim and cool "red dwarf" at a distance 20 times less than that between the sun and Earth. Red dwarfs have tightly bound "habitable zones" - the narrow temperature belts where surface water can exist as a liquid - but are also prone to deadly eruptions of ultraviolet radiation and X-rays.

Habitable zone planets around most red dwarfs are likely to be severely irradiated, causing many scientists to doubt that life could survive on them. However, Ross 128b's star is much less volatile than typical red dwarfs. The planet's surface receives only 1.38 times more radiation than the Earth, scientists believe.

Conditions on what is technically the closest habitable zone exoplanet to Earth, Proxima Centauri b, are likely to be far less pleasant. Its parent Proxima Centauri is also a red dwarf and part of the Alpha Centauri triple star system, just over four light years from Earth. The star unleashes bursts of radiation and "solar wind" particles powerful enough to strip the atmosphere from a nearby planet.

Astronomer Dr Xavier Bonfils, from the University of Grenoble, France, who led the European team behind the discovery, said: "It seems that Ross 128 is a much quieter star, and so its planets may be the closest known comfortable abode for possible life."
This Oct. 8, 2014 file photo provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows serial killer Charles Manson. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP, File)

Charles Manson, the cult leader who sent followers known as the "Manson Family" out to commit gruesome murders, shattering the peace-and-love ethos of the 1960s hippie era in California, has been hospitalized, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Manson, 83, was in a Bakersfield, California hospital and his condition was unclear, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing Kern County Sheriffs lieutenant Bill Smallwood.

A spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation declined to comment to the Los Angeles Times. She cited privacy laws that preclude the agency "from commenting on protected health information for any inmate in our custody," the newspaper reported.

State and local officials were not immediately available for comment to Reuters.

Expand Close Convicted murderer Charles Manson is shown in this handout image released March 18, 2009 from Corcoran State Prison in California. REUTERS/Courtesy of Corcoran State / Facebook

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Whatsapp Convicted murderer Charles Manson is shown in this handout image released March 18, 2009 from Corcoran State Prison in California. REUTERS/Courtesy of Corcoran State

Manson, who was serving a life term for orchestrating one of the most notorious crimes in U.S. history, had been imprisoned for more than 45 years at California State Prison, Corcoran.

In the 1960s, Manson, an ex-convict, assembled a group of runaways and outcasts known as the "Manson Family." In the summer of 1969, he directed his mostly young, female followers to murder seven people in what prosecutors said was part of a plan to incite a race war.

Among the victims was actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski. She was stabbed 16 times by cult members.

Manson was rushed to Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield in January for what authorities described only as a serious medical problem, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Pope Francis called climate change 'one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing' (Alberto Pizzoli/AP pool/PA)

Pope Francis has criticised those who deny the science behind global warming and urged negotiators at climate talks in Germany to avoid falling prey to such "perverse attitudes".

Francis issued a message to the Bonn meeting, which is working to implement the 2015 Paris accord aimed at capping global emissions.

He called climate change "one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing" and urged negotiators to take action free of special interests and political or economic pressures.

Francis did not cite any countries by name but the US has announced it is withdrawing from the Paris accord.

President Donald Trump has nominated several people in his administration who question scientists' conclusions that human activity is behind the global rise in temperatures.

At the same time, the US administration has promoted the use of fossil fuels like coal for energy needs.

In his landmark 2015 environmental encyclical, Francis said global warming is "mainly" due to human activity and he called for fossil fuels to be progressively phased out without delay.

In his message, the Argentine pope claimed efforts to combat climate change are often frustrated by those who deny the science behind it or are indifferent to it, those who are resigned to it or think it can be solved by technical solutions, which he termed "inadequate".

"We must avoid falling into these four perverse attitudes, which certainly don't help honest research and sincere, productive dialogue," he said.

AP
A military vehicle is seen on a street in Harare (AP/PA)

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is meeting a South African delegation at his state house as negotiations pushed for a resolution to the political turmoil and the likely end to his decades-long rule.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma, speaking in parliament, said the political situation "very shortly will be becoming clear" but that it was too early to take any firm decision.

The talks include the military and, reportedly, the Catholic Church.

Seizing on the political limbo to speak out, civil society groups and opposition leaders urged Mr Mugabe to step aside after 37 years in power and for the country to transition into free and fair elections.

Mr Mugabe has been in military custody, reportedly with his wife, and there was no sign of the recently-fired deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who fled the country last week.

The military remained in the streets of capital city Harare. Southern African regional officials were meeting in neighbouring Botswana on the crisis.

A joint statement by more than 100 civil society groups urged Mr Mugabe, 93, to peacefully step aside and asked the military to quickly restore order and respect the constitution.

One analyst said he believed the negotiations "have pretty much reached an end point" to get Mr Mugabe to step aside and that it was a "matter of hours or days".

Knox Chitiyo, associate fellow with the Africa programme at Chatham House, warned speculation remains high but the aim was a peaceful, managed transition.

He said the military wants a dignified exit for Mr Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from white minority rule in 1980.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who shared power with Mr Mugabe between 2009 and 2013, said the president must resign and that his party would participate in talks on a transitional mechanism if approached.

Joice Mujuru, a vice president who was fired in 2014, called for "free, fair and credible elections" following a transition arrangement that draws from a range of communities.

Evan Mawarire, the pastor whose #ThisFlag social media campaign last year led to the largest anti-government protests in a decade, asked: "Should we just sit and wait or shall we at least be part of this transition process?"

Across the country, Zimbabweans were enjoying freedoms they have not had in years.

Soldiers manning the few checkpoints on roads leading into downtown Harare greeted motorists with a smile, searching cars without hostilities and wishing motorists a safe journey.

Amid questions about the whereabouts of first lady Grace Mugabe, one Namibian newspaper, the New Era, reported that the country's foreign minister denied she had fled there.

The US Embassy advised citizens in Zimbabwe to "limit unnecessary movements" as political uncertainty continues.

The UK Government also urged its citizens to avoid large gatherings and any demonstrations.

AP
Crosses showing the names of shooting victims stand near the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas (David J Phillip/AP/PA)

Republican and Democratic senators have joined forces on legislation to strengthen the FBI database of prohibited gun buyers.

The move comes after the Air Force failed to report the criminal history of a gunman who killed more than two dozen people at a Texas church.

Congress has taken no steps on guns in the weeks after deadly shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas.

The bill, which has the backing of the Senate's number two Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, would ensure that federal agencies, such as the Defence Department, and states accurately report relevant criminal information to the FBI.

The Air Force has acknowledged the Sutherland Springs gunman, Devin P Kelley, should have had his name and domestic violence conviction submitted to the National Criminal Information Centre database.

The bill would penalise federal agencies that fail to properly report required records and reward states that comply by providing them with federal grant preferences.

Mr Cornyn said agencies and state governments have for years failed to forward legally-required records without consequences.

He added: "Just one record that's not properly reported can lead to tragedy, as the country saw last week in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

"This bill aims to help fix what's become a nationwide, systemic problem, so we can better prevent criminals and domestic abusers from obtaining firearms."

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, a fierce proponent of gun restrictions, said much more needs to be done on the issue of gun violence, but he believes the bill will help ensure thousands of dangerous people are prevented from buying guns.

"It represents the strongest update to the background checks system in a decade and provides the foundation for more compromise in the future," Mr Murphy said.

The measure's prospects in the Senate are unclear despite Mr Cornyn's backing and it faces an uncertain future in the GOP-run House.

The bill would penalise agencies that fail to forward required information by prohibiting political appointees from receiving any bonus pay.

The legislation also seeks to improve accountability by publicly reporting which agencies and states fail to provide the required records.

Anyone who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed dealer must pass a background check.

People convicted in any court of domestic violence are prohibited from buying a gun but the Air Force has acknowledged it failed to tell the FBI about the assault conviction of Kelley, a former airman who killed more than two dozen in the Texas church on November 5.

That failure made it possible for Kelley to acquire weapons that federal law prohibited him from buying or possessing after his 2012 conviction.

The Army has also said it failed to alert the FBI to soldiers' criminal history in a "significant amount" of cases.

AP
Lawmakers in the lower house of the Russian Parliament approved a bill allowing the government to register international media outlets as foreign agents (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP/PA)

Russia's justice ministry has warned several US government-funded news outlets that they could be designated as foreign agents under a new bill which has yet to be fully approved.

The bill, endorsed by Russia's lower house on Wednesday, comes in response to the US registration of Russian state-funded RT TV as a foreign agent.

It needs to be approved by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

Mr Putin has criticised the US demand regarding RT as an attack on freedom of speech and had warned Russia would retaliate.

The loosely-phrased Russian bill says any government or private-funded foreign news outlets could be declared foreign agents, leaving it to the justice ministry to single them out.

The ministry said on Thursday it has notified the US government-funded Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), along with its regional outlets, that they could be designated as foreign agents under the new legislation.

Media outlets named foreign agents will have to publicly declare themselves as such and regularly provide detailed information about their funding, finances and staffing - the same stringent requirements that have been previously applied to foreign-funded Russian NGOs, which prompted some to shut down.

Joanna Levison, director of media and public affairs at RFE/RL, said on Wednesday it received the ministry's letters in which "they inform us that we may be subject to restrictions under the 'foreign agent' law".

VOA director Amanda Bennett said in a statement that "VOA cannot comment on and will not speculate on any proposed actions by any other entities".

She added: "The Voice of America is an independent news source required by law to be accurate, objective and comprehensive.

"We remain committed to our mission to provide independent and reliable programming to our global audiences."

AP
This new offering will enable millions of Paytm customers to get access to instant credit for the first time for everyday use-cases ranging from movies to bill payments to flights to physical goods.



This is the countrys first tie up between a Scheduled Commercial Bank and a payments platform to offer digital credit to customers of the commerce platform instantly.

Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid is a digital credit account with instant activation: with no hassles of documentation or branch visit, while activation is fully online. There is no transaction, joining or hidden administration fees either.

Available 24x7 and on all days, it is based on a new Big Data based algorithm by ICICI Bank for real-time credit assessment of customers. The algorithm uses an intelligent combination of financial and digital behaviour of the customer including credit bureau check, purchase patterns, frequency of purchase to ascertain the credit  worthiness of a customer within a few seconds. Based on the credit-score of the customer, the bank offers upto 45 days interest-free credit limit. It ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000, extendable upto Rs 20,000 based on the repayment history. Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid will also offer a quick checkout to customers with the Paytm Passcode.

As a start, Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid will offer the credit limit to select customers of the bank using the Paytm app. It will shortly be available to non-ICICI Bank customers using the Paytm app.



Once the credit limit is set up for a customer, a consolidated bill is generated on the first day of the next month, which has to be paid by the 15th day of the same month. Customers can use their Paytm Wallet, debit card or internet banking of any bank for an easy repayment of their dues.

Anup Bagchi, Executive Director, ICICI Bank said, ICICI Bank revolutionised the consumer loan business in the country. We provide a host of personal loans and credit cards to millions of customers. We are now witnessing two distinct new trends: One, many customerswho are new-to-credit and therefore, do not have a credit history-- are looking for short term credit. Two, millions of young Indians are now buying products online. We have combined these two insights to bring out a novel proposition of giving short term credit to people, completely online and instantly. In this endeavour, we have leveraged upon Big Data to develop a new algorithm that instantly assesses the credit worthiness of customers using a combination of financial and digital parameters to sanction the credit line instantly. We are delighted to launch Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid, our first offering in this space in association with Paytm.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder & CEO - Paytm said, Its common for us to ask a trusted friend for money for frequent expenses and promise to pay later. These exchanges are based on trust that you will pay back as soon as you have access to money. We believe our customers are sincere with their payments and Paytm Postpaid will play a major role in helping them pay for their daily expenses on time. This will democratize access to credit including those with less disposable income. We are happy to launch credit in a digital way to the masses in the form of Paytm Postpaid with ICICI Bank as our first partner.
New Delhi, Nov 16 (IBNS): Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for the creation of the posts of Chairman and Technical Members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST, following up immediately on yesterday's sharp reduction in the GST rates of a large number of items of mass consumption.

This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices, read a government statement.

The establishment of the NAA, to be headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India with four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the States, is one more measure aimed at reassuring consumers that Government is fully committed to take all possible steps to ensure the benefits of implementation of GST in terms of lower prices of the goods and services reach them.

It may be recalled that effective from midnight of 14th November, 2017 the GST rate has been slashed from 28% to 18% on goods falling under 178 headings. There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28%. Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18% to 12% and so on and some goods have been completely exempt from GST.

The "anti-profiteering" measures enshrined in the GST law provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers. This institutional framework comprises the NAA, a Standing Committee, Screening Committees in every State and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC).

Affected consumers who feel the benefit of commensurate reduction in prices is not being passed on when they purchase any goods or services may apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the particular State. However, in case the incident of profiteering relates to an item of mass impact with 'All India' ramification, the application may be directly made to the Standing Committee. After forming a prima facie view that there is an element of profiteering, the Standing Committee shall refer the matter for detailed investigation to the Director General of Safeguards, CBEC, which shall report its findings to the NAA.

In the event the NAA confirms there is a necessity to apply anti-profiteering measures, it has the authority to order the supplier / business concerned to reduce its prices or return the undue benefit availed by it along with interest to the recipient of the goods or services. If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the recipient, it can be ordered to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. In extreme cases, the NAA can impose a penalty on the defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST.

The constitution of the NAA shall bolster confidence of consumers as they reap the benefits of the recent reduction in GST rates, in particular, and of GST, in general.
Gurgaon, Nov 16 (IBNS): The court will hear the bail plea of bus conductor Ashoke Kumar, who was arrested on charges of murdering a seven-year old Pradyuman Thakur in Ryan International School, at 2 p.m. on Thursday, media reports said.

Ashoke's lawyer had traveled from Rohtak to Gurgaon to file the bail plea on Nov. 11.

Though Ashoke had confessed his act of murdering the seven-year old boy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended a class XI student of the same school in connection with the murder. The senior student eventually was arrested.

Being a juvenile, his name was not disclosed.

After a CBI probe it appeared Ashoke was possibly framed for a crime he did not commit.

The CBI has revealed that Gurgaon police had planted the murder weapon, a knife, that was used to kill seven-year old Pradyuman Thakur in Ryan International School, on bus conductor Ashok Kumar.

According to the CBI, the weapon belonged to the class XI student.

The teenager allegedly wanted to impede the approaching exams and parent teacher meeting and hence killed the boy.

Earlier, Ashoke's father had said that his son was wrongly framed but on last Thursday the latter confessed to his crime in front of his father, said reports.

Ashoke's family has said that they will now file a case against the cops for planting evidence against him, reports said.
Bengaluru, Nov 16 (IBNS) : Doctors in private medical establishments across Karnataka began on Thursday an indefinite strike in protest against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendments) Bill resulting in a crisis in the state's healthcare system, media reports said.

Although the private doctors had said that they would take up emergencies, dialysis and chemotherapy services, The Hindu reported that some hospitals are refusing the life-saving dialysis too for needy patients.

Most patients who visited private hospitals in Bengaluru were shocked to see no OPD boards in front of the hospitals, several others directly went to government hospitals, the report sid..

The Karnataka government is all set to table and pass the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act (KPMEA), 2017 for amendments in the Winter Session of the Legislative Assembly, which the doctors are vehemently opposed to.

The proposed amendments in the KPME Act will make hospitals accountable for medical negligence and the doctors were opposing it.

Alleging the proposed KPME Act amendments as detrimental to the medical profession, doctors announced complete shutdown of the out-patient services.

Private hospitals' indefinite strike has been called demanding the dropping of at least four contentious proposals in the amendment bill.

The protest started on Monday with the doctors of Private Hospitals Association and Indian Medical Association (IMA) protesting against the proposed KPME Act.

More than 25,000 doctors from various private medical hospitals and health care assembled in Belagavi (formerly Belgaum).
Guwahati, Nov 16 (IBNS): A Field Training Exercise of the ongoing Joint Indo-Bangladesh Training Exercise SAMPRITI 2017, which is seventh such exercise in the SAMPRITI series, was conducted at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram.

The exercise aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of inter-operability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh armies.

Kohima-based Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said that the 13-day long field training exercise commenced on November 6.

The exercise was conducted in a progressive manner where in the participants initially familiarized themselves with each others organizational structure and tactical drills. Subsequently, the training advanced to various joint tactical exercises by the two Armies, Colonel Konwer said.

Field training culminated with a validation exercise, which was conducted on November 15 and 16.

Scenario of terrorists hiding in a village was painted for the validation exercise. It commenced with joint briefings by the company commanders of both armies. Based on which troops established a cordon of the village. The Validation Exercise finally culminated with a daring raid in the jungle terrain to neutralize the terrorists. A spectacular demonstration on room intervention drills was also conducted jointly by Indian and Bangladesh army troops, the Defence PRO said.

The final exercise was reviewed by Major General Md Moshfequr Rahman of Bangladesh Army and Major General MS Ghura of the Indian Army.

The combined exercise was an unprecedented success. Besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two armies, it further helped in strengthening bilateral ties.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Srinagar, Nov 16 (IBNS): The Jammu and Kashmir governments refusal to pay compensation to a man who was strapped to a jeep and paraded by army personnel was a callous attempt and evasion of its human rights obligations, Amnesty International India said on Thursday.

On 27 October, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department rejected a recommendation from the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to give Farooq Dar Rs 1,000,000 (about USD 15,300) as compensation for humiliation, physical [and] psychological torture, stress, wrongful restraint and confinement.

The Home Department said it could not accept the recommendation because there were no accusation of human rights violations levelled against the state government and that there was no scheme or policy under which the compensation could be paid, among other reasons.

The Jammu and Kashmir government claims that it was not responsible for violating Farooq Dars rights, but refusing to pay him compensation for torture is also a human rights violation, said Zahoor Wani, Senior Campaigner at Amnesty International India.

The fact that Farooq Dar was tied to an army jeep and paraded is not in dispute. Authorities have an obligation to provide him with adequate remedy, which includes compensation, and ensure that those suspected as responsible are prosecuted in civilian courts, he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir government must not look for excuses to shirk its obligations. The Union Ministry of Defence should also ensure that the Army cooperates with the civilian investigation. This case should not join the long list of allegations against security force personnel in Kashmir, which have gone unpunished in the last 27 years, said Zahoor Wani.

This incident highlights the need for a strong law to combat torture and other ill-treatment. India needs to urgently ratify the UN Convention against Torture, as recommended recently by Indias Law Commission.

Farooq Dar was strapped to a moving Indian Army jeep and driven around for over five hours in Budgam district during parliamentary election on April 9.

Amnesty International India met Farooq Dar on April 14. He had several bruises and a dislocated wrist.

He allegedly told Amnesty International India that he had been detained by Army personnel while he was travelling to Gampora village on his motorcycle on April 9, the day of polling for a parliamentary by-election.

Senior Army officials and central government functionaries later claimed that Army personnel had tied Farooq Dar to the jeep as a human shield to deter people from throwing stones at their convoy.

On the basis of reports from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and statements by doctors from government hospitals in Srinagar, the SHRC ruled that Farooq Dar did not suffer only humiliation publicly but also suffered trauma which resulted in psychiatric stress which may remain with him for the rest of his life.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
New Delhi, Nov 16 (IBNS): K. J. Alphons, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Tourism expressed deep concern at the tragic death of 21 tourists in a boat mishap in the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh.

"In a letter to the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors/Administrators of the Union Territories, the Minister expressed his astonishment at the fact that the boat in which the tourist were ferried had no license and the boat was overcrowded beyond the capacity and had no security equipments like life jackets, etc on board, which is gross violation of basic stipulations," read a government statement.

He has requested the Chief Ministers of the States and Lt. Governors/Administrators of the UTs to put in place a protocol so that in future such incidents do not take place.
Two juveniles, one 16 and the other 17, have been arrested by the Black River Falls Police Department for their actions in a burglary at 1374 Van Buren Street on Nov. 7 in Black River Falls.

Officers located one suspect a short distance away from the burglary scene, and so the suspect was taken into custody. The following day another suspect was also taken into custody in connection with the burglary.

Officers are still looking for two adults that were believed to be involved in the burglary.

During the burglary, the complainant woke to several individuals, all wearing dark clothing, inside the building. When some of the suspects were confronted they took off running.

During the investigation, officers learned that the suspects had entered the main part of the building and then into a residents apartment. One suspect was confronted by a resident of the building. When confronted another suspect struck the resident. Both suspects then fled the scene.

Several items were stolen from the building including an iPhone and a laptop. Officers learned that the suspects had also entered unlocked vehicles located in the parking lot.

The suspects that were apprehended have been charged with burglary, theft, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.

The Black River Falls Police Department wants to remind everyone to lock their vehicles if they are being left outside. If anyone has information regarding the location of the stolen property, please contact the Black River Falls Police Department.

This case is still under investigation by the Black River Falls Police Department.
Srinagar, Nov 16 (IBNS) : The Jammu and Kashmir police have captured three militants during the ongoing operation in Kund area of Kulgam district, Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan said on Thursday.

Addressing reporters during a joint press conference with army and CRPF, the IGP said that the militants were arrested despite the killing of a soldier in the initial gunfight.

Despite losing a soldier, we arrested three militants. More are believed to be hiding in the area, the police chief said.

The operation began on November 14.

One of the captured militants was injured in the gunfight.

"One of the militants Atta Muhammad Malik was taken to a hospital by the forces in a critical condition. He was lying in a pool of blood and he had been hit by bullets in his legs. He was on the verge of death but soldiers took him to a hospital, Khan said. He is out of danger now."

The IGP said that they launched a joint operation in Kund area after specific inputs about the presence of a big group of militants of Lashkar and Hizb.

A militant Muzamil and a soldier were killed on the first day of encounter, he said.

Khan said that they will let a local militant live and lead a normal life even if he raises hand during a gunfight.

We will help him to return to his home and lead a normal life, he said.
Mumbai, Nov 16 (IBNS): Taking the Padmavati row to a new low, a Karni Sena leader has threatened to chop off actor Deepika Padukone's nose as the latter reacted sharply to the ongoing controversy centred on the film recently.

In a video which has sufaced on Thursday, one of Rajasthan's fringe group Karni Sena's leader said: "We will not hit Deepika but we will do what Laxman did to Surpanaka (chop off nose)."

"She is provoking us" the leader added.

The controversy has erupted after several fringe groups alleged Bhansali to distort history in his upcoming film. The group has even said they will not allow the portrayal of Rani Padmini, to be played by Padukone in the film, in a wrong way in the film.

Reacting sharply to the vandalisation of a Kota mall recently, Padukone said people have regressed as a nation. "It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed."

The actress even said nothing can stop the release of the film, drawing comments form the leaders of Karni Sena.

The Karni Sena members even organised a massive protest in Bengaluru on the same issue on Wednesday.

Padukone was earlier seen to urge Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani to take legal actions after few protesters who had vandalised artist Karan K's Rangoli, which was inspired by film Padmavati.

The Supreme Court has recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding a stay on the release of Bhansalis film Padmavati.

The top court suggested that the Censor Board should take an independent view over the issue, saying it cant substitute role of CBFC.

The petition said that the film wrongly depicts Rajput queen Padmavati and its release could hurt the sentiments of the Rajput community.

The trailer of the film shows Rani Padmavati doing a Ghoomar dance. The depiction of Rani Padmavati in the said dance sequence is contrary to how the dance is performed traditionally. The queens never used to do Ghoomar and the thumkas (hip movement) themselves and the revelation of skin by actress Deepika Padukone, in her portrayal of Padmavati, has hurt the sentiments of the Rajput community, the petition said.

Apart from Padukone, the film starres Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles.

Bahansali released a video statement on the films official Twitter account on last Thursday calling the film his tribute to the sacrifice, valour and honour of Rani Padmavati.

The film has evoked a massive controversy with various Rajput groups, including the Karni Sena, threatening to disrupt its screening for what they alleged "distorting historical facts."

Bhansali once was slapped by some members of the Karni Sena, who vandalised the set early this year.

The set of the movie was again vandalised in Kolhapur, with the miscreants burning the costumes in March this year.
New Delhi, Nov 16 (IBNS): Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday attended the function organized by the Press Council of India on the occasion of National Press Day.

The occasion marked the Valedictory of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Press Council of India.



Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President said that although the contours of journalism had changed over the years, it still continue to cast a huge influence in moulding public opinion and decision making by the government.



He expressed concern over some of the dangerous trends that had crept into the newsrooms of both print and electronic media.

"They needed to be curbed in order to ensure that the pristine role played by the press earlier stood restored," Naidu said.



Earlier speaking at the function, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Textiles Smriti Irani said that "voices of media shouldnt be suppressed and constitutionally it was our responsibility to ensure that media had the freedom to speak. She further added that today we have citizens who are becoming journalists through the social media network and they are playing an important role to remind the media of their responsibility as the fourth pillar of democracy."



Eminent Journalists Sam Rajappa and Sarat Mishra were jointly awarded Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award for their outstanding contributions towards journalism.

While Shalini Nair, The Indian Express, received the Rural Journalism & Developmental ReportingaY award, K. Sujith of Mangalam Daily and Chitrangada Choudhury, Freelancer from Odisha, bagged awards for Investigative Journalism.

Photo Journalism awards were given to C.K. Thanseer, Chandrika Daily Vijay Verma, Press Trust of India and J.Suresh of Malayala Manorama.

Gireesh Kumar, The Times of India, received the award for Best Newspapers Art.
Gurugram, Nov 16 (IBNS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has opposed the bail plea of bus conductor Ashoke, who was arrested on charges of murdering a seven-year old Pradyuman Thakur in Ryan International School, during the hearing in the court on Thursday, media reports said.

According to an India Today report, the CBI told the court: "We are yet to receive reports like chemical reports and other inputs. So, we can't really give a clean chit to him."

"When we will get all reports and our investigation is completed, only then we can decide on Ashok Kumar," the CBI said.

Though Ashoke had confessed his act of murdering the seven-year old boy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended a class XI student of the same school in connection with the murder. The senior student eventually was arrested.

Being a juvenile, his name was not disclosed.

After a CBI probe it appeared Ashoke was possibly framed for a crime he did not commit.

The CBI has revealed that Gurgaon police had planted the murder weapon, a knife, that was used to kill seven-year old Pradyuman Thakur in Ryan International School, on bus conductor Ashok Kumar.

According to the CBI, the weapon belonged to the class XI student.

The teenager allegedly wanted to impede the approaching exams and parent teacher meeting and hence killed the boy.

Earlier, Ashoke's father had said that his son was wrongly framed but on last Thursday the latter confessed to his crime in front of his father, said reports.

Ashoke's family has said that they will now file a case against the cops for planting evidence against him, reports said.
However, the downside of this very carefully curated and wonderful programme with a bouquet of six full-length feature films is that the comparatively limited capacity of the theatre could hardly accommodate even a quarter of the people waiting in the serpentine queues outside every day for hours into the theatre. Even foreign delegates had to either sit on the floor or walk away sadly.



The contemporary part covers films released between 2010 and 2017 by noted filmmakers of Morocco. The films are  Forgotten (2010) directed by Hassan Ben Jalloun, The 5th String (2011) by Selma Bargach, AndromanBlood and Coal (2012) by Azlarabe Alaoul, Zero (2012) by Nour Eddine Lakhmari, Behind Closed Door (2013) by Mohamed Bensouda and Razzia (2017) by Nabil Ayouch.



It has been tough for authentic Moroccan cinema to come out of its French influence where famous French filmmakers would use Morocco just as a place setting for their films without probing into the socio-political and economic issues the local people needed to grapple with on a day-to-day basis.



At a Press Conference organized during the festival, Noor Lakhmari, director of Zero, said, Thankfully, Morocco has been able to come out of the influence of French morality and now Moroccans are making films in all regional languages like Arabic, Darija, Berber and even Hebrew. Lakhmari drew an analogy between the present state of Moroccan cinema ad the Italian neorealist cinema since the Moroccans were trying to liberate themselves ad do something new.



During the beginning of Moroccan cinema, there were only two women directors. Now, there are 83 working women directors in the Moroccan film industry. Salma Bargach, whose film The 5th String was screened at the festival, said that though conservative society does not put men and women at par, the fact remains that men and women in the industry now work in a spirit of equality and friendship.



The situation in exploring subjects concerning women has changed considerably over the past two years. In 2015, due to the government ban imposed on Nabil Ayouchs prostitution drama Much Loved one week after the film bowed in Directors Fortnight at Cannes. But the controversy soon faded away purely because of the merits of the film itself and was transformed into a heated debate about the state of Moroccan culture.



The present selection has at least shows quite an emphasis on gender and how women are made to suffer just because they are women. One example is Behind Closed Doors. It is about a working woman, married and with a child, is constantly harassed sexually by the director of the company. When she is persistent in her refusal to compromise, he decides to take revenge.



Androman  Blood and Coal is about a rustic coal miner who fails to beget a male heir who would inherit his coal mines, decides to turn his eldest daughter into a boy, Androman. Androman however, revives the mutations of his adolescent body and the feminine attitudes that betrays his false mascline appearance. What happens when this forced to be a boy falls in love? This has very clear echoes of Anup Singhs Hindi film Quissa released a couple of years ago.



(Reported by Shoma A. Chatterji)
New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): The Security Council on Wednesday extended until 15 May 2018 the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, a contested area on the Sudan-South Sudan border.

Unanimously adopting a resolution, the 15-member body also extended, for the same duration, the tasks of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) set out in the resolution that authorized the deployment of UNISFA in 2011.

Further, the Council extended until 15 April 2018 UNISFA's support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, which was established by the two countries as part of the negotiations on South Sudan's secession from Sudan in July 2011.

In doing so, however, the Council decided that this renewal of UNISFA's support for the Mechanism will be the final such extension unless Sudan and South Sudan ensure the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Abyei and throughout the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone of all personnel, as well as equipment, provisions, supplies and other goods, including vehicles, aircraft, and spare parts, which are for the exclusive and official use of UNISFA.

The Council further decided to maintain the authorized troop ceiling of 4,791 until 15 April 2018, but the ceiling will decrease to 4,235 unless the Council decides to extend UNISFA's support for the Mechanism.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): United Nations peacekeeper Major Seitebatso Pearl Block was commended on Wednesday for developing a Mission-wide, short message service (SMS) campaign to combat gender-based abuse by connecting with women in remote parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Im very happy, Im proud to have been recognized for the good that Ive done in the DRC, and Im very happy to be receiving this award, Im ecstatic, said Major Block, an Information Operations Officer with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

During a ceremony at the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference, under way in Vancouver, Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix presented Major Block with the UN Gender Military Advocate Award for her outstanding work on the frontlines.

Lacroix called her an inspiration to us all and a strong example of how peacekeeping is about our personnel taking personal initiatives and interacting with local communities to help find solutions to their problems, better protecting civilians and, in turn, saving lives.

In an exclusive interview with UN News, Major Block talks about her work and the role women can play in making the UN more responsive and inclusive.

Photo: UNIC Pretoria

Source: www.justearthnews.com




The increase in the number of the Missions blue helmets comes against the backdrop of increasing fighting in the African nation and the resulting added insecurity and misery of its civilian population.



The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR, known by its French acronym, MINUSCA, has also come under numerous attacks, which have killed at least 12 peacekeepers this year and injured many more.



In an effort to draw attention to the fragile situation in the country that, in his words, is often far from the media spotlight, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres travelled to CAR in late October.



In CAR, the UN chief warned of religious divisions in the country, stressing that these rifts are a result of political manipulation that must be condemned and avoided at all costs.



Security Council condemns incitement to ethnic, religious hatred



Through a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member Council condemned in the strongest terms incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence and the multiple violations of international humanitarian law and the widespread human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, committed  in particular  by the mainly Muslim ex-Seleka and mainly Christian anti-Balaka elements, as well as other militia groups, and the targeting of civilians from specific communities.



The Council also reiterated its serious concerns over the dire humanitarian situation in the country because of the deteriorating security situation, and the lack of access for and attacks against relief workers.



According to estimates, over 600,000 people have been internally displaced within the country and more than 500,000 have sought refuge beyond CARs borders. This total figure of more than 1.1 million displaced  internally or abroad  is the highest ever recorded for the country.



Also by the resolution, the Security Council called on the national authorities to take concrete steps, without delay and as a matter of priority, to strengthen justice institutions and to fight impunity and urged them continue their efforts to restore the effective authority of the State over the whole territory of the CAR.



Human rights, including child protection and sexual violence in conflict



Concerning the human rights situation in the country, the Council reiterated the urgent need to hold accountable all perpetrators of violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law.



It also called upon all parties to conflict, including ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka elements, to end all violations and abuses committed against children, in violation of applicable international law, including those involving their recruitment and use, rape and sexual violence, killing and maiming, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals.



[The Council] further calls upon the CAR authorities to swiftly investigate alleged violations and abuses in order to hold perpetrators accountable and to ensure that those responsible for such violations and abuses are excluded from the security sector, read the resolution.



UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe



Source: www.justearthnews.com










New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): A profoundly alarming trend in the cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan reveals an 87 per cent production increase compared to 2016, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) said Wednesday in its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017.

It is high time for the international community and Afghanistan to reprioritize drug control, and to acknowledge that every nation has a shared responsibility for this global problem, said UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov.

According to the latest figures released by the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics and UNODC, in addition to an 87 per cent jump to a record level of 9,000 metric tonnes in 2017, the area under opium poppy cultivation also increased to a record 328,000 hectares in 2017, up 63 per cent compared with 201,000 hectares in 2016.

"For both Afghanistan, and the world, we are heading towards uncharted territoryAdditionally, the number of poppy-free provinces in the country decreased from 13 to 10  and after more than a decade, Ghazni, Samangan and Nuristan lost their poppy-free status. The number of provinces affected by cultivation increased accordingly from 21 to 24.

These frightening figures should give considerable pause for reflection on whether the calculus on the illicit drugs flowing from Afghanistan adds up to a workable and achievable solution, he continued, again urging the international community to revisit its engagement with Afghanistan, and to acknowledge that fresh assessments and policy revisions may be necessary.

Pointing to the multiple challenges the increase would pose for the country, Fedotov stressed, that Afghanistan, already suffering from the opium produced within its borders, the increases will drive drug abuse, an increased dependency on the illicit economy, and rising levels of corruption.

Gains on governance and transparency in Afghanistan and surrounding countries will also be challenged by more instability, insecurity, and increased funding to terrorist groups.

New actors and markets are likely to emerge; some of these new actors may be terrorist groups attempting to use the drug trade to finance their global operations, Fedotov explained.

Far greater amounts of opium in the worlds consumer markets would increase health and social problems  also placing added burdens on already stretched Afghan public health services.

The Executive Director called opium cultivation and production a complex development issue and bound to the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, for which partnership and coordination is also needed.

UNODC has created initiatives-including the Triangular Initiative, the Paris Pact and the networking the networks activity-to assist, but engagement must be stepped up to increase effectiveness, he stated.

Photo: IRIN

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Kabul, Nov 16 (IBNS): At least five policemen have been killed and dozens others injured after a blast rocked Kabul, Afghanistan's capital city, local Tolo News reported.

According to the news agency, the explosion took place in Kabuls PD4 shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday.

It said that civilians too have lost their lives but the exact figure is yet to be ascertained.

Eyewitnesses said that a large number of Jamiat-e-Islami party members had gathered there, including Zia Massoud, the former advisor to President Ashraf Ghani.

At least three cars have been destroyed.

More details awaited.
Dear Amy: My wife has put on a few pounds, to the extent that it is probably not good for her long-term health. My wife is attractive, takes good care of herself, and has no current health problems, but I am concerned that shes putting herself at risk for future health problems if she does not take measures now.

After a weight loss program to lose 20 to 30 pounds, she would still not be svelte, but she would be better positioned for good health. She is sensitive to criticism and would probably be angry and take it as a put-down if I simply expressed the sentiments noted above. Do you have any suggestions?

 Worried Husband

Dear Worried: My suggestions will not help your wife to lose weight. My suggestions are mainly for you.

Your wife knows she is overweight. She is aware of it every time she tries to zip up her trousers, every time she catches her reflection in a shop window, every time she leafs through a magazine, watches a movie, or sees a photograph revealing her thinner youthful self.

Your wife also knows that being overweight can impact her health. She knows this because she has a brain in her head. She probably also knows this because she is asked to weigh herself every time she sees her GP, and some physicians bring up the health implications of weight gain while they are administering the annual flu shot, or treating a patients head cold.

What you dont seem to know is that your concern over your wifes health really seems like a red herring, because what you really dont like is your wifes size and shape these days.

My suggestion is for you to dig deep and make a determination to love your wife as she is. Lumps, bumps and rolls  all of her. You loving her as she is will be good for the long-term health of your marriage, and that will be good for both of you.

Dear Amy: The letter from Aussie concerned me. This guy admitted that he had basically lied to a woman he had met on Tinder. He had to leave the USA and return to Australia for reasons of an expiring visa, and yet he told her he was going home on vacation! You started your response by telling him, Dont lie, but then you provided a lie for him to use, by suggesting that he could paper over his absence by saying that once he had returned home, he realized he had visa trouble.

I am very concerned by the prospect of an advice-giver with many readers giving this conflicting advice.

 Concerned

Dear Concerned: Duly noted. Yes, Dont lie is always the best advice. In this instance, I succumbed to the temptation to provide a half-truth, which is also, I realize, a half-lie.

Dear Amy: I am 65-years-old.

I moved away from family and friends 25 years ago, and now I make annual visits to my hometown, which include renting a car and driving four to five hours to see my best friend, Freddie, from childhood.

When we have house guests at my home, we all shuffle so that our guests will have their own room and bathroom. Sometimes the young adults will willingly sleep on the couch if there is no more bed space.

So when discussing my yearly visit, Freddie just informed me that her grown children (20-somethings with their own apartments) will be home for the weekend. Thus, I would have to vacate the daughters room and sleep on an air bed on the floor.

I love my friend. But I fly across the country, rent the car, make the drive, take them out to dinner, buy groceries, and bring presents.

Is it too much to ask her kids to maybe sleep on the air bed for the night? I want to see them, too, but I dont want to sleep on the floor.

What do you think?

 Upset

Dear Upset: Yes, the younger people should sleep on the floor. Being occasionally displaced is part of the service that great hosts are happy to provide, and parents should let their children know that older guests will be accommodated and made comfortable.

But for the price of a dinner out, groceries, and gifts for the household, you could probably afford to stay in a nearby motel for the night. Given your friends openness about her intentions during your annual visit, this might be the best option for you.
Vancouver, Nov 16 (IBNS): Canada offered helicopters, planes and trainers to the United Nations (UN) on peace missions but little did they reveal about the details of such a step, media reports said.

The Canadian government extended help to the UN but they did not clarify when and where the peacekeepers will be deployed.

The announcement by the federal government came as they have promised last year to provide 600 troops and 150 police officers to the UN.

The federal government also had promised to increase the number of women deployment in peacekeeping operations around the world.

Canadian Prime Minsiter Justin Trudeau said: "Women bring a unique and valuable perspective to conflict resolution."

"They look beyond the interests of warring parties, bring the wider community to the table and focus on root causes. Including women and girls in peace operations is a smart, practical pathway to lasting peace.," the PM added.

Canada is also aiming to deploy trainers to the UN and other countries as the trainers are often employed in peacekeeping operations.

"Six-hundred Canadian armed forces personnel is significant for Canada as a commitment, but let's remember that there are close to 100,000 peacekeepers deployed around the world," the PM said.

"So we have to focus on how Canada can best help. What we will do is step up and make the contributions we are uniquely able to provide," Trudeau added.

The Canadian government's step has been welcomed by the UN with full heart as UN's top official Jean-Pierre Lacroix referred to Trudeau's country "this great nations of Canada".

Lacroix said: "And with Canada on our side, we feel stronger.....We feel more empowered to confront the many challenges that peacekeeping is facing."

Regarding Canada's pledges, Lacroix said: "They are exactly consistent with the critical needs that we have in terms of capability, but also the flexibility in which these offers have been made."



(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)
After CCI penalty, FHRAI writes SEBI to stop OYO IPO The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India has written a letter to SEBI to stop the proceedings of the IPO of OYO, as reported by the Economic Times. This has come after the Co... November 16, 2022 | 16-11-2022 4:03 pm

Markets end the day in Green Indian equity markets had another topsy-turve day today. Markets swung between red and green territory all through the day. Nifty 50 ended, up by 6.25 points. Sensex ended, up by 107.73 po... November 16, 2022 | 16-11-2022 3:40 pm

Passenger vehicle sales may touch 3.8 million units in FY 23, says Tata Motors MD Passenger vehicle sales in India may touch 3.8 million units in FY 23, Tata Motors MD, Shailesh Chandra, said. He also added that a large part of these sales will be because of the pent-up dema... November 16, 2022 | 16-11-2022 3:21 pm

Sai Silks Saree Retailers to launch IPO soon, gets nod from SEBI Sai Silks (Kalamandir) is one of the largest retailers of ethnic apparel. The company has received a nod to float an initial public offer (IPO) in the market to raise funds. As per the Draft Re... November 16, 2022 | 16-11-2022 2:49 pm

HAL stock price rises after it gets LOI for 9 helicopters from Indian Coast Guard In hefty trading volumes on Wednesday, Hindustan Aeronautics' shares surged 7% to an all-time high of Rs 2,697.70 on the BSE after the company obtained a letter of intent (LoI) from the Indian ... November 16, 2022 | 16-11-2022 2:38 pm
At the 63rd National Awards last year, a young team led by 24-year-old director Varun Tandon won a Special Mention for Direction at the Awards for short film, Syaahi. The jury recognised the film for its conglomeration of sense and sensibilities depicted through the innocence of a young mind.

When asked about the thought behind the film, Varun said he wanted to take on something simple. "I had a script in mind, and found a bunch of passionate people who believed in the idea. There was no target audience, or any such thing. It was a very personal process, and things, eventually, just fell into place. We had no idea it would win a National Award." Consequently, Syaahi is set in the hills, and tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy, his relationships, and the lessons he learns.

facebook.com/syaahi2016

The Syaahi team hopes that the win at the National Awards means that films like Syaahi, that dont follow conventions of duration and subject, will gain popularity among a wider audience. The win could potentially have given Indian cinema its youngest ever director to win the award. "It's been tough since there are not many avenues where one can showcase a short film. But with this win, people actually want to see the film. And that's the biggest validation," says Varun.

Varun Tandon

Before Syaahi, Varun worked on Gulcharrey, a 13-minute film shot guerilla style in the torrential Mumbai monsoons on a budget of Rs. 6,000. In 2014, Gulcharrey gained popularity on YouTube gathering over 1 million views. Subsequently, Varuns first feature film script, Anjaan Gali Gumnam Nagar, got selected for the prestigious NFDC Scriptlab and gave him the opportunity to be mentored by Ritesh Batra, writer, director of The Lunchbox.

Varun Tandon

But making a film of this scale could not have been an inexpensive affair. Varun's sister Krati was pursuing her MBA at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad when Syaahi went into pre-production. "Our previous film Gulcharrey went viral online gaining over 1 million views on YouTube in 2014 and NDTV selected the film for a prime time screening and an interview with Nagesh Kukunoor. I was a student at ISB during this time and organised a screening followed by a talk about our experiences in film making, the art and, given it was a business school talk, its business. The event generated a lot of excitement a lot of buzz on campus. So when the script for Syaahi was finalised later in the year, I reached out to interested students with the opportunity to co-produce it with us."

In the process, Krati gave the film 8 first time co-producers!

Varun Tandon

Syaahi was shot in a remote location in Uttrakhand in the summer of 2015, with a largely local crew and a tight 6-day shooting schedule. Making a short film that is, 30 minutes long, with no obvious avenue of a film release, took a team with unquestioning belief in the films script and vision. The film is currently being screened at festivals around the world and will be up online soon.

Watch this amazing film right here:
A couple of days ago, we ran the story on Suyash Dixit who declared himself the king of Bir Tawil and his newfound land as 'Kingdom of Dixit'.

Dixit had taken to Facebook to announce his new conquest, complete with his story and pictures.

But now it turns out, Dixit was apparently lying. The land already belongs to Jeremiah Heaton, an American who had previously declared himself the king of Bir Tawil and his daughter the princess of the land.

In a conversation with Indiatimes, Jeremiah Heaton - who goes by Twitter handle @KingNorthSudan - called Dixit a 'liar' and presented apparent proof in order to make Dixit's claim a faulty one.

You are a liar. You bring shame to your family. It was impossible for you to travel to Bir Tawil without permission from the Egyptian miltary. You requested my help with the problem. You faked your travel. pic.twitter.com/VzfprrHnEp  North Sudan (@KingNorthSudan) November 15, 2017

Suyash contacted me requesting my help in traveling to bir tawil. He could not get permission from Egypt and needed my help. I told him it could not be done due to rule changes.  North Sudan (@KingNorthSudan) November 15, 2017

Suyash Dixit falsely claims he drive from Abu Simbel to Bir Tawil. This is impossible as Lake Nasser divides the two regions and no ferry service connects to the Bir Tawil side of the lake. There is no way his vehicle traversed the open desert. Wrong tires and too clean. pic.twitter.com/o5tfJvKSzE  North Sudan (@KingNorthSudan) November 15, 2017

As you can see a journey from Abu Simbel, located on the Western side of lake nasser, to bir tawil is impossible. pic.twitter.com/AWYiiX46nC  North Sudan (@KingNorthSudan) November 15, 2017

After Virginia native Jeremiah Heaton found the one place left unclaimed on earth - Bir Tawil, a stretch of inhospitable land between Egypt and Sudan - he travelled there, planted a flag and fulfilled his promise to his daughter - of making her the princess of a land.

As reported by Mel Magazine, Heaton now plans to "use the area as a hub for agricultural research and development, including the use of renewable energy and vertical farming."

Heaton didn't need permission from either Egypt or Sudan to claim Bir Tawil as his own since both the countries made it clear that the land didn't belong to them.

twitter

When asked about the laws he had to follow, Heaton told Mel Magazine,

"The first is you have to have clearly defined borders, which we do. The second is that you have to have the intention, announcement and creation of a government, which weve done. The third is that you have to have effective control, which we do by virtues of the laws that govern the region  and of course, the fact we have no population, so theres no need for border control. The fourth is that you want to have trade relationships with other countries. To that effect, were building a 1 gigawatt solar farm, and we intend to sell that power and to be an economic benefit to Egypt and Sudan."

People on Twitter have expressed their dilemma over the entire situation. Some have even reached out to Heaton.

The place called Bir Tawil has multiple claims.

Jack Shenker in 2011

Jeremiah Heaton in 2014

And now this guy suyash dixit.

No international organization or government givel approval yet.

No claims have been officially recognised.  Digamber  (@Digamber) November 15, 2017

Hi Jeremiah, please DM me your email ID. I have some questions about your allegations and require details about this route.  Devarsi Ghosh (@devarsighosh) November 16, 2017

We have reached out to Heaton again, asking him about how he travelled to Bir Tawil. Meanwhile, Dixit is standing by his claim - he says that he did travel to Bir Tawil and that he would furnish more details to Indiatimes in the coming days. This story will be updated accordingly.
Citizens of the world have been pinning on the idea of a life underwater for too long, but science has been acting as the biggest hindrance. If things were really that easy, if it was really easy for us to survive underwater with the pressure of the water, we would have conquered it long ago.

Also read: Here's Proof Of China's Love For Architecture - A Road Running Atop A Five-Storey Building!

seasteading

However, it wasn't, but don't fret because we are only a couple of years away from a life under water.

seasteading

By 2020, Seasteading Institute, a San Francisco-based nonprofit would reach an agreement with the government to have a testing underwater - of a new life.

Also read: Bunch Of Architecture Students Transformed An Abandoned Park Into A Study Zone For Slum Kids

seasteading

If you could have a floating city, it would essentially be a start-up country, Joe Quirk, the president of the Seasteading Institute told the New York Times.

seasteading

We can create a huge diversity of governments for a huge diversity of people.

seasteading

This world will have its own homes, hotels, offices, restaurants, playgrounds etc, which dozens and dozens of engineers and architects are trying to make it true.

seasteading

Even though rumours has it that the city will emerge in the Pacific Ocean, the location is undisclosed.

seasteading

And if we tell you the truth about its existence, you will jump on your seats. Well, the main agenda behind this creation is to emancipate humanity from politicians and rewrite the rules of a great governance.

The project will cost a whopping $167 million.

Also read: Four Awesome Buildings Being Constructed Around The World That Are Putting Art In Architecture!
Alibaba-owned UC Browser, with a user base of over 430 million globally, has run into some trouble with Android. The smartphone browser, which is quite popular in India, is no longer available on the Google Play Store.

Theres not yet been any intimation as to why the app was de-listed, but reports indicate it may be because the app was deemed malicious.

Apparently, the browser was serving up malicious redirect ads thanks to UC Webs affiliates, in order to boost their install numbers. As a result, Android felt compelled to step in and crack down on the app.

An email provided to Android Police by the UC Union supports this theory. It reads:

Dear Partner, We hereby emphasis again that UC Union prohibits any and all misleading/malicious advertising method(s) to procure new users when promoting UC Browser campaigns, such as by using slogan inconsistent with the Product functions, or by using inductive slogan.

If Twitter reports are to be believed, the ban will not be a permanent one for the browser, merely a suspension until it manages to end the malpractices.

I work for UC Browser,I got mail today morning it said that UC Browser was temporarily removed from play store for 30 days because it used "Misleading" and "Unhealthy" methods of promotion to increase installs  Mike Ross (@SKz_14) November 14, 2017

The browser has been incredibly popular in India over the last few years, for its speed as well as varied features. It even briefly surpassed Chrome earlier this year as the most-used smartphone web browser.
When Chen Ming, a young video-game designer from Shenzen in China, decided to propose to his girlfriend, he wanted it to be a big romantic gesture. So, of course, he did it with a sack full of iPhone X.

Ming pre-ordered 25 iPhone X units and, when the device finally reached China on November 3, he decided to lay them out in a pattern and wait for his beloved.

Ming laid out the 25 smartphones in the shape of a heart on the floor, complete with scattered rose petals for good measure, before asking the girl to marry him. He then enlisted the aid of her friends to draw her to the spot, where he could propose.

Of course the girl, named Lee, immediately said yes. But no, its not just the flashing of wealth the proposal seems to be, or at least according to Ming. He says he used the iPhone X to propose because both he and his girlfriend are avid fans of smartphone games. The two reportedly met two years ago through a game Ming had developed, and gaming has been a big part of their relationship since. And why 25 iPhone X instead of just a few? Well, thats apparently to signify Lees age.

Of course, Lee and Chen cant really use 25 of the fancy smartphones, so it seems the friends who aided in the proposal now have a free iPhone X each. Photos of the event have, of course, gone viral, first on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo and subsequently across the world.

Of course, most people believe the groom-to-be could have instead bought his lady love a car, or put a down payment on a new house. The price of an iPhone X starts at about Rs 82,600 in China (when converted from Yuan), meaning Ming spent about Rs 20,58,600 on the 25 devices.

Then again, no one said love was smart. And JLo's song was a lie all along -- love does cost a thing!
Googles Pixel 2 XL has finally gone up for sale in India, and this is the second flagship Android smartphone from the search engine giant.

It comes in two flavours: 64GB (Rs 73,000), and 128GB (Rs 82,000), powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 octa-core processor with Adreno 540 graphics -- top notch hardware as far as 2017 flagships are concerned.

A mixture of matte and gloss on the back panel of Google Pixel 2 XL

After spending a couple of weeks with the device, heres our take:

Picture perfect

We can confidently say that when it comes to camera performance, theres no better phone to buy this year than the Google Pixel 2 XL. Whether its shooting in low-light or under bright sunlight, its 12MP f/1.8 rear camera with optical + electronic stabilization does a near flawless job of taking photos and videos.

Inside an autorickshaw in the afternoon

Inside an empty train compartment at 9 AM

Chandelier lamps at Mumbai Airport at 8:30 AM

With every click, youre left admiring the camera-wizardry of the Pixel 2 XL -- whether its capturing even the tiniest detail in a busy frame, or snappy shutter speed with absolutely no lag. Sharpness levels are unreal!

And the Pixel 2 XL continues to amaze us with its single lens portrait shots -- where the background blur and bokeh effect (achieved on the software side) is better even than the portrait shots you get on the iPhone 8 Plus or the OnePlus 5.

Apart from true to source colour reproduction, where the iPhones slightly better than the Google phone, the Pixel 2 XLs camera prowess outmatches pretty much every other flagship launched in the market this year.

Android in its purest form

Of course, one of the joys of a Google branded phone is to experience uncluttered, vanilla Android as it was intended, and the Pixel 2 XL does exactly that. Android 8.0 Oreo in all its delectable goodness is the software powerhouse behind the Pixel 2 XLs clean and feature-rich user experience.

Squeeze thy phone

Like the HTC U11, the Google Pixel 2 XL also has an Active Edge feature. What does it do? Squeezing the phone gently fires up the Google Assistant, ready to provide whatever you may need. No voice command or multiple clicks needed, just one swift motion and youre off. This works even when your phone is in a case.

Google Lens

Remember Google Goggles? An image-based search feature that was way ahead of its time, it now lives in spirit inside Google Lens -- a feature that analyzes the world around you through your captured photos and provide more information about certain things -- like landmarks, books, music albums, movies, and artwork, right from Google Photos on your Pixel. Quite nifty.

Google Lens recognizing an iPhone picture

Google Assistant

The Google Assistant is increasingly spreading its Android tentacles, trying to be more relevant than just an oft-used gimmick -- and it largely succeeds in that endeavour. The Assistant has more tricks up its sleeve, offering a bouquet of questions you can ask her. Whats more, Googles ability to process natural language (full of weird dialects and misfiring intonations) keeps getting better and its evident whenever you try interacting with Google Assistant. Long story short, interacting with the Google Assistant feels more organic than before, and its definitely a great way to work with your Pixel 2 XL.

Original quality media backup

Where ordinary Google Photo users have their photos and videos backed up at 16MP & 1080p, respectively, Pixel 2 XL users can upload all of their photos and videos at original quality full resolution for free till 2020. After that, new photos and videos taken on any Pixel phone will be compressed to what Google offers to free users. So Pixel 2 XL users get special backup treatment -- for free!

Snappy biometric unlock

The fingerprint sensor on the Google Pixel 2 XL is situated on its back, and its easily one of the fastest biometric touch sensor weve experienced on a phone. Unlike the iPhone 8 Plus, there are no buttons to press down on. No sooner does your finger graze the sensor and the phones unlocked with lightning quick precision. Every single time!

Fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 2 XL

All day battery life

The 3,520 mAh battery built into the Pixel 2 XL is more than enough to keep it going for a full day without any need to plug in the device in between. With screen brightness set at 50-60%, I can easily get over 12 hours of battery backup on the Pixel 2 XL -- while being constantly connected, consuming multimedia and keeping up with social updates. Androids working hard to change its battery guzzler persona, and some of it definitely shows with the Pixel 2 XL.

Twice the warranty

Google eases the blow of purchasing the Pixel 2 XL in the best way possible -- by providing two years of warranty. Why is this a big deal? Because almost every other smartphone out there -- iPhone 8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Samsung Galaxy S8, LG V30, etc -- only offer one year of device warranty. Googles found a good, no-nonsense way to reward long-term ownership of the Pixel 2 XL.

Now from the good, let's see what's not so good about the Pixel 2 XL.

Display issues

Just by specs alone, the Pixel 2 XL seems impressive -- it has a full screen 6-inch QHD+ (2880x1440) pOLED 18:9 display with 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5. But the phones OLED display (manufactured by LG) isnt as good as the one found on the iPhone X (manufactured by Samsung), for instance. As a result, the Pixel 2 XL suffers from an exaggerated colour shift, every time you shift the screens viewing angle even by the slightest degree -- the display transitions from warm creamish colour tones to a palpable cold blue hue. Its in your face, especially when looking at a predominantly white screen.

Apart from that, the Pixel 2 XLs screen also seems to be a bit dull compared to the likes of the iPhone 8 Plus or Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Colours dont pop as much and everything just looks generally washed out. While this has been fixed to some extent through an update released earlier this month, it doesnt make the visual anomaly completely go away.

Uninspiring design

No doubt the Pixel 2 XL has an all aluminium shell, with a dash of glossy glass around its rear camera, the design isnt very inspiring. I know, the bezels have been pushed back on left and right, but they remain prominent on top and below -- partly due to the twin down-firing speakers.

But when you compare it to the likes of the iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, the Google Pixel 2 XL looks less audacious. It doesnt do a great job of grabbing eyeballs -- at least the all black colour version.

No headphone jack

After trolling loss of the 3.5 mm audio jack on Apples iPhone 7 during the Pixel and Pixel XL launch last year, what do this years version of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL end up doing? Dropping their respective 3.5 mm audio jack, obviously. Slow claps, facepalm and epic fail all rolled into one for Google for dissing a trend setter and meekly following them a year later.

Phone smudges like crazy

Nothing that a quick wipe on your shirt's sleeve can't fix, but still the Pixel 2 XL is a fingerprint magnet -- both on its glossy glass panel and matte aluminium back. How?! Needs to be fixed next time around. Can't have all these expensive handsets smudge so easily.
Department of Justice says Americans cant challenge the legality of U.S. aid to Israel by Grant F. Smith

The U.S. Department of Justice once again insisted that individual citizens do not have standing to sue the U.S. federal government over foreign aid to Israel. Several Americans from Fagan Dickson in 1975 to author Isaac Asimov in 1991 have tried. But their claims, based on Establishment Clause separation of church and state appeals, failed.



But what about challenges to U.S. foreign aid to Israel through the Administrative Procedure Act? IRmep has filed a case that breaks into new territory. (PDF) As summarized in the Justice Departments November 8, 2017 Appellee brief filed in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.



Plaintiff Grant F. Smith brought suit against the United States, the President, and other senior officials alleging that each defendant, and his or her predecessor since 1978, has violated federal law by distributing foreign aid to Israel. A statute prevents the distribution of aid to any country that the President determines has engaged in certain activity related to nuclear technology. Plaintiff asserts that Israel has engaged in such activity, and that the President should so determine. Plaintiff contends that the United States has avoided applying the statute to Israel by refusing to release information to the public confirming Israels alleged nuclear status. Plaintiff brought suit and sought to enjoin the distribution of foreign aid to Israel. He also sought to compel the government to end so-called nuclear ambiguity and release unspecified information regarding Israels alleged nuclear status.



The Department of Justice says the appellant does not have standing to sue for two principal reasons.



1. The Plaintiff suffers no individualized or concrete harm by the continued distribution of aid to Israel or regarding dispute regarding his entitlement to receive any particular piece of information. In this case, the information in question is US government information about Israels nuclear weapons.

2. The president alone, not facts or previous disclosures, determine whether Israel has a nuclear weapons program subject to Arms Export Control Act provisions. The President alone has discretion as to whether that determination must be made public. The statute contains no cause of action for a private citizen to seek judicial review.



The Appellant, Grant F. Smith of IRmep, disagrees. Enormous quantities of U.S. government information that should be released under the Freedom of Information Act and Mandatory Disclosure Review are instead withheld because they deal frankly with the subject of Israels nuclear weapons. In 2012 the Obama administration, not the Congress, implemented a federal gag order with the force of law to punish any federal employee or contractor who releases such information to the public. The plaintiff suffered many enumerated injuries from an unlawful legislative rule designed solely to protect illegal aid deliveries to Israel.



Like the legal challenges overturning the Obama administrations legislative rules on immigration, known as DACA, the Appellant does have the right to seek judicial review of the unlawful legislative Israel nuclear gag rule, known as WPN-136. IRmep will file its response on November 22, 2017. This could clear the path for an injunction against further U.S. foreign aid disbursement to Israel.


Last week, I gave you some things to worry about for 2018. This week, as we look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday, as is my tradition, I want to share the things you can rest easy about in the coming yearmany because theyre just not going to happen.

Honestly, 2017 was a bit of a snoozer in technology, so 2018 cant help but be more disruptive. But not that much more.

Worry No. 1 to set aside: Buying a VR headset

Dont worry that everyone is talking about VR headsets. Aside from a few video games, only the worst kind of hipsters are going to walk around looking stupid with these kind of things. Remember 3D TVs? Same deal here: No one wants to wear glasses if they dont have to. (In other words, dont be a glasshole.)

Worry No. 2 to set aside: The cloud eating the world

While the rate of adoption is accelerating, Im going to call BS on the analyst figures about cloud growth. Ominous statements like 92 percent of enterprises will be on the cloud by 2020 or that 70 percent are already there are the kind of wishful thinking from industry participants.

Im not saying to sit on your hands, but this is still an ongoing process and we wont be anywhere near done in three years. I also doubt the adoption will ever be 92 percent. There are some things that are just safer where they are.

Worry No. 3 to set aside: 8K video

Once again, you still dont need to think about this unless youre an IMAX theater. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is going to give Comcast and Verizon little motivation to up network speeds that the next level of video resolution would require. Plus, the screens are still priced for those jerkoffs with more money than sense. And most people are still not up to 4K yet.

Worry No. 4 to set aside: CloudFoundry going away

Ill eat my words on this. CloudFoundry is hot, because large companies are looking for a strategy that lets them manage systems and because no one wants to be held hostage to one cloud provider. CloudFoundry is well positioned and seems to be taking advantage of that position. Ive not seen evidence that any other similar public/private PaaS solution is competitive.

Worry No. 5 to set aside: Sales of $1,000 phones

The truth is that people will pay $1,000 for a status phone. The iPhone and Galaxy S people will still upgrade, even though $1,000 is the new top-end phone price. Get over it: If youve been paying $600 to $800 for a phone, youll pay $1,000. Prediction: Theyll be testing $1,200 soon.

Worry No. 6 to set aside: Driverless cars

Although people are afraid of driverless cars , unless you live in certain areas youre unlikely to run into themfiguratively or literally. There will be accidents, even fatalities, but driverless cars will likely be safer than cars driven by those meat-computers above our shoulders. Once driverless cars are widespread youll still be more likely to be killed by a driver from New Jersey. Seriously, New Jersey shouldnt be allowed to issue drivers licenses (no offense).

Worry No. 7 to set aside: Having to use Snapchat

Thankfully, Snapchat isnt going to become a social network thing you dont want to do but have to do for some kind of professional or important social reason. Snapchats earnings (umm, loss) and usage statistics have all the signs of it being the next Friendster or Google Plus. I for one am ready to not see any more people with puppy ears.

Worry No. 8 to set aside: Using Spark in production

Apache Spark has been ready for production for a while. This is not to say there arent warts and problems, but I mean you run Oracle in production and that things is as operationally sound as an abused child; you just got good at dealing with it. The same will be true with Spark.

Worry No. 9 to set aside: Your RDBMS

Sure, you may use MongoDB or some other newfangled database, but your RDBMS isnt going away. It turns out that joins are still pretty useful. Eventually, the newfangled databases will integrate more distributed scale-out features, so youll pay a higher premium for them. In general, costs are going up here anyhow; if youve bought an enterprise license for a NoSQL product recently, youve discovered this. So even more reason to keep your RDBMS.

Worry No. 10 to set aside: Digital transformation

Digital transformation isnt happening this year. Research says that most CIOs have a plan but no plan to implement it. Key to this is that many companies havent really updated the way they find what they already have. As I know from my work at a search company, search is really the first step of digital transformation. If you spike the ball on modernizing your search strategy and technology, your digital transformation is unimplementable.
On a fall day in 1987, Lisbeth Reynertson rushed home during her lunch hour, popping two turkeys in the oven before heading back to work. That evening, about 30 students from around the world would gather for their first taste of roast turkey, celebrating what would become known as the Harvest Thanksgiving Dinner.

Thirty years later, both the guest list and the menu have expanded, with 135 members of the La Crosse Friends of International Students joining in the celebration at Faith Lutheran Tuesday evening, feasting on a buffet of traditional Thanksgiving dishes and desserts. While most of the dinner was catered to accommodate the crowd, many host families brought a dish to pass, some cooked together with their students.

About 150 international students, enrolled at UW-La Crosse or Viterbo University, and 75 host families are currently involved in LFIS, founded by Reynertson when she worked at UW-L as international student adviser. The program was formed to encourage interactions between foreign students and community members, helping provide a smooth transition and positive experience for those new to the U.S. While students do not live with their hosts, they are included in family activities and outings, with most meeting up once or twice a month for shopping, sight-seeing or a home-cooked meal. Many are also in frequent contact by phone or email.

For so many of the students, this is what they remember about La Crosse, said Reynertson, who with husband Dick is hosting three students, including Emma Svendsen of Norway and Ted Lee of South Korea, this semester. I think when they go home, they leave with a really good impression.

It feels a little like a home away from home, said Svendsen, a UW-L freshman. They always ask if we need anything.

Svendsen experienced Thanksgiving for the first time last year, while in La Crosse as a high school exchange student. The self-described lover of holidays was thrilled to have a bonus celebration, and quickly latched on to mashed potatoes, though sans gravy.

The gravy was kind of like, ehh, Svendsen said. I didnt like it, but I love the pumpkin pie.

UW-L senior Lee was prepared to try all the foods. Lee celebrates Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving, in his home country, which is similarly centered on food, thanks and harvest, though the star dish is songpyeon, a rice cake steamed over pine needles, and Asian pears are the fruit du jour.

Yukari Kawashima of Japan, attending UW-L for fall semester, set her sights on the pie, having recently made her first pastry with her host mom, while Zoey Millership of England, already familiar with the foods, was up for anything.

Ive been in classes all day, so Im a little hungry right now, said Millership, whose only experience with the holiday was what Ive seen on TV and movies and stuff.

Faith Lutheran Pastor Paul Mundinger, a LFIS board member, helped students understand the origins and meaning of Thanksgiving during a brief talk before the group dug into the rolls, stuffing and ever polarizing cranberries, usually approached by the students with a bit of trepidation.

They can probably relate to Thanksgiving more (than a religious holiday), said Michelle Strange, an LFIS member of 18 years and currently hosting five students from China, India and Brazil with husband Tom. Food is kind of an international language.

Strange, who has no children of her own, has formed lifelong friendships with her past students, attending their weddings and celebrations around the world, and brings her new students to Harvest Thanksgiving Dinner each year.

It really enriches our lives, during the time theyre here and even after they leave, Strange said. I think this is something everyone should experience.

For more information on La Crosse Friends of International Students, visit www.lfis.info.
Shootin' the Bull about cattle Swift Trading Company - 34 minutes ago The spreads between fats and feeders has narrowed to a point in which it is beginning to show some potential for profit out into the future. Unfortunately, today, and for the next two months, cattle...

Key Fed official says he's open to slowing hikes in December AP - 37 minutes ago Christopher Waller, a key Federal Reserve official, added his voice to a rising number of Fed officials who have suggested that the central bank will likely slow the pace of its interest rate hikes beginning... $SPX : 3,958.79 (-0.83%) $DOWI : 33,553.83 (-0.12%) $IUXX : 11,699.09 (-1.45%)

Nat-Gas Prices Climb on Forecasts for Below-Normal U.S. Temps Barchart - 52 minutes ago Dec Nymex natural gas (NGZ22 ) on Wednesday closed up +0.166 (+2.75%). Dec nat-gas Wednesday recovered from early losses and posted moderate gains. Forecasts for below-normal temperatures in the Midwest... NGF23 : 6.610 (+3.36%)

Crude Oil Falls as Geopolitical Risks Ease and China Covid Infections Rise Barchart - 54 minutes ago Dec WTI crude oil (CLZ22 ) on Wednesday closed down by -1.33 (-1.53%), and Dec RBOB gasoline (RBZ22 ) closed down by -0.81 (-0.32%). Crude oil and gasoline prices Wednesday posted moderate losses, with... CLZ22 : 85.27 (-1.90%) RBF23 : 2.4592 (-0.61%)

Livestock Report Walsh Trading - 1 hour ago Hogs listless

Cocoa Prices Remain Underpinned by Supply Concerns Barchart - 1 hour ago December ICE NY cocoa (CCZ22 ) on Wednesday closed up +3 (+0.12%), and December ICE London cocoa #7 (CAZ22 ) closed up +10 (+0.50%). Cocoa prices Wednesday closed slightly higher. Cocoa has rallied sharply... CCH23 : 2,502s (+0.16%) CAH23 : 1,955s (+0.10%)

Sugar Prices Give Up Early Gains as Crude Falls Barchart - 1 hour ago March NY world sugar #11 (SBH23 ) on Wednesday closed down -0.02 (-0.10%), and March London white sugar #5 (SWH23 ) closed down -6.70 (-1.22%). Sugar prices Wednesday erased an early rally and closed slightly... SBH23 : 20.27s (-0.10%) SWH23 : 544.60s (-1.22%)
A bill that would legalize marijuana in New Hampshire has been rejected by a House committee.

The Concord Monitor reports the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Tuesday voted not to recommend the bill to the House. Under the measure, people 21 and older would have been able to buy recreational pot from licensed businesses that were taxed by the state.

Opponents of the bill argued legalization in the state would conflict with federal law. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration classifies marijuana as an illegal Schedule 1 controlled substance.

The state had previously created a commission to study the potential impact of legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana. Marijuana advocates had argued the commission was biased.

Several states have enacted laws legalizing marijuana for adult use, including Massachusetts and Maine.

Information from: Concord Monitor

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cannabis New Hampshire
Two maintenance workers who were struck and killed by a speeding Amtrak train near Philadelphia last year were the victims of a lax safety culture that had permeated the government-owned railroad, federal investigators said Tuesday.

The National Transportation Safety Board seized on the April 2016 crash in Chester, Pennsylvania, as the tragic outcome of years of rule bending, corner cutting and punitive policies that had endangered and upset Amtrak workers and their unions.

Lapses in communication and a lack of required equipment left the Chester workers with no protection and little warning as the Savannah, Georgia-bound Palmetto train streaked toward their backhoe at more than 100 mph.

A foreman who had just taken charge of the maintenance crew did not ask a dispatcher to keep routing trains away from the workers, investigators said, nor did he have a device meant to prevent trains from running on the same tracks as workers, even though Amtrak rules require its use.

In all, investigators flagged more than two dozen safety issues in the crash, far more than in most crash investigations, according to NTSB board member Earl Weener. Backhoe operator Joseph Carter Jr., 61, and supervisor Peter Adamovich, 59, were killed and about 40 passengers were injured.

Had any of these issues been addressed, the accident may have been prevented, NTSB investigator Joe Gordon said at a public meeting on the crash at the agencys Washington headquarters.

Workers told investigators that they felt Amtrak had been emphasizing on-time performance over safety, belying the big, red think safety signs it posted in employee lounges and its threats to fire workers who broke certain rules.

NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt said Amtraks grab bag of priorities created a culture of fear and non-compliance that encouraged workarounds to get the job done. Amtraks unions, wary of its approach, refused to participate in two of the railroads safety programs, Sumwalt said.

Amtraks co-chief executive officers, Richard Anderson and Charles Wick Moorman sent a letter to employees Tuesday updating them on steps the railroad has taken to transform its safety culture since the crash.

They include hiring a new head of safety, compliance and training, issuing alerts and advisories to remind workers of rules and an improved worker-protection training program.

Our customers expect us to operate safely and our jobs and lives depend on it, the co-CEOs wrote. We can and will do better. Our pledge to you is that we will do everything possible to help move us forward.

Carters family is suing Amtrak for negligence. Their lawyer, Tom Kline, said they can only hope his death will result in wholesale changes in safety at Amtrak.

Toxicology reports showed that Carter had cocaine in his system, Adamovich tested positive for morphine, codeine and oxycodone and the trains engineer, Alexander Hunter, 47, tested positive for marijuana.

Only Hunter, as a train crew member, would have been subject to random drug testing at the time of the crash. He is no longer employed by Amtrak. No amount of marijuana use by an engineer is acceptable, the railroad has said.

In June, federal regulators expanded the testing program to include track maintenance workers. On Monday, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a rule mandating testing for opioids beginning Jan. 1.

The union representing maintenance workers said drugs played no role in the severity or cause of the crash. The NTSB said the positive tests were another indication that Amtraks safety culture had eroded to the point where workers were not deterred from using drugs.

Hunter told investigators that he knew of maintenance work being done in the area but was not given any warnings about equipment being on the same track as his train.

Hunter blew the trains horn and hit the brakes once he saw equipment on an adjacent track and then on his own track. Investigators say that was about 12 seconds before impact.

The train slowed from 106 mph to 100 mph at impact and only came to a complete stop about a mile down the track. The lead engine of the train derailed.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Insurers have pulled $20 billion out of coal investments, but most are European and none of the top nine U.S. insurers has taken meaningful action, campaign group Unfriend Coal said on Wednesday.

Government representatives and officials at this weeks U.N. climate talks in Bonn, Germany, are working on a rule book for the 2015 Paris Agreement to shift the world economy from fossil fuels this century.

Fifteen insurers with more than $4 trillion in related assets under management are planning to get out of stock or bond investments in coal, Unfriend Coal, a coalition of 13 civil society groups, said in a report.

Eight of those insurers, all European, feature in a scorecard of 25 of the worlds biggest insurers tracked by the campaign group. These include Lloyds of London, which told Unfriend Coal it would start to exclude coal from its investment strategy in April 2018.

Although the shift away from coal is growing, these early movers still need to do more, and most insurers have yet to do anything to prevent the risk of dangerous climate change, Unfriend Coal said.

The scorecard finds that no U.S. insurer has taken meaningful action.

The scorecard includes U.S. insurers such as MetLife, Chubb and Berkshire Hathaway, as well as Australian, European and Japanese companies.

However, four European insurers, AXA, SCOR, Swiss Re and Zurich, are also making changes to their underwriting of coal, the report said.

Zurich this week said it would stop providing insurance for new thermal coal mines or for potential new clients that derive more than half their revenue from mining thermal coal. It would also not take on as insurance clients utility companies that generate more than half their energy from coal.

The company said it would engage with such existing clients in discussions about their medium to long-term transition plans.

AXA and SCOR already have policies to reduce their exposure to insurance or reinsurance of coal companies, while Swiss Re is preparing policy to limit its business support for thermal coal utilities and mining, Unfriend Coal said.

(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; additional reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi in Zurich; editing by David Goodman)

Related:

Topics Carriers USA Europe Reinsurance
The UK Financial Conduct Authoritys review of the wholesale insurance broker market could help counter the trend of rising expenses for London market insurers, according to a Fitch Ratings briefing.

This could make London more competitive with smaller hubs in other parts of the world, which have been gaining market share in recent years, the rating agency noted.

However, Fitch said, the outcome of the review is uncertain and will not be known until at least autumn 2018, when the FCA intends to publish an interim report with preliminary conclusions.

If the FCA ultimately finds evidence of anti-competitive practices, this is likely to be more negative for the larger brokers.

Fitch noted that the FCA is examining three topics:

Whether brokers have the ability to raise the price of their services beyond normal market levels;

How conflicts of interest affect competition and client outcomes,

How certain broker practices, particularly broker facilities, may affect competition.

Fitch explained that broker facilities are a system by which underwriters commit capital in advance and the broker then groups a large number of risks together to place with those insurers.

Insurers have continued to commit capital to the facilities, but many have recently criticized the higher commissions on facilities and the FCA has highlighted that placing business via facilities rather than the open market may exclude smaller insurers and harm competition, said the briefing.

Rising Broker Commissions

Rising broker commissions are contributing to pressure on insurers underwriting results, said Fitch, explaining that this trend has been driven in part by the prolonged soft market and falling premium rates, which also has put pressure on brokers commissions.

Data from Lloyds of London shows average acquisition costs, which are predominantly fees to brokers, rose from 17 percent of gross premiums written in 2005 to 22 percent in 2016, Fitch said.

In an April letter to shareholders, Evan Greenberg, chairman and chief executive of insurer Chubb, said some brokers were enriching themselves at the expense of their customers and underwriters and involved in abusive behavior.

These predatory behaviors, which have shown up around the world, and in London in particular, are simply unsustainable from an underwriting perspective and will come back to haunt these brokers, he said in the letter.

In its report, Fitch said that acquisition costs come on top of higher regulatory costs and heavy investments in IT infrastructure, which all have acted to increase insurers expenses.

Therefore, any steps by the UK regulator to help reverse this trend could benefit London market insurers in the long term, it went on to say.

Emerging Market Business Shrinks

Lower commissions could also help increase volumes by making the market more competitive with international rivals, Fitch said, noting that the relatively high cost of doing business means Londons share of emerging-market business has shrunk in recent years while hubs Singapore, Bermuda and Zurich have grown.

The biggest impact is Asia where Londons market share fell 1.2 percentage points between 2013 and 2015, said Fitch, quoting data from the London Market Group.

But there could be unintended consequences of possible aggressive measures from the FCA, said the briefing.

As many brokers are international and place business in insurance markets worldwide, brokers could respond by routing more business to other markets, added Fitch.

But we think the risk of this is limited because there is strong underwriting expertise for more complex risks in the London market, and this is unlikely to change, at least in the medium term, said the report.

Source: Fitch

Related:

Topics Carriers Agencies London
A certified public accountant (CPA) in Georgia has been arrested and charged with insurance fraud by Special Fraud Investigators from the Georgia Department of Insurance (GADOI), according to a statement from Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.

Earle Turner, Sr., 67, of McDonough was taken into custody at his DeKalb County business and charged with 19 counts of insurance fraud, 11 counts of identity fraud, and one count of theft by deception. Turner is accused of falsifying multiple life insurance applications and collecting over $11,000 in death benefits.

Apprehending this suspect is a victory for all Georgia insurance consumers, said Hudgens. Insurance fraud results in higher costs for us all.

According to the investigation, in May 2017, GADOI was notified by Mutual of Omaha of suspected fraudulent activity by Turner. Mutual of Omaha indicated that they discovered three life insurance policies in their system with Turner named as the beneficiary. The insurer contacted the individuals listed as the policyholder, and each stated they had not applied for life insurance through the company and had not authorized Turner to do so on their behalf.

Following a sixmonth investigation, GADOI Special Fraud Investigators found that Turner had taken out life insurance policies on nineteen elderly adults without their knowledge or approval and received approximately $11,345.70 in death benefit payouts on five of the policies.

Investigators also determined that Turner used the personal information he obtained from preparing his victims taxes to file the fraudulent policies. If convicted, Turner could face up to 10 years in state prison.

We have found no evidence that this suspect has an insurable interest in any of these individuals, said Deputy Insurance Commissioner Jay Florence. Fortunately, our investigators stopped this scheme before more policies were submitted without the consumers knowledge.

This investigation was conducted with assistance from Mutual of Omahas Corporate Investigation Unit. Commissioner Hudgens would like to thank the DeKalb County Police Department for providing support in the arrest of the suspect. The case will be prosecuted by the DeKalb County District Attorneys Office.

Source: Georgia Department of Insurance

Topics Fraud Georgia
An early Monday morning fire in Mississippi has destroyed a 15,000-square-foot (1,394-sq. meter) auction company.

Corinth Fire Department Training Officer Jerry Whirley told news outlets that five units responded to the blaze at Scotty Little and Associates Auction Company just after 4 a.m. Monday. Whirley described the metal buildings north section as completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The blaze was under control by around 6:30 a.m., but firefighters tackled hot spots until the afternoon.

Whirley says the building is a total loss. No cause has bene determined. No injuries were reported.

The State Fire Marshal is investigating.

Business owner Scotty Little says he plans to rebuild.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mississippi
A California insurtech startup with a new cyber product has launched today to offer brokers and their clients what it calls redesigned insurance, with cyber security expertise at its core.

Mountain View, Calif.-based At-Bay launched out of stealth mode along with the announcement that it has $6 million from a seed funding round led by LightSpeed Venture Partners, with the participation of Shlomo Kramer and LocalGlobe, and that the firm has the backing of The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co.

According to Rotem Iram, CEO and founder of At-Bay, the firm is offering a unique, proactive risk management service to go along with insurance coverage. A company that buys a cyber policy will be scanned by At-Bay and monitored for weaknesses that hackers may be able to expose, he said.

We have expert security researchers who are assessing in real-time how risk is changing, said Iram, who was formerly the chief operating officer of the cyber security practice for K2 Intelligence.

He said the firm is constantly changing its algorithms to be able to price policies based on how they believe next years risk will look for a company instead of relying on past events like traditional insurance models do.

We believe were building the infrastructure for a risk organization for the 21st century to allow us to better understand risk, Iram said. The insurance product is only the start of the relationship.

The Hartford Steam Boiler provides the capacity and paper for the policy, and the product is sold through brokers to clients. They are selling up to a $10 million single-limit comprehensive standalone cyber policy, which has all the elements of standard cyber policy, like data breach, business interruption, financial fraud, extortion.

The firm is starting to offer polices today in California, and its licensed to sell in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Texas and Washington.

The focus is on middle-market companies with policies from $3 to $10 million in single limits.

Iram said premiums will vary depending on a companys cyber security measures in place, its software and its risk of an attack, and that the value-added risk management service doesnt necessarily mean companies will be paying higher premiums.

The firm already has a dozen clients in pipeline, with several policies set to be written, he said.

According to Iram, At-Bay uses software to scan companies from the outside in, then offers fixes to potential cyber issues, and supplies experts on demand to help.

The firm has built a reconnaissance engine that Iram said is equivalent to a nation states reconnaissance.

He said this software engine enables the firm to discover vulnerabilities in a manner thats similar to how sophisticated hackers probe cyberspace for victims.

The reconnaissance engine is contextualized to find the fingerprint of every company within information out there on the Internet, he said.

Its basically very much like what a hacker would do in the first reconnaissance phase of an attack, Iram added.

The firm is actively promoting the product to brokers as an intuitive, digital platform which combines its insurance product with risk insights to help them start a conversation with their clients on matters like security and financial exposure, and offer case studies and benchmark data.

We believe that brokers are the key to unlock the value of this for clients, Iram said.

He said brokers can input the name of a potential client and generate risk scores, and a financial exposure calculator they can share.

The product is free for brokers to use. Iram didnt offer details on the commission structure, but said it is standard for selling cyber products.

Market standard commissions for retail brokers, he said when asked to talk about commissions. Its not better or worse.

Iram said that with the initial research and development phase complete, the plans are to use the $6 million in seed funding to go to market and build up the firms sales force.

We will probably be raising quite a bit more money in the next few months to increase our footprint, Iram said.

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Topics Cyber Agencies InsurTech Tech
Options are a form of derivative contract that gives buyers of the contracts (the option holders) the right (but not the obligation) to buy or sell a security at a chosen price at some point in the future. Option buyers are charged an amount called a premium by the sellers for such a right. Should market prices be unfavorable for option holders, they will let the option expire worthless and not exercise this right, ensuring that potential losses are not higher than the premium. On the other hand, if the market moves in the direction that makes this right more valuable, it makes use of it.

Options are generally divided into "call" and "put" contracts. With a call option, the buyer of the contract purchases the right to buy the underlying asset in the future at a predetermined price, called exercise price or strike price. With a put option, the buyer acquires the right to sell the underlying asset in the future at the predetermined price.

Let's take a look at some basic strategies that a beginner investor can use with calls or puts to limit their risk. The first two involve using options to place a direction bet with a limited downside if the bet goes wrong. The others involve hedging strategies laid on top of existing positions.

Key Takeaways Options trading may sound risky or complex for beginner investors, and so they often stay away.

Some basic strategies using options, however, can help a novice investor protect their downside and hedge market risk.

Here we look at four such strategies: long calls, long puts, covered calls, protective puts, and straddles.

Options trading can be complex, so be sure to understand the risks and rewards involved before diving in.

Buying Calls (Long Calls)

There are some advantages to trading options for those looking to make a directional bet in the market. If you think the price of an asset will rise, you can buy a call option using less capital than the asset itself. At the same time, if the price instead falls, your losses are limited to the premium paid for the options and no more. This could be a preferred strategy for traders who:

Are "bullish" or confident about a particular stock, exchange-traded fund (ETF), or index fund and want to limit risk

Want to utilize leverage to take advantage of rising prices

Options are essentially leveraged instruments in that they allow traders to amplify the potential upside benefit by using smaller amounts than would otherwise be required if trading the underlying asset itself. So, instead of laying out $10,000 to buy 100 shares of a $100 stock, you could hypothetically spend, say, $2,000 on a call contract with a strike price 10% higher than the current market price.

A standard equity option contract on a stock controls 100 shares of the underlying security.

Example

Suppose a trader wants to invest $5,000 in Apple (AAPL), trading at around $165 per share. With this amount, they can purchase 30 shares for $4,950. Suppose then that the price of the stock increases by 10% to $181.50 over the next month. Ignoring any brokerage commission or transaction fees, the traders portfolio will rise to $5,445, leaving the trader with a net dollar return of $495, or 10% on the capital invested.

Now, let's say a call option on the stock with a strike price of $165 that expires about a month from now costs $5.50 per share or $550 per contract. Given the trader's available investment budget, they can buy nine options for a cost of $4,950. Because the option contract controls 100 shares, the trader is effectively making a deal on 900 shares. If the stock price increases 10% to $181.50 at expiration, the option will expire in the money (ITM) and be worth $16.50 per share (for a $181.50 to $165 strike), or $14,850 on 900 shares. That's a net dollar return of $9,990, or 200% on the capital invested, a much larger return compared to trading the underlying asset directly.

Risk/Reward

The trader's potential loss from a long call is limited to the premium paid. Potential profit is unlimited because the option payoff will increase along with the underlying asset price until expiration, and there is theoretically no limit to how high it can go.

Image by Julie Bang A Investopedia 2019

Buying Puts (Long Puts)

If a call option gives the holder the right to purchase the underlying at a set price before the contract expires, a put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying at a set price. This is a preferred strategy for traders who:

Are bearish on a particular stock, ETF, or index, but want to take on less risk than with a short-selling strategy

Want to utilize leverage to take advantage of falling prices

A put option works effectively in the exact opposite direction from the way a call option does, with the put option gaining value as the price of the underlying decreases. Though short-selling also allows a trader to profit from falling prices, the risk with a short position is unlimited because there is theoretically no limit to how high a price can rise. With a put option, if the underlying ends up higher than the option's strike price, the option will simply expire worthless.

Example

Say that you think the price of a stock is likely to decline from $60 to $50 or lower based on bad earnings, but you don't want to risk selling the stock short in case you are wrong. Instead, you can buy the $50 put for a premium of $2.00. If the stock does not fall below $50, or if indeed it rises, the most you will lose is the $2.00 premium.

However, if you are right and the stock drops all the way to $45, you would make $3 ($50 minus $45. less the $2 premium).

Risk/Reward

The potential loss on a long put is limited to the premium paid for the options. The maximum profit from the position is capped because the underlying price cannot drop below zero, but as with a long call option, the put option leverages the trader's return.

Image by Julie Bang A Investopedia 2019

Covered Calls

Unlike the long call or long put, a covered call is a strategy that is overlaid onto an existing long position in the underlying asset. It is essentially an upside call that is sold in an amount that would cover that existing position size. In this way, the covered call writer collects the option premium as income, but also limits the upside potential of the underlying position. This is a preferred position for traders who:

Expect no change or a slight increase in the underlying's price, collecting the full option premium

Are willing to limit upside potential in exchange for some downside protection

A covered call strategy involves buying 100 shares of the underlying asset and selling a call option against those shares. When the trader sells the call, the option's premium is collected, thus lowering the cost basis on the shares and providing some downside protection. In return, by selling the option, the trader is agreeing to sell shares of the underlying at the option's strike price, thereby capping the trader's upside potential.

Example

Suppose a trader buys 1,000 shares of BP (BP) at $44 per share and simultaneously writes 10 call options (one contract for every 100 shares) with a strike price of $46 expiring in one month, at a cost of $0.25 per share, or $25 per contract and $250 total for the 10 contracts. The $0.25 premium reduces the cost basis on the shares to $43.75, so any drop in the underlying down to this point will be offset by the premium received from the option position, thus offering limited downside protection.

If the share price rises above $46 before expiration, the short call option will be exercised (or "called away"), meaning the trader will have to deliver the stock at the option's strike price. In this case, the trader will make a profit of $2.25 per share ($46 strike price - $43.75 cost basis).

However, this example implies the trader does not expect BP to move above $46 or significantly below $44 over the next month. As long as the shares do not rise above $46 and get called away before the options expire, the trader will keep the premium free and clear and can continue selling calls against the shares if desired.

Risk/Reward

If the share price rises above the strike price before expiration, the short call option can be exercised and the trader will have to deliver shares of the underlying at the option's strike price, even if it is below the market price. In exchange for this risk, a covered call strategy provides limited downside protection in the form of the premium received when selling the call option.

Image by Julie Bang A Investopedia 2019

Protective Puts

A protective put involves buying a downside put in an amount to cover an existing position in the underlying asset. In effect, this strategy puts a lower floor below which you cannot lose more. Of course, you will have to pay for the option's premium. In this way, it acts as a sort of insurance policy against losses. This is a preferred strategy for traders who own the underlying asset and want downside protection

Thus, a protective put is a long put, like the strategy we discussed above; however, the goal, as the name implies, is downside protection versus attempting to profit from a downside move. If a trader owns shares with a bullish sentiment in the long run but wants to protect against a decline in the short run, they may purchase a protective put.

If the price of the underlying increases and is above the put's strike price at maturity, the option expires worthless and the trader loses the premium but still has the benefit of the increased underlying price. On the other hand, if the underlying price decreases, the traders portfolio position loses value, but this loss is largely covered by the gain from the put option position. Hence, the position can effectively be thought of as an insurance strategy.

Example

The trader can set the strike price below the current price to reduce premium payment at the expense of decreasing downside protection. This can be thought of as deductible insurance. Suppose, for example, that an investor buys 1,000 shares of Coca-Cola (KO) at a price of $44 and wants to protect the investment from adverse price movements over the next two months. The following put options are available:
Update 7.50pm: The President of the St Vincent de Paul has described any attempts to normalise homelessness as 'insulting'.

Kiearan Stafford's words come after controversial comments by the head of a Housing Agency which suggested that homelessness was a normal part of society rather than a crisis situation.

In recent days the Taoiseach has also come in for criticism from campaigners for his comments that homelessness here is not high by international standards.

Kiearan Stafford from the SVP says life is very tough for families in emergency accommodation and that should never be forgotten.

"You have great mothers and parents supporting their kids in extreme situations ... and it is absolutely and simply wrong.'

A snippet of a beautiful song written & sung by Ciara O'Doherty Show a little kindness shine a light for those alone https://t.co/9tyE0GlYcK pic.twitter.com/JXRBR9k3CE  SVP - Ireland (@SVP_Ireland) November 15, 2017

Meanwhile, this evening the Director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Eileen Gleeson, said she would not be standing down.

Ms Gleeson has been facing calls for her resignation, after she claimed rough sleepers were homeless because of years of "bad behaviour".

She's apologised, but says she was trying to highlight the complex needs of homeless people.

Homelessness campaigner Fr. Peter McVerry says Ms Gleeson has outdated ideas about people who sleep rough.

"It has nothing to do with bad behaviour or pathology within the homeless person. Homelessness is predominantly a consequence of inadequate government policies."

Update 6.15pm: Homeless crisis 'a lot worse if it wasn't for the Eileen Gleesons of this world' says Housing Minister

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy has defended Eileen Gleeson's comments at last night's Dublin City Council meeting.

"This problem would be a lot worse if it wasn't for the Eileen Gleesons of this world, the Focuses, and the Peter McVerry Trust and the Simon Community. The key thing is that we all work together."

On Drivetime on RTE Radio 1 this evening, Mary Wilson asked the Minister if there is, as some in the opposition have claimed, a co-ordinated policy of down-playing the crisis in housing and 'normalising' the levels of homelessness in this country.

"Not everything that we are doing is unsuccessful," he said.

"If we look at Eileen Gleeson, who is an expert, who is on the frontlines and that's where she gets her expertise from... we have to listen to experts. Sometimes they'll say things that are uncomfortable to hear but that doesn't mean that we can ignore them.

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy

"All she was saying is that the outcomes for these people are better for these people when we coordinate our efforts. It's not to say don't give that cup of soup, don't give spare change to help someone who comes asking for that help.

"We do better work when we work together, that is the point that she was making essentially. Sometimes people may use the wrong choice of words."

When asked what he does when he passes somebody that is homeless, the Minister said there are different ways of helping people.

"You will never stop a person's better angels, or better nature from wanting to reach out and share compassion and help someone. And it's not wrong to want to do that and it's not wrong to do that. That's not the point that Eileen was making," he said.

Minister Murphy said there is an end in sight as housing and homelessness are a priority for the Government.

"We have solutions that are working and will help," he said.

"Hubs is one example that is helping families out of hotels where they shouldn't be into hubs which are much safer, more secure temporary supports. We already know from the hubs programme that we are moving families, much more families, into secure accommodation."

Listen to the interview in full here:

Update 5.18pm: Homeless charity calls on director of Dublin Region Homeless Executive to resign

A homeless charity is calling on the director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive to resign.

Speaking at a recent committee meeting Eileen Gleeson said it takes years of bad behaviour for someone to become homeless  saying it isnt the behaviour of you and me.

Eileen Gleeson added that it didnt help when unauthorised volunteers give rough sleepers food or shelter.

She has since moved to clarify the comments saying she was trying to highlight the complex needs of homeless people.

But campaigner Erica Flemming - who was homeless for a time  was very annoyed by her comments.

"I think someone in a position such as hers should chose her words wisely."

Anthony Flynn from Inner City Helping Homeless said he believes she should step down.

"The comments ... show a clear lack of compassion as regards to her position as Director of Homeless Services.

Meanwhile, speaking on RTE Drive Time in the last hour Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy denied recent statements on the homeless issue from colleagues demonstrated a hardening line on the issue and reiterated the governmnet's commitment to do everything possible to help those affected by the issue.

"We have to do everything that we can do as a government , to help those families and those individuals in homelessness" @MurphyEoghan on homelessness #Drivetime  Drivetime RTE (@drivetimerte) November 15, 2017

Earlier: Director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Eileen Gleeson has said that she regrets the controversial comments she made about homeless people.

Eileen Gleeson said "ad hoc" volunteers feeding rough sleepers and handing out tents can't solve years of "bad behaviour''. She was speaking yesterday before a committee to talk about homeless services.

Homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry said he was "absolutely furious" at Ms Gleeson's comments on homelessness, calling them "an insult to many homeless people".

Fr McVerry said her comments that many people do not become homeless overnight, were incorrect.

Ms Gleeson also said rough sleepers would not be camping on the banks of the Royal Canal if volunteers were not "going down there to feed them".

She added that they are not being linked into services when they are being helped by people trying to do the right thing.

"When somebody becomes homeless it doesnt happen overnight; it takes years of bad behaviour probably and it takes as long again to work them back into the system," she said.

Today, she said she could have phrased what she was trying to say better, but was trying to highlight the long term problems facing homeless people.

"I regret it in the way I used (the terms)," she said. "The reasons why people become homeless are complex."

Speaking on Today with Sean O'Rourke, Fr McVerry criticised Ms Gleeson for her comments.

"The only solution to this problem of homelessness is build social housing...and build at very intensive rates" - Fr Peter McVerry #TodaySOR  Peter McVerry Trust (@PMVTrust) November 15, 2017

"The majority of people do become homeless overnight," Fr McVerry argued. "They become homeless because the landlord evicts them, because they cannot afford to pay the rent or because the landlord says theyre selling their house or because the banks have re-possessed the landlords house because the landlord hasnt paid their mortgage."

Fr McVerry said Eileen Gleeson has said that they want people to engage with the services, but he said "the services are awful and inadequate" and that "much of the emergency accommodation is so awful that people won't go into it".

Fr Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Day Centre also weighed in on the comments made by Ms Gleeson.

"To me the housing crisis and people sleeping on the streets is still a huge problem," Fr Crowley told Sean O'Rourke.

Fr Crowley spoke of those ringing the freephone number and constantly being told to call back later. When they are told there are no beds for them, Fr Kevin asked: "Is that the way to treat people coming on to the winter?"

Ms Gleeson re-joined the show to respond, saying: "We're all on the one side, all trying to do the same thing."

She said the ultimate aim was to get the person into permanent housing and she simply wanted to make sure the right structures were put in place to enable this.

"Its not perfect, its not ideal and theyll agree with me that its complex and individuals are complex," she said.

Ms Gleeson went on to say that we need to always treat somebody that is homeless with "dignity and respect".

Volunteer organisation Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) have also responded to Ms Gleeson's comments calling them unacceptable.

"The wording used by Ms Gleeson were highly controversial and damning to the homeless community," said ICHH CEO Anthony Flynn.

"It seems that the order of the week is to insult homeless people rather than target the actual problem. Lack of policy implementation and the continuous failure from the state have led to the increase in homelessness.

"What we need are proactive reactions to this crisis, not every department attempting to down play the facts."

The group claimed the comments were an attempt to deflect attention from the inadequacies of the state-run bodies.

ICHH Director Clare O'Connor added: "Victim blaming those sleeping rough and the voluntary groups that help them is inexcusable. Housing policy and the lack of housing protections is the biggest cause of homelessness today.

"The orchestrated narrative by government and state organisations to deflect from this and normalise the situation is an attempt to sway public perceptions of the people that are homeless and we cannot and will not allow this to happen."

Ms Gleesons comments sparked outrage among many people with several taking to Twitter to comment.

#todaysor Don't think I've ever felt further removed from the attitudes of our political class than I have listening to this this morning. I'm in tears of rage at the casual callousness of these people. @TodaySOR  Elpenor Dignam (@Elpenor_Dignam) November 15, 2017

Can I ask what "bad behaviour" the 3,000+ homeless children engaged in? #TodaySOR  Claire McGing (@Claire_McGing) November 15, 2017

Some were so outraged that they called for Eileen Gleesons resignation.

Disgraceful comments from Eileen Gleeson today on #TodaySOR . The lack of empathy is appalling. Resign immediately.  Mark Johnson (@markjo85) November 15, 2017

Ms Gleeson, Fr Crowley and Fr McVerry all agreed that social housing was the best solution to the issue.

You can listen to the full discussion on Today with Sean O'Rourke below:
The city of Onalaska will foot the bill for an independent audit of unprocessed citations from the joint municipal court.

Mayor Joe Chilsen gave the tie-breaking vote Tuesday to approve the audit to determine whether any court fees were misappropriated.

The city had initially approved the audit in September after more than 30 boxes of unprocessed citations and documents were discovered in the basement of the Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court earlier this year.

At the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting Nov. 8, the board voted to cancel the audit after the Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court Committee elected to relocate those funds in favor of training for the Joint Municipal Court Supervisor Hildie McIntyre.

Last weeks finance and personnel committee, I was shocked, stunned and hurt frankly, Council member Jerry Every said. The Joint Municipal Court Committee decided they didnt want to spend that money.

Every said he was concerned that people who were cited for driving under the influence may have avoided consequences as a result of the mishandling of documents.

Youve got drunk drivers out there driving around that could kill one of your kids that have never been adjudicated, never brought to justice, he said.

He said he wanted the audit conducted so that any necessary administrative changes can be made and so that those citations can be processed and reported to the state.

Council member Ron Gjertsen asked why the councils initial request for an audit had been ignored.

This board up here asked to have an audit done, he said. It didnt happen; I dont understand.

Council member Jim Binash said the Joint Municipal Court is a separate entity of which Onalaska is a member.

The council doesnt have a lot of authority over what happens over at the joint municipal court, he said.

Council Member Robert Muth, who serves as the chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, confirmed the city has no authority over the court.

City Attorney Sean OFlaherty said while the municipal court had reallocated the funds, the city could move forward with the audit.

This body is free to use its money to do this audit, he said.

I believe that the sampling would be valuable, he said. I think the public would feel better if an outside source does the audit.

Binash questioned whether the audit would be worth the effort.

Whats the point, he asked. Are we trying to find out if there is malfeasance. If we are going to do an audit, what do we expect to accomplish.

He said changes at the court are already being made to correct the issue.

Im not sure an audit is really necessary, he said.

Gjertsen argued the city should start over and proceed with the audit.

I hope we find nothing, he said. This city doesnt need it.

Council members Gjertsen, Every and Jim Olson voted to move forward with the audit. Binash, Muth and Harvey Bertrand voted against.

Chilsen voted in favor.

I am going to vote in favor of this so we can put this thing to bed, he said.

Accessory buildings

By a unanimous vote, the Common Council voted to amend the citys accessory building ordinance to allow for more detached buildings against the Planning Commissions recommendation.

The amendment increases the area allowed for accessory buildings, such as swimming pools, detached garages and garden sheds, from 20 percent to 25 percent of the residents property.

At the Planning Commission meeting earlier this month, the board elected not to make changes to the ordinance.

At that meeting, commission member Craig Breitsprecher advised the planning commission not to change the ordinance at the whim of a single resident.

Binash said the ordinance should be amended to allow residents to take advantage of their land.

He said the purpose of local government was to facilitate change when its citizens feel there is a way something can be improved.

He said anyone can make a request and the governments job is to see what can be done.

Muth said most residents arent aware there is an ordinance.

We have people that do it the right way, and youve got people who just go out and buy and put up a storage shed, he said. I think this change is absolutely needed, he said.
Update 9.29am: Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to visit France after his surprise resignation while he was in Saudi Arabia, according to the French president's office.

An official in Emmanuel Macron's office said Mr Hariri is expected in France in the coming days.

Mr Hariri, citing Iran and Hezbollah's meddling in the region, announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia.

He has not returned to Lebanon since, and the Lebanese president has refused to accept his resignation before he returns.

The announcement came as French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is in Saudi Arabia where he is meeting Mr Hariri, the Saudi crown prince and the Saudi king.

Yesterday, Mr Macron invited Mr Hariri and his family to go to France amid allegations that Saudi Arabia is holding him prisoner.

Earlier: French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Saad Hariri and his family to come to France after the Lebanese prime minister's surprise resignation earlier this month, amid allegations Saudi Arabia is holding him prisoner.

Mr Hariri's older brother meanwhile broke his silence over the premier's shock resignation announced from Riyadh earlier this month, after speculation he was being groomed by Saudi Arabia to fill the post.

Bahaa Hariri, in a statement to the Associated Press, said he supported his brother's resignation and thanked Saudi Arabia for "decades of support" for Lebanon's institutions. He accused Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of seeking to "take control of Lebanon."

Mr Hariri declined to comment further in a phone call with the AP.

France, Lebanon's onetime colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate in the crisis between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Mr Macron said he was not offering Hariri political "exile", but it was paramount to dispel fears Saudi Arabia had taken the Lebanese premier prisoner.

"We need to have leaders who are free to express themselves," said Mr Macron. "It's important that (Hariri) is able to advance the political process in his country in the coming days and weeks."

An official in the French president's office, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to be named publicly, said Saad Hariri is expected to travel to France in the coming days with his family.

Mr Macron said the invitation was extended to the premier after discussion between the two and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Lebanon's president had earlier accused the Gulf kingdom of detaining Mr Hariri, calling it an act of "aggression" and asking UN Security Council nations and European governments to intervene.

It was the first time Michel Aoun described Mr Hariri as a detainee since his resignation on November 4.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meanwhile ratcheted up the rhetoric against Saudi Arabia, his country's main regional rival, saying the kingdom pressured Saad Hariri to resign in a "rare" intervention in another nation's affairs.

Mr Rouhani also accused Saudi Arabia, without naming the kingdom, of "begging" Israel to bomb Lebanon.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, has made the same accusation.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, left, and Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano in Rome yesterday

Saudi Arabia has accused Hezbollah of aiding Iran-allied rebels in Yemen, who fired a ballistic missile that was intercepted outside the Saudi capital earlier this month.

Hezbollah has said Saudi Arabia forced Mr Hariri to resign in order to bring down his coalition government, which includes the group.

Saad Hariri is a Saudi ally who holds dual citizenship. He announced his unexpected resignation in a pre-recorded statement broadcast on Saudi TV, in which he lashed out at Hezbollah and said he feared for his safety.

"We consider him detained, arrested" in violation of international laws, Mr Aoun - who is a Hezbollah ally but is personally close to Mr Hariri - wrote on his official Twitter account.

Mr Aoun said Saudi Arabia had committed a "hostile act against Lebanon," and he had called the ambassadors of UN Security Council nations about the matter.

He said Arab mediation to resolve the crisis had failed.

In a quick response to Mr Aoun, Saad Hariri tweeted that he was fine and will return to Lebanon as promised.

"You will see", he wrote, without elaborating.

The head of Future TV, affiliated with Mr Hariri's party, said the prime minister is expected back before Sunday, when Arab foreign ministers meet in Cairo in an emergency session at Saudi Arabia's urging.

Riyadh is expected to discuss Iran's rising influence in the region, as well as the Lebanon crisis.

Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil said in Rome that Lebanon wants to resolve Mr Hariri's "ambiguous" condition with Saudi Arabia in a "brotherly" fashion.

But Mr Bassil, who is on a European tour seeking support for his country amid the crisis, said Lebanon also has the option of resorting to international law, without elaborating.

It was not immediately clear if he would attend the Arab League meeting in Cairo.

AP
Arts Artist U Thu Kha Remembered Fondly a Decade After His Passing

The artist and teacher is the subject of an ongoing memorial exhibition of 300 paintings at New Treasure Art Gallery

Only a few of Myanmars artists are honored with statues; and of these statues, only a few are regularly visited by people wishing to pay tribute to the artists memory.

U Thu Kha is one of these select few. A decade after his death, his statue still draws many people paying their respects.

He started working at the State School of Fine Arts in 1964 and mentored hundreds of artists before his death in 2007.

Sayagyi [U Thu Kha] was very kind to his students and colleagues. He mainly taught us about anatomy. His lectures were very clear and easy to understand. He explained the fundamentals very well, said Zaw Win Pe, an artist known for his colorful landscape paintings.

Born in 1918, U Thu Kha devoted his entire life to teaching art. After he passed away, former students commissioned a statue and established a foundation bearing his name, which provides assistance to artists.

He was a very caring person. He not only took care of the health of his students but also acted as guardian for them when they got married. I remember he once made a bed out of fence posts for me while I was studying under him, said artist Min Wai Aung.

A memorial art exhibition, the fifth in a series, is being held until Saturday at New Treasure Art Gallery on Thanlwin Street in Bahan Township.

The exhibition showcases more than 300 paintings by U Thu Kha, his contemporaries and his students. The works are for sale, priced at between $200 and $15,000. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the U Thu Kha foundation.
Burma Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Vows to Create Enabling Environment for Women

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi talked to villagers in May Tain Kan village, Wundwin, Mandalay Region, Myanmar on August 7, 2017 / State Counselors Office / Facebook

YANGON  Where have all the men gone? State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi joked while delivering her keynote address at the Asean Business and Investment Summit in Manila on Sunday.

The speech highlighted womens contributions to Myanmars social and economic development.

They [men] havent come into the civil service; they are not going into academia. They may be going into business, but our women are very strong there too. So I often have to ask this question: Where have all the men gone? she said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

More and more women entrepreneurs have emerged to participate in Myanmars transformation, she said, adding that 49 percent of young entrepreneurs in the country are women.

At Yangon University, 60 percent of students are women, and an increasing number of key faculty posts are going to women, demonstrating that women are playing a growing role in the education sector, she said.

Our women are putting a great premium on education This is one of the reasons why we have great hopes for the future of our country, for the future of our young people, who will be encouraged to increase their abilities and their skills by their mothers, their sisters, and their wives, she said.

But while women had played a remarkable role in recent political and economic changes in many countries, she said, they continue to be denied opportunities in countless areas.

The social norm that equates women with unskilled labor and perceives them as mere homemakers, incapable of making decisions, is one of our biggest challenges, she said.

Gender Discrimination in Myanmar

Despite the efforts of numerous womens rights groups campaigning for gender equality in Myanmar, there are many who dont believe it is a problem in the country.

Speaking at the summit, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the countrys de-facto leader, said, There are those who say that there is no gender discrimination in our country, but this is not true.

It is traditional to look upon men as the superior gender. There is a Burmese saying, which I find somewhat reprehensible, that, You must treat your son like a lord and your husband like a god. I dont think I could agree with that. And I dont think women can agree either.

Such a comment from a state leader is exceedingly rare in Myanmar, a country that has been ruled by successive military administrations and ex-generals for nearly six decades.

The military-drafted 2008 Constitution bars Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president despite her party having won the majority of votes. She currently holds the powerful position of state counselor, designated to lead the country, and also holds two ministerial portfolios: foreign affairs and the presidents office.

There is gender discrimination. It is true we are not discriminated [against] in the sense of being debarred from doing activities such as doing business or going in for various professions. But sill, there is the underlying traditional concept that men are superior, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said.

Prominent womens rights activist Ma May Sabe Phyu said she was surprised to see the extent to which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi addressed gender issues at the summit.

She said that while she appreciated the state counselors comments, more commitment and a number of concrete steps were needed from her and the government if practical solutions to gender discrimination problems were to be found.

As a key decision maker in Myanmar, she has an opportunity to support more women leaders to take roles in leadership and decision-making. And we hope she will be willing to do that, the activist said.

Under its policy to prioritize women and youth in the elections, the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) fielded the most female candidates in the 2015 general election with 150. Of those, 134 won seats.

Activists were disappointed, however, when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself turned out to be the only woman in the cabinet formed by the NLD to lead the Union Government.

U Sein Win, training director at the Myanmar Journalism Institute, said he has wondered whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has faced discrimination from inside or outside her administration for being a woman since she took power.

Certainly, he said, she had been shown disrespect and faced gender-based insults and attacks from opponents on social media.

As she starts to speaks out about discrimination, I hope this is the first step and that policy changes will follow, the lecturer said.

Gender Challenges in Education

There are still many mothers who favor their sons above their daughters, especially when it comes to educational opportunities, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said at the summit.

Daw Thandar Oo, founder of the Women and Peace Action Network of Shan State, echoed the state counselors statement. She cited a recent survey showing that Shan State has the lowest literacy rate among young women.

There is still a traditional concept in many ethnic regions that women dont need to be educated. Also, patriarchal views ensure that even families that can afford to educate their children tend to prioritize sons over daughters, she said.

Security concerns are another important factor, she said. Many families dont feel safe sending their daughters long distances to attend school, as conflicts and lawlessness create an insecure environment.

The more access women have to education, the more they can contribute to their families and communities, and even at the state level. Also, they will have a positive effect on the young generation, Daw Thandar Oo said.

Women and the Economy

Traditionally, our women have always been at the forefront of business, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told the delegates at the Asean summit.

She was raised, she said, to believe that men went into the civil service for reasons of prestige, while women engaged in business to put food on the table.

So, we have always depended on women to make sure that the household economy is secure.

So it should not be such a surprise that 49 percent of Myanmars young entrepreneurs are women, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said.

She was just 2 years old when her father, Myanmars late independence hero Gen. Aung San, was assassinated by political rivals in 1947. She later moved to India with her mother Daw Khin Kyi, who was appointed Myanmars Ambassador to India and Nepal. Daw Khin Kyi was Myanmars first woman ambassador.

I am also inspired by the millions of women who work each day  holding their heads high in the face of every adversity, saving and sacrificing everything so that their children can enjoy a better life, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said.

She added that measures are needed to empower and overcome social constraints, strengthen womens potential and unleash their economic power to contribute to the nations development.

To achieve positive changes in womens rights, it is important to increase the number of girls enrolling in primary and secondary schools, improve the participation of women in the labor force, ensure better maternal care outcomes, provide social protection measures and promote the role of women in decision-making, she said.

Our plan is ambitious but achievable. Myanmar is committed to creating an enabling environment for women that will allow them to realize their full potential, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi pledged.
Burma Give Displaced Rohingya Jobs to Prevent Human Trafficking, Companies Told

A member of the Bangladesh Army tries to control the crowd of Rohingya refugees who wait outside of an aid distribution center in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Nov. 15, 2017. / Reuters

LONDON  Businesses could cut the risk of human trafficking and exploitation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in Bangladesh who have fled violence in Myanmar by giving them decent job opportunities, experts said on Wednesday.

Fighting in Myanmars Rakhine State has sent more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims, a minority group denied citizenship in Myanmar, over the border into Bangladesh since late August, in what the United Nations called a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.

John Morrison of the Institute for Human Rights and Business said the refugees, mainly women and children, would likely end up working as cheap laborers in factories across Bangladesh.

Coxs Bazar is a very poor part of Bangladesh, what are they going to do to subsist? Morrison said, after speaking at the Thomson Reuters Foundations annual two-day Trust Conference, which focuses on slavery and womens rights issues.

Many of them will be drawn into the black economy, some of them will be exploited by criminals. They will be exploited again unless proper job opportunities are created for them, the London-based think-tanks chief executive said.

Based on case studies, Morrison said Syrian refugees who have fled to Turkey ended up working for a pittance in factories supplying major Western brands.

This could easily happen in the Bangladeshi textile sector as well, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Morrison said firms could protect the Rohingya from human trafficking by offering meaningful work and this task should not be left to the host country Bangladesh alone.

Bangladesh is a very poor country, he said. There is a lot that the big companies here today and others could do to create economic opportunities.

Asif Saleh from the Bangladesh-based development agency BRAC said the Rohingya were arriving in an area where traffickers were known to operate and cited a news report this week, which said women refugees were being sold for 5 British pounds.

He said Bangladeshs national denial of the problem of human trafficking makes it harder to tackle the issue, which was closely linked to poverty.

Its  a social taboo. You cant use words like slavery  the government will react very badly, Saleh said, adding the problem was exacerbated by state corruption.

Very powerful people at the very top are involved in this chain because its a lucrative market.
News Important Takeaways from US Secretary of State Meetings in Naypyidaw

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw.

YANGON  US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in Myanmars administrative capital Naypyitaw on Wednesday to meet with the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing regarding the issues in Rakhine State.

The meetings came at a time when Myanmar has been under international criticism coupled with the reimposing of US and EU sanctions on military leadership as more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims from northern Rakhine State have fled to Bangladesh following security clearance operations that began in August. Many of the refugees said they had witnessed arbitrary killings, rape and arson carried out by the Myanmar Army.

After the meetings, Daw Aung San Suu kyi and Rex Tillerson held a joint press conference and took questions from the media, saying that the United States and friends from around the region are committed to helping the Government of Myanmar and its people work through this crisis with urgency, sensitivity, and openness while being dedicated to Myanmars successful transition. The Secretary of State also had a separate meeting with the military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. Here are some highlights from the media briefing and the meeting with the military chief.

The Purpose of the Secretary of States Visit

Rex Tillerson: Im here today in Naypyitaw to reaffirm our commitment to a successful democratic transition in Myanmar, and that commitment remains strong  We continue to support the elected government as it strives to make progress on urgently needed reforms, to solidify the democratic gains of recent years, and to bring peace and reconciliation, prosperity, and greater respect for human rights. The crisis in Rakhine State is one of the greatest challenges Myanmar has faced since the elected government came into office last year. Were deeply concerned by credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by Myanmars security forces and by vigilantes who are unrestrained by the security forces during the recent violence in Rakhine State.

US Condemnation of the ARSA

Rex Tillerson: We do condemn the August 25 attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on Myanmars security forces that initiated this violence and reiterate that there is zero tolerance for such attacks. We express our condolences at the loss of the lives among the Myanmar security forces resulting from this unprovoked attack.

US Assistance for Rakhine Issue

Rex Tillerson: I am announcing today that the United States will provide an additional $47 million in humanitarian assistance for refugees, bringing the United States response to the Rakhine State crisis in Myanmar The United States welcomes the governments commitments to allow refugees to voluntarily return and to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State for creating lasting peace by supporting economic development and respecting the rights of all people in Rakhine State, including those displaced We are encouraged by recent exchanges between the Government of Myanmar and Government of Bangladesh and urge both sides to continue to work together to ensure the safety and security of those who want to return to their homes.

On Civil-Military Relations

Rex Tillerson: It is incumbent upon the military and security forces to respect these commitments of the civilian governments, to assist the government in implementing them, and to ensure the safety and security of all people in Rakhine State We support the Government of Myanmars goals of developing its military into a professional and respected institution. As Ive told Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, the military support for Myanmars ongoing transition to a federal, democratic state is crucial. As part of that process, the military and government must work together to address the grievances of civilians throughout Myanmar and build strong, credible institutions We recognize the militarys responsibility to respond to terrorist or other insurgent attacks. Any response, however, must be disciplined and avoid to the maximum extent possible harming innocent civilians. We will be following up with the Myanmar Government to explore opportunities to collaborate on areas of counter violent extremism and counterterrorism.

Calling for an Impartial Investigation on Human Rights Abuses

Rex Tillerson: The recent serious allegations of abuses in Rakhine State demand a credible and impartial investigation, and those who commit human rights abuses or violations must be held accountable. This need for justice and accountability applies not only to Rakhine State but to wherever such abuses or violations occur across Myanmar.

In all of my meetings, I have called on Myanmars civilian government to lead a full and effective, independent investigation, and for the military to facilitate full access and cooperation. The United States strongly supports such an approachthe United States will continue to work with our partners to assure there are consequences for individuals confirmed to have been responsible for atrocities using all available mechanisms, including those available under US law.

Rex Tilerson to AFP: I think clearly, as you point out, the scenes of what occurred up there are just horrific, and the commander-in-chief shared certain parts of their own internal investigation with me. However, as I indicated in my remarks, I think there still is more that we need to understand about what happened, and thats why we believe an independent investigation would be helpful to everyone to understand what transpired and who should be held to account.

On the Rakhine Issue

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi: We have discussed the matter in some detail, and we agree that it most important that we should bring peace and stability to this country, and that can only be done on the basis of rule of law. And everybody should understand that the rule of (inaudible) is to protect peace and stability, not to punish people. If we all understand, then I think we can cooperate on these issues, which are of great concern to the United States as well as to other members of the international community.

I hope you recognize the existing challenges are very great indeed and multifaceted. Its not a one-dimensional Rakhine problem, its a multidimensional problem that the applies to the whole of the country, which is why we are all involved in its resolution.

The State Counselors Silence on the Humanitarian Crisis

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to FOX News: I dont know why people say that Ive been silent. I havent been silent. Actually, weve been sending out a lot of statements from my office, and Ive also made statements of my own. But I think what people mean is that what I say is not interesting enough. But what I say is not meant to be exciting, its meant to be accurate. And its aimed at creating more harmony and a better future for everybody, not for setting people against each other.

We mustnt forget that there are many different communities in the Rakhine, and if they are to live together in peace and harmony in the long-term, we cant set them against each other now. We cannot make the kind of statements that drives them further apart. This is the reason why we are very careful about what is said.

Ethnic Cleansing

Rex Tillerson to FOX News: I think clearly what we know occurred in Rakhine State that led to so many people fleeing the area has a number of characteristics of certainly crimes against humanity. Whether it meets all of the criteria for ethnic cleansing, I think we continue to evaluate that ourselves. I think this is the reason why an independent investigation would be very useful to help us understand not just who  who to hold accountable  but also why  what were the motivations behind what occurred.

On the heels of  again, Ill remind you this started with an attack by the Arakan [Rohingya Salvation Army] against Myanmar security forces, and then it was in the response that things seemed to have gotten out of control. So I think an independent investigation would help all of us understand a number of aspects of whats a very, I think, complex situation.

Military Claims

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing: Western countries including the US have used words alleging that the Bengalis fled to Bangladesh due to the use of force from the Myanmar Tatmadaw. The number of Bengalis fleeing to Bangladesh from August 25 to September 5 was very small, and more fled after that. The main reason is that the ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists fled to Bangladesh fearing counter-attacks of security forces after they failed to carry out successful attacks on the security outposts. As they fled, they took their families, causing an exodus.Other Bengalis were also threateningly forced to flee to Bangladesh, while some were persuaded to live in a third country.

They left steadily. The international community assumed and said Bengalis fled from Myanmar due to torture but they did not know the real situation, they need to have the real situation. Preparations are being made to re-accept the Bengalis who left Myanmar, under the law.
News Lawyers Object to Charging Journalists Under Export, Import Law for Flying Drone Over Parliament

Aung Naing Soe was brought to trial at Zabuthiri Township Court on Nov. 16. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  Lawyers of two foreign journalists and two Myanmar nationals, who have already been sentenced to two months in prison under the Aircraft Act for flying a drone near Myanmars Parliament, have raised an objection to another charge they are facing under the 2012 Export and Import Law.

Journalists Lau Hon Meng from Singapore and Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia along with their interpreter Aung Naing Soe and driver Hla Tin were detained by police on Oct. 27 after they attempted to fly a drone near Parliament in Naypyitaw.

The four were initially charged under the 2012 Export and Import Law for illegally bringing the drone into the country. However, at the trial on Nov. 10, they were faced with an unexpected charge and sentenced to two months in jail for breaching the colonial era 1934 Myanmar Aircraft Act.

At the court hearing on Thursday, their lawyers objected to the Export/Import Law charge, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

The plaintiff police officer testified that he knew the defendants had been sentenced to two months in prison for flying a drone. According to the law, no one shall be tried on similar charges. So I plead that the charge should be dropped, lawyer U Myo Win, who is representing Lau Hon Meng, told the judge.

The judge accepted his pleading of double jeopardy, but the prosecution lawyer insisted that the defense lawyers submit a written pleading, which the latter agreed to do.

The next court hearing is set for Nov. 20, where the judge will decide if the Export/Import Law charge is valid or not.

Im expecting the best. I feel that the trial has been quite fair. I hope mine is a wrong arrest, Ko Aung Naing Soe told The Irrawaddy. He is well respected among Myanmars journalistic community as a fixer, photographer and cameraman.

U Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer acting for the defendants, said that the charge for breaching the export and import law was inappropriate because the penalty of two months imprisonment was supposed to cover not only flying the drone, but also bringing it into the country.

The plaintiff police officer told the court that they had transferred the case to the Criminal Investigation Department at the instruction of the headquarters of the Myanmar Police Force, and also sought the remarks of the Ministry of Planning and Finance and Ministry of Commerce regarding the charges.

The Customs Department replied that the four had not declared the drone at the airport on their arrival, according to the police officer.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
News Analysis: Tillerson Visit May Have Widened Division Between Army and Suu Kyi

Rex Tillerson talks to the media during a joint press conference with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday in Naypyitaw. ( Photo: The Irrwaaddy)

In his first visit to Myanmar, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met the two most important figures in the country: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi praised Tillerson for being open-minded, while the commander-in-chief said in a press release that he had explained the real situation in Rakhine State to Americas top envoy.

The stated purpose of Tillersons visit was to discuss the issue in Rakhine State and also to cover Myanmars democratic transition, which faces challenges and uncertainty, as well as the ethnic conflict in Northern Myanmar. Tillerson said the United States would consider individual sanctions against security personnel found to be responsible for human rights abuses against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine State.

The visit indicated that the US is not keen to take strong measures against Myanmar over the plight of Rohingya refugees and allegations of human rights violations. The secretary of state said he would not advise broad-based economic sanctions against the entire country, and this indeed is welcome news to the government and military leaders.

But Tillerson also said, If we have credible information that we believe to be very reliable that certain individuals were responsible for certain acts that we find unacceptable, then targeted sanctions on individuals very well may be appropriate. Interestingly, when addressing the Rakhine issue the US envoy avoided using the term Rohingya apparently so as not to offend the hosts.

It is safe to say that the US has reliable information about what has happened since August 25 in northern Rakhine State and wants to limit any diplomatic action to individuals in the armed forces. As for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, it is clear she has no control over the military and she has reportedly opposed a proposal to declare a state of emergency in Rakhine State.

Tillerson rightly condemned the initial terrorist attacks that triggered the current crisis. We do condemn the August 25th attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on Myanmars security forces that initiated this violence and reiterate that there is zero tolerance for such attacks. We express our condolences at the loss of the lives among the Myanmar security forces resulting from this unprovoked attack, he said.

At the same time, he called for a credible investigation into human rights abuses against Muslim villagers that were allegedly committed by Myanmars security forces. In his meeting with Tillerson, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing carefully stated that the military would follow the governments policy on Rakhine State.

Regarding the Rakhine issue and the return of refugees from Bangladesh, the general said, The government will carry out such issues and the Tatmadaw will help the government.

But in reality there is fear that there is a deep and growing division and mistrust between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the top army generals. Some generals believe that she is in favor of Western sanctions and the army sees her as an agent of sabotage according to a recent article in the Bangkok Post.

Yet, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has little control over the armed forces. The charges by some international activists about the government and Suu Kyis involvement in the crackdown on the Rohingya are groundless. She is in fact opposed to martial law and putting Rakhine under military control.

However, some foreign critics see her as defending the army and covering up the atrocities in northern Rakhine State during the army operations in late August and early September in response to the terrorist attacks.

What many observers fear is that irreparable damage has been done to the relations between the top army leaders and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the generals suspect she is scheming to have sanctions reimposed against them specifically. She will have to walk a tightrope as in the past. The army remains the most powerful force in the country and relations between Suu Kyi and the military leadership are likely to remain fragile.
Thursday, Nov 16th, 2017 (10:44 am) - Score 2,898

BT has today unveiled a 20 million commercial investment for Northern Ireland, which will enable them to deploy ultrafast broadband services to a further 140,000 homes and businesses by March 2019. This will predominantly involve their 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network.

The operator tends to define ultrafast broadband as offering speeds of greater than 100Mbps and the use of the word predominantly leads us to suspect that some hybrid fibre up to 330Mbps capable G.fast technology may also be involved. The announcement also suggests that the main focus of this work will be on urban areas, such as towns (i.e. the easy low hanging fruit).

This investment complements the current joint investment programmes that BT already has underway with the Northern Ireland government, and when combined, they suggests that it will result in nearly a quarter of all premises having access to ultrafast broadband.

Mairead Meyer, BT NIs Managing Director of Networks, said: Were delighted to be investing at this significant level, delivering against our local ambition to futureproof our Northern Ireland infrastructure and rank favourably amongst the best fibre networks in Europe. Through our current investment programmes, 25 per cent of homes and businesses in Northern Ireland are scheduled to have access to ultrafast broadband by March 2019.These investments are underpinning Northern Irelands internet economy and society, and bringing an online experience like never before to consumers and organisations. Weve been sharing our fibre broadband vision with key stakeholders and todays announcement is ultimately about driving choice and competition in this market because the network is available on an open wholesale basis to all broadband providers, meaning households and businesses will benefit from a choice of services, competitive pricing and products.

As part of this BT intends, over the next 10 months, to recruit 42 apprentices and graduates, wholl undertake a variety of roles in designing, planning and building the new full fibre network. The roll-out is set to begin immediately and further details will apparently be published on this website: www.nibroadband.com.

Its worth pointing out that the UK Government has also previously signed a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to secure the support of their 10 MPs in Parliament. As part of that Northern Ireland can expect to receive 150 million to help provide ultra-fast broadband (here), although at present this is still being bogged down by one of the regions all too common political deadlocks over wider issues.

NOTE: At present around 31%+ of Northern Ireland can already connect via a 100Mbps+ broadband connection (largely due to Virgin Medias network) and the coverage of superfast broadband (24Mbps+) is around 84%+ (here).
Thursday, Nov 16th, 2017 (4:35 pm) - Score 1,238

Rural UK ISP Gigaclear has signed a new deal with civil engineering company the John Henry Group, which will help to extend their 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP/H) broadband network to 21,000 homes and businesses in the East Midlands (Northamptonshire, UK).

The agreement, which will help to extend Gigaclears existing footprint in the district to a total of 27,000 premises, should result in the first customers going live by April 2018 and the full roll-out is then due to be completed by December 2018.

The project will cover over 6,300 properties through Superfast Northamptonshires state aid supported Broadband Delivery UK contract with the ISP (the 10.23m BDUK contract was signed in January 2017), with a further commercial investment from Gigaclear to connect the additional 15,000 properties (this will link the existing networks together).

Joe Frost, Gigaclears Business Development Director, said: This new contract with the John Henry Group will enable Gigaclear to roll out the latest and very best broadband technology to thousands of households and businesses across the East Midlands. Our investment in full fibre not only brings the area into the 21st Century, it stands as an example of the kind of futureproofed technology that is vital to ensure the continued development of the UKs digital economy.

Jim Henry, Director of the JHG, added: John Henry Group is delighted to have been selected as a construction partner to support Gigaclears ambitions to deliver next generation networks across the Northamptonshire area. Both John Henry Group and Gigaclear have both significant and tested experience in delivering fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) projects to rural communities and as a business, we are looking forward to working with Gigaclear to ensure this next phase of its network development is a success.

Gigaclear has recently signed a number of similar civil engineer contracts for other parts of England, such as a 90m deal with Complete Utilities to reach 70,000 premises in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire (here) and a 200m contract with Carillion telent for 80,000 premises in South West England (here). Narrow Trenching technology looks set to form a big part of all these deals.
To combat a declining and aging population, the 7 Rivers Alliance is hoping to get WISE.

The regional business development organization unveiled the strategies it hopes to put in place through its 10-year Workforce Innovation for a Strong Economy plan Wednesday at its annual State of the Region Luncheon. These strategies intend to address issues of talent retention, recruitment and training over the short, medium and long term.

The hope is that if we can show some successes, we can get more buy-in and participation from the region, 7 Rivers CEO Chris Hardie said. The key is to maintain and build upon those successes.

Some of the key challenges facing the region were highlighted in the State of the Workforce presentations given by regional economists Bill Brockmiller of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Mark Schultz of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The regions demographics are tricky, they both said, as projections call for a declining population and an aging workforce. There is also the issue of outmigration and the fact that many workers in southeast Minnesota actually commute out of the region for work, further limiting the pool of skilled candidates.

By 2030, there will be a predicted decline of 6,000 people in the labor force in southeast Minnesota, Schultz said. Employers and educators are going to have to tap into new labor markets such as ex-offenders, minority populations and those who dont have a high school diploma if they want to increase the pipeline of workers.

There is about one job seeker per vacancy, he said. And who knows if that one person has the training or desire for that position.

Strategies outlined in the plan include efforts to increase job skills in students and current workers, promotional campaigns to bring targeted groups of job seekers to the region, programs to assist newly arrived families to the region and efforts to tackle the bubble of retiring Baby Boomers.

The skills gap, aging populations and the tight supply of workers have been a perennial issue facing the region as well as the nation. Hardie said these issues have been discussed before, but having the WISE plan strategies will allow the region to dedicate some serious resources to filling gaps and overcoming challenges.

These strategies are well thought out and came from the people who are directly impacted, he said. We have a good base to begin these plans.

The State of the Region luncheon also included honors for this years group of Risings Stars Under 40, two dozen community leaders honored by River Valley Media and the 7 Rivers Alliance. Hardie also released results of the groups annual executive business survey, which looked at the opinions of business leaders on topics from the state of the economy to the quality of the regions internet infrastructure.

The Opportunity Center of Prairie du Chien received the inaugural Lee Rasch Community Partnership Award. The award was created to honor the work of nonprofit organizations and their partnerships with public and private sector organizations in the region.

It is named in honor of a founder of the 7 Rivers Alliance and the longtime leader of Western Technical College, Lee Rasch. It is co-sponsored by Western and Wipfli, and includes a $1,000 award.

The Opportunity Center has been in Prairie du Chien since 1965 working with people with disabilities. In the middle of the Great Recession in 2009, the center decided to focus on building local food partnerships, developing the Sharing Spaces Kitchen and Greenhouse, Cafe Hope and Unity adult day care.

Lee Rasch had a gift of making sure people in rural areas had access to education while he served as president of Western Technical College, Wipfli partner and award judge Mary Jo Werner said in her remarks. Individuals located in rural communities experience difficulty in getting access to many services. The Opportunity Center fills needs in their community.
Thursday, Nov 16th, 2017 (4:57 pm) - Score 2,329

The Ranston Estate has agreed terms to acquire M12 Solutionss share of their alternative network ISP Wessex Internet, which has deployed a mix of fibre optic (FTTH) and fixed wireless broadband services into rural parts of North Dorset, South Wiltshire and East Somerset in England.

Previously The Ranston Estate and M12 setup Wessex Internet as a Joint Venture, but the Ranston purchase will now see it operate as Wessex Internet Ltd from its Dorset HQ near Blandford, assuming all responsibilities for the business from early 2018. The management team will thus become focussed wholly on the business itself and growing its coverage.

Meanwhile M12 Solutions will exit and focus on providing internet connectivity to businesses and home workers nationally under its Giganet brand name.

James Gibson Fleming, Ranston Partner and WI Co-founder, said: We are passionate about providing the best possible connectivity to customers. The buyout of our JV partners will allow us to focus locally on building the network and working with landowners to get fibre to the remotest places. In a very dynamic industry we will be continuing to provide our existing and new customers with the fastest internet service in the UK.

Matthew Skipsey, M12 Technical Director and WI Co-founder, said: From what started out as a pilot, wirelessly beaming our Shaftesbury broadband connection to my friends family farm 6 miles away, to growing into a hybrid 10Gb fibre and fixed-wireless network, now supporting over 2,000 customers and a massive 390TB of data transfer per month, its been an incredible journey since late 2010. The M12 team have had to spin many plates working to grow sustainably and the national recognition last year that we were the best in the UK was perhaps the highlight. M12s next chapter is equally exciting, with national availability of our superfast and ultrafast internet with our hosted VOIP platform under a new connectivity brand name, Giganet. I wish Hector and James every success; they already know the business inside-out and have great determination and passion for what Wessex Internet is all about.

Wessex Internet now plans to start a major upgrade of its core network following the takeover and increasing its focus on Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP/H) connections for homes and businesses across the Wessex area. Further details are expected to be released sometime in the New Year 2018.
What is artificial intelligence (AI)? Its a deceptively simple question. Quite possibly, the confusion is centered on the precise use of the word intelligence.

An adding machine can perform computational tasks far faster than humans. Nobody would say that it is more intelligent, however. There are different approaches to AI, but all rely to lesser or greater degree on the same sort of number crunching. Massively fast computational ability was vital in Big Blues victory over chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, IBM Watsons win over Ken Jennings on Jeopardy! in 2011, and Googles AlphaGo win over South Korean Go champion Lee Sedol last year.

The question of whether the term artificial intelligence is misleading is not simply semantic. It leads people to equate what these platforms do with the creative intelligence that sets humans apart. This week, three researchers  Feng Liu, Young Shi and Ying Liu  published work at Cornell University that proposed a test of common AI platforms for their actual intelligence.

The abstract does a good job of mapping out the interesting AI challenge:

To address the issue of AI threat, this study proposes a standard intelligence model that unifies AI and human characteristics in terms of four aspects of knowledge, i.e., input, output, mastery, and creation. Using this model, we observe three challenges, namely, expanding of the von Neumann architecture; testing and ranking the intelligence quotient (IQ) of naturally and artificially intelligent systems, including humans, Google, Microsofts Bing, Baidu, and Siri; and finally, the dividing of artificially intelligent systems into seven grades from robots to Google Brain. Based on this, we conclude that Googles AlphaGo belongs to the third grade.

ZDNet provided the results of the AI testing, which was conducted throughout 2016. Google AI has an IQ of 47.28, which is equivalent to an almost six-year-olds expected IQ of 55.5. Microsoft Bing scored 31.98 and Baidu 32.92. Siri was last with a score of 23.9. An average 18-year-old has an IQ of 97.

Forbes posted a piece by Bernard Marr on the popular misconceptions about AI. One mistake people make, he writes, is assuming that [s]uper-intelligent computers will become better than humans at doing anything we can do. The reality is that there are two kinds of approaches. In one, AI platforms become incredibly good at a specific narrow and specific task. The other focuses on a more general aptitude that can be applied to a wide range of jobs. The second type of intelligence, one that mimics humans, is far off in the future.

TechCrunch offers a good example of where humans thrive and machines fall down. A company called Active One Partners uses a variety of approaches to find very specialized products and services for its clients. The point is that there is a need for human researchers to go beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful search engines and use creativity to perform the task.

The answer to the question at the beginning of this post is unclear. What is clear is that at this point, artificial intelligence and human intelligence are largely different things. That may change in the future. When it does, it is time for us to worry about AI as much as Elon Musk and some other very smart people do.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
Cloud accounting provider Reckon today announced the sale of its Accountants Practice Management division to MYOB for $180 million in cash.

MYOB will acquire all assets under Reckon's Accountants Practice Management, while Reckon will retain its Business and Legal Practice Management divisions.

The specific assets sold include Reckon APS, Reckon Elite and Reckon Docs which combine to provide accounting, tax compliance and related software to more than 4,000 accounting practices in Australia and New Zealand.

Assets retained include Reckon One, Reckon Accounts and Reckon Loans, which provides business accounting software and solutions, personal wealth management software, along with nQueue Billback which specifically focuses on print and scan solutions for legal practices.

MYOB will take complete control of the related clients, intellectual property, systems and processes and 120+ employees, and states it is "business as usual" for all clients, staff and investors.

The proceeds of the sale will reduce debt and provide a distribution to shareholders.

Reckon states the Accountants Practice Management division represents less than half of the company's total group revenue, but the deal will unlock shareholder value at 35% above the market cap for the entire group, and thus represents value to shareholders. Reckon expects the remaining Business and Legal Practice Management Divisions to deliver about 50% of revenue and EBITDA.

Reckon says the move allows the company to continue its focus on its Business division, and accelerate its long-term strategy to offer small businesses with a complete suite of cloud solutions to effectively grow and succeed, as well as pursue opportunities in the legal market.

We are pleased to have signed a definitive agreement with MYOB to sell our Accountants Practice Management division. The move marks a significant step forward for Reckon, as we look to narrow our focus on the small business accounting software market, further fuelling momentum in an area thats rife with untapped opportunities especially as more enterprises look to the cloud, said Clive Rabie, Group chief executive at Reckon.

The sale is projected to complete within second quarter FY2018, conditional and subject to regulatory processes.

The Reckon Board, management and staff have built a strong business around advisers and were excited to welcome their team to MYOB. Were looking forward to the next exciting phase of our business, bringing to life our vision of the Connected Practice and delivering connectivity, efficiencies and growth opportunities to advisers and SME businesses across Australia and New Zealand, said Tim Reed, chief executive of MYOB.

With the resources afforded by MYOB, we are confident the team will continue to be a trusted partner and strategic advisor to new and existing clients. Importantly, we believe that combining two businesses that are strategically and culturally aligned under the MYOB group presents a compelling opportunity and long-term benefits for our clients, staff and investors, said Rabie.

The sale follows Reckon's previous de-merger of its Document Management division and subsequent listing on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
A senior cyber security official at the US Department of Homeland Security has told a Congressional panel that she has yet to see any proof that software made by Kaspersky Lab has been exploited to infiltrate US government systems.

Testifying on Tuesday, Jeanette Manfra, the DHS assistant secretary for cyber security and communications, said: "We do not currently have evidence, conclusive evidence, that they have been breached."

She added that she wanted to do a thorough review before reaching a final conclusion.

The hearing, before the House Science, Space and Technology Oversight Subcommittee, was examining whether US Government agencies are falling in line with a directive that all federal agencies must check to see if they have Kaspersky software on their systems and get rid of it.

The head of Kaspersky Lab, Eugene Kaspersky, was issuedto testify before the panel on 27 September but his appearance was. No date has been set for him to appear after that.

The DHS directive on 13 September gave agencies 30 days to identify their use of Kaspersky products and 60 days to develop detailed plans to remove and discontinue present and future use of the products.

A deadline of 90 days was set to implement plans to discontinue the use of Kaspersky software and to remove the same from information systems.

Manfra told the panel that all but six agencies had complied with the first phase of the DHS directive.

She said about 15% of the agencies had reported that Kaspersky products had been found on their systems, though these were not present on a majority of computers.

In many instances, this was not through direct purchase but through bundling with other software on PCs that the agencies in question had purchased.

Manfra was asked about a report in The New York Times on 11 October that claimed Russian Government employees had used Kaspersky's anti-virus software to search for the code names of US intelligence programmes, while Israeli intelligence officials looked on, and whether if this was true, then Kaspersky could be considered to have links to the Kremlin.

She said she could not go by media reports but if the scenario sketched by the NYT was correct, then that would be proof of Kaspersky having government ties.

The chief information officer of NASA, Renee Wynn, said the agency discovered Kaspersky software on computers of third-party international partners as well as users' bring-your-own devices that were not connected to NASA's internal network.

"Kaspersky Lab software is not part of the agency's enterprise-licensed, core-load anti-virus software," Wynn said, adding that since 2010 NASA was using contracted Symantec anti-virus software.

"The existence of any alternative anti-virus software on agency hardware is considered to be a violation of agency IT standards and will be immediately removed or its usage blocked unless a specific waiver is on file based on a risk assessment performed," she added.

Essye Miller, the deputy chief information officer for cyber security at the Department of Defence, said the department used McAfee and Symantec anti-virus products. "Kaspersky is not part of the DoD solution," she added.

Moves against Kaspersky Lab in the US have gone up dramatically since the presidential elections of 2016, after claims that Russia had interfered to influence things the way of Donald Trump began to gain traction.

In October, reports in three major US newspapers compounded the problems faced by the company. One was the NYT report cited earlier.

A report in The Wall Street Journal on 11 October hinted that Kaspersky Lab could have made available its source code to the Russian Government.

Prior to that, a report in the Washington Post on 10 October claimed that Israeli Government information security professionals had found NSA hacking tools in Kaspersky Lab's system when it gained access to the company's servers in 2014.

Kaspersky Lab has now closed its offices in Washington DC.
Four separate reports of Android malware on the Google Play store have been published by ESET, McAfee, Dr Web and Malwarebytes.

Slovakian company ESET said it had found multi-stage malware (infection process below, right) infecting eight apps. All use their architecture and encryption to fly under the radar.

Once downloaded and installed, they do not ask for any special permissions or even imitate any activity that the user may expect.

The app then downloads a payload which, in turn, downloads a second-stage payload which gets stored in the assets of the app.

The process does not end there; there is a third-stage payload which is downloaded based on a hard-coded URL. After this, the user is prompted to install this payload which then decrypts and executes the final bit of code, a fourth-stage payload.

What is finally downloaded is a mobile banking trojan which may steal credentials or credit card details. Else, it may present the user with a fake login form to get the user to enter credentials. One of the banking trojans downloaded was MazarBot, which enjoys a fair share of notoriety.

McAfee reported that malware named Grabos had been found in 144 applications on Google Play. It was first discovered in the Aristotle Music audio player 2017.

Out of the remaining 143 applications, McAfee says it was to examine 34 and found that they had an average rating of 4.4, and between 4.2 million and 17.4 million downloads. Only six had been removed entirely since being reported to Google.

Grabos was able to infect these apps because it used a commercial obfuscator, making analysis difficult unless the app was launched.

The malicious code discovered by Dr Web was present in nine apps. It inflated web traffic statistics to some sites, phished users in certain instances and also was used to boost clicks on certain banner ads.

The malware discovered by Malwarebytes masquerades as multiple apps  an alarm clock app, a QR scanner app, a compass app, a photo editor app, an Internet speed test app, and a file explorer app.

The company named the malware AsiaHitGroup because it uses an IP address blacklist to target users located in Asia.
ANALYSIS The current reds-under-the-beds scare in the US is increasingly being sold by the media, with unproven claims often being paraded as fact. A prime case of this was seen recently when the Associated Press claimed that the group that had allegedly targeted Hillary Clinton last year had also been hacking many other foes of the Russian state.

The AP story was built on data it had obtained from security company SecureWorks, which it claimed was exclusive. It was actually data that the company had been writing about itself since June last year. It was just the latest collection of data that was used.

Along the way, AP used what are now classic obfuscation methods  constructing a timeline where one event led to another. But occasionally, an event that has not been proven was used to link a series of happenings, and thus paraded as fact.

For example, one line in the story read, "The list revealed a direct line between the hackers and the leaks that rocked the presidential contest in its final stages, most notably the private emails of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta." In fact, there is as yet no direct evidence that any external entity hacked into the Democrat National Committee server to exfiltrate emails. On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence to show it was an inside job.

To back up its claim that the group it cited  Fancy Bear aka APT28, Pawn Storm, Sofacy Group, Sednit, IRON TWILIGHT and STRONTIUM  has Russian links, the AP cited an assessment which is said to have been made by 17 US intelligence groups. But this is incorrect  only two groups, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security  haveon this issue, not 17 intelligence agencies.

The conclusions drawn by the AP seem rather damning on the surface. But these conclusions appear to be rather overblown because when iTWire went back to SecureWorks to check, the company was remarkably sober in its assessments.

AP also mentioned CrowdStrike, the company which was called in by the DNC after the hack, without once mentioning that its report about the incident has been controversial, to say the least.

No mention was made of the fact that the FBI repeatedly asked CrowdStrike for access to the DNC servers and was denied. No mention was made either of the fact that CrowdStrike had claimed that Fancy Bear had attacked Ukraine artillery systems, a claim which turned out to be based on flimsy evidence. Sources used by CrowdStrike within their report have pushed back about this.

One source, IISS, told the VOA News site: "The CrowdStrike report uses our data, but the inferences and analysis drawn from that data belong solely to the report's authors. The inference they make that reductions in Ukrainian D-30 artillery holdings between 2013 and 2016 were primarily the result of combat losses is not a conclusion that we have ever suggested ourselves, nor one we believe to be accurate."

The maker of the app that was alleged to have been attacked, Yaroslav Sherstyuk, was also not contacted by CrowdStrike before they wrote their report.

All this was either ignored by the AP or else the agency was not aware of it.

When iTWire asked SecureWorks about CrowdStrike's involvement in the DNC hack, Rafe Pilling, senior security researcher with the Counter Threat Unit team, responded that it had no direct knowledge of, or involvement in, the case. "Presumably, from CrowdStrike's perspective, the decision to allow access to any client assets or systems sits with their client rather than with them," he added.

"We can't confirm the contextual analysis and data interpretation that CrowdStrike included in their report or any political affiliations or views they may or may not support.

"However, the malware sample they reference (6f7523d3019fa190499f327211e01fcb) does exist and does appear to be the Android version of a X-Agent. X-Agent is a malware family believed to be uniquely used by IRON TWILIGHT."

Pilling said the new part of the AP story was what he called a "deep dive analysis" of the dataset collected by SecureWorks.

SecureWorks was also asked whether the company had resorted to hacking to obtain all the data that it had handed over to AP. Pilling replied that the company "never exceeds legal authority in any part of the world in pursuit of threat research. In addition, we have a strong internal code of ethics which guides our actions and how we work. Illegal unauthorised access of any system is strictly forbidden".

"The data we collected was all made publicly available through a legitimate free analytics service provided by bit.ly at the time. This service has since been amended and is no longer available in the form that we were able toleverage to collect this dataset."

Asked about the AP's treating the allegations that hackers disrupted the US elections as an article of faith, Pilling said the data SecureWorks had collected pertained to "a long running email compromise operation that also included political groups and related individuals in the US".

"Based on our data we can't confirm that any targeted accounts were actually compromised. However, taken in conjunction with reporting from other vendors describing actual network compromises, at the DNC for example, and with the unauthorised public dissemination of email addresses that align with individuals that appear in our dataset, it certainly appears that in some cases IRON TWILIGHT was successful," he said.

"So we have supporting evidence of some level of criminal activity, but we leave it to the ongoing Congressional and law enforcement investigations to determine what role, if any, this may have played in potentially illegal activity relating to the US election."

In its story, AP had pointed to the fact that most of the work done by Fancy Bear was reportedly during the daylight hours of Moscow. iTWire pointed out to Pilling that most hackers are known to work during the wee hours when network resources are less congested and when there is less chance of being discovered; additionally, experienced hackers would hide their tracks, knowing full well that timestamps are one of the most revealing of things.

Pilling was cautious in his response. "Analysing the working pattern of an adversary is not an exact science and by itself does not provide definitive evidence," he said. "However it is a solid contributing argument to a wider attribution case.

"The TV stereotype of a hacker might see them operating late at night, but in our experience, professional hackers (criminal- and government-backed) tend to work much the same hours as a normal person would in their own time zone.

"An amateur might hack in the evening outside of their day job but mostly out of necessity rather than as a strategy. Also, hacking late at night 'to avoid detection' only applies if you're hacking someone in your time zone. In addition, in this case IRON TWILIGHT were sending phishing emails rather than moving through someone else's network so if doesn't make sense that they would need to 'do it at night to avoid detection'."

He said the working time analysis was derived over months and across thousands of data points. "Quite an effort to sustain just to make it appear as if they were working standard hours in a different time zone," he added.

Finally, iTWire pointed out that AP's claim, that the Russia link was backed up by the fact that the interests of the hackers seemingly aligned with that of the Kremlin, did not always hold water. The case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was cited  he has no connection to any US government department but hacked into a number of federal US facilities when he was young.

Pilling did not offer a direct reply to this. His response was that people hacked into government and private contractors for different reasons.

"As we have mentioned, the data SecureWorks collected shows much wider targeting than just US political figures and has a focus that would

"not lead one to infer that the intent of the operation was criminal financial gain; and "represents a spread of individuals that would most likely be of interest to the Russian Government.

"This is in addition to the wider technical links to other operations conducted by IRON TWILIGHT, the resources they can command and the targets they go after. Much of this information has previously been published by SecureWorks and other vendors using terms such as Fancy Bear, Pawn Storm, APT28 and Strontium. There is a wealth of supporting material available online."
The arrival of mandatory breach reporting in Australia is a ticking clock. Cloud-based email management provider Mimecast is concerned many Australian businesses are not ready.

I dont remember anything as big, being talked about as little, says Garrett O'Hara, principal consultant for Mimecast.

Christmas is very close and many businesses wind down mid December to Australia Day. This legislation starts in February and organisations may get caught out, he says.

Its a ticking clock but there isnt much attention. For many people the reputation damage is the big thing that will cause them to close the doors, he says.

There are prominent examples of data breaches, such as last years Australian Red Cross Blood Bank Service breach where the details of many donors were potentially available to malicious persons.

However, OHara says, data breaches can occur in even the most trivial ways. I could start typing an email and enter the name Chris and an address pops up and autocompletes and I send it, then 20 minutes later realise I didnt send to Chris in Mimecast but to a friend, and therefore the wrong person. This simple thing becomes a whole lot more serious now, and potentially has a big impact.

Whats needed, OHara says, is a cyber-resilient mindset. Its not just about bad attackers but also about leaking accidentally. It may not be anything malicious but just being silly humans.

OHara sees two important ways businesses can protect themselves from breaches:

Use technology to bolster data protection. It becomes so important to not deliberately or accidentally leak information, he says. Construct an incident management and incidence response plan. Some organisations dont have them but this is a critical part of protection, he says. If something does happen and you have to report it, it is important to have a plan. Does it fall under serious harm? What happened? Who is responsible for doing what? Who will disclose to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, to the media, and end users? You need a plan, and also to test and define what people should do.

The preparedness and planning should always have been in business, OHara says, so mandatory data breach reporting planning is going to put people in a better position".

Its hard, but it will give people best practice, security by design, and privacy by design. You will see it baked in, and not just an afterthought.

Information security teams will have a much louder voice because the impact to the business  not just funds, but reputation damage - will become a bigger thing.

Ultimately as much as we talk about the business impact, its about end users and their data and how it is used by organisations to make money, so there is a responsibility to ensure data is stored safely and protected, he says.

Once an attacker gets past the perimeter, it is important to be secured at the next level. We believe you go with the best in those verticals or endpoints, and they are different things. Sometimes there is a temptation to go with the same vendor but if you mix across the Web, email, and endpoint security you see new companies coming out with really compelling offerings  a whole new set of technology and expertise, he says.
If you work or visit the Sydney CBD, the best flagship smartphone stores are battling it out to give you the best experience in the hope of gaining you as a new customer

The latest stats from Roy Morgan show competition among the major mobile phone providers for Sydney CBD workers "has intensified with the recent opening of the new Vodafone store next to the Optus Flagship store and the nearby Telstra store".

We're told that, although Telstra dominates the mobile phone market across Australia, "Vodafone remains the top mobile phone provider among workers in the Sydney CBD, followed by Telstra, Optus and a group of smaller players".

These findings come from Roy Morgans Single Source (Australia) which is based on a survey of more than 50,000 consumers per annum.

Vodafone increases lead over the year

In the six months to October 2017, "Vodafone held 31.9% of the market among Sydney CBD workers, down from 32.7% in October 2016. They were followed by Telstra with 28.3% (down 2.4% points) and Optus 24.4% (down 2.3% points)".

With all three of the major players showing a decline over the last 12 months, "gains were seen from other smaller players, which combined, now account for 19.9% (up 5.3% points). Among the smaller players, gains were mainly as a result of increases in share from Virgin and TPG".

Mobile provider market shares  Sydney CBD workers

1. This data is from Australians 14 years and older.

2. Respondents may have more than one phone, with more than one provider Source: Roy Morgan Single Source. May to October 2016, n= 23,141; May to October 2017, n= 23,322, Sydney CBD, May to October 2016, n=443; May to October 2017, n=426. Note 0.6% of Australians 14+ and 1.0% of Sydney CBD Workers can't say their service provider.

Roy Morgan states: "Mobile phone providers share of the Sydney CBD workers is very different from their total national share. Telstra clearly dominates nationally with 43.2%, followed by Optus (24.7%), Vodafone (17.3%) and others (17.1%)."

Norman Morris, Industry Communications director at Roy Morgan Research, said:The mobile phone market among Sydney CBD workers is significant, with an annual turnover estimated at $373 million, across 520,000 consumers. Competition is very strong, with the major three players much closer in market share than they are for Australia overall.

"This is highlighted by the fact that the new Vodafone Flagship store has opened beside Optus and over the road from Telstra. Currently Vodafone is the market leader, most likely in part due to its larger share of Sydney CBD outlets.

While the three major players dominate the Sydney CBD with 84.6% share, it is important to note that this is down from 90.1% 12 months ago. Over this period, the smaller players have increased their share from 14.6% to 19.4%, indicating that competition goes beyond the big three.

A major challenge for mobile phone providers in this market is that Sydney CBD workers are much more likely to switch mobile providers than Australians overall. Other major differences are that they are more likely to have been born overseas and as a result make more international calls, be male and have higher education.

"This market appears to be less loyal and more demanding of the services and service that they get from their mobile provider, when compared to the general population.

Optimising mobile phone store location is important and can be achieved by using Roy Morgans geodemographic tool Helix Personas, which can profile the areas around current stores and pinpoint optimal locations for new stores. In this market we have seen that Sydney CBD workers are mainly from two Helix Communities, they are Leading Lifestyles and Metrotechs.

"These two groups account for only 35.9% of the Australian population, but make up 73.1% of the Sydney CBD workers mobile phone market. By understanding what drives these important segments and where they are located, store location can be optimised.
Vitaliano Figueroa is trading the mild, sunny weather of San Diego for the thunderstorms and blizzards of western Wisconsin.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow announced Thursday that Figueroa will be the next vice chancellor for Student Affairs and dean of students. In this role he will provide leadership, vision and strategic direction to the Student Affairs Division and serve as a key member of the leadership team. Vitalianos first day on the job will be Feb. 5.

Figueroa has over 20 years of experience in student affairs and higher education. He is the assistant vice president for student affairs at San Diego State University. Prior to that, he led a variety of student affairs programs at Valley City State University in North Dakota, the College of Southern Nevada, United States International University in San Diego, Santa Ana College and the University of Rhode Island.

Vitaliano succeeds Paula Knudson, left UW-L earlier this year for a position at Northern Iowa University. Barbara Stewart, who has been named the first vice chancellor of the newly created office of diversity and inclusion at UW-L, has been performing the role in the interim.
Chromebooks may be all about simplicity, but don't be fooled: Beneath their intuitive outer layer lies a web of advanced options. And you don't have to be a power user to embrace it.

Make your way through this massive collection of next-level tips, and you'll be zipping around Chrome OS like a pro in no time.

Getting around Chrome OS

1. The Chrome OS launcher  the drawer-like interface that appears when you tap the Everything key (a.k.a. the Search key or Launcher key) or when you hit the circle icon in the lower-left corner of the screen  is actually a powerful universal search tool. Just start typing as soon as it appears, and you can find and open apps, pull up websites, and even get answers to specific questions right then and there  no clicking or digging required.

2. The launcher has some easily overlooked extra powers, too. Try typing in calculations like 172.4/3, for instance, or unit conversions like 14.9 feet to meters to put Google to work at the system level.

IDG/JR Raphael The launcher's search box can pull up apps and websites and perform all sorts of other functions. (Click on any image in this story to enlarge it.)

3. On most current Chromebooks, that same launcher panel is also a portal for interacting with the Google Assistant. And that opens up the door to some interesting Chrome-OS-specific possibilities. You could ask Assistant to create a new document, spreadsheet, or presentation, for instance, or ask it what's on your agenda for a specific upcoming day. (See my list of 22 worthwhile ways to use Google Assistant on a Chromebook for even more useful commands to consider.)

4. Chrome OS has a hidden gesture for accessing the fully expanded app drawer area of the launcher, which is especially advantageous when you're using a Chromebook as a tablet: Simply swipe up from an open area at the bottom of the screen, and  just like with Android on Google's Pixel phones  your full list of installed applications will appear.

5. Want to get to the fully expanded app drawer area of the launcher without touching your screen? Hit Shift and the Everything key together. Shazam!

6. You can hide the shelf  the row of pinned favorites at the bottom of your screen  either by right-clicking it or long-pressing on it and then selecting the "Autohide shelf" option that appears. That'll cause the shelf to disappear anytime you have an app or window open and then reappear when you mouse over its area or swipe upward from the bottom of the screen. The shelf will still always show up when you're viewing your desktop, too.

7. Quickly open any item on your shelf by pressing Alt and then the number key that corresponds with its position: Alt-1 for the first app in the list, Alt-2 for the second, and so on.

8. Right-click or long-press on any app in your shelf or within the main launcher to reveal a series of program-specific shortcuts. You'll find the most options with Android apps, many of which offer one-touch links to functions like composing new messages, starting new documents, or jumping to specific folders or accounts.

IDG/JR Raphael Time-saving shortcuts are often just a click or press away, especially with Android apps on your Chromebook.

9. Chrome OS boasts a distinctly Android-like combined Quick Settings and notification panel in its lower-right corner, and take note: You can open it without moving your hands off your keyboard by pressing Shift-Alt-N from anywhere in the system.

Managing apps and windows

10. You might not realize it, but your Chromebook has a handy Overview interface for juggling open apps and windows. You can get to it by pressing the button that looks like a box with two lines on your keyboard (in the function row, directly to the left of the brightness controls)  and once there, you can move to any other app by clicking its thumbnail or using the Tab key to focus on it and then hitting Enter.

You can close any app, meanwhile, by clicking the "x" in its upper right corner or by swiping up or down on it directly on the screen (provided you have a Chromebook with a touch-enabled display, that is; otherwise, all you'll accomplish is creating a smudge and making yourself look silly).

11. Prefer to get around with your trackpad? Make a mental note of this handy hidden trick: You can swipe upward with three fingers on your trackpad from anywhere in the system to open the Overview interface and see all of your open apps and windows. You can then swipe downward with three fingers to return to your most recently used process.

12. When your convertible Chromebook is in its tablet mode (with the keyboard either detached or swiveled around the back), swiping up once from the bottom of the screen will reveal your shelf of pinned favorites. Swiping up again and holding your finger down will open that Overview interface, just like it does with the current Android gesture system, while swiping up and letting go will take you back to your desktop home screen.

13. Also in tablet mode, you can open two apps side by side in a split-screen arrangement by going into the Overview screen and then dragging any app's thumbnail to the left or right side of the screen. When you see that half of the screen light up, let go  then either select another active app from the Overview interface or open a new app from your launcher to fill the other half. You can set this up with any combination of websites, Chrome apps, Android apps, and even Linux apps (more on those in a moment).

IDG/JR Raphael Chrome OS's split-screen mode can be a valuable way to multitask while using a Chromebook in its tablet mode.

14. While viewing two apps in that split-screen setup, press and hold the black bar in the center and drag it in either direction to make either side larger or smaller.

15. Prefer a snappier Alt-Tab-like method of switching between processes? Your Chromebook has that, too  quite literally: Just press Alt-Tab once to toggle back and forth between your two most recently used apps or windows, or press and hold Alt-Tab to pull up a quick switching utility that'll let you move among all of your actively open items.

16. Should you ever feel the urge to move backwards in your Alt-Tab list  from right to left instead of left to right  holding down Shift along with Alt and Tab will put you in reverse and let you get it done.

17. Snap any app or window to the side of your screen by hitting either Alt and [ (left bracket) for the left side or Alt and ] (right bracket) for the right side. Repeat the command a second time to return the app or window to its default centered position.

18. You can minimize an app or window by pressing Alt and - (the minus key). Press that same key sequence again to bring the app or window back up into its previous position.

19. Maximize an app or window by pressing Alt and = (the equals key). Press that same key sequence again to move the app back into its default centered position.

20. If you tend to keep a lot of stuff open at once and work on multiple projects at the same time, think about using Chrome OS's Virtual Desks feature. Like the virtual desktop systems on Windows and macOS, Virtual Desks lets you organize your open apps and windows into separate work environments. You can create new desks and switch between your current desks by looking for the commands at the top of the Overview screen. Note, too, that you can rename any desk from its default "Desk 1"-style name by clicking on its name and typing whatever you want into that space.

IDG/JR Raphael Virtual Desks are a spectacular way to expand your organization on a Chromebook.

21. Give your Chromebook's main app list some extra organization by creating folders within the Chrome OS launcher. All you've gotta do is click or tap on any app and then drag it on top of another app's icon. You can then click or tap to open the folder and give it a name. And if you ever want to take an app out of a folder, just click or tap the app in question and drag it out.

Improving your text input

22. Don't make yourself use that awkwardly oversized on-screen keyboard that comes up by default in a Chromebook's tablet mode. Instead, tap the third icon along the keyboard's top row  the one that looks like a rectangle with a smaller, darker rectangle inside it. That'll shrink Chrome OS's keyboard down into a far more manageable phone-like keyboard that you can then move around (using the "handle" at the keyboard's bottom) and place anywhere you like.

23. If handwriting is more your thing, be it with a stylus, your finger, or any other appendage, tap the second icon along the Chrome OS keyboard's top row  the one that looks like a hand-drawn squiggle. That'll give you an open canvas on which you can write anything you want by hand and have it converted into text as you go.

IDG/JR Raphael Your Chromebook can convert even the sloppiest, most ridiculous-looking excuse for human handwriting (as seen above) into regular, legible text without trouble.

24. Chrome OS's on-screen keyboard has a built-in microphone icon that makes voice-to-text simple for tablet use, but you can actually tap into the same superb dictation system even when using your Chromebook with its physical keyboard. Just open up your Chromebook's settings (by clicking the clock area in the lower-right corner of the screen and then clicking the gear icon in the panel that pops up). Click "Advanced" and then "Accessibility" in the left-sidebar menu, then click "Manage accessibility features" and activate the toggle next to "Enable dictation (speak to type)."

That'll put a small microphone icon in the lower-right corner of your screen, next to the notification panel, and you can then tap it anytime to start speaking and have your words transcribed wherever your cursor is active.

25. Find yourself missing the Caps Lock key? Press the Everything key and Alt together to activate Caps Lock. When you're ready to STOP SHOUTING, use that same key sequence to switch back to normal text.

26. Alternatively, if you really miss Caps Lock  and don't mind giving up Chrome OS's Everything key to have it  you can remap the Everything key so that it functions as Caps Lock by opening your Chromebook's settings, clicking "Device" in the sidebar, and then selecting "Keyboard."

27. You'd be forgiven for failing to notice, but your Chromebook has a built-in clipboard history function you can use to glance at your most recently copied items and then pull any of 'em up on demand. Just hit the Everything key and V together. You'll see your most recently copied items, whether they're text or images, and you can then click on whichever one you want to insert into an open field.

IDG/JR Raphael Chrome OS's clipboard history function is completely invisible, but once you find it, you'll never forget it again.

28. Find the perfect emoji to lighten up an email, company tweet, or Slack chat by pressing the Everything key, Shift, and the space bar together. That'll open up Chrome OS's handy emoji picker, and from there, selecting the symbol you want is as easy as .

NEXT PAGE: Simplifying security, embracing system tools, and beyond
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A Houthi statement said that the attack is an explicit violation of international covenants and treaties, which stipulate that civilian airports are not targeted.

The U.S. and U.K.-backed Saudi coalition carried out a bombing attack on the civilian airport in Yemens capital Sanaa on Tuesday, further cutting off crucial relief shipments to a country on the verge of catastrophic famine due to the coalitions near entire blockade

An air strike damaged parts of the runway and navigation equipment, at an airport used to deliver life-saving United Nations aid.

The coalition said last week it had closed all air, land and seaports in Yemen. The war on Yemen has led it to the brink of famine, with massive shortages, and cholera epidemics tearing through the countrys civilian population.

This attack is intended to cause maximum damage and deprive millions of Yemenis from receiving life-saving food and medicines, a Houthi official said to Al Jazeera.

A Houthi statement said that the attack is an explicit violation of international covenants and treaties, which stipulate that civilian airports are not targeted.

The United Nations has also condemned the brutal blockade, saying that without all ports and airports fully functioning, the situation will progress toward one of the more severe famines in recent history.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric urged the coalition on Tuesday to open all ports and airports immediately.

The continued closure by the Saudi-led coalition of critical seaports and airports is aggravating an already dire humanitarian situation. I think it poses a critical threat to the lives of millions who are already struggling to survive, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick said.

The coalition has attempted to justify their actions by saying that the blockade is necessary to prevent supposed Irani arms from getting into the country to the Houthi rebels. Iran has consistently denied these claims.

The kingdom, along with other allied states and Western material backing, has waged a war on Yemenis since 2015 when the Saudi-allied President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was overthrown.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest purchasers of United States and United Kingdom produced arms.

Via TeleSur



Related video added by Juan Cole:

WION: Saudi Air raid shuts down Yemen airport
OAKVILLE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 16, 2017) - Giyani Metals Corporation (TSX VENTURE:WDG) (FRANKFURT:KT9) ("Giyani" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the discovery of a third high grade manganese prospect near the town of Lobatse ("The Lobatse Prospect") that graded up to 75.4% manganese oxide ("MnO"). The Lobatse Prospect is located 30 km south of the Otse Prospect and roughly 40 km east of the K.Hill Prospect. All three prospects are located within the boundaries of the larger, manganese rich, Kanye Project area. Giyani was granted the Lobatse licence during the execution of its recent regional sampling and mapping program where high grade manganese continued to show occurrences up to the southern border of licence # PL298/2016.

The new Lobatse licence, PL258/2017 covers an area of 148 square kilometers and contains past producing manganese mines. "Acquiring this new licence at Lobatse significantly strengthen Giyani's position as a top manganese exploration company by adding a third, potentially high grade manganese prospect, that can be developed as an independent project." states Wajd Boubou, President. A map of the new Lobatse licence can be seen on the Company website.

The objective of this new acquisition is to stake the entire high-grade manganese bearing area of southeastern Botswana and further strengthen Giyani's position as the only manganese exploration company in Botswana.

A total of 45 grab samples were collected from the Lobatse Prospect area and submitted to SGS South Africa (PTY) LTD laboratories in Randburg, South Africa. Full assay results from these samples are presented as Appendix A hereunder. These 45 samples assayed between 26.7% to 75.4% MnO with an average grade of 55.4% MnO excluding 6 samples taken from the unmineralized hanging wall that were included to improve the credibility of the results.

All samples were placed in a plastic sample bag along with a sample tag. Bags were sealed with a single use tie. Samples were securely stored prior to shipping to SGS in South Africa. The Company routinely submits standards, duplicates and blanks with sample batches to monitor the quality of the assays.

Roger Moss, Ph.D., P.Geo, is the qualified person, as that term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, on behalf of the Company and has approved the scientific and technical content contained in this press release.

Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedar.com and on the Giyani website: http://giyanimetals.com/.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 15, 2017) - INV Metals Inc. ("INV Metals" or "Company") (TSX:INV) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Robin Weisman to the Company's Board of Directors.

Mr. Terry MacGibbon, Chairman, stated, "On behalf of the Company's Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Robin to the Board. Robin's vast experience in the areas of mining finance, social responsibility, transparency, local procurement, risk mitigation, stakeholder engagement and community development within emerging countries in Latin America will be an asset to the Company as we continue to move towards the development of the Loma Larga gold property, within Ecuador."

Ms. Weisman joins the Board of Directors after a distinguished career of over 20 years at the International Finance Corporation ("IFC"), where she most recently held the position of principal investment officer within the mining investment group. At the IFC, Ms. Weisman lead teams to analyze, structure and negotiate project financing for greenfields projects and on managing a portfolio of investments, primarily within the natural resource sector. Ms. Weisman brings a wealth of emerging country experience to INV Metals and she is passionate about corporate responsibility, diversity and environmental stewardship. Prior to the IFC, Ms. Weisman held roles of increasing responsibility with Standard Chartered Bank, Citicorp Investment Bank and CBS Television Network. Ms. Weisman holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois.

Ms. Weisman is spearheading a project to engage teenagers from the poorest counties in the USA in civics and development. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of B2Gold Corp.

About INV Metals

INV Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INV Metals' primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold property in Ecuador; (2) its 35% interest in the Kaoko property, located in Namibia; and (3) its 100% interest in regional exploration properties in Ecuador.
BASS RIVER, NS / TheNewswire / November 16, 2017 - Chilean Metals Inc. ("Chilean Metals," "CMX" or the "Company") (TSX.V: CMX, OTCQB: CMETF, SSE:CMX, MILA:CMX, FRA: IVV1, BER : IVV1).

Chilean Metals Inc & Tejas Gold Co. are pleased to report that they have launched its Exploration program, under the direction of Chilean Metals & its Technical Committee.

Gary Lohman, VP of Exploration stated, "The much-anticipated program is finally underway at Bass River North. Intelligence gathered in field suggested additional staking opportunities and this delayed the product launch. We are waiting on assays in conjunction with this program and this will form part of a broader NS update we expect to publish later this month. The final pre drilling step is the completion of the geophysical survey, the data will be modelled by Minotaur Exploration Limited (Australia) who will provide parameters and recommendations including proposed drill collar locations.

The Two defined Grids (above) are presently being cut in preparation for Abitibi Geophysics, Val-d'Or, QC , who will conduct a three component fixed loop TDEM (PEM) Survey over the Priority Targets, BRN_VT01and BRN_VT03, as identified by Minotaur Exploration (Australia) and our Technical Committee. Once this data is processed and returned by Minotaur Exploration, Chilean Metals will announce & execute it's 2000-3000m Drilling Program which is expected to commence in early December and run until the end of January.

"We are very excited to be launching our Drill Program on the largest VTEM anomaly defined in over 2000 line kilometers of airborne surveying. This is an extension of a previously defined, well mineralized Zn-Pb-Ag system. We also staked additional ground to protect a New Enhanced Geophysical Target on & off our existing Bass River Claims, and now we are going to test this system's extension trending northeast towards the Pleasant Hills Pluton", stated Terry Lynch, Chairman of Chilean Metals Inc.

"I believe many will be surprised at the results the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone (CCFZ) properties will deliver over the next few years. When the Nova Scotia DNR & Minotaur Australia re-defined the CCFZ as a potential IOCG belt, the entire thinking of the area has changed. The CCFZ comprises of a series of crustal-scale faults along a 250km x up to 25km wide area that divides Nova Scotia into 2 distinct terranes (Avalon & Meguma). I believe there is the real potential for a discovery in this system in the near term." commented Patrick Cruickshank, President and CEO of Chilean Metals.

About Chilean Metals

Chilean Metals Inc. is a Canadian Junior Exploration Company focusing on high potential Copper Gold prospects in Chile & Canada.

Chilean Metals Inc is 100% owner of five properties comprising over 50,000 acres strategically located in the prolific IOCG ("Iron oxide-copper-gold") belt of northern Chile. It also owns a 3% NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire Cu-Mo deposit, recently sold to a subsidiary of Teck Resources Inc. ("Teck"). Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one third of the 3% NSR for $3 million dollars at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile's First Region.

Chilean Metals Inc is the 100% owner of four Copper Gold exploration properties in Nova Scotia on the western flank of the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone (CCFZ); Fox River, Parrsboro, Lynn and Bass River respectively. Initial targeting and geophysics has been conducted on all properties, At Bass River North, airborne geophysics identified a major VTEM cluster on trend with the Pb/Zn/Ag mineralization exposed at surface and in drill holes to the southwest. Modeling of the airborne data by Minotaur Exploration (Australia) identified 3 priority targets recommended for ground based geophysics prior to drilling.
Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE: MVT) (Frankfurt: M1N) (OTC: MTEHF), (Maxtech or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has begun extensive due diligence on Mn exploration permits in Morocco.

Morocco is the third largest producer of phosphate containing about 75% of the worlds combined estimated reserves. Foreign investors have found the investment climate, infrastructure, fiscal situation, and political stability very favourable to the mining business.

In conjunction with Maxtechs strategic development partners, the Company is currently preparing applications for permits to explore potential high grade manganese deposits in Morocco. The Company is actively evaluating several advanced stage manganese assets in Morocco with an emphasis on fully permitted mining concessions with established histories of manganese production. In addition, Maxtech is seeking further global off-take partners to complete a vertical manganese operation platform in the region.

Peter Wilson, CEO of Maxtech states: These permit applications are the next step in accelerating both our short and longterm goals to expand our search for worldwide Manganese assets. Morocco is again a safe and emerging mining jurisdiction where we are able to acquire potential manganese deposits on a district scale level, just across the sea from massive European demand which will be an excellent near term benefit for all shareholders and stakeholders.

In support of this new venture, Maxtech has engaged Westmount Capital based in Geneva, Switzerland, to assist the group in developing a European capital markets strategy, www.westmountcapital.com. The purpose of their mandate is to provide access to European strategic partners and generate interest for the proposed development of the Moroccan manganese operations. Maxtech appoints Westmount as a non-exclusive agent for its placement, and the success fees will be equivalent to 8%, 4% in cash and 4% in shares of the investments gross amounts received by Maxtech. Under the terms of the agreement Maxtech will compensate Westmount approximately $30,000 Canadian dollars total remuneration for an initial term of 6 months by issuing to Westmount common shares upon consideration being received by Maxtech from Westmount. The shares will be payable in two tranches in arrears in common shares at an issue price to be based on the closing price of the shares on the day the agreement was signed.

About Maxtech Ventures Inc.

Maxtech Ventures Inc. is a Canadian based diversified industries corporation with gold and manganese mineral properties. Its focus is on mining and the products that are derived therefrom.
November 16, 2017 / TheNewswire / Vancouver, Canada - Guyana Goldstrike Inc. (the "Company" or "Guyana Goldstrike") (TSXV: GYA, OTC: GYNAF, FSE: 1ZT) is pleased to announce commencement of Phase One exploration activities at the Marudi Gold Project ("Marudi" or the "Project"), Guyana, South America.

PHASE ONE HIGHLIGHTS

Up to 12,000 metres of trenching

Extensive rock and soil sampling

Expansion of surface mineralization in known zones

Detailed geological mapping (lithologic, alteration, and structural)

Discovery of new mineralization and evaluation

Drill-target selection and definition

"The Company's exploration strategy is to upgrade and expand the Project's two known mineralized zones and to continue to explore for new areas of mineralization," stated Locke Goldsmith, MSc., P. Eng, P. Geo, Chief Geologist and Exploration Manager for the Company. "Marudi is greatly under-explored and possesses tremendous potential for additional discoveries and we are confident of making those discoveries significant ones," continued Mr. Goldsmith.

PHASE ONE PROGRAM

The Company's in-country Field Geologist is on site conducting reconnaissance mapping and sampling. Sampling will be performed on both the hard-rock and saprolite (thoroughly decomposed, weathered and porous rock) areas. Two samples will be taken from each saprolite interval, one will be sent to the laboratory for assaying and one will be panned in camp for the presence of gold. These panned results are used as an additional check against laboratory results.

Objectives of Phase One are: 1) expand the exposures of mineralized hard-rock at newly discovered locations, 2) follow and expand zones that were identified in trenches by previous operators, and 3) examine areas where gold is present in saprolitic material and a bedrock source has not been identified. Exploration by trenching and sampling is an important, cost-effective method for identification of drill targets in saprolite terrane.

The area of immediate focus represents less than five percent of the property. The new locations of interest within this area are: Kimberley Ridge, Marudi North (west and east extensions), Marudi Spur Ridge, Toucan North, Pancake Creek, Mariwa and Success Creek.

The work will be conducted under the supervision of Mr. Locke Goldsmith, M.Sc., P. Eng, P. Geo, Chief Geologist and Exploration Manager for the Company. The on-site geological staff will be supported by the property's fully equipped mining camp which comes with employees and service buildings. Once Phase One is completed, the collected data will be reviewed, analyzed and used in the planning of the Company's diamond drilling phases.

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 Project, located in Guyana, South America, is unique in that it has three known gold bearing areas, specifically the alluvial areas, the saprorlite overburden, and the underlying hard-rock. There has been 42,000 metres of historic diamond drilling (141 holes) completed 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 (Click Here) 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 and under British Common Law with a democratically-elected government. It has an established mining act and a rich history of gold production. In 2016, 690,000 ounces of gold was produced by operators mining in the country. The Fraser Institute's 2016 Annual Survey of Mining listed Guyana as the third best mining jurisdiction with regards to investment attractiveness in the Latin America and Caribbean Basin sub-group. The Guiana Shield is the geographic gold-hosting region with over 100 million ounces of gold inventory. ** It is world-recognized as a premier gold region that is highly prospective, under-explored and has geological continuity with West Africa. In 2016, two mines in Guyana 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, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Rubicon Minerals Corporation (TSX: RMX | OTCQX: RBYCF) ("Rubicon" or the "Company") provides an update of its 2017 Exploration Program at the Phoenix Gold Project with additional drill results and observations and announces that it has commenced exploratory underground development.

Assay Results Highlights (as of November 16, 2017) representing approximately 4,500 metres ("m") of drilling:

Infill and step-out drilling program at the 305-, 610-, and 685-metre levels  with the objective of potentially upgrading and growing the 2016 Mineral Resources ("Mineral Resources")(not true widths, more details in the 'Qualified Persons and QA/QC' section below):

305-17-21: 11.06 grams per tonne of gold ("g/t Au") over 3.6 m (including 20.80 g/t Au over 1.6 m) and 10.12 g/t Au over 3.1 m (including 16.54 g/t Au over 1.2 m)

305-17-29: 5.24 g/t Au over 6.0 m (including 7.82 g/t Au over 2.0 m)

610-17-18: 10.04 g/t Au over 3.1 m (including 16.82 g/t Au over 1.8 m)

610-17-19: 14.30 g/t Au over 7.7 m (including 21.43 g/t Au over 4.8 m)

610-17-21: 7.24 g/t Au over 4.0 m

2017 Exploration Program Update

The Company completed all of its planned 23,500 m of drilling in October 2017. Rubicon is currently awaiting assay results from the final 4,592 m of drilling (approximately 1,375 assays) that were submitted to a third-party assay lab. The Rubicon team, together with Golder Associates Inc. ("Golder") and T. Maunula & Associates Consulting Inc. ("Maunula Associates"), is continuing to evaluate the data with the objective of updating the geological model for the F2 Gold Deposit. Rubicon and its consultants are currently analyzing the structural data to determine the relationship between the structures, the lithology, and the gold mineralization at the deposit. The Company and its consultants anticipate being able to comment on the structural geology of the F2 Gold Deposit following the return of all the outstanding assays.

The Company commenced exploratory underground development at the Phoenix Gold Project, which will continue through to the first half of 2018. Once enough trial stoping blocks have been opened, the Company will move into a test mining phase. Details of the 2018 test mining plans will be forthcoming in a future news release in early 2018. Rubicon remains on schedule to deliver an NI 43-101 Technical Report and updated Mineral Resource Estimate in the second half of 2018.

Golder is conducting test modelling to improve the representativeness of the geological model but it is uncertain at this time what impact the re-interpretation will have on the Mineral Resource Estimate. In addition, Maunula Associates will continue to act as a third-party independent consultant who will conduct a peer review at key milestones throughout the exploration program.

Golder has completed numerous Qualified Person (QP) site visits at the Phoenix Gold Project and has concluded that the geological and analytical procedures put in place by Rubicon for the 2017 Exploration Program are consistent with standard industry practises and that the data is of sufficient quality to support the ongoing Mineral Resource modelling.

Summary Assay Results and Diagrams

At the end of the news release, readers will find the following:

Table 1: Summary of 2017 Drilling Assay Results, up to November 16, 2017

Diagrams 1-5: Infill and step-out drilling at the 305-metre level, plan and section views.

Diagrams 6-9: Infill and step-out drilling at the 610-metre level, plan and section views.

Diagrams 10-11: Infill and step-out drilling at the 685-metre level, plan and section views.

Please see our news release on September 18, 2017 for previously released assay results and diagrams from the 2017 Exploration Program.

Additional Observations up to November 16, 2017

The Rubicon team and its consultants have produced additional observations from the 2017 Exploration Program. Readers are cautioned that these observations could change as the Company advances its exploration activities. Rubicon believes there is inadequate information at this time to provide interpretations on an updated geological model and to update the Mineral Resources for the F2 Gold Deposit. The following are some of the additional observations:

More high-grade gold intercepts encountered from flat-angled drilling at the 610-metre level: Rubicon continues to encounter higher-grade gold intercepts at the deeper portions of the F2 Gold Deposit (from 488-metre level and below), as displayed in Diagrams 7, 8 and 9.

Many gold intercepts continue to be of higher-grade compared to the 2016 Mineral Resource block model: The Company continues to encounter drill hole composite grades that are higher than the 2016 Mineral Resource block model, as displayed in Diagrams 2 to 5, 7 to 9, and 11. Rubicon has also encountered gold mineralization in areas outside of the 2016 Mineral Resource block model, as displayed in Diagrams 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9.

The Company intends to provide periodic updates as it completes the various elements and analysis of the exploration program.

CEO's Comments

Rubicon President and Chief Executive Officer George Ogilvie, P.Eng., stated "We are further encouraged by the data that we have gathered from the completed 23,500-metre drill program. We continue to see assay grades that, in most instances, are higher compared to the 2016 Mineral Resource block model. Generally, we are observing higher gold grade composites at the deeper portions of the F2 Gold Deposit compared to the composites in the upper portions. These recent observations appear to support historical drilling results, where we have also encountered higher gold grades from deeper drilling. Given the encouraging results from the deeper drilling and that we are under budget and on schedule with our plans, we have elected to drill an additional 5,000 m from the 610- and 685-metre levels before year-end."

"Over the next few weeks, we anticipate the receipt of all our outstanding assay results from our original 23,500-metre drill campaign, initial commentary on the structural geology of the F2 Gold Deposit, and further details on our exploratory underground development and test mining plans. We plan to provide an update to the markets in due course."

Qualified Persons and QA/QC

The content of this news release has been read and approved by George Ogilvie, P.Eng., President and CEO, and Mark Ross, B.Sc., P.Geo., Chief Mine Geologist, for Rubicon. Both are Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101.

Underground drilling was conducted by Boart Longyear Drilling of Haileybury, Ontario and was supervised by the Rubicon exploration team. All assays reported are uncut unless otherwise stated. All samples reported herein were performed by SGS Mineral Services of Red Lake, Ontario. All NQ core assays reported were obtained by fire assay with AA-finish or using gravimetric finish for values over 10.0 g/t Au.

Intercepts cited do not necessarily represent true widths, unless otherwise noted, however drilling is generally intersecting interpreted mineralized zones at a high angle. True width determinations are estimated at 65-80% of the core length intervals for the 305-metre level drilling, and estimated at 75-95% of the core length for the 610- and 685-metre level drilling. Rubicon's quality control checks include insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates to ensure laboratory accuracy and precision.

About Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Rubicon Minerals Corporation is an advanced gold exploration company that owns the Phoenix Gold Project, located in the prolific Red Lake gold district in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Additionally, Rubicon controls over 280 square kilometres of prime exploration ground in Red Lake and more than 900 square kilometres of mineral property interests in the emerging Long Canyon gold district that straddles the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Rubicon's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (RMX) and the OTCQX markets (RBYCF). For more information, please visit our website at www.rubiconminerals.com.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has become the first Republican senator to officially oppose a GOP plan to overhaul the federal tax code, imperiling efforts to speedily pass it through a Senate where Republicans hold a narrow 52-48 majority.

Meanwhile, passage of a similar bill seemed certain Thursday in the House, where a handful of dissidents conceded they expected to be steamrolled by a GOP frantic to claim its first major legislative victory of the year.

Lawmakers are hoping to send a bill to President Donald Trump by Christmas, but Johnsons position on the Senate version cast that accelerated timetable into doubt. Trump is scheduled to visit GOP lawmakers in the Capitol on Thursday.

Johnson, R-Oshkosh, announced his opposition to the plan in an interview published Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal. He protested what he called the Senate proposals unfavorable tax treatment of pass-through entities, many of which are small businesses, relative to large corporations, to which it would give a large tax cut.

If they can pass it without me, let them, Johnson told the newspaper. Im not going to vote for this tax package.

Passage of a tax overhaul bill is widely seen as politically essential for Trump and the GOP Congress.

Both chambers bills would slash the 35 percent corporate tax rate to 20 percent, trim personal income tax rates, and eliminate some deductions and credits  while adding $1.5 trillion to the coming decades federal deficits. Republicans promised tax breaks for millions of families and companies left with more money to produce more jobs. However, top officials have acknowledged that some taxpayers will face increases, and Democrats have said the bulk of the benefits will go to the wealthy.

On Tuesday, senators also added a repeal of the Obamacare requirement that people buy health insurance or pay a fine, further complicating prospects for passage.

Besides Johnson, Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee have yet to commit to backing the tax measure. But Johnson is the first to express outright opposition.

Johnsons move continues his recent trend of bucking Senate GOP leadership  also seen earlier this year during the debate on repealing Obamacare, in which Johnson also played a spoiler role.

Johnson said in a statement Wednesday that the tax overhaul must preserve competitive balance between large publicly traded C-corporations and pass-through businesses such as S-corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships.

Although the Senate tax bill would slash corporate income tax rates to 20 percent, Johnson said pass-through businesses would not see comparable benefits.

These businesses truly are the engines of innovation and job creation throughout our economy, and they should not be left behind, Johnson said. Unfortunately, neither the House nor Senate bill provide fair treatment, so I do not support either in their current versions.

The statement concludes by saying Johnson looks forward to working with my colleagues to address the disparity so I can support the final version.

Johnson also said he has been voicing his concerns for months but was largely ignored by Senate Republican leadership, headed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Johnson told the Wall Street Journal the process has been closed to his input and also misleads the public about the nature of the tax overhaul.

I dont like that process, Johnson said, according to the newspaper. I find it pretty offensive, personally.

Pacur affected

Pass-through entities are so called because their income is taxed via their owners individual tax returns, instead of through corporate taxes. About 95 percent of U.S. businesses are pass-throughs.

Pacur, the Oshkosh plastic-fabrication company Johnson helped to found, is a limited-liability company, or LLC  also a type of pass-through business.

Johnson stepped down as Pacurs CEO when he entered the Senate in 2011. Johnson retains a 5 percent ownership stake in the company, his U.S. Senate office confirmed.

The Senate bill would slightly lower the top tax rate for pass-through business income and create a new deduction for such income. The House bill taxes many of them at a maximum 25 percent, down from the top marginal rate for individual income taxes, which is 39.6 percent.

Johnson has proposed a far different approach: His plan calls for treating all businesses, including C-corporations, as pass-throughs for tax purposes.

Capitol Hill

action proceeds

On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees debated the separate versions of the bill.

It represents a ... path forward that will allow us as a nation to break out of the slow-growth status quo once and for all, said Ways and Means chairman Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.

Democrats in the Senate committee focused their attacks on two provisions designed by Republicans to save money. One would repeal the Obamacare individual mandate, which the Congressional Budget Office said would result in 13 million uninsured people by 2027. The other would end personal income tax cuts in 2026 while keeping corporate tax cuts permanent.

We should be working together to find ways to cut taxes for hard-working middle-class families, not taking health care away from millions of people just to give huge tax cuts to the largest corporations, said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

The Senate Finance panel was on track to approve its proposal by the end of the week. Johnsons opposition creates a dilemma for floor passage, however.

Republicans need 50 votes, with tie-breaking support from Vice President Mike Pence. They can lose just two Republican votes if all Democrats vote against, as is expected.

In the House, a small group of Republicans opposed to elimination of the state and local income tax deduction and limits on property tax deductions conceded Wednesday they likely couldnt derail that version.

How measures differ

The House measure would collapse todays seven personal income tax rates into four: 12, 25, 35 and 39.6 percent. The Senate would have seven rates: 10, 12, 23, 24, 32, 35 and 38.5 percent.

Both bills would nearly double the standard deduction to around $12,000 for individuals and about $24,000 for married couples and dramatically boost the current $1,000 per child tax credit.

Each plan would erase the current $4,050 personal exemption and annul or reduce other tax breaks. The House would limit deductions to $500,000 in interest for future home mortgages, down from todays $1 million, while the Senate would end deductions for moving expenses and tax preparation expenses.

Each measure would repeal the alternative minimum tax paid by higher-earning people. The House measure would reduce and ultimately repeal the tax paid on the largest inheritances, while the Senate would limit that levy to fewer estates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") today provided an update from its ongoing Phase II 2017 drilling program at the Saramacca project, located 25 kilometres southwest of its Rosebel Gold Mine ("RGM") in Suriname.

Following the disclosure of an initial resource estimate (see news release dated September 5th, 2017), the Company commenced a 22,000-metre diamond drilling program with the objective to: 1) convert inferred resources to indicated; 2) target expansions to the existing resource along known mineralized trends and at depth, and 3) begin drill testing identified exploration targets. Assay results reported herein have been received from 37 drill holes totaling 9,553 metres. The program is ongoing and further assay results will be reported once they are received, validated and compiled.

Assay intersections relating to this release are provided in Table 1 and include the following highlights:

Infill Drill Holes:

SMDD17-181A: 39.0 metres grading 3.47 g/t Au

SMDD17-181A: 39.0 metres grading 3.47 g/t Au SMDD17-185: 57.0 metres grading 2.56 g/t Au

Expansion Drill Holes:

SMDD17-182: 6.0 metres grading 67.39 g/t Au (15.33 g/t Au capped)

SMDD17-182: 6.0 metres grading 67.39 g/t Au (15.33 g/t Au capped) SMDD17-196: 28.5 metres grading 3.85 g/t Au

SMDD17-202: 39.0 metres grading 3.06 g/t Au

SMDD17-213: 34.5 metres grading 4.50 g/t Au

(A drill hole plan map is attached to this news release)

Craig MacDougall, Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD, stated: "The ongoing drilling program continues to deliver positive results, not only increasing our confidence in the existing resources, but extending mineralization below the initial resource pit shell which is expected to have a positive impact on future resource estimates. This, coupled with the ongoing engineering studies, is expected to allow us to upgrade the project to a reserve status in 2018 and to target production for 2019."

2017 Exploration Program

Drilling from the current program has confirmed further continuity of mineralization in areas associated with the main mineralized structures within and below the current resource pit shell (see tables 1 A & B) and in secondary structures in the hanging wall (see tables 1 C & D). These results are expected to have a positive impact on future resource updates. Results from initial step out holes to the northwest and southeast along strike (see tables 1 E & F) did not intersect significant mineralization, although encouragingly the main host structure appears to continue. It must be noted that the pinch and swell of mineralized zones within the deposit foot print is typical. Further drilling is required to test for additional mineralized zones along strike.

In addition to the drilling program outlined above, the Rosebel mine team is working to advance the Saramacca deposit towards production. An Environmental and Social Impact Study (ESIA) is underway and preliminary engineering work is advancing on mine design and various infrastructure elements, such as ore transport options, access roads, and waste rock disposal. In addition, field work has commenced to provide geotechnical and hydrogeological information and to complete condemnation work over areas of the proposed site infrastructure. A comprehensive metallurgical testing program will also be undertaken to refine the recovery assumptions and to test the crushing and grinding characteristics of the mineralization.

About the Saramacca Project

The Saramacca project is strategically located approximately 25 kilometres southwest of the Rosebel Gold Mine milling facility. Mineralization is hosted in the Paramaka Formation within the lower part of the Marowijne Greenstone Belt, which is dominated by metamorphosed basalts in the immediate project area. These are traversed by the regional, northwest trending Saramacca shear zone, which is believed to be an important deformation zone for the localization of gold mineralization.

On August 30, 2016, the Company signed a letter of intent with the Government of Suriname to acquire rights to the Saramacca property, with the intent of defining a National Instrument 43-101 mineral resource within 24 months. The terms of the letter included an initial payment of $0.2 million, which enabled immediate access to the property for Rosebel's exploration team to conduct due diligence, as well as access to the data from previous exploration activity at the Saramacca property. On September 30, 2016, having been satisfied with the results of the due diligence, the Company ratified the letter of intent to acquire the Saramacca property and subsequently paid $10 million in cash and agreed to issue 3.125 million IAMGOLD common shares to the Government of Suriname in three approximately equal annual instalments on each successive anniversary of the date the right of exploration was transferred to Rosebel (December 14, 2016). In addition, the agreement provides for a potential upward adjustment to the purchase price based on the contained gold ounces identified by Rosebel in National Instrument 43-101 measured and indicated resource categories, within a certain Whittle shell within the first 24 months, to a maximum of $10 million.

The Saramacca project falls within the "UJV" area as defined in an Agreement with the Government of Suriname announced on April 15, 2013. The Agreement establishes a joint venture growth vehicle under which Rosebel would hold a 70% participating interest and the Government will acquire a 30% participating interest on a fully-paid basis.

On September 5th, 2017, the Company announced the first mineral resource estimate in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards incorporated by reference in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") for the Saramacca deposit, and subsequently filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report available on the Company's website at www.iamgold.com or under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The resource estimate comprises 14.4 million tonnes of indicated resources averaging 2.20 grams of gold per tonne for 1,022,000 ounces and 13.6 million tonnes of inferred resources averaging 1.18 grams of gold per tonne for 518,000 ounces. Approximately 60% of the resources are contained within shallow, softer laterite and saprolite hosted mineralization. The Saramacca deposit is believed to have significant potential for expansion.

Qualified Persons and Technical Information

The drilling results contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The "Qualified Person" responsible for the supervision of the preparation, verification and review of the technical information in this release is Samuelle Gariepy, P. Geo., Senior Exploration Geologist with the regional exploration team at the Rosebel Gold Mine in Suriname. She is considered a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 with respect to the technical information being reported on. The technical information has been included herein with the consent and prior review of the above noted Qualified Person.

The information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Craig MacDougall, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD. Mr. MacDougall is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The sampling of, and assay data from, drill core is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA-QC) program designed to follow industry best practice. Drill core (HQ and NQ size) samples are selected by the IAMGOLD geologists and sawn in half with a diamond saw at the Rosebel mine site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals may vary from half a metre to one and a half metres in length depending on the geological observations.

Samples are transported in sealed bags to FILAB in Paramaribo, Suriname, a representative lab of ALS. FILAB is an ISO 9001 (2008) and ISO/IEC 170250 accredited laboratory. Samples are weighed and coarse crushed to <2.5 mm, and 350-450 grams is pulverized to 85% passing <100 m. Samples are analyzed for gold using standard fire assay technique with a 50 gram charge and an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. IAMGOLD inserts blanks and certified reference standard in the sample sequence for quality control. Samples representative of the various lithologies are collected from each drill hole and measured for bulk density at the site RGM laboratory.
VANCOUVER, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSX-V: BTR, US: BONXF, FSE: 9BR1) (the "Company" or "Bonterra") is pleased to announce the identification of a fifth new parallel gold zone at the Gladiator Gold Deposit. This new "Barbeau Zone", intersected by six drill holes up to 800 m below surface, was identified south of the "South Zone". The Company is aggressively completing its 2017 Resource Development Program, with four diamond drill rigs completing a 50,000 m program. In addition, multiple holes are in the lab with assays pending, and Bonterra expects to expand to six drill rigs during the upcoming 2018 winter season.

Highlights and Observations:

Two recent drill holes (BA-17-24 and BA-17-40A) at the Gladiator Gold Deposit that indicate the potential of a new parallel gold zone south of the "South Zone."

BA-17-40A intersected 22.2 g/t Au over 1.9 m up to 800 m below surface.

The Barbeau Zone has been intersected by at least six holes to date including BA-16-05 with 28.5 g/t Au over 3.3 m and BA-16-07 with 20.7 g/t Au over 3.0 m.

Multiple parallel gold zones have now been identified at the Gladiator Gold Deposit and show a strong continuity at depth.

To date, continuity of mineralization is now confirmed over a total drilled strike length on at least two horizons (Main and Footwall) of 1,200 m, as well as a drilled depth of 1,200 m.

Dale Ginn, VP Exploration, stated, "Our resource development program is focused on expanding the Gladiator Gold Deposit. The identification of Barbeau as a potential fifth parallel gold zone is exciting and indicates the strength of the Gladiator gold system. Further exploration of the new Barbeau Zone will be included in the winter drilling campaign, where we expect to have six drill rigs operating on the property. As we progress through the drill program, we continue to gain an excellent understanding of the significant gold system at Gladiator, which is leading to the accelerated development of our geological model. We look forward to 2018 with the completion of an updated resource estimate."

Hole From

(m) To

(m) Length*

(m) Grade

(g/t Au) Zone/Area BA-16-05 290.7 294.0 3.3 28.5 Barbeau Zone BA-16-07 378.0 381.0 3.0 20.7 Barbeau Zone BA-17-12 346.7 349.7 3.0 8.8 Barbeau Zone BA-17-22 712.2 716.0 3.8 11.9 Barbeau Zone BA-17-24 983.0 985.0 2.0 7.8 Barbeau Zone BA-17-40A 911.5 913.4 1.9 22.2 Barbeau Zone

Stated lengths are core width as drilled, true widths vary and average between 60 and 80 percent of drilled widths. Core axis angles of the intersection contacts and surrounding rock units average 55 to 70 degrees.



Please see http://www.bonterraresources.com/en/gladiator/maps-sections for updated maps including long sections and cross sections.



Bonterra Resources Quick Facts:

Well financed with $40 million raised in 2017.

Strong Shareholder Base: Eric Sprott (10%), Van Eck Gold Fund (12%), Kirkland Lake Gold (9.5%), Kinross (7.5%).

Gladiator Gold Deposit: Deposit extension and resource expansion underway utilizing minimum of four drill rigs with 50,000 m to be completed in 2017; up to six (6) rigs in 2018. Advancing to the completion of an updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource in 2018, which is anticipated to include up to an additional 100,000 m of drilling from 2015 through 2018. Drilled dimensions of the Gladiator Deposit are currently outlined to a depth of 1,200 m below surface, and a strike length of 1,200 m; Gladiator remains open in all directions, where at least five distinct sub parallel zones or mineralized horizons have been identified. Drilling currently focused the continued expansion of Gladiator Gold Deposit, and drill testing of the Coliseum Gold Zone to the southwest.

Larder Lake Gold Property: 100% controlled 2,221-hectare in the Cadillac-Larder Break camp in Ontario (refer to March 17, 2016 news release highlighting historical gold resource). Excellent access to three high grade gold deposits between Kirkland Lake and Virginiatown.



Robert Gagnon, P.Geo., has approved the information contained in this release. Mr. Gagnon is a director of Bonterra and is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
Four of the first five drill holes intersect gold

Hole RC-001 returns 26m of .82 g/t Au, including 2m of 4.11 g/t Au

Hole RC-002 returns 32m of 1.01 g/t Au, including 2m of 5.65 g/t Au

Hole RC-003 returns 6m of 1.06 g/t Au & Hole RC-005 returns 4m of 1.38 g/t Au

Vancouver, Canada / November 16, 2017 / JMN Wire / Nexus Gold Corp. (Nexus or the Company) (TSX-V: NXS, OTC: NXXGF, FSE: N6E) is pleased to announce assay results from the first five reverse circulation (RC) drill holes conducted at the Rakounga gold concession, located 109 km north of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Gold mineralization was intersected in four of the first five holes drilled on the property. Significant results were returned from holes RKG-17-RC-001 and RKG-17-RC-002, which returned extended intercepts of 26 metres grading 0.82 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), including two metres of 4.11 g/t Au, and 32 metres of 1.01 g/t Au, including two metres of 5.65 g/t Au, respectively.

The current drill program is designed to test the mineral bearing potential of the artisanal workings (orpaillages) referred to as Koaltenga, Porphyry and Gounga. All five holes targeted the Koaltenga zone, an approximately 800m long active orpaillage.

Results of the first five RC holes at Rakounga are tabled below:

DRILL HOLE DIP FROM (metres) TO

(metres) LENGTH (metres) Au

gram/tonne Zone RKG-17-RC-001 -50 102 128 26 0.82 Koaltenga includes 108 110 2 4.11 Koaltenga includes 110 112 2 2.44 Koaltenga includes 112 114 2 2.36 Koaltenga RKG-17-RC-002 -50 108 140 32 1.01 Koaltenga includes 112 114 2 2.36 Koaltenga includes 114 116 2 2.99 Koaltenga includes 116 118 2 3.10 Koaltenga includes 120 122 2 5.65 Koaltenga RKG-17-RC-003 -50 108 114 6 1.06 Koaltenga RKG-17-RC-004 -50 NSR Koaltenga RKG-17-RC-005 -50 130 132 4 1.38 Koaltenga

Were pleased with what is an excellent start to this program, said Nexus senior geologist, Warren Robb. We are encouraged with the extent of these intercepts and will continue to test these structures along strike, continued Mr. Robb.

The 250-sq km Rakounga concession borders the Companys 38-sq km Bouboulou concession. The Company recently announced results from its maiden diamond drill program at Bouboulou, with nine of the first 10 holes successfully intersecting gold. Highlights of that program include 4.41 g/t Au over 8.15m, including 23 g/t Au over one metre, 5.21 g/t Au over 3.05m, including 15.50 g/t Au over one metre, and 1.04 g.t Au over 23m.

Rock sampling completed by the Company at Rakounga has yielded positive results at each of the three orpaillages mentioned above. Four rock samples were collected from the Porphyry orpaillage returning elevated gold values of 19.95 g/t Au, 2.57 g/t Au, and 1.175 g/t Au, respectively.

A total of eight samples were collected from workings from the Gounga orpaillage, located approximately 1000 metres south of the Porphyry orpaillage. Samples GGA-05 and GGA-07 returned gold values of 14.90 g/t Au, and 5.30 g/t Au, respectively.

Initial rock samples from dumps of the artisanal workings at the Koaltenga orpaillage returned values of 17.30 g/t Au, 2.33 g/t Au, and 1.45 g/t Au, respectively.

To date a total of eight gold bearing zones have been identified at the Bouboulou and Rakounga concessions. Drilling is ongoing and additional results will be released when received, reviewed and verified.

Warren Robb P.Geo., Senior Geologist is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release.
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The tide is finally rising under the idea of health care for all in America. It is no longer possible to tar this simple and ubiquitously implemented idea as a bid to take away our freedom or destroy the free market. Hearteningly, the debate is shifting towards the harder questions of when, and how.

One popular idea is to expand Medicare to cover all Americans  essentially turning the government into an insurance provider. This is a fine idea, and it works well in countries such as Canada and Taiwan.

But the transition would be beastly. Senator Bernie Sanders suggests a four-year transition from Medicare as it is to Medicare for all. This is too short a time period in which to dismantle the entire apparatus of the U.S. health insurance industry and repurpose the whole thing into a government entity.

But there is a simpler way.

While most developed countries other than the U.S. ensure universal access to health care, the specifics vary widely. An informative tour of the variety of possible health systems is provided by T.R. Reid in his engrossing book The Healing of America.

It surprised me to learn that there are many ways to provide universal access to care, and not all of them require the government to get into the business of providing health care or health insurance. Certainly, some systems  like the U.K.s National Health Service or the Veterans Administration in the U.S.  involve the government itself providing health care, directly employing physicians and maintaining hospitals and clinics. But others  like Germany and Japan  maintain quality health care, low costs, rapid access and universal coverage within a nongovernmental system of care providers and insurance companies that looks much like the American system. Whats their secret?

The key similarities across all of the effective systems surveyed were that coverage needed to be universal to include the healthy people whose premiums keep the system solvent. And health insurers could not operate on a for-profit basis.

Why is this crucial? Shouldnt the free exercise of capitalism magically ensure the highest value at the lowest cost?

Well, no. This works only under certain circumstances, key among them being that the quality of the product must be discernible by the consumer. This isnt true for health insurance because health insurance companies dont provide an actual product or service. Rather, their product is payment for services provided by health care workers. And every payment made represents a loss to the bottom line.

Hence the central conflict of interest inherent in for-profit health insurance: Insurance companies make more money by refusing the service they ostensibly provide  payment for health care. The more claims they deny, the bigger their profit margin. This is why insurance companies spend so much money paying people who figure out how to deny claims. In fact, private insurers have up to five times the overhead of Medicare, which doesnt plow money and effort into figuring out how not to pay claims.

To add insult to injury, this army of foot soldiers dedicated to not paying claims has spawned an equally expensive counter-army of personnel on the doctor side of the equation, with endless finance administrators, insurance specialists and medical billing coders dedicated to combating the efforts of insurance companies not to provide payouts. Thats an enormous amount of money currently being wasted on the arms race overpayment.

A free-market proponent might expect that poor coverage would result in fewer people choosing that plan. But for that to be true, buyers have to understand what the plan actually covers, and insurance companies have learned how to be very opaque about that. In fact, skimpy plans are a great business strategy  so much so that when unregulated, they siphon off the healthy customers that insurance companies need to stay solvent, leaving plans that actually cover health care costs overloaded with ill, expensive patients (the much-feared death spiral).

The drafters of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) recognized this and created a legal minimum set of services that must be covered to prevent the selling of these false-front plans that provide only the illusion of health insurance. They also mandated that insurance companies shovel a minimum amount of their profits back into health care and quality improvements.

But the underlying incentive to minimize payouts, and to hide that from the consumer until the moment of truth, is still there. Trying to create legal barriers to profit-seeking business practices is inefficient and prone to loopholing. Additionally, the Obamacare rules dont go far enough. Why should insurance companies be allowed to move peoples hard-earned premiums out of health care and into shareholder pockets at all?

A better approach is to mandate that health insurance companies operate as nonprofits. That means all surplus money must be put back into company improvements  not distributed to shareholders. In one fell swoop, this would disable the entire apparatus of actuaries, claims reviewers, claims adjusters and administrators who are dedicated to figuring out how not to pay claims. If all of the companys profits are going to be put back into improving the quality of service, there is no incentive to try to avoid providing that service to improve the bottom line.

Transitioning from a for-profit to a nonprofit insurance model would be much smoother than transitioning hundreds of millions of people off of their existing employer-based plans and onto Medicare. It wouldnt be necessary to dissolve all the existing health insurance companies; they would merely need to be restructured as nonprofits. This plan would also save the government from having to undertake the gargantuan task of expanding Medicare to over six times its current size. If the public still desires a government-provided option for insurance, Medicare expansion could be undertaken at a slower and less disruptive pace.

Medicare for all! sounds great, and it might be great. But simply moving to nonprofit health insurance would be cheap, straightforward and an important step in the right direction.

Thalia K. Robakis is a psychiatrist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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When looking at why we as an industry have been largely unsuccessful in combating the epidemic of burnout that is plaguing our community, we must deal with our approach to solutions.

One of the biggest things to distinguish about burnout is that its not a problem to be solved. Its not a diagnosis to be made, and its not a condition to be treated. Burnout is a perplexity; a vicious cycle that must be looked at from various angles and managed through strategy and structure. Lets break this down a bit further.

A problem by definition is something that can be solved. It has a right answer, a resolution. As an example, bacterial pharyngitis is a problem. When you prescribe an antibiotic, the infection is cured. Problem solved. Another example of a problem is a flat tire. When you put on the spare or purchase a new tire, you have solved the problem.

A perplexity is something that is an ongoing circumstance, an entangled state, a vicious cycle. A vicious cycle is a sequence of reciprocal cause and effect that continuously aggravate each other. So, burnout is a vicious cycle that if no strategy or structure is applied will continue endlessly. Lets take obesity as an example.

Two underlying causes of obesity are overeating or eating unhealthy food. However, the unhealthy foods can cravings that drive more overeating. This is a vicious cycle that without a clear strategy and structure in place to break the entanglement could go on forever. Addiction is another example of a perplexity rather than a problem.

So why is burnout considered a perplexity? The etiology of burnout is not only multifactorial, but an ongoing and reoccurring phenomenon. Furthermore, the system of healthcare that we practice in does not pull for our well being, therefore calls for ongoing structures to maintain balance.

Case and point: My first experience of burnout was in residency, yet even after creating the structure that led me from one of the darkest times in my life to creating a very successful practice, different life circumstances threw off the balance I had created causing a downward spiral that led to a second experience of burnout only 7 years later. Moreover, the solutions that worked in residency, were not relevant seven years later. I had to create a new set of strategies and structures set to what I was experiencing in the present time to recover from and prevent further exhaustion.

Understanding that burnout is more of a perplexity gives us as a community access to creating more meaningful strategies for prevention and management of this epidemic. Defining more meaningful strategies and structures will lead to more freedom, happiness, and peace of mind in physicians. This will ultimately lead to happier patients, staff, and improved patient care.

Maiysha Clairborne is an integrative medicine physician and can be reached at The Stress Free Mom MD. She is the author of The Wellness Blueprint: The Complete Mind/Body Approach to Reclaiming Your Health & Wellness.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Stuff reports:

The Green Party is considering opposing NZ Firsts Waka Jumping bill  a deal struck in coalition talks  unless Labour gives it a national Parihaka Day. Green Party justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman, in an internal email obtained by Stuff, suggested some horse trading with Labour to acknowledge the fact the party has long opposed waka jumping legislation. Ghahramans suggested her colleague Marama Davidsons bill, which recognises the anniversary of the invasion of Parihaka by making it a National Day, be put on the table for Government support.

So the Greens oppose the waka jumping bill but will sell out their principles and support it, in exchange for a Parihaka Day.

Nice to know what price they put on electoral law.

The proposed waka jumping bill is odious as it gives party leaders huge power, effectively to expel MPs from Parliament who challenge them.

If the Greens are willing to support a waka jumping bill in return for Parihaka Day, what would it take for them to support extending the term of Parliament to five years  a statue of Hone Heke?

A spokesperson for the Green Party said this was an internal document that was sent in error.

The Greens used to support extending the Official Information Act to Parliament. Do they still do so? Then we could see all their other internal documents detailing what they will sell out for what price.

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Radio NZ reports:

A New Zealand man who worked at the Manus Island refugee detention facility is warning the government against taking any refugees, saying the ones still at the centre are dangerous men.

Ian, who only wants his first name used, worked as a security guard at Manus Regional Processing Centre for 18 months, and said about eight incidents of violence, threats and illegal behaviour were recorded each day.

There were numerous refugees who had integrated into the community, some who even married, and did not pose a danger. But the ones who remain at the centre and have refused to leave after Australia closed it earlier this month, are people New Zealanders should fear, he told Checkpoint with John Campbell.

We know what these people are capable of, we know theres footage on hard drives that theyve got of child pornography, etcetera. They are not the calibre of people you want to come into a country and try and re-establish themselves.
By Kim Bo-eun



The education ministry said Wednesday the college scholastic aptitude test (CSAT), which was set to take place today, will be postponed for a week due to the 5.4 magnitude quake that jolted the city of Pohang.



This is the first time the test has been delayed due to a natural phenomenon since it began being administered in 1993.



"We have decided to hold the CSAT on Nov. 23 considering the safety of students, as well as fairness in administrating the test," Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Kim Sang-kon said in a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex.



The interior ministry and the education office of North Gyeongsang Province proposed the delay of the test, Kim said.



Multiple cracks from the quake were found in the walls of 14 schools in Pohang where the test was set to take place.



"We will find other schools unaffected by the quake for the students to take the test and also reschedule the college entrance procedure," the minister added.



Earlier in the day the ministry announced that it would hold the test as scheduled, considering there was no major damage from the quake.



However, after President Moon Jae-in held a meeting with senior secretaries, the ministry announced the postponement.


Readers, what do you think Columbus saw?

Nov 16, 2017, 10 AM

U.S. Stamp Notes  By John M. Hotchner

Christopher Columbus, seeing the New World for the first time is imagined on the 29 Approaching Land stamp (Scott 2622) in the 1992 Voyages of Columbus block of four (2620-2623).This was the cartoon caption contest stamp for October.

Linns readers did a little imagining of their own. Several had Columbus looking for post offices, either to mail the crews letters home or to make purchases.

Ron Light of Boyce, Va., represents this group with Lets check that Post Office. Maybe they have more inverted Jenny sheetlets!

Connect with Linns Stamp News:

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Quite a few entries dealt with todays news and political correctness.

James L. Tucker of Scottsville, N.Y., brings this to the fore with Do you see that? De Blasio is taking down my statue!

Another popular theme was the expectation that Columbus would sail west and find India.

Fred and Garland Thursfield of Hollidaysburg, Pa., played off this with Told you Id find India  and you wanted to stop and ask for directions!

Finally, many entries envisaged what the voyagers might find on land: Starbucks; the Golden Arches; the Empire State Building; a great, beautiful wall; and more.

An especially creative effort came from Manuel Negron of Sacramento, Calif.: Look! Another No Trespassing sign!

On the philatelic side, Michael Morrissey of Westerville, Ohio, takes the honors with his reference to the explorers pointing hand.

Donna Smith of Wilmington, Del., wins the nonphilatelic part of the contest with If we hurry, we can make the Early Bird special!

Both winners will receive Linns Stamp Identifier published by Amos Media Co., or a 13-week subscription to Linns (a new subscription or an extension). The book has a retail value of $12.99.

Here are the best of the other runners-up:

No kidding! I saw them on that rock over there  Elvis singing to a mermaid! from Mildred Barylski of Warrenton, Va.

Look!!! I can see Columbus, Ohio  I mean Ohio, Columbus!! by David Palladino of Peabody, Mass.

Fetch my guide to the stamps of the East Indies, by Kenny Moore of Rocklin, Calif.

It says, Leif was here! from Steve Kotler of San Francisco, Calif.

Look, that perf is a bit shorter than the others, sent by Peter LaPlaca of Vernon, Conn.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to all who entered.

The next cartoon caption contest will be announced in the Dec. 11 issue of Linns.
A painting by Leonardo da Vinci that preserves the artist's own handprints sold for more than $450 million at auction tonight (Nov. 15), "obliterating the previous world record for the most expensive work of art at auction," according to Christie's Auction House.

Christie's presented the painting, which depicts Jesus Christ holding up one hand in blessing while cradling a crystal orb in the other, at a sale in New York this evening. The auction house guaranteed the painting at $100 million, meaning it would pay the difference if bidders didn't reach that level; last time the painting sold, in 2014, it went for $127.5 million. Tonight, the bidding lasted about 20 minutes and boiled down to two bidders, with the numbers already soaring past the guaranteed amount.

"Gasps were heard in the saleroom, which gave way to applause when Christie's co-chairman Alex Rotter made the winning bid for a client on the phone," according to a statement from Christie's. The final sale: $450,312,500 (including buyer's premium).

At one time, though, the very same painting went for a song  in 1958, it sold for a mere 45 British pounds, which is the equivalent of 990.50 pounds ($1,304) today. That's because it wasn't until the late 2000s that anyone realized the painting was a da Vinci. [Leonardo Da Vinci's 10 Best Ideas]

Long-lost masterwork

Art experts now estimate that the painting  titled "Salvator Mundi," or "Savior of the World"  was made around 1500. But between the mid-1600s and 2005, this piece of da Vinci's work was lost. The painting now known to be his was thought to be a copy by one of his students, and it was heavily damaged by crude attempts at conservation.

"Salvator Mundi" by Leonardo da Vinci. (Image credit: Leonardo da Vinci)

According to Christie's, the reconstructed history of the painting goes something like this: da Vinci painted it around 1500, leaving behind a few sketches by his hand that tie him to the imagery. At some point, Charles I of England, a great art collector, acquired the piece. It probably hung in his wife's chambers. Charles I was executed in 1649 after a civil war between the Royalists and the English and Scottish parliaments, which were seeking to curb the monarchy's power. The artwork was sold in October 1951 to a mason named John Stone. [11 Hidden Secrets in Famous Works of Art]

Stone kept the painting until 1660, when Charles I's son Charles II returned from exile to retake the English throne. (The intervening years had been a short-lived experiment in republican government run by Oliver Cromwell.) Stone then returned the da Vinci to the new king. Its path then becomes murky. It probably stayed at the Palace of Whitehall in London until the late 1700s, passing from Charles II's possession to his brother James II, when that monarch took the throne, according to Christie's. No one knows what happened next. The painting disappears from the historical record until 1900, when it was sold not as a da Vinci but as a work of Bernardino Luini, one of the great master's students.

Rediscovery

The painting bounced from hand to hand, including in the 1958 auction, when it sold for not much more than what people pay for an iPhone X today. It wasn't until after 2005, when the painting appeared in an auction of a U.S. estate, that anyone realized what it really was.

After that sale, in 2007, conservator Dianne Dwyer Modestini, of New York University's Institute of Fine Arts, launched a project to restore the painting, removing clumsy dollops of paint that people had put on the wood panel to disguise chips and restoring ugly attempts to patch a crack in the wood. According to Christie's, while the background of the painting has almost entirely sloughed away, the rendering of Christ's hands, hair and clothing are well-preserved, and tiny inclusions and specks painted into the crystal orb are still visible.

Once the ugly layers of overpainting and resins were removed, Modestini realized the painting might not be a copy of da Vinci's work after all, according to a 2011 article by ArtNews. Experts from around the world examined it, and soon everyone agreed: The painting was the real thing. In 2011, the painting was unveiled as a real da Vinci at an exhibit at The National Gallery in London.

Christ's skin tone is blended with a technique called sfumato, in which the artist presses the heel of his hand into the paint to blur it. Infrared imaging of the painting revealed that these handprints are still pressed into the paint, particularly on the left side of the forehead.

The painting was sold for $80 million in 2013 to Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, who then sold it for $127.5 million the following year to Russian investor Dmitry Rybolovlev. The markup led to a viscious legal battle between Rybolovlev and Bouvier. Rybolovlev is now being investigated in Monaco over whether he improperly used his political clout against Bouvier in that dispute, The Guardian recently reported. Rybolovlev's name has also surfaced in the ongoing investigation about potential links between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia, according to The Guardian, as Rybolovlev once bought a Florida property from Trump for $95 million.

The previous record-holder for the priciest "old master" painting was "Massacre of the Innocents" by Peter Paul Rubens, which sold for $76.7 million in 2002, according to Christie's. The previous record-holder for the most expensive da Vinci was his "Horse and Rider," which sold for $11,481,865 at Christie's in 2001.

Original article on Live Science.
Polish composer Frederic Chopin has had a strange afterlife.

He died and was buried in Paris in 1849. But in a romantic gesture to his homeland, his heart was put in a glass jar and smuggled into Warsaw, then under the rule of Imperial Russia. Strangely enough, the Nazis allowed Chopin's heart to be put in safekeeping during the Warsaw Uprising. And since 1945, it has remained in a crypt at the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw like a holy relic.

After that, Chopin's pickled heart was mostly left to rest in peace until one night in 2014, when a group of scientists got permission to briefly inspect the jar in the crypt, in an effort to determine the musician's cause of death. They've finally released the results of their study, concluding that Chopin most likely died of complications from tuberculosis.

Chopin's heart came to be preserved in the first place because he was afraid of being prematurely buried. His last recorded words were: "Swear to make them cut me open, so I won't be buried alive." [25 Grisly Archaeological Discoveries]

Chopin's heart is preserved here in a crypt at the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw, Poland. (Image credit: Thomas Au , CC BY 2.0)

Such a fear, known as taphephobia, was rampant in the 18th and 19th centuries. Both Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen and Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel wanted their veins cut open to ensure they were dead before being buried, according to Mental Floss. George Washington, too, wanted his relatives to wait three days after his death before they put him in a vault, just in case. Safety coffins were also designed during this era with bells, emergency airways and other contraptions that would supposedly save you if you happened to wake up 6 feet underground.

Chopin's sister honored her brother's wishes. She had a doctor perform an autopsy on the composer's body after his death, and his heart was removed and preserved.

The records from that initial autopsy were lost. Some Chopin experts wanted to have the heart re-examined to investigate a cause of death for the composer, who was sick throughout much of his life with respiratory problems and died at age 39. Most have assumed he died of tuberculosis, his official cause of death, but some proposed he may have had another disease, like cystic fibrosis.

Frederic Chopin plays piano for the aristocratic Polish family, the Radziwis, in 1829. (Image credit: Public Domain)

Finally, a group that included priests and forensic scientists was allowed to open the crypt in secret one night in April 2014, according to the Associated Press.

They found the heart, enlarged and floppy, still submerged in amber-brown liquid, likely cognac, commonly used for tissue preservation in the 19th century. The group took hundreds of pictures so that they could perform a visual analysis of the organ.

The scientists, led by Michal Witt of the Institute of Human Genetics at the Polish Academy of Sciences, concluded that Chopin suffered from long-lasting tuberculosis and his immediate cause of death was pericarditis, or inflammation of the membrane around the heart. This condition is rare but it is "one of the most life-threatening complications of tuberculosis, with a high mortality rate," Witt and his colleagues wrote in a manuscript of their findings published online last month in The American Journal of Medicine.

It's not the first time that scientists have tried to explain Chopin's lifelong illnesses. In 2011, doctors in Spain revisited accounts of Chopin's hallucinations and proposed that he might have had epilepsy.

Original article on Live Science.
These distinctive wavy globs are a modern-day version of Earth's oldest known life. Stromatolites, microbial mats that thrive on sunlight, have been discovered in Tasmania for the first time. Stromatolites first evolved around 3.5 billion years ago, and they're rare today. Most live in highly salty marine environments, which makes the Tasmania specimens even more special. They live in freshwater.

Earth's first known life was relatively simple: microbial mats that grew in wavy layers, leaving thin pancakes of excreted minerals stacked between them. Stromatolites, as these microbial colonies are known, first appeared on the planet at least 3.5 billion years ago. They're all over the fossil record, but today, they live almost nowhere except for a few shallow, extra-salty marine spots like Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, Western Australia.

That's why scientists were surprised to stumble across these life-forms in a freshwater wetland in Tasmania in 2015.

The researchers had discovered these living stromatolites  greenish-yellow rounded structures only 4 inches (10 centimeters) across at their largest  thriving on damp, porous rock in the Giblin River valley in southwestern Tasmania. It's an isolated place, said study researcher Bernadette Proemse, a freshwater ecologist at the University of Tasmania, who, along with her colleagues, described this unexpected discovery on Nov. 13 in the open-access journal Scientific Reports (opens in new tab).

"The valley we found these stromatolites in is pretty much as remote as you can get in Tasmania," Proemse told Live Science. "It's over about 100 kilometers [62 miles] from the nearest street." [The 10 Strangest Places Where Life Is Found on Earth]

Surprise stromatolites

The research team wasn't searching for new forms of Earth's most ancient life. The wetland site, which lies in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, is unusual because it's pockmarked with sand flats that sit on layers of limestone and dolomite. These substances make the water in the flats slightly alkaline, or basic. The sand flats are surrounded by peaty soil, which is quite acidic. Proemse was invited along on an expedition to this strange landscape to investigate the source of the water in the freshwater wetlands, while other researchers worked to document the flora and fauna.

Living stromatolites in a Tasmanian freshwater wetland. The largest of the microbial mats are only about 4 inches (10 centimeters) in diameter. They grow in layers, excreting calcium in pancake-like stacks. Stromatolites' growth pattern and tendency to leave behind mineral layers is one reason they're so well-known throughout 3.5 billion years of Earth history. In many places, they leave tell-tale wavy-layered fossils behind. (Image credit: Rolan Eberhard (DPIPWE))

"We very quickly discovered these funny-looking, yellow-greenish microbial mats," Proemse said. The researchers soon recognized the distinctive layered arrangement of the mats and realized they were looking at stromatolites. It was a surprise, Proemse said, because modern stromatolites mostly live in very salty water, or occasionally geothermally heated freshwater. Other than being slightly alkaline, with a pH of around 7.5 (7 is neutral), the wetland water was not that unusual, she said.

"Typically, you get stromatolites in these really funky chemical conditions, so the water that we have at our site is relatively benign compared to the water of other sites," Proemse said.

Protected community

The microbes that make up the stromatolites include cyanobacteria, chloroflexi, armatimonadetes, alphaproteobacteria and planctomycetes, the researchers found. Cyanobacteria and chloroflexi are both photosynthesizers, turning sunlight into energy. Armatimonadetes bacteria have previously been found associated with plants and geothermal environments. Alphaproteobacteria have also been found in symbiotic relationships with plants, while planctomycetes are a group of aquatic bacterial species.

Bernadette Proemes of the University of Tasmania stands in a remote wetland in Tasmania. These wetlands form over calcium-rich limestone and dolomite. The groundwater at the site is thus full of calcium, which seems to be deadly to the local fauna (mainly snails) that would otherwise eat stromatolites. Thus, the wetland may be an unusually well-protected place for the microbial mats to grow. (Image credit: Karen Richards (DPIPWE))

This community was unlike those seen in other stromatolites, study co-author Rolan Eberhard said in a statement. Eberhard is part of the Natural and Cultural Heritage Division of Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

The community's unique makeup might reflect the stromatolites' freshwater spring environment. But the real secret to the microbial mats' survival might be the high calcium content of the groundwater, which picks up the element as it leeches through the limestone and calcium bedrock, Proemse said.

The researchers observed multiple small piles of dead snails and empty shells around the margins of the springs where the stromatolites thrived. Many of the shells were burdened by calcium deposits. It seems likely, Proemse said, that the snails can't survive in the calcium-rich waters, so they can't crawl over and chow down on the otherwise defenseless stromatolites.

In fact, she said, one hypothesis for why stromatolites are no longer abundant on Earth is that multicellular life evolved and ate them. The Tasmania stromatolites may have found a loophole in their strange, swampy springs. [7 Theories on the Origins of Life]

The researchers have planned another trip to the site in December, when they hope to find out more about how fast the stromatolites grow and how long they've been living in the wetlands, Proemse said.

"It's very interesting from an Earth-history point of view," Proemse said.

Original article on Live Science.
Crime, Business & Finance, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 16 2017

Joseph Holman And Rebecca Ausby, Owners Of Joseph Funding Inc., Allegedly Deceived New Yorkers Into Giving Their Company Ownership Of Their Homes.

Syracuse, NY - November 16, 2017 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that he filed a lawsuit against Joseph Funding Company, Inc. and its owners Rebecca Ausby and Joseph Holman for allegedly engaging in a deceptive scheme to trick New Yorkers into turning over ownership of their homes to the Syracuse-based real estate company. The lawsuit alleges that Ausby and Holman preyed on homeowners who were struggling to pay their mortgage, at risk of foreclosure, or interested in getting rid of hard-to-sell properties without any profit or loss.

The complaint  filed in Onondaga County Supreme Court  alleges that Ausby and Holman promised consumers that they could manage properties prior to a sale by finding tenants, collecting the rent, and paying the consumers mortgage. However, an investigation conducted by the Attorney Generals office uncovered that Ausby and Holman allegedly used these services as a guise and later duped consumers into transferring their propertys deed to Joseph Funding Company. These deceptive practices allegedly resulted in at least five homeowners losing ownership of their homes, while remaining fully responsible for the mortgage payments.

As we allege, Joseph Funding Company and its owners led consumers to believe they were acting in their best interests  but in actuality they stole properties from vulnerable homeowners, destroyed their credit, and then left them holding the bag on their mortgages, said Attorney General Schneiderman. My office will not tolerate those who prey and capitalize on homeowners, and I encourage all New Yorkers to consider our tips to avoid scams.

According to the homeowners, Holman and Ausby presented themselves as real estate professionals, who had extensive experience managing properties and buying and selling homes, including homes in economically depressed neighborhoods. The companys owners frequently posted signs on neighborhood telephone poles advertising that they buy and sell homes fast. Homeowners who contacted the company were greeted with a recorded voicemail message stating that Joseph Funding Company could take over their mortgage payments right away. Additionally, the companys website identified dozens of properties that they were managing or had recently sold or rented. However, as the Attorney Generals complaint alleges, Joseph Funding Company has no connection to most of the properties listed on their website. Furthermore, neither Holman nor Ausby are licensed by the New York State Department of State as real estate professionals and therefore are not authorized to manage or sell properties for others in New York State.

The Attorney Generals investigation further revealed that Holman and Ausby allegedly deceived consumers by offering to manage the homeowners property prior to the sale by finding tenants, collecting the rent and paying the consumers mortgage throughout the process, which they claimed usually takes a year to 18 months.

The complaint alleges that, during this time, Holman and Ausby would present paperwork for the consumers to sign that included a deed transferring ownership of the property to Joseph Funding Company. After taking complete ownership of the property, Holman and Ausby did not take any responsibility for making the mortgage payments. The company typically paid the homeowners mortgage for a few months to a year; then they made payments erratically and, eventually, stopped. Holman and Ausby continued to own and rent the properties for monthly income, but did not pay the monthly mortgage, nor did they inform consumers that they stopped paying the mortgage. In fact, several consumers did not know that they had defaulted no their mortgages until they experienced problems with their credit or were sued in a foreclosure action.

Additionally, Holman and Ausby allegedly promised consumers that they could stop foreclosure and come up with solutions to help people in default. New York State Real Property Law regulates distressed property consultants and requires that such consultants have written consulting contracts that include specific disclosures. Online advertising is also regulated and must disclose to homeowners that government-approved housing counselors may provide the same services for free. Joseph Funding Company did not have the required contracts and disclosures. One homeowner who was in default on his mortgage was allegedly led to believe that he had sold his home to Joseph Funding Company, and that Ausby and Holman would pay the bank directly for the property. Unbeknownst to him, he gave away his property for free. Holman and Ausby did not pay the bank at all, and the bank foreclosed on the property.

Homeowners at risk of foreclosure should reach out to the Attorney Generals office, which can connect them with a free, qualified housing counseling through the Attorney Generals Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP). Additionally, the Attorney General suggests that people struggling with their mortgage visit AGScamHelp.com for helpful information, including:

Search Government-Vetted Companies: AGScamHelp.com allows consumers to search the name of an individual or company to determine if that entity is a government-vetted agency (that is, either a member of the Attorney Generals HOPP network or a HUD-certified counseling agency). If the company searched is not a government-vetted agency, the consumer will be told to proceed with caution and advised with several tips on how to identify signs of a foreclosure rescue scam.

Locate Nearby Counseling Partners: AGScamHelp.com also features an interactive map that allows consumers to find the nearest Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) grantee. The Attorney General has dedicated $110 million to fund HOPP, a network of more than 85 housing counseling and legal services agencies across the state that are dedicated to providing free assistance to New Yorkers.

Report Scams: Consumers who have already been contacted by, or are in the process of working with a company suspected of operating a foreclosure rescue scam, can file a complaint with the Attorney Generals office via this Consumers who have already been contacted by, or are in the process of working with a company suspected of operating a foreclosure rescue scam, can file a complaint with the Attorney Generals office via this online complaint form

Get Tips: AGScamHelp.com offers details on how to recognize signs of a foreclosure rescue scam, including samples of scam letters and other materials utilized by fraudsters to target homeowners, and provides information about recent foreclosure scams that have been the subject of enforcement actions brought by the Attorney Generals Office and other law enforcement agencies.
Local News, Business & Finance, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 16 2017

Suozzi: "I appreciate the efforts of sensible Republicans like my colleague Peter King, who worked with me in opposing this measure."

Long Island, NY - November 16, 2017 - Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D  Long Island, Queens) made the following statement shortly after voting against the Republican-led tax reform bill that passed the House of Representatives.

Let today be known as the day House Republicans sabotaged hard-working middle-class families on Long Island, Queens and across the entire State of New York. Our district is home to over 250,000 families that utilize the state and local tax deduction  tops in the nation  and thanks to this terrible bill, it is now one step closer to elimination.

I appreciate the efforts of sensible Republicans like my colleague Peter King, who worked with me in opposing this measure. For those who supported this bill, they are complicit in what will be a devastating tax increase on the middle class. This fight is not over. I will continue fighting for the middle-class families in my district and throughout our country.

This bill is a punch in the gut to our middle class. They deserve to be lifted up, not slapped down by draconian tax increases. I urge the Senate to reject this legislation and instead work with the House to pass a bipartisan bill that makes sense and protects hard-working middle-class families in New York and across the country.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 16 2017

Coalition Will Collaborate to Build Awareness of and Access to Supportive Services; Focused on Prevention in High-Risk Groups Including Adolescents, Veterans and LGBT Community.

Albany, NY - November 16, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the formation of the New York State Suicide Prevention Task Force that includes leaders from state agencies, local governments, not-for-profit groups, and other recognized experts in suicide prevention. The creation of the Task Force was first announced in Governor Cuomo's 2017 State of the State.

"The rise in the number of suicides nationwide is unacceptable, and New York will continue to make suicide awareness and prevention a top priority until we put an end to this epidemic," Governor Cuomo said. "The Suicide Prevention Task Force will focus on high-risk communities and groups to build on our efforts to address this challenge, and help build a stronger, healthier New York for all."

The Task Force will be co-chaired by Christopher Tavella, PhD, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, and Peter Wyman, PhD, Professor Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. A full list of Task Force members can be found here

Task Force members will examine and evaluate current suicide prevention programs services, and policies. Members will then make recommendations to increase access, awareness, and support for children, adolescents and adults in need of assistance. The Task Force will also explore methods to address and prevent bullying and cyber-bullying, which negatively impact an individual's mental health and in some cases have caused a number of children and young adults to take their own lives.

A Focus on High Risk Groups

The Task Force will focus on suicide prevention targeting high-risk demographic groups and special populations, including members of the LGBT community, veterans, individuals with mental illness, and individuals struggling with alcohol and drug use. Veterans in New York State represent more than 15 percent of suicides, while nationally, LGBT adolescents are four times more likely to have attempted suicide than their non-LGBT peers.

Other high risk populations include middle-aged men and Latina adolescents.

New York has the fifth largest total number of suicides in the nation, with 1,652 in 2015, and it is estimated that for every suicide death there are 25 non-fatal attempts. In 2014, there were more than 21,000 hospitalizations and emergency department visits for self-inflicted injuries in New York State, and adolescents made up a disproportionately high number of these injuries.

The formation of this Task Force makes good on the Governor's promise to prioritize suicide prevention and address the need for increased awareness of support services in every community across the state.

Ann Marie T. Sullivan, M.D., Commissioner of the NYS Office of Mental Health, said, "With a problem as complex as suicide, it is critical to have a well-coordinated, collective effort that includes our health and behavioral healthcare systems, as well as our schools, communities and other stakeholders. The Governor's Task Force will help us to collaborate and share the best available information and practices."

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said, "The sad reality is that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people and it is a tragedy that reverberates throughout the entire community. Through our continuing partnership with the Office of Mental Health and now with the Suicide Prevention Task Force, we canand have toreduce the number of suicides and promote mental health across the state."

Howard Zucker, M.D., Commissioner of the NYS Department of Health, said, "It is a tragedy that we are seeing more, not fewer, suicides in New York State, especially among youth and older adults. The effects of these losses ripple through families and communities. The Department of Health is committed to working with the Task Force on devising prevention strategies, increasing access to behavioral health services, and improving quality of life for all New Yorkers."

Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci said, "DOCCS is focused on supporting our hard-working men and women who spend their work hours in sometimes difficult and stressful environments while also trying to balance the many challenges in their personal lives. Through staff training and critical incident stress management teams, the Department has created a culture of awareness on how to quickly address and respond to suicide factors. We all look out for one another because suicide is preventable."

State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, "Our Troopers witness the heartbreak and devastation left behind when a person chooses to take their own life. We are committed to working with our task force partners to examine the causes and find solutions that will help support those who are in need of assistance."

Office of Temporary and Disability Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said, "Governor Cuomo strongly believes in protecting our most vulnerable citizens, and providing support to them is key in that effort. This Task Force will examine and evaluate the causes of suicide across all spectrums, and coordinate services in order to ensure that individuals at risk have access to effective support and treatment."

OCFS Acting Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said, "OCFS is proud to serve on this critically important task force. Sadly, depression, addiction, media influence and other factors have led to a tragic uptick in suicides among youth in recent years. We are committed to redoubling our efforts in coordination with our sister state agencies on this task force to prevent young people from taking their lives."

Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez said, "Sadly, for many people, suicide and substance use disorders are linked, and the approach to their care needs to reflect this reality. The NYS Suicide Prevention Task Force will strengthen our ability to provide the comprehensive care that vulnerable New Yorkers need."

Greg Olsen, Acting Director of the New York State Office for the Aging said, "I applaud Governor Cuomo for his leadership in creating the Suicide Prevention Task Force. A major public health concern for older adults is social isolation, which often leads to poor health, depression, and a heightened risk of suicide. This coalition will increase awareness and access to the vital behavioral health services that older adults need to remain healthy and engaged in their communities, and supports the Governor's strong commitment to make New York the first age-friendly state in the nation."
by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, November 15, 2017

In case you forgot, ABC is making a new Roseanne.

The news surrounding this epic reboot has been surprisingly scanty. Among other tidbits not yet made public is the show's premiere date. An ABC spokesman says the date will be announced soon. It will likely be a midseason premiere early in the new year.

The last (and only) communique about the new Roseanne from the ABC publicity department was issued on October 17. The release reported that the cast, writers and producers had convened on a sound stage for the new shows first table read. As the kids are fond of saying today: Yay.

The picture above is from this momentous table read. It's the only photo from the new Roseanne that a columnist can find on the ABC press Web site. There are a slew of photos from the old Roseanne there, however.

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In the table-read photo, the cast seems to be really enjoying themselves, although that could be fake since these people are actors -- and at least some of them are really good at it.

One thing I noticed: John Goodman looks as if he has taken off a few pounds. He looks great. Way to go, John.

Table reads are not really very interesting, but those of us curious about how this Roseanne revival is proceeding will have to take what we can get.

Another story about the new Roseanne suddenly appeared the other day in the trades. On the Hollywood Reporter Web site, the story's headline made it seem more newsworthy than it actually was.

 Roseanne revival order extended at ABC, the headline said. A look at the story revealed that this extension amounted to just one additional episode -- bringing the shows initial order to nine. Yay again.

When the premiere date for this new Roseanne becomes known and then draws nearer, you can expect the p.r. campaign to rev up a bit. Look for cast members -- starting with Roseanne herself -- to make the talk-show rounds and get interviewed in the celebrity magazines.

The New York Times will do a predictable feature on the show that will attempt to examine it in some sort of cultural context. This feature -- most likely to appear on a Sunday -- will be very long, full of details, and very dull -- just like all Times features and stories about TV.

Hopefully, Roseanne, now 65, will answer the burning question about this new version of her old sitcom: Why is she doing this?

As she has admitted many times in the past, her old show drove her nuts. It also made her fabulously wealthy, and unless she has somehow frittered it all away (which is doubtful), she doesnt need to do this new show to shore up her finances for retirement.

It has been just shy of 30 years since she first burst on the scene to introduce the first Roseanne. She came onstage at the Marriott Marquis theater at the ABC upfront in May 1988 (my own first TV upfront season as a journalist) and brought the house down.
by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, November 16, 2017

The Hallmark Channel has planted its Christmas flag on the far western end of one of Manhattan's trendiest neighborhoods.

In a vacant retail space not currently leased, Hallmark has set up a pop-up facility it calls the Museum of Christmas. The name is a bit of a misnomer. It is not really a museum in the traditional sense -- with historical exhibits, for example.

Instead, Hallmark bills this temporary installation as an experiential one. Basically, this 8,400-square-foot space contains a series of holiday-themed display areas that have been designed principally for visitors to take selfies in.

These include an area of giant Christmas tree ornaments you can sit in (theyre really spherical chairs done up like Christmas balls), a lineup of over-sized Christmas stockings you can stand behind, a large stack of packages wrapped as Christmas gifts that you can sit on, and other such arrangements.

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The facility opened yesterday (Wednesday) and stays open through this coming Sunday (November 19). Admission is free.

The address -- 459 West 14th Street -- places this Hallmark Christmas attraction in the heart of Manhattan's storied Meat-Packing District, which in the past 30 years has been transformed from a section of meat wholesalers into one of the city's best-known destinations for high-end shopping. Diane Von Furstenberg's offices and flagship store are across the street.

The Hallmark Museum of Christmas is practically underneath the city's High Line park -- built atop a former elevated railroad line whose trains used to bring beef on the hoof into the area for slaughter.

Now, Hallmark hopes to draw Millennials (and anyone else) who might be passing by their storefront this weekend to come inside and enjoy some Christmas kitsch.

Whether or not anyone will do so remains to be seen. However, Hallmark Channel's devotion to Christmas -- of which this storefront museum is just a small part -- is renowned and already bearing fruit, even this early in the holiday season.

The channels annual Countdown To Christmas -- in which it saturates its schedule with made-for-TV Christmas movies -- started October 27 with the first of 33 new original holiday movies, 32 for Christmas and one for New Year's.

This past weekend's two new Christmas movies did so well in the ratings that Hallmark put out a press release about the numbers this week. Hallmark reports that its Saturday night original (November 11) called The Sweetest Christmas drew 3.9 million total viewers and 821,500 viewers in the target demo -- women 25-54.

Hallmark says the movie drew more women 25-54 than either CBS, NBC or Fox from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. that evening. The movie was about a woman who owns her own bakery -- and recently broke up with a long-time boyfriend -- who then reunites with her high school sweetheart -- just in time for Christmas!

A day later, Hallmark's Sunday night movie  Enchanted Christmas (pictured above) -- drew 3.6 million viewers and 812,000 in the demo. The movie was about a young widow who is trying to renovate and revive a rundown ski lodge in Utah when she is reunited with a former love who is a dancer there -- just in time for Christmas!

These numbers are fairly typical for Hallmark's Christmas movies, all of which carry titles like the two that aired last weekend. The plots of these movies, which all end happily, are sometimes eerily similar as well.

It is not an insult to describe the nature of Hallmarks Christmas movies as wholesome or even corny. They are both of these things, and many people seem to like them.

They apparently engender such good feelings among their target viewers -- who choose them over so much of the edgy content that dominates on TV (or streaming services) these days  that only a Scrooge would make the effort to criticize them.

I guess that means that this TV Blog too will have a happy ending -- just in time for Christmas!
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, November 16, 2017

WPP has switched up its strategy in its ongoing battle with its agency partner in Japan, ADK, and has now offered to up its stake in the agency to 33% (from about 25% now) under certain conditions. It also said it would be willing to take a more active management role to help the agency achieve future growth and higher value.

The offer from the holding company comes amid a fight over a $1.3 billion tender offer to take ADK private by Bain Capital.

WPP and a number of other big investors in the agency oppose the deal, contending that it significantly undervalues ADK.

ADK and WPP have an alliance that dates back nearly two decades, in which the two firms have ownership stakes in each other. ADK has taken the position that the alliance agreement allows it to exercise a clause allowing it to unwind the alliance by selling its shares in WPP and which would also force the holding company to sell it shares in ADK.

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WPP disputes that interpretation and two weeks ago took legal action against the agency in Japan. The holding company lodged a petition for a preliminary injunction with the Tokyo District Court seeking a declaration that ADKs attempt to terminate its alliance with WPP is invalid.

In a statement issued late Wednesday evening WPP indicated that it been approached by other stakeholders, both shareowners and management in ADK, to clarify our commitment to ADK if the [Bain] Tender Offer, supported by the ADK Board as the only future for their company, fails.

Bain indicated earlier that it would cancel the offer if at least 50.1% of shares were not tendered. The tender offer was initially set to expire on November 15, but Bain recently extended it until later in the month.

In its statement yesterday, WPP added that it would welcome the opportunity to engage constructively with the Board of ADK if the Tender Offer fails, to help ensure ADK has the talent and focus on digital and animation capability needed to increase the value of ADK for the benefit of all long-term stakeholders. With the approval of the Board and other shareowners we would also be prepared, as requested by some shareowners, to increase our shareholding in ADK to 33%.

Bain has maintained that its tender offer is fully valued. Neither it nor ADK had responded to WPPs latest statement by the time of this posting.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board recently released a scathing review of Illinois, speaking to the economic woes and anemic rate of growth in the Land of Lincoln, especially when compared to Wisconsin.(tncms-asset)42dae094-5680-11e5-b671-00163ec2aa77[0](/tncms-asset)

While we should be flattered that our neighbors to the south are starting to take notice, you cant help but ask: What has taken them so long?

One answer might be the recent landing of the Midwest white whale Foxconn. Seven states tried to lure in the massive tech giant from Taiwan, including Illinois. But it was us, Wisconsin, that reeled them in. A tauntingly 20 miles away from Illinois, Foxconn will set up shop in southeastern Wisconsin, putting us on the map as a leader in technological innovation.

While Foxconn may be located in southeastern Wisconsin, its impact will be felt statewide. Drawing from all over the state, up to 22,000 induced and indirect jobs will be created. Foxconn is planning on purchasing more than $5 billion from Wisconsin companies during the construction phase and $1.4 billion annually once fully operational. Communities from Kenosha to Superior will feel the effects of welcoming Foxconn to Wisconsin. Foxconn doesnt just benefit southeastern Wisconsin, it benefits all of Wisconsin.

Foxconn did not choose Wisconsin by happenchance. Since 2010, Wisconsin has been making its way back. Ranked as the 41st state for business, we needed to make a change, and did we ever. Instead of continuing on our path of taxing and spending, we implemented bold conservative reforms that have turned our business climate around.

Year in and year out, we have reduced taxes, returning billions of dollars to the hardworking taxpayers. By empowering you, the taxpayer, we have strengthened as a state, reducing our unemployment rate to 3.5 percent, lower than the national average. In the most recent rankings, Wisconsin was in the top 10 for business in the nation. I can say with confidence, Foxconn would not have located in Wisconsin if we were still ranked 41st.

Foxconn had many lucrative offers to choose from. Ranked 38th for business, Michigan offered Foxconn $800 million more in tax incentives than Wisconsin. Illinois, the 41st ranked state, also tried to attract Foxconn. The appeal of Chicago and OHare International Airport is strong, but was not enough to overcome its poor business climate. It was our business climate and proud Wisconsin workers that secured the deal, which we can all be proud of.

This momentous opportunity will bring thousands of family supporting jobs to Wisconsin, transforming our economy. We will look back at this moment as a turning point for Wisconsin, the point in which we became the economic powerhouse of the Midwest.

I am proud of the work that we together as a state have accomplished. It is evident that the Wisconsin way is winning. While other states are looking around asking what happened, in Wisconsin we are looking forward, asking ourselves, what can we do next?
New research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health examines the link between heavy drinking and noticeable signs of aging. This is the first prospective study of its kind.

Share on Pinterest Excessive drinking can predict visible signs of aging, a large study shows.

Danish-based researchers led by Dr. Janne S. Tolstrup  of the National Institute of Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense  set out to investigate the link between heavy drinking and smoking and visible signs of aging.

As the study authors explain, visible signs of aging are often a good indicator of an individuals actual biological age. Noticeable signs of aging are likely to indicate poor health.

So, Dr. Tolstrup and her team focused on four such signs: male pattern baldness, earlobe creases, so-called arcus corneae, and a sign called xanthelasmata.

Arcus corneae, sometimes known as corneal arcus, is a white or gray ring that starts accumulating in the margins of ones cornea. Unless a congenital problem present at birth, the condition is more common in older adults. It can sometimes be a marker of high cholesterol, or even predict coronary artery disease.

Xanthelasmata is the medical term for yellowish plaques that form over or around ones eyelids. The fatty deposits can be a sign of high cholesterol, as well.

In fact, as the authors of the new research note, previous studies have linked all four signs of aging with a higher risk of poor cardiovascular health, premature death, or both.

The team studied these four signs in more than 11,600 adults whose health had been followed for 11.5 years, on average.
Chinese smartphone maker Gionee has launched its first edge-to-edge smartphone - the M7 Power in India. Unveiled in China in September, the M7 Power is the first from the brand to come with an 18:9 display. The main highlight of the device is it's 5,000mAh Battery, for which the M series is popular for.

The Gionee M7 Power features a 6-inch FullView IPS LCD display with a 1440x720 pixel resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The smartphone runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with an Amigo 5.0 skin on top. It is powered by a 1.4GHz Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. For storage, it offers 64GB of internal storage and microSD card support of up to 256GB.

 Gionee

In terms of optics, the Gionee M7 Power features a 13MP rear-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and LED flash, while for selfies, there is an 8MP sensor in front. The device houses a 5000mAh battery with fast charging and the device offers 4G, VoLTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC as connectivity options. It also offers Private Space 2.0, fingerprint security and app lock for enhanced security.

Commenting on the launch, David Chang, Global Sales Director, Gionee India, said, "The M7 Power is another intuitive product which, in the true sense, is a device that promises to empower users with superior quality and seamless experience with many firsts to its credit -- from the 3D photo concept to a FullView infinity display."

 Gionee

Priced at Rs.16,999, it will be available in Blue, Gold and Black colour variants across all retail stores starting November 25. Pre-bookings for the M7 Power can be done via Amazon starting November 17. Buyers pre-booking the device will get exclusive offers like extra Rs.3,000 off on exchange and extra 10GB of 4G data from Jio for 10 months on recharging their connection with Rs.309 and above. Customers will also get a one-time free screen replacement within 6 months from the date of activation of the smartphone. Apart from this, the company is also offering no cost EMI on credit cards starting at Rs.1,417 per month.

 Gionee

"Gionee has strategically decided to tap into its power to create smart products with exclusive features, especially customised and localised for our growing consumer base in India," Chang also added.

Gionee currently has 6 percent of the smartphone market share in India and has been actively launching newer devices to take on the likes of OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi in the budget range.
A popular Tanzanian actress, Elizabeth Michael Kimemeta, commonly known as Lulu, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for unintentional killing of her boyfriend.

The boyfriend, a former movie star called Steven Kanumba, popularly known as The Great, died in April 2012 after he allegedly fell in his bedroom in the early hours of the morning.

She confessed to have quarrelled with Kanumba, but she denied causing his death.

The high-profile manslaughter case has been keenly followed in Tanzania.

Lulu won the 2013 Zanzibar International Film Festival Award for Best Actress and the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award for Best Movie Eastern Africa.
The photographer who airbrushed part of Lupita Nyongos hair from a Grazia magazine cover has apologised.

An Le said he recognised smoothing down, and editing out, parts of her hair was a damaging and hurtful act.

The actress said she was disappointed the magazine changed her hairstyle to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like. She posted the image on Instagram next to the published version  which shows some of her hair missing.

It was from the UK-based magazines November edition.

Ive had some time to reflect on my part in the incident involving Grazia and Ms Nyongo, An Le stated.

I realize now what an incredibly monumental mistake I have made and I would like to take this time to apologize to Ms Nyongo and everyone else that I did offend.

Though it was not my intention to hurt anyone, I can see now that altering the image of her hair did. There is no excuse for my actions. I deeply regret the pain Ive caused Ms Nyongo, a woman Ive admired for quite some time now.

In a lengthy Instagram post, the Oscar-winning actress said, I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too.

In a statement issued on Friday, Grazia said it was committed to representing diversity and apologised to the actress.

It also said it also wanted to make clear that it did not ask the photographer to alter the image or make the edit.

Lupita is the latest star to tell a UK magazine not to touch her hair. Solange Knowles hit out at the London Evening Standard magazine last month for digitally removing some of her braids on its front cover. The magazine later said sorry.
Guru

16.11.2017 LISTEN

Ghanaian musician Guru of Lapaz Toyota fame, as well as Doctor Cryme, popularly referred to as D-Cryme, have thrown their weight behind Shatta Wale to fight Wizkid.

Shatta Wale sparked a social media war against his Nigerian counterpart in an interview he granted this week.

In the said interview, the Ayoo hit maker says he sees no extraordinary talent in WIzkid that qualifies him as a superstar.

This, however, has gone wrong for fans of the Nigerian music heavyweight, leading to a social media banter.

Other well-meaning Ghanaians have also called on Shatta Wale to end the fight with Wizkid.

Even sources close to fellow musicians, Tic Tac, for instance, have said Shatta Wales fight with Wizkid is unwarranted and not nice.

Samini has openly said he does not want to have anything to do with the saga.

In the wake of support and disapproval, Guru and D Cryme have said there is the need to support their Own.

Check their tweets here

https://twitter.com/drcryme/status/930877534295805952

https://twitter.com/gurunkz/status/930865110364672006
15.11.2017 LISTEN

By Josephine Naaeke, GNA Correspondent, Bonn Sponsored by Stanley Foundation, USA.

Accra, Bonn, Nov 15, (GNA) - Global food security can only be achieved through a coordinated policy approach to hunger, poverty and climate change, world leaders and experts said during the latest round of climate talks in Bonn.

Participants at a high-level event on hunger at the UN Climate Change Conference 'noted that 'Climate change is a fundamental threat to the Sustainable Development Goal 2 that aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition.

This year's COP23 conference is focused on how to implement the commitments made under the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius and as close as possible to 1.5 Celsius.

The agreement recognises the fundamental priority of achieving food security, and the vulnerability of food production systems to climate impacts.

According to FAO's State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2017 report, hunger has grown for the first time in over a decade, mainly due to conflicts and climate change. An estimated 815 million people are now hungry.

Yet climate change brings more extreme weather events, land degradation and desertification, water scarcity, rising sea levels, and shifting climates - hampering efforts to feed the planet.

Thomas Pesquet, an astronaut with the European Space Agency who finished a six-month stint on the International Space Station this year, shared his views on the potential of technology to address the problem.

In the last decades, satellite imagery has greatly enhanced our understanding of flows and stocks of carbon and nitrogen, and is a key element in devising solutions at all scales. 'Solutions are always local, but tools can be global,' Pesquet said.

Sustainable Development Goal 2 under the 2030 Agenda aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Organized by FAO and its partners, the event brought together key people from governments, the private sector and civil society.

They looked at ways to tackle climate change (SDG13), hunger (SDG2) and poverty (SDG1) in a coordinated manner, including sustainable agriculture, and practices that provide multiple benefits.

Sustainable agriculture holds enormous potential to respond to climate change.

The event generated a stream of ideas for actions to tap this potential.

Over 70 percent of the world's extreme poor live in rural areas. They are also the most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition, natural resource scarcity, conflict, and climate impacts.

'The rural poor are part of a comprehensive response to climate change,'. 'They are key agents of change who need to be strengthened in their roles as stewards of biodiversity, natural resources and vital ecosystem services.'

Support to community-based mechanisms for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management through the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Food Security Nutrition in Small Island Developing States;

Sustainable forest management in integrated landscape management; Enhancing investment in sustainable, low-carbon and resilient food systems to end poverty and hunger.

The meeting highlighted practical ideas to reduce emissions from agriculture and the role of improved practices that reduce emission intensity while raising productivity.

For the livestock sector, FAO estimates that emissions could be readily reduced by about 30 percent with the adoption of best practices.

The meeting also agreed that land needs to be managed in ways to increase soil carbon, particularly in grasslands, and that robust protocols for assessing and monitoring carbon stocks need to be developed with stakeholders.

Rehabilitating agricultural and degraded soils can remove up to 51 billion tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, according to some estimates.

All participants agreed that action in these, and many more areas in agriculture, can help the world build a stronger and more ambitious Paris Agreement that will deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals of ending poverty and reducing hunger.

The High-Level Roundtable on SDG2 was part of the Global Climate Action Days of the Marrakesh Partnership during the 23rd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23).

GNA
As Thanksgiving approaches, I look back to October 2015, when I decided to spend a month in Norway in the summer of 2016. I currently live in Madison but grew up in a small community called Retreat, just west of Viroqua, eating lefse (and not eating lutefisk) at holiday meals. I was aware that I had Norwegian ancestry, but knew little about the details.

Seeking inexpensive travel options, I discovered a volunteer program called WWOOF, Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. WWOOF exists in nearly every country in the world allowing travelers to connect with farms to work five hours each day in exchange for food and housing. You pay a modest subscription to access the farms in the country of your choice; it is up to you to communicate directly with the farm owners.

After emailing several farms, I arranged to stay at one located in the small village of Leveld near Al in Buskerud County. I booked my flight to depart from Minneapolis on June 16, 2016. I would spend a month at a farm called Odelien.

In May 2016, I read about the upcoming Syttende Mai celebration in Westby and noticed free genealogy assistance was offered at the Westby Area Historical Society. I gathered what information I had about my family and brought it to WAHS. Over the course of that weekend, I worked with Blaine Hedberg and Madeline Anderson nearly five hours at their museum library. By the time I left to go back to Madison on Sunday, I had the names of my Norwegian family farm and the people who lived there.

With Blaine and Madelines help, I was so thankful to learn that our family name in Norway was Teigen and that my great-great grandfather was Peter Peterson Teigen. He was the first of three sons in the family to immigrate to America from a farm in Marifjora, in Sogn og Fjordane. He left in 1861, just one day after the first shots of the Civil War were fired. He came to Wisconsin, joined the Union cause and fought in Company B, the all-Scandinavian regiment called the Wisconsin 15th. He was mustered into federal service at the rank of Private in November 1861, at Madisons Camp Randall, just seven months after he immigrated. After spending three years, one month and fifteen days in the war, he settled near West Prairie, where he married and raised a family.

When I returned to Madison that Sunday, I searched Facebook, found the name of the person living on the farm in Norway, and sent him a message, not knowing that he didnt speak English. There was no response but I was able to successfully connect with his daughter. I let her know I was coming to Norway (in less than a month!) and we discussed the possibility of a visit. During those final weeks before my trip, I was communicating regularly with the Teigen family, and we decided we would meet after I arrived at Odelien. I didnt realize when I made arrangements with WWOOF that I would be just three hours away from my Teigen farm.

Join Marla next week as she looks back on memories of her wonderful 2016 experience in Norway.
Kardex has a new filing and storage systems to help improve the storage and easy retrieval of documents and office files to improve efficiency, effectiveness in securing files and property of an entity.

The three systems showcased include; 'Lektriever', which allows for an automated vertical filing systems for suspended files; 'Times Two' rotary storage unit, offering more storage space, more working space and more storage options and; 'Mobile Shelving', which creates more space for effective storage for all mixed media and light industrial storage.

At an official launch and exhibition of the systems on Wednesday, Mr Demetris Kouloundis, the Middle East and Africa Regional Sales Director of the New Business explained the efficiency, the security and other relevant features of the systems.

Mr Kouloundis said: ''The Kardex Lektriever' is capable of accepting all makes of lateral hanging pockets with hanging points between 280 millimetres - 350 millimetres

He said the 'Kardex Lektriever' would be supplied to interested entities with complete fixed posting board, carrier selection panel, electronic safety photocells and mechanical safety devices, by-pass switch and standard lockable sliding door.

He said the 'Lektrievers are provided with a front access panel protected by micro-switch for the retrieval of items accidentally dropped into the conveyor compartment.

Mr Kouloundis said the Lektrievers if installed in the office would improve productivity, increase storage capacity, eliminate misfiling, improve records security, increase speed and efficiency as well as enhance office environment.

He said the 'Times Two' rotary storage unit is a double-sided rotating cabinet that does not only save space and time but could also be helpful for a wide range of storage applications.

He indicated that compared to the standard storage systems and cabinet, 'Times Two' rotary storage unit could save up to 50 per cent of a customer's valuable floor space, creating more space for other purposes.

Mr Kouloundis said the 'Mobile Shelving' is an ideal solution, which dispenses with the need for numerous access aisles as the shelving are kept tightly together on rails.

He said: 'When a document is needed, the relevant unit is identified and aisle is opened by moving the units apart, manually, mechanically or electricity without effort, smoothly and efficiently.'

He added that security for all documents shelved in the 'Mobile Shelving' was guaranteed for all users.

Mr Kouloundis said apart from the Mobile Shelving, which originated from the United States, the other two products originated from Germany.

GNA

By William Fiabu/Julius K. Satsi, GNA
The shareholding threshold of Ghanaians in the ECG Private Sector Participation (PSP) Programme has been increased from 20 percent to 51 percent in response to public concerns over the issue.

Delivering the 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament, on Wednesday, the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, said the Government also sought the amendment to reduce the concession period from 25 years to 20 years.

According to the Millennium Development Authority, The PSP would be in the form of a Concession, during which the electric distribution network and other assets of ECG would be leased to the Concessionaire, while ECG becomes an Asset holding Company.

At the end of the Concession, all assets would be transferred back to ECG.

MiDA says the successful implementation of this activity would ensure reliable power supply for domestic and industrial use; Lower cost of services resulting in relatively stable end-user tariffs; Improved transparency and independence in the setting of regulated tariffs by the Public Utility Regulatory Commission.

It says over the medium term, improvements in ECG's creditworthiness would enable the Company acquire additional generation capacity from IPPs without, or with limited, recourse to government guarantees.

The Finance Minister said to enhance development of a competitive power market, the Government approved the restructuring of Volta River Authority (VRA) to include an entity to manage the hydroelectric facilities separately and the sale to the private sector of the state-funded thermal power plants, which government assigned to VRA to manage and operate.

'The restructuring of VRA will also enable the use of cheap electricity from legacy hydro to support government subsidy objectives to a targeted category of consumers in a transparent manner,' he said.

Another reforms in the Energy Sector to begin next year, the Minster said, an MDA Solar Rooftop Programme dubbed: 'Government Goes Solar', to reduce the expenditure on utilities.

The initiative is also in line with the Ministry of Energy's policy of increasing the penetration of renewable energy in the energy mix and the promotion of distributed solar power for government and public buildings. GNA
16.11.2017 LISTEN

The Government, through the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) would in 2018 vigorously continue with the implementation of the Digital for Inclusion (D4I) programme in 50 districts, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance stated in Accra on Wednesday.

The Finance Minister, who was presenting the 2018 fiscal budget of government to Parliament said the D4I programme would involve the provision of points of presence for internet access, use of digital financial services and 400 telephony sites for under-served and unserved communities.

Mr Ken Ofori-Atta said as part of government's effort to improve Ghana's Information, Communication and Technology infrastructure, 'government has acquired a land at Dawa to construct an ICT Technology Park in 2018 to meet the needs of interested tenants'.

The Finance Minister said the implementation of the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy which seeks to build confidence and protect the use of electronic communications for national development, which was launched by the Ministry of Communication, would continue in 2018.

He also noted that the Ministry of Communication is engaging stakeholders to ensure the smooth process of migration from analogue to digital television transmission.

GNA

By Samira Larbie, GNA
16.11.2017 LISTEN

Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, has lauded the Government for taking bold steps to advance entrepreneurship in Ghana by instituting the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP).

NEIP was set-up by the government with a seed fund of $10 million, to be increased to $100 million through private sector partners.

He urged the leadership of the programme to ensure that the funds serve their appropriate purpose, and that entrepreneurs receive the financial and technical support to build their ventures.

Prof. Owusu gave the commendation during a Town Hall on the Art of Entrepreneurship meeting, which forms part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) - Ghana.

The GEW - Ghana, seeks to unleash innovators and job creators who would launch start-ups that would bring ideas to life, drive economic prosperity and job creation.

This year, the GEW - Ghana is being organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Business Development, with support from the British Council, Ghana.

'Let me put on record that entrepreneurship is not a preserve for business school students and graduates; every students or graduates without a doubt could be an entrepreneur regardless of which Department or School he/she belongs to.

'It is the desire of the University of Ghana to encourage all students to be interested in venture creation. To this end, I would like to challenge our students to think about becoming job creators and not job-seekers after school as the way forward to overcoming the unemployment menace and to achieving economic excellence in the country,' the Vice-Chancellor added.

Prof. Owusu said: 'On this score, I am advocating the establishment of an 'Entrepreneurship Prize' in the University. This, I believe, will promote entrepreneurship competition among all students across the University. The idea is to have, at least five best ideas supported with start-up capital every year'.

He noted that the University would work, with Global Entrepreneurship Network, Ghana and other stakeholder, to realise this laudable dream.

He said that the concept of entrepreneurship in general had gained global currency in the development discourse over the past two decades; adding that across the world, many universities and colleges developed programmes in innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said this global trend had fuelled the recognition that entrepreneurship played a crucial role in economic growth and job creation.

'It is a fact that, Ghana is currently grappling with youth unemployment. Many graduates from our universities, colleges and training schools find it difficult to find jobs; consequently, government is exploring ways of solving the unemployment issues using various initiatives and options,' he said.

'The question that arises therefore, is, could self-employment and entrepreneurship be a possible career path for the teeming unemployed youth of the country? Many would agree that taking the entrepreneurship education path may well present a potential remedy for addressing the unemployment situation,' he said.

He said the prosperity of Ghana strongly depended on the creation of vibrant enterprise culture among its graduates.

Prof Owusu said since education was the greatest single predictor of individual wealth creation and civic participation, colleges needed to create or develop programmes that were applicable to their indigenous settings.

'In view of this, the University of Ghana is taking bold steps to take entrepreneurship to a new height, by dedicating a unit to that discipline, and rolling out programmes in entrepreneurship,' he said.

'It is my wish that sooner than later, this University will be listed among the entrepreneurial universities in the world.'

Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Minister of Business Development, assured the Vice Chancellor that the Ministry would support the establishment of the fund.

He called for deeper collaboration between academia and industry; explaining that the deeper the collaboration the better the start-ups, and the better the business guide that could be produced.

"If we can have 10 businesses in Ghana supporting 20 entrepreneurs every year to grow successful Ghanaian business icons, we would have made Ghana a better place," Mr Awal said.

"Businesses should help at least ten to 20 young businessmen and women, within ten years we are going to have over 100 to 200 strong job system that can compete at least in the West Africa space. Entrepreneurship has to do with mindset, believe it, you can do it," he added.

He said Ghana had stabilised its energy sector and that it was now exporting power to neighbouring countries.

He said in the near future power prices in the country would come down to empower businesses to grow.

GNA

By Iddi Yire, GNA
Think Health International-Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation has cautioned Ghanaians against alcoholism and drug abuse, as the country marks this year's world Diabetes Day.

A statement signed by Mr Richard Boahen, the Executive Director of the NGO, which works to promote the welfare of people, advised the general public to check and moderate their eating habits and exercise regularly to guard against high blood pressure.

Instituted by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the World Diabetes Day falls in November 14, every year and the theme for this year's campaign is 'Women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future'.

It promotes the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk of or living with diabetes, to the essential diabetes medicines and technologies, self-management education and information they require, achieving optimal diabetes outcomes and strengthening their capacity to prevent type 2 diabetes.

The statement further entreated Ghanaians to go for regular medical check-ups to know their health status and also learn more about remote causes of diabetes.

It called for an intensified campaign on the prevention and management of diabetes, to help minimize the chronic disease among the populace.

The statement said diabetes and related chronic diseases remained major health problems, stating that, the country recorded 266,200 cases in 2015.

Meanwhile, statistics posted at the official website of the IDF shows that currently over 199 million women are living with diabetes around the world and the figure is projected to increase to 313 million by 2040.

Two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, accounting for over 60 million women worldwide.

According to the information diabetes remained the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths per year.

Women with 'type two' diabetes are almost 10 times more likely to have coronary heart disease than women without the condition, whilst those with 'type one' diabetes have an increased risk of early miscarriage or having a baby with malformations.

GNA

By Dennis Peprah, GNA
16.11.2017 LISTEN

Dr De-Gaulle Moses Dogbatsey, the Chief Executive Officer of Medi-Moses Prostate Centre, has appealed to the Government to declare the month of September, every year, as 'Prostate Cancer Awareness Month' to enlighten the public on the disease.

He said this would help in creating awareness and educate people on prostate cancer, as October had been designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Dr Dogbatsey said the level of prostate illness is increasing among men in Ghana hence the need to intensify efforts at reducing the rate of prostate enlargement among men to ensure healthy growth and national development.

Prostate cancer is the development of cancer in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system, especially affecting men between the ages of 30 to 59 who constitute the working force of the country.

Dr Dogbatsey made the appeal at the launch and opening of the Medi-Moses Prostate Centre (MMPC) new branch on the University Farms Road near the Zoomlion Headquarters, opposite Trassaco West Gate, East Legon, Accra.

The new ultra-modern diagnostic centre is equipped with the state of the art Electro Cardiogram Machine, Fluoroscopy Machine, 4D Ultra Sound Scan, Dental X' ray Machine, Digital X'ray Machine and the Mammogram Machine to enable early detection, screening and diagnosis of various diseases including breast and prostate cancers.

Dr Dogbatsey said through many years of extensive research the facility had produced Prostacure, which is a pure 100 per cent natural herbal food supplement that was able to shrink an enlarged prostate gland back to normal size without surgery as well as produced other herbal medicines for 37 different conditions afflicting mankind.

Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, in a speech read on his behalf, commended Medi-Moses and staff for the magnificent investment project in the health industry and urged other private health institutions to emulate the initiative.

He said statistics available indicate that there was increasing incidence of cancers; childhood, breast, cervical, prostate and many other cancers and government was putting in place the necessary interventions for early screening, diagnosis and prevention within the health sector.

He said government was, indeed, determined to put in pragmatic efforts in terms of policies, structures and interventions to enhance health care delivery.

The Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, the Chairman of the National Peace Council, who cut the ribbon to formally inaugurate the facility, said the launch of the Diagnostic Centre called for the support of government and private sector to provide the much needed help to contribute to the medical needs of Ghanaians.

Dr Ben Foleson, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, said three in every four men was likely to suffer prostate problem in their life, which called for a concerted effort to address the problem early.

He said the establishment of the Medi-Moses Foundation to champion prostate awareness had undertaken free screening for more than 11,000 people, adding that Medi-Moses was committed to continuously deliver good services to the Ghanaian populace.
The Ministry of Education will next year begin the infrastructural works towards the introduction of the Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) programme in all basic schools.

Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, who announced this in the 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, said the initiative was intended to strengthen the foundational skills and generate interest in Mathematics, Science and Technology.

'This will involve the provision of equipment to over 38,000 public basic schools, training of over 38,000 basic school teachers in the delivery of BSTEM and the establishment of 10 well-equipped Regional BSTEM centres,' the Minister told Parliament on Wednesday.

The Minister announced that the Capitation Grant would be increased to GH10.00 in 2018, from GH9.00 this year in fulfilment of the Government's promise to make basic education free and ensure participation by all.

'The Capitation Grant, the Minister said, was increased by 100 per cent from GH4.50 per capita to GH9.00 in 2017,' he said.

'Mr. Speaker, it is worth stressing that this increase by the Akufo-Addo Government was the first ever increase in the Capitation Grant since 2009, meaning in all the eight years that our friends, the social democrats, were in office.'

The Finance Minister said in 2018, the Government would absorb 100 per cent of the BECE registration fees for registered candidates from public Junior High Schools.

In 2017, he said the Government absorbed 70 per cent of the registration fees as subsidies for all registered candidates in both public and private JHSs.

On the Teacher-Trainee Allowances, the Minister said in the 2018/19 Academic Year, about more than 52,000 Teacher Trainees would benefit from the allowance.

He stated: 'Government restored the Teacher Trainee Allowance covering over 49,000 teacher trainees from 41 public Colleges of Education for the 2017/18 academic year.

'In addition, funds were released for the payment of outstanding Feeding Grant to all public Colleges of Education for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 academic years.'

On Tertiary Education, he said: 'In 2018, the Ministry will begin implementing recommendations that will reform university accreditation and affiliation policies towards introducing equity and fairness in the setting up of public and private universities.

'A report was submitted for the enactment of a law to establish a unified Commission for Tertiary Education to deal with policy formulation, implementation and accreditation, among others.'

Other policy interventions in Education for next year include the completion of the curriculum reforms and defining of national pupil standards in Literacy, Numeracy and Creativity; and the implementation of a common National Assessment System to measure pupil achievement against set benchmarks.

'In accordance with the Education Act 778, government is implementing measures to ensure Continuous Professional Development (CPD) of teachers through registration and licensing of teachers under the Pre-Tertiary Teacher Professional Development and Management (PTPDM) scheme,' the Minister announced.

Also, he said, the Pre-Tertiary Bill approved by Cabinet, proposed the devolution of the management of Basic Schools to the Assemblies and management of Senior High Schools at Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ministry of Education (MoE) Headquarters.

'In 2018, the Bill will be laid before Parliament,' he stated.

Throwing more light on the Basic Education Programme, Mr Ofori-Atta said the number of basic schools (both public and private) increased at all levels.

Kindergartens, he said, increased by 5.4 per cent; Primary 5.4 per cent and Junior High Schools 7.0 per cent between 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic years.

On Technical and Vocational Education, he said, reforms leading to the alignment of public TVET institutions under the Ministry of Education will continue in 2018.

The reforms would include developing occupational standards, training of facilitators and assessors and strengthening Competency Based Training (CBT).

The overall Education Sector Strategy, he explained, would be guided by Global Education 2030 Agenda and Targets, defined by Sustainable Development Goal 4: ' Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education for all and promote Lifelong Learning'.

'The broad sector policy thrust for Education is Sustainable and Efficient Management of Education Service Delivery with focus on Teacher Development and Accountability; Improved Quality of Teaching and Learning at all Levels, Inclusive and Equitable Access at all Levels, Skills Development and Training for Employability through Quality TVET and strengthened Mathematics, Science, ICT and Technology Education,' he explained.

'To improve the quality of basic education and equip the Ghanaian child with basic literacy, numeracy and critical thinking skills, the Ministry of Education commenced the process for the review of the basic level curriculum to emphasize the 4 R's: Reading, wRriting, aRithmetic and cReativity).'

GNA
Mr James Victor Gbeho, President of the Economic Community of West African States has said the instances of failures in the management of democratic transitions on the African continent were causes of primitive antagonism among ethnic groups.

'Most Post-independent constitutions have not adequately addressed the manifestations of ethnocentrism,' he said.

He said no African country was spared with regards to ethnic conflicts, and that this has become a shame both historically and culturally to most African countries factors, which democracy on the continent must grapple with to ensure constitutional governance.

Mr Gbeho was speaking at the launch of the Centre for Democratic Transitions, Ghana (CDT-Ghana), a Ghanaian-based International Think Tank, that seek to focus on political transitions globally.

The launch was on the theme: 'Democracy and Decentralisation: Utilising knowledge and experience to facilitate orderly democratic transitions.'

The CDT-Ghana mandate include; advisory services on the organisation of transition from one constitutional government to another constitutional government formed by a different party, advisory services on organisation of transitions from military government to a civilian, constitutional government, advisory services on transitions from centralised systems of administration to decentralised systems of administration and advisory services on Public Sector Reforms generally.

'It will also focus on capacity building and training for newly elected Members of Parliament, Houses of Representatives and Senates and for newly appointed political office holders.'

He said Africans who are not politically matured, were more likely to result to ethnic cajole for their protection and advantage,' adding that the importance of appropriate education or orientation could not be over-emphasised.'

Mr Gbeho said Ghanaians were lucky to have inherited the legacy of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, whose government when threatened by ethnic, regional and religious divisions in Northern Ghana stood firm against party politics that ratified religious and ethnic sentiments.

The ECOWAS President said ethnocentrism or tribalism was not only peculiar to African countries alone, but also exists in various forms worldwide.

This, he said was a phase in the development of human society, which happened for the sake of self-preservation and the avoidance of domination of one tribe by another.

Nana Ato Dadzie, the Executive Coordinator of CDT-Ghana, said the Centre was in a position to advise on ministerial realignments, civil service reforms, capacity building, incentive-packaging and advising on an effective interface between central and local governments.

He said members of the CDT-Ghana have worked on international political transition programmes in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and The Gambia, as technical transition consultants and have accumulated tremendous experiences in dealing with political transitions both locally and internationally, adding, 'the members have been part of the four major transitions Ghana has ever had,' he said.

Nana Ato Dadzie said due to the long periods of one-party systems and military rule, many African countries lacked experiences in peaceful constitutional transitions.

'Several countries including; the Republic of South Africa, Uganda, Togo and Zimbabwe have no experience of such transitions and are likely to run into the problems Ghana faced when it had to deal with such transitions in 1993, 2001, and to a lesser extent in 2009 and 2016,' he said.

He said: 'Once firmly established, CDT-Ghana will invite similarly experienced members of registered political parties to join the Centre and also establish an International Board of Advisors comprising African and other International personalities with experience and expertise in its area of mandate to advise it.'

Mr Thomas Kwesi Quartey, the Vice President of the Africa Union, said the examples of Ghana's democratic practice were emulated by many African countries, adding that, 'Ghana has a lot to be proud of in terms of democracy and applauded the establishment of the Centre.'

Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said the Centre was just a formalisation of what Ghana was already, that is, 'a nation characterised with peaceful democratic transitions.'

Mr Kwesi Jonah, a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance said the Centre would help in salvaging cases of unrest in many countries and that what was happening in Togo and many other African countries were direct causes of poor handling of democratic transitions.

Mr Francis Tshegah, also a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana, said although Ghana had done a lot in terms of democratic practices, more needed to be done, saying, 'Our democracy cannot survive if we don't handle our transitions adequately.'

Madam Hannah Serwa Tetteh, Ghana's immediate past Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister was the Chairperson of the launch.

The CDT-Ghana is a registered company limited by guarantee and established against the back of the very transitions Ghana had gone through since 1993 and the pivotal roles its members had played.

The Guarantors of the Centre are Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, Ghana's longest serving Local Government Minister (1988-2000), Mr Julius Debrah, former Chief of Staff to former President John Dramani Mahama, Dr Callistus Mahama, the former Head of Ghana's Local Government Service, Nana Ato Dadzie, a one-time Chief of Staff to the former President Jerry John Rawlings.

GNA

By Amadu Kamil Sanah/Julius K. Satsi, GNA
The Ashanti Business Owners Association (ABOA) is calling on the government to either scrap the 3% flat rate Value Added Tax (VAT) system or deduct it the entry source of goods.

The government announced the tax as part of tax component of last year's budget.

The Business owners, who deal predominantly in fast moving consumables, say their operations are negatively being impacted by the VAT.

General Secretary of the Association, Mark Osei Boakye, says members sometimes at a loss because they are compelled to reduce prices in a bid to clear the goods.

The price reduction is sometimes caused by the need to pay urgently one's creditors and or [clear them] because stocks have a short shelf life...businesses in this industry have a long distribution chain which could be up [the flat VAT rate] four or five times before a product gets to the final consumer," Mr. Boakye said.

Coupled with this, the business owners in the Ashanti Region observe with worry that most traders on the market are not VAT registered, and even most registered ones have little or no knowledge in the VAT system.

Mr. Osei Boakye is worried the tax puts a strain on their operations and has therefore created unfair playing field which is affecting compliance.

Businesses that registered are experiencing a drop in sales because when the rate is charged on the product it shoots up the price whereas the unregistered businesses have same products at a reduced price because they do not charge the 3% rate. We are unable to trade among ourselves since we all are unable to sell at the same price, he said.

This comes at a time the finance minister is about to deliver the 2018 financial budget.

The leadership of the Association, therefore, suggests the 3% be charged by the government at the manufacturing sources and/or point of entry.

The Association is convinced that will also create a level playing field for every trader and in the long term support the nature of the business to enhance their growth.
There are those who harbour a solid view that we already have appropriate laws and institutions to take care of the menace of bribery and corruption, and therefore there is absolutely no need to bank all hopes on a Special Prosecutor.

But much as the sceptics have a valid point, I would like to believe that unlike the existing personnel, the Special Prosecutor will not kowtow to needless political interferences.

Of course, we have expedient laws to deal with the canker of sleazes and corruption. But all-important question is: why are the suspects revoltingly beating their chests and walking free on the streets in spite of an objectionable evidence of wrong doing?

Let us face it, though, Ghana is rich, but we are not making any meaningful advancement due to unbridled sleazes and corruption, in which the perpetrators often go unpunished. Suffice it to state that lack of monitoring and enforcement of the existing laws has been the order of the day.

Then also, I would like to disagree with those who harbour a sophistic view that Westerners are ever so righteous than their Ghanaian counterparts.

Such an assertion, indeed, could be further from the truth. Westerners, as a matter of fact, are not less corrupt than their African counterparts.

Well, you may believe it or not, but the fact of the matter is that Ghanaians are not different from other human beings elsewhere, because we all have foibles as imperfect beings.

However, what makes the people elsewhere much more responsible than a Ghanaian is the rigidity of the state institutions and the effective laws and regulations.

Elsewhere, though, the laws and regulations are strictly enforced, and as such the vast majority of the citizens and denizens prefer the observance to the stringent fines and the harsh punishments.

It is, however, worth emphasising that in as much as the followers have a duty of obligation, it is up to the leadership to bring sanity into the system by strictly ensuring that all laws and regulations are enforced without fear or favour.

The fact of the matter is that the successive Attorney Generals, who have an absolute right to press criminal charges, more often than not, blatantly refuse to do so because of political insobrieties, more than anything else.

Let us admit, though, Ghana may not see any meaningful development, so long as we have leaders that are not willing to ensure that our laws are enforced stringently and only tend to follow narrow party coloration, devoid of solicitude and patriotism.

It is against such backdrop that some of us have been advocating blissfully for an independent prosecutor to take care of the ravenous and corrupt public officials, whose voracious actions have immensely retrogressed Ghanas progress.

If for nothing at all, it is our anticipation that the ridiculous witch-hunting rendition which often comes with political arrests will cease.

It is, indeed, extremely puzzling and squeamish to see party loyalists, many of whom may not have enjoyed the loot, yet would choose to defend the indefensible.

Paradoxically, however, in Ghana, greedy and corrupt officials are held in high esteem by the brassbound party supporters for stealing from the national purse at the expense of the suffering masses.

Let us be honest, and rightly so, we definitely need attitudinal and behavioural change, for we must not and cannot keep on hero-worshipping individuals who harbour ulterior motives.

If we continue that way, our beloved Ghana cannot advance meaningfully, indeed, not anytime soon.

How long can we continue to unjustifiably defend the rapacious and corrupt officials who definitely do not have the nation at heart?

We cannot develop as a nation if we follow narrow political lines and continue to defend the villainous officials who only harbour vested interests.

Apparently, we are at where we are today, because of gargantuan bribery and corruption being perpetrated by some individuals in high positions.

Disappointingly, however, the justice system tends to descend heavily on goat, cassava and plantain thieves, and more often than not, let go the hard criminals who hide behind narrow political colorations.

Verily, Ghana may not see any meaningful development, so long as we have officials who are extremely greedy, corrupt, and insensitive to the plight of the impoverished Ghanaians, and yet go through the justice net in the face of admissible evidence.

Let us therefore keep our fingers cross for the arrival of the Special Prosecutor and pray that the corrupt public officials are brought to book.

Indeed, it will be gratifying to witness the Special Prosecutor exerting dint of effort and retrieving most of the stolen monies over the years, which obviously collapsed Ghanas economy.

It is our fervent hope that the Special Prosecutor will strictly go after the greedy and corrupt politicians and other public servants who have shamefully stolen from the national purse.

Of course, the suspects and their apologists will grumble and squall over the Special Prosecutors lawful interrogations.

Nevertheless, there will be no mercy for the wrong doers. We shall claw-back all the stolen monies which were meant for various developmental projects.

Let us therefore humbly remind the authorities that the right antidote to curbing the unbridled sleazes and corruption is through stiff punishments, including the retrieval of all stolen monies, sale of properties and harsh prison sentences.

K. Badu, UK.

[email protected] ; please visit me at: alljoycom.wordpress.com
Community members are invited to Black River Memorial Hospices Evergreen Memorial Service to pause and remember those who have died during this past year.

We know that the holidays can be an especially hard time for those who have recently lost a loved one, says Dena Graff, director of Black River Memorial Hospice and Homecare departments. We will have printed materials and grief support staff available to help those who have experienced a loss, said Graff.

The memorial service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Black River Memorial Hospital Dorothy Halvorson Conference room. The program will include readings, songs and sharing.

There will also be a Remembrance evergreen tree at the service. All attendees may bring a holiday ornament to place on the evergreen tree in remembrance of their loved one. Ornaments will be placed on the tree during the service. The tree is then displayed in the hospital lobby throughout the holidays in memory of those we have lost. Refreshments will be served following the service. Please RSVP by calling 715-284-3662.

For more information on hospital events or homecare, palliative and hospice care, go to brmh.net.
On Tuesday November 14, 2017, Parliament of Ghana did a Yeomans job by passing the special prosecutor Bill. The Bill requires a presidential assent to operationalize the prosecution of alleged corrupt officials through the office of the special prosecutor. Besides, Ghanas Parliament has approved a bill that will make the spouse and children of Major Maxwell Mahama the states responsibility (Source: myjoyonline.com, November 10, 2017). The Major Maxwell Mahama Bill could have been tailored to cover other widows who lost their husbands while on national assignments. It seems parliament is on the bill passage mission now! However, forbidden fruit they say is the sweetest! Ghana law makers have almost invariably remained obdurate to the passage of Right to information (RTI) Bill. Some of us are curious to know what is making RTI bill forbidden. Without the RTI Act the special prosecutor is destined to fail.

Democracy travels on the wheels of probity, accountability and translucency. This is because democratic constitutions enjoin the citizens to be partakers of governing process. Access to information will not only help the citizens to know governmental deals and policies but will equally mirror the salient features of rule of law and democracy. Over the years in Ghana, high corruption perception index is an open secret. No individual perceived to be corrupt could be prosecuted without convincing evidence. When in opposition, political leaders conviction on RTI Act had been pellucid only to shelve those ambitions upon grabbing the reins of political power. The passage of RTI bill will enhance the work of the independent special prosecutor.

In elsewhere India, the 2005 RTI Act was aimed among other things at curbing corruption at the government departments, improving performance of government through accountability, promoting transparency in the operations of public institutions and to create a healthy synergy between government and its public institutions. Why can our leaders not pass RTI bill? Already, the ministry of Justice and Attorney General department, Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), Criminal investigation department (CID), Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) are not privy to relevant information to enable them work effectively. The RTI Bill will offer Ghanaians access to information unless those records are contrary to public interest. The office of the special prosecutor although essential, could be somewhat malfunctional like EOCO, CID, BNI and Attorney Generals Department in nipping corruption menace in the bud without the passage of RTI bill.

What will be the composition of the office of the special prosecutor? Who appoints the special prosecutor and how neutral could the prosecutor be? Can the prosecutor deal with the rulings partys appointees without fear or favor? I believe the real commitment to fight corruption must begin with RTI bill passage rather than special prosecutor bill. An office of the special prosecutor without the RTI is a mere semblance of commitment to fight corruption. Parliament must quickly pass RTI to complement the office of independent special prosecutor. God Bless Our Homeland Ghana.

By Nana Yaw Osei, Minnesota, USA. [email protected]
The Ghana Council of Georgia brought to an end its maiden GoFundMe project to help Ghanaians stricken by the devastating hurricane Harvey and the flooding that ensued. The event was held on Sunday November 12, 2017 at the United Ghana Christian Church in Austell, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.

The event was well attended by the congregation of the church, executives of the Ghana Council of the Georgia, as well as members of the Ghanaian community in Atlanta. The presiding pastor, Elder Yaw Amoateng, commended the Ghana Council for the initiative and urged the executives of the Council to continue with such projects for not only events in the United States but in Ghana as well.

On behalf of the Ghana Council of Georgia, the executive president, Mr. Reuben Darku, thanked the church for allowing the event to be held at the church and Mr. Richard Aikens for his assistance in making the event possible. He also thanked all who donated so generously towards the cause. He conveyed to all Ghanaians in Georgia a good will video from the Ghana Association of Houston expressing their appreciation and sincere gratitude for the assistance from their brothers and sisters in Atlanta.

Living up to Proverbs 21:26the righteous gives and does not hold back, members of the church donated $1,000.00 in addition to the amount that has already been raised by the Ghana Council. Combined, the GoFundMe initiative raised a total of $2,000.

100% of the donations will go directly to the Ghanaian brothers and sisters affected by the floods to support their rebuilding efforts.

Based in Austell, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, United Ghana Christian Church, Inc. is an African Rooted, Bible Centered, Holy Spirit-filled congregation gathered by God, united in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey Christs commandment and the great commission. For more information on United Ghana Christian Church, please visit: https://www.ugccatlanta.org/home

The Ghana Council of Georgia was established in 2009 to serve as the gateway through which citizens and interested parties can be directed to establish links within the affiliate associations in the Ghanaian community in Georgia. The Council comprises of any registered Ghanaian based association or society in the state of Georgia, USA.

For more information, please contact Reuben Darku at [email protected]

or http://www.ghanacouncilofgeorgia.org/
The Author

16.11.2017 LISTEN

God hates idolatry, occultism and worship of Satan in any form with passion. In fact, this is the primary reason why He warned Israel against marrying from other nations or allowing heathen foreigners to live in their midst. He didn't want them to be polluted by those idolatry nations. God warned them that idolatry and occultism, witchcraft, fortune-telling, sorcery, mediums or psychics, calling forth the spirits, Satanism, making marks on their bodies, sacrifices and rituals would bring down the divine punishment (curses) upon them and their subsequent generations, up to the forth generations. And if the next generations still refuse to repent, the curses will continue to extend indefinitely. My God! Please, before we go on, let's see some of the curses that will come upon those that get involve in idolatry and occultism. We see some of these manifesting in some families today. Yes, God has told us that the curses will be generational. That is, from parents to their children, to their children's children. And they will continue until anyone breaks out of the chain. Let's go:

Execution

"A Sorceress [Sorcerer] must not be allowed to live... Any one who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed." Exodus 22:18, 20

Miscarriages, Infertility, Short Life, Sickness

"Do not worship the gods of these other nations or serve them in any way, and never follow their evil example. Instead, you must utterly conquer them and break down their shameful idols. You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will keep you healthy. There will be no miscarriages or infertility among your people, and I will give you long, full lives." Exodus 23:24-26

Sorrows

"Those who chase after other gods will be filled with sorrow. I will not take part in their sacrifices or even speak the names of their gods."

Psalm 16:4

Filthy

"... But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Anyone who chooses you becomes filthy, just like you!" Isaiah 41:24

Shame

"But those who trust in idols, calling them their gods - they will be turned away in shame."

Isaiah 42:17

No Protection

"Both the idols and the ones carrying them are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together."

Isaiah 46:2

Hunted

"But now I am sending for many fishermen who will catch them; says the LORD. 'I am sending for hunters who will search for them in the forest and caves. I am watching them closely, and I see every sin. They cannot hope to hide from me. I will punish them doubly for all their sins, because they have defiled my land with lifeless images of their detestable gods and filled my inheritance with their evil deeds."

Jeremiah 16:16-18

Yes, you have heard it directly from the word of God. You cannot practice idolatry or any form of occultism and be free from all those divine punishments. When you leave Jehovah; the Almighty God and worship other beings or things, you and your descendants will be hunted, sick, filled with sorrow, shame, fear, filthiness and diseases. You will also face untimely deaths, miscarriages, disappointments, extreme struggles, marriage failures, death, defeat, destruction and infertility. But serving God will always bring blessings to us and your next generations. Now, the choice is entirely yours. Yes. We will continue next week. God bless!

Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the book Power of Midnight Prayer. Website: www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo Tel: 08037113283 E-mail: [email protected]
16.11.2017 LISTEN

The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) , Mr. Matthew Gyang Nkum, has urged consumers to buy food from hygienic surroundings and vendors and caterers who covered their food properly, dressed neatly and covered their hair.

He said food vendors highly contributed to the health of consumers because good health basically depended on what was eaten and, therefore,charged food vendors to be neat.

Mr. Matthew Gyang Nkum,speaking to Sunyani based radio Ahomka 90.5FM,after a 'breakfast meeting' on Saturday, organised by Presbyterian church of Ghana,Ebenezer Congregation in Sunyani,he called on congregations to imbibe the habit of proper hand washing with soap and running water before cooking and serving food.

"Even in the absence of tap water, water in a clean container could be poured onto the hands with the help of another person".

Speaking on a topic, 'Food and Drugs Safety', he told them to wash all plates and utensils before putting food in it or eating from it,'Utensils, if possible, should be washed with warm water or potable water before and after use to avoid food contamination', he stated.

Over 60 congregations who were schooled on food Safety,cautioned not to buy from women who display food items they sell on the ground, as it could easily give sicknesses to to them (consumers).

"All foods should be cooked very well especially meat,fish and chicken, the flesh and juice of meat ,fish and chicken should be clear and not reddish or pink" he added.

Mr. Nkum said germs multiplied quickly in cooked foods kept under room temperature and, therefore, advised that cooked food must be kept in cold temperatures.

"All cooked foods should be kept in the refrigerator or freezer, and it show not be kept too long in the refrigerator and if it happens such foods should no be eaten".

According to him, Cold temperatures slow down the growth rate of germs, so food, especially leftovers, must be heated, cooled and stored in cold temperatures immediately, he added.

Presbyterian church of Ghana,Ebenezer Congregation in Sunyani opposite Radio BAR,every month organized a breakfast meetings, where people are given special invitation to speak to the members on topical issues of interest like health,education and among others.

Mr. Matthew Gyang Nkum,speaking on drugs abused/misused, he cautioned them to avoid self medication, even with herbal medicines.

"Always comply with your doctor's prescription and report all adverse effects(including herbal medicines) after taking a drug to your doctor or pharmacist " he urged them.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

The Executives and Members of Kumasi Youth Association would like to express our profound gratitude to Manhyia Kumasi Traditional Council, Otumfuo Charity Foundation and the Protocol Office, Manhyia Palace for Making today's 5,000 exercise books donations to Otumfuo Charity Foundation at Manhyia Palace at the last Awukudae a Successful One.

Many thanks also to I. K.Publications for sponsoring this noble idea not leaving out our visionary Patrons Nana Akwasi Bawuah, Hon Nana Yaw Wiredu(Ahinsan Assembly Man),Nana Prempeh ( Fankyenebra/TUC/Odeneho Assembly Man) and Oheneba Nana Asiedu (KuYA Media Consultant) for making this vision a reality and a remarkable one.

Again, We are grateful to all the media Reps who came to cover the event for KuYA.

This Appreciation Message wouldn't have been complete without appreciating the unflinching support and tireless effort of KuYA members in aiding this Event to it successful end.

Finally, We are reminding all and the Good Citizens of Kumasi that the Second(2) phase of the Donations which is 5,000 exercise books to 15 best Assembly Members in Kumasi Metropolis would take place at KMA on Friday*.

All are cordially Invited.

Thank You.

...Signed....

KWABENA FRIMPONG

GENERAL SECRETARY

0204910050

BOAKYE DANKWAH

COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR

0246312880

FELIX IBRAHIM

ORGANISER

0268404273
16.11.2017 LISTEN

Impact Care Rehab Foundation (ICRF), an organization that provides a home for children with cerebral palsy at no cost has been opened at Kanda, a suburb of Accra.

Mrs Mildred Osei Asiamah, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation said she was touched by the plight parents of children with cerebral palsy go through in trying to find a school for their children.

I noticed that most creches or day care centres do not accept children with cerebral palsy, I decided to start a foundation to help parents in this direction, she said.

Mrs Osei-Asiamah said she got close to a child with cerebral palsy when her mother was sick and admitted at Korle Bu Teaching hospital.

I love children so I decided to research more about cerebral palsy and see how I can support the child, in my research I realized that getting children with cerebral palsy into schools was a challenge for many parents so I decided to offer help in that direction.

ICRF operates a free day care centre which allows parents to bring their children with cerebral palsy in the morning and pick them up in the evening.

The Centre has a retired nurse and a physiotherapist that attends to the children as well as a professional team that cares for children between the ages of 1 and 5 years.

Mrs Osei-Asiamah said: We want to afford the career parent the opportunity to work, school and follow their dreams without stress.

The Foundation is also partnering the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy to ensure that they are providing the right services.

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Executive Director of the Special Mothers Project, who expressed excitement at the services the centre is providing advised Mrs Osei-Asiamah to make the centre inclusive.

Mrs Awadzi said children learn a lot by imitating their peers, she therefore urged the centre to also accept children who did not have special needs to help those with cerebral palsy model right behaviors.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

As part of activities to mark this years International Day for Tolerance, a socio-civic group, the Progressive Solidarity Forum (PSF) has urged Nigerians on the need to tolerate one another especially those with different religious, ethnic or tribal orientations.

In a statement signed by the groups deputy national director (media, information and publicity), Olalekan Adigun in Lagos today, the group maintains that Tolerance is one virtue Nigerians must imbibe especially at this period of our national life when some politicians find it convenient to issue statement disparaging people of different ethnic or religious beliefs for cheap political points. Olalekan said.

The statement also notes on the significance of the Day Many Nigerians do not know that the United Nations (UN) declared November 16th of every year International Tolerance Day to entrench the spirit of tolerance amongst peoples of the world. This is why we in the PSF are joining the rest of the civilized world to mark this all-important day in Nigeria.

In a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like Nigeria, tolerance, and respect for other peoples ways of life and beliefs can provide the key to lasting people and security. The statement said.

The group urged politicians to desist from making reckless statement that is capable of sowing the seeds of discord among peace-loving Nigerians who have decided to live and work together with each other to promote national development.

The group further advises the media and the youths to be good agents of national development and positive engagement.

Signed:

Olalekan W. Adigun

Deputy National Director,

Media, Publicity, and Information,

Progressive Solidarity Forum (PSF)

@thisispsfng
16.11.2017 LISTEN

Zimbabwe's political crisis will play out against a backdrop of substantial public trust in the army but a clear rejection of military rule in favour of democracy.

Almost two-thirds of Zimbabweans said in an Afrobarometer survey in January-February 2017 that they trust the army at least somewhat. But even more said they disapprove of military rule and prefer democracy over any other political system.

Importantly, respondents overwhelmingly said they feel not very free or not at all free to criticize the army.

Key findings

 Six in 10 Zimbabweans (64%) said they trust the army somewhat or a lot. But only 23% said they feel somewhat or completely free to criticize the army (Figure 1).

 More than two-thirds (69%) of Zimbabweans said they disapprove  including 43% who strongly disapprove  of military rule. Strong majorities also rejected one-man rule (78%) and one-party rule (65%) and said they prefer democracy over any other political system (75%) (Figure 2).

 Only 38% of respondents said they were fairly or very satisfied with the way democracy was working in Zimbabwe (Figure 3).

Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues in Africa. Six rounds of surveys were conducted in up to 37 Africans countries between 1999 and 2016, and Round 7 surveys (2016/2018) are currently underway. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent's choice with nationally representative samples.

The Afrobarometer team in Zimbabwe, led by the Mass Public Opinion Institute, interviewed 1,200 adult Zimbabweans between 28 January and 10 February 2017. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/- 3% at a 95% confidence level Previous surveys have been conducted in Zimbabwe in 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014.
Residents of Yunyoo in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District of the Northern Region have fled the town for fear of losing their lives following the firing of gunshots by some suspected youth from Namongo, a neighbouring community in the constituency.

The attack is believed to be linked to the proposed creation of a new district in the Yunyoo Constituency.

Report said that the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Yunyoo Constituency, Joseph Bipoba Naabu, earlier gathered the people of his constituency in Namongo and informed them that he had seen documents in Parliament which indicated that the newly created district in the constituency had been named Yunyoo-Nasuan District Assembly and called on his people to protest against the decision.

Sources in Yunyoo reveal that the unidentified gunmen fired gunshots into the community at about 4 am and fled before the arrival of police personnel.

Residents of Yunyoo believe that the attacks are part of plans to make the town appear to be a conflict-prone community which would make it unsuitable for the district capital.

A resident, Osman Dawuda, who confirmed the story to DAILY GUIDE, said the development has affected economic activities in the area and also kept students indoors.

We are reliably informed and convinced that Hon Bipoba is behind the attacks since he always wanted the district capital to be in his constituency, Namongo.

Meanwhile, residents of Yunyo have indicated that they would not retaliate by taking the law into their hands.

Military and police personnel have since been deployed from Tamale to the area to boost security.

No arrests have been made yet.

From Eric Kombat, Yunyoo
The youth have been sternly cautioned against indulging in occultism, known in the local parlance as 'Sakawa,' to get fabulously rich overnight.

A renowned preacher and author, Ralph Antwi, Founding President of Relevant Achievers Impacting Nations (RAIN) Foundation, gave the warning on Sunday.

Every reward from the devil goes with a heavy and regrettable price to pay so the youth should stay away from occultism.

The devil, after making you rich, would kill and destroy you, and you will regret so shun the devil and all his ways, he added.

Mr Antwi disclosed this while speaking during the Divine Attraction Conference of RAIN Foundation at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi, which is organized once every month.

The event coincided with the pre-launch of the 'Kiss the King 2017' in Kumasi, a music event slated for December 10 in Accra.

Dr. Tumi from South Africa, Joe Mettle from Ghana and Diana Hamilton from the United Kingdom (UK) are among the top musicians to grace the 'Kiss the King 2017.

Mr Antwi also warned the youth, who are the future leaders of the country, to abstain from drugs such as cocaine, Indian hemp and others.

He stated that the use of Indian hemp also known as 'wee' would rather make the person dull and lazy so they cannot learn ideally.

As a psychologist, I know drugs destroy the brain, it promises so much but it gives very little, he said.

Mr Antwi, who has delivered several inspirational speeches across the globe, also warned the youth to abstain from the devilish and dangerous homosexuality.

He warned that homosexuality is against God's laws, adding that whoever engages in sinful act automatically incurs the wrath of God.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
Two Warrens residents were referred to the Monroe County District Attorney for multiple charges after a Nov. 11 traffic stop.

Police stopped a vehicle driven by Sarah M. Geisdorf, 32, for an equipment violation. She reportedly told police she was the vehicles only occupant, but police noticed a man hiding in the back seat under a pile of clothes, who was identified as Robert Wade Kingsley, 34, who had five felony arrest warrants from Monroe County. He was handcuffed and removed from the vehicle.

A search of Kingsley reportedly uncovered a methamphetamine pipe, and a K-9 unit was summoned to the vehicle. After the K-9 detected the odor of illegal narcotics, police searched the car and reportedly found a small container with white residue.

The report says Kingsley was asked if Geisdorf knew of the warrants. He replied, I believe so, but I cant say for sure.

Kingsley was referred for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also has a bond condition which establishes a 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and prohibits him from possessing drugs, which triggered five bail jumping referrals.

Geisdorf was referred for harboring a felon and obstructing an officer.

In other Tomah Police Department news:

Two Suns Hunsucker, 38, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for theft of library materials.

Hunsucker is accused of checking out three DVDs and failing to return them by the due date of Sept. 22. The DVDs are valued at $68.95, and Hunsucker owes $15 in late fees, according to the report.

Police have been unable to locate Hunsucker, and an acquaintance told police that Hunsucker had moved to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Trevor Michael Hanson, 35, Sparta, was referred to the district attorney for fourth-offense operating a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol content after police observed a vehicle revving its engine shortly before 1:30 a.m. Nov. 12 on Superior Avenue. Police followed the vehicle to Cameron Street and initiated a traffic stop.

According to the report, Hanson told police he was a DD, which an officer interpreted as designated driver. The report says Hanson had glassy eyes and was speaking in a slow, deliberate manner. After a field sobriety test, Hanson submitted to a preliminary breath test, which recorded a blood-alcohol level of .077. He has a bond condition that prohibits him from driving with a blood-alcohol count of higher than .02.

Hanson was also referred for operating a vehicle after revocation/drunk driving-related and tampering with an ignition interlock device.
Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited, which deals in steel and iron, has threatened to take legal action against the National Insurance Commission (NIC).

Lawyer for the steel company, Godwin Adjei-Gyamfi, told BUSINESS GUIDE that NIC, under the leadership of its former Commissioner, Lydia Lariba Bawa, failed in 2015 to take action against Regency NEM, a Nigerian insurance firm after the insurer reportedly failed to pay claims to Sethi Brothers Limited to the tune of $2,355.135.14.

According to Lawyer Gyamfi, On 16th October 2009, Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited took a Marine Open Cover Policy with the then Regency Alliance Insurance Limited, now called Regency NEM Insurance with its head office in Nigeria.

He explained that in 2014, Regency NEM Insurance agreed to issue Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited with Marine Open Cover Insurance to insure 1,352 bundles of reinforcing steel bars from China.

On 21st July 2014, he recounted, the cargo vessel commenced journey under Marine Open Cover certificates number C/MRC/K09/003540Z from China to Tema.

According to him, on 31st July 2014 while sailing, the cargo vessel was involved in a collision with another vessel unknown to Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited and it got damaged.

He stated that On 27th of November 2014 pursuant to the notification and the potential claim Regency NEM Insurance appointed Lloyds Agent to inspect the condition of the damaged cargo. They confirmed that the entire cargo had indeed been damaged.

Following their report, a claim was submitted to Regency NEM Insurance Limited for the sum of $2,355.135.14, the lawyer explained, adding that in response on 30th January, 2015, Regency NEM Insurance presented Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited with a Discharge Certificate Form, acknowledging liability and accepted the quantum.

However, payment remained outstanding for one year after which Sethi Brothers instructed their lawyer to petition NIC.

The NIC reportedly referred the case to a Marine insurance expert, who found that Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited had a valid claim and that Regency NEM Insurance should pay the outstanding amount to Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited.

Managing Director of Regency NEM Insurance, Bode Oseni, accordingly agreed to deposit GH4,000,000.00 in favour of Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited on the advice of Madam Lariba Bawa at the time.

However, a week later, Bode Osen reportedly returned to NIC to tell the Commission that the money he had agreed to pay on behalf of the institution was exorbitant and that they were not going to make any payment.

Sethi Brothers Ghana Limiteds lawyer Godwin Adjei-Gyamfi insisted that NIC should enforce the regulations against Regency NEM Insurance but Madam Lariba Bawa insisted that there was nothing the NIC could do.

On 13th October, 2016, the then commissioner reportedly wrote to Sethi Brothers Ghana Limited that in view of the uncooperative attitude of the insurer towards amicable arbitration, the National Insurance Commission kindly requests your company to continue the matter in court for determination. Accept our warmest regards.

Lawyer Adjei-Gyamfi was of the view that the directive for court settlement by the Commission clearly showed regulatory weaknesses.

The NIC, per the law, is mandated to ensure compliance with industry standards and ensure that insurers pay claims to their clients.

But Lariba Bawa asked lawyer Adjei-Gyamfi to sue the Commission.

I think the matter is in court and the parties should allow the court to make a determination. But if the lawyers think they have a case against the Commission, they can go ahead and sue the Commission, she told BUSINESS GUIDE.
Heather Cameron, High Commissioner of Canada to Ghana, says Ghana's mining sector remains a priority for Canada because it has potential for further growth.

Speaking at a day's CSR forum recently in Accra organised by Golden Star Resources Limited, themed: Promoting sustainable mining for sustainable development in Ghana, Cameron said with billions in investments in Ghana, Canadian mining companies are employing thousands of Ghanaians, and promoting high ethical standards in the industry.

The companies are contributing to local value-chains and to community development.

It is worth noting that mining investment has always been an important part of our relationship. After all, Canada is the world leader for access to capital in the mining sector, 57 percent of the global mining financings were done on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the TSX Venture Exchanges (TSXV) in 2016. Almost 64 billion mining shares were traded on the TSX in 2016 with a total value of CND $189 billion.

Philipa Varris, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Golden Star Resources, in a presentation, said in 2016, Golden Star Resources directly employed some 2,563 people.

Our contractors employed a further 1,744 employees at our operations. Of our employees (permanent and contract) in Ghana, 51 percent are from local communities, 66 percent are from the Western Region, and 99 percent are Ghanaian, with $47 million in salaries paid in the year.

We are also pleased to report that the proportion of women in our workforce increased from 10% in 2015 to 12% in 2016. Although a modest increase, this is important given that the mining industry is typically male dominated.

Health

On this, she said Golden Star Ladies Clubs last year screened over 10,400 women for breast cancer in over 30 communities, potentially saving as many as 272 lives in the process.

In 2016 alone, more than 90 participants were referred to specialists for further assessment.

Water supply

Since we began operations in Ghana in 1999, we have installed over 200 water supply systems for our local communities. The systems support over 20,000 households and an estimated 100,000 people. Census data from 2012 indicate that the proportion of households in our host region with access to pipe-borne water doubled to 30 percent in the period since 2000.

By Samuel Boadi
Mohinani Group, producers of polytanks, poly sacks, poly kraft and others, has presented some of its products valued at GH8,000 to the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) towards the holding of the 2017 Regional Farmer's Day celebration.

The items, which were presented at the forecourt of the RCC in Accra, included two 3,000 liters poly tanks, 100 pieces of PP woven sacks, 100 pieces of vegetables cartons, four pieces of black sheeting and 12-liter storage gallons.

Presenting the items to the Regional Coordinating Council, Moudline Duodua Gyan, Media Relations Executive of the Group, explained that the presentation formed part of its corporate social responsibility to promote sustainable agriculture in the country.

She was optimistic the gesture would go a long way to deepen their relationship with farmers and the RCC.

The Human Relations Executive reiterated the importance of farming and agribusiness, adding that farmers contribute immensely towards the socio-economic development of the country.

We cannot just overlook the key role of farmers and from our product lines we present this as motivation to the farmers who will be honoured during the Regional Farmers Day, she stated.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, who received the items on behalf of the RCC, expressed his appreciation to the group.

The minister called on other corporate institutions to donate towards the forthcoming Regional Farmers' Day.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

One of the trademarks of Nigerians is that they always love to travel heavy. When you see them at the airport, they are circled by different sizes of luggage. This luggage alongside their clothes usually contains souvenirs and gift items they want to distribute to friends and family members. Visitors who pay them welcome back visits do not expect to return home empty-handed.

The truth is Nigerian travellers need to realise that travelling light is better due to the following reasons highlighted by Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency. Hopefully, this will encourage Nigerians to travel with less luggage.

You will escape baggage fees

Whether you are flying or travelling by road, you cannot escape baggage fees if you are travelling heavy. In fact, airlines and transport companies are always happy when they see a passenger with so many luggage because they are going to make extra money. This alone should make travelling light very attractive to you.

Saves you time

The benefit here is that you will completely eliminate the time waiting to check-in your luggage and it also reduces your risk of missing your flight. In addition, if you travel light, you can easily check-in online.

Your luggage won't get missing or stolen

With bags all around you, it will be very difficult for you to have eyes on all of them. Hence, it will be easy for thieves to pick one of your bags and disappear with it. Also, you may forget one of them. So, why travel heavy?

You will be able to get around quickly

Traveling light also gives you the ability to navigate situations quickly. Having a heavy bag complicates this. A small lightweight backpack or bag makes transit effortless.

You will learn to shop smarter

Once you realise how amazing it is to travel light, you will begin to look at your wardrobe differently. Rather than just buying more, you will choose clothes that match well with other pieces in your wardrobe or accessories that can transform from day to night. As for gifts, you can buy them when you eventually return home.
The Ashanti Regional Communication Director of the Convention People's Party (CPP) Osei Kofi Acquah has advocated for the election of heads of government institutions such as the Ghana Police Service, the Judiciary and the Legislature to make them strong and independent.

He said if these institutions are allowed to elect their own heads, there would not be any government interference to undermine their work, enabling them to curb vigilantism and hooligans that have rocked the country in recent times.

Speaking on Otec Fm political programme Dwabrem hosted by Agya Owusu Ansah on Thursday, Osei Kofi if these institutions are giving the opportunity to elect their own Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Judiciary electing their own Chief Justice and the Legislature also electing their own Speaker of Parliament, they will be strong and independent to curb the vigilantism and hooligans in the country, without any fears.

The Ghana Police Service and Attorney General have come under public criticisms for not doing enough to arrest and prosecute members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who have been funning riots seizing and locking up governments institutions like National Health Insurance Authority (NHIS), National Youth Authority (NYE) among others.

The public believes their inability to act is due to government influence on them as they are there to serve the government interest, and that has motivated the rioters to misbehave.

If the Supreme Court Judges elect their own Chief Justice, the focus will be on protecting the Constitution but not the government, as the appointment was not done by the President. Parliamentarians can also elect their own Speaker of Parliament so that they won't pass laws that are in favour of any political party, he indicated.

He added that over the years, the separation of Powers concept of the three arms of government has not been effective, because of the Presidents involve in the appointments of the IGP, the Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament.
Ghana has been ranked sixth among other Africa countries, according to statistics projected by the Word Health Organisation (WHO) on diabetes between 2016 and 2017.

The Chairperson of International Diabetes Federation of West Africa, also President of National Diabetes Association of Ghana, Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, who made this known at the commemoration of the 2017 World Diabetes Day at Kyebi in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region, explained that it is estimated that undiagnosed diabetes accounts for 60 percent of those with the disease in Cameroon, 70 percent in Ghana and over 80 percent in Tanzania.

She said Ghana, among other Africa countries, counts approximately 13.6 million people with diabetes, which includes sub-Saharan Africa counts over seven million people with diabetes.

According to her, Nigeria has the highest number of 1,218,000 diabetes cases, followed by Uganda and Tanzania.

Speaking further on the theme: 'Women Unite Against Diabete', Mrs Denyoh appealed to the government to reverse the decision of the cancellation of VAT exemptions on all the diabetes drugs because of their high cost in order to enable patients to afford them.

She also called on parliament to take a look at introducing the 'sin taxes' to tax fizzy drinks, alcoholic beverages, sweets and cigarettes so that the proceeds would go into the care of non-communicable diseases.

199m Women Diabetics

Dr Charity Sarpong, Eastern Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, disclosed that over 199 million women are currently living with diabetes worldwide.

This is projected to increase to 313 million by 2040, whereas diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths per year, she stressed.

According to Dr Sarpong, women with diabetes Type 2 are almost 10 times more likely to have coronary heart disease than women without the condition, whereas those with the Type 1 have an increased risk of early miscarriage during pregnancy.

She stressed further that in Ghana, about 154,790 are estimated to be living with diabetes in 2016, with Eastern Region recording 22,001 diabetes patients, representing 14 percent of the people diagnosed in the year of preference.

She explained that the disease was killing women at large, especially those who have no knowledge about the disease. She further urged women to go for routine check-ups to know their sugar level and attend health screening exercises for regularly detection to reduce morbidity and mortality, including pregnancy-related deaths.

Health Ministry

In a speech read on behalf of Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, Deputy Minister of Health, he disclosed that the ministry would continue to sure that the health systems pay adequate attention to the specific needs and priorities of women so that those with the diabetes illness will have access to the essential diabetes medicines, self-management education and information they need to achieve diabetes outcomes.

He added, As a country, our major focus is on the need to educate the general public to be aware of the early diabetes and how to prevent diabetes as well as the serious health consequences of the disease.

All the diabetes patients and those at risk no matter where they live have the right to learn about diabetes, how it can be prevented, how it can be managed effectively and how to access educational and clinical resources, Mr Aboagye Gyedu stated.

Okyenhemaa's Remarks

Nana Ama Dokua Adutwumwaah, queen mother of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, who represented the Okyenhene as the chairperson, in her remarks highlighted that diabetes was becoming very alarming, which calls for an urgent attention.

She urged the public to desist from taking in more sugar and starchy foods but rather eat more vegetables to improve their health in order to reduce the high risk of diabetes.

The Okyenhemaa, however, appealed to the government to intensify campaigns on diabetes to educate the public on means to prevent the disease from spreading.

Background

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces (WHO, 2016).

It is one of the four priority non-communicable diseases affecting millions of lives yearly. WHO (2016) report states that an estimated 422 million adults were living with diabetes in 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980.

The report also indicates a steady increase in diabetes around the world, the reason being that the disease is not solely a preserve of the rich as considered formally.

Changes in lifestyle behaviours and lifestyle choices have also significantly contributed to this increment.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is to establish a Marine Unit, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi has hinted.

According to him, the establishment of the unit would not only secure the maritime domain of Ghana but also contribute immensely to national security. He added that it would also improve on data collation on migrants at the seaports for the use of Ghana's socio-economic advancement.

The CGI bemoaned how some fisher folks of neighbouring countries and other persons through the territorial waters of Ghana migrate into the country in a tacit, cunning and subtle manner escaping immigration checks. This must be nipped in the bud as soon as possible, he stressed.

Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi said this while interacting with officers of the Takoradi Sector Command at the Takoradi Ports in the Western Region as part of his familiarization tour.

He indicated that the creation of the Marine Unit was crucial at giving a defined focus to migration management and that it would enhance the efficiency with which personnel of the Service manage migration activities at the seaports and maritime domain of the country.

He encouraged the personnel to continue the good works at securing the seaports and maritime domain of the country despite the logistical constraints and assured them of the provision of logistics and equipment to aid their work at the port. He also reiterated his commitment at enhancing the capability and capacity of officers through various training programmes including maritime training.

Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Director of Takoradi Port, Captain Ebenezer Afedzi and the Takoradi Area Manager of Tullow Oil, Mr. Joseph Klemesu.

In a related development a three-week Refresher Course and Promotional Examination (PROMEX) for Junior Officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has started at its Training School (ISTS) in Assin Fosu.

A total of 110 Junior Officers due for promotion are expected to update their knowledge and skills in migration management, immigration law and paramilitary idiosyncrasies among others. The Junior Officers comprise 53 Senior Inspectors, 34 Inspectors and 23 Assistant Inspectors.

Addressing participants at the opening of the PROMEX, the immediate past Commanding Officer of the Immigration Service Training School (ISTS), Superintendent of Immigration, Felix Agyeman-Bosompem, urged the Service personnel to avail themselves to be imbued with modern-day techniques in border management and adhere to the tenets of their career in fulfilment of the mandate of the Service.

He admonished them to put into practice the knowledge they would acquire to enhance the peace and security the country was already enjoying. He encouraged them to be vigilant, tactful and exhibit high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties. We cannot afford to let down our country men and women he added.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

All through the 2015 gubernatorial campaign, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu PhD left no one in doubt that he would implement programmes that would make him hold the hand of most vulnerable members of the society.

Beyond the obvious infrastructural deficit that became the lot of Abia State, the teacher turned Governor was poised to run a government that would address the socioeconomic needs of Abians especially those at the lowest rung of the economic ladder.

Few months after being sworn in, through the office of the Wife of the Governor and some key partners, the Governor launched a free school meal programme. Being a teacher himself, he knew the impact of a balanced meal to teaching and learning activities within the walls of our schools. In a continent that is known for poor nutritional statistics and its effect on Intelligent Quotient of pupils especially those in public schools, it was an important programme for the administration of Governor Ikpeazu.

Recently, public schools have become the lot of those within the low income bracket who also struggle with the proper nutritional needs of their children. Sometimes these pupils who are anxious to acquire basic education go to school on empty stomach, the result of this on their learning abilities cannot be overemphasized.

While launching the programme, the Governor made it clear that it would be open to partnership with government and non governmental bodies including individuals who have passion to touch lives. He further explained that his targets are those pupils from the very poor homes whose only decent meal may be that which they get from the schools daily.

The objectives of the programme beyond improving their learning capacity would also be to improve their health and that of their parents as it would reduce the financial burden on these families following the automatic reduction in their food budget and leave them with less worry. This programme would also enhance agricultural productivity being that all the food items used for the school feeding programme would be locally sourced.

As for the farmers in the state, this programme will continue to improve sales for them due to the instant market it offers.

These were the details the governor understood and tried to address. It was therefore encouraging for the Governor and the government when the federal government launched the home grown school feeding programme and requested interested states to key into the partnership. While the federal government would feed pupils of primaries 1 to 3 the State would extend the programme to primaries 4-6.

Being that Abia state already had a template and similar programme in place it was very easy to plug into the opportunity the federal government programme presented.

Today in Abia state over 200,000 pupils in 859 public primary schools are being fed. Over 1,400 cooks, mostly rural women, have been engaged to implement this programme across the state.

Today in the state, farmers are having a great return on their investment because of the daily purchases by these cooks. Just a tip of the iceberg will show how this programme is economically empowering the people. Twice a week the children are fed with eggs with each child receiving one egg per meal. Consequently, about 400,000 eggs are purchased in Abia weekly, the same goes for rice, beans, yam, cocoa yam, and other items on the menu which was prepared with the local delicacies in mind.

This programme sees to the injection of over N132m every 20 days into the economy of the state.

Beside school feeding, the Abia Social Investment Office has made N-Power, a job creation programme, a household name in Abia State. In 2016 when the first phase was launched, 3,362 Abia youths who prior to that time had no job were recruited. Today they receive N30,000 monthly on a regular basis; in addition they have received tablets which would serve as training tools to equip them with skills which would make them self reliant when they eventually exit the programme.

The socioeconomic impact of deploying over N100m monthly into the hands of these young people can only be imagined. In the second phase which about 75,000 youths have applied, over 40% of them would be recruited. About 1,153 have been selected for N-Build which is a programme that trains youths for between 3-6 months and equip them with tools to start up their own enterprises. To demonstrate the foremost place of Abia in the scheme of things, the state would serve as the centre for the entire Southeast region. The warehouse for all the equipment for the training is located in Umuahia.

This programme is running on the back of the state owned E4E programme which the governor launched during his swearing in ceremony. Today Abia appears to be the only state with a database of over 35,000 unemployed youths. The silent empowerment revolution going on in the state especially targeting those in the rural areas and at the lowest level of the socioeconomic ladder due to the tenacity of Governor Ikpeazu and coordinated by the Abia State Social Investment Office under the supervision of Chinenye Nwaogu is resonating across the state.

Governor Ikpeazu is leading the pack in deepening the development of MSME in Nigeria today therefore these youths who are being retooled will become the backbone to provide critical middle level manpower which is the pivot that drives MSME and industrialization.

Beyond the skill side of entrepreneurship, the Governor is also leveraging on another SIP platform, the GEEP and MONI market loan scheme to provide small scale financial facility to over 40,000 Abians involved in MSME. The initial deal will deliver over N3bn directly to market women and youths across the state. In an economy under recession like Nigeria, economists and development experts see the ingenuity of the Governor because of the level of cash liquidity such fund injection will impact on the economy of the state.

The governance style of thinking outside the box has kept Governor Ikpeazu at a different performance pedestal. The downturn in the financial inflow available to states from federal allocation making it impossible for most states to meet up with their financial obligation has occasioned the need for any right thinking leader to seek refuge from other platforms and sources.

As opined by the effective and articulate head of Social Investment in Abia State, Chinenye Nwaogu, a very unassuming and result oriented technocrat, "Social Investment is an attitude and mindset... it is not necessarily of government or party policy". He explained that even in some APC states the programme has not recorded the kind of impact and success being witnessed in Abia and he attributed this to the efforts of the Governor and his wife who believe that they are in government to impact the common man and woman who have nobody to run to.

Governor Ikpeazu insists that the greatest asset of the state is her people and investing in them is a task he is not taking lightly. He sees Social Investment as a major role of government especially targeting the poor and vulnerable in the society. This is one aspect the Governor has shown great leadership skills in.

The National Social Investment Programme is being coordinated by the office of the Vice President. The tenacity of Governor Ikpeazu is one reason Vice President Yemi Osinbajo sees him as a great and visionary leader. It is not in doubt that the Vice President flows effortlessly with Governor Ikpeazu even though they are of different parties yet the duo enjoy a robust relationship based on shared vision and passion to reach and uplift the poor.

Speaking further, Chinenye Nwaogu said through the Social Investment Programme, Governor Ikpeazu's administration has reached over 150,000 families directly and many more indirectly.

To ensure that these programmes achieve the set target, the Governor was one of the earliest to establish an office dedicated to Social Investment and he found the round peg to fit into the round hole in the person of Chinenye Nwaogu, a very sound, passionate and focused young man with deep background working in the development sector. He parades years of close interaction with development partner organizations.

For Abians especially those within the target bracket of these programmes it has been a cruise. Due to the Governor's efforts, Abia has been designated a priority state by the federal government for Social Investment Programmes, meaning that Abia will be among pilot states for all the new initiatives and additions to these programmes thereby bringing great succor to Abias masses and entrepreneurs.
Former Deputy Finance Minister, Fifi Kwetey says most projects enumerated by the Finance Minister to be undertaken in 2018, are projects started by the Mahama administration and which were nearing completion as at December 2016.

According to him, the government under John Mamaha, had secured funding for the projects of which some had reached between 96% to 98% completion levels therefore, it was fitting for the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to credit the previous administration with that.

Mr. Ofori-Atta in presenting the 2018 budget to Parliament for approval, highlighted some infrastructure projects to be undertaken by the Nana Akufo-Addo administration including the construction of some road networks.

But the Ketu South MP insists that, the projects mentioned by the Minister are projects that have reached 96 to 98 percent completion points as at December 2016 adding that these are projects that largely funds were secured for.

He told Kojo Yankson, host of the Super Morning on Joy FM Thursday, that the economic growth that the current administration has claimed credit for together with ending the power crisis, were the results of investments by the former regime.

We, before going out of power, have resolved the power outage. So grant [Mahama] that credit instead of basking in the credit that is not yours, he advised the Finance Minister.

He foresees a stagnation of the economy as the government had been struggling to raise revenue since it took over almost a year ago.

If your revenue streams are not what they are, naturally development will sufferThat is worrying, he lamented.

Abena Osei Asare

Admitting that the government faced challenges meeting its revenue targets in 2017, a Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare, said the government is now in a better position to deliver on its promise to Ghanaians.

We said we were going to give Ghanaians prudent management of their resources and we have done thatand we are in a better position to start working, the Atiwa East MP declared.

She said they are not shy to admit the late implementation of key development projects however, the passage of the law establishing three development authorities has given life to those projects including One Village, One Dam; Small Business Development; Agricultural inputs, including equipment; Water For All Projects; and Sanitation Projects.

The deputy Minister also acknowledged that although the governments flagship free senior high school programme faced some challenges this year, prudent measures have been put in place to scale over those challenges.

Yes there are challenges but we are prepared to bring these challenges down including funding which she said had been taken care of in the 2018 budget.

The free SHS budget for 2018 is fully funded by the government of Ghana, Madam Osei Asre assured.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | Email: [email protected], Twitter: @jerrymordy
Mondelez International has sent 14 of its employees from 10 countries around the world to Ghana to learn and serve in cocoa-farming communities.

The ten known as Mondelez Joy Ambassadors, will work alongside the cocoa farmers in three communities in the Wassa East district to gain insight into their work and enable them to experience life in these communities.

During the two-week Learning Tour, these Joy Ambassadors also will interact directly with the cocoa farmers, and gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in securing a sustainable cocoa supply chain.

Also they will share their diverse business skills through the delivery of community workshops to build capacity and collaboration among local farmers and stakeholders.

Country Lead of Mondelez International Cocoa Life, Yaa Peprah Amekudzi said the Learning tour was a platform which encourages volunteerism among employees of Mondelez International staff.

She said the programme also gives them the opportunity to visit the fields and gain knowledge on the processes involved in cocoa cultivation that they will bring back to their business.

She added that the 2017 program, which is the fourth cycle, will enable cocoa farmers in Cocoa Life communities to interact with the Joy Ambassadors and learn firsthand what happens to the cocoa that they send out of Ghana; as well as meet the people behind the company's success.

Mrs. Amekudzi said she is hopeful that the experiences they will gain on the field will inspire fresh knowledge and perspective on cocoa production.

The 2017 Joy Ambassadors are from Australia, Austria, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, India, Italy, Norway, Russia and the United States of America.

The Joy Ambassador program is part of Mondelez International's Impact For Growth platform, which calls for Well-being, which focuses on fueling growth and making a positive impact for posterity.

The project is funded by the Mondelez International Foundation through a partnership with VSO (formerly Voluntary Service Overseas), the world's leading independent international development organization working through volunteers to tackle poverty in developing countries.

Mondelez International owns Cadbury, Oreo, Cote D'Or, Freia, Suchard, Green and Black, Lacta, Marabou, Mikado, Milka and Toblerone, among other brands.
QUESTION: Is solar energy the answer to our energy needs?

ANSWER: The sun has the tremendous power to provide for all of our energy needs. In a single hour, the sun has enough output to power the Earth for a whole year. Properly harnessing this incredible source could solve the energy crisis forever. We often hear that solar energy is free energy. Well, there is an element of truth to that sentiment, but we need to look deeper into the solar cell industry.

Solar cells, or photovoltaic cells, are made of semiconductors, the most common being silicon. Sunlight hitting the solar cells is absorbed by the semiconductor. The absorbed energy loosens electrons in the material and this flow constitutes an electric current.

Solar panels start as quartz, the most common form of silica, and is refined into silicon. The quartz is extracted from mines, and that mining exposes miners to the deadly occupational hazard of the lung disease called silicosis.

Since 2008, manufacturing of solar panels has moved from the United States, Europe, and Japan to China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Today, half of all solar panels are made in China. Cheap labor, you understand. Safety rules and regulations for miners in China lag far behind those of the United States and European countries.

Water is another problem. Photovoltaic manufacturing requires tons of water for chemical processing, dust control during construction, air pollution control, and cleaning during installation.

There has been a quiet revolution in how solar panels are made. Makers of thin-film cells deposit layers of semiconductor material directly on a substrate of glass, metal, or plastics, instead of the older technique of slicing wafers from a silicon slab. Thin-film technology reduces waste and is more environmentally friendly.

Some thin-film solar panels use cadmium, a known and nasty carcinogen. Cadmium is also a genotoxin, meaning it can cause inheritable mutations. First Solar, a company based in Tempe, Arizona, is very careful about protecting its employees exposed to cadmium during manufacturing. But little is known about workers exposed to cadmium in the early stages of the life cycle of the metal, from the zinc mines where it comes from, through the smelting process that makes it pure, and the process that turns it into semiconductor material ready to use in panels.

Going green has a price. Analysts judge the impact of the energy used to make a solar panel compared to the amount of carbon generated in the production of that energy. The so-called carbon footprint can be considerable.

There is the payback period, the time it takes for a system to recover the energy used to produce it. That can be several years. The other payback to consider is the financial payback. If you install solar cells on your roof, you want the system to pay for itself eventually. The financial payback can be several years, stretching into decades.

Many people who install solar cells do not really care that much about the financial payback. They may want to help the United States get a handle on climate change. They also want our country to not depend on foreign oil supplies.

Some people see solar as a panacea for our energy woes, considering how dirty various fossil fuels have proven to be. Indeed, solar photovoltaic cells have a bright future. But we should not turn a blind eye to the darker side of this new technology. All energy sources have their pluses and minuses, good and bad. It is not possible to stop paying for energy.

In the 1950s there were scientists saying that with the advent of nuclear power plants, electricity would be so cheap there would be no need to meter it. We hear the same rosy predictions for solar photovoltaic cells. In the final analysis, there is no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to meeting our energy requirements.

Send questions and comments to: lscheckel@charter.net.

Larry Scheckel is a retired Tomah High School physics teacher.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

The Vice-President has revealed that the Zongo Development Fund (ZDF) was the brainchild child of his predecessor late Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said the former Vice-President was concerned about the perception that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was anti-Zongo.

According to him, to do something to change such a perception, the late statesman proposed the idea to ensure that such communities received the needed attention.

He was speaking at a ceremony in Accra Thursday to mark the fifth anniversary of the passing of Mr Aliu Mahama.

He said that we have to continue and not give up on the Zongos because you have to continue to show that you care about them.

We were talking about and he said we have to do things to let the Zongos appreciate that the NPP is not anti-Zongo as the propaganda was at the time.

We see him [Aliu Mahama] as a pioneer as far as our politics is concerned. As Vice President to President Kufuor, he brought something unique to the table. He straddled the Zongo and northern communities.

Dr Bawumia said from then, they started brainstorming on what they can do to make an impact in the Zongos by coming up with specific interventions.

"So that is why when we brought that suggestion to Nana Akufo-Addo he immediately said that it is a good idea, let us put it in the manifesto, and today by the grace of God, we are establishing the Zongo Development Fund, he added.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com
The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition has questioned the need for the setting up of a voluntary education fund by the government.

The Coalition believes that the fund cannot solve the funding challenges the free senior high school education policy will encounter, and has asked government to come clear on how it intends to fund the programme.

Chairman of the Coalition, Bright Appiah told Joy News If government is calling for a voluntary contribution fund, then it raised uncertainty in terms of how the government is harmonizing some of these scholarships that existed already and how it can feed into the larger policy scheme.

During the 2018 budget presentation in Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed that with the successful launch of the free SHS, government has received proposals from the public, several of which encourage the establishment of a fund to receive voluntary contributions to support education."

Thankfully, the GET Fund Law allows for the setting up of other education-related funds. In 2018, the Ministry will work with GET Fund to set up this education fund to enable Ghanaians make voluntary contributions to support education, he added.

But this has not gone down well with NGOs in education.

Mr Appiah wondered if existing support schemes like the COCOBOD scholarships are being utilized to support the free SHS programme.

He said students benefitting from such schemes and other private sponsorships should be taken off the free SHS programme to make room for more people.

The continuous existence of all these people on the free SHS programme will cause the government to spend more than it should, thereby hampering the smooth running of the policy, he argued.

Mr Appaih noted that the reason for the introduction of the new fund means there is a gap in funding, but we have to be clear on how we want to run it, so that there will be no uncertainty in terms of the people we can support and how the scholarships which are already in the system can support the programme.

If government has made allocation and you think that, that allocation is enough, then what is the essence in calling for a voluntary contribution, he queried.

He fears that government will chicken out in supporting the programme, and that is why we have to acknowledge it.

However, Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei Asare says the government is committed to funding the programme and every year it will make provisions in the budget for the free SHS.

These are additional funds that can come in and can be used for other things related to education. As long as this government is in power, we are committed to funding the programme.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

The Traditional Healers' Organisation (THO) in South Africa has described an upcoming summit on pseudoscience and quackery as a form of medical apartheid. The program is holding at Stellenbosch University. The Centre for Evidence-based Health Care and Centre for Science and Technology Mass Communication at the University are hosting the event.

The spokesperson of the THO, Phepsile Maseko stated that traditional medicine has the right to exist. Of course it does, as long as it is evidence based.

He further noted: Its interesting that those in the West are quick to judge and label it as anti-science, yet they steal from traditional medicine. When they use words like 'quackery', we do not mind because that is apartheid talk.

Apartheid talk? Who is saying that traditional medicine should not exist? What, in the theme of this summit, says or implies the abolition of traditional medicine? Who has labeled traditional medicine as anti science?

As one of the stakeholders in the health care sector in South Africa, the THO should support any move to tackle quackery and pseudo science. Quackery is an issue globally. Shady medical practices are injurious to health. They are not good for South Africans whether white or black.

Using the narrative of apartheid to undermine such a critical project is unconscionable

Quackery should not be tolerated in the name of traditional medicine.

So why should the THO be disturbed by a meeting to discuss dubious and ignorant medical practices in South Africa? Are they indirectly saying that the traditional healing system is a fraudulent one? Does the THO want shoddy medical practices to continue in the country? Why are the traditional healers seeing the issue through the lens of race, as a case of western medicine versus Africa traditional medicine, white versus black? Why can't they see it as a case of medical claims that are evidence based versus those that are not evidence based? This is because there is nothing like western or traditional medicine, African, Asian, black or white medicine. Scientifically speaking, these categories are empty and meaningless because scientific medicine is universally applicable. As they say, medicine is medicine, either it works or it does not. If it does not work, it is not medicine no matter how one describes it- traditional or modern, western, or eastern. These labels do not invest safety and efficacy on any medical claim or tradition.

Instead of dismissing this summit as an apartheid project, traditional healers should liaise with the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care and the Centre for Science and Technology Mass Communication (Censcom) at the university to explore this important topic

The TBO should stop this paranoid talk and join efforts to combat shoddy medical claims and practices in South Africa.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

From January to September 2017, China was the leading source of investments in terms of project numbers in Ghana. It registered 25 projects. India and the United Kingdom followed with 19 and 13 projects respectively, according to the third quarter report by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).

On the other hand, with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) value of $2.44 billion, the Netherlands ranked tops of the list of source countries in terms of FDI Values. Again, India occupied the second position with total FDI Values of $411.75 million.

Investments recorded during the first three quarters of the year 2017 amounted to $5,632.05 million with FDI component of $4,366.06 million. This is made up of investment registrations at GIPC, the Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB), the Minerals Commission, and the Petroleum Commission. A minimum of 12,259 jobs are expected to be created as a resultant effect of the inflows.

In the third quarter, India and the United Kingdom, with five (5) projects each, were the leading sources of investments by project numbers.

On the other hand, with FDI value of $21.62 million, Denmark topped the list of countries with the largest value of investments registered during the quarter.

The FDI component of the total estimated value of the projects registered during the period under review (July to September 2017) was $94.75 million, representing 79.1% of the total estimated value, and a local currency component of $25.06 million, representing 20.9%.

The total foreign equity was US$45.66 million and the initial equity transfer within the quarter was $21.37 million.

During the period under review, the total number of projects registered was 139 with a total estimated value of approximately $3.37 billion.

The FDI component came to $3.25 billion representing an 80% increase over the $1.81 billion figure recorded in the corresponding period in 2016.

At full capacity, the 139 new projects are expected to generate 7,273 jobs for Ghanaians.

Six out of the ten regions directly benefited from the registered projects during the quarter. The regions are Ashanti, Central, Greater Accra, Northern, Volta and Western regions. 84.09% of all the projects registered are located in the Greater Accra region.
16.11.2017 LISTEN

As the call for the promotion or rejection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) rents the air, RUTH TENE NATSA captures the views of stakeholders on the raging debate.

Experts have defined genetically modified organism (GMOs) as a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species is extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. They say the foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans.

A new peer reviewed analysis GMO Bt toxins: Safe for people and environment or super toxins? systematically compares GMO and natural Bt proteins and shows that GMO developers in the process of inserting Bt-toxins into crops have removed many of the elements contributing to this narrow toxicity. Thus developers have made GMO insecticides that, in the words of one Monsanto patent, are super toxins.

The authors of the review additionally concluded that references to any GMO by toxins being natural are incorrect and scientifically unsupportable.

Quoting the review, Lawyer and Chair of the Alliance for the Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and the Coordinator of the Food Sovereignty Programme for Friends of the Earth Nigeria and Africa, Mariann BasseyOrovwuje quoted the authors saying, Ciba-Geigy measured its 176 Bt-toxins to be 5-10 times more toxicologically active when inserted into plants.

Monsanto patented a series of novel Bt-toxins with up to 7.9-fold enhanced activity and called these super toxins having the combined advantages of increased insecticidal activity and concomitant broad spectrum activity. The most powerful of these is now found in commercial MON863 corn.

She also decried Nigeria Biosafety Chiefs defence of GMOs as worrisome.

Responding to an article, published October 9th in Premium Times titled Nigeria bio-safety chief defends GMOs Orovwuje alleged it had become the norm for the Nigerian Biosafety Chief, Dr. Rufus Egbeda to rise to the defence of GMOs.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the director-general had urged citizens to view genetically modified organisms from a knowledge angle and ignore statements that paint it as harmful. The DG had said GMOs are not new crops invented by scientists but the same conventional crops that are improved on to tackle persistent issues such as shortage of food and insect infestation on crops.

He added that genetically modified organisms are not different from their conventional counterparts. Bassey-Orovwuje in her response to some participants at a high profile meeting, who also saw the article, and were visibly alarmed that a regulatory officer would be promoting GMOs, said earnestly, is Nigerias chief biosafety regulatory officer saying that GMOs pose no harm or risks?

She noted that GMOs are basically regulated because their safety is in doubt. If indeed GMOs are safe, why should we have a regulatory agency? Why do we need a Biosafety Management Agency? The Agency was established to provide regulatory framework, for safety measures to check the adverse effects that GMOs would have on human health, animals, plants, and the environment she queried.

She said If indeed GMOs were safe, NBMA should be disbanded and the staff redeployed to line agencies. Staff promoting GMOs can be sent to the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), the agency mandated to promote GMOs. That is where they would be a perfect fit.

In a statement to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the environmentalist recalled that the American Academy of Environmental Medicine in 2010, warned that evidence is strong enough that GMOs directly cause health harm to warrant warning people to avoid eating them. The academy noted that numerous studies and incidents have suggested that GMOs can cause problems including immune dysfunction, insulin disorders and damage to organs and the reproductive system.

I dare to say that agroecology is the bold future for farming in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Let us keep those toxic chemicals, pesticides and insecticides, and all those imported solutions out of our food and agricultural systems and out of our plates she said, maintaining that Nigeria deserves a biosafety regulatory system that is unbiased, pro-environment and pro-people.

I am afraid that NBMA as presently set up and run is skewed in favour of GMOs. Going by the incessant statements of the Director General, the NBMA cannot be an unbiased referee, as it is clear it is already flying the colours of the pro-GMO train: she said. The environmentalist said she was taken aback with some of Biosafety Chiefs statements such as, Genetically modified organisms are not different from their conventional counterparts.

If this was true, why would GM promoters or scientists go into so much trouble of inserting activated toxin genes from the soil-living bacterium Bacillus thuringiensi (Bt) into some crops? When the NBMA Boss admits that the crops are modified, how can these modified crops be the same with their natural, untainted, conventional counterpart?

Monsantos Maize application to NBMA was accompanied with a cocktail of chemicals -glyphosate formulations which will be applied to MON 89034 and NK603 (Maize).

Contrary to Monsantos claims of its safety, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a sub unit of the World Health Organisation, concluded that there was strong evidence of genotoxicity and oxidative stress for glyphosate entirely from publicly available research, including findings of DNA damage in the peripheral blood of exposed humans. In a nutshell, the agency said glyphosate is likely to cause cancer.

On 19th of October 2017, against all odds and despite industry scaremongering and pressure, the proposal to fully ban glyphosate by 2020 went through EU Parliament Environment committee. That means the EU Parliament environment committee supports glyphosate ban by 2020 she said.

Bassey-Orovwuje said Lets us be reminded that the BT cotton, another of Monsantos application that had been rejected in Burkina Faso for failure to deliver good quality yield, one of the hyped promises from Monsanto. It was that same failed variety that was recycled and submitted here in Nigeria, and was approved by NBMA possibly to mark its first year of existence. Many reports of this Bt-toxin cottons abysmal failure abound.

In the words of Parshuram Ghagi, from Yavatmal district in India, whose relative died of pesticide poisoning, BT Cotton resistance claims have proven hollow. She further quoted former Vice-Chancellor Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dr Sharad Nimbalkar, who said BT Cotton variety in use has lost its potency. Besides, pests become resistant to even the pesticides over a period of time. As a result, the number of sprayings required to save the crop has increased.

She queried the truth that cowpea and sorghum were presently being tried at the Institute of Agricultural Research in Zaria,also another product under trial called the `newest rice by the National Cereal Research Institute, Badegi. Is this for real?

She maintained that aside from applications for Bt Cotton (MON 15985) and Confined Trial (1) NK603 AND (2) MON89034 X NK603 Maize, and most recently the AMY3 RNAi Transgenic Lines (transgenic Cassava Clones) by International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and ETHZ Biotechnology Lab in Zurich, that were announced by NBMA, there is no clarity on how other staples, cowpea (beans), sorghum, rice, all major Nigerian stable food, are being genetically modified and on field trials in Nigeria.

When did the trials for cowpea, rice and Sorghum begin? Which institution(s) or corporation(s)/companies, laboratories are collaborating with the said institutions doing the trials? Under what laws were these trials authorised? How come it was not subjected to public comments like the case of the cotton, maize and cassava as provided by section 25(1) National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015 which states.

The Agency shall upon the receipt of the application and the accompanying information under section 23 of this Act, display copies of such application and relevant information at such places and for such period as the Agency may, from time to time determine to enable the general public and relevant government ministries and agencies study and make comments on the application and relevant information within 21 days.

She also asked if copies of the applications for Cowpea (Beans), Sorghum and Rice be made available? Earlier, Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, had alerted Nigerians on tons of genetically modified (GM) maize imported into the country without necessary approvals.

These GMOs should not have been authorised to head to Nigerian ports in the first instance. We are worried that this incident may just be a fraction of other undetected arrival of unauthorised foods into Nigeria, including those of the genetically modified varieties.
Aliu Mahama

16.11.2017 LISTEN

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) will partner the Aliu Mahama Foundation to clean some parts of the metropolis on Saturday, November 25, as part activities marking the fifth anniversary of the death of the Former Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

The clean up exercise will be done from Manhyia Palace through Asawasi and end at the Jubilee Park.

This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the Aliu Mahama Foundation, Dr. Samuel Kwadwo Frimpong when he called on the KMA Coordinating Director (MCD), Michael Ataogye.

The MCD stood in for the Mayor who is outside the country on international assignment.

Dr. Samuel Kwadwo Frimpong outlined other programmes marking the fifth anniversary of the passing of the Former Vice President.

"Series of programmes have been lined up for the anniversary and these include a Photo and Arts Exhibition, Public Lecture, clean up exercises and donations to head porters. We know that the Former Vice President was a campaigner against all forms of indiscipline and the clean up exercises has been selected to highlight the need to fight sanitation indiscipline, he stated.

A Member of the Aliu Mahama Foundation, Edmond Kyei explained that the Foundation is aware of the big funeral to be held in December and the clean up exercise in Kumasi is to help clean Kumasi ahead of the funeral of the late Queen mother of Asanteman, Nana Afia Kobi Ampem II.

The Metro Coordinating Director, Michael Ataogye and the Presiding Member, Hon. Abraham Boadi all pledged the support of the Assembly to make the clean up a success in memory of the late Vice President.

Aside the clean up exercise, some trees will also be planted in selected areas in memory of the Vice President.

The Aliu Mahama Foundation will also have a soup kitchen at the Jubilee Park and fete some head porters (kayayie) and donate some clothing to them.
Chairman Of B5 Plus Ghana Limited, Mukesh Thakwani

16.11.2017 LISTEN

STEEL AND iron manufacturing giant, B5 Plus Ghana Company Limited has been adjudged the best metals, building and construction company of the year 2017 by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

The sixth AGI awards ceremony was held on November 11, 2017, at the Banquet Hall of State House, Accra, and was attended by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and captains of industry.

It was held under the theme: "Promoting Industry and Quality Standards In Sixty Years of Ghana's Economic Development."

B5 Plus Limited beat several other contenders to add the prestigious award to its arsenal of awards.

Commenting on the award, Chairman of B5 Plus Ghana Limited, Mukesh Thakwani explained that the company felt really honoured for the recognition by AGI.

"We are honoured to say that we were one of the nominees for best company of the year award as well," he said with smiles beaming all over his face..

Mr. Thakwani dedicated the prestigious award to workers of B5 Plus Ghana Limited, without whom he said "we can't produce quality."

Asked what he thought differentiated B5 Plus from other players in the industry, he said attention to quality and service has been a major contributor to the company's success over the years.

He noted "B5 Plus believes in producing quality products at a competitive rate," adding that "we believe in giving services to people."

To help meet the needs of customers on a timely basis, the Chairman said "we have branches all over Ghana to ensure that customers have the products at their doorsteps."

Also, he indicated that the company has made several efforts over the last 15 years of its existence to support the needy through its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

One key aspect of its CSR activities, he said, was in the area of education, which he claimed has led to the group setting up the Delhi Public School International (DPSI) Ghana to provide quality and affordable tuition to learners across West Africa.

Future Outlook

On the future prospect of B5 Plus Limited, Mr. Thakwani explained that 'one stop shop for iron and steel' company was making plans to expand its operations in Ghana by tapping into government's one district one factory initiative.

About B5 Plus

B5 Plus Ghana Limited was established about 15 years ago with corporate headquarters in Tema, and was initially importing steel and iron from Cote d' Ivoire and South Africa but has grown to the stage where it now exports to other countries.

B5 Plus Limited operates in all the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries.

The company's principal product is steel products which come in seven major categories: Mild Steel, High Tensile & Iron Rods, Galvanized Products, Stainless Steel, Marine & Mining, Roofing & Nails and Concrete & Fencing.

Its vision is to become the worlds steel industry benchmark through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 16th November, 2017, as part of his 3-day official visit to Qatar, paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The discussions between the two leaders centred on energy, infrastructural development, railways and roads, and, also on the need to co-operate strategically for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their respective populations.

With the Emir of Qatar set to visit Ghana from 27th December to 29th December, 2017, he told President Akufo-Addo that he was keen for Ghanaian companies to invest in Qatar, and was also keen on meeting with the Ghanaian business community during his visit to the country.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani indicated that Qatar was desirous of forging strong partnerships and relations with countries such as Ghana, countries that are governed in accordance with the rule of law, respect for individual liberties and human rights, and the principles of democratic accountability.

The Emir of Qatar stressed the need to rekindle the ancient ties between Africa and the Gulf Region, which has weakened in the course of the last 60 to 70 years.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo was grateful for the warm reception and hospitality corded him and his delegation since his arrival to Qatar.

He noted that Ghana, considering the significant gas resources available to her, was willing to learn from Qatar on how the country has exploited its gas resources for the development of the country and the progress of its people.

President Akufo-Addo was hopeful that Ghana would have an Ambassador to Qatar, and would have established an embassy in Qatar prior to the visit of the Emir.

-Classfmonline
The Chief Executive Officer of Vision Aplus Concepts, Michael Yerb Jnr, has bemoaned the filth engulfing our beaches and urged beach lovers to desist from littering the beaches with rubbish, debris and broken bottles.

He also urged Ghanaians to practice good sanitation and hygiene by ensuring that waste products are disposed of properly to keep the beaches clean and safe in order to promote tourism.

Michael Yerb Jnr threw this challenge at the company's maiden event dubbed, "Keep the Sea Clean out of Debris"as part of their Water Sanitation and Hygiene Campaign (WASH) held at the Blackstar Square beach in Accra.

Mr. Yerb Michael Jnr in his interactions with the people at the event reiterated the need for a collective responsibility and behavioural change towards practicing proper sanitation.

He urged the youth to protect the natural environment including the sea especially during occasions to avoid any outbreak of diseases.

Some members of the company were spotted displaying placards some of which read, " I Volunteer Today To Keep The Sea And The Beach Clean, No One Likes A Dirty Beach," among others to educate the general public.
The average Ghanaian music lover probably knows the name Bayku because of his recent hit with legendary group VVIP titled Walatu Walasa. But little is known about the journey of the artiste himself.

When the Walatu Walasa video dropped a few months ago, it brought a new face onto the music scene. His name is Bayku, also called Abeeku and he keeps popping up on hit records!

When they were barely teenagers, Abeeku (as he was then known) and Kwaku T were part of the early phenomenon we now know as hiplife. The two along with Panji Anoff opened the doors of hiplife as the legendary duo "Talking Drums".

Leaving Accra in 95, Abeeku moved between Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and London, both contributing, and writing songs for the likes of PitBull, Lil John, Polow Da Don, Tinchy Strider, Keri Hilson, Emile Sande and 50Cent to name a few. The day he got a call saying 50Cent wanted to re-mix a song he had recorded was a game changer.

At the time, 50Cent was the biggest artist in the world as far as I was concerned and for him to want to rerecord one of my songs was mind blowing... I was happy because I knew it meant money in my pocket; 50Cent was moving millions of units, but I was even happier because it confirmed that I could write for the biggest and best artists out there... It gave me the confidence to believe that I was on the right path, and many great things come from that belief and positive outlook...

"To be honest, at this moment I am more excited about KiDi, Kuami Eugene, M.anifest, and Yaa PONO today than I am about 50Cent because having lived and worked in many environments, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the Pop Music of the future. I believe I have a very important role to play, not only as a songwriter signed to one of the biggest publishing companies in the world (Defend Music / Kobalt), which gives me access to the global markets, but also as an artist who has learned to write for the global market in order to survive. I intend to bring these assets back home, and help in every way Im needed."

His exploits abroad at this point, aren't his main focus, but that he has found his way back with the aim of taking the Ghanaian sound global, is worth noticing.

His music takes influence from his diverse life experiences, and the result is a sophisticated blend of Afro Rock, Hip hop and Pop.

Bayku seeks to change the face of the Ghanaian music industry by making real indigenous Ghanaian music with a global appeal.

Be on the lookout for Bayku's latest collaboration "AJO" from new Artist "Vvice" and Hip-life GodFather "Reggie Rockstone"

Another Hit in the bag!

Instagram and twitter- @baykuwmusic

Facebook- Bayku
On Friday, Nov. 10, the public attended the annual Veterans Day program at Westby Area High School. Following opening remarks by Westby Area High School Principal Karl Stoker, the Coon Valley American Legion Honor Guard presented the colors and the high school band and choir provided a salute to area veterans performing a variety of patriotic songs.

This years guest speaker was Tom Sharratt of Westby. Sharratt, an Army veteran from the Vietnam era, asked people attending the Veterans Day program to close their eyes and imagine a life style they have only read about in textbooks. He then provided an overview of the ongoing battle for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness while acknowledging the millions of lives that have been lost through countless wars so current and future generations can continue to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted today.

Past Coon Valley American Legion commander, Roger Mathison spoke about Armistice Day and Gary Hess explained the history of the Firing Detail, Ruffles and Flourishes, and the playing of Taps

Prior to the public program at the high school veterans from the Coon Valley American Legion visited students at Coon Valley Elementary School and residents at the Bothne House, before ending the day with a visit to Norseland Nursing Home where they honored resident veterans for their service to America.

Members of the Westby Legion Post 115 and VFW 8021 visited students at Westby Elementary School prior to the Veterans Day program. Tom Sharratt and Butch Shattuck answered questions about their own past military service to America and explained to students and staff the importance of honoring veterans, not only on today, but always.
China are continuing their attack on bitcoin.

This comes after banning ICOs and crypto trading within its borders earlier this year.

This time Chinese officials are targeting the mining of bitcoin.

A circulating state document is even suggesting that mining is being considered an illegal activity by Chinese officials.

China has banned Facebook, YouTube and Google.

Fred Wilson, early investor in Twitter, even said, The lesson from the internet is that anything China bans, invest in.

Officials are often silent in applying these bans, so its always difficult to interpret how wide they truly are.

Bitcoin mining is the process by which transactions are verified and added to the public ledger, known as the blockchain.

This is also how new bitcoin are released.

Big implications for Bitcoin

Miners are the most important part of the crypto ecosystem. Without them transactions couldnt be processed, and the system would fall down.

Or in simpler terms, if bitcoin were to suddenly lose all mining support it would be worthless.

Chinese mines make up as much as 80% of the worlds bitcoin processing power.

If Chinese mining suddenly stopped completely, it would place an enormous strain on the rest of the mining community.

At least in the short term  as the duty of processing the transactions would need to be rethought.

This also presents a significant opportunity. The chance to spread out the mining of bitcoin.

Many have argued that Chinas mining dominance has led to an unhealthy reliance on one country.

Before recent sanctions, most crypto trading, mining and ICOs were all in China. Making it the centre of the crypto universe.

Cryptocurrencies moving away from China

Recent regulations have sent most of these dealings to Hong Kong and Japan.

The problem with having all the mining in one place, is that it also means all the new bitcoin is mainly going to one place.

This was never part of the design.

If you think of bitcoin as digital gold  as it designed to be  it means that basically all the worlds gold is in or going to China.

This is because bitcoin is finite, limited to 21,000,000 coins.

Nearly 17 million of which are already in circulation.

This is why I argue that spreading the duty of mining could actually lead to growth, through a more even wealth distribution.

Mining was never meant to be done in one place.

So at the very least a more varied mining network will re-align bitcoin with the original vision outlined for the digital asset.

China is committing to a war it cannot win.

Regards,

Dion Dalton-Bridges,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning

P.s. If you want to learn more about the secret world of bitcoin, click here.
Review of CI.133 will aid in ...
Imagine a program that provides books to children who might not have the means to purchase their own, and by doing so, helps introduce them to the joy of reading.

Wisconsin Bookworm started out as the First Book. First Book was a continuing outreach effort of Wisconsin Public Television, designed to extend the learning of childrens public television shows.

By presenting free books each year to a child who may not otherwise be in a position to buy books on their own, their goal was to help children begin a lifelong love of reading.

Wisconsin Public Television First Book project was part of a national First Book effort with local partners from the University of Wisconsins Extension Family Living Program and the Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education. Funding was provided by the Corp for Public Broadcasting through a grant from the National Early Childhood Institute of the U.S. Department of Education, Wisconsin Public Television and the Wisconsin Association for HCE.

Janet Anderson was the first coordinator in Jackson County. She carried on until 2002 when Jan Eckles took over the position. From a 2001-02 report on First Book came the information that approximately 250 children were able to own a book a month after being read to by many wonderful ladies over the past nine months. Readers at that time were Janet Anderson, Jean Hopkins, Joan Adsen, Diane Guenther, Alice Rochester, Verna Arndt, Geri Muth, Lorraine Calhoun, Faye Brown, Grace Stevens, Jeanette Janke, Jeannette Bohac and Jan Eckles.

The name First Book was changed to Wisconsin Bookworm in 2006. Readers traveled to elementary schools, day care centers, Ho-Chunk Head Start and Western Dairyland home school. Although the locations and number of books changed from year to year, the goal was still the sameto get as many books as possible to children who might not be able to get them elsewhere.

Currently this program would not be possible without the continued generous support of the Lunda Charitable Trust, the Ho-Chunk Nation and donations and fundraisers from various HCE clubs.

October 2017 marked the start of the 20th year of the Bookworm Project. A total of 124 sets of books were ordered, which means 1,144 will be shared throughout the year. Dedicated readers, Joanne Adsen, Janet Anderson, Karen Byrns, Lorraine Calhoun, Pat McGowan, Rita Meyers and Geri Muth have a combined total of almost 90 years of reading.

Since the very beginning, an estimated 22,873 books have been given to around 2,736 children at a cost of approximately $64,239!

It shows what wonderful things can happen when several factions get together to form a great team.
Elephants Are Legal Persons and Deserve To Be Free, Group Claims in Court Petition Newsweek (Furzy Mouse).

Go away, pig! A hog traps a woman in her truck for hours, and even food didnt help Miami Herald

Elon Musk: The Architect of Tomorrow Rolling Stone. Musk: Is there anybody you think I should date? Its so hard for me to even meet people.

Elon Musk calls investors who bet against Teslas stocks jerks who want us to die Business Insider. If there were a Five Stages of Grief for Founders, I bet Hating on Shorts would be one of them.

Waymo, Uber squabble over ground rules as trade-secrets theft trial looms San Francisco Chronicle

Inside Artificial Intelligences First Church WIRED. Anthony Levandowski: Part of it being smarter than us means it will decide how it evolves, but at least we can decide how we act around it. I would love for the machine to see us as its beloved elders that it respects and takes care of. We would want this intelligence to say, Humans should still have rights, even though Im in charge.'

Google Docs down: Word processing tool breaks for users all across the world The Independent (YY). YY: I dont understand the functional merit of the cloud when local storage options get exponentially ever cheaper, physically smaller, and higher in capacity on a daily basis. The wonder of sharing and convenience goes out the window when the cloud becomes unreliable, let alone something you can trust. The same bandwidth and speed which allows for the cloud to be marketed also turns the functional advantages into mere hype to tie customers into client relationships.

Boeing 757 Testing Shows Airplanes Vulnerable to Hacking, DHS Says Avionics (CL).

The Low Volatility Puzzle: Is This Time Different? Liberty Street Economics. Betteridges Law.

Brexit

When the mainstream Left gets lost down its Europhile hole Bill Mitchell. From October, still germane.

Syraqistan

Zimbabwe: Military calculates next move after Mugabe loses iron grip on country after 37 years Independent

India

Three Years In, Modi Remains Very Popular Pew Research Center

China

ASEAN shuns mention of Chinas new islands, arbitration loss WaPo

Arigato, Trump-san: Japans Wake-up Call Peter Tasker. The end of American exceptionalism means the end of Japanese exceptionalism too.

Puerto Rico

Russia and Venezuela agree debt deal BBC

New Cold War

Trump Transition

The Supreme Court has made it much easier for politicians to get away with corruption Zephyr Teachout, Medium (GF).

Sex in PoliticsNot!

Health Care

Feds Prepare For A New War On Kratom, An Herbal Drug Many Swear By HuffPo (CL). CL; The ploy that its not well understood is especially dishonest, and also part of a pattern. In the first place, it IS well understood; its been used for thousands of years. In the second, in this case as in others, the industry essentially refuses to research it, then invokes the lack of research as excuse to ban it  and in effect, to block research!

UK Biobank Supercharges Medicine with Gene Data on 500,000 Brits MIT Technology Review. See, e.g., UK Biobank: Protocol for a large-scale prospective epidemiological resource (PDF).

Class Warfare

Two Murder Convictions for One Fatal Shot The New Yorker. In dozens of criminal trials, prosecutors have put the same gun in the hands of more than one defendant.

The gun numbers: just 3% of American adults own a collective 133m firearms Guardian. Couldnt they collect model trains? Or stamps?

The world at 3 degrees: What it means for five cities Deutsche Welle

Res Obscura: What Did 17th Century Food Taste Like? Res Obscura (CL).

The origin story of the peace sign The Week (Furzy Mouse).

Antidote du jour (via):



Bonus antidote:

Guys I just found out that super chill cat was from a neighborhood in Istanbul and when she passed away in 2015 the residents missed her so much they made a statue of her sitting in the same spot and I am now dead my ghost is typing this pic.twitter.com/PJle1OJ5Yi  August J. Pollak (@AugustJPollak) November 15, 2017

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Last month, I looked at PG&E and Northern California fires collectively known as the Wine Country fires, and related past Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) fires to inadequate tree-trimming (vegetation management) and concluded:

In Puerto Rico, lack of tree trimming caused by an austerity regime imposed by the Obama administration acting on behalf of Wall Street caused the complete collapse of Puerto Ricos grid. In California, a pattern of lack of tree trimming caused by the profit motive led to collapsed power lines and fires in the Sierra Blaze, the Pendola Fire, the Butte Fire, and quite possibly the Wine Country. If the relation between the PUC and PG&E is as cozy as the San Bruno Pipeline Explosion and Cloptons whistleblower suit suggest, the truth of the matter may be hard to come by. But maybe well get lucky!

One way to get lucky is, of course, through a lawsuit, of which there is now a wave against PG&E. And yes, the suits  the litigation, not the litigants  are focusing on tree-trimming. From Law.com:

A coalition of plaintiffs firms has sued Pacific Gas & Electric claiming the utility companys lackluster maintenance of power lines, poles, and the brush beneath them played a major role in sparking the wildfires that ravaged Northern Californias wine country last month. Forty-three people died and about 100,000 people were displaced after wildfires burned about 200,000 acres and destroyed about 8,000 structures across North Bay counties. Attorneys at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy; Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora; Panish Shea & Boyle; Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger; and Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery filed three separate lawsuits in San Francisco Superior Court Tuesday on behalf of families affected by the fires, claiming PG&E knew its electrical infrastructure was aging and ineffective at preventing wildfires. Pitre said Tuesday that part of the motivation behind the current lawsuits is to allow investigators hired by the law firms to access evidence that Cal Fire and PG&E collected so that they can make an independent assessment of what caused the blazes. We have serious concerns about relying on a company that has previously been convicted of misleading the NTSB, Pitre said.

Luck being the residue of design, we can hope those independent assessments make their way into the press and have beneficial effects on public policy.

Meanwhile  and who can blame them?  PG&E is preparing (and leaking) its defense. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The deadliest and most destructive of last months Wine Country wildfires may have been started by electrical equipment not owned or installed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the utility said in a legal filing Thursday. The filing states that while California fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the Tubbs Fire, which destroyed entire neighborhoods of Santa Rosa, preliminary investigations suggest that this fire might have been caused by electrical equipment that was owned, installed and maintained by a third party.

On the preliminary investigations: Heres a link to incident report (PG&E Incident No: 171026-8601) performed by a PG&E compliance specialist dated October 8, and submitted October 26. The incident location is Calistoga, where the Tubbs Fire (one of the Wine Country Fires) started on October 8. Regarding the third party electrical equipment:

Note the description of the equipment is given only at the point where CalFire takes possession of it on the 26th; all we have on the 8th is the cryptic Damage? Yes (with nothing else filled in; reasonable, since the equipment was not PG&Es). Theres also no indication of the cause of the damage. (Could it be poor tree-trimming, this time on private property?) There is also a mention of PG&E equipment, not damaged at all, from which the defense might infer that the private equipment started the fires, given that the PG&E equipment was undamaged, but I dont see how we can infer that without knowing what the PG&E equipment was; the incident report does not say. So there is a good deal to be brought out in depositions and testimony (and there are at least a dozen other fires the defense must account for, not just the Tubbs Fire).

But assume the Tubbs Fire was started by private equipment. Does that mean that PG&E is off the hook? Under man in the dock theories of blame, yes. Taking a more systemic view, no.

Here is the regulatory state of play on Fire Safety Rulemaking at the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). Im quoting a great slab of it so you get the flavor of it. From the CPUC:

Most of the new regulations consist of new or revised rules in General Order (GO) 95. Several of the new regulations rely on maps that designate areas where there is an elevated hazard for powerline fires to occur and spread rapidly (fire-threat maps). These regulations include: GO 95, Rule 18A , which requires electric utilities and communication infrastructure providers (CIPs) to place a high priority on the correction of significant fire hazards in high fire-threat areas of Southern California.

, which requires electric utilities and communication infrastructure providers (CIPs) to place a high priority on the in high fire-threat areas of Southern California. GO 95, Rules 31.2, 80.1A, and 90.1B , which set the minimum frequency for inspections of aerial communication facilities located in close proximity to power lines in high fire-threat areas throughout California.

, which set the minimum frequency for of aerial communication facilities located in close proximity to power lines in high fire-threat areas throughout California. GO 95, Rule 35, Table 1, Case 14 , which requires increased radial clearances between bare-line conductors and vegetation in high fire-threat areas of Southern California.

, which requires increased radial clearances between bare-line conductors and in high fire-threat areas of Southern California. GO 95, Appendix E, which authorizes increased time-of-trim clearances between bare-line conductors and vegetation in high fire-threat areas of Southern California.

between bare-line conductors and vegetation in high fire-threat areas of Southern California. GO 165, Appendix A, Table 1 , which requires more frequent patrol inspections of overhead powerline facilities in rural, high fire-threat areas of Southern California.

, which requires more frequent patrol of overhead powerline facilities in rural, high fire-threat areas of Southern California. GO 166, Standard 1.E., which requires each electric utility in Southern California to develop and submit a plan to reduce the risk of fire ignitions by overhead facilities in high fire-threat areas during extreme fire-weather events. Electric utilities in Northern California must also develop and submit a plan if they have overhead facilities in high fire-threat areas that are subject to extreme fire-weather events.

(So, a lot of planning, inspection, and vegetation management.) Obviously, maps (or even live, dynamic representations from Geographic Information Systems) are an excellent way to keep track of things on the ground like powerlines, trees, and where powerlines are close to trees, so you know which trees to trim. If you want to get fancy, youd integrate drought information, so you could deploy resources not only to where trees were close to powerlines, but where they were close, and dry, hence flammable. (Im sure GIS buffs can come up with many more cases.) Note the word maps, plural. There isnt just one map. Again the CPUC:

The regulations identified above require a map to designate high fire-threat areas where these regulations apply. There are now three surrogate fire-threat maps that together are called the Interim Fire-Threat Maps.

Obviously, regulatory efforts that rely on maps that are interim surrogates (!) risk outcomes that are less than ideal, and the CPUC has undertaken to create a single, unified, master map:

In 2012, the CPUC ordered the development of a map that is designed specifically for the purpose of identifying areas where there is an increased risk for utility associated wildfires.The development of the CPUCs fire-threat map was bifurcated into Fire Map 1 (FM 1) followed by Fire Map 2. FM 1 is a statewide map that depicts areas of California where there is an elevated hazard for the ignition and rapid spread of powerline fires due to strong winds, abundant dry vegetation, and other environmental conditions. These are the environmental conditions associated with the catastrophic powerline fires that burned 334 square miles of Southern California in October 2007. FM 1 served as the foundation for the development of Fire Map 2 (FM 2), which is currently in progress. FM 2 will delineate the boundaries of a new High Fire-Threat District where utility infrastructure and operations will be subject to stricter firesafety regulations. Importantly, the development of FM 2 will (1) incorporate fire hazards associated with historical powerline wildfires besides the October 2007 fires in Southern California (e.g., the Butte Fire that burned 71,000 acres in Amador and Calaveras Counties in September 2015), and (2) rank fire-threat areas based on the risks that utility-associated wildfires pose to people and property.

(Here is Fire Map 2. GIS buffs?) FM 2 sounds neat; preventing catastrophic powerline fires is always neat. This is 2017 (not 2012). Why isnt Fire Map 2 already in place?

Fire Map 2 is not in place because PG&E (along with the other utilities) have stalled it. From the San Jose Mercury News:

PG&E helped stall effort to map risky power lines prone to wildfires For the better part of a decade, Californias utilities have helped to stall the states effort to map where their power lines present the highest risk for wildfires, an initiative that critics say could have forced PG&E to strengthen power poles and bolster maintenance efforts before this months deadly North Bay fires. A review of the mapping project by the Bay Area News Group shows that utilities have repeatedly asked to slow down the effort and argued as recently as July that, as PG&E put it, certain proposed regulations would add unnecessary costs to construction and maintenance projects in rural areas. [Sen. Jerry Hill, D-Redwood City] and other critics have characterized the years-long state regulatory efforts as a long, meandering slog, with hundreds of utilities, telecommunication companies, internet providers and other stakeholders fighting over proposed regulations that could add significant costs to their bottom line. In October 2016, PG&E complained to a judge that the PUCs plans to complete the map by March of this year was too aggressive. And in July, the utility called a proposed regulation to increase the wind speed that power poles must sustain arbitrary. A pair of administrative judges tried to shepherd the utilities along, but they continued to pick away at regulations and map criteria This year, after a March 31 deadline came and went, PG&E, Southern California Edison Company and PacifiCorp complained that the intention to highlight vulnerable power infrastructure on the final map could present public safety and security issues. In July, PG&E also fought a number of regulatory proposals. The company, for example, said it didnt want to have to comply with any new wildfire regulations within a proposed six-month deadline  and preferred a year to get up to speed. State officials began working to tighten regulations on utilities and create the detailed maps after wind-toppled electrical lines in 2007 ignited catastrophic fires in the San Diego area. But nearly 10 years later, the state Public Utilities Commission  which initiated the process  still hasnt finished the maps, let alone adopted strict new regulations.

So, from a systemic perspective, even if PG&E wasnt responsible for the private equipment that they claim started the Tubbs fire, they are very much responsible for retarding the mapping system that could have flagged that private equipment as a problem.[1] Metaphorically, PG&E didnt toss the match, but they made sure that the electrical system wasnt up to code, that there werent any fire extinguishers, and that there werent any In Case of FIre signs to the exits. (I should also mention that the CPUC seems to be lacking the sort of aggression Id expect from a regulatory body with such important duties. Perhaps theyre a little too close to the Brown administration?)

And here we are:

(NASA.)

Im sure well hear more about PG&E and the Wine Country fires, especially if the lawyers have their way. And rightly!

NOTES

[1] I have to assume that FIre Map 2 will map all power lines, public and private. Otherwise, given the Tubbs Fire, whats the point?
By Leith van Onselen. Originally published at MacroBusiness

15,364 scientists from 180 countries have put their names to a BioScience journal article calling for population growth to be limited, and governments to stop only focusing on economic growth. According to the ABC article attached to the report, the number is believed to be the largest group of scientists to have ever put their names to a research paper focused on climate change. Below are some key extracts from the journal article:

Twenty-five years ago, the Union of Concerned Scientists and more than 1700 independent scientists, including the majority of living Nobel laureates in the sciences, penned the 1992 World Scientists Warning to Humanity (see supplemental file S1). These concerned professionals called on humankind to curtail environmental destruction and cautioned that a great change in our stewardship of the Earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided. In their manifesto, they showed that humans were on a collision course with the natural world The authors of the 1992 declaration feared that humanity was pushing Earths ecosystems beyond their capacities to support the web of life. They described how we are fast approaching many of the limits of what the biosphere can tolerate without substantial and irreversible harm. The scientists pleaded that we stabilize the human population, describing how our large numbersswelled by another 2 billion people since 1992, a 35 percent increaseexert stresses on Earth that can overwhelm other efforts to realize a sustainable future Since 1992, with the exception of stabilizing the stratospheric ozone layer, humanity has failed to make sufficient progress in generally solving these foreseen environmental challenges, and alarmingly, most of them are getting far worse We are jeopardizing our future by not reining in our intense but geographically and demographically uneven material consumption and by not perceiving continued rapid population growth as a primary driver behind many ecological and even societal threats (Crist et al. 2017). By failing to adequately limit population growth, reassess the role of an economy rooted in growth, reduce greenhouse gases, incentivize renewable energy, protect habitat, restore ecosystems, curb pollution, halt defaunation, and constrain invasive alien species, humanity is not taking the urgent steps needed to safeguard our imperilled biosphere Sustainability transitions come about in diverse ways, and all require civil-society pressure and evidence-based advocacy, political leadership, and a solid understanding of policy instruments, markets, and other drivers. Examples of diverse and effective steps humanity can take to transition to sustainability include estimating a scientifically defensible, sustainable human population size for the long term while rallying nations and leaders to support that vital goal. To prevent widespread misery and catastrophic biodiversity loss, humanity must practice a more environmentally sustainable alternative to business as usual. This prescription was well articulated by the worlds leading scientists 25 years ago, but in most respects, we have not heeded their warning.

This global report follows the latest Australian Government State of the Environment report. released in March, which found that Australias natural environment is being placed under acute strain from rapid population growth and economic activity:

The federal governments State of the Environment 2016 report (prepared by a group of independent experts, which I chaired), released today, predicts that population growth and economic development will be the main drivers of environmental problems such as land-use change, habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change We continue to lose agricultural lands through urban encroachment. Over the past five years land-clearing rates stabilised in all states and territories except Queensland, where the rate of clearing increased. Coastal waterways are threatened by pollutants, including microplastics and nanoparticles Population growth in our major cities, along with Australias reliance on private cars, is leading to greater traffic volumes, which increase traffic congestion and delays as well as pollution

In 1994, when Australias population was just under 18 million, the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) convened a symposium on the future population of Australia. Its analysis was extended to Australias resources of water, minerals and arable land, and the interactions between present lifestyle and present environmental damage, and between future expectations and the costs of increasing population.

The AAS cautioned that if our population reaches the high end of the feasible range (37 million), the quality of life of all Australians will be lowered by the degradation of water, soil, energy and biological resources and concluded that the quality of all aspects of our childrens lives will be maximised if the population of Australia by the mid-21st Century is kept to the low, stable end of the achievable range, i.e. to approximately 23 million.

Just 22 years later, Australias population is approaching 25 million, thus already exceeding the AAS recommended maximum population mid-century.

The fact of the matter is that there are few better policy solutions to protect Australias environment than limiting population growth and abandoning plans for a Big Australia, which necessarily means significantly cutting immigration.

Australias birthrate of 1.8 is below replacement level and the nations population would stablise at 27 million by 2060 under zero net overseas migration, according to the Productivity Commission. By contrast, if current mass immigration setting are maintained, Australias population will exceed 40 million  a difference of at least 13 million people (see below chart).

The above reports do also highlight the complete and utter negligence of The Australian Greens. Despite their purported concerns for the environment, The Greens have remained deafly silent on Australias world-beating immigration program and have refused to argue the case publicly for a smaller and more sustainable population for Australia.

Will the real Greens please stand up?
(Natural News) Since June of 2015, 77 holistic practitioners, more with other deaths associated with them, have died, official causes ranging from suicide to heart attacks, with the latest woman, doctor Annie Fairbanks, found murdered in her home, along with her husband, their 3-year-old daughter and 9-month-old son, in Arizona.

(Article by Susan Duclos republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

Officials claim the husband killed his wife, two small children and then turned the gun on himself, but friends and loved ones have contacted Erin Elizabeth over at Health Nut News, who has been documenting the deaths of so many in the world of holistic medicine since 2015, to express doubts of the official claim of murder-suicide within hours of the discovery of the bodies.

We at HNN, who have been reporting on these deaths for two and a half years, (which you can read about here in a numbered timeline with photos ) find this hard to make the call of murder-suicide in a matter of hours and would like to know more. For instance, how Hoster was able to do so, so quickly, after finding their bodies and the crime scene. Our heart goes out to their family and friends. We notice people (presumably friends) on Dr. Fairbanks Facebook page are talking about what will happen to the murderer. We are not sure if theyre not informed, or have drawn their own conclusions. But well wait for forensic reports, ballistics, and the autopsy reports.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ms. Elizabeth has done an outstanding job documenting not only the deaths of 77 people in the holistic field, but has kept up with updated information, specifically on those that died under mysterious circumstances, all that documentation, with links to each relevant portion from the death notifications to the updated autopsies, to the follow up investigations, found on her Holistic Doctor Death Series page.

Stepping back from each individual death, the sheer amount of people from one specific subset of the medical industry, one that believed and practiced natural medicine and methods to deal with medical issues that did not involved big pharma, all dying in such a short amount of time, is absolutely astounding.

It is given that heart attacks and suicides occur across the country on a daily basis, but the circumstances of some of these cases, as well as family testimony, shows that there is more than meets the eye and the official accounts simply defy logic.

From the start, with the discovery of Dr. Jeff Bradstreet on June 19, 2015, found in a river with a gunshot wound to his chest, which was labeled a suicide, there have been strange circumstances surrounding these deaths, such as the rarity of someone shooting themselves in the chest, rather than the head, as a method of suicide.

The very same day in Mexico, three doctors went missing and when their bodies were discovered the families said the bodies were not those of their missing family members, and despite that fact, the government declared them dead.

When Rigoberto Hernandez stepped into the morgue, in late June, to identify his recently abducted sonhe knew right away there had been a mistake.It wasnt him, Hernandez told The Daily Beast during a recent demonstration outside the state capitol building to protest the governments handling of the case. I raised him from a baby, so I ought to know. The body presented [by the government] didnt look anything like my boy.The Hernandez family joined about 50 doctors and nurses at the July 2 demonstration, braving the desert heat. The protesters chanted and waved signs outside the locked gates of city hall, demanding Due process! and Security for health-care workers!Our family said we couldnt accept a body that wasnt ours, Hernandez explained. But the DA declared my son dead anyway.

Two days later, in Florida, two chiropractors were found dead, separately, and to this date no cause of death has been reported.

On June 29, 2015, two more holistic practitioners were found dead in separate states, one murdered, the other went missing and when he was found, his death was ruled as a suicide by gun, yet even local news was calling the entire investigation a mess, and taking authorities to task for conflicting storylines and a lack of transparency in revealing results.

With those eight deaths within a two week time frame, Health Nut News Unintended series into the deaths of holistic doctors began, documenting each case, with updates, leading up to this most recent death of Annie Fairbanks and her whole family.

That series and documentation can be found at Health Nut News.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
(Natural News) Could a new technology for weaponizing food known as RNA interference be used for population control?

Genetic engineers found a way to make food crops grow fragments of RNA that they can use bioweapon-style to interfere with the physiological properties of any species eating the food. For example, it can cause corn to grow characteristics that will kill pests when they eat it so pesticides wont be needed at all. This, of course, is presented as good news for humanity as it could eliminate the need for pesticides, but there is a huge caveat: This same technology could also be used to target not just pests but also human beings.

There are lots of possibilities here. For example, crops of food can be engineered to cause infertility in humans and some suspect its already being done; dropping sperm counts seem to indicate that something is indeed going on.

A recent study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem that was published in the Human Reproduction Journal Update revealed that human sperm production dropped by 59.3 percent between 1973 and 2011, which is a huge decline that could have serious implications. Much of it has been blamed on chemical exposure, specifically chemical castrators like atrazine. After all, the sperm drops are particularly prevalent in Western nations like the U.S. where GMO foods are widely consumed.

This statistic is something that population control proponents are surely pleased about. Many believe its being done intentionally, and it shows just how possible these frightening scenarios are. Just how far does this population control agenda go?

Black people have long been targeted in population reduction experiments

There have been lots of horrifying incidents in recent years in which blacks were targeted for experimentation and population reduction  and there could be many more that have yet to be exposed, so its not too far-fetched to imagine theyre being targeted right now by such technology. This is the topic of a new video lecture by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, called The Science Agenda to Exterminate Blacks. In the video, he talks about the concerted, organized and longstanding effort to eliminate African Americans from the gene pool and Africans in general.

In the video, he looks at how blacks have been targeted throughout the years. One of the more recent high-profile incidents was the lead poisoning in Flint, Michigans water supply, an area largely populated by African Americans.

In another example, Pfizer officials were arrested in Nigeria a few years ago for illegally testing experimental antibiotics on children there. Eleven kids died and dozens of others were harmed in the incident.

Adams believes that in the recent Ebola outbreak that gripped Africa, weaponized strains of the disease were allowed to escape there to test their epidemiological impact and try out new drugs and also to encourage more funding.

Then there are the groups giving young African women vaccines like tetanus shots in the Eliminate project that analysis showed had a high percentage of covert sterilization chemicals.

Vaccines are even believed to be used to target black babies. While everyone is susceptible to vaccine damage, they cause more damage in black babies than white ones. The genetic differences between black and white babies make it harder for black babies bodies to clear mercury from vaccines out of their bodies. Interestingly, black boys who were given the MMR vaccine had a 340 percent higher risk of autism.

One of the most egregious examples, however, is the Tuskegee syphilis experiment in the U.S. back in the 1930s in which poor, illiterate black men were left to suffer from syphilis intentionally so doctors could study the diseases progression and then dissect their bodies after they died.

With a track record like that, its only natural to wonder if the latest genetic engineering technology is being used for similar unethical experiments in our food supply.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

Natural.News
(Natural News) The health care industry has long established that smoking may exacerbate the risk of developing Crohns disease, but the mechanism behind the connection has remained unclear within the scientific community. However, a recent animal study in Frontiers in Immunology may provide a better overview about the role of smoking on disease onset.

A team of researchers at the Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, has examined the effects of tobacco smoke on mice models as part of the study. The experts have exposed the animals to 20 cigarettes daily, six days per week, for a few weeks. The scientists have also assessed the onset of inflammation in the mices lungs and bowels following exposure.

The airways and the intestinal system have a lot in common. Interestingly, in traditional Korean medicine, a connection between the lung and the large intestine has long been emphasized. Crohns disease is more likely to occur in people with airway diseases, suggesting inflammation in the lungs is linked with inflammation in the gut, lead researcher Professor Hyunsu Bae has told Daily Mail online.

The result have shown that mice exposed to tobacco smoke developed significant lung inflammation compared with mice exposed to clean air. The research team has also observed that the affected mice developed a type of colitis that resembles Crohns disease. In addition, the scientists observed increased levels of mucus and inflammation in the colons of mice exposed to tobacco smoke. The research team has also noted the presence of blood in the fecal samples of the affected animals.

Furthermore, the research team noted that mice exposed to tobacco smoke have higher levels of a type of white blood cell that releases a pro-inflammatory protein known as interferon-gamma. An experiment on mice with lower levels of the white blood cell has shown that the animals did not develop colitis after being exposed to tobacco smoke. This suggests that the white blood cell is responsible for the onset of colitis following tobacco exposure, the researchers have concluded.

Our results suggest cigarette smoking activates specific white blood cells in the lung, which might later move to the colon, triggering bowel inflammation. Smokers, especially those who also have bowel disease, should reduce their smoking, co-author Professor Jinju Kim adds in a Daily Mirror article.

Study ties smoking to Crohns disease relapse

A study published last year also revealed that smoking not only worsens Crohns disease status, but also leads to disease relapse among patients. The researchers have pooled data from 573 patients as part of the study. The patients were divided into four groups: nonsmokers, former smokers, continuing smokers, and those who recently quit smoking. (Related: Reverse damage from smoking just by quitting: The body has a remarkable ability to heal itself.)

The research team observed that continuing smokers have shown earlier relapse and higher relapse incidence than nonsmokers. Likewise, the experts have found that former smokers and patients who recently quit smoking have exhibited a similar relapse incidence as those of nonsmokers.

Currently, CD patients are still unaware of the risk related to their smoking habit. Even when the awareness is higher, very few smokers with CD are properly offered smoking cessation therapy. Importantly, with no education and in the absence of smoking cessation strategies, very few CD patients quit spontaneously. Recent prospective studies have demonstrated that high smoking cessation rates (ranging from 12 percent to 37 percent at one year) are possible, and these patients should be effectively informed of the risk and offered educational and therapeutic support to quit or decrease their tobacco consumption, the research team has reported on the IBD News Today website.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Mirror.co.uk

IBDNewsToday.com
Vayu Maini Rekdal moved from Sweden to New York City after high school to pursue his interest in cooking, before turning to chemical biology. He is now studying for a PhD at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachussetts. The son of an Indian mother and a CubanNorwegian father, Rekdal in August received a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam fellowship for outstanding scientists, an award that aims to advance diversity in academia. He explains why it's important to engage primary-school students' interest in science.

How did cooking cultivate your interest in science?

Credit: Harvard MCB Graphics I grew up in a cross-cultural family in Stockholm. My mum was born in Sweden after her parents emigrated from Kenya. My dad is CubanNorwegian. I got in touch with my heritage through cooking, which I viewed as experimentation  I didn't know I was doing science. After high school, I moved to New York City to follow my goal to become a chef. But a restaurant is a fast-paced, intense environment that didn't offer time for thinking creatively. So I decided to apply to university to see how else I could explore my interests in food.

Where did those explorations take you?

I ended up at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. As an undergraduate, I won a scholarship to go to Mon Sant Benet, Spain, and work at the Alicia Foundation, a unique place that uses science to deconstruct and understand food. It was a pivotal choice. I went there thinking I would learn how to be a better chef, and came out realizing that cooking and science are one and the same. In June 2013, I went to the Mayo Clinic in nearby Rochester to study gut microbes. When I was in my third year, I joined a chemical-biology lab at Harvard to continue studying gut microbes.

What motivated you to create a 'Young Chefs' programme as an undergraduate?

Cooking made science relevant to me. I decided that it would be a fantastic way to get others interested in science as well. Initially, I worked with underserved young Somali and Latino immigrant students aged 1114. Together with some other professors and students at Carleton, I developed a rigorous, hands-on scientific curriculum that addressed physical and life-science concepts. We now have 27 lesson plans that we made free and open access. It's been used by 300 educators around the world. It's something I'll do for the rest of my life.

What is your PhD research focused on?

I'm interested in the connection between gut microbes and human biology  specifically, how microbes in the gut metabolize molecules we ingest. When we consume something  be it a drug, food or toxin  the body can't access those molecules immediately. They are first transformed by gut microbes, which in turn alter the molecular properties of the gut, with profound implications for health and disease.

What are your thoughts on the current status of diversity in academic science?

It's striking how much less diversity you find higher up in academia. As well as a lack of racial diversity, there's also a lack of diversity in socio-economic or educational backgrounds. We need to get people interested in science at an earlier age to maintain a larger pool of young scientists.

As a Gilliam fellow, how do you hope to increase diversity and inclusivity in academia?

We need to get high-school and primary-school educators into the kitchens. I'm creating a dedicated teaching programme here at Harvard with partners to give underserved communities access to resources. We are launching a pilot this autumn with a group of teachers, tentatively called STEAMED, a play on cooking and STEM  science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This summer, we worked with Native American high-school students. More immediately, given how important mentors were for me, I'm hoping to mentor undergraduates and summer-school students.

Will you aim for a conventional academic career path?

I want to carve out my own.
A man's body last month was fished out of Fallen Leaf Lake in El Dorado County with a rope, to which an anchor was attached, entwined around his legs, sheriff's officials said.

The man had been submerged under water for several years, and sheriff's officials hadn't known of the body's presence prior to October.

The body was found while Bruce's Legacy, an underwater search and recovery team from Wisconsin, scoured the lake for a 21-year-old man who went missing in the summer of 1996 and a woman who went missing in 2001, sheriff's officials said. Both people are believed to have drowned in the Northern California lake, but their bodies have never been recovered.

A woman's body was discovered on Aug. 29, 2017 while a team from Bruce's Legacy used a sonar and underwater rover to explore different spots where the bodies could have ended up. The body was similar to that of the missing woman, but DNA test results are not yet available, sheriff's officials said. There was no indication of foul play and the Sacramento County Coroner was responsible for an autopsy.

Detectives and Bruce's Legacy returned to Fallen Leaf Lake on Oct. 27, 2017 to look for the man who has been missing for 21 years. Several hours into their search, they found a body, but the man didn't match the description of the person who officials were originally looking for.

"It was apparent that we had located a body that we had not known of, prior to his recovery," sheriff's officials said in a statment.

An autopsy and DNA tests will be performed on the body. A cause of death has not yet been determined and an ongoing investigation has not revealed whether the man's death is a homicide or suicide, according to sheriff's officials.

The hunt for the man who went missing in 1996 also continues.
Staff at a Northern California school are being credited for their quick response to the sound of gunfire, which helped avoid a "horrific bloodbath" when a Tehama County man went on a shooting rampage on Tuesday, sheriff's officials said.

The day began normally, with parents driving and walking with their children to Rancho Tehama Elementary School, which is one of five schools in the Corning Elementary School District.

However, the sound of a gunshot pierced the air around 7:50 a.m., gaining the attention of a secretary and other school personnel. Two more shots quickly followed, Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick said.

Immediately, school staff, without any direction from law enforcement agencies, "flawlessly" initiated a lock down, rushing students, aides, parents, teachers and others to safety inside Rancho Tehama Elementary School, where kindergartners through fifth graders study, he said.

"Quite frankly, I am filled with a huge amount of gratitude as I stand before you here today, Fitzpatrick said. The reason that we have a situation where I have one student injured on campus and nothing worse happening on campus is because of the heroic actions of all members of my school staff  every single one of them.

Outside, Kevin Janson Neal was randomly picking targets and shooting out of a car, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said. In all, Neal shot 14 people, killing four, across seven crime scenes. The night before, he also gunned down his wife and dumped her body under floor boards in their house. She was his fifth victim.

Upon arriving at Rancho Tehama Elementary School, Fitzpatrick said, Neal rammed his white pickup truck into a gate at the north end of the campus, damaging the vehicle. He climbed out, clutching an "(assault rifle)-type weapon."

"At that time, the head custodian, who was shepherding students into the classroom, peeked his head around the building, saw the gentleman and drew his attention," Fitzpatrick said. "It is my understanding that several shots were fired towards the custodian at which time the custodian observed that ... he had problems with his gun jamming."

Johnston said surveillance video shows the shooter unsuccessfully trying to enter the school, which is attended by just under 100 students. Neal ran from the truck to the school's main quad, where the classrooms, cafeteria and school office are located, Fitzpatrick said. He shot at windows, doors and even walls, and jimmied bathroom and office doors in an attempt to enter the school.

By then, eight to 10 seconds had passed since staff members had completed the lockdown, locking all the school's doors and barricading themselves inside the building.

Neal failed to get into the school, but spent about six minutes emptying rounds into Rancho Tehama Elementary School, expending his ammunition. Fitzpatrick described him walking into a nearby field and opening fire into a neighborhood.

He then got "frustrated" and drove away in a stolen truck to continue shooting elsewhere, Johnston said.



"It is monumental that the school went on lockdown," he said. "I really, truly believe that we would have had a horrific bloodbath in that school if that school hadn't taken the action when they did."

Despite the school going into lockdown, Neal managed to injure seven children. One among them sustained two gunshot wounds  one in the chest and the other in his foot. Fitzpatrick believes the bullets came through a school wall. Staff rendered aid and comforted the student, who as of Wednesday is in hospital and listed in fair condition.

Two others were walking to school with their parents when they were injured, while some were hurt by glass as it shattered under the impact of bullets, Johnston said.

The rampage by a "mad man on the loose" ended when a patrol car rammed the vehicle Neal was driving and killed him in a shootout, he said.

Love and kindness and selflessness paired with the ability to professionally do what they did defeated evil yesterday, Fitzpatrick said. And the fact is we don't have another one of those stories where multiple children are dead because of the heroics of my school staff.

Johnston pointed out that school staff members had performed drills on how to respond to active shooter situations and done exactly what they had learned.

"I urge all schools to practice these drills," he said.

For his part, Fitzpatrick thanked all the school's employees for being calm and courageous as everyone was evacuated to a community center before students were reunited with their parents.

"It was a very, very good result to possibly the worst situation that I can imagine," he said. "This was an administrator's nightmare. This is every educator in America's worst nightmare. And we were able to get through it with only one significant injury."

A vigil was planned on Wednesday evening and counseling has been made available to the community. Fitzpatrick said people who live in the relatively rural part of Northern California have strong ties to one another.

"A situation which could have been catastrophic has turned into one for our students of hope and strength," he said. "We will reopen the school. They will return to their lives and everything still remains possible for them in their future."
Gov. Charlie Baker has appointed Col. Kerry Gilpin to serve as the new superintendent and colonel of the Massachusetts State Police.

A 24-year veteran of the state police, Gilpin most recently served as deputy division commander of the Division of Standards and Training. Her appointment is effective immediately.

"It is the mission of the Massachusetts State Police to keep the Commonwealth safe and I have the utmost confidence that Colonel Gilpin will excel as the leader of our tremendous police force," Baker said in a statement. "Colonel Gilpin brings decades of experience and knowledge to her post, with a deep understanding of the state police force at every level. I thank Colonel Gilpin for her dedication and willingness to serve the Commonwealth in this important position, and look forward to working with her to protect our communities."

In addition to her role coordinating the training for new state police recruits, Gilpin has served in the Crime Scene Services section as a trooper and sergeant and as a lieutenant in the Division of Field Services, the Staff Inspections Section and the Harassment Investigation Unit.

"Whether working to protect public safety from internal threats such as the terrible scourge of opioids or from those seeking to attack us from outside our borders, the role of the Massachusetts State Police has never been more important than it is today," Gilpin said in a statement. "I am honored to lead this great organization forward and look forward to carrying out this vital mission in close collaboration with our local and federal partners."

Massachusetts State Police Col. Richard McKeon retired last week after two state police troopers accused commanders of forcing them to alter police reports. Massachusetts State Police Deputy Superintendent Francis Hughes, McKeon's second-in-command, is also stepping down.

Trooper Ryan Sceviour filed a lawsuit stemming from an incident in October, when he arrested Alli Bibaud on drunk driving charges in Worcester. The daughter of District Court Judge Tim Bibaud, she allegedly made inappropriate statements, according to the original police report.

Sceviour said he was ordered to delete inappropriate remarks about sex acts and drugs Bibaud allegedly made.

Trooper Ali Rei said she plans to file a similar lawsuit accusing commanders of forcing her to alter a police report.

The state's attorney general is investigating to see if anything criminal may have taken place, as there are allegations public records may have been destroyed.

Baker said Gilpin has reviewed standards.

"She knows we expect her to do a review of the policies, procedures and protocols associated with editing arrest reports," said Baker.

Dana Pullman of the Mass. State Police Association said officers are ready to work with Gilman.

"I just had a conversation with the Colonel herself, and it was completely positive and the Union is thrilled to get off on a new foot and get things moving," said Pullman.

"She is a hard worker, I've never heard a bad word said about her, she completes every assignment that has gone forward, and given to her, and she has moved up the ranks the way you are supposed to," he added.


The new boss of Massachusetts State Police says her office will investigate revisions made to a police report about a judge's daughter.

The agency announced the investigation Thursday. It comes nearly a week after Col. Richard McKeon abruptly retired amid accusations that he ordered a trooper to scrub embarrassing information from the police report to protect the judge and his daughter.

Col. Kerry Gilpin, a 24-year veteran of the state police, was appointed the new superintendent of the police force this week.

Police spokesperson Dave Procopio says Gilpin's office will look into revisions made to the arrest report and whether more training or guidance is needed on how reports should be written and reviewed.

Gov. Charlie Baker's office issued a statement Thursday saying he supports Gilpin's decision.

Trooper Ryan Sceviour has filed a lawsuit stemming from an incident in October, when he arrested Alli Bibaud on drunk driving charges in Worcester. The daughter of District Court Judge Tim Bibaud, she allegedly made inappropriate statements, according to the original police report.

Sceviour said he was ordered to delete inappropriate remarks about sex acts and drugs Bibaud allegedly made.

"One was 'my dad is an [expletive] judge,' and the other was that she indicated during the booking process she was suggesting the possibility of sexual favors in return for leniency," Sceviour's attorney, Leonard Kesten, told NBC Boston.

Trooper Ali Rei said she plans to file a similar lawsuit accusing commanders of forcing her to alter a police report.

The state's attorney general is currently investigating to see if anything criminal may have taken place, as there are allegations public records may have been destroyed.

Gov. Charlie Baker previously said that Gilpin has reviewed standards.

"She knows we expect her to do a review of the policies, procedures and protocols associated with editing arrest reports," he said.

Last week, Baker called the allegations "serious."
Heartbroken and sick with worry, Vietnam veteran Chuck Colacchio is desperately searching for his service dog Sam, whos been missing from Mary Cummings Park in Woburn, Massachusetts since last Thursday.

"Each day that goes by it gets worse you know," said Colacchio.

The Green Beret and the 85-pound Ridgeback/hound mix are inseparable, as Sam helps Chuck with everything from his laundry to picking up on sounds Chuck may not hear.

"Hes there with me all the time, were literally inches apart," said Colacchio. "And he just looks over his shoulder to see if Im there."

Colacchio says he and his dog were walking down a path when something spooked Sam, who took off down a fence line into the woods, dragging his leash behind him.

"Our great concern is he could be caught in a branch or debris of the wooded area, entangled," said Melissa Loperfido Dutro.

Dutra is one of the volunteers with Missing Dogs Massachusetts who have been tirelessly searching for Sam, putting up countless fliers and walking the woods.

"We immediately set out bedding of the dog to get a familiar scent," said Dutra. "Some clothing of the owner, also we got him some fresh, hot food set that out and also set a trail camera."

The non-profit group even called in a professional pilot who flew a drone with an infrared camera over 120 acres of woods near where Sam went missing.

Chuck is willing to try anything to find his best friend.

"He means everything, I dont know what its going to be if I dont get him back," said Colacchio while fighting back tears.
A man who escaped from a psychiatric hospital in Hawaii, flew to Maui and then hopped on a plane to San Jose was captured by sheriff's deputies in Stockton Wednesday morning thanks to a tip from an alert cab driver, according to sheriff's officials.

The arrest puts an end to a days-long search for Randall Saito, who was found not guilty of a 1979 murder by reason of insanity and has been described as fitting the profile of a serial killer.

Saito walked out of Hawaii State Hospital on Sunday, climbed into a waiting taxi, and boarded a charter flight before the state Health Department even had a chance to alert authorities about his absence.

Honolulu police later received a tip that Saito was on his way to a brother's home in Stockton, said Honolulu CrimeStoppers Sgt. Chris Kim. That tip was forwarded to authorities in Stockton, Kim said.

Saito was arrested in Stockton around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday by San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies, according to the sheriff's office. Saito was detained by three deputies outside of a gas station.

The sheriff's department noted that a tip from an alert taxi driver led to the arrest.

Honolulu police said the 59-year-old Saito flew to Maui, and from there boarded a plane to San Jose. He arrived at Mineta San Jose International Airport around 7:30 p.m. local time Sunday.

It wasn't immediately known how he was able to charter a plane. Police wouldn't provide details about his flight to California.



It took hospital personnel eight hours to notify local law enforcement once they realized Saito was missing.

Late Tuesday night, the Hawaii Attorney General's office charged Saito with felony escape and issued a $500,000 bench warrant for his arrest.

Saito, described by sources to Hawaii News Now as a "violent psychopath," was committed to the hospital in 1981 after being acquitted by reason of insanity of the murder of 29-year-old Sandra Yamashiro. The woman, selected at random, was shot in the face with a pellet gun and repeatedly stabbed. Her body was found in her car at a Honolulu shopping mall.

Defense attorneys sought to have Saito released in 2000. But Jeff Albert, a deputy city prosecutor, objected, saying Saito fills all the criteria of a classic serial killer.

In 1993, a court denied Saitos request for conditional release, saying he continued to suffer from sexual sadism and necrophilia.

The state Department of Health operates the hospital, which houses over 300 patients in Kaneohe. The department said its investigating the escape.
Konica Minolta has announced plans to move out of its facility in Windsor.

In an email a company spokesperson confirmed the news to NBC Connecticut.

"Yesterday, we announced the beginning of our plans to transition our Windsor, CT facility. In the next 6-18 months, we plan to integrate employees into various existing Konica Minolta locations, including maintaining a location in Connecticut. Employees are being retained and have the option to relocate."

The company did not specify how many employees would be impacted.

An employee who spoke to NBC Connecticut said workers were told in a meeting yesterday the company would be consolidating its headquarters to its New Jersey location. They later received an internal memo detailing more about the move.

In the internal memo, Konica Minolta employees learned Wednesday that the companys Windsor facility will be moving into the Ramsey, New Jersey location in the next 6 to 18 months.

Members of the business community are already bracing for a potential economic impact.

Jane Garibay, the executive director of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, said the companys potential departure will be felt both economically and throughout the community.

Garibay said the has been a big supporter of local organizations, and a more than two-decade run in the city included hosting a small business expo.

"We just held our business expo there and that's where our little businesses get to go set up during lunch and Konica Minolta every year hosts one and their employees go down they end up using our businesses," Garibay explained.



For members of the Windsor business community like Michelle Gaudet, the move may mean less traffic on her morning commute but a potential economic hit for the city down the road.

"Definitely hurt the economy in this area because we all go out lunchtime and kind of visit shops and things like that," Gaudet said.

Konica Minolta told employees the move is to stimulate growth and create career opportunities for employees and community in New Jersey. The company told NBC Connecticut a formal announcement will come out in the next few weeks.
School officials in Bristol canceled a middle school teacher's plan to have a Muslim woman talk to students about her religion over safety concerns after after the educator was threatened.

The teacher at Bristol Northeast Middle School sent a letter to parents advising them that a young Muslim woman was invited to give a presentation to students about the Islamic faith on Nov. 22. The letter described the speaker as someone who was born and raised in New York City and now lives in Connecticut. The presentation was meant to enrich the class' curriculum on world history, according to the teacher.

However, parent reactions were not what the teacher expected.

"I was made aware of it by one of our board of education commissioners who told me there were some security concerns due to threats being made at the school toward the teacher who was organizing the event," said Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu.

Out of a concern for student and teacher safety, the mayor said the superintendent canceled the talk about growing up Islamic in the United States.

"I do believe that further understanding other cultures helps with tolerance, and I am disappointed that [the speaker] is not coming to Bristol," Zoppo-Sassu said. "When you're talking about how culture and different faiths interact in terms of history, in terms of culture, in terms of diversity in a community, I think that's something worth discussing."

The news of the event spread quickly on a Bristol community Facebook page and comments piled up for those for and against the event.

"Religion does not belong in public schools," one user wrote.

"Education belongs in public schools. You cannot be educated without learning about different cultures and different religions," another user wrote.

The chairperson of the Connecticut Council on American Relations (CAIR-CT), Farhan Memon, thinks part of the reaction is Islam phobia.

Memon said after hearing the news, he reached out to the school district.

"I told the superintendent [that canceling the event] was the wrong thing to do. It was a disservice to not only the students in Bristol but also to the community," Memon said. "This is not religion being taught in school in terms of proselytizing. This is religion being taught in the context of a social studies curriculum, and in that context, we should be teaching Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and any other faith in which our citizens come from and which the world believes in."

Memon said teaching religion in the context of world history and culture is important to opening minds and shouldn't be controversial.

"We're not preaching religion when we bring speakers into the classroom. We're explaining why certain people believe certain things and how it affects their daily lives," Memon said.

Zoppo-Sassu said the Board of Education met on Wednesday night to discuss the event and appropriate protocol to take in the future. She said the town is hoping to plan a community event to discuss diversity and different cultures, including religion.

NBC Connecticut reached out to the superintendent and we received a statement Thursday morning.

It is my hope that the opinions of a few Bristol residents are not seen as the opinion of the Bristol community. There was an out-pouring of support for bringing a speaker in to support our curriculum which includes religions of the world, Supt. Susan Kalt Moreau said in a statement. Through a joint effort of many organizations in Bristol, we hope to present a panel discussion consisting of representatives of many religious groups where members of our community including students may learn more about how much the same we all are and the cultural differences that make us all unique.

The Bristol Police Department said there were no threats reported to them yet regarding this matter.

NBC Connecticut reached out to the young Muslim woman who was supposed to speak at the middle school.
The holiday season is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and those traveling by air often struggle through delays and canceled flights to reach their destination.

The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters poured over the data to determine which airlines and airports were the best and worst at helping travelers stay on schedule, looking at nearly nine million flights both in and out of U.S. airports starting from the beginning of last year.

"It's like herding cattle," said Robert Soltes, who was flying to Orlando from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. Mr. Soltes and his wife, Krista, said it is difficult to get themselves and their three children to the airport on time. Too often, the Solteses said, passengers end up through security checkpoints but then waiting at their departure gate.

"It changes the entire routine for the afternoon or evening," said Mrs. Soltes.

The airline industry classifies a 'delayed flight' as one that is more than fifteen minutes late.

"Oh, that's frustrating big time," said Chris Tuason, who was checking in to fly out of Bradley. He was hoping his flights back to his home in Austin, Texas would be on time. "Especially if I've got a connection, somewhere to be," he added.

Bradley, which is considered a small-medium hub airport, is certainly not immune to delays.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation from all of 2016 and through summer 2017 show that of Bradley's 31,136 flights, 4,361 - 14.01 percent - did not depart on time. For arrivals, 4,76 flights - 14.38 percent - were delayed.

"The whole system really has to work together to keep those delays down," said Kevin Dillon, Executive Director of the Connecticut Airport Authority which operates Bradley. The airport serves approximately six million passengers each year. Dillon said many delays are beyond control.

"Not only are we subject to the weather, we're subject to the performance of other airports," said Dillon.

Among the 85 U.S. airports with a minimum of 14,400 flights a year, Bradley International Airport ranked 66th for its number of delays.

Number one in the nation for late departures and arrivals is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where one out of every four flights running behind schedule, according to federal statistics. Newark Liberty International Airport and San Francisco International Airport rank second and third.

"Right now people are spending more time on the ground going to and from planes than they are actually in the air, and that's getting worse, and worse, and worse," said Paul Hudson, president of the non-profit FlyersRights.org, which tracks flight delays.

Topping the list of airlines with the highest percentage of delayed flights were Virgin American at 29 percent, JetBlue at 29 percent, and Spirit at 21 percent.

A spokesperson from Virgin America told the Troubleshooters that construction and other projects at its major airport hubs on the west coast lead to increases in slowdowns, more so than other airlines.

"We've dramatically improved our on-time performance this year, including a record-setting number last month," a spokesperson from Spirit wrote, despite the airline's place in the rankings.

After several requests for comment over the course of a week, JetBlue had yet to respond.

"You cannot rely that the airlines will actually get you there when they say," said Hudson. "It can be almost life-changing. If you miss a wedding, a funeral, even a cruise or family reunion, these are things that aren't replaceable," he said of the consequences of a flight delay.

"It gets to the point of frustration," said Mrs. Soltes. "I hope to be on time."

The U.S. Transportation Department's Airline On-Time Performance Data, January 1 through July 31, 2017, shows that there are certain days a week with a higher number of delayed flights. Research showed that Friday had the highest percentage of delays. Of the 491,009 Friday flights at the nation's busiest airports, 106,832 (21.77 percent) were late departures and 110,336 (22.47 percent) were late arrivals. The day of the week with the lowest number of delayed departures was Tuesday (17.51 percent). Saturday was the day with the fewest arrival delays (17.94 percent).

Experts said passengers should consider flying out of smaller airports because they tend to have fewer delays, according to federal statistics.
More than two dozen students and faculty at Cedar Hill Collegiate High School required medical treatment Wednesday after being "overcome" by natural gas flowing from an open Bunsen burner, officials say.[[457788983,R]]

Cedar Hill officials confirmed 25 students and three staff members were affected by the gas at about 1:12 p.m. Seven of those, six students and one adult, were transported to Methodist Charlton Medical Center for treatment.



The school, which is located on the 1500 block of High Pointe Lane, was evacuated a short time after the initial call.



Officials said the classroom filled with gas when a valve on a Bunsen burner on a teacher's desk was accidentally left open. The gas is used to heat the burner for science experiments.

Atmos Energy is inspecting the entire school as a precaution to verify there is no other open source of natural gas.



The campus is home to both Cedar Hill Collegiate High School and Cedar Hill Collegiate Academy. CHCHS opened in 2008 and is home to 406 students in grades 9 through 12. Cedar Hill Collegiate Academy has 207 students enrolled in grades 6 and 7. Through a partnership with Cedar Valley Community College, students at CHCHS are able to complete 60 hours of college credit tuition-free and earn an associate degree prior to high school graduation.

NBC 5's Diana Zoga and Cody Lillich contributed to this report.


What to Know Police say mother's arrest is due to leaving the child home alone, not necessarily related to death investigation.

Child's body found two weeks after she was reported missing; father later said she choked on milk and he moved her body.

Couple's biological child remains in foster care; hearing set for Nov. 29 to determine custody.

The mother of a North Texas toddler whose body was recovered last month from a drainage culvert weeks after she was reported missing was arrested Thursday on a charge of child endangerment.

Police said she and her husband left their 3-year-old adopted child, Sherin Mathews, home alone while they went to dinner just hours before they claimed she had disappeared.

Sini Ann Mathews, who has maintained her innocence in the death of Sherin, surrendered to Richardson police Thursday and is being held on $250,000 bond on the state jail felony charge.

She was arraigned Friday morning and did not respond to reporters questions when she was transferred to the Dallas County Jail Friday afternoon.



Sini Mathews, the mother of a Texas toddler whose body was recovered last month from a drainage culvert weeks after she was reported missing, was arraigned Friday morning.

In a statement Thursday, Richardson police said detectives learned Sini Mathews, 35, and Wesley Mathews took their 3-year-old biological daughter to dinner and left Sherin alone at home, placing her in "imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment."

"The time that they left, she was not under the care of any other adult or of any other person, she was left home alone by herself and it's for that reason that you see this particular charge," said Kevin Perlich, with the Richardson Police Department. "It's not necessarily related to her death, it's related to her care that she was being given while she was in that home."

The mother of a child whose body was recovered last month from a drainage culvert weeks after she was reported missing was arrested Thursday on a charge of child endangerment/abandonment.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, detectives used cell phone records to show Wesley and Sini went to a North Garland restaurant on the evening of Oct. 6. The theory is supported by a receipt obtained by police that showed the couple purchased only one child's meal in addition to their individual meals as well as the testimony of a waiter who said only one child was present at the table.

During an interview with detectives, Wesley Mathews, 37, admitted to leaving Sherin home alone after growing frustrated she wouldn't drink her milk and said they returned home about 90 minutes later and found her where they left her, in the kitchen.

Both Sini and Wesley told police the child was alive when they returned home from dinner, though police have not confirmed that information.

Sini Mathews surrendered to Richardson police Thursday and was arrested on a charge of child endangerment/abandonment after police say she and her husband left their adopted daughter home alone while they went to dinner. Police say the charge is not related to the daughter's death investigation.

Hours later, on the morning of Oct. 7, Wesley Mathews called police and reported Sherin missing. In a story he would later change, Wesley originally told police Sherin disappeared overnight after he ordered her to stand outside at about 3 a.m. for not drinking her milk. When he returned, Wesley said she had disappeared and that her location was unknown.

Weeks later, Wesley Mathews changed his story and said he "physically assisted" her in drinking her milk and that she choked and died at the home. He said he then moved the girl's body and later called police to report her missing.

Sherin Mathews' Death: The Investigation Continues

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office is still working to determine what killed Sherin Mathews.

Sini Mathews said she was sleeping when Sherin disappeared and was unaware of what took place overnight between the child and her father.

Meanwhile, Wesley Mathews remains jailed on a charge of felony injury to a child and is being held on a $1 million bond.

Sini Mathews' attorney has maintained throughout the investigation she had nothing to do with her daughter's death and that she was distraught during her daughter's disappearance.

NBC 5 confirmed Friday that at some point in the last month Sini Mathews was terminated from her job at Children's Medical Center in Dallas where she worked as a case manager.



Sini Mathews remains silent as she is guided out of a courtroom Monday by her attorney Mitchell Nolte. The next custody hearing has been set for Nov. 29.

On Thursday, her attorney Mitchell Nolte thanked Richardson police for allowing his client to surrender.

"We learned this morning that the Richardson Police Department had obtained an arrest warrant for Sini Mathews for the offense of Abandoning/Endangering a Child. The police were professional and courteous and allowed us to bring Mrs. Mathews to the Police Department and surrender herself into custody," Nolte said in a statement.

Attorney David Kleckner says Wesley Mathews loves his children and wants custody of their 4-year-old daughter returned to his wife. Kleckner said he's making arrangements for Wesley Mathews to attend the next CPS hearing on Nov. 29.

Earlier this week, Wesley Mathews' attorney, David Kleckner, said his client loves his children and wife and that he's a good family man who wants custody of their surviving daughter to be returned to her mother.

Sini Mathews was in court as recently as Monday asking for custody of the couple's child to be returned to her, but that hearing was rescheduled 1 p.m. Nov. 29. The couple's surviving child has been in foster care since shortly after her sister's disappearance. The child was expected to be placed in the care of family in the Houston area following Monday's hearing.

Sini Mathews Arrest Warrant Affidavit



NBC 5's Diana Zoga and Maria Guerrero contributed to this report. Check back and refresh this page for the latest update. As this story is developing, elements may change.
A system designed to send emergency alerts to your cellphone has been updated following major concerns about the alerts that are meant to save lives.



The Wireless Emergency Alerting system or WEA is run by the federal government. Cell towers are used to target who receives the warnings. Local emergency officials create and send out these alerts.



"WEA gives us a phenomenal capability to reach the public in a quick and efficient manner," said Chris Ipsen, spokesman for the Los Angeles Emergency Management Department.



A WEA by Orange County called for mandatory evacuations when the Canyon Fire 2 erupted in October.



Northern California officials did not send out a WEA during a recent deadly fire because they did not want to cause a traffic jam. Pinpointing exact locations can be an issue.



"People that are not in the impacted area may get that message," Ipsen said.



Last month, the NBC4 I-Team showed you the letter California senators Kamala Harris and Diane Feinstein sent the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, asking why rules proposed last year to enhance the system run by FEMA, never happened.



After the rules were adopted, the FCC asked for public comment and additional proposals.



As of Nov. 1, all WEAs must include geo-targeting, a way of delivering content, based on geographic location.



And, the five largest mobile service providers must provide clickable embedded references, like a map that can pop up on your mobile phone during an evacuation order.



This may not be possible, according to city officials.



"For the wireless emergency alerts we are limited to 90 characters so we cannot put embedded messages in," Ipsen said.



The FCC says the deadline to support another rule, increasing WEA message lengths to 360 characters, is May 1, 2019.



In an email to NBC 4, a FEMA spokesperson said "recently, the National Weather Service, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) jointly filed a comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of an expedited timeline for device-based geo-targeting implementation.



NWS, DHS, and FEMA agree with state and local public safety agencies that the timetable for geo-targeting be expedited to 30 months, instead of the minimum 42-month timetable recommended by two wireless carriers to the FCC on Sept. 22 and 26. Efforts to deploy this capability should begin immediately in order to save lives. NWS, DHS, and FEMA are ready and willing to engage in a cooperative effort to implement device-based geo-targeting as soon as possible."



A spokesperson for CTIA, the group representing the wireless industry, said "the wireless industry works closely with the public safety community, as well as federal agencies, such as the FCC and FEMA, to maximize the proven lifesaving benefits of Wireless Emergency Alerts. Tens of thousands of alerts have been issued since wireless carriers first voluntarily deployed emergency alerts in 2012, and industry has made additional improvements to the alert system, including embedded references and geo-targeting below the county level, so even more lives can be saved."



Reacting to the recent update by the FCC, the Senators released a joint statement.

They said: "We are pleased to see the FCC Chairman commit to address this issue, but the Chairman has not answered our basic questions nor specified a timeline for action. We will closely monitor FCC proceedings to make sure these improvements are made to the WEA system. The next natural disaster could be around the corner, and when it comes, timely notifications could mean the difference between life and death."



In the meantime, testing of the Wireless Emergency Alerting system continues.



"We look forward to working with FEMA partners to make it a better system," Ipsen said.



The LA Emergency Management Department recommends people sign up for NotifyLA alerts which is an opt in system based on your ZIP code that can send messages with embedded items. Text 888-777 with your ZIP code to sign up.


A car thief suspect died Wednesday evening after engaging police in a rolling gun battle in Van Nuys.

Shortly after 4 p.m., officers from LAPD's Van Nuys area Gang Unit were following a car they believed to be stolen. During the course of the following, somebody in the vehicle fired gunshots at the police vehicle.

The officers requested help and continued following the suspects. As the suspect's vehicle approached Sherman Way and Kester Avenue, it collided with a light pole.

A man exited the vehicle and a police shooting occurred. The suspect was shot and wounded and taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries.

A statement regarding this evenings Officer Involved Shooting in @lapdVanNuysDiv. More information will be released as we continue to investigate this incident. pic.twitter.com/mv2os9LPKo  LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 16, 2017

"I heard like five gunshots," one witness told NBC4. "I tried to cover myself behind my truck."

Two females who were also in the car were taken into custody. Two guns were recovered at the scene.

No officers were injured in the shooting, police said.
Authorities said the wife of a gunman who went on a rampage in Northern California was found dead, hidden under the floor inside their home.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said Wednesday investigators discovered the body of Kevin Janson Neal's wife riddled with bullets under floor boards.

Neal "cut a hole in his floor, murdered  shot her probably late Monday, and literally just put her body in the floor and covered it up," Johnston said, adding that investigators believe her slaying was the start of the rampage.

The gunman shot and killed four other people and wounded 10 at different locations around the rural community of Rancho Tehama Reserve, including an elementary school, before he died in a shootout with police. Seven children were among the injured.

The deep sea in the missing jet hunt has scanned 95 percent of its search area without finding any signs of the ill-fated flight, authorities said on Friday, NBC News reported

"This was a tragic event and a truly heinous crime," said Sean Ragan, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Sacramento Field Office.



At the time of the attack, Neal was out on bail for a charge of stabbing a neighbor. Neighbors had also complained about him firing off hundreds of rounds of ammunition and the assistant sheriff acknowledged officers visiting the home on several occasions.

"He was not law-enforcement friendly," Johnston said. "He would not come to the door."

Johnston said the gunman was facing charges of assaulting one of his neighbor in January and that she had a restraining order against him.

Five Dead, Gunman Killed After Shooting Rampage in Northern California

Tehama County District Attorney Gregg Cohen said he was out on $160,000 bail and did not have the opportunity to return to court where prosecutors could push for an increase in that amount.

"That's his right," Cohen said. "A person's innocent until proven guilty so even though there might be a rush to justice in this situation as far as he should have been tried and convicted, that's not how our system works."

It's not clear what the terms of Neal's bail were, but his many contacts with authorities raised questions of why he was out of custody and able to use a semi-automatic rifle and two handguns to go on a 25-minute shooting spree that began with the killing of two neighbors in an apparent act of revenge before he went looking for random victims.

The gunman's sister, Sheridan Orr, said her brother had struggled with mental illness throughout his life and at times had a violent temper.

"He was an all American kid with a good family. Mental illness took over," Orr told NBC News.

Orr, who said she had not talked to her brother in months, said she believed he was addicted to drugs.

"Were stunned and were appalled that this is a person who has no business with firearms whatsoever," Orr said. "Our deep, deep sympathy for the victims and it sounds trite but our hearts are breaking for them."

Orr added, "If we can do any good to make people realize there must be some gates on people like this from getting guns," she paused. "This is the same story were hearing more and more."

Sheridan Orr

Cristal Caravez and her father live across a ravine from the roadway where the gunman and his first victims lived.

She said they and others heard constant gunfire from the area of the gunman's house, but couldn't say for sure it was him firing.

"You could hear the yelling. He'd go off the hinges," she said. The shooting, "it would be during the day, during the night, I mean, it didn't matter."

She and her father, who is president of the homeowners association, said neighbors would complain to the sheriff's department, which referred the complaints back to the homeowners association.

"The sheriff wouldn't do anything about it," said Juan Caravez.

NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai sits down with Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd for an in-depth interview about their inprisonment in Iran.

Neal's mother told The Associated Press her son, who was a marijuana grower, was in a long-running dispute with neighbors he believed were cooking methamphetamine.

The mother, who spoke on condition she be named only as Anne, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she raised Neal. She said she posted his $160,000 bail and spent $10,000 on a lawyer after he was arrested in January for stabbing a neighbor. Neal's mother said the neighbor was slightly cut after Neal grabbed a steak knife out of the hand of the neighbor who was threatening him with it.

She wept as she told The Associated Press she spoke to Neal on the phone on Monday.

"Mom it's all over now," she said he told her. "I have done everything I could do and I am fighting against everyone who lives in this area."

She said Neal apologized to her during their brief conversation, she thought for all the money she had spent on him, saying he was "on a cliff" and the people around him were trying to "execute" him.

"I think the motive of getting even with his neighbors and when it went that far  he just went on a rampage," Johnston said.

Mass Shootings in the U.S.

Single attacks in a public place in which four or more victims were killed. The data does not include shootings stemming from crimes such as robberies and gang violence. More on the data source.

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Police said surveillance video shows the shooter unsuccessfully trying to enter a nearby elementary school after quick-thinking staff members locked the outside doors and barricaded themselves inside when they heard gunshots.

Johnston said the gunman spent about six minutes shooting into Rancho Tehama Elementary School before getting "frustrated" and driving off to continue shooting elsewhere.

"It is monumental that the school went on lockdown," Johnston said. "I really, truly believe that we would have had a horrific bloodbath in that school if that school hadn't taken the action when they did."

Johnston said the rampage by a "mad man on the loose" ended when a patrol car rammed the stolen vehicle the shooter was driving and killed him in a shootout.

Johnston said officials received multiple 911 calls about gunfire at an intersection of two dirt roads. Minutes later, more calls reporting shots flooded in from different locations, including the school.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and children screaming at the school, which has one class of students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

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For his part, Johnston promised: "We will move forward and we will start the healing process."

NBC Bay Area's Brendan Weber contributed to this report.
An animal rights group released a video Thursday showing alleged abuse at a second Florida dairy farm, days after they released shocking video at another leading dairy farm led to firings and the companys product being dropped by a supermarket giant.

The group, known as Animal Recovery Mission, released the nearly 10 minute video they say was recorded in August at the Burnham Dairy Farm, located in Okeechobee.

In the video, workers can be seen whipping and beating cows into place at the milking station located at the farm. Footage captured also shows the animals living in facilities covered with waste product as well as both adult cows and calves dead in the fields from both hot summer temperatures and storms that struck the area.

Animal Recovery Mission released the grpahic video Thursday showing beatings and animal death at the Burnham Dairy Farm, one week after releasing video of abuse at a seperate farm (WARNING: Video features images some may find offensive)

To watch the complete video, click on this link. (WARNING: Graphic content)

The owners of Burnham Farms, Randy and Douglas Burnham, released a statement saying they are "appalled" to see the images in the video.

"While some of them reflect our struggle in the face of historic severe weather in Florida, we also cant deny that others reflect a failure of our farm policies and management. We are taking immediate action regarding our employees," the statement continued. "At the same time, we are working with animal care experts in our industry to change our on-farm practices because we need to do better by our customers, our community, and most of all, our animals.

Jim Sleper, the CEO of Southeast Milk Inc., released a statement saying that animal abuse is "never tolerated" and has placed the farm on a probationary status pending the decision by an outside auditor.

According to ARM, one of their investigators was able to get a job at Burnham, where they documented the alleged abuses.

"The gaudily images of abuse recorded by the ARM undercover investigator and myself are horrific," ARM founder Richard Couto said in a statement. "The long term torture to both mother and calf at the Burnham dairy will now resonate throughout the world. We at ARM are hopeful that justice will prevail."



ARM will hold a news conference in Deerfield Beach Thursday to discuss the video.

Earlier this month, the group exposed animal abuse at Larson Dairy Farm, also located in Okeechobee, releasing surveillance video that captured events including workers kicking and beating cows with a rod.

Jacob Larson, the dairy farms owner, said in a statement that the disturbing video that went viral resulted in a company investigation and the firing of at least one worker seen in the video. He said the actions in the video appalled him and Larson called the use of force "simply unacceptable on our dairy or on any other farm."

After the video surfaced, Publix Supermarkets announced they would suspend raw milk deliveries from the farm.
Former Texas Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) has revealed a fellow lawmaker inappropriately touched her when she served in the state legislature, calling it a "systemic problem" that has long haunted women in the Texas Capitol.

"Like a lot of women in the Texas Capitol, I had my own experience with a sexual harassment encounter where I was inappropriately touched by a newly sworn-in House member at a social event," Davis said. "I don't believe he knew that I was a senator at the time. There is obviously no excuse regardless of who the person is. But, you know, because I was a senator, I had a way of holding him to account for that."

Davis said she, along with colleagues in the House, used their legislative power over the course of two sessions to make sure that representative, which she did not identify by name, didn't get a bill through.

"It was good to have the ability to hold someone responsible for behaving in that way, but unfortunately in the Texas Capitol, for so many women that work there, there is no way to hold people to account who are doing such things," Davis said.

Davis said the behavior has long gone unchecked in the Capitol and is one of more than two dozen complaints of sexual harrassment by current and former lawmakers outlined in a recent report by The Texas Tribune.



"A lot of women have kind of hardened themselves to it, just sort of put their heads down and moved through it," she added.

This week, both the House speaker and lieutenant governor have called for reviews of their respective policies. In the House, a person can report an allegation to the chair of the House Administration Committee, a position currently held by Republican state Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth. Complaints can also be made to the Texas Workforce Commission.

On the Senate side, complaints are reported to the Senate Human Resources office or supervisors in individual offices.

But according to several published reports, former staffers said they would not have reported lawmaker's transgressions to the House Administration Committee because they had no confidence that the member-led committee would be objective.

"I probably would never even have felt like that was an outlet that I could trust, but I didnt even know that was a process that existed, Genevieve Cato, a former House employee, told the Daily Beast.

Geren noted that information on the policies for reporting assault are detailed in a manual that goes out to all House offices. He told NBC his office is currently working to enhance the definition of what sexual harassment is, and on "strengthening training for all employees, interns and members."

Davis believes the system needs to be much stronger.

"I think there needs to be a much broader system of prevention, of having conversations about what harassment looks like, what are inappropriate comments," she said.
What to Know Sen. Menendez is accused of accepting bribes from Salomon Melgen in exchange for helping his friend with business disputes

Both men faced multiple fraud and bribery charges; Menendez had pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing

A judge declared a mistrial in the case after jurors said twice they were deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict on any count

The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. Prosecutors did not immediately say whether they plan to retry the lawmaker.

U.S. District Judge William Walls declared a hung jury after more than six full days of deliberations that had to be re-started midway through when a juror was dismissed because of a pre-scheduled vacation. An alternate stepped in.

Juror Edward Norris said that 10 of the 12 jurors wanted to acquit Menendez on all charges, but that two disagreed.



Menendez smiled and embraced his son and daughter after the second deadlock. Then, as the judge announced the mistrial, the senator looked up at the ceiling and extended his hands, his palms facing upward.

Later, Menendez blasted investigators for bringing the case against him in the first place. He also thanked those who helped him raise millions for his legal defense fund.

The inconclusive end to the 2-month trial could leave the charges hanging over Menendez as he gears up for an expected run for re-election next year to the Senate, where the Republicans hold a slim edge and the Democrats need every vote they can get.



Mike Soliman, a Menendez political adviser, reiterated that all signs point to the Demovrat running for re-election next year. Soliman said an announcement is likely in the "coming weeks."

Menendez, 63, is accused of using his political influence to help Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for luxury vacations in the Caribbean and Paris, flights on Melgen's private jet and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to organizations that supported the senator directly or indirectly.

Prosecutors said Menendez pressured government officials on Melgen's behalf over an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute and a stalled contract to provide port screening equipment in the Dominican Republic, and also helped obtain U.S. visas for the doctor's girlfriends.

The defense argued that the gifts were not bribes but tokens of friendship between two men who were "like brothers." In Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell's closing argument, he used the words "friend," ''friends" or "friendship" more than 80 times.

Menendez's lawyers contended also that the government failed to establish a direct connection between Melgen's gifts and specific actions taken by the senator.

Prosecutors said that didn't matter. Melgen, they said, essentially put Menendez on the payroll and made the politician his "personal senator," available as needed.

The two men faced about a dozen counts each, including bribery, conspiracy and honest services fraud. The most serious charge against Menendez, honest services fraud, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged with failing to report the gifts from Melgen on his financial disclosure form.

The jury deliberated most of last week, then restarted on Monday with an alternate after a member was excused because of a long-planned vacation. The jurors also said on Monday that they couldn't agree on a verdict, but the judge asked them to keep trying.

This time, jury said in a note that it had reviewed all of the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail." ''We have each tried to look at this case from different viewpoints, but still feel strongly in our positions," the jurors said, adding that they were "not willing to move away from our strong convictions."

Melgen is already facing the possibility of a long prison sentence after being convicted in April of bilking Medicare out of as much as $105 million by performing unneeded tests and treatments.

Menendez, who has been under indictment for 2 years, raised $2.58 million for his Senate campaign from January through September, according to federal campaign finance filings. The Republicans have a 52-48 edge in the Senate as they try to push through President Donald Trump's agenda.

The last sitting senator convicted of a crime was Ted Stevens of Alaska, a Republican found guilty in 2008 of concealing more than $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts. His conviction was later thrown out because of prosecutorial misconduct, and he died in a 2010 plane crash.

The Menendez case was the first major federal bribery trial since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 threw out the conviction of Republican former Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and narrowed the definition of bribery.

In recent months, the McDonnell ruling led judges to overturn the convictions of at least three other public officials, including a former Louisiana congressman. Menendez's lawyers had likewise hoped to get the case against the senator dismissed, but the judge refused.

Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants, served in the House from 1993 until he was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in 2006. He has chaired the Foreign Relations Committee and was a major player in the unsuccessful bipartisan "Gang of Eight" effort to overhaul the nation's immigration laws in 2013.

More recently, he drew the ire of some fellow Democrats when he opposed President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran and efforts to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Pharrell Williams is using music to sound the warning about climate change.

The Grammy-winning musician appeared in Shanghai this week to debut a song titled "100 Years," which he described as "a postcard, a sarcastic one, to the people who should be ashamed to call themselves scientists and politicians."

The song addresses those who deny climate change.

"I thought, 'Let me just troll all the pseudoscientists, the ones that don't care about the ecosystem,'" he said. "There are a lot of great fine scientists. We just happen to have some that agree with our current administration in the States. I don't get it."

President Donald Trump's administration has downplayed man's role in climate change and has announced plans to pull out of the landmark Paris climate accord, which was agreed to by President Barack Obama's administration.

However, the targets of Williams' song most likely won't hear it: The song, a collaboration with the cognac brand Louis XIII, won't be released for 100 years.

Williams spoke to a group of reporters and celebrities, many of whom had been flown to Shanghai for the event. Actors Jesse Williams and Zhao Wei were among those present.

In an earlier interview with The Associated Press, Williams struck a mostly optimistic tone, saying young people in particular make him hopeful for the planet's future.

"I don't even know if the new generation needs a message. This new generation cares about others. They believe in sharing for the greater good," he said. "I think the world would be a different place if millennials and women would take positions of power. It would definitely be different."

At the exclusive pre-release, all guests were instructed to turn off their phones and lock them in bulky metal boxes so that no one could leak the song. Pharrell showed off the track he had recorded onto a record made from clay. Explaining that the record would be placed in a vault that was destructible only by water, he made a clear connection with climate change and rising sea levels.

"If we don't, as a species, if we don't do what we are supposed to do, we lose the track but we also lose the planet," he said.

The mood lightened when the audience watched as Williams attempted to play the record for the only time before its official release in 2117. After he struggled to get the record to play, participants wondered whether anyone in 100 years would know how to play the record  if it survives.

After playing the track, Williams emphasized: "Normal lies are not normal, so don't normalize them."
A group of Bronx siblings wants answers after caretakers held a funeral and buried their sister, who had disabilities, before successfully notifying family members of her death.

In March, Glorivee Santiago, a 49-year-old developmentally challenged resident of the Community Options assisted living center in Brooklyn died of a heart-related illness. After making four unsuccessful phone calls to Santiagos brother and sister-in-law, managers at Community Options opted to move forward with a funeral in Brooklyn and a burial in New Jersey with no family members present.

Lillian Rivera, the sister-in-law of the deceased woman, said she believes Community Options gave good care while her loved one was alive. But she cant understand why the facility would have given up on family notification just one day after her death. The family said they did not even know the woman died until five months later -- when she tried to call to wish her a happy birthday.

Phone records provided by Community Options show one phone call to Santiagos family on March 13, the day she died. The same records show three more phone calls in a span of about two hours the following day.

"If you did call, and no one picked up the phone, or you left a message and I didnt answer, why didn't you call back," said Rivera. "Why didnt you continue to call and call and call?"



After Santiagos siblings told New York state Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D, IDC  Bronx) about the burial controversy, Klein asked Community Options to exhume the body from New Jersey and move it to a cemetery in the Bronx.

My understanding is that the deceased had some good care there," said Klein. "But there is no excuse to not notify the family when someone passes and to leave them out of something as important as a funeral."

Representatives from Community Options responded to the criticism with the following statement, accusing Santiagos family of being largely absent from her life for years.

Community Options has been caring for Glorivee Santiago for almost two decades with little or no contact from the family," the organization said. "In 2011, the Surrogate Decision-Making Committee of New York granted Community Options the authority to choose her medical and end-of-life care due to her familys absence. Although Community Options is under no obligation to do so, we will continue working with Senator Klein and the Riveras so that the Riveras can move Glorivee to a cemetery of their choosing.

But her siblings dispute the notion they have been uninvolved with their disabled sister. Rivera and her husband say they, themselves, have suffered from health problems that made visiting the woman difficult, but they say they often called on holidays and birthdays and even coordinated with Community Options to have Glorivee Santiago visit their Bronx home.

They used to drop her off here sometimes for the day, sometimes for the weekend, Rivera said.

Aida Guzman, Glorivee Santiago's sister, also disputed the idea that relatives were absent from the woman's life, and she said assisted living centers should do more than make a handful of phone calls when notifying family about client deaths.

They should have sent a letter or they should have come over here and notified my sister-in-law and my brother that my sister had passed away, Guzman said.

Community Options says the facility did send a letter to Santiagos family after she died, but the nonprofit declined to show that letter to the I-Team, citing medical privacy laws.

Although Community Options denies making any missteps in its attempts to notify Glorivee Santiagos family, her sister-in-law has preserved a handwritten note signed by the Executive Director of the Brooklyn assisted living center.

The note begins with the following sentence:

Again I apologize for the loss of your sister, Glorivee, and for our failure to get in touch with you at the time of her death.
An elderly man who was ambushed while he was walking back to his Chelsea home Monday night is speaking out and says despite the onslaught he proved hes no easy target.

I was not afraid, the 76-year-old man, who chose to hide his identify, told NBC 4 New York. I was annoyed and irritated that I was being interfered with.

Surveillance video from the scene shows two men rush the man and pin him to a wall. When the victim doesnt cooperate they drag him to the ground and try to rob him.

NYPD

"They threw me on the ground, he said. One was going through my pockets and the other one was hitting me and Im screaming and carrying on beyond belief.

That yelling likely scared the pair off, getting away with zero money.

The victim said he saw the men outside, signaling to each other as they watched him get home. He says hes grateful to have walked away from the vicious jumping unharmed.

They will be found, he said. The police told me they always get caught.

Authorities urge witnesses to call Crime Stoppers with tips that could land the suspects behind bars.

Top Tri-State News Photos
A man from West Africa said he lost more than $190,000 he was planning to use to open a restaurant when muggers attacked him in a New York City apartment stairwell.

Abdul Bah, 46, told News 4 New York he was leaving the walk-up in Claremont Village in the Bronx on Nov. 7 with a bag full of cash when the two muggers struck. He did his best to hold onto the money -- which he sold his property in his home country of Guinea to get -- but couldn't hold on.

"Without the money, it's going to be hard to pay everything for the restaurant," he said.

Surveillance footage from the attack shows one of the two attackers passing the man as if he were going up the stairs as the other hangs back at the bottom of the landing. Then, one of the men yanks Bah's arm and pulls him up the stairs.

The other attacker then runs after their mark and grabs him by the neck, pulling Bah back down the stairs. The three men all then tussle over a book bag containing the gargantuan sum before one of the muggers pulls it from the 46-year-old's grasp.

That man then takes off running out the front door as the other mugger holds Bah in a headlock. After a few seconds, the second mugger can be seen running away.

Bah was not seriously injured in the attack, according to police.

Anyone with information on the men should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Following President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, China said Wednesday that it would send a high-level special envoy to North Korea amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbors over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Song Tao, the head of China's ruling Communist Party's International Department, will travel to Pyongyang on Friday to report on outcomes of the party's national congress held last month, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Xinhua said Song, as president and party leader Xi Jinping's special envoy, would carry out a "visit" in addition to delivering his report, but gave no details about his itinerary or meetings. It also made no mention of Trump's trip to Beijing or the North's weapons programs, although Trump has repeatedly called on Beijing to do more to use its influence to pressure Pyongyang into altering its behavior.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang downplayed any connection between Song's trip and Trump's visit, saying it was "common practice" for the Communist Party and North Korea's ruling Worker's Party to exchange views.

"The purpose of this visit is to brief about the party congress and exchange views on issues of common interest and bilateral interest," Geng said at a regularly scheduled briefing.

Song would be the first ministerial-level Chinese official to visit North Korea since October 2015, when Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan met with leader Kim Jong Un. Liu delivered a letter to Kim from Xi expressing hopes for a strong relationship, although the respite in frosty ties proved short-lived. Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin visited Pyongyang in October of last year.

The two ruling parties have long-standing ties that often supersede formal diplomacy, even while Beijing has long been frustrated with Pyongyang's provocations and unwillingness to reform its economy.

However, Song is not directly connected to China's efforts to convince Pyongyang to cease its nuclear weapons program and return to talks, downplaying the chances for a breakthrough in that highly contentious area.

China is also North Korea's largest trading partner and chief source of food and fuel aid, although it says its influence with Kim's regime is often exaggerated by the U.S. and others. While it is enforcing harsh new U.N. sanctions targeting the North's sources of foreign currency, Beijing has called for steps to renew dialogue.

Beijing is also opposed to measures that could bring down Kim's regime, possibly depriving it of a buffer with South Korea and the almost 30,000 U.S. troops stationed there, and leading to a refugee crisis and chaos along its border with the North.

In Beijing last week, Trump urged Xi to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.

China can fix the problem "easily and quickly," Trump said in remarks to journalists alongside Xi. He urged Xi to "hopefully work on it very hard."

"If he works on it hard, it will happen. There's no doubt about it," Trump said.

While calling the visit significant, a top Chinese expert on North Korea relations downplayed any connection with Trump's statements in Beijing, saying it fit a pattern of traditional exchanges between the two parties following significant events such as national congresses.

"Representatives are dispatched to brief the other side at a chosen time and chosen level. It is a tradition and it is unnecessary to connect it with Trump's visit to China," said Guo Rui, researcher at the Institute for North Korean and South Korean Studies at Jilin University in northeastern China.

However, he said the visit "shows China's willingness to see a continuous development of the friendly relations between the two sides."

"Although the Korean Peninsula situation has been evolving fast with worrisome indications, the two parties are maintaining normal exchanges, and that is of significance for stabilizing the bilateral relations and the peninsular situation," Guo said.

The nature of Song's visit as a party-to-party exchange rather than one between the two governments appears to paint it as a bilateral attempt to strengthen relations, said John Delury, a professor at Seoul's Yonsei University who specializes in Korea and China.

The fact that Song was identified as Xi's special envoy also suggests that Xi is personally making a push to open the channel at a higher level and engage more constructively with Kim, Delury said.

"This is a chance to see if he can open things up," he said. "The relationship has been so frosty, it will be interesting to see if there's some improvement in the bilateral ties."

North Korea staged its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3, detonating what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb, and last launched a ballistic missile on Sept. 15, firing it over the Japanese island of Hokkaido into the Pacific Ocean.

Since then, there has been a lull in such activity, leading to some hopes in Beijing that Pyongyang might be responding to international pressure and becoming more amenable to talks.

Song's visit to Pyongyang also comes as China and South Korea are repairing their relations, with South Korean President Moon Jae-in scheduled to visit next month for talks with Xi.

Previously warm ties soured last year over Seoul's decision to deploy a sophisticated U.S. missile defense system aimed at guarding against North Korean threats.

Beijing claimed the THAAD system damaged its own security because its radars could observe military movements within northeastern China and retaliated by banning Chinese tour groups from visiting and interfering in the China operations of South Korean companies.

While South Korea resisted China's demands to withdraw the system, Beijing appeared satisfied with a pledge from Seoul not to expand it, among other commitments.

Associated Press writer Foster Klug contributed to this report.
Cody Leshers Fleetwood, Pennsylvania home felt particularly empty Wednesday night after his pet cat was euthanized by an animal shelter despite having a microchip.

I must have cried ten times today just thinking of little stuff that he does, Lesher said. Its just a really upsetting situation and he didnt deserve that.

Lesher said his cat Diddy, who he adopted with his girlfriend, ran away from his home Sunday. According to Lesher, Diddy had run away in the past but always came back. He also said the cat had a microchip that would allow a shelter to identify him.

Cody Lesher

A neighbor later found the cat and brought him to the Animal Rescue League of Berks County. According to the shelter, which is based in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, two staff members tried to scan the animal for a microchip but couldnt detect it. They then gave Diddy a physical and vaccinations before housing him in their cat area.

The next day, a staff member searched through their lost cat logs and social media to find out if the cat had an owner, according to Tom Hubric, the interim Executive Director of the shelter. Hubric also claimed Diddy became increasingly aggressive to the point in which staff members couldnt safely access his cage to provide proper care.

I have a really hard time believing that, Lesher said.

Citing overcrowded rooms, not having enough staff members, and being unable to find other shelters that werent at capacity as his reasons, Hubric said he then made the decision to euthanize the cat.

It was a very difficult decision and one that I did not take lightly, Hubric wrote.

On Tuesday, Lesher arrived at the shelter and discovered to his horror the body of his beloved pet.

When the owner informed us that the cat was originally adopted by us and it was microchipped, we did a third scan of the cat and found that the chip had migrated high up on his neck, likely close to the base of his skull and the two previous scans did not identify the microchip, Hubric wrote.

The incident came a month after the same facility euthanized a young childs collared cat less than a day after taking the animal in. The shelter fired a worker for what they considered bad judgment in that case.

It just seems like theyre not taking their job seriously, Lesher said. There definitely needs to be changes for sure.

The shelter apologized to Lesher and the entire community for what they called a terrible situation. Hubric also wrote a list of changes the shelter will make going forward, which includes increasing their cat hold time period, better educating staff members on how to scan animals for microchips and holding a town hall meeting for citizens to voice their concerns.


A prosecutor says Pennsylvania state troopers showed restraint and were justified in using deadly force in a roadside confrontation in which a trooper was shot.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli announced Thursday that the troopers were justified in shooting at 22-year-old Daniel Clary during the Nov. 7 struggle in Plainfield Township following a traffic stop along Route 33.

Morganelli said video shows Clary breaking away from Trooper Ryan Seiple, a six-year veteran, and Cpl. Seth Kelly, a 13-year veteran, and reaching into his car. The prosecutor said Clary then "comes out shooting" at the troopers, whom he called "sitting ducks."

As Clary tried to drive off, both officers fired at his car, Morganelli said.

"Clearly in this case both (troopers) were in danger of potential death or serious bodily injury at the moment that Mr. Clary made that decision to pull out a gun and start to fire at two state troopers, they had every right to return fire," Morganelli said.



Morganelli says the troopers followed their training, using restraint during the violent encounter. Cpl. Seth Kelly was shot and remained hospitalized Thursday.

"This matter, in my opinion, is clear cut," Morganelli said.

Pennsylvania State Police

Clary was treated at a hospital and remains jailed on $1 million, facing attempted murder charges. He admitted to shooting at the officers and attempting to remove and disarm their guns, police said. He does not have a permit to carry a firearm.

Clary's public defender didn't immediately return NBC10's calls for comment.
What to Know Four teens escaped from the Harborfields Youth Detention Facility in Egg Harbor City. The fourth, Michael Huggins, was captured Thursday.

The teens overpowered a guard and stole his car, which they later crashed. The teens then fled on foot, wearing little clothing.

Huggins was in custody awaiting trial in the killing of a man in Bridgeton, New Jersey, when he escaped.

A New Jersey teenager accused of killing a man was in custody Thursday, 24 hours after escaping from a youth detention center early Wednesday.

The capture occurred around 10:30 a.m. along South Carolina Avenue in Atlantic City as authorities acted on some sort of tip, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said Thursday afternoon.

Tyner said that Huggins illegally had a gun in his possession when he was captured without incident, Tyner said.

Huggins, 18, is charged with the 2016 slaying of 21-year-old Davonte Lee, of Bridgeton, who was gunned down in a vehicle. He was 17 at the time.

Huggins was taken to the Atlantic County Jail, rather than a juvenile facility, as he awaits further charges, Tyner said.

Atlantic County authorities said Huggins and three other teens attacked a corrections officer at the Harborfields Youth Detention Facility in Egg Harbor, about 20 miles west of Atlantic City, around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday and stole the guards car. They sideswiped a vehicle and crashed into a home before running off.

The other three teens, who have not been identified because they are juveniles, were later captured 35 miles away in Bridgeton after about nine hours on the run Wednesday. Authorities said it was not immediately clear how the escapees got as far away as they did.

Tyner called the manhunt by local state and federal authorities that brought in the teens without further incident, "exhaustive."



NBC10/Egg Harbor City Police Department

The guard was taken to a hospital and officials say he is expected to be OK.

Sixteen schools in districts including Egg Harbor City, Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and St. Vincent de Paul Regional School were shut down Wednesday during the search. The schools reopened Thursday.



Harborfields, which is located at Buffalo Avenue and Duerer Street, houses juveniles awaiting court hearings.

"Harborfields operates under the auspices of the County of Atlantic, Department of Public Safety and is managed, under contract, by the State of New Jersey, Department of Law and Public Safety, Juvenile Justice Commission," the center's website says.
A retired San Diego County Sheriff's Department detective who played a key role in the search for Poway teenager Chelsea King has died.

Former detective Chris Johnson passed away Tuesday and the King family mentioned on Facebook how heartbroken they were to learn the news.

Chelsea King was kidnapped on Feb. 25, 2010, while out on a run at Rancho Bernardo Community Park. It was Johnson's unfortunate duty to inform the King family that Chelsea's body had been found near Lake Hodges five days after her disappearance.

He spent 20 hours a day for 10 days with the King family.

"He became our protector, our rock, our friend and our hero," the King family said Wednesday.

From the missing person report to the search and the discovery of Chelsea's body to her funeral where he was a pallbearer, Johnson stood by the King family's side.

He retired from his 29-year career in law enforcement in June 2016.

His last official duty was providing security for graduation night at Poway High School, the school Chelsea attended.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department released the following statement:

"We are saddened to announce the passing of retired San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Johnson. He died of apparent natural causes Tuesday night (November 14th) in Michigan. Chris began his career with the Sheriff's Department in February 1988. He retired in June 2016, but returned to the department on a part-time basis. Chris will be missed by his family, friends and colleagues."

Every year, the community gathers for Chelsea's Run to remember the young woman and the run she was never able to finish.

The event serves as a fundraiser for the Chelseas Light Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Chelsea's parents, Brent and Kelly King, in memory of their beloved daughter. The foundation aims to support youth and spread positive change in the community.

On May 15, 2010, the man who killed Chelsea King was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The following year, the King family worked to pass Chelseas Law in California, which enhances criminal sentences for violent sexual offenders who commit crimes against children.

The couple is working on taking Chelsea's Law to other states and encouraging lawmakers to adopt all or part of it. They are also working with the state of California to ensure the law stays strong.
A Providence, Rhode Island, city councilman says college students have been throwing glass bottles at police officers and he wants the city and the state to take action.

Democrat David Salvatore says he knows of five such incidents since September in the city's Elmhurst neighborhood, where he lives.

Salvatore is asking the city council to establish a committee to review off-campus college housing, safety and security, much like it reviewed nightclubs after a spike in violence. He also wants the council to ask state lawmakers to address the issue.

Salvatore says state law should be changed to increase the penalties for assaulting an officer and clarify the meaning of a dangerous weapon to include glass bottles.

Elmhurst includes Providence College. Salvatore says students attending several local schools live in the area.
Dunkin' Donuts is planning to open one of its newly-rebranded stores right here in Boston, and some Bostonians have mixed reaction to the new branding.

The new store will be located at 147 Tremont St. by the Boston Common. The store isn't expected to open until next month, but the new signage went up on Tuesday and is already attracting attention.

It's the first Dunkin'-only sign in Boston, though a similar test run of the company's re-branding effort is also scheduled for Quincy. The new stores are part of a trial run aimed at getting customers to see the company as more of a destination for coffee than doughnuts.

"I just call it Dunkin' anyway so it's a good fit," said one person who spoke to NBC Boston.

"I think it's a smart move and I know this will do well," said another person.



The doughnut chain received approval from the Quincy zoning board over the summer to knock down a former Wild Willy's restaurant on Route 3A and build a new drive-thru focused store.

The Canton, Massachusetts-based company said earlier this year that it was thinking about dumping "Donuts" from its name, and would be testing out the new branding at several of stores. The company noted it has been referring to itself as Dunkin' in its advertising for over a decade.

"Dunkin Donuts remains the number one retailer of donuts in the country and donuts will continue to play an important role in our business," the company said in a statement. "However, as part of our efforts to reinforce that Dunkin Donuts is a beverage-led brand and coffee leader, we will be testing signage in a few locations ... which refers to the brand simply as 'Dunkin.'"

Some told NBC Boston they'll miss the "donuts" part of the name.

"I still miss it being Dunkin' Donuts I guess," said one person.

For the folks who truly love Dunkin' Donuts, they're thrilled.

"If I could have coffee running through my veins I probably would," one person said. "Dunkin' coffee, not Starbucks. I hate Starbucks."



A final decision on whether to change the name isn't expected until late next year.
The state of Vermont and its largest city, Burlington, are among 29 jurisdictions around the country to receive letters from the U.S. Justice Department Wednesday warning they may be violating a law.

The letters say it may run counter to federal policies to have local rules that prevent employeesnamely, police officersfrom communicating with federal agents about people's immigration status.

The letters suggest those local rules could disqualify the recipients from collecting certain federal grant funds.

"Jurisdictions that adopt so-called 'sanctuary policies' also adopt the view that the protection of criminal aliens is more important than the protection of law-abiding citizens and of the rule of law," U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. "I urge all jurisdictions found to be potentially out of compliance in this preliminary review to reconsider their policies that undermine the safety of their residents."

Vermonts Republican Governor, Phil Scott, told reporters Thursday that he is awaiting a legal opinion on the citys situation, but believes the state has nothing to worry about.

"We believe the Attorney Generalthe U.S. Attorney Generalhas not done his homework and we're actually in compliance," Gov. Scott said.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, a Democrat, told necn Thursday he believes the city is on firm legal ground with its approach to policing.

"Our police have long believed that we don't keep Burlingtonians safe by focusing on immigration status when we are doing our routine policing," Weinberger said. "We don't want people hesitating to call the police based on their status or the immigration status of their neighbors."

According to the office of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, the state of Vermont could miss out on about $500,000 in justice assistance grants in fiscal year 2017 if it's found to be in violation of federal policies, and the city of Burlington could lose about $40,000.

Leahy said Sessions is actually putting public safety at risk by delaying hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide in funding for law enforcement in critical areas such as anti-heroin task forces.

"These moves against the State of Vermont and the City of Burlington by Attorney General Sessions are shameful," Leahy said in a statement late Wednesday. "I strongly believe that police chiefs and local leaders should decide what state and local policies are necessary and best to keep their communities safe  not an Attorney General who is attempting to extort immigration reform by cutting off vital public safety dollars to local communities and their residents."

Chief Brandon del Pozo of the Burlington Police Department said Thursday he has been planning on using the federal funds for crime victims services and on upgrades to technology in cruisers.

"I had Speaker of the House Ryan tell me personally, face-to-face in Wisconsin, that he believes the federal government should stay out of local crime control," del Pozo told necn. "But yet what this is, is the opposite. When its convenient, people say, 'Forget all of that. We're going to use federal grant dollars to force you to police in a way we think is right.'"

Will Lambek, a spokesman for the group Migrant Justice, which advocates for policies that empower and protect migrant workers and human rights, called the letters "another example of bullying from the Trump administration," and argued Thursday that they are part of a campaign to stoke anti-immigrant feelings which do not have a place in Vermont or other communities.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, sharply criticized the warnings from the U.S. Justice Department to the jurisdictions.

"It is outrageous for Attorney General Sessions and the Department to threaten to withhold funds based on political threats," Sanders said in a written statement Thursday. "Yesterday's letters to the State of Vermont and City of Burlington from the Department of Justice are nothing more than another attack by the Trump administration on our communitiesa way to try to divide us up rather than go forward with comprehensive immigration reform."

Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, also weighed in.

"This decision is a slap in the face to Burlington, the State of Vermont and law enforcement agencies across our state," Welch said in a written statement Wednesday. "It is a blatant attempt by the Attorney General to strong-arm state and local governments in this country to fall in line with the Trump Administrations offensive anti-immigrant policies. The courts should block this heavy-handed and punitive decision."

The jurisdictions have until December 8 to respond to the DOJ, according to the letters.

The notifications from the U.S. Justice Department do not reflect any final decisions. They say that the feds have not yet determined if the jurisdictions are in compliance, so ask for more information from them to aid in that process.
A Norwich church has temporarily relocated to a boxing ring where self professed 'hard men' will tell their stories of finding faith. The first Tough Talk event is set for November 20.

A Norwich church has temporarily relocated to a boxing ring where self professed 'hard men' will tell their stories of finding faith. The first Tough Talk event is set for November 20.

How can we help feed those in need? Andrew Frere-Smith reminds us of the importance of meals, and offers us some food for thought as the rising cost of living impacts our communities. Read more

Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more

John leads Norwich churches trip to Holy Land Experienced Holy Land traveller and former CEO of YMCA Norfolk, John Drake, is leading an inter-church tour from Norwich to Israel and Palestine in March 2023, with a few places still available. Read more

Christmas rhyming play by North Norfolk teacher Matthew Pickhaver, who lives in North Norfolk, has just published the third of his series of play scripts on the theme of Christmas, which is now available to buy. Read more

Advent and Christmas events at Norwich Cathedral From an Advent Open Evening to Carols in the Cloister and an array of special services and concerts with Norwich Cathedral Choir, there is lots to look forward to at Norwich Cathedral this festive season. Read more

Norwich church to hold Sunday healing service Witard Road Baptist Church is hosting a healing service on November 27 led by Rev Ray and Ruth Scorey from Norfolk Healing Rooms. Read more

Sheringham youth attend forbidden church The youth group at Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham were forced to meet at a secret location earlier this month when the Lighthouse building had, supposedly, been shut down by the authorities. Read more

Christmas pud workshop at Norwich church Not made your Christmas pudding yet? Don't know where to start? Come along to a Christmas pudding workshop at Norwich Central Baptist Church on November 21 with MasterChef contestant Jane Wyndham. Read more

Norwich Foodbank provides over 4,700 food parcels Norwich Foodbank gave out 4,793 emergency food parcels to people across Norwich in the last year  with 1,790 of these going to children. Read more

Poppies cascading in Sheringham church A fall of poppies cascades from the pulpit in St Andrews Methodist Church in Sheringham, and anyone is welcome to come and see them. Read more

Bishop Graham's prayers for COP27 climate conference Bishop Graham is publishing daily prayers on social media for the current COP27 climate conference, and is asking all to join. Read more

Discovering the Orange in your life The vibrant colours of autumn have been inspiring regular contributor Jane Walters to focus on the positive. Read more

YMCA annual celebration set to inspire YMCA Norfolk is set to hold its much anticipated 2022 annual celebration and awards ceremony on November 17, after almost 3 years since the last event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Hub manager vacancy at community shop Earlham Community Shop Community Interest Company is looking to appoint a manager for this new venture being developed in the heart of NR5 Norwich. Read more

Abbey Days brings Christmas Magic to Wymondham Visitors to Wymondham Abbeys Christmas fair will be able to treat their children to a magic show and fun baking workshop while they browse more than 60 stalls. Read more

Salvation Armys new Christmas Appeal in Norfolk The Salvation Army has launched their new Christmas appeal across Norfolk which, this year, has evolved from the much-loved Toys and Tins appeal. Read more

Are we storing up treasures on earth? Rising prices affect us all, and Anna Heydon urges us to spare a thought for those who will be struggling with the cost of living this winter. Read more
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Policy Expert Named UK Insurance Company of the Year and UK Gamechanger in Insurance

LONDON: Home insurer Policy Expert has received international recognition at the ACQ5 2017 Global Awards by winning in two categories. Policy Expert was awarded UK Insurance Company of the Year, alongside its CEO, Tony Deacon, being named the UK Insurance Gamechanger of the Year.





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The awards recognise institutions and individuals that demonstrate leadership, innovation and momentum in the market in which they excel, and winners are acknowledged as setting the standard for the sector.Policy Expert, which insures almost four hundred thousand homes across the UK, has repeatedly proven its market leading abilities with trendsetting business initiatives. The company uses big data, APIs, algorithms and artificial intelligence to better understand its customers and generate the most accurate and realistic pricing. The result is a more effective process with the savings then passed down to consumers.The home insurer, which prides itself on putting its customers first, also boasts a Crystal Mark from the Plain English Campaign, meaning all of the business' documents are clear and without jargon. In addition, it is the first insurer in the UK to offer a two year fixed rate on premiums to safeguard policy holders against year on year premium rises.Adam Powell, Head of Operations at Policy Expert, said: "It's an honour to be recognised as Insurance Company of the Year and for our CEO, Tony Deacon to pick up the accolade of Insurance Gamechanger of the Year. It's a testament of the hard work that the 250 strong Policy Expert team puts in every day. Customers want peace of mind and our job is to give our customers what they want. And we'll just keep evolving our business model as our customers evolve."This year, Policy Expert was also announced as one of the Top 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain from the London Stock Exchange Group, awarded Home Insurance Provider of the Year at the Insurance Choice Awards, rated number one home insurer on Review Centre*, and holds a 91% trust score on Trust Pilot**.
Sales Intelligence Platform Vainu Launches Salesforce Integration

NEW YORK: The world's fastest growing sales automation and prospecting platform Vainu unveils today a new CRM integration that could change the way businesses around the world think about finding and cultivating sales leads.





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Vainu, a SaaS sales platform that tracks and stores crucial open data on 108 million companies worldwide, now seamlessly integrates with the most recognized and widely used CRM, Salesforce."We're extremely excited about this new way of using our solution," said Vainu Co-Founder Mikko Honkanen. "The Salesforce integration is a logical extension of Vainu's other relevant integrations and opens the door for efficient sales automation from start to finish for clients here in the United States and across Europe. As we like to say, we're providing salespeople the tools to become all-knowing sales wizards."With a U.S. database and ones across Europe in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, the company is constantly leveraging open data and AI to improve the sales process for thousands of salespeople who already use the software. The Salesforce integration adds to other useful sales and workflow tools, including Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics, LinkedIn, Slack, Gmail and more.Vainu's integration with the Salesforce Sales Cloud a and other CRMs a keeps useful data up-to-date and also uses CRM data to make the prospecting experience an easier one. Combining a trusted CRM with Vainu's prospecting data helps salespeople unlock relevant, useful data about companies, which allows them to tailor communications with every company they're targeting. And the integration limits the risk of any duplicate prospects within large sales teams. When conducting a Vainu search with an integrated CRM, sales team members will know who owns which prospects and searches can be filtered to omit any of those companies.The platform's customized sales triggers let users know when companies are hiring, when they are going through rounds of funding, what kinds of marketing automation they use and more. These triggers, when integrated with a CRM, also eliminate leads that tend to fall through the cracks. Triggers keep data fresh and keep clients top of mind for sales teams."We've all been there...any salesperson who has been doing it for long enough has probably watched a prospect slip through the cracks," Honkanen added. "No matter how organized you are, it happens. That's why Vainu is such a useful tool for sales teams. Our scheduled triggers on companies make it nearly impossible to forget about prospects a they are always top of mind."Since its 2014 launch, Vainu has grown from three guys and an idea to a team of more than 130 people, nearly $1 million in monthly revenue and bookings, more than 1,000 customers with thousands of users and more than 100 million companies worldwide in its database. With a recently launched U.S. headquarters in New York City, a European headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and several other European offices, Vainu continues to advance its mission to collect, read and understand all the information written about every company in the world and make it readily available. By 2018, the company plans to launch at least three new databases in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom.Trusted by companies like FedEx, UPS, Manpower, Dell and Microsoft, B2B business development leaders around the world capitalize on Vainu's platform. The company recently launched an app to provide its same customized sales and prospecting solution to users on the go.
Officials, expats safe in Zimbabwe: Indian Embassy

New Delhi , Nov. 15 : The Indian Embassy in Zimbabwe has informed that the situation is calm in Harare after Zimbabwean soldiers along with the defense forces reportedly seized control of the state broadcasting outlet in the wee hours of Wednesday.





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The Indian Embassy took to Twitter on Wednesday to inform that no Indian was harmed in Zimbabwe."Situation in Harare is calm. Embassy staff, Indian Community, both PIO and Expat are safe. No reason for concern and worry," the Indian Embassy in Zimbabwe tweeted.The Zimbabwean Army, in a statement, reassured that it was not a military coup or takeover.The move was initially speculated as a military coup against President Robert Mugabe.Two workers for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and human rights worker claimed that the soldiers occupied the state broadcasters' headquarters here.Earlier in November, Mugabe removed Emmerson Mnangagwa from the post of vice-president.Mnangagwa had been in the government for decades and was a soldier during the nation's war for independence in the 1970's.He was also considered as the successor of the resident and is popular with the military.Meanwhile, the army said although President Mugabe was safe and sound, the military was targetting "criminals around him" who have sent the nation spinning into economic despair."As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy," the Washington Post quoted an army spokesman, as saying.
ICG firing case: TN CM writes to PM Modi

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) , Nov 15 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting his intervention in the case of alleged firing on Indian fishermen by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).





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The chief minister has urged the Ministry of Defence to take cognizance of the matter.On November 14, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for allegedly firing at Rameswaram fishermen.The fishermen alleged that the ICG had opened fire at them on November 13, however, the latter denied of any such incident.A case under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC and Section 27(1) of the Arms Act, 1959 has been registered.
UK can't control 'Free Balochistan' ads in London: British envoy

Islamabad [Pakistan], November 16 : British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew has expressed his country's inability to control the advertisements about Balochistan in London.





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"I understand the strength of feeling about adverts in London. The British Government does not and cannot control advertising in the U.K. But our own position is clear about the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, of which Balochistan is and will continue to be an integral part," Saama TV quoted Drew as saying in response to concerns about advertisements about Balochistan in London.This comes after the World Baloch Organisation launched the third phase of its #FreeBalochistan advertising campaign, in spite of attempts to ban and censor its adverts by the Pakistan Government.More than 100 London buses are carrying adverts that say "Free Balochistan", "Save The Baloch People" and "Stop Enforced Disappearances".Bhawal Mengal, spokesperson for the World Baloch Organisation (WBO), said, "This is the third phase of our London campaign to raise awareness about Pakistan's human right abuses in Balochistan and the right of the Baloch people to self-determination. We started with taxi adverts, and then did roadside billboards and now we are advertising on London buses.""The attempts by the Pakistan Government to pressure the UK to ban our adverts have failed. The campaign is powering ahead and will continue for weeks to come. The bullying tactics of Pakistan are an attack on freedom of expression. This is a peaceful advertising campaign. Pakistan's aggressive reaction is a bare-faced attempt to intimidate the UK Government and Baloch human rights defenders," he added.The Pakistan Government officials, in a clear bid to quash the freedom of expression and to intimidate human rights activists, called the campaign "malicious" and "anti-Pakistan."They pressurised the British Government to remove WBO's adverts.Indeed, within 24 hours, Transport for London ordered the removal of the taxi adverts; though the billboards remained because they were not on TfL property.
Modi wave still prevails, reveals survey

New Delhi , November 16 : A recent survey by an America-based think-tank named Pew Research Centre has revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity among Indians hasn't died down, three years after he took office in 2014.





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"Three years into Modi's five-year tenure, the honeymoon period for his administration may be over, but the public's love affair with current conditions in India is even more intense," the report remarks.The study surveying 2,464 respondents in India reveals the Modi wave that took the nation by storm in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections still prevails, despite the government's debatable moves of demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that drew criticism from some quarters of the nation.In the period from February 21 and March 10, 2017, the study gauged the popularity of the Prime Minister, citizens' judgement of socio-economic policies and the likes, among respondents of various age groups and regions.As per the study, nearly nine out of ten Indians hold a favourable opinion of Prime Minister Modi, of which roughly seven out of ten said they have a very favourable view of him.Down south, at least nine out of ten Indians in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and in the western states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh hold a favourable view of the prime minister.More than eight out of ten Indians in eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal and the northern states of Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh hold a favourable view.While PM Modi's popularity in the north remains unchanged, it has risen in the west and the south, and is down slightly in the east.Overall, Prime Minister Modi has emerged as the most popular national figure in the organisation's survey, whose popularity surpasses that of Opposition's Congress President Sonia Gandhi by 31 per cent, and of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi by 31 per cent.The economic policies of the Modi government were also welcomed by Indians, as per the survey, with more than eight out of ten Indians opining that the economic conditions were good, up 19 percentage points since immediately before the 2014 elections.30 per cent adults believed that the economy was very good, triple the figures in the past three years.At least seven out of ten Indians have welcomed the Prime Minister's steps towards poverty, unemployment, terrorism and corruption.On an average, seven out of ten Indians are now satisfied with the way things are going in the country. This positive assessment of India's direction has nearly doubled since 2014.The study also observes that Modi's popularity is a case of partisan, wherein the 2017 partisan gap in favourable approval of Modi is 32 percentage points, larger than the 20-point divide in 2015 but relatively unchanged from 2016.In all areas of governance, BJP supporters were more likely than the Congress supporters to approve of PM Modi's performance, by 25 points or more.However, supporters of both parties were in consensus regarding their satisfaction with the direction of the country, despite a partisan gap of 18 points in 2016.More than eight out of ten (85 per cent) respondents expressed faith in the government, of which 39 per cent expressed a lot of trust.Moreover, BJP supporters (90 per cent) turned out to be more trusting of the government than Congress backers (76 per cent).The study also found that public is also quite satisfied (79 per cent) with the way their democracy is currently working. This includes 33 percent who are very satisfied. Again, BJP supporters (84 per cent) are significantly more satisfied with Indian democracy than are Congress backers (65 per cent).In matters of other countries or Prime Minister Modi's relations with the international leaders, one-third or more of the respondents express no opinion.Among those opining, half of Indian adults hold a favourable view of the United States, down 21 percentage points since 2015, while 40 per cent express confidence in President Donald Trump to do the right thing regarding world affairs, down 34 points from their faith in his predecessor, Barack Obama, in 2015.here is also a decline in favourable public views of China.
Asia Pacific Cert (APCERT) Discuss Building Trust in Digital Economy

New Delhi : First ever Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) Open Conference in India and the first in South Asia was held in New Delhi on November 15, 2017. It was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad in the presence of the Minister of State of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri K J Alphons.





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In their presence the Indian Compute Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) received the host country award from the APCERT, handed over by Japan CERT (JPCERT). CERT's from 22 digital Asia Pacific economies participated along with participation from USA, Europe, Industry, Academia, Government and Media totalling to over 350 professionals to discuss response mechanisms in the complex and evolving threat landscape for Building Trust in the Digital Economy on the contours and vision laid down by the Hon'ble Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad during the inauguration of the open conference on November 15, 2017.The Hon'ble Minister of Electronics and Information Technology made three significant announcements:He announced that under the government's programme of supporting PhD scholars in digital technologies, the government will offer PhD scholarships in cyber security to candidates from Asia Pacific, who do their PhD in any of the 100 leading universities of India, including IITs, IISc and other universities. He invited research scholars to explore doing their research in India.The Hon'ble Minister mentioned that innovation in cyber security is a big focus of the Government. There are more than 100 cyber security product companies in India and it was proposed that in furtherance of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) preference shall be provided by all procuring entities in the government to domestically manufactured / produced Cyber Security Products.He also said that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was in the process of working with Data Security Council of India to conduct Challenge Grant for cyber security as a means to encourage budding start-ups to develop innovative technologies.India was selected to be part of the steering committee of APCERT along with 6 (Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan) other countries to shape the agenda for the next 2 years across the region.In India, cyber security professionals got an opportunity to attend a highly content rich technical conference, interact with the Asia Pacific incident response leaders in cyber security and the International community got to see the skills and depth of some of the cyber security start-ups from India.The spectrum of topics covered included setting up sectoral CSIRTS, Nation State exploits, vulnerabilities of block chain, secure communication in industrial internet, cyber crime in financial technology ecosystem, building a sharing economy, machine learning, malicious behaviour in encrypted traffic, mobile security and Artificial Intelligence.
Vice President to inaugurate Aadi Mahotsav - a fortnight long Tribal Festival with the theme of 'A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce'

New Delhi : The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate 'Aadi Mahotsav' - a fortnight long Tribal Festival with the theme of 'A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce' tomorrow i.e 16 Nov 2017 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi.





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The inaugural function will be presided over by Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram. Ministers of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor and Shri Sudarshan Bhagat will be specially present to grace the occasion. Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ms. Leena Nair, Managing Director, TRIFED Shri Pravir Krishna and other senior officials will also be present on the occasion.Over 750 tribal artisans from over 25 States will be participating in the festival. Aadi Mahotsav is scheduled to be organized at four venues throughout Delhi. The details of the venues and dates of the festival are as under.Dilli Haat, INA - 16-30 November, 2017Dilli Haat, Janakpuri - 16-19 November, 2017Central Park, Rajiv Chowk - 16-17 November, 2017Handicraft Bhawan, Baba Kharak Singh Marg - 16-19 November, 2017The Mahotsav : Showcasing Tribal Culture, Commerce & Cuisine:The festival will run for a fortnight through 30th November 2017. The theme of the festival is: A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce. The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through about 200 stalls.Over 750 tribal artisans and artists from over 25 States will be participating in the festival. A special feature of the festival is Tribal India cuisine, recreated and presented in delectable forms to suit urban tastes by special tribal chefs.An attractive stage has been raised at the venue to showcase tribal music and dance every evening from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm. Nearly 350 artists from 20 States are expected to perform during the festival.Shopping, Dining & Fine MusicThe 15 days Mahotsav is expected have a footfall of over one lakh Delhiites. It promises to be a feast of shopping, exotic dining and fine music from Artists from all over the Country. The tribal textiles manufactured by Master tribal Craftsmen from Jammu & Kashmir in the North to Tamil Nadu in the South and from Gujarat in the East to Nagaland/Sikkim in the West will win the heart of Delhiites.The Traditional tribal jewelry, bamboo cane also promise to be the items of attraction.The Tribal handicrafts would be sold through about 200 Stalls in the Dilli Haat, INA by tribal Artisans. Twenty five special tribal cuisines would be on display and sale during the fortnight and Delhites are welcome to sample the exotic Adi Vyanjan.A team of 350 tribal artists from all over the country will present excellent and choreographed dances, vocal and instrumental music. Four rock bands from North East would be giving enthralling performances everyday in the evening from 5.30 P.M. to 8.30 P.M.In line with the national aspiration to go cashless, the tribal artisans will be accepting payment through credit/debit cards for which Point of Sale (POS) machines have been provided in each stall. A special training has been conducted by State Bank of India for smooth operation of this. The Mahotsav will display the rich digital commerce and e-commerce being promoted by Tribes India. All the stalls will prefer and promote payments through credit cards.Background :The tribes constitute over 8% of the country's population. This is a very significant number. In real terms it corresponds to over 10 crore Indians. The national object of inclusive development (sabka vikas) includes the development of tribes as an important component. Our constitution enjoins upon the Government the responsibility of addressing the special needs of the tribals.As the name of this event Aadi Mahotsav suggests, it is the 'adi' factor that is important about them. The Adivasi way of life is guided by primal truths, eternal values and a natural simplicity. The greatness of the tribes lies in this that they have managed to retain the primal skills, the natural simplicity. Their creations issue from the depths of time. This quality gives their arts and crafts a timeless appeal. The crudest tribal handicraft instantly touches a primal instinct in all of us. This is particularly true of tribal music and dance.The tribes of India have a wide range of handicrafts. These include handwoven cotton, wool and silk fabrics, woodcrafts, metal craft, terracotta, bead-work, masques and other objects. They also produce compelling paintings. It is true that the tribes did not develop these arts and handicrafts for the market. They developed them for their own captive use. But we all live in a changing world. Nobody can remain unaffected by these changes. Not even the tribes. Like all of us, the tribes too now need cash for sundry purposes. It is therefore important that their natural skills must be channelled to promote their sources of income. It is for this reason that the Government seeks to promote interaction between the tribal artisans and the mainstream designers from reputed design organizations. The idea is to expand the product range and designs. The synergy between these two can generate marketable products of art and handicraft for the top-end global market. Single items of bell-metal produced by the late Jaideo Baghel of Kondagaon in Bastar sold for as much as five lacs of rupees! This only points to the fact that on the one hand there are skills in the tribal pockets of India, and on the other hand there is high-end demand in our cities and in the international market.The need is to put two and two together for a win-win result. Events such as this Adi Mahotsav are very important in this regard. The Government has formed the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (Trifed) for achieving this. Trifed is doing significant work in this direction and have now embraced e-commerce and digital platforms to take the business forward.TRIBES India proudly announces the signing of MOUs with Amazon, Snapdeal, Flipkart, PayTM and GEM, a Government of India Portal for e-commerce of the tribal products. Besides TRIBES India has also has its own e-com portal www.eshop.tribesindia.com.The Mahotsav is an effort to take tribal commerce to the next level of digital and electronic transactions. The Mahotsav apart from exotic handicrafts will also showcase the electronic and digital skills of the tribals as a special attraction.
Saragarhi film receives applause in UK Parliament

London [The United Kingdom], Nov.16 : On Tuesday (November 14), the British Parliament resounded to a thunderous round of applause in honour of 21 native Indian soldiers who fought to defend British India on the unruly North West frontier in 1897.





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Parliamentarians, leading members of the British Indian community and representatives of Her Majesty's Armed Forces gathered for a special Parliamentary launch and screening of the new docu-drama "Saragarhi: The True Story", hosted by former Justice and Work and Pensions Minister Shailesh Vara MP.The film, made in honour of the Sikhs who fought at Saragarhi to mark the battle's 120th anniversary, comes after more than seven years of research and production by Captain J. Singh-Sohal, a British Army reservist and filmmaker."Saragarhi: The True Story" narrates, for the first time on film, the fate of the 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of Bengal Infantry who on 12th September 1897 found themselves surrounded by 10,000 enemy tribesmen during an uprising on the North West Frontier between colonial India and Afghanistan.The brave 21 fought to the last man despite the odds, in an engagement lasting nearly seven hours and with only limited ammunition. The battle is a significant one which was commemorated by the British with memorials in India, a battle honour for the 36th Sikh regiment that fought (now the 4th Sikh Regiment in the Indian Army) and the issue of the Indian Order of Merit class III, the highest award of gallantry at that time given to native Indians on par with the Victoria Cross, which was awarded posthumously to the 21 men.The documentary, filmed in India, Pakistan and the UK; tells the story with unique access to private archives, never-before-seen images, stunning visual graphics, effects and re-enactment scenes.Event host Shailesh Vara MP said: "This film rightly records the outstanding courage and bravery of Sikh soldiers fighting against the odds and paying the ultimate price. It is right that we remember these brave men in the Mother of Parliaments, and I congratulate Captain Jay Singh-Sohal for his commitment and dedication over many years in making this remarkable film. The film not only informs the public, but it will also be a valuable resource for historians in the years to come."Speaking about his new film, Captain Singh-Sohal said: "It is a unique and fitting way to honour the memory of the men who fought at Saragarhi by remembering their bravery and valour in the very Parliament of Queen and country they were fighting for. This episode of British Indian history inspired many more Indians to serve during the first and second World Wars shoulder to shoulder with the British and troops from all over the Commonwealth. And it inspires a new generation now to commit to defending our parliamentary democracy and the values it represents. Sharing their story in our Parliament is a tremendous honour for which I'd like to express my thanks to Mr Vara."The film will now begin it's international tour, with a screening at the "Sikh Arts and Film Festival" in New York City and events across India.Colonel John Kendall, from the British Army, who was part of a delegation to India that visited the Saragarhi Memorial sites, added: "The courage and loyalty of the Sikhs as a warrior race is legendary. For over a century and a half the British Army has been proud to serve alongside Sikhs. We have fought together in many campaigns including the North West Frontier and the First and Second World Wars. We have fought alongside each other to protect democracy and to rescue those in need from natural disasters. Today we are privileged to have Sikhs serving among our ranks across Her Majesty's Armed Forces and support the work of the British Armed Forces Sikh Association (BAFSA) who help us to promote the message of inclusivity and Sikh service in the Army."
Andhra to get electric vehicles

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) , Nov 16 : Toyota Kirloskar inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday in Amaravati to introduce electric vehicles in the state.





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Reportedly, the pilot project will be launched in Tirupati.This is a first of its kind agreement for Toyota.Toyota will be supplying two models of its electric cars to Andhra Pradesh Government for free."We will experimentally try these vehicles, which will be delivered between May and December 2018 in our state," said Nara Lokesh.He added that the government is working on creating an ecosystem for Electric Vehicles (EV) in Andhra Pradesh."We are in discussions with EV manufacturers, battery manufactures, cab aggregators and other stakeholders to create a comprehensive Electric Vehicles Policy for the state," the minister asserted.He further said, to kick-start the use of EVs, Andhra Pradesh Government will become the 'biggest consumer of electric vehicles in India.'"Government of Andhra Pradesh is also discussing with electric bus manufacturers to introduce pilot project in Tirupati," Nara Lokesh said.MoU was signed in the presence of Andhra Minister for Information Technology (IT) Nara Lokesh and Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar Akito Tachibana.
Casio EDIFICE renews partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team

Tokyo [Japan], Nov 16 : Casio Computer Co., Ltd. on Thursday announced that it renewed its official partnership with the Formula One team Scuderia Toro Rosso, in a two-year agreement to start in January 2018.





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Scuderia Toro Rosso brings its youthful energy and racing cars powered by outstanding technological innovations to the Formula One circuit, in the passionate pursuit of speed. Casio believes that these qualities perfectly match the brand concept for its sporty EDIFICE metal chronographs and has been an official team partner since 2016.Under the concept of "Speed and Intelligence," the EDIFICE brand evokes the sense of velocity and energy that is found in motorsports. EDIFICE also features stopwatch and world time functions that have been advancing based on cutting-edge electronics technology. In recent years, Casio has released models equipped with its original Connected Engine.This module connects to a time server through a paired smartphone, ensuring the watch displays accurate local time anywhere in the world and also automatically updates the daylight saving time and time zone information. As high-performance chronographs that combine bold designs with advanced and varied functions, EDIFICE watches enjoy a strong following among motorsports enthusiasts.With this new official partner agreement, Casio and EDIFICE logos will appear on the drivers' racing suits, as well as on the nose sections of the team's race cars.Casio will leverage this partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso to actively promote the EDIFICE brand worldwide.
Paytm, ICICI Bank collaborate to offer short term instant digital credit

New Delhi , Nov 16 : Digital payments major Paytm has announced its tie-up with ICICI Bank to jointly launch 'Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid', the most seamless way to access interest-free short-term digital credit.





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Under the new offering, millions of Paytm customers will get access to instant credit for the first time for everyday use-cases, ranging from movies to bill payments to flights to physical goods.Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid is a digital credit account with instant activation: with no hassles of documentation or branch visit, while activation is fully online. There is no transaction, joining or hidden administration fees.Available 24x7 and on all days, it is based on a new Big Data based algorithm by ICICI Bank for real-time credit assessment of customers.The algorithm uses an intelligent combination of financial and digital behaviour of the customer including credit bureau check, purchase patterns, frequency of purchase to ascertain the credit - worthiness of a customer within a few seconds. Based on the credit-score of the customer, the bank offers upto 45 days interest-free credit limit.It ranges from Rs. 3,000 to Rs 10,000, extendable upto Rs. 20,000 based on the repayment history. Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid will also offer a quick checkout to customers with the Paytm Passcode.As a start, Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid will offer the credit limit to select customers of the bank using the Paytm app. It will shortly be available to non-ICICI Bank customers using the Paytm app.Once the credit limit is set up for a customer, a consolidated bill is generated on the first day of the next month, which has to be paid by the 15th day of the same month. Customers can use their Paytm Wallet, debit card or internet banking of any bank for an easy repayment of their dues."In this endeavour, we have leveraged upon Big Data to develop a new algorithm that instantly assesses the credit worthiness of customers using a combination of financial and digital parameters to sanction the credit line instantly," said Anup Bagchi, Executive Director, ICICI Bank."We believe our customers are sincere with their payments and Paytm Postpaid will play a major role in helping them pay for their daily expenses on time. This will democratise access to credit including those with less disposable income," said founder and CEO - Paytm, Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
AAI, SPIC MACAY Foundation to promote Indian culture

New Delhi , Nov.16 : The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is committed towards fostering the exchange of traditional Indian values and to generate awareness of the cultural traditions and heritage of India.





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Moving a step ahead in the direction of promoting arts and culture, AAI today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) for organising a two-day event "Dance and Music in the Park "for the next three years.This two-day event will showcase various classical dance and music forms of India. This year, the event will be organised on December 2 and 3 at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, and will have performances by renowned artists Pt. Birju Maharaj (Kathak) and Raja Radha Reddy (Kuchipudi) and Us. Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod) and Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra (Vocal).The MoU was signed by Anuj Aggarwal, Member (HR), AAI and Rashmi Malik, Chairperson, SPIC MACAY Foundation in the august presence of Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, AAI at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi. J.B.Singh, General Manager (PR) and other officials of AAI were also present.During signing of the MoU, Dr. Mohapatra said, "We look forward to make this two-day event a memorable cultural evening of Delhi. This is, in a way, a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of the country."
ElderAid Wellness secures Angel Funding from Hong Kong-based investor

New Delhi , Nov 16 : Social enterprise ElderAid Wellness Pvt. Ltd. secured an undisclosed sum as angel investment from Rugmini Menon, a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur, to bolster its operations in Bangalore. This investment will enable augmentation of operations, investment in critical customer management technology, marketing and brand building efforts.





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ElderAid is an end-to-end, 'proxy child' service set up by Dr. Vandana Nadig Nair and Santosh Abraham in 2015 to serve elders in Bangalore. The company provides a range of at-home services including caretaker support, emergency assistance, accompanying the elder to the hospital, social events, supporting volunteering interests and hobbies, bill payments, property management, doctor home visits, and so on.ElderAid addresses a critical need by focusing on seniors and their needs. It is projected that the proportion of Indians aged 60 and older will rise from 7.5 percent in 2010 to 11.1 percent in 2025. In 2010, India had more than 91.6 million elderly and the number of elderly in India is projected to reach 158.7 million in 2025.Nuclear families are on the rise with several elders living alone and their children living in another town / country; advances in medical science are leading to increased longevity; elder-friendly physical infrastructure is inadequate. On the other hand, elders would love to have richer social lives, pursue hobbies, careers, interests such as travel and lead fuller lives while having the solace and comfort of a go-to service provider such as ElderAid."ElderAid Wellness was founded in response to a growing need within my own extended family. I saw my aunts and uncles in Bangalore with children in other cities / countries, who needed help and support; children who visited as frequently as once a month to tend to their parents; and worry on all sides. It is our dream to be the 'proxy child' and support seniors in fulfilling all their needs and aspirations. Our vision is to help elders live happy, healthy and secure lives," said Dr Vandana Nadig Nair.
Marco's Pizza Offers Slice of the Pie with Recruitment and Apprenticeship Programs

TOLEDO, Ohio: Breaking the mold of traditional employee recruitment, Marco's Pizza announced a far-reaching Recruitment and Apprenticeship Program that will open doors for hundreds of qualified existing employees, active duty military, Veterans and their families looking to get their foot in the door of the pizza industry.





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Ranked amongst Military Times' Top Five Best Franchise Opportunities for Military Veterans, with franchise fee discounts of up to 100 percent, Marco's will give special attention to the recruitment and training of the military community. The program provides mentorship, training and eventual equity deal opportunities over a 20-month period. Accepted apprentices go under the mentorship of Marco's Pizza regional managers to learn valuable skills such as best practices in pizza making, marketing, hiring, team building, inventory management and store profitability. Once initial training is complete, applicants officially become Apprentices and eventually graduate to store ownership.Overseeing the Veterans' recruitment arm is newly hired Richard Scott "Q" Quagliata, a military Veteran with more than 20 years of experience. As Marco's Vice President of Veterans' Program and Recruiting, Quagliata is tasked with facilitating passionate, disciplined leaders entry into the Marco's management pipeline with a focus on transitioning Veterans."Having transitioned from the military myself, I understand the requirements to help our Veterans enter back into a civilian workforce," Quagliata said. "The Recruitment and Apprenticeship Program is a phenomenal vehicle to do so. Growing our own leadership is mutually beneficial both for Marco's Pizza's continued success and the futures of these men, women and their families. We are providing opportunities not just for employment, but for long-term career paths."Working towards this goal, Quagliata has implemented a Career Skills Program, inspired by the mission of Soldier For Life, which affords Soldiers to gain career skills during their last six months of duty at a Marco's Pizza location. There are currently three active programs in Fort Jackson, SC, Forts Benning and Stewart, GA, and Quagliata was recently granted access by the U.S. Army to recruit at any base around the country. The program recently graduated its first Soldier, Alex Stanley, who is on track to begin working as the General Manager in Boise, Idaho this fall."When I was looking into what could benefit me most in the future, I decided it would be Marco's Pizza," Stanley said. "I was initially drawn to Marco's because I liked the idea of having hands-on experience before moving into a leadership role. It's amazing that Marco's and the Army have made opportunities like this possible for Soldiers."As the only national franchise chain founded by a native Italian, Marco's Pizza has carved out a niche in the industry as the expert in authentic Italian pizza, known for its fresh never-frozen dough made daily on site, a proprietary cheese blend that is fresh never-frozen and a secret pizza sauce recipe. Averaging at least one store opening every three days, the Apprentice Program serves as an innovative way to continue growth with a hard-working, dedicated team as Marco's Pizza expands its footprint nationwide.
Subway Canada donates one million meals to Food Banks Canada in celebration of World Sandwich Day

TORONTO: The donations have been tallied and thanks to the support of Canadians, Subway Canada will donate one million meals to Food Banks Canada as a result of its World Sandwich Day program.





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Part of a global initiative, guests in over 60 countries joined Subway on November 3 to help feed millions of people around the globe through the World Sandwich Day promotion, which will see more than 13.3 million meals donated globally."We set an aggressive goal of donating one million meals to communities across Canada this year, and we cannot thank our guests enough for helping us achieve it," says Cristina Wells, Senior Marketing Director. "It's incredibly important to us that we support the local communities we operate in. No one should have to go hungry no matter where they live."The donation will be used towards the purchase and distribution of fresh foods, helping to restock shelves in food banks across Canada, just in time for the holiday season."Donations like these are essential to fighting hunger," says Mimi Lowi-Young, executive director Food Banks Canada. "To put the Canadian donation into perspective, roughly 306,000 children and 45,500 seniors are helped by food banks across the country every month. Subway Canada's donation has the power to provide almost every single one of them with three nutritious meals of food."In addition to the charitable donation, Subway staff in four major cities joined together in the lead up to World Sandwich Day to lend a hand in their local communities, helping to sort and prep over 7,700 pounds of non-perishable foods and package an additional 1,300 bags of fresh vegetables for food bank shelves. Murals developed to raise awareness of hunger in Canada have also been donated to Food Banks Canada.For more information about Subway Canada, the World Sandwich Day initiative and our commitment to hunger-relief charities, visit SubwayLiveFeed.ca, join Subway Canada's online community at www.facebook.com/SubwayCanada or follow @SubwayCanada.
Supply Chain Transparency and Inclusivity: What to Expect from ConnXus in 2018

MASON, Ohio: Instilling consistent disruption in the supplier management industry in 2017, ConnXus released a suite of international procurement tools including multilingual supplier registration portals, global vendor data enrichment, and a procure-to-pay single sign-on integration.





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For 2018, the high-growth software company is already knee-deep in research, design and enterprise development for transparent and ethical supply chain tracking and reporting.The global supply chain management software market value is projected to reach $13.4B by the end of 2017, according to Clearwater International & Gartner. $2.1B (31%) of that market share resides in sourcing and procurement software. While ERP giants like SAP occupy 26% of this market, it leaves a majority 52% open for game changers such as ConnXus.A Shift in International Procurement PracticesThere is no singular definition for global supplier diversity. Standards and requirements for validating diversity statuses and reporting diverse spend shifts country-to-country and sometimes region-by-region. Today, ConnXus validates and classifies international vendor data in Canada, South Africa and United Kingdom, with more international vendors being added to their database daily. ConnXus' localized Registration Portals are translated in each region or country's native language to streamline supplier enrollment and communication, with data rolling up to a singular Enterprise Dashboard view.What to Expect from ConnXus in 2018The procurement industry has, for decades, catered to the buyer market. Supplier registration and bid opportunity platforms are built with corporate buyers' ease-of-use and goals at the top of mind, often providing hurdles for suppliers seeking access to corporate supply chains. ConnXus plans to disrupt industry standards by keeping suppliers' goals at the forefront of innovation.Diverse Marketplace and E-CommerceIn collaboration with their established procure-to-pay partner-BuyerQuestaConnXus will launch a groundbreaking diverse marketplace and e-commerce platform. Diverse suppliers that sell goods and products will be able to capture, approve, promote and maintain catalog data. Buyers will have capabilities to source, compare and purchase products from new and existing diverse suppliers to build more inclusive supply chains.One-click Tier 2 Reporting SubmissionConnXus will lead supplier diversity reporting protocol by further automating the Tier 2 reporting process. Prime vendors will have the option select their reporting period and submit spend to multiple buyers simultaneously. Buyers do not have to "crunch the numbers," the system will produce the report itself.Supplier Risk and Ethics AnalysisFor long-term supplier contracts, updates to the existing ConnXus Risk Scorecard will include sovereign debt scores by country and industry risk scores by cost of capital to aid in contract negotiations for both private and public suppliers. Disbarment alerts will assist with risk mitigation for personal or company-related legal proceedings and human trafficking reports.News Feeds with Cyber Security Risk AlertsFor an added layer of data confidentiality and protection, cyber security threats and malware attack alerts will feed directly into ConnXus dashboards with real-time updates via an API. With its industry-trusted restful API, ConnXus will also tighten security requirements with the availability of two-factor authentication during the sign-in process.
SnapPower Announces First Celebrity Endorsement from Crystal the Monkey

VINEYARD, Utah: SnapPower, the So Easy A Monkey Can Do It consumer technology company, today announced an endorsement from Night at the Museum star, Crystal the monkey. This famous capuchin monkey joined the SnapPower family for the launch of its brand new marketing campaign, demonstrating just how simple it is to install SnapPower products.





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The petite actress raved about the entire product suite, giving it two thumbs up--which is actually really impressive, considering it's physically impossible for monkeys to do that. After successfully installing a SnapPower cover herself, Crystal let out a gleeful cheer, basically becoming the first celebrity to endorse the company.Upon her first introduction to SnapPower, Crystal tried her hand at installing both the SnapPower Charger and the GuideLight. The Charger features a USB port built into the bottom of a standard electrical outlet cover, thus eliminating the need for plug-in USB chargers and freeing up outlets for other uses. The SnapPower GuideLight features an outlet cover with built-in LED lighting, relinquishing the need for bulky, plug-in night-lights once and for all.Since SnapPower's inception, the organization has boasted simple-to-install consumer technology, suggesting that even a monkey could complete the installation. Critics have branded the company as simply "bananas" for making such daring claims; however, its celebrity endorser seems to agree with the assertion. When asked about what she thought of SnapPower's products, Crystal eagerly responded, "OOO! OOO! EEE! EEE!"...Her trainer said that basically means she loves them; that, or she's just making noises because she's an animal."It has been an absolute honor to work side-by-side with Crystal and have the amazing opportunity to observe her interact with our products," said Jesse Leishman, CEO of SnapPower. "I knew we had an intuitive cover design, but I feel like a monkey's uncle watching Crystal easily install the SnapPower GuideLight."Appearing in movies like Night at the Museum and The Hangover Part II, Crystal is accustomed to the limelight. After witnessing her poise and charm on the red carpet, SnapPower executives knew it was time to get into the monkey business. The company identified Crystal as the perfect celebrity spokesperson to star in its new marketing campaign, and sought her aid in proving to critics just how divinely simple SnapPower products are to install.
Air Canada Named One of Canada's Top 100 Employers for the Fifth Consecutive Year

MONTREAL: Air Canada was named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for the fifth consecutive year in an annual national employer survey by Mediacorp Canada Inc.





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"We are very proud to be ranked one of Canada's top employers for the fifth straight year. This is important not only for the well-being of Air Canada's 30,000 employees, but also because it supports employee engagement, which is absolutely essential to delivering excellent service to the 45 million customers we carry each year," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Senior Vice President, People and Culture, at Air Canada. "Being consistently recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 employers is also further evidence of the successful transformation of Air Canada. We have made culture change a core priority and this has been instrumental in earning us a place among the leading global carriers."Air Canada's Top 100 AwardEntering its 19th year, the Canada's Top 100 Employers competition recognizes employers with exceptional human resources programs and forward-thinking workplace policies. Starting with an initial list of more than 90,000 employers, Mediacorp graded those selected on eight criteria, which have remained constant since the project's inception: Physical Workplace; Work Atmosphere & Social; Health, Financial & Family Benefits; Vacation & Time-Off; Employee Communications; Performance Management; Training & Skills Development; and Community InvolvementMediacorp cited several unique employee support and engagement programs at Air Canada. These include: state-of-the-art training facilities; generous discounts and perquisites for employees and their families; programs to promote health, fitness and wellness; and a consultative approach to workplace developments, such as recent head office renovations where Air Canada sought employee feedback on everything from storage space design to the final decor.Working at Air CanadaAir Canada's reputation as one of Canada's Top 100 employers has made the airline a destination of choice for people seeking a challenging career. It receives 56,000 visits each month to the employment page of its website and on average there are 390 applicants per position for each vacancy filled. In 2017 alone, Air Canada has hired more than 5,000 people.In addition to being named one of the Top 100 Employers in Canada for 2018, Air Canada has received other recognitions for employee relations and engagement in 2017 including:aAir Canada was named one of the 50 Most Engaged Workplaces in North America for Second Consecutive Year by Achievers;aAir Canada has been named the second most attractive company brand to work for in Canada according to the Randstad Employer Brand Research independent survey;aand Air Canada was named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2017. Air Canada was recognized for its success in such areas as promoting women, including in non-traditional roles by Mediacorp Canada Inc.
The Royal gets international kudos

TORONTO: Visiting Brazilian journalist Sara Kirchhof was impressed by the scale of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Her visit was part of an international program partly supported by The Royal. The anchor of an agricultural television show spent three days learning about Canadian agriculture. Speaking through an interpreter, the journalist shared her thoughts about The Fair.





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"It's impressive to have such a large indoor show in a building like this," Kirchhof comments. "The way it is organized to bring together children and involve them in education about where their food comes from."Kirchhof applauded the way the public is encouraged to eat healthily, especially children. "I thought it was interesting the way drinking milk is promoted. Milk consumption is going down in Brazil as are the prices for it, so the education here is great."Brazil has long been a customer for Canadian genetics, but Kirchhof was awed by the size of the cows she saw, so she was interested in learning about what is being done in Canadian genetics. In addition, she was surprised to learn from an Angus breeder that pasture management is not a priority in Canada as it is in Brazil.In a whirlwind tour of The Royal, Kirchhof was surprised to learn there are goat classes and she thought the bunny hopping competition was amusing. She also had difficulty understanding how such a big agricultural fair could be hosted in the downtown area of a very large city."It was good to watch the interaction between men and their animals," Kirchhof commented. "The care given to the animals really stood out for me."As part of her job in Brazil, Kirchhof organizes tours for the country's farmers. She would like to arrange one for a group of Brazilian farmers to attend The Royal someday. But, she would also like to offer a tour of Brazil for Canadian farmers.
Study: Canadian Open-Loop Prepaid Market Grows 17 Percent

TORONTO: The Canadian Prepaid Providers Organization (CPPO) today released its annual benchmark study, entitled Canadian Open-Loop Prepaid Market: 2016, that shows 17 percent growth of the open-loop prepaid card market in Canada between 2015 and 2016.





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Growth in all nine active segments of consumer-, corporate- and government-funded cards drove the market to CA$3.6 billion in total dollars loaded onto cards. The study was conducted by Mercator Advisory Group."The Canadian open-loop prepaid market has experienced healthy growth in both total transactions and expansion into new segments that have been robust in other countries," said Tim Sloane, vice president payments innovation, Mercator Advisory Group. "This data shows that open-loop prepaid products are becoming the go-to alternative to replace cheque payments for corporations and governments. There is also significant traction with consumers using the products as a tool that supplements their bank account."Key findings from the study revealed:aGeneral-purpose reloadable card (cards loaded by consumers for personal finance use) loads total CA$1.8 billion and the average load onto consumer-funded cards is CA$649.aOpen-loop gift card loads total CA$1 billion.aThe corporate incentive category is growing with CA$189M in total loads. The segment remains small versus the U.S. market showing strong potential for growth.aThe average load onto corporate-funded prepaid cards grew 11 percent, from CA$125 to CA$140, reflecting increased adoption by Canadian businesses to move cheque payments to prepaid cards."Open-loop prepaid products continue to take a bite out of cheques, improving efficiencies, costs and security in the Canadian payments system," said David Eason, CPPO chairman. "This data from the survey shows increased adoption across new categories and deeper into established verticals, but it also highlights the untapped potential for prepaid in Canada."Corporations and governments are replacing the costs and security concerns of paper cheques by expanding their use of prepaid cards across corporate disbursements, payroll, healthcare disbursements, disaster relief, student cards and employee incentive programs. For example, the Ontario Government provides prepaid cards for social assistance as part of its plan to enhance social assistance, improve customer service and make programs work better for consumers. The Alberta government provided prepaid cards to victims of the Fort McMurray fires to get them financial relief safer and quicker than by cheque.Upstart fintech companies have tapped into the demand from younger Canadians and gig economy workers to have quicker access to their money through prepaid cards. Koho offers an instant spending account and Instant Financial replaces paycheques and direct deposits for employers, so they can lower their costs and pay workers quicker.Financial institutions are expanding their services to remote and underserved communities via prepaid cards. The North West Company's open-loop reloadable prepaid card program offers direct deposit of government benefits onto prepaid cards. Additionally, Payment Source offers their Loadhub platform, which can integrate directly into a merchant's card processor allowing for instant card loads onto prepaid cards using cash or debit at more than 6,000 Canada Post locations.
The Bayat Foundation Announces Construction of a New Maternity and Surgical Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan: The Bayat Foundation (www.bayatfoundation.org), Afghanistan's largest, private, non-profit Health, Education and Social Development Organization, once again demonstrates its determination to improve healthcare for all Afghans by announcing that the Foundation will begin construction of a four-floor 25,000 square foot Maternity and Surgical Hospital, which will be located in Kabul City.





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The launch of the new Maternity and Surgical Hospital was formalized during a November 7, 2017 signing ceremony attended by senior executives of The Bayat Foundation, members of Parliament and representatives of The Afghanistan Ministry of Health.The new Maternity and Surgical Hospital, a cooperative project of The Bayat Foundation, Matter and the Afghanistan Ministry of Health, will provide the most advanced levels of Surgical, Maternal, Pediatric and Cancer treatment available in Afghanistan and the immediate region.The new Maternity and Surgical Hospital will have four specialist healthcare centers:aWomen's Surgical Theater (with a special focus on fistula treatment and recovery)aPediatric Audiology ClinicaEndoscopy ClinicaWomen's Cancer ClinicThese four specialized healthcare capabilities, in addition to the Hospital's Blood Bank, will be able to provide highly specific treatments which are currently unavailable from other hospitals and healthcare centers in Afghanistan. The Women's Surgical Center will be Afghanistan's leading healthcare center that will provide diagnosis and treatment for Obstetric Fistula, a devastating childbirth injury which can occur when women give birth without hospital facilities, or medically trained attendants. The condition renders women incontinent, which can result in physical or social harm to those suffering from the affliction.In addition to specialized surgical treatments, the Hospital's Women's Cancer Center will provide essential screening, diagnosis and treatment which will addressaand reduceathe rising levels of Cervical Cancer among Afghan women."The new Maternity and Surgical Hospital, when it is complete, will be the most modern, advanced and capable medical facility in Afghanistan," said Dr. Ehsanollah Bayat, the Co-Chairman of the Bayat Foundation. "We look forward to the day that the new Maternity and Surgical Hospital is open and we can begin providing healthcare to the people who need it most.""Our Foundation has built or refurbished twelve hospitals which have treated over two million patients. But despite the progress made by our Foundation and other organizations, we still face great challenges in providing healthcare in Afghanistan, especially to Afghan women," said Mrs. Fatema Bayat, the Co-Founder of the Bayat Foundation. "The new Maternity and Surgical Hospital is a strong and much needed step in our efforts to provide womenaand all Afghanistanawith the best healthcare possible."
NTPC to issue tenders for farmers to buy farm stubble

New Delhi , Nov. 16 : Power Minister R.K Singh today said that the state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will soon issue tenders to buy farm stubble.





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"This step would give the farmers a monetary return of Rs. 5500 per tonne of crop residue and hence create a market for it," Singh said.In a bid to combat air pollution, the Power Ministry on Thursday directed the state run National Thermal Power Corporation to mix straw and crop residue pellets with coal, up to 10 percent, for power generation in all its thermal power plants.Speaking at a press conference Singh said, "Spoke to generators of NTPC Thermal power plant, they say it is possible for their fuel to consist of 10 percent straw or paddy straw. Now we will issue tenders for it and the average price will be Rs 5,500 per tone."He added that the step would reduce crop residue burning in agriculture dominated states like Punjab and Haryana and hence would reduce the critical problem of air pollution.Singh highlighted that the infrastructure for sourcing the crop residue from farmers is being set up.Power Minister further said this move will help farmers earn around Rs. 11, 000 per acre from the sale of stubble/straw pellets. He also assured that the use of farm residue pellets would not result in a tariff escalation for the power generator.The ministry, however, is in talks with all state governments to make this step mandatory for all the thermal power plants in their jurisdiction, Singh added.
Road to Global Entrepreneurship Summit held in Bengaluru celebrating and empowering women in entrepreneurship

New Delhi , Nov 16 : To celebrate and empower women in entrepreneurship, FICCI has partnered with NITI Aayog to organize six interactive entrepreneurial events as a part of Road to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES)Series.





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These events will bring together industry leaders, start-ups, serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors as well as enablers of the innovation ecosystem viz. government, international agencies and industry associations not only from India but across the globe.The stakeholders would deliberate on several aspects related to start-ups game such as finance, investment, mentoring and human capital. These events will showcase success stories, social impact and also the gaps to be filled to ensure that women entrepreneurs are successful in fulfilling their dreams and ambitions.For the Bengaluru Road to GES, NITI Aayog and FICCI partnered with Nadathur S Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, given that NSRCEL is the start-up Hub of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.Aligned with the theme of the main summit, the Bengaluru Road to GES had a strong emphasis on women entrepreneurs. The event provided entrepreneurs an opportunity to develop valuable people-to-people relationships and interact with industry leaders.The Bengaluru Road to GES saw participation from eminent women leaders including Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon Limited, Rekha M. Menon, Chairman and Senior Managing Director, Accenture in India and iconic entrepreneurs like Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman and Founder, Narayana Health.Touching on various important subjects, the summit sessions included topics like "Breaking the stereotype: women entrepreneurs in unconventional businesses" and "Women entrepreneurs as agents of change". A special session was focussed on pitches from start-ups to give impetus to entrepreneurs as well as to give awards to success stories.Making the keynote address at the event Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon Limited talked about 10 key points for women empowerment. She said, "That Gender inclusiveness is required in policy making and there is need to make education gender positive." Dr. Shaw emphasised the need for girls to be given image and role models to look up to and an equal opportunity to join STEM.Making her special address Rekha M. Menon, Chairman and Senior Managing Director, Accenture in India said, "At 27 percent, India has one of the poorest representations of women in the workforce. That's a lot of untapped economic potential. If we double their participation, India's GDP growth could go beyond 9 per cent. She added, "Women entrepreneurs in particular play a crucial role in unleashing this potential. As business leaders, role models, and as employers, they can create the virtuous cycle that serves as a force multiplier for gender inclusive growth."In his special address Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman and Founder, Narayana Health said "Healthcare is an USD eight trillion segment and larger than any other sector. Entrepreneurs must leverage this sector for innovative operations."In partnership with the Government of the United States of America, NITI Aayog is hosting the eighth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in India from November 28-30, 2017. The Summit will be addressed by The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The US delegation will be led by Ivanka Trump, Advisor to President Trump.Since the inception of GES in 2010, it has travelled across the world from Washington D.C. to Istanbul, Dubai, Marrakech, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, Silicon Valley, and now finally Hyderabad! This year is the first time GES will be hosted in South Asia, and the event will highlight India's enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship - including actions by the government to increase the ease of doing business, eliminating unnecessary regulations, and supporting start-ups.At GES 2017, over 1500 attendees, including entrepreneurs, investors, educators, government officials, and business representatives will represent the full measure of entrepreneurial talent from diverse backgrounds across our nation and the world. Through networking, mentoring and workshops, the GES empowers entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, build partnerships, secure funding, and create innovative products and services that will transform societies for better tomorrow. (ANI-NewsVoir)
CyberSeek Details Supply and Demand of U.S. Cybersecurity Workers

DAYTON, Ohio: The demand for cybersecurity professionals remains strong across the United States, new data from CyberSeek released here today at the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Conference and Expo 2017 reveals.





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U.S. employers posted 285,681 cybersecurity job openings during the 12-month period that ended in September 2017, according to CyberSeek, a free workforce and career resource developed jointly by CompTIA, the leading technology industry association, and labor market analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies."The demand for skilled and certified cybersecurity professionals is surging from coast to coast and border to border," said Matthew Sigelman, chief executive officer at Burning Glass Technologies. "In every state the demand for cybersecurity talent significantly outstrips the supply of available workers."CyberSeek's alignment with the National Institute of Standards and Technology's NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework provides unprecedented visibility into the job roles most in demand. The data reveals that the categories of Operate and Maintain, Securely Provision, Protect and Demand, and Analyze account for the bulk of the job postings."The range of job roles cited in CyberSeek reflects the multi-faceted approach that's required to defend against an ever-expanding cybersecurity threat landscape," said Todd Thibodeaux, CompTIA president and CEO. "The reality is that everyone needs some level of cybersecurity knowledge and skills, whether they have 'security' in their job title or not."According to CyberSeek, the metro regions with the largest absolute number of cybersecurity job openings are Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago. The new data also reveals that cybersecurity job openings are most heavily concentrated in the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and San Jose markets.New CyberSeek features bring more clarity to nation's cybersecurity workforceSeveral new features have been added in the second iteration of CyberSeek to provide greater visibility into the supply and demand of cybersecurity workers at the national, state and metropolitan levels.One key new feature of the CyberSeek heat map is the ability to track data on cybersecurity job demand overall, and within the public and private sectors. For the 12 months ending in September 2017, public sector entities posted 12,100 job openings for cybersecurity workers. That's in addition to the estimated 31,634 public sector workers employed in cybersecurity-related jobs in 2016.The CyberSeek career pathway, which maps to the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, has been enhanced to help both individuals interested in cybersecurity careers and employers looking to fill job openings.The expanded, interactive career pathway includes information on 10 core cybersecurity roles and 5 tech jobs that often serve as "feeder roles" to cybersecurity positions. These feeder job roles are functional domains that have significant skill overlap with some of the core cybersecurity roles and represent potential stepping stones into cybersecurity.The updated site also includes embeddable heat map and career pathway widgets. Anyone interested in the cybersecurity workforce can embed versions of the heat map and career pathway on their websites, with links back to CyberSeek.org.CyberSeek was created by CompTIA and Burning Glass Technologies through a grant awarded by NIST, a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.
Mastercard receives 2017 Global Shared Value Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and PURCHASE, N.Y: At the Global Action Summit, hosted by Fareed Zakaria (CNN), Global Action Platform, in association with KPMG International presented the 2017 Global Shared Value Award to Mastercard.





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The Global Shared Value Award recognizes and encourages corporations to address major societal challenges through innovative business strategy that create "shared value." The award recognizes private sector engagement and innovation that improve quality of life and build prosperity for companies, individuals, communities, regions, and the world.With a commitment to connect 500 million people and 40 million micro and small merchants to financial services by 2020, Mastercard is working to address systemic barriers to inclusion. Mastercard has used its technologies and expertise in payments to develop 2KUZE, a mobile marketplace to help smallholder farmers negotiate quantities, pricing, payment, and distribution through a feature phone. Mastercard's Center for Inclusive Growth is supporting academic research, connecting micro-entrepreneurs to the formal economy, and engaging in data philanthropy efforts - all in an effort to empower people through inclusive economies."Our ability to do well and do good lies in the passion and commitment of our people to bring their hearts and minds when they come to work," said Ajay Banga, president and CEO of Mastercard. "Being more attuned to societal challenges gives leaders an opportunity to develop solutions that can drive a meaningful impact. That is the approach we've taken at Mastercard, and we are honored to receive the 2017 Global Shared Value Award for this work.""At this critical strategic juncture in the global economy as the private sector is moving toward integrating positive social, environmental, and governance impacts into core business operations, Global Action Platform is honored to work with KPMG International in the presentation of this Award," states Dr. Scott T. Massey, Founding Chairman and CEO."KPMG International is excited to continue to work with the Global Action Platform to recognize excellence in creating shared value. Business has a critical role to play, in partnership with governments, civil society and the development community in working towards the global achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Creating long term shared value, which is good news for business and the community, is an essential element in mobilizing the private sector engagement necessary to achieve the SDGs," said Timothy A.A. Stiles, Global Chair of International Development Assistance Services, and KPMG.
A Birdhouse Challenge Launches National Skilled Trades and Technology Week

OTTAWA: Skills/Competences Canada (SCC) is proud to launch its 13th National Skilled Trades and Technology Week (NSTTW) to create awareness for students and educators of the incredible career opportunities available in skilled trades and technologies across Canada.





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Skills Canada in partnership with Skills Canada Alberta hosted the official launch of NSTTW on November 7th. Malcolm Haines, Dean of Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's School of Trades along with Aaron Taves, WorldSkills Team Canada 2017 competitor in Automobile Technology, John Oates, President of Skills Canada and Kate Campbell from HGTV's Decked Out, Disaster Decks, Deck Wars and Custom Built, officially launched the event with an exciting birdhouse building challenge. Spencer Mottus, Western Regional Manager - Specialty Products, Stanley Black & Decker also participated as the judge for this challenge. In addition, The Honourable David Eggen, Minister of Education in Alberta attended the launch as a keynote speaker.Following the official program, guests from industry, education, labour and government were invited to participate in an Essential Skills Work Ready Youth Program workshop, where they were introduced to the Essential Skills program through interactive activities that will help improve Essential Skills for Canadian youth entering the workplace.Skills Canada Alberta highlighted National Skilled Trades and Technology Week by hosting the second Skills Exploration Days on November 7th and 8th, 2017. Junior high schools gathered at the Shaw Conference Centre for an authentic and meaningful skilled trade and technology career exploration experience. The students had the opportunity to participate in Learn-A-Skill stations while exploring their interests and passions as they learn about various career possibilities. With assistance from industry experts, students learned how to use tools, technology, and materials safely. They applied these newly acquired skills and knowledge to the construction of a prototype with tangible real-life tools and materials.Skills/Competences Canada also took the opportunity to announce that the 2018 Skills Canada National Competition will be hosted in Edmonton on June 4 and 5, 2018 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre."Being innovative, developing technical skills and improving digital literacy better prepares youth for a career in skilled trades and technology occupations, which in turn benefits the Canadian economy. The goal of National Skilled Trades and Technology Week is to raise awareness of the skills required, educational pathways and career opportunities in skilled trades and technology based sectors", said Shaun Thorson, Chief Executive Officer of Skills/Competences Canada.During the week, our provincial/territorial member organizations across the country will host a series of events to promote skilled trades and technology activities in Canada. For more information, visit the NSTTW Webpage on the Skills Canada Website.Also highlighted at the event was the importance of Thinking - Problem Solving, one of the nine Essential Skills identified as fundamental to entering the skilled trades and technology industries. Research by the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers indicates that analytical and problem-solving skills is one of the skills that is most valued by employers (Source: Globe & Mail, August 2017). For more information on the nine Essential Skills visit the Essential Skills Webpage.
A decade of aloha: Alaska Airlines Foundation donates USD 100,000 to nonprofits in Hawaii

HONOLULU: The Alaska Airlines Foundation is awarding USD 100,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Hawaii, as part of a special donation to celebrate Alaska Airlines' 10th anniversary of service to the Islands.





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Funds will support 10 programs working to better the lives of youth in the local community and provide education and workforce development programs across the state."Hawaii has a special relationship with Alaska Airlines. During the Great Recession, the airline provided a U.S. West Coast connection and a much-needed boost to our economy," said Hawaii Governor David Ige. "Ten years later, it's the number one carrier from that market, and its passengers contribute over $2 billion to the state's economy each year. But the bond goes beyond the economic impact. Alaska Airlines is part of our ohana and our shared values. We look forward to a long and productive future together."Over the past decade, Alaska Airlines has provided nearly $2.7 million in cash and in-kind support to more than 180 Hawaii organizations. Alaska Airlines flies the most nonstop flights from Hawaii to the most destinations on the West Coast, with 179 flights per week from four Hawaiian Islands."Alaska Airlines is all about people," said Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden. "We are grateful to be a part of the incredibly generous community spirit in Hawaii and love connecting people to this beautiful place."The Alaska Airlines Foundation provided $10,000 grants to the following organizations during a community reception at The Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki:aAccesSurf empowers people with physical and cognitive disabilities through accessible water programs.aAloha United Way creates a healthier community by supporting programs and services that give children opportunities to achieve their full potential.aBig Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii creates life-changing friendships by matching kids or "littles" with mentors or "bigs" and guides kids, mentors, and parents on this life-changing journey.aBoys and Girls Club of Hawaii inspires young people toward a greater future by providing a safe place for kids, which includes professional mentorship, character development and life-enhancing skills.aFriends of Hawaii Robotics supports Hawaii's nine robotics programs in elementary, middle and high schools statewide and creates opportunities for students to develop essential twenty-first century life skills, which prepare them to become Hawaii's leaders of tomorrow.aHawaii Youth Symphony advances critical and positive links between music study, academic achievement, and social emotional development.aIslander Scholars honors public high school juniors who exemplify the values that make Hawaii unique, forming a cohort of young leaders who will help Hawaii thrive in the future.aKapiolani Health Foundation supports Hawaii's only maternity, newborn and pediatric specialty medical center, providing exceptional medical care to women, children and families.aKupu provides hands-on training programs that educate and mentor youth to become stewards of Hawaii's culture and environment, helping them develop a strong connection to the place in which they live.aMake-A-Wish Hawaii grants memorable wishes for Hawaii's critically-ill children, helping them to imagine a future without illness and believe in what's possible."We have the privilege of flying to one of the most beautiful and amazing places on the planet, and we are dedicated to doing our part to keep it that way for many generations to come," said Daniel Chun, Alaska Airlines director of sales, community and public relations for Hawaii. "We're proud to partner with these outstanding organizations in helping to build a bright future for Hawaii."
Keurig Canada amongst Top Employers in Canada

MONTREAL: After being named one of Montreal's Top Employer last year, Keurig Canada Inc. (Keurig) has now joined the ranks of Canada's top 100 employers. The yearly ranking is based on a national competition that determines which employers lead their industries in offering exceptional workplaces for their employees.





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While offering iconic brands recognized and loved across the country such as Van Houtte and Timothy's, as well as popular partner brands like Starbucks, Folgers, Laura Secord and more, Keurig focuses on constantly innovating with products and services. Keurig applies the same mindset for its team of passionate employees. For Keurig, that means offering employees career development opportunities through cross functional assignments. As a company founded on forward thinking and sustainability, Keurig also empowers employees to get involved and create positive change in their communities."We're extremely proud to be named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. It is a true testimonial of what Keurig has to offer as an employer, and as a workplace," says Stephane Glorieux, president of Keurig Canada, who is himself invested in every part of the business. "We need to be innovative and engaged with our colleagues if we want to collectively create the best experience for our consumers. We have strong values, and we're very in tune to make sure our employees can make a difference. From innovations like our new recyclable K-Cup pods to community engagement, we create a space where our employees can thrive and be proud of what they do."In addition to a collaborative work set-up and great free coffee, Keurig offers unique programs and opportunities to employees, like the new Caffeine program, which involves formal rotations through different roles over a three-year period. Opportunities also arise in a more informal way. As employee Jason Rakovitis, Senior Manager, Partners, explains: "Keurig seems to always find a way to offer me new career opportunities to support my growth. Since I joined the company, I have had great mentors and now have the chance to be in a managerial role."Keurig wants to brew a better world and the strongest way to be a leader in sustainable development and to reduce its environmental footprint is with initiatives infusing the workforce. Keurig donates to registered charities where their employees volunteer their time and also matches employee donations to charitable organizations to truly support the local communities. Employee programs also include Origin Trips, which give Keurig employees the opportunity to visit coffee farms abroad and meet with coffee producers who are the very source of their work. On the sustainability side, Keurig's CAFE program (Community Action For Employees) enables employees to volunteer up to 52 hours each year during their work time.
AdvantAge Ontario: Government's commitment to 4 hours of care for long term care residents is welcomed and needed

TORONTO: AdvantAge Ontario welcomes the provincial government's release this morning of Aging with Confidence: Ontario's Action Plan for Seniors. Key elements of the plan are directly in line with recommendations that the Association has long been calling for to improve care for seniors.





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AdvantAge Ontario, which represents not-for-profit providers of seniors' care, is pleased to hear that the province is committed to increasing the provincial average to four hours of direct care per resident per day for seniors living in long term care homes. For a number of years now, Ontario's seniors have been entering long term care homes with more medically complex needs, and this additional support is welcomed and needed. An average of four hours of care has been a long-standing advocacy priority for the Association ever since the target was identified in the government-commissioned Sharkey Report on long term care in 2008.In addition to more hours of care, the government is committing to providing specialized training in behavioural supports and in palliative and end-of-life care as well as focusing on ensuring greater access to culturally appropriate homes and in-home supports.The government also announced 5,000 new long term care beds by 2022, and a total of over 30,000 new beds in the next decade. The province will prioritize placing seniors with the highest need as well as those with specific cultural needs. The addition of beds will help alleviate wait times and was one of AdvantAge Ontario's key asks in its budget submission to the government earlier this year in Meeting Seniors' Needs Now: 2017-18 Provincial Spending Priorities."Demand for long term care in Ontario has stretched well beyond capacity. Seniors are currently facing huge wait lists to receive the care they desperately need," says Robert Morton, Interim CEO of AdvantAge Ontario. "The additional 5,000 beds in the short term are critical to address immediate pressures. We will be pressing for all new bed allocations to be based on rigorous capacity planning and consumer preference data, which would result in over half of the beds going to the not-for-profit sector," adds Morton.In Aging with Confidence, the government acknowledged that further consultation is required on certain aspects of its plan. AdvantAge Ontario will advocate to ensure that commitments are put in place and that the needed funding and resources are provided to the sector to support implementation.AdvantAge Ontario is the trusted voice for senior care. We are community-based, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to supporting the best possible aging experience.
Union team calls on faculty to reject colleges' offer

TORONTO: The union for striking Ontario college faculty is calling on its members to reject the colleges' latest take it or leave it offer.





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"Yesterday, after the College Employer Council pulled the plug on negotiations and called for a vote on their latest offer, the faculty bargaining team put forward a new proposal aimed at settling the strike immediately," said JP Hornick, chair of the faculty bargaining team for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). "This morning, I am sorry to say, Council rejected that proposal outright."This is a terrible move, and a terrible mistake," she said. "It guarantees that the strike will continue, and it virtually guarantees that hundreds of thousands of college students will lose their semester."Hornick said that, "Realistically, it will be the end of week five before the vote results are even known," given that the final-offer vote must be supervised by the Ontario Labour Relations Board at all 24 public colleges across Ontario."Students can thank their college presidents for putting them in this position," OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said. "As the parent of two sons who've been through college, I have to say I can't remember a time when the colleges showed such blatant disregard for the well-being of their students."Our bargaining team has been willing to compromise to break this logjam and get students back in class," he said. "It's a shame the presidents refuse to do the same."A major sticking point in the talks from the beginning has been the colleges' refusal to entertain new contract language around academic freedom to give faculty greater say in how courses are delivered and evaluated."I guess the question for students is, who do you want making decisions about your education?" Thomas said. "Is it the faculty who know you and know the subjects they're teaching, or is it college administrators who only want to cut money from the classroom to pay for their stratospheric salaries?"
On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Gore to Present High-Binding Capacity at Short Residence Time Protein A Chromatography Device at PEGS Europe

NEWARK, Del: W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc. (Gore), a global materials science company, will discuss the company's new high-binding capacity at short residence time Protein A chromatography device at the annual Protein and Antibody Engineering Summit (PEGS) this November in Lisbon, Portugal.





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Dr. William Barrett, Product Specialist, will present Friday, November 17, at 12:05 p.m., in the Expression Stream, Protein Purification Technologies track at the show. The luncheon talk will focus on the device's applications in drug discovery and small-scale antibody production. GORE Protein Capture Devices use a unique expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane composite that provides a binding capacity advantage at high flow rates to improve the speed of purification.The GORE Protein Capture Device for Rapid mAb Purification enables faster processing times, and the potential to produce a highly concentrated elution pool which may eliminate a process step. These unique membrane devices can capture >30 mg/mL at 20 seconds residence time compared to other devices that require a 3 to 4 minute residence time to process 30-40mg/mL, according to users. The combination of speed and binding capacity allows researchers to screen more antibody candidates. Rene Paglia, Scientist as Aragen Bioscience commented, "Given that we purify hundreds of antibodies each year, this technology will provide significant process efficiencies to our production efforts.""Most protein scientists are seeking speed and time reduction in their overall purification process," said Doug Puzia, Business Development Manager for chromatography products. "We are looking forward to speaking with more of our colleagues about technology and the benefits it provides to at PEGS this year."
Kroger's Ralphs Division Now Offering Home Delivery Powered by Instacart in Southern California

CINCINNATI: Ralphs Grocery Company, a division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), today announced it is offering home delivery in select locations in Southern California through a partnership with Instacart, the technology-driven, nationwide on-demand retail delivery service.





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This pilot in Southern California supports two key drivers of the company's Restock Kroger Plan: Expand Partnerships to Create Customer Value and Redefine the Food and Grocery Customer Experience."Kroger's success has always depended on our ability to evolve with our customers. Offering home delivery powered by Instacart in Southern California is another way we are accelerating our digital and ecommerce efforts to create new and highly-relevant customer experiences," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Restock Kroger builds on our strengths, including our incredibly convenient locations and platforms for pickup and delivery within one-to-two miles of our customers.""The Kroger Co. is leading the way in ecommerce grocery adoption, enabling consumers across the country to have access to fresh, quality food at the push of a button," said Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Instacart. "I'm proud that by partnering with Kroger, Instacart is solving the last frontier for the customer."For the past several years, Kroger has been actively experimenting with numerous digital and ecommerce models, and applying its data and customer insights expertise through 84.51A, with a focus on delivering a differentiated and personalized experience to its customers. Today across the country Kroger offers home delivery from nearly 200 store locations in partnership with service providers including Shipt, deliv, Roadie, Uber, and others. This is in addition to the company's ClickList and Harris Teeter ExpressLane locations - Kroger's personalized, order-online service - now available to customers in more than 900 stores. This service will be available in more than 1,000 locations by the end of the year. In Kroger's third quarter, reported on September 8, 2017, digital revenue was up 126%, driven by ClickList sales.The company plans to pilot Ralphs delivery Powered by Instacart in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, Thousand Oaks and Beach communities by the end of November.
Wipro Launches Industry-Specific Solutions as Extensions to SAP Leonardo

Cupertino, California, United States and Bangalore : Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced the launch of industry-specific solutions on SAP Leonardo.





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The first set of solutions will focus on the utilities industry, while the next will cover the consumer and manufacturing industries.SAP Leonardo is a holistic digital innovation system that comprehensively integrates future-facing technologies and capabilities into SAP Cloud Platform.Wipro will leverage SAP Leonardo themes such as IoT, blockchain, machine learning, Big Data, insights and analytics to build solutions that will support insight-driven decision-making for customers. To begin with, Wipro and SAP are jointly developing use cases that leverage blockchain technology for the utilities industry.Wipro plans to build micro-services as extensions to the SAP Leonardo portfolio on SAP Cloud Platform. These micro-services will be aligned with SAP's future product roadmap.As part of the partnership, Wipro will develop industry-specific analytics "apps" on its insights-as-a-service solution, Data Discovery Platform, leveraging SAP Leonardo analytics, Big Data and data intelligence capabilities.Bhanumurthy B.M., President and Chief Operating Officer, Wipro Limited said, "We are keen to leverage SAP Leonardo to drive innovation for our customers. Given our strengths in blockchain, IoT, machine learning and analytics, and our long-standing partnership with SAP, we believe that we are well positioned to build industry-specific digital solutions to power our customers' transformation journey.""With SAP Leonardo, we support our customers in implementing differentiated digital solutions," added Bernd Leukert, member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, Products & Innovation. "An excellent technical foundation, integration into core business processes and a strong ecosystem are imperative to succeed in the digital economy. Joining forces with Wipro is a great example of collaboration to realize business value for our customers using technologies such as IoT, machine learning and blockchain."
Sun Life Financial brings the gift of music to Canada's capital

OTTAWA: Residents in the Ottawa area will now be able to borrow musical instruments from two Ottawa Public Library branches, courtesy of the Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program - the first of its kind in the region.





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This innovative program, available at the Ottawa Public Library's (OPL) Main and Nepean Centrepointe branches, gives anyone with a valid library card the opportunity to borrow a variety of musical instruments.Earlier this year, Sun Life Financial announced the expansion of its highly successful Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program to more cities across the country in celebration of Canada's 150th birthday. Ottawa is now the sixth city in Canada to be part of this groundbreaking program."We're thrilled to be able to bring this innovative program to our nation's capital as part of our Canada 150 celebrations. Music can have a profound impact on a person's life and being able to share and create music is something everyone deserves to experience," said Paul Joliat, Assistant Vice-President, Philanthropy and Sponsorships, Sun Life Financial. "At Sun Life, we're committed to building healthier, sustainable communities for life which is why we're thrilled to be able to increase access to music for more Canadians."Sun Life Financial is making a philanthropic donation of $140,000 to the Ottawa Public Library to fund the program's operating costs. In addition to donating 150 instruments including guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, violins, drums and portable keyboards, Sun Life Financial has also created a series of videos to assist with the use, care and enjoyment of the instruments. Whether you're a beginner picking up an instrument for the first time or a seasoned musician, the program is designed for anyone looking to explore the world of music.The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program is a natural extension of the company's support of music education, one that aligns perfectly with the company's award-winning Making the Arts More AccessibleTM program. Sun Life Financial believes arts and culture should be celebrated within our communities and made available to everyone, regardless of their means."Music, like books, is essential to fostering curiosity and creativity," said Danielle McDonald, CEO, Ottawa Public Library. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Sun Life Financial to provide our community with the opportunity to borrow and enjoy a wide variety of instruments through this unique and inspiring program. The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program is a great example of how our library inspires learning, sparks curiosity, and connects people, allowing everyone to share in the joy of creating music."OPL will also be holding a musical instrument donation drive running from November 7 to December 8, 2017. Residents of the Ottawa region may drop off their donations at the following locations:aOttawa Public Library, Main branch, 120 Metcalfe St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5M2aOttawa Public Library, Nepean Centrepointe branch, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 5K7aLong and McQuade, 1193 Hunt Club Rd, Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 8S4Please visit https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en for more information.The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program was first launched at the Toronto Public Library in April 2016, and was later expanded to the Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Kitchener Public Libraries. The program is already an overwhelming success and all libraries are currently experiencing wait times to borrow an instrument.
Robert Redford's Sundance Opens New Store in Leawood

SALT LAKE CITY: Sundance, a premier lifestyle retailer of women's and men's apparel, footwear, jewelry, accessories, art, and home decor, announces the opening of its newest store within the Kansas City metropolitan area, in Leawood, KS.





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This store, located in Leawood Town Center Plaza & Crossing, will host its grand opening weekend celebration beginning on Thursday, November 9th, 2017.Leawood Town Center Plaza & Crossing, an open air shopping experience, is located in Leawood, outside of Kansas City, KS. Leawood holds a long standing reputation for arts excellence and cultural distinction. CEO Matey Erdos explains, "We are thrilled to be joining this art-forward community. The Sundance heritage is one of celebrating artistic passion and independent spirit. There is an obvious fit for the Sundance brand through our mutual appreciation for, and recognition of, new forms of creative expression."Erdos continues, "The Leawood store offers our customers a unique experience, one we are privileged to provide. The design of the store is artisan inspired, bringing the distinctive Sundance lifestyle to the culturally rich area, and we are confident our loyal supporters will make it a great success."In support of the victims of the recent events and natural disasters around the United States, Sundance will donate a portion of the proceeds from the grand opening weekend to the American Red Cross of Kansas City, a humanitarian organization working to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.The opening of the Leawood Town Square Center Plaza & Crossing Sundance Store continues the company's recent retail expansion. Since August of 2015, Sundance has opened stores in Edina, MN, Dallas, TX, Southlake, TX, Scottsdale, AZ, Tigard, OR, San Diego, CA, Atlanta, GA, adding to its existing legacy stores in Park Meadows, CO and Corte Madera, CA. The company plans to expand their retail locations over the next several years.
Frost and Sullivan and TERI to Honor Sustainable Development Practices at the Sustainability 4.0 Awards 2018

Mumbai : Frost and Sullivan and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have come together once again to recognize enterprises and emerging innovators leading the change in the sustainability space.





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The ninth edition of 'Sustainability 4.0 Awards' will be held on June 01, 2018 at Hyatt Regency, Mumbai. The awards aim to acknowledge the top-performing companies that have augmented their focus on excellent sustainability strategies and extended efforts toward building a holistic business, society and environment.TERI has joined hands with Frost & Sullivan to attain the common goal of recognizing companies with best practices in sustainability. It aims at assisting adoption of sustainable development practices in the organizations and recognize the efforts of front runners through a healthy benchmarking process.Companies interested in participating in this edition of the awards need to submit their nominations by November 30, 2017. To know more about the awards or to participate, please mail to Srinidhi S. Rao at SrinidhiR@frost.com with your full name, company name, title, telephone number and company e-mail address, or please log on to the event website for more details - http://sustainability4awards.org/.Talking about the awards program this year, Nitin Kalothia, Director, Sustainability Initiatives Practice, Frost & Sullivan said, "Excellence in sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement. In its ninth year, the Sustainability 4.0 Awards has come a long way from businesses thinking of sustainability to businesses that are seeking ways to be more sustainable and inclusive in their activities. The awards program is designed with an objective to recognize and celebrate the enterprises that are leading the way to a sustainable future. We strongly believe such organizations are role models that inspire others to follow suit. Partnering with TERI has further fostered our commitment and action plan on this journey."Partnering with Frost & Sullivan for the Sustainability 4.0 Awards 2018, Puneet Chandra, Senior Director, TERI said, "In a world where energy and carbon emissions are constrained, every business must take resource productivity seriously. Business as usual is not an option now. It is equally important that the efforts of businesses in this direction are recognized and appreciated at platforms that facilitate knowledge and practice sharing."The awards assessment framework has four major parameters and 13 sub-parameters based on which the efforts of front runners are recognized, which involves a thorough benchmarking process. The model also takes into consideration global sustainability frameworks and future requirements of reporting. The award program has three levels of recognition - 'Believers', 'Challengers' and 'Leaders' with respective, predefined qualifying scores. The top two highest scoring companies (overall) will be recognized with 'Sustainable Business of the Year' and 'Sustainable Business of the Year - 1st Runner-up' awards, respectively.The awards also include 'Safety Excellence Awards' honoring companies working toward creating a safe workplace and imbibing a culture encouraging safety at all levels within the organization. The Safety Excellence Awards assessment model has five major parameters - Safety Management, Process Safety, Equipment Safety, People Safety and Occupational Health.The application is open to companies in India and the Middle East (covering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt) across the following sectors:ManufacturingLogisticsHotelsIT and ITESKPOBPOBanking, Financial Services and InsuranceConstructionTelecommunicationsHealthcareThe awards platform instituted in 2009 has evolved in its scope and boundary ever since its inception. It has been through a series of transformation in the scope of assessment, sector coverage and the program title. The focus has enhanced to cover all elements of a sustainable organization instead of heavily focusing on environment sustainability.This event is supported by media partners - Commercial Vehicle, Ecargolog, Energetica India, Manufacturing Today, MTLEXS, Sustainability Next, The CEO Magazine and The Smart CEO.
From baa to blanket at The Royal

TORONTO: It's a wooly wonderland at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as the sheep barns fill up with animals and their handlers. As well, there are sheep shearing demonstrations every day at the education ring. The versatility of the fibre is on display in a booth hosted by The Harris Tweed Authority.





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Rebecca Parker does the shearing demonstrations and she also brings a lamb to the Harris Tweed booth so children and adults can see the raw wool first-hand. They can then compare it to the wool items on display from blazers to blankets. The Bethany, ON, sheep farmer believes it is important for people to see the animals and make the connection to what they are wearing."Our main aim is to produce meat," Parker says of her 400 ewe operation. "We are trying to improve our wool quality but the prices we get remain low." She used to enter the sheep classes at The Royal, but now she focuses on education. "The Royal is important for education because most people don't know that sheep provide three products."Back in the Harris Tweed booth, weavers and spinners are showing how the fleece is made into useful, wearable fabric. Lorna Macaulay's family lives on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and they have long been producing the tweed that is created by individual weavers in cottages all over the islands. She is now the Chief Executive of the Authority and has been travelling the world as part of The Campaign for Wool supported by HRH The Prince of Wales. She says interest in tweed has declined in popularity in Canada since its heyday in the mid-20th century, but the Authority hopes to renew interest by being at The Royal."I'm heartened that young Canadian professionals have come by our stand and say they would pay more for a good quality wool jacket," Macaulay says. "To be honest, I don't think we knew what we were coming to. To have a show like this in a huge cosmopolitan city is astonishing. The number of people that came through here over the weekend was more than the entire population of our islands!"Parker believes the opportunity to showcase all aspects of sheep production at The Royal is essential. "Showing agricultural excellence is important," she says.
CNA Canada Celebrates 100 Years in Business

TORONTO: CNA Canada has kicked off its celebration of a significant milestone - 100 years as a successful and growing business.





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On November 6, 1917, CNA opened its first Canadian office with fewer than ten underwriters. By 1923, CNA was writing business across the country. Today, in partnership with its valued brokers, CNA Canada provides a broad spectrum of standard and specialty property and casualty products and services to commercial enterprises in Canada and around the world."In Canada, we're committed to growing profits by providing market-leading products and services that meet the changing needs of commercial insurance customers, and we're extremely grateful that we've been able to achieve this ambition over the past century," said Nick Creatura, President and Chief Executive Officer, CNA Canada. "We look forward to commemorating CNA Canada's 100 years as we host a series of events and activities across the country to celebrate this momentous milestone, and, more importantly, to show our gratitude to our employees, our brokers, our insured customers, and to the communities we serve."During a press conference on November 6, 2017, Creatura announced that CNA Canada has partnered with Tree Canada, the country's leading national tree planting charity, to fund the planting of thousands of trees across the country. For 25 years, Tree Canada has engaged communities, governments, corporations and individuals in the pursuit of a greener and healthier living environment for Canadians."Throughout the next year, CNA Canada will be giving back across our great country. In partnership with Tree Canada, we will work together and fund the planting of thousands of trees in areas where there is a need for reforestation or afforestation. This is a cornerstone of our commitment to contributing to a more sustainable future for our planet," Creatura added.
C Spire hosts second C3 coding challenge in 2017 for high school students

RIDGELAND, Miss: News media representatives are invited to attend a regional coding challenge tomorrow convened by C Spire, a Mississippi-based technology firm, and designed to encourage high school students to pursue a degree and career in information technology and computer science.





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The day-long C3 program on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the company's Ridgeland headquarters will feature teams of up to four students each from 30 high schools from nine central Mississippi counties competing for scholarships and other tech-related prizes. An April competition featured 13 teams from schools in Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties.Students and an adviser from each school will use critical thinking and problem solving skills to solve a fresh computer coding challenge during the day-long competition. C Spire has assigned employees with IT backgrounds and experience to help each team. Members of the top three teams will receive college scholarships.Pepper, a four-foot tall humanoid robot from Softbank Robotics America with a tablet for a chest, also will be on hand interacting with students and other guests participating in the competition. Tomorrow is National S.T.E.M. Day, which is set aside by the National Science Foundation and Code.org to emphasize science, technology, engineering and math education."Building on our highly successful inaugural event, we're planning a fun, entertaining and educational day for all of the students who participate in the program," said Carla Lewis, chief information officer for C Spire. "Hopefully, we can inspire and encourage them to seriously consider IT and computer science as a career path."Lewis said the company-sponsored coding challenges and support for other public and private programs like the Base Camp Coding Academy are designed to help C Spire deliver on its promise to help create and retain a 21st century technology workforce in its region.Workers with a background in computer science are in high demand and short supply in Mississippi. Employers currently have over 1,200 unfilled job openings due to the serious shortage of trained, qualified IT workers, Lewis said. The average salary for qualified IT workers is nearly $69,000 a year, almost double the statewide average.Nationwide, new research estimates that there will be a shortage of over 1 million software developers in the U.S. by 2020. "For all we know, the inventor of the next big thing or revolutionary app or software may be sitting in a Mississippi classroom waiting to be inspired and encouraged to become a leader in the digital economy," Lewis said.The C3 program can serve as an important first step to increase interest in computer science, according to Lewis. In 2016, only 16 students in the state took the AP computer science exam and only three schools statewide offered the AP computer science course in 2015-16, according to Code.org, a computer science education advocacy group.C3 is part of a broader C Spire Tech Movement initiative designed to leverage the company's technology leadership and investments to help transform its service areas. Other elements of the program include creation of a state-of-the-art digital customer care platform for customers and team members, massive deployment of broadband internet for homes and businesses and other leadership initiatives to drive innovation and development of a 21st century technology workforce."We live in a software-defined world where code and the internet directly impacts just about every aspect of our lives," Lewis said. "Computer science drives innovation and creates jobs throughout our economy, but we need to do more to encourage schools to offer courses and for young people to pursue IT and computer science as viable career choices."
Government of Canada invests in air combat training services

GATINEAU, QC: The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that our women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) receive the services they need to do their work.





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On October 30, following a competitive procurement process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, awarded a $480-million contract for Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) to Discovery Air Defence Services Inc. This investment will support CAF personnel serving on the sea, on land and in the air, with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force.The CATS program provides realistic combat readiness training to pilots and aircrew. During these exercises, the aircraft pilot will act in an aggressor role, allowing CAF personnel to learn and practise defensive tactics to deter an attack.The initial 10-year contract, with options to extend, could secure services until March 31, 2031, and the value of the contract could potentially reach $1.4 billion. This investment will help support Canada's world-class aerospace industry, as well as create and maintain approximately 600 jobs for Canadians. The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, including the Value Proposition, applies to this procurement, requiring Discovery Air Defence Services Inc. to make investments in Canada equal to the value of the contract.Quotes"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting our Canadian Armed Forces in getting the equipment and services it needs. We will continue all efforts to support an agile, responsive and well-equipped military force that can effectively defend Canada. This investment will also generate and maintain jobs for Canadians."The Honourable Carla QualtroughMinister of Public Services and Procurement"Ensuring our women and men in uniform receive the training, equipment, and support they need is at the heart of Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. This contract will help provide the training our members need in order to protect and defend Canada and Canadians, at home and abroad."The Honourable Harjit S. SajjanMinister of National Defence"Through this contract, Discovery Air Defence Services Inc. will support the continued growth and competitiveness of our aerospace and defence sectors and create good-paying jobs for Canadians. Discovery Air Defence Services Inc. will also foster innovation through investments in research and development and will work with small and medium enterprises to pursue new pathways internationally from a Canadian base."The Honourable Navdeep BainsMinister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Starbucks Malaysia Recognised as One of Top Companies to Work for in Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Company (Starbucks Malaysia) has won the Top Companies to Work for in Asia Award in the Sustainability category at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards (ACES 2017).





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Winning companies typically demonstrate advocacy for investment in people, recognition and retention, improving employee's job satisfaction, practices fair communication, and promote work life balance. While demonstrating a low attrition rate, winning companies also feature a great pool of talents and have a practice of knowledge sharing among employees and stakeholders.Berjaya Food Berhad's Chief Executive Officer, Sydney Quays, was recognised as the only Eminent Leaders in Asia awards ceremony in Singapore. The award recognises exemplary individuals leading mega businesses for a decade or more with the right attitude towards the business and the determination and grit to achieve success."We are committed to deliver the exceptional 'Starbucks Experience' to our customers. We would never have been able to do this without the dedication of our partners (employees) who work together with us as a team and family. Our partners are our biggest assets and we take pride in taking care of them, making them an integral part of the company. It is truly an honour to be recognised for our hard work and we will continue to deliver and uphold our Starbucks Mission; to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time," said Quays.A pioneer within the company, Quays was instrumental in the establishment of the Starbucks brand in Malaysia in 1998. He is currently responsible for the overall management and strategy for Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Company and Berjaya Food Supreme.
Back for more Canadian TV and films

TORONTO: Canadian and world audiences will have a renewed access to memorable Canadian film and TV content from years gone by. Key Canadian audiovisual industry organizations announced the launch of a YouTube channel which provides free access - anytime and anywhere - to a wealth of iconic content in the age of digital connectivity. Visit Encore+ at youtube.com/EncorePlusMedia.





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The new channel was launched at Google Canada's offices with talent in attendance that contributed to titles now available on Encore+, including actresses Liane Balaban, Jennifer Dale, Karyn Dwyer, Sheila McCarthy, Cynthia Preston and Michelle St. John; actors Henry Czerny, Aiden Devine, Shawn Doyle, Pat Mastroianni, Tony Nardi, Michael Riley, Michael Theriault, and John Wildman; as well as producers Bernard Lajoie, and Rayne and Bernie Zuckerman.Encore+ already offers over 300 videos across 100 award-winning feature films and television series in both official languages, including comedies, dramas, children's and youth shows, documentaries and short films. Every week, dozens of titles will be added as part of an ongoing editorial calendar, including a number of Canadian feature films premiering on Encore+ in newly re-mastered versions. All digitizing, encoding and remastering of works is provided by Deluxe Toronto.Among the top titles featured on Encore+, audiences will find fan-favourites that transcend generations, including Cornemuse, Da Vinci's Inquest, Degrassi High, Due South, I've Heard the Mermaids Singing, John A: Birth of a Country, La Petite Vie, Le Vieil Homme et la Mer, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Moi et l'Autre, Maman Last Call, Moccasin Flats, Mr. Dressup, New Waterford Girl, The Corporation, The Littlest Hobo, Watatatow and dozens of other exceptional productions reflecting Canada's history and stories from coast to coast to coast.Managed by service-provider BroadbandTV (BBTV), Encore+ will generate worldwide exposure and seek to stimulate demand for Canadian content and talent, particularly from young audiences who access media primarily via mobile devices.Using a non-exclusive approach, Encore+ will complement the offerings of Canadian stakeholders already active in online distribution. This channel is a Canadian content discoverability and visibility tool, at a time when we celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary.Through this industry-wide effort, the presenting partners also seek to ensure that rights holders and Canadian creators are the first to benefit from views of their works on YouTube, as well as test new business models for catalogue content.Working closely with Canada's film and television producers, distributors, broadcasters, unions, guilds and other industry associations, Encore+ is spearheaded by the Canada Media Fund (CMF) with support from Google Canada, Bell Media, BroadbandTV (BBTV), and Deluxe Toronto. Telefilm Canada is also a key partner in this endeavor, providing financial and promotional support.Enjoy hundreds of Canadian productions today. Subscribe at youtube.com/EncorePlusMedia and get the latest updates on Encore+ by following on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Quotes"Many of the titles we're featuring have been enjoyed by audiences from different generations and were funded through public support. They have since disappeared from most screens. The public is a shareholder in this content and these great works deserve to be available to Canadian and world audiences. Providing access to this content celebrates the work of many Canadians both on- and off-screen, some of which started their careers in content now made accessible through Encore+. Through this initiative, beloved stories are given back to audiences by creating an online hub that showcases and celebrates iconic Canadian films, television and talent. I would like to give a warm and special thanks to all Canadian creators, producers, distributors, broadcasters, producers associations, unions and guilds that facilitated access to the stellar content available on Encore+."Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF"The CMF's new Encore+ channel is an incredible roster of Canadian film and TV favourites, and we are thrilled to welcome these titles to YouTube. Canada is one of the world's most vibrant YouTube communities, with watch time growing 30 per cent over last year, and we are certain that these celebrated titles will find an engaged audience both here at home and around the world."Sabrina Geremia, Country Director, Google Canada"Encore+ is a celebration of Canadian talent, allowing new generations of viewers to be entertained by a diverse catalogue of some of this country's favourite productions. We are proud to support an initiative that provides access to this library of Canadian classics."Scott Henderson, Vice-President, Communications, Bell Media"It's been an absolute pleasure working with the CMF on launching Encore+. Reviving this content so it can be watched by Canadians and the world ensures that a new generation of viewers will enjoy these great Canadian classics. "Nick Iannelli, Senior Vice President Postproduction, Deluxe Toronto"I'm thrilled to add yet again to our arsenal of discoverability initiatives. Canadians discovering and consuming Canadian content across all platforms is at the heart of Telefilm Canada's vision, and has been an important priority for us for a number years. I am pleased to once again partner with the industry, and I congratulate the Canada Media Fund team for leading this project. I look forward to seeing Encore+ build new audiences for classic Canadian content."Carolle Brabant, Executive Director, Telefilm CanadaThe Canada Media Fund (CMF), Google Canada, Bell Media, BroadbandTV (BBTV), Deluxe Toronto and Telefilm Canada would like to thank the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), Association des Realisateurs et Realisatrices de Film du Quebec (ARRQ), Association quebecoise de la production mediatique (AQPM), Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), Societe des auteurs de radio, television et cinema (SARTEC), Union des artistes (UDA), and the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC), who acted as collaborators on the project.
The Shanghai Orchestra Academy is visited by EUYO Members

SHANGHAI: Over ten members of the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) paid a visit to Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA) from October 23 to 27, 2017.





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During the five-day visit, young musicians from several European countries performed alongside SOA students in rehearsals and concerts. In addition, SOA organized a series of cultural events, giving European visitors extraordinary opportunities to learn Chinese customs and traditions.Championed by the Artistic Engagement Program-China, (AEP-China), an innovative cultural program jointly supported by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and Volkswagen Group China, SSO music director and SOA founder and President Yu Long and EUYO CEO Marshall Marcus agreed on goals of the collaborative effort - allowing young Chinese and European music talents to deepen understandings of and engage in communications around topics of each other's cultures whilst participating in musical exchanges.After getting over initial shyness and restraint about communicating in a language other than their own, the SOA students soon relaxed and started sharing insights into music with EUYO members who had boundless energy. These self-assigned guides took EUYO's new arrivals to Chinese restaurants where they sampled local delicacies as well as to the Shanghai Museum and the newly opened Shanghai Symphony Museum, giving them chances to experience many aspects of Chinese culture which is replete with traditions dating back thousands of years. "We found that our students had significantly enhanced their social skills after they spent several days together. This was the goal that we had when planning the events: expecting the students to develop their own music inspiration through exchanges and to understand the differences in each other's through cultural exchanges." SOA's Academic Affairs Director Ted Jiang said.Wang Gang, percussion student of SOA Class 2017, performed Reich's Drumming with three EUYO musicians at the concert. Wang said, "These days, we exchanged ideas of music, talked about cultural customs and learned a little bit of each other's languages. We hope that the memories and the friendship brought about by the music can create more cultural value."The interaction between the members of EUYO and SOA was something natural and spontaneous, with the joint concert held on October 27 the culmination of the week's effort. The future symphony stars from EUYO and SOA jointly performed selected works by Mozart, Ravel and Tchaikovsky, bringing audiences to a standing ovation. In appreciation of the enthusiastic applause, they performed An Enchanted Night as an encore in a novel way by adding wind instruments to the traditional stringed music version, a piece very familiar to Chinese audiences. "This was a very interesting attempt and, through the new version, they delivered a perfect combination of Chinese and European music traditions," SOA's executive director Doug He said.After years of deliberation and planning, AEP-China was officially launched in April of this year, in a move to stage high quality music concerts and other artistic events throughout the country, bringing together and connecting young people through the allure of music, as well as build an international platform creating more diversified development opportunities for young students of music across China. AEP-China is an innovative cultural program developed by Volkswagen Group China as part of its PACE (Participation, Connection, Education and Exchange) cultural initiative. Guided by the AEP-China framework, SSO and Volkswagen aim to convene and connect young people in China and inspire and engage them in art world through the charm of music by hosting two-year music programs and interactive experience events throughout the country.
London Businesses Among Top 10 Most Optimistic in the World About Their City's Environment to Support Their Digital Ambitions

LONDON: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released a global research project commissioned by Telstra, a leading telecommunications and technology company, which assesses the confidence of business executives in their city's environment and its conduciveness to supporting the digital ambitions of companies.





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The 'Connecting Commerce' report includes the first ever Digital Cities Barometer, a ranking of 45 cities around the world across five key categories relevant to business performance: innovation and entrepreneurship; the financial environment; people and skills; development of new technologies; and ICT infrastructure. Executives in two British cities were surveyed, with confidence amongst London executives significantly higher than those in Birmingham.London is listed as the top European city for its financial environment, ranking seventh overall, ahead of Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. It is the only European city in the top 10 for overall optimism as well as innovation and entrepreneurship, while also ranking fourth in the world for ICT infrastructure. In contrast, Birmingham ranked 32nd for its overall environment, and while it also ranks poorly for its supply of people with necessary digital skills, executives there are generally happy with the city's educational system.Tom Homer, Telstra's Managing Director for EMEA, said the report makes an important contribution to exploring what support executives need to digitally transform their business and thrive in a connected world."Digital transformation can be a long and complex process. In most cases, existing internal resources will not be enough and businesses will need to look outside for additional support. Businesses will find most of that support in the city or cities where they operate, with the majority of business executives surveyed believing that when it comes to government policies, those implemented by local government have more influence on their organisation's digital success than national policies," said Mr Homer."London is renowned for the breadth of its innovation ecosystems, such as the dynamic Shoreditch community, and the confidence of local business executives reflects this vibrancy. Few cities have the advantages that London has as a major financial hub with rich sources of funding."Key findings from the research include:aFifty-eight per cent of London-based executives rate the city's educational institutions as effective at preparing students with the digital skills companies need, compared with 53 per cent in Birmingham. However, the gap widens when it comes to educational institutions producing the volume of graduates needed, with 70 per cent in London providing an effective rating compared with 47 per cent in Birmingham.aEighty-three per cent of London-based executives believe the availability of open government data is important to their business, and 35 per cent say it is 'very important,' while 56 per cent say their businesses use such data frequently or periodically. A considerably smaller share of Birmingham respondents (50 per cent) say open data is important to their firms, and only 37 per cent use it at least periodically.aThe report also shows that 57 per cent of executives in London believe that business associations and forums are one of the best ways to get support for digital initiatives, with almost half of this number (27 per cent) in Birmingham citing the same.Overall, the report found that business leaders are relatively confident that their city environments can provide the support they need to meet their digital ambitions."Many agreed that an organisation's city is intrinsically linked to the success of its digital transformation, with firms willing to move to another city to get it right and 75 per cent of respondents believing factors in the external environment are just as important as their internal capabilities in determining their transformation success," said Mr Homer.
New Digital Cities Barometer Shows Mixed Results for European Cities

LONDON: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released a global research project commissioned by Telstra, a leading telecommunications and technology company, which assesses the confidence of business executives in their city's environment and its conduciveness to supporting the digital ambitions of companies.





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The 'Connecting Commerce' report includes the first ever Digital Cities Barometer, a ranking of 45 cities around the world across five key categories relevant to business performance: innovation and entrepreneurship; the financial environment; people and skills; development of new technologies; and ICT infrastructure. Executives in 17 European and British cities were surveyed, with confidence levels amongst London- and Madrid-based executives some of the highest in the world.Tom Homer, Telstra's Managing Director for EMEA, said the report makes an important contribution to exploring what support executives need to digitally transform their business and thrive in a connected world."Digital transformation can be a long and complex process. In most cases, existing internal resources will not be enough and businesses will need to look outside for additional support. Businesses will find most of that support in the city or cities where they operate, with the majority of business executives surveyed believing that when it comes to government policies, those implemented by local government have more influence on their organisation's digital success than national policies," said Mr Homer."Essentially, the environment in which a business operates has a direct impact on whether it can successfully transform. Overall, 48 per cent of executives surveyed said their firm had considered relocating their operations to a city with a more favourable external environment. This is something governments need to be mindful of as European cities actively compete for business, technology talent and funding."Another topical point for the European market is the sentiment from survey respondents on the issue of access to government data. The majority of executives believe open data is important for their business, particularly when it comes to improving services for their customers and developing new lines of business. The research findings show Europe is ahead of other markets when it comes to leveraging this data. However, the introduction of the European Union General Data Protection Regulation in May 2018 will have implications for how governments and businesses handle people's data.Key findings from the research include:aExecutives in London and Madrid are some of the most confident in the world in their city's ability to support their digital ambitions, ranking ninth and 10th respectively.aConfidence in the overall environment was lowest in Berlin, which ranks 45th overall. The city also ranked 45th for innovation and entrepreneurship despite the city's vibrant start-up ecosystem.aForty-eight per cent of all respondents believe their city's ICT infrastructure is ineffective for their transformation needs.aExecutives in Rome have limited confidence in their city's overall environment (35th), compared with those in Milan (24th), where confidence is substantially higher than Italy's capital across all categories except ICT infrastructure.aThere were mixed results for European cities on the Barometer when it comes to overall confidence in the environment. Following London and Madrid, ranking for the other cities were: Barcelona (12th), Copenhagen (16th), Paris (20th), Oslo (21st), Milan (24th), Brussels (25th), Antwerp (28th), Amsterdam (29th), Marseilles (30th), Stockholm (31st), Birmingham (32nd), Rome (35th), Frankfurt (36th) and Rotterdam (41st).Overall, the report found that business leaders are relatively confident that their city environments can provide the support they need to meet their digital ambitions."Many agreed that an organisation's city is intrinsically linked to the success of its digital transformation, with firms willing to move to another city to get it right and 75 per cent of respondents believing factors in the external environment are just as important as their internal capabilities in determining their transformation success," said Mr Homer.
Wayne's Coffee Looking to Delight London's Organic Coffee Lovers with new Branch in the Capital

LONDON: Eco-friendly Swedish coffee shop set to open first Central London location in December and introduce Brits to the famous Swedish Fika, as well as its organic, sustainable food and drink range.





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Wayne's Coffee, the multi-national organic coffee chain, has announced that it is adding to its branches in Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia with a new coffee shop in the centre of London, due to open in December. This means that Londoners will be formally introduced to the unique coffee break that is Fika - a Swedish pastime dedicated to letting go of all worries and enjoying a fun-filled meetup with friends, in a warm, homely atmosphere, while grazing on coffee and cake.Here is what Wayne's Coffee Master UK Franchisor Adnan Karim had to say about the festive opening of the Central London location, and why it is the perfect place for a new branch:"It's pretty simple. If we had it our way, people would choose an organic Fika every day. We are promoting smart choices. London, like numerous cities, truly embraces responsibly-sourced, organic produce, which not only delivers great taste, but also benefits the environment. These are our values, which is why we are so excited about introducing Wayne's Coffee to the English capital.Our coffee, which is sourced from sustainable farms in Central America, is verified three times over, by the Rainforest Alliance, the Euro Leaf, and the Swedish KRAV label, all of which enforce strict requirements regarding farming. Also watch out for our eco-friendly, biodegradable Christmas cups!Our customers are our guests. The priority is to make their visit enjoyable and, as always, we strive to do things better than the day before."In addition to a stress-free environment, organic coffee and made-on-the-day baked goods, Londoners can also expect cold-pressed juices and nutritious superfood drinks, all of which are produced in an environmentally friendly way. The company is particularly proud of its innovative vegan-friendly Supercino[T] Lattes, including energy-boosting Green Matcha & Beetroot, Coconut, and quirky Graviola. This eclectic range is sure to suit the varying tastes of London's food & drink enthusiasts.Wayne's Coffee is the first Swedish coffee shop chain to be awarded the KRAV label for organic farming and sustainable agriculture, and its arrival in the UK can only be a good thing.
EF Education First: Better English Across the World Is Good News for Britain

LONDON: As Britain heads for Brexit, English, the language of business, will be one of its most vital strengths, making the country more appealing and attracting trade and investment.





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The importance of the English language to the UK has been highlighted by the publication of a global ranking of the world's best non-native English speakers, released by international education company, EF Education First.Of the 80 countries ranked by the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), over half saw an improvement since last year.The report is being launched in the UK for the first time, demonstrating how important English is for the UK, as the country looks to strengthen global relationships, particularly in new markets outside Europe. Although Europeans still have the best English, it is not by much. Europe's regional score is only slightly higher than Asia's, with Latin America showing signs of improvement.The significance of English was confirmed by the celebrated author, Sebastian Faulks CBE, as he spoke at the EF EPI 2017 launch event held two days ago in the House of Commons. Faulks celebrated the English language as a key asset to the UK.QUOTE FROM SEBASTIAN FAULKS:"The English language is our greatest national treasure that we must continue to promote."QUOTE FROM MINH N TRAN:Senior Director, Research and Academic Partnerships at EF Education First"It is no coincidence that EF is launching the EF EPI in the UK now, when Britain is approaching Brexit and seeks to develop new partnerships. English proficiency across the globe is becoming more significant, transcending borders and offering new opportunities."The EF EPI 2017 ranks 80 countries and territories based on data from more than one million adults who took the EF Standard English Test (EF SET), the world's first free standardised English test.Highlights of the EF EPI 2017 include:aFor the first time, Africa is included in the EF EPI as a distinct region with nine African countries represented.aAsia has the world's second best proficiency.aPanama, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Thailand showed significant gains from last year.aWomen speak English better than men.aYounger people have better English than older people.aEnglish proficiency is linked to economic competitiveness, social development, and innovation.aCountries with higher English proficiency tend to have higher average incomes, better quality of life, and more investment in research and development.
SynerMed, a company that manages physician practices serving hundreds of thousands of Medicaid and Medicare patients across California, is planning to shut down amid scrutiny from state regulators and health insurers.

The company's chief executive, James Mason, notified employees in an internal email Nov. 6, obtained by Kaiser Health News, that audits by health plans found "several system and control failures within medical management and other departments."

As a result, Mason wrote, the company "will begin the legal and operational steps to shut down all operations." He said he was working on the transition of SynerMed's clients to another management firm within the next 180 days.

Separately, the California Department of Managed Health Care confirmed it is investigating the company.

"There is an open investigation of SynerMed, but the details are confidential right now," said spokesman Rodger Butler. His agency monitors the financial solvency and claims-payment practices of many physician groups that contract with health plans.

The company's sudden decision to shut down has sparked alarm among some doctors and medical groups that have relied on the company to handle their finances and business operations.

For years, SynerMed has served as a key middleman between health plans and independent physician practices, handling insurance contracting, paying claims and performing other administrative tasks so doctors can focus on treating patients. That role has expanded as millions more Californians are enrolled in Medicaid managed-care plans under the Affordable Care Act.

SynerMed has billed itself as "one of the largest Medicaid/Medicare management service organizations in the nation." Last year, the company boasted that it had enrollment of 1 million patients in California, aided by an influx of enrollees who got coverage under the federal health law.

Mason, the CEO, didn't respond to requests for comment. The company referred calls to its general counsel, but she couldn't be reached.

In his email to employees, Mason said he had "discovered certain internal control issues within the medical management department."

"Well," he wrote, "as a result of the manner in which those issues were disclosed to the health plans and regulatory agencies, we have been subject to unannounced audits by almost all of our health plan partners."

The CEO said two medical groups, AlphaCare and EHS (Employee Health Systems) Medical Group, have already terminated their contracts with SynerMed.

"I am heartbroken and saddened by these events after we have worked so hard to build our reputation as a company that operates with integrity," Mason wrote in his email to employees.

Part of SynerMed's growth had come from managing care for low-income seniors and people with disabilities who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California. The state has been at the forefront nationally in trying to shift those "dual-eligible" patients into managed-care plans, which are paid a fixed rate per patient to coordinate a range of medical care.

A spokesman for the Medi-Cal program said the agency had no information to share on SynerMed.

SynerMed is a subsidiary of PAMC, Ltd., which also owns Pacific Alliance Medical Center in Los Angeles' Chinatown. The hospital agreed to pay $42 million in June to settle federal allegations of improper kickbacks to referring physicians.

The U.S. Justice Department said Pacific Alliance Medical Center agreed to the settlement to resolve a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that the hospital submitted false claims to Medi-Cal and Medicare. In a news release at the time, federal officials said the hospital and its owners did not admit liability in settling the case.

The hospital is closing later this month. Officials there attributed the closure to the fact that the lease on the property is ending and it wasn't financially feasible to retrofit facilities to meet the state's seismic requirements.

In a statement to Kaiser Health News, PAMC said "there is no connection between the closure of [the hospital] and any matters involving SynerMed. SynerMed is a wholly owned subsidiary that provides completely different services."

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.
A team of researchers led by Kath Bogie, DPhil (PhD), a biomedical engineer and associate professor of orthopaedics and biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and colleagues from Case Western Reserve and other institutions, has received a $1.8M, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop an implantable muscle stimulator for preventing pressure ulcers and deep tissue injuries to the buttocks. These serious medical conditions, which are caused by lying or sitting in one place for long periods of time, can lead to severe pain and infection, even death.

Bogie's co-principal investigators are Christian Zorman, PhD of Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering, Douglas Shire, PhD of the Cleveland VA Medical Center, and David Keicher and Marcelino Essien of Integrated Deposition Solutions Inc., Albuquerque. They will collectively develop and test flexSTIM, a small, flexible, fully implantable stimulator with electrodes that, at the touch of a button, will provide intermittent stimulation to the three gluteal muscles that comprise the buttocks. By mimicking regular weight-shifting -- consequently increasing muscle bulk -- the stimulation will improve muscle health and help prevent pressure ulcers and deep tissue injuries.

"We are grateful to the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs for providing this funding," said Bogie. "FlexSTIM will eventually be suitable for virtually all patients with spinal cord injury and others with debilitating medical conditions."

In cases of spinal cord injury, motor impairment causes muscle atrophy that changes both muscle quantity and quality, increasing the risk of pressure ulcers and deep tissue injuries. Patients are often unable to sustain regular employment or take part in community life, resulting in emotional distress. Caring for them can be costly and time intensive. The only way to heal is to stay off the injured area, which can lead to weeks or even months of bed rest, significantly reducing quality of life.

Previously, Bogie and her lab team implanted a system that provided intermittent stimulation in five people with spinal cord injuries. Not only did they not develop pressure ulcers and deep tissue injuries, they regained healthy tissue under the skin and increased gluteal muscle mass. However, the original system included wires that protruded from the skin and connected to an external control box, leaving small holes that were difficult to keep covered and clean and which were susceptible to infection.

"Following the positive results we achieved with that system, our team was contacted many times over the years by people asking for a device that could be fully implanted," said Bogie. "Other prevention methods they tried failed and they were desperate for a new alternative."

The benefits of the new fully implanted system will include increased quality of life and decreased cost of medical care. Risks will be minimized because only a small incision will be needed to implant the 4mm-thick device. Current commercially available stimulators require major surgery and must be located in body regions with ample soft-tissue cushioning, such as the abdomen. Implanting flexSTIM will be an outpatient procedure and only require local anesthesia.

Bogie projects that clinical trials of the device in humans could begin within five years, with translation to the market within ten years.

Source: http://casemed.case.edu/cwrumed360/news-releases/release.cfm?news_id=859
An interview with Prof. Manfred Radmacher, Universitat Bremen conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab)

Can you please give a brief history of the use of AFM to study cell mechanics in order to understand the biophysical processes of the cells?

Cell mechanics was already of interest very early on to people who were using the AFM. The AFM was invented in 1986 and the first biological samples, both proteins and lipid molecules, were investigated around 1989 and the first time cells were investigated was around 1990.

 Andrii Vodolazhskyi/Shutterstock.com

It was obvious from the beginning that the main advantage of AFM, compared to the scanning tunneling microscope, which had been invented a couple of years before the AFM by the same group of people, was that you could look at biological samples in physiological conditions, in a liquid environment.

Once you start that, you want to play around and look at all biological samples; not only molecules, but also larger compartments, viruses, cells and so on. The first biological applications were already looking into cells very early on.

When was AFM first used to map elastic modulus across single cells (Force Volume Mode)?

I think that was also around 1993/1994. The first measurements of the elastic properties of biological samples were carried out in Paul Hansma's lab, by Albrecht Weisenhorn, probably around 1993/92. We also started doing that in about 1994 in Munich, in a cooperation with Paul Hansma.

Can you please outline your current research and the application of AFM to study the viscoelastic properties of cells?

My current interest remains the mechanical properties of cells, although the focus has changed a lot. The focus in the early days was on the fact that we had a newly developed instrument, the Atomic Force Microscope. As physicists, we were just curious about using that instrument and applying it to several samples to understand something about the biophysics of cells.

What happened 5-10 years ago, is that when people figured out that by looking at the mechanical properties, you can distinguish between different types of cells. What is prominent is that when looking at diseased cells versus normal cells, or cancer cells versus normal cells, you can use the mechanical properties as a fingerprint or mechanical assay to determine the state of the cells.

What do you think the future holds for the use of AFM in the investigation of biological and biophysical processes?

In the early days, people liked that with AFM, you had a high-resolution microscope, which gave you topographical information about live biological samples, for instance. The resolution was not as good as with the scanning electron microscope, but to use the scanning electron microscope, a lot of sample preparation was required and the samples and cells are also dead.

It looks like the newest applications in other fields  high resolution optical microscopy  will eventually win the race in terms of resolution. The outstanding feature of the AFM is no longer high-resolution images of biological samples. What still makes the AFM unique is its capability in measuring and applying forces to the sample.

One application is the mechanical properties of cells. Other applications would be looking at specific binding forces between molecules. There is no other technique, or only a few other techniques, that allow you to probe at the small scale and with high lateral resolution, these two properties  how molecules interact with each other and what the mechanical properties of the ultra-soft biological samples are. I think this will remain the outstanding feature of the AFM.

What is the biggest impact that AFM has made to the biological and nanomedicine research fields?

Nanomedicine is complicated because AFM is still a technique that is used in a research environment. We are thinking and talking a lot about biomedical applications, but there is no true biomedical application. There is no medical assay used in a clinic. We are envisioning, for instance, that mechanical properties may result in a biomedical assay, but this hasn't happened yet. It will also require different types of instruments.

Now, atomic force microscopes are instruments used in the research environment by highly trained people, Ph.D. students. This is not the type of instrument which will be used in a clinical environment. Therefore, what is going on right now is that people are learning and understanding the instrument. The second step that will be needed, is simplifying it so that it can be used as a routine instrument by technicians, for instance.

How has Bruker technology helped or advanced AFM in biological research?

The first commercial AFMs were been built and sold by a company called Digital Instruments, which became Veeco and eventually became part of Bruker.

The result was that it could be used by a diverse group of people from different backgrounds; not only those from an instrumentational physics or engineering background, but also people from a biological or medical background. I think the fact that it could be applied and used by different people has been very important.

What is the importance of meetings, like the AFM BioMed Conference, to you and the AFM research community?

As with any meeting, they are very important to scientists, because you exchange and discuss your results with colleagues. A conference like this one has some history and I think this is the 8th conference now. A conference like that brings the same type and same groups of people together on a regular basis, meaning you can really discuss your results.

One part of the conference is the presentations you hear in the lecture hall, but the more important part is what is happening here in the hallway  people are really discussing the results. This is the benefit of a small, close community that meets regularly and critically discusses their own results in a very open way.

What direction do you see, or would like to see, AFM going in the next five years? (What do you see as the next big thing for AFM?)

I would like to see a simplified instrument developed as an offspring of the AFM, that enables mechanical measurements on cells or, even better, on tissues and that could eventually be used in the clinical environment.

I doubt that five years is the appropriate time frame for this. AFM has been used very successfully in a research environment, but I think it would be a real jump to a new universe or a new world, if we could extend the applications to a clinical/medical field.

How long do you think it will take?

Let us meet in five years and discuss that question again. It may be ten years, but it is hard to make any hypothesis here!

Where can readers find more information?

For more information on Prof. Radmachers research, please visit: http://www.biophysik.uni-bremen.de/start/radmacher-group/

For more information on AFM BioMed: http://www.afmbiomed.org/

For more information on AFM from Bruker: https://www.bruker.com/products/surface-and-dimensional-analysis/atomic-force-microscopes.html

About Prof. Manfred Radmacher

Prof. Dr. Manfred Radmacher is professor for Biophysics at the University of Bremen. Dr. Radmacher undertook his PhD Thesis at the Physics Department, Institute for Biophysics, Technical University Munich. He holds degrees in Abitur, Diploma in Physics, PhD in Physics and Habilitation (venia legendi) in Experimental Physics.
A research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a soft, flexible and stretchable microfiber sensor for real-time healthcare monitoring and diagnosis. The novel sensor is highly sensitive and ultra-thin with a diameter of a strand of human hair. It is also simple and cost-effective to mass produce.

Wearable and flexible technology has gained significant interest in recent years, leading to tremendous progress in soft and wearable sensors. In tandem with this trend, microfluidic devices using conductive liquid metals have been increasingly employed as wearable pressure and strain sensors. However, current devices have various limitations - for instance, they may not fit well on the skin or are uncomfortable to wear.

"Our novel microfiber sensor can hardly be felt on the skin and conforms extremely well to skin curvatures. Despite being soft and tiny, the sensor is highly sensitive and it also has excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical deformability. We have applied the sensor for real-time monitoring of pulse waveform and bandage pressure. The results are very promising," said Professor Lim Chwee Teck from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS Faculty of Engineering, who is the leader of the research team.

Real-time monitoring of pulse waveform

The smart microfiber sensor developed by the NUS Engineering team comprises a liquid metallic alloy, which serves as the sensing element, encapsulated within a soft silicone microtube. The sensor measures an individual's pulse waveform in real-time, and the information can be used to determine one's heart rate, blood pressure, and stiffness in blood vessels.

"Currently, doctors will monitor vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure when patients visit clinics. This requires multiple equipment such as heart rate and blood pressure monitors, which are often bulky and may not provide instantaneous feedback. As our sensor functions like a conductive thread, it can be easily woven into a glove which can be worn by doctors to track vital signs of patients in real-time. This approach offers convenience and saves time for healthcare workers, while patients can enjoy greater comfort," added Prof Lim.

The microfiber sensor could also be beneficial for patients suffering from atherosclerosis, which is the thickening and stiffening of the arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty streaks. Over time, these streaks accumulate into plaques which may completely block off blood flow or break apart, resulting in organ failure or may trigger a heart attack or stroke.

Existing methods of detecting plaque in blood vessels - such as computerized tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging - would require expensive and bulky equipment. Such tests need to be done in hospitals by trained medical professionals.

As plaque will change the stiffness of the blood vessel and hence the pulse waveform, the novel sensor developed by the NUS Engineering team could be easily used to detect plaque before it accumulates to a size big enough to block or rupture the blood vessel.

Earlier this year, the NUS team published the development of the microfiber sensor and its application for pulse monitoring in scientific journals Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and Advanced Materials Technologies, respectively.

Bandage pressure monitoring

Another clinical application of the smart microfiber sensor is for the management of venous ulcers, which are caused by poor blood circulation. They occur when the veins in the legs could not push blood back to the heart as well as they should. As blood pools in the veins, there is increased pressure in the veins, causing progressive skin damage over time.

Compression therapy is a common treatment for venous ulcer. Depending on the severity of the ulcers, bandages with varying amount of pressure have to be applied on the legs of patients for months to even a year. If the bandage is too tight, it could result in tissue damage, but if the bandage is too loose, the healing could be ineffective. Currently, healthcare workers tend to estimate the pressure in the bandage at the point of application, based on training and experience.

As the pressure provided by the bandage could change over time due to movements by the patient, accurate and continuous measurement of the bandage pressure in real-time is therefore important to ensure that healing takes place effectively.

Being ultra-thin and highly flexible, the NUS Engineering team's microfiber sensor can be easily woven into bandages to monitor the pressure that is being delivered and maintained. This could potentially improve the effectiveness of the treatment and reduce the time required for healing. In future, patients could also track the bandage pressure using an app, and the information could be shared with doctors who could remotely monitor the progress of the treatment.

The team is currently collaborating with the Singapore General Hospital to test the application of the microfiber sensor for bandage pressure monitoring.

Commercialization and further research

"Our microfiber sensor is highly versatile, and could potentially be used for a wide range of applications, including healthcare monitoring, smart medical prosthetic devices and artificial skins. Uniquely designed to be durable and washable, our novel invention is highly attractive for promising applications in the emerging field of wearable electronics," said Prof Lim.

The team has filed a patent for its smart microfiber sensor. Researchers are currently refining the sensor design and reducing the size of its accessories to improve the user-friendliness of the device. The NUS team had recently won the Most Innovative Award at the Engineering Medical Innovation Global Competition held in Taipei in September 2017.

While the NUS researchers continue to explore new applications of the microfiber sensor, they are also keen to work with commercial partners to bring their novel sensor to market.
There's hope for a better life for people who've lost an arm or leg, thanks to new research funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense.

George Mason University researchers are developing cutting-edge ultrasound technology to help people get greater control of prosthetics for their arms, hands, and legs.

"Our goal is to help amputees go about their daily lives with improved function," says Siddhartha Sikdar, an associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Mason Engineering. Sikdar has launched a pilot feasibility study with amputees who are using a new ultrasound-based system.

Currently, upper-body extremity prostheses (arm and hand) usually are controlled by an electrical method that senses muscle activity, he says. Electrodes on the skin surface pick up the electrical activity of muscles in the residual limb as the amputee attempts to perform movements.

The problem is that electrodes at the skin surface cannot readily differentiate between the signals from the many different muscles in the forearm that control the fingers and thumb.

Amputees often get discouraged by the limitations of this method, and one study showed about half don't use their expensive prostheses because the artificial limbs don't improve their quality of life, Sikdar says.

"It's really a shame because modern prosthetic hands are sophisticated systems," he says. "The biggest challenge has been to provide users with a reliable, noninvasive, and intuitive method to control these devices."

Sikdar's team has been investigating a new way of operating prostheses by using ultrasound waves to sense muscle activity. The research is funded by two $1 million grants, one from the National Science Foundation and one from the Department of Defense.

The team is designing and evaluating miniaturized ultrasound transducers, which are compact devices worn as a small band on the forearm or under the prosthetic shell.

The transducer sends sound waves into the body and senses the reflected sound waves. Then these signals are analyzed using computer algorithms to recognize muscle activity.

This method is able to sense muscle activity deep inside the tissue, and it differentiates between different muscle groups much better than electrodes on the surface of the skin.

Their laboratory research suggests that the ultrasound method allows for much dexterity in controlling upper body prosthetics, including fine-tuned motor control of the fingers and thumb, Sikdar says.

In the lab, they have shown that computer algorithms can use this ultrasound method to learn to accurately differentiate between 15 distinct hand and wrist movements. Users can robustly perform partial movements with high degree of control. "The military is funding this technology as a way to improve the lives of those who have been wounded in action," he says.

In another project, funded by the National Science Foundation, Sikdar's team is applying the ultrasound-based method for sensing muscle activity to develop new types of exoskeletons for people with spinal cord injuries.

They are also exploring several other areas of this research including developing simpler, less expensive upper-body extremity prosthetics; extending the ultrasound-based control methods to lower-limb prostheses; and training people to use the prosthetics by means of video games.

Sikdar has applied for patents on the work and is looking for ways to commercialize it if the latest research proves successful.

Eventually, these developments may help not only amputees in the United States but around the world. "Knowing that this technology can potentially help real people keeps us all highly motivated," he says.
With rifle deer season around the corner in Pennsylvania, thousands of hunters  of all ages  are preparing to head into the woods.

Falls from tree stands continue to be a common hunting accident, yet can sometimes be overlooked  for example, when hunting safety courses focus on firearms.

"We see accidental gunshot wounds, but we also see many injuries from falls," said Kimberly Patil, injury prevention and outreach coordinator with the adult trauma program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

She recommends hunters choose their tree stand carefully, and always use a fall arrest system, or harness, when climbing in and out of a tree. "You want to keep it on you and tethered from start to finish so if you miss a step or lose your balance, it will catch you," she said.

Patil recommends hunters practice using their tree stands with the company of another adult before using it during hunting season. She also advises against climbing with equipment in your hands. "Use a haul line to raise or lower your equipment," she said.

Keeping three points of contact while climbing in or out of a tree stand  two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand at all times  can also prevent falls.

Joe Hess, performance and quality improvement coordinator with the pediatric trauma program at Penn State Children's Hospital, said because hunting is often a multi-generational activity, it's important to remember that the youngest hunters have much less experience and ability.

He said anyone old enough to hunt should first go through a hunter safety course to learn how to safely use his or her equipment. "You need to understand the types and parts of a gun," he said. "You also need to understand what it means to shoot the gun."

Hunting with younger children is less about shooting an animal and more about teaching the fundamentals. Hess recommends adjusting expectations about how long you'll be out and how far you'll go if you have children with you.

"They aren't going to want to sit out there as long as you do," he said. "Go out the first couple hours or last couple hours of the day and bring food and clothing."

That clothing should include fluorescent orange, per Pennsylvania Game Commission regulations. If you plan to bring a dog, make sure he or she has a vest of hunter's orange as well.

Make your presence known to other hunters by making a bit of noise or whistling to get their attention.

Before you head out, make sure others know where you are going, how you will get there, and when you expect to return. Find out ahead of time if the area where you will be hunting has cell phone reception or whether you'll need to bring hard copies of maps or download electronic ones to your phone that you can access when offline.

"Getting lost probably happens more often than people want to believe," Patil said. "If you go out early and spend hours in the woods, it's easy to get fatigued and turned around. Or, you may not realize how quickly the sun goes down."

She recommends taking a safety kit along that includes not only basic First Aid supplies, but extra doses of any medicine you take, a pocket knife, fire starter, waterproof matches, flashlight and tourniquet.

Hess reminds hunters to safeguard guns, knives, gun-cleaning supplies and related materials in the home so children can't access them.

When handling guns, hunters should treat every firearm as if it were loaded. That means never pointing it at anyone and never placing a finger on the trigger until ready to fire.

Patil said if hunters keep these tips in mind, it can create a better experience for everyone. "Hunting can be a really good time," she said. "When you do it safely, it's fun and enjoyable."
A new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics, indicates that the babies whose mothers were offered support to breastfeed completely for a prolonged period from birth have a 54% lesser eczema risk at the age of 16.

Credit: Lumen Photos / Shutterstock.com

The study, led by researchers from the University of Bristol, McGill University, Harvard University, and King's College London, investigated more than 13,000 Belarussian teenagers involved in the PROmotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT) and identified a 54% decrease in eczema cases among teenagers whose mothers were offered support to breastfeed exclusively.

Eczema is a condition that makes the skin red, sore, dry, itchy, and cracked. Approximately, one in ten adults and one in five children in the developed countries were affected by eczema.

Dr Carsten Flohr, lead author of the study stated: "The WHO recommends between four and six months of exclusive breastfeeding to aid prevention of allergy and associated illnesses. Our findings add further weight to the importance of campaigns like the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which is tackling low rates of breastfeeding globally."

A total of 17,046 mothers and their new-born babies were involved in the PROBIT study between June 1996 and December 1997. Half of the paediatric clinics and maternity hospitals involved in the study offered extra support modelled on the suggestions of the United Nations Children's Fund's BFHI and WHO, while the other half carried on their regular practices.

The UK has one of the lowest breast feeding rates in the world. Only 34% (one in three) of the babies born in the UK were offered breast milk, compared with 71% in Norway and 49% in US. Only 1% of the UK-born babies are completely breastfed to six months.

There was no reduction in asthma risk with 1.5% of the intervention group (108/7064) reporting asthma symptoms compared with 1.7% (110/6493) in the control group, while the study indicated that the breastfeeding promotion intervention offered protection against eczema.
The University of Bristol has been awarded a grant by the UK Research Councils and the Department of Health to lead an inter-disciplinary research project to tackle the growing threat of antibacterial drug resistance (ABR) in Thailand.

ABR reduces the ability of doctors to treat infections with antibiotics. Thailand, like many countries, is currently facing a major health threat due to the high prevalence of ABR in disease-causing bacteria found in humans, animals and the environment.

ABR and antibiotic use impacts the ability of the global community to meet many of its Strategic Development Goals, particularly around human health, environmental pollution, poverty and food security. In 2010, ABR was estimated to be responsible for 38,000 deaths and an economic loss of 1.2 billion US$ in Thailand, a country in receipt of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the UK Government.

In response to the threat of ABR, the Thai Government has instigated its National Strategic Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2017-2022). The aim is to improve national surveillance for ABR bacteria to quantify the problem, and includes initiatives to reduce the rate of infections and the usage of antibiotics, which are known to select for ABR bacteria.

The University of Bristol led project will enhance work already ongoing in Thailand to understand the drivers of ABR and behaviors around antibiotic use. At the outset, the project will involve a series of workshops in Thailand to share knowledge amongst Thai and UK ABR experts, to bring together a group of early career academics, and to collectively develop a research program that will consider:

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whether chemicals in the environment - present naturally or through agricultural pollution - can select for ABR bacteria.

whether ABR bacteria circulate within local environments in rural Thailand, and how this changes over time (as the Thai National Strategic Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance progresses).

how key behaviors around antibiotic use by farmers and farm management practices influence the development of ABR, and

how people make decisions around healthcare that can affect their usage of antibiotics.

The information generated from microbiological, genomic and chemical screens, together with anthropological research, will be used to identify changes that might reduce ABR in Thailand.

Principal Investigator, Dr. Matthew Avison from the University of Bristol's School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, said:

"This is a great opportunity to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to what is an urgent, global health threat. ABR in Thailand is already at a stage that some key, first-line antibiotics have been rendered essentially useless. Our aim is to uncover interventions that have the potential to reduce ABR in Thailand, which would greatly benefit the Thai population. It is also likely that what we learn will be transferable to other neighboring countries where ABR is a significant burden, and since ABR quickly spreads around the world, there is potential for a truly global impact from our work."

Source: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/
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Stanley Cohen Biographical

I was born in Brooklyn in 1922. Both my mother and father were Russian Jewish emigrants who came to America in the early 1900s. My father was a tailor and my mother, a housewife. Though of limited education themselves, they instilled in me the values of intellectual achievement and the use of whatever talents I possessed.

I was educated in the public school system of New York City and was bright enough to be accepted at Brooklyn College. Fortunately for me, my college education was most thorough (I majored in both Biology and Chemistry). Perhaps equally important was the fact that Brooklyn College was a city school and had a policy of no tuition; the cost of an education would have been prohibitive for my parents.

My scientific interests throughout my undergraduate days were directed to cell biology and especially the mysteries of embryonic development. I think my one insight into these problems was the recognition that much could be learned by the application of chemistry to biology.

After working for a short period as a bacteriologist in a milk processing plant to save enough money to go to graduate school, fellowships enabled me to continue my education, first at Oberlin College, where I received an M.A. in Zoology in 1945, and then in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Michigan where I received a Ph.D. in 1948. My Ph.D. thesis concerned the metabolic mechanism by which the end product of nitrogen metabolism in the earthworm is switched from ammonia to urea during starvation. I remember spending my nights collecting over 5,000 worms from the University campus green.

I believe it was my ability to stomach-tube earthworms that convinced Dr. Harry Gordon to offer me my first job in the Pediatrics and Biochemistry Departments of the University of Colorado, where I was involved in metabolic studies of premature infants.

Feeling the need to gain experience with the then emerging application of radioisotope methodology to biological research, I left Colorado and went to Washington University in 1952 to work with Martin Kamen in the Department of Radiology at Washington University as a postdoctoral fellow of the American Cancer Society. I learned isotope methodology while studying carbon dioxide fixation in frog eggs and embryos, and also derived a priceless education participating in the journal club administered by Dr. Arthur Kornberg who had just arrived at Washington University.

In 1953 I became associated with the Department of Zoology under the leadership of Viktor Hamburger at Washington University with a two-fold purpose in mind. I joined with Rita Levi-Montalcini to isolate a Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) that Dr. Levi-Montalcini had discovered in certain mouse tumors and to become educated in the field of experimental embryology. I leave it to Dr. Levi-Montalcini, with whom I am honored to share this Nobel Award, to recount the results of our early collaboration.

I came to Vanderbilt University in 1959 as an Assistant Professor in the Biochemistry Department where I have been ever since, exploring the chemistry and biology of epidermal growth factor (EGF) that is the subject of this lecture.

In 1976 I was appointed an American Cancer Society Research Professor and in 1986 Distinguished Professor. The works recognized by this Nobel Prize are clearly a group effort of achievement as may be seen from the names associated with our publications on EGF. They share in this honor. I have received much recognition during my research career and I am most grateful.

Honors Research Career Development Award, National Institutes of Health (1959-1969). National Paraplegia Foundations Second Annual William Thomson Wakeman Award (1974). American Cancer Society Research Professor of Biochemistry (1976). Earl Sutherland Prize for Achievement in Research, Vanderbilt University (1977). Albion O. Bernstein, M.D. Award (Medical Society of the State of New York) (1978). National Academy of Science (1980). H.P. Robertson Memorial Award, National Academy of Science (1981). Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award, Brandeis University(1982). General Motors Cancer Research Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Award (1982). Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, Columbia University (1983). Distinguished Achievement Award of the UCLA Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences (1983). Lila Gruber Memorial Cancer Research Award, American Academy of Dermatology (1983). Bertner Award of M.D. Anderson Hospital, University of Texas (1983). American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1984). Charles B. Smith Visiting Research Professorship, Sloan Kettering (1984). Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Chicago (1985). Gairdner Foundation International Award (1985). Feodor Lynen Lecturer, University of Miami 18th Miami Winter Symposium (1986). National Medal of Science (1986). Steenbock Lecturer, University of Wisconsin (1986). Fred Conrad Koch Award, The Endocrine Society (1986). Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation (1986). Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1986).

From Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel Prizes 1986, Editor Wilhelm Odelberg, [Nobel Foundation], Stockholm, 1987

This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and later published in the book series Les Prix Nobel/ Nobel Lectures/The Nobel Prizes. The information is sometimes updated with an addendum submitted by the Laureate.

Stanley Cohen died on 5 February 2020.

Copyright  The Nobel Foundation 1986

To cite this section

MLA style: Stanley Cohen  Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2022. Wed. 16 Nov 2022. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1986/cohen/biographical/>
The breakthrough technique paves the way for the electronics manufacturing industry to produce fully functional components such as 3D antennae and fully printed sensors from multiple materials including metals and plastics.

The circuits, which contain electrically-conductive metallic inks and insulating polymeric inks, can now be produced in a single inkjet printing process where a UV light rapidly solidifies the inks.

Click here for full story

The new method combines 2D printed electronics with Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing - which is based on layer-by-layer deposition of materials to create 3D products. This expands the impact of Multifunctional Additive Manufacturing (MFAM), which involves printing multiple materials in a single additive manufacturing system to create components that have broader functionalities.

The new method overcomes some of the challenges in manufacturing fully functional devices that contain plastic and metal components in complex structures, where different methods are required to solidify each material.

Existing systems typically use just one material which limits the functionality of the printed structures. Having two materials like a conductor and an insulator, expands the range of functions in electronics. For example, a wristband which includes a pressure sensor and wireless communication circuitry could be 3D printed and customised for the wearer in a single process.

The breakthrough speeds up the solidification process of the conductive inks to less than a minute per layer. Previously, this process took much longer to be completed using conventional heat sources such as ovens and hot plates, making it impractical when hundreds of layers are needed to form an object. In addition, the production of electronic circuits and devices is limited by current manufacturing methods that restrict both the form and potentially the performance of these systems.

Professor Chris Tuck, Professor of Materials Engineering and lead investigator of the study, highlighted the potential of the breakthrough, Being able to 3D print conductive and dielectric materials (electrical insulators) in a single structure with the high precision that inkjet printing offers, will enable the fabrication of fully customised electronic components. You dont have to select standard values for capacitors when you design a circuit, you just set the value and the printer will produce the component for you.

Professor Richard Hague, Director of the Centre for Additive Manufacturing (CfAM) added, Printing fully functional devices that contain multiple materials in complex, 3D structures is now a reality. This breakthrough has significant potential to be the enabling manufacturing technique for 21st century products and devices that will have the potential to create a significant impact on both the industry and the public.

How it works

Dr Ehab Saleh and members of the team from CfAM found that silver nanoparticles in conductive inks are capable of absorbing UV light efficiently. The absorbed UV energy is converted into heat, which evaporates the solvents of the conductive ink and fuses the silver nanoparticles. This process affects only the conductive ink and thus, does not damage any adjacent printed polymers. The researchers used the same compact, low cost LED-based UV light to convert polymeric inks into solids in the same printing process to form multi-material 3D structures. A video showing how the concept works is available here

With advancements in technology, inkjet printing can deposit of a wide range of functional inks with a spectrum of properties. It is used in biology, tissue bioprinting, multienzyme inkjet printing and various types of cell printing, where the ink can comprise of living cells.

The breakthrough has established an underpinning technology which has potential for growth in academia and industry. The project has led to several collaborations to develop medical devices, radio frequency shielding surfaces and novel structures for harvesting solar energy.

 Ends 

Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our Media Hub, which offers a Globelynx fixed camera and ISDN line facilities at University Park campus. For further information please contact a member of the Communications team on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email mediahub@nottingham.ac.uk or see the Globelynx website for how to register for this service.

For up to the minute media alerts, follow us on Twitter

Notes to editors:

The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the world's top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our 44,000 students - Nottingham was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment in the 2017 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, was awarded gold in the TEF 2017 and features in the top 20 of all three major UK rankings. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the Universitys vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news
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Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else.
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sknight@lufkindailynews.com .

Stumped? Ask us. The FYI column is designed to let readers email (to newsroom@lufkindailynews.com ) or call in (to 632-6637) questions you want answered, whether about road construction, how-to tips, trivia or other information. You do not have to leave your name. You also can use that email address or phone number to give us a news tip  anonymously, if youd like. (We do not have Caller ID on the phone line.)
Starting on Jan. 22, 2018, all air travelers will be required to have identification other than a drivers license to pass through Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints at airports.
Al Drago/The New York Times

Republican leaders in Congress, with the urging of President Trump, are trying to overhaul the tax code before the end of the year.

The goals? Spur investment and create jobs, reduce the codes staggering complexity and put more money in the pockets of middle-class families. The debate lies in whether the changes the Republicans have chosen will work as intended and accomplish what they claim.

The idea of tax cuts has always been popular, but if the system doesnt bring in enough revenue to pay for necessities  soldiers salaries, highway construction and disaster relief, among others  then the changes could undercut economic growth and the standard of living.

Republicans in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have proposals, and the Senate may vote on its version this week. Its virtually impossible to fully understand, let alone keep up with, the flood of proposals, procedural developments, amendments and analyses that continue to pour out. Here are some of the big-picture ideas to keep in mind as this political sausage is being made.

While individuals across income brackets would benefit, not everyone would, and the bigger winners may be corporations.

A far-reaching tax bill like the ones now being considered would touch nearly every American and every business in small ways and large. There are proposals that could affect how much it costs you to buy a house, care for a sick relative, adopt a child and send a child to private school.

Several analyses, including one from the Congressional Budget Office this week, have said that the Senate bill would hurt workers earning less than $30,000 a year, while delivering benefits to the highest earners throughout the next decade.

By 2027, the budget office said, Americans earning $75,000 a year and below would, as a group, see their taxes increase as cuts expire.

Here are three main proposals that would affect individuals and households:

Eliminate individual health-care mandate. A Senate proposal would eliminate the requirement that most people have health insurance. It would save more than $300 billion from the federal budget over a decade, but could result in as many as 13 million Americans without coverage. Change the number of income brackets. The House bill reduces the seven current marginal income tax brackets to four: 12, 25, 35 and 39.6 percent. The Senate bill would retain seven brackets with reduced marginal rates: 10, 12, 22, 24, 32, 35 and 38.5 percent. Increase the standard deduction. The House plan nearly doubles the amount of the standard deduction and eliminates the personal exemption, a deduction based on the number of taxpayers and dependents claimed on a return.

While most voters are primarily concerned with how much individual income tax they will pay, the biggest changes would be felt by businesses.

Here are three main proposals that would affect businesses:

Slash the top corporate rate to 20%. The idea in bringing down the rate from 35 percent is to help American corporations compete better with foreign rivals, which are subjected to lower tax rates, and discourage homegrown businesses from moving to lower-tax havens abroad. Transform the way global profits are taxed. Under the current system, all profits are subject to domestic taxes, but the House and Senate bills would fence off the money that multinationals earn outside the United States. Provide a tax cut to pass-through businesses. Most American businesses are organized not as corporations but as pass-through entities like partnerships and proprietorships, where the income is passed along to their owners and then taxed under the individual income tax system.

No matter the intention, all the proposals carry a risk that vague language and incomplete safeguards would open up lots of opportunities for businesses and wealthy investors and proprietors to avoid paying the taxes they owe. That not only undermines confidence in the entire system, but also raises the burden on other taxpayers who dont have the same opportunities.

As for the international provisions, critics worry that freeing companies from taxes earned outside the United States would make it even more attractive for firms to send jobs, operations and profits overseas.

Supporters argue that an overhaul would help the middle class and spur economic growth. Others arent so sure.

Republicans argue that their tax cuts would unleash enormous growth: Companies and individuals would have more to spend and invest, which would spur expansion and job creation. All that growth, supporters argue, would help blunt the reduced amount of revenue collected because of various proposed tax cuts.

But opponents have argued that there is little historical evidence that tax cuts lead to sustained growth, and most economists say cuts financed by deficits have the potential to undermine growth.

Republicans are aggressively marketing their plan as a middle-class tax cut that would benefit everyone. Several independent analyses agree, however, that the overwhelmingly majority of the financial gains would go to the wealthiest Americans.

What happens next? After the House passed its bill, the Senate must now vote on its version.

Given the bitter political and policy divide, Republican leaders are expecting to pass a bill without Democratic votes. The result is that arguments among Republicans are not only over particular policies, but also over assembling a combination of proposals that dont bust budget limits put in place to allow votes only along party lines.

After the House approved its version, the Senate is expected to vote on its bill later this week.

Normally, once both chambers pass a bill, the serious horse-trading would begin behind closed doors. A small group of representatives and senators would get together to work out differences between the two versions in whats known as a conference. The final bill would only allow members to vote yes or no.
Courtesy logo from Facebook event page.

OBU Nursing Students to Host Autism Awareness Community Event Nov 18 November 16, 2017

Senior nursing students at Oklahoma Baptist University will host a Walk for Autism Awareness around the Oval on OBUs campus Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Shawnee community is invited to walk and engage with resource stations spread across the Oval. Each station will have information on resources available to the Shawnee community, paired with unique activities for attendees.

Participants will include Senator Ron Sharp, Cargo Ranch and Blue Zones.

Senior nursing majors created the event as a part of their community health class, where students work together in groups to discover the needs of a community of people and to help meet those needs.

Hannah Gordon, a member of Community Health Clinical Group C, said her group decided on helping the autism community based on a previous experience with a local support group.

We started looking at the resources available to families with autistic children in Shawnee, and discovered two things. First, there aren't very many resources in Oklahoma, let alone Shawnee. Secondly, if there are resources, they are hard to find, Gordon said.

She believes this project afforded the students a learning experience from several different perspectives.

From a class perspective, I have learned a great deal about how to communicate well within my group and how to communicate well with agencies and people you want to reach out to, she said. Overall, this project has taught me what public and community health nurses do and strive to do  that is to promote health through connecting the community to available resources, and if those resources don't exist, then working toward getting them into existence.
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oi-Oneindia

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NAC to meet Jaitley

The NAC will meet with Jaitley and appraise him about the decision taken by them. The NAC was set to up to study the discrepancies arising out of the pay panel's recommendations. Once the NAC appraises the Finance Minister, the matter would then be placed before the DoE.

What has NAC decided

While the formal meeting of the NAC is set to take place by December 2015, it has been broadly decided that a basic pay hike has to take place. Central Government employees waiting for good news on pay hike could expect their basic salaries to be at Rs 21,000.

When will new pay hike come

While several reports state that the government may implement the pay hike in January, there are chances of the same being postponed to April. A source informed OneIndia that if the matters move fast then the government should have no problem in implementing it in April. There are two formalities that are left ie the NAC meet and placing it before the DoE. If these formalities can be completed by December itself then the government should have no problem in implementing the pay hike with the fitment factor 3.

7th Pay Commission latest news and updates

While CG employees wait for a hike, the Delhi University Teachers are protesting against the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. On Wednesday the teachers observed black day. This pay hike through a mechanical conversion of the notionally higher entry pay and withdrawal of advance increments for MPhil/ PhD has negated the principle of higher entry pay - a principle that recognized that teaching profession requires higher qualification and late entry," Delhi University Teachers' Association said in a statement.
Imran Khan discharged from hospital, to resume long march from same point where he was shot

This cop from Pakistan became a millionaire overnight: Here is how

Anti-militancy operation 'Kund' is on in Kashmir

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Pakistan has started a relentless social media campaign to lure youth to join militancy, said Jammu and Kashmir top police official.

In a media briefing, IGP Kashmir zone, Munir Khan, said three militants have been arrested so far during an ongoing operation in the forest area of Haalan-Kund area of Qazigund, in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

He said, "Anti-militancy operation Kund has been continuing since 14th November."

Three terrorists arrested alive in this operation and one of the three terrorists is injured, under treatment in hospital.

"We think two more militants are still hiding in the area so operation is going on," Khan said.

OneIndia News
As Delhi battles smog, AAP govt sits on Rs 1,500 crore green fund

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Green fund to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore is lying largely unused in Delhi as the city battles the problem of pollution.

The lion's share of the amount - Rs 1,003 crore (till November 10) - comes from an Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) imposed by the Supreme Court in 2015 on trucks entering Delhi while the rest is made up of cess on every litre of diesel sold, in effect since 2008.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has amassed Rs 62 crore as one per cent cess from dealers selling diesel cars with engine capacity of 2000 cc and above in the Delhi-NCR region following a directive of the Supreme Court in August last year.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) collects the ECC and hands over the amount to the city's transport department every Friday, Usman Nasim, a researcher with the Centre For Science and Environment (CSE), said.

The cess on diesel was announced by the Sheila Dikshit government in December 2007 as part of its efforts to control air pollution due to vehicular emissions.

The corpus, known as 'Air Ambience Fund', is maintained by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Over the years, it has assumed a substantial size and stands at around Rs 500 crore currently, Nasim said.

When contacted, a senior transport department official of the Delhi government said that only on Tuesday a decision has been taken to use the fund to subsidise the procurement of electric buses.

"We will use the fund for electric mobility. E-buses are very costly upfront and need to be subsidised in the first phase. Subsequently, running them does not entail much expenditure," the official said.

However, it could not be immediately confirmed as to how many electric buses the government is planning to buy and the amount required to do so. Moreover, around Rs 120 crore from the ECC corpus will also be used to install radio-frequency identification devices (RFID) on trucks for effective and credible collection of levy and the ECC, according to a 2016 Supreme Court order.

The CPCB plans to use a part of its green fund, collected as the diesel cess, for conducting studies on improvement and management of air quality in the region, while around Rs 2.5 crore is being used in setting up pollution monitoring centres across NCR.

The apex pollution regulator recently invited Expression of Interest (EOI) and proposals for such studies, which, it said will lay major emphasis on boosting its pollution monitoring infrastructure.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 6:22 [IST]
Cabinet clears setting up of National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

The Union cabinet on Thursday gave its nod to the setting up of the anti-profiteering authority under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices.

The establishment of the NAA, to be headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India with four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the States, is one more measure aimed at reassuring consumers that Government is fully committed to take all possible steps to ensure the benefits of implementation of GST in terms of lower prices of the goods and services reach them.

It may be recalled that effective from midnight of 14th November, 2017 the GST rate has been slashed from 28% to 18% on goods falling under 178 headings. There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28%. Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18% to 12% and so on and some goods have been completely exempt from GST.

The "anti-profiteering" measures enshrined in the GST law provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers. This institutional framework comprises the NAA, a Standing Committee, Screening Committees in every State and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC).

Affected consumers who feel the benefit of commensurate reduction in prices is not being passed on when they purchase any goods or services may apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the particular State.

The cabinet also lifted control on the export of pulses.

Addressing a press conference Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad the removal of the prohibition on the export of all types of pulses would give farmers greater choice in marketing their products and lead to improved incomes.

The Cabinet also raised carpet area for two categories of houses eligible for a subsidy, from 90 sq mtrs to 120 sq mtrs and for second from 110 sq mtrs to 150 sq mtrs.

OneIndia News
Cant do hijra, then Jihad is the option says Kerala ISIS module boss

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

An audio clip of the Islamic State which called on for attacks on the Kumbh Mela and Thrissur Pooram is under examination by the National Investigation Agency. The clip running into 10 minutes was recorded by Rashid Abdullah, the head of the Karsargod module of the ISIS also suggests various ways to carry out attacks.

ISIS' advise for Kerala Muslims: Poison food at Thrissur pooram, Kumbh Mela

This is not the for the first time that Abdullah has recorded such a clip. Rashid had come under the scanner of the Intelligence Bureau and National Investigation Agency after scores of people left for Afghanistan to join the ISIS. Rashid is believed to be the facilitator, IB sources say.

In an earlier clip, Rahid had said that those who performed hijra to an ISIS controlled territory were leading a comfortable life.

He further says that those who cannot do the hijra should carry out jihad or contribute their wealth to support the cause.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 6:28 [IST]
Citizens, activists protest at India Gate, demand action against mob lynching

India

oi-Shreya

By Shreya

Recommended Video

BJP government face protest against mob lynching, Watch video | Oneindia News

Months after Pehlu Khan - a dairy farmer was killed on the suspicion of being a cow smuggler by self-styled 'Gau-rakshaks', Ummar Khan, also belonging from Rajasthan was allegedly shot at, beheaded and left on railway tracks, mutilated in Rajasthan's Alwar district.

After five days, from the day of the attack, Rajasthan Police managed to arrest two accused in the case. Ummar's body was found on the railway tracks in a mutilated condition which made it even more difficult for identification. A case has been registered against Rajasthan Bovine Animal Act, however, the accused remained free for about 5 days.

A similar pattern could be seen in the case of Pehlu Khan, who was murdered in Alwar in Rajasthan by cow vigilantes and a case was registered against him and his son Irshaad on charges of cow smuggling. Even in case of Akhlaq - lynched on suspicion of storing beef at his home, the investigation was focused on the meat. In all the cases, the victims were made to suffer the legal process, more than the accused.

Protesters took to the streets to demand justice for such brutality and questioned the indifferent and brazen attitude of the government.

Student leader Umar Khalid called the ruling government fascist and said, "Mobilisation is the only way to create pressure on the government and a change can only come when this Government is thrown out of power,"

Kavita Krishnan, Secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association reiterated Umar and said, "Our ministers should be held accountable and they are creating such an atmosphere deliberately to create an atmosphere of fear and hatred," Protests were carried out in different parts of the country after Ummar Khan alleged lynching.

OneIndia News
Constitution provides legal restrictions on Delhi: Supreme Court

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Constitution provides restrictions on legislative powers of the Union Territory of Delhi, the Supreme Court said amid claims of the AAP government that Parliament's power to override legislative authority of the states was an 'emergency' power.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, which is hearing pleas on who enjoys supremacy in governing the national capital, referred to Article 239AA and said though the Delhi Assembly has the power to legislate on certain subjects under state and concurrent lists while Parliament also has the power to legislate with respect to "any matter" of the Union Territory of Delhi. "There are restrictions on the power of the Delhi Assembly to legislate," the bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, said.

Senior advocates Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the Arvind Kejriwal government, said Parliament has the power to override Delhi Assembly, but this is the "emergency legislative power".

Unlike UTs like Puducherry, Delhi has been given powers by the Constitution and its powers are not a "gift from Parliament", he said, adding that the constitutional provisions provided that the Delhi assembly "shall have the power to make laws on some subjects under state list and on all subjects under the concurrent list". The senior lawyer referred to other constitutional schemes and said that if there was no exclusivity attached to a subject, Parliament would have the power to make laws and if a subject fell under the exclusive domain of the states, the Union government could not the have the legislative powers.

The bench said that with regard to Delhi's legislative powers, the state and concurrent lists have been merged into one where the state and Union both have legislative powers.

"Does it not mean that more powers have been conferred on Parliament," the bench asked. Parliament has been given overriding powers under Article 239AA so that it was not "helpless if the state Assembly passes a ridiculous law", Dhavan said.

He said that Delhi has a "responsible government" and not a "representative government" like Puducherry as it derived power from the Constitution.

On the issue of limitations on Delhi's legislative and executive powers, the senior lawyer said that there were restrictions on powers of the Centre and states as well and "the question is are these limitations are so wide? The answer is no". He then referred to powers conferred on Panchayats and said, "If a government has to act purely on the basis of law then a government cannot govern...executive power rides with the legislative power."

Every executive function and power cannot be provided in law, he said, adding that the elected chief minister has executive powers.

The bench said the issue was on a narrow compass as to what could happen in case of difference of opinion between the lieutenant governor and the chief minister and the council of ministers.

It also said that as far as the legislative arena was concerned there was no dispute on the powers of the Centre and Delhi government. Dhavan said, "The court will have to decide who (Delhi or the Centre) has the primary executive powers." The arguments remained inconclusive and would resume on November 21.

Earlier, the court had raised a question whether the constitutional scheme on division of executive powers between the Centre and the states can be made applicable to the Union Territory of Delhi. The Delhi government had accused the LG of making a "mockery of democracy" and said that he was either taking decisions of an elected government or substituting them without having any power. The court is hearing a batch of appeals filed by the AAP government challenging the Delhi High Court verdict holding that the LG was the administrative head of the national capital.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 5:48 [IST]
Deepika Padmavati Padukone is right. Weve regressed as a nation, thanks to dirty politics

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Nov 16: Bollywood enthralled us with the blockbuster, The Dirty Picture, in 2011. Now, time to witness The Dirty Picture-part 2 in real life, courtesy self-proclaimed protectors of Hindu caste and religion who are well-protected and supported by political parties, ahead of the release of maverick filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus, Padmavati.

If Bhansali is known for making movies with huge sets, soul-stirring music, sophisticated camerawork and exquisite-looking lead actresses, his upcoming film on Rajput queen Padmavati is garnering totally opposite reactions to all things chic and beautiful that the director wants to project on screen.

On the contrary, in the real world, Bhansali was physically assaulted (earlier during the making of the film), getting regular death threats and demand to ban his film ahead of its release on December 1.

The controversy surrounding Padmavati started during its making in April this year, when a fringe group called the Shri Rajput Karni Sena decided to attack the sets of the film in Jaipur, Rajasthan protesting that the film is distorting history by showing a love scene between queen Padmini (Padmavati) and ruler Alauddin Khilji, played by Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.

During the attack, the members of Shri Rajput Karni Sena were seen vandalising the sets and slapping the director.

It's not just the Shri Rajput Karni Sena; the film faced the wrath from several groups alleging distortion of history by the makers. Rajput groups, in particular, questioned the authenticity of Padmavati--Bhansali's ambitious project based on the legend of Rani Padmini of Chittor.

After the ugly episode in April, Bhansali issued a clarification stating that there are no such "love scenes" as alleged by the Rajput group regarding their revered queen in the film.

With the passage of time, it looked that the dust has settled, till the storm over Padmavati erupted once again after the makers released the trailer for the film several days ago.

The Shri Rajput Karni Sena once again came back to hog the limelight over its demand to ban the film. The protest over the film soon turned political as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress backed the opponents of the film keeping in mind the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled on December 9 and 14.

In fact, BJP MLA Ram Kadam on Wednesday warned that if the filmmaker did not remove "objectionable scenes" from Padmavati, he would not be allowed to shoot any movie in the future. Kadam heads the Film Studio Setting and Allied Majdoor Union.

"Our union will not support a person who distorts history for the publicity of his film and will demand a ban if needed," Kadam told ANI. "If Bhansali does not agree [to delete some scenes], our union will not let him shoot any film in the future."

Prior to Kadam's threats, the Kshatriya community leaders from the BJP have apparently written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) demanding the stalling of Padmavati's release ahead of Gujarat elections.

They feel that Rani Padmavati has been presented in a poor light and in order to ensure that no community is offended, the censor board should review it again and release it with appropriate certification.

Opposing the release of the period drama, Chintamani Malviya, BJP MP from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh has said that those like Bhansali only understands the "language of shoes".

"People like Bhansali do not understand any other language. People like him only understand the language of shoes. This country will not disrespect Rani Padmavati. We will not tolerate any distortion of our history," the 48- year-old MP wrote in a Facebook post recently.

The former royals of Jaipur have joined the opposition to the film. Divya Kumari, whose grandfather was the last ruler of Jaipur, said "The women of Rajasthan are very upset with this film made on a queen who is the epitome of sacrifice." Kumari is a BJP law-maker in Rajasthan.

The most high-profile BJP leader who has openly protested against Padmavati and its lead actress Deepika is none other than Subramanian Swamy. The veteran leader condemned Deepika for giving a "lecture on regression."

Here's what Swamy tweeted:

Cine actress Deepika Padukone giving us lecture on regression!! Nation can progress only when it is regression from her perspective.  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) November 14, 2017

Before lashing out against Deepika, Swamy claimed that Padmavati was funded from Dubai and is a part of an international conspiracy to defame Hindu women.

Swamy's anger against the popular actress was triggered after she told news agency IANS that India has "regressed as a nation" while she was reacting to a series of controversies being faced by the unreleased film.

During the interview with IANS on Tuesday, Deepika spoke at length about the mentality of citizens, objecting to Padmavati. "It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed," Deepika told IANS.

In fact, on Tuesday a mall in Kota, Rajasthan was attacked as it screened the trailer of the film. The attack came hours after Deepika spoke to IANS.

The latest development regarding Padmavati vis-a-vis the BJP is that the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday said that the release of the film could cause law and order problem in the state.

Along with the BJP, the Congress too has joined the ban Padmavati chorus. The Rajasthan unit of Congress has also demanded a ban on its screening if the film distorts history.

State Congress spokesperson and Jaipur district President Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that Padmavati is a symbol of prestige and pride in India's history. "Padmavati along with 16,000 women from all religions committed Jauhar (mass self-immolation) and it shows women's sacrifice for prestige and pride. India's history is its heritage," he added.

With each passing day, the squabble over the film is also getting dirtier, which does not augur well for its release.

In fact, on Wednesday, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had called for a Bharat Bandh (shutdown) on December 1 if Padmavati releases on that date. Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, the Maharashtra government provided security cover for the filmmaker in view of the increasing controversies and growing threats surrounding the film.

"We will hold rallies across the country, including Gurugram, Patna, Lucknow and Bhopal before the release date," Lokendra Singh Kalvi, founder-patron of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, told reporters in Jaipur. He said all communities, including Muslims, supported the Sena on the issue.

"We demand a complete ban on the film. Now, we don't want any pre-screening of the movie. All we want is a ban," he added.

The irony is that all those who are protesting against the film are yet to watch it, but they are sure that the makers of the film have distorted history to hurt Hindu and specifically Rajput sentiments.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is yet to certify the film before its release. Now, all eyes are on the censor board, as the CBFC is popularly known as.

Will the film be allowed to screen without any cuts? Or, will the censor board, which falls under the information and broadcasting ministry, succumb to the pressure of protesters before the all-important Gujarat Assembly elections?

OneIndia News
Delhi: Security guard foils bid to loot ATM

India

oi-Madhuri

A security guard, in his 40s, was shot at allegedly by two unidentified motorcycle-borne men as he foiled their attempt to rob SBI ATM in outer Delhi on Wednesday.

The CCTV footage shows two bike-borne men wearing helmets tried to barge into the SBI ATM near Majra Dabas village when cash was being filled with it, around 2 pm. However, the security guard resisted their attempt, preventing the armed men from running away with the cash.

The guard was shot in his right thigh during the scuffle and was taken to a hospital, where he has been discharged after treatment.

A case has been registered a case under sections 394/397 and 25/27 Arms act.

Meanwhile, the police said they have recovered CCTV footage from the area, which has captured the entire incident but are yet to ascertain the identity of the gunmen.

OneIndia News
MP: Fire breaks out in 4 coaches of Andhra Pradesh Superfast Express train in Gwalior

Rahul Gandhi may face the ire for skipping Laxmi Bais memorial in Gwalior during his road show

'Godse temple' in Gwalior sparks political controversy

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The right-wing organisation Hindu Mahasabha has kicked off a storm in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior by installing the bust of Nathuram Godse to mark the anniversary of his execution. The bust was installed on Wednesday at the office premises of the Hindu Mahasabha amid Vedic chants.

According to Hindustan Times, leaders of the Mahasabha said every Tuesday they will perform "Akhand Bharat aarti in the temple" to apprise the younger generation about Godse's life and vision.

This is not the first time Mahasabha sought to glorify Gandhi's killer. The Hindu outfit installed a similar bust at its office in Meerut in the past.

Surprisingly, the ruling BJP in the state did not object to the installation of the bust in Gwalior.

Opposition Congress is planning to take the matter to court.

Nathuram was a right-wing advocate of Hindu nationalism, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, shooting him in the chest three times at point-blank range in New Delhi on 30 January 1948. Godse was hanged in the Ambala jail on 15 November 1949.

OneIndia News
On murder of Bajrang Dal worker, Kamal Hassan says dead against such politics

PIL in Madras HC seeks FIR against Kamal Haasan on Hindu terror remark

India

oi-Madhuri

The Madras High Court on Thursday sought a reply from Tamil Nadu police on a plea seeking to file a case against Kamal Haasan on his Hindu terror remark.

The petitioner also wanted the court to direct the police to take action against the editor of the Tamil magazine for publishing the article.

In his column in the weekly Ananda Vikatan, Haasan has allegedly stated that the presence of 'Hindu terrorism' in the country cannot be ruled out.

"In the past Hindu right-wing groups would not indulge in violence, but they would hold a dialogue with the opposite parties on their arguments. But this old tactic was defeated and what they stated to do is use muscle power. They started indulging in violence," he wrote.

The actor had further said that Tamil Nadu will become an example for social justice once again, and congratulated Kerala for "showing the way."

Hassan has been booked under IPC sections 500, 511, 298, 295(a) & 505(c) pertaining to defamation, attempt to cause offence, intent to hurt religious feelings and to incite community.

OneIndia News
INX media case: SC asks CBI to file its reply on Kartis plea seeking to travel abroad by end of day

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked CBI to file its reply on the plea filed by Karti Chidambaram seeking to travel abroad in INX Media case by Thursday evening.

The CBI had sought more time to reply to the plea filed by Karti Chidambaram. The matter was adjourned until November 20.

In the previous hearing, the SC had asked CBI to respond whether Karti Chidambaram could be allowed to travel abroad for 4-5 days and what can be the conditions imposed on him so that he does not escape.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud asked additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing CBI, to seek instruction on the issue and appraise it in the next hearing.

Karti Chidambaram had moved the court as the government has issued a lookout circular against him preventing him from travelling abroad in connection with the INX Media case.

During the hearing, the bench perused the documents supplied by CBI in a sealed cover relating to materials found during the investigation conducted so far. In the previous hearing, the SC rejected his plea seeking permission to travel abroad in connection with the INX Media case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), earlier, had opposed the plea, saying Karti might tamper with the evidence in the UK, which is very crucial for the ongoing investigation. Karti's lawyer Kapil Sibal told the apex court that the former was not a 'fugitive of justice'.

It has been alleged that Karti illegally took service charges for getting the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to the INX Media for receiving funds from abroad worth Rs. 305 crore in 2007, when his father P Chidambaram was the finance minister in Congress-led UPA government.

OneIndia News
'Kantara' box office: Even as Bollywood's Akshays and Ajays struggle, this one hits Rs 75-crore mark

Karnataka: Body representing 327 private hospitals in Bengaluru calls-off strike

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), which represents 327 private hospitals in Bengaluru, on Thursday called off strike over the KPME Bill.

"The shut down of operations called by PHANA and other associations in Bengaluru has been called off honouring the court," the association's president said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has invited the Indian Medical Association (IMA) representatives, private medical establishments and other key stakeholders for a discussion on Friday over the doctors' strike.

Close to 22,000 private doctors in Bengaluru alone have joined the protest against Karnataka Private Medical Establishments bill. On Thursday notices expressing regret over shut OPDs were put up in all private hospitals. Doctors are protesting at the IMA office demanding that the Siddaramaiah government roll back amendments made to the bill.

[Karnataka doctors' strike: Siddaramaiah to meet stakeholders on Friday]

Doctors have been protesting against the Siddaramaiah government's attempt to table the bill, that includes price regulation for procedures at private hospitals and punishment including imprisonment for wrong treatment against doctors. Doctors have alleged that the bill is an election gimmick by the government. Talks between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and representatives of protesting doctors failed to yield any results on Tuesday.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 19:19 [IST]
Karnataka doctors' strike: Siddaramaiah to meet stakeholders on Friday

India

oi-Anusha

Recommended Video

Bengaluru private hospital doctors begin protest over KMPE bill | Oneindia News

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has invited the Indian Medical Association (IMA) representative, private medical establishments and other key stakeholders for a discussion in a bid to end the doctors' strike over the KPME Bill.

The meeting will be held at Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum on Friday. Siddaramaiah also spoke to state Health Minister Ramesh Kumar today over the issue.

Close to 22,000 private doctors in Bengaluru alone have joined the protest against Karnataka Private Medical Establishments bill. On Thursday notices expressing regret over shut OPDs were put up in all private hospitals. Doctors are protesting at the IMA office demanding that the Siddaramaiah government roll back amendments made to the bill.

"The amendments would mean the end of private medical centres in the state. We are not fighting just for us but also for patients. Private provide more than 70 percent health care in the state and the bill will destroy it all," said Dr. Jayanna, President-elect, Karnataka private hospitals association.

Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has appealed to the doctors to call of protest and go back to work.

I met a group of doctors at Belagavi & assured them that govt will hear them before the KPME Bill is introduced again. I appealed to them to withdraw their strike. Yet, the strike is ongoing & continues to put people to inconvenience. /1  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 16, 2017

In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah alleged that opposition parties were misusing the situation and appealed to the doctors to call of strike. He even assured that they would be given the opportunity to have their say over the bill.

BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa in a press release said that his party came to power, he would roll back the bill. Doctors have decided to continue the strike until the amendments to the bill are dropped.

OneIndia News
Kerala module ISIS clip: Why it is so chilling, worrying and real

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A chilling audio clip was released by the Kerala module of the Islamic State in which it called on Muslims to carry out lone wolf attacks. A host of officials in the security agencies that OneIndia spoke with say that it is a clear sign that the module in India is getting desperate.

Over the past year and half, the module in Kerala which is centred in Kasargod had managed to send at least 100 people to ISIS controlled territory in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now with the scanner on its activities high, there is a sense of desperation that has crept in.

ISIS' advise for Kerala Muslims: Poison food at Thrissur pooram, Kumbh Mela

The manner in which the module boss Abdul Rashid calls for attacks clearly shows that they want to replicate what the ISIS has been doing in the West in India. It was a clear call for a lone wolf strike. He goes on to suggest methods on how easily one can kill without the conventional weapon.

For instance he says a lone wolf must to to the Kumbh Mela or Thrissur Pooram and poison the food. He also says that if this is not possible then a vehicle can be used to run over people.

The message also has a clear communal colour to it. The targets are large Hindu religious congregations. Rashid is sure that if any such attack of this nature is carried out, then there would be widespread communal clashes. Terrorist groups thrive on communal clashes as it always helps boost recruitments.

Can't do hijra, then Jihad is the option says Kerala ISIS module boss

The 10 minute audio clip also speaks about how Muslims must do hijra in ISIS controlled territory. It says if that is not possible then they should either do jihad or fund it, he also goes on to state.

Intelligence Bureau officials say that the ISIS has big plans for Kerala. There is a lot of radicalisation that has been taking place in that state. It began with Wahhabism and with everyone turning a blind eye to the spread of Wahhabism, it was easy for the ISIS to seize control over the minds of many, the officer further notes.

The audio clip, agencies say needs to be viewed very seriously. The ISIS controlled territory is shrinking rapidly. However that cannot be said in the case of the ideology which is spreading fast and wide. If the ISIS does manage to carry out such an attack, it can become a norm. There are many in Kerala who are capable of doing that officials also warn.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 8:03 [IST]
Kotkhai rape case: Ninth cop arrested

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Nov 16: With eight cops already behind the bars over a custodial death in connection with Kotkhai rape case, the CBI on Thursday arrested D W Negi, a former Superintendent of Police of Shimla, taking the number of arrests to nine.

The CBI had registered two cases on the direction of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in July this year to probe the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl and the second related to the custodial death of an accused, Suraj Singh, arrested by the Himachal Pradesh Police.

The Central Bureau of Investigation spokesman said that the agency had arrested Negi, former Superintendent of Police, posted at Shimla, in an on going investigation of a case relating to the custodial death of Singh. Negi was produced before the special CBI court which sent him to agency's remand till November 20.

The central probe agency had in August arrested eight Himachal Pradesh Police officials, including Inspector General Z H Zaidi, in connection with the custodial death of Singh, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal. Singh, who was a suspect in the rape and murder of a minor school girl in the Kotkhai area of Shimla in early July, was among six people arrested by the local police.

He was allegedly killed by a co-accused at the Kotkhai police station last month, triggering a massive public outrage. The CBI, which was later handed over the probe into the case by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, questioned several people before arresting Zaidi, a 1994-batch IPS officer, the then IGP (South) Manoj Joshi, the then Deputy Superintendent of Police, and six other police officials.

The Himachal Pradesh Police had arrested Ashish Chauhan alias Ashu (29), a resident of Sharaal village in Mahasu area of Kotkhai; Rajender Singh alias Raju (32), a driver; Subash Singh Bisht (42) and Deepak alias Deepu (29), both residents of Pauri Garwal; Suraj Singh (29) and Lok Jung alias Chotu (19), both hailing from Nepal.

The minor girl had gone missing after school hours on July 4 from Haliala forest in the Kotkhai area of Shimla district. Her naked body was found in the forest on July 6 and the post-mortem report confirmed rape. The rape case has created furore in the state which went to the polls earlier this month. The case was handed over to the CBI by the Himachal Pradesh High Court on July 19 on the state government's plea amid public outburst against the state police. The CBI had filed two FIRs on July 22.

PTI
Maharashtra govt insensitive towards farmers: Anna hazare

India

pti-PTI

Ahmednagar (Maha), Nov 16: Strongly condemning the police action against farmers in Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts of Maharashtra, Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday said this reflected the state government's "insensitivity" towards the cultivators.

He also said the BJP-led central government had not performed as per its promises and that he would launch a countrywide movement against corruption and to highlight the farmers' issues in February next year.

An agitation by farmers, seeking Rs 3,100 per tonne for the sugarcane produce, turned violent in Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts yesterday, with the agitators clashing with the police, who burst tear gas shells and fired in the air to disperse the protesters, officials said. Two farmers and some policemen were injured in the incident, which occurred in the Shevgaon and Paithan talukas of Ahmednagar and Aurangabad respectively, the police said.

"The firing on the sugarcane farmers is an instance of the state government's insensitivity towards them," Hazare told PTI.

Instead of resolving the farmers' grievances, pellets were fired at them which should be condemned, he said. The anti-corruption crusader visited a hospital in Ahmednagar today to meet the two injured farmers. He said the BJP-led central government, which had been promising to eradicate corruption and poverty from the country, had not been able to prove its competence.

It had weakened the Lokpal and Lokayukta by introducing and promptly passing changes in the Lokpal Bill by taking advantage of the absolute majority it enjoyed in Parliament, Hazare alleged. On his silence over the central government's performance, he said he felt that the current dispensation must be given some more time.

"Unfortunately, they have not been able to perform as per their promises so far," he added.

The 80-year-old social activist said he would launch a countrywide movement against corruption and to highlight the issues of farmers, youth and the workers in the unorganised sector. The movement would be launched in Delhi in February next year and before that, he would travel all over the country to urge the youth to join the fight against corruption, Hazare said.

PTI
Media under attack: Why greetings for journos on National Press Day by PM is hollow

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Nov 16: First, let us remember all the "martyrs" from the media who have either been brutally attacked or killed while attending to their duties on the occasion of National Press Day on Thursday.

Popular journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was one of the most prominent faces from the field of journalism, who died in the line of duty after assailants shot her dead inside the premises of her home in Bengaluru, Karnataka on September 5 this year.

Unfortunately, in spite of so many protests demanding justice for Lankesh, known for her fierce journalism, her killers are still at large. Like in the case of Lankesh, killers of many journalists in India are scot-free as our governments fail to provide security to the members of the media community.

According to a report compiled by media watchdog Hoot, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3 this year, as many as 54 attacks on journalists were reported in 16 months, mainly by "lawmakers and law enforcers" across the country.

The report said the actual figure could be much higher as a minister told Parliament that "142 attacks on journalists took place between 2014-15".

"The stories behind each of these attacks reveal a clear and persistent pattern. Investigative reporting is becoming increasingly dangerous.

"Journalists who venture out into the field to investigate any story, be it sand mining, stone quarrying, illegal construction, police brutality, medical negligence, eviction drive, election campaigns, or civic administration corruption are under attack," it said.

The attacks were committed by political parties and their leaders (8), police (9), and mobs resisting media coverage (9).

Apart from attacks, the report took into account invocation of sedition law, suspension of Internet services in a region, self-censorship on part of media companies, censoring of films and other arts, among other instances which may frustrate free functioning of the media.

Amid all these saddening stories, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleague and Union minister Smriti Irani wished journalists on their big day on Thursday, it was heartening to read the VIP messages, but at the same time several questions popped up in the mind like as to why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre failed to give "freedom" to journalists in terms of carrying out their work without any coercing.

The PM took to Twitter and posted a series of tweets that said: "My greetings to all friends in the media on National Press Day. I appreciate the hardwork of our media, especially the reporters & camerapersons, who tirelessly work on the ground and bring forth various news that shapes national as well as global discourse."

My greetings to all friends in the media on National Press Day. I appreciate the hardwork of our media, especially the reporters & camerapersons, who tirelessly work on the ground and bring forth various news that shapes national as well as global discourse.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 16, 2017

"The role of the media in giving voice to the voiceless is commendable. Over the last three years, the media has added great strength to 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and effectively furthered the message of cleanliness," Modi tweeted.

The PM praised the rise of social media and hopes that this advancement will make the media space even more democratic and participative.

"In this day and age we are seeing the rise of social media and news being consumed through mobile phones. I am sure these advancements will further the reach of the media and make the media space even more democratic and participative," he said.

He concluded by saying, "A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy. We are fully committed to upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms. May our media space be used more and more to showcase the skills, strengths and creativity of 125 crore Indians."

While it is fine that Modi appreciated the media for spreading messages on the government's pet projects like Swachh Bharat Mission, the silence of the PM over rise in numbers of defamation cases against media establishments for writing anything against the BJP and its leaders is also deafening.

Recently, the news website, The Wire, was dragged to the court by BJP president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah after it wrote about massive profit gained by junior Shah's company since the Modi government came to power at the Centre.

Moreover, Modi always shares a love-hate relationship with the media. While one section of the journalist community can't stop praising the PM, the critics of Modi and the BJP have been christened as "anti-nationals" by the PM's supporters.

Similarly, Irani too tweeted on the occasion:

On National Press Day, greetings to all media personnel. Best known as the fourth pillar of democracy, a vibrant and free press is instrumental in strengthening our democratic roots. Let us commit ourselves to using freedom of press responsibly & objectively.  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 16, 2017

Irani has the dubious distinction of having ugly spats with journalists over any critical reports against her or her colleagues.

So, all these wishes from the top politicians of our country look sham at a time when a section of the media industry has lost its credibility for siding with powerful people and those who want to follow the path of truth and integrity have badly come under attack.

OneIndia News
From Kangara painting for Biden, here is what PM Modi gifted other leaders at G20 Summit

Rahul beware, Modi to embark on extensive Gujarat poll campaign from Nov 18

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Gandhinagar, Nov 16: Gujaratis, move over to Rahul Gandhi, time to welcome, son of the soil, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the high octane Gujarat Assembly election drama.

All this while we have been hearing about the Congress vice-president's "successful" campaign run in the home state of PM Modi which is going to vote for a new Assembly on December 9 and 14.

Now, reports say Modi is all set to enter the election campaign to win back his home state for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In fact, Modi was the CM of Gujarat before he left the post to become the country's PM in 2014. The PM will start his extensive campaign in the state beginning from Saturday (November 18).

All these days, Rahul pulled out all the stops to campaign for the Congress in the BJP-ruled state. However, it looks like the entire political dynamics in the state is going to change once Modi is going to frequently visit Gujarat.

It was not that Modi did not visit Gujarat in the recent times. But all those visits were primarily official in nature. But now, as Modi once again don the cap of the BJP's star campaigner it is surely going to give jitters to the Congress camp.

Reports say Modi will address one big rally in each of the 32 districts of Gujarat and start campaigning around November 18, once the BJP finalises its candidates for the first phase of elections.

The PM will also hold roadshows in major cities of the state. Modi has visited Gujarat almost 10 times in months ahead of the polls to attend various government events, including completion of the Narmada Dam, laying foundation stone of the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai bullet train project and inauguration of a ferry service linking south Gujarat and Saurashtra region via sea routes.

According to reports, the BJP is likely to finalise its candidates for 89 seats in the first phase on Thursday after the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on Wednesday in Delhi. The party is likely to announce their names on November 17, a day before Modi's visit to the state.

The BJP media centre has prepared an "Election Chariot" which will travel in all four zones of the state -- north, central, south, and Saurashtra--Kutch regions and make public aware of development in the state through traditional folk songs.

The chariot was flagged off by party's national general secretary Anil Jain and Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

In Gujarat, both the BJP and the Congress are fighting a tough contest in 182 Assembly seats. The ruling BJP has an edge over its "much-weaker" competitor, the Congress. But that has not deterred the Congress from giving its best to challenge the might of the BJP and PM Modi.

OneIndia News
Pradyuman murder: Why is the juvenile being tried as an adult accused

Ryan International School murder case: Court to decide if juvenile accused to be tried as adult

Ryan school murder: Haryana minister told me not to ask for CBI probe

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A minister from Haryana finds himself in a spot of bother after he was accused of trying to coax the father of Pradyuman Thakur not to insist on a CBI probe.

The father of the boy who was murdered at the Ryan International School said that he was asked by Haryana Minister, Rao Narbir Singh not to insist on a CBI probe. He said that trust the Haryana police, the father Varun Thakur also alleged.

Varun however told the minister, "if CBI also comes to the same conclusion as Police then we will accept it, but we want CBI probe first." The allegations have however been denied by the minister.

Ryan school murder: I am being framed reiterates juvenile

"I had just said that no Govt can recommend CBI inquiry on same day of incident, I told the victim's family to allow police probe for a week or so.. if not satisfied then will recommend CBI," Rao said.

It may be recalled that the Gurgaon police had accused a bus conductor of the murder.

The CBI which took over the probe absolved the conductor of the charges and said that it was a class 11 who committed the murder in a bid to get the examinations postponed.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 6:39 [IST]
J&K residents would be able to speak to Dineshwar Sharma directly

Guns and Roses: The job of the next Governor in Jammu and Kashmir

Talks a priority in Valley, but only within framework of Indian Constitution

Speak to all in Kashmir, interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma tells Centre

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

In a briefing to senior union ministers and the National Security Advisor, the Centre's special representative to Jammu and Kashmir, Dineswhar Sharma has said that an 'open mind' would be needed to sort out the problem.

Sharma was recently appointed interlocutor said that the Centre must consider speaking with all stakeholders. The meeting which was chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was also attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and other officials.

Sharma has been holding talks in Kashmir. While he has managed to speak with several stakeholders, the separatists have remained adamant.

Sharma was in Kashmir earlier this month. He will visit the state again later this month and also in December.

During his visit, he met with several locals. They appraised him about the problems being faced such as issues with governance and lack of infrastructure. Sharma is hopeful that a solution would be found to the issue, but also added that involving all stakeholders was important.

OneIndia News
Sushma Swaraj helps defrauded Indian students in Ukraine

India

pti-PTI

Kiev/New Delhi, Nov 15: Indian students in Ukraine were saved from losing an academic year and lakhs of rupees after being duped by private consultants who arranged fake admissions for them in various universities in the country.

The students were helped by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Ukraine after they tweeted that some consultants had duped them by arranging fake admissions in various universities in Ukraine.

"Mam, Indian students looted in lakhs by consultancies & agencies in the name of education due to this we are not able to take admissions in colleges plz help us mam to come out of it,(Ukraine) & consultant custodies our passport," tweeted Aishwarya, asking External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for help.

"Need help please help us ...consultant looted & agencies looted us we are help less here plz we are facing so many problems in Ukraine plz do something to get out of this," the student wrote. The students passionate plea for help came to the notice of the Indian Embassy in Ukraine yesterday.

The embassy took up the case of the stranded Indian students and arranged a meeting between officials of universities, agents and the students to solve the matter.

"Students please disseminate the information about admissions possible only by 31 Oct 17. University officials agreed to switch Bipartite agreement with students instead of Tripartite for the benefits of students," the embassy said in a tweet.

"Meeting with officials of concerned universities, Agents and Students Aishwarya & Shruti held at Embassy chaired by Ambassador on 14.11.17, grievances of students were discussed at length," it said.

After discussing the matter at length, Ukrainian universities agreed to switch to bipartite agreement from tripartite agreement. It also reprimanded the consultants. "University agreed to admit students for 2nd Semester course and sign direct agreement with students, the concerned agent was warned and asked to mend his ways.

University officials assured transparent & student friendly approach hereafter & agreed to deal with students directly," the embassy said. Swaraj tweeted that the matter had been resolved to the satisfaction of the students. "I am happy Indian Ambassador in Ukraine Manoj Bharati @IndiainUkraine has resolved this to the satisfaction of Indian students," she said.

PTI
To tackle Delhi smog crisis, Centre prepones launch of Bharat Stage VI fuel norms

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Nov 16: As Delhi is grappling with smog crisis since last week, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) on Wednesday announced the two-year advancement of the introduction of Bharat Stage VI fuel norms from April 1, 2018, in the national capital.

The decision by the ministry has been lauded by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy organisation that promotes environmentally sound and equitable development strategies.

The CSE in a press release praised the ministry for proactively responding to the deadly smog crisis in Delhi. The introduction of BSVI fuel norms in the national capital will bring down sulphur content in the air by five times from the current BSIV levels-- this is a whopping 80 percent reduction.

"This will improve emissions from the existing fleet, even from the older vehicles on roads, while allowing more advanced emissions control systems to be fitted in BSVI vehicles when they begin to roll," stated the CSE press release.

However, the full advantage of this move will be possible only when vehicle technology moves to BSVI.

"The CSE believes that industry must also step up its act and show leadership to fast forward the change. The public health crisis caused by foul and toxic air needs such proactive leadership and drastic measures that will bring long-term gain. We cannot any more work with small and incremental steps to bring us the kind of air quality benefits that we need" said Sunita Narain, director general, the CSE.

The BSVI fuel norms will be implemented in the rest of country from April 2020. However, the CSE criticised the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEFCC) for its lackadaisical attitude towards high air pollution levels in Delhi.

"Ironically, this leadership has come from the MoPNG and not from the MoEFCC that remains the nodal ministry for environmental regulations," stated the press release.

In fact, the CSE points out that the MoEFCC has given repeated affidavit to the Supreme Court contesting the provision of the Comprehensive Action Plan on clean air submitted by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) that has asked industry to both manufacture and sell BSVI models from April 1, 2020.

The MoEFCC has mentioned in its affidavit that "the technical challenges of leapfrogging directly from BSIV to BSVI are far more complex and challenging. If the date shifts to become the date of registration then it would actually reduce the time available to industry for manufacturing to a mere two years or so although BSVI fuel will not be available across the country till April 1, 2020".

"Even though the full air quality gains will come when vehicles also move to BSVI emissions standards, the current move should not be underestimated in a choking city like Delhi.

"With substantially cleaner fuel emissions, control system in on-road fleet will improve and give some emissions benefits" said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, the CSE, and head of the organisation's air pollution campaign.

"But what is clear is that Delhi and the rest of India's choking cities will win this battle against the smog with decisive leadership, which pushes the envelope for big change. This is one step in this direction," she added.

OneIndia News
Vijayawada boat tragedy: 7 arrested including director of company

India

oi-Madhuri

The Vijayawada police on Thursday arrested seven people, including the director of the boat club company in connection with Vijayawada boat accident case. Around 20 people were killed after a boat carrying over 35-40 people capsized at Pavitra Sangamam ghat in river Krishna on Sunday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Kondala Rao, Neelam Seshagiri Rao, Manoj Kumar, Vijaya Saradhi, boat crew member Karri Bhairava and APTDC boat driver Gedela Srinu, whose wife Lakshmi was also held.

The boat belonged to a private agency Simple Water Sports. The boat was said to be overloaded and the buoyancy of water changed at the Pavitra Sangham which led to the imbalance.

The boat was carrying 38 passengers as against its capacity of 24. Among them, 20 passengers were rescued and brought ashore with the help of trained swimmers and local fishermen.

The tourists were travelling from Bhavani Island to Pavitra Sangham near Vijayawada when the mishap occurred.

Meanwhile, the Government had announced an ex gratia of Rs 8 lakh to each of the families of the deceased.

OneIndia News
EC pulls up Guj chief secy, DGP for not sending report on transfer of officials

Gujarat Assembly election 2022 to be held in two phases; Polling on December 1, 5; Result on December 8

Why EC objected to the word pappu in BJPs Gujarat poll advertisement

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

'No 'pappu' in your advertisement', the Election Commission of India has told the BJP. The EC felt that the use of the word 'pappu' is derogatory.

"Pappu" is perceived as a social media slur coined to target Gandhi.

Confirming the development, sources in the BJP said the script of the advertisement did not link the word to any individual.

BJP sources while confirming the development said that the objection was raised by the media committee under the Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer.

"Before making any election-related advertisement, we have to submit a script to the committee to get a certificate. However, they raised an objection to the word 'Pappu', saying it is derogatory. They asked us to remove or replace it," a senior BJP leader said.

He said the party will replace the word and submit a new script for the EC's approval.

"Since there was no direct mention or linkage with any person while mentioning 'Pappu' in the entire script, we had appealed to the committee to reconsider their decision, but they rejected it. Now, we will change that word and submit a new script for approval," he said.

Gujarat CEO BB Swain said he was not aware of any such development and can comment only after getting the details.

OneIndia News
Assam hikes DA of home guards from Rs 300 to Rs 767

Ghazwa-e-Hind in Assam: NIA roped in as Islamists plan destruction of India

Miya Museum sealed two days after opening in Assam

Widespread protests against Jamiat Chief Madani in Assam

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind Chief Maulana Arshad Madani's statements regarding Assam has sparked a controversy and invited flak.

Along with widespread protest in the State, three FIRs have been lodged against him in Assam. Various organizations and individuals have demanded Madani's arrest.

"Three FIRs have been received by us so far. The Jamiat leader was accused of making provocative statements. We are investigating the case. Law will take its own course," stated Mukesh Sahay, Director General of Police, Assam.

Madani while addressing a meeting organized by Delhi Action Committee on Assam in Delhi on Monday had threatened that Assam would burn if Muslims are excluded from the Nation Register of Citizens (NRC).

He further alleged that the BJP Government wants to exclude the Muslim population from the NRC.

"It is a conspiracy to create a Rohingya like situation," Madani had alleged.

Several names, mostly of women have been excluded from the NRC after Panchayat Certificate was declared as an invalid document to prove family lines.

Protest emerged from different quarters. Madani's effigy was torched in different places in the State.

Rituparna Konwar, Congress Spokesperson dubbed Madani's statement as "communal and provocative" adding that under no circumstances whatsoever can such statements be supported.

The Hind Yuva Chatra Parishad is one of the outfits that lodged an FIR against Madani at the Tezpur police station.

Activist Prabin Saikia stated, "There is a deep-rooted conspiracy to create disturbances in order to slow down the process of eradicating the infiltration problem."

He further stated that the people of Assam want a foolproof NRC so that the State can effectively combat the Bangladeshi infiltration problem.

"The NRC can safeguard the political, natural and economic rights of the indigenous people of the state," added Saikia.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 20:09 [IST]
IAF gets its first fleet of 8 Apache attack choppers

Here is why the Rafale Jets will fly with the initials BS

The Message of Balakot: Dont mess with us

IAF proposal to strike Pakistan post 26/11 was rejected says former IAF chief

One year of Balakot airstrike: 'It marks paradigm shift in our operations', says Ex-IAF chief Dhanoa

Afghanistan: Explosion near Lab-e-Jar square in Kabul leaves 5 dead

International

oi-Madhuri

Atleast five policemen were killed after an Explosion device was detonated near Lab-e-Jar square in Kabul City's PD4 area on Thursday, reports TOLO News.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident happened outside a restaurant where a number of high-ranking officials had gathered.

Ambulances have rushed to the spot and security forces have cordoned it off. Eyewitnesses said at least three cars were also destroyed.

OneIndia News
Donald Trump's Asia trip shows US ready to lead again, says Nikki Haley

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Nov 16: President Donald Trump's trip to Asia shows the US is ready to lead again, while the visit also helped strengthen the global community's commitment to address security threats posed by North Korea and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley has said.

"President Trump's recent trip to Asia showed that America is ready to lead again in this crucial region of the world. That includes standing strong with our friends and allies, calling out those who threaten us, and looking out for the best interests of the American people and American businesses," Haley said.

Trump's visit helped strengthen the international community's commitment to addressing the security threats posed by North Korea and its lawless regime, she said a day after the president returned from a nearly two-week Asia trip. "Now more than ever, Kim Jong-un is isolated and feeling the pinch from the strongest set of sanctions ever passed by the UN Security Council," she said. The President made strides in each country he visited to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region that will benefit the economies and political stability of the region, she said.

"Finally, President Trump stood up for American prosperity by promoting fair trade and new investments that will lead to new jobs for hard-working Americans," Haley said. In a fact-sheet, the White House said Trump's trip to five Asian nations strengthened existing relations and advanced high-standard rules that will enable regional development and prosperity.

"President Trump hosted a trilateral meeting with Prime Minster Turnbull of Australia and Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe of Japan, which was followed by a bilateral meeting between President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi. Representatives at the working level from all four countries met to discuss issues related to the Indo-Pacific," it said.

During his trip through Asia, Trump secured new projects and deals that will bring investment back to the US and employ American workers, the White House said. He also advanced fair trade between the US and its partners in Asia, working to end years of one-sided and unbalanced trade that has left too many Americans behind.

"While visiting Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to promoting prosperity, development, and security in the Indo-Pacific region," the White House said.

"In Japan, the two nations launched the Strategic Energy Partnership, which supports universal access to affordable and reliable energy, and agreed to cooperate to offer high-quality infrastructure investment options in the Indo-pacific region," it said.

"In South Korea, Trump delivered a clear message that the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea will be strengthened and grounded in shared values and mutual trust, the White House said.

PTI
Fear of Prithvi missiles drove Pakistan to transfer nuclear technology to North Korea

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Recommended Video

North Korea : How India  Pakistan missile race help Kim Jong-un gain nuclear power | Oneindia News

With an eccentric despot like Kim Jong-un at the helm and a nuclear arsenal at its disposal, North Korea has emerged as a major threat to global peace. Despite UN sanctions and threats by the US, Kim just refuses to bog down and continues to make statements that reek of hostility. Whether maverick Kim will actually invite war or will just be content with chest thumping is something that remains to be seen.

Kim's remarks would probably never have grabbed the headlines had North Korea not had nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are so devastating that it is the responsibility of the entire world to ensure that they are not used.

Now that North Korea has nukes, who is to be blamed for it? Is it the USSR, which signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with North Korea in 1959 or Pakistan, which is said to given North Korea the centrifuge technology, a key to producing weapons-grade radioactive material.

In 1962, Soviet Union helped North Korea set up its first nuclear research facility - Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center. That reactor was used to produce radioactive isotopes for medicinal, industrial and research purposes. North Korea may have tried to explore weapon capabilities with whatever technology Russians gave them.

Pakistan's fear of India's advances in missile development:

But what definitely put North Korea's nuclear weapons' development on track was proliferation by Pakistan. What drove Pakistan to join hands with North Korea was India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program in 1983 aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in the development and production of wide range of ballistic missiles. Prithvi was the first missile to be developed under the program. Developed as a battlefield missile, Prithvi could carry a nuclear warhead in its role as a tactical nuclear weapon.

At that time, Pakistan did not have a missile to match Prithvi's striking capabilities so they approached North Korea for Nodong missiles. In exchange, North Korea demanded centrifuge technology from Pakistan. A deal was struck and North Korea and Pakistan began to share missile expertise in 1992.

North Korea, Pakistan and the AQ Khan network:

In 1993, December, former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto initiated a deal with North Korea for Nodong missiles. Pakistan, at that time, was also worried about India's rapid advances in missile technology. Father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan then stepped in to provide Pakistan with an alternative nuclear weapons delivery option by obtaining intermediate-range liquid-fuel ballistic missiles from North Korea.

In November 1995, North Korea and Pakistan apparently struck a deal for 12-25, Nodong missiles, and at least one transporter erector launcher or mobile erector launcher, 44 the delivery of which reportedly began in 1996-97.

It is widely assumed that the provision of centrifuge technology was part of the deal and was given to North Korea in exchange for the Nodong missiles, according to a book "A.Q. Khan and onward proliferation from Pakistan".

AQ Khan is also said to have helped Iran in developing nuclear weapons technology. AQ Khan's nuclear network came to light when American intelligence operatives about five giant cargo containers full of specialized centrifuge parts being loaded into one of the nondescript vessels that ply the Straits of Malacca.

The shipment was later seized near Suez Canal. That seizure led to the unraveling of a trading network that sent bomb-making designs and equipment to at least three countries -- Iran, North Korea, and Libya.

OneIndia News
No decision to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants in Delhi: MHA

What about undocumented Indians living abroad: Manish Tewari on BJP's Rohingya threat to nation comment

India's stand on Rohingyas gracious so far but housing them would be risky

The Rohingya influx continues as Tripura police nets seven of them

How Myanmar military used sexual violence against Rohingya women to maim the community

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Dhaka, Nov 16: There is no end to heart-wrenching stories of Rohingya men, women and children currently taking shelter in camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

Now, reports state that Myanmar soldiers "systematically targeted" Rohingya women for gang rape during violence against the minority Muslim community which triggered an exodus to Bangladesh.

The allegation has been levelled by an United Nations (UN) special envoy recently. Till date, at least 622,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar since violence erupted in Rakhine State on August 25.

Aid workers and experts say 200,000 more Rohingyas are likely to enter Bangladesh in the coming weeks as the exodus of the minority Muslims from Myanmar continues unabated.

Pramila Patten, a special representative of the UN Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict, made the comments after visiting Bangladesh's southeastern district of Cox's Bazar where lakhs of Rohingyas have taken refuge in the last ten weeks.

Many of these atrocities "could be crimes against humanity", she said. "I heard horrific stories of rape and gang rape, with many of the women and girls who died as a result of the rape," Patten told reporters in Dhaka.

"My observations point to a pattern of widespread atrocities, including sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls who have been systematically targeted on account of their ethnicity and religion."

The sexual violence in Myanmar's northern state of Rakhine was "commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by the armed forces of Myanmar", she said.

"The forms of sexual violence we consistently heard about from survivors include gang rape by multiple soldiers, forced public nudity and humiliation and sexual slavery in military captivity."

"One survivor described being held in captivity by the Myanmar armed forces for 45 days, during which time she was repeatedly raped. Others still bore visible scars, bruises and bite marks attesting to their ordeal," Patten added.

Deadly raids by Rohingya militants on Myanmar police posts on August 25 sparked ferocious reprisals against the community by the military in the mainly Buddhist nation.

The special representative said others involved in the sexual violence include Myanmar border police and militias composed of Buddhists and other ethnic groups in Rakhine.

Refugees are still streaming across the border from Rakhine into Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands have settled in squalid camps.

The UN now estimates the majority of Rohingyas once living in Rakhine--previously estimated at around one million--has fled a campaign of violence it has likened to ethnic cleansing.

Patten said the sexual violence was a key reason behind the exodus and occurred in the context of "collective persecution" of Rohingyas.

"The widespread threat and use of sexual violence was clearly a driver and push factor for forced displacement on a massive scale and a calculated tool of terror aimed at the extermination and the removal of Rohingyas as a group," she said.

For decades Rohingyas have faced persecution in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and denigrated as illegal "Bengali" immigrants.

Recently, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has appealed to the international community to pressurise Myanmar to take back its "citizens", as the host nation of refugees is finding it hard to provide adequate shelter, food and other basic essentials needed for humanely existence of a person.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 6:35 [IST]
Indian student in US shot dead by robbers at grocery store

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Nov 16: A 21-year-old Indian student on Thursday has been shot dead allegedly by four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, at a grocery store in the US.

Dharampreet Singh Jasser was on duty at a grocery store next to a gas station in Fresno city in California on Tuesday night when four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, barged in to loot the store, local daily Fresnobee reported. Jasser reportedly hid behind the cash counter but was shot by one of the four robbers while they were leaving the service station after looting cash and goods, the report said.

The incident was reported to the police yesterday when a customer who had stopped by to buy some goods, discovered Jasser's body on the floor. Originally from Punjab, Jasser was a student of accounting and had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

Police has arrested 22-year-old Athwal, an Indian-origin man, who is believed to be one of the four suspects who looted the gas station and fired multiple shots one of which hit Jasser. Police said a Fresno County Sheriff's deputy saw media coverage of the incident on Tuesday and recognised some similarities between the suspects from the incident and Athwal, the Madera County Sheriff's Office said. Madera Sheriff's detectives were contacted and determined Athwal is the likely suspect in the shooting. A warrant has been obtained for the suspect and he will be transferred to the Madera Department of Corrections, the report said.

Athwal has been charged with murder and robbery. "Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery," Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said Detectives continue to search for other suspects and any further information related to this case, the Sheriff's Office said.

PTI
This cop from Pakistan became a millionaire overnight: Here is how

With the number of anonymous rogues from Pak rising, here's how BSF is beating down the drones

Pak drops dam project in PoK after China imposes strict conditions

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A bid to include the 14 billion dollar Diamer-Bhasha Dam in PoK in the CPEC framework was withdrawn by Pakistan after China placed strict conditions.

Pakistan has been struggling to raise money from international institutions like the World Bank in the face of Indian opposition to the project on the Indus River in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), runs through PoK and India has raised objection to the project.

Neither the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) nor China would finance the dam, therefore, the government decided to construct the reservoir from its own resources, the Express Tribune today quoted Water Resources Secretary Shumail Khawaja as saying.

Pakistan decided to take the dam project off the table just days before the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting with China, which is scheduled for November 21 in Islamabad, it said.

The JCC is the highest decision-making body of the CPEC.

"Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests," Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain said yesterday while briefing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the status of the mega water and power project.

He said the Chinese conditions were about taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project by pledging another operational dam.

These conditions were unacceptable, therefore, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved a report to finance the dam from the country's own resources, he said.

A flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, the CPEC is a trade network of highways, railways, pipelines and optical cables which are currently under construction throughout Pakistan.

India skipped the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns over the CPEC.

Issue of excluding the Diamer-Bhasha Dam from the CPEC framework also featured in the Cabinet Committee on CPEC which met last week, the paper said.

The Wapda chairman and the water resources secretary informed the premier that the only way out was to fund the much-delayed project from domestic resources, it said.

There were hopes that Pakistan may finally complete the project after including it in the CPEC framework, the report said.

Interestingly, ground-breaking of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam has been performed five times in the past 15 years, it said.

The Wapda chairman blamed the ADB for the delay, saying the bank first destroyed the project and later declined to provide loan. The ADB was of the view that the project was located in a disputed territory, Hussain said.

The project will have the capacity to generate 4,500MW of electricity in addition to the storage capacity for six million acre feet of water, which the country desperately needs due to shrinking storages.

The Wapda chairman said the project cost would hover around USD 14 billion and the prime minister had agreed to split the scheme into dam storage and power generation.

According to the new financing plan, he said, the federal government would provide Rs 30 billion per annum over the next nine years from the Public Sector Development Programme, taking total federal contribution to Rs 270 billion.

Hussain said Wapda would generate 20 per cent of equity from its own resources whereas financing for constructing power plants would be arranged from commercial sources.

Construction work on the dam site would begin next year and the government would complete it in nine years, he said. Work on the power generation site will begin two and a half years after the start of work on the dam.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 5:54 [IST]
SiGMAs Collaboration with Innovative Operators Distinguishes Malta

Published November 16, 2017 by Lee R

Malta is emerging as an iGaming hub due to its comprehensive conference and valued relationships.

One of iGamings newest and most successful companies are at the centre of Maltas SiGMA conference proceedings this year.

New Power

Company Boss Gaming Studio has established itself as a force in the gaming services market in less than 2 years time through successful implementation of several successful online projects, development of its own platform and innovative solutions for online as well as land-based solutions.

SiGMAs Appeal

Boss Gaming Business Development Director Catalina Lukianenko shared the driving motivation behind her decision to attend SIGMA 2017 as the appeal of not only the exhibition, but the wealth of accompanying conferences, official meetings, interactive sessions and reports.

Informal Networking Setting

BossGS also looks forward to the extensive duration of the conference which gives participants almost a week to fully take in the expo floor, conferences, start-up updates and evening events, whose quality BossGS CEO Viacheslav Viedienieiev will gladly attest to:

"Having been engaged in gambling for more than 15 years, Im convinced that any quality communication is developed in informal situations. The costume and tie is easily replaced with a cigar and a nice soul company exemplifying the open ear which BossGS brings to SIGMA'17.

BossGS Current Status

At this point, BossGS has launched its White Label Casino solution, with the first platform licenses already on the way from Curacao and Malta is on its way. The enlightened platform includes such features as use of the most popular payment systems ranging from cards to unique local systems, full support for 1st level 24/7, full multi-language and multicurrency support, and offering consultations on marketing and promotion strategies.

Conference Goals

SIGMA Founder Eman Pulis identified general conference goals as the bringing together of Affiliates, Operators, and Vendors along with removing the barriers for affiliates to become operators on a white label.

Meeting All Needs

The organizers of the summit have committed themselves this year to raising brand awareness with BossGS Owner Bogdan Zyrin adding his belief that his companys advanced marketing system of land-based operators can offer its clients online as well as offline marketing solutions, to meet the needs of regions with all levels of internet.

Affiliate Expertise

Organizers of SIGMA'17 are promising the best and most well-known affiliates, including XL Medias Ory Weihs, Raketechs Johan Svensson, Catena Medias Erik Bergman, Better Collectives Klaus Jensen and AXl Affiliates Alex Axl.

Outlook

SiGMA 2017 will be enhanced by the innovators it works closely with such as BossGS, and these relationships with innovators look to install Malta at the forefront of the iGaming industry.
UK Gambling Commission Unveils Ambitious Three-Year Plan

Published November 16, 2017 by Ivan P

The UKGC has announced a five-point plan to be implemented over the course of next three years, aiming to create a much better regulated gambling environment.

With all the changes that have been happening in the field of gambling regulation in the United Kingdom, it is no wonder that the Gambling Commission, country's leading regulator for all online and land-based gaming activities, has been quite active.

One of the latest developments in these efforts is their ambitious three-year plan laid out in five main points, which aims to create an overall safer, more responsible gambling environment for the players.

Players at the Heart

According to the information available to the UKGC, around 63% of all adults in the UK were involved in some type of a gambling activity. Given such a big percentage of people participates in the industry, the Commission believes it is a high time to set up a more responsible framework where the player, or the consumer, represents the focal point.

According to the statement from Sarah Gardner, Commission's executive director, these plans should be realized in cooperation with all industry members from both sides of the fence. Efforts from the regulators and operators alike will be necessary to create a fairer and safer gaming environment for everyone.

More Transparency & Better Regulation

The new strategy, which should be implement over the course of three years, is broken down into five key areas. Primarily, it focuses on protecting consumers' interests by introducing harsher measures against operators that don't treat their players safely or fail to introduce necessary measures to make gambling safe. The latter part means that the general public needs to be better informed on risks connected to gambling and mechanisms to help them manage these risks.

Furthermore, the UKGC wants to see improved industry standards, especially when it comes to dispute resolution. Operators will be expected to set up independent and effective procedures to deal with customer complaints in a fair and transparent manner.

As for the UKGC, the body will try to act preemptively to help the operators stay within the regulatory framework and it will work closer with the government, providing their advice and input based on the gathered evidence.
A leading news website in Alabama is calling on the GOP to pull its support of Roy Moore, the Alabama Republican Senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct. AL.com's editorial board, including the largest paper in the state, the Birmingham News, published a piece Monday evening that calls Moore "grossly unfit for office."

"The seriousness of these incidents cannot be overstated. They should not be parsed with talk of statutes of limitations or whether proof exists. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a consideration for the courtroom, not the ballot box. When choosing our representative before the rest of the world, character matters." After its own independent investigation, AL.com and the Birmingham News's editorial board said it had "no reason to doubt the accounts."

"We believe these women," the editorial board said.

"It's time that he and his party read the writing on the wall: His candidacy is over. His true character has been revealed. It's time for the GOP to remove its official support," the editorial concludes. "And since he and his party can't assure it, the voters of Alabama must."

>>>>>

Please see also a brilliant article from only yesterday By Perry Bacon Jr. and Harry Enten

here: click here

"So the path for Democrat and former Federal Prosecutor Doug Jones is probably:
From Our Future



Democratic Donkey - Caricature

(Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA



Sweeping victories in last Tuesday's elections provided a bracing tonic for Democrats. "In case there was any doubt," tweeted former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau, "the Resistance is real." Tuesday's victories should buoy Democrats but not mislead them. The reaction to Trump is fierce, but not sufficient to consolidate a new ruling coalition that can make the changes we need.

Turnout in Virginia, which featured the marquee gubernatorial matchup on Election Day, was at presidential year levels. Democrats, people of color, and self-described liberals came out in large numbers. Women voted Democratic by large margins. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Ralph Northam -- a charismatically challenged, eminently decent, experienced, establishment figure -- didn't light that fire. Middle class voters in the Virginia suburbs braved a driving rainstorm to deliver a stunning rebuke to Trump, and to the vile "Trumpism without Trump" campaign run by former Republican lobbyist Ed Gillespie.

Democrats won big down ballot as well, capturing 15 seats in the House of Delegates and coming close to erasing the previous 32-seat Republican advantage in the state House completely. This represents the most sweeping shift in control of the state legislature since the Watergate era. Insurgents also won, including Democratic Socialist Lee Carter, who took out the Republican majority whip, and Danica Roem, the first transgender candidate to win a state legislative seat in the country.

Virginia was not alone. Democrats also took back the statehouse in New Jersey, won full control in Washington State, elected the first Democratic mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire, and Charlotte, North Carolina elected its first African American female mayor. In Maine, voters overwhelmingly voted to extend Medicaid under Obamacare.

Pollsters increasingly see the Republican majority in the House as endangered. Fury at Trump has mobilized Democratic and independent voters. The absence of Trump on the ticket may depress Republican turnout. The Republican Congress is even less popular than Trump.

In some ways, the more interesting race occurred in New Jersey, where the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Philip Murphy, an irrepressible happy warrior, also won big as expected. Murphy is yet another former Goldman Sachs banker, but sought to rise above it.

Twenty-nine percent of voters said his Goldman Sachs background made them feel worse about him; only 8 percent said it made them feel better, and they were probably Republicans. Murphy presented himself as a progressive champion. He endorsed a $15 minimum wage, the creation of a public bank, and investment in infrastructure. He called for legalization of pot, embraced unions, and supported making New Jersey a sanctuary state.

Unlike Northam, exit polls showed Murphy won the male vote, losing white men by only 50-46. Unlike Northam, he won a majority of those without college degrees. Like Northam, he had overwhelming majority among people of color, women and the young.

Despite those results in New Jersey, there is a danger that Democrats ultimately will see hostility to Trump as the simple solution to their woes. Democrats, concluded Jonathan Chait, "don't need to take a radical left-wing stance to oppose the GOP agenda. They can defend the prerogatives of fairly affluent voters who are still getting hurt at the expense of the super-rich. It is a very favorable position."

Or as Lee Drutman put it in the New York Times, reflecting the view of the party's professionals, "the key to Democrats' fortunes in 2018 and 2020 will be to execute on the fundamentals -- pick quality candidates who don't mess up, make sure to get voters to the polls, and take advantage of President Trump's low approval numbers and the inevitable turn against Republicans. Ride the wave. Don't get too fancy."

That dramatically underestimates the task before Democrats. Democrats won in Virginia, New Jersey, Washington State and Maine, but so did Hillary Clinton. Northam essentially followed the Hillary Clinton strategy in Virginia, building a majority grounded on the middle class suburbs, the college educated, women, people of color, and the young. That strategy worked for Clinton in Virginia and New Jersey in 2016, and Trump's serial outrages fuel a fury that made it even more powerful in 2017.

Northam ran better than Clinton in almost every demographic and every region, but still lost Trump counties big time. Northam's call for civility and for working together didn't succeed in appealing to white working people, particularly in rural areas. It succeeded overall in Virginia, a remarkably diverse and relatively affluent state. Exit polls reported 33 percent of the electorate was people of color (who voted 80-19 for Northam). Fifty-eight percent were college educated, voting 60-39 Northam, while those without a college degree went 52-46 for Gillespie. Northam lost the white vote, particularly white men by 63-36. He lost whites without a college degree by a stunning 72 to 26.

Tuesday's elections give Democrats obvious momentum. Democratic committees can expect a surge of fundraising. Candidate recruitment will get easier. Republican retirements have already accelerated.

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Incidents of hate crimes, particularly against African-Americans, Jews and Muslims, went up to 6,121 during 2016, seeing an increase of 4.6 percent compared to the previous year, according to data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday (November 13).

A hate crime is defined by the FBI as a "criminal offence against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity".

According to the FBI report, Jews and Muslims were the two most common targets of religiously-motivated hate crimes. There were increases in reported hate crimes across the board compared to 2015. Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose by nearly 20 percent, anti-white by 17 percent, anti-Latino by 15 percent, and anti-Jewish by 3 percent.

In its report, the FBI notes: "In 2016, the nation's law enforcement agencies reported that there were 7,615 victims of hate crimes." The data also show that, "Of the 1,584 victims of anti-religious hate crimes", 24.5 percent were victims of anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias.

"We have all witnessed the anger and prejudice that characterized last year's election season, and that is growing nationwide in the current political environment," said CAIR National Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor. "To reverse this disturbing trend toward increased hatred and societal division, we must stand up to bigotry and the targeting of minority groups."



CAIR's own preliminary data, derived from different sources than the FBI, reveals that so far, anti-Islam prejudice incidents are up 9 percent in the first three quarters of 2016 over the previous year. So far this year, the organization has recorded 195 anti-Islam hate crimes.

Although the FBI report is the most comprehensive look at the nation's hate crimes released every year, the report is known to be woefully inadequate -- because it may undercount the number by the hundreds of thousands, based on other federal surveys, VOX said adding:

"But the report gives a glimpse at the numbers in a year in which concerns about hate crimes skyrocketed due to President Donald Trump's campaign and election. Research shows that support for Trump was driven largely by racial resentment, and Trump played into that resentment with his own racist rhetoric. As a result, Trump's election led to widespread fears that there would be an emboldening of racist acts across America. (Indeed, some attendees at the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August -- made up of white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and Ku Klux Klan members -- cited Trump as partial inspiration for the demonstration.)"

In the month after Trump was elected, there were more than 860 reports of hate attacks to the Southern Poverty Law Center -- including school teachers making Islamophobic comments, students telling Latino peers that Trump would deport them, and outright physical violence that was seemingly motivated by racism, VOX pointed out.

There have also been reports of mosques being burned, violent attacks against Indians, and a drive-by shooting at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, headquarters for the LGBTQ organization Oklahomans for Equality. And then there were the white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, in which a Nazi sympathizer allegedly killed a woman after he drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters. Not all of these attacks have been verified as acts motivated by bigotry, but they're certainly a cause for alarm.

Tellingly, On Saturday, November 11, a man wielding a hammer damaged property at two mosques in Sunset Park and Bay Ridge over the weekend, the New York Police Department said. He smashed the windows and broke a security camera at the Beit El-Maqdis Islamic Center in Sunset Park. Then, about 30 minutes later, he appeared at the Fatih Camii Mosque, according to police. "Apparently that individual used a hammer to smash a mail box and a door handle," an NYPD spokesman told Patch. The NYPD is investigating the incidents as a hate crime.

On November 4, vandals put up hateful and anti-Semitic posters on Temple Or Rishon Jewish synagogue in Orangevale, California walls. The Department of Homeland Security is offering tens of thousands of dollars to religious institutions to help safeguard their houses of worship. Temple Or Rishon is one of the recipients of this nationwide grant program.
From Consortium News



British Prime Minister Theresa May.

(Image by flickr) Details DMCA



Ever since the U.S. government dangled $160 million last December to combat Russian propaganda and disinformation, obscure academics and eager think tanks have been lining up for a shot at the loot, an unseemly rush to profit that is spreading the Russia-gate hysteria beyond the United States to Europe.

Now, it seems that every development, which is unwelcomed by the Establishment -- from Brexit to the Catalonia independence referendum -- gets blamed on Russia! Russia! Russia!

The methodology of these "studies" is to find some Twitter accounts or Facebook pages somehow "linked" to Russia (although it's never exactly clear how that is determined) and complain about the "Russian-linked" comments on political developments in the West. The assumption is that the gullible people of the United States, United Kingdom and Catalonia were either waiting for some secret Kremlin guidance to decide how to vote or were easily duped.

Oddly, however, most of this alleged "interference" seems to have come after the event in question. For instance, more than half (56 percent) of the famous $100,000 in Facebook ads in 2015-2017 supposedly to help elect Donald Trump came after last year's U.S. election (and the total sum compares to Facebook's annual revenue of $27 billion).

Similarly, a new British study at the University of Edinburgh blaming the Brexit vote on Russia discovered that more than 70 percent of the Brexit-related tweets from allegedly Russian-linked sites came after the referendum on whether the U.K. should leave the European Union. But, hey, don't let facts and logic get in the way of a useful narrative to suggest that anyone who voted for Trump or favored Brexit or wants independence for Catalonia is Moscow's "useful idiot"!

This week, British Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russia of seeking to "undermine free societies" and to "sow discord in the West."

What About Israel?

Yet, another core problem with these "studies" is that they don't come with any "controls," i.e., what is used in science to test a hypothesis against some base line to determine if you are finding something unusual or just some normal occurrence.

In this case, for instance, it would be useful to find some other country that, like Russia, has a significant number of English speakers but where English is not the native language -- and that has a significant interest in foreign affairs -- and then see whether people from that country weigh in on social media with their opinions and perspectives about political events in the U.S., U.K., etc.

Perhaps, the U.S. government could devote some of that $160 million to, say, a study of the Twitter/Facebook behavior of Israelis and whether they jump in on U.S./U.K. controversies that might directly or indirectly affect Israel. We could see how many Twitter/Facebook accounts are "linked" to Israel; we could study whether any Israeli "trolls" harass journalists and news sites that oppose neoconservative policies and politicians in the West; we could check on whether Israel does anything to undermine candidates who are viewed as hostile to Israeli interests; if so, we could calculate how much money these "Israeli-linked" activists and bloggers invest in Facebook ads; and we could track any Twitter bots that might be reinforcing the Israeli-favored message.

No Chance

If we had this Israeli baseline, then perhaps we could judge how unusual it is for Russians to voice their opinions about controversies in the West. It's true that Israel is a much smaller country with 8.5 million people compared to Russia's 144 million, but you could adjust for those per capita numbers -- and even if you didn't, it wouldn't be surprising to find that Israel's interference in U.S. policymaking still exceeds Russian influence.



Russian President Vladimir Putin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 10, 2015, at the Kremlin.

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William P. Homans walks Jessie M.D. Homans down the aisle, November 4, 2017.

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The Republicans-- establishment, Freedom Caucus, the whole Party, anybody with an R as an affiliation-- now have less than a year to vomit Trump up so they can run away from his record which they have now helped to create. The Pubs own the last political year, and in fact they own the campaign too.





They own their tolerance of the "locker room talk" moment.





But enough of our fellow low-information American voters, more than the worst third-- there were too many absolutely ignorant American women who put their intuition in a lock box somewhere on Election Day-- voted for the P-grabber, the most unqualified candidate of a major Party in the history of the United States of America, and here we are in the complex of messes we find ourselves in today.





I'm just a career minor-league pro musician,







Watermelon Slim at Highway 99 Club Seattle WA

(Image by self) Details DMCA







How the world, and the media, have warped the meaning of the word "reality"! "Reality show." Bah, Humbug!!





But I gotta say that it is pure-D hard to concentrate on just creating music, spreading love and wisdom from the stage, to say nothing of acting in my business self-interest, when I see that most unqualified (and serially self-disqualified, in any era but the post-postmodern one at present) candidate, with a pathologically short attention span and an accompanying inability to reflect, in the Constitutionally protected position of being able to order World War Three. The stakes, which is to say, the consequences of what a president of the US might order, got a quantum higher after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.





Trump's resentful and aggressive behavior, which I would say is underlain by a deep insecurity, is a little mitigated by the fact that the US is not a system that permits, nor a population that yet tolerates, mass murder of its actual first-class citizens (200 workers dead in the North Korean nuclear-testing mountain collapse), or executions of political rivals, even relatives.





Trump himself may be a bully, but he's never actually dealt death by his personal order, which of course Kim Jong-Un has and can. He's not dictator-tough, like Kim, and that should give us some hope that when the Republicans reach the point of desperation for their political livelihood, and make their move to depose him, he will step aside with excuses and appeals, but with no military allies to oppose his ouster and little or no popular violent protest.





People will all say (and it will be no excuse for them because they would have said the same if Hillary Clinton had been elected President and had been impeached-- the Pubs haven't got time for an impeachment process now), "Hey, we always knew he was a crook!"





The American political process will be thrown into some turmoil, because there will have to be a cabinet reset that will take months, and the Democrats, considering the removal of Trump by his own people to be a huge victory, will find their voices and make sure the Pruitts and Perrys and Zinkes (to say nothing of the Kushners ) are outside the Beltway.





More emergency budgets will have to be passed. Emergency allocations for the continued restoration of Puerto Rico (or even of Texas and Florida) may be endangered.





Lots of very bad stuff could happen before a new Republican administration gets its sea legs after the storm it's been left floundering in by the previous captain of the ship of state.





But there will be some reduction of risk of nuclear war, because neither Mike Pence, nor Paul Ryan, nor Orrin Hatch, nor even (maybe more unlikely even than the rest) Rex Tillerson, the next four individuals in the line of presidential succession, will call Kim Jong-Un "Little Rocket Man," and they will not conduct world-altering foreign diplomacy via Twitter!





And none of these non-Bannonite members of the American right wing will give countenance and cover to the alt-right.





I wrote this soon after Charlottesville, it's going on my next CD, to be titled "Church of the Blues" (I'm recording in December). I'm still convinced that there are things worth living and worth dying for. But dern it, it's hard to concentrate...





I GOT THE BLUES FOR MY NATION





Still crying out for the right to be heard

Rolling on down the road, no time for desperation

I don't know if I'll ever see the end

But I've got the blues for my nation





My daddy fought at the beach of Anzio,

He did his duty against the Nazi surge

What's up with us putting up with Nazis on our streets,

Sieg-heiling when they get the urge





Try, try to remember, America,

The deepest, darkest themes they represent

Try to forgive, and live and let live

No matter who might be our president





I got the blues for this country

Nobody makes it out of these blues alive

But if I find that I can't live forever

I'll still be fightin' that Nazi jive





I got the blues for my nation (vamp al coda)



**************************************







The wedding picture

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(Article changed on November 16, 2017 at 16:16)
From Mike Malloy Website

Dopey DOJ Attorney General Jeff Sessions bobbed and dodged his way through yet another Congressional hearing Tuesday. He seems to recall one salient detail about his time with candidate Trump per Congressional hearing, have you noticed? And always, soon after Mueller interviews another Trump campaign insider.

This time he suddenly remembered a Trump campaign meeting in which high-level Russian connections were discussed ... just after former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos spilled his guts to Bob Mueller.

What a coincidence.

The Guardian has more:

"Jeff Sessions on Tuesday acknowledged a former aide to Donald's Trump presidential campaign informed him during the 2016 election about ties to Russian officials, appearing to contradict his own testimony to members of Congress during his confirmation hearing to become attorney general earlier this year. "Testifying before the House judiciary committee, Sessions said he only recently recalled a meeting during the 2016 presidential election in which George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump's campaign, disclosed his contacts with Russians. "The attorney general also said he did not remember talking to Carter Page, an former foreign policy adviser to Trump who has said he told Sessions about a planned trip to Moscow. "It was revealed earlier this month that Papadopoulos had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the nature of his contacts with the Russians and had been cooperating with the special counsel Robert Mueller. "Sessions was pressed on Tuesday about court documents that revealed he led a meeting in March 2016 in which Papadopoulos spoke of his ties to Russia and offered to facilitate an encounter between Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. "'I had no recollection of this meeting until I saw these news reports,' Sessions said, adding he still lacked a 'clear recollection' of what exactly Papadopoulos said during the meeting. "Sessions, who during his Senate confirmation hearing in January testified under oath that he was not aware of any contacts between Trump's campaign and the Russians, vehemently denied intentionally misleading members of Congress. "'In all of my testimony, I can only do my best to answer all of your questions as I understand them and to the best of my memory,' Sessions said. "'But I will not accept, and reject, accusations that I have ever lied under oath. That is a lie.'

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From To The Point Analyses

Part I -- America's Standing as a Civilized Nation

There is more to being civilized than being a citizen of some political entity. This is so despite the fact that both the verb civilize and noun citizen are derived from the Latin civitas. To be civilized demands more than just having the language and mannerisms of the 5th century BCE Greeks, or the 2nd century BCE Han Chinese, or the 16th Century CE French. All of these groups believed that being civilized meant living and acting like them. Today the Americans have joined the chorus. They sing to the world that theirs is the home of the brave and land of the free, and claim that they are the real model for civilization. They throw in that rather ill-defined notion of freedom as a modern customizing point.

None of these claims are very convincing. After all, each claimant has waged bloody wars of aggression, discriminated against outsiders and their own minorities, and generally sought aggrandizement by stealing other people's land. Only recently, since the end of World War II, has there grown up an understanding that:

(1) language, mannerisms, and race are so varied that they cannot be used as prerequisites for civilized status without breeding mass intolerance toward minorities and "others," and...

(2) aggressive war and the pursuit of conquest actually dehumanizes your nation and destroys one's civilized standing. Postwar international law has been designed to make intolerance on a large scale illegal -- a crime against humanity -- and the same goes for the waging of wars of aggression. It is questionable how effective such laws have been. Nonetheless, they are undeniably a step in a civilizing direction.

If you dig under the surface of ethnic- or nation-based claims to civilized standing, you often find that they rest on such things as military prowess, technological advancement, and/or a dubious claim to be some god's favorite. Collective cultural expressions of racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia and other such displays of intolerance, as well as the carrying on of a "muscular" foreign policy, seem not to complicate claims to civilized status for many average citizens. But, of course, they should. In fact, not being or doing any of these things should be a necessary prerequisite for any group's appeal to civilized status.

Based on such a requirement, the claim of the United States to be a civilized society seems in serious trouble. For instance, no one is going to accuse Donald Trump of being a model of tolerance. Indeed, it would seem that his election as president has inaugurated a time of intolerance embracing just those prejudices that erode a nation's civilized standing.

Part II -- Hillary's Greatest Gaffe

It is true that during her run for the presidency Hillary Clinton made many mistakes. She was wedded to a traditional, and very corrupt, version of U.S. politics -- a version that put her in the pocket of an array of special interests that, themselves, were not very civilized (for example, the Zionists). And, as Secretary of State under President Obama, she did her part to wage aggressive war. Yet, she was, at least in terms of her rhetoric, ready to take a stand for tolerance when it comes to social and cultural diversity within the United States. Ironically, that willingness to, in this regard, be publicly civil -- and call out those who were not -- led to her biggest political gaffe of the election.

The campaign faux pas came on 9 September 2016, during a speech to a group of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) supporters. Here is what she said:

"We are living in a volatile political environment. You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic -- you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he [Trump] has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people -- now 11 million. He tweets and retweets their offensive hateful mean-spirited rhetoric. Now, some of those folks -- they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America."

The Trump campaign people jumped on this statement and declared that it was a sign of "her true contempt for everyday Americans." In other words, from the Trump perspective, "those folks" were the real America. Trump's supporters proceeded to turn the term "deplorable" into something of a battle cry. I remember driving through the small Pennsylvania town of Red Lion soon after Clinton's speech. There was a big sign declaring "Welcome to the Home of the Proud Deplorables."

Part III -- Trump the Decivilizer

Of course, Clinton was correct in her criticism of Trump and some of his supporters. In fact, they were more than just deplorable. They were downright uncivilized. And, she was right that Trump has incited and manipulated them and their prejudices during the campaign. And, he has continued to do so as president. I think this became quite obvious at the 12 August 2017 "unite the right" protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. That event signaled the fact that Trump, a wealthy, self-righteous, impulsive, one-dimensional man who, in his simplistic ignorance, cannot tell the difference between his own opinion and fact, had let loose a substantial group of racist and reactionary citizens. These people see themselves not as the uncivilized of America, but rather as saviors of an anachronistic pseudo-civilization -- one based on white supremacy and mass intolerance. Regardless of how they see themselves, the behavior of both these "average Americans" and their approving president, is actually tipping America toward being unquestionably a "deplorable" and uncivilized place.

It must be kept in mind that President Trump did originate all this prejudicial horror. It has always been there in the U.S. However, since the 1960s it has, for the most part, been kept out of the public realm. That is what the Civil Rights Movemen t and President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs accomplished -- to make it socially unacceptable, and in some cases illegal, to practice these prejudices publicly. This was actually a great step forward in the process of civilizing the United States, and if it had been maintained for say, another five generations, the number of "deplorable" voters may have shrunk to the point that the election of a decivilizer such as Trump would have been much less likely.

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The unspeakable atrocities that are happening in South Sudan are unfathomable, not only because of the scope of savagery in the war between the Dinka and Nuer peoples, but also because it defies every tenet of our civilized being in which we take so much pride. Civilization, however, has hardly penetrated the first layer of our thick skin. We assume that our unprecedented advancements in technology, medicine, space exploration, engineering, literature, and all forms of arts have equally deepened our moral and ethical conviction. No. We have in fact become increasingly immune and unmoved by the savagery which is unfolding before our eyes in so many countries.

Many judge the raging human atrocities -- be that in South Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and many other places -- in relative terms to the horrors of wars and the unprecedented violence of the last century and before. They argue that today's world is better and safer than at any time in the history of mankind. That said, the idea of "Never Again," adopted in the wake of the second World War, has become nothing but an empty slogan. Should we really measure our moral conduct today in relative terms to the moral decadence of yesteryears?

Go explain that to those who have suffered unmatched cruelty and brutality and found salvation only in death. To the starving little boy who is about to pass away from malnutrition; to the girl that was raped a dozen times and left to die; to the shattered father who lost his entire family; to the weeping mother whose child died in her arms.

Yes, go explain it to the tens of thousands of children who are about to perish because of lack of medical care; to the millions of traumatized refugees who lost hope of ever recovering again. Go explain to them, "you are better off today than the tens of millions who perished before you."

The irony is that we often compare the human capacity for mercilessness, torture, and random killing to a wild beast, when in fact the most vicious of all beasts would be insulted to be compared to the atrocities and slaughter that humans are capable of committing against one another.

Let's look at the tragedy that has gripped South Sudan.

Six million people -- over half of the entire population -- suffer from severe food shortages, some surviving on as little as a cup of rice per day. It is projected that in 2018, nearly 1.1 million South Sudanese children will still be acutely malnourished.

Armed forces use rape as a weapon of war. As a method of coercion, girls as young as seven are raped and burned alive in front of their parents. Rape is often used as a payment for services and a recruitment incentive for militias. Gang rape is so prevalent it is now considered normal, while pillaging leaves villages in a blood bath.

Nearly 7,000 new cases of cholera have been reported this year -- a 73% increase from 2016 and the highest number of cases since 2014 -- and 51% of all infected are children and teenagers. Hospitals and aid vehicles are intentionally targeted by militia forces, and volunteers are ambushed and killed.

The malaria rate has increased from last year, accounting for 65% of all illnesses. Approximately 78,000 people are infected every week, most of whom are under the age of five. In 2017, more than 1.57 million cases of malaria have been reported, which is an increase of 300,000 over 2016.

Tens of thousands of children have been recruited as child soldiers, carrying rifles taller than themselves. Children travel unaccompanied -- separated from their families after villages are raided -- and many of them end up dying in the wilderness. Women and children hide in swamps while bodies pile in front of them. A whole new generation is lost, as nationwide 51% of South Sudanese children are not attending school.

Men are slaughtered, and some have been locked in steel shipping containers beneath the sun without food or water, left to fry to death. Women are captured, forced to march, and raped nightly, while civilians, who are not actively involved in the hostilities, are targeted as a military tactic.

Ethnic cleansing between the Dinka and Nuer is spreading across the country, with many observers warning that it is now approaching the level of genocide. The UN confirms that ethnic cleansing by way of starvation, gang rape, and village burning has become the status quo, and as a result, nearly two million people have been internally displaced since 2013.

Arms are pouring across the South Sudanese border by merchants of death -- China and Russia -- who are refusing to impose an embargo on exporting their killing machines. More than 50% of the national budget is spent on arms and bloated military salaries.

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About 100 progressives showed up today for a pantheon rally in front of the Capitol building and this time we weren't kicked out after the first 15 minutes. Why? Because some prominent members of Congress were featured. The police were there to protect them as opposed to hassle us. Only one invaded our midst, with a "drug hound" to sniff us out. I don't think he found anything.

The sponsors were Moveon and Indivisible.org , as well as the Not One Penny coalition. The co-hosts were Moveon's Washington president Ben Wikler and Indivisible's Chad Bolt.

The bottom line, of course, was that this historically monstrous bill aims to lower taxes on the super-rich from 35 percent to 20 percent and fund it by increasing the deficit and extracting trillions from Medicaid ($1 tn) and Medicare ($.5 tn). And oh yes, in the Senate version Obamacare will be targeted again, with the single-payer mandate eliminated; the lost "tax" (John Roberts's term) will eliminate 13 million from health insurance coverage.

And the usual Democratic moot question about how billionaire taxes could fund infrastructure, environmental activism, debt-free college education, and more was asked. Tax and spend are democracy in action, as we all know, even those who don't want to.

"When you come for our healthcare, we go for your jobs!" said Wikler, who introduced the first speaker, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who sits on the Budget Committee. The line that HR 1 will benefit the middle class is a ruse. Medicare for all is what we need.

PROTECT OUR HEALTHCARE! KILL THE BILL rang out the chant he initiated.

Tomorrow the House will vote on its version of the monstrosity. We needed one more Senate Republican to vote no, and as of about 3:53 today, we got one, Sen. Ron Johnson (WI). In the HR, we need to capture the support of 25 more Republicans, "we" being all of us who oppose Horror 1, whatever our stripe may be.

At this point I'd like to add a neologism to our mantra, "koirocracy," which means "rule by pigs." Will that catch on?

Next to speak was House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Sending jobs overseas will increase employment overseas, not here, she said. The middle class will receive table scraps and all of us 99 percenters are supposed to wait for the trickle-down effect, but the preceding two times trickle-down was promised, by Reagan and then G. W. Bush, the economy ended up in shambles. So why go there again?



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NOT ONE PENNY! KILL THE BILL! was the chant she led.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) next took the podium to remind us that our voices "loud and clear" are essential to killing HR 1 and its Senate sibling--that's how we defeated the 60-odd attempts to squash Obamacare and warded off Trumpcare. The middle class should remain the locus of the American dream rather than be dissolved. Our wages haven't kept up with our costs of living. The child tax credit will be eliminated by the bill. Keep up the noise!

"Trump loves oligarchy," said Rep. Peter Welch from Vermont. What about students? (but "their" project is to dumb us down, I thought.) They will no longer be able to deduct the interest they pay on their student loans from their tax returns. "Paul Ryan," he apostrophized, "what's the problem with democracy?" HR 1 was written in secret and rushed through the House (not without huge Democratic markup, we were later informed).

NOT ONE PENNY! was the next chant.

The popular U.S. Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN), now deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, next reminded us of the 5 percent unemployment rate and stock market boom (already sliding toward a bust?) and reminded us how much money will depart from the national income to buy political influence. Tomorrow evening the GOP will party in the Buildings Museum downtown, where another progressive protest is planned. Be there are 5:30 (Fifth and F streets).

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I want to preface this that I am not a mathematician nor am I an economist. I am however, someone who can read and the figures I'm going to give you come directly from the government. I didn't make these numbers up.

Many people have read some of my articles know that I detest the fact that 55% of our national budget is comprised of our so-called "defense budget". Many Americans have written and talked about the fact that this nation is involved "in endless war". What most people don't realize is how much of our national treasure is devoted to our military.

Let me start by telling you how much this nation spends on our so-called "defense budget". This money that we spend isn't to defend people of the United States, these funds go to enrich the defense contractors and the people who fund our politicians in Congress.

This is the part where I throw the amounts that fund our so-called "defense budget":

$2,988,083.00 is the total amount for the US budget. Out of this almost $3 trillion, $582 billion dollars go to the Department of Defense. This doesn't include all the money that goes to the defense investigative agency the DIA, or to the CIA, or to the NSA, or to the FBI or any other intelligence agencies.

The number of people in the United States in 2017 is 326,474,083. If Congress cut the defense budget for 25% by closing overseas bases and cutting the number military that serve in our endless war machine, we would save $145 billion dollars. If you divide that number by the number of people living in the United States, every man woman and child, it would come out to almost $1,785.00 to the American people. A family of four would receive $7,140.00

I'm not supposing that the government would do anything of the sort, I'm just throwing some numbers around to make people think. We always hear the United States is the richest nation on earth, and this just illustrates where all our wealth is going. Many people explain that the defense industry and shore up our economy and we stop producing arms and having a large military it would hurt the United States economically. What I'm saying is that if we cut the military spending by 25% we would not only give a windfall to the American people, but we could also rebuild our infrastructure and pay down our national debt.

If people honestly looked at those numbers, it should make them angry. How many aircraft carriers do we need to defend the people of the United States? How many cruise missiles do we need to protect the people of the United States? How many spy agencies do we need to protect us from our so-called enemies? We have an ocean on each side of the United States. We have enemies across the world that we ourselves have created. One only must look at the demonization of Russia to understand how United States makes an enemy. The United States needs an enemy to justify the amount of money spent on the military. We are all being sold a giant bill of goods that is unjustifiable and really is criminal when you look at how much money we spend.

I am not isolationist nor my pacifist, I'm just someone who holds citizenship in a country that has lost its perspective.

I would also like to point out that the recent fires in California should be looked at by every citizen in the United States. There are anomalies about these fires vaporizing brick, melting glass and vaporizing steel. There also anomalies where houses were demolished by this fire, yet trees next to these houses were not touched by fire. There also videos on YouTube that showed a tree burning from the inside out. What disturbs me is that many of the videos I looked at looked much like the anomalies that happened at the World Trade Center. I'm not explaining the fires, but I would like people to look at these videos and judge for yourself. I wasn't going to write about this, but I felt an obligation to at least mention it.

Instead of just accepting the way America puts its money into our war Department, we should demand accountability and justification for all that they do. As a retired service member with over 20 years in the United States Army I feel that the military is out of control. Never in my lifetime have I seen military spending on the scale with no discernible enemy creeping up on our shores. As citizens I believe that every American should hold count Congress accountable for this wasteful military spending that should really go to rebuilding United States infrastructure and creating an economy that consumes things instead of just treading water to stay alive. "As the richest nation on earth" we should be helping our citizens instead of interfering in the affairs of other nations. As an American citizen I am angry as hell and I believe that every citizen should feel the same anger that I feel.

(A thank you yo David William Pear who corrected my numbers. Told you, I'm not a math whiz.)

(Article changed on November 16, 2017 at 12:55)

(Article changed on November 16, 2017 at 12:58)

(Article changed on November 16, 2017 at 14:45)
New Report Analysis Food Contact Paper Board Market,Trends and Forecast By 2023

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Food contact paper and board are being use in the food industry in a wide range of applications such as manufacturing, processing, preparing, treating and packaging. There are few applications where close contact is involved, such as dip tea bags and filter papers, while direct contact packaging finds application in cartons for beverages, bakery goods & butter wrapping, fruits, and takeout food. In addition, it has wide applications in transport and distribution packaging.Click here For Free Sample Report @The paper and board sector has been continuously innovating new, safe and functionally effective food handling and packaging materials, to protect human health and the interests of consumers. Production of paper and board from natural fiber (cellulose) and minerals, and other materials (that are favorable for food contact) prescribed in accordance with the standards set by the government-authorized body, is achieved with the help of additives and chemical processing. This type of packaging protects the food from external elements such as air, dust, grease, and moisture. Food contact paper and board is flexible, easy to handle, hygienic, and easily disposable. By acting as a replacement for plates and other serving utensils, it also results in cost reduction for food vendors.Evolving life style and increasing healthcare awareness among consumers has led to the rise in global demand for safe and hygienic food, in turn driving growth of the market for food contact paper and boards. Owing to its value added applications, right from protection of food products to their safe distribution and transportation, the market for food contact paper and board is expected to witness new investments and growth opportunities, especially in the developing countries. The main drivers for the growth of the market are private consumers, distributors, and private packaging firms, which are focusing more on delivering an intact product.However, sustainability of the market for insulated packaging majorly depends on the price and supply of raw materials. Besides, presence of big and small packaging firms has created a highly competitive environment in the market for food contact paper and board.The global food contact paper and board market is segmented on the basis of type and geography. By type, the global food contact paper and board market is segmented into poly-coated or non poly-coated and bleached or unbleached paper and boards.Read Full Report With TOC Click here @By geography, the global food contact paper and board market is segmented into seven key regions, including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, the Middle East & Africa, and Japan. 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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 market Important changes in market dynamics Market segmentation up to the second or third level Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments Market shares and strategies of key players Emerging niche segments and regional markets An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketMake An Enquiry @Market Research Reports Search Engine(MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. 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Latest Research Report Analysis Food Wrap Film Market,Trends and Forecast By 2023

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Food packaging plays an important role in keeping the food quality safe while handling and transportation. Food wrapping film is one of the most commonly available and preferred solution for food packaging. It is referred to by various names, such as saran wrap, plastic film and cling film. These films are mostly used to seal food items inside the container, in order to keep them fresh for a longer period. It protects the food products from contamination caused by microorganisms, air, and moisture, and helps prevent food spilling and leakage.Click here For Free Sample Report @The Dow Chemicals developed the first plastic wrap in 1933 and the company commercialized the product as saran plastic wrap in 1949. Initially, food wrap films were made of polyvinyl chloride; however, now, there are number of alternative materials available for the manufacturing of this film. Currently, majority of the consumers are increasingly focusing on using food wrap films, which are approved by the government-authorized bodies such as FDA, for food contact. The most commonly used raw materials for the production of food wrap films are polyolefin, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. Besides, there has been a significant rise in the usage of biodegradable materials for food packaging. Researchers and manufacturers, in collaboration, are trying to modify conventional plastic and innovate new materials for ensuring and maintaining safe and hygienic food packaging practices. Food wrap films made out of these new materials are ideal for direct food contact, in view of their various beneficial features, such as they offer resistance to external environment, are suited for freezer and cold storage use, are smoke and odor free, and are also durable.Evolving life style of consumers, increasing health and environmental awareness, and supportive environmental policies implemented by various governments across the globe are the major factors responsible for the increasing global demand for food wrap films and, thereby, their market growth. Owing to its value added applications, right from protection of food products to their safe distribution and transportation, the market for food wrap films is expected to witness new investments and growth opportunities, especially in the developing countries. 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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.State Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite :
Opportunities in Open Access Transactions and Short Term PPAs in Solar Power Business of India

Opportunities in Open Access Transactions and Short Term PPAs in Solar Power Business of India

https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/opportunities-in-open-access-transactions-and-short-term-ppas-in-solar-power-business-of-india

https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=36508

Boston, MAReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Opportunities in Open Access Transactions and Short Term PPAs in Solar Power Business of India to its growing collection of premium market research reports.Which region is most suitable for affecting the open access transactions through solar having the largest cluster of industries, corporates and bulk consumers?Which state has least regulatory barriers or least cross-subsidy surcharge (CSS) applicable to bulk buyers?Whether the tariff discovered in third-party power sales agreements sustainable for long-term i.e. for a period of 10-15 years?What kind of transactions i.e. Bilateral or Collective transactions are favorable through solar?What is the penetration level of short term transactions through solar in different pockets of the country?Queries like these and many more demanded an in-depth research to unearth the very reason as to why essentially open access is fast gaining popularity in India, which transformed into the research base for this report.Solar power tariffs in India appear to be in a free fall, in recently concluded Rewa and Bhadla Solar Park bids, the tariffs touched INR 2.62/unit which is approximately 18% lower than average price of INR 3.20/unit charged by NTPC for electricity generated by its coal fired plants. Having said that, this is the clear demonstration of aggressive bidding as IRR (Internal Rate of Return) for projects having tariff INR 4.3/unit comes out to be 14.20% which is much lower than benchmark IRR of 18%. Several risk factor such as fluctuations in foreign currency, capacity utilisation factor, operations and maintenance cost escalation etc. are not being taken into consideration while bidding and if the base assumptions go wrong then having a financial feasible project will be a challenge. Does, this risk opens up business opportunity for Open Access transactions in India?To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Key Highlights: Rising popularity among developers especially renewable players to go for third party direct agreements Increased appetite of foreign developers to sell power on direct basis to corporates and bulk consumers Cross-subsidy surcharge (CSS) by some Indian states a boon for open access Benefits widely available to state transmission utilities and private transmission utilities to felicitate the open access mechanism Comparable prices with greater degree of reliability- Increasing preference by bulk consumers & corporates to buy directly from the developers States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana ,Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana are fast catching up with direct power purchase agreements Increased impetus on Rural Electrification Increasing number of bilateral and collective transactions of power through Open AccessTo Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @Key Queries Resolved Which state has least regulatory barriers or least cross-subsidy surcharge (CSS) applicable to bulk buyers Whether the tariff discovered in third-party power sales agreements sustainable for long-term i.e. for a period of 10-15 years? What are the various power procurement models which shall be most beneficial given the current regulatory paradigm and policy environment in India? Why only renewable players are reaping benefits of direct power purchase agreements and why not the thermal power producers under independent and captive category enjoy the same? Which region is most suitable for affecting the direct power purchase agreements having the largest cluster of industries, corporates and bulk consumers? Which region has more penetration of short term transactions through solar power? Which transaction i.e. bilateral or collective is preferred for solar?ReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-1947abigail@reportsworldwide.com
Nov 16, 2017: Aviation Fuel Market Forecast 2023 Air BP, Chevron, Exide, Exxon Mobil, Gazprom

Aviation Fuel

https://goo.gl/roxM11

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-aviation-fuel-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Aviation Fuel Market  examines the performance of the Aviation Fuel market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Aviation Fuel market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Aviation Fuel market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Aviation Fuel Market 2017 report includes Aviation Fuel market Size, Revenue, market Share, Aviation Fuel industry volume, market Trends, Aviation Fuel Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Aviation Fuel Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Aviation Fuel Market Forecast 2017:1. Air BP2. Chevron3. Exide4. Exxon Mobil5. Gazprom6. Shell7. AltAir Fuels8. Amyris9. Gevo10. Hindustan petroleum11. Honeywell12. LanzaTech13. Neste Oil14. Primus Green Energy15. SkyNRG16. Solazyme17. Solena Fuels18. StatoilFirstly, the report covers the top Aviation Fuel 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 Aviation Fuel report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Aviation Fuel industry, Aviation Fuel industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Aviation Fuel Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Aviation Fuel 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 Aviation Fuel market revenue worldwide.Finally, Aviation Fuel 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 75244United States
Opportunities in Open Access Transactions and Short Term PPAs in Wind Power Business of India

Opportunities in Open Access Transactions and Short Term PPAs in Wind Power Business of India

https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/opportunities-in-open-access-transactions-and-short-term-ppas-in-wind-power-business-of-india

https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=42279

Boston, MAReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Opportunities in Open Access Transactions and Short Term PPAs in Wind Power Business of India to its growing collection of premium market research reports.In a recent step, the Indian regulatory commission allowed distribution utilities to renegotiate the long term PPAs to a lower degree of tariffs which is determined by reverse auction of the wind power tariffs. In recently held auction, sharp decline in the tariff of wind power was witnessed. The tariff fell close to INR 1-1.5 per Unit and reached a level of INR 3.46 per Unit, which is significantly lower than Feed in Tariffs of some states. It is also anticipated that wind power generators may further bid aggressively taking the tariff to sub INR 3 levels. These tariff levels will have the direct impact on the existing plants. Further, owing to such lower tariffs, distribution utilities can put a pressure on to generators to renegotiate PPAs or simply dishonour them. This issue is critical and long term PPAs can come under jeopardy, hence, the opportunity for the wind power developers lie in signing short term PPAs and selling power directly to the consumers through Open Access route.Payment delays by distribution utilities to wind power projects in the country is posing a major threat to the feasibility of the projects. These delays are hurting liquidity of the projects and also delaying payment to lenders.Discoms in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have found it difficult to pay wind power producers on time. Discoms in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have delayed payments to generators of wind power by as much as 8-10 months, putting their cash flows under tremendous pressure and sending negative signals for developers and investors, which in turn can turn the tide towards development of small scale wind power projects catering to the need of specific chunk of consumers.Some trivial and yet complex questions associate with open access mechanism which needs to addressed through a pan India study which should prove to be a path finding guide for the project developers as well buyers to felicitate the same.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Key Highlights: Business Case for Open Access Transactions in India Mode of Sustainability for Demand of Open Access in India through Wind Tariff Movements for Open Access through Wind  Key States Examining Liberalism for Green Power in Open Access Mechanism in States Filtering of Major Open Access Consumers / Pockets for Wind Power Filtering Major Open Access Customers/ Pockets for IPPs Filtering Opportunities for STUs and Bulk Consumers Region Wise Customer Profiling Regulatory Consideration for Open Access in India Procurement Models for Open Access Transactions in India Parametric Ranking of States Generating Business Case for Long Term Open AccessTo Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @Key Queries Resolved Which state has least regulatory barriers or least cross-subsidy surcharge (CSS) applicable to bulk buyers? Whether the tariff discovered in third-party power sales agreements sustainable for long-term i.e. for a period of 10-15 years? What are the various power procurement models which shall be most beneficial given the current regulatory paradigm and policy environment in India? What are the various incentives/benefits to the consumers/generators to wheel power through open access? Which region is most suitable for affecting the open access transactions having the largest cluster of industries, corporates and bulk consumers? Which region has more penetration of short term transactions through wind power? Which transaction i.e. bilateral or collective is preferred for wind?ReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-1947abigail@reportsworldwide.com
Nov 16, 2017: Car Paint & Coating Market Forecast 2023 Axalta, NIPPON, Kansai, Bayer AG

Car Paint & Coating

https://goo.gl/6MNZQZ

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-automotive-paint-coating-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Car Paint & Coating Market  examines the performance of the Car Paint & Coating market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Car Paint & Coating market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Car Paint & Coating market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Car Paint & Coating Market 2017 report includes Car Paint & Coating market Size, Revenue, market Share, Car Paint & Coating industry volume, market Trends, Car 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, Car Paint & Coating Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Car Paint & Coating Market Forecast 2017:1. PPG Industries2. BASF3. Axalta4. NIPPON5. Kansai6. Bayer AG7. Solvay SA8. KCC Corporation9. AKZO NOBEL10. Valspar11. Sherwin-Williams12. Strong Chemical13. Kinlita14. PRIMECar Paint & Coating Market : Type Analysis Solvent-Borne Coatings Waterborne Coatings Powder CoatingsCar Paint & Coating Market : Application Analysis Passenger Vehicles Commercial VehiclesFirstly, the report covers the top Car Paint & Coating 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 Car Paint & Coating report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Car Paint & Coating industry, Car Paint & Coating industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Car Paint & Coating Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Car 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 Car Paint & Coating market revenue worldwide.Finally, Car 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 75244United States
UDAYs Impact and Compatibility State wise indexing of Integrated Power Supply Chain in India  2017

UDAYs Impact and Compatibility State wise indexing of Integrated Power Supply Chain in India  2017

https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/udays-impact-and-compatibility-state-wise-indexing-of-integrated-power-supply-chain-in-india-2017

https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=42281

Boston, MAReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title UDAYs Impact and Compatibility State wise indexing of Integrated Power Supply Chain in India  2017 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.UDAY scheme was touted as the next paladin to bail out the struggling Discoms, in order to turn them green in a time horizon of 3-4 years from 2015/16. Though was optional for the states, as of now 27 States/UTs are on board and INR 2,32,163 Crore of bonds have been issued which accounts for 85% of the debt to be restructured under this scheme. The cumulative AT&C* Loss stands at 20.42% with ACS-ARR Gap of INR 0.45/kWh. Also, tariff revision of 25 states have been done out of participating states.The long standing Achilles heel of Indian Power Sector has arguably been the power distribution facet courtesy the poor efficiencies and piling debt mount of respective Discoms. The weakest link of the power value chain has constantly pressurised Indias power industry and has threatened procurement dynamics putting a serious question mark over existing and upcoming power generation portfolio of the country.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Key Highlights: Analysing power demand and supply scenario in India Identifying trends and outlook for AT&C loss levels Identifying trends and outlook for billing efficiency of discoms Identifying trends and outlook for collection efficiency of discoms Identifying feeder segregation status Identifying feeder metering status Identifying smart metering status Gap evaluation of ACS and ARR Consumer category wise demand and revenue breakupTo Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @Key Queries Resolved What is the power distribution scenario in India? What is the impact of UDAY on financial health of discoms? What is the impact of UDAY on Operational Efficiency of discoms? What is the impact of UDAY on RPO compliance of discoms? What is the impact of UDAY on power generation capacity addition? Which is the best performing state post implementation of discom? Which is the best performing discom post implementation of UDAY?ReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-1947abigail@reportsworldwide.com
Nov 16, 2017: Car OLED Market Forecast 2023 Delphi, Denso, Magna, Fiat, Ford

Car OLED

https://goo.gl/neiV7v

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-automotive-oled-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Car OLED Market  examines the performance of the Car OLED market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Car OLED market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Car OLED market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Car OLED Market 2017 report includes Car OLED market Size, Revenue, market Share, Car OLED industry volume, market Trends, Car OLED Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Car OLED Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Car OLED Market Forecast 2017:1. Delphi2. Denso3. Magna4. and Robert Bosch5. Fiat6. Ford7. GM8. Honda9. Hyundai10. Toyota11. VolkswagenCar OLED Market : Type Analysis Type I Type IICar OLED Market : Application Analysis Commercial Vehicles Passenger CarsFirstly, the report covers the top Car OLED 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 Car OLED report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Car OLED industry, Car OLED industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Car OLED Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Car OLED research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Car OLED market revenue worldwide.Finally, Car OLED 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 75244United States
Nov 16, 2017: Car Brake Friction Product Market Forecast 2023 Federal Mogul, TMD GROUP, TRW Automotive, MAT Holdings

Car Brake Friction Product

https://goo.gl/9uS8ZZ

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-automotive-brake-friction-product-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Car Brake Friction Product Market  examines the performance of the Car Brake Friction Product market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Car Brake Friction Product market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Car Brake Friction Product market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Car Brake Friction Product Market 2017 report includes Car Brake Friction Product market Size, Revenue, market Share, Car Brake Friction Product industry volume, market Trends, Car Brake Friction Product Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Car Brake Friction Product Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Car Brake Friction Product Market Forecast 2017:1. Federal Mogul2. Bosch3. TMD GROUP4. TRW Automotive5. MAT Holdings6. ATE7. ICER8. BREMBO9. Util Group10. ABS Friction11. Metek GmbH12. ITT Corporation13. AKEBONO GroupCar Brake Friction Product Market : Type Analysis Brake Pads Brake Shoes Brake LiningCar Brake Friction Product Market : Application Analysis LCV(Light Commercial Vehicle) HCV(Heavy Commercial Vehicle)Firstly, the report covers the top Car Brake Friction Product 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 Car Brake Friction Product report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Car Brake Friction Product industry, Car Brake Friction Product industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Car Brake Friction Product Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Car Brake Friction Product research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Car Brake Friction Product market revenue worldwide.Finally, Car Brake Friction Product 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 75244United States
Nov 16, 2017: Car Black Box Market Forecast 2023 JADO, BOOMYOURS, LIMTECH, Generic

Car Black Box

https://goo.gl/1mVLeQ

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-automobile-black-box-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Car Black Box Market  examines the performance of the Car Black Box market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Car Black Box market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Car Black Box market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Car Black Box Market 2017 report includes Car Black Box market Size, Revenue, market Share, Car Black Box industry volume, market Trends, Car Black Box Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Car Black Box Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Car Black Box Market Forecast 2017:1. JADO2. BOOMYOURS3. LIMTECH4. Generic5. Falcon Zero6. Tachograph7. Aketek8. TryAce9. Z-Edge10. Tsing11. HDE12. UDI13. AbeoFirstly, the report covers the top Car Black Box 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 Car Black Box report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Car Black Box industry, Car Black Box industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Car Black Box Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Car Black Box research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Car Black Box market revenue worldwide.Finally, Car Black Box 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 75244United States
Nov 16, 2017: Benzocaine CAS Market Forecast 2023 Merck KGaA, Alfa Aesar, Pure Chems, Jusheng

Benzocaine CAS

https://goo.gl/ScRUqa

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-benzocaine-cas-94-09-7-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Benzocaine CAS Market  examines the performance of the Benzocaine CAS market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Benzocaine CAS market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Benzocaine CAS market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Benzocaine CAS Market 2017 report includes Benzocaine CAS market Size, Revenue, market Share, Benzocaine CAS industry volume, market Trends, Benzocaine CAS Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Benzocaine CAS Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Benzocaine CAS Market Forecast 2017:1. TCI2. Merck KGaA3. Aceto Corporation4. Alfa Aesar5. Penta Manufacturing Company6. ABCR GmbH & CO. KG7. Pure Chems8. Oakwood Products9. Indofine Chemical Company10. Jiutai Pharmaceutial11. Changzhou Sunlight Pharmaceutical12. Energy Chemical13. Jusheng14. Yuanye15. Jinan Subang16. Changzhou Josen17. Ho Tai18. Eashu PharmaceuticalBenzocaine CAS Market : Type Analysis Benzocaine with 98% Purity Benzocaine with 99% PurityBenzocaine CAS Market : Application Analysis Cosmetics AnestheticFirstly, the report covers the top Benzocaine CAS 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 Benzocaine CAS report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Benzocaine CAS industry, Benzocaine CAS industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Benzocaine CAS Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Benzocaine CAS 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 Benzocaine CAS market revenue worldwide.Finally, Benzocaine CAS 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 75244United States
Nov 16, 2017: Barium Sulphate Market Forecast 2023 Cimbar, Solvay SA, Fuhua Chem, Huntsman

Barium Sulphate

https://goo.gl/1XzRr5

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-barium-sulphate-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Barium Sulphate Market  examines the performance of the Barium Sulphate market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Barium Sulphate market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Barium Sulphate market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Barium Sulphate Market 2017 report includes Barium Sulphate market Size, Revenue, market Share, Barium Sulphate industry volume, market Trends, Barium Sulphate Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Barium Sulphate Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Barium Sulphate Market Forecast 2017:1. Cimbar Performance Minerals2. Barium & Chemicals, Inc3. Solvay SA4. Shenzhou Jiaxin Chemical Co., Ltd5. Fuhua Chem6. HuntsmanBarium Sulphate Market : Type Analysis Industrial Grade Pharmaceutical GradeBarium Sulphate Market : Application Analysis Chemical Industry PharmaceuticalFirstly, the report covers the top Barium Sulphate 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 Barium Sulphate report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Barium Sulphate industry, Barium Sulphate industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Barium Sulphate Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Barium Sulphate 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 Barium Sulphate market revenue worldwide.Finally, Barium Sulphate 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 75244United States
Nov 16, 2017: Barber Pole Dome Tops Market Forecast 2023 AB Salon Equipment, William Marvy Company

Barber Pole Dome Tops

https://goo.gl/YL1kL8

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-barber-pole-dome-tops-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Barber Pole Dome Tops Market  examines the performance of the Barber Pole Dome Tops market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Barber Pole Dome Tops market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Barber Pole Dome Tops market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Barber Pole Dome Tops Market 2017 report includes Barber Pole Dome Tops market Size, Revenue, market Share, Barber Pole Dome Tops industry volume, market Trends, Barber Pole Dome Tops Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Barber Pole Dome Tops Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Barber Pole Dome Tops Market Forecast 2017: AB Salon Equipment William Marvy CompanyFirstly, the report covers the top Barber Pole Dome Tops 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 Barber Pole Dome Tops report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Barber Pole Dome Tops industry, Barber Pole Dome Tops industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Barber Pole Dome Tops Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Barber Pole Dome Tops 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 Barber Pole Dome Tops market revenue worldwide.Finally, Barber Pole Dome Tops 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 75244United States
Nov, 16 2017: Camera Lenses Market Forecast 2023 Sigma, Canon, Pentax, Fujifilm, Sony, Nikon, Voigtlander

Camera Lenses

http://bit.ly/2zGOhQw

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-camera-lenses-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com

Camera Lenses Market Research 2017A market study "Global Camera Lenses Market" examines the performance of the Camera Lenses market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Camera Lenses market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Camera Lenses market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Camera Lenses Market 2017 report includes Camera Lenses market Revenue, market Share, Camera Lenses industry volume, market Trends, Camera Lenses Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Camera Lenses Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Camera Lenses Market 2017 : Canon Fujifilm Nikon Olympus Panasonic Pentax ROKINON Samsung SAMYANG Sigma Sony Tamron Tokina Voigtlander ZEISSFirstly, the report covers the top Camera Lenses manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Camera Lenses report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Camera Lenses industry, Camera Lenses industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Camera Lenses Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Camera Lenses 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 Camera Lenses market revenue worldwide.Finally, Camera Lenses 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
Asia Pacific to Grow at a Robust CAGR of 13.8% and Reflect High Potential in the Global Helicopter Seating Market

MRRSE

https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3360

https://www.mrrse.com/helicopter-seating-market

https://www.mrrse.com/

https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/

A comprehensive research report titled Helicopter Seating Market: Global Market Share, Industry Analysis, Trends, Growth and Forecasts 2017-2025, included in the research library of Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE) conveys a brief market understanding including trends, challenges, opportunities, restraints and drivers that have deep influence on the growth of the global helicopter seating market. This research study covers a detailed segmentation across important geographies of Asia Pacific (APAC), North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America. An in-depth market analysis along with forecasts for the assessment period 2017-2025 is presented in the report on the global helicopter seating market and a statistical data analysis has been carried out with a continuous market tracking since 2012.Click here For Free Sample Report @Global Helicopter Seating Market: ForecastThe global helicopter seating market is expected to grow at an exponential CAGR of 12.0% during the assessment period 2017-2025. The market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1.7 Bn in 2017 and with this enormous growth rate, is estimated to reach US$ 4.3 Bn by the end of 2025.Global Helicopter Seating Market: Category AnalysisGlobal helicopter seating market has been segmented into categories such as type (passenger, crew and others), application (utility, VIP, air medical applications and others) and by geography.Utility segment by application is poised to dominate the global helicopter seating market with respect to revenue share, followed by the medical applications segment. The VIP segment is expected to experience low sales owing to a higher price per unit; however, will have a significant relevance in the global helicopter seating marketNorth America is anticipated to dominate the global helicopter seating market. United States is the main contributor of growth in the North America region. North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast periodEurope also shows high potential in the growth of the global helicopter seating market owing to an increase in air medical services and use of helicopters in this sectorThe Asia Pacific region is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 13.8% during the assessment period 2017-2025 and is a vital growth region for the global helicopter seating market in the coming yearsGlobal Helicopter Seating Market: DynamicsThere has been a rise in the application of helicopter seats in the tourism sector as well as in the military and defense sectors. This has contributed to the growth of the global helicopter seating market. According to market observations, monopoly is absent in this market and hence there is no entry barrier. This presents good opportunity and scope for the global helicopter seating market to expand in the coming years. However, a main challenge faced by small sized and medium sized players is in establishing a manufacturing work place for helicopter seating as it needs huge resources and capital funds. Increase in expenditure in the military sector and increasing investments by manufacturing players dealing with aircraft seating has greater impact on the global helicopter seating market. Technological advancements have made it possible to develop technically sound products. Due to developments in technology, helicopter seats can offer safety and comfort. Moreover, incidences of accidents have gone down due to improvements in helicopter seating manufacturing technologies. This has contributed to the growth of the global helicopter seating market. Also, consumption of helicopter seating in military helicopters on a large scale coupled with increasing demand for VIP helicopters is fueling revenue growth of the global helicopter seating market. A growing aviation industry and increasing demand for quick transportation from high net worth individuals are the main motivators of revenue growth in the global helicopter seating market.Browse Full Report with TOC @Global Helicopter Seating Market: Competition LandscapeThe research report on the global helicopter seating market covers a detailed analysis on the various key players present in the market, in a separate competitive analysis section. Tier players such as UTC Aerospace Systems, Oregon Aero, Inc., Zodiac Aerospace, Stelia Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Inc., and Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd., are included.About MRRSEMarket 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:
Building Information Modeling Market - New Era Of Market & Forecast upto 2025

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Global Building Information Modeling Market: OverviewBuilding information modeling (BIM) is a process based on intelligent 3D modeling that helps in the more efficient management, construction, designing, and planning of infrastructure and buildings. BIM allows construction, engineering, and architecture professionals to gain a decisive insight and get equipped with powerful tools for streamlining their projects. BIM is considered effective in upgrading a projects work quality and productivity and complying with commercial and government BIM mandates.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Building Information Modeling Market: Key TrendsThe adoption of BIM is expected to have a positive impact on the construction sector and eventually on the world BIM market owing to some desirable advantages. These could be related to improvement in the coordination and communication practiced all through the asset lifecycle management process. The world BIM market is also expected to win traction on account of mandates regarding the application of BIM imposed by governments in developed nations. Other factors that could raise the growth bar for the world BIM market include the benefits of enhanced productivity and optimized project performance promised on the back of the adoption of BIM.For the forecast period 20172025, the industrial application is prognosticated to expand at a telling rate in the world BIM market. The industrial sector could draw lucrative growth opportunities for the world BIM market because of the adoption of BIM making possible digital prototyping simulation and analysis which help shorten the construction period. This allows construction projects to reduce risks and regularly upgrade productivity. BIM software pampering construction projects with the benefits of design modeling and fulfillment of their demand for economical processes are anticipated to set the tone for a powerful growth in the world BIM market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Building Information Modeling Market: Market PotentialThe gargantuan data center worth US$1.0 bn of Facebook, Inc. is expected to implement the technological merger of BIM software and real-time drone photos making a 3D collage by DPR Construction. This is envisaged to add value to the building procedure, according to the technology integration manager of the construction company. The company will employ licensed pilots to fly drones for calculating dirt levels and other progress in the construction process. The drone technology will also be implemented to construct the second phase of the campus.Global Building Information Modeling Market: Regional OutlookDuring the forecast period, the leading share in the international BIM market is predicted to be earned by North America. The key factors empowering the rise of the North America BIM market could be the ballooning awareness about the advantages of BIM among contractors and constructors and steadfast residential and commercial constructions. Industrial, civil infrastructure, and building applications in the international BIM market could showcase dominance while helping Europe to grab a larger share following North America.Get Discount @The high cost of BIM software and tools increasing the overall cost of projects could bruise the demand of the international BIM market. However, participants are foreseen to achieve profits against the odds in the international BIM market through strategic partnerships and robust distribution network. Autodesk, Inc., a U.S. company, is a ruling provider of software solutions in the international BIM market which serves the real estate, industrial, construction management, and architecture sectors.Global Building Information Modeling Market: Competitive LandscapeBesides strategic collaborations, companies operating the worldwide BIM market are prophesied to focus on the development of advanced technologies such as next-gen platforms and continued expansion in emerging regions. Lately, Autodesk, Inc. has partnered with Qatar Rail, Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd., and NASA Ames Research Center and is looking to stride forward while riding on technological advancements in 3D modeling. Some of the top companies in the worldwide BIM market are Asite Ltd., Bentley System, Inc., Trimble Navigation Limited, and Nemetschek SE.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 Signal Booster Market 2017: (Wilson Electronics, SureCall, Stella Doradus, SmoothTalker) Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends & Forecast to 2022

Signal Booster Market

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Global Signal Booster Market Professional Survey Report 2017 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk side analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing capital structure of the Global Signal Booster Market.Get Access to sample pages @Global Signal Booster market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includes Wilson Electronics, SureCall, Stella Doradus, SmoothTalker, Comba, Phonetone, GrenTech, SANWAVE, BoomSense & HuaptecGlobal Signal Booster (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Analog Signal Booster & Smart Signal BoosterMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Analog Signal Booster xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Smart Signal Booster xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Densely Populated Areas, Urban Fringe, Suburban and Rural Areas & Other with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Signal Booster (Thousands Units) by Application (2017-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2017 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2017-2022)Densely Populated Areas xx xx xx xx% xx%Urban Fringe xx xx xx xx% xx%Suburban and Rural Areas 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 Signal Booster in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2017 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2017-2022)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%This independent 102 page research with title Global Signal Booster Market Professional Survey Report 2017 covers geographic analysis that includes regions/countries like North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India and important players/vendors such as Wilson Electronics, SureCall, Stella Doradus, SmoothTalker, Comba, Phonetone, GrenTech, SANWAVE, BoomSense & Huaptec. With n-number of tables and figures examining the Signal Booster , the research gives you a perfect visual, products, submarkets and market leaders revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2022Each player highlighted in the research study contains companies Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors, in-depth business overview, geographic footprint and contact information. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to SWOT Analysis.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @This study is the collection of primary and secondary data including valuable information from major vendors in the market and the projections are derived on data from 2012 to current date and projected forecasts till 2022 which makes the research study a valuable resource for industry personnel, and other people looking for key industry related data in readily accessible documents with easy to analyze graphs and tables. The report is a perfect answer to future development roadmap of Signal Booster based on ongoing outlook to assist industry player understand the development journey of Signal Booster Market.Key questions answered in this report - Global Signal Booster Market Professional Survey Report 2017What will the market size be in 2022 and what will the growth rate beWhat are the key market trendsWhat is driving Global Signal Booster marketWhat are the challenges to market growthWho are the key vendors in Global Signal Booster market spaceBuy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Signal Booster market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Signal Booster , Applications of Signal Booster , Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India, Signal Booster Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Signal Booster Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Major Manufacturers Analysis of ;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Analog Signal Booster & Smart Signal Booster], Market Trend by Application [Densely Populated Areas, Urban Fringe, Suburban and Rural Areas & Other];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of ;Chapter 12, to describe Signal Booster Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Signal Booster 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.Connect with us atHTF 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
Telemedicine Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017  2022

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Global Telemedicine IndustryGlobal Telemedicine market is accounted for $19.3 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $52.3 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 15.3% from 2015 to 2022. Factors such as technological innovation, increasing remote patient monitoring, growing geriatric population treatments and shortage of physicians are driving the market growth. Uneven distribution of telecom network in remote areas, high operating costs, the lack of infrastructure and reimbursement issues are expected to constrain the market.Request for Sample Report @Telehospitals/Teleclinics holds the largest share among the end users. North America is the leading Market for telemedicine led by the high adoption of technology. Asia Pacific market is expected to grow further followed by Rest of The Word.Some of the key players in global Telemedicine market are Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc, InTouch Technologies, Inc, CISCO Systems, Inc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, AMD Global Telemedicine, Inc, Honeywell HomMed LLC, OBS Medical Ltd, LifeWatch AG, Medtronic, Inc, Siemens Healthcare , McKesson Corp, Agfa HealthCare NV, Philips Healthcare, GE Healthcare Ltd and International Business Machines Corp.Buy now @Technologies Covered: Hardware Software Telecommunications NetworkApplications Covered: Cardiology Dermatology Neurology Gynaecology Trauma care Ophthalmology Orthopaedics Psychiatry Pathology General surgery General consultationTypes Covered: Telehome Mobile health Telehospitals & ClinicsEnd Users Covered: Hospitals Clinics PatientsServices Covered: Tele-monitoring Tele-consultation Tele-surgery Tele-training Tele-care Tele-educationRegions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao EgyptFor Detailed Reading Please visit WiseGuy Reports @What our report offers: Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments Market share analysis of the top industry players Strategic recommendations for the new entrants Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsAbout UsWise 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 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.Contact Us:Norah Trent+1 646 845 9349 / +44 208 133 9349Follow on LinkedIn: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.Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdPune  411028Maharashtra, GlobalPh: +91 841 198 5042
Global Sheet Metal Fabrication Services Market Insights and Growth Trends, Forecast Analysis During 2017-2027

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After thoroughly studying the global sheet metal fabrication services market, it has been observed that this market is likely to grow rapidly in the years to come. A new report titled Sheet Metal Fabrication Services Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 suggests that the global sheet metal fabrication services market has gained a significant position in the sector of metalworking across the various regions covered in this report. According to the analysts who have extensively examined this market, although the global sheet metal fabrication services market is estimated to grow speedily in the coming years, it is anticipated to register a CAGR of only 1.4% during the projected period of eight years, i.e. 2017-2025.Click here For Free Sample Report @Key Trends Observed in the Global Sheet Metal Fabrication Services MarketThis research report presents some of the key trends influencing the global sheet metal fabrication services market in various geographical regions such as Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, North America, and Latin America. Some of the key trends include Growth of construction and telecommunication industries and the automotive sector in the developing economies such as the Middle East and Africa and Asia PacificSlow market growth owing to factors such as fluctuations in the prices of raw materialRising adoption of prefabrication techniques, inclusion of automation in the process of fabrication and high-quality products supplied by fabrication shopsGlobal Sheet Metal Fabrication Services Market: Segmentation and ForecastThe market is segmented by material type, form type, end-use industries and region. Material type segment includes aluminum, steel and others. As the aerospace sector is flourishing the aluminum segment is also likely to show good progress during the forecasted period. It is expected to grab around 40% share of the global sheet metal fabrication services market. Steel is the significant leader in the material type segment. Punch sheet, cut sheet, and bend/angular form are the main segments by form. It has been noticed that cut sheet and punch sheet segments together account for more than 50% share of the global sheet metal fabrication services market.On the basis of end use industry, the sheet metal fabrication services market is divided into aerospace, automotive manufacturing, construction, electronics, food processing, telecommunication, architecture, and other sectors that include energy, medical, and power.Global Sheet Metal Fabrication Services Market: Regional ForecastTopographically, North America is the main contributor in the global market for sheet metal fabrication services and is probably likely to remain an important regional player in the global market during the forecasted period. Asia Pacific is additionally prone to rise as a noteworthy regional player because of the speedy industrialization in this region. The North America sheet metal fabrication services market is estimated to reach a market value of US$ 711.1 Mn by the end of 2025. In Asia Pacific, the sheet metal fabrication services market is likely to exhibit a CAGR of 1.8% in the projected period.Browse Full Report with TOC @Global Sheet Metal Fabrication Services Market: Key VendorsThe report profiles some of the leading companies operating in the global sheet metal fabrication services market such as Mayville Engineering Company Inc., Hydram Sheet Metalwork, Classic Sheet Metal, Inc., Marlin Steel Wire Products LLC, Ironform Corporation, All Metals Fabricating, Noble Industries, Inc., The Metalworking Group, Metcam Inc., Standard Iron & Wire Works Inc., Moreng Meta, Inc., Mayville Engineering Company Inc., Kapco Metal Stamping, BTD Manufacturing Inc.About MRRSEMarket 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, 16 2017: Camshaft Assy Market Forecast 2023 Visteon, Thyssenkrupp, Delphi, Zhongzhou Jituan, General Motors

Camshaft Assy

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Camshaft Assy Market Research 2017A market study "Global Camshaft Assy Market" examines the performance of the Camshaft Assy market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Camshaft Assy market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Camshaft Assy market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Camshaft Assy Market 2017 report includes Camshaft Assy market Revenue, market Share, Camshaft Assy industry volume, market Trends, Camshaft Assy Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Camshaft Assy Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Camshaft Assy Market 2017 : Thyssenkrupp Zhongzhou Jituan General Motors Visteon DelphiCamshaft Assy Market : By Application Automobile Watercraft Other ElectromechanicalsCamshaft Assy Market : By Type Overhead Camshaft(OHC) One-piece Camshaft(OPC)Firstly, the report covers the top Camshaft Assy manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Camshaft Assy report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Camshaft Assy industry, Camshaft Assy industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Camshaft Assy Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Camshaft Assy 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 Camshaft Assy market revenue worldwide.Finally, Camshaft Assy 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, 16 2017: Canthaxanthin Market Forecast 2023 FMC, DDW, BASF, Novepha, Cyanotech, Carotech Berhad, Chengdu Biopurify

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Canthaxanthin Market Research 2017A market study "Global Canthaxanthin Market" examines the performance of the Canthaxanthin market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Canthaxanthin market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Canthaxanthin market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Canthaxanthin Market 2017 report includes Canthaxanthin market Revenue, market Share, Canthaxanthin industry volume, market Trends, Canthaxanthin Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Canthaxanthin Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Canthaxanthin Market 2017 : BASF Carotech Berhad Cyanotech Corporation DDW Dohler Group DSM FMC Corporation Kemin Industries Allied Biotech Corporation Novepha Company Chengdu BiopurifyCanthaxanthin Market : By Application Food FeedCanthaxanthin Market : By Type Synthetic Canthaxanthin Natural CanthaxanthinFirstly, the report covers the top Canthaxanthin manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Canthaxanthin report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Canthaxanthin industry, Canthaxanthin industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Canthaxanthin Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Canthaxanthin 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 Canthaxanthin market revenue worldwide.Finally, Canthaxanthin 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, 16 2017: Caprylic Acid Market Forecast 2023 Oleon, Hallstar, Solazyme, Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Wilmar International

Caprylic Acid

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Caprylic Acid Market Research 2017A market study "Global Caprylic Acid Market" examines the performance of the Caprylic Acid market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Caprylic Acid market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Caprylic Acid market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Caprylic Acid Market 2017 report includes Caprylic Acid market Revenue, market Share, Caprylic Acid industry volume, market Trends, Caprylic Acid Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Caprylic Acid Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Caprylic Acid Market 2017 : Wilmar International Ltd. VVF LLC Vigon International Inc Hallstar Ecogreen Oleochemicals KLK Oleo Oleon Solazyme Pacific Oleochemicals Sdn BhdCaprylic Acid Market : By Application Personal Care Pharmaceutical Food & Beverages AgrochemicalCaprylic Acid Market : By Type Coconut Oil Palm Oil Algal OilFirstly, the report covers the top Caprylic Acid manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Caprylic Acid report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Caprylic Acid industry, Caprylic Acid industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Caprylic Acid Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Caprylic Acid 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 Caprylic Acid market revenue worldwide.Finally, Caprylic Acid 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
With an Impressive CAGR of 13.4%, the Global Healthcare Facilities Management Market to Reach Significant Growth during 2017-2025

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A newly published research report, Healthcare Facilities Management Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2025 indicates that the global healthcare facilities management market is likely to grow at a striking Compound Annual Growth Rate of 13.4% during the projected period 2017  2025. IoT (Internet of Things) and cloud computing are two important platforms that are anticipated to open new doors for key players operating in the global healthcare facilities management market, who are yet to discover various untapped demands in remote areas across the globe. According to this research report, the global healthcare facilities management market is anticipated to be valued at US$ 577.92 Bn by 2025 end. The market valuation in 2016 stood at USS 187.35 Bn.Click here For Free Sample Report @Global Healthcare Facilities Management Market Forecast, By Service TypeBy service type, the global healthcare facilities management market is segmented into soft services and hard services. The soft services segment is anticipated to grow rapidly, while the hard services segment is likely to contribute towards generating a major share of revenue for the key vendors in the global healthcare facilities management market. Some of the significant factors that are expected to fuel revenue growth of the hard services segment include increasing government support, reduced energy cost and a need to restrain operating costs.Global Healthcare Facilities Management Market: Key GeographiesIn the present situation, North America and Europe are most beneficial regions for key players operating in the global healthcare facilities management market, which is basically because of a healthy growth of healthcare infrastructure in various developed countries such as Germany, U.S, France, the U.K., and Canada. While North America is likely to hold its driving position; on the other hand, Europe is expected to lose ground against Asia Pacific, which is quickly transforming into an exceedingly lucrative market. Rising Asian economies such as China, India and Japan are acquiring adequate support from their local governments to develop healthcare infrastructure in their respective regions. The new trend of medical tourism is booming in Malaysias healthcare facilities management market. The regions of the Middle East and Africa and additionally South America are likewise anticipated to witness significant growth rate during the period of forecast.Browse Full Report with TOC @Global Healthcare Facilities Management Market: Competitive LandscapeSodexo, Inc., ISS World Services A/S, Aramark, Ecolab USA Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, ABM, OCS Group, IP, Mitie Group PLC, Medxcel Facilities Management, Compass Group PLC, and Vanguard Resources are some of the prominent companies presently operating in the global healthcare facilities management market. The two significant business strategies of these companies to retain their position in the global healthcare facilities management market are improved services portfolio and product innovation.About MRRSEMarket 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, 16 2017: Brake Power Booster Market Forecast 2023 Wanxiang, Aisin Seiki, Wuhu Bethel, Hyundai Mobis, Dongguang Aowei

Brake Power Booster

http://bit.ly/2jrr0Mh

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-brake-power-booster-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com

Brake Power Booster Market Research 2017A market study "Global Brake Power Booster Market" examines the performance of the Brake Power Booster market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Brake Power Booster market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Brake Power Booster market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Brake Power Booster Market 2017 report includes Brake Power Booster market Revenue, market Share, Brake Power Booster industry volume, market Trends, Brake Power Booster Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Brake Power Booster Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Brake Power Booster Market 2017 : Aisin Seiki Hyundai Mobis Continnetal TRW Mando Bosch HUAYU Nissin Kogyo Hitachi Dongguang Aowei Wanxiang Zhejiang VIE Zhejiang Jingke FTE APG BWI Group Wuhu Bethel CARDONE Liuzhou WulingBrake Power Booster Market : By Application Passenger Vehicle Commercial VehicleBrake Power Booster Market : By Type Single Diaphragm Booster Dual Diaphragm BoosterFirstly, the report covers the top Brake Power Booster manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Brake Power Booster report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Brake Power Booster industry, Brake Power Booster industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Brake Power Booster Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Brake Power Booster 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 Brake Power Booster market revenue worldwide.Finally, Brake Power Booster 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 Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment Market Predictions and Opportunity Assessment Forecasted for the Period 2017-2027

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https://www.mrrse.com/dry-eye-syndrome-treatment-market

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https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/

It is important to know that, dry eye syndrome is a chronic and typically progressive condition. Dry eyes can be successfully managed, usually resulting in remarkably greater eye comfort and fewer dry eye symptoms. To further learn about the different treatment methods for dry eye syndrome, a new study has been added to the wide database of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). The research report is titled Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027, which includes information about the active market status, along with forecast growth for the period until 2027.Click here For Free Sample Report @As per key research details, the global dry eye syndrome treatment market is estimated to be valued at nearly US$ 3,560 Mn by 2017 end, and is projected to reach about US$ 6,610 Mn by the end of 2027, recording a CAGR of 6.4% over the forecast period.The research report starts with the executive summary which covers the market analysis and market overview. Further, the market viewpoint is presented that covers macro-economic factors. Some of the mentioned factors include involvement of governments and private organizations in ophthalmic care, increasing consumer awareness and agreement with distributers to increase product reach. Readers can also access details about the opportunity analysis and reimbursement scenario, in order to understand the market in a better manner.As the report proceeds, the readers can access details about the geographical segmentation of the dry eye syndrome treatment market. The primary regions mentioned in the report are North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, Latin America, Japan and Middle East & Africa. It is interesting to know that, the major countries are also evaluated so as to analyze the dry eye syndrome treatment market in a precise manner. Several factors such as key regulations, Porters analysis and market drivers are taken into consideration for this evaluation.Browse Full Report with TOC @It has been analyzed that, by the end of 2027, the dry eye syndrome treatment market in North America is likely to reach a market valuation in excess of US$ 2,500 Mn, showcasing a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period. Further, the North America dry eye syndrome treatment market is anticipated to represent an absolute $ opportunity of US$ 88.6 Mn in 2018 over 2017. Also, by the end of 2027, the dry eye syndrome treatment market in APEJ is expected to reach US$ 878.7 Mn, recording a CAGR of 7.4% over the forecast period.About MRRSEMarket 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:
Light Tower Market - Trends, Share,Growth & Forecast upto 2025

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Global Light Tower Market: OverviewThe rising focus on implementation of safety standards, norms, regulations in the construction sector, which across the globe is increasingly seeing the usage of technologically advanced equipment and construction methods, has led to vast changes in the way key operations are undertaken. Especially during nights or on dull days, the use of light towers, the tall, often mobile, structures fitted with non-glare electric lights, is becoming a norm across the world. This welcome trend has opened vast growth opportunities for the global light tower market and the number of companies entering this segment as well as the variety of products entering the global market have picked up pace.Global Light Tower Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising focus on the implementation of employee safety regulations and norms in industries such as construction and mining are the key factors driving the global market for light towers. The rapid pace of introduction of new product varieties, with energy-efficient lighting and higher fuel capacities, are also driving the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @However, owing to the largely unorganized nature of the market, with local and regional vendors dominating high-potential regional markets such as Asia Pacific, international players find it difficult to expand their consumer base. While international players are required to follow strict international standards, local players need to adhere only to regional standards and enjoy the advantage of local production. The scenario makes it difficult for international players to compete with local vendors, restricting their growth opportunities.Global Light Tower Market: Market PotentialDiesel-powered light towers are presently the most commonly used light towers in key end-use industries, chiefly owing to the easy availability of the fuel, ease of storage, high reliability of diesel-based generators. Longer running times of diesel-powered light towers also make them the primary choice across a number of applications. Although rising pressure from environment conservation bodies is driving the increased adoption of solar-powered light towers, the unreliable power supply from present-day solar power technologies will help the diesel-powered light tower segment retain its dominance over the reports forecast period.Request TOC of the Report @As infrastructure development projects are spreading into deeper interiors in rapidly urbanizing emerging economies such as India and China, the demand for light towers with large fuel storage capacities is on rise. Owing to the rising demand from contractors for products with large fuel capacity, manufacturers are increasingly producing machines of more than 100 liters capacity.Global Light Tower Market: Geographical DynamicsFrom a geographical perspective, the market for light towers has been examined in the report for regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is presently the leading regional market for light towers. The region has witnessed consistent growth in the fields of infrastructure development and real estate in the past few years and the construction industry continues to see strong growth.Get Discount @Employee safety regulations in the region are become increasingly stringent, helping the market for light towers to pick up pace. The market for light towers is expected to thrive in the Asia Pacific region in the next few years as well, thanks to sustained demand from the construction and infrastructure development sectors in emerging countries such as Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, India, and Taiwan.Global Light Tower Market: Competitive LandscapeThe global market for light towers is dominated by few international players, which continue to hold a considerable share in the overall market, especially across developed economies in regions such as North America and Europe. In developing economies such as India and China, the market is largely unorganized, featuring the dominance of regional or local vendors. Realizing the vast growth opportunities, international players are slowly entering these unorganized markets through mergers, acquisitions, and establishing supply networks.Some of the leading vendors operating in the global light towers market are Generac Holding, Inc. (U.S.), Wacker Neuson (Germany), Atlas Copco (Sweden), and Terex Corporation (U.S.).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 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing Market: Prospects, Trends & Forecasted Growth at 7.6% CAGR during 2017 - 2025

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Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a form of the virus which can cause cervix cell changes. Hence, the HPV test is important for the diagnosis of issues such as cervical cancer. To study briefly about the HPV testing market, a fresh report has been added to the wide online collection managed by Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). The report titled Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing Market: Global Industry Analysis 20122016 and Forecast 2017  2025, offers exact details related to the current market status along with regional divergence all across the globe. Also, the report includes market analysis and forecast for the period between 2017 and 2025. As per research study findings, the market is expected to acquire a value of US$ 1,130 Mn by the end of 2025, portraying a CAGR of 7.6% over the stated forecast period.Click here For Free Sample Report @HPV viruses are generally termed as papilloma viruses due to their tendencies to cause papilloma or warts. It is important to know that, few HPVs are even cancer causing viruses. Further, HPVs can be grouped as low-risk genital HPV types and high-risk genital HPV types. To understand in-depth, the research study is divided into four distinct sections. The initial portion talks about the market overview, PMR analysis, and market taxonomy. These aspects are necessary to make the readers familiar with the human papilloma virus testing market. This section also encloses the market opportunity analysis, which includes information about macro-economic factors.The following section offers a geographical segmentation considered various factors such as key regulations, market dynamic (drivers, restraints, and trends) and historical market size, 2012-2016. The prime market regions are North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Readers also get to acquire knowledge about the papillomavirus (HPV) testing market analysis and forecast together with important market metrics such as year-on-year growth rates, BPS analysis, absolute dollar opportunity, and market attractiveness analysis. The report presents a market segmentation based on product type, namely, DNA-based test and RNA-based test. Presently, the end-user for HPV testing include hospitals, diagnosis centers, clinics and research institutes.Browse Full Report with TOC @The final section of the report is dedicated for the competitive landscape of the HPV testing market. Each of the leading companies is also profiled individually along with important information about the company such as company description, company details, and product portfolio. Also, key developments and strategic analysis are also available in this section.About MRRSEMarket 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:
Tata CLiQ Coupons - Save On Fashion, Accessories, Gadgets & Appliances

https://freekaamaal.com/tatacliq-coupons

Launched in 2010, FreeKaaMaal.com brings exceptional deals on products and services for users. FreeKaaMaal users can take advantage of deals on fashion, home appliances, footwear, kids products and more at online stores. The deals and coupons applicable are listed across different categories like fashion, electronics, furnishing, health & beauty, food & dining and much more. The website brings Tata CLiQ coupons to help shoppers save on fashion, lifestyle, and electronics. FreekaaMaal has been designed in a way to help shoppers use the best coupons and deals for various online stores. The users just need to visit the site to avail all the available discounts and make purchases at discounted rates. Users benefit from added savings through promotional offers and coupons present on the website.About Tata CLiQ Coupons:Tata CLiQ combines online and offline shopping experience to serve over one million customers. One of the fastest growing websites in the country Tata CLiQ assures a seamless shopping express across desktop, mobile, and tablet. First of its kind Phygital marketplace, Tata CLiQ, brings best Indian and international brands across categories like fashion and accessories, gadgets and appliances. Also shop the best luxury labels across apparel, shoes, and accessories with Tata CLiQ luxury.Enjoy a range of fabulous discounts across all product categories for a shopping experience full of savings. Use Tata CLiQ coupons on your purchase to attract additional discounts on your purchase. Latest and verified Tata CLiQ coupon codes are available at FreeKaaMaal.com. The best thing is that all these discounts are easy to avail in a single click. After adding your favorite products to cart on Tata CLiQ at the checkout page enter the coupon code to receive discount. Complete your purchase using any of the available modes of payment.About FreeKaaMaal:FreeKaaMaal is a website offering best deals, discount coupon, and freebies from top online stores in India. The website has been established with aim of helping customers to cut their shopping expenses. The evolution of deal hunting sites provides an opportunity to shop at discounted prices. All the deals, coupons & offers available across online stores are reviewed to publish those which help visitors to save the most. FreeKaaMaal is also available for users on the mobile and desktop platforms. The deal hunting platform has a world-class mobile site and Android app to provide seamless bargaining experience on the go.For more information visit our website:-The online marketplace has witnessed rapid growth and the deal-hunting websites have prospered equally with the numbers growing every season. The Deals and coupons industry has come up as a parallel industry where users share deals.Office No. 208 A The IthumIT Park A Block, Plot 40Noida Sector 62
Interventional Oncology Market - Future Market with Current Trend Analysis upto 2025

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Global Interventional Oncology Market: OverviewInterventional oncology, a subspecialty of interventional radiology, finds application in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and cancer-related problems. It is an image-guided, minimally-invasive technique conducted by trained experts. Most procedures are either outpatient or require an overnight stay in the hospital. Recovery time is also minimal. Some of the popular procedures used are intra-arterial therapies, ablative therapies, pain palliation, and neoadjuvant (pre-operative) procedures.A report by TMR research studies the global market for oncology intervention in details by factoring in current and historical data. It presents a qualitative analysis of the growth drivers and restraints and also projects it growth trajectory in the future.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Interventional Oncology Market: Key TrendsFanning growth in the global interventional oncology market is the increasing instances of liver, lung, stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer worldwide. This has upped demand for minimally invasive procedures to treat or eliminate cancerous cells. On account of their targeted nature that cause little damage to adjacent tissues and organs, cause little complications, and result in a shorter recovery time, minimally invasive techniques in interventional oncology has stolen a march over alternative cancer treatments such as conventional surgeries, systematic chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, and systematic chemotherapy.Additionally, the rising combination of image-guided solutions with interventional oncology procedures will also likely stoke the global market for interventional oncology in the next couple of years.Request TOC of the Report @Global Interventional Oncology Market: Market PotentialThe global market for interventional oncology is primed for healthy growth in the foreseeable future. A growing thrust on pairing up interventional oncology drugs with device-based interventional oncology procedures could make the procedure mainstream soon. This would likely provide a major fillip to the market.Depending upon procedure and analysis, the global market for interventional oncology can be segmented into ablation and embolization. Of the two, the interventional oncology embolization segment holds a leading share in the market and would continue doing so in the near future. This is because of the rising need for minimally invasive procedures in the treatment of cancer, uptake of embolization procedures by hospitals and ASCs, and direct selling of embolization products, namely DC Bead, Bead Block, and DC Bead M1.Global Interventional Oncology Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the key segments of the market are the Americas, Asia Pacific, and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Among them, the Americas hold a leading position and will continue doing so in the upcoming years as well on account of the rising instances of cancer, increasing application of minimally invasive procedures, technological progress such as robotic navigation systems, and effective medical reimbursement policies. Increasing support from the government and other organizations for research and developmental activities is also expected to bode well for the market in the region.Get Discount @Global Smart Plug Market: Competitive AnalysisThe global market for interventional oncology is highly competitive and diversified because of the presence of numerous regional and international vendors worldwide. The market is highly dynamic on account of rapid technological advancements and unveiling of new products from time to time. All of these are also serving to intensify the competition in the market. Many savvy vendors are leveraging advanced technologies to improve their product portfolio, bring out innovative products, and enhance patient satisfaction. This has helped them outsmart new entrants. Some of the key players profiled in the report are Boston Scientific, Medtronic, BTG, TERUMO, and Merit Medical.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, 16 2017: Biochar Market Forecast 2023 Sonnenerde, Kina, Vega Biofuels, ElementC6, Verora, Diacarbon Energy

Biochar

http://bit.ly/2yIOcIA

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-biochar-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com

Biochar Market Research 2017A market study "Global Biochar Market" examines the performance of the Biochar market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Biochar market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Biochar market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Biochar Market 2017 report includes Biochar market Revenue, market Share, Biochar industry volume, market Trends, Biochar Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Biochar Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Biochar Market 2017 : Diacarbon Energy Agri-Tech Producers Biochar Now Carbon Gold Kina The Biochar Company Swiss Biochar GmbH ElementC6 BioChar Products BlackCarbon Cool Planet Carbon Terra Pacific Biochar Vega Biofuels Liaoning Jinhefu Group Hubei Jinri Ecology-Energy Nanjing Qinfeng Crop-straw Technology Seek Bio-Technology (Shanghai) Sonnenerde Biokol ECOSUS Terra Humana VeroraBiochar Market : By Application Soil Conditioner Fertilizer OthersBiochar Market : By Type Wood Stover Source Biochar Corn Stover Source Biochar Rice Stover Source Biochar Wheat Stover Source Biochar Other Source BiocharFirstly, the report covers the top Biochar manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Biochar report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Biochar industry, Biochar industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Biochar Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Biochar 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 Biochar market revenue worldwide.Finally, Biochar 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
Cellular Health Screening Market foreseen to grow exponentially by 2022

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http://www.theglobalhealthnews.com/

The global cellular health screening market is likely to exhibit a strong 8% CAGR between 2017 and 2022, according to Transparency Market Research. The valuation of the cellular health screening is expected to rise from US$2.1 bn to US$3.1 bn over the forecast period.The global cellular health screening market has come up at a steady rate in the last few years due to the growth of the healthcare sector across the world, which has led to the availability of technological advancements enabling advanced cellular studies. Cellular health screening allows physicians to understand how the body is functioning at a cellular level, including a clearer understanding of how various bodily systems are functioning and how aging has affected them. The clearer understanding of the bodys functioning on the whole provides physicians more options to come up with more efficacious targeted treatment and management plans for a number of disorders. Monitoring ongoing treatments is also made easier with the help of cellular health screening, as it allows for dynamic calibration of the treatment plan according to the bodys response to various components of the treatment.One of the prime drivers for the global cellular health screening market is the growing geriatric population across the world and particularly in developed regions, where the cellular health screening market is likely to receive a dominant share of its demand in the coming years. The geriatric population has become a dominant contributor to the healthcare sector in recent years due to the high disposable income of the geriatric demographic in developed regions and the rising average age of death, which is prolonging the demand for healthcare services from the geriatric demographic. The growing geriatric demographic in regions such as North America and Europe and the steady government support to technologies that improve geriatric care is thus likely to remain a key driver for the global cellular health screening market in the coming years.Read Report Overview @Growing focus on preventative healthcare is also likely to benefit the global cellular health screening market in the coming years. The benefits of advancing preventative healthcare over curative methods are tangible in terms of economics as well as the health benefits, leading to several governments across the world emphasizing on the need to improve screening services in order to diagnose disorders as soon as possible, making it easier to deal with them. The cellular health screening market is likely to gain significantly from this trend in the coming years, as cellular health screening provides a look into the functioning of multiple systems in the body as well as into the effect of the aging process on the health of each part of the body.Request Sample Report @On the other hand, a key restraint hampering the growth prospects of the global cellular health screening market is the difficulty encountered by healthcare agencies in transporting bodily samples and maintaining them in the ideal condition to perform cellular health screening. Due to the comprehensive analysis offered by cellular health screening, the methods require pristine samples, which can be difficult in emerging regions due to the lack of advanced transportation options in the healthcare sector.Request Market Report Brochure @Competitive DynamicsLeading players in the global cellular health screening market include Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc., Cell Science Systems Corporation, Cleveland HeartLab Inc., Genova Diagnostics Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Life Length S.L., and SpectraCell Laboratories Inc.Buy Full Cellular Health Screening Market Report @About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:TMR Blog:
Snoring Control Devices Market - Present Scenario & Growth Prospects 2017 - 2025

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Global Snoring Control Devices Market: OverviewSnoring control devices are used to help people who snore because of nasal obstruction. There are a variety of snoring control devices available that range from mouthpieces to chin straps to anti snoring pillows to nasal devices to pills and sprays. These devices are either insertable or are used topically to help with unobstructed flow of air through the mouth and nose.Global Snoring Control Devices Market: Key TrendsThe increasing demand for homecare settings is the primary factor driving the global snoring control devices market. Elderly and severely ill individuals are unable to make frequent visits to hospitals and thus need monitoring devices that are suitable for homecare use. The availability of devices that are suitable for home-care provides convenience to these individuals to monitor their health in a cost-effective manner.Request Sample Copy of the Report @With the growing popularity of online sales channel, consumers can purchase anti snoring devices such as chin straps and nasal strips that saves visit to healthcare centers or physicians.In terms of product type, the snoring control devices market is segmented into mandibular advancement device, nasal devices, expiratory positive airway pressure devices, tongue stabilizing device, and chin straps. Among these, mandibular advancement device stood as the leading product segment in the recent past. The advantages of mandibular advancement device include cost-effectiveness, availability of custom-made devices, and elimination of need of surgery for snoring treatment.On the basis of end-user, the segments of this market are hospitals, home care settings, and sleep labs. Of these, hospitals stood as the leading end-user segment in the recent past. The high volume use of these devices in hospitals for sleep disorders and the high revenue generation by large hospitals are contributing to the growth of this product segment.Request TOC of the Report @Global Snoring Control Devices Market: Market PotentialWith technology penetrating practically every walk of life smart bed is the answer to adjust sleepers body to stop snoring. It has been designed to adjust for different body positions and even raises the sleepers head to clear airways if it detects snoring.The Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed comes in the midst of a new movement for sleep tech gadgets. They are designed to help time-starved consumers get best possible sleep amid their busy lives. The product was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2017 in Las Vegas and is expected to register booming sales next year.. The expo is the technology industrys yearly event for showcasing latest gadgets.Global Snoring Control Devices Market: Regional OutlookThe global market for snoring devices is analyzed with respect to the regional segments of North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Of these, North America is the leading market for snoring control devices due to financial assistance from government for research and development of innovative devices and favorable regulatory framework for the same. The rising incidence of sleep disorders and lifestyle changes are also contributing to the growth of this regional market.Get Discount @The region is followed by Europe in terms of revenue contribution to the global market. Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the fastest growing market for snoring control devices over the forecast period.Global Snoring Control Devices Market: Competitive LandscapeThe leading companies in the global snoring control devices market include GlaxoSmithKline, ResMed, and MPowrx Health and Wellness Products. Other prominent vendors include Apnea Sciences, Sleeping Well, SNOREDOC, TheraSnore, ZYPPAH, AirSnore, MEDiTAS, Sleep Tight Mouthpiece, SnoreMeds, abd VitalSleep.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 Hepatitis C Treatment Market is Anticipated to Grow US$ 71.13 Bn by the End of 2024

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Persistence Market Research (PMR) delivers key insights on the global hepatitis C treatment market in its latest report titled Hepatitis C Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 20162024. The global hepatitis C treatment market was valued at US$ 23.9 Bn in 2015 and is estimated to be valued at US$ 26.6 Bn by 2016. The market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 71.13 Bn by the end of 2024, reflecting a CAGR of 13.1% over the forecast period.Request Sample Report@Growth of the global hepatitis C treatment market is primarily driven by factors such as increase in the prevalence of hepatitis C infections in the U.S. and Canada and rising per capita healthcare expenditure across the globe. Also government initiatives to control infection and various private NGOs creating awareness about treatment is also fueling the market growth. However, high cost associated with hepatitis C treatment drugs and lack of awareness about hepatitis C infection in the regions of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America is expected to impede growth of the global hepatitis C treatment market.By drug class, the market is segmented into HCV Protease Inhibitors, HCV Polymerase Inhibitors, HCV NS5A Inhibitors, Combination Therapy and Interferon & Antiviral which is again sub-divided into various drugs sub segments. The combination segment is expected to contribute a maximum share to the global hepatitis C treatment market and register the fastest CAGR of 13.9% during the forecast period. By distribution channel, the market is segmented into Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Online Pharmacies. Among these, the hospital pharmacies segment is anticipated to be dominant throughout the forecast period and is projected to account for about 43.7% share of the total global hepatitis C treatment market revenue by 2024. The hospital pharmacies segment is anticipated to emerge as the most attractive segment in the global hepatitis C treatment market owing to growing instances of hospitalization and improved accessibility and services. The online pharmacies segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period and is estimated to create absolute $ opportunity of US$ 713.8 Mn in 2017 over 2016. The online pharmacies segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period and this can be attributed to high availability of hepatitis C treatment drugs and discounts provided by online pharmacies.Request Report TOC @This report covers global and regional trends along with an analysis of the market potential. North America is estimated to account for 45% share in the global hepatitis C treatment market by 2016, whereas Asia Pacific is projected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 14.8% due to increasing awareness about hepatitis C infections. Europe region is expected to account for 19.6% share in the global hepatitis C treatment market by 2016 end. Latin America was valued at US$ 2,915.8 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$ 3,311.1 Mn by 2016, with a Y-o-Y growth of 13.6% over 20152016. The Middle East and Africa region was valued at US$ 1,792.5 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$ 1,988.1 Mn by 2016.The global hepatitis C treatment market report features some of the top companies dominating in the global market. Key market players analyzed in the report include Merck & Co., Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AbbVie Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Kadmon Holdings, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, and Merck & Co., Inc. Leading companies functioning in the global hepatitis C treatment market are focusing on collaborating with healthcare solutions and services providers in order to advance operational efficiencies and provide improved patient care.Buy Hepatitis C Treatment Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.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:
Radiofrequency Ablation Market - In-Depth Analysis & Forecast upto 2025

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Global Radiofrequency Ablation Market: OverviewRadiofrequency ablation is an analgesic procedure wherein radiofrequency waves are targeted on particular muscles or muscle groups. The radiofrequency waves create an electric current, which is used to emit heat onto the affected area. This temporarily deadens the nerve cells in the applied area, leading to reduction in pain. The global radiofrequency ablation market has benefited significantly from the rising demand for noninvasive and minimally invasive medical procedures. Radiofrequency ablation is likely to receive sustained demand from the healthcare sector, particularly in developed countries with government-backed healthcare programs, due to the rising prevalence of spinal conditions in urban populations.Global Radiofrequency Ablation Market: Key TrendsThe rising adherence to a sedentary lifestyle, particularly in developed and developing urban centers, has the potential to remain a key driver for the global radiofrequency ablation market in the coming years. The increasing share of the urban population doing sedentary jobs has resulted in an increasing prevalence of problems related to the spine and shoulders. The reliable utility of radiofrequency ablation in relieving muscle pain and tension has ensured a safe growth trajectory for the global radiofrequency ablation market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The key benefit presented by radiofrequency ablation is its minimally invasive nature. This not only makes radiofrequency ablation more convenient for doctors as well as patients, but also keeps it safe from environmental contaminants such as microbes.Global Radiofrequency Ablation Market: Market PotentialThe global radiofrequency ablation market could play a key role in the development of cancer therapeutics in the coming years. Due to the minimally invasive nature of radiofrequency ablation and its effectiveness in deadening cells and nerve ending, radiofrequency ablation has frequently been tried in the treatment of cancers such as metastatic sarcomas. Due to the attention being provided to cancer research, the radiofrequency ablation market could be set for steady growth if its utility in cancer treatment is established.Global Radiofrequency Ablation Market: Geographical DynamicsThe global radiofrequency ablation market is dominated by North America. The ready availability of sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, due to steady government support, has aided the growth of the radiofrequency ablation market in the region and is likely to remain a key driver for the market in the coming years. The rising incidence of chronic muscle disorders in North America is a prime driver for the radiofrequency ablation market in the region. Latin America is also an important region in the global radiofrequency ablation market and could become a steady consumer over the coming years, as several countries in the region have initiated large-scale development programs in the healthcare sector in recent years.Request TOC of the Report @Emerging countries in Asia Pacific such as India and China are also likely to play a key role in the growth of the global radiofrequency ablation market in the coming years. The rising awareness regarding the need for technologically advanced equipment in the healthcare sector has driven steady investment in the healthcare sector in emerging economies and is likely to remain a key growth driver for the radiofrequency ablation market in the coming years.Global Radiofrequency Ablation Market: Competitive DynamicsThe report presents a comprehensive picture of the competitive dynamics of the global radiofrequency ablation market. Key players in the market, such as Boston Scientific, Stryker, Medtronic, and St. Jude Medical are profiled in the report. This section delivers a comprehensive analysis of the successful strategies adopted by players in the radiofrequency ablation market, the business and financial dynamics of the leading players, and the overall trends shaping the space in the global radiofrequency ablation market.Get Discount @The global radiofrequency ablation market has benefited from the ready participation of key manufacturers in marketing and publicity activities. Successful promotional efforts by companies in the radiofrequency ablation market include direct sales to the physicians and hospitals, since the convenience of the devices has made it the prime choice for healthcare distributors across the world. The continued efforts of leading players are expected to remain crucial for the global radiofrequency ablation market in the coming years.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 Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Neurostimulation Devices Global Market to Evaluate USD 11.5 Billion by 2022

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Neurostimulation Devices Market Information, by Type, by Application (Dystonia, Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease), by End User - Forecast to 2022Market Research Future adds new report of Global Intraoral cameras Market Research Report- Forecast To 2027 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentGlobal market of intraoral cameras is expected to reach USD 2450 million in 2023 from USD 1250 million in 2016 with a CAGR of approximately 9.5% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Intraoral camera is a little camera that takes the X-beam of the tooth or gums of the patients. It is a pen having dispensable sheath. It gives a reasonable photo of the mouth and teeth which helps the dental practitioner to choose the line of treatment.Get a Sample Report @It is an option for conventional dental mirrors which are past utilized by the dental practitioners to get the visuals of tooth or gums. It is valuable in diagnosing dental conditions like tooth rot and broke teeth. It is broadly utilized for dental reclamation method. With the assistance of intraoral camera the specialist can demonstrate the photo of tooth or gums on the screen rather than simply clarifying the consequence of determination. These favorable circumstances of intraoral camera add to an expansion in the request of these cameras. Simple and dependable finding, nature of item and safe utilize additionally drive the market development.Danaher Corporation (U.S), Sirona Dental System (Germany), Carestream Health (US), Gendex (US), Owandy Radiology (USA), TPC Advanced Technology Inc. (US), Digital Doc LLC (US), DEXIS (US), Prodent (US)Regional Analysis: All inclusive, intraoral cameras Market comprises of four locales Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa. America rules the biggest market for intraoral cameras. Increment in mindfulness about dental wellbeing and dental examination gadgets fuelled the development of the market in America. Europe is the second biggest market. Asia Pacific shows quickest development in this market. The market indicates relentless development in Middle East and Africa.Browse Report Details @Brief TOC1. Report Prologue2. Introduction3. Research Methodology4. Market Dynamics5. Market Factor Analysis6. Global intraoral cameras market by type7. Global intraoral cameras market by software type8. Global Intraoral cameras market by end users9. Global Intraoral cameras market by region10. Competitive Landscape11. Company Profile12. Conclusion13. AppendixAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market - Detailed Analysis and Forecast upto 2025

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Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market: OverviewThe global legal process outsourcing (LPO) services market is driven by the increasing proliferation of risk management practices. There are several challenges faced by companies across the globe, which includes risk factors pertaining to technological, economic, and operational factors in internal and external businesses. This is expected to push companies across the globe to opt for legal process outsourcing, which allows companies to focus on other important aspects of their businesses, which can otherwise be obstructed on account of key resources being used for handling legal processes.Legal process outsourcing offer risk management processes and legal outsourcing services, which can help ward off potential business threats. Thus, many organizations are implementing risk management solutions, which are proving to be beneficial for them. This is expected to heighten the demand for legal process outsourcing services, to handle and manage risks.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market: Key TrendsIt is estimated that contract management outsourcing will hold key shares in the market during the forecast period. The reason behind the increasing demand for contract management outsourcing is its use in several processes such as the review and analysis of contracts, summarization of contracts, contractual risk analysis, paper and electronic document integration, and for quality management processes. In addition to this, contract management solutions also help in the verification of the contracts to check if they are ready for auditing.Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market: Market PotentialPredictive coding integration with legal process outsourcing services is expected to push the growth of the market in the coming years. LPO services are being delivered by making use of predictive coding technology. Advanced analytics are also being used by legal process outsourcing services for their delivery. Both predictive coding technology and advanced analytics are being used to co-ordinate IT departments and litigation support so as to manage the litigation support services cycle. Companies such as Legal Advantage combine accuracy, dependability, and client service for retaining their clients.Request TOC of the Report @Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, the global legal process outsourcing services market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Of these, North America not only led in this market in the past but is also leading currently, and will continue to do so in the coming years. It is the presence of a large number of prominent players in North America, which is expected to be behind the high growth of the legal process outsourcing services market. These players are offering legal services at very low wages and this is encouraging an increasing number of organizations to adopt legal process outsourcing services, thus boosting the growth of the market in the region.Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market: Competitive LandscapeThe global legal process outsourcing services market is highly diversified. The market is also characterized by intense competition. There exist a large number of international and regional players operating in the legal process outsourcing services market. Players are adopting the strategy of beating each other by competing in the pricing of legal services provided. Players are also striving to expand their product portfolio. Some of the other areas of focus by key players include IT security, compliance, innovation, acquiring domain expertise, and offering LPO service quality. All these factors are keeping vendors in constant competition and is encouraging the growth of the global legal process outsourcing services market.Get Discount @Some of the key players in the global legal process outsourcing services market are Clutch, Capita, Infosys, Capgemini, Cobra Legal Solutions, Integreon, Cobra Legal Solutions, QuisLex, Mindcrest, UnitedLex, CPA Global, HCL Technologies, Exigent, Legal Advantage, NewGalexy, LegalBase, Nextlaw Labs, WNS, and Wipro.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 Dimer Acid Market Growing at a CAGR Growth of 4.1% CAGR Over 2025

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According to the latest report published by Persistence Market Research, the global dimer acids market is anticipated to expand at a moderate CAGR of 4.1% over the forecast period (2017-2025) to reach a valuation of US$ 711 Mn by 2025-end. Global consumption of dimer acid stood at 256,000 MT in 2016 this figure is expected to increase to around 351,509 MT by 2025-end. Increasing demand for hot-melt adhesives and flexographic inks is expected to reflect positively on the global sales of the dimer acid over the next couple of years.Request Sample Report@The focus remains on offering a wider-rang of application-specific products with higher purity standards. Kraton Corporation, Croda International Plc., Oleon NV, Emery Oleochemicals, Florachem Corporation., Jarchem Industries Inc., Aturex Group, Shandong Huijin Chemical Co. Ltd, Shandong Huijin Chemical Co. Ltd, Shandong Huijin Chemical Co. Ltd, Jiangsu Yonglin Oleochemical Co., Ltd., Jiangxi Longwell Industrial Co., Ltd., and Jinan Tongfa resin Co., Ltd are some of the leading companies operating in the global dimer acid market. Many of these companies are entering into agreements with local suppliers to strengthen supply chain, at the same time emphases is also given to expanding production capacity.Standard Dimer Acid to Dominate the Global Dimer Acid MarketGlobal consumption of the standard dimer acid is estimated to reach 211,097 MT by the end of forecast period. In recent years, consumption of standard dimer acid has been substantially high in Asia Pacific. Demand for distilled & hydrogenated dimer acid is also expected to increase at a noteworthy pace owing to its superior quality standard and high resistance to oxidation and heat. This product type segment is projected to register relatively faster CAGR as compared to standard and distilled segments.Request Report TOC @Application of Dimer Acid to remain Concentrated in Non-Reactive Polyamide Resins and Reactive Polyamide Resins ManufacturingBy application, the non-reactive polyamides resins segment is expected to account for a 41.7% value share of the global dimer acid market by 2017-end. Dimer acid based non-reactive polyamides are used in the production of inks and adhesives, whereas the reactive polyamide variants are used in the production of epoxy curing agents and polyurethanes. Growth in construction sector and other end use sectors, such as packaging, and automotive is expected to fuel the demand for dimer acids during the forecast period.By 2017-end, Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to account for the largest value share of the global dimer acid market, followed by Europe and North America respectively. Surging demand for dimer acid in countries such as China and India is favoring the prospects of the market in the region. In addition, Chinas leadership in the APACs dimer acid market is expected to remain unchallenged throughout the assessment period. The growth of various end-use industries in several other Asian countries is also resulting in higher demand for dimer acid in the region.Buy Dimer Acid Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.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:
Process Oil Market Estimated to Flourish at 4.1% CAGR by 2025

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In an extensive analysis of the global process oil market, Persistence Market Research forecasts the global process oil market to reach a market valuation of US$ 5,697.4 Mn by the end of 2025, up from an estimated US$ 4,148.9 Mn in 2017, registering a CAGR of 4.1% over the forecast period. Persistence Market Research presents the historical and current market forecast of the global process oil market in a new report titled Process Oil Market: Global Industry Analysis (20122016) and Forecast (20172025). The report also throws light on the factors likely to impact the market over the course of the forecast period.Read Report Overview @Global Process Oil Market: DynamicsThe global process oil market is expected to witness incremental $ opportunity of US$ 1,548.4 Mn between 2017 and 2025 and will be mainly driven by the increasing automotive sector that eventually demands rubber process oil for the manufacturing of rubber products such as tires and vehicle interiors. Process oil being the basic raw material used in the production of goods in the rubber processing industry, the demand in the global market is anticipated to witness significant growth during the next eight years. Process oil is also consumed in large quantities in the polymers and paints and coatings industries. These sectors will drive volume growth of the global process oil market in the foreseeable future. Some of the other factors likely to boost the growth of the process oil market are A strategic shift from conventional rubber processing to oil based processingA steady growth in end-use industries such as automotive and rubber processing, coupled with an increase in refinery capacityIncrease in R&D activities in end-use industriesCompetitive advantage of access to essential raw material feedstockRequest Sample Report @Global Process Oil Market: Segmental ForecastThe global process oil market is segmented on the basis of Product Type (Aromatic, Paraffinic, Naphthenic) and Application (Rubber Processing, Adhesives & Sealants, Consumer Products, Paints & Coatings, Pharmaceuticals, Polymers, Others).The Aromatic product type segment is estimated to hold the maximum revenue share in the global market  about 45% by the end of 2025. This segment will reach a market valuation of US$ 2,572.2 Mn by the end of the forecast period, up from an estimated US$ 1,806.7 Mn in 2017, registering a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period.By application, Rubber Processing will continue to hold a large share of the global market throughout the period of forecast and register a CAGR of 4.6% in terms of value. This segment will reach a market valuation of US$ 2,096.0 Mn by the end of 2025.Request to View TOC @Global Process Oil Market: Regional ForecastPersistence Market Research tracks the performance of the global process oil market across the five key geographies of North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. In terms of value share, the Asia Pacific regional market will dominate the global process oil market, estimated to hold about 43% market share by the end of 2025. The APAC process oil market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1,590.2 Mn in 2017 and this is expected to increase to US$ 2,450.7 Mn by the end of 2025. This is reflective of a CAGR of 4.6% in terms of value during the forecast period.Global Process Oil Market: Vendor LandscapeThe report profiles some of the leading companies operating in the global process oil market such as Behran Oil Co, Ergon Inc., San Joaquin Refining Co., Inc., Chevron Corp, Meiwa Corporation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Nynas AB, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., Total S.A., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Royal Dutch Shell plc., Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), ORGKHIM BIOCHEMICAL HOLDING, Lubline, Avista Oil AG, Savita Oil Technologies Ltd., Panama Petrochem Ltd, Apar Industries Limited, and Raj Petro Specialties P. LTD.Buy Process Oil Market Research Report @ABOUT US:Persistence 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:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Connected Healthcare Market Shows Highest Growth Potential of 30.2% by 2022

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Connected Healthcare Market report gives Information by type (m-health devices, m-health services and e-prescription), by application (monitoring applications, diagnosis & treatment, education and awareness) - Forecast to 2022Market Research Future adds new report titled Connected Healthcare Market Research Report- Global Forecast to 2022 to his huge database. It contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentThe global market for Connected Healthcare is expected to reach USD 105.33 billion by the end of the forecasted period and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.2%.Connected healthcare solutions merge data from a wide range of circles of a man's reality to give a more total photo of their wellbeing that incorporates organic, hereditary, restorative, way of life and supposition/mind-set information. These arrangements puts the patient at the focal point of the social insurance framework gathering, connecting and deciphering data from a wide range of sources to empower educated, quiet focused care choices.Get a Sample Report @Some of the key players in this market are: Agamatrix, Inc. (US), Airstrip Technology (US), AliveCor Inc. (Australia), Allscripts (US), Athenahealth Inc. (US), Boston Scientific Corporation (US), Cerner (US), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), GE healthcare (UK), Qualcomm (US) and Medtronics (Ireland).Market Segments: Global Connected Healthcare Market has been segmented on the basis of type which comprises of M-health devices, M-health services and E-prescription. On the basis of application; market is segmented into Monitoring Applications, Diagnosis & Treatment, Education and Awareness, Healthcare Management, Wellness & Prevention and others.Regional Analysis of Global Connected Healthcare Market: All inclusive North America is the biggest market for Connected Healthcare. The North American market for Connected Healthcare is required to reach at USD 37.38 billion before the finish of the determined period. Europe is the second-biggest market for Connected Healthcare which is relied upon to develop at a CAGR of 30.48%. Asia pacific locale is relied upon to be quickest developing district in Connected Healthcare Market.Brief TOC1. Report Prologue2. Introduction3. Research Methodology4. Market Dynamics5. Market Factor Analysis6. Connected Healthcare Market, By Types7. Connected Healthcare Market, By Applications8. Connected Healthcare Market, By Regions9. Competitive Landscape10. Company Profile11. AppendixBrowse Full Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Asia Pacific Flexible Glass Market to Witness Widespread Expansion During 2014 to 2020 Forecast

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Future Market Insights (FMI) announces the release of its latest report titled, Asia Pacific Flexible Glass, Market Opportunity; 2014 to 2020 Forecast." According to the report, the Asia Pacific flexible glass market is expected to account for $612.7 Mn by 2020, registering a CAGR of 36.5% during the forecast period. Incorporation of flexibility threshold in displays is expected to contribute to the growth of the Asia Pacific flexible glass market over the forecast period.In terms of application, Asia Pacific flexible glass market is mainly segmented into display and solar PV (photovoltaic). Currently, display application segment dominates the Asia Pacific flexible glass market. The display segment was valued at US$ 74.2 Mn in 2013, and is expected to reach US$ 417.3 Mn by 2020, exhibiting a CAGR of 33.4% for the forecast period. Moreover, the development of Roll2Roll process is expected to create a demand for flexible glass in solar PV application. As a result, solar PV is projected to be the fastest growing application segment for the forecast period.Request for Table of Contents @The display application is further sub-segmented as smartphones and tablets, curved TV, building mounted displays and, wearables. Among all the aforementioned sub-segments, smartphones & tablets segment is expected to dominate the market with 50.1% of the total revenue share by 2020. However, curved TV is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR of 37.1% during the forecast period. Additionally, influx of new entrants is predicted to fuel the growth of curved TV application segment over the forecast period.Country-wise, the Asia Pacific flexible glass market is segmented into Japan, China, South Korea and others. Japan is the most lucrative market, followed by South Korea and China. Moreover, Japan is expected to contribute 40.0% market share to the Asia Pacific flexible glass market by 2020. The growth of South Korea market is supported by the strong presence of smartphone & TV manufacturers along with growing number of R&D centres in South Korea.Request for Sample @Assessing the various factors driving this market, FMI lead analyst, Abhishek S. said, Incorporation of flexibility threshold in displays, development of Roll2Roll process for flexible PV and growing R&D investments in flexible glass by key glass manufacturers are expected to fuel the demand for Asia Pacific flexible glass market.Key players in the Asia Pacific flexible glass market are Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., Corning Inc., Schott AG and Nippon Electric Glass Company Ltd.Buy Asia Pacific Flexible Glass Market Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Diphtheria Pipeline Research and Therapeutic Development Reviewed H2 2017

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently broadcasted a new study to its broad research portfolio, which is titled as Diphtheria - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, report studies Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the membranes of the throat and nose. If left untreated, diphtheria can cause severe damage to kidneys, nervous system, and heart. Symptoms include sore throat and hoarseness, swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in neck, nasal discharge, fever and chills and malaise. Treatment includes antitoxins and antibiotics.Request For Free Sample Report:Market research Hubs Pharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Diphtheria - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Diphtheria (Infectious Disease), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Diphtheria (Infectious Disease) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Diphtheria and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Pre-Registration, Filing rejected/Withdrawn, Phase III, Phase II, Phase I, IND/CTA Filed and Preclinical stages are 1, 1, 8, 4, 4, 1 and 6 respectively. Similarly, the Universities portfolio in Phase II and Discovery stages comprises 1 and 2 molecules, respectively.Diphtheria (Infectious Disease) pipeline guide helps in identifying and tracking emerging players in the market and their portfolios, enhances decision making capabilities and helps to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. The guide is built using data and information sourced from Market research Hubs proprietary databases, company/university websites, clinical trial registries, conferences, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources. Additionally, various dynamic tracking processes ensure that the most recent developments are captured on a real time basis.Scope- The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Diphtheria (Infectious Disease).- The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Diphtheria (Infectious Disease) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.- The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.- The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.- The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Diphtheria (Infectious Disease) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.- The pipeline guide evaluates Diphtheria (Infectious Disease) therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA), drug target, route of administration (RoA) and molecule type.- The pipeline guide encapsulates all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects.- The pipeline guide reviews latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Diphtheria (Infectious Disease)Browse Full Report with TOC:Reasons to buy- Procure strategically important competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies.- Recognize emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage.- Find and recognize significant and varied types of therapeutics under development for Diphtheria (Infectious Disease).- Classify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic.- Develop tactical initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies.- Plan mergers and acquisitions meritoriously by identifying key players and its most promising pipeline therapeutics.- Formulate corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Diphtheria (Infectious Disease) pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics.- Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope.- Adjust the therapeutic portfolio by recognizing discontinued projects and understand from the know-how what drove them from pipeline.Enquire About This Report:About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of pharmaceutical market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Asia Pacific Upstream Oil & Gas Services Market to Discern Steadfast Expansion During 2016-2021

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Future Market Insights delivers key insights on the APAC upstream oil and gas services market in a new publication titled Upstream Oil and Gas Services Market: Asia Pacific Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2021. The APAC upstream oil and gas services market is estimated to be valued at US$ 52.6 Bn by 2016 end, and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period (2016-2021).Upstream oil and gas services are the services provided for exploration and production of oil and gas on offshore and onshore fields in order to increase production efficiency and production lifespans of projects. Upstream process involves various stages such as the search for underwater and underground oil and gas fields, drilling of wells and subsequently operating them. Upstream services segment comprises services involved in upstream process such as maintenance and operation for drilling equipment, sampling of fluids and decommissioning involved in various stages within upstream processes.Due to a high urbanisation rate and rapid industrialisation coupled with a growing population and increasing ownership of automobiles, there is a huge demand for crude oil and hydrocarbons in the APAC region. In addition, recovery in crude oil prices is highly anticipated and the market growth is expected to return to pre-2014 levels in the coming years.Request for Table of Contents @In order to meet the Increasing demand for energy and petrochemicals in Asia Pacific, it has become evident to increase productivity from mature and new oil and gas reserves. Exploration of unconventional oil and gas resources is increasing and deep-water exploration activities is also gaining traction. Various small scale and large scale technological advancements, for increasing productivity and decreasing overall production cost, are playing a crucial role and the market growth for upstream oil & gas services in Asia Pacific is expected to pace up over the coming years.However, volatility in oil and gas prices, environmental and technological concerns related to exploration and production activities in harsh, remote and hostile locations, accompanied by operational challenges in deep and ultra-deep waters, are expected to remain key challenges in the regional upstream oil and gas services market growth through 2021.Segmentation highlightsOn the basis of service type, the market is segmented into inspection, repair & maintenance, sampling, decommissioning, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) drills support, subsea umbilical, risers, and flowlines (SURF) support, well stimulation, well logging, Seismic and geophysical services, and others.Surf support, ROV drill support, and seismic & geographical services segments are estimated to account for more than one-fourth share in the China upstream oil & gas services market by 2016 endSurf support, well stimulation, and well logging segments are estimated to represent more than half of the shares in the total incremental opportunity created in the India upstream oil & gas services market between 2016 and 2021Request for Sample @Regional market projectionsOn the basis of region, APAC upstream oil and gas services market is segmented into eight key countries, namely, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Myanmar, China, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. China upstream oil & gas services market is anticipated to exhibit relatively higher growth rate over the forecast period. Anticipated economic recovery in the country is expected to increase demand for crude oil, which in turn, is expected to drive the market for upstream oil & gas services in the country. Market in other countries is also expected to experience a V-shape recovery, however, at a moderate CAGR over the forecast period.Vendor insightsSome of the key players reported in this study of APAC upstream oil and gas services market include Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton, Baker Hughes Incorporated, Petrofac Limited, Weatherford, TECHNIP, China Oilfield Services Limited, Transocean Ltd., Flour Corporation, and Saipem S.p.A. Key market players are focusing on research and development for sampling techniques. They are also making investments in product innovation for remotely operating vehicles drill support services in order to provide oil & gas customers with light, medium and heavy ROVs that can be used for deeper exploration & drilling services.Buy Asia Pacific Upstream Oil & Gas Services Market Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Laminar Growth to be Witnessed by Functional Films Market During 2015 - 2020 by FMI

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Future Market Insights (FMI), in its recent report titled, Functional Films Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015 - 2020, projects that market value of functional films will reach US$ 27.32 Bn by 2020 at a CAGR of 4.92%.Functional films are applied on fragile surfaces of sheet-type substrates to prevent damage by impact, scratches, etc. during transportation from production site to assembly site and also during assembly. The films also improve functionality and impart other novel properties to substrates and are widely used in Flat Panel Displays (FPDs), electronics and communications devices, and semiconductors.According to FMIs analysis, increasing urbanisation and rise in disposable income are some of the macro-economic factors driving growth of the global functional films market. Advancement and innovation in technology has also led to an increase in demand for functional films.Request for Table of Contents @Growth of the solar cells market has provided an impetus to the functional films market. Use of functional films in the automotive sector for window profiles, decoration, wheel arches, control arms, and steering knuckles has also augured well for the functional films market.Increasing demand for functional films from the packaging sector is anticipated to fuel the functional films market during the forecast period. Functional films are gaining traction in the packaging sector owing to their features, such as enhanced resistance to water and oxygen.The global functional films market has been segmented into seven regions  North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East & Africa, and Japan. Among these regions, APEJ accounted for leading market share of 54.8% in 2014. Emerging economies, such as Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Latin America accounted for significant market share, which is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 5.8% and 5.7% respectively over the forecast period.Furthermore, Western Europe is estimated to register a CAGR of 2.7%, during the forecast period. With companies shifting manufacturing plants to Latin America, MEA and APEJ region, demand for functional films is expected to increase in the near future. Growing demand for eco-friendly products in developed countries is projected to result in moderate increase in demand for environmentally-friendly functional films for application in various products.Request for Sample @Adhesive functional films segment dominated the global functional films market with 45.3% market share in 2014, followed by optical functional films with 42.4% market share, which is forecast to increase to 45.9% by 2020. Conductive functional films segment, on the other hand, is expected to register the highest CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period.In terms of application, flat panel displays account for highest volume in terms of consumption, followed by electronics & semiconductors and energy. Collectively, these three application sectors accounted for around 56% of market value in 2014; FMI forecasts the market share to increase to 59.4% by 2020. Increasing penetration of flat panel displays and touchscreen panels is expected to further the fuel growth of the functional films market over the forecast period. Other application sectors/industries include automotive, construction, healthcare/pharmaceuticals and packaging, wherein packaging application is expected to register highest CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period.Key market players in the market include 3M, Toray Industries, Inc., Nagase & Co. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Company and Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd.Buy Functional Films Market Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
De-aromatic Solvents Market Estimated to Experience a Hike of 5.2% CAGR in Growth by 2025

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In a new report titled De-aromatic Solvents Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2025, Persistence Market Research presents detailed forecasts of the global de-aromatic solvents market over an eight year assessment period from 2017 to 2025 and throws light on the various factors likely to impact market value and volume growth during this study period. According to Persistence Market Research analysis, the global de-aromatic solvents market is forecasted to be valued at US$ 1,480.4 Mn by the end of 2017 and this is expected to increase to US$ 2,216.2 Mn by the end of the forecast period in 2025, registering a CAGR of 5.2% in terms of value during 2017  2025.Global De-aromatic Solvents Market: DynamicsMarket revenue driversGrowing concerns regarding the hazards of using conventional solvents and subsequent increase in the demand for safer, effective, and eco-friendly alternatives will boost the demand for de-aromatic solvents during the period of forecastAn increasing use of de-aromatic solvents in household insecticides and mosquito repellents is another growth driverRead Report Overview @A booming paints, coatings, and inks market worldwide contributes to the growth in demand for de-aromatic solventsIncreasing demand from metal working applications likely to fuel market growthMarket growth restraintsThe prevalence of alternative products such as powder coatings and water based paints poses challenges to the growth in revenue of the de-aromatic solvents marketGrowing use of bio-based offerings and other alternatives is a market growth inhibitorMarket trendsThe application of specific product offerings and alternative raw materials is trending the global de-aromatic solvents marketIncreasing use of higher flash point grades for specific applications is an emerging trendManufacturers of de-aromatic solvents are resorting to production capacity expansions to meet the growing demands in the global marketRequest Sample Report @Global De-aromatic Solvents Market: Segmental ForecastBy Application: The global de-aromatic solvents market is segmented on the basis of application into Paints, Coatings and Inks, Metal Working, Industrial Cleaning, Adhesives and Sealants, Drilling Fluids, Consumer Products, and Others. Paints, Coatings and Inks segment is the largest segment, with an estimated market revenue of US$ 621.2 Mn in 2017, likely to increase to US$ 962.9 Mn by the end of 2025, witnessing a CAGR of 5.6% in terms of value. Metal Working is the second largest segment with a CAGR of 5.1% in terms of value expected to be recorded during the forecast period.By Flash Point: The global de-aromatic solvents market is segmented on the basis of flash point into Low Flash Point, Medium Flash Point, and High Flash Point. Medium Flash Point is the largest segment in terms of revenue, estimated to hold almost 50% share of the global market by 2025 end. This segment will also register the highest CAGR of 5.7% in terms of value in the flash point category.By Boiling Point: The global de-aromatic solvents market is segmented on the basis of boiling point into Type 1 (2400C). Type 1 and Type 2 are the top two segments in this category, with Type 1 estimated to hold about 44% market share and Type 2 close to 43% market share by the end of 2025. However, in terms of CAGR, Type 3 is the leading segment with an anticipated growth rate of 5.9% in terms of value during the forecast period.Request to View TOC @Global De-aromatic Solvents Market: Regional ForecastPersistence Market Research tracks the performance of the global de-aromatic solvents market across the key geographies of Asia Pacific (China, India, South Korea, Japan, Rest of APAC), North America, Latin America, Europe, and MEA. Asia Pacific is the dominant regional market in the global de-aromatic solvents market followed by Europe and North America that stand neck to neck with each other. APAC is projected to hold about 40% share of the global de-aromatic solvents market by the end of the forecast period. APAC also leads the other regional markets in terms of CAGR, recording a significant growth rate of 6.3% in terms of value during 2017  2025.Global De-aromatic Solvents Market: Key PlayersThe report profiles some of the leading companies operating in the global de-aromatic solvents market such as ExxonMobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Total S.A., Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Neste Oyj, Raj Petro Specialties P. Ltd., Avani Petrochem Private Limited, Neste Oyj., Isu Exachem Co. Ltd., DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH, Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., SK Global Chemical Co., Ltd., and CEPSA.Buy De-aromatic Solvents Market Research Report @ABOUT US:Persistence 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:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Significant Profits Estimated to be Generated by Wood Pellet Market by 2027

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Future Market Insights latest report on the global market for wood pellets reveals that by the end of 2027, close to 35% of global wood pellet sales will be accounted by their end-use in industrial pellet co-firing. In the report, titled Wood Pellet Market: Global Market Analysis 20122016 and Forecast 20122027, the market is expected to reach US$ 9,204.9 Mn by the end of 2017. The report further projects that global sales of wood pellets will soar at a CAGR of 8.7% to bring in over US$ 21,100 Mn by the end of 2027.The report also reveals that in 2016, approximately 37.5 million tons of wood pellets were sold across the globe. Increasing investments in new technologies & pelleting machines, coupled with higher demand for wood pellets in electricity generation, are some of the prominent trends influencing the growth of global wood pellets market during the forecast period. Apart from industrial co-firing, the market is also expected to witness higher traction in end-use offerings such as use of pellets in residential & commercial heating and industrial pellet end-use in CHP/district heating.Request for Table of Contents @Wood Pellet Market: Key DriversAccording to the report, increasing consumption of wood pellets is triggered by promotion of reusing agricultural produce or forest wood in industrial processes. North Americas climate change concerns is compelling the regions wood pellet manufacturers towards resource & feedstock optimisation. Meanwhile, wood pellets are successfully replacing fossil fuels such as charcoal in specific heating applications. The report reveals that 1 ton of wood pellets have the potential to provide raw thermal energy equivalent to that of 2.8 barrels of crude oil.In future, wood pellets are also expected to be in great demand for their low carbon emission properties, compared to fossil fuels. However, the markets robust growth is likely to be restrained by inability of pellet manufacturers in fulfilling certification criteria, and the gradual reduction in sawmill residue caused by technological intervention in sawing industries. Electricity generation, however, is observed as a lucrative opportunity for boosting the use of wood pellets.Western Europe  Lucrative Region for Growth of Wood Pellets MarketThe report also reveals that in 2017 and beyond, around 70% of the global market sales will be concentrated in Western Europe. Although, towards the end of 2027, Western Europes market share is poised to witness a dip, while Eastern Europe, Japan and Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) regions will witness a significant rise in their market share. Some of the key excerpts of the report include:Request for Sample @Throughout the forecast period, over half of the markets value will be accounted by forest & wood waste feedstockIn 2016, an estimated 8.6 million tons of wood pellets were consumed by free standing pellet stove applicationThe global market for wood pellets is also expected to witness sizeable growth in terms of volume, registering a CAGR of 8.5% through 2027The report also enlists & profiles leading players in the global wood pellets market, and they include Drax Biomass Inc, Rentech, Inc, Enviva Partners, LP, German Pellets GmbH, Viridis Energy Inc, AS Graanul Invest, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc, Lignetics Of Idaho, Inc, Zilkha Biomass Energy, LLC, Land Energy Girvan Limited, Colombo Energy Inc, Premium Pellet Ltd, ECARE, Fram Renewable Fuels, Agon Biomass, Pellet power, Blue Sky Biomass, Bio Eneco Sdn Bhd, Schellinger & Co Muhlenwerke, Snow Timber Pellets LLC.Buy Wood Pellet Market Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Additive Masterbatch Market is Anticipated to Grow US$ 4,385.9 Mn in 2025

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The global additive masterbatch market is poised for significant growth over the next eight years. A new publication by Persistence Market Research titled Additive Masterbatch Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 & Forecast 2017-2025 forecasts the global additive masterbatch market to register a CAGR of 3.3% in terms of volume. Europe followed by Asia Pacific are slated to be the prominent regional markets in terms of additive masterbatch consumption. In terms of value, the global additive masterbatch market is estimated to reach a market valuation of US$ 3,279.6 Mn in 2017 and grow at a CAGR of 3.7% to be valued at US$ 4,385.9 Mn by the end of the forecast period in 2025. The global market for additive masterbatch is anticipated to grow ~1.3X over the period of forecast.Request Sample Report@Regional Forecast of the Global Additive Masterbatch MarketThe report analyzes the global additive masterbatch market across the key geographies of North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.Europe will continue to lead the global market in terms of market share, and is estimated to hold a value share of more than 35% throughout the forecast period. The region will also witness significant opportunities for growthThe APAC region will grow at a significant pace during the forecast period and hold about 30% market share towards the close of 2025. APAC will register a CAGR of 4.3% in terms of value  the highest among all the regional marketsGlobal Additive Masterbatch Market: Segmental ForecastThe global additive masterbatch market is segmented on the basis of Type (CO2 Barrier, Oxygen Scavenger, Metal Deactivators, Anti-Foaming Agents, Antioxidant, Anti-Block, Anti-Static, Flame Retardant, Anti-Microbial, UV-Stabilizer, Thermo-Stabilizer, Laser-Marking) and Application (Automotive, Agriculture, Building & Construction, Packaging, Electrical & Electronics).In terms of volume, the flame retardant and UV stabilizer segments will witness significant growth opportunities in the global additive masterbatch marketThe flame retardant segment is projected to hold a dominant share throughout the forecast period (more than 35%). This segment will create total incremental $ opportunity of US$ 428.9 Mn between 2017 and 2025Request Report TOC @Flame retardant will also be the most attractive market segment by typeMarket forecast by ApplicationPackaging end use application segment will remain the dominant market throughout the forecast period, estimated to hold 46.6% value share by the end of 2025Growing demand for packaging in North America and Europe, owing to stringent government regulations over food products is the key factor driving segmental growthThe packaging application segment is projected to create a total incremental $ opportunity of US$ 551.9 Mn between 2017 and 2025View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and TablesGlobal Additive Masterbatch Market: Vendor LandscapeIn this report, Persistence Market Research has profiled some of the top companies operating in the global additive masterbatch market. The following company profiles can be found in the report  Clariant International AG, A. Schulman, Inc., Cabot Corporation, Cromex S/A, Ampacet Corporation, Polyone Corporation, Hubron International, Polyplast Muller GmbH, MARVAL INDUSTRIES, INC., GRAFE ADVANCED POLYMERS GMBH, Kunststof-Kemi Skandinavia A/S, Tosaf Group, KRAIBURG TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer Manufacturer).Tier-1 manufacturers of additive masterbatch such as AG, A Schulman, PolyOne Corporation, Ampacet Corp. etc., account for around 40%-55% of the overall market. Tier-2 manufacturers such as Cromex S/A, etc. account for 15%-30% share of the global market while the Tier-3 category  generally comprising small and medium manufacturers of additive masterbatch  account for about 10%-25% market share.Buy Additive Masterbatch Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.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:
Carrageenan Gum Market foreseen to grow exponentially by 2024

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In spite of recording global sales of over 60,000 metric tonnes in 2016, Future Market Insights predicts that the global demand for carrageenan gum will witness a considerable decline. A latest research report published by Future Market Insights projects that by the end of 2024, the global consumption of carrageenan gum would have soared moderately at 4.3% CAGR and surpassed 88,000 metric tonnes. The report further reveals the real reason behind sluggish sales of carrageenan gum in the world.According to the report, titled Carrageenan Gum Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2024, the common fallacy that renders carrageenan gum as harmful ingredient has been instrumenting the decelerated growth in its global sales. Misconceptions arising from ambiguous status of carrageenan gum as a viable food ingredient has restrained the market from attaining a steady growth. The global carrageenan gum market, which is presently valued over US$ 700 million, is hence anticipated to register a 4% CAGR and bring in close to US$ 1 billion by the end of 2024.Request to view Sample Report:Limited availability of raw carrageenan is also expected to keep curbing the production of carrageenan gum in the world. A majority of carrageenan gum produced across the globe gets consumed by food and beverage manufacturers. The report reveals how more than half of global carrageenan gum revenues are accounted by food & beverage industries. Presence of carrageenan gum is also gaining traction in production of personal care products & toiletries. In 2016, nearly ten thousand metric tonnes of carrageenan gum were consumed by this segment. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical manufacturers are expected to lower their participation in the global consumption of carrageenan gum, owing to the ingredients speculative status and prolonging FDA approvals. Carrageenan gum will also be used in production of animal feed and pet food products, revenues from which are projected to surpass US$ 200 million by the end of 2024.A regional analysis of global carrageenan gum market projected higher demand for carrageenan gum in Europe. Apropos the report, Europe will contribute to more than 35% of global carrageenan gum revenues throughout the forecast period. Revenues emanating from Europe are also expected to rise at 4.4% CAGR, while the regions carrageenan gum consumption will register growth at 4.8% CAGR. Meanwhile, North America and Asia-Pacific will collectively account for almost 50% of global carrageenan gum revenues through 2024. Latin Americas carrageenan gum market, on the other hand, will bring in nearly US$ 120 million in revenues. Middle East & Africas carrageenan gum revenues, however, will be registering the slowest CAGR over the forecast period.A majority of carrageenan gum manufacturers in the world are based in the US. Companies such as CP Kelco ApS, FMC Corporation, E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Co., Ingredient Solution Inc., and Cargill, Incorporated are prominent players in the global carrageenan gum market. The market is also witnessing higher participation from companies namely, Compania Espanola de Algas Marinas S.A. (CEAMSA), W. Hydrocolloids Inc., Altrafine Gum, Kerry Group, Extractos Naturales Gelymar S. A., and Marcel Trading Corporation.View Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Sheet Face Masks Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Global Sheet Face Masks: OverviewSheet face mask has occupied a significant position due to its associated product benefits. By fabric type the market has been categorized into non-woven, cotton, hydrogel, bio-cellulose and others and by category type the market has been segmented into premium sheet face masks and mass sheet face masks. Previously facial mask was considered only mud mask and cream mask but due to various limitations such as dry skin problems, time consuming and others resulted to inclination towards traditional facial mask products.Download PDF Brochure@Global Sheet Face Masks: Drivers and TrendsThe market for sheet face masks is booming at a different pace across different geographical regions worldwide. Currently, the market is growing at a steady pace globally, and is majorly driven by the demand for anti-ageing formula, dehydrated skin and this factor strongly influences purchase decisions among consumers. The market for sheet face masks in all regions is expected to grow significantly owing to increasing research and development for enhancement of sheet mask products. Moreover, emphasis on innovation in technology on the formulation of new sheet face masks to improve performance, and increasing demand to ensure damage repair are impacting the market for sheet face masks globally.Sheet face masks comprises of five types of fabrics which includes non-woven, cotton, hydrogel, bio-cellulose and others. Rising aging population and growing trend in personal beauty enhances products is booming sheet face masks market globally. In addition, rise in male grooming products is also driving the growth of this market across the globe. In addition, bio-cellulose segment in sheet face masks market is growing rapidly. Major factors driving the growth of the market includes thin natural fiber use in bio cellulose fiber and also rising economic growth, changing lifestyle, and rising trend towards new facial masks is boosting the market of bio cellulose fiber sheet face masks globally. Asia Pacific has the largest market for bio cellulose. The growth of the market in this region is directly impacts the revenues of the leading vendors in Asia Pacific.As per current trend, hydrogel fabric is growing rapidly. Increasing demand for hydrogel fabric is due to consumers preference and their changing buying behavior towards beauty products. Furthermore, local manufacturers in Africa and APAC, focuses on new product development and product innovations according to consumers preference in order to developed a loyal customer base over the years. In addition, the presence of numerous manufacturers in the nation and their continual effort to develop various types of sheet face masks such as aloevera, honey flavor, hydrogel mask, aqua skin ampoule mask and others as per consumers need is a major driver for the market in the developed country such as U.S, U.K. Canada and others. Moreover, considering the growing skin problem during winter like dry skin problem, wrinkle problem the global key players of sheet face masks market are expected to adopt improved technology for manufacturing sheet face masks.Global Sheet Face Masks Market: Regional OutlookMoreover, in this report the study provides different countries included in different regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. North America includes the U.S. and Rest of North America. Europe includes U.K., Germany, France, Russia, Italy and Rest of Europe. Asia Pacific includes countries such as India, China, Japan and Rest of Asia Pacific. In addition, Middle East and Africa includes country such as UAE, South Africa and Rest of Middle East and Africa. Latin America comprise of countries such as Brazil and Rest of Latin America.Key Players Mentioned in this Research Report are:In order to get a better understanding of the sheet face masks market, a key trends analysis has been included for all the segments. In addition, the market players in the sheet face mask market have also been profiled in terms of their financial overview, product segments, recent developments and business strategies adopted by them. The leading players in the market include. Sephora Inc. (California, U.S), Boss Biological Technique Ltd., (Guangdong, China) Dolce & Gabbana S.r.l. (Milan, Italy), 3Lab Inc. (New Jersey, U.S.), Kracie Holdings, Ltd.. (Tokyo, Japan), Innisfree Corporation.(South Korea), BioRepublic Skin Care (Atlanta, U.S.), Star Skin Beauty Group AG (Los Angeles, U.S.), Yunos Co. Ltd.(Osaka, Japan) and DECLEOR Paris. (Paris, France) among others.Browse Report@Global Sheet Face Masks market can be segmented as follows:-Global Sheet Face Masks Market, by Fabric TypeNon-WovenCottonHydrogelBio-CelluloseOthersGlobal Sheet Face Masks Market, by Category TypePremium Sheet Face MasksMass Sheet Face MasksAbout Us:-Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us:-State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Global Private Label Food and Beverages Market 2017-2021 - ALDI, Costco, Trader Joe's, Walmart Stores, Wegmans Food Markets

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https://www.researchmoz.us/global-private-label-food-and-beverages-market-2017-2021-report.html/toc

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Private labels products are manufactured by a company, which are offered under another company's brand name. Private label products are manufactured by third-parties or companies that specialize in the product but do not own a brand of their own. These are usually cost-effective alternatives to the international or national branded products. Private label is available for a wide range of products like cosmetics, food and beverage, textiles, web hosting, and more.The global private label food and beverages market to grow at a CAGR of 7.26% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global private label food and beverages market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the retail selling price as the average selling price of the product.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAClick to get Sample PDF:Technavio's report, Global Private Label Food and Beverages Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- ALDI- Costco- Trader Joe's- Walmart Stores- Wegmans Food MarketsView Complete TOC with Tables and Figures at:Other prominent vendors- A&P- Ahold USA- Carrefour- Delhaize Group- Dollar General- EDEKA- Family Dollar- Giant Eagle- H-E-B- Hy-Vee- Kroger- Loblaw Companies- Publix- Sobeys- SuperValu- Target- TESCO- Whole Foods- Winn DixieMarket driver- Affordable price of private label products- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Threat from national brands- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?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 Competitive Pipes Market Reflecting a CAGR of 4.5% Over 2024

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Global sales of competitive pipes continue to be impacted by the growth of the building & construction sector. Some of the primary use of pipes include laying down water pipelines, in the construction of wastewater drainage systems, laying gas pipelines and HVAC systems. As per Persistence Market Researchs latest report, the global market for competitive pipes stood at around US$ 88,809.4 Mn in 2016. This market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period (20162024), to surpass a valuation of US$ 125,968 Mn by 2024 end. China, the U.S. and India are contributing substantially to the growth of the construction industry and will collectively contribute for more than 50% share of the growth in the construction industry by the end of 2020. In 2014, the total housing count reached more than 1 Mn with Y-o-Y growth of around 3%. With the continuous growth in the building & construction sector, the demand for competitive pipes is also projected to increase over the forecast period. Also, application for competitive pipes is widespread in the oil and gas industry.Request Sample Report@Steel will remain the most preferred material for manufacturing of competitive pipe through the forecast period. Currently, steel competitive pipes account for more than 77% market value share of the market. Demand for steel competitive pipes will remain higher as compared to other materials. During the forecast period, copper competitive pipes will witness favorable traction as well. This is primarily owing to extensive application of steel and copper competitive pipes in construction, agriculture, energy, and other industrial sectorsOn the basis of end use industry, the oil & gas segment held the largest value share of the market in 2016, and the trend is expected to continue throughout the forecast period. Between 2016 and 2024, this segment is expected to witness a CAGR of 4.9%.By application, the liquid conduits segment accounted for around 47.7% of the market in terms of volume in 2016. Towards the end of the forecast period, this segment is expected to reach a market valuation in excess of US$62,129 Mn.Request Report TOC @Asia Pacific at the Forefront of the Global Competitive Pipes MarketAmong regions, the competitive pipes market in Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to remain highly lucrative over 2024. APAC accounted for more than 49% value share of the market in 2016, surpassing a valuation of US$43,782 Mn. During the forecast period, the regions market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 5.2%.Some of the leading companies partaking in the global competitive pipes market include Tenaris S.A., Vallourec S.A., Welspun Group, Georg Fischer Ltd., GERDAU S.A., JFE Holdings Corporation, ThyssenKrupp AG, Novolipetsk Steel, ArcelorMittal S.A., Tata Steel Limited, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo, Metal Corporation, Pohang Iron and Steel Company JSW Steel Ltd., Atkore International Group Inc., China Steel Corporation, Advanced Drainage System, Essar Steel, Contech Engineered Solutions LLC and Can Clay Corporation.Buy Competitive Pipes Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.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:
At a CAGR of 3.57%, Europe Light Commercial Vehicle Market to grow over 2017-2021 - Renault, PSA Group, Ford, Volkswagen

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Commercial vehicles can be classified into two categories, namely light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs). HCVs include all the vehicles with a gross weight of more than 3.5 tons, while LCVs include all the vehicles with a gross weight less than or equal to 3.5 tons. LCVs are primarily used to carry goods and for transporting people in short distances. These vehicles play a critical role in the final delivery of time-critical goods, high-value goods, and support services.The light commercial vehicle market in Europe to grow at a CAGR of 3.57% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the light commercial vehicle market in Europe for 2017-2021. The report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.Click to get Sample PDF:The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- France- Germany- Turkey- Uk- OthersTechnavio's report, Light Commercial Vehicle Market in Europe 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.View Complete TOC with Tables and Figures at:Key vendors- Renault- PSA Group- Ford- Volkswagen- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)Other prominent vendors- Daimler- Toyota- JAC- PACCAR- General Motors- GAZ Group- Hyundai Motor Company- Isuzu Motors- AVTO VAZ- Tata Motors- NissanMarket driver- Growth in construction industry and ecommerce to drive market demand for LCVs- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?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:
Gun Detection System 2017 Global Industry Key Players - Raytheon Company , Thales Group , Battelle Memorial Institute , Rafael , SST , Safran Electronics & Defense Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022

Global Gun Detection System Market

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Global Gun Detection System MarketThis report studies Gun Detection System 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, coveringRaytheon CompanyThales GroupBattelle Memorial InstituteRafaelSSTSafran Electronics & DefenseRheinmetall AGELTA Systems LtdAcoem GroupDatabuoy CorporationCILASQinetiq North AmericaMicroflown Avisa B.V.Shooter Detection Systems LLCSafety Dynamics IncRequest 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 intoFixed SystemVehicle Mounted SystemPortable SystemBy Application, the market can be split intoHomelandDefenseBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTo enquire about this report visit @Table of Contents-Key Points CoveredGlobal Gun Detection System Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Gun Detection System1.1 Definition and Specifications of Gun Detection System1.1.1 Definition of Gun Detection System1.1.2 Specifications of Gun Detection System1.2 Classification of Gun Detection System1.2.1 Fixed System1.2.2 Vehicle Mounted System1.2.3 Portable System1.3 Applications of Gun Detection System1.3.1 Homeland1.3.2 Defense1.3.3 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 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Gun Detection System2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Gun Detection System2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Gun Detection System2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Gun Detection System.8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Gun Detection System8.1 Raytheon Company8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 Raytheon Company 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Raytheon Company 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Thales Group8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Thales Group 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Thales Group 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Battelle Memorial Institute8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Battelle Memorial Institute 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Battelle Memorial Institute 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Rafael8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Rafael 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Rafael 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.5 SST8.5.1 Company Profile8.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.5.2.1 Product A8.5.2.2 Product B8.5.3 SST 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.5.4 SST 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.6 Safran Electronics & Defense8.6.1 Company Profile8.6.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.6.2.1 Product A8.6.2.2 Product B8.6.3 Safran Electronics & Defense 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.6.4 Safran Electronics & Defense 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.7 Rheinmetall AG8.7.1 Company Profile8.7.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.7.2.1 Product A8.7.2.2 Product B8.7.3 Rheinmetall AG 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.7.4 Rheinmetall AG 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.8 ELTA Systems Ltd8.8.1 Company Profile8.8.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.8.2.1 Product A8.8.2.2 Product B8.8.3 ELTA Systems Ltd 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.8.4 ELTA Systems Ltd 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.9 Acoem Group8.9.1 Company Profile8.9.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.9.2.1 Product A8.9.2.2 Product B8.9.3 Acoem Group 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.9.4 Acoem Group 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.10 Databuoy Corporation8.10.1 Company Profile8.10.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.10.2.1 Product A8.10.2.2 Product B8.10.3 Databuoy Corporation 2016 Gun Detection System Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.10.4 Databuoy Corporation 2016 Gun Detection System Business Region Distribution Analysis8.11 CILAS8.12 Qinetiq North America8.13 Microflown Avisa B.V.8.14 Shooter Detection Systems LLC8.15 Safety Dynamics IncContinuedBuy Report@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.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Gellan Gum Market foreseen to grow exponentially by 2026

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Considering the growing demand for natural & organic gelling ingredients for production of food and beverages, global consumption of gellan gum should continue to increase at a greater pace. However, Future Market Insights projects that over a ten-year forecast period, global consumption will exhibit a moderate CAGR of 3.7%. Global gellan gum sales will incur a sluggish increment till the end of 2026, adding just over 500 MT to the current ballpark figures on global gellan gum consumption. Regardless of substituting agar as thickener for food & beverages and incurring higher use in production of pharmaceutical fluids, global sales of gellan gum will continue to rake in meagre revenues over the forecast period.Key Deterrents for Growth in Global Gellan Gum ConsumptionProcuring raw materials required for production of gellan gum remains to be a major challenge for manufacturers. Complex techniques used for formulating gellan gum from lactose or glucose inhibits their production among local players that have a modest manufacturing infrastructure.Gellan gum is now being actively substituted by alternative hydrocolloids such as xanthan, pectin and gelatine, which are cheaper to produce and easier to harvest from raw materials. The consumption of carrangeenan, among such hydrocolloids, is projected to gain traction as opposed to gellan gum.Nevertheless, several companies in the global food & beverage industry will continue to prefer gellan gum as organic thickeners for products such as jellies, soups and packaged yogurts. Leading gellan gum manufacturers in the world are expanding their production capacity, primarily focusing on delivering gellan gum products for food & beverage applications. Royal DSM, a prominent manufacturer of gellan gum, recently acquired manufacturing plants in China, while CP Kelco made headlines for expanding the production capacity of its San Diego plant.Request to view Sample Report:In the report, titled Gellan Gum Market: Global Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026, Future Market Insights mentions that a majority of gellan gum manufacturers in the global market are based in China, and are incidentally factoring a rampant growth of gellan gum market in the Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region. Dancheng Caixin Sugar Industry Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Tech-Way Biochemicals Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Gellan Solutions Biotec Co. Ltd., Zhejiang DSM Zhongken Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Meron Group, Hebei Xinhe Biochemical Co. Ltd., Fufeng Group, and Inner Mongolia Rainbow Biotech Co. Ltd., are gellan gum manufacturers based in APEJ countries such as China and India. In terms of global market value, APEJ gellan gum market will account for over one-third share throughout the forecast period. US-based CP Kelco will continue to account for over 70% of global gellan gum revenues, making North America a dominant region in the global gellan gum market through 2026.According to Future Market Insights, the global market for gellan gum raked in an estimated revenues worth US$ 46.1 million in 2016, which are likely to increase at 4.3% CAGR to reach US$ 70.2 million by the end of 2026. Demand for gellan gum products will high acyl content will remain lower compared to low-acyl gellan gum products, with global sales of the latter are expected to amount nearly US$ 50 million revenues by the end of 2026. The report also projects that application of gellan gum in global food industry will procure revenues worth over US$ 40 million by the end of forecast period, rendering it the largest application segment in the global gellan gum market.View Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market to Perceive Substantial Growth During 2016 - 2026

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Governments, municipal authorities and civic bodies across Southeast Asian countries will remain determined towards supply of potable & highly-filtered drinking water to millions of households residing in this region. In the years to come, Southeast Asia will witness higher spending on purifying the water used for residential purposes, which will necessitate the need for adopting best-in-class water treatment equipment. Surging population in Southeast Asian countries will hike their per capita water consumption and further boost the sales of residential water treatment equipment. Persistence Market Research has recently published its analytical study on Southeast Asias residential water treatment equipment market which projects a robust growth in terms of revenue and volumes. The US$ 350 million market for residential water treatment equipment in Southeast Asia is being anticipated to soar at 8.3% CAGR and reach US$ 787.1 million market value by the end of 2026.Request Sample:In the report, titled Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market: Southeast Asia Industry Analysis & Forecast, 2016-2026, Persistence Market Research approximates that nearly six million units of residential water treatment equipment were sold across Southeast Asia in 2016. Soaring at an expected 9.3% CAGR, more than 15 million units of residential water treatment equipment will be consumed in the region by end of 2026.Indonesias Residential Sector to Remain DominantIndonesia is one of the leading countries in Southeast Asia in terms of infrastructure development and economic growth. The countrys vast residential sector accounted for about 40% of Southeast Asias residential water treatment equipment revenues in 2016. Over the forecast period, Indonesias residential water treatment equipment market will be valued above US$ 360 million, rendering it a dominant country for residential water treatment equipment in Southeast Asian region. Malaysia and Philippines are also projected to dominate by collectively accounting for nearly 30% of Southeast Asias residential water treatment equipment market value through 2026.Download TOC:Demand for RO Purifiers Keeps SurgingRapid industrialization in Southeast Asia has contaminated the groundwater as well as flowing water bodies of the region. Reverse osmosis treatment of water is being considered as one of the most viable option for supplying clean water to Southeast Asian homes. One out of every two residential water treatment equipment sold across Southeast Asia is a reverse osmosis (RO) purifier. Apart from the RO purifiers, more water treatment bodies in Southeast Asia countries are adopting UV-based purification systems. By the end of 2026, UV water purifiers will bring revenues worth US$ 180 million in Southeast Asias water treatment equipment market.Companies such as AO Smith Corporation, Mazuma Thailand, and PT Holland are new to the Southeast Asian residential water treatment equipment market. Eureka Forbes Ltd., Cleansui and Kent RO Systems Ltd. have been established players in the market, while Panasonic Corporation, Koninklijke Philips NV and LG Corporation are steadily extending their foothold as manufacturers of water treatment equipment for Southeast Asian residences.About Us:Persistence 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 Us:305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United States+1-646-568-7751+1 800-961-0353 (USA-Canada Toll free)Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:
E-commerce Payment Global Market Top Key Players  Alipay , Tenpay , PayPal , Visa , MasterCard and Forecast to 2022

E-commerce Payment Market

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Global E-commerce Payment MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds Global E-commerce Payment Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 Research To Its Database.E-commerce Payment is a transaction of buying or selling online. Electronic commerce payment draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI) and automated data collection systems. It has become increasingly popular due to the widespread use of the internet-based shopping and banking. Payment method security technology, payment customer experience are fast updating all the time. These are also the key features market players engaging to lead the run from all over the whole.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the E-commerce Payment 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.Get sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAlipayTenpayPayPalVisaMasterCardChina UnionPayAmerican ExpressJCBDiscoverMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth 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 Type, coversReal-time bank transfers & offline bank transfersCash on deliveryDirect debitsE-invoicesDigital walletsPostPayPrePayPre-paid cardsDebit cardsCredit cardsCharge cardsEnquiry About Report @Table of Contents -Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 E-commerce Payment Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Real-time bank transfers & offline bank transfers1.2.2 Cash on delivery1.2.3 Direct debits1.2.4 E-invoices1.2.5 Digital wallets1.2.6 PostPay1.2.7 PrePay1.2.8 Pre-paid cards1.2.9 Debit cards1.2.10 Credit cards1.2.11 Charge cards1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Alipay2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 E-commerce Payment Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Alipay E-commerce Payment Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Tenpay2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 E-commerce Payment Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Tenpay E-commerce Payment Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 PayPal2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 E-commerce Payment Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 PayPal E-commerce Payment Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Visa2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 E-commerce Payment Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Visa E-commerce Payment Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 MasterCard2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 E-commerce Payment Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 MasterCard E-commerce Payment Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 China UnionPay2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 E-commerce Payment Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 China UnionPay E-commerce Payment Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)..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)
Acerola Extract Market - Detailed Analysis and Forecast upto 2026

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Future Market Insights delivers key insights on the global acerola extract market in a new publication titled Acerola Extract Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026. The global acerola extract market is projected to witness a robust 8.5% CAGR in terms of value during the forecasted period (20162026). The growth of the global acerola extract market is influenced by several drivers and trends, of which Future Market Insights provides useful insights in this report.Globally rising levels of diabetes, obesity, and cardiac issues have shifted consumer focus towards natural, fruit-based, and healthy products. This is well reflected in the recent emergence of superfruits, a term that refers to highly nutritious fruits. Acerola and its derivatives fit well into this context, given the fruits impressive nutrient profile. Apart from Vitamin C, acerola is rich in pectin, pectolytic enzymes, carotenoids, fibre, Vitamin B, proteins, and other salts. Additionally, acerola extract contains relatively low calories and exhibits a fat-free nature, which further enhances its nutritional profile. Acerola extract has found wide opportunities in the cosmetics industry due to its ability to provide several skin related benefits, much of which is centred on its high Vitamin C concentration. It acts as an antioxidant and prevents free radicals that can cause skin aging; brightens the skin tone; and increases the skins ability to retain moisture. These factors are expected to boost acerola extract demand and subsequently boost the global acerola extract market growth in terms of revenue over the forecast period.Request to view Sample Report:Segmentation highlightsThe global acerola extract market is segmented on the basis of Product Form (Powder, Liquid) and Application (Beverages, Food Supplements, Meat Preservation, Snacks, Bakery Preservation, Confectionery Products, Others).The Powder segment is anticipated to be valued at US$ 5,057.5 Mn by 2016 end and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.6% during 2016  2026The Food Supplements application segment is anticipated to be valued at US$ 2,102.1 Mn by 2016 end. The Food Supplements application segment is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 8.7% between 2016 and 2026. The Beverages application segment is projected to create absolute $ opportunity of US$ 126.2 Mn in 2016 over 2015Regional market projectionsThe global acerola extract market is segmented into the seven key regions of North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Japan. The North America acerola extract market was valued at US$ 1,728 Mn in 2015, which is likely to increase at a CAGR of 8.1% during the assessed period to reach US$ 2,715.6 Mn by the end of 2021. Increasing use in pharmaceutical applications is driving the North America acerola extract market. The APEJ acerola extract market is expected to be valued at US$ 2,835.6 Mn by the end of 2026. Increasing supply chain and production facilities in APEJ are anticipated to drive revenue growth of the market.Vendor insightsThe global acerola extract market report features some of the leading companies operational in the worldwide market. Companies profiled in the report include Nature's Power Nutraceuticals Corp., Niagro, Naturex, Nutrilite (Amway), Duas Rodas Industrial, Diana Naturals, Nichirei Corporation, iTi Tropicals, NutriBotanica, Vita Forte Inc., Florida Food, Inc., Optimally Organic, The Green Labs LLC, Blue Macaw Flora, and Amazonia Exportacao E Representacao. Top market companies are focussing on expanding their supply chain network globally and are producing and supplying products in partnership with local players to enhance their sales and distribution network.View Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Depth Research of Food Stabilizer Market in Global Industry 2017 to 2021

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Albany, NY, 16th November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Food Stabilizer Market - Global Industry Analysis, Trend, Size, Share and Forecast 2015 - 2021" globally.The global food stabilizer market is expected to experience a stable growth throughout the forecast period. Food stabilizers maintain the stability of food products in term of texture, volume and mouth feel.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The global food stabilizer market is segmented on the basis of application, function and geography. By application the food stabilizers market can be segmented into bakery, confectionary, dairy products, beverages, convenience food and others. The others segment includes processed meat and, sauces and condiments among others. By function the food stabilizers market has been segmented into stabilizing function, texturing function, and moisturing function among others. In addition, the report provides a cross-sectional analysis of all the above segments with respect to different geographical regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW).Increasing demand for convenience food is one of the major factors fuelling the demand for food stabilizers globally. Busy lifestyle and changing eating patterns are driving the growth of convenience food products and this in turn is fuelling the growth of the food stabilizer market. Moreover, owing to increasing demand for organic food products the global food stabilizer market is expected to experience stable growth throughout the forecast period. Food stabilizers are being added to the finished product in order to increase the shelf life and to maintain the overall quality of organic food products. Increasing health concerns of people across the globe is driving the market for organic food items which in turn is driving the growth of the food stabilizer globally. In addition, the use of food stabilizers gives competitive advantage to food industry over other market players since food stabilizers helps to impart the exact volume, mouth feel and texture demanded by consumers. Owing to this factor, the demand for food stabilizers is increasing and is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @However, despite of the several factors driving the demand of food stabilizers, they can pose a serious threat if consumed within specified limit. There are several side effects associated with food stabilizers. Gelatin can cause allergic reactions. Alginate or algin which is used to increase the viscosity of a food product has an adverse effect in woman during pregnancy. Excessive consumption of guar gum increases the chances of gas production, loose motion and diarrhoea and various other complications. In addition, stringent government regulations across different countries restrain the growth of global food stabilizer market. Different organizations including FDA have set safety standards to determine whether a stabilizer is safe enough for its intended use. In spite of these restraining factors the food stabilizer market will stand firm during the forecasted period.The conclusive analysis of the global food stabilizer market and the expected market growth for the period 2015 to 2021 is provided in this report. The report provides in depth study of different market segments and detailed analysis of the food stabilizer market across different segments based on application, function and by geography. This report also provides various macro and micro economic factor affecting the demand of food stabilizers.In the food stabilizer market, among application segment the dairy products held the largest market share in 2014. Increasing health concerns among the consumers is driving the market for diary food items which in turn is driving the growth of the food stabilizer market. Food stabilizers are being added to the diary product to increase the shelf life, to maintain the overall quality and to maintain nutritional stability of diary food products.In 2014, across the geography, Europe held the largest market share i.e. 40.0% in the food stabilizer market. Europe is a mature market in term of food stabilizer due to its high penetration level in European market. Consequently the market growth of food stabilizers in European market is sluggish. Europe is followed by North America. Increasing working population and rising health consciousness among consumers is boosting the demand for dairy and ready to eat products, which in turn is driving the market for food stabilizer stabilizers. On the other hand economic development in developing countries such as India, China and Japan leads to an increase in disposable income which in turn increases the purchasing power of consumers. Owing to this change in lifestyle coupled with increasing disposable income people are looking for processed and ready to eat convenience food. The market growth of food stabilizers in this region is attributed to the increasing demand for these processed and ready to eat food.Overall, the report provides a detailed analysis of the global food stabilizer and the expected growth for the period 2015 to 2021, after considering various macro and micro economic factors affecting the demand.The report segments the food stabilizer market as:By ApplicationBakeryConfectionaryDairy ProductsBeveragesConvenience FoodOthersBy FunctionStabilizing FunctionTexturing FunctionMoisturing FunctionOthersBy GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeU.K.FranceGermanyItalyOthersAsia-PacificIndiaChinaJapanOthersBrowse Report @Rest of the World (RoW)Middle EastLatin AmericaAfricaResearchMoz 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 :
Professional Growth of Telecom API Market in Global Industry 2017

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Albany, NY, 16th November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Telecom API (By Service Type - Payment, SMS, MMS and RCS, Maps and Location, Voice/Speech, Identity Management, WebRTC and Others; By User Type - Enterprise Developer, Internal Telecom Developer, Partner Developer and Long Tail Developer) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2022" globally.Telecom API market represents an overall Application Programming Interface (API) services provided by telecom carriers, service providers and aggregators to application developers in order to create mobile applications.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Telecom API helps application developers to integrate various services such as payment, voice, SMS and WebRTC into their mobile application. This helps application developers to enhance their customer experience and market their mobile applications among end-users. Telecom API provides many benefits to telecom carriers in the form of revenue generation and enhancing end-user experience. Telecom API faces competition from Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers and due to growing adoption of open API platform. However, the increasing adoption of M2M devices among end-users is anticipated to boost the market for telecom API in coming years.This research report provides in-depth analysis of the global telecom API market based on services, user types and geography. In terms of geographical regions, the report categorizes the global telecom API market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. North America is further segmented into the U.S. and Rest of North America, while Europe is divided into EU7, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Rest of Europe. Moreover, Asia Pacific is subdivided into Japan, China and Rest of Asia Pacific. Also, MEA is further segmented into Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, South Africa and Rest of MEA, while Latin America is subdivided into Brazil and Rest of Latin America.The telecom API market is categorized based on service types into payment, SMS, MMS and RCS, maps and location, voice/speech, identity management, WebRTC and others. Further, the research report provides complete insights into different users of telecom API such as enterprise developers, internal telecom developers, partner developer and long tail developers. The report analyzes each of these segments for various geographies considered under the scope of the study.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Furthermore, the report analyzes factors that drive and restrain the growth of telecom API market. The report also discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies resulting in the popularity of telecom API services. It also provides the market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue. Also provided in the report is the market positioning of key players in the global telecom API market.Additionally, the report includes competitive profiling of the major players engaged in offering telecom API services. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and various recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The key market players profiled in this study include telecom carriers, aggregators and service providers. The major telecom carriers providing telecom APIs profiled in the report include AT&T, Inc. and Orange. The major service providers and aggregators of telecom API profiled in the study are Apigee Corp., LocationSmart, Alcatel-Lucent, Twilio, Inc., Tropo, Inc. (Cisco, Inc.), Aepona Ltd. (An Intel Company), Fortumo OU, Nexmo, Inc. and Comverse, Inc.The global telecom API market is segmented as below:Telecom API MarketBy Service TypePaymentSMS, MMS and RCSMaps and LocationVoice/SpeechIdentity ManagementWebRTCOthers (Device Information and Do Not Distrub)By User TypeEnterprise DeveloperInternal Telecom DeveloperPartner DeveloperLong Tail DeveloperBrowse Report @By GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaResearchMoz 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 :
Digital Asset Management Market - To Exhibit Massive Rise in Demand

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Digital asset management is the process of storing and organizing data and managing digital rights and permissions in small and large enterprises. The rising concern over increasing labor wages has resulted into organizations focusing on automation of their operations. The increased realization that the use of automation not only reduces the need for human labor, but also increases the efficiency of operation and reduces the chances of human error, is providing a massive push to the adoption of automation practices.Furthermore, processing industries such as chemical processing, pulp and paper, oil refineries are gradually shifting towards automation to sustain in the competitive environment. The increase in demand for process automation is directly driving the need for digital asset management as it is used for storing, organizing and retrieving rich media and managing digital rights and permissions which are essential in any automation process. The organization of digital assets has become a priority for majority of the companies with vast digital assets. This has resulted into an increasing demand for digital asset management (DAM) software solution globally.Transparency Market Research estimates that the global digital asset management market, which valued at US$1,732.5 mn in 2016, will exhibit an excellent CAGR of 15.6% from 2017 to 2025 and account for US$6,327.8 mn in 2025.Get an exclusive sample of this report @Cloud Deployment Models to Gain Increasing Preference in Near FutureThe global DAM market has been segregated in terms of deployment model in the report into enterprise, on-premise, and cloud deployment models. Of these, the segment of enterprise deployment model held the dominant share in the global market in 2016 and is expected to remain the leading contributor of revenue throughout the forecast period as well.However, the segment is expected to witness a slight decline in its present share in the global market by the end of the forecast period, owing chiefly to the rising popularity of cloud-based deployment as a much cheaper and reliable option. The cloud deployment model is expected to grow robustly during the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for remote access of data.Browse Research Report @From a geographical perspective, the global market for digital asset management has been segmented in the report into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America and Europe have been noted to be the leading contributors to the global market, accounting cumulatively for over 50% of the global market in 2016. North America includes the U.S. and Canada which are primarily focusing on automation of workforces and cloud storage of data. In addition, the regions house several of the major players in the market such as IBM Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Oracle Corporation among others.However, the increasing demand for enterprise content management in emerging economies such as India and China is driving the demand in Asia Pacific region which is expected to lead in terms of rate of growth during the forecast period. The growing demand for digitalization and data management in emerging economies such as India, China, and Japan is aiding the demand for DAM solutions in the region. Moreover, India is an important hub for consulting and outsourced projects from organizations operating in Europe and North America. The region thus presents immense scope for the usage of DAM solutions for the constant coordination of local offices with headquarters by synchronizing the data in centralized servers.Some of the leading players operating in the global digital asset management market profiled in the report are IBM Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell EMC, Oracle Corporation, Boeing, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corporation, Commvault, Symantec Corporation, Opentext Corporation, and Canto, Inc.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:
Europe Spirometer Market Increase Annual Revenues by 9.4% with USD 362.0 Million by 2024

Europe Spirometer Market Growth CAGR of 9.4% by 2024

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Europe Spirometer Market is expected to reach USD 362.0 million by 2024 from USD 177.8 million in 2016, at a CAGR of 9.4% in the forecast period 2017 to 2024. The new market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Complete report on Europe Spirometer Market Report 2017-2024 spread across 350 Pages, profiling 20 companies and supports with tables and figuresClick and get Free Sample report of Europe Spirometer Market Visit @Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reportsThe major factors driving the growth of this market are the increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing demand of homecare setting devices, rising number of smokers. On the other hand, weak reimbursement policies may hinder the growth of the market.Key Drivers:Some of the major factors driving the market for spirometer market are increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing demand of homecare setting devices, rising number of smokers. These factors increase the demand for devices such as table-top spirometer and hand held spirometer. According to World Health Organization, Eastern Europe is having considerably higher death rate in infants due to respiratory diseases than in Western Europe. Home diagnosis of pulmonary functions by using home care spirometry which is also known as ambulatory spirometry is primarily used by the lung transplant patients or elderly population. In Europe, smoking and respiratory infection is a major cause of lung diseases. As the number of smokers are increasing, the rising incidence of respiratory diseases are also increasing thus the market growth of spirometer is also expanding due to the increased diagnosis rate.Market SegmentationOn the basis of product type table-top spirometer hand-held spirometer PC based spirometerOn the basis of technology Volume measurement spirometer Flow measurement spirometer Peak flow meterOn the basis of disease Asthma Bronchitis Emphysema Chronic obstructive Lung disease Lung cancerFor Any Query Speak to Expert Visit @On the basis of disposable components Filters Sensors TubesOn the basis of application Diagnostics TherapeuticsOn the basis of end users Hospitals Clinics HomecareOn the basis of distribution channel counter direct tenderTABLE OF CONTENTS1. Introduction2. Market Segmentation3. Market Overview4. Executive Summary5. Premium Insights6. Europe Spirometer Market, By Product Type6.1. Overview6.2. Table-Top Spirometer6.3. Hand-Held Spirometer6.4. Desktop Spirometer7. Europe Spirometer Market, By Technology7.1. Overview7.2. Top Spirometer7.3. Hand-Held Spirometer7.4. Desktop Spirometer8. Europe Spirometer Market, By Disease9. Europe Spirometer Market, By Disposable Components10. Europe Spirometer Market, By Application11. Europe Spirometer Market, By End-User12. Europe Spirometer Market, By Distribution Channel13. Europe Spirometer Market: Competitive Landscape13.1. Europe Spirometer Market: Company Share Analysis13.2. Mergers & Acquisitions13.3. New Product Development & Approvals13.4. Expansions13.5. Regulatory Changes13.6. Partnership And Other Strategic Developments14. Europe Spirometer Market, Company Profiles14.1. Welch Allyn14.2. Midmark Corp.14.3. Futuremed14.4. Cosmed14.5. Mgc Diagnostics Corporation14.6. Nihon Kohden Corporation14.7. Chest M.I., Inc14.8. Medical International Research14.9. Vitalograph15. Appendix16. About Data Bridge Market ResearchIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you wantDetailed TOC and Inquiry & Sample Report of Europe Spirometer Market available Visit @Related ReportGlobal Spirometer Market  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Spirometer Market, By Product (Table-top, Hand-held, Desktop) Technology {Volume (Wet and Dry), Flow (Pneumotachograph, Mass Flow Meter), and Peak Flow Meter (PFM)} Application (Diagnostic and Therapeutic) End-user (hospital, clinic and homecare) Distribution Channel (OTC and Direct Tenders) Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, MEA)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Read More: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:
New Market Research Report Announced on Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches Market ; Global Industry Analysis 2017-2022

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Albany, NY, 16th November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Global Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches Market Professional Survey Report 2017" globally.This report studies Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches 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.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringBrocadeCiscoQlogicEmulexOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into4Gbps8Gbps16GbpsOthersView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @By Application, the market can be split intoFinancialTelecommunicationsGovernmentMediaAviationEducationOthersBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of Contents1 Industry Overview of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches1.1 Definition and Specifications of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches1.1.1 Definition of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches1.1.2 Specifications of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches1.2 Classification of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches1.2.1 4Gbps1.2.2 8Gbps1.2.3 16Gbps1.2.4 Others1.3 Applications of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches1.3.1 Financial1.3.2 Telecommunications1.3.3 Government1.3.4 Media1.3.5 Aviation1.3.6 Education1.3.7 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 IndiaBrowse Report @2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Storage Area Network (SAN) Switches2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Storage Area Network (SAN) SwitchesResearchMoz 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 :
Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market Growth 2017 and Leaders: Daifuku, SSI Schaefer, Murata Machinery, Knapp AG, Mecalux SA, System Logistics, Bastian, Beumer

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Market Research Future published a research report on Global Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market Research Report- Forecast 2023  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market HighlightsThe study reveals that Automated Storage and Retrieval System is trending in North America region. In recent times, the mini-load systems are required to extract that grasp handles on vacuums that attach with suction. Additionally, the Robotic arms also play a crucial role in AS/RS mini-loads. The utilizing AS/RS will increase efficiency and throughput, that provide more space, and reduces building costs, will lead to the growth of this market.The study indicates that the warehouse automation systems has configured to be completely redundant, spreading inventory and also reduces the need on the ability of any AS/RS Shuttle to handle a task.The Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market is growing rapidly over 7.7% of CAGR and is expected to reach at USD $~10.81 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 The Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market Research Report -Forecast to 2023.Get Sample of Report @Study Objectives of Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Automated Storage and Retrieval System market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Automated Storage and Retrieval System 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 Automated Storage and Retrieval SystemKey PlayersThe prominent players in the Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market are TGW Logistics Group GmbH (Austria), Swisslog Holding AG (Switzerland), Daifuku Co., Ltd. (Japan), SSI Schaefer Group (Germany), Murata Machinery (Japan), Knapp AG (Austria), Mecalux SA (Spain), Vanderlande Industries (Netherlands), System Logistics Corporation (Italy), Bastian Solution (US), Beumer Group (Germany), Dematic GmbH & Co. KG (Germany) and Kardex Group (Switzerland) among others.Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market SegmentationThe Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market has been segmented on the basis of categories, techniques, end -users and region. The semiconductor and electronics are expected to propel the highest growth rate during the forecast period as the AS/RS Systems can also easily expanded to meet increasing productivity demands in the North America region.Market Research Analysis:On geographic basis, Automated Storage and Retrieval System market is studied in different regions as Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of world. It has been observed that North America region is leading with largest market share growth in the Automated Storage and Retrieval System market as the trend of e-commerce in the logistics and warehousing industry is growing in these region. In this market, Europe is to be estimated to be the second largest market share for Automated Storage and Retrieval System solutions during the forecast period.Get Complete Report @Intended Audience Raw material providers Automated Storage and Retrieval System manufacturing companies Product sales and distribution companies Government regulatory authorities ASRS Original Equipment Manufacturers Raw Material Suppliers Assembly and Packaging Vendors Technical Universities Technology standards organizations Technology investors Research institutes, System Integrators 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.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics 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.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 Services Market 2017 Global Leaders: Siemens AG, Emerson Electric, Honeywell, ABB, Schneider Electric, SKF AB, ATS Automation

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Market Research Future published a research report on Global Industrial Services Market Research Report- Forecast 2023  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market Synopsis of Industrial Services MarketMarket ScenarioThe Industrial Services are determined as the wider service portfolio that is being recognized by the service solution providers. The key factors driving the growth of the industrial services market are the deployment of strategies that includes service contracts and service agreements, product developments, partnerships, and expansions. The growing demand for operational excellence; rising demand for maintenance as a service; and increasing equipment complexity also fueling the market of industrial services by the end of the forecasted period. The growth of industrial service has also evolved the large multinational organizations. Due to its standardization of price and quality, the demand of the improved asset utilization, the industrial services represents the clear competitive advantage for the clients.Get Sample of Report @The study indicates that Industrial services are the key source for revenue and growth for its providers. The technological advancement is not only prompting the growth of industrial service market but also endorse the innovation and development of various industrial equipment. The major driving factor for the growth of Industrial Services are increasing demand is the implementation. Moreover, the demand for predictive maintenance services and increasing equipment complexity would help in the growth of the industrial services market for operational improvement and maintenance services.The impact of fluctuating oil prices has increased the demand for industrial services. A huge amount of operational efficiency in the oil & gas industry is also acting as a growing sector for this market.The global Industrial Services Market is expected to grow at USD$ ~35.71 Billion by 2023, at ~5.9% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Key Players:The prominent players in the Industrial Services Market are  Siemens AG (Germany), ABB (Switzerland), Emerson Electric (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), General Electric (US), Schneider Electric (France), Wood Group Mustang (US), SKF AB (Sweden), ATS Automation (Canada), INTECH Process Automation (US) among others.Segments:The global Industrial Services market has been segmented on the basis of type, application, end-users, and region.Industrial Services Market by Type: Service Strategies Resource Planning Maintenance Strategy and Planning Engineering and Consulting OthersIndustrial Services Market by Application: Human Machine Interface Distributed Control System Manufacturing Execution System Programmable Logic Controller Safety Systems OthersIndustrial Services Market by End Users: IT and Telecom Transportation Metals & Mining Food & Beverages Oil & Gas OthersIndustrial Services Market by Regions: North America Europe APAC Rest of the WorldStudy Objectives of Industrial Services Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Industrial Services Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Industrial Services market based on various factors- supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis 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 by Capacity, Battery Type, Power bank Type, No. of USB ports 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 market To Track and Analyze competitive developments such as Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances, Mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Industrial Services Market.Get Complete Report @Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of Industrial Services market is being studied for region such as Industrial Services a pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. Europe region is dominating the global industrial services market and accounted for a largest market share due to wide spectrum of services offered in these region. The Key Vendors such as Siemens AG (Germany), ABB (Switzerland), and many more are the major player in this market. While in North America, the market is expected to grow further in the coming years of the Industrial Services market.Intended Audience Raw material providers Original design manufacturers Technology, service, and solution providers Suppliers and distributors System integrators Electronic design automation Component manufacturers Original equipment manufacturers Research institutes and organizations Technology standards organizations Technology investors Research institutes, System Integrators 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
Business Strategy in LiDAR for Cars and Light Trucks 2017-2023

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Albany, NY, 16th November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "LiDAR for Cars and Light Trucks Market Size, Shares - Industry Trends, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2017 to 2023" globally.LiDAR sensors are extensively used in automated cars and light trucks as they help in safe navigation by detecting obstacles and avoiding them. As most of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tier-1 players within the global automobile industry are working towards automated driving, the global market for LiDAR will witness a high growth in the years to come.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The demand for LiDAR technology is high as they help in achieving level 3 and level 4 in automation of vehicles. While level 3 still requires drivers for cars and light vehicles to function, all the safety critical functions relating to the environment or traffic can be shifted to the vehicle. Level 4 vehicles can monitor roadway conditions for the entire trip and perform all the safety-critical driving functions. With an increasing number of car manufacturers striving to expand the autonomous driving concept and the shift towards unmanned vehicles, the market for LiDAR has huge potential for growth.Worldwide markets are poised to achieve significant growth as LiDAR sensors for cars and light trucks permit users to implement automated driving. Fleet vehicles from Uber, Google and similar users are likely to be the early adopter groups, creating vehicles that do package delivery and ride sharing. Tesla, Mercedes, and Audi are among the vendors with a leadership position in the personal luxury vehicle artificial intelligence LiDAR car markets. These cars provide performance and cater to individual preference in feature function packages and styling.LIDAR stands for light detection and ranging which is remote sensing. LIDAR does not require electromagnetic radiation but it requires laser pulses that strike the object and return back to the sensor. The laser pulse measures the distance from the sensor to the object by determining the time between the release to reception of the reflected pulse.3D scanning market and imaging are expected to propel growth. Major technological developments include emergence of optically extended MEMS scanning mirror for low-altitude and light weight flying platforms. Long term reliability of number of key laser components drive the LiDAR market. Key components include optical coatings, optics, and diodes in vacuum and radiation environment of space.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Every car maker seeks to participate in this Artificial Intelligence (AI) personal vehicle market leveraging LiDAR. The ability to do so depends on implementing next generation technology that is very expensive to get working. Vendors ae seeking to work together to set standards and develop shared modules that provide basic functionality. Cameras, sensors, artificial intelligence software, and LiDAR are among the modules being developed.Autonomous vehicle technology has the potential to institute major change in personal mobility. Autonomous cars are the next generation of manual cars, poised to provide thrust for a large replacement market. Autonomous vehicles are the base for building personal car services, particularly in large cities. Carmakers and Silicon Valley companies bring different skills to the task of building a Artificial Intelligence (AI) car. LiDAR is a significant sensor that supports autonomous operations. Autonomous vehicles transform the personal transport industry.Every person who owns a vehicle has a preference on performance. The Tesla has gained recognition for offering a Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicle, but it is first and foremost a performance vehicle. This characteristic will not change as Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicles come on the market. People like the customization of features and functions in their car.This customization aspect of vehicles does not get talked about much, but it is a very important part of the industry. It will not go away just because cars are run by software. From auto racing to personal preference, ever car has its own personality and its own comfort. Performance is part of the package. Every car maker seeks to participate in this Artificial Intelligence (AI) personal vehicle market with a distinctive offering. The ability to have unique appear to customers depends on implementing next generation technology in a manner that works effectively and is relatively inexpensive to implement.As automated process leveraging LiDAR hits the auto industry as a disruptive force, it parallels the automated piloting of the airline industry that saw significant labor savings implementation. Automated vehicle driving can be done anywhere just by connecting the car to integrated adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering and braking, and lane assist systems all working off one central processor.Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars and light trucks incrementally add automated process to driving leveraging the LiDAR sensor. As software is added to cars and light trucks it is done in concert with modification to the steering, breaking, and other automotive systems. Autonomous functions for vehicles are increasingly adopted.Change is incremental, we do not have fully functioning LiDAR navigated Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars immediately, rather, steering, collision avoidance, parking, test driving, series of camera and radar based monitoring systems, lane assist, and adaptive cruise control are being implemented, presaging rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars and light trucks as the various functions mature and work in the real world.According to Susan Eustis, team leader for the preparation of the study, The market for LiDAR for cars and light truck vehicles is anticipated to expand in parallel with the deployment of appropriate roadway controls funded by government programs. The large public investments for Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicles so far has been for development of technology that works for military purposes. The extension of this type of automated system to commercial fleet vehicles will be rapid after 2019.The Artificial Intelligence (AI) car designs amalgamate a group of features to represent an automated process solution. These include the hardware, the software middleware, the steering system, adaptive cruise control, numerous software applications, an integrated systems approach, and related services. Significant investments in research and development are necessary as the emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars and light trucks industry builds on incremental technology roll outs.LiDAR for autonomous autos and small trucks /SUVs market at $13 million in 2016 is expected to reach $9.9 billion by 2023. This is in the context of a $3 trillion market for the autonomous vehicles. LiDAR represents one sensor in the autonomous navigation system. It is used to give more reliability than is available from cameras and other sensors and it compliments those capabilities. Spectacular growth is a result of various moves toward autonomous vehicles that can go across the US by themselves, provide automated navigation,, integrated braking and steering. Most auto vendors have gone beyond the testing stage to offer vehicles that have strong navigation capability.Safety modules are complimented by mapping vehicles that provide navigation. The Tesla and other vehicles provide driver alerts but fall sort of complete Artificial Intelligence (AI).Browse Report @Market driving forces relate primarily to the need for increased safety and personalization for autos. Car manufacturers are positioning with LiDAR sensors for cars to meet demand at the high end, and in every category of car and light truck. Many Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicle car vendors are making automation for personal vehicles and light trucks a reality.ResearchMoz 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 :
Rising Air Pollution Drives Demand from Organic Personal Care Market

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The global organic personal care market is likely to experience steady growth in the coming years due to the growing popularity of organic products in the FMCG sector. The organic personal care sector has thus grown rapidly in the last few years and is likely to exhibit a steady growth rate in the coming years. The organic personal care market is also set to benefit from other driving factors such as the rising popularity of modern sales channels and the growing disposable income of urban consumers.Download exclusive Sample of this report:According to Transparency Market Research, the global organic personal care market is set to exhibit a strong 11.3% CAGR between 2017 and 2022. The markets valuation is expected to rise from US$10.9 bn to US$18.7 bn over the forecast period.Here are the key insights into the global organic personal care market:The growing popularity of organic products is the prime driver for the global organic personal care market. While the cosmetics sector has grown at a rapid pace in recent years, consumers are becoming increasingly wary of the high content of potentially harmful chemicals in popular cosmetic formulations. This has led to a growing demand for organic alternatives. Driven by the steady growth of the organic food industry, the demand for organic products has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years and is likely to dominate the growth trajectory of several FMCG markets in the coming years. The rising regulatory support to organic products is thus likely to remain a key driver for the global organic personal care market in the coming years.The rising availability of modern sales channels such as hypermarkets has helped the global organic personal care market. Modern shopping avenues are particularly prevalent in urban areas, where the demand for organic products is also high. The rising disposable income of consumers in urban areas is also likely to remain a key driver for the global organic personal care market in the coming years, organic personal care products tend to be more expensive than conventional products, since the latter enjoy an economy of scale that the organic personal care industry has yet to achieve.Browse Market Research Report @Rising air pollution levels in urban areas across the world are also likely to contribute significantly to the growth of the global organic personal care market. Air pollution affects the skin and hair most prominently, leading to growing demand for hair care and skin care products in the FMCG industry. The advantages provided by organic products over conventional formulations in terms of protecting hair and skin health in the face of rising pollution is likely to enable smooth growth of the organic personal care industry, as organic formulations can often be gentler on the skin than conventional chemical-based products.Hair care products are likely to remain the dominant product segment in the global organic personal care market in the coming years. Hair care products were valued at US$3.3 bn in 2017 and are likely to rise to a valuation of US$5.7 bn by 2022 at an 11.3% CAGR therein. The segment accounted for more than 30% of the global organic personal care market in 2017 and is likely to remain similarly dominant in the coming years.Geographically, North America is likely to remain the dominant contributor to the global organic personal care market, with the regional market set to rise from US$3.4 bn to US$5.8 bn over the 2017-2022 forecast period. Japan is also likely to play a key role in the growth of the global organic personal care market in the coming years, with the Japan organic personal care market likely to exhibit a robust 11.7% CAGR over the 2017-2022 forecast period.Competitive DynamicsThe global organic personal care market is likely to remain intensely competitive over the coming years due to the rapid growth of the FMCG sector and increasing scope for local players, who can produce products better suited to regional preferences. Leading players in the global organic personal care market include Johnson and Johnson Consumer Inc., The Body Shop, Amway, Estee Lauder, Kao Corporation, LOccitane en Provence, Natura Cosmeticos SA, The Hain Celestial Group, Kiehls, and Loreal SA.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022

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This report studies the global Multi-tenant Data Center market, analyzes and researches the Multi-tenant Data Center development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeCenturyLinkDigital RealtyEquinixGlobal SwitchNTT CommunicationsRackspaceSungard Availability Services (Sungard AS)InternapViaWestPCCW GlobalCentriLogicTierPointZayoChina TelecomVerizon EnterpriseDatapipeExpedientFujitsuServerCentralIBMMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaDownload Sample Report Copy From Here:Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoWholesaleRetailMarket segment by Application, Multi-tenant Data Center can be split intoBFSIIT and TelecomGovernmentEnergyManufacturingOthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of ContentsGlobal Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Multi-tenant Data Center1.1 Multi-tenant Data Center Market Overview1.1.1 Multi-tenant Data Center Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Multi-tenant Data Center Market by Type1.3.1 Wholesale1.3.2 Retail1.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 BFSI1.4.2 IT and Telecom1.4.3 Government1.4.4 Energy1.4.5 Manufacturing1.4.6 Others2 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 CenturyLink3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Digital Realty3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Equinix3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Global Switch3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 NTT Communications3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Rackspace3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS)3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Internap3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 ViaWest3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 PCCW Global3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 CentriLogic3.12 TierPoint3.13 Zayo3.14 China Telecom3.15 Verizon Enterprise3.16 Datapipe3.17 Expedient3.18 Fujitsu3.19 ServerCentral3.20 IBM4 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size by Type (2012-2017)4.2 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Potential Application of Multi-tenant Data Center in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Multi-tenant Data Center5 United States Multi-tenant Data Center Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (2012-2017)5.2 United States Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)6 EU Multi-tenant Data Center Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (2012-2017)6.2 EU Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)7 Japan Multi-tenant Data Center Development Status and Outlook7.1 Japan Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (2012-2017)7.2 Japan Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)8 China Multi-tenant Data Center Development Status and Outlook8.1 China Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (2012-2017)8.2 China Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)9 India Multi-tenant Data Center Development Status and Outlook9.1 India Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (2012-2017)9.2 India Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)10 Southeast Asia Multi-tenant Data Center Development Status and Outlook10.1 Southeast Asia Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (2012-2017)10.2 Southeast Asia Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)11.1 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (Value) by Regions (2017-2022)11.1.1 United States Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.2 EU Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.3 Japan Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.4 China Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.5 India Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.6 Southeast Asia Multi-tenant Data Center Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.2 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size (Value) by Type (2017-2022)11.3 Global Multi-tenant Data Center Market Size by Application (2017-2022)12 Multi-tenant Data Center Market Dynamics12.1 Multi-tenant Data Center Market Opportunities12.2 Multi-tenant Data Center Challenge and Risk12.2.1 Competition from Opponents12.2.2 Downside Risks of Economy12.3 Multi-tenant Data Center Market Constraints and Threat12.3.1 Threat from Substitute12.3.2 Government Policy12.3.3 Technology Risks12.4 Multi-tenant Data Center Market Driving Force12.4.1 Growing Demand from Emerging Markets12.4.2 Potential Application13 Market Effect Factors Analysis13.1 Technology Progress/Risk13.1.1 Substitutes13.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry13.2 Consumer Needs Trend/Customer Preference13.3 External Environmental Change13.3.1 Economic Fluctuations13.3.2 Other Risk Factors14 Research Finding/Conclusion15 AppendixMethodologyAnalyst IntroductionData SourceBuy Now This Report From Here:Global QYResearch() is the one spot destination for all your research needs. Global QYResearch holds the repository of quality research reports from numerous publishers across the globe. Our inventory of research reports caters to various industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. With the complete information about the publishers and the industries they cater to for developing market research reports, we help our clients in making purchase decision by understanding their requirements and suggesting best possible collection matching their needs.Unit 1, 26 Cleveland Road, South Woodford, London,E182AN, United KingdomCall: +44 20 3239 2407
Automatic Window Opener Market 2017- Outlook Trends, Growth Factors, Top Manufacturers, Research Methodology and Forecasts by 2022

Automatic Window Opener

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Latest Report Available at Orbis research Automatic Window Opener Market provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics and a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining industry growth.Request sample copy of this report @In our aim to provide our erudite clients with the best research material with absolute in-depth information of the market, our new report on Global Automatic Window Opener Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Automatic Window Opener Market is an in-depth study and analysis of the market by our industry experts with unparalleled domain knowledge. The report will shed light on many critical points and trends of the industry which are useful for our esteemed clients. The report covers a vast expanse of information including an overview, comprehensive analysis, definitions and classifications, applications, and expert opinions, among others. With the extent of information filled in the report, the presentation and style of the Global Automatic Window Opener Market report is a noteworthy.The Global Automatic Window Opener Industry report provides key information about the industry, including invaluable facts and figures, expert opinions, and the latest developments across the globe. Not only does the report cover a holistic view of the industry from a global standpoint, but it also covers individual regions and their development. The Global Automatic Window Opener Industry market report showcases the latest trends in the global and regional markets on all critical parameters which include technology, supplies, capacity, production, profit, price, and competition. The key players covered in the report provide a detailed analysis of the competition and their developments in the Global Automatic Window Opener Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Automatic Window Opener Market report.Purchase a copy of Automatic Window Opener Market visit @For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.com .The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Finally, the Automatic Window Opener Market report ends with a detailed SWOT analysis of the market, investment feasibility and returns, and development trends and forecasts. As with every report on Orbis Research, the Automatic Window Opener Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from. The report which is the result of ultimate dedication of pedigree professionals has a wealth of information which can benefit anyone, irrespective of their commercial or academic interest.Browse Complete Report @Some points from TOC:Chapter One: Automatic Window Opener Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Automatic Window Opener1.2 Automatic Window Opener Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Automatic Window Opener Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Automatic Window Opener Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Chain Actuators1.2.4 Rack Actuator1.2.5 Linear Actuator1.2.6 Folding Actuator1.3 Global Automatic Window Opener Segment by Application1.3.1 Automatic Window Opener Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Residential1.3.3 Commercial1.3.4 Corporate Offices1.3.5 Industrial1.4 Global Automatic Window Opener Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Automatic Window Opener 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 Automatic Window Opener (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Automatic Window Opener Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Chapter Two: Global Automatic Window Opener Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Automatic Window Opener Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Automatic Window Opener Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Automatic Window Opener Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Automatic Window Opener Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Automatic Window Opener Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Automatic Window Opener Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Automatic Window Opener Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Automatic Window Opener Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, ExpansionChapter Three: Global Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Automatic Window Opener Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Automatic Window Opener Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Automatic Window Opener Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Automatic Window Opener Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)For any enquires before buying, connect with us @ enquiry@orbisresearch.comAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. 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Steel Grating Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Yantai Xinke, P&R Metals, Nepean, AMICO, Nucor, Lionweld Kennedy, Marco Specialty, Webforge, Harsco (IKG), P&R Metals, Meiser and Others

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Global Steel Grating market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Interstate Gratings, Grating Pacific, Lionweld Kennedy, Marco Specialty, Ningbo Lihongyuan, Sinosteel, Beijing Dahe, Nepean, AMICO, Nucor, Webforge, Harsco (IKG), NJMM, Yantai Xinke, P&R Metals, Meiser, Ohio Gratings and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Steel Grating is any regularly spaced collection of essentially identical, parallel, elongated elements. Gratings usually consist of a single set of elongated elements, but can consist of two sets, in which case the second set is usually perpendicular to the first (as illustrated).Steel grating is perfect for factories, buildings, generating plants in fact anywhere the ease of movement and safety is required.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Steel Grating Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:AMICONucorWebforgeHarsco (IKG)NJMMYantai XinkeP&R MetalsMeiserOhio GratingsInterstate GratingsGrating PacificLionweld KennedyMarco SpecialtyNingbo LihongyuanSinosteelBeijing DaheNepeanOthersGlobal Steel Grating Market: Key Product TypeStainless Steel GratingCarbon Steel GratingOthersGlobal Steel Grating Market: Key Application TypeArchitectureSewage DisposalPetrochemicalOthersGlobal Steel Grating 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 Steel Grating Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Steel Grating 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 Steel Grating 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 Steel Grating Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Stainless Steel Grating1.2.2 Carbon Steel Grating1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Architecture1.3.2 Sewage Disposal1.3.3 Petrochemical1.3.4 Others........................Continue (Global Steel Grating 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
North America Residential Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Market 2017-2023 by Application & Technology

Residential robotic vacuum cleaners (RVCs) or robovacs are used to clean living spaces, pools, lawns, windows and gutters thereby helping users with house chores. These robots reduce the time required for regular household cleaning activities and are preferred by the growing urbane consumers leading a hectic lifestyle. Total sales revenue of residential robotic vacuum cleaners (RVCs) in North America will advance to $XXX million in 2023, registering a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2023. This represents a cumulative revenue of $3.62 billion during 2017-2023 owing to a fast-growing adoption of cleaning robots in North American households. Accordingly, the annual shipment of residential robovacs in North America is expected to reach XXX thousand units in 2023, growing by XX% annually over the coming years.Highlighted with 11 tables and 52 figures, this 110-page report North America Residential Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Market 2017-2023 by Application, Product Function, Charging Technology, Distribution Channel and Country is based on a comprehensive research of North America residential RVCs market by analyzing this entire regional market and all its sub-segments through extensively detailed classifications. Profound analysis and assessment are generated from premium primary and secondary information sources with inputs derived from industry professionals across the value chain. The report provides historical market data for 2014 and 2015, revenue estimates for 2016, and forecasts from 2017 till 2023. Average selling price (ASP) of high-end, medium-grade, and low-end residential RVCs in North America region is analyzed for 2014-2017 and forecast for 2017-2023.In-depth qualitative analyses include identification and investigation of the following aspects: Market Structure Growth Drivers Restraints and Challenges Emerging Product Trends & Market Opportunities Porters Fiver ForcesThe trend and outlook of global market is forecast in optimistic, balanced, and conservative view. The balanced (most likely) projection is used to quantify North America residential RVCs market in every aspect of the classification from perspectives of application, product function, charging technology, distribution channel and country.Based on application, the North America market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue included for 2014-2023 (historical and forecast) for each section. Floor Cleaning (further segmented into Vacuuming Only, Vacuuming & Mopping, and Mopping Only) Pool Cleaning Other Cleaning (lawns, windows and gutters)On basis of charging technology, the North America market is analyzed on the following segments with annual revenue in 2014-2023 provided for each segment. Manual Charging Automatic ChargingOn basis of distribution channel, the North America market is analyzed on the following segments with annual revenue in 2014-2023 provided for each segment. Online Sales Supermarkets and Retail Stores Other ChannelsGeographically, the following national markets are fully investigated: United States CanadaFor each of the aforementioned countries, detailed analysis and data for annual revenue are available for 2014-2023. The breakdown of these national markets by robovac application over the forecast years is included.The report also covers current competitive scenario, market shares of leading vendors, and the predicted manufacture trend; and profiles key residential RVC vendors including market leaders and important emerging players.Specifically, potential risks associated with investing in North America residential RVC market are assayed quantitatively and qualitatively through GMDs Risk Assessment System. According to the risk analysis and evaluation, Critical Success Factors (CSFs) are generated as a guidance to help investors & stockholders manage and minimize the risks, develop appropriate business models, and make wise strategies and decisions.Key PlayersAB ElectroluxAqua Products, Inc.BSH Bosch Und Siemens Hausgerate Altersfursorge GmbHDyson LtdECOVACS Robotics Co., Ltd.Hanool Robotics Corp.iRobot CorporationLG ElectronicsMaytronics Ltd.Metapo, Inc.Moneual USA, Inc.Neato Robotics, Inc.Panasonic CorporationSamsung ElectronicsSharp CorporationToshiba CorporationYujin Robot Co., Ltd.Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc.About UsAlltake Market Research is division of the Alltake LLC. that offers premium quality market intelligence, market research, industry analysis reports & forecast data for different domains across the business industry.Alltake Market Research understands the importance of market analysis for any strategy that is implemented in any organization or association. In order to provide the best solution, Alltake Market Research have associated with major organizations within market research and consultancy firm. This portfolio offers market analysis report at one place for different business verticals. Alltake Market Research ensures to offer you with the most reliable and quality market research available.Contact UsAlltake Market Research16192, Coastal Highway Lewes,DE 19958, United StatesUS - 188 8587 9717UK - 4480 0680 0195Email sales@alltakemarketresearch.com
Global Bacillus Coagulans Sales 2017 Market Research Reports - Industry Analysis

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This report analyzes the Global Bacillus Coagulans Sales Market and covers the present scenario, the probable growth prospects and the future prospects. It also focuses on the probable future market landscape and the overall positive factors.The report gives an overview of the Bacillus Coagulans Sales Market, the scope of the product, its application and the Global Market Size.Request a Sample Copy of this Report @The geographical split of this product can be split into some strategic regions on the basis of sales, revenue, market share and the growth rate of the Bacillus Coagulans Sales Market from the year 2017 to 2022.They are as followsNorth America, China, Europe, Rest of Asia, Middle East & Africa andSouth AmericaThe top manufacturers/competitors of Bacillus Coagulans Sales Market on the basis of Price, revenue and the market share are as follows-Ganeden, Sabinsa, Mitsubishi, Nebraska Cultures, Synbiotech, Syngen Biotech, Sanzyme andMicrobaxMake an Enquiry for this Report @The Bacillus Coagulans Sales Market Report also categorizes the production, revenue, price, market share and growth which is mainly divided intoBelow 100 B, 100-200 B and Above 200 BIt also shows the requirements of the end users/applications of Bacillus Coagulans Sales based on the status, outlook for the major applications, the sales volume and the market share for each application includingDrugs, Food, Beverage and Supplement ProductsThe above of Bacillus Coagulans Sales Market report can be customized according to your needs.Some Points from Table of Content1 Bacillus Coagulans Market Overview 11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Bacillus Coagulans 11.2 Classification of Bacillus Coagulans by Product Category 21.2.1 Global Bacillus Coagulans Sales and Growth Comparison by Types (2012-2022) 22 Global Bacillus Coagulans Competition by Players, Type and Application 172.1 Global Bacillus Coagulans Market Competition by Players 172.1.1 Global Bacillus Coagulans Sales and Market Share of Key Players (2016-2017) 172.1.2 Global Bacillus Coagulans Revenue and Share by Players (2016-2017) 19Browse Full Report With TOC @We have tried to include all the important data in the report and give you a comprehensive picture of the same.We at Reports Monitor provide a comprehensive analysis by providing in-depth reports of the various market verticals. Our Mission is to provide a detailed analysis of the vast markets worldwide, backed by rich data. Decision makers can now rely on our well-defined data gathering methods to get the correct and accurate market forecasting along with detailed analysis.Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Release Liners Market Report for Period 2011 till 2022 LINTEC, Dupont, Expera Specialty Solutions, Siliconature, Infiana, Felix, Schoeller and Others

Release Liners Market

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Global Release Liners market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely 3M, Polyplex, Delfortgroup, Siliconature, Infiana, Xinfeng Group, Laufenberg, Dupont, Expera Specialty Solutions, Mondi, Munksj, Loparex, UPM, Nan Ya Plastics, LINTEC, Felix, Schoeller and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Release Liners Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Expera Specialty SolutionsMondiMunksjLoparexUPMNan Ya PlasticsLINTECFelix Schoeller3MPolyplexDelfortgroupSiliconatureInfianaXinfeng GroupLaufenbergDupontOthersGlobal Release Liners Market: Key Product TypeRelease Linear PaperRelease Linear FilmOthersGlobal Release Liners Market: Key Application TypeCompositesGraphic ArtsHygieneLabelsTapesIndustryMedicalEnvelopesOthersGlobal Release Liners 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 Release Liners Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Release Liners 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 Release Liners Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Release Linear Paper1.2.1.2 Release Linear Film1.2.2 by Application........................Continue (Global Release Liners 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
Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Market Report for Period 2017 till 2023 Hitachi, Robert Bosch, Honeywell International, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Rockwell Automation and Others

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Global Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Robert Bosch, Honeywell International, Hitachi, IDEC Corporation, General Electric, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Siemens, ABB and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Mitsubishi Electric CorporationRockwell AutomationSchneider ElectricSiemensABBRobert BoschHoneywell InternationalHitachiIDEC CorporationGeneral ElectricOthersGlobal Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Market: Key Product TypeFixed Nano PLCModular Nano PLCOthersGlobal Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Market: Key Application TypeEnergy & PowerAutomotiveOil & GasPharmaceuticalOthers (Food & Beverages and Pulp & Paper)Global Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) 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 Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) 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 Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) 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 @Global Nano Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) 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
APAC Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Reduce Medication errors and improve workflow efficiency in pharmacies

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Patient safety is a top priority in hospital and retail pharmacies. Over and beyond the forecast period, an increasing adoption of pharmacy automation systems is expected in a global scope because these systems can reduce medication errors and improve workflow efficiency in pharmacies. Total sales revenue of pharmacy automation systems in Asia-Pacific region advanced to $997.5 million in 2016, growing by XX% annually between 2017 and 2025. This represents a cumulative revenue of $XXX billion during 2017-2025 owing to a substantial adoption of automated medication dispensing systems, automated storage and retrieval systems, automated packaging and labeling systems, table-top tablet counters, and automated drug compounding devices in hospital pharmacies, retail drug stores and other types of pharmacies in this region.Highlighted with 28 tables and 39 figures, this 135-page report APAC Pharmacy Automation Systems Market 2017-2025 by End-user, Product and Country is based on a comprehensive research of pharmacy automation systems market by analyzing the entire APAC market and all its sub-segments through extensively detailed classifications. Profound analysis and assessment are generated from premium primary and secondary information sources with inputs derived from industry professionals across the value chain. The report provides historical market data for 2014 and 2015, revenue estimates for 2016, and forecasts from 2017 till 2025.In-depth qualitative analyses include identification and investigation of the following aspects: Market Structure Growth Drivers Restraints and Challenges Emerging Product Trends & Market Opportunities Porters Fiver ForcesRequest For Free Sample Of The Report @The trend and outlook of APAC market is forecast in optimistic, balanced, and conservative view. The balanced (most likely) projection is used to quantify APAC pharmacy automation systems market in every aspect of the classification from perspectives of end-user, product type and country.Based on end-users, the APAC market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue included for 2014-2025 (historical and forecast) for each section. Hospital Pharmacies (further segmented into Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy and Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy) Retail Pharmacies (further divided into Retail Chain Pharmacies and Independent Drug Stores) Pharmacy Benefit Management Organizations OthersBased on product type, the APAC market is analyzed on the following segments with annual revenue in 2014-2025 provided for each segment. Automated Medication Dispensing Systems (further categorized into Centralized Systems (Robotic Systems and Carousels) and Decentralized Systems (Automated Unit-Dose Dispensing Systems, Pharmacy-Based Automated Dispensing Systems, Ward-Based Automated Dispensing Systems ) Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems Automated Packaging and Labeling Systems (further divided into Unit-Dose Packaging & Labeling Systems and Multi-Dose Packaging & Labeling Systems) Table-top Tablet Counters Automated Drug Compounding Devices (further segmented into Compounding Systems for Solid Formulation, Compounding Systems for Liquid Formulation, Compounding Systems for Other Formulations) OthersGeographically, the following national markets are fully investigated: Japan China South Korea Australia India Rest of APACFor each of the aforementioned countries, detailed analysis and annual revenue are available for the period of 2014-2025. The breakdown of all national markets by end-user and product type over the forecast years is included.Obtain Report Details @The report also covers current competitive scenario and the predicted manufacture trend; and profiles key pharmacy automation systems vendors including market leaders and important emerging players.Specifically, potential risks associated with investing in APAC pharmacy automation systems market are assayed quantitatively and qualitatively through GMDs Risk Assessment System. According to the risk analysis and evaluation, Critical Success Factors (CSFs) are generated as a guidance to help investors & stockholders manage and minimize the risks, develop appropriate business models, and make wise strategies and decisions.About UsAlltake Market Research is division of the Alltake LLC. that offers premium quality market intelligence, market research, industry analysis reports & forecast data for different domains across the business industry.Alltake Market Research understands the importance of market analysis for any strategy that is implemented in any organization or association. In order to provide the best solution, Alltake Market Research have associated with major organizations within market research and consultancy firm. This portfolio offers market analysis report at one place for different business verticals. Alltake Market Research ensures to offer you with the most reliable and quality market research available.Contact UsAlltake Market Research16192, Coastal Highway Lewes,DE 19958, United StatesUS - 188 8587 9717UK - 4480 0680 0195Email sales@alltakemarketresearch.com
OLED Display Market: Key Players and Production Information analysis with Forecast 2018

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Transparency Market Research (TMR), a market research and intelligence firm, has published a research study on the global OLED display market. The report estimates the overall value of this global market by the end of 2018 to be US$25.9 bn, expanding at an exceptional CAGR of 30.0% over the period from 2012 to 2018.The research report, titled OLED Display Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2012 - 2018, states that the worldwide OLED display market stood at US$3.8 bn in 2011.Browse the full OLED Display Market (By Technology - Electroluminescent Materials, Driving Electronics and Other Types of OLED Displays; By End Use - Mobile Phones, TV Displays, Notebook/Desktop, Digital Cameras, Automotives and Others ) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2012 - 2018 report atThe rising application of OLED displays in televisions, smartphones, and signage on account of their soaring demand significantly boosts the OLED display market. However, the high cost associated with manufacturing OLED displays, together with decreasing cost of alternative technologies, is likely to hamper the market growth over the forecast period, according to the research report.The major types of OLED display technologies operational in the global market are active matrix OLED and passive matrix OLED. The active matrix OLED market held around 80.0% of the global market in 2011 and secured the first place. Analysts at TMR expect the market segment to maintain its position over the forecast period.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Hitherto, the mobile phones are the biggest application area for the OLED displays. The market segment accounted for 71.0% of the overall market in 2012 and was followed by OLED televisions. However, in the long run, the former is expected to lose its ground to the latter, the market report states.North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World are the key regional markets for OLED displays across the globe, cites the market study. Among these, Asia Pacific led the global market in 2011. The regional market is expected to retain its leadership with a majority share of the global market for OLED displays over the forecast period.Get Sample Of Report @On the other hand, the OLED display market in Europe is projected to report the fastest growth between 2012 and 2018 due to the increasing consumer base for OLED display equipped smartphones, televisions, and tablets, the study signifies. North America is also slated to exhibit a remarkable growth during the forecast period.Au Optronics Corp., Sony Corp., LG Display, Visionox, Pioneer, Rit Display, Tdk, and Samsung Electronics are the major participants operating in the global OLED display market. The market is highly concentrated in nature with top four players, namely Samsung, WiseChip, Visionox, and Pioneer, accounting for 80.0% of the overall industry. Samsung led this market in 2011 and has maintain its leadership since then, cited the research report.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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:
Brazil-Telecommunication Services: An oligopolistic and price conscious market

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Latest industry research report on: Brazil-Telecommunication Services Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsThe objective of this report is to define, describe, and forecast the market on the basis of type, application, medical condition, and region. It provides detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the market. This report also tracks and analyzes competitive developments of the key players in terms of market developments, product portfolios, and financials.Acute Renal Failure Market: Industry Size, Share, Growth, ForecastsComplete Report Details @The Brazilian telecommunication market is oligopolistic by nature, dominated by a few major players, the leading of which is Vivo. Along with information on the leading players of the market, this report also offers readers the latest data on current market trends in Brazil, deals and innovations within the telecom sector and how government initiatives may affect the market in the long run, among much more. The detailed information and data is easily distinguished for the readers ease, as the reports are written in a clear and concise style.MarketLines Premium industry reports provide a comprehensive market view including sections on: industry risk & reward, key industry trends and drivers, industry SWOT analysis, industry benchmarking to compare key performance indicators with regional and global markets, competitive landscape, and innovation.Request For Sample Report @Key HighlightsVivos main competitor Oi files for bankruptcyThe fixed-line segment is led by Vivo and Oi. Subscriptions for Oi recorded a review-period CAGR of -7.2%, while Vivos subscriber base registered a review-period CAGR of 6.8%. During the second quarter of 2016, Oi filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of debts in excess of US$65 billion. Other key competitors include Claro Brazil, Oi, TIM Brazil, Algar.Demand for data will help to upscaleThe share of HSPA - 3G, which dominated the market in 2014, is set to decline. Due to an increase in subscriptions and a demand for data-intensive apps, LTE, a version of 4G, is gaining wider acceptance. LTE will post a forecast-period CAGR of 25.0%. Companies are offering competitive internet combo packages, combining 4G and voice services for postpaid costumers to attract more subscribers.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @Volatile economy led mobile subscription to declineBrazils economy is in recession, a situation that has resulted in a reduction in income levels. A deceleration in the volume of middle-class households and associated spending power is forcing telecom providers to run their services at low-margins, despite an increase in the demand for faster internet speeds, smartphones and packaged services. The recession has damaged consumers confidence, making many more price sensitive.Mobile subscriptions declined from 283.31 million in 2014 to 259.27 million in 2015, settling at 246.13 million in 2016. However, it is expected to increase, recording a forecast-period CAGR of 0.3% to reach 250.3 million in 2021.Scope- Risk/Reward Index - enables you to assess the risks and potential rewards of investing in the Brazilian telecommunications market in comparison with other South American countries.- Industry Snapshot and Industry View - Key Telecommunications Industry Statistics, including fixed/mobile revenue, subscriptions, churn, market share, and ARPS, are analyzed to reveal the key issues and trends that drive market performance in the Brazilian telecommunications market.- Industry SWOT Analysis - Discover the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats impacting market performance and investments in the Brazilian telecommunications market.- Industry Benchmarking - Benchmark how the Brazilian telecommunications market is performing compared to the regional and global markets in terms of fixed or mobile revenue, subscriptions, ARPS, penetration, and usage to gauge potential for growth or market entry.- Competitive Landscape - Analyze and compare the performance of the leading players in the Brazilian telecommunications market through the business segment on metrics such as churn, ARPU, and subscriber and revenue growth.Reasons to buy- An analysis into the potential growth of the market, along with rivalry among players?- Exploring market performance in several sectors, including: revenues, subscribers, ARPU, and customer churn?- How innovative technology is changing the shape of the market, specifically in terms of mobile technologies?- The markets volatility and room for growth - an analysis of the risks attributed to investments into the Brazilian telecommunications industry in comparison with other South American countries?- What challenges and opportunities are available in the Brazilian telecom market - an analysis of the markets strengths and weaknesses?- A comprehensive breakdown of the leading players in the Brazilian telecom industry, along with a comparative analysis of said players?- Over 2015 to 2016, how has the financial deals landscape changed?- Detailing the key drivers of the market in the industrys main segments, namely voice, data, prepaid, postpaid, broadband, and IPTV, and how these might change over the forecast period?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.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Liquid-Crystal Display sales market 2017 - BOE, HKC, CEC, CSOT, AU Optronics, Samsung

Global Liquid-Crystal Display sales market

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Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Liquid-Crystal Display Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Liquid-Crystal Display 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 Liquid-Crystal Display industry, and estimates the future trend of Liquid-Crystal Display market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Liquid-Crystal Display Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportBOEHKCCECCSOTAU OptronicsNanjing CEC Panda FPD TechnologyLGSamsungTianmaWinstar DisplayChina Aviation Optical-Electrical Technology CoCHIMEIThe market research report explores the Liquid-Crystal Display market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Liquid-Crystal Display 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 Liquid-Crystal Display market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Liquid-Crystal Display. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Liquid-Crystal Display 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 Liquid-Crystal Display is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Liquid-Crystal Display market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Liquid-Crystal Display market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global Liquid-Crystal Display market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Liquid-Crystal Display production volume, data pertaining to demand and Liquid-Crystal Display supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Liquid-Crystal Display 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 Liquid-Crystal Display 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 -
China Dental Fitting Market: by Manufacturers - Densply, Danaher, Modern Dental

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Latest industry research report on: China Dental Fitting Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsThe objective of this report is to define, describe, and forecast the market on the basis of type, application, medical condition, and region. It provides detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the market. This report also tracks and analyzes competitive developments of the key players in terms of market developments, product portfolios, and financials.Acute Renal Failure Market: Industry Size, Share, Growth, ForecastsComplete Report Details @A dental fitting is an intraoral (inside the mouth) prosthesis used to restore (reconstruct) intraoral defects such as missing teeth, missing parts of teeth, and missing soft or hard structures of the jaw and palate. Prostheses are used to rehabilitate mastication (chewing), improve aesthetics, and aid speech. A dental fitting may be held in place by connecting to teeth, by suction, or by being held passively by surrounding muscles. Like other types of prostheses, they can either be fixed permanently or removable; fixed prosthodontics and removable dentures are made in many variations.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Dental Fitting in China market, to split the market based on manufacturers, Regions (Province), type and application.Request For Sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversDensplyDanaherModern DentalIvoclar Vivadent3MGlidewellShofu DentalHeraeus KulzerYamahachi DentalArgenColtenePritidentaAmann GirrbachZirkonzahnHuge DentalMarket Segment by Regions (Province), coveringSouth ChinaSouthwest ChinaEast ChinaNortheast ChinaNorth ChinaMarket Segment by Type, coversCrowns and BridgesDentureOtherMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoRepair Broken TeethImplanted TeethOtherHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert @There are 18 Chapters to deeply display the China Dental Fitting market.Chapter 1, to describe Dental Fitting Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by Region (province), market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Dental Fitting, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share 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 China market by Regions (Province),covering South China,East China,Southwest China,North China,Northeast China,Northwest China and Central China,with sales, price,revenue and market share of Dental Fitting,for each region,from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7,8,9,10,11,12 and 13 to analyze the key Province by Type and Application,covering South China,East China,Southwest China,North China,Northwest China,Central China and Northeast China,with sales,revenue and market share by types and applications;Chapter 14, Dental Fitting market forecast, by Regions (Province), type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 15, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 16, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 17, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 18, to describe Dental Fitting Appendix, methodology and data sourceAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Construction Equipment Market: An Array of Graphics and Analysis of Major Industry Segments

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As mining and construction activity revives following the devastating impact of the 2008 economic meltdown, the construction equipment market is poised to report a compounded annual growth rate of 6.0% between 2012 and 2017, says Transparency Market Researchs latest study.According to a market research report published by the U.S.-based market intelligence firm recently, the global construction equipment market was valued at US$143.6 billion in 2012, and is expected to rise to US$192.3 billion by 2017. These findings are detailed in the report titled Construction Equipment Market - Global and China Forecast, Market Share, Size, Growth and Industry Analysis, 2011 - 2017.Browse the full Construction Equipment Market - Global and China Forecast, Market Share, Size, Growth and Industry Analysis, 2011 - 2017 report atThe construction equipment market was dealt a blow in the 2008 global economic recession but has now shown signs of positive growth with construction activity picking pace. The revitalized construction industry now carries lucrative opportunities for companies in the construction equipment market, especially in developing regions where governments are spending billions on developing public infrastructure.The higher spending power of consumers in the emerging world also heralds a promising opportunity for the commercial construction sector. All of these factors fuse together to form a veritable foundation for the growth of the construction equipment market.The report segments the global construction equipment market by type into: Earth-moving equipment, material handling equipment, concrete and road construction equipment and others. Of these, the earth-moving equipment segment held the largest share of the global construction equipment market and is predicted to stand at US$61.7 billion in 2012.Obtain Brochure Of Report @According to the reports findings, in 2012 earth-moving equipment segment alone contributed about 43% of all revenues to the global construction equipment market. The material handling equipment segment is growing rapidly and is projected to post a CAGR of 6.6% between 2012 and 2017, outpacing the growth rate of the total market.Construction vehicles-a sub-segment of concrete and road construction equipmentis expected to register a strong rate of growth over the reports forecast period.Although there is no dearth of growth drivers in the construction equipment market, there are a few factors that will rein in growth. The uncertainty in economic conditions, unpredictable prices of raw materials, and the enforcement of emission-control norms are expected to impede the growth of the global construction equipment market. All the same, the upward movement in steep prices is expected to hurt the construction industry, and in turn, the construction equipment market.Get Sample Of Report @The report identifies China as the largest construction equipment in the world in 2012, with Europe coming a distant second. According to the reports findings, about 41.2% of all sales of construction equipment worldwide were attributed to China. Besides China, Europe holds much promise for the construction equipment market.However, Europes growth will likely not remain as strong as that of Asia Pacific, where countries such as India and China hold massive demand-generation potential.The following companies in the construction equipment market are profiled in the report: Hitachi (Japan), Terex (U.S.), Volvo (Sweden), Caterpillar (U.S.), John Deere (U.S.), Komatsu (Japan), and Liebherr (Switzerland), as well as giants such as Zoomlion and Sany (China).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 Airborne Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Market 2017-2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Airborne Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Market 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.About Airborne ISRAirborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) is a crucial factor in conducting military and security operations. Defense authorities invest heavily in ISR systems to enhance national security as well as extract data from potential enemies. The airborne ISR systems collect the information from the targeted regions and pass it to the intelligence personnel, who formulate the battle plans or necessary actions. ISR integrates the intelligence process with surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance tasks that assist in improving the situational awareness of the defense forces.Technavios analysts forecast the global airborne ISR market to grow at a CAGR of 3.88% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global airborne ISR market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of airborne ISR systems.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATo Get Sample Copy of Report Visit @Technavio's report, Global Airborne ISR Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsBAE SystemsL-3 CommunicationsLockheed MartinNorthrop GrummanUTC Aerospace SystemsOther prominent vendorsBoeingGeneral DynamicsRaytheonRockwell CollinsThalesMarket driverFocus on surveillance via unmanned systemsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportBrowse Detail Report With TOC @Market challengeIssues related to unstructured dataFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendTransition toward en route command and controlFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?Table of ContentsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportMarket overviewTop-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Market landscapeMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by typeMarket share by typeMarket segmentation by revenueGlobal unmanned airborne ISR marketGlobal manned airborne ISR marketPART 07: Geographical segmentationMarket share by geographyMarket segmentation by revenueAirborne ISR market in the AmericasAirborne ISR market in APACAirborne ISR market in EMEAPART 08: Market driversResearchMoz 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,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.us
2017-2022 Ballistic Protection Materials Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications

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This report studies the Ballistic Protection Materials market status and outlook of global and United States, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries. This report analyzes the top players in global and United States market, and splits the Ballistic Protection Materials market by product type and applications/end industries.The global Ballistic Protection Materials market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022. The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions. North America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Ballistic Protection Materials.United States plays an important role in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2016 and will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of XX. Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Ballistic Protection Materials in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering United States North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East and AfricaGet the Sample Report@The major players in global and United States Ballistic Protection Materials market- Honeywell International FY-Composites Oy TEIJIN LIMITED BAE Systems Koninklijke Ten Cate Nv DuPont Morgan Advanced Materials Plc, ArmorSource LLC Ceradyne, Inc Rheinmetall AG C.E.S. Advanced Composite Products Rochling.The On the basis of product, the Ballistic Protection Materials market is primarily split into Poly-Ethylene (PE) Based Aramid (Aromatic Amide) Based Ceramic FabricOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report covers Body Armour Helmets Face Protection Vehicle Armour OthersGet the Sample Report@The report includes the following regionNorth AmericaAsia-PacificEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaUnited StatesGet the Sample Report@Table of Contents2017-2022 Ballistic Protection Materials Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Ballistic Protection Materials Market Overview2.1 Ballistic Protection Materials Product Overview2.2 Ballistic Protection Materials Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Poly-Ethylene (PE) Based2.2.2 Aramid (Aromatic Amide) Based2.2.3 Ceramic Fabric2.3 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Price (USD/Kg) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.4.2 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.3 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.4 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Price (USD/Kg) by Type (2012-2017)3 Ballistic Protection Materials Application/End Users3.1 Ballistic Protection Materials Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 Body Armour3.1.2 Helmets3.1.3 Face Protection3.1.4 Vehicle Armour3.1.5 Others3.2 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)4 Ballistic Protection Materials Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1 Global Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1.1 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Market Size and CAGR by Regions (2012, 2016 and 2022)4.1.2 North America4.1.3 Asia-Pacific4.1.4 Europe4.1.5 South America4.1.6 Middle East and Africa4.1.7 United States4.2 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Sales and Revenue by Regions4.2.1 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.2 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.3 Global Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Kg) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.4 North America Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Kg) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.5 Europe Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Kg) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.6 Asia-Pacific Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Kg) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.7 South America Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Kg) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4.2.8 Middle East and Africa Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Kg) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.9 United States Ballistic Protection Materials Sales (Ton), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Kg) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Buy the Report@Contact us- sales@ytresearchgroup.comContact Info-Name- Adler WilliamsEmail Id- adler@ytresearchgroup.comVisit website-YT Research is a one-stop destination for all your company, industries reports. YT research offers premium market research report, analysis and forecast data for all companies and industries regionally and around the globe.YT Research GroupM-22, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation,Behind Khedi Petrol Pump, NH-6,Jalgaon- 425001
Global Suramin Sodium Market Competitive Analysis and Forecasts till 2022

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This report analyzes the Global Suramin Sodium Market and covers the present scenario, the probable growth prospects and the future prospects. It also focuses on the probable future market landscape and the overall positive factors.The report gives an overview of the Suramin Sodium Market, the scope of the product, its application and the Global Market Size.Request a Sample Copy of this Report @The geographical split of this product can be split into some strategic regions on the basis of sales, revenue, market share and the growth rate of the Suramin Sodium Market from the year 2017 to 2022.They are as followsNorth America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and IndiaThe top manufacturers/competitors of Suramin Sodium Market on the basis of Price, revenue and the market share are as follows-MP Biomedicals, BOC Science, VWR, Sigma-Aldrich, Cayman Chemical and Stemcell TechnologiesMake an Enquiry for this Report @The Suramin Sodium Market Report also categorizes the production, revenue, price, market share and growth which is mainly divided intoTablet and CapsuleIt also shows the requirements of the end users/applications of Suramin Sodium based on the status, outlook for the major applications, the sales volume and the market share for each application includingAntitumor Drug, Antiviral Drugs and ImmunomodulatorThe above of Suramin Sodium Market report can be customized according to your needs.Some Points from Table of Content1 Industry Overview of Suramin Sodium1.1 Definition and Specifications of Suramin Sodium1.1.1 Definition of Suramin Sodium1.1.2 Specifications of Suramin Sodium2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Suramin Sodium2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Suramin Sodium2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Suramin Sodium2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Suramin SodiumBrowse Full Report With TOC @We have tried to include all the important data in the report and give you a comprehensive picture of the same.We at Reports Monitor provide a comprehensive analysis by providing in-depth reports of the various market verticals. Our Mission is to provide a detailed analysis of the vast markets worldwide, backed by rich data. Decision makers can now rely on our well-defined data gathering methods to get the correct and accurate market forecasting along with detailed analysis.Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Food Processing Equipment Market Global Industry Analysis and Forecast Till 2022

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Food and beverage companies are looking for optimizing operations to stay competitive in the market. Hence, food processing equipment manufacturers are focusing on enhancement of features in the existing products and development of technologically advanced equipment. The increasing need for flexible equipment is giving rise to the automation to efficiently carry all the operations. Safety, energy efficiency and reduction in maintenance cost are some of the critical factors in the food and beverage industry.The report also offers a detailed profile of some of the leading market players such as ALFA LAVAL GEA Group AG, Bucher Industries AG, Buhler AG, Krones AG, AB Electrolux, Tetra Laval, John Bean Technologies Corporation, SPX Corporation, Dover Corporation, Marlen International, Inc., Marel, NICHIMO CO., LTD, BMA Braunschweigische Maschinenbauanstalt AG, Meyer Industries, and Middleby Corporation.View Report Preview:..Global Food Processing Equipment Market to Witness Strong Growth between 2017 and 2022According to the latest report compiled by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global food processing equipment market is expected to witness healthy growth, expanding at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period 2017-2022. The market is also estimated to reach US$ 70,510.1 million revenue by the end of 2022.On the basis of equipment type, compared to all the food processing equipment, thermal equipment is expected to dominate the global food processing equipment market during the forecast period. By food type, the market is segmented into processed, and unprocessed food. Among these, processed food is expected to lead the market. In the terms of application, bakery and confectionery segment is anticipated to be the largest user of food processing equipment. By the operation, semi-automatic food processing equipment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.On the basis of region, the report includes North America, Europe, Latin America, APEJ, Japan, and MEA. APEJ is expected to emerge as one of the dominating regions in the global food processing equipment market. The region is estimated to account for nearly two-fifth of the revenue share by the end of 2017.Request to view Sample Report:..Rise in Adoption of Energy-Efficient Food Processing EquipmentFood processing equipment manufacturers are devising new strategies to establish their products in the market by integrating latest technologies. Owing to the increasing adoption of green technologies, manufacturers are producing food processing equipment that are energy-efficient and also saves operation and maintenance cost. In order to reduce carbon footprint, existing food and beverages companies are also replacing old equipment with the new energy-efficient equipment. Increasing awareness on serious environmental concerns is driving food manufacturers to adopt more efficient approaches in food production practices. Moreover, food manufacturers are also focusing on self-generation of energy and using equipment that helps in their energy saving strategies. Energy efficiency is often looked upon by food manufacturers when it comes to reducing production costs. Initiatives by the government such as tax credit program in various countries is also boosting the use of green technologies.Automation taking Center Stage in the Food Processing Equipment ManufacturingAutomation technologies are becoming critical in food processing equipment. Food manufacturers are moving towards adopting highly automated equipment that can offer speed, save time and energy. Manufacturers are also developing smart food processing equipment that enables the operator to interact with the equipment, start the equipment, and diagnose problems or failures from anywhere and anytime. Moreover, some of the food processing manufacturers are also focusing on using Virtual Reality (VR) to enable the food manufacturers see the food processing equipment in action, view details, and also to see if the equipment is able to meet their needs before purchase.Request to Buy Research Report:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our 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.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Lidar Market: Clear Understanding of The Competitive Landscape and Key Product Segments

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Transparency Market Research has published a new research report that studies and assesses the structure, scope, dynamics, and components of the global light detection and ranging (LiDAR) market. The 80-page research study is titled LiDAR Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020 and is available for sale on the company website. According to the report, the global LiDAR market is anticipated to expand at a 15.0% CAGR from 2014 to 2020, growing from a value of US$225 mn in 2013 to US$605.5 mn in 2020.Browse the full LiDAR Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020 report atThe global LiDAR market is primarily driven by the host of comparative advantages over conventional mapping technologies, growing demand for 3D imagery in commercial, consumer, and government applications, and the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. However, gaps in software development and lack of standardization of data formats threaten to impede the LiDAR market.The research report reviews the LiDAR market by segmenting it based on three parameters: product type, geography, and application.On the basis of product type, the LiDAR market is bifurcated into terrestrial LiDAR and airborne LiDAR. Of these, airborne or aerial LiDAR mapping dominated the overall market.On the basis of application, the LiDAR market is segmented into forestry, infrastructure, transmission lines, coastal, transportation, defense and aerospace, flood mapping, and others such as hydrography and mining.Get A Brochure Of Report @Coastal applications dominate the overall LiDAR market owing to increased use of LiDAR in disaster management and control. Transmission lines, on the other hand, make up the fastest growing segment of the LiDAR market, thanks to the growing demand for power utilities.On the basis of geography, the worldwide LiDAR market is divided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. North America held the largest share of the LiDAR market in 2013, driven by high penetration in defense and military applications as well as increased research and development spending to develop innovative LiDAR technologies.Europe presently follows North America; however, the former is anticipated to surpass the latter during the course of the forecast period owing to presence of major players supporting the growth of the market and catering to the rising demand for the massive consumer base. The Rest of the World region and Asia Pacific are also anticipated to witness considerable growth by 2020.Get Sample Report @The notable players within the global LiDAR market include DigitalWorld Mapping Inc., FARO Technology, Inc., 3D Laser Mapping Ltd., Mosaic 3D, Airborne Hydrography AB, Leica Geosystems AG, Firmatek 3D Mapping Solutions LLC, Aerometric Inc., Intermap Technologies Corp., Avent Lidar Technology, Optech Incorporated, and RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH. These companies have been reviewed in the report, keeping in mind certain aspects such as business overview, business strategy, recent developments, financial standing, and a SWOT analysis.Global LiDAR Market, by Product Type:Airborne LiDARTerrestrial LiDARGlobal LiDAR Market, by Application:CoastalForestryTransportationInfrastructureDefense and AerospaceTransmission linesFlood MappingOthers (Mining, Hydrography etc)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:
Foodservice Equipment Market Size, Share - Global Industry Trend and Forecast 2017-2021

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Latest industry research report on: Global Foodservice Equipment Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsThe objective of this report is to define, describe, and forecast the market on the basis of type, application, medical condition, and region. It provides detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the market. This report also tracks and analyzes competitive developments of the key players in terms of market developments, product portfolios, and financials.Acute Renal Failure Market: Industry Size, Share, Growth, ForecastsComplete Report Details @The foodservice equipment industry involves those companies that manufacture the equipment needed to produce, transport, store, and serve food products. This type of equipment ranges from large freezers and ovens to small appliances sold at kitchen stores. Different versions of equipments are made for large manufacturers and smaller food providers. Foodservice equipment can be organized into six basic categories. Cooking equipments, storage and handling, kitchen purpose, refrigeration, serving and ware washing are the six main areas needed when running a hospitality business such as a restaurant or hotel. The exact type of foodservice equipment required depends on the type and size of the commercial eatery.Foodservice equipment industry is a prominent segment of the foodservice industry. The progress in the number of restaurants, hotels, fast food joints have led to the expansion of the foodservice equipment industry. Foodservice equipments help in preserving the sanitary and hygiene standards which is crucial in todays environment and various rules are laid down by different food regulatory bodies in order to maintain and regulate the standards since hygiene has become an essential issue in preserving good health.Request For Sample Report @The global foodservice equipment market is set to experience favorable growth driven by factors such as rising global population, increasing number of restaurants, rapid urbanization, and development of tourism industry among others. The major trends observed include increased automation in kitchen equipments, development of quick service restaurants and technological advancements. However, the growth of this budding market is constrained by challenges such as high cost of foodservice equipments, stringent regulations and impact of economic downturn.The report Global Foodservice Equipment Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) analyses the development of this market, with focus on North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the market are discussed in detail in this report. The four major players: Rational AG, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Middleby Corporation and Welbilt, Inc. (Manitowoc Foodservice Inc.) are being profiled along with their key financials and strategies for growth. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global foodservice equipment market along with the study of the regional markets.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @Table of Content1. Overview1.1 Food Service Industry1.2 Components of Food Service Industry1.3 Food Service Equipment2. Global Foodservice Equipment Market2.1 Global Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value2.2 Global Foodservice Equipment Market by Region3. Regional Market Analysis3.1 North America3.1.1 North America Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.2 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.3 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Market Value by Products3.1.4 The U.S. Refrigeration Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.5 The U.S. Cooking Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.6 The U.S. Serving Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.7 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Sales by End Market3.1.8 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Market by Needs3.2 Asia-Pacific3.2.1 Asia Pacific Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.2.2 China Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.3 Europe3.3.1 Europe Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Rising Global Population4.1.2 Expansion of Restaurant Industry4.1.3 Declining Unemployment Rate4.1.4 Rapid Urbanization4.1.5 Development of Tourism Industry4.1.6 Accelerating Economic Growth4.1.7 Changing Lifestyle of Working Population4.2 Key Trends & Developments4.2.1 Increased Automation in Kitchen Equipments4.2.2 Development of Quick Service Restaurants4.2.3 Technological Advancements4.3 Challenges4.3.1 High Cost of Foodservice Equipments4.3.2 Stringent Regulations4.3.3 Impact of Economic DownturnAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Automotive Lubricants Market Predicted to Rake in US$78.92 bn by 2024

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Due to the presence of a large number of players, the global market for automotive lubricants is highly fragmented and competitive in nature, finds a new study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). In 2015, the top three market participants, namely, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, ExxonMobil Corp., and BP Plc, could hold a share of 31.6% only in the overall market.The wide array of products, these players offer, has allowed them to have an edge over their competitors. However, the increasing entry of regional players is likely to intensify the competition for the leading participants in this market over the next few years, states the report.As per TMRs estimations, the global automotive lubricants market, which stood at US$55.44 bn in 2015, is expected to rise at a CAGR of 4.10% between 2016 and 2024 and to reach a value of US$78.92 bn by the end of the forecast period. Passenger cars (PC) have emerged as the key consumer of automotive lubricants due to the soaring number of existing units. This scenario is anticipated to remain same over the forecast period, with sales crossing 32.3 mn tons by 2024, notes the research study.View Report Preview:Increasing Demand for Passenger Cars to Ensure Dominance of Asia PacificThe report also studies the global market for automotive lubricants on the basis of its regional reach. According to the study, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific are the main regional markets for automotive lubricants. Among these, Asia Pacific has emerged as the leading contributor to the global market. Expanding at a CAGR of 5.40%, it is expected to remain so throughout the forecast period. The increasing demand for passenger cars, thanks to the augmenting disposable income of consumers, is the key driving force behind the growth of the market for automotive lubricants in this region.Other regional markets, specifically the Middle East and Africa and Latin America are also projected to exhibit a strong demand for automotive lubricants in the near future on account of the rising demand for automobiles, fueled by strengthening economic condition, states the report.Request to view Sample Report:Rising Demand for Vehicles to Greatly Influence Global Automotive Lubricants MarketThe demand for automotive lubrication is highly influenced by the increasing number of motor vehicles on road, says an analyst at TMR. Since automotive lubricants improve the operation of vehicles and protect their engine by reducing friction, their demand is directly proportional to the usage of automobiles.With the increasing population, more vehicles are required to meet the transportation need of people across the world. Apart from this, the surge in consumers purchasing power is also reflecting on the sales of motor vehicles, which eventually, is leading to a substantial rise in the demand for automotive lubricants, globally, reports the study.Request Brochure of the Report:High Price of Fully- or Semi-synthetic Lubricants to Impact Overall Demand for Automotive LubricantsAlthough the growth prospects of the worldwide market for automotive lubricants is bright, the high price of fully- or semi-synthetic lubricants may act as an obstruction in the growth trajectory of this market over the next few years, says the author of this study.Besides this, the rising trend of using biofuels in automobiles can also limit the demand for automotive lubricants in the near future, states the research report.Buy Automotive Lubricants Market Research Report:About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Digital Isolator Market Industry Analysis, Trend and Growth- 2022

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The global digital isolator market is forecast to up its growth while riding on worthwhile applications such as gate drivers. This application, in particular, could expand at a telling rate in the near future. In the industrial sector, gate drivers could be engaged for driving motors. However, their wider usage could be attributed to the high demand in developed countries such as the Nordic, Japan, Germany, and the U.S. for the electrification of automobiles on a large scale. Moreover, gate drivers could be applied in electric vehicle engines.View Report Preview:The global digital isolator market, according to Transparency Market Research (TMR), is predicted to record a CAGR of 6.2% between 2017 and 2022. By the final forecast year, the market could be valued at a US$1,598.0 mn after progressing from a US$1,183.8 mn drawn in 2017.Global Digital Isolator Market: Major InsightsThe international digital isolator market is foretold to gain momentum from the rising demand for technologically sophisticated electronics that make less noise, across a range of industry verticals. Furthermore, industry players could receive choice opportunities to grow in the market with the rise of industrial automation. Asia Pacific could be a fine instance of the increasing inclination toward industrial automation. Nonetheless, this region is foreseen to gain growth also on the back of its strongly developing manufacturing base and the presence of key electrical equipment and device manufacturers.Request to view Sample Report:The international digital isolator market is anticipated to see a classification as per isolation, data rate, channel, and vertical. In terms of isolation, the market could testify the superiority demonstrated by giant magnetoresistive in terms of revenue until the end of the forecast period. By 2022, this segment is anticipated to rake in a US$608.1 mn and expand at a 7.1% CAGR.With respect to data rate, the international digital isolator market could be segmented into less than 25 mbps, 25 mbps to 75 mbps, and more than 75 mbps. In terms of channel, 2 channel, 4 channel, 6 channel, 8 channel, and others could be significant segments of the market. By vertical, the market could expect a contribution from industrial, healthcare, automotive, telecommunication, aerospace and defense, energy and power, and other verticals.Request Brochure of the Report:Regionally, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) is envisioned to set the tone for a higher growth in the international digital isolator market while exhibiting a dominating share in the coming years. It could expand at a 6.4% CAGR. North America is prognosticated to secure a US$476.1 mn by the closure of 2022. Europe could attract a slightly lower revenue by the same year and register a 5.0% CAGR. Latin America is projected to be another important region of the market. However, Japan could be a slower growing market for digital isolator, and so could the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.Global Digital Isolator Market: Vendor LandscapeCompanies such as National Instruments, Murata Manufacturing, NXP Semiconductors, Maxim Integrated, ROHM Semiconductor, Broadcom Limited, Silicon Labs, Infineon Technologies, Analog Devices, and Texas Instruments could look to showcase their prominence in the worldwide digital isolator market.Request to Buy Research Report:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our 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.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Ginseng Market 2017 Global Market analysis and Industry Forecast

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This report analyzes the Global Ginseng Market and covers the present scenario, the probable growth prospects and the future prospects. It also focuses on the probable future market landscape and the overall positive factors.The report gives an overview of the Ginseng Market, the scope of the product, its application and the Global Market Size.Request a Sample Copy of this Report @The geographical split of this product can be split into some strategic regions on the basis of sales, revenue, market share and the growth rate of the Ginseng Market from the year 2017 to 2022.They are as followsNorth America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and IndiaThe top manufacturers/competitors of Ginseng Market on the basis of Price, revenue and the market share are as follows-A.Vogel, Raw Living Limited, HiYoU, Prices incl. VAT and KGECMake an Enquiry for this Report @The Ginseng Market Report also categorizes the production, revenue, price, market share and growth which is mainly divided intoRed Ginseng, American Ginseng, Brazilian Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng and Indian GinsengIt also shows the requirements of the end users/applications of Ginseng based on the status, outlook for the major applications, the sales volume and the market share for each application includingMedicinal, Food, Gift and OtherThe above of Ginseng Market report can be customized according to your needs.Some Points from Table of Content1 Industry Overview of Ginseng1.1 Definition and Specifications of Ginseng1.1.1 Definition of Ginseng1.1.2 Specifications of Ginseng1.2 Classification of Ginseng2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Ginseng2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Ginseng2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Ginseng2.4 Industry Chain Structure of GinsengBrowse Full Report With TOC @We have tried to include all the important data in the report and give you a comprehensive picture of the same.We at Reports Monitor provide a comprehensive analysis by providing in-depth reports of the various market verticals. Our Mission is to provide a detailed analysis of the vast markets worldwide, backed by rich data. Decision makers can now rely on our well-defined data gathering methods to get the correct and accurate market forecasting along with detailed analysis.Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Commercial Robotics Market Growth, Trends, Absolute Opportunity and Value Chain 2022

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The global commercial robotics market has witnessed steady growth in the last few years due to rapid growth of vital end users such as the healthcare industry. Commercial robotics has become a crucial requirement in several parts of the healthcare sector, which is likely to enable a steady growth in demand from the global commercial robotics market in the coming years. Other sectors such as the defense and marine industries are also likely to exhibit growing demand from the global commercial robotics market in the coming years, brightening the markets prospects. The commercial robotics market is thus likely to exhibit a smooth growth trajectory in the coming years, according to Transparency Market Research.The firm puts the commercial robotics markets 2017 valuation at US$5.9 bn, estimating the market to rise to a valuation of US$17.6 bn by 2022 at a strong 24.4% CAGR.View Report Preview:Here are some leading factors to consider in the global commercial robotics market in the coming years:Steady growth of the healthcare industry has been vital for the global commercial robotics market in the last few years. The medical robotics sector has developed at a rapid rate in the recent past due to growing acknowledgment of its benefits in the healthcare sector, which has led to growing investment from leading medical industry players. The healthcare industry is particularly strongly leaned towards technological innovation in developed regions such as North America and Western Europe. However, the global medical robotics market could shift its center from the West to emerging regions such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East in the coming years due to growing government support to the healthcare sector in countries such as China and India.The North America market is set to dominate the global commercial robotics market in the coming years due to the widespread acceptance of the infrastructure required for adoption of commercial robotic systems. The steady technological advancement of the healthcare sector in North America is thus a major driver for the global commercial robotics market. Europe is also a major contributor to the global commercial robotics market due to the strong presence of the industrial sector as well as a burgeoning healthcare industry. The commercial robotics market in North America is expected to be valued at US$7.6 bn in 2022, representing more than 43% of the global commercial robotics market. The defense and security sector could also account for a significant portion of the demand from North America and Europe, as numerous developed countries in these regions have focused on military modernization in the recent past.Request to view Sample Report:The increasing government interest in the healthcare sector in countries such as China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia is likely to drive the commercial robotics market in Asia Pacific except Japan in the coming years, with the regional market set to account for 18.4% of the global commercial robotics market by 2022. The region is expected to make a 271 BPS rise over the 2017-2022 forecast period.The Middle East and Japan are also likely to contribute significantly to the global commercial robotics market in the coming years, with the MEA market for commercial robotics expected to rise to US$471 mn by 2022 at a strong CAGR of 22.7%. The strong presence of Japanese companies in the robotics sector is likely to enable smooth growth of the commercial robotics market in Japan in the coming years, with the Japan commercial robotics market set to rise to a valuation of US$899.8 mn by 2022.Competitive DynamicsLeading players in the global commercial robotics market include Northrop Grumman Corporation, KUKA AG, iRobot Corporation, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Honda Motor Company Ltd., Omron Adept Technologies Inc., 3D Robotics Inc., Accuray Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Amazon Robotics LLC. Consistent product development is likely to be the key in the global commercial robotics market, while larger players could also consider acquisitions of smaller specialist player to enhance their offering.Request to Buy Research Report:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our 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.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Market Research 2017 - GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, AbbVie

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market, compiled by a group of professional market research analysts, aspires to serve as a credible business tool for the stockholders, representing the current scenario of the market as well as future prospects. The report has been produced using proven research methodologies and offers qualitative and quantitative analysis of all major factors that may influence the demand in the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market. To gauge the potential of smaller aspects of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market, the report has segmented it on the basis of application, end users, products, services, types, and others, whichever applicable. It also takes stock of the prospects of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market in all important regions across the globe, such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). For each region, the report presents the potential of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market by assessing their demand percentage, growth prospects, and related government policies.Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingPfizerNovartis InternationalSanofiBoehringer IngelheimBristol-Myers SquibbTeva Pharmaceutical IndustriesEli Lilly and CompanyGlaxoSmithKlineGet Research Summary Of The Report:To present a clear study of the revenue available in the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market, the report carefully segments it into smaller yet significant chunks, such geographically, product type, services and others. The report also provides the values of each of these segments and individual growth rates during the forecast period. The dominant as well as emerging trends have been picked out. With handful of tables, charts, and graphs, the report carries extensive pictorial representation to support its findings.One of the noteworthy feature of the report is the chapter on company profiles, wherein a number of leading vendors have been analyzed in order to understand the competitive landscape existing in the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market, as well as detect the chances of entry for the new players. In this section, the report picks out the top three and top five companies in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API market, and analyzes their recent strategic decisions such as mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, new product announcements, and investment in research and development. For each company, the report provides information such as business sales price, margin, and market share.Table of ContentsGlobal Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Market Research Report 20171 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API1.2 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20162 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)3 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)View TOC (table of content) of the Report:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/APIFigure Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Japan Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients/API Major Players Product Capacity (K Units) (2012-2017)About Us:QYReseachReports.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: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market Growth and Forecast 2026

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Cardiac monitoring is continuous monitoring of heart activity using electrocardiography techniques to understand the heart rhythm and find anomalies in the functioning of the heart. Cardiac monitoring is a critical part of healthcare diagnostics as several functions of the body can be understood by carefully analyzing the heart rhythm. Mobile cardiac telemetry is one of the newest technology in the cardiac monitoring which allows remote monitoring of the patients who are situated at far away distance from the physicians. Mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) devices are small portable sensors that are worn by the patient for monitoring cardiac rhythm.Request for TOC @In the case when an anomaly is detected in the heart rhythm the sensor records it and sends the data to the transmitter which transmits the data to the manned monitoring center using a mobile network. The data, which is sent to the monitoring center is analyzed by the trained healthcare professionals for reported to the physicians or the patients for further treatment. The real-time data provided by the mobile cardiac telemetry systems provides an edge over the other cardiac monitoring systems like Holter monitoring systems or event monitoring systems.The demand for mobile cardiac telemetry systems is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period owing to the technology edge. Mobile cardiac telemetry systems provide mobility to the patient and real time data of the patient to the physicians. Increased diagnostic yield of the MCT devices is over standards cardiac monitoring devices is expected to create high demand from the patients. Moreover the increasing demand for cardiac monitoring in home care settings is increasing owing to rapid expansion in the geriatric population. Increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases is expected to create high growth opportunities for the MCT systems manufacturers over the forecast period.According to the WHO estimates nearly 17.5 million people die from cardiovascular diseases each year worldwide. In past few years several new manufacturers have entered the MCT market owing to which the prices of MCT devices are expected to fall over the forecast period which in turn is expected to increase adoption of the MCT systems over the forecast period. However the stringent regulations and product recalls associated with product failure is expected to hamper revenue growth of the MTC systems market.Regionally the mobile cardiac telemetry market is segmented into seven key regions, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA)North America and Western Europe are expected to dominate the MCT systems market over the forecast period owing to high adoption rate of the mobile cardiac telemetry devices in these regions. Japan and APEJ region is expected to follow next owing to increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases in these regions. According to the World Health Organization more than 75% of the cardiovascular diseases occur in low  middle income countries which in turn APEJ, Latin America and Eastern Europe regions are expected to witness significant growth in the MCT systems market over the forecast period. MEA region is expected to witness growth opportunities depending on the adoption of the cardiac telemetry systems in this region.Request to view Sample Report:Some key participants in the mobile cardiac telemetry systems market are, Medtronic, Digirad Corporation, Kyma, Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotelemetry, Inc., The ScottCare Corporation and Spectocor LLC.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 :
Smart City Market Size, Competitors Strategy, Regional Analysis and Growth by Forecast to 2022

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Market Highlights:Internet of Things plays a vital role in various fields apart from communication networks, such as sanitation, healthcare, transport and energy use. Internet of things refers to a technology that connects all devices to a network. Internet ready and connective devices are achieved by IoT technology. This enables the flow of data creating a network of objects. Internet of Things leads to advanced use of internet which would result in developing device to device relationship. Internet of Things when applied to smart cities it adds more technology into everyones life and also enables a new and fully integrated approach to the designing and developing of the smart cities. There are tremendous ways in which internet of things help in the development of smart cities. Higher the adoption of internet of things; easier would be the implementation of smart city solutions.The Global Smart City Market is growing rapidly over 27% of CAGR and is expected to reach at USD 1,900 billion by the end of forecast period 2022.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 51 market data tables and figures spread over 103 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Smart City Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022.Major Key Players: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. (China) IBM Corporation (U.S.) Cisco Systems, Inc.(U.S.) AT&T Inc. AG (U.S) Siemens AG (Germany) Oracle Corporation (U.S.) Microsoft Corporation (U.S.) Schneider Electric SE (France) Hitachi Corporation (U.S.) Ericsson (Sweden)Request a Sample Report @Global Smart City Market SegmentationThe global Smart City Market has been segmented on the basis of component, application and region. On the basis of component, the market is segmented into hardware, software and service. On the basis of application, the market is classified into utility, transport, government, residential, education, healthcare and others.Regional Analysis of Smart City Market:The global smart city market is expected to grow at a promising rate during the forecast period, 2016-2022. North America is projected to have the largest market in Smart City Market. High adoption of internet of things, growth in high end infrastructure and focus towards energy saving and availability of efficient network connectivity is driving market in North America region.Followed by Europe region would hold a large share in the market. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in smart city market due to the increasing initiatives and high investment by government.Intended Audience National/ State Government Real Estate Developers Research & consultant organization IT Solution Providers System Integrators Networking Solution Providers Telecom Service Providers Transportation Service Providers Utility CompaniesMarket Research Analysis:Regional analysis for global Smart City Market is studied in different geographic regions as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of world. The study reveals that North America region would evolve as a leader in global Smart City Market. North America is the most technically advanced region and is growing with high end-infrastructure and focused towards energy savings which thereby has developed high growth for smart city market.Europe is expected to be the second highest market in terms of revenue generation. Whereas, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness high growth in the forecast period and projected to grow with approximately 25% CAGR during the forecast period. Technological and industrial growth in Asian countries, such as China and Japan, is giving boost to the Smart City Market in the coming years. Further, Increasing technological advancements and increasing disposable income in also supporting market growth of smart city components in Asia-Pacific region However, privacy issues is expected to hinder the growth of the market in the region.Access Report Details @Table of Contents1 Market Introduction2 Research Methodologies2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Size EstimationContinuedList of TablesTable 1 Global Smart City Market By Component, 2016-2022 (Usd Billion)Table 2 Smart City Market Of Hardware Segment By Region, 2016-2022 (Usd Billion)Table 3 Global Smart City Market Of Software By Region, 2016 - 2022 (Usd Billion)ContinuedList of FiguresFigure 1 Mrfr Researh ProcessFigure 2 Forecast ModelFigure 3 Global Smart City Market: Drivers & ChallengesContinuedAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics 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 FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Wireless Patient Monitoring Market Growth with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2026

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Despite high level of medical observation, medical monitoring and record maintenance by a physician or a nurse, it is difficult to keep in mind/track the various patient data/information for over a period of time. Hence, the Patient Monitoring System (PMS) is invented.To reduce the human error and to lessen the burden of doctor about the patients health there exists a methodology for monitoring patients from any location with the use of GSM network and Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI).Request For ToC @PMS measure the physiological signs in continuous or at regular intervals. This would be used in monitoring physiological signals which includes ECG, Respiratory effects, Blood Pressure both in Invasive and Non-Invasive Methods, oxygen levels in human blood, body temperature, and other electrophysiological conditions, etc.This has led to the improvised version of PMS which can get Wireless Patient Monitoring System (WPMS) into the patients life. WPMS made the patient monitoring much sophisticated and reliable to the patients living in the remote areas. The patients can easily send their health information to the respective physicians at any given time from any location at any time. This has led many innovations in the present health care sector with many therapeutic areas covering through WPMS.The WPMS are majorly used in hospitals and residents which help the nursing staff to easily manage the data of different patients and carry on the ad-hoc emergency cases. The patients are asked to follow proper guidelines on how to use the WPMS at specific periods. Providing data to the physicians helps to maintain records for a longer period.Working principle of WPMS consists of three elements categorized as patient units, main controller units and observer units. The basic functional principle includes heart rate sensor, temperature sensor, ECG sensors, GPS modems, BP sensors, GSM modems and microcontroller.The PMS device on multiple sensor and electrodes used for receiving physiological signals like as SpO2Finger Sensors, ECG Electrodes, Blood Pressure Cuff and Temperature Probe to measure the physiological signals.Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems Market: Drivers and RestraintsThere are large number of patient pool prefer to manage health checkup from remote place, increase in the health awareness, the technological advancements in data recording for a longer period of time, therapeutic treatment and growing incidence of cardiovascular disease led to the increase in Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems.The drawback for the Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems is the high cost, lack of uniform reimbursement.Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems Market: OverviewThe Global Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems market is expected to expand at healthy CAGR owing to increasing adoption of the products across the world. Among end users, hospital end user segment is expected to account for maximum share due to a requirement of advanced healthcare infrastructure and low cost.Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, the global wireless patient monitoring systems market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Among all the regions, North America will continue to lead the global market for wireless patient monitoring systems due to high purchasing power. Asia- Pacific is expected to account for the second largest share in the global market primarily due to increasing number of medical interventions. A regional overview can be a directly proportional to the population.Request For Report sample @Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems: Key PlayersKey players operating in the global Wireless Patient Monitoring Systems are American TeleCare, Cardiocom, Carematix, Cybernet Medical Corporation, Drager Medical, GE Healthcare, GlobalMedia Group, Honeywell HomMed.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.Contact UsFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
PV Micro Inverters Market Dynamics, Forecast, Analysis and Supply Demand 2022

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The global PV micro inverters market is characterized by the rivalry between the leading vendors of PV micro inverters across the world, such as Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., ABB Ltd., General Electric, Enphase Energy Inc., SunPower Corp., and Darfon Electronics Corp., finds a new research study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). These companies are aggressively concentrating on technological advancements in their products to strengthen their presence in the overall market. Continual introduction of new and innovative products is also a key strategy adopted by these players for the development of their businesses.Over the forthcoming years, the competition within the market is expected to intensify as a number of enterprises are shifting their focus towards emerging economies, having abundant untapped potential, notes the research study.View Report Preview:Continued Dominance of North AmericaAs per TMRs estimation, the opportunity in the worldwide PV micro inverters market is likely to touch US$489.1 mn by the end of 2017. Further, the market is projected to witness a tremendous upswing at a CAGR of 15.20% during the period from 2017 to 2022 and attain a value of US$990.3 mn by the end of the forecast period. Standalone PV micro inverter systems are enjoying a stronger demand than their integrated counterparts. Researchers predict this setup will remain so over the period of forecast. Currently, the demand for PV micro inverters is higher in the residential sectors. Thanks to the rising demand for continuous supply of power from individuals, this trend is expected to continue in the near future.Among all the regions, North America surfaced as the leading regional market for PV micro inverters, owing to the presence of a technologically advanced infrastructure. Rising at a healthy CAGR of 15% between 2017 and 2022, this regional market is predicted to maintain its dominance over the next few years. Asia Pacific, however, is likely to present the most lucrative opportunities for the markets growth in the years to come. The presence of ample untapped potential and abundant solar power resource will support the Asia Pacific market for PV micro inverters to grow at a steady rate over the forthcoming years, reports the research study.Request to view Sample Report:Need for Off Grid Electricity to Boost Demand for PV Micro InvertersAccording to a TMR analyst, PV micro inverters are expected to witness strong rise in their demand, thanks to the increasing need for off grid electricity across the world. The rising concerns over safety and security from electricity has fueled the need for access to state-of-art resources of energy.Apart from this, various favorable initiative by the governments in several countries, with an aim to encourage the usage of sustainable energy, such as net metering and feed in tariff, are also expected to promote the deployment of these inverters, complementing the growth of this market in the near future.While the future of this market looks great, several challenges, such as the high cost incurred in the installation of these inverters, may limit their adoption over the next few years, reflecting negatively on this market, states the research report.The review is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), titled PV Micro Inverters Market (System Type - Standalone Systems and Integrated Systems; End User - Residential, Commercial, and Utility; Power Class - Single Phase and Three Phase) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast,Request to Buy Research Report:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our 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.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Whole Genome Amplification Market with Current Trends Analysis, 2016-2026

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Whole genome amplification was being developed in 1992. This technique is used for amplifying the entire genome from very small amount of genomic DNA; this helps in increasing the quantity of limited DNA samples, and so any gene can be studied in the organism by preserving the limited sample. Whole genome amplification is a useful technique and has various applications such as forensics and genetic disease research, apart from this, there are new techniques such as array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and next-generation sequencing, where a few DNA quantities but analyses is required. There are also various whole genome amplification techniques that are developed wherein they differ both in the protocol as well as replication accuracy. Whole genome amplification techniques utilize the principals of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) so as to copy enzymatically the DNA contained within a sample.Moreover, the amplification of the whole genome is non-specific and theoretically provides an increased amount in the copy number of all genomic sequences. The application of whole genome amplification is mostly in research studies where small DNA samples are regularly encountered. These applications comprise creation of probes from microdissected or flow-sorted chromosomes, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and study of ancient DNA samples.Request For ToC @Whole Genome Amplification Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global whole genome amplification market is driven by the rising incidence of genetic disorders owing to rising population. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the study conducted by National Center for Health Statistics the estimated prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 22.4 per 1,000 children in the age group of 3 to 17 years in 2013. In addition to this the whole genome amplification kits are easier and faster, apart from this only small amount of DNA is required for multiple samples. Growing awareness of applications of whole genome amplification techniques is expected to provide high growth opportunities for the whole genome amplification products such as kits manufacturers over the forecast period. Moreover, technological developments and emphasis on specificity and sensitivity of the kits is expected to provide significant growth opportunities for whole genome amplification product manufacturers. However, the whole genome amplification makes it difficult to derive accurate genomic information from single-cell genomes is expected to hamper market growth over the forecast period.Whole Genome Amplification Market: OverviewGlobally the whole genome amplification market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period owing to forensics labs trying to genotype five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), and researchers collecting DNA from a buccal swab that only contains a few cells. The procedure is fast--six hours from start to finish are expected to gain traction over the forecast period, moreover increasing distribution network of manufacturers is expected to create high growth opportunities for the stakeholders of whole genome amplification market.Whole Genome Amplification Market: Region  Wise OutlookRegionally, whole genome amplification market is segmented into seven key regions, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ (Asia-Pacific excluding Japan), Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA)North America is expected to dominate the whole genome amplification market over the forecast period. Western Europe is expected to follow next after North America owing to increasing awareness of whole genome amplification in this region. Increasing application of whole genome amplification in forensic and genetic disorders in Japan is expected to boost demand for whole genome amplification in this country. APEJ is expected to follow next regarding revenue growth owing to technological developments and the introduction of new products from the local players. Latin America and MEA regions are also expected to witness significant growth in whole genome amplification market over the forecast period.Request For Report sample @Whole Genome Amplification Market: Key PlayersSome key players in peripheral embolization market are Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., QIAGEN, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., New England Biolabs., General Electric Company, LGC Limited, Genetica DNA Laboratories - a LabCorp brand, NuGEN Technologies, Inc., Illumina, Inc. and others. The companies are focused on understanding the fundamental epigenomic and genomic regulatory pathways underlying normal cell growth and tissue differentiation.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.Contact UsFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Biochips Market 2017 Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2025

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The Latest Comprehensive Industry research study titled, Biochips Market by Products, Application - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast To 2025 published by Crystal Market Research, states that the fermentation chemicals market is projected to be around $ 26 billion by 2025.The biochips market is expected to be around $26 billion by 2025. Increasing advancements in personalized medicine, rising demand for miniaturization of clinical and biological test systems, increase in research activities related to proteomics and genomics, advancements in designing protein arrays and rising applications of biochips in accelerated drug development are some of the major factors driving the growth of global biochips market. Moreover, increase in the incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer has prompted development of biochips to be used for diagnosing certain variants of these diseases and for controlling disease progression. According to the National Cancer Institute under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between 2012 and 2030, new cancer cases around the world are expected to increase by 50% from 14 million to 21 million. With such high incidence of cancer, the related research efforts are expected to significantly increase thus favorably contributing to the growth of biochips market during the forecast period. However, factors such as high cost of biochip instrumentation and unclear regulatory guidelines can hamper the growth of this biochips market during the forecast period.Get sample copy of this Report:Key Market Players:Thermo Fisher Scientific IncIllumina IncPerkinElmer IncAgilent Technologies Inc.Fluidigm CorporationGeneral Electric CompanyBio-Rad Laboratories Inc.bioMerieux SACellix Ltd.DNA chips segment dominated the global biochips market in 2016. This market dominance can be attributed to the extensive adoption of DNA chips for detection and diagnosis of various genetic diseases along with increased focus on research related to next-generation sequencing and genomics. With rapid adoption of diagnostic lab-on-a-chip (LOAC) and DNA analysis for point-of-care diagnostics and drug discovery applications, the global biochips market will experience robust growth during the forecast period. Drug discovery and development segment held a major share of the biochips market in 2016 as biochips are being increasingly adopted for developing highly specific drug molecules and new chemical entity (NCE) drugs for the treatment of various diseases. Biochips can considerably reduce the cost of drug discovery and aid in improving drug safety and hence are being widely adopted by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for drug discovery applications.Two major technologies used for fabricating biochips involve microarrays and microfluidics. A microarray is a silicon chip or a glass slide which consists of an array of molecules such as polypeptides, clones, oligonucleotides and antibodies. These molecules used are primarily used for gene expression and simultaneous examination of relationship between different genes. Microfluidics is a technology which involves micro-channels segmented on glass or a silicon substrate. This technology has various biomedical applications that include immunoassays, drug discovery, capillary electrophoresis and cell biology research.Make Inquiry about Report:Market OpportunitiesWith high prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases worldwide, the need for advanced drug development alternatives is increasing significantly in all parts of the world. Emerging markets such as Asia-Pacific are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for the global biochips market in coming years as expenditure on advanced research is rising considerably in developing countries such as China and India.Biochips Market Segmentation:By Product:DNA ChipsProtein ChipsLab-on-a-chipTissue ArraysCell ArraysBy Application:Gene ExpressionGenomicsSNP GenotypingDrug Discovery & DevelopmentClinical DiagnosticsCancer Diagnosis & TreatmentProteomicsAgricultural BiotechnologyIVD and POCHigh-Throughput ScreeningBy Fabrication Technology:MicrofluidicsMicroarraysBy End User:Academic & Research InstitutesHospitals and Diagnostics CentersBiotechnology and Pharmaceutical CompaniesGet Customized Report and Best Discount offers for your region: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:
Friction Modifier Additives Market to Reach a Valuation of US$ 1,888.3 Mn by the end of 2027

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Future Market Insights newly published market report, Friction Modifier Additives Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012  2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017  2027, examines the Friction Modifier Additives Market and provides a revised forecast of the global market for the 10 year period 2017  2027. According to the report, the MoDTC inorganic product type segment is expected to dominate the market accounting for over 45% share in overall market value by 2027 end, thereby registering a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period (2017  2027). The estimated value of the global Friction Modifier Additives Market in 2017 is US$ 1,278.9 Mn and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.0% in order to reach US$ 1,888.3 Mn by the end of 2027.Request to view table of content @The global Friction Modifier Additives Market is estimated to be driven by rising Organic friction modifier (OFMs) additives as they are mostly preferred for the lubrication of automotive engines. OFMs and zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDPs) anti wear additives react competitively on rubbing ferrous substrates in a tribological contact. By carefully understanding the chemistry of OFMs, formulators of additives can achieve application specific lubricants that form ZDDP anti wear films of optimum thickness and friction, thereby delivering end users required optimised lubricity, durability and environmental acceptability of the formulation, thereby paving the way of growth of the Friction Modifier Additives Market.On the basis of inorganic segment, the MoDTC segment is anticipated to play a crucial role in building market revenue. The MoDTC segment is estimated to lead the overall Friction Modifier Additives Market accounting for an estimated share of almost 46% in the global Friction Modifier Additives Market value in 2017, by Inorganic Product type. The segment is expected to register a CAGR of 3.8% within the forecast period. Also, Automotive Lubricants segment by application is expected to witness rising growth in revenue during the forecast period. As per the forecast this segment is slated to account for more than 45% share in overall market value by the end of the forecast period. This is largely due to a growing use of vehicles.Request Sample Report @On the basis of region, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is anticipated to dominate the global Friction Modifier Additives Market throughout the forecast period. This regional market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period. The market in the Western Europe region is anticipated to register a CAGR of 4.4% during forecast period. These two regions are expected to register relatively faster growth during the period of assessment.Some of the players reported in this study on the global Friction Modifier Additives Market are BRB International, Kings Industries Inc, Croda International, BASF SE, CSW Industrials, Chevron Corp, The Lubrizol Company, Dorf ketal, DOG Chemie, Afton Chemicals, LANXESS among others. Industry players, over the recent past, have been channelising efforts towards innovative product development. Moreover, expansion and acquisitions strategies adopted by Friction Modifiers Additives manufacturers to improve sales & distribution network and enhance their operational efficiencies are expected to continue over the forecast period.Buy Friction Modifier Additives Market Report @About Us  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 centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com
Sustainability Management Software Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7% by Forecast to 2023

Sustainability Management Software Market

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Market Scenario:Sustainability management software can be defined as a software solution adopted by organization to maintain smooth and efficient functioning of operational activities in enterprises. It helps enterprises to enhance their business performance through automated analysis, data management and reporting.The study indicates, increased awareness among enterprise for sustainability management software to improve profit margins by ensuring high return on investment on capital by reducing operating cost is one of the significant factor driving market growth. According to the study, the implementation of advanced technologies by enterprise that includes cloud computing, mobility, big data analytics, and remote connectivity to capitalize profit is fueling the market growth. By deployment segment, cloud based sustainability management software is expected to account for highest market share.The Sustainability Management Software Market can be segmented on the basis of component, deployment and application. The component segmented is sub-segmented into software and service. The software includes sustainability performance and project management software, sustainable product development software, collaboration and communication system, infrastructure management software and corporate social responsibility data management software. Sustainability performance and project management software empower organization by establishing project initiatives at corporate or site level, by focusing on executing strategy and increasing returns , it improves enterprise reporting accuracy and usability and minimize time and cost required for gathering data.The sustainability management software market is expected to grow at approximately USD 900 Million by 2023, at 7% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Major Key Players: Schneider Electric (France) IBM Corporation (U.S.) SAP SE (Germany) CA Technologies (U.S.) Verisae, Inc. (U.S.) Thinkstep (Germany) Urjanet Inc (U.S.) Accuvio (Ireland) Ecova Inc. (U.S.) Figbytes Inc. (Canada)Request a Sample Report @Study Objectives of Sustainability Management Software Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the sustainability management software market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the sustainability management software 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, deployment and vertical. 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 sustainability management software market.Segments:Sustainability management software market is segmented on the basis of component, deployment and vertical.Sustainability Management Software Market by Component: Software Sustainability Performance and Project Management Software Sustainable Component Development Software Collaboration and Communication Systems Infrastructure Management Software Corporate Social Responsibility Data Management Software Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Software Others Service Implementation Service Consulting Service Outsourcing and Support ServiceSustainability Management Software Market by Deployment: On-Cloud On-PremiseSustainability Management Software Market by Vertical: IT & Telecommunication Healthcare Automotive Manufacturing Oil & Gas OthersRegional Analysis:The regional analysis of sustainability management software market is being studied for region such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. North America is one of the leading player in the sustainability management software market owing to major sustainability management software manufacturers present in the region followed by Europe.According to the study, Europe region is expected to dominate the market in the future. Asia-Pacific region is fastest growing region in the sustainability management market owing to increased awareness among enterprises of sustainable softwares and developing IT infrastructure is boosting the market in the region.Browse Full Report Details @Intended Audience: Investors and consultants System Integrators Government Organizations Research/Consultancy firms Technology solution providers IT Solution Providers Original Equipment ManufacturersTable of Contents1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market StructureContinued.List of TablesTable 1 Sustainability Management Software Market, By ComponentTable 2 Sustainability Management Software Market, By DeploymentTable 3 Sustainability Management Software Market, By VerticalContinued.List of FiguresFigure 1 Research TypeFigure 2 Sustainability Management Software Market: By Component (%)Figure 3 Sustainability Management Software Market: By Deployment (%)Continued.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:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune  411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Motorcycle Insurance Market Key Analysis and 2018 Development Trends

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https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-motorcycle-insurance-market-size-status-and-forecast-2022.htm/toc

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Motorcycle Insurance to its huge collection of research reports.The global market for Motorcycle Insurance is forever evolving, and it is important for everyone connected to the value chain to keep a track of which way the wind is blowing. This report on the global Motorcycle Insurance market aspires to serve as a credible business and commerce tool for its targeted audiences, providing quantitative and qualitative assessment of the market in its current scenario and its future prospects.This report begins with an elaborated introduction of the existing nature of the market for Motorcycle Insurance, and then drives into exploring the dynamics such as trends and opportunities, and drivers and restraints that will define the future. Moving on, the report acknowledges the importance of various smaller segments and hence bifurcates the market for Motorcycle Insurance into categories back on technology, end user, application, product type, services, or whichever applicable. For each of the segment, the report evaluates their present valuation and estimates future worth based on various factors. After that, the report dives into exploring the potential of Motorcycle Insurance market in every important region and country, such as North America including the U.S. and Canada, Asia Pacific including China, India, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea, and Europe including the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy.Get free sample copy of the report with TOC at:One of the featured aspect of this report, and something that extracted considerable amount of time and effort from the analysts, is the section of competitive landscape of the global Motorcycle Insurance market. Great emphasis was given on interviewing and interacting with experts of this market and explore the historical data to profile some of the key companies who are ahead of the curve in this market. The report picks out top five and top ten companies, evaluates their dominance in terms of market share, analyzes their product portfolio, and provides insights into their geographical presence, distribution network, and recent strategic decisions.This report studies the global Motorcycle Insurance market, analyzes and researches the Motorcycle Insurance development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeGEICOFarmers InsuranceAllstateAvivaAllianzAXACPICPingAnAssicurazioni GeneraliCardinal HealthState Farm InsuranceDai-ichi Mutual Life InsuranceMunich Re GroupZurich Financial ServicesPrudentialRead Complete Table of Content of the Report at:Table of ContentsGlobal Motorcycle Insurance Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Motorcycle Insurance1.1 Motorcycle Insurance Market Overview1.1.1 Motorcycle Insurance Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Motorcycle Insurance 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 Motorcycle Insurance Market by End Users/Application1.3.1 Personal1.3.2 Business2 Global Motorcycle Insurance Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Motorcycle Insurance 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 Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 GEICO3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Motorcycle Insurance Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Farmers Insurance3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Motorcycle Insurance Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Allstate3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Motorcycle Insurance Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Aviva...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
Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Trends and Forecast by 2022

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has added a new report titled Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Report 2017 to its massive database. The report provides analysis of the Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane industry, with detailed analysis of market size in terms of manufacturing, demand and segments. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application and also shows the upcoming Scenario CAGR value under same stated Forecast.Request Free Sample Report @Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (K MT), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane market competition by top manufacturers/players, with 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingGuerbetBayer VitalBraccoBolonHubei TianshuHeryi PharmaTaicang QianjingChem StoneNanhuaXiamen HuasingOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K MT), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/MT), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoChemical GradePharmaceutical GradeOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (K MT), market share and growth rate of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane for each application, includinProHanceGadavistDotaremBrowse Full Report with TOC @Table of Content:Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Report 20171 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane1.2 Classification of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane by Product Category1.2.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Chemical Grade1.2.4 Pharmaceutical Grade1.3 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 ProHance1.3.3 Gadavist1.3.4 Dotarem1.4 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market by Region1.4.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.8 Australia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Asia-Pacific Market Size (Value and Volume) of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (2012-2022)1.5.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (Volume) by Application2.4 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (Volume and Value) by Region2.4.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017) .continueEnquire about this report @About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals industry reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
EV Market 2017- Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Research Report 2017

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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled EV market grows strongly as technology advancesIn July 2017 Volvo announced that from the year 2019 all cars that it manufactures will be either fully electric or hybrids. Volvo would as such become the first large automobile manufacturer to so boldly embrace the electrification of cars, and yet in a fast growing market where brand names like Tesla are increasingly becoming well recognized brands, Volvo's move does not come as a complete surprise.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Key Questions Answered- How fast is the EV market growing?- Why is the EV market growing?- What are the main challenges facing the EV market?- Does growth in the EV market mean pollution levels will decline?Scope- Establishes the pace at which the Electric Vehicle (EV) market is growing.- Explores why this growth is taking place.- Analyzes the main challenges facing the EV market.- Discusses whether the growth in the EV market will have a strong impact on pollution reduction.Key points to buy- In the past several years, the car stock growth of the EV market has consistently been above 50%.- In March 2017 scientists were able to invent a new battery which has three times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.- States have sought to boost the EV market in a number of ways. The UK and France for example have announced a ban on the sale of new fossil fuel powered vehicles from the year 2040 onwards.Table of ContentsOverviewCatalystSummaryElectric Vehicle market growing rapidlyElectric car stock grew by 60% in 2016As Teslas popularity grows Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover decide to go completely electricReasons for growth of EV MarketImproving technology and infrastructure making EV a viable optionBattery technology improving, but charging stations need further developmentGovernments encouraging growth via subsidies and prohibitions..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
Factors Driving the Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Market in Coming Years

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software to its huge collection of research reports.The global market for Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software is forever evolving, and it is important for everyone connected to the value chain to keep a track of which way the wind is blowing. This report on the global Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software market aspires to serve as a credible business and commerce tool for its targeted audiences, providing quantitative and qualitative assessment of the market in its current scenario and its future prospects.This report begins with an elaborated introduction of the existing nature of the market for Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software, and then drives into exploring the dynamics such as trends and opportunities, and drivers and restraints that will define the future. Moving on, the report acknowledges the importance of various smaller segments and hence bifurcates the market for Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software into categories back on technology, end user, application, product type, services, or whichever applicable. For each of the segment, the report evaluates their present valuation and estimates future worth based on various factors. After that, the report dives into exploring the potential of Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software market in every important region and country, such as North America including the U.S. and Canada, Asia Pacific including China, India, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea, and Europe including the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy.Get free sample copy of the report with TOC at:One of the featured aspect of this report, and something that extracted considerable amount of time and effort from the analysts, is the section of competitive landscape of the global Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software market. Great emphasis was given on interviewing and interacting with experts of this market and explore the historical data to profile some of the key companies who are ahead of the curve in this market. The report picks out top five and top ten companies, evaluates their dominance in terms of market share, analyzes their product portfolio, and provides insights into their geographical presence, distribution network, and recent strategic decisions.This report studies the global Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software market, analyzes and researches the Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeIBMKenshooAdobeTeradataSASMarin SoftwareMaropostMicrosoftOracleActiveDEMANDAutopilotMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaRead Complete Table of Content of the Report at:Table of ContentsGlobal Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software1.1 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Market Overview1.1.1 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software 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 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Market by Type1.3.1 Cloud-Based1.3.2 On-Premise1.4 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Small Business1.4.2 Medium Business1.4.3 Large Enterprises2 Global Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software 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 Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 IBM3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Kenshoo3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Adobe3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Cross-Channel Campaign Management (CCCM) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Teradata3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions...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 Airport Passenger Screening Systems Market Will Grow At A CAGR Of 4.53% During The Period 2017 - 2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Airport Passenger Screening Systems Market Will Grow At A CAGR Of 4.53% During The Period 2017 - 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Airport passenger screening systems are being used at the airport security checkpoints since decades. Earlier, most of the airport passenger screening process relied on hand-held metal detectors or walk-through metal detector for passengers and X-ray systems for carry-on items. However, the evolving security threats and the inability of metal detectors to detect non-metallic objects and explosives are nudging many airports to implement advanced imaging technologies and procedures to screen passengers for explosives and non-metallic weapons.Technavios analysts forecast the global airport passenger screening systems market to grow at a CAGR of 4.53% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global airport passenger screening systems market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the retail sales of haircare products to individual consumers and salons.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Airport Passenger Screening Systems Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsCEIAL-3 CommunicationsNuctechRapiScan SystemsSDITo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Other prominent vendorsAmerican Science and EngineeringAnalogicAUTOCLEAROptosecurityMarket driverIncreased focus on the capacity expansion of existing airports.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeIncreased focus on the capacity expansion of existing airports.For a full, detailed list, view our reportBrowse TOC @Market trendIntroduction of controlled cognitive engagement (CCE) approach.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?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 Baby Garment Sales Market Report 2017 : Catimini, BOBDOG, Nike

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Baby Garment Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The business landscape of the global Baby Garment 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 Baby Garment market presents a methodological explanation of this dynamic market scenario. The research study also offers the growth prospects of the global Baby Garment 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 Baby Garment market. This section of the report provides to business professionals the key historical developments of the industry with details such as applications of Baby Garment 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 Baby Garment market by key criteria with the growth prospects of the key segments paints a clear picture of the growth framework of the market.Global Baby Garment market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Baby Garment sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingCartersJoynCleonH&MJACADIGAPGymboreeOKAIDITo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @A strategic business forecast for the volume and value of the global Baby Garment 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 Baby Garment 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 Baby Garment market will support clients in forming sound business decisions to boost ROI.Table of ContentsGlobal Baby Garment Sales Market Report 20171 Baby Garment Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Baby Garment1.2 Classification of Baby Garment by Product Category1.2.1 Global Baby Garment Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Baby Garment Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20162 Global Baby Garment Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Baby Garment Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Baby Garment Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Baby Garment Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Baby Garment (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Baby Garment Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Baby Garment Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3 United States Baby Garment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Baby Garment Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Baby Garment Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Baby Garment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Baby Garment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)Browse Complete Report with TOC @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Baby GarmentFigure Global Baby Garment Sales Volume Comparison (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Baby Garment Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Cotton Product PictureFigure Synthetic fibres Product PictureFigure China Baby Garment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Baby Garment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Baby Garment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Baby Garment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Baby Garment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Baby Garment Sales Volume (K Units) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Baby Garment Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Market Major Players Baby Garment Sales Volume (K Units) (2012-2017)Table Global Baby Garment Sales (K Units) of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Payments Landscape US Market 2017 - Entry Exit of Key Players, Identify Opportunities and Challenges

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Summary"Payments Landscape in the US: Opportunities and Risks to 2021", report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the US cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, direct debit, cash, payment cards, and cheques during the review-period (2013-17e).The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry, and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2017-21f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.GET SAMPLE REPORT @The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure.This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the US cards and payments industry, including -- Current and forecast values for each market in the US cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards.- Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, direct debit, cheques, cash, and payment cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.- E-commerce market analysis and payment methods.- Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the US cards and payments industry.- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards.Scope- Competition in the US alternative payments market increased following the launch of Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay. Most recently, Alibaba collaborated with payment processor First Data to introduce its mobile payment service Alipay in May 2017. The service is accepted by over 4 million merchants in the US. Banks, card issuers, and retailers are also launching proprietary solutions to compete in the market. For instance, JPMorgan Chase offers Chase Pay, Walmart launched Walmart Pay in July 2016, Capital One and Wells Fargo launched the digital Capital One wallet in 2014, while Wells Fargo launched its own wallet in May 2016.- To develop a fast payment system in the US, in May 2015 the Federal Reserve established a Faster Payments Task Force that has been assigned the responsibility to categorize the goals and characteristics of effective faster payment solutions, assess approaches to accomplish these goals, and ensure implementation and acceptance of faster payment services by 2020. The first stride towards achieving these goals was the publication of Faster Payments Effectiveness Criteria in February 2016. The criteria act as a guideline to evaluate faster payment solution and support improvement in payments. In July 2017, the taskforce published its final report with recommendations for the provision of efficient and fast payment solutions in the US. The report also commands the payments industry to collaborate and transform this faster payments vision into a reality.- To facilitate cross-border commerce, in June 2017 First Data launched Local Payments Solution. The solution supports consumers choice of payment for purchases made, irrespective of their geographical location and currency, as it combines various online payment methods into a single interface, thus helping merchants manage and expedite cross-border payments. The payment methods aided by Local Payment Solution include real-time online banking, direct debit, cash/voucher payments, and digital wallets. Through the solution online businesses can access 195 local payment options.Reasons to buy- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the US cards and payments industry and each market within it.- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the US cards and payments industry.- Assess the competitive dynamics in the US cards and payments industry.- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in the US.- Gain insights into key regulations governing the US cards and payments industry.Table of Content: Key PointsMarket OverviewExecutive SummaryCard-based PaymentsE-commerce PaymentsAlternative PaymentsPayments Infrastructure & RegulationAppendixContinuedACCESS 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
Core Plate Varnishes Market Intelligence and Forecast by Future Market Insights 2017 - 2027

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Over the decade, consumption of energy has significantly increased over the globe, owing to various factors such as, increasing rate of habitation in urban and rural sector, commercial workspace, growing industrial establishments, per capita consumption, and many more. Most of the energy is lost during transmission from the generation site to distribution centres. In order to recover this energy and minimization of losses, insulation plays an important role in optimizing the power transmission process. Core plate varnishes is one of the insulation components to the electrical devices and machines. Manufacturers have developed water borne and heat absorbing varnishes to insulate the electrical steel. Properties present in the core plate varnishes reduce the eddy current losses of the electrical components which enhance the efficiency and life of the components. These core plate varnishes used to insulate the electrical components such as, motor, generators, transformers, and other electromagnetic poles. The application of core plate varnish in saving the energy is a special technology in which coated laminations of the electrical core are not held together by mechanical or welding connection. Core plate varnishes applies in two steps, in the first step the electrical components coated with varnishes and keep it for drying in an oven in the second step the insulated components undergoes high temperature and pressure test.Market Dynamics: Core Plate Varnishes MarketThe growth of the core plate varnishes market is expected to propel with a healthy CAGR in between the forecast period. Increasing incidents of accidents due to electrical safety, increasing adoption of electrical services globally are the expected drivers for the growth of core plate varnishes market. In order to gain maximum profit in the core plate varnishes market manufacturers have strong opportunity to invest in the market. The demand of core plate varnishes is expected to be equally from installation of new units as well as repair and replacement activities. On the contrary, fluctuating raw material prices is expected to hamper the market growth in the coming future. On the basis of chemical used for insulation of core plate varnishes, polyurethane plays vital role and is expected to boost with the significant market share in the market. Sustainable innovative technology and variations in properties on the basis of insulations is the current trend in the core plate varnishes market, globally. On the basis of geographical region, the Asia Pacific followed by Western Europe and North America region are anticipated to propel the market demand over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample:Market Segmentation: Core Plate Varnishes MarketThe core plate varnishes market is segmented on the basis of classification, chemical based and application.On the basis of classification, the core plate varnishes market is segmented into:PigmentedUn-PigmentedOthersOn the basis of Chemical based, the core plate varnishes market is segmented into:Alkyd PhenolicPolyurethanePolyesterOthersOn the basis of application, the core plate varnishes market is segmented into:MotorGeneratorTransformerElectromagnetic PolesOthersRegional Outlook: Core Plate Varnishes MarketIncreasing per capita consumption, consumer awareness towards the electrical safety, and increasing trend to save more energy by insulation are such factors boost the demand of growth in Asia pacific region. Asia-Pacific held a significant revenue share of the global core plate varnishes market in 2016 and the market in the region is projected to increase at a healthy CAGR over the forecast period. The Western Europe region is expected to represent significant incremental $ opportunity in core plate varnishes market, North America is expected to gain positive BPS share by the end of 2027 in core plate varnishes market, Middle East & Africa is also expected to grow with healthy CAGR followed by APAC, Europe and North America in core plate varnishes market over the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Some of the key players in the core plate varnishes market are:Helios GroupRembrandtin Lack GmbHALTANASSAB ABTOYO INKBAKELITE HYLAM LTDAXALTAMaderJOHN C. DOLPH COMPANYSuper Urecoat IndustriesSichuan Dongfang Insulating Material Co., Ltd.Vishal EnterprisesAEV Ltdvoestalpine Stahl GmbHHitachi Chemical Co., LtdChetak Manufacturing CoABOUT 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 InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Demand for Data Center Construction Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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The Report Data Center Construction 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 data center is a facility used by an enterprise to accommodate computer systems, server, network systems and other related components to support a companys IT infrastructural needs. This basically involves storing, processing and serving large amounts of crucial data, which ranges from small servers to robust large industrial scale equipment and dedicated client architecture. The construction of data center is a critical task, which includes extensive planning in terms of location, storage, and material to be used in order to maintain and control environment within the data center. The location is an important factor to be considered while planning to build a data center as it is very necessary to keep the environment cool inside data center. The equipment inside data center such as server and storage are running 24x7 and they generate large amount of heat, which could result in equipment failures, further affecting efficiency of the service provider.The data center construction market is expected to grow with rise in demand for energy efficient data centers to address the carbon impact of their business and increase utilization of more renewable assets into their ventures. Hence, data centers are aiming to go green, resulting in an increase in use of electricity generated through solar and wind power for data centers. Evaporative cooling, utilization of low-emanation building materials, and waste reusing are a portion of the strategies used in green server farms. Moreover, green server farms help in running IT operations, power, and cooling base in an efficient manner. Additionally, to accommodate ever increasing amount of data, companies are compelled to operate numerous data centers, which are generally located at distant places. This is another factor driving the data center construction market.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @The data center industry is undergoing enormous growth, due to significant rise in online users and increased transactions in recent years. Increasing business demands for cloud-based services and data storage facilities around the globe is a major factor driving the growth of data center construction market. The rapidly-increasing data traffic is accelerating demand for data storage, resulting in constant expansion and renovation of data centers. Moreover, companies are seeking for global expansion of data centers to meet the growing demand from enterprises.Some of the major restraints for the growth of the data center construction market are lack of necessary resources, and growing popularity of containerized data centers. Containerized data centers provide infrastructure support for organizations having a scarcity of budget for constructing a data center, this eventually decreases the demand for traditional data center. Several countries around the globe also face power outages, which have created unsuitable conditions for operation of data centers. The major players operating in the data center construction market include Corgan Associates, Inc., Holder Construction, Turner Construction, DPR Construction, Structure Tone, Mortenson Construction, Gilbane Inc., Balfour Beatty US, Hensel Phelps, Hoffman Construction, HITT Contracting, Fluor Corporation, IMC Construction, Pepper Construction and FORTIS Construction Inc.View Report @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 breakthroughsThe 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, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, North Africa)Check Discount @TMR estimates the market size of various sectors using a combination of available data on the number and revenue of companies within each sub-sector and tiers of companies. The basic components used to determine market size and forecast for a specific product area are not only limited to supply-side data, but are also related to demand, industry trends, and the economic outlook. All the above data points are utilized to generate a statistical model targeting the sector marketplace. More than 300 TMR analysts across the world integrate these elements into a framework to determine the subsector market size for a base year and then forecast growth within each market.TMR regularly interviews technology and business professionals as an ongoing effort to track the latest developments within each sector. These continuous surveys are stratified by company size and industry segment and weighted to reflect the global market place. All data are collected on an ongoing effort through a structured questionnaire rolled over the web or conducted via telephones. This provides the TMR team opportunities to request for detailed question sets, complex skip patterns, and real-time calculations, which assists respondents in answering questions involving numbers and percentages. Respondents, who are interviewed as experts, are screened and qualified based on certain criteria in addition to their decision-making authority and the scope of activity within their organizations.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.State Tower 90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-621-2074 USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948
Global Facial Toner Market Research Report 2017 : Loreal, Kose Corporation, Kao Corporation, Johnson & Johnson

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Facial Toner Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.Aspiring to provide a comprehensive assessment the global Facial Toner market, this report explores of all the factors, such as trends, drivers, and restraints that may influence the in the near future, positively or negatively. Developed by a group of professional market research analysts, this QY Research report also takes stock of all major opportunities that are presenting themselves in current scenario and their eventual effect on the market has been estimated. This business and commerce report has been prepared using proven research methodologies, is a summation of primary and secondary research, and includes inputs from industry experts, and aspires to contribute as a credible business document for the stakeholders connected to the value chain of the global Facial Toner market.Global Facial Toner market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingLOrealKose CorporationKao CorporationJohnson & JohnsonShiseidoThe Procter & Gamble CompanyThe UnileverLotus HerbalsBurts & BeesLUMENETo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report focuses on gauging the current status of the Facial Toner market. The study is very essential to enhance business productivity as well as for anticipating the forecasts. Primarily, this report on global Facial Toner market displays the overview of the industry, which consists of definitions, classifications, applications, and the industry chain structure. The report also provides competitive analysis, development history, and leading players in respective regions and countries.The report does the analysis of Facial Toner market and invests greater time on explain the competitive landscape with a focus on top leading industry players. In addition to this, the Facial Toner report also provides information on company profiles, capacity, product description, production cost, market revenue, and contact details. The report also includes product types, price, gross margin according to regions and Facial Toner market growth rate of each segment of product. It is also possible to add other regions within a few working days. Then, the global Facial Toner market report includes development plans and policies of industry leaders, price structures and the development processes. The report also covers import or export details, industry supply chain and utilization figures.Table of ContentsGlobal Facial Toner Market Research Report 20171 Facial Toner Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Facial Toner1.2 Facial Toner Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Facial Toner Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Facial Toner Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20162 Global Facial Toner Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Facial Toner Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Facial Toner Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Facial Toner Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Facial Toner Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Facial Toner Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Facial Toner Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Facial Toner Market Competitive Situation and TrendsBrowse Complete Report with TOC @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Facial TonerFigure Global Facial Toner Production (K MT) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Facial Toner Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Liquid FormTable Major Manufacturers of Liquid FormFigure Product Picture of GelsFigure Europe Facial Toner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Facial Toner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Facial Toner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Facial Toner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Facial Toner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Facial Toner Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Facial Toner Capacity, Production (K MT) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Facial Toner Major Players Product Capacity (K MT) (2012-2017)Table Global Facial Toner Capacity (K MT) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Facial Toner Capacity Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
At A CAGR Of 11.30%, Global Field Service Management Software Market Will Expand During 2016 - 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "At A CAGR Of 11.30%, Global Field Service Management Software Market Will Expand During 2016 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.FSM software enables the scheduling, allocating, and dispatching technicians for field work, and remotely locating, tracking, and managing the staff and processes. The high management visibility in field operations allows enterprises to quickly recognize and address revenue-generating opportunities. It also helps in prioritizing the allotted work, matching technician skills, and reducing the time for solving the problems. FSM solutions can be deployed on-premises, hosted through a web browser as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and a hybrid of the two. It offers enterprises with several benefits including cost savings, enhanced productivity, and customer satisfaction.Technavios analysts forecast the global field service management software market to grow at a CAGR of 11.30% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global field service management software market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from the sales of packaged FSM software, including maintenance and subscriptions/ services.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:APACEuropeMEANorth AmericaSouth AmericaTechnavio's report, Global Field Service Management Software Market 2016-2020, 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.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Key vendorsAstea InternationalClickSoftwareIFSOracleSAPServiceMaxOther prominent vendorsComarchCORESYSTEMSFieldAwareInforKey2ActMicrosoftMSI DataPraxedoRetriever CommunicationsServicePowerServiceTradeTrimble Navigation.Browse TOC @Market driverIncreased demand for SaaS-based FSM solutionsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeThreat from open-source FSM softwareFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIntroduction of mobile field service appFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?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 @
Asia-Pacific 100 Ton-200 Ton Mobile Cranes Market Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Trends and Forecast by 2022

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has added a new report titled Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Report 2017 to its massive database. The report provides analysis of the Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane industry, with detailed analysis of market size in terms of manufacturing, demand and segments. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application and also shows the upcoming Scenario CAGR value under same stated Forecast.Request Free Sample Report @Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of 100 Ton-200 Ton Mobile Cranes for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific 100 Ton-200 Ton Mobile Cranes market competition by top manufacturers/players, with 100 Ton-200 Ton Mobile Cranes sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingLiebherrTadanoManitowocXCMGTerexZoomlionSanyKobelco CraneHitachi SumitomoFurukawaSichuan ChangjiangAltec IndustriesAction Construction EquipmentElliott EquipmentLiugongBocker MaschinenwerkeLiaoning FuwaManitexBrodersonOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCrawler CranesAll Terrain CranesTruck CranesTrailer-Mounted CranesOthersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (Units), market share and growth rate of 100 Ton-200 Ton Mobile Cranes for each application, includinConstructionIndustriesUtilitiesOthersBrowse Full Report with TOC @Table of Content:Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Report 20171 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane1.2 Classification of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane by Product Category1.2.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Chemical Grade1.2.4 Pharmaceutical Grade1.3 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 ProHance1.3.3 Gadavist1.3.4 Dotarem1.4 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market by Region1.4.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.8 Australia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Asia-Pacific Market Size (Value and Volume) of 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (2012-2022)1.5.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (Volume) by Application2.4 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (Volume and Value) by Region2.4.1 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.2 Asia-Pacific 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017).continueEnquire about this report @About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of machinery industry reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Sodium Alginates Market to Significant Growth Foreseen by 2021

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There are several types of alginates available in the global market including sodium, calcium, and potassium out of which sodium alginates hold the highest share of the market. Sodium alginate is a type of natural polysaccharide which is extracted from the brown seaweed that grows in cold water regions. Sodium alginate market is expanding mainly on account of the increasing size of food industry. Sodium alginate is soluble in cold and hot water, and possesses thickening and binding properties. Sodium alginate forms a gel without being heated in the presence of calcium. Sodium alginate is generally used along with calcium salts in several cuisines to produce small and large spheres filled with liquid that burst in the mouth. Sodium Alginate is also used in the food industry as an emulsifier to increase viscosity. It is also used in indigestion tablets as it does not have any discernible flavor.Request For Report Sample:The major drivers for sodium alginate market include the increasing consumption of convenience foods and their multi-functionality. Vulnerability of raw materials of sodium alginate to seasonal changes is one of the major restraints for the market. Increasing cost of alginates is another major concern for the sodium alginate market. China, Japan, India, and Brazil are emerging as potential markets for the sodium alginate market and provide ample opportunity for its growth.Sodium alginate is used as a thickener in syrups, sauces, and toppings for ice cream. Mayonnaise and salad dressings thickened with sodium alginate are less likely to separate into their original oil and water forms. Sodium alginate is also used in pimiento strips inside pitted olives, and as stabilizers in ice cream where it forms ice crystals during the freezing process. Another use of sodium alginate is to form films of sodium or calcium alginate, and fibers of calcium alginates.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):The key companies in the global sodium alginate market include Cargill, Inc., Dastech International, Inc., FMC Corporation, DANISCO, FMC, KIMICA, QINGDAO GFURI, Qingdao Bright Moon Group, Qingdao Gather Great Ocean, Qingdao Lanneret, Qingdao Rongde, and Vishnu Gum & Chemicals.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:
Superalloys Market: Challenges and Opportunities Report 2017 - 2027

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Superalloys or high performance alloys are the metallic alloys that possess high strength, significant surface stability, corrosion resistance and creep resistance at high temperature. Superalloys are generally utilized in products and applications operating at high pressure, radiation, force and temperature under the impact of corrosive media. They have austenitic face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal with alloying element of cobalt, iron or nickel as a base. Presently, there is escalation in demand of superalloys due to its high-strength that can resist creeping and high temperature in various applications like aerospace and aircraft.Superalloys are used in various application such as aerospace, oil and gas, industrial and gas turbine. Combustion chambers, shafts, blades of aircraft gas turbine, turbocharger and exhaust valve of reciprocating engines, bolts, fans and pumps of chemical and petrochemical industries, rocket engine parts of space vehicles, bolts, blades of steam turbine power plants are some of the prominent end-use products / applications where superalloys are extensively used. Furthermore, superalloys are widely used in automotive sector due to their capability to retain its strength at higher temperature. Additionally, due to their light weight, it helps in improving the fuel efficiency of automotive as well as aircraft. Superalloys can be nickel-based, iron-based and cobalt-based. Among these, the nickel based superalloys are highly preferred in aerospace sector as it can resist physical stress and extremely high temperatures, which in turn helps to maintain high surface stability. Industrial nickel-based superalloys contain alloying elements such as aluminum, chromium, titanium, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, cobalt etc. Some of the key players in the market are focused on development of cost effective light weight superalloys.Request For Report Sample:Superalloys Market: Market DynamicsIncreasing adoption of superalloys or high performance alloys in power and aerospace industry is expected to drive the growth of superalloys market over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing use of light weight components in automotive sector is also anticipated to upsurge the demand of superalloys across the globe. Additionally, excellent cryogenic temperature property, resistance to corrosion, oxidation resistant, high toughness and ductility are the properties of superalloys which are expected to fuel the demand of global superalloys market during the forecast period.High cost of the alloy metals is one of the major factor which is anticipated to hamper the growth of superalloys market. Moreover, specialty machines are used to manufacture superalloys and high price of these machines is further expected to restrict the growth of superalloys market. Furthermore, lack of skilled labors coupled with complex process involved in maintaining these specialty machines is further anticipated to affect the positive growth of the global superalloys market in near future.Superalloys Market: SegmentationThe global superalloys market can be segmented on the basis of base material and applications.On the basis of base material, the global superalloys market can be segmented as:Nickel-based superalloysIron-based superalloysCobalt-based superalloysOn the basis of applications, the global superalloys market can be segmented as:AutomotiveOil and gasAerospaceIndustrialSuperalloys Market: Region-Wise OutlookDuring the forecast period, North America is expected to witness rich growth in superalloys market due to increased utilization of aircraft and prominent growth in aerospace industry in this region. Asia Pacific, in particulars, is estimated to witness growth in superalloys market owing to growth in automotive industries and existence of developing economics. Japan is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to growing automotive industry and related industry in these region. Middle East and Africa is projected to support the growth of superalloys market due to rapid industrialization in upcoming years.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Superalloys Market: Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants identified across the value chain of the global superalloys market include:Aperam S.A.AMG SuperalloysSpecial Metal CorporationHaynes InternationalNippon Yakin Kogyo Co., Ltd.Special Metals CorporationUniversal StainlessSuperalloy International Co. Ltd.VDM MetalsAperam S.A.Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI)Cannon-MuskegonThyssenKrupp AGIMET AlloysDanyang City Kaixin Alloy Material Co. Ltd.Carpenter TechnologyNBM MetalsABOUT 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 InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Comprehensive Report on Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine Market by Future Market Insights 2017 - 2027

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Hot chamber die casting machine is used to produce highly precised engineering die cast products by injecting molten metal into the molds called dies under very high pressure. These molds are used to produce complex shapes with high degree of repeatability, consistency and accuracy. Shape formed by the process have textured & smooth surfaces, dimensional consistent and sharp & well defined edges. Hot chamber die casting machine is used to produce complex as well as simple parts of products ranging from toys to automobile and most of the volume produced is of metal. Hot chamber die casting machine involves the process in which molten metal is forced into a mold cavity under very high pressure. Dies are made of two halves and are reusable. When the metal sufficiently solidifies the actual casting is exposed by opening the two parts of the die. After that casting is removed from the die then the further operation is performed to give the final and finished shape to it. Generally hot chamber die casting machine is used for casting the metal having low or medium melting point. Metals having high melting point is casted with the help of cold chamber die casting machine. Hot chamber die casting machine make the process efficient and economical by providing wide range of shapes. Shapes can be easily reproduced according to the demand with dimensional accuracy and stability. Components of hot chamber die casting machine includes strong casting platen, control system, centralized automatic toggle lubrication system, motor driven pump pipe, piston, and injection system.Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine Global Market dynamics:Hot chamber die casting machine is used for fast cyclic production which reduces the cost, time and energy involved in the process and intricate each and every detail of the cast. Furthermore, hot chamber die casting machine reduces porosity and it works at low melting point because of this die casting have longer life, this make them suitable for the casting purposes than any other machines. This is driving the global market of hot chamber die casting machine in the estimated period. The advanced hot chamber die casting machine is provided with the features of durable clamping unit, HSS blushing, alloy plus strong casting platen, control system with compact logic PLC, large touch screen, centralized system with longer life and reduced maintenance, motor driven pump with higher efficiency, more flexible multi short piston and an injecting system with multiple speed control and this new features is forcing the consumer to replace their convectional Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine with more advanced one. Hot chamber die casting machine prominently used in automotive industry, instrumentations and 3 Cs industry (Computer, Communication & Consumer Electronics). Growth of vehicle across the globe is estimated to boost the hot chamber die casting machine global market. Advancement in the instrumentation industry will further help the hot die casting chamber machine to penetrate in the global market.Request For Report Sample:Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine Global Market segmentation:The Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine market can be segmented on the basis of type of product type, operation type and end use-The Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine market can be segmented on the basis of product type as:Hybrid Hot Chamber Die Casting MachineMagnesium Hot Chamber Die Casting MachineZinc Hot Chamber Die Casting MachineElectric Hot Chamber Die Casting MachineThe Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine market can be segmented on the basis of operation type as:Fully-AutomaticSemi-AutomaticManualThe Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine market can be segmented on the basis of end use as:Automotive Industry3 Cs Industry ( Computer, Communication & Consumer Electronics)InstrumentationOthersHot Chamber Die Casting Machine Global Market: Regional Outlook:Industrialization in Europe and North America has increased the demand for industrial instruments in this region which in turn is estimated to accelerate the hot chamber die casting machine market. Die casting is used to make large variety of cast alloy parts in different shapes and sizes having large numbers of applications. Being one of the most efficient die casting machine which can produce large volumes of castings in a small period of time having extreme preciseness and repeatability. The flexibility of casting sizes, product type and infinite possibility of shapes makes Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine the preferred process for a wide variety of industries. Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine offers large number of advantages such as very precise repeatability, less porosity, high tolerances power, textured & smooth surfaces and sharply defined parts. All these feature are increasing the inclination of the consumer towards hot chamber die casting machine in the global market. Economic growth and the presence of high disposable income in the countries like India and China of Asia Pacific region is increasing the demand of automobiles and this is propelling the hot chamber die casting machine market in this region. Emerging countries of Middle East Africa is propelling the boosting for industrial instruments which are produced and processed by using hot chamber die casting machine.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine Global Market: Key PlayersKey players in the global market of Hot Chamber Die Casting Machine are:Jiaxing Xiuzhou Wangdian Dajian EquipmentTeknomecSuzhou Sanji Die-Casting Automation System Co.FrechBuhler AGUBE Machinery INC.TOSHIBA MACHINE CO.,LTDBuhler AGTOYO MACHINERY & METAL CO.,LTD.Bezel Impex Private Limited.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 InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Pyrite Market to Record an Exponential CAGR by 2021

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Pyrite also known as iron pyrite or fools gold is an iron sulfide mineral. Pyrite is pale brass yellow colored and has metallic luster thus having resemblance with gold. Pyrite is found with other oxides and sulfide in rocks and coal beds. Some of the countries such as Peru, the U.S., Russia, Spain and South Africa have commercially important deposits of pyrite. The flat radial disks of pyrites are also known as dollars or sun. Pyrite is used in various applications such as production of sulfur compounds such as sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid, cathode material, semiconductor material and marcasite jewelry items. In addition, pyrite is used as filler in wheels and brake pads. Moreover, the pyrites are used as an ore for gold, as both forms under similar conditions and are available in same rocks. Pyrite is also used as gemstone and is considered as a stone of warmth and power.Request For Report Sample:The market for pyrite was mainly driven by jewelry and sulfur compounds market. Huge demand of pyrite for manufacturing of sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide has been driving the market in past few years. Pyrite is used in jewelry items such as necklace with beads and cabochons. In grinding industry, pyrite is used as filler in grinding wheels and brake linings. Pyrite is also used in friction markets to increase the thermal conductivity. Pyrite also helps in adjusting the friction coefficient in brake pads. In electronics industry, pyrite is used as a semiconductor material and as an electrode in lithium ion batteries. In paper and pulp industry, pyrite is used in manufacturing of paper. Pyrite as an iron ore is one of the biggest opportunity for the market if the current iron ore becomes scarce. Moreover, pyrite is also considered as probable substitute in photovoltaic solar panels as it is inexpensive and abundant in nature. However, health and environmental hazards associated with pyrite are anticipated to hider the growth of the market in next few years to come.In terms of demand, North America was the leading region for pyrite market in 2013. Increasing demand from sulfur compounds, electronics and jewelry has been major drivers for the market in past few years. The U.S. had the largest demand for pyrite owing to huge demand from sulfur compounds and grinding industry. However, Mexico is considered to be the fastest growing country in this region owing to increasing demand for pyrite in jewelry. Europe had the second-largest demand for pyrite market in 2013. Increasing demand for pyrite from sulfur compounds and in paper industry has been driving the market for pyrite in Europe.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Germany is one of the largest consumers of pyrite in this region owing to the huge demand from grinding and electronics industry. Other countries such as Spain, Italy, and the U.K. are likely to show stable demand in next few years to come. Asia Pacific was the fastest growing region in pyrite market in 2013. The demand is huge owing to rise in markets such as gemstones, fabricated jewelry and grinding industry. India, China and Japan are anticipated to be the fastest growing markets for pyrite in this region. Rest of the World market is anticipated to be potential market for the pyrite in near future. Some of the key manufacturers in the pyrite market are Hickman, Williams & Company, Iron Duke Pyrites, Turkish Minerals and Washington Mills among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.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:
Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market 2017 Leading Growth Drivers, Emerging Audience, Segments, Sales, Profits & Analysis

Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market

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Market Highlights: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.The Global Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market is growing rapidly over 5.51% of CAGR and is expected to reach at USD 7595.8 million by the end of forecast period 2022.Major Key Players: Cadence Design Systems Mentor Graphics Synopsys Agilent Keysight Agnisys Aldec Ansys JEDA Technologies MunEDA Sigrity ZukenRequest a Sample Report @Global Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market SegmentationThe global Cloud Electronic Design Automation market has been segmented on the basis of type, application and region. On the basis of type, the market is classified into the market is fragmented into CAE, SIP (semiconductor intellectual property), IC Physical Design and Verification, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Multi-chip Module (MCM). By application, the market is categorized into Military/Defense, Aerospace, Telecom, Automotive, Industrial and others. Largest market share is acquired by the military/defense application segment.Market Research Analysis:Regional analysis for global Cloud Electronic Design Automation market is studied in different geographic regions as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of world. The study reveals that United States would dominate the global Cloud Electronic Design Automation market as United States shows a very strong growth in the electronics industry.However, growing semiconductor industry in China has expected China to hamper the Cloud Electronic Design Automation market growth in coming future. China is projected to grow with approximately 6.11% CAGR during the forecast period.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 Audience Investors and consultants System Integrators Government Organizations Research/Consultancy firms Technology solution providers Hardware manufacturers Semiconductor Companies IC manufacturersAccess Report Details @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview Of Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA)1.1 Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market Overview1.1.1 Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Product Scope1.2 Market Status And Outlook1.3 Global Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market Size And Analysis By Regions1.3.1 United States1.3.2 Europe1.3.3 Japan1.3.4 China1.3.5 India1.3.6 Southeast Asia1.4 Cloud Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Market by TypeContinuedList of TablesTable 1 Cloud Electronic Design Automation (Eda) Market Size (Value) By Top 5 PlayersTable 2 Cadence Design Systems: Recent DevelopmentTable 3 Mentor Graphics: Recent DevelopmentContinuedList of FiguresFigure 1 Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market Size (Usd Million) (2012-2022Figure 2 United States Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market Size (Usd Million) Figure 3 Europe States Cloud Electronic Design Automation Market Size (Usd Million) (2012-2022)ContinuedAbout 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 FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Sodium Gluconate Market to Record an Exponential CAGR by 2021

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Sodium gluconate is a salt of gluconic acid. It is a white powder, odorless and soluble in water. Sodium gluconate is used as chelating agent in various applications such as cement, alumina dyeing and plating industries. Sodium gluconate is also used as a surface cleaning agent. It is an effective sequestrant for magnesium, iron, aluminum, copper and calcium. It is used as a softener in water treatment.Request For Report Sample:The market for sodium gluconate was mainly driven by construction and industrial sector. Sodium gluconate is also used in textile industry in degreasing and cleaning fibers, sequestrant for metal ions. It can be used as retardant and plasticizer in construction industry. Sodium gluconate is used in treatment of metallic surfaces, aluminum etching and metal degreasing among other. Construction sector can provide major opportunities for sodium gluconate in near the future. However, higher manufacturing costs can be major restraint for the market in upcoming years.In terms of demand, Asia Pacific was the leading region in the sodium gluconate market. The demand is high due to the huge demand from construction industry. China is one of the major producer and consumer for sodium gluconate and is expected to be the same in near future. India and Japan are likely to exhibit more demand for sodium gluconate across the forecast period. Asia Pacific was followed by North America. The market for sodium gluconate is huge from metal cleaning and textile market. Europe market is anticipated to grow and is likely to show greater demand in upcoming years owing to huge demand for sodium gluconate from various manufacturing sectors. The Rest of the World market is likely to potential market for sodium gluconate in next few years.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Some of the key manufacturers in the sodium gluconate market are Akzo Noble N.V, BASF SE, Cargill Incorporated, Kemira Oyj, Lanxess AG, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation and The Dow Chemical Company among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.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 Waterproof Connectors Market Industry Overview, Trends and Growth Opportunities Forecasted till 2022

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added a new report to its vast online database. This research study is titled as Global Waterproof Connectors Market 2017 which presents an in-depth study about the production, consumption, market volume, revenue (million USD) and market share across different geographical regions.ssWaterproof Connector is a device for joining electrical circuits together with the function of waterproof. We focus on the Panel Sealed and Totally Sealed in this report.Request For Free Sample -Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Waterproof Connectors 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.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversMolexAmphenol LTWJST Belgium NVHTP ASIA TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTDHirose Electric Co LtdMouser ElectronicsSwitchcraftChogori USANarvaSingatron GroupMARECHAL ELECTRICODS Tech.Japan Aviation Electronics IndustriesSmiths InterconnectSOURIAU - Esterline Connection TechnologiesTE CONNECTIVITY - CONNECTORSFCT electronic?Douglas Electrical Components?Ametek Interconnect TechnologiesAB ConnectorsYangtze Optical Electronic Company Ltd.?Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth 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 Type, coversPanel SealedTotally SealedMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoRadio EquipmentTactical RadiosOutdoor SensorsOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Waterproof Connectors market.Chapter 1, to describe Waterproof Connectors Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Waterproof Connectors, with sales, revenue, and price of Waterproof Connectors, 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 Waterproof Connectors, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, 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, Waterproof Connectors market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Waterproof Connectors sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceBrowse Full Report With TOC -Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Waterproof Connectors Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Panel Sealed1.2.2 Totally Sealed1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Radio Equipment1.3.2 Tactical Radios1.3.3 Outdoor Sensors1.3.4 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Molex2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Molex Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Amphenol LTW2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Amphenol LTW Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 JST Belgium NV2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 JST Belgium NV Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 HTP ASIA TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 HTP ASIA TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Hirose Electric Co Ltd2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Hirose Electric Co Ltd Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Mouser Electronics2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Mouser Electronics Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Switchcraft2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Switchcraft Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Chogori USA2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Chogori USA Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Narva2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Waterproof Connectors Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Narva Waterproof Connectors Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 Singatron GroupContinue..Enquire About this Report -About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Details:90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free : 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email : press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite :Read Industry News at -
Construction in China Market 2017 - Current and Future Plans

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SynopsisIn real terms, the Chinese construction industrys output contracted by 0.8% in 2015, following an average annual growth of 8.9% during the preceding four years. Weak economic conditions, low global commodity prices, poor fixed-capital investments, high debt-to-GDP ratios and low investment in real estate contributed to this decline.According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the real estate investment growth rate reached 1.0% in 2015, the lowest level since 2011. This was preceded by annual growth of 10.5%, 19.8% and 16.3% in 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Over the forecast period (20162020), the Chinese construction industry is expected to grow more slowly than during the review period (20112015), due to poor economic growth. However, expected expansion in the industry over the forecast period will be driven by investment in public infrastructure and renewable energy, and improvements in consumer and investor confidence.Government flagship programs such as the 13th Five-Year Plan (20162020), the National New-Type Urbanization Plan (20142020), social housing programs, Chinas 20162020 Energy Plan and Free Trade Zones (FTZ) schemes are expected to support growth over the forecast period.The industrys output value is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.12% in real terms over the forecast period to 2020; down from 6.15% during the review period.SummaryConstruction in China  Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Chinese construction industry, including: The Chinese construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity Analysis of equipment, material and service costs for each project type in China Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, and the risks and opportunities they present to participants in the Chinese construction industry Profiles of the leading operators in the Chinese construction industry Data highlights of the largest construction projects in ChinaScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in China It provides: Historical (2011-2015) and forecast (2016-2020) valuations of the construction industry in China using construction output and value-add methods Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by project type Breakdown of values within each project type, by type of activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by type of cost (materials, equipment and services) Analysis of key construction industry issues, including regulation, cost management, funding and pricing Detailed profiles of the leading construction companies in ChinaReasons to Buy Identify and evaluate market opportunities using standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies. Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts. Understand the latest industry and market trends. Formulate and validate strategy using critical and actionable insight. Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures. Evaluate competitive risk and success factors.Key Highlights The Chinese construction industrys growth rate is slowing in line with the countrys broader economic slowdown. According to the NBS, the construction industrys value add at current prices grew by 3.7%, increasing in value from CNY4.5 trillion (US$732.5 billion) in 2014 to CNY4.7 trillion (US$739.8 billion) in 2015. Rapid urbanization and the growing working population have elevated demand for a fast and convenient transport system. Consequently, the government is investing heavily in expanding the countrys rail network and high-speed railways; the government plans to invest CNY2.8 trillion (US$438.0 billion) in railway projects over 20162020. The government also plans to increase the length of high-speed railway lines from 19,000km in 2015 to 30,000km by 2020. To improve regional trade, the government plans to connect China with European and Asian countries through adequate transport infrastructure under the One Belt, One Road plan. As part of this plan, in 2015, the government announced plans to invest CNY5.5 trillion (US$900 billion) to construct the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road. In the same year, the government announced plans to spend CNY124.4 billion (US$20.0 billion) on the construction of a 3,218km high-speed rail network from China to Tehran. The governments focus on affordable houses is expected to support the residential construction market growth over the forecast period. Under the National New-Type Urbanization Plan (20142020), the government plans to build new urban cities with social houses to accommodate 100 million rural migrants by 2020 and 250 million by 2025. The government is upgrading the power grid transmission infrastructure across the country in order to reduce electricity waste in transmission and distribution, as well as to increase efficiency. Accordingly, in 2015, it announced plans to invest CNY2.3 trillion (US$315.0 billion) to construct new power grids, and increase the length of the high-voltage network to 1 million km and medium-voltage network to 4 million km in the country by 202Table of Content: Key Points1 Executive Summary2 Industry Outlook2.1 Commercial Construction2.2 Industrial Construction2.3 Infrastructure Construction2.4 Energy and Utilities Construction2.5 Institutional Construction2.6 Residential Construction3 Key Issues and Developments4 Market Data Analysis4.1 Construction Output and Value Add4.2 Commercial Construction4.3 Industrial Construction4.4 Infrastructure Construction4.5 Energy and Utilities ConstructionContinuedACCESS 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
Virgin Coconut Oil Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022

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This report studies Virgin Coconut Oil in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa, focuses on the top 5 Virgin Coconut Oil Players in each region, with sales, price, revenue and market share for top 5 manufacturer, coveringRequest a Sample Report @NMK HOLDINGS PRIVATE LIMITEDGreenville Agro CorporationP.T. Harvard CocoproNaturocaSUN BIO NATURALS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITEDCelebesSakthi ExportsNATURE PACIFIC PTY LTDCocomateManchiee De CocoKKP IndustryGenius Nature Herbs Pvt LtdKeratechHarin Bio-Tech International Private LimitedMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales, revenue, market share of top 5 players in these regions, from 2012 to 2017 (forecast), likeNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Korea)Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia etc.South America (Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina)Middle East and Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia)Split by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided intoVirgin Coconut OilExtra Virgin Coconut OilSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Virgin Coconut Oil in each application, can be divided intoFood and Major Clients (Buyers) ListMedicine and Major Clients (Buyers) ListBeauty and cosmetics and Major Clients (Buyers) ListAccess Complete Report @Table of Contents2017 Top 5 Virgin Coconut Oil Manufacturers/Players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa1 Virgin Coconut Oil Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Virgin Coconut Oil1.2 Virgin Coconut Oil Segment by Types1.2.1 Global Sales Market Share of Virgin Coconut Oil by Types in 20151.2.2 Virgin Coconut Oil1.2.3 Extra Virgin Coconut Oil1.3 Virgin Coconut Oil Segment by Applications1.3.1 Virgin Coconut Oil Consumption Market Share by Applications in 20151.3.2 Food and Major Clients (Buyers) List1.3.3 Medicine and Major Clients (Buyers) List1.3.4 Beauty and cosmetics and Major Clients (Buyers) List1.4 Virgin Coconut Oil Market by Regions1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Asia-Pacific Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Middle East and Africa Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Virgin Coconut Oil (2012-2022)2 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue (value) and Market Share by Players2.1 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 2016 by Players2.2 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share by Players in 2015 and 20162.3 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Average Price by Players in 2015 and 20162.4 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types by Players2.5 Virgin Coconut Oil Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Virgin Coconut Oil Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Virgin Coconut Oil Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Players2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue (Value) by Regions, Type and Application (2012-2017)3.1 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)3.1.1 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)3.1.2 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)3.2 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)3.2.1 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.2.2 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.2.3 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Price by Type (2012-2017)3.3 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)3.4 Global Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 North America Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue and Price4.1 North America Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20164.1.1 North America Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 20164.1.2 North America Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20164.2 North America Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)4.2.1 North America Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2.2 North America Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2.3 North America Virgin Coconut Oil Price by Type (2012-2017)4.3 North America Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)4.4 North America Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Country (US, Canada and Mexico) (2012-2017)4.5 North America Virgin Coconut Oil Import & Export (2012-2017)5 Europe Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue and Price5.1 Europe Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20165.1.1 Europe Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 20165.1.2 Europe Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20165.2 Europe Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)5.2.1 Europe Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2.2 Europe Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2.3 Europe Virgin Coconut Oil Price by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Europe Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)5.4 Europe Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia) (2012-2017)5.5 Europe Virgin Coconut Oil Import & Export (2012-2017)6 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue and Price6.1 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20166.1.1 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 20166.1.2 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20166.2 Asia-Pacific Virgin Coconut Oil Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)6.2.1 Asia-Pacific Virgin Coconut Oil Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)6.2.2 Asia-Pacific Virgin Coconut Oil Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)6.2.3 Asia-Pacific Virgin Coconut Oil Price by Type (2012-2017)ContinuedPurchase Report @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Gummy Vitamins Rosin Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2017 - 2025

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Vitamin is an organic substance that forms an integral part of an organisms basic needs. They are a group of constituents that is needed for proper functioning of cells as well as their development and growth. They are usually consumed in case of any inefficiency in the body. Gummy vitamins are vitamin enriched medicines that come in the form of candies. The global gummy vitamins market is segmented on the basis of product type, form and age.By product type the global gummy vitamins market is segregated into multi vitamin and single vitamin products. Single vitamin products are further segmented into calcium, fish oil, vitamin B -complex, C, D, multi + omega-3 and energy B12 among others. Vitamin B-complex is the dominant type of single vitamin in the market. Multi vitamin products can be further segmented into vitamin K, D2 or D3, E, A, biotin, B12, B9, B6, B5, B3, B2 and B1 among other constituents. Multivitamins are designed on the basis of age and gender based on specific nutritional requirements of individuals such as multivitamin for men contains less iron and multivitamins for senior citizens contain more vitamin D.Request For Report Brochure@On the basis of form, the global gummy vitamins market is segmented into capsule, tablet, chewable and others. Capsule is the leading product in this segment and is expected to grow at a significant growth rate throughout the forecast period. Chewable is forecasted to have the fastest growth rate owing to the convenience of consumption of the products.Furthermore, the market for gummy vitamins is segmented on the basis of age into adult and child gummy vitamins. Adult gummy vitamins is the dominant segment as it is used for immune problems, low bone strength and vitamin deficiency among others.Major drivers driving the global gummy vitamins market include huge application in the pharmaceuticals and food industry. With growth in nutrition consciousness among consumers and doctors subscribing vitamin supplements to their patients is increasing demand and is driving the market in a positive way. In addition, growing health concerns among children and lack of nutrition among them is driving the global gummy vitamins market in a positive way. Gummy vitamins for children help in the bone growth of the children adding on to nutritional content in the body. Consumers opting for natural alternative is a major restraint to the global market for gu mmy vitamins. Untapped markets of Middle East and Africa and Latin America can prove to be great opportunities for the growth of the global gummy vitamins market.Geographically, the global gummy vitamins market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America is the most prominent region of the global market. Asia Pacific is forecasted to witness the maximum growth rate owing to increasing health concerns among consumers in this region. Countries such as China, India and Japan are forecasted to grow exponentially owing to improved lifestyle and better awareness about nutritional deficiencies. Countries in Middle East and Africa are also forecasted to have a high annual growth rate owing to increased penetration by global players in this region.Visit For TOC@Major players of the global gummy vitamins market include, ABH Labs, LLC (New York, U.S.), Aktiv Organic Limited ( Berkshire, U.K.), Ferrara Candy Company ( Illinois, U.S.), Gemini Pharmaceuticals (New York, U.S.), Gimbal's Gummy Vitamins (San Francisco, U.S.), Life Science Nutritionals Inc (Quebec, Canada), Lonza Group (Basel, Switzerland), Makers Nutrition, LLC. (New York, U.S.), Nature's Bounty, Inc. (New York, U.S.), Nature's Products, Inc. (Florida, U.S.), Northwest Natural Products Inc. (Washington, U.S), Nutra Solutions USA ((New York, U.S.) and Vitakem Nutraceutical Inc. (New York, U.S.) among others.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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.90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
LTE for Critical Communications: Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts, 2016 - 2030

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "LTE for Critical Communications: Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts, 2016 - 2030" to its huge collection of research reports.For years, the critical communications industry has relied on narrowband LMR (Land Mobile Radio) networks for mission-critical voice and basic data services. Due to the bandwidth limitations of these LMR networks, public safety agencies and other users within the critical communications industry are keen to leverage commercial cellular network technologies to support growing demands for mobile broadband services such as video transmission and bandwidth-intensive field applications.Considering its thriving ecosystem, spectrum flexibility and performance metrics, LTE has emerged as the leading candidate for critical communications broadband networks. In addition, with the recent approval of the MCPTT (Mission Critical Push to Talk) voice standard as part of 3GPP Release 13, LTE has also become an attractive substitute for providing LMR-like voice services.As a result, a growing number of critical communications organizations are deploying either private LTE networks or contracting commercial LTE mobile operator services via MVNO arrangements to complement their existing LMR systems with broadband capabilities.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Driven by early investments in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, the market for critical communications LTE networks is already worth $600 Million in annual infrastructure spending. Fueled by large-scale rollouts in the public safety, energy and other sectors, the market is further expected to surpass $2 Billion by the end of 2020. This includes spending on base stations (eNBs), mobile core and transport networking gear.Spanning over 1,200 pages, the LTE for Critical Communications: 2016  2030  Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts report package encompasses three comprehensive reports covering both commercial and dedicated LTE networks for critical communications.The LTE, LTE-Advanced & 5G Ecosystem: 2016  2030  Infrastructure, Devices, Operator Services, Verticals, Strategies & ForecastsThe Private LTE Network Ecosystem: 2016  2030  Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals & ForecastsThe Public Safety LTE & Mobile Broadband Market: 2016  2030  Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & ForecastsBrowse TOC @This report package provides an in-depth assessment of LTE for critical communications and also explores the wider market for commercial LTE services. Besides analyzing technologies, architectural components, operational models, key trends, market drivers, challenges, vertical market opportunities, applications, deployment case studies, spectrum allocation, standardization, regulatory landscape, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies, the report package also provides infrastructure investment forecasts from 2016 till 2030.The report package comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report package.Topics Covered:The report package covers the following topics:Commercial LTE NetworksLTE/LTE-Advanced technology and market status5G technology and R&D commitmentsMarket drivers and barriersTCO comparison with legacy technologiesLTE/5G infrastructure, devices, subscriptions and service revenueInfrastructure and device vendor shareAntenna systems, RAN, mobile core, backhaul and fronthaul deployment strategiesMobile operator reviews, service models, pricing strategies and LTE/5G deployment case studiesUnlicensed LTE, VoLTE, RCS, eMBMS and M2M servicesIndustry roadmap and value chainProfiles and strategies of over 90 ecosystem players including infrastructure OEMs, device OEMs and mobile operatorsMarket analysis and forecasts from 2016 till 2030Dedicated LTE Networks for Critical CommunicationsCritical communications LTE ecosystemMarket drivers and barriersTechnology, architectural components and operational modelsAnalysis of vertical markets, applications and key trendsCase studies of over 20 critical communications LTE network deploymentsReview of spectrum allocation for critical communications LTE networksRegulatory landscape and standardizationIndustry roadmap and value chainProfiles and strategies of over 200 ecosystem players including infrastructure OEMs, device OEMs and system integratorsStrategic recommendations for enterprises, public safety agencies, LTE infrastructure OEMs, system integrators and mobile operatorsMarket analysis and forecasts from 2016 till 2030Key Questions Answered:The report package provides answers to the following key questions:How big is the critical communications LTE opportunity?How big is the wider market for LTE, LTE-Advanced and 5G networks?What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?How is the ecosystem evolving by segment and region?What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow?Which submarkets will see the highest percentage of growth?How does standardization impact the adoption of LTE for critical communications?When will MCPTT (Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk) and proximity services see large-scale proliferation?What opportunities exist for commercial mobile operators and MVNOs in the critical communications market?Will LTE replace GSM-R and other legacy technologies for railway communications and applications?Which spectrum band will be the most dominant choice for critical communications LTE network deployments?Is there a market for 400 MHz LTE networks?What are the prospects of tactical, vehicle-mounted and airborne LTE eNB platforms?How can public safety agencies leverage unused spectrum resources to fund private LTE networks?Who are the key market players and what are their strategies?What strategies should system integrators and vendors adopt to remain competitive?List of Companies Mentioned3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project)5G-PPPAaeonAbu Dhabi PoliceAccelerated ConceptsAccelleranAceAxisACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority)AculabAbout 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 @
Water Market Progresses for Huge Profits During 2015 to 2021

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Water mater provides waste water services and drinking water to commercial, residential and industrial sectors. On the basis of ownership the industry is classified as local government, national government, private ownership and cooperatives. On the basis of application, the water market is classified as utilities, bottled water, irrigation equipment, industrial water and point of use equipment among others. Utilities are the leading application for the water market.Request For Report Sample:The market for water was mainly driven by utilities sector majorly from manufacturing sectors. There is huge demand for water from various manufacturing industries. In addition, the demand is huge from packaged drinking water sector owing to poor water quality and scarcity of water in some regions. The demand for water is also huge from agricultural and energy sector. Scarcity of water has lead to lower crop yield in some of the regions. Poor water quality and quantity issues and scarcity of water can be major restraints for the global water market. However, environmental regulations and government initiatives are likely to provide more opportunities for the growth of the water market in the near future.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):In terms of demand, Asia Pacific is the leading region for water market. The demand is huge owing to the huge manufacturing activities coupled with growing population in this part of the world. Additionally, national governments in countries such as China, India and Japan are taking initiatives for urbanization and water treatment process. The demand from North America, South America and European countries market is also substantial owing to increased demand from bottled water and utility sector. The Rest of the World is likely to exhibit huge demand for water especially, the Middle East and North Africa where there is major issue of poor water quality.Some of the key providers in the water market are SUEZ Environment, United Utilities, ITT, American Water, Nalco Corporation, Siemens water technology, and Danaher among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.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:
Good Growth Opportunities in Global Military Body-Worn Camera Market till 2017 - 2025

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Body worn cameras are the video recording system that are usually utilized by the law enforcement and military personnel to record interactions with the public or to accumulate video evidences at different situations. These are the closed circuit television that comprises of a camera, a microphone and an internal data storage allowing the video and audio to be analyzed and stored with compatible software. These cameras are small in size and are clipped on the uniform, glass integrated, button pinhole, mounted on the helmet, and clipped on the holster depending on the mission type that is undertaken.Auto recording body worn cameras are cameras with several storing and data sharing facilities and these cameras are integrated into eyewear which is an important trend in the global military body worn camera market. Cameras integrated into eyewear is an important trend in this market since they are much convenient and are not visible to other persons.Request For Report Brochure@The military body worn camera market is primarily driven by the increasing need for accountability and transparency of the police conduct. Another important driver in this market is that it supports military training and operations. Use of body worn cameras by security guards and transit security is also bolstering the demand of military body worn cameras in the global market during the forecast period.High cost of these body worn cameras is one of the most important factors setting back the growth of military body worn cameras in the global market. Due to this factor, penetration of this product is less globally, especially in the developing regions. Another important restraining factor in this market is the continuous operation of these cameras leads to wear out of the product quickly which is unfavorable for the market growth.The military body worn camera market is bifurcated based on end user into defense sector and homeland security sector. The homeland security market accounted for the highest market revenue share in 2016 and is likely to continue to lead the market during the forecast period. The homeland security consists of law enforcement agencies such as crime investigators, traffic police, security officers, guards, city police force and intelligence gathering departments. These departments work with the police department on a regular basis and are essential to gather and safeguard evidence to support claims. Additionally, numerous law enforcement agencies across the globe have been taking initiatives to reinforce public confidence in police forces and to increase the communication between the public and police that is likely to head to the increased acceptance of military body-worn camera over the next couple of years. Based on components, the market is bifurcated into cameras, sensors, microphones, battery, and data storage among others.The geographical split of the market comprises of North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America held the highest market revenue share followed by Europe and Asia Pacific.The global military body-worn camera market is very competitive with the existence of numerous regional and multinational players. The multinational players proposes heterogeneous services and products like tailored products according to the necessity of clients and the nature of duties. With varying requirements in the defense and security sector, the market is experiencing a growing demand for newer technologies and products. The consequent increase in security needs and the growing global urban population is likely to have a positive influence on the progress of the market in the coming years. The vendors are likely to register a significant increase in the demand for their services and products.Visit For TOC@Some of the major players in the global military body worn camera market are Digital Ally, VIEVU, GoPro,Wolfcom, B-Cam, TASER International, Black Mamba Protection, Martel Electronics BODYCAM, and Reveal Media among others.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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.90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Analytics as a Service Market Global Trends, Key Vendors Analysis, Import & Export, Revenue by Forecast 2022

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Market Scenario:The major growth driver of Analytics as a service Market includes growing mobile device market for analytics, increasing investment of organizations in analytics as a service to keep focus on analyzing business data, and rising adoption of cloud based services among others.Hence the market for Analytics as a service Market is expected to grow at high CAGR (2016-2022).However, threat to data security and complex workflow process are some of the factors which are hindering the growth of Analytics as a service Market.Major Key Players: IBM Corporation (U.S.) Oracle Corporation (U.S.) Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (U.S.) Google Inc.(U.S.) Amazon (U.S.) EMC Corporation (U.S.) Hitachi, Ltd.(Japan) SAS Institute (U.S.) Good data Corporation (U.S.) Cloudera, Inc. (U.S.)Request a Sample Report @Objective Study of Analytics as a Service Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global Analytics as a service Market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To Analyze the Analytics as a service Market based on various factors- porters five force analysis, mega trend analysis, macroeconomic indicators 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 by type, by applications, by deployment 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 market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global Analytics as a service Market.Segments Global Analytics as a service Market can be segmented as follows: Segmentation by Type: Predictive analytics, Prescriptive analytics and descriptive analytics among others. Segmentation by Applications: Retail, Government, Healthcare, Energy, Manufacturing, Telecommunications and Banking & Finance among others. Segmentation by Deployment: Public, Private, and HybridRegional Analysis of Analytics as a Service Market:North-America is dominating the Global Analytics as a service Market with the largest market share in the region, and therefore accounting for a million and is expected to grow over high billion by 2022.Industry News: SAS Institute has designed a new open cloud architecture called SAS Viya in April 2016. The new design would provide help in high performance analytics and visualization and fulfill the business needs. Good data Corporation has announced its extended partnership with Zendesk Insights in year 2015. Zendesk has extended its partnership to provide its consumers with user-friendly tools, to support entire Zendesk customer community.Americas North America US Canada Latin AmericaEurope Western Europe Germany France Italy Spain U.K Rest of Western Europe Eastern EuropeBrowse Full Report Details @Asia Pacific Asia China India Japan South KoreaTable of Contents1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure: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 Solutions, Application, Logistics 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 FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Mobile Data Monitoring (MDM) Market Trends And Forecast, 2014  2020 | Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, InfoVista S.A., Anritsu, Nokia Siemens Networks, Tektronix Communications

Mobile Data Monitoring (MDM) Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Mobile Data Monitoring (MDM) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast, 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Mobile Data Monitoring (MDM) is a software application used to monitor the performance parameters such as data transfer speed and usage of mobile data devices. It helps the user to monitor signal strength of mobile data device and the amount of data that is transferred to other users. These applications are free to download from the internet for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The latest MDM applications enable monitoring of data usage across specific time periods and by specific applications, so as to track for the applications that use maximum data. In addition, these applications display clear details about data upload and download speeds over the internet. Mobile data monitoring has an illustrative user interface that displays graphically the data usage on mobile devices and alerts about its threshold limit. Thus, it becomes easy for users to choose suitable data plans depending upon the requirements so as to reduce and manage the data usage.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The Mobile Data Monitoring market can be segmented on the basis of end-use devices such as mobile phones, tablets, computers and other devices capable of creating digital surveys of data usage. These software applications provide real time information about data usage and are non-interfering as they operate in the background. These applications are used to gauge the performance parameters such as signal strength and speed of 2G, 3G and 4G telecommunication networks.Mobile Data Monitoring market finds applications for data monitoring in mobile phones users, domestic internet connections and for servers in organizations. MDM applications are extensively used in smart phones due to increasing explosion of data through the internet. It becomes easy for the users to constantly monitor their data usage and avoid abrupt charges due to excessive use. In an organization, employees connect to the corporate domain or network through Wi-Fi connections. Therefore it is essential for the employer to monitor the usage of data to keep a tab on official data sharing so as to avoid any misuse of data and connection. The MDM application stores complete details about the amount of information sent and received by database followed by duration of every session and speed of data transfer.Apart from the information about signal strength, this application can also detect country and network codes along with the identity of the operator. It is also able to read data about radio access provided by mobile service providers. For domestic broadband internet connections, MDM provides complete information about the amount of data used/left on the portal of service provider. In latest MDM applications, the access to internet is automatically cut down or speed is reduced once the user crosses the data usage limit.MDM is majorly used for data monitoring in cases where there is security risk involved or where the services are available on a chargeable basis. Increasing adoption of smartphones, Big Data services, Long-Term Evolution (LTE) deployment and Over the Top (OTT) applications are expected to generate tremendous demand for MDM applications in near future. In addition, communication service providers are investing in MDM applications to ensure positive user experience and avoid customer dissatisfaction. Furthermore, growing adoption of Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) is expected to create healthy demand for MDM application in next few years.Some of the major companies in the Mobile Data Monitoring market include Alcatel-Lucent, Compuware Corporation, Ericsson, InfoVista S.A., Anritsu, Nokia Siemens Networks and Tektronix Communications among others. Furthermore, Astellia, Empirix, JDSU, Polystar, NetScout, RADCOM Ltd. and others are some of the players in the market.Make an Enquiry of this report @This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report include- North America- Asia Pacific- Europe- Rest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis of- Market growth drivers- Factors limiting market growth- Current market trends- Market structure- Market projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this Report- This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics- It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth- It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow- It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future- It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors- It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments- It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsBrowse Detail Report @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 @
Winners celebrate at Maximizers annual partner conference

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Maximizer host annual conference and partner awards ceremonyMaximizer, Bracknell, United Kingdom, 16 November 2017  During a terrific two days Maximizer Software, a leading CRM solutions provider, hosted their annual partner awards. The event saw five prestigious awards being presented to celebrate the efforts and achievements of Maximizers longstanding business partners.Taking place over two days it was a great opportunity for Maximizer to not only reward their valuable partners, but also to invite industry thought leaders to shed light on the big changes in the market. Richard Wood, Managing Director at Yomp Marketing, Dave Davies, Director at Sandler Thames Valley and Anthony Young, Partner at Bridewell Consulting all came along to share their views on customer growth and retention, lead generation as well as the highly anticipated GDPR.The winners of each category were:For The Best Customer Retention - this years award went to JI Software for having achieved great success in gaining a 98.5% customer retention rate over the last 12 months.For Partner of the Year - this years award went to Avrion for achieving the highest revenue contribution within the EMEA region over the last 12 months.For Highest Percentage Growth - this years award went to Adafi for achieving the highest percentage of growth across the EMEA partner network.For Most Subscribers - this years award went to Camsoft Solutions for achieving the highest level of subscribers across the EMEA region over the last 12 months.For Best Customer Success Story this years award also went to Camsoft Solutions for showing consistently pro-active customer engagement and satisfaction as reflected by customer feedback.Mike Richardson, Managing Director EMEA at Maximizer Software, comments: our annual 2 day partner event is an excellent opportunity to update our partners on latest additions to the Maximizer solution and to network, as well as for us to acknowledge their efforts and achievements. Covering product insights (including software updates), APIs, future business plans as well as available partner marketing support and sales, it also provides the opportunity to invite guest speakers to shed light on industry developments.---end---For further press information, please contact Sarah Nurgat at ThoughtSpark on:+44 (0)207 402 0510sarah@thoughtsparkagency.comAbout Maximizer SoftwareSince 1987 Maximizer has been fuelling the growth of businesses around the world. Our CRM solutions come fully loaded with the core Sales, Marketing and Service functionality companies need to optimise sales productivity, accelerate marketing and improve customer service. With flexible on-premise, our cloud and your cloud deployment options, tailored-to-fit configurability, state-of-the-art security infrastructure and anywhere/anytime mobile access, Maximizer is the affordable CRM solution of choice. The general Maximizer solution is highly customisable, while the Wealth Management Edition is an industry-specific application configured to meet the precise needs of financial advisors. From offices in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and AsiaPac, and a worldwide network of certified business partners, Maximizer has shipped over one million licenses to more than 120,000 customers worldwide.For more information, please visit:1 The Courtyard, Eastern RoadBracknell, Berkshire RG12 2XBUnited Kingdom
Niche Tourism Market 2017- Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Research Report 2017

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Niche TourismSummary"Consumer Trends: Niche Tourism", report draws on the expertise of consumer panel of respondents to provide opinion and insight about the key drivers of booking trends & behaviors. This reports highlights niche tourism preferences amongst outbound tourists.Despite the popularity of food and health & wellness tourism, consumers still prefer to relax and go to the beach while on holiday. Relaxation (76%) sun & beach holidays (65%), city breaks (60%) and cultural trips (57%) are the most picked options when it comes to reasons to book a holiday. Religious tourism is the least picked option with 22% of all respondents either somewhat likely or extremely likely to book a holiday for this purpose.The total number of international arrivals into the US dropped by 1.1% in 2016 to 76.6 million (77.5 million in 2015), mainly caused by the strong dollar which made it less attractive for foreigners to visit the country. The US saw less visitors from Europe, which was down 4% in comparison to 2015. However, growth is predicted in almost every US state in terms of international visitors over the next five years.What else does this report offer?- Detailed market analysis, information and insights- Historic and forecast tourist volumes and values covering Germanys outbound tourism sector- Detailed analysis of tourist spending patterns for various categories in the travel and tourism sector, such as purpose of spending and top source markets.- Detailed analysis of the market trends in the Germanys outbound tourism sector.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Despite the popularity of food and health & wellness tourism, consumers still prefer to relax and go to the beach while on holidayRelaxation (76%) , sun & beach holidays (65%), city breaks (60%) and cultural trips (57%) are the most picked options when it comes to reasons to book a holiday. Religious tourism is the least picked option with 22% of all respondents either somewhat likely or extremely likely to book a holiday for this purposeCity breaks are favored by Central & South Americans (67%), while Europe and North America score below average when it comes to city breaks. Chinese tourists are the most likely to book a city break with 79% of all respondents either somewhat likely or extreme likely to bookTurkish citizens are one of the nationalities that are most interested in cultural trips with 68% of all respondents either somewhat or extremely likely to book a holiday for cultural reason. This should be good news for European tourism boards once visa-free travel for Turkish citizens within the EU is finalizedFood tourism is extremely popular amongst Asian tourists, where (55%) of all respondents are likely to book a holiday for culinary reasons. Social media is an very important tool for tourism boards that want to promote their local cuisine to touristsFor 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
Wireless Sensor Market is Projected to Reach at a CAGR of 19% in the given forecast Period

Wireless Sensor Market

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The Global Wireless Sensor Market is expected to exceed more than USD XX Million by 2022 at a CAGR of 19% in the given forecast period.You Can Browse Full Report here:The Global Wireless Sensor Market is segmented on the lines of its product, End-user and regional. Based on product type segmentation it covers Temperature sensors, Pressure sensors, Level sensors, Flow sensors, Humidity sensors, Biosensors, Gas sensors, Surveillance and security sensors, Motion and Positioning sensors and Other wireless sensors. Based on end-user it covers Industrial, Energy, Agriculture, Defense, Medical, Office & Residential Users and Others. Global Wireless Sensor Market on geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geographic market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.The Global Wireless Sensor Market has been segmented as below:By Product Type: Temperature sensors Pressure sensors Level sensors Flow sensors Humidity sensors Biosensors Gas sensors Surveillance and security sensors Motion and Positioning sensors Other wireless sensorsBy End-user Type: Industrial Energy Agriculture Defense Medical Office & Residential Users OthersBy Regional Analysis: North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the WorldThis report provides:1) An overview of the global market for Global Wireless Sensor Market and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for devices Global Wireless Sensor Market.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.Request Sample Report:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of Global Wireless Sensor Market with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.Table of Contents1 INTRODUCTION2 Research Methodology3 Executive Summary4 Premium Insights5 Market Overview5.1 Introduction5.2 Market Dynamics5.2.1 Drivers5.2.1.1 Increasing Demand for Remote Monitoring5.2.1.2 Growing Market for Smart Devices and Wearable Devices5.2.2 Restraints5.2.2.1 Privacy and Security Concerns5.2.2.2 Difficulty in Standardization of Wireless Sensor Network5.2.3 Opportunities5.2.3.1 Growth in the Adoption of Wsn Across Smbs5.2.3.2 Growing Adoption of Smart Technologies and Distributed Applications5.2.3.3 Predictive Maintenance5.2.4 Challenges5.2.4.1 Limited Power Source5.3 Value Chain Analysis5.3.1 Core Industry Segments5.3.1.1 Research and Development5.3.1.2 Component Manufacturers5.3.1.3 System Integrators5.3.1.4 Distribution, Marketing, and Sales5.3.1.5 End-User Industries6 Wireless Sensor Network Market, By Offering7 Wireless Sensor Network Market, By Sensor Type8 Wireless Sensor Network Market, By Connectivity Type9 Wireless Sensor Network Market, By End-User Industry10 Geographic Analysis11 Competitive Landscape12 Company Profiles12.1 Introduction12.2 Intel Corporation12.3 Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.12.4 Dell Incorporation12.5 Texas Instruments Inc.12.6 Cisco Systems Inc.12.7 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.12.8 NXP Semiconductors N.V.12.9 Stmicroelectronics N.V.12.10 TE Connectivity Ltd.12.11 Advantech Co., Ltd.12.12 ABB Ltd.12.13 Honeywell International Inc.12.14 Broadcom Limited12.15 Srobert Bosch GmbH12.16 Eurotech S.P.A12.17 Invensense, Inc.12.18 Infineon Technologies AG12.19 Analog Devices, Inc.12.20 Emerson Electric Company12.21 Sensirion AG12.22 Start-Up Ecosystem12.22.1 Episensor Ltd.12.22.2 Notion12.22.3 Helium Systems Inc.12.22.4 Beep Inc.12.22.5 Smartthings, Inc.About UsMarket Research Engine (MRE) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. MREs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each Market Research Engines research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market Size and Analysis by Leading Manufacturers with Application and Types 2017-2022

Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market

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A complete overview of the Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride MarketThe Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market report introduces the competitive scenario of the significant market players in light of the business revenue, client requests, organization profile; the business strategies utilized as a part of Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market advertise which will help the developing business sector portions in settling on fundamental business choices.This report studies Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, India with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions and forecast to 2022.Ask for Sample Copy of Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market Report @The presence of numerous applications likely to act as the key driving force behind the growth of this market in the near future. Developed regions are anticipated to witness progress in the global Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride market. This market reports also offers dynamic key features of the opportunities that can gear up the demand in the market.A competitive analysis of this global market has also been presented, wherein key market players have been thoroughly reviewed to determine the markets grading. The major players upgrading the global Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride market for the growth of consumers is mentioned in this study. This research report gives a clear image of the global Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride market to the customers so that it can help them understand this market.Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market Report focuses on top manufacturers in global market:Skyline Chemical, Muby Chemicals, Anron Chemicals, Shenzhou Chemical, Huacheng Magnesium, Longfei, Haixu Chemical, SATA, Xinda Metal MaterialAnhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market Report On the basis of product:Granules 98%, Flakes 98%, Powder 98%Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Market Report by Application:Industrial, Building Materials, Food Industry, MedicineThe examination research overall Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride grandstand covers key cash related viewpoints, thing portfolios, association graph, SWOT examination, key headways and improvements, frameworks of key players drew in with the market. The information on the level associations is mined with the help of a strong research process took after at Reports Monitor Market Research which covers the entire demand and supply condition identifying with the assorted areas analyzed already.Table of Contents1 Global Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride Capacity and Growth Rate AnalysisContinuedBrowse Full Report of Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride with Table of Contents @About 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:
Almond Butter Market Forecast By End-use Industry 2017 - 2027

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Almond butter is a food paste, made from raw or roasted almonds. Almond butter is a rich source of unsaturated fats which are heart friendly. It also contains high amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals. Along with these properties, almond butter also contains the presence of omega-3 fatty acid that makes the almond butter a complete health product. Almond butter is most commonly used as spreads on bread or dips for snacks. Almond butter is also used as breakfast treat in many recipes like granola, pancakes. Almond Butter is a hydrating, moisturizing and natural emollient making it ideal for use in massage, and it blends easily with essential oils and hence is expected to increase the revenue contribution of almond butter market.Almond Butter Market Segmentation:Based on its applications the almond butter is used in many end user industries which includes food industry and cosmetics industry. The demand for almond butter in food industry is expected to grow mainly due to its taste and nutrition. The almond butter market in cosmetics industry is expected to grow in future in various cosmetics, due to its excellent spreading ability and moisturizing effect.Request For Report Brochure@Based on the product forms available in the almond butter market, the market is segmented into two main segments such as organic and conventional. The organic segment is further sub-segmented into raw almond butter and roasted almond butter. Raw organic almond butter is unexposed to heat rendering its nutritional content unharmed. The health benefits of the almond butter are thus expected to drive the growth of this segment in the forecast period. On the other hand roasted organic almond butter which are made by dry roasting process is the most common almond butter, it provides a tastier option in the same category. This segment is therefore expected to show a steady growth in the global almond butter market. The conventional almond butter is available as a low cost product and the demand of the same is expected to rise steadily.Based on distribution channel, the global almond butter market is segmented which includes online retail, supermarkets/hypermarkets, convenience store and departmental stores. Among these, the online retail is expected to gain major revenue shares over the forecast period.Almond Butter Market Regional Outlook:On the basis of regions, the almond butter market is segmented into following key regions; North America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific and The Middle East and Africa. North America grabs the major share of global almond butter market and it is expected to grow at a steady rate. Western Europe regional market is expected to grow at a relatively higher growth rate over the forecast period.Almond butter Market Drivers and Trends:The high nutritional value of almond butter and other health benefits are some of the driving factors which are expected to grow the global almond butter market in food industry. Almond butter has high demand in several sectors and world market. Principle factor driving the global almond butter market is continuous rise in demand for peanut butter substitute products due to consumer indulgence like, availability of low cost substitutes and variety of options in speeds. Rising market demand for natural products based cosmetics and skin care products is becoming another market driver for almond butter. Its hydrating, moisturizing and natural emollient making it ideal for use in massage, it blends easily with essential oils and hence is expected to fuel the market growth of almond butter.Visit For TOC@Almond Butter Market Key Players:Almond butter is gaining acceptance at a growing rate and some of the key players participating in the global almond butter market which includes; Barney Butter, Maranatha, Futter's Nut Butters, Once Again Nut Butter, Dakini Health Foods, Edennuts, Cache Creek Foods, Justin's, Sokol & Company, The J.M. Smucker Company, Nuts'n More, Zinke Orchards, Premier Organics, California Almonds, Solstice Canyon, Prana.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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 makers90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
At A CAGR Of 42.36% Global Telecom IoT Market Will Grow During The Period 2016-2020 | AT&T, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Verizon Communications, Vodafone

Telecom IoT Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Telecom IoT Market 2016-2020" to its huge collection of research reports.The IoT is a network of physical objects that are interconnected and can communicate among themselves as well as with the internal and external environments. It connects hardware devices, software, and communication and IT services. It creates smart communication environments such as smart homes, smart shopping, smart transportation, and smart healthcare. It is an emerging ecosystem of Internet protocol (IP)-connected devices with the potential to deliver significant business benefits across varied industries and is valued at trillions of dollars in the future.Technavios analysts forecast the global telecom IoT market to grow at a CAGR of 42.36% during the period 2016-2020.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global telecom IoT market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report provides the performance and market dominance of each of the vendors in terms of experience, product portfolio, geographical presence, financial condition, R&D, and customer base.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEAGlobal Telecom IoT Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsAT&TChina MobileDeutsche TelekomEricssonVerizon CommunicationsVodafoneGet Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Other prominent vendorsAerisBT (EE)China TelecomChina UnicomHuawei TechnologiesKTMTNOrange Business ServicesRogers CommunicationsSingtelSK TelecomSprintTele2TelefnicaTelenorTeliaSoneraZTEMarket driverIncreasing demand for network capacity to access connected services.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeInsufficient backhaul capacity.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendEnhanced security and safety feature with effective monitoring technology.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse Detail Report @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 @
Comprehensive Study Of Global Food Delivery Market Along With Company Profiles Of The Leading Player

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Comprehensive Study Of Global Food Delivery Market Along With Company Profiles Of The Leading Player" to its huge collection of research reports.The term "take-out" or take-away food, describe a way of eating restaurant food outside the restaurant or a growing variety of prepared foods that consumers purchase from a food stands and drive-in locations. The delivery format, packaging, and types of food vary greatly among different locations, ranging from hamburgers to expensive gourmet, but all may be categorized as take-away food because of this off-premise consumption.Take-out food is often viewed as synonymous with fast food. The concept of take-out food and the practice of buying prepared foods for consumption elsewhere date to very old times, but the popularity have only heated up in the recent decades. Rapidly growing order-and-pay apps, third-party online ordering and delivery services make fine dining from home easier than ever and, in some cases, "dining out" a thing of the past. App-only services that deliver food from different restaurants, food trucks and joints have transformed the way food delivery was once viewed and interpreted.The key factors which are anticipated to drive this market include growing urbanization, increased usage of internet worldwide, growing household consumption expenditure and rising use of mobile internet in emerging markets. Some of the noteworthy trends of this industry include positive tailwinds in emerging markets, rapid online adoption driven by smartphone usage, high usage of online portals by youngsters and overall market consolidation. However, the growth of respective industry is challenged by seasonality of demand and difficulty for new entrants.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report provides a comprehensive study of global takeaway food delivery market and also major regional markets. Furthermore, market dynamics such as key trends and development; and challenges are analyzed in depth. The global takeaway food delivery industry is highly competitive consisting of several large enterprises including the Rocket Internet, Yelp Inc., Just Eat Plc and Grubhub. The competitive landscape of the respective market, along with the company profiles of the leading players are also discussed in detail.Table of Content1. Market Overview1.1 Introduction1.2 Methods for Food Delivery Orders1.2.1 Telephonic Orders1.2.2 Restaurants Website or App1.2.3 Online Restaurant Marketplace1.2.4 Drive-Ins1.3 Benefits of Food Delivery1.3.1 Benefits for Restaurants1.3.2 Benefits for DinersBrowse TOC @2. Takeaway Food Delivery Market Analysis2.1 Global Takeaway Food Delivery Market2.1.1 Global Food Services Market Revenue2.1.2 Global Takeaway Food Delivery Market Revenue2.1.3 Global Food Delivery Market by Platform2.1.4 Global Food Delivery Market Revenue by Country2.1.5 Global Ecommerce Revenue by Category2.2 The US Takeaway Food Delivery Market2.2.1 The US Fast Food Industry Revenue2.2.2 The US Takeaway Food Delivery Market Revenue2.2.3 The US Online Food Delivery and Pickup Revenue2.2.4 The US Ecommerce Food and Beverage Revenue2.3 UK Takeaway Food Delivery MarketAbout 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 @
Cellulose Acetate Fibers Market Intelligence with Competitive Landscape 2015 - 2021

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Cellulose acetate is the acetate ester of cellulose. It is processed from wood pulp for commercial purposes. The wood pulp is first processed using an acids known as acetic anhydride which goes on to form acetate flakes from which products are then manufactured. As this fiber is processed from wood pulp, which is a renewable source, it is biodegradable unlike other fabricated fibers. Besides wood pulp, the other technique involved in the manufacture of cellulose acetate is treating cotton with acetic acid and using sulphuric acid as the catalyst.The main applications of this fiber include its use in spectacle frames, film media, use in some coatings, synthetic fibers, cigarette filters among others. Its main use lies in the textile and cigarette-manufacturing industries as these industries are rapidly growing. The key properties of cellulose acetate fibers include high transparency, very lustrous, good toughness and a very soft and natural feel. Its biodegradable quality makes it the most wanted fiber globally. The trade name for this acetate includes Acele, Avisco, Celanese, Chromspun and Estron. This acetate has very similar properties as that of rayon and were earlier believed to be the same textile. However, the two textiles differ from each in the use of acetic acid in the production of acetate fibers. The two fabrics are now treated and used very differently. Rayon resists heat while cellulose acetate burns or melts when heated. Cellulose acetate fiber textiles should be laundered gently and either hand washed or dry cleaned. Due to its rich and smooth, satiny texture is is a good synthetic alternative to silk and is usually used in bridal clothing and other attire.Request For Report Sample:The main factors that drive the market for cellulose acetate fibers is its use in cigarette products. The demand for cigarettes is increasing rapidly for the past few years. Cellulose acetate fibres are used in the production of cigarette buds and hence the demand for this material is expected to grow rapidly in the near future. The textile industry also makes use of this fiber in the manufacturing of garments and as the material is rich, smooth and satiny, it is a cheaper alternative to silk with similar qualities. the use of this material in textile industries is expected to drive the market continually especially its use in wedding gowns as the wedding industry is also a huge multimillion industry and generates huge revenues throughout the year. This material is considered biodegradable as it is made from wood pulp. Hence more industries would prefer to use this material as a raw material in order to manufacture their end product. The end users for this market include ophthalmologists, textile industries, cigarette industries which are rapidly growing industries globally and demand for these end product is still high and is expected to grow over the next few years.The key segments for this market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. the usage of this fiber in the U.S. was the maximum for the past few years and was a mature market for this material.China follows the U.S, after which comes the rest of Asia Pacific and then Europe. The market for cellulose acetate fibers is expected to rise in Asia pacific countries as the number of textile industries is increasing and is anticipated to rise in the next few years. The demand for biodegradable fabric is very high and its use will enhance the sale of end products especially in North America and Europe as there wont be any stringent regulation against its use.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):The main companies profiled for the manufacture of cellulose acetate fibers include BASF AG, Formosa Plastics Group, Sinopec, Du Pont- Akra Polyester LLC, Bayer AG among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.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 Brass Rods Market Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Trends and Forecast by 2022

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Albany, New York, Nov 16, 2017: Market Research Hub (MRH) has added a new report titled Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Brass Rods Market 2017 Forecast to 2022 to its massive database. The report provides analysis of the global Brass Rods industry, with detailed analysis of market size in terms of manufacturing, demand and segments. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application and also shows the upcoming Scenario CAGR value under same stated Forecast.Request Free Sample Report @This report studies the Brass Rods market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top manufacturers in global and major regions, and splits the Brass Rods market by product type and applications/end industries.The market growth for Brass Rods is expected to growth at a CAGR of 3.17% from 2017 to 2022, reaching 16567.95 M USD by 2022.The major players in global Brass Rods market includeWielandDaechangNingbo JintianTongling Nonferrous MetalsKMEHailiang GroupCHALCOALMAG SPAMueller IndustriesNingbo JinglongGUODONGSanchuanGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Brass Rods in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaChinaEuropeJapanOtherOn the basis of product, the Brass Rods market is primarily split intoOrdinary Brass RodsSpecial Brass RodsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversMachinesAutomotiveElectricOtherBrowse Full Report with TOC @Table of Content:1 Brass Rods Market Overview11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Brass Rods11.2 Brass Rods Segment by Types21.2.1 Global Brass Rods Production (K MT) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)21.2.2 Global Brass Rods Production Market Share (%) by Types in 201621.2.3 Ordinary Brass Rods31.2.4 Special Brass Rods31.3 Global Brass Rods Segment by Applications41.3.1 Global Brass Rods Consumption (K MT) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)41.3.2 Machines51.3.3 Automotive61.3.4 Electric61.4 Global Brass Rods Market by Regions (2012-2022)81.4.1 North America Brass Rods Status and Prospect (2012-2022)81.4.2 China Brass Rods Status and Prospect (2012-2022)91.4.3 Europe Brass Rods Status and Prospect (2012-2022)101.4.4 Japan Brass Rods Status and Prospect (2012-2022)111.5 Global Brass Rods Market Size (2012-2022)121.5.1 Global Brass Rods Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)121.5.2 Global Brass Rods Production (K MT) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)132 Global Brass Rods Market Competition by Manufacturers142.1 Global Brass Rods Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2016-2017)142.2 Global Brass Rods Revenue (Million USD) and Share (%) by Manufacturers (2016-2017)172.3 Global Brass Rods Average Price (USD/MT) by Manufacturers (2016-2017)202.4 Manufacturers Brass Rods Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types212.5 Brass Rods Market Competitive Situation and Trends232.5.1 Brass Rods Market Concentration Rate232.5.2 Brass Rods Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers242.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion25.continueEnquire about this report @About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals industry reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Processed meat Market: Competitive Intelligence and Tracking Report 2016 - 2024

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Processed meat refers to meat which is enriched with various additives/preservatives such as salts, acidifiers, minerals and other seasoning & flavoring agents. Meat is chiefly processed to improve its quality, preserve it from decay and to add flavors to its original composition. It can be either red meat or white meat from poultry, swine, cattle or sea animal meat.The processed meat market can be segmented into six major categories on the basis of its usage as fresh processed meat products, raw-cooked meat products, raw-fermented sausages, cured meat cuts, precooked-cooked meat products and dried meat products. The market can also be segmented geographically into North America, APAC, Europe and RoW regions.Request For Report Sample@The global processed meat market is expected to witness a substantial growth with a single digit increase in CAGR from 2013 to 2019. There is a significant increase in the consumption of processed meat with higher disposable income in emerging countries and large number of working women globally.The key drivers of this market are large varieties of processed meat available in the market place at lower prices. Furthermore growth in retail market and greater purchasing power of consumers in emerging countries are driving the growth of processed meat market. Some of the restraining factors could be government regulations on manufacturing of such products (licensing among others), process of treating meat and rising health concerns among consumers.The value chain consists of raising animals, transporting, slaughtering, dressing and cutting, conditioning and final processing. There is a significant backward and forward integration in this sector.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players in processed meat market are ConAgra, Tyson Foods Inc., Advance Food Company Inc., Pilgrims Pride Corporation, Cargill Inc., and other private labels.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Ourresearch model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and marketresearch methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.Contact USPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Web:Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Latest Research Report on Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Market 2017 | Semtech Corporation, Senet, Inc, Intel Corporation, Telensa Ltd, Link Labs, ZTE Corporation

l LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks 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 LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanKoreaTaiwanTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks market competition by top manufacturers/players, with LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingSemtech CorporationSenet, IncIntel CorporationTelensa LtdLink LabsZTE CorporationQualcommVodafone GroupNwave TechnologiesSigfox S.AOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoWeigthlessLorawan802.11ahOtherOn 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 for each application, includingUtilitiesHealthcareBuilding/Home AutomationTransport & LogisticsOtherGet Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Market Report 20171 LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks1.2 Classification of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks by Product Category1.2.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Weigthless1.2.4 Lorawan1.2.5 802.11ah1.2.6 Other1.3 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Utilities1.3.3 Healthcare1.3.4 Building/Home Automation1.3.5 Transport & Logistics1.3.6 Other1.4 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Market by Region1.4.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Korea LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Taiwan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4 Global LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks (Volume) by Application3 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Volume and Market Share by Application..6 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Volume and Market Share by Players6.3 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Volume and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationContinue...Browse Detail Report @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 @
Forecast and Analysis on Beet Sugar Market for Period (2016-2026)

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Overview:Sugar has been the most widely used sweetener in the world, with its closest substitute being high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Tropical beet sugar is a biennial sugar producing tuber crop developed in temperate countries. It constitutes around 30% of the total world production as well as distributed in more than 45 countries. Sugar beet is efficient converter of solar energy to a form that can be used by animals and men. The top ten sugar beet producing countries include Russia, France, U.S., Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Poland, China, U.K. and Egypt. Beet sugar is an industrial crop utilized in food processing as well as in production of ethanol and biogas. In tropical countries, the sugar beet crop offers precious alternative to sugarcane. The beet sugar market growth in terms of production and consumption has showcased an upliftment over the past few years and is likely to intensify at a rapid pace during the forecast period.Global Beet Sugar: Market SegmentationThe Global Beet Sugar market is segmented on the basis of consumption in industry such as cereal, bakery, ice-cream, confectionery, beverage and dairy industry. Over the next few years, beverage segment is anticipated to grab highest market attractiveness in the global beet sugar market till 2026. The global beet sugar market is also segmented on the basis of function such as regular and medical conditions. The global beet sugar market is also segmented on the basis of organizational structure such as unorganized and organized market. The share of former is anticipated to be more over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@Global Beet Sugar Market: Growth DriversRising population and personal disposable income is anticipated to bolster the growth of global Beet Sugar market. Apart from this, changing lifestyle along with urbanization and increasing health related disorders are expected to drive the global Beet Sugar market during the forecast period as the consumption will rise. The advent of new class of customers as well as the entry of various new global players is expected to intensify the growth of Beet Sugar market all across the globe during the forecast period.Global Beet Sugar Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the Global Beet Sugar industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific region, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America contributed the highest share in the global Beet Sugar market in 2015. The size of America has been doubled over the past few years in production of beet sugar. For growers in Western and Central Europe, it is already a high value crop. But in Eastern Europe, while acreage and volumes are maximum, there is significant scope to increase quality of seed. Over the next few years, Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a higher pace during the forecast period. India is expected to be the worlds fastest growing market, driven by increasing standard of living. Apart from this, gains in developing regions such as Middle-east and Africa will also be strengthened by changing standard of living. Advances in Western Europe is expected to benefit from strong incline in number of new housing units.Visit For TOC@Global Beet Sugar Market: PlayersSome of the key vendors identified across the value chain of the global Beet Sugar market include syngenta, Renuka beet sugar, Spreckals Sugar Company, Michigan Sugar Company, Amalgamated Sugar Company. Various players are anticipated to appear in the industry with the manufacturing of new and innovative products in the industry. The companies are anticipated to invest in research and development in order to expand the business and to maintain the market share in the global beet sugar market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Ourresearch model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and marketresearch methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.Contact USPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Web:Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Citronella Oil Market Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Trends and Forecast by 2022

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has added a new report titled Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Citronella Oil Market 2017 Forecast to 2022 to its massive database. The report provides analysis of the global Citronella Oil industry, with detailed analysis of market size in terms of manufacturing, demand and segments. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application and also shows the upcoming Scenario CAGR value under same stated Forecast.Request Free Sample Report @This report focuses on Citronella Oil in Vietnam market, Citronella oil is one of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon (lemongrass). The oil is used extensively as a source of perfumery chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol. These chemicals find extensive use in soap, candles and incense, perfumery, cosmetic, and flavouring industries throughout the world. Citronella oil is also a plant-based insect repellent and has been registered for this use in the United States since 1948. The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers oil of citronella as a biopesticide with a non-toxic mode of action.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Citronella Oil 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.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAnhui Great Nation Essential Oils Co., Ltd.Jiangxi Hengcheng Natural Flavor Oil Co., LtdNanchang Yang Pu Natural Essence & Spice Co.EOASVan AromaYunnan Aroma SourceYunnan Tian Lake Essential Oil Company LtdKarimun Kencana AromaticsManohar Botanical Extracts Pvt. LtdReho Natural IngredientsVIETNAM ESSENTIAL OIL., JSCMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth 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 Type, coversCeylon TypeJava TypeMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood & DrinkDaily Chemical ProductOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Citronella Oil market.Chapter 1, to describe Citronella Oil Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Citronella Oil, with sales, revenue, and price of Citronella Oil, 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 Citronella Oil, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, 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, Citronella Oil market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Citronella Oil sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceBrowse Full Report with TOC @Table of Content:1 Market Overview1.1 Citronella Oil Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Ceylon Type1.2.2 Java Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Food & Drink1.3.2 Daily Chemical Product1.3.3 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Anhui Great Nation Essential Oils Co., Ltd.2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Citronella Oil Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 2.continueEnquire about this report @About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals industry reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Cerebral Oximeters Market to Witness Steady Expansion During 2016 - 2024

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The fundamental aim of the anesthetic process is maintenance of sufficient amount of oxygen to organs and tissues, especially the brain. Though the dangers to the brain of reduced oxygen delivery and prolonged hypoxia are well documented, the brain is still the least monitored organ in the course of anesthesia. Cerebral oximeters are used to obtain cerebral oxygenation values using continuous, noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology or near-infrared spectroscopy technology.The cerebral oximeter setup includes an oximeter probe which is attached to a cable that is then connected to the cerebral oximeter monitor. Most cerebral oximeters are able to support 2 to 4 oximeter probes with their respective monitor cables. Probes are attached to the scalp of a patient using adhesive pads, where the frontal lobe is the chosen part of the scalp. Probes are composed of fiber optic light source along with light detectors. Light is released by the source in the infrared range either by light-emitting diodes (LED) or through stimulated emission of the radiation. The emitted light which is in the infrared range is able to reach the underlying cerebral tissue by easily penetrating through the skull. The light which is emitted is either redirected, absorbed, reflected, or scattered. A change is observed in the light spectrum when infrared light comes in contact with hemoglobin. The change depends upon the hemoglobin molecules oxygenation status. The light detectors present in the oximeter probes detect the reflected light once it returns toward the surface.A sample of this report is available upon request @The growth of the global cerebral oximeters market is due to factors such as growth in the older population, increase in prevalence and incidence of neurological disorders, and gradual rise in the awareness levels about neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the market growth is driven by increase in prevalence of traumatic brain injuries and sustained efforts by manufacturers to bring in technological advancements in the equipment. The demand for these devices can grow as there is a huge untreated population with neurological conditions as well as rise in demand for minimally invasive and non-invasive devices. Greater focus of the manufacturers on digitalized devices, their extended therapeutic applications, and increase in use of these devices in clinical trials are some of the opportunities that could drive the growth of the market. However, the market growth could be impeded due to high cost of the equipment. As the devices are complex, the costs associated with them are very high. Furthermore, factors such as shortage of highly trained professionals, concerns about the accuracy of the diagnostic devices, and unfavorable reimbursement policies may hinder the growth of the market during the forecast period.The global cerebral oximeters market is segmented based on product type, therapeutic application, end-user, and geography. The market in terms of product type is divided into portable oximeters and finger oximeters. Based on therapeutic application, the market is classified into traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and other therapeutic applications. In terms of end-user, the market is divided into hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, and others.Geographically, the global cerebral oximeters market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to have the prime share of the market. Factors such as rise in prevalence of various neurodegenerative disorders, government initiatives and support for technological advancements, well-established sales & distribution network of major neurodiagnostic companies, and ease of reimbursement for brain monitoring techniques. North America is followed by Europe in terms of market size. The market is expected to grow in Asia Pacific due to improvement in health care infrastructure, rise in disposable incomes, and increase in incidence of neurodegenerative disorders as well as health care reforms initiated by governments.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @The prominent players operating in the global cerebral oximeters market are GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Masimo, Natus Medical Incorporated, Omron Healthcare, Nonin Medical, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, and Spacelabs Healthcare.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.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USAbhishek BudholiyaState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
The Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts 2016  2030 | Apple, Barclays, HSBC, Microsoft, Nokia, Vodafone Group

Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "The Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem: 2016 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts" to its huge collection of research reports.Given the increasing prevalence of expensive household goods, cars and consumer electronics, insurance has become an unavoidable and often necessary cost in modern life. Mobile phones, and smartphones in particular are no exception to this trend.Most major wireless carriers, insurance specialists, device OEMs, retailers and even banks now offer insurance plans that cover theft, loss, malfunctions and damage of mobile phones. Many policies now also integrate enhanced technical support and additional protection features such as data backup facilities, allowing users to securely backup their phone data online.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @SNS Research estimates that the global mobile phone insurance market is expected to account for nearly $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2016. The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 12% over the next four years, eventually accounting for over $30 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020.The "Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem: 2016  2030  Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts" report presents an in-depth assessment of the mobile phone insurance ecosystem including market drivers, challenges, opportunities, value chain, future roadmap, case studies, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents market size forecasts from 2016 through to 2030. The forecasts are segmented for 5 regional and 25 country level markets.Key Findings:The report has the following key findings:- SNS Research estimates that the global mobile phone insurance market is expected to account for nearly $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2016.- The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 12% over the next four years, eventually accounting for over $30 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020.- In an effort to boost the uptake of mobile phone insurance, wireless carriers and insurance providers have extensively enhanced their insurance offerings with the addition of location tracking, data protection/recovery features and integrated technical support.- The success of mobile phone insurance plans has driven several wireless carriers, such as NTT DoCoMo and Orange, to invest in the sales of other insurance products through mobile phones and their retail outlets.- New insurance models are also beginning to emerge, such as London-based So-Sures social insurance for mobile phones, which allows customers to get up to 80% of their money back, if they and their friends dont claim.- Device OEMs are beginning to invest in tailored plans to suit the specific requirements of certain regional markets. A good example is Xiaomis Mi Protect plan in India, which covers accidental and liquid damage, for as little as $7 per year.Topics Covered:The report covers the following topics:- Mobile phone insurance ecosystem- Market drivers and barriers- Insurance policy structure, distribution channels and key trends- Case studies of mobile phone insurance initiatives- Industry roadmap and value chain- Profiles and strategies of over 40 leading ecosystem players- Strategic recommendations for ecosystem players- Market analysis and forecasts from 2016 till 2030Make an Enquiry of this report @Forecast Segmentation:Market forecasts are provided for the following regional and country level submarkets:- Regional Segmentation- - Asia Pacific- - Europe- - Latin & Central America- - Middle East & Africa- - North America- Country Level Segmentation- - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, UK & USAKey Questions Answered:The report provides answers to the following key questions:- How big is the mobile phone insurance opportunity?- What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?- How is the ecosystem evolving by region?- What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow?- Which countries will see the highest percentage of growth?- Who are the key market players and what are their strategies?- What risks are typically covered in mobile phone insurance offerings?- How can insurance plans help wireless carriers in reducing churn?- What strategies should wireless carriers, device OEMs and insurance providers adopt to remain competitive?Countries covered:ArgentinaAustraliaBrazilCanadaChinaColombiaFranceGermanyHong KongIndiaIsraelItalyJapanMexicoNetherlandsPolandRussiaSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainTaiwanUKUSAGet Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @List of Companies Mentioned:The following companies and organizations have been reviewed, discussed or mentioned in the report:- A Wireless- AIG (American International Group)- Allianz Insurance- Allianz SE Group- America Movil- AmTrust International Underwriters- Aon- Appalachian Wireless- Apple- Assurant- Asurion- AT&T- AT&T Mobility- Aviva- AXA- Barclays- Best Buy- Bouygues Telecom- Brightstar Corporation- BT Group- Cellebrite- Chubb- CWS (Connected World Services Distributions)- Diamond Wireless- Dixons Carphone- DT (Deutsche Telekom)- EE- eSecuritel- Fonesure- Fortegra- Geek Squad- GoCare- Groupama- Hollard Group- HSBC- Inhance Technology- iQmetrix- Liberty Mutual Insurance Group- Lifestyle Services Group- Lookout- Markerstudy- Microsoft- Mobi PCS- Mobile Rhino (Stuckey & Company)- MTN- NIA (New India Assurance)- Nippon Life Insurance- Nokia- NQ Mobile- NTT DoCoMo- Optus- Orange- Pier Insurance Managed Services- ProtectCELL- Safeware- Salt Mobile- Samsung Electronics- SFR- Singtel Group- SoftBank Corporation- So-Sure- Spark New Zealand- SPB- Sprint Corporation- SquareTrade- Sun Corporation- Supercover Insurance- Swisscom- Telefonica Group- Telefonica Insurance- Telstra- T-Mobile USA- Tokio Marine- Verizon Communications- Verizon Wireless- V-Key Solutions- Vodacom- Vodafone GroupAbout 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 @
Liechtenstein Insurance Industry Market 2017- By Plan Future Business Decisions Using the Forecast Figures

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled The Liechtenstein Insurance IndustrySynopsis'Governance, Risk and Compliance  The Liechtenstein Insurance Industry ' report is the result of extensive research into the insurance regulatory framework in Liechtenstein.It provides detailed analysis of the insurance regulations for life, property, motor, liability, personal accident and health, and marine, aviation and transit insurance. The report specifies various requirements for the establishment and operation of insurance and reinsurance companies and intermediaries.The report brings together research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on prevailing insurance regulations, and recent and upcoming changes in the regulatory framework, taxation and legal system in the country. The report also includes the scope of non-admitted insurance in the country.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryThe report provides insights into the governance, risk and compliance framework pertaining to the insurance industry in Liechtenstein, including: An overview of the insurance regulatory framework in Liechtenstein. The latest key changes, and changes expected in the countrys insurance regulatory framework. Key regulations and market practices related to different types of insurance product in the country. Rules and regulations pertaining to key classes of compulsory insurance, and the scope of non-admitted insurance in Liechtenstein. Key parameters including licensing requirements, permitted foreign direct investment, minimum capital requirements, solvency and reserve requirements, and investment regulations. Details of the tax and legal systems in the country.Scope The report covers details of the insurance regulatory framework in Liechtenstein. The report contains details of the rules and regulations governing insurance products and insurance entities. The report lists and analyzes key trends and developments pertaining to the countrys insurance regulatory framework. The report analyzes the rules and regulations pertaining to the establishment and operation of insurance businesses in the country. The report provides details of taxation imposed on insurance products and insurance companies.Key points to buy Gain insights into the insurance regulatory framework in Liechtenstein. Track the latest regulatory changes, and expected changes impacting the Liechtenstein insurance industry. Gain detailed information about the key regulations governing the establishment and operation of insurance entities in the country. Understand key regulations and market practices pertaining to various types of insurance product.Key Highlights The Liechtenstein insurance industry is regulated by the Financial Market Authority. Non-admitted insurance is not permitted in the Liechtenstein insurance industry, with a few exceptions. 100% FDI is permitted in the Liechtenstein insurance industry. Composite insurance is not permitted in Liechtenstein, however life insurers can operate personal accident and health insurance business. Solvency II was implemented from January 1, 2016.Table of Contents1 INTRODUCTION2 GOVERNANCE, RISK AND COMPLIANCE3 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 understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) bUSiness sector reports as cUStom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Learn Details of the Global Antithrombin III Deficiency Testing Market

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Antithrombin III is a non-vitamin, K-dependent protease that naturally blocks abnormal blood clot formation in the bloodstream. Deficiency of antithrombin III causes various blood clot disorders in the human body. For instance, congenital antithrombin III deficiency is a common antithrombin deficiency, which usually occurs when individuals receive the abnormal antithrombin III gene from their parents. This abnormal gene causes abnormal blood clots in the human body which block blood flow and damage organs.Antithrombin deficiencies are mainly divided into two types: type I and type II. The type I antithrombin deficiency is characterized by an inadequate amount of normal antithrombin present in the bloodstream. In this condition, there is simply not enough antithrombin present to inactivate the coagulation factors. The type II antithrombin deficiency is characterized by adequate amount of antithrombin present in the bloodstream. However, it does not function properly and is unable to carry out its normal functions.Request for TOC @The major symptoms of blood clotting include fainting, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, pain when taking deep breaths, and swelling of legs. In addition, some physical symptoms of blood clots are abnormal lung sounds, fast breathing, swollen foot or leg, and fast heart rate.The global antithrombin III deficiency testing market is categorized on the basis of various types of deficiencies, diagnostic procedures, and end users. Based on the type of deficiencies, the report covers type I antithrombin deficiency and type II antithrombin deficiency. Based on the type of technology, the report covers monoclonal antibodies, molecular diagnostics, differential light scattering, immunoassays, flow cytometry, chromatography, gel micro droplets, diagnostic imaging, and others. Based on end users, the report covers commercial or private labs, physician offices, hospitals, public health labs, and academic research institutes.In terms of geography, North America dominates the global antithrombin III deficiency testing market. This is due to increased government funding on healthcare infrastructure in the region. In addition, technological advancement in antithrombin III diagnostic procedures has also propelled the market in North America. The U.S. represents the largest market for antithrombin deficiency testing in North America, followed by Canada. In Europe, Germany, France, and the U.K. hold the major shares of the antithrombin III deficiency testing market.The antithrombin III deficiency testing market in Asia is also expected to show high growth rates in the next five years. This is due to the various initiatives undertaken by governments to increase awareness about blood clotting disorders in the region. In addition, increased investments by many foreign diagnostic instrument companies have also propelled the growth of the antithrombin III deficiency testing market in the region. India, China, and Japan are expected to be the fastest-growing markets for antithrombin III deficiency testing in Asia.Advanced applications of antithrombin deficiency diagnostic instruments and increasing prevalence of blood clot disorders are the key drivers for the global antithrombin III deficiency testing market. Also, increased government support in the form of funding and rapid technological advancements have fueled the growth of this market.An increasing number of mergers and acquisitions involving diagnostic consumables manufacturing companies and rapid product launches are the key trends in the global antithrombin III deficiency testing market.Make an Enquiry @The major companies operating in this market are Abbott Laboratories, Avocet Medical Inc., Axis-Shield plc, Beckman Coulter Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Trinity Biotech PLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Siemens AG, Roche, Chrono-log Corporation, Sysmex Corporation, Hyphen Biomed and American Diagnostica GmbH.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 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesT: +1-646-568-7751Tollfree: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Orthopaedic Prosthetics Market Projected to Witness Vigorous Expansion by 2026

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Global demand for orthopaedic prosthetics devices market is projected to reach US$ 1.76 Bn in 2017, up from US$ 1.69 Bn in 2016. Demand for orthopaedic prosthetics devices will be fuelled by increasing baby boomers & geriatric population. Availability of advanced prosthetics that offer customisation and enhanced functionality will continue to witness increasing demand in developed markets. However, high cost and lack of favourable reimbursement policies will continue to pose challenges to wider adoption. North America will continue to remain the largest market for orthopaedic prosthetics devices, owing to strong demand in the U.S. Sales of orthopaedic prosthetics devices in the Western Europe  the second largest market globally  will remain concentrated in EU5.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Other key factors expected to fuel demand for orthopaedic prosthetic devices include increase in the number of accidents, higher emphasis on physical sports, and increase in prevalence of conditions that require amputation. Replacement of older prosthetics with lighter, durable materials is also expected to complement demand during the forecast period.FMIs report offers insights on the regulations on orthopaedic prosthetics devices in key markets of the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. In the U.S., orthopaedic prosthetics devices are regulated by U.S. FDA and Centre for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). In Europe, a majority of prosthetic and orthotic devices are class I with CE marking.To provide a detailed analysis on the orthopaedic prosthetic market, FMIs report offers forecast and analysis on the basis of product type, technology, end-use, and region.Request for Table of Contents @Prosthetics Devices Market SegmentationBy product type, the key segments include lower extremity prosthetics, upper extremity prosthetics, liners, sockets, and modular components. Among these, lower extremity prosthetics account for the highest demand, followed by upper extremity prosthetics. All the aforementioned product types will lose market share to lower extremity prosthetics during the forecast period.By technology, electric powered prosthetic devices account for the highest demand and the trend is projected to remain unchanged during the forecast period. Electric powered prosthetic devices are expected to gain 467 BPS during the forecast period and account for over 50% revenue share of the market by 2026. Ease of operation is one of the key factors for high adoption of electric powered prosthetics devices.By end-use, prosthetic clinics accounted for the highest revenue share of the global market, followed by hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Prosthetic clinics will continue to remain the largest end-user segment during the forecast period, gaining 293 BPS between 2016 and 2026.North America is the largest market for prosthetics devices market, accounting for a significant share of global revenues. The U.S. is the leading market for prosthetics devices, accounting for over 78% share of the global market in 2016. The U.S. will continue to be the largest market for prosthetics devices during the forecast period.Leading players in the global prosthetics devices market include Hanger Inc., Blatchford Ltd., Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH Ossur, Touch Bionics Inc., and The Ohio Willow Wood Co.Buy Orthopaedic Prosthetics Devices Market Research Report @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:
Ethernet Access Device Market Poised to Expand at a Robust Pace Over 2017  2027

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Ethernet Access Device market is forecasted to witness a healthy double digit CAGR owing to exponential increase in adoption of Ethernet access device in telecom networks. Ethernet access device basically enhance the quality of network provided by service providers to customers increasing the customer satisfaction. Rising luxuries with advancing technologies in cellular connectivity drives the market growth. Having a fast Ethernet connection to obtain all the data in real time is the need of the day. The real time transfer of information is required in all the applications from a simple transfer of message to navigation in real time. These conditions dominate the life of the fast paced modern world giving rise to an increased demand for such devices like Ethernet access device, which boost the quality of network even when the people using the network increases exponentially.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Global Ethernet Access Device Market: Market DynamicsIncreasing adoption of Ethernet access device in telecom networks backhaul and decrease in price of Ethernet access device are the main drivers for the market growth. In addition to this, the Ethernet access device enables the service providers to deliver high-bandwidth and high-quality Carrier Ethernet services with low delay over multiple copper pairs to customers. This is a cost effective solution for service provider to enhance the quality when users increase. Also customer uptake of Ethernet connections and services is the driving factor for the growth of the market.However, high implementation cost and long-term return on investment are some of the factors that can restrain the growth of global Ethernet Access Device market.Global Ethernet Access Device Market: SegmentationGlobal Ethernet Access Device market is segmented on the basis of product and region.On the basis of product, the global Ethernet Access Device market can be segmented into switches and routers. Routers are the devices which route a packet of data over the Ethernet from source to destination along the shortest available path while switch is a networking device which receives, processes and forwards a packet of data from source to destination on a network.Global Ethernet Access Device Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the global Ethernet Access Device market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Japan.In Ethernet access device Americas is the major revenue contributor to the market owing to the presence of various telecom operators in this region. As these telecom operators are switching their present technology to more improved versions, it will drive the demand for Ethernet access device in the market. Europe and Asia pacific are also substantial contributors and are expected to show a significant CAGR in the near future.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global Ethernet Access Device Market: Competition LandscapeThe key vendors in the global Ethernet Access Device market are Aerohive, Allied Telesis, Advantech B+B SmartWorx, Ericsson, Huawei, Mellanox Technologies, Moxa, NEC, NETGEAR, Oracle, PLANET Technology, Siemens, Telco Systems, Westermo (Beijer Electronics Group), ZTE. Collaborating with other players and service providers in the building energy management market is the key strategy followed by major market vendors to gain competitive edge.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:
Construction in Morocco Market 2017- By Plan Future Business Decisions Using the Forecast Figures 2021

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Construction in MoroccoSynopsisIn real terms, the Moroccan construction industry posted positive growth during the review period (20122016) despite political instability. The industry was supported by effective political reforms implemented by the government, coupled with large-scale investments in various transport and residential infrastructure projects.Over the forecast period (20172021), industry growth is expected to be supported by government efforts to upgrade the countrys transport infrastructure and improve the countrys energy production capacity.The governments aim to encourage the participation of the private-sector in economic growth through public-private partnerships is expected to bode well for the industry over the forecast period. expects the construction output to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.74% in real terms from 2017 to 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryConstruction in Morocco  Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Moroccan construction industry, including: The Moroccan construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, and the risks and opportunities they present to participants in the Moroccan construction industry Profiles of the leading operators in the Moroccan construction industryScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Morocco. It provides: Historical (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2021) valuations of the construction industry in Morocco using construction output and value-add methods Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector Breakdown of values within each project type, by type of activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by type of cost (materials, equipment and services) Detailed profiles of the leading construction companies in MoroccoKey points to buy Identify and evaluate market opportunities using standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies. Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts. Understand the latest industry and market trends. Formulate and validate strategy using critical and actionable insight. Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures. Evaluate competitive risk and success factors.Key Highlights In May 2016, the Chinese government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Moroccan government to develop a new industrial city with a total investment of MAD98.3 billion (US$10.0 billion) in Tangiers. In a bid to promote economic growth, in November 2016 the government, announced plans to invest MAD77.0 billion (US$7.8 billion) until 2021 to develop various public infrastructure projects in the Western Sahara region. Under the 20142018 Integrated Development Program for Bouregreg Valley, in June 2017 the government, signed an agreement to develop a skyscraper in Rabat with a total investment of MAD3.7 billion (US$375.0 million). This includes the construction of a 45-storey tower with several hotels, offices, luxury apartments, the National Archives of the Kingdom of Morocco, and an arts and culture house. The development of transport infrastructure is vital to Moroccos economic growth. In January 2016, the African Development Bank granted a loan worth MAD1.1 billion (US$112.3 million) until 2020 to develop rail infrastructure projects in the country. According to, the energy and utilities construction market is expected to record a CAGR of 6.38% over the forecast period, as compared with 4.90% registered during the period. Market growth is expected to be supported by the governments aim to reduce reliance on energy imports. Accordingly, in January 2017, the government announced plans to generate 4,000MW of energy from renewable sources by 2020, owing to the vast potential of the renewable sector. This is expected to drive funding towards renewable energy infrastructure projects over the forecast period.Table of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Industry Outlook3 Key Issues and Developments4 Market Data Analysis5 Company Profile: Douja Promotion Group Addoha SA6 Company Profile: Alliances Developpement Immobilier SA7 Company Profile: Societe de Travaux Agricoles Marocaine8 Company Profile: Societe Generale des Travaux du Maroc SA9 Company Profile: Societe Nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc10 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 understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) bUSiness sector reports as cUStom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Pulse Width Modulation Controllers Market to Receive overwhelming hike in Revenues by 2027

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Pulse Width Modulation controllers are used to provide the control of the power supplied to electrical devices. Pulse Width Modulation controllers support low, medium, and high power non-isolated and isolated DC/DC converters. The Pulse Width Modulation basically is a technique of encoding a message into a pulsing signal. The encoding can also be done to even protect information from hijackers or people who jam the signal.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers Market: Market DynamicsPulse Width Modulation Controllers provides various advantages like enabling optimum solutions for systems that utilize distributed power architectures. They also provide point-of-load regulation in networking and industrial power supplies to various devices such as servers, workstations, telecom/datacom, microprocessor-based equipment, portable battery-powered devices and wireless infrastructure products. Pulse Width Modulation Controllers are especially useful for inertial loads such as motors that require control of the power supplied to them. Also Pulse Width Modulation is one of the two principal algorithms used in photovoltaic solar battery chargers. So the rise in demand of all the analog devices is expected to rise the demand for Pulse Width Modulation Controllers, which is bound to happen as analog devices are the backbone of electronics industry.However, high implementation cost and long-term return on investment are some of the factors that can restrain the growth of global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers market.Global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers Market: SegmentationGlobal Pulse Width Modulation Controllers market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region.On the basis of component, the global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers market can be segmented into Current Mode Pulse Width Modulation Controllers and Voltage Mode Pulse Width Modulation ControllersOn the basis of application, the global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers market can be segmented into Consumer Electronics, Telecommunication, Automotive and Industrial.Global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Japan.North America and Europe market are the primary consumer markets for the Pulse Width Modulation Controllers owing to advanced production technology and rapid development of economy and is expected to dominate the market. Asia Pacific can be identified as the fastest growing market for Pulse Width Modulation Controllers due to growing economy, technological advancement, expanding infrastructure and industrialization.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers Market: Competition LandscapeThe key vendors in the global Pulse Width Modulation Controllers market are Analog Devices (Linear Technology), Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, ON Semiconductor, Microchip Technology, Maxim Integrated, Infineon Technology, Vishay, Diodes Incorporated, Renesas Electronics, Semtech, Active-Semi. Collaborating with other players and service providers in the building energy management market is the key strategy followed by major market vendors to gain competitive edge.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 Fuel Cells for Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market 2017-2021 - EnergyOR Technologies, Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, MicroMultiCopter Aero Technology, Protonex, Ultra Electronics

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Military UAV fuel cells are of different kinds, and they are deployed for various operations. The most prominent types of fuel cells used in military UAVs are proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), and alkaline fuel cells. Also, intense research is ongoing on leveraging these technologies on different UAV platforms, such as micro and mini UAVs. PEMFCs are used in medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) and high-altitude long endurance (HALE) UAVs as their operating temperature lies between 30C and 100C.The global fuel cells for military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market to grow at a CAGR of 14.32% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global fuel cells for military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.Click to get Sample PDF:The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEATechnavio's report, Global Fuel Cells for Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) 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.View Complete TOC with Tables and Figures at:Key vendors- EnergyOR Technologies- Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies- MicroMultiCopter Aero Technology- Protonex- Ultra ElectronicsOther prominent vendors- Jadoo Power SystemMarket driver- High investment in military unmanned aircraft domain- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Decline in prices of non-renewable resources- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Emergence of Formira Hydrogen-on-Demand technology- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?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:
Printed Electronics Market Increasing Use of Organic Materials to Drive Market Growth

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The competitive landscape of the global printed electronics market is fairly fragmented due to the increasing preference of the established players towards making strategic business decisions such as mergers, takeovers, partnerships, and joint ventures.These decisions allow them to acquire better share in the global market for printed electronics and helps in intensifying the overall competition in the market.The players operating in the global printed electronics market are also tackling to gain advantage in the market by deploying cutting edge technologies and heavily investing in the activities of research and development so as to have better and innovative products for their clients.Obtain Report Details:Some of the key players in the global market for printed electronics include names such as Intrinsiq Materials, Optomec Inc., Xerox Corporation, Thin Film Electronics ASA, and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. among others.According to the study report, the global market for printed electronics is expected to reach an overall valuation of US$65.0 bn in the year 2024 from the initial market valuation of US$25.4 bn in the year 2015.The growth rate of the global printed electronics market is expected show a strong CAGR of 11.0% over the course of the given forecast period of 2016 to 2024.In terms of geography, the Asia Pacific market for printed electronics is expected to continue its domination over the forecast period. The region accounted for nearly 36% of the overall market share in the year 2015, with maximum contribution coming from countries such as India, China, and Japan.In terms of applications, the segment of retail and packaging is projected to continue its domination and expected to cover 34.5% of overall market share by the end of the given period of forecast in 2024.The huge demand for smart packaging is also anticipated to aid the overall development of this segment. In addition to this, the advancements in technology and the newer methods of packaging are also helping in developing the retail and packaging application segment of the global printed electronics market.Increasing Use of Organic Materials to Drive Market GrowthThe development of the global market for printed electronics is expected to be chiefly driven due to the increasing uptake of the organic materials for producing printed electronics.Make Enquiry @These are also responsible for the low price printing of adaptive or flexible displays. The increasing pressure to cut down the excessive use of energy, reduce the wastage of material, and decrease the negative effect on the nature has also helped in propelling the market players to use more organic materials for manufacturing printed electronics.This, thus expected to drive the overall development of the global market over the coming years of the forecast period. The usage of coated paper for printed electronics is increasing as well as gaining high popularity.All these factors are expected to propel the overall growth of the global printed electronics market. The new trend of minimum consumption of material and high speed assemblage is expected to have a positive impact on the global market.High Production Cost and Dearth of Organic Materials to Impede Market Growth of Printed ElectronicsHowever, there are some challenges in the path of the global printed electronics market. One of the key impeding factors for the growth of the global market for printed electronics is the dearth of organic materials in the market.Moreover, the growing production cost is also slowing down the growth of the market. Nonetheless, the players in the market are investing heavily on research and development activities for the use of organic materials.Get TOC @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.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Aluminum Heat Transfer Market  Global Industry Size, Share, Analysis, Trend & Forecast 2017

Aluminum Heat Transfer Market  Global Industry Size, Share, Analysis, Trend & Forecast 2017

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ReportsMonitor.com has added Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market Research Report 2017.The research article entitled Worldwide Aluminum Heat Transfer Market offers very useful reviews into the generic market trends and also the features that propel this Universal market place. This sector analyse deeply covers the main features of the Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market about the Industry structure including landscaping plan, the issues, require opportunities, including the anticipated industry success.Get Your Free Sample Report @Major Regions play vital role in Aluminum Heat Transfer market are: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Middle East & Africa, India, South America, Others.Top Key manufactures of Aluminum Heat Transfer Market are Alcoa, Aleris, Granges, Applied Nanotech, Kobe Steel, Norsk Hydro, Novelis, Wickeder Steel, Nantong Hengxiu.The Aluminum Heat Transfer Market, presents critical information and factual data about the global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread global Aluminum Heat Transfer opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in Aluminum Heat Transfer industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into 1cm Thickness, 1.5cm Thickness, 2cm Thickness, 2.5cm Thickness, 5cm Thickness, Others.By Application, the market can be split into Furniture, Others.Check Discount on this report@Some points from TOC:1 Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 Aluminum Heat Transfer Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Global Aluminum Heat Transfer Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the Aluminum Heat Transfer 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 Aluminum Heat Transfer 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:
Cybersecurity Consulting Services World Market Forecast by countries, Type & Application by Leading Industry Experts- TCS, Wipro, IT Governance, RSA, Telos

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Global Cybersecurity Consulting Services Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk side analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing capital structure of the Global Cybersecurity Consulting Services Market.Get Access to sample pages @Global Cybersecurity Consulting Services market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includes AT&T, TCS, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, PwC, Vumetric, Wipro, IT Governance, RSA, Telos, MARSH LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, AT&T Intellectual Property, SecureWorks, Inc. & DeloitteThe research study is segmented by Application such as Client's Market Capitalization: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
Artificial Flavors Market: Study Applications, Types and Market Analysis including Growth, Trends and Forecasts to 2022

Artificial Flavors Market: Study Applications, Types and Market Analysis including Growth, Trends and Forecasts to 2022

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ReportsMonitor.com has added Global Artificial Flavors Market Research Report 2017.The research article entitled Worldwide Artificial Flavors Market offers very useful reviews into the generic market trends and also the features that propel this Universal market place. This sector analyse deeply covers the main features of the Global Artificial Flavors Market about the Industry structure including landscaping plan, the issues, require opportunities, including the anticipated industry success.Get Your Free Sample Report @Major Regions play vital role in Artificial Flavors market are: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Middle East & Africa, India, South America, Others.Top Key manufactures of Artificial Flavors Market are Givaudan, Firmenich, IFF, Symrise, Takasago, Sensient Flavors, Mane SA, T.Hasegawa, Frutarom, Robertet SA, WILD, McCormick, Synergy Flavor, Prova, Apple F&F, CFF-Boton, Huabao Group, Bairun F&F, Chunfa Bio-Tech, Tianning F&F, Artsci Bio, Baihua F&F, Hangman, Hodia Flavor, Wincom F$F, Huayang Flavour and Fragrance, Meiyi F&F, Tianlihai Chem.The Artificial Flavors Market, presents critical information and factual data about the global Artificial Flavors Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread global Artificial Flavors opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in Artificial Flavors industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into Food Grade, Feed Grade.By Application, the market can be split into Home, Restaurant, Food manufacture.Check Discount on this report@Some points from TOC:1 Global Artificial Flavors Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 Global Artificial Flavors Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 Global Artificial Flavors Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 Global Artificial Flavors Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 Global Artificial Flavors Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 Global Artificial Flavors Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 Artificial Flavors Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Global Artificial Flavors Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the Artificial Flavors 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 Artificial Flavors 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:
Swine Feed Market Analysis, Segments, Growth and Value Chain 2016-2026

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Market OverviewThe demand for food additives to enhance the food quality of animal nutrition products is witnessing an upsurge globally. As a result, the adoption of enhanced fodder has increased in several animal husbandry branches, especially pig farming. Swine feed production is expected to register a significant boost, owing to the rise in the global consumption of pork. In order to avoid spread epizootic diseases caused due to improper nutrition, the global swine husbandry sector is anticipated to increase the demand for healthy and functional swine feed.Request For Report Sample:Additionally, the increasing awareness about the health of a pig has resulted in consumers compelling the pig farmers to use swine feed products that keep the pigs immune from enzootic disorders. Also, the use of enhanced swine feed is expected to lower the incidence rate of animal epidemics, thereby fuelling the demand in the global swine feed market.Global Swine Feed Market: Growth DriversThe global market for swine feed will continue to grow, owing to the global trend of maintaining the optimum health of domesticated meat animals such as pigs. Providing better swine feed for pig husbandry ensures the health of the consumer eating the pork meat, creating an indirect impact of the health of the global pork-eating human population. Besides this, the other key factors driving the growth of the global swine feed market include,Growing demand for quality porkPork is one of the most-consumed meat in the world, and its culinary experimentations have resulted in the rise in demand for quality pork, which can be harvested only through the feeding quality swine food to the pigs.Escalating pork pricesThe growing consumption of pork is inflating the prices of pork. This has benefitted the pig farmers in earning more income, which has supplemented the adoption of quality swine feed.Increasing instances of disease outbreakThe rising incidences of disease outbreak due to consumption of infected pork meat has influenced the demand for enhanced swine feed that optimises the health of pigs.Asia Pacific: A Leading Key Region for Swine FeedThe global market for swine feed is geographically segmented into seven key regions of the world. Among them, China will continue to have the highest concentration of pig population. The demand for swine feed is anticipated to be relatively high in Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand, among other Asia Pacific countries. Europe and North America are expected to continue being the leading regions in terms of pork consumption. The US is expected to be one of the key regions favouring the growth in the number of swine feed producers and manufacturers.Global Swine Feed Market: SegmentationApart from the geographical classification, the global swine feed market is further segmented on the basis of fodder classifications, the types of feed additives and the elemental essence of the swine feed.Based on the fodder classifications, the market can be segmented into,Sow feedStarter feedPig grower feedOthersOn the basis of the feed additive types, the market is classified into,Zootechnical feed additivesSensory feed additivesNutritional feed additivesFurthermore, the market is also segmented on the basis of the feed essence such as,VitaminsAntioxidantsFeed acidifiersAntibioticsFeed enzymesAmino acidsOthersRequest For Report Table of Content (TOC):Competitive LandscapeTo improve the feed production, the swine feed manufacturers are expanding the business by introducing key nutritional elements from corn and soybean into the swine meal. The key companies identifies as the leading competitors of the global swine feed market include, Chr Hansen, Royal DSM Holdings Limited, Lallemand Inc., BASF Limited, Novus International Inc., Kent foods, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill Inc., ABF Plc., and Alltech Inc., among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Organic Beef Meat Market: Processed Meat Product Type Segment to Account for Relatively High Volume Share

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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.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 2027Obtain Report Details @In 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.Request Sample 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 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:
Estonian Insurance Market 2017 - Opportunity, Driving Trends and deep study.

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Pune, India, 16th November 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled Governance, Risk and Compliance  The Estonian Insurance Industry.Synopsis'Governance, Risk and Compliance  The Estonian Insurance Industry' report is the result of extensive research into the insurance regulatory framework in Estonia.It provides detailed analysis of the insurance regulations for life, property, motor, liability, personal accident and health, and marine, aviation and transit insurance. The report specifies various requirements for the establishment and operation of insurance and reinsurance companies and intermediaries.GET SAMPLE REPORT @The report brings together research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on prevailing insurance regulations, and recent and upcoming changes in the regulatory framework, taxation and legal system in the country. The report also includes the scope of non-admitted insurance in the country.SummaryThe report provides insights into the governance, risk and compliance framework pertaining to the insurance industry in Estonia, including: An overview of the insurance regulatory framework in Estonia. The latest key changes, and changes expected in the countrys insurance regulatory framework. Key regulations and market practices related to different types of insurance product in the country. Rules and regulations pertaining to key classes of compulsory insurance, and the scope of non-admitted insurance in Estonia. Key parameters including licensing requirements, permitted foreign direct investment, minimum capital requirements, solvency and reserve requirements, and investment regulations. Details of the tax and legal systems in the country.Scope The report covers details of the insurance regulatory framework in Estonia. The report contains details of the rules and regulations governing insurance products and insurance entities. The report lists and analyzes key trends and developments pertaining to the countrys insurance regulatory framework. The report analyzes the rules and regulations pertaining to the establishment and operation of insurance businesses in the country. The report provides details of taxation imposed on insurance products and insurance companies.Reasons to Buy Gain insights into the insurance regulatory framework in Estonia. Track the latest regulatory changes, and expected changes impacting the Estonian insurance industry. Gain detailed information about the key regulations governing the establishment and operation of insurance entities in the country. Understand key regulations and market practices pertaining to various types of insurance product.Key Highlights The Estonian insurance industry is regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA). Composite insurance is not allowed in Estonia. However, a life insurance company can underwrite accident and health insurance. The new Solvency II norm became effective from January 1, 2016. Motor third-party liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance for insurance intermediaries and aviation liability insurance are some of the key classes of compulsory insurance. Non-admitted insurance is not permitted in Estonia. However, the insurance companies from EEA member states and reinsurers are permitted to operate without license.Table of Content: Key Points1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions2 Governance, Risk and Compliance2.1 Legislation Overview and Historical Evolution2.2 Latest Changes in Regulations2.3 Regulations and Market Practice by Type of Insurance2.3.1 Life insurance2.3.2 Property insurance2.3.3 Motor insurance2.3.4 Liability Insurance2.3.5 Marine, aviation and transit insurance2.3.6 Personal accident and health insurance2.4 Compulsory InsuranceContinuedACCESS 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
Biomass Power Generation Market Foraying into Emerging Economies by 2022

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The global biomass power generation market has been prognosticated by Transparency Market Research (TMR) to reveal a fragmented nature because of the presence of a hefty count of players looking to establish their business in the industry. Some of the prominent names in the market could be Forth Energy Ltd., Helius Energy Plc, Ameresco, Inc., The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and DONG Energy A/S. In order to set a stronger foothold in the market, most players have been anticipated to take to various business strategies, including acquisition, partnership, and product innovation.View Report Preview @Japan was selected as a choice market to inaugurate a biomass power generation project by a joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation Power Systems, Inc. and The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) in April 2017. This undertaking has been aimed at curbing overall carbon emissions by preferring the usage of woody biomass over crude or heavy oil.According to a new study penned by TMR, the global biomass power generation market has been predicted to attain a valuation of US$50.52 bn by 2022. On the basis of feedstock, woody biomass could attract a larger share in the market, thanks to its cost-efficient and eco-friendly boons. Geographically, North America has been forecasted to take the lead on the back of encouraging government support and promising regulatory framework.Decline in Greenhouse Gas Emission, Energy Production Cost Invites DemandMost economies around the globe, viz. Indonesia, India, Australia, the U.K., and the U.S., are proposing legislations or providing incentives and grants in support of the application of biomass power generation. Besides this, the world biomass power generation market could be privileged by several advantages of the technique such as better public health, cleaner air, and augmented visibility.Apart from ensuring a tangible reduction in the emission of greenhouses gases, the application of biomass in power generation could also help in the cost control of energy production. Moreover, biomass power generation has been expected to support a telling decline in environmental hazards including air pollution. This could be due to the engagement of human and natural waste in biomass power generation.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Applications such as industrial processes and transportation have been envisioned to offer lucrative opportunities with the need to eliminate the usage of conservative energy sources such as diesel. Developing economies could increase the demand in the world biomass power generation market in view of rapid urbanization and industrialization surging the requirement of easily accessible, cost-effective, and more reliable energy supply.Feeble Supply Chain Stunts Growth of Industry PlayersDespite the positive means of generating growth in the international biomass power generation market, participants have been prophesied to encounter a few challenges such as the existence of a weak supply chain and a low degree of awareness about the technique.However, biomass power generation could battle strong against the traditional techniques of generating power while riding on the affordable costs of agricultural waste and forestry. Even in respect of the high cost of feedstock in certain countries, biomass power generation has been foreseen to beat coal-fired power generation. More prospects could be birthed in the international biomass power generation market as the inclination toward off-grid power supply continues to elevate, promoting biomass as a feasible alternative.Buy Biomass Power Generation Market Research Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.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:
Turkey Marine Lubricants Market to Garner Brimming Revenues by 2022

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Transparency Market Research, a leading market research and intelligence firm, has announced the publication of a new market research report. The new research study, titled Marine Lubricants Market- Turkey Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2022, explores the potential of the Turkey marine lubricants market in the given forecast period by analyzing the historical data regarding the market in the context of the currently prevalent trends in the market.View Report Preview @According to the study, the Turkey marine lubricants market is expected to grow from a volume of 84.5 kilo tons in 2013 to 103.8 kilo tons in 2022. This represents a CAGR of 2.40% between 2014 and 2022. The market is expected to display a higher CAGR in the same timeframe by revenue; the markets revenue is expected to rise at a 3.48% CAGR.Marine lubricants are crucial in any ship, since internal combustion invariably results in the generation of some wasted heat. Accumulation of heat within a ships engine can damage numerous crucial parts, which may not be tuned to operate at high temperatures. Lubricants, which have a high boiling point, help dissipate the heat and thus prolong the lifespan of engines. Despite their importance in the smooth operation of ships, the market for marine lubricants is restrained by the risk posed by conventional lubricants to marine ecosystems.Mineral lubricants, which constitute 83% of the total demand from the Turkey marine lubricants market, are nonbiodegradable, which means accidental spillage has the potential to harm the local ecosystem. Long-term disposal of mineral marine lubricants can have deadly effects on marine life. This has led to growing demand for biobased marine lubricants, which are biodegradable and thus pose a lesser threat to aquatic life in the long term. The EU has championed the usage of biobased lubricants in ships for a long time, and growing interaction with Europes shipping channels has forced Turkish shipping operators to conform.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Within mineral oil, engine oils are by far the dominant subcategory, holding the majority of the mineral oils market and 46% of the overall Turkey marine lubricants market. Apart from mineral and biobased lubricants, the Turkey marine lubricants market includes synthetic lubricants. The report provides a forecast for all product segments of the Turkey marine lubricants market, helping the reader figure out which segments are the best to invest in.The rising trade activities in the Turkish Straits have ensured steady demand from the Turkey marine lubricants market for years to come. Combined with Turkeys willingness to incorporate environmental standards into its growing shipping industry, this could make Turkey the dominant player in the Europe marine lubricants market.Apart from the detailed discussion on the major drivers and restraints acting upon the Turkey marine lubricants market, the report describes the markets competitive landscape. Major companies such as BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Turcas Petrol A.S., and Total Submarine, and others are examined in the report, with the SWOTs, company profiles, product specifications, business strategies, and recent developments of each company analyzed in detail.Buy Turkey Marine Lubricants Market Research Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.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:
Global Nasal Spray Market Will Growth at 6.3% of CAGR by 2024

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Industrial Overview of Nasal Spray Market:In this region, Global Nasal Spray Market is expected to reach USD 19.4 billion by 2024 from USD 11.9 billion in 2016 and is accounted to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% in the forecast period 2017 to 2024.On the basis of product, global Nasal Spray market is segmented into oxygen source and delivery devices. Oxygen source is further segmented into concentrator and cylinder. Oxygen source equipment is expected to dominate the market in the forecast period 2017-2024 due to increasing incidence of respiratory disorders and technological advancements.Download Sample Copy@The Nasal Spray Market report examines the market, demand, competitive landscape and trends of the top 5 Global markets of the Nasal Spray market. It provides an all-round analysis of overall number Global users. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2017 through 2024. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report also explores detailed description of growth drivers and barriers of the Nasal Spray market.The Nasal Spray market is characterized by constant technological innovation to keep pace with the changing industrial needs. This Nasal Spray Market report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Nasal Spray from 2012-2017 and provides extensive market forecasts 2017-2024 by region/country and subsectors.Key Companies Covered in the Report are as follows:Pfizer, AptarGroup, Inc, Nastech pharmaceutical, Adapt Pharma, Inc, Mylan N.V, Innovus pharmaceuticals, Allergan PLC, and MoreKey Topics are Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global virtual events market for 2017-2024. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of the web conferencing and unified communication and collaboration (UC&C) and video conferencing, secondary resources and doing in-depth company share analysis of major 10 players in the market.Make More Inquiry@This Study on the Global Nasal Spray 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 Nasal Spray market and the ones as of now in the market along with a systematic value chain exploration.Table of Content1.1. OVERVIEW OF THE GLOBAL NASAL SPRAY MARKET1.2. CURRENCY AND PRICING1.3. LIMITATION1.4. MARKETS COVERED2 MARKET SEGMENTATION2.1. KEY TAKEAWAYS2.2. ARRIVING AT THE GLOBAL NASAL SPRAY SIZE2.2.1 VENDOR POSITIONING GRID2.2.2 TECHNOLOGY LIFE LINE CURVE2.2.3 MARKET TIME LINE2.2.4 MARKET GUIDE2.2.5 COMPANY POSITIONING GRID2.2.6 COMAPANY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS2.2.7 MULTIVARIATE MODELLING2.2.8 STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT2.2.9 TOP TO BOTTOM ANALYSIS2.2.10 VENDOR SHARE ANALYSIS2.2.11 DATA POINTS FROM KEY PRIMARY INTERVIEWS2.2.12 DATA POINTS FROM KEY SECONDARY DATABASES2.3. GLOBAL NASAL SPRAY MARKET: RESEARCH SNAPSHOT2.4. ASSUMPTIONS3 MARKET OVERVIEW3.1. DRIVERS3.2. RESTRAINTS3.3. OPPORTUNITIES3.4. CHALLENGES4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY5 PREMIUM INSIGHTS5.1. VENDOR POSITIONING GRID AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIESView Complete Report@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 analysisJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market Outlook 2022: Top Companies, Trends and Future Prospects Details for Business Development

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New report of Intelligent Building Automation Technologies 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 Intelligent Building Automation Technologies market.The intelligent building automation technologies market is expected to reach USD 95.95 billion by 2022 according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The intelligent building automation technology is an interconnected network of hardware and software that monitors and controls the building facility environment. The building automation system aids in the seamless operation of Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC), electricity, lighting and plumbing systems, as well as the security and life safety systems of a facility.Get Sample PDF of Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market Report @Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers: ABB, Azbil Corporation, Eaton Corporation, General Electric, Honeywell, Ingersoll Rand, Johnson Controls Inc., Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Siemens Building Technologies, Tyco International, Echelon, Bosch Security Systems, Ingersoll Rand Inc.In this introductory section, the Intelligent Building Automation Technologies industry research report incorporates analysis of definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market Segment by Type covers: Security Systems , Life Safety Systems, Facility Management Systems, Building Energy Management Systems.Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market Segment by Applications covers: Residential, Commercial, Industrial.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Intelligent Building Automation Technologies in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Pre Order Enquiry for Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market report @Next part of Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market Research Report contains additional information like key vendors in Market space, Intelligent Building Automation Technologies Market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Intelligent Building Automation Technologies 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 Intelligent Building Automation Technologies 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:
Indonesia Power Generation Market Expansion to be Persistent by 2022

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The Indonesia power generation market is expected to reach US$63.6 bn by the end of 2022. This market was recorded at US$14.1 bn in 2013 and is projected to expand at an 18.70% CAGR within a forecast period from 2014 to 2022, as stated in a research report released by Transparency Market Research. The report, titled Power Generation Market - Indonesia Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2022, provides a clear picture of this markets future in terms of opportunities for expansion and investment, as well as a map of drivers and restraints that can be negotiated with.View Report Preview @According to the report, the Indonesia power generation market is expanding at a CAGR of 8.50% within the given forecast period, in terms of generation capacity. The power generation totaled 44.4 GW in 2013 and is expected to reach 90.1 GW by 2022.The report states that the primary driver of the Indonesia power generation market is the constantly increasing demand for power in the region. As per findings, the demand for electricity in Indonesia is expected to grow from 206.5 TWh in 2013 to a projected 2022 value of 442.5 TWh, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.10% in the given forecast period.The Indonesia power generation market has been segmented to improve user perspective. It is segmented on the basis of the technology used into combined cycle power generation, hydro power generation, geothermal power generation, oil-fired power generation, natural gas-fired power generation, and coal-fired power generation. Of these, the Indonesia power generation market was led by coal-fired power generation technology in 2013, when it was used to generate nearly 54% of the overall electricity in the region. The reports authors expect this segment to retain its leading position throughout the forecast period.Request to View Sample of Research Report @The report also provides details on the initiatives taken by the government of Indonesia for cutting down greenhouse gas emissions and to use renewable energy sources, especially geothermal power. Indonesia has kept a target of 5.0 GW of geothermal energy to be added to its overall capacity by 2025. 1.6 GW of geothermal energy was harnessed in 2013, while the region currently houses a total potential of 28.0 GW from geothermal sources.The report also provides a detailed view of the competitive landscape of the Indonesia power generation market. The country had stated a target of doubling its power generation by the end of 2020. This has caused a significant rise in generation and consumption rates in the recent years. The government has also modified its investment structure to suit its energy generation target. This has also given rise to a large number of private players entering the Indonesia power generation market.The key players in the Indonesia power generation market include PT Indonesia Power, United Coal Indonesia, PT Jawa Power, Siemens AG, PT Wartsila Indonesia, PT Geo Dipa Energi, PT Harum Energy Tbk., Chevron Indonesia, PT Bumi Resources Tbk., PT Cirebon Electric Power, Hyundai Engineering Co. Ltd., PT Pembangkitan Jawa-Bali, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, PT Adaro Energy Tbk., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., PT Arutmin Indonesia, Asia Resource Minerals plc., and Medco Power Indonesia.Buy Indonesia Power Generation Market Research Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.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:
The Latvian Insurance Industry Market 2017- By Plan Future Business Decisions Using the Forecast Figures

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled The Latvian Insurance IndustrySynopsis'Governance, Risk and Compliance  The Latvian Insurance Industry' report is the result of extensive research into the insurance regulatory framework in Latvia.It provides detailed analysis of the insurance regulations for life, property, motor, liability, personal accident and health, and marine, aviation and transit insurance. The report specifies various requirements for the establishment and operation of insurance and reinsurance companies and intermediaries.The report brings together research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on prevailing insurance regulations, and recent and upcoming changes in the regulatory framework, taxation and legal system in the country. The report also includes the scope of non-admitted insurance in the country.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryThe report provides insights into the governance, risk and compliance framework pertaining to the insurance industry in Latvia, including: An overview of the insurance regulatory framework in Latvia. The latest key changes, and changes expected in the countrys insurance regulatory framework. Key regulations and market practices related to different types of insurance product in the country. Rules and regulations pertaining to key classes of compulsory insurance, and the scope of non-admitted insurance in Latvia. Key parameters including licensing requirements, permitted foreign direct investment, minimum capital requirements, solvency and reserve requirements, and investment regulations. Details of the tax and legal systems in the country.Scope The report covers details of the insurance regulatory framework in Latvia. The report contains details of the rules and regulations governing insurance products and insurance entities. The report lists and analyzes key trends and developments pertaining to the countrys insurance regulatory framework. The report analyzes the rules and regulations pertaining to the establishment and operation of insurance businesses in the country. The report provides details of taxation imposed on insurance products and insurance companies.Key points to buy Gain insights into the insurance regulatory framework in Latvia. Track the latest regulatory changes, and expected changes impacting the Latvian insurance industry. Gain detailed information about the key regulations governing the establishment and operation of insurance entities in the country. Understand key regulations and market practices pertaining to various types of insurance product.Key Highlights The Latvian insurance industry is regulated by the Financial and Capital Market Commission. The new Solvency II standard became effective from January 1, 2016. Non-admitted insurance is not allowed in the country. However, unlicensed insurers in EU and EEA member states are permitted to do non admitted business. Insurance premium tax (IPT) is not levied on insurance products. 100% FDI is allowed in Latvia.Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Governance, Risk and Compliance3 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
Cards and Payments Bulgaria Market 2017 Key Players, Trend, Segmentation and Opportunities Forecast To 2020

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Summary"The Cards and Payments Industry in Bulgaria: Emerging trends and opportunities to 2020", report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Bulgarian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, cash, payment cards and direct debit during the review period (2012-2016).The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry, and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review period and over the forecast period (2016-2020). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.GET SAMPLE REPORT @The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure.The report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Bulgarian cards and payments industry, including -- Current and forecast values for each market in the Bulgarian cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards.- Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, cash, direct debit and payment cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.- E-commerce market analysis.- Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Bulgarian cards and payments industry.- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards.Scope- Contactless technology is gaining traction in Bulgaria, with leading banks such as UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, UBB, Fibank, and Raiffeisen Bank now offering contactless cards in the country. By the end of 2015, UniCredit Bulbank had issued 500,000 contactless cards. Of the 20,000 POS terminal installations by the bank, 12,000 were enabled with contactless functionality. In 2015, the bank equipped six Sofia Metropolitan stations with 10 unattended ticketing machines, all enabled for contactless payments. The rising adoption of contactless technology is anticipated to drive payment card transaction volumes.- Banks in Bulgaria are now launching mobile wallets to offer convenient banking services to consumers. Fibank launched its mobile wallet in April 2016, equipped with NFC contactless and Mastercard's certified Host Card Emulation (HCE) technology. Users can add their card details to the wallet for future transactions. In May 2016, Postbank launched the m-Postbank mobile wallet, allowing consumers to perform online transactions.- Diners Club is expanding its presence in the country. The scheme partnered with DSK Bank in 2016 and Piraeus Bank in 2015. Previously, Fibank was the only bank in Bulgaria to offer Diners Club credit cards. To encourage card use, Diners Club card holders are offered benefits such as discounts, reward points, and cashback at retail outlets, free access to VIP airport lounges, and free medical travel insurance.Reasons to buy- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Bulgarian cards and payments industry and each market within it.- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Bulgarian cards and payments industry.- Assess the competitive dynamics in the Bulgarian cards and payments industry.- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Bulgaria.- Gain insights into key regulations governing the Bulgarian cards and payments industry.Table of Content: Key Points1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 21.1. Market overview 21.2. Key facts 31.3. Top five industry events 42. PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS 102.1. Current payment environment 103. E-COMMERCE AND ALTERNATIVE PAYMENTS 123.1. E-commerce market analysis 123.2. Alternative payment solutions 133.2.1. PayPal 133.2.2. Paysafecard 133.2.3. G-Wallet 133.2.4. Fibank mobile wallet 133.2.5. iCARD multi-currency wallet 144. REGULATIONS IN THE CARDS AND PAYMENTS INDUSTRY 154.1. Regulatory framework 154.1.1. SEPA Cards Framework 154.2. Anti-money laundering 164.3. Foreign direct investment (FDI) regulations 165. ANALYSIS OF CARDS AND PAYMENTS INDUSTRY DRIVERS 176. PAYMENT CARDS 197. DEBIT CARDS 217.1. Debit cards market analysis 217.2. Competition in the debit cards market 237.3. Debit cards comparison 258. PAY-LATER CARDS 268.1. Pay-later cards market analysis 26ContinuedACCESS 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 Butane Market Report provides Company and Distribution Shares & Market Outlook to 2022

Global Butane Market Report provides Company and Distribution Shares & Market Outlook to 2022

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ReportsMonitor.com has added Global Butane Market Research Report 2017.The research article entitled Worldwide Butane Market offers very useful reviews into the generic market trends and also the features that propel this Universal market place. This sector analyse deeply covers the main features of the Global Butane Market about the Industry structure including landscaping plan, the issues, require opportunities, including the anticipated industry success.Get Your Free Sample Report @Major Regions play vital role in Butane market are: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Middle East & Africa, India, South America, Others.Top Key manufactures of Butane Market are BP, Total, Chevron Phillips Chemical, ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy Corporation, Air Liquide, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Linde.The Butane Market, presents critical information and factual data about the global Butane Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread global Butane opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in Butane industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into Isobutane, N-butane.By Application, the market can be split into LPG, Petrochemicals, Refineries, Other.Check Discount on this report@Some points from TOC:1 Global Butane Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 Global Butane Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 Global Butane Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 Global Butane Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 Global Butane Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 Global Butane Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 Butane Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Global Butane Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the Butane 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 Butane 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:
Copper Foil Market By Technologies, Services, Applications and Regions  Trends and Forecast from 2017-2022

Copper Foil Market By Technologies, Services, Applications and Regions  Trends and Forecast from 2017-2022

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ReportsMonitor.com has added Global Copper Foil Market Research Report 2017.The research article entitled Worldwide Copper Foil Market offers very useful reviews into the generic market trends and also the features that propel this Universal market place. This sector analyse deeply covers the main features of the Global Copper Foil Market about the Industry structure including landscaping plan, the issues, require opportunities, including the anticipated industry success.Get Your Free Sample Report @Major Regions play vital role in Copper Foil market are: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Middle East & Africa, India, South America, Others.Top Key manufactures of Copper Foil Market are Fukuda, Mitsui Mining & Smelting, Hitachi Cable, Furukawa Electric, JX Nippon Mining & Metal , Olin Brass, Circuit Foil, LS Mtron, Iljin Materials, CCP, NPC, Co-Tech, LYCT, Jinbao Electronics, Kingboard Chemical, KINWA, Tongling Nonferrous Metal Group.The Copper Foil Market, presents critical information and factual data about the global Copper Foil Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread global Copper Foil opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in Copper Foil industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into Rolled Copper Foil, Electrolytic Copper Foil.By Application, the market can be split into Printed Circuit Board , Lithium-ion Batteries, Electromagnetic Shielding, Other.Check Discount on this report@Some points from TOC:1 Global Copper Foil Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 Global Copper Foil Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 Global Copper Foil Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 Global Copper Foil Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 Global Copper Foil Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 Global Copper Foil Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 Copper Foil Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Global Copper Foil Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the Copper Foil 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 Copper Foil 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:
Automotive Computer Chips Market to Witness Widespread Expansion During 2017-2025

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Automobile electrical systems have steadily evolved over the past few years and currently they integrate automatic computer controls of vehicles. In the initial days, automotive electrical systems consisted of only basic wiring equipment and machinery that were primarily used in order to distribute power to other parts of the vehicle. Wires, switches, controlled motors and relays were the key constituents; however, now, automotive electrical systems include sensors, alternators, actuators, battery, generator, oxygen sensors, starter drive, high power electrical systems, starter solenoid and other devices. One of the first uses of a computer in an automobile was for the engine control unit. Automotive manufacturers around the world began to use early versions of computer systems to perform only one particular function. However, in 1968, Volkswagen presented the first electronic fuel injection (EFI) system controlled by computers. The system was manufactured by Bosch. Computer chips in automobiles since then have become an integral part of an automobile design. Presently, almost all car manufacturers use computer chips in one or multiple parts of the vehicles they produce.Request For Report Sample@One of the primary drivers of the global automotive computer chips market is the introduction of self-drive cars. Manufacturers around the world are introducing technologically advanced computer chips for these cars. For instance, NVIDIA introduced a single-processor structure of DRIVE PX 2 for self-drive cars. The functionality of DRIVE PX 2 include HD mapping and automated highway driving while consuming only 10 watts of power. Moreover, it empowers vehicles to utilize deep neural networks in order to gather and process data from several sensors and cameras. Technological advancements as well as the increasing popularity of self-drive cars is likely to encourage the growth of the automotive computer chips market during the forecast period.Increased inclusion of electrical and computer systems such as sensors, actuators, and displays in automobiles along with other functionalities such as drive control and engine control in which automotive computer chips are used, is likely to fuel the overall automotive computer chips market for automotive computer chips during the forecast period.The global automotive computer chips market is segregated by application and geography. By application, the market is divided into electronic engine control (EEC), electronic fuel injection (EFI), computer controlled transmission, communication module, and others. Electronic engine control accounted for the maximum share in the global automotive computer chips market. Controlling the engine is a processor-intensive job in automobiles and the electronic engine control is one of the most powerful computers in most automobiles. EEC's have become a regular device in cars since the 1970's when they turned out to be essential due to stringent emission standards. This segment is likely to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period.The global automotive computer chips market is segmented into five regions. They are, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. In terms of revenue, North America held a significant share of the market. Some of the other factors responsible for the growth of the global automotive computer chips market in this region are increasing demand for automated cars as well as self-drive vehicles, technological advancements, and high adoption rate of computer controlled systems in automobiles among consumers. However, Asia Pacific is likely to grow at a significant rate owing to the increasing demand for automobiles and rising purchasing power of the population of this region.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Some of the tech companies producing computer systems for autonomous cars are Google, Intel, and Nvidia. Companies operating in the global automotive computer chips market also include Renesas, Freescale / NXP, STMicroelectronics, Infineon, Bosch, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, ON Semiconductor, and Micron Technology.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Asparagus Market: Canned and Frozen Segments Expected to Account for Substantial Growth

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Asparagus is preferred as an ingredient in soups and fresh food productsAsparagus is actively sought by major companies as a key ingredient in soups on account of its nutritive properties and palatable taste. Asparagus is widely predicted to become the primary choice in the soup manufacturing industry as many companies already make soup with asparagus and this is only expected to grow in the future.As a vegetable, asparagus is quite popular to prepare ready-to-eat foods, and asparagus is grated and mixed with other food products such as mixed vegetables and chicken to concoct truly delicious preparations. An increasing demand for asparagus in fresh food products such as brine and pickled asparagus, soups and sauces is likely to give a good boost to the revenue growth of the fresh segment by type in the global asparagus market.Obtain Report Details @Rising demand for organic asparagus in the global asparagus marketThe number of organic growers of asparagus in the global asparagus market is rising every year because of the high demand for organic asparagus. Asparagus growers are striving to increase the yield they can obtain and this can largely be attributed to the thriving global asparagus export market. Consumers have become extremely health-conscious worldwide and this has spurred demand for both the production and consumption of organic asparagus.Organic asparagus is particularly consumed in North America and Europe, and import there has grown by leaps and bounds. In the U.S state of Kentucky for example, growing organic asparagus has become something of a recent trend. The produce is exported to those countries where demand is high and Kentucky has the maximum asparagus produced organically when compared to any other region in the world.Fresh asparagus is the most widely consumed in the global asparagus marketFresh asparagus is highly preferred over its canned and frozen counterparts in the global asparagus market. Future Market Insights estimates the fresh segment of the global asparagus market to account for nearly 74% market share by the end of the year 2017 and this segment is likely to remain the dominant segment by type in the global asparagus market, showcasing a gain of 170 BPS by 2027 over 2017.The shelf life of fresh asparagus can be extended by pickling the asparagus, adding preservatives or even keeping it in brine. It is very easy to store asparagus products in any of these forms and they can even be enjoyed for the entire year. In the global asparagus market, pickled and brine asparagus is widely available in glass jars, cans or bottles.Request Sample Report@Market opportunity in excess of US$ 20 Bn in the fresh asparagus marketThe growing popularity of fresh asparagus is evident from the increasing demand by consumers globally and as a result, the fresh segment is estimated to account for a Y-o-Y growth of 2% in value terms in the year 2017, which is expected to rise to 3.1% by the end of the forecast period. The fresh segment is estimated to record a market revenue of more than US$ 20 Bn in the year 2017 and this is likely to reach a market valuation almost close to US$ 30 Bn by 2027, registering a good CAGR of 3.3% in terms of value during the forecast period  the highest among all the type segments of the global asparagus market.This gain in terms of value of the fresh asparagus segment will largely be at the expense of both canned and frozen asparagus segments in the global asparagus market. The fresh segment created absolute dollar opportunity of over US$ 550 Mn in 2016 over 2015; while an incremental opportunity of approximately US$ 8 Bn can be safely assumed between 2017 and 2027.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:
Spinal Cord Trauma Treatment Market to Exhibit a Healthy Growth of 3.7% CAGR Between 2017  2025

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Spinal Cord Trauma Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012  2016 and Forecast 2017  2025 is the recent report of Persistence Market Research that throws light on the overall market scenario during the period of eight years, i.e. 2017-2025. According to this report, Global spinal cord trauma treatment market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. This growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing incidence of spinal cord trauma, and increasing government support to reduce the burden of spinal cord injuries. Additionally, development of nerve cells growth therapy is expected to boost the market in near future. The global market for spinal cord trauma treatment is is estimated to be valued at US$ 2,276.3 Mn in terms of value by the end of 2017. The global spinal cord trauma treatment market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.7% over the forecast period to reach a value of US$ 3,036.2 Mn by 2027 end.Request to view table of content @On the basis of end user, the global spinal cord trauma treatment market is segmented into hospitals and trauma centers. Hospitals segment dominated the global spinal cord trauma treatment market in revenue terms in 2016 and is projected to continue to do so throughout the forecast period. Hospitals and trauma centers segments are expected to approximately similar attractive index. Hospitals segment accounted for 53.2% value share in 2017 and is projected to account for 52.5% share by 2025 end.On the basis of injury type, the global spinal cord trauma treatment market is segmented into complete spinal cord injuries and partial spinal cord injuries. Partial spinal cord trauma treatment segment is expected to show better growth than the completed spinal cord treatment segment due to higher growth in the incidence rate of partial spinal cord trauma than the complete spinal cord trauma. With US$ 1,870.3 Mn market value in 2025, this segment is likely to expand at CAGR 3.8% throughout the projected period.Request Sample Report @On the basis of treatment type, the global spinal cord trauma treatment market is segmented into corticosteroid, surgery, and spinal traction segments. Surgery segment dominated the global spinal cord trauma treatment market in revenue terms in 2016 and is projected to continue to do so throughout the forecast period. Surgery segment is the most attractive segment, with attractiveness index of 2.6 over the forecast period.This market is segmented into five regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, APAC and MEA. Asia-Pacific account for the largest market share in the global spinal cord trauma treatment market. Large patient population due to the high rate of road accidents and crime is making the Asia Pacific region most attractive market for spinal cord trauma treatment. On the other hand, MEA and Latin America is expected to be the least attractive market for spinal cord trauma treatment, with attractiveness index of 0.3 and 0.5 respectively over the forecast period.Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., Asterias Biotherapeutics, ReNetX Bio, BioArctic AB, BioTime, Inc., InVivo Therapeutics, Kringle Pharma, Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Pharmicell Co. Ltd., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Bioaxone Biosciences, Inc. are some of the key players in the global spinal cord trauma treatment market.Buy Spinal Cord Trauma Treatment Market Report @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA,Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Asia Pacific Pet Food Market: Trends and Opportunities for the Industry by 2020

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According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Pet Food Market - Asia Pacific Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, the asia Pacific pet food market was valued at USD 9,100.0 million in 2013 which is expected to reach USD 10,720.0 million by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 2.3% from 2014 to 2020. In terms of volume the pet food market in Asia Pacific was valued at 688.6 kg million in 2013 and is expected to reach 803.3 kg million by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 2.1% from 2014 to 2020.Download exclusive Sample of this report:The pet food market in terms of pet type has been segmented into dog food, cat food and others. The dog food segment held the largest market share in the pet food market in Asia Pacific. Increasing disposable income and rising trend for nuclear family are some of the major factors fueling the demand for dog food in Asia Pacific. However, the others segment including fish food, reptile food, bird food and other small animals is one of the fastest growing segments in Asia Pacific.In addition, the pet food market can be further segmented in terms of food type into: dry food, wet food/canned food, nutritious food, snacks/treats and others. The dry food segment held the largest market share in Asia Pacific. Ease of handling and lower prices of dry food as compared to other food types is one of the major factors fueling the demand for dry food in Asia Pacific. However, the nutritious food segment is the fastest growing segment in Asia Pacific. Increasing awareness about pet health is one of the major factors fueling the demand for nutritious food.Obtain Report Details @The Asia Pacific pet food market is further segmented by country into China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea and rest of Asia Pacific. Japan is one of the major markets for pet food in Asia Pacific. Increasing trend for nuclear family and demand for small pets is one of the major factors fueling the demand for pet food in Japan. However, with smaller dwelling places the pet food market in Japan is expected to experience stable growth throughout the forecast period.However, India is the fastest growing market for pet food in Asia Pacific. Increasing demand for companionship and awareness about pet health are some of the major factors fueling the demand for pet food in India. In addition, China is having huge potential for pet food owing to increasing number of pets. China has largest population of dogs as pets globally. Owing to these factors, there is huge untapped potential in pet food market in China. The average selling price (ASP) of snacks/treats segment was the highest in Asia Pacific followed by nutritious food segment.The pet food market is dominated mostly by major manufacturers such as Nestle S.A., Mars Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and Colgate-Palmolive Co. among others. However, the local players are still trying to enter these markets due to brand loyalty of the consumers.Asia Pacific Pet Food Market: By Pet TypeDog FoodCat FoodOthersAsia Pacific Pet Food Market: By Food TypeDry FoodWet Food/Canned FoodNutritious FoodSnacks/TreatsOthersAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Mining Chemicals Market Growing Demand in Explosives & Drilling Sector

Global Mining Chemicals Market CAGR Growth by 4.80%

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Databridgemarketresearch.com latest report on "Global Mining Chemicals Market By Product Type, Mineral Type, Applications  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024"The Global Mining Chemicals Market accounted for USD 5.80 billion in 2016 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.80% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Mining chemicals are specific chemicals which are used in extracting the minerals and metal such as gold, copper iron, cobalt, cobalt, bauxite, manganese. These are used in applications including boring, blasting, mineral processing, and water & waste treatment. Growing demand from the explosives & drilling sector is driving the market.Get a Free Sample Report Visit @Major Market Competitors:Some of the major players operating in global mining chemicals market are Akzo Nobel N.V., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Evonik, BASF SE, Cytec Solvay Group, AECI, DuPont, Clariant, Kemira, The Dow Chemical Company, Ashland, Huntsman International LLC, Beijing Hengju Chemical Group Corporation, Nalco, Orica Limited, Zinkan Enterprises Inc, ArrMaz, L.P, SNF Group, and Arizona Chemical Company, LLC among others.Market Segmentation:On The Basis Of Geography, global mining chemicals market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely 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.On The Basis Of Product Type, global mining chemicals market is segmented into grinding aids, collectors, frothers, flocculants and solvent extractants.Have any Query Regarding the Global Mining Chemicals Market Report? Speak to Expert Visit@On The Basis Mineral Type, global mining chemicals market is segmented into base metals, precious metals, non-metallic minerals and rare earth metals.On The Basis Of Applications, global mining chemicals market is segmented into mineral processing, water & wastewater treatment and explosives & drilling.Competitive Analysis:The global mining chemicals market is consolidated due to the presence of limited number of players concentrated in few countries. These major players have adopted various organic as well as inorganic growth strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, and others to strengthen their position in this market.Major Market Drivers and Restraints: Growing investments in mining projects Growing water treatment industry Growing mining activities Slow or limited growth in developed economiesComplete report on Global Mining Chemicals Market supported with tables and figures available @Related ReportGlobal Construction Repaint Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Construction Repaint Market, By Resin Type (Acrylic, Alkyd, Epoxy, Polyurethane, Polyester), By Formulation (Solvent Borne, Waterborne), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial)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 Blog:Follow us on LinkedIn:
Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market To Increase at Steady Growth Rate 2017 - 2027

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Gluten free malt extracts are extracted from grains which do not contain gluten. Few of these grains are millet, buckwheat, rice, sorghum etc. Gluten free malt extracts also enhance flavor in gluten free malt products. Manufacturers can use the term gluten free only if they comply with the gluten free rule of FDA. They can label their products as gluten free when the product contains gluten less than 20 ppm i.e. 20 parts per million. A common occurring protein in most of the grains like barley, oats, rye is gluten. The increase in the number of digestive disorders and autoimmune disorders like Celiac disease, gluten insensitivity created the need for gluten free products. Gluten free malt extracts are prepared by using amylase enzymes which help in the conversion of starch into sugar, which is further fermented by brewing of the yeast.Gluten Free Malt Extract: Market DynamicsThe products with gluten free malt extracts are consumed in order to reduce the risk of Celiac disease. There is increase in the number of Celiac disease patients around the globe especially in US. Many people in the developed countries have started brewing malt at home in order to ensure that the malt is actually gluten free. The reason behind this is intolerance to gluten intake. People are either themselves suffering from Celiac disease or their dear ones are suffering which compels them to brew at home. This in future can jeopardize the business of companies brewing for commercial purposes. Malt is one of the major ingredients for preparation of beer. The yearly consumption of beers in USA is in gallons. The use of gluten free malt extract for the preparation of beer is a prerequisite for health of the people who consume beer frequently.Some companies develop their own gluten free malt extract and use it for the preparation of its final product. Maintaining quality standards from the point of growing or sourcing raw materials till the time of production and sale of final product is one of their marketing strategy. There are also supermarkets in cosmopolitan cities such as Tokyo which keep a wide range of gluten free products only in one super market.Request Report Brochure @Gluten Free Malt Extracts: Market SegmentationOn the basis of application:FoodsBeverageNutraceuticalsCosmeticGluten free malt extracts are used in the production of bakery and confectionary items. Hamburger buns, pizza crust, tortillas, white bread, sandwich bread, bread concentrates etc. can be prepared from gluten free malt extracts. Ready to eat and instant oats, soups, pizza wraps, pocket sandwiches can also be prepared using gluten free malt extracts. It can also help in producing baking flour and multi-purpose flour. It is also used as an ingredient in pastries, cupcakes, pan cakes, cheese cakes, muffins, cookies etc. Vinegar is also made from gluten free malt extracts. Gluten free malt extracts are used in the brewing of beer and other alcoholic beverages. They are also used in preparing tea and coffee powder. Syrups used to in breweries are also made from gluten free malt extracts. Port, spirits, sherry, wine, cider, sodas, cordials, flavored water and fruit juices are other beverages prepared from gluten free malt extracts as a major ingredient. Gluten free malt extracts are used for preparing protein powders and energy drinks. Some cosmetics are also prepared from gluten free malt extracts. Cosmetics which contain gluten can cause dermatitis herpetiformis in humans.Visit For TOC@On the basis of physical state:PowderLiquidOn the basis of grain:MilletBuckwheatRiceSorghumCornGluten Free Malt Extracts: Regional OverviewThe demand for gluten free products is significant in North America as compared to the demand of gluten free products in APAC countries. Around 1 % of the population of USA is suffering from Celiac disease and the number is expected to rise only in the coming years instead of increasing. Different countries have different criteria of labelling a product as gluten free. In some European countries products less than 100ppm are labelled as gluten free whereas in North America it should be less than 20ppm. This difference in labeling is an obstacle in foreign trade i.e. import and export of gluten free malt products from one country to another.Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market Players are as follows EDME Limited Company, Senson, Briess Malt & Ingredients, General Mills, Colorado Malting Company, Canyon Bakehouse.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
2017- 2022: Global Hand Tools Market For Scope Including Key vendors Such As Tajima, Knipex, Irwin, PHOENIX, Wiha

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report 2017-2022 Hand Tools Report on United States and Global Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications to its huge collection of research reports.The general market for Hand Tools has been seen on several perspectives that are about there, and have acceptably enhanced the improvement in the market. The report also verbalizes unmistakable figures and data identified with the general Hand Tools market. The key illumination behind the report is to unobtrusive components out certain positive and negative features about the market condition with the objective that potential monetary pros have a sensible and limited idea concerning it. Specific learning information have been given a particular bona fide objective to give a total all around examination of the market to the clients of the report. The market report whats more intertwines highlights, for example, prospects, market figures, methodologies, restrictions, and drivers for measuring their result that are essential for both the region and general level. The examination in like way solidify the pivotal market inspirations driving excitement being proposed, which contains particular features of the principal perspectives which are foreseen to trigger progress in the market or reason that will have a negative effect.Get Report Sample and Customization:This report puts extra endeavors on the general market for Hand Tools by adequately gaging the open gateways and business shackle of the concerned market. This is depended on to go as a supplementary guide in giving fitting bits of learning and information on different plots for the market, for example, information relating to traditions of the association bodies in the area and general level, progression rate and course structure, imperatives, volume traded, and benefit earned.Table of Contents2017-2022 Hand Tools Report on United States and Global Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerView Complete (table of content) of the Report:2 Hand Tools Market Overview2.1 Hand Tools Product Overview2.2 Hand Tools Segment by Types (Product Category)2.2.1 United States Hand Tools Sales and Growth (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)2.2.2 United States Hand Tools Sales Market Share (%) by Types (Product Category) in 20162.2.3 Metal Cutting Tools2.2.4 Layout and Measuring Tools2.2.5 Taps and Dies2.3 United States Hand Tools Segment by Applications2.3.1 United States Hand Tools Sales (K Sets) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)2.3.2 Household Use2.3.3 Commercial Use2.3.4 Industrial Use2.4 Global Hand Tools Market Comparison by Regions (2012-2022)2.4.1 Global Hand Tools Market Size and Growth (%) Comparison by Regions (2012-2022)2.4.2 North America Hand Tools Status and Prospect (2012-2022)3 United States Hand Tools Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers3.1 United States Hand Tools Sales (K Sets) and Share by Players (2012-2017)3.2 United States Hand Tools Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2012-2017)3.3 United States Hand Tools Average Price (USD/Set) by Players (2012-2017)3.4 Players Hand Tools Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types3.5 Hand Tools Market Competitive Situation and Trends3.5.1 Hand Tools Market Concentration Rate3.5.2 Hand Tools Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Players3.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion4 Global Hand Tools Market Comparison by Regions4.2 Global Hand Tools Sales (K Sets) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.3 Global Hand Tools Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.3 Global Hand Tools Sales (K Sets), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Set) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)List of Tables and FiguresTable Research Programs/Design for This ReportFigure Bottom-up and Top-down Approaches for This ReportFigure Data TriangulationTable Key Data Information from Secondary SourcesTable Key Data Information from Primary SourcesFigure Product Picture of Hand ToolsTable United States Hand Tools Sales (K Sets) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure United States Hand Tools Sales Market Share (%) by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Metal Cutting ToolsTable Major Players of Metal Cutting ToolsFigure Product Picture of Layout and Measuring ToolsTable Major Players of Layout and Measuring ToolsFigure Product Picture of Taps and DiesTable Major Players of Taps and DiesQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Soy Milk Market Value Chain and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Soy milk is a type of grain milk which is prepared by soaking dried soya beans which is grinded in water. Soy milk is a stable emulsion of water, oil and protein. Soy milk is available in various flavors in the market which is also fortified with extra calcium and vitamins. Soy milk contains high amount of essential ingredients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and calcium as compared to regular cow milk. Soy milks does not contain lactose, and is highly preferred by consumers which are lactose intolerant and individuals that avoid dairy products, including vegan consumers. Manufacturers are offering innovative soy milk-based products which are fortified with vitamins such as vitamin B12 and B3, minerals and iron for increasing their product quality. Soy milks are the most consumed milk alternative worldwide which are boosting the sales growth over the recent years. Soy milk is mostly consumed by individuals which are lactose intolerant, allergic to soy and soy-based products or milk products. Soy milks are rich in protein and is calcium fortified drinks.Global Soy Milk: Market SegmentationThe global soy milk market is segmented on the basis of form, flavor, distribution channel, application and region. The soy milk market is segmented on the basis of form such as plain unsweetened form and plain sweetened form. The soy milk market is segmented on the basis of flavor such as chocolate and vanilla. The soy milk market is segmented on the basis of distribution channel such as online stores, supermarket/hypermarket, retail stores, and others. The global soy milk market is segmented on the basis of application in which soy milk is used in application in food products such as cheese, desserts, and snacks and beverages such as cold-pressed milks and others. Hence, the global soy milk market is expected to significantly increase the revenue contribution over the forecast period.Request Report Brochure @Global Soy Milk Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global soy milk industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Globally, among all regions, Asia Pacific has developed as the dominant region in global soy milk market followed by Europe. Increasing demand for soy milk in lactose-intolerant consumers, has strengthened the growth of global soy milk market and hence is projected to significantly expand the revenue contribution of the market over the forecast period.Global Soy Milk Market: Growth DriversThe global soy milk market driving factors are increasing demand for lactose-free food products due to the ease of digest which is likely to contribute significantly to the revenue growth of global soy milk market till 2025. Growing levels of lactose intolerance is one of the major driving factor of the market. Rising consumer awareness regarding usage of lactose-free dairy products in day-to-day life which helps in maintaining the galactose level in the body, is one of the major driving factor for the market. Manufacturers are offering a variety of soy milk-based dairy products to the consumers in order to remain in the competition. Growing population of lactose intolerance consumers is also a major factor which is driving the global soy milk market. Hence, the global soy milk market is expected to observe robust growth over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Soy Milk Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified across the value chain of the global soy milk market include Vitasoy Australia, Alpro, Provamel, DREAM, Furama, NOW Foods, Palsgaard, Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc., The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Lam Soon Group are among others. The companies are expected to expand their business by enhancing their product portfolio in global soy milk market. The companies are projected to frame certain strategies in future in order to gain the competitive advantage in global soy milk market till 2025.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Market Professional Survey Report 2017: Honda, Hitachi, Maxell, SAFT

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Market Professional Survey Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The global market for All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) is discussed in detail within a new research study added recently to QYResearchReports.com. The report has been carefully examined both qualitatively and quantitatively and the results are revealed in the research report for the forecast period of 2017 to 2022. In addition to this, the various drivers and restraints, regulatory conditions, and the segmentation of this global market have also been included in the study. All data is supported by primary and secondary research methodologies. Expert analysts from the industry have also expressed their opinions on the industrial and economic scenario, creating the report as an authentic guide to the global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) market.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @The research report makes use of various market-tested analytical tools such as market attractiveness readings, SWOT analysis, and Porters Five Forces analysis in order to provide readers a qualitative as well as quantitative overview of the All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) market. The information garnered from these research procedures is further investigated by seasoned industry analysts, who have made their contributions in the form of invaluable market insights on the workings of the global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) market.The biggest and the highly influential regions in the global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) market are determined and assessed in detail within the research report. The economic factors influencing the global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) market are stated, along with a 360-degree overview of the current conditions that are influencing the direction and expansion rate of the market and the key operations in its various regional segments. Top market trends are analyzed to offer clients appropriate guidance in compiling their own market strategies for their and the global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) markets growth trajectory. The report thus provides existing and established companies as well as new entrants all the relevant data they need to create business opportunities in lucrative and thriving economies. The report helps companies of any size and caliber establish a stronger foothold in the global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) market.Table of ContentsGlobal All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)1.1 Definition and Specifications of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)1.1.1 Definition of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)1.1.2 Specifications of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)1.2 Classification of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)1.2.1 Solid Electrolytes1.2.2 Gel Electrolytes1.2.3 Other1.3 Applications of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)1.3.1 Wind/Solar Power1.3.2 Traffic1.3.3 Industrial Equipment1.3.4 Consumer Electronics1.3.5 Other1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 IndiaRead Complete Table of Content @2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)2.4 Industry Chain Structure of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Sales Price4.4.2 2016 All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)Table Product Specifications of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)Table Classification of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)Figure Global Production Market Share of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) by Type in 2016Figure Solid Electrolytes PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Solid ElectrolytesFigure Gel Electrolytes PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Gel ElectrolytesFigure Other PictureTable Major Manufacturers of OtherTable Applications of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs)Figure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of All Solid State Supercapacitors (ASSSCs) by Application in 2016Figure Wind/Solar Power ExamplesTable Major Consumers in Wind/Solar PowerQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Next Generation Training Systems Market Value Chain and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Next generation training system is an innovative functional training system that integrates all parts of human movement. Global next generation training system market is expected to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period of 2017  2025.Based on product types, the next generation training systems market is segmented into virtual, live, gaming simulation and constructive. Among various product types, in 2016, the live segment dominated the next generation training systems market and is expected to be the same during the forecast period of 2017  2025. Increasing demand of live segment in developing countries of Asia Pacific and Europe such as India, China, Japan, France and Italy among others is expected to boost the market for the next generation training system market during the forecast period of 2017  2025.Based on application, the next generation training systems market is segmented into airborne, ground and naval. Among various applications, in 2016, the ground segment dominated the next generation training systems market followed by airborne and expected to be the same during the forecast period of 2017  2025. Growing economies such as India, Brazil, China and Pakistan among others is seeking to boost their force protection capability which in turn is fueling the demand of next generation training systems market, globally.Request Report Brochure @One of the major factor driving the market for the market is the rise in the role of ground troops in several parts of the world such as Pakistan, India and France among others. As of 2014, there were 8 active military conflicts and 10 official wars known by the United States.Based on the geography, the next generation training systems market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. In 2016, North America is expected to be the largest market followed by Europe and expected to be the same during the forecast period of 2017  2025. Flight simulators are anticipated to be the major drivers to support growth in the North America next generation training systems market during the forecast period of 2017  2025. In 2016, the U.S. is the key market for the next generation training systems market, globally. Moreover, Europe is the second major market for next generation training systemsmarket trailed by Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America. Asia-Pacific is estimated to witness the highest CAGR among all regions during the estimate period. Developing economies such as China, South Korea and India among others are focusing on the replacement of their old training system with next generation training systems and are also increasing their expenses in the defense sector constantly are some of the major factors boosting the demand of the next generation training system market during the forecast period of 2017  2025. Middle East and Africa is expected to grow at a healthy rate during the forecast period of 2017  2025. The increasing investing in next generation training systems is one of the major factors contributing to the growth of next generation training systems market in Middle East and Africa during the forecast period. In 2016, Brazil is expected to dominate the Latin America next generation training systemsmarket and expected to be the same during the forecast period of 2017  2025Visit For TOC@Some of the major players in the Next Generation Training Systemsmarket include areLockheed Martin Corporation (United States), Northrop Grumman Corporation (United States), L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (United States), CAE, Inc. (United States), Thales Group (France).These key players are targeting the emerging economies and are applying several methods to increase their market share. In addition, some of the other major players Rockwell Collins Inc. (United States), Raytheon Company (United States), Rheinmetall AG (Germany) and Cubic Corporation (United States)among others.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Market Intelligence Report Distilled Spirits Market, 2017 - 2025

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Distilled spirits are alcoholic beverages that are manufactured by the distillation of grains, vegetables or fruits after they have gone through the fermentation process. This process removes and purifies the diluting components such as water which results in the increase of the volume of alcohol content in the beverages. Distilled beverages have more alcoholic content as compared to brewed beverages and are often termed as hard liquor. The term spirit is referred to distilled beverages that contain alcoholic content of at least 20% volume by volume. Beverages that contain 40% or more alcohol volume by volume have high flammability and will catch fire if heated to about 26 degree Celsius. This temperature is called flash point. The global distilled spirits market is segregated on the basis of product type and region. On the basis of product type, the global market for distilled spirits is segregated into brandy, whiskey, rum, tequila, gin, vodka, cane, flavored spirits and natural spirits. Vodka held the most dominant market share in terms of revenue owing to its high demand in major regions such as Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Vodka is followed by whiskey in the global market. Whiskey is also forecast to witness the most rapid growth rate during the forecast period owing to its increased consumption is countries such as China and India. The global market for distilled spirits is forecast to witness a steady growth rate during the forecast period owing to increased demand from emerging nations such as Russia, Brazil, China and India.Major drivers driving the global market for distilled spirits include increasing number of younger population. For instance, in the U.K., 47% of the population is aged between 18-24 years who consume alcohol on a regular basis and this percentage increases to 67% for population aged 25-44 years. Rising disposable income is another major driver that is boosting market growth. Stringent government rules and regulations is a major restraint to the global distilled spirits market. Government rule on the permissible consumption of alcohol is a major drawback to the overall market growth for distilled spirits. In addition, in many countries, alcohol is only allowed to be sold in government approved shops. Banned on advertisement of alcohol in public places is another hindrance to the growth of distilled alcohol globally. Rising demand in untapped market of Middle East & Africa can provide to be a major opportunity to the global market for distilled spirits.Request Report Brochure @Geographically, the global market for distilled spirits is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. Latin America. Asia Pacific held the most dominant market share in the global distilled spirits market. This is attributed to its high domestic consumption in countries such as China and India. China is the most dominant country the Asia Pacific region in terms of distilled spirits consumption and is also forecast to witness the most rapid growth rate over the forecast period. In China, sale of distilled spirits have grown four times in the last decade. North America follows Asia Pacific and held the second most dominant market share in the global market for distilled spirits. This is attributed to rising population that consumes alcohol on a regular basis. Europe comes third when it comes to dominance in market share of the global distilled spirits market. U.K. is the most dominant country in the European market.Visit For TOC@Major players of the global distilled spirits market include, Diageo plc (London, United Kingdom), Pernod-Ricard SA (Paris, France), Brown-Forman Corporation (Kentucky, U.S.), Constellation Brands, Inc. (New York, U.S.), Remy Cointreau (Paris, France), Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits (Ivry-sur-Seine, France) and Berentzen-Gruppe AG (Haselunne, Germany) among others.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Control Valve Market Present Scenario and Growth Prospects 2016-22

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Market Scenario:Control valves are used by various industrial sectors which include oil & gas, waste water management, automotive, pharmaceuticals, chemical and others in order to control temperature, flow, and pressure by received signals from the controllers. Control valves regulate the rate of fluid flow to maintain a process variable. Currently, oil & gas and power generation industry is showing highest demand for control valves as it has ability to control flowing fluid such as gas, stream, water and chemical compound, to reimburse load disturbance and thereby keep the regulated process close to the desired set point.Among its various types, globe valves are generally used for controlling. The end part of its structure usually edged for easy maintenance. Also, the control disk can be moved by hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical or mechanical actuators.The major factor that drives the growth of control valve market is growing investment in fluid handling system, increasing need of automation and rising industrial infrastructure projects among others. The major restraint of the control valve market is the lack of technical expertise among instrument engineers.Globally the market for Control Valve market is expected to grow at the rate of more than ~6% from 2016 to 2022.Request a Sample Report @Key Players for Control Valve Market:Some of the major players in Global Control Valve Market includes Burkert Fluid Control Systems (Germany), Crane Co. (U.S.), Velan, Inc. (Canada), Pentair Limited (UK), Flowserve Corporation (U.S.), Dual Products Intl. Cc (South Africa), Metso Corporation (Finland), Samson AG (Germany), MIL Control Limited (India), and IMI Plc. (UK) among others.Segments for Control Valve Market:Global Control Valve Market can be segmented as follows:Segmentation by Types: ball valve, butterfly valve, cryogenic valve, and globe valve among othersSegmentation by Components: positioners, switches, transducers, actuators, PC diagnostic software, and pneumatic lock up systems among others.Segmentation by End-Users: Oil & gas, chemicals, food & beverage, automotive, metal & mining and pharmaceuticals among others.Regional Analysis of Control Valve Market:North America is dominating the global control valve market with the largest market share due to presence of high-tech R&D sector in the region to provide extensive control valve automation solution to the industry. Therefore is expected to grow with highest revenue by 2022 followed by Europe. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region during the forecast period due to growing investment by emerging economies such as China and India.Target Audience: OEM manufacturers Automotive industries Distributors & Suppliers Research organizations Government Oil& gas and mining sectors Browse Report @MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics 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. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Hosiery Market 2017 Key Players -Hanesbrands Inc., CSP International, LVMH, Jockey International, Gildan Activewear, L brands, Golden Lady SpA.

Hosiery Market

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Hosiery Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Hosiery Market 2017 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2022reports to its database.Executive SummaryThis report studies Hosiery 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, coveringHanesbrands Inc.,CSP International,LVMH,Jockey International,Gildan Activewear,L brands,Golden Lady SpA....Request Sample Report @By types, the market can be split intoBody StockingsKnee HighSocksTightsToe SocksOthersBy Application, the market can be split intoMenWomenBy 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.For further information on this report, visit -Table of ContentsGlobal Hosiery Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Hosiery1.1 Definition and Specifications of Hosiery1.1.1 Definition of Hosiery1.1.2 Specifications of Hosiery1.2 Classification of Hosiery1.2.1 Body Stockings1.2.2 Knee High1.2.3 Socks1.2.4 Tights1.2.5 Toe Socks1.2.6 Others1.3 Applications of Hosiery1.3.1 Men1.3.2 Women1.3.3 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 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hosiery2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hosiery2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Hosiery2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Hosiery3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Hosiery3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Hosiery Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Hosiery Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Hosiery Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Hosiery Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Hosiery Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Hosiery Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 Hosiery Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global Hosiery Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 Hosiery Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global Hosiery Sales Price4.4.2 2016 Hosiery Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Hosiery Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Hosiery Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Hosiery Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017E Hosiery Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017E Hosiery Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2016 Hosiery Market Share Analysis5.2 China Hosiery Market Analysis5.2.1 China Hosiery Market Overview5.2.2 China 2012-2017E Hosiery Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2012-2017E Hosiery Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2016 Hosiery Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Hosiery Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe Hosiery Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2012-2017E Hosiery Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2012-2017E Hosiery Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2016 Hosiery Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia Hosiery Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia Hosiery Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E Hosiery Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E Hosiery Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2016 Hosiery Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan Hosiery Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan Hosiery Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2012-2017E Hosiery Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2012-2017E Hosiery Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2016 Hosiery Market Share Analysis5.6 India Hosiery Market Analysis5.6.1 India Hosiery Market Overview5.6.2 India 2012-2017E Hosiery Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 India 2012-2017E Hosiery Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 India 2016 Hosiery Market Share Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Hosiery Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2012-2017E Hosiery Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Hosiery Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Hosiery Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 By Products of Hosiery Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 By Size of Hosiery Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.3 By Distribution Channel of Hosiery Growth Driving Factor Analysis7 Global 2012-2017E Hosiery Segment Market Analysis (by Application)7.1 Global 2012-2017E Hosiery Consumption by Application7.2 Different Application of Hosiery Product Interview Price Analysis7.3 Different Application of Hosiery Product Driving Factors Analysis7.3.1 Men of Hosiery Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.2 Women of Hosiery Growth Driving Factor AnalysisContinuousBuy 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
Optical Lenses Market is growing at 7% of CAGR between 2017 to 2023

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Market HighlightsThe regional analysis of optical lenses market is being studied for regions such as Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe and Rest of the World. North America region accounts for highest market share in optical lenses market owing to presence of major players in the region and adoption of advanced lens technology is boosting the market in the region. Countries such as US and Canada contributes large amount of revenue in the optical lenses in the region. AsiaPacific region is expected to be growing at the highest CAGR owing to the presence of numerous small and large lens manufacturers in the region that is propelling the marketNikon Corporation a prominent player in optical lenses market has designed a wide range of optical lenses with respect to consumer demand.Request a Sample Report @The company has made advances in the field of lens technology. It has manufactured See series optical lenses that project the top end premium product line of ophthalmic lenses and coatings. It has manufactured different kinds of optical lenses that includes See series, single vision lenses, progressive lenses, extended focus lenses and provide lenses treatment. The company manufactures progressive lenses that are the best option to correct presbyopia. It has also developed a wide range of options that will deliver superior optical performance, better aesthetics and comfort, all within a single lens. Extended lenses are manufactured so that they it can provide clear, smooth, effortless indoor vision.Cosina Co., Ltd a major player in optical lenses market has manufactured optical lenses that can be used in camera.Major Key PlayersNikon Corporation (Japan),Schott (Germany),Olympus Corporation Of The Americas (U.S.),Bausch + Lomb (U.S.),Menicon Co. Ltd. (Japan),Cosina Co., Ltd. (Japan),Carl Zeiss Ag (German),Cyberoptics Corporation (U.S.),Meade Instruments (U.S.)Market SegmentationThe optical lenses market is segmented on the basis of type, application and vertical. By application segment the market includes microscopy, laser processing, imaging and ophthalmic. Optical microscopy in used for viewing micro particles and inspection of blood cells. It can be used to view particles in any form such as solid, liquid and gas. It can be easily integrated with digital camera systems for analysis and data storage. Optical contact lenses are like implants however they don't require surgery and can usually be inserted or removed by the user. They're neither on nor under the skin full time. They're exposed to both air and the body's internal science. Contact lenses sit on the eye, thus can upgrade vision. They're presented to both light and the mechanical development of blinking, so they can gather vitality.Browse Full Report Details @Table of Content1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope Of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Type2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size Estimation3 Market Dynamics3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Drivers3.3 Market Challenges3.4 Market Opportunities3.5 Market Restraints4 Executive Summary5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.2 Supply Chain Analysis6 Optical Lenses Market, By SegmentsContinued.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:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Corrugated Boxes Market - Advanced technologies & growth opportunities in global Industry

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The global corrugated boxes market demonstrates a competitive and an extremely fragmented business landscape, states a novel report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The leading vendors of corrugated boxes mainly compete on the basis of their product portfolio and the pricing differentiation. Currently, the key companies are concentrating on expanding their business by constructing new production units and introducing new products in the emerging regions.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Going forward, the market is anticipated to witness a stiff pricing competition among enterprises in the years to come due to the continual inflow of new vendors in this market, reports the research study.According to TMR, the global market for corrugated boxes will reach a whopping sum of US$96.60 bn by 2017 end. Researchers expect a significant rise in the opportunity offered by this market during the period from 2017 to 2022, expanding at a CAGR of 3.60% and arriving at US$115.15 bn by the end of the forecast period, sates the report.Rise in E-commerce to Shape Corrugated Boxes Markets FutureWith the significant rise in the packaging and converting industries, the demand for corrugated boxes has bolstered across the world, says a TMR analyst. The increasing application of corrugated boxes in the logistics, fresh food and beverages, electronic goods, and the home and personal care goods industries is boosting the global corrugated boxes market significantly. Apart from this, the rising preference for sustainable packaging among consumers is also driving the growth of this market across the world.Over the coming years, this market is likely to gain from the remarkable progress of the E-commerce industry, worldwide, as online retailers have begun to increasingly utilize various types of corrugated boxes, on the basis of the kind of product to be transported, for the safety of the products. Efficient packaging is fast becoming one of the primary business requirements in the E-commerce industry, which is expected to reflect on the growth of this market over the next few years, states the report.Browse Market Research Report @Overall, the markets future looks thriving; however, it may face hindrances in the near future, on account of the high price of corrugated boxes. The rise in the processed food industry, on the other hand, will help the market to normalize the impact of this restraining factor in the years to come.APEJ to Remain on Top SpotLatin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) have surfaced as the prominent regional markets for corrugated boxes, states the report. Presently, Asia Pacific excluding Japan is leading the global market and, expanding at a CAGR of 4.10%, it is anticipated to remain on the top spot over the period of the forecast.North America and Europe are also projected to witness a significant rise in the demand for corrugated boxes in the near future on the grounds of the rising preference for online shopping among consumers, reports the study.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 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cars and Light Trucks Market Trends, Strategies, and Forecasts, 2017 to 2023 | AMD, Apple, BMW, Bosch, Ford, GM, Nissan

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cars and Light Trucks Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cars and Light Trucks Market Size, Shares - Industry Trends, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2017 to 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.As of now, every automobile company is looking to incorporate artificial intelligence in their cars for achieving heightened levels of automation. Automobile companies are striving to achieve driverless cars by making use of artificial intelligence, boosting the market for AI in cars and light trucks. The installation of AI-based systems in new cars and light trucks is increasing steadily from the past few years. All big companies are investing extensively in the research and development for achieving different levels of automation for autonomous driving by making use of artificial intelligence and sensor technologies. The use of AI and sensors help in detecting and avoiding obstacles. The demand for artificial intelligence in cars and light trucks is increasing as it helps to avoid collision, prevent accidents, lane assistance, and parking assistance. The growing disposable income of the people and thus, their increased spending or budget on luxury items is an important factor driving auto makers to develop cars that have enhanced automated features.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The 2017 study has 826 pages, 290 tables and figures. Worldwide markets are poised to achieve significant growth as Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars and light trucks permit users to implement automated driving. Fleet vehicles from Uber, Google and similar users are likely to be the early adopter groups, creating vehicles that do package delivery and ride sharing. Tesla, Mercedes, and Audi are among the vendors with a leadership position in the personal luxury vehicle artificial intelligence (AI) car markets. These cars provide performance and cater to individual preference in feature function packages and styling.Every car maker seeks to participate in this Artificial Intelligence (AI) personal vehicle market. The ability to do so depends on implementing next generation technology that is very expensive to get working. Vendors ae seeking to work together to set standards and develop shared modules that provide basic functionality. Cameras, sensors, artificial intelligence software, and LiDAR are among the modules being developed.Autonomous vehicle technology has the potential to institute major change in personal mobility. Autonomous cars are the next generation of manual cars, poised to provide thrust for a large replacement market. Autonomous vehicles are the base for building personal car services, particularly in large cities. Carmakers and Silicon Valley companies bring different skills to the task of building a Artificial Intelligence (AI) car. Together they are finding common ground to transform the personal vehicle industry. One thing they are unlikely to transform is performance.Every person who owns a vehicle has a preference on performance. The Tesla has gained recognition for offering a Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicle, but it is first and foremost a performance vehicle. This characteristic will not change as Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicles come on the market. People like the customization of features and functions in their car.This customization aspect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicles does not get talked about much, but it is a very important part of the industry. It will not go away just because cars are run by software. From auto racing to personal preference, ever car has its own personality and its own comfort. Performance is part of the package. Every car maker seeks to participate in this Artificial Intelligence (AI) personal vehicle market with a distinctive offering. The ability to have unique appear to customers depends on implementing next generation technology in a manner that works effectively and is relatively inexpensive to implement.Apple, IBM, and Google are sure to be among the significant software vendors for all the Artificial Intelligence (AI) car and light truck market participants. IBM has a huge head start with its excellent middleware branded integrated solutions that are hardened and reliable. Google has mindshare and early market success with its early market trials.As automated process hits the auto industry as a disruptive force, it parallels the automated piloting of the airline industry that saw significant labor savings implementation. Automated vehicle driving can be done anywhere just by connecting the car to integrated adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering and braking, and lane assist systems all working off one central processor.Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars and light trucks incrementally add automated process to driving. As software is added to cars and light trucks it is done in concert with modification to the steering, breaking, and other automotive systems. Autonomous functions for vehicles are increasingly adopted.Change is incremental, we do not have fully functioning Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars immediately, rather, steering, collision avoidance, parking, test driving, series of camera and radar based monitoring systems, lane assist, and adaptive cruise control are being implemented, presaging rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars and light trucks as the various functions mature and work in the real world.According to Susan Eustis, team leader for the preparation of the study, The market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) car and light truck vehicles is anticipated to expand in parallel with the deployment of appropriate roadway controls funded by government programs. The large public investments for Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicles so far has been for development of technology that works for military purposes. The extension of this type of automated system to commercial fleet vehicles will be rapid after 2019The Artificial Intelligence (AI) car designs amalgamate a group of features to represent an automated process solution. These include the hardware, the software middleware, the steering system, adaptive cruise control, numerous software applications, an integrated systems approach, and related services. Significant investments in research and development are necessary as the emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) cars and light trucks industry builds on incremental technology roll outs.Artificial Intelligence (AI) car and light truck commercial market shipments forecasts indicate that markets beginning to develop in 2016 will rise to $3.6 trillion by 2023. Spectacular growth is a result of various moves toward autonomous vehicles that can go across the US by themselves, provide automated navigation,, integrated braking and steering. Most auto vendors have gone beyond the testing stage to offer vehicles that have strong navigation capability.Safety modules are complimented by mapping vehicles that provide navigation. The Tesla and other vehicles provide driver alerts but fall sort of complete Artificial Intelligence (AI).Get Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Market driving forces relate primarily to the need for increased safety and personalization for autos. Car manufacturers are positioning with Artificial Intelligence (AI) car models to meet demand at the high end, and in every category of car and light truck. Many Artificial Intelligence (AI) vehicle car vendors are making automation for personal vehicles and light trucks a reality.Companies ProfiledMarket Leaders- AMD- Apple- BMW- Bosch- Daimler AG / Mercedes-Benz- Ford- Fuji- GM- Google- Hyundai- IBM- Intel / Mobileye- Kairos- Nissan- NVIDIA- NXP- Qualcomm- Samsung- Softbank- Tesla Group- Texas Instruments (TI)- Toyota- Uber- Volkswagen / AudiMarket Participants- Audi- BAE Systems- Boston Dynamics- Bosch Group- BMW- Buick Group- Chrysler / Dodge- Daimler AG/Mercedes-Benz- ECA Robotics- Elbit Systems- Evatran Group- Ford / Lincoln- Fuji Heavy Industries / Subaru- General Dynamics- Google Artificial Intelligence (AI) Car- GM / Cadillac- Kongsberg- Jaguar Land Rover- Lockheed Martin- Mesa Robotics- Mitsubishi- Nissan- Qualcomm- Toyota / Lexus- Vecna Technologies- Volkswagen / Porsche- Volvo- Visteon- WiTricityKey Topics- Auto Artificial Intelligence- Automotive- Automated driving- Automated vehicles- Autonomous vehicles- in-vehicle compute, Infiniti, Internet of things- AI machine learning- Mobileye- Robot Cars and Trucks- Robot steering- Robot braking- Robot automotive systems- Autonomous functions for vehicles- Collision avoidance- Automated parking- Robot Parking- Robot test driving- Car cameras- Car LiDAR- Car radar- Truck follow me systems- Radar based monitoring systems- Lane assist- Adaptive cruise controlBrowse Detail Report @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 @
Robotic Process Automation Market  best Key Factors For Future of Outsourcing

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Exclusive Summery About Report:Commenting on the report, an analyst from Market Research Future (MRFR)s team said:The Global RPA market is expected to grow at very high CAGR of 57%. There are various factors which is driving the market. High technological advancement and growing size of the organization is pushing the companies to adopt an efficient system which can learn itself and perform the task without human command or with help of few human interactions.As industrial robots are creating a huge values to the organization by providing higher production rates with the improved quality, the RPA robots are revolutionizing the way administer business processes works. RPCA provide immense support to the IT process, workflow process, back office works and also to remote infrastructure. High accuracy and dramatic improvements in cycle time increased productivity in the transaction process are some of the major factor in the wide adoption of RPA.According to Market Research Future Analysis, Robotic Process Automation Market is expected to reach at USD ~7 Billion by the end of forecast period with ~57% of CAGR from year 2016 to 2022.Request a Sample Report @Major Key Players: Automation Anywhere (U.S.) Blue Prism (U.K.) Celaton Ltd (U.K.) Ipsoft (U.S.) Nice Systems Ltd. (Israel) Pegasystems (U.S.) Redwood Software (U.S.) Uipath (Romania) Verint (U.S.) Xerox Corporation (U.S.)Market Research Analysis:By regional analysis, the market consists of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. North America region is dominating the robotics process automation market. Asia-Pacific is few of the prominent players in the market owing to increase utilization of robotics automation process in healthcare & pharmaceuticals, retail, BFSI, IT & telecommunication industry among others. The robotics automation process witnessed its implementation in manufacturing industry.Europe region is expected to be one of the prominent players owing to presence of RPA technology in rich manufacturing and logistics sector. Also economies from countries such as Germany, Russia, Spain and Denmark is having high adoption of RFA technology in various industrial sector.Robotic Process Automation Market (MRFR) Analysis:By operations segment it consists of rule based and knowledge based operations. Rule based operations accounts for high market share as compare to knowledge based. Rule based operation is used in enterprises for repetitive administration task in the framework of constant business behavior.Intended Audience: Investors and consultants System Integrators Government Organizations Research/Consultancy firms Technology solution providers IT Solution Providers Supply Chain & Logistics Organizations Original Equipment Manufacturers Healthcare & Pharmaceutical IndustryBrowse Full Report Details @Table of Contents1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Software2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size EstimationContinuedList of TablesTable 1 Robotic Process Automation Market, By ProcessTable 2 Robotic Process Automation Market, By OperationsTable 3 Robotic Process Automation Market, By TypeContinuedList of FiguresFigure 1 Research TypeFigure 2 Robotic Process Automation Market: By Process (%)Figure 3 Robotic Process Automation Market: By Operations (%)ContinuedAbout 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
Global and United States Antimony Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2017-2022

Antimony Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global and United States Antimony In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The report is based on the market historical data from 2012 to 2016 and forecast the market trend from 2017 to 2022.This report focuses on the U.S. market and presents volume and value of market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also changes in prices. As an in-depth report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinions in Antimony industry.Major CompaniesHunan Gold Group (China)Hsikwang Shan Twinking Star (China)Dongfeng (China)Hechi Nanfang Non-ferrous Metals Group (China)GeoProMining (Cyprus)China-Tin Group (China)Anhua Huayu Antimony Industry (China)Huachang Group (China)Mandalay Resources (Canada)Yongcheng Antimony Industry (China)Geodex Minerals (Canada)Stibium Resources (South Africa)Muli Antimony Industry (China)Kazzinc (China)United States Antimony (USA)To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkOthersCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsAntimony Market, by ComponentSb99.90Sb99.85Sb99.65Sb99.50Antimony Market, by ShapeAntimony IngotAntimony PowderAntimony Market, by Key ConsumersChemicalsFire RetardantCeramics & GlassLead Batteries & Lead AlloysOtherGet Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal and United States Antimony In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022Chapter One Global Antimony Market Overview1.1 Global Antimony Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20171.2 Antimony, by Component 2012-20171.2.1 Global Antimony Sales Market Share by Component 2012-20171.2.2 Global Antimony Revenue Market Share by Component 2012-20171.2.3 Global Antimony Price by Component 2012-20171.2.4 Sb99.901.2.5 Sb99.851.2.6 Sb99.651.2.7 Sb99.501.3 Antimony, by Shape 2012-20171.3.1 Global Antimony Sales Market Share by Shape 2012-20171.3.2 Global Antimony Revenue Market Share by Shape 2012-20171.3.3 Global Antimony Price by Shape 2012-20171.3.4 Antimony Ingot1.3.5 Antimony PowderChapter Two United States Antimony Market Overview2.1 United States Antimony Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20172.2 Antimony, by Component 2012-20172.2.1 United States Antimony Sales Market Share by Component 2012-20172.2.2 United States Antimony Revenue Market Share by Component 2012-20172.2.3 United States Antimony Price by Component 2012-20172.2.4 Sb99.902.2.5 Sb99.852.2.6 Sb99.652.2.7 Sb99.502.3 Antimony, by Shape 2012-20172.3.1 United States Antimony Sales Market Share by Shape 2012-20172.3.2 United States Antimony Revenue Market Share by Shape 2012-20172.3.3 United States Antimony Price by Shape 2012-20172.3.4 Antimony Ingot2.3.5 Antimony PowderChapter Three Antimony by Regions 2012-20173.1 Global Antimony Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.2 Global Antimony Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.3 Global Antimony Price by Regions 2012-20173.4 North America3.4.1 United States3.4.1.1 California3.4.1.2 Texas3.4.1.3 New York3.4.1.4 Others in United States3.4.2 Canada3.5 Latin America3.5.1 Mexico3.5.2 Brazil3.5.3 Argentina3.5.4 Others in Latin America3.6 Europe3.6.1 Germany3.6.2 United Kingdom3.6.3 France3.6.4 Italy3.6.5 Spain3.6.6 Russia3.6.7 Netherland3.6.8 Others in Europe3.7 Asia & Pacific3.7.1 China3.7.2 Japan3.7.3 India3.7.4 Korea3.7.5 Australia3.7.6 Southeast Asia3.7.6.1 Indonesia3.7.6.2 Thailand3.7.6.3 Philippines3.7.6.4 Vietnam3.7.6.5 Singapore3.7.6.6 Malaysia3.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia3.8 Africa & Middle East3.8.1 South Africa3.8.2 Egypt3.8.3 Turkey3.8.4 Saudi Arabia3.8.5 Iran3.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Four Global Antimony by Companies 2012-20174.1 Global Antimony Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20174.2 Global Antimony Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20174.3 Global Top Companies Antimony Key Product Model and Market Performance4.4 Global Top Companies Antimony Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Five United States Antimony by Companies 2012-20175.1 United States Antimony Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20175.2 United States Antimony Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20175.3 United States Top Companies Antimony Key Product Model and Market Performance5.4 United States Top Companies Antimony Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Six Global Antimony by Consumer 2012-20176.1 Global Antimony Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20176.2 Chemicals6.3 Fire Retardant6.4 Ceramics & Glass6.5 Lead Batteries & Lead Alloys6.6 Other6.7 Consuming Habit and PreferenceContinue...Browse Detail Report @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 @
In-Depth Research Report on Global and United States Silicon Anode Battery 2017-2022 | Researchmoz

Global and United States Silicon Anode Battery In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global and United States Silicon Anode Battery In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The report is based on the market historical data from 2012 to 2016 and forecast the market trend from 2017 to 2022.This report focuses on the U.S. market and presents volume and value of market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also changes in prices. As an in-depth report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinions in Silicon Anode Battery industry.Major CompaniesAmprius, Inc. (U.S.)Panasonic Corp (Japan)Samsung SDI (South Korea)LG Chem (South Korea)Nexeon Limited (U.K.)Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (U.S.)Nanotek Instruments, Inc. (U.S.)Enevate Corporation (U.S.)Zeptor Corporation (U.S.)XG Sciences (U.S.)California Lithium Battery Inc. (U.S.)To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkOthersCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsSilicon Anode Battery Market, by CapacityLess than 1,500 mAh1,500 mAh to 2,500 mAh2,500 mAh and aboveSilicon Anode Battery Market, by Baterry TypeCylindricalPrismaticPouchSilicon Anode Battery Market, by Key ConsumersConsumer ElectronicsAutomobileMedical DevicesIndustrialEnergy HarvestingOthersGet Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal and United States Silicon Anode Battery In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022Chapter One Global Silicon Anode Battery Market Overview1.1 Global Silicon Anode Battery Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20171.2 Silicon Anode Battery, by Capacity 2012-20171.2.1 Global Silicon Anode Battery Sales Market Share by Capacity 2012-20171.2.2 Global Silicon Anode Battery Revenue Market Share by Capacity 2012-20171.2.3 Global Silicon Anode Battery Price by Capacity 2012-20171.2.4 Less than 1,500 mAh1.2.5 1,500 mAh to 2,500 mAh1.2.6 2,500 mAh and above1.3 Silicon Anode Battery, by Baterry Type 2012-20171.3.1 Global Silicon Anode Battery Sales Market Share by Baterry Type 2012-20171.3.2 Global Silicon Anode Battery Revenue Market Share by Baterry Type 2012-20171.3.3 Global Silicon Anode Battery Price by Baterry Type 2012-20171.3.4 Cylindrical1.3.5 Prismatic1.3.6 PouchChapter Two United States Silicon Anode Battery Market Overview2.1 United States Silicon Anode Battery Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20172.2 Silicon Anode Battery, by Capacity 2012-20172.2.1 United States Silicon Anode Battery Sales Market Share by Capacity 2012-20172.2.2 United States Silicon Anode Battery Revenue Market Share by Capacity 2012-20172.2.3 United States Silicon Anode Battery Price by Capacity 2012-20172.2.4 Less than 1,500 mAh2.2.5 1,500 mAh to 2,500 mAh2.2.6 2,500 mAh and above2.3 Silicon Anode Battery, by Baterry Type 2012-20172.3.1 United States Silicon Anode Battery Sales Market Share by Baterry Type 2012-20172.3.2 United States Silicon Anode Battery Revenue Market Share by Baterry Type 2012-20172.3.3 United States Silicon Anode Battery Price by Baterry Type 2012-20172.3.4 Cylindrical2.3.5 Prismatic2.3.6 PouchChapter Three Silicon Anode Battery by Regions 2012-20173.1 Global Silicon Anode Battery Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.2 Global Silicon Anode Battery Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.3 Global Silicon Anode Battery Price by Regions 2012-20173.4 North America3.4.1 United States3.4.1.1 California3.4.1.2 Texas3.4.1.3 New York3.4.1.4 Others in United States3.4.2 Canada3.5 Latin America3.5.1 Mexico3.5.2 Brazil3.5.3 Argentina3.5.4 Others in Latin America3.6 Europe3.6.1 Germany3.6.2 United Kingdom3.6.3 France3.6.4 Italy3.6.5 Spain3.6.6 Russia3.6.7 Netherland3.6.8 Others in Europe3.7 Asia & Pacific3.7.1 China3.7.2 Japan3.7.3 India3.7.4 Korea3.7.5 Australia3.7.6 Southeast Asia3.7.6.1 Indonesia3.7.6.2 Thailand3.7.6.3 Philippines3.7.6.4 Vietnam3.7.6.5 Singapore3.7.6.6 Malaysia3.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia3.8 Africa & Middle East3.8.1 South Africa3.8.2 Egypt3.8.3 Turkey3.8.4 Saudi Arabia3.8.5 Iran3.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Four Global Silicon Anode Battery by Companies 2012-20174.1 Global Silicon Anode Battery Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20174.2 Global Silicon Anode Battery Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20174.3 Global Top Companies Silicon Anode Battery Key Product Model and Market Performance4.4 Global Top Companies Silicon Anode Battery Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Five United States Silicon Anode Battery by Companies 2012-20175.1 United States Silicon Anode Battery Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20175.2 United States Silicon Anode Battery Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20175.3 United States Top Companies Silicon Anode Battery Key Product Model and Market Performance5.4 United States Top Companies Silicon Anode Battery Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Six Global Silicon Anode Battery by Consumer 2012-20176.1 Global Silicon Anode Battery Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20176.2 Consumer Electronics6.3 Automobile6.4 Medical Devices6.5 Industrial6.6 Energy Harvesting6.7 Others6.8 Consuming Habit and PreferenceContinue...Browse Detail Report @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 @
Fiber based Packaging Market - Corrugated Packaging to Register Leading Revenue Contribution through 2025

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A fresh market intelligence study by Transparency Market Research (TMR) finds the global fiber based packaging market is marked by intense competition and fragmentation due to the presence of several players of varying sizes. Keen players in the market are pouring money into research and development for the introduction of innovative products in order to serve a large customer base. They are also resorting to mergers and acquisitions to expand their footprint, thereby enhancing their product portfolio.For more information on this report, fill the form @Prominent participants in the global fiber based packaging market include International Paper Company, DS Smith plc, Huhtamaki Oyj, Smurfit Kappa Group plc., Sonoco Products Company, WestRock Company, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Pratt Industies Inc., Reynolds Group Holdings Ltd., U.S. Corrugated Inc., UFP Technologies Inc., ESCO Technologies Inc. Ltd., Brodrene Hartmann A/S, KapStone Paper and Packaging, Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG, Rengo Co. Ltd., Mondi Group, Stora Enso, AR Packaging Group AB, and BillerudKorsnas AB.The global fiber based packaging market has witnessed extraordinary growth over the past few decades on account of numerous applications of fiber based packaging across several end-use industries. Driven by this and several other factors, the global fiber based packaging market is projected to register a 3.8% CAGR vis-a-vis revenue over the forecast period 2017 to 2025, for the market to reach a valuation of US$383.5 bn by the end of 2025. The market was evaluated to be worth US$284 bn in 2016.Among the various segments based on packaging type, corrugated boxes lead with an estimated share of more than 45% by value. Corrugated boxboard contributes more than 50% revenue amongst all material type segments in the fiber based packaging market. Food packaging segment leads amongst key end-use segments holding almost 40% market share by value. Region-wise, Asia Pacific is anticipated to emerge as the most lucrative market in terms of both value and volume over the forecast period.Favorable Physical Attributes and Cost-Effectiveness Drives AdoptionAcross the world, the growth of the packaging industry and a shift in consumer preference have resulted in the impressive growth of the global fiber based packaging market in the past decade, says a TMR analyst. Fiber based packaging is increasingly being preferred by consumers due to its advantage of being light weight and cost effective. Apart from this, fiber based packaging offers advantages of employing highly automated machines for the design of paperboard products, which in turn, substantially reduces labor and packaging costs.Browse Market Research Report @Further, factors such as easy availability of raw materials is attracting manufacturers to manufacture fiber based packaging solutions. The flourishing food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and personal care industries are expected to fuel growth of the fiber based packaging market.Natural Characteristic Receives Government ApprovalThe growing concerns of global warming are also having a positive impact on the growth of global fiber based packaging market. Product manufacturers and consumers are increasingly focused on the manufacture and purchase respectively of eco-friendly packaging solutions. Fiber based packaging utilizes biodegradable material obtained from natural sources that are sustainable in the long run. With the increasing demand for sustainable products, manufacturers are expanding their product portfolio to include sustainable packaging solutions. Further, government regulations that strictly monitor plastic packaging solutions and encourage the use of bio-degradable packaging solutions have accentuated the demand for fiber based packaging.The review presented here is based on the findings of a report by Transparency Market Research, titled Fiber based Packaging Market (Packaging Type  Corrugated Boxes, Cartons (Folding Cartons, Liquid Cartons, and Hinge Lid Cartons), Partitions & Inserts, Bottles & Cup Carriers, Trays, Plates, Clamshells, Display Packaging, and Bags & Sacks; Material Type  Corrugated, Boxboard/ Carton Board, Molded Pulp, and Kraft Paper; Material Source  Virgin Fiber and Recycled Fiber; Level of Packaging Type  Primary Packaging and Secondary Packaging) Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 20172025.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 and United States Iron Powder Market Research Report 2017-2022 | New Release

Iron Powder Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global and United States Iron Powder In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The report is based on the market historical data from 2012 to 2016 and forecast the market trend from 2017 to 2022.This report focuses on the U.S. market and presents volume and value of market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also changes in prices. As an in-depth report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinions in Iron Powder industry.Major CompaniesHoganas (SE)Rio Tinto Metal Powders (CA)Laiwu Iron&Steel Group (CN)Kobelco (JP)Jiande Yitong (CN)JFE Steel Corporation (JP)Pometon Powder (IT)BaZhou HongSheng (CN)Wuhan Iron&Steel Group (CN)Anshan Iron & Steel Group (CN)Ma Steel (CN)CNPC Powder Material (CN)Xinxing (CN)Jinsui (CN)Industrial Metal Powders (IN)SLM Metal (DE)Kushal Ferro Alloys (IN)To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkOthersCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsIron Powder Market, by Processing MethodAtomized Iron PowderReduced Iron PowdeElectrolytic Iron PowderIron Powder Market, by Particle Size150500m44150m1044m0.510mBelow 0.5mIron Powder Market, by Key ConsumersPowder MetallurgyNon Powder MetallurgyGet Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal and United States Iron Powder In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022Chapter One Global Iron Powder Market Overview1.1 Global Iron Powder Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20171.2 Iron Powder, by Processing Method 2012-20171.2.1 Global Iron Powder Sales Market Share by Processing Method 2012-20171.2.2 Global Iron Powder Revenue Market Share by Processing Method 2012-20171.2.3 Global Iron Powder Price by Processing Method 2012-20171.2.4 Atomized Iron Powder1.2.5 Reduced Iron Powde1.2.6 Electrolytic Iron Powder1.3 Iron Powder, by Particle Size 2012-20171.3.1 Global Iron Powder Sales Market Share by Particle Size 2012-20171.3.2 Global Iron Powder Revenue Market Share by Particle Size 2012-20171.3.3 Global Iron Powder Price by Particle Size 2012-20171.3.4 150500m1.3.5 44150m1.3.6 1044m1.3.7 0.510m1.3.8 Below 0.5mChapter Two United States Iron Powder Market Overview2.1 United States Iron Powder Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20172.2 Iron Powder, by Processing Method 2012-20172.2.1 United States Iron Powder Sales Market Share by Processing Method 2012-20172.2.2 United States Iron Powder Revenue Market Share by Processing Method 2012-20172.2.3 United States Iron Powder Price by Processing Method 2012-20172.2.4 Atomized Iron Powder2.2.5 Reduced Iron Powde2.2.6 Electrolytic Iron Powder2.3 Iron Powder, by Particle Size 2012-20172.3.1 United States Iron Powder Sales Market Share by Particle Size 2012-20172.3.2 United States Iron Powder Revenue Market Share by Particle Size 2012-20172.3.3 United States Iron Powder Price by Particle Size 2012-20172.3.4 150500m2.3.5 44150m2.3.6 1044m2.3.7 0.510m2.3.8 Below 0.5mChapter Three Iron Powder by Regions 2012-20173.1 Global Iron Powder Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.2 Global Iron Powder Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.3 Global Iron Powder Price by Regions 2012-20173.4 North America3.4.1 United States3.4.1.1 California3.4.1.2 Texas3.4.1.3 New York3.4.1.4 Others in United States3.4.2 Canada3.5 Latin America3.5.1 Mexico3.5.2 Brazil3.5.3 Argentina3.5.4 Others in Latin America3.6 Europe3.6.1 Germany3.6.2 United Kingdom3.6.3 France3.6.4 Italy3.6.5 Spain3.6.6 Russia3.6.7 Netherland3.6.8 Others in Europe3.7 Asia & Pacific3.7.1 China3.7.2 Japan3.7.3 India3.7.4 Korea3.7.5 Australia3.7.6 Southeast Asia3.7.6.1 Indonesia3.7.6.2 Thailand3.7.6.3 Philippines3.7.6.4 Vietnam3.7.6.5 Singapore3.7.6.6 Malaysia3.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia3.8 Africa & Middle East3.8.1 South Africa3.8.2 Egypt3.8.3 Turkey3.8.4 Saudi Arabia3.8.5 Iran3.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Four Global Iron Powder by Companies 2012-20174.1 Global Iron Powder Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20174.2 Global Iron Powder Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20174.3 Global Top Companies Iron Powder Key Product Model and Market Performance4.4 Global Top Companies Iron Powder Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Five United States Iron Powder by Companies 2012-20175.1 United States Iron Powder Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20175.2 United States Iron Powder Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20175.3 United States Top Companies Iron Powder Key Product Model and Market Performance5.4 United States Top Companies Iron Powder Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Six Global Iron Powder by Consumer 2012-20176.1 Global Iron Powder Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20176.2 Powder Metallurgy6.3 Non Powder Metallurgy6.4 Consuming Habit and PreferenceContinue...Browse Detail Report @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 @
Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Market Professional Survey Report 2017

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System 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, coveringMedtronicPhilips HealthcareBoston Scientific CorporationSt. Jude MedicalGE HealthcareBiotronikNihon KohdenAbbottHoneywellSHL TelemedicineTeleMedCareOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCOPDDiabetesCardiopathyOthersBy Application, the market can be split intoHome CareLong-term Care CentersHospice CareTo Get Sample Copy of Report Visit @By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of ContentsGlobal Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System1.1 Definition and Specifications of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System1.1.1 Definition of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System1.1.2 Specifications of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System1.2 Classification of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System1.2.1 COPD1.2.2 Diabetes1.2.3 Cardiopathy1.2.4 Others1.3 Applications of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System1.3.1 Home Care1.3.2 Long-term Care Centers1.3.3 Hospice Care1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 IndiaBrowse Detail Report With TOC @2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Sales Price4.4.2 2016 Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017E Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017E Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2016 Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Market Share Analysis5.2 China Remote patient monitoring (RPM) System Market AnalysisResearchMoz 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,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.us
New Study on Global and United States Multi-function Knife Market 2017-2022 | Researchmoz

Multi-function Knife Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global and United States Multi-function Knife In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The report is based on the market historical data from 2012 to 2016 and forecast the market trend from 2017 to 2022.This report focuses on the U.S. market and presents volume and value of market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also changes in prices. As an in-depth report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinions in Multi-function Knife industry.Major CompaniesVictorinox(Switzerland)Leatherman(US)WENGER(Switzerland)SOG(US)Gerber(US)Kowell(Korea)Zwilling(Germany)SHEFFIELD(UK)BUCK(US)Ka-bar(US)HONEST(China)Benchmade(US)Spyderco(US)GANZO(China)Strider(US)MadDog(US)BOYOU(China)ColdSteel(US)M.O.D(US)AlMar(US)To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkOthersCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsMulti-function Knife Market, by MaterialZirconia CeramicCeramics304 Stainless Steel400 Series Stainless SteelOthersMulti-function Knife Market, by FoldableCan FoldableCan not FoldableMulti-function Knife Market, by Key ConsumersHomeOutdoorSelf-defenseDecorationsBusiness GiftsGet Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal and United States Multi-function Knife In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022Chapter One Global Multi-function Knife Market Overview1.1 Global Multi-function Knife Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20171.2 Multi-function Knife, by Material 2012-20171.2.1 Global Multi-function Knife Sales Market Share by Material 2012-20171.2.2 Global Multi-function Knife Revenue Market Share by Material 2012-20171.2.3 Global Multi-function Knife Price by Material 2012-20171.2.4 Zirconia Ceramic1.2.5 Ceramics1.2.6 304 Stainless Steel1.2.7 400 Series Stainless Steel1.2.8 Others1.3 Multi-function Knife, by Foldable 2012-20171.3.1 Global Multi-function Knife Sales Market Share by Foldable 2012-20171.3.2 Global Multi-function Knife Revenue Market Share by Foldable 2012-20171.3.3 Global Multi-function Knife Price by Foldable 2012-20171.3.4 Can Foldable1.3.5 Can not FoldableChapter Two United States Multi-function Knife Market Overview2.1 United States Multi-function Knife Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20172.2 Multi-function Knife, by Material 2012-20172.2.1 United States Multi-function Knife Sales Market Share by Material 2012-20172.2.2 United States Multi-function Knife Revenue Market Share by Material 2012-20172.2.3 United States Multi-function Knife Price by Material 2012-20172.2.4 Zirconia Ceramic2.2.5 Ceramics2.2.6 304 Stainless Steel2.2.7 400 Series Stainless Steel2.2.8 Others2.3 Multi-function Knife, by Foldable 2012-20172.3.1 United States Multi-function Knife Sales Market Share by Foldable 2012-20172.3.2 United States Multi-function Knife Revenue Market Share by Foldable 2012-20172.3.3 United States Multi-function Knife Price by Foldable 2012-20172.3.4 Can Foldable2.3.5 Can not FoldableChapter Three Multi-function Knife by Regions 2012-20173.1 Global Multi-function Knife Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.2 Global Multi-function Knife Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.3 Global Multi-function Knife Price by Regions 2012-20173.4 North America3.4.1 United States3.4.1.1 California3.4.1.2 Texas3.4.1.3 New York3.4.1.4 Others in United States3.4.2 Canada3.5 Latin America3.5.1 Mexico3.5.2 Brazil3.5.3 Argentina3.5.4 Others in Latin America3.6 Europe3.6.1 Germany3.6.2 United Kingdom3.6.3 France3.6.4 Italy3.6.5 Spain3.6.6 Russia3.6.7 Netherland3.6.8 Others in Europe3.7 Asia & Pacific3.7.1 China3.7.2 Japan3.7.3 India3.7.4 Korea3.7.5 Australia3.7.6 Southeast Asia3.7.6.1 Indonesia3.7.6.2 Thailand3.7.6.3 Philippines3.7.6.4 Vietnam3.7.6.5 Singapore3.7.6.6 Malaysia3.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia3.8 Africa & Middle East3.8.1 South Africa3.8.2 Egypt3.8.3 Turkey3.8.4 Saudi Arabia3.8.5 Iran3.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Four Global Multi-function Knife by Companies 2012-20174.1 Global Multi-function Knife Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20174.2 Global Multi-function Knife Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20174.3 Global Top Companies Multi-function Knife Key Product Model and Market Performance4.4 Global Top Companies Multi-function Knife Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Five United States Multi-function Knife by Companies 2012-20175.1 United States Multi-function Knife Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20175.2 United States Multi-function Knife Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20175.3 United States Top Companies Multi-function Knife Key Product Model and Market Performance5.4 United States Top Companies Multi-function Knife Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Six Global Multi-function Knife by Consumer 2012-20176.1 Global Multi-function Knife Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20176.2 Home6.3 Outdoor6.4 Self-defense6.5 Decorations6.6 Business Gifts6.7 Consuming Habit and PreferenceContinue...Browse Detail Report @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 @
Global Motion Control Market Evolving Market: Key Findings, Key Players Profiles, Regional Analysis and Future Prospects

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Market Scenario:Motion control is an industrial process which is also defined as servo control or robotics, used in the movement of specific load from one place to another in the controlled fashion. This process is equipped with various hardware equipments such as motors, sensors, drives, control units and a software. Growing industrialization and high adoption of automation in the industrial process is driving the market of motion control whereas the high deployment cost and lack of availability of professionals are some of the major restraints of the market. The global market of motion control is expected to grow at CAGR of ~6% during the forecast year and expected to reach at market size of US ~$22 billion by the end of forecast period.Study Objectives of Motion Control Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Motion Control To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Motion Control 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 by technology, components, application, industry 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 market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Motion Control MarketIntended Audience OEMs Automation Service Providers Motion Control Distributors Technology Provides Sensor Manufacturers Connectivity ProvidersRequest a Sample Report @Key PlayersThe key players in the market of motion control are- ABB Group (Switzerland), Rockwell Automation, Inc., (U.S.), Parker Hannifin Corporation (U.S.), Siemens AG (Germany), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), Motion Control Corporation (U.S.), Schneider Electric (France), Trio Motion (U.S.), Emerson Electric (U.S.), AMETEK, Inc. (U.S.), Aerotech Inc. (U.S.) among others.Segments:The Global Motion Control Market has been segmented on the basis of technology, components, application and industry. By Technology, market includes- Pneumatic, Hydraulic, and Electromechanical Actuation. By Components, the market has been derived as- Controller, Drives, Motors, and Software among others. Application of motion control includes- Inspection, Material handling, Packaging among others whereas the industry includes- Manufacturing, Healthcare, Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Oil & Gas, and Robotics among others.Regional AnalysisAsia-Pacific is dominating the market of Motion Control due to the strong presence of manufacturing companies in China, Japan and South Korea. Growing economy of Asian countries are also playing major role in the development of motion control market. Europe stands as second biggest followed by North America. North America motion control market is majorly driven by the factors such as high consumption of electronic equipment and rich presence of healthcare industry.Browse Report @MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics 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. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Market Professional Survey 2017 Growth : Carl Zeiss, FEI

QYresearchreports

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1321912&type=S

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-surface-acoustic-wave-devices-market-professional-survey-report-2017.htm/toc

Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The report Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Market is a comprehensive industry study featuring qualitative and quantitative analysis. In todays complex business environment, players in the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market need to remain updated about the latest trends. The latest intelligence on the Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market can help companies form more informed business decisions. Furthermore, knowing the latest market trends will also help companies avoid any unnecessary business risks in the changing landscape of the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market. The research report on the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market presents to readers recent news, key deals, and other trends that are shaping the market. Furthermore, the valuable recommendations provided in the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market report will help companies form a more effective strategy, whether to penetrate a new market or expand their portfolio.The research report begins with a brief industry overview. In this section, the report offers definition, specifications, classifications, and applications of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices. Further to this, key data on the latest industry news and major deals is covered. This will update readers regarding the key events that are shaping the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market. Moreover, the report also provides the latest news and details regarding the regulatory framework of the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market.Get Research Summary Of The Report:This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringKyocera CorpInfineon TechnologiesCarl ZeissTai Saw TechnologyTaiyo YudenRaytheon CompanyPanasonicHitachi High-TechnologiesFEIJEOL LtdLastly, the research report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape of the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market. This section covers the analysis of key companies operating in the global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices market with their portfolio, production data, company profile, price, revenue, and cost. In addition to this, this section also enlists the contact information of these major firms.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices1.1 Definition and Specifications of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices1.1.1 Definition of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices1.1.2 Specifications of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices1.2 Classification of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices1.3 Applications of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices1.4 Market Segment by Regions2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Surface-Acoustic Wave DevicesView TOC (Table of Content) of the Report:8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices8.1 Kyocera Corp8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.3 Kyocera Corp 2016 Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Kyocera Corp 2016 Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Infineon Technologies8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.3 Infineon Technologies 2016 Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Infineon Technologies 2016 Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Business Region Distribution AnalysisList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Surface-Acoustic Wave DevicesTable Product Specifications of Surface-Acoustic Wave DevicesTable Classification of Surface-Acoustic Wave DevicesFigure Global Production Market Share of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices by Type in 2016Figure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices by Application in 2016Table Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Major Manufacturers in 2016Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices Major Manufacturers in 2016Table R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Surface-Acoustic Wave Devices 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 Passenger Information System Market Research Report 2016 New Study, Overview, Rising Growth, and Forecast

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2112

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/passenger-information-system-market-2112

Passenger information system is tool, used by the public transport providers for sharing details about the transport vehicle such as arrival & departure time and delay in the timings of public transport to its customers. By using the passenger information system, the public transport providers can very well set the route and the timing of the buses, trains and flights. It can also be used to communicate the timetable of the public transport system to the customers by using websites, mobile applications and real time SMS among others. The market is driven by rapid developments in the telecommunication technology and the rising trend of using internet for ticket booking and getting information about train/ bus rather than visiting the stations. The customers are becoming more techno savvy and are using internet for checking the details and confirming their bookings for the desired journey, which is expected to drive the global passenger information system market. The shift of population from rural to the urban areas and the increase in disposable income of consumers has made incremental growth in purchasing of the personal vehicles. This dynamic increase in the purchase of private vehicles in the urban areas has led to problems like pollution and traffic. To overcome these problems more and more people are shifting towards public transportation, which is thereby act as an opportunity for passenger information system market. The global passenger information system market is expected to grow from US ~$9.1 Billion in 2016 to US~$ 37.5 Billion by 2022, at an estimated CAGR of 26.4%. The growth of this market can be constrained by the presence of inefficient infrastructure which facilitates the operation of passenger information system.Study Objectives of Global Passenger information system Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the global Passenger information system market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the global passenger information system 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 by solutions, components, services, channels and mode of transportation. 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 global Smartphone screen protector market.REQUEST SAMPLE @Key Players:The prominent players in the market of Passenger information system market are  Infax, Inc. (U.S.), Passio Technologies, Inc.(U.S.), General Electric Company (U.S.), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd (China), Cubic Transportation Systems (U.S.), Medha Servo Drives Pvt. Ltd (India), Siemens AG (Germany), Advantech Corp. (Taiwan), Televic Rail NV (Belgium) and Neusoft Corporation (China) among others.Segments:The Global Passenger information system market has been segmented on the basis of solutions, components, services, and mode of transportation. Solutions comprises of information announcement systems, display systems, emergency communication systems, infotainment systems and passenger information mobile applications among others. Components include multimedia displays, networking devices, communication devices, sensors and others. Services are cloud, professional and integration among others. The modes of transportation are roadways, railways and airways.RegionalAnalysis:The North America region has a sound public infrastructure which helps in growth of passenger information system market. The growth of smartphone technology is also driving the passengers to get real time information about the transport services in the region. In Europe region, the public transportation system is highly developed and the public transport providers are connecting the GPS systems on the vehicle with their websites which provides the consumer with accurate data about the location of the public transport vehicle. All these information helps in reducing the travelling and waiting time of the consumers. The developing nations in the Asia Pacific region such as India and China are facing few concerns like growing population and lack of infrastructure which therefore has increased the dependence of passengers on the public transport vehicle. This region is expected to contribute in the growth of passenger information system market with a higher CAGR in the forecasted period, due numerous initiative taken by the government and investment by various foreign players.Intended Audience: Passenger information system providers Passenger information system operators Transit agencies Investors Research institute End usersREQUEST A BROWSE REPORT @At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Patient Monitoring Devices Market: Industry Review, Growth, Demand & Global Forecast to 2022

Market Research Future

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2484

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2484

Patient monitoring devices market information, by Product type (Central monitoring stations, Portable bedside monitors, Electrocardiogram (ECG) Devices, Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices, Fetal and neonatal monitors, Respiratory Monitors, Weight management monitors, Temperature monitoring devices, and Others), by end user (Hospitals and clinics, Ambulatory care centers, Home care, and others) - Forecast to 2022Market Synopsis of Patient monitoring devices Market:Market Scenario:Patient monitoring devices in this report refer to the sensors which are used in smart wearable devices. Global Patient monitoring devices market is driven by increasing demand of wearable for infants and continuously evolving sensor technology. With increasing personal care and health consciousness, for tracking biometrics such as calories burnt, heart rate and others, the demand for wearable fitness trackers and other wearable is increasing. Rapid expansion of internet of things (IoT) is driving demand of Patient monitoring devices in various application areas such as healthcare and fitness, consumer electronics and others.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Segments:Patient monitoring devices market has been segmented on the basis of product type which comprises Central monitoring stations, Portable bedside monitors, Electrocardiogram (ECG) Devices, Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices, Fetal and neonatal monitors, Respiratory Monitors, Weight management monitors, Temperature monitoring devices, and others. On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into Hospitals and clinics, Ambulatory care centers, Home care and others.Regional Analysis of Patient Monitoring Devices Market:Considering the global scenario of the market, North America region is believed to be the largest market for Patient monitoring devices. Moreover the European market is also growing and second largest market for Patient monitoring devices. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at the fastest pace in the Patient monitoring devices during the forecasted period. Rest of the World is likely to have a limited but steady growth in the market.Key Players for Patient Monitoring Devices Market:Some of the key players in this market are: GE Healthcare, Roche Diagnostics, BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Abbott Laboratories, Siemens Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, CAS Medical Systems, Inc.,Spacelabs Healthcare, Honeywell International, Inc., Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co.Study objectives of Patient monitoring devices Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Patient monitoring devices market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Patient monitoring devices market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by product type, by end user and its sub-segments. To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global Patient monitoring devices market.Get Discount @The report for Patient Monitoring Devices Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Patient Monitoring Devices Market - Global Forecast To 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Solid States Drives (SSD) Market to Exceed Industry Evolution in coming Years with Trends, Innovations & Opportunities by 2027

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1028

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/solid-states-drives-market-1028

 To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Solid States Drives (SSD) Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Solid States Drives 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 prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by type, by storage interface, by storage capacity, by application 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 market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Solid States Drives (SSD) MarketMarket Synopsis of Solid States Drives (SSD) MarketMarket ScenarioSolid State Drive or SSD is a new technology in the data storage and an alternative to the traditional storage device HDD. SSD performs faster than HDD and currently growing with rapid space. Data centers are the key application area where the SDD can be used. Currently this market has been valued at US $XX billion and expected to reach US $XX billion by the end of forecasted period with the CAGR of XX%.Market SegmentationSegmentation by type: SLL (Single Level Cell), MLL (Multi Level Cell) and TLL (Triple Level Cell)Segmentation by Storage Interface: SATA, SAS and PCIe.Segmentation by Storage Capacity: Less than 250 GB, 251GB to 500GB, 501GB to 1 TB and more than 1 TB.Segmentation by Application: PCs, laptops, data centers among othersNote- Only qualitative data will be provided for segment by type.Regional AnalysisCurrently North America is dominating the market of solid state market. North America has high consumption rate for laptops and desktop and SSDs are the new replacement for hard disks. As it comes with bundle of features and advance that hard disk, market for SSD in North America is growing. Asia-Pacific has emerged as fastest growing market and also the second biggest market for solid state drives. Currently Asia-Pacific holds XX% of market share and has been valued at US $XX% followed by Europe which accounts for XX% of market share.Request a Sample Report @Key playersThe prominent players in the market of solid state drive are- Samsung (South Korea), Intel (U.S.), SanDisk (U.S.), Micron Technology, Inc. (U.S.), Toshiba (Japan), Lite-On (Taiwan), Western Digital (U.S.), Fusion-Io (U.S.), Google (U.S.), Kingston Technology (U.S.), Netapp (U.S.), OCZ (U.S.) among others.Industry News In July 2016, Samsung launched worlds largest SSD which has storage capacity of 15 TB. In April 2016, SanDisk launched Half-Terabyte SDD for everyday computing. In April 2016, Micron Technology, Inc. announced the increase in product portfolio by adding two PCIe SSDs.The reports also covers brief analysis of Geographical Region includes:AmericasNorth AmericaUSCanadaEuropeWestern EuropeGermanyFranceItalySpainU.KRest of Western EuropeEastern EuropeAsia PacificAsiaChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaRest of AsiaPacificThe Middle East & AfricaThe report for Global Solid States Drives (SSD) 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 market segments and regionsBrowse Report @ At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics 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 Office No. 524/528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Breast Cancer Treatment Market Outlook to 2022:

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Treatment Market Outlook to 2022: Market Overview, Key in-line Products, Market Share Distribution, Competitive Dynamics, Regulatory Outlook, Pipeline Development, Growth Catalysts & Challenges, Leading Market & R&D Trends, Partnership & Deals Analyses, Global Sales forecast of in-line and pipeline products, Fast Growing Private Companies, Management Perspectives, Commentaries, Market Outlook & Summary ConclusionsThe global breast cancer treatment market was valued at $12.1bn in 2016 and is forecast to grow at a strong 8.3.% CAGR between 2016 and 2022, resulting in 2022 global sales of $21.3bn. Breast cancer is the most frequent form of cancer with multiple drugs available but still presents high unmet need.Exhibit 1:Breast Cancer Treatment Market Size  2016-2022 ($million)Breast Cancer Types:Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and it can be segmented into three different types: (1) the hormone-sensitive population that account for 65% of the total population, (2) Her2+ mutated tumors, which account for 15% of the total and (3) the triple-negative breast cancer population (20%) usually younger and with more severe symptoms with difficult prognosis and limited treatment options apart from chemotherapy. The triple-negative breast cancer category presents the most unmet medical need.In its early stages, breast cancer may have no symptoms and can be detected only through mammography screening. During more advanced stages, symptoms include tenderness, swelling, lumps, and skin irritation. The use of mammography screening has accelerated earlier diagnosis and reduced mortality.Current Standard of Care:The treatment paradigm for breast cancer depends on the stage of the cancer at presentation normally through Stage I to IV, and on whether the tumor is hormone positive, HER2 positive, or triple negative.For HER2+ disease, a variety of HER2-receptor targeted agents have been developed that have improved the prognosis of the disease. These include Roches Herceptin, Perjeta, Kadcyla, and GSKs Tykerb,Patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer are normally treated with surgery to remove the tumor. Following surgery, a combination of radiation therapy and/or adjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy is used to treat women with early-stage breast cancer. In HER2+ patients, a Herceptin-containing regimen, often with a taxane or other chemotherapy.In metastatic breast cancer, there are several treatment options available, including Roches Perjeta that received FDA approved June 2012, GSKs Tykerb with FDA approval in March 2007 and Roches Kadcyla, FDA approved in February 2013.Future Treatment Paradigm:The CDK4/6 inhibitor class is of great interest given its potential effectiveness at treating patients with hormone-sensitive tumors and who represent the largest breast cancer population. In February 2015, the FDA approved Pfizers Ibrance (palbociclib) as an add-on therapy to letrozole in post-menopausal ER+/HER2- mBC as a first-line therapy.Historically, aromatase inhibitors have been used to treat this population. These products are now off patent but still remains the cornerstone of treatments for these patients and the CDK4/6 class is used in combination with these drugs.The CDK4/6 inhibitor class addresses 70% of the breast cancer population with three competitors. Pfizers Ibrance is set to remain the leader (with a 55% market share). Novartis Kisqali is in the launch phase in the US (end-17 in the EU) with safety and efficacy profile closer to those of Ibrance. Eli Lilly is developing abemaciclib, a selective CDK4/6 inhibitor that has more potent activity against both CDK4 and CDK6 compared to palbociclib and ribociclib. Eli Lillys abemaciclib appears more potent, but has symptomatic gastro-intestinal side effects. Hence it should be reserved for severe sufferers and is unlikely to reach the market before the end of 2018.The next leg of growth for CDK4/6 is likely expansion into the adjuvant/neoadjuvant setting, as well as use of the same or other CDK4/6 agents post-progression, and potential for use beyond the HR+ patient population due to synergy with other agents.The next generations HER2 ADC Therapies are currently in development. While Kadcyla is currently the only approved anti-HER2 ADC, there are at least five other HER2-targeted ADCs in the early stages of clinical development.The Road AheadTriple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) accounts for roughly 20% of all breast cancers and makes the hardest form of cancer to treat and presents multibillion dollar opportunity. The pharmaceutical industry is now prioritizing development of immunotherapies (IO) to treat TNBC. Currently Roche and Merck are most active in TNBC.Puma is developing Neratinib in several treatment settings for HER2+ breast cancer. Neratinib produced a statistically significant DFS benefit in the extended-adjuvant setting (given for one year after one year of Herceptin) and received FDA approval in July 2017.Biosimilar competition is also on the horizon and the first biosimilar Herceptin is expected to enter Europe from 2018 and potentially in the U.S. from 2019.Optima Insights is an innovative research and insights driven enterprise committed to offer actionable intelligence to the global life science and healthcare market. We believe that meaningful insights and improved strategic content holds the key to improved ROI for our clients. We strike an innovative engagement model with our clients to Co-Create Intelligence that would address very specific issues facing them within their functional areas. We continuously support clients through the entire journey map to enable them take better business decisions towards attaining market leadership.Chucks GSr.Manager International Sales---------------------------------1 MMC, Road, Chennai. Pin - 600060,Tamil Nadu, I N D I APhone: +1 424 2554 365Email: info@optimainsights.org
Spinal Implants Market Survey By Industry, Growth & Global Forecast to 2021

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2050

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/spinal-implants-market

Spinal implants market information, by type (fusion implants, non-fusion implants), by procedure (open surgery, minimally invasive surgery) by material (titanium, titanium-alloy, stainless steel, and plastic) - Forecast till 2022Market Synopsis of Spinal implants Market:Market Scenario:Spinal implants are devices used by surgeons for treating deformities, stabilizing and providing strength to the spine and for expediting the fusion process. Spinal implants are used for treating disorders which include degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, kyphosis, fracture, and spondylolisthesis. Rise in the number of vehicular accidents, increased spinal injuries and disorders, continuous rise in the geriatric and obese population are some of the factors that are fueling growth of the global spinal implants market.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Spinal implants Market: Alphatec Spine Inc Amedica Corporation Depuy Synthes Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) Exactech Inc. Globus Medical Inc. Integra LifeSciences, K2M Inc. LDR Holding Corporation Medtronic plc NuVasive Inc. Orthofix Holdings, Inc. RTI Surgical Inc. Stryker Corporation Quandary Medical LLC Zimmer BiometStudy Objectives of Spinal Implants Market: Providing detail analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of various segments and sub-segments of the spinal implants market. Giving insights about factors which are affecting the market growth. Analyzing the market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force Analysis etc. Providing record about the past along with estimated future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa. Giving country level analysis of the market with respect to current market size and estimated future growth of the same. Providing country level analysis of the market segments by type, by procedure, by material and its sub-segments. Providing an overview of key players along with their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies and drawing their current status in the market with respect to competition. Tracking and analyzing competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments currently happening in the global spinal implants market.Segments:Spinal implants market has been segmented on the basis of type of implant which comprises of fusion implants and non-fusion implants. On the basis of procedure, market is segmented into open surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. On the basis of material, market is again segmented into titanium, titanium-alloy, stainless steel and plastic.Regional Analysis of Spinal Implants Market:Globally North America is the largest market for spinal implants. Europe is the second-largest market. Furthermore Asia Pacific market is expected to be the fastest growing market for spinal implants.Browse Full Report Details @The report for spinal implants market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Spinal Implants Market Research Report - Global Forecast To 2022chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market 2022: Comprehensive Research Study

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2080

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2080

Global Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market Information, By Material Type (Bioabsorbable Materials, Non-Absorbable Materials and others), By Product Type (Screws, Plates, Patient Specific Implants and others), By End-Users (Hospitals, Rehabilitation Centers, Clinics and others)- Forecast Till 2022Market Synopsis of Global Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market:Market Scenario:The global Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market expected to grow at the CAGR of 8%.Orthopedic trauma is a type of orthopedic surgery to heal the injuries happened to the musculoskeletal system of the body after trauma. It may lead to traumatic amputations, dislocations, connective tissue injuries and damage of soft tissues. Orthopedic trauma devices plays a key role during surgical treatment of traumatic orthopedic injuries. Increase in road accidents and severe fracture incidences worldwide are some of the factors driving the market for orthopedic trauma device.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Global Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market: Invibio (UK) BIOTEK (India) Auxein Medical (India) Stryker Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US) DePuy Synthes Companies Ortho Max Manufacturing Company Pvt. Ltd. NuVasive, Inc. Orthofix Holdings, Inc. (Italy) Smith & Nephew MEDTRONIC B. Braun Melsungen AGStudy Objectives Global Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market: To provide detail analysis of the global orthopedic market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of various segments and sub-segments of this market. To provide insights about factors which are affecting the market growth. To analyze the market based on various factors which includes price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments of four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to current market size and future growth prospective. To provide country level analysis of the markets segments by material type, by product type, by end users and other sub segments. To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies and drawing a competitive structure of the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments that is happeningSegments:Global orthopedic trauma device market has been segmented on the basis of material type which comprises of bioabsorbable materials, non-absorbable materials and others. On the basis of product type; the market is segmented into screws, plates, patient specific implants and others. On the basis of end users; market is segmented into hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics and others.Get Discount @The report of Global Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market by Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with detail 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 historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in of the market. The report provides detail information and strategies of top key players in the industry also gives a broad study of different markets segments and regions.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Orthopedic Trauma Devices Market - Forecast to 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Renal dialysis Market Analysis by Trend, Demand & Global Forecast to 2023

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Global renal dialysis market research report, by type (primary dialysis and secondary dialysis), by product (hemodialysis products and peritoneal dialysis products), by end user (hospital care and home care) - Forecast Till 2023Market Scenario:Global Renal Dialysis Market was valued at $ 17.6 Billion in 2016 and is expected to reach at $ 26.6 Billion till 2023 at a CAGR of 7.1% during forecasted period 2017-2023.Renal dialysis is the process of removing the toxic substance like urea and creatinine from the body. During impair function of kidney caused due to acute or chronic renal diseases this method is one of the lifesaving treatment for a patient. Global renal dialysis market is driven by continuously increasing prevalence of the kidney and other associated renal diseases. Besides this increasing diabetic patient, patient suffering from hypertension has provided fuel for the growth of the market. On other hand due to high cost of treatment and complication after the treatment may restrain the growth of the market.Get a Copy of sample Report @Key Players for Global renal dialysis market Baxter International Inc. (US) Fresenius Medical Care (German) DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc. (US) B.Braun Melsungen AG (Germany) Medical Care AG & Co., Gambro AB (Sweden) Nipro diagnostic Inc. (US) Diaverum Deutschland GmbH (Germany) KGaA (Germany) Covidien (Ireland) Nikkiso Co. Ltd. (Japan) Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan) NxStage Medical, Inc. (U.S.)SegmentationGlobal renal dialysis market is segmented on the basis of types in primary dialysis and secondary dialysis. Primary dialysis is further sub segmented into hemodialysis, hemofiltration and peritoneal dialysis. Secondary dialysis is further sub segmented into hemodiafiltration and intestinal dialysis. On the basis of product this market is segmented as hemodialysis products and peritoneal dialysis products and on the basis of end user global renal dialysis market is segmented as hospital care and home care.Regional AnalysisOn regional basis, global renal dialysis market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. North America has the largest market for the global renal dialysis market. Increasing patient suffering from renal diseases in North America is increasing continuously which is the major factor for the growth of the market. Europe and Asia Pacific has nearly similar market for renal dialysis but the growth rate of Asia Pacific renal dialysis market is higher. Middle East and Africa contribute the least market for the renal dialysis market.Get Discount @The report for global renal dialysis 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.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Renal dialysis Market Research Report Forecast to 2023 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Durable Medical Equipment Market Is Expected To Grow At a Propitious CAGR Of 4.2% By 2022

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/durable-medical-equipment-market-2676

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Durable Medical Equipment also known as home medical equipment provides therapeutic benefits to patients. They are very useful for patients who are ill or undergoing some medical procedures. They are widely used by hospitals and clinics. These devices can also be managed by a caregiver or a family member of the patient. Medical professional recommend these devises according to present condition of patients. Due to increasing chronic diseases, high number of geriatric population and accident disability, the demand for durable medical equipment is increasing.Get Sample Report @Middle East and Africa represents about 2% of global healthcare expenditure since countries in these regions bear a heavy burden of disabilities. Durable medical equipment manufacturers are investing huge amount of money to develop more innovative products. Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) market is growing moderately at a CAGR of 4.2% and expected to reach US$ 4.65 billion by 2022.Study Objectives of Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market:To provide country level analysis of the market for segments which includes by product type, end user and its sub-segments.To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies and drawing a competitive landscape of the market.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments in the Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) market.To provide detail analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 5 years of various segments and sub-segments of the Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) market.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth.To analyze the Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) market based on various analyses which includes price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force analysis etc.Browse Report @Good Companies Involved for Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market:Some of the key players in this market are: Invacare Corporation (US), Medical Depot, Inc. (US), The Braun Corporation (US), Sunrise Medical (Germany), Permobil (Sweden), Medline Industries, Inc. (US), Compass Health Brands (US), ArjoHuntleigh (Sweden), Hill-Rom (US), GF HEALTH PRODUCTS, INC. (US)Regional Analysis of Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market:Considering the Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment market scenario, Saudi Arabia is believed to be the largest market. Moreover UAE market is also growing and is the second largest market for DME in ME&A region. On the other hand, Egypts market is expected to grow at a steady pace in the Middle-East and Africa Durable Medical Equipment market during the forecasted period. Rest of the Middle East and Africa region is likely to have a limited but steady growth of the market till 2022.Market Segments:On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, healthcare institutions, research centers, home healthcare and others.On the basis of product type which comprises of blood pressure monitors, blood glucose monitors, ventilators, personal mobility devices, traction equipment, wheel chairs, respiratory devices, and others.Get Discount @List of Tables:Table 1 Middle-East And Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market By CountryTABLE 2 Middle-East And Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market By Product TypeTable 3 Middle-East And Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market By End UserTable 4 UAE Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market By Product TypeTable 5 UAE Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market By End UserTable 6 Saudi Arabia Medical Equipment (DME) Market By Product TypeTable 7 Saudi Arabia Medical Equipment (DME) Market By End UserTable 8 Egypt Medical Equipment (DME) Market By Product TypeTable9 Egypt Medical Equipment (DME) Market By End UserTable 10 Rest Of Middle-East And Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market By Product TypeTable 11 Rest Of Middle-East And Africa Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Market By End UserAt 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 FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Prescriptive Analytics Market - The Biggest Trends to watch out for 2017-2022

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/prescriptive-analytics-market-2613

Market Scenario:Prescriptive Analytics is a form of advance analytics that is used for making an optimum decisions regarding the way to handle specific situations by considering all the situation and available resources. These analytics work along with predictive analytics that are used to determine the future performance based on the current and the historical data. Prescriptive Analytics are used for taking improved business decisions, despite of uncertainty and changing conditions, and it also help companies determine what action to take. For illustration: prescriptive analytics can be used to evaluate whether a local fire department should require residents to evacuate a particular area when a wildfire is burning in the area. By analyzing these data department can make the optimum decision.The study indicates that rising popularity of automated business decisions and massive investments done by various firms helps to expand the addressable market for prescriptive analytics. The increase in cyber-crime results in the huge data loss for an organization, influences the demand of prescriptive analytics. These loss of data in the organization is an increasing concerns due to the growing internet security breaches. Whereas, the emergence of Big Data and IoT and the increasing demand of accessing real time data acts as major driving factor for the growth of prescriptive analytics market. Moreover, the growing demand of machine learning is also promoting the growth of the Prescriptive Analytics market.The factors hindering the growth of the prescriptive analytics market are the complex analytics workflow and the lack of skilled manpower with advance analytics knowledge. The global market of prescriptive analytics will reach upto 2.47 Billion by the year 2022, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~22.7% by the end of the forecasted period.Study Objectives of Prescriptive Analytics Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Prescriptive Analytics Market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Prescriptive Analytics 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, application, deployment, business sector and vertical. 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 Prescriptive Analytics Market.Request a sample @Key Players:The prominent players in the Prescriptive Analytics Market are  FICO (U.S.), Ayata (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), River Logic, Inc. (U.S.), Angoss Software (U.S.), Frontline (U.S.), Profitect (U.S.), Panoratio (Germany), TIBCO Software (U.S.), NGData (Belgium) and among others.Segments:Prescriptive Analytics market is segmented on the basis of component, application, deployment, business sector, and vertical.Prescriptive Analytics by Components: Software ServicesPrescriptive Analytics by Application: Operation Management Revenue Management Network Management Supply Chain Management OthersPrescriptive Analytics by Deployment: On-Cloud On PremisePrescriptive Analytics by Organization Type: SME Large Business UnitsPrescriptive Analytics by Business Sector: HR Marketing Finance Operations SalesPrescriptive Analytics by Vertical: Manufacturing BFSI IT/ITES Healthcare Transportation GovernmentRegional Analysis:The regional analysis of Prescriptive Analytics 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 Prescriptive Analytics Market owing to factors such as increased internet penetration and technological advancements. The study also indicates that cloud deployment is a driving factor for Asia-Pacific region to grow significantly in the prescriptive analytics market by the forecast period. Apart from it the rising adoption of IT services is also driving the prescriptive analytics market.Intended Audience Government Organizations Business Analytics Software Providers Enterprise users Commercial users Cloud Service Providers IT Service Providers Application Design and Software Developers Software Vendors Industrial users Technology investors System Integrators Research/Consultancy firms IndependentBrowse report @ 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. 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. Market Research Future Office No. 524/528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Uterine Fibroids Market Balanced for Consistent Development Later on Market Insight Report Offers Development Prospects 2022

Uterine Fibroids Market

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Market research future published a Cooked Research Report on U.S. uterine fibroid market. The U.S. Uterine Fibroid Market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 3.24% During the period 2016 to 2022The major participants uterine fibroid market are AstraZeneca (England), Cook Medical Inc. (US), Boston Scientific Corporation (US), GE Healthcare (U.K.), AbbVie Inc. (U.S.), Hologic (U.S.) and others.Uterine Fibroids Market Reports are the abnormal growth that gets developed inside or on the wall of a womans uterus. These are also known as leiomyoma or myomas. These are noncancerous growths that cause symptoms such as heavy bleeding between or during the menstrual cycle, pain in pelvis or lower back, increased menstrual cramping, swelling enlargement of the abdomen.Uterine fibroids is spreading over U.S. at a steady pace due to its high prevalence in African- American race. The exact cause of uterine fibroids is unknown, however heredity of uterine fibroids, high blood pressure and low levels of vitamin D are some of the major causing factors of uterine fibroids. Based on the market scenario, it has been observed that procedures like hysterectomy and myomectomy are majorly covering the Uterine Fibroid treatment market despite of their side effects, which as a result is showcasing the limited treatment options for UF.The U.S. uterine fibroid market has been evaluated as a growing market and it is expected that the market will touch high growth figures. The increasing prevalence of uterine fibroids and growing number of hysterectomy surgeries every year in this region are some of the factors driving the market for this disease. There are several other treatment options available now a days in U.S. that are driving the overall uterine fibroids market such as self-help techniques, pharmacotherapy, uterine artery embolization and invasive surgical procedures (myomectomy & hysterectomy). The U.S. Uterine Fibroids market is expected to reach USD 39,993.2 million in 2022.Segmentation:U.S. Uterine Fibroid Market has been segmented on the basis of type which comprises of Subserosal Fibroids, Intramural Fibroids, Submucosal Fibroids and others. On the basis of diagnosis the market is segmented into Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners, Computed tomography (CT), Ultrasounds and others. On the basis of treatment the market is segmented into Uterine Fibroid Embolization, Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound, Myolysis, Endometrial Ablation, Hysterectomy and Myomectomy.Regional Analysis:The U.S. market for uterine fibroids is growing steadily. The market for uterine fibroids is growing with the CAGR of 3.24% during the forecast period from 2016-2022. Treatment with both drug and surgery accounted for the largest market share by treatment while treatment with only surgery is the second largest market for uterine fibroid, by treatment. Treatment with only pharmacotherapy is the fastest growing market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.96% during the forecast period of 2016-2022. The reason for this high growth is the positive clinical trial results of some drugs which will shoot the uterine fibroid market for pharmacotherapy.Get Sample Copy atTABLE OF CONTENTS1 INTRODUCTION2 SCOPE OF STUDY2.1 Research Objective 102.2 Assumptions & Limitations 102.2.1 Assumptions 102.2.2 Limitations 102.3 Market Structure 113 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.1 Primary Research 133.2 Secondary Research 134 U.S. UTERINE FIBROID MARKET4.1 Introduction 154.2 U.S. Uterine Fibroid Market, By Type 174.3 U.S. Uterine Fibroid Market, By Diagnosis 194.4 U.S. Uterine Fibroid Market, By Treatment 215 COMPANY PROFILE.ContinuedGet Discount on Report atAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comMRFR has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.Our Research Analysts are eager to share their knowledge and assist you in refining market research parameters, choosing right market studies, and evaluating both the market scope and the research methodologies of varied segments.We bridge the gap between our clients and their clients by identifying and decoding just the target group, while generating leads with the highest accuracy.Years of research into diverse fields of work has ingrained within us, a proficiency so distinguished that our industry-specific specialists identify with your business ideas and feel the pulse of your challenges and opportunities. This enables us for providing assistance, through our consulting and strategic consulting services, in informed managerial decision making. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industries, WantStats Research and Media often conducts industrial visits for its research analysts. Relevant inputs from various established market participants, help our clients make significant contribution in respective markets are a huge motivation for all of us to endlessly furnish quality. We depend greatly on profound insights into complex realms of our study.Pune, IndiaPune, India
Telecom API Market Grows Owning To Innovations in Technology, 2016  2022

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2349

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/telecom-api-market-2349

Market Scenario:The telecommunication industry is growing continuously due to rapid innovations and IT modernizations. An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of programming instructions and programming standards for accessing a web-based software application. The telecom API is an application programming interface which plays a major role for developing any big software. The telecom APIs are developed to add telecom related features in different cloud applications or web applications. Telecom API is used to improve the customer experience and market the mobile applications among end-users. There are many telecom APIs that are used for messaging, location, and payments.The rapid penetration of cloud-based technologies and increasing use of mobile data are the two major key drivers for the telecom API market. Benefits of telecom API can be listed as, they provide extra functionality to the existing system, and they enhance the performance of existing solutions and others. Apart from it lesser time to market and costs savings are major advantages of telecom API which are responsible for the growth of market.There are three different types of telecom APIs as Presence detection data, Location determination data, Service Configuration Management (SCM), and Subscriber Data Management (SDM). The Service Configuration Management (SCM) represents the tools which allow the service provider or the customer to alter the service parameters. Subscriber Data Management (SDM) is simply concerned about the data that resides with a service provider. The telecom APIs are used in various services as SMS, payments, webRTC, identity management and others.Study Objectives of Telecom API Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Telecom API market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Telecom API 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, service and user type. 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 Telecom APIRequest a sample report @Key Players:The prominent players in the Telecom API Market are  Telefonica (Spain), AT&T, Inc. (U.S.), Vodafone Group PLC (U.K.), Alcatel-Lucent (France), Apigee Corporation (U.S.), Orange S.A. (France), Verizon Communications, Inc. (U.S.), Nexmo, Inc. (U.S.), Fortumo (Estonia), LocationSmart (U.S.), Aspect Software (U.S.) among others.Segments:Telecom API Market by Type: Presence Detection Data Location Determination Data Service Configuration Management (SCM) Subscriber Data Management (SDM)Telecom API Market by Service: SMS, MMS, and RCS API Payment API LocationTelecom API Market by User type: Enterprise Developer Internal Telecom Developer Partner Developer Long Tail DeveloperRegional Analysis:The regional analysis of Telecom API market is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, Americas, Europe and Rest of the World. Rising popularity of smartphones, tablets and others has driven the market of Telecom API in North America. North America dominates the telecom API market followed by Asia-Pacific region. The increasing trend of smartphones is majorly observed in Asia-Pacific region and the countries like China, Japan, Korea and India are advancing in their technologies rapidly. The Telecom API market is expected to grow steadily in Europe and Latin America regions over the forecast period.Intended Audience: API aggregators Mobile network carriers Telecom managed service providers Mobile device manufactures System Integrators Government Organizations Research/Consultancy firmsBrowse Report @ 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. Market Research Future Office No. 524/528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Continuous Variable Transmission Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 8% By 2022

Continuous variable transmission Market

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1832

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/continuous-variable-transmission-market

Market HighlightsContinuous variable transmission is a type of transmission, changes gears perfectly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios. CVT has replaced planetary gear set in the automotive transmission with two variable pulleys and metal belt/chain running between them. Automotive industry is focusing on transmission systems to comply with the emission norms and to get fuel efficient system. And CVT system has emerged to provide fuel efficiency and enhanced driving experience with respect to auto gear shifting & improved acceleration. Moreover, CVT engines are demandable in automotive industry as it provides better fuel economy, more power, and convenient driving experience than traditional automotive transmission systems.Request for a Sample Copy @North American and European region has stringent emissions and fuel efficiency regulations. Manufacturer and supplier are developing a transmission system to comply with the emission norms in the market. CVT systems are fuel efficient & provide more power is expected to drive the market in the North America. Also the higher technological development in the region is also a driving factor for the growth of Continuous Variable Transmission Market.Key PlayersThe key players of global Continuous variable transmission market report include BorgWarner, Jatco, Punch Powertrain, Toyota Motors, ZF, Aisin Seiki, Efficient Drivetrains, Folsom Technologies International, Hunan Jianglu & Rongda, and Hyundai Motor.Scope of the reportThis study provides an overview of the global continuous variable transmission industry, tracking market segments across the categorized four geographic regions. The report provides a six-year forecast for the market size in terms of value for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the world. The scope of the study segments the global continuous variable transmission market based on type, and fuel.Table of Contents1 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 & Opportunities2 Challenges & Restraints3 Value Chain Analysis4 Porters Five Forces AnalysisContinueAccess Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Remote Diagnostics Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 16.90% By 2022

Automotive Remote diagnostics Market

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1842

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-remote-diagnostics-market

Market Scenario:Automotive remote diagnostics is a solution to monitor the health of a vehicle, figures the root cause of the issues and also enables the customer to access information about the vehicle. The awareness regarding vehicle diagnostics, the rising demand regarding safety and security of vehicles, and the growing inclination towards premium vehicles are some factors expected to drive the market. In connectivity segment, bluetooth is expected to have largest share in the automotive remote diagnostics market. As bluetooth offers various features and one of them is it connects the vehicle to the internet via smart phone to transfer data from and with server. There are various trends in the market such as integration of mobile phones with telematics systems and vehicle diagnostic-based insurance programs. The global Automotive Remote diagnostics market is expected to show a growth at CAGR of about 16.90% from 2016 to 2022.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Remote Diagnostics Market: Robert Bosch GmbH Continental AG Delphi Automotive PLC Onstar LLC Snap-On Inc. Magneti Marelli Softing AG VOXX International Corporation Vector Informatik Vidiwave Ltd.Regional Analysis of Global Automotive Remote diagnostics Market:The North America region has a largest share in the automotive remote diagnostics market. Also, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This region is led by China and India due to increasing population, increasing per capita income, improving living standards, and hence increasing demand for purchase of high end vehicles. And this will significantly drive the market of automotive remote diagnostics.Browse Full Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Radiator Hose Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Continental, Tokyo Rub, Hutchinson and Others

Radiator Hose Market

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https://goo.gl/FfH2j5

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Global Radiator Hose Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Continental, Tokyo Rub, Hutchinson 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 radiator hose is a one that transfers coolant from an engines water pump to its radiator. It is connected to a nipple on the radiator or the engines water pump or intake by a clamp. Most radiator hose designs are molded hoses specific to the application however, there are some universal designs which can be bent and fit onto many different applications.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Radiator Hose Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:GatesDaycoGoodyearContinentalTokyo RubHutchinsonMotorcraftMeyleToyoda GoseiMishimotoMacKayAuto 7ACDelcoAPA/URO PartsOmix-ADASpectreCrownNufoxTianjin PenglingSichuan ChuanhuanTianjin Dagang RubberhoseShandong MeichenOthersGlobal Radiator Hose Market: Key Product TypeMolded TypeFlexible TypeOthersGlobal Radiator Hose Market: Key ApplicationCommercial vehiclesPassenger vehiclesOthersGlobal Radiator Hose 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 Radiator Hose Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Radiator Hose 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 Radiator Hose 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 Radiator Hose Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Molded Type1.2.2 Flexible Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Commercial vehicles1.3.2 Passenger vehicles1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico).......................Continue (Global Radiator Hose 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
For months, weve been bombarded with weekly micro-developments in a sprawling and nuanced investigation, likely the most complex in modern U.S. history. It has made many of us numb and annoyed, and we can often lose sight of the obvious. Then, when we remember the obvious, its hard to recall in proper context whats at stakenamely, the system by which the will of the American people is freely and fairly expressed and enacted.

So in light of the truly major revelation yesterdaythat Donald Trump Jr. was conspiring directly with WikiLeaks over Twitter messages during the final weeks of the campaign, and that all senior staffers knew itId like to remind us just how stupidly obvious it is that Trump knew what he was doing the whole time. He was blatantly coordinating with a geopolitical adversary to attack his political opponent and steal the election.

Heres the framework to remember: Donald Trump learned in his first-ever intelligence briefing as a candidate, on Aug. 17 (two days before his campaign manager Paul Manafort resigned), that the U.S. intelligence community knew Russia hacked the DNC emails that Wikileaks had been publishing. At minimum, then, we can say Donald Trump knew for months that he was helping Russia take down an American presidential candidate by weaponizing stolen information. And his entire campaign knew his son had gone right to the source.

Ill lay out some evidence of Trumps own willful engagement in this conspiracy in the form of the more than 50 tweets where he used WikiLeakss information to attack Clinton. The president and his campaign knowingly used stolen information to help Russia denigrate his opponent, and he proceeded to lie to the American people about it for months and months.

For perspective, Bill Clinton lied about a blowjob.

Last night, the Atlantic broke the story that Donald Trump Jr. had been in contact with WikiLeaks in a series of direct messages on Twitter starting in the weeks before the election. The messages, which continued on and off until at least July 2017, show WikiLeaks soliciting inside influence from members of the Trump campaign at the highest level. The U.S. intelligence community has said WikiLeaks acted as an arm of the Russian government in its conspiracy to attack the 2016 election.

WikiLeaks reached out to DJTJ first, and over the months made a series of requests. Shortly after the Atlantics story broke, DJTJ released his communications with WikiLeaks. We then learned he had sent emails up the chain to alert the campaigns inner circle, including Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, and Jared Kushner, who in turn shared it with Hope Hicks, a close aide to the President.

Most often DJTJ seemed to ignore the solicitations from WikiLeaks, but even though he only answered three messages in those three replies, he complied with two requests. For instance, at one point WikiLeaks (which even Trumps hand-picked CIA Director Mike Pompeo calls a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia; I mean, the Kremlin has literally paid Assange) asked DJTJ to get his dad to tweet out a specific link to WikiLeakss archive of hacked Podesta emails.

Theres many great stories the press are missing and were sure some of your follows [sic] will find it. Btw we just released Podesta Emails Part 4.

DJTJ didnt respond, but as a Wall Street Journal reporter pointed out, fifteen minutes after DJTJ received that message his dad tweeted, Very little pick-up by the dishonest media of incredible information provided by WikiLeaks. So dishonest! Rigged system! Then at a rally that day Trump thumped the same theme at three or four different times. Two days later DJTJ himself complied with the initial request and tweeted out the link WikiLeaks had given him.

At times, the requests were ridiculous: WikiLeaks wanted DJTJ to leak Trumps tax returns to them; they urged Trump to reject the election results; they asked Trump as President-elect to have Australia appoint Julian Assange, the director of WikiLeaks, as its ambassador to the United States.

But read that again. WikiLeaks felt comfortable enough with Trump to ask him to reject the election results and throw our system of government into crisis.

Thats an insane thing to try to get your head around.

And DJTJ also solicited inside information from WikiLeaks. At one point he asked, Whats behind this Wednesday leak I keep reading about? (The day before, Roger Stone, an informal campaign adviser, had tweeted, Wednesday @HillaryClinton is done. #WikiLeaks.) WikiLeaks apparently didnt reply. Both camps clearly maintained a cautionary distance from each other.

Of course, we cant be sure what weve seen are the full DMs; its easy to delete them. Wed have to see WikiLeaks side, but even then we couldnt fully trust it.

If youre not convinced by now that the Trump campaign and the Russian government knowingly and willingly coordinated their efforts, youre probably beyond convincing. But even if youre convinced, another problem is soon to muddy things further: WikiLeaks didnt matter! It didnt change any votes!

Well, of course it did. And two important people seemed to think it did matter. One of them was Mike Pence.

Heres Pence discussing the hacks significance to the election in an interview with Hugh Hewitt on July 29, 2016:

If it is found that Russia or China or any other foreign power compromised the private email, or capture classified information, and then released that information through the Wikileaks or otherwise, thered be serious consequences for that.

Why would Mike Pence think there should be serious consequences, regardless of the party that was attacked? Because its above all an attack on America, and it can undermine our faith in, and the functioning of, our democracy. (This happened.)

And heres Pence again, flat-out denying reports last October (yes, there were reports at the time!) that the Trump campaign had anything to do with WikiLeaks. Nothing could be further from the truth, Pence said. On that same day DJTJ tweeted the link that he got from his WikiLeaks conversation.

The other person who thought WikiLeaks could decide the election? Obviously Donald Trump.

Mr. Trump either brought up WikiLeaks directly, tweeted links to articles about emails from Wikileaks dumps, or exploited storylines from WikiLeaks dumps at least 56 times before the election. And thats just on Twitter.

Again, the obvious things go unsaid: Mr. Trump didnt encourage Russia and WikiLeaks to commit espionage to commit espionage against his political opponent for no reason. He was asking Putin to help him win.

And dont forget that the U.S. intelligence community told Trump that they knew Russia stole the emails Wikileaks had been publishing. At minimum, then, we can say Donald Trump knew for months that he was helping Russia, a geopolitical and military adversary, take down an American presidential candidate by weaponizing stolen information.

You can look them up yourself here, one of the greatest online resources available for second-rate political journalists.

Jul 23, 2016: The Wikileaks e-mail release today was so bad to Sanders that it will make it impossible for him to support her, unless he is a fraud!

Jul 24, 2016: The Crooked Hillary V.P. choice is VERY disrespectful to Bernie Sanders and all of his supporters. Just another case of BAD JUDGEMENT [sic] by H

Jul 24, 2016: Crooked Hillary Clinton was not at all loyal to the person in her rigged system that pushed her over the top, DWS. Too bad Bernie flamed out

Jul 24, 2016: Even though Bernie Sanders has lost his energy and his strength, I dont believe that his supporters will let Crooked Hillary off the hook!

Jul 24, 2016: The highly neurotic Debbie Wasserman Schultz is angry that, after stealing and cheating her way to a Crooked Hillary victory, shes out!

Jul 25, 2016: Crooked Hillary Clinton knew everything that her servant was doing at the DNC  they just got caught, thats all! They laughed at Bernie.

Jul 25, 2016: Here we go again with another Clinton scandal, and e-mails yet (can you believe). Crooked Hillary knew the fix was in, B never had a chance!

Jul 25, 2016: The State of Florida is so embarrassed by the antics of Crooked Hillary Clintonand Debbie Wasserman Schultz that they will vote for CHANGE!

Jul 29, 2016: #CrookedHillary Job Application [ins. cartoon of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz rigging DNC]

Aug 2, 2016: #ICYMI: John Podestas Brother Pocketed $180,000 from Putins Uranium Company

Aug 13, 2016: We now have confirmation as to one reason Crooked H wanted to be sure that nobody saw her e-mails  PAY-FOR-PLAY. How can she run for Pres?

Note: On Aug. 17, Mr. Trump received his first-ever intelligence briefing. Gov. Chris Christie and Gen. Mike Flynn accompany him. The agents tell them, among other things, that the intelligence community knows that Russia is behind the WikiLeaks dumps and DNC hacks. Mike Flynn goes bonkers at this point and Christie must physically restrain him. Note the gap between the time the campaign receives this information and the next flurry of WikiLeaks references.

Sep 3, 2016: .@CNN is so disgusting in their bias, but they are having a hard time promoting Crooked Hillary in light of the new e-mail scandals.

Sep 4, 2016: The polls are close so Crooked Hillary is getting out of bed and will campaign tomorrow.Why did she hammer 13 devices and acid-wash e-mails [sic]

Oct 2, 2016Bernie should pull his endorsement of Crooked Hillary after she deceived [sic] him and then attacked him and his supporters.

Oct 11, 2016: I hope people are looking at the disgraceful behavior of Hillary Clinton as exposed by WikiLeaks. She is unfit to run.

Oct 11, 2016: Wow, @CNN Town Hall questions were given to Crooked Hillary Clinton in advance of big debates against Bernie Sanders. Hillary & CNN FRAUD!

Oct 12, 2016: Very little pick-up by the dishonest media of incredible information provided by WikiLeaks. So dishonest! Rigged system! [Fifteen minutes after DJTJ receives message from WikiLeaks about lackluster press attention.]

Oct 16, 2016: A country that Crooked Hillary says has funded ISIS also gave Wild Bill $1 million for his birthday? SO CORRUPT!

Oct 16, 2016: The vast majority felt she should be prosecuted  even senior FBI officials thought Crooked was guilty.

Oct 16, 2016: Wow, interview released by Wikileakes [sic] shows quid pro quo in Crooked Hillary e-mail probe.Such a dishonest person  & Paul Ryan does zilch!

Oct 16, 2016: Weve all wondered how Hillary avoided prosecution for her email scheme. Wikileaks may have found the answer. Obama!

Oct 17, 2016: WikiLeaks proves even the Clinton campaign knew Crooked mishandled classified info, but no one gets charged? RIGGED!

Oct 17, 2016: Voter fraud! Crooked Hillary Clinton even got the questions to a debate, and nobody says a word. Can you imagine if I got the questions?

Oct 17, 2016: Crooked Hillary colluded w/FBI and DOJ and media is covering up to protect her. Its a #RiggedSystem!

Oct 18, 2016: Food Groups  Emails Show Clinton Campaign Organized Potential VPs By Race And Gender

Oct 18, 2016: Clinton Campaign Tried to Limit Damage From Classified Info on Email Server #DrainTheSwamp

Oct 18, 2016: Pay-to-play. Collusion. Cover-ups. And now bribery? So CROOKED. I will #DrainTheSwamp.

Oct 18, 2016: If we let Crooked run the govt, history will remember 2017 as the year America lost its independence. #DrainTheSwamp

Oct 19, 2016: Bernie Sanders on HRC: Bad Judgement. John Podesta on HRC: Bad Instincts. #BigLeagueTruth #Debate

Oct 19, 2016: More Anti-Catholic Emails From Team Clinton

Oct 19, 2016: Hillary Clinton Deleted Emails With Her Email Server Technician

Oct 19, 2016: Crookeds camp incited violence at my rallies. These incidents werent spontaneous  like she claimed in Benghazi!

Oct 19, 2016: Crooked @HillaryClintons foundation is a CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE. Time to #DrainTheSwamp! #BigLeagueTruth #Debate

Oct 20, 2016: Why didnt Hillary Clinton announce that she was inappropriately given the debate questions  she secretly used them! Crooked Hillary.

Oct 20, 2016: Want access to Crooked Hillary? Dont forget  its going to cost you! #DrainTheSwamp #PayToPlay

Oct 20, 2016: Crooked took MILLIONS from oppressive ME countries. Will she give the $$$ back? Probably not. Dont forget her slogan.

Oct 21 2016: #CrookedHillary was at center of negotiating $12M commitment from King Mohammed VI of Morocco to Clinton Fdn.

Oct 21, 2016: {Crooked Hillary Clinton} created this mess, and she knows it. #DrainTheSwamp [links to pieces about Huma/Morocco money]

Oct 21, 2016: Huma calls it a MESS, the rest of us call it CORRUPT! WikiLeaks catches Crooked in the act  again. #DrainTheSwamp

Oct 21, 2016: WikiLeaks reveals Clinton camps work with VERY friendly and malleable reporters #DrainTheSwamp #CrookedHillary

Oct 21, 2016: #CrookedHillary sending U.S. intelligence info. to Podestas hacked email is unquestionably an OPSEC violation

Oct 22, 2016: WikiLeaks: Clinton-Kaine Even Lied About Timing of Veep Pick

Oct 22, 2016: Huma Abedin told Clinton her secret email account caused problems

Oct 23, 2016: #CrookedHillary #PayToPlay [video]

Oct 23, 2016: Clinton Charity Got Up To $56 Million From Nations That Are Anti-Women, Gays #CrookedHillary

Oct 24, 2016: Why has nobody asked Kaine about the horrible views emanated on WikiLeaks about Catholics? Media in the tank for Clinton but Trump will win!

Oct 27, 2016: WikiLeaks Drip-Drop Releases Prove One Thing: Theres No Nov. 8 Deadline on Clintons Dishonesty and Scandals

Oct 28, 2016: If my people said the things about me that Podesta & Hillarys people said about her, I would fire them out of self respect. Bad instincts

Nov 1, 2016: Podesta urged Clinton team to hand over emails after use of private server emerged

Nov 1, 2016: WikiLeaks emails reveal Podesta urging Clinton camp to dump emails. Time to #DrainTheSwamp!

Nov 1, 2016: So terrible that Crooked didnt report she got the debate questions from Donna Brazile, if that were me it would have been front page news!

Nov 2, 2016: Clinton camp fumed when surrogate told supporters Clinton planned to betray labor on TPP post-election

Nov 4, 2016: The Clinton Campaign at Obama Justice #DrainTheSwamp

Nov 4, 2016: Clinton Aides: Definitely Not Releasing Some HRC Emails

Nov 5, 2016: Must Act Immediately: Clinton Charity Lawyer Told Execs They Were Breaking The Law

Nov 5, 2016: Top Clinton Aides Bemoan Campaign All Tactics, No Vision

Yet on this very same Twitter feed Trump has claimed repeatedly that the Democrats invented the made up Russia hoax. Just this weekend he called the Congressional probes into Russian interference an artificial Democrat hit job. (Those probes have bipartisan support.)

Beyond Twitter, Trump mentioned WikiLeaks at least 164 times in the last month of the campaign alone. He also brought WikiLeaks up in all three debates, which reached hundreds of millions of viewers. On top of that, Russian-bought Facebook posts that pushed some of these emails and similar lines of attack reached 126 million Americans.

Not 126 million views. 126 million people.

Why would Trump commit so much of his campaign time, money, and effort to pushing this content if he didnt think it would have a significant effect on the outcome of the election? Of course it affected the outcome: Mr. Trump lost by less than 80,000 votes spread across three states.

But now we have to come to grips, as we periodically must, with the fact that this all happened. Whats more, we have to remember its not just another piece of Trump-Russia trivia: Donald Trump stole the election. He isnt a legitimate President. Weve reached a point, or we soon will, where we as public citizens dont need to see much more evidence any time soon to be convinced of the truth that there was indeed a Trump-Russia conspiracy. Its more important right now that we have time to prepare for what will happen to the country when all the evidence we havent seen comes to bear against the President of the United States. That revolution wont be tweeted.
Petoskey library hosting food drive this holiday season

The Petoskey District Library has partnered with Manna Food Project to host a food drive Nov. 14  Dec. 23 to help people in need this holiday season.
Bet365 Chief Executive Becomes Highest Earning UK Boss

November 16, 2017 Matthew Pitt Editor

Denise Coates, the co-founder and chief executive of gambling giant Bet365, became the highest paid boss in the United Kingdom thanks to paying herself a record 199 million last year according to the companys latest financial results.

Coates monster salary also came with 18 million in dividends, taking her pre-tax earnings to 217 million, dwarfing the previous highest UK boss salary, held by Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP, by almost 169 million.

Company Background

Bet365 is a privately owned gambling firm that posted a healthy 525 million profit for the 2016/17 financial year. Coates is now the chief executive of the company and the co-founder of the online business. Coates became the managing director of her familys small betting shop estate at the age of 22 and is now estimated to have amassed a personal fortune of 3.06 billion.

The company is barely recognizable from its humble beginnings. Bet365 started life in a portakabin in a Stoke-on-Trent carpark in 2000. Coates purchased the Bet365 domain name for $25,000 and has since been instrumental in transforming the website into one of the UKs most-profitable companies.

The mother-of-five lives a private life, preferring to shun the limelight and concentrate on her family and business. While Coates herself owns a majority 50.01 percent stake in Bet365, she runs the company with her brother, John Coates, who owns about a quarter of the company's shares. In total, the Coates family owns 93 percent of Bet365.

Giving Enough?

Denise Coates was awarded a CBE for services to the community and business in 2012 and company accounts reveal Bet365 made a 50 million donation to the Denise Coates Foundation, a charity that mostly funds education and medical charities. The foundation's accounts, however, reveal the charity has not made any donations to charities that help problem gamblers, something that has angered some charities' head figures.

Speaking to The Guardian, the chief executive of the charity Addaction, Mike Dixon, said: It cannot be right that the CEO of a betting company is paid 22 times more than the whole industry donates to treatment.

The gambling industry is paying nowhere near enough for the treatment of gambling addicts. It means that there are a lot of people who are not getting any help at all. It seems indefensible for the industry to be giving so little, when it is making so much money.

A spokesperson for the Fairer Gambling campaign group echoed Dixon's opinion: As losses from Britains gamblers continue to spiral out of control, so has executive pay. The entire gambling industry donated just 8m to research, education and treatment last year. If these companies can afford to pay their executives millions of pounds a year, there is no excuse for such chronically underfunded treatment services.

Although not replying directly to the negative comments surrounding her astronomical earnings, Coates said in a statement to shareholders: [Bet365] recognises its responsibility to minimise gambling-related harm and to keep crime out of gambling.

The group is committed to developing an evidence-based approach to responsible gambling. To this end, the group continues to work with research partners on a number of projects to improve its methods of identifying harmful play and deliver more effective harm-minimisation interventions.

The group is assured that its efforts over the past year will continue to evolve over the coming months, and will make further progress in the prevention and minimisation of gambling-related harm.
Railbird Report: Dan Cates Doesn't Think Online Poker is Dead

November 16, 2017 Frank Op de Woerd

Talks about bots in online poker go back to the early days. But where bots were hardly an issue when online poker got started since combatting their simple tactics was relatively easy, it's a bigger issue today and might be an even bigger problem to solve in the near future. Just this week, poker bot Libratus won an award for best use of AI after beating a team of poker pros in no limit hold'em heads up.

Dan Cates, talking to the team behind Paul Phua Poker, shares his thoughts on the subject in the following video. He isn't all too worried, explaining how people are still playing suboptimally even though there's enough knowledge out there to improve drastically.

Cates doesn't seem to realize that people learning from bots isn't the most threatening thing about their existence. Because, while people might not improve enough live, the bots themselves are still a threat when they play online  and the rest of the poker players online have to rely on bot detection and protection by the online poker rooms.

Catching Up on High Stakes Action: Three Biggest Pots Online

Cates still plays online regularly, but was no participant in the biggest hands this week, nor has he been one of the players in the Top 10 of biggest winners or losers this year so far. He's currently down $362,592 for the year on PokerStars, but won over a million dollars live at the beginning of the year finishing third in the Triton Super High Roller Series in Manila.

All three of the biggest pots this week came from a session between "RaulGonzalez" and "JayP-AA". The former came out as the winner of that match up.

1) "RaulGonzalez" Wins a $80,080 Pot (400 Big Blinds) from "JayP-AA"

($100/$200 PLO Heads Up)

"JayP-AA" opened the button for $680. His opponent, "RaulGonzalez" in the big blind, three-bet to $2,120. "JayP-AA" followed up with a four-bet to $6,440. That wasn't the end of the action, though, as "RaulGonzalez" made it $19,400. "JayP-AA" called.

With a massive $38,960 already in the middle, the two of them checked on the flop and the on the turn as well.

With the completing the board, "RaulGonzalez" checked for the third time. "JayP-AA" bet a hefty $20,560 and "RaulGonzalez" called.

"JayP-AA" showed for a flush with a blocker. The pot, however, went to "RaulGonzalez" who tabled for a higher flush in a 400-big blind pot on a paired board.

Click for replay via HighStakesDB

2) "JayP-AA" Wins a $80,080 Pot (400 Big Blinds) from "RaulGonzalez"

($100/$200 PLO Heads Up)

Again, "JayP-AA" and "RaulGonzalez" played a big pot. After a series of raises, the two got their chips in before the flop. "RaulGonzalez" opened to $680, "JayP-AA" three-bet to $2,120 and "RaulGonzalez" four-bet to $6,440. Then, "JayP-AA" five-bet to $19,400 and called "RaulGonzalez"'s six-bet shove for $39,960 total.

Player Hand Equity "JayP-AA" 41% (0.78% chop) "RaulGonzalez" 58.22% (0.78% chop)

"RaulGonzalez" was the favorite going in, but the board would not favor him/her as it came , giving "JayP-AA" runner-runner two pair and the full pot.

Click for replay via HighStakesDB

3) "RaulGonzalez" Wins a $80,080 Pot (400 Big Blinds) from "JayP-AA"

($100/$200 PLO Heads Up)

Wouldn't you know it, the two of them got $40,000 each in once more. This time, "RaulGonzalez" opened for $680. Again, "JayP-AA" three-bet to $2,120, "RaulGonzalez" four-bet to $6,440, and "JayP-AA" five-bet to $19,400.

After "RaulGonzalez" called, the flop of saw both players check. On the turn, "JayP-AA" bet $20,560. "RaulGonzalez" called to see the pot grow to $80,080.

Both of them checked when the board paired with the on the river. "JayP-AA" tabled for a king-high straight with a blocker to broadway. "RaulGonzalez" showed for the higher straight and took down the pot.

Click for replay via HighStakesDB

This Week's Online High-Stakes Biggest Winners and Losers

(user)name hands profit/loss 11/09-11/16 profit/loss 2017 profit/loss all time Winning Players 1 RaulGonzalez 752 +$84,777 +$271,397 +$1,013,847 2 BERRI SWEET 3,169 +$72,260 +$1,511,117 +$2,072,036 3 Iimitless 4,433 +$56,125 +$75,727 +$73,369 4 Alexander "joiso" Kostritsyn 560 +$45,070 -$385,380 +$4,034,219 5 danfiu 813 +$39,819 +$19,856 -$16,543 6 kjunia 282 +$31,227 +$82,436 +$103,387 7 zerfer03 604 +$29,132 $113,271 +$23,037 8 borntotilt 1,071 +$24,677 $203,303 +$182,009 9 Jordi "prot0" Urlings 667 +$23,043 +$508,020 +$435,911 10 Liviu "0Human0" Ignat 891 +$22,860 +$1,455 +$225,163 Losing Players 1 Viktor "Isildur1" Blom 1,014 -$174,706 +$1,135,804 +$2,646,975 2 Luke "Bit2Easy" Reeves 2,545 -$48,916 +$23,967 +$73,644 3 Gavin "gavz101" Cochrane 2,536 -$45,766 +$59,003 +$495,213 4 Laszlo "omaha4rollz" Bujtas 1,056 -$27,510 -$149,337 +$114,277 5 Sami "Lrslzk" Kelopuro 673 -$27,081 -$1,249,136 -$1,952,299 6 ocropTi 718 -$25,745 -$65,761 -$304,010 7 Jens "Fresh_oO_D" Lakemeier 675 -$24,313 +$10,212 -$350,673 8 fjutekk 1,353 -$21,469 +$138,976 +$22,263 9 niabios 1,147 -$21,322 +$26,521 +$35,243 10 dean_nolan1 187 -$20,000 -$120,741 -$130,741

The 2017 Leaderboard

Viktor "Isildur1" Blom has exited the Top 3 of biggest winners online in 2017. After dropping again this week, he now sits in fourth, still up $1,135,804 for the year. In his place, Carlo "Ravenswood13" van Ravenswoud has entered the Top 3. The Dutchman, living in Malta, is up $1,163,065 for the year.

The Top 3 of biggest losing players has been unaltered, and still consists of Kelopuro, Stern and "8superpoker".

(user)name hands 2017 profit/loss 2017 profit/loss per hand 2017 profit/loss all time / most played game 2017 Winning Players 1 Timofey "Trueteller" Kuznetsov 53,050 +$1,627,768 +$30.68 +$3,518,534  PLO 2 BERRI SWEET 44,901 +$1,511,117 +$31.28 +$2,072,036  PLO 3 Carlo "Ravenswood13" van Ravenswoud 48,668 +$1,163,065 $23.89 +$380,786  PLO Losing Players 1 Sami "Lrslzk" Kelopuro 53,987 -$1,249,136 -$23.13 -$1,952,299  PLO 2 Dani "supernova9" Stern 10,039 -$777,373 -$77.43 -$1,439,781 - PLO 3 "8superpoker" 31,237 -$691,072 -$22.12 -$2,702,126  Limit

The above top winning and losing players in online poker for 2017 only takes PokerStars accounts into consideration. All public data courtesy of HighStakesDB.com. If you want to opt out of being listed in this PokerNews update on the high-stakes action, send an email with your username to [email protected]

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Indie pop artist Marisa Maino premieres her brand new single with us at Popdust today and the title says it all- it's hot. Marisa told us that the inspiration came from the realization of how much girl hate exists out there. "How many girl's nights have happened where a group of girl's get together to drink wine and trash talk the ex's new girl But no one ever wants to admit if the new girl is awesome," she says. It's easy to fall into that trap and throw shade because you're hurt, but what would the world be like if we took Marisa's perspective on the topic. The song is equally sad and humorous. You know the feeling, you find out through the grapevine that your ex has moved on and you creep onto his Instagram page late at night alone to find out that his new girlfriend is smoking... and looks nice too. Marisa takes an interesting perspective here deciding that her ex is the problem and wonders what this new girl sees in him.

Stylistically this is giving me updated Avril Lavigne vibes especially in the bridge. Turns out it's no coincidence. "I was talking with Jordan Sapp, one of my producers, about how how we missed the early 2000's pop music. There isn't enough of it! I knew I wanted to get back to that and thought I could start to bring it back with my music. A few weeks later, I heard Hot and immediately knew that was the song I wanted to cut. After taking it to Jordan, we discussed our vision for the song and built the production around it. Before I knew it, the single was born!" says Marisa inspired by the music of the early 2000's. She thinks others miss the nostalgic feeling this kind of music evokes too and I'm right there with her. I long for the days that "A Thousand Miles," ruled the radio sometimes. In addition to the nostalgia, the song ultimately is about letting go. She says, "I feel like this song has a message that I want to always stand for...learn to let things go and move on." She knows that as much as you want to hate your ex's new girl "sometimes you just can't" and you may as well move on.

Marisa Maino is a former ballerina, actress, and avid multi-tasker. She says that songwriting is the only time she can slow down her mind and focus on one thing. In that way it is sacred to her and she feels that she's truly honed in on what she's meant to do after trying just about every art form. When an injury stalled her dance career, she moved to LA to pursue acting, when she grew frustrated with the one track mindedness of some casting directors, she decided to audition for the X Factor. One thing led to the other and she landed in Nashville with an exciting music career on the brink. She says, ""I'm really inspired by those who do music becausethey love it - and not because they just want to be famous. There's so much that we can do with music in the arts. Society is trying to grow in this but I sometimes feel like it doesn't grow fast enough. Music has taught me so much. Listening to interviews with celebrities has taught me about living life and that's not what you learn in the classroom. That's something I'd love to give back."

Love Marisa? Follow her on Instagram | Twitter
The millennial generation is unique to be sure. Having grown up in an age of technological whiplash we've obviously been affected. While being tech savvy, we also have an appreciation of all things "old school." Floppy disks, walk mans, cassette tapes, things we grew up with but the information age forced out of significance with the fast development of quicker, more efficient things. Much like the rest of our generation, Michael Oakley is appreciating simpler times of car montages, analog synths, and dancing in dark alleys in his new music video for his single "California."



Provided by Chloe Robinson

Michael Oakley's affection for the 80's is no accident. He credits his heavily influenced music to his sister's extensive record collection. It is there that he discovered some of his formatives inspirations like Depache Mode and Duran Duran. Oakley's EP came to be in a fateful way. The end of a relationship was the catalyst for a life changing collaboration. Just before Michael wrote the EP, he found out that his fiance had been unfaithful. This heartbreak was the fuel behind the fire and songwriting for Michael. On a whim, Michael reached out to one of his major influences, John Glenn Kunkel from The New Division. The two connected over their love for music. Soon later, Oakley, a Glasglow, Scotland native found himself 6,000 miles away in California recording his EP under the expertise of Kunkel. Oakley remarked, ""that was a really emotional moment for me because it was in that moment that I realized how far I had come in my journey, not just as a musician but that I had finally came out the other side of a really dark time in my life."

Stream California here.

The EP starts off on the familiar sound of putting a cassette tape into a boom box. The pulsating old school synth creates a sense of mystery surrounding the EP. "Rabbit in The Headlights," does an excellent job of setting the tone followed by "Turn Back Time" which is the leading single for the EP. ""Turn Back Time" is a banger that I believe would be just as popular in the 80's as it's sure to be today. Everything down to the details of the synth work and the loaded lyrics hints towards a possible hit. While the other two songs are reflective and sweet and sour, "California" is hopeful. The music video for the song is whimsical and the aesthetic of a perfect 80's romance. "Devotion" celebrates the value of having someone devoted to you be your rock through thick and thin. "Here Comes The Night" is my favorite song on the EP. It is the story of a fateful romance falling together as it was always supposed to. The imagery the lyrics inspire paint the picture of a lifetime of memories and new beginnings all at once. "End of Summer" is an exhilarating end which I thought was a great way to wrap up such a dynamic EP. California is available everywhere now.

Love Michael Oakley? Follow him on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter.

Anie Delgado is a contributor to Popdust and is an actress and musician based in NYC. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @anie_delgado and on Facebook and check out her music on Spotify.
The fourth album from Blaze of Perdition begins with Lenny Belardos quote from Paolo Sorrentinos The Young Pope series: Everyone must learn that it takes sacrifice and suffering to find God. Its too easy to come to terms with God as the sun is setting. They have to find Him in the cold and the dark of night. The way I did. Nothing is given, everything must be taken. That is the motto that dictates the direction of Blaze of Predictions music, and it has been the case since the early releases of Towards the Blaze of Perdition and The Hierophant, which paved the way to the excellent Near Death Revelations.

The groups third full-length was the turning point for the Polish act, signaled by the tragic road accident that caused the death of bassist Ikaroz, while severely injuring vocalist S. and drummer Vizun. The title of that record spoke to this experience and forced them to look straight into the existential abyss, resulting in an album that had more depth, with the structures moving away from the short burst of anger duration and into a long-form piece of composition. That direction is further explored with the follow-up record

Conscious Darkness, as the band moves into a dimmer corner of their creativity in order to reach a final catharsis.

The long-form compositions of the band have bloomed even further on

Conscious Darkness, presenting four tracks all passing the eight-minute mark. Liberated from the bounds of having to pass a direct message within the span of a three- or four-minute track, Blaze of Perdition naturally follow the progression of their songs, featuring all the different modes their blend of black metal encompasses. Melody and grandeur, stunning melancholic lead work that meets head-on with a dissonant edge and eerie quality, all while brutal explosions and direct assaults are initiated. Fluid pacing accompanies this narrative, with the band diving into a more processional pace or a heavy groove part initiated by the classic Celtic Frost-ian death grunt.



&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=http://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/conscious-darkness target=_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;http://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/conscious-&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Conscious Darkness by Blaze Of Perdition&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;



&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=http://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/conscious-darkness target=_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;http://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/conscious-&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Conscious Darkness by Blaze Of Perdition&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;



The lead work is the catalytic aspect of the record, capable not only of exploring the full range, from melody to dissonance, but also unleashing absolute hooks, as in the lead parts of A Glimpse of God, or adding a level of variation to the black metal forms. Frenzied solos make an appearance, or sorrowful leads come to the fold, as the band enhances the impact the various parts bring. That is where Blaze of Perditions slight experimentalism comes into play. Without venturing far outside of the outskirts of black metal, they can make things more interesting with the inclusion of some intriguing guitar parts bleeping away in the cold distance, or through ambient passages that separate

Conscious Darkness from your run of the mill black metal record. However, the most interesting addition is the clean vocal delivery in Ashes Remain on top of the stripped-down instrumentation and the slight dark rock tone, not unlike Celtic Frosts opus Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh from Monotheist. It constructs a towering moment of perpetual darkness.

Conscious Darkness is a bleak record that vividly illuminates the concept of death, a meditation on ones suffering and eventual downfall. But, despite the overall pessimistic perspective, highlighted in the chorus of Ashes Remain, there is some catharsis to be found. It all returns full cycle to Belardos quote, which might contain a harsh message, signaling a process of pain and torture for one to reach some grand truth, to find God, in his case. With Blaze of Perdition, the spiritual aspect does not seem to be focusing on uncovering the hidden force responsible for our existence, but rather reaching a state of catharsis through painful endeavors. A moment of clarity after a devastating storm. As the guitar lead and clean vocals of closer Detachment Brings Serenity, the band closes the chapter by seemingly finding some solace through this taxing process.
In 1936, when Le Crime de Monsieur Lange premiered, Jean Renoir and his collaborator Jacques Prevert were riding the wave of enthusiasm surrounding the advent of the Popular Front, which had just that year swept Leon Blum into power as the first socialist Prime Minister of France (not to mention the first Jew to hold that officea mere 30 years after the conclusion of the Dreyfus Affair) surrounded by a government composed of a coalition of leftists. The new regime was suffused with hope and promisea promise of political change and social betterment. The cabinet was composed of Socialists, Radicals, and Socialist Republicans and included three women, before women even had the right to vote.



The Film Forum in New York City presents Le Crime de Monsieur Lange 17-23 November. This is a rare opportunity to see an important document in film history and an effervescent comedy that belies a rather disturbing meditation on the prospects of human liberation.

Blum and the Popular Front ushered in a series of reforms pertaining to labor laws (creating the right to strike, collective bargaining, a guaranteed two-week vacation, wage raises, and an interdiction on overtime), attempted to stabilize the economy (in freefall, owing to the Great Depression), ensured that students would remain in school until at least the age of 14 while increasing support for education, and improved health care. For a moment, it seemed as though Marceau Piverts (a member of the French Section of the Workers International) declaration Tout est possible (Everything is possible) was perfectly reasonable. Indeed, it was a sentiment shared by Renoir himself as is evident in the directors documentary (also released in that heady year), La Vie Est a Nous (Life Belongs to Us), funded by the Communist Party.

The Popular Front collapsed a mere year after its establishment, crushed under the weight of its inefficiency in addressing the economic situation, its moral indifference with respect to the Spanish Civil War, and its willingness to turn a blind eye toward Nazi aggression against Czechoslovakia. But released in 1936, a year of seemingly unchecked and inexorable hope, Le Crime de Monsieur Lange bubbles over with the enthusiasm and socialist zeal of that all-too-brief moment in European political history.

The film treats a small building complex and its courtyard as a microcosm for France and its political situationindeed, the film was originally to be titled Sur la Cour (Overlooking the Courtyard). The complex includes a publishing office, a laundry, and a rooming house. The plot revolves around Amedee Lange (Rene Lefevre), who lives in the rooming house and works for the publisher, the unctuous but manipulative Mr. Batala (played to hammy perfection by Jules Berry). Lange spends his nights obsessively writing Western adventure stories about Arizona Jim and his exploits with bandits and a pretty young Mexican woman. The woman who runs the laundry, Valentine (the chanteuse Florelle), openly flirts with the oblivious Lange and suggests he ask Batala to publish his stories. Batala at first brushes Lange off until he has a meeting with a Mr. Baigneur, who accuses Batala of neglecting to promote his companys Ranimax pills in return for the money already given to Batala. The canny and unscrupulous Batala hits upon the idea of inserting advertising copy into the plotlines of Arizona Jim and tricks Lange into signing away his rights to the stories. Lange, utterly taken in by the publisher, is overjoyed. When he discovers Batalas machinations, hes distraught by what he sees as the denigration of his work, but theres nothing he can do.

Soon, however, Batalas misdeeds catch up with him when another creditor begins legal action against him. He absconds on a train where he is seen chatting amicably with a priest. Soon after, Lange and Valentine, in bed after a successful date, hear on the radio that the train crashed; Batala is reported dead and the priest missing.

The publishing house is reduced to utter chaos. Deeply in arrears owing to Batalas greedy mismanagement, various creditors appear, demanding immediate payment, and the workers are thereby threatened with unemployment. Lange sells the group on the idea of forming a collective, a scheme endorsed by the carefree son of the largest creditor, Mr. Meunier (played with beguiling panache by Henri Guisol). Meunier is overjoyed to meet Lange, the author of his favorite stories, and in one of the funniest lines of the film, Meunier declares that the best moments in Langes tales are when the hero takes the Ranimax pills.

The collective turns the business around and they soon see a profit, their success largely fueled by the astounding popularity of Arizona Jim. Meunier even suggests they make a film out of the characters of the series. But then Batala reappears in the town dressed as a priest and continuing to filch money from naive victims. He learns of the windfall his former business is experiencing and, of course, decides to horn his way back in to his old position. Lange discovers Batala in the publishing office while the remainder of the collective celebrate their good fortune at a party below in the rooming house. Lange quickly perceives that Batalas return augurs utter ruin for the collective and therefore the demise of their livelihoods and happiness. The title more or less reveals the conclusion: Lange determines that the only way to prevent disaster is to murder Batala.

Now, a typical understanding of this film is to read it through the lens of the vision of utopia proffered by the Popular Front. Batala is indeed a rather blatant representation of the rapacious and unprincipled capitalist who exploits his workers without regard for their well-being, manipulates his creditors without a sense of decency, and relentlessly seeks to sate his carnal appetites without respect for the autonomy of others. Thus, he tricks Lange into signing an unjust contract, he blatantly robs his business associates and then bribes their emissaries, and, in one of the most disturbing but ultimately hidden moments of the film, he nonchalantly rapes the young Estelle (Nadia Sibirskaia) in his office while his employees continue their business on the other side of the door.

And yet, what is perhaps most distressing of all is that Berry portrays this monster with such flamboyance and irresistible elan that our moral repugnance and outrage shades into amusement (which may be why the rape is so often ignored in critical accounts). In this film, the capitalist is not dangerous merely because he employs unfair practices in order to maintain his position of prominence and to benefit from the inequitably recompensed labor of others; rather his treachery lies in his ability to charm the innocent in the very act of destroying them. The ingratiating insinuations of the capitalist into the private recesses of the publics moral and social lives make him an insidious creature, largely immune to efforts to extirpate him from the social body. He doesnt wear the face of the villain but rather distracts you with his mendacious smile; the vigorous pat on your back diverts your attention from the hand he has in your pocket.

The problem then is more than simply exposing the villainous underside of the capitalist. Batala is exposed repeatedly and yet the threat that he presents is not eradicated. His lover knows he is unfaithful and he even pimps her out when his financial situation gets too restrictive, and yet she is devoted to him, weeping at his departure on the train, desperate to join him in his flight. Lange recognizes that Batala used him egregiously but Lange cannot conjure up an argument to restore his rights to his intellectual propertyindeed, the very notion of asserting such rights around a man like Batala seems risible. If Batala could be reduced to a mere villain, he could be opposed and resisted openly.

The issue is that the beguiling depravity of the capitalist not only wreaks injustice upon us, it seduces us into complicity in that injustice. We excuse him as not so much an immoralist as merely amoralbeyond the realm of sin and punishment. Like Mozarts Don Giovanni, Batala is an ebullient, seemingly unrestrainable force that both disrupts social order and serves as the engine that keeps it running. The only way to put him out of business is to put him down, to destroy him altogetherand yet (again like Don Giovanni) one cannot imagine the movie continuing much beyond his death; it would be sapped of all vitality, just like that strangely unaffecting ensemble that closes the original version of Mozarts opera.

This is precisely where I see Le Crime de Monsieur Lange as being far more complicated and far less congenial in its politics than is usually recognized. Notice that the collective is not established in Batalas presence. Its erected in his absence. One almost cannot imagine the mechanism that would allow such a collective to form in defiance of the engrossing blandishments of the charismatic capitalist. For all of its outsized successes, Lange realizes immediately that the collective (despite its numbers, despite its financial solvency) is far too fragile to withstand the perfidious pleasantries of Batala. So, Lange murders Batala in the courtyard. The audiences surrogates in the frame of the film (a group of men in a lodging where Lange and Valentine stay in their flight from the crime) judge the murder justifiable and allow the lovers to cross the border, thus escaping the law and punishment. This, it seems to me, suggests that capitalism, for all of its flaws and depredations and inequities, cannot simply be toppled through organization and good will. In this film, the Communist Manifestos celebrated slogan, Workers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains! would have to be seriously amended. You can lose those chains only if the capitalist opposition is absent or eradicated through murderous force. This is not the most heartening clarion call for the prospects of the Popular Front.

From a technical point of view, Le Crime de Monsieur Lange is notable for three scenes. Two involve depth of field (the manner of shooting a scene so that both the foreground and background are reasonably in focus, thus expanding the range of what the viewer can see and allowing multiple layers of action to unfold simultaneously) and the other employs a rather bizarre panning shot. All three of these scenes can be read as part of the political viewpoint of the film (with all of its complexity and built-in skepticism, as outlined above).

The two scenes involving depth of field both center on Charles (Maurice Baquet), the concierges son and Estelles boyfriend. Charles performs acrobatics on his bicycle, much to the chagrin of his father. He apparently becomes rather careless and sandwiches himself between two trucks, breaking his leg. A car with the hurt boy pulls up to the boarding house (Charles had refused to go to the hospital). The occupants of the building complex pour into the street to see the young man who sits silent, looking rather bewildered in the back of the car. Renoir strikes an amazing balance of focus in the scene. We see into the car from the side (the camera is placed in the street). In the foreground are several young boys who, turned away from the camera, peer into the window at Charles. We see Charles in profile in the backseat to the left of the screen. Meanwhile, various figures emerge from the building in the background and enter the cars open door (the one further away from the camera, on the other side of the car) so that we see their faces as they check on Charles. A man from the printing office calmly asks Charles how hes doing. Hes brusquely pushed aside by Charless frantic mother, whos replaced by the befuddled and frustrated father. Soon Valentine and Estelle enter the car. The car seems to have an incredible capacity for access. Finally, Lange gets in and orders the driver to the hospital.

The scene, it seems to me, sets Charles in fairly stark opposition to Batala. Far more than Lange (who, of necessity, is in a less morally stable position), Charles is the innocent counterpart to Batalas perfidy. Whereas Batala constantly moves and distracts attention away from his person (manipulating the concerns of others for his personal gain), Charles is the stationary object of communal concern. Batala isolates each of his victims (this is most evident in the rape scene when he prevents Estelle from leaving the room and escaping his clutches) whereas Charles (through no real effort, but merely by being a victim of his own carelessness) unites them, bringing them into each others sustaining presence. Renoirs setting of the scene, his cameras ability to encompass and embrace the entirety of the situation and the people in it, motivated by empathy, becomes emblematic of the fellow-feeling and communal care that the ideal of socialism posits as the proper foundation for social order. But even here Batala haunts the edges of the gathering. When Estelle faints, Batala declares he will look after her sweet little body. Valentine objects that Estelle is a good girl. Thats what you say, Batala sneers, and scoops Estelle into his arms.

The second scene that features depth of field takes place after Batala has left the scene and is presumed dead. Estelle now knows she is pregnant and plans to abandon the town. Lange pries an advertisement away from the building which had closed Charles (who has been secluded in his room for months) off from the open air of the courtyard. One would think that his father, the concierge, would have seen to this long ago but, characteristic of that ridiculous figure, he actually objects to Langes removal of the item, claiming they require a written order. Nonetheless, Lange tears the board away and we see its removal from the point of view of Charless room, as he lies on the bed. The moment its lifted away is a subtly stunning cinematic feat.

Having just been faced with a flat obscurity, our view immediately opens out on to the modestly grand expanse of the courtyard. The layers of visual experience (from the foreground Charles and his dog to the middleground Lange and Meurnier to the background window of the laundry with its occupants also visible) all unite in the embrace of the community (not coincidentally, the collective was formed in the immediately preceding scene). As people clear from the middleground area, Charles asks after Estelle. Lange recedes into the background, goes to the window of the laundry, lifts Estelle out of it, and she comes forward to Charles. Again, Charles is the focus of communal care. Estelle confesses that shes pregnant. When Charles discovers that its Batalas child he dismisses the pregnancy (and implicitly the sexual assault) as far less serious than his injured limb. Like his leg, he declares laughing, everything will soon be fine. In the very next scene we learn that the child is stillborn and when a comical character laments the childs passing, the community laughs uproariously at his (misplaced?) solemnity.

Again, the social utopia that the film attempts to construct through the ideal of the collective cannot withstand any actual friction or dissonance arising through the incursions of capitalist depredations upon the innocent. The rape and the childs death are simply dismissed through laughter; consequences are evaded (or ignored) but the film barely acknowledges that this evasion is predicated upon the death of another innocent. For all of its surface vivacity and goodwill, the image of the collective in Le Crime de Monsieur Lange is founded upon a series of rather disturbing elisions and refusals to face up to the reality of lifes darker recesses.

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The most celebrated filmic moment is the murder itself and for good reason. Batala, after his aborted conversation with Lange, strides into the courtyard, convinced that his guile will once again carry the day. He encounters Valentine and attempts to seduce her. The camera pans up and over to the window of the office where we see through the gauzy translucence of the window dressing the silhouetted figure of Lange. He moves to the left, into the office space. The camera follows his movements in a long pan. Sometimes hes in view, sometimes we merely stare at the wall, but the movement itself is inexorable, ceaseless. It tracks him as he descends the staircase and enters the courtyard. We hear Batalas teasing of Valentine mixed with the enthusiastic revelry of the collective.

But then something remarkable happens. As Lange bears directly down on Batala, the camera swings in an extravagant circular pan in the opposite direction until it reconnects with Lange (now from behind) as he narrows the distance between himself and the suddenly shocked Batala. The move blatantly calls attention to itself and demands some attempt at justification. Why execute such an outlandish pan at the very moment of urgency? Of course, its not a slow pan and in that sense perhaps its meant to heighten the urgency. Other critics have claimed that its meant to demonstrate that the ensuing murder is on behalf of the collective. Certainly, the sounds of the continuing party contribute to that reading, but the pan itself fails to take in a single human being from the time it leaves Lange until it falls upon Batala and Valentine.

Notably the pan is not, as it is sometimes perceived to be, a complete 360-degree circle. If it were, we would return to the spot where Lange was standing rather than alighting upon his back as he marches toward his victim. As we saw in the earlier depth-of-field scenes, this film is constructed around the notion of a community in a mutually supportive system that often involves encirclingparticularly around the innocent Charles (whom I posited as the counterpole to Batala). The circle, a balanced whole with no designated beginning or ending, is the perfect symbol for the socialist ideal the film hopes to represent and wishes to find in the Popular Front. Indeed, the courtyard itself is a kind of circle, an architectural detail emphasized both by Langes descent from the office and by the aberrant swing of the panning camera. But the camera does not execute a completed circle. It is intercepted by the directedness of Langes line of assault.

Importantly, the camera does not endorse that linewhich, symbolically, is the attempt to manifest in reality Langes Western fantasies of a hero that metes out justice with the barrel of a gun (the illusion that justice is straightforward). Instead, the camera swings in a wide arc, attempting to inscribe the ideal communal circle that it has sought to document (or better yet, to will into being) throughout the film. But it fails. Its interrupted by the motion toward a moment of excessive violence that the film seeks to justify but ultimately cannot. The circle is broken and its centripetal, communal force cannot hold without resorting to the elimination of any external threat. Having no internal strategies for coping with capitalist predation, Lange resorts to murder and while the pan might seek to explain away the murder as being on behalf of the community, its failure to suture its motion, to complete the circle, serves as a marker of the aberrant excess that murder entails. For a film so resolute in its efforts to portray an idealized community based on mutuality and shared concern, in the end, Le Crime de Monsieur Lange sends us careening. The act of violence doesnt repudiate the depravity of the capitalist, it endorses it. The world is askew and theres no way to set it right.
The inherent difficulty in trying to create a portrait of somebody who does not want to be captured is that subjects refusal to tell the truth. No matter how close we feel towards our subject, and regardless of how close we might have felt towards them during the time we shared together trying to make a cinematic dream come true, the target remains elusive. This is the problem Greg Sesteros (and co-writer Tom Bissell) have with The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made, an account of a few years at the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st living their own version of the Hollywood dream. Their product may in fact be one of the most unabashedly bad films of recent memory, but this book goes deeper beneath that fact and more or less succeeds in creating something much deeper than the curious reader might have expected to find.

Who is Tommy Wiseau? Thats what we want to know, and the fact that we basically dont get a clear answer is probably understandable. For Greg Sestero, a struggling actor just 19 years old in 1998 when he encounters Wiseau in a San Francisco acting class, getting an immediate read on this man doesnt seem to be a priority. They are both dreamers eager to find an available slot in the Hollywood dream factory, Here is this man speaking mangled English in a vaguely identifiable Eastern European accent, a hulking presence with long, stringy greasy hair and a fixation on James Dean. Any discernible talent he might have that distinguishes him from the rest of the crowd is hidden beneath all this peculiarity. He has a short temper, delusions of grandeur, and a seemingly endless reserve of money.

This type of story could go many ways, and especially in our current climate (inside and outside of Hollywood) of sexual molestation and abuse allegations from people in power against the young and impressionable, the reader wonders where this is going. We understand through the fact that The Room became a midnight movie/guilty pleasure cult classic, thanks to eager word-of-mouth from film students Michael Rousselet and Scott Gairdner in the pre-Facebook and Twitter days of 2003. Wiseaus only real crime is his inability and unwillingness to surrender to the fact that he has no talent, no self-awareness, no humility, and he will not stop until his dream is fulfilled. Early on. Sestero knows how to illustrate a picture of Wiseau that will make us want more:

Gene Simmons after three months in the Gobi Desert? The Hunchback of Notre Dame following corrective surgery? An escaped Muppet? The drummer from Ratt?

The reader will need to draw on a large reserve of generosity  not towards Wiseau so much as Sestero. Is he playing us? Can he sustain a full narrative about this guy he doesnt really know? We never get a definite sense of Wiseaus age (IMDB claims hes a 62-year-old Polish refugee.) It isnt until late in the book (perhaps too late?) that Sestero gets down to something a little more serious. Perhaps its the best he can offer, considering the elusiveness of his subject, or maybe its the struggle of two competing narratives. Are we meant to laugh about the development/ production/ distribution of an absolute cinematic disaster, or is this supposed to be the portrait of a doomed aspiring actor who somehow made it big by being bad?

Ive never gotten the sense that Tommy is mysterious for the sake of being mysterious. Rather, he is an incredibly guarded person trying to be less guarded. But the emotional fortifications Tommy has built around himself are too entrenchedTommy offers up fantastical, sad, self-contradictory stories. Ive heard these stories many times.

The stories are deep and interesting, and in the end theyre somewhat in conflict with the light tone of the narrative describing the production of The Room. Basically, what we read about is a young man under the spell of Disney films, dreaming about coming to America. Sometimes he wants to be a movie star. Other times, a rock-and-roll musician. Wiseau makes his way from his country (never identified here) and eventually settles in California, with dreams of becoming James Dean or at least getting some of that Rebel Without a Cause magic by connecting with people even tangentially linked to the actors short yet legendary career.

Tommy loved movies, though I wasnt sure hed seen anything made after 1965. I think he thought I looked like Spartacus because for the first time in my life I was wearing a beard.

Theres a third narrative strand in The Disaster Artist that will prove of interest to readers comfortable with the common story of the struggling artist. In 1996, Sestero lands bit roles in the TV series Nash Bridges, and uncredited roles in the films Gattaca, Patch Adams, and Edtv. He engages in clumsy small talk with Robin Williams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. He makes an unsuccessful audition tape for a big role in the film The Virgin Suicides. This all culminates in Sestero meeting Wiseau, and they become improbably connected acting scene partners. Of course, we dont have the luxury of comparing Wiseaus narrative with Sesteros, but the reader gets a palpable sense of the excitement felt in those first encounters:

What made him so confident? I was desperately curious to discover that. It wasnt his acting, obviously, which was extraordinarily bad. He was simply magically uninhibited; the only person in our class whom I actually looked forward to watching The rest of us were toying with chemistry sets and he was lighting the lab on fire.

Gradually, we get a clearer picture of Wiseau. His library features scores of self-help books. He and Sestero are fascinated with the romantic tragedy of James Dean. Sestero writes: The aspect of Deans life that affected me most deeply was the lack of support shown to him by his father The reader wonders if this might have been an element that connected Sestero and Wiseau. This young man was looking for a mentor, a father figure, a man to escort him into the realms of the film world that might be difficult to navigate alone. When Sestero tells Wiseau hes his own planet, we get a deeper reflection that might explain why this relationship warranted a memoir:

I had goose bumps. This man sitting in front of me had no detectable talent, did everything wrong, wasnt comfortable saying how old he was or where he was from, and seemed to take an hour to learn what most people picked up in five seconds I believed he could have his own planet.

While there might be some inconsistencies and confusion in the motivations behind writing this memoir, and the reader wonders why this story still resonates with Sestero after reading the malevolent portrayal of Wiseau through the entire production of The Room (not paying anybody, demanding total allegiance on the set like a dictator), what provides a foundation for The Disaster Artist is a legitimate literary sensibility. Each chapter features epigrams from either the screenplays to Sunset Boulevard or The Talented Mr. Ripley. Sestero never explains the connection to the latter, but the informed reader should understand. In Sunset Boulevard, a fading Hollywood screenwriter hack (William Holden) connects with a fading silent film star (Gloria Swanson.) We know its disastrous from the start (Holdens character is dead, face down in a pool in the first scene), and the connection is clear. Relationships in Hollywood can take a fatal turn when dreams once secured are clearly no longer in reach.

Its Patricia Highsmiths The Talented Mr. Ripley that resonates most with Sestero and Wiseau. They go see the film (second time for Sestero, first for Tommy) and it clearly means something.

Tom Ripley is someone who wants to belong to respectable society so deeply that hell do anything. He loves Dickie Greenleafs life, and this love turns into an obsession with Dickie himself.

Both stories end in tragedy, and the love triangle motif of Tom, Marge, and Dickie motif finds its way into the garbled mess that is the theme of The Room. Sestero might be reaching too far with this literary connections, but hes certainly informed. The Talented Mr. Ripley seems to be the impetus that draws Sestero back to L.A., inspires him to create The Room, and without it the story would not exist. The reader may wonder if it should exist in its current form. Its not so much the crowded cast of characters as it is the multiple story lines that dont receive adequate development. The essence of the relationship between Sesteros and Wiseau is stretched here and spread onto a large canvas. The weak parts of the painting show, but Sesteros can be forgiven as we end this story. The Disaster Artist is a sweet, fun, and warm story in spite of everything against it.

First released in 2013, this books re-release (in conjunction with the upcoming James Franco film adaptation) should give it a deserved greater mass audience. Wiseau is a delusional failure who latches onto an impressionable young Sestero, who in turn helps the older man create The Room. Theres enough in this book to make it a welcome addition to the ever-growing library of Hollywood failure narratives. It could have become tragic (like Sunset Boulevard, Star 80, Barton Fink, and countless others) but instead this is a warm book that aspires towards an equal balance of clear humor about a disastrous film shoot, and pathos about an Eastern European immigrant who comes to America to fulfill a dream with his empty supply of talent. That Sesteros and Bissell dont seem to have a clear vision of their most important theme here is not as important as the fact that at its core, this is a book about identifying and embracing creative dreams. If failure comes, thats part of the picture.
In a digital world polluted by snarky hashtags and viral videos, its nice to know that the written word can still pack a wallop.

Writer-director Martin McDonaghs latest offering, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is driven by the transformative power of words. Its a mistake, however, to assume this power is always skewed toward the positive. McDonagh understands that words can become a prison; a conduit for injured souls to spew their venom on enemies both real and imagined. If McDonaghs dark comedy-drama doesnt quite out-Fargo Fargo, it brilliantly illustrates the chaos a few choice words can cause in the hands of a talented filmmaker.

Ebbing, Missouri isnt much of a going concern. People are born, they earn a modest living, and then they die. Its the kind of town where shop owners sit around reading Flannery OConnor (a most worthwhile pastime, indeed) and gossiping about who is sleeping with whom. There are a total of three billboards in town; each more dilapidated than the next. Imagine the turmoil, then, when these billboards are suddenly plastered with a provocative challenge aimed at the local police chief to solve a heinous crime.

The threat comes from Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), whose teenage daughter Angela was brutally raped, burned, and murdered. To call Mildred formidable would be an insult to formidability; shes a runaway locomotive of destruction. She hasnt heard anything about the case from Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) in seven months, which is about six months longer than she finds acceptable.

McDormands performance is so tightly coiled that you can almost hear the strings groaning under the strain. Mildreds only purpose in life, it would seem, is to find justice for her daughter. Upon closer inspection, however, McDonaghs delightfully nuanced script reveals the true depth of Mildreds pain. Her strained relationship with Angela, including a calamitous final argument on the night of Angelas death, has metastasized into something unconscionably foul. Your heart aches for Mildred, but theres no defending her increasingly erratic behavior. She has become a volatile cocktail of desperation and self-hatred that threatens to polarize the entire community.

Thankfully, the trademark dark humor of McDonagh, so evident in 2012s Seven Psychopaths and his masterful directorial debut, In Bruges (2008), is still present, though it feels more organic this time around. Theres not much zaniness to be found in a plot involving rape, torture, and deep spiritual pain. Instead, McDonagh finds humor in each characters foibles and insecurities, drawing them to the surface where he can poke at them again and again.

This insistence upon character depth allows Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to subvert expectation, even when you feel confident about the storys direction. Take Chief Willoughby, for example. Youve seen dozens of bumpkin sheriffs in the movies, but few have the richness of Willoughby; a man who sympathizes with Mildred, but must remain loyal to his incompetent officers. Ironically, its Willoughby, not Mildred, who represents the possibility for positive change, using his words to temper the anger of his hot-headed crew and project a genuine, if flawed humanity.

The lack of humanity in Mildred, however, results in the films one glaring flaw. Her three billboards set in motion a string of fateful events that lack any moral resonance for her. Shes tough as nails, to be sure, but did she actually learn anything? As the film progresses, Mildred becomes an obstructive force of vengeance; her only hope springing from fantasies of coldblooded murder. A good argument could be made that Mildred isnt the hero of the piece, but the antagonist.

Perhaps thats precisely McDonaghs artistic objective. In Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri he has created the perfect metaphor for emotional stagnation. Those who become thoroughly consumed by grief and self-loathing are doomed to deepen that cycle with their single-minded pursuit of some non-existent cosmic justice. When faced with such indiscriminate tragedy, our only salvation seems to be temperance.

What ensures McDonaghs film still works on a thematic level is Willoughbys erratic sidekick, Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell in an Oscar worthy turn). Here is a truly reprehensible man; a policeman who thinks nothing of beating African American inmates and throwing suspects out of second story windows. If he isnt getting drunk in his down time, hes being belittled by his loathsome mother (Sandy Martin as easily the scariest character in the entire film).

And yet, theres a glimmer of humanity that burns deep within his twisted mind. That McDonagh doesnt relegate Dixon to the stockpile of one-dimensional racist policemen enriches his story tremendously. Rockwell becomes not only the films best source for comedy and true menace but its most tantalizing candidate for redemption. Theres simply no way to predict what Officer Dixon will do next, which makes him a singularly fascinating character.

McDonagh has crafted an undeniably strong film thats certain to linger with audiences. While it may lack the thematic clarity it needs to become a classic, there are more than enough moments of cruelty, kindness, and humor to land Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri on everyones Best of 2017 list. And thats exactly where it belongs.
Let me tell you about a man and a place far away from the cornfields of the Midwest: Jeff Pleadwell and Jeffs Pirates Cove at 111 Route 4, Ip Read moreJeffs Pirates Cove: A place of history
Six airmen from the Guam Air National Guard's 254th Security Force Squadron left Guam yesterday to perform support missions off island.

Guam National Guard Public Affairs Officer Maj. Josephine Blas said five of the airmen will be assigned to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. They will be tasked with supporting base defense and force protection.

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Another airman departed to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii and is tasked with operational support to Pacific Air Forces, Blas said.

The Guard has asked the community for support and prayers for the airmen and all those who are currently deployed.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 12:12:15

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Transparency Market Research

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Rahul Singh

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# 541 Words

State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207Marketing Manager15186181030

Surrogacy is also likely to receive increasing demand in the coming years, due in part to the growing demand for assisted reproductive technology from same-sex couples. While many parents now prefer the benefit of having their own genetic imprint in their baby through in vitro fertilization, surrogacy is likely to receive sustained demand in the coming years. This is borne out by the figures of the global assisted reproductive technology market by procedure, wherein fresh non donor contributions were the preferred choice for most consumers. The fresh non donor segment accounted for more than 50% of the global assisted reproductive technology market in 2016 and is likely to remain similarly dominant in the coming years.Geographically, Europe is the leading contributor to the global assisted reproductive technology market and is likely to retain a leading share in the global market in the coming years. The rising support for same-sex marriage in Europe is likely to play a key role in the development of the assisted reproductive technology market in the region in coming years.By technology, the global assisted reproductive technology market is divided into artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, and others. In vitro fertilization is by far the dominant contributor to the global assisted reproductive technology market at present and is likely to retain the position in the coming years due to the growing awareness about the efficacy of in vitro fertilization and the increasing awareness among citizens about the same. The in vitro fertilization segment accounted for a majority share of more than 62% in the global assisted reproductive technology market in 2016 and is likely to extend its dominance further by the end of the 2017-2025 forecast period.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/assisted-reproductive-technology-market.html Developing economies in Asia Pacific are likely to be vital to the global assisted reproductive technology market in the coming years. While the predominant social values in these regions tended to dissuade constructive growth of the assisted reproductive technology market, the gradual relaxation in social norms in these regions has resulted in a promising environment for the market. The growing prevalence of reproductive problems in Asia Pacific countries such as India and China is thus crucial to the global assisted reproductive technology market.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=29234 The growing investment in the healthcare sector in developing countries is also likely to provide a major boost to the global assisted reproductive technology market in the coming years. This will help increase the frequency of fertility clinics in underdeveloped regions, where sophisticated medical facilities may still be absent.Request Assisted Reproductive Technology Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=29234 The steady development of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a key driver for the global assisted reproductive technology market. PGD helps physicians diagnose genetic disorders likely to manifest in the baby before it is implanted, making the technology vital for parents looking to avoid complicated births and lifestyles. The rapid development of the scientific database regarding genetic diseases is further likely to remain a key boost for the global assisted reproductive technology market.Buy Full Assisted Reproductive Technology Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=29234<ype=S
Breath analyzers are the devices which are used to identify the presence of various compounds in the breath sample of individuals.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 07:52:34

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Published by

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+1-347-918-3531

e-mail

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com







# 676 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 with few global players and numerous small, domestic players particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 16:25:01

CFH Clearing Wins Best Liquidity Provider Award

For CFH Clearing

Vanessa Green

+44 (0)1483 563562

vanessa@wigwampr.com

For the fourth consecutive year, CFH Clearing has been named Best Liquidity Provider at the prestigious Finance Magnates Awards 2017.

The award was voted for by around 2,000 of the worlds leading industry experts and executives and is a true reflection of the views of brokers and peers in the retail FX sector.

Matthew Maloney, CEO, CFH Clearing comments, Its a major achievement to win this award. Winning it for the fourth consecutive year really cements our position as the leading Liquidity Provider in the industry. We are absolutely thrilled to have won it again.

We believe people voted for us because of our ability to provide institutional clients with a diverse choice of highly tailored bank and non-bank liquidity at competitive prices. Being part of the TradeTech Group (Playtechs Financials Division), with the resources of a $4 billion market capital organisation has enhanced our position with our Prime Brokers over the last year and our clients are really benefiting from the strengths of these relationships.

CFH Clearing delivers exceptional and unparalleled liquidity, specialising in Spot FX, metals, CFD indices and commodities instruments. The organisation is one of the most respected and reputable STP venues for Tier 1 liquidity in the world, having established relationships with banks, brokers and professional traders across the globe.

As a world-leading Prime of Prime solutions provider for small and medium-sized institutional clients, CFH Clearing can help clients with their complete liquidity and technology requirements, with access to a choice of platforms and a range of technology including risk management and reporting tools.

CFH Clearing has over 400 institutional clients in over 80 countries and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). For further information please contact www.cfhclearing.com

- Ends -

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711160059

Congratulations on wining Finance Magnates' Best Liquidity Provider Award 2017 for the 4th consecutive year
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 12:59:34

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# 382 Words

305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Marketing Head+1-646-568-7751Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Global consumption of sodium metal will grow at a sluggish CAGR of 3.3% through 2024, according to Persistence Market Researchs report entitled, Sodium Metal Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016 - 2024. In 2016, over 98,400 MT sodium metal was consumed globally, and it is estimated to surpass 127,400 MT by 2024.The sluggish demand for sodium metal is attributed to hazardous effects of highly reactive sodium element. Challenges with handling and storage of sodium metal will continue to negatively impact the growth of the market. Further, limited availability of sodium metal on account of fewer players has resulted into introduction and use of alternatives, such as magnesium for use in industrial applications.Request to view table of content @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14854 Key players in this market are concentrating on expansion of their production capacities and making long-term contacts with end-use industries, especially in near proximity, to incur growth opportunities. Manufacturers are also focusing on introduction to new grades of application-specific sodium metal. Inner Mongolia Lantai Industrial Co. Ltd. held the highest volume market share in 2015. Other leading players in the global sodium metal market include Wanji Holdings Group Limited, Shandong Moris Tech Co. Ltd., and MSSA S.A.S.Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14854 In terms of volume, chemical synthesis application of sodium metal held 70.4% share of the market in 2016; by 2024, this is expected to reach nearly 72%. Sodium metal is also used in the production of dyes, and it is projected that this application segment will grow at 4.7% CAGR in terms of volume through 2024. The weakness in demand will be offset to a certain extent by applications in chemical synthesis and textile industry.APAC is projected to be the most lucrative region for the global sodium metal market followed by North America and Europe. Asia Pacific forms a hub for textile industries owing to the ever-growing population and demand for a wide range of textiles, resulting in steady demand for sodium metal. Over 53,690 MT of sodium metal was consumed in APAC in 2016. The North America sodium metal market was around US$ 60 Mn in 2016, and it is expected to reach around US$ 80 Mn by 2024. Consumption of sodium metal in Europe, pegged at over 19,700 MT in 2016, is expected to surpass 24,200 MT by 2024.Buy Consumption of Sodium Metal Market Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/4357
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 03:07:02

CREALOGIX Invests in the Asian Market

CREALOGIX

Jasmin Epp

Corporate Communications Officer

Phone: +41 58 404 86 52

e-mail: jasmin.epp@crealogix.com

CREALOGIX, one of the leading Fintech companies in Switzerland, today announced the expansion of its business activities in the Asia / Pacific region with specifically tailored solutions. Pascal Wengi, Managing Director Asia / Pacific (APAC), leads the headquarter in Singapore. He is responsible for the long-term strategic development of the Fintech Top 100 company in the region.

With the expansion, CREALOGIX will cooperate with established local partners, such as Cognizant, one of the leading providers of business and technology services worldwide. In addition to regional retail banks and rising financial services providers, the independent Swiss software house also supports European private banks in the implementation of software solutions specifically for the Asian market. "Compared to Europe, digitisation is more advanced in Asia. The financial centres in particular are looking to introduce the right state-of-the-art front-end solutions for bank advisors and customers. On the other hand, in Southeast Asia, banks are faced with the enormous challenge of reaching potential rural customers", explains Wengi.

Focus on CREALOGIX Financial Advisory and CREALOGIX Branch in a Mobile

With the "CREALOGIX Financial Advisory" solution, Client Relationship Managers can cover all the services they need as part of their customer consulting services from a single source. Especially in Private Banking and Wealth Management, this central overview enables the consultant to meet the high expectations of digitally savvy Asian customers in their banking business. "CREALOGIX Branch in a Mobile" offers financial institutions to build mobile branches. This is an advantage especially in the rural South-East Asian region with their limited access to banking services. The entire process  from onboarding to financial advice  saves resources as it can be managed via a smartphone or tablet without the need for a physical branch office.

Pascal Wengi has been with CREALOGIX for the past three years at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. He was responsible for the integration of digital banking solutions in various core banking systems in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia /Pacific region. Wengi has more than 15 years of expertise in various project management positions in Europe and Asia and was involved in the development of the first Swiss online trading platform.

For more information, please visit crealogix.com/sg/

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711150050

Crealogix invests in the Asian market
Dental Membrane and Bone Graft Substitutes Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 11:04:47

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Albany, NY 12207



Rahul Singh

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# 685 Words

90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Head  Internet Marketing+1-518-618-1030

Transparency Market Research notes that innovation and expansion into emerging regions have served these companies well in strengthening their hold in the dental membrane and bone graft substitutes market. For instance, Switzerland-based Geistlich Pharma AG - a global manufacturer and supplier of dental products and devices - expanded its operations in Sydney, Australia and New Delhi, India in 2016.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dental-membrane-bone-graft-substitutes-market.html Bone graft substitutes formed the leading product segment, accounting for a whopping 94.8% market share in 2015. Xenograft was the dominant sub-segment in 2015. Dental membranes, however, are expected to register a CAGR of 10.1% from 2016 to 2024, emerging as a highly lucrative investment option. By material, human cells sources hold the dominant share, while collagen is projected to witness strong growth in the near future.Dental clinics are the leading as well as most promising end users of dental membranes and bone graft substitutes. Europe held the major share of 27.8% in the dental membrane and bone graft substitutes market in 2016. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is projected to be a rapidly growing market, registering a CAGR of 11.0% from 2016 to 2024.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=16340 The rapid growth of dental tourism across developing countries such as Hungary, Mexico, China, and India has resulted in the availability of cost-effective and quality dental services. Healthy Travel Media, a leading publishing house in the U.S., finds that developing nations offer dental services at a cost that is 50% to 80% lower than that in developed countries such as the U.S. This has resulted in a surge in dental procedures across the globe, thereby fueling the demand for dental membranes and bone graft substitutes.Innovation in bone graft techniques is also a key factor driving this market, the author of the study says. Advanced techniques such as xenograft and demineralized bone matrix have gained preference among patients in recent times owing to the several benefits they offer. Bone grafting is a procedure performed to replace a missing bone in a patient. Ideally, bone grafts are autologous, which means that the bone is harvested from the patients own body. This can be an extremely complex and risky procedure. Moreover, there is an acute shortage of donors. The development of xenografts allows bone substitutes to be taken from non-human species, such as bovine or natural coral, which addresses this shortage and also serves as a preferred options for people suffering from heart and kidney ailments.Request Dental Membrane and Bone Graft Substitutes Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16340 The global market for dental membrane and bone graft substitutes is rather fragmented, with the top four companies accounting for 30.0% in 2015. DENTSPLY International, Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., Institut Straumann AG, and Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation presently dominate the global scene.Transparency Market Research notes that innovation and expansion into emerging regions have served these companies well in strengthening their hold in the dental membrane and bone graft substitutes market. For instance, Switzerland-based Geistlich Pharma AG - a global manufacturer and supplier of dental products and devices - expanded its operations in Sydney, Australia and New Delhi, India in 2016.Buy Full Dental Membrane and Bone Graft Substitutes Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=16340<ype=S About TMRTransparency 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.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, 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, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.
Diabetes Injection Pens Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 11:26:59

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# 709 Words

90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Head  Internet Marketing+1-518-618-1030

According to the research report, the opportunity in the global diabetes injection pens market is expected to be worth US$9.7 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$4.9 bn in 2015. Between the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is projected to rise at a CAGR of 7.9%.On the basis of product, the global market is segmented into insulin pens and pen needles. Of these, the insulin pens are anticipated to assume the lead in the global market during the forecast period. By the end of 2024, the insulin pens segment is expected to acquire a share of 64.8%. The convenience of using insulin pens as compared to syringes and pumps is expected to drive their demand in the coming years. In terms geography, the global diabetes injection pens market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Rest of the World. Currently, North America holds a dominating share in the global market due to a high degree of awareness about diabetes and its management. Asia Pacific is projected to grow at a steady rate during the forecast period due to a vast pool of patients that are expected to present a score of opportunities.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/diabetes-injection-pens-market.html Poor lifestyle choices and lack of time to exercise are precursors to the life-altering disease known as diabetes. Genetic predisposition and side-effect of other ailments are also to cause diabetes. Statistics presented by the American Diabetes Association state that about 71,000 die each year due to diabetic complications across the U.S. On a similar note, the International Diabetes Federation stated that there were 415 million diabetics across the world in 2015 and the number is estimated to rise by 10% by 2040. These unfortunate figure indicate a high prevalence of diabetes across the world, which is expected to be the primary growth driver for the growth of the global diabetes injection pens market.The demand for diabetes injection pens is also expected to be fueled by the increasing cases of needle stick injuries. Usage of needles can lead to percutaneous piercing wounds due to incorrect handling, disassembling, or disposing. Owing to this, several healthcare professionals are promoting the usage of injection pens for administering insulin. Design and development of diabetes injection pens that are safe, easy to use, cost-effective, and relatively pain-free are also likely to encourage type 1 diabetics to use them.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8806 The steady market growth will waver due to the growing number of substitutes in the market. The introduction of a wide range of technologies are offer substitute products are likely to hamper market growth. Furthermore, the possibility of artificial pancreas and disposable insulin patches are also projected to have a negative impact on the global market in the coming years. Poor reimbursement policies for diabetes injection pens is also restraining the growth rate of the global market.The leading players operating in the global diabetes injection pens market are Novo Nordisk A/S, Eli Lilly and Company, AstraZaneca plc., Biocon Ltd., and Sanofi S.A. Transparency Market Research reports that the competitive landscape in the global market is consolidated due to dominance of a few large players. Incorporating latest technological innovations to manufacture state-of-art diabetes injection pens will remain the focus of these companies, states the lead author of this research report.Buy Full Diabetes Injection Pens Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=8806<ype=S About TMRTransparency 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.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, 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, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 17:04:01

Entity Group and parsionate Announce Master Data Advisors Providing Global Clients with Top Level Expertise and Scale from Local Companies

Entity Group

Kate Tickner

Marketing Manager

kate.tickner@entitygroup.com

Entity Group and parsionate today announced a partnership between the two companies called Master Data Advisors to provide global enterprises with greater choice when selecting a partner to advise on and implement data management solutions.

Master Data Advisors will give clients that want the highest levels of expertise in data governance, MDM, and related technologies, the chance to work with local systems integrators across Europe via a contract with only one company.

Master Data Advisors is the fusion of Entity Group and parsionates highly qualified and experienced teams to provide geographical and technological scale across EMEA. Clients can engage with consultants who have a combination of hundreds of years of project experience and multiple successful engagements across the region without needing to work separately with multiple separate vendors. Our joint expertise in MDM, PIM, Data Integration, Data Quality, Information Management Advisory Services and Omnichannel commerce is unparalleled in any other organisation.

In the current market, we have seen companies struggle to find a delivery or advisory partner with the right combination of skills, references and scale to deal with multi-country projects. Often the skills reside within smaller, specialist companies like our own but it is mostly the larger consultancies that get considered for projects across multiple regions.

The result of this is usually increased project risk through either a compromise on skill level; project coverage or time frame or all of these. It can also mean increased costs to the customer.

Master Data Advisors is the answer to this gap in the services market providing a one-stop shop to obtain the best expertise, in the right place at the right time. Thereby lowering project risk; obtaining optimal pricing and making the best skills available for all data management projects in a variety of languages.

It is my pleasure to announce that Entity Group is creating Master Data Advisors with our friend and partner parsionate. Our companies are both individually known as leaders in the Enterprise Information Management space and this partnership will help drive customer success through our skills and the Data Delta method across EMEA said James Wilkinson, CEO of Entity Group

To create Master Data Advisors we combined the joint passion for MDM and omnichannel commerce as well as deep knowledge in Data Management and Data Governance of two leading consultancy companies said Michael Fieg, Managing Partner, parsionate

Sources:

www.master-data-advisors.com

Crossing the Data Delta: Turn the data you have into the information you need  Published 12 Oct 2016  by Pete Smith, Jason Edge, Dave Wilkinson, Steve Parry

About Entity Group

With outstanding pedigree in MDM and Information Management strategy and implementations globally, Entity Group is one of Europes leading Enterprise Information Management specialists. We assist clients with strategic consultancy, solution implementation and managed services relating to data management and governance. Entitys expertise has been developed over 25 years of exemplary service delivery within the information management domain. For more information, visit www.entitygroup.com

About parsionate

parsionate GmbH, with its headquarters in Stuttgart and a branch in Hamburg, helps European retailers and manufacturers to successfully master the challenges of Digital Transformation. The unique team consists of highly skilled consultants for E-Commerce, Omnichannel and Master Data/Product Information Management (MDM/PIM) as well as system architects and technical consultants. Their commitment: We believe in excellence. We offer comprehensive consulting, deep knowledge in the leading software solutions, a future-oriented design of your IT infrastructure as well as successful implementation.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711160060
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 16:23:02

Xposure 2017 Festival features worlds most celebrated photographers

Europes Top Photographers to Showcase Work in the UAE

National Network Communications (NNC)

Mousa Nimer, +971 50 222 0561

m.nimer@nncpr.com

Some of the worlds most talented photographers will be sharing their unique experiences and awe-inspiring images though a series of exhibitions, workshops and discussions in the UAE next week, from November 22-25, as part of the International Photography Festival, Xposure 2017. Included among them are ten of the most exciting photographers from mainland Europe.

Veteran Italian photographer Andrea Belluso is well known in the fashion and beauty world with over 30 years of international work experience and a long list of top brand clients on his portfolio.

The Slovenian-born Beno Saradzic is a multi-specialist visual artist and a Canon Explorer for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and is specifically known in professional circles as a time-lapse cinematographer, director, producer, editor, and pre-visualisation 3-D artist.

Germanys Bjoern Lauen has lived and breathed photography for the last 20 years. His work has been published in national and international media such as Guardian, Wall Street Journal and more.

Erik Johansson is a Swedish-born artist based in Prague who creates surreal images by recombining hundreds of original photographs and other materials on image manipulation software to alter the image digitally and to illustrate his idea.

Fabian Oefner from Switzerland encourages audiences to conceptualise in new ways and accept that art and science do not exist on opposite ends of the academic spectrum. His work is frequently featured in international blogs and printed publications such as The Washington Post, National Geographic, Der Spiegel, Stern, etc.

Lars Boering from the Netherlands, MD of the World Press Photo Foundation, is known worldwide for his fascinating master class in Photography for Advanced Storytelling. He has curated numerous festivals.

David Anthony Hall from Dublin participated in over 40 international art fairs and his work features in private collections in 14 countries. His inspiration is drawn from nature, particularly trees. Each of his works viewed up close reveal new details while from afar they present vistas that entice the entire line of sight.

Xposure 2017 welcomes professional, university students, school pupils, photojournalists and ordinary visitors. To learn more about the festival, please visit www.xposure.ae and social networking platforms by using #xposurexpf.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711160059

Europes Top Photographers to Showcase Work in the UAE at Xposure 2017
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 13:00:42

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for FanLogic Interactive Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Calgary, AB (FSCWire) - FanLogic Interactive Inc. (TSX Venture:FLGC). has issued a press release with the following headline:Fanlogic Appoints Globally Recognized Business Influencer For Targeted Brand ConnectivityTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on FanLogic Interactive Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/FanLogic Interactive Inc.Source: FanLogic Interactive Inc. (TSX Venture: FLGC, OTCQB: FNNGF, FWB: 0BJN, WKN: A2DN52, ISIN: CA30712Q1081)Date: November 16, 2017Time: 7:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of FanLogic Interactive Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 13:00:23

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305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Marketing Head+1-646-568-7751Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Belgium will continue to be the largest exporter of organic fertilizers, with total exports totalling 1.15 million tonnes in 2015. Netherlands and the U.S. will be the other two key exporters. In terms of imports, France continues to be the largest market globally. Global organic fertilizer demand was pegged at 17 million tonnes in 2016. In terms of value, the market was valued at US$ 5.57 billion. Persistence Market Research projects the market to grow at 7% CAGR through 2025 and reach US$ 10.23 billion.Manufacturers in Europe are focusing on expanding their customer base in high-growth regions, including Latin America and North America.Manufacturers in Europe are focusing on expanding their customer base in high-growth regions, including Latin America and North America.Non-profit organizations are playing a key role in promoting the use of organic fertilizers.According to Persistence Market Researchs analysis, demand for animal-based organic fertilizers is higher than plant-based variants. While 6.84 million tonnes of plant-origin organic fertilizers were sold in 2016, animal-origin organic fertilizer volume was pegged at 10.15 million tonnes.Request to view table of content @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11950 Use of organic fertilizers remains highest in the farming of cereals and crops. This application segment accounted for over 70% revenue share of the market in 2016. By volume, demand from cereals and crops was estimated at 12.53 million tonnes in 2016.Historically, solid organic fertilizers have remained sought-after, and the trend is expected to remain unchanged during the forecast period 2017-2025. While solid organic fertilizers are projected to grow at 6.2% CAGR, liquid organic fertilizers growth rate is estimated to be 5.1%.Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11950 Europe is the largest market for organic fertilizers, followed by Asia Pacific. While Europe will continue to be the largest market for organic fertilizers, it will lose 2.3% revenue share to APAC during the forecast period. North America, the third largest market for organic fertilizers, is expected to account for 21.8% revenue share of the market by 2025- end.In its report, Persistence has profile key players in the organic fertilizers market, including Italpollina SpA, ILSA S.p.A, BioStar Renewables, Sustane Natural Fertilizer Inc., True Organic Products Inc., California Organic Fertilizers Inc., The Fertell Company, Purely Organics LLC, Pupuk Kaltim, and Qingdao Sonef Chemical Co., Ltd.Buy Global Organic Fertilizers Market Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/11950
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 11:25:07

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# 499 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Iron is one of the most important mineral present inside the human body. It carries oxygen throughout the body via the blood, which is further utilized by cells and tissue to get energy for all vital biological processes. Moreover, deficiency of iron leads to severe health problems, such as anemia and also affects mental or other memory functions in youths. To overcome this problem, oral iron supplements are recommended to maintain the iron level in the body. However, in some cases, oral administrations are not capable of maintaining the iron level in the body. For these cases, IV iron therapy is used to as part of which iron is directly injected inside the body with a needle through a vein.Request a sample of this report -The global market of IV iron drugs is categorized based on various product types and by therapeutic area. The product type segment is further sub-segmented in low molecular weight iron dextran, ferric gluconate, iron sucrose and ferric carboxyl maltose. Ferric carboxy maltose is the fastest growing sub-segment. Moreover, the therapeutic area segment includes nephrology, gynecology, gastroenterology, oncology, chronic heart failures and surgeries. Nephrology represents the largest segment for the use of IV iron drug and therapies. Under geographic analysis, North America is the largest market for IV iron drugs followed by Europe and Asia. In North America, the U.S. represents the largest market for IV iron drugs. In Europe, Germany, France and the U.K. covers the major share of IV iron drugs market.Global IV iron drugs market is witnessing a significant growth due to it improves the quality of treatment outside the dialysis, increasing the number of dialysis patients, growing number of diabetic patients worldwide and growing aging population. Moreover, increasing cases of hypertension, rising investment in the healthcare sector, higher spending on medicine are also supporting in the growth of IV iron drugs market. In addition, dialysis clinics are gaining importance in IV iron drugs market, as they form a very significant customer group for intravenous iron drugs. These types of dialysis clinics also administer iron dosages and attract patients for reliable and safe IV iron drug administration.However, stringent regulations and side-effects associated with IV iron products impede the growth of the market. Several government associations, such as FDA and European Medicines Agency have stringent regulations for IV iron drugs approval and usage. These approval processes are complex and time taking, where every new drug is required to fulfill the mandatory stringent regulations. Moreover, nausea, muscle cramps, vomiting, constipation, joint pain, headache, back pain and cough are some of the major side-effects of IV iron drugs.Request a ToC of this report -Some of the key players operating in the IV iron drugs market are Actavis, Inc., AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Galenica Ltd., Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, Vifor Pharma Ltd., American Regent, Inc., Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pharmacosmos A/S, Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc., and Sanofi.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 12:12:34

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# 512 Words

Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY  12207United StatesMarketing Head+1-518-618-1030

Driven by considerable demand from the pharmaceuticals, aerospace and defense, and telecommunication industries, the global laser material market is projected to rise from its 2014 valuation of US$1.02 bn to touch US$1.64 bn by 2023, says Transparency Market Research (TMR). This translates to a 5.5% CAGR from 2015 to 2023 for the global laser material market. Sized in terms of volume, the market for laser materials stood at 274.7 kilo tons in 2014, TMRs report finds. The report, titled Laser Material Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015 - 2023, notes that despite the presence of ample growth drivers, the market could be restrained by volatile prices of metals, crude oil, and natural gas.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/laser-material-market.html The report also identifies the growing demand for laser products in Asia Pacific as an opportunity worth exploring further. Using data from verifiable sources such as industry trade magazines, paid research databases, trade volumes, and recent regulatory developments, the report evaluates the laser material market in great detail.In order to study the market meticulously, the report divides it into segments based on the following criteria: Product type, application, and region. Taking product type as a criteria, the report divides the global laser material market into the following segments: Glass, plastic, metal, ceramics, and others. The metals segment led the global market in terms of demand in 2014 with a share of 45%. The others segment (alumina, graphite, and other advanced materials) was the second largest in 2014, says the report.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=7367 In a similar fashion, the report uses application areas of lasers as a criteria to segment the global laser material market into: medical and aesthetics, material processing, optical storage, instrumentation and sensors, communication, lithography, R&D and military, and others. With a share of over 30% in 2014, the communications sector comprised the largest application segment in the laser material market. With the demand for e-commerce, and Internet technologies soaring, coupled with the digitization of major industries, the demand for laser materials and processes in this sector is rising. After communication, material processing was the other key segment in the laser material market in 2014.Request Laser Material Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7367 For a complete regional analysis of the market, the report segments the global laser material market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. China not only leads in the production of laser devices, but also boasts a high domestic demand for laser materials and devices. The presence of other key national markets in Asia Pacific have enabled this region to stay firmly in the dominant position in the global laser material market in 2014.Buy Laser Material Market Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=7367<ype=S The report profiles over 25 leading companies that boast a notable presence in the global laser material market. These companies include: The Dow Chemical Company, ArcelorMittal, ExxonMobil Corporation, Saint Gobain, Rio Tinto Alcan, BHP Billiton, and others.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 12:12:01

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Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY  12207United StatesMarketing Head+1-518-618-1030

The global manganese carbonate market currently demonstrates the presence of numerous small and medium-scale companies. As per a new Transparency Market Research (TMR) report, intense competition exists among these enterprises engaged in the manufacturing different grades of manganese carbonate. In order to gain a stronger hold in the market, companies such as American Elements, Alfa Aesar, Zncus Chemical Co., Ltd., and GFS Chemicals, Inc. are investing in the research and development of novel grades of manganese carbonate. These companies are working closely with consumers to develop products that cater to their dynamic preferences.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/manganese-carbonate-market.html Besides these, the leading companies in the market are also looking to expand their production capacities by capitalizing on untapped opportunities in emerging markets. Due to the prevalence of these factors, the degree of competition in the market is expected to remain high through the forecast period from 2015 to 2023.Rising Use of Manganese Carbonate as Micronutrient in Agriculture to Fuel its DemandThe rising use of manganese carbonate as an essential agriculture micronutrient will considerably fuel their sales. This chemical is often added to plant fertilizers as a treatment for crops with manganese-deficiency. Agricultural sector still holds dominance across several emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Hence, these regions are projected to provide lucrative opportunities for manganese carbonate manufacturers, as they exhibit high demand for micronutrient fertilizers.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4052 Since, manganese carbonate is used as a colorant in ceramics and porcelain products, their increasing use in the homeware industry will fuel demand from the manganese carbonate market, observed the author of the TMR study. The homeware market witnesses lucrative opportunities in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa. Demand for porcelain and ceramics is thus high across these regions, which translates into increased opportunities for manganese carbonate sales.Region-specific Concentration of Reserves to Limit Scope for ExpansionOne of the key factors favoring growth of the manganese carbonate market in emerging regions such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia Pacific is that a majority of manganese reserves are concentrated in these regions. However, Region-specific concentration of manganese reserves have resulted in lesser global opportunities for manufacturers, states the TMR analyst. This limits the markets expansion in developed economies. Furthermore, the majority of manufacturers have signed agreements with mining companies located in close vicinity. This in turn hinders the entry of new players in the market in the absence of favorable agreements.Request Manganese Carbonate Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4052 Nevertheless, the potential applications of manganese carbonate in concrete staining will boost its sales in the near future. Concrete staining is slowly emerging as popular technique to create decorate, durable, and easy to maintain home surfaces. The rising use of manganese carbonate to stain concrete surfaces will bolster its sales opportunities in the forthcoming years.Based on volume, the agrochemicals segment reported the highest demand for manganese carbonate in 2014. The segment held over 68% of the manganese carbonate market in the year. Regionally, Asia Pacific dominated the global manganese carbonate market, holding a share of 75.5% in terms of volume in 2014.Buy Manganese Carbonate Market Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=4052<ype=S By revenue, the global manganese carbonate market stood at US$322.2 mn in 2014. Exhibiting a CAGR of 4.2% between 2015 and 2023, the market is expected to reach US$464.1 mn by the end of 2023.
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PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 10:13:05

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Minimally invasive anti-ageing treatments that do not require any penetration into the skin. Non-invasive procedures cover a number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, and heat therapy. Minimally invasive treatments refer to a range of procedures that involve tiny injections and exclude any surgical invasion into the human body. The most common treatments are injections with botulinum toxin (Botox), dermal fillers, lipofilling, and microdermabrasion (non-chemical). Lasers, chemical peels and facials, and cosmeceuticals (a combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) are also considered as minimally invasive treatments. Botax remains mainstay for minimally invasive or non-invasive anti-ageing treatment or procedure in various geographies.Minimally Invasive Anti-Ageing Treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsGlobal minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market is expected to grow at significant rate owing to lesser cost of treatment than high tech devices, effective and affordable alternative to plastic surgery procedures. The factors currently contributing to the revenue growth of the minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market is requirement of little to no downtime for these procedures and minimally invasive treatments require very small incisions or injections sites, resulting in less pain and very few post-procedure complications. Furthermore, emerging middle class and rapidly aging world population are expected to drive the market for minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment over the forecast period.Global minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market may hinder owing to non-permanent nature of these treatments which requires re-treatment in given specific period of time which is expected to affect the market negatively over the forecast period. The minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market may restrained by side effects associated with treatment such as mild swelling and bleeding, and occasional skin imperfections which are expected to hinder market revenue growth over the forecast periodA sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=25958 Minimally Invasive Anti-Ageing Treatment Market: SegmentationGlobal minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market has been segmented on the basis of treatment type, route of administration, distribution channel, and regionBased on the treatment type, the global minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market is segmented into the following:Botulinum ToxinHyaluronic AcidDermal FillersChemical PeelsLaser Hair RemovalMicrodermabrasionPhoto RejuvenationOthersBased on the route of administration, the global minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market is segmented into the following:OralInjectableTopicalOthersBased on the distribution channel, the global minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market is segmented into the following:Hospital PharmaciesRetail PharmaciesOnline PharmaciesBeauty ClinicsMinimally Invasive Anti-Ageing Treatment Market: OverviewGlobal minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market is witnessing significant changes due to rising uptake of combination treatments across the globe. Rising number of dermatology clinics in Asia Pacific and Latin America region and increasing access to products and services owing to OTC formulations in the market expected create significant market changes over the forecast period.Minimally Invasive Anti-Ageing Treatment Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America and Western Europe will remain key markets for Minimally Invasive Anti-Ageing Treatment products due to increased awareness among key stakeholders, rising preference for aesthetics, and increasing affordability and innovation all these factors together helps to maintain larger market revenue share in the global minimally invasive anti-ageing treatment market by these regions. Asia Pacific is anticipated to present better growth opportunity owing to availability of large addressable population and favourable demographic dividend in the region.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=25958 Minimally Invasive Anti-Ageing Treatment Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in the global Minimally Invasive Anti-Ageing Treatment Market are Galderma S.A., Allergan Plc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Alma Lasers Ltd., Lumenis Ltd., Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA,, Cutera, Inc., Syneron Medical Ltd. to name a few.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.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 14:14:10

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# 711 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

According to a new report by Persistence Market Research titled Monochloroacetic Acid (MCAA) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 20162024, the global consumption of monochloroacetic acid is estimated to be 823.1 Kilotons in 2016 and is anticipated to increase to 1,127.9 Kilotons by the end of 2024, registering a volume CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period (2016 - 2024).The global monochloroacetic acid market is mainly driven by increasing demand for the production of carboxymethylcellulose, thioglycolic acid, and glycine. Monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) is a major building block in organic synthesis and hence the demand for MCAA as an intermediate in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverages, and personal care industries is expected to boost the growth of the global monochloroacetic acid market during the forecast period. However, emerging alternatives for monochloroacetic acid in agrochemicals production such as pyridine to produce symtet is posing a challenge to the global monochloroacetic acid market to some extent. A recent trend observed in the global monochloroacetic acid market is the capacity expansions by key market players and new market entrants in monochloroacetic acid production through consolidation of backward vertical integrated operations.Request Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/12004 The global monochloroacetic acid market is segmented on the basis of Application (Production of Chemical Compounds, Drugs, Herbicides & Insecticides, Others (Indigo Dyes, Amphoteric Surfactants)); End Use Industry (Pharmaceutical Industry, Chemical Industry, Food & Beverages Industry, Personal Care Industry, Others (Oil & Gas Industry)); and Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa (MEA)). By application, the Production of Chemical Compounds segment is estimated to dominate the global monochloroacetic acid market with 52.9% share in terms of revenue by 2016 end. The Herbicides & Insecticides segment is projected to create incremental opportunity of US$ 62.2 Mn in the global monochloroacetic acid market between 2016 and 2024. By end use industry, the Chemical Industry segment is projected to create incremental opportunity of US$ 142.3 Mn in the global monochloroacetic acid market between 2016 and 2024. The Pharmaceutical Industry segment is expected to increase 1.8X over the forecast period to be valued at US$ 117.6 Mn by the end of 2024.Request Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/12004 Among regions, Asia Pacific is estimated to be valued at US$ 329.5 Mn by the end of 2016 and is expected to increase to US$ 513.3 Mn by the end of 2024, registering a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific is expected to be the most attractive region for monochloroacetic acid in the global monochloroacetic acid market during the forecast period. Sales of monochloroacetic acid in North America was valued at US$ 36.4 Mn in 2015 and is projected to increase 1.3X over the forecast period to be valued at US$ 49.2 Mn by the end of 2024. The monochloroacetic acid market in North America is mainly propelled by a rising demand from the pharmaceutical industry. The Europe monochloroacetic acid market is estimated to account for a value share of 20.2% in the global monochloroacetic acid market by the end of 2016. Stringent government regulations pertaining to the use of agrochemicals in Europe is likely to hinder the growth of the monochloroacetic market in Europe.The report on the global monochloroacetic acid market profiles some of the top companies operating in the global monochloroacetic acid market. Companies featured in the report are Akzo Nobel N.V., CABB GmbH, Nufarm Limited, Niacet Corporation, Jubilant Life Sciences Limited, Shandong Minji Chemical Co. Ltd., Archit Organosys Ltd., IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited, Meridian Chem Bond Pvt. Ltd., and S.R. Drugs and Intermediates Pvt. Ltd. Leading market players are focusing on an organic growth strategy through strategic joint ventures and setting up of new production facilities to remain competitive in the global monochloroacetic acid market.Buy Monochloroacetic Acid Market Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/12004 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.com Web: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 12:10:21

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Prominent participants in the global non-vascular stents market are C. R. Bard, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Cook Group Incorporated, Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Taewoong Medical Co., Ltd., Abbott Laboratories, Olympus Corporation, ELLA - CS, Medi-Globe Corporation, CONMED Corporation, M.I.TECH, and Allium Medical Solutions Ltd. At present the market is characterized by stiff competition between numerous local players and a few dominant international players. It has been noticed that the smaller local players have managed to dent shares of their global counterparts, and hence are posing a challenge to them.Depending upon the type of products, the global non-vascular stents market can be segmented into urology stents, pulmonology stents, and gastroenterology stents. Among them, the urology stents segment is predicted to outpace all others vis-a-vis growth rate owing to growing number of kidney calculi and end-stage renal disease patients, globally. A common trend of benign prostatic hyperplasia in elderly demographics is also projected to boost growth in the segment in the next couple of years. The urology stents segment is expected to rise at a CAGR of 6.9 % between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, the key segments of the global non-vascular stents market are North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America, at present, dominates the market with a leading share on account of a superior healthcare infrastructure, high healthcare expenditure per capita, high incidence of obstructive diseased patients, and favorable medical reimbursement policies of both the government and private players.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/non-vascular-stents-market.html COPD Serving to Majorly Fuel GrowthAt the forefront of driving demand in the global non-vascular stents market is the rising instances of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) resulting from lung cancer, smoking, tracheobronchial malacia, and exposure to harmful chemicals. Rising occurrence of colorectal cancer and gall stone diseases in developed countries is likely to boost the demand gastroenterology stents during forecast period. High prevalence of kidney stones and benign prostatic hyperplasia in elderly will also push up demand for global urology stents, thereby boosting the overall non-vascular stents market, explains the lead analyst of the TMR report.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=27980 Product Development Proves Beneficial to MarketFurther, growing spends on healthcare in developing countries, mushrooming hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, and helpful medical reimbursement policies by governments and private insurance companies is also slated to catalyze growth in the global non-vascular stents market in the next couple of years. Thrust on research and development to come up with better products having improved designs, better materials, and minimally invasive stenting procedures are bolstering the market as well. The development of biodegradable stents to thwart complications of tissue in growth and stent migration is a case in point.Request Non-vascular Stents Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=27980 Proving counterproductive to the global non-vascular stents market, on the other hand, is the expensiveness of metallic stents along mandates by governments and regulatory authorities to better quality and lower process of medical devices.Buy Full Non-vascular Stents Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=27980<ype=S
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 14:05:10

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Global consumption of nonwoven fabric spun is estimated to witness Y-o-Y rate of 8.3% in 2016 end. The polypropylene segment is estimated to account for maximum revenue share of ~71% by 2016 end and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period.Nonwoven fabric materials find major application in consumer products such as disposable diapers, feminine care products and adult incontinence, and market growth is consequently driven by increasing demand for such hygiene products over the forecast period. Increasing infant and child population in Asia Pacific is estimated to drive significant demand for disposable diapers in the near future. Increasing consumption of disposable diapers and feminine care products in emerging countries with low penetration is anticipated to provide impetus for market growth over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing demand for fuel-efficient and lightweight transportation automobiles is also anticipated to drive market growth in the near future. Increasing application of nonwoven materials in automobile interiors combined with increasing automotive production output is anticipated to drive market growth to a certain extent.Request Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11488 However, high prices of finished products is attributed to high cost of raw materials. Such high prices of finished products are expected to impede market growth over the forecast period. Increasing stringent regulations on the textile industry is estimated as another factor restraining market growth. Moreover, shifting nonwoven production to ASEAN countries, offering consumer-specific products and basis weight reduction are some of the key trends observed in the global nonwoven fabric market.Increasing demand for nonwoven fabric materials in hygiene applications, owing to favourable demographic trends is anticipated to drive market growth over the forecast period. Market growth is estimated to be spurred by increasing penetration of hygiene products in emerging countries. Increasing application of nonwoven fabric materials in automobiles, owing to rising need for lightweight and fuel-efficient transportation vehicles is also expected to be a prominent driving factor for market growth over the forecast period.Request Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11488 The Asia Pacific nonwoven fabric market is anticipated to witness higher growth rates due to increasing penetration of disposable diapers in emerging ASEAN countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Growth rates in markets in the Middle East & Africa and Latin America are expected to be above average due low product penetration in these region. The market in Europe is anticipated to witness moderate demand over the forecast period owing to increasing construction activities in Russia. North America nonwoven fabric market is anticipated to witness relatively low demand due to increasing ageing population in the region.Kimberly-Clarke, Freudenberg SE and Ahlstrom are some of the top producers of nonwoven fabric materials.PMR Long-term Outlook: The global nonwoven fabric market is expected to reach US$ 66.8 Bn by 2024 end, expanding at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period (20162024). Asia Pacific, is estimated to account for share of 39.6% by 2016 end, and is projected to be the largest market in the global nonwoven fabric market.Buy Non Wovens Market Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/11488 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.com Web: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/
North America Porcine Vaccine Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 11:24:35

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Transparency Market Research estimates that the North America Porcine Vaccine market will exhibit a 5.3% CAGR from 2016 to 2024 and rise from a valuation of US$540.9 mn in 2015 to US$926.2 mn by 2024.The market for porcine vaccines in North America is chiefly driven due to factors such as the rising prevalence of swine diseases and the continuously increasing demand for meat and gelatin in the global market. Owing to globalization and rapid climate changes, the rate of outbreak of various animal diseases, some of which are also transmissible to humans, has picked up pace. Swine being a highly popular source of meat, consumed in increasingly high volumes worldwide, the impact of zoonotic diseases emanating from this class of livestock can be highly devastating for livestock as well as human lives.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/north-america-porcine-vaccine-market.html North America is the third largest consumer of pork globally. As a result, concerns regarding the spread of zoonotic diseases from swine and related products are well-founded and are rising. These concerns will be key to the increased focus on the health and wellness of swines from livestock farmers and will drive the overall North America porcine vaccine market.Appropriate storage and handling of vaccines play a key role in ensuring high success rate of a vaccine against any vaccine-preventable disease. The need to strictly adhere to proper storage and handling procedures, lest incur losses worth thousands of dollars in revaccination and wasted vaccine, requires maintaining proper cold chains.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=16976 Such cold chains are required to be maintained across all nodes of the supply chain, starting from the manufacturers to the healthcare providers. The high costs of maintaining these storage and handling conditions, which continue to rise with every passing day, are one of the key challenges faced by the North America porcine vaccine market and are expected to restrain the markets growth to a certain extent over the forecast period.In terms of disease indication, the diarrhea vaccines segment dominates the North America porcine vaccine market and is expected to account for nearly 55% of the market by 2016. The segment is expected to exhibit a healthy 7.3% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024 and gain a much larger, nearly 60% of the overall market, by 2024. In terms of geography, the North America porcine vaccines market is dominated by the U.S., which accounted for over 63% of the overall market in 2015 and is expected to remain the dominant market over the forecast period as well.Request North America Porcine Vaccine Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16976 The North America porcine vaccines market for features an essentially fragmented marketplace, with the presence of a large number of small and large players. The market, however, is dominated by few; the top four players, namely Merial Animal Health, Zoetis, Inc., Elanco Animal Health, and Merck Animal Health, for instance, collectively held nearly 74% of the overall market in 2015, observes a recent report by Transparency Market Research.Factors such as diverse product portfolios, extensive geographical presence, and perceptive acquisitions, as well as intensive research and development and the timely introduction of new vaccines have kept these players ahead of the intense competition. Instances are: The launch of two new swine vaccines by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in 2015: Ingelvac and ReproCyc. The vaccines have been launched to fight against the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Zoetis November 2016 launch of Fostera PCV Metastim, a monovalent killed vaccine that protects against porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVAD).Buy Full North America Porcine Vaccine Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=16976<ype=S About TMRTransparency 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.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, 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, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.
The report also provides country-wise and segmental analysis estimated for an eight-year forecast period, 2016-2024.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 07:54:49

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North America sales of recreational vehicle are projected to reach US$ 26.19 Bn by 2024 end, expanding at a CAGR of over 7%. In terms of consumption volume, recreational vehicles will possibly exceed 465,000 units within the first half of the assessed period i.e. by 2020 end.In a recently published market outlook titled Recreational Vehicle Market: North America Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016 to 2024, Persistence Market Research delivers key insights into the critical factors expected to impact the market growth over the next few years. The report also provides country-wise and segmental analysis estimated for an eight-year forecast period, 2016-2024.Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3520 Revenue sales of recreational vehicle across North America will be highly impacted by demographics, consumer behavior, and purchasing power. Eco-friendly and lightweight recreational vehicle highlight a current growing trend, whereas hybrid/battery-operated recreational vehicles have recently emerged as a promising trend. Rental market for recreational vehicle is witnessing significant growth. Growing preference for online shopping will also benefit RV promotion and sales, Persistence Market Research comments on the most influential trends in North Americas recreational vehicle market.Drivers, Trends, and Opportunity InsightsRising consumer inclination toward entertaining outdoors and adventure travel will remain the key drivers to North America market for recreational vehicles. Recent style and design innovations fuel the market growth further.Developing outdoor recreational infrastructure and growing preference for sustainable tourism against mass tourism will collectively create revenue generation channels for RV manufacturers.Baby Boomers have always been the largest consumer cluster for recreational vehicle. However, several manufacturers are increasingly targeting young consumers through emphasis on new, cost-effective product launches based on advanced technology. Thor Industries recently (2016) introduced smaller Class C and Class A motorhomes, specifically targeting younger generation consumers.Country-wise Market InsightsU.S. based manufactures are likely to encounter with attractive opportunities in developing Asian countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea. For existing network expansion, various small manufacturers are consolidating with established players. Vendors are also offering multiple financing options on RV purchase.A few more factors that will continue to favor the growth of recreational vehicle market include initiatives by governments. States rising investments in specialized roadways specifically designed for recreational vehicle prompt at lucrative opportunities in near future.Request to View Tables of Content @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3520 Geographical analysis of North America recreational vehicle market bifurcates the market into the U.S. and Canada. While the U.S. is anticipated to take a leap over US$ 22 Bn by 2024 end, Canada market will possibly represent a total incremental opportunity of US$ 1,552.2 Mn between 2016 and 2024.U.S. currently accounts for over 87% share of the North American market; however, Canada is identified to be a growing market driven by relatively higher growth opportunities.Although large motorhomes, especially those equipped with solar and wireless technologies are experiencing higher traction, travel trailers and campers will remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Travel trailers and campers segment currently holds a dominant share of nearly 61%, followed by motor homes segment with around 37% share of the entire market revenues. Over the forecast period, travel trailers and campers segment will reach US$ 14.59 Bn gaining around 570 BPS.Class A and class B motorhome segments reflect higher growth potential, attributed to affordability and user-friendliness. Class A vehicle will continue to represent the largest motorhomes sub-segment, followed by class C. Whereas, motor homes segment will witness the fastest growth at over 9% CAGR over 2016-2024.Key Vendor InsightsSome of the most dominant players active in North America recreational vehicle market, include Thor Industries, Inc., Forest River, Inc., Winnebago Industries, Inc., Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc., REV Group, Inc., Triple E Recreational Vehicle, and Winnebago Industries, Inc. A majority vendors are strengthening their market positions through new product launches, while others are focusing on strategic acquisitions.Buy Recreational Vehicles Market Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/3520
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 01:05:12

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Pacific Iron Ore Corporation--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Calgary, Alberta (FSCWire) - Pacific Iron Ore Corporation (TSX Venture:POC). has issued a press release with the following headline:Pacific Iron Ore Corporation Announces Appointment of DirectorTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Pacific Iron Ore Corporation, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Pacific Iron Ore CorporationSource: Pacific Iron Ore Corporation (TSX Venture: POC)Date: November 15, 2017Time: 7:04 PM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Pacific Iron Ore Corporation and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 11:16:49

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Globalization has led to increased emphasis on international trade activities that has in turn led to substantial increase in spending for the development of transport facilities that include roads, railways, waterways, and airports. Among these, port infrastructure market is projected to witness highest gains through the forecast period (2017-2025), primarily owing to increasing proliferation of sea trade and major investments in infrastructural development in emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Middle East.Energy and container ports construction are expected to attract large demands though the forecast periodInternational trade was largely influenced by exponential rise in demand for container shipping, over the last 50 years, specifically owing to the streamlining of processes and reduction in costs achieved through standardized container shipments. This has led to unprecedented investment in construction of container hubs and upgrading of containerized cargo. Moreover, large scale projects for fuel handling, such as Saldanha Bay (South Africa) and new oil terminals in Mombasa (Kenya), are expected to find large demands with focus on specific fuel handling that includes oil, gas or coal. According to International Energy Outlook, by U.S. Department of Energy, global consumption of natural gas is projected to reach 203 trillion cubic feet (tcf) by 2040, an increase of around 70% in comparison to 2012 stats. Growing requirement for fuels, prominently in emerging economies such as China, India, Mexico and Indonesia, will provide solid growth platform through the forecast period.Request Sample copy of this Report  https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/638 Effective waste management is a major challenge for players in the port infrastructure marketVibrations and noise generated by cargo operations has an adverse effect on the people and the flora and fauna in the vicinity. Moreover, large volumes of waste are generated that include dredged materials, oily mixtures and garbage discharged from ships, and other solid and liquid wastes. These usually end up disposed of in the nearby area or sea, in turn polluting the environment. Requirement to reduce the environment impacts have led to several initiatives such as Clean Air Act Advisory Committee in the U.S. and Port of the Future agenda by European Commission. Growing concerns regarding the environmental impacts and requirement to set up efficient waste management is expected to present major growth challenge.Construction of these facilities requires large space and workforce to build and manage smooth operations. This in turn leads to Socio cultural impacts that include village relocation and formation of slums in the vicinity that can negatively impact the growth prospects. However, owing to these factors, Greenfield project development will draw considerable attraction for port infrastructure market owing to lack of imposed constraints prior to projects. The concept elucidates construction on unused lands, to reduce the expenses on remodeling and demolishing of an existing structure.Port Infrastructure Market TaxonomyOn the basis of infrastructure project, the global port infrastructure market is classified into:ContainerEnergyBreakbulkRoll-on/roll-off ports (ro-ro ports)On the basis of facility type, the global port infrastructure market is classified into:Deepwater seaportSeaportRiver portHarborPier, Jetty or wharfPort terminalOff shore terminalCanalGeopolitical issues existing in South Asia is projected to drive the port infrastructure marketMajor economies in South Asia such as China, Japan, and India are increasingly investing in facilities to increase their influence in the Indian Ocean and gain access to resources and potential high growth markets in Middle East and Central Asia. For instance, development program of Sagar Mala project in India and deep sea Angola port in China will present potential growth platform for port infrastructure market in the region. However, presence of outdated and frequently congested docks in countries such as India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh has in turn led to increased trade activities in advanced shipping facilities of China and Japan. Increasing competition among countries with large coastlines, especially in Asia Pacific, to establish regional superiority is expected to create a highly lucrative growth environment for the global port infrastructure market.Improving economic conditions in Latin America will help the participants gain strong foothold in the industryAccording to Port Technology International journal in November 2014, an estimated total of US$ 28.7 billion investment were to be made in Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Colombia for port infrastructure.market . Growing investments in Latin America to improve transportation, strengthen the commodity exports and fulfill the local consumer demands will present significant growth opportunity over the forecast period. The region is characterized by the presence of 92 anchorages and 15 terminals, a significant number of which need to be upgraded. This creates a high growth prospect for the port infrastructure market in the region.Majority of the big-budget construction projects are lined up by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for annexation of shipping activities in the region. For instance, Fujairah Oil Terminal, Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (Abu Dhabi), Boubyan Island (Kuwait), and Sohar Industrial Port (Oman) are few of the major projects. GCC is likely to remain the key focus of port infrastructure market.Some of contracting companies include ACS Group, Hyundai Engineering, Consolidated Engineering Construction Co, Bechtel, and Danube Ports Network Company. Along with the large number contracting players, industry competition is also characterized by the equipment manufacturers. Some of them include OAO Baltkran, Cargotech, C.V.S. SpA, Demag Cranes, Fantuzzi and Liebherr.For More Information  https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/port-infrastructure-market-638 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:Coherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentnews.com
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 01:00:29

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Preferred Dental Technologies Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Preferred Dental Technologies Inc. (CSE:PDT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Preferred Dental Technologies Inc. (Company) (CSE: PDT): Issues Convertible LoanTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Preferred Dental Technologies Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Preferred Dental Technologies Inc.Source: Preferred Dental Technologies Inc. (CSE: PDT)Date: November 15, 2017Time: 7:00 PM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Preferred Dental Technologies Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-16 10:02:02

Online print shop massively reduces prices for many products throughout Italy

print24.com Lowers Its Prices up to 40% Cheaper Than the Market Leader in Italy

unitedprint.com SE

Marcel Sohrmann

0049 (0)351 / 27225388

presse@unitedprint.com

The online print shop UNITEDPRINT SE, owner of renowned brands including print24.com, has lowered its prices for a variety of products up to 40% cheaper than the market leader in Italy!

In addition to discounted Flyers and Brochures in various formats and papers, print24.com offers a large number of other Top sellers at top prices  including Books, Postcards and Folded cards, but also classics from the advertising equipment and large-format categories such as Roller banners, Signboards and Banners! Additional affordable offers from the packaging, photo products, catering supplies and office supplies categories complete the extensive portfolio of print24.com!

Ali Jason Bazooband, Managing Director for Innovation/Marketing of print24.com, says: In addition to the permanently low prices, our customers also benefit from attractive delivery times  many Top sellers are available within just one day  as well as our outstanding top quality! With this price reduction, the online print shop is up to 40% cheaper than the market leader in Italy! Most of the products are already available starting from 1 piece  or in large print runs, such as Flyers up to 1 million pieces!

print24.com is a UNITEDPRINT SE brand, a global and innovation-oriented e-commerce company for print and media. As one of Europes leading online print shops, UNITEDPRINT SE employs a staff of around 700 people and operates the renowned brands print24, Easyprint, Unitedprint, getprint, printwhat, FIRSTPRINT, DDK PRINT BIG, infowerk, and Unitedprint Shop Services (USS) in 26 locations worldwide (in Germany, 21 other European countries, and in Brazil, China, Canada, and the US). In addition to the standard printing products, Unitedprint provides its customers with high-quality products and services ranging from textile products, photo products, large-format, promo products, advertising equipment and catering supplies.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711160050
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Atalaya Mining Plc--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Nicosia, Cyprus (FSCWire) - Atalaya Mining Plc (TSX:AYM). has issued a press release with the following headline:3rd Quarter Financial ResultsTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Atalaya Mining Plc, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Atalaya Mining PlcSource: Atalaya Mining Plc (TSX: AYM, AIM: ATYM)Date: November 16, 2017Time: 2:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Atalaya Mining Plc and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
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- New contract wins affirms the Group's capabilities in water and waste management- Order book now stands at S$112.3 million- Contracts to contribute to revenue from FY2018SINGAPORE, Nov 10, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Sanli Environmental Limited ("Sanli" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), a Singapore-based environmental engineering company, specialising in water and waste management, today announced that it has secured four new contracts ("Contracts") worth a total of S$8.1 million, from both the public and private sectors. This brings the Group's order book to S$112.3 million.The Contracts comprise projects in both Engineering, Procurement and Construction ("EPC") and Operations and Maintenance ("O&M") segments. Under the EPC contracts, Sanli will supply, install, commission and test, equipment at a water reclamation plant as well as a hydrated lime storage facility, and replace treatment process equipment at a salinity plant. Under the O&M contract, Sanli will provide maintenance services for sewerage pumping and treatment system.Mr Sim Hock Heng, Chief Executive Officer of Sanli said, "We are encouraged that the Group continues to secure new contracts from the public and private sectors, which affirms the quality of our services in water and waste management. We will continue to seek to position ourselves for upcoming projects, tapping on demand for water and waste management solutions and seek potential opportunities regionally." The Contracts are expected to contribute to the Group's revenue from the financial year ending 31 March 2018.None of the directors or controlling shareholders of the Company has any interest, direct or indirect in the Contracts, other than through their respective shareholdings in the Company.About Sanli Environmental LimitedSanli is an environmental engineering company in the field of water and waste management. It has more than ten years of experience and over 1,000 completed projects under its portfolio.The Group's expertise is in the design, supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair and overhaul of mechanical and electrical equipment as well as process, instrumentation and control systems in wastewater treatment plants, water reclamation plants, NEWater plants, waterworks, service reservoirs, pumping stations and incineration plants.The Group has two main business segments: Engineering, Procurement and Construction ("EPC") and Operations and Maintenance ("O&M"). Under its EPC segment, Sanli provides services within the field of water and waste management, including process upgrading of existing water treatment plants, upgrading of pumping station capacities, replacement of aged equipment, and design and build of various treatment process systems. Through its O&M segment, the Group provides corrective and preventive maintenance services to ensure reliability and minimal disruptions to customers' operations.For more information, please visit the company website at www.sanli.com.sg Issued on behalf of Sanli Environmental Limited by:Waterbrooks Consultants Pte LtdTel: +65 6100 2228Lynette Tan, M: +65 9687 2023, lynette@ waterbrooks.com.sg Angeline Cheong, M: +65 9666 0977, angeline@ waterbrooks.com.sg This media release has been prepared by the Company and its contents have been reviewed by the Company's sponsor, SAC Capital Private Limited (the "Sponsor"), for compliance with the relevant rules of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "SGX-ST"). The Sponsor has not independently verified the contents of this media release.This media release has not been examined or approved by the SGX-ST and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this media release, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this media release.The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr Ong Hwee Li (Telephone: +65 6532 3829) at 1 Robinson Road, #21-02 AXA Tower, Singapore 048542.Topic: Contract AwardedSectors: WaterFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright  2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
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Transparency Market Research has published a new market report titled Sodium Silicate Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023. The global sodium silicate market was valued at US$ 5,561.4 Mn in 2014 and is expected to reach US$ 6,933.6 Mn in 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 2.5% between 2015 and 2023.View Report Preview:Sodium silicate is a colourless compound made from oxides of sodium and silica. It is soluble in water and is prepared by reacting silica with sodium carbonate (soda ash) at high temperatures. Aqueous form of sodium silicate is called water glass. Sodium silicate is extensively used in the manufacture of detergents, soaps, and silica gel. It is also utilized in the construction industry as a binding agent for building materials as well as in bleaching of paper, de-inking of waste paper, detergency, drilling fluids, adhesives, water treatment, foundry, and soil solidification. Additionally, it is used in foundries, refractories, and welding industries, and as a deflocculant in the ceramic industry. Furthermore, it has various applications in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.Rising demand for detergents and cleaning agents is expected to augment demand for sodium silicate in the near future. Additionally, increasing demand for sodium silicate in the construction & building materials industry coupled with rising number of water treatment projects is likely to drive demand for sodium silicate during the forecast period. However, competition from substitute products such as soda ash could restrain growth of the sodium silicate market. Growing need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) due to energy conservation policies, high fuel prices, and technological development could open new avenues for growth of the sodium silicate market in the near future.Request to view Sample Report:Major end-user industries of sodium silicate include agrochemicals, oil drilling, and construction and coatings. Detergents, which accounted for over 35% of the sodium silicate market in 2014, are nearly recession-proof because of their steady consumption during all economic conditions. Elastomers is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period due to growth in the automotive industry.In terms of volume, Asia Pacific dominated the global sodium silicate market in 2014 with a share of over 45%. Economies such as China, India, Thailand, South Korea, and Indonesia are estimated to drive the market in Asia Pacific. Increasing demand for detergents and cleaning agents is expected to fuel demand for sodium silicate in the near future.Key players in the sodium silicate market include PQ Corporation, PPG Industries, Evonik Industries AG, BASF SE, Tokuyama Europe GmbH, and W.R. Grace & Company.Request Brochure of the Report:
JEROME  Southern Idaho Muzzleloaders Association will hold a fundraiser, silent auction, and a turkey shoot with prizes for everyone. The shoot will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Jerome Gun Club on U.S. 93, at mile marker 64.

This months shoot is hosted by Frank Glauner. The fee is $5 each to get a prize.

The muzzleloaders will also have an election of officers and a meeting.

There will be a special shoot called split the ball, where participants can shoot as often as they like, for a dollar each time, for a smoked turkey.

Information: Leon Double Load Reed, 208-329-4902.
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A new market research report has been recently published by Transparency Market Research, a U.S.-based market research and intelligence firm. The research report provides an in-depth analysis of the global spirodiclofen market for fruits and other crops. It also provides the past and current performance of the market, along with the existing trends and growth prospects. The research report is titled Spirodiclofen Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020.According to the research report, the global spirodiclofen market stood at US$119.9 million in 2013 and is projected to touch US$172.1 million by the end of 2020, growing significantly at a 6% CAGR between 2014 and 2020.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/spirodiclofen-market.html Spirodiclofen helps keep crops healthy and away from diseases, which increases the productivity. The demand for spirodiclofen is expected to rise in the forecast period, owing to the increasing production of walnuts, almonds, tangerines, etc. Moreover, the increased production of tomato to cope with rising food demand is expected to propel the demand for spirodiclofen through the forecast period.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3989 The research report has segmented the global spirodiclofen market on the basis of crop type into fruits and other crops (such as ornamental plants and tomato). In 2013, the fruit segment dominated the global spirodiclofen market. Spirodiclofen is commonly used in numeorus fruit crops such as almond, pear, avocado, apple, lime, grapes, and lemon. In 2013, almond plantations held more than 50% of the spirodiclofen market on the basis of demand. The research report states that the spirodiclofen market is quite expansive and has excellent growth prospects due to its impending usage in many other types of crops, including decorative plants and fruiting vegetable crops, in the forecast period.Request Spirodiclofen Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3989 The research report has geographically segmented the global spirodiclofen market in four regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. In 2013, Europe dominated the global spirodiclofen market, accounting for 25% of the market. The dominance of Europe can be attributed to the tremendous use of chemicals in crops such as almonds and walnuts. Asia Pacific held the second position in the same year. In Latin America and North America, spirodiclofen is used as a 240 SC spray formulation named Envidor and produced by Bayer CropScience. As per the research report, Asia Pacific is expected to witness a high rate of development in the global spirodiclofen market through the forecast period.Buy Spirodiclofen Market Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=3989<ype=S Furthermore, the research report has provided a detailed analysis of the prominent companies operating in the global spirodiclofen market. The two leading companies mentioned in the research report are Hangzhou Tianlong Biotechnology Co. Ltd. and Bayer CropScience.
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Tantalum is a hard, bluish grey, transition metal. Previously it was known as tantalium and is a rare earth metal. It is characterized by its incredibly high melting point which is bettered only by tungsten, rhenium, osmium and carbon. Tantalum along with similar metals such as Neobium, can be found in minerals such as coltan, columbite and tantalite. Most of the tantalum is derived from hard rock mines; however it can also be obtained from tin slags, and artisanal mines. Tantalite is highly resistant to corrosion and is a part of the refractory metals group. The main application of tantalum is in the electronics industry where it is employed in manufacturing capacitors and high power resistors. In this application, tantalum has to compete with low cost ceramic and aluminum capacitors. As a result tantalums use is mostly limited to high end capacitors where stability and high volumetric capacity is of paramount importance. Other electronic applications of tantalum are sputtering targets and target acoustic wave filters. Apart from that tantalum finds application in medical devices, chemical processing and manufacturing of super alloys. Tantalum-oxide is used in camera lenses as well as X-ray equipments, while tantalum carbide is used to manufacture cutting tools.Request For Report Sample: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2230 One of the major drivers of this market is the growing importance and demand for electronic gadgets and equipments. Tantalum alloys are used extensively in aviation and land based gas turbine, and the demand from this sector is expected to rise at a brisk pace in the near future owing to the high growth in aviation and aerospace industries. The same is true for land based gas turbines as well. The highest quantity of tantalum demand is expected to come from tantalum powder/ wire application, followed by its application in super alloys. Most of the tantalum that is mined globally comes from Africa, where the largest resource of tantalum is present. Tantalum is widely available in Central Africa as well as other parts of the region. Countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Gabon, Zimbabwe and Namibia have huge tantalum deposits and cumulatively account for over 50% of the global production. Tantalum is also abundant in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the metal from DRC is called conflict tantalum, as the metal mined in the conflict region is sold to perpetuate warfare. A ban on importing or trading conflict metals has been imposed, which is expected to hurt the Central African economy and the local people. The blanket ban is also expected to affect other regions of Africa which are not conflict zones. Other than Africa, tantalum is mined in South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina; European countries such as Germany and Austria; and Asian countries such as Australia, Japan, Thailand and China. The mining of tantalum in North America is almost negligible; however mining activities are expected to commence in the near future. The Central African crisis and ban on tantalum imports are expected to drive demand from the Asia Pacific and South American countries.Some of the restraints of this market are the demand supply imbalance due to the ban on Central African imports and price fluctuation of tantalum ores in different mining locations. For instance, the price of tantalum imported from South America is slightly lower as compared to the mineral mined in Australia. Supply chain and inventory are some of the other concerns for end use industries. However, long term supply agreements are expected to substantially reduce the price compared to spot rates and also guarantees supply. Some of the top tantalum producing companies are Talison Minerals Pty Ltd., Cabot Corp., China Minmetals Corp., and Ethiopia Mineral Development Share Company among others. Some of the top tantalum producing mines are located at Wodgina, Greenbushes, Nanping and Kenticha among others.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=2230
Thermal Ablation Devices

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Understanding numerous factors of the thermal ablation devices market, Persistence Market Research has put forth a fact based research analysis on the global market for thermal ablation devices in a structured manner in its recent publication titled Thermal Ablation Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Forecast (2017-2025). There are several factors that influence the growth of the thermal ablation devices market and the intensity of these aspects differ from region to region. In this research report, various trends, developments, drivers, challenges and restraints have been analyzed across key regions of North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East and Africa (MEA). This reflects an all-inclusive picture of the global market that includes assessment on key market segments to cover every angle of the global market. Moreover, along with historical data and current market scenario, a future market projection with respect to value and volume of the thermal ablation devices is also included in this research study.Read Report Overview @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/thermal-ablation-devices-market.asp Global Thermal Ablation Devices Market: Segmental InsightsThe global thermal ablation devices market has been segmented by components, by end user and by region.By region, Europe is expected to portray high lucrativeness in the coming years. The thermal ablation devices market in Europe is estimated to reach a higher value of more than US$ 2.3 Bn by the end of the assessment year. Asia pacific region also radiates high potential. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to be the second largest compared to the market in North America, Latin America and MEA and is projected to grow at the highest pace during the forecast period to register a CAGR of 7.2%By components, the probes segment is the leading segment as it showcases higher valuation by the end of the assessment year. The probes segment is poised to grow at a higher CAGR of 6.8% throughout the period of assessment, 2017-2025By end user, hospitals have shown increased adoption of thermal ablation devices since past couple of years. This segment is highly attractive and is estimated to be the largest end user segment in the coming years. The hospitals segment is projected to grow at a high CAGR of 6.8% throughout the period of forecastRequest Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11419 Global Thermal Ablation Devices Market: Forecast AnalysisThe global thermal ablation devices market is expected to grow at a high pace in the future. The global market is anticipated to reach a value of more than US$ 8 Bn by the end of the forecast period from a value of around US$ 4.7 Bn in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% throughout the period of assessment.Global Thermal Ablation Devices Market: Growth Influencing FactorsFactors such as increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures, technological advancements expanding the scope of thermal ablation products, higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation, emergence of next generation thermal ablation products and technologies, favorable reimbursement scenario, high safety associated with thermal ablation procedure, rising economic condition and improvement in healthcare infrastructure, high prevalence of cancer, increasing partnerships, adoption of advanced thermal ablation devices, rising mergers and acquisitions to enhance thermal ablation device product portfolios, rising adoption of radiofrequency ablation for pain management, enhanced product distribution network, increasing adoption of smart catheters and growing use of microwave ablation are supporting the growth of the global market for thermal ablation devices. Also, factors like high costs associated with the thermal ablation devices, less availability of pain management therapeutics at low cost and development of advanced alternative therapeutics are posing hindrances to the growth of the global thermal ablation devices market.Request to View TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11419 Global Thermal Ablation Devices Market: Competitive LandscapeResearch study on thermal ablation devices market includes profiles of key players such as Medtronic Plc., Boston Scientific Corp., Smith & Nephew Plc., AngioDynamics, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Stryker Corporation, Atricure, Inc., Halyard Health, Inc., Hologic, Inc., Johnson & Johnson and Olympus Corporation.Buy Thermal Ablation Devices Market Research Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/11419
A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has cautioned the federal government against any form of new foreign borrowing.

Mr. Moghalu said this at the 5th Goddy Jidenma Foundation Public Lecture, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, he warned that given the Nigerian governments declining revenue profile, further indebtedness is not sustainable and will likely lead to a debt crisis.

The Fletcher School professor recommended that for Nigeria to be economically transformed, the government must establish an economic philosophy from which its economic vision will be derived, and set out a vision that will drive economic policy and management.

He said, Such a vision must make clear the respective roles of the state and the market, and its position on capitalism and its various adaptations. The economic ecosystem will operate and be managed within this framework.

Nigeria has failed to achieve intensive and effective economic growth because the countrys economy is managed mostly on an ad-hoc, reactive basis. It is a survival economy in which most governments have had no real economic vision or a strategy to execute such a vision successfully. Most damaging, there is little interrogation of either received wisdom based on global economic policy fashions or of the countrys own policy assumptions that are consistently long on populism and short on substance.

Themed The Challenge of Economic Growth in Nigeria, the public lecture was organised by the Goddy Jidenma Foundation to celebrate the legacy of the late Godwin Nwaolisa Jidenma.

According to the convener, Ije Jidenma, the public lecture, which is meant to elevate public speaking, includes thought-leadership discussions that would contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Nigeria and Africa.

Guests at the event included a former chairman, the Nigerian Economic summit group, Mohammed Hayatudeen, and economist and politician, Pat Utomi .
Nollywoods Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, who just gave birth, allegedly snatched her baby daddy, a Nigerian fashion model, Keera Harrison, has claimed.

Ms. Harrison claims the man at the center of the controversy, a British photographer, named Jamie Roberts, is her husband.

In a series of chats, which was leaked on Instagram, Ms. Harrison indicated that Yvonne Nelson followed her on Instagram and went on to request for assistance in securing some slimming pills.

She then stated that her husband went behind her back and requested for Yvonnes number on the pretext of taking the number on his wifes behalf.

She insinuated that from then on, the two began seeing each other.

She also disclosed that, although she is still married to Yvonne Nelsons baby daddy, they are in the process of divorcing after they got married in 2015.

The scandal is currently a hot topic on Instagram.

Yvonne is yet to react to the allegations. She could not be immediately reached.

Ever since the news broke three weeks ago that Yvonne had welcomed a daughter, many have wondered who the father of the child up until this revelation.

Jamie is known to have photographed personalities like Hollywood star, John Boyega, Sammy Forson, model Leanna Beckford and Ava Enchill.

The actress spoke about the pregnancy and the father of the child during an interview with WOW Magazine, which published photos and an interview with Yvonne Nelson when she was heavily pregnant.

Yvonne confirmed in her interview with WOW Magazine that Jamie has kids with another woman.

The wife had a lot to say and a photo from Keela and Jamie Roberts wedding in London, has also surfaced online.
The City of Johannesburg has given the South African Department of Home Affairs an ultimatum to produce a plan to address illegal migration by November 24.

Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba, issued the ultimatum on Thursday demanding Home Affairs Minister Ayanda Dlodlo to produce specific measures, plans and interventions about illegal migrants.

The minister has until November 24, 2017 to respond.

Failing which the City will have no option but to pursue the matter through our courts, as undocumented migrants, many of these people make it past our borders and many are forced to live in the fringes of our society in the shadows and with limited protection.

It is essential that the national government clean up its act and ensure that it takes appropriate steps aimed at the identification and processing of illegal immigrants who reach the city, said Mashaba.

Mr. Mashaba said the police have arrested 267 illegal immigrants in 11 raids.

Many immigrants are forced into the city and country by social, political and economic factors in their countries.

He also demanded that the national government issue the deserving immigrants with the necessary papers.

(Xinhua/NAN)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has hired some consultants from Malaysia to help the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning set up three focused labs in the country.

The cost of hiring the Malaysian consultants will be N458 million ($1.5 million), an official said.

The Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udoma, said the setting up of the labs is part of the governments implementation strategy for the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP.

Mr. Udoma said he presented a memo to that regard at Wednesdays meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC. He added that the council granted the approval.

Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Mr. Udoma said, We intend to conduct three labs  one in agriculture and transportation, one in power and gas and one in manufacturing and processing.

He also said the cost covers about three months while the duration of the lab is expected to last a minimum of 13 weeks.

It will cover three phases: pre- lab activities for four weeks; phase two, conduction of the labs themselves for six weeks; and phase three, post lab activities for three weeks.

And for each lab you will have at least a 100 people from a cross section of the public and private sectors, he said.

The minister said the consultant is just for the pilot phase of the programme after which Nigerians will take over.

They will help us and bring their international connections, reach and give it credibility. It is for $500,000 per lab, Mr. Udoma said.

He also said the key objectives of the labs are to identify all relevant key players from the public and private sector that are crucial in the delivery and implementation of the ERGP initiative so as to create ownership early on in the development process.

He said the labs will review and re-evaluate the ERGP and sectoral plans against set targets and progress and will also identify gaps in the current eco system and the key success factors.

We will further deliver detailed three phase line by line implementation activities. We will identify entry point of projects, we will identify key performance indicators, breaking down silos and encourage key players.

The minister said the focus of the lab is to mobilise private sector investment to finance specific capital projects.

As you know public resources are limited, so these labs will bring in private sector players.

We will look at the various areas including infrastructure, manufacturing and bring them in and mobilise private sector financing and resources for the labs.

So what council has approved today is that we bring in some consultants who did a similar thing in Malaysia to try to help us build our own capacity, they will just help us at the beginning and after that we will take over and do it ourselves, he said.
The fifth Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) has highlighted a nationwide overall drop in infant mortality rate from 97 per 1000 live births recorded in 2011 to 70 per 1000 live births.

The survey was jointly released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday, in Abuja.

The result of the survey conducted for 2016 and 2017 however revealed that while Nigeria made significant improvements in reducing infant mortality in some areas, it did not perform well in others especially by not keeping pace with population growth since the last survey was conducted.

The report said while the infant mortality dropped significantly, deaths among children under age five also have dropped to 120 per 1000 live births from 158 recorded in 2011.

The result however noted that malnutrition among children under age five has worsened nationwide with the highest concerns in northern states.

It said child wasting rate (children who are too thin for their age) increased from 24.2 per cent to 31.5 per cent while child stunting (children who are too short for their age) increased from 34.8 per cent to 43.6 per cent.

MICS is a globally recognised and definitive source of information for assessing the situation of children and women in the areas of health, nutrition; water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH), education, protection, and HIV & AIDS amongst others.

The findings of the survey are used for planning, monitoring and decision making on programmes and policies to address issues related to the well-being of children and women.

During the presentation of the survey, UNICEF acting representative in Nigeria, Penile Ironside, said the use of the MICS5 data will improve the lives of Nigerians by providing information about important gaps that are impacting children and women so that appropriate actions can be taken.

The data for MICS5 was collated between September 2016 and January 2017 from 33,901 households in 2,239 enumeration areas across the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory.

A total of 34,376 eligible women; 28,085 of mothers/caregivers of children under 5 years; and 15,183 men were interviewed using structured questionnaires aided by Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) devices. This is the largest MICS survey conducted in Africa to date, she said.

Since 1995, UNICEF has supported the NBS, with technical assistance and funding to conduct five rounds of MICS.
TWIN FALLS  The Twin Falls Chapter of the Idaho Writers League will meet from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Elevation 486, 195 River Vista Place, in the Magic Valley Arts Council meeting room on the second floor of the building.

The meeting will begin with time for critique of short manuscripts, followed by a brief business meeting. Bring three or four copies of no more than three pages of your manuscript to share with attendees for critique.

Everyone is welcome and there is no charge.

More information: 208-421-6632 or JCIranch@msn.com.
Officers of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) and members of some civil society groups were on Thursday prevented from gaining access to their headquarters in Abuja by police operatives.

The office, located at Number 57, Iya Abubakar Crescent, off Alex Ekwueme way, opposite Jabi Lake, Abuja, has been under lock since February 28 when police raided the premises and arrested the national commandant of the corps, Dickson Akoh, and 49 others.

This action was despite a directive by a judge, Gabriel Kolawole, who declared the actions of the police illegal and ordered that the office be unsealed immediately.

Mr. Kolawole also awarded a damage of N12.5 million against the Nigerian Police and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

The Peace Corps officers tried to gain access to their headquarters eight days after the judgement however, the police refused to vacate the premises despite being served the judgement.

At a press briefing in Abuja, a counsel to peace corps said he was aggrieved that the judgement was served by the bailiffs of the court on the Nigerian Police Force since November 10 and again served on all parties by the chambers of Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN & Co. on November 13 for compliance.

Only for the CP legal, Force Headquarters named Mr. David Igbodo to come up with a lame excuse that Nigeria Police Force cannot unseal office now because their team of lawyers are still studying the judgment.

This again is highly self contradictory, since the same Police had earlier claimed that they never sealed the Peace Corps Headquarters, Mr. Omaga said.

The briefing, which was attended by representatives of 14 civil society organisations, including the National Youths Council of Nigeria, NYCN, NEPAD Youth Nigeria, amongst others, also chided the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for advising President Muhammadu Buhari to rid the Nigerian Police Force of bad eggs by sacking IGP Idris, as they have severally demanded.

The coalition of civil society groups thereafter accompanied the officers of the Peace Corps to the sealed office but were prevented from entering the main building after gaining access to the premises.

Police officers who later reinforced and arrived in large numbers, however, pleaded with the gathering to give the police authorities a little time for due process to be followed.

When contacted, the FCT Command spokesperson, Anjuguri Mamza said he did not have any information on the matter but will revert when fully briefed.

Im not aware of this. I will call you when Im fully briefed, he said
A federal judge who earlier granted an order for bank accounts not linked to bank verification numbers to be frozen has reversed himself.

Nnamdi Dimgba, presiding at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, said he later learnt that his October 17 order created an awkward and unfortunate result.

Having listened to all counsel on record, and with the consent of all parties represented, I hereby revise Relief 4 of the courts order of October 17, 2017 such that the new Relief 4 shall be: An interim order of the honourable court stopping all outward payments, operations or outward transactions (including any bill of exchange) in respect of the accounts pending the linking of the accounts to a Bank Verification Number, Mr. Dimgba said at the resumed hearing on the matter Wednesday.

In view of the above-agreed compromise revision of Relief 4, I also hereby revoke and set aside Relief 5 of the courts order of October 17, 2017, which provides for: An interim order of forfeiture of the monies in the said accounts without BVN to the Claimants/Applicants being accounts with insufficient Know Your Customer guidelines contrary to Section 3 of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 and CBN guidelines the determination of the originating motion on notice, the judge added.

The reversal means that those who have not linked their bank accounts will now be able to do so at their convenient time. But customers wont be able to withdraw funds from unlinked accounts, but will be able to do so immediately they link their account.

This marks a departure from an earlier order that gave a 14-day period within which unlinked customers must link the account or forfeit all funds in their accounts.

Mr. Dimgba granted the controversial orders while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami.

Mr. Malami had argued under the Money Laundering Act 2011 that bank accounts not linked to BVNs were suspicious and sought absolute forfeiture of all funds trapped therein.

Mr. Dimgba authorised up to nine reliefs as sought by Mr. Malami through the ex-parte motion, drawing criticism from Nigerians who said the move was hasty and illegal.

But Mr. Dimgba now says the most critical aspects of the orders were granted in error.

All the 19 deposit money banks in the country were defendants in the lawsuit, and the Central Bank of Nigeria was joined as the 20th respondent to compel it to oversee regulatory issues and enforce the orders.

The BVN is a unique identification number that can be verified and used to transact business across all the banking platforms in Nigeria.

The CBN imposed the policy to capture customers data for financial transactions and check fraud in the banking system.

Registration for BVNs commenced on February 14, 2014, across the country. The CBN said over 20.8 million customers enrolled 40 million bank accounts before the October 31, 2015, final deadline for customers residing in the country.

The CBN extended the deadline for Nigerians in the diaspora to December 2016 to sign up for the BVN system. But hundreds of thousands home and abroad are still believed to be left behind.
An FCT High Court sitting in Jabi on Thursday granted an interim order restraining the leadership of the Senate from investigating the Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

Justice Abba-Bello Mohammed granted the application of an interim injunction pending the hearing of the substantive suit of breach of right to fair hearing by the Senate leadership against the IG.

The judge also granted leave to the applicants counsel, Alex Izinyon, to publish in two national dailies all papers concerning the originating summons, including hearing notice which would be served on the senate.

Mr. Mohammed adjourned the case until December 4 to hear the main issues in the substantive suit before the court.

The suit filed before the court with Ref. No. CV/0060/2017, has the President of the Senate, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Isah Misau as the respondents.

Others also listed as respondents are senators Francis Alimikhena, Binta Garba, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Duro Samuel, Ogba Obinna, Nelson Effiong and Abdulaziz Nyako.

The applicant is seeking that the 2nd respondent (the Senate) resolution setting up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the allegation raised by Misau is a violation of his right to fair hearing under the constitution.

He is also seeking for a declaration that the Senates letter of invitation to appear before the ad-hoc committee on November 2 based on a petition by Mr. Misau is a violation of his right to fair hearing as provided by the constitution.

Other reliefs sought by the applicant include an order restraining the ad-hoc committee, its agent or any other from taking further steps on the matter in the name of its earlier invitation to the applicant.

The applicant hinged his action on the grounds that members of the ad-hoc committee are colleagues of the senator who raised the petition against him.

It also said that both the print and electronic media published grievous criminal allegations made by Mr. Misau against the IG and Nigeria Police.

The counsel to the applicant, Mr. Izinyon, informed the court that an attempt made by the bailiff of the court to serve the Senate all papers of the originating application for it to show cause on the matter was rebuffed by the agents of the respondents.

He added that when the bailiff went to the office of the Clerk of the Senate to carry out the service, he was beaten and locked up by some officers in that office.

Mr. Izinyon urged the court to exercise its power of Order 15 Rule 4 of the High court to effect justice on the matter.

He also prayed the court to look at Order 11 Rule 27 and 28 which provides for punishment against anyone who threatens the bailiff of a court.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari plans to spend N1.001 billion on travels in 2018, details of the proposed 2018 budget released by the Budget Office of the Federation show.

The amount breaks down to N751.3 million for international travels, and N250.02 million for local travels.

The budget shows that another N907 million would be spent on a phased acquisition of new vehicles and spare parts in the presidential fleet during the year.

Additional N83. 77 million will be spent on tyres for bullet proof vehicles, plain Toyota cars, close circuit vehicles, platform trucks, Land Cruiser and Prado jeeps, Hilux, Peugeot 607, ambulances and other utility and operational vehicles for the Presidency.

On his part, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will spend about N301.04 million on general travel  detailed as N217.06 million for international travel and N83.97 million for local travel.

The budget sets aside N986.91 million for miscellaneous expenses in the State House, while general utility services will gulp N476.87 million. Electricity charge is N274.79 million and N67.11 million is for internet.

President Buhari last Tuesday in Abuja presented a budget proposal of N8.612 trillion for 2018, saying the projected expenditure will drive rapid economic recovery.

He said with a benchmark of 45 dollars per barrel at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar in 2018, the budget would consolidate on the achievements of previous budgets to aggressively steer the economy to the path of steady growth.

With the economic recovery made so far, it is clear that we made the right decisions, he said.

Mr. Buhari said the government would continue to develop infrastructure and increase investments in agriculture to attain food security and reduce importation.

Other major spending for the presidents office are N4.86 billion for annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations and N1.03 billion for the State House Medical Centre.

Outstanding liabilities on routine maintenance and other services will receive N565.65 million.

Overall, the State House which comprises the president and vice presidents offices, and state house administration, will spend N11.545 billion by the State House.

All the proposed spending are subject to National Assembly approval.
The federal government has been urged to ensure implementation of laws against Female Genital Mutilation, FGM, across Nigeria to bring an end to the practice in the country.

Lola Alonge, the Executive Director of Child Health Advocacy Initiative, CHAI, made the appeal in a press statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.

She said FGM is unhealthy and violates the right of women.

FGM is a procedure involving partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organ for non-medical reasons. The act is globally recognised as an extreme violation of the rights of women and girls.

In some societies, it is considered a rite of passage. In others, it is seen as a pre-requisite for marriage or attributed to religious beliefs. The practice is considered a means of maintaining chastity and preventing promiscuity or infidelity.

A UNICEF recent statistics shows that the five states with the highest prevalence of FGM in Nigeria are Osun 77 per cent, Ebonyi 74 per cent, Ekiti 72 per cent, Imo, 68 per cent and Lagos 45 per cent.

According to Mrs. Alonge, about 20 million women and girls had undergone FGM in Nigeria and many more are at risk. More than 200 million women and girls are reported to have undergone FGM globally.

Warning of its dangers to women, Mrs. Alonge called on faith and traditional leaders in Nigeria to act as change agents and challenge the misconception that FGM is a religious and cultural requirement for a girl child.

Stressing the need to focus on ending the practice, she said it can cause short and long-term complications, including chronic pain, infection, increased risk of HIV transmission, anxiety and depression, birth complication, infertility and in the worst cases, death.

Mrs. Alonge explained that FGM violates human rights principles and standards including the principles of equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the rights of the child and the right to physical and mental integrity and even the right to life.

About one in five girls who have been subjected to FGM had the procedure performed by a trained medical professional and UNICEF data indicates that 28% of FGM cases are carried out by a health professional.

FGM can never be safe and there is no medical justification for the practice even when the procedure is performed in a sterile environment and by a health care professional, there can be serious health consequences immediately and later in life.

FGM performed in hospitals gives a false sense of security. FGM has no known health benefit and it causes lifelong physical and psychological harm. It affects the family, community, relationships and economic development she added.

Mrs. Alonge recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan had signed the federal Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act into law.

Among other issues, the law bans FGM and other harmful traditional practices. But the VAPP Act only applies to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja.

It is up to each of the 36 states to domesticate the 2015 VAPP ACT and pass it into law. Previously 11 out of 36 states had enacted laws banning FGM (Edo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, Delta, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo).

However, there is an inconsistency between the passing and enforcement of laws in Nigeria. That is why some states like Osun and Ekiti where they have existing laws have started training law enforcement officials on the law banning FGM.

Though, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, said FGM is one of the most barbaric forms of killing and harming women, he however, disagreed that health workers in Lagos conduct the act.

Mr. Idris said any health worker caught doing such will be prosecuted.

According to him, Lagos has such high percentage because the state is multicultural.
A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and a statutory delegate to the December 9 PDP national convention, Vincent Ogbulafor, has openly declared that he would support one of the candidates for the chairmanship slot, Gbenga Daniel.

Mr. Ogbulafor made this declaration at his country home, Olokoro in Umuahia, Abia State Wednesday, when the former governor of Ogun State paid him a courtesy call.

So far, eight candidates have shown interest to run for the office of national chairman.

Six of the eight contestants are from the South-west while two are from the South-south geopolitical zone.

Those from the South-West are Bode George, Jimi Agbaje, Gbenga Daniel, Tunde Adeniran, Taoheed Adedoja and Rashidi Ladoja while the other two from the South-south are Raymond Dokpesi and Uche Secondus.

According to Mr. Ogbulafor, a South-east politician, Gbenga Daniel is the right person for the position (National Chairman) if PDP is to take over power. I was the National Chairman of the party for three years and I know the demands.

Daniel, you are a real party man, please keep the flag flying. You know where the mistake of PDP is and you can provide solution.

I support you on this quest and I am sure you will get it. You have my vote, you have my vote. I will give you my vote, he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, South-east Council of Traditional Rulers, Cletus Ilomuanya, the Obi of Obinugwu, who also received the candidate described him as a portrait of humility and the most competent individual to lead the party.

The Obi made this remark while praying for Mr. Daniel to succeed in his quest to become the national chairman of the PDP.
Justice D. Z. Senchi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, sitting in Jabi, Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to the two military officers accused of complicity in stealing monies meant for payment of death benefits of deceased officers.

The suspects, Ishaka Yakubu and Akinbamidele Odunsi, were arraigned alongside Abidemi Kolade and Violet Ofoegbunam (both bank officials) on a 6-count count charge of conspiracy and stealing of pension funds to the tune of N339 million.

The offence breaches Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 LFN (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under the same Act.

Arraigned on November 9, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge following which the court ordered their remand in prison custody and adjourned to November 15 for ruling on their bail application.

In his ruling, Justice Senchi admitted each of the accused persons to bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties in like sum. Each of the sureties must own property worth N200 million and must deposit original title of the property with the court.

The case has been adjourned to January 23, 2018 for hearing.
The Nigerian Senate has resolved to begin work on the 2018 Appropriation Bill next Wednesday.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made the announcement on Thursday, during the plenary session.

He asked lawmakers interested in participating in the debates scheduled to hold on Wednesday and Thursday to begin registration on Monday, adding that copies of the bill would be made available by Monday.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, later told journalists that the bill was a voluminous document, which explains why the distribution of copies to the lawmakers had been delayed.

Speaking on the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper that is still pending, Mr. Sabi said the budget and the MTEF would be processed simultaneously and will be brought in next week.

The senator further explained that the MTEF would be passed before the budget as expected and will be committed to the committees.

The debate is for the second reading. That does not stop anything. By the time we will be finishing with budget defence sessions, MTEF report would have been laid and everything would have been cleared. This is our innovation, he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on November 7, presented the N8.612 trillion 2018 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The spokesperson to late President Umaru YarAdua, Olusegun Adeniyi, was denied access into Aso Villa for an event he was invited on Thursday.

The ex-presidential aide was turned back for not presenting his invitation card, he wrote on his Twitter handle.

Mr. Adeniyi, the current chairman of ThisDay newspaper editorial board, said he was invited to a book launch by Garba Shehu, spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari. He said he misplaced his invitation card.

Though he was recognised at the Villa gate, one of the security men denied him access for not presenting the card, he wrote.

Garba Shehu invited me for book launch at Villa. Misplaced IV. Got to villa, recognised by security men but one insisted I couldnt go on. Real Shame. Going back.
The Senate through its chairman, committee on media and public affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North), has said while it welcomed the return of recently reinstated senator, Ali Ndume, it was not unduly excited.

Mr. Sabi said this while briefing journalists at the National Assembly on Thursday. He said the senators had no hard feeling towards the newly restored senator.

Mr. Ndume was suspended early this year for calling for an investigation over allegations of illegal importation a bullet-proof vehicle involving Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and certificate forgery levelled against another colleague, Dino Melaye. He was allowed to return on Wednesday.

When asked why the atmosphere and reception towards Mr. Ndume by his colleagues on his return was cold and unfriendly, Mr. Sabi dismissed this.

Ali Ndume is a senator, just like everyone else in that chamber. He came back and went round to greet everybody. Did anyone turn him down when he stretched his hand for a shake? I shook him.

Almost everyone else did too except those who were not within his reach. What more do you offer than a very good handshake? How do you show that youve missed a friend than a very good handshake? Do you expect us to get up and clap for him as he comes in? I dont know what your definition of warm reception is, Mr. Sabi said.

He applauded the media as well for receiving Mr. Ndume warmly and also lauded him (Ndume) for going round to greet his colleagues.

The media gave him a very good reception yesterday by focusing on his entrance into the chamber yesterday. He also gave us very good handshakes, he said.

Speaking on the point of order raised by Mr. Ndume, which was rejected by the senate president, Mr. Sabi said Mr. Ndume flouted senates rules over re-introducing a matter that has already been treated.

The point he raised about the one-minute silence for late Senator Adeleke contradicts our rules; I think rule 56(3) or so which says a matter that has already been taken and concluded shall not be taken except by a fresh motion which will be done by the leave of the Senate President.

This is a very simple thing. He just wanted to express that he missed that moment when we stood up to observe that one-minute silence and he wanted to have his. But unfortunately, it goes against our rules. No hard feelings, we are all brothers, he said.

He expressed optimism that the Senate as well as the entire country will see a better Ndume.

Let me also say that because (you) punish your child does not mean that you hate the child or that you are a wicked person. In most instances, people who receive punishment turn out to be better. I want to assure you that you will see a better Ali Ndume in the chamber, he said.
POCATELLO  The Pocatello League of Women Voters (LWVP) has announced a statewide competition for the best persuasive essay on climate change. The competition is open to all students enrolled in an Idaho public school, grades 9 through 12, as of fall 2017. A private donor is funding award monies amounting to $4,500 for the top three essays.

Information about the contest was mailed to school principals around the state in September. Essays are due by December 1.

In April, Pocatello League Members went in force to voice their views regarding climate change at a State Department of Education public hearing on the Idaho State Science Standards. Three months later a concerned citizen asked LWVP Board members to sponsor an essay contest focusing on the 2017 Idaho State Legislatures decision to remove climate change wording from the Science Standards.

We agreed to sponsor the competition, noted Pocatello League President Pam Ward. This is not just an Idaho issue, added Ward. The National Wildlife Federation and the North American Association for Environmental Education acknowledge there is a deficit in climate change education in schools around the country, because it is so controversial.

For more information about the Best Essay Contest, contact the Pocatello League at lwvpocatelloid@gmail.com.
Under the new law recently passed by the Turkish Parliament, armed security guards would be deployed on flights to and from Turkey as precautionary measure against terror attack, according to news report on Thursday.

According to the draft law in Ankara, the guards to serve on planes would be members of staff of the Turkish Interior Ministry, including police officers, instead of personnel from private security companies.

The reports said that at least, one security guard would be deployed on flights regarded particularly as risky.

The security guards would sit on seats at the back of the plane and would dress in civilian clothes, said the report.

According to it, the Turkish authorities will also allow the presence of armed security guards in foreign civil aviation flights to Turkey, provided that the reciprocity principle is reserved.

Under the new law, the Turkish authorities would also allow the presence of armed security guards in foreign civil aviation flights to Turkey, provided that the reciprocity principle is reserved.

(Xinhua/NAN)
The Police Command in Edo says it has arrested 104 suspects including three killers of Paul Otasowie, a professor with the University of Benin.

The Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, disclosed this on Thursday in Benin while briefing newsmen on the commands achievements within the last three weeks.

Mr. Kokumo said of the figure 29 suspects were arrested for alleged armed robbery; 20 suspects for alleged kidnapping and 55 for cult activities.

He also said that various weapons including five AK-47 rifles; two pump actions; 33 cut-to-size guns; one riot gunner; live cartridge; 10 exotic vehicles and various cell phones were recovered from the suspects.

He said that toy guns; masks; machetes as well as N1.3 million were also recovered from them.

The commissioner said the achievements were recorded with the assistance of other security stakeholders, and assured residents of the state of worthy stewardship of the command.

He said as the Yuletide fast approached, the desperation of criminals to amass wealth was usually intensifying.

He said proactive measures had been taken by the command to nib crime and criminality in the bud.

Mr. Kokumo further disclosed that the command had uncovered an illegal oil refinery at Agbede-Egonu River near Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area in the State.

He said six suspects were arrested in connection with the crime, adding that illegal oil refining was a serious economic sabotage.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo had earlier visited the command where he held a close-door meeting for 45 minutes with heads of security agencies of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, the State Security Services, SSS, and the Police.

Mr. Obaseki, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, said that his administration would launch a new Security Architecture by December.

He said the new security arrangement would enhance the operation of the police and other security agencies in the State.

He said government was already putting finishing touches to the new arrangement, and that the tour of facilities at the command was part of it.

The governor noted that consultations were ongoing with various security agencies and relevant stakeholders in the state ahead of the official launch.

(NAN)
The National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has extended until November 30, the date for the purchase and submission of forms for elective offices for its forthcoming National Convention.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that November 19 was the initial deadline for the purchase and submission of nomination forms.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary, PDP National Caretaker Committee, Dayo Adeyeye, on Thursday in Abuja said that the decision was arrived at the committee meeting held on Thursday.

He said that the party observed the unprecedented enthusiasm shown by party members across all the geopolitical zones to contest for elective offices at the Dec. 19 National Convention.

This, the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) noted, has positively increased the visibility of the party and its activities in recent times.

In order to further encourage party members and make the process more open and inclusive, the NCC has decided to extend the closing date for the purchase of nomination forms from November 19 to November 29.

Completed nomination forms are now to be returned on November 30. Interested members are therefore enjoined to take advantage of this extension of time.

Mr. Adeyeye reiterated the committees commitment to a very open, transparent and successful national convention.

(NAN)
The Republic of Benin has deployed 150 soldiers to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), to fight Boko Haram insurgents in the Lake Chad region, an official has disclosed.

Mustapha Anka, the Chief Military Public Information Officer of the Force, made the disclosure in a statement he issued on Thursday in Maiduguri.

Mr. Anka, a colonel, said that the troops comprised eight officers and 142 soldiers, adding that the contingent had arrived MNJTFs headquarters, Farcha Camp, Ndjamena, Chad.

He quoted the Force Commander, Lucky Irabor, as urging the troops to be good ambassadors of their country.

Mr. Irabor, a major general, however, admonished the troops to be law-abiding, disciplined and display a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Gen. Irabor reminded the troops of their tasks, which involve garrison duties for the MNJTF.

The commander thanked the President of the Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, the government and good people of the republic for their unflinching support in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the Lake Chad region, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Benin is the fifth West African country to join the MNJTF, besides Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
The Nigeria police have denied withdrawing security aides attached to the governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano, saying the 221 police operatives attached to him were intact.

Mr. Obiano on Tuesday during election meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, raised an alarm that the police had withdrawn his security aides, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

I want my security details returned immediately because I am going to start a fight from there, TheCable newspaper quoted the governor as saying during the meeting.

I am the governor of Anambra state and all the paraphernalia of my office must be there. This is unacceptable and a sign of what will happen. Those behind this would be disappointed because we are very ready for the election, Mr. Obiano said.

The Senate quickly responded by condemning the police and asking the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to direct that the governors security aides be restored.

President Muhammadu Buhari also directed that the governors security aides be restored immediately.

But the police on Thursday dismissed the issue as a distortion of facts.

The true position of the matter is that the Aide-De-Camp or any other Police Officer attached to His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State was not withdrawn, the Force spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, said in a statement.

On Tuesday, 14th November, 2017, the ADC and CSO to the Governor were called to the Police Command Headquarters in Awka to attend IGPs lecture with all other Police Personnel deployed for the Election, which was also attended by the Heads of other Security and Safety Agencies participating in the security arrangement for the election under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the State. The ADC and CSO returned a few hours later after the lecture, same date, to their duty posts in Government House, Awka, Anambra State.

Mr. Moshood said the police in Anambra State issued a statement earlier to clarify what happened, but that it became necessary for the force headquarters to speak up on the issue so as to emphasise that the governors security aides were not withdrawn.

The police spokesperson said 221 police officers, including the ADC and the CSO, were attached to Governor Obiano for his protection, and that those officers were intact.

Obviously, the total number of Two Hundred and Twenty One (221) Police Personnel attached to His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State is more than the strength of some Police Area Commands in some states of the country, the police spokesperson said.

He added, This is done to ensure optimum safety and protection of the Executive Governor of Anambra State.

He asked the public to disregard the report that the governors security aides have been withdrawn.

Mr. Obianos reaction could not be immediately sought at the time of filing report.

Mr. Obiano is the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. He is running for a second term.
A former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, on Thursday criticised the Goodluck Jonathan administration for not doing enough in security, the economy and other sectors.

Mr. Tinubu also highlighted the successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration so far.

The All Progressives Congress leader stated these at the presentation of a book: Making Steady, Sustainable Progress in Abuja.

Read his full speech below

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK

MAKING STEADY, SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

ABUJA-NIGERIA.

PROTOCOLS

We are many things as a people. Among them, is that we can be a clamorous nation.

Noise abounds. Voices rise. Critics moan. The angry and the desperate even question whether this nation should exist, whether it is an experience or experiment that has failed.

Mr. President, the noise can be loud, almost deafening at times. Yet ultimately both noise and clamour shall fade, for progress.

What shall be left is reality and fact. The core reality, the fact of our political existence, is that Nigeria is an indivisible entity; a nation of many peoples wedded in common enterprise with its better days yet before it.

Yes, we were born of a complicated past, and face a challenging present. Ah, but our future, yes our future, can be one of progress, compassion, justice and hope, if only we have the courage to make it so.

We have passed but two years under this government. In the measure of human affairs, this seems a brief period in part but also long in part. We are both the same and different now than we were then.

Before this government came into being, Boko Haram wreaked havoc on a daily basis. Spreading its evil arm across great expanses of our national territory, Boko Haram invaded town and villages, erasing the peace and normalcy of the people to replace it with wanton brutality, hatred and death.

They hoisted their dreadful flag where only the green and white of Nigeria should have been.

Today, that evil flag is not planted over an inch of our precious land. This violent scourge recedes into the darkened shadows of inhumanity from whence it came.

People once under its horrid dominion now breathe the air of freedom and safety.

Boko Haram has not been completely defeated. But there is no question, that it has been decimated and made shorter and weaker. They shall never constitute the threat they once were.

This is no accident. It is the result of the policies and commitment of President Buhari, his government and the men and women of our armed forces who place their lives on the line in silent heroism to protect this nation and its people.

Had the previous government remained in place, Boko Haram would have surely eaten more territory and devoured more people. This nation might have indeed been divided and cut asunder, not by choice but by the knife of terrorism.

The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves.

So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could. That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush.

One minister and her rogues gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in the sleight of hand. In governance, they earned a red card but in the corruption, they won the gold medal.

It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption. Corruption had become institutionalized.

President Buhari has set an axe to the root of this dangerous tree. I would be lying if I said the war against large-scale corruption has been won.

It has not. It will take time and countless swings of the axe to fall such a deeply-rooted tree. But try we must. This is what the President is doing.

Gone are the times when a minister can pilfer billions of dollars as easy as plucking a piece of candy from the table.

We have much to do to combat this disease. Not only must we track down the takers. In the long term, we must review the salaries of public servants and create universal credits for our people to reduce temptation.

We must also take greater care by placing people of character, competence and goodness into key positions. When they fail, they must be removed without remorse or favour.

Unlike its predecessor, this government has demonstrated the will to walk this path. While this might not cause much fanfare or celebration, this cleanses the institutions upon which a nations wellbeing is founded with a future assured.

The economy remains our biggest long-term challenge. The prior government operated during times of plenty. The opposite is the case now. Sadly, that plenty was stolen or directed toward policies of no lasting consequence to the average Nigerian save to compel them to say another opportunity had been wasted.

Through no fault of its own, this administration had to grapple with a rapid fall in oil prices.

That fall brought recession and collapsed our exchange rate regime. More fundamentally, it showed that the very economic model upon which this nation operated was outmoded and flawed. Unfortunately the past administration did nothing to re-calibrate the economy.

With fewer resources at hand, this government is compelled to do more. It must respond to immediate needs in a way that leads to long-term economic reform.

This will be a complex journey. This government has taken the first steps in the right direction.

We are inching out of recession. The exchange rate has stabilized. Internationally, we are seen as on the mend and have been recognized for making significant progress in the ease of doing business.

In hindsight, the election of President Buhari had an air of inevitability to it. Despite the odds arrayed against him, the sovereign will of the people lifted him to victory.

He is truly the right man for this time and place.

This is why I am pleased by the publication of this book with the just and appropriate title Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigerias Peace and Security.

The presidents media team, Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu and Laolu Akande, worked with the various ministries to assemble this comprehensive, objective catalogue of the work this government has done.

This book is a good account of the work this government has accomplished to date.

This book is needed for it sheds light on what may be obscure to the average person.

President Buhari is a man who exercises an economy of speech. He is a man of action not of chatter.

He will not spend time blowing his own trumpet because his preference is to move to the next important task.

Thus, it is apt that these men serve him in a way he would never think of serving himself.

I have already discussed the progress made regarding security, corruption and the general economy, this triad being the core promises made by the President and our party to the Nigerian people.

But this book reveals so much more being done in all areas of life. This work may not be spectacular but it is essential. It may not be flashy but it is foundational and enduring.

In agriculture, where the bulk of our people make their living, this government has strengthened research and development to enhance productivity, it has taken steps to increase exports, while rationalising fertiliser and seed distribution. Farm credits and financing have improved allowing farmers to expand existing crops and grow new ones, including fisheries and aquaculture.

I dont know about you, but I call this the progress we need!

In education, this administration has reduced the number of out-of school children. School lunch programs for the poorest among us have been initiated.

Teachers have been hired and are being better trained. This government seeks to inject ICT into the school system. Universal Basic Education is more of a priority than ever before. Our universities and other tertiary institutions are better funded than ever before.

I dont know about you but I call this the progress we need!

With regard to labour, this government works with the private sector to create jobs and to engage people in the training required as we transit from a mono-dimensional economy to one more diverse and reliant on industry and skill.

I call this the progress we need!

Regarding social welfare, the opposition scoffed when this government announced living stipends for the poorest families. Now this is becoming reality. Relief of the poor has replaced the ridicule of the uncaring. The selfish unbelievers scoff no longer.

I call this the progress we need.

Regarding infrastructure, this government is making progress in building and rehabilitation of strategic ports, bridges, railways and highways.

I call this progress that we need!

This government responded when states were unable to pay workers salaries. This saved tens of thousands of families of civil servants from wallowing in despair and poverty.

I call this the type of responsible government we need!

I could go on with examples. But due to the constraints of time, let me say just that this book demonstrates this government has moved with a sure and steady hand toward sustainable progress.

While each change may not be dramatic in itself, the cumulative effects of these reforms make for a stronger nation and a future assured.

Yet, I lay caution to those people whose words and actions would counsel complacency.

True, much good has been done by this government to ignore. However, too many of our people remain too poor and put-out to ignore as well.

Daylight comes but not yet to all and not in equal measure.

Due to the neglect of prior governments, our economy was not allowed to blossom in a way that offered jobs to the poor and empowered the common man.

Where prosperity should have stood, poverty was erected. Where progress should have been established, stagnation assumed residence. We are trying hard to escape this deep hole.

While we work toward this good end, we must recognize the situation of millions of our people. Wrongfully denied for so long, they suffer still. But we ask them to take heart. Dont forfeit hope. Understand that tomorrow will not be as the past when what was built and bought was not intended for you.

What we now building, is meant for you. This is your government and you will be the beneficiaries of its policies and programs. You are no longer the forgotten. You are the hope and promise of a nation and its future.

As this government implements its economic plans, the griping poverty you have long suffered will give way and ultimately turn into the fertile progress and prosperity that only good governance can bring.

We do this with a sense of urgency!

We race against unrelenting time. By incident of technology, the black liquid underground could be converted into money and international prestige.

By further incident of technology, that liquid is already progressively losing its economic value. We no longer have an underground vault of money. One day, the liquid beneath our feet will simply be that  merely liquid beneath our feet.

We must train our policies to ensure when that day finally comes we will not be lost again. The history of a depressed economy must not be allowed to repeat itself.

Here, permit me to offer a few observations on how we might proceed. There will be those who might distort what I say here as evidence of space between President Buhari and me. There evidence will be false and their news about this will be fake.

Mischief never dies. Fortunately, nor does the truth.

What I proffer today is done in the spirit of utmost respect and affinity by one who wants the best for this government and for Nigeria. I say these things to encourage the government to achieve the greatness the times demand and of which this government is capable.

The battlefront upon which this nations fate shall be decided is the economy.

On this, almost all else shall hang.

In addition to talking about this book which describes our immediate past and present, I want to briefly mention another document: The 2018 budget.

This budget moves us farther in the right direction. It is a bolder, more creative one than this governments earlier editions.

It shows this government has embraced its progressive identity despite the chorus of opposition. Also that it more clearly realizes the depths of the economic and financial challenges before us.

One of the important aspects of this budget is the capital expenditure for needed infrastructure.

This investment means the government fully recognises our economy must grow but that it cannot expand beyond the parameters of the infrastructural grid that serves it.

With this book and with the budget we come to the place where past intersects with the present to interact with the future. The place where what we do or dont do will dictate the Nigeria of tomorrow.

We are inching out of recession but growth must increase.

It is time to lead our people to a place where poverty and hunger become infrequent and where prosperity and hope are the daily fare of the common man.

There are three key ideas I would like to table before you today.

First, we are among the worlds most populous nations and potentially one of its most powerful. No populous nation has ever attained prosperity without first establishing a robust industrial capacity.

In one form or another, England, America, Japan and China implemented policies to protect key industries, promote employment and encourage exports.

These nations represent the past, present and immediate future of national economic achievement.

If Nigeria is to be a leader in the next phase of global economic history, we must learn from these prior successes. The common thread between these nations was the objective of buffering strategic industries in ways that allows for the expansion and growth of the overall economy.

In this vein, our national industrial revolution plan must be more than mere words. It must be refined and implemented with a laser-like focus. Just as the private sector may partner with government on public endeavours, government must guide and support the private sector into new areas of industry and production.

Government must invest in research and new products the private sector may find risky and uncertain in the initial stage. Government policy must push and incentivise the private sector into the production of goods that will be demanded in the immediate future and for some time to come.

This requires a heretofore unprecedented coordination between the private sector and government.

Whether we focus on steel, textiles, cars, machinery components, processed agricultural goods, other items, or any combination of the above, we must manufacture things the rest of the world wants to buy and not necessarily the things we think are the easiest to do.

Second, as a corollary to the push for industrial maturity, we need a national infrastructural plan that accords with both the industrial plan and with extant agricultural activity. The fulcrum of this plan must be continued progress in the achievement of adequate and affordable electric power, especially solar and winds.

Third, we must help the common farmer by improving rural output and incomes. We must return to commodity exchange boards or similar mechanism to allow farmers to secure their income and hedge against loss. An active and expanded agricultural loan scheme is needed to further promote these goals.
President Muhammadu Buhari says the ongoing fight against corruption has started yielding fruitful results as Nigeria is now a respected nation in the world.

The president stated this on Thursday at the public presentation of a book titled; Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigerias Peace and Prosperity in Abuja.

It is a mid-term scorecard on Buharis administration at the Presidential Villa.

Mr. Buhari stated that the nations creditworthiness was sound, noting that the countrys first Euro  Bond offer was over-subscribed four times.

He said that Nigeria had gone through difficult times due to WorldWide Economic Recession.

The president noted that Nigeria was coming out of recession and governments efforts were aimed at easing economic hardships with more jobs, social security platform for vulnerable families and unemployed as well as infrastructural projects.

I would, at the same time like to assure all Nigerians of my commitment to improve security, fight corruption and re-structuring the economy.

He said that his administration would continue to address the recurring issue of herdsmen and farmers clashes, kidnapping and armed robberies.

He said: Within the confines of our budgetary resources we are giving top priority to security. During the year it was my great pleasure to secure the release of 103 Chibok School Girls.

We are working day and night in cooperation with our international partners to free remaining girls and all other hostages; men, women and children.

We are all aware now, if you steal public funds and are caught you will face the law, he said.

Mr. Buhari lauded the efforts of the presidential media team for organising the event.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who also spoke at the event, identified humility and prudent management of public resources as the greatest assets of President Buhari.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, who unveiled the book paid tribute to the achievements of Mr. Buhari.

He lauded the efforts of the president in fighting corruption and other social vices in the society.

He, however, called for an upward review of public servants salaries to reduce temptation and check corrupt tendencies in the system.

The 360-page document carefully chronicles achievements of the present administration in the different sectors of socio-political, economic development.

(NAN)
Despite the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, voter education messages targeted at youth, women and persons with disability was minimal, for Saturdays governorship election in Anambra, a report states.

According to a pre-election report by YIAGA, a non-governmental organisation promoting democracy, constitutionalism and youth participation in Africa, INECs effort to reach these target groups didnt enjoy sufficient collaboration from other stakeholders like the National Orientation Agency.

The concerns raised by the group may affect the voter turnout as current INEC data shows that over 50 per cent of the 2.2 million registered voters are women while over 40 per cent are students, most of them young people.

YIAGA, however, said its finding show that there is improved level of preparation by INEC in 92 per cent of the 21 local governments in the state.

It said it is concerned about some security issues which are capable of undermining the credibility of the elections if not addressed.

These include public concerns about the level and extent of cooperation between INEC and security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police, it said calling for greater synergy.

The integrity and credibility of the 2017 Governorship election in Anambra state could be threatened if election security is not guaranteed, it said.

The police and other security agencies should ensure security deployment is commiserate with level of threat (s).

It is also important that security deployment is in line with the principles of civility, professionalism and transparency.

Read the full report here.
Four suspects were on Thursday arraigned before an Anambra State Magistrate Court sitting at Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area over their alleged involvement in the killings at St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, on August 6.

It would be recalled that no fewer than 13 persons were killed and another 22 wounded in the early morning mayhem on worshippers.

The suspects arraigned were Chinedu Akpunonu (44), Vincent Ike (57), Chukwudi Ugwu (30) and Onyebuchi Mbanefo (46), while three other suspects are still at large.

The suspects were arraigned on 37-count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder.

A South African-based businessman, Aloysius Ikegwuonu, whose father was killed in the attack, the Parish Priest of St Philips Catholic Church, Jude Onwuaso and six others were listed as witnesses in the matter.

Charges against them read in part, That you Great Chinedu Akpunonu, .M. Vincent Ike .M. Chukwudi Ugwu .M. others now at large on or about 6th day of August 2017 at St Philip Catholic Church Amakwa Ozubulu at about 0600hrs in the Ekwusigo Magisterial District did conspire to commit felony to wit: Murder.

You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 494 of the Criminal Code Cap 36 vol. II revised laws of Anambra state of Nigeria 1991.

That you, Great Chinedu Akpunonu m, Vincent Ike m, Chukwudi Ugwu m and others now at large on the same date, place, time and within the aforementioned magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Anthoni Ufondu f by shooting her with a gun which caused her death.

You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 vol. H revised paws of Anambra state of Nigeria 1991.

That you Great Chinedu Akpunonu m, Vincent Ike m, Chukwudi Ugwu m others now at large on the same date, place, time and within the aforementioned magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Anurika Obunadike f by shooting her with a gun which caused her death.

You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Crnal Code Cap 36 vol. H revised laws of Arian-144ra state of Nigeria 1991.

Okechukwu Ikenna, counsel to the first defendant (Akunononu), sought the leave of the court for medical treatment of his client who he said was seriously ill.

The prosecuting counsel, B.A. Onwuemekaghi opposed the application, saying such plea should come by writing and not oral.

Application for bail for second, third and fourth defendants also failed as the magistrate, C.O Ezenwanne refused to grant the request.

The magistrate bound over the matter to High Court Nnewi for hearing on a yet to be announced date.

(NAN)
The Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, Monsuru Oloyede, has indicted his predecessor for allegedly abandoning community projects.

He also said past leaders of the council left some critical developmental projects undone while some were half done.

This indictment came during an unveiling ceremony of completed projects by the new council chief. It was also held to celebrate the officials 100 days in office.

Among the abandoned projects, he said, was the Moshalashi road. He noted that despite it being an important road, it was left undone, and then became an abandoned death trap.

Also, he said, a primary health centre located at Bucknor Street in Ejigbo was constructed from foundation to completion after being abandoned for seven years.

When we came on board, we were saddened to see the PHC in Bucknor still in foundational level. It was a plot of land, then (we) bought extra plot to a reasonable centre for them.

I wouldnt say it was lack of fund responsible for the abandonment of this PHC but a function of commitment and passion. But our own passion and commitment is higher than any other administration because within 100 days, we took it from the level it was to completion. That shows the passion on our side, he said.

But a past chairman of the council, Kehinde Bamigbetan who is now a senior adviser to the Lagos State Governor on community affairs and communication, refuted the allegations.

We started the journey together. He (Oloyede) was the vice chairman then and supervisor for works. We started the job together. We could not complete the PHC project because we had the issue of contractor limitations. This you will understand was a project of the national agency on health and they couldnt mobilise the contractor well enough and that is the council had to take over and finish it, Mr. Bamigbetan said in reaction.
TWIN FALLS  A 33-year-old man stabbed a woman multiple times Wednesday night, police said.

About 8:15 p.m., police were called to the 100 block of Quincy Street where they found a 28-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds to her head, neck and upper body. She was taken to St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center for treatment.

Phillip M. Wolff was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Thursday afternoon, Wolff was in the jail, but jail staff said he had not been formally booked and was not set to be arraigned in court.

If convicted, aggravated battery is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. A deadly weapon enhancement can add another 15 years to a sentence.
The Lagos State Government has denied claims by Muiz Banire, the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that its contravention notice served on a property located at 24A, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, Ikeja GRA is a deliberate target on his (Banire) property in the area.



The state government said the notice equally affects other houses in the axis and that the 48-hour demolition notice the APC official said was allegedly issued only existed in his imagination.

Mr. Banire, on Wednesday had accused the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, of persecution.

Although both men are from the same Lagos State and are members of Nigerias ruling party, they belong to different factions of the party which has virtually been at war with itself in various states since it won the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

Mr. Banire opposed Mr. Ambodes choice as APC candidate in the build up to the 2015 governorship election in Lagos. The Lagos governor, a close ally of party leader, Bola Tinubu, has also been trying to remove Mr. Banire as the national legal adviser of the party and is believed to have engineered his suspension from the Mushin, Lagos local chapter of the APC.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Banire accused the governor and the Lagos government of plotting to demolish a house he acquired from the federal government.

The Lagos government is hell-bent on persecuting my family for no reason besides that I insisted on the need to observe the rule of law, he said.

He made reference to a house in Ikeja, Lagos where he said his mother lives and which he said he and his siblings acquired, through a lease, from the federal government.

My siblings and I acquired a lease of the property known as 24A, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos from the Federal Government to serve as residence for my aged mother, the politician said.

He said a notice by a Lagos government ministry demanded within 24 hours, proof of planning permit obtained before the building was constructed.

The contravention notice further threatened demolition of my mothers two-bedroom bungalow within 48 hours of the notice.

The state government, however, in statement signed its Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Anifowose Abiola, on Wednesday denied the allegations.



Without equivocation, that not only is Mr. Banire trying to be clever by half, but is being childish in whipping up sentiments that his dear aged mother is the target of the said demand for development permit and that the said property might be demolished in 48 hours, the statement said.

The commissioner said contravention notices that went out on Wednesday November 15, 2017 were a routine exercise served on properties identified by the state agents as operating without due permits.He said 27 properties were served on that same day, 13 out of which are located on the same Remi Fani-Kayode Street in GRA, Ikeja, where Mr. Banire admitted his property was located.

There is no way Lagos State would have had a pre-knowledge of the owners of the properties in question let alone target the one that Banire has identified to be his own, Mr. Anifowose said.



He added that aside the 13 houses affected on Fani-Kayode Street, there were a few others in Ikeja GRA and the rest in Ikoyi and Yaba.



The 27 properties served across the state are just the first set of an ongoing exercise embarked upon by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to validate the records and permits of properties that have undergone ownership transfer processes.



This is a routine and lawful exercise that ought not to be confusing to a supposedly learned gentleman who has had the privilege of serving in the Lagos State Cabinet for a dozen years.

The statement said by Mr. Banires admission, he (Banire) had agreed that a transfer of ownership on the property he acquired is taking place and what the Lagos State law demands is a validation of this claim so that the requisite permit on the existing property; an alteration to it or a new construction, as the case may be, may be sought and obtained.

To suggest that because the transfer of ownership from the federal government to Mr. Banire is yet to be finalised makes him a mere tenant on the property he has acquired is not only disingenuous but is an attempt that is subtly fraudulent. While it is true that every government property sold to individuals or corporate entities is released to the owner on a 99-year lease, no new owner who has bought a property from government deceives the public that he is a mere tenant to the government on an acquired property. Or is Mr. Banire a tenant to the government on the other properties in Ikeja GRA he owns in the state?

Mr. Anifowose also described as deliberate mischief, Mr. Banires claim that the said property would be demolished within 24 hours if the permit was not produced.

The commissioner also said according to the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, what a contravention notice demands is evidence of planning permit on the existing structure in order to avoid demolition of what would be deemed a contravention if such a permit is not produced within the stipulated time as required by law.

The law indeed demands that the property owner in question produces all documents in support of his/her case within 24 hours of the service of the Notice after which any contravention is expected to be removed by the owner within 48 hours, the official added.

Mr. Anifowose clarified that if the owner still refuses to honour such notices; a quit notice will then be issued to the owners of such property identified to have contravened Lagos State building plans or failed to provide the necessary documents to back claims.



He added that even after the expiration of the seven-day quit notice, the property cannot be demolished until the governor grants approval.



So, it is patently false that any house has been marked for demolition within 48 hours. This is the law that has been in existence since 2010 when Mr. Banire was still a cabinet member in the Lagos State government, the commissioner said.

The statement added that while it was within Mr. Banires right to identify with any set of cohorts that may be struggling with waning influence and political relevance, it is a pathetic case of scaremongering to, equate his untidy record keeping with political witch-hunting.



It is not a sign of maturity to be crying wolf where there is none. Lagos is working excellently well for others to copy because it has stayed faithful to governance guided by the rule of law. Mr. Banire should comply with the rules and not create cheap distractions that are unhelpful.
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.




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"I would like to congratulate our honorees, Tom Brokaw, and Helen and Charles Dolan," said CSHL President and CEO, Dr. Bruce Stillman. "Tom is an advocate for multiple myeloma research but more than that, he is really an advocate for the experience of patients who have cancer, the difficulty of learning more about the disease and treatment.

"Honorary Trustees of Cold Spring Harbor, Helen and Chuck Dolan are true philanthropists. In addition to supporting Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, they were the earliest supporters of the DNA Learning Center, which teaches 32,000 middle and high school students annually in hands-on laboratory-based science classes, and countless more through its global outreach."

"For all those who are here tonight, this is not a singular occasion," said Tom Brokaw, the award-winning journalist and longtime NBC News anchorman. "This is a commitment we must continue to make, not just to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, but to the whole wondrous world of medical science, a world that goes on 24/7. As we gather here tonight, in laboratories across this city and across America, there are people at microscopes doing the tests that they hope will unveil the secrets to the maladies that invade our bodies."

In recent years Brokaw has been a special correspondent for NBC News, reporting on such important topics such as medicine, AIDS, and global warming. After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Brokaw used the skills he honed as a journalist to speak on behalf of those suffering with cancer. His most recent book, A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope documents this journey from patient to advocate.

Helen and Charles Dolan are recognized for their work in raising awareness for cancer research. Charles Dolan is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of The Lustgarten Foundation, which works on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatic cancer and supports pancreatic cancer patients.

This year's honorees join the ranks of past Double Helix Medal recipients, including Alan Alda, Michael J. Fox, Temple Grandin, Katie Couric, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Evelyn Lauder, and John Nash, all of whom have boldly applied their talents toward improving human health and changing the world for the better.

The 2017 Double Helix Medals Dinner was chaired by Ms. Jamie C. Nicholls and Mr. O. Francis Biondi, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Burke, Kate Medina Guthart and Leo Guthart, Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Lindsay, Mr. Thomas M. Rutledge, Mr. Joshua Sapan, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Taubman, and Mr. Charles B. Wang and Ms. Nancy Li.

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program annually hosts more than 12,000 scientists. The Laboratory's education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and the DNA Learning Center with programs for middle and high school students and teachers. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu.

SOURCE Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Related Links

http://www.cshl.edu


Held successfully in Guiyang from Nov 5-16, 2017, ASTA China Summit 2017 was jointly hosted by Guiyang Municipal People's Government, Guizhou Provincial Tourism Development Committee and ASTA, while being organized by Guiyang Tourism Development Committee. It was comprised of three sections, namely, familiarization trips, industry conferences and the travel trade show. Among them, the familiarization trips inside Guizhou province were scheduled from Nov 5 th to 8 th and from Nov 12 th to 15 th ; Nov 10 th and 11 th were for the familiarization trips in Guiyang and its surrounding places; from Nov 8 th to 9 th , there were 6 activities held in Guiyang International Ecology Conference Center, including tourism industry conferences, the trade show, special tourism promotional events and so on. Over 130 travel agents from North America and 200 Chinese representatives from tourism destinations and enterprises carried out pragmatic business talks and negotiations, through which they reached a series of consensus and achievements, thereby initiating a new cooperation stage for the market exploitation of China inbound tourism.

Guiyang was the hosting city for ASTA China Summit 2017. Developing Guiyang's international tourism market and turning Guiyang into a world-famous ecology-friendly tourism city have positive effects and profound significance. The summit will further promote and introduce the tourism products of Guizhou and Guiyang from multi angles and full dimensions, further improve their reputation and influence while increasing their market shares and boosting the inbound tourism market. On one hand, it can help more foreign premium travel agents understand Guizhou, introduce Guizhou's tourism products of in-depth tours to the attending foreign travel agents, guide them to set up partnership more conveniently with Chinese premium travel agencies, especially those regional ones, realize the entrance of Guizhou's tourism products into America, promote the sales of Guizhou's tourism routes by American travel agents, expand the market shares of Guizhou's tourism in American market, boost the quality of Guizhou's tourism products, and finally attract more American tourists to Guizhou and improve their travel experience in Guizhou. On the other hand, this summit can drive Chinese travel agents with relatively strong ability of business exploration to increase Guizhou's tourism products while creating opportunities for Guizhou's local travel agents to directly cooperate with famous travel organizations in the tourist source market.

Walking into China, exploring Guizhou's secret areas and initiating a tourism feast

During the familiarization trips before, in the middle of, and after the conferences to Zhenyuan, Kaili, Pingtang, Huangguoshu, Tianlong Tunpu and Ancient Qingyan Town in Guizhou, representatives from many American travel agents carried out discussions with personnel from the tourism industry of Guizhou. They will jointly design and develop Guizhou's tourism routes and products for American tourists, thereby attracting foreign tourists to come. The familiarization trips were aimed at further expediting the establishment of a world-famous tourism destination, improving the reputation and influence of Guizhou's tourism brand in abroad, making foreign travel agents more deeply and comprehensively understand Guizhou's tourism scenic areas and spots so that they can jointly discuss, design and excavate its highlights, further develop the tourism products suitable for American tourists, thereby attracting foreign tourists to come to Guizhou for travelling.

Meanwhile, in order to help more American tourists know Guizhou and walk into Guiyang, based on the market development strategy of "walking out and inviting in", this summit especially tailor made and released various interline tourism products for China's inbound tourists which are centered on Guizhou and radiates Guangzhou, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangxi. This special product series covers 5 themes, "Brave Guizhou"-mountain adventure, "Sing in Guizhou"- ethnic customs, "Mountains and waters in Guizhou"-natural landscapes, "Guizhou under the moon"-festival experiences, "Gorgeous Guizhou"-themed photograpy.

Ms. Hou Ying (Isabella Hou), President of China Chapter of ASTA, said that, a survey about "American travelling patterns" indicates that American tourists expect most the unique culture, natural landscape and delicious food in their leisure travelling, which make Guizhou and Guizyang stand out from so many tourism destinations in China. When Mr. Robert Duglin, Vice President of ASTA visited Guizhou for the first time, he noticed the stretching mountains, magnificent land and colorful ethnic customs stating: "This is the real China, American tourists are certain to like it here." Mr. Zane Kerby, President of ASTA, held up his thumb to the reporter and said: "The ancient Zhenyuan town is so beautiful! This trip is so worthwhile! So great!" In their hearts, Guizhou not only provides the best tourism products for America, but also provides them with unforgettable cultural feast in their lives. While, Guiyang targets at forging a world-famous tourism city featured with ecology and advance the development of the tourism industry with a open mindset, which also leaves a deep impression for the American travel agents who attended the familiarization trips.

Travel agents from home and abroad taking one-on-one talks and negotiations

To make the conference more productive, during the ASTA China Summit 2017, the buyers and sellers were organized to carry out an one-on-one round table negotiation, in which over 200 travel agents from home and abroad took part in, including ASTA, Sun Knights Travel, American Airlines, Ctrip and China International Travel Service. The participants carried out in-depth talks and negotiations about "the customization and sales of regional interline products centered on Guizhou+", "overseas business development and marketing cooperation", "the display and marketing of treasured routes of Chinese tourism destinations", and "information sharing about Chinese inbound tourism". According to relevant information, this one-on-one communication will not only expand their business cooperation, but also realize the seamless connection between travel agents from home and abroad and the tourism industry, and provide effective basis and directions for the design, development and international marketing of Chinese inbound tourism products and routes.

The colorful Guizhou being awarded as 2018 ASTA Key Strategic Destination Partner in China while the cool Guiyang awarded as The Most Promising Tourism City of China in 2018 by ASTA

Guizhou was recommended by New York Times as "52 Places to Go in 2016". The promo video of Guizhou broadcast by CNN stoked up a "wind of colorful Guizhou" and Guizhou was called "the mysterious oriental strength", which drew attention from international media including the French State TV Station. Guizhou is becoming a place where tourists from all over the world can enjoy mountains and waters indulgently, recollect nostalgia and relax their souls. The series of achievements helped Guizhou to become a burgeoning tourism destination in the world. As the provincial capital of Guizhou, Guiyang is the center of politics, economy and culture of the province as well as the provincial tourist center. In recent years, Guiyang's tourism made great strides and its brand of "the Summer Resort of China" became well-known around the world. Guiyang has well-rounded development and maintains positive growth, while its tourism industry keeps "spurting" and is continuously upgrading and changing. Guiyang is marching toward all-for-one tourism with firm and big strides, while aiming at forging a world-famous tourism city featured with ecology and sharing "green" dividends with the whole world.

During this ASTA China Summit, Guizhou province was awarded by ASTA with the title of "2018 Chinese Key Strategic Partnership Destination", while Guiyang won the title of "2018 Chinese Tourism City with the Biggest Potential".

"The Biggest Potential" was vividly embodied by the U.S. Outbound Tourism Market Research jointly released by Beyond Summits Ltd and ASTA in the conference, which pointed out that in 2016, there was an expediting growth of online inbound tourism in Guiyang, the number of inbound tourists increased by 17% and the US became the biggest source country of online inbound tourists for Guiyang.

"In the past, Guiyang's inbound tourism was focused on Asia-Pacific countries, such as, Japan, Korea and Singapore. Tapping the distant North American market is still a brand-new subject," said Yuan Yunlong, Director of Guiyang Tourism Development Committee. Taking advantage of the ASTA China Summit, the travel agents from North America can visit and understand Guizhou and Guiyang in person. "The nation is the world, we should see our own advantages, reversely utilize high-end market standards to push various jobs about tourism development, take reference from the successful experience of European-American countries in tourism development and continuously introduce international talents," said Yuan Yunlong.

Through the cooperation among American travel agents, domestic and local Guizhou travel agents and tourism destination cities, this summit will effectively improve Guizhou's reputation and popularity while further upgrading of its inbound tourism market. The Travel Agency Branch of Guiyang Tourism Association and ASTA signed the cooperation memorandum about tourists exchange and they will carry out comprehensive cooperation in fields including tourism publicity, tourism product research and development. As a result, the tourism exchange and cooperation between the two sides will thereby enter a new stage of institutionalized development. The travel agents from home and abroad also signed cooperation memorandums so as to expand their new space in tourism cooperation.

In the part of keynote speech, Ms. Hou Ying (Isabella Hou), President of China Chapter of ASTA, Cheng Yong, member of the party committee of China Southern Airlines (Group) Co., Ltd., Xiong Xing, Vice President of Ctrip, Zhang Guangrui, Honorary Director of Tourism Research Center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Zane Kerby, President of ASTA and other authoritative experts in the tourism industry attended the conference and made brilliant speeches themed on "the Opportunities and Performance Brought by Chinese Inbound Tourism", in which they carried out in-depth analysis and interpretation about the advantages of the development of Chinese inbound tourism, the measures taken by aviation enterprises to promote inbound tourism, how tourism enterprises realize facilitation and quality improvement, and the significance of the ASTA China Summit 2017, and put forward a series of prospective opinions and suggestions about deepening cooperation.

Mr. Zane Kerby said in his keynote speech that: "As per the historical data from ASTA, after the marketing events held by ASTA, relevant tourism products of the destination will enjoy a remarkable increase in sales volume, 77% of the event participants expect to bring more customers to the destination in the future. Therefore, in the future it can be expected that the Southwest of China centered on Guiyang will become a new highlight and growth point of China's inbound tourism of the North American market. To attract more American tourists to China, the supporting and incentive policies made by Chinese and American governments is very pivotal. It is recommended that China should provide diversified and suitable products and improve service quality so as to improve the satisfaction of American tourists on their travels in China and leave them with excellent travel experience."

Mr. Zhang Guangrui, Honorary Director of Tourism Research Center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said that, Americans generally have little understanding about China, so it is necessary for China to target the American market to carry out corresponding marketing strategies whose emphasis should shift from "country to country" to "region to region". What's more, there are two generations of old and new immigrants in America, so friends and relatives visiting take an important role in Chinese inbound tourism market, which is driven by family bond and has tremendous growth space.

The interline products customized for inbound tourists to China centered on Guizhou and Guiyang while radiating Guangzhou, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangxi being promoted to the North American market

It is worthy to mention that in order to attract more American tourists to know and visit Guizhou and Guiyang, this summit especially customized and launched for the inbound tourists to China various interline tourism products centered on Guizhou and Guiyang while radiating Guangzhou, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangxi. Meanwhile, preferential policies in aspects of aviation, scenic spots and hotels will be released to encourage the customization of more themed tourism routes and products suitable for different targeted customers to be sold in the American market. A long-term platform and communication mechanism is expected to be established as a result.

Beyond Summits Ltd is the exclusive representative of ASTA in China and supported successfully Guiyang of Guizhou Province becoming the host city of ASTA China Summit 2017. China Southern Airlines is the Exclusive Strategic Airline Partner of ASTA China Summit 2017, providing quality air service for all the American travel agents attending the summit.

Please download the report of U.S. Outbound Tourism Market Research from the link below:

https://en.acs.wowtrips.com/information-center/download-center

SOURCE Guiyang Tourism Development Committee
The influenza pandemic of 1918-19 killed up to 50 million people worldwide. To keep the population of Oakley healthy, town doctor A.F.O. Nielson quarantined the entire Oakley Valley.

According to the Oakley Herald and reprinted by Kent Hale in A History of Oakley, Idaho, Dr. Nielson issued the following restrictions:

No visiting, no parties, surprise or other wise are permitted nor socials of any kind.

No loafing on streets or in stores.

Let the children be kept home on their own premises and let the adults do the shopping.

If you have a so-called cold, call a doctor, it may be influenza; you may have a light attack  your neighbor may catch it from you and die.

If you dont call a doctor stay in your home 3 days after you are well so as not to expose your neighbor.

Our young people should refrain from joy rides until all danger is over.

No public funerals inside or out will be permitted.

We ask all good citizens to help us enforce these rules.

Because of Nielsons restrictions, Oakley suffered fewer cases of influenza of any community is the Magic Valley, Hale said in his book.
Jointly developed by J.D. Power and Associates (J.D. Power) and the Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA), this program evaluates overall customer and partner satisfaction and helps technology support organizations increase their efficiency and effectiveness in assisted support. The certification also helps business buyers and resellers identify those companies that have demonstrated exceptional support before selecting which technology providers to purchase from and partner with.

"This rigorous certification process inspects the quality of an organization's 'Assisted Technical Support' on behalf of customers," said Tom Pridham, senior vice president global accounts and general manager strategic services, for TSIA. "By achieving this certification, Intermedia has proven their dedication to excellence in 'Assisted' customer and partner technical support for the second year. Congratulations to the entire Intermedia team on this impressive achievement."

"Congratulations to Intermedia on once again meeting the very high standards of our Certified Assisted Technical Support Program, and demonstrating their commitment to delivering an outstanding customer and partner support experience," said Mark Miller, contact center practice leader at J.D. Power. "This recognition is very challenging to achieve, and symbolizes the differentiated level of support Intermedia provides to current and prospective customers and partners."

Intermedia is currently the only cloud industry leader to receive this prestigious certification two years in a row. To achieve this accomplishment, an organization must attain customer and partner satisfaction scores among the top 20 percent of companies that offer technology support, based on J.D. Power's extensive technology industry benchmark for customer and partner satisfaction research. The organization must also pass a detailed audit of its support policies and procedures. Companies that pass the rigorous standards of the J.D. Power Certified Assisted Technical Support Program certification process demonstrate a highly customer-focused culture that is committed to delivering high quality of service and support to its customers.

"Many companies say they have great support, but these claims can be very hard to quantify or validate," said Jonathan McCormick, COO of Intermedia. "A Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a good metric for companies looking to gauge their own internal improvement, but not for measuring performance versus others in the industry. Some of the greatest, most widely recognized companies have been recognized by J.D. Power. By successfully completing this rigorous certification process, we have become the only cloud application provider to have achieved this tangible, third-party, independent validation from the standard in customer satisfaction, J.D. Power, not once, but twice. We are proud of the level of support we provide, and all that we do to deliver a Worry-Free Experience."

As Intermedia has scaled in size, its commitment to customer service and support satisfaction has remained steadfast. "While support remains an afterthought for many organizations, we've built this business by delivering both great products, and great customer experiences," continued McCormick. "Throughout every aspect of our company, we stress the importance of being a customer-first organization. From sales to service to support, each team member is focused on doing their part to go above and beyond to serve our more than 110,000 business customers and 6,500 active partners." McCormick concluded, "I couldn't be more proud of Team Intermedia for all of the hard work they continue to put in to keep our customers front and center, with another J.D. Power certification as a tremendous acknowledgment of those efforts."

J.D. Power evaluated Intermedia on its assisted support (including phone, email, chat and online). For the certification, J.D. Power conducted a survey of Intermedia's global customer and partner base to establish an overall satisfaction index score and also conducted on-site audits at Intermedia's facilities. For additional J.D. Power ratings data, please visit www.jdpower.com/ratings.

About Intermedia

Intermedia offers a broad yet tightly integrated suite of cloud applications, including Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), business email, file backup, sync & share, identity and access management, security, and archiving  all delivered by a single provider with one point of control. Small- and medium-sized businesses want security, scalability, and someone to manage the complexities of business IT for them, and that's just what Intermedia delivers with enterprise-grade security, a 99.999% uptime service level agreement and J.D. Power-certified 24/7 support.

With more than $200 million in annualized revenue, Intermedia serves more than 110,000 business customers and 6,500 active partners, including VARs, MSPs, distributors and telecoms. Its Partner Program enables solution providers to differentiate and increase profitability by selling under their own brand. Intermedia is a leading cloud voice service provider, and the world's largest independent provider of Exchange email in the cloud. For more information, visit Intermedia.net or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Contacts

Melanie Lombardi

Intermedia

650.285.5857

[email protected]

John Tews

J.D. Power

248.680.6218

[email protected]

Gwyn Wischmeyer

Sr. Director Marketing

TSIA

858.716.0102

[email protected]

J.D. Power 2017 Certified Assisted Technical Program, developed in conjunction with TSIA. Based on successful completion of an audit and exceeding a customer satisfaction benchmark for assisted support operations. For more information, visit www.jdpower.com or www.tsia.com.

SOURCE Intermedia

Related Links

https://www.intermedia.net


PUNE, India, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Adient (NYSE: ADNT), the global leader in automotive seating, today announced that it has broken ground on a state-of-the art automotive seating prototyping and testing facility in Pune that will be the largest of its kind ever to be built in India. Construction of the new facility marks a major expansion of Adient's existing technical center in Pune, already a world-class facility with the largest workforce among the automotive seating supplier's global network of tech centers.

The new facility, which is scheduled to open in late 2018, will provide physical testing to augment the capabilities of the existing technical center in Pune, a global Center of Competence at Adient for computer-aided engineering (CAE), computer-aided design (CAD) automation and finite element analysis (FEA) simulation expertise. First established in 2000, Adient's India Tech Center today has a total headcount of approximately 1,000 engineers, which consists of roughly 850 engineers based locally in Pune and a further 150 engineers stationed at Adient locations outside India on global assignments.

Situated on a 20,000 m2 site near the existing tech center, the new prototyping and testing facility will boast full-scale prototyping, testing, and trim capabilities, enabling Adient to conduct full product verification in India to global customer and regulatory standards. The facility will house a fully hydraulic acceleration sled test system, offering precision pulse matching, full payload capability, and high-speed video capture from onboard cameras. A 6-axis shaker table at the facility, complete with semi-anechoic chamber, will enable NHV (noise, vibration and harshness) analysis and road durability testing.

"As well as underscoring our long-term commitment to India, this investment of more than $30 million is an important milestone for Adient as we optimize our engineering footprint around the world to deliver global standard product development and innovation capabilities wherever our customers are," said Dr. Detlef Juerss, Vice President, Engineering & Chief Technical Officer at Adient. "With this new facility, we will be able to fully execute product development including design and product validation for global and local launch programs right here in Pune, all backed by cutting-edge infrastructure that will be truly unrivaled in India's automotive industry."

"Adient has for many years benefited from its strong focus on design in India, a dynamic environment that is rich in talent and creative inspiration. Our India Tech Center team already plays a vital role in Adient's global industrial design operations, providing designs to support our customers today and imagining concepts that will shape the experience of mobility in the future," said Richard Chung, Vice President, Innovation at Adient. "I am very excited about the potential we can unleash in Pune as we accelerate our design and innovation processes here."

"Adient was one of the first global automotive tier 1 suppliers to enter India. Over the past two decades since then we have built world-class manufacturing and product development capabilities across the country. We work closely with our customers, who recognize that success in India depends on developing India-specific products," said Murali Rajagopalan, Director and Country Manager, Adient India. "India is phasing in new safety regulations for which development activities need to begin now. As far as Adient is concerned, the timing could not be better. When this new facility opens we will be able to support our customers on an entirely new level, so I see this as an exciting new chapter for Adient India."

Adient (then a division of Johnson Controls) first established its operations in India in 1995 through the formation of Tata Johnson Controls, a collaboration with Tata Automotive Components. Adient, which recently celebrated the first anniversary of its spin-off as an independent automotive supplier, today has more than 2,500 employees at its wholly owned subsidiary Adient India. Adient recently received a Best Supplier Award for Quality from Tata Motors, adding to a long list of supplier awards it received in 2017, which include the Toyota Regional Contribution Award, the Honda Supplier Development Award, the Nissan Supplier Quality Award (for the fourth consecutive year), and the Nissan Global Innovation Award.

About Adient:

Adient is a global leader in automotive seating. With 86,000 employees operating 237 manufacturing/assembly plants in 33 countries worldwide, we produce and deliver automotive seating for all vehicle classes and all major OEMs. From complete seating systems to individual components, our expertise spans every step of the automotive seat-making process. Our integrated, in-house skills allow us to take our products from research and design all the way to engineering and manufacturing  and into more than 25 million vehicles every year. For more information on Adient, please visit adient.com.

SOURCE Adient

Related Links

http://www.adient.com


GAINESVILLE, Ga., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aeon Global Health, the operating arm of Authentidate Holding Corp. (OTCQB: ADAT), a growth-oriented provider of personalized, clinically actionable medical informatics and telemedicine, announced today that it has signed a laboratory services purchase agreement with Circle Care Management of Florida. Under the agreement, Aeon will provide pharmacogenomics and cancer genomics services to clients of Circle Care Management in Central and South America. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are excited to work with Circle Care as it signals the roll out of our international expansion strategy," said Sonny Roshan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Aeon Global Health. "Based on industry data, worldwide healthcare expenditures were estimated to be approximately $8 trillion as of late 2015. The Company believes that the solutions we offer can result in improved patient outcomes and increased efficiencies for our customers and will resonate on a global basis. Moreover, as Aeon continues to evolve into a true vertically integrated health care company, we expect to expand not only our services, but our reach as well."

"Circle Care offers Aeon the opportunity to continue to diversify our customer base from traditional US-based physicians and clinics into the rapidly growing medical tourism and international markets, which fits into our global vision," he added.

Circle Care offers health advisory services to corporate & individual clients; offering them a unique Gateway to the highest quality of care to US-based hospitals & doctors when needed. "All of us at Circle Care are pleased to be affiliated with Aeon Global Health," said George Plihal, Founder & CEO of Circle Care Management. "Our Latin American clients will now have easy access to Aeon's world class pharmacogenomics and cancer genomics services from the comfort of their home country. We believe our offering of such unique genomics services, allows our company to provide additional value to our client's health care needs."

ABOUT AUTHENTIDTATE/AEON GLOBAL HEALTH

Authentidate Holding Corp. (OTCQB: ADAT), through its Aeon Global Health operating arm, is an emerging leader in the provision of clinically actionable medical informatics. Founded in 2010, Aeon is focused on the delivery of services consistent with federal quality standards and which exceed industry standards for turn-around time. Operating out of a modern 30,000 square-foot facility in suburban Atlanta, the Company provides a comprehensive menu of diagnostic and laboratory- developed tests as well as interpretative data for a wide range of inherited conditions.

ABOUT CIRCLE CARE MANAGEMENT LLC

Circle Care Management LLC was founded in 2012 with its headquarters in Miami, Florida. The company focuses on providing unique health care solutions to people so they can have access to top hospitals and doctors in the United States of America. They are the market leaders in Latin America, as many affluent clients in that region contract their services when they seek any kind of medical treatment in the United States. More information about Circle Care Management can be found at www.circlecare.com.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release may be considered "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. When used in this release, words such as "believe", anticipate" think", "intend", "plan", "will be", "expect" or similar expressions identify such forward looking statements. In addition, such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Authentidate Holding Corp. and its management, including those related to cash flow, gross margins, revenues, and expenses which are dependent on a number of factors outside of the control of the Company including, for example, the markets for the Company's services, costs of and services, other expenses, government regulations, litigation, and general business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and thatactual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control. Other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our reports filed with the SEC. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The statements made in this press release speak only as of the date stated herein, and subsequent events and developments may cause our expectations and beliefs to change. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend, nor do we undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise.

SOURCE Aeon Global Health

Related Links

http://aeonglobalhealth.com


HOUSTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) today announced its 2018 capital expectations and guidance. In 2018, the company expects to make capital investments in the range of $4.2 to $4.6 billion.(1) The capital program is designed to enhance shareholder value by delivering attractive margins and returns, while advancing the development of the company's core assets within discretionary cash flow.

2018 ANADARKO CAPITAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Allocates approximately 80 percent of capital toward the Delaware and DJ basins, including Anadarko midstream, and the deepwater Gulf of Mexico

and DJ basins, including Anadarko midstream, and the deepwater Generates material free cash flow at current strip prices and breaks even in a $50 oil and $3 natural gas commodity-price environment (2)

oil and natural gas commodity-price environment Delivers a cash return on invested capital of 20 percent (3)

Results in approximately 14-percent oil growth year-over-year, which is 19-percent oil growth per debt-adjusted-share(4) (5)

"Our 2018 investment plan will again be driven by capital efficiency and financial discipline," said Anadarko Chairman, President and CEO Al Walker. "These key tenets have served us well for the last decade, as growth within cash flow is fundamental to delivering capital-efficient returns. Our repositioned asset footprint is built to succeed in a market where oil prices exhibit volatility in a $45-$60 environment, with gas averaging $3 per Mcf (thousand cubic feet). We expect next year's capital expenditures to be inside of discretionary cash flow at $50 and $3, while generating free cash flow of more than $700 million at the current strip.(2) Further, we plan to return substantial cash to shareholders by executing the remaining $1.5 billion of our $2.5 billion share-repurchase program during the coming year."

"We are also modifying the metrics in our 2018 compensation program to increase the profile for the role of capital efficiency and financial discipline and refine the focus on our safety performance," added Walker. "Performance objectives will now include cash return on invested capital,(3) volume growth per debt-adjusted share, and reserve additions per debt-adjusted share.(5) As I have highlighted recently, moving to debt-adjusted performance metrics in particular will align our compensation programs to the capital-allocation philosophy we have employed over the last ten years."

2018 Capital Expectations ($4.2 - $4.6 Billion)(1)































By Area Billions

By Type

































U.S. Onshore Upstream $ 2.10

U.S.* 85% Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 1.10

International Cash Generation** 3% International Operations 0.15

Future Upside (Exploration and LNG) 9% Exploration and LNG 0.35

Corporate 3% Midstream 0.55







































Note: All amounts are approximates. * All Anadarko U.S. onshore upstream and midstream, and deepwater Gulf of Mexico ** Algeria and Ghana operations



































Sales-Volume Expectations(4)



2017 Outlook

2018 Expectations







Total (MMBOE) 224 - 228

245 - 255







Oil (MBOPD) 343 - 348

385 - 405

U.S. FOCUS AREAS

In 2018, Anadarko plans to allocate approximately $900 million toward upstream activities in the Delaware Basin of West Texas, with an additional $500 million directed toward Anadarko midstream investments.(1) This program supports the continuation of the company's efforts to build out one of the most expansive and integrated infrastructure positions in the region. Anadarko has successfully delineated the majority of its Wolfcamp-A oil-weighted opportunity, which the company estimates to hold more than 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) of net resources. The company also advanced its efforts to capture operatorship on 70 percent of its acreage position primarily in Reeves and Loving counties. Additionally, Anadarko continues to progress the construction of three Regional Oil Treating Facilities to support its more cost-effective and environmentally beneficial tankless battery design field-wide, while also securing necessary gathering, processing, and takeaway capacity. This comprehensive buildout plan and phased development approach in the basin is expected to deliver incremental oil sales volume during the second half of 2018, with total oil sales volume expected to increase more than 50 percent relative to 2017. During 2018, the company plans to average seven operated rigs and six completion crews.

In the DJ Basin of northeast Colorado, where the company has more than 2 billion BOE of net resources within its development area, Anadarko expects to invest approximately $950 million on upstream activities in 2018. It plans to average five operated rigs and three completions crews in the basin. The company expects to increase year-over-year oil sales volume from the DJ Basin by about 30 percent.

In 2018, Anadarko expects to allocate approximately $1.1 billion toward its deepwater Gulf of Mexico operations. The majority of these investments are expected to be directed toward high-return oil development opportunities near operated infrastructure at Lucius, Horn Mountain, Marlin, Holstein and Marco Polo. The company plans to operate two floating drillships and spud approximately five development wells in the Gulf during the year.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

Anadarko plans to allocate more than $150 million toward its international cash-generating operations in Algeria and Ghana in 2018. These investments will support further drilling in the TEN development area, which is expected to commence in early 2018, as well as additional drilling operations in the Jubilee field following the Ghanaian Government's recent approval of the full-field plan of development.

EXPLORATION AND LNG

The company's exploration investments in 2018 are expected to total about $200 million. Exploration spending will primarily be focused on the Gulf of Mexico, where the company plans to drill identified prospects near existing operated infrastructure. Additional exploration investment will be allocated to the U.S. onshore, as the company continues to identify future areas that can make a material and scalable addition to its portfolio.

Approximately $150 million is expected to be invested during 2018 as the company advances the Mozambique LNG project. This investment will primarily be used to fund Anadarko's portion of the costs associated with preparing the site of the future LNG park.

PRESENTATION AND WEBCAST

Anadarko's Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Bob Gwin, will provide additional details and information regarding the 2018 capital program during his presentation at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2017 Global Energy Conference today at 10:30 a.m. EST. The link to the audio webcast presentation will be available in the Investor section at www.anadarko.com. The replay and slide presentation also will be available on the company's website for approximately 30 days following the event.

(1) Does not include capital investments made by Western Gas Partners, LP (NYSE: WES).

(2) See the accompanying Adjusted Free Cash Flow table for a reconciliation of the GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measure and a statement indicating why management believes the non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information for investors.

(3) Cash Return on Invested Capital (CROIC) is computed as follows:



(APC Consolidated Cash Flows from Operations (CFFO) - WGP CFFO + WGP distributions to APC)

(Stockholders' Equity + Anadarko Debt)

(4) Amounts are divestiture adjusted.

(5) Debt-Adjusted Share(s) is computed as follows:



Anadarko Debt + Shares Outstanding



Share Price



http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141103/156201LOGO

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's mission is to deliver a competitive and sustainable rate of return to shareholders by exploring for, acquiring and developing oil and natural gas resources vital to the world's health and welfare. As of year-end 2016, the company had approximately 1.72 billion barrels-equivalent of proved reserves, making it one of the world's largest independent exploration and production companies. For more information about Anadarko and APC Flash Feed updates, please visit www.anadarko.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Anadarko believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this news release, including Anadarko's ability to realize its expectations regarding performance; to successfully execute upon its capital program; to efficiently identify and deploy capital resources; to meet financial and operating guidance and achieve the production levels identified in this news release; to meet the long-term goals identified in this news release; to successfully complete the share-repurchase program; to finalize the necessary steps to ensure operatorship; to successfully drill, complete, test and produce the wells identified in this news release; to timely complete and commercially operate the projects, infrastructure, and drilling prospects identified in this news release; and to successfully plan, secure additional government approvals, enter into long-term sales contracts, finance, build, and operate the necessary infrastructure and LNG park in Mozambique. See "Risk Factors" in the company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other public filings and press releases. Anadarko undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Note to Investors: The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved, probable and possible reserves that meet the SEC's definitions for such terms. Anadarko uses certain terms in this news release, such as "net resources" and similar terms that the SEC's guidelines strictly prohibit Anadarko from including in filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in Anadarko's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, File No. 001-08968, available from Anadarko at www.anadarko.com or by writing Anadarko at: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, 1201 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380, Attn: Investor Relations. This form may also be obtained by contacting the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

Anadarko Contacts

INVESTORS :

Robin Fielder, [email protected] , 832.636.1462

Andy Taylor, [email protected] , 832.636.3089

Pete Zagrzecki, [email protected] , 832.636.7727

MEDIA :

John Christiansen, [email protected] , 832.636.8736

Stephanie Moreland, [email protected] , 832.636.2912

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Below are reconciliations of certain GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures, each as required under Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This non-GAAP information should be considered by the reader in addition to, but not instead of, the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial information presented may be determined or calculated differently by other companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures.

Adjusted Discretionary Cash Flow from Operations (Adjusted DCF) and Adjusted Free Cash Flow (Adjusted FCF)

The Company defines Adjusted DCF as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities before changes in accounts receivable; changes in accounts payable and other current liabilities; other items, net; certain nonoperating and other excluded items; and Western Gas Partners, LP (WES)/Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (WGP) distributions to third parties.

The Company defines Adjusted FCF as Adjusted DCF adjusted by capital expenditures excluding WES and cash received from monetizations.

Management believes that these measures are useful to management and investors as a measure of a company's ability to internally fund its capital expenditures and to service or incur additional debt. These measures eliminate the impact of certain items that management does not consider to be indicative of the Company's performance from period to period. To assist in measuring the Company's performance, management will also evaluate Anadarko on a deconsolidated basis, which excludes WES.

The Company's press release includes a forward-looking Adjusted FCF estimate; however, the Company is unable to provide a quantitative reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP measure to its most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure because management cannot reliably predict certain of the necessary components of such forward-looking GAAP measure. The reconciling items in future periods could be significant. Below is a reconciliation of Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (GAAP) to Adjusted free cash flow (Non-GAAP) for the most recently reported annual period.

millions Year Ended

December, 31 2016 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (GAAP) $ 3,000

Adjusted by:

Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable (677)

(Increase) decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities 443

Other items, net 142

Certain nonoperating and other excluded items 299

WES/WGP distributions to third parties (362)

Adjusted discretionary cash flow from operations (Non-GAAP) * $ 2,845

Adjusted by:

Capital expenditures excluding WES* (2,823)

Monetizations excluding WES 3,537

Adjusted free cash flow (Non-GAAP) $ 3,559

*WES capital expenditures 491



SOURCE Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Related Links

http://www.anadarko.com


TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark Electronics (NYSE: BHE) a leading global design, engineering and manufacturing company, today broke ground on its new headquarters located at Rio Salado 2106 in Tempe, Arizona. Presiding over the ceremony, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey joined Paul Tufano, president and CEO, Benchmark, and Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president, Knowledge Enterprise Development and chief research and innovation officer at ASU, to celebrate Benchmark's new home in the Valley.

"We are proud to be a part of the outstanding technology and business community here in Tempe," said Tufano. "I would like to thank Governor Ducey, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the City of Tempe, Arizona State University and all of our partners that have welcomed Benchmark and helped our relocation process run smoothly."

Benchmark is dedicated to the continued development of Arizona's business and technology community and looks forward to deepening its involvement. The company plans to bring an additional 500 jobs to the greater Phoenix area over the next five years.

"With the groundbreaking of Benchmark's new headquarters and 500 new jobs headed our way, eyes from New York City to Silicon Valley are once again focused on our state," Governor Ducey said. "Benchmark's selection of our state is further proof there is no better place than Arizona to start or scale a business or test and develop new technology."

The company has already joined forces with Arizona State University through a strategic partnership to foster an innovative ecosystem that benefits students and businesses. Benchmark plans to leverage the impressive talent produced ASU's Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering and W.P. Carey School of Business in its hiring efforts.

"Our partnership with Benchmark is another step toward the outstanding collaboration between business and education we have fostered at our university," said Michael Crow, President, ASU. "We are fortunate to work with leading companies like Benchmark, which provide opportunities in the classroom and real-world, hands-on learning environments for faculty and students, as well as promoting the development of high-technology jobs."

Construction on Benchmark's Tempe headquarters is expected to be completed in early 2019. It will house the corporate leadership team and key corporate functions. Benchmark's Internet of Things (IoT) Center of Innovation will also transition to the new location.

"Microsoft, Amazon, GoDaddy and now Benchmark, have all found a home here in Tempe," said Tempe Mayor, Mark Mitchell. "As the company breaks ground at the prime location of 2100 Rio Salado Pkwy, we welcome them with open arms and look forward to the jobs and innovation they will bring to our community."

For more information on Benchmark, please visit www.bench.com or call 979-849-6550.

About Benchmark Electronics

Benchmark provides worldwide integrated electronics manufacturing services (EMS), engineering and design services, and precision machining services to original equipment manufacturers of industrial equipment (including equipment for the aerospace and defense industries), telecommunication equipment, computers and related products for business enterprises, medical devices, and test and instrumentation products. Benchmark's global operations include facilities in eight countries, and its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE.

SOURCE Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.bench.com


AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Faurecia, one of the world's largest automotive equipment suppliers, will participate for the first time at CES Las Vegas (January 9th -12th) with a booth located in Las Vegas Convention Center Central Plaza CP3.

Faurecia will reveal major disruptive innovations for a personalized and safe on-board experience in the versatile, connected and predictive Cockpit of the Future. For the first time the Group will also showcase digital services for health and wellness and for smarter and cleaner cities.

Faurecia will demonstrate its role as a leading systems integrator for changing mobility needs and enhance user experience, together with the rapid expansion of its innovation ecosystem through partnerships, acquisitions and investment in start-ups.

Among the technologies and services highlighted for Smart Life on Board and Sustainable Mobility are:

A fully integrated cockpit of the future demonstrating versatile architecture and smart systems for a safe and personalized user experience for different driving modes.

A connected seat cover for driving professionals incorporating sensors for health and wellness data monitoring. This closed loop comfort system monitors occupant status and applies therapies to improve well-being.

An infotainment interface integrating voice controlled access to services with Parrot Automotive's multi-platform system.

Real time data emissions monitoring with state-of-the-art sensor technology helping cities and fleets to improve air quality.

A selection of start-ups working with Faurecia will also be present on the booth.

A press conference with Faurecia CEO, Patrick Koller, will be held on January 8 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel at 4:00PM (room Surf A-B-C)

About Faurecia

Founded in 1997, Faurecia has grown to become a major player in the global automotive industry. With 330 sites including 30 R&D centers, 100 000 employees in 34 countries, Faurecia is now a global leader in its three areas of business: automotive seating, interior systems and clean mobility. Faurecia has focused its technology strategy on providing solutions for smart life on board and sustainable mobility. In 2016, the Group posted total sales of 18.7 billion. Faurecia is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock exchange. For more information, visit www.faurecia.com

CES is a registered trademark of the Consumer Technology Association.

SOURCE Faurecia

Related Links

http://www.faurecia.com


MORTSEL, Belgium and GREENVILLE, South Carolina, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Cognitive Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning augments visual intelligence thereby addressing the clinical needs of care providers.

Path to realize value is achieved by embedding intelligence in the clinical workflows to increase productivity, reduce care variance and streamline care delivery.

Organically conceived and third party algorithms embedded within Agfa HealthCare's Enterprise Imaging solution* will provide tools to help care providers to accelerate overall throughput and screen for critical diseases.

(RSNA 2017, Booth #3300, South Hall A) Augmented Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are fueling innovations in healthcare to address the pressing clinical needs of care providers. Growing populations, chronic disease prevalence, comorbidities and spiraling healthcare costs have generated the demand for Augmented Intelligence leveraging cognitive power, for solutions that can manage big data and unstructured clinical content to improve clinical decision-making, clinician productivity and care.

Embedding intelligence in clinical workflows

Nadim Michel Daher, Frost & Sullivan analyst explains: "One of the top-of-mind questions the radiology community is wrestling with right now is "Man versus Machine, or Man-only versus Man+Machine?" For our part, we believe the next decade is going to be about the augmented radiologist: the combination of AI with the human intelligence that imaging professionals bring to the table today with their ability to understand the big-picture of a patient and the context of their disease."

According to Dr. Nick Spencer, Consultant Radiologist Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust UK, "Task-based rules within Enterprise Imaging will help prioritise workflow for radiologists and in escalating urgent cases. Augmented Intelligence has the potential to further enhance that flow through triage and sign-posting abnormal findings."

Agfa HealthCare takes the position that the path to realize value from the advances in Augmented Intelligence, machine learning, and computer assisted diagnosis is achieved by embedding intelligence in the clinical workflows and by providing clinicians synergistic innovations from best-of-breed industry vendors and care providers. Given the nascent state of Augmented Intelligence within healthcare, Agfa HealthCare's approach will provide care organizations the ability to realize gains from innovations more quickly and achieve better delivery of care with the workflow-optimized AI solutions.

At RSNA 2017, Agfa HealthCare will be demonstrating its latest work-in-progress visions for Augmented Intelligence* through workflow optimized integration of Agfa HealthCare's Enterprise Imaging solution with products offered by IBM Watson Health, RadLogics and Mindshare Medical.

"The approach we are pursuing will allow us to offer clients leading edge algorithms that are tied together and bolstered with the capabilities of our flagship Enterprise Imaging offering. Tools for advanced analytics, workflow automation, visual collaboration and reports will help radiologists, physicians and clinicians increase throughput and streamline care delivery. Agfa HealthCare's customers are building data lakes with imaging records, making data available for multidisciplinary reviews, clinical research, and teaching, helping foster a cohesive quality driven workflow culture." explains James Jay, president imaging IT solutions Agfa HealthCare.

Innovative technology promises enhanced patient care

In addition at RSNA 2017, Agfa HealthCare will demonstrate another work in progress - - organically conceived and third party algorithms integrated into Agfa HealthCare's Enterprise Imaging solution to help screen for life-threatening diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis*. With these algorithms integrated with Agfa HealthCare's Enterprise Imaging offering, healthcare providers will have the ability to view contextual images and optimize screening workflows.

Download the new white paper here.

For more information or to see a demo, visit Agfa HealthCare at RSNA 2017 Booth 3300 or visit http://global.agfahealthcare.com/main/enterprise-imaging/

*This product or solution is not available for sale. This product or solution is a work in progress, is not for productive use, and does not have applicable regulatory approvals.

For an image, courtesy of Agfa HealthCare, click here

About Agfa HealthCare

Agfa HealthCare, present in one hospital out of two, is a leading provider of eHealth & Digital Imaging solutions. Care organizations in over 100 countries rely on Agfa HealthCare to optimize their efficiency and improve patient care.

Marc De Fre

Global Marcom Director, Agfa HealthCare

T +32(0)3-444-73-19

[email protected]



SOURCE Agfa HealthCare
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. ("Ausenco") today announced the 100% acquisition of Hemmera Envirochem ("Hemmera"), a leading environmental consultancy in Canada. This acquisition supports Ausenco's goal to augment and expand its consulting offerings and deliver a broader range of solutions to clients.

Hemmera is an innovative environmental consultancy that provides customized environmental and social sciences solutions to clients across Canada with recognized experts in site assessment and remediation, environmental planning and ecology, and community engagement and social sciences. "The acquisition of Hemmera significantly strengthens our existing suite of consulting offerings and will enable us to offer value-added environmental solutions to our clients throughout the Americas," said Zimi Meka, CEO, Ausenco. We are thrilled to welcome Hemmera and the tremendous talent they bring to the team.

"Ausenco is recognized globally for their technical expertise and innovative approach to delivering cost- effective end-to-end solutions for their clients," said Paul Hemsley, Hemmera's President. "Joining Ausenco is an incredible opportunity for our team and for our clients and we look forward to working together."

Paul Hemsley will remain as President, Hemmera reporting directly to Chris King-Sidney, Ausenco's President, Consulting.

Contact

Mr. Zimi Meka

Chief Executive Officer

Ausenco

T: +61 7 3169 7000

E: [email protected]

Mr. Patrick O'Connor

Company Secretary

Ausenco

T: +61 7 3169 7185

E: [email protected]

About Ausenco

Ausenco is a global diversified company providing consulting, project delivery and asset management solutions to the minerals & metals, oil & gas and industrial sectors. We add value to our clients' projects and deliver results, even in the most challenging environments. Our global team is based across 21 offices in 14 countries and many project locations. For more information visit Ausenco.com.

About Hemmera

The firm's highly respected multi-disciplinary professionals are leaders in environmental and social sciences and engineering; they know the regulatory environment and understand the related business implications. Hemmera provides quality services to industry, First Nations, and government. The firm brings over 187 technical consultants with primary office locations in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Whitehorse, and Toronto. For more information visit Hemmera.com.

SOURCE Ausenco

Related Links

http://www.ausenco.com


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BioAtla, LLC, a global biotechnology company focused on the development of Conditionally Active Biologic (CAB) antibody therapeutics, today announced the appointments of James Allison, Ph.D., and Padmanee Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., as scientific advisors. Drs. Allison and Sharma are leading researchers in the field of immuno-oncology. Dr. Allison's pioneering research in the regulation of T cell responses and strategies for cancer immunotherapy led to the development of the ipilimumab antibody to CTLA-4, the first immune checkpoint blockade therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Sharma has participated in numerous impactful research studies since 1996, focusing primarily on immunotherapy in collaboration with Dr. Allison. In their collaborative work, Dr. Sharma is exploring combinations of immunological therapies and targeted drugs in preclinical studies to more effectively treat a variety of cancers.

"The knowledge, experience and insights of Drs. Allison and Sharma will provide valuable contributions to the direction and prioritization of our CAB development programs. In particular, their advice will enhance our decisions and design of combination CAB immunotherapies and CAB bispecifics," said Jay M. Short, Ph.D., chairman, president and chief financial officer of BioAtla.

About Dr. Allison

James Allison, Ph.D., is Chair of the Department of Immunology, the Vivian L. Smith Distinguished Chair in Immunology, Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Research, and the Executive Director of the Immunotherapy Platform at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson).

Among Dr. Allison's most notable discoveries in his distinguished career studying the regulation of T cell responses, are the determination of the T cell receptor structure and that CD28 is the costimulatory molecule that allows full activation of naive T cells and prevents anergy in T cell clones. His lab resolved a major controversy by demonstrating that CTLA-4 inhibits T cell activation by opposing CD28-mediated costimulation and that blockade of CTLA-4 could enhance T cell responses, leading to tumor rejection in animal models, and launched the emerging field of immune checkpoint blockade therapy for cancer. Dr. Allison is a member of the National Academies of Science and Medicine and received the Lasker-Debakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 2015.

About Dr. Sharma

Padmanee Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Immunology in the Division of Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson.

Dr. Sharma is also Scientific Director, Immunotherapy Platform, and Co-Director, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. She has tested novel cancer immunotherapy strategies in clinical trials that permitted access to surgical samples or longitudinal biopsy samples, which allowed her to identify mechanisms of response and resistance to therapy. She has won numerous awards during her career including the Doris Duke Clinical Scientist Development Award, the Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award, the MD Anderson Cancer Center Faculty Scholar Award and the Emil Frei Award for Translational Research.

About Conditionally Active Biologics (CABs)

Conditionally Active Biologic proteins are generated using BioAtla's proprietary protein discovery, evolution and expression technologies. These proteins can be mAbs, enzymes and other proteins designed with functions dependent on changes in microphysiological conditions (e.g., pH level, oxidation, temperature, pressure, presence of certain ions, hydrophobicity and combinations thereof) both outside and inside cells.

Studies have shown that cancerous tumors create highly specific conditions at their site that are not present in normal tissue. These cancerous microenvironments are primarily a result of the well understood unique glycolytic metabolism associated with cancer cells, referred to as the Warburg Effect. CAB proteins are designed to deliver their therapeutic payload and/or recruit the immune response in specific and selected locations and conditions within the body and to be active only in the presence of a particular cellular microenvironment. In addition, the activation is designed to be reversible to repeatedly switch 'on and off' should the CAB move from a diseased to a normal cellular microenvironment and vice versa. CABs can be developed in a variety of formats including antibodies, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecifics, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-Ts) and combination therapies.

About BioAtla, LLC

BioAtla is a global biotechnology company with operations in San Diego, California, and Beijing, China. BioAtla develops novel monoclonal antibody and other protein therapeutic product candidates designed to have more selective targeting, greater efficacy, and more cost-efficient and predictable manufacturing than traditional antibodies.

Learn more at www.bioatla.com.

Contact:

Richard Waldron

Chief Financial Officer

BioAtla, LLC

[email protected]

858.356.8945

SOURCE BioAtla, LLC

Related Links

https://www.bioatla.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has partnered with Onduo, a new diabetes management company created by Verily (an Alphabet Company) and Sanofi, on a pilot program that will provide eligible members with access to personalized and convenient diabetes care. The pilot is designed to measure type 2 diabetes outcomes including those relating to clinical improvement, cost and member experience. Pilots will begin in the first quarter of 2018 in Arkansas, Georgia and South Carolina with select Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) members who are eligible.

"Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have a long history of bringing locally tailored, innovative programs to the communities we serve," said Jody Voss, vice president of development, innovation and the group purchasing organization for BCBSA. "We are pleased to be able to continue this tradition by partnering with Onduo on a new diabetes management program that will help eligible members better manage their type 2 diabetes."

The Onduo platform integrates hardware and software to provide people with access to personalized, convenient diabetes care. Participating BCBS members will be matched to the clinically appropriate interventions including wirelessly-connected continuous glucose monitoring devices, lifestyle support, medication review and a team of Onduo health care experts. In collaboration with the members' local BCBS network doctor, the program aims to provide care and support to members when and where they want it. In this way, the Onduo platform will extend physicians' support by providing guidance and continuous support to members between doctor visits.

"My experience as a physician led to an understanding of the importance of both supporting the patient at the time of a visit as well providing individualized support throughout the year," said Josh Riff, CEO of Onduo. "Onduo's goal is to increase access to solid, evidence-based interventions in a personalized manner. Managing diabetes is a 24/7 job that we want to make easier for members. We are thrilled to partner with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to help members receive the support and care they need to become healthier."

Diabetes ranks third nationally for its impact on the quality of life and cost for the commercially insured population among more than 200 common diseases and health conditions, according to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Index. The "health impact" of a specific condition reflects the prevalence and severity of that condition as well as the years of life lost due to disability and risk of premature death.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Index. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videoson YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out our blog.

About Onduo

Onduo is a joint venture created by Verily (an Alphabet company) and Sanofi that makes high quality diabetes care more personalized, accessible and affordable  with the overall ambition to make people with type-2 diabetes live their best lives.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

Related Links

http://bcbs.com


RICHARDSON, Texas, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) announced today that 10 statewide organizations have been awarded nearly $1.8 million in Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF) grants to help raise awareness around the prevention and early detection of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The grants, awarded following an extensive evaluation process, will anchor BCBSTX's new community investment focus to battle CKD and COPD  two conditions greatly impacting the life span, productivity and quality of life of Texans. November is the national awareness month for COPD and diabetes, the most common cause of CKD.

As a physician-led organization, the multi-million dollar investment is part of BCBSTX's ongoing commitment to improve health and wellness across populations that most need it, as well as effecting sustained behavioral changes that lead to better health outcomes for all Texans.

"Our new community investment strategy requires collaborations with organizations that have proven results reaching the populations that we want to impact with our new initiative," said Dr. Dan McCoy, president, BCBSTX. "Our claims data, relative to CKD and COPD, informs us that we have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of thousands of Texans. We are honored to partner with these outstanding organizations on this important initiative."

This year, the HKHF initiative received numerous applications from organizations across the state. Each application was vetted on the basis of impact, feasibility, capacity, collaboration and sustainability. Grant recipients share BCBSTX's goal to raise awareness around the prevention and early detection of CKD and COPD.

"In deciding on this year's awardees, we landed on organizations that have demonstrated success in executing programs that move the needle against CKD and COPD," said Dr. Esteban Lopez, chief medical officer, BCBSTX. "I am confident that we will be able to make a measurable difference in improving the health of Texans with our new investment strategy targeting these two chronic diseases."

This year's Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grantees include:

American Lung Association : Has the led the fight for healthy lungs and air as well as on eliminating tobacco use and related lung disease for more than 100 years.

Has the led the fight for healthy lungs and air as well as on eliminating tobacco use and related lung disease for more than 100 years. National Kidney Foundation : Dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease.

: Dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease. It's Time Texas : An organization focused on dramatically improving the landscape of health and wellness in Texas .

: An organization focused on dramatically improving the landscape of health and wellness in . Texas Medical Association : Serves Texas citizens in matters of medical care, prevention and cure of disease, and the improvement of public health.

: Serves Texas citizens in matters of medical care, prevention and cure of disease, and the improvement of public health. State of Texas Kidney : Fights kidney disease through awareness, education, and prevention resources.

: Fights kidney disease through awareness, education, and prevention resources. Bexar County Community Health : Uses a synergistic approach to solving critical community health needs, while efficiently utilizing resources in the Bexar County region.

: Uses a synergistic approach to solving critical community health needs, while efficiently utilizing resources in the region. Migrant Health Promotion: A national nonprofit organization that implements and runs Community Health Worker programs that provide peer health education, increase access to health resources and bring community members closer.



Launched in 2011, HKHF started as a three-year initiative designed to improve the health and wellness of at least one million children through community investments. The program was extended as BCBSTX's ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of the children and families across Texas.

To date, the HKHF program  which centers on nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management and supporting safe environments  has impacted the lives of millions of Texas children. Since the program's inception, BCBSTX has awarded more than $8.8 million in HKHF grants.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX)  the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas  is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and healthcare practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve 5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

BCBSTX.com | Twitter.com/BCBSTX | Facebook.com/BlueCrossBlueShieldOfTexas

|YouTube.com/BCBSTX

BCBSTX's Community Investments

BCBSTX is committed to helping improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. For more than 80 years, that commitment has been reflected through social responsibility efforts that include corporate giving, local community relations, volunteerism, diversity and inclusion, ethics and compliance, wellness and sustainability initiatives. Our signature program, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families  has impacted millions of children and their families in Texas through support in areas of nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. To learn more about BCBSTX's social responsibility efforts, please visit http://bcbstx2016srr.com/

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Related Links

http://www.bcbstx.com


Jacobson's family has been active in conservative Republican efforts for decades, and helped usher Ronald Reagan into the Oval Office. In 1964, Jacobson's mother heard Reagan give the now-famous "A Time for Choosing" campaign speech for Sen. Barry Goldwater during his presidential campaign, and four years later, she began the "draft Reagan" effort in Texas.

"Ronald Reagan was my hero," Jacobson said in an announcement video on his website, BruceForTexas.com. "He brought honor back to our country, and in my mind, he brought honor to the term 'politician.' Reagan went to Washington to serve, not be served, and he had the ability to draw coalitions together to move forward a conservative agenda."

Born, raised and educated in Texas, Jacobson's first involvement with politics began at the age of eight, when his mother enlisted him to hand out bumper stickers for the Reagan campaign. Years later, he worked in the U.S. Department of Transportation as a staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Congressional Affairs during the Reagan administration and as a regional appointee under President George H.W. Bush. Over the past 22 years, Jacobson has worked with LIFE Outreach as an advocate for those looking for help and crying out for hope, inspiring people to meet both.

"Most politicians today are far more interested in serving themselves and their own agendas than the people who elected them. Blinded by their own political ambition, nothing ever gets done and we have political gridlock," Jacobson said. "With a Republican in the White House and a Republican majority in Congress, it makes no sense that we can't move forward with a conservative agenda. Most of this gridlock comes from obstructionists in the Senate. We should expect more, and we should demand better. As an advocate for citizens of the great State of Texas, I will do just that, representing and working for 'The Heart of Texas.'"

As a senatorial candidate, Jacobson will advocate for strong national defense; ending Obamacare; reducing federal spending and tax reform; enforcing immigration laws; veteran care and protecting the Second Amendment. Full details of his platform issues are available at BruceForTexas.com.

"I'm ready to serve my state with humility. My heart is to serve you, the people of the Lone Star State," Jacobson said. "I'm interested in you and hearing your story. I want to hear from you about the fact that your taxes are devouring your income  a salary or wage that probably hasn't seen a raise in years; or the fact that your kids are strangling in student loan debt. I want to hear your stories about your sons and daughters who volunteered to serve in our nation's military, returning home only to face unemployment, opioid addiction or worse. Also, I want to hear your dreams. Your dreams for a better future."

For more information or to share concerns, dreams and personal stories with Jacobson, visit BruceForTexas.com.

About Bruce Jacobson Jr. For United States Senate

Bruce Jacobson is a lifelong conservative Republican and a native Texan who is married with two children. Please Follow Bruce For Texas on Twitter at @BruceForTexas or visit BruceForTexas.com.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

A. Larry Ross 972.267.1111

Kristin Cole 615.289.6701

[email protected]

SOURCE Bruce Jacobson Jr.

Related Links

http://www.brucefortexas.com


HOUSTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Burton Construction, a leader in the Texas commercial construction industry, is announcing the opening of a new office in Austin, Texas. This new location sits in the heart of North Austin at 9442 Capital of Texas Highway North, Plaza 1 Suite 500, Austin, TX 78759 and will support Burton's corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas. The Austin office will be spearheaded by Burton's Tucker Jensen. Jensen, an Austin native, brings over 11 years of industry experience in both commercial construction and interiors to the organization.

"The decision to expand our footprint into Austin is an exciting step for Burton," stated Shawn McAlpin, President of Burton Construction. "The expansion gives us the opportunity to better serve the needs of our existing clients in Austin and enhance the support available to our current projects across central Texas."

"The opening of our Austin office is a great opportunity for Burton and is an exciting step for myself," mentioned Jensen. "I'm glad to have the opportunity to not only be returning to my hometown, but to be leading Burton's growth in Austin and the surrounding areas."

In addition to the organization's new presence in Austin, Burton Construction recently announced the promotion of John Clark as Vice President of Business Development. In this role, Clark will continue overseeing the growth of Burton Construction, Burton Interiors, and Burton's expansion into Austin. Clark originally joined Burton Construction in August of 2013 as Director of Business Development.

"Our organization is growing rapidly, and I look forward to the future of Burton as we continue to grow this business for years to come," said Clark. "I am focused on the growth of Burton Interiors along with the expansion of our core business."

"Establishing an Austin office has been a longtime goal of Burton Construction," stated Cullen Burton, Executive Vice President of Burton Construction. "With John Clark and Tucker Jensen leading the charge, I look forward to expanding Burton's reputation of exceptional service and high-quality construction across Central Texas."

About Burton Construction

Headquartered in Houston TX, Burton Construction is a commercial construction company with a dynamic approach to customized, high-end construction and high-end interiors. Founded in 2004, Burton Construction's all-encompassing services include: design build, design assist, and competitive bids. With attention to detail, Burton blends industry-specific elements into each building and brings a world of experience to the craft of commercial construction. Visit Burton's new website www.burtonconstruction.com to learn more.

SOURCE Burton Construction

Related Links

http://www.burtonconstruction.com


OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has posted California's 2016 occupational injury and illness data on employer-reported injuries. According to the estimates provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), California's overall incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses remains steady at 3.7 cases per 100 workers for full time employees, the lowest rate in over a decade. The data posted includes detailed case and demographic tables, as well as a summary of findings by DIR's research team.

"California continues to use research like this survey to refine and strengthen workplace safety and health regulations, training materials, and outreach and education efforts for employers and workers," said DIR Director Christine Baker.

The estimates show there were approximately 466,600 nonfatal reportable job related injuries and illnesses in 2016, with 78% occurring in private industry and 22% in state and local government sectors. The statewide all-industry rate of "lost time" cases (referred to in the survey as "days away from work, job transfer or restriction" [DART] cases), remained constant at 2.2 cases per 100 full time workers over the last four years surveyed, while the rate of days away from work cases (DAFW) has remained unchanged for the last eight years.

By occupation, the highest DAFW rates were highest in 2016 for cleaning and maintenance workers (284 cases per 10,000 workers), those performing installation and repairs (252 cases), and construction (243 cases).

Estimates for the California Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses are derived from a statistical sample of employers in the state. The SOII program is administered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in cooperation with participating state agencies. Surveyed employers report data as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Recordkeeping regulation (29 CFR 1904), using the OSHA 300 Log.

Additional background and methodological information regarding the BLS occupational safety and health statistics program can be found in Chapter 9 of the BLS Handbook of Methods. Employment data are 2015 annual averages from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program.

DIR protects and improves the health, safety and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. Its Division of Occupational Safety and Health, commonly known as Cal/OSHA, helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA does not have authority when injuries occur on public roadways. Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their health and safety programs. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.

Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Members of the press may contact Erika Monterroza or Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR's press releases or other departmental updates.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR

https://twitter.com/CA_DIR

http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR

http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

SOURCE Dept. of Industrial Relations

Related Links

http://www.dir.ca.gov


SECAUCUS, N.J. and BASTROP, Texas and DARTFORD, England, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Caligor Holdco, LLC., announced today the acquisition of The Coghlan Group, a leading materials management service company for clinical trials. This strategic acquisition specifically adds deep domain expertise in packaging, labeling, distribution, storage and returns, and destruction services of pharmaceutical drugs, adding to Caligor's comprehensive set of clinical trial offerings for its global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Caligor Holdco, LLC, purchased by Diversis Capital in April 2016, is a premier pharmaceutical and biotechnology services company specializing in the sourcing, distribution and storage of comparator drugs for clinical trials worldwide as well as a leading provider of unique and differentiated high touch unlicensed medicines for expanded access programs. The combined company will retain the Caligor Holdco, LLC name but will be rebranded Caligor Coghlan going forward.

"We are excited by the acquisition of The Coghlan Group as part of Caligor's clinical services expansion plan. They bring a proven track record of global clinical packaging and labeling solutions to the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The Coghlan Group's culture of high touch service and a patient first mentality fits well with Caligor's belief that we must go the extra mile to provide unparalleled services for our customers," said Ron Nayot, Managing Director, Diversis Capital LLC.

"Coghlan's world-class packaging and labeling capabilities are a perfect complement to Caligor's capabilities in commercial drug sourcing and supply, as well as Caligor's own clinical secondary packaging & labeling operation, worldwide distribution and logistics, and global expanded access programs. Caligor Coghlan is well-positioned to become the leading clinical trial supply chain services provider, offering a diversified suite of services capable of delivering end-to-end solutions to our pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners," added Kevin Ma, Managing Director, Diversis Capital LLC.

The Coghlan Group supports clinical trials by providing a full range of trial material management and centralized randomization services to companies around the world. Founded by experienced clinical trial professionals, The Coghlan Group provides the pharmaceutical research industry with premier secondary packaging and labeling of clinical trial material, specializing in 24/7 "live" patient randomization down to the final accountability and destruction of returned drugs.

"Partnering with Caligor was the ideal opportunity for us," stated Terry Coghlan, Chief Executive Officer, The Coghlan Group. "They bring specialized offerings supporting clinical trials with their expert commercial drug sourcing and supply services as well as providing managed global access programs to unlicensed medicines outside of the trial environment for patients in need. Together, our enhanced array of services will bring a breadth of coverage and global reach to further optimize our clients' clinical programs and bring new drugs to market more efficiently."

With the consummation of the transaction, Terry will transition into an executive role within Caligor Coghlan where he will be managing global packaging and labeling operations for the combined business going forward.

About Caligor Holdco, LLC dba Caligor Coghlan

Caligor Coghlan is a premier pharmaceutical services company providing global clinical supply solutions and expanded access program management. Its specialization in commercial drug sourcing (comparators, standard of care therapies, rescue medicines, devices, ancillaries, etc.), secondary packaging, labeling, placebo manufacturing, and worldwide distribution (including direct-to-depot, direct-to-site and direct-to-patient capabilities) allows Caligor Coghlan to partner with its biopharma clients in a strategic and consultative manner, tackling complex supply chain challenges. This focus gives its clients peace-of-mind and ensuring their global trials are optimized and successful. The Company's facilities include Secaucus, NJ and Dartford, UK, as well as a global network of depots. More information is available at www.caligorrx.com

About The Coghlan Group

The Coghlan Group provides a full range of clinical trial material management and centralized randomization services to companies around the world. The company was founded by experienced clinical trial professionals, providing the pharmaceutical research industry with a reliable source for secondary packaging and labeling, blinding, 24/7 "live" patient randomization, storage and distribution, returns, and destruction of clinical trial material. More information is available at www.tcgsupplies.com

About Diversis Capital

Founded in 2013, Diversis Capital LLC is a North American private equity firm with a focus on carve-outs and standalone deals within the lower and middle markets that require both sharp financial acumen and operational expertise to obtain success. The team of investment professionals has experience working on complex transactions and leveraging deep hands-on operational expertise to help companies and their management teams achieve their full potential. Diversis, which was founded by Managing Directors Ron Nayot and Kevin Ma, is currently in full acquisition mode with a goal of executing several strategic transactions annually to add to their diversified portfolio. More information is available at www.diversiscapital.com

Media Contacts:

Green Room Communications, LLC

Caren Begun

201-396-8551

[email protected]

SOURCE Caligor Holdco, LLC

Related Links

http://www.caligorrx.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ongoing effort to serve its protein customers, Cargill's North America protein business is investing $146 million to expand the company's Nashville, Tenn., facility. The investment will grow the company's meat crumble offerings for food ingredient, foodservice and retail customers. It will include construction of a state-of-the-art dried sausage production facility and will create more than 100 jobs, which doubles the facility's current employment.

"Our customers asked for new value-added cooked meat capabilities and we are thrilled to be able to respond by investing in this expansion at our facility," said Monte Metz, plant general manager. "Nashville is strategically located to serve our customers in a way that helps them improve their supply chain."

The Nashville investment is part of Cargill's ongoing commitment to growth in its protein business. Over the past two years, the company has invested nearly $850 million in U.S. protein expansion, creating hundreds of jobs across Columbus, Neb.; Lake Odessa, Mich.; Mason City, Iowa; Wichita, Kan. and Nashville.

"Our growth is a tribute to the 28,000 people on our team. They are passionate about helping our customers succeed by meeting consumer demands," said Brian Sikes, Cargill Protein president. "We're pleased to support investments like the Nashville expansion that help our customers grow and the communities where we operate prosper."

"We are thrilled that Cargill is increasing its investment in Nashville and creating 100 new jobs at this state-of-the-art facility. This expansion is a testament to the dedication of the plant's employees and the hard work they put in each and every day," said Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe.

Cargill Protein's Nashville facility complements the company's cooked meats facilities in Nebraska, Virginia, Texas and Minnesota. Sausage production is scheduled to begin at Nashville during the first half of 2019.

About Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 155,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About Cargill Protein

Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cargill Protein is an industry leader that produces, distributes and markets beef, turkey, chicken and egg products to retail, foodservice and food ingredient companies throughout North America, and exports meat and by-products around the world. Cargill Protein's 28,000 employees, and more than three dozen protein processing facilities in the U.S. and Canada, are focused on delivering superior, innovative, products and services to help customers grow their businesses by meeting consumer desires. Cargill Protein is a unit of Minneapolis-based Cargill, Incorporated. For more information, visit www.cargill.com and our News Center.

SOURCE Cargill

Related Links

http://www.cargill.com


BATTLE GROUND, Wash., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The new corporate offices for Treasure Investments Corp., a fine art company, located at 808 SE Commerce Avenue, Suite 120, Battle Ground, Washington, are now complete. After entering into a lease agreement with an option to purchase the building in August of 2017, TIC paid the buildout expenses, as the building was a cold shell with nothing more than a concrete floor and a roof. "I liked the fact that no one had occupied the space, as it gave us a clean slate to start from. We needed a nice showroom to display our sculpture collections, conference room, and a packaging and shipping facility. We designed the entire space and now it's perfect," says Russo.

Treasure Investments Corporation

The completion of the office came in two months ahead of schedule and is approximately 5,000 sq. ft. with an additional 900 sq. ft. if needed. TIC expects to have up to 15 employees in the office with jobs including gallery managers to oversee a network of galleries carrying their art throughout the United States, charity auction directors, and high-performance sales executives. The showroom/gallery will be open by appointment only. TIC has commissioned over 50 new works of art to be created and, as each new piece is complete, TIC will have unveiling parties and exciting receptions. The company expects to celebrate its grand opening sometime early next year.

Treasure Investments Corp. has sculpting studios and facilities in Aurora, Oregon, and is also in the process of purchasing a sculpture foundry in Sandy, Oregon.

"Our team loves the location and the people; Battle Ground is an incredible town. We are grateful to be here," says Russo.

To learn more about the company and its work with nonprofits, visit Fineart1.com.

Media Contact:

Mark Russo

Phone: 360.954.5453

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

image1.jpg

Treasure Investments Corp. Battle Ground Headquarters

image2.jpg

Treasure Investments Corp. Battle Ground Headquarters West Entry

image3.jpg

Treasure Investments Corp. Battle Ground Headquarters Wild Splendor

image4.jpg

Treasure Investments Corp. Battle Ground Headquarters Showroom

SOURCE Treasure Investments Corporation

Related Links

http://Fineart1.com


"CPR has been the primary focus of my research and advocacy efforts for the duration of my career," said Dr. Nadkarni. "As a critical care physician, I see the benefits of CPR every day and the ramifications that occur when it is not administered. It's been my life's work to study and improve CPR to save more lives, across the life cycle from infancy to the elderly."

Dr. Nadkarni served as chair of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation from 2007 to 2016 and was chairman of the AHA Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee from 2006 to 2010. He has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 35 book chapters related to the practice of CPR, critical care and resuscitation science. He has conducted several collaborative multi-center NIH research grants and was the founding pediatric member of the American Heart Association's National Registry of CPR in more than 350 hospitals nationwide and the AHRQ-funded National Emergency Airway Registry for Children across 30 hospitals in the United States. He has also served on the board of directors of the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. Additionally, he serves as the founding senior chair and mentor for the 106-site International Network for Simulation-Based Pediatric Innovation, Research and Education (INSPIRE) investigators. Along with collaborative partners including the American Heart Association, Zoll Foundation and Laerdal Foundation, Dr. Nadkarni has assembled robust clinical, laboratory and simulation-based resuscitation learning laboratories that include live-capture of resuscitation events to inform practice and help pioneer next generation resuscitation care.

"I can think of no better person to receive this award," said Bryan Wolf, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Chair of the Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics at CHOP. "Dr. Nadkarni and his team continue to play an important role in guiding how pediatric hospitals handle pediatric CPR. His dedication to the field is clear from the impact it has on science and the lives of children who have been saved by high-quality CPR."

During his career, Dr. Nadkarni has mentored more than 100 postdoctoral fellows and physician-scientists and has been the recipient of CHOP's 2011 Outstanding Mentor Award, the American Heart Association's 2012 Ron Haddock International Impact Award, the R-Baby Foundation 2013 Pioneer Award, the AAP 2014 Critical Care Lifetime Distinguished Career Award and the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2015 Giant's Award.

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 546-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

Contact: Camillia Travia

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

267-426-6251 (office)

425-492-5007 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu


BOSTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Search Institute has selected City Year to be one of five national partners to co-create and test innovative ways to strengthen the relationships that young people in high-need communities experience in their schools, programs, and families.

City Year, a national education nonprofit operating in 28 cities across the country, will work with its site in Columbus, Ohio and Search Institute to examine young people's experiences of mentoring relationships, focusing on ways these relationships help young people learn, grow, and thrive. Then the partners will work together to design and test strategies and tools to be more intentional and inclusive in building relationships with and among young people.

Titled the Relationships for Outcomes Initiative (ROI), this three-year effort grows out of extensive research on the power of relationships by Search Institute and others. This research shows that young people who experience "developmental relationships" in their lives experience better outcomes, including being more motivated in school, avoiding high-risk behaviors, developing social-emotional competencies, and other signs of thriving.

"The relationships between City Year's AmeriCorps members and the students they serve are foundational to all of the work we do with schools," said City Year President Jim Balfanz. "The collaboration between City Year and Search Institute will result in better tools and strategies for our AmeriCorps members to use as they build developmental relationships with their students and provide academic and social-emotional supports that allow them to flourish."

"We are excited to learn about how best to support our AmeriCorps members in forming developmental relationships and sharing those learnings and best practices with both the teachers and administrators with whom we partner every day and other mentoring organizations across the field," said City Year Columbus Executive Director Tasha Booker.

THE FIVE PARTNERS

Each of the five partners has a broad network of programs and has chosen a single local program that will serve as a "design site" for this initiative. The other partners are:

Camp Fire ( Kansas City, Missouri ) and its affiliate in Portland, Oregon .

( ) and its affiliate in . Communities in Schools of San Antonio , Texas , and its program in South San High School.

, and its program in South San High School. Generation Citizen ( Boston, Massachusetts ) and its school-based program in Boston .

( ) and its school-based program in . National Center for Families Learning ( Louisville, Kentucky ) and its partner organization, Toberman Neighborhood Center, San Pedro, California .

"These partners bring a wealth of experience in engaging and building relationships with marginalized young people," said Kent Pekel, Search Institute's president and CEO. "We are honored that they are joining us in this major effort, and we expect that what we learn and create together will have a major impact on young people across the country."

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE PARTNERSHIP

The initiative builds on extensive Search Institute research on the elements of relationships that are critical for young people's learning, development, and thriving. Search Institute has created a Framework of Developmental Relationships,* which is relevant for parent-youth relationships, student-teacher relationships, mentoring relationships, peer relationships, and relationships between youth and out-of-school-time program leaders. The framework identifies five key elements of relationships that contribute to young people's development:

Express careShow me that I matter to you. Challenge growthPush me to keep getting better. Provide supportHelp me complete tasks and achieve goals. Share powerTreat me with respect and give me a say. Expand possibilitiesConnect me with people and places that broaden my world.

Relationships with these qualities are vital for young people's growth. Young people who report more strength in these elements of relationships are more likely to report a variety of social-emotional strengths (such as being motivated in school), be more likely to be resilient in the midst of challenges, and be less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors.

However, as many as 40 percent of young people say they have just one or no relationships that reflect these actions, according to a recent Search Institute study in a major US city. Furthermore, gaps in relationships are particular challenges for young people who have historically been marginalized in society, including those living in poverty and young people of color.

ABOUT CITY YEAR

City Year helps students and schools succeed. Fueled by national service, City Year partners with public schools in 28 urban, high-need communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and Johannesburg, South Africa. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide research-based student, classroom and school-wide supports to help students stay in school and on track to graduate from high school, ready for college and career success. A 2015 study shows that schools that partner with City Year were up to 2-3 times more likely to improve on math and English assessments. A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, local school districts, and private philanthropy from corporations, foundations and individuals. For more information, visit cityyear.org.

ABOUT SEARCH INSTITUTE

Minneapolis-based Search Institute conducts research across the United States and around the world to discover what young people need to succeed. The nonprofit also partners with youth-serving organizations to create spaces where young people thrive. For more information, visit www.searchinstitute.org.

THE FUNDING PARTNERS

Core support for ROI is provided by the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust. The Trust supports the ROI action-learning partnerships focused on K-12 education, out-of-school-time programs, mentoring programs, and peer programs. The ROI action-learning partnership focused on family engagement is supported by the Altria Group.

* See www.searchinstitute.org/developmental-relationships

SOURCE City Year

Related Links

http://www.cityyear.org


LONDON, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Coinfirm and TokenMarket announced today a collaboration to bring effective anti-money laundering to the blockchain space and to ICOs.

Token sales have been a hot topic in the tech and finance world and yet the regulatory aspect and need of an end-to-end service have been seriously lacking for this growing fundraising activity. With $3.4bn raised this year through token sales, businesses are seeing a need to self-regulate through the adoption of AML practices. To further complicate this challenge, jurisdictions are adopting varying definitions and regulatory standards towards the process of token sales. Now, Coinfirm and TokenMarket are taking the necessary steps to stay ahead of the curve by ensuring the highest standards of regulatory compliance for token sales.

Coinfirm, known as a leading blockchain regtech and compliance company, has been providing compliance services for both blockchain and traditional industry players around the world through the Coinfirm AML/CTF Platform. Recently, Coinfirm announced that they were introducing a streamlined and automated AML/CTF solution for Ethereum and associated Tokens and ICOs.

As the premier platform for ICO's, TokenMarket provides a full token sale advisory service underpinned by a firm commitment to raising standards across the entire token ecosystem. TokenMarket promotes the need for those running token sales to seek solid legal advice to understand the KYC and AML requirements and as needed, adopt a solution like Coinfirm.

"We are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of interest in our token sale services and we are thrilled to be working with some of the highest profile blockchain companies to help scale up their businesses. With that comes a responsibility to ensure that we are advising our clients with the latest and best possible technology and information regarding regulation. Coinfirm represent some of the best in the regulatory space and we are very excited to be partnering with them and look forward to working together to safeguard the future of token sales," Ransu Salovaara, TokenMarket CEO, said.

Coinfirm's CEO Pawel Kuskowski also expressed his enthusiasm for the importance of the partnership. "TokenMarket represents the standard in the token sale environment, while we represent the same for regtech and compliance for blockchain. Without two entities like us coming together, the question of regulatory compliance in commercial applications towards this revolutionary process remains quite grey and prevents it from reaching its potential in the traditional and mass markets. We're here to help bring that security, confidence and growth to the process." said Kuskowski.

About Coinfirm

Coinfirm serves as a foundation for the safe adoption and use of blockchain. A recognized leader in their field and among the most influential blockchain and regtech companies, the blockchain agnostic Coinfirm AML/CTF Platform uses proprietary algorithms and big data analysis to provide structured, actionable data that increases efficiency, reduces costs and streamlines compliance to near automation. In addition, Coinfirm develops dedicated blockchain solutions such as their data provenance platform Trudatum, currently being piloted for adoption by multiple financial institutions. Coinfirm has also recently released their AMLT Token to allow for market participants to help rate others and democratize the financial system.

About TokenMarket

TokenMarket is a full ICO advisory service working with some of the brightest startups in the blockchain industry. Headquartered in Gibraltar, the company has worked with more than twenty token sales in 2017 including pioneering brands such as Storj, Civic.

SOURCE Coinfirm
NOVATO, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than 170,000 acres of land burned and nearly 6,000 homes destroyed, the wildfires that spread across Northern California were among the most destructive in our State's history. "Many long-standing communities in Sonoma and Napa counties were destroyed overnight by these fires. The damage and loss is unimaginable. Our donation to the North Bay Fire Relief Fund is just a part of our company's collective effort to make a positive difference. Our team at Common Interest is banding together to support local relief efforts as well. The spirit of togetherness and belonging in these North Bay communities is very strong. We join with fellow owners and residents, all of whom are resilient in spirit, energized and determined to rebuild," shared Mike Archer, Common Interest Management's CEO.
MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm Protiviti and the Shared Assessments Program's annual Vendor Risk Management Benchmark Study, released today, finds that a majority (53 percent) of organizations surveyed are likely to exit or change (de-risk) relationships with some vendors due to heightened risk levels. The reason cited most often was fourth-party risk issues and an inability to resolve them.

Insurance companies, including healthcare payers, appear much more likely to make de-risking moves, with cost concerns and a lack of internal expertise to evaluate vendor controls cited as other primary reasons. The study, now in its fourth year, finds that 71 percent of these organizations will likely change their high-risk relationships over the next 12 months. Nearly half of all respondents (48 percent) said it has become imperative from a risk and regulatory standpoint to assess vendors' contractors.

The survey of 539 C-suite executives and risk management and audit professionals was conducted across a wide range of industries in the second and third quarters of 2017, with the majority of their organizations having revenues exceeding $1 billion. According to respondents, companies' board-level engagement around cybersecurity risks has improved notably during the past year. Massive and costly cyberattacks  including WannaCry, Petya and the Equifax hack, among others  have struck in the past year, forcing organizations, and healthcare providers in particular, to rethink key components of their vendor risk management approaches.

"While our study revealed increased board engagement in cybersecurity, there is an 'engagement gap' in that boards remain more engaged in their own companies' internal cybersecurity risks than the cybersecurity risks of the organizations' vendors, which can have negative repercussions if even one of those vendors has a severe data breach," said Cal Slemp, managing director, security program and strategy services, Protiviti. New cybersecurity-related regulations, such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), China's complex Cyber Security Law (CSL) and the stringent New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Cybersecurity Requirements, have taken effect in the past year or are set to go into effect in the near future. "Even though companies have made strides in their vendor risk management practices as evident in this year's survey results, many organizations may not have access to enough vendor risk management expertise to mitigate their risks," added Slemp.

"Despite some improvement in vendor risk management overall, our study has found that  with some notable exceptions  progress has been incremental since the study's first iteration in 2014. The single most important step an organization can take to improve its third-party risk management performance is to undertake periodic, arm's length evaluations of its program's effectiveness. Regular benchmarking is extremely important given the challenges associated with a rapidly evolving, volatile external risk and regulatory environment," said Gary Roboff, senior advisor, The Santa Fe Group, Shared Assessments Program.

The research, which looks at organizations' maturity of vendor risk management, is based on the comprehensive Vendor Risk Management Maturity Model (VRMMM) developed by the Shared Assessments Program.

Resources Available to Learn More

Protiviti will host a complimentary webinar at 10:00 a.m. PST on November 30, 2017 to discuss the results of the survey and offer insights into what organizations can do to raise their vendor risk management maturity levels. Joining Roboff on the one-hour webinar will be Paul Kooney, a director in Protiviti's security and privacy practice. To register, please visit www.protiviti.com/webinars. They have also recorded a podcast about the survey findings, which can be found at www.protiviti.com/vendor-risk. The site also hosts an infographic and a short video of the survey's highlights.

To access a complimentary copy of the full report, 2017 Vendor Risk Management Benchmark Study, please click here.

About the Shared Assessments Program

The Shared Assessments Program is the trusted source for third party risk management with resources, including tools and best practices, to effectively manage the critical elements of the vendor risk management lifecycle. Members represent a collaborative, global, peer community of information security, privacy, and third party risk management leaders in industries including financial services, insurance, brokerage, healthcare, retail, and telecommunications. The Certified Third Party Risk Professional (CTPRP) certification program, membership, and use of the Shared Assessments Program Tools, ensure organizations stay current with the threat and risk environment, including regulations, industry standards, and guidelines. Shared Assessments provides organizations and their service providers the rigorous controls needed for IT, data security, privacy, and business continuity. The Shared Assessments Program is managed by The Santa Fe Group (www.santa-fe-group.com), a strategic consulting company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. On the web at http://www.sharedassessments.org.

About Protiviti

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Through its network of more than 70 offices in over 20 countries, Protiviti and its independently owned Member Firms provide clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit.

Protiviti has served more than 60 percent of Fortune 1000 and 35 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

Editor's note: infographic of survey highlights available in PDF or JPEG formats. Photos available upon request.

SOURCE Protiviti

Related Links

http://www.protiviti.com


Click to Tweet: [email protected] Partners with @DataDynamicsInc to Deliver Fast & Agile Storage: (https://tinyurl.com/y8c6nd8y) #SDS

Businesses today rely on data as their primary asset, but the underlying infrastructure used to manage the data is often archaic and proprietary. This makes it extremely challenging for enterprises to adapt quickly to changing business demands.

The partnership of Compuverde's software-defined storage solution and Data Dynamics' StorageX solution supports business transformation in the following ways:

Accelerates adoption of new storage technology  StorageX minimizes file movement complexity, cost and risk with a single file management platform for the simplified movement, transformation and management of all data assets.

 StorageX minimizes file movement complexity, cost and risk with a single file management platform for the simplified movement, transformation and management of all data assets. Manages file data to quickly power new business requirements  By removing the barriers of proprietary storage types, StorageX allows for faster adoption of new Compuverde software-defined storage. StorageX includes comprehensive management, with automated, policy-driven workflows, all fully tested with Compuverde's scalable solution.

 By removing the barriers of proprietary storage types, StorageX allows for faster adoption of new Compuverde software-defined storage. StorageX includes comprehensive management, with automated, policy-driven workflows, all fully tested with Compuverde's scalable solution. Modernizes to support a changing cloud landscape  Data modernization is furthered in StorageX 8.0 with support for Compuverde object storage, transforming files into native object storage format, while providing direct access to their files. The partnership also provides the ability to support DevOps projects with efficiency  providing application programming interfaces for storage management automation and orchestration.

Stefan Bernbo, CEO and founder, Compuverde, said: "Traditional storage solutions lock enterprises into hard-wired proprietary systems that can't adapt quickly enough to manage today's data deluge. This partnership with Data Dynamics enables a modernized approach to data storage that gives organizations greater control of their data management and expedites them along their digital transformation journey."

Cuong Le, senior vice president, field operations, Data Dynamics, Inc., said: "To accelerate adoption of Compuverde's software-defined storage, StorageX removes barriers that exist across heterogeneous storage types. StorageX provides insight into who is accessing the data and the ability to manage and migrate data rapidly to Compuverde's solution. It's a comprehensive management solution that is also scalable and flexible."

About Compuverde

Compuverde is an established provider of software-defined storage, delivering enterprise-grade general vNAS file systems, hyper-converged virtualization and hybrid cloud support. Founded by a team of storage and software experts in 2008, Compuverde delivers cost-efficient, hardware-agnostic, scale-out solutions to both large consumer brands and industrial business-to-business players. Compuverde is currently deployed worldwide with service providers, telecom, banking, media and insurance companies. Compuverde's patented unified solution offers the most flexible, user friendly and cost-efficient SDS solution in the storage market, and easily scales to hundreds of nodes, exabytes of data and billions of files. Global by demand, Swedish by design. For more information, please visit: www.compuverde.com.

About Data Dynamics

Data Dynamics is a leader in intelligent file management solutions that empower enterprises to seamlessly analyze, move, manage and modernize critical data across hybrid, cloud and object-based storage infrastructures for true business transformation. Its award-winning StorageX platform eliminates vendor lock-in and provides a policy-based, storage management platform to provide the insight, agility, and operational efficiency to transform your data assets into competitive advantage. Used today by 24 of the top Fortune 100 companies, StorageX has optimized more than 160 PB of storage, saving more than 80 years in project time and $80 million in total storage costs. For more information, please visit: http://www.datadynamicsinc.com.

Editorial Contacts:



Peggy Galvin

Nadel Phelan, Inc.

(831) 440-2405

[email protected]



Sabrina Sanchez

The Ventana Group

(925) 785-3014

[email protected]

SOURCE Compuverde

Related Links

http://www.compuverde.com


BEIJING, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited ("Concord Medical" or the "Company") (NYSE: CCM), a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced that it will hold its 2017 annual general meeting of shareholders on December 21, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. (Beijing Time). The meeting will be held at 18/F, Tower A, Global Trade Center, 36 North 3rd Ring Road East, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China. All shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 20, 2017 will be entitled to attend and vote. The following resolutions are to be considered and passed as ordinary resolutions, if thought fit, at the meeting:

1. The appointment of Ernst & Young Hua Ming as independent auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 at a fee agreed by the directors be and is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved in all respects;

2. The appointment of Ernst & Young Hua Ming as independent auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 at a fee agreed by the directors be and is hereby approved;

3. The financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 contained in the Company's 2016 annual report be and is hereby ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted in all respects;

4. Consider any other business as may properly come before the annual general meeting or any adjournment thereof.

A copy of the notice of 2017 annual general meeting is available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.concordmedical.com.

The Company has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on May 1, 2017. The annual report can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.concordmedical.com as well as the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Shareholders may receive a hard copy of the annual report free of charge upon request. Requests should be submitted to http://ir.concordmedical.com.

About Concord Medical

Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited is a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China. As of June 30, 2017, the Company operated a network of 60 centers with 41 hospital partners that spanned 34 cities and 19 provinces and administrative regions in China. Under long-term arrangements with top-tier hospitals in China, the Company provides radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging equipment and manages the daily operations of these centers, which are located on the premises of its hospital partners. The Company also provides ongoing training to doctors and other medical professionals in its network of centers to ensure a high level of clinical care for patients. For more information, please see http://ir.concordmedical.com.

For more information, please contact:

Concord Medical Services

Ms. Carol TIAN (Chinese and English)

+86 10 5903 6688 (ext. 608)

[email protected]

SOURCE Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Language adopted from a General Motors suggestion by the California Department of Motor Vehicles in its revised proposed autonomous vehicle regulations would "let robot carmakers railroad consumers" into being liable for car crashes when the robot driver fails and the rule exceeds DMV's authority, Consumer Watchdog warned today.

"Exceeding your authority, DMV's latest proposed regulation, contradicting earlier rules, now puts the owner of the robot car on the hook for accidents as carmakers can make the claim that the owner didn't maintain the vehicle to the manufacturer's standard," wrote Consumer Watchdog's President Jamie Court and Privacy & Technology Project Director John M. Simpson in a letter to the DMV. "That's an outrageous and unlawful overreach."

Read Consumer Watchdog's letter to the DMV here: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/LtrDMV111417.pdf

"Consumer Watchdog advises that you not succumb to GM's power grab, but follow the law," the letter said. "We urge you to withdraw Sec. 228.28 as you do not have authority to propose it. Failure to do so will most certainly result in a time-consuming legal challenge to your regulations."

Consumer Watchdog objected to language added to Sec. 228.28 of the revised proposed autonomous vehicle regulations at GM's suggestion. It adds the amendment that a robot car manufacturer is responsible for technology failures only when the robot car has "been maintained in compliance with manufacturer's specifications and any modifications to the vehicle that affect the operation of the vehicle's autonomous technology are in compliance with the manufacture's specifications."

Consumer Watchdog, the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (ACIC) and the American Insurance Association (AIA), who are rarely on the same page, all agree that the manufacturer friendly proposal offered by General Motors is an overreach of DMV's authority, Consumer Watchdog noted.

"What is extremely troubling is that DMV added this amendment at the request of General Motors. The revised language is virtually identical to the language proposed by General Motors Chief Counsel and Policy Director Paul Hemmersbaugh in a letter to DMV on April 24, 2017," Court and Simpson wrote.

The situation is made worse by how the GM suggestion came about, Consumer Watchdog said. Court and Simpson wrote:

"It is the result of the ongoing and troubling federal revolving door between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the auto industry. Before Hemmersbaugh proposed self-serving language on GM's behalf, he was general counsel at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He wrote the legal opinion in response to a Google query in 2016 that said that a computer system can qualify as the legal driver of a car. He most assuredly had dealings with the DMV when he was a NHTSA regulator. Now he lobbies for General Motors."

Consumer Watchdog explained the impact of the new language. Court and Simpson wrote:

"Suppose, for example, mud splashed on a vital sensor, obstructing how the robot technology 'saw' oncoming traffic and there was a crash. The manufacturer could claim it was not at fault, because the owner didn't maintain the vehicle in compliance with the manufacturer's standards when they failed to clean off the mud fast enough. Worse, consider a case where the robot car software was obviously to blame and mud was not wiped from a sensor. The company could still claim the robot car hadn't been properly maintained and deny liability even though the alleged 'maintenance failure' had nothing to do with the crash."

Visit our website at www.consumerwatchdog.org

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Related Links

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org


"The Internet was not designed to support large scale, high quality video streaming and yet our customers have no choice but to use this medium to deliver video as more consumers move from traditional pay TV services to a wide variety of OTT services," says Dr. Hui Zhang, CEO of Conviva. "This study reveals not only the diversity of approaches that leading OTT publishers are utilizing today to deliver their service, but also the myriad of opportunities technology providers, like Conviva, and others should understand to help build better streaming services and to make the internet work for video."

One of the interesting and unexpected findings from the research study was the realization that there is no such thing as a typical OTT publisher  the original goal was to find commonalities across publishers to establish economic benchmarks. While the broadcast industry has adopted common standards and practices for delivering content, OTT publishers utilize a variety of approaches to managing video delivery and ensuring viewers receive a high quality of experience (QoE). While no common business model was found, there was resounding agreement amongst those surveyed that one of the most difficult operational tasks is performing root cause analysis of issues such as re-buffering or stream failures. Most respondents also agreed that automation or machine learning would help them with diagnosing the of root cause of any problem.

"We set out to build a business model for the OTT industry to better understand the economics of delivering high quality, error free streaming experiences," said Nick Thomas, Associate Director at MTM. "Instead, amongst many other interesting findings, we discovered that most OTT publishers have very unique policies and procedures for operating their service and dealing with delivery issues."

This research study has uncovered the incredible opportunity to establish standards in running a successful OTT business. Industry trade groups, such as the Streaming Video Alliance (SVA), should consider establishing industry-wide agreed standards about what constitutes a high-quality streaming video experience in a way that consumers can understand and publishers can benchmark themselves against. Furthermore, there is an opportunity for OTT publishers to share knowledge and best practices with their industry peers related to operating, alerting, and issue resolution. This could improve the quality of streaming video across the industry, potentially accelerating the overall growth of OTT streaming video.

The research study was first revealed last night at Conviva's launch party at The Hoxton, Shoreditch with OTT industry executives from all around in attendance. To learn more about the study and to read the whitepaper, visit https://www.conviva.com/research.

About Conviva

Conviva powers every internet-connected screen with the most engaging viewing experiences imaginable by elevating the way OTT businesses use data-driven intelligence. For years, HBO, Sky, Turner and the like have been using Conviva's Video AI Platform to enlighten, reveal and inform with important insights around consumer in-screen viewing experience allowing them to connect those metrics to important business outcomes. This allows customers to not only maximize subscriber retention and growth but also understand content and viewing trends so that they can deliver more personalized viewing experiences. We make engagement a data driven outcome based on actionable quality of experience (QoE) analytics. Conviva is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, with offices in New York and London. For more information, please visit us at www.conviva.com.

SOURCE Conviva

Related Links

http://www.conviva.com


DENVER and CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CQG has had a focused effort to add China to its global network of data and execution. With the imminent launch of this initiative, the firm announced today that Rod Giffen, President, CQG, has relocated to China and will serve in the newly created position of President, CQG APAC. Ryan Moroney will return to CQG to assume the new role of President, CQG Europe and the Americas.

Tim Mather, CEO of CQG, said: "We view China as an important addition to our global presence. Rod has been instrumental in developing a talented team in preparation for the forthcoming rollout. I'm excited about adding China to our global network to better serve our customers."

Moroney, who will re-join the firm in December, began his career in 2003 as a member of CQG's Data Quality team. During his 11 years at CQG, he helped build CQG's API business. His roles at CQG expanded to include product management of the Market Data and Order Routing teams and Director of Operations for the API division. He left CQG to pursue an opportunity at S&P Capital IQ, where he currently serves as Vice President of Sales to S&P's Corporates Segment in the Americas.

Mather said: "We're very pleased to welcome Ryan back to CQG to oversee our U.S. and European business, where we continue to focus on developing products that meet the needs of our expanding customer base."

SOURCE CQG
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

CRYPTO20 is continuing to gain momentum as it passes $12 million for its Cryptocurrency Index Fund. Over 4,700 contributors are part of the fund which, unlike competitors, is a finished product with live trading tools.

CRYPTO20 originally raised $5 million in an oversubscribed pre-sale and the public token sale is currently running with over $12 million invested. With two weeks left to run, the team behind CRYPTO20 is expecting to build even further and cross the $20 million mark in the coming week.

The fund's token, C20, is a representation of an investor's share of the fund, and the fund's value is equal to the combined value of its assets. CRYPTO20, unlike many of the other offerings in the marketplace today, is a finished product and not a platform.

Actively managed funds consistently fail to beat the market index despite decades worth of data, billions of dollars and hundreds of analysts at their disposal. When they have, their fees dilute investor returns to less than if they had simply held the index.

"We have known for a long time that the crypto world should benefit from the introduction of the most proven, practical, tried and tested investment vehicle - the index fund - and we are pleased to share this outlook with over 4,700 contributors." - Daniel Schwartzkopff, CEO & Founder, CRYPTO20"

- Daniel Schwartzkopff, Founder & CEO, CRYPTO20

CRYPTO20 has released trading tools and insights that are generated live from the eight exchanges connected to the system via a simple, unified API. The trading tools are available in the fund investor portal and include information on slippage, the best price, and trading pair to acquire assets with and the volume by exchange.

The fund is fully AML/KYC compliant and operates as a registered LLC in the Cayman Islands, a popular fund jurisdiction.

The CRYPTO20 fund mitigates risk and volatility and historically has provided better returns than the market cap leader, Bitcoin, alone.

About CRYPTO20

CRYPTO20 is a Cryptocurrency Index Fund that will use the token sale funding to buy the underlying crypto assets. No broker fees, no exit fees, no minimum investment and full control over your assets. Full blockchain transparency.

WEBSITE: http://www.crypto20.com

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/CRYPTOtwenty

SOURCE CRYPTO20
CLEVELAND, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified Security Solutions (CSS) is demonstrating its leading-edge Internet of Things (IoT) device identity and lifecycle management platform, CMS VerdeTTo at Tech.AD in Detroit, November 16-17 and Security of Things World in San Diego, November 16-17.

CSS will demonstrate the CMS VerdeTTo solution, providing certificate-based identity and enabling device authentication and encryption, alongside of presenting findings from its recent pilot that simulated the provisioning and lifecycle management of 500 million devices.

Industries of all stripes are facing a dilemma. On one hand, they are forced to embrace the concept of digitizing their business, which generally leads to deploying IoT technology. But the Internet of Things is comprised of just that, things. Things that are quite literally changing the world with a multitude of revolutionary purposes, but which lack security, making them a cybersecurity nightmare.

However, it is possible to deploy IoT in a manner that meets both business and security needs. With this conclusion, CSS developed CMS VerdeTTo, providing complete identity lifecycle management for the IoT ecosystem. IoT security begins with building a foundation of trust through unique identity provisioning, continuous secure management and overall ecosystem integration grounded by a private Root of Trust (RoT).

At Automotive Tech.Ad and Security of Things World, CSS will present key security risks related to the connected car, and their respective solutions, along with parallel threats across the Industrial IoT (IIoT):

Identifying and Securing the Autonomous, Connected Car, Millions of Certificates at a Time - Ted Shorter , CSS chief technology officer: http://autonomous-driving-detroit.com/en/agenda/

, CSS chief technology officer: http://autonomous-driving-detroit.com/en/agenda/ Keeping 500 Million Devices Happy And Secure For 50 Years - Judah Aspler , CSS vice president of business development, and Anthony Ricci , CSS technical product manager: http://securityofthingsworldusa.com/en/agenda/

CMS VerdeTTo runs in the cloud or on-premise, supports both private certificate authorities and public certificate issuers such as Certicom, DigiCert and Entrust, and can also be deployed together with a managed Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) service that eliminates the need for ongoing maintenance and management of the PKI.

Related Links:

https://www.css-security.com/software/cms-verdetto-for-iot-security/

http://autonomous-driving-detroit.com/en/

http://securityofthingsworldusa.com/en/

About CSS

Certified Security Solutions (CSS) is a leading provider of software and services to securely connect people, applications and devices to business ecosystems. Our PKI Operations platform facilitates the identification, authentication, management and overall security of digital assets across the Enterprise and Internet of Things (IoT). Visit https://www.css-security.com/ for more information

Media Contact

Sarah Hance

216-785-2291

SOURCE Certified Security Solutions (CSS)

Related Links

https://www.css-security.com


LONDON and MONTREAL, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DalCor Pharmaceuticals today announced the appointment of Dr. Fouzia Laghrissi-Thode to its Board of Directors. Dr. Laghrissi-Thode is Vice-President at AstraZeneca. She has been leading the US Renal-Cardiology Therapeutic Area based in San Francisco and previously led the Global Cardiovascular Metabolism Therapeutic Area.

"Dr. Laghrissi-Thode has contributed to the advancement of cardiovascular health in a variety of roles," said Robert McNeil, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of DalCor Pharmaceuticals. "The Board welcomes her commitment to patients, vision and breadth of experience as we continue to develop dalcetrapib as a leading precision medicine treatment for cardiovascular disease.''

"I have been greatly impressed by the progress of DalCor's Phase 3 study of dalcetrapib, not only as seen by its rapid enrollment of patients, currently ahead of schedule with 60% recruited, but also by the research conducted to advance the understanding of this targeted therapy," said Dr. Laghrissi-Thode. "DalCor is the first to use a precision medicine approach in studying cardiovascular treatment, and I look forward to working with its management team to support these potential breakthrough efforts."

In addition to her cardiovascular experience, Dr. Laghrissi-Thode has demonstrated success at Roche, Novartis and Sandoz in clinical development, global strategic marketing, business development and licensing in variety of therapeutic areas including diabetes, renal and the central nervous system. She drove the development of Dalcetrapib and the Dal-HEART program at Roche. She also served as a board member of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) Europe and was recognized by HBA in 2012 for her work in developing and promoting women leadership in healthcare.

About DalCor Pharmaceuticals

DalCor is developing precision treatments by genetically targeting patients that will derive clinical benefits. By integrating clinical and genetic insights, DalCor intends to deliver superior clinical cardiovascular outcomes. The company's first development program, dalcetrapib, is intended to reduce cardiovascular events in a specific genetic subset of patients.

DalCor has a worldwide exclusive license for dalcetrapib together with rights to the genetic marker for use with dalcetrapib and is sponsoring the dal-GenE study. DalCor Pharmaceuticals has offices in Montreal, San Mateo, Calif., Zug, Switzerland and Stockport, U.K. For more information, visit www.dalcorpharma.com

DalCor Contacts:

Russo Partners

Alex Fudukidis

(646) 942-5632

[email protected]

SOURCE DalCor Pharmaceuticals

Related Links

http://www.dalcorpharma.com


In his role as Creative Advisor, Berkus will leverage his deep interior design knowledge and expert taste to help conceptualize and develop new product offerings and collections. He will also work with the Framebridge team to guide company strategy around innovation, design and partnerships. To kick off, Berkus is supporting the company's 2017 holiday campaign focused on meaningful gifting.

"When you find a company that is doing something really well, and has smart people running it, that's interesting to me," Berkus said. "It was an opportunity to be part of a brand that is transforming the category. Framebridge is such an innovative company. They saw a gap in the market, and stepped in to offer the very best framing solutions, at a great price point."

In his advisory role at Framebridge, Berkus will draw on his vast design experience as Framebridge continues to develop new product collections that are trend-driven and in great taste.

"Nate has genuinely found a way to make high style and impeccable design accessible to everyone, which of course is the motivation behind Framebridge," said Susan Tynan, founder and CEO, Framebridge. "He will help Framebridge reach more people through incredible product offerings and a powerful message about framing the meaningful items that tell your story. I am so proud to have him on board for our next phase of growth."

Since launching in August 2014, Framebridge has built hundreds of thousands of custom frames. Through a tech-forward experience and an obsessive focus on quality and materials, they have introduced a new generation of customers to the tradition of custom manufacturing. For Framebridge, partnering with Nate Berkus is the next step in its ongoing investment in design and innovation.

About Nate Berkus:

Since designer Nate Berkus established his award-winning interior design firm at the age of 24, his approachable and elevated philosophy has transformed countless homes around the world through his design work, home collections, books, television shows and media appearances. Ever since Berkus' first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, he has become one of the world's most recognizable interior designers. His work has been featured in publications including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, VOGUE, InStyle, O Magazine, People and ELLE DECOR, which included him on their "A-List" of the world's top designers. His popular product lines include a home collection sold at Target, a fabric line at JoAnn Fabric & Craft Stores, as well as being Artistic Advisor for LG Studio. He has authored two New York Times bestselling books: Home Rules (2005) and The Things That Matter (2012), and in 2011 he served as Executive Producer of the Oscar winning film, The Help. Audiences followed Berkus through his own television shows, the daily-syndicated The Nate Berkus Show and 2014's American Dream Builders (NBC). His new design show, "Nate and Jeremiah By Design", premiered on TLC in April 2017. To learn more about Nate Berkus, please visit www.nateberkus.com.

About Framebridge:

Framebridge (framebridge.com) makes it easy and affordable for consumers to custom frame the things they love. Customers can choose from a curated selection of on-trend frame styles, then upload their photos on the Framebridge website, or ship their items directly to Framebridge in prepaid packaging. The expert team at Framebridge will receive their items and handcraft beautiful custom frames to each customer's exact specifications. The finished pieces ship directly to consumers, arriving in days. Framebridge's transparent pricing, which is determined by the size of each item, begins at $39 and includes free shipping.

Framebridge is based in Washington D.C., operates two factories and employs over 250 people. Visit www.framebridge.com for more.

Contact:

Claudia Naim-Burt

Framebridge

301.275.8262

[email protected]

SOURCE Framebridge

Related Links

https://www.framebridge.com


SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DesignCon 2018, the nation's premier conference for chip, board and systems design engineers, today announced three new keynote presentations covering NASA's New Horizons mission, the safety of autonomous vehicles and expert predictions of future challenges within engineering. Taking place January 30 - February 1, DesignCon 2018 will feature a unique keynote presentation on each day of the conference, providing sought-after perspectives on the latest industry trends. Keynote speakers include Alice Bowman, Todd Hubing, Steve Sandler and Istvan Novak, hailing from organizations and institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Clemson University, Picotest, Oracle and more. To learn more about DesignCon 2018 and the featured keynote presenters, please visit: designcon.com

"The 2018 DesignCon keynote lineup supports not only the technical aspects of the electronic design community, but also speaks to larger, wide-reaching topics that resonate within the vast electronics industry," said Nina Brown, vice president of events, UBM. "Our technical program committee (TPC) and content experts thoughtfully curated these speakers to ensure that the content speaks directly to engineers, but also will be of practical interest to the industry as a whole."

Full details on this year's keynote presentations:

New Horizons: Journey to Pluto and Beyond

Presented by: Alice Bowman, New Horizons Mission Operations Manager, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Along with leading the Space Exploration Sector's Space Mission Operations Group at Johns Hopkins University, Bowman also serves as Mission Operations Manager (MOM) for NASA's New Horizons mission. Bowman supervises staff members who operate deep-space and Earth-orbiting spacecraft, and as the New Horizons MOM, Bowman leads the team that commands and controls the spacecraft that made a historic close flyby of Pluto in July 2015 and continues deeper into the solar system's distant Kuiper Belt region.

In her presentation, New Horizons: Journey to Pluto and Beyond, Bowman will speak about her experience leading the New Horizons Mission and more specifically describe some of the technical challenges faced while piloting the New Horizons spacecraft through the solar system.

How Do We Make Autonomous Vehicles Safe Enough?

Presented by: Todd Hubing, Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University

Dr. Todd Hubing, Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Clemson University and previously the Michelin Professor of Vehicle Electronics, was an engineer at IBM for seven years and a faculty member at the University of Missouri-Rolla for 17 years before joining Clemson in 2006. At Clemson, he established the Clemson Vehicular Electronics Laboratory where he supervised research projects and taught classes in vehicle electronics, electromagnetic compatibility and digital signal integrity.

Dr. Hubing's presentation, How Do We Make Autonomous Vehicles Safe Enough?, will discuss the current reliability of autonomous vehicles and the challenges in designing them. Dr. Hubing will also cover how to ensure immunity to electromagnetic interference in future autonomous vehicles.

Signal Integrity, Power Integrity & Electromagnetic Interference Challenges: Looking Ahead Through 2023

Panel discussion with:

Steve Sandler, Managing Director, Picotest

Istvan Novak, Senior Principal Engineer, Oracle

Eric Bogatin, Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado

Alfred Neves, Chief Technologist, Wind River Technology

Kenneth Wyatt, Sr. EMC Engineer, Wyatt Technical Services LLC

This panel, filled by thought leaders within the electronic engineering and design community, will focus on challenges that engineers are currently facing and how they can proactively predict new challenges before they arise. More specifically, this panel will strive to predict the effect that challenges in signal integrity, power integrity and electromagnetic interference will have on the industry within the next five years.

The keynote presentations headline a larger, 14-track conference covering the latest developments in hardware and high-speed communications design. The conference will feature over 100 technical sessions, three full day boot-camps, and more. To learn more and see the full conference schedule please visit: schedule.designcon.com

Register for DesignCon 2018:

To register for the event please visit: designcon.tech.ubm.com

To apply for a media pass please visit: designcon.tech.ubm.com/2018/index/registrations/media

DesignCon Social Media

Facebook | Twitter

About DesignCon

DesignCon is the world's premier conference for chip, board and systems design engineers in the high-speed communications and semiconductor communities. DesignCon, created by engineers for engineers, takes place annually in Silicon Valley and remains the largest gathering of chip, board and systems designers in the country. This three-day technical conference and two-day expo combines technical paper sessions, tutorials, industry panels, product demos and exhibits from the industry's leading experts and solutions providers. More information is available at: www.designcon.com. DesignCon is organized by UBM plc. UBM is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer 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 DesignCon
"We're pleased to announce that New Look Laser College is expanding to additional locations in the US and abroad," said Justin Arnosky, Director of New Look Laser College. "We know travel and logistics can be difficult for some, which is why we want to ease the travel burden and come to those looking to learn about laser tattoo removal. We're excited to meet experienced laser providers, entrepreneurs, and job seekers alike."

New Look Laser College was established in 2007 and is the world's first laser tattoo removal training program. The 2-day training course covers topics including laser physics, laser safety, laser protocols, patient consultation, effective marketing, and more. Students receive in-depth didactic laser tattoo removal training, as well as extensive hands-on training on a variety of tattoos and across a diverse range of patient skin types.

New Look Laser College has trained individuals from all different backgrounds and professions, from entrepreneurs to medical professionals, aestheticians, and tattoo artists. Upon successful completion, students receive the following designations:

Certified Laser Specialist (CLS)

Laser Safety Officer (LSO)

Advanced Laser Tattoo Removal Certification

While the course focuses solely on laser tattoo removal, instructors will also discuss additional procedures that can be practiced with Q-switched devices.

The 2018 New Look Laser College schedule will include courses in Dallas, Detroit, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, and Las Vegas. International courses will take place in Amsterdam, and Prague, with a third international course in a European city yet to be named. Students interested in starting a tattoo removal business or adding on tattoo removal to an existing practice can sign up for upcoming courses at https://newlooklasercollege.com/Registration.html.

About New Look Laser College

New Look Laser College, the training division of Astanza Laser, was founded in 2007 as the world's first laser tattoo removal focused training school. New Look Laser College has trained thousands of individuals from various backgrounds and locations around the world. Students will practice hands-on treatment using exclusive Astanza Laser technology. However, basic protocols for all Q-switched laser technology will be taught.

For more information about New Look Laser College, call (281) 846-5890, email [email protected] or visit newlooklasercollege.com.

SOURCE New Look Laser College
DENVER, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With Thanksgiving just a week away, officials around the country are bracing for one of the most dangerous time of the year for drunk driving and alcohol-related fatalitiesand with good cause. New data from high-risk DUI offenders tested 24/7 for drinking shows that violations among the monitored group are 44 percent higher than average during the long Thanksgiving weekend.

The period between Thanksgiving and New Years Day sees a dramatic increase in DUI offenses and other alcohol-related issues.

The data, compiled by Denver-based Alcohol Monitoring Systems (AMS), is based on 2.6 billion readings from 600,000 repeat drunk-driving defendants monitored for alcohol with transdermal ankle bracelets.

According to AMS spokesperson Alison Betts, the findings highlight how closely drinking is tied to Thanksgiving. "We monitor people who have been court-ordered not to drink. They know they'll get caught, and they know they'll face serious consequences, including jail. So you can just imagine the rate of drinking for those who aren't being monitored," says Betts.

Because AMS' testing protocol is automated and every 30 minutes, it provides unique insights into drinking behaviors and trends during holiday periods. The long holiday weekend, combined with family celebrations and holiday-related stress can lead people to drink more than usual, notes Betts. At the same time, driving is the most popular mode of Thanksgiving travel, making for a deadly combination.

Blackout Wednesday and #Drinksgiving

Drunk driving is expected to start increasing on Thanksgiving Eve, known as "Blackout Wednesday" or "Drinksgiving" in many cities. The terms are starting to trend on social media, with bars advertising drink specials for November 22. The start of the five-day holiday weekend means that many people don't have to worry about heading into the office the next day, and it is a particularly high-risk drinking day for college students home from school.

"We work with criminal justice agencies around the country," Betts notes, "and many of them say that drunk driving spikes as much on Thanksgiving Eve as on better known 'drinking' holidays." AMS reports that alcohol violations among the offenders they monitor jump nearly 50 percent on Blackout Wednesday.

Resources to promote a safe and sober holiday season

AMS' findings are especially troubling given recent news from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that drunk driving deaths increased in 2016, for the second year in a row.

AMS is helping communities bring attention to the dangers of binge drinking and DUIs during Thanksgiving and the entire the holiday season with their Sober Days for the Holidays Resource Center. The digital center includes a Drinking and DUIs During the Holidays Infographic highlighting the dangers between Thanksgiving and New Year's, tips for getting through the holidays without alcohol, social graphics to drive awareness, and links to additional drinking and driving safety resources.

About Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. (AMS)

Established in 1997, Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. (AMS) is the world's leading provider of alcohol testing technologies for the criminal justice industry. The company's flagship Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) technology, launched in 2003, revolutionized the way courts, agencies and treatment providers monitor and manage alcohol-involved offenders. In 2013 the company launched the SCRAM Systems suite of electronic monitoring technologies, which includes SCRAM Remote Breath, SCRAM GPS, and SCRAM House Arrest. AMS employs 250 people worldwide and is a privately-held company headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

SOURCE Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.scramsystems.com


DALLAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Hunter Resources, Inc., an exploration and production company headquartered in Dallas, Texas (www.energyhunter.energy), announced today that it reached an agreement with an undisclosed purchaser to divest it's ownership interest in certain mineral rights located in Howard County, Texas. The lower Sprayberry and Wolfcamp A were horizontal targets on these mineral rights. Potential horizontal development also exists in the Wolfcamp B and Wolfcamp C benches.

Since acquiring these ownership rights late last year for approximately $300,000, a total of three wells have been drilled and completed on these mineral rights with additional wells currently in the permitting stage.

Under terms of the agreement, Energy Hunter Resources sold 100 percent of its ownership interest in the mineral rights outlined above for $750,000, with a November 1 2017 effective date. This resulted in a 150 percent return on its investment in less than one year.

Gary C. Evans, Chairman & CEO of Energy Hunter Resources, Inc., said, "The reason to acquire mineral rights in the Permian Basin was always a short-term focused decision designed to leverage our expertise in the sector and obtain a minor ownership position in a core area of the Permian Basin. We watched the value of our mineral rights in the Permian Basin significantly increase as additional wells were drilled and completed on the properties. The decision to sell these assets now will enable us to reinvest the proceeds in our new core region of the San Andres oil play located in the Permian Basin and provide additional working capital to the Company."

About Energy Hunter Resources, Inc.

Energy Hunter Resources, Inc. is an independent oil company headquartered in Dallas, Texas with a mission to own and operate properties within some of the most prolific resource plays in the United States. Initially focusing on the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin, Energy Hunter's aim is to create substantial shareholder value through a balanced program of acquisitions and low-risk development and exploitation opportunities utilizing current generation horizontal drilling and fracture stimulation technology.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include ''forward-looking statements.'' To the extent that the information presented in this press release discusses financial projections, information, or expectations about our business plans, results of operations, products or markets, or otherwise makes statements about future events, such statements are forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ''should,'' ''may,'' ''intends,'' ''anticipates,'' ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''projects,'' ''forecasts,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' and ''proposes.'' Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, and Energy Hunter does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

Legal Disclaimer

Energy Hunter Resources, Inc. has filed an offering statement on Form 1-A relating to its securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission but it has not yet become qualified. You may obtain a copy of the most recent version of the offering statement containing the preliminary offering circular with the following link: https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?company=Energy+Hunter+Resources&owner=exclude&action=getcompany. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No money or other consideration is being solicited at this time with respect to such an offering, and if sent in response to these materials for such an offering, it will not be accepted. No securities may be sold, and no offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received for an offering under Regulation A, until an offering statement is qualified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of its acceptance given after the qualification date. An indication of interest made by a prospective investor in a Regulation A offering is non-binding and involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

SOURCE Energy Hunter Resources, Inc.

Related Links

http://energyhunter.energy


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that Evans High School - A Community Partnership School received this year's Governor Hugh L. Carey Award, presented annually to the national award-winning program in its 2017 Community Partnership Award competition.

In 2012, Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS) created, in partnership with Orange County Public Schools, the University of Central Florida and Orange Blossom Family Health, Evans High School - A Community Partnership School to build a bridge to success for students and residents of Pine Hills. Gripped by a vicious cycle of crime and violence, Pine Hills is an under-resourced neighborhood on the western side of Orlando.

The School uses a transformative "no-wrong-door" delivery model to provide a range of social services, including on-site medical and dental services, mental-health and counseling programs, after-school enrichment and mentoring, and transportation and meals, aimed at raising the academic ground floor and empowering students to succeed. Today, the School has 15 agencies working collaboratively to strengthen the community by creating opportunities for students and their families to reach their full potential.

"Often, the needs of students and community are greater than a school's capacity to meet those needs," said Michael Shaver, President and CEO of CHS. "Our community impact model enables us to collaborate with school staff to ensure the nearly 2,600 students at Evans High School are receiving the academic, social-emotional and developmental services they need to reach their fullest potential.

"Since 2012, graduation rates have increased from 64% to 80%, math and reading proficiency rates have risen, and disciplinary referrals have fallen by half. We've successfully replicated our model in five additional communities throughout Florida, and we hope our success will inspire other under-resourced neighborhoods to use our model to build stronger, more resilient communities across the country."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 220 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

SOURCE Mutual of America Life Insurance Company

Related Links

https://www.mutualofamerica.com


BEIJING, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fang Holdings Limited (NYSE: SFUN) ("Fang" or the "Company"), the leading real estate Internet portal in China, today announced that it would hold its 2017 annual general meeting of shareholders at Block A, No. 20 Guogongzhuang Middle Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100070, The People's Republic of China on December 20, 2017at 10:30 a.m. (local time). The proposals to be submitted for shareholders' approval at the annual general meeting are the re-election of Mr. Jingbo Wang as a director the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") and the re-election of Mr. Mingqiang Bi as an independent director of the Board and a member of the audit committee of the Board. The Board has fixed November 20, 2017 as the record date (the "Record Date") for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual general meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of record of the Company's ordinary shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to attend the annual general meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person.

About Fang

Fang operates the leading real estate Internet portal in China in terms of the number of page views and visitors to its websites. Through our websites, we provide e-commerce, marketing, listing, financial and other value-added services for China's fast-growing real estate and home furnishing and improvement sectors. Our user-friendly websites support active online communities and networks of users seeking information on, and other value-added services for, the real estate and home furnishing and improvement sectors in China. Fang currently maintains about 100 offices to focus on local market needs and its website and database contains real estate related content covering more than 651 cities in China. For more information about Fang, please visit http://ir.fang.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Dr. Hua Lei

CFO

Phone: +86-10-5631-8661

Email: [email protected]

Ms. Dana Cheng

Senior Manager, Investor Relations

Phone: +86-10-5631 8174

Email: [email protected]

Ms. Joyce Tang

Senior Manager, Investor Relations

Phone: +86-10-5631 8659

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Fang Holdings Limited
LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fazoli's, America's largest fast casual Italian chain, announced today it has appointed three industry veterans to the company's corporate leadership team: Jeff Sturgis as Chief Development Officer, Rodney Lee as Chief Financial Officer and Jodie Conrad as Vice President of Marketing. Closing out the calendar year, the company has experienced strong success throughout 2017 with the rollout of newly remodeled locations, the signing of promising single- and multi-unit franchise agreements, the opening of new restaurants nationwide and the integration of the brand's first mobile ordering and loyalty app. On the heels of this system-wide growth and technology enhancements, the executive team will seek to further expand the brand and improve the overall customer experience.

"The Fazoli's brand prides itself on recruiting and fostering the talents of some of the most dedicated and gifted executives in the industry," said Carl Howard, president and chief executive officer of Fazoli's. "In review of what we have been able to accomplish in the past year, we are enthusiastically looking forward to seeing what these exceptional industry veterans are able to bring to the table moving forward. We are in the midst of capitalizing on some incredible growth initiatives leading into 2018 and I can't think of better leaders to be at the helm during this exciting time."

Fazoli's new executive team members include:

Jeff Sturgis , Chief Development Officer  In his new role at Fazoli's, Sturgis will be responsible for driving the brand's franchise development efforts for the 200+ unit, leading fast casual Italian restaurant chain, in addition to leading strategic planning efforts and execution of all restaurant development, real estate and franchise sales activities. Prior to joining Fazoli's, Sturgis led franchise development efforts for McAlister's Deli, Fantastic Sam's and FOCUS Brands to name a few.

, Chief Development Officer  In his new role at Fazoli's, Sturgis will be responsible for driving the brand's franchise development efforts for the 200+ unit, leading fast casual Italian restaurant chain, in addition to leading strategic planning efforts and execution of all restaurant development, real estate and franchise sales activities. Prior to joining Fazoli's, Sturgis led franchise development efforts for McAlister's Deli, Fantastic Sam's and FOCUS Brands to name a few. Rodney Lee , Chief Financial Officer  Rodney Lee joined the company originally back in September 2008 as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, bringing with him a strong background in the restaurant industry, having previously served as CFO of 2JR Pizza Enterprises, a franchisee of Pizza Hut. Lee took a brief hiatus with Fazoli's, joining The Krystal Company functioning as the brand's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. When an opportunity to return to Fazoli's unique brand culture became available, Lee rejoined the company in September, reprising his original role.

, Chief Financial Officer  joined the company originally back in as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, bringing with him a strong background in the restaurant industry, having previously served as CFO of 2JR Pizza Enterprises, a franchisee of Pizza Hut. Lee took a brief hiatus with Fazoli's, joining The Krystal Company functioning as the brand's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. When an opportunity to return to Fazoli's unique brand culture became available, Lee rejoined the company in September, reprising his original role. Jodie Conrad , Vice President of Marketing  Formerly serving as Fazoli's Senior Brand Director, Conrad was promoted to her new position as Vice President of Marketing in September 2017 . In Conrad's new role, she will be responsible for all marketing functions and product development for the brand. Prior to joining Fazoli's, Conrad previously served as Director of Brand Marketing for The Wendy's Company, Director of New Product Testing for Donatos Pizza and Customer Marketing Manager for The Coca-Cola Company.

As a testament to its achievements, Fazoli's franchisees are experiencing nearly three times the industry average growth rate with new franchised restaurants continually setting new system-wide records. With nearly 220 restaurants in 27 states, Fazoli's is currently seeking single- and multi-unit operators to join its growing, successful franchise network and is targeting new markets across the U.S.

For more information about franchise opportunities, contact Sam Nelson, vice president of franchise recruitment and development, at 1-800-446-4368 or [email protected].

About Fazoli's

With approximately 220 restaurants in 27 states, Fazoli's is America's largest Italian fast casual chain, serving freshly prepared entrees, Submarinos sandwiches, salads and pizza. One of the New York Post's five breakout fast casual restaurants and a FastCasual.com Brand of the Year, Fazoli's franchisees are experiencing record sales growth. Visit www.ownafazolis.com for details on development opportunities.

Contact:

Courtney Whelan

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Fazoli's

Related Links

http://www.ownafazolis.com


Headquartered in Laindon, Essex and with a further site in Coventry (UK), CPT specializes in the development of 12V and 48V electric motor-generators for start-stop applications, mild hybridization, exhaust-driven electrification technologies, e-boosting for combustion engines, e-compressors for fuel cells and similar products. These provide powertrain manufacturers with fuel economy improvement, drivability, performance enhancement and emissions reduction measures suitable for a wide range of applications including passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial engines.

"The acquisition of CPT significantly expands the scope of Federal-Mogul Powertrain's business, providing our customers with an exciting new range of electrification technologies that are ready for integration with their development programs," said Rainer Jueckstock, Chief Executive Officer, Federal-Mogul Powertrain. "Stringent emissions targets can only be met through a combination of improved efficiency of combustion engines with measures like reduced internal friction or advanced combustion strategies as well as through further electrification of the powertrain. With the acquisition of CPT, Federal-Mogul Powertrain now has access to leading technologies in each of these areas."

Some of the key product families within CPT's portfolio are:

CPT SpeedStart  and CPT SpeedTorq  : a highly controllable and thermally managed family of motor-generators for engine and driveline electrification delivering industry-leading drive-cycle and real world driving benefits;

and CPT SpeedTorq : a highly controllable and thermally managed family of motor-generators for engine and driveline electrification delivering industry-leading drive-cycle and real world driving benefits; COBRA: liquid-cooled electric superchargers that offer CO 2 and fuel economy improvement up to 15 percent for medium to heavy-duty applications;

and fuel economy improvement up to 15 percent for medium to heavy-duty applications; COBRA FC: innovative air supply solutions for fuel cells;

TIGERS: energy recovery systems that recuperates energy from exhaust gasses to generate electricity.

"While internal combustion engines will continue to play a vital role for many years to come, we see hybridization and electrification of powertrains as a key enabler for vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions," explained Rick Llope, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Corporate Strategy, Federal-Mogul Powertrain. "This acquisition will enable Federal-Mogul Powertrain to offer electrified powertrains, further strengthening our position as a key development partner for our customers."

"CPT is at a stage where we have a range of proven technologies that are well-aligned with the growing need for emissions reduction," said Nick Pascoe, Controlled Power Technologies Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. "With Federal-Mogul Powertrain, we have the support of a highly-regarded global Tier 1 supplier that has the resources, reach and expertise to bring them into volume production."

About Federal-Mogul

Federal-Mogul LLC is a leading global supplier of products and services to the world's manufacturers and servicers of vehicles and equipment in the automotive, light, medium and heavy-duty commercial, marine, rail, aerospace, power generation and industrial markets. The company's products and services enable improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced vehicle safety.

Federal-Mogul operates two independent business divisions, each with a chief executive officer reporting to Federal-Mogul's Board of Directors.

Federal-Mogul Powertrain designs and manufactures original equipment powertrain components and systems protection products for automotive, heavy-duty, industrial and transport applications.

Federal-Mogul Motorparts sells and distributes a broad portfolio of products through more than 20 of the world's most recognized brands in the global vehicle aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers with products including braking, wipers and a range of chassis components. The company's aftermarket brands include ANCO wiper blades; Beck/Arnley premium OE quality parts and fluids; BERU* ignition systems; Champion lighting, spark plugs, wipers and filters; Interfil filters; AE, Fel-Pro, FP Diesel, Goetze, Glyco, Nural, Payen and Sealed Power engine products; MOOG chassis components; and Ferodo, Jurid and Wagner brake products and lighting.

Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899 and maintains its worldwide headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. The Company has nearly 53,000 employees in 24 countries. For more information, please visit www.federalmogul.com.

*BERU is a registered trademark of BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH

CONTACT:

Ursula Hellstern

Federal-Mogul Powertrain Communications

+49 (611) 201 9190

[email protected]

SOURCE Federal-Mogul Powertrain

Related Links

http://www.federalmogul.com


UFG's CEO, Ray Titus , made a $1.5 million endowment to fund the Titus Center for Franchising, which allowed the university to develop the unique program. Students who are looking to one day own and operate their own business can be educated and trained in franchising and entrepreneurship through the university's Rinker School of Business , said veteran franchise practitioner and educator, Dr. John P. Hayes, who also serves as director of the center and Titus Chair for Franchise Leadership.

"Franchising can open the door to financial independence for entrepreneurs and jobs for hundreds of thousands of employees. It embodies the American spirit of opportunity and I am both honored and humbled that my family and our now 1400-plus organization can help provide opportunities for the next generation of business men and women," Titus said.

In addition to funding the center, UFG will also provide hands-on internship opportunities at the company's 50,000 square foot worldwide headquarters in West Palm Beach.

"One of our key missions at the International Franchise Association is to educate people who have saved a lifetime and are interested in getting into business themselves. In today's environment, it's more important than ever to provide an educational framework so both new and existing franchise candidates are equipped to launch and grow," Cresanti said. "The Titus Center will play a critical role in helping thousands of entrepreneurs realize their dream and we hope to be right along with them."

UFG is the Global Leader For Entrepreneurs, with over 1,400 franchise locations spanning 80 countries, including the brands Signarama, Jon Smith Subs, Fully Promoted, Transworld Business Advisors, Experimac, Accurate Franchising, SuperGreen Solutions, Venture X and Paramount Tax. Titus has been interested in the franchise business since he was a child, and launched Signarama when he was 23. Franchising is truly a family business for Titus.

About the Titus Center for Franchising

The Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University, the only academic center of its kind in Florida, offers academic coursework, internships, job shadowing and training at area franchises, including the global headquarters of United Franchise Group in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Center, based in the Marshall E. Rinker Sr. School of Business, was established in 2016 through a gift from Ray Titus, founder and CEO of United Franchise Group. Dr. John P. Hayes was appointed the Center's director. Classes are now underway at the Center. Contact the Titus Center at www.pba.edu/titus-center.

About Palm Beach Atlantic University

Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, independent university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in West Palm Beach, Orlando and online. The University is dedicated to the integration of Christian principles to prepare students for lifelong learning, leadership and service. For additional information, visit our website: http://www.pba.edu.

About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 57 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and nearly 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development. Learn more Franchise.org.

About United Franchise Group

Led by CEO Ray Titus, United Franchise Group is home to a variety of internationally recognized brands including Signarama, Fully Promoted, Experimac, Jon Smith Subs, Venture X, SuperGreen Solutions, Transworld Business Advisors and Paramount Tax. With over three decades in the franchising industry and more than 1,400 franchisees throughout the world, United Franchise Group offers unprecedented leadership and solid business opportunities for entrepreneurs.



Media Contact

Kim Miller

305-631-2283

[email protected]

SOURCE United Franchise Group
DRAPER, Utah, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) today announces an update on its progress and a forward vision of its integration, reseller and distribution partners:

Product Integration Partners Reseller and Distribution Partners Interactive Gloves  VR/AR/ER Manus VR, CaptoGlove, VML - Virtual Motion Labs, Gloreha, Neofect and YouRehab Amazon Business, (SPI) Sensor Products Inc. RobotShop.com, and others Consumer Electronics Display Manufacturers (Multiple)

Medical Haemoband, 11 Health, Gloreha, Focal Wellness, Neofect, YouReHab

Industrial Controls/IIot Multiple - Under NDA

Wearables Focal Wellness

Robotics Zero UI RobotShop.com, noDNA, Karlsson Robotics and others

The company currently has a significant number of revenue generating global commercial partners covering a multitude of products. The company has introduced multiple new products during 2017 and expects to have 2-3 more commercialized prior to the end of the year.

Commenting on the status, Paul Sexauer, Flexpoint VP Sales & Marketing stated, "Flexpoint has concentrated on developing a strong network of design, integration and distribution partners in strategically targeted market segments where we know we are differentiated. We have engaged with a number of larger partners over the last several months. The additional sales channels will allow the company to grow at a desirable rate over the next several quarters. We remain on track to be cash flow positive and profitable during Q4 2017 and Q1 2018; a key goal for the company."

He further stated, "Most significantly, Flexpoint sees continued growth in VR/AR, Consumer Electronics and Medical. This will leverage our demonstrated strengths going forward. Based on new product successes demonstrated at the likes of Queens University, HML, we are confident we will be able to execute in these exciting and very strategic market segments."

Please visit http://www.flexpoint.com/ for more information.

About Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc.

Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) is an innovative technology firm specializing in developing products that feature the Company's patented Bend Sensor and related technology. The Bend Sensor is a groundbreaking sensing solution that is revolutionizing applications in the automotive, safety, medical and industrial industries. The Bend Sensor single-layer, thin film construction cuts costs and mechanical bulk while introducing a range of functions and stylistic design possibilities that have never before been available in sensing technology. Flexpoint's technology and expertise have been recognized by the world's elite business and academic innovators for over 17 years. The company is setting a new standard for sensing solutions in the "smart" age of technology.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such uncertainties include, among others, certain risks associated with the operation of the company described above. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results.

Contact Information:

Flexpoint Sensor Systems

Clark Mower, President

801-568-5111

Brokers and Analysts

Chesapeake Group

410-825-3930

SOURCE Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.flexpoint.com


JUNO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today announced that the company has been awarded the prestigious AEIC Achievement Award from the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC) for a technology breakthrough in anticipating intermittent power failures and, in turn, improving the company's ability to take preventative action.

FPL's "The Powerful Predictors" team received the esteemed award for developing a complex algorithm to detect distinct patterns in residential smart meters, allowing it to predict individual customer outages days in advance and avoid power loss.

"At FPL, we are always working on new and innovative ways to provide our customers with the best possible service and power grid reliability," said Manny Miranda, senior vice president of power delivery for FPL. "Because of our smart meter technology and a very talented team, we have developed a system that allows us to foresee where outages are most likely to occur up to three days in advance, and then pre-emptively make repairs before an outage takes place, ultimately benefiting our customers."

FPL's proactive ticket notification system uses smart grid data to predict when a customer is about to experience an outage, enabling crews to deploy to an affected area. In many cases, this allows crews to resolve the issue before a customer is even aware he or she had a problem. In 2016, through the prediction and repair of intermittent power outages, FPL avoided more than 5,000 single customer outages. For customers who did experience power loss, the award-winning technology decreased the average interruption time by approximately 40 minutes, and achieved 70 percent cost savings because of reduced travel time and increased repair efficiency for crews.

"FPL's 4.9 million smart meters are an important piece of our strategy for a more efficient energy grid," said Dave Herlong, director of smart grid & innovation for FPL. "They help us identify outages and diagnose their cause, as well as restore power much faster. Smart meters also provide customers with important information about their energy use, which can be used to save money on monthly bills."

To learn more about FPL's smart meters and smart grid, visit www.FPL.com/smartgrid.

Florida Power & Light Company

Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving nearly 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 25 percent lower than the latest national average and, in 2016, was the lowest in Florida among reporting utilities for the seventh year in a row. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company received the top ranking in the southern U.S. among large electric providers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM, and was recognized in 2017 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,900 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2017 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company

Related Links

http://www.nexteraenergy.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flying Tiger Copenhagen announces that it will open a 1,500-square-foot store in Walt Whitman Mall. The new store, offering its renowned mix of fun shopping and quirky, award-winning Danish design, will have a grand opening on November 17th.

The Walt Whitman store, is Flying Tiger Copenhagen's 9th store in the United States. This expansion reflects Flying Tiger Copenhagen's explosive international growth, with 2-3 store openings worldwide every week, and more than 800 stores globally, in cities from Tokyo and Seoul to Milan, London, Paris, and of course Copenhagen.

Head of North America, Sren Friis explains. "Danish design is immensely popular in the US. Flying Tiger Copenhagen's strength is that we can offer Danish design at surprisingly affordable prices," "We want to inspire people to be creative and try new things. We are excited to finally be able to sell our great products in this great area of Long Island."

A visit to Flying Tiger Copenhagen is never boring. The popular Danish home retailer offers a quirky and ever-changing assortment of award winning own-designed products. Each month you can find up to 300 new products accessibly, of which many are created by the design team in Denmark, who have won prestigious design awards, including the Red Dot Award, iF design Award and GOOD Design Award.

For the Walt Whitman store opening Flying Tiger Copenhagen, will offer complimentary cookies and balloons. First 500 visitors will receive a free tote bag with goodies.

About Flying Tiger:

Flying Tiger Copenhagen is a rapidly expanding chain of Danish stores offering a quirky, ever-changing selection of own-designed products at affordable prices. We introduce up to 300 fun and useful new products every month. You'll find things for your home, play, and parties, as well as snacks, electronics, gadgets and more. Our design team in Copenhagen has won several international design awards for our innovative products. In 1995 the first Tiger store opened in Copenhagen. There are currently more than 800 stores in 30 countries across Europe, Asia and the US.

For further information:

Soren Friis, (917) 274-9500

SOURCE Flying Tiger Copenhagen

Related Links

http://www.flyingtiger.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- STEM graduates are creating new talent pools in unexpected U.S. markets, according to a new report by JLL. As it becomes more and more difficult to attract highly skilled talent, tech companies should consider looking outside of traditional tech hubs and exploring these new markets that also offer cost advantages compared to major urban metros.

JLL's report highlights the U.S. markets with the highest rates of science and math degrees as a share of all bachelor's degrees.

San Jose still tops the U.S. metros with the highest rates of science and math, or STEM, degrees. But Columbus, Indiana, home of Purdue Polytechnic Institute and just 45 miles north of the burgeoning Indianapolis tech scene, comes in a close second. Rounding out the top three is Huntsville, Alabama. It is home to both NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Cummings Research Park, the second-largest research park in the country, as well as one of University of Alabama's three campuses.

"In an industry characterized by speed and scale, hiring for fast growth has been a challenge in recent years," said Julia Georgules, Senior Vice President and Director of Technology Research, JLL. "A concentrated focus on STEM in higher education has given tech companies new markets to target outside of traditional tech hubs. Choosing the right location is critical, and looking at nearby talent pipelines is key."

Over the course of its current seven-year economic growth cycle, there's been speculation about the tech industry's sustainability. This time around, however, it's not a bubble. As tech adoption steadily increases and technologies become more ingrained in our lives, the tech sector continues to be commercial real estate's biggest customer, driving 22 percent of overall U.S. office leasing year-to-date.

"Tech leasing is on track to surpass the already strong activity we've seen over the past two years, thanks to an overall economic shift toward innovation and technology," said Steffen Kammerer, Senior Vice President and leader of JLL's Technology group. "Leasing has permeated into markets across the country, leading to niche specializations in smaller markets, such as fintech in Atlanta and robotics in Pittsburgh, where we've recently seen companies such as Uber establish a satellite presence. The tech industry is becoming a more integrated part of local economies."

As tech leasing continues to grow, JLL's report highlights the key trends set to impact tech companies' real estate decisions.

The Future of Work is changing, and investing in the workplace is a must.

Gone are the days of simply paying for a prime location to win the war for tech talent. Now, attracting top talent also requires investing in an innovative workspace. But adding the amenities today's tech employees desire can be costly.

However, tech companies can breathe a sigh of relief. After build-out costs are considered, U.S. tech offices are actually 15 percent cheaper than traditional office spaces.

Forward-looking tech companies are adding more collaborative and creative work spaces to their offices, which JLL's Future of Work outlook found are among the most important workspace features. More open space means less physical materials, making hard costs for tech office fit-outs over $20 less expensive per square foot than traditional fit-outs.

These savings help account for the typically higher costs tech companies pay to equip their office with high-end technology and amenities that appeal to top talent.

Generations matter more than you might think.

Sure, Millennials will make up more than half of the workforce in just a few years, but Generation X and younger Boomers still provide invaluable experience and will remain a significant portion of the workforce. Designing spaces and strategies that cater to all generations' preferences and work styles will foster a sustainable and innovative workplace.

That said, just as Boomers caused fundamental changes to society, Millennials will follow suit. While Millennials have flocked to cities as they come of age, in time many will settle down, start families and adopt the suburban lifestyle. That's why tech companies must examine the long-term consequences of where they choose to locate.

"As tech companies expand, it's important that they don't count out the suburbs quite yet. Millennials will need housing within their budget and will want to ease their work-life balance," said Amber Schiada, Senior Vice President and Director of Technology Research, JLL. "Tech companies of all shapes and sizes can make the right real estate decisions by carefully considering emerging economic, educational and real estate trends."

To learn more about the trends impacting real estate decisions for U.S. tech companies, download JLL's Tech Office Trends 2017 report.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of $6.8 billion and fee revenue of $5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 4.4 billion square feet, or 409 million square meters, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $145 billion. At the end of the third quarter of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 80,000. As of September 30, 2017, LaSalle Investment Management had $59.0 billion of real estate under asset management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.

Connect with us

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll

https://www.facebook.com/jll

https://twitter.com/jll

https://plus.google.com/+joneslanglasalle

Contact: Mike Romor

Phone: +1 312 228 3958

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL

Related Links

http://www.joneslanglasalle.com


Self-described as "like NPR, on poppers," this independently distributed roundtable discussion podcast quickly became the indie darling of the podcasting world hit #19 on iTunes within its first month, beating heavy hitters like Malcolm Gladwell and Lena Dunham on the podcasting charts, and garnering press from places like Vice, Vulture, AV Club , and The New Yorker . Its audience is vast, gaining listenership in places where it's illegal to be queer, like Australia, China, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia.

"Working with INTO is a thot-crossover come true. It's such a relief to work with a brand that shares the same value sets in sex-positivity, multiplicity of perspective in the queer community, thought-provoking queer content, resistance, and incorporation of trans and nonbinary voices," says co-host Fran Tirado. "We have a lot of surprises in store, and we're positively stoked."

"Over at INTO we have all been great fans of Food 4 Thot since the premiere episode for its fab hosts, hot topics and exemplary writing," said INTO Editor-in-Chief, Zach Stafford. "This partnership is an example of INTO's openness to partnering with the broader LGBT media community to bring only the best in queer writing, information and culture to our readers.

They will also be headlining the inaugural Brooklyn Podcast Festival on November 19, 2017, with special guest, the Comedy Central star Joel Kim Booster. (ticketf.ly/2xzM18K )

The hosts are Tommy "Teebs" Pico, critically acclaimed indigenous American poet and author, writer and MacDowell Fellow Dennis Norris II, scientist-memoirist Joseph Osmundson, and Fran Tirado, Executive Editor at Hello Mr.

Their iconic branding and graphics for the website were done by Art Director Ben Wagner and images by National Geographic & NYTimes photographer Michael George.

The trailer for Season 2 of Food 4 Thot is available on iTunes, and their website. Keep in touch with the Thots on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of their website.

Episode previews available upon request. For more info, see the long description on food4thotpodcast.com, or email them at [email protected].

*It's not at all about food, we just really like the pun.

What people are saying about Food 4 Thot:

"Four diverse queer men who have made it a point to focus on the intersection of race and queerness" -Vice

"The absorbing new podcast focused on gay life from an intersectional perspective" -AV Club

"One of the most fun conversational podcasts to come along in awhile" -Nicholas Quah, Vulture

"Some much-needed colorful queer perspective to the world of panel-style podcasts." -OUT

ABOUT FOOD 4 THOT

Food 4 Thot is a critically acclaimed queer talk show podcast about sex, relationships, race, and reading, "Like NPR, on poppers." It is co-hosted by four queer writers from different racial backgrounds. (Tommy "Teebs" Pico, indigenous American poet and author, MacDowell Fellow Dennis Norris II, scientist-memoirist Joseph Osmundson, and Fran Tirado, Executive Editor at Hello Mr.) With press from places like Vice, Vulture, AV Club, and The New Yorker, they gained instant success and a global audience, hitting #19 on iTunes' podcast charts within their first month. For more information, go to food4thotpodcast.com or follow them on Twitter @food4thotpod.

ABOUT INTO

Founded in 2017, INTO is a new digital lifestyle magazine for the global LGBTQ community providing a unique collection of articles, videos, photography, and more. The publication aims to be a window into the modern world by sharing stories and moments that expand perspectives, ignite meaningful conversations, and foster greater connections between who we are and who we aspire to be. Vice President of Marketing Peter Sloterdyk has brought Zach Stafford, a former Editor at Large at OUT Magazine and journalist at The Guardian, to Los Angeles to be the Editor in Chief of INTO. The publication is available online only at INTOmore.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT GRINDR

With over 3 million daily active users in every country in the world, Grindr is the largest LGBTQ mobile social network. Since its launch in 2009, Grindr has grown to become a fundamental part of users' daily lives globally. The company continues to expand their ecosystem to enable all users to connect to the world around them. Through INTO, a digital content channel for and by the LGBTQ community, various events, and experiential opportunities, Grindr is helping users engage across the spectrum.

Headquartered in West Hollywood, California, Grindr is powered by a team of over 100 employees. A Certified Transgender-Inclusive Business, Grindr encompasses a diverse and passionate family of makers, innovators, leaders, and most importantly, doers. Grindr employees are fueled by an endless curiosity, an ability to embrace change, a respectful and collaborative work environment, and a knack for crossing every finish line.

Grindr is proud to have been recognized by Fast Company as one of the ten "Most Innovative Social Media Companies in 2016" and by Forbes as a "model for corporate social responsibility."

Grindr is available on the App Store and Google Play.

SOURCE Grindr

Related Links

http://food4thotpodcast.com


CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SleepScore Labs, the world's most advanced sleep improvement system and solutions company, today announced the appointment of Pat Connolly, former CMO and Chief Strategy and Business Development officer at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. to its board of directors. Connolly joins SleepScore Labs after nearly four decades of leadership in a global, public company and brings significant e-commerce and marketing acumen to SleepScore Labs' team of science and sleep experts.

Connolly joined the board to provide expertise to SleepScore Labs' business strategy as the company expands its presence in international markets and the e-commerce space. With considerable experience in the direct-to-customer business, merchandising, customer information management and inventory management, Connolly will help SleepScore Labs augment its multi-channel consumer strategy.

"I couldn't be more excited to be joining the board of SleepScore Labs. The opportunity to improve one's health and performance through better sleep based on science is compelling and comes at a time when consumers are recognizing the importance of sleep in their daily lives," said Connolly. "The company has attracted world-renowned experts in sleep and sleep science to its staff and advisory board. I am honored to be working with them."

Connolly spent 37 years at Williams-Sonoma, the international leader in professional-quality cookware and high-end kitchen and home furnishings. During his tenure, Williams-Sonoma's annual sales rose from $4.5 million to more than $5 billion, and the e-commerce segment of the business grew to over 50 percent of total revenue. Connolly worked closely with founder Chuck Williams and CEO Howard Lester to take the company public and transform Williams-Sonoma into one of the world's largest and most profitable internet retailers. Together with Williams and Lester, Connolly grew the company's innovative catalog business, built its portfolio of brands and became an early champion of Williams-Sonoma's e-commerce and multi-channel retail strategy. Connolly first joined the company as vice president and later served for over fifteen years as chief marketing officer. Connolly served on the board of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. from 1982 until his retirement in 2016.

"SleepScore Labs is committed to helping improve sleep for every individual through science-backed recommendations. We're thrilled that Pat will be joining our group of scientists and sleep authorities to help us improve sleep for more people. His marketing and business acumen is unparalleled, and we look forward to benefiting from his consumer understanding," said Colin Lawlor, CEO of SleepScore Labs.

Along with SleepScore Labs, Pat serves on the boards of Canadian Tire Corporation, Total Wine and More, KEEN Footwear, and CafePress.com. He also serves as a strategic advisor to CVC Capital Partners and Scope Capital Partners.

About SleepScore Labs

SleepScore Labs advances the science and technologies around sleep and overall health. Together with the foremost medical, health, and scientific experts from around the world, the company utilizes SleepScore by ResMed technology to provide the most accurate and advanced sleep improvement system for consumers as well as data insights, product evaluation tools, and technology licensing opportunities for companies developing products and solutions in the sleep industry. Based in Carlsbad, California, SleepScore Labs was created in 2016 as a joint venture between ResMed, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Pegasus Capital Advisors L.P. to accurately measure sleep while connecting consumers to solutions that help people sleep, feel and live better. For more information on SleepScore Labs visit www.sleepscorelabs.com.

Contacts:

Method Communications for SleepScore Labs

McKenzie Haggard

801-461-9773

[email protected]

SleepScore Labs

Kathy Bricaud

858-264-5830

[email protected]

SOURCE SleepScore Labs

Related Links

http://www.sleepscorelabs.com


The Four Seasons Private Jet allows travellers to fulfil their most extraordinary travel dreams aboard a custom designed aircraft, while enjoying personalised Four Seasons service every step of the way. Guests can opt into a wide range of experiences in each destination and tailor their trip to their interests, discovering authentic flavours and connecting with local cultures and communities without the added stress of planning. The dedicated team on each Private Jet journey takes care of everything, including all air travel, ground transportation, planned excursions, all meals and beverages and luxurious accommodations at Four Seasons hotels and resorts. While visiting the remote Galapagos Islands during the Latin Escape itinerary, guests will stay at accommodations carefully selected by Four Seasons.

"Each year, we expand our Private Jet offerings, pushing the boundaries of curated travel and bringing together like-minded adventurers with a desire to explore the world. Our new itinerary offering, 'Latin Escape,' was devised in response to increased interest in the Four Seasons Private Jet program by a wide range of travellers, some of whom are looking for a shorter travel experience while still in the comfort and care of Four Seasons. Our tailor-made itineraries highlight the unique character of each destination, creating truly personalised and exclusive experiences alongside the comforts of legendary Four Seasons service," says J. Allen Smith, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Back by popular demand, two of the most coveted Four Seasons itineraries are also featured on the 2019 roster. Timeless Encounters is a 24-day exploration of lively city centres and remote islands, including a day trip to the Taj Mahal. International Intrigue, a journey across nine diverse destinations, celebrates the magic of culturally-rich cities such as Kyoto and St. Petersburg set in dynamic contrast to the untamed paradise of the Serengeti. Both journeys provide insider access like never before in the most captivating destinations and are projected to sell out once again.

2019 Four Seasons Private Jet Itineraries

NEW: Latin Escape (February 9 - 24, 2019)

Miami  Costa Rica  Buenos Aires  Bogota  Galapagos Islands  Miami

Latin Escape kicks off in Miami, with dinner at the Versace Mansion, famed for its secret passages, celebrity guests and gold-plated mosaic tile pool. In Costa Rica, take in the southern sky like never before through a powerful GPS-guided telescope while savouring cocktails and culinary treats infused with real meteorite dust. Feeling brave? Harness up and slide along a series of zip lines suspended above the valleys and treetops of the dense jungle, enjoying breathtaking views while spotting wildlife.

Next, it's off to explore the irresistible blend of European and Latin American cultures that is Buenos Aires. Fly to Iguassu Falls for the day to explore this astounding collection of 275 interlinking waterfalls. Later, enjoy a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Teatro Colon, one of the world's best concert venues, renowned for both its acoustics and architecture. Visit one of the oldest ranches in Argentina to experience the gaucho lifestyle. Witness a display of traditional horse-riding skills and indulge in an authentic barbeque on historic grounds.

Latin Escape continues to Bogota, Colombia's lively capital city. Explore the innovative arts scene with a local artist or take a private salsa lesson with a skilled instructor. Sip cocktails while taking in 50,000 pre-Hispanic indigenous gold artifacts housed at the Museo del Oro, before sitting down to a gala dinner surrounded by rare treasures.

Continue on to the remote archipelago of Galapagos for four nights of legendary Four Seasons service aboard a private ship. Snorkel, swim and paddle through crystal-clear waters abundant with local marine life. Wake up each day at a new site ready to explore landscapes and wildlife found nowhere else on earth. This journey through the Americas ends back where it started in Miami, with time to unwind and toast to the trip of a lifetime over an exquisite meal of Latin-inspired flavors.

Timeless Encounters (September 17 - October 10, 2019)

Kona  Bora Bora  Sydney  Bali  Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai  Taj Mahal  Dubai  Prague  London

Timeless Encounters takes guests on a journey across four continents, beginning in lush Kona, Hawaii, and concluding in London. Activities over the three-week adventure include a visit to Tirta Empul temple for a traditional water purification ritual in Bali; a snorkeling safari with blacktip lagoon sharks in Bora Bora; a day trip to admire the intricate architecture of the Taj Mahal; and a personal welcome from Prince William Lobkowicz into his family's 16th-century ancestral home for a memorable gala dinner in Prague.

International Intrigue (March 25 - April 17, 2019)

Seattle  Kyoto  Hoi An  Maldives  Serengeti  Marrakech  Budapest  St. Petersburg  London

International Intrigue departs from Seattle, taking travellers across Asia and Africa, before reaching Europe and concluding in London. In Kyoto, guests learn how to draw, pose and swing a samurai sword under the instruction of the choreographer of Kill Bill: Vol. 1. In Serengeti, travellers are welcomed aboard a hot air balloon to catch glimpses of the Big Five before enjoying a Champagne breakfast in the bush. In the Maldives, guests can unwind with an award-winning spa ritual underneath the night sky. St. Petersburg offers travellers private access to the world-renowned State Hermitage Museum before flying to London for a final farewell dinner.

Journey Aboard the Four Seasons Private Jet

Timeless Encounters and International Intrigue begin at USD 140,000 per person, based on double occupancy. Latin Escape begins at USD 98,000 per person, also based on double occupancy.

Visit fourseasons.com/privatejet and follow the #FSJet hashtag on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and to continue exploring the Four Seasons Private Jet.

Travel the world in 90 seconds with the Four Seasons Private Jet on YouTube, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2awtfP0KXiE.

About Four Seasons

Four Seasons has long been committed to transforming the way people travel, having launched the hospitality industry's first fully-branded private jet experience with TCS World Travel in 2015.

Founded in 1960, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. Currently operating 106 hotels, resorts and residences in major city centres and resort destinations in 44 countries, and with more than 50 projects under planning or development, Four Seasons consistently ranks among the world's best hotels and most prestigious brands in reader polls, traveller reviews and industry awards. For more information and reservations, visit fourseasons.com. For the latest news, visit press.fourseasons.com and follow @FourSeasonsPR on Twitter.

Press Contact:

Laura Schlecht

[email protected]

646-460-8922

SOURCE Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
PARIS and TEL AVIV, Israel, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Bringg announced today that Cdiscount, the leading e-commerce retailer in France, is rolling out its platform across their delivery operations.

The technology will be initially used to improve the delivery process for large household items, enabling customers to track deliveries in real time, communicate with drivers to make special arrangements, and provide feedback on their deliveries.

Bringg's platform was successfully piloted at Cdiscount earlier this year, showing high levels of customer satisfaction on their delivery experience thanks to the ability to follow drivers and engage with them in real-time. Based on these results, Cdiscount is rolling out Bringg's customer-centric technology for customers in Bordeaux, Lyon, and Paris; followed by nationwide deployment in 2018.

Raanan Cohen, CEO of Bringg said: "I'm delighted to be working with Cdiscount, a forward-thinking company renowned for their e-commerce and logistics innovation. Their pioneering ethos provides them with a strong competitive edge, so I'm glad they've chosen Bringg's platform as the basis for creating the most advanced and satisfying delivery experience for their entire customer base."

Pierre-Yves Escarpit, Operations Director at Cdiscount added: "Delivery is key to our business and to our clients. By partnering with innovative startups like Bringg we strive to offer the best delivery service to our client: fast, accurate and convenient."

About Bringg:

Bringg is the leading customer-centric logistics solution for enterprises, with customers in over 50 countries including some of the world's best-known brands. Our technology platform helps companies in logistics, retail, food, CPG, and services industries streamline every aspect of their delivery ecosystems - from the headquarters and the dispatchers, through warehouse managers and drivers, and all the way to the end-customer - by enabling to create the perfect delivery experience while improving efficiency and visibility, all in real-time. For more information visit Bringg.com

About Cdiscount:

Cdiscount, a subsidiary company of the Casino Group, is a major online retailer in France. It has reported outstanding growth and generated business of nearly 3 billion in 2016 supported by a constantly growing Marketplace, with products sold by more than 9,000 partner merchants. Focusing on its core values, proximity and audacity, Cdiscount's teams strive to make everyday products and services affordable to everyone, while working hard to better understand and serve our customers' needs. For more information visit Cdiscount.com

SOURCE Bringg
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Future Farm Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "Future Farm") (CSE: FFT)(CSE: FFT.CN)(OTCQB: FFRMF) is pleased to announce a new 50/50 joint venture (the "JV") between Future Farm and Rahan Meristem Ltd., a world renown global agro-biotechnology company incorporated in the State of Israel with more than 250 employees in five locations and over 40 years of experience in plant propagation and breeding ("Rahan"). Rahan operates four high-end laboratories in Israel, Latin America and Far East for in-vitro plant propagation, able to produce more than 20 million plants every year. Rahan also provides a variety of laboratory and agro-technical services to growers, technology companies and academic institutes and is currently doing business with over 20 countries. The joint venture will develop, own and utilize Rahan's proven and proprietary technology to mass-produce elite clones of cannabis and hemp plants, which will be sold for medical purposes.

"We are pleased with the opportunity to work with Future Farm," says Ron Diner, CEO of Rahan. "We look forward to combining our technology and know-how with Future Farm's experience in cultivating cannabis to produce elite clones for use in the booming medical marijuana market."

Clones are tissue cultured produced plants that are genetically identical to the plant from which they were taken. Rahan has mastered their breeding process over a 40-year span, working with many global plant breeders to create the next-generation of plants that are sterile and resistant to diseases. Through elite cloning, one may create a new harvest with exact replicas of the best performing plants. Future Farm and Rahan intend to create varieties of cannabis with higher levels of THC and CBD, using Rahan's proprietary technology of non-GMO, in-vitro mutagenesis.

Link To Rahan's Website: Rahan Website

Because the chemical composition of cannabis flowers is not consistent, companies in the medical cannabis space do not use the whole plant, but instead isolate and extract specific molecules and process them into a variety of medications:

Tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC") is the psychoactive component responsible for marijuana's "high." The isolation of THC came from an Israeli chemist by the name of Raphael Mechoulam . In 1964, Mechoulam isolated and synthesized THC, marking the beginning of cannabis research that would lead to the discovery of many other cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors throughout the body, and "endocannabinoids" - the THC-like compounds our body naturally produces to maintain stability and health. THC has been shown to help with pain and nausea, which has made it a much sought-after medication for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Cannabidiol ("CBD") is a non-psychoactive component found in cannabis, as well as in hemp. CBD displays a wide range of potential medical capabilities. It is being tested on inflammatory bowel diseases (including Crohn's and ulcerative colitis) and has been shown to be effective with conditions as diverse as autism, epilepsy, diabetes and heart disease. One does not get "high" from consuming CBD.

As part of the subject JV agreement, Rahan shall be responsible for providing the know-how and technology necessary for the Project, as well as management and operation of the Project. Future Farm shall be responsible for providing an indoor, air-conditioned laboratory building space located in the United States or in Canada as well as providing financing for the Project. Each party shall hold 50% of the interests in the JV, which will carry out the Project.

"We are thrilled to partner with Rahan Meristem, an esteemed leader in the agro-biotechnology industry," says Bill Gildea, CEO of Future Farm Technologies. "Rahan has shown long term dedication to producing elite clones of bananas, plantains and other plants for its customers worldwide. We are lucky to have Rahan's desire to take its proven technology to work on producing the same results for cannabis and hemp. This is a very exciting time for Future Farm."

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has entered into a $440,000 Fixed Price Convertible Promissory Note Term Sheet with Tangiers Investment Group, LLC. Tangiers Capital manages its own private capital and provides working and expansion funding to small and microcap public companies. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working capital.

The Term Sheet provides for a five month $440,000 convertible promissory note that may be converted at a fixed price per share equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of execution of the closing documents underlying the subject transaction.

On behalf of the Board,

Future Farm Technologies Inc.

William Gildea, CEO & Chairman

About Rahan Meristem Ltd.

Rahan Meristem's main activities are breeding and propagation of tropical and subtropical fruit trees by means of in-vitro culture, cuttings, and grafting. Rahan has developed a unique mode of in-vitro induced mutagenesis technology, based on activation of specific retrotransposable elements in a variety of different plants. The in-vitro mutagenesis allows Rahan Meristem to select elite clones that are easily identified with specific genetic markers.

The company is currently engaged in breeding of bananas, avocado rootstocks, sweet potatoes, cacao, Stevia and other crops. The products, which were developed by in-vitro tools, have been registered as plant patents and breeder's rights in various countries around the world. Rahan provides a variety of laboratory and agro-technical services to growers, technology companies and academic institutes. These services include crops breeding viral cleaning and diagnostics, true to type DNA fingerprint analysis, androgenesis cultures (double haploid plants) and preparation of transgenic plants. The main objectives of Rahan's R&D department are assisting the production arms of the company and developing new products and technologies.

About Future Farm

Future Farm Technologies Inc. is a Canadian company with projects throughout North America including California, Florida and Maryland. The Company's business model includes developing and acquiring technologies that will position it as a leader in the evolution of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for the global production of various types of plants, with a focus on cannabis. Future Farm provides scalable, indoor CEA systems that utilize minimal land, water and energy regardless of climate, location or time of year and are customized to grow an abundance of crops close to consumers, therefore minimizing food miles and its impact to the environment. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generate yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land. The contained system provides many other benefits including 90% less water, fertilizer and land used, less travel costs, seed to sale security, scalability, consistency due to year-round production, cost control, product safety and purity by eliminating environmental variability. The Company also utilizes a leading cannabis oil extraction technology, which enables the Company to process 20lbs/hour of cannabis plant to yield approximately 908 grams/hour of oil.

The Company is also in the business of designing and distributing LED lighting solutions utilizing the COB and MCOB technology. The Company is focused on delivering cost efficient lighting to North America via advanced e-commerce sites the Company owns and operates. LEDCanada.com, which caters to B2B customers, is a supplier of the newest and highest demand LED solutions. The Company also owns and operates COBGrowlights.com, which caters to both large and small agriculture green houses and controlled cultivation centers.

The Company recently acquired the exclusive right to use a patented, augmented reality (AR) technology in the cannabis industry. The Company will work with its partner to merge AR and ad-tech with the cannabis industry through the CannaCube LiveTM platform.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press 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.

For further information

William Gildea

Director

+1-617-834-9467



SOURCE Future Farm Technologies Inc.
TONOPAH, Ariz., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bill Gates shocked the world announcing the $80 million purchase of land near the city of Tonopah, Arizona, in order to build the nation's first high-tech city, Belmont. However, Belmont's smart neighbor Kuldip Verma, one of the largest commercial land owners in Arizona, has answered the question of what makes a city smart. "Municipalities across the globe are becoming smarter and more sustainable through the integration of communication technology to securely manage their assets. Most of Vermaland has been utilized in that capacity and more," said Verma.

Founded by Kuldip Verma, P.E. in 2001, Vermaland is primarily a land banking and land development company based in Phoenix, Arizona, and has been in business for over 16 years as a wholesale buyer and seller of land. Vermaland owns thousands of acres of land, mostly in Tonopah, directly adjacent to the Bill Gates property. The other Vermaland properties; Harquahala Valley, Gila Bend and Hyder, have been a huge source of power for thousands with many properties containing solar farms containing hundreds of acres of solar panels.

Arizona's smart city, Belmont, is planned to span 25,000 acres with space for 80,000 residential units. Verma, a native of the small village of Nabha, India, knows that India has been ahead of new technologies, like artificial intelligence. He is keenly aware that India has also been working to build smart cities with similar aims, so Verma knows only too well from this interview the impact of this move. Three years ago, Verma made national news with his offer free of charge, of 1000 acres of land to Tesla for their newest gigafactory. Unfortunately, they chose an alternate location in Nevada.

Verma's vision for the Arizona tech community is well known and respected, as evidenced in this month's local Fox 10 Phoenix interview. View it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0JFOvWcgZI&feature=youtu.be

Always looking to the future, Verma predicts that more land for commercial and residential housing will soon be in demand. Vermaland will have the competitive edge to be successful in building on all levels and to facilitate the coming population and economic growth with the advent of Smart Cities. Not unlike the recent investment made by Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet in the Scottsdale Arizona based S.T.O.R.E. Capital's retail real estate venture.

Visit their website and learn more about the company, their history and their unique approach to procuring and cultivating land throughout the valley: To reach Vermaland directly contact Director Anita Verma 3001 W. Indian School Road, Suite 140, Phoenix, AZ, 85017 Ph: 602 -274 - 0700 www.Vermaland.com.

SOURCE Vermaland Properties

Related Links

http://www.Vermaland.com


MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- General Mills joins leading companies in an agreement to end deforestation, protect national parks from illegal cocoa production and develop alternative livelihoods for affected smallholder farmers in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. The two countries produce nearly two-thirds of the world's annual supply of cocoa. The far-reaching joint Frameworks for Action, led by the World Cocoa Foundation, was announced today at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany.

Cocoa is one of General Mills ten priority ingredients, which the company has committed to 100 percent sustainably source by 2020. More than 70 percent of the cocoa General Mills buys is grown in West African countries including Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

"Deforestation is a significant challenge, but by aligning and working together, we can help put a stop to it and positively impact climate change by rehabilitating the land," said John Church, Chief Supply Chain Officer for General Mills. "We also recognize there are systemic labor issues in the cocoa supply chain, and we understand it will take industry-wide collaboration to make improvements. Having the national and local governments, who are key to addressing the issues, at the table from the beginning is key."

The Frameworks for Action were developed through an extensive, multi-stakeholder process that brought together two national governments, private sector, including farmer and farmers' organizations, national and international civil society organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, and at the global level.

"The Frameworks for Action announced in Bonn, and signed by visionary companies including General Mills, protect and restore forests that have been degraded, accelerate investment in agricultural productivity and engage communities about the importance of this work to their long-term wellbeing," said Richard Scobey, President of the World Cocoa Foundation. "Most of the deforestation in the cocoa sector in West Africa is a result of poor farmers trying to earn a living by going into protected areas to cut down trees to grow cocoa. This means that we must focus on community development, community empowerment, and making sure that farmers' livelihoods are taken in to account and respected."

The Framework is centered around three themes:

Forest protection and restoration : this covers the conservation of National Parks and Reserves, improving the forest cover in the rural domain, as well as restoration of Forest Reserves that have been degraded by human activities, in particular encroachment by cocoa farms among other factors;

: this covers the conservation of National Parks and Reserves, improving the forest cover in the rural domain, as well as restoration of Forest Reserves that have been degraded by human activities, in particular encroachment by cocoa farms among other factors; Sustainable production and farmers' livelihoods : this covers sustainable intensification and diversification of production to increase farmers' yields and income to reduce pressure on forests; and

: this covers sustainable intensification and diversification of production to increase farmers' yields and income to reduce pressure on forests; and Community engagement and social inclusion: this covers social safeguards through civil society and community engagement.

"This framework will help advance much of the work that we are already doing in these regions to improve the sustainability of cocoa production and foster greater economic vitality for cocoa-growing communities," said Church. "It is our view that a greater share of the benefit of more socially and economically sustainable cocoa production practices should accrue to the people who produce the crop. This framework will help better implement that across the region."

For more information on General Mills' commitment to sustainably sourcing cocoa, visit its 2017 Global Responsibility Report and Taste of General Mills blog.

About General Mills

General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2017 consolidated net sales of US $15.6 billion, as well as another US $1.0 billion from its proportionate share of joint-venture net sales. For more information about General Mills, visit www.generalmills.com .

SOURCE General Mills

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RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Genworth Mortgage Insurance, an operating segment of Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW), today released the results of its survey of 200 mortgage industry professionals conducted at this year's Mortgage Bankers Association Annual Convention and Expo in Denver, Colorado. The survey addressed several topics, including a focus on impediments to achieving homeownership for the first-time homebuyer market. The analysis shows a majority of industry executives believe that saving for a sufficient down payment (46 percent) and a lack of affordable housing inventory (35 percent) are the biggest hurdles. Additional responses included student debt (14 percent) and the ability to qualify for a mortgage (5 percent).

"Despite their emergence as today's fastest-growing homebuying demographic, first-time homebuyers still face many headwinds. While some of these, such as shortages in affordable inventory, are environment-driven, others can be addressed via improved awareness on the various low-down-payment solutions available in today's market," said Rohit Gupta, President and CEO, Genworth Mortgage Insurance. "Ensuring that the right tools from both a product and educational standpoint are in place is imperative to supporting the continued positive trajectory for these buyers."

Respondents still anticipate strong first-time homebuyer growth in 2018, with over half (57 percent) believing that the first-time homebuyer market will grow at a faster pace than the overall housing market in 2018. Thirty-one percent thought this group would continue to grow at the same rate as the overall housing market, while only 12 percent thought the population's growth would slow.

Additional findings from the survey are included below and highlight the industry's perspectives on credit expansion and the strength of various loan offerings:

Industry expects demand for 97 LTV products to strengthen in 2018

When asked about expectations for the growth of 97 LTV products in 2018, nearly two-thirds of respondents (63 percent) believe demand will increase for these products. An additional 35 percent of respondents thought that demand for these products would remain at their current levels, while two percent forecasted a decline in demand.

High LTV, low-FICO loans expected to surge in demand

Industry professionals were divided on what they viewed as the most likely source of credit expansion in 2018, with a higher mix of above-80 LTV loans (45 percent) and a higher mix of borrowers with below-700 FICO scores (38 percent) as the most heavily cited. Seventeen percent of respondents believed that a higher mix of borrowers with above-41 DTIs would be the most likely source of credit expansion.

Non-QM loan growth expected to remain stable or increase in 2018

Forty-nine percent of respondents believe there will be a strong appetite among lenders for originating non-QM loans in 2018, suggesting that the housing industry is on a strong upward trajectory. An additional 41 percent believe that the current appetite will be average, not expecting a significant change as the housing recovery has been steady. Nine percent of professionals thought that this demand would be weak, while only one percent thought the appetite was non-existent among lenders.

About Genworth Financial

Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is a Fortune 500 insurance holding company committed to helping families achieve the dream of homeownership and address the financial challenges of aging through its leadership positions in mortgage insurance and long term care insurance. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Genworth traces its roots back to 1871 and became a public company in 2004. For more information, visit genworth.com.

From time to time, Genworth releases important information via postings on its corporate website. Accordingly, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information is found under the "Investors" section of genworth.com. From time to time, Genworth's publicly traded subsidiaries, Genworth MI Canada Inc. and Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Limited, separately release financial and other information about their operations. This information can be found at http://genworth.ca and http://www.genworth.com.au.

SOURCE Genworth Mortgage Insurance

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DUBLIN, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Global and China Bi-Metal Band Saw Blade Industry Report, 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The country's sales of bi-metal band saw blade fell from 53.50 million meters in 2011 to 46.91 million meters in 2015, representing a CAGR of negative 2.6%.

As infrastructure construction and manufacturing picked up between 2016 and 2017, the bi-metal band saw blade industry grew slightly with sales reaching 49.72 million meters in 2016 and expected to attain 52.96 million meters throughout the year 2017, up 6.0% and 6.5% from a year ago, respectively.

Even so, it is predicted that the bi-metal band saw blade industry will still maintain a downward trajectory as the Chinese economy will fall modestly and the manufacturing will face greater uncertainty. The market demand is expected to stand at 47.87 million meters by 2021, an annual decline of 0.8% from 2016.

Over 60% of the Chinese bi-metal band saw blade market is seized by local brands which focus on mid and low-range products and are represented by Bichamp Cutting Technology (Hunan) and Benxi Tool; the Chinese high-end product market is partitioned by foreign brands represented by U.S. LENOX, Japan's Amada and Swedish BAHCO. Amada has a factory for the production of bi-metal band saw blade in Lianyungang city (Jiangsu) and BAHCO in Kunshan city (Jiangsu).

Among local brands, Benxi Tool has the largest capacity, capable of annually producing about 15.05 million meters of bi-metal band saw blade, primarily branded by LIONS, FORK, SHARE, and ROMANCE, all middle and low-end brands; Bichamp Cutting Technology (Hunan), with annual capacity of 14.24 million-meter bi-metal band saw blade (2017), provides a full range of products. Bichamp Cutting Technology (Hunan) holds a safe lead over other local brands by comprehensive strength. The company achieved revenue of RMB245 million (up 2.5% year on year) from sales of 10.3103 million meters of bi-metal band saw blade in 2016.

China Bi-Metal Band Saw Blade Industry Report, 2017-2021 focuses on the followings:

Bi-metal band saw blade industry in China (definition & classification, development history, industry chain, industry policies, development trends, etc.);

(definition & classification, development history, industry chain, industry policies, development trends, etc.); Bi-metal band saw blade-related industries including high-speed steel and sawing machine (market size, competitive landscape, import & export);

Global bi-metal band saw blade industry (market size, competitive landscape, development trends, etc.);

Chinese bi-metal band saw blade market (market size, import & export, competitive landscape, etc.);

3 domestic high-speed steel producers (Tiangong International, Heye Special Steel, Jiangsu Feida) (profile, financial position, products, production & sales, latest developments, etc.);

8 foreign players (DOALL, Lenox Tools , Starrett, Amada, BAHCO, WIKUS, EBERLE, and RONTGEN) and 6 Chinese bi-metal band saw blade producers (Bichamp Cutting Technology ( Hunan ), Benxi Tool, Hunan Techamp Saw & Manufacture, Benxi Bi-Metal Saw, Dalian Bi-Metal S&T, and Dalian Special Steel) (profile, financial position, products, production & sales, R&D, latest developments, etc.);

, Starrett, Amada, BAHCO, WIKUS, EBERLE, and RONTGEN) and 6 Chinese bi-metal band saw blade producers (Bichamp Cutting Technology ( ), Benxi Tool, Hunan Techamp Saw & Manufacture, Benxi Bi-Metal Saw, Dalian Bi-Metal S&T, and Dalian Special Steel) (profile, financial position, products, production & sales, R&D, latest developments, etc.); 7 sawing machine manufacturers (Zhejiang Julihuang Sawing Machine Group, Shijiazhuang WinFox Machinery, Zhejiang Weiye Sawing Machine, Zhejiang Chendiao Machinery, Zhejiang Aolinfa Machine, Zhejiang Hujin Machine Tool, and Zhejiang Hengyu Sawing Machine (profile, financial position, products, production & sales, R&D, latest developments, etc.)

Key Topics Covered:



1 Overview of Bi-Metal Band Saw Blade Industry

1.1 Definition

1.2 Industry Chain

1.3 Development History

1.4 Industry Features

1.5 Entry Barriers

1.6 Policy Environment



2 High-speed Steel Industry in China

2.1 Product

2.2 Market



3 Sawing Machine Industry in China

3.1 Definition & Classification

3.2 Production

3.3 Import & Export Volume

3.4 Development Trend



4 Global Bi-Metal Band Saw Blade Industry

4.1 Overall Market

4.2 Competitive Landscape



5 Bi-Metal Band Saw Blade Industry in China

5.1 Market Size

5.2 Import & Export

5.3 Competitive Landscape

5.3.1 Regional Competition

5.3.2 Competition between Domestic and Foreign Brands

5.3.3 Product Competition

5.3.4 Competition among Local Enterprises



6 Major High-speed Steel Enterprises

6.1 Tiangong International Co., Ltd.

6.2 Heye Special Steel Co., Ltd.

6.3 Jiangsu Feida Group



7 Major Global Bi-Metal Band Saw Blade Enterprises

7.1 DoALL Company

7.2 Lenox Tools

7.3 Starrett

7.4 Amada

7.5 BAHCO

7.6 WIKUS

7.7 EBERLE

7.8 RONTGEN



8 Major Chinese Bi-Metal Band Saw Blade Enterprises

8.1 Bichamp Cutting Technology (Hunan) Co., Ltd.

8.2 Benxi Tool Co., Ltd.

8.3 Hunan Techamp Saw & Manufacture Co., Ltd.

8.4 Benxi Bi-Metal Saw Co., Ltd.

8.5 Dalian Bi-Metal S&T Co., Ltd.

8.6 Dongbei Special Steel Group Dalian Special Steel Co., Ltd.



9 Major Chinese Band Sawing Machine Enterprises

9.1 Zhejiang Julihuang Sawing Machine Group Co., Ltd.

9.2 Shijiazhuang WinFox Machinery Inc.

9.3 Zhejiang Weiye Sawing Machine Co., Ltd.

9.4 Zhejiang Chendiao Machinery Co., Ltd.

9.5 Zhejiang Aolinfa Machine Co., Ltd.

9.6 Zhejiang Hujin Machine Tool Co., Ltd.

9.7 Zhejiang Hengyu Sawing Machine Co., Ltd.



10 Market Summary and Development Forecast

10.1 Market Summary

10.2 Development Forecast



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8qjvkm/global_and_china





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NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The global food safety testing market is anticipated to expand at a steady rate through 2022, owing to continual increase in number of food-borne disease outbreaks, increasingly stringent regulations on food safety, globalization of food trade, sustained number of food recalls, among others.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05203621







Food safety is threatened by microbial pathogens, viruses, toxins, genetically modified organism content, pesticides, food allergens and others. Food contamination now-a-days is quickly becoming a worldwide issue, that is raising the concern for adequate food safety testing methods and procedures. Food-related queries and complaints are continuously rising with time, which reflects a growing concern of government authorities and consumers. These reasons put a huge pressure on food companies to ensure food safety.



Food Safety Testing Market by Contaminant - In 2016, among the contaminants of food, testing for pathogens dominated, with Salmonella accounting for the largest share in the food safety testing market. Toxins represents the second largest segment within the food safety testing market. While GMOs and the Pesticides are the third and fourth leading contaminants in the food safety testing market capturing XX% and XX% share respectively in 2016.



Food Safety Testing Market by Pathogen - In 2016, salmonella testing dominated the global market for food pathogen testing owing to the large number of foodborne outbreaks due to Salmonella in foods such as meat & poultry, dairy, processed food, and fruits & vegetables. E-coli testing is the second leading segment of the food pathogen testing market. Campylobacter and Listeria food testing is the third and fourth leading market for food pathogen testing accounting for XX% and XX% share in 2016.



Food Safety Testing Market by Food Type - The global food safety testing market is dominated by processed food and meat & poultry products as maximum number of illnesses have been associated with these applications globally. These two segments together accounted for over 65% share of the total food safety testing market in 2016. Dairy and dairy products is the third leading application of food safety testing market being followed by fruits and vegetables.



Food Safety Testing Market by Region - Geographically, North America dominated the food pathogen testing market in 2016 and this trend is projected to continue through 2022. Western Europe is the second leading region for food safety testing market. Japan captured third highest share of the global food safety testing market in 2016 being followed by China. The Asia-Pacific market is driven by stringent food safety regulations and the trend of globalization in food supply trade.



Food Safety Testing Market by Method / Technology - Immunodiagnostics accounted for largest share of the food safety testing market, driven by the advancement of testing technologies and the increase in demand for advanced and rapid technology systems. Traditional microbiology market share is declining year on year owing to the time consuming and labor-intensive factors associated with the traditional methods. Molecular diagnostics have the potential to revolutionize quality testing in food production. It is anticipated that molecular diagnostics will capture XX% share of the food safety testing market by 2022. Due to the health and safety risks posed by chemical, microbiological and environmental contaminants, analytical methods are increasingly becoming a centerpiece of food safety programs.



This is the 2nd edition report on Food Safety Testing Market by iGATE RESEARCH. The report titled "Global Food Safety Testing Market (by Contaminants, Pathogens, Type of Food Tested, Technology/Method & Regional Analysis) and Forecast to 2022" provides a comprehensive assessment of the fast-evolving, high-growth global food safety testing Market.



This 185 Page report with 57 Figures and 11 Tables has been analyzed from 9 viewpoints:

1. Global - Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast (2008 - 2022)

2. Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Contaminant (2010 - 2022)

3. Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Pathogen (2010 - 2022)

4. Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Food Type (2015 - 2022)

5. Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - Regional Analysis (2010 - 2022)

6. Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Method / Technology (2012 - 2022)

7. Global Food Safety Testing Market - Major Acquisitions (2004 - 2017)

8. Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - Key Players Analysis

9. Global Food Safety Testing Market - Growth Drivers and Challenges



Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Contaminant

1. Pathogens

2. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

3. Toxins

4. Pesticides

5. Other (Food Allergens and Chemical Residues)



Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Pathogen

1. Salmonella

2. E-Coli

3. Listeria

4. Campylobacter

5. Others



Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Food Type

1. Meat and Poultry

2. Dairy and Dairy Products

3. Processed Food

4. Fruits and Vegetables

5. Others (Cereals, Grains and Sauce)



Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - Regional Analysis

1. North America

2. Central and South America

3. Western Europe

4. Eastern Europe

5. Japan

6. China

7. Rest of Asia Pacific

8. Middle East and Africa



Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - By Method / Technology

1. Traditional Microbiology

2. Immunodiagnostics

3. Molecular Diagnostics

4. Analytical Chemistry



Global Food Safety Testing Market and Forecast - Key Players Analysis

1. Agilent Technologies

2. bioMerieux SA

3. DuPont

4. 3M

5. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

6. Bio-Rad

7. SGS SA

8. Eurofins

9. Intertek

10. Bureau Veritas

11. Neogen Corporation



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05203621



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.



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Despite recent falls, the Q3 score is only slightly below the Index's all-time high of 82.6 in Q4 2016. The Index, produced by Dun & Bradstreet for the CIPS, tracks the impact of economic and political developments on the stability of global supply chains.

Although the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in the US had a localised impact on supply chains, the weather event did not have a discernible impact on the global supply risk index, with North America's contribution to global risk decreasing from 7.0% in Q2 to 6.8% in Q3.

The largest drop in risk was in Western & Central Europe, where a series of stabilising political outcomes helped to reduce the region's contribution to global risk from 24.7% in Q2 to 23.9% in Q3. The formation of a government in Macedonia following months of political deadlock and the abandonment of street protests by the opposition Democratic Party in Albania helped to stabilise the region and reduce risk.

On top of this, the EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Canada came into force in September, eliminating many taxes and duties on goods traded between the EU and Canada. The EU also appeared to make progress in talks with Japan and Indonesia about FTAs in the future.

However, political risk around the world continues to threaten to spill over into the economy and impact supply chain risk. This is particularly significant in the US, where the lack of clarity from the US Administration around trade deals could impact Asia, with the US threatening to pull out of a major trade deal with South Korea. The renegotiations of the NAFTA trade deal with the US, Mexico and Canada will also further impact the supply stability of the region in the coming months.

John Glen, CIPS Economist said:

"Although supply chain risk has fallen for three consecutive quarters, it remains close to its all-time high and businesses must prepare accordingly. In a period of prolonged supply chain risk, it's crucial that businesses have a network of alternative suppliers when disruption inevitably hits.

"The outcomes of various ongoing negotiations, such as Brexit and NAFTA, could change the face of global trade and cause significant disruption to supply chains in the future. This could cause delays, increase costs or reduce the quality of supplies businesses have access to, so it is now more important than ever for businesses to have robust contingency plans in place."

Bodhi Ganguli, Global Leader and Lead Economist at Dun & Bradstreet, said:

"The Global Supply Risk Index score improved for the third straight quarter, falling from 81.3 in Q2 2017 to 80.3 in Q3. While the sustained improvement in the GRI is a positive for global supply chains, the index remains in high-risk territory. The Q3 reading is only slightly below the all-time high of 82.6 in Q4 2016. To put this in perspective, the average GRI score over the last four quarters (Q3 2016 to Q3 2017) was 81.5, while the average for the ten years 2006-15, which included the Great Recession, was 62.3.

"Political risk is the common theme in supply chain risks across most of the world in Q3, and will remain so in the near term. Increased political risk brings with it impediments to the implementation of the right growth-friendly policies. While it is true that global growth is on a much firmer footing globally than it was a year ago, government policy will be ever more important, particularly as central banks across the advanced economies begin/continue their slow but steady withdrawal of monetary stimulus."

Notes to Editors:

About the CIPS Risk Index, powered by Dun & Bradstreet:

First launched in April 2014, the CIPS Risk Index, powered by Dun & Bradstreet, is a composite indicator of pressures acting upon supply chains globally. The Index analyses the socio-economic, physical trade and business continuity factors contributing to supply chain risk across the world, weighting each score according to that country's contribution to global exports.

The Index helps sourcing professionals understand the risks to which their supply chains are exposed, articulate questions and scenarios for key suppliers, inform assurance activities, check the readiness of contingency plans, support the negotiation of risk transfer in contracts, and establish factors which may impact the financial stability of tier one and sub-tier suppliers upstream. Regular production of this Index will help procurement and supply professionals communicate and justify risk-informed sourcing decisions and support effective Supplier Relationship Management.

About the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply:

The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) is the leading international body representing purchasing and supply management professionals. It is the worldwide centre of excellence on purchasing and supply management issues. CIPS has a global community of 115,000 in 150 different countries, including senior business people, high-ranking civil servants and leading academics. The activities of purchasing and supply chain professionals have a major impact on the profitability and efficiency of all types of organisation and CIPS offers corporate solutions packages to improve business profitability. www.cips.org, @CIPSnews.

About Dun & Bradstreet

Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB) grows the most valuable relationships in business. By uncovering truth and meaning from data, we connect our customers with the prospects, suppliers, clients and partners that matter most, and have since 1841. Nearly ninety percent of the Fortune 500, and companies of every size around the world, rely on our data, insights and analytics. For more about Dun & Bradstreet, visit DNB.com. Twitter: @DnBUS

Contact:

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Dun & Bradstreet

[email protected]

973 921 5714

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ALBANY, New York, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Cleaning tight corners and hard-to-reach spaces, vacuum cleaners are being used on a large scale in residential as well as commercial spaces. In recent years, vacuum cleaner technology has witnessed some of the important advancements. Manufacturers are focusing on developing next-generation vacuum cleaners that are smart, cordless, and enhance the user experience, making cleaning effortless. Smart vacuum cleaners with filter sensing, floor sensing, and battery sensing technologies are also being developed. Increasing focus on sustainable lifestyle is also driving the demand for energy-efficient vacuum cleaners. Moreover, increasing incidence of asthma and other breathing problems is boosting the demand for vacuum cleaners equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.

In order to withstand competition, manufacturers are focusing on introducing low cost yet technologically advanced vacuum cleaners. Manufacturers are also developing two-in-one smart vacuum cleaners that can be easily converted from floor to handheld vacuum cleaners. The trend of scented filters in vacuum cleaners that dispense pleasant aroma while cleaning is also gaining traction.

The report also provides a detailed profile of some of the leading market players in the global vacuum cleaner market such as AB Electrolux, Haier Group Corp., LG Electronics, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Dyson Ltd., Bissell Inc., iRobot Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., and Techtronic Industries.

Request to view Sample Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=34817

Global Vacuum Cleaner Market to Witness Moderate Growth during 2017-2026

According to the latest report compiled by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global vacuum cleaner market is expected to witness moderate growth, registering 4.3% CAGR during 2017-2026. The market is also estimated to reach US$ 29,704.1 million revenue by the end of 2026.

The global vacuum cleaner market is segmented on the basis of product type, end use, filter, sales channel, and region. On the basis of product type, upright vacuum cleaner is expected to emerge as one of the top-selling products in the global vacuum cleaner market during the forecast period 2017-2026. On the basis of end-use, the market is segmented into commercial, and household. Among these, the household segment is expected to be the largest user of vacuum cleaner.

By filter, the market is segmented into with bag, and bagless. Bagless vacuum cleaners are likely to be the highly preferred vacuum cleaner in the global vacuum cleaner market. On the basis of sales channel, third party online channel is likely to emerge as one of the biggest sales channels for vacuum cleaner.

Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). APEJ is likely to remain dominant in the global vacuum cleaner market during the forecast period 2017-2026.

Request a Report Customization at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=34817

Rise in the Adoption of Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

Consumers are seeking robotic vacuum cleaners that offer flexibility and save time. Moreover, advancements in technology supporting innovation is resulting in more user-friendly vacuum cleaners. Key market players are developing automated vacuum cleaners that can perform cleaning tasks automatically, without any human assistance. Innovative technologies and features such as voice recognition, and Internet of Things (IoT) are also being integrated into vacuum cleaners. These vacuum cleaners are equipped with sensors that help it to navigate and connect. With the help of a smartphone, users can schedule the cleaning tasks and connect with the vacuum cleaner to perform various cleaning activities. Manufacturers are also focusing on introducing noise-cancellation technology in vacuum cleaners, self-charging feature, and energy-efficient vacuum cleaners. Meanwhile, cordless vacuum cleaner technology is also gaining traction in the market.

Popular Research Reports by TMR:

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TMR's 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.

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NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that Go-Team Police Partnership was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2017 Community Partnership Award competition.

Recognizing the need for best-practice tools for dealing with people in crisis, Family Service of Rhode Island partnered with the Providence Police Department to create the Go-Team Police Partnership. This groundbreaking program deploys a Family Service trauma-trained expert on patrols with police to provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention, stabilization, safety planning, language support and follow-up services, as needed, during instances of sexual assault reports, human trafficking, homicide, suicide, domestic violence, child maltreatment and other crimes. The Go-Team addresses each victim's unique needs to mitigate the trauma and behavioral issues that often spiral out of control in the wake of violence.

"The Go-Team program has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community," said Margaret Holland McDuff, CEO of Family Service of Rhode Island. "Of the more than 300 people served each year, 89% report satisfaction with the assistance received and 81% said they would be more likely to contact the police for help in the future. Police officers also enthusiastically support the program because it enables them to build trust with the community and improves how residents perceive the work they do."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 220 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

SOURCE Mutual of America Life Insurance Company

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http://www.mutualofamericas.com


TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Canada licenses SEQEX as a Class II Medical Device: Health Wellness Industries Inc. announced today that its Seqex system is the first extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field device with Ion Cyclotron Resonance-like properties ever to be licensed by Health Canada.

"The use of this technology as integrated medicine is the future of medicine," said Kim Sartor, president of Health Wellness Industries Inc. "This is particularly important in light of the exposure to environmental toxins and high frequencies that we face in today's environment and how so many people have become ill as a result."

Seqex devices support the work of health care providers during traditional courses of patient therapy. The system is based on the interaction between low-frequency and low-intensity electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and biological systems. It is effective in treating bone diseases (i.e., osteoporosis, pseudoarthrosis, fractures, necrosis of the femoral head, osteodystrophy, discopathy); diseases of the joints and cartilaginous tissue (i.e., sprains, dislocations, bursitis, chondritis, meniscopathy, joint pain); chronic or acute osteoarticular pain (i.e., neck pain, back pain, lumbosciatic neuralgia, ischialgia, gonalgia, rachialgia, intercostal pain, hip arthralgia); diseases of the muscles and tendons (i.e., tendon cysts, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, tendinosis, tenosynovitis (e.g., trigger finger); muscular hematomas, sprains, tears, contractures; stimulation of micro-circulation and containment of inflammatory processes; reduction of cellular oxidative stress; reduction of pain symptoms through increased production of endogenous endorphins.

Other countries around the world have recognized the immense health benefits of Seqex and have been using it with great success for several years; and with this Health Canada approval, Canada is next!

"Canada is overdue in this area and will now follow Europe's lead in integrating this revolutionary device with more traditional therapeutics for optimal patient results," Sartor noted. "Today's announcement is an important first step."

Medical Philosophy

The science of Electromagnetic Fields and ICR-like technologies is well-known. The healing potential of this technology is based on years of research and analysis by noted scientists, including W.R. Adey, Carl Blackman (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), Professor A.R. Liboff, Dr. C.A.L. Bassett and others.

The importance of the geomagnetic field (GMF) for the optimal health of all living things on our planet is a well-documented fact. It has been established that electromagnetic fields that are similar in intensity and frequency to the GMF can be safely used to promote health and well-being. Seqex generates electromagnetic fields whose characteristics are compatible to the GMF.

Seqex can help regulate the transition of ions (calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and certain amino acids) through cellular membranes, which is essential to the optimal functioning of cells. They can also encourage the expulsion of waste materials, normalize certain physiological cell functions and reduce oxidative stress.

About Health Wellness Industries Inc.

Health Wellness Industries Inc. is the distributor of Seqex devices in Canada. President Kim Sartor and her sister Jackie King, who serves as the company's marketing director, introduced the technology to Canada after taking numerous trips abroad to study the technology and be trained in its use. They founded Health Harmonies five years ago, and run the Collingwood wellness studio in Ontario, treating clients successfully for many conditions using this technology. Their personal experiences with Seqex is also quite noteworthy. Kim and Jackie are also part of a Canadian franchise, Health Energies Inc., that was launched in November 2017 and they look forward to educating the public and helping many more clients achieve their health and wellness goals with Seqex.

For More Information, please visit: www.healthwellnessindustries.com and www.healthharmonies.com.

Press Conference:

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017

Time: 2:00 p.m.  4:00 p.m.

Location: University of Toronto, Father Madden Hall in Carr Hall, St. Michael's College, 100 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2C4.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Kim Sartor, (705) 606-0739, Jackie King: (705) 606-0148

Related Files

Seqex Canada Press Release Final.pdf

November 14th press release sc.docx

Related Images

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SOURCE Health Wellness Industries Inc.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- #HealingtheWounds, a non-profit founded to benefit and mentor the children of our Nation's fallen heroes in law-enforcement and military announced its launch today. #HealingTheWounds will provide long-term, ongoing mentoring and support to these children, via programs which will give them opportunities to participate in an Alaskan adventure and learning experience, provide them with a 24 hour support call center, give them access to a vast custom video learning library and explore potential career paths.

#HealingtheWounds believes the Nation shares a moral obligation to honor America's fallen heroes  by mentoring their children. Grieving families should be comforted in knowing that their children will be provided for with opportunities to blossom, excel and prosper. Healing the Wounds was founded with that goal in mind and it takes the responsibility seriously.

"Our mission has clearly evolved from mentoring a critical segment of America's youth to empowering them to become successful and responsible citizens. Healing the Wounds will help fill the void which is critical to a child's development. While so much of society is laser-focused on what is wrong, we are taking a positive approach by focusing on the possible - by equipping the teenagers with the skills, attitudes, habits and behaviors that will ensure their success. We are projecting our organization as a solutions-based initiative designed to build character, self-confidence and leadership skills with the end goal of helping to cultivate the next generation of responsible, confident and environmentally-conscious citizens.

It has clearly become the responsibility of WE THE PEOPLE to revitalize our national spirit, mend our divisions and send a clear message of solidarity to Washington - one that set the standard for future generations to follow. It's about the kids." says Jeff M. Epstein, Founder and President.

#HealingtheWounds is comprised of a high profile advisory board including the following:

General Thomas G. McInerney; Lieutenant General (Ret.) William G. Boykin; John Ellis O'Neill; Colonel Ken Cordier, USAF (Ret); David Schippers; Capt. Mykel Hawke Retired U.S. Army Special Forces-Green Berets, recent star of Discovery Channels 'Man Woman Wild'; Rep. Clay Higgins, (R-LA) and Chief of Police, James Craig, Detroit.

Healing the wounds is looking to build membership and attract corporate / private sponsors. For more information, please visit http://www.healingthewounds.org/

SOURCE Healing the Wounds

Related Links

http://www.healingthewounds.org


SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON, and BRAGA, Portugal, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Uphold, a leading digital money company, today announced that Heleum has built a new multi-currency trading application that runs on the Uphold platform via its open API. The web app continuously monitors exchange rates across the nine most traded national currencies and three top cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum), moving funds instantly and automatically when rates are the most advantageous. Members from 174+ countries can start saving long-term with as little as $5.

Heleum has disclosed that they enabled over 400 users to trade automatically via the Uphold platform, generating average returns of 21% during their six-month closed beta. Heleum currently has over 900 users and $750,000 in total balances. Each user's individual Heleum balance held within their Uphold account is launched gradually in portions called 'balloons'.

For example: a user's Heleum 'balloon' launches with $10.00. Seeing an opportunity for gain, it instantly converts to Ethereum. Over the next few months, the balloon can make several automated moves between various currencies before finally 'popping' and returning their initial investment plus gains to their Heleum USD balance in Uphold. Each trade is automatically triggered by Heleum's algorithm, which scans all available currencies for trading opportunities.

"Heleum helps grow your money by directing your funds to float systematically between currencies. We would not have been able to launch this app without access to the Uphold platform, which takes care of all the compliance and security issues associated with moving across digital currencies to enable perfectly executed trades," said Pace Ellsworth, Heleum CEO.

The app is built on top of Uphold's API, leveraging the Uphold platform to power low-cost algorithmic trading activity across a wide range of currencies. Uphold also handles regulatory compliance for partner apps and provides unparalleled security and speed.

"The partnership with Heleum provides Uphold members with yet another powerful and accessible app within the Uphold ecosystem. The app trades between a selection of our supported currencies to provide our members with consumer-friendly, hands-off investing," said Robin O'Connell, Chief Revenue Officer of Uphold. "Heleum is a wonderful example of the potential that our open API offers. We have a number of exciting partners in the pipeline and look forward to a very busy few months!"

Heleum was created in 2015 by brothers Pace and Taylor Ellsworth in Mesa Arizona, in partnership with their colleague Dan Pratt. They developed a currency trading strategy based on mesh networks that reduces friction while increasing potential returns. Heleum's vision is to develop a suite of financial apps for the average consumer that removes the need for any trading, programming, or cryptocurrency experience.

Heleum is celebrating their web app launch with a promotion running through November 22nd. Any user who signs up during the promotional period will get an instant and permanent boost to balloon gains and the opportunity to eliminate all Heleum fees by referring other users to the app. The free web app is available from the Heleum website. iOS and Android apps are currently in development.

About Uphold

Uphold is the creator of an innovative digital money platform that lets you instantly and safely access traditional currencies, cryptocurrencies, and other investments all in one place. Uphold has powered over $1.7 billion in transactions across 174 countries, in 30 supported currencies and four commodities. The Uphold platform provides access to the widest range of currencies and investments available in one place, with unparalleled transparency and security. Uphold is the only company to publish real-time reserve holdings, guaranteeing that its members are provided with the necessary information to make informed decisions. Uphold is a venture-backed company with global operations across: Braga, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and San Francisco. To learn more, visit www.uphold.com, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Heleum

Heleum is the creator of automated consumer finance apps. Their first app utilizes Uphold's platform to automatically move user funds between multiple currencies, resulting in long-term gains relative to the user's base currency. Heleum's fees are derived from a portion of the gains that a user makes. Development started in 2015 and Heleum has already helped hundreds of users initiate thousands of automated transactions, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in gains. Heleum is based in Mesa, AZ. To learn more, visit www.heleum.com, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook @heleumapp. Heleum is not a financial management company and is not FDIC-insured.

Media contact:

Andrea Heuer

Consort Partners for Uphold

[email protected]

C: 917-886-5113

SOURCE Uphold

Related Links

http://www.uphold.com


"I could not be more excited to join Help Me Buy My New Home, LLC as the spokesman. By infusing the innovative forward-thinking spirit and technology of Help Me Buy My New Home into marketing luxury properties with my years of experience in real estate I feel I can bring what's needed to the AI real estate discussion," said Brandon Jordan.

"This is extraordinary to unveil my exclusive rights to this cutting edge technology in the Northwest Florida area market. We are looking at unprecedented opportunities for traditional real estate brokers," added Jordan. "This reminds me of the time in my life I went to the E3 convention. I attended in the early 2000's when all talk at the convention was of mobile and that game developers would have to get ready for what's coming and how mobile is not a fad and everyone would have their mobile devices with them everywhere they go -- all those panelists at the convention were correct. Those that positioned themselves early had a large advantage on the rest of their competition."

Voice-activated technology is becoming increasingly popular. Home security systems are already working with Alexa, thermostats and camera monitoring systems have voice integration, and appliances through Sears' full brand line will now be voice controlled. The smart home is here and it's time to find a way to add a smart search to real estate.



Voice search is estimated by multiple outlets to be 50% of all searches done within the next 5 years.

Brandon Jordan, spokesman for Help Me Buy My New Home, LLC and Senior Vice President of ERA (Electronic Realty Associates) American Real Estate.

The latest press releases on Brandon Jordan are provided below:

Sr. Vice President of ERA American Real Estate Brandon Jordan Earns REALTOR e-PRO & NAR Short Sales and Foreclosure Certifications

Brandon Jordan, Sr. Vice-President of ERA American Real Estate, Trademarked "Buy A Florida Vacation Home" & Added Distinctive Properties Specialist To His Certifications

Brandon Jordan Named to Inaugural LGBT Professionals in FORCE Committee

For more information on Brandon Jordan: 850-758-1236, [email protected].

Available Topic Expert: For information on Brandon Jordan, click the link below:

http://www.profnetconnect.com/helpmebuymynewhome

SOURCE Help Me Buy My New Home, LLC

Related Links

http://www.buyafloridavacationhome.com


SHANGHAI, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd. will use Callidus advanced flares and low-nitrogen oxides (NOx) burner technology at its refinery and petrochemicals complex, one of the largest in China, at Changxing Island in Dalian City.

Honeywell will provide a 5,000 ton-per-hour flare system that will be the largest in Asia. In addition, Honeywell will provide more than 1,400 Callidus low-NOx burners to provide heat for refinery processes, as well as process design and procurement services, key mechanical equipment and instrumentation.

"Callidus' advanced burner technology helps refineries and petrochemical plants reduce NOx emissions, better control carbon monoxide emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency, while our low-VOC flare technology provides excellent combustion performance," said Henry Liu, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP China. "These technologies offer excellent economics and will help Hengli comply with stricter environmental regulations in China."

Under the Chinese government's Emission Standard of Pollutants for the Petroleum Refining Industry, emissions of nitrogen oxides from industry furnaces are required to drop 33 percent, from 150 milligrams per cubic meter in 2015 to less than 100 this year. These pollutants are a primary cause of acid rain and increased surface ozone concentration, which have serious and direct impacts on public health and the environment.

Honeywell UOP's Callidus low-NOx burner technology and customized burners will allow Hengli Petrochemical to reduce NOx emissions to half the limit prescribed under the new emission control regulation. The burners are customized to meet requirements of all types of applications at Hengli, including refinery heaters, reformers, ethylene crackers, and CCR (continuous catalytic reforming) and propane dehydrogenation process heaters.

"Hengli Petrochemical is committed to becoming one of the best petrochemical complexes in the world, and advanced flares and burners are essential to that mission," said Chen Xinhua, vice chairman of Hengli Petrochemical Company. "We chose Honeywell UOP Callidus as the sole supplier for all burners in the complex and the flare system for the refinery because these technologies meet our criteria for performance and environmental requirements."

Honeywell recently expanded its China combustion test facility to evaluate the performance of flares. The center, located in Luoyang in Henan Province, is China's only center capable of testing flare emissions for volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

Hengli Group, founded in 1994, manufactures petrochemicals, polyester, and advanced materials, with operations in weaving, thermal power, machinery, finance, hotels and real estate. In 2010, the company built the Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd. Hengli Petrochemical is one of the largest refinery and petrochemical projects in China, with a processing capacity of 20 million tons per year and more than 25 processes in operation.

As part of Honeywell UOP, Callidus Technologies provides total solutions for process heater burners, flares, flare gas recovery systems, thermal oxidizers and selective catalytic reduction units.

For more information about Callidus' low NOx emission burner technology, please visit https://www.uop.com/equipment/callidus-combustion-equipment/callidus-burners/.

Honeywell UOP (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Honeywell UOP is part of Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com), a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Honeywell

Related Links

http://www.honeywell.com


HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoegh LNG Partners LP (NYSE: HMLP) ("HMLP" or the "Partnership") today announced that it has agreed to acquire (the "Acquisition") from a subsidiary of Hoegh LNG Holdings Ltd. ("Hoegh LNG") the remaining 49% ownership interest in Hoegh LNG Colombia Holding Ltd. ("Grace Holding"), the sole owner of Hoegh LNG FSRU IV Ltd. ("Hoegh FSRU IV") and Hoegh LNG Colombia S.A.S. ("Hoegh Colombia SAS"), the entities that own and operate the floating storage and regasification unit ("FSRU") Hoegh Grace, that it does not already own. The purchase price for the Acquisition will be $85.9 million (the "Purchase Price"). HMLP intends to settle the Purchase Price with a combination of cash on hand and a drawing under its existing revolving credit facility. The Purchase Price will be subject to certain post-closing adjustments for net working capital.

The Acquisition is expected to be completed by the beginning of January 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

The Partnership purchased its initial 51% interest in Grace Holding in January 2017.

The Board of Directors of the Partnership (the "Board") and the Conflicts Committee have approved the acquisition and the purchase price. The Conflicts Committee retained an outside financial advisor and outside legal advisor to assist with its evaluation of the acquisition and the purchase price.

Management anticipates recommending to the Board a distribution increase with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2018 to reflect the Acquisition. Any such increase would be conditioned upon, among other things, approval by the Board, the timely closing of the Acquisition and the absence of any material adverse developments or potentially attractive opportunities that would make such an increase inadvisable.

Forward-Looking Statements



This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future events and the Partnership's operations, performance and financial condition. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "project," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "plan," "intend" or words or phrases of similar meanings. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Partnership's control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to:

the timing of the Acquisition and the satisfaction of the conditions to closing thereof;

the Partnership's ability to increase distributions to unitholders and the amount of any such increase;

FSRU and LNG market trends, including hire rates and factors affecting supply and demand;

the Partnership's ability to implement its growth strategies on a timely basis or at all and other plans and objectives for future operations;

the Partnership's future revenues, expenses, financial condition and results of operations;

the Partnership's ability to make additional borrowings and to access debt and equity markets;

charter commencement and termination dates and extensions of charters; and

other factors listed from time to time in the reports and other documents the Partnership files with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Partnership to predict all of these factors. Further, the Partnership cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The Partnership does not intend to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Partnership's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

About Hoegh LNG Partners LP



Hoegh LNG Partners LP is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by Hoegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (Oslo Brs ticker: HLNG), a leading floating LNG service provider. HMLP's strategy is to own, operate and acquire FSRUs and associated LNG infrastructure assets under long-term charters.

Contact

Richard Tyrrell

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

+44 7919 058830

www.hoeghlngpartners.com

SOURCE Hoegh LNG Partners LP

Related Links

http://www.hoeghlngpartners.com


With 309 entries from 58 countries for this year's World Smart City Awards, the competition is greater than ever, reflecting the diversity and innovation of Smart City development across the world.

Yan Lida, President of Huawei Enterprise Business Group, said: "The ultimate goals of a Smart City are to enable good governance, promote industry development and deliver benefits for the people. Together with our customers and partners, we are moving towards achieving these goals by improving city governance and service capabilities, helping to develop the local economy and stimulate innovation, and making cities more livable. Drawing from the world's best Smart City practices, we have found that success is driven by Smart City development being a priority for the government, having a strong and capable Smart City project team, long-term and stable investment, and working with a leading digital partner that helps design top-level plans to address governmental needs and has an open and robust ecosystem. We are honored that Huawei has gained the trust of our customers and become their preferred partner for Smart City development. Leveraging leading new ICT such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence to build a unified IoT platform, communications platform, cloud data center and smart command center, Huawei creates a nervous system for a Smart City, which enables the Smart City to become a living organism that grows sustainably and constantly evolves. We would like to congratulate Shenzhen and Saudi Arabia on receiving World Smart City Awards 2017, and we look forward to working with more cities to help them realize their Smart City dreams."

Safe City Award winner: Shenzhen Traffic Police - Global-First All-Scenario Intelligent Transportation Solutions Helps Building "Traffic Brain" for Cities

Shenzhen Traffic Police worked with Huawei to create the city's traffic system and ensure the safety of the city. Huawei helped Shenzhen Traffic Police by creating a top-level design and a comprehensive plan designed to improve the city's transportation capacity, reduce traffic accidents and guarantee drivers' safety.

The Traffic Police leveraged a Big Data platform that comprises a data resource pool and a deep learning system to build the city's "traffic brain", which has improved city traffic flow visibility and adaptive control of traffic lights, enhancing road capacity by 8%. The unified Big Data platform centrally processes traffic data to enhance data usage by 200%, and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) application assists law enforcement, raising the image recognition rate 10-fold to increase traffic violation processing. This greatly eases traffic congestion in the city, enhancing drivers' travel experience.

Data and Technology Award winner: Royal Comission Smart City Project

In 2016, Saudi Arabia launched Vision 2030 strategy, which is built around three themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. Especially making the city sustainable development is one of the key goals. In support of Yanbu's digital transformation into the nation's first Smart City under this Vision, Huawei deployed a comprehensive optical network to cover all residential communities, enterprise campuses, and the key public areas in the city. In addition, Huawei works with its partners to offer Yanbu many smart applications, such as smart parking, smart weighing, smart rubbish bins, smart energy management, smart streetlight, stadium crowd analysis, and smart manhole cover. These applications significantly increased the city's management efficiency, for example, reducing road maintenance costs by 20%, cutting down public lighting costs by 30%, and raising trash disposal efficiency by 30%. Additionally, the Royal Commission for Yanbu worked with Huawei to build an Integrated Communication Platform (ICP), the city's management system. This system consists of an IoT data platform, Big Data platform, information integration platform, and converged command center. The ICP assists Yanbu in intelligent public infrastructure management, emergency response, and smart policing, optimizing city administration.

City Award finalist: Innovative Smart Weifang Improves Social Wellbeing

Based on the principle of "Centering on Humans and Driven by Innovation," Weifang City has leveraged Big Data, cloud computing, mobile Internet, and other new technologies to launch the Smart Weifang 3.0 project. This project builds "eyes" to sense the real-time status of city operations, and a "brain" for smart dispatch. A number of innovations, such as "WeiV" app, VPai city pass, and smart city operation center, deliver real-time, refined, and intelligent public services and city management functions. Weifang worked with Huawei to build an IoT city awareness network based on NB-IoT technology. The network uses the "One Network, One Platform, and N Applications" development model to enable unified IoT terminal access, device management, and data collection. Weifang leverages this network to provide various innovative services for its residents and enterprises, such as smart nursing, smart streetlight, smart parking, and smart agriculture. These applications effectively converge the latest, high-value IoT data from across the city in real time, serving as the city's important sources of Big Data.

Innovation Idea Award finalist: Microgrid Solar Plant Help Cameroon To Improve the Livelihood and Boost the Economic Development

Cameroon adopted Huawei's innovative Microgrid Solar Plant solution to replace traditional power supply solutions that involve the development of mid- and high-voltage power grids and hydropower stations. The new power plant solution supports fast deployment, requires low investment costs, and helps the local government achieve rural electrification. The project drove the development of multiple local industries, such as education, medical treatment, communications, and manufacturing. To date, the project has greatly improved the development of the local society, by bringing electricity to 166 rural villages serving 120,000 residents, increasing local children's school enrollment rate, and creating more than 1,000 job opportunities. Huawei's off-grid power metering system also helped power operators solve the problem of how to collect electrical fees, achieving sustainable operations.

As the industry's only ICT solution provider that can offer end-to-end cloud-pipe-device solutions, Huawei is committed to connecting the physical and digital worlds in cities and building Smart City nervous systems. Huawei actively participates in building open platforms and ecosystems to drive innovation, continuously grows together with partners and customers, provides customers with top-level Smart City designs, and helps its customers implement Smart City solutions. At present, Huawei's Smart City solutions are serving more than 40 cities in over 120 countries around the globe.

SOURCE Huawei
NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Can paramedics prevent discharged patients from landing back in the hospital? Can teens be trained to help peers seek primary care? These are some of the questions community organizations are trying to answer using new funds awarded by the Montefiore Hudson Valley Collaborative (MHVC), a group of providers, community based organizations and government officials whose goal is to improve the quality of life of Hudson Valley residents. This effort is part of New York State's $8 billion investment to advance care for people receiving Medicaid, while also decreasing preventable hospital readmissions by 25 percent over five years.

"We are overhauling healthcare delivery," said Damara Gutnick, medical director, MHVC. "By mobilizing local resources to focus on disease prevention, rather than the Band-Aid approach of short-term solutions, we are responding to what matters most to our community."

The funds will benefit organizations along the Hudson River from Westchester County to Albany. Groups receiving the most funding from MHVC include:

Rockland Paramedic Services: awarded more than $350,000 to train paramedics so they can expand their role to post-hospital visits. After patients leave the hospital, paramedics will visit them in their homes to make sure they understand their discharge instructions, including how to take their medication. They can also arrange visits with social workers and have calls with doctors.

Nyack Hospital: awarded $275,000 to be the first New York hospital to use a new privacy protected smartphone app called Twiage. Twiage enables first responders to send live data about patient symptoms through videos, photos, voice memos and text messages to Nyack's emergency room. With real-time information and GPS-tracking for incoming ambulances, Nyack can prepare for ambulance's arrival in advance and accelerate life-saving emergency care.

Maternal Infant Services Network: awarded $250,000 to connect teenagers to primary care and instill a lifetime of healthy habits. Part of this campaign involves focus groups with teens to learn what they care about most. Teens will meet with local doctors and even be trained as Wellness Ambassadors.

Each organization receiving funding has a rich history of successfully motivating people within the Hudson Valley to make positive lifestyle changes. The goal of the Innovation Fund is to build healthier communities within and beyond the Hudson Valley.

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and close to 200 outpatient care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System

Related Links

http://www.montefiore.org


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Peace 4 Animals, founded by actress and model Katie Cleary, who is also the founder of the popular animal news network World Animal News, has teamed with numerous animal welfare organizations to secure the continued safety of 50 dogs and cats that fell victim to the devastation and destruction of Hurricane Harvey.

Cleary and a team of animal advocates, including actress Maggie Q, Simone Reyes and Angela Taylor, also helped with the rescue efforts at Austin Pets Alive following the devastating hurricane.

Peace 4 Animals President Katie Cleary And Actress/Animal Advocate Maggie Q Volunteering At Austin Pets Alive After Hurricane Harvey. Cleary's non-profit is now teaming with other animal welfare organizations to airlift 50 dogs & cats affected by the devastating hurricane to Los Angeles for a new leash on life Peace 4 Animals President Katie Cleary Volunteering At Austin Pets Alive After Hurricane Harvey. Cleary's non-profit is now teaming with other animal welfare organizations to airlift 50 dogs & cats affected by the devastating hurricane to Los Angeles for a new leash on life

Thursday, November 16, 2017, 50 of the now hundreds of homeless dogs and cats will be transferred from an abandoned grocery store in Houston where they are currently housed and will board a plane to be airlifted to their new leash on life in Los Angeles, California.

The move, a collaborative effort between Peace 4 Animals, The Rescue Train's Race For The Rescues, The Lucy Foundation, Stand Up For Pits Foundation, and Austin Pets Alive, was imperative as construction is scheduled to begin in December on the abandoned grocery store, displacing the poor animals once again.

If you are a 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue group or approved foster and would like to take in any of the Hurricane Harvey rescued animals, please contact the Rescue Train: [email protected]

For further information, email [email protected] or text 323-899-5640 with questions.

FOSTER a Hurricane Dog HERE!

FOSTER a Hurricane Cat: HERE!

Press Release/Media Opp:

Media interested in covering the arrival of the dogs and cats, please contact Lauren Lewis at [email protected] or (818) 970-0052 for more details.

SOURCE Peace 4 Animals

Related Links

http://www.peace4animals.net


For more than 20 years, the Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards have recognized excellence in magazine editorial and design across all sectors of the industry. A panel of more than 300 judges narrowed 2,500 entries into a pool of roughly 800 finalists. In total, 262 awards were given out across 33 categories. The awards are broken into four main categories: Eddies and Eddies Digital for the best in print and digital editorial, and Ozzies and Ozzies Digital for the best in magazine and website design.

"The award win for IEEE Software recognizes the publication's unique contributions and impact in bridging rigorous software engineering research with leading practices," said Diomidis Spinellis, editor in chief of IEEE Software and a professor in the Department of Management Science and Technology at the Athens University of Economics and Business.

The following are the selected publications for the 2017 Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards:

IEEE Software , WINNER

Standalone Digital Magazine; Association/Non-Profit (B-to-B) - Standalone Digital Magazine - less than 6 issues (Eddies Digital).

The winning issue for IEEE Software is the November/December 2016 issue, "The Role of the Software Architect," which focuses on the changing role and responsibilities of the software architect. Highlights of this special issue include the following:

A column by IBM Fellow Grady Booch, one of the original authors of UML, titled "Once upon a Time," which discusses the creation stories and myths of computing. An audio recording of the author reading his article is at youtu.be/S06HKTobvVM.

Five peer-reviewed technical articles focusing on the role of the software architect in diverse domains, including vehicle software, embedded software, and telecommunications. The two surveys and three case studies are written by practitioners, joint teams of practitioners and academics, and academics studying the practice's state of the art. Each article discusses the architect's shifting role and responsibilities, which have become broader and more complex.

An article in the Requirements department in which the authors discuss how smart healthcare needs to take into account the human factor of caring, as new and exciting healthcare applications that leverage the Internet of Things and other technologies can disassociate the caregiver from the patient. An audio recording of one of the authors reading the article is at youtu.be/bDyZ2geRyJE.

A look at software developed by Neemu (a start-up created in the heart of the Amazon rainforest), which demonstrates alternative economic development that has a low environmental impact.

An opinion piece in the Pragmatic Architect department, in which the author presents his view on the evolution of architecture. He identifies five ages of software systems and five corresponding stages of software architects, and calls out six future trends for architecting practices.

A portion of an interview with HashiCorp's James Phillips , who works on the open source service discovery tool Consul. Phillips and interviewer Charles Anderson discuss the increasing importance of service discovery in the construction of scalable, elastic, and always-on distributed systems. The entire interview is at www.se-radio.net/2016/08/se-radio-episode-264-james-phillips-on-service-discovery.

IEEE Software's mission is to be the best source of reliable, useful, peer-reviewed information for leading software practitionersthe developers and managers who want to keep up with rapid technology change. The authority on translating software theory into practice, this bimonthly magazine positions itself between pure research and pure practice, transferring ideas, methods, and experiences among researchers and engineers. Peer-reviewed articles and columns by real-world experts illuminate all aspects of the industry, including process improvement, project management, development tools, software maintenance, Web applications and opportunities, testing, usability, and much more.

Computer, Honorable Mention

Standalone Digital Magazine; Association/Non-Profit (B-to-B) - Standalone Digital Magazine - 6 or more issues (Eddies Digital), for its February 2017 issue, "Technology for Human Augmentation."

Computer, the IEEE Computer Society's flagship publication, leads the way in exploring new cutting-edge technologies, discoveries, and innovations. With readership that includes over 100,000 technology professionals, it covers all aspects of computer science, computer engineering, computing technology, and applications. For more than 40 years, developers, researchers, and managers have relied on Computer for timely, peer-reviewed information about research, trends, best practices, and changes in the profession. The extraordinary reputation and popularity of Computer magazine make it a sought-after source of peer-reviewed publication for researchers and technologists.

Official results for IEEE Computer Society's products are provided at 2017: Folio Eddie Digital Award Winners, and all awards are profiled at Foliomag.com. The Eddie & Ozzie Awards program is presented by Folio:, the leading publication serving the entire magazine media industry. IEEE Computer Society has won three Folio: Eddie & Ozzie awards since 2015.

About IEEE Computer Society

IEEE Computer Society, the computing industry's unmatched source for technology information and career development, offers a comprehensive array of industry-recognized products, services and professional opportunities. Known as the community for technology leaders, IEEE Computer Society's vast resources include membership, publications, a renowned digital library, training programs, conferences, and top-trending technology events. Visit www.computer.org for more information on all products and services.

SOURCE IEEE Computer Society

Related Links

http://www.computer.org


DALLAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A once-abandoned building on the edge of Downtown is being reincarnated as an eco-friendly, people-friendly mixed-use destination that offers coworking, loft living, green space, commercial office space and a coffee shop, and developers have been awarded a $300,000 grant to install a solar system to power the new venture.

The 60,000-square foot building, built in the 1930s and expanded in the late 1950s, is located at 1808 S. Good Latimer Expy. in East Cedars, near the Farmer's Market. Renovations began February 2016, and the building is expected to be ready for occupancy January 2018. One of the nation's premier green architectural design firms, GGO Architects, led by Gary Olp, FAIA and LEED Fellow, designed and directed the renovation of the project in partnership with GoodWork, led by Amy King, a company dedicated to incubating healthy environments for working and living.

"1808 from its conception is an innovative mixed-use re-development. Our goal is a coworking, business and residential community built around the synergies of design, business and sustainability," said Steve Kinder, 1808 building owner and CEO & Founder of LOFTwall. "As we worked with our partners to pursue LEED Certification, solar was on our wish list." The solar dream became a reality when the Dallas nonprofit group Downwinders at Risk (www.downwindersatrisk.org) chose the 1808 project to receive the final grant from their Sue Pope Fund for Pollution Reduction.

Dallas-based Sunfinity Solar (www.sunfinitysolar.com), a company serving residential and commercial solar customers, has been selected to design and manage the system installation. John Billingsley, Chief Executive Officer of Sunfinity Solar, says that this installation will be one of a small handful of solar systems operating in the downtown area.

"The vision of the 1808 leadership team and the opportunity to help take a building from the early 20th century into the 21st century make this a unique, appealing project, and we're very honored to be part of it," said Billingsley.

The Sunfinity System will include 454 panels (149.8 kW) that will provide 45.8% of the building's power needs and feed excess power produced back to the electric grid. Over 20 years, this solar system is estimated by the Department of Energy to offset:

3,022 metric tons of carbon dioxide

24,000 pounds of SO2 (sulfur dioxide)

12,000 pounds of NOx (nitrogen oxide)

172,000 milligrams of mercury

The carbon sequestered is equivalent to taking 638 cars off the road for a year, planting 78,317 trees over 10 years or preserving 24.1 acres of U.S. forests from conversion to cropland in one year.

"Solar power makes sense for businesses of all sizes  from for-profit concerns to schools and non-profits - for the same reasons that it appeals to homeowners," said Billingsley, who notes that Texas is particularly suited for solar. According to GoSolarTexas, Texas has the second greatest technical potential for photovoltaic (PV) rooftop installations given its location in the Southwest and relatively low tree coverage.

"The potential financial savings are impressive, and they go on for years," Billingsley added. "Solar is about choice, and businesses have the choice to be energy independent by owning their own power and locking in a percentage of their building's needs for 30-plus years.

"The environmental benefits are just as compelling, since solar taps a clean, endlessly renewable energy source that doesn't require other resources, like water and fuels, to produce or transport."

When asked why this project was compelling, Architect Gary Olp said, "It has been rewarding to take this building from a dilapidated, overlooked, abandoned building and transform it to one of the most healthy working and living environments in Dallas."

ABOUT 1808 / GoodWork

The mixed-use redevelopment at 1808 S Good Latimer Expy. is a building for independent collaborators, growing businesses and community cultivators. Along with its coworking partner GoodWork, this 1808 historic warehouse in the Cedars -- a creative and industrial sector on the edge of Downtown Dallas -- has a vision to create a community built around the synergies of design, business, and sustainability. 1808 features a variety of work places and amenities inspired by nature -- encouraging movement, wellness, creativity and collaboration. It offers two green courtyards, a coffee shop, event space, coworking, 2nd floor office space, and hotel/residence loft living. The building is being designed with environmentally and wellness-friendly features paramount. It is pursuing both LEED and WELL Building certification. www.1808.biz; www.goodwork.co

ABOUT GGOArchitects, Corp.

GGOArchitects (www.ggoarchitects.com) is an innovative, environmentally focused studio. The practice was founded to effect a fundamental change in the application of the craft of architecture based on an understanding of environmental stewardship. The efforts of the award-winning studio reflect an enterprising approach to energy efficiency, passive solar techniques, natural day lighting and enhanced fresh air systems with an emphasis on reducing construction waste and the use of natural, non-toxic building materials.

ABOUT Sunfinity Solar

Sunfinity Solar (www.sunfinitysolar.com) is headquartered in Dallas with full-service operations throughout California and North Texas and active expansion in Texas and other states. Sunfinity Solar offers complete system design (solar panels, inverter and metering), installation (including handling all permits and inspections), financing and ongoing system support for residences, businesses and agricultural concerns of any size that want to realize the many financial and environmental benefits of solar power.

SOURCE Sunfinity Solar

Related Links

http://www.sunfinitysolar.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) will be hosting a Leadership webinar to explore how education leaders can scale personalized learning models in K-12 education through professional learning.

Schools and districts across the country are transitioning toward personalized learning models to provide tailored learning opportunities designed for each student to succeed. Join this webinar to learn how education leaders in Kettle Moraine School District (Wisconsin) are scaling personalized learning by empowering leaders and teachers.

Learn ways to re-energize your professional learning community, school leadership or grade-level team meetings to focus on action steps toward personalized learning  providing each student with powerful learning opportunities to prepare them for success in college, career and life. Understand ways to maintain focus on innovation, continuous improvement, and progress. Help your teams develop a growth mindset, and learn how you can build sustainable capacity through professional development and professional learning communities.

iNACOL CEO Susan Patrick said, "Building capacity for leaders and teachers to thrive in personalized learning environments is an essential component of sustaining the transition to personalized learning and meeting the needs of all students."

This webinar is free to attend  participants are invited to register here for final details and login information.

Webinar Title: Empowering Leaders and Teachers to Scale Personalized Learning

Presenters:

Laura Dahm, Director, Kettle Moraine Explore

Sue Sterner, Principal, Magee Elementary School, Kettle Moraine School District

About iNACOL

The mission of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is to catalyze the transformation of K-12 education policy and practice to advance powerful, personalized, learner-centered experiences through competency-based, blended and online learning. iNACOL is a non-profit organization focusing on research, developing policy for student-centered education to ensure equity and access, developing quality standards for emerging learning models using competency-based, blended and online education, and supporting the ongoing professional development of school and district leaders for new learning models. Visit our website, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn and follow us on twitter.

SOURCE International Association for K-12 Online Learning

Related Links

http://www.inacol.org


Because the speed of kerfuffle has reached warp factor 10 in the Trump era, you may have forgotten that politics rocketed through an election last week. Post-election analysis suggests that, while we are still mired in political Oz, we may be slogging toward an exit ramp from the yellow brick road.

Many telltales suggest the political winds are blowing westward (thats left on your political map). Matthew Chapmans Nov. 10th Shareblue article detailed the blue shift of 32 state legislative seats across the U.S. since President Trump took office. Affected states include Florida, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, and Washington State. Washingtons result was especially sweet; it gave control of their state senate to Democrats. These Democratic gains were offset by only one legislative red-shift in Louisiana in an unopposed race.

Exit polls from the recent elections showed that voters are seeking relief from their 2016 election-night over-indulgence in the pachyderm punch. Among their strong concerns were loss of health care, womens issues, and general disapproval of the president.

Health care concerns can and often are painted in very broad brushstrokes when people envision their current and future prospects. No one wants to be ill. Short term illnesses and injuries are both literal and figurative pains. The trouble with illness, however, takes on several additional problematic dimensions.

Illness is costly, especially if you are uninsured. Medical costs have skyrocketed in recent years while family incomes have stagnated. The larger the family the higher the odds of medical expenses becoming catastrophic. Some employers have low tolerance for medical absenteeism. Staying home to get well may not be covered by sick leave and could even cost a worker his or her job. If the financial impact of an illness or multiple illnesses for a family escalates, it could force the foregoing of certain aspects of optimal care for the infirmed. Quality of life or life itself could be lost.

Either positive or negative health outcome can and often is accompanied by bankruptcy. For the tens of millions among the electorate for whom these scenarios are daily real-world considerations, the political jousting and callous disregard of human considerations surrounding national health care has unleashed a backlash that registered strongly in both the Virginia and New Jersey exit polling.

Maines electorate became so disgusted with its state governments inaction on health care that people took matters into their own hands. Voters overwhelmingly (59-41 percent) passed a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid. The initiative was strongly opposed by Maines obstreperous Gov. Paul LePage who, even after the colossal popular mandate, has begun tenuous legal maneuvers to prevent the initiatives implementation.

Iowa has taken note of both its electorates demands for improved health care and the souring national attitude toward ACA repeal and the obvious sabotage tactics the president and the GOP in general are using to cripple a system that works better than any of their proposed alterations. Iowas lawmakers had reduced Medicaid assistance to the poor and elderly, but are being faced with adverse economic impacts on individuals, hospitals and local governments. Fearful both of the fiscal consequences and voter backlash they are reconsidering their position.

Like Maine, Idahos citizens have had their fill with its legislatures thinly veiled purely anti-Obama motivation for refusing Medicaid expansion. Some 78,000 Idahoans could have already been covered for several years now, with 90 percent of the cost covered by the federal government via the ACA. In late October the organization Reclaim Idaho filed for a ballot initiative to expand Idahos Medicaid program. Information is on the website https://medicaidforidaho.org/ or can be found on Facebook at reclaimidaho.

Frustration with Republican obstructionism regarding realistic and effective health care for all Americans is spreading. Other states preparing Medicaid initiatives include Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina and Utah. Folks insured under the ACA are realizing the consequences of losing medical insurance, or once again having to settle for virtually worthless insurance due to prior conditions, high deductibles or other restrictions. The GOP is playing Russian roulette in continuing to seek destruction of the ACA merely to satisfy its anti-Obama crusade. Fear of its disappearance is driving current high ACA enrollment which closes Dec. 15. Enrollment information is available at www.healthcare.gov.

The general public now grasps how much the GOP vendetta against Obama is likely to cost them in real terms. I suspect that recognition is also part of the GOPs women problem. The GOP, especially in hyper-conservative states like Idaho, doesnt seem to realize how utterly oblivious they are about womens issues. Blame for wage disparities, infringed reproductive rights, glass ceilings, and other facets of womens social marginalization (particularly poor and minority women) has been an especially Republican problem for decades. Its becoming clear to many women that the GOP is largely responsible for worsening their burdens as caregivers.

Women bear the brunt of the wage-loss burden when forced to stay home and care for sick children. Theyre disproportionately assigned eldercare responsibilities for parents and aged siblings. These disparities are often reinforced by cultural and religious expectations. Although these responsibilities are often undertaken out of familial devotion and a heroic sense of responsibility to their self-chosen value systems, one fact remains. Their presence on the front lines of health care affords them a particularly clear sense of the importance of health care.

Its no surprise that women shaped recent Democratic victories and that health care concerns were a top determiner of their votes. In all likelihood women will determine most future U.S. elections. Why? The female vote has been increasingly outpacing the male vote since 1964. There are 2 million more American women than men. In 2016, 73.7 million women voted compared with 63.8 million men. Thats 63.3 percent of eligible women voters compared with 59.3 percent of eligible men. Democrats have and always will march for womens causes and champion their equality. Were grateful theyve noticed.
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IRONCLAD Performance Wear Corporation, the recognized leader in performance hand safety solutions announced today that it has been acquired by Brighton Best International, Inc. through an asset purchase.

Eric Jaeger, one of the original Ironclad employees commented, "The entire Ironclad team is excited to work with our new owners. BBI will help us accelerate our growth in the marketplace by bringing fresh capital and broader access to the market." Jun Xu, President of BBI stated, "Bringing together BBI's distribution and logistics capabilities with Ironclad's strength in product design and marketing for gloves, BBI sees the best of both companies being able to work together to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts." Jun and the entire IRONCLAD team wish to express their appreciation to customers, suppliers, and employees for their continued support and promise to keep BBI and the IRONCLAD brand successful as we move forward by combining the strengths of each organization.

About Brighton Best International, Inc. (BBI)

Originally founded in 1925 in Cincinnati, Ohio, BBI is today headquartered in Taiwan, and a leading global wholesaler of industrial and construction fasteners to distributors around the world with over 31 locations and over 2.4 million square feet of warehouse space globally. With sales and distribution centers in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, and Brazil, BBI is seeking to expand beyond fasteners into higher value products including hand tools and safety, leveraging its distribution capabilities. BBI is driven by a passion for service coupled with deep inventory levels, competitive prices, and high quality products. Bring together BBI's distribution and logistics capabilities coupled with Ironclad's strength in product design and marketing for gloves, BBI sees the best of both companies being able to work together to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

About IRONCLAD Performance Wear. (ICPW)

Originally founded in 1998 in El Segundo - California, IRONCLAD is today headquartered in Farmers Branch, Texas and is the industry leader in high quality task-specific PPE gloves. IRONCLAD continues to leverage its leadership position in the safety, construction and industrial markets through the design, development and distribution of specialized task-specific gloves for industries such as oil & gas extraction; automotive; police, fire, first-responder and military and more. Ironclad engineers and manufactures its products with a focus on innovation, design, advanced material science, dexterity and durability. Ironclad's gloves are available through industrial suppliers, hardware stores, home centers, lumber yards, automotive stores and sporting goods retailers nationwide; and through authorized distributors around the world.

Built Tough for the Industrial Athlete

To learn more and see more, visit: www.ironclad.com

Contact

Abraham Feld | Director of Marketing

[email protected]

972-996-5664

SOURCE Ironclad Performance Wear Corporation

Related Links

http://www.ironclad.com


KANSAS CITY, Kan., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 41 Sysco drivers are now on strike at the company's Olathe, Kan., distribution center after management allegedly threatened reprisals for the workers' union activity. Nationally, Sysco faces multiple federal investigations of unlawful company surveillance, threats, discrimination, and terminations of union supporters in Kansas, Florida, California, South Carolina, Michigan and Washington.

Pickets went up around 4 a.m. CST, one day before Sysco convenes its 2017 annual shareholder meeting in Houston, Texas, the company's headquarters. A delegation of Teamsters and renowned labor rights expert Kate Bronfenbrenner, of Cornell University, are set to address Sysco executives and its Board of Directors about the company's systemic abuses of federal law and workers' rights across the country.

"We are on strike to send a message to Sysco that its mistreatment of workers must stop now," said Yakov Noykhovich, a driver at Sysco in Olathe.

More than 40 Sysco city drivers at Sysco-Kansas City voted to become Teamsters on October 31, 2014. But workers don't yet have an agreement, said Steve Vairma, Teamsters International Vice President and Warehouse Division Director, because the company has failed to bargain in good faith.

"There is no excuse, none whatsoever, for Sysco management's flagrant violations of workers' rights simply because workers seek the security of a Teamster contract," Vairma said. "This company's number one position in the market is built on the backs of more 8,600 Teamster members who service Sysco customers in virtually every major metropolitan market. Sysco would do well to remember that."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Tammy Edwards, (202) 439-1792

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


CINCINNATI, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) announced today it will host its third quarter 2017 earnings conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 30, 2017. Kroger's management team will comment on financial and operational results for the third quarter 2017.

The presentation will broadcast online at ir.kroger.com. Click on "Quarterly Results" to access the event. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available at approximately 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 14, 2017.

At The Kroger Co., we are dedicated to our purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit. We are 450,000 associates who serve nearly nine million customers every day in 2,793 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Our Family of Companies operates an expanding ClickList offering  a personalized order online service  in addition to 2,258 pharmacies, 783 convenience stores, 307 fine jewelry stores, 222 retail health clinics, 1,472 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Our Company has been recognized as one of America's most generous companies for our support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. As a leader in supplier diversity, we are a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Related Links

http://www.kroger.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Massage Envy, the pioneer and largest national franchisor of massage therapy, assisted stretching and skincare services, has named Kurt Ullman vice president, International Development. Mr. Ullman will be responsible for leading the company's International Division and its expansion into new global markets. He joins the company from Amazing Lash Studio, where he was executive vice president of International Development.

"As we look to expand the brand outside the U.S., Kurt will be a tremendous asset and a great addition to Massage Envy's Senior leadership team," said Joe Magnacca, chief executive officer of Massage Envy. "He's a smart strategist, a strong leader and has a long track record of producing results for international franchise brands."

Ullman has over 24 years of international franchising experience and, over the course of his career, his work has resulted in master franchise transactions in 96 countries. He previously was vice president, Global Development for Planet Smoothie and Tasti D-Lite. He worked for more than a decade in international development for Mail Boxes Etc./The UPS Store. In addition, he has managed international operations, supply chain and company-wide international integration. Ullman has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of California, San Diego, and is a member of the International Franchise Association and the Global Business Network.

"I'm thrilled to be part of the Massage Envy team and to come into the business at such an exciting time," said Ullman. "There's real demand for expansion of the Massage Envy brand into international markets, and the company is in a great position to answer the call."

Massage Envy is a trailblazer in the wellness industry and one of the most attractive franchise businesses in the world, with meaningful, untapped opportunities for growth.

Massage Envy has become one of the wellness industry's most soughtafter franchises with potentially lucrative opportunities for sustained growth in North America and increasingly abroad.

The company is committed to the wellbeing of members, guests and the 35,000 therapists, estheticians and wellness professionals who are collectively employed across more than 1,170 franchised locations. Through its innovative membership model, the Massage Envy franchise system allows customers to make massage and skincare services a regular part of their health and wellness routine. Its one-to-one service model, backed by technology, allows every franchised location to deliver specific, personalized and consistent care. Massage Envy is ranked #7 in Forbes "Best Franchises to Buy," and was recently named a Top 20 franchisor by Entrepreneur Magazine, including being #1 in the massage category.

About Massage Envy

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Massage Envy is a national franchisor and, through its franchise locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skincare services and proprietary assisted stretching service, Total Body Stretch. The Massage Envy franchise system is, collectively, the largest employer of massage therapists and estheticians, with more than 35,000 dedicated wellness professionals that provide best-in-class service to over 1.65 million members. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,170 franchise locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 100 million massages and facials. For more information, visit www.massageenvy.com, or follow us on Twitter @MassageEnvy and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MassageEnvy.

SOURCE Massage Envy

Related Links

www.massageenvy.com


FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Latcha+Associates, a pioneering marketing solutions and production company that specializes in the customer lifecycle, has been named one of Michigan's Top Workplaces by The Detroit Free Press. This is the seventh time that Latcha has received this recognition since 2009.

"Latcha's collaborative culture is critical to delivering client value, enabling our employees to invent new solutions and helping us build deeper relationships with the amazing clients we serve," said Dave Latcha, founder and CEO of Latcha+Associates. "Receiving this honor as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, is extra special for all of us. Our team works incredibly hard and has built a culture that makes coming to work something I look forward to each and every day."

Award winners are determined by a survey conducted by research firm WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, which measures team alignment, execution, and connection as top attributes for a thriving workplace.

Latcha has also reached an important milestone as the company celebrates 20 years of making 'cool stuff' for clients. Founder and CEO, Dave Latcha, set out to create an agile organization that could support projects that large agencies couldn't or wouldn't take on. Since launching in 1997, Latcha has expanded its capabilities to include content creation and CRM for global brands including Ford, Audi, Subaru, Kia and Chris Craft.

In an industry where employees bounce from job to job, Latcha continues to attract the industry's brightest talent and maintain a high retention rate. In fact, 17 of the company's original 20 employees remain there today - which is a testament to its commitment to creating a rich culture and optimal workplace environment. To learn more about Latcha's unique culture and career opportunities, please visit www.latcha.com.

About Latcha+Associates

Latcha+Associates is a pioneering marketing solutions and production company that specializes in the customer lifecycle. Since its inception in 1997, its singular mission and focus has been helping brands solve their biggest challenges. Today, Latcha and its four sibling companies, Hallwood Studios, Shooterz, Rocket Studios and Detroit Software, remain independently owned and operated, with a seamlessly collaborative culture to invent capabilities and processes that drive value for clients. This consistent focus enables Latcha+Associates to deliver clever, cost-effective solutions for its Fortune Global 500 client roster.

About WorkplaceDynamics, LLC

Headquartered in Exton, PA, WorkplaceDynamics specializes in employee feedback surveys and workplace improvement. This year alone, more than two million employees in over 6,000 organizations will participate in the Top Workplaces campaigna program it conducts in partnership with more than 40 prestigious media partners across the United States. Workplace Dynamics also provides consulting services to improve employee engagement and organizational health. WorkplaceDynamics is a founding B Corporation member, a coalition of organizations that are leading a global movement to redefine success in business by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business.

SOURCE Latcha+Associates

Related Links

http://www.latcha.com


ELKHART, Ind., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LCI Industries (NYSE: LCII), a supplier of components for the leading original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") of recreational vehicles ("RVs") and adjacent industries, and the related aftermarkets of those industries, today announced the appointment of Ronald Fenech to the Company's Board of Directors, as an additional independent director. Fenech will also serve on the Board's Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

Fenech, 60, co-founded Grand Design Recreational Vehicle Co. in 2012, a fast-growing manufacturer of towable RVs that was acquired in 2016 by Winnebago Industries. Prior to forming Grand Design, he held several executive positions at Thor Industries, the sole owner of operating subsidiaries that, combined, represent the world's largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles, including as Senior Group President of Thor Industries from January 2010 to 2012, and as President of Keystone RV Company following its acquisition by Thor Industries in November 2001 until January 2010. Fenech has over thirty years of experience in the RV industry covering a broad range of positions with several companies.

"We are excited about Ron's addition to our Board," said Jim Gero, Chairman of LCI Industries' Board of Directors. "His deep understanding of the RV industry, leadership skills and strong operating and strategic experience will be of significant benefit to LCI Industries and our stockholders."

Fenech earned a Bachelor Degree in Business in 1979 from the University of Michigan. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Beacon Health System, a regional provider of healthcare services serving the Elkhart and South Bend communities of northern Indiana.

Fenech joins directors James Gero, Jason Lippert, Fred Hegi, David Reed, Jack Lowe, Brendan Deely, Frank Crespo, Kieran O'Sullivan, Tracy Graham and Ginnie Henkels on the Company's Board, each for a one-year term ending at the next annual election of directors.

About LCI Industries

From 52 manufacturing and distribution facilities located throughout the United States and in Canada and Italy, LCI Industries, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lippert Components, Inc., supplies, domestically and internationally, a broad array of components for the leading original equipment manufacturers of recreational vehicles; buses; trailers used to haul boats, livestock, equipment and other cargo; trucks; pontoon boats; trains; manufactured homes; and modular housing. The Company also supplies components to the related aftermarkets of these industries primarily by selling to retail dealers, wholesale distributors and service centers. LCI's products include steel chassis and related components; axles and suspension solutions; slide-out mechanisms and solutions; thermoformed bath, kitchen and other products; vinyl, aluminum and frameless windows; manual, electric and hydraulic stabilizer and leveling systems; furniture and mattresses; entry, luggage, patio and ramp doors; electric and manual entry steps; awnings and awning accessories; electronic components; televisions and sound systems; navigation systems; backup cameras; appliances; and other accessories. Additional information about LCI and its products can be found at www.lci1.com.

SOURCE LCI Industries

Related Links

http://www.lci1.com


SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, today announced that Matt Simoncini has elected to retire as president, CEO and a director of Lear Corporation effective February 28, 2018. Upon Mr. Simoncini's retirement, Ray Scott (52), executive vice president and president of Seating, will be appointed president and chief executive officer as well as a member of Lear's Board of Directors. To assist in the transition following Matt Simoncini's retirement, he has agreed to remain with Lear in an advisory role through the end of 2018.

Related Documents View PDF Raymond E. Scott has been elected president, chief executive officer and a director of Lear Corporation effective February 28, 2018.

"Ray is the perfect choice to succeed Matt, having successfully led both of Lear's business segments. Ray was instrumental in developing Lear's strategy which has re-focused our E-Systems business for profitable growth and transformed the Seating business into a world leader. The Board looks forward to a very smooth CEO transition, and to continued operational and financial success under Ray's leadership," said Henry D. G. Wallace, non-executive chairman.

"Thanks to Matt's exceptional leadership, the Company has achieved industry-leading financial results and the best total shareholder returns among its peers. He has also assembled the best management team in the industry. In all regards, the Company has never been in a stronger competitive position. On behalf of Lear's Board of Directors, I want to sincerely thank Matt for his dedicated service," Wallace continued.

"It has been an honor to serve and lead this great company. I am extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together. Given Ray's extensive leadership experience and the overall strength of the Lear management team, now is the perfect time to implement our succession plan. I am confident that the Company's best days are in front of us under Ray's leadership," said Matt Simoncini.

"Ray has worked at Lear for 29 years in positions of increasing responsibility, including a tour of duty in Europe (biography and picture are attached). He is passionate about the business and is an inspirational leader. Ray is very knowledgeable about Lear's global operations, customers, products and employees, and he exemplifies the Company's core values of integrity, diversity, quality, innovation, operational excellence and customer service. He has successfully led both the Company's business segments, and has been instrumental in positioning the Company's product portfolio for long-term success. The Board has full confidence that Ray is ready to assume the role as president and chief executive officer," added Mr. Wallace.

"Lear is an outstanding company with a history of industry leadership, and I am honored to have been appointed as president and CEO. With a low-cost manufacturing and engineering footprint, unique product capabilities in both segments and significant financial resources, Lear is extremely well positioned for future profitable growth. I look forward to continuing to deliver superior quality and customer service and to sustaining Lear's positive momentum," commented Mr. Scott.

Lear Corporation was founded in Detroit in 1917 as American Metal Products. In 2017, the Company is celebrating its 100th year anniversary. Lear is one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive seating systems and electrical systems (E-Systems). Lear serves every major automaker in the world, and Lear content can be found on more than 400 vehicle nameplates. Lear's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of approximately 156,000 employees located in 38 countries. Lear currently ranks #151 on the Fortune 500. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan. Further information about Lear is available at lear.com or follow us on Twitter @LearCorporation.

SOURCE Lear Corporation

Related Links

http://www.lear.com


VERONA, N.J., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay, the Pre Settlement Funding Company, announced today that their staff is preparing for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday Season, when clients looking for pre-settlement funding picks up. Legal-Bay is one of the leading lawsuit funding companies in the industry, and the company's experience allows them to be the best at preparing to service their clients' needs. Their pre-settlement funding programs are not a lawsuit loan or lawsuit loans as many clients may think, none of the funds need to be paid back if the case is lost.

Chris Janish, CEO commented on the company's readiness, "We have years of experience in handling large volumes of legal funding advances over the holiday season, so none of our clients are left in the cold. At this time of year, we have a lot of things converging at oncebad weather causing more accidents and people out of work, holiday travel and shopping needs, and unfortunately, many clients who expected their cases to be settled by this year have to wait until next year."

Legal-Bay urges clients who need cash now not to wait to the last minute and apply online at: http://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com

Legal-Bay focuses on prompt service during this time of year when everyone is in a rush. Car and semi truck accidents cases are typically approved within 24 hours. However, Legal-Bay handles all cases including Xarelto, IVC Filter Cases, Physio-Mesh hernia cases, Depuy  Wright  Stryker metal on metal Hip cases, transvaginal mesh, personal injury, slip and falls, premise liability, medical malpractice, construction accidents, wrongful termination, discrimination and sexual harassment, including clergy sexual abuse cases, along with many others.

The non-recourse cash advance is not a lawsuit loan, lawsuit loans, settlement loan, settlement loans, pre-settlement loan, or pre-settlement loans. To apply now for settlement funding go to the company's website at: http://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com or call the company's toll free intake line at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by.

SOURCE Legal-Bay

Related Links

http://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com


PARIS, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

thierry Ehrmann: "Once again Artprice has demonstrated its understanding of the art market, having forecast a result somewhere in the $450 - 500 million range. A forecast that was correct with Salvator Mundi fetching $450.3 million, as reported by the AOF Press Agency this morning."

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160228/338238LOGO )

The last Da Vinci, "Salvator Mundi" (Savior of the world)

New York #Artprice #DaVinci - A painting by Italian artist LEONARDO DA VINCI , 'Salvator Mundi", sold for $450.3 million on Wednesday at Christies's New York, breaking the world record for the most expensive painting ever sold.

Ehrmann recalls that it is not so much less than the French auction market's revenue in a whole year: $579 million for 69,500 lots sold in 2016. This is also about what all the entire Old Masters segment's sales are worth in over 12 months: $558 million in 2016. This art period defined as the Old Masters has become the smallest segment of the Art Market, well below the Contemporary Art, $1.1 billion in 2016.

After a bidding sequence that lasted 19 minutes, Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World), the last Da Vinci painting still in private hands, demolished the world's all-time Fine Art auction record set by Pablo Picasso's Les Femmes d'Alger (version O) at $179.4 million in 2015.

According to Christie's Old Masters specialist, Alan Wintermute, Salvator Mundi - Da Vinci's male equivalent of the Mona Lisa - is the "Holy Grail of Old Master Art". However, this absolute masterpiece was not scheduled for sale in Christie's latest Old Masters session on October 31.

Today, ancient masterpieces are extremely rare on the market. Of the 100 best auction sales of all time, only 8 artworks were created before the 19th century. Among them, two paintings by Rubens (including the Massacre of the Innocents (c.1608), sold for $76.7 million in 2002), three ancestral Chinese paintings, and two preparatory drawings by Raphael.

Thanks to the miraculously recovered Salvator Mundi, Antique Art is back in the limelight. It proves that the interest of collectors for historic art has by no means diminished, it just lacks outstanding works in circulation.

Thanks to this lot, Christie's accomplished the second best session in its history last night: $788.9 million with 49 lots and 9 unsold. In November 2014, Christie's was able to award 75 lots in one evening for a total of $852 million (including fees). The highlight of this record session was Andy Warhol's 1963 Triple Elvis that sold for $82 million. Last night, another important piece of the Prince of Pop Art was on sale, Sixty last Suppers (1986), the last painting he made before his death. But this immense tribute to the Florentine painter faded away in front of Da Vinci's original.

Russian collector Rybolovlev estimated he had been wronged by dealer Yves Bouvier, who had sold him the Salvatore Mundi in 2013 for $127 million. He might have to rectify his accusations.

With last night's sale, Christie's broke with traditions by mixing artistic periods, thereby confirming the eminently spectacular nature of Contemporary & Post-War Art sales, and the fact that Contemporary Art is now very much the art market's primary motor.

Copyright thierry Ehrmann 1987/2017

About Artprice:

Artprice celebrates its 20th birthday, editorial by thierry Ehrmann, founder and CEO of Artprice. https://www.actusnews.com/fr/ARTPRICE/cp/2017/10/04/artprice-celebrates-its-20th-birthday-editorial-by-thierry-ehrmann-founder-and-ceo-of-artprice

Artprice is listed on the Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF.

Artprice is the global leader in art price and art index databanks. It has over 30 million indices and auction results covering more than 662,000 artists. Artprice Images(R) gives unlimited access to the largest Art Market resource in the world: a library of 126 million images or prints of artworks from the year 1700 to the present day, along with comments by Artprice's art historians.

Artprice permanently enriches its databanks with information from 6,300 auctioneers and it publishes a constant flow of art market trends for the world's principal news agencies and approximately 7,200 international press publications. For its 4,500,000 members, Artprice gives access to the world's leading Standardised Marketplace for buying and selling art. Artprice is preparing its blockchain for the Art Market. It is BPI-labelled (scientific national French label).

Artprice's Global Art Market Annual Report for 2016 published last March 2017: http://imgpublic.artprice.com/pdf/rama2016_en.pdf

Artprice's Contemporary Art Market Annual Report for 2016 - free access at https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2016

The text presented hereafter is a translation of Arte Creative's online presentation: ARTE: A gigantic Christmas tree in the guise of a butt plug, a machine that defecates five-star meals, an icon immersed in urine and staged corpses - subversive, trash, provocative or insulting? Thierry Ehrmann, the man behind The Abode of Chaos dixit "The New York Times", an artist and the founder of Artprice, is the mouthpiece for scandal and discloses the workings of the most striking controversies in contemporary art. And scandal sells. 9 episodes are online: http://www.arte.tv/guide/en/weekly-highlight

Artprice's press releases: http://serveur.serveur.com/Press_Release/pressreleaseen.htm and https://twitter.com/artpricedotcom

News Artmarket:

http://twitter.com/artpricedotcom https://www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom

https://www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom

https://plus.google.com/+Artpricedotcom/posts

http://artmarketinsight.wordpress.com/

Discover the Alchemy and the universe of Artprice http://web.artprice.com/video, which headquarters are the famous Museum of Contemporary Art, the Abode of Chaos http://goo.gl/zJssd https://vimeo.com/124643720

The Contemporary Art Museum The Abode of Chaos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999

The Abode of Chaos/Demeure du Chaos Contemporary Art Museum by thierry Ehrmann,author, sculptor, artist, photograph https://www.flickr.com/photos/home_of_chaos/sets/72157676803169034

SOURCE Artprice.com
Then, on October 31, 2017, Judge Hudson issued a nineteen-page Decision, ruling that the State was negligent in maintaining the Prendergast Boat Launch and bears seventy-percent liability for the fall. In so ruling, the Judge found that the trial evidence demonstrated that the State failed to establish a program or policy to regularly clean or inspect conditions at the Boat Launch. On November 8, 2017, judgment was entered against the State in the Court of Claims in Albany.

"Like every landowner, the State owes a duty to exercise reasonable care to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition. Unfortunately, it did not do so in this case. I am very pleased that we were able to obtain this just result for Mrs. Frye and her family. And, we hope that she is ultimately able to make a full recovery from her injuries," said Attorney LaMancuso.

The parties are to appear in the Court of Claims in Buffalo on January 3, 2018 to select a date for the damages phase of the trial.

Since its founding in 1944, Lewis & Lewis, P.C. has represented thousands of individuals injured in car accidents, workplace accidents, and other serious accidents. The firm employs fourteen attorneys and maintains five offices throughout Western New York - in Jamestown, Olean, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Batavia.

Contact:

John I. LaMancuso, Esq.

Lewis & Lewis, P.C.

208 Pine Street

Jamestown, New York 14701

Phone: (716) 664-7354

Web: https://lewislaw.com/attorney/john-lamancuso/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+JohnILaMancusoEsqLewisLewisPCJamestown

SOURCE Lewis & Lewis, P.C.

Related Links

https://lewislaw.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Synopsis

Timetric's 'Life Insurance in New Zealand Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the New Zealand life insurance segment, and a comparison of the New Zealand insurance industry with its regional counterparts.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p01862861



It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).



The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.



The report brings together Timetric's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.



Summary

Timetric's 'Life Insurance in New Zealand Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the New Zealand life insurance segment, including:

 An overview of the New Zealand life insurance segment

 The New Zealand life insurance segment's growth prospects by category

 A comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and demographics

 A comparison of the New Zealand life insurance segment with its regional counterparts

 The various distribution channels in the New Zealand life insurance segment

 Details of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in New Zealand

 Details of regulatory policy applicable to the New Zealand insurance industry



Scope

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in New Zealand:

 It provides historical values for the New Zealand life insurance segment for the report's 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period.

 It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the New Zealand life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.

 It provides a comparison of the New Zealand life insurance segment with its regional counterparts

 It analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in New Zealand.

 It profiles the top life insurance companies in New Zealand and outlines the key regulations affecting them.



Reasons To Buy

 Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the New Zealand life insurance segment, and each category within it.

 Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the New Zealand life insurance segment.

 Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment.

 Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.

 Gain insights into key regulations governing the New Zealand insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.



Key Highlights

 In July 2016, according to a report published by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER), Kiwi life insurers have opportunities to move away from commissions-based distribution models to lower cost distribution channels. According to the NZIER report, the 14 main life insurers operating in the segment collectively spend NZD431.0 million (US$292.0 million) per year on commission payments to advisers and brokers who sell their products. The commission payouts are equivalent to 23% of the insurer's premium revenues, and account for over half of their distribution expenses.

 In April 2016, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) announced plans to review and revise the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act over 20162017. The objectives of the review include ensuring a sound and efficient insurance industry in the country, and to promote public trust in the industry.

 In January 2016, the Fair Insurance Code was released by the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) to establish high standards of service and to check claims being resolved by insurers. All members of the ICNZ must operate according to the code.

 Individual life insurance remained the largest sub-segment during the review period; it accounted for 92.7% of the segment's gross written premium in 2016, of which the term life sub-category accounted for 69.1% of the category's gross written premium.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p01862861



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.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

Related Links

http://www.reportlinker.com


LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeStraw, a global leader in developing innovative filtration and purification products for safe drinking water, has introduced its next generation of consumer water filtration products in time for the holidays. New products include: LifeStraw Play, the industry's first and only two-stage filtration bottle for kids; LifeStraw Universal, an adapter kit fitting popular water bottle brands; and LifeStraw Flex, a versatile multi-use filter meeting the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF 53) standard for lead reduction. The expanded product line advances LifeStraw's Follow the Liters humanitarian program, which will bring safe water to over one million children in developing countries. All new products are available at www.lifestraw.com and at retailers.

LifeStraw Play ($39.95), available in five colors with playful character stickers, is a sturdy leak-proof bottle that is dishwasher safe. The 10-oz. water bottle's two-stage filtration system removes 99.999999% of bacteria including E. coli, and 99.999% of protozoa including Giardia and Cryptosporidium, while improving taste and reducing chlorine.

LifeStraw Universal ($34.95) is an adapter kit with two-stage filtration that can transform most popular water bottles into a powerful LifeStraw filter. It includes two screw caps for popular wide and standard mouthed bottles and an interchangeable filter. It removes bacteria and protozoa, while improving taste and reducing chlorine, minimizing the need for consumers to carry plastic disposable water bottles.

LifeStraw Flex ($34.95) has maximum versatility, with five options for use, each reducing bacteria, protozoa and meeting the NSF 53 testing standard to reduce heavy metals like lead. It may be used: alone as a straw; with the included squeeze bottle; with a generic water bottle; with most hydration bladders; or with LifeStraw Mission, a gravity powered water purification bladder ideal for group activities.

Retail sales of all LifeStraw products support LifeStraw's annual Follow the Liters campaign which distributes water purifiers to schools in rural parts of Kenya, including education on safe water and hygiene and follow-up. Since its 2014 launch, more than 1,000 schools and over 629,000 school children have received safe water. The next distribution campaign will take place in Kenya in February 2018, when the one millionth child will be reached. LifeStraw users and enthusiasts can enter a contest for a chance to win a trip to join the distribution in Kenya. Entry details will be available at www.lifestraw.com at the end of November.

LifeStraw. We make water safe to drink.

LifeStraw is a global company built on the foundation that doing good is good business. We put this mission into action by innovating game-changing solutions that contribute to a healthier, more sustainable planet. Technologically advanced LifeStraw water filters and purifiers are ideal for outdoor recreation, travel, emergency preparedness and humanitarian purposes.

Media Contact:

Meryl Rader

[email protected]

908-528-3826

SOURCE LifeStraw

Related Links

http://www.lifestraw.com


The MDA awarded the $784 million contract to Lockheed Martin in 2015 to develop, build and test LRDR, and the company is on track on an aggressive schedule to deliver the radar to Clear, Alaska in 2020. Teams from Lockheed Martin, MDA Sensors Directorate and the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications or C2BMC have worked interfaces closely to ensure seamless integration.

Successfully executing CDR validates that the LRDR system is ready to proceed into fabrication, demonstration, and test and that the hardware and software component have achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 and Manufacturing Readiness Level 7.

With the completion of CDR, the program now begins the start of low rate manufacturing which began in October. In preparation for full rate manufacturing starting in mid-2018, Lockheed Martin will be utilizing production hardware in combination with prototype systems, tactical back-end processing equipment as well as tactical software to demonstrate system performance in an operational environment to achieve system TRL 7. Lockheed Martin will be performing a series of tests in the Solid State Radar Integration Site (SSRIS) including a closed loop satellite track test.

"We remain committed to support the MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense and Homeland Defense Missions," said Chandra Marshall, LRDR program director, Lockheed Martin. "I am extremely proud of the team for their dedication and commitment to the successful execution of the LRDR program. This team has achieved every milestone, including this CDR, on schedule since contract award in 2015."

Marshall continued, "I am extremely pleased with the progress the entire LRDR team has made in the two years since contract award. With the success of CDR, LRDR is on track for initial operating capability or IOC in 2020."

In addition to CDR, Lockheed Martin conducted a Facilities Design Review in October for the LRDR equipment shelter design. Lockheed Martin will run a full and open competition for the construction of the equipment shelter in Clear, Alaska and will begin construction of the shelter in the first half of 2019. The MDA team is preparing the site for Radar System Installation and checkout mobilization, constructing the Mission Control Facility and starting the foundation for the LRDR equipment shelter.

Similar to Lockheed Martin's Space Fence radar system, LRDR is a high-powered S-Band radar incorporating solid-state gallium nitride (GaN) components. LRDR adds the capability of discriminating threats at extreme distances using the inherent wideband capability of the hardware coupled with advanced software algorithms.

LRDR is a strategic national asset of the MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense System and will provide 24/7/365 acquisition, tracking and discrimination data to enable defense systems to lock on and engage ballistic missile threats, a capability that stems from Lockheed Martin's decades of experience in creating ballistic missile defense systems for the U.S. and allied governments.

Lockheed Martin is well positioned to provide low risk, scalable radar solutions that address critical homeland defense needs; providing a persistent capability to keep pace with evolving threats, delivering unmatched discrimination capability in the Pacific architecture, and increasing the defensive capability of Ground Based Interceptors.

Work on LRDR is primarily performed in New Jersey, Alaska, Alabama, Florida and New York.

As a proven world leader in systems integration and development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, Lockheed Martin delivers high-quality missile defense solutions that protect citizens, critical assets and deployed forces from current and future threats. The company's experience spans radar and signal processing, missile design and production, hit-to-kill capabilities, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as threat-representative targets for missile defense tests.

For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lrdr.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


- Wins second consecutive AfricaCom Award for its mobile financial solutions

Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobility solutions, and Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe's largest mobile operator has jointly won the AfricaCom Award in the 'Fintech Innovation Award' category. This award is for EcoCash Diaspora services. EcoCash, which was also recognized as the best mobile payment service in the world earlier this year (GSMA GLOMO Awards 2017) is managed by Cassava Fintech (Cassava) on behalf of Econet Wireless Operations. The award was presented on November 8th at the Cape Town International Convention Center, South Africa. This is Mahindra Comviva's second consecutive AfricaCom Award and third in the past five years.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130626/625127 )



The Zimbabwean diaspora sends billions of dollars in remittances every year. Sending money through formal channels remains expensive for most Zimbabwean migrants abroad, leading to a parallel industry of sending remittances through informal channels such as acquaintances and bus drivers. However, relying upon informal remittance channels is risky as well as time consuming.

To overcome these challenges, EcoCash Diaspora service was launched, to provide a quick, secure, cost-effective and convenient way for Zimbabweans to remit money. Through partnerships structured and managed by Cassava, Econet Wireless has partnered with multiple money transfer operators and mobile money providers enabling Zimbabweans in over 200 countries and territories to send money directly to EcoCash customers in Zimbabwe. The remittance is received in EcoCash mobile wallet of consumers in Zimbabwe. This money can be cashed-out at any of the 30,000 EcoCash agents or used for P2P payments, merchant and bill payments, furthering Zimbabwe's cashless society initiative.

Manoranjan Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Comviva, said, "We are very excited to win at this year's AfricaCom Awards in the 'Fintech Innovation' category. We are in a period of profound transformation, where the very nature of money is changing with every technology leap. We are glad that we are playing a part in this transformation, which is providing peace and convenience to so many millions of Zimbabweans through safe and secure remittance services, anytime and anywhere."

Darlington Mandivenga, Group CEO, Cassava Fintech, said, "As a pan-African business with roots on the continent, we focus on addressing real African challenges by driving financial inclusion and providing digital financial power to millions of people - basically the 'unsung heroes' who strive everyday for a living, and whose daily jobs, though characterized by 'meager earnings', are responsible for sustaining entire families. Many of these still live on less than a few dollars a day, and unfortunately remain financially excluded. International remittances therefore provide an important source of livelihood for millions of these people."

"Through our intimate understanding of the different customer needs, our tailored solutions are designed to be relevant, convenient and above all impactful - while we humbly receive this award, our deepest satisfaction and the biggest award for us comes from seeing the impact we are having in the lives of millions of ordinary people across the continent, by providing financial solutions that change lives forever," Darlington further added.

Media Contact:

Sundeep Mehta

[email protected]

+91-9910030732



SOURCE Mahindra Comviva
STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, announced results from two retrospective, claims-based analyses providing health economic insights on the use of OFIRMEV (acetaminophen) injection  intravenous (IV) acetaminophen  versus oral acetaminophen for managing postoperative pain in patients undergoing bariatric surgery or appendectomy. The findings are being presented today in moderated ePoster sessions at The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) 16th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, held Nov. 16-18, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The intended audiences of these studies below are population-based decision makers with knowledge and expertise in the area of health care economic analysis and its limitations.

"We are pleased to share additional studies that can help underscore the health economic value of IV acetaminophen in the management of acute pain in the surgical setting," said Tunde Otulana, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Mallinckrodt. "The analyses demonstrate that the use of IV acetaminophen was associated with decreased hospital stays and related costs compared to oral acetaminophen, adding to real-world evidence that can provide clinicians, pharmacists, and hospital administrators additional health economic data."

Reduced Length of Stay and Hospitalization Costs Among Inpatient Bariatric Patients with Postoperative Pain Management Including Intravenous Versus Oral Acetaminophen [e-Poster EP4224] assessed the impact of pain management including IV acetaminophen versus oral acetaminophen on hospital length of stay (LOS), measured by the number of days from admission to discharge; total hospitalization costs; average daily morphine equivalent dose or MED (a measure of total daily opioid consumption); and potential opioid-related complications of patients undergoing bariatric surgery starting on the day of surgery and continuing up to the third postoperative day. This retrospective cohort analysis of the Premier Inc. inpatient hospital database from January 2012 to September 2015 included 39,307 patients from U.S. hospitals, with 34,645 patients (88%) receiving IV acetaminophen.

Key highlights include:

Compared to oral acetaminophen, use of IV acetaminophen for post-bariatric surgical pain was associated with a significantly shorter hospital LOS of 0.59 days (95% CI: -0.68, -0.50), a significant decrease of $711 in hospitalization costs (95% CI: -987, -435), and a significantly reduced average daily MED of 10.4 mg (95% CI: -12.8, -8.0) [all p<0.0001].

in hospitalization costs (95% CI: -987, -435), and a significantly reduced average daily MED of 10.4 mg (95% CI: -12.8, -8.0) [all p<0.0001]. Concerning complications that can be associated with opioid use, patients taking IV acetaminophen were 41% less likely than those taking oral acetaminophen to develop nausea or vomiting and 48% less likely to develop respiratory depression (both p<0.0001).

The poster, with additional study details, is available on the ASRA website.

Reduced Length of Stay and Hospitalization Costs Among Inpatient Appendectomy Patients with Postoperative Pain Management Including Intravenous Versus Oral Acetaminophen [e-Poster EP4222] assessed the impact of pain management including IV acetaminophen versus oral acetaminophen on hospital LOS, total hospitalization costs, average MED, and potential opioid-related complications of patients undergoing appendectomy starting on the day of surgery and continuing up to the third postoperative day. This retrospective cohort analysis of the Premier Inc. inpatient hospital database from January 2012 to September 2015 included 35,625 patients from U.S. hospitals, with 14,236 (40%) patients receiving IV acetaminophen.

Key highlights include:

Compared to oral acetaminophen, use of IV acetaminophen for post-appendectomy surgical pain was associated with a significantly shorter hospital LOS of 0.37 days (95% CI: -0.44, -0.30) and a significant decrease of $535 in hospitalization costs (95% CI: -729, -340) [both p<0.0001]. No significant differences were seen between IV acetaminophen and oral acetaminophen for average daily MED.

in hospitalization costs (95% CI: -729, -340) [both p<0.0001]. No significant differences were seen between IV acetaminophen and oral acetaminophen for average daily MED. Concerning complications that can be associated with opioid use, patients taking IV acetaminophen were 15% less likely than those receiving oral acetaminophen to develop bowel obstruction (p<0.0001) and 16% more likely to develop respiratory depression (P=0.031).

The poster, with additional study details, is available on the ASRA website.

Mallinckrodt sponsored both analyses, which were conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy and Brigham and Women's Hospital, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

e-Poster EP4224 and e-Poster EP4222 Limitations

The medication use data in the Premier database reflects the amount and dose charged rather than what was administered. However, systematic differences in billing of other pain medications between patients who did or did not receive IV acetaminophen is not suspected.

The population of patients seen in Premier hospitals is not randomly sampled. Therefore, these results may not be generalizable outside of Premier hospitals.

ABOUT OFIRMEV (Acetaminophen) Injection

OFIRMEV is the first and only IV formulation of acetaminophen to be approved and currently marketed in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved OFIRMEV in November 2010. OFIRMEV is available to hospitals and outpatient and ambulatory surgical centers across the U.S.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

OFIRMEV (acetaminophen) injection is indicated for the management of mild to moderate pain in adult and pediatric patients 2 years and older, the management of moderate to severe pain with adjunctive opioid analgesics in adult and pediatric patients 2 years and older, and the reduction of fever in adult and pediatric patients.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: RISK OF MEDICATION ERRORS AND HEPATOTOXICITY

Take care when prescribing, preparing, and administering OFIRMEV Injection to avoid dosing errors which could result in accidental overdose and death. In particular, be careful to ensure that:

 the dose in milligrams (mg) and milliliters (mL) is not confused;  the dosing is based on weight for patients under 50 kg;  infusion pumps are properly programmed; and  the total daily dose of acetaminophen from all sources does not exceed maximum daily limits.

OFIRMEV contains acetaminophen. Acetaminophen has been associated with cases of acute liver failure, at times resulting in liver transplant and death. Most of the cases of liver injury are associated with the use of acetaminophen at doses that exceed the recommended maximum daily limits, and often involve more than one acetaminophen-containing product.

Please see additional Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning, in the Full Prescribing Information, which can also be found at OFIRMEV.com.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Acetaminophen is contraindicated in patients with

known hypersensitivity to acetaminophen or to any of the excipients in the intravenous formulation.



severe hepatic impairment or severe active liver disease.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Administration of acetaminophen in doses higher than recommended may result in hepatic injury, including the risk of liver failure and death. Do not exceed the maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen. The maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen includes all routes of acetaminophen administration and all acetaminophen-containing products administered, including combination products. Dosing errors could result in accidental overdose and death.

Use caution when administering acetaminophen in patients with the following conditions: hepatic impairment or active hepatic disease, alcoholism, chronic malnutrition, severe hypovolemia, or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance  30 mL/min).

Rarely, acetaminophen may cause serious skin reactions such as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. Discontinue OFIRMEV immediately at the first sign of skin rash.

Take care when prescribing, preparing, and administering OFIRMEV Injection to avoid dosing errors, which could result in accidental overdose and death.

Hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis associated with the use of acetaminophen have been reported. Clinical signs included swelling of the face, mouth, and throat, respiratory distress, urticaria, rash, and pruritus. Discontinue OFIRMEV immediately upon occurrence of signs or symptoms associated with allergy or hypersensitivity. Do not use OFIRMEV in patients with acetaminophen allergy.

The antipyretic effects of OFIRMEV may mask fever.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Serious adverse reactions may include hepatic injury, serious skin reactions, allergy, and hypersensitivity.

The most common adverse reactions in patients treated with OFIRMEV were nausea, vomiting, headache, and insomnia in adult patients and nausea, vomiting, constipation, and pruritus in pediatric patients.

For additional Important Risk Information, including complete boxed warning, see Full Prescribing Information.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; and analgesics and hemostasis products. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines and its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com. Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners. 2017 Mallinckrodt. [US PRC/FIV/1117/0089] 11/17.

CONTACTS

Media

Rhonda Sciarra

Senior Communications Manager

908-238-6765

[email protected]

Meredith Fischer

Chief Public Affairs Officer

314-654-3318

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Coleman N. Lannum, CFA

Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO

314-654-6649

[email protected]

Daniel J. Speciale, CPA

Director, Investor Relations

314-654-3638

[email protected]

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc

Related Links

http://www.mallinckrodt.com


CSE: MDM FSE: 2Mo OTCQB:MRPHF

KELOWNA, BC, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Marapharm Ventures Inc. ("Marapharm" or the "Company") provides an update as to its production at its interim facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Company reports that the mother plants continue to grow healthy and strong in the interim facility grow room. The plants are being grown in full organic soil under a no-till biodynamic program. This will ensure compliance with certifications offered by industry partners and provide the healthiest mother plants possible. Healthy mothers translate to healthy clones. Since the mother plants have started to branch out, the cloning process has begun. The cloning process will ensure new moms can be chosen to help in producing high numbers of clones for production. A substantial number of clones will go towards the first revenue producing crop. 500 clones have already been prepped to be transitioned into the starter buildings once completed. Each mother plant can produce up to 100 clones per month. Each clone produces about 1/4 pound of product with a current market price of up to $800.00 per clone.

"The plants are growing like crazy! Marapharm will soon be the revenue model we envisioned from the beginning. The buildings we have are state of the art and have been custom designed to be flexible and expandable across our operations to assure that harvests will be protected. Operating costs are estimated at 20% less than a conventional system and prices for cannabis products are presently double what we originally estimated. This is great news for our shareholders!" Linda Sampson, Marapharm CEO.

OTHER ITEMS

Construction photos are available on the Marapharm web page.

On November 2, 2017, Marapharm announced that construction of the 2 starter facilities was expected to be complete on or about November 30, 2017.

Marapharm announced on October 10, 2017, that construction of a third building of 65,635 square feet and that building plans were expected to go to bid in October 2017. Plans have been completed and have gone to manufacturers for bid.



Marapharm announced on September 18, 2017, that plants in the Las Vegas interim facility were being started. Mother plants will transition to the permanent cultivation buildings on or about November 30, 2017.

The Company cautions that the price per clone is based on current market prices and may not persist to into the future and any financial forecasting based on the current price for clones is speculative.

We would like to remind shareholders that there is an open house in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 17, 2017. Register at www.marapharm.com for your invitation.

ABOUT MARAPHARM VENTURES INC.

www.marapharm.com

Marapharm is a publicly traded company primarily investing in the medical and recreational cannabis space, with corporate operations based in British Columbia, Canada. Since 2016 they have rapidly expanded their footprint to include production locations in the key North American states of Washington, Nevada, and California. They actively seek expansion opportunities worldwide.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: facebook.com/marapharm

Twitter: twitter.com/marapharm

STOCK EXCHANGES:

Marapharm trades in Canada, ticker symbol MDM on the CSE, in the United States, ticker symbol MRPHF on the OTCQB, and in Europe, ticker symbol 2Mo on the FSE. Marapharm also trades on other recognized platforms in Europe including Stuttgart, Tradegate, L & S, Quotnx, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Berlin.

Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

MARIJUANA INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT:

Canadian listings (CSE) will remain in good standing as long as they provide the disclosure that is rightly required by regulators and complying with applicable licensing requirements and the regulatory framework enacted by the applicable state in which they operate.

Marapharm owns marijuana licenses in California and Nevada. Marijuana is legal in each state however marijuana remains illegal under US federal law and the approach to enforcement of US federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that adverse enforcement actions could affect their investments and that Marapharm's ability to access private and public capital could be affected and or could not be available to support continuing operations. Marapharm's business is conducted in a manner consistent with state law and is in compliance with licensing requirements. Copies of licenses are posted on Marapharm's website. Marapharm has internal compliance procedures in place and has compliance focused attorneys engaged in jurisdictions to monitor changes in laws for compliance with US federal and state law on an ongoing basis. These law firms inform any necessary changes to our policies and procedures for compliance in Canada and the US.

FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", 'may", "will", "project", "should", 'believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumption but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon.

SOURCE Marapharm Ventures Inc.

Related Links

www.marapharm.com


SOUTHAMPTON, Pa., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marat Tsirelson is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member in the field of Real Estate Development and Lending.

"Marat Tsirelson and Igor Shrayev, long time business partners and friends, have been active the real estate and financial industries for the last 15 years," the company's website states. "Both bring a unique perspective to the GM Home team. Marat brings a wealth of knowledge from the fixed income and financial industry, while Igor contributes his immense technology and marketing skill. Combined, they have been able to build a platform for real estate investment, wealth acquisition and growth."

"Our company has honed our marketing to a point where we're pretty darn good at it," the website continues. "We find and acquire deeply discounted Philadelphia real estate then make those properties available to you at deeply discounted prices from current market value."

Tsirelson utilizes expertise in both residential real estate development in both Pennsylvania and Florida. He has been in his current position for the past three years. Additionally, he owns GMA Realty in Florida, and The Lending Group, Inc., in Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration  graduating Magna cum Laude  from Temple University. Tsirelson speaks Russian and Spanish in addition to English.

To further his professional development, Tsirelson is a member of the Home Builders Association of Philadelphia. When not working, he devotes his time to his local synagogue, Sunday School and community fundraising. Both Tsirelson and his wife are Honorary Members of the Community Gala at the Chabad Center.

For more information, visit www.gmhome.net.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Disruptive philanthropist Mark E. Curry announced today a partnership with global technology company Uber, designed to improve the distribution of food, water, and other needed supplies to Puerto Ricans impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

This new alliance will streamline the delivery of life-saving resources to individuals, community groups, relief organizations, and faith-based charities that serve residents in the San Juan metro area and outlying municipalities on the island.

Distribution of aid in Puerto Rico has been deeply hampered by damage to infrastructure and communications, limited power, and lack of fuel availability. Curry believes partnering with Uber will dramatically improve the movement of desperately-needed supplies through the island.

"It has been devastating to witness the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma and Maria," said Mark E. Curry. "We have been working to address the greatest needs on the island and I am very grateful to Uber for this partnership and their dedication to help providing basic nutrition and clean drinking water to those impacted by these disasters.

"Although this partnership is just beginning, I am confident we will assist Puerto Rico's recovery in the weeks and months to come by working together to help rebuild the island and provide for the basic needs of its citizens. The people of Puerto Rico are strong, but we are stronger when we work together."

"It is an honor to be part of this amazing effort. Thanks to Mark Curry and his organization for putting their trust in Uber and giving us the opportunity to bring aid to these communities in need," said Julie Robinson, Uber's spokeswoman for the Caribbean and Central America, "Uber is committed to the recovery of Puerto Rico and we will continue working to ensure the island rises again."

Non-perishable food items are being supplied by Calvary Chapel of Puerto Rico. According to Pastor Jason Dennett, supporting this relief effort is part of the Chapel's core mission. "As Christians, we are drawn to helping as many people as we can, to the greatest degree possible. When we were approached by Mark and his colleagues  people with the same heart and same intentions as ours  contributing to this effort became a natural fit."

About Uber:

Uber Technologies Inc. is a global transportation technology company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States, operating in more than 600 cities worldwide.

About Mark E Curry:

Mark Curry is a fintech entrepreneur and disruptive philanthropist. Curry resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he provides business strategy, relationship management, software design, customer acquisition and customer service outsourcing to the online financial services sector as CEO of Sol Partners, LLC, founded in 2012.

Media Contacts

For Uber:

Angeline Salado- Arteaga & Arteaga

[email protected], (787) 464-1520

For Mark E Curry:

Bernardo Fiol-Costa  The Big Think Group

[email protected], (787) 460-8010

SOURCE Mark Curry
"This award recognizes the drive from our marketing team at Mattress Firm to continue to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace and lead through innovation and teamwork," said Dickenson. "It's an honor to be recognized by my peers at The CMO Club and be included with such an elite group at this year's CMO Awards event."

The CMO Club Awards were established to celebrate the marketing industry's brightest leaders and to provide a forum to share their successes with other CMOs. The 2017 CMO Awards is the only marketing awards program driven, voted on, and decided entirely by an elite group of "peers only." An awards panel made up of CMO Club Chapter Presidents and key CMO Club members determined the four winners per category.

Dickenson joined Mattress Firm as CMO in February of 2017, bringing more than 13 years of experience in digital marketing, marketing communications, creative services and brand marketing. She leads the marketing teams at Mattress Firm with a focus on customer-centric initiatives to delight those that interact with the brand. Through a strategic focus, an innovative spirit and a thorough understanding of Mattress Firm's objectives, Sicily works to help customers find a better night's sleep.

"The CMO Club is thrilled with the quality of all CMOs nominated and then selected as category winners for this year's CMO Awards voted on by their peers," said CMO Club Founder and CEO, Pete Krainik. "We are not only excited to honor their accomplishments and legacies, but also to continue to share their expertise and insights with other CMOs in The Club and the industry."

The CMO Club hosted their 2017 CMO Awards roundtable and dinner last night in New York City at Current Chelsea Piers to honor all 40 award winners. The CMO Leadership Award recognizes a marketing executive's demonstrated excellence in leading and building a productive and motivated marketing team. In the Leadership category, Dickenson joined CMOs from MasterCard, Elizabeth Arden and Envoy Mortgage as the award winners.

For more information on the awards program and the category winners, go to: www.thecmoawards.com

About Mattress Firm

Founded in 1986, Houston-based Mattress Firm is the nation's first and only border-to-border, coast-to-coast specialty bedding retailer. With more than 3,000 stores across 49 states, Mattress Firm offers a broad selection of mattresses and bedding accessories from leading manufacturers and brand names, including Serta, Simmons, Dream Bed, tulo and Hampton & Rhodes. In 2016, Mattress Firm was acquired by Steinhoff International Holdings. Mattress Firm Foster Kids, a program of the Ticket to Dream Foundation, hosts six collection drives a year in communities nationwide to ensure that foster children have the resources needed to succeed. Learn more at www.MattressFirm.com, www.MattressFirmFosterKids.org, www.facebook.com/MattressFirm and www.twitter.com/MattressFirm.

About The CMO Club

The CMO Club is a membership organization exclusively for senior marketing executives who want to meet, share and learn from each other. Fueled by inspiring local dinners, regional events, CMO Innovation Summits, virtual Roundtables and the Digital "Members-Only" Clubhouse, marketers provide and receive valuable insights from each other, in a "non-vendor-selling" environment. Working with the over 800 club members and best-in-class strategic partners, The CMO Club also addresses the top CMO challenges each month with thoughtfully curated content. Visit us at www.thecmoclub.com

SOURCE Mattress Firm

Related Links

http://www.mattressfirm.com


LANGLEY, BC, Nov 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Trinity Western University launches www.TWUserves.ca, a news and information website about the university and its proposed School of Law. This online information hub provides media and others following the TWU law school journey with tools for reporting and sharing information on TWU. The law school case will be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on November 30 and December 1, 2017.

"We know people have questions about Trinity Western and our proposed School of Law. This website aims to answer those questions, and provides visuals and videos to help media understand and report on our court case," says Earl Phillips, Executive Director of TWU's proposed School of Law.

The TWUserves.ca website provides media with a central, streamlined source of factual information that will be updated in real-time with information updates. It includes the following sections:

TWU at a glance

Why a law school?

Media kit

Timeline of events

Video stories of four TWU students

Facts on the Community Covenant

TWU wants to train trustworthy lawyers to serve others. The law school program will focus on graduating caring and competent leaders who view law as a higher calling to serve the needs of all people. It will be the first law school in Canada to offer concentrations in charity law and small business and entrepreneurial law.

Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University offers liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media and culture.

SOURCE Trinity Western University

Related Links

http://www.twu.ca


GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Molnlycke, a world-leading medical solutions company, is presenting two expert webinars on pressure ulcer prevention. The free-of-charge broadcasts are in support of the 16 November annual global Stop Pressure Ulcer Day (SPUD) and are available to all viewers who register. Registration gains access to the live broadcast, plus free on-demand viewing after the live event.

As a world leader in providing products and solutions that support pressure ulcer prevention, Molnlycke presents webinars that will give viewers an expert insight into pressure ulcer prevention best practice:

Real-World Evidence: Proven Results in Pressure Injury Prevention, is scheduled for 16 November 2017  broadcast twice the same day, at 12pm and 15pm EST (US). Viewers can register and tune in live or watch the webinar on-demand. Register here.

During the webinar Dr William Padula will discuss the results of a recently published observational cohort that examined hospital-level data for 1.03 million patients in 38 academic medical centres: Effectiveness and Value of Prophylactic 5-Layer Foam Sacral Dressings to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries in Acute Care Hospitals: An Observational Cohort Study.

Viewers can also watch the pre-emptive 15 November 2017 global SPUD webinar featuring Professor Amit Gefen  recipient of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel's 2017 Experienced Investigator Award  who explored the science behind the question, 'Are all five-layer dressings equal in their effectiveness in preventing pressure ulcers?'

Professor Gefen was joined by Australia's Professor Nick Santamaria  co-author of multiple published studies on pressure ulcer prevention  who examined what the evidence says about the effectiveness of dressings in pressure ulcer prevention. This webinar is also free. Register here.

Customer education, best-practice sharing and a true customer-at-heart focus are top priorities at Molnlycke. The company is proud to support Stop Pressure Ulcer Day, an event dedicated to reducing the health-related, economic and social burden of pressure ulcers.

About Stop Pressure Ulcer Day

Stop Pressure Ulcer Day is a global annual event run by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, in which industry, healthcare professionals, the public and media come together to help raise awareness of pressure ulcers.

About Pressure Ulcers

Learn about pressure ulcers: National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.

Media contacts:

US: Paul Vetter

+1-614-406-4968

[email protected].com

Global:

Jenny Johansson

+46-739-41-29-23

j[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/molnlycke/r/meet-the-experts-molnlycke-2017-stop-pressure-ulcer-day-webinars,c2393467

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Molnlycke
DALLAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gents Place, a lifestyle club bringing men's grooming to the next level, announced today the opening of its first franchised location since launching its national franchise program last summer. With an impressive 10 agreements signed in its first year and four corporately owned clubs currently open throughout Dallas and Kansas City, the new location has expanded the brand's presence to Chicago with their first, but certainly not last, location within the popular city. Situated in the bustling Chicago Loop, The Gents Place strategically converted what was once The 316 Club located at 175 West Jackson Blvd into its first club in the state of Illinois. The Gents Place will be opening its second franchised location in Houston in early 2018 with additional Chicago and Houston area licenses already awarded and in development.

"We have been enthusiastically pursuing Chicago for quite some time now. With the vast potential for economic development and the male demographic of The Loop, we always knew Chicago was a city our brand would thrive in," said Ben Davis founder and president of The Gents Place. "The interest in men's grooming is at an all-time high and we're thrilled to be expanding our footprint into a market with an audience seeking to look and feel their most confident best."

The Gents Place Chicago will be owned and operated by Peter Terracina, who signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with the company back in March, opening its doors on November 30th. Located in the heart of Chicago's Loop, what was once The 316 Club has transformed into The Gents Place first franchised location, which will offer its unique grooming services, globally sourced retail goods and unparalleled guest experience. With strong ties to the Chicago market, Terracina has plans to open a second club in the Fulton River District in 2018.

"I am truly honored to not only be opening the brand's first club in the Chicagoland area, but also the company's first franchised location in its nearly 10 year history," said Terracina. "I'm extremely confident going into this first opening knowing that I have the support and guidance of The Gents Place leadership team and proven business model behind me and know that the gentlemen who live and work in Chicago are going to find the same passion for this concept as I have. I look forward to welcoming them to The Gents Place and playing a part in enhancing their daily grooming routines."

The Gents Place prides itself on having one of the most unique service menus in the industry, epitomizing the exclusivity of an old-world speakeasy paired with an upscale, welcoming country club atmosphere. Not only can guests enjoy an incredible hair service and shave in the best men's grooming and lifestyle clubs in town, but also they can take advantage of all of the luxuries of a modern spa. In addition to offering men's grooming services, The Gents Place is a purveyor of hard-to-find retail goods from all over the world including its proprietary Rascal line of products, Truefitt & Hill, and Lakme, among others.

The company currently has three lifestyle clubs in North Texas (Dallas, Southlake and Frisco), a location in Leawood, Kansas in addition to the development of locations in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Illinois. The company is seeking qualified franchisees to join the brand and currently has opportunities nationwide in markets such as Texas, Georgia, Florida and Illinois.

Prospective single- and multi-unit franchisees should possess a minimum net worth of $400,000 and liquid assets of at least $175,000. Candidates should have strong business, management and/or marketing experience. Franchisees can expect their initial investment to be between $440,955  $705,980, including a $40,000 franchise fee. The Gents Place franchisees are provided with an array of tools to position them for success, including franchisee and management training; a proprietary web-based management system; ongoing hands-on training for club employees to learn our unique grooming methods, management and administration of a club; and advertising, marketing and public relations support. Additionally, The Gents Place provides assistance with site selection and construction.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Gents Place, contact Pete Wei, Franchise Development at [email protected] or visit http://www.tgpfranchising.com. Financing is available through the Small Business Administration for qualified franchisees. For more information visit https://www.franchiseregistry.com. Follow The Gents Place on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

The Gents Place's robust franchise growth is backed by Elevated Brands, a brand management and development company established by the principals of Massage Heights, a membership-based, therapeutic services franchise. In 2016, Elevated Brands invested in The Gents Place to help grow the brand nationally through the franchising model.

About The Gents Place

The Gents Place is the next level in men's grooming and lifestyle club that helps gentlemen look and feel their most confident best. Founded in 2008, the company has grown to include lifestyle clubs in Dallas, Southlake and Frisco, Texas, as well as Leawood, Kansas. The Gents Place provides luxury men's grooming services in addition to straight razor shaves, shoe shines and hand and foot repairs in a refined and timeless environment. For more information on The Gents Place, visit thegentsplace.com

About Elevated Brands

Elevated Brands is the brand management and development company established by the principals of Massage Heights, the membership-based, therapeutic services franchise company. The company provides emerging lifestyle concepts with the tools and strategic planning needed to grow their brands through the franchising model. Through its leadership team's deep franchise experience in the health and wellness space, Elevated Brands is on track to build a family of lifestyle brands that are dedicated to the well-being of those they serve. Its current portfolio includes Massage Heights Franchising, Summit Franchise Supply and The Gents Place.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Fish Consulting

Courtney Whelan

[email protected]

954-893-9150

SOURCE The Gents Place

Related Links

http://thegentsplace.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Metal (MTL) today announced it has entered the Chinese cryptocurrency market in collaboration with Huobi.pro, one of the largest Bitcoin exchanges in Asia. This marks the first time MTL Token has been listed on a cryptocurrency exchange in China.

Deposits and withdrawals will be available from 12:00 pm, November 16, 2017 (GMT+8). MTL/BTC trading starts at 12:00 PM, November 17, 2017 (GMT+8).

"This integration is a landmark achievement for Metal's expansion and development," said Metal CEO and Co-Founder Marshall Hayner. "Metal embraces the Chinese market, and we look forward to growing our community here. This listing advances our mission to make cryptocurrency easy to use, economical and rewarding."

Li Huo, senior director at Huobi, said, "Metal is one of the most promising projects we've seen in the market. The blockchain application research institution at Huobi speaks highly about it and we're excited to welcome them to the Huobi exchange."

Metal is a payment processing platform that pays people in cryptocurrency rewards for making transactions on the blockchain. Metal wants to change the way people view money with its products and recently launched Metal Vault, a crypto wallet for storing Metal, Ethereum, ERC20, and Bitcoin.

Headquartered in Singapore, Huobi.pro is a leading global digital asset exchange for global professional investors. MTL joins Huobi.pro's growing roster of sixteen cryptocurrencies, which include Ripio, Kybr, 0x, and Airswap in addition to the initial offerings of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and BitConnect. To view MTL on the exchange, visit huobi.pro.

About Metal

Metal is revolutionizing payments through blockchain technology. Metal is a blockchain-based system utilizing Proof-of-Processed-Payments to identify users, rewarding them for converting legacy fiat currency into cryptocurrency.

About Huobi

Headquartered in Singapore, Huobi.pro is a global leading digital asset exchange of huobi global, especially for global professional investors. As of November 8th, huobi.pro has listed 16 trading pairs, in addition to the mainstream digital assets, there are innovative digital assets Tether (USDT), Ripio (RCN), kyber (KNC), 0x (ZRX), Airswap (AST).

Press Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Metal

Related Links

https://www.metalpay.com/


NEW YORK, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The price of bitcoin recently hit an all-time high of more than $7,800, edging closer to Goldman Sachs' (NYSE: GS) forecast that the cryptocurrency will hit $8,000. This projection echoes increasing interest and application for cryptocurrency, as demonstrated by several public companies such as high-tech payment processing solutions provider SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) (SING Profile), which stands at the nexus of two roaring industries : cryptocurrency and cannabis. The widespread applicability of blockchain technology to multiple industries, combined with investor's insatiable appetite for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, has also lit a fire under sector players Bitcoin Investment Trust (OTC: GBTC), HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (TSX-V: HIVE), Global Blockchain Technologies Corp. (OTC: BLKCF) and Bitcoin Services, Inc. (OTC: BTSC).

SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) in 2010 cut its teeth in payment innovations as a pioneer of payment enabled text messaging. But as CEO of SinglePoint, Greg Lambrecht recently explained in an interview, the company is not resting on its laurels and is making significant strides to stay ahead of the curve (http://cnw.fm/gH8Pw).

Earlier this week, the company announced the soft launch of a bitcoin exchange (app.singleseed.com) designed to solve the specific payment challenges in the cannabis industry. Recognizing that the cannabis payments space lacks a leading solutions provider, SinglePoint cites demand for convenience as the primary driver for building the app, which will process credit or debit cards - something unique to the cash-only transaction model currently used in the cannabis industry due to federal regulations and banks' hesitancy to provide services to cannabis businesses. Through an easy-to-use sign up form and ID verification, SinglePoint's exchange will enable customers to set up their account online beforehand or sign up within seconds directly at the point of sale.

"We are very pleased with what we have built out and executed on with this solution. SinglePoint now has a base to continue innovating on for the cannabis payments space. Businesses are contacting us daily about payment services and with this solution we feel confident we will be on boarding many of these customers. This is just the beginning of a solution that will ultimately serve cannabis businesses much beyond payments. The overall goal is to have a fully integrated solution for businesses to manage their day-to-day operations from beginning to end," Wil Ralston, president of SinglePoint stated in the press release (http://cnw.fm/uE1c7).

The new solution can be utilized by any business from convenience stores to dispensaries in the 29 legal states and District of Columbia.

SinglePoint also utilizes an aggressive acquisition-based growth strategy, and has snapped up four cannabis companies in 2017 with two more in the hopper slated for acquisition before the year's end. Given that credit card payment solutions are not currently viable for dispensaries in states where marijuana is legal, there is a significant opportunity within the multi-billion dollar global cannabis market for SinglePoint's SingleSeed Payments subsidiary to solve the payment processing dilemma while fully leveraging cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Simultaneously, the company aims to deliver to the cannabis and other high-risk sectors the same transparency, ease of use, and situational awareness that blockchain is poised to deliver in other industries.

SinglePoint also recently signed an LOI (http://cnw.fm/qSm2a) with mobile app developer AppSwarm, Inc. (OTC: SWRM), to offer a B2B/B2C services app geared to the cannabis industry that will serve as the base for other productivity and workflow improvement applications. The AppSwarm LOI came soon after that company's announcement (http://cnw.fm/ie67D) of a "last-mile" delivery app for local groceries and pharmacies, clearly demonstrating how SinglePoint understands perfectly the confluence of all these technologies, and how they will collectively reshape the world of retail.

Blockchain technology, as a decentralized (distributed) ledger that can track anything from cryptocurrencies and transaction records to RFID-tagged physical assets, is ideal for verification tasks. As such, the idea of a cryptographically secure ID verification platform like the one SinglePoint is rolling out, which not only allows users to sign up in seconds at the point of sale, but also provides bitcoin-powered convenience (which consumers have come to expect when making debit or credit card purchases), is something that should appeal to all parties in the space.

Regulators get the security of knowing there is a redundant and decentralized real-time record of production, shipments and transactions, while dispensaries get cheaper and better workflows, as well as improved marketing and the kinds of user experiences that promote repeat business. And consumers get a simplified, secure and easy to use purchasing regimen that is already familiar to them.

The same game-changing impact that blockchain technology is having on industries like banking, where it was recently estimated by Santander InnoVentures that the technology could save banks as much as $20 billion a year by 2022, will help to cement the still controversial cannabis market in the U.S. and around the globe. The logistical benefits of eliminating the need for a centralized authority, allowing engaged parties to rely instead on the power of the distributed blockchain and features like self-executing smart contracts, is something which could give the cannabis industry just the kind of inherent respectability it needs.

Bitcoin Investment Trust (OTCQX: GBTC) certainly understands the potential for crypto and blockchain, given that it is sponsored by Grayscale Investments, which was established by the Digital Currency Group in 2013 and also sponsors the Ethereum Classic and Zcash Investment Trusts. As the first entity whose shares are publicly quoted securities, solely invested in and deriving value from the price of bitcoin, GBTC is a significant milestone for the crypto space. It is worth noting that Grayscale recently updated GBTC shareholders about plans to distribute the roughly 173,014 coins (units) of Bitcoin Cash held by the Trust. GBTC gives investors considerable exposure to bitcoin via a traditional investment vehicle with shares titled in the investor's name and which can be bundled into traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and other brokerage/investor accounts.

Another key blockchain player is HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (TSX-V: HIVE), shares of which hit a new 52-week high of $5.83 a share on November 3, alongside the recent spike of the bitcoin price. The company signed a binding letter of agreement in late October with Genesis Mining to complete a GPU mining facility for cryptocurrency in Sweden, a country with a solid track record for being pro cashless, and warmly embracing crypto. Anticipated for completion in late December, this new facility will increase the company's already beefy Iceland-based mining capacity by some 175 percent, and bring HIVE one step closer to the company's goal of bridging the gap from the blockchain sector to traditional capital markets.

Global Blockchain Technologies (OTC: BLKCF), a Canadian investment banking company focused on delivering a basket of blockchain-centric holdings to its investors, recently made a big push into crypto mining with entry into an agreement to acquire a 49.9 percent interest in novel, streaming model-based miner, Coinstream. The company plans to spin-out its pure play cryptocurrency mining division, Global Blockchain Mining Corp., and stands to acquire some 12,500 bitcoins over the life of the streaming contracts. An ingenious move given that Coinstream has put together 10MW of power in dedicated, purpose-built data centers in Manitoba, where energy is under $0.04/kWh. Looks like streaming contracts for future production aren't just for the precious metals or commodity markets anymore.

Having climbed more than 900 percent year-to-date, Bitcoin Services (OTC: BTSC) is another good example of crypto-exposed share price appreciation being driven, in part, by the meteoric rise of the price of bitcoin. This bitcoin miner and blockchain software developer began mining the spend-anywhere digital cash known as Dash in Q1 2017 and recently created a new subsidiary, Crypto Capital, focused on implementing a crypto wallet solution. Bitcoin Services is also one of the instrumental bitcoin escrow service providers helping to keep the blockchain healthy.

Bitcoin rebounded nicely over the first two days of the week of November 13, trading around $6,600 after having been pushed down under the $6,000 mark over the weekend, amid the BCH hype and debut of Bitcoin Gold. With major tech players from IBM to Microsoft fully engaged in developing blockchain solutions for multiple industries and increasing interest pouring into the space across multiple cryptocurrencies from every class of investor, now is the time to comb through the smaller companies with compelling access to this sector.

For more information on SinglePoint please visit: Singlepoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) or www.SinglePoint.com

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DALLAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Crow Holdings today announced that Michael Levy has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Levy succeeds Harlan Crow, whose nearly 30-year tenure culminates with the recognition of Crow Holdings as one of the nation's foremost investment and real estate development firms. Mr. Levy joined the Company's senior leadership team in 2016 after serving as COO for Morgan Stanley Investment Management. He previously held positions at Morgan Stanley including Head of Traditional Asset Management, COO and CFO of Real Estate Investing and Co-Head of U.S. Real Estate Investment Banking.

As part of this transition and Crow Holdings' long-term strategic vision and succession planning, Mr. Crow will continue as Chairman of the Board. In addition, Anne Raymond has been appointed to the Company's Board, transitioning from her current roles as President of Crow Holdings Capital and Managing Director of Crow Family Holdings. Both Mr. Crow and Ms. Raymond will continue to provide overall leadership and strategic focus to the Company.

Mr. Crow commented, "For me and my family, Crow Holdings constitutes a major part of our lives. The Company means a lot more to us than a simple business enterprise  it is a fundamental part of who we are both personally and professionally. The process of seeking and finding succeeding leadership has transcending importance and I am confident that in Michael Levy, we have hit the trifecta of integrity, intelligence and leadership. Michael steps into a solid foundation that I expect, when combined with his considerable combination of skills, will produce significant and exciting outcomes. Importantly, he has already embraced our organization and the culture of partnership and sharing that my father initiated nearly 70 years ago."

Mr. Crow continued, "The successes of the firm during these past years are in very large part attributable to Anne Raymond. Her huge heart combined with her business skills in the financial arena have been indispensable for the success we enjoy today. I am delighted that she is now joining our Board leadership team."

Mr. Levy added, "This past year has affirmed both my excitement to be a part of the Crow Holdings platform and my conviction about its unique capabilities and enduring business relationships. I am particularly thrilled to join our talented and committed professionals in building on Harlan's vision to help shape the future of this firm. Our collaboration with each other and our investors will continue to serve as the foundation for generating thoughtful, innovative ideas and for executing on compelling opportunities for our business. I want to express my gratitude to Harlan, Anne and the rest of the management team and the broader organization for their support and encouragement as I undertake my new responsibilities."

ABOUT CROW HOLDINGS

Crow Holdings is a nationally focused real estate investor, developer and owner with over six decades of continuous operating history. As a value-add investor, Crow Holdings Capital pursues real estate investments across all sectors in a range of defined fund strategies. Trammell Crow Residential and Crow Holdings Industrial identify and complete real estate development projects in major markets throughout the country. The Company's approach to building longstanding industry partnerships extends to a global multi-asset investment platform that complements and informs the firm's core businesses. The Company also owns a portfolio of signature properties, including its Dallas headquarters at Old Parkland.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Mr. Jonathan Morgan

Perry Street Communications

(O) 214-965-9955

(M) 212-333-5525

[email protected]

Ms. Alex Hinson

Perry Street Communications

(O) 214-965-9955

(M) 214-934-5910

[email protected]

SOURCE Crow Holdings
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MIT Sloan School of Management today announces the launch of a new Business Analytics Certificate to prepare students for career paths in data science and business analytics across a variety of industries.

MIT Sloan's launch of the new certificate program is in response to growing demand from students and employers for rigorous academic content focused on data science. The certificate complements the broad variety of analytical programs offered to MIT Sloan students, including the new Master of Business Analytics (MBAn) degree launched in 2016, and the leading PhD and Master of Science degrees offered by the Operations Research Center.

"Competency in analytics  the ability to parse large quantities of data, translate analytic insight into action and influence key business decisions  is an essential skill needed to be successful within modern organizations," says Michelle Li, director of the MIT Sloan Business Analytics Certificate and the MBAn degree program. "Students at MIT Sloan want to learn how to work with multi-disciplinary teams and use analytical tools to make more informed business decisions."

Applications to MIT Sloan's Master of Business Analytics degree have more than doubled from 300 to 800 over the past year, making this program the most competitive degree at MIT Sloan, with an admissions rate of fewer than 4%.

A broad array of industries  including marketing, finance, healthcare, logistics, insurance, e-commerce and manufacturing  use analytics in their business processes. As a result, demand for graduates who can harness the power of business analytics has skyrocketed in recent years. According to a report from IBM, by 2020 the number of annual job openings for all data savvy professionals in the U.S. will increase by 364,000 openings to more than 2.7 million.

"Every industry is waking up to the power of analytics and companies need people who can use business data to make decisions and predictions that will bring value to their organizations," says Georgia Perakis, MIT Sloan William F. Pounds Professor of Management. "Employers, such as Amazon, McKinsey, the Boston Consulting Group, and IBM Watson, among many others, are very interested in hiring our students for data science roles."

The program provides students with hands-on management expertise through MIT Sloan's pioneering Action Learning Labs, giving them on-the-ground opportunities to put classroom theory into practice.

"Business Analytics Certificate participants will work on live analytical projects with companies such as DHL and Facebook to solve real life business challenges using the analytical tools they will learn throughout the program," says Prof. Perakis.

Students will select from a wide range of electives in their vertical of interest. Classes are completed over a two-to-four semester period, including a number of options for students to learn and practice using analytics techniques in operations, finance, marketing, human capital, healthcare, and sustainability.

One new class, Machine Learning: Algorithms, Applications and Computation, covers fundamental methods of machine learning, developed from an optimization perspective. Topics include regression, classification, optimal and boosted trees, algorithms for missing data, sparse recovery, robustness, and deep learning. The objective of this course is to familiarize students with state-of-the-art approaches to machine learning, so they can solve problems from data on their own.

Another of the courses, Communicating with Data, tackles the misconception that data speaks for itself. Students will explore the complexity of talking, writing and creating visuals that capture the essence of complex digital information, with the goal of inspiring action and influencing outcome in a professional work environment. In essence, it teaches students how to give data a "voice".

The Business Analytics Certificate is open to all MIT masters-level programs, including MBA, Executive MBA (EMBA), Master of Finance (MFin), and Sloan Fellows. The program is tailored for those who plan to pursue a data science career across a variety of industries.

About the MIT Sloan School of Management

The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu

SOURCE MIT Sloan School of Management

Related Links

http://www.mitsloan.mit.edu


RACINE, Wis., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD), presented its ECO-branded coolers at the three-day Salon Interprofessionnel du Froid et de ses Applications (SIFA) trade show in Paris, France. This event has become the place to be for refrigeration professionals and is dedicated to all refrigeration players. It is a gathering point where installers meet with suppliers and end users of different sectors like agro-food, large retailers, storage, data centers, building trade or heavy industry.

The refrigeration industry, both in France and across Europe, is rapidly evolving, due to the introduction of the F-Gas directive, which calls for the phase-out of high GWP HFCs and the market need of energy efficient solutions.

This year's edition of SIFA greeted more than 3,000 sector operators interested in understanding the new scenarios. The SIFA program also included conferences and sessions that provided specific information to major concerns related to global refrigeration issues.

Modine had many important customers in France and participated as an event sponsor, with a stand dedicated to the presentation of the new ECO-branded commercial coolers. A brand that Modine acquired at the end of 2016.

In Paris, Modine had the privilege of opening the conference sessions with a presentation entitled "Nouveaux produits et solutions dans une industrie en evolution," promoting concepts related to energy efficiency, natural refrigerants, understanding and implementing the relevant new rules and regulations in force.

"It was an exciting opportunity to meet with many of consolidated and prospective customers and also a very important occasion to showcase Modine and its comprehensive range of ECO-branded products," confirms Valerio Fabbretti, Sales Manager. "Important events like SIFA allow us to get an immediate assessment of the trends in progress, especially today with an industry that is rapidly evolving and prompting operators to define new strategies for the future."

Umberto Di Barbora, Global Product Manager for Commercial Coolers, adds, "It was very important to be present at SIFA with our products and our commitment to introduce new technologies. The interest in improving energy efficiency is significant, the market is calling for clarity and practical solutions that Modine is certainly able to provide. On display at SIFA were two explanatory products, a CO2 cooler of the KCE 800mm series, equipped with cutting-edge engineering solutions, with a fully-protected heat exchanger thanks to Modine's patented E-Coat ElectroFin technology; and a CGC CO2 unit cooler with three 315mm fan motors, featuring the latest in terms of fan motors and components that increase the unit's efficiency."

Modine is committed to providing the market with up-to-date solutions and is convinced that a forward-looking technological advancement of the entire compartment, in compliance with the new rules and regulations, is indispensable.

About Modine

Modine, with fiscal 2017 revenues of $1.5 billion, specializes in thermal management systems and components, bringing highly engineered heating and cooling components, original equipment products, and systems to diversified global markets through its three complementary business units: Vehicular Thermal Solutions (VTS); Commercial & Industrial Solutions (CIS); and Building HVAC Systems (BHVAC). Modine is a global company headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin (USA), with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. For more information about Modine, visit www.modine.com.

Media Contact: Amanda Bulgrin

Cristian Michelin

(262) 636-8466

+39 0432 772 001

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Modine Manufacturing Company

Related Links

http://www.modine.com


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Movoto Real Estate and SELECT celebrate their arrival to the San Diego marketplace with an exclusive launch party set at the upscale Oxford Social Club in downtown San Diego.

This private event marks the entrance of two industry shakers to America's Finest City. Movoto, the second largest online brokerage in the US, and SELECT, a next-generation black card concierge service, have found common ground in attracting the city's elite.

"Individuals who use Movoto fit within the demographic SELECT offers its services to; smart, driven professionals who buy real estate," says Joe Gummerson, Head Area Broker for Movoto San Diego. "We're pleased to work with an upscale brand like SELECT, and this launch party is a way to celebrate Movoto and SELECT coming to San Diego."

This is the second time Movoto has partnered with SELECT. This past September, the two businesses hosted an Emmy Awards pre-party event to a packed house in West Hollywood, CA to announce their opening in Los Angeles.

The exclusive two-hour event will feature an open bar and is a prime opportunity for all SELECT members and Movoto invitees to network and enjoy the night.

Event Date:

Friday, November 17, 2017 from 8:00pm-10:00pm (Guests are welcome to stay afterward when Oxford opens to the public.)

Event Location:

Oxford Social Club

435 Fifth Ave

San Diego, CA 92101

About Movoto

Movoto Real Estate is the second largest online real estate brokerage in the US and the only one licensed in all 50 states. With over 100 million people searching for homes annually on Movoto.com and over 30,000 properties sold, Movoto is one of the most influential online real estate platforms in the United States.

Movoto is expanding to click-and-mortar locations in California to provide their customers: home buyers and sellers, agents and brokers with unmatched services and technology solutions. For more information see our news and press resources and real estate market trends. Sell your home with Movoto or search for available homes for sale.

CONTACT:

Public Relations

Cynthia Countouris

415-604-4788

[email protected]

www.movoto.com/press/resources

SOURCE Movoto Real Estate

Related Links

https://www.movoto.com


The CFO of the Year Award honors financial professionals in the Pittsburgh area for outstanding performance as corporate financial stewards. Since being elected CFO of MSA in 2015, Mr. Krause has focused on making investments that drive profitable growth and generate higher levels of cash flow to fund further growth initiatives and return value to shareholders through an increasing dividend.

Under Mr. Krause's leadership, MSA has invested more than $400 million in strategic acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of firefighter turnout gear manufacturer, Globe Manufacturing, which was accretive to MSA's earnings in the first quarter of ownership. Mr. Krause has also designed and executed global value creation programs, generating more than $20 million in cost savings for MSA in 2016 and 2017. As a result, MSA reported 30 percent earnings growth in 2016 and continues to see significant improvements in profitability in 2017. In addition, MSA's stock price has doubled over the past two years, reflecting top-quartile shareholder returns when compared to the company's benchmark group.

"Ken has made countless positive contributions to MSA over the course of his career, and, on behalf of MSA, we are incredibly proud of him for being recognized with this distinguished and well-deserved honor," said Bill Lambert, MSA Chairman and CEO. "Throughout his relatively short time as CFO, Ken has helped strengthen MSA's financial health, which, in turn, has helped us build a strong foundation for our organization for 2018 and beyond. Along with his broad financial acumen, Ken embraces MSA's Core Values in his leadership style and encourages his finance team to leverage innovation in their day-to-day roles," Mr. Lambert continued. "Ken is also an advocate for positive change and has an innate ability to deliver superior results by maintaining strong relationships across the organization."

Mr. Krause began his career with MSA in 2006 as Director of Internal Audit. In 2009 he was promoted to Director of Decision Support, a controllership function responsible for accounting, financial reporting and planning, forecasting, and analysis across all of MSA's global regions. From 2013 to August 2015, Mr. Krause served as Executive Director of Global Finance and Assistant Treasurer. Mr. Krause was elected Vice President and Treasurer in August 2015 and was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer later that same year. A native of Saxonburg, Pa., Mr. Krause earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Slippery Rock University, and has an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Certified Public Accountant and spent more than seven years in Public Accounting, including serving as Senior Manager of Assurance Advisory Services for KPMG, LLP of Pittsburgh, Pa.

About MSA



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


WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MSNBC anchor and Emmy-winning TV writer Lawrence O'Donnell will appear at a National Press Club Headliners Book Rap at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, to discuss his new book, Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics.

In Playing with Fire, O'Donnell, host of MSNBC's "The Last Word," tells the story of the chaotic 1968 election that eventually saw the ascension of Richard Nixon to the White House in the midst of the Vietnam War. Complete with a full cast of characters  Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Eugene McCarthy - Penguin Press says that with new insights O'Donnell, "recounts an election where nothing went according to script" and "an ominous tone was set for Watergate and all else that was to follow."

O'Donnell joined MSNBC as a political analyst in 1996. He was the executive producer and writer for the former NBC television series "The West Wing." His career in politics spanned many years as a Capitol Hill aide where served as a senior advisor to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-New York and the chief of staff on two Senate committees.

This event will feature a discussion with the author, an audience question-and-answer session, and a book signing. Tickets are $5 for National Press Club members and $10 for the general public. To purchase tickets and copies of the book, please click here.

Books will also be available for purchase at the event. Proceeds from book sales will benefit the non-profit affiliate of the Club, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, so we kindly ask that you leave all outside books and memorabilia at home.

Contact: Lindsay Underwood, [email protected], (202) 662-7561

SOURCE National Press Club
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- myCUmortgage announced that it has partnered with four credit unions to help them be better mortgage lenders. myCUmortgage is a leading Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), wholly-owned by Wright-Patt Credit Union.

The new myCUmortgage partners include:

Tim Mislansky, President, myCUmortgage

Bellwether Community Credit Union  New Hampshire

Heartland Federal Credit Union  Ohio

Royal Credit Union  Wisconsin

 United Police Federal Credit Union  Florida

"We are excited to partner with these four credit unions and assist them in becoming better mortgage lenders," said Tim Mislansky, President of myCUmortgage. "For some, this may mean taking their existing mortgage program and stepping it up to another level, and for others, it may mean complimenting a strong conventional mortgage program with myCUmortgage's government loan options, including FHA, VA and USDA lending.

"We firmly believe that the American Dream of responsible, affordable and secure home ownership is best accomplished through credit unions," added Mislansky.

myCUmortgage's offerings for credit unions range from origination services to processing, underwriting and closing services. In addition, the new partner credit unions will benefit from what truly sets myCUmortgage apart from the rest: True collaboration, transparency and a member-centric focus.

Backed by over 15 years of mortgage industry experience, myCUmortgage is dedicated strictly to the credit union mortgage industry and helping partner credit unions help their members enjoy the benefits and pride that come with owning their own homes.

About myCUmortgage

myCUmortgage is a wholly-owned Credit Union Service Organization of Wright-Patt Credit Union, based in Beavercreek, Ohio. myCUmortgage helps hundreds of credit unions nationwide to assist their members with homeownership through quality, cost-efficient, service-driven mortgage solutions. Visit www.myCUmortgage.com for more information.

For more information, contact:

Bob Sadowski, APR

937.912.7276

[email protected]

SOURCE myCUmortgage

Related Links

http://www.mycumortgage.com


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A national healthcare coalition comprised of fifteen (15) national organizations and networks launches a 17 city Demand Access: Black Healthcare Access Tour to raise awareness about the importance of healthcare access in Black communities, mobilize communities to respond to recent threats to the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare), and help individuals sign up for insurance during the 2017 ACA open enrollment periodNovember 1, 2017 thru December 15, 2017.

Initiated by the Black AIDS Institute (BAI), the National Healthcare Access Coalition includes: The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), Positive Women's Network (PWN), the National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition (NBGMAC), AIDS United, Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust, amfAR, Planned Parenthood, The O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, Health Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard School of Law, HIV Prevention Justice Alliance, Get Covered America, Consumers for Quality Care, and the Black Treatment Advocates Network (BTAN).

"The 2017 open enrollment period for Obamacare (ACA) opened on November 1st and ends on December 15th," said Phill Wilson, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute. "That is just six weeks. Thanks to Donald Trump, that is half the time allotted in the previous two years," says Wilson.

Since his inauguration, Mr. Trump and the Republican-controlled United States Congress have significantly increased their efforts to dismantle the ACA. The Trump Administration cut funding for outreach and advertising for the 2017 open enrollment period and enrollment navigators, making it harder for people to find the help that they need to apply for healthcare coverage. In October, the President declared the ACA "dead" and "gone". The Congress just added a provision in the new Tax Reform Bill to eliminate the individual mandate requirement in the ACA.

"If the President is successful in eliminating the ACA individual mandate, he will effectively have sabotaged the ACA. Over 15 million Americans will lose their insurance, the markets will be destabilized, and insurance premiums will skyrocket!" says Wilson. "Black people know what suppression looks like. We know what intimidation looks like. We know what discrimination looks like. The Trump Administration has engaged in a robust campaign of intimidation and discrimination designed to suppress enrollment in the ACA and deny millions of Americans access to healthcare to benefit corporations and rich people."

Despite the Trump Administration's efforts, there have been unprecedented numbers of Americans signing up for insurance through the health exchanges and on HealthCare.gov during the first week of the open enrollment period. "We are seeing increased numbers of people signing up for insurance through the health exchanges," says Lestian McNeal, mobilization coordinator for the Black AIDS Institute. "The point of the Demand Access tour is to make sure that Black people are not left out."

To bridge the void in government support created by the Trump Administration's callous actions, the Demand Access tour is taking the message of empowerment and healthcare advocacy to Black communities across the country, and Demand Access to healthcare for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, health status, gender identity or race.

The Demand Access tour is just one component of the coalition's more comprehensive "Access Denied" initiative. The initiative is designed to increase awareness about the importance of preserving the benefits, coverage, and reach currently provided by the Affordable Care Act on the future of the AIDS response in Black America; to increase the capacity of Black America to engage and influence current and future federal, state, and local discussions and decisions about healthcare; and to facilitate the mobilization of Black communities in response to attempts to repeal and replace the ACA.

In September, the coalition released the "State of Healthcare in Black America" report that included a primer for Black communities on the ACA, with the aim of closing knowledge gaps and dispelling myths and misunderstandings about the program. To download a copy of the report, go to www.BlackAIDS.org.

The seventeen (17) city Demand Access tour began on Friday, November 10 in Melbourne, Florida. In the first week of the tour, the Coalition held community forums and town hall meetings in Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Birmingham, Alabama. The remaining 13 tour dates are:

November 17  Nashville, Tenn.

 November 18  Atlanta, Ga.

 November 20  Charlotte, N.C.

 November 27  Houston, Texas

 November 29  Baton Rouge, La.

 December 1  Washington, D.C.

 December 2  Richmond, Va.

 December 4  Baltimore, Md.

 December 5  Chicago, Ill.

 December 7  Detroit, Mich.

 December 9  Jackson, Miss.

 December 11  Oakland, Calif.

 December 14  Los Angeles, Calif.

For more information about the Black Healthcare Access Tour or the Access Denied Initiative, contact Lestian McNeal at [email protected].

ABOUT THE BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE

Founded in May of 1999, the Black AIDS Institute is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank focused exclusively on Black people. The Institute's mission is to stop the AIDS pandemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV. The Institute interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy mobilization from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.

SOURCE Black AIDS Institute

Related Links

http://www.blackaids.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Roadway Safety Foundation today announced the year's nine National Roadway Safety Award winners, which represent the nation's best examples of innovation in highway safety. The biennial competition, which began in 1999, is an acknowledgement of successful approaches to improving roadway safety at the state and local level, officials said.

"These awards recognize real and innovative solutions to some of the nation's biggest safety challenges," said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. "We commend this year's winners for their efforts in saving lives on our nation's roads, and invite others across the country to put these life-saving solutions to work."

Applicants are encouraged to nominate projects or programs that exemplify innovative and effective safety activities and maximize the cost effectiveness of federal, state, local, and/or private sector funds.

"The National Roadway Safety Awards are an opportunity to recognize the unsung heroes who plan, engineer and implement creative measures to help save lives on a daily basis and rarely receive credit for doing so," said RSF Executive Director Gregory Cohen.

Of the 32 applications this year, nine winners were selected:

Alaska  for its efforts to blend engineering, enforcement, education and emergency response in "Safety Zones" which led to a 45 percent reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes on high-speed two-lane roads over the last decade.

Delaware  for using cutting-edge "high-friction surface treatment" to improve traction at key spots, Delaware transportation officials reduced roadway departure crashes by 56 percent.

Florida  for using a variety of state-of-the-art engineering countermeasures, public education and law enforcement efforts, to address a recent surge in wrong-way driving incidents.

Michigan  for its new multi-agency Traffic Incident Management partnership to improve safety for first responders and tow truck operators, which led to a 31 percent reduction in tow truck response time and a 45 percent reduction in secondary crashes.

Minnesota  for developing County Road Safety Plans for all 87 counties statewide which used low-cost solutions to address problems on county roads, which account for half of all roadway fatalities, over a four-year period.

Missouri  for committing itself to achieving zero roadway fatalities with a decade-long series of road improvements at 31 high-crash locations statewide.

New Jersey  for installing a roundabout at a high-crash intersection in Chesterfield Township, eliminating all right-angle and left-turn crashes over the last three years, and planning others statewide.

Virginia  for addressing an increase in crashes at a two-way intersection in Loudoun County with an "instant roundabout" system, which cost 95 percent less than a traditional roundabout and reduced crashes by 89 percent over a three-year period.

Tennessee  for using greater data analysis of 261 crash locations statewide to maximize safety investments, which led to a 60 percent reduction in crash frequency over three years.

Winners were selected by an expert panel of judges from a variety of disciplines. This year's judges included:

King W. Gee , director of engineering and technical services, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

, director of engineering and technical services, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Mike Griffith , director, FHWA's Office of Safety Technologies

, director, FHWA's Office of Safety Technologies Bruce Hamilton , director of safety and research programs, Roadway Safety Foundation

, director of safety and research programs, Roadway Safety Foundation Bernardo Kleiner , senior program officer/transportation safety specialist, Transportation Research Board

, senior program officer/transportation safety specialist, Transportation Research Board Jennifer Smith , director, Image and Brands, Michelin

, director, Image and Brands, Michelin Dr. Marie B. Walsh , director, Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

, director, Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Terecia Wilson , senior fellow, Clemson University Institute for Global Road Safety and Security.

For complete details on each of the winners, and for more information on the national awards program, visit http://www.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadwaysafetyawards/.

The Roadway Safety Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable and educational organization. Our mission is to reduce the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities through improvements to roadway systems and their environment.

www.roadwaysafety.org

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/briefingroom/

Follow us on Twitter: @USDOTFHWA

SOURCE Roadway Safety Foundation; Federal Highway Administration

Related Links

http://www.roadwaysafety.org


ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA projects 50.9 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, a 3.3 percent increase over last year. The 2017 holiday weekend will see the highest Thanksgiving travel volume since 2005 with 1.6 million more people taking to the nation's roads, skies, rails and waterways compared with last year. AAA and INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, predict travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. during the holiday week could be as much as three times longer than the optimal trip.

"Thanksgiving kicks off the start of a busy holiday season, and more thankful Americans will travel to spend time with friends and family this year," said Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president, Travel and Publishing. "A strong economy and labor market are generating rising incomes and higher consumer confidence, fueling a strong year for the travel industry, which will continue into the holiday season."

The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 22 to Sunday, Nov. 26.

By the Numbers: 2017 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast

Road trip ready: 89 percent of all travelers  45.5 million  are planning a Thanksgiving road trip, an increase of 3.2 percent over last year.

89 percent of all travelers  45.5 million  are planning a road trip, an increase of 3.2 percent over last year. Cheaper airfare: Consumers will pay the cheapest average airfare since 2013.

Consumers will pay the cheapest average airfare since 2013. Fuller skies: The largest growth in holiday travel is by air travel, at five percent, with 3.95 million travelers.

The largest growth in holiday travel is by air travel, at five percent, with 3.95 million travelers. Alternate travel: Travel by trains and other modes (including buses and cruises) is expected to increase 1.1 percent to 1.48 million travelers.

Travel by trains and other modes (including buses and cruises) is expected to increase 1.1 percent to 1.48 million travelers. Fueling up: Drivers will pay the highest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2014.

Drivers will pay the highest gas prices since 2014. Holiday high: Car rental daily rates will hit a five-year holiday high at $70 /day, which may be due to an increase in domestic demand and cost of newer vehicles.

Travelers still hitting the road despite higher gas prices

While AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the highest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2014, the vast majority of holiday travelers (89.3 percent) are still planning to hit the road. Automobile travel will grow by 3.2 percent this Thanksgiving, with 45.5 million Americans planning a holiday road trip. This November's national average price is $2.54, which is 37 cents more than last November (1st-14th).

Highs and Lows: Car rentals, airfare and hotel rates

According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, travelers taking to the skies will pay the lowest average in five years for a round-trip flight for the top 40 domestic routes. At $157, on average, that is a 23 percent fare drop year-over-year.

Travelers can expect to spend any 'flight savings' on car rentals. At $70/day, the daily car rental average is 34 percent more than last year and the highest rate for Thanksgiving weekend since 2013. The increase in rates may be attributed to an increase in domestic demand and cost of newer vehicles in the fleets with added features and benefits.

Travelers will pay more for AAA Three Diamond Rated hotels this holiday weekend. The average price increased by 14 percent to $176/night. Conversely, the average rate for AAA Two Diamond Rated hotels has decreased five percent with an average nightly cost of $117.

Travelers Beware and Advised: Traffic Hotspots and Best and Worst Times to Hit the Road

Based on historical and recent travel trends for the holiday week, INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion during the early evening  as early as Tuesday of Thanksgiving week - as commuters mix with holiday travelers. At its peak, drivers on Chicago's interstates, for example, could see a delay of nearly 300 percent over the optimal trip.

"Thanksgiving has historically been one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and this year we could see record-level travel delays," says Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. "Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic."

Worst Time to Travel Metro Area Worst Day for Travel Worst Time for Travel Delay Multiplier Chicago, IL Tuesday 5:00 - 6:00 PM 3x San Francisco, CA Tuesday 4:00 - 5:45 PM 2.5x Los Angeles, CA Tuesday 3:15 - 6:00 PM 2.5x Boston, MA Tuesday 5:15 - 7:15 PM 2.5x New York, NY Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30 PM 2x Washington, DC Tuesday 4:45 - 6:00 PM 2x Seattle, WA Tuesday 3:45 - 5:30 PM 2x Atlanta, GA Wednesday 3:00 - 5:15 PM 2x Houston, TX Wednesday 5:45 - 7:00 PM 1x Detroit, MI Tuesday 3:00 - 5:30 PM 1x

The worst traffic hotspot during Thanksgiving week in each of the 10 most congested cities in the U.S. are:

Top Traffic Hotspot in America's Most Congested Cities Rank City Location 1 Los Angeles, CA I-5 S at Valley View Ave 2 New York, NY I-495 E at NY-106/NY-107 3 San Francisco, CA I-80 E at Pinole Valley Rd 4 Atlanta, GA I-75 N at Chastain Rd 5 Miami, FL I-95 N at Congress Ave 6 Washington, DC I-95 S at US-17/US-1 7 Dallas, TX US-75 S at I-45/I-3 8 Boston, MA I-90 W at I-84/US-20 9 Chicago, IL I-90 W at I-190 10 Seattle, WA I-405 S at WA-167

Across the country, travelers that take to the sky must account for long security lines, but also increased drive times to the airport. AAA and INRIX expect delays getting to the nation's busiest airports could be as long as an hour.

Worst Travel Times to America's Busiest Airports Metro Area Airport Route Worst Time for Travel Travel Time at Peak New York, NY Downtown to JFK via Long Island

Expressway East Tuesday,

5:30 - 7:30 PM 1 hr 54 min Chicago, IL Downtown to ORD via Kennedy

Expressway West Tuesday,

4:30 - 5:30 PM 1 hr 14 min Denver, CO Downtown to DIA via I-70 E and Pena

Blvd Wednesday,

4:30 - 6:30 PM 52 min Los Angeles, CA Downtown to LAX via I-110 S Tuesday,

4:30 - 6:30 PM 46 min Dallas, TX Downtown to DFW via TX-183 W Wednesday,

8:00 - 9:00 AM 46 min Las Vegas, NV Downtown to LAS via I-15 S Wednesday,

8:00 - 9:00 AM 45 min San Francisco, CA Downtown to SFO via US-101 S Tuesday,

5:00 - 7:00 PM 29 min Seattle, WA Downtown to SEA via I-5 S Tuesday,

3:00 - 5:00 PM 29 min Charlotte, NC Downtown to CLT via US-74 W Wednesday,

1:00 - 3:00 PM 19 min Atlanta, GA Downtown to ALT via I-75 S Wednesday,

5:00 - 7:00 PM 12 min

Top 10 Thanksgiving Destinations

Many travelers will seek theme-park and warm-weather destinations this Thanksgiving. Both Orlando, Florida, and Anaheim, California, top this year's top 10 holiday destinations based on AAA.com bookings. Compared to previous years, New York City, Las Vegas and San Francisco are gaining popularity as holiday spots.

Orlando, Florida Anaheim, California New York City , New York Honolulu, Hawaii Las Vegas, Nevada Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Cancun, Mexico San Francisco, California Kahului , Maui, Hawaii Fort Lauderdale, Florida

According to Hertz, the busiest airport pick-up locations for travelers planning to rent a car this Thanksgiving are expected to be Orlando (MCO), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Las Vegas (LAS) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL). The busiest day for rental pick-ups is expected to be Wednesday, Nov. 22, with an average rental length of nearly five full days, as travelers look to take advantage of the long holiday weekend.

Lockouts, flat tires to strand 330,000 motorists this Thanksgiving

AAA expects to rescue more than 330,000 motorists this Thanksgiving weekend, with the primary reasons being lockouts, flat tires and battery-related issues. AAA recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.

Download the AAA Mobile app before a Thanksgiving getaway

Before setting out for the long Thanksgiving weekend, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Travelers can use the app to map a route, find the lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

With the AAA Mobile app, travelers can also find nearly 59,000 AAA Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants. AAA's is the only rating system that uses full-time, professionally trained evaluators to inspect each property on an annual basis. Every AAA Inspected & Approved establishment offers the assurance of acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, and ratings of One to Five Diamonds help travelers find the right match for amenities and services.

About the AAA travel forecast:

AAA's projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit. The London-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Markit 2017 Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast is available here.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 58 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About INRIX:

INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Our partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.

SOURCE AAA

Related Links

http://www.aaa.com


SHANGHAI and NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman, a global, independent, employee-owned investment manager is pleased to announce that Neuberger Berman Investment Management (Shanghai) Limited, the company's wholly foreign owned enterprise in China, has secured registration as a private fund manager with the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC). The registration allows Neuberger Berman to manage private funds and raise assets directly from qualified investors in mainland China, including qualified high-net-worth individuals and local institutions.

Patrick Liu, Head of China, Neuberger Berman, said: "This is a very important milestone for Neuberger Berman and we are delighted to be one of the first firms to secure this license. We are committed to building a leading investment management firm in China, offering our customized product solutions in equities, fixed income, multi-asset, quantitative investing and alternatives."

The registration expands Neuberger Berman's commitment to China and its investment resources locally. The firm manages investment portfolios for various leading Chinese institutional and intermediary customers investing in equity, fixed income and private equity strategies. This year the firm welcomed an experienced local equity portfolio manager, Bin Yu, and his team, and also expanded equity research coverage for global and emerging market managers investing in China. Furthermore, Peter Ru joined the firm in Shanghai as a Senior Portfolio Manager with key responsibility for further developing the firm's China fixed income capabilities.

Nick Hoar, Head of Asia Pacific, Neuberger Berman, commented: "Neuberger Berman has made significant progress across the Asia Pacific region in the past few years. China represents a tremendous opportunity for us and we are committed to adding local resources across different functions including Portfolio Management, Legal and Compliance, Marketing and Research."

About Neuberger Berman

Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategiesincluding equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity and hedge fundson behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 19 countries, Neuberger Berman's team is approximately 1,900 professionals, as of September 30, 2017. The company was named the #1 firm in Pensions & Investments 2016 Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). Tenured, stable and long-term in focus, the firm fosters an investment culture of fundamental research and independent thinking. It manages $284 billion in client assets as of September 30, 2017. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.

All information is as of September 30, 2017 unless otherwise indicated and is subject to change without notice. Firm data, including employee and assets under management figures, reflects collective data for the various affiliated investment advisers that are subsidiaries of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. Firm history/timeline includes the history of all firm subsidiaries, including predecessor entities and acquisitions.

This material is being issued on a limited basis through various global subsidiaries and affiliates of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. Please visit www.nb.com/disclosure-global-communications for the specific entities and jurisdictional limitations and restrictions.

The "Neuberger Berman" name and logo are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC.



 2017 Neuberger Berman Group LLC. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Neuberger Berman

Related Links

http://www.nb.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that the Neurodiversity in the Workplace Program was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2017 Community Partnership Award competition.

SpArc Philadelphia, a family of organizations that advocates with and for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, forged a partnership with software-giant SAP in 2013 to help employ 1% of its total workforce (roughly 650 people) with adults that have an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The program, which works holistically to place individuals with Autism into high-level technology-based jobs, begins with a month-long hiring process that includes a series of opportunities for applicants to showcase their talents. Successful candidates then participate in a training program aimed at strengthening interpersonal and other skills that may have been a barrier to achieving employment. New hires are then paired with a mentor to ensure a smooth transition to full-time work. The program also includes in-depth training for administrators in school districts across Pennsylvania to support students with Autism in their transition from school to work.

"We have placed 26 individuals with Autism in the Philadelphia area, and 100% of them continue to be employed in those positions," said Laura Princiotta, CEO of SpArc Philadelphia. "Our collaboration with SAP has served as a springboard, allowing us to expand our reach to other companies."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 220 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

SOURCE Mutual of America Life Insurance Company

Related Links

http://www.mutualofamericas.com


IRVING, Texas, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For its next exclusive single-origin coffee, 7-Eleven, Inc. headed south to the Cajamarca region of Peru. As with its other single-origin, sustainably sourced coffee, the new brew from Peru is Rainforest Alliance Certified.

Made with 100 percent Arabica beans, the newest 7-Eleven single-origin coffee has bright citrus notes complimented by vanilla, cinnamon and berry undertones. To ensure the best quality and freshest taste, the Cajamarca region was selected, in part, for its prime harvest season between August and October. The hand-picked beans were grown in the region high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, known for its small family farms and artisanal farming methods. After harvesting, the fresh crop was authentically roasted to a medium level for a smooth rich taste. Peru is the eighth largest coffee producer in the world and one of the leading growers of certified coffees.

"Todays' coffee-drinkers are more sophisticated and, in addition to wanting a great-tasting cup of coffee, many also are looking for something extra," said Raj Kapoor, 7-Eleven senior vice president of fresh food and proprietary beverages. "Millennials, in particular, want coffee crops that are sustainably grown, sourced directly from small farms, and made from single-origin beans rather than blends. Peruvian coffee is one that fits all those criteria, and Cajamarca is considered one of the best coffee-growing regions in the country."

Many of Peru's coffee farms are in the foothills of the Andes with processing mills on the Pacific side of the range. The Cajamarca region is in the highlands of the Andes in the northern portion of the country.

This is the third limited-time, single-origin coffee offered at 7-Eleven, the fourth largest coffee retailer in the U.S. The others were from Matagalpa, Nicaragua, and Chiapas, Mexico. Available year-round, the retailer's popular 100 percent Colombian coffee is now made with Rainforest Alliance Certified single-origin beans.

The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods. Carrying the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal with the little green frog means the 100 percent Arabica beans for 7-Eleven stores' new coffee are sourced from coffee-growers whose farms are required to meet strict standards designed to protect the environment, conserve wildlife and promote the well-being of local communities.

7-Eleven is working with Conservation International (CI) to set measurable corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals to reduce its environmental footprint. 7-Eleven's CSR mission has three focus areas  planet, products and people. The retailer is a member of CI's Business and Sustainability Council, a forum for corporate leaders taking positive environmental actions in their businesses, to explore mutually beneficial ways to further reduce its environmental impact.

As part of its CSR objectives, 7-Eleven will continue to seek out responsibly sourced coffees and other products and packaging with less environmental impact.

Like all its proprietary beverages sold in a cup, the new single-origin coffee qualifies for 7Rewards, 7-Eleven's customer loyalty program. Through its mobile app, 7Rewards customers earn a free any-size drink after the purchase of six drink purchases. The 7-Eleven app is available for download in Google Play and the App store.

Peru single-origin coffee from Cajamarca is available for a limited time at participating 7-Eleven stores.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 63,000 stores in 18 countries, including 10,900 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings, cheeseburgers and hot chicken sandwiches. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Customers also count on 7-Eleven for payment services, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards customer.

About the Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization and growing network of people who are inspired and committed to working together to achieve our mission of conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017, the Rainforest Alliance aims to rebalance the planet through creative, pragmatic collaboration, building strong forests and healthy communities around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org.

SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.7-eleven.com


GUARDIAN RFID is deploying a two-way interface with Burleigh-Morton Detention Center's jail management system, JailTracker. The integrated deployment will allow detention staff to automatically share inmate information from JailTracker with GUARDIAN RFID, including housing assignments, mugshots, and other security-critical information from the jail management system. Data collected by GUARDIAN RFID, such as security rounds, inmate movements, and inmate activity logging, will auto-synchronize to JailTracker.

Tweetable Highlights:

@GuardianRFID, @BurleighCo, and @MortonCountySD to manage, monitor, and track inmates in new 555-bed detention #RFID #Cloud #Mobile

Inmates in new @BurleighCo, + @MortonCountySD Detention Center to be tagged with #RFID to maximize compliance, defensibility, and staff productivity.

@BurleighCo, + @MortonCountySD Detention Center to rollout @GuardianRFID to manage its inmates in real-time with new #SPARTAN ultra-rugged Android devices and #RFID

Comments on the News

"The Burleigh-Morton Detention Center's jail population has grown markedly higher in a short time span. We chose to partner with GUARDIAN RFID because their technology platform and deep correctional experience is unrivaled," said Tom Schroeder, Deputy Sheriff, Burleigh Co. Sheriff's Office. "We have a world-class facility with one of the best teams in corrections. GUARDIAN RFID gives us the advantage to execute our responsibilities faster, smarter, and better."

Connect with GUARDIAN RFID

Like GUARDIAN RFID on Facebook http://facebook.com/guardianrfid

Follow @guardianrfid on Twitter

About Burleigh-Morton Detention Center

The Burleigh-Morton Detention Center is a 555-bed, bi-county correctional facility located in East Bismarck. The detention center is the largest Class 1 facility in the State of North Dakota.

For more information, visit https://burleighco.com/departments/sheriff/detention/

About GUARDIAN RFID

GUARDIAN RFID manages, monitors, and tracks inmates in-custody to mitigate risk, maximize defensibility, and strengthen compliance. Endorsed by National Sheriffs' Association.

For more information, visit https://guardianrfid.com or call 855-777-RFID (7343).

SOURCE GUARDIAN RFID

Related Links

http://www.guardianrfid.com


PLYMOUTH, Mich., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and top industry partners embarked on a collaborative project this year, leading to the invention of a lightweight aftermarket car frame. Although not yet in production, this lightweight alternative is ideal for replacing car frames on nearly any specialty vehicle and offers an affordable, stiffer and safer car frame option. Models of the C2 Corvette prototype frames, shown for the first time at the 2017 SEMA Show in early November, were met with an enthusiastic response by industry peers.

Leaders across the automotive engineering industry developed the frame together. A lead engineer from The Center, a representative of the MEP National Network, worked with software developer and trusted OEM consultant Detroit Engineered Products (DEP), with additional support from Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT), The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) and the University of Tennessee, Center for Industrial Services Institute for Public Service for this project.

"The Center's and DEP's lead engineers received invaluable support from this team of experts," said Gregg Peterson, Principle Materials Engineer, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. "Partnering with MEP centers and Manufacturing USA institutes was a new approach for our team and we're thrilled with the final product. It's a great example of the breakthrough innovation that can be achieved when working collaboratively."

In response to requests for purchase, The Center is now pursuing investments to fund low-volume production of the frames, including tooling and testing. The inventive lightweight car frame requires no welding, so the parent material is not weakened during assembly and allows for thinner section material, reducing material cost. It is joined using structural adhesives and mechanical fasteners allowing the adhesive to bond 100 percent of the flange which spreads the loads over a larger area than a typical spot weld. Engineers use morphing software to allow the lightweight frame to fit virtually any body and length. This forward-looking engineering offers a great opportunity for innovation across numerous industries. Project leads are gauging interest outside the arena of car restoration.

"DEP was able to bring our deep expertise in software development, applying our patented 'MeshWorks 8.0' morphing software to the lightweight frame, allowing it to be more versatile and fit nearly any vehicle length and width," said John Gelmisi, Director of Business Development, DEP. "We were proud to join leaders from Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and industry partners who applied advanced engineering to this project, including an innovative combination of materials and joint adhesives, inventing a product we feel is unmatched on the market today."

To learn more about the lightweight aftermarket frames, visit: www.the-center.org/lightweight-frames.

About Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

Since 1991, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center has assisted Michigan's small and medium-sized businesses to compete and grow. The Center is celebrating a quarter century of building super highways of competitive success for their clients, where there were once only slow and lonely dirt roads. Now, they stand ready to face the future with bountiful optimism, focused purpose, strong determination, legions of support staff and inspired creativity. For additional information, visit www.the-center.org.

SOURCE Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

Related Links

http://www.the-center.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new study of parents of connected children released today by the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) found that parents whose kids have their own connected device or social media account are notably more optimistic about the benefits of that technology than are those whose children do not have them.

The report, "Connected Families: How Parents Think and Feel About Wearables, Toys and the Internet of Things," explores the understanding and comfort level of parents whose children use connected toys and devices in the home. Other topics included top benefits and concerns for parents, the confidence for monitoring and controlling the use of these technologies, and what ages children are using or owning them.

The research showed that kids are heavily connected. Nearly half (45%) of parents of connected children indicated that their child has three or more of his/her own connected devices, a figure that rises to 53% among parents of color. Parents are also heavily connected, reporting an average of 6.2 hours per day spent using electronic devices at home. Smart TVs topped the list as the most widespread smart home device among parents of connected children, with two-thirds (67%) reporting one in the home. 38% of parents report owning other connected home devices such as Internet-enabled home security systems, smart thermostats or smart speakers.

Overall, seven in ten parents are comfortable with their child having a connected toy, but parents whose children have them are notably more comfortable with their child having a connected toy (94% are comfortable) than are parents whose child does not have one (59% are comfortable). Similarly, the majority of parents feel confident in their ability to keep track of and manage their child's technology use, and the more connected devices their child has, the more confident parents are. Generally, the more tech that is used in the home, the more confident parents feel.

"Connected toys, devices and wearables are the newest frontier of digital parenting," said Stephen Balkam, FOSI's CEO. "The Internet of Things offers incredible opportunities for children to learn, play, and interact, but from a parenting perspective they must be treated with caution and care."

The study found that the Internet of Things (IoT) is not a widely recognized term among parents of connected children, even though many have technologies in their households that are part of the IoT. Nearly one in four parents (23%) has a smart speaker (such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home) in their home, and nearly all (94%) of parents who have a smart speaker are comfortable with their child using it.

When presented with the benefits of connected toys, parents ranked the enabling of children with special needs as the most important. Other benefits included interactive learning, personalized and imaginative play, and enhanced social/emotional learning. When presented with negative impacts on children's safety and security, the prospect of online hackers or criminals communicating with children or locating them with GPS tracking surpassed all other concerns. Data privacy and safety guidelines are seen as essential, and if they are in place, comfort levels among parents rise significantly.

Other relevant findings from the report include:

Among parents of connected children, half (49%) have seen, heard, or read at least some about connected toys, and 31% say their child has one.

Parents of children who do not already own a particular device indicate that their children may have to wait longer to get one - on average, children with a smartphone received it at age 7.6, while those without one can expect to receive it by age 12.9.

On average, a child with his or her own tablet or iPad received it at age 5.5, while a child without one can expect to wait until age 11.8.

Parents whose children do not yet have a social media account expect to allow their child to have one at age 14.1.

Fully 93% of parents have an account on a social networking site such as Facebook.

Two in three (66%) parents feel very or fairly confident in their ability to keep track of and manage their child's technology use.

FOSI will present the research results today at its Annual Conference in Washington, DC, "Trust and Civility in a Challenging World." The event addresses a wide range of current issues that weaken trust, safety and civility online, bringing together top experts to discuss positive ways to respond to these challenges. As an established convener in the online safety space for over a decade, FOSI creates dialogue from perspectives across the stakeholder spectrum of industry, government, education and academia. Panels will cover the timely topics of online privacy and ethics, illegal and ill-advised content, solutions to problematic online behavior, and digital parenting including special needs families. Notable speakers include the e-Safety Commissioner of Australia, multiple United States Government representatives, and leaders from social media and innovation industry including Amazon, Facebook, Google, Mattel, Toyota, Twitter, and more.

This research was made possible by the support of Amazon, and conducted for FOSI by Hart Research Associates. The study draws upon quantitative data from an online national survey of 601 parents of connected two- to 12-year-old children and qualitative findings from three focus groups among parents  two focus groups with diverse parents in suburban Philadelphia and one online focus group with parents from across the country whose children have connected toys.

SOURCE Family Online Safety Institute
NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsis

Timetric's 'Non-Life Insurance in New Zealand Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the New Zealand non-life insurance segment, and a comparison of the New Zealand insurance industry with its regional counterparts.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p01862862



It provides values for key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, combined ratio, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).



The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and demographics, explains the various types of natural hazard and their impact on the New Zealand insurance industry, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.



The report brings together Timetric's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.



Summary

Timetric's 'Non-Life Insurance in New Zealand Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the New Zealand non-life insurance segment, including:

 The New Zealand non-life segment's detailed outlook by product category

 A comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and demographics

 A comparison of the New Zealand non-life insurance segment with its regional counterparts

 The various distribution channels in the New Zealand non-life insurance segment

 Detailed analysis of natural hazards and their impact on the New Zealand insurance industry

 Details of the competitive landscape in the non-life insurance segment in New Zealand

 Details of regulatory policy applicable to the New Zealand insurance industry



Scope

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the non-life insurance segment in New Zealand:

 It provides historical values for the New Zealand non-life insurance segment for the report's 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period.

 It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the New Zealand non-life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.

 It provides a comparison of the New Zealand non-life insurance segment with its regional counterparts

 It analyzes the various distribution channels for non-life insurance products in New Zealand.

 It analyzes various natural hazards and their impact on the New Zealand insurance industry

 It profiles the top non-life insurance companies in New Zealand, and outlines the key regulations affecting them.



Reasons To Buy

 Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the New Zealand non-life insurance segment, and each category within it.

 Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the New Zealand non-life insurance segment.

 Assess the competitive dynamics in the non-life insurance segment.

 Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.

 Gain insights into key regulations governing the New Zealand insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.



Key Highlights

 On March 30, 2017, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) issued a consultation paper on the review of the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010.

 On March 29, 2017, the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed its plans to increase the fire and emergency services levy rates.

 On November 24, 2016, New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation proposed new levy rates for businesses, car owners and employees for the period from 2017 to 2019.

 In January 2016, the Fair Insurance Code was released by the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) to establish high standards of service and to check the claims being resolved by insurers. All the members of the ICNZ must operate according to the code.

 A ban on commission for insurance brokers and advisers was proposed in May 2015.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p01862862



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.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

Related Links

http://www.reportlinker.com


NAPERVILLE, Ill., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from North Central College in Naperville, Ill., will be able to compete for some of the best jobs in business thanks to the College's new Bloomberg Finance Lab.

"Our new Bloomberg Lab brings the real world of business and finance into the classroom," said Dr. Diane Anstine, professor of economics and dean of North Central's School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

"Every business student will complete at least one course in the new Bloomberg Lab, where 9 workstations are equipped with the Bloomberg Terminal software, the iconic dual monitors and Bloomberg's unique keyboards," said Anstine.

The Bloomberg Terminal delivers data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately to the world's leading business and financial decision makers. The Lab is also equipped with a 34-foot-long stock ticker and clocks noting the time from cities around the world.

"The Bloomberg Lab is a physical manifestation of what North Central College provides its students," said Anstine. "We have a robust, growing and cutting-edge business and entrepreneurship program. Our Bloomberg Lab is a significant sign of our institution's commitment to students, who we are as a College and where we're heading." And, students agree.

For Madison Adamskia senior triple-majoring in finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship and small business management with a minor in international businessbecoming Bloomberg- certified "will really give me a leg up in my job search. The certification allows students at North Central College to become more competitive in the marketplace. I will be a strong job candidate."

Learn more at http://bit.ly/2hWbdkW.

Founded in 1861, North Central College is an independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences that offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and six graduate programs. With more than 2,900 students, North Central provides a rigorous, student-centered education and fosters a diverse, inclusive and globally engaged community that prepares students for action and leadership in a complex world. Just 30 minutes from Chicago's Loop, the campus is located in the Historic District of Naperville, Ill.rated by Money magazine as among the nation's "Best Places to Live" and by niche.com as the second "Best Places to Live in Illinois." Visit northcentralcollege.edu.

SOURCE North Central College

Related Links

http://www.noctrl.edu


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

NRG Metals Inc. ("NRG" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NGZ) (OTCQB: NRGMF) (Frankfurt: OGPN), is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of October 17, 2017, the Company has completed various agreements to give effect to its strategic alliance with Chengdu Chemphys Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. ("Chemphys") to advance the exploration and development of the Company's Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project ("HMN Project ") located in the Salta and Catamarca Province area where most of the lithium production occurs in Argentina.

Adrian Hobkirk, President and CEO of the Company quoted, "We are very pleased with the investment in NRG by Chemphys and establishing a relationship with a high purity lithium manufacturer in China that supplies its products to the battery and energy markets. With the completion of this private placement, and the financial support of warrant and option holders, the Company is now fully funded to carry out its planned work program on the HMN Project."

Ms. Alison Dai, of Chemphys is quoted, "We are pleased to have formalized our strategic partnership with NRG and are committed to working with NRG's team to expedite the development of the HMN Project."

Private Placement and Shareholder Approval

The Company completed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement with an affiliate of Chemphys for gross proceeds of CAD$980,000 million. A second tranche of the placement is expected to be completed in coming weeks, which will bring the total amount subscribed by Chemphys to CAD$1.6 million. The Company had previously announced that Chemphys would be subscribing for gross proceeds of CAD$1.4 million, which at that time would have represented approximately 15% of the Company's outstanding shares. The placement was increased to a total of 16,000,000 units for gross proceeds of CAD$1.6 million. Upon completion of the second tranche of the placement, Chemphys will hold approximately 15% of the shares of the Company that are expected to be outstanding after giving effect to the second tranche and assuming no other shares are issued. The increase in the placement reflects the increase in the outstanding share capital of the Company upon numerous option and warrant exercises since the placement was initially discussed between the parties. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant exercisable for a period of three years from the date of issue at an exercise price of CAD$0.20 per share. The securities issued to Chemphys are subject to a four-month hold period as required under applicable securities laws.

The subscriber (the "Placee") is owned by one of the principal shareholders of Chemphys, and is therefore an affiliate of Chemphys. Pending the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange of a personal information form filed in respect of the principal of the Placee, the Placee will agree not to exercise any warrants if to do so would result in it acquiring more than 10% of the outstanding common shares of the Company, calculated on an undiluted basis. The second tranche of the placement will only be completed if either: (i) the disinterested shareholders of the Company (being shareholders other than the Placee and its affiliates) have approved the issuance to the Placee of common shares underlying the warrants where to do so would result in the Placee holding more than 20% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (calculated on a non-diluted basis), or (ii) the Placee shall have entered into a warrant exercise agreement with the Company restricting the exercise of any warrants by the Placee if to do so would result in the Placee owning or controlling 20% or more of the then issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (calculated on a non-diluted basis).

The second tranche of the private placement will consist of 6,200,000 units for gross proceeds of CAD $620,000. A further news release will be issued once the second tranche has been completed.

Offtake Agreement

Concurrently with the completion of the first tranche of the private placement, the Company entered into an offtake agreement with Chemphys covering all lithium products produced from the HMN Project. The offtake provides for the sale of lithium at prices related to market prices. The HMN offtake agreement is subject to the Company (i) establishing the necessary mineral reserves in commercial quantities and quality, (ii) building the necessary mining and processing facilities to extract and process lithium products, and (iii) obtaining sufficient financing on commercially reasonable terms in order to finance the achievement of each of the foregoing (i) and

(ii) sufficient to achieve commencement of commercial production. If the Company is unable to satisfy these conditions within three years, the offtake agreement shall automatically terminate, (unless the parties otherwise agree in writing).

Chemphys will have a right of first offer to negotiate in good faith (with no obligation of the Company to accept) the right of Chemphys to acquire a portion of the Company's entitlement to annual production of lithium products from any other lithium project from which the Company is entitled to acquire or sell lithium products, such right on terms and conditions as the Parties may agree.

Ancillary Rights Agreement

The Company and the Placee also entered into an ancillary rights agreement providing for (i) the right of the Placee to at least one Board seat so long as it owns at least 10% of the Company shares or the offtake agreement is in force, (ii) a right to increase the Placee's Board representation proportionate to its share ownership, (iii) a right to maintain the Placee's pro rata share ownership, (iv) a right of the Placee to representation on a Project Advisory Board in respect of the HMN Project, and (v) an obligation of the Placee to undertake a orderly distribution of its securities should it determine to dispose of its shareholdings in the Company.

Shareholders ' Meeting

The Issuer has scheduled an annual general and special meeting on December 22, 2017 at 11 am (Vancouver time) and will be seeking disinterested shareholder approval for the transaction as set out above.

Other Subscribers

In addition to the Chemphys placement, the Company completed a private placement with two consultants of the Company by the issuance of a total of 2,350,000 units at $0.10 per unit, raising additional gross proceeds of CAD$235,000. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant exercisable for a period of two years at an exercise price of CAD$0.20 per share.

Together with the first closing on October 6, 2017 of 4,500,000 units for gross proceeds of CAD$450,000, the Chemphys closing of CAD$1,600,000 and CAD$235,000 from the consultants, the Company will issue a total of 22,850,000 units and raise total gross proceeds of CAD$2,285,000. The proceeds of the private placement will be used for expenditures relating to the HMN Project and for general working capital. The Company did not pay any finder's fees.

About the Company

NRG Metals Inc. is an exploration stage company evaluating two lithium brine projects, located in Argentina. Phase One exploration drilling is currently underway at the 29,000 hectare Salar Escondido lithium project, Catamarca Province, Argentina. Results are expected in November. In addition, the Company is awaiting exploration permits at the HMNLP, located in Salta Province, Argentina. Additional projects are currently under negotiation.

NRG Metals Inc. currently has 101,429,135 common shares issued and outstanding after giving effect to the first tranche issued to the Placee and the other subscribers referred to above. NRG Metals Inc. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under symbol NGZ, on the OTCQB Market under symbol NRGMF, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol OGPN.

About Chemphys

Chemphys was established in 1998, and has since grown into a high-tech enterprise, both ISO9001 and ISO14001 certified. The company specialises in the production of high purity (99.99%) Lithium Carbonate and battery grade Lithium Hydroxide for the manufacturing of cathode materials and electrolytes of lithium ion batteries. Chemphys was one of the first Chinese suppliers to export high purity Lithium Carbonate and battery grade Lithium Hydroxide to leading cathode materials and lithium hexafluorphosphate manufacturers in Japan and South Korea. Chemphys also produces 99.995% Lithium Carbonate which is used to manufacture single crystal substrates for surface acoustic wave and integrated optic devices. In addition, the company produces high purity Lithium Carbonate and Boric Acid for the production of fusion fluxes, Lithium Borates for XRF analysis, and numerous other specialized materials. Chemphys has a strong research and development capability and works closely with customers to develop new materials. Chemphys product is recognized by all major lithium ion battery materials manufacturers and is an integral part of the electric vehicle supply chain.

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.

On behalf of the board of directors of NRG Metals Inc.,

Adrian F.C. Hobkirk

President and CEO

T: +1-714-316-3272

E: [email protected]



W: http://www.nrgmetalsinc.com

SOURCE NRG Metals Inc.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- W has a brand-new look, bringing supermodel-level style to W guests and fashion fans on-the-go. W Hotels today announced the debut of the exclusive "Off Duty" Closet, the latest project inspired by the iconic lifestyle brand's Global Fashion Innovator, Joan Smalls. W Hotels and Creative Director, Sarah Easley, will debut 25 items inspired by Smalls' own jet setting style. The Closet is available globally as of today only through W Hotels The Store. Smalls has been putting her passion to work with W since March 2017, developing insider guides and shaping the brand's global fashion platform with an expert eye. Curated by Easley to reflect Smalls' personal style, the "Off Duty" Closet includes pieces from seven top designers who have created signature items for the Closet's limited release. In light of the recent disaster in Puerto Rico and in honor of Smalls' passion for her heritage, Smalls will dedicate all of her royalties from the "Off Duty" Closet to Unidos For Puerto Rico, a generous donation that will be matched by W Hotels in support of ongoing relief efforts.

Joan Smalls and W Hotels Off Duty Closet

"Everyone knows what I wear on the runway, in my shoots or on TV, but when I'm not in front of a camera I still curate my look  I spend so much time traveling, what I wear when I'm off duty shapes a lot of my personal style," said Joan Smalls, Global Fashion Innovator, W Hotels Worldwide.

"I love that W always wants travelers to be on the inside of the fashion world," said Sarah Easley, Creative Director of the "Off Duty" Closet with W Hotels Worldwide. "What better way to get a real insider experience than sharing styles I love? I can't wait to see fellow travelers rocking these looks!"

All-around fashion guru, Sarah Easley, chose seven distinctive brands for the limited release. Combining the W brand's passion for supporting emerging fashion talent with new and next styles, the Closet brings exclusive items and chic new looks to globe trotters and fashion fans alike. The "Off Duty" Closet will feature items from top fashion brands Veronica Beard, Yestadt Millinery, K/LLER Collection, KREWE, Rails, Jibs Life, and Road Twenty-Two. Prices for the looks range from $78.00 to $1,495.00 and are available for international purchase here. In addition to the global online launch, W is celebrating the Closet at insider events in two fashion capitals of the world, New York and Paris. The launch kicked off at W New York  Times Square on November 15th with a glamorous display of the full closet. On November 21st, W Paris  Opera will host an event for the fashion elite showing off the "Off Duty" styles inspired by Smalls.

"We've always known working with Joan would bring W guests unparalleled access to what's new and next in fashion," said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. "Joan has incredible passion for luxe travel and fashion, so of course we wanted to give guests the chance to glam up their own jet setting style. The 'Off Duty' Closet is a fabulous opportunity for W to innovate in the fashion space, taking the guest experience beyond the runway."

The "Off Duty" Closet from W Hotels is the next step in the brand's long-standing history of celebrating fashion around the globe with top fashion talent like Diane von Furstenberg and the designers of the CFDA {FASHION INCUBATOR} Program. This past year, W Hotels debuted property-specific collections with XU ZHI (to celebrate the opening of W Shanghai  The Bund, launched on November 15, 2017) and Ricardo Cavolo (to celebrate the multi-million-dollar renovation's completion at W Barcelona).

For more information on what's new and next for W and fashion, visit The Angle, the brand's buzzing digital platform.

About W Hotels Worldwide

Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for nearly two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with more than 50 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests' lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand's provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brand's super-charged energy celebrates guests' endless appetite to discover what's new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in the industry's award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest. Members can now link accounts with Marriott Rewards, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
SEATTLE, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OfferUp, the largest mobile marketplace in the U.S. for local buying and selling, today announced the official launch of OfferUp Community MeetUp Spots to designate public, well-lit and surveilled locations for people to exchange goods with confidence. Setting a new security standard for the peer-to-peer commerce industry, the program is a partnership between OfferUp and local law enforcement agencies nationwide. The company is also working with select Ralphs supermarket locations in California.

"Marketplaces are social businesses and we believe it's our civic responsibility to take an active interest and role in the well-being of our community, online and offline," said Nick Huzar, CEO and co-founder of OfferUp. "The OfferUp community extends way beyond the users we have on the platform into the local communities we serve, and we hope our Community MeetUp Spots will facilitate face-to-face interactions people can feel confident about."

Since this summer, OfferUp has successfully planted more than 450 Community MeetUp Spot signs in partnership with local law enforcement agencies across the country, and continues its work with over 800 police departments to progress the effort. To find a Community MeetUp Spot nearby, OfferUp buyers and sellers can use the app's MeetUp scheduling tool to locate a verified spot. In-app messaging also allows users to coordinate a meetup time and date, ask questions about the product and agree on a price.

The Community MeetUp Spots are a natural next step for OfferUp, which offers a number of other features created with the well-being of buyers and sellers in mind:

TruYou - launched in 2012 to reduce anonymity in the marketplace, TruYou checks a user's state-issued ID (like a driver's license), cell phone number and a selfie they take from inside the app.

Reputation - a user's profile can include identifying information such as location, email, phone number, and ratings & reviews from others with whom they have transacted. Users can also connect their profiles to Facebook to find mutual connections.

Secure Chat - allows users to communicate with the other party without having to share their personal information.

Safety Tips - the app's chatbot technology offers buyer and sellers timely tips and suggestions in the chat window to help guide users towards safer practices.

"Our designated Community MeetUp Spot beside the Marion Police Station is public, well-lit, and monitored 24/7 by the police department," said Lieutenant Andrew Moss in Marion, VA. "In partnership with OfferUp, the program has not only improved community confidence, but deterred criminal intent and activity."

As more communities are drawn to the ease and affordability of local buying and selling, OfferUp aims to set a new safety standard for the industry.

"Since launching our Community MeetUp Spots, we've seen a ripple effect across the country as more communities rise up and create new safety measures to make their neighborhoods a better place," said Natalie Angelillo, vice president of community at OfferUp. "When initiatives like this become table stakes for every community and business in our category, we'll have accomplished our goal."

For more information on OfferUp's Community MeetUp Spots, please visit our blog or offerup.com/trust. To request a Community MeetUp Spot in your area, ask your local law enforcement agency to partner with OfferUp by filling out this form.

About OfferUp

OfferUp is dedicated to building the simplest and most trustworthy way for people to buy and sell in their communities. As the largest and fastest growing mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the U.S., the company offers iOS and Android apps that make selling an item as easy as snapping a picture from your mobile device. The privately held company is based in Bellevue, WA. and backed by top investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Warburg Pincus, GGV Capital, T Rowe Price and Coatue Management. For more information, visit www.offerup.com and follow us at www.twitter.com/offerup and www.facebook.com/offerup.

SOURCE OfferUp

Related Links

https://offerup.com


Regional license covers China , Hong Kong , Macau , Singapore , South Korea and Taiwan

, , , , and Oncolytics to receive upfront, licensing fee and milestone payments to support phase 3 registration study of USD $21.2 million , and eligible to receive up to an additional USD $65.4 million upon achievement of clinical, regulatory and commercialization milestones

, and eligible to receive up to an additional USD upon achievement of clinical, regulatory and commercialization milestones Upon Adlai Nortye's commercialization of REOLYSIN  , Oncolytics is eligible to receive double digit royalty payments

, Oncolytics is eligible to receive double digit royalty payments Management to host webcast and conference call tomorrow, November 17, 2017 at 8:30 am ET for Analysts and Institutional Investors

CALGARY and SAN DIEGO, CA, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC) (OTCQX: ONCYF) (Oncolytics or the Company), a biotech company developing REOLYSIN, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus that activates the innate and adaptive immune systems to turn 'cold' tumors 'hot', today announced that it has entered into a Regional Licensing Agreement (The Agreement) with Adlai Nortye (Adlai), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing important new treatments for cancer and metabolic diseases. Under the terms of The Agreement, Adlai will have exclusive development and commercialization rights to REOLYSIN in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

"Adlai Nortye has a top-tier clinical, regulatory and commercial team with global experience, that will be able to gain significant regional exposure for REOLYSIN upon potential approval, following our phase 3 study in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer," said Dr. Matt Coffey, President and CEO of Oncolytics Biotech. "China is the fastest growing pharmaceutical market in the world, and we are delighted to be able to unlock value for Oncolytics and our shareholders through this regional partnership. We're very happy this was able to happen as expediently as it did following our end-of-phase two meeting with the FDA. On the back of that meeting we also have escalated our efforts to find a suitable global or larger regional partner, in regions such as Europe or Japan, and look forward to providing updates on our progress in the first half of 2018."

"With its impressive clinical data coupled with its unique and novel mechanism, REOLYSIN will be an instrumental component in furthering the development of our oncology pipeline," said Carsten Lu, CEO of Adlai Nortye. "It immediately makes Adlai Nortye a late stage biotechnology company and REOLYSIN itself becomes our lead product. Given its potential in multiple oncological indications and its ability to be used in combination with multiple chemotherapies and immunotherapies, REOLYSIN will help to broaden future therapies made available by Adlai Nortye and advance us towards commercialization."

Terms of The Agreement

Oncolytics will receive an upfront licensing fee and milestone payments to support the phase 3 registration study in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) of USD $21.2 million, and is eligible to receive up to an additional USD $65.4 million upon achievement of clinical, regulatory and commercialization milestones. Oncolytics is also eligible to receive double digit royalty payments associated with the commercialization of REOLYSIN for all indications, subject to regulatory approval. Included in the USD $21.2 million:

Upfront payments of USD $5.3 million





Two milestone payments totalling USD $8 million made up of two common share purchase warrants:





made up of two common share purchase warrants: One common share purchase warrant of USD $2 million whereby, upon exercise, Adlai may purchase Oncolytics' common shares priced at a 120% premium of the five-day weighted average closing price immediately preceding the exercise date. Oncolytics has the right to call this warrant when the first patient is enrolled in the phase 3 mBC study or six months after execution of The Agreement, whichever is later.





whereby, upon exercise, Adlai may purchase Oncolytics' common shares priced at a 120% premium of the five-day weighted average closing price immediately preceding the exercise date. Oncolytics has the right to call this warrant when the first patient is enrolled in the phase 3 mBC study or six months after execution of The Agreement, whichever is later.

One common share purchase warrant of USD $6 million whereby, upon exercise, Adlai may purchase Oncolytics' common shares priced at a 120% premium of the five-day weighted average closing price immediately preceding the exercise date. Oncolytics has the right to call this warrant upon the enrollment of the 50 th patient in the phase 3 mBC study.





whereby, upon exercise, Adlai may purchase Oncolytics' common shares priced at a 120% premium of the five-day weighted average closing price immediately preceding the exercise date. Oncolytics has the right to call this warrant upon the enrollment of the 50 patient in the phase 3 mBC study. USD $7.9 million based on certain regulatory advancements.

Oncolytics recently had a favorable End-of-Phase 2 Meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration that outlined a single, 400-patient phase 3 study focused on HR+/HER2- patients. The Company expects to have formal guidance back from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) before the end of the year and to begin enrolling patients in its phase 3 study in mid-2018.

Adlai Nortye will be responsible for all clinical, regulatory and commercialization activities in its territories. Oncolytics maintains exclusive rights outside of these territories and will be responsible for all development outside of these territories.

Webcast and Conference Call

Oncolytics management will host a conference call for Analysts and Institutional Investors regarding this announcement tomorrow, November 17, 2017 at 8:30 am ET. The live call may be accessed by dialing (888) 231-8191 for callers in North America. Overseas callers should contact investor relations for the toll-free dial information for their region. A replay of this call will be available approximately two hours after the call is ended at 855-859-2056 using the replay code 8987978 and will be available for three months.

A live audio webcast of the call will be accessible on the Investor Relations page of Oncolytics' website at www.oncolyticsbiotech.com and will be archived for a full year.

About REOLYSIN

REOLYSIN is a non-pathogenic, proprietary isolate of the unmodified reovirus: a first-in-class intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers.

About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing REOLYSIN, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype  turning 'cold' tumors 'hot'  through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Oncolytics' clinical development program emphasizes three pillars: chemotherapy combinations to trigger selective tumor lysis; immuno-therapy combinations to produce adaptive immune responses; and immune modulator (IMiD) combinations to facilitate innate immune responses. Oncolytics is currently planning its first registration study in metastatic breast cancer, as well as studies in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted and IMiD therapies in solid and hematological malignancies. For further information about Oncolytics, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.

About Adlai Nortye

Adlai Nortye is a science-led biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing new drugs. We focus on discovering and developing important new treatments for cancer and metabolic diseases. Our mission is to improve patient lives by identifying and acquiring differentiated innovative medicines that help people live better, live longer.

We have 19 patents granted and 7 PCT published. With extensive experience in peptide and protein drugs, we have expanded our expertise into small molecules and therapeutic antibodies. Through close collaborations with global partners, we have successfully positioned ourselves in the fields of immuno-oncology and metabolic diseases and have several programs ongoing from early pre-clinical to phase 3 ready.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements, including the Company's belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN as a cancer therapeutic; the anticipated benefits of the regional licensing agreement to the Company; the amount and use of proceeds to be received by the Company, and the timing thereof, under the regional licensing agreement and the exercise of the warrants; the amount of royalties payable to the Company under the regional licensing agreement; the ability of the Company to achieve the clinical, regulatory and commercialization milestones contemplated by the regional licensing agreement and the warrants; the timing and anticipated results of the Company's proposed clinical development program; the timing of anticipated guidance from the EMA; the ability of the Company to achieve its goals to find additional global partners; the Company's planned operations; and other statements related to anticipated developments in the Company's business and technologies involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of REOLYSIN as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

Related Links

www.oncolytics.ca


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2017 Community Partnership Award competition.

Drug overdoses from opioids have quadrupled since 1999, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. When an overdose occurs, first responders often use the life-saving antidote naloxone (Narcan). Because its effects are quick, however, patients who are revived and transported to a local hospital emergency department are discharged within hours. Many go back to drugs as soon as they leave.

To address this crisis, Eva's Village, a social-service organization located in Paterson, partnered with St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center to launch the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) in 2016. OORP dispatches specially trained recovery specialists, who are themselves in recovery from addiction, to the hospital bedsides of overdose victims as they regain consciousness. Recovery specialists support overdose survivors at the point of crisis, link them to treatment programs and continue to engage them in a 12-week follow-up period.

"The OORP is a crucial link to helping individuals with substance use disorders get the help needed for sustained recovery," said Heather Thompson, Chief Development Officer for Eva's Village. "Since April 2016, we've received over 500 calls to emergency rooms in all three hospitals in Passaic County, and more than 50% of those patients have entered recovery treatment."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 220 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

SOURCE Mutual of America

Related Links

https://www.mutualofamerica.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As a year of industry-rocking acquisitions and jaw-dropping tech disruptions nears its end, the editors at CSP and Technomic gathered to identify what c-stores can expect in 2018. Read on for 10 big trends set to drive industry progressand painin the year to come.

During a packed general session at Outlook Leadership, Abbie Westra, director of Winsight's retail content group and editor-in-chief of CSP Magazine, addressed attendees about the 2018 trends. "The bottom line is for retailers to focus on their employees as well as their store and customer base; there is no either-or," Westra said.

Highlights from the 2018 Convenience Retailing Trends Forecast include:

The battle for supremacy. Convenience behemoths 7-Eleven and Alimentation Couche-Tard will continue to fight for U.S. store count into 2018. Find out who will hold onto the top spot as M&A across the board grows.

Employee benefits get personal. In a historically snug labor market, convenience stores are finding innovative ways to directly connect with team members by taking an individualized approach to career ladders and training programs.

Next meal-solution destination. The convenience segment is prepping for a much larger piece of the foodservice pie. Angling for space in the meal-kit revolution, c-stores are beginning to reposition away from mere in-and-out and to quick, high-quality meals at home.

To see all the trends, read the full forecast here.

About Winsight LLC

Winsight LLC is a recognized leader in business-to-business media and information services for the convenience-retailing, foodservice and grocery industries. Winsight has an extensive media portfolio, including five publications: CSP, Restaurant Business, FoodService Director, Convenience Store Products and Winsight Grocery Business. Winsight also offers a suite of digital products, including websites, e-newsletters, webinars, video products, mobile and tablet apps, and custom marketing solutions. In addition to more than 12 major EduNetworking conferences and advisory meetings, Winsight also produces seven exclusive, large-scale executive-level conferences: Restaurant Leadership Conference, Global Restaurant Leadership Conference, Outlook Leadership Conference, Convenience Retailing University, FSTEC, MenuDirections and Restaurant Directions. Winsight also acquired Technomic Inc., a provider of primary and secondary market information and advisory services for the food industry. For more information on Winsight and its brands, go to winsightmedia.com.

About Technomic

Technomic Inc., a Winsight company, delivers a 360-degree view of the food industry. It impacts growth and profitability for clients by providing consumer-grounded vision and channel-relevant strategic insights. Its services range from major research studies and management consulting solutions to online databases and simple fact-finding assignments. Its clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants and retailers, other foodservice organizations, and various institutions aligned with the food industry. Visit Technomic at technomic.com.

CONTACT

Steve Holtz

News Director and Editor-in-Chief, CSPDailyNews.com

Winsight LLC

312-940-1576

[email protected]

SOURCE Technomic Inc.

Related Links

http://www.technomic.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thales, a leader in critical information systems, cybersecurity and data security, announces the results of its research on the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The report, based on research by Censuswide and sponsored by Thales, captures the preparedness levels of organizations in Europe and the United States for the May 2018 GDPR compliance deadline, as well as their perceptions on the new regulation's business impact.

Click to Tweet: Approx 35% of U.S. orgs don't think they will be fully prepared for GDPR come May 2018 @thalesesecurity report: http://bit.ly/2zF4HbT

Intended to improve personal data protection and increase accountability for data breaches, the GDPR is perhaps the most comprehensive data privacy standard to date. However, the regulation presents a significant challenge for organizations that process the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the organization is headquartered. This means that any U.S. organization that handles data belonging EU citizens will be required to be GDPR compliant when the regulation comes into force in May 2018.

Gartner's forecast predicts that by the end of 2018, over 50 percent of all companies affected by the GDPR will not be in full compliance with its requirements. According to the Thales report's findings, around 35 percent of U.S. organizations already don't believe they will be fully prepared for the GDPR in time for the deadline. In addition, U.S. organizations are apprehensive about the GDPR's impact on their business.

Key concerns of U.S. businesses:

Just over 56 percent believe that implementing measures to become GDPR compliant will increase the levels of complexity and red tape within their business.

Approximately 45 percent are concerned that the GDPR will hinder their organization's innovation to some degree.

Almost 18 percent expect the GDPR to have a negative impact on relationships with their international partners.

Interestingly, while roughly 20 percent believe the GDPR will lead to fewer data breaches, 49 percent are concerned that its implementation will actually result in an increased number of breaches.

Although U.S. businesses have several concerns surrounding the GDPR, over half (approximately 53%) remain optimistic that the GDPR will have no effect on their business operations whatsoever. Along the same lines, over a third of businesses (35%) suggest that a GDPR-type regulation is definitely required for handling the personal information of U.S. citizens.

Jim DeLorenzo, solutions manager, GDPR, Thales eSecurity says:

"Organizations that are not prepared for the GDPR would be remiss to think that this regulation won't impact their business operations. In fact, if organizations fail to comply, they could face multiple legal challenges as well as staggering fines, consequences that will undoubtedly garner negative attention. With so many U.S. businesses having a global reach, it's imperative that American business leaders understand the ramifications of not complying with the GDPR."

The research also examined consumer privacy and control concerns in the UK and Germany. The results reveal that almost half (47 percent) of consumers believe commercial organizations don't care about their privacy, and that two in five (42 percent) don't trust anyone to keep their personal information private.

Download your copy of the Thales eSecurity report  "Protecting private personal data  why there's more to the GDPR than just fines."

To help make sure your business is fit for the GDPR, Thales eSecurity has compiled a series of useful resources, which you can find here.

For industry insight and views on the latest data security trends check out our blog. You can follow Thales eSecurity on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Methodology

Thales eSecurity commissioned the survey among 2,000 consumers in the UK and Germany (1,000 in each region), and 1,500 C-level executives in the UK, US and Germany (500 in each region). The research was conducted online by polling company Censuswide, an international research organisation, in August 2017.

About Thales eSecurity

Thales eSecurity is the leader in advanced data security solutions and services that deliver trust wherever information is created, shared or stored. We ensure that the data belonging to companies and government entities is both secure and trusted in any environment  on-premises, in the cloud, in data centers or big data environments  without sacrificing business agility. Security doesn't just reduce risk, it's an enabler of the digital initiatives that now permeate our daily lives  digital money, e-identities, healthcare, connected cars and, with the internet of things (IoT), even household devices. Thales provides everything an organization needs to protect and manage its data, identities and intellectual property, and meet regulatory compliance  through encryption, advanced key management, tokenization, privileged-user control and high-assurance solutions. Security professionals around the globe rely on Thales to confidently accelerate their organization's digital transformation. Thales eSecurity is part of Thales Group.

About Thales

Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 64,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of 14.9 billion in 2016. With over 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its exceptional international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.

Positioned as a value-added systems integrator, equipment supplier and service provider, Thales is one of Europe's leading players in the security market. The Group's security teams work with government agencies, local authorities and enterprise customers to develop and deploy integrated, resilient solutions to protect citizens, sensitive data and critical infrastructure.

Thales offers world-class cryptographic capabilities and is a global leader in cybersecurity solutions for defence, government, critical infrastructure providers, telecom companies, industry and the financial services sector. With a value proposition addressing the entire data security chain, Thales offers a comprehensive range of services and solutions ranging from security consulting, data protection, digital trust management and design, development, integration, certification and security maintenance of cybersecured systems, to cyberthreat management, intrusion detection and security supervision through cybersecurity Operation Centres in France, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Hong Kong.

SOURCE Thales
DALLAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The research firm announced executives from Itron and Meritage Homes will be keynote speakers at the ninth-annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, February 19-21 at the Fairmont Hotel in Austin, Texas.

Appeal of Home Services Bundled with Energy

Smart Energy Summit focuses on energy efficiency, demand response, and home energy management solutions for consumers as well as crossover opportunities between smart home services and energy management solutions. The research firm recently released research, Non-Tariff Revenue Models for Energy Providers, showing 20-25% of homeowners in U.S. broadband households are interested in bundling energy with a home service such as HVAC, warranty, or home security.

"Bundling solar with energy services received the most consumer interest40% of U.S. homeowners in broadband households are interested in bundling solar power purchasing with their electricity bill," said Tom Kerber, Director, IoT Strategy, Parks Associates. "Roughly 25% of homeowners are interested in bundling HVAC maintenance services or home warranties with energy services. As retail energy providers experience narrowing margins in their core business, they are examining alternate strategies to build new revenues. At Smart Energy Summit, we examine these efforts to diversify and the role of smart home solutions in creating new opportunities."

Confirmed keynote speakers for 2018 include the following:

CR Herro, VP, Innovation, Meritage Homes

Russ Vanos, SVP, Strategy & Business Development, Itron

"Effective design and construction standards would repurpose trillions of currently wasted dollars back into the U.S. economy," said CR Herro, VP, Innovation, Meritage Homes. "The only gap between current efficiency standards and one optimized is just a slightly wider understanding of value to all the stakeholders involved. Smart energy usage is only impeded by aligning the benefits so that they are actionable by the public."

At Smart Energy Summit, more than 300 industry leaders from utilities, service providers, manufacturers, and technology companies will participate in panel discussions about the impact of direct consumer participation in energy markets and strategies to increase consumer engagement in demand response, distributed generation, and energy efficiency offerings.

Other research includes:

40% of U.S. broadband households are familiar with smart thermostats, but only 11% own one.

About 50% of U.S. households have smart meters, but the number of the utilities and energy providers offering time-varying rate structures is relatively small.

Over 50% of U.S. broadband households would purchase a smart device to manage energy consumption during TOU peak hours.

38% of U.S. broadband households would purchase a smart thermostat for use in TOU programs.

45% of U.S. broadband households have interest in TOU plans.

22% of U.S. broadband households would purchase a $250 smart thermostat with a $100 mail-in rebate.

Parks Associates is accepting speaking submissions for Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer at www.parksassociates.com/ses-speaker. More information about the Smart Energy Summit is available at www.SES2018.com. To schedule an interview or to request data, contact Julia Homier at [email protected], 972.996.0214.

About Smart Energy Summit

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the changing role of utilities to help empower consumers with solutions to save energy in the home. The event addresses the potential benefits of incorporating smart products into energy efficiency and DR programs and the opportunities across converging ecosystems for the market for energy solutions, including connected devices, energy management, utility services, and home control platforms and services.

Follow the event on Twitter at @SmartEnergySmt and #SmartEnergy18. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.ses2018.com.

Julia Homier

Parks Associates

972.996.0214

[email protected]

SOURCE Parks Associates
AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) will celebrate the 30th anniversary of safe, clean and dependable operation at its Perry Nuclear Power Plant on Saturday, November 18. Located on a 1,100-acre site in Perry, Ohio, the 1,268-megawatt plant reliably generates enough electricity to power more than 1.2 million homes each day and has produced more than 273 million megawatt hours of electricity over its 30-year lifespan.

FirstEnergy will mark the anniversary on Friday, November 17 with a celebration for the plant's approximately 700 employees, 120 of whom have worked at Perry since operations began.

"Reaching this significant milestone is a testament to the excellence and dedication of our workforce," said David Hamilton, site vice president at Perry Nuclear Power Plant. "As a proud member of the Perry community, we look forward to many more years of power generation and civic involvement in northeast Ohio."

Construction crews broke ground for Perry in October 1974, and the General Electric-designed boiling water reactor became the nation's 100th nuclear power plant when it began commercial operation on November 18, 1987. Perry remains one of the nation's newest nuclear power plants in operation today. While the plant is currently licensed through 2026, it can apply for a 20-year extension to continue operations through 2046.

Together with its sister plant located near Toledo, Perry plays an important role in Ohio's economic, environmental and energy future. In addition to supporting 4,300 state-wide jobs, the two plants provide 11 percent of the electricity used in Ohio each year. Their operation helps avoid more than 9 million tons of carbon emissions annually  equal to the carbon output of 1.9 million passenger vehicles. As strong community members, the plants have contributed more than $1.7 million to charitable organizations like United Way and Harvest for Hunger over the past 10 years.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its FENOC subsidiary operates the Beaver Valley Power Station in Shippingport, Pa., the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Perry, Ohio, and the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Visit FENOC on the web at www.fenoc.com, and follow the nuclear plants on Twitter @Perry_Plant, @BVPowerStation, and @DavisBesse.

Editor's Note: Historical photos of the plant are available for download on Flickr.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.fenoc.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Persistent Systems, LLC ("Persistent"), a leader in Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) technology and developers of Wave Relay and the MPU5 radio, announced they are part of Endeavor Robotics' winning team for the US Army's MTRS Inc II Award (Man-Transportable Robotic System Increment II). This $100 Million contract award has an option for an additional $58 million worth of deliverables to provide a fleet of up to 1,200 mid-sized unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to the US Army. Persistent Systems' MPU5 is Endeavor's MANET radio of choice to provide secure and long-range data communication for C2 (command and control), video, CBRNe, and other critical sensor data.

Endeavor Robotics chose Persistent Systems to provide its onboard communications because the MPU5 provides the performance and feature set critical to the UGV's mission and the US Army's success:

100+ Mbps, 3x3 MIMO radio with up to 6 watts of transmit power to provide a long range and secure IP network in both LOS (line-of-sight) and NLOS (non-line-of-sight) environments

Modular frequency architecture that allows the operator change RF bands (L-, S-, and C-Band) as needed by simply swapping radio modules

An industry leading Wave Relay MANET capability that maintains the UGV's network connectivity in a dynamic multi-hop mobile ad hoc network: the capability Persistent is best known for

"We're extremely proud of our partnership with Endeavor Robotics and congratulate them on this very important award" said Dr. Herbert Rubens, CEO of Persistent Systems. "The US Army has been a long-standing customer of Persistent Systems, and we appreciate the opportunity to deliver potentially 2,400 more MPU5 radios to support this UGV mission, the US warfighter, and the US Army."

Persistent and Endeavor announced their partnership back in July of 2016 and have been working together since. Tom Frost, President of Endeavor Robotics commented, "Persistent builds a great radio and has been a great partner to Endeavor. We look forward to working together on this Army program."

The program has been officially awarded to Endeavor Robotics by the US Army's PEO CS&CSS program office. Low rate initial production should begin in the 2018 / 2019 timeframe.

About Persistent Systems, LLC

Headquartered in New York City since 2007, Persistent Systems, LLC is a global communications technology company which develops, manufactures, and integrates a patented and secure Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) system: Wave Relay. The company's industry leading R&D team has designed wireless networking protocols to support their cutting-edge Wave Relay system and technology. Wave Relay transmits and receives data, video, voice and other applications under the most difficult and unpredictable conditions. Their suite of products is field proven and utilized in Commercial, Military, Government, Industrial, Agriculture, Robotics, and Unmanned System markets.

Please visit http://www.persistentsystems.com to learn more. Follow Persistent Systems on Twitter to get updates on the latest developments @pswaverelay.

SOURCE Persistent Systems, LLC

Related Links

http://www.persistentsystems.com/


Soothing, immersive, personalized experience Philips' Ambient Experience in-bore Connect solution provides patients with a soothing, immersive, personalized multi-media experience as they enter the bore of the MR scanner. When entering the scanning room, they are immediately engaged in the procedure by being given control over selection of the MR Ambient Experience theme. Coupled with clear instructions about what to do and what to expect during the scan, this in-bore experience supports patients who experience feelings of stress, and helps hospital staff improve workflows and reduce the number of rescans*.

"Our team is now able to work smarter, faster and more efficiently," said Christoph Wald, MD, PhD, MBA, FACR, Chairman, Department of Radiology at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. "As a result, our patients are more comfortable and our technologists and radiologists can focus on delivering confident diagnoses."

Patients can feel stress, nervousness and anxiety when entering the bore of an MR scanner, especially when doing so head-first. By obscuring the internal surface of the scanner bore from the patient's view and replacing it with soothing video images, the system helps patients deal with these feelings. The video can be themed according to patient choice (e.g. landscapes, seascapes, underwater marinescapes) and is accompanied by soothing head-phone delivered audio.

Many patients also find it challenging to know what to do during their scan, such as holding their breath and staying perfectly still when needed. To help them, the Philips system overlays the video with audio-visual prompts, so that patients know what they need to do and how long they need to do it, while a progress bar lets them know how the scan is progressing. Enhancing patient compliance reduces the need for radiology technician intervention and helps to support maximum scan quality.

"Our Ambient Experience in-bore Connect solution is aimed at helping patients and staff to get the quality images they need," said Werner Satter, General Manager Healthcare Experience Solutions at Philips. "The global adoption of our solutions to improve the patient experience showcases how the combination of a patient-centric approach, technology and design can work together to help improve imaging outcomes."

A study at Herlev Gentofte University Hospital in Denmark shows that the Ambient Experience in-bore Connect solution helped them reduce the number of rescans. The Herlev Gentofte University Hospital compared the number of interrupted examinations before and after installation of the Ambient Experience in-bore Connect solution with other scanners in the facility. The data shows their yearly average number of rescans decreased by 70%*. The same study showed that 84% of their patients felt more calm.

Further evidence of the benefits of enhancing the patient experience during imaging procedures was recently published in the Philips 'Patient Experience in Imaging Study'  a survey of 603 patients in the US and Germany about their satisfaction, expectations, preferences and unmet needs with diagnostic imaging procedures over the previous year. While most patients expressed feelings of being well taken care of, respected, and informed about their imaging procedures, many also cited feelings of nervousness, uncertainty and powerlessness during the procedure. In general, patients viewed safety and well-being throughout the imaging process as important, and valued speed and comfort during the procedure itself. Philips is designing its innovations with these patients' needs in mind.

Ambient Experience

The Ambient Experience in-bore Connect solution is part of the company's larger portfolio of Ambient Experience solutions. In the past decade, more than 1,250 Ambient Experience solutions have been installed in radiology departments, emergency departments and treatment rooms in more than 50 countries.

To learn more about how Philips is bringing together people, data and technology to power the ongoing evolution of radiology, visit booth #6735 at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting, taking place Nov. 26 - Dec. 1, in Chicago, Ill., where Philips' Ambient Experience in-bore Connect for MR will be on display. For more information on Philips' full suite of integrated imaging systems, devices, informatics and services at #RSNA17, and for live updates from the event, follow @PhilipsLiveFrom or visit www.philips.com/rsna.

* At Herlev Gentofte University Hospital in Denmark. Compared to the average of the other 5 Philips MR scanners without Ambient Experience and In-bore Connect. Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

For further information, please contact:

Joost Maltha

Philips Group Press Office

Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116

E-mail: [email protected]

Kathy O'Reilly

Philips Group Press Office

Tel: +1 978 221 8919

E-mail: [email protected]

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2016 sales of EUR 17.4 billion and employs approximately 73,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips

Related Links

http://www.philips.com


This alliance is well-positioned to support the Administration's IT modernization and cybersecurity priorities, including the emerging security challenges posed by internet-connected devices, including computers, routers and security cameras.

"Security is foremost on everyone's mind today, especially with the constant emergence of new threat forms compounded by the exploding array of devices and network access points," said Ed Fox, vice president of Network Services for MetTel. "The world needs a network that meets the highest government security standards and together, MetTel and Raytheon are committed to delivering that network."

The MetTel-Raytheon alliance will provide a range of managed security services, professional consulting services and technologies to detect, assess and defeat potential intrusions on MetTel-owned or managed customer networks. The principal elements of the agreement include:

MetTel and Raytheon will build and operate Managed Trusted Internet Protocol Services for Federal government agencies through the GSA's Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract. MetTel was named in August 2017 as a vendor for the $50 billion , 15-year award.

as a vendor for the , 15-year award. As part of MetTel's team on the EIS contract, Raytheon will offer cybersecurity experts on a contract basis to Federal agencies for custom consultations, including detailed insight and recommendations for incident remediation and vulnerability testing.

In addition, MetTel will employ Raytheon's Automated Threat Intelligence Platform (ATIP) and other advanced managed security services.

Managed Security Services for Federal Agencies

"As Federal agencies and businesses aggressively pursue digital transformation, this alliance will support the security of their data and systems," said John DeSimone, vice president of Cybersecurity and Special Missions for Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. "Raytheon will work with MetTel to leverage our 30 years of experience and significant investment in cybersecurity to hunt, detect and remediate advanced cyber threats on government and commercial networks."

Hardening the Network for MetTel and its Customers

In addition to supporting government customers, MetTel will integrate with Raytheon's Virtual Security Operations Center service to provide advanced threat hunting, intrusion analysis, incident notification and triage to safeguard its 10,000 customer locations worldwide.

"As rogue governments, nation-states and independent cyber criminals increasingly focus their attacks on commercial industry targets, the need becomes apparent for the combined forces of MetTel and Raytheon with our proven success in security and network management," Fox added.

Webinar  "2018 Security Threats: What's nextand will you be ready?"

Join MetTel and Raytheon for a joint webinar on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 @ 2:00pm ET. Register here: http://bit.ly/2zWJVFG

About MetTel

MetTel is a leading global provider of integrated digital communications solutions for enterprise customers. By converging all communications over a proprietary network, MetTel enables enterprise companies to easily deploy and manage technology-driven voice, data, wireless and cloud solutions worldwide. MetTel's comprehensive portfolio of customer solutions boosts enterprise productivity, reduces costs and simplifies operations. Combining customized and managed communication solutions with a powerful platform of cloud-based software, the company's MetTel Portal enables customers to manage their inventory, usage, spend and repairs from one simple, user friendly interface. For more information visit www.mettel.net, follow us on Twitter (@OneMetTel) and on LinkedIn, or call us directly at 877.963.8663. MetTel. Smart Communications Solutions.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contacts

Raytheon

Ellen Klicka

571.250.1029

[email protected]

MetTel

Mike Azzi

347.420.0957

[email protected]

SOURCE MetTel
"Razer has been great to work with throughout the development of the Wolverine Tournament Edition, taking direct feedback from our professional players and implementing it into the controller," says Alex Gonzalez, Head of Red Reserve's North American Operations. "This process has helped guarantee that the wolverine gives our players the biggest edge over the rest of the competitive scene."

The Wolverine Tournament Edition also introduces Razer Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons, which combine the soft-cushioned touch of a membrane rubber dome with crisp tactile clicks of a mechanical switch. The distinct feel of the controller makes it a unique choice for professional console gamers.

The controller offers extraordinary customization via Razer Synapse for Xbox, the all-in-one configuration software designed for XBOX ONE and Windows 10.

Multi-function buttons can be mapped to create more than 500 customized profiles to fit different playstyles for each game title. They can also enjoy the advantage of "focus" and "agile" settings to reach greater headshot aiming precision or speedy response by changing sensitivity of thumb stick movement. Lighting effects powered by Razer Chroma allow for an immersive gaming experience, and the RGB LED lighting will flash together with the controller's vibrations and other button actions. These visual settings can be customized and stored via Razer Synapse for Xbox.

The Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition is compatible with Xbox One and PC (Windows 10).

Visit www.razerzone.com/wolverine-tournament-edition for more information.

Price:

$119.99/ 139.99

Availability:

Razerzone.com: November 16, 2017

Worldwide: Q1 2018

Product features:

Razer Synapse for Xbox

4 Re-mappable multi-function buttons

Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons

Razer Chroma Lighting with selection from 16.8 million color palettes

Hair-Trigger Mode with trigger stops

Ergonomic non-slip rubber grip

Play anywhere  Play on Xbox One or PC (Windows 10)

Detachable braided cable

Images: Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition

About Razer:

Razer is the world's leading lifestyle brand for gamers.

The triple-headed snake trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized logos in the global gaming and esports communities. With a fan base that spans every continent, the company has designed and built the world's largest gamer-focused ecosystem of hardware, software and services.

Razer's award-winning hardware ranges from high-performance gaming peripherals (for the PC and console platforms) to the Razer Blade gaming laptops. Razer's software platform, with over 35M users, includes Razer Synapse (an Internet of Things platform), Razer Chroma (a proprietary RGB lighting technology system), and Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher). Razer services include Razer zGold, one of the world's largest virtual credit services for gamers, which allows gamers to purchase virtual goods and items from over 2,500 different games.

The company has a global footprint with 9 offices worldwide and is recognized as the leading brand for gamers in the US, Europe and China.

Founded in 2005 and dual-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore, Razer is backed by institutional investors such as IDG-Accel, Intel Capital and Horizons Ventures. For more information, visit http://www.razerzone.com/about-razer.

Press Contacts:

Global

Alain Mazer

[email protected]

Americas

Stephen Huynh

[email protected]

Europe/Africa

Jan Horak

[email protected]

Asia Pacific

Nicholas Ferguson

[email protected]



China

Evita Zhang

[email protected]

Razer  For Gamers. By Gamers.

SOURCE Razer

Related Links

http://www.razerzone.com


The brand invited three final candidates to travel the world with a suitcase full of whisky on an epic 10-day journey as part of The Greatest Job Interview in the World. Their journeys echoed the legendary trip undertaken in 1909 by Charles Grant Gordon, son-in-law of company founder William Grant.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8224851-grants-whisky-greatest-job-result/

If this is the interview, imagine what the job is like.

The opportunity captured imaginations all over the world, generating almost 5,000 applications from candidates in 103 countries. Hopefuls were initially narrowed down to 20 who were flown from 13 countries to attend 'The Mixer' event in Dufftown, Scotland, the brand's spiritual home. After a series of challenges, three finalists - Amy, a PE teacher living in Madrid; Danny, a whisky barman from Edinburgh and Linda, a radio presenter from Johannesburg - were then each sent to three different worldwide destinations to 'live the job' for ten days.

Between them, the finalists covered more than 51,000 miles, visiting 15 cities in nine countries across five continents, undertaking 20 international flights. They segwayed around Tel Aviv, tuk-tuk'd across Mumbai, rickshawed across Taipei and soared by seaplane over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Amy mixed cocktails in Krakow while Daniel led tastings in Taipei and Linda DJ'd in Colombia. Their ultimate goal was to bring to life the brand's motto, Stand Together.

Check out the highlights video - who you think deserves to be named Grant's Global Brand Ambassador?

The successful candidate will travel to many more countries in 2018 to spearhead a series of special events.

Oliver Dickson, Associate Brand Director, reflects: "The response to the campaign has been simply remarkable. When we started this process who would have thought we'd attract such a talented and diverse array of candidates?

"We've certainly tested their stamina, skills and resourcefulness, but most importantly we've been able to see how their passion translates across different cultures. All three of our finalists embodied the 'Stand Together' spirit of the Grant's brand which makes the final decision all the more difficult."

The new Grant's GBA will be revealed on 30th November 2017 on Grant's official Instagram and Facebook channels.

For more info see @GrantsWhisky on Instagram or search Grant's Whisky on Facebook.

Oliver Dickson, Associate Brand Director, William Grant & Sons [email protected]



(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/605048/William_Grant_and_Sons.jpg )



Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8224851-grants-whisky-greatest-job-result/

SOURCE William Grant & Sons
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leprosy is completely curable but it still exists. A quarter of a million new cases are diagnosed every year and 60% of them are found in India. Those afflicted with the disease are outcast from society and live in desolation.

Leprosy does not discriminate by age or social status  the disease impacts the young, the middle-aged, and the elderly. It not only completely ravages the body; it tears apart families.

Rhino Hyde Productions, an international, full-service creative agency, visited Tamil Nadu, India, because of the life-changing efforts of an organization called Embrace a Village. They observed people full of hope  maybe for the first time  in the midst of their despair.

Over the past year, Academy Award-winning film Lion and Netflix series Daughters of Destiny have brought India into the limelight. So you might be asking: Who is Embrace a Village?

This nonprofit organization (501c3) uses 100% of its donations to provide medical, nutritional, and spiritual care to those who have contracted leprosy in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Embrace a Village also provides private schools and dormitories for the children of those who have leprosy. Every day, more than 50 local team members physically provide hope, healing, and care to 3,500 people in 35 colonies through the schools, hospice centers, and hostels.

Embrace a Village is a philanthropic and world-changing organization created by entrepreneurs in the Midwest. In fact, founders Joe and Pat Clendenny rank among some of the bravest and most successful entrepreneurs  having owned and sold more than 10 businesses, including the very first New Balance Store on Michigan Avenue.

Rhino Hyde Productions has directed, produced and now releases a short film sharing the amazing work being accomplished. Upon our return from India, we have a heart to share these stories with the people in our country.

Would you please watch our short film, and would you please consider sharing this message?

Embrace a Village Short Film: https://vimeo.com/235576966

Please make a difference today by sharing this on-air, through your social media platforms or by interviewing its founder, Joe Clendenny, who shares his personal experience of 50 trips to serve in a powerful way.

Our hopes and goals are to see leprosy eradicated and raise the level of support. We need your help to get the word out. Thank you.

SOURCE Rhino Hyde Productions

Related Links

http://www.rhinohydeproductions.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that Rosie's Place Community Collaborative was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2017 Community Partnership Award competition.

Rosie's Place has provided a compassionate and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women in the Boston area since 1974. Each individual is offered a warm bed, hot shower, meals and groceries, and access to programs that support and enable women to become engaged and empowered.

In 2014, Rosie's Place launched Rosie's Place Community Collaborative. Working with the Boston Housing Authority, Rosie's Place established a satellite location at the Franklin Field public housing development to provide groceries, advocacy, and legal and job-search assistance to single mothers. They also partnered with the Boston Public Schools to offer groceries, advocacy and housing-search assistance to mothers with children attending school in eight under-served neighborhoods in the south end of Boston. And, they've partnered with the Massachusetts Trial Courts to help women who are dealing with evictions, family court and other crises navigate the legal system.

"For every woman who comes through our shelter doors, there is another poor or homeless woman who needs our help but can't or doesn't come to Rosie's Place," said Sue Marsh, President of Rosie's Place. "We're looking for ways to bring our services to them. This year, the Community Collaborative will reach 2,000 of these women."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 220 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

SOURCE Mutual of America Life Insurance Company

Related Links

http://www.mutualofamerica.com


LATROBE, Pa., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An exciting new chapter in the history of science education at Saint Vincent College began today with the formal opening and dedication of the $5.8 million James F. Will Engineering and Biomedical Sciences Hall.

The two-story, 11,260-square foot structure is located on the northwest side of the Sis and Herman Dupre Science Pavilion and will provide state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories for human anatomy teaching in the biomedical sciences and dedicated space for the college's growing engineering program.

Speakers at the dedication ceremony included Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., president; James F. Will, president emeritus; Ralph H. Liberatore, owner of Three Rivers Orthopedic and Spine, Inc.; Dr. Stephen M. Jodis, dean of the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing; and Rt. Rev. Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., archabbot.

Building on its historically strong academic programs in the natural sciences, Saint Vincent is targeting the academic fields of biomedical sciences and engineering for future growth and opportunity," Br. Norman explained. "The initiation of an engineering science degree program and the development of an integrated science major with an allied health concentration are enhancing our academic excellence while meeting the changing needs of students and of society."

The new building features two large laboratories, one on each floor  the Liberatore Human Anatomy Laboratory with six operating stations and an Engineering Design Laboratory.

Engineering facilities on the second floor include The Stephans Computer Modeling Laboratory, Kennametal Foundation Conference Room and Library, interdisciplinary classroom, three faculty offices, two restrooms and the "Yodel Lounge."

The human anatomy laboratory provides cutting-edge, high-tech facilities for anatomical research. The ultramodern laboratory is designed as a flexible space that can accommodate up to six surgical stations in a simulated operating room environment. The lab features advanced audio and video capabilities, including a teaching station equipped with cameras and monitors to enhance instruction.

In addition to providing education and research opportunities for the college's undergraduate programs, the human anatomy laboratory also will provide critical resources to fulfill the contemporary training needs of the health professions and medical device suppliers. Undergraduate students enrolled at Saint Vincent will have the opportunity to work as laboratory assistants in this new endeavor.

SOURCE Saint Vincent College
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced the Salesforce Pathfinder Training Program, a workforce development program to provide participants from diverse backgrounds with the technical Salesforce skills and business training they need to obtain technology jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem. The program is being launched in collaboration with Deloitte, which will provide training in soft skills, business acumen and effective communication.

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes every business, industry and economy, it is also widening the gap between available skilled jobs and employees with those skillswith nearly six million youth unemployed and 22 percent of veterans seeking employment[1]. The Pathfinder Training Program will address this skills gap by giving the unemployed and untrained the skills required to gain livable wages in this new technology-driven era.

The four-month program will focus on training for software development and data management jobs, specifically Salesforce Developer and Salesforce Administratorranked two of the top 10 jobs in America in 2017.[2]

Participants will receive a combination of classroom training and online learning via Trailhead, Salesforce's free, gamified online learning platform. In addition to traditional online learning, Trailhead engages learners with hands-on challenges that enable them to demonstrate that they can apply what they've learned to meet real-world business requirements.

Salesforce and its Trailblazer community will provide mentorship and access to expert-led, hands-on technical skills training. The program will be open to opportunity youth, veterans and professionals looking to re-enter the workforce. Once participants have graduated from the program, they will be connected to the Trailblazer community for mentorship, inspiration and networking to assist them in obtaining jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem.

"Education is intrinsic to workforce development and addressing the inequality gap," said Cindy Robbins, president and chief people officer, Salesforce. "Our mission is to create better outcomes for our entire global community and the Pathfinder Training Program is a continuation of our commitment to advance equality for all."

Equality is one of Salesforce's core values, driven by CEO Marc Benioff's vision that the company's higher purpose is to drive The Age of Equality. The Pathfinder Program's focus on training workers from diverse backgrounds for the jobs of tomorrow supports Salesforce's commitment to prioritize programs that support equal rights, equal pay, equal opportunity and equal education. The company has been recognized for its culture and work in equality with a regular presence on the best places to work lists from Fortune, LinkedIn and Glassdoor, as well as the number one spot on the Fortune Future 50 of companies best positioned for breakout growth.

Launched in Collaboration with Deloitte

Deloitte will provide participants with soft skills training, including modules in organization, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Deloitte has also committed to interviewing graduates of the program and plans to provide internships or other employment to 10 percent of qualified Pathfinder Training Program certified graduates.

"Committed to workforce development, Deloitte is also a recognized leader in inclusion and diversity. We believe a diverse, empowered workforce offers a better experience for our employees and a better outcome for our clients," said Jennifer Steinmann, chief transformation officer, Deloitte.

Supporting Salesforce's Commitment to the Local Workforce in Indiana

In May, Salesforce celebrated the opening of Salesforce Tower Indianapolis, and committed to training 500 local workers for careers in tech in the next three years. As part of this commitment, Salesforce is launching the Pathfinder Program pilot in Indianapolis, the company's second largest hub outside of San Francisco. The first cohort of the program will be open to Indiana residents and classroom training will take place in Indianapolis.

Salesforce will partner with local veterans' organizations in Indianapolis, as well as Indiana-based Ivy Tech Community College, the nation's largest accredited statewide community college, to help source participants.

Comments on the News:

"There is a lot of untapped talent and potential all over the U.S. and Indianapolis is a great place to kick-start the Pathfinder Training Program with its booming tech scene," said Bob Stutz, CEO of Marketing Cloud and Chief Analytics Officer, Salesforce. "We are committed to growing in Indiana and becoming a national leader in the creation of tech jobs."

"As Indiana doubles down on efforts to develop a 21st Century skilled and ready workforce, forward-thinking, community-minded companies like Salesforce will be critical partners leading the way," Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. "I commend and congratulate Salesforce on its new training program to help more Hoosiers fill these high-demand, well-paying jobs."

"It is critical to the future of Indianapolis to foster an inclusive ecosystem in which our residents have the tools they need to better compete in a 21st century workforce," said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. "Salesforce has recognized this gap and is investing in our community with education and skills development. Indianapolis is fortunate to have companies like Salesforce who view challenges as opportunities and work tirelessly to address them."

Furthering Workforce Development and Providing Equal Opportunities for All

Salesforce is investing in the workforce of the future by providing equal access to education, technology and opportunities that will set up our global community for success in the new digital economy. The Pathfinder Training Program is one of many of Salesforce's efforts to make reskilling and professional development possible by helping the untrained and unemployed gain livable wages and begin their careers within the Salesforce ecosystem.

These efforts, all of which stress equality for all, are part of Salesforce's larger commitment to workforce development, which include university recruitment, computer science curriculum in K-12 schools, training for thousands of veterans and their spouses, Trailhead, the free gamified online learning platform for the skills of the future and hundreds of training opportunities for urban youth--more than half of whom Salesforce has hired. Salesforce supports organizations, such as YearUp and Genesys Work, that provide students with in-demand job skills.

Deloitte is dedicated to the promotion of equality and inclusion initiatives and is recognized by leading industry organizations for its work in establishing programs both internally, as well as with their clients, around diversity, inclusion and equality, including veterans, women and LGBTQ communities.

The Salesforce Ecosystem

The Salesforce ecosystem is growing faster than ever. The Salesforce economy will contribute 3.3 million new jobs and $859 billion in new GDP impact worldwide by 2022[3]. This year, companies across the U.S. will hire more than 300,000 Salesforce Administrators and Salesforce Developers. Salesforce currently has 10,000 job openings posted within the Salesforce ecosystem.

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: http://www.salesforce.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including more than 85 percent of the Fortune 500 and more than 6,000 private and middle market companies. Our people work across more than 20 industry sectors to make an impact that matters  delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthy society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Learn more about Deloitte's commitment to inclusion here.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

[1] https://www.prudential.com/documents/public/VeteransEmploymentChallenges.pdf

[2] http://blog.indeed.com/2017/03/21/best-jobs-united-states-2017/

[3] https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2017/10/salesforce-economy-idc-study-2022.html

SOURCE Salesforce

Related Links

http://www.salesforce.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement was made by U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon on House Passage of H.R. 1:

"I am encouraged by the positive action of the House passing H.R. 1 today, which is the first step in fixing the current outdated and burdensome tax-code. The legislative process is working, and I look forward to seeing the Senate act soon, so that Congress can reconcile the bills and get real tax- reform done for the American people. Real tax-reform means tax cuts for middle-class families; simplifying the code; and cutting taxes for businesses of all sizes so they can grow, create new jobs, raise wages for workers, and increase their competitiveness in the global marketplacejust as the President promised during the campaign."

About the Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. To learn more about SBA, visit http://www.sba.gov .

Contact: [email protected]

Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook , Instagram & Blogs

Release Number: 17-70

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov


RACINE, Wis., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 80 years, the carnauba palm has been a symbol representing the State of Ceara in Brazil, yet for SC Johnson, it also symbolizes the company's success and long-term commitment to preserving the country's natural resources. Today, in partnership with the Museum of Industry in Fortaleza, Brazil, Social Service of Industry (SESI) and Federation of Industry of Ceara (FIEC), SC Johnson proudly opened the "Carnauba: Tree of Life" exhibit highlighting the importance of the carnauba palm tree in Brazil.

"My grandfather's journey in 1935 marked the beginning of our company's relationship with Brazil  a strong bond that continues to this day," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "We are committed to protecting the environment and the sustainability of the carnauba palm. We are proud to sponsor this exhibit to highlight the history, its importance in the region and our long-standing legacy in Brazil."

The "Carnauba: Tree of Life" exhibit presents the family company's long history with the region, which began when third-generation leader H.F. Johnson, Jr. traveled to Fortaleza in pursuit of a permanent reserve of carnauba wax, which was the principle ingredient in the company's products at that time. The trip originated from SC Johnson's headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin. Two years after the trip, the company opened a factory in Brazil and became the first company to refine carnauba wax  and it also became the first manufacturing company in Brazil to fund and encourage research on the carnauba palm. In 1998, fourth-generation leader Sam Johnson and his sons, including fifth-generation and current leader Fisk Johnson, retraced the original historic expedition.

As the exhibit opens to the public, guests will experience the history of the carnauba palm, its industrialization and the unique role the company has played to ensure its sustainability for future generations.

"We are honored to partner with SC Johnson," said Luis Carlos Sabadia, Museum of Industry in Fortaleza (SESI). "The company has been a leader in helping preserve our natural resources for decades, and sponsoring this exhibit showcases their deep ties and continued support for the area."

A Legacy of Commitment to Brazil

SC Johnson has operated in Brazil for more than 80 years. In addition to a vibrant commercial business regionally headquartered in Rio de Janeiro and a factory in Manaus, the company has been a leader in helping protect Brazil's environment and resources for decades. For example, the company's manufacturing plant in Manaus has achieved zero waste to landfill status, a protocol estimated to keep some 91 tons of refuse out of Brazilian landfills each year.

SC Johnson also contributed to the protection of two reserves in Brazil's Caatinga ecoregion in the 1990s. The company's work and contributions to Conservation International (CI) have also conserved more than 100,000 acres of land  much of that in the Amazon region. In October 2017, the company announced, together with CI, its support for the world's largest tropical reforestation project to restore nearly 70,000 acres in the Brazilian Amazon.

Commercial and Sustainable Impact

SC Johnson has not only played a significant role in protecting the environment in the region, it also increased the export of carnauba wax to international markets and created a new industry based on the processing of the wax raw materials. Following the original carnauba expedition in 1935, SC Johnson went on to open a carnauba processing plant in Fortaleza in 1937 and a plantation at Repose in Ceara in 1938, to serve as a research center for the growing, harvesting and refining of carnauba and other waxy palms. The 400-acre plantation was later donated to the Escola de Agronomic of the University of Ceara for the continued study of the trees.

SC Johnson's critical role in modernizing wax extraction and its investment, research and streamlining of the manufacturing process is also documented in this multisensory exhibit, which will feature interactive scenery and explain the carnauba palm's important role in the region's habitat, socio-cultural norms, and its economy.

The "Carnauba: Tree of Life" exhibit will be open to the public from Nov.17, 2017 through Oct. 2018.

About SC Johnson:

SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE, KIWI, OFF!, PLEDGE, RAID, SCRUBBING BUBBLES, SHOUT, WINDEX and ZIPLOC in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN, TANA, BAMA, BAYGON, BRISE, KABIKILLER, KLEAR, MR MUSCLE and RIDSECT. The 131-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

SOURCE SC Johnson

Related Links

http://www.scjohnson.com


"This is an exciting time where we're at the forefront of advancing the CAR T-cell immunotherapy field by pioneering strategies to improve long-term outcomes for children and young adults," said Dr. Rebecca Gardner , an oncologist at Seattle Children's and lead investigator for the PLAT-05 trial. "In launching a bilateral attack on the cancer cells, we hope this trial will help us develop a T-cell therapy that leads to long-term remission for many more of our patients."

Gardner and the research team, led by Dr. Mike Jensen at the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Seattle Children's Research Institute, are launching PLAT-05 based on what they learned from their previous CAR T-cell immunotherapy trials. In phase 1 of the ongoing PLAT-02 trial, which Gardner also leads, 93 percent of patients with relapsed or refractory ALL achieved complete initial remission. However, about 50 percent of those patients relapsed after the experimental therapy. With relapse presenting as a challenge in CAR T-cell trials across the country, Seattle Children's researchers are dedicated to improving the therapy with the goal of long-term remission for all patients  and ultimately  a cure.

Researchers found that patients in the PLAT-02 trial relapse for one of two reasons  they lose persistence of their reprogrammed CAR T cells, or the leukemia evolves to circumvent the CAR T cells. While the PLAT-03 "T-cell booster" trial that Seattle Children's opened in May aims to address the disappearance of the T cells, PLAT-05 may be the key to preventing the cancer from escaping the CAR T cells.

In PLAT-02, researchers use gene therapy to reprogram the CAR T cells to recognize and target the CD19 protein that is expressed by most precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. However, in some patients, the leukemia recurred and evaded the CAR T cells by no longer expressing the CD19 target, and expressed a protein that the CAR T cells were unable to recognize  CD22.

With the PLAT-05 trial, researchers will now be able to reprogram CAR T cells to detect and destroy leukemia cells by targeting both the CD19 and CD22 proteins upfront. If the cancer evolves to no longer express CD19, the CAR T cells can still attack the cancer through the identification of the CD22 protein. Researchers hope to enroll about 20 patients in the trial over the next year and a half.

"While we're pleased that we've been able to get patients who are very sick into remission, and some have been in remission for more than three years, we want all of our patients to be cancer-free for life," said Gardner. "That's what we're working toward."

Erin Cross, 7, is one patient who has experienced the power of immunotherapy. Erin was diagnosed with ALL at age 2, and has spent much of her life since in and out of hospitals. Initial cancer treatments put Erin into remission, but she relapsed in 2016. After all other treatment options near her hometown of Chester, England, had been exhausted, Erin traveled to Seattle to enroll in PLAT-02 as a last hope. Now, a year later, Erin is still in remission.

"Without immunotherapy, Erin would not be here with us today," said Antony Cross, Erin's dad. "It gave us our little girl back."

In seeing the promise of CAR T-cell immunotherapy, Seattle Children's researchers are also working to develop CAR T-cell trials that will target solid tumors, including brain tumors and sarcomas.

"We believe that T-cell immunotherapy holds tremendous potential to combat leukemia and several other types of pediatric cancer," said Gardner. "Leukemia is just the tip of the iceberg, and we hope to develop a therapy that can be given to patients as a first line of defense, greatly reducing the side effects of cancer treatment."

The T-cell immunotherapy trials at Seattle Children's are funded in part by Strong Against Cancer, a national philanthropic initiative with worldwide implications for potentially curing childhood cancers. If you are interested in supporting the advancement of immunotherapy and cancer research, please visit Strong Against Cancer's donation page.

For more information on immunotherapy research trials at Seattle Children's, please call (206) 987-2106 or email [email protected].

About Seattle Children's

Seattle Children's mission is to provide hope, care and cures to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Together, Seattle Children's Hospital, Research Institute and Foundation deliver superior patient care, identify new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and raise funds to create better futures for patients.

Ranked as one of the top children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Children's serves as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho  the largest region of any children's hospital in the country. As one of the nation's top five pediatric research centers, Seattle Children's Research Institute is internationally recognized for its work in neurosciences, immunology, cancer, infectious disease, injury prevention and much more. Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Foundation works with the Seattle Children's Guild Association, the largest all-volunteer fundraising network for any hospital in the country, to gather community support and raise funds for uncompensated care and research. Join Seattle Children's bold initiative  It Starts With Yes: The Campaign for Seattle Children's  to transform children's health for generations to come.

For more information, visit seattlechildrens.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or on our On the Pulse blog.

Media Contact:

Alyse Bernal

[email protected] or 206-987-5213

SOURCE Seattle Childrens

Related Links

http://www.seattlechildrens.org


CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki7mhJjpAI8&t=11s&list=PLbdQVuOQHFG47vyrKiF-P2CM5GMqrK_yZ&index=1

A team of nature-loving South Africans in partnership with Google Street View and South African Tourism have released a large collection of 360-degree imagery of the country's wildest areas. The announcement showcases prominent tourist attractions such as Kruger National Park and Table Mountain, amongst others.

The new trails extend the existing Street View imagery to include all 19 national parks, 17 previously 'un-trekked' nature reserves and many sites of natural and cultural significance.

More than 200 South African volunteers from across the country were involved in the 12-month project, mapping out the parts of South Africa that they call home. Many were SANParks, CapeNature and KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife rangers and guides. Others were avid hikers, nature-lovers and tech enthusiasts.

"The volunteers who helped along the way proved to be truly passionate about showing the best of South Africa," says Magdalena Filak, Program Manager for Google.

The team of volunteers was coordinated by loan program partner Drive South Africa. Andre Van Kets, founder of the Cape Town-based travel company, saw the potential in this technology to showcase South Africa to global tourists.

"The Trekker camera is a 22kg custom-made backpack fitted with 15 cameras pointing in all directions. The on-board technology plots the camera's exact location on the trail. While recording, the camera takes a 360-degree photo every two-seconds," says Van Kets.

The project forms part of Google's Street View Camera Loan Program, which encourages anyone to apply to borrow the 360-degree camera technology and help map the planet.

Street View users can now walk in the footsteps of struggle icon Nelson Mandela, climb seven new trails to the top of Table Mountain, hike the famous five-day Otter Trail, or track cheetah on foot.

Additionally, six of South Africa's UNESCO World Heritage Sites are now waiting to be experienced. Users can see Mapungubwe Hill, home to an ancient African civilisation and the Richtersveld with its arid moonscapes, for example.

"For the first time, travellers and wildlife lovers from across the globe can explore the full spectrum of South Africa's diverse wilderness areas on Google Maps and Street View," said Sisa Ntshona, CEO of South African Tourism.

To showcase the new Street View imagery, Drive South Africa has launched a microsite that gives would-be travellers a virtual experience of South Africa.

The microsite South Africa in 360 - inspired by a similar project showcasing the US National Parks - is an immersive VR-adventure through South Africa's top tourist destinations and a collection of its lesser-known gems. The site is a culmination of Street View imagery, video, photos and stories from the trail, offering viewers unique perspectives.

Contact:

Melanie Esterhuizen: +27 76 091 8221

Andre Van Kets: +27 83 643 8833

[email protected]

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12676886

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Drive South Africa

Related Links

http://www.drivesouthafrica.com


STARSHOP's CEO, Jim Morrison, (the former president of L'Oreal USA), states, "Acquiring EVINE LIVE will revolutionize the retail industry through a proprietary mix of mobile technology and television broadcast, focusing on a side of the TV shopping business that has been underused by all shopping channels to date." Morrison continues, "We believe our team has the experience and contacts to focus more productively on nurturing the Internet's most popular influencers to endorse and adopt the products, together with the World's most recognized celebritiesthus improving top-line growth and net profits. Imagine yesterday's on-air guests and inventors being enhanced by today's vloggers and bloggers with millions of followers who trust them. It truly is the perfect storm of retail." Morrison proclaims, "The 25-year old TV shopping sales model has got to morph; and with STARSHOP's mission to add over-the-top (OTT) content created by social media influencers, we will literally add 15 million more subscribers to EVINE LIVE's current viewership on day one."

To assist in the acquisition of EVINE LIVE, Segel Vision has retained The Lucas Group, a strategy consulting and private equity investment firm, who has completed and made direct investments in more than thirty transactions, primarily in the lower middle market and in aggregate totaling more than $1 Billion in invested capital. Founder and Chairman, Jay Lucas, promises "to work with EVINE's Board to optimize a transaction price and structure for all parties. We ask that shareholders encourage their Board to engage with us and evaluate our proposals in fulfillment of their fiduciary duties to maximize shareholder value. Our group is prepared to negotiate a transaction to purchase EVINE LIVE based on Total Enterprise Value. The premium which we are offering is three times greater than the premium that QVC just paid for HSN; and this, for a company that has had only three profitable quarters in 20+ years."

In tandem with this merger and acquisition, Segel Vision proudly announces that STARSHOP will roll-out America's first and only shopping channel in Spanish, called tuSTARSHOP, which has already launched on Mobile and e-commerce in affiliation with tuvisioncanal.com, an Hispanic social community co-created by Philip Gabbard, who will become tuSTARSHOP's Group President and GM. Gabbard reminds us that "Spanish is the second largest language in the U.S., yet there is no Spanish Language shopping channel! With 57 million Hispanic households in the U.S., this retail opportunity will fill an obvious void."

Following the acquisition, and along with exciting celebrity announcements, four proprietary online technology partnerships will be revealed. Segel sums up the deal with a final word: "With TV, with mobilein English and SpanishSTARSHOP will house a new "Six Screen Technology, and will even change the mobile shopping experience as we know it."

SOURCE Segel Vision, LLC
Cyber intelligenceacquiring and analyzing information about cyber capabilities, intentions, and activities to enhance decision makingis a rapidly changing field. The study, which the SEI will conduct over the next 18 months, will provide ODNI with insight into how organizations across the federal government, industry, and academia conduct cyber intelligence activities, identifying common challenges and best practices.

This study is a follow-up to the SEI's Cyber Intelligence Tradecraft Project, a 2013 study that examined 30 organizations and their approaches to cyber intelligence. The 2013 study has been widely cited and now is the basis of some university courses in cyber intelligence. Key findings from the 2013 study can be found at: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/assets/whitepapers/citp-summary-key-findings.pdf

"In 2013, we found areas where organizations struggled and where they were doing well," said Jared Ettinger, SEI cyber intelligence researcher and study technical lead. "Organizations were able to take the report and follow best practices, so now we'd like to see what has changed," he said.

Elements of the new study will include preliminary interviews with selected organizations to identify common themes and then a quantitative questionnaire to gain greater insight on those identified themes from a large number of respondents. The SEI will issue a report based on the study in early 2019.

Organizations participating in the study will benefit by:

understanding their unique cyber intelligence capabilities and challenges in an environment that safeguards participant anonymity

receiving access to study results prior to public release

identifying technology gaps and challenges to influence potential research/prototyping efforts

For more information about the study, see https://www.sei.cmu.edu/about/organization/etc/citp.cfm. Organizations wishing to participate in the study should contact the SEI at [email protected].

About the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute

The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and operated by Carnegie Mellon University. The SEI works with organizations to make measurable improvements in their software engineering and cybersecurity capabilities by providing technical leadership to advance the practice of software engineering and security. For more information, visit the SEI website at http://www.sei.cmu.edu.

SOURCE Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute

Related Links

http://www.sei.cmu.edu


NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. ("MUFG" or the "Company") (NYSE: MTU). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether MUFG and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here to join a class action]

On November 7, 2017, MUFG converted the New York state license of a bank branch in New York to a federal license, with approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC"). On November 15, 2017, citing a letter from the New York Department of Financial Services ("DFS") to the OCC, The Wall Street Journal reported that MUFG's license conversion followed a report by an independent monitor that "the bank was 'taking actions that are inconsistent with complying' with a consent order it had agreed to in 2014 related to hiding illicit transactions involving Iran and other countries, including 'the termination of a competent and cooperative Chief Compliance Officer' in March and a 'lack of transparency' with the monitor about transaction data problems." In its letter to the OCC, the DFS asserted that it "was not given any reasonable opportunity to provide any input whatsoever" into MUFG's application for a federal banking license, and that "[t]he precipitous nature of this approval . . . is without precedent and raises significant questions as to both the process and substance of the OCC's decision."

On this news, MUFG's American depositary receipt price fell $0.11, or 1.66%, to close at $6.53 on November 15, 2017.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

http://www.pomerantzlaw.com


IRVING, Texas, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Creek Midstream, LLC ("Silver Creek Midstream"), headquartered in Irving, Texas, announced a $150 million commitment from Tailwater Capital, a Dallas-based energy private equity firm. Silver Creek Midstream is focused on providing crude and liquid petroleum gathering, storage, and terminalling services in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin.

Silver Creek Midstream's management team is led by Founder and Chief Executive Officer J. Patrick Barley. Mr. Barley brings over 13 years of midstream experience in multiple basins across the United States. Prior to Silver Creek Midstream, Mr. Barley founded JP Energy Partners LP, which grew from a small private entity to a publicly-traded master limited partnership that invested over $700 million in midstream infrastructure under Mr. Barley's leadership. Prior to JP Energy Partners LP, Mr. Barley founded Lonestar Midstream, L.P., a gas gathering and processing company in the Barnett Shale that was ultimately sold to Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P.

In addition to Mr. Barley, Silver Creek Midstream has assembled a veteran management team that includes Chris Storey, Chief Financial Officer, Jon Hanna, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Cande Smillie, Vice President Controller and Administration, Aaron Hencke, Director of Engineering & Operations, Ashley Hobbs, Director of Corporate Development, and Jeff Ballard, Director of Business Development. The Silver Creek Midstream team brings a diverse set of experiences from well-established midstream providers and upstream producers, and has a highly successful track record of executing midstream transactions.

"We are incredibly excited to partner with Tailwater as we start Silver Creek Midstream," said Mr. Barley. "I have known the Partners at Tailwater and worked directly with the Silver Creek management team for many years; collectively, we could not be more excited to start this company. Crude production continues to grow in both the Permian and Powder River Basins and we look forward to providing creative midstream solutions for producers in those areas."

Jason Downie, Managing Partner at Tailwater, said, "We are thrilled to partner with Patrick Barley and the rest of the Silver Creek Midstream management team. Patrick and his team have deep industry relationships and significant operational expertise through developing and operating midstream assets across multiple basins. We are looking forward to supporting them in their growth."

Silver Creek Midstream was represented by King & Spalding, LLP's Houston, Texas office. Partner Archie Fallon served as lead advisor to Silver Creek Midstream. Thompson & Knight, LLP advised Tailwater Capital, with J. Holt Foster, III as lead counsel from the firm's Dallas office.

ABOUT SILVER CREEK MIDSTREAM, LLC

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Silver Creek Midstream is a private midstream energy company focused on providing crude and liquid petroleum gathering, storage, and terminalling services in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin. Silver Creek Midstream is backed by a $150 million funding commitment from Tailwater and Silver Creek Midstream management. For more information, please visit: www.scmidstream.com

Silver Creek Midstream, LLC

Chris Storey

Chief Financial Officer

(469) 614-2243

[email protected]



Cande Smillie

VP Controller/Administration

(469) 614-2240

[email protected]



ABOUT TAILWATER CAPITAL LLC

Dallas-based Tailwater Capital is a highly specialized, growth-oriented energy private equity firm with a well-established track record, having executed more than 65 energy transactions in the upstream and midstream sectors representing over $16.6 billion in transaction value. Tailwater currently manages over $2.1 billion in committed capital, over $700 million of which is available for new investments. Tailwater is focused on acquiring and growing midstream assets as well as participating in non-operated upstream opportunities in select basins. For more information, please visit: www.tailwatercapital.com.

Tailwater Capital, LLC

Stephen Lipscomb

(214) 269-1162

[email protected]

SOURCE Silver Creek Midstream, LLC

Related Links

http://www.scmidstream.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that the Single-Family Home Ownership Program was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2017 Community Partnership Award competition.

The Urban League of Greater Madison created the program to help address homeownership disparities in Madison. Forged in 1992 in a partnership with the Wisconsin Affordable Housing Corporation and U.S. Bank that is called Madison Community Reinvestment Associates, the program is making the dream of homeownership a reality for area low-income families and is helping them to work toward economic self-sufficiency.

The Single-Family Home Ownership Program has purchased and upgraded more than 50 single-family houses in various Madison neighborhoods. These homes are then leased to qualifying low-income families at affordable rental rates. Participating families also receive financial education and home maintenance counseling. At the end of the program, families have the option to purchase the house at an affordable price, with no down payment; plus, all mortgage reduction and appreciation in value is passed directly to them.

"To date, 31 participating families have purchased their homes, and the average equity passed along to them is nearly $50,900  a total of $1.58 million for the families," said Ruben Anthony Jr., PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Urban League of Greater Madison. "Equally encouraging, household incomes grew by an average of 77%, credit scores improved and household assets increased more than tenfold."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 220 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

SOURCE Mutual of America Life Insurance Company

Related Links

http://www.mutualofamericas.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tapad, a leader in cross-device marketing technology, today announced a new global partnership with Sizmek, the largest independent buy-side advertising platform delivering impressions that inspire. By integrating the Tapad Device Graph, Sizmek will enhance its AI-powered predictive capabilities to deliver accurate, cross-device messaging at global scale in a privacy-safe environment.

Combined with Sizmek's existing data enablement, creative optimization and media execution capabilities, the proprietary Tapad Device Graph improves the efficiency and precision of digital advertising by accurately matching people and devices. This enables advertisers to get a clear view of individual customer journeys, achieve scale without compromising on efficiency, and uncover new opportunities for conversion.

Sizmek's customers will have access to Tapad's globally compliant and privacy-safe datasets across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. With deeper knowledge of consumer preferences, purchase intent and conversion behaviors, Sizmek and its customers are able to enhance advertising strategies including cross-device audience identification and more.

"Tapad is known for their strong cross-device capabilities, and their offering is an excellent addition to our growing program for best-of-breed data and measurement partners," says Mike Caprio, Sizmek's Chief Growth Officer. "For our customers, this partnership will add further people-based marketing precision and reach to our comprehensive offerings around creative optimization, data enablement and media execution."

"Sizmek's adoption of industry-leading AI and machine learning campaigns will be a great complement for the Device Graph," said Chris Feo, SVP, strategy & global partnerships at Tapad. "Our ability to create smaller, more customized segments in conjunction with Sizmek's AI modeling will deliver efficiency, effectiveness and increased ROI for marketers worldwide."

This partnership comes at a time of a massive shift in the marketing technology industry. Companies like Tapad and Telenor, as well as Rocket Fuel and Sizmek, are joining forces to adopt those technologies that are most efficient and accurate at reaching consumers at scale in a personalized and non-intrusive way. The combination of Tapad and Sizmek's offerings will provide international marketers with exceptional resources to lead a more cost effective and results driven campaign.

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 Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, London, Los Angeles, 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 Sizmek

Sizmek is the largest independent buy-side advertising platform that creates impressions that inspire. In the digital world, creating impressions that inspire is vital to building meaningful, long-lasting relationships with your customers. Sizmek provides powerful, integrated solutions that enable data, creative, and media to work together for optimal campaign performance across the entire customer journey. Our AI-driven decisioning engine can identify robust insights within data across the five key dimensions of predictive marketingcampaigns, consumers, context, creative, and cost. We bring all the elements of our clients' media plans together in one place to gain better understanding for more meaningful relationships, make every moment of interaction matter, and drive more value across the entire plan. Sizmek operates its platform in more than 70 countries, with local offices in many countries providing award-winning service throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, and connecting more than 20,000 advertisers and 3,600 agencies to audiences around the world.

Media Contact:

Natalie Vegel

Associate Director of PR, Tapad

[email protected]

SOURCE Tapad

Related Links

http://www.tapad.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc (OTC:SMKG) today announced that The Silicon Review Magazine has named it among the 50 Smartest Companies of the Year 2017.

"The Silicon Review 50 Smartest Companies of the Year 2017 program identifies companies that mastered the discipline of smartness and stood high among the crowd," said Sreshtha Banerjee, Editor-in-Chief of The Silicon Review Magazine. The publication has selected SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc. based on its innovation, revenue growth, customer reviews and domain influence.

"We are honored to be recognized by The Silicon Review Magazine as the one of the 50 Smartest Companies of the Year 2017," said Massimo Barone, CEO at SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc "we definitely had a successful year introducing our technology portfolio to new markets & industries this year. We have a Fintech strategy but realized early on that adoption of SAAS and middleware solutions wouldn't come easy. The planning and execution of our Mobility digital transformation was a key element in our success as well as being recognized by The Silicon Review Magazine.

Link to article

http://thesiliconreview.com/magazines/we-have-the-knowhow-to-deliver-payment-technology-end-to-end-smartcard-marketing-systems-inc-/

About SmartCard Marketing Systems, Inc.

SmartCard Marketing, Inc. (SMKG:OTC) is a Fintech technology solutions provider to the global payments industry, delivering a cloud-based EMV Host platform to Issuing & Acquiring banks, telecoms & enterprises. The company offers proprietary transaction software solutions & services, Genorocity, a coupon & incentive management platform, Check21SAAS a Remote Check Deposit solution, Mtickets.events, mobile ticketing & events management & Emphasispay, a payment ecosystem for alternative payment solutions. For more information, go to www.smartcardmarketingsystems.com

SOURCE SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc (SMKG)

Related Links

www.smartcardmarketingsystems.com


DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SME offers its sincere condolences on the passing of the organization's Past President Fran Sehn, a pioneer in Michigan manufacturing.

Sehn's career in manufacturing began with an apprenticeship as a tool and die maker with the Fisher Body Division of General Motors. He rose to chief die engineer at the Fisher Tank Division during World War II, and went on to join the E.W. Bliss Company where he was a general master mechanic. Sehn was the founder of several companies including Press Automation Systems, Inc., and Coilfeed Systems, Inc. (which were merged and became U.S. Industries, P.A.S. ARTCO Stamping and Body Assembly Group), The Fran Sehn Company, and Full Mold Process, Inc., Di-Dro Systems and Robogate Systems, Inc.

Sehn was a registered professional engineer in Michigan and served as an associate professor in Wayne State University's School of Business Administration. He was elected to the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters in 1972, and received a Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa by Ave Maria University in 2009.

"We share our deepest sympathies with Fran Sehn's family, friends, and associates during this time of mourning," said Jeff Krause, executive director and CEO of SME. "Fran Sehn was a very active member of SME, and we are truly grateful for his commitment, contribution, and dedication to the organization throughout his life."

Sehn served as SME's international president from 1965-1966, and was presented with the Joseph A. Siegel Memorial Award in 1975 for the development of the organization's "Die Design Handbook." He was elected a Charter Fellow of SME in 1986. As president, he advocated for good ethics in business: "Whatever we can do to inspire trust and ethical conduct will surely brighten our corner of the business world, and will contribute to the moral and spiritual health of the society we live in."

Sehn died peacefully at his home on October 29, 2017, at age 99.

About SME

SME connects all those who are passionate about making things that improve our world. As a nonprofit organization, SME has served practitioners, companies, educators, government and communities across the manufacturing spectrum for more than 80 years. Through its strategic areas of events, media, membership, training and development, and the SME Education Foundation, SME is uniquely dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing by addressing both knowledge and skills needed for the industry. Learn more at sme.org, follow @SME_MFG on Twitter or facebook.com/SMEmfg.

SOURCE SME

Related Links

http://www.sme.org


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that the Soft Skills Certification Initiative was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2017 Community Partnership Award competition.

In 2012, Junior Achievement of West Kentucky partnered with Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation and the Regional Alliance for Education to create the Soft Skills Certification Initiative, a workforce development program aimed at preparing students for success in the workplace. To earn certification, high school seniors must complete all seven sessions of the Junior Achievement Career Success program, which uses trained business volunteers to deliver soft-skills training aimed at improving career readiness.

Students are required to maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, a strong record of school attendance and participate in at least two co-curricular activities. Students who receive their Certification are guaranteed an interview for any open position at the 200+ companies that recognize the program.

"Through our partnership with area high schools and local businesses across a four-county area, we're bringing corporate standards to the classroom," said Dan Douglas, President of Junior Achievement of West Kentucky. "Since 2012, 4,971 high school seniors have participated in the program. Their success and ours has become a model for other counties in the region to demonstrate their commitment to the education, workforce and economic development goals that are necessary to build and sustain vibrant, thriving communities."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 220 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

SOURCE Mutual of America Life Insurance Company

Related Links

http://www.mutualofamericas.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sojern, the global demand engine for reaching travelers, today announced it has acquired Facebook & Instagram Marketing Partner (FMP) Adphorus, the leading FMP specializing in custom advertising solutions for travel brands.

According to Sojern CEO Mark Rabe, interest in Facebook marketing solutions has grown dramatically as the global travel sector continues expanding and marketers look for efficient ways to attract new customers. Rabe noted, "Our clients know that Facebook attracts 2 billion users a month, with the average user spending nearly an hour every day. The only question for travel marketers has been how to capitalize on that scale to drive bookings. As we researched the market we came to the conclusion that only one company had cracked that code: Adphorus. Through years of refining experimentation methods and travel-specific best practices, they've helped some of the biggest brands in travel maximize revenues from Facebook's breadth of advertising products."

For Adphorus, the acquisition offers an opportunity to accelerate the adoption of its unique approach to travel marketing science leveraging the global reach of Sojern's 400 employees and 11 offices worldwide. Adphorus CEO Volkan Cagsal commented, "We've been partnering with Sojern for about a year now to provide expertise to brands who recognize the massive opportunity to win customers on Facebook and want a skilled partner to help them unlock it at scale. Sojern's long-term vision aligns directly with our own -- to develop the most scientific approach to achieving the best performance and results in the world for travel marketers. Joining forces with Sojern means we can achieve our goal that much faster."

Recognized as a Facebook certified partner since 2014, Adphorus now employs 50 team members in Istanbul and Berlin and serves top travel brands including Expedia, Trivago, and Kayak. It will continue to operate as a standalone company post-acquisition. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Sojern has reported previously that it is profitable, has driven $10 billion in global bookings, and serves over 4,000 clients in 50 countries. The company offers products and services in the global travel advertising space as well as in commission-based distribution markets.

About Sojern

Sojern is travel's direct demand engine for thousands of brands in the hotel, air, cruise, transportation, and tourism industries. Specializing in traveler path-to-purchase data for over a decade, Sojern delivers branding and performance solutions by combining search and booking intent signals with proprietary data science methods to analyze and activate the world's travelers in real-time. Recognized as a Deloitte Technology Top 500 Fastest Growing Company for 5 years in a row, Sojern is headquartered in San Francisco and has teams based in Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Mexico City, New York, Omaha, Paris, Singapore, and Sydney. For more information, visit www.sojern.com.

About Adphorus

Adphorus is a travel marketing science company that provides travel brands around the globe with the tools and the know-how to scale their revenues through a scientific approach to travel advertising on Facebook and Instagram. The Adphorus platform makes executing a marketing science strategy automated, scalable and easy. They are an official Facebook & Instagram Marketing Partner, focusing exclusively on the travel and hospitality vertical. Built by and for travel marketers, Adphorus is dedicated to developing custom solutions to achieve full-funnel performance at scale on Facebook. For more information, visit www.adphorus.com.

SOURCE Sojern

Related Links

http://www.sojern.com


ROME, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 300 participants representing governments, international organizations, academia, research organizations, the private sector, NGOs and civil society are expected in Brazil's capital, Brasilia, 20 - 21 November, to attend the International Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) - Leveraging Innovations from the Global South to Support Rural Transformation.

Dyogo Oliveira, Brazil's Minister of Planning, Development and Management, will open the conference on 20 November at the Melia Brasil 21 Convention Centre in Brasilia.

"In a country where agriculture is so important to the economy and still experiencing poverty scenarios, it is fundamental to know new experiences and mechanisms to combat inequalities," said Oliveira. "We are committed to promoting conditions conducive to the development and generation of jobs and income and understand the activity as a Brazilian force in this struggle."

The conference, organized by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in cooperation with Brazil and other partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Office of South-South Cooperation and the International Land Coalition, aims to identify and discuss innovative solutions with a specific focus on increasing agricultural production and productivity.

Over the course of the two-day conference, participants will discuss boosting investment promotion between developing countries to support financing for smallholder agriculture and rural development, and leveraging information and communication technologies with a specific focus on engaging rural youth and women.

Partnerships and cooperation opportunities across low-income, middle income and upper middle-income countries that can be expanded to support agriculture and rural development for better prosperity, will also be discussed.

"South-South and Triangular Cooperation is a key development modality for furthering the objectives of Agenda 2030 and reaching the SDGs. Complementing the more traditional north-south modality for development cooperation," said Ashwani Muthoo, IFAD's Director of Global Engagement, Knowledge and Strategy Division. "SSTC allows developing countries to take more leadership, responsibility and ownership in their own development to improve the livelihoods and food security of their own people."

Contact: for Ministry of Planning of Brazil

Thaisis Barboza, Chief of Press

Cell: +55 61 2020 5043

[email protected]

For IFAD

David Florentin Paqui

Regional Communications Officer

Cell: +55 61 98175 7739

[email protected]

Read more about IFAD

SOURCE International Fund for Agricultural Development

Related Links

https://www.ifad.org


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SSPR LLC, a digital PR agency, announced today that the company won 3rd place for Social Media Campaign of the Year by Sprout Social for its 2017 CES campaign, "Ossia Power Your Life."

The Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas at the beginning of each year, is a highly competitive event that allows both established and budding companies in technology to showcase their products. Attending companies are known to get creative to set themselves apart, and Ossia tapped SSPR to design a multi-level engagement campaign to unveil its revolutionary Cota wireless charging device.

"We've worked with SSPR for a long time and knew they would be up to the challenge. SSPR initiated this campaign from inception to execution and we couldn't be happier. From the creativity to conceive the idea, engagement around each post and then reporting on performance, SSPR added a value layer on top of our CES presence and made Ossia stand out from the crowd. We're proud of our great partnership with the SSPR team and this award win is very exciting for both Ossia and SSPR!" said Jen Grenz, Vice President of Marketing for Ossia.

SSPR started by identifying the most influential technology reviewers attending the event and developed a messaging platform for both traditional and social media channels to drive reporters to the Ossia booth to try Cota in person. The team also supplemented direct media engagement by designing a paid Facebook campaign to increase visibility for an Ossia-branded Cota commercial video.

"With hundreds of tech companies attending CES, this campaign was pivotal for Ossia to cut through the noise and stand out at trade shows. The SSPR social team played a huge role in amplifying this campaign to reach Ossia's goal of showcasing what real wireless power means. We're so excited with the success Ossia experienced during CES and throughout our partnership. We're looking forward to making another splash at CES in 2018!" said Kelley Heider, Vice President of Innovation for SSPR.

The results were a smashing success. SSPR's efforts had a reach of 49,105, made 71,466 impressions and earned Ossia 25 pieces of coverage. Nearly a dozen reporters showed up for in-person reporter demos and meetings, and the Ossia Real Wireless Power Cota commercial hit over 5,000 views on YouTube. Additionally, Ossia was awarded the Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award.

The Sprout Social "Social Media Campaign of the Year" Award is given to agencies that have delivered outstanding, creative and successful results-driven campaigns for themselves or for their clients. Winners were notified on October 17th at Sprout Social's Agency Partner Day in Chicago, Illinois.

SSPR is happy to support your next trade show with media relations, social media and social media advertising. For more information, go to www.sspr.com.

About SSPR

SSPR LLC is an agile, innovative public relations agency that specializes in media relations and executing media and social media strategy for businesses ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies. The company has offices across the U.S., emphasizing strong workplace culture and inclusion. SSPR's business goal is to, "work with clients we love, organizations we believe in and projects where making something great together can happen." Recognized by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the Stars of PR Awards and Business Insider, SSPR pushes the boundaries of conventional public relations.

About Ossia

Ossia is challenging people's core assumptions about what is possible with wireless power. Ossia's Cota technology redefines wireless power by safely delivering targeted energy to devices at a distance. Ossia's patented RF smart antenna technology automatically keeps multiple devices charged without any user intervention, enabling an efficient and truly wire-free, powered-up world, that is always on and always connected. Ossia is a technology development company that licenses Cota Real Wireless Power. The Cota technology does not involve pads or other induction or contact-based charging. Ossia is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

CONTACT: Cara Lutz, [email protected]

SOURCE SSPR LLC

Related Links

http://www.sspr.com


In honor of Women's Entrepreneurship Day November 19, Stacy's celebrated the inaugural class of Stacy's Rise Project scholarship recipients with a professional development day hosted at the renowned International Culinary Center (ICC) in New York City. The day provided these female entrepreneurs business advice, tools and support to continue to break through some of the toughest barriers to women in any field.

"Stacy's is committed to empowering the next generation of female culinary leaders to pursue their dreams, and is thrilled to celebrate the first class of Stacy's Scholarship for Female Culinary Leaders recipients," said Stuart Beck, senior director of marketing, Stacy's Snacks. "Each of these women has developed impressive business plans that we are proud to be able to support  and ultimately be a part of advancing the number of women entrepreneurs in the U.S."

The Stacy's Rise Project was born out of Stacy's roots as a brand founded by female entrepreneur Stacy Madison, who started by baking pita bread into fresh chips each day to give her customers waiting in line at her Boston food cart. Customers loved the simple but delicious chips so much that they encouraged her to start her own brand and today they are America's favorite pita chip. Launched earlier this year, the Stacy's Rise Project helps female culinary entrepreneur hopefuls pursue their business endeavors through scholarship, mentorship and thought leadership. In September, Stacy's awarded $40,000 in scholarships and stipends to four women entering the Culinary Entrepreneurship Program at ICC. Recipients participated in the six-week entrepreneurship program that demystifies the start-up process and guides them through the steps of business planning in an immersive, mentorship-driven environment.

Future culinary luminaries: the inaugural scholarship class

This year's scholarship recipients include promising and inspiring female entrepreneurs whose business plans may differ, but share a common passion for food and hospitality.

Raven Rivera was born and raised on Long Island in Bay Shore, N.Y. Although equipped with a Master of Arts in television, Raven had a dream to one day be a restaurateur. Stacy's Rise Project and ICC's Culinary Entrepreneurship Program have helped her follow her dream. She is embracing her family's roots and is opening a Puerto Rican restaurant that families, friends and the surrounding community can enjoy.

was born and raised on in Although equipped with a Master of Arts in television, Raven had a dream to one day be a restaurateur. Stacy's Rise Project and ICC's Culinary Entrepreneurship Program have helped her follow her dream. She is embracing her family's roots and is opening a Puerto Rican restaurant that families, friends and the surrounding community can enjoy. Kiki Canuto is a trilingual world traveler from Massachusetts who would like to create connections and cultivate fulfillment through the food she serves. She is the owner of The Getaway Plate, which provides families with in-home meal prep in the Greater Boston area. Kiki's zest for life is contagious and she is passionate about simplifying the lives of families who are very busy, but also value enjoying a meal together at the end of the day. With the tools she gained from ICC's Culinary Entrepreneurship Program, she hopes to soon expand her services to Southern California .

is a trilingual world traveler from who would like to create connections and cultivate fulfillment through the food she serves. She is the owner of The Getaway Plate, which provides families with in-home meal prep in the area. Kiki's zest for life is contagious and she is passionate about simplifying the lives of families who are very busy, but also value enjoying a meal together at the end of the day. With the tools she gained from ICC's Culinary Entrepreneurship Program, she hopes to soon expand her services to . Eunice Giarta is a Californian-turned-New Yorker. Having previously studied engineering and working in software, she found her passion in a different type of challengenot in an office, but in a kitchen where she pursued further education in pastry arts. She enjoys the methodical, precise and special art of baking and loves sharing the fruits of her labor with others. Eunice plans to leverage the business plan and mentorship advice she received through the Stacy's Rise Project and ICC's Culinary Entrepreneurship Program to open a dessert bar in Chicago where she can share her cultural background and love of pastry by merging Asian-inspired flavors and French-pastry techniques.

is a Californian-turned-New Yorker. Having previously studied engineering and working in software, she found her passion in a different type of challengenot in an office, but in a kitchen where she pursued further education in pastry arts. She enjoys the methodical, precise and special art of baking and loves sharing the fruits of her labor with others. Eunice plans to leverage the business plan and mentorship advice she received through the Stacy's Rise Project and ICC's Culinary Entrepreneurship Program to open a dessert bar in where she can share her cultural background and love of pastry by merging Asian-inspired flavors and French-pastry techniques. Jane Deegan hails from Manhattan, New York . Baking also holds a special place in her heart, as the art has helped Janie find her light, beauty and inspiration after struggling with homelessness and addiction growing up. Janie aspires to open a bakery and cafe that serves light food and specializes in delicious baked goods that are a creative, modern twist on American classics. A dream that would be far more difficult to achieve without the financial support of the Stacy's Rise Project and the advanced culinary business education from ICC. Her most notable product thus far is her Pie Crust Cookie, which has already gained attention from top food industry experts. She currently operates an online business named Janie Bakes.

Stacy's and ICC will continue the work of the Stacy's Rise Project next year, awarding $60,000 in scholarships and stipends to future female entrepreneurs. Visit stacyssnacks.com/riseproject to learn more about Stacy's Rise Project, scholarship opportunities, and the brand's commitment to supporting women.

About Stacy's Snacks

Stacy's Snacks is one of the many brands that make up Frito-Lay North America, the $15 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, http://www.fritolay.com/, the Snack Chat blog, http://www.snacks.com/ and on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/fritolay.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2015, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose  our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

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1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Chefs and Head Cooks, Retrieved July 05, 2017 from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/chefs-and-head-cooks.htm, https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm

Contact:

Kimberly Scott

Stacy's Snacks

972-334-5098 office

[email protected]

SOURCE Stacy's Snacks

Related Links

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CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- STEMCON is excited to announce Shaesta Waiz, Founder & Pilot Dreams Soar, Inc., as the official 5th Annual STEMCON (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Conference) keynote speaker in Rosemont, Ill., at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare near downtown Chicago, on April 20, 2018 from 8 am to 4 pm.

Waiz successfully accomplished her mission of flying solo around the world to encourage children to pursue STEM and aviation education. The global solo flight launched May 13, 2017 from Daytona Beach International Airport in a single-engine A36 Beechcraft Bonanza, and has taken her to five continents, 22 countries, 32 outreach events where she inspired over 3,000 children and young adults, to believe in themselves and allow their dreams to soar. Her historic, milestone journey ended 145 days later on Wednesday, October 4 at Daytona International Airport, Sheltair Aviation's fixed-based operation.

Registration for STEMCON is currently open, and the early bird rate of $200 will close on December 31, 2017. Please contact STEMCON directly to take advantage of our group registration rate for five or more attendees from a school or district.

STEMCON will offer more than 50 breakout sessions and workshops from leaders in all areas of STEM education who are experts in evidence-based STEM teaching principles. Session topics include Thinking Forward, Project-Based Learning, STEM Education for STEM Careers, Outdoor Learning with STEM and Diversity in STEM Education.

STEMCON also invites companies to exhibit their resources and services through mathematics, physics, coding, virtual reality, 3D Printing, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and more. To view last year's program, visit the 2017 Program.

STEMCON is accepting Proposals for Presentations at STEMCON 2018 until December 4, 2017. The requirements are practical, innovative presentations that display academic and professional excellence. Those interested can refer to the website and also to participate in Sponsorship opportunities.

STEMCON's mission is to provide a practical professional development conference for K-12 STEM educators. STEMCON is a platform for STEM educators and administrators from all around the nation to collaborate, connect and to share their best practices.

For more information, visit www.stemcon.net, or the STEMCON YouTube channel for videos.

SOURCE STEMCON

Related Links

http://www.stemcon.net


ATLANTA, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dozens of progressive companies are now offering financial well-being programs to promote financial confidence among their employees and more employers are looking to add the programs to their roster of benefits.

A recent study by the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM), sponsored by SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI), found that 77 percent of middle market companies (annual revenue of $10 million - 1 billion) are concerned about the financial security of their employees. As a result, they cited financial well-being programs as the top new benefit they will look to add, outpacing new retirement, healthcare, and parental leave benefits.

"Companies are no longer ignoring the emotional toll financial stress takes on employees and the negative impact it has in the workplace," said Brian Ford, Financial Well-Being executive at SunTrust. "Based on our experience, not only do benefit programs that help people become more financially confident improve employee satisfaction, but also they can also increase productivity and be a differentiator to attract and retain employees."

Business leaders across the U.S. are concerned about the financial well-being of their employees and believe they should play a role in helping them become more financially fit. SunTrust provides Momentum onUp, an industry-leading workplace financial wellness program, to corporate clients as a way to fulfill its purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being. There is high demand for this new employee benefit with more than 60 large and small companies now participating, including Delta, Home Depot, Waffle House, First Data, McKee Foods, and 1-800 Contacts.

Even when business leaders understand the importance of helping employees with their financial lives, they often do not know how to begin. SunTrust offers the following steps to implement a successful workplace financial wellness program.

Inspire and Engage Employees

A kickoff session sets the tone for the program as a benefit rather than a chore. Develop participation-based incentives that recognize and reward successes along the way to provide ongoing motivation.

Design Programs for Maximum Participation

Offer a variety of ways for employees to engage including in-person classroom sessions, live streaming, online portals, workbooks or a combination of all of these.

Ensure C-Suite Support

For any program to be successful, it must have meaningful leadership. Communicate financial wellness is a priority for the company, and lead by participating. Deploy leaders throughout the company to talk about the benefit and communicate it through all available mediums, including town halls, internal webpages, and during annual enrollment.

Understand the Employee Mindset

Employees may be skeptical, thinking that the program may take too much time, try to sell them a product or expose personal information. Position financial wellness as a benefit by emphasizing there is something for everyone, they can work at their own pace, all data is confidential, and there are no sales tactics involved.

Align Goals and Measure Success

Establish program goals, from reducing employee stress to attracting and retaining talent. Track employee satisfaction and retention, along with behavior change, such as the level of 401(k) participation or the number that establish emergency savings.

"At SunTrust, we're finding that business leaders and employees welcome a focus on financial fitness," added Ford. "We found that employees who participated in Momentum onUp this year have demonstrated results  98 percent of participants established savings for an emergency and averaged a 35 percent increase in retirement account contributions. These are actions that lead to improved financial stability in the eyes of the employees and their employers who have seen them engage with the program."

About SunTrust Banks, Inc.

SunTrust Banks, Inc. is a purpose-driven company dedicated to Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being for the people, businesses, and communities it serves. Headquartered in Atlanta, SunTrust operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, along with 24-hour digital access. Certain business lines serve consumer, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients nationally. As of September 30, 2017, SunTrust had total assets of $208 billion and total deposits of $163 billion. The Company provides deposit, credit, trust, investment, mortgage, asset management, securities brokerage, and capital market services. SunTrust leads onUp, a national movement inspiring Americans to build financial confidence. Join the movement at onUp.com.

SOURCE SunTrust Banks, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.suntrust.com


CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Through its "Housing for Everyone" grant competition, TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, awarded 25 organizations throughout TD Bank's footprint from Maine to Florida a total of $3.125 million. The 25 grants of $125,000 each will support housing projects from these 25 winning non-profit organizations that focus on addressing the needs of individuals seeking housing assistance across the East Coast.

The TD Charitable Foundation's 12th annual "Housing for Everyone" grant competition invited non-profit organizations to submit proposals outlining their plans and initiatives to support and provide affordable housing initiatives in their communities. This year's "Housing for Everyone" grants winners are:

Connecticut :

Hands on Hartford, Inc.

Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk

Florida :

Sundari Foundation a.k.a. Lotus House Women's Shelter

University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc.

Urban League of Broward County, Inc.

Maine :

Portland Housing Authority

Maryland :

Victory Housing, Inc.

Massachusetts :

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation

Madison Park Development Corporation

New Hampshire :

CATCH Neighborhood Housing

New Jersey :

Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation

Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey

New Jersey Community Capital

Saint Joseph's Carpenter Society

New York :

Asian Americans for Equality, Inc.;

Fifth Avenue Committee, Inc.;

Matinecock Court Housing Development Fund Corp;

New Destiny Housing Corporation;

St. Nicks Alliance Corporation

North Carolina :

Lakeside Partners of Wilmington, Inc.

Pennsylvania :

Community Ventures Inc.;

Liberty Resources Inc.

Rhode Island :

The Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation

Vermont :

Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, Inc.

Washington, D.C. :

Transitional Housing Corporation

Winners were chosen based off its impact made in community economic development, neighborhood revitalization and human services offerings.

The Foundation increased the grant amount for each recipient by $25,000 per organization compared with prior years of the competition. The monies enable non-profits to create and/or preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families that cannot afford a place to live. Since 2006, the TD Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $25 million in grants through this competition.

"We take our commitment to our communities seriously, and the Housing for Everyone campaign enables us to enhance our economic support for the neighborhoods we serve," said Mike Rayder, Donation and Foundation Manager, TD Charitable Foundation. "We are honored to partner with organizations that are providing individuals with a chance to live in their own home and build a future."

Organizations were required to have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status or be a governmental agency, and to develop or maintain affordable housing, or provide housing-related programs and services to very low-, low- and moderate-income individuals or families.

A staunch commitment to active involvement in the local community is a vital element of the TD Bank philosophy. TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank and the TD Charitable Foundation provide support to affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and environmental initiatives, many of which focus on improving the welfare of children and families.

To learn more about the program and how the grants are making an impact in the community, videos about past winners are available at "Own Who You Are". Applications for the Housing for Everyone grant competition will reopen in June 2018.

About the TD Charitable Foundation

The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation's mission is to support, respect and improve the quality of life in the diverse communities where we live and do business. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed more than $178.4 million and more than 17,000 grants in charitable donations from Maine to Florida. The TD Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting the following community needs: affordable housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, financial literacy, and human services. Recently, more than 90 percent of the grants awarded by the Foundation benefited low-and moderate- income communities and individuals. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including an online grant application, is available at www.TDBank.com.

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at approximately 1,300 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com.

SOURCE TD Charitable Foundation

Related Links

http://www.TDBank.com


SEATTLE, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Apprenti, the nation's first registered tech apprenticeship program, announced today that it will expand nationally into Oregon, Michigan, California and Ohio. The apprenticeship program  which was started by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) in 2016  recruits, trains and places diverse talent into tech roles.

According to a forecast by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a surge of over 1.3 million new computer programming and computer support specialist jobs by 2022. Additionally, companies are struggling to increase diversity within their workforce. Less than 20 percent of the tech workforce is female, less than 5 percent is Hispanic or African American, and there are even fewer veterans. Apprenti fills a critical role by closing the tech talent gap and providing opportunities for underrepresented groups to secure careers in tech.

"We're seeing two big problems emerging in the tech industry: Companies are having a difficult time finding the right talent to fill jobs, and diversity is sorely lacking. Apprenti changes both in a big way," said Jennifer Carlson, executive director of Apprenti. "By expanding our presence into four new states, not only are we training and placing more diverse talent into local tech jobs, but also creating a national model for registered apprenticeship. Today's announcement is just the beginning as we expand our program to more states in the coming year."

The expansion  the result of a $7.5 million ApprenticeshipUSA contract  follows Apprenti's successful Washington state pilot program, which received more than 3,000 applicants and placed nearly 100 apprentices into tech positions since its launch one year ago. Apprentices currently work in jobs at Amazon, Microsoft, Avvo, Comtech, F5 Networks and Silicon Mechanics, earning at least $42,000. The jobs include web developer, software developer, network security administrator, Windows system administrator, Linux system administrator, cloud support specialist, data center technician and IT support professional.

"Information technology skills building is increasingly important to employers in many in-demand industries in Michigan," said Michele Economou Ureste, executive director at the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN), Apprenti's local expansion partner in Michigan. "The Apprenti program is a proven and reliable pathway for underrepresented groups to gain training, certifications and job placement. This aligns with WIN's ongoing efforts to help employers with workforce development solutions to close the skills gap."

The Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) recognizes the need for tech talent and is implementing Apprenti in two different regions. Partnering with Lane Workforce Partnership in the greater Eugene area, Apprenti will be welcomed to the growing industry, which currently has 453 tech companies. In central Oregon, the market is also in high demand.

"With central Oregon experiencing one of the fastest-growing job markets in the country, we need innovative ways to recruit, train and place top talent into tech roles. Apprenti's proven model offers an innovative solution to help us meet this demand," said Heather Ficht, executive director of East Cascades Workforce Investment Board (ECWIB), Apprenti's partner in central Oregon. "We look forward to working with Apprenti to help our local tech companies find and develop the talent they need to thrive."

Once accepted into the Apprenti program, apprentices receive between 14-20 weeks of certified technical training followed by one year of full-time, paid, on-the-job training with one of the hiring partners. As a hybrid competency and time-based program, those with a strong determination to complete the rigorous training are encouraged to apply. To be considered for the program, applicants must be 18 or over, have a high school diploma or equivalent and be eligible to work in the U.S.

"We've seen first-hand how Apprenti provides a pathway to well-paying jobs in the technology industry and are eager to help support the program as it launches into new states," said Sarah Steinberg, vice president of Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase, one of Apprenti's funding partners. "In this economy, technology skills are imperative to every company, and our hope is to improve access to living-wage job opportunities for workers who are currently under-represented in technology roles."

For more information about Apprenti apprenticeship opportunities, visit: https://apprenticareers.org.

About Apprenti

Apprenti is a registered apprenticeship program powered by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA). Apprenti trains future tech workers with an emphasis on underrepresented groups including women, minorities and veterans. Apprenti is an industry recognized, state and federally accredited program. Apprentices receive two to five months of full-time, industry recognized training before beginning one-year of paid on-the-job training with one of the program's hiring partners. The program is partially funded through a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) ApprenticeshipUSA contract and a grant from the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI), with support from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and JP Morgan Chase. For more information on how to apply, donate or become a hiring partner, please visit www.ApprentiCareers.org.

SOURCE Apprenti

Related Links

http://www.ApprentiCareers.org


"We are thrilled to welcome Sicnova as a full member of our program," said Avi Reichental, Vice-Chairman, Techniplas and CEO, Techniplas Digital. "Today's announcement underscores our strong commitment to digital transformation through the expansion of an open innovation program that brings together the best and brightest industry players. With Sicnova's 3D printers at our new Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center, we can take our digital manufacturing capabilities to the next level leveraging some of the largest format engineered plastics printers available in the market today."

The Sicnova flagship JCR 1000 3D printer combines the robustness and superior capabilities of industrial grade printers with advanced engineered materials and the ability to print large objects of up to 1000X600X600 mm at speeds of 1000 mm/hour and accuracy of 50 microns. Hardware includes a controlled print chamber with a heated bed, auto levelling calibration and precision, industrial motor controllers. It boasts twin 1.75mm printheads with interchangeable nozzles that deliver exceptional surface quality and accuracy.

"Techniplas' open innovation program is the perfect collaborative platform for Sicnova to validate our printers' suitability for automotive applications by demonstrating the incredible performance range of our capabilities," said Angel Llavero, CEO, Grupo Sicnova. "With Techniplas' vision as our compass, the entire Sicnova team looks forward to expanding our reach within the automotive industry globally by redefining the future of manufacturing with new competencies and a customer-centric mindset."

With Sicnova joining Sharebot and DWS as part of the open innovation program, Techniplas is curating a community of like-minded innovative partners with designs on fundamentally pushing automotive manufacturing's traditional boundaries. Techniplas' continued commitment to the open innovation program is supported by its focus on developing partnerships that see mutual benefits in each other's capabilities and strengths. With a breadth of in-house capabilities ranging from jigs and fixtures to larger scale prototypes, and short run manufacturing of end-use parts, Techniplas and its innovation partners are well on their way toward industry 4.0 readiness.

This open innovation platform was launched during the third quarter of 2017 with an eye on creating a cooperative space where industry leaders and disruptors could partner together on solving manufacturing's toughest challenges. Housed in Techniplas' Additive Manufacturing Center, like-minded partners leverage the best of Techniplas' manufacturing capabilities.

About Techniplas

Techniplas is a leading global design and manufacturing provider of engineered products and services that are helping to shape the future of mobility. Our 2,000 associates around the world are passionate about making the connected world. By continuously expanding the reach of our data enabled cognitive technologies into everything we do, we deliver personalized, performance-enhanced and sustainable mobility. For more information, please visit www.techniplas.com.

About Grupo Sicnova

Grupo Sicnova is a 3D technology company (3D printers and 3D scanners), specializing in providing solutions to customers to improve their product development, manufacturing and quality control processes. At present it offers the commercialization of the main brands of the sector worldwide, exclusively for territories like Spain, European countries or Latin America. Additionally, Grupo Sicnova develops 3D printing technology and 3D scanning with patents and own manufacturing.

SOURCE Techniplas

Related Links

http://www.techniplas.com


TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ReliaQuest, a leading national provider of IT security solutions, today announced the addition of Chris Walsh as Chief Revenue Officer. Walsh's extensive experience in developing high-performing sales teams will support ReliaQuest's rapid growth, allowing the company to partner with an increasing number of IT security teams across the Fortune 1000.

Chris Walsh joins ReliaQuest as Chief Revenue Officer.

"At ReliaQuest, we know security is a team sport. Our company has been able to grow and adapt as the security world changes because of what we learn working alongside our talented customers," said ReliaQuest CEO Brian Murphy. "Chris' customer-focused approach will help build on ReliaQuest's strong momentum, bringing efficiencies and scale that will allow us to reach a broader base of enterprise security teams."

As CRO, Chris will oversee ReliaQuest's entire sales organization, including the inside, enterprise and sales engineering teams as well as the sales operations and sales enablement functions. As a member of ReliaQuest's Executive Leadership Team, he will help set the company's direction for the future, maintaining the strong company culture that has become a point of distinction for ReliaQuest over the past ten years.

Walsh joins ReliaQuest from the Education Technology SaaS provider PeopleAdmin, where he led the sales, operations and go-to-market teams. Prior to that, Walsh led the North American sales team at Bullhorn, a market-leading provider of Applicant Tracking and CRM solutions. During Walsh's time at Bullhorn, the company achieved record growth. Chris also served as Senior Vice President of Sales for PTC, where he built and led accomplished enterprise teams focused on the Fortune 500. Chris started his career at Abbott Diagnostics, where he held several sales and product management positions. He earned his BA from the University of Georgia.

"It's exciting to join an already talented team on a fast growth trajectory that is delivering such a unique and compelling value proposition to our customers," Walsh said. "With customer retention rates greater than 90 percent, ReliaQuest has proven that our formula works. I'm looking forward to helping expand our sales reach so that more organizations can benefit from partnering with ReliaQuest."

About ReliaQuest

For the past 10 years, ReliaQuest has pushed the boundaries of IT security  past allegiance to any one technology, the challenges of workforce limitations, or the definitions of the managed services category. Today, ReliaQuest custom-architects and scales individualized security environments that get smarter over time. By combining existing tools and technologies with the reliability of co-management and the speed and agility of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services, ReliaQuest transforms organizations into their own security platforms  providing unmatched visibility while normalizing the security spend. ReliaQuest operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from Security Operations Centers in Tampa, FL, and Las Vegas, NV. ReliaQuest's model is recognized by industry experts as the emerging standard for large and complex organizations. The company has received numerous accolades for its commitment to maintaining a positive company culture, including being named a Great Place to Work and being listed as one of Fortune Magazine's Top 100 Medium Workplaces in 2017. ReliaQuest was also ranked No. 171 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in North America. Also in 2017, ReliaQuest CEO Brian Murphy was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Florida.

Media contact:

Kimberly Wilmath

Director of Communications

813-857-5397

[email protected]

SOURCE ReliaQuest

Related Links

http://www.reliaquest.com


Nearly two-thirds of Americans are experiencing an increased number of extreme-heat days due to climate change. Nowhere is the impact felt more directly than California's already sizzling agricultural fields. Faith Florez, a 17-year old senior in high school and the granddaughter of farm workers, created the app Calor to help protect farm workers from death and heat illness, by providing them with timely alerts and data.

"I want to prove that technology to protect farm workers in times of excessive heat can be applied as easily as the Amber Alert notifications we already receive, with life-saving data sent straight to their wrists as they toil to put food on our tables," said Florez. "My mission is to change the statement "work or health" to 'work AND health.'"

To get the project started, Florez's original proposal for the farm work heat stress protection app was selected by graduate coding students at USC's Viterbi School of Engineering in 2016. Calorthe first-ever farm worker heat notification web-based applicationis the final product of nearly a year of work and intense meetings with farmers, contractors, farm workers and state regulators.

California farmers and contractors have agreed to provide Apple Watches to farm workers at the beginning of the harvest job, as part of the summer 2018 pilot. In the future, Florez believes farmers will benefit from anticipated reductions in workers compensation insurance rates due to the risk mitigation offered by Calor.

Initial funds raised will help fund the development costs and to boost the number of farm workers participating in the program. All donations are tax-deductible.

The effort is sponsored by the Latina Legacy Foundation. Early funds for the project were awarded by a Grant from the HERlead Fellowship Program sponsored by partnership between Vital Voices, the preeminent non-governmental organization whose mission is to invest in women leaders who improve the world, and ANN INC., parent company of Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey.

SOURCE Latina Legacy Foundation

Related Links

http://www.latinalegacy.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students at Southside Elementary School in Lebanon, Tennessee, will have the opportunity to speak with NASA astronauts living, working and doing research aboard the International Space Station at 10:05 a.m. EST Monday, Nov. 20. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

Students will have the opportunity to ask Randy Bresnik and Mark Vande Hei questions about life aboard the space station, NASA's deep space exploration plans, and scientific research in space. Southside Elementary hosted a school-wide competition for the submission of questions to the astronauts.

This is Bresnik's second mission to the station, and he serves as the station's Expedition 53 commander. Bresnik launched to the orbiting laboratory on July 28 and is scheduled to return to Earth in December. Vande Hei arrived at the space station on Sept. 12 and will return to Earth in February 2018. This is his first space mission.

The students at Southside prepared for the downlink by participating in a daily trivia contest. Students also watched videos educating them on the different aspects of living in space such as how astronauts brush their teeth, wash their hair and use the bathroom. In celebration of the downlink, the halls of the school are covered with space themed decorations on the doorways.

"Students have researched and written biographies of the three American astronauts currently on station," said Southside teacher Leesa Hubbard, who served as the facilitator for the NASA Educational Workshops at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center from 1999-2002. "It is our hope that this experience will bring the science and exploration of space a lot closer to home."

Media interested in attending the event should contact Jennifer Johnson at [email protected] or 615-478-6996. Southside Elementary School is at 1224 Murfreesboro Road in Lebanon.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of NASA's Year of Education on Station, which provides extensive space station-related resources and opportunities to students and educators.

Follow the astronauts on social media:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts/

See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation/

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


RESTON, Va., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College of Radiology Data Science Institute (DSI) will provide the framework, strategy and focus to move artificial intelligence (AI) from concept into everyday radiology practice.

"The ACR DSI's open source framework for developing AI use cases for radiology defines standards for training, testing, validating, integrating and monitoring AI algorithms in clinical practice. This provides the ACR DSI and other organizations a standardized platform for building AI use cases that will help optimize radiology practice and improve patient care," said Bibb Allen, MD, FACR, chief medical officer of the ACR Data Science Institute.

ACR DSI end-to-end lifecycle will:

Create an open source standard framework available to medical organizations, institutions and developers for radiology AI use case development

Define specific ACR DSI AI use cases built around these standards that are most relevant needs of the specialty

Provide a standardized pathway for algorithm validation and certification that ensures algorithm effectiveness and patient safety and helps expedite the FDA regulatory review processes

Create radiology workflow interoperability standards and pathways for incorporating AI algorithms into the clinical workflow

Provide ongoing post-market assessment of algorithm performance and effectiveness through its AI Registry

"Disparate AI development underway may not address the right clinical questions nor be compatible with multiple computer systems. The ACR DSI will organize these efforts to ensure that AI services are effective, improve patient care, and are compatible with modern electronic workflow and health record technologies," said Keith Dreyer, DO, PHD, chief science officer of the ACR Data Science Institute.

Please visit the ACR Data Science Institute Booth (# 8547) in the Machine Learning Showcase (North Building, Hall A) at the 2017 Radiological Society of North American (RSNA) annual meeting.

ACR DSI Chief Science Officer Keith J. Dreyer, DO, Ph.D., FACR, and ACR DSI Chief Medical Officer Bibb Allen, MD, FACR, will also present at the Showcase (North Hall A) Sunday, Nov. 26 at 12:30pm CT.

For more information visit ACRDSI.org.

SOURCE American College of Radiology Data Science Institute

Related Links

http://www.ACRDSI.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Beach Boys, Wynonna, and three-time Emmy Award winners, The Texas Tenors will perform at the 2017 National Christmas Tree Lighting taking place November 30 on the Ellipse at President's Park, home to the White House. Whether people attend in person or watch on Hallmark Channel on December 4, they'll also enjoy performances by Craig Campbell, Us The Duo, Boys II Bow Ties, Mannheim Steamroller, and the U.S. Navy Band led by Emmy nominated music director Steve Gibson. Additional entertainers and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.

Co-presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, this beloved American tradition is celebrating its 95th year. Through a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, Hallmark Channel will exclusively broadcast the National Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4.

A lovely melding of music, outdoor performance, and holiday cheer, the National Christmas Tree Lighting is a great example of the unique ways that people can experience national parks and #FindYourPark/ #EncuentraTuParque.

No matter if you attend in person or watch on TV, everyone can join the fun by sharing photos and favorites memories using #NCTL2017 and tagging @TheNationalTree on Twitter.

Additional information, including more talent announcements and coverage logistics for news media, will be shared at a later date.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. The National Park Service has cared for the White House and its grounds since 1933. President's Park, which includes the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, was officially included in the national park system in 1961.

ABOUT CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS

About Crown Media Family Networks: Crown Media Family Networks is the umbrella unit subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., housing cable's leading family friendly networks, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, as well as their corresponding digital extensions HallmarkChannel.com and HallmarkMoviesandMysteries.com. Hallmark Channel is also home to annual holiday franchise, Countdown to Christmas, featuring a lineup of 24/7 holiday programming.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service's 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

National Park Service

Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles

202-619-7177

[email protected]

National Park Foundation

Alanna Sobel

202-796-2538

[email protected]

Hallmark Channel

Pam Slay

818-755-2480

[email protected]

SOURCE National Park Foundation

Related Links

http://www.nationalparks.org


For the first time in the Americas, the Grand Seiko Boutique offers the full international collection, incorporating the proprietary 9 Series mechanical, quartz and Spring Drive movements that are exclusive to Grand Seiko. Grand Seiko watches are handmade in two studios in Japan, dedicated to the art of fine watchmaking. Each watch is crafted by skilled men and women who ensure the highest precision, legibility and durability for which Grand Seiko is renowned.

The timing of the boutique's opening is propitious. Earlier this year, Grand Seiko was given complete independence and is now an entirely separate brand with its own unique appeal, distinct design and exclusive technologies. To symbolize this transformation, the Grand Seiko logo is now proudly presented at the twelve o'clock position on the dial of every new watch presented at the boutique.

The uniqueness of Grand Seiko is also now expressed in a new color scheme in which the traditional Grand Seiko blue is combined with silver, expressing the fusion of innovation and luxury that every Grand Seiko watch offers. These colors welcome visitors to the boutique and introduce the rich and fascinating world of Grand Seiko. The boutique is designed to allow watch aficionados to explore and experience every aspect of the Grand Seiko world, from its heritage, design, and craftsmanship.

The inauguration ceremony, hosted by the President and COO of Seiko Watch Corporation, Shuji Takahashi was celebrated by the presence of Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles and Mr. Akira Chiba, and Mayor of Beverly Hills, Ms. Lili Bosse.

Grand Seiko Boutique Beverly Hills

439 1/2 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90210, USA

Website: www.Grand-Seiko.US.com

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Seiko Corporation of America

Related Links

http://www.seikousa.com


LONDON, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5201363





With the emergence of several new software in the category of design/modeling, data preparation, simulation and machine control (which includes slicing software), there is a wide range of opportunities arriving in the 3D printing industry to design and implement various 3D printed objects. The global 3D printing software and services market is estimated to register a CAGR of 25.2% between 2017 and 2021.



This growth in the market is attributed to the increasing demand from various end use application verticals such as healthcare industry, consumer industry, automotive industry, fashion & aesthetics industry, aerospace & defense industry, education industry and architecture industry, among others. Manufacturers, designers, artisans and individuals are harnessing the cutting-edge technology of 3D printing and mass production to create objects for numerous applications. 3D printing companies have responded with a range of online 3D printing services that offer technologies catering to a wide range of uses. Their ultimate goal is to help the clients utilize the technology without investing substantial time and money into researching 3D design principals and 3D printing technologies for a particular business.



While most of the consumer 3D printers can be purchased for $1000 or less, the cost of commercial 3D printers that offer the precision and build quality that many businesses need, can be as high as thousands of dollars. Hence, the current trend that is trailing in the 3D printing industry is that many of the small businesses are opting for 3D printing services, wherein they upload the design they need, and get the 3D printed products constructed by a 3D printing service provider (that already has a 3D printer) at a substantially low cost. In other words, service bureaus that 3D print objects on demand provide a way for smaller companies to rapidly prototype without having to invest large sums up front. Currently, most of the companies are providing print on demand services for various applications like rapid prototyping, concept modeling, and the creation of custom parts. The consumer base in this category includes hobbyists, academic institutions, research institutions etc.



The report is a compilation of different segments of global 3D printing software and services market including market breakdown by software type, service type, service by material used, service by technology, service by application, service by end use industry and geographical location. It also includes sections on competitive insights and market dynamics. Herein, the revenue generated from software and services is tracked to calculate the market size. While highlighting the key driving and restraining forces for this market, the report also provides a comprehensive section of the application areas of the 3D printing software and services market. It also details the key participants involved in the industry.



The report answers the following questions about the global 3D printing software and services market:

 What is the global market size of 3D printing software and services market?

 What is the market size of different types of software used in 3D printing? What is the market size of different types of 3DP services?

 What are the different application areas where 3D printing service is the most employed in? What is the market size of 3DP services used in different applications? Which application will lead the global 3D printing service market by the end of forecast period?

 What are the different factors driving and challenging the global 3DP software and services market in the forecast period?

 What are the different opportunities to look for investment in the global 3DP software and services market?

 Who are the leading players in the global 3DP software and services market? What are the key strategies they have followed to expand their market in 3DP software and service business?

 What kind of new strategies are being adopted by the established and naive participants to make a mark in the industry?

 Which region will lead the global 3DP software and service market by the end of forecast period? Also, which country in that specific region will have the largest and smallest market share by value and volume in the forecast period?

 Which region and country are the most favorable for growth and investment in the global 3DP software and service market?

 What is the market share of the leading players in the global 3DP service market?



The report puts special emphasis on the market share and size of automotive, consumer industry and medical sector owing to their large scale share in the current and upcoming market of 3D printing software and service. The industry analysis has also been done to examine the impact of various factors and understand the overall attractiveness of the industry.



The most often used strategies for developing a better hold on the market have been partnerships, agreements and collaborations, product launches and developments, business expansions, followed by mergers & acquisitions, among others. The company profile section includes significant information about the key companies involved along with their financials, financial summaries and key strategies & developmental activities in the recent years.



Further, the report includes an exhaustive analysis of the regional split into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), South America and Middle East & Africa. Each region details the individual push and pull forces in addition to the key players from that region. Some of the key players constituting the 3DP software and services market include Stratasys, 3D Systems, Dassault Systemes, Autodesk, Siemens, Materialise NV, Prodways, Voxeljet, Exone, Protolabs, PTC, GPI Prototyping and Manufacturing Services, Organovo, Citim GmbH, Digital Mechanics Sweden AB, Shapeways, Doob Group, Sculpteo, Pixologic, MadeInSpace, Imaginarium and Trimble.



Executive Summary

3D printing has long been considered a tool to quickly design and make one-off prototypes of objects. However, as the technology is becoming more accessible, more affordable and more capable, it is beginning to redefine the way the manufacturing industry is framed. The 3D printing technology has brought a revolutionary change in the manufacturing industry. The growing market and the decrease in the price of the printers are some of the factors that are anticipated to give birth to some new competitors in the market. In addition, the innovative products that will be used as prototypes are expected to significantly reduce the price of 3D printing. Hence, it can be evidently deduced that 3D printing is going to significantly impact the upcoming future especially in regards to the way makers and manufacturers conduct their business.



The establishment of 3DP within the manufacturing industry has resulted in high revenues for the service providers, as their primary business consists of delivering ready-to-use prototypes and products as well as 3DP engineering and consulting services. The principal advantage of using external service providers is that it allows clients to use different manufacturing technologies, as well as to save on capital expenditure for machines and materials. Most of the consumer 3D printers can be purchased for $1000 or less; the cost of commercial 3D printers that offer the precision and build quality that many businesses need, can be as high as thousands of dollars.



Hence, the current trend that is trailing in the 3D printing industry is that many of the small businesses are opting for 3D printing services, wherein they upload the design they need, and get the 3D printed products constructed by a 3D printing service provider (that already has a 3D printer) at a substantially low cost. In other words, service bureaus that 3D print objects on demand provide a way for smaller companies to rapidly prototype without having to invest substantial amount up front. The global 3D printing software and services market is expected to reach $4,526.6 million by 2021, registering a CAGR of 25.2% between 2017 and 2021.



The factors driving the 3DP software and services market include high investment cost of 3D printers, strong growth in medical industry, growing demand from manufacturing sectors, ease of developing customized products, government initiatives and rising investments for research and development (R&D). However, high cost and complexity of 3DP software, lack of technical expertise, quality and functionality of 3D printed products, legal issues and environmental issues are some of the factors which are hampering the growth of 3D printing software and services market.



Opportunities in the emerging economies, opportunities in emerging application verticals, development of more user friendly software and opportunity to enhance the supply chain management are expected to create growth prospects for the 3DP software and services market.



The 3D printing software market is segmented into three types, namely, 3D designing software, data preparation software, simulation software and machine control software. 3D designing software dominated the global 3DP software and services market with the market share of approximately 61% in 2016. There are numerous 3D designing software available online which are either free or paid. Most of the 3D printing manufacturing companies either have their own 3D designing software or have tie-ups with the companies providing 3D designing software. However, the data preparation software which acquired the second largest market share in 2016 are expected to grow at the fastest rate in the forecast period.



The 3D printing services market is segmented on the basis of 3DP service type, 3DP material type, technology, application and end use industry. The three types of 3DP services include print on demand services, after sales and maintenance services, among others. The print on demand services occupied the largest market share of 78.4% in 2016. Currently, most of the companies are providing print on demand services for various applications such as rapid prototyping, concept modeling, and the creation of custom parts. The consumer base in this category includes hobbyists, academic institutions, and research institutions, among others. After sales and maintenance services segment includes the repair services required after the sale of 3D printed constructs.



The 3DP services market was dominated by photopolymers which occupied a market share of 46.8% in 2016. Photopolymers are actually thermoset plastics that cure or harden with exposure to some type of light source. Photopolymers are one of the materials used in 3D printing with the potential to make products with better properties. Due to increasing variety of photopolymers, photopolymer based technologies like stereolithography (SLA), polyjet & digital light processing (DLP), and increasing acceptability across the various industries, the applications of 3D printing with photopolymers are increasing drastically. In terms of technology, material extrusion dominated the 3DP services market due to its cost effectiveness, acquiring a market share of 48.8% in 2016. The increasing number of filaments and increased research and development towards the making of new advanced filaments have propelled its market growth.



The trends of the 3DP software and services market varies with different geographical regions. The 3DP software and services market holds a prominent share in various countries of Asia-Pacific (APAC), North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East & Africa. The competitive landscape for the 3DP software and services market demonstrates an inclination towards companies adopting strategies such as agreements, collaborations, contracts, joint ventures & partnerships, business expansion and product launch and development. The major established players in the market are focusing more on agreements, collaborations, contracts, joint ventures & partnerships to keep a strong hold on the market. Stratasys, 3D Systems, Dassault Systemes, Autodesk, Siemens, Materialise NV, Prodways, Voxeljet, Exone, Protolabs, and PTC are few of the major industry players that have adopted this strategy to grow their business.



Countries Covered

 North America

 Europe

 APAC

 U.S.

 Canada

 Mexico

 Germany

 U.K

 Italy

 France

 Spain

 Russia

 Sweden

 Poland

 Rest of Europe

 Asia-Pacific

 China

 Japan

 South Korea

 Taiwan

 India

 RoW



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5201363



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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LONDON, Nov. 16, 2017 Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5205071The global bioplastic packaging market to reach USD 34.24 billion by 2024, driven by the rising consumer demand for resource efficient and eco-friendly products. Europe was the largest market accounting for 32.7% of the volume share in 2016 due to supporting regulations coupled with consumer awareness regarding the conservation of the environment. North America and Asia Pacific followed suit, where the regions together are expected to contribute USD 3.26 billion by 2024.

Keeping these driving factors in mind, companies are ramping up their production capacity as well as foraying into R&D of application of new biopolymers into mainstream applications. For instance, in October 2016, BASF and Avantium entered into a joint venture to form Synvina JV, which will manufacture and market FDCA and PEF. Synvina JV has a production capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year for FDCA and PEF.

Moreover, companies are focusing on R&D to expand the utilization of different raw materials such as PBS, PLA, and PBAT in various mainstream packaging applications. For instance, in April 2017, UK-based Biome Bioplastics developed a fully compostable and recyclable coffee cup made entirely from bioplastic materials. These factors together are expected to provide an impetus to the growth of the bioplastic packaging market over the next seven years.

PET dominated the global market contributing to USD 1.84 billion in 2016. The polymer was extensively used in rigid packaging on account of its high durability, transparency, and ease of moldability. Initiatives undertaken by companies such as Coca-Cola, P&G, and Heinz to use bio-based materials for packing beverages, sauces & spreads and cosmetics is expected to bolster the growth of the rigid packaging market.

Increasing demand for flexible packaging solutions on account of several benefits including size and weight particularly in food applications coupled with rising demand for biodegradable films is anticipated to boost the growth of the market. The segment is expected to grow at a volume CAGR of 20.6% from 2017 to 2024.

Food packaging accounted for 9% of the overall market share in 2016 and is likely to witness above average growth as a result of rising consumer requirement for eco-friendly packaging. Aesthetic attributes such as transparency, size, weight and presentation are expected to drive the growth of the segment over the projected period.

The growth of the global bioplastic packaging industry driven primarily by consumer demand is also likely to be favored by the implementation of stringent regulations for its synthetic counterparts. Despite the fall in crude oil prices, companies such as BASF, Arkema Dow, Solvay, and Braskem are continuing production at their facilities and focusing on R&D. These factors are likely to result in a tremendous growth of the global bioplastic packaging market growing at a revenue CAGR of 28.3% over the next seven years.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5205071

About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

http://www.reportbuyer.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Honoring the distinctive characteristics of Irish Oak, Irish Distillers has unveiled Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Edition, the next chapter in its Virgin Irish Oak Collection of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys. This exceptional offering has been matured primarily in American oak Bourbon casks and finished in barrels made from Irish oak grown in the Bluebell Forest of Castle Blunden Estate in County Kilkenny, imparting a true and unique flavor of Ireland.

"Expanding our portfolio in the U.S. is always an exciting moment for our Irish Whiskey portfolio," said Sona Bajaria, Vice President, High End Irish Whiskey, Pernod Ricard USA. "The inclusion of Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Edition to our range is a testament to the passion of our deep-rooted heritage, innovation and commitment to taste."

Dair Ghaelach, which is Gaelic for 'Irish oak', is the result of an eight-year exploration by the expert production team at the Midleton Distillery, County Cork, into using native oak to finish Irish whiskey and follows the release of Midleton Dair Ghaelach Grinsell's Wood in February 2015.

In collaboration with expert forestry consultant, Paddy Purser, the Irish Distillers team of Kevin O'Gorman, Head of Maturation, and Billy Leighton, Head Blender, chose Bluebell Forest on Castle Blunden Estate to provide the oak for the second edition in the Midleton Dair Ghaelach series. Each bottle can be traced back to one of six individual 130-year-old oak trees that were carefully felled in the Bluebell Forest in May of 2013.

"It is a joy to be able to showcase more of our experimentation with maturation in Irish oak through the release of Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest," said Kevin O'Gorman, Head of Maturation at Midleton Distillery. "The naturally sweet compounds found in Irish oak work in perfect harmony with this whiskey to deliver milk chocolate and honeycomb on the nose, a beautifully round and silky-smooth mouth feel and a long, pot still finish."

Bluebell Forest is found among the historic stone walls of Castle Blunden Estate in County Kilkenny. Since the 1600s, generations of the Blunden Family have watched over a stand of Irish oak trees with a carpet of luminescent bluebells covering the forest floor. The carefully felled oak from these woods imparts its character and nuances into Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest to create an intrinsically Irish whiskey with historical provenance, traceability and a clear link to the sustainability and rejuvenation of Irish oak.

Artisans at the Maderbar sawmills in Baralla, north-west Spain used the quarter-sawing process to cut the trees into staves to craft the oak into barrels to be sent to the Antonio Paez Lobato cooperage in Jerez. After drying for 15 months, the staves were worked into 29 Irish oak Hogshead casks and given a toast. The whiskey, made up of a selection of Midleton's classic rich and spicy pot still distillates matured for between 12 and 23 years in American oak barrels, was then filled into the Irish oak Hogshead casks, nosed and tasted each month by Leighton and O'Gorman. After a year and a half, the pair judged that the whiskey had reached the perfect balance between the spicy single pot still Irish whiskey and Irish oak characteristics.

Bottled at cask strength, between 55.30% to 56.30% ABV, and without the use of chill filtration, Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest is available in the U.S. starting November 2017 at the recommended selling price of $299.99.

About Pernod Ricard USA

Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA, the world's second-largest spirits and wine company. Pernod Ricard employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide, is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

The company's leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Tequila Avion, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Malibu, Kahlua, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch, Olmeca Altos, Beefeater Gin, Lot No. 40 and Pike Creek, Midleton, Powers, Redbreast, Plymouth, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Martell Cognac, Lillet, Hiram Walker, Pernod, Ricard; and such superior wines as Kenwood Vineyards, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Jacob's Creek; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne and Mumm Napa sparkling wines.

Pernod Ricard USA is based in New York, New York, and has roughly 850 employees across the country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and in moderation. For more information, please visit: www.responsibility.org.

SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA
Drs. Kurrek and Merchant coauthored an editorial, " Yesterday's Luxury, Today's Necessity " after the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society [CSA] published its revised 2012 guidelines to the practice of anesthesia. The CSA guidelines recommend capnography monitoring during conscious sedation. In the podcast, Drs. Kurrek and Merchant discuss why capnography monitoring may have been considered yesterday's luxury, but is now a necessity during conscious sedation.

CSA describes the term "conscious sedation" or "procedural sedation" as follows:

Sedation is "a state of reduced excitement or anxiety that is induced by the administration of a sedative agent". This condition is distinct from "general anesthesia", which is described as "a state of total unconsciousness resulting from anesthetic drug(s)" ...

Dr. Merchant emphasized that capnography monitoring is "required" monitoring for general anesthesia and sedation (4-6 on the Ramsay Sedation Scale shown below):

We have to recognize that there is reasonable good evidence to support capnographic monitoring, respiratory monitoring, for deep sedated patients  Not surprisingly, evidence for lightly sedated patient is not a very strong  risk is probably related to the depth of sedation and includes by and large respiratory complications  to minimize those, the practitioner would be well advised to see what depths of sedation the patient would actually be best served for, given the patient's co-mormidities, the resources, and the particular procedure.

To read a transcript of the interview, please click here.

The podcast may be viewed on the PPAHS YouTube channel by clicking here.

About Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to promote safer clinical practices and standards for patients through collaboration among healthcare experts, professionals, scientific researchers, and others, to improve healthcare delivery. For more information, please go to www.ppahs.org.

SOURCE Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Related Links

http://www.ppahs.org


NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Token, the mobile app that enables individuals to shop securely by disguising their payment details, is partnering with Marqeta to provide security to consumers via the Mastercard global network. Through the partnership, Token users will be able to make safe purchases at every store and merchant that accepts Mastercard online or over the phone worldwide.

More than 46 percent of American cardholders experienced credit card fraud over the past five years. Token eliminates the possibility of payment fraud or identity theft by creating an alternative, pseudo identity with an alias card number and name, in seconds, on the spot. The alias is then connected to the purchase, protecting consumers from merchant or retail breaches because their personal information is not held by those businesses.

"With breaches becoming a daily occurrence, we believe that consumers should have the ability to control their privacy, including their payment instruments," said Dave Matter, Chief Product Officer at Marqeta. "Token introduces an innovative and very intuitive way for consumers and businesses to protect themselves from payment fraud online or over the phone. We are happy to partner with the Token team to provide a platform that can strengthen security and safety."

With Token, consumers simply link their United States-based payment account through a quick, simple process on the app. Once ready to make a purchase, they can generate a new payment alias or "token" per merchant or even per transaction. Token allows consumers to pay for anything, anywhere and at no additional cost. By partnering with Marqeta and Mastercard, Token becomes the most widely acceptable payment security solution available.

"The payment industry is changing. Recent data breaches have proven that security needs to remain top of mind for both businesses and consumers," said Zohar Steinberg, Founder and CEO of Token. "Today's consumers understand that it's time to take matters into their own hands, because the people we all trusted to protect our sensitive information keep failing. Token is built on the fundamental idea that the best way to protect information is simply not sharing it in the first place."

About Token

Token is a free-to-use mobile app that enables individuals to pay for goods and services anonymously using a pseudo card number and name. Token adds an identity protection layer between the consumer and the payment ecosystem, including credit card companies, banks, and issuers. The app instantly creates aliases associated with the consumers' bank account or credit card to avoid using consumers' real identity and to eliminate any opportunity for fraud. Integrated with mobile devices, Token defines a new standard for payment security with advanced security capabilities from encryption, to proprietary algorithms, to biometrics. Join Token at www.jointoken.com.

About Marqeta

Marqeta is the first modern card issuing and core processing platform, powering prepaid, debit and credit cards for the world's top commerce innovators. Marqeta's advancements represent the first fundamental updates in the past twenty years to card issuing platforms, a $30 trillion addressable market covering all possible cardable spending. Marqeta employs more than 135 people and is headquartered in Oakland, California. For more information, visit Marqeta on our website, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact: North 6th Agency, Inc.

212-334-9753, [email protected]

SOURCE Token

Related Links

http://www.jointoken.com


Taipak offers a complete range of standard and custom flexible packaging solutions, including boxes, pouches and bags. The company provides solutions for numerous industries, including: Beverage, Coffee & Tea, Confectionary & Dry Foods, Seafood & Meat Products, Processed & Frozen Food, Retort Food, Pet Products, Health & Wellness and Non-Food Products.

Strope said that Taipak will be renamed Taipak, A TricorBraun Company. Taipak's current owners Joey Lin and Charanjit Hayre will continue to manage the business.

"The acquisition continues our dual path to grow by acquisition, as well as organically," Strope said. "Every day, our industry leadership grows."

Court Carruthers, CEO of TricorBraun added, "Taipak adds brand new capabilities to our growing resources and we're excited that it is now part of the TricorBraun family."

About Taipak

Since 2003, Taipak Enterprises Ltd., has been helping customers with flexible packaging needs. Our goal has always been to take the time to truly understand customers' needs today and anticipate growth for the future. Because at Taipak, we believe our customers are our most valuable asset. With manufacturing facilities and carefully selected partners in Asia and Europe, we have the ability to develop flexible packaging solutions "from concept to consumer." For unique flexible packaging solutions, or equipment, Taipak can deliver the right solution.

About TricorBraun

TricorBraun (www.tricorbraun.com) is a packaging solutions company, focused on providing innovative, custom solutions for its many customers. An industry leader in glass and plastic containers, closures, dispensers and tubes, TricorBraun operates from more than 40 locations throughout North America and internationally from London, England: Guangzhou, China; Hong Kong, and Mumbai, India. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Center provides forward-thinking service driven by consumer insight, market understanding and creative solutions. TricorBraun's advisory services range from preliminary planning and manufacturing oversight to warehousing and logistics programs.

SOURCE TricorBraun

Related Links

http://www.tricorbraun.com


LAS VEGAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tryke Companies today announced the resignation of its co-founder and CEO Matthew Morgan, along with new additions to its management team. Morgan will leave the company to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in California's newly minted recreational cannabis market and will continue to advise as a consultant during the transition period.

Tryke Companies

"These last four years have been some of the most amazing years of my life, from the great people I've had a chance to meet with to the next level of experiences that I've been a part of. That said, I have come to the decision to resign as CEO of Reef Dispensaries," Morgan said in a statement. "This has been one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make, but I wish Reef and all of my colleagues nothing but the best moving forward. As for the next chapter? California, here I come."

Following Morgan's departure, Tryke Companies co-founder and Chairman Adam Ryan will lead the company as CEO:

"Matt has done an amazing job building this company and we feel fortunate to have had his leadership these last few years. We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors," Ryan said in a statement.

In addition to Ryan's role as CEO, Tryke Companies is also proud to announce two new additions to its management team.

Mark Conley joins the Tryke Companies team as Director of Retail. Conley will use his 25 years of expertise as a Wal-Mart district manager to oversee retail operations at six Reef locations across Nevada and Arizona, as well as future locations as they come online.

Danielle El Kadi has joined Tryke Companies as its new Head of Wholesale. El Kadi brings her vast knowledge of cannabis brands and products to Tryke, having previously worked as Director of Sales and Client Relations for Evergreen Organix.

About Tryke Companies:

Tryke Companies is a network of ten licenses in Arizona and Nevada for the cultivation, production and retail sale of medical and recreational cannabis. Tryke retail operations, d.b.a. Reef Dispensaries, has existing recreational dispensaries in Nevada (Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Sparks, Sun Valley) and medical dispensaries Arizona (Central Phoenix, Queen Creek), with additional locations coming soon.

Press inquiries for Tryke Companies should be directed to [email protected]

Related Links

Reef on Facebook

Reef on Twitter

SOURCE Tryke Companies
NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY, POINT MUGU, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy's Communications Satellite Program Office, PMW 146, and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) handed over full operational control of the fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite to the Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC).

The October 11 milestone followed the successful completion of the MUOS-5 satellite's on-orbit testing and delivery of all operational products needed to "fly" the satellite. In April, the Navy, working with Army Forces Strategic Command (ARSTRAT), configured one of MUOS-5's two communications payloads  its legacy Ultra High Frequency (UHF) payload  for testing.

The handover of this satellite to NAVSOC clears the final hurdle allowing for ARSTRAT to provide the payload's final configurations to support the Navy's legacy UHF satellite communications mission.

"Today, every Combatant Command in aircraft, ships, submarines, ground vehicles, as well as by troops in the field and special operations, rely upon secure, beyond-line-of-sight UHF satellite communications provided by the Navy," said Mark Woempner, Lockheed Martin's director for Narrowband Communications. "ARSTRAT's final configuration of MUOS-5's UHF legacy payload allows the satellite to fully support our military forces in these Combatant Commands."

Eventually, legacy narrowband UHF communications will transition to next generation Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) capabilities. To facilitate that transition, all five on-orbit MUOS satellites were intentionally designed with two communications payloads to support both Legacy UHF and WCDMA.

Early combatant commander testing of the on-orbit WCDMA payloads began in July 2016. The new MUOS capabilities will revolutionize communications for mobile forces with simultaneous, crystal-clear voice, video and mission data over a secure high-speed Internet Protocol-based system. Users with new MUOS terminals will be able to seamlessly connect beyond line-of-sight around the world and into the Global Information Grid, as well as into the Defense Switched Network, as part of the Navy's worldwide cellular network.

Once fully operational, the MUOS network of five on-orbit satellites and four relay ground stations will provide more than 10 times the communications capacity of the legacy UHF satellite system. MUOS' network already provides near-global coverage, including communications into polar regions. MUOS also has demonstrated successful communication of Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) messages.

"We continue to receive great and constructive feedback on MUOS' capabilities as more users try it out. Similar to a civilian cellular phone service, upgrades to this new secure global military cellular network are ground-based and designed in an AGILE software development environment. We continue to make upgrades to the system based on user needs and look forward to bringing its full capabilities to our warfighters," Woempner said.

Today there are more than 55,000 radio terminals currently fielded that can be upgraded to be MUOS-compatible, with many of them requiring just a software upgrade.

The Navy's Program Executive Office for Space Systems and its Communications Satellite Program Office responsible for the MUOS program are based in San Diego, California. Lockheed Martin assembled and tested all five now-on-orbit MUOS satellites at its Sunnyvale, California, facility.

For additional MUOS information, photos and video visit: www.lockheedmartin.com/muos

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today that it is looking to deepen its brand visibility across North Carolina. As part of the brand's franchise growth strategy, the company is seeking a hands-on entrepreneur to expand and elevate its presence across the Triangle and Triad regional markets. Valpak currently mails to as many as 370,000 homes in these territories with the potential to expand its reach to 1 million homes.

As two of the most diverse metropolitan markets in the nation, the Triangle and Triad are consistently top-ranked for their positive business climate, low cost of living and highly educated workforce. Most notably, Durham-Chapel Hill area ranked fourth on WalletHub's 2017 list of Most Educated Cities in America list for 2017. Additionally, Raleigh in North Carolina's Triangle region ranked 14th on Forbes' 2017 list of fastest-growing cities.

"The communities of the Triangle and Triad in North Carolina are well known for their flourishing economic growth and development opportunities," said Greg Courchane, Valpak's director of franchise sales. "We look forward to partnering with knowledgeable entrepreneurs who are eager to introduce small-and medium-sized businesses across the region to innovative direct marketing solutions."

A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails coupons to nearly 37 million demographically targeted households per month in 47 states and three Canadian provinces. In addition to its flagship Blue Envelope, Valpak offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital marketing products including Valpak.com, Smartphone apps, Google partnerships, website development, mobile web optimization, and reputation management.

With more than 25 million Americans using couponing apps each month, Valpak's digital offerings have been a big draw for new franchisees. Digital coupon use is on the rise, and ample gains are projected in 2017. In the past year, Valpak's print offerings have also expanded with on-envelope advertising and circulars.

Ideal candidates for Valpak franchise ownership should possess a desire to join a trusted, industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling new, digital technologies. Franchisees should also possess a minimum liquidity of $75,000, and a minimum net worth of $150,000.

For more information on Valpak franchise opportunities, please contact Greg Courchane at [email protected] or 727-399-3091 or visit www.valpakfranchising.com.

About Valpak

Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Valpak is one of the leading direct marketing companies in the U.S. and Canada. We provide print and digital advertising through a network of 150 local franchises. From mailbox to mobile phone, Valpak brings exciting local business offers and opportunities to millions of consumers. Each month, our well-known Blue Envelope of savings is mailed to nearly 37 million demographically targeted households in 47 states and in three Canadian provinces. Our digital suite of products, including valpak.com, reaches more than 110 million users.

CONTACT:

Dave Williams

Valpak

727-319-5443

[email protected]

Alexya Williams

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Valpak
"Python hunters finally have a tool to make hunting more efficient, bringing down the python numbers that are devastating Florida's Everglades," said Booth. "This drone and thermal technology is light-years ahead of shining a flashlight into the darkness and hoping for the best. The thermal imagery picked up not just the monster pythons, but also native snakes as small as 18 inches. This suggests that we'll be able to spot and eliminate clusters of python hatchlings, which will help curb their reproductive cycle."

The demonstration video, (https://youtu.be/5gviPwEvk-o) recorded at night in the Florida Everglades on Nov. 11, clearly shows the thermal outline of a massive Burmese python being captured by Bill Booth.

"We are happy to advance our relationship with Bill Booth, Florida's number one snake hunter. Along with Bart Bruni, of Bruni Infrared Inc., who is one of 21 certified Master Thermographers in the world, we've put tech to use where traditional methods have been ineffective in resolving this environmental challenge," said Charles Zwebner, CEO of VolAero.

VolAero will be sharing this demonstration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Everglades National Park, South Florida Water Management District and other organizations engaged in python eradication campaign.

Zwebner invites inquiries from interested parties wishing to collaborate on drone technology solutions to environmental challenges. VolAero has also started a crowdfunding campaign. To view VolAero case studies and learn how to support the company's work, visit startengine.com/volaero.

About VolAero Drones

VolAero is a professional drone services company that integrates cutting-edge drone, imagery, and processing technologies to save time, money and resources for its clients. volaerodrones.com.

About Bill Booth

Florida native Bill Booth's love for the outdoors began as a young boy. An avid hunter and fisher, Bill is now a professional guide and expedition leader as well as a Florida-licensed python hunter. His media appearances include National Geographic, CNN, the History Channel and a Canadian documentary series. billboothoutdoors.com.

SOURCE VolAero UAV & Drones Holdings Inc.
WINDSOR, Conn., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced that its Retirement business has been retained as the recordkeeping service provider for the Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

Voya's relationship with the Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County began more than 15 years ago and was extended pursuant to a five-year agreement, effective November, 2017. The savings program is available to all employees (including officers) and elected or appointed officials who are eligible to participate in the Metropolitan Employee Benefit System or any former plan administered by the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board. As of Sept. 30, 2017, the plan represented approximately $306 million in assets and more than 7,150 participants.

In making its decision, the plan committee noted Voya's deep experience in administering 457(b) plans, exceptional relationship management and service model team, comprehensive reporting and state-of-the-art online tools, and a dedicated group of communications consultants and field service representatives.

As part of its commitment to advancing the retirement readiness of Americans, Voya will continue to provide employees of the city and county with localized support and access to industry-leading educational tools and resources. These include Voya's award-winning1 myOrangeMoney retirement-income-estimating capabilities and participant website experience, as well as communication and education programs designed to engage and motivate employees to save. Participants also have access to a wide range of investment options, including stable value and other offerings from Voya's own asset manager, Voya Investment Management.

"Just as city and county officials are committed to improving the educational and socio-economic outcomes for all of their residents, Voya is focused on improving retirement outcomes for all Americans," said Heather Lavallee, president of Tax-Exempt Markets for Voya Financial. "We're delighted that the Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County has continued to place its trust in our company, and we look forward to supporting the plan and its many members as they prepare for greater security in retirement."

Voya Financial's Retirement business serves clients of all sizes and across all sectors, including employers in the government and other tax-exempt retirement plan markets. As a leader and advocate for greater retirement readiness, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its vision to be America's Retirement Company and on its mission to make a secure financial future possible  one person, one family, one institution at a time.

1 Dalbar Inc., 2015 "Communications Seal"

Media Contact:

Joe Loparco

Voya Financial

Office: (860) 580-2677

Cell: (860) 462-6525

[email protected]

About Voya Financial

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings  to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13.6 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $11 billion in revenue in 2016. The company had $541 billion in total assets under management and administration as of September 30, 2017. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible  one person, one family, one institution at a time  Voya's vision is to be America's Retirement Company. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible and has been recognized as one of the 2017 World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, as well as one of the Top Green Companies in the U.S., by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook and Twitter @Voya.

SOURCE Voya Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.voya.com


DALLAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WaterToken will finally release today at 6:00 p.m. PST after over 100,000 whitepaper downloads and over 10,000 pre-registrations. The anticipation of one of the most revolutionary 'green technology' ICOs will splash on the Blockchain today. The WaterToken's System has been in development and tested in real-world applications for years in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Mexico and now is poised for a worldwide rollout to save our Earth's most precious resource ... water. The IoT (Internet of Things) has been the driving force in the hype concerning the verifiable data of success from the WaterToken Systems. Genesis Research & Technology Group has diligently worked on a generous token raise so that countries, municipalities, and industry can all benefit from this patented revolutionary technology.

MVP Asia Pacific has been one of the driving forces, along with Universal Media Group, to deliver the message of the totally chemical-free water treatment system that is solar powered. "The cost savings are astronomical; and, the fact that the machines are portable and scalable to any project gives the user a plethora of options," says Ron Price, CEO of Genesis Research & Technology Group. The main reason for the debut exclusively on the blockchain is because Genesis Research & Technology Group has seen too many companies manipulate results strictly for profit. The WaterToken System is IoT ready and gives indisputable, verifiable results to the world that the water has been cleaned and is able to be reused over and over again.

In 2008, roughly 25 billion barrels of polluted water was produced in the United States alone. This year, it is estimated that the number of barrels of produced water will number in the 31 billion barrels. In response to this immense threat to the environment, Genesis Research and Technology Group has developed sole-sourced, green, state-of-the-art Industrial Water Treatment Technologies that treat produced and frack water and return it to a reusable state.

The water, in the past, used to produce the chemical fluids required for the fracking process either came from nearby groundwater and surface water or brought in by the truckloads from other freshwater sources. "Genesis has developed a game-changing technology that eliminates the use of chemicals and restores the water to a natural state without transportation," states Billy Hood, VP of Marketing for Genesis Research and Technology Group. Considering that fracking-produced water accounts for roughly 98 percent of all waste products generated by the petroleum industry and 40 billion per annum to dispose of fracking polluted water, the Genesis system is a win-win.

Darren McVean, CEO of MVP Asia Pacific, LLC states, "We believe the blockchain solves the serious issues around trust and verification of environmental impact monitoring. With the introduction of blockchain and smart sensor devices, ultimately environmental regulation will require real-time monitoring of equipment sensors to ensure instant access to accurate environmental statistics."

About Genesis Research and Technology Group: Genesis Research and Technology Group is a U.S.-based company that has developed a patented, state-of-the-art technology that provides clean, reusable water for the world's population. The Company exploits its CHEMICAL-FREE technology as its efforts are being recognized by several leading government agencies developing and implementing Green technologies to protect and preserve our Earth's resources.

Genesis Research and Technology Group provides custom-built state-of-the-art water treatment technologies for all types of water. Years of research and development go into perfecting this technology that allows Genesis to offer its clients a sole source, reusable water filtering and cleansing technology that is totally chemical-free.

For more information: watertoken.io/genesis

Media Contact:

Patricia Almand

Phone: 855-8100UMG

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Genesis Research & Technology Group
HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education and outreach staff from the Department of Banking and Securities will be meeting with senior citizens, professionals, students, and members of the public across Pennsylvania during the month of December for events focused primarily on protecting consumers from fraud.

"It is our goal at the department for all Pennsylvanians to enjoy a basic sense of security when it comes to their finances and to help ensure they are equipped to detect and protect themselves from financial fraud and scams," Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann said. "Members of our outreach staff are skilled in communicating what can sometimes be complex financial information and issues into easily understood concepts, tips, and strategies."

The following events are scheduled for the month of December:

Avoiding Scams and ID Theft

Pleasant Hills Apartments ( Open to residents and guests ONLY ) in Pleasant Gap ( Centre County ) on December 6 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (Note: This presentation will also include Fraud Bingo.)

) in ( ) on from (Note: This presentation will also include Fraud Bingo.)

Kreider Commons ( Open to residents and guests ONLY ) in Lebanon ( Lebanon County ) on December 12 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

( ) in ( ) on from

Red Land High School ( Open to selected classes ONLY ) in Lewisberry ( York County ) on December 21 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

( ) in ( ) on from Cybersecurity: Staying Safe Online  Philadelphia Municipal Services Building ( Open to Technology Learning Collaborative members ONLY) in Philadelphia on December 8 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

in on from EIFFE Tax Preparer Seminar  Penn State University  Abington ( Closed to the public ) in Abington ( Montgomery County ) on December 13

 ( ) in ( ) on Preparing for Big Purchases  Montgomery County CareerLink at 1855 New Hope Street in Norristown ( Montgomery County ) on December 13 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

( ) on from FBLA Regional Leadership Conference  Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Open to FBLA student attendees ONLY) in Indiana ( Indiana County ) on December 18 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

The department's Financial Services for Consumers and Business staff works with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace. There are a variety of free, non-commercial programs [PDF] and presentations [PDF] available, or a program can be tailored to a specific group's needs.

The department's Calendar of Events can be found online: http://bit.ly/1KIscBZ. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or email [email protected] for more information. To learn more about the Consumer Financial Protection Initiative, search #GovWolfCFPI on Twitter.

Media contact: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us


The Gurner development of The Spanish Club in Fitzroy has now been approved by VCAT as a result of Supreme Court win earlier in the year.

There will be no changes to the original plans outlined that were denied by the VCAT earlier this year.

The decision has come two years after the project was first submitted for approval.

The proposal was first denied a permit at VCAT in May this year on a minor technicality surrounding a neighbouring property, despite the project having general support from VCAT.

Gurner then appealed the decision in the Supreme Court in June and later won the case due to the developer being denied procedural fairness, according to the judge.

The appeal allowed the developer the opportunity to re-submit the project to VCAT under a different panel, but not before GURNER held three mediation dates with council and neighbours in order to ensure all initial objections could be mitigated.

In what represents a full circle for the developer, the project was finally awarded a permit for 38 apartments over seven levels across the 787sqm site by VCAT with not a single change to its original plans, which include a new Spanish bar and restaurant and clubhouse facilities for The Spanish Club at ground level.

The project is being designed by Warren and Mahoney and will incorporate Spanish-inspired interiors that will be unlike anything on the market currently.

This has been a long and difficult process but we are happy to be able to put it all behind us and move forward with our plans to reinvigorate The Spanish Club along with our original plans that we first submitted to VCAT two years ago, said Tim Gurner, the company's founder and director.

We are now preparing for an early 2018 launch.

Fitzroy is an area I feel so passionate about, we have been developing in this area for over ten years and have been working with some of Melbournes best restauranteurs and winemakers to not only develop quality apartments, but also to deliver world-class cafes, bars and restaurants at the ground level.

Under the proposed agreement between The Spanish Club and Gurner, the developer was to absorb the Clubs debt and transfer ownership of that debt into the developers name to ensure that the banks could not pursue the Club for costs whilst the redevelopment was ongoing.

Established in 1969 along Fitzroys effervescent Johnston Street, The Spanish Club was founded by Padre Eduardo Sanchez, the Chaplin to the Spanish, who persuaded the Spanish government to partially assist in purchasing the building to serve as a social centre.

The club was originally called The Spanish Roman Catholic Mission, before later being renamed Hogar Espanol meaning Spanish home.

The club quickly grew to become a home away from home for hundreds of Spanish immigrants settling in Australia in the late 50s and early 60s, and over the years it evolved to offer extensive social and education opportunities for the Spanish and wider community.
The Melbourne areas with the most number of unoccupied properties have been revealed, as the Andrews government prepares for its new vacant property tax.

The new tax will hit the Melbourne City Council area, where more than 2500 high-rise apartments are vacant.

The new tax will apply to the 16 local government areas from January 1 next year for properties that are left vacant for more than six months in a calendar year.

In the Moonee Valley council area, which includes Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale, Avondale Heights, there are at least 1700 empty properties.

There are more than 1000 vacant properties in the inner-northern Yarra City Council area, which takes in Fitzroy, North Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond.

Glen Eira and Port Phillip each have up to 1300 unoccupied properties.

The number of empty homes is estimated based on water usage.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the vacancy tax would send a strong message to property owners who were "land banking" that they needed to sell or rent those homes.

There is a range of exemptions for the tax. Some of those will include deceased estates, holiday homes and properties being renovated.

Mr Andrews said the vacancy tax was a commonsense change.

"This is a really powerful signal to the market not to be leaving properties vacant at a time when so many people are finding it so hard to get into the market."

Census figures from 2016 showed that Australia had 200,000 more homes sitting empty than it did a decade ago.

The vacancy tax is expected to raise more than $80 million over four years. But Mr Andrews said he hoped it would encourage owners to rent or sell their properties rather than providing revenue to the government.

Opposition Treasurer Michael O'Brien asked "are property owners now required to send their diaries to Daniel Andrews' tax officials?"

HomeGround Real Estate, a division of Launch Housing, is calling on owners of empty properties in the municipality to return 1,000 homes to the rental market.

Despite the current housing affordability crisis, more than 7,000 homes in the City of Melbourne municipality remain empty according to City of Melbourne demographic data 2013*. Returning just 14 per cent, or 1,000 homes, to the rental market would make a big difference to the growing number of people who struggle to find an affordable home in Melbourne.

HomeGround Real Estate is a not-for-profit real estate agency run by Launch Housing, one of Melbournes largest providers of housing and homelessness services. The innovative social enterprise aims to increase the stock of affordable housing for clients throughout Melbourne, securing affordable properties for low income tenants, including women and children escaping family violence.

Launch Housing Deputy CEO Dr Heather Holst said property owners leave homes empty for a variety of reasons but listing the properties with HomeGround Real Estate could make a big difference.

More and more people on lower incomes are at risk of homelessness due to the lack of affordable rental properties in Melbourne.

The benefits are huge. People who have otherwise been priced out of the market are offered more affordable private rental, and HomeGround Real Estate offers landlords expert property and tenancy management services that give them peace of mind, the opportunity to contribute to those in need of housing, and a social return on their negotiated, discounted rental fee.

The City of Melbourne made a one-off grant of $150,000, from its $2 million Pathways Innovation Package, to HomeGround Real Estate to contribute to activities that will increase the number of rental properties that are available to people experiencing homelessness within the municipality.
In an effort to attract attendees to its Christy Awards gala, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) followed up its annual PubU training seminar for Christian publishers with a newly-launched The Art of Writing conference on Wednesday, Nov. 8. PubU, a conference for Christian publishing professionals, took place at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. this year, attracting roughly 250 attendees ahead of the annual Christy Awards.

"We do a PubU event every year, but this year we decided [on] Nashville, which is becoming a publishing hub second to only New York City," said Stan Jantz, executive director of the ECPA. "We asked ourselves how to keep publishers here to attend the Christy Awards, as well as offer authors who come to the Christys some added value.

In addition to encouraging attendance at the Christy Awards, conference organizers hope to provide guidance to novelists while also strengthening diversity within Christian fiction during the event. More than 100 aspiring and established authors were in attendance at The Art of Writing conference, and plans are already underway for next years event that will again precede the Christy gala.

Fiction writers have a reach; when Christian fiction features diversity, it creates sites for empathy, said conference speaker Theon Hill, associate professor at Wheaton College. When we empathize, we create a pathway to engage. Christian fiction can equip us to look at life from multiple perspectives.

The Art of Writing, which featured four plenary workshops including panel discussions and speakers, was followed by the 18th annual Christy Awards on the evening of Nov. 8. Ten authors were honored from five different publishing houses during the awards, which honor the best in Christian fiction and takes its name from Catherine Marshalls bestselling 1967 novel Christy. Also at this years awards, Gilead Publishing announced a 50th anniversary reprint edition of Christy to be published under its Evergreen Farm imprint.

Nancy LeSourd, daughter-in-law of Marshall and spokesperson for the Marshall-LeSourd family, introduced the hardcover edition in front of the 150 audience members. Were very conscious of trying to introduce this book to all readers, said LeSourd, talking to PW. My heart is particularly with the millennial generationwhich are little Christys in that they are eager to help and give back to people like she did.

The new cover for the novel, which is on sale now for $24.99, features a photo of Leonora Whitaker, Marshalls mother who taught in the Appalachian region as a young woman and who inspired the story.

Dan Balow, president of Gilead Publishing, said that Gilead has released Christy as an e-book for the first time in its long history, and will eventually offer a softcover edition of the book, which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, according to Gilead/Evergreen Farm..

The complete list of the 2017 Christy Award winners follows:

Historical Romance (tie):

A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)

The Lady and the Lion Heart by Joanne Bischof (Mason Jar Books)

Contemporary Romance:

Her One and Only by Becky Wade (Bethany House, Baker Publishing Group)

Short Form:

Looking Into You by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical:

The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green (Bethany House, Baker Publishing Group)

Visionary:

The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart (Thomas Nelson)

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:

When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks (Thomas Nelson)

First Novel:

Stars in the Grass by Ann Marie Stewart (Barbour Publishing)

Young Adult:

Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson (Thomas Nelson)

General Fiction:

The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

2017 Book of the Year:

Long Way Gone by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  An afterschool role-modeling program aimed at diversifying the veterinarian-scientist workforce is expanding with the help of four veterinary schools and colleges that received grants to partner with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

This is How We Role, is a program designed to increase awareness of the vital role that veterinarians play in keeping people and their animals healthy.

The program focuses on elementary school students, a group that is particularly important to reach regarding the importance of veterinary medicine. It is supported by the Science Education Partnership Award program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a part of the National Institutes of Health.

A team of experts from Purdue, led by the College of Veterinary Medicine, developed interactive science and math experiences for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, with a focus on those who are educationally disadvantaged due to socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity.

Now the program will be expanded beyond Purdue University to additional regions of the country through grants of $5,000 each. The grants were awarded to Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine and Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Additionally, Purdues College of Veterinary Medicine and Evaluation and Learning Research Center provide grant recipients with online professional development training for delivering the program in a culturally responsive, age-appropriate manner; lesson materials including instructions, handouts and activity sheets; and tools for assessing the programs impact both on the elementary school students and veterinary student role models.

Impact assessments are especially important and we are excited about the help our partner institutions will provide in measuring the results of the program, said Dr. Sandra San Miguel, principal investigator and Purdue Veterinary Medicine associate dean for engagement.

The assessments will focus on changes in the childrens attitudes toward veterinarian scientists and knowledge of veterinary science, as well as their perceptions of themselves and their capability to achieve success. The programs effect on the veterinary student role models also will be assessed by measuring their likelihood to continue community service in the future and their ability to interact effectively with future clients.

To be eligible, the grant recipients were required to organize role model teams consisting of at least one veterinarian on faculty and at least six veterinary students. Priority was given to veterinary colleges with student role model teams that represented diversity in the profession (i.e. race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, geographic origin, specialty/research interest), as well as those that could demonstrate community partnerships ensuring culturally-responsive program delivery to audiences that include educationally disadvantaged children in underserved communities.

These children have already developed creative problem-solving skills and have experience overcoming unexpected challenges, and both of those qualities are essential for good scientists, said San Miguel. They are the future veterinarian-scientists who are going to find cures for cancer and change our world so we need to instill a passion in them for this work early on in their education."

Developed through a collaboration among elementary school teachers, experts at Purdue and the Kingston Bay Group, an education consulting agency, the SEPA-funded This is How We Role program was launched in 2015 with veterinary lessons in English and Spanish that meet Next Generation Science Standards. According to San Miguel, they hope to have the program at eleven additional U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine within the next two years.

The next cycle for awarding grants to additional program partners will begin in January.

Media Contact: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

Source: Sandra San Miguel, 765-494-8052, amasss@purdue.edu
The U.S. government took a long-needed step when it announced on Wednesday new details about its Vulnerability Equities Process (VEP), the interagency process used to determine whether to notify a software vendor about a previously unknown (zero-day) vulnerability, or to temporarily use the vulnerability for lawful, national security purposes. The public release of this charter is a positive step toward increasing transparency on this controversial process. This announcement is certain to prompt a new round of national debate as people continue to examine and question the specifics of the charter. But another key challenge is also beginning to surface: multiple countries around the world are likely discovering, retaining and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities without a process to properly consider the trade-offs. This needs to change. It's time for the international community to get serious about vulnerability equities.

As Offensive Cyber Capabilities Rise, Few Consider Vulnerability Equities

More nations are bearing the responsibility to make well-informed trade-offs regarding vulnerabilities. In early 2017, senior U.S. intelligence officials told Congress ( PDF ) that more than 30 nations ( PDF ) are adopting offensive cyber capabilities. Such programs are increasingly integrated into military operations and planning. The United States and United Kingdom speak openly about their use of offensive cyber operations against ISIS. Russia has publicly stated ( PDF ) its intention to use offensive cyber operations before resorting to conventional military force.

To accomplish offensive cyber missions--including law enforcement, military and traditional intelligence missions--states look for flaws or weaknesses in hardware and software that allow them to remotely access and manipulate an adversary's computer system. Zero-day vulnerabilities provide valuable access to targets; in fact, they played important roles in prominent malware such as Stuxnet and Flame, which was used to disrupt Iran's nuclear program. In addition to these offensive interests, every nation also has defensive cyber interests, such as securing the systems upon which its government, businesses and citizens rely. Stronger defensive concerns relative to offensive ones, might induce a state to disclose a vulnerability to the vendor, which may then issue a patch or otherwise protect its users.

The remainder of this commentary is available at lawfareblog.com

Kate Charlet is the inaugural Program Director for Technology & International Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She focuses on the international implications of information technology, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. She previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (acting) for Cyber Policy. Sasha Romanosky, PhD, is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation where he researches topics on the economics of security and privacy, national security, applied microeconomics, and law & economics. He is a former Cyber Policy Advisor at the Department of Defense, and co-author of the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, an international standard for scoring computer vulnerabilities. Bert Thompson is a former James C. Gaither Junior Fellow in Carnegie's Cyber Policy Initiative.

This commentary originally appeared on Lawfare on November 15, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
With the Islamic State (IS) ousted from its Raqqa headquarters, it may seem inevitable that its caliphate is coming to an end. But even as the group's state-building project is essentially defunct, it remains a dangerous clandestine terrorist network with transnational connections and the ability to use parts of Syria as a base to launch attacks against the West.

In some areas of Syria, the U.S. and its allies are in a race against time to beat the regime to specific locales throughout the country, ostensibly to consolidate territorial gains and prevent a power vacuum, but also to prevent Iran from controlling the corridor between Tehran and Damascus. Denying territory to Syria's Assad regime also prevents it from gaining critical leverage in future political negotiations.

It remains unclear who or what will provide security and governance in Raqqa.

And while Raqqa has been retaken, further complications await the U.S.-led coalition. It remains unclear who or what will provide security and governance in Raqqa, which was liberated by a U.S.-backed militia comprised of both Syrian Arabs and Kurds known as the Syrian Democratic Forces. The local population is predominantly made up of Syrian Arabs, many of whom are fearful that Kurdish militias will stayone occupier seemingly replaced by another. Local fears were not lessened when conquering troops unveiled a massive banner of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a designated terrorist group with ties to the People's Protection Units (YPG), a militia fighting with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Additionally, fighters loyal to IS remain throughout eastern Syria, including around Deir Ezzor and Mayadeen. These cities could prove to be difficult places from which to dislodge fighters, particularly if militants continue to operate clandestinely until the group is powerful enough to regroup along the Euphrates River Valley, where some remnants of the group still control an estimated 4,000 square miles of territory.

It may be difficult for the United States to keep its allies interested after the caliphate has collapsed. The Islamic State still has between 6,000 and 10,000 fighters between Iraq and Syria. In addition, myriad violent non-state actors, including al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Tahrir al-Sham, remain active throughout Syria.

It is now time for the U.S.-led Coalition to figure out what its next counterterrorism steps should be, even as it continues to work toward stabilizing the country and navigating the path toward a political settlement with the other major powers involvedIran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, to name a few. Though the Syrian civil war is far from over, achieving a negotiated political settlement is a necessary step in limiting the ability of IS to regroup and plan attacks from ungoverned swaths of the country.

Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. He is also an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT)-The Hague.

This article is reprinted with permission from Sada 2017, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
In October, Iraqi, Syrian and coalition forces celebrated the fall of Raqqa, one of the most important and final areas of control for ISIS. While ISIS will likely continue as a danger to the West, there is also a threat that the terrorist-insurgency group could move from the Middle East and set up a new base in Africa.

ISIS has been one of the most formidable and well-organized terrorist groups in history. It would be naive to assume that ISIS will simply cease operations in the face of recent losses. A more likely scenario is that the group, along with its many followers, will attempt to disperse to a new base.

In October 2017, Somalia experienced a horrific terrorist attack in its capital Mogadishu carried out by al-Shabaab, a terrorist group affiliated with Al Qaeda. Somalia is one of many countries in Africa afflicted by civil unrest, poor governance, racial and religious tensions and poverty. As its presence in Iraq and Syria has shown, these are the conditions where ISIS thrives, making parts of Africa fertile breeding grounds for terrorism.

Public awareness in Western countries of current terrorist activities in Africa remains low, which could allow the group time to regroup in the continent. In fact, this could be a case of history repeating itself. Back in 2013, many Western populations seemed to be unaware of the presence of ISIS and its involvement in Syria and Iraq.

Indeed, the parallels between the more fragile parts of present day Africa and the early days of the Syrian crisis are alarmingly similar. In 2014, ISIS took advantage of civil unrest and government corruption to establish a foothold within Syria. It successfully competed against several terrorist groups in the region, including Jabhat al-Nusra. Its aim was to eliminate them and split from Al Qaeda in 2013.

The remainder of this commentary is available at nationalinterest.org.

Antonia Ward is an analyst in the Defence, Security and Infrastructure team at RAND Europe. Her research interests include counterterrorism, countering violent extremism, intelligence and cybersecurity.

This commentary originally appeared on The National Interest on November 14, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Tata Sky is preparing the launch of QYOU India to its 17 million subscribers, showcasing digital first content from local creative talents via its direct-to-home (DTH) TV and mobile services.





Ahead of the launch of the localised hour-long clip compilation show of best of web short-form video clips, QYOU has also sealed a partnership deal with Indian digital content company Pocket Aces. The latters channels FilterCopy and Gobble will be made available on QYOU along with Dice Media web series Not Fit. Pocket Aces latest web series What The Folks has become the most successful web series in India in 2017, according to QYOU.We are thrilled to be a part of QYOU India on Tata Sky. Our company is committed to creating amazingly relatable and shareable content for Millennials and Gen-z audiences. We are reaching over 40 million unique audiences every week through our own platforms, and distributing via QYOU India gives us another wonderful opportunity to expand this reach. We look forward to distributing more and more programming via our partnership, said Aditi Shrivastava, co-founder of Pocket Ace.Curt Marvis, CEO and co-founder of QYOU Media, added: We know that younger audiences often seek out the latest local content on the Internet so this next step in our partnership with Tata Sky brings our curation of the best of Indias vibrant online content to audiences through their TV subscription.We have sourced some of the best local talent to make the shows as relevant and engaging as possible. We are delighted to add Pocket Aces to the programming line-up for this launch.
Is America First working in Asia?

Just days before U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in the region for a five-nation, 12-day visit, China decided to play nice with South Korea. In doing so, Beijing reversed a prolonged state-sponsored boycott of all things South Korean. If China's move is sincere it would be a major advance for U.S. interests, bolstering an ally on the front lines of one of the worlds most dangerous hot spots. But China appeared to receive virtually nothing in return, and that raises questions about timing and Chinas ultimate intentions.



The 15-month Sino-Korean dispute began last July with the introduction onto South Korean soil of a U.S.-built anti-missile system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, known as THAAD. After years of diplomatic back-and forth in the shadow of a nuclear-armed North Korea, the South Korean and U.S. governments agreed to deploy a THAAD battery outside the small city of Seongju, 130 miles South of Seoul.



Due to the powerful detection and tracking capabilities of THAADs radar, China vehemently opposed the basing of the system on the peninsula. China went so far as to have its ambassador to South Korea, Qiu Guohong, publicly warn in February 2016 that the warm bilateral relationship could be destroyed in an instant if the THAAD system were deployed.



Immediately after THAADs deployment, China implemented a series of unofficial unilateral sanctions targeting South Korean-based companies operating in China; it encouraged a boycott of South Korean products; prevented South Korean entertainers from entering China; and strictly limited Chinese tourism to South Korea. As South Koreas largest international trading partner, China was able to inflict an estimated $8 billion loss onto the South Korean economy.



At the end of October, China abruptly shifted course. In a joint statement, South Korean and Chinese officials called for a normalization of relations, including an end to the Chinese boycott. Publicly, this was done in return for three South Korean assurances: First, there would be no additional deployments of THAAD batteries. Second, South Korea pledged not join a broader, U.S.-led, integrated regional missile defense system. Finally, South Korea will not enter into a trilateral military alliance with the United States and Japan. But South Korea had not seemed inclined to do any of these things, even without the Chinese concession.



With South Korea ceding little, and China sporting a reputation for playing the long game, the question remains why China would accept such an agreement. Two reasons suggest themselves, one innocuous and one troubling.



The less disturbing explanation would be that China simply reversed a failed policy. If China intended to undermine the U.S.-Korean alliance, its method was ham-fisted. The conclusion of the recent Communist Party of China congress may have offered an opportune moment to change course. At the time when THAAD was deployed in South Korea, the public favorability of China there was approaching that of the United States, long the most favored nation among South Koreans. But by March 2017 -- 7 months into the boycott -- Chinas favorability had sunk to below that of the reviled Japanese.



Still, such a quick admission of defeat would mark a dramatic shift in tendency for a China that has traditionally been glacier-like in its response to international public pressure. It would be particularly odd at a time when the U.S.-Korean alliance seemed weakened by U.S. attacks on the bilateral trade deal between the countries.



The more troubling explanation would be that there is more to the story. In this version, U.S. questioning of the alliance, coupled with Chinese boldness at the conclusion of the Party congress, led to a new Sino-Korean detente, the full scope of which we have not yet seen. While a conciliatory move toward South Korea would be an odd way to signal this, there are questions about whether China is moving beyond its traditional lay low strategy.



The delicate balance of power in Asia should be a top concern of President Trumps as he embarks on his prolonged visit to the region. The outcome has enormous strategic importance to the United States and to the entire Asia-Pacific.


In France, November 1st marks la Toussaint, or All Souls Day. On this day set aside to remember the dead, the French lay chrysanthemums on the graves of loved ones. During this years Toussaint, pedestrians in the Paris suburb of Bagneux stumbled across an impromptu gravestone engraving that no amount of chrysanthemums could erase. Across the memorial plaque for Ilan Halimi, the young French Jew murdered in 2006, the words Free Fofana had been scrawled.

By way of emphasis, the vandals added a swastika and Hitlers name to their handiwork.



The joining of these words and signs made sense. Youssof Fofana was the ringleader of the aptly named Gang of Barbarians, a crew of teenaged thugs who roamed the housing projects in Bagneux. Convinced that Halimi was rich because he was Jewish, Fofanas group lured the young man into a rendezvous and kidnapped him. For three weeks, while the police fruitlessly searched for Halimi, the barbarians kept themselves busy by torturing him. Exasperated, Fofana finally cut his losses by dumping Halimis battered and bloodied body in a neighboring suburb. Rushed to a hospital, Halimi did not live long enough to see its emergency room.



Captured shortly after by the police, Fofana will not live long enough to ever again see beyond his prison walls. Sentenced to life imprisonment, he remains driven by the belief, as he explained to his lawyer in 2007, that the Jews are pillars of wealth and a danger to humanity. This he believes is particularly true for Muslims, who are being murdered everywhere by Jews. Although recently placed in solitary confinement after assaulting prison guards, Fofana continues to share his opinions with fellow inmates through the window of his cell.



Though tempting, it is impossible to treat the desecration of Halimis memorial stele as a one-off. In 2015, vandals shattered the original plaque that had been erected in the same place. More insidiously, as the newspaper Le Monde revealed this week, such vandalism has become commonplace. While the 2012 rampage of Mohamed Merah at Ozar-Hatorah in Toulouse and Amedy Coulibalys assault of Hyper-Cacher in 2015 capture the headlines, run-of-the-mill outrages and provocations aimed at French Jews no longer even register in the media.



Exemplifying the new normal, Le Monde recounted the experience of a Jewish family in the Parisian suburb of Noisy-le-Grand. Earlier this year, they began to receive anonymous letters, each containing a single bullet wrapped in a note warning the family that they were marked for death. With the inevitability of Newtonian physics, the threats subsided when the police installed a camera outside the residence, yet resurfaced when the cameras were subsequently removed. In graffiti they spray-painted across the houses walls, the vandals sang praises to the Islamic State and swore death to the Jews. Feeling besieged and exposed, the family of six ultimately moved to another neighborhood.



According to a report released this year by the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF), one-third of all racist acts in France in 2016 were aimed at the countrys Jewish community, which represents just 1 percent of the French population. Compared to 2014, when nearly one half of racist acts were the work of anti-Semites, this seems to mark a welcome decline. But appearances might well be deceiving: the authors of the CRIF report warn that such incidents are increasingly underreported. Many victims, they contend, no longer bother to report what now seem to be minor instances of anti-Semitism.



Tragically, the spectacular instances of anti-Semitic terrorism have raised the bar so high that lesser activities are no longer denounced. This banalization has bled into language. According to Maurice Dahan, the official in charge of security for Strasbourgs Jewish community, there has been an untying of tongues to the point where what was once clearly anti-Semitic has become part of everyday conversation. As for the virtual world of social media, where anti-Semitic discourse burgeons, it remains largely terra incognita for state and civil organizations attempting to combat it.



Like the foundations to a slowly flooding house, French Jewry is beginning to lean and fissure from the rise of these murky waters. In LAn prochain a Jerusalem? (Next Year in Jerusalem?), published in 2016, the pollster Jerome Fourquet and sociologist Sylvain Manternach cite a significant uptick in French Jews moving to Israel, as well as a growing number who are now considering such a move. Yet others, determined to remain in France, are circling the wagons. Jewish families are concentrating in certain neighborhoods in Paris and Strasbourg, while the enrollment of students at Jewish schools has now ballooned to 32,000.



What is to be done? Act, and not panic, according to Marc Knobel. A staff historian at CRIF, Knobel rightly insists these trends require a steady and determined response. The stakes could not be higher, he believes, but there is still time to act. The measure of success might well be whether the new stele the municipal authorities of Bagneux plan to build for Ilan Halimi escapes the fate of its predecessors.


Quick -- Count how many University of Georgia students have a Chick-fil-A cup in their hands on their way to class right now. Or even better, 
Jackson Griffin woke up to a text from his father at around 2 a.m. on Monday Oct. 2 informing him that his sister, mother and grandmother were all safe after a mass shooting occurred at the music festival they were attending in Las Vegas.
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.
Joe Fu, left, University of Georgia mathematics professor, and Paul Pollack, right, University of Georgia associate mathematics professor, pose for a portrait in front of the Arch at the University of Georgia, on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Fu and Pollack are working together to create a union to advocate for university employees. (Photo/Reann Huber, www.reannhuber.com)
Martinsville is building a new police station. What you need to know.
KABUL -- At least 11 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a Kabul rally by supporters of Mohammad Atta Noor, the powerful governor of Afghanistan's northern Balkh Province.

Noor, an outspoken critic of President Ashraf Ghani's national-unity government and a former factional militia leader in the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, was not attending the November 16 rally at the time of the attack.

Kabul police told RFE/RL that at least nine police officers and two civilians were among those killed in the suicide bombing. Police said at least seven officers were injured in the blast.

The attack took place at the Naveen Palace wedding hall in Kabul's Khair Khana neighborhood while the rally was going on inside the building.

Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said the attacker wore a suicide vest and tried to enter the building but was stopped outside the entrance by security officials.

A ministry spokesman told RFE/RL the attacker detonated his explosives when police stopped him.

Noor is the chief executive of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-e Islami party -- one of the key factions of the so-called Northern Alliance that fought against the Taliban regime before it was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.

Noor has hinted that he may run for president in 2019.

In the initial months after the downfall of the Taliban regime, Noor's militia fighters clashed repeatedly in northern Afghanistan with fighters loyal to another former Northern Alliance commander, ethnic Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum.

But Noor and Dostum, who is now one of two vice presidents in Ghani's government, recently resolved their differences and have agreed to form a political alliance, together with ethnic Hazara Deputy Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq, aimed at bolstering the number of Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara officials in the central government.

Dostum's political compact with President Ghani, a Pashtun, began to unravel after Dostum was accused in December 2016 of ordering an elderly political rival to be sodomized with a Kalashnikov.

Dostum has refused to cooperate with the attorney general in the case and claims the allegations against him are a form of blackmail aimed at stripping him of his authority.

Dostum fled to Turkey in May.

In July, Noor and Mohaqiq traveled to Turkey where they met with Dostum to form their new alliance, which they call the Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan.
WASHINGTON -- An American stockbroker who made a fortune in the Russian market in the 1990s and 2000s and later co-founded a posh Moscow nightclub before leaving the country died of blunt force injuries suffered as a result of a fall from a Washington, D.C. building.

The findings, released on November 16 by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), confirm that Dan Rapoport died on August 14 after falling from a height, but do not conclusively explain the circumstances leading up to his death.



Washington police told RFE/RL that an investigation into his death had ended and declined further comment. Earlier this year, a police spokeswoman told RFE/RL that foul play was not suspected, but that final conclusions were pending the autopsy.



Washington metropolitan police found Rapoports body on August 14 on the sidewalk outside 2400 M Street, a nine-story apartment building in the northwest part of the city.



The medical examiner's report said Rapoport, 52, died of multiple blunt force injuries due to fall from height and described the death as sudden/unexplained. The report also said the manner of his death was undetermined.



The OCME said no other information would be immediately released.



A preliminary police report said officers responded to a report of a jumper on the evening of August 14, and the man, later identified as Rapoport, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.



The apartment building has an open rooftop with a pool, running track, and seating area for residents.

The police report said officers found $2,620 in cash on Rapoport when they discovered his body on the sidewalk, along with headphones, a cracked cell phone, a Florida drivers license, and other items.



He was wearing flip-flops, perhaps indicating he had been at the pool on the roof prior to falling.



Brianna Burch, a police spokesperson, told RFE/RL in August that there did not appear to be anyone with Rapoport at the time and there were no listed witnesses. In follow-up correspondences with RFE/RL through early November, the police continued to say they did not suspect foul play.



Rapoport had recently moved back to Washington after spending several years working in finance in Ukraine.



While some friends said they did not believe he would have committed suicide, others said he had appeared depressed.



Go-To Location



A native of Latvia and a fluent Russian speaker, Rapoport emigrated with his family to the United States in 1980. After graduating from a U.S. university, he moved to Russia in the early 1990s as a wave of privatizations swept across the country.



The sale of former state-owned companies created a booming stock market, minting a new generation of millionaires, Russian and foreign.



Rapoport was respected within Russian financial circles, where he worked for more than a decade at a local brokerage called CenterInvest, making his way up to managing partner. He claimed his clients included some of the nation's wealthiest tycoons.

In 2007, he opened a swanky nightclub in downtown Moscow called Soho Rooms, which became the go-to location for Moscows elite.



In 2012, he left Russia and returned to the United States, saying the stock brokerage industry that had made him a fortune "had died" as commission fees shrunk with improvements in technology.



But in a media interview prior to his departure, he also criticized the direction Russia had taken and expressed support for Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny, who was jailed last year.



"Our flight to Washington is in 12 hours. It's sad to leave Russia, but for thoughtful people, living here has become unbearable and disgusting," Rapoport wrote on his Facebook page on June 13, 2012.



He moved to Washington, where he said his parents lived, and set up a company called Rapoport Capital to advise and assist technology start-ups as well as venture capital funds on fundraising options.



In 2016, four years after leaving Russia, Rapaport set up an office in Kyiv and opened a private equity fund. In social media posts, he was a vocal supporter of Ukraine, and an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Rapoport gained a degree of publicity in January 2017, after The New York Times reported that the daughter and son-in-law of the then newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump had purchased a mansion owned by him and his first wife. The mansion was located in an exclusive neighborhood of the U.S. capital.



Later that same month, Raporport's co-founder of the Soho Rooms nightclub, Sergei Tkachenko, was found dead outside a Moscow building. Investigators said Tkachenko's body was found on a building awning with injuries typical of a fall from a great height.



In 2018, the open-source investigative organization Bellingcat reported that Rapoport had been the creator of a fictional persona named David Jewberg, who was frequently quoted in Ukrainian media as a senior Pentagon analyst.

With reporting by Todd Prince in Washington, D.C. and Mike Eckel in Prague.
Gunmen have shot and killed 15 men who were planning to cross into Iran on their way to Europe as well as a police official and three of his family members in separate attacks in southwestern Pakistan, officials have said.

Local officials in the mountainous region of Turbat in Balochistan Province, which borders Iran, said the 15 men ranging in age from 18 to 30 years old were killed in a mountain village.

All of them came from the populous Punjab Province, and travel documents showed they were planning to go to Europe via Iran and Turkey, likely to seek work as migrant laborers, the officials said.

Their bullet-riddled bodies were found on November 15, said officials who added that the victims appeared to have been shot at point-blank range.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the killings. Baluch separatists have attacked workers from Punjab in the past. Islamic militants also operate in the region.

In the other attack, gunmen riding on motorcycles opened fire on a car carrying a deputy superintendent of police and his wife, son, and grandson, killing them on the spot, officials said.

His 4-year-old granddaughter survived and was taken to hospital, Reuters reported.

The attack in the provincial capital of Quetta came a week after a suicide bomber killed Quetta's police chief and three other officers.

"Unknown assailants sprayed bullets on the vehicle of acting Superintendent of Police Muhammad Ilyas," senior police official Abdul Razzaq Cheema told AFP.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The earlier suicide attack on Quetta police was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking Chinas resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. Im RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish.

Before we get started, a few announcements: The newsletter is now biweekly, rather than going out only on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To subscribe, click here.

And I will also be launching Talking China In Eurasia, a new podcast. Im joined by the Royal United Services Institutes Raffaello Pantucci to talk about Xi and Putin. Listen to the first episode here or below.

Xi Gets Pragmatic About Russia At The G20

It was light on optimism, but U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping injected a healthy dose of pragmatism back into the U.S.-China relationship with their meeting in Bali at a time when global anxiety is rising over Russias war against Ukraine.

Finding Perspective: The meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit was far from a breakthrough, but it did repair some damage from the recent backslide in relations between both countries and send some signals that the world isnt necessarily destined for Cold War 2.0.

The more than three-hour talks saw some blunt exchanges over contentious issues like Taiwan and North Korea, but the two leaders also pledged more frequent communications and decided that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Beijing for follow-up talks in 2023.

Of particular note, Biden raised Russias invasion of Ukraine and threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons. Both leaders reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought, according to a White House readout.

While far from a sea change for Chinese policy, thats notable. The credibility of Beijings claims to be neutral on the Ukraine war continue to come under scrutiny, and China has shown discomfort of late with the Kremlins nuclear saber-rattling.

Xi made similar comments after a November 4 summit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and during another G20 meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the French readout.

Why It Matters: Xi is not abandoning Putin, but this marks the latest shift for Beijings balancing act over Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Four Chinese officials briefed on the February 4 meeting between Xi and Putin, where they declared a no-limits partnership, told the Financial Times that Putin didnt tell Xi the truth about the invasion and that Beijing was caught off guard by it.

What Xi knew about Putins war plans has been a topic of debate, and there is evidence to support both the idea that Xi was aware and that he was caught off guard.

Many analysts are of the opinion that Xi knew about Putin's decision to invade but expected a quick victory, which perhaps was what Putin believed at the time.

Others point to a steady stream of dismissals from Chinese officials and experts about the likelihood of an invasion in February and the fact that Beijing did not evacuate its citizens from Ukraine  like Western nations did  as evidence that China was not expecting a war.

China certainly has its own interests in keeping a distance from Moscows war and using that space to do some upkeep with the West. But perhaps the most important point here is that even if Putin did blindside Xi, China has stuck with Russia despite its battlefield failures, political isolation, and the atrocities its troops are accused of committing.

Again, this is pragmatism more than anything else. As Chinese experts often say, even if Russia is looking unattractive these days, why would Beijing abandon its main anti-Western partner as China continues to be in the crosshairs of rising American pressure?

Read More

 Want to hear more about Russia and Chinas complex relationship amid the Ukraine war? Then tune in to the debut of Talking China In Eurasia today at 2 p.m. CET/ 8 a.m. EST. You can listen live here and find the episode on RFE/RLs website and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

 Condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine and its global fallout is shaping up to be the key theme of the G20, with the Financial Times reporting that a joint communique from the summit takes aim at Moscow.

Expert Corner: The Future Of The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Readers asked: Did Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs recent trip to Beijing breathe new life into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)? How do Islamabad and Beijing really feel about the project after all these years?

To find out more, I asked Filippo Boni, an expert on China-Pakistan relations at the Open University in Britain:

Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China was high on symbolism and relatively low on substance. While the two sides were keen to reaffirm and emphasize the strength of their strategic partnership, no significant new commitment was made. Apart from a few memorandums of understanding and attempts from the Pakistanis in the run-up to the trip to address some of CPECs issues  including payments to Chinese independent power producers  nothing major came from the visit. This is despite Sharif's attempts at revitalizing CPEC since April and the very close ties he enjoys with the Chinese leadership.

The outcome of this visit is not entirely surprising, especially if interpreted against the backdrop of Pakistan's current domestic predicaments. The security situation for Chinese nationals has deteriorated, the economy is struggling, and political instability is at one of its highest points in recent years. All these dynamics, coupled with the global scaling down of Belt and Road Initiative financing, have likely impacted Beijing's lack of commitment to new projects.

After almost 10 years and $25 billion worth of projects, there seems to be a general consensus on both sides that the first phase of CPEC  the one focused primarily on energy projects  was largely successful. The same cannot be said for the second phase, including the slow progress on the development of Special Economic Zones, and for the port of Gwadar, where little progress has been made for the ports full commercial functioning.

Do you have a question about Chinas growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and Ill get it answered by leading experts and policymakers.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. 'Sweep It Under The Rug'

Recent allegations of China operating 54 overseas police stations have fueled controversy around the world and sparked investigations, but in Hungary and Serbia the new findings are being met with swift denials by authorities, despite growing evidence.

The Details: My colleagues Akos Keller-Alant from RFE/RLs Hungarian Service, Mila Durdevic from RFE/RLs Balkan Service, and I reported on the fallout from these revelations and the slew of probes launched in many European countries recently.

The stations are overseas operations of the public security bureaus from two Chinese provinces and are used to persuade citizens to return to China, including through pressure on family members at home. While most of those involved appear to be suspected of crimes such as telecommunications fraud or corruption, dissidents have also reported that the stations have been used to monitor and threaten them.

Fourteen governments have already launched investigations into the overseas police stations, and the Dutch and Irish governments have ordered China to shut down the facilities in their countries.

But in Hungary and Serbia  two countries where Beijing is said to operate such facilities and whose governments prize their warming political and economic ties with China  officials appear to be trying to sweep it under the rug, as one analyst characterized it, despite growing scrutiny from opposition lawmakers in each country.

2. Global Ripples Hit Central Asia

Political and economic shocks from Moscows war in Ukraine, coupled with added strains from tensions between Beijing and Washington, are taking their toll around the world, especially in Central Asia, where countries in the region are closely tied to both China and Russia.

What It Means: As RFE/RLs Uzbek Service reported, Vladimir Norov, the countrys foreign minister, warned about geopolitical tensions affecting stability in the region and beyond while addressing his counterparts at an Organization of Turkic States meeting in Samarkand.

The breakdown in global cooperation is felt particularly strong in Central Asia. While some economies have been able to benefit by becoming a new home for businesses and capital relocated from Russia, others are seeing investment dry up and their economies coming under strain.

World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde recently warned that Uzbekistan needs to continue with its market reforms in order to withstand the global economic shocks that are to come.

RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service also reported that the countrys government is trying to court more investment but that questions remain from investors about Kyrgyzstans stability and investment climate. According to official statistics from January to June of this year, China is the leading source of foreign investment, with $129 million during that span.

3. The Tech In Moscows Iranian Drones

A new investigation by Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, looked into electronic components underpinning Tehran's production of the Mohajer-6 drone, which Russia has used in its war in Ukraine, and found that theyre far from homegrown.

What You Need To Know: The Mohajer-6 drones contain components produced by companies from the United States and the European Union, both of which have sanctions restricting the export to Iran of technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

The investigation also found drone components produced in China, including a real-time mini-camera made by a Hong Kong firm.

The drone also contains a microchip bearing the logo of a California technology company and a thermal-imaging camera that Ukrainian intelligence says may have been produced by a firm based in Oregon or China.

The international tech in the drone not only highlights the complex ecosystem that allows firms and buyers to circumvent sanctions slapped on both Iran and Russia, but also the close networks between Chinese and Western tech companies that still exist, despite a recent push to break some of those linkages.

Across The Supercontinent

On The Mainland: The watchdog group Freedom House recently launched a new project called the China Dissent Monitor, which tracks protests and other forms of dissent inside China. Read it here.

Censored: Chinese authorities behind a major trade expo in Shanghai pulled an opening ceremony address by European Council President Charles Michel that was set to criticize Russia's illegal war in Ukraine and call for reduced European dependency on China, Reuters reported.

Backtracking: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has softened his countrys stance toward China, moving away from his predecessor Liz Trusss decision to label it a threat.

One Thing To Watch

How long will Chinas stringent COVID policies stay in place?

New infections are rising as a winter wave hits and popular frustration continues to boil over inside the country as investor confidence stays dented over the measures. New footage also showed crowds of residents in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou escaping a compulsory lockdown and clashing with police.

Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your in-box on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
QAPSHAGHAI, Kazakhstan -- The former chief of the Kazakh Journalists' Union, Seitqazy Mataev, who is serving a sentence for embezzlement and tax evasion, has been granted early release.

The decision, announced on November 16 by the Qapshaghai City Court in Kazakhstan's southeastern Almaty region, will come into force in 15 days.

Mataev, 63, was found guilty in October 2016 of tax evasion and embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars from Kazakhstan's Communications Ministry and sentenced to six years in prison.

His son and co-defendant, Aset Mataev, was also found guilty in the case and sentenced to five years in prison.

Both have denied the charges, and rights groups say Seitqazy Mataev was prosecuted on trumped-up charges in response to his work as head of the journalists union.

In April, Mataev's prison term was shortened by two years and eight months, in accordance with an amnesty that was announced in December 2016 to mark the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence.


Lithuanias parliament has passed new human rights legislation modeled on the U.S. Magnitsky Act, the 2012 law that infuriated Moscow and prompted a ban on Americans adopting Russian children.

The measure, which passed the Seim overwhelmingly, makes Lithuania the fifth country to adopt such legislation targeting Russians deemed to have committed either financial crimes or human rights violations.

The bill contains a list of 44 Russians, including Investigative Committee Chairman Aleksandr Bastrykin, who will face a travel ban and other measures.

The Magnitsky laws are named for Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in a Moscow jail in 2009 after suffering what his supporters said amounted to torture. Magnitsky had been jailed by Russian authorities after he helped uncover a $230 million tax fraud scheme. He was later convicted posthumously of the crime.

His employer, British-American investor Bill Browder, has also faced related criminal charges, and Russia has repeatedly sought his extradition.

The Kremlin reacted to the passage of the U.S. law by banning all adoptions of Russian children by American parents. In subsequent years, Russian officials with ties to authorities have conducted a shadowy lobbying campaign in Washington and elsewhere, seeking to undermine the accepted narrative of Magnitskys death.

The legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Dalia Grybauskaite in the coming days.

Aside from Lithuania and the United States, Canada, Estonia, and Britain have passed similar laws.

With reporting by the Baltic News Service
Russia has dismissed allegations from Spanish leaders that it may have spread "disinformation" that helped precipitate a crisis over Catalonia's vote for independence last month.

"The Spanish authorities, NATO, and the newspapers did not bring up a single worthwhile argument to back these claims," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 15.

"We consider these claims to be groundless, and more likely a deliberate or inadvertent continuation of the same hysteria that is now happening in the United States and a number of other countries."

Western leaders and intelligence agencies have said they suspect Russia sponsored covert campaigns to "sow discord" and influence public opinion in the run-up to major votes in the West since last year, including the 2016 British vote to leave the European Union and the 2016 U.S. election of President Donald Trump.

Spanish leaders on November 14 raised the possibility of Russian "disinformation and manipulation" of public opinion in connection with Catalonia's independence vote, which prompted Madrid to oust and arrest the province's leaders.

Spain's Defense Minister Dolores de Cospedal, speaking at a meeting of European Union foreign and defense ministers, said it was clear that a lot of the messaging on social media around the Catalan vote "came from Russian territory," though a definitive link to the government has not been proved.

"I will raise the question of how disinformation and manipulation around the referendum and subsequent events in Catalonia have developed," Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on November 15 asserted that Madrid was trying to divert attention from Spain's worst political crisis in decades by raising the accusations against Russia.

"Probably they are arranging this kind of scandalous, sensational hysteria in order to distract the attention of their electorate from their inability to resolve their problems at home," Lavrov said during a visit to Belarus.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Vyacheslav Maltsev, an outspoken Kremlin critic and leader of an outlawed Russian nationalist opposition movement, says he has become a "political refugee" in the European Union.

In an interview with Current Time, a Russian-language TV network operated jointly by RFE/RL and Voice of America, Maltsev said he fled Russia in July and had to spend some time in custody in an EU country before he was granted documents allowing him to stay there legally.

Maltsev did not say during the November 15 interview in which country he is staying.

Hundreds of Maltsev's supporters and members of his Artpodgotovka (Artillery Bombardment) movement were detained on November 5 at rallies in Moscow and other Russian cities ahead of the centennial of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.

Maltsev earlier on November 5 had proclaimed the day as the start of "new revolution" to topple Russian President Vladimir Putin's government.

In May, Maltsev was charged in absentia with publicly calling for extremist activities.

Artpodgotovka was banned in October by an order from a regional court in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Sochi next week to discuss the yearslong civil war in Syria, the Kremlin says.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on November 16 that Putin, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian President Hassan Rohani will meet in the Black Sea resort city on November 22.

The meeting would be the first three-way summit between the countries and will focus on reducing violence in Syria and matters related to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region, officials said.

Moscow, Ankara, and Tehran also sponsor separate talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, that involve the warring sides in the six-year civil war and focus on battlefield issues, such as the formation of de-escalation zones in key regions of Syria.

The United Nations also sponsors talks in Geneva that look to establish a political solution to the war.

Russia and Iran back President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict, while Turkey and the United States support differing rebel groups fighting the government.

The summit at Putins official residence in Sochi will involve the three "guarantors of the process of political settlement and stability and security that we see now in Syria," Peskov said.

The civil war in Syria has killed more than 330,000 people, created 6.1 million refugees, and forced some 5 million people to become internally displaced.

Based on reporting by AFP, Interfax, dpa, and TASS
DUSHANBE -- Police in Dushanbe have launched an investigation into an assault against Rahmatillo Zoirov, leader of Tajikistan's opposition Social Democratic Party.

Sino district police chief Habib Kahhorov told RFE/RL on November 16 that police were searching for the attackers and collecting evidence in the case.

Police said they had not taken action earlier on Zoirov's complaint about the November 9 assault because they did not receive a written complaint from him.

Zoirov told RFE/RL on November 14 that he was walking his dog late on November 9 in Dushanbe when a man and woman approached him and began hurling insults, calling him "a traitor."

During the heated exchange, Zoirov said a man approached him with a metal bar and struck him.

Zoirov said he threw up his right hand to protect his head. He said his hand was badly injured.

Zoirov said that several police nearby saw the attack but did not help him.

He said he also telephoned police and security officials about the attack several hours later and urged them to find the assailants, but they did not respond to his complaint.

Although his party is officially registered in Tajikistan, it has never been represented in parliament.

Western governments and international human rights groups have repeatedly accused Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's government of stifling dissent and restricting basic freedoms.
KYIV -- The Ukrainian parliament has passed a bill that amends existing legislation to protect businesses against extortion, harassment, and illegal searches by law enforcement agencies.



The bill, initiated by Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman and supported by Ukraines business community, envisages compulsory video recording of every search and the presence of a lawyer during all property seizures.



Moreover, prosecutors must now justify the necessity of any seizure of original or copied documents during searches. Law enforcement agents will also be prohibited from seizing computer hardware and required to make copies of any data they gather under the supervision of relevant experts.



A majority of 312 lawmakers voted in favor of the law, according to the press service for the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraines parliament.



Ukraine has struggled to shed a reputation for endemic corruption, and businesses often complain of harassment from law enforcement agencies. A common tactic used to interrupt, intimidate, and extort businesses is what is often referred to in Ukraine as a mask show -- a search by armed agents who wear masks to conceal their identities.

Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, wrote on Facebook ahead of the November 16 vote in parliament that the bill would help stop the bullying.

Ukraine climbed slightly up the latest World Banks Ease of Doing Business Index released this month, moving from 80th place last year to 76th place.



While business leaders and experts say Ukraine has made some economic reform achievements even as the country fights a war against Russia-backed militants in its eastern regions, the consensus is that it still has much room for improvement.
Russian-appointed court officials in Ukraines occupied Crimean Peninsula have convicted a Ukrainian citizen on charges of attempted sabotage and illegally possessing weapons, sentencing the man to five years in prison.

The Sevastopol City Court on November 16 also issued a fine of 200,000 rubles ($3,300) against Dmytro Shtyblykov.

Shtyblykov was arrested in Crimea in November 2016 along with two other Ukrainian citizens, Volodymyr Dudka and Oleksiy Bessarabov.

At the time of the arrests, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) accused the three of being members of a Ukrainian "saboteur group from the main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry."

Ukraines Defense Ministry rejected the FSB's allegations, calling them "another fabrication of the Russian secret services aimed at justifying its own repressive measures against local residents and to discredit Ukraine in the international arena."

Rights activists say Russia has jailed several Ukrainians on politically motivated charges since Russian military forces occupied Crimea in early 2014 and, less than a month later, annexed the territory from Ukraine in an illegal referendum.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax


Ukraine's main security agency says it welcomes "any steps" by Russia that would facilitate exchanges of people held by Kyiv and the Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) made the remark in a brief statement on November 16, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin told separatist leaders in Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk regions that he favored a plan for a prisoner swap with Kyiv.

The SBU "welcomes any steps taken by the Russian authorities to unblock the release of hostages," it said.

Russian state-run news agency TASS on November 15 quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Putin spoke by phone with separatist leaders Aleksandr Zakharchenko of the Donetsk region and Igor Plotnitsky of Luhansk.

The conversations came after Putin promised Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the pro-Russian Ukrainian organization Choice, that he would speak to the separatists about a prisoner exchange with the authorities in Kyiv.

"Putin told them that he had supported Medvedchuk's proposal on large-scale exchanges of people held by both sides," Peskov said.

Peskov said that Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky supported a swap in principle but "pointed out that the issue will have to be worked out further on with representatives of Ukraine."

Speaking Directly

The Russian statements saying that Putin spoke directly to the Russia-backed separatist leaders represented a rare public acknowledgment of such direct contacts.

The separatists have controlled the capitals and some other districts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions since the spring of 2014, when Moscow fomented separatism amid unrest that led to the downfall of Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych that February.

Russia does not recognize the separatist-held areas as independent and says it supports Ukraine's territorial integrity. Moscow also denies providing the separatists with troops, weapons, and other support in a war that has killed 10,000 people in the two regions since April 2014, despite what Kyiv and NATO say is incontrovertible evidence of such support.

In the past, the only official platform for Putin to meet the separatist leaders was during negotiations in the Belarusian capital in September 2014 and February 2015, when successive agreements known as the Minsk protocols were signed.

The agreements eased fighting but failed to stop it, and progress on other aspects of the 2015 deal -- which called for the "release and exchange of all hostages and illegally held persons" -- has been limited.

Minsk Limitations

Medvedchuk, who has personal ties to Putin and has played a key role in previous prisoner swaps, told Putin that Ukrainian authorities had said they are ready to release 306 prisoners captured during the conflict in exchange for 76 Ukrainians held by the separatists.

Iryna Herashchenko, first deputy speaker of parliament in Ukraine, said that there had been no releases for 14 months and that Kyiv had long been ready "to hand over all of those who can be released under Ukrainian laws in order to take confirmed Ukrainians in exchange."

But she said that Ukraine would not bend to "blackmail" and suggested that Russia and the separatists were trying to get Ukraine to hand over former security-force officers accused of involvement in deadly crackdowns on demonstrators during the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv that pushed Yanukovych from power.

In a post on Facebook on November 15, Herashchenko said that Ukraine "cannot release those who...cannot be released in accordance with the Minsk agreements."

Medvedchuk said the pace of exchanges has been slow because of the "all-for-all" formula established by the sides and enshrined in the 2015 Minsk agreement.

With reporting by Christopher Miller in Kyiv, TASS, UNIAN, Ukrayinska Pravda, and Interfax
Russia has vetoed a U.S. proposal in the United Nations Security Council to renew the mandate of a UN investigative team charged with determining who is responsible for chemical-weapons attacks in Syria.

The November 16 veto came hours before the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism was due to expire at midnight. It was Moscow's 10th such veto of UN resolutions involving the Syrian civil war since the conflict began in 2011.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said the veto showed Russia consistently puts protection of its ally Syria, which has been blamed for all but one chemical attack since the investigation started in 2015, above the protection of Syrian civilians killed in such attacks.

"Russia has killed the investigative mechanism, which has the overwhelming support of this council," she said. Eleven of the council's 15 members supported the U.S.-drafted resolution, which would have extended the investigation for another year.

"To my Russian friends, the next chemical-weapons attack is on your head," Haley said. "You are basically telling the entire world that chemical weapons are OK to use. That's what we should be embarrassed about today."

France's UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said the Russian veto was a blow to international efforts to curb the use of chemical weapons.

"Let there be no doubt: We have unleashed a monster here," said Delattre.

Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya shot back, saying the investigative mechanism needed an overhaul, including a mandate to secure evidence of chemical use first-hand rather than through parties involved in the conflict.

Nebenzya called the mechanism "a puppetlike structure" that he said can be manipulated by the West. On the basis of false information, it will time after time accuse the Syrian government of violating international norms," he said.

Russia has been highly critical of the team's findings that the Syrian government used chlorine gas in at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015 and used sarin in an aerial attack on Khan Sheikhun last April that killed nearly 100 people.

Syria has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons. The investigative team also found the extremist group Islamic State was responsible for a mustard gas attack in 2015.

After Russia vetoed the U.S. extension proposal, the council later voted against a rival resolution put forward by Russia to overhaul the investigative mechanism. It received only four votes in favor -- from Russia, Kazakhstan, Bolivia, and China -- short of the nine votes needed to pass.

After the council votes, Japan circulated a draft resolution to extend the inquiry for an additonal month to provide time to negotiate a possible compromise, diplomats said.

It was not clear when or whether the council would vote on the temporary measure.

In the absence of further action, the investigative mechanism was due to expire at midnight on November 16.

U.S. President Donald Trump had urged the council to support the investigation's continued work. In a Twitter message shortly before the vote, Trump said this would "ensure" that President Bashar al-Assad's Syrian "regime does not commit mass murder with chemical weapons ever again."

With reporting by dpa, AFP, Reuters, and AP


WASHINGTON -- A senior U.S. State Department official says Russias actions over the past decade have shown that Moscows willingness to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations is real and not simply rhetorical.

On November 16, Brian Hook, the State Departments director of policy planning, told the Center for Strategic & International Studies' Transatlantic Forum On Russia that Moscows actions in the war with Georgia in 2008 and more recently in Ukraine are violations of the UN Charter and of multiple articles of the Helsinki Final Act.

Hook's tough line on Moscow appears to be in contrast to stated attempts by the administration of President Donald Trump to improve relations with Russia as a means to solve global crises, although the official did suggest there were opportunities to cooperate in places such as Syria and North Korea.

Hook said the risks to Europe from Russia were similar to those faced by the West during the Cold War.

As in the past, the threat runs from the Baltic to the Black Sea, he said. Russia has shown off its capabilities in snap military exercises or planned large-scale ones, like the recent Zapad 2017 [in Belarus and Russia].

He said the conventional threat from Russia is real. He cited Moscow's drive for military modernization and said that the "military arrangement of forces in Europe favors Russia.

Hook, a senior policy adviser to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, warned that Russia is also modernizing its nuclear arsenal and its means of delivery. Moscow has developed a nuclear-capable cruise missile, in clear violation" of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), he added.

And like in the past, Russia plays a propaganda and disinformation game, he said, disrupting societies, electorates, and institutions across the Euro-Atlantic community.

The great difference between the Russia of today and its Soviet form is that it lacks an ideological coherence that informs its actions. But Russia is nonetheless a serious rival.

The threat to [the Wests] collective security posed by Russia is clear, and we on both sides of the Atlantic cannot ignore it."

Hook cited Russias war against Georgia in 2008, its illegal annexation of Ukraines Crimea region, and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine as examples of Moscows failure to honor its commitments since the end of the Cold War.

He reiterated U.S. demands that Russia restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine before sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe could be eased.

He also urged NATO allies to do more to underwrite the security and stability of the region, repeating Trumps call for increased defense spending in Europe.

The threat to [the Wests] collective security posed by Russia is clear, and we on both sides of the Atlantic cannot ignore it, he said.

He also reminded forum attendees of Trumps stated commitment to Article 5 of the NATO charter, which requires all members to come to the aid of any other member under attack.

Nevertheless, he cited conflicts and disputes in Ukraine, North Korea, and Syria as opportunities for the United States and Russia to cooperate in efforts to ease violence and tensions.

He said the United States remains committed to countering the Russian threat, but at the same time we recognize that it is in our mutual benefit to work together where it advances American interests.

He said cooperation with Moscow was possible, but added that the United States needs to see signs that Russia is ready to return to a less confrontational posture in Europe and the Middle East.


Marking eight years since whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in a Moscow jail, the United States has pledged to continue enforcing legislation imposing sanctions on Russians over human rights abuses.

"We honor the memory of Sergei Magnitsky, who died on November 16, 2009, while in custody in a Moscow prison," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement late on November 15.

"An investigation by Russia's Presidential Human Rights Council found that Magnitsky had been severely beaten in prison, and members of the council said his death resulted from beatings and torture by police officials."

"Magnitsky uncovered a vast tax-fraud scheme perpetrated by Russian officials, and was imprisoned by those whose crimes he uncovered," Nauert added.

"Russian authorities have failed to hold those responsible for his death accountable and instead, in recent months appear to be increasingly propagating conspiracy theories designed to distract attention from the crime," she said.

"In honor of Magnitsky's extraordinary courage, we continue to support efforts to hold those responsible for his treatment in prison and subsequent death accountable," she said.

Nauert said those efforts include implementation of the 2012 Magnitsky Act, which imposed sanctions on Russians believed to have been involved in persecuting Magnitsky as well as on other suspected human rights abusers.

Magnitsky was employed by U.S.-born British financier William Browder when he was arrested and accused by Russian law enforcement officials of carrying out the same alleged $230 million tax-fraud scheme that he helped uncover.

Enactment of the 2012 U.S. sanctions law three years after Magnitsky's death was one of a series of events that ushered in an era of increasing tensions between the United States and Russia.

Moscow responded by barring Americans from adopting Russian children.

Russia took the unusual step of trying Magnitsky after his death, and he was convicted of tax evasion in 2013 after a posthumous trial that was widely criticized by human rights activists and Western governments.

Browder was tried in absentia and sentenced to nine years in prison in the case, which deepened U.S. and European Union concerns over human rights and the rule of law in Russia under President Vladimir Putin.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. prosecutors have asked a judge to enforce a $6 million settlement agreement with a Russia-linked company known as Prevezon, the latest chapter in a legal fight that has rippled through U.S.-Russian relations.

In a motion filed on November 15, federal prosecutors said Prevezon had failed to meet a deadline to make payment and was instead seeking to rewrite the terms of the settlement. The prosecutors asked Judge William Pauley to force the company to pay up.

It was unclear if Prevezons lawyers had filed a response on November 16. A phone call to the New York firm representing them was not immediately returned.

The Prevezon case officially dates back to 2013 when U.S. authorities sought to seize about $14 million in assets from the company, which was registered in Cyprus and largely owned by well-connected Russian businessman Denis Katsyv.

U.S. officials alleged that the assets, mainly Manhattan real estate, came from a $230 million tax scheme, uncovered seven years earlier, to defraud the Russian government.

That scheme, which Moscow acknowledged occurred, was revealed in part by Russian whistle-blower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow jail in 2009 after suffering what his supporters said amounted to torture.

Magnitsky was accused of committing the fraud and was later convicted posthumously. His employer, British-American investor Bill Browder, has also faced related criminal charges in Russia, and Moscow has repeatedly sought his extradition.

With thousands of pages of evidence, affidavits, and bank records detailing byzantine transfers of money, the Prevezon case had been scheduled to go to trial on May 15. On May 11, in a pretrial conference, attorneys from the prosecution and the defense had sparred over the nature of financial records obtained in Russia and the credibility of a translator used by Prevezons Russian lawyers.

On May 12, however, the two sides announced a settlement, with Prevezon admitting no wrongdoing and agreeing to pay $6 million.

The timing of the settlement announcement raised eyebrows for many observers. The settlement came two months after the U.S. attorney overseeing the case, Preet Bharara, was fired after refusing to resign in what the White House said was a routine turnover of Justice Department appointees. It also came amid mounting scrutiny of interactions by President Donald Trumps associates with Russian officials. FBI Director James Comey was fired earlier that same week for what Trump later said was Comeys handling of the bureaus investigation of those Russian ties.

Theres no indication that the timing of Comeys firing and the Prevezon settlement were connected.

Prevezons main Russian lawyer was Natalya Veselnitskaya, who traveled to the United States in June 2016 as part of the ongoing pretrial maneuvering for Prevezon. It later emerged that during that visit, she met with Trumps son Donald Jr., along with a Russian-American lobbyist, and Trumps then-campaign manager, Paul Manafort.

Manafort, who has been a focus of the FBI investigation, was indicted last month by Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller on conspiracy, bank fraud, and other charges connected to his years of work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine.

Late last month, Veselnitskaya petitioned the U.S. court, seeking permission to travel to the United States in connection with efforts to make the $6 million settlement payment. Lawyers for Prevezon told the court that half of that amount had been scheduled to come from a Dutch bank account that U.S. officials had requested frozen.

Dutch authorities had lifted the freeze in October, but then reimposed it following a legal complaint filed by Browder.

The new filing from U.S. prosecutors said that Prevezon was fully aware of the situation surrounding the Dutch funds and asserted that Prevezon was seeking to retroactively rewrite the terms of the settlement.

The filing also indicated that the two sides had also tried to reach a settlement as early as 2015 and that the government had made an offer for far less than $6 million -- around $2 million.

Veselnitskayas 2016 meeting with Trump also included discussion of the adoption ban that the Kremlin instituted in 2013, following the passage of the Magnitsky Act. She was also involved in setting up a secretive lobbying group that sought to undermine the legislation and an expanded version that was passed earlier this year.
Three years ago, Mozilla dropped Google as the default search provider in their popular web browser, Firefox. Well, now that Yahoo is no longer Yahoo, Mozilla got out of that search deal and has now brought back Google as the default search provider in their latest version of Firefox, Firefox 57 Quantum.

Mozilla announced it on their blog:

As part of our focus on user experience and performance in Firefox Quantum, Google will also become our new default search provider in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Firefox default search providers in other regions are Yandex in Russia, Turkey, Belarus and Kazakhstan; Baidu in China; and Google in the rest of the world. Firefox has more choice in search providers than any other browser with more than 60 search providers pre-installed across more than 90 languages.

Here are the defaults in order now:

I don't see any disclosure on how much the search deal cost Google.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Notes: What if Navy blitz becomes blueprint? Notre Dame 'would welcome that'
The Apollo 1 crew, from left to right, Roger Chaffee, Ed White and Gus Grissom. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

The Apollo program changed forever on Jan. 27, 1967, when a flash fire swept through the Apollo 1 command module during a launch rehearsal test. Despite the best efforts of the ground crew, the three men inside perished. It would take more than 18 months of delays and extensive redesigns before NASA sent any men into space.

NASA had a lofty goal, set by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth by the end of the decade. Earlier Mercury and Gemini flights had been the first steps toward that goal, testing how humans behaved in space and how to do technical spacecraft procedures such as rendezvous. Now the Apollo missions would take astronauts all the way to the moon for orbital missions and landing missions. The first manned mission  an Earth-orbiting mission  was originally designated Apollo Saturn-204, or AS-204, but was later renamed Apollo 1.

Read more: Apollo landers, Neil Armstrongs bootprint and other human artifacts on Moon officially protected by new US law (opens in new tab)

The Apollo 1 fire was a difficult time for NASA and its astronauts, but the improvements in astronaut safety allowed the agency to complete the rest of the program with no further fatalities. The agency also met Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the moon in 1969, during Apollo 11.

NASA had a special ceremony honoring the Apollo 1 astronauts on the 50th anniversary of their deaths in 2017, which included unveiling a new exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center showing the hatches of the damaged command module.

Known as "the patch that never flew," this mission patch was designed by the first Apollo astronauts. Although the mission was not officially named Apollo 1 until after the fire, this was the patch they intended to carry into space. (Image credit: NASA)

The astronauts

The Apollo 1 crew commander, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He was chosen was among NASA's first group of seven astronauts, the Mercury Seven. Grissom was America's second person in space in 1961. On that mission, Mercury's Liberty Bell 7, the hatch door blew for unknown reasons upon splashdown. Grissom ended up in the water and was rescued by a helicopter (which at first tried, in vain, to pick up the spacecraft; the spacecraft was later pulled from the ocean floor in 1999).

Some in the Astronaut Office were skeptical that Grissom's reputation would recover (many believed Grissom blew the hatch; he swore he didn't). However, Grissom successfully commanded the first Gemini flight, Gemini 3, and was selected to do the same for Apollo.

Fellow spaceflight veteran Ed White, an Air Force lieutenant colonel, was the first American to make a spacewalk, on Gemini 4 in 1965. The images of him soaring in space for 23 minutes are still frequently seen today; it is considered one of history's most memorable spacewalks.

Roger Chaffee was a seasoned Navy lieutenant commander who joined the program in 1963. Although a rookie in space, he had spent years supporting the Gemini program, most publicly as CapCom on Gemini 4. Now getting a chance to fly after five years in the program, he said, "I think it will be a lot of fun."

(Image credit: NASA)

Gone in an instant

Every astronaut in the Apollo program had flight experience, and many were test pilots. They were used to seeing machines under development and dealing with delays, and assessing the airplanes' readiness for flight. In the view of many of these astronauts, the Apollo command module just wasn't ready yet. Engineering changes were still in progress as NASA prepared for the countdown test.

On his last visit home in Texas, Jan. 22, 1967, Grissom grabbed a lemon off a citrus tree in the backyard. His wife, Betty, asked what he was going to do with it. "I'm going to hang it on that spacecraft," he answered as he kissed her goodbye. He hung it on the flight simulator after he arrived at the Cape.

The morning of the test, the crew suited up and detected a foul odor in the breathing oxygen, which took about an hour to fix. Then the communications system acted up. Shouting through the noise, Grissom vented: "How are we going to get to the moon if we can't talk between two or three buildings?"

With communications problems dragging on, the practice countdown was held. Then at 6:31 p.m. came a frightening word from the spacecraft: "Fire."

Deke Slayton, who oversaw crew selections at NASA and was present for the test, could see white flames in a closed-circuit television monitor pointing toward the spacecraft. The crew struggled to get out. Technicians raced to the scene, trying to fight the fire with extinguishers amid faulty breathing masks.

Video: Apollo 1 Remembered  Report from the Archives

At last, the door was open, but it was too late.

The aftermath and changes

A NASA review board found a stray spark (probably from damaged wires near Grissom's couch) started the fire in the pure oxygen environment. Fed by flammable features such as nylon netting and foam pads, the blaze quickly spread. [Infographic: How the Apollo 1 Fire Happened]

Further, the hatch door  intended to keep the astronauts and the atmosphere securely inside the spacecraft  turned out to be too tough to open under the unfortunate circumstances. The astronauts had struggled in vain to open the door during the fire, but the pressure inside the spacecraft sealed the door and made it impossible to open.

NASA administrators sit at the witness table before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Services, chaired by Senator Clinton P. Anderson, on the Apollo 1 (Apollo 204) accident. The individuals are (L to R) Dr. Robert C. Seamans, NASA Deputy Administrator; James E. Webb, NASA Administrator; Dr. George E. Mueller, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, and Maj. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips, Apollo Program Director. (Image credit: NASA)

The board listed a damning set of circumstances, failures and recommendations for future spacecraft designers to consider.

The U.S. Senate conducted its own investigation and hearings and published recommendations of its own, while saying NASA's failure to report its problems with Apollo "was an unquestionably serious dereliction."

Several changes were made to the design of the Apollo spacecraft to improve crew safety. The flammable oxygen environment for ground tests was replaced with a nitrogen-oxygen mix. Flammable items were removed. A new respect developed between the astronauts and the contractors concerning design changes, which were implemented more effectively. Most notably, the door was completely redesigned so that it would open in mere seconds when the crew needed to get out in a hurry. [Photos: The Apollo 1 Fire]

Decades later, NASA recalls the Apollo 1 incident every January in an annual Day of Remembrance. It also honors the Challenger and Columbia crews, who died in 1986 and 2003, respectively. Further, an exhibit honoring the Apollo 1 crew was opened at the Kennedy Space Center in 2017, displaying the hatches that were on the spacecraft. The exhibit was done in consultation with the astronauts' families.

Additional resources:
In the Van

NASA

Astronaut Richard "Dick" Gordon was one of the first NASA astronauts to fly to space, first as pilot of Gemini 11 in 1966 and then as Apollo 12 command module pilot in 1969. He passed away on Nov. 6, 2017 at the age of 88.

Here:

Taking a Break

NASA

Inside the Gemini Mission Simulator, the Gemini 11 prime and backup crews take a break from training. From left to right are William A. Anders, backup crew pilot; Dick Gordon, prime crew pilot; Charles "Pete" Conrad, Jr. (foot on desk), prime crew command pilot; and Neil A. Armstrong, backup crew command pilot.

A Quick Stroll

NASA

As part of the Gemini 11 mission, astronaut Dick Gordon attaches a tether to the Agena vehicle from the Gemini capsule during a spacewalk. Gordon was the fourth American to "walk" in space.

Ready for Liftoff

Bettmann Archive/Getty

Astronauts Alan Bean, Dick Gordon and Pete Conrad, from left to right, lie inside the Apollo 12 command module in preparation for launch.

Ocean of Storms

SSPL/Getty

During NASA's second manned lunar mission, Apollo 12, astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean became the third and fourth men on the lunar surface. Astronaut Dick Gordon remained in the Command Module in orbit.

Ready to Take the Controls

Bettmann Archive/Getty

Astronauts Dick Gordon (left) and Pete Conrad were chosen in 1965 as backup crew for the Gemini 8 spaceflight mission.

Astronaut Richard "Dick" Gordon, Jr.

NASA

This official NASA portrait of astronaut Dick Gordon was taken in 1964.

Waiting to train

NASA

Aboard the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever, astronauts Dick Gordon (left) and Pete Conrad relax in their training suits, waiting for water egress training to begin.

Welcome Home!

NASA

After a successful splashdown on Sept. 15, 1966, astronauts Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon (left), the Gemini 11 prime crew, wave to the crew aboard the USS Guam.

A Warm Reception

NASA

At the Cape Kennedy skid strip, astronauts Dick Gordon (right) and Pete Conrad wave to crowds. The Gemini 11 prime crew just concluded a three-day mission in space.

Preparing for Apollo 12

NASA

On Oct. 22, 1969, astronaut Dick Gordon trains in a simulator getting ready for the second manned lunar landing mission. Gordon was part of the Apollo 12 prime crew along with NASA astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off Oct. 11 carrying the SES-11/EchoStar-105 satellite. The launch was the third mission with a previously-flow first stage.

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va.  NASA may decide to allow SpaceX to use a previously-flown Falcon 9 first stage on the next Dragon mission to the International Space Station, the latest sign that SpaceX's reusability efforts are winning broader acceptance in the market.

During a press conference at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility here Nov. 10 about the launch of a Cygnus cargo mission to the ISS, a NASA manager said the agency would likely approve the use of a reused booster on that mission, designated SpX-13, assuming it clears an upcoming review.

"We're in the final stages of doing all those assessments," Dan Hartman, ISS deputy program manager, said. SpaceX first requested to use a previously-flown booster for a cargo mission about a year ago. "On the NASA side, we've had a lot of major reviews."

He said SpaceX itself had one more readiness review for the booster they're planning to refly before deciding if they can use it for the SpX-13 mission, scheduled for launch Dec. 4. "If that comes back positive," he said, "I'd say the chances are that we'll be flying a reuse on SpX-13."

NASA had previously allowed SpaceX to reuse the Dragon capsules on cargo flights. On that SpX-11 mission to the ISS, launched in June, SpaceX used a Dragon capsule that first flew on the SpX-4 mission in 2014. The upcoming SpX-13 mission will fly a reused Dragon capsule as well, in this case one from the SpX-6 mission from 2015.

The upcoming launch is also intended to be the return to service of Space Launch Complex (SLC) 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. That pad was damaged in the September 2016 explosion of a Falcon 9 during preparations for a static-fire test. SpaceX shifted Falcon 9 launches to Launch Complex 39A at neighboring Kennedy Space Center, but wants to move those launches back to SLC-40 to prepare the pad for the first flight of the Falcon Heavy, scheduled for no earlier than late December.

A decision by NASA to use a previously-flown Falcon 9 first stage would suggest increasing acceptance of reusability by the market. SpaceX has flown three Falcon 9 missions to date with reused boosters, all for commercial customers: SES 10 in March, BulgariaSat-1 in June and SES 11/EchoStar 105 in October. The company has successfully landed first stages on 19 launches, including the three missions with reused boosters.

Other customers are either signing contracts specifying the use of reused boosters or allowing their use under existing contracts. Iridium announced Oct. 19 that its next two launches of Iridium Next satellites will use previously-flown boosters. The company originally planned to use new boosters for all its launches, but chief executive Matt Desch said earlier this year he would be open to using previously-flown boosters if it could accelerate its schedule.

A day earlier, Israeli operator Spacecom, whose Amos-6 satellite was lost in the September 2016 Falcon 9 explosion, announced a contract for launching the Amos-17 satellite on a Falcon 9 in 2019, with an option for using a previously-flown booster .

One of the last to accept reused boosters may be the U.S. Air Force, which has yet to develop a process by which the stages can be recertified for use launching national security payloads. However, the general in charge of Air Force Space Command said he expected that, one day, it would make use of previously-flown boosters.

"The market's going to go that way. We'd be dumb not to," Gen. Jay Raymond said in an Oct. 16 interview with Bloomberg. "What we have to do is make sure we do it smartly."

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
XCOR Aerospace had been working for nearly a decade on the Lynx suborbital spaceplane, but technical and financial issues kept it from completing a prototype.

WASHINGTON  XCOR Aerospace, a company that for nearly 20 years had been working on rocket engines and a suborbital spaceplane, filed for bankruptcy Nov. 8 after it was unable to line up new investors.

The company filed paperwork with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, seeking bankruptcy under Chapter 7, which calls for liquidation of the company's assets. XCOR is headquartered in Midland, Texas, with facilities in Mojave, California. The filing was first reported by Parabolic Arc.

The company had, in recent weeks, been trying to line up investors or other partners that could keep the company alive. Michael Blum, a member of the board of directors of XCOR who took over as chief executive at the end of June, said in an Oct. 19 interview that the company had only a few weeks to reach an agreement or it would run out of money. [XCOR Aerospace's Lynx Space Plane in Pictures]

"By early November, either one of these deals pulls the trigger and saves XCOR, or we file for Chapter 7," he said at the time.

Blum, in a Nov. 9 email to investors and shareholders in the company obtained by SpaceNews, said time ran out on the company's efforts. "Today it is my sad duty to inform you that XCOR has failed," he wrote. "Our effort to find a financial future for XCOR has not succeeded."

Blum said the company had discussions with several potential partners, including one that involved joining a consortium led by a "large aerospace firm" working to develop space access systems in the United Kingdom. Another suitor, discussions with whom started just a couple weeks ago, was interested in XCOR's capabilities but lacked the financial resources needed for a deal.

Blum said that the company's senior secured creditor, not identified in the message, "became difficult to work with, necessitating a bankruptcy filing."

According to its bankruptcy filing, XCOR has more than 100 creditors, although none are identified as the senior secured creditor who reportedly triggered the filing. The creditors listed in the filing include a mix of individuals, companies and government organizations.

XCOR, in its filing, listed estimated assets of between $1 and 10 million, with estimated liabilities of between $10 and 50 million.

XCOR was founded by four former employees of Rotary Rocket Company in 1999 after that company, which was developing a reusable launch vehicle called Roton, changed propulsion systems. XCOR developed a number of engines, including versions flown on a modified Long-EZ airplane called EZ-Rocket.

XCOR is best known in the industry for Lynx, a suborbital spaceplane announced in 2008 designed to carry one pilot and one spaceflight participant. The vehicle was designed to take off from a runway under rocket power and fly a suborbital arc, gliding back to a runway landing.

The company, though, was never able to complete the initial prototype of Lynx. In 2016, the company announced it was laying off approximately half of its employees and shelving work on Lynx to focus on an engine project under a contract with United Launch Alliance.

At the end of June, the company said it was laying off the rest of its employees due to "adverse financial conditions," hiring a few back as contractors. Jay Gibson, the former chief executive of XCOR who left in June when nominated to a Defense Department position, told senators at his July confirmation hearing that a sudden termination of a contract from a larger, but unnamed, company led to those layoffs.

XCOR is not the first suborbital spaceflight company to go out of business. In 2013, John Carmack, the videogame developer who founded Armadillo Aerospace more than a decade earlier, announced the company was in "hibernation mode" after he ran out of money to fund its operations. Armadillo later ceased operations entirely, although many of its former employees now work for Exos Aerospace, another company working on suborbital vehicles.

Blum, in his note, thanked investors and shareholders who "supported XCOR financially and in so many other ways." He also sounded optimistic about the future of the industry in general despite the failure of XCOR itself.

"The advent of entrepreneurial endeavors has led to significant cost reductions in recent years," he wrote. "This trend will continue and with it low cost access to space for humans will arrive. I am certain of this."

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
More antimatter particles stream toward Earth than scientists can explain  and new research from a mountaintop observatory in central Mexico deepens the mystery by crossing off one possible source.

The Earth is constantly showered by high-energy particles from a variety of cosmic sources. Physicist Victor Hess used a balloon to provide the first evidence of the extraterrestrial nature of cosmic rays in 1912. Since then, scientists have identified and accounted for a variety of different types, but the origin of some of these particles continues to elude experts.

The recent finding, detailed in the journal Science today (Nov. 17), concerns positrons, the antimatter complements of electrons. High-energy particles, usually protons, traveling across the galaxy can create pairs of positrons and electrons when they interact with dust and gas in space, study co-author Hao Zhou, at Los Alamos National Lab, told Space.com. In 2008, the space-based PAMELA detector measured unexpectedly high numbers of earthbound positrons. This was about 10 times what they were expecting to see, according to Zhou. [Supernova Face-Off May Solve 40-Year-Old Antimatter Mystery]

After years of work, camps coalesced around two distinct explanations, according to a statementby Michigan Technological University, which was involved in the new study. One hypothesis suggests the particles come from nearby pulsars, rapidly spinning cores of burnt-out stars, which can whip particles like electrons and positrons to incredible speeds. The other group posits a more exotic origin for the excess positrons, perhaps involving dark matter, an unknown yet pervasive entity that accounts for 80 percent of the universe's mass.

Particles like positrons that carry an electric charge are difficult to detect on Earth since they can be deflected by the planet's magnetic field. But scientists have a workaround. The particles also interact with the cosmic microwave background  an ever-present stream of low-energy photons left over from the birth of the universe. "The high-energy electron, or positron, [will] kick the low-energy photon ... so this the photon becomes a high-energy gamma-ray," Zhou said. "These gamma-rays, which have no electric charge, can pass right through the magnetic field and make it all the way to Earth's surface.

Zhou's team made detailed measurements of the gamma-rays coming from the direction of two nearby pulsars  Geminga and its companion PSR B0656+14  that are the right age and distance from Earth to account for the excess positrons. To do this, the scientists used the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory, located about 4 hours east of Mexico City. HAWC comprises more than 300 tanks of extra-pure water. When gamma-rays plow into the atmosphere, they create a cascade of high-energy particles. As this shower of particles passes through HAWC's tanks, it emits flashes of blue light, which scientists can use to determine the energy and origin of the original cosmic ray.

The data from HAWC revealed that particles are streaming away from the pulsars too slowly to account for the excess positrons, according to a statement by the University of Maryland, whose researchers also contributed to the work. In order to have arrived here by now, the particles would have needed to leave before the pulsars had formed, Zhou said.

Zhou's colleagues are quick to point out an important caveat. "Our measurement doesn't decide the question in favor of dark matter, but any new theory that attempts to explain the excess using pulsars will need to match the new data," University of Maryland physicist Jordan Goodman, the lead investigator and U.S. spokesman for the HAWC collaboration, said in the statement from Maryland.

By observing the rotations of galaxies, scientists determined that the universe contains more mass than the objects we can observe. They call this mysterious extra mass dark matter. Aside from seeing dark matter's gravitational influence from afar, no one has directly detected it otherwise. However, a popular model of the substance involves weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPS, which interact with regular matter solely through gravity. If these proposed particles were to decay, or be annihilated somehow, they could conceivably generate pairs of electrons and positrons, Zhou said.

There are other astrophysical processes to consider as well. Supernova remnants and microquasars  extremely bright objects formed as matter spirals toward a black hole  can produce positrons, Zhou said. And there's the possibility that the initial model of particle interactions with the cosmic microwave background is inaccurate. "In order to confirm a detection of dark mater, I guess, there's still a long way to go," Zhou said. "We have to rule out all these astrophysical processes."

Zhou's team plans to take advantage of HAWC's incredibly wide field of view to narrow down these alternatives in future studies.

Email Harrison Tasoff at htasoff@space.com or follow him @harrisontasoff. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
We now know what to call the mysterious object from interstellar space that zoomed past Earth last month.

The interloper  the first known interstellar body observed within our own solar system  has been named 'Oumuamua, which means "a messenger from afar arriving first" in Hawaiian, representatives of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced yesterday (Nov. 14).

The IAU also approved an official scientific designation for 'Oumuamua: 1I/2017 U1. This is a first-of-its-kind moniker; the "I" stands for "interstellar." Previously, small objects like 'Oumuamua have received standard comet or asteroid designations, which sport a "C" or "A," respectively, in place of the "I." [Solar System Explained from the Inside Out (Infographic)]

'Oumuamua was first spotted on Oct. 19, by astronomers using the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Hawaii. The smallish object was first classified as a comet but then regarded as an asteroid, after further observations revealed no evidence of a coma (the fuzzy cloud of gas and dust that surrounds a comet's core).

Analysis of 'Oumuamua's trajectory soon revealed that it was on a hyperbolic path  that is, one that will take it out of the solar system. And the object doesn't seem to have had any gravitational encounters with planets that could have nudged it onto such a path, which strongly suggests that 'Oumuamua came from interstellar space, researchers have said.

Astronomers have determined that 'Oumuamua made its closest pass by the sun on Sept. 9 and then zoomed within 15 million miles (24 million kilometers) of Earth on Oct. 14  about 60 times the distance from our planet to the moon. The object is now barreling toward the outer solar system at about 98,400 mph (158,360 km/h) relative to the sun, researchers have said.

Though 'Oumuamua's composition is unknown, the object is probably more ice than rock, Matthew Holman, director of the Minor Planet Center (MPC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, told Space.com last month. That's because bodies that form on the outskirts of solar systems  and are therefore most likely to get booted into interstellar space  tend to be icy, Holman said.

The Pan-STARRS team proposed 'Oumuamua's common name, and the suggestion was approved by the MPC, the organization responsible for gathering data about asteroids and comets in our solar system.

The MPC operates under the auspices of the IAU, which is the arbiter of official astronomical names. The MPC proposed creating a new formal designation scheme for interstellar objects  the one with the "I" instead of the "C" or "A" for comet or asteroid  and the IAU executive committee quickly agreed, IAU representatives said.

"Considering the growing interest in the observation and orbit determination of asteroids . . . it is expected that the discovery of 1I/2017 U1 ('Oumuamua) will soon be joined by discoveries of more of such interlopers entering the inner solar system from interstellar space," IAU representatives wrote in a statement yesterday. "The scheme for their designation is ready, while the procedure for assigning them a name, similar to the one in use for minor planets, will soon be decided."

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Artists illustration of the GJ 273 system, which consists of a red dwarf star and two known planets, one of which may be capable of supporting life.

If there are any intelligent aliens in the GJ 273 system, they can expect to hear from us about a dozen years from now.

Last month, scientists and artists beamed a message to GJ 273, a red dwarf also known as Luyten's star that lies 12.36 light-years from Earth, project team members revealed today (Nov. 16). Luyten's star hosts two known planets, one of which, GJ 273b, may be capable of supporting life as we know it.

Though the message was designed to provoke a response from the hypothetical denizens of GJ 273b, the main goal in sending the communication involved laying a foundation for the future, said team member Douglas Vakoch, president of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) International, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. [13 Ways to Hunt Intelligent Aliens]

"It is a prototype for what I think we would most likely need to do 100 times, or 1,000 times, or 1 million times," Vakoch told Space.com. "To me, the big success of the project will come if, 25 years from now, there's someone who remembers to look [for a response]. If we could accomplish that, that would be a radical shift of perspective."

Indeed, humanity's demonstrable penchant for short-term thinking has prompted some skepticism within the SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) community about METI as a viable strategy, Vakoch said. (METI is also known as "active SETI." "Traditional" SETI involves listening and looking for signals that could be from E.T.)

METI is controversial for another reason as well. Some critics  most famously, physicist Stephen Hawking  have suggested that the strategy could betray our existence to super-advanced hostile or resource-hungry aliens, with potentially dire consequences for humanity and the rest of the planet.

But beaming a message to Luyten's star doesn't increase the risk of an alien attack, Vakoch said.

"It's really hard to imagine a scenario in which a civilization around Luyten's star could have the capacity to come to Earth and threaten us, and yet they're not able to pick up our leakage radiation," he said, referring to the TV and radio signals that have been slipping out into the cosmos from Earth for more than half a century.

The Luyten's star project, known as "Sonar Calling GJ 273b," is a collaboration involving METI International; the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia in Spain; and Sonar, a music, creativity and technology festival in Barcelona, Spain.

"Doing it in partnership with the Sonar festival is a way that we can respect the necessity of incorporating a scientific perspective but also to recognize that doesn't capture the fullness of the human spirit," Vakoch said.

Team members crafted a message that includes a scientific and mathematical "tutorial," as well as 33 short musical compositions by artists in the Sonar community. The team beamed this message out in binary code at two different radio frequencies on Oct. 16, Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, using the 105-foot-wide (32 meters) European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT) radio antenna in Troms, Norway.

Luyten's star was chosen primarily for its proximity to Earth, which could theoretically lead to a relatively rapid response. The red dwarf is the nearest star visible from the Northern Hemisphere that's known to host a potentially habitable planet, Vakoch said. (That planet, by the way is a "super-Earth" about three times more massive than our own."

The ease of conversation has not always factored in to METI campaigns. In 1974, for example, Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory beamed a message devised by Frank Drake, Carl Sagan and other researchers toward the globular cluster M13, which lies 25,000 light-years away from Earth. (This "Arecibo message" began its long space journey 43 years ago today, in fact.)

The October transmissions represented the first phase of "Sonar Calling GJ 273b." The group also plans to send an "expanded tutorial" to Luyten's star in April 2018 at several different radio frequencies, turning the EISCAT antenna into something like a musical instrument, team members said.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
A file photo of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket atop Launch Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX will launch the secret Zuma mission for the U.S. government on Nov. 16, 2017.

Editor's note: SpaceX has delayed the Zuma launch to Friday (Nov. 17). You can read our latest story here: SpaceX Launch of Mysterious Zuma Spacecraft Delayed Until Friday

Our earlier story is below:

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch what just might be the company's most mysterious payload yet tonight (Nov. 16)  the secret Zuma mission for the U.S. government  and you can watch it live online.

SpaceX will launch the Zuma payload tonight from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, during a two-hour launch window that opens at 8 p.m. EST (0100 Nov. 17 GMT). SpaceX representatives have not announced an exact time for the launch, nor the exact nature of the Zuma mission, though the company did delay the launch by 24 hours Wednesday. [SpaceX's Secret Zuma Mission: What We Know]

You can watch the Zuma launch live, courtesy of SpaceX, beginning about 15 minutes before liftoff (7:45 p.m. EST for an 8 p.m. EST launch target). You can also watch it directly from SpaceX's live webcast page here.

If SpaceX is unable to launch the Zuma mission Thursday night, the company does have a backup launch window on Friday night (Nov. 17).

The mission emblem for SpaceX's launch of the secret Zuma payload on Nov. 16, 2017. (Image credit: SpaceX)

We know few details about the Zuma launch, and what little we do know comes from a representative with Northrop Grumman, the aerospace company that arranged the payload's launch for the U.S. government on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

According to Lon Rains, communications director for Northrop Grumman's space systems division, Zuma will be launched into a low-Earth orbit.

"The Zuma payload is a restricted payload." Rains said in a statement. "Northrop Grumman is proud to be part of the Zuma launch. The event represents a cost-effective approach to space access for government missions."

According to a mission description posted online Wednesday (Nov. 15), SpaceX will attempt to land the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket used in tonight's launch at Landing Zone 1, a pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station near the company's Pad 39A launch site. That landing should occur about 7 minutes and 51 seconds after liftoff, SpaceX representatives wrote.

The Zuma launch will mark SpaceX's 17th mission of 2017 and the company's third classified flight this year. In May, SpaceX launched the NROL-76 spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office and followed that with the Sept. 7 launch of an uncrewed X-37B space plane on the OTV-5 mission for the U.S. Air Force.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph worn by NASA astronaut Donn Eisele on Apollo 7, the first Apollo mission to fly into space, has been recovered by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, 28 years after it was stolen from a museum in Ecuador.

A NASA astronaut's wristwatch worn aboard the first Apollo mission in 1968 has been returned to the Smithsonian, nearly three decades after it was stolen from a museum in Ecuador.

The Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph, which astronaut Donn Eisele was issued to wear on board the Apollo 7 mission into Earth orbit, is now back in the custody of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The watch was recovered with the help of space history enthusiasts, who provided the authorities with information about the chronograph's status and location.

Disclosure: As detailed below, collectSPACE editor Robert Pearlman was among the individuals who provided information that led to the watch being recovered. [Space and Time Collide in New Space Watches]

Eisele's NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster was on loan from the Smithsonian to the Instituto Geografico Militar in Quito, Ecuador, when in 1989 it was stolen from its display. The local police investigated the theft, but a culprit was never identified.

The watch remained missing for 28 years. It briefly surfaced earlier this year at a watch show in Florida, but traces of it were quickly lost. Then, a person claiming to have been offered the watch for sale began reaching out for more details about its history.

From Earth orbit to Ecuador

"Someone tried selling me a vintage Omega Speedmaster with astronaut number [sic] engraved in the back and s/n [serial number] 34. I was afraid to buy, since I thought it might be fake. Do you have an idea what mission it was?" read an email sent to collectSPACE on the evening of Sept. 29.

Donn Eisele, who died in 1987 at age 57, launched on his first and only spaceflight as command module pilot on Apollo 7, the first mission of the U.S. moon landing program. The 10 day and 20 hour flight saw Eisele and his two crewmates, Wally Schirra and Walt Cunningham, put the Apollo command module through its paces while orbiting Earth 163 times from Oct. 11 to Oct. 22, 1968.

Recognizing that its astronauts would need a chronograph to time mission events in space, NASA tested and selected the Omega Speedmaster as its flight-qualified watch beginning with the Gemini program. As the first Apollo crew to fly in space, Schirra, Cunningham and Eisele were each issued Speedmaster watches to wear with their spacesuits and other mission attire.

NASA engraved each Speedmaster with part and serial numbers, to help track its mission equipment. Eisele's NASA-issued chronograph was inscribed with the part number common to other NASA Speedmaster watches, SEB12100039-002, and a unique serial number, "34."

(Eisele also wore a personal Omega Speedmaster on Apollo 7, engraved with the serial number 38. That chronograph was sold by Sotheby's in 2007 for $204,000.)

In 1977, after the end of the Apollo program, NASA transferred the title for all of its Gemini and Apollo-flown Speedmasters to the Smithsonian. Initially, the museum offered the watches for loan back to the astronauts who had used them in space, but within a decade decided against the practice and refocused the loans to other museums.

The Instituto Geografico Militar requested the loan of space artifacts, including a chronograph, in the mid-1980s, and was provided Eisele's Apollo 7 Speedmaster. [Gallery: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]

Apollo 7 command module pilot Donn Eisele is seen reclining on Oct. 11, 1968, hours before his launch into Earth orbit for 11 days. Eisele can be seen wearing two Omega Speedmaster Professional chronographs: his NASA-issued watch on his right arm (with white Velcro strap) and his personal watch on his left arm (with black Velcro strap). (Image credit: NASA)

Serendipitous discovery

Five months ago, after hearing nothing about the Eisele watch for almost 30 years, the Smithsonian was alerted the chronograph was seen at a watch show. But prior to investigators being able to take action, it disappeared again.

Then in September, a space history and watch enthusiast signed onto eBay.

Garron DuPree, the bass guitarist for the coincidentally-named band Eisley, came across a watch seller from Texas who, after discussing various timepieces, shared the story of a friend who had bought a "vintage Omega Speedmaster with some very interesting engravings" for $5,000 while on a trip to Ecuador. The dealer said the watch was not for sale, but volunteered to share photos of it with DuPree.

"Shocked by what I was seeing while simultaneously being an extreme skeptic, I began furiously researching the subject," DuPree said in an email to collectSPACE after the Eisele watch was recovered. "It wasn't until I found information posted on collectSPACE that my suspicions began to be confirmed."

Concerned the chronograph could again disappear, DuPree held back details from the dealer, but reached out to collectSPACE for help contacting the authorities. At just about the same time, the eBay seller emailed collectSPACE with photos of the Speedmaster, seeking to authenticate the watch.

"I saw the watch in Mexico City and the owner is a [sic] worried he could have it taken away. He knew there was something special about it which is why he bought it. Weird situation," the man wrote.

collectSPACE and DuPree contacted the Smithsonian Office of Inspector General (OIG), the independent entity within the institution that oversees investigations into theft and fraud. Through the information that was shared, the OIG, working with the FBI, was able to identify the eBay dealer and confirm he was not in possession of the watch.

Within days of that happening though, another unidentified individual surrendered the watch to the FBI in Houston, Texas. The Eisele Speedmaster was then briefly held at the bureau's McAllen, Texas office, until its return to the Smithsonian.

Citing internal polices, the Smithsonian, OIG and FBI declined to comment for this article.

Back where it belongs

With the Eisele Speedmaster now back in the hands of the Smithsonian, it will, at least initially, be cared for at the Buehler Conservation Laboratory at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in northern Virginia. Omega technicians periodically visit the lab to help inspect the NASA chronographs in the Smithsonian collection.

The Smithsonian is now missing only five Omega Speedmasters (out of the more than 50 transferred by NASA) that were stolen while on loan to other museums in the 1990s. There are also a few other flown watches that went missing outside of museums; most famously, the first watch worn on the surface of the moon, Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Speedmaster, went missing while in transit to the Smithsonian in 1970.

DuPree expressed his pride in having contributed to returning a chronograph to its rightful place.

"To have played any part in the recovery of this priceless piece of history is among the most humbling privileges I have experienced," he said.

Kristy Eisele, the astronaut's daughter, told collectSPACE that she too was happy with the outcome.

"Through some kind souls and great detective work, my father's watch has been recovered," she said on Wednesday (Nov. 15). "I'm absolutely thrilled that it's back at the Smithsonian where it belongs."

See more photographs of Donn Eisele's Apollo 7 Omega Speedmaster chronograph at collectSPACE.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2017 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
Kampala (Uganda), Nov 15, 2016 (SPS) - The Ugandan capital, Kampala, hosted the meeting of the member countries of the African Union and international organizations on refugees and displaced persons in Africa, as well as the phenomenon of migration.

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) participates represented by the first secretary of the Saharawi embassy for Uganda and Rwanda, Al-la Sidahmed Omar and the first secretary of the embassy for Ethiopia and the African Union, Mohamed Omar Fneidu, who made a series of meetings with other representations of African countries and international institutions specializing in issues related to refugees and humanitarian aid.

The meeting is expected to address the necessary mechanisms to promote data analysis in order to ensure an adequate response to the challenges posed by refugees and displaced persons in Africa. Therefore, the African Union and international organizations, intend to draw a road map to reduce the areas hit by these phenomena, through the eradication of causes.

It is important to remember that the SADR has presided, over the last two years, the African Committee in charge of refugees, displaced persons and migration. SPS

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Paris, France, Nov 16, 2017 (SPS) - The International Collective of Lawyers in Support of Political Prisoners of the Gdeim Izik Group has sent a letter to French Prime Minister Edward Philippe and his accompanying ministerial delegation at the meeting, on the basis of what you call "the context of the exceptional friendship relationship between France and Morocco.

The state of health of several of them is very worrying, in particular because they no longer receive medical treatments adapted to their pathologies: heart disease, kidney disease, hypertension, severe asthma, as well as multiple pathologies resulting from the torture they have undergone (rectorragy, pain in the soles of the feet, hypersensitivity of the eyes). Adds the collective in its letter

The International Lawyers collective pointed out that Currently the Prisoners are still subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment by Moroccan prison guards. Many of them are now detained with violent prisoners and fear for their lives - we are wondering about the reasons for this sudden detention with extremely violent criminals.

It also reminded Prime Minister, that the Kingdom of Morocco has been condemned by the UN Committee against Torture for torturing and convicting Mr. Naama ASFARI, (one of the nineteen prisoners) on the basis of confessions obtained under torture, noting that Mrs. Claude MANGIN, Mr. ASFARI's wife, is a French national who has been refused access to the territory of Morocco for 1 year and a half, while her husband has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Kingdom of Morocco is thus constantly and seriously undermining the right to a private and family life.

That on this occasion, you will remind the Kingdom of Morocco of the imperative need to grant Saharawi political prisoners, dignified treatment and respect of human rights, to protect them from any form of torture and inhuman treatment, and to ensure that they have effective access to the medical treatments they need to survive. Collectives letter calls French PM.SPS

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N icola Barker has become the first English author to win the Goldsmiths Prize for her fabulous, innovative novel.

Her idiosyncratic novel H(a)ppy scooped this year's prize, which includes a 10,000 cash sum, during a ceremony at Foyles bookshop in central London on Wednesday.

The ambitious work is presented like an illuminated manuscript for the digital age, breaking up lines with coloured words, injecting spaces and diagrams, and carving symbols into the type.

Ms Barker, from Ely in Cambridgeshire, said: "Once I've finished writing a book I never think about it again.

"I kind of just move on and this book, I suppose it's about the distinction between joy, desire and pleasure. It's about what makes you happy, it's about the limits of information and truth.

"I suppose it's a book about faith, it's a book about suffering, confusion, it's a modern book but... quite crazy - I can't make any excuses for it. It's written in colour."

H(a)ppy by Nicola Barker / PA

Ms Barker beat competition from Will Self's Phone, Gwendoline Riley's First Love, Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor, Kevin Davey's Playing Possum and Sara Baume's A Line Made By Walking.

Naomi Wood, chairwoman of the judging panel and lecturer in creative writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, praised the innovation, saying: "Nicola Barker's H(a)ppy is a structural marvel to hold in the mind and in the hands.

"Line by line, colour by colour, this dystopic utopia is an ingenious closed loop of mass surveillance, technology, and personality-modifying psychopharmaceuticals.

"H(a)ppy is a fabulous demonstration of what the Goldsmiths Prize champions: innovation of form that only ever enriches the story.

"In Barker's 3D-sculpture of a novel, H(a)ppy makes the case for the novel as a physical form and an object of art."

H(a)ppy is her 11th novel after works including Wide Open, Darkmans, The Yips and In The Approaches.
B ritish Land on Thursday said it was making a good fist of Brexit uncertainty after doing a clutch of deals with tenants, including one of the biggest lettings in the West End for 20 years.

The upbeat tone from the developer and landlord marked a contrast with rival Land Securities, which also posted results this week.

British Land held half-year profits steady at 198 million despite 1.5 billion in disposals.

The highlight of the past six months was a major 310,000 square foot letting to media giant Dentsu Aegis Network at its Regents Place campus in the West End.

Its portfolio is virtually full up and the company is also said to be in talks with a major Japanese bank SMBC over taking space at its forthcoming 100 Liverpool Street scheme. Its speculative exposure is minimal, at 4% of its pipeline.

Chief executive Chris Grigg said: What we have been doing for quite some time now is focusing on the things we can control and these results are evidence of that approach.

The interim dividend is up 3% and the shares rose 13p, or 2%, to 609.5p.

Peel Hunt analyst James Carswell said the results were considerably more upbeat than LandSec, pointing to healthy leasing interest at good pricing.
A top tip for modern mothers is judge not lest ye be judged, and Ive learnt to heed it. I still believe that baby massage is for mugs and that anyone who opts for a natural Caesarean should be sectioned (Google it), but for the most part I manage to keep these opinions to myself.

The other, connected top tip is trickier to get on board with. Thats the one that goes: Your own non-judginess notwithstanding, you will be constantly judged by relatives, internet randoms and faceless scientific bodies. Get used to it. I thought Id made my peace with that too, until a recent attempt to cast grandparents as the villain in our evergreen parenting debate. Lets leave my mother out of this, shall we?

A review of 56 separate studies by Glasgow University has accused grandparents of giving our children cancer (or at least increasing their long-term cancer risk) by plying them with sugary treats, discouraging them from outdoor exercise and exposing them to passive smoking. That seems both mean-spirited and also utterly oblivious to the circumstances of the vast majority of families in this country.

If you can afford an au pair, stop reading now; this column is not for you. Everyone else should know that nursery is expensive. Like Prince-Harrys-Boujis-bar-tab expensive. Plus the research into the long-term damage that full-time nursery may do to young children does not make for a comforting bedtime read. As a result, 44 per cent of children in Britain are now regularly cared for by grandparents. My guess is that most of the other 56 per cent would be shipped off to granny too were it possible.

In order to benefit from the creche of Mum and Dad, you must have parents that are a) alive b) local c) still talking to you and, most crucially, d) willing. Not everyone does. I do and consider myself very lucky.

Granny should be getting gin-buzzed on a cruise instead of reliving her own child-rearing years

Thats not to say I approve of everything that goes on while my daughter is with her grandparents but, out of love and necessity, I (mostly) manage to keep my mouth shut. (Incidentally, this is also what my daughter will have to do after my mothers finished laying waste to her tooth enamel, one verboten choccy biccy at a time.)

Look, wed all love life to be different. Not least the grandparents, who should be getting gently gin-buzzed during life-drawing classes on a cruise somewhere, instead of reliving the drudgery of their own child-rearing years. Nor do I particularly relish reflecting on all the hours of study, rental deposits and black kohl eyeliner I wasted in establishing my independence as a young adult, only to find it snatched away again.

So say what you like about my parenting style  Im a mum, Im used to being shat on  but youd better go easy on the grandparents. Apart from anything else, we really, really need to keep them sweet.

A breakout with Tiffany

This week Tiffany Haddish, the breakout star of 2017s breakout film, Girls Trip, became the first black female stand-up to host Saturday Night Live. To put this into context, disgraced Louis CK and Kevin Spacey have hosted it six times between them.

Haddishs script was so-so but her charisma carried the show. So instead of mourning the genius weve lost to scandal, celebrate the talent thats only now got a spell in the spotlight.

Fond farewell to the kindly QC who inspired Rumpole

What can we learn from the life of Jeremy Hutchinson, the renowned London-born QC who died this week at the age of 102? Theres just so much.

Hutchinson took on several high-profile cases, famously defending the publishers of Lady Chatterleys Lover against obscenity charges, representing Christine Keeler during the Profumo Affair in the early Sixties and Soviet spy George Blake. In the process he evinced a life-long soft spot for the rogues of public life.

As he told one interviewer: My colleagues used to say, Hutchinson, you adore your clients. But it was hard not to. You meet such extraordinary people. They were rather lovable.

Hutchinson was also one of the models for the famous fictional barrister Horace Rumpole, aka televisions Rumpole of the Bailey. In particular, writer John Mortimer borrowed Hutchinsons habit of referring to the judge as that poor old darling on the bench.

Its this last detail that best hints at Hutchinsons enduring gift to those who hope for social change. Instead of allowing ourselves to be defeated by the prejudices of the old order, lets emulate the amused kindliness of this man, who took on the Establishment and won. Theyll catch up eventually, the old darlings.

* Delivering greasy food to the homes of the hungover can be dangerous, as were reminded by acid attacks on drivers in Hackney and Walthamstow and this weeks fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old delivering food. Yet a ruling that deprives Deliveroo drivers of minimum wages and holiday pay confirms the convenience industrys commitment to treating employees like the free agents they are not. Where does a willingness to risk life factor into this definition of a workers status? Theres nothing casual about that.
I n the digital age things move fast. Just ask Justine Sacco. A few years ago she was catching a plane from New York to South Africa to visit her family for Christmas and posted a quick message on Twitter that she hoped people would find funny. The tweet read: Going to Africa. Hope I dont get Aids. Just kidding. Im white!

Saccos plane took off, and while she was in the air, completely cut off from internet access, her tweet went viral, becoming the most talked-about topic on the entire social network.

When Sacco landed in Cape Town and turned on her phone she was in for a nasty surprise. In the space of just a few hours not only had she become a global pariah for sending such an offensive tweet, shed also been fired from her job. Talk about swift justice.

But with the pace of technology change accelerating its not just information that travels quickly these days, its the speed of economic upheaval too. Take the rapid growth in self-employment in the UK. Incredibly, self-employed work accounts for almost half of all the employment growth since the financial crisis. As a result, more than one in seven workers is self-employed today  a total of 4.7 million people.

And according to the Royal Society of Arts, if this growth continues, by the end of the decade therell be more people in the so-called gig economy than working in the public sector.

As numerous studies have shown, technology has played a big part in this shift. Its now cheaper and quicker than ever to set up your own business and use digital tools such as Ebay or Etsy to reach a global market.

And of course, online platforms such as Uber and PeoplePerHour mean self-employed people can find work more easily, which in turn means more workers are going freelance.

For politicians such as Jeremy Corbyn the rise of the gig economy is nothing but bad news. At Glastonbury this year the Labour leader described self-employment as exploitation, and vowed to take drastic measures.

Thats understandable  when things change rapidly its natural to want to turn the clocks back. But its also a mistake. For starters, it ignores what self-employed people themselves want.

As a recent Populus survey found, the self-employed are happier than traditional employees, with 84 per cent saying theyre more satisfied than if they were doing a typical job.

When things change rapidly its natural to want to turn the clocks back. But its also a mistake

Small wonder that fewer than 10 per cent of self-employed people plan on going back to a regular job in the next five years. Once you start working for yourself its hard to go back to working for The Man, man.

As Benedict Dellot from the Royal Society of Arts puts it, too many politicians want to hark back to a golden age when being an employee in a large organisation was the norm. Not only is this futile, it also distracts us from the task of improving the living standards of the self-employed and ensuring their needs are no longer overlooked in government policy.

Its not just Corbyn whos heading in the wrong direction  the Government has also failed to take action, unless you count the decision earlier this year to do a U-turn on a big increase in National Insurance that would have hit millions of self-employed workers.

This inactivity comes at a cost. Because our leaders havent clarified the rules governing self-employment the courts are having to step in.

In the past week one court has ruled that Uber workers should be classified as employees, while a separate tribunal decided that Deliveroo riders are actually self-employed. Its a mess, and this uncertainty is bad for the economy and harmful for workers too.

Its up to the Government to sort things out, and with the Budget coming up next Wednesday, when the Chancellor sets out his policies for the year ahead, theres no time to lose.

Heres what the Chancellor should do.

First, he needs to make it clear that self-employed workers must be able to accrue rights to paid parental leave, social insurance in case they get sick and other benefits. This would end the uncertainty at a stroke, and make a real difference to peoples lives. Former Downing Street policy chief Matthew Taylors excellent report on self-employment is full of sensible policy proposals on this front, and the Government should get on and implement them.

Second, the Chancellor needs to deal with some of the other ways that our institutions have failed to respond to the growth in self-employment, such as the unfair way landlords require self-employed workers to pay much bigger deposits, and the extra obstacles faced when trying to secure a mortgage.

Finally, the Budget is the perfect opportunity to overhaul the tax system to keep pace with the changing economy. Theres no reason why technology cant be used to ensure that self-employed workers have taxes automatically deducted from their earnings, sparing them the burden of doing the calculations themselves.

Its hardly rocket science. In Estonia, the tax authorities have already integrated their systems with digital platforms such as ride-hailing apps so drivers pay tax as they earn  with all the relevant information instantly shared with the taxman. Imagine that  no need for self-employed people to pay accountants or fill in tax returns, and less paperwork for the authorities too.

Its time to give self-employed people more rights  and reform our outdated tax system to bring it into line with the modern era.

Things might move fast in the internet age, but thats no excuse for inaction. Britains 4.7 million self-employed workers deserve better.
I n mainstream music if nowhere else, 2017 has been the year of the big British white male.

Liam Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, sundry One Directioners  all returned with blockbuster, best-selling albums (well, not as best-selling as theyd have hoped in the case of Messrs Styles and Horan). But for out-of-the-box impact, none beat a 32-year-old man-mountain with 10 years of struggle behind him and a love of old-time, old-fashioned blues.

With first-week sales of 117,000 for his album Human, Rag n Bone Man bestrides them all like a beardy, tattooed colossus. Last week Smith could only manage 97,000 sales for The Thrill of It All, the much-trumpeted, sad-faced follow-up to the 12 million-selling In The Lonely Hour. The man born Rory Graham, unknown a year ago, trumped that with his debut, its sales powered by the success of the ubiquitous single of the same name.

Then, two weeks after the albums February 10 release, he took home to Brighton two Brits, the Critics Choice and the British Breakthrough Act. To date Human has sold, in less than nine months, some 2.2 million copies.

Breakthrough? More like a smashthrough. So much so that the man himself is still reeling, admitting that he feared a double-Brits victory might reek of too-much-too-soon hype.

DEAN CHALKLEY

I was almost willing myself not to get the second Brit, Graham says in the bassy-but-quiet murmur that belies his height (6ft 5ins). We are in the lounge of a Brussels hotel; tonight Rag n Bone Man and his band are playing a 4,500-capacity arena, the final date on a continental European tour thats followed by a victory-lap run around the UK. An audience of coupled-up Belgians will sing and sway to an immaculate set of, as he acknowledges from the stage, quite depressing songs.

I didnt know if I deserved it, he continues. It was all quite new  the album had barely been released, it was [about] just one song. He pauses. But in hindsight it definitely wasnt a bad thing, obviously. I didnt get into music for trophies but to get that sort of recognition early on was cool as f***.

The downsides? A quick look at the wholly personable Grahams Twitter feed reveals some of the challenges of chasing runaway international success with back-to-back touring. Theres mention of a day off that involved 15 hours on a bus to Madrid. A social media shout-out for a tattooist in Zurich yielded naught. But I did get this in LA, he says, proudly proffering a ham-hock forearm featuring a dinky inking of his beloved hairless Sphynx cat Patricia (ragnbonecat has nearly 3,000 Instagram followers).

Ive got 99 problems and most of them are height-related, goes another tweet, next to a photograph of his colossal cranium cresting a too-low door. Thats a hotel in Spain. I had to duck a foot to get out onto the balcony. On coffin-like tour bus bunks, I just have to be crunched up a bit.

Luckily he doesnt suffer from claustrophobia, just insomnia. Normally he doses up with Valium or Melatonin, but recently even they havent been touching the sides. Is this stress, worry?

Nah, Im not that sort of person, he shrugs, flagging the easygoing confidence that no doubt stood him in good stead in his former occupation, as a carer for kids with Aspergers and Downs (his sister has Downs, so Graham just naturally fell into that job).

The insomnia just perpetuates. I have one bad night, then I get it in my head that I cant sleep. Ive been trying these meditation tapes  there are a couple on Spotify  and theyre meant to calm you. But they dont seem to work, he chuckles, ruefully.

But the only thing in this hectic, globetrotting year thats really pushed the buttons of this mellow monolith is the family thing. Beth, his girlfriend of eight years, gave birth to their son Reuben on August 28. That tested me this time round. Leaving an eight-week old baby at home [to go on tour] was tough. Like, super-tough. The first week I was like, I wanna go home! he wails. You can suck it up a bit  you get on stage and kinda forget. But then the next day its tough again.

Still, probably not as tough as his girlfriends had it. The saintly Beth, whos here in Brussels with the Rag n Bone Man Baby, even found the family a new home while she was pregnant and he was on tour in America.

Im FaceTiming her from a gig in Washington DC while shes looking around houses, he admits, guiltily. Now we live out in the sticks, a really small village near Lewes, only 25 minutes from Brighton. Its super-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, he beams with relief.

Before Rory Graham gets to go home to the new house and new family hes barely spent any time with this year and before he embarks on a 2018 thats already itinerised to the halfway mark  he wraps up a beard-boggling 2017 with a series of engagements that speak to all his passions. There are four sell-out nights in London and Brighton, followed by a club night with his old hip hop homies Rum Collective, then a trip to watch Brighton & Hove Albion, the other Sussex crew who have gone premier league this year.

Gus Stewart/Redferns

While travelling the world, then, Rag n Bone Man is taking care of business on all sides. More importantly, how has he been taking care of his mighty facial fuzz?

I just had it cut, actually, he replies, giving it a good stroke. The soap you get in hotels is really abrasive, and in the morning its like a birds nest, all knotted. But some company just sent me some conditioner or something, he adds, vaguely, typically oblivious to the clear sponsorship potential.

Its a weird thing, beards now, Graham muses. Ill be in east London and lads come up to me: Yo man, what beard oil do you use? Im like, I dont know what youre talking about. Its just laziness.

I just didnt shave one day about eight years ago and thought, oh, that doesnt look too bad. It wasnt a conscious effort to be hip.

Thats RNBM all over: accidentally on-trend, accidentally massive.

Rag n Bone Man plays O2 Academy Brixton, SW9 (020 7771 3000, academymusicgroup.com) on Nov 23, 24 and 25
O liver Letwin was the fixer-in-chief for both the coalition and Cameron governments. From his rooms in the Cabinet Office he was free to range far and wide, supervising everything from energy policy to the Leveson Inquiry, transport to welfare.

A meeting with Oliver was like an Oxbridge tutorial, involving intense discussion on the detail of policy with someone who, disconcertingly, knew as much about the area as you did, if not more. Disconcerting, not least, because that was probably true for the dozens of other ministers he also dealt with. I cant say I miss those sessions but I never left without a feeling of awe for the man who presided over them.

Like this memoir, Letwin is elegant, serious, mildly mischievous and completely without guile. His early political career began in

Mrs Thatchers policy unit before moving, as an MP, into various shadow cabinet positions during the bleak years of Tory opposition during the Blair ascendancy. He was one of the architects of the all-too-brief flowering of modern conservatism, and was the stonemason of the coalition.

Letwins memoir adds another fine layer to the already voluminous history of Thatcherism. But it comes into its own in other ways. His narrative account of the battles that Mrs Thatcher and her colleagues fought to return Britain to prosperity is tempered by the conclusion that not enough was done to help those who could not take full advantage. The focus on the political war, he says, had the destructive side effect of making us far less interested in life chances and social justice.

His subsequent commitment to the social market, and the role he played, while in opposition, in modernising Conservatism, was clearly atonement for that error, fully and honestly acknowledged here.

In government, there is welcome honesty about the Liberal Democrats he worked with in coalition, all too rare from their former Conservative allies. Having rehearsed their motives for entering the coalition, he, rightly in my view, concludes that they were genuinely motivated to form a strong national government at a time when Britain was facing a serious crisis.

Many of his former Liberal Democrat colleagues will be thankful for his generous acknowledgement of their role in government, although it is amusing to see the guileless Letwin nevertheless stand back as they dig themselves into holes over tuition fees and the AV referendum.

Letwin was an early Eurosceptic, concluding in the mid-Eighties that Europe wanted to build a superstate, and that Britain should have no part in it. But he voted Remain and his opening chapter, based around the referendum, is a fascinating insight into how he saw his pragmatic vision for a multi-speed Europe overtaken and eclipsed by like-minded colleagues who morphed into ardent Brexit-at-all-costs ideologues.

More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics  the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review

And here lies the one frustration for the reader and admirer. Won over by the clarity of thought and honesty of the author, you yearn to hear more from him about the future.

His final chapter, Where Next? is uncharacteristically superficial. Having proposed a realistic compromise over Britains relationship with an increasingly converged Europe, what does he think should now be the way forward? And having realised that free market economics need to be tempered by social justice, what is his prescription for the future, if ever the Conservative party is freed again from the fixation of Brexit?

His conclusions are too general to satisfy the reader who knows that he could say more. And I am certain he will.
T here has been fevered speculation about Tina Browns diaries for decades. Some people even doubted whether they actually existed. Her late agent, Ed Victor, told me: Tinas diaries are going to be her pension, Nick. Theyre explosive. Believe me, one day, Ill sell them for millions.

Well, here they finally are  and I read them in one six-hour sprint of pure pleasure and joy. These are the most compelling media diaries since Piers Morgans The Insider but with a tonier cast of characters, indiscreet, brilliantly observed, frequently hilarious.

I should declare an interest: Tina was my first boss. I found her mesmerisingly witty and sweetly ruthless. She went on to become the second most famous magazine editor in the world after Anna Wintour (who appears 33 times in these diaries, seldom warmly) but, for my money, the greatest.

She has variously been my boss, mentor, unwitting competitor and friend. Her turnaround of the relaunched Vanity Fair in the mid-Eighties is the stuff of journalistic legend  an electrifying, glitzy, gritty triumph  and these are the years covered by these diaries.

And its all here: the Demi Moore naked and pregnant front cover, Claus von Bulow photographed in black leather, Donald and Ivana Trump, the whole sweep of Eighties Manhattan reported at first hand in Tinas fresh, beady, borderline-paranoid style.

The Reagans appear regularly (Ronald 25 times, Nancy 26), along with Dominick Dunne (38 entries), Jerry Zipkin the social walker (16), Bob Colacello (22), Leonard Lauder (seven), myself (10, mostly generous), and Boris Johnson (three entries, vicious). But the largest number of entries is reserved for the then Conde Nast owner, the billionaire S I (Si) Newhouse, who features 160 times.

It was an eye-opener to learn how watchful Tina was around him, frequently anxious about her place in his estimations and his court. He always spoke of her with such unequivocal admiration that I underestimated Tinas apparent insecurity.

There is a priceless episode when Newhouse takes her to see his latest auction acquisition, a Jasper Johns painting for which he had paid the highest-ever price for a work by a living artist. Tina writes, The Johns is hanging on the wall of a functional, unloved-looking bedroom with nothing much in it except a clock radio. Seems like a ton of money to pay, but maybe it will be worth more one day.

As a primer for how to edit a hot magazine, there is much to learn here: unreliable contributors, disappointing cover shoots, staff in-fighting, manipulative celebrities  Tina encounters it all, and deals with it. Although I suspect some air-brushing in certain episodes, these diaries feel authentic to me, and contemporaneous, not recreated after the event.

Tina is far too smooth an operator, and ultimately too British, to go long on self-revelation, though there are humanising glimpses of family life, and she is candid about the stress of editing. Unless I am working, I am agitated. Hoped that the Golden Door (spa programme) would calm me down but the contrast made it worse. I am hopeless with yoga and my head always just filled with articles I wanted to assign. But the stress is also self-inflicted and an addiction, and such remedies as breathing deeply and holding on to some smooth, spiritually imbued stone doesnt seem to work for me, folks.

More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics  the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review

The one player who doesnt appear anywhere at all in the index is Harvey Weinstein, who became Tinas next boss after Newhouse. Perhaps he and his massage enthusiasm is reserved for a second volume of diaries. I hope so. The sooner the better, please.
I ts only a few months since Michael Connelly introduced us to Hawaiian hottie detective Renee Ballard in The Late Show and yet heres his old mucker Harry Bosch ready to take on the forces of evil once again. The retired LAPD detective now works cold cases more or less full-time for the San Fernando Police Department. However, when a father and son are shot dead in a local pharmacy Harry soon finds himself going undercover as a pill shill to nail Santos, an elusive drugs baron otherwise known as the Howard Hughes of hillbilly heroin.

Meanwhile  theres always a meanwhile  a failed actor turned killer whos spent the past 30 years on death row is claiming that Bosch framed him. Harry enlists the help of his half-brother Mickey Haller, aka the Lincoln Lawyer, to try and clear his name.

It is hard to think of any other crime series that doesnt feature at least one dud. Two Kinds of Truth is as brilliant as anything Connelly has written (and hes written 30 novels). He splices his twin narratives into a super-gripping thriller that also adds depth and complexity to his central character. Bosch, like his boyhood hero Dr Livingstone before him, believes sympathy is no substitute for action. His deeds shine bright in a dark and horrifying world.
W hat to see

Situated next to the lush Jardin Majorelle and close to his former home, the Musee Yves Saint Laurent is hidden behind terracotta walls studded with decorative brickwork.

Inside is a smooth arts centre, complete with auditorium and a permanent exhibition of some of Saint Laurents most iconic looks, including Le Smoking and the bougainvillea cape. Clever projections tell the story of the Algerian-born couturier and his creations, which took inspiration from the local textile and jewellery traditions.

The design by architects Studio KO (also responsible for Chiltern Firehouse) features richly coloured tiles and stained glass windows in the Saint Laurent palette. Funded by Saint Laurents life and business partner, Pierre Berge, who died only weeks before they opened, its a fitting tribute to one of fashions greats.

Blue wonder: Jardin Majorelle / Jonathan Prime

Where to eat & drink

Head to the Ville Nouvelle (the colonial quarter) for a drink and a sunset view from the Sky Bar at La Renaissance Hotel. Back in the medina, Dar Zellij serves great Moroccan dishes from a 17th-century riad at 1 Kaa Essour.

Where to shop

High-end jewellery and contemporary Morroccan clothes are sold at Boutique Majorelle, while just across the road are a clutch of designer stores that include 33 Rue Majorelle, a two-level treasure house of modern Moroccan designs. Looking for classic leather goods and ceramics? Pay a visit to Original Design, a small-but-perfectly-formed lifestyle shop just a short walk from the medina. Ayas  whose celebrity fans include Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks  is the place to go for chic kaftans, tunics and accessories, while Heritage Berbere does a fine line in artisanal scents (right), which come in flight-friendly 100ml bottles.

Where to stay

Commissioned by King Mohammed VI, the Royal Mansour hotel is a series of private riads and a main building that shimmers with ornate tiles, fretted plaster and metal. The exquisite craftsmanship is a showcase of Moroccos traditional talents, which are best enjoyed at Le Jardin, the languorous pool area and restaurant serving delicious light bites and cocktails.

High in the Atlas Mountains but just 45 minutes from Marrakech, Kasbah Tamadot is a former governors mansion that is now part of Sir Richard Bransons collection of resorts. Sleep in the main building among the turrets or in a series of luxe Bedouin pavilions that overlook a river valley.

A bigger splash: the pool at Kasbah Tamadot

Where to visit

Go to the medina to see the grand Koutoubia Mosque and the madhouse of the JemAa el Fna main square. Medersa Ben Youssef, a former 16th-century religious school, boasts some of the best Islamic art in the city.

Getty Images

PS...

In Paris, 5 Avenue Marceau, YSL HQ for more than three decades, is now also a museum. Highlights include a recreation of the designers studio, replete with original sketches, bolts of fabric and objets dart.
T heres an episode of the cult US comedy 30 Rock in which Jenna and her boyfriend, Paul, having exhausted every sexual proclivity in the book, decide to invent a new one after boringly falling asleep on the sofa one night.

Its a whole new fetish called normalling, they decide. I just had the sickest idea, adds Jenna, lasciviously. We go out as a couple to Bed, Bath & Beyond and shop for home necessities.

Normalling in public? asks her partner. You delicious whore.

We all know about normcore, the word coined in 2014 to describe the trend for anonymous jeans, unbranded sportswear and other middle-aged American tourist tropes. While its related, normalling is different. Normalling is the elevation of the mundane into something alluring, exciting and  yes  even a little bit kinky, and come the new year its all you will want in your 2018 wardrobe. Its Vileda mops made into shoes (Christopher Kanes SS18 show, above), fluffy house slippers (Anya Hindmarch, above), bags inspired by ruffled pillowcases (Mother of Pearl, Maison Margiela), Lego skirts (Mary Katrantzou), string shopping bags (Vetements), shell suits adorned with jewels (Gucci) and rubber gloves made precious by the addition of gemstones (Kane again). Call it normcore on Viagra, if you like.

PIXELFORMU/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock

That these everyday objects have appeared so frequently on the catwalk  both for AW17 and SS18  is significant. Forget the familiar fashion realm of stealth luxury, private jets and unthinkable wealth  welcome to fashions great staycation, whereby the mundane has become exotic. Its a long-held tradition for designers to cite the jewelled hues of Rajasthan or the breezy boho allure of Ibiza as inspiration for their shows. This is usually because, as soon as said show has finished, they jet off to exotic foreign climes to rejuvenate and seek fresh stimulation. So what are we to make of this vogue for finding inspiration closer to home; so close that a designers biggest muse appears to be their own front room or kitchen?

Is it a Brexit thing? Is it a time-constraint thing? Is elephant trekking in Namibia simply no match for the sweet satisfaction of pulling on your rubber gloves and giving the oven a good scrub? I think we must be told. So I asked Christopher Kane, a designer who stands at the vanguard of the normalling movement. After all, this is the man who turned humble Crocs into objets dart.

Anya Hindmarch scourer charm, 197, at matches fashion.com

No one ever goes there  people are scared to, is how Kane explains his fascination with domesticity, because they think its not good enough or grand enough. Kane grew up in a large working-class family, in a community where all the women were immaculately turned out, regardless of whether they had any money or not. You made do and kept things good, he says. Ive never been brought up to be a snob. Things are not good or bad taste. I dont think youve got the right to say something is ugly or beautiful  its in the eye of the beholder. His background explains his fascination with the everyday and objects that loftier designers would find boring. Cleaners were always people I related to, he says of the 1940s housecoats, dusters and rubber gloves referenced in his show. The men thought they ruled the house, but these women were big, hardcore matriarchs who raised five kids and were also clean freaks. They really were domestic goddesses. How could you not find that amazing?

In Kanes hands, the suburban theme becomes a comment on the class system. I love how middle-class people are always trying to be something theyre not, he chuckles. Where I grew up in Scotland, we made things look good no matter what they were. You were always well presented, no matter how you were brought up. Who cares if it wasnt designer? The idea of class is even more apparent now, he adds. Brexit left you feeling as though you thought you knew people, but actually you didnt know anyone. Thats really sad, he says.

BALENCIAGA shoes POA (balenciaga.com/gb) / Balenciaga

Anya Hindmarchs take on suburbia is different  unsurprisingly, given her comfortable middle-class upbringing. While her presentation back in February of this year featured such desultory household objects as scouring pads, her SS18 show took the fetishisation of suburbia even further. For her stage set, Hindmarch constructed a house, complete with a loft extension from which a glitterball dropped down for the finale. Pastel hues of sugar pink and mint green were lifted straight from a suburban front room, as were the textures and fabrics, with fluff, quilting and wallpaper-esque brocades writ large. Accessories were fashioned in the same vein: totes came printed with cats or budgies  surely suburbias favourite house pets  and shaggy mules aped old-fashioned house slippers.

Ive always loved the idea of taking something you know and doing it in a really luxurious way. It comes with an automatic point of view before youve even started, and then you can mess with it, says Hindmarch, who famously turned a crisp packet into a clutch. Theres something comforting, funny and creatively challenging about subverting the way people perceive things they already have an opinion of.

Christopher Kane SS 2018 / REX/Shutterstock

Hindmarch says she also enjoyed experimenting with some of the techniques used to fashion the objects she was surrounded by in childhood, such as pouffy cushions and candlewick bedspreads. Its such a personal thing, suburbia, and what it means to us. Most people who live in it try to escape it, and yet in a funny way, theres comfort in the uniform nature of it. Theres something fascinating about that.

Shrimps Hannah Weiland, whose brand logo is a salute to that 1980s hostess favourite, the prawn cocktail, agrees. There is joy in the repetitive beauty of suburbia, she says.

I wonder whether, as a mother of five, Hindmarchs interest in the ephemera of household life was piqued by her own experiences of keeping house, and a consequence of being surrounded by household objects. For me, the subject of suburbia was not at all related to that, she says. It was more about the architecture. Im fascinated by its rather beautiful-ugly nature. I find it quite hypnotic when youre driving along a road and see cookie-cutter houses all the way. That was my starting point.

MOTHER OF PEARL SS18 / Catwalking.com

There can be few better emblems of sexy suburbia than Cynthia Payne, whose Streatham sex parties were frequented by peers of the realm and became a national scandal in the 1970s. Payne was a key inspiration for Kanes collection because, he says, She took the piss out of the Establishment, had a sense of humour and looked great. Im sure people were like, OMG, thats so not feminist, but Im always striving [to represent] those characters because they bring so much story and background. Why cant a prostitute be considered a muse? Cynthia was a working woman. She probably threw great parties.

She probably did  and would have died to wear Kanes jewel-encrusted rubber gloves. After all, if normalling isnt just a little bit saucy, youre probably not doing it right.
W hat makes a Christmas tree? The tinsel, twinkly lights, baubles - you know the drill.

But if youre bored of the usual baubles and tinsel, perhaps its time to look further afield than the cupboard under the stairs for some decoration inspiration.

Why deck the halls with boughs of holly when you could string up popcorn, origami and biscuits?

These are just some of the Christmas tree decoration traditions from around the world that put us Brits to shame in the creativity stakes, according to Celebrity Cruises.

Here are the most charming international Christmas tree trends for us to copy. So if your festive forest needs a makeover, take heed from some of these ideas.

Popcorn on a string in the USA

Popcorn wasnt always just a healthy millennial snack. In America in the 1950s and '60s, adorning the tree with delicate strings of popcorn was a craze. The sweet-and-salty tradition is thought to originate from when outdoor Christmas trees were decorated with food for wildlife. Perfect if youre feeling peckish while youre putting presents under the tree.

Real candles in Germany

This decorative tradition might be something of a fire hazard, but a cosy look can be just as easily achieved with LED candles. Legend has it that Protestant reformer Martin Luther introduced real candles to Christmas trees in the 16th century to recreate a starry night sky. O Tannenbaum.

Sparkly spiderwebs and spiders in Ukraine

Its not just a hangover from Halloween: in Ukraine, families dot their trees with shimmering spiderwebs to celebrate a famous folklore. The story goes that there was once a poor family who couldnt afford to decorate their tree, so a Christmas spider decorated it with webs that turned to gold and silver on the big day, making the family rich. Magic and riches not guaranteed, sadly.

Shell ornaments in Australia

Christmas takes place during the summer season in Australia, meaning the trees have less of a wintry theme. Youll often find pretty little shells on the branches of Christmas trees down under, either in their natural form or embellished with glitter.

Straw himmeli in Finland

Who knew geometry could be so trendy? These structures, traditionally made from rye straw, can be found in UK department stores, often in copper and gold. In Finland, they were hung above dining tables at Christmas and remained until midsummer as they were said to bring a good harvest. Himmeli can now be seen on the trees of Finnish families and are very popular on Pinterest in case you fancied making some DIY decor.

Kerstkransjes biscuits in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands at Christmas, youll find delicious treats on their trees called kerstkransjes, biscuits in the shape of Christmas wreaths tied to branches with red ribbon. A buttery cookie base, they can be decorated in many ways but youll mostly see almond and chocolate versions. Its a common occurrence in many Dutch households that these tasty ornaments will be nibbled away before Christmas Day, leaving just the red ribbon behind.

Origami birds in Japan

Christmas is not a widely celebrated holiday in Japan, in fact its considered a normal working day. But this hasnt stopped those in the country who do celebrate to put their own spin on the festive traditions. More shops in Japan are stocking Christmas items now, but many years ago there werent many places to buy decorations. This is why origami birds are commonplace on many Japanese Christmas trees, as they could be made easily at home.
O ne does not simply walk onto the banter bus. Nor does one necessarily want to. Now, the banter lines are being drawn: today, Prince William  both a dad and a top lad  launched his stop, speak, support anti-cyber-bullying campaign, including a guide for children on how to cope with a banter escalation scenario. This is an important line in the sand. It asks them to stop and consider what the situation is before joining in negative activity online.

Like it or loathe it, this country was built on banter. Archaeologists in London recently discovered City Boy banter was rife in AD43. A scrawled graffito on the famous Temple of Mithras reads: They are boasting through the whole market that you have lent them money. Therefore I ask you in your own interest not to appear shabby, you will not thus favour your own affairs. Nawty!

Today, top bantz range from half-baked puns on The Great British Bake Off to Love Islands nu-laddish charm. Banter is a leveller in Brexit Britain.

If were not on the same page, at least were on the same Facebook page: hundreds of banter groups exist on the site, from Banter Britain to the Premier League Banter Page.

At Francis Holland School, the upmarket west London girls school in Sloane Square once attended by Cara Delevingne and Sienna Miller, the head, Lucy Elphinstone, recently suggested girls should be taught banter at school to toughen them up for the world of work. Its not going away anytime soon. Heres the banter breakdown.

Cheeky bantz

The most winning form of banter, when youre just about getting away with it. As spicy as a cheeky Nandos.

Archbishop of Banterbury

Not directly related to Justin Welby, although he has his banterous moments. This is someone who has impressed with banter on such a regular basis that he or she may confer banter blessings on others.

Bantersaurus Rex

Those whose banter is outdated, outmoded, but who still represent a self-pronounced king of banter. A person who uses old jokes repetitively to create a reaction that has been overused. Dangerous, approach with caution.



Banter ban

A banter-free zone. When things were going badly at Chelsea FC under Jose Mourinho it was reported the team had banned all banter in an attempt to focus their minds. It didnt work...

Banter tilt

Similar to when a poker payer bets bigger on increasingly worse hands to gain back the chips they have lost. See also: banter escalation.

Banter Santa

Refers to people around the Christmas period who think they have the gift of the gab.

Banter bonus

Used to notify how funny or not a statement is  points awarded typically range from zero to 100, a positive or negative skew based on the comment. The art of banter is hard to master.
Ferrero Rocher Behind The Layers

First floor, near Next, 1-17 December

Ferrero Rocher Behind The Layers is a multi-sensory tasting experience by celebrated chef Paul Hannegan. Each dish is inspired by the iconic layers of a Ferrero Rocher: whole hazelnut, smooth chocolate, crisp wafer and hazelnut pieces, all wrapped in gold.

Tickets cost 25 each, on sale now. For tickets, visit behindthelayers.co.uk

Christmas choir competition

Ground floor, near The Atrium, 6-8 December, from noon

Getty Images

Watch more than 15 local primary schools perform a medley of Christmas carols and songs at this popular event. Who will be awarded the coveted Best Choir, Best Dressed, Best Performance and Best Fundraiser this year?

Have a very global Christmas at Kidzania London

KidZania, first floor, near M&S, 1 December-5 January

Have a very global Christmas at Kidzania London

Visit KidZania London this festive season, as the indoor city built for kids brings Christmas to life from across the world. Experience how children from other countries celebrate this magical time of year. Follow the map throughout the city to learn fun facts about the festive traditions of Mexico, Italy, China, Australia, Ethiopia and more. From the Christmas markets and AdventsKranz in Germany, to Indias celebration of Christmas Baba, young visitors can follow the trail on a fun journey around the world. KidZania London will take on a seasonal twist, with activities including festive face painting at the Snazaroo painting studio and a Christmas parade around the city.

Plan your visit at KidZania.co.uk

Charlotte Tilburys instant eye palette masterclass

Ground floor, The Atrium, every Thursday in November, 7pm-9pm

Alamy

A revolutionary control-pressed palette that will change the way you apply make-up, the #IEP will take you anywhere  from a day at your desk to a date at a disco. Join Charlotte Tilbury and her teams weekly Thursday masterclasses and learn how to create each look and do your make-up like a celebrity. The price includes the palette, a complimentary drink and goody bag  enquire in store for more details. 35

Links of London vending machine

Ground floor, The Atrium, open until 17 November

Unwrap the magic with the Links of London holiday pop-up. The magic dispenser will be giving every Links lover a treat  theres a gift card up to the value of 500 and thousands of other prizes to be won.

Style Trial  your one week festive wardrobe

Fashion Lounge, second floor, The Village, 24-26 November, 30 November-3 December, 7-10 December and 14-17 December

Style Trial is the UKs first ever standalone rental shop, enabling shoppers to hire fashions most coveted garments and accessories  including this Mary Katrantzou dress above  throughout the party season, meaning you never have to wear the same outfit twice.

Style Trial is curated by celebrated stylist and editor Melanie Rickey who handpicked this seasons key must-haves from brands ranging from high street to designer. All proceeds will go to Save the Children.

For hire: Faylinn bead-embellished crepe and velvet mini dress by Mary Katrantzou  1,890, Style Trial rental 100

Haig Club

The Atrium, 18-24 December

Give the gift of style by visiting Haig Clubs pop-up, where complimentary samples and exclusive whisky gift packs will be on offer.

DS Automobiles

Olgun Kordal Photography

DS is a premium automotive brand from Paris that draws on an outstanding heritage and a philosophy of innovation and excellence. Experience the full range of cars at the DS Urban Store, including the popular DS 3. If you purchase a DS 3 Connected Chic before 31 December, it comes with a contactless payment key*. Track your spending, topup your balance and take control by using the dedicated bPay app available for both iOS and Android devices.

*Terms & Conditions: The contactless payment car key is only available for customers who buy the stylish DS 3 Connected Chic by 31 December. Each account linked to the contactless car key, powered by bPay, is subject to application and Terms & Conditions. Each bPay payment chip, which is embedded into your DS key, is valid for a minimum of three years.

Festive cooking lessons at The Jamie Oliver Cookery School

Dates across November/December

Joe Sarah

Celebrate the festive season at The Jamie Oliver Cookery School. Enjoy a range of Christmas-themed lessons where youll learn how to make the perfect Christmas Day feast or mince pie and wow your friends with some yuletide treats. Or treat your friends to a gift voucher that can be used for more than 30 lessons and masterclasses.

See jamieolivercookeryschool.com

Coach pop-up

The Atrium, 8-14 December

Shop an exclusive selection of small leather goods and gifts made in their signature Glovetanned and Pebbled leather in a variety of bright shades and plenty of Holiday glitter!

Complimentary Christmas engraving at Jo Malone

Ground Floor, The Village, 22 November, 4pm-8pm

Discover gifts, glorious gifts, for each and every one. For a truly personal gift, customise a cologne or candle with beautifully engraved initials*, exclusively available at this event. And sip on festive fizz** and indulge in homemade mince pies while the Jo Malone stylists help you decide.

*A maximum of 3 characters per product.

**Customers must be 18 or over

Megan Hess fashion illustration pop-up

Ground Floor, The Village, until 31 December

Looking for the perfect gift to give this Christmas? Shop limited edition fashion illustrations and more by Megan Hess, artist to celebrities and fashion icons, at her very first UK pop up store.

Who is Megan Hess?

This may be the first pop-up boutique for Australian fashion illustrator Megan Hess, but her work has come a long way.

Alamy Stock Photo

After designing the cover of New York Times bestseller Sex And The City, she has provided illustrations for brands such as Chanel, Dior, Cartier, Vanity Fair, Fendi and Prada.

Hess says London has a special place in her heart and shes looking forward to bringing her popup to the city.

I love the London Fashion scene, she says. The Village within Westfield London is one of the most beautiful places to shop in all of London, so Im incredibly proud to be in such an iconic location.
A chilling police interview with a hairdresser who deliberately tried to infect men with HIV has emerged.

Daryll Rowe was found guilty of five counts of causing grievous bodily harm and five of attempting to cause GBH.

In the video he denies ever having HIV and claims that he had not been tested recently.

He said: "I had a relationship when I first got here.

"It was unprotected so I have not been tested after that. When I first got here I was dating someone pretty quickly. It got pretty intense."

It emerged later that Rowe had embarked on a malicious scheme to take revenge on the gay community following his diagnosis.

During a six-week trial, the court heard how Rowe embarked on a cynical and deliberate campaign to target the men he met on gay dating app Grindr in Brighton and the North East between October 2015 and December last year.

Rowe, now of no fixed abode but originally from Edinburgh, repeatedly denied having unprotected sex, or tampering with condoms, in a bid to infect others with the virus he had been diagnosed with months earlier.

He claimed he thought he was cured and denied ever telling his victims he was "clean".

Daryll Rowe: The 26-year-old is on trial charged with infecting men with HIV / PA

However evidence revealed that Mr Rowe knew that he had been diagnosed and refused treatment.

Doctors became concerned when Rowe didnt show up to follow up appointments and refused antiretroviral treatment which would make him less contagious.

Mr Rowe demanded that his victims engaged in unprotected sex with him, when they refused he tampered with condoms so that they would not be affective.

Health professionals became concerned and called the police when two patients provided similar descriptions of the person they had last slept with.
U PDATE: On 14 September 2018, Pascal Molliere was cleared of sexual assault. For further details, see the following article.

A leading theatre photographer who has taken portraits of stars including Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen groped four aspiring actresses during photoshoots at his west London studio, a court heard.

Pascal Molliere, 50, asked the women to remove their underwear before kissing them and grabbing their breasts, it was alleged.

Southwark crown court heard the photographer had each time been put forward by a casting agency to take headshots of the actresses for auditions.

Two alleged victims told police they did not complain immediately about Molliere to avoid damaging their careers, the court heard.

Molliere, when quizzed about the alleged sexual assaults which took place over a four-year period, boasted to detectives that he had worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and taken photos of stars such as Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen.

He said he was tactile in his shoots and sometimes asked the subject to remove their underwear to improve the line of their clothes, but denied inappropriately touching the four women.

Prosecutor Margia Mostafa told jurors the first woman went to police in 2014, having met Molliere a few years earlier to update her audition headshots.

Ms Mostafa said the woman immediately realised that Molliere fancied her and was coming on to her.

At a second shoot for a full-body photo, Molliere is accused of asking the woman to remove her bra underneath a vest top. After she did this, Ms Mostafa said he put his hand on her top and yanked it down and was clasping her bare breasts and pulled her towards him and started kissing her.

The woman said she was afraid to complain to police because the casting director who recommended Molliere was a big bod in the industry.

A second actress claims she was attacked at Mollieres studio in Fulham, where he persuaded her to remove her underwear under a sheer purple dress.

He put his arm around her and placed his hand on her bottom, said Ms Mostafa. He drove her back to a station, she went to get out of the car and he leaned over and kissed her.

A third woman claims Molliere pressured her into removing her underwear before grabbing her breasts.

A fourth woman alleges that he kissed her with such force her head was pushed back, the court heard.

Molliere, of Bedhampton, Hampshire, denies four counts of sexual assault. The trial continues.
R olf Harris had one of his 12 convictions for indecent assault overturned in a court ruling today.

Court of Appeal judges quashed one count of indecent assault after the entertainer, 87, challenged "unsafe" convictions.

But they rejected applications by Harris to challenge his 11 other indecent assault convictions.

Three leading judges, Lord Justice Treacy, Mrs Justice McGowan and the Recorder of Preston, Judge Mark Brown, announced their decision on Thursday.

They heard submissions on behalf of Harris and from the prosecution, which opposed the challenge.

The artist and musician was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at London's Southwark Crown Court in June 2014, one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens, and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter's friend over 16 years.

Harris, from Bray in Berkshire, was jailed for five years and nine months after being convicted of assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986.

The Australian-born television presenter has since been released from that sentence.

He was not in court for the ruling by the appeal judges.

The prosecution did not seek a retrial on the one count and the judges agreed that a further trial would not be in the public interest.

Stephen Vullo QC, for Harris, had presented four grounds of appeal during the hearing before the three judges, which Harris attended.

One ground was that there is "fresh" evidence which supports Harris's case, while Mr Vullo also complained about a direction given to the jury by the trial judge relating to the credibility of complainants.

In May this year Harris was formally cleared of unconnected historical sex offences, which he had denied.

He was formally cleared of four counts of indecent assault against girls as young as 13 after a retrial ended with a hung jury.
A toddler living in London has been taken into care after doctors found she was suffering "chronic malnutrition".

Medics told a family court judge that the little girl weighed as much as a six-month-old baby when she was 14 months old.

They said she had difficulty using her facial muscles and her legs were unable to bear her weight.

Details of the girl's case emerged in a ruling by Judge Michelle Corbett following a private hearing in a family court in London.

The judge did not identify the little girl, now two-years-old, but indicated she had been living in south west London.

Judge Corbett said social services bosses at Merton Council had welfare responsibilities for the girl and had asked for decisions to be made about where she should live in the long term.

The girl's mother was in her early twenties and from Slovakia.

She has two other children living in Slovakia with a relative.

Judge Corbett said judges in Slovakia should make decisions about the girl's long-term future.

She gave social work bosses permission to take the youngster out of England so she could be placed in foster care in Slovakia.
J eremy Corbyn steps up onto the world stage. The Labour leader had a first meeting with Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to London yesterday.

Corbyn has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump  he has accused the US President of pandering to racism and said the UK should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit.

Johnson, who owns the New York Jets and was a donor to the Trump campaign, arrived here in September and last week presented his letters of credence to the Queen, confirming his position in the UK.

The Londoner called the US Embassy, which confirmed the meeting between the two men took place in the afternoon.

Ambassador Johnson had his introductory meeting with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday. It was a positive and constructive discussion covering the full spectrum of foreign policy issues, including North Korea, Iran and the Middle East, among others, said a spokesman.

Corbyn had made the special relationship a key part of his speech at this years Labour Party conference. We must be a candid friend to the United States, now more than ever, he said in September. The values we share are not served by building walls, banning immigrants on the basis of religion, polluting the planet or pandering to racism.

The speech made by the US President to the United Nations last week was deeply disturbing. It was not the speech of a world leader. If the special relationship means anything, it must mean that we can say to Washington, that way is the wrong way.

Labour has yet to comment but, after Jeremys appearance on Gogglebox, criticising Nigellas way of separating eggs, we are in no doubt as to his ability to point out the wrong way of doing things.

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Boris Johnson is off to Iran to plead for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. One hopes he will concentrate on the job and not wander off chasing classical allusions. Interviewed for the Guardians travel section in 2008 discussing his favourite holiday destinations, Johnson gushed: Ive always wanted to visit Iran. Im a sucker for sun-bleached ruins and ancient edifices and think I could happily spend a week picking through Persepolis.

Robert Mugabe and mistaken identity

THE Savile Club hosted the launch for Quentin Lettss polemic on the elite, Patronising Bastards, last night. Talk turned to Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, with Letts pointing out: My wife and I got married on the same day as Mugabe in 1996, he said. So in my speech I apologised for the fact that I may have prevented some of my guests from attending a different wedding.

Also at the party was Caroline Edmondson  the sugar tits secretary who bought sex toys for her former boss MP Mark Garnier. When the story broke Edmondsons doorstep was surprisingly untroubled by nosy journos. She subsquently found there had been a case of mistaken identity: another woman with a similar name had opened her door to hacks asking her about dildos.

Quote of the Day

My speech follows an intensive course over the past week on how to stage an exit

Priti Patel speaks in the EU Withdrawal Bill debate in the Commons yesterday

Its not Christmas yet but its spirit is with us

In the bag: Charlotte Wiggins and Sam Rollinson (Getty Images)

Blacks on Dean Street unravelled its fairy lights last night, draping every inch of the Soho townhouse in decorations for Mulberrys self-proclaimed Its Not Quite Christmas party. Revellers including actress Samantha Barks and Johnny Coca  the brands creative director  enjoyed a set from female four-piece The Big Moon and squealed at the giveaways from the drag queen-manned tombola. But it all got a bit much for models Sam Rollinson and Charlotte Wiggins, who had to have a lie-down in a backroom divan. What happens in Soho...

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PADDY Considines new movie Journeyman tells the story of a boxers recovery after serious brain trauma, and despite writing and directing, the actor didnt automatically give himself the lead role. I actually auditioned myself for the part about six months before we started shooting, Considine said last week at Bafta HQ. I thought Id give it ago and I did a little test to see if I could do it. He obviously impressed the director and got the part.

My, my, here they go again

Mamma Mia! Josh Dylan, Jeremy Irvine and Hugh Skinner (Getty Images)

LOOKS like three love rivals are getting on famously. Last night actors Josh Dylan, Jeremy Irvine and Hugh Skinner were at Canada House to toast the launch of a new Canada Goose store. The trio came from the set of the Mamma Mia! film sequel, in which they play the young versions of Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth.

Also there was Jodie Kidd, who walked the catwalk in a fashion show, actress Sienna Guillory, and Versailles actor Alexander Vlahos.

Canadian High Commissioner Janice Charette gave a speech, and chastised Brits for not knowing the meaning of the word cold. Youll be seeing a lot more Canada on Londons streets this winter, she said before backtracking. It says winter in my notes... this is not winter, people!

Tweet of the Day

City Metrics Jonn Elledge decodes the Chancellors pre-Budget remarks over the housing crisis.

Sulk of the day: former EDL leader Tommy Robinson confirms that Twitter has removed his blue tick because his account does not comply with the guidelines for verified accounts. He was unsurprisingly ticked off.

Erin is in her element at Claridge's

Stylish company at Claridges last night, as it threw a party for model Erin OConnor to celebrate her MBE for services to fashion. Designers Roksanda Ilincic and Christopher Kane were among guests after Erin collected her honour from the Queen on Tuesday.
T he Evening Standards Slaves On our Streets investigation was honoured last night by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Before the foundations annual Stop Slavery Awards the newspaper was celebrated with special recognition for its work in exposing the realities of modern slavery. Monique Villa, chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, thanked the newspaper for its work shining a light on the scourge.

She told 600 delegates at the Trust Conference at Westminsters QEII Centre: Slavery is no longer discussed in small groups behind closed doors. It becomes centre stage, part of a global conversation. This is particularly true here in London. It is in London that a popular newspaper has launched a very important campaign of awareness, Slaves on our Streets.

Thank you, the Evening Standard and its owner Evgeny Lebedev and its editor George Osborne. They have covered every possible angle of this complex crime.

How the Evening Standard has taken action Our investigation: 1. Worked with the Government and police to crack down on offenders. 2. Led businesses to publicly commit to stopping slavery in their supply chains. 3. Worked with victims groups to help free those trapped in slavery. 4. Supported global policy planning through convening business, religious and thought leaders. 5. Promoted a public awareness campaign to inform Londoners how to spot the signs of modern slavery.

She added: Slavery is a crime that people have difficulty to identify and to understand, so the more we talk about it the better shot we have to defeat it. Investigative journalism has an important role to play in this fight.

Former Metropolitan police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who was also thanked after the awards by Ms Villa for his part in the Standards investigation, said: Its great that the Standard has been recognised, particularly because thats what the press is about.

It shines a light where many people do not want it to be shined people in power, big business. In this case they shined it on behalf of people who cant speak for themselves.

He praised German clothing giant Adidas, which was named overall winner of Thomson Reuters Stop Slavery Award, and the other three winners: tech firm Intel, global fashion retailer C&A, and the Co-Operative group, whose Bright Futures programme gives paid jobs to survivors of slavery.

The winners were selected from a shortlist of 15 firms from a range of industries including mining, hospitality, and electronics, based on their progress identifying and rooting out slavery from their supply chains.

It would have been easier to do nothing and theyve chosen to take time and spend money to ensure their supply chains are good, said Sir Bernard. It shows it can be done.

Accepting the award, Aditi Wanchoo, senior manager of social and environmental affairs at Adidas, said: While we have outsourced our production and manufacturing all over the world, we will not outsource our moral responsibility which is to do right by the 1.3 million workers who make our products.

Help eradicate modern slavery by signing up to the Standard's online action platform.
B ritain's shelters for victims of domestic violence are in a unique position to identify and help victims of modern slavery, Sandra Horley CBE, CEO of Refuge, has said.

Ms Horley told the Standard, whose special investigation into modern slavery is shining a light on the scourge, that Refuge has found a "nexus" between victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking, with women often only feeling safe to talk about their experiences after they have been in touch with the charity for some time.

"I think people would be shocked at the scale of modern slavery and human trafficking," said Ms Horley. "Every year 40 million people are trafficked and forced into domestic servitude, other kinds of forced labour, forced prostitution  its a huge problem, and the reality is we dont know the true extent of it because many of these victims have limited opportunities to escape.

"So we really do have a major problem with identifying victims, and there is this nexus between domestic violence and modern slavery. Many of our clients come to us as domestic violence victims and once we gain their trust they disclose that they have actually been trafficked and are victims of modern slavery," she added.

Ms Horley described the appalling conditions suffered by victims of slavery the charity has encountered in the course of its work.

"One woman was forced into domestic servitude in London. She was trapped for five years and every day she wrote on a piece of newspaper, Help me, and threw little bits of paper outside the bedroom window," she said.

"It was only after five years that somebody picked up the piece of paper and did something about it. She was rescued and we were able to help her.

"Another woman was forced into prostitution and she fled by jumping out of a second floor window, stark naked and pregnant. Thats how desperate some of these victims are," she added.

Refuge, which began in 1971 as the world's first women's shelter in Chiswick, now runs about 40 safe-houses across the country. It also offers community-based support for women and children affected by domestic violence, delivered by staff trained in 44 different languages.

But women's shelters have been suffering a funding crisis over the past several years, according to campaigners and researchers.

An investigation by London's Bureau of Investigative Journalism has reported that local authorities across England cut their spending on domestic violence refuges by nearly a quarter (24 per cent) since 2010.

The cuts have forced the closure of some refuges, according to Ms Horley who in March welcomed a 20 million Government boost for women's shelters contained in the Budget but said more must be done to secure a sustainable future for those who support victims of domestic violence.

By raising the alarm on modern slavery, the charity hopes to help more victims, supporting them to find jobs and accommodation crucial to getting their lives back on track.

"You can be trafficked within Britain  it is not an immigration issue. This is serious organised crime. Its a multi-million pound global business," she said.
B ank of England governor Mark Carney warned of a Brexit shock to Britains financial backbone amid reports that Brussels has thrown out Theresa Mays bid for a bespoke free trade deal.

Papers leaked in Brussels suggest that European Union leaders were flatly rejecting Mrs Mays vision of a comprehensive free trade deal after Brexit covering goods and financial services.

The documents, described as scoping papers for Michel Barniers negotiation team, conclude that Britains insistence on leaving the single market and customs union ruled out continuing trade on current terms, according to the Politico news service.

Moreover, they reportedly state that a standard trade deal would offer no direct branching in areas like financial services and only limited EU commitments to allow cross-border provision of services.

Downing Street shrugged off the report, saying Mrs May was still confident of getting a unique trade agreement based on the fact that Britain already has the same rules and standards as the rest of the EU.

We are coming to this from a unique position, said an official, who highlighted warm comments about the prospects for a future deal made by Manfred Weber, an ally of Angela Merkel, during a visit to No 10 yesterday.

We already have alignment with the EU, and that is the basis for a deal that is in their interests and ours.

But critics of a hard Brexit said the papers showed it was reckless for the Government to insist on leaving the single market and customs union.

Former business minister Anna Soubry said: The reality is we are not going to get a bespoke deal. But that doesnt mean we have to have to suffer a hard Brexit: There is a third way, which is to have a model like Norway.

Eloise Todd, of anti-Brexit pressure group Best for Britain, hit out: Thousands of jobs in finance and in the City are at risk as the government cannot deliver on its promises.

The only truly bespoke EU deal available to the UK is the one it took 40 years negotiating: our current arrangements.

Speaking on GMTV, Mr Carney said the decision to leave the EU had already turned Britain into the slowest growing economy in the global league table.

He promised the Bank would support the economy and make sure the core of our financial systems  the banks, the building societies up and down this country  can withstand whatever shock might come with whatever type of deal we have.

Mrs May was flying to Gothenburg this afternoon for talks and an EU summit on social reform, taking the opportunity to press for trade talks to be started.

She has signalled that Britain will increase its cash divorce payment offer significantly  with an extra 20 billion being mooted  in return for an early decision to begin negotiations on trade in the New Year.

Mr Weber, who heads the biggest centre-Right grouping in the European Parliament, said he was more optimistic of a breakthrough after seeing Mrs May last night.
T wo primary schools in Theresa May's local constituency have written to parents asking for "voluntary contributions" to pay for basic stationery equipment.

The Robert Piggot infant and junior schools, both based in Wargrave, Berkshire, part of Mrs May's Maidenhead constituency, want to raise 190 to pay for "glue, pens, pencils, exercise books, paper, tape and paint".

The schools suggested parents donate "1 per school per day for each child". They also said the cash raised would also help pay for science equipment and musical instruments.

One of the Prime Minister's key commitments when campaigning for her Maidenhead seat was providing more money for schools, recently claiming the education system was seeing "record levels of funding".

Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, has criticised the Prime Minister / PA

But after the school's letter was revealed, Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner told The Mirror: "The Government can spin all they like but the reality is that Tory cuts are hitting schools badly - even in the Prime Minister's own constituency.

"She was elected to represent Maidenhead on a manifesto that guaranteed to protect school funding but she can't even keep promises to her own voters, let alone the rest of the country."

The Lib Dem education spokeswoman Layla Moran said: "The harsh impact of school cuts are now being felt in the Prime Minister's own backyard.

"It beggars belief that in 21st century Britain, cash-strapped schools are having to ask parents to pay for basic equipment. It is undermining the state-funded schools system."

Sally Ann Aker, leader of the school's Conservative-led Wokingham borough council, said: "Like many schools, we are experiencing rising costs in the face of reduced funding."

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb told The Mirror: "The introduction of the National Funding Formula from 2018/19, backed by 1.3 billion of additional investment, will put an end to historical disparities.

"The Robert Piggott schools are set to gain around 10,000 a year in total."
F our alleged smugglers have been arrested after police discovered 125 exotic birds squashed inside pipes on their way to the Philippines.

The Indonesian men were apprehended in separate locations after officers discovered a total of 41 endangered white cockatoos and 84 eclectus parrots.

They now face the possibility of up to five years in prison and a 100 million Rupiah (5,600) fine if they are found guilty of trafficking.

The harsh penalties are part of the Indonesian government's clampdown on the country's illicit and lucrative wildlife trade.

The men were allegedly attempting to sneak the birds to the Philippines / Getty Images

Exotic birds are regularly poached and trafficked by smuggling gangs for sale as pets or status symbols.

Indonesia remains one of the largest homes to endangered bird species in the world - second only to Brazil.

The birds were retrieved by Indonesian authorities / Getty Images

It is reported that the birds are believed to have been on their way to Philippines - where is a large bird smuggling network - before they were intercepted.

The global white cockatoo population is estimated to be between 43,000 and 183,000 but this is in rapid decline due to poaching, trafficking and the destruction of habitats.

Eclectus parrots still exist in relatively stable numbers.
H ousing associations are to be made private in a bid to encourage the building of more homes, new Government plans have revealed.

Cabinet minister Sajid Javid will announce a move away from treating associations as public bodies, saying it will enable them to borrow more money and "build more homes", the Financial Times reported.

Not-for-profit organisations have been constructing more homes in recent years and there are reportedly expected to be 65,000 new properties in 2018.

But experts warned that the change would not necessarily mean housing associations increase the construction of homes, the newspaper reported.

They said that the UK needs to build up to 300,000 homes a year to fix the housing crisis. Around 170,000 were completed in 2016.

Theresa May: 'I have made it my mission to build the homes the country needs' / AFP/Getty Images

Theresa May is setting out plans to take "personal charge" of the housing crisis.

On Thursday, she will say: "I have made it my mission to build the homes the country needs and take personal charge of the Government's response."

Her comments come as Mr Javid prepares to announce that the Government is removing housing associations' debt, giving them a stable investment environment to fund new homes.

Mr Javid will say the Government's housing white paper identified the scale of the problems in the property market and set out a course of action.

"But there are many, many faults in our housing market, dating back many, many years," he will say. "If you only fix one you'll make some progress, but not enough. This is a big problem and we have to think big."

Chancellor Philip Hammond has hinted at help for first-time buyers in his November 22 Budget, but warned there was no "silver bullet" that would fix the housing market.

By reclassifying house associations as private organisations, more than 60 billion of debt will be removed from the state balance sheet, according to the Financial Times.

The debts of housing associations were private until they were reclassified as public bodies in 2015 by the Office for National Statistics
T wenty people have come forward with disturbing complaints of inappropriate behaviour against Kevin Spacey during his time at the Old Vic, a bombshell report reveals today.

The theatre, in Waterloo, initially said it had received no complaints when claims of sexual harassment first emerged against the American actor last month.

Spacey, 58, started performing at the Old Vic in the Nineties and served as artistic director from 2004-15. Lawyers trawled through old emails and an anonymous hotline was set up, resulting in 16 staff and four other people coming forward to detail a string of alleged incidents between 1995 and 2013.

The inquiry team approached Spacey but he did not take part and the lawyers were therefore unable to make any findings of fact about the alleged misconduct.

The Old Vic 'wholeheartedly' apologises after 20 Spacey allegations

A source close to the investigation said all 20 allegations were either of a sexual nature or made the correspondent feel uncomfortable.

The Old Vic said: Those affected felt unable to raise concerns and that Kevin Spacey operated without sufficient accountability.

The theatres current artistic director, Matthew Warchus, offered genuine and deep sympathy to all those who have come forward.

He said: Everyone is entitled to work in an environment free from harassment and intimidation. The Old Vic is now actively engaged in the process of healing and the process of prevention.

These allegations have been a shock and a disturbing surprise to many of us. It is incorrect, unfair and irresponsible to say that everybody knew.

But as a result of the investigation, what we have learnt is how better to call out this behaviour in future. Asked if anyone had offered to resign, executive director Kate Varah said: No, absolutely not.

Spacey is widely credited with rescuing the Old Vic after taking over as artistic director at a time when the building was almost sold off, with plans for it to become a lap-dancing club.

The theatre, in Waterloo, initially said it had received no complaints

The theatre, which marks its 200th anniversary next year, has announced that it is setting up a new code of conduct and system of guardians, who staff will be able to approach with any concerns.

Scotland Yard has opened an investigation into a claim of sexual assault made against Spacey in Lambeth in 2008.

The double Oscar-winners behaviour came under scrutiny last month when the American TV and stage actor Anthony Rapp alleged that he was sexually harassed by Spacey in 1986 in New York, when he was 14 and Spacey was 26.

Spacey responded by saying he did not remember the incident but said that if he had acted in the way Rapp alleged, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour.

Netflix have axed his hit political drama, House Of Cards, and last week the director Sir Ridley Scott cut the star from his latest film to reshoot scenes.

Today the Old Vic said: No legal claims, formal grievances, formal disputes, settlement agreements or payments made or authorised were made at all in relation to Kevin Spacey during his tenure.

It has also not been possible to verify any of these allegations, and it is important to note that Kevin Spacey has not commented on them. The review cannot therefore make any findings of fact about the alleged misconduct.
T he last time Brian saw his mother was five years ago when he visited her in HMP Bronzefield, a Category-A womens prison in Ashford, Middlesex, where she was in for robbery.

I said to her, Mum, this is the last time. Youve been in and out of the nick since I was nine. You got kids, sort your life out.

My mum promised to change but soon as she got out she went straight back on crack and heroin. Thats addicts for you. I cut her out of my life and made myself a pledge  I will not become a drug-addicted serial offender like my mother.

It was 10am and as Brian, 23, talked about his childhood  raised by a dysfunctional single mother whod had him when she was sixteen  he rolled himself a joint for breakfast.

I have a rule, he said. I only do weed. No class A. It helps me cope with my mental health. Had he otherwise kept his nose clean? I served six months in prison at 17 for burglaries during the 2011 London riots but I have kept my pledge and stayed out since then, said Brian.

He looked stricken. Prison was the most stressful time of my life. I could not cope with the isolation. Ill do anything to avoid going back. But there are debt collectors after me. I dont know what will happen.

The life of Brian has been unravelling for years. He has no job, no parental support, he cannot budget or organise himself effectively, he hardly sleeps at night and he suffers from a range of mental health problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and autism that date back to early childhood.

A study this year by Childrens Commissioner Anne Longfield reported that 670,000 children in England live in high-risk families and many suffer multiple deprivation that severely hampers their ability to function in society.

Brians childhood exemplifies this manifold deprivation: he was brought up by a mother of limited parenting capacity due to drug abuse (as were 103,742 children in the report); he was involved with the criminal justice system (31,193 children); he suffers mental health problems (805,950 children); and he lived in extreme poverty (456,000 children). Not to mention that his mother spent a significant amount of his childhood away in prison.

Lost Childhoods: An Evening Standard investigation

The first time I met Brian, he looked pale and weak. I fell asleep at 5am, I think Ive got insomnia, he said yawning, stretching his six-foot beanpole frame across a bench outside his basement flat in Waterloo. It turned out he had been drinking Lucozade until the early hours to ward off hunger pangs.

I havent eaten for three days, he moaned. I thought he was exaggerating but there was not a scrap of food in his flat. He had no carpets, no curtains and no working fridge, cooker or washing machine.

On his wall was a certificate dated 2015 that said High Achiever, but this was life at the bottom of the barrel. Unpaid bills and empty bottles of Lucozade littered the concrete floor.

My flat was flooded in 2016 when the Thames overflowed its banks and it ruined the carpets and blew the electrics, said Brian. I was uninsured and my housing association landlord refuses to redo the flat until I pay them the 3,000 I owe in back rent. But the 3,000 debt is only because Lambeth council stopped paying my housing benefit in error, and although they pay my rent now, they say they wont pay the backlog, so Im left in limbo.

Brian gets universal credit of 250 a month, but with 100 deducted to repay other debts he must survive on 150 a month, the equivalent of five quid a day to pay for gas, electricity, transport and food. Of course it is impossible and that is why I have not eaten, he said. We decamped to a nearby diner where Brian eagerly devoured a full English breakfast and three cokes.

What about simply getting a job? He nodded between mouthfuls. Earlier this year, the Job Centre got me work in a warehouse, but I lost the product scanner on the training day. They said it cost 1,000 and fired me on the spot for being clumsy. Ive had other jobs.

My longest was two months as a labourer on a construction site. But I get stressed easily and I need help coping with being on time. I cant do structure. In the end they always fire me. I am not ready for a job. I need to get on a mental health programme to help me deal with my problems in a deep way, otherwise Ill keep f***ing up.

When I was a child my mother went out at night to do drugs and left me, age seven, to look after my one-year-old sister. I had to give her the bottle when she cried. It was stressful and I started staying up late playing video games. When my mother came home shed sleep the whole day and nobody would be there to give us breakfast and I would fall asleep in school. I was diagnosed with ADHD. To be honest, my early childhood was so traumatic, there are lots of it I cannot remember.

To avoid being taken into care, Brians grandmother took him in and he completed his education at Westminster City School, getting seven GCSEs including Bs in business studies and IT. I applied for college but then the riots happened and I did seven burglaries in one night, so instead of going to uni, I went to prison. It was my first offence and I got out after six months.

What does he need to get his life on track? A programme to help me deal with stress and get my sleeping right. I am going to the doctor today to get some paperwork sorted so the Government will give me the support I need.

His appointment was scheduled for 1pm, so we arranged to meet to continue our interview at 4pm, but Brian failed to show up. A week later I knocked on his door and found him looking as gaunt as ever but feeling positive. I have applied to do a business studies course at Richmond College. Its free. If I get in, Ill need to get hold of a laptop because my last one was stolen, so thats my focus.

What about the doctor? I missed my appointment by 10 minutes so he kept me waiting for two hours so I kicked off and they kicked me out. But two days ago I got an email from the doctors office referring me to the Lambeth Living Well Network. He smiled. They offer a two-year programme and Ive heard its good, so if this works out I will finally get the support I need.

He still hadnt been eating and his flat looked more derelict than ever  clothes piled in bin bags, floor littered with unopened envelopes marked URGENT.

Theyre unpaid bills I cant afford to pay, so why should I open them? he said. I owe 860 to Transport for London for fare dodging, 300 to Vodaphone, 200 to HSBC for an overdraft, 230 to my internet provider, 30 for gas, 30 for electricity, over 1,000 in council tax. He tore into an envelope to prove his point and a liability order for unpaid council tax from Equita, the debt collectors, spilled out.

It warned of an impending visit by bailiffs and said, we are instructed and authorised by law to seize your goods. Brian pointed to his broken fridge and clapped-out sofa. What goods? Theyre welcome to them. I got nothing. He looked stricken again. As long as they dont send me back to prison.
T op British athletes will tonight attend a child refugee charity ball hosted by an Olympic champion.

Right To Play (RTP), founded in 2000 by four-time Olympic gold medallist Johann Olav Koss, will welcome sports stars including England footballer Nathan Redmond, Olympic gold medal winner Crista Cullen, MBE, and Chemmy Alcott, Britains most successful female skier, at the Grand Connaught Rooms, Bloomsbury.

RTP run play-based education and sports programmes for millions of children in 52 refugee camps across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, training local volunteers and helping traumatised young people.

UN-award winner Malual Bol Kirr, now 23, was one of them. The law student fled tribal violence and a bloody civil war in South Sudan for Uganda in the early 2000s. A return home lasted just three years, and his family had to flee again in 2013 amid ongoing unrest, which has created nearly two million refugees, according to the charity. A huge 85 per cent are women and children.

Mr Bol Kirr told the Standard the charity taught him tolerance. He said: When we reached the camp when I was a child it was very chaotic, life was very difficult and it was a struggle. Children would often be fighting based on tribal differences in the country we came from.

The RTP programmes helped us look at each other as one team. That is one of the great things they did for us as children.

On returning to another camp in 2013, the teen saw the same problems he had experienced as a child and, inspired by how the RTP helped him, launched the Africa Youth Action Network to promote peace building and reconciliation in the camps.

His work was noticed by the UNHCR and this summer he was presented with an award by Chelsea Clinton in New York.

He said: I think it is very important for people in London to support the work RTP do because when they grow up, the children create a lot of impact. I realised after more than ten years that they had instilled something in me - children will grow up with the minds of people who have tolerance and an ability for forgiveness, and be agents for positive change in these societies.

Alcott participated in one of the charitys programmes in Rwanda in 2014.

She said: Development work has to begin with children. Not only are they our future but they have this unbreakable spirit. Children have hope - because of programmes like Right To Play: attendance at school goes up so children are learning more, they have more confidence and they understand that by working as a team they are more likely to succeed. They learn respect - in essence they now have a voice.

Nikki Skipper, National Director Right To Play UK, said: Maluals story is inspiring and full of hope. Our goal is to reach as many refugee children as possible with our play programmes, giving them back their childhood and giving them a better chance in life.

See more at www.righttoplay.org.uk
P aris took swipe at Frankfurt in the Brexit scramble to woo London bankers with the question: Who has taken his wife, husband or partner to Frankfurt to spend a weekend?

French finance chiefs are seeking to use the reputation of Paris as a cultural gem and romantic getaway to persuade firms to move staff there rather than to the more drab German citys Bankenviertel.

Arnaud de Bresson, managing director of Paris Europlace, which promotes the French capitals financial sector, said there were four key business reasons why banks should choose his city.

Speaking on a visit to London, he argued that Paris is the only global city in Europe on a par with the UK capital. It has a diversified financial centre, it is innovative with a burgeoning fintech sector and is becoming a more attractive place to do business due to tax and labour reforms under President Emmanuel Macron.

Frankfurt: The two cities are hoping to attract bankers post-Brexit / REUTERS

I presume we dont need to mention the cultural side and way of life in Paris, he added.

As one businessman asked, Who has taken his wife, husband or partner to Frankfurt to spend a weekend?

There are growing doubts over how successful Paris, Frankfurt and Dublin have been in attracting London financial jobs.

However, Mr de Bresson has been told that banks in London are accelerating plans to move jobs across the Channel amid growing Brexit uncertainty. Paris is aiming to attract or create 10,000 new banking jobs amid the turmoil, he added, with commitments so far of 2,500.

Speaking recently about Brexit, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg told the BBC: London is always going to be the financial centre of Europe for the foreseeable future.
B ritain is preparing to pay a decades old 450 million debt to Iran in a diplomatic effort at improving Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's chances of release, it has been reported.

The 39-year-old mother-of-one was imprisoned by the Iranian government while on a family holiday in April 2016 for allegedly "plotting to topple the regime".

Now it has been reported the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, is hoping to improve relations with Iran by paying back a historical debt owed since the 1970s.

The former Shah of Iran paid the British government 650 million for 1,750 tanks but only 185 were delivered before his regime was brought down and the order cancelled.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella / PA

The International Chamber of Commerce demanded Britain pay 450 million back in 2009 but a ruling on international sanctions against Iran prevented this from happening.

It is thought that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe may be being held by the Iranian government as "collateral" for the debt.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe explainer

Her husband. Richard Ratcliffe, has met with Mr Johnson, asking that he find him safe passage to Iran and telling him the "softly softly" approach is not working.

He told The Sun: "It is important that the UK honours its international legal obligations, so that Iran can honour its legal obligations."

Mr Jonhson met with Mr Ratcliffe earlier this week / Stefan Rousseau/PA

Ahead of their meeting, Mr Johnson said he would "leave no stone unturned" in his efforts to secure Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release.

Despite widespread speculation, the government continues to insist that the two issues are unrelated.

A spokeswoman told Mail Online: "This is a long standing case and relates to contracts signed over 40 years ago with the pre-revolution Iranian regime.

"Funding to settle the debt was paid to the high court by the Treasury in 2002. Iran's Ministry of Defence remains subject to sanctions.

"It is wrong to link a completely separate debt issue with any other aspect of our bilateral relationship with Iran."
B ritain's ambassador to Iran has hit out at the countrys state TV channel over their reporting on jailed London mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Nicholas Hopton criticised channel IRIB for failing to explain Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was on holiday in the country at the time of her arrest.

Their nightly news report, broadcast to millions of Iranians at 8.30pm, is understood to be causing significant distress to the charity workers family, who live in Tehran and care for her daughter Gabriella.

In a message on written on his Twitter account in English and Farsi, Mr Hopton wrote: Disappointed by the incorrect and unbalanced reporting in last nights IRIB 20:30 which failed to acknowledge that the UK Government has made clear that the only reason Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was in Iran was to visit her family on holiday.

Nicholas Hopton, the British Ambassador to Iran. / AFP/Getty Images

His comment about Tuesdays broadcast is his most direct criticism yet of the Iranian state TV channel, which is understood to have close links with the countrys Revolutionary Guard.

Mr Hopton is the first British ambassador to the country since 2011, when the embassy was forced to close after a pro-regime mob stormed two of its compounds.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson came under fire earlier this month when his unguarded comment that she had been teaching journalism in Iran was seized upon by the IRIB news programme.

They described it as an inadvertent confession that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes had been spying on the regime. Despite the Government clarifying that she was on holiday visiting family, this is still not being included in reports.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and daughter Gabriella / AFP

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband Richard said it was clear the embassy is being more public in its support.

Mr Hoptons message came as Nazanins family visited him at the British Embassy in central Tehran yesterday as he sought to reassure them over media reports.

Mr Ratcliffe said: They are not political. They are completely blindsided by the media especially now that its hitting Iran. They are just very upset.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson meets with Nazanin's husband, Richard Ratcliffe / AFP/Getty Images

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, was arrested in April 2016 as she was returning to Britain from a family visit with her then one-year-old daughter.

She was charged with attempting to topple the Iranian regime and jailed for five years. Fresh charges on spreading propaganda against the regime may add up to 16 years to her sentence.

A theatre production Looking for Mummy: Nazanins story is to tour the UK in the New Year. The play, which is being backed by Amnesty International and Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes employer the Thomson Reuters Foundation, will be performed in 20 venues after a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival in the summer.

Director Emi Howell said: Nazanin was really happy that the play was happening and said she wasnt being forgotten.
A California man killed his wife and hid her body in their home before going on a deadly gun rampage, including targeting a school.

Kevin Neal, 43, shot and killed four other people and wounded ten in the rural community of Rancho Tehama in northern California.

Investigators, who discovered the body of Neals wife hidden under the floor, said they believe her murder was the start of the rampage.

At the time of the attack, the gunman was out on bail after he was charged with stabbing a neighbour.

But he was able to use a semi-automatic rifle and two handguns on Tuesday to shoot 14 people, including at an elementary school, before he died in a shootout with police.

Two of his neighbours were killed in an apparent act of revenge before he went looking for random victims.

He then fired into an elementary school but was stopped from entering by teachers who locked outside doors and barricaded everyone inside.

Police said the gunman spent about six minutes shooting into Rancho Tehama Elementary School before driving off to continue shooting elsewhere. One student was shot but is expected to survive.

California: Crime tape blocks off the scene following the fatal shooting / AP

The 45-minute rampage ended when a patrol car rammed the stolen vehicle the shooter was driving and killed him in a shootout.

The gunman's sister, Sheridan Orr, said her brother had struggled with mental illness throughout his life and at times had a violent temper.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said Neal was facing charges of assaulting one of the feuding neighbours in January and that she had a restraining order against him.

Neal's mother told the Associated Press her son, who was a marijuana grower, was in a long-running dispute with neighbours he believed were cooking methamphetamine.

The mother, who spoke on condition she be named only as Anne because she fears for her safety, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she raised Neal.

She said she posted his 160,000 US dollar (121,000) bail and spent 10,000 dollars (7,500) on a lawyer after he was arrested in January for stabbing a neighbour.
M ass murderer Charles Manson, who formerly led the group known as the "Manson Family", has been hospitalised in LA.

The cult leader sent followers out to commit gruesome murders, destroying the peace-and-love ethos of the 1960s hippie era in California.

Manson, 83, was rushed to hospital in Bakersfield, California, but his condition was unclear, Kern County Sherrif's lieutenant Bill Smallwood told the Los Angeles Times.

A spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation declined to comment, but she did confirm that Manson is alive, it was reported.

Followers of Charles Manson arrive at court in 1969 / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manson has been imprisoned for more than 45 years at California State Prison, Corcoran, as part of a life term for orchestrating one of the most notorious crimes in US history.

He and members of his "family" of cult followers were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski, and six other people in the LA area in August 1969.

The ex-convict assembled a group of runaways and outcasts known as the "Manson Family" in the 1960s.

His mostly young, female followers were instructed to murder seven people. Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war.

Ms Tate was stabbed 16 times by cult members. Four others were stabbed and shot to death on the same night as the actress.

Manson was rushed to Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield in January for what authorities described only as a serious medical problem.

He was initially sentenced to death, however, a 1972 ruling found California's death penalty law unconstitutional and it was changed to life in prison.

He has been denied parole 12 times and is next eligible in 10 years, when he would be about 92 years old.
P resident Donald Trump has announced that big game hunters - like his sons Donald Jr and Eric - will be allowed to import the heads of slain elephants into America.

The new White House regulation overturns an Obama administration ban on elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia.

It caused outrage among animal activists with The Humane Society of the United States blasting the decision as jarring.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the move, saying it could help the elephants by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation.

Mr Trump agreed the move despite the fact the animals have been listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1978.

Trumps: Donald Jr. (C) and Eric Trump, pictured with sister Ivanka, have hunted in the past / Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images

The presidents eldest son, Donald Jr, caused an outcry several years ago after he was pictured on social media posing with a dead elephant.

One photograph showed him holding up the elephants severed tail.

Images have also emerged of another of Mr Trumps sons, Eric, with a dead leopard and other animals.

Reprehensible behaviour by the Trump Admin, tweeted The Elephant Project, a nonprofit conservation organisation.

The group added: 100 elephants a day are already killed. This will lead to more poaching.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, brought up the widely-reported death of Cecil the lion, who was shot dead in Zimbabwe by a dentist two years ago.

Zimbabwes elephant population has declined six per cent since 2001 and evidence shows that poaching has increased in areas where trophy hunting is permitted, he said.

Remember, it was Zimbabwe where Walter Palmer shot Cecil, one of the most beloved and well-studied African lions, who was lured out of a national park for the killing. Palmer paid a big fee even though it did irreparable damage to the nations reputation.

Lets be clear: elephants are on the list of threatened species; the global community has rallied to stem the ivory trade; and now, the US government is giving American trophy hunters the green light to kill them, he added.

Its time for the era of the trophy killing of Africas most majestic and endangered animals to come to a final close, and the United States should not be retreating from that commitment.

Since 2005, Zimbabwes elephant population has dropped 10 per cent, while Zambia saw an 11 per cent decline over the last decade, according to National Geographic.

The National Rifle Association praised the decision, saying it was long overdue.

By lifting the import ban on lion trophies in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Trump Administration underscored the importance of sound scientific wildlife management and regulated hunting to the survival and enhancement of game species in this country and worldwide, said Chris Cox, Executive Director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action.

This is a significant step forward in having hunting receive the recognition it deserves as a tool of wildlife management, which had been all but buried in the previous administration, he added.
E xplorer Benedict Allen was found alive and well today after vanishing in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea.

Allen, 57, disappeared after going looking for the Yaifo people, a reclusive tribe who have little contact with outsiders, three weeks ago.

A search was launched after his family raised concerns for his safety when he failed to catch a flight to Hong Kong on Sunday.

He was spotted at 7am by a missionary in Enga Province, who said he asked to be rescued. His family were celebrating the news.

Missing adventurer Benedict Allen has been found safe and well, according to reports / Twitter

His spokeswoman Jo Sarsby told the Standard: Keith Copley, the coordinating director for New Tribe Mission in Papua New Guinea, confirmed in writing that Benedict Allen was safe and healthy and is located at a remote airstrip 20 miles northwest of Porgera, Enga Province.

Confirmation on exact location coordinates are now being confirmed in order to arrange evacuation as soon as possible.

She said it was good news, adding: Apparently you cant get there by road so they are hoping to send a helicopter tomorrow.

Explorer Benedict Allen: 'Livingstone was a rockstar' when he went missing

He did not take a phone or GPS device when he entered the crocodile-infested jungle searching for the tribe he met 30 years ago. He had been hoping to film them for a BBC documentary.

Mr Allens friend, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, who travelled to Papua New Guinea with him twice last year, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Hes been sighted. Tribal chiefs in the area that he went missing say that he has been sighted near an airstrip, that hes okay, that his health is fine, that hes requesting rescue.

He said Mr Allen was marooned and only reachable by air because all road bridges in the area were cut due to tribal fighting. Urgent efforts were now under way to try to airlift him out as soon as possible in case fighting erupts around him, he said.

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Mr Gardner added: Im quite annoyed with him as his friend. He left with no plan, he had no evacuation plan, he didnt give anybody any idea of where he was going.

Im sure hes come back with an incredible story to tell and hell regale audiences at the National Geographic Society but we could have done without this worry.

Benedict Allen in jungle swamp, Siberut Island, Indonesia. / BBC

His wife Lenka earlier said she and her three children Natalya, 10, Freddie, seven, and Beatrice, 2, were seriously worried about him.

She said everything possible had gone through her head, fearing he had been bitten by a snake, got lost or contracted an illness, but said: He does know a lot about the jungle.

Benedict Allen at the Bwindi National Park in Uganda. / Benedict Allen

His sister, Katy Pestille, 62, said it was the second time he had gone missing. She said: Lenka is being brave but we are cross with him. It is typical of him to go off without GPS. He likes to do things the hard way.
J oe Biden would comfortably beat Donald Trump if the two met in the 2020 presidential election, a new poll has suggested.

A survey conducted by Politico and Morning Consult asked Americans who they would vote for in the hypothetical scenario.

Former vice president Biden received the backing of 46 per cent of voters, compared to just 35 per cent for current president Trump.

There has been speculation that Mr Biden, 74, may run for presidency in 2020 despite him publicly denying any concrete plans.

Donald Trump has been criticised multiple times for gaffes during his presidency / AFP/Getty Images

He carefully considered a campaign in 2016 but eventually decided not to run following the death of his son Beau.

Analysts in the US have suggested that Mr Biden would do better than Hillary Clinton at winning over white working class voters, whose switch to Mr Trump saw him storm to a shock victory just over a year ago.

The poll found Mr Trump and Mr Biden were equally supported among white voters.

At 78, Mr Biden would be the oldest president to assume office - eight years older than Mr Trump.

He enjoyed a close relationship with Barack Obama during their time in office together and despite two failed attempts to win the Democratic nomination in 1988 and 2008, he now has a significant public profile.

He decided not to run in the 2016 presidential election following the death of his oldest son Beau from brain cancer a year earlier. The 46-year-old Iraq veteran and Democrat politician was well known in America and his death widely mourned.
A 65-year-old man who was found guilty of rape aged 19 and sentenced to life in jail has today walked free after his conviction was overturned.

Wilbert Jones hugged relatives outside the gates of East Baton Rouge Parish Prison in Louisiana after spending almost five decades wrongly behind bars.

"Freedom. After more than 45 years and 10 months. That's going through my mind," he said.

"I forgave. I forgive," he added. "I didn't have control of it. Why should I worry about it? I'm in charge of myself."

Wilbert Jones leaves East Baton Rouge Parish Prison after 45 years and ten months behind bars / AP

State District Judge Richard Anderson said authorities withheld evidence that could have exonerated Mr Jones decades ago and their case against him was "weak at best".

His lawyer Emily Maw praised "the extraordinary strength" of a man "who has spent over 16,000 days in prison for something he didn't do" and would nevertheless "come out with a faith in God and in humanity".

Wilbert Jones with his sister-in-law Wilda Jones (left) and niece Wajeedah Jones (right) / AP

Prosecutors said they do not intend to retry Mr Jones but they also said they would ask the Louisiana Supreme Court to review last month's decision by the judge.

Court spokesman Robert Gunn said on Wednesday morning that no such request had yet been filed.

Wilbert Jones hugs William Aquino, lawyer for the Innocence Project New Orleans / AP

Ms Maw said that it would be "legally incorrect and morally problematic" if the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office insists on trying to uphold the conviction because by doing so it would be "saying that when Wilbert Jones was arrested in 1972 as a young, 19-year-old poor black man, he did not deserve the rights that people deserve today".

Mr Jones was arrested on suspicion of abducting a nurse at gunpoint from a Baton Rouge hospital's car park and raping her behind a building on the night of October 2 1971.

Prosecutors said they do not intend to retry Mr Jones / AP

He was convicted of aggravated rape at a 1974 retrial that "rested entirely" on the nurse's testimony and her "questionable identification" of Mr Jones as her assailant, the judge said.

The nurse, who died in 2008, picked Mr Jones out of a police line-up more than three months after the rape, but she also told police that the man who raped her was taller and had a "much rougher" voice than he had.

Mr Jones's lawyers claim the nurse's description matches a man who was arrested but never charged in the rape of a woman abducted from the car park of another Baton Rouge hospital, just 27 days after the nurse's attack.

The same man also was arrested on suspicion of raping another woman in 1973, but was only charged and convicted of armed robbery in that case.

Judge Anderson said the evidence shows police knew of the similarities between that man and the nurse's description of her attacker.

"Nevertheless, the state failed to provide this information to the defence," the judge wrote.
U S Senator Al Franken has apologised after a radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing her and a photo emerged of his hands on her breasts as she slept.

The Senator was responding to allegations made by KABC radio host Leeann Tweeden who claimed that he had aggressively kissed her without her consent during a 2006 US overseas tour in Afghanistan.

The radio host said that the incident occurred while they rehearsed a comedy skit together.

Ms Tweeden, from Los Angeles, said that the Democratic Minnesota Senator had then groped her during a flight back to the US and posted photographic evidence of the incident on the KABC website.

She told The Associated Press that Mr Franken wrote a skit for the pair that was filled with "sexual innuendo," and that he had brought a women's thong as a prop that he waved around during their performance. Part of the skit included a kiss, she said, and he insisted they practice kissing during a rehearsal despite her protests.

"We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth," she wrote.

The photo that she included was taken on the trip home from Afghanistan. Mr Franken is shown grinning and staring at the camera while reaching out as if to grope Ms Tweeden's breasts as she sleeps. Ms Tweeden said she didn't discover the photo until she returned home.

Mr Franken apologised for groping Ms Tweeden but has said that he does not remember the kiss.

He said: "While I don't remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe women's experiences.

"Coming from the world of comedy, I've told and written a lot of jokes that I once thought were funny but later came to realise were just plain offensive."

Speaking about the photo he said: "It was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

He said: "I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isn't funny. It's completely inappropriate. It's obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture."

Miss Tweeden alleged that Mr Franken lunged at her while they were rehearsing / Getty

Ms Tweeden spoke about the incident on her radio show on Thursday morning. She said that had not come forward sooner as she feared that her career, which included her stint as a swimsuit model, would cause others to discount her story.

She said: "I felt belittled. I was ashamed. I've had to live with this for 11 years,"

She explained that she though that "somehow it was going to be my fault. It was not going to be worth the fight."

Before becoming Senator of Minnesota, Mr Franken was a comedian for US show Saturday Night Live.

Miss Tweeden said she didn't come forward sooner as she feared others would discount her story / Getty

During his campaign for Senate he drew criticism for joking about rape when discussing a sketch idea for SNL.

Ms Tweedens allegations against Mr Franken could lead to an ethics review in the Senate.

Majority leader Mitch McConnell called on Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to join him in pressing for a review.

"Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptable- in the workplace or anywhere else," the Kentucky Republican said.

Mr Franken said that he welcomed the investigation.
H arrowing first-hand accounts from victims of forced gay conversion therapy in China have emerged in a new Human Rights Watch report.

The testimonies detail electric shock therapy, forced medication and verbal and mental abuse taking place in Chinese hospitals.

Though gay conversion therapy has been deemed unethical, unscientific and harmful by the World Psychiatric Association, the report highlighted 17 cases of it in China  where it is effectively illegal  between 2009 and 2017.

The study, which was released by the New York-based organisation on Wednesday, urged the Chinese government to ban medical facilities from subjecting LGBTQ+ people to the practice.

Eleven of the individuals interviewed by Human Rights Watch were forced to take medication without being told of its purpose or side effects, the report said.

An LGBT group campaign to end "gay cures" and discrimination in Hong Kong / Getty / AFP

One interviewee, a transgender woman called Zhang Shikun, spoke of how she was forced to watch gay porn while being injected with a colourless liquid.

She said she was told by her doctor: "If you do not change [your sexuality], you will get sick and die of Aids."

Another interviewee, a 29-year-old gay man who underwent treatment at a public hospital in Fujian province three years ago, told of being given unknown pills.

"They just told me they were supposed to be good for me and help with the progress of the 'treatment'," he said.

Five of the 17 interviewees were given electric shocks while being shown images or videos of homosexual acts.

One victim, Gong Lei, said he did not know what was happening when he was electrocuted.

"The doctor asked me to relax because I was going to practise some kind of hypnosis and to think about sex scenes with my boyfriend - at that moment I felt pain in both wrists, he explained.

All those interviewed in the report said they were forcefully taken to conversion therapy, often within days of coming out to their parents.

In June this year a gay man in China successfully sued a mental health hospital for the equivalent of 569 after he was forced to undergo the practice by his wife and family.

Doctors and clinics are apparently profiting from the conversion of gay people, charging up to 30,000 yuan (3,440) per "treatment", Boris Dittrich, advocacy director of the gay rights programme at Human Rights Watch, claims.

The practice goes against Chinas first Mental Health Law, passed in 2013, which states that psychiatric facilities cannot admit patients who do not suffer from a mental illness. Homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness in the country in 2001 and decriminalised in 1997.
A 19-year-old model has spoken of a "dream come true" after selling her virginity for more than 2 million to a businessman from Abu Dhabi.

The part-time student from the US claimed the highest bidder narrowly beat a Hollywood Actor from Los Angeles and a politician from Russia.

The teenager, named Giselle, said she decided to auction herself off on the German website Cinderella Escorts so she could pay tuition fees and go travelling.

"I would never have dreamt that the bid would rise so high and we would have reached 2.5 million euros," she said. "This is a dream come true."

The teenager said it was her idea to sell her virginity, and that she approached the agency to make the transaction in order to feel "safer".

She said she will meet the buyer in Germany and the hotel is booked. The agency has said it will provide security to accompany her to the meeting.

A spokesperson for the website said: "We organize the hotel, stay close to the hostel as a contact person in case of problems and the girl can cancel the meeting at any time.

"There are some girls who are looking for a buyer for their virginity on their own. It is safer to run this on our platform."

Cinderella Escorts, run by Jan Zakobielski, 27, caught the attention of the media in 2016 when 18-year-old Russian model Allexandra Khefren sold her virginity for around 2 million.
T urkish authorities have banned a German gay film festival the day before it was due to start, citing public safety concerns and threats of terrorism.

The Governor's office in Ankara announced its decision on Wednesday, pulling the plug on an event due to show four German films over the weekend.

A spokesman said: "Intelligence reports show that terror organisations are seeking to attack dissident groups, [and we believe] this film screening could be provocative."

Organisers Pink Life QueerFest said the decision risks "legitimising people and institutions" who wish to do harm to the LGBT community.

A person supporting 11 LGBT activists that went on trial in Istanbul last year for marching during a Pride parade / Getty

A Pink Life spokesman told Reuters: "Suggesting that these screenings could be provocative or targeted by terror groups only goes to legitimise those people and institutions that produce hate speech toward us and see our existence as a threat."

The ostensibly modern Turkish regime has failed to support gay rights. Although same-sex intercourse is not banned, public displays of affection are prohibited under "public morality" laws, and gay marriages are not recognised by the state.

Two gay pride parades have been banned in Istanbul in the last two years, with activists being hosed and shot with rubber bullets in the most recent attempted rally.

According to witnesses, police fired rubber bullets at Pride campaigners who marched to protest the cancellation on Sunday.

The last successful Pride march in Turkey took place in 2014, with an estimated 100,000 people turning out for one of the largest LGBT celebrations in a Muslim majority country.

Members of the LGBT community in the country frequently speak out over mistreatment including harassment, abuse and rape.

In 2016, Hande Kader, a 22-year-old transgender woman was mutilated, burnt and murdered in Istanbul. According to data from the rights group Transgender Europe, Turkey has the highest number of trans murders in Europe.
T he wife of a British explorer who has disappeared while searching for a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea said their three children keep asking: Whens Daddy coming home?

Benedict Allen has not been heard from since he was dropped by helicopter at an abandoned mission station at Bisorio three weeks ago.

He was hoping to reach the Yaifo, a tribe thought to be one of the last on Earth to have no contact with the outside world.

His wife Lenka Allen told the Daily Mail their children - 10-year-old Natalya, Freddie, seven, and two-year-old Beatrice  are seriously worried.

Benedict Allen with BBC presenter Frank Gardner in Papua New Guinea in 2016 / BBC

"The little one, Beatrice, is always saying 'Daddy' and she's trying to telephone him on my mobile, looking at his photo on the screen, she said.

"They all sense the tension in the flat and they are worried deep down.

"The two other ones, they are saying, 'When is Daddy coming so we can go shopping, just me and you, and Daddy can babysit', that sort of thing. But of course now they know he's in danger, they are seriously worried."

Benedict Allen has three children with his wife Lenka (pictured) and they live in Bristol / Getty Images

She added that "everything possible" is going through her head, fearing he had been bitten by a snake, got lost or contracted an illness - but added: "He does know a lot about the jungle."

The author and TV presenter, who has made six TV series for the BBC, has no mobile phone or GPS device with him and was expected to begin his journey home at the weekend - but failed to make a flight to Hong Kong.

Allen claims to have once eaten his dog in order to survive in the Brazilian rainforest (BBC TWO) / BBC

He has a vast track record of remote exploration and is the only person known to have crossed the Gobi desert alone. He also claims to have once eaten his dog in order to survive in the Brazilian rainforest.

In an ominous tweet sent en-route to the airport before leaving the UK, Mr Allen said: Marching off to Heathrow. I may be some time (don't try to rescue me, please - where I'm going in PNG you won't ever find me you know...)

Allen has produced six TV series for the BBC / BBC

In a blog post, Mr Allen explained how he first made contact with the Yaifo people 30 years ago

He said: No outsider has made the journey to visit them since the rather perilous journey I made as a young man three decades ago. This would make them the remotest people in Papua New Guinea, and one of the last people on the entire planet who are out-of-contact with our interconnected world.

He said the aim of the trip was to create a brief record of Yaifos lives, and possibly track down some of the people he met last time.

The explorer never travels with a mobile phone or GPS device in order to fully immerse himself in new cultures (BBC ) / BBC

In the post, he explained that there is no obvious way of returning to the outside world, bar paddling down a river for a week or enlisting the help of the Yaifo.

He added: "So, if this website or my Twitter account falls more than usually silent - I'm due back mid-Nov - it's because I am still out there somewhere.

"So, don't bother to call or text. Just like the good old days, I won't be taking a sat phone, GPS or companion. Or anything else much. Because this is how I do my journeys of exploration. I grow older but no wiser, it seems."

Mr Allens agent guessed that he may have been taken ill and is recovering somewhere.

She said: I just imagine he might have been taken ill or is lying injured somewhere, perhaps with a broken leg, and maybe being helped by locals.

He never takes a phone with him  he believes in living like the locals. For him not to come back is really odd.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "Our staff are assisting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Papua New Guinea, and are contacting the local authorities."
Z imbabwes military is calculating its next move after taking control of the capital Harare and the state broadcaster, while holding President Robert Mugabe under house arrest.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man whose firing as vice-president sparked the tensions, is expected to be formally made president later today as a transition process begins.

The army has denied staging a coup, although the head of the African Union said it seems like one following the extraordinary scenes in Harare.

The militarys actions appear to have brought an end to Mr Mugabes 37-year authoritarian reign. The 93-year-old, the worlds oldest head of state, is reported to be confined to his home but safe.

Zimbabwe: Zuma says Mugabe is under house arrest

The action began when soldiers rolled in to Harare on armoured tanks on Tuesday night and seized broadcaster ZBC, which is seen by many as a mouthpiece for Mr Mugabe. Several explosions were also heard across the city.

In a statement, a military spokesperson described the takeover as a "bloodless correction". They said they had seized control to stop "criminals surrounding the president" from taking power.

Armoured tanks rolled in to Harare on Tuesday night as the military took over / AFP/Getty Images

It comes after military leader General Constantine Chiwenga issued a threat on Monday to "step in" and calm political tensions after Vice President Mnangagwa, who had been favourite to succeed Mr Mugabe when he retires, was fired.

His firing placed First Lady Grace Mugabe in prime position to replace him as one of the country's two vice presidents at a party conference next month. It is believed Mr Mugabe was lining her up as his eventual successor.

President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe have been seized by the army in Zimbabwe / Reuters

But the 52-year-old first lady is unpopular among many Zimbabweans for her lavish spending on mansions, cars and jewels. Last month she went to court to sue a diamond dealer for not supplying her with a 100-carat diamond she said she had paid for.

Mrs Mugabe has been known as the leader of the G40, a group of Cabinet ministers and officials in their 40s and 50s who are too young to have fought in Zimbabwe's war to end white-minority rule in Rhodesia.

When Mr Mnangagwa was fired, the generals and war veterans felt they were being sidelined and took action to stop that, analysts say.

Zimbabwe army says it has Mugabe and wife in custody

Following the military takeover, South Africa and other neighbouring countries are sending in leaders to negotiate with Mr Mugabe and the generals to encourage the transition to a new leader.

South African President Jacob Zuma said he was sending his ministers of defence and state security to meet with Mr Mugabe and the military. He said he hopes Zimbabwe's army will respect the constitution and that the situation "is going to be controlled."

Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to be made interim president following the military takeover / AFP/Getty Images

In Washington, the US State Department said the Trump administration was "concerned by recent actions undertaken by Zimbabwe's military forces" and called on the country's leaders to exercise restraint.

Zimbabwean analyst Alex Rusero said that a "soft transition" is under way.

"The whole idea is that the military has always been the chief broker" in Mr Mugabe's ruling party, he said. "But there were attempts to sideline the military by G40 and (the military) are reasserting their position."

Mr Mnangagwa may well be installed as a transitional leader to return Zimbabwe to constitutional rule, Mr Rusero added.

Piers Pigou, southern Africa consultant for the International Crisis Group, said Zimbabwe may enter a period of negotiation to get Mr Mugabe to step down voluntarily.

"Zimbabwe could have some kind of inclusive government and some kind of democratic process, possibly leading to elections," Mr Pigou said.

"It's clearly a coup d'etat, but typical of Zimbabwe, the military is trying to put a veneer of legality on the process... It is part of the theatre that Zimbabwe is so good at, to try to make things look orderly and democratic.

"South Africa and other neighbouring countries may be brought in to help put some lipstick on the pig."

Citizens in Harare are said to be going about their everyday lives / Reuters

Citizens in Harare contributed to the feeling of a smooth transition by carrying on with their daily lives, walking past the army's armoured personnel carriers to go to work and to shops.

Many who have never known any leader but Mr Mugabe waited in long lines at banks to draw limited amounts of cash, a result of this once-prosperous country's plummeting economy.

Felix Tsanganyiso, who sells mobile airtime vouchers in Harare, said he was following the developments on WhatsApp.

He said: "But I am still in the dark about what is happening. So far so good. We are going about our business without harassment.

"My plea is that whoever takes over should sort out the economy. We are tired of living like this."

The series of whiplash events followed Mugabe's firing last week of his deputy, which appeared to position the first lady,

Critics of the government urged Mr Mugabe to go quietly. "The old man should be allowed to rest," former Zimbabwe finance minister and activist Tendai Biti told South African broadcaster eNCA.
R obert Mugabe was today insisting that he was still Zimbabwes legitimate ruler despite being held under house arrest by the army, according to an intelligence source.

The 93-year-old dictator was said to be rebuffing mediation attempts by Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori to allow him a graceful exit after the military seized control of the capital Harare.

The move by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is believed to have been launched to stop Mugabe creating a dynasty and handing power to his ambitious wife Grace, 52.

Former security chief Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was recently sacked by Mr Mugabe as vice-president, has been mapping out a post-Mugabe vision with the military and opposition for more than a year, according to intelligence reports.

Robert Mugabe as PM of Zimbabwe in 1986. / AFP/Getty Images

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has been receiving cancer treatment in Britain and South Africa, returned to Harare last night.

However, the fate of the poverty-ravaged country appeared to be resting with its neighbours, particularly South Africa. Its president Jacob Zuma has sent envoys to talk with Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, and military leaders. Britain has appealed for all parties to avoid violence.

The military have taken over the city of Harare. / AP

Soldiers remain on the streets of Harare as Mugabe refuses to give up power. The former guerrilla leader, his wife and cabinet ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasuku  who fled their homes which were attacked by troops on Tuesday night  were being detained at his Blue House compound in Harare and are insisting that he finishes his presidential term, said one local source.

However, separate reports claimed that Mrs Mugabe fled to Namibia yesterday. There is little public affection for the former government typist who began an affair with Mugabe in the early Nineties as his first wife, Sally, was dying of cancer. Dubbed DisGrace or Gucci Grace for her love of shopping, including in London, she has had a meteoric rise through the ranks of Mugabes ruling Zanu-PF in the last two years, culminating in Mr Mnangagwas removal a week ago  a move seen as clearing the way for her to succeed her husband.

Mugabes downfall will raise hopes that corruption, violence against political opponents and large-scale electoral fraud will be reduced.

However, Mr Mnangagwa, known as The Crocodile, has been a long-time henchman of Mugabe and opposition political leaders will be wary of him seizing power.
Z imbabwe President Robert Mugabe has been pictured with the army commander who placed him under house arrest.

The countrys state-run newspaper published photos of the President, dressed in a suit and tie, sitting in an armchair next to military chief General Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday.

It comes amid reports that Mugabe is refusing to step down.

The Herald Zimbabwe published photos of him with two cabinet ministers, the head of the army and South African envoys in his office, a day after the military seized power.

Photos on the Herald's website showed Mugabe, Chiwenga, Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and State Security Minister Kembo Mohadi speaking with South African officials alongside Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori.

Zimbabwe Military Coup - In pictures 1 /24 Zimbabwe Military Coup - In pictures An armoured personnel carrier stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare AFP/Getty Images Zimbabwean military vehicles took over central areas of the Zimbabwean capital of Harare AFP Zimbabwe Major General Sibusiso Moyo reading a statement at the ZBC broadcast studio in Harare AFP/Getty Images A general view of Harare AP An armed soldier patrols a street in Harare, Zimbabwe AP Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare, Zimbabwe Reuters Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare, Zimbabwe Reuters A military tank is seen with armed soldiers on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare AP It is the first time Zimbabwe has seen an open rift between the military and Mr Mugabe AP Tanks blockade approach roads to the Zimbabwe capital Harare Twitter Soldiers stand beside military vehicles just outside the country's capital Harare Reuters Armed soldiers stand on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare, Zimbabw AP Soldiers stand beside military vehicles just outside Harare Reuters Armed soldiers search a vehicle on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare AP Armed Zimbabwean soldiers sit on top of a military tank in Harare AP People pass a newspaper headline in Harar AP Soldiers sit on a military vehicle parked on a street in Harare, Zimbabw AP Local daily newsapapers with headlines about the situation in Zimbabwe AFP/Getty Images

The photos did not show first lady Grace Mugabe, whose rapid political rise had alarmed many in the country who feared she could succeed her husband. It was reported on Wednesday that she had fled to Namibia.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma, speaking in parliament, said the political situation "very shortly will be becoming clear."

Civil society groups and opposition leaders have urged Mugabe to step aside after 37 years in power and for the country to transition into free and fair elections.

The military during a coup in Zimbabwe / AP

Mugabe has been in military custody, reportedly with his wife, since the army stepped in overnight Tuesday.

There was no sign of former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose firing last week angered supporters in the military amid concern that the Presidents wife would take his place at a party meeting next month.

The military remained in the streets of Harare. Southern African regional officials were meeting in neighbouring Botswana on the crisis.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, who has been captured by the army in Zimbabwe / AFP

A joint statement by more than 100 civil society groups urged the 93-year-old Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state, to peacefully step aside and asked the military to respect the constitution. A joint statement by churches also appealed for calm.

One analyst said he believed the negotiations "have pretty much reached an end point" to get Mugabe to step aside and that it was a "matter of hours or days."

Knox Chitiyo, associate fellow with the Africa program at Chatham House, warned that speculation remains high but said the aim was a peaceful, managed transition.

He said the military wants a dignified exit for Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from white minority rule in 1980 and remains widely known, even praised, in Africa as a liberation leader.

Boris Johnson calls for calm during Zimbabwe unrest

Chitiyo said he doesn't know where the ailing Mugabe would go but that the destination is "likely driven by his health." Mugabe routinely seeks medical treatment in Singapore.

Opposition leaders spoke out but said they had not been contacted as part of the Mugabe negotiations.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who shared power with Mugabe between 2009 and 2013, said Mugabe must resign and said his party would participate in talks on a transitional mechanism if approached.

He pointedly referred to Mugabe as "Mister."

A vice president who was fired in 2014, Joice Mujuru, called for "free, fair and credible elections" following a transition arrangement that draws from a range of communities.

Zimbabwean Evan Mawarire, the pastor whose This Flag social media campaign last year led to the largest anti-government protests in a decade, asked: "Should we just sit and wait or shall we at least be part of this transition process?"

Across the country, Zimbabweans long frustrated by crackdowns on dissent and a collapsing economy were enjoying freedoms they haven't had in years. For once, they weren't contending with bribe-seeking police officers who mounted roadblocks every few miles.

Soldiers manning the few checkpoints leading into downtown Harare greeted motorists with a smile, searching cars without hostilities and wishing motorists a safe journey.

Street vendors who endured police raids after Mugabe ordered their removal were working without hassles. Trade unions urged workers to go about their business.

The US Embassy advised citizens in Zimbabwe to "limit unnecessary movements" as political uncertainty continues. The British government also urged its citizens to avoid large gatherings and any demonstrations.


T he extravagant son of detained Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe has shared an archive video of his tyrant father pledging to rule with firmness.

Youngest son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, 21, posted the video clip on Thursday morning, after days of turmoil which saw his father seized by the army and mother Grace reportedly flee the country.

Chatunga Mugabe, 21, is known for his lavish party lifestyle, which he often shares with thousands of followers on social media.

Last week he was pictured on social media apparently pouring a 200 bottle of champagne over his glitzy watch which he claimed was worth 45,000.

But on Thursday, as President Mugabes future leading the country looked unlikely, son Chatunga Mugabe posted a more sober update to his 35,000 followers on his Facebook timeline.

The clip he shared comes from a BBC Newsnight interview, recorded in 1980 when he first became PM of Zimbabwe.

He tells the interviewer: Im prime minister of my country, and I intend to rule that country with firmness.

Im not going to have anybody advocate the overthrowing of a government and remain in the country. Hes not one of us if he does that.

The alternative is to put him in detention and I dont want to do that.

Zimbabwe Military Coup - In pictures 1 /24 Zimbabwe Military Coup - In pictures An armoured personnel carrier stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare AFP/Getty Images Zimbabwean military vehicles took over central areas of the Zimbabwean capital of Harare AFP Zimbabwe Major General Sibusiso Moyo reading a statement at the ZBC broadcast studio in Harare AFP/Getty Images A general view of Harare AP An armed soldier patrols a street in Harare, Zimbabwe AP Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare, Zimbabwe Reuters Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare, Zimbabwe Reuters A military tank is seen with armed soldiers on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare AP It is the first time Zimbabwe has seen an open rift between the military and Mr Mugabe AP Tanks blockade approach roads to the Zimbabwe capital Harare Twitter Soldiers stand beside military vehicles just outside the country's capital Harare Reuters Armed soldiers stand on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare, Zimbabw AP Soldiers stand beside military vehicles just outside Harare Reuters Armed soldiers search a vehicle on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare AP Armed Zimbabwean soldiers sit on top of a military tank in Harare AP People pass a newspaper headline in Harar AP Soldiers sit on a military vehicle parked on a street in Harare, Zimbabw AP Local daily newsapapers with headlines about the situation in Zimbabwe AFP/Getty Images

The interviewer suggests to the African despot that he is taking a particularly hard line that might lead some people to believe that the right of dissent wasnt now being allowed.

Mr Mugabe replies: The right to overthrow a constitution doesnt exist at all, it is not a right of the individual.

Eight years ago: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, his wife Grace (centre right), his son Robert Junior (centre left) and his youngest son Chatunga (right). / AFP/Getty Images

According to News 24 in Africa, President Mugabes older son, Robert Mugabe Jr., also posted the same clip to his Instagram page, accompanied by the caption: Peace and love over everything.

President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe who have been seized by the army in Zimbabwe / Reuters

President Mugabe is believed to be in military custody after the army takeover of capital Harare.

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Heavy gun and artillery fire were heard in northern parts of the city, but the military denied it was a coup, instead claiming it was a bloodless correction and Mr Mugabes security would be guaranteed.

The army said it was targeting criminals surrounding the leader.

President Mugabe has been in power for 37 years, since the country was liberated from white minority rule. He is the worlds oldest head of state and one of the longest authoritarian rulers.

In the past he has been blamed for devastating Zimbabwes economy, turning it from one of Africas most prosperous countries to one of its poorest.
T hey've hardly seen each other since playing old friends on screen in Richard Curtiss Notting Hill almost 20 years ago, so shooting Paddington 2 was a happy reunion for Hugh Bonneville and Hugh Grant.

But although Bonneville, 54, said he was delighted to catch up, he wasnt as thrilled by how he has aged in comparison with his 57-year-old co-star.

I havent worked with Hugh Grant for nearly 20 years on Notting Hill, so that was a trip down memory lane, it was lovely, he told the Standard.

Of course he looks younger now than he did then  hes Dorian Gray basically. I look old and fat.

Iconic: Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in 1999's Notting Hill

In the hit 1999 romcom Notting Hill, Grant played a bookshop owner who falls in love with an A-list actress, played by Julia Roberts, while Bonneville had a relatively small role as the down-on-his-luck Bernie.

Bonneville said: Apart from a couple of hellos over the years, I havent seen him at all really. It was the first time wed been in a rehearsal room together since Notting Hill.

We were remembering those days, it was great. Hes very, very funny in [Paddington 2]. Weve only got a couple of scenes together in this but it was great.

TODO: define component type brightcove

Bonneville reprises his role as family patriarch Henry Brown in Paul Kings sequel, while Grant has been praised for his role as the villainous luvvie Phoenix Buchanan.

Ben Whishaw voices the eponymous bear and Sally Hawkins, Dame Julie Walters and Brendan Gleeson also take starring roles. The film, which opened last week, has had five-star reviews.

Bonneville, who is best known for his role as Robert Crawley in ITVs Downton Abbey, said: The scale of a film like Paddington, its working on tiny details a lot of the time, he said.

Paul is the sort of director who wont take second best. If he wasnt convinced a scene was working wed revisit it a couple of days later.

Comparing working on a big-budget film to shooting TV series such as Downton and W1A, Bonneville said that there was more time to get things right.

He said: Those are the luxuries you really dont have on a television show so its a slightly different feel  but they all have their challenges and they all seem to involve freezing nightshoots in January.
S hes done it, inevitably. Yesterday, after four days, it was announced that millennial hypebeast Taylor Swift had sold more albums in the US than any other artist this year.

Reputation, the 27-year-olds sixth album, sold 1.05 million copies between Friday and Wednesday morning  beating close pal Ed Sheeran, the previous best-seller, who has sold 919,000.

Swifts not satisfied, though: last night she turned up at a Target store in Nashville to buy her album and bump up the numbers. Swifties jostled for selfies.

Swift has form: her previous album, 1989, surpassed a million sales in seven days, as did Red and Speak Now.

Feud: Taylor Swift has fallen out with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West / Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

But this time, were not dealing with a Swift-by-numbers product. Reputation is a very different proposition: the alchemy darker and more jaded than any of her previous albums.

In the past year Swift has become more notable for her cataclysmic relationship with Tom Hiddleston and a he-said-she-said furore with Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian West, and the album comes after a long down period when she temporarily deleted her social media accounts.

But given her propensity  and talent  for using the personal as material, a Taylor Swift album has become a compelling proposition, even for those who profess to dislike her.

Talking about my Reputation

The album is supposed to be a meta meditation on Swifts public persona  hence, Reputation.

Shes a fallen angel partly culpable for her own demise  both sinned against and sinning. In Call It What You Want, she bemoans that she brought a knife to a gunfight; in Look What You Made Me Do, she invokes a vendetta list of names. I check it once, then I check it twice, she threatens, like a furious Santa.

The albums imagery is a portrait of Swift, starkly monochrome, against newsprint printed with her name in different sizes and typefaces.

Compare this to the soft-focus, nostalgic Polaroid of her previous album, 1989: this is darker and more real, the newsprint suggesting competing narratives.

Taylor Swift visits Target with fans to buy new album

The publicity juggernaut

This has not been a textbook publicity tour. In August, Swift deleted her Instagram  where she has 104 million followers  and uploaded three looping videos of a snake, writhing hypnotically. A few days later she released Look What You Made Me Do, and the juggernaut was in motion.

On Twitter (85 million followers) she has been more recognisably herself, sharing pictures of Swifties clutching copies of the Reputation magazine released with the album, using hashtags #reputaylurking and #reputation.

She is letting her potent fanbase do her publicity for her  though Twitter also helped, crowning the album with its own emoji, the abbreviation rep in black and white script.

Keeping the album off streaming services fuelled the frenzy and drove sales: it is expected to drop there next week and the singles are already available.

Though for a gilded elite Swift held the uproarious Reputation Sessions: invitation-only listening parties in locations including London, New York and LA.

There were about 100 fans at the London event last month. According to one attendee, Swift handpicked the group after thorough Twitter stalking.

Fans sobbed, screamed and ate chicken nuggets, Reputation-themed cookies and M&Ms. One said Swift was the happiest she had ever been.

The heart-throb

Love interest: English actor Joe Alwyn is dating Taylor Swift / Getty Images

While Swift has never commented on her relationship with 26-year-old north London actor Joe Alwyn, its thought they have been dating since 2016.

At a listening party she apparently confessed that single Gorgeous is about him.

Taylor made us promise that if anyone made accusations of who this song is about, we tell them it is about her angel boyfriend of one year, wrote a fan on Tumblr who claims to have attended a party. She wanted us to tell people.

The song sheds light on the Swift-Alwyn timeline: she sings about having an older boyfriend in the club, who could be her ex, the DJ Calvin Harris, and meeting a new guy who she wants so badly it makes her furious.

Incidentally, the song also features her friend Blake Livelys daughter, who babbles gorgeous at the beginning.

Taylor Swift - In pictures 1 /89 Taylor Swift - In pictures Getty Images Taylor Swift performs a medley at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards AP Taylor Swift with her cat Meredith Taylor Swift Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne and Taylor Swift take to the water slide for their 4th July celebrations Cara Delevingne/Instagram Taylor Swift attends the premiere of "Miss Americana" at the Eccles Theater during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival Invision/AP Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 2017 DIRECTV NOW Super Saturday Night Concert at Club Nomadic Getty Images Kanye West jumps onstage after Taylor Swift wins the 'Best Female Video' award during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Getty Images Feud Taylor Swift and Katy Perry in 2010 Getty Images Taylor Swift attends the 46th annual CMA Awards in 2012 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee Getty Images Taylor Swift performs at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Lexington Avenue Armory Getty Images Taylor Swift performs at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Lexington Avenue Armory Getty Images Good friends Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift in 2013 Getty Images Red alert Swift poses in a red minidress at the Jingle Bell Ball in 2014 Getty Images Taylor Swift attends the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014 in New York Getty Images Trophies Taylor Swifts poses with all her gongs at the Billboard Awards in 2015 Invision/AP Swift performs in 2015 to a packed-out arena in Glasgow Getty Images Mummy's girl Swift accepts the Milestone Award from mum Andrea Swift on stage at the Academy Of Country Music Awards in 2015 Getty Images Intimate snap Taylor Swift with then-boyfriend Calvin Harris Taylor Swift appeared to mock Kim Kardashian's robbery ordeal in a video at the MTV Video Awards New couple Taylor Swift posts her first photo on Instagram with then-boyfriend Calvin Harris Comedy skills Taylor Swift and Jimmy Fallon goof around in basketball gear on The Tonight Show in 2015 NBC/Getty Images Duet Madonna and Taylor Swift perform together during the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards Getty Images Chart-topper The star performs during her 1989 tour in 2015 Invision/AP On stage Performing during her 1989 world tour in LA in 2015 Getty Images Stylish Taylor Swift attends the Elle Style Awards in 2015 Getty Images Taylor Swift performs during the BRIT Awards at The O2 Arena in 2015 Getty Images Taylor Swift performs onstage during The 1989 World Tour Live In Los Angeles at Staples Center in 2015 Getty Images Taylor Swift, winner of the International Female Solo Artist Award, poses in the winners room during the BRIT Awards 2015 Getty Images Award-winning Taylor Swift at the Grammy Awards in 2015 Getty Images Taylor Swift attends the 'Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology' Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2016 Getty Images Taylor Swift, winner of the awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album for "1989" and Best Music Video for "Bad Blood," poses in the press room during The 58th GRAMMY Awards in 2016 Getty Images Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift attend The 58th GRAMMY Awards in 2016 Getty Images Taylor Swift attends the 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards in 2016 Getty Images Taylor Swift and then-boyfriend Tom Hiddleston in 2016 Rex Features Taylor Swift attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Getty Images Taylor Swift performs onstage during The 58th GRAMMY Awards in 2016 Getty Images Taylor Swift attends The 58th GRAMMY Awards in 2016 Getty Images The official music video for Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik's single "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" from the film Fifty Shades Darker Taylor Swift starring in an Apple promotional video campaign in April 2016 Taylor Swift in 'Family Secrets' Taylor Swift/Twitter Taylor Swift on the cover of the May 2016 issue of Vogue Magazine Vogue Magazine In this courtroom sketch, the pop singer speaks from the witness stand during a trial against David Mueller in 2017 AP Taylor Swift hosts fans at her home in Rhode Island in 2017 Taylor Swift returns with her 2017 album Reputation Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 2017 DIRECTV NOW Super Saturday Night Concert at Club Nomadi Getty Images Taylor swift accepts the Artist of the Year award during the 2018 American Music Awards Getty Images Taylor preforms ANZ Stadium in Sydney in 2018 Getty Images Taylor Swift attends the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards Getty Images Taylor Swift joins Idris Elba onstage during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2019 NBCUniversal via Getty Images Taylor Swift attends Gigi Hadid's birthday party at Chalet in New York SplashNews.com Taylor Swift performs during the TIME 100 Gala 2019 Dinner at Jazz at Lincoln Center on 23 April 2019 in New York Getty Images Taylor Swift poses upon arriving for the Time 100 Gala celebrating Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in New York Reuters Taylor Swift performs with Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco in Las Vegas, NV, USA Getty Images Taylor Swift performing during the filming of the Graham Norton Show in London, England PA Taylor and Katy Perry make up in her video You Need To Calm Down Taylor Swift Taylor Swift performs onstage at 2019 iHeartRadio Wango Tango Getty Images Taylor Swift as Bombalurina Taylor Swift, winner of the artist of the decade award, performs a medley at the American Music Awards Reuters Taylor Swift, winner of the artist of the decade award, performs a medley at the American Music Awards Invision/AP Taylor Swift, winner of the artist of the decade award, performs a medley at the American Music Awards Getty Images Taylor Swift, winner of the artist of the decade award at the American Music Awards Invision/AP Taylor Swift out and about in New York in 2016 Rex Taylor Swift, winner of the artist of the decade award at the American Music Awards Getty Images Taylor Swift: Miss Americana at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival AP Taylor Swift attends the premiere of "Miss Americana" at the Eccles Theater during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival Getty Images Laura Sisk, Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, Aaron Dessner, and Jonathan Low, winners of the Album of the Year award for Folklore The Recording Academy/AFP via Getty Images Taylor Swift attends the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards The Recording Academy/AFP via Getty images

Word up

Swift is a dexterous lyricist  and the fact that her songs are so personal makes close reading even more salacious.

The most famous lyric on Reputation is on Look What You Made Me Do, when Swift exclaims in a dramatic voiceover: Im sorry, the old Taylor cant come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, cause shes dead. Its the albums clarion call.

The lyrics about Alwyn are by turns syrupy and overwrought: Ocean blue eyes, she croons on Gorgeous, looking in mine. Then, I feel like I might sink and drown and die.

Swift cannot please all of her fans, though: apparently her dad temporarily left a listening party after hearing the saucy lyrics to Dress, in which Taylor admits that she, only bought this dress so you could take it off.

Politics is popping

Swifts feud with Kanye and Kim Kardashian West is thought to have informed the revenge anthem Look What You Made Me Do: lyrics including I dont like your tilted stage seem to point to West, who staged a tour on a tilted stage.

The beef is over Wests single Famous, released last February, in which he notes, I made that b*tch famous  the b*tch being Swift, and the claim referring to the time West interrupted an awards ceremony to note that the trophy a fledgling Swift was clutching should have been Beyonces.

West maintains that Swift OK-ed the lyrics; Swift denies it. In June 2016 Kardashian West claimed she filmed the phone call in which Swift agreed. Kardashian West allies spammed Swifts Instagram account with snakes; Swifts use of snakes to launch her publicity tour is a riposte.

The video to Look What You Made Me Do stars a Katy Perry lookalike  the pair has been quarrelling for years, apparently over whether Perry stole backing dancers from Swift.

Bad Blood is said to be about this rift, and after Swift gave an interview to Rolling Stone in 2014, discussing an unnamed rival, Perry tweeted, Watch out for the Regina George in sheeps clothing... Quite a reputation.
M ariah Carey has been forced to cancel a string of Christmas tour dates due to an upper respiratory tract infection.

The singer announced the news via her Twitter page, writing: Lambs! Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, it seems Ive received a present of my own; a lovely respiratory tract infection after last weeks flu. Bleak!

You know there is nothing I love more than celebrating the holidays with my festive Christmas show, but I have to take my Doctors orders and rest until he says I can sing on stage.

Until then, unfortunately, I have to cancel the first several shows of my upcoming Christmas tour. Im going to do all that I can so that I can see you soon! she continued.

Fans tweeted their support for the star, wishing her a speedy recovery.

Mariah Carey hopes Manchester gig can be 'healing experience'

Health always comes first, rest and take care, tweeted one, while another posted: Feel better Queen! We cant wait to see you on stage again!

Carey was due to start her tour on Friday, November 17, but the first date will now be her live show on Monday, November 27 in New York City.

Mariah Carey: Hollywood Hand and Footprint Ceremony 1 /12 Mariah Carey: Hollywood Hand and Footprint Ceremony Mariah Carey poses for photographers during her hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Mariah Carey is honored with a Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre Getty Images Mariah Carey is honored with a Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre Getty Images Mariah Carey is honored with a Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre Getty Images Mariah Carey poses for photographers during her hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Mariah Carey poses for photographers during her hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Mariah Carey poses for photographers during her hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Mariah Carey places her signature in cement in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese theatre in Los Angeles, California Reuters Mariah Carey is honored with a Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre Getty Images

Earlier this week, the All I Want for Christmas hitmaker was forced to miss The Star premiere after she was struck down with stomach flu.

She recently had her hand and footprints immortalised on Hollywood Boulevard, but caused confusion when she left her Louboutin shoes on during the process.

They werent the most comfortable, she commented. But Ill always remember what they were for.
P addington 2 has successfully severed ties to Harvey Weinsteins production company after Warner Bros bought the rights to distribute the film.

The film's British producer David Heyman had said he was trying to "break Paddington out of prison" by ensuring The Weinstein Company (TWC) did not distribute the film in North America.

His calls were answered when Warner Bros announced on Wednesday it had bought the rights from the firm which sacked the Hollywood mogul after dozens of women accused him of sexual harassment and assault.

Warner Bros announced it had purchased the rights from TWC and StudioCanal, the firm which financed the film.

Harvey Weinstein is under investigation by police in London and the US / AP

Mr Heyman, who also produced the Harry Potter films, said at the movie's London premiere earlier this month that he was "looking for alternative distributors".

"We are trying to break Paddington out of prison and find him a better home," the Londoner, 56, added.

The efforts to dislodge TWC came after an avalanche of allegations were publicly aired against the 65-year-old producer, who has denied claims of non-consensual sex.

Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lupita Nyong'o were among the high-profile actresses who came forward to accuse him of sexual harassment, while Rose McGowan accused him of rape.

Weinstein's younger brother Bob initially said TWC's ties would continue and that he expected "even greater success" than the first film which made 76 million dollars (58 million) in the US after being distributed by the studio.

The Paddington sequel, which is out now in UK cinemas, will be released by Warner Bros in the US and Canada in January.
T he Manchester United team showed up in force at the annual charity gala at Old Trafford to support Unicef.

Footballers were joined by a host of celebrity fans including Rachel Riley and grime star Stormzy.

The night offered fans to pay to meet their football heroes and other celebrities.

Meet and greets were auctioned off alongside Manchester United Memorabilia.

(left to right) Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Stormzy and Marcus Rashford attend a gala dinner at Old Trafford in Manchester / PA

Self-proclaimed United fan Stormzy performed his song Blinded by your Grace from his album Gang Signs and Prayer.

Rachel Riley joined Stormzy at the Gala / PA

Manager, Jose Mourinho told the Mirror before the event: Charity is one of the amazing things in society and I have always been very supportive of Unicef.

"You know that the money is going to the right place and is going to make a big difference."

Jose Mourinho said that charity is one of the "amazing things in society" / Peter Powell/PA Wire

"This year the money is going to help children in Thailand so we know that we are going to contribute to a better future  I think it is difficult to have a better feeling than that.

All funds raised will go towards education programmes for children with limited access to schooling in Thailand.
N ew episodes of The X-Files will be shown on Channel 5 when the series returns in 2018.

The broadcaster was home to the shows revival series in 2016 where it proved popular among viewers, with its launch episode becoming Channel 5s most-watched drama programme ever and the series as a whole attracting 10.1million viewers over its six-week run.

Fans of the sci-fi hit are to be treated to extra episodes in the 2018 series, which will last for 10 weeks.

The X-Files originally aired from 1993-2002 before it was revived in 2016, with much of the original cast.

TV revivals: then and now - in pictures 1 /13 TV revivals: then and now - in pictures Blind Date then Cilla Black with a contestant in the original series Rex Blind Date now Paul O'Grady with a contestant in the new series Channel 5 Twin Peaks then Kyle Machlachan as Agent Cooper and Sherilyn Fenn as Audrey Horne in the old series of Twin Peaks Twin Peaks now Kyle Machlachan reprises his role in the new series Suzanne Tenner/SHOWTIME The Crystal Maze then Richard O'Brien in a scene from the original series The Crystal Maze now Richard Ayoade pictured on the new set Channel 4 X-Files then Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as Mulder and Scully in the original show PRESS IMAGE X-Files now The actors return as Mulder and Scully in the series of the sci-fi show Will & Grace then Eric McCormack as Will Truman and Debra Messing as Grace Adler in the original series of Will and Grace NBC Will & Grace now Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland and Megan Mullally as Karen Walker in the trailer for the new series NBC

The series revolves around FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who investigate unsolved cases involving paranormal activity.

Both Duchovny and Anderson are back for the 2018 series which is currently being filmed in Vancouver, Canada.

Channel 5s vice president of acquisitions, Katie Keenan said: Were thrilled to confirmed the return in 2018. The last series was a huge success with a legion of new fans enjoying this iconic and contemporised series.

While David Smyth, senior vice president and managing director of TCFTVD UK, commented: Were thrilled to be back in partnership with Channel 5 on this next event series of one of the biggest brands in TV that made such an impact in 2016.

The return of Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in Chris Carters The X-Files will truly be must-see TV!

The X-Files returns to Channel 5 in 2018.
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Soldiers fire an M777A2 howitzer while supporting Iraqi security forces near al-Qaim, Iraq, Nov. 7, 2017, as part of the operation to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Army photo by Spc. William Gibson

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Despite being under all sorts of sanctions for bad behavior Russia is backing the Assad government of Syria (subject to even more sanctions and war crimes charges) in its efforts to be considered the legitimate government of Syria and able to invoke international law to order American (and other unwanted UN member) forces out of the country. Even before the 2011 Arab Spring and subsequent rebellion against the Assad government it was generally agreed that the Assad clan were bad people with decades of well-documented misbehavior to prove it. The 2011 rebellion would have won had it not been for regional curse of fanatic factionalism within the Islamic world.

The center of this is Saudi Arabia, which only admitted its central role in creating and sustaining the problem in the last few years. In 2015 the Saudis formed the IMA (the Islamic Military Alliance), an anti-terrorist organization that tried to ignore all the other Islamic terrorists while concentrating on ISIL (al Qaeda in Iraq and the Levant). Saudi Arabia also considers Iran a terrorist organization, especially when Sunni nations are concerned. To many Saudis the Western nations are terrorists and many Arabs believe (and say so) that ISIL and al Qaeda were created by the United States and Israel. This sort of thing has kept the Islamic, especially the Arab Islamic, world divided and weak for over a thousand years. Until a century ago Turkey had controlled most of the Arab world as conquered provinces. For the last century these Arab provinces have turned into independent states that have not thrived. All are dominated by monarchies, dictators (religious or secular) or seemingly endless chaos. The Turks dont want their empire back, but some more orderly disorder would be nice.

Saudi Arabia formed IMA to deal with a plague of Islamic terrorism that it played a major role in creating. While the Saudis never officially supported Islamic terrorism they were, at the same time, very much responsible for the increase in Islamic terrorist activity since the 1970s. Thats because in Arabia (where Islam first appeared in the 7th century) the locals believe they are more Islamic than other Moslems. After all, the Koran was written in Arabic and all the founders of Islam were Arabs. Yet for over a thousand years there has been a tradition of different factions in Arabia trying outdo each other to prove who is more Islamic than the other. This led to constant fighting and suppression of new ideas. One of those fanatic factions is the Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam in what is now Saudi Arabia. Wahhabis, who first appeared in the 18th century, are very conservative and very hostile to non-Moslems and Moslems who are not Sunni. This meant little to the non-Moslem world until lots of oil wealth appeared in Arabia after World War II. Suddenly it became possible for Saudis to show how pious they were by funding Wahhabi missionaries who went to other Moslem (and many non-Moslem) nations to preach, establish Wahhabi religious schools and mosques and create the current Islamic terrorism problem. Billions were (and still are) spent on this and the policy of getting the young boys into these free religious schools and turning many of them into hateful (towards anyone not like them) Islamic religious fanatics led to a major outbreak of Islamic terrorism in the late 20th century. Yet many Moslem nations resisted this as did many Moslem nations (like Iraq, Libya and Syria) resisted the Wahhabi missionaries and money.

The Wahhabi problem is most obvious in Saudi Arabia, which practiced what it preached. Saudis comprise the largest faction of ISIL and al Qaeda recruits because so many Saudis have been educated in Wahhabi run schools. The Saudi rulers control the clergy, to a point, and do not allow public expressions of anti-Saudi Islamic radical ideas. But many Saudis back ISIL goals (which include replacing the Saudi monarchy), even is many of them do not wish to live under ISIL rule. This ideological mess is something Arab rulers, particularly in Saudi Arabia, have been dealing with since Saudi Arabia was formed in the 1920s. Change comes slowly in religious matters but meanwhile religious zealots that Arab oil wealth paid to create threaten us all. After September 11, 2001 the Saudis reluctantly began cracking down on the Islamic terrorist monster they had created. This was difficult to do but the Saudis were largely persuaded by the growing number of Islamic terrorist groups that wanted to kill the Saudi royals and run all of Arabia as a religious dictatorship. Messing with religion is one thing but if you really want to get someones attention threaten to take away their wealth and power.

This Saudi reform effort reached a crescendo recently when a young (the youngest ever) crown prince, known as an innovator, carried out a major crackdown on corruption. The crown prince had already lifted some of the more unpopular lifestyle rules (like not permitting women to drive) and replaced many of the more inept government ministers. He also proposed a real plan to prepare Saudi Arabia for a future where oil income was not the main source of wealth. But corruption was at the core of all these problems. Not only in Saudi Arabia but throughout the region. Some smaller Arab nations had made progress in reducing it but the major powers, like Saudi Arabia and Iran, had not. Russia knows all about the curse of corruption and seems to be taking the Saudi reforms as a very positive sign.

Syria has always been a majority Sunni Arab area but the Assads belonged to a Shia minority and have been able (since the 1970s) to manipulate factional disputes in Syria and, with the backing of Iran (since the 1980s) remain in power. Russia and Iran have already come out and declared their support for the Assads as the legitimate government of Syria and with ISIL gone the rebellion is being declared over. Neither statement is true. There are many Syrian rebels who have little or nothing to do with Islamic terrorism (like the Kurds and FSA). The rebellion is very much alive.

Then there is Israel and the Israelis keep pointing out that Iran and their dependency Syria have, since the 1980s, openly called for the destruction of Israel. Many Westerners saw this as absurd while Russia sees it as an opportunity and the Israelis point out that they have nukes, the most effective military (and economy) in the region and no tolerance for more Iranian forces moving into Syria or agreeing that the Assads are a legitimate government. For Russia this is a challenge since as outsiders they realize that Israel is right and long-term a more dependable and desirable ally. But the current Russian government is getting by on uncertainty, deception and hope that this approach will work. There are reasons why Russian roulette is accepted as a typically Russian form of whatever.

Israel has some very public backing from Russia despite the fact that this puts Russia at odds with their two other allies (Turkey and Iran) in Syria. The Russians see the Israelis as a more powerful and reliable ally than the Turks or Iranians. Russia is also backing the Kurds in Syria and that is causing problems with Turkey. For example on October 31st Russia invited the Syrian Kurds to a November 18th Syrian Congress on National Dialogue conference in Russia. The Kurds were among 33 groups invited to a UN backed effort to work out a peace deal for post-war Syria. Russia has long tried to play peacemaker even though to make any progress it must offend its new allies Turkey and Iran. Russia is recognizing the key role the Syrian Kurds played in defeating ISIL in Syria and driving ISIL out of Raqqa. In contrast Turkey and Iran want to attack the Syrian Kurds and force them to submit to Assad rule. A week later Turkey said it had convinced Russia to ban the Syrian Kurds. That was incorrect but Russia did postpone the conference until it could deal with Turkish objections. This version of Russian roulette is not only dangerous but difficult to keep track of.

Ukraine

The latest ceasefire agreement is about three months old and so far local and foreign ceasefire monitors have counted about 15-20 incidents a day where rebel or Russian forces fired on Ukrainian troops. All that firing (or machine-guns, mortars, rocket launchers and artillery) has caused about 5-10 casualties a week, very few of them fatal. Russia is stalemated in Ukraine but there is still the fear that Russian backed violence will increase once the Islamic terrorist threat in Syria is completely crushed. Yet so far there is no indication of that and at the same time Russia is trying to repair some of the economic links that were severed after the 2o14 Russian invasion began. Like many Russian foreign policy decisions, they are often not announced in advance, in part because the Russians tend to keep strategy discussions secret. In the West these debates are often reported on regularly or leaked to the press. That approach never caught on in Russia so the Ukrainians are left to speculate. One thing the Ukrainians are certain of is that the Russians have made little, or no, progress in Donbas since Russian forces entered Syria in late 2015 and over the last few months more Russian firms have apparently received permission to discuss resuming economic ties.

The Purge

Several prominent Russian journalists are not hiding the fact that they are getting out of the country until after the March 2018 presidential elections. The government has made it clear that it does not want any Russian journalists investigating anything on their own and, worst of all, talking to foreign media. Disobeying these unofficial threats can have fatal consequences. Since 2014 the government propaganda effort has included increased efforts to stifle critics both foreign and domestic.

Russia never stopped playing rough with local journalists who spoke frequently to foreign media. By the late 1990s more of these journalists were threatened, beaten up and even murdered. Not by the government (as during the Soviet Union) but by criminals or patriotic Russians. Russian leaders had adapted to democracy and the need for plausible deniability. Thus the government continues by trying to ban foreign NGOs that promote democracy or freedom of expression. Local groups with similar attitudes are also under attack. This includes election monitoring organizations, stoking fears that even the elections will become manipulated by the government and former KGB officer Vladimir Putin will be able to remain president-for-life.

Thus it was no surprise when Ukraine supplied a steady flow of details (many of them verifiable by other sources) of how Russia used they purge tactics and heavy-handed discipline (assassination and so on) to keep Donbas rebel leaders in line. This sort of thing also benefits from increased efforts to keep foreign journalists out. While that works in most of Russia too many people in Russian occupied Donbas were willing to talk with foreign reporters. These journalists and neutral observers (Russia allowed in as a gesture they now regret) capture and pass on evidence about what is really going in eastern Ukraine. Recently that policy delivered yet another PR disaster as an EU expert panel confirmed that SS-21 ballistic missiles launched from Russia were indeed used against Ukrainian forces in Donbas.

When it comes to press manipulation and control Russia believes that it is best to never quit. This the latest ploy is to require foreign news organizations to register as foreign agents. Russia has taken the initiative here and ordered its state owned media organizations, like RT (Russia Today) to go along with American efforts to get foreign state owned media organizations to admit they are agents of a foreign government and register as such. By quickly agreeing to this (as of November 13th) Russia is able to justify (in their eyes) a similar program in Russia that forces all foreign NGOs (Non-governmental organizations), including most foreign news organizations, to register or be barred from Russia.

This is part of a longer term Russian effort to revive the state monopoly the government enjoyed in the pre-Internet days. For example in mid-2014 Russia put a new law went into effect that gave the state control over blogs. The new law stipulated that any blog with more than 3,000 visitors a day must register with the government, providing the true identity of the owner and operator of the blog. Russia already has a bunch of laws allowing the government to punish misbehaving journalists (who say anything the government does not like.) While there are many ways Russian bloggers can get around this new censorship that may not be necessary. Blogging is being replaced by other forms of social media. That, and the availability of so many Internet tools to get around censorship attempts make the latest government ploy more of an annoyance than a step towards effective censorship of the web. Russia is trying to crack down on the Internet but is having limited success. Going after foreign media organizations is seen as frivolous as those traditional media, state owned or not, are also at war with the Internet.

Practical Paranoia

Russia is delaying making repairs to a Russian nuclear sub India leased and the reason appears to be Russian suspicion that India is violating the lease agreement and allowing American naval personnel to get a close look at the Russian submarine tech. This is prohibited by the lease agreement, which included a clause that called for a Russian naval officer to be aboard the leased sub at all times to prevent such snooping and to provide technical assistance as well as regular reports to Russian intelligence about whatever. There is also a dispute over the extent of the damage and how it happened. The sonar dome has a hole in it and this occurred while the sub was at sea in August 2017. But it is believed the damage may have been made worse, or be entirely because of a collision while the sub was navigating the narrow channel it has to pass through to reach its southern India base at Vizag. If the damage is too extensive the sub would have to return to Russia for repairs and be out of action for a lot longer. The Indian inspection team has already delivered its report but Russia insisted on sending its own inspection team to examine the damaged sonar dome. Meanwhile negotiations to lease another Akula II sub are not making much progress and Russia recently admitted that the rumors of India allowing American naval officers aboard the leased Russian sub were apparently spread by the French, who are competing with Russia to provide equipment and technical assistance to India for submarine design and construction. In 2013 India asked Russia about leasing a second nuclear sub, in part because of the recent loss of a Russian made Kilo sub to an accidental explosion and continuing delays for Indian efforts to build new diesel-electric and nuclear subs. India offered to supply the cash to complete an Akula class nuclear sub that Russia halted work on in the 1990s because of money shortages. India believed that work could be completed in about four years and then that sub would enter Indian service. India believed this would cost about a billion dollars but now India has found that the work would take six years and cost over $2 billion. This has stalled negotiations and Russia now accuses the French of trying to exploit that. Russia also suspects that a growing number of Indian naval officers have become so dissatisfied with Russian ships and poor Russian workmanship and repairs that they might pass details of the Akula II India already has to U.S. Navy officers they work with. But the Americans point out that Russian nuclear submarine tech is no mystery to them as the Americans contributed a lot of the cash and expertise to the 1990s effort to disassemble and decommission nearly a hundred retired Russian nuclear subs that were threatening northern Russia with a massive nuclear pollution disaster. This entire situation makes Russia look worse to the Indians, who have been loyal customers for Russian technology and military equipment for over half a century but are losing hope that the Russians will ever be competitive with Western (or even Chinese) tech.

Iran

Russian efforts to maintain its alliance with Iran continues to be very difficult and quite an accomplishment that it exists at all. Russia also needs to remain on good terms with Israel and the Arab oil states in the region. This is a major problem for Iran. But then Russia has always been a problem for Iran since the two empires collided in the 18th century. That collision, which Iran got the worst of, has created some long term grudges, most of them Iranian. Throughout the Cold War Iran saw Russia as a threat and the West as a useful antidote for the Russian threat. At the same Russia and Israel have cooperated with each other 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. This has extended to recent discussions between Russian and American leaders that apparently resulted in agreement on the need to support Israel. Give the Russians credit, they are getting away with this dangerous mixture of allies. But it is becoming increasingly difficult and Iran realizes that if it comes to a showdown the Russians will probably prefer Israel to Iran. But in the meantime Iran sees an opportunity is making the most of it. That what has made the Iranians/Persians so dangerous for so long.

North Korea

Russia has agreed to strictly enforce the latest round of sanctions on North Korea, including the ones aimed at North Korean use of Russian and Chinese banks to avoid detection by sanction investigators. But considering the degree of corruption in Russia (compared to China, which is cracking down on corruption big time) it is believed North Korea has found ways to continue doing business via Russia. So far Russia, and foreign observers, have been reporting failed North Korean attempts to continue doing business in Russia and not having much success. Another problem is the North Koreans keep trying despite getting caught. This may be due to the fact that Russia is the only neighbor where North Korea has any chance at all of rebuilding smuggling networks. Russia is content to let China and the West take the lead in dealing with North Korea. Thats ironic because post-Cold War revelations documented how it was Russia that ordered the newly created (by Russia) North Korea to invade South Korea in 1950 and then persuaded China to go in and try to prevent a total defeat and occupation of North Korea by the UN approved and American led counterattack. The Chinese never forgave the Russians for this manipulation but the North Koreans, or at least the Russian-backed Kim dynasty, made nice with Russia because Russian economic aid made possible the reconstruction of North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean war and those generous annual gifts continued until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Over the next decade everyone in the region saw how important those annual gifts (of food, industrial equipment and weapons) was to the development of North Korea into the mess it is today.

November 15, 2017: Six Tu-22M3 bombers hit ISIL targets in eastern Syria, flying from Russian bases and then over Iran and Iraq on their way to and from the target. Tu-22s have been doing this since mid-2016. Thats a lot of work for the ten or so Tu-22M3Ms in service that have to fly all the way from southern Russia to Syria and back to deliver a few tons of bombs, many of them unguided. The Tu-22M3M proved to be very good at it and the Syrian missions were the first sustained combat experience the Tu-22 has had since Afghanistan in the 1980s. The Tu-22s are often, as in this latest mission, escorted over Syria by four Su-30SM fighters operating from an Iranian airbase at Hamadan (in northwest Iran). Iraq does not object to Russian warplanes flying overhead to and from targets in Syria. Russian bombers are hitting ISIL as well as other rebel groups in Syria. Use of this Iranian base is safer and cheaper than operating from a base in Syria, where attacks from Islamic terrorists and rebels in general are much more likely. Russia can get a lot of supplies locally and easily ship in stuff from Russia via ship (the Caspian Sea) and Iranian railroads.

Russia has agreed to revise the terms for $3.15 billion of the debt Venezuela owes, reducing payments to token amounts for the next six years. But Venezuela would then have only four years to repay the full $3.15 billion. This is less helpful than it appears. China is owed $28 billion and Russia $8 billion while other countries are owed another $114 billion. About $45 billion of the $150 billion is owned to the Venezuelan state owned oil company. For Venezuela the worst aspect of this is the prospect of the state oil company bonds defaulting. If any debt connected with the state oil company is declared in default bondholders can go to foreign courts for authorization to seize overseas assets of the Venezuelan state oil company. That sort of thing tends to work. Once that happens Venezuelan oil revenue drops sharply and so does what is left of the Venezuelan economy. China and Russia are trying to come up with some way to help but so far they have no workable plan either. For example, none of the $3.15 billion in debt Russia revised terms on has anything to do with the Venezuelan oil company.

On November 10th the long feared default of Venezuelan foreign debt officially began as the state oil company was declared in default on $650 million borrowed (at 8.5 percent) in 2008 by a Venezuelan electrical power producer that is now owned by the state. The interest payment was due October 10th, was not made and despite a 30 day grace period is still not paid. Thus the default begins and debt holders agree that more of the $150 billion in debt will follow over the next few months and that will wreck the ability of Venezuela to pump, ship and sell its oil.

Neighbors Colombia and Brazil are lining up foreign help for the millions of Venezuelans who may try and flee the starvation and record crime rates in Venezuela. Colombia has counted at least half a million Venezuelans arriving (not all of them legally) in the last six months. Fewer have gone to Brazil but that is mainly because it is easier to get to the Colombian border. The UN is limited in what it can do because Russia and China continue to use their vetoes to block UN efforts to do anything the current Venezuelan government objects to.

November 13, 2017: The government revealed that air defense units in the Eastern Military District, which is adjacent to North Korea had their air defense forces upgraded to S-400 systems during 2017. S-400 offers some protection against ballistic missiles.

November 11, 2017: In southern Syria Israeli air defenses show down a Russian UAV carrying out a surveillance mission of the Israeli Golan Heights. Apparently Hezbollah was controlling the UAV.

November 10, 2017: West European pollution monitoring organizations report detecting a cloud of radioactive pollution over that indicates some kind of nuclear accident in late September and the likely location is somewhere between the Russia or Kazakhstan. Neither country has reported any such incident, but that is why West Europe still maintains efforts to monitor the atmosphere coming out of Russia. The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster was too large to conceal and West European nations are still monitoring areas in Scandinavia and Scotland where the Chernobyl fallout still persists in the form of vegetation radioactive enough to contaminate animals that consume it.

Chernobyl was one reason the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. After that it was possible to identify and confirm other nuclear disasters the Soviet government had managed to keep out of the news. There were rumors of such disasters but Chernobyl forced the Soviet government to go public with its shabby record of pollution control and nuclear safety. Chernobyl also provided an opportunity to see exactly what the long-term impact of low-level radiation was. While a lot of radiation in a short time will kill you, non-lethal doses were known to have long-term effects. When the Russian Chernobyl nuclear power plant experienced a fire and explosion in 1986, 134 firefighters and plant workers got high radiation doses during the first week or so. Of these, 28 soon died from radiation sickness and the rest were expected to have shorter life spans as a result. Hundreds of thousands of people got non-fatal doses of radiation that caused the cancer rate to increase ten times, especially among those who were young children in 1986. Chernobyl was the first time since 1945 (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) that there large numbers of people exposed to a wide range of radiation doses. Unlike 1945, there was more, and better, radiation measuring equipment in 1986. Much more was known about radiation, and the Chernobyl radiation victims are being carefully monitored (if not adequately treated) over the years. This is important, as some of the studies of Japanese radiation victims were perplexing. For example, overall, Japanese radiation victims seemed to be living longer than those not exposed to radiation. This may be because radiation victims got better medical care right after the war, or for other, as yet not understood, reasons. Another lasting lesson of Chernobyl was that you cant trust a police state (which Russia has reverted to) when it comes to accurately reporting local environmental disasters. The more accurate monitoring equipment indicates that the current radiation threat may be from an accident at a non-military nuclear facility, like one producing radioactive materials for medical uses. In any event the most recent radioactivity coming out of Russia is a much less dangerous type and may soon disappear completely.

November 7, 2017: Russia celebrated the 100th anniversary of the communist coup that took control of the Russian government, triggered a civil war and democide (killing your own citizens) on an unprecedented scale and ultimately caused the collapse of the economy and the Russian empire. With access to more communist era records in the 1990s Western scholars found that 80 years of communism had left at least 100 million dead. The Russian government now considers that number a fraud and accuses the West of killing 100 million people during the period communism ruled Russia.

November 6, 2017: In the east (Siberia) local officials in the city of Chelyabinsk not to wear gasmasks during the upcoming visit of president Putin (and the many photographers that accompany this visit). Air pollution was a well-guarded secret during communist period when foreign access to polluted industrial cities like Chelyabinsk was forbidden. During the 1990s the pollution became widely publicized and Chelyabinsk residents stayed because there was work in the many metal related industries. People found that wearing military surplus gas masks outside on days of very high air pollution was beneficial. The government says it will do something about the pollution but not much has happened yet.

November 5, 2017: In eastern Syria a roadside bomb wounded five Russian soldiers and four Russian journalists accompanying them. All nine casualties were taken to a Russian base in western Syria for treatment. Russia has lost over 130 soldiers in Syria in 2017.

Russia made it clear their forces in Syria will not be reduced anytime soon because with the rebels defeated Russia has two military bases in Syria to develop and agreements to continue training and rebuilding the Syrian military. Opinion polls in Russia show 54 percent of Russians approve of the Russian efforts in Syria, but 34 percent oppose the Syrian operation and that percentage is increasing. While the government has kept Russian casualties down it has not demonstrated how the expensive operations in Syria are helping the average Russian.

November 4, 2017: Russia has delivered the first batch of 64 T-90S and T-90SK tanks Vietnam ordered (and paid about $4 million each for). The T-90S is what India uses (with local modifications) while the T-90SK is the export version of the T-90 command tank but without the latest Russian communications and security systems installed. Older equipment is included or none at all so the buyer can purchase such gear from other (usually Western) suppliers.

November 3, 2017: In eastern Ukraine (Donbas) the Russian backed rebel government sentenced a local man to ten years in jail for distributing a cell phone photo via twitter that showed Russian Army vehicles and other equipment in the rebel controlled half of Donbas. Russia denies they have troops there but it has been an open secret because of cell phones, Internet access and most Ukrainians there want the Russians gone. Sending this guy to prison and publicizing it is expected to make the population less ready to do this sort of thing.

November 2, 2017: Navy officials revealed that Russian warships continued to spend more time at sea. So far in 2017 navy ships have spent 17,000 ship days at sea. That is up from 15,600 for all of 2016, 14,200 in 2015 and 12,700 in 2014. This increase in time at sea has improved seagoing skills of crews and was not much done, even during the communist period, because of the expense. Left unsaid was the fact (that is no secret) that most of the warships are from the Cold War period and Russia cannot afford to replace them as they wear out. What the Russian navy is really doing is use it or lose it and sending its ships to sea even if they are barely capable of doing so.

November 1, 2017: Russia revealed that its army had received the first batch of production model T-72B3 tanks. This version of the T-72 first showed up in 2015 when a Russian motorized infantry brigade in Western Siberia fifteen T-72B3 prototypes for testing. This is a much modernized version of T-72 with an improved fire control system and next-generation communications equipment. The T-72B3 is one of the Russian efforts to modernize its armed forces at a price it can afford. Russia has over 5,000 T-72 tanks in use (2,000 in active service and 3,000 in reserve) and most of them are Cold War (pre-1991) vintage and seriously out-of-date compared to American, European and Chinese tanks. Modernizing these Cold War era tanks has been underway for a decade but is proceeding very slowly because of money shortages. Recently Russia admitted that it could not afford to buy many T-90 tanks or the even more modern (and expensive) T-14 and that instead it would modernize about 2,000 T-72s to the T-72B3 standard. Experienced Russian tank officers and crews appear to view the T-72B3 as one of the more successful T-72 upgrades.

October 31, 2017: Russia announced that one of its Kilo class diesel-electric submarines in the Mediterranean had launched three Kalibr cruise missiles against ISIL targets in eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province). Russia makes these announcements as part of a promotional program for sales of its Kilo subs and various Russian made weapons they can be equipped with. This marketing approach is working and that is one reason Russia also revealed that it would not reduce its air force activity in Syria now that ISIL was beaten but would increase it. Russia is more confident of using its new aircraft models in combat now that it has found and fixed various minor problems with some of these aircraft and the smart bombs and guided missiles they use.

October 30, 2017: Sanctions have forced Russia to cancel many off-shore oil projects because the specialized equipment needed for this work was only available from the West. This is demoralizing to the Russians who worked in their oil industry in the 1980s and 1990s. Those Russians remember the dramatic impact access to Western oil production and exploration technology had on improving the reliability and profitability of the Russian oil industry (which produces 12 percent of world oil) back then. The collapse of the Russian oil industry in the 1980s was a major factor in the fall of communist rule in Russia and the introduction of Western tech made it clear why. But now the access to Western oil tech is gradually being eliminated because of disputes over Ukraine and other Russian aggression. Worse, during the communist period there were no modern accounting and financial auditing systems available (they were considered capitalist propaganda) but in the 1990s those financial tools became available and Russian oil experts confirmed their suspicions that communist era polices had crippled the Russian oil industry. Now it is happening again and the data is there daily to show the rot.

October 26, 2017: The UN released a report on an investigation into continued chemical weapons use in Syria. The report confirmed that the Assad government used nerve gas against a pro-rebel village in Idlib province during April 2017, an attack that killed over 83 (30 of them children) and left over 300 with nerve gas related injuries. This is a war crime that many UN members are demanding be prosecuted. As expected the Assads denied the charges safe in the knowledge that their ally Russia would use their veto to block any major war crimes prosecution. The UN investigators had concluded early on that the April attack used nerve gas but the latest report confirms that the nerve gas was delivered by the Assad forces. Another part of this report confirmed that ISIL used mustard gas in several September 2016 attacks.

October 22, 2017: India wants to leave the effort to develop the new Su-57 Russian stealth fighter. This departure has been threatened more frequently over the last few years but now it seems serious. Russia is trying to come up with a compromise Russia can afford. India is not only investing a lot of money in Su-57 but was to be the first and largest export customer.

October 21, 2017: Russia used its UN veto to block a proposal to continue investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The UN had investigated and confirmed accusations that Assad forces used nerve gas earlier in 2017.

October 20, 2017: Ukrainian military intelligence analysts have presented convincing evidence that a Russian military contractor (called Wagner) has become, in effect, president Putins private army in Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere. Ukrainians identified Russian Special Operations colonel Dmytro Utkin as the organizer of Wagner. The name Wager was originally the radio call sign for Utkin. The Ukrainians have a lot of experience with the Wagner company, which was used to restore discipline in rebel controlled areas of Donbas by kidnapping or assassinating rebel leaders who were not following orders from Russia. Wagner is believed to have over 2,000 highly skilled (and paid) personnel on the payroll. Ukraine and foreign analysts documented that the Wagner firm is a major Russian military contractor with thousands of personnel in Ukraine and Syria. What little is known about Wagner is collected from Internet posts (usually in social media) about the death of Wagner employees in Ukraine or Syria. There is so much data like that freely available that it is possible to get a good idea about the size and activities of Warner and other military contractors Russia uses.

October 19, 2017: In Yemen Saudi Arabia quietly lifted the air embargo on the capital (Sanaa) today and halted all air attacks on the city. This was to allow a Russian medical team to fly in and operate on former Yemen president Saleh who, at age 75 is still a powerful leader in Yemen. In mid-2017 Saleh began to discuss peace terms with the Saudis and this led to denunciations by Shia leaders but not effort to imprison or kill Saleh. Apparently Saleh still has his political skills and both sides see keeping him alive in their interest. Russia is on good terms with Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as Saleh. If Saleh sides with the Sunni Arab coalition the Yemen rebels will have to consider making peace, otherwise the war can go on for a while yet.
Whakatane District Council elected members have voted in favour of a resolution that would enable the establishment of Maori wards.

The elected members heard submissions from the public before deliberating and voting six to five in favour of supporting the introduction of one or more Maori wards.

Whakatane District Mayor Tony Bonne says this result is testament to the importance of fostering strong and meaningful relationships with Maori across the district and ensuring Te Ao Maori is recognised and supported at the council table.

I have had the opportunity and privilege in my role as mayor to engage with Maori on a number of partnerships, and I see this as a continuation of the work we have been doing to foster growth and positive relationships within our rohe so we can move forward together.

Whakatane District Council initiated the discussion around Maori wards at its June 29 meeting, where it was required to determine the electoral process for the next triennial elections. It resolved to pursue further investigations which involved seeking feedback from iwi, and more broadly from the public via social media and traditional channels and reported back to council.

By November 23, the council will give public notice of the right of electors to demand a poll on the matter.

The Local Electoral Act 2001 allows a poll of five per cent of the electors enrolled at the previous triennial election to demand a binding poll to be held on a proposal whether or not to introduce Maori wards for the next two triennial elections.
A teenage girl who was sleeping next to a damaged iPhone charging cable has died after rolling over it and being electrocuted. Police from the Hoan Kiem district of Vietnamese capital Hanoi said a tear in the rubber casing might have revealed live wires that killed 14-year-old Le Thi Xoan.

It appears that Xoan regularly plugged in her iPhone 6 and slept next to the handset while it was charging. Her parents discovered she was unconscious and rushed the schoolgirl to the local hospital where they were unable to revive her. Medics confirmed electrocution as the cause of death.

As you can see from the photo above, the cable was damaged, and it appears someone had tried to repair it with some clear tape.

Authorities still haven't confirmed if the cable was an official Apple product or part of a third-party knockoff, but given how much shorter it looks than one of Apple's cables, it seems the latter option is most likely. Moreover, the tragedy was almost certainly due to a faulty USB power adaptor allowing the full mains voltage to travel through the cable.

Back in December last year, the UK Standards body revealed that 99 percent of fake Apple chargers sold were unsafe. They are often poorly built with inferior or missing parts, flawed designs, and inadequate electrical insulation.

In March, a coroner said Apple's devices should come with warnings not to charge them in bathrooms after a man was electrocuted and died when his iPhone charger touched the bathwater he was lying in.

"[iPhones] seem like innocuous devices but they can be as dangerous as a hairdryer in a bathroom. They should carry warnings. I intend to write a report later to the makers of the phone," said Dr. Sean Cummings.
In a match with England in 1986, the Argentine team scored a goal "a little bit with Maradona's head and a little bit with God's hand." | Read More
KARMA AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES NEW ORANGE COUNTY BRAND-EXPERIENCE CENTER

Luxury Automaker Selects Location for Corporate-Run Dealership in Newport Beach

IRVINE, CA (NOVEMBER 15, 2017)  Karma Automotive announced today that the location of its brand-experience center will be at 950 Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach. The 2,000-square-foot building will showcase the brand, serve as a vehicle showroom and also be a platform for testing and roll-out of new initiatives and processes. Locating in Newport Beach close to Karmas headquarters and assembly plant, will provide an opportunity for Karma employees to gain critical consumer insights through direct interaction with customers.

We originally planned to locate our experience center in our new Irvine headquarters, but determined that being on PCH among the other ultra-luxury brands was a more suitable location to introduce the Karma Brand and the new Revero," said Jim Taylor, Chief Revenue Officer.

Karma Automotive took possession of the facility last week. Remodeling began November 11 with a soft opening planned for Monday, November 20, 2017. When the full renovation has been completed, the brand-experience center will clearly show Karmas identity as a Southern California auto company.

"I look forward to opening our store in one of the largest luxury markets in the country, said Ehren Bragg , Karma OC General Manager. We are confident that the Revero has tremendous potential in a market where customers clearly appreciate beauty and technology.

About Karma Automotive

Karma Automotive is a U.S. manufacturer of luxury plug-in hybrid vehicles. Unapologetically conspicuous in their beauty. Uncommonly light in their footprint. Designed, engineered, and assembled In Southern California.
AUTO LAB TALK RADIO LIVE FROM NYC SATURDAY MORNING! 7-9 AM November 18, 2017







Auto Lab Talk Radio

The Auto Lab Radio Show LIVE every Saturday 7 to 9 AM On New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On The Auto Channel

This Weeks Show Broadcast Date: November 18, 2017

Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234

Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice.

Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format.

Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com.

Listen - Auto Lab Page (Includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures

This Weeks Show: November 18, 2017

IN STUDIO: Auto Lab's Real World Experts Answer Your Questions; Discuss: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Ombudsmen Suggestions

Harold Bendell - Major Auto

Fred Bordoff - Bronx Community College Automotive Technology Department-CUNY

Tim Cacace - Master Mechanix Auto Repairs

David Goldsmith - Urban Classics Auto Repairs AAA NY

Audra Fordin-Great Bear Auto Repairs & What Women AUTO Know

Joseph Guarino-Joe Guarino's Auto Repairs

Joanne Porcelli, Esq

Michael Porcelli - Auto Mobile Services

Nicholas Prague- MTA and Rockland Community College, SUNY

Broadcast Date: November 18, 2017;

Auto Lab Correspondents Remote Interviews: Featuring Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That Will Effect You!

Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England

NATURE AND DESIGN VISION-AUTMOTIVE SOLUTIONS

John Russell Senior Correspondent

BMW 540i

Russ Rader, Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

THREE MORE HYUANDAI VEHICLES EARN TOP AWARD FROM IIHS

Robert Sinclair- AAA NORTHEAST

AAA SAFETY SUMMIT GIVES TEEN DRIVERS LIFESAVING INFORMATION
Vincentric Announces 2017 Best CPO Value in America Awards

LA QUINTA, California  November 14th, 2017  The fifth annual Vincentric Best Certified Pre-Owned Value in America awards were announced today with Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, and Audi earning the prestigious brand value awards. The Ford brand awards were earned in the Trucks, SUV/Crossovers, and Vans categories while Lincoln earned the Luxury SUV/Crossovers category. The final two brand awards for best CPO Passenger Car and best CPO Luxury Car went to Toyota and Audi respectively.

In addition to the brand awards, Vincentric announced model level awards for each vehicle segment. Hyundai, BMW, Volvo, Chevrolet, Lexus, and Honda all had multiple winners as did Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, and Audi.

The Vincentric Best CPO Value in America Awards enable consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing vehicles, said Vincentrics President, David Wurster. Comparing CPO vehicles which have different mileage, warranties, and age can be challenging, and our awards can help simplify the decision-making process using our data-driven evaluations.

To determine the 2017 Vincentric Best CPO Value in America award winners, Vincentric conducted a statistical analysis to reveal which vehicles had lower than expected ownership costs given their market segment and price. Vincentric analyzed over 15,000 vehicle configurations using eight cost factors: depreciation, fees and taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs. The costs were measured after incorporating the specific CPO warranty offered by the manufacturer while also applying mileage requirements necessary to be authorized as an OEM CPO vehicle. Each CPO vehicle was evaluated in all 50 states plus Washington DC, with the assumption that each vehicle is driven 15,000 miles annually over five years.

ABOUT VINCENTRIC

Vincentric provides data, knowledge, and insight to the automotive industry by identifying and applying the many aspects of automotive value. Vincentric data is used by organizations such as AOL, Business Fleet Magazine, Cars.com, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota as a means of providing automotive insight to their clientele. Vincentric, LLC is a privately held automotive data compilation and analysis firm headquartered in Bingham Farms, Michigan.

Vincentric Best CPO Value in America Awards
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/11/2017 (1827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Find these stories and more in the Nov. 16 issue of The Carillon.

On the run

Sports editor Terry Frey shares about the latest cool project from runner Albert Martens.

Rolling out a plan

Reporter Jordan Ross talks with Steinbach mayor Chris Goertzen about legalization of cannabis and the citys role in regulation.

Ste Anne stylings

Reporter Dave Baxter visits a Ste Anne artist to learn about his project to give back to the community.
Roy Moore is facing eight allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.

Mere hours after a sixth woman publicly accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual assault yesterday evening, two more womens allegations were published in the Washington Post  the same paper that ran the first expose of Moores alleged sexual harassment and abuse of four teenagers and young women in the late 70s and early 80s. The list of accusers keeps growing. Here are the eight women who have come forward as of now, ordered chronologically by the date of their alleged incidents.

Beverly Young Nelson, 1977

Nelson came forward earlier this week in a press conference with famed womens rights lawyer Gloria Allred, making her Moores fifth accuser. Nelson, who was 16 at the time, said 30-year-old Moore would flirt with her at the Old Hickory House, the restaurant where she worked. She says that one day, he asked to sign her yearbook  Allred presented the book during the conference  and soon after, Moore showed up to the restaurant when she was closing. She said he offered her a ride home, which is when he allegedly began groping her breasts and pushing her head toward his crotch.

I was terrified  I thought he was going to rape me. I was twisting and struggling and begging for him to stop. I had tears running down my face, Nelson said. At some point he gave up and he then looked at me and told me Youre just a child. I am the district attorney of Etowah County and if you tell anyone about this, no one will ever believe you.

Becky Gray, 1977

Gray is one of the two newest accusers whose stories were published in the Washington Post Wednesday night. Gray said she was harassed by Moore at the mall when she was 22 years old and working in the mens department of Pizitz, a department store in the Gadsden Mall. She says that Moore repeatedly asked her on dates and lingered around her, making her so uncomfortable that she told the Pizitz manager about him. Gray alleged that the manager said her report was not the first time he had a complaint about [Moore] hanging out at the mall.

Gena Richardson, 1977

Richardson was a high-school senior working in the mens department of Sears, where she said Moore asked for her number. After telling him no, he allegedly called her high school to ask her on a date. A few days later, Moore told the Washington Post that he asked her out again at the mall, which she finally accepted. They saw a movie together, and afterward, Moore offered to drive her back to her car. Richardson alleges that when he parked by her car, he kissed her in a way that scared her.

It was a man kiss  like really deep tongue. Like very forceful tongue. It was a surprise. Id never been kissed like that, she told the Post. And the minute that happened, I got scared then. I really did.

Gloria Thacker Deason, 1979

Deason was an 18-year-old cheerleader working at the jewelry counter of Pizitz when she met Moore. Moore was 32, and Deason said the two dated on and off for a few months. She told the Washington Post that their relationship did not go further than kissing and hugging, but that he would buy her drinks on dates; she was not of legal drinking age.

Wendy Miller, 1979

Moore allegedly first approached Miller when she was 14 years old, working as a Santas helper at the Gadsden Mall. She told the Washington Post that two years later, he started asking her on dates  sometimes, in front of her mother, who turned him away.

Id say, Youre too old for her  lets not rob the cradle, Martha Brackett, her mother, told the Post.

Leigh Corfman, 1979

Fourteen-year-old Corfman was sitting outside a courtroom in Alabama when 32-year-old Moore allegedly approached her and her mother. Corfman said he offered to watch her while her mother went inside for a child-custody hearing, during which time he asked for the teenagers number. A few days later, he picked her up, drove her to his house in the woods, and kissed her, Corfman told the Washington Post. At a later date, she said Moore drove her again to his home, where he allegedly touched her over her underwear, and then guided her hand toward his crotch.

I wanted it over with  I wanted out, she told the Washington Post. Please just get this over with. Whatever this is, just get it over.

Debbie Wesson Gibson, 1981

Gibson told the Washington Post that she was 17 when Moore spoke to her Etowah High School civics class and reportedly started to ask her on dates. She told the Post that when she told her mother that the then-assistant district attorney had asked her out, her mother responded, Id say you were the luckiest girl in the world. They reportedly dated for two to three months, during which time he read her poetry, played her guitar, and kissed her twice. Looking back, Im glad nothing bad happened, Gibson told the Post.

Tina Johnson, 1991

Johnson met then-attorney Roy Moore when she was 28, which she told to AL.com. She was unemployed, soon to be divorced, and meeting Moore to sign over custody of her 12-year-old son to her mother. She said his behavior made her uncomfortable as soon as she walked into his office, alleging that at one point, he got so close that she could smell his breath. Once she and her mother had signed the custody paperwork, she said that as she followed her mother out of Moores office, he came up from behind and grabbed her ass. He didnt pinch it; he grabbed it, she told AL.com.
The U.S. embassy in Havana on Sept. 29, 2017. The State Department announced that it's pulling all non-emergency workers from Cuba following mysterious attacks on its diplomats. (ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images)

Alaska Airlines Discontinues Los Angeles-Havana Daily Flight

U.S. airline Alaska Airlines on Tuesday, Nov. 14, said it would discontinue a daily flight between Los Angeles and Havana, Cuba, after Jan. 22, due to the recent changes in Cuba travel policies by the U.S. government.

The U.S. government made it tougher last week for Americans to visit Cuba and do business in the country, making good on a pledge by President Donald Trump to roll back his Democratic predecessors move toward warmer ties with Havana.

The regulations include a ban on Americans doing business with some 180 Cuban government entities, holding companies, and tourism companies.

The airline which started the Los Angeles-Havana flight in January this year, said it will redeploy the aircraft to other markets with stronger demand.

Passengers who have tickets booked to Havana after January 22 will be rebooked on another airline at no additional cost or a full refund, the company said.

By Vibhuti Sharma
Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy delivers a speech to members of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) at a hotel in metro Manila, Philippines June 29, 2016. (REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo)

Cambodia Government Attempts to Dissolve Opposition Party

The former opposition leader announces return to politics

PHNOM PENHCambodias main opposition party risks being banned by the Supreme Court rules on Thursday, Nov. 16, due to a suit brought by the current authoritarian government the Cambodia Peoples Party (CPP) led by former Khmer Rouge commander Hun Sen, a senior leader said.

The authoritarian government called for the ban after arresting Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Kem Sokha on Sept. 3 and charging him with treason for an alleged plot to take over the Southeast Asian country with help from the United States.

The CNRP and Hun Sens opponents say the charges are politically motivated to eliminate Kem Sokha from next years election so that strongman Hun Sen, who is currently the worlds longest-serving prime minister, can extend his more than 32 years in power.

The judge who heads the Supreme Court, Dith Munty, is a member of the permanent committee of the ruling CPP and a longtime Hun Sen loyalist.

There is no chance whatsoever for CNRP to escape dissolution, said Mu Sochua, a deputy of Kem Sokha who fled abroad last month saying she feared arrest in a widening crackdown by the government.

November 16, 2017 will mark the end of true democracy in Cambodia, she told Reuters, adding that the ruling party would face local condemnation and possible international sanctions.

Hun Sen, the former Khmer Rouge commander, has held power since 1985 by intimidating and dividing his enemies and through legal proceedings that have occasionally led to political bans on rivals at critical moments.

Next years election was shaping as possibly the biggest challenge to Hun Sens leadership, after his opponents unified behind the CNRP.

Veteran Returns

Former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy, who fled to France in 2015 to escape a jail term for defamation, announced on Wednesday. Nov. 15, he was returning to the party that he quit in February over fears his membership would lead to it being banned

The veteran opponent of Hun Sen said the party would be dissolved anyway so his membership now made no difference.

A government official said Sam Rainsys return would only provide further justification for dissolving the party.

He is not mature. He has no political philosophy and doctrine, but only anger and hatred, Huy Vannak, undersecretary of state at the Interior Ministry, told Reuters. He also noted that the CNRP had not defended its position in court.

A party lawyer, Sam Sokong, said there had been no point because the case was politically motivated.

But in the opposition camp, Rainsys supporters commenting on his Facebook post believe he has plenty to stand for.

In his Facebook post, Rainsy writes on the CPP or its precursors historical leaders who have harmed Cambodia the most.

1- Son Ngoc Minh (1920-1972)

As the CPPs Founding Father and Vietnamese-puppet Secretary General from 1951 to 1954 Son Ngoc Minh supported and endorsed Cambodias invasion by the Vietnamese communist forces named Vietminh. Under the CPPs banner the Vietminh created havoc in Cambodia where they militarily fought against our Nation, Religion and King in the early 1950s. Serving foreign interest to the detriment of his own nations, Son Ngoc Minh was a national traitor.

2- Pol Pot (1925-1998)

From 1962 to 1979, Pol Pot was Secretary General of the CPP (or more precisely the Cambodian Peoples Revolutionary Party), which changed its name to Cambodian Workers Party in 1960 and to Cambodian Communist Party in 1966. As leader of the murderous regime named Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979, Pol Pot was responsible for the death in dreadful conditions of some two million people. He was definitely a criminal.

3- Hun Sen (1952  )

Hun Sen became CPP President in 2015 after being previously its Vice President. In 1979 the CPP took back its original name as adopted in 1951 (Cambodian Peoples Revolutionary Party). In 1991 this name was reconfirmed, but without the word Revolutionary. Hun Sen has been Prime Minister since 1985 under successively the communist Peoples Republic of Kampuchea (1979-1989), the crypto-communist State of Cambodia (1989-1993) and the current fascist regime known as the (Banana) Kingdom of Cambodia (1993  ).

A) Hun Sen is a national traitor because

 He prominently contributed to make Cambodia lose her independence and national sovereignty and become a satellite of Vietnam after 1979.

 He was responsible for the loss of large portions of Cambodias territory with his concluding unacceptable border treaties with Vietnam in the 1980s.

 He was behind the loss of invaluable national riches because of the massive deforestation and the illegal sale of countless state assets by his corrupt governments in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

B) Hun Sen is a criminal because

 As a Vietnamese-puppet prime minister, he implemented the deadly K5 Plan conceived by Hanoi that resulted in the death in dreadful conditions of tens of thousands of people in the 1980s.

 He ordered his henchmen to kill hundreds of people in several events in 1997 (military coup, extra judicial killings and a deadly grenade attack in Phnom Penh) and 1998 (violent repression of popular protests against election irregularities).

Western countries have condemned the governments crackdown on the opposition, civil rights groups and independent media and have called for the release of Kem Sokha to allow credible elections next year.

U.S. President Donald Trumps senior Asia aide expressed strong concerns to Cambodias government about the detention of Kem Sokha and restrictions on civil society and the press on Tuesday.

The main evidence presented against Kem Sokha is a video from 2013 in which he talks about a plan to gain power with the help of Americans. He says he was talking about democratic politics.

Cambodias capital, Phnom Penh, was calm on Wednesday. But metal barriers were set up outside the gold-embellished Supreme Court and police have been told to watch for trouble.

Few in the capital wanted to give any opinion on the ruling or the possible verdict.

The court will decide. We cannot do anything, said Kou Menglay, a taxi driver.

By Prak Chan Thul and Amy Sawitta Lefevre

Additional reporting by Melanie Sun
U.N. peacekeepers stand guard in the northern town of Kouroume, Mali, May 13, 2015. Kourome is 11 miles south of Timbuktu. (REUTERS/Adama Diarra)

Canada Will Not Send Peacekeepers to Mali in Near Future

VANCOUVERCanada will not be sending hundreds of peacekeepers to support a United Nations mission in Mali in the near future, officials said on Wednesday, Nov. 15, a move likely to disappoint allies who want Canadians to play a role in the West African country.

Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to contribute up to 600 troops to peacekeeping operations and Canadian defense experts paid three trips to Mali, where soldiers under the U.N. are fighting Islamic terrorist.

Canada has decided to split the soldiers between various missions, with no more than 200 going to any one spot, and will offer up transport aircraft and helicopters. It is also pledging to help train peacekeepers.

Any deployment would depend on talks with the United Nations that are likely to last many months, officials told reporters in a telephone briefing, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The option of sending forces to Mali one day is still alive, said one of the officials. The planning process takes at least six months so youre not going to going to see some kind of rapid deployment to any mission, let alone a complex one like Mali, the official said.

At a separate conference on U.N. peacekeeping efforts, Trudeau sidestepped questions about the likely international reaction, saying the varied measures Canada was proposing would serve the U.N. better.

These are the things that actually create much larger impacts than the simple number of troops the U.N. often needs specialized equipment or specialized individuals, Trudeau said.

Unhappy allies earlier this year said Canadas bid for a U.N. Security Council seat could suffer unless Trudeau lived up to his promises.

This approach will be a disappointment to some, and the Canadian government will have to work hard to overcome the credibility it has lost in not following through on its initial pledge, said Jane Boulden, a security studies expert at Queens University in Kingston.

Government insiders said enthusiasm for the Mali mission faded as the extent of likely casualties and the complex nature of the conflict became clear. More than 80 members have been killed since 2013, making Mali the worlds deadliest peacekeeping operation.

Going somewhere for a very short period of time and leaving without having achieved anything may be worse than actually going somewhere, said the official.

By Julie Gordon
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is greeted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China on Sept. 4, 2016. A sweeping federal report shows that Canadian businesses aren't sure a free trade pact will solve all the concerns they have about dealing with the Asian giant. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Canadians Warn Feds on Free Trade With China

NEWS ANALYSIS

The Canadian federal government got an earful from the business sector and private citizens on the wide range of difficulties on doing business with China.

On Nov. 10, Ottawa reported on the broad feedback received from its public consultations on a possible free trade agreement (FTA) with China.

The government has to decide whats in Canadas best interest in its engagement with China given the Canadian core values of democracy, respect for human rights, and rule of law.

Many Canadians told the government they see significant challenges in doing business with China. These include inconsistent rule of law, doubts about Chinas willingness to live up to its obligations under a potential FTA, competing against state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and avoiding adverse impacts on Canadian jobs and resources.

The problem is that the government of China doesnt respect trade agreements, they dont respect their WTO [World Trade Organization] agreement.  The minute that an agreement becomes not to their advantage, they simply ignore it, said former MP and secretary of state for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour in an interview.

And I think the experience of Australia and New Zealand and other countries has been very much in that line, he added. China has free trade deals with Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Chile.

Its clear from Canadians feedback that the issues of a state-run economy and inconsistent rule of law would be difficult to resolve through free trade negotiations.

Exploratory talks to look into the prospects for an FTA have been going on for over a year. A decision on whether or not to pursue one is expected before the end of the year.

The federal government said it shared the concerns of Canadians about closer ties with China and has, along with other trading nations, raised the issues surrounding poor conduct in global trade with China through various dialogues.

Given the persistency of these issues, however, it is clear that the status quo is not delivering the best possible outcomes for Canadian businesses and workers, according to the governments summary of the feedback.

The general expectation was that, as China grew in size, it would reform politically, said Ian Bremmer, founder and president of global political consulting firm Eurasia Group in an interview with CNBC. Clearly, the expected reforms have not taken place and Canadian businesses continue to face a number of trade irritants.

They have no interest whatsoever in growing up to be like the Americans or like a free market economy, Bremmer said.

Unfriendly Business Environment

The pervasive presence of the one-party communist government has resulted in corruption and has blocked the development of a healthy legal framework.

As an example of the resulting inconsistent of rule of law, Canadian stakeholders told the government, China is still not providing the enforcement and remedial awards needed to ensure the protection of IP [intellectual property] rights.

Canadian businesses also expressed concerns about the special subsidies, lack of transparency, and preferential treatment given to SOEs. The competitive landscape in China is effectively stacked against foreign firms.

China is beginning to open up its financial sector, but only time will tell the effect of these changes. Through the rapid expansion of credit, China has generated considerable growth; however, the International Monetary Fund has raised this concern with the Chinese central bank. If for nothing else, China may need financial liberalization to encourage foreign firms to finance its future growth.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks China 59th out of 62 countries in terms of openness to foreign ownership.

China intends to be a global superpower to rival the United States. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is preaching the virtues of globalization, which China has taken advantage of at the expense of other countries. In Canadas case, Chinas exports of low-cost, cheaply manufactured goods have driven down margins in Canada and put some Canadian firms out of business.

Canadians have also decried the Chinese regimes forced labour camps and human rights violations. Theyve given the government plenty of food for thought in its dealings with China.

Omid Ghoreishi contributed to this report.

Follow Rahul on Twitter @RV_ETBiz
Guo Guangchang, the chairman of Fosun International, one of China's biggest private-sector conglomerates, attends a conference in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province in eastern China on June 25, 2015. He recently announced that he would resign from his position at a Fosun subsidiary. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Chairman of Chinas Fosun Conglomerate Resigns, a Sign of Future Shakeup in Chinese Economy, Says Expert

The chairman of one of Chinas largest conglomerates, Fosun International, has recently resigned from his positions at subsidiary companies, sparking rumors that he may have gotten into trouble with Chinese authorities.

After all, doing business in China is often aided by ones ties to powerful officials.

Fosuns profile spans pharmaceuticals, real estate, insurance, mining, banking, and more. In recent years, it has bought up foreign brands such as Canadian theater company Cirque du Soleil, French tourism brand Club Med, American clothing brand St. John, and Greek jeweler Folli Follie.

On Nov. 10, billionaire Guo Guangchang resigned from his chairman of the board position at Shanghai Fosun Hi-tech Company. Earlier in August and Sept., Guo had stepped down from his positions as legal representative and board member of two other Fosun subsidiaries.

The news gave rise to rumors among Chinese netizens that he may be retiring soon, or had been caught in an investigation by Chinese authorities.

On Nov. 13, Guo posted on his social media account that he wished to step down and let the younger generation take charge of the subsidiary companies. He would remain as chairman of the parent company.

The rumors are not completely unfounded; in Dec. 2015, Guo disappeared from public view. Later, the corporation announced that he had been cooperating with authorities on an investigation.

Previously, Chinese media also reported on Guos close relations with Shanghais former vice-mayor, Ai Baojun, who was placed under investigation on bribery charges in Nov. 2015 by the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) anti-corruption agency. Fosun is headquartered in Shanghai.

Guo also gave a good deal to Wang Zongnan, former chairman of the state-owned Bright Food Group, when Guo reportedly sold property below market rate to him.

Wang, who was sentenced in 2015 to 18 years imprisonment for embezzlement, was a close friend of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin and his son. Guo is thus rumored to be close with Party officials loyal to Jiang, known as the Jiang faction. Current CCP leader Xi Jinping has taken down many members of the Jiang faction through his anti-corruption campaign.

Guos recent resignation may have to do with Xis new emphasis on reconstructing political-business relationships, according to notable Chinese economist He Qinglian.

Because Xi believes the relationship in the past was unhealthy, it was a relationship with interests colluding, and implied corruption. After the 19th National Congress, one of the main themes was reconstructing political-business relationships. This is his general direction, He Qinglian said in an interview.

She further noted that the Chinese regime is targeting big shots like Guo in an attempt to dredge up information on others down the pipeline who may be involved in corruption.

He Qinglian also pointed to the announcement of a new CCP regulatory body in the State Council, called the Committee on Stable Development of the Finance Industry. She explained that an earlier iteration of this committee was established several years ago. Under a new name, the committee now has more power to oversee the finance industry, combining what the China Securities, Banking, and Insurance Regulatory Commissions did previously.

In the past, because the three bodies operated separately and did not share information with each other, business tycoons like Wu Xiaohui could engage in corruption and money laundering for CCP officials, said He Qinglian.

Luo Ya and Xue Fei contributed to this report.
Trump Says China Sending Envoy to North Korea Is a A Big Move

Speculations rife about what message Xi is sending to Kim regime

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will dispatch a special envoy to North Korea on Fridaya week after President Donald Trump left Chinawith speculations rife as to what message that envoy will deliver.

Song Tao, the head of Beijings International Department, heads to North Korea at a turbulent time in North Korea-China relations. Trump greeted the news enthusiastically in a tweet Thursday morning.

China is sending an Envoy and Delegation to North Korea  A big move, we'll see what happens!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2017

The Chinese regimes official line is Song is going to update the Kim regime on the results of Chinas Communist Party congress last month, but there are two other very divergent possibilities.

One possibility is that Song is going to assure the North Korean regime that it still has the Chinese Communist Partys support.

That possibility has some proponents among Chinese academics.

The US and its allies hope that China will raise the threat of military strikes and impose harsher economic sanctions against North Korea, Shi Yinhong, a government adviser and director of the Centre for American Studies at Renmin University in Beijing told The Telegraph.

But China will inform North Korea that it opposes such actions.

If thats true, it would contradict Xis recent public statements opposing North Koreas nuclear program and calling for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The other possibility is that Song is going to North Korea to convey the Chinese regimes firmer opposition to North Koreas nuclear program, and to pressure the Kim regime to come to the negotiating table.

That possibility is backed up by Chinas continued implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions and the reportedly close ties between Xi and Trump.

Trump said he spent hours with Xi Jinping during his time in China having detailed conversations about North Korea and how to handle that situation.

The two men had good chemistry said Trump, who has been widely praised in Chinese state-run media.

The U.S. President went to China on a three-pronged mission to start rebalancing trade, advocate for an open and free Indo-Pacific region, and to push the Chinese regime to take stronger measures against North Korea.

According to the senior Trump administration official, the United States believes China views North Korea as a severe strategic liability.

If that is the case, it could give Xi personal motivation to do what Trump has requested.

While Trump offered Xi praise, often in his public remarks while in China, he also called on the Chinese leader to take rapid action on North Korea.

We must act fast, and hopefully China will act faster and more effectively on this problem than anyone, said Trump during remarks at an event in Beijing on Nov. 9.

Chinas historic protection of North Korea predates either countrys communist takeover, but their relationship has recently taken a tense turn.

North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons has unsettled Beijings gradual rise in influence in the region by elevating the U.S. military presence there and bringing South Korea, Japan, and the United States closer to a trilateral military alliance.

Kims provocations have also given South Korea enough cause for concern that it deployed U.S.-supplied THAAD anti-ballistic missiles and radars despite punitive economic measures by Beijing.

The Chinese regime eventually relented in the boycott of South Korean goods and restrictions on Chinese tourists traveling to South Korea that cost the South Korean economy billions. In exchange, China secured promises that South Korea will not deploy more THAAD systems, join U.S. missile defense systems, nor form a trilateral alliance with Japan and the United States.

That scenario exemplifies the challenge Xi is facing as he is pulled between a historic alliance and current realities.

Xi can back North Korea at the expense of closer ties with the South and intense pressure from the United States, or withhold that support for closer ties to the South and better relations with the United States.

So far, most evidence points to the latter option. The internal politics of China also support that.

Xi is in the final leg of a factional showdown with former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin and the allies Jiang had entrenched throughout the party and government.

While Jiang and his allies had close relations with North Korea, Xi has pursued closer ties with South Korea, even visiting the country without a corresponding visit to North Korea.

Facing the prospect of a U.S. invasion on the Korean Peninsula, Xi has even more motivation to back U.S.-led sanctions at the United Nations Security Council and implement them faithfully.
Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Roger Fobister at the Ontario Legislature after an accord was signed by Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on Aug. 24, 2015. (The Canadian Press/Chris Young)

Confront Mercury Crisis on Northern Ontario Reserve, Chief Urges Trudeau

OTTAWAThe chief of Grassy Narrows First Nation in northwestern Ontario is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to support his communitys call for a treatment centre for residents affected by mercury poisoning, including those nearing death.

Simon Fobister says he has personally reached out to Trudeau three times and wonders why the prime minister has failed to respond to his concerns, despite a promise for a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples.

It has been documented so many times. Im frustrated that Canada doesnt step up and deal with this national issue, he says.

Fobister is also seeking answers and action from the Ontario government after a report commissioned by the Domtar company detailed provincial knowledge of contamination in the soil under an upstream paper mill dating back to 1990.

Provincial Indigenous Relations Minister David Zimmer says his ministry is reviewing the 2016 report to see what the consequences are and what should be done.

The situation in Grassy Narrows has also touched off concern from international observers, with groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch saying Canada must address the mercury crisis in its own backyard.

Some of our band members have disabilities caused by mercury and they need a place to stay, to be watched out for, to ensure they are OK, Fobister says. One of my cousins, he can barely walk anymore.

The Prime Ministers Office did not respond to Fobisters concerns, but the office of Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott says Ottawa is helping the First Nation access expertise and information from federal departments on the issue of mercury contamination.

From The Canadian Press
Mariah Carey pictured on Sept. 6, 2017 in Bellevue, Washington. The star has been forced to cancel the first few shows in her Christmas tour. (Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Sugar Factory American Brasserie)

Doctors Orders: Mariah Carey Forced To Cancel Christmas Tour Shows

All she wants for Christmas is her health back. Mariah Carey has been forced to cancel the first few shows of her upcoming tour after falling ill.

Carey has been ordered by doctors to miss the first several shows of her All I Want For Christmas Is You tour.

She announced the news on Twitter in a post addressed to her lambs:

Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, it seems Ive received a present of my own; a lovely upper respiratory infection after last weeks flu. Bleak!

The tour was originally due to start in Ontario, Canada on Nov. 17, but is now expected to launch in New York on Nov. 27.

Shows in Chicago and Pennsylvania have also been cancelled. Tickets are being refunded and there are no current plans to reschedule, according to Fox News.

She added in her tweet: You know there is nothing I love more than celebrating the holidays with my festive Christmas show, but I have to take my Doctors orders and rest until he says I can sing on stage. Until then, unfortunately, I have to cancel the first several shows of my upcoming Christmas tour.

Im going to do all that I can so that I can see you soon!

Carey already pulled out of the premiere of the animated film The Star on Sunday because of an upset stomach, reported Metro.

The tour, when it starts, will take in dates worldwide, including six days in New York City, followed by Paris, Manchester, and London. It ends just before Christmas on Dec. 22 in Las Vegas.

Fans expressed their disappointment and support on Twitter.

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A fireball is highlighted in this screengrab of a video taken near Dresden on November 14, 2017 (YouTube/heiko bohme)

Fireball Witnessed Speeding Through German Skies

When a fireball was spotted speeding through the skies over Germany, police and public were mystified.

Police in the southern city of Stuttgart said they had received several phone calls regarding an unidentified light speeding through the sky on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

We could not tell what the bright light was, a police spokesman said, according to Stuttgarter Zeitung.

Social media postings reported seeing a huge shooting star, a meteorite or a fireball, just before 6 p.m.

German air traffic control enigmatically told the newspaper: We can only say that it was not an aircraft.

One dashcam video posted to YouTube shows a streak of light that ebbs and fades, like a fireball. The footage was taken on the autobahn near Dresden. Soon after, however, similar reports began to surface in neighbouring countries, particularly in France.

Dashcam footage in the town of Colmar, Alsace, in the northeast of France shows a fireball tracing across the sky at approximately 5:45 p.m.

One eyewitness told local Alsace DNA: A very big fireball just crossed the sky while I was driving in the forest between Haguenau and Surbourg. It was blue and white. It was super impressive. Another witness, whose name was not given, saw the object cross the sky around Colmar. At first it was a huge trail of blue violet then the colors became orange, red. It was really long and amazing! I saw a huge thing, like a blue ball with a green tail, a resident of Niederbronn-les-Bains, told France Bleu.

Given the evidence, there is probably a meteor, specifically a fireball' Jean-Yves Marchal from the Planetarium at the University of Strasbourg told France Bleu.

Eyewitnesses were able to fill in a special online form used to collect information on meteors, run by French organisation Vigie-Ciel. The information was then used to create a map of the sightings, and to calculate the path of what they say was a meteor. Vigie-Ciel said it had received 1,874 eyewitness reports, and calculates that the fireball flew due east over southern Germany, past the city of Frankfurt, for what appears to be approximately 150 km , before disappearing. https://t.co/0rAl8iblTR  carla paroledor (@carlaparoldor) November 16, 2017 And while youre here  We have a small favor to ask of you. More people are reading The Epoch Times than ever, but ad revenues are plummeting across media websites. If you can, please share this article on Facebook so you can help The Epoch Times. It takes less than a minute. Thank you very much!
This image shows a meteorite as it enters Earth's atmosphere during the Leonid meteor shower November 19, 2002. ( George Varros and Dr. Peter Jenniskens/NASA/Getty Images)

Giant Fireball Lights Up Arizona Sky

A blazing ball of light streaked across the sky over Phoenix Tuesday night, prompting residents to wonder if theyd seen a meteor.

The fireball, seen over Phoenix, Arizona, around 7:30 p.m. local time on Nov. 14, was so bright it lit up the night skyand seemed to burn out mid-air in a flash.

The City of Phoenix caught the flare of the fireball exploding on one of its skycams.

Phoenix resident Laura Curry also caught it on video, which she posted to Twitter.

Did anyone else see this tonight in Phoenix, AZ? #meteor ? pic.twitter.com/SeJlZaP9tW  LRC (@LRonanC) November 15, 2017

Most residents had seen meteors beforefleeting lines of light shooting high across the night sky.

The Nov. 14 fireball was so much the classic comic-book meteor that people couldnt believe that that was what it was.

Did anyone just see that the meteor or asteroid just now? I'm in Arizona and it turned night sky's into daylight#asteroid #Meteorite  D Mo (@D_Mo2016) November 15, 2017

Others were convinced it wasnt a meteor.

Clive Christopher referred back to a post he had made on the 12 News Facebook page on Aug. 31, where he said, If my calculations are correct, there should be a Major sighting of an Unidentified Flying Object in September or October of this year in the American Southwest.

Early Wednesday morning he posted, I called it back on August 31st! I dont care if its November, off by one month in the exact location I said it would be seen!

Waylon Todd Curley posted something similar: It landed on Black Mesa in Northern Arizona. Sources say its a crashed vehicle of some sort. Not from earth anyway.

Most of the other posters on the 12 News page thought the spectacle was celestial, rather than alien, but still very spectacular.

Michaele Lee knew it was a meteor and was glad she saw it. I saw it in kingman. It could be nothing else. It was so big and beautiful. I feel so blessed to have seen it.

Jonathan Triggs posted, I was on Highway 89 coming down the hill from Yarnell just before Congress. I noticed the mountain across the valley glowing green. I looked out my driver window to see the fireball to the southeast. I had to pull over and gather myself. It was truly spectacular!

Fireball Over New York

For comparison, here is a photo of a meteor which zoomed over New York state on the night of Saturday, Nov. 11.

The American Meteor Society reported getting more than 200 calls about it.

It was seen from New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, West Virginia, Vermont, Ontario, and Quebec.

Leonid Showers

Its possible both of these fireballs were outliers to the upcoming Leonid Meteor Shower, which accompany the comet TempelTuttle. Tempel-Tuttle passes by earth every 33 years, leaving clouds of debris each time.

The Earth passes through the debris clouds in November each year, producing some spectacular celestial light shows.

Time Magazine reported that the peak viewing days start at midnight on Nov. 17 this year, extending until dawn on the next day. Viewers can expect about 1520 meteors per hour.

Clear skies are predicted for the southern portion of the United States. from coast to coast. Clouds might obscure the view from New England to Michigan and the northern Great Plains.

And a final message from your friendly neighborhood news reporter 



Please help support independent journalism by sharing this article far and wide on social media. Thanks!

From NTD.tv
This April 15, 2017 picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 16, 2017, shows Korean People's ballistic missiles being displayed through Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade in Pyongyang. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Japan Prepares for North Korean Exodus in Event of War

Japan is dusting off a 1994 plan to deal with a mass exodus of North Koreans showing up on its shores in the event of war on the Korean Peninsula, according to Japanese media.

The move comes after multiple threats in recent months by North Korea to destroy Japan with nuclear weapons. In early October, North Korea threatened Japan with nuclear clouds.

The Japanese government is looking for ways to limit the dangers posed by a massive influx of North Korean refugees, reports The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Tens of thousands of evacuees from North Korea could reach the Japanese coast by wooden boats and other means, a person connected to the Japanese government told the newspaper.

According to government sources, the Japanese government is concerned that North Korean agents and terrorists could be hiding among refugees, posing a security risk that would be difficult to grapple with.

Those agents or terrorists could target critical infrastructure, nuclear power plants, U.S. military bases, and facilities used by Japans Self-Defense Forces.

To combat the risk, the government is looking at reinforcing patrols by Japans Coast Guard in coastal zones in the Sea of Japan and is calling on private fishing boats and residents in coastal areas to keep watch.

When evacuee boats are detected, they will be intercepted and the passengers will be transferred to ports where police officers and others will conduct background checks. They will also screen for criminal records and anyone deemed a security risk will be deported.

The paper reports that those allowed to stay temporarily will go through entry procedures at the Immigration Bureau and quarantine stations and will be sheltered at a provisional reception facilitymost likely on Japans third largest island, Kyushu, as it is close to the Korean Peninsula.

The government will decide later whether evacuees can stay beyond the designated period their temporary stay.

Sufficient attention will be paid to their human rights, providing them with such items as food and water, reported The Yomiuri Shimbun.

North Korean fishing vessels occasionally run into troubles in the Sea of Japan. On Nov. 16, the three surviving crew members from a capsized North Korean fishing boat were rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard.

As per their wishes, they will be returned to North Korea, reported The Japan Times.

As South Koreans may also flee to Japan in a conflict, another facility would be arranged for their needs, reports the paper.

The plan, compiled confidentially in 1994 when the U.S. military was studying the possibility of attacking North Korea in the event of a nuclear crisis, is being reviewed as tensions mount on the Korean peninsula.

News of the evacuee plan comes after President Donald Trumps recent visit to Japan where he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discussed issues related to trade, regional security, and North Korea.

Abe, who has echoed Trumps call to maximize pressure on North Korea, announced additional sanctions against the Kim Jong Un regime during Trumps visit.

Those unilateral sanctions will freeze the assets of 35 North Korean groups and individuals.

The two countries have conducted ongoing military drills since North Koreas sixth and largest underground nuclear test in September.

Japan and the United States began their annual joint naval drills south of the Korean Peninsula near the Okinawa archipelago on Thursday.

The Navys Seventh Fleet announced that the USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group of warships, fighter jets, and other aircraft will practice defensive readiness and interoperability with Japans Self-Defense Forces.

Approximately 14,000 U.S. personnel will participate along with three destroyers in exercises that will last until Nov. 26.

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The Japanese coast guard participate in an exercise of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum on June 8, 2006 in Busan, South Korea. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Japan Weighs Plans to Deal With North Korean Evacuees in Case of Crisis

TOKYOJapan is studying plans to cope with an influx of perhaps tens of thousands of North Korean evacuees if a military or other crisis breaks out on the peninsula, including ways to weed out spies and terrorists, a domestic newspaper said.

The Japan Coast Guard would escort boats fleeing North Korea to designated ports, where police would screen them by checking their identity and possible criminal records and expel those deemed a threat, the Yomiuri newspaper said on Thursday.

It did not say where those people would be sent, however.

Evacuees granted temporary entrance would be transferred to emergency detention centers, probably in southern Japan, after completing quarantine and other procedures.

Officials would then decide whether they were eligible to remain in Japan, the Yomiuri said.

Regional tension over Pyongyangs missile and nuclear arms programs remain high.

A senior Chinese diplomat was to visit the North from Friday as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, just a week after U.S. President Donald Trump met Xi in Beijing and pressed for greater action to rein in Pyongyang.

Junji Ito, an official of the justice ministrys immigration bureau, said the Japanese government was looking at steps to deal with a possible influx of people from North Korea but declined to comment on details.

Outspoken Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso grabbed headlines in September when he touched on the possibility of shooting armed refugees from North Korea.

Will police respond and arrest them on charges of illegal immigration? media quoted him as saying in a speech. If the Self-Defense Forces (military) are dispatched, will they shoot them down?

On Thursday, the Japan Coast Guard said it had rescued three North Korean men on a capsized boat a day earlier and was searching for 12 missing crew. The men said they were fishermen, not defectors, and Japan was arranging to send them home, it added.

Japan has strict requirements for recognizing asylum seekers and accepted only three refugees in the first half of 2017 despite a record 8,561 fresh applications.

In January, Human Rights Watch described Japans record on asylum seekers as abysmal.

The country took in more than 11,000 Indochinese boat people refugees over three decades to 2005 in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, a little-remembered open-door policy.
Major Democratic Donor Steve Mostyn Reportedly Dead

A major Democratic donor, Steve Mostyn, died after what his wife described as a sudden onset and battle with a mental health issue, CBS reported. He was 46 years old.

Amber Mostyn, his wife, said he died on Wednesday. He was a true friend, and a faithful fighter for those who did not have a voice, Mostyn said. Steve touched countless lives.

Houston lawyer and top Democratic donor Steve Mostyn has died https://t.co/4vpkgvyM5y  Kristi Nelson (@KristiNBC5) November 16, 2017

She didnt confirm his cause of death but suggested that he might have killed himself.

If you or a loved one are thinking about suicide, or experiencing a health crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right now. The number is 1-800-273-8255.

ABC13, however, reported that he committed suicide.

Based in Texas, Mostyn made his money via representing homeowners who sued insurance companies. He was also an attorney based in the Houston area, according to the Texas Tribune.

Mostyn is survived by his wife, daughter Ava, son Mitch, and nephew, Skyler Anderson.

CBS reported that he and his wife contributed nearly $5 million to the Democratic Party as former President Obama was being re-elected in 2012. At the time, they were the 10th-largest donors in the United States. They gave nearly $3.5 million last year to the party.

The Tribune reported the following:

Mostyn gave more than $2.3 million toward Democrats 2014 efforts to elect candidates including Wendy Davis, who ran for governor. In total, he had given Davis more than $3 million over the course of her political career. Since 2000, he had donated more than $24 million to political causes in his name and in his law firms name, according to Texas Ethics Commission records.

He was the epitome of a Texas Democrat  big, bold, fearless, and caring. He dedicated his professional and personal life to fighting for the little guy, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement, CBS reported. I am so deeply saddened to have lost our dear friend.

U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also mourned his death.

Leader Nancy Pelosi's statement on Steve Mostyn's passing: pic.twitter.com/y6O3ruTjym  Abby Livingston (@TexasTribAbby) November 16, 2017

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CHICAGOMonsanto Co and U.S. farm groups sued California on Wednesday, Nov. 15, to stop the state from requiring cancer warnings on products containing the widely used weed killer glyphosate, which the company sells to farmers to apply to its genetically engineered crops.

The government of the most populous U.S. state added glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsantos herbicide Roundup, to its list of cancer-causing chemicals in July and will require that products containing glyphosate carry warnings by July 2018.

California acted after the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded in 2015 that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic.

But a large, long-term study published Nov. 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on glyphosate use by U.S. agricultural workers as part of a project known as the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) found no firm link between exposure to the chemical and cancer.

Study: No Cancer Link to Monsanto Weedkiller https://t.co/34PbA2iWcv pic.twitter.com/GI6CQ1SD3w  The Voice of America (@VOANews) November 9, 2017

The study did report increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia for people with high exposure to glyphosate.

For more than 40 years, farmers have applied glyphosate to crops, most recently as they have cultivated genetically modified corn and soybeans. Roundup and Monsantos glyphosate-resistant seeds would be less attractive to customers if California requires warnings on products containing the chemical.

Californias Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which is named in the federal lawsuit, said it stands by the decision to include glyphosate on the states list of products known to cause cancer and believes it followed proper legal procedures.

Monsanto and groups representing corn, soy and wheat farmers reject that glyphosate causes cancer. They say in the lawsuit that Californias requirement for warnings would force sellers of products containing the chemical to spread false information.

Such warnings would equate to compelled false speech, directly violate the First Amendment, and generate unwarranted public concern and confusion, Scott Partridge, Monsantos vice president of global strategy, said in a statement.

The controversy is an additional headache for Monsanto as it faces a crisis around another herbicide based on a chemical known as dicamba that was linked to widespread U.S. crop damage this summer. The company, which is being acquired by Bayer AG for $63.5 billion, developed the product as a replacement for glyphosate following an increase of weeds resistant to the chemical.

Monsanto has already suffered damage to its investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in glyphosate products since California added the chemical to its list of cancer-causing products, according to the lawsuit.

U.S. farmers apply glyphosate to fields to kill weeds before planting corn fed to livestock, spray it on genetically engineered soybeans while they are growing and sometimes on wheat before it is harvested. The crops are then shipped across the country in food products.

Everything that we grow is probably going to have to be labeled, said Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Certain goods that meet a standard for containing low amounts of glyphosate, known as a No Significant Risk Level (NSRL), may be able to be sold without warnings under a proposal California is considering, said Sam Delson, a state spokesman.

We do not anticipate that food products would cause exposures that exceed the proposed NSRL, he said. However, we cannot say that with certainty at this point and businesses make the determination.

Reuters reported in June that an influential scientist was aware of new AHS research data while he was chairing a panel of experts reviewing evidence on glyphosate for IARC in 2015. He did not tell the panel about it because the data had not been published, and IARCs review did not take it into account.

A 2007 study by OEHHA also concluded the chemical was unlikely to cause cancer.

Still, flour mills have started asking farmers to test wheat for glyphosate in anticipation of Californias requirement, said Gordon Stoner, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, another plaintiff.

Such tests add costs for farmers and could push up food prices or unnecessarily scare consumers away from buying products that contain crops grown with glyphosate, he said.

The case is National Association of Wheat Growers et al v. Lauren Zeise, director of OEHHA, et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, No. 17-at-01224.

By Tom Polansek
A South Korean soldier talks with a surgeon at a hospital where a North Korean soldier who defected to the South is hospitalized. Hong Ki-won/Yonhap via REUTERS

North Korean Defector Had 10-Inch Parasite in Stomach: Doctors

A North Korean defector had a 10-inch parasite in his stomach, and its unlike anything doctors had seen before, they said.

The North Korean soldier defected to South Korea through the Joint Security Area Monday, and hes reportedly in critical condition. His stomach is filled with parasites, the Korea Biomedical Review reported.

We are struggling with treatment as we found a large number of parasites in the soldiers stomach, invading and eating into the wounded areas, Lee Guk-jong, the attending doctor, said. We have also discovered a parasite never seen in Koreans before. It is making the situation worse and causing tremendous complications.

The unnamed soldier underwent surgery at the Ajou University hospital this week, the Review reported.

The operation ended with the removal of a bullet that was lodged in his abdominal wall, Lee said.

As Reuters reported, the soldier on Monday rushed toward the border in a peace village in the heavily guarded demilitarized zone. He used a four-wheel-drive vehicle, but one wheel came loose. Then, he got out on foot and a North Korean soldier shot 40 rounds at him, Suh Wook, chief director of operations at South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff told South Korean lawmakers.

Doctors then found a species of roundworm, the report stated.

The doctor described the soldier as 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 132 pounds, reported Yahoo.

According to the Review:

Roundworms may be contracted by eating vegetables fertilized with human manure. Human feces produced from eating these plants may then be recycled to grow more vegetables, which increase the roundworm population. Roundworms can cause malnutrition and block the intestine, causing pancreatitis and appendicitis. These parasites may also cause peritonitis if it penetrates a vulnerable part of the intestine. If left untreated, peritonitis can spread rapidly into the blood and other organs, leading to multiple organ failure and death.

The longest parasite discovered in the North Korean soldiers stomach measured about 27 centimeters (10 inches), it was reported.

I have been doing surgery for more than 20 years, but I have not seen such parasites. I will not be able to find them in [South] Korea, added Lee.

Many North Koreans are believed to have severe parasite infections.

I dont know what is happening in North Korea, but I found many parasites when examining other defectors, Professor Seong Min at the Dankook University Medical School was quoted as saying. In one case, we found 30 types of roundworms in a female defector. The parasite infection problem seems to be serious even if it does not represent the entire North Korean population.

In all, five bullets were removed from the soldiers body.

Until this morning, we heard he had no consciousness and was unable to breathe on his own but his life can be saved, Suh said, according to the Reuters report.

More than 1,000 North Koreans defect to the South every yearbut most travel through the countrys vast northern border with China.

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A screen in Pyongyang shows news coverage of a North Korean missile launch on Aug. 30, 2017. (KIM WON-JIN/AFP/Getty Images)

North Korea Admits Its Terrified by Possibility of Pre-emptive Strike by US

America keeping the possibility of a pre-emptive strike on the table has the North Korean regime worried

An increasingly isolated North Korea is raising concerns about the possibility of a pre-emptive nuclear strike by the United States.

The unusual statement was published by the North Korean regimes Pyongyang Times newspaper on Nov. 14.

The US can make a preemptive nuclear attack on the DPRK without a parliamentary approval in case Trump deems it necessary, the North Korean state media said.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Oct. 30 on the presidents authority.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Gen. Jim Mattis arrive for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on October 30, 2017. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Mattis said that under Article 2 of the Constitution, the president has the authority to strike North Korea in the scenario of a direct attack by the communist regime or if an attack is imminent.

Tillerson testified on the importance 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. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) had introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for any preemptive strike against North Korea.

North Korean missiles on display in a military parade in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

However, the threat of a preemptive strike appears to have the desired effect on the rogue regime.

Clearly thrown off balance by the threat, the Pyongyang Times wrote, no US administration has openly claimed a preemptive attack on the DPRK as now.

Trump has taken a different approach from previous U.S. administrations to North Korea. While previous administrations reached agreements with North Korea that the regime subsequently broke with little consequence, Trump has demanded the complete denuclearization of the regime.

The head of the U.S. militarys Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, said on Nov. 16 that the strategy involves diplomatic actions with a credible military threat.

While diplomacy must be the main effort with North Korea, it has to be diplomacy backed by credible military power, said Harris.

U.S. Pacific Command commander Admiral Harry B Harris in Singapore on Oct. 17, 2017. (ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

In a separate article published by North Korean state media on the same day, it expressed worry about America increasing spending on and updating its military.

Under Trump, the United States has sharply increased its military spending. On Tuesday, the House passed a nearly $700 billion defense bill.

Among other things, the bill authorizes the acquisition of 90 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and 24 Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets. It also authorizes 13 new warships.

North Korean media said Trump is creating a ferocious war monster, adding, The Korean peninsula and the Asia-Pacific are teetering on the brink of nuclear war.

Two Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 stealth fighter jets fly to the Avalon Airshow in Victoria, Australia, on March 3, 2017. (Australian Defence Force/Handout via Reuters)

The North Korean regime is known for its frequent threats of using nuclear weapons against the United States and its allies, Japan and South Korea.

However, under increased economic sanctions, and a credible military threat, it appears the North is faltering.

Multiple reports from within North Korea confirm that the economic sanctions are biting and that theres a severe shortage of fuel supplies.

Trump rallied the support from a number of Asian nations, including China, during his 12-day Asia tour. China sent a special envoy to North Korea on Nov. 16, an action described by Trump as a major move.

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Charles Manson prison photo taken on Aug. 14, 2017 (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

Reports: Charles Manson Hospitalized, Reportedly in Grave Condition

Update: Manson follower says 'his body is shutting down'

Charles Manson, the cult leader whose followers carried out a series of grisly murders in the 1960s, was reportedly hospitalized in California.

Manson, 83, was sent to the hospital Wednesday night, reported the Los Angeles Times and TMZ.

Its unclear why hes been hospitalized.

Vicky Waters, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, confirmed that Manson is alive.

Notorious killer cult leader Charles Manson, 83, is 'on his deathbed and deteriorating fast' https://t.co/5MA0HgHdVt  Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) November 16, 2017

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told CNN it cannot confirm or deny this information about Manson. A spokesman, Luis Patino, cited medical privacy rules surrounding inmates. Kern County Sheriffs Lt. Bill Smallwood also didnt confirm whether he was hospitalized.

Ben Gurecki, a Manson follower who regularly posts prison calls with the convict on his YouTube channel, said that Manson was brought to Mercy Heart Hospital with heart failure, according to the NY Daily News.

I dont believe he will leave the hospital, Gurecki said. (Its) heart failure. (His) body is shutting down.

Manson, who is also known for the crude inverted swastika carved in his forehead, is surrounded by five uniformed officers, TMZ reported.

Its not going to get any better for him, a source said. Its just a matter of time [until he finally dies].

Prior to Wednesdays reporting, Manson was hospitalized with serious health issues months ago in January. At the time, he was hospitalized for severe intestinal bleeding and had to go to surgery to repair a lesion. However, he was deemed too weak by doctors and was sent back to prison.

Witnesses told KGET that Manson was seen at Mercy Hospital in downtown Bakersfield.

Hes serving several life sentences for leading the family on a killing spree for two nights on Aug. 9 to Aug. 10, 1969. The group killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate, the wife of Chinatown director Roman Polanski, and four of her friends before killing Leno and Rosemary LaBianca the following night.

Manson was sentenced to death after he was convicted, but the California Supreme Court found Californias death penalty law unconstitutional in 1972.

For the past 48 years or so, Manson has been a troublesome prisoner. Hes been cited for assault, repeated possession of a weapon, threatening staff, and possessing a cellphone.

The former musicians first parole hearing was in November 1978, and he was denied parole for the 12th time on April 11, 2012.

Parole officials said at the 2012 hearing that he has problems with schizophrenia and has paranoid delusions. Manson has also never expressed remorse for the slayings.

Im special. Im not like the average inmate, Manson told a psychologist five years ago for the hearing, USA Today reported. I have spent my life in prison. I have put five people in the grave. I am a very dangerous man.

His next scheduled parole hearing is in 2027.

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From NTD.tv
(LR) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Chairman of Senate Finance Committee Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, and Director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn meet with members of the Senate finance committee on Capitol Hill on Nov. 9. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Senate Tax Bill Reveals Key Differences With House

Proposed bill would keep seven tax brackets in place, delay corporate tax cuts to 2019

WASHINGTONSenate Republicans introduced their own tax plan, which has some significant differences compared to the House version approved by the Ways and Means committee. The differences raise uncertainty about Congress ability to meet its year-end deadline to overhaul the U.S. tax code.

The Senate is expected to vote for the bill after Thanksgiving. If the House and the Senate pass different versions of the bill, a conference committee will draft a compromise bill that both houses can accept.

Republicans have an ambitious schedule to get a bill to the presidents desk by the end of the year.

Weve got to get taxes done this year, said Gary Cohn, the presidents top economic adviser, at the Wall Street Journals CEO Council Meeting on Nov. 14.

The legislative calendar is going to get very crowded come the first and second week of December.

Despite the differences in both bills, Cohn is confident that Congress will pass tax reform this year.

Here are the major differences between the Senate and the House plans:

1. The Senate delays corporate tax rate cuts and introduces higher tax relief for pass-through entities.

Both plans agree on reducing the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, but the Senates delays the cut until 2019.

The Senate plan continues taxing pass-through entities at the individual rate, with a top proposed rate of 38.5 percent. But to provide relief for most small companies, it allows a 17.4 percent business income deduction.

The House bill, by contrast, would cap the pass-through tax rate at 25 percent. It also sets anti-abuse rules that allow only 30 percent of a companys revenue to be eligible for that rate. The other 70 percent is treated as wage income subject to the individual tax rate. This results in a blended tax rate of 35 to 38 percent for many small businesses.

Under both proposals, many service providers such as consulting, law, and financial services companies cannot benefit from preferential treatment, although the Senates restrictions are broader, according to the Tax Foundation, an independent Washington policy group.

2. The chambers apply different rates for repatriation.

Both tax plans seek to level the playing field between U.S. and foreign companies. So they both move from a worldwide taxation systemwhich taxes income earned anywhere in the worldto a territorial system, only taxing income earned inside the home country.

As a transition to the territorial system, there will be one-time tax payable on profits of U.S. multinationals that have already accumulated overseas. The Senate bill proposes a rate of 10 percent for liquid assets and 5 percent for other assets, while the House bill proposes 14 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

Both the House and Senate tax reform bills include significant rules to limit tax avoidance, such as the strategy of base erosion and profit shifting, which is used by companies to artificially shift profits to low- or no-tax countries.

3. The Senate bill maintains seven individual tax brackets.

In an effort to simplify the individual tax rates, the House bill condenses the current seven tax brackets down to four: 12 percent, 25 percent, 35 percent, and 39.6 percent. And it increases income limits for each tax bracket.

However, the Senate bill maintains the seven tax brackets, while reducing rates and lowering the top marginal rate to 38.5 percent.

In addition, both the Senate and House bills nearly double the standard deduction. However, they have differences in treating other tax credits and deductions.

4. The Senate entirely repeals the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) and has no exception for property taxes.

The House bill also repeals SALT but allows deductions up to $10,000 for property taxes in an effort to win support from Republicans who are against the proposal.

Those who benefit from the SALT deductions are mostly taxpayers in high-tax states. Democrats and some House Republicans from high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, and California oppose this proposal, as the repeal would cause taxes to rise for their constituents.

5. The Senate bill maintains the current mortgage interest deduction rules.

The Senate would keep the current rules that allow the deduction of interest for newly purchased homes up to $1 million. It eliminates the deduction for equity debt. Meanwhile, the House proposal caps the mortgage interest deduction to the first $500,000 in principal value.

In addition, the Senate would keep a number of popular tax credits and deductions that would be repealed by the House tax bill, including medical expenses, teacher expenses, and student loan interest.

6. The Senate proposal keeps the estate tax and doubles the threshold for the value of inheritance to $11.2 million.

The House bill, in contrast, increases the threshold to $10 million and eliminates it completely in six years time.

7. The revised Senate plan will repeal Obamacares individual mandate.

Senate Republican leaders decided on Nov. 14 to include the repeal of Obamacares individual mandate in the revised version of the bill. The individual mandate provision requires most Americans to have a basic level of health insurance coverage or else pay a tax penalty.

By eliminating the Obamacare mandate tax, we will pass and enact a real tax relief for working families all across America, said Vice President Mike Pence at the meeting on Nov. 14.

Well end the era that began seven long years ago, where the federal government has the taxing power to order every American to buy insurance, he said.

According to experts, emerging differences in the Senate and House plans could complicate congressional passage. Whether Congress will succeed in meeting the ambitious deadline remains to be seen.

Both the Senate and the House are finding different ways to compensate different issues, Cohn said. Ultimately, they get to the same answer.

Both chambers are seeking to deliver tax relief for middle-income families, he said.
Surfer Escapes Shark With Move He Learned on YouTube

A 25-year-old surfer escaped potential death at sea by using a move he learned on YouTube to stop a shark attack.

Charlie Fry is a 25-year-old doctor from Great Britain who was in Australia for work. He was out surfing on Nov. 13 when a shark attacked him. He was able to escape major harm by using a tactic pro surfer Mick Fanning shows in a YouTube video. Fry was at Avoca Beach in New South Wales at the time, The Washington Post reported.

It was just pure adrenaline, I genuinely thought I was going to die, like Youre about to be eaten alive by a shark, so everything slowed down, like Get on your board and surf, Fry told 9 News.

In 2015 Australian pro surfer Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark in the middle of a surfing competition on the South African coast. A YouTube video of the attack and an interview with Fanning afterward went viral. That is what Fry credits for saving his life.

"Just do what @Mick_Fanning did!" Charlie Fry talked us through the moment he was attacked by a shark. #9Today pic.twitter.com/zxLqh0GDpQ  The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 13, 2017

Me and my friends have just started surfing. We saw the YouTube clip of Mick Fanning saying that he punched it in the nose. So when it happened I was like Just do what Mick did. Just punch it in the nose, Fry said to The Today Show.

Fry came away with bite marks on his shoulder and arm. The injuries werent serious.

In the Mick Fanning video, the pro surfer is about to start his surfing run when a shark sneaks up on him from behind. He isnt visible for a few moments after getting pulled off his board. Multiple boats race forward to rescue him, and they pull him out. He came away from the incident relatively untouched, but the cord that attaches his surfboard to his ankle was shredded by the shark.

The Fanning video, posted by the World Surf League, has almost 25 million views on YouTube.

From NTD.tv

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Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) speaks with reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 6, 2017. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Texas Senator Pushes to Bar Chinese Investments That Risk US National Security

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Senates number 2-ranking Republican, John Cornyn, said that a bill he has introduced will prevent foreign investments in the United States that pose a risk to national security. In a speech on Nov. 14, Cornyn painted China as the source of the national security risks the bill seeks to address, and said that its time to wake up to the mounting risks of Chinas incursions into U.S. economy.

The bill, known as the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), was introduced last week by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of heavyweight senators including Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Richard Burr (R-NC), the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee. Republican Representative Robert Pittenger of North Carolina also introduced an identical bill in the House.

While the bill does not specifically name China, it is clearly in the crosshairs. In the keynote address Cornyn delivered at the Center for Strategic and Independent Studies second annual Chinas Power conference on Nov. 14, he pointedly blamed China for having committed much mischief against the interests of the U.S. economy and national security.

Its time for the U.S. to adopt a new policy on China, one that doesnt shrink from Chinas challenges, said Cornyn.

Cornyn and other sponsors of the bill say that it would modernize and strengthen the process by which the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews acquisitions, mergers, and other foreign investments in the United States for national security risks.

The bill would empower CFIUS to stop smaller investments than the ones it usually reviews, and would add new national security factors for CFIUS to consider, including whether information about Americans, such as Social Security numbers, would be exposed to foreign actors as a result of the investment deal.

Cornyn said that he does not seek to bar all Chinese investments but only those that pose threats to U.S. interests. However, Cornyn stressed the urgent need for action as China is vacuuming up U.S. technologies whenever it can and that China could conceivably use technologies stolen from the United States against it in a conflict.

Quoting part of President Trumps speech in Vietnam last week, Cornyn said, referring to China, that the United States will no longer tolerate the audacious theft of intellectual property, and that the United States will no longer tolerate Chinas practices of forcing American businesses to surrender their technologies in exchange for market access.

China, too often, requires technology transfer as a quid pro quo for U.S. companies to access its own market. This approach puts the Chinese Communist Party in the boardroom of nearly every U.S. multinational company in the high-tech sector. Said John Cornyn.

Cornyn said he hoped for a Senate hearing on the bill before the end of the year and committee action soon after. With the backing of a bipartisan group of influential senators the bill may encounter few obstacles within Congress. A vote in both chambers could be just a couple months away.
Chinese soldiers ride in tanks as they pass in front of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during a military parade in Beijing, China, on Sept. 3, 2015. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Texas Senator Says China is a Bigger Threat to the United States than Russia or Iran

WASHINGTONSenator John Cornyn (R-Texas) sounded a warning about China in a high-profile speech on Nov. 14. Chinas state-controlled, authoritarian political and economic system is a serious threat to the long-term interests of the United States, one even more severe than those posed by Russia or Iran, Cornyn said.

It is time for the U.S. to adopt a new policy on China, one that doesnt shrink from Chinas challenges, said Cornyn in the keynote address to the Center for Strategic and Independent Studiess ChinaPower Conference.

Cornyn referred to a remark by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Satff Dunford in which he said China would pose the greatest threat to the United States by 2025. Cornyn also quoted CIA director Mike Pompeo, who said in July that over the long term China would pose a greater threat than Russia or Iran.

First and foremost, China is a state-owned and controlled economy, which is extremely powerful and driven by coercive industrial policies, said Cornyn, which explains why China poses the kind of threat that is unlike any other nation.

Cornyn also cited Chinas aggressive military buildup in the South China Sea and East China Sea as the second reason why China poses the greatest threat. Such aggression poses serious threats to virtually all nations and U.S. allies in the region and could drag United States into a war there, according to Cornyn.

Cornyn said that Chinas actions threaten U.S. allies in the region such as Taiwan, which remains in Chinas crosshairs.

In the same speech, Cornyn also mentioned a bill he introduced in the U.S. Senate that would prevent foreign investments in the United States that pose risks to national security. Cornyn unequivocally paints China as the source of the risks the bill seeks to address, and says that its time to wake up to the mounting risks of Chinas incursions into the U.S. economy.

China is using every tool to close the technology gap with the United States, attempting to erase the U.S. technological edge and use it against us, said Cornyn.

Cornyn has previously criticized China repeatedly for the issues of forced technology transfer imposed on American businesses in China, and the stealing of U.S. intellectual property and technology by Chinese hackers.
Donald Trump smiles during the ASEAN-US 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit on the sideline of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila on Nov. 13, 2017. (AARON FAVILA/AFP/Getty Images)

Trumps New Trade Order Is a Winner

The presidents trade proposal will benefit American workers, the American nation, and our trading partners

At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Danang, Vietnam, on Nov. 10, President Donald Trump reiterated his America first trade philosophy to the business leaders of APEC countries. I am always going to put America first, the same way that I expect all of you in this room to put your countries first, he declared.

This is a dramatic departure from the previous U.S. trade paradigm that pushed international trade in so-called free trade agreements, which were never free and put America at a disadvantage. This doctrine of globalization led to trillions of dollars in trade deficits for the United States, transferring an astronomical amount of wealth to other countries.

Elites argued that American workers, like capital and natural resources, were simply a resource that should be allocated by the global market. Consequently, American manufacturing jobs moved to low-cost countries en masse, leading to the decimation of the once vibrant Rust Belt states and contributing to what has become the opioid crisis in America.

The tariff on imported American cars to the European Union is 10 percent, while the United States only charges a 2.5 percent tariff on imported European cars.

American CEOs of multinational corporations, for example, argued that global trade created wealth for Americans. They were not completely wrong. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the annual average of American corporate profits after taxes soared from $482 billion in 2000 to $1,651.1 billion in 2015, a whopping increase of 242.6 percent.

But American workers did not benefit from the boom. In the same time period, the American median household income decreased from $58,544 to $57,230. The share of middle-class income in the total national income shrank from 47 percent in 2000 to 43 percent in 2014.

Where did the profits go? Western executives, corporate directors, bankers, and real estate owners and developers made billions. Corrupt government officials and their cronies in the developing countries got filthy rich. The richest and the most exclusive club in the world is perhaps Chinas show-parliament, the National Peoples Congress, which has about 100 billionaires.

The situation is not sustainable. The middle class is important for our economy due to its consumption. Whats more, research shows the middle class is the major driving force behind human capital development, such as education, innovation, and entrepreneurship, which leads to long-term and sustainable economic growth.

In his APEC speech, Trump made clear that the old international trade order cant continue. He laid out his vision of a new order under Americas leadership. Under the new order, the United States will actively engage our allies and trade partners, building a truly fair, open, and mutually beneficial trade system.

Seeking Bilateral Trade Deals

America will overhaul its approach to forging trade agreements. What we will no longer do is enter into large agreements that tie our hands, surrender our sovereignty, and make meaningful enforcement practically impossible, Trump said. Instead, the United States will seek bilateral agreements with like-minded partners.

The large agreements Trump refers to likely include the World Trade Organization (WTO). The organization has an agency to settle disputes among member countries. Its interests are not necessarily aligned with Americas, potentially creating conflicts between its decisions and U.S. laws. Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced it would ignore WTO rulings that it believed violated U.S. sovereignty.

Like other international organizations, the WTO is a one nation, one vote bureaucracy, which is extremely inefficient. The WTOs most recent negotiation on trade barrier reduction, the Doha Development Round, started in 2001, but essentially stalled.

In addition, the WTO lacks enforcement power. One example is Chinas intellectual property violations. Back in 2007, the United States filed a complaint with the WTO against China for its failure to protect and enforce U.S. intellectual property. A WTO panel ruled in favor of the United States in 2009. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representatives 2016 report to Congress, however, the problem has persisted, despite the clear WTO judgment against China.

Fair and Reciprocal

One guiding principle of the new order is that trade must be fair and reciprocal, the president emphasized.

While we lowered our trade barriers, other countries didnt open their markets to us, Trump said.

Many U.S. trade partners have engaged in unfair trade practices. For example, the tariff on imported American cars to the European Union is 10 percent, while the United States only charges a 2.5 percent tariff on imported European cars. China is worse; its tariff on imported vehicles, at 25 percent, is 10 times that of the United States. Thats not a level playing field, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told CNBC on Nov. 6.

Some nontariff trade barriers are more consequential than tariffs. In China, many American commercial websites, such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter, are completely blocked. According to the 2016 National Trade Estimate Report by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Chinas outright blocking of websites appeared to have worsened in 2015, with eight of the top 25 most-visited websites blocked. The report designated Chinas Great Firewall a trade barrier to American businesses.

Rule-Breaking Wont Be Tolerated

Those who play by the rules will be partners of the United States, Trump said. But for rule-breakers, the United States will no longer turn a blind eye to violations, cheating, or economic aggression.

In his speech, Trump cited a litany of sins committed by U.S. trade partners, including intellectual theft, forcing businesses to surrender their technology to the state, cyberattacks, and corporate espionage. The United States would no longer tolerate the audacious theft of intellectual property, he said, without naming China.

China is the top aggressor in stealing technology and trade secrets of American companies. In 2015, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported a 53 percent rise in economic espionage cases aimed at U.S. companies. An FBI survey of 165 U.S. companies found that China was the perpetrator in 95 percent of economic-espionage cases.

Stealing is slow and laborious, and success is not guaranteed. How can China make stealing legal? Make new laws. The Chinese regime adopted new cybersecurity rules that require Western companies to turn over their source codes. The agency responsible for reviewing the source codes of Western companies is called the China Information Technology Evaluation Center (CNITSEC). According to the American intelligence company Recorded Future, CNITSEC, a subordinate of the Ministry of State Security of China, is linked to APT3, a persistent hacker group that targets U.S. and Hong Kong companies.

Early this year, Trump directed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to start an investigation into Chinas trade practices, with a focus on intellectual property violations.

In his speech, Trump criticized the trade policies of previous administrations of the United States. I wish previous administrations in my country saw what was happening and did something about it, Trump said. They did not, but I will.

For decades, trade with the United States helped lift millions of people out of abject poverty in the developing world. American elites reaped enormous profits. But American workers got the short end of the stick. Their jobs disappeared and their livelihoods were destroyed, and once-bustling towns died. The corporate and political elite who made those free trade deals and pushed the globalist agenda knew this. But every time they struck a trade deal, American workers were an afterthought.

A new international order for trade under Trumps leadership will help address the challenges we face. It will put American interests first. Fair and reciprocal trade will benefit our partners, and U.S. workers will get an equitable share as well. By strengthening the protection of American intellectual property, American businesses will be able to maintain their competitive advantage. For America, American workers, and our partners, it is a win-win-win.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Students for a Free Tibet protest below a new electronic billboard leased by Xinhua (2nd from top), on Aug. 1 in New York's Times Square. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. Congress Urged to Require Chinese Journalists to Register as Agents

WASHINGTONA report to the U.S. Congress released on Wednesday, Nov. 15, accused Chinese state media entities of involvement in spying and propaganda and said their staff in the United States should be required to register as foreign agents.

The annual report of the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission said that while China had tightened restrictions on domestic and foreign media, Chinese state media had rapidly expanded overseas.

The commission, created by Congress in 2000 to monitor national security implications of U.S.-China trade relations, said Chinas state media expansion was part of a broader effort to exert greater control over how China is depicted globally, as well as to gather information.

The report highlighted the rapid growth of the Xinhua news agency and noted that it had offices at the United Nations in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco.

Xinhua serves some of the functions of an intelligence agency by gathering information and producing classified reports for the Chinese leadership on both domestic and international events, the report said.

It quoted testimony to the commission by the U.S. Government-funded rights organization, Freedom House, as saying it was a loophole that individuals working for Xinhua and Chinas Peoples Daily newspaper were not covered by the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

FARA, first passed in 1938 in the lead up to World War Two to combat German propaganda efforts, requires foreign governments, political parties and lobbyists they hire in the United States to register with the Department of Justice.

The China Daily, an English-language newspaper owned by Chinas government and ruling Communist Party, is already registered under FARA but only its top executives are required to individually disclose working for the publication.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is working to overhaul FARA after Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for President Donald Trump, and a business associate were indicted for failing to register under the law.

The reform, backed by powerful Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, could provide an opportunity for Congress to act on the commission recommendations.

On Monday, the Kremlin-backed television station RT America registered under FARA.

Under the act, RT will be required to disclose financial information.

By David Brunnstrom
Fresh Corn Season Might Be Over, but You Can Still Have Delicious Cornbread Using Frozen Corn
Marilyn Holley with her dog, Lucy, in Gretna, Virginia, where she believes she was bitten by lone star ticks. (Marilyn Holley)

Woman Discovers She Has a Strange Allergy to Red Meat

Warns others about knowing the symptoms and getting diagnosed

When Marilyn Holley took a bite of her beef taco earlier this year, she didnt expect to have a severe reaction like the intense abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhea that ensued.

I thought I had a virus because my boyfriend wasnt sick so I knew it wasnt contaminated food, she said.

Two weeks before, Holley, a business analyst for a healthcare insurer, was camping with her boyfriend Edward Spalding at their property in Gretna, Virginia, over Labor Day weekend when she found tick bites on her feet.

Three days after her reaction to beef tacos, Holley, who lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, ate a pastrami sandwich followed by a slice of cheesecake and suffered similarly severe symptoms.

About six or seven bites into my pastrami sandwich, I started getting the same abdominal pains, and I ended up breaking out in severe hives and getting sick in my stomach again, she said.

It took a specialist, who Holley tracked down online, to diagnose her with a rare allergy to red meat that is associated with bites from the lone star tick. The doctor, Dr. Robert Radin, told her that the condition could take decades to go away, if it does at all, she said.

The mystery allergy has only been known about since around 2004, and is sometimes known as Alpha-Gal syndrome or Mammalian Meat Allergy.

Symptoms can include anaphylactic shocks, stomach pain, hives, and swelling. In some cases, it can lead to death.

Not everyone who is bitten by the lone star tick is affected. Some people have stronger reactions than others, and no one knows why.

Range of the lone star tick. (CDC)

Unfortunately, the allergy is likely to spread as the lone star tick is cropping up in more places.

It used to only live in the Southeast, but over the past decade it has been reported in the Midwest and even as far north as Maine. One theory as to why it is spreading is that the population of white-tailed deer, which is the most common host for the ticks, has been on the rise.

For most people diagnosed with the illness, its a life-altering event, as mammal meat is found hidden in many things, like the gelatin in Jello or medicine capsules. People can also become sensitive or allergic to dairy, although its hit and miss, Holley said, depending on the person.

Doctors Dont Know

Holley is concerned that many people could have the allergy but dont know about it. Part of the problem is that is that it can take several hours before reactions to the meat set in, so people dont always link it to what theyve eaten.

Its unknown exactly how many people have the allergy. A closed Facebook group created for people to share their experiences of having Alpha-Gal has about 3,800 members. Over 2,000 people from all over the world have self-reported cases, according to this map, with the majority being in the United States.

A map showing self-reported cases of Alpha-Gal syndrome or Mammalian Meat Allergy across the world as of November 2017. (Screenshot via ZeeMaps)

She wants to spread awareness about the mystery condition in hopes that people will quickly see an allergist if they suffer Alpha-Gal symptoms after eating meat.

My boyfriend doesnt have a problem. Is it because hes not the same blood type as me? [Doctors] dont even know that. Its just crazy, she said. The hospitals dont know, the patients dont know and the doctors dont know. And no ones doing anything about it.

Holley emailed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about research on the allergy. In an email seen by The Epoch Times, the CDC confirmed that they are not currently researching it.

Its not yet known how the allergy starts, other than it could be related to the lone star tick bite, a CDC staff member wrote.

Holley hopes that the CDC can find funding for the research so that both victims of the allergy and doctors will know more about it.

People dont understand that this can affect anyone if you walk out and get bit by a tick, Holley said. I think its going to become some kind of tick-borne epidemic. Its not going to be like the flu, or something. Its going to be big like lyme disease.
Paris has invited Prime Minister Saad Hariri to leave Saudi Arabia for France amid mounting calls for his return home following his unexpected resignation nearly two weeks ago.

President Emmanuel Macron Wednesday told media that he had invited Hariri to travel to France following a phone conversation with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince bin Salman.

Hariri according to the French leader will fly to France with his family for few days but he maintained that the trip does not amount to exile.

President Macron also sent his foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Riyadh Wednesday for a meeting with the King and the Crown Prince. The French official is also scheduled to meet with Hariri this Thursday (Nov.16).

Hariri, who leads a year-old cabinet in Lebanon unexpectedly announced his resignation on November 4 in Riyadh on a Saudi television channel citing threats to his life while accusing Iran and Lebanon-based Shia movement Hezbollah of sowing mayhem in his country and around the region.

He has remained in Riyadh since his resignation despite a short trip to United Arab Emirates.

Speculations swirled over his alleged detention in Riyadh by Saudi authorities. On Wednesday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun maintained that Saudi Arabia is holding Hariri under house arrest.

Nothing justifies the failure of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to return for 12 days, therefore we consider him to be held and detained, contrary to the Vienna Convention, Aoun said in a tweet on the official Lebanese presidency account.

Aoun without further details added that Blackwater, a private security contractor founded by former US Navy SEAL and UAE-based Erik Prince, is guarding him, not Saudi security personnel.

The Lebanese President has refused to accept Hariris resignation, insisting that he returns home to tender it or provide reasons or and address them.

Hariri, following Aouns charges against Riyadh took to Twitter claiming he is fine and will soon be back.

I want to repeat and confirm: I am totally, totally fine and Ill come back, God willing, to beloved Lebanon like I promised you all. Youll see, he wrote.
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Former Egyptian notorious interior minister and security chief Habib al-Adly has been advising Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman in his purge against royals and elites despite the home court verdict pressed against him for corruption, reports say.

Al-Adly, 79, has been behind the round-up of 11 princes and hundreds of elites over graft charges, which took place nearly two weeks ago, according to a former Egyptian interior minister and Al-Adlys own advisor, cited by the New York Times.

Al-Adly was Egypts interior security Chief under ousted Hosni Mubarak and was appointed interior minister in 1997 until 2011, during the revolution that removed him and his boss.

The 79-year old man is pilloried at home for grave human rights abuses, corruption and state funds embezzlement.

Al-Adly spent three years in prison along with several members of Mubaraks clique in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution for the killing of hundreds of protesters. He was initially sentenced to life in prison but some charges were dropped after an appeals court ordered a retrial.

Following his release, the former Egyptian official was placed under house arrest and had to face another lawsuit this year in April over corruption charges and money embezzling from the Egyptian interior ministry.

He received a seven-year jail sentence along with several officials of the interior ministry.

He has been reported on the run. According to press reports, he fled to Saudi Arabia with the help of someone in the regime. Rumors surfaced that he was offered an advisory position with the Saudi Security apparatus, Middle East Eye reports.

At least 17 individuals among the Saudis detained in the purge were admitted to hospital because of bad treatment during their questioning and arrest.

According to press reports, the torture techniques used on the arrestees during their detention at Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh bear Al-Adlys stamp.
The small Gulf monarchy Wednesday accused Iran of masterminding last month bomb attack on a police bus, which killed one officer and wounded several others.

Authorities, in an initial statement last month, indicated that an unidentified terror cell was behind the attack and that investigation into the incident was going on.

The terrorist cell received extensive training in Iranian Revolutionary Guard camps on the use and manufacture of explosives and firearms, as well as material and logistical support, the interior ministry however said on Wednesday.

It added that one member of the cell was arrested while other members were fugitive in Iran.

The Islamic Republic has not yet reacted to the fresh accusation, which followed another charge after an explosion on Friday on Bahrains main oil pipeline.

Bahraini authorities finger-pointed Iran for sponsoring the terrorist sabotage.

The monarchy has been facing insurgency since 2011. The country was rocked by protests staged by the population Shia majority, who complain about their marginalization by the Sunnite minority.
The UAE Wednesday announced the launch of Last Mile Fund, a new $100-million fund to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) mainly River blindness and Tlymphatic filariasis, which affect millions of lives around the world, but in Africa and in the Middle East in particular.

Announced at a global health forum in the Emirati capital, the fund will boost the eradication of the two diseases still rampant in Tropical Africa and Middle East.

The fund reflects our long-term vision to save lives and put an end to neglected tropical diseases, tweeted Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed himself pledged $20 million as contribution to the fund.

Bill Gates, Co-chair & Trustee, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also pledged $20 million while the British government brings its contribution to $30 million.

The fund will be managed by the END Fund, a philanthropic investment platform focused on tackling the five most NTDs and will run for 10 years.

British pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline and its in-kind firm, MSD (Merck) will provide medicine, notably albendazole and ivermectin, used to treat and eliminate lymphatic filariasis and river blindness.

The gathering also saw in attendance head of the World Bank Group, Jim Young Kim, Director-General of the World Health Organization, UAE leaders and a few African leaders.
How to watch and what to know about Northern Iowa at South Dakota

The Coyotes' season will end Saturday, win or lose. They'll hope to make it a win against a Panthers squad still technically alive for the playoffs.
Zimbabwes military have taken over the public broadcaster and streets of Harare, a day after they issued threats to stop the purge of former liberation fighters.

Reports from local media indicate that President Robert Mugabe is under heavy guard after soldiers have cordoned off the parliament building and the defense headquarters in the southern African country.

In a statement read by a soldier on the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation in the early hours of Wednesday, the army denied staging a coup stating that they are targeting criminals around Mugabe.

They army has ordered the civil servants, judiciary and parliament to go ahead with their duties without fear of being obstructed. They also called on the public to remain calm and limit unnecessary movement.

The army chief General Constantino Chiwenga and the war veterans are staunch allies of Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice-president of Mugabe who was fired from his post last week.

Chris Mutsvangwa, chairperson of the war veterans group said that Army General Constantino Chiwenga has carried out a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power.

The army spokesperson called on churches to pray for the nation. He urged other security forces to co-operate for the good of our country, warning that any provocation will be met with an appropriate response.

The British Embassy issued a warning and encouraged citizens to shelter in place, citing the ongoing political uncertainty through the night. The US Embassy, closed to the public on Wednesday, also issued a similar warning.

Tensions are rising in Zimbabwe amid a vicious struggle to succeed Mugabe, who is 93.
Melanie Bozzo used to live in L.A. and Miami, work in fashion, travel constantly and rub shoulders with celebrities.

Now, shes at work at 5:30 a.m. in Vaughan with her dad, packing up food.

Then she drives it down to her newly opened shop, The Plant YYZ, on Dundas St. W. near Keele St. And shes loving it.

Buying local is the best way to change the food system, she enthuses as she organizes her store one morning before opening. I know where every single ingredient comes from.

Bozzo, along with her dad Frank, has developed 150 products. All are vegetarian and some are fully plant based  that means vegan. All the ingredients are local, to the point where she doesnt use rice or pine nuts, as theyre not grown in Ontario.

Her shop stocks about 75 of these products at any given time. In a long open fridge and a massive freezer she displays ready-to-heat meals such as vegetarian shepherds pie and fresh pastas. (One-serving portions sell for $6.75 to $7.50, then it goes up to $10 to $15 for double-size meals.)

Then there are long shelves of glass jars full of The Plant YYZ branded pasta sauces, soups and condiments. A 355 ml Ontario Garlic Hot Sauce goes for $6.50.

She sells outside brands too and offers frozen pastry dough, gluten-free products (but theyre not made in a secure facility so theyre not ideal for customers with Celiacs Disease), honey and peanut butter. Every day, she brings in fresh flowers from Wild North Flowers. A shelf of local cookbooks fills the front of the store.

Bozzo spent the first decade of her career working in fashion, public relations, events and marketing. She owned a store called Common Cloth in Parkdale and later moved between Canada and the U.S. for various jobs.

Five years ago, when she turned 30, she decided she was done with her current industry. I just wasnt happy where I was, she recalls. She thought about doing something related to food, ideally sustainable food.

I have experience promoting a brand, she says. She just had to use her marketing skills in a new sector.

But a sector that was in her blood: Frank had a successful pasta brand in the 1980s and has run a food research and development and product development company for the last few decades out of a 2,500-square-foot facility in Vaughan.

While living in Miami, Bozzo started talking to her dad about developing a new food brand. They worked together remotely starting in 2014, developing a 10-product line called The Plant MIA. Bozzo would sell the plant-based products at events  Frank would sometimes fly down to help her.

Why reinvent the wheel in the U.S.? Bozzo finally asked herself, and moved home in 2016. The two then worked in earnest to develop a larger product line. (They also converted the Vaughan facility to green energy.)

I get to learn all this amazing stuff, says Bozzo of working with her dad. He can scale up a test recipe, using percentages, in minutes. But hed also let his daughter try out her ideas, letting her fail sometimes.

(The entire organization is clearly a true family business. While Bozzos mother Mary is retired, she shows up this morning to help set up the store.)

Even during the earliest months of the brand, Bozzo was using her digital marketing skills to get the word out. Shes active on social media and has a series of videos about local food on The Plant YYZ web site.

Bozzo landed this space last February. It needed a lot of upgrades from both her end and the landlords. That and more fine-tuning of the product line took several months before all was ready for a mid-October opening. (Shes selling things like dairy-free Alfredo sauce, so these things take time to perfect.)

Bozzo plans to bring in some part-time help, but otherwise expects to be working the store herself over the next several months. Thats on purpose: Im the story teller, she says.

Looking ahead, she hopes to open four more stores in the area, all to be served by her dads facility. Then, if all goes well, she wants to create more production hubs and more stores, ideally across Canada.

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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Starring Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage and John Hawkes. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh. Opens Friday at the Varsity. 115 minutes. 14A

Secrets arent easy to keep in the titular Ozarks backwater of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The townsfolk generally know each others business, even when its none of their business.

Any truths left buried are likely to be pried out by flinty local Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), who swears like a sailor and dresses like an auto mechanic in her blue jumpsuit, but who implausibly runs a gift shop called Southern Charms, selling china rabbits for $7 apiece.

Mildred can tell with one withering glance if youre telling a lie. She has a way of knowing things about you that you might not even admit to yourself.

Frances McDormand stars in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.





So imagine her frustration at not knowing, seven months after the horrifying fact, the identity of the man who raped, murdered and burned her teen daughter Angela (Kathryn Newton), on a lonely stretch of road outside town. And understand why Mildred would spend good money renting a trio of billboards to vent her anger, calling out William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the towns police chief, for his incompetence or indifference.

Righteous fury, but also dark comedy, roars through this third and best feature by Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths). The film took the Peoples Choice Award at TIFF 2017 and is likely to be a major player at the Oscars and other golden shows, as well as in year-end Top 10 lists.

Writer/director McDonagh knows how to get good characters into a story but not always how to get them out of it. This time hes considerably more focused, letting McDormands ferocious mother-bear of a performance, her best since Fargo, drive the narrative.

This is no small achievement  shes a lock for Best Actress nominations everywhere  because the story has more twists and turns than the bloodstained highway that runs through it. Our sympathies and scorn seem clear at the outside but they become less so, when difficult facts about the case emerge and parties deserving of disdain approach redemption.

As great as McDormand is, she has at least one other awards-worthy player in her midst: Sam Rockwell. He plays Willoughbys brutish and racist deputy Dixon, a man-child ripe for comeuppance and education, if the latter is even possible for so dense an individual.

Its hard to figure why the chief, a hard but apparently decent family man, tolerates a thug on his force who tortures suspects, especially Black ones. There are a lot of things about Ebbing, Missouri that vex the mind.

Maybe its because Willoughby, one of Harrelsons most notable characters, has knows that mamas boy Dixon lives under the heel of an abusive and hateful mother (Sandy Martin), who makes the shrivelled mater of Psycho seem all sweetness and light in comparison.

Alas, theres not much room left in the screenplay for other people besides the three leads. One of the casualties is Robbie, Angelas brother, who is like the proverbial deer in the headlights as his mother rages through town, alienating everybody (but amusing viewers) with her foul mouth and attitude. Robbie is played by Lucas Hedges, who brought nuance to family grief in Manchester by the Sea, but doesnt get the chance to do so here.

Two other players take their best shots at seizing the screen: John Hawkes as Mildreds abusive ex-spouse, who is dating a zygote and seems a cauldron of rage; and Peter Dinklage as a friend of Mildreds who would like to be more than that, if she would only cease her insults.

But the most potent stars of the movie arent even human. Those three billboards of the title  blood red with stark black letters, rising out of the finely realized mist and mood of Ben Davis cinematography  stand in a field by the roadside, asking questions and hurling accusations. They motivate all who see them. They sink into the soul.

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When villain Brittanys end finally came on The Bachelor Canada, it was with more of a whimper than a bang.

And in one of those cruel twists of reality TV fate, the woman behind Brittanys comeuppance also got sent home.

Chris Leroux finally caught on to the dissent between Brittany and other contestants when he overhead Meghan loudly chastising Brittany for picking on her.

But you might be surprised to learn that Brittany didnt fight to stay on the show, despite how often she said she and Chris were fated to end up together. In fact, she removed herself from the fray before Chris could banish her.

Chris didnt put up a fight to keep her either.

The cynics among us would see this as proof their relationship was not as meaningful as Chris claimed on last weeks romantic one-on-one and that Brittanys longevity had more to do with her value as a villain than his preferences.

In any event, shes gone and so is Meghan.

Meghans departure was more about a lack of romantic connection with Chris than her inability to let the Brittany drama go. She was already on thin ice, not having had a one-on-one with Chris, although neither have Stacy and Jessie.

The bad news for those two is that theres a major cull coming next week, according to the promo, with half the six women who remain ending their journeys, to use Bachelor-speak.

Read on for highlights of this weeks show.

Not here to make friends: The groundwork for Brittanys and Meghans plot-changing confrontation was set early, with Meghan complaining to Stacy that Brittany had been treating her like a simpleton and trying to convince her that no one liked her, including Chris. For her part, Brittany complained about the negativity in the house and uttered the time-honoured villain credo: This is a competition. Im not here to make friends. I have to focus on me, period, or I will never get out of here alive, ever, she added.

Group date No. 1: So of course this tension meant that Brittany and the three people who liked her the least were going on a group date. Brittany, Jessie, Stacy and Meghan headed to the Bravissimo Fiesta show in Puerto Plata where not only would they learn to dance like Dominican-style showgirls, theyd have to perform in front of a crowd  in sparkly bra tops and loin-cloth-like bottoms with fringed tails.

This was no ones idea of fun except for Chris and Brittany. I love to move my body to the music, she said. My dance is very, like, sultry because I know that Chris will be watching.

Chris was also watching Meghan, who looked miserable as she rehearsed, but she refused to fess up about her confidence-sapping spat with Brittany when he pulled her aside.

When show time came, Jessie, Stacy and Meghan muddled through, but Brittany gyrated like a pro, all the while fixing Chris with come-hither stares. Chris kept licking his lips, which at first I thought meant that he was into it, but then he said Brittany was making him very uncomfortable by just staring at me pretty intensely so I guess he was just getting nervous.

Later, Meghan confronted Brittany about their off-camera conversation of the day before. Meghan accused Brittany of saying that Chris probably didnt like her. Brittany insisted what she said was that Chris would marry only one of them.

And then she tried to sound sympathetic. You remind me so much of myself when I was your age, said Brittany, oozing condescension, adding that she was worried about Meghan.

You dont, Brittany, exploded Meghan tearfully. You dont f--king care, you only care about yourself and Im here for him.

When Jessie jumped in, asking Brittany why she was there, Brittany stood up and walked away.

Chris decided to get to the bottom of things. First, Jessie and Meghan told him Brittany wasnt there for him. Then he questioned Brittany: To you, is it more of a competition or is it real life? Because my feelings are real, Im here, this is my life.

It is what it is, answered Brittany vaguely, complaining that none of the girls wanted her there.

Do you want to stay for me? Chris asked.

Again, no answer.

As Chris went off to soul-search, Brittany went in search of a director and said she wanted to go home.

Do you give up on true love or do you stay for true love? asked the director, Michael.

Michael, this isnt true love, Brittany replied.

Truer words were never spoken. As a woman who is confident Im gonna leave like a queen, Brittany said as she departed, dry-eyed.

One-on-one date with Mikaela: Chris didnt seem sad the next day about losing Brittany and, even if he had, Mikaelas squeals of delight and giggles and hugs and kisses were sure to cheer him up.

They wandered around Puerto Plata, learned how to roll cigars, drank rum and smooched.

The evening was spent at historic Fortaleza San Felipe, where Chris wanted to focus on the romantic and passionate side of their relationship. Judging from the kisses they exchanged as they watched fireworks from the fort, mission accomplished.

Mikaela told Chris she was falling in love with him and Chris said in his confessional he could see himself falling in love with her, but Im scared of falling too fast and Im scared about making the right choice; there are other girls I care about immensely and I dont know how to handle that, he said.

Group date No. 2: Given the naughty subtext of this date, Im mildly surprised it wasnt a one-on-one, but Kait, Lyndsey and Catie trooped to the Natura Cabana hotel and spa with the promise of stimulating Chriss senses.

Certainly something got stimulated as they mixed up aphrodisiacs using ingredients like cacao, ginger, vanilla, honey, fruit and chili peppers, then one by one had private time with Chris during which they smeared their concoctions on his half-naked body and smooched him.

OK, Catie took things a little too far by pouring candle wax on Chris, but overall he found their ministrations sexy. Lyndsey ended up with Chriss massage-oil handprints on her butt. Kait stripped down to a bikini and told Chris shed brought him a threesome of potions, one to get you started, one to get you going and one to finish you off.

Yikes, is this the part of the show where images of trains going through tunnels and fireworks appear onscreen?

Chris was clearly turned on by this new sexual side of Kate.

This side of me is the side that walks into a room and gets whatever she essentially decides she would like, Kait told Chris that night.

Seems like it works because he gave her the date rose.

The rose ceremony: Pre-cocktail party, Chris confessed that he didnt know how to handle all these beautiful smart women showing me all this love this week.

During the cocktail party, he told the women hed been struggling to let his guard down but was determined to open up to them.

For reasons I cant fathom, Mikaela decided this was directed at her and that perhaps shed freaked Chris out by telling him she was falling for him. He admitted he had shut down when she mentioned love, but that didnt mean he wasnt ready for the Mikaela and Chris love story.

He sealed those words with multiple kisses and also kissed Stacy and Lyndsey and Catie, whom he asked to just chill after another one of her mile-a-minute, wide-eyed verbal assaults.

He did not kiss Meghan, who spent her alone time rehashing her dispute with Brittany.

Poor Meghan, it seemed, had been effectively friend-zoned so it wasnt a surprise when she was left roseless. But points to Chris for the kind way he said goodbye to her.

Everything I said to you is real and its true, OK? Youre an amazing person. You deserve the world, OK? Chris told her.

Meghan left tearful but vowing that she believed Chris and I will never, ever, ever settle. Theres someone out there, hes gonna treat me like gold.

Next week the final six stay put in the Dominican Republic and it looks like a cryathon of an episode. In the promo, we watched host Noah Cappe tell the women, For half of you, this journey will end this week.

Id say Lyndsey and Mikaela are shoo-ins for final three, but who will get that last spot, sexy Kait or chatty Catie? Well find out next week.

You can watch Wednesday at 9 p.m. on W Network.

And you can email me at dyeo@thestar.ca, tweet me @realityeo or visit my Facebook page.

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HALIFAXA Nova Scotia sailboat captain has pleaded guilty to two drug charges after 250 kilograms of cocaine were found hidden in his vessel after it pulled into a small marina two months ago.

The Canada Border Services Agency says its officers boarded the vessel at East River Marine in Hubbards, N.S., late on Sept. 3.

The agency says the Canadian-registered, 29-foot boat  called Quesera  had arrived from the small Caribbean island of Saint Martin.

Read more: Two arrested after sailboat arrives in Nova Scotia carrying suspected cocaine

Inside the vessels forward sleeping quarters, officers found several bricks of cocaine hidden inside a sealed bed frame, and the RCMP were called in.

Sixty-eight-year-old Jacques John Grenier of Hubbards pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and importing cocaine.

A third charge, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, will be dealt with at Greniers sentencing hearing on Jan. 25 in Halifax provincial court.

In the past four years, the CBSA in Atlantic Canada has recorded between 130 and 159 drug seizures every year, many of them at ports handling large shipping containers.

Finding such a large stash in a small boat is unusual, Dominic Mallette, the agencys acting director for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, said in September.

In terms of small vessels . . . something of this magnitude is extremely rare, he said. Its very difficult to be aware and monitor the sea.

Mallette said the agency knew the boat was coming in that night, but wouldnt say if it had been tipped off.

I can tell you that we had an awareness and we were ready, he said. Anything beyond that would jeopardize our internal work.

The RCMP confirmed it was the second significant suspected drug seizure in Nova Scotia this year. In May, about 200 kilograms of hashish was found hidden inside chocolate bars stacked in a shipping container at the Port of Halifax.

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As Premier Kathleen Wynne scrambles to determine why she was in the dark about an explosive report detailing mercury-contaminated soil and groundwater near Grassy Narrows, Ottawa faces new criticism its doing little to help the poisoned Indigenous community.

Wynne insists she didnt know about a report given to the Ministry of the Environment in July 2016 that revealed mercury could be seen in the soil under the mill upstream from Grassy Narrows First Nation in northern Ontario.

The specifics of this latest report are new information for me, the premier told reporters Wednesday after a United Way of Greater Toronto event.

Asked why it was left to the Star to reveal what had been known inside the provincial government for more than a year, Wynne did not mince words.

Were asking those questions. We are not sure exactly . . . how that information hadnt made it to my desk, but were asking that question, she said.

It is always a concern if we dont have the information that we need to make good decisions. We have questions.

The Star recently reported that the government has had the explosive report in its possession for over a year. The report, which was commissioned by Domtar, the company that now owns the mill, says that in 1990 the environment ministry was told that mercury was visible in soil under a building on the mill site.

Further, companies that previously owned the mill tested groundwater wells on the property in the 1990s and early 2000s and discovered elevated levels of mercury. Just last year, Domtar had one of these wells tested and the result showed an elevated mercury level.

The people of Grassy Narrows say they werent told about any of this information until days ago. The Environment Ministry said it was unaware of this well data until it got the report in July 2016.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she cannot believe that the premier of this province wasnt aware of a report that speaks to the current issues in that situation.

I have a hard time with that statement. This is one of the hottest political files, said Horwath.

Forty years these people have been exposed to this toxic chemical, mercury, in their water, she said.

Ontario environmental commissioner Dianne Saxe in October condemned years of inaction by the provincial government in Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Grassy Narrows.

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister David Zimmer emphasized ministries do not keep the premier of the day in the dark.

I would not characterize it as a communications breakdown. When the Domtar report was prepared the government became aware of the 1990 report. The last while weve been working with Grassy on how to approach this remediation issue, said Zimmer.

Between 1962 and 1970, the paper plant in Dryden, then owned by Reed Paper, dumped 10 tonnes of mercury into the river about 100 kilometres upstream. The potent neurotoxin contaminated the fish, which poisoned the people of Grassy Narrows and nearby Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) Independent Nations. (There is no suggestion that Domtar, a pulp manufacturer several owners removed from Reed Paper, is responsible for any source of mercury.)

During the intervening years, as the residents of Grassy Narrows and scientists sounded the alarm about the mercurys reach and impact, government official after government official kept repeating that there was no ongoing source of mercury to the Wabigoon River that is the lifeblood of Grassy Narrows. The residents were told the river would, over time, clean itself naturally.

The mercury contamination still plagues these Indigenous communities in northern Ontario. Recent key findings by the Star, environmental group Earthroots, and top scientists have shown high levels of mercury in soil, fish and river sediment  all strongly suggesting the site of the mill is still leaking mercury nearly 50 years on. Japanese experts examined dozens of people in the communities in 2014 and found that nearly all had a telltale sign of mercury poisoning, including the younger generations.

The Environment Ministry told the Star last week that it did not publicly release the information in the report because it is derived from a third-party report that is owned by Domtar and was prepared by their consultant.

At the time Domtar gave the report to government, Glen Murray was the environment minister. He has told the Star that he got a briefing on the report but never saw the report and has no recollection of being told by ministry staff about the 1990 incident when mill workers saw mercury in the soil or the numerous findings of elevated mercury in groundwater.

In the wake of the report finally becoming public last week, Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister was drafting a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Wednesday  the latest of several attempts the community has made to get the federal government more involved.

In a draft of the letter, Fobister said that despite a federal commitment made in January 2017 to help the province get to the bottom of the science, and the next steps necessary to deal with this issue once and for all, . . . we have yet to receive any concrete support from your government.

The letter demands Ottawa help fund the building and operation of a Mercury Home and Treatment Centre, so that survivors of mercury poisoning can finally receive the specialized treatment and supports, including end of life care, they desperately need, in a culturally appropriate manner in the community.

"My children are sick, my community is sick" - Grassy Narrows residents describe the toll of decades of mercury poisoning. This video was originally published in July, 2016.(Toronto Star)

It also demands compensation for community members whose health, culture and livelihoods have been severely impacted by decades of mercury poisoning.

The letter concludes by saying the community has written to Trudeau three times in recent years to invite him the community to discuss these issues and have yet to receive a response to our letters.

In response to general questions about the federal governments commitment to Grassy Narrows, a spokesperson for Trudeaus office said that relevant ministers offices would respond for the government as a whole.

A spokesperson for Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott said the federal government was committed to ensuring the well-being of both communities and was currently in exploratory discussions to improve that well-being and reform the Mercury Disability Board, which was set up to offer some compensation to victims.

As well, the spokesperson said Health Canada currently funds a health centre with a treatment component, home care, public health and primary care services as well as community programs.

Wynne emphasized that her government is taking the mercury contamination seriously. When I was the minister of Aboriginal Affairs . . . I had been at Grassy Narrows and I had worked with the leadership there, the premier said. I had worked with scientists in the Ministry of the Environment to ask the question of what we could be doing.

This summer Wynnes government announced the $85-million river cleanup and then introduced legislation Tuesday that would see the money put in a trust to ensure the funds will be there for the remediation regardless of who is in power.

Fobister called the proposed legislation a historic milestone. The bill also calls for a panel  made up of government officials as well as representatives from Grassy Narrows and nearby White Dog First Nation  that would be in charge of directing the money.

Pointing to the $85-million fund, Wynne said there is a need for Ottawa to help the province with compensation for those who were made sick by the mercury pollution.

I think that this latest report points to the need for additional activity, apart from what we're doing in terms of cleaning up the river, she added.

But there needs to be the federal government, the First Nation, the provincial government, Health Canada sitting at the table to determine what the next steps should be.

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People always knew where to find Senator Tobias Enverga if they needed him.

Every Sunday at 11 a.m., the devout Catholic and his family would sit in the first row of the St Josephs Catholic Church in Scarborough.

After mass, the senator would linger in the church to chat with his community, there for those who needed him, said Garry Tanuan, who replaced Enverga as a trustee with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) in 2012.

People would come to me and ask about where they could find the senator to speak to him and if they would have to go all the way to Ottawa, said Tanuan. I would reply that you dont have to go very far; you can find him in the first row.

The senator died while on a parliamentary visit to Colombia on Thursday morning.

Born in the Philippines, the 61-year-old achieved many firsts during his lifetime; he was the first Filipino-Canadian ever appointed to the Senate and the first Filipino-Canadian elected in the City of Toronto.

Before becoming a senator, he served as a school trustee for Ward 8 Scarborough at TCDSB, where he advocated strongly for the most vulnerable members of his community.

Along with his wife, Rosemery, Enverga is survived by his three daughters.

He used his time in the Senate and as a trustee to advocate fiercely for people who have Down syndrome, such as his daughter.

All of us at the TCDSB are deeply saddened, said Angela Kennedy, the school boards chair. Senator Enverga was a strong advocate for students with special needs, as well as (for) the partners and stakeholders of the TCDSB community.

Before entering politics, Enverga worked as a project manager for the Bank of Montreal, but was best known for his work on behalf of the Filipino community. This included establishing the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation. Before immigrating to Canada, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Philippines and later got an M.A. at York University.

I represent a large Filipino community, said Ward 5 trustee Maria Rizzo, who served on the board with the senator for two years. I would always ask Tobias for advice on how to engage the community and I remember he told me the best time to meet with them is on Sunday after church. I never forgot that.

The Ontario senator was in Colombia for the ParlAmericas Annual Plenary Assembly along with Liberal MPs Robert Nault and Randy Boissonnault, NDP MP Richard Cannings and Conservative MP Bev Shipley.

He was passionate about serving Canada as a senator, said Nault, who was in Colombia with the senator when he died.

The night before his death, the parliamentarians and the senator had dinner with the Canadian ambassador in Colombia.

We were all very talkative, talking about what is happening in Colombia, said Nault. Tobias was really involved in listening and participating, and so there was no indication that he had any health issues.

Nault said that, although it has not been confirmed officially, many are suspecting Enverga died of a heart attack.

He was a person who always smiled and put a lot of effort into his work. He was a happy soldier that worked on hard in the trenches, said Nault on Thursday afternoon. He was helpful with his community and cared for those with special needs and yet he never sought attention for any of it.

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper named him to the upper chamber in 2012. Conservatives on Parliament Hill flooded social media with condolences upon hearing the news Thursday.

The tragic loss of his welcoming and sunny personality leaves a large hole in the lives of all who knew him, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said in a statement.

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OTTAWATraining foreign troops will be the flagship of Canadas newly announced peace operations strategy, says the countrys top soldier, who concedes that elements of the plan still require months more work.

Prime Minster Justin Trudeau on Wednesday took the wraps off his governments long-awaited effort to reengage with United Nations peace missions.

Elements of the strategy include $15 million in funding to boost participation by women soldiers in UN operations; an initiative to end the recruitment of child soldiers; and the promise of Canadian personnel to assist with training.

Read more:

Justin Trudeaus retreat from UN peacekeeping unfair but politically wise: Walkom

Peacekeeping myths and nostalgia die a quiet death under the Liberals: Tim Harper

Women-first peacekeeping plan makes sense: Editorial

It also pledges up to six helicopters, two transport aircraft and a quick reaction force of up to 200 personnel to support UN missions.

But apart from Trudeaus promise of a single transport aircraft for UN operations based in Uganda, the plan offered no details on possible deployments.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, said it would be inappropriate to say when those might start.

Im not even going to hazard a guess on that one right now. Step number one is now to get into detailed planning with the UN and find out . . . the what, the where and the when, he said in an interview.

This weeks announcement was months in the making. The Liberals pledged in the 2015 election to recommit to UN peace operations, in part by providing specialized capabilities such as medical teams and engineering support. That promise was followed in August, 2016 by a commitment to deploy up to 600 troops and 150 police officers on UN operations.

Canadas contributions to UN peace missions are at their lowest levels in years with just 23 military personnel currently assigned to such operations.

Thats not likely to change soon. In the wake of Wednesdays commitments, Vance made clear that it will take many months yet of planning and discussions with the United Nations to determine how Canadas offers of personnel and equipment can best fit with ongoing missions.

Some of the when on smart pledges is years away. Some of the when on other potential operations is sooner than that, he said.

Some observers criticized the Liberal government for not committing personnel to a single mission, choosing instead to disperse personnel among many possible locations.

But Vance said that despite speculation, there was never a plan in the works to deploy troops on a single UN operation, saying, Ive never received guidance that said do a mission with 600 (troops).

Suggestions that troops were headed to Mali, for example, or that the announcement had been delayed didnt match the reality of the work we were doing, Vance said.

There were a lot of assumptions made about, hey, were going to Africa, Vance said

Instead, he said that Canada was working with the United Nations to figure out a new way of doing business. And he said repeated fact-finding trips by bureaucrats and politicians, including visits to African countries, were not about scouting any one particular mission.

Thats us doing research . . . that allowed us to arrive at an approach that government could consider, he said.

Weve been working for over a year to determine what are the various options available to government in terms of how to improve UN performance overall with Canadian troops, Vance said.

Yet given that Africa is the location of many UN missions so its very likely a place where we would offer contributions, Vance said.

The peace support strategy calls for a new training and advisory team to work with a nation before and during a deployment to improve their own ability to conduct peace operations. It also says that Canada will contribute to training centres and schools.

Vance said such activities will be the flagship of the plan.

Were going to try and leverage the Canadian expertise, one of the best trained militaries in the world and best equipped, . . . so that UN mission performance can improve, Vance said.

Defence analyst Dave Perry said elements of the peacekeeping strategy make sense. The problem, he said, is that the government itself had raised expectations with its drawn-out decision-making and rhetoric about its intentions.

It wasnt just what the government was saying publicly. I think there were also a number of commitments that were strongly intimated to some of Canadas key allies, Perry said in an interview.

My sense is that the different options that were put forward by the department of national defence for whatever reasons werent palatable to the government, said Perry, a senior analyst with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

While he said the contributions to UN operations were modest, Perry said Canada is better off providing military support to other missions, such as coalition efforts to combat Daesh, or NATO roles.

Bluntly, there are better ways of achieving Canadian national objectives in the world that through UN missions, Perry said.

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Unmoved by pleas from desperate homeowners, some Toronto councillors want self-contained basement apartments banned from Airbnb and other short-term rental services.

Planning committee members unanimously rejected a city staff proposal that secondary units, with their own kitchens and bathrooms, be included in new regulations on lucrative rentals of less than 28 days.

Their concerns Wednesday echoed those of Vancouver councillors who a day before enacted regulations that also ban short-term secondary unit rentals.

Councillor Ana Bailao, Mayor John Torys housing advocate, told fellow committee members that Airbnb has a place in Toronto but city council, when it finalizes rules on Dec. 6, cant let long-term rental units for Torontonians instead host a parade of temporary visitors.

We have an extremely unhealthy vacancy rate in this city, said Bailao, one of Torys deputy mayors. If you are a renter trying to find an apartment to live in this city, it is a really bad experience. Its frustrating, its desperate, people are having a tough time and obviously it has an impact on rents.

Doing otherwise would be a bad signal for a city working on removing barriers to laneway housing to alleviate the housing crisis, she added.

After public consultations, city staff proposed rules that would allow Torontonians to short-term rent their homes only if it is their principal residence.

That is meant to halt a stampede of investment units off the long-term market and onto daily or weekly rentals, with multiple units turning some buildings into ghost hotels with coming and going but few actual residents.

Airbnb hosts renting out up to three bedrooms, or their whole home for up to 180 nights per year, would pay the city $50 per year. Short-term booking agencies would pay the city a $5,000 licence fee and $1 a night per booking, and have policies to deal with noisy, disruptive tenants.

Councillor Gord Perks noted that an Airbnb host who lives in his Parkdale ward told the committee she gets about $2,000 per month for her basement apartment, when its fully rented out  a big premium over the $1,500 she estimated it would fetch as a regular long-term rental.

Of San Francisco-based Airbnb, Perks said: Im sick and tired of having to giving up on important pieces of public policies that benefit Torontonians because somebody wrote a book about the sharing economy.

Councillor David Shiner, the planning committee committee chair, told colleagues: We are not going to be able to stop the Internet . . . whether you call it sharing or helping or whatever, people are doing it.

Earlier, during public presentations, Scarborough homeowner Paul Nedoszytko told councillors he and his wife renovated their basement and put the apartment on Airbnb four years ago when both were laid off within two months of each other.

Unlike most Airbnb hosts they have guests every night, Nedoszytko said, declining to tell councillors how much they earn. A rental site lists his unit as averaging $67 per night and he said it fetches more in summer.

I have no pension, I have no drug plan, I have no dental plan, said an emotional Nedoszytko. Were really behind the eight ball in terms of preparing for our future and Airbnb will let them age in place.

Perks countered that he can point to 20 units where low-income seniors used to live that are now Airbnbs. We are causing people to not be able to age in place because they are tenants.

Another Airbnb host, Sophia Virani, told the committee she bought her Etobicoke home budgeting to rent out the basement unit on Airbnb.

If Airbnb didnt exist, I couldnt buy this house, she said. My only way of affording that, and having children with a backyard, is to be able to rent it out short-term.

Alex Dagg, Airbnb Canadas public policy manager, told reporters she was disappointed in the vote but her hosts will keep telling councillors about the need to include basement apartments.

We think (the vote was) short-sighted and we think its harmful for families in Toronto, Dagg said, adding owners of most self-contained units  731 among Airbnbs roughly 10,000 Toronto listings  want them free for visiting friends and family, so they wouldnt be on the long-term market anyway.

The city has 1,759 registered lawful secondary suites, among a total of 526,000 rental units in Toronto, but cautioned there could be many more rented unlawful suites.

The proposed regulations will land Thursday before Torontos licensing committee, which will look at issues including whether homeowners should have to give the city proof of principal residence or, as city staff suggest, merely declare that to be true.

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King Mohammed VI of Morocco, who is currently undertaking a Gulf tour, has dispatched his youngest sister Princess Lalla Hasna to represent him at the high-level segment of the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23), held Wednesday in Bonn.

The King, who made of environment protection one of the pillars of his countrys public policies, development strategies and regional or international commitments, was keen to see Morocco represented at a high level, in this case by the Chairwoman of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment.

The choice is most judicious as Princess Lalla Hasna is personally involved in environment protection and leads a series of related projects and actions in Morocco and also in Africa all year long.

On Wednesday in Bonn, she attended an informal meeting of heads of state and government that was held under the chairmanship of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and in the afternoon, she took part in the COP23 high-level segment opening ceremony.

Several heads of state made addresses during the ceremony and have all called on the signatory countries of the Paris Agreement to honor their commitments since the Agreement will only stand as a real breakthrough if it is followed by real action.

They stressed the need to grant priority to the preservation of the multilateral consensus reached under the Paris Agreement for substantial reductions in carbon emissions.

Governments, cities and regions from the 152 countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement, must now meet their national climate change commitments (INDCs) through opting for clean energy, low carbon transport and finance solutions to make this a reality, they pointed out.

The target set by the Paris Agreement, namely keeping the global temperature rise to below 2 C, calls for coordinated international and regional strategies that cannot rely solely on nationally-determined contributions.

Some heads of state seized the opportunity to hail Morocco for its successful organization of the COP22 and for its commitment to preserve the environment at home and to fight climate warming and its related changes primarily in Africa and island countries.

In this connection, President Emmanuel Macron of France paid tribute to Morocco for its unfailing commitment to environment protection and its tireless endeavors to this end at the international level.

The French President, whose country is hosting an international climate summit on December 12, also stressed the need to help the most vulnerable countries to manage the impact of climate change, calling for pooling energies and earmarking funding to be at the rendezvous of the indispensable environmental transition.

Morocco also grants special attention to least developed countries and has repeatedly called the international community to abide by the Paris Agreement notably in areas relating to fund-raising and capacity-building. On the other hand, it pledged, through the voice of King Mohammed VI, to make its African partners benefit from its expertise in renewable energies, as it has planned to increase the share of renewable electricity generation to 52% by 2030.

It is to be recalled that during COP22, three commissions were set up under the effective chairmanship of King Mohammed VI. These commissions are to deal with the Sahel, the Congo Basin, and the Island States regions.
Hamilton police officers helped accused mobster and drug trafficker Domenico Violi avoid prosecution, according to a 2002 confidential police intelligence report obtained by The Star.

Violi, 51, of Hamilton, was one of nine men charged last week in a sweeping police investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering after dawn raids in York Region, Niagara, Innisfil, Vancouver and Montreal.

The Halton Regional Police report calls a longstanding Hamilton police officer a close, paid associate of Violi.

The reports Introduction/ Synopsis, based on a confidential source, reads: Domenic VIOLI of Hamilton (son of Paolo Violi formerly of Montreal  deceased) had a number of serving Police Officers providing intelligence and assistance avoid prosecution for crimes committed.

The report is dated July 24, 2002 and quotes a confidential source which the author said is close to Violi.

The Halton Police intelligence report states that a Hamilton police officer has been providing information to TOC (traditional organized crime) and others since the late 80s.

Hamilton police would not comment on the documents.

The documents are Halton Police documents and your inquiry is best directed to them, Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman said.

We are looking into the validity of the documents and working with our counterparts to identify the source of this information, Sgt. Dana Nicholas of Halton Regional Police said in an email.

Private investigator Derrick Snowdy provided The Star with copies of the intelligence report. He refused to comment on how he obtained it.

The report continues that a top member of the force along with other subordinates were also closely tied with TOC (traditional organized crime) and have been since the early 80s.

The report states that one Hamilton police officer is a close, paid associate of Domenic VIOLI of Hamilton .. heir apparent to the LUPPINO Crime group of Burlington.

Violi was among alleged GTA organized crime members who were arrested Thursday in a sweeping investigation into the fentanyl trade after early morning raids across southwestern Ontario and New York, the RCMP said.

His younger brother Giuseppe (Joe) Violi, 47, turned himself in to police on Friday after being named on a Canada-wide warrant.

Both Violi brothers face charges for 75 offences including trafficking fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as weapons and contraband tobacco trafficking and bookmaking.

I would expect it will have a significant impact over the short term, RCMP Supt. Chris Leather said at a press conference on Friday.

The Violis are the grandsons of the late Giacomo Luppino of Hamilton, who was considered by police to be a founding member of the Crimine, a governing body for criminals in the Ndrangheta crime group and a longstanding associate of the Buffalo mob.

Their father Paolo was a top figure in the Montreal underworld before his murder in 1978.

Leather said the Violi brothers are well-established with an international reach.

The FBI in New York City conducted what the RCMP called a parallel, but separate investigation into La Cosa Nostra in that city, focusing on members of the Bonanno and Gambino families.

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Ontario has introduced an amendment to the Family Law Act that would make all adult children with disabilities  including those whose parents were never married  eligible for child support.

The change was prompted in part by a Charter challenge brought by a Brampton single mother who was fighting for her adult disabled sons right to continued child support from his father, even though she was never married to the man.

The amendment, part of an omnibus budget bill introduced with the governments fall economic update Tuesday, comes after a series of Star stories about Robyn Coatess battle for child support for her son Joshua, a 22-year-old with a developmental disability.

Currently, only adult children who are attending school full-time are eligible for child support under provincial law.

Our government believes that everyone is entitled to the financial support they need regardless of the makeup of their family, said Attorney General Yasir Naqvi.

The proposed change would update Ontarios Family Law Act to more closely align Ontarios child support legislation with the Federal Divorce Act as well as with the child support laws in the majority of other Canadian provinces and territories, he said in a statement.

Ontario and Alberta are the only provinces that dont include adult children who are ill or disabled under provincial child support laws.

Coates successfully argued Ontarios law discriminates against unwed parents of disabled children based on the federal law which extends access to child support to adult children due to illness, disability or other cause.

After a judge ruled in Coatess favour in July, a government spokesman said the province would introduce amendments this fall that would ensure that those who are over 18-years-old but require ongoing financial support are treated the same under both the provincial and federal laws.

Coates said she is happy the government plans to change its child support law as promised, but she feels it still falls short of the federal legislation.

I am disappointed because it doesnt mirror the Divorce Acts inclusive wording that includes children who may still need support for another cause, she said Wednesday.

Initially, this was just about Josh. But then I got messages from other parents of children with other conditions and issues that arent easily defined as a disability. And all these other individuals need to be recognized as well, she said. Children of unmarried parents are still being discriminated against.

Although Naqvi did not address Coatess concern, a government source said a ministry review found 90 per cent of federal child support cases based on other cause involve an adult child who is in school full-time. Unlike the provincial Family Law Act, federal child support laws dont specifically provide for an adult child in school, the source noted.

Lawyer Joanna Radbord who acted as an intervener in the Coates case on behalf of LGBTQ+ families and youth, said youth transitioning or coming out and unable to leave the care of a parent cannot be respectfully described as ill or disabled and should be allowed to claim support for another cause, as is currently the case under the Divorce Act.

This omission is bad for everyone because it perpetuates differential treatment between children of married versus unmarried parents, Radbord said.

Radbord also notes that it puts the onus on the parent caring for a child whose disability may not be diagnosed  or whose disability is being questioned by the non-custodial parent  to go to the trouble and expense of getting medical tests before making a claim for continued child support.

The focus should be on the adult childs need and well-being, not on how disabled a child may be, she said.

However, she credited the Star for getting the government to move as far as it did.

I do think the Toronto Stars focus on the issue  publicly exposing the governments discrimination against families with disabilities  and having it on the front page, made a difference, she said. I think it made all the difference.

Lawyer Robert Shawyer, who represented Coates in the case, said it is terrific that the government is moving to change the legislation so that it no longer discriminates against disabled children.

However, he is unhappy the government is treating the matter of economic support for Ontarians with disabilities as an administrative housekeeping matter rather than the important public policy issue that it is.

By treating it in such a cavalier fashion, the government is, once again, trying to sweep under the rug the issue of funding for disabled Ontarians, he said.

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Students, colleges and 12,000 striking faculty will learn Thursday if the forced vote on an offer has been accepted or rejected by instructors  and whether the ongoing job action will come to an end.

Until the results are in, Deb Matthews, minister of advanced education and skills development, said the government is in a wait-and-see mode.

I can tell you that the premier and myself, we are very concerned about the impact on students, and every day that the strike goes on means that more students are losing on their education, she told reporters at Queens Park.

The strike, now nearing the end of week five, has impacted hundreds of thousands of students, who on Wednesday held a number of small protests. A group of 14 have started a class-action lawsuit, and the student government at Algonquin College in Ottawa has spent $20,000 on radio and video ads urging their teachers to vote in favour of the final offer from the College Employer Council.

The council made the one-time request to the Ontario Labour Relations Board for the forced vote, and in order to be approved the offer requires 50-per-cent plus one to be in favour

Instructors begin forced vote Tuesday on contract offer their union rejected at the bargaining table.

This is the longest strike in the history of Ontario college faculty.

We are waiting for the vote results  were looking at what options might be available to us after we get the results of the vote, Matthews also said, declining to be specific so as not to influence the vote in any way.

Im not going to muse about what might happen after a vote, Matthews said. What Ive said from the beginning is that we want students back in the classroom, we want faculty back in the classroom. We respect the collective bargaining process, we respect the law of the land and we are looking at all options.

During Question Period, NDP Education Critic Peggy Sattler said this Liberal governments failure to fund the college system appropriately and its failure to lead during this labour dispute has created a hot mess and caused incredible hardship for students.

Earlier in the day, Premier Kathleen Wynne told reporters her hope is that everyone involved will put young people at the centre of their decision-making  I know that young people are very frustrated 

My commitment is that we work to make sure that students dont lose their term. And there are funds that have been set up at colleges to help to reimburse students if they have additional costs. But, you know, we want to get those young people back in their classes as soon as possible.

With files from Robert Benzie

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The NDP is calling on the government to introduce arbitration for workers involved in negotiating their first contracts, citing the case of striking staff for a fresh produce company that receives up to $1.7 million in aid through the government from Ontario taxpayers.

New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo said arbitration would ensure negotiations for a first contract dont drag out and accused the Liberal administration of subsidizing bad labour practices at Burlington-based Ippolito Produce.

About 25 employees of Ippolitos Ontario Food Terminal location on the Queensway and Park Lawn in Torontos west end have been on strike since the first week of November, after talks failed to produce a first contract.

The workers, many of them Tibetan immigrants from DiNovos riding of Parkdale-High Park, sort produce and are members of the Teamsters, whose union local 419 represents workers with other companies at the food terminal, which supplies supermarkets and green grocers.

Labour Minister Kevin Flynn said he wants the union and Ippolito to reach a deal with help from mediators in his department.

Theyve been monitoring it, he told the Legislatures daily question period.

Bargaining, by its nature, is tough. We know the best agreements are those that are reached by the parties at the negotiating table.

A spokesman for Ippolito said more talks are scheduled for Friday morning.

The negotiation process is moving forward with our employees and the union. We have had good meetings and communication this week, human resources director Dave Shepherd said in an email to the Star.

Job security, wages and scheduling of hours of work are key issues in the dispute with the family-run company, which grows and supplies spinach, other greens and a wide range of vegetables grown in North America and Mexico.

They make less than other workers at the terminal. They dont have sick days. They dont have job security, said DiNovo.

What theyre seeking is simply a fair first contract, a situation, sadly, all too common, where employers drag out this process, hoping to rattle newly unionized workplaces.

The aid package for Ippolito was announced by Burlington MPP and cabinet minister Eleanor McMahon last December to help the company expand its processing facilities over five years.

This project will help create 82 new positions and retain more than 250 good jobs, said a press release at the time, noting the money was coming from the governments $2.7-billion jobs-and-prosperity fund.

Agriculture Minister Jeff Leals office said no money has yet been paid out to Ippolito.

As with all companies who receive government funding, projects are closely monitored over their lifespan to ensure they continue to meet their contractual obligations.

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The Liberal government is denying it bundled school bus and highway safety measures with new cannabis legislation to lay a voting trap for the rival Progressive Conservatives with a spring election approaching.

They had a political motivelets throw it in the cannabis bill and make it difficult for the Conservatives to vote against, Conservative MPP Michael Harris charged Wednesday, calling the move a squeeze play.

His party called on Premier Kathleen Wynnes administration to break up Bill 174, which also extends no-smoking restrictions to vaping, into parts so each component goes to a separate vote.

Government House Leader Yasir Naqvi said the measures were bundled to make sure a very ambitious and busy legislative agenda gets through to a final vote in an expedient fashion.

This is just conspiracy thinking, he added, in reference to the Tory concern. There was no intention whatsoever on our part to play any political games with this.

Naqvi, who is also attorney general, added he is interested to see how the Conservatives vote on the cannabis reforms, with the drug becoming legal next July 1 and a retail network being set up.

Were obviously going to have issues with the cannabis act, Harris told a news conference.

The school bus protections  proposed by Harris  would mean owners of vehicles that illegally pass school buses could be ticketed after being caught on camera.

Under the current law, video from cameras mounted on the outside of school buses cannot be used as evidence in court without a witness also testifying.

Conservative MPP Randy Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington) said Ontario should follow the lead from the federal Parliament, agreed to by all three major parties, allowing the speaker to break up omnibus bills.

It is unacceptable to have very disparate subjects lumped together in a single bill, Hillier added, calling it a blatant and dishonest abuse of the legislative process.

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A push by Premier Kathleen Wynnes government to end the five-week-old college strike immediately was blocked by the NDP, meaning it could take well into next week to get 500,000 students back into classrooms.

New Democrats refused to allow the introduction and passage of back-to-work legislation Thursday evening, saying they support the right of college staff to reach a negotiated settlement.

Faculty members rejected the colleges latest offer Thursday by an overwhelming 87 per cent.

Deputy Premier Deb Matthews said the government, with Progressive Conservative support, plans to table the proposed legislation Friday.

But she cautioned that it will take a rare weekend sitting of the Legislature, or longer, to get the bill passed unless New Democrat MPPs consent to debate and passage Friday, sending the longest college labour dispute in Ontario history to binding arbitration for a settlement.

We could have done it in 10 minutes (Thursday night) and then students would know they are back in the classroom on Monday, a frustrated Matthews told reporters.

Professors from College Boreal picket in front of the college at One Yonge St. on Wednesday. Striking college teachers across the province rejected the latest offer in a forced vote that ended Thursday.





It was very disappointing that the NDP decided to block it  Students have suffered enough, she said, noting that passage of the bill on Friday is the only way to get back in class Monday.

Ontario college students lent support to striking faculty members Oct. 25 at a rally outside the provinces advanced education ministry in Toronto. One student says the length of the strike, which began Oct. 15, is nerve-wracking. (The Canadian Press)

This all hinges on the NDP  They could delay it and we could lose next week as well. Were at the point now where students are in danger of losing those semesters. Thats a terrible place to be.

New Democrat House Leader Gilles Bisson said the party will do what we have to do in opposing the legislation on principle.

At the end of the day, its the government that created this mess  They just let this thing drag on.

Read more: Academic freedom cited as stumbling block in talks between colleges and striking faculty

Conservative MPP Sam Oosterhoff (Niagara West-Glanbrook) agreed that the Liberals mishandled the strike, but he accused New Democrats of sacrificing students to make a point.

Unfortunately, the NDP arent willing to see students go back to school Monday morning, so I know a lot of my peers are going to be upset. Im concerned for their semester, said the 20-year-old elected a year ago.

We think Premier Wynne should have done a lot more to bring both sides around the negotiating table  to make sure that students were a priority first and foremost instead of letting things get to this extent.

The government attempted to introduce the legislation after the College Employer Council and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union couldnt reach an agreement on a contract deal Thursday with a 5 p.m. deadline set by the government.

That impasse followed the overwhelming rejection by union members of a contract offer from the colleges in a forced vote.

Union president Warren Smokey Thomas said college faculty will respect the back-to-work bill when it is passed.

Were not, as a labour movement, pleased that workers are being legislated back to work but  we are happy that the students will be back in class as early as Monday.

He called the NDP position expected. If political parties want to turn this into a political football I think thats unfortunate.

The colleges say OPSEU made new demands, asking for a signing bonus of $5,000 for each member, either full-time or part-time.

But union bargaining chair J.P. Hornick said the money was intended as compensation for the college forcing its latest offer  which OPSEU did not agree to  and prolonging the strike instead of continuing to negotiate.

More than 12,000 faculty have been off the job since Oct. 16, leaving hundreds of thousands of students frustrated and worried theyre at risk of losing their semester.

Matthews had harsh words for both sides in the dispute, saying both parties share the failure, while NDP Leader Andrea Horwath blamed it on years of government underfunding.

Turnout for the vote among the 12,000 full-time and partial-load instructors was 95 per cent, with 10,477 voting no and 1,663 in favour.

Voting, conducted online and by phone, began 9 a.m. Tuesday and ended at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

The strike has left students frustrated at missing so much class time  and worried about losing the semester, or the costs theyll incur should the school year be extended to make up lost time. Students have held a number of protests, and a group of 14 began a class-action lawsuit seeking tuition and fee refunds.

The offer faculty voted on included provisions to set up a provincial task force looking at the issue of full-time staffing ratios as well as the growing use of precarious, contract positions at colleges, considered one of the unions key issues.

Partial-load instructors teach anywhere from seven to a maximum 12 hours each week.

Faculty were also seeking academic freedom, which one official from OPSEU called the core  it is the crux  around our issue of quality education. The colleges, however, had accused the union of wanting academic control.

This is a disaster  its such a mess, said Charles Pascal, a former college president who is now an education professor at the University of Toronto, blaming province-wide bargaining for the strife.

When you have province-wide bargaining, and something going on at some of the colleges, those issues become low common denominator issues at the bargaining table, and it wags the whole system, he said. Its not a good way to go.

He said underfunding and local leadership issues are to blame. Staffing ratios, he added, vary from school to school, with some with a reasonable 60 per cent full-time and 40 per cent part-time, but the colleges that have balanced the books on the backs of part-timers, thats the fault of local leadership.

With files from Andrea Gordon

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KABULA suicide bomber killed 14 people at a political gathering in the Afghan capital on Thursday in an attack claimed by Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid said another 18 people were wounded, and that the casualties included security forces and civilians. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the attacker struck at the entrance to the wedding hall where the event was being held.

Daesh claimed the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.

Parliament member Hafiz Mansoor, who attended the meeting but was not harmed, said around 700 supporters of the governor of the northern Balkh province were attending a conference to highlight his work.

Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the Taliban and other insurgents since the U.S. and NATO shifted to a counterterrorism and support role at the end of 2014. The Taliban have seized a number of districts across the country, and both groups have carried out major attacks.

Both the Taliban and the Daesh affiliate, which is largely made up of disgruntled former Taliban fighters, are at war with the government. Both groups want to impose a harsh version of Islamic law on Afghanistan, but they are fiercely divided over leadership, tactics and ideology, and have clashed on a number of occasions.

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CAIROEgypt faces high expectations from Saudi Arabia and its other Gulf Arab benefactors that it will have their back as tensions rise with their rival Iran, including throwing the weight of its military  the largest standing Arab army  into the crisis if needed.

But Egypt clearly has no desire to be dragged into a military conflict or to see the tensions spiral into another Saudi-Iran proxy battle like the many that are already tearing up the Middle East.

Its reluctance could lead to frictions between Cairo and Riyadh.

Read more:

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Saudi Arabia points finger at Iran for attempted missile strike on Riyadh airport

Egypts leadership has been striking a balancing act, giving nods of support to its Gulf allies while trying to defuse their escalations against Iran.

Last week, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi proclaimed that any threat to Gulf security is a threat to our own national security, warning Iran to stop meddling. But he also said the region has enough instability and challenges as it is and doesnt need a crisis with Iran or Hezbollah, and he called for dialogue to resolve tensions.

Other Egyptian officials sharpened their rhetoric against non-Arab, Shiite Iran, but have not embraced the sectarian or ethnic slant used by their Sunni-led Gulf friends.

In the past month, Saudi Arabia has twice accused Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of acts of war against it. A direct war between the two regional powerhouses still seems unlikely; but the heightened rhetoric raised fears that it wasnt out of the question or that a new proxy fight could erupt in Lebanon.

Egyptian commentators have bluntly warned against getting mired into a military conflict initiated by the Saudis.

Egypts real national duty is to tell our brothers ... that we are with them to defend the security of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and the entire region ... But that does not mean that we get dragged by them into wars and conflicts that are essentially sectarian and benefit no one except the enemies of the (Arab) nation, the editor of the newspaper Al-Shorouk, Imad Hussein, wrote this week.

Hussein, who is close to the government, made sure to praise Saudi Arabias regional role, its financial support for Egypt and its custodianship of Islams holiest shrines. He also avoided naming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne behind the kingdoms more hawkish anti-Iran stance. He has driven aggressive regional policies, including military intervention in Yemen and the ostracizing of Qatar  a move that Egypt fell in line with.

Another prominent commentator, veteran opposition figure Mohammed Aboul-Ghar, counselled the government to stay out of any potential Saudi-Iran conflict, arguing that Egypts army was needed to fight an insurgency by Islamic militants and protect the porous borders.

Coming close to that dangerous (Gulf) region is a horrifying prospect. Its neither wise nor sound to even talk about that, he wrote in Tuesdays edition of the Cairo daily Al-Masry al-Youm.

Saudi Arabia has bolstered el-Sissi with massive financial backing as the general-turned-president struggles to overhaul Egypts dilapidated economy. The kingdom is estimated to have given Egypt more than $10 billion in grants and soft loans since 2013 in addition to numerous free shipments of fuel worth tens of millions of dollars.

Still, Egypt has been willing to resist Saudi demands. In 2015, it came under heavy Saudi and Gulf pressure to send ground troops to fight alongside a Saudi-led coalition against Iranian-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen.

Instead, Egypt restricted its involvement to deploying warships and aircraft on patrol and reconnaissance missions in the southern reaches of the Red Sea. Egypt has bad memories from its intervention Yemens civil war in the 1960s, when it backed republicans against a Saudi-backed monarchy in an ill-fated and costly military adventure.

Egypt has also stayed out of Riyadhs campaign to oust President Bashar Assad, supported Russias military intervention there on Assads side and negotiated local ceasefires between the government and rebels.

Those differences angered Riyadh, prompting a temporary suspension of aid to Egypt earlier this year.

In the end, Saudi Arabia did not get the foreign policy changes it wanted (from Egypt) in return for its generous support, said Eric Trager of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

The Saudis have learned to live with limited Egyptian involvement in Yemen, he added.

The Saudis and Egypt have somewhat patched up the ill-feelings. Now Cairo wants to avoid a new falling-out over Iran.

Tension has been running high between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The kingdom charged that a missile fired by Yemeni rebels toward Riyadh this month could be considered an act of war by Iran, which it accused of providing the missile.

Things further heated up when Lebanons prime minister, Saad Hariri, resigned in a pre-recorded message aired from Saudi Arabia, blaming Hezbollah. Riyadh swiftly criticized Hezbollah, saying its aggressions could be considered a declaration of war.

Still, Egypt seems determined to avert any slide toward armed conflict.

El-Sissi dispatched his foreign minister to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. In Riyadh, the minister met with the Saudi crown prince and, it appears, counselled backing off an escalation with Iran.

The foreign minister was at pains to convey Egypts concern to see the region spared any tensions that would deepen the instability and polarization its already seeing, the ministers spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said of the Tuesday meeting.

Egypts track record under el-Sissi shows his reluctance toward military action unless its own territory is directly threatened or if the Gulf is subjected to a clear-cut aggression.

Egypt adopts a deeply entrenched position against military solutions, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in published comments this week.

Michael W. Hanna, a Mideast expert at the Century Foundation in New York, said Egypt does have concerns about what the Iranians are doing in Syria and Yemen.

But Iran is not a high-level priority for Egypt. It does not worry about Iran the same way the Saudis do.

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ST. PAUL, MINN.Minnesota Sen. Al Franken apologized Thursday after a Los Angeles radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing and groping her during a 2006 USO tour and of posing for a photo with his hands on her breasts as she slept. Colleagues, including fellow Democrats, urged a Senate ethics investigation.

You knew exactly what you were doing, Leeann Tweeden wrote in a blog post for Los Angeles radio station KABC, for whom she works as a morning news anchor. You forcibly kissed me without my consent, grabbed my breasts while I was sleeping and had someone take a photo of you doing it, knowing I would see it later, and be ashamed.

The allegations came two days after a stunning hearing where lawmakers acknowledged sexual harassment is a pervasive problem on Capitol Hill.

Tweeden joined Franken, then a comedian, on one of several trips to entertain troops in December 2006 when Franken told her he wrote a skit for the pair that included a kiss. And despite her protests, she alleges he insisted they practice the kiss during rehearsal.

We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth, she wrote.

I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldnt be so nice about it the next time, Tweeden continued. I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth.

I felt disgusted and violated.

Tweeden said Thursday that Franken was persistent, and every time I see him now, my hands clench into fists.

Still, she said she has no reason not to accept his apology, and is not calling for an ethics investigation or for Franken to resign. She told a news conference in Los Angeles that she came forward hoping to inspire others to tell their stories.

In a brief statement Thursday morning, Franken said: I certainly dont remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann.

As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasnt. I shouldnt have done it.

In a longer statement Thursday afternoon, he again apologized while maintaining that he remembered the rehearsal differently.

While I dont remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe womens experiences, the Democratic senator said. Coming from the world of comedy, Ive told and written a lot of jokes that I once thought were funny but later came to realize were just plain offensive.

Of the photo, Franken said: I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isnt funny. Its completely inappropriate. Its obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture.

Tweedens blog post, titled, Senator Al Franken kissed and groped me without my consent, and theres nothing funny about it, included an image of Franken looking into a camera, his hands either over or on Tweedens chest as she slept.

Speaking on her radio show Thursday morning, Tweeden said she didnt come forward with the allegations sooner because she feared her career, including a stint as a swimsuit model, would lead others to discount her story.

I felt belittled. I was ashamed. Ive had to live with this for 11 years, she said on-air. Somehow it was going to be my fault. It was not going to be worth the fight.

Tweeden said women are too often blamed for provoking male aggression based on their looks or clothing.

Youre just in a girl in a mans world anyway to begin with, she said. You are always going to be overpowered by a man who is on SNL and going into a political world. The guy always gets unscathed in those situations.

Franken is a longtime comedian and Saturday Night Live writer who won a Minnesota seat in the U.S. Senate after a lengthy recount in 2009.

He drew criticism during his first Senate campaign for joking about rape while discussing a sketch idea during his days on NBCs Saturday Night Live. Franken said then that he regretted some of the things he had written, and said he respected women in both my personal and professional life.

The allegations could trigger an ethics review in the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called on Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to join him in pressing for a review.

Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptable  in the workplace or anywhere else, the Kentucky Republican said.

Franken said he welcomed the investigation.

McConnells statement comes as Senate Republicans have called for Alabama GOP candidate Roy Moore to step aside in the face of allegations he molested two women decades ago. McConnell had led the call. Moore has dug in, saying the allegations are false.

Schumer called the allegations against Franken troubling and said he hopes and expects that the Senate ethics committee will investigate.

Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated, Schumer said.

Frankens fellow Minnesota Democrat, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, said, This should not have happened to Leeann Tweeden. I strongly condemn this behaviour, and the Senate ethics committee must open an investigation. Klobuchar is co-sponsor of a bill unanimously approved by the Senate last week that will mandate sexual harassment training for all senators and their staffs.

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said she was shocked and concerned at the allegations. The behaviour described is completely unacceptable. Comedy is no excuse for inappropriate conduct, and I believe there should be an ethics investigation, McCaskill said.

On Tuesday, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that the House will adopt a policy change to make anti-harassment training mandatory for all members and staff.

That announcement followed a congressional hearing during which members publicly came to terms with sexual harassment as a pervasive problem on Capitol Hill. Female lawmakers aired tantalizing details, albeit without naming names, of unwanted sexual comments and advances taking place in their midst.

This is about a member, who is here (in Congress) now. I dont know who it is, but somebody who I trust told me this situation, Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock said at the hearing Tuesday.

Harassers have propositioned themselves to staff members by asking: Are you going to be a good girl? Some have exposed their genitals to victims. Others have grabbed victims by their private parts on the House floor, Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier said.

In fact, there are two members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, right now, who serve, who have not been subject to review but have engaged in sexual harassment, said Speier, who has been pushing for years to make anti-harassment training a requirement.

Lawmakers in recent weeks have come under pressure to improve the workplace culture on the Hill amid reports from multiple news outlets of lewd comments, unwanted sexual advances and other examples of sexual misconduct that have plagued Congress for decades. More than 1,500 former congressional employees have signed a letter urging Congress to require anti-harassment training and to overhaul the reporting process, which advocates say is stacked against the victim and designed to protect the institution.

Last week, the Senate for the first time in its history required members and their aides to receive anti-harassment training. The Office of Compliance and the Office of House Employment Counsel currently provide training upon request.

Tweeden said she finally decided to share her story now because there may be others.

She wrote:

Im still angry at what Al Franken did to me.

Every time I hear his voice or see his face, I am angry. I am angry that I did his stupid skit for the rest of that tour. I am angry that I didnt call him out in front of everyone when I had the microphone in my hand every night after that. I wanted to. But I didnt want to rock the boat. I was there to entertain the troops and make sure they forgot about where they were for a few hours. Someday, I thought to myself, I would tell my story.

That day is now.

With files from the Washington Post and the New York Times

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RANCHO TEHAMA RESERVE, CALIF.Teacher Jennifer Bauman threw herself against a classroom door that wouldnt lock right, terrified that the gunman shooting outside her small Northern California elementary school would barrel in and find the children huddled under desks.

Shooter Kevin Neal, 44, bypassed their door, taking out a window before he went on to attack a kindergarten class in another portable building.

Despite her terror, Bauman, who teaches first and second grade, couldnt stop praising the pupils who stayed calm. She said fourth- and fifth-graders quieted the younger ones, and let her know which ones had been slightly wounded by flying glass.

Read more:

5 killed, including gunman, in Northern California shootings

California gunman was known for firing off guns from home despite ban on owning firearms

Inside Rancho Tehama Elementary School, children and some parents huddled under desks as bullets riddled the tan and teal portable classrooms.







I braced myself against the door. I didnt even think twice. I dont feel like a hero. I did what I was supposed to do, she said. The kids are the heroes.

Authorities credited the quick action of school personnel, who jumped into lockdown mode as soon as they heard gunshots Tuesday morning, for saving dozens of students at Rancho Tehama Elementary School. The school has about 100 students and is about 209 kilometres north of Sacramento.

I really, truly believe we would have had a horrific bloodbath at that school if that school hadnt taken the action that it did, Assistant Tehama County Sheriff Phil Johnston said.

School secretary Sara Lobdell rushed out to shoo children inside while John Hayburn, a custodian, swooped into the play yard, yelling at stragglers get into the classrooms.

Without them it would have been much, much worse, Jay Lobdell, who is married to Sara, told a packed community vigil Wednesday night.

Later he said their two children attend the school.

Shes the one who put the school on lockdown with her quick thinking, he said, choking up. He said she huddled on the floor during the gunfire, sending out emails.

Aileen Favela, 6, said she was in her class with about 15 first- and second-graders when shots came through the window. Favela ducked under her desk as she heard shots  like a lot.

I didnt know what was happening and this boy was like, Get down, get down! He did not want some people to get hurt, she said.

Randy Morehouse, the districts maintenance and operations head, said Neal tried and tried and tried and tried to get into the kindergarten door, but it was locked.

The gunman then went to the back side of the cafeteria and reloaded, Morehouse said. He came onto the playground and shot at a passing car before running back to his vehicle and driving off.

Corning Union Elementary School District Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick said there were many heroics during Tuesdays incident, starting with the school secretary quickly recognizing the threat.

He said it made all the difference between 100 kids being around today and dozens being shot or killed. One student was injured and remains hospitalized.

I am broken-hearted about the boy who was injured, but I am truly grateful we are not suffering any higher penalty, he said.

Bauman, the teacher, said she admired the students most of all.

As soon as we told them to get in they got in and they got on the ground and they stayed quiet, she said. They were amazing. I couldnt even imagine being in their situation as a student.

Don Bridges, president of the National Association of School Resource Officers, said that since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, virtually every school district in the country has adopted and regularly practices an emergency plan that includes lockdown drills.

Typically, classroom doors are locked, lights turned off and blinds drawn. Students silently line walls or crouch to avoid being seen by an intruder.

Inside the school Aileen Favela was worried about her brother, a fourth grader.

I thought somebody was trying to, like, get into the school to kill people, Aileen said.

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The African Union chairperson, president Alpha Conde on Wednesday said the political situation in Zimbabwe seems like a coup against President Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwes military seized power saying it was targeting criminals around President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980.

The Africa Union calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in the southern African nation, a statement issued by Condes office said.

President Conde urges all stakeholders to address the current situation in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the relevant instruments of the African Union, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

He expresses the commitment of the African Union to work closely with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the leaders of the region, and to support their efforts.

A meeting of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation is expected to kick off in Gaborone, Botswana, this Thursday to discuss the political developments in Zimbabwe.

The meeting would be attended by ministers from Angola, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa.

Mugabe, still seen by many Africans as an anti-colonial hero, is reviled in the West as a despot whose disastrous handling of the economy destroyed Zimbabwe.
KUTUPALONG, BANGLADESHZahida Begum doesnt remember her home village, a tiny speck amid the mountains and forests of Burma. She was only 18 months old when her mother smuggled her across the Naf River on a fishing boat, carrying her into Bangladesh, among hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya fleeing persecution in their home country.

Begum has been a refugee ever since. She grew up in Bangladeshs Rohingya refugee camps, and now earns a living working for a string of international aid groups. On quiet days, shes the kind of person who wanders around looking for someone to help.

So when frantic relatives called her in late September to tell her that Burmese soldiers were burning Rohingya villages and tens of thousands of Rohingya were fleeing, the 28-year-old jumped into action.

Read more:

U.S. considering individual sanctions in response to Rohingya crisis: Tillerson

On human rights and climate change, Justin Trudeaus actions dont match his talk: Walkom

UN chief raises alarm over Rohingya crisis in speech as Burmas Suu Kyi sits close by

She made calls to a half-dozen countries. She raised thousands of dollars. She called in favours and arranged for boats and smugglers.

And one day later, some 400 people  including some of Begums relatives and other people from nearby villages  were safe.

Had Zahida not sent those boats, we would have died in (Burma), said 35-year-old Abdul Matlab, one of the people rescued that night.

Matlab now lives in Bangladesh with his extended family in a small shelter of bamboo and plastic tarp where they sleep huddled together on the floor.

He said from his village alone, Begum saved 70 people. But about 400 others from the village were killed by Burma government forces, he said.

Begum, a smiling, self-confident woman in a long black cloak and head scarf, grew up listening to stories about the persecution of Rohingya in Burmas Rakhine state, just across the Naf River.

Our correspondent reports from a sprawling makeshift city that houses hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people, driven from their homes by Burma's military. (The New York Times)

Burmas Rohingya have been called one of the worlds most persecuted minorities, a community of Muslims in a largely Buddhist country whose government refuses to recognize them as a lawful ethnic minority. Though some Rohingya families have lived in Burma for centuries, they are widely disparaged as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Not long before she heard from her frantic relatives in Burma, Begum had heard about the start of clearance operations by the countrys security forces that eventually led to 618,000 Rohingya fleeing their homes and crossing the border into Bangladesh. The United Nations has said Burmas actions appeared to be ethnic cleansing.

Begum knew she had to act quickly. There were mothers and children trying to flee. She remembered her mothers stories of their own journey out of Burma in 1990, when more than 250,000 Rohingya fled to escape forced labour, rape and religious persecution.

Begum told the group she was in contact with that they should make their way toward the Naf River border and wait for more instructions.

I called my brother-in-law, who lives abroad, and told him our brothers and sisters have arrived near the river, and asked him how we can bring them across to Bangladesh, said Begum, who works as a translator and door-to-door health educator for aid and rights organizations including Human Rights Watch.

With the help of relatives in Australia and Malaysia, Begum said she raised more than $4,000 in a matter of hours. The money was wired to her through a shady middleman who charged a hefty fee.

She then contacted a fisherman in the Bangladeshi coastal village of Shamlapur, close to her home in the congested Kutupalong refugee camp, and asked him to hire two boats and set them off toward the Burma border.

Eventually, 70 families were brought out in the two boats, which had travelled more than 60 kilometres from Bangladesh to the pickup point in Burma, travelling through the Bay of Bengal and along the Naf River under the night sky. The smugglers charged more than $4,200.

Begum waited for the boats in Shamlapur, and first settled the new refugees around her own bamboo-and-tarp home. Eventually, she used what was left of the money, combined with more donations she had received, to give each family $35, then sent them to another refugee camp nearby to build their own shelters.

If they are safe and healthy, I am content, Begum said when asked why she decided to help. Nothing makes me more happy than that.

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NEW YORKAt a flea market six years ago, a North Carolina lawyer named Frank Abrams unknowingly bought a rare photograph that experts say shows Billy the Kid relaxing with the man who would eventually kill him.

Billy the Kid, one of the best-known outlaws in American history, is thought to be there in the back, second from the left. The man all the way to the right is Pat Garrett, who would soon become the sheriff of Lincoln County, N.M., and  the story goes  shoot the outlaw dead in a darkened room.

The men appear on a tintype that is about the size of a mans palm. (Tintypes are photographic images produced on thin sheets of metal. They became popular during the late 19th century and, as in this case, often show a version of reality that is reversed, left-to-right.)

In 2011, Abrams saw nothing more than a group of five men who looked like cowboys. He considered it a strange find, since most tintypes that ended up in North Carolina hearkened back to the American South, not the Wild West. So he bought it for $10, he said in a phone interview, and put it up in his home. It hung in a room where he hosted Airbnb guests. Abrams used to jokingly tell them that it was a picture of Jesse James.

A similar find  a tintype that experts said showed Billy the Kid playing croquet with friends  was valued at around $5 million in 2015. The discovery motivated Abrams to take a closer look at his own picture.

He turned to Google and eventually zeroed in on the man on the right with the severe features and the dark hat. Oh my gosh, he recalled saying. That is Pat Garrett in my picture.

Then, Abrams began to wonder about the man in the back with the prominent Adams apple. He eventually showed the tintype to Robert Stahl, a retired professor at Arizona State University and an expert on Billy the Kid.

Stahl encouraged Abrams to show the image to experts.

William Dunniway, a tintype expert, said the photograph was almost certainly taken between 1875 and 1880. Everything matches: the plate, the clothing, the firearm, he said in a phone interview. Dunniway worked with a forensics expert, Kent Gibson, to conclude that Billy the Kid and Garrett were indeed pictured.

Stahl said that Garrett and Billy the Kid, who also went by William H. Bonney and Henry McCarty, were friends who once gambled together. But when Garrett was about to become the sheriff of Lincoln County, he urged the outlaw to hit the road.

Garrett was saying, If you leave New Mexico, Im not going to pursue you. But if you stay in the territory, then no matter where you are, I have to come after you, Stahl said. That would have been around the time the photo was taken.

Once he became sheriff, Garretts men did indeed capture Billy the Kid. But the outlaw escaped, killing two deputies on the way out of jail. So Garrett tracked him down again. The story goes that in 1881, Garrett was in Fort Sumner visiting a friend of the outlaws when the Kid arrived unexpectedly; the men couldnt really see each other, but Garrett recognized Billys voice and quickly shot him dead.

Reporting on his death in 1881, The New York Times described Billy the Kid as slim, good-looking and mild-mannered.

His soft blue eye was so attractive that those who saw him for the first time looked upon him as a victim of circumstances, it reported. In spite of his innocent appearance, however, Billy the Kid was really one of the most dangerous characters which this country has produced.

Billy the Kid became famous for his participation in the Lincoln County War in 1878, a bloody feud between rival factions in New Mexico Territory. But the story of his short life  he was said to be around 21 when he died  has always been a subject of fervent debate and a few conspiracy theories. People have disagreed about his motivations, about the total number of men killed by him and his crew, and even about whether he really died that night in Fort Sumner.

One of the people who tried to set the record straight was Garrett himself, who worked with the journalist Marshall Ashmun Upson to write a book: The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid.

Abrams said he bought the tintype from people who told him it came from Clinton, N.Y. He believes that it had been a possession of Upson and had found its way to his relatives in the Northeast.

And then it made its way to Abrams, who is, of all things, a criminal defence lawyer. It was like taking on the biggest case you could ever imagine, he said of investigating his artifact, which is now in a safe-deposit box.

He has not had the tintype formally valuated, and he said that for now, he is not concerned about its monetary value. Other people, they want to speculate from here to kingdom come, he said. I dont know what its worth. I love history. Its a privilege to have something like this.

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After more than a year of dithering, Canada has walked back its promise to commit 600 troops to one of 15 increasingly dangerous United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.

But as awkward as the optics of that announcement were  at a UN defence ministers meeting on peacekeeping hosted by Canada in Vancouver  Ottawa is right to backtrack and proceed with a more modest plan.

First, instead of making a commitment to one country Canada is promising the UN a more strategic menu of options for Canadian involvement in many overseas operations.

Among them is a quick reaction force of 200 ground troops that could go into countries for 12 months at a time; deploying transport and attack helicopters; and sending training and advisory teams to future UN missions.

Second, and most importantly, the Liberal government is emphasizing its new feminist foreign policy with what it is calling the Elsie Initiative, a $21-million commitment to boost the number of women deployed in peacekeeping operations.

Named after Elsie McGill, the first Canadian woman to design and oversee the production of aircraft during the Second World War, it includes $15 million to set up a global fund aimed at boosting the active deployment of women by like-minded countries, not just in greater numbers but in more meaningful roles.

This is an important step toward making peacekeeping operations both credible and effective. At the moment, women make up only 3.7 per cent of military peacekeepers and 9.5 per cent of police peacekeepers. The UN Security Council has been pushing for more women to be involved, but with little success so far.

Excluding women from peacekeeping operations makes no sense, considering that they are often the biggest victims of war. And in too many cases their victimizers are actually peacekeepers themselves.

In the past few years the UN has had to contend with such crises in many countries  including Haiti, Liberia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Peacekeepers have been found to have exchanged food for sex with children, or impregnating women and then abandoning them. Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called it a cancer in our system.

Despite all this, women are not given a significant role in keeping the peace, never mind in finding ways to create it and sustain it. Getting more of them involved is a crucial step toward changing the poisoned culture of peacekeeping.

The Trudeau government will come in for criticism for changing course on peacekeeping, and some of that will be deserved. For too long the government talked a good line about getting Canada back into peace operations, but kept its allies waiting for a concrete commitment that never came.

The reality is that there is no obvious place where Canada could make a significant difference, and some of the most-discussed possibilities (like the UN operation in Mali) amount more to counter-insurgency campaigns than to peacekeeping.

Its far better for Canada to commit to a more realistic plan and stick to it than to make overly ambitious declarations and then balk at actually carrying them out. Now it must show that it will deliver on the promises it made in Vancouver.

Read more:

Justin Trudeaus retreat from UN peacekeeping unfair but politically wise: Walkom

Peacekeeping myths and nostalgia die a quiet death under the Liberals: Tim Harper

Training foreign troops will be the flagship of Canada's new UN peace strategy, top soldier says

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U of T has endowment, pension funds in offshore tax havens, Nov. 9

Perhaps there is nothing illegal about U of Ts investments. Ethically, however, a publicly subsidized and tax-exempt institution which holds investments unrelated to its core purpose and income-generating assets in secret, offshore tax havens, and which sneers at transparency and accountability, is shamefully rotten, offensive and insulting to the Canadian families that directly and indirectly support it.

In light of the revelations in the Paradise Papers, the University of Toronto must be boycotted by Canadian students and those families that fund the education of their children. Businesses with heavy taxation and government surveillance must stop hiring U of T graduates.

No doubt, international students, which currently comprise almost 20 per cent of the universitys enrolment, will fill more seats in the short term. But, a university that has been shunned by domestic students and employers will have neither the requisite reputation to sustain enrolment of any kind nor the public funding to cover costs or losses.

Canadians who pay half of their income in taxes and who are required to report, document and account for every dollar must take a stand against the persons and entities that are destroying the fabric, the economy, the justice and the character of our country.

Ones status in Canadian society must be measured by the tax burden one carries, and not by ones ability to escape from the CRA or ones ability to milk the system. If government will not act, Canadians have a duty to respond.

Stella Kargiannakis, Toronto

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Wynne down on Ottawas marijuana tax proposals; Provinces split on how to sell cannabis, Nov. 11

In the Saturday Star (Nov. 11), there were two articles, side by side, on page A23 about the upcoming legalization of pot. One headline used the word marijuana and the other headline used the word cannabis. And on page IN3, the Political Blind Date Q&A on Legalizing Pot demonstrated an illuminating use of these two words. The Liberal MP in favour of legalization used cannabis exclusively, whereas the Conservative MP, who is opposed, used marijuana most of the time.

Given that theres a growing outcry over the M word and its racist connotations, perhaps its time to stop using it, in the same way you did with ISIS and started using Daesh instead. And in this case, it would be much simpler since you wont have to explain what cannabis means every time you use the word. All the various slang terms  pot, weed, wacky-tobaccy, etc.  could still be used as they are mostly inoffensive.

After all, we dont refer to liquor any more as firewater because of its offensive association with Indigenous peoples.

Leon Marr, Toronto

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Pope stresses conscience amid heresy debate, Nov. 12

Its definitely hard to believe that a Pope in the 21st century is accused of spreading heresy for advocating an opening up of ancient, rigid doctrine, written down eons ago by joyless, apparently holy men.

The Popes encouraging use of conscience, or individual thinking, over fossilized rules is too much for some of the hardened clergy in Rome. By naming his 2016 document The Joy of Love, Pope Francis has taken a bold step to reveal that its perfectly fine for his flock to be able to return to the Church after a sanctioned divorce and a possible remarriage. Shocking to some in the Vatican, but everyday life to most Catholics.

The priestly protesters who are afraid of stirring up doubt or confusion are only showing their own lack of faith in their congregants, who are now educated and more than able to allow a change for the better in their formerly solid dogmas.

May these conservative clergy all join the 21st century, remembering that it took the Roman Catholic Church 400 years to finally exonerate Galileo from his heretic proof that the Earth actually orbits around the Sun. May it not take centuries for The Joy of Love to be accepted and for Pope Francis to be eventually acknowledged for his daring step forward into the modern world.

Della Golland, Toronto

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Through Republican and Democratic administrations, rules restricting media concentration have remained on the books, emboldened by warnings that local communities and public opinion benefit from a variety of news sources.

But the Federal Communications Commission under Donald Trump is poised to eliminate regulations that critics warn will accelerate an already high tempo of mergers and acquisitions among TV station owners. Top of mind for both parties and their lobbyists is Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.'s (SBGI) - Get Free Report proposed $6.6 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co. (TRCO) - Get Free Report , a deal that would combine the largest- and sixth-largest TV station owners in the country and create a giant reaching 72% of U.S. households.

On Thursday, Nov. 16, in Washington, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to use the Republicans' majority control of the commission to approve rules changes that will allow for a single entity to own a newspaper and broadcast station in the same market. The FCC also appears likely to lift a restriction that forbids a company from owning more than two TV stations and one radio station in a single market, although exceptions have been made in very large markets.

Finally, though very much intertwined with the other regulations, the FCC is poised to eliminate a restriction that prevents two TV stations in the same market from jointly selling advertising time. For years, Sinclair has skirted the joint-sales rule by creating so-called sidecar companies that own another TV station in the same market.

Pai, a former attorney with Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) - Get Free Report , has argued that restrictions on TV station owners should be replaced given the ascent of Facebook Inc. (FB) - Get Free Report , Twitter Inc. (TWTR) - Get Free Report and Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) - Get Free Report . The rule changes, he said, are necessary to prevent TV stations from going the same route as newspaper publishers and radio station companies. (America's two largest radio station owners, iHeartMedia Inc. and Cumulus Media Inc., are in restructuring talks with creditors that could end in bankruptcy court.)

"We need to create a level regulatory playing field," Pai wrote in a column published by The New York Times on Nov. 9. "It makes no sense for internet giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter to be allowed to buy newspapers while a small AM radio station is prohibited from purchasing its local paper."

Debate over so-called cross-ownership between a newspaper and local TV station has been a source of disagreement at the FCC for years. Pai argued that the advent of internet-based news outlets offers additional sources of information, offsetting the historically outsized role of local broadcasters and newspapers.

Yet consumer advocates and others have charged that even in the age of Facebook and aggregation platforms such as Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) - Get Free Report News, local newspapers and local TV stations continue to hold enormous sway in communities. To allow a local newspaper to be owned by a local TV station is to risk handing one company, and one viewpoint, an inordinate influence over public opinion, according to Craig Aaron, president of Washington policy group Free Press.

"The FCC is fulfilling this longstanding industry wish list and ignoring how decades of runaway media consolidation have significantly harmed local news and independent voices," Aaron said at a press conference in Washington on Wednesday. "They want sell this as some kind of Hail Mary for local journalism, but we know the results of these moves will be a whole new wave of media consolidation, leaving even fewer dominant firms in control."

Though Pai insists that he has wanted to eliminate these rules for years, the proposal, which the FCC made only three weeks ago, comes as Sinclair is pushing regulators to approve its acquisition of Tribune Media. Democrats in Washington have repeatedly charged that Sinclair has allowed its libertarian views, and outspoken support of Trump, to shape its reporting at the local level.

A Sinclair-owned Alabama TV station's reporting on allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore are the latest example in a string of incidents that go back to the company's broadcasts against former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry during the 2004 presidential race.

Already this year, the FCC has approved rule changes long sought by Sinclair. In the spring, Pai's FCC restored the so-called UHF discount, which allows Sinclair and other station owners to skirt a national cap that prevents a single company from owning TV stations that cover more than 39% of U.S. households. In September, the commission voted along party lines to eliminate the Main Studio Rule, a cornerstone of the landmark Communications Act of 1934 that required TV broadcasters as well as radio station owners to maintain a studio, or office, in or near the local community where they hold each license.

Pai has been quick to assert that he, too, sees the potential harm in media consolidation, and thereby has yet to propose the elimination of the duopoly rule that prevents a single company from owning two of the top four TV stations in a single market. Additionally, the FCC has yet to lift or increase the 39% cap, a rule change long sought by Sinclair.

A Sinclair official wasn't immediately available for comment.

Facebook, Alphabet and Apple are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer, and the AAP team buy or sell FB, GOOGL and AAPL? Learn more now.

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Walmart Stores Inc. (WMT) - Get Free Report on Thursday, Nov. 16, reported its ninth consecutive quarterly earnings beat as the company continues to grow its online presence.

During the quarter ending Oct. 31, Walmart generated revenue of $123.2 billion, up 4.2% year over year. Adjusted earnings of $1.00 per share were up about 2% from the same quarter last year. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected Walmart to report earnings of 97 cents per share on sales of $121 billion.

U.S. same-store sales rose 2.7%, with same-store traffic increasing 1.5%. U.S. e-commerce sales, an area of focus for the company, grew 50%.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company also raised guidance. It's only the second time since 2001 that Walmart beat EPS estimates, beat sales estimates and raised its outlook, according to Bespoke Investment Group.

Before this quarter, Walmart has surpassed analysts' expectations over the past eight consecutive quarters, noted Gordon Haskett Research Advisors analyst Chuck Grom, with an average EPS beat of about 4 cents per quarter.

Since July 16, when Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) - Get Free Report announced its $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods, Walmart shares are up about 20%, ahead of Amazon's own increase of about 14% during that period, as investors became more and more confident in Walmart's strides in online retail.

Walmart e-commerce head Marc Lore

"To use an analogy from a savvy client: A wall went up on June 16th," wrote Barclays analyst Karen Short. "As a food retailer, you were either on the right or wrong side of the wall. In our view, WMT was clearly on the right side, but even prior to June 16th, WMT had made significant progress in changing the narrative by evolving its capabilities as a dominant omni-channel retailer, so from our perspective, historical valuation ceased to matter on June 16th."

Given Walmart's ability to "demonstrate a credible, viable strategy against AMZN" and its massive scale, e-commerce abilities, geographic reach, free cash flow, balance sheet and "differentiated business model," the company's "earnings growth is almost secondary," Short added.

Since its $3.3 billion acquisition of Jet.com, which closed Sept. 19, 2016, Walmart has "acted decisively and with a sense of urgency to create a better shopping experience for customers through an improved in-store experience and it has greatly expanded its offering of e-commerce products and services, many of which leverage its existing bricks and mortar stores," she wrote, noting that Walmart has 13 times Whole Foods' sales and 10 times its stores.

With Jet and other add-on e-commerce acquisitions like Modcloth and Bonobos, Walmart is targeting a more affluent customer. On Tuesday, for instance, the company announced a partnership with Lord & Taylor, owned by Hudson's Bay Co. (HBAYF) , through which the upscale retailer will introduce a "specialized online experience offering premium fashion brands" on Walmart's website and app.

Like rivals Amazon, Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) - Get Free Report , Kroger Co. (KR) - Get Free Report , Target Corp. (TGT) - Get Free Report and Ahold Delhaize (ADRNY) , Walmart also intends to expand its private label offerings at both lower and higher price points.

It's still focusing on everyday low prices despite its new product and technology investments: Gordon Haskett's Grom, for instance, found that a basket of Walmart products is cheaper than offerings at discount retailers Dollar General Corp. (DG) - Get Free Report and Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO) .

Walmart shares rose 3.1% to $92.63 in premarket trading Thursday.

Which retailers are opening their doors early on Thanksgiving?

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Tencent Holdings Ltd. (TCEHY) hit a record high Thursday after China's internet gaming giant -- and significant Snap Inc. (SNAP) - Get Free Report shareholder -- posted much stronger-than-expected third quarter earnings and pledge to stoke investment into its lucrative online content machine.

Tencent shares were marked 2.3% higher in Hong Kong trading to change hands at HK$391.80 after rising to a lifetime high of HK$398.60, valuing Asia's most expensive company at around $472 billion and extending its year-to-date gain past 107%.

Tencent said late Wednesday that net income for its fiscal third quarter rose 69% to 18 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) on sale over more than 65 billion yuan over the three month period. Revenue from its gaming division, the company's largest division, rose 84% to 18.2 billion yuan -- the fastest pace since 2010 -- largely off the strength of its fantasy role-playing hit "Honour of Kings", which it expects to release in the United States next year.

"Our video platform gained audience and revenue market share, we believe it has become China's top online video platform in terms of mobile daily active users and subscriptions," said Tencent CEO Ma Huateng. "We believe this success reflects our increasing investment in self-commissioned video content, our improved selection of licensed video content, and our scheduling and audience management initiatives."

Tencent, which owns the popular WeChat messaging service in China as well as the mandarin-language YouTube rival, 'Tencent Video', has nearly one billion active users and processes around 38 billion messages across it various platforms each day.

The Shenzen-based group is also starting to expand its overseas interests and last week said it had built a 12% interest in Snap just hours after it revealed weaker-than-expected third quarter earnings and vowed to re-design its flagship messaging app.

Tencent, which owns China's biggest social media app WeChat, told Snap that it purchased around 145.78 million non-voting Snap shares on the open market, taking its overall stake to the 10% threshold that requires formal notification.

"We have long been inspired by the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Tencent and we are grateful to continue our longstanding and productive relationship that began over four years ago," Snap said. "For its part, Martin Lau, Tencent's president, informed us that Tencent is excited to deepen its shareholding with us and that it looks forward to sharing ideas and experiences."

Snap shares were poised to shed more than $3 billion in value at the start of trading Wednesday after CEO Evan Spiegel said the group may need to completely re-think its messaging app design after a disastrous third quarter earnings report that has investors questioning its much-hyped decision to go public earlier this year.

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Volkswagen AG (VLKAF) has earmarked 10 billion ($11.8 billion) for investment in electric car production in China, becoming the latest automaker to stump up cash in preparation for strict new emission targets in the world's biggest car market.

Germany's biggest car maker said the cash would be invested before 2025 to fund the launch of 40 new hybrid and all-electric vehicles, including fifteen new models over the next two to three years. The new cars will be VW's first Chinese-built electric vehicles.

VW shares traded Thursday at 159.30, up 2.4%, boosted by a European Automobile Manufacturers' Association report that new car registrations in the European Union had grown 5.9% in October, reversing a decline a month earlier.

VW's China head Jochem Heizmann announced the planned investment in China on Thursday, November 16. "We need high volumes of new energy vehicles," Heizman told journalists ahead of the opening of the Guangzhou auto show on Friday. "We are working on full speed on that."

VW expects to sell 400,000 so-called new energy vehicles, or NEV's, in China by 2020 and was targeting 1.5 million per year by 2025, said Heizman. The company, which operates in China through a partnership with state-owned Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group, will start electric vehicle production in China the first half of 2018.

China's government, in September, detailed a concerted push to reduce the number of petrol driven vehicles on its road and set out penalties for manufacturers whose NEV output is less than 10% of their total in China by 2019, rising to 12% by 2020.

The threat of those penalties, which had been flagged earlier in the year, has drawn a rapid response from car makers.

Last week, Ford Motor Co. (F) - Get Free Report and China's Anhui Zotye Automobile, announced plans to invest 5 billion renminbi ($753 million) to establish Zotye Ford Automobile Co. Ltd, a 50-50 joint venture in China that will build electric vehicles. In August, the Renault-Nissan Alliance (RNSDF) (NSANY) said it will team with Dongfeng Motor Group Co. to launch a new Chinese-made electric vehicle.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Will Launch 12 Zero Emission Vehicles By 2020

China's push to promote electric vehicles means it is likely to lead the world in near-term adoption of low-emission cars, according to a Goldman Sachs note published in September, The bank forecast sales of electric vehicles in China will account for about 15% of all auto sales by 2030, and 40% by 2040. That compares with forecasts for the U.S. of 7% in 2030, rising to 45% by 2040.

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Georgias envoy to Russia says absence of diplomatic ties should not hinder visa free

By Messenger Staff

Georgias Special Envoy to Russia, Zurab Abashidze, says that suspended diplomatic relations with Russia should not act as an obstacle for Georgina-Russian visa liberalization.Abashidze says Russian citizens are allowed to enter Georgia without visas for a year, and it depends on Russia to further simplify or cancel visas for Georgians.The envoy claims that the issue of resuming diplomatic relations with Russia is not on the agenda for certain obvious reasons.Russian Deputy FM, Grigori Karasin, says he does not rule out imposing visa-free travel for Georgians, but added that the absence of diplomatic relations between the countries serves as an obstacle.Georgia has its demands for the restoration of diplomatic ties, and the demand concerns the occupation of 20% of Georgias land by Russia.Russia continuously says that the territories under its occupation, referring to Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, are independent republics, yet the position is only shared by Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru.Currently Russian citizens do not need to have a visa to come to Georgia, while Georgians need to obtain a visa to cross the Russian border.Georgia unilaterally abolished visa requirements for Russian citizens in 2011, which was followed by Russia simplifying its visa requirements for Georgians in 2013.If the country, which is under permanent pressure by Russia, made a decision for visa free travel, why it should be so difficult for them?The fact is that Russia always tries to beneficially use all its levers and when taking a constructive step, tries to show it was their goodwill and an attempt for peace.Even in case Russia abolishes visas for Georgia, Georgians consider that one day, the Russian government may easily take a decision to deport them from Russia, as they did in 2006.
Square Inc, (SQ) - Get Free Report a San Francisco-based company financial services and mobile payment company launched in 2009 by Twitter (TWTR) - Get Free Report founder Jack Dorsey, has introduced the option to buy and sell Bitcoin through its Square Cash app.

Credit Suisse research analysts Paul Condra and Mrinalini Bhutoria have given the stock a neutral rating. In a report released this week, the duo highlighted that this move could make Square an early-mover position as a mainstream fin-tech company.

"Impact of this latest move is uncertain, but could give SQ [Square Inc] early mover advantage: While the function currently appears to only permit buying and selling of bitcoin via an exchange with no ability to purchase other coins or to send coins directly to other Cash users, we believe it could place SQ in an early-mover position as a mainstream fin-tech company providing crypto-currency services," the report said. "SQ is also well positioned to enable crypto transactions at the physical point of sale."

In a statement, Square has confirmed the pilot and says its customers are interested in using the app to buy Bitcoin and that it believes cryptocurrency can expand participation in the global financial system. PayPal (PYPL) - Get Free Report is also well-positioned to provide similar services.

"Not only is this positive for mainstream Bitcoin adoption, but Square is well positioned to capture a big part of that market," said Luke Besser principle of Cosimo LLC, a cryptocurrency hedge fund. "It will be interesting to see how they handle the regulatory side of things as this implementation rolls out."

The Credit Suisse analysts highlighted that Square is aggregating the bitcoins of its users rather than creating individual private bitcoin addresses per user. "This is similar to how the popular app Coinbase works," Condra and Bhutoria said. "As of November, Coinbase reported having almost 12 million users, up from 7 million in June."

According to the duo, Coinbase charges roughly 1.5% per bitcoin purchase, and the underlying exchange fees (i.e., network fees) are in the range of 75 to 100 basis points. We expect Square could be using various bitcoin exchanges to complete purchases.

Regulatory risks are flagged

The huge risk flagged by the Credit Suisse analysts is regulation, which could limit its ability to provide the service or outright ban it.

James Song, founder of ExsulCoin, a firm using blockchain technology to solve the refugee crisis, noted that the potential regulatory risks could impede Square's foray into bitcoin payments.

"When a company does crypto to fiat conversions, it runs the risk of being labeled as a commodities exchange, and commodities exchanges are highly regulated," Song said. "This is a challenge the crypto community is working to solve, because everyone holding bitcoin wants to be able to spend it everywhere, in every country they visit, and that's just not the case right now."

Song explained that Square is also going to have to think about banking restrictions. -- not just for itself, but also for the merchants who use accept payments through Square.

"Right now, lots of banks are hostile towards cryptocurrencies because they don't know how the U.S. government will treat it in the future, especially in regards to anti-moneylaundering laws," he said. "They are closing any and all accounts with any kind of cryptocurrency activity, preemptively."

Song warned that merchants using Square can also have their accounts closed if Bitcoin payments continue to raise red flags at banks.

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Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) - Get Free Report could soon become privately held.

Activist investor Sandell Asset Management Corp. wants to take the bookseller private, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal citing unnamed sources familiar with the proposition.

Barnes & Noble stock jumped over 12% to $7.40 per share Thursday afternoon on heavy trading volume as the news broke. The stock has fallen over 32% since the start of the year.

Sandell has reportedly approached Barnes & Noble with a plan to go private that values the company at more than $650 million, or more than $9 per share. The price for the transaction to take it private would cost roughly $750 million, including Barnes & Noble's debt.

The plan calls for $500 million in debt financing, according to the Journal. About another $250 million would come from Barnes & Noble shareholders keeping their stakes and rolling them into a new private entity.

A number of attempts to take Barnes & Noble private have failed in the past several years. According to one of the Journal's sources, Barnes & Noble chairman Leonard Riggio won't go for the plan. He owns about an 18% stake in the New York-based company. Sandell owns a roughly 2.75% stake in Barnes & Noble.

Barnes & Noble will report its fiscal 2018 second quarter results Thursday, Nov. 30, before the market opens.

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Toshiba's (TOSYY) tumultuous year just took another turn.

The Japanese electronics giant, whose stock is lower over 27% year-over-year, needs cash to meet obligations from its failed U.S. nuclear unit Westinghouse Electric and cover a negative equity shortfall that threatens it with delisting next year.

To combat this, Toshiba has already agreed to sell 49.9% of the memory chip unit to a Bain Capital-led consortium for roughly $18 billion.

On Thursday, a report from Nikkei Asian Review said that Toshiba has entered into discussions to sell its floundering personal computer business to Taiwan-based computer manufacturing company Asus (AKCPF) .

"Asus, now a minor player in corporate PC sales, likely hopes for synergies with the Toshiba business, which has a strong American and European presence," the report said.

Chinese-based counterpart Lenovo (LNVGY) had reportedly also shown interest in Toshiba's PC unit.

Toshiba's PC business posted a 500 million yen ($4.43 million) operating loss on sales of 191.8 billion yen for the year ended March 31. That slump is expected to extend for fiscal 2017.

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The supercharged growth of China's Internet darlings has propelled Alibaba (BABA) - Get Free Report , Tencent (TCEHY) and China Mobile (CHL) - Get Free Report into the top 10 in terms of the largest tech companies in the world. But it is a rise laced with irony.

China is the world's worst violator of online freedom, and it works very hard at it.

That much was confirmed with the latest ranking of Internet freedom from the advocacy group Freedom House. China is dead last as the worst abuser of digital rights and access on the planet, an ignominy it has suffered for three years in a row.

It's worse even than Syria and Ethiopia, war-torn countries where democracy is a pipe dream. But of course, communist China is a dictatorship, where the people also have little say in the government, let's not forget.

The BATS, as the Chinese internet giants are collectively known, comprise search engine Baidu (BIDU) - Get Free Report , e-commerce giant Alibaba, mobile-gaming industry leader Tencent, and microblogging operator Sina (SINA) - Get Free Report , parent of the Sina Weibo site. You'd have to add JD.com (JD) - Get Free Report , China's second-largest online marketplace behind Alibaba, to the mix, too.

That's the Google (GOOGL) - Get Free Report , Amazon (AMZN) - Get Free Report , Netflix (NFLX) - Get Free Report (if we conflate movies with digital games) and Twitter (TWTR) - Get Free Report of China, and increasingly Asia. But by expanding into online-payment platforms and everything from Big Data to self-driving cars, the Chinese counterparts are going far beyond the U.S. companies they were once accused of copying.

Investors need to consider the social and political implications of investments in those companies. China's authoritarian government is never far from the conversation when it comes to business, and that's even truer for companies in the sensitive area of tech.

The Internet is fine in China, like most things, when it's for commerce. When it's for expression, or satire or politics, think again.

The country scores a perfectly bad 40 out of 40 in terms of violations of user rights online, in the Freedom House ranking. Limits on content are also very poorly rated, and obstacles to access fare only slightly better.

Chinese President Xi Jinping personally heads the Central Leading Group for Internet Security and Informatization, the group charged with shaping China's digital future. He has championed China's "cyberspace sovereignty," imposing borders on an Internet that really doesn't have them.

In his capacity as Censor.com in Chief, he has summoned the heads of Alibaba, Baidu, phone makers Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi, and others to meetings alongside government Internet censors and military cybersecurity sleuths, as he did last year.

Earlier this year, Xi is said to have called Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Tencent founder Pony Ma for a conflab to remind them who holds ultimate power in China -- no matter the size of their corporate empires. Through their payment systems Alipay and Tenpay, not to mention Tencent's multipurpose chat app WeChat, the companies have exerted ever-greater influence in China. But their reach expands only as far as the government allows.

That much became clear this September. The mainland government imposed its maximum fine under existing cybersecurity laws on Tencent, Baidu and Sina Weibo for failing to supervise content on their sites adequately. The fines, which the government did not disclose, likely hit the 500,000 yuan ($75,000) max under the existing law. While that's a faction of the revenues of any of the companies, Chinese law can change overnight. Licensing, too.

The tech companies have been treated with kid gloves compared with influential, but controversial bloggers. Huang Qi, the founder of the human-rights Website 64 Tianwang, was detained in December 2016 and later charged with providing state secrets to foreigners. Since even the birthdays of top generals have been considered state secrets in the past -- they suggest when an official or top brass might approach retirement -- the charge is not a hard one to make stick.

Yet President Donald Trump made scant mention of human rights on his recent trip to China, where he appeared to have a pally and mutually respectful relationship with his counterpart Xi. Both men are popular in China -- the patriarchal type of powerfully connected man who gains a lot of respect in a society that reveres, even worships, its elders.

China returned the favor by calling his quick trip to Beijing a "state visit-plus," complete with a sunset tour of the Forbidden City. Trump has said that "some people" might call Xi the "king of China," and the location of their opera show and dinner in the home of the former emperors appeared to reinforce that point.

There's no doubt Xi is the most-powerful leader of the country since Chairman Mao Zedong. Xi Jinping Thought is enshrined in the Communist Party constitution. Pictures of the president adorn walls left, right and center.

The cult of personality continues online.

The Great Firewall of China is famous for suppressing access to all kinds of overseas and potentially insidious information. YouTube, Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, even paparazzi site Lazygirls.info ... you can forget about ogling Cats of Instagram or Miley Cyrus anytime soon in Shanghai. Trump would even be unable to tweet.

The Communist Party goes far beyond simply banning objectionable material (sorry, Miley!). Fighting a war on information in the tech age seems to me like a battle you're eventually going to lose. But the Beijing leadership veers well into the realm of propaganda and thought control in its efforts to bolster patriotism and unswerving loyalty to the party in its citizens.

The Chinese government pumps out 488 million fake social-media posts every year, according to a study headed by Harvard University data scientist Gary King. The government pays the equivalent of $0.08 for people who post comments cheerleading for China, talking about the Communist Party's revolutionary history, or supporting the regime. They're known as the "50-Cent Army," paid 50 fan, or Chinese cents, for each post.

Investors should therefore consider carefully when they invest in the BATS. Although they themselves are not state-owned enterprises, China is working out how to ensure they grow within the graces of the party.

U.S. tech companies have already concentrated power in surprisingly few hands. Google and fellow Action Alerts PLUS charity portfolio holding Facebook (FB) - Get Free Report currently corner 63% of all U.S. digital-advertising revenue, which itself is rising as a fraction of the overall advertising pie. But they are also "parasitic" on the information that they enable others to share on their networks, as Martin Wolf wrote in a column for the Financial Times.

They can become "highly efficient disseminators of non-information," Wolf noted. That fact and the ability to be used "by people of ill will for the deliberate dissemination of dangerous falsehoods," he added, "raise huge issues."

Wolf concluded that our futures are "too important to be left to the mercies of the technology industry alone." Although tech has done "magical" things, "nobody elected it master of the universe."

Nobody elected the Chinese government either, and it appears to have taken a much more progressive, if not aggressive, stance on corralling the medium of the Internet. Investors have booked great gains in stocks like Tencent, which has more than doubled this year. But when they take profits, socially conscious investors also need to consider the manner in which they came.

This column originally appeared on Real Money, our premium site for active traders. Click here to get great columns like this from Jim Cramer and other writers even earlier in the trading day.

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At the time of publication, Alex Frew McMillan had no positions in the stocks mentioned.



Alphabet and Facebook are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells them? Learn more now.
Ag Growth International Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes grain and rice handling, storage, and conditioning equipment in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers storage equipment comprising grain and bolted bins, hopper bins, smooth wall bins, temporary storage equipment, unloads and sweeps, water tanks, fuel tanks; and conditioning equipment, such as mixed flow dryers, fans and heaters, aerations, airaugers, aeration floors, vents and exhausters, stirrings, and accessories. It also provides portable handling equipment, such as portable augers, conveyors, grain vacs, post pounders, seed treaters, and accessories; and permanent handling equipment, including bucket elevators, chain and belt conveyors, enclosed belt conveyors, distributors, feed handling equipment, screw feeders and conveyors, and spouts and connections. In addition, the company offers towers, catwalks, ladders, all-steel buildings, flat storage buildings; batch blenders, bulk scales, declining weight blenders, vertical blenders, micro-dosing systems, mixers, milling equipment; and controllers, hazard monitoring equipment, monitoring and automation equipment, sampling solutions. Further, it provides cleaning and destoners, rice milling and processing equipment, bin unloads, blending and control systems, Liquid and dry fertilizer blending and conveying equipment, turnkey design and build construction solutions for seed and fertilizer facilities, and farm management software. The company markets its products under the AGI, Airlanco, Batco, Brownie, CMC, Compass, Danmare, Ezee-dry, Frame, Grain Guard, Grainmaxx, Hi Roller, Hutchinson, Improtech, Junge, Keho, Mayrath, Milltec, MMS, Neco, PTM, REM, Sabe, Sentinel, Storm, Suretrack, Tramco, Twister, Westeel, Westfield, Wheatheart, and Yargus brand names. It provides its equipment for agricultural commodities. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada.
Eagle Materials Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces and supplies heavy construction materials and light building materials in the United States. It operates through Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Gypsum Wallboard, and Recycled Paperboard segments. The company engages in the mining of limestone for the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of Portland cement; grinding and sale of slag; and mining of gypsum for the manufacture and sale of gypsum wallboards used to finish the interior walls and ceilings in residential, commercial, and industrial structures. It also manufactures and sells recycled paperboard to gypsum wallboard industry and other paperboard converters, as well as containerboard and lightweight packaging grades. In addition, the company engages in the sale of ready-mix concrete; and mining, extracting, production, and sale of aggregates, including crushed stones, sand, and gravel. Its products are used in commercial and residential construction; public construction projects; and projects to build, expand, and repair roads and highways. The company was formerly known as Centex Construction Products, Inc. and changed its name to Eagle Materials, Inc. in January 2004. Eagle Materials Inc. was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Full coverage of the Delphi murders: Look back at 5 years of stories
The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus are two of the best Android phones around, but the Galaxy S9 (now $599) and Galaxy S9+ ($699) deliver a lot of phone for less money. You get solid cameras with a fun Super Slow-Mo video mode and swift performance inside handsets that are among the sleekest in their price range.

No, you won't get the ultra-wide camera in the Galaxy S10 lineup or a fingerprint reader in the screen. But, overall, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are pretty great values, and today some of the best used smartphones around. We've also picked out the best Galaxy S9 cases.

Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ Specs and Price

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Galaxy S9

Galaxy S9+

Price

From $599

From $699

Display

5.8 inches (2960 x 1440 pixels) 6.2 inches (2960 x 1440 pixels) Camera

12-MP Super Speed Dual Pixel (f/1.5 - f/2.4)

12-MP Super Speed Dual Pixel (f/1.5 - f/2.4), 12-MP telephoto with 2x zoom (f/2.4) Front Camera

8-MP (f/1.7) 8-MP (f/1.7) CPU

Snapdragon 845 Snapdragon 845 RAM

4GB 6GB Storage

64GB, 128GB, 256GB

64GB, 128GB, 256GB

microSD Up to 400GB

Up to 400GB Battery

3,000 mAh 3,500 mAh Colors

Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Lilac Purple, Sunrise Gold

Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Lilac Purple, Sunrise Gold

Size

5.8 x 2.7 x 0.33 inches 6.2 x 2.9 x 0.33 inches Weight

5.8 ounces 6.7 ounces

Design: Now even awesomer

I'll give Samsung a pass for not changing the design of the Galaxy S9 much, because the phone's edge-to-edge Infinity Display already looked stunning when it was introduced a year ago on the Galaxy S8. This time around, Samsung trimmed the bezels slightly on the top and bottom, giving you the same size displays in slightly more compact packages.



The S9+ measures 6.2 x 2.8 X 0.33 inches, while the S8+ is 6.3 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches. However, the newer S9+ is heavier than its predecessor, at 6.7 versus 6.1 ounces, likely owing to the addition of the second rear-camera lens. The S9 is a lighter 5.8 ounces.



The biggest change is on the back of the S9 and S9+, as Samsung wisely moved the fingerprint sensor so that it sits beneath the camera instead of to the right of the lens (which is also a problem with the Note 8). And yet, despite this tweak, the reader is still pretty close to the bottom lens; it took a couple of days of practice for me to target the sensor correctly, but by that time, I had moved on to the iris and face-recognition methods for unlocking the phone.

The S9+ and S9 are available in Midnight Black, Coral Blue and Lilac Purple. We received the black model, which is sleek enough for a business setting but kind of boring. We would much prefer a pop of color. As with the S8, Samsung's new phones are IP68 water resistant, so you can dunk them in up to 5 feet of water for 30 minutes without fear. The new phones also include headphone jacks, but the backs pick up smudges easily.

Alas, the Bixby button remains on the left side, right underneath the volume button, which resulted in several accidental presses on my part. The good news is that you can turn this function off, but you can't remap the button to launch another app.



Durability: Tough to a point



We tested the toughness of the Galaxy S9 by dropping it on its face onto wood from a height of 4 feet and 6 feet; we then dropped it on its edge and face onto concrete from 4 feet. We also dropped it on its edge and face from 6 feet onto concrete.

Drops from 4 feet and 6 feet onto wood caused no damage whatsoever to the S9. A 4-foot face drop onto concrete caused the S9's screen to crack, but the phone was still largely usable. Following that, a 6-foot drop onto its edge caused more damage, as did a face drop from that height.

Finally, a 4-foot drop into a water-filled toilet didn't cause much more damage to occur, but by this point, the screen was shattered pretty thoroughly. It survived, though, which earned it a toughness score of 6 out of 10. To see the results of other smartphones, as well as our complete scoring methodology, check out our smartphone drop tests.

Display: Its killer

A funny thing happened with the iPhone X. Even though that phone reportedly packs a Samsung-made OLED screen, it beat Samsung's own phones in our screen shootout last fall, achieving the highest brightness (indoors), widest viewing angles and most-natural-looking colors.

Samsung has responded with the Galaxy S9+, whose curved display offers a brighter picture than the S8+ and covers even more of the color gamut than the iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL.

On our light meter, the S9's display registered a whopping 603 nits, which is higher than the Pixel 2 XL's 438 nits and even higher than the iPhone X's 574 nits. The S9+ got even brighter at 630 nits. However, it's important to note that Samsung's panels don't get this bright manually; you'll have to be in direct sunlight. Under normal indoor conditions, the max brightness on the iPhone X is higher than the S9 or S9+.



The S9 definitely has the most colorful panel around, though, as it reproduces a whopping 220 percent of the SRGB color gamut. The S9+ registered 231 percent. That's much higher than the results from the iPhone X (128.6 percent) and Pixel 2 XL (120 percent).

In side-by-side viewing of a scene from the Black Panther on the Galaxy S9+, iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL, the S9+ delivered the best image quality. The greens and blues popped more on the S9+s panel, even though the iPhone Xs display shined brighter. The Pixel 2 XLs image looked a little flat by comparison.

My only nitpick with this curved panel is that it can sometimes be difficult to press buttons on the extreme edges of the display; on more than one occasion I had to press twice for something to register.



Audio: A big boost

I did something I've never done before when reviewing the Galaxy S9. I left the phone on for hours by my side playing music as I wrote this review and did my testing. That's because the sound coming from the stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the S9 is just that good.

When I streamed Alice Merton's "No Roots," the vocals sounded clear even at maximum volume and the drums had a nice punch to them. With the S9 and S9+ delivering 1.4 times more volume than the S8 and S8+, I also had an easier time hearing directions coming from Google Maps while I drove.



MORE: Galaxy S9+ Battery Life: Here's How It Stacks Up



Although there's not a lot of content that supports it yet, both the S9 and S9+ support Dolby Atmos technology. This fools your ear into believing that sound is coming at you from different directions in 3D space, making movies more immersive.

Camera: Low-light improvement, Super Slow-mo fun

Boasting a new variable aperture, the Galaxy S9's new Super Speed Dual Pixel camera is designed to let in 28 percent more light than the S8. The aperture automatically adjusts from f/1.5 to f/2.4, depending on the conditions. In addition, the camera offers dedicated memory for reducing noise.

The results were fairly impressive in my testing, although the S9 and S9+ still trail the Pixel 2 and iPhone X in overall image quality. If you like the idea of 2x optical zoom or you want to take convincing-looking portraits, the S9+ is the phone to get, as its dual rear lenses give you those benefits. The regular S9 has a single rear shooter.

The Galaxy S9+ did a good job capturing a pinata indoors with some light streaming in through the window (to the left). When you zoom in, there's definitely less noise and more detail in the Samsung's shot. However, the oranges, purples and yellows are more vibrant in the iPhone X's photo.

In much dimmer conditions, the S9+ pulled off a cool-looking shot at the Campbell bar in New York City. The glass in the background is well-defined, and you can make out the bartender, although the bottoms of some of the glass bottles get blown out.



The Galaxy S9 offered the best focus in this shot of a raspberry tart dessert, and the powdered sugar looks delicious. However, the red looks more luscious and the gold foil more lustrous on the iPhone X.

In this challenging photo taken inside Grand Central Terminal, the Pixel 2's image offered the clearest shot of the clock and the most-legible image of the signs. The Galaxy S9's shot offers truer colors, though.

For video, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ up the ante with Super Slow-Mo, which lets you capture footage at 960 frames per second at 720p resolution. By comparison, the iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL record at just 240 fps (1080p) and 120 fps (1080p), respectively.

To test out Super Slow-Mo, I shot this quick video of someone playing ping pong. The footage looked great, and his backspin shot looked dramatic. From there, I swiped up on the clip to apply my choice of one of three nifty effects: Loop, Reverse or Swing. I picked Loop and then shared the video out to Facebook as a GIF.

My only complaint with Super Slow-Mo is that I wasn't always able to pick the exact right moment to film. In auto mode, the S9 is smart enough to detect motion and activate slow motion, but you might want to switch to manual so you can pick the exact moment you want to slow things down. I found it tricky to capture my son dribbling a basketball between his legs.

AR Emoji: More creepy than cool

If you've been jealous of Apple's Animoji on the iPhone X, the AR Emoji feature on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ is probably not going to help. Using the S9's front camera, you can create a 3D avatar of yourself (similar to Bitmoji) and then create a gallery of GIFs and stickers you can share of yourself via all sorts of apps. The idea is fun, but the execution is lacking.

The AR Emoji I created just had a passing resemblance to myself, and then one my daughter created looked almost nothing like her, except that it somehow managed to pick up some acne in her forehead  not cool. Her take: "Tell Samsung they need to do a better job, because this is the worst ever."

To be fair, another AR Emoji I created of my father-in-law looked almost spot on, right down to his mustache and glasses. But that was the exception. I just wish there were more clothes options for personalizing your emoji.

You can also record videos using your AR Emoji, but I would advise against it unless you want to freak people out. The resulting footage looked jittery, and the S9+'s front camera didn't do an accurate job mirroring my facial movements. The TrueDepth camera on the iPhone X does a much better job with this sort of thing, although you're limited to using just animals.

MORE: AR Emoji vs. Animoji: It's Not Even Close

Security: Intelligent Scan is handy, but it's no Face ID

The Galaxy S9 has an answer for Apple's Face ID, but it's not a great one. A new Intelligent Scan feature combines facial recognition with iris scanning to unlock your device. The good news is that you don't even need to touch the display (unlike with the iPhone X) to get into your phone. You just stare at it. The bad news is that Intelligent Scan doesn't work as well as Face ID, and not just because you can't verify purchases with it.

For starters, Samsung warns you via its disclaimer that "your phone could be unlocked by someone or something that looks like you." That means that, just as with the Galaxy S8, someone could get into your S9 or S9+ using a photo of you. By contrast, the 3D sensor inside the iPhone X creates a depth map of your face using 30,000 invisible dots, so its more secure.

My other nitpick with Intelligent Scan is that the S9+ kept prodding me to hold the phone more upright; I don't have to do that with the iPhone X to get into the device. Lastly, the IR sensor pulsates as it reads your eyes, which was disconcerting to me. (The disclaimer also warns against using this feature with infants, as it may damage their eyesight.)

If you're worried about security, I would advise using the fingerprint sensor to unlock your phone, even though Intelligent Scan is slightly more convenient.

Performance: A step up



Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 processor and 6GB of RAM, the Galaxy S9+ is an absolute beast. The Galaxy S9 is swift, too, but it's a little less powerful because it has 4GB of RAM.

When playing Tekken on the expansive 6.2-inch display with 18 other apps open in the background, I executed three combos in a row  including an explosive kick to the face  and the S9+ never stuttered.



In terms of sheer processing might, the A11 Bionic chip in the latest iPhones is the fastest around, but Samsung is closing the gap. In our video-editing test, which involves exporting a 2-minute 4K video file, the Galaxy S9+ took 2 minutes and 32 seconds. The Galaxy S9 took 3:29. Both of those times are behind the iPhone X's 42 seconds. The Pixel 2 XL took 2:55 with its older Snapdragon 835 chip.

The Galaxy S9+ also opened demanding apps more slowly than the iPhone X did. For instance, it took the iPhone X a little more than 13 seconds to fire up the Injustice 2 game, compared to 20 seconds for the S9+. And the iPhone X was about 5 seconds faster when opening Tekken 2.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ were no match for Apple's A11 Bionic on Geekbench 4, which measures overall performance. The S9 hit 7,276 and the S9+ 8,295, compared to 10,357 for the iPhone X.

On 3DMark's Sling Shot benchmark, which measures graphics performance, the Galaxy S9 scored 5,739, which beats the iPhone X (3,998). However, on the more demanding Sling Shot Extreme OpenGL ES 3.1 benchmark, the iPhone X notched 4,994 to the Galaxy S9+'s 4,634. The regular S9 hit 4,617.



When it comes to 4G LTE performance, the Galaxy S9+ smoked the iPhone X in side-by-side tests over T-Mobile's network. On the Speedtest.net app, the S9+ averaged 71.6 Mbps downloads and 10.1 Mbps uploads. The iPhone X mustered 48.8 Mbps down and 7.7 Mbps up.



The based model of the Galaxy S9+ comes with 64GB of storage, and you can add a microSD card with up to 400GB. No iPhone lets you do that. A month after the S9's debut, Samsung started offering 128GB and 256GB versions of both the S9 and S9+ for an extra $50 and $100, respectively.



Software: Bixby Vision and AR take center stage

Running Android 8.0 Oreo, the Galaxy S9+ is anything but a stock Android phone. The Edge panel  a series of shortcuts you can access by swiping in from the right side of the screen  is very much all Samsung. The most compelling feature is App Pair, which lets you launch two apps side by side (or top and bottom) with a single touch. For example, I found pairing up email and Facebook to be a good work-and-play combo.

Bixby, Samsung's digital assistant, is the hallmark feature on this flagship, and the assistant has developed some new talents since Samsung introduced it on the S8. For instance, using Bixby Vision and the Galaxy S9's camera, you can point the phone at food and get a calorie count, as I did with a green apple. You can also translate foreign languages on the fly, whether it's a menu, a sign or anything with text. I successfully translated some French headlines to English using this feature on the Le Monde site.

There are some rough edges to Bixby Vision. For example, the Shopping tool accurately identified a jar of Jif peanut butter I held in front of the phone, but when I switched over to the Food tool, the Galaxy S9+ couldn't tell what the object was.

I also had some trouble using the Place finder feature, which is supposed to overlay information on the camera view to show you things like business names, depending on where you point the phone. Unfortunately, the S9 showed me a listing for the Sweetgreen salad place as I pointed the camera directly at a Hale and Hearty Soups.

Although I didn't test Bixby's virtual makeup tool, my colleague Caitlin was generally impressed by it. Using the S9's front camera, you can try on everything from lipstick and eyeshadow to blush; if you like what you see, you can buy it on the spot from Sephora.

Otherwise, Bixby is more of a time-saver than an all-knowing assistant, reducing the number of steps it takes to perform complex actions. For instance, I loved that I could say, "Add this video to my family album," after pressing the Bixby button instead of performing the task myself with a series of taps.

Battery Life: Excellent

The Galaxy S9+ can easily last a full workday on a charge, but the S9's endurance could be better. On the Tom's Guide Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over 4G LTE, the S9+ handset lasted a superb 10 hours and 59 minutes, which is comparable to the Galaxy S8+'s 11:04 and a little bit longer than the iPhone X's 10:49.

On the same test, the regular S9 endured for an average of 10:52 over LTE. That's better than the iPhone X but is behind the Pixel 2 XL (12:09).

All of these phones were tested on T-Mobile's network.

Galaxy S9/S9+ vs. iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL

Priced starting at $840 (depending on the carrier), the Galaxy S9+ has a significant price advantage over the iPhone X ($999). For $160 less, Samsung gives you a much bigger display (6.2 versus 5.8 inches), which you'll likely appreciate when typing, reading documents and watching videos. The S9+ also benefits from removable storage and a headphone jack, not to mention the ability to run two apps side by side.

The regular Galaxy S9 (from $720) is cheaper than the S9+, but you'll have to do live with a smaller 5.8-inch screen, a smaller battery and less RAM (4GB vs 6GB for the S9+). Plus, the S9+ packs dual rear cameras to the S9's single lens.



Samsung Galaxy S9+ (left) and Apple iPhone X (right)

However, the iPhone X boasts a brighter display with more-accurate colors, a slightly better camera and more reliable Face ID biometric security. And that phone's A11 Bionic chip is more powerful. The iPhone 8 Plus ($799) has the same processor and great dual cameras as the iPhone X, but its 5.5-inch LCD display looks dated next to the OLED panel on the S9+.

MORE: Best small phones

The biggest advantage the Pixel 2 XL has over the Galaxy S9 and S9+ is the Google device's camera, as it edged out Samsung's handset in our camera shootout. Google's phone also offers even longer life and a pure version of Android. But the Galaxy S9+ has dual rear cameras, which make for better-looking portraits; a faster Snapdragon 845 processor; and a sleeker, edge-to-edge design.

Bottom Line

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ deliver nearly everything you could want in a flagship phone for less money, including speedy performance, good low-light photography, fantastic displays and impressive battery life (the S9+ wins there).



But the S9 and S9+ are also proof that smartphones are starting to hit a wall in terms of radical new changes that companies can make from one generation to the next. Between these phones' lackluster AR Emoji and not-quite-nailed Bixby features, Samsung seems to be lurching a bit in order to trumpet that these are "new" phones and not just great upgrades.

But there's absolutely nothing wrong with great upgrades. And all of the big and little enhancements for the S9 and S9+ make them worth the investment, especially if you don't want to overspend for your next phone.



Credit: Tom's Guide


Manama, the capital of Bahrain, takes the first place in this years Expat City Ranking that lists the best cities for expats in the world.

The survey mirrors Bahrains overall lead in the Expat Insider 2017 survey published earlier.

The top 10 cities for expats are: Manama, Prague, Madrid, Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Basel, and Frankfurt am Main.

Among the GCC cities, Muscat is placed at 12th, Abu Dhabi 15th and Dubai 17th on the list. Thse cities are all found to have particularly friendly local residents, the survey said.

At the other end of the scale, Doha (45th), Riyadh (48th), and Jeddah (50th) are significantly less popular with their expat residents, according to the survey.

The ranking is based on data collected in the annual Expat Insider survey, conducted by InterNations, the largest expat community worldwide. With nearly 13,000 respondents living and working abroad, Expat Insider 2017 is one of the most extensive expat studies worldwide. Apart from offering an in-depth analysis of expat life in 51 cities, the survey ranks them by a variety of factors from the areas quality of urban living, getting settled, urban work life, as well as finance and housing.

Jobs in Manama are secure

The surveyed cities in the Gulf region perform poorly when it comes to urban work life, with Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, and Jeddah all appearing in the bottom half of the ranking for factor. Overall winner Manama, however, bucks the trend, coming in 12th out of 51 cities worldwide. In fact, more than six in 10 expats in the Bahraini capital (63 per cent) feel positively about their job security, followed by Abu Dhabi (55%), but far ahead of Jeddah (37%), Dubai, and Muscat (both 39%).

While about half the expats in Dubai (53%), Riyadh (50%), and Manama (48%) rate local career prospects positively, less than four in 10 in Jeddah (30%), Doha (37%), and Muscat (39%) agree.

Work-life balance, on the other hand, does not seem to be an issue in the Omani capital: ranking 9th out of 51 cities, it comes in second for cities in the Gulf countries, only beaten by Manama (7th), while every other surveyed Gulf city ranks in the bottom 15. About two-thirds of expats are satisfied with their work-life balance in Muscat (65%) and Manama (64%), but at most 51 percent of expats say the same in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Jeddah  compared to 60 percent globally.

Muscat is miles ahead in friendliness

The Gulf cities are a bit of a mixed bag in terms of getting expats settled in. The local residents in Abu Dhabi (75%), Dubai (73%), Manama (84%), and Muscat (85%) are perceived as particularly friendly towards foreign residents, with one Filipino expat living in Manama mentioning how locals and expats co-exist and get on well together. Conversely, the Saudi Arabian cities of Jeddah (47%) and Riyadh (40%), as well as Doha (56%), seem to be less welcoming, ranking well below the global average (67%). This might be one of the reasons why more than one-third of expats do not feel at home in these cities, compared to only about one in 10 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Manama, and Muscat, the survey says.

Furthermore, a majority of expats in the surveyed Gulf cities agree that the local language is hard to learn. However, with the exception of Riyadh (35%) and Jeddah (53%), about eight in 10 expats in the Gulf cities agree that it is easy to get by without knowing Arabic, while an even more impressive 92 percent state the same for Manama.

Top 5 cities make it easy for expats

Manama, Prague, Madrid, Kuala Lumpur, and Amsterdam top the list of the best cities for expats: while Prague lags behind on 35th place for getting settled, the other four cities receive good to excellent ratings in this respect.

A South African expat living in Kuala Lumpur likes the easy-going temperament and friendliness of the local people while an expat from the Philippines appreciates the very friendly and helpful locals in Manama. The majority of expats rates the general friendliness towards foreign residents positively in Manama (84%), Amsterdam (83%), Kuala Lumpur (78%), and Madrid (74%), compared to a global average of 67 percent.

Prague, however, performs below average here: only about half the expats living there (49%) are satisfied with this factor. Nonetheless, the capital of the Czech Republic is one of the top destinations for expats in 2017, particularly due to its outstanding ratings in terms of work: nearly seven in ten expats (68%) are satisfied with local career opportunities in Prague  19 percentage points more than the global average. - TradeArabia News Service
USAID Administrator Mark Greens Remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundations 2017 Corporate Citizenship Conference in Washington, DC

First off, Id like to begin by saying that it really shouldnt surprise anyone that the Chamber and its national foundation want to explore opportunities in international development. After all, back in the 1980s, with the strong support of now-chamber president Tom Donohue, the foundation was an early partner in President Reagans historic democracy program.

That partnership ultimately led to the International Republican Institute, where I once worked, and of course, the U.S. Chambers own development arm, Center for International Private Enterprise, or CIPE. Toms commitment really laid the groundwork for decades of collaboration between USAID and CIPE. Following the fall of communism, we worked together to strengthen market economies in Europe and to promote democratic governance. In Hungary, we worked together to promote legal and regulatory reforms that would improve the business climate.

More recently, we partnered in Belarus to bring business associations and think tanks together to advocate for reform. We helped build a coalition of 256 organizations that successfully lobbied for over 420 different reform proposals. During this time, Belarus advanced from 106th to 37th in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business Index.

In short, Im grateful for the work that weve done together, but Im even more grateful for the work that were going to do together in the months and years ahead.

So, ladies, and gentlemen, in the brief time that I have with you, Id like to briefly describe what we see as three revolutionary changes underway in the field of development, and then I have an announcement to make that I hope youll appreciate and enjoy, that I think will pave the way to further collaborations and further partnerships that we can all take on.

So, revolution number one. The first revolution is one that shouldnt be surprising to anyone here. Its a revolution in technology. Not just the everyday discoveries, but far more importantly, the rapidly growing availability and affordability across the developing world. Now, I began my own journey in development some 30 years ago. My wife and I served as volunteer teachers in a small village in Kenya. Those were different times.

In our little village there was but one telephone. It was a wind-up telephone on a wooden box. I remember that if you wanted to make a long-distance call, you would pick up the receiver, turn the crank, and say something like, Operator, give me six, six, two, Kisumu, put the phone down, go outside, sit under the mango tree, wait for the phone to ring so the operator could tell you that your call had gone through.

Just one dozen years later, I visited that same village and I came across a young boy walking along the path. I asked him if he knew Niva, one of my former students, and could he go find him for me. And he said, Sure, and he picked out his mobile phone to call him. (Laughter)

Five years after that, I was an ambassador in East Africa, and my African staff were using cheap mobile phones to pay their bills, to conduct small business, and to make calls everywhere, all over the world. So, thats the personal lens through which I see technology and the opportunities in development. It is making the impossible possible, the unsolvable solvable.

In West Africa, USAID is supporting a tropical weather forecasting company called Ignitia, which is sending daily seasonal forecasts via text message. This forecasting model benefits 320,000 users across West Africa, giving them knowledge about rain and drought during the growing season.

In Ethiopia, there are now electronic billboards all across the rural parts of the country that give small, older farmers the latest price for coffee and the cattle. The goal is to help these small farmers against the unscrupulous middlemen who might try to take advantage of their remoteness from Addis Ababa, all of this not so many miles away from that village where I once taught school.

The second revolution that we see is a little more subtle, but I would argue its no less important, and its really the fundamental change in the relationship between America and the developing world. So, when USAID was created 56 years ago, something like 80 percent of the financial flows between the U.S. and the developing world were government dollars, traditional development funds, what we call ODA. Today, that figure is nine percent.

Now, to be clear, ODA isnt fading away. Government spending isnt going down, but instead, financial flows, private financial flows, are roaring ahead. Philanthropy, remittances, but more than anything else, commerce, investment. The worlds fastest growing economies are in the developing world.

According to the World Bank, half the nations in Africa are now lower-middle income or higher. Many of these same nations are demographically young, which means more and more of their consumers are very likely interested in the kinds of products and services that U.S. businesses make and supply.

In the past decade, the international market for American goods grew by more than $200 billion, and nearly two thirds of this growth occurred in the countries where USAID works. I think the lessons pretty clear. American business has business in the developing world, and I think its fair to say that we in the Trump administration could not be more excited about the possibilities.

Now, the third and final revolution Id like to describe this morning is the one that makes me most excited as (inaudible), and thats the burgeoning new relationship between private enterprise and the development community. Leaders in both sectors are finally realizing, finally figuring out how to take advantage of the unique capabilities that each have and apply them to challenges that neither could fully take on alone, problems that once seemed insurmountable.

Its hard to overstate how big a shift this is for the development community. For years, whether we realized it or not, USAID and others saw donors and governments as the most important, if not the only, drivers of progress in the developing world. Private enterprise was something to keep at a distance, or perhaps try to bend to our will. We welcomed donations from private enterprise, and we were even willing to contract with private business to obtain goods and services.

Today, all thats changing. Were trying to move beyond contracting and grant-making to collaborating, co-financing, co-designing programs, tools, initiatives. Today, were recognizing that agencies like USAID dont need to be the sole actors in the development space when we can more effectively serve as catalytic actors in that space. Were rethinking how international development initiatives are designed and tested and rolled out. Were embracing the creativity and the entrepreneurship that the private sector brings.

Ill give you an example. A few weeks ago, at the World Food Prize sessions in Iowa, I announced our partnership with Syngenta. Working with Syngenta, under the umbrella of our Feed the Future initiative, we will help local African agribusinesses gain access to high-quality seeds to sell at affordable prices.

Now, to be clear, were not simply buying those seeds and donating them to farmers. Thats what we would have done in the past. Instead, what were doing is using our vast networks and relationships; were connecting the labs that develop cutting-edge seed varieties with the remote farmers and communities that desperately need them. In the places where Feed the Future is working like this, we estimate that poverty has dropped an average of 19 percent.

As those farmers incomes rise, they want to purchase American farm equipment, IT equipment. As they really rise, maybe a John Deere or a Ford. And given where I come from, if they really rise, maybe a Harley or a Trek. We believe in the power of private enterprise. We believe that private enterprise is the only sustainable way to lift lives, to build communities, and so were working, dedicated to working, to find ways to ease the barriers for businesses to participate.

For example, from 2001 to 2013, USAID invested about $30 million to help Vietnam improve its domestic business regulatory environment and open its economy to foreign competition. Over that same time, weve seen U.S. exports to Vietnam increase from about $460 million to more than $10 billion today.

To better systemize our work supporting global trade, we have created something called the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. The Alliance is our first public-private partnership specifically aimed at supporting efforts to eliminate red tape for all of you (inaudible). Its a new way to deliver assistance, and its a success in part due to the on-the-ground (inaudible) that our key partner, your very own CIPE, brings to the table.

Through the Alliance, were joining with public bilateral donor companies and private sector companies, including several chamber members, to pool financial and in-kind resources for targeted technical assistance. For the first time, companies, through the Alliance, have a say in determining the countries their assistance dollars are being spent and what activities will actually take place.

We are using commercially meaningful measures, but to tie in cost to move goods across borders to ensure that we have an impact both on development, which is our mission, and business. In Vietnam, for example, the Alliance is working with high-level government officials in multiple ministries and the private sector to establish a new bond system which allow those to be cleared much more quickly, lowering the cost of business.

In Colombia, CIPE has led Alliance efforts with Colombias national food and drug monitoring (inaudible). Next month, thanks to CIPE, a new automated clearing system will be launched which will make it easier for U.S. producers to import agricultural products into Colombia. And now, for the announcement.

Today, Im announcing that we are expanding the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation from its initial pilot roster of four countries to 20, and were especially excited because we believe that the new Alliance focus countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Sri Lanka  they represent some of the most exciting opportunities and some of the most important emerging export markets worldwide.

This is good for business, but we believe its just as good for development. Nothing attacks poverty, nothing lifts lives, nothing pushes back against hopelessness and despair, nothing better than inclusive economic growth. So, I hope the crux of my message is clear. The future of international development is enterprise-driven, and we at USAID, working with all of you, we will embrace it.

In the Trump administration, we believe the purpose of foreign assistance must be to end the need for its existence, and that only happens with the power of private enterprise. Were here to encourage the chamber and its members to join us in this effort and even make a buck or two along the way. So, thank you for all that youve done.

Thanks for your partnership. Were going to expand that partnership, and I think were going to do it in ways that will be good for business, good for development, and really expand the those principles and values that bring us all here together. Thank you.

About

The challenges of today present opportunities for tomorrow. Thus the theme of the 2017 Corporate Citizenship Conference is Opportunity Forward.

At the most basic level  businesses are problem solvers. From providing invaluable services to innovating new products, the private sector  by design  finds opportunity and drive solutions. So it only makes sense that leading businesses are turning their problem-solving abilities to the greatest social issues of our time. From water scarcity to disaster relief, businesses are taking the problems we face head-on and building innovative cross-sector solutions that drive us forward.

The business community is uniquely suited to see and embrace the opportunities that lie in the most vexing problems we face. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation organised a conference on November 14-15 to learn how the business community  together with their partners  are taking action and creating solutions today that build greater opportunities and prosperity for all.

Some of the topics and strategies addressed at the conference included:
Are you adding any extra nights in Liberia or San Jose? If not, this could make for some long travel days. Figure that you are going to be tired when you arrive, especially if you have to be at the departing airport at 4:00 am. Are you sure you want to get behind the wheel with your family in the car, sleep deprived and in a foreign country? On the return, you have to be at the airport three hours before departure. You are about three hours from Manuel Antonio. So that is another long travel day.

I would urge you to think about maybe reversing the order of your itinerary, and going to Manuel Antonio first. You could arrange for a private transfer to pick you up, and not have to worry about the drive. Then pick up your rental car on the morning you leave MA. You can rely on taxis in Manuel Antonio, and the price should be a wash. Make sure you book with a large outfit. Not a little mom and pop.

Grayline is a good choice. They have multiple modern vehicles, and have back ups in case there is an issue.

I also would blow off Jaco. You don't have a lot of time. The surfers love the waves there, but the currents can be scary. There is an "adult" culture there too.

1.)

The best answer to find an answer about your question about cost is to go to one of the booking engines (Orbitz, Expedia, etc) and search it both ways. It used to be that open jaw tickets were a lot more expensive. But that isn't always the case anymore. You may pay the same, or only slightly more.

We had contracts with all of the majors that fly into Costa Rica before they started to push travel agents out of the market, and stir the public to the Internet. We lost a part of our business, but this made it a lot easier to shop around to determine the best pricing.

You still have to work it online. There are other factors that govern pricing. Size of your home market, flight availability, number of open seats on a particular flight, and so on.

2.)

The price of a remote drop is going to vary by the provider. Some won't allow it, some will. Since it is between airports and not a rural destination, any drop fee will probably be minimal. Under $40.00? Some car rental companies may not charge at all. Just don't make this the only criteria for choosing a car rental company. This is different than renting a car in the US. Getting your family around safely and in a reliable vehicle is your first priority. Do your homework.

3.)

This is a little tight schedule wise. The issue here is that while Costa Rica is a relatively small country, it can be slow to move around. Rio Celeste is awesome, but remote. Is your plan to go there right from the airport. Then two nights there, is a short time. Going between Arenal and Manuel Antonio is a long leg too. Figure 4 to 5 hours. Maybe cut one night in Manuel Antonio, and add it to one of the other destinations?

Otherwise, the 4/4 option that the other members mention is a good option, and a lot less stressful.

I hope this helps. Let me know if I can offer any further advice.

Warm Regards,

Pat Hewitt

Costa Rica Travel Exchange
Hi all,

I am going to be traveling to Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto) next week, and am planning on taking my CPAP, which requires distilled water. I have been researching on this forum and on the web regarding the availability of distilled water, but it seems like distilled water is nearly impossible to find in Japan. I have come across some discussion about purified water (sei-sei-sui ) being available in pharmacies, but not distilled water. Was wondering if anyone has had any luck recently getting distilled water in Tokyo, and if so, where I could get it? I'll be staying in Shinjuku.

Also, am I correct that one medical device (CPAP), should be ok to get past customs?

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/01.html

The descripion is not entirely clear, as it references "one set" of a personal medical device such as a massaging tool. But I'm going to assume it's ok to take a CPAP.

Thanks in advance for your help!
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- Zimbabwe military has taken over the country but denied it had stage a coup against president Robert Mugabe

- ZANU-PF on Wednesday, November 15 announced it had replaced Mugabe with hos former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa as its leader

- The military and ZANU-PF said Mugabe and his family was safe

Zimbabwe first lady Grace Mugabe has left the country, hours after President Robert Mugabe was overthrown from the leadership of ZANU-PF by his former deputy.

Sources told Sky News that the beleaguered first lady, who is believed to be behind the onslaught launched by Mugabe on party members seen as blocking her succession game plan, had left for Namibia.

She was born in 1965 in South Africa in 1965 and got married to Mugabe in 1996. They have two sons and a daughter.

Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace during their wedding in 1996. Photo: Sky News

READ ALSO: Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe pushed out of power, country under sacked Vice President

Grace is known for her extravagant lifestyle besides her bullish side being manifest on several occasions.

Power struggles with the ruling ZANU-PF party split it in the middle and those seen as to be opposed to her ideals have faced the sack.

Just recently, vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was shown the door after differing with Grace.

Zimbabwe first lady Grace Mugabe during a past event. Photo: Sky News

READ ALSO: Bungoma prophet with 36 wives warns of darkness if Uhuru and Ruto don't visit him

Many party members have face the same fate in the past after they seemed to challenge her in succeeding her husband for the top seat.

TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that the party had installed Mnangagwa as its new party leader and interim president following a bloodless 'coup' by the military.

The military has denied it carried out a coup explaining that it was hunting for corrupt leaders hanging around Mugabe.

It assured of Mugabe's security with South Africa president Jacob Zuma telling the world in a televised address that the Zimbabwean leader had been detained.

National Resistance Movement rally at Jacaranda- on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- NASA's grand rehearsal rally scheduled for Thursday, November 16, was banned

- The police said the ban was effected after the Kenya National Examinations Council requested it

- The new ban came after police previously banned Kenyans from heading to the airport to give Raila Odinga a grand reception

The National Police Service Kenya announced that a National Super Alliance grand rally scheduled for Thursday, November 16, was banned.

The police said that the ban had been effected at the request of the Kenya National Examinations Council.

According to their social media post on their Twitter verified page seen by TUKO.co.ke on Wednesday, November 15, the police service announced that there would be no public processions or meetings allowed in the vicinity of schools.

READ ALSO: Just in: Mugabe's wife leaves Zimbabwe as military takes over Harare

NASA leaders at a previous rally at Jacaranda grounds in Embakasi East. Photo: TUKO.co.ke

READ ALSO: Bungoma prophet with 36 wives warns of darkness if Uhuru and Ruto don't visit him

"Nairobi Police County Commander states that no public processions or meetings will be allowed in the vicinity of schools during current examinations season,following a request by KNEC. Therefore,tomorrows planned NASA rally is not permitted," announced the Police Service.

Form Four secondary school candidates are currently sitting their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education national examinations that are scheduled to end on November 29.

READ ALSO: Kisumu judge, Esther Maina, refuses attempts by ODM governor to bribe her

KNEC requested the ban, saying Form Four candidates were still sitting their national examinations and should not be interrupted. Photo: Nation

READ ALSO: A look inside Kipchumba Murkomen's life; his wife and four children

The opposition brigade previously announced plans to hold a rehearsal grand rally at Kamkunji grounds on Thursday in order to practise how hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters would head to the airport the following day to welcome back Raila Odinga.

According to prior TUKO.co.ke reports, the police also banned the opposition and their supporters against heading anywhere near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to welcome back Raila from his America and London tours.

READ ALSO: High end Reverend Kathy Kiuna on the receiving end of Kenyans wrath after prophesying a car for every Kenyan

Raila first toured the United States for four days then went on to London in his push for electoral reforms in Kenya. Photo: Raila Odinga/Facebook.

This was after leaders urged a million supporters to walk to the airport to welcome back Raila, the 'people's president'.

Raila Odinga's son, Railsa Juniour, slammed the police for banning the rallies, saying they could not determine "how many children Baba (Raila) has". Raila Juniour also reminded the police that their work was to protect and serve the people, not intimidate and dictate.

Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has condemned the military coup against Zimbabwe's long serving leader Robert Mugabe

- Museveni warned against attempts to violate Zimbabwe's constitution

- Museveni said under the current African Union rules, no African state can recognise a military coup on the continent by any military officer or group

- Mugabe was ousted from power by the military on Tuesday, November 14

Ugandan leader Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has condemned the bloodless military coup in Zimbabwe that seeks to remove strongman Robert Mugabe from power.

In a statement through Uganda's State Minister for International Relations Henry Okello Oryem, Museveni has termed the coup as unfortunate and unacceptable in Africa.

Museveni said no African country will recognise the coup that is likely to end Mugabe's three-decade rule in Zimbabwe.

Museveni and Mugabe are close allies Photo: ZBC

READ ALSO: I will not support William Ruto in 2022 - Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua

He said Mugabe's administration was legitimately constituted and should not be removed through a military activity.

Museveni has asked for updates from the Ugandan embassy in South Africa regarding the situation in Zimbabwe and will take appropriate action.

As reported by TUKO.co.ke, the Zimbabwe Defense Forces forced Mugabe's wife, Grace, to flee to Namibia and the long-serving leader was put under house detention.

READ ALSO: Ababu Namwamba calls for the termination of 7 counties in Luo Nyanza and Western Kenya

However, the military said Mugabe and his family are safe and they are only targeting criminals within the ruling ZANU-PF.

Mugabe has led Zimbabwe for over three decades Photo: Zimbabwe News

The coup came days after Mugabe, through his fiery wife Grace, sacked his assistant, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who later fled into South Africa for fear of his life.

The military was apparently angered by the move and quickly moved in to contain what they said is a purge on Mnangagwa's supporters in the party.

READ ALSO: Driver of late Nyeri governor to face the law for ending the politician's life

There is a likelihood of Mugabe being ousted and his place assumed by the former vice president who has since jetted back to Harare.

National Resistance Movement rally at Jacaranda on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- NASA leaders have changed the venue of their planned rally from Kamukunji grounds to Kibera

- This is after police sealed off the Kamukunji grounds with water cannons and heavy presence

- The police say the rally will affect the ongoing KCSE exams in Nairobi

- NASA is preparing to receive Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka at the JKIA amid warning from police

National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders on Thursday, November 16, were forced to change the venue of their rally from Kamukunji grounds to Kibera.

The decision was arrived at after police prevented NASA leaders and their supporters from accessing the grounds.

READ ALSO: Martha Karua apasua mbarika kuhusu kumuunga mkono William Ruto 2022

Police cordoned off Kamukunji grounds to prevent NASA from holding a rally Photo: Lynn Ngugi/TUKO.co.ke

Police cordoned off the grounds even as NASA supporters tried to force their way into the area.

READ ALSO: DPP denies approving charges against late Nyeri governor's driver for causing the death of the politician

TUKO.co.ke obtained exclusive images of police engaging in running battles with some opposition supporters who were regrouping.

Police officers in running battles with NASA supporters Photo: Lynn Ngugi/TUKO.co.ke

According to the police, the rally would affect the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

NASA leaders announced that they will now hold their rally in Kibera after the disruption. It is not yet clear if police will allow the rally to go on.

Police kept watch to prevent NASA from Kamkunji grounds Photo: Lynn Ngugi/TUKO.co.ke

READ ALSO: I will not support William Ruto in 2022 - Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua

The rally is part of the preparation by the opposition coalition to receive back their leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka from abroad.

As reported by TUKO.co.ke, a major standoff is looming between the police and NASA supporters after police boss Joseph Boinett warned that no one will be allowed at the JKIA.

Police have said NASA will not hold any rally Photo: Lynn Ngugi/TUKO.co.ke

NASA plans to match to JKIA on Friday, November 17, to receive Raila and Kalonzo when they jet in.

READ ALSO: Museveni condemns military coup against Mugabe

But police say teh airport is a restricted area and they will not allow the opposition leaders and their supporters to enter.

National Resistance Movement rally at Jacaranda on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Zimbabwe's finance minister Ignatius Chombo has been arrested after the military raided his home

- According to reports, the soldiers found US$ 10 million (KSh 1 billion) in cash at his Harare home after the raid

- Chombo is regarded as one of the most corrupt ministers in Mugabe's cabinet

Zimbabwe military on Wednesday, November 15 found US$10 million about KSh 1 billion from the home of finance minister Ignatius Chombo after an operation.

The military had said that it was only hunting for corrupt ministers who had looted the country when they seemingly toppled strongman Robert Mugabe.

Chombo was among the high profile government officials who had been detained during the operation in which Mugabe was replaced as ZANU-PF leader by his former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa.

READ ALSO: Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe pushed out of power, country under sacked Vice President

Zimbabwe Finance minister Ignatius Chombo. Photo: The Herald

Finance minister Ignatius Chombo was reportedly found with US$10m in cash at his Harare home after the property was raided by the military Wednesday morning.

The minister, said to be one of President Robert Mugabe's most corrupt officials, was among the first ministers detained by the army as Generals deposed the 93-year-old Zanu PF leader from power.

READ ALSO: NASA leaders address supporters through speaker phone and later sneak to Kibra rally after tricking police

"Just for your own information, Minister Chombo's house which was invaded as he got arrested had US$10 million," independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa claimed in an interview with Al Jazeera in reports by AllAfrica.

Higher education minister Jonathan Moyo and local government counterpart Saviour Kasukuwere were also detained after they were found seeking refuge at the home of Mugabe where he is being held hostage.

READ ALSO: Mugabe's wife leaves Zimbabwe as military takes over Harare

Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe was kicked out of power by the military and his ZANU-PF party in a bloodless coup disguised as a peaceful power transition.

Meet Kenyas one hand DJ who lost his hand during post election violence-on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Garissa Town MP Aden Duale says Raila Odinga has demanded KSh 50 million from each of the Opposition controlled counties to push his People's Assembly agenda

- The Majority leader claimed the money is set to be drawn from county coffers which is against the law

- In his letter to Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo, Duale wants assurance that such monies will not be used towards such a political cause

Majority leader Aden Duale now claims Raila Odinga has demanded KSh 50 million from NASA controlled counties so as to push his Peoples Assembly agenda.

He has also written to Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo demanding assurances that counties will not withdraw the amount from their coffers to finance the project.

In a letter dated November 17, 2017 and seen by TUKO.co.ke,the Garissa Town MP said some counties have already approved the Peoples Assembly Motion which he said is meant to push for questionable constitutional amendments.

Duale has demanded assurance that NASA-allied counties won't fund Raila's People's Assembly.Photo:Nation.

READ ALSO: Uhuru should smell the coffee and step down - Former TNA secretary general

To support the said bid, county governments in the aforementioned strongholds have been required to support the initiative and have been given monetary targets of at least KSh 50 million per county to finance activities related to the Peoples Assembly initiative, said Duale in his letter.

Raila has called on 19 NASA counties to pass the Peoples Assembly Motion and already, eight of them have headed the call.

The formation of Peoples Assembly is meant to push for the adoption of a secession motion which has already been prepared by Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma.

READ ALSO: Raila sends warm message to followers ahead of his return from the U.S

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma who has already drafted a secession motion.Photo:Nation.

READ ALSO: Ababu Namwamba calls for the termination of 7 counties in Luo Nyanza and Western Kenya

The Assembly will also be used to resist President Uhuru Kenyattas win in the repeat election held October 26.

Duale in his letter said such an expenditure from NASA strongholds would be irregular and against the Public Finance Management Act of 2012.

READ ALSO: NASA leaders beat police blockade to address media outside JKIA

Duale's letter to the Controller of Budget.Photo:Dennis Itumbi/Twitter.

The MP sought assurance from Odhiambo that such monies would not be allowed to be drawn from public coffers towards the support of the NASA agenda.

National Resistance Movement rally at Jacaranda

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- NASA leaders in Nairobi were on Thursday, November 16 blocked from addressing a series of rallies by police

- Top NASA leaders were forced to address the rally in Kibra on phone after they were blocked by police

- Police outlawed NASA activities in the capital including the planned grand welcoming of Raila at JKIA

Defiant Opposition leaders on Thursday, November 16 tricked the police in a bid to hold rallies in the capital ahead of the grand Raila Odinga welcoming party.

Earlier, they had met the full force of police after they were blocked from accessing the historic Kamukunji Grounds.

Later, the leaders were recorded addressing their equally charged supporters at Jamhuri Grounds via a mobile phone connected on the public address system claiming they had been blocked by the police.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino (in white T-shirt) before he was arrested. Photo: NASA

READ ALSO: Babu Owino arrested en route to Kibra rally

Senator James Orengo and former Machakos senator Johnston Muthama addressed the supporters converged on Kibra on phone from an unknown location, according to ODM director of communications Philip Etale.

Later, the leaders made it to the rally amid rousing and wild cheers from the supporters.

According to Muthama, they beat the police at their own game with tricks and said NASA was still pushing for reforms.

Police block a section of Mombasa road with spikes. Photo: NASA

Orengo revealed that they had tricked the police by booking the Kamukunji Grounds yet they had planned a rally to be held in Kibra.

He said that it was a deliberate ploy to have police deployed to Kamukunji Grounds so that the Kibra rally could go on.

Orengo said they had an elaborate plan to beat the police and that on Friday, they will also go to JKIA to welcome Raila.

He claimed that he had information the government was planning to hold Raila at the airport for log hours after he jets back to frustrate his supporters.

READ ALSO: Uhuru should smell the coffee and step down - Former TNA secretary general

TUKO.co.ke learnt that police made their threat real in blocking the leaders from holding what they said was an illegal rally in the city.

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that an earlier rally planned at the historic Kamukunji grounds was blocked.

Siaya Senator James Orengo addresses the media outside JKIA. Photo: NASA

READ ALSO: NASA forced to shift rally venue to Kibra after police seal off Kamukunji grounds

The leaders are laying ground for welcoming Raila Odinga back to the country from his overseas trip and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) takes shape.

The leaders told their supporters not to waver in their resolve in resisting Jubilee rule and urged them to show up on Friday to welcome Raila.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Starehe candidate in the past election Steve Mbogo were arrested.

Meet Kenyas one hand DJ who lost his hand during post election violence-on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- A British MP has refereed to the Kenyan October 26, election as total chaos compared to Somaliland

-The MP asked the British Prime Minister (PM), Theresa May, to join him in congratulating Somaliland for conducting a transparent and fair election

-The PM however avoided the Kenyan election problems but instead congratulated Somaliland

A British MP on Wednesday, November 16 refereed to the divisive Kenyan elections as a total mess while giving remarks on the Just concluded Somali elections.

Goldsmith Zac,Richmond Park MP, claimed that the recent elections in the self-proclaimed state, were better than Kenyan ones by far.

READ ALSO: Mugabe's most corrupt minister arrested and found with KSh 1 billion in his house

Britain's Prime Minister, Theresa May. Photo: Theresa May/Facebook

READ ALSO: Did Governor Joho hand Betty Kyalo's brother a county job? TUKO.co.ke has details

While addressing the House of Parliament during the Prime Minister's Question Time, he asked the PM, Theresa May, to join him in congratulating Somaliland for carrying out a free and fair election.

"With recent events in Zimbabwe and total electoral chaos now in Kenya, will the prime minister join me in celebrating the hugely successful election this week in Somaliland? he said.

Avoiding the chaotic Kenyan election issue, Theresa May, praised the London Somalia Conference which was held in May 2017, with Uhuru Kenyatta being amongst the heads of states who were in attendance.

READ ALSO: Duale exposes plot by NASA counties to fund Raila's People's Assembly at KSh 50 million each

The Prime Minister Question Time commonly known as PMQ's is a weekly televised event in the United Kingdom that gives the MP's the chance to ask the prime minister questions.

This remarks came after a report by TUKO.co.ke, indicated that the supreme court had started hearing the three election petition filled against the re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta

ALSO WATCH:National Resistance Movement rally at Jacaranda

Source: TUKO.co.ke
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The Swedish Defense Ministry has expressed its intention to join the process of training Ukrainian servicemen.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said this in an interview with Ukrinform after a meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist.

"Sweden expressed its intention to consider next year the possibility of participation of its servicemen in the training of our military," said Poltorak.

He added that the Swedish defense minister would pay a visit to Ukraine at the beginning of next year "to make a final decision on this matter."

As reported, the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial conference took place in Vancouver, Canada, this week, wit. Over 40 defense ministers attended the conference.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has handed over a military banner to the personnel of the 503rd battalion as part of his working trip to Mariupol, Donetsk region.

"On the occasion of the ceremony marking the Naval Infantry Day, I have the honor to hand over a military banner to the personnel of the 503rd battalion as evidence of high trust from the leadership of the state, its supreme military command and the entire Ukrainian people," Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page.

He said that the marines, who demonstrate invincible fighting spirit and professionalism and selflessly carry out combat tasks every day, are rightfully the pride of the national military fleet and all of Ukraine.

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A radio host, Leann Tweeden, said Franken made unwanted advances while practicing a skit for a USO tour in 2006.

"I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann," Franken said in a statement. "As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Nelson issued a statement Thursday on the Franken allegations.

"Sexual harassment is never acceptable," Nelson said. "The Senate Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as I believe they should."

His campaign said Franken will no longer attend the fundraiser.

"As for the events this weekend, Sen. Franken is no longer available. The campaign events will continue as scheduled."

--ALEX LEARY, Tampa Bay Times, with Patricia Mazzei

This post has been updated.
State Enterprise National Energy Company Ukrenergo and Moldovas State Enterprise Moldelectrica will coordinate actions to integrate their power systems with ENTSO-E (the European Network of Transmission System Operators), Ukrenergo website reports.

"The agreement on this was achieved following the results of a working meeting between representatives of SE National Energy Company Ukrenergo with the delegation of Moldovan colleagues from SE Moldelectrica, which was held in Kyiv on November 15. The parties reaffirmed their intention to ensure coordinated actions to implement measures aimed at ensuring the integration of power systems of the two countries with ENTSO-E, reads the report.

In particular, an agreement has been reached to set up a joint technical working group to develop coordinated actions to implement synchronization actions in the areas of activity (market and cross-border flows, operation and supervisory control of the energy system, network development, telecommunications infrastructure and IT).

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Ukraine has made considerable progress in implementing the Association Agenda in 2017, according to the 2nd Joint Association Implementation Report on Ukraine, which was published by the European External Action Service and the European Commission on November 15, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We now expect the implementation of reforms to be accelerated so that Ukrainian citizens can fully reap the benefits of our partnership. Ukraine can count on the European Union's continued support in order to make this possible," EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said.

The report was published ahead of the EU-Ukraine Association Council on December 8, 2017.

The EU says in the document that in the course of 2017, mechanisms for policy coordination, steering and monitoring of the implementation of the Association Agreement were being set up by the government, which led to uneven progress of implementation in various sectoral areas. Therefore, the report stresses the urgent need to streamline various reform tracks in Ukraine and accelerate the pace of implementation in 2018.

The report outlines that Ukraine has pursued the implementation of structural reforms, generating positive trends in the economic and social spheres despite internal and external challenges.

The year 2017 also witnessed important legislative developments in areas such as the electricity market, energy efficiency, environment, education and decentralization. Furthermore, key reforms such as pensions, healthcare and food safety were initiated.

Justice sector reform continued with the adoption of a new law on the Constitutional Court and the setting up of the new Supreme Court.

The report emphasizes that Ukraine has continued to advance measures to tackle corruption, but that further steps need to be taken in order for these measures to have tangible benefits. The electronic declarations of assets submitted nearly a year ago by high-level public figures and officials, for example, have yet to be analyzed.

The number of convictions when it comes to high-profile cases of alleged corruption also remains low; the rapid establishment of an anti-corruption court, in line with the recommendation of the Venice Commission, would be essential in this regard.

The report acknowledges the continued, resolute policy actions taken by the Ukrainian authorities, supported by international partners, which resulted in a consolidated stabilization of the economy.

"The European Union continues to fully support Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. We condemn and do not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. The European Union also continues to support the diplomatic efforts to find a lasting peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine through the complete implementation of the Minsk Agreements," the EU said.

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Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy held a meeting with Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell, the parliaments press reported on Wednesday.

It has been of importance to me to visit Ukraine just after taking the office since the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tends to focus attention over the issue of security and reforms in Ukraine, stated Mitchell.

Parubiy said that the visit of Mitchell is a sign of support of Ukraine by the United States, and added that the United States is a strategic partner of Ukraine, and we openly reckon upon your assistance.

The speaker also called on the U.S. Department of State to study the possibility of lethal weapons supplies to Ukraine.

The parties then discussed the progress of reforms being carried out in Ukraine and the issues of increasing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The overwhelming majority of MPs of the current Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supports the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine as well as the close collaboration with the United States of America and the European Union, resumed Andriy Parubiy.

The meeting was attended by Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary United States Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.

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Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin will pay an official visit to Luxembourg on November 16, the foreign ministrys press service reports.

"During the visit, the minister will meet with his Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn, the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies (Parliament) of Luxembourg and members of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs," reads the reprot.

In addition, Klimkin also intends to visit the headquarters of Luxembourg's global satellite operator - Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES).

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has thanked the European Parliament for supporting a new vision of the development of the Eastern Partnership on the basis of the European aspirations of the partner countries.

The head of state wrote about this on Twitter.

"I'm grateful to the European Parliament for consolidated support for a new strategic vision of development of the Eastern Partnership based on the European aspirations of partner countries," he wrote.

Poroshenko expressed hope that the recommendations of the report of the European Parliament will have a positive impact on the results of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels next week.

As reported, the European Parliament, in a statement adopted on Wednesday, November 15, called for deepening the European integration of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova in the Eastern Partnership+ model, including the accession of these countries to the EU's customs, energy, and digital unions and the Schengen area.

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Poland continues to support Ukraine in the international arena, in particular it condemns Moscow's aggression against Kyiv, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski has said.

"Poland supports Ukraine at the political, diplomatic, military, economic levels and in the transformation of the country's way of life. An the international level, we have not supported and will not accept actions against Ukraine, annexation of Crimea or Russia's initiation of separatism in Ukraine," Waszczykowski said, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He added that the Polish assessment of the situation around the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had made a significant contribution at the EU level to keeping sanctions against Russia because of Moscows non-fulfillment of the Minsk agreements.

The Polish foreign minister also noted that Warsaw is actively working to suspend the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Poland considers "a political initiative, a political tool that threatens the security of our region."

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We must do everything necessary to avoid freezing of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Minister of Defence of Finland, Jussi Niinisto said this at the meeting with Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak during the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial conference in Vancouver, the Ministrys press service reports on Thursday.

"We must do everything necessary to avoid freezing of the conflict in this region. A possible option for peace observance is the Minsk agreements, which all the parties to the conflict must adhere to and refrain from aggression against civilians. In turn, we are ready for cooperation with Ukraine, exchange of experience. We will discuss these issues in detail during the meeting in Helsinki early next year," Niinisto said.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak informed his Finnish colleague about the situation in eastern Ukraine and the principles to underlie the effective deployment of the peacekeeping mission.

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Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin states that Russia has deployed in eastern Ukraine four times as many tanks as the British army has.

"We discuss Donbas, Russia says they are not there, despite having up to 500 tanks - four times as many operational tanks as the British Army - in addition to hundreds of other heavy weapons and thousands of Russian regular troops and mercenaries," Klimkin said in a commentary to the Daily Mail.

Klimkin highlighted that deploying weapons and meddling in elections was the nature of Russia's hybrid war waged on the west today.

The Ukrainian minister also noted that the world must unite against the Russias threat and said Ukraine was subjected to the 'cyber sabotage' of its national electricity grid at the hands of Russia.

"We must finally wake up and unite against this Imperialist Neo-red threat posed to the free world by the current Kremlin administration," the Ukrainian diplomat said.

He made this statement after British Prime Minister Theresa May criticized Russia for trying to "sow discord in the west."

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A CHARITY GALA CHRISTMAS CONCERT will take place in London on December 9. All the funds raised will be spent on the needs of orphans who have lost their parents in the ATO zone.

The concert attendees will hear popular classical and original music performed by the first-class musicians, hear the poetry in English and Ukrainian, have a chance to buy Christmas souvenirs, see painting exhibition and take part in an auction by the Romanian artist Danila Incze, the British-Ukrainian Aid informed on its Facebook page.

The charity concert will be held at the Ukrainian Cathedral Hall, 21 Binney Street, Mayfair, London W1K 5BQ, at 19.30, December 9, 2017.

The concert will be followed by a reception with canapes and wine.

Tickets: 25 (children under 13 free).

Tickets may be reserved by e-mail allasirenkoconcerts@gmail.com or text 07736735270 and collected on the door before the concert.

The ticket includes a donation towards projects in support of vulnerable children affected by war including disabled children.

ish
The average life expectancy of a human being is 71.5 years according to the United Nations World Population Prospects  2015 Revision. That is, 68 years and four months for males and 72 years and eight months for females. The World Factbook puts our average life expectancy at 69 years in 2016. The oldest living person was Jeanne Calment who lived until the grand old age of 122 years and 164 days. However, this is nothing compared to certain animals who live for centuries. Read on to find out more about these awesome, age-defying animals, some of whom have been around since the time of Shakespeare.

1 Turritopsis dohrnii There exists a species of jellyfish which is biologically immortal. They can live forever unless killed, attacked, or damaged.

The Turritopsis dohrnii is also known as the immortal jellyfish and was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea in 1883. They are said to have originated in the Pacific but are now found in various other places in the world thanks to trans-Arctic migration. They have the unique ability to revert to an immature stage after theyve reached sexual maturity making them biologically immortal. After they reach adulthood and have reproduced, instead of dying, they turn themselves into a cyst which looks like a blob. When this happens, their tentacles withdraw and bodies become smaller. This cyst turns into a polyp colony which is the first stage in its life, thereby skipping the stage of death. The immortal jellyfish accomplished this through transdifferentiation, which changes the differentiated state of cells and turns them into new kind of cell. They can undergo this cycle repeatedly.

Lab studies have revealed that all the specimens collected displayed this ability making them one of the most unique animals on this planet. Maria Pia Miglietta, a researcher at Pennsylvania State University, says that ..when starvation, physical damage, or other crises arise, instead of sure death, [Turritopsis] transforms all of its existing cells into a younger state.(1,2,3)

2 Sea sponges Sea sponges are multicellular organisms with porous bodies. Certain species of sea sponges are said to have a lifespan of more than thousand years, and some even more than ten thousand years.

Thats right, sponges are also animals, although most people mistakenly categorize them as plants. They are all immobile, aquatic animals and some have the longest lifespan of any known animal. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry studied the skeleton of the glass sponge found in the East China Sea and discovered that it was more than 11,000 years old. Another specimen of Antarctic sponge found in the Southern Sea was found to be approximately 1,500 years old. They grow at a very slow rate, possibly due to the very low temperatures.

A study published in 2016 by Daniel Wagner, Papahanaumokuakea research specialist, and his colleague, says that While not much is known about the lifespan of sponges, some massive species found in shallow waters are estimated to live for more than 2,300 years. Wagner said that sponges dont have indicators of age like growth rings, but they can live for thousands of years. They had discovered a massive glass sponge near Hawaii which they estimate is around 1,000 years old.

There are a few tropical and deep-sea sponges that have a lifespan of 200 years, maybe even more. Additionally, by taking into account their growth rate, some calcified demosponges are up to 5,000 years old.(1,2,3,4)

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3 The Ocean quahog The ocean quahog is essentially a mollusk or a clam whose average lifespan is 400 years. A particular specimen was said to be as old as 507 years old, according to its growth rings. However, many dont live up to that old age since they are also used as a food source.

The ocean quahog, or Arctica islandica, is basically an edible clam and is found in the North Atlantic Ocean. You may also know it as the mahogany clam, black quahog, or black clam. Doris Abele, a German animal physiologist and marine biologist, has stated that the ocean quahog has such a long lifespan mainly because of its extremely slow metabolism. It consumes very less oxygen leading to a slow metabolism and hence the long life. She also attributes its long life to its genes. Its age can be determined by counting the rings on its shell, as well as employing the carbon-14 dating method.

In 2006, a research group discovered a 507-year-old quahog in Iceland. Unfortunately, it died as a result of being frozen on board before they discovered its age. The clam, named Ming after the Ming Dynasty which was in power when it was born, is now in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-lived, non-colonial metazoan whose age was accurately known. The previous record was held unofficially by a 374-year-old clam found in 1868 near Iceland.(1,2)

4 Greenland shark There is a species of shark found in the frigid waters of northern Atlantic and Arctic oceans which can live for up to 400 years. Their average lifespan is between 272 and 512 years.

Found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, these sharks are the longest-lived vertebrates found on earth. They only attain sexual maturity at around 150 years of age. Although not much is known about them, a study conducted by Julius Nielson and marine biologist John Steffensen at the University of Copenhagen managed to determine the ages of 28 dead, female sharks by using the radiocarbon dating technique on the lenses of their eyes. The oldest one was estimated to be 392 years old, give or take 120 years.

Clues to their longevity can be attributed to several factors like their slow growth rate of one-cm per year and slow metabolism. A geneticist at the University of Michigan, Shawn Xu, discovered that the frigid cold might activate anti-aging genes in animals. This could help in folding protein, doing away with molecules that damage DNA, and also prevent infections thereby extending its lifespan. This anti-aging gene could be present in Greenland sharks and could explain their incredibly long lifespan.(1,2,3)

5 Lamellibrachia luymesi The Lamellibrachia luymesi is a species of deep-sea tube worm, which can live for up to 250 years.

These deep-sea tube worms live in the cold seeps in the Gulf of Mexico and are presently the longest-lived, non-colonial invertebrates. According to Charles Fisher, professor of Biology at Penn State, an average two-meter-long tubeworm is 170 to 250 years old, taking into account its growth rate over time. But since they often gather tubeworms which are way larger, their average lifespans could, therefore, be much more. These tubeworms dont have a consistent growth rate but grow more when they are younger as evidenced by the growth rings on their external skeletons.

Tubeworms sustain themselves on sulfide and other nutrients found at the seeps. A paper published by the Penn State research team in 2003 says that the tubeworm does not discharge its waste sulfate into the ocean, but down in the soil. This causes sulfide-producing microbes to grow, which in turn could help the tubeworm to live longer. Their long lifespan could also be a result of a lack of solid growing surface in the Gulf of Mexico which is primarily mud-bottomed.(1,2)

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6 Rougheye rockfish The rougheye rockfish, also called the blackthroat rockfish or blacktip rockfish, belongs to the genus Sebastes, meaning magnificent in Greek. It is extremely long-lived, and has been known to reach an age of 205 years.

This species of rockfish is also called Sebastes aleutianus, after the Aleutians Islands where they were discovered. Today they can be found all along the North Pacific Ocean. Gregor M Calliet, a fish ecologist, discovered that the lifespan of rockfish could be anywhere between 21 years, in the case of most rockfish, to 205 years, in the case of the rougheye rockfish. They are one of the very few animals which are said to be negligibly senescent. According to theorists, it means that there is no decrease in strength or mobility with age, or an increase in death rate with age, or reduced reproduction capabilities with age. Age in fish is usually determined by analyzing growth rings in their ear bones.

In an article published in 1999, John Guerin, Centenarian Rockfish Project Director at Oregon State University, said that the rockfish could have a mechanism which prevents or repairs oxidative damage. His colleague, Dr. David Williams, a biochemist, studied their livers who look for signs of oxidized protein or damaged DNA. The preliminary result showed that the amount of lipid peroxidation in these rockfish was quite less as compared to animals like rats and monkeys.(1,2,3)

7 Bowhead whales A species of baleen whale found in the Arctic is among the longest-living mammals and can live for more than 200 years. However, because of extensive whale hunting, their numbers are very low, and they are categorized as an endangered species.

A large bowhead whale was caught in Alaska in 2007 which had a piece of a harpoon embedded in it. The harpoon was made sometime between 1879 and 1885 which means the whale was hit somewhere around 1885 to 1890. This information put the age of that whale at approximately 115 to 130 years old! Soon, scientists calculated the ages of other bowhead whales which found one to be 211 years old and others between 135 and 172 years old. This was the first evidence of its long lifespan.

A study published in 2015 mapped its genome. Joao Pedro de Magalhaes, one of the researchers at the University of Liverpool who also authored this study, said that there were changes in the genes of the bowhead. This could be a sign of improved DNA repair and cell cycle regulation mechanisms to prevent DNA damage accumulation during the life course It could answer questions related to its long lifespan and resistance towards cancer. Also, these whales have very few natural predators, allowing them to grow slowly and have a delayed reproductive stage.(1,2,3)

8 Giant tortoises Giant tortoises are reptiles and among the longest-lived animals on the planet, with some of them living for 150 years and more.

These Aldabra giant tortoises and Galapagos Island tortoises are found in the two tropical islands in Seychelles and Ecuador. The reason they live for so long is because they have a very slow metabolism. The Galapagos tortoise can survive without food or water for a year. Unfortunately, this ability made them a good food source for ships visiting these islands in the 19th century. Since they live on islands, they have been protected from natural predators that are usually found on land. Their large size and thick shells also provide them with ample protection. However, it was very difficult to correctly determine their ages since they usually outlive the people who observe them.

Among the known ones, Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise, was taken from the islands by British sailors who gifted it to Robert Clive. It was then brought to the Calcutta Zoo in 1875 until it died at the age of 255 years in 2006.

Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, was taken to St. Helena Island in 1882 where it still resides. If the known date of its birth is correct, then it is 185 years old and the oldest known living reptile. Another tortoise, Tui Malila was 188 at the time of its death in 1965. It was a radiated tortoise from Madagascar.(1,2,3,4,5)

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9 Red sea urchin The red sea urchin is a sea animal covered in spines that can live for about 100 to 200 years. They are even thought to be negligibly senescent and seldom die unless they are killed, captured or eaten first.

The red sea urchin is mostly found along the shallow coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Before studies proved it otherwise, an average lifespan of this sea invertebrate was thought to be only 7 to 15 years. Research published in the U.S Fishery Bulletin in 2003 revealed that these animals are actually very long lived. They grow throughout their lives at a very slow pace. Since they dont have any distinguishable features other than spines, their age cannot be ascertained with the usual methods, but only by nuclear carbon testing and biochemical methods.

The scientists from Oregon State University and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who undertook the research have discovered that the red sea urchin has a much longer lifespan than most terrestrial or marine animals. They do not exhibit a decrease in functions related to age. Thomas Ebert, a marine zoologist who was one of the authors of the study, is of the opinion that the red sea urchin appears to be practically immortal. Some of the largest and oldest specimens they collected from Canadian waters near British Columbia were almost 19 cm in size. According to the calculations done by these scientists, they are 200 or more years old. They are, however, prone to attacks by other predators, diseases, and even fishing.(source)

10 Orange roughy The orange roughy, or the deep sea, belongs to the slimehead family and is known for its long lifespan of up to 149 years. Unfortunately, many do not live that long because they are not very resilient and have been overfished until recent efforts were made to limit their catch.

The orange roughy is a big, deep-sea fish found in the Western Pacific Ocean, Eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Chile. These fish have an extremely slow growth rate and reach sexual maturity only after 30 or 40 years of age. A study by Allen H. Andrews, Dianne M. Tracey, and Matthew R. Dunn of the Rhodes University Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science was published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Through an improved leadradium-dating technique, they discovered that the fish they had put in the older age group were at least 93 years old. Another study determined their age by counting the growth rings on their ear bones which placed them between 125 and 156 years of age.

In 1991, G.E. Fenton from the University of Tasmania, A. Short from the Environmental Radiochemistry Laboratory in Australia, and D.A. Ritz published a paper that confirmed that the average lifespan of an orange roughy is 77 to 149 years through radiometric dating of their ear bones.(1,2,3)
@PatriciaMazzei

Miami Democrat Mary Barzee Flores won the endorsement Thursday of Emily's List, which backs progressive, pro-abortion rights female candidates.

Barzee Flores, a former state judge, is one of two women seeking to replace Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is retiring, in Florida's swing 27th congressional district.

"This open seat represents an opportunity for Floridians to send a message to Washington," Emily's List president Stephanie Schriock said in a statement. "Working families need a representative who will fight to protect basic women's health care services, defend against the rolling back of environmental protections, and push to reform our broken immigration system. Mary is ready for the job, and we look forward to supporting her every step of the way."

Last week, Barzee Flores joined a small group of vocal Democrats across the country calling for President Donald Trump's impeachment.

The only other woman running in the packed field of eight Democrats is Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez., who sent supporters a fundraising email Thursday blasting Emily's List.

"Well, the establishment has spoken. Emilys List has decided who your Congressperson should be. Did they ask you?" Rosen Gonzalez wrote. "No. They told me their endorsement came at a price. They told me I'd have to hire their consultants at astronomical prices as the price for their endorsement. I said 'No.' They said I'd have to sit in a room and 'dial for dollars' all day, putting the arm on all the special interests as the price for their endorsement. I said 'No.' Selling my independence is too high a price to pay."

The fundraising leader so far is Matt Haggman, former program director for the Knight Foundation.

This post has been updated.
Before Gutierrez-Scaccetti came to Florida six years ago, she was executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. She was hired in Florida by former transportation secretary Ananth Prasad.




NEW YORK/GENEVA, 16 November 2017  While the Saudi-led military coalition has partially lifted the recent blockade of Yemen, closure of much of the countrys air, sea and land ports is making an already catastrophic situation far worse. The space and access we need to deliver humanitarian assistance is being choked off, threatening the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families.



Together, we issue another urgent appeal for the coalition to permit entry of lifesaving supplies to Yemen in response to what is now the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The supplies, which include medicines, vaccines and food, are essential to staving off disease and starvation. Without them, untold thousands of innocent victims, among them many children, will die.



More than 20 million people, including over 11 million children, are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. At least 14.8 million are without basic healthcare and an outbreak of cholera has resulted in more than 900,000 suspected cases.



Some 17 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from and 7 million are totally dependent on food assistance. Severe acute malnutrition is threatening the lives of almost 400,000 children. As supplies run low, food prices rise dramatically, putting thousands more at risk.



Even with a partial lifting of the blockade, the World Food Programme estimates that an additional 3.2 million people will be pushed into hunger. If left untreated, 150,000 malnourished children could die within the coming months. To deprive this many from the basic means of survival is an unconscionable act and a violation of humanitarian principles and law.



Fuel, medicine and food  all of which are now blocked from entry  are desperately needed to keep people alive. Without fuel, the vaccine cold chain, water supply systems and waste water treatment plants will stop functioning. And without food and safe water, the threat of famine grows by the day.



We are already seeing the humanitarian consequences of the blockade. Diphtheria is spreading fast with 120 clinically diagnosed cases and 14 deaths  mostly children  in the last weeks. We have vaccines and medicines in transit to Yemen, but they are blocked from entry. At least one million children are now at risk of contracting the disease.



The worlds largest cholera outbreak is waning and the number of new cases has declined for the 8th consecutive week from a peak of more than 900,000 suspected cases. If the embargo is not lifted cholera will flare up once again.



All of the countrys ports  including those in areas held by the opposition  should be reopened without delay. This is the only way that UN-chartered ships can deliver the vital humanitarian cargo that the population needs to survive. Flights from the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service - into and out of Yemen - should be given immediate clearance to resume. UN staff who are based in Yemen have been unable to move, even if they need urgent medical attention.



The clock is ticking and stocks of medical, food and other humanitarian supplies are already running low. The cost of this blockade is being measured in the number of lives that are lost.



If any of us in our daily lives saw a child whose life was at immediate risk, would we not try to save her? In Yemen we are talking about hundreds of thousands of children, if not more. We have the lifesaving food, medicine and supplies needed to save them, but we must have the access that is currently being denied.



On behalf of all those whose lives are at imminent risk, we reiterate our appeal to allow humanitarian access in Yemen without further delay.



###



Multimedia assets available for download here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM40805FSQX

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Yemen visit http://uni.cf/yemencrisis



For more information, please contact:

Christopher Tidey, UNICEF New York, +1 917 340 3017 ctidey@unicef.org
Based on reports from Shams Charania, the Philadelphia 76ers and Robert Covington are in the workings of a contract extension, which is to be finalized on Friday, November 16.

How far he's come

The undrafted Tennessee State product has become a core player for the rebuilding 76ers.

Through 13 games in the 2017-18, the 26-year-old small forward is incinerating opposing defense with a slash line of .497/.500/.793. Though it's a small sample size, it would appear that Covington has found his natural rhythm in the flow of the 76ers offense and, as a result, is boasting 16.8 points per game.

Covington is enjoying a solid start to a winning season with the 76ers. Photo: Getty Images North America

On the other hand, Covington's defensive prowess has been easy to acknowledge and, with a 6-8 frame and lanky arms, he's made his mark on opposing offenses. The combination of Covington, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons has already become a terrifying lineup to face, and with Covington signing this extension, there leaves more opportunity for these players to mesh.

What could have been

The 76ers are currently 7-6, tied with the New York Knicks, a team that could use a player like Covington in their ranks.

In the wake of the Carmelo Anthony deal, it has become apparent the Knicks are without an extremely reliable small forward. Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr. have alternated at the position while Doug McDermott has played well off the bench. Yet, there hasn't been much of an impact on both ends of the floor for the Knicks to be happy about, something Covington offers.

Anthony left a bigger void on the Knicks than most can see. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

Let's be clear, Covington wouldn't step in and revolutionize the Knicks by himself, but he could have been a consistent threat on both ends of the court, as he'd be matched up against the more talented forwards in the league. His height allows versatility and mobility at the forward position, which makes him an even better asset than one might think. Pair him alongside Kristaps Porzingis and Frank Ntilikina and the Knicks' defense becomes that much scarier.

Covington was set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, something the Knicks could have taken advantage of. Cap space permitting, the Knicks could have offered a lucrative deal to Covington to ensure their hold on him.

At 26, and with a wide array of skills, Covington fits the schema the Knicks are aiming for. Now that he's been in talks about an extension, it would seem the Knicks' hopes of securing a thriving forward in the league have fallen.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday used the Asean summit in the Philippines to call on U.S. President Donald Trump to admonish U.S. Embassy officials in Phnom Penh for alleged interference in Cambodias internal affairs.



Hun Sen said in a speech that past U.S. administrations had used human rights and democracy to interfere in other countries internal affairs and urged the Trump administration to do otherwise.



Your policy line is being revised, but the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh has not changed. We enforce the law; they attempt to prevent our legal enforcement. We enforce laws in our country and they obstruct us, he said.



At this point, I think that maybe you have the duty to admonish the officials because this is a great principle of non-interference in the internal affair of the people.



Hun Sens speech followed a statement by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz last week that criticized Cambodias government over the arrest of opposition leader Kem Sokha and attempts to dissolve his Cambodia National Rescue Party.



Hun Sen and other senior officials have defended the arrest and a lawsuit filed against the opposition as legitimate moves based on alleged evidence of treason.



Sebastian Strangio, author of Hun Sens Cambodia, said Hun Sens speech was an attempt to form an understanding with the Trump administration.



I think his intention is sort of to appeal and try to go over the head of the State Department and US Congress try to establish a good relationship with the president in the hope that he would be able to rebuild Cambodia-American ties on a basis that is much more supportive, he said.
Human rights workers in Cambodia have criticized the increased surveillance and alleged intimidation of opposition supporters ordered by the government ahead of a contentious court ruling on Thursday.



Civil society groups told VOA Khmer this week that they had documented authorities scrutinizing peoples travel plans more than usual and questioning people they suspected of suspicious activity.



In Kongchet, Koh Kong provincial coordinator for local rights group Licadho, said he had documented instances of authorities increased scrutiny of people traveling through the province, including numerous traffic stops.



We saw forces deployed and checking all passengers, asking where they came from and where they were going, he said. This activity affected the freedom of people to travel, express opinions, and political freedoms.



The interior ministry order to increase security around the country came two days before the Supreme Court is due to rule in a case against the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which could see the party dissolved and more than 100 of its officials barred from political activity for five years.



Kongchet said the measures taken by the government reflected its paranoia over claims of the existence of an insurrectionist movement attempting to foment a color revolution, the charge levied against Sokha and other senior CNRP officials.



In Koh Kong province, it appears that nobody had the idea to start protests or stage a color revolution to topple the government, Kongchet said.

In a letter dated November 11, the Koh Kong provincial administration urged people to stop supporting the CNRP as the party had betrayed the nation.



Yoeung Sotheara, a legal officer with election monitor Comfrel, said the authorities actions contravened the constitutional right to freedom of expression and assembly.



The authorities have the right to prevent [illegalities] but they cannot crackdown violently on the people, he added.



Ouch Touch, Koh Koh provinces administration chief, declined to comment on the security measures, while Sok Sothy, deputy governor, denied the increased security presence was a result of the interior ministry order, saying police were merely enforcing the traffic law.



Son Chhay, a senior CNRP lawmaker, said the CNRP had no plans to organize protests in the coming weeks. The party has no plans to do anything; we are still hopeful that we can continue our work peacefully and hope the trend will be towards solving the problem, he said.
A 72-year-old Swiss aid worker was freed by security forces early Wednesday, more than a month after she was abducted in Sudan's Darfur region, officials said.

Margaret Schenkel later flew back to the capital, Khartoum, but did not give details of her ordeal to waiting journalists.

She was kidnapped October 7 in the main city in North Darfur region, El Fasher, a hub for relief workers and U.N./African Union peacekeepers.

Security forces launched an operation to free her from a rural area where she was being held outside the southern town of Kutum, a spokesman for the regional government said.

The leader and one member of the six-man kidnapping gang had been arrested, Sudan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qarib al-Khidr, said.

Neither Switzerland nor Sudan paid a ransom, he added.

Khartoum has been at war with rebel groups in Darfur since 2003, but much of the conflict has descended into banditry, and gangs have kidnapped people for ransom.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry thanked Sudan for its help in freeing Schenkel. Officials have not named her aid group.
German sportswear giant Adidas led the pack as four companies won a global award on Wednesday for shining a light on their own supply chains to eradicate modern slavery from their operations.

Adidas was revealed as the overall winner of the second Thomson Reuters Foundation Stop Slavery Award, which celebrates businesses that excel in efforts to identify, investigate and root out forced labor from their supply chains.

Global fashion retailer C&A, U.S. technology company Intel and British mutually-owned retail and services group The Co-operative Group were the other winners of the annual award designed by Turner Prize winning sculptor Anish Kapoor.

With modern slavery increasingly dominating headlines worldwide, businesses are under increasing pressure from both governments and consumers to disclose what actions they are taking to ensure their supply chains are free from slavery.

About 25 million people globally were estimated to be trapped in forced labor in 2016, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and rights group Walk Free Foundation.

"Whilst we have outsourced our production and manufacturing all over the world, we will not outsource our moral responsibility which is to do right by the 1.3 million workers who make our products," said Aditi Wanchoo, senior manager of social and environmental affairs at Adidas, at the Thomson Reuters Foundation's annual Trust Conference.

The winners were chosen from a shortlist of 15 companies that employ millions of people worldwide in sectors ranging from electronics and hospitality to retail and mining and included British multinational bank Barclays, Nestle and Walmart.

The shortlist was selected after businesses completed a detailed questionnaire, designed in partnership with human rights specialists at multi-national law firm Baker & McKenzie, giving details about their operations.

An independent specialist assessed the company submissions on the strength of anti-trafficking policies already in place, as well as their ability to identify and respond to problems.

Rebuilding Lives

Adidas, the world's second-biggest sportswear firm, was hailed for its transparent audits, strong responsible sourcing guidelines, and robust tools to trace higher-risk supply chains.

The sportswear giant was one of the world's first companies to create a role dedicated to fighting slavery, and uses technology to encourage workers to speak out about any abuses.

The Co-operative Group was honored for having excelled in business partnership and supplier engagement, and won praise for its 'Brighter Future' program which aims to offer jobs to 30 slavery and trafficking victims in Britain.

"We want to go further than our own supply chains in tackling modern slavery," said Pippa Wicks, deputy chief executive of The Co-operative Group.

Intel, the world's largest computer chipmaker, was awarded for its innovation, in particular an initiative which leverages the company's data analytics, and uses artificial intelligence to combat child sexual exploitation in the United States.

The company has openly discussed its anti-slavery efforts, and refused new business with several suppliers who have failed to implement measures to combat forced labor, the judges said.

Fashion retailer C&A, which was praised by the judges for going beyond compliance standards in all categories, called for more collaboration between brands, governments and civil society to implement projects which tackle slavery in source countries.

The C&A Foundation, affiliated with retailer C&A, is in a partnership with the Thomson Reuters Foundation on trafficking.

The Stop Slavery Award was won last year by multinational tech companies Hewlett Packard Enterprise and NXP Semiconductors.
France's prime minister launched a mission Wednesday to reinvigorate trade and cooperation with Morocco, which has steadily positioned itself as a regional economic powerhouse focused on Africa instead of its former colonial ruler.

French government ministers, state secretaries and a large group of business leaders accompanied Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to the Moroccan capital for a two-day visit.

It was Philippe's first visit to the North African kingdom since his appointment in May. He chaired a Franco-Moroccan economic forum involving nearly 150 French and Moroccan companies.

However, Morocco's ambitions and stalemates crept into a joint news conference by Philippe and his Moroccan counterpart, Saadeddine El Othmani, in the form of a prickly question over Western Sahara.

Morocco considers the disputed territory its "southern provinces," but the Polisario Front independence movement has declared it as a separate state, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Asked whether the Polisario's republic would be represented at a summit this month of the African Union and the European Union, Othmani said its attendance would amount to support for separatists.

Morocco rejoined the African Union early this year after a lengthy absence due to differences over the Polisario Front. The AU-EU summit is to be held November 29-30 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. It remains unclear whether the Sahwari Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), supported by Morocco's neighbor, Algeria, will attend.

"It's an important summit. Very important for all of us," the Moroccan prime minister said. "But we have to say that the presence of this entity at the summit would be a support, a European support for separatisms."

"The entire international community must fight to preserve and prevent the dislocation of nation states," Othmani said.

SADR is recognized by dozens of United Nations member states and joined the African Union in 1984. Morocco quit in protest before finally rejoining this year.

Morocco has proposed wide-ranging autonomy for the region, but the Polisario Front insists that people in Western Sahara are entitled to self-determination through a referendum. The U.N. has worked for years to arrange such a referendum.

In a speech, France's Philippe hailed Morocco's decision to return to the African Union, but avoided mention of the knotty Western Sahara problem. Instead, he stressed "the importance of the continent in Franco-Moroccan relations."

The two countries are signing cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, education and justice.
Strong demand is set to give a huge boost to renewable energy growth in sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years, driving cumulative capacity up more than 70 percent, a senior international energy official said Wednesday.

From Ethiopia to South Africa, millions of people are getting access to electricity for the first time as the continent turns to solar, wind and hydropower projects to boost generation capacity.

"A big chunk of this [growth] is hydro because of Ethiopia, but then you have solar ... in South Africa, Nigeria and Namibia and wind in South Africa and Ethiopia as well," said Paolo Frankl, head of the renewable division at the Paris-based International Energy Agency.

He forecast installed capacity of renewable energy in the Sub-Saharan region almost doubling  from around 35 gigawatts now to above 60 gigawatts, given the right conditions.

Ethiopia has an array of hydropower projects under construction, including the $4.1 billion Grand Renaissance Dam along the Nile River that will churn out 6,000 megawatts upon completion.

That is enough for a good-sized city for a year.

"Africa has one of the best potential resources of renewables anywhere in the world, but it depends very much on the enabling framework, on the governance and the right rules," Frankl told Reuters on the sidelines of a wind energy conference.

Coal industry opposition

The transition to a low-carbon trajectory to reduce harmful greenhouse gases is creating opposition from the coal industry and fueling uncertainty in countries where job creation was linked to coal mining.

In Africa, this tension and its impact on new investment has been best illustrated by South Africa's state-owned Eskom and its reluctance to sign new deals with independent power producers, according to analysts.

In May, the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) said the energy regulator agreed to investigate Eskom's refusal to sign agreements that delayed 2,942 megawatts in new solar and wind projects.

"Our government does not appear to appreciate the forces of nature," SAWEA Chairman Mark Pickering said Wednesday.

The inability of Eskom to sign the new power purchase agreements for two years has delayed investment of 58 billion rand ($4.03 billion), and hit investor confidence with at least one shutdown of a wind turbine manufacturing plant, said SAWEA.

"The continent has a lot of potential, but the problem is financial and political issues, so all of our projects are being delayed for quite a long time, like with Eskom," said Mason Qin, business development manager for southern and eastern Africa at China's Goldwind.
The Angolan economy is set to grow 1.1 percent this year as sub-Saharan Africa's third-largest economy enjoys a mild recovery, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday following a 10-day visit to the country.

But Ricardo Velloso, the Brazilian economist who led the visit, said macroeconomic imbalances remain that need to be tackled by the new government.

In a statement, he highlighted the wide spread between the parallel and official market exchange rates and a backlog of foreign exchange purchase requests in commercial banks as points of continuing concern.

Velloso said the team met members of the new government which it felt understood the challenges facing the economy, and gave a thumbs up to the administration's six-month economic plan known as "Plano Intercalar."

"The Plano Intercalar is adequately focused on the goals of stepping up fiscal consolidation efforts, introducing greater exchange rate flexibility, and improving governance and the business climate to promote faster and inclusive growth as well as economic diversification," the statement said.

After nearly a decade of rapid growth, Angola slipped into recession last year as a fall in the price of oil led to a massive drop in government revenue and access to hard currency.

The official unemployment rate is at 25 percent, though likely in reality much higher, and a dollar fetches more than double the official rate on the black market.

President Joao Lourenco, who took office in September, has vowed to get the economy back on track promising to diversify away from oil and combat corruption.
@alextdaugherty

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, made up strictly of Democrats, rejected Miami Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelos bid to join its ranks Thursday, saying some members are concerned about his stance on immigration.

The caucus, currently made up of 30 members of Congress who are all Democrats, took a vote on Thursday morning after Curbelo appeared in front of the group to make his pitch.

He made a presentation and it was a good presentation, said caucus chairwoman Michelle Grisham Lujan, a New Mexico Democrat.

It didnt work.

It is truly shameful the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has decided to build a wall around the organization to exclude Hispanic-Americans who arent registered in the Democratic Party, Curbelo said in a statement afterward. This sends a powerful and harmful message of discrimination, bigotry, and division. Unbelievably, petty partisan interests have led the CHC to formally endorse the segregation of American Hispanics. It is a dark day on Capitol Hill. However, this only strengthens my commitment to working with my colleagues on both sides to urgently seek a solution for young immigrants in the DACA Program.

Grisham Lujan said Curbelos voting record, which includes voting in favor of a proposal to repeal Obamacare, factored into the decision to deny his membership.

We discussed several items, healthcare, the tax bill, relief for Puerto Rico, Grisham Lujan said. Many of those votes in this climate gave members who voted no, and maybe other members, pause over whether or not this was a good time for changing membership.

Individual members declined to reveal their votes while leaving Thursdays meeting, though some members like Arizona Democratic Reps. Raul Grijalva and Ruben Gallego had previously said they planned to vote against Curbelos inclusion.

Once we've done that [the vote], he can possibly stop complaining that he hasn't been given an audience and start complaining about the result, Grijalva said earlier this month.

Grisham Lujan implied that she voted in favor of Curbelos membership, which also hit a snag after it was reported that Curbelo had a heated meeting with Grisham Lujan over his inclusion.

I will tell you that I have been a member who has been on the record being favorable to membership by both Senate and House Republicans, and Ive been consistent in that effort, Grisham Lujan said after the vote.



Read more here.
At least 3,000 people formed a chain of light in Vienna on Wednesday to protest against the formation of a government that includes the far-right Freedom Party.

Demonstrators holding flickering candles, torches and bicycle lamps encircled the capital's government district.

"Our republic's most powerful political offices should be exclusively reserved for trustworthy people who are not in the slightest connected to right-wing extremists," said Alexander Pollak, spokesman for SOS Mitmensch, one of several human rights groups which organized the demonstration.

It was the biggest protest in Austria since coalition talks between the conservative People's Party (OVP) and the Freedom Party (FPO) started two weeks ago.

Organizers estimated the number of people taking part at 8,000 to 10,000, the police at around 3,000.

"We are here because they (the FPO) feed hatred and want to divide people," said Brigitte Griesser, holding a candle.

But the protest was far smaller than unrest 17 years ago, when the FPO last formed a government with the OVP and more than 100,000 took to the streets.

"[The shift to the right] has become a European trend... it's no longer just an Austrian issue and that's why it is not that controversial any longer," said protester Juergen Pucher.


In Mongolias Gobi desert, thousands of heavy-duty trucks laden with coal inch along a cluttered highway toward the Chinese border in a journey that can take more than a week.

Truckers cook, eat and sleep in vehicles covered in coal dust, many subsisting on the same meat soup that fueled Genghis Khans Mongol Horde more than eight centuries ago.

Alongside the trucks a bustling microeconomy has sprung up of traders peddling cigarettes, water and diesel as drivers wait to clear Chinese customs in a queue that can stretch for 130 kilometers (80 miles).

A rebound in coal prices and a surge in exports to China this year has meant a bonanza for miners in Mongolia, and a vital lifeline for the countrys tiny economy, after a currency and debt crisis forced it to seek an economic rescue package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Border chokepoint

But long delays at the Gashuun Sukhait-Gants Mod crossing, the main transit point between the two countries, are undercutting those gains as fleets of trucks carrying coal from Gobi desert mines to China pile up at the border.

The long delays have been blamed on a surge in traffic driven by the thriving cross-border coal trade. However, Mongolias inability to stop rampant smuggling across the border has also played a role as China has imposed more stringent checks on incoming deliveries in recent months.

Customs officials in Chinas Inner Mongolia declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. The General Administration of Customs in Beijing also did not respond to requests for comment.

Coal prices, exports up

The rise in coal prices this year has doubled border traffic, according to local police, putting law enforcement and customs staff under heavy pressure in both China and Mongolia.

With Gobi miners hoping to boost output further next year in a bid to take advantage of higher prices in China, the bottlenecks are expected to get worse.

An environmental crackdown in China has resulted in the closure of hundreds of mines and the restriction of coal deliveries into smaller ports, driving up prices.

Curbs on coal imports from North Korea as a result of international sanctions against Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program have also allowed Mongolia to fill the breach.

Mongolias coal exports to China rose more than four-fold in the first half of the year, but growth has petered out since the delays at the border crossings first arose in July.

Bataa Davaasuren, director of Mongolias Customs House at Gashuun Sukhait, said customs on both sides of the border were short-staffed, adding that the situation had been exacerbated by events like the Chinese Communist Party Congress in October.

Mongolias Foreign Affairs Ministry said the problem was initially caused by the Naadam summer festival, when many Mongolians take long holidays.

Smuggling a problem

Mongolian customs officers are also taking more time to screen cargoes after their Chinese counterparts complained that raw meat and even guns had been secreted in coal heading to China, Davaasuren said.

There was even one incident when a driver tried to sneak a live wolf across the border, he said.

Nobody wants the long queue, of course, said Davaasuren, who said the problem would quickly disappear if Mongolian customs could raise its handling capacity to 3,000 trucks a day from 700 currently. Its bad for the drivers and the country, so were all working to resolve the issue.

Harrowing trip

When trucks arent stuck in grinding traffic, just getting to the border is also a harrowing ordeal, as vehicles speed toward China and back down the one-lane road. With no street lamps to guide the way and drunken driving a constant problem, danger levels increase at night, drivers say.

Its very risky, said one driver, who identified himself as Bat-Erdene. We see flipped-over cars on the side of the road every day.

On a recent trip down the road, a team of Reuters journalists saw numerous overturned trucks and vehicles smashed up from head-on collisions littering the side of the road.

We see unbelievable things, said Dunshig Baasanjav, a driver standing outside his truck amid the motionless traffic.

Others who see it would think its the worst theyve ever seen, but we see it all the time. Were numb to it.

Rail link the answer

Miners say the long-term solution to the border bottleneck problem is a new rail link connecting mines with the Gashuun Sukhait crossing.

Mongolia built more than 200 kilometers of foundations for railway tracks for the link but the project was put on hold after financing ran dry.

Local authorities believe the project may have to start again from scratch because the foundation blocks have been left at the mercy of Mongolias harsh environment for so long.

Whatever the fate of the railroad, those plying the roads from the Gobi to China in stop-and-go traffic have little choice but to keep driving given the lack of opportunities in a country strapped by austerity measures linked to the IMF bailout.

This job is very risky and life threatening, but we have no other choice, said Choijiljav Ganbold, a trucker who emerged from his truck as the sun set on the motionless traffic.

We have nothing else to do.
After widespread allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, the first evidence is emerging of possible attempts by Moscow to influence Britain's referendum on leaving the European Union.



Researchers have identified thousands of social media accounts that promoted anti-EU messages or sought to whip up political and racial tensions.



The investigation by the University of California, Berkeley and Britain's Swansea University shows in the two days leading up to the "Leave" victory in June 2016, Twitter accounts based in Russia posted almost 45,000 messages about Brexit, most of them anti-EU.

The next day, the majority went silent. By far the majority of the accounts had not previously engaged in the Brexit debate but had instead focused on other issues like the conflict in Ukraine.



Britain's Electoral Commission and a committee of lawmakers have launched separate investigations into fake news and the role of social media, as the new evidence emerges.



"Russia is interfering, and it is doing so to try to undermine public confidence in political institutions and in the mainstream media in Western countries. We have to regard the spread of fake news propagated by fake accounts across Twitter and Facebook in this way as a real threat to our democracy," said Conservative MP Damian Collins, Chairman of the Parliamentary Culture, Media and Sport Committee and head of the investigation.

U.S. spy agencies say Russia directed a campaign of propaganda to disrupt the 2016 presidential election. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied interfering.After meeting Putin last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed his Russian counterpart.



Speaking Tuesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May had a very different message for Moscow.



"It is seeking to weaponize information," she said, "deploying its state-run media organizations to plant fake stories and photo-shopped images in an attempt to sow discord in the West and undermine our institutions. So, I have a very simple message for Russia. We know what you are doing. And you will not succeed."



Watch Ridgwell's Report:





In one such fake story, a Twitter user posting under the handle "South Lone Star" and purportedly from Texas, posted a photo of a Muslim woman apparently ignoring a victim of the March Westminster terror attack. But other unseen images, corroborated by the photographer, showed the woman clearly traumatized. Twitter has since revealed the account was operated out of Russia.



"Why would someone do that? They are doing that to try and create racial tensions," said Collins. "My fear is this practice is probably far more widespread than we currently know."



Twitter has handed the US Congress details of nearly 3,000 accounts linked to Russia's shady Internet Research Agency, based in St Petersburg, where it's alleged hundreds of people work 24 hours a day to create and spread propaganda. And it's not just humans at work.



Researchers at City University of London have uncovered a network of 13,500 automated Twitter accounts or "bots" operating at the time of the Brexit vote.



Lead researcher Dr. Marco Bastos said they were "directed at re-tweeting, replicating content of real world users - users who were very polarized, users who were tweeting messages that included a strong hyper-partisan,' as we call it, component. This is not your usual Joe that is talking about Brexit."



With their thousands of followers, Bastos said those Twitter bots have a marketable value and can be renamed and re-purposed for a new campaign.

The researchers praise Twitter for making its data available to the public, but say Facebook is far more secretive.



The City University research did not look at where the bots originate. But lawmakers in both Europe and the United States say the Kremlin appears to be using social media to sow division.

Twitter and Facebook say they are complying with investigations, but pressure is growing for them to do more.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party has seemingly never had a firmer grip on power.

The CPP dominates government administration, the military and the judiciary, and has eliminated or outlasted all of its political opponents.

But its apparent supremacy masks a serious and growing problem: The more control the party exerts, the less certainty it has about whether anyone truly supports it.

As it moves to further consolidate its power in the run-up to the July general election, the government is preying on some superstitious segments of the population and manipulating the trust many villages place in local officials. And as this plays out, the government has drawn international concern due to the continued detention of Kem Sokha, the leader of the political opposition, the subsequent flight of opposition leaders, and a crackdown on nongovernmental organizations and media.

On Tuesday, after a U.S. delegation met with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila, on the margins of the East Asia Summit, the White House issued a statement expressing "strong concerns about recent steps that challenge the country's democratic progress, including restrictions on the free press, civil society, and the political opposition."

On the ground

Here in Taches, a group of rice-farming villages bisected by a new national highway, Duch Thuon embodies the contradiction facing the CPP, where it can wield its influence more directly than in urban areas.

The 66-year-old used to support the ruling party, but a decade ago began backing the opposition after becoming angered by government corruption.

But when his village's deputy chief and a CPP-aligned councilor came to his home last month and asked him which party he would vote for, he knew the right answer.

"The party that gives life," he told the visitors, using a politically correct term for the CPP.

Nationwide, the CPP has worked for decades to blur the boundaries between itself and the state. Projects paid for by state funds or external donors are often attributed to the CPP's largesse. Villagers are told, repeatedly, that the party "gives life."

Given that military officials and local leaders who control access to state services are also CPP affiliates, citizens may find it hard to reveal their true political preferences when asked.

"Because I live under their authority, when they came to ask, I just followed them. But in my mind, my heart, it is not that way. I'm actually voting for the CNRP," said Duch Thuon in an interview last week, referring to the opposing Cambodia National Rescue Party.

This can create the false impression that the CPP is universally liked, which complicates the fundamental business of democracy  winning elections.

Supporting the CPP

In response to disappointing results in June's commune elections, the CPP has embarked on an ambitious new membership campaign to register entire households as "CPP families" and ensure that everyone who signs up is smos trong  a Khmer term meaning "honest" or, literally, "straight and loyal."

Party administrators want to identify people who will actually tick the box for the CPP once they get inside the voting booth, which is increasingly the only place in Cambodia where true political inclinations can be expressed.

The rationale behind the drive was laid out in a party document circulated on June 7 and signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. Three days earlier, more than 3.5 million people had cast votes for CPP commune councilors. But the party has more than 5.3 million members.

Hun Sen exhorted local officials to re-register supporters, this time making sure that each one of them would truly vote for the party. The campaign's slogan is "One Party Member, One Vote Supporting the CPP."

"It is since we lost 2 million votes, so we have to selectively choose for quality, which refers to people who are completely honest with the party," party spokesman Sok Eysan told VOA Khmer.

In this part of Kampong Chhnang province, the registration drive has seen village chiefs go door to door, asking residents like Duch Thuon to register for a new document called a "CPP family book."

It looks similar to a key Cambodian state identity document also known as a family book. Unlike previous party registration cards, the book requires affiliates to provide photographs of their faces.

Those who register as "CPP families" are to be given a cash payment three times per year, according to documents viewed by VOA. However, they are expected to vote for the CPP, multiple local officials and villagers said.

Feeling pressured

Multiple interviewees told VOA that they felt pressure, implicit or explicit, to register for the document, or to agree to be included in a parents' or husband's CPP family books, since the same local officials asking them to sign up were the ones responsible for processing normal identity and land ownership documents.

"There is confusion," said Sun Kosal, a commune councilor for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party in Taches. "People are asking around: 'What is it for?'"

Everyone interviewed by VOA said they were asked to thumbprint and add their photographs to a CPP family book by their village chief or deputy chief, even though village administrators are not supposed to engage in party politics.

Village officials have been instructed to ensure that every CPP family genuinely supports the party, but they also report being under pressure by higher-level officials to boost the numbers.

This has resulted in some unusual efforts to ensure that those on the CPP family list show up in the polling booth in July and tick the party box.

Everyone who signs up is also assigned to a "party group," a cell of about 10 people who are assigned to monitor each other's loyalty. Some village chiefs in Taches say they were told to make registrees swear an oath that would bring death upon them if they did not vote for the CPP.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said that although the registration drive was a national initiative, provincial officials were given latitude to implement it. He said it was not official party policy to have people swearing oaths or to pay new members, but those actions were allowed.

"It depends on the ability of each provincial head," Sok Eysan said.

In an indication of how sensitive the issue is, the party spokesman cautioned a VOA reporter that asking detailed questions about the registration drive might be a sign that the journalist was supporting a "color revolution"  a reference to pro-democracy movements' attempts to overthrow autocratic regimes in parts of the former Soviet Union, the Balkans and the Middle East.

A water pledge

Before the June elections, the chief of Boeng Kak village in Taches took a straw poll. The responses indicated that the CPP would win the vote.

The opposition then won by about 80 votes.

That is why identifying "smos trong" CPP supporters is so important, said Nget Vanna, a former soldier who became village chief about five years ago.

He has instituted a "water pledge." After registering villagers for CPP family books, he asked a Buddhist monk to bless a bottle of water that he toted from house to house, testing those who had professed support by asking them to drink the water and take an oath.

The oath-takers were asked to swear that if they did not vote for the CPP, they would meet with death and destruction, he said. They were allowed to choose their own form of calamity.

Nget Vanna said that after villagers drank the water and swore allegiance, they would have their CPP family book formally registered and receive three cash installments of $12.50 each, starting next year. In the past, he said, party supporters received small gifts, but not money.

The first payment is scheduled to be made in April 2018, three months before the national election in July.

For Nget Vanna, there is nothing problematic about asking people to swear fealty to the party. He said no one was pressured to sign up in the first place.

"Do you dare to drink the oath-taking water?" Nget Vanna said. "This is for honesty since some tell lies just for gifts."

Out of 437 eligible voters in Boeng Kak village, 166 drank the holy water. Nget Vanna said he would expect every one of those people to be "honest" and deliver a vote to the CPP.

But what does it mean to be honest in a rural village where everyone knows your name and professed party affiliation?

Long Savoeun, a 65-year-old Christian pastor, is sick and frail, but recalls being visited by Nget Vanna and his deputy, along with a third village official.

Confronted with the demand to swear allegiance, Long Savoeun was distressed, partly because he felt it might be un-Christian. Ultimately, he said he drank the water but declined to take an oath, citing his religious beliefs.

"After they left, I discussed it with other villagers, and they said it's not necessary to drink the water and it's up to us which party we vote for," he said.

As Long Savoeun was being interviewed, the village chief drove and parked at a house nearby. Long Savoeun said he preferred not to discuss his political preferences.

Looking long term

A short drive down National Road 5 from Boeng Kak village are the neighboring villages of Banteay Meas and Sovong, where the registration drives were in full swing for most of October.

In Banteay Meas, the CPP beat the CNRP by just one vote in the June commune elections, a fact that everyone here seems to know.

Sun Kosal, the opposition commune councilor, said that although savvy villagers understood that registering for a CPP family book was a way of joining the party, others were confused.

Once they signed up, he noted, they would be incorporated into the CPP "group book" system, and other party members would go to greater lengths to enforce politically correct behavior.

"Some people will follow the CPP because they don't understand much and are easily forced to join the party," he said.

The Banteay Meas village chief, Nguon Korn, confirmed that he had gone door to door asking villagers to sign up as party members, but insisted he put no pressure on them.

"I know as a village chief we have to be neutral," he said, adding, "Honestly, the intention is to find the true supporters who truly support the CPP. We just want to look for people who are honest with the party."

But in rural Cambodia, that is easier said than done.

Villagers will often go to great lengths to stay on good terms with their commune and village chiefs, said Caroline Hughes, a professor at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom who specializes in Cambodian politics.

Doing so "ensures that they will be considered, even consulted, in commune-level decision-making about local development issues," Hughes wrote in a 2013 paper.

"They will be invited to participatory planning meetings and included in distributions of resources and gifts from commune patrons. Most importantly, if they have a problem  a reversal of fortune or a serious dispute  they will be able to get a degree of support," she added.

'I live under their authority'

But in exchange for such help, Hughes writes, villagers must show loyalty. Because local officials are responsible for routine document processing, it can be difficult to openly deny them when they ask for a thumbprint.

Duch Thuon, the opposition supporter who registered for a CPP family book, felt he had no choice but to go along with the process.

"I just gave it [my thumbprint] to them because I live under their authority," he explained. "I know they were forcing me to join their party."

If he refused, he expected to be watched and harassed, which he claimed had occurred to opposition supporters during the last election.

Duch Thuon said there were rumors that government officials would be using cameras to monitor polling stations in 2018 so they would know if any registered CPP family book holders did not vote for the ruling party.

In the neighboring village of Sovong, a man named Mey Chham said he had been directly warned of poll cameras by the trio who visited him and asked him to register for the CPP: his village chief, the deputy village chief and a third village official.

He said he was visited twice by the officials, once soon after the election and again about two weeks ago.

"They said, 'If you give your photos and ID card and then vote for the other party, they will know because they have a camera,'" said Mey Cham, a wiry 69-year-old farmer who has only just started feeling too old to clamber up palm trees to collect their sugary sap.

He knew he did not want to become a registered CPP supporter. So he fibbed.

"I didn't refuse them, because I was afraid they would watch me," he said. "I just said I had no photos."

'I'm just waiting to be blamed'

Across National Road 5 from Mey Chham's house, his village chief was sitting at home  anxious, in turn, about those who are watching her from above.

Seum Yun, a 63-year-old grandmother, earns $50 a month as the head of Sovang village, a job that is increasingly seeming like more trouble than it's worth.

She oversees local charity efforts, like an NGO-funded sanitation system that is still being planned, and she is responsible for village administration. Then there is the work she is expected to do on behalf of the CPP  despite holding an ostensibly apolitical position.

"Party work is busier than state work!" she said.

The hardest thing, at the moment, is the CPP registration drive, which she had been working on for three months. In the June elections, the CPP lost five of the commune's 15 villages, and for the first time four opposition party members sit on the Taches commune council.

"It's a lot of work. I need to walk into houses day and night, asking people for photos, and for this work I don't get any money," she said. "I have to walk and get into houses, from house to house, and sometimes it's not just one time, but two times, three times, checking if they are really honest with the party."

She said village chiefs in the area were all aligned with the CPP and had been advised by party officials to make villagers swear oaths.

Seum Yun insisted that no villagers were pressured to register  but cheerfully admitted that once they did, they would be considered honor-bound to vote for the CPP.

Seum Yun said she knew there were more CNRP supporters in her village than true CPP believers, and feared her job was on the line. "If those people we collected do not really vote for the CPP, those people [higher-level officials] will blame me," she said. "I'm just waiting to be blamed."

Targeting younger voters

It is partly new patterns of migration and urbanization that have led the CPP to its current quandary.

Intensive local-level surveillance, subtle intimidation and vote-buying are not new tactics; in fact, they are partly how the CPP has kept the country in its grip for so long.

But what is different now is the competition and the electorate. In 2013, for the first time in years, the CPP was up against a united opposition party that has a compelling message and widespread popular support.

Hughes noted that despite its local networks, the CPP was taken aback by the opposition's showing, which suggested "these sophisticated and well-practiced techniques of social control are not working as well as previously," she writes.

She attributes the party's overconfidence partly to demographic and economic change, which has brought young Cambodians to cities to be educated or sent them to Thailand as migrant laborers, disrupting traditional household and village structures and feeding them new ideas about governance.

While many local officials continue to have a clear idea of how older people will vote, they often find themselves stymied by younger voters.

This may explain why the new registration campaign revolves around family groups. The June CPP circular signed by Hun Sen says it "urges the expansion of new members, especially youth, to support the party so the party can win next year's election."

Differences in families

In Phnom Penh, an educated professional in his early 30s named Ty said that his mother, who is 69, was well-known to local officials as a regular CPP voter.

"She thinks the CPP brought peace and makes people do business well," he said. "She is also afraid of war."

Aware of this, a CPP commune official stopped by their home and said she would register the entire family into a CPP family book.

The official already knew the names of everyone in the household and promised a payment of $12.50 if they signed up.

Feeling pressure, Ty, who asked to be referred to by a nickname for fear of reprisals, agreed to thumbprint the book along with his wife and his sister. But he feels no commitment to the CPP.

Unlike his mother, he is not afraid of war, and in the commune election he voted for the opposition party. He plans to watch and wait before choosing a political side in the coming national election.

"I am still observing the political situation," he said. "I will decide on Election Day."
Cambodia's Supreme Court has dissolved the country's main opposition party in a ruling likely to cement Prime Minister Hun Sen's already expansive grip on power.

Thursday's unanimous ruling by the nine-member court also bans 118 members of the now-defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party from any political activity for the next five years. The court sided with a lawsuit filed by Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party, accusing the CNRP of being involved in a foreign-backed plot to topple the government.

The United States and other countries accused by the ruling party have denied backing any subversive plots.

The ruling caps a crackdown on dissenting voices launched by the prime minister ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. The repressive moves include the arrest of CNRP leader Kem Sokha on charges of treason, which led half of the party's lawmakers to flee, and the closure of The Cambodia Daily, one of the country's last independent newspapers, after the publishers received an exorbitant overdue tax bill they said was bogus.

In a statement Thursday, the White House expressed grave concern about the Cambodian governments action, based on meritless and politicized allegations that CNRP participated in a conspiracy to overthrow the government.

The White House called on the government of Cambodia to undo its recent actions against the CNRP, release its leader, and allow the legitimate activities of opposition parties, civil society, and the media.

The Cambodian governments restrictions on civil society, suppression of the press, and banning of opposition leaders from political activities have significantly set back Cambodias democratic development and placed its economic growth and international standing at risk, the statement said, adding that the U.S. will take concrete steps in face of such deeply regrettable actions of Cambodian government.

End of fledgling democracy?

The dissolution of Cambodias only credible opposition party effectively leaves the country as a one-party state, which critics say could spell the end of more than 25 years of efforts to implement democracy the country.

For those Cambodians who spent years trying to build a representative and democratic government, the ruling is a painful blow that raises hard questions.

The massive, $1.6 billion U.N.-backed effort to seed democracy in Cambodia started in 1992, when U.N. personnel began flooding into the country to build the institutions to support a new democratic government.

In 1993, a wide-eyed TV news assistant named Chhorn Bunhom returned to the country he had fled as a petrified 6-year-old to cover this extraordinary intervention.

Im on top of this aussie U.N. car/van and you can see little kids jumping up and down think that, you know, the U.N. is here to save them, he said, recalling his entry into the country across the Thai border in Poipet.

Working as a sound recordist and camera assistant Bunhom had been flung right into an explosion of euphoric enthusiasm in a country that had known little else than misery and horrific violence for decades.

The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia had come to bring democracy.

With it came not only the possibility of an end to authoritarian rule but a transformative injection of economic activity both through direct investments and commerce generated by the hedonistic excesses of some 20,000 foreign peacekeepers.

Its like somebody bought a million dollar fire cracker and just lit it up in the middle of the night in Cambodia and thats what I felt like - Cambodia all of a sudden had light, he said.

Today, nearly 25 years later, a generation enlisted to build an idealistic new vision of Cambodia can only watch with dismay.

Echoes of Cambodia's dark past

This week, a 65 hectare area surrounding the Supreme Court was on lockdown with only the odd confused tourist trying to leave or return to a hotel and a small contingent of journalists allowed in.

Two journalists, Oun Chhin and Yeang Sothearin, were arrested on Tuesday and will reportedly be charged with espionage on accusations they provided information to their employer Radio Free Asia - which shut down its Cambodia operations last month citing intimidation.

The night before the court hearing, security forces made up of police, military police and guards made coordinated visits the offices of prominent human rights NGOs such as Adhoc and Licadho to check if they were harboring protesters, while roadblocks were set up on major arterials into the city.

Its an environment Chin Channa, a translator for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal who championed its creation back at the turn of the century, remembers only too well from his days as a monk before the 1993 election.

Back then his enthusiasm for the royalist revival of Prince Norodom Ranariddhs opposition FUNCINPEC party constantly got him in trouble with authorities and his superiors in the clergy.

A lot of monks were afraid but for me I did not feel any fear, he said, adding he was chased out of a temple in Battambang by a chief abbott infuriated with his incessant politicking.

Channa believes governance programs in Cambodia have failed only because of the ruling party's resistance.

This has worked so far. Ive been working with many organizations and those organizations have trained a lot of Cambodian people including government officials, police officers, judges, prosecutors, lawyers and students so they been exposed to this new leadership and governance system," Channa said. But the ruling party has never been able to maintain this momentum, they tried to bring Cambodia back to the communist way of leadership."



Lack of compromise

Thida Khus, who helped bring back many Cambodian Americans to the country in 1993 to help set up civil society organizations and teach in universities, says there are many reasons why UNTACs mission ultimately failed.

She provided input into the drafting of the constitution and later founded the organization SILAKA to encourage Cambodian women to take greater participation in politics - exposing her constantly to the countrys evolving political culture.



Cambodians dont like to confront each other if they dont agree with each other - theyd rather walk out of a situation. But in a democracy sometimes you need to be persistent and not to compromise and many of the Cambodians do a lot of compromise since the election of the U.N., she said.

Khus says that while human rights education in Cambodia has been extensive, until recent there were few efforts to teach the public about political rights and democratic culture.

Bunhom, now a documentary filmmaker and TV producer, says western countries were naive to think that democracy can be grown "like a tree."

I think democracy is very much like a system of thinking and that is, when you want a person to change his or her way of thinking, you really need to argue your point and you really need to be there among them."


The fugitive leader of Catalonias secessionist movement said Wednesday that he will again be his partys leading candidate in upcoming elections for the Spanish region while he fights extradition from Belgium.

Carles Puigdemont told El Punt-Avui television from Brussels that he is handpicking a list of candidates to run under him in Dec. 21 elections for Catalonias regional parliament, which were called by Spains national government after the regions legislators voted to declare independence.

He said that the list, running under the name Together For Catalonia (Junts pel Catalunya), will include members from his Democratic Party of Catalonia (PDeCAT) and some independents without a background in politics.

I have told PDeCAT that I need to make a list that is more mine than of the party so the greatest number of people feel comfortable, Puigdemont said. PDeCAT has accepted it and is working toward it.

The Democratic Party of Catalonia confirmed to The Associated Press that its national board decided Wednesday to accept Puigdemonts proposal to create his own list.

Campaign from Belgium

Puigdemont said he plans to run his campaign from Brussels, where he and four former Cabinet members are facing an extradition hearing that could send them back to Spain to face accusations of rebellion and sedition. A Belgian judge released them from custody after they turned themselves in more than a week ago under the condition that they remain in Belgium.

I am excited to campaign, but with limitations, Puigdemont said. I dont have the right to leave Belgium and obviously I wont.

Puigdemont is a wanted man since he fled Spain following a crackdown by authorities after Catalonias parliament voted in favor of a declaration of independence Oct. 27. He has said he went to the European Unions capital because he didnt trust that he would be fairly treated by Spanish courts.

Puigdemont and the other four former ministers have their extradition hearing Friday. However, the entire extradition process could take months.

He and 13 other former Cabinet members face prison sentences of up to 30 years. Nine former members of his government remained in Spain and were sent to prison by a judge while the investigation proceeds.

Tight race likely

Spains government responded to the northeastern regions declaration of independence by firing Puigdemonts government, dissolving Catalonias Parliament and calling snap elections that it hopes will lead to a victory by parties against independence.

Polls forecast a tight race between parties in favor of secession and those who want to preserve centuries-old ties with the rest of Spain. According to the polls, Puigdemonts party is poised to lose votes, while the pro-secession Republican Left is expected to get the biggest block of votes yet fall well short of an outright majority.

Puigdemont said he was disappointed that he failed to persuade the Republic Left party to join his coalition.

Catalan separatists claim a mandate for independence from the results of a referendum on secession held Oct. 1 despite a ban by Spains top court, a boycott by parties against independence and its failure to meet international standards. Forty-three percent of eligible voters turned out to cast ballots in the face of police raids on polling places.

If Puigdemont is convicted, besides jail time he could be banned from holding public office.

Hints of meddling

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has pledged to quash all attempts of a breakaway, citing the Spanish constitutions provision that the nation is indivisible.

Earlier Wednesday, Rajoy expressed confidence his government could handle any outside attempts to tamper with the election in Catalonia after his government had said there were indications of cyber-meddling by foreigners. Rajoy declined to give details on what security measures Spain would take to prevent or counter electronic interference with the vote, but said people will vote with complete liberty.

Spanish Defense Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal said Monday that many actions to mount a misinformation campaign to destabilize Catalonia had come from Russian territory and elsewhere in recent months. However, both Cospedal and Rajoy said Spain had no indication the Russian government was involved.

Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed insinuations of Russian meddling in Catalonia as unsubstantiated.

We consider these accusations unfounded, Peskov said Wednesday, adding that Spains concerns sounded like a continuation of the hysteria in the U.S. and some other countries.


Colombia's Senate has backed a law to regulate transitional justice under the country's peace deal with Marxist FARC rebels, including special tribunals that will try guerrilla leaders for war crimes.

The law, approved late on Wednesday, is considered the cornerstone of an agreement signed last year between the government and the FARC, which was known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The measure still needs approval by the lower house of Congress, which is likely to vote on it early next week.

The special courts will mete out alternative sentences like landmine removal for ex-guerrilla leaders who are convicted of war crimes. Under the peace deal, those convicted will not serve time in traditional jails.

The law can also apply to members of the military and civilians who funded illegal groups like paramilitaries.

Congress has until the end of the month to approve the law using the court-approved "fast-track" mechanism to reduce the number of required debates in an effort to implement the peace deal as quickly as possible.

In a move that invigorated previously slow debate in the Senate chamber, the nation's top court ruled this week that the majority of the law, including provisions that allow former rebels to participate in politics, is constitutional.

The FARC, now officially a political party, will have 10 guaranteed seats in Congress until 2026 under the peace deal and has announced a slate of candidates for elections next year.
Two senior U.S. senators asked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday to explain "questionable management practices" at his department that they believe are weakening the country's diplomatic power, adding to a chorus of concern in Congress.

Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen delivered a letter to Tillerson asking him to begin consulting with lawmakers on decisions that have an impact on recruiting, retaining and staffing the State Department, removing a hiring freeze and resuming promotions.

McCain is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Shaheen is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's subcommittee on State Department management.

"While we support reasonable steps to improve the efficiency of the State Department, such efforts must be fully transparent, with the objective of enhancing, not diminishing, American diplomacy," the senators wrote.



They said declining morale, recruitment and retention of staff, a lack of experienced leadership and reports that diplomacy is becoming less effective "paint a disturbing picture."



Many members of Congress, Democrats as well as some of President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans, have rejected Trump's proposal to cut the State Department budget by about 30 percent. Tillerson has embraced the plan, and imposed a hiring freeze while analyzing the agency's operations and deciding how to reorganize them.

On Tuesday, the Republican chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee both blasted the agency for cuts in staff and what they described as a failure to have a plan for a proposed organization.



The panel's top Democrat, Senator Ben Cardin, reiterated his concerns on Wednesday.

"Our national security is being jeopardized by the employment and career decisions being made at the State Department," he told reporters.

It was not immediately clear how lawmakers could press the administration to change its policies, especially because Trump's fellow Republicans, most of whom vote consistently with the president, hold majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Tillerson has said his reorganization plan aimed to increase efficiency and to cut costs, with a target of saving at least 10 percent, or about $5 billion, over the next five years from fiscal year 2017 levels.

Cardin said the impact of disorganization at the State Department was being felt internationally.

"I could mention almost every place in the world," he said.
Giant rats are probably not the first thing that come to mind to tackle tuberculosis but scientists hope their sniffing skills will speed up efforts to detect the deadly disease in major cities across the world.

Tuberculosis, which is curable and preventable, is one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), killing 1.7 million people in 2016 and infecting 10.4 million others.

African Giant Pouched Rats, trained by Belgian charity APOPO, are known for sniffing out landmines in countries from Angola to Cambodia and for detecting TB cases in East Africa.

Over the next few years, APOPO plans to fight tuberculosis at the source by launching TB-detection rat facilities in major cities of 30 high-risk countries including Vietnam, India and Nigeria.

"One of the best ways to fight TB at source is in major cities that draw a lot of people from the rural areas," James Pursey, APOPO spokesman, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"It is a vicious circle. You can be reinfected. To fight TB, you have to hit it hard," he said by phone from Zimbabwe.

Many people get infected in big, densely populated cities and spread the disease to rural areas, according to Pursey.

The rats learn to recognize the presence of TB in samples of mucus that is coughed up from the patient's lower airways.

In Tanzania, people in communities where TB is most common, including in prisons, often fail to show up for screening because of a lack of money or awareness, placing a huge burden on health authorities, health experts said.

"TB is a disease of poverty," said Pursey. "If nothing changes it can only get worse."

The APOPO has seen the TB detection rate increase by 40 percent in clinics it has worked with in Tanzania and Mozambique, according to Pursey, who said that using rats to screen did not negate the need for proper diagnostic testing.

While a technician may take four days to detect a case of TB, a trained rat can screen 100 samples in 20 minutes, and a rat screening costs as little as 20 US cents, APOPO said.
The Dalai Lama says he has appointed emissaries to attend international engagements or speak on his behalf indefinitely.

Citing increasing physical fatigue, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader made the comments while meeting with a group of international youth leaders brought to Dharmsala, India, by the Washington-based Institute of Peace.

I'm 82 years old, and since last year [my] feeling of tiredness has been much increased, he told the group during video-recorded meetings last week.

Because he may not be able to maintain a regular international travel schedule, he said, the president of Tibet's current government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, along with prominent Buddhist scholar and former prime minister in exile, Samdong Rinpoche, would act as his official emissaries.

These "trusted friends, they know my thinking," he said. Our work, continuously, should be more active [and internationally engaged], so in these two persons," he said, pointing to Lobsang and Samdong, "I have full trust."

Looking to the dialogue moderator, USIP President Nancy Lindborg, the Dalai Lama said: "If your side ... or your government's side" has concerns, "then these two persons, either one, can participate as my representative or my personal emissary.

Penpa Tsering, representative for the Office of Tibet in Washington, which represents the Tibetan government-in-exile, downplayed the significance of the Dalai Lama's statement.

"I think this was more of a general statement," he told VOA. "His holiness is sometimes too tired to travel, and his April visit to the United States has been suspended indefinitely, but he will continue to travel in India, and Europe is only a seven hour flight."

Adding that Lobsang's presidential term is limited to five years, and the fact that Samdong has long served as a kind of unofficial deputy to the Dalai Lama, he said the November 6 comments do not represent a major diversion or change in Dharmsalas official representation on the world stage.

Symbol of Tibet

However, Carole McGranahan, a University of Colorado anthropologist and historian of Tibet, says although prioritizing the Dalai Lama's health requires a reduction in his international travel schedule, his physical absence from global engagements cannot be substituted via proxy.

"So much of the goodwill and attention Tibet receives in the world is due to his holiness, and specifically due to his personal interactions with world leaders and with the large audiences he draws around the world. His deep wisdom, his humor and charisma, his serious attention to pressing world issues, and, of course, his model of compassion and leadership, make a deep impression on people," she told VOA's Tibetan Service via email.

"For so much of the world, the Dalai Lama is the symbol of Tibet. Will his trusted emissaries be able to achieve the same effects? Of course not, as no one can truly stand in for the Dalai Lama," she wrote. "They will be able to represent him, but no one can embody the message of Tibet as he does. His holiness's stepping back from international travel will signal a new era of Tibetan diplomacy in the world."

Robert Barnett, director of the Modern Tibet Studies Program at Columbia University, says the decision may be a signal to Beijing.

"Of course, there's always the possibility that this move is intended as a post-19th Party Congress signal to Beijing of increased openness to a resumption of talks, or possibly even a response to a request from there," he said. "It certainly should make Zhang Yijiong happier," he added, referring to Communist Partys Tibet working group chief, who told reporters on the sidelines of the party congress that international figures have no excuse for meeting with the Dalai Lama.

"Except ... it seems unlikely that warhorses of that type can ever be appeased," Barnett added, again referring to Zhang.

In the United States, a California-based Tibetan monk named Tenzin Dhonden, who chairs the non-profit Friends of the Dalai Lama and was secretary of the Dalai Lama Trust, a charitable organization chaired by the Dalai Lama, has acted as a gatekeeper between the Dalai Lama and American philanthropists, scholars, celebrities and donors.

Late last month, Dhonden, who falsely named himself Personal Emissary of Peace for the Dalai Lama in 2005, was suspended from the trust over corruption allegations.

This story originated in VOA's Tibetan Service. Pete Cobus contributed original reporting.
@PatriciaMazzei

The number of Puerto Ricans who have arrived in Florida since Hurricane Maria hit the island Sept. 20 is large. But it's probably not as large as the figure being mentioned in news articles, opinion columns and social-media posts.

According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, more than 160,000 people have arrived from Puerto Rico to the Miami, Orlando and Tampa airports (MIA, MCO and TPA, respectively) since Oct. 3, when regular commercial flights to the island resumed after the storm.

That doesn't necessarily mean more than 160,000 Puerto Ricans have moved to Florida.

The state's number includes everyone who has landed in Florida from Puerto Rico, including aid workers, reporters, government officials and Puerto Ricans who already live on the mainland and went to help their families. It also includes Puerto Ricans who might have landed in Florida but continued to travel elsewhere. And it doesn't include Puerto Ricans who might have arrived to some other airport and then traveled to Florida.

The number of Puerto Ricans assisted by the state government's disaster relief centers at the Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and the Port of Miami has been far lower. As of Nov. 10, for example, more than 73,000 people from Puerto Rico had arrived to MIA, MCO and Port Everglades, but the number of people served at the disaster relief centers was about 15,000.

As of the same date, Florida public school districts had enrolled some 3,500 displaced Puerto Rican students.

Of course, not every Puerto Rican will need state help, especially if they already have family and friends here. Not all will have children. Some will register children in private schools.

But, in short: None of these numbers offers a clear picture yet of exactly how many Puerto Ricans have moved to the state or plan to remain here permanently -- though it's safe to assume at least some will, and that might be enough to shift the state's demographics, including for the 2018 election.

The number of Puerto Ricans arriving in Florida has continued to grow as the island's prolonged power outage continues to be unresolved, and jobs continue to be scarce, and clean water continues to be a luxury.

But it's still too early to say by how much Democratic-leaning Puerto Ricans will alter Florida's swing politics and decidedly make Central Florida blue.
Egypt opened an exhibition on Wednesday to display previously unseen treasures from King Tutankhamun's famed tomb.

At least 55 pieces of fabric decorated with gold that were found in the tomb of the pharaoh, better known as King Tut, will be exhibited in public for the first time since its discovery in 1922, said German conservator Christian Eckmann.

He said the pieces had been kept in storage at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo for some 95 years, without being restored or scientifically examined.

He said the artifacts attest to the network of social and cultural connections which have characterized the eastern Mediterranean going back to antiquity.

Those pieces are connected to the chariots of Tutankhamun, he said. They were unfortunately in a very bad state of condition.

Some depict traditional Egyptian motifs, while others feature designs that were widespread throughout the eastern Mediterranean in the second millennium B.C., he said.

Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anani inaugurated the exhibition to mark the 115th anniversary of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun's near-intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The kings mummified body was in a golden coffin surrounded by precious goods.

Tutankhamun ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. The discovery of the tomb made him Egypts most famous pharaoh, and inspired a wave of interest in the countrys ancient civilization.
Britain, the former colonial power in Zimbabwe, has urged restraint following the apparent ouster of the country's president, Robert Mugabe. A former leader in Zimbabwe's fight for independence in the 1970s, Mugabe has had an increasingly fraught relationship with Britain, which along with U.S. and European allies, accuses him of directing widespread human rights abuses. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.
Venezuelas sacked former chief prosecutor on Thursday asked the International Criminal Court to capture and try President Nicolas Maduro and other top officials for crimes against humanity over murders by police and military officers.

Luisa Ortega, who broke with Maduro this year after working closely with the ruling Socialist Party for a decade, was fired in August after she opposed Maduros plan to create an all-powerful legislature called the Constituent Assembly. She fled the country and has traveled the world denouncing alleged acts of corruption and violations of human rights.

Ortega said her complaint, filed on Wednesday with the Hague-based tribunal, was prompted by some 8,290 deaths between 2015 and 2017 at the hands of officials who received instructions from the government.

(They happened) under the orders of the executive branch, as part of a social cleansing plan carried out by the government, she told reporters in the Hague.

The government did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

The accusation refers to incidents of torture, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrest. Some of them took place during a crackdown on anti-government protests that rocked the country between April and July and left at least 125 people dead, some of them at the hands of military and police officers.

The Maduro government accused Ortega of turning a blind eye to violence by opposition supporters, and has also leveled a raft of corruption charges at her.

Ortegas request also makes reference to killings that took place during police raids known as Operations to Free the People, which have been heavily criticized by human rights groups since they began in 2015.

Nicolas Maduro and his government must pay for this, she said.

The complaint also accuses top officials such as Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and intelligence chief Gustavo Gonzalez of involvement in the alleged abuses.

Ortegas critics say she was closely allied with Maduros efforts to crack down on dissent and, before her break with him, had helped jail opposition leaders on trumped-up charges.

Maduros government insists it respects human rights and says opposition demonstrations were Washington-backed efforts to violently overthrow him.

Despite their bitter differences, Venezuelas government and opposition agreed on Wednesday to a new round of foreign-mediated talks in the Dominican Republic on Dec. 1.
France's military said on Thursday the coalition battling Islamic State in Syria had opposed a deal allowing fighters of the militant group to withdraw from their former bastion of Raqqa.

The coalition had also been unable to launch air strikes against the fighters because they had mingled with civilians, French army spokesman Patrik Steiger said.

A report by BBC television on Sunday said some 4,000 Islamic State militants, including hundreds of foreign nationals, had been evacuated from Raqqa as part of the agreement and spread across Syria and as far as Turkey.

Ankara on Tuesday said it was appalled by the approach of the U.S. Department of Defense towards the agreement, struck between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)  a U.S.-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias  and Islamic State.

"The coalition was not... for this agreement which enabled Islamic State terrorists to escape without being chased," Steiger told reporters in a weekly briefing.

"It [the convoy] was monitored by drones, [but] the terrorists were mixed in with the population which prevented air strikes being carried out."

France has contributed to strikes against the jihadist group in Syria and has special forces operating in the Raqqa region.

Coordinated attacks planned by militants in Raqqa in Paris in November 2015 were the deadliest on French soil since World War II, killing more 130 people.

With Islamic State losing ground in Iraq and Syria, hundreds of French citizens belonging to Islamic State  and in some cases their children  have started to return to France, officials there say.

The BBC report showed one witness claiming that French jihadis were among those allowed to leave Raqqa in mid-October and one suspected militant was recorded saying some French fighters "were heading back to France to carry out attacks."



At the time an SDF spokesman said 275 Syrian militants left along with their family members, but denied foreign fighters had also left.

Seeking to allay concerns, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said on Wednesday the threat of an attack was no greater than over the last two years and security services were either arresting or monitoring all those who returned to France.

About 400 men, women and children had returned so far.

"There is no massive return. We think that 700 people are still in the zone," he said, referring to French nationals or those who had resided in the country in the past.
George Mason University students streamed into a room in the campus community building in Fairfax, Virginia, one day last week to pack rice and beans. These meals, 40,000 of them, were bound for refugee families in the Middle East.

Each box provides meals for a family of five for a whole month. We are able to pack 280 boxes to take over there, said Brett Miller with George Masons Christian Campus Ministry. The interdenominational Christian organization Mason Cru organized Meals for Refugees in response to what has become a very large problem.

The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that one in every 113 people on the planet is now a refugee. By the end of 2016, UNHCR said number of displaced people had risen to 65.6 million, 300,000 more than the year before and the largest number ever recorded, putting pressure on humanitarian organizations and governments for food and housing.

WATCH: College Students Unite to Bring Relief to Refugees

Meals for Refugees was part of an annual campuswide humanitarian effort called Love Week. This year, Love Week was about helping refugees in partnership with the Global Aid Network (GAiN), which will distribute the meals.

We gather as many students as we can, Miller said. We have a Jewish group partnering with us, Muslim groups. The event has also drawn members of sororities and fraternities, as well other non-religious organizations.

With 35,000 students and four campuses, George Mason is Virginias biggest school and the states largest public research university.

Begun in 2010, Love Week takes on a different project each year. In earlier years, students have raised money to rescue women from sex trafficking, packed school supplies for a mentorship program in Botswana and provided seeds so displaced families in South Sudan could grow their own food.

In addition to packing meals, students also raised money for refugees through the sale of T-shirts that say Love Refugees on the front.

Thats our major, major way of gaining funds for this cause. They are very popular, Miller said.

Love Week has two purposes. One is to relieve suffering in the refugee camps. The other is give students a new perspective.

Our hope is that students here would gain a heart for those who are poor, or displaced, marginalized in the world, Miller said.

Student Carrie Johns began to participate in Love Week three years ago with a clean water project for Guatemala.

I know that Im very lucky because I have a home to go to, she said. I have three meals a day. But I also know that there are people in the world like refugees who dont have that. And I hope that my efforts can bring them hope and brighten their day even when times are difficult.
More than two decades after Haitis leader disbanded its army, with its history of violent coups, the Caribbean nation is about to unveil a reconstituted military.

The Haitian National Army will be formally reintroduced with a parade in this northern port city on Saturday, the anniversary of a decisive 1803 battle [Battle of Vertieres] nearby that secured Haitis independence from France.

The army I am reinstating for you is a professional one. It is a necessity for our country. It will not be an army of repression, President Jovenel Moise, who took office in February, said at a news conference last week. It will be instead an army that will help out when a hurricane strikes our country. It will help repair roads. This is the army I have promised you.

Civilian force

Moise aims to distinguish it from the military that overthrew Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1991. When Aristide reclaimed the presidency in 1995, he dismantled the army and put security in the hands of the civilian Haitian National Police. That force now has roughly 15,000 officers.

In contrast, the army has at least 150 recruits, young men and women mostly engaged in building up the impoverished countrys infrastructure, Defense Minister Herve Denis said at news conference Monday. Since their selection in late summer, they have set up a medical clinic in central Haiti and begun fixing roads.

Eventually, there could be 3,000 to 5,000 troops, Denis said.

But we know that we cannot have an army of that size the next day because of budget constraints, he added.

Haitis government has allocated $8.5 million for defense spending in the 2018 fiscal year. Denis acknowledged funding challenges but, according to the Miami Herald, said the armed forces patrols could stem annual losses of $200 million to $500 million in contraband coming from neighboring Dominican Republic.

The armys restoration draws mixed reactions at home and abroad.

The army offers precious jobs in a poor country whose unemployment rate tops 40 percent.

But Wednesday marked the third consecutive day of street demonstrations in Cap-Haitien, the countrys second-largest city, with hundreds of public high school students protesting spending on a new military when their teachers have gone unpaid for months.

Their rallying cry: We dont want an army, we want an education!

The country has other priorities that are more important than the army, Edouard Innocent, the citys former mayor, told VOA in a phone interview. He said Moise should prioritize economic development, education, health.  I think this army is [a means] for the president to secure his power.

Right to an army

Cine Aneus Daneus, a lawyer in Cap-Haitien, pointed out that Haiti has the constitutional and sovereign right to an army. He called for a professional army to protect the countrys borders and provide aid in case of natural disasters. He added, This force must not be involved in politics.

Nenel Cassy, a Haitian senator, told VOA he worried that the army would strain the national budget and could be used to suppress political dissent. He said its reinstatement created a chaotic situation.

The armys reinstatement comes a month after the end of the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), aimed at steadying the leadership after the 2004 military coup. That effort has given way to the U.N. Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), meant to strengthen the justice system, policing and human rights protections.

The United Nations and foreign governments, including the United States, discouraged Haiti from reviving its army. Instead, they supplied financial aid and training for the Haitian National Police.

Kenneth Merten, the State Departments special coordinator for Haiti, said the U.S. government disapproved of a reconstituted Haitian army because of that armys history of coups detat. He told VOAs Creole Service early this year that the U.S. has spent a lot of money so Haiti could have a police force that is competent and transparent.

The United States, Haitis biggest benefactor, has disbursed at least $3.9 billion in post-2010 quake aid.

Good reason to be nervous

Given the high degree of international involvement in Haiti, restoring the army brings a sense of nationalistic pride with certain elements of the population, Geoff Burt, executive director of the Canada-based Center for Security Governance, told VOA.

But theres good reason to be nervous, added Burt, who has explored the issues complexities in a report last year for the International Journal of Security & Development.

One argument is that rebuilding the army could distract from the more important priority of building a more effective, accountable police force.

The big problem isnt with the army per se, its the connection to the political process, Burt said.  Will the army become a player in Haitian politics? Thats what everyone would like to avoid.

The VOA Creole Services Jacquelin Belizaire, Jean Philippe and Jean-Pierre Leroy contributed to this report.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for an independent investigation into "credible reports" of atrocities committed by Myanmar's security forces against Rohingya Muslims. His visit to Myanmar came just before Human Rights Watch issued a report alleging Myanmar's security forces committed widespread rape against women and girls as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya in Rakhine State. VOA Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine has the story from the State Department.
Soldiers in Myanmar have gang raped Rohingya women in continued violence against the Muslim minority in Rakhine state, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

Human Rights Watch cited first-hand interviews with 52 Rohingya women and girls who fled to Bangladesh and reported being raped by security forces in Myanmar, also known as Burma.

Rape has been a prominent and devastating feature of the Burmese militarys campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya, said Skye Wheeler, womens rights emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. The Burmese militarys barbaric acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatized.

All but one of the interviewees was gang raped, HRW said.

WATCH: HRW Report: Myanmar Security Forces Using Sexual Violence as Scare Tactic

Hundreds of cases

HRW also spoke with multiple humanitarian organizations in Bangladesh who have reported hundreds of rape cases. Numbers of rape victims are likely much higher, as social stigma keeps many women silent.

I have had to deal with disgust, others looking away from me, Isharahat Islam, who was raped by soldiers in her village Hathi Para in October 2016, told HRW.

The numbers also cannot account for those who were killed after they were raped.

Fifteen-year-old Hala Sadak from a village in the Maungdaw Township told HRW that soldiers had dragged her from her home, stripped her naked, and pushed her against a tree where she estimates as many as 10 men raped her from behind.

They left me where I was ... when my brother and sister came to get me, I was lying there on the ground, they thought I was dead, she said.

Emotional, physical injuries

In addition to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, women reported untreated injuries including vaginal tears, bleeding, and infections, the report said.

More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have left Myanmars Rakhine State since Aug. 25, after insurgents attacked security forces and prompted a brutal military crackdown that has been described as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmars government has repeatedly rejected claims that atrocities, including rape and extrajudicial killings, are occurring in northern Rakhine, the epicenter of the violence that the United Nations has called textbook ethnic cleansing.

Denials from Myanmar

In September, the Rakhine state border security minister denied reports of rape by security forces in the state, according to HRW.

Where is the proof? Look at those women who are making these claims  would anyone want to rape them? he was quoted as saying in Thursdays report.

Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya and denies them citizenship, referring to them as Bengali to imply origins in Bangladesh.

Though Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticized for sidestepping allegations of abuses, many Western governments have been reluctant to ostracize her during a fragile transition to democracy.
Worshippers in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, are set to go green with a new initiative that aims to establish 1,000 eco-mosques by 2020.

Launched this week by Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the initiative will help the mosques to source renewable energy, manage their water and food needs sustainably, reduce and recycle waste and provide environmental education.

The project will see the top Muslim clerical body work with the private sector, the government's health and planning ministries, universities, and other religious groups in a bid to boost environmental awareness in communities across the country.

"Most Muslims in Indonesia listen more to religious leaders than the government," Hayu Prabowo, head of environment and natural resources at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"If an Islamic leader says something they will follow but if the government says something, they may not."

Indonesia, with 250 million people, has a mixed environmental record.

The archipelago is the world's top thermal coal exporter and palm oil producer, which has led to the clearing and development of swathes of forest land and intense international pressure to limit deforestation.

Many of Indonesia's rural and poorest provinces suffer regular droughts due to climate change, while children's education is often hampered by the lack of regular power supply.

Hening Parlan, coordinator for environment and disaster management at Aisyiyah, the women's wing of Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, said the idea of eco-mosques stemmed from asking how to make mosques the center for environment and education within a community.

"For many Indonesians, their understanding of the environment only happens when they see the impact of climate change (rather than through education) ... if they suffer from floods or landslides for example," Parlan said.

She said the initiative would help mosques establish better water supplies and storage facilities, offer fundraising advice and provide funding to mosques to help them become environmentally friendly.

Solar power and biogas will also be promoted over fossil fuels and imams will teach better environmental awareness.

The eco-mosque initiative is not the first time MUI has taken the lead on the environment - it has also issued edicts, or fatwas, on forest fires and sustainable mining.

There are more than 800,000 mosques in Indonesia but officials hope to create more eco-mosques after the initial 1,000 are established and also include other places of worship.

An eco-mosque roll-out of this scale is rare. In Dubai a mosque built in 2014 was the first to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's guidelines, while Britain, the United States, Morocco and Malaysia all have mosques aiming to be greener.

"We need concrete action to help mosques and their communities overcome the oncoming water and energy crisis by building resilience," said Prabowo.
The benefits of international education and exchange worldwide are being celebrated this week at colleges and universities across the United States.

The week-long events of International Student Week are a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. The events promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences, according to a news release.

The U.S. Department of Education, with colleges and universities nationwide, will host events like the International Fall Gala at American University in Washington, which highlights the food, music and celebrations of cultures worldwide.

The initiative includes #20Questions, a social-media campaign to engage Americans with international students by suggesting questions on a range of topics from food to culture to education. Students can showcase themselves and their individual, cultural stories.

International Education Week also helps students from around the world identify and choose U.S. universities. Global events at the State Departments Bureau of Culture and Education offices worldwide, specifically the frontline Education: USA offices that help international students connect with colleges and universities in the United States.

The celebration features the You Are Welcome Here campaign used by colleges and universities to promote inclusivity of international students at U.S. institutions. The video was created by Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last winter after travel restrictions were proposed for immigrants  including students  from Muslim-majority countries.

The proposed restrictions were struck down by U.S. courts, but nearly 40 percent of U.S. colleges are seeing declines in applications from international students, according to a survey conducted by American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Institute of International Education, NAFSA (Association of International Educators), the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and International ACAC.

More than three-quarters of institutions responding to the survey  77 percent  are concerned about yield, that is, how many applicants accept an admissions offer and enroll, according to an Association of Collegiate Registrars statement included in the survey.

Throughout November, the State Department will also hold events at local passport offices across the nation to explain to the public what a passport can do for them and how to apply. This event couples with the governments effort to expand global diversity in the classroom for the benefit of international students and American citizens.

Do you struggle to afford tuition, fees, housing and food? Are you also working? Please leave a comment here, and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, thank you.
@PatriciaMazzei

Philip Levine will hit TV airwaves beginning Thursday to tout his young 2018 candidacy for Florida governor.

The 30-second spot, titled "Lead," features snippets of the speech Levine gave in Miami two weeks ago launching his campaign.

"It's time," the former Miami Beach mayor says in the ad, "to address climate change by addressing Tallahassee's climate of denial. It's time to restore power back to the level where people live, instead of Tallahassee, where politicians live. It's time to make a day's pay enough to avoid a lifetime of dread. Why a living wave? Because it's the right thing to do."

Levine's political committee, All About Florida, has purchased $800,000 in five weeks' worth of ads "in media markets across the state of Florida," senior adviser Christian Ulvert said in a statement.

Last week, Levine's committee put out an inaugural ad, on radio, urging listeners to sign up for Obamacare, which has become a key issue for Democratic primary voters.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to attend a summit with Iranian and Russian leaders to discuss Syria.

It will be Erdogan's second meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a month. Bilateral relations have warmed significantly in recent months between the regional rivals, since the Turkish president criticized Tehran in June, accusing it of Persian expansion in the region, a threat he said needed to be challenged.

"This is part of Ankara's vacillations; it seems to be moving to the requirements of the day," said political columnist Semih Idiz of Al Monitor website. "Of course Ankara appears that it's moving closer to Tehran, especially after the Iraqi Kurds held their independence referendum  which both Turkey and Iran are very forcefully against  and it united the two."

Iran and Turkey have large restive Kurdish minorities and share fears that any independence bid by neighboring Iraqi Kurds could provoke similar secessionist demands. In the run-up to the referendum vote, the Iranian and Turkish armed forces chiefs made rare visits to one another's countries in another sign of deepening relations.

At a summit next week in Sochi, Erdogan is expected to try to persuade Rouhani to support his calls to carry out a military operation against Syrian Kurds of the PYD. Ankara accuses the PYD of having secessionist aspirations and being linked to the PKK, which is waging an insurgency in Turkey.

Erdogan is also pressing Tehran to carry out a joint military operation against the PKK headquarters in northern Iraq, close to the Iranian border.

Cooperation and rivalry

Traditionally, Iranian and Turkish relations have been characterized by cooperation and rivalry. In the late 2000s, seeking greater influence in Iraq and Syria as part of then-Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's policy of "strategic depth," relations between the two countries soured as they competed for influence; however, Ankara's abandoning of its "strategic depth" policy has facilitated bilateral cooperation.

"My view is that Turkey has narrowed its focus on Syria; it's no longer regional hegemony," said international relations expert Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Kadir Has University. "It's basically the PKK in Iraq and the PYD in Syria; Turkey does not want to be encircled by the PKK on its southern border; because Russia and Iran have the upper hand, it goes along with them."

U.S. relations

Ankara's gravitating toward Tehran has been expedited by growing alienation with the United States, its NATO ally, over Washington's support of Syrian Kurdish fighters in their war against Islamic State.

Analysts warn Ankara's deepening cooperation with Tehran threatens to plunge Turkish-U.S. relations into a vicious circle with Tehran as the beneficiary. "The more Turkey is getting closer to Russia and Iran, the more the Americans will distance themselves from Turkey," said international relations Professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara's Middle East Technical University and unofficial adviser to the Turkish presidency. "Turkish-American relations will continue with this turbulence and the Americans will continue increasing its pressure [on Turkey]."

U.S.-Turkish relations are likely to be strained further if Washington steps up its challenge of Iranian influence in the region and looks for Turkish support, especially in enforcing new trade sanctions against Tehran.

Ankara has already confronted another former ally, Saudi Arabia, in its embargo against Qatar for its cooperation with Iran. Turkey cooperated with Iran in airlifting and shipping supplies to the Gulf nation and even sent a symbolic military force to Qatar.

Analyst Bagci said there are limits to Turkish-Iranian cooperation.

"A new structure is emerging in the region, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel as one bloc, Iran, Iraq and Syria the other bloc," he said. "There is this battle for regional hegemony and Turkey is in the middle. So there is a natural balance of power and Turkey will not take a side in this conflict, neither on the side of Iran or Saudi Arabia."

Analysts point out that siding with Iran in any confrontation with Sunni Arab countries could have repercussions. "It would have a domestic cost because of the Sunni Islamist support base of this government and President Erdogan," noted columnist Idiz.

Erdogan is set to face re-election by 2019 in an expected close vote. Increasingly, Turkish foreign policy is being seen as dictated by election considerations. Analysts suggest Erdogan will have to carefully balance courting Tehran in his bid to confront Kurdish separatist groups, a vote winner for the president, but at the same time not allow Turkey to get sucked into the looming regional conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Iraq's Kurdish lawmakers are returning to Baghdad this week in an apparent end to their boycott of the national parliament, a senior Kurdish official said Thursday.

The move is a concession to Baghdad after a military and political standoff that followed the controversial Kurdish independence vote in September.

Kurdish lawmakers had announced they would return to parliament, but an Iraqi lawmaker, Josef Slewa, told The Associated Press that Kurdish legislators from Masoud Barzani's Kurdish Democratic Party did not attend Thursday's session. The KDP members had boycotted the parliament since it declared the Kurdish referendum unconstitutional just before the Sept. 25 independence vote.

Renas Jano, a KDP lawmaker, said the lawmakers are returning to Baghdad in hopes that their presence in the Iraqi capital will bring the prime minister to the negotiating table.

"We want to start dialogue with the central government," he said, adding that attempts to do so from Irbil, the Kurdish regional capital, have failed.

Iraqi lawmaker Razzaq Moheibis said the return of the Kurdish lawmakers was still under discussion and that they had violated the constitution when they campaigned and voted for the referendum.

Earlier this week, the self-ruled Kurdish regional government accepted a federal court ruling that Iraq must remain unified. A statement Tuesday from the regional government said the court's ruling should "become a basis for starting an inclusive national dialogue."

"It is a catalyst toward removing the impact of the unconstitutional referendum the region held," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's spokesman Saad al-Hadithi told the AP, referring to the statement.

He added that the sides are now discussing technical issues and "when that dialogue achieves its goals it will be a prelude to starting a political dialogue."

Iraqi forces led by Baghdad and the Kurdish peshmerga fighters have engaged in a military standoff since Baghdad retook the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and several other disputed territories from peshmerga's control last month.

A senior U.S. official present at negotiations between Irbil and Baghdad warned that post-referendum, any Irbil-Baghdad dialogue is more difficult.

"The referendum has made it much, much harder for Baghdad to conduct ... anything that sounds like negotiations in the near term," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

With Iraqi national elections due in May 2018, al-Abadi will be under pressure to maintain a hard line with the Kurdish region to appeal to his Shiite-majority base, the official added.

The United Nations and the United States repeatedly warned the Kurds against holding the referendum, saying that it challenged the unity of Iraq.

After the vote, al-Abadi closed the Kurdish region's airports to international flights, retook disputed territory and threatened to bring international border crossings under federal control.

In his weekly press conference on Tuesday night, he warned the Kurds to hand over border crossings and airports to federal authorities. Baghdad "will not wait forever and will take measures," he added, without elaborating.
The Israeli army's chief of staff told an Arabic anguage online newspaper that Israel was ready to share "intelligence information" with Saudi Arabia, saying their countries had a common interest in standing up to Iran.

Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot told the privately Saudi-owned Elaph in what it said was his first interview with an Arabic newspaper that Israel had no plans to attack Lebanon's Hezbollah group.

Saudi Arabia has ratcheted up pressure on arch-foe Iran, accusing Tehran of trying to expand its influence in Arab countries, often through proxies including the Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah group.

Increased tension between Tehran and Riyadh has fueled speculation that shared interests may push Saudi Arabia and Israel to working together against what they see as a common Iranian threat.

Saudi Arabia maintains that any relations with Israel hinge on Israeli withdrawal from Arab lands occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.

Asked if Israel had shared any information with Saudi Arabia, Eizenkot said: "We are ready to share information if necessary. There are many shared interests between us."

He said U.S. President Donald Trump's election on a platform that calls for increasing pressure on Iran has provided an opportunity for new alliances in the Middle East.

Both Saudi Arabia and Israel view Iran as a main threat to the Middle East.



"A major and general strategic plan must be prepared to stop the Iranian danger, and we are ready to exchange expertise with moderate Arab states and exchange intelligence information to face Iran," he said, according to Elaph, which said the interview was conducted at Eizenkot's office in Tel Aviv by an Israeli Arab journalist.

Earlier this month, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri announced his resignation in a surprise move that had plunged Lebanon into a new political crisis.

Hariri's resignation thrust Lebanon into the front line of a regional struggle between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran that has also buffeted Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain.

It also raised speculation about possible military action against Lebanon by Israel, which sees Hezbollah as a strategic threat.

Responding to a question on speculation that Israel may launch a military operation against Hezbollah, Eizenkot said: "We do not have any intention initiating any offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon and reaching a [state of] war. But we will not accept a strategic threat against Israel."
Top cocoa producer Ivory Coast will launch an operation to expel thousands of illegal farmers from the Goin-Debe forest reserve, the West African nation's largest, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

The decision is part of efforts to protect forests in Ivory Coast, which has lost much of its rainforest to agriculture.

"We will immediately proceed with ... the identification of the occupiers of the Goin-Debe forest and the end of the occupations," Bruno Kone said after a cabinet meeting in the commercial capital Abidjan.

Ivory Coast's water and forests minister this week said that authorities planned to end illegal farming on protected lands within five years.

Kone said the operation would involve the deployment of about 1,000 defense and security forces personnel to the western Cavally region, where Goin-Debe is located, for an initial three months.

"There will then be a vast disarmament and security operation in the region," he said.

The 134,000-hectare Goin-Debe reserve has been at the heart of recent violence between immigrant cocoa farmers and local indigenous ethnic groups.
Three journalists and their driver could face up to three years in prison for allegedly violating Myanmar's import-export law by bringing a drone into the country as part of a documentary they were doing for Turkish state television TRT.

Mok Choy Lin of Malaysia, Lau Hon Meng from Singapore, local journalist Ko Aung Naing Soe, and driver U Hla Tin were arrested in the capital Naypyidaw on October 26 after interviewing a legislator and then bringing out the drone to get aerial footage of the parliament building.

They already have been sentenced to two months in jail on a summary conviction for breaking the country's 1934 Aircraft Law.

TRT says the journalists obtained all the required permits to do their story, but the arresting officer said they had not declared the drone when they entered the country.

In seeking to have the import charge dropped, their attorneys claim the four are being subjected to double jeopardy since they already had been convicted in the case. The next court date was set for Monday.

Speaking to journalists in the court, Mok Choy Lin said they were still in the dark about the legal process.

"We don't know what's going on. We don't really understand their legal system," she said. "We don't understand their language and nothing is really explained to us. For the first week of remand, we weren't even allowed to meet our family or lawyers."

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged officials "to abandon the absurd proceedings."

"The judicial authorities must drop these spurious charges, which are clearly being used to prevent journalists from doing their work," said Daniel Bastard, head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "These two journalists and their co-workers should not have to suffer because of political and diplomatic circumstances."

Myanmar has been criticized for the military's actions in Rakhine state against minority Rohingya Muslims, who have claimed soldiers carried out rape and murder while burning their villages, sparking a mass exodus across the border into Bangladesh.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used the term "genocide" in September, straining ties between the two countries.

Despite emerging from a military dictatorship and making moves toward democracy, the military remains a powerful force in the country. It has denied committing any abuses against the Rohingyas and says troops were responding to deadly attacks attributed to Rohingya extremists on security forces.
Kenyas Supreme Court is in its last day of hearing arguments on two petitions contesting results of the October 26 presidential election. Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared winner by a landslide after challenger Raila Odinga urged his supporters to boycott the poll, which was a re-run of the August election the court declared invalid.

The two petitions were filed by a former lawmaker, Harun Mwau, and two human rights defenders, Njonjo Mue and Khalef Khalifa. The petitioners argued the electoral commission committed illegalities by going ahead with the election in spite of opposition leader Raila Odinga pulling out of the race.

Benjamin Musyoki, who represents Mwau, argues the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission was supposed to carry out a new nomination process after the annulment of the original August 8 poll.

When elections are annulled under article 140, none of the previous candidates, none of the previous processes is safe. All processes are done away with, and actually, in your order, you said that election was null and void. So it is like it did not exist.

Mwau also argued the election should be revoked based on the violence witnessed in parts of the country and low voter turnout.

The human rights defenders, Mue and Khalifa, argued the electoral commission did not conduct the presidential election in all 290 constituencies as required by the constitution.

The commission failed to deliver voting materials to some opposition strongholds in the west of the country, due to violent protests.

But Attorney General Githu Muigai said this should not be a reason to annul the election.

What was the legal effect of the failure to hold an election in 25 constituencies? What was the legal effect, if any? None, simple answer - none. Why? Because this constitution does not require majorities based on constituencies, it requires majorities based on counties, Muigai said.

The petitioners insist the October 26 poll must not stand. But Kenyatta lawyer Fred Ngatia argues the court should put the country's interests first after months of political uncertainty.

The common good is that which is to the benefit of the entire nation. The common good in my submission would be to uphold the constitutional order so that we do not slide into darkness. Absent a constitutional order the chances of sliding into darkness are very high, Ngatia said.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule Monday on whether Kenyatta's win will stand or be annulled again.

Whatever the outcome, the opposition has said that it will not recognize the Kenyatta presidency and that it will continue its struggle for electoral justice.
Mexico shot down a proposal by the United States to include provisions in the North America Free Trade Agreement that would benefit AT&T, Mexicos Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Wednesday.

AT&T, which is North American, asked its government to reflect its interests in the negotiation, Guajardo said in an interview on local radio without specifying the details of the U.S. proposal. You cannot have an agreement ... that gives a tailors cut, a perfect handiwork, to a specific company.

AT&T and the U.S. Trade Representative office declined to comment.

During the last round of talks in Virginia, the United States proposed incorporating Mexicos landmark telecommunications reform into a NAFTA provision that would apply only to Mexico, four sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Mexicos 2013-14 telecommunications reform aimed to break up the dominance of America Movil, the telecommunications firm owned by billionaire Carlos Slim, which emerged from a state monopoly in the 1990s.

Negotiators are still working to make sure the reform is included in the agreement, Guajardo said.

What we said is that we cannot accept a specific annex, he said. We can reflect conceptually the commitments that are reflected in the law, which for us is very important to consolidate.

Mexico reform weakened

Beckoned by the reform, AT&T entered the Mexican market in 2014, spending $4.4 billion to buy Mexicos No. 3 and No. 4 carriers.

But the market was plunged into uncertainty in August when the Mexico Supreme Court ruled America Movil should not be barred by law from charging its rivals for calls to its network, weakening a key pillar of the reform.

The turmoil has spilled over into NAFTA negotiations, Guajardo said.

What has kept us from closing (the telecoms chapter) is that it was contaminated a little bit by this debate over the zero-rate, he said.

The telecommunications reform, which sharply lowered prices for consumers, is one of Mexico President Enrique Pena Nietos signature accomplishments. But throughout the negotiations, Mexico has consistently rejected proposals that isolate the nation, trade experts say.

Negotiating as three, not two

Whats surprising (about the telecommunications proposal) is that there is the principle that we are negotiating as three countries, said Mexico Senator Gerardo Flores, who was briefed on the proposal.

And suddenly the United States puts on the table a proposal that demands commitments specifically from Mexico, which converts the negotiation into a bilateral negotiation.

Mexico has been enthusiastic about enshrining a 2014 energy reform in NAFTA, but also with the condition that the language applies to all three countries in the pact, said Duncan Wood, director of the Wilson Centers Mexico Institute.

Mexico doesnt want to be singled out in any way, he said. You set a precedent where side deals with individual countries can be made.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore criticized Wednesday what he called false allegations of sexual misconduct while remaining defiant in the face of calls by party leaders for him to drop out of the December special election in the southern state of Alabama.

Two women have accused Moore of unwanted sexual advances when they were teenagers and Moore was in his early 30s. Three other women said that about the same time in the late 1970s, Moore pursued them for dates when he was a local prosecutor and they were in high school.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Paul Ryan and two former Republican presidential candidates, Mitt Romney and Senator John McCain, have all said that the 70-year-old Moore should exit the race.

McConnell told reporters this week that the women who have come forward are entirely credible and that Moore is obviously not fit to be in the United States Senate.

Moore responded with a brief Twitter message late Wednesday: Dear Mitch McConnell, Bring. It. On.

President Donald Trump has yet to weigh in on the situation.

Moore is facing Democrat and former federal prosecutor Doug Jones in the race to fill the remaining three years of a Senate seat once held by Jeff Sessions, who resigned to join Trumps Cabinet as attorney general.

Accusations

Moore has blamed the media for harassing his campaign and said he would sue The Washington Post, the newspaper that a week ago published the first wave of accusations from four women in on-the-record interviews.

On Wednesday, a sixth woman accused Moore of groping her while she was in his Alabama law office on legal business in 1991. Unlike the earlier cases that involved teenagers, Tina Johnson was 28 and in a strained marriage at the time. She was at the law office with her mother, who had hired Moore to handle a custody case involving Johnsons son.

As the women left Moores office, Johnson said he groped her buttocks.

He didnt pinch it; he grabbed it, she said.

Earlier in the week, Beverly Young Nelson alleged that Moore assaulted her one night in the late 1970s after she finished work at a barbecue restaurant that Moore frequented in Gadsden, Alabama. Moore claimed to not know the woman, but Nelson said in 1977 he had wished her Merry Christmas in her high school yearbook.

To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say Merry Christmas ... Love, Roy Moore D.A., the inscription said, referring to his job as a district attorney.

Moores lawyer, Phillip Jauregui, on Wednesday questioned whether Moore had written the inscription.

In a statement posted late Wednesday on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Moore adamantly denied the accusations by Nelson and another woman, Leigh Corfman, who says that Moore initiated sexual contact with her when she was 14. Moore added that he did not date underage girls.

Moore, a judge twice removed from his post as state Supreme Court chief justice, said he is investigating the origin and motivation of the accusations.

Are we at a stage in American politics in which false allegations can overcome a public record of 40 years, stampede the media and politicians to condemn an innocent man, and potentially impact the outcome of an election of national importance? he said.

Political dilemma

Political surveys show Moore and Democrat Jones in a close contest in the politically conservative state that voted overwhelmingly for Trump in last years presidential election.

Trump, while traveling overseas, deflected questions about Moore.

I have to get back into the country to see whats happening, he said.

Trump faces a political dilemma in dealing with Moore. The candidate could ignore any entreaty from the president to quit the race because Trump supported Moores opponent in a September Republican party primary election, appointed Senator Luther Strange. But after Moore won the primary, Trump voiced his support.

In addition, if Trump says, as other Republicans have, that he believes the womens accusations against Moore, Trump critics are likely to question why the womens accounts are to be believed, but not those of 11 women who during the 2016 presidential election accused Trump of unwanted touching or kissing. Trump said they were liars and promised to sue them, but has not.

McConnell and other Republican officials have floated the idea of mounting a write-in candidacy to try to defeat Moore. Some have suggested that Strange attempt to keep the Senate seat in Republican hands with a write-in bid, while others have suggested that Sessions resign as attorney general and attempt to reclaim the Senate seat he held for 20 years.

Other Republicans are saying that if Moore wins the election and is seated in the 100-member Senate, they would immediately try to expel him as morally unfit to be a U.S. senator.
Mexico's threats to weaken U.S. narcotics and migration co-operation if NAFTA dies are pure bluster, Mexican and U.S. officials say, with next year's election posing a far greater challenge to future collaboration.

Mexican officials have threatened to strike back if U.S. President Donald Trump kills the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), warning they could relax controls on the southern Mexican border crossed by Central American migrants, or scale back collaboration in tackling drug crime.

Privately, however, Mexican officials say there are no plans to dial back complex co-operation that has been increasing in recent years, with post-NAFTA planning focused on measures like diversifying trade.

Mexico regularly receives U.S. help and funding to take down drug bosses, impede migrants, overhaul its justice system and improve its police.

The United States also doubts that NAFTA talks, which began a fifth round in Mexico City on Wednesday, could imperil co-operation, according to one current and one former senior U.S. State Department official.

The bigger U.S. concern, the sources said, is that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the leftist frontrunner for next July's presidential election, will rip up the relationship if he wins.

"Obviously there is a fear ... that some kind of slowdown (in the relationship) could occur with a transition," said the current U.S. official, who was unauthorized to speak publicly.

Mexican officials note it makes sense for their country, which is likely to end 2017 with its highest murder tally on recent record, to keep accepting U.S. assistance. Furthermore, Mexico has little appetite for dealing with an endless flow of U.S.-bound migrants.

"It's in our interests to maintain the current system of co-operation we have for combating drugs," said Marcela Guerra, a ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) senator who heads the Senate's North America Foreign Relations committee.

"We won't change our solid position - that migration needs to be secure and legal - if NAFTA falls," she added, noting that Mexico would be "shooting itself in the foot" if it relaxed its southern border.

The nationalistic Lopez Obrador and his National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party lead polls, boosted by anger over the PRI's inability to tackle rising violence and endemic graft.

Lopez Obrador has long expressed doubts about the nature of U.S.-Mexico security and migration co-operation, using a May op-ed in the Washington Post to urge against efforts "to unleash military force against criminal organizations."

His strong standing has sparked concerns in Washington.

In April, then-U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly agreed with Republican Senator John McCain's view that "if the election were tomorrow in Mexico, you would probably get a left-wing, anti-American president of Mexico. That can't be good for America."

New Era?

The United States enjoyed good relations with Mexico during the National Action Party (PAN) administration of former conservative President Felipe Calderon. When President Enrique Pena Nieto's centrist PRI took office in 2012, relations cooled, but have improved, U.S. and Mexican officials say.

The former State official said both the PAN and the PRI were likely to maintain close ties with the United States if either were to win in 2018.

"That leaves only one outlier. So I suppose that gives you a two-out-of-three chance that nothing is going to blow up," he said.

The U.S. embassy is already in touch with the Lopez Obrador camp, but, the former official said, those talks have so far not resulted in "any definitive resolutions or reassurances in terms specifically of the law enforcement and counter-narcotics relationship."

A spokesman for Lopez Obrador on security said he was not aware of those discussions. The U.S. embassy in Mexico City did not respond to a request for comment.

In an event alongside Pena Nieto on Monday, Roberta Jacobson, the U.S. ambassador in Mexico, stressed her country stands firm.

"We will continue to support ... the efforts by the Mexican government to tackle shared threats and offer sustainable solutions for our regional security," she said.
Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Wednesday claims he had worked as a consultant for Brazilian construction company Odebrecht SA, which is embroiled in an international bribery scandal, were false.

Kuczynski also said in a speech broadcast on television that he had never received any campaign donations from Odebrecht, which has admitted to paying millions of dollars of bribes in the country.

The statements came a day after local newspaper El Comercio reported that the scandal-plagued company hired Kuczynski as a consultant a decade ago.

Odebrecht SA acknowledged in a plea deal with U.S. and Brazilian prosecutors a year ago that it paid $29 million in bribes to officials in Peru over a decade spanning three presidencies as part of a massive graft scheme across much of Latin America and parts of Africa.

El Comercio reported that Marcelo Odebrecht, the jailed former head of the company, told prosecutors in Brazil that Odebrecht had hired Kuczynski after he served in the cabinet of former President Alejandro Toledo, and that the company might have funded his failed 2011 presidential bid.

Reuters could not verify what Odebrecht told Peruvian prosecutors in a meeting last week in Curitaba, Brazil.

Kuczynski had earlier denied both any professional links and receiving campaign donations from Odebrecht on Twitter.

"I did not receive any support from that company in either of my two electoral campaigns," Kuczynski said in his speech on Wednesday. "It is fundamental that we all fight against corruption, and I am committed to that fight."
The gunman who went on a shooting spree in Northern California began by killing his wife inside their home, raising the death toll from the attack to five.

Kevin Neal, 44, fatally shot his wife late Monday, Assistant Tehama County Sheriff Phil Johnston said at a news conference Wednesday. The next day, he went on a shooting spree that included an attack on an elementary school in Rancho Tehama Reserve, an unincorporated community. Police ultimately shot and killed him.

Police found the body of Neal's wife, whose name has not been released, concealed in the floor at the shooter's home.

"We believe that's probably what started this whole event," Johnston said.

The first two people Neal shot and killed were neighbors. He then stole their truck and sought victims elsewhere, seemingly at random, including an elementary school, where he was locked out.

Reports on the number of people injured ranged from eight to as high as 14. Four children at the school suffered injuries "ranging from very minor to life-threatening," Johnston said. One child remained in critical condition.

A motive for the attack was still not known, but Johnston said: "I think he had a desire to kill as many people as he could."

He praised teachers for issuing a lockdown and securing the school after hearing gunshots, adding that their actions prevented a "bloodbath."

Johnston said the gunman spent about six minutes shooting into Rancho Tehama Elementary School before driving off to continue shooting elsewhere.

He said the rampage ended when a patrol car rammed the stolen vehicle the shooter was driving and killed him in a shootout.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said on Thursday the kingdom's actions in the Middle East were a response to what he called the "aggression" of Iran.

Long-standing arch-rivals, Riyadh and Tehran are waging a contest for power on several fronts across the region, notably in Yemen and Lebanon.

"Any way you look at it, they [the Iranians] are the ones who are acting in an aggressive manner. We are reacting to that aggression and saying, 'Enough is enough. Were not going to let you do this anymore,'" Jubeir told Reuters in an interview.

He said Saudi Arabia was consulting its allies about what leverage to use against Lebanese Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah  an Iranian ally  to end its dominance in the small Mediterranean nation and intervention in other countries.

"We will make the decision when the time comes," he said, declining to detail what options were under consideration. Jubeir said Hezbollah, which he described as a subsidiary of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, must disarm and become a political party for Lebanon to stabilize.

"Whenever we see a problem, we see Hezbollah act as an arm or agent of Iran and this has to come to an end," he said after meeting his French counterpart in Riyadh.

Saad al-Hariri, a Saudi ally, resigned as Lebanon's prime minister on Nov. 4, citing an assassination plot and accusing Iran and Hezbollah of sowing strife in the region.

In Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is involved in a two-year-old war and has been criticized for blocking humanitarian aid, Jubeir accused the Iran-aligned Houthis of besieging civilian areas and preventing supplies from coming in or out.



"Thats why you have the starvation that's taking place in Yemen and people need to do a more serious job of holding Houthis accountable for this," he said.

Jubeir said domestic anti-corruption investigations which have netted senior princes, officials and businessmen in the past two weeks were ongoing.
An international aid group says an estimated 130 children or more die every day in war-torn Yemen from extreme hunger and disease.

Save the Children said late on Wednesday a continuing blockade by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Shiite rebels is likely to further increase the death rate. It says over 50,000 children are believed to have died in 2017.

Saudi Arabia blocked Yemen's ports after a rebel missile attack near Riyadh earlier in November. It said Monday the coalition would lift the blockade after widespread international criticism.

On Thursday, the leaders of the World Health Organization, the U.N. children's agency and the World Food Program issued a joint appeal for the easing of the blockade.

"While the Saudi-led military coalition has partially lifted the recent blockade of Yemen, closure of much of the country's air, sea and land ports is making an already catastrophic situation far worse," they said.

"The space and access we need to deliver humanitarian assistance is being choked off, threatening the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families."

The Saudi-led coalition went to war against the rebels, known as Houthis, in March 2015 on behalf of Yemen's internationally recognized government. But the coalition has made little progress, and the rebels still control much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

The war has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced 3 million. Yemen was the Arab world's poorest country even before the conflict began.

The U.N. officials said more than 20 million people, including 11 million children, are in need of urgent assistance, with 7 million totally dependent on food assistance. The U.N. has called it the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world."

"Even with a partial lifting of the blockade, the World Food Program estimates that an additional 3.2 million people will be pushed into hunger. If left untreated, 150,000 malnourished children could die within the coming months," the officials said.

Later Thursday, the U.N. spokesman said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has written to Saudi Arabia's U.N. ambassador, saying the kingdom's failure to reopen key airports and sea ports in Yemen is already reversing humanitarian efforts to tackle the crisis in the impoverished country.

Stephane Dujarric said Guterres welcomes the reopening of the port in the city of Aden but that this "will not meet the needs of 28 million Yemenis."

Dujarric said the United Nations is urging the Saudi-led coalition to resume U.N. humanitarian flights to Aden and Sanaa, and to reopen the ports of Hodeida and Salif for food and medical deliveries.

Like the capital, Sanaa, Hodeida and Salif are in rebel-held territory.
For months, President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have been pressing the Justice Department to investigate Democratic scandals.



They want Attorney General Jeff Sessions to appoint a second special counsel to investigate a list of 14 allegations against former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other former Democratic officials.



Having multiple special counsels is not unprecedented. Both former presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan faced several special prosecutor investigations during their two terms in office.



What would be out of the ordinary is for the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel to investigate a sitting presidents former campaign rival.



"That's what Banana Republics, if I may, and totalitarian regimes do, said John Q. Barrett, a professor of law at St. Johns University in New York.



A special counsel is a prosecutor appointed to investigate a violation of federal law when a conflict of interest prevents the Justice Department from undertaking a probe.



Until 1999, the special prosecutor, also known as an independent counsel, operated outside the department of justice.

Since then, the Office of the Special Counsel has been based inside the Justice Department and reports to the attorney general.



The authority to appoint a special counsel rests with the attorney general. If the attorney general has a conflict of interest, the deputy attorney general will make the appointment.



In March, Sessions, a former adviser to Trumps presidential campaign, recused himself from the departments investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The move led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May.



Trump has dismissed the inquiry as a witch hunt, and instead pressed the Justice Department to investigate Clinton, fueling speculation Sessions will bow to political pressure and appoint a special counsel.



Credible evidence needed

In a letter to Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee, Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, Stephen Boyd, wrote Monday that Sessions has directed senior federal prosecutors to evaluate certain issues



The prosecutors, Boyd wrote, will make recommendations on whether any matters should be investigated or merit the appointment of a special counsel.



But in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee this week, Sessions sought to assuage concerns that the appointment will be politically motivated.



"The Department of Justice can never be used to retaliate politically against opponents, and that would be wrong," he said.



When Republican Jim Jordan suggested "it looks" like there was enough evidence to merit the appointment of a special counsel, Sessions said, Id say looks like is not enough basis to appoint a special counsel.

To name a second special counsel, Session testified, hed need a factual basis."



Barrett said Sessions testimony poured "a lot of cold water on the prospects of appointing a special counsel.



To order an investigation, the Justice Departments needs credible evidence of wrongdoing, not a political letter containing allegations, Barrett said.



"Its easy to write up a political letter or to make an allegation but the ordinary work of law enforcement is what the Department of Justice will do in any case, including a special counsel case," Barrett said.



Eric Jaso, a former associate independent counsel for the Whitewater investigation during the Bill Clinton presidency, noted that the House Republicans put their allegations in a letter instead of making a formal criminal referral to the Justice Department.



The Justice Department has not said whether it is investigating any of the allegations, but Barrett said the allegations do not indicate federal criminal activity or potential criminal activity that would warrant the appointment of a special counsel.



But just because Clinton was a secretary of state and later a presidential candidate, she should not be immune from prosecution, he said.



"The bottom line for any prosecutors is, is there enough evidence to suggest that a crime has been committed and if so, it should be investigated," Jaso said.
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and his former army chief of staff apparently have reconciled, a week after a tense standoff in Juba threatened to escalate into violence.

The reconciliation happened Thursday at a prayer service at the president's residence in Juba. Pictures surfaced on the internet showing Paul Malong hugging Kiir.

The coziness seems a world away from events last week in Juba, when tanks and dozens of government troops surrounded Malong's house after he refused to release a platoon of soldiers guarding him.

Malong had been under house arrest at his residence since May, after a string of resignations by military officials who alleged there was ethnic bias in the army, and that soldiers were committing war crimes in the context of South Sudan's civil war.

Praise from U.N. representative

Earlier on Thursday, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative in South Sudan, David Shearer, praised the Kiir administration for peacefully resolving the weeklong standoff with Malong.

The tanks and troops were withdrawn Saturday after Malong agreed to release 26 of his 30 bodyguards. Shearer said the move calmed tensions.

Shearer told reporters at a U.N. base in Juba that it's important for South Sudanese to resolve their conflicts internally.

"This conclusion came down simply to the choice of putting South Sudan and stability in Juba before all other concerns. We are grateful for the statesmanlike way in which the situation was resolved," said Shearer.

UNMISS mandate

Shearer said he hoped the U.N. Security Council would renew the mandate for the U.N. peacekeeping in mission in South Sudan, which is due to expire a month from now.

A review team is scheduled to arrive in Juba from U.N. headquarters in New York within two weeks. Shearer said the team would assess the security situation and consult with officials from the government and aid agencies operating in South Sudan.

"This team will also spend two days in Addis Ababa, where it will meet with other South Sudanese groups, including the opposition," said Shearer.

The review team will provide a report to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who will report the team's findings to the Security Council. Shearer said the report would influence the Security Council's decision on whether to renew the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate.

If the team determines that security conditions have improved in South Sudan, Shearer said the U.N. would help coordinate the "voluntary safe return" of more than 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in six U.N. camps across the country.

That number has fluctuated depending on the security situation, but "the trend is now showing a slow decline," said Shearer.

The U.N. special representative cautioned, however, that the U.N. was still far from announcing that conditions are safe for IDPs to return.

Shearer welcomed Kiir's recent decree ordering security forces and local leaders to allow aid workers unfettered access to 6.2 million people in need of assistance across the country.

"We will continue to monitor the process of that access. The fact that it comes from the top means we anticipate and we expect others right down the chain of the security forces to follow that order," said Shearer.
The jailed leader of the main grassroots group pushing for Catalonia to secede from Spain resigned his post Thursday to run as a candidate in the election the Spanish government called for next month to stop the region's push toward independence.

The Catalan National Assembly said Jordi Sanchez would be a candidate on the slate headed by Catalonia's former president, Carles Puigdemont, who is in Belgium facing extradition back to Spain along with four members of his ousted cabinet.

Sanchez and another separatist activist were jailed on Oct. 16 while being investigated for sedition for their alleged roles in a secession-related protest that trashed police vehicles in September.

Under Spanish law, he and any other pro-independence Catalan officials or activists can run in the Dec. 21 election unless they are convicted. Puigdemont plans to be his party's top candidate while campaigning as a fugitive in Belgium.

Another eight former members of Catalonia's regional government have been similarly jailed in another case probing a rebellion plot.

Sanchez, 53, has led the Catalan National Assembly since 2015. The group organized rallies that attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters of having Catalonia break away from Spain. Sanchez also formed part of an informal leadership council that advised Puigdemont on achieving the region's secession.

Spain called the December election after seizing control of Catalonia. The unprecedented action followed a vote in Catalonia's Parliament to declare the region as a separate republic on Oct. 27 in violation of Spain's Constitution, which deems the nation indivisible. Spain's government hopes that parties opposed to secession will take back control of the chamber.

Polls indicate that Catalonia's 7.5 million residents are evenly split over secession.

Hours after Sanchez launched his political bid, a few thousand Catalans in favor of breaking from Spain gathered in a central square in Barcelona to mark the one-month anniversary of his and the other separatist leader's imprisonment.

Many of the protestors held up signs reading Freedom for Political Prisoners and some carried pro-independence flags. The crowd formed the shape of a ribbon that many secessionists wear as a symbol of their solidarity with the jailed leaders.

Their imprisonment is a punishment for the entire country, Agusti Alcoberro, the new leader of the National Catalan Assembly, told the crowd.
Government envoys from Sri Lanka told the U.N.'s top human rights body Wednesday that their country is taking new steps to battle torture, a move that an advocacy group attributed to an Associated Press report documenting allegations from men who said they had been brutalized, raped and branded.

The Human Rights Council held a long-planned review of Sri Lanka's record a week after the AP investigation relayed the accounts of more than 50 men who said they had been tortured under the current government, some as recently as July.

The government envoys took some at the council meeting in Geneva by surprise by announcing that Sri Lanka's Cabinet had a day earlier agreed to accede to the Optional Protocol on the Convention Against Torture. The 15-year-old accord allows for greater international scrutiny of countries' detention facilities.

Harsha de Silva, a deputy minister for national policies and economic affairs, acknowledged that the government's commitment to human rights had been questioned.

"No nation is perfect," de Silva told the rights council. "It's natural to feel a sense of frustration."

Speaking later to the AP, he said Sri Lanka had "zero tolerance" for torture.

"It is an abhorrent practice, and we are completely and absolutely against that," de Silva said. "That is why the Cabinet, you know, gave its decision to accede to ... the optional protocol."

Critics express doubt

Critics scoffed that the treaty pledge was another empty promise on human rights from a country still recovering from a devastating 26-year civil war that ended in 2009. Men interviewed for the AP's investigation, all members of Sri Lanka's Tamil ethnic minority, said they had been accused of trying to revive a rebel group on the losing side of the civil war.

Government critics also insisted that Sri Lankan officials were attempting to head off criticism at the Human Rights Council in the wake of the AP report.

Manivannan Pathmanabhan, a human rights minister with a nongovernmental group called the Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam, said the envoys' announcement was a desperate attempt to "hoodwink" the council.

He said the AP report was the reason the government "decided to go and sign this protocol immediately."

Most of the men in the AP's investigation said their captors had identified themselves as members of the Criminal Investigations Department, a police unit that investigates serious crimes. Some said their interrogators appeared to be soldiers.

The optional protocol, if properly applied, can increase international scrutiny on a country that adheres to it, such as through visits to jails and prisons.

Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam called on the accusers in the AP report to come forward to Sri Lankan authorities.

"Well, people are surprised, because in Sri Lanka government does not condone torture at all, and we are surprised at their accusation of this nature, and we would like to investigate and come to conclusions," Kariyawasam said of the accounts in the AP's report.

Kariyawasam said Sri Lankan authorities had not yet investigated the claims because they haven't received any evidence or accounts directly.

'Baseless' claims

But speaking Tuesday in Vancouver, Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne denied the claims of torture by the suspected rebels, calling them "baseless and unfounded."

The men, who are seeking political asylum in Europe, said their captors accused them of working to revive the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which battled Sri Lankan government forces for decades until their defeat in 2009.

The Sri Lankan government has said repeatedly, however, that the rebel group was no longer a threat.

Dr. Paul Newman, a professor of human rights at the University of Bangalore, said government officials agreed to accede to the optional protocol to "tick the boxes" of the rights council.

"They were to be answerable to the international community, which has seen, not just read ... this report made by the AP," Newman said, adding that he did not think the government would keep its promise to prevent the use of torture.

"But then it certainly gives some solace, at least to the victims and their families, that, yes, the international media is watching," he said.

Sri Lanka has faced years of criticism for dismissing calls by the United Nations and foreign governments for an independent inquiry into alleged war crimes and other abuses committed by both sides during the civil war.

The Tamil Tiger rebels, as they were known, were designated a terrorist organization after a wave of suicide bombings, and were also accused of using child soldiers and killing Tamil political rivals.

Last month, the U.N. special rapporteur for transitional justice said Sri Lanka was not close to where it should be in dealing with allegations of war crimes and other rights violations from the war.

John Fisher, Geneva director for Human Rights Watch, said Wednesday's review of Sri Lanka's record "highlights the increasing gap between the government's commitments on rights and its lack of action."
At least 10 people have been killed and many more wounded by a suicide bomb attack near a political gathering in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

A city police spokesman, Baseer Mujahid, told VOA eight security officers, including a senior police commander, were among the dead in Thursday's attack.

The bomber wanted to enter an event hall where supporters of Balkh province Governor Attah Mohammad Noort had gathered to "honor" his national services. But Mujahid said tight security around the venue prompted the attacker to blow himself up at an outer security post.

Afghan media, quoting security sources, put the death toll at more than 18, including civilians.

The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Noor, a notorious warlord and powerful regional leader, is a longtime stalwart in the Jamiat-i-Islami party, which is part of the Afghan national unity government.

Noor recently formed a three party political alliance, including the Jumbish party of General Abdul Rashid Dostum, another controversial and notorious warlord in the north. Dostum represents the minority Uzbek community.

Both the warlords are highly critical of mostly ethnic Pashtun leaders around Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Thursday's violence came amid heightened political tensions as politicians are jockeying for position ahead of the 2019 presidential elections in Afghanistan.

Kabul has witnessed major bombings this year, killing and wounding hundreds of people.

The Taliban and Islamic State have both taken credit for the bloodshed. Taliban insurgents have also intensified battlefield attacks against government forces across Afghanistan in 2017, killing and wounding thousands of them. Stepped up hostilities have also caused record civilian casualties this year.
India's push to digitize its land records to minimize conflicts and increase transparency of transactions is marred by torn maps, tradition and disputes dating back decades, according to an analysis of the progress made by three states.

The national land record modernization program, launched in 2008, aims to survey lands, update records and establish ownership. It is scheduled to be completed in 2021 after overshooting its budget and deadline.

The government says the program has covered about 565,000 villages, or 86 percent of all recorded villages. But progress is uneven, with many states unable to re-survey lands to determine their boundaries and ownership.

"Re-surveying is a difficult, long drawn process. There are legacy issues and other complications because the records are 100 years old," said S. Chockalingam, director of land records in Maharashtra.

"So getting digital records to mirror reality is a challenge," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Land records in most Indian states date back to the colonial era. Most holdings have uncertain ownership, fraud is rampant and disputes over titles often lead to protracted court battles.

Matters related to land and property make up about two-thirds of all civil cases in India, according to a study released last year.

Measurement errors, land use discrepancies, multiple owners and short-staffed local offices hampered the digitization of land records in the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh, the analysis found.

Updating or correcting records took between 26 and 535 days.

"About 30 percent of existing maps cannot be used as they are torn or illegible," said Diya Uday at the Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research that surveyed Maharashtra's records. "In some places, we were unable to measure land because we were threatened, and in others we could not locate the owners."

Distortion of India's land markets hamstrings economic growth, accounting for 1.3 percent of lost gross domestic product growth every year, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, the research arm of the global consulting firm.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is keen to unlock this value and has made digitization of land records a priority.

Rajasthan state has set up an independent authority to verify land titles in its cities, while others are exploring blockchain - the technology behind the bitcoin currency - to increase efficiency in land deals.

But customary tenure, where boundaries are often verbally agreed, and the tradition of sons inheriting land also pose challenges, said T. Haque, chairman of the land policy unit at government think tank Niti Aayog.

"These are sensitive issues that can't be solved by digital records," he said.
Thousands of traumatized children in foster care in Britain go missing, with some returning to traffickers who feed them a web of lies, charities said on Thursday, urging better protection.

UK childrens charity Barnados said on Thursday that 16 percent of children referred to its fostering network had been sexually exploited or abused, and 17 percent were trafficked.

It is well known that there is a greater risk of trafficked children going missing from care but too often processes are not put in place to protect children, its chief executive Javed Khan said in an email to the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Children are threatened, manipulated and controlled by their traffickers who feed them a web of lies leading them to fear authorities, he said, adding that many vanish within days.

More than 50,000 children in England are in foster care, Department of Education statistics show, with thousands disappearing more than once.

Children may abscond because they feel unsafe or isolated, particularly if they do not speak English.

Some contact their traffickers because they fear reprisals against themselves or their families, have been made false promises or believe they have debts to pay, experts say.

Anti-child trafficking organization ECPAT UK said its research showed 28 percent of all trafficked children in care went missing at least once. Vietnamese children were most likely to abscond, often re-enslaved in nail bars or cannabis farms.

More than 150 Vietnamese children rescued from traffickers in Britain have disappeared from care and foster homes since 2015, charities said last month.

Having been in various foster homes from the age of three, British survivor Sarah said she was trafficked for sex at the age of 12 by a gang in England.

I was alone and vulnerable ... I saw them as people who cared about me, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundations annual Trust Conference on Wednesday, using a false name.

For the next seven years I was sold every day to many different men, she said, adding that her school, social services and other authorities failed to see her plight.

Charities have called for specialist foster carers to be trained to look after trafficked children and for the setting up of safe houses with high levels of support and supervision.

It is vitally important that foster carers are offered the support and training they need to be able to look after highly traumatized young people, said a spokesman for Fostering Network, a charity that supports foster carers in Britain.

At least 13,000 people across the country are estimated by the government to be living in modern slavery but police say that the true figure is likely to be in the tens of thousands.

The government has said it is introducing a scheme to give trafficked children specialist advocates or guardians who could provide support and reduce re-trafficking risks.
Fresh off his first visit to Asia, included a two-day stop in China that some argue was heavy on flattery and lacking in substance, analysts say President Donald Trump is now poised to do what hes long promised: get tough on Beijing over its unfair trade practices.

While in China, Trump said he gives Beijing great credit for taking advantage of the United States, which left some perplexed.

Speaking at signing ceremony for deals that totaled some $250 billion he said: I dont blame China ... who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?

But that was only the first half of a key message of his trip.

The rest came in his speech at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and was echoed again at the White House on Wednesday.

We can no longer tolerate unfair trading practices that steal American jobs, wealth and intellectual property. The days of the United States being taken advantage of are over, Trump said.

WATCH: Leaders of US and China Offer Asia Business Leaders Divergent Paths

Sweet and sour

Douglas Paal, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said he sees a domestic political strategy in the broader message that Trump conveyed during his trip.

By saying that China is not to blame and that it is doing what any country should do to protect its interests, Trump has given himself license to do for America what other leaders have not done.

Paal notes that early next month two key trade investigation reports are due and, unless something knocks them off course, they are going to lead to high tariffs on some products and maybe even outright bans.

And the Chinese will retaliate as they feel appropriate, he said.

So we will go from the good feeling, high emotions of this state visit, which wed call the sweet, to sour in December on trade. And that would be more suitable to the way Trump thinks about his political constituency and the debt he owes that constituency for his election, Paal said.

Paal added the outcome of such an approach and impact on America is widely uncertain, but what is clear is that Trump will stick to his domestic political calculation until it proves to be wrong.

Trade investigations

In addition to a section 301 investigation into Chinas use of policies to force foreign companies to hand over intellectual property in exchange for market access, the Trump administration has also launched a section 232 investigation to determine whether cheap Chinese aluminum and steel imports threaten national security.

Both would allow the administration to levy tariffs on Chinese goods. Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 was a popular trade tool that was used in the 1980s against Japan, and it allows the president to impose tariffs or other restrictions to counter unfair trade practices.

China has called the launch of the investigation irresponsible because it is based on a domestic U.S. law that could be applied outside of the framework of the World Trade Organization.

Some have warned that the use of such measures could trigger a trade war between the two countries. Others, however, argue that the trade war began a long time ago and that the difference is that previous administrations did not do enough about it.

I think there are very few people who would say that the previous administrations, whether it was the Obama administration or the Bush administration, were overly aggressive in enforcing trade law. Many people would say that they were insufficiently aggressive in enforcing U.S. law when it comes to unfair trade practices of U.S. trading partners, said Ross Feingold, senior adviser with the American political risk manager DC International Advisory.

Economic bullets

In addition to the investigations, there is a bipartisan push by lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives to bolster the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS.

If the draft legislation is approved, it would not only broaden the scope of the interagency bodys review of foreign investments in the United States, but expand it to include joint venture investments overseas as well.

CFIUS evaluates investments in the United States for potential threats to national security. Some lawmakers have proposed expanding the review domestically and to include investments overseas as well. A proposal that is likely to not sit well with big American multinational corporations.

Ethan Cramer-Flood, associate director of The Conference Boards China Center and Asia Programs, said that over the past year there has been an enormous amount of tactical preparation and economic bullets for eventual economic confrontation.

And while that is no guarantee that will happen, the trade investigations and proposed CFIUS legislation are all part of that effort.

The Trump trade team and their allies in Congress are loading up the chamber, Cramer-Flood said. That doesnt mean they are going to fire the bullets, but they are creating a sort of legal arsenal, so that rather than just rhetoric and yelling, there are things the U.S. side can do to cause real pain on the Chinese side.

What the Trump administration is aiming to do, Cramer-Flood said, is accumulate leverage and create a legitimate concern from the Chinese perspective, in hopes of bringing about change.

Without that kind of pressure, China is unlikely to have any interest in changing the status quo, which has been working very well for it for the past 30 years, he added.

Joyce Huang contributed to this report.
In his speech Wednesday, a day after returning from a 12-day Asia trip, U.S. President Donald Trump boasted of "tremendous success" in pushing America's interests forward. During stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump pursued his "America First" philosophy, calling for more favorable trade deals for the U.S. He also urged North Korea not to test the U.S. resolve to defend itself and its allies. VOA'S Zlatica Hoke reports.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed significant changes to the nation's tax code for the first time in three decades and by a comfortable vote margin Thursday, giving President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans a much-needed win after a year of legislative setbacks.

"If we get Tax Cuts and Reform, we'll really see some great results!," the president tweeted early Friday, after noting the "Great numbers on Stocks and the Economy."



Later, Trump tweeted, "If Democrats were not such obstructionists and understood the power of lower taxes, we would be able to get many of their ideas into Bill!" but he did not list the Democratic ideas to which he was referring.



"This is nothing short of extraordinary," House Speaker Paul Ryan said after the vote, noting that getting the needed number of 218 House members to agree on anything was an achievement.

Ryan's long-held goal of reforming the nation's tax code appeared in jeopardy earlier this year after Republicans tried and failed to deliver on another long-term campaign promise: repealing and replacing former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Last-minute encouragement

Republican leadership appeared visibly relaxed on the House floor as the vote totals moved toward passage and earlier in the day after Trump gave a last-minute speech of encouragement at the party's weekly conference meeting.

"Every step of the way, President Trump was directly engaged, kept talking about how he wanted to push those tax cuts further and further down to the middle class, to make sure that this was fair for everybody," House Majority Whip Steve Scalise said Thursday of Trump's efforts.

The president did not address anticipated issues with passing the legislation in the U.S. Senate, telling House Republicans it was time to put American businesses on a competitive playing field.

"The president is on the verge of getting a major win today and, more importantly, being able to sign the first tax overhaul since 1986, so it's a critical moment for us  he made it pretty clear," Rep. Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, said of Trump's trip to Capitol Hill.

Many Republicans leaving the meeting described the House vote as the first step that would allow Trump to make the case for tax reform to the nation.

"We want him to sell it to America, he's great at selling," Rep. Dave Brat, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told reporters before the meeting. "The basic case is good  it's pro-growth, pro-business."

Senate passage

Despite optimism among House Republicans, the bill now faces a much tougher path to passage in the Senate.

Late Thursday, a Senate tax-writing panel approved its own overhaul bill that will be sent to the full Senate after next weeks Thanksgiving holiday.

The Senate bill faces strong opposition from Democrats, who call the bill a tax break for the wealthy. Several Republican senators have also expressed reluctance to support the bill, throwing its approval into question. Republican control the Senate by a slim 52-48 margin.

Members of both parties have also expressed concerns about making significant changes to the nation's complicated tax code within an accelerated timeline intended to get the bill over to the White House by year's end.

"We [didn't] even know what the Senate version [was] until last Thursday. It is not a real good process, it's not leaving this bill open enough to scrutiny to really understand what's happening," Ron Johnson, the Republican senator from Wisconsin, told CNBC on Wednesday. "In the current form, I wouldn't vote for it. We can do better than this."

In the 227-205 House vote, 13 Republican members voted against the legislation, citing concerns about the financial impact on their constituents.

"House Republicans will have to decide whether they will chain themselves to this poisonous middle-class hike that is dead on arrival in the Senate," House Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday morning.

'Life or death struggle'

Pelosi said Senate Republicans' attempts to add a repeal of the Affordable Care Act individual mandate to the Senate version turned Democrats' fight to defeat the tax bill into "a life or death struggle."

Her Senate counterpart, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, predicted the vote Thursday would have longer-term consequences for Republicans facing mid-term elections next year.

"I'm not so sure any family in America feels that it's right to subsidize tax cuts for folks like President Trump and his family. And their voices will be heard. During the debate on this bill and afterward, this bill will be a huge burden for Republicans to carry on their backs over the next year. Make no mistake about it," Schumer said on the Senate floor Thursday.

But unlike the passage of the health care bill earlier this year, when Republicans passed legislation only to watch the attempt fail to pass much tighter margins in the Senate, the tone remained hopeful.

"I am looking at the combination of the House and the Senate bill and I think between the two of them, we'll have exactly what we need," Rep. Tom McArthur, a Republican from New Jersey, told VOA. "If we can blend the best parts of both bills, then we've got a real winning end."
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that "America's standing in the world has never been stronger" after his just-completed two-week trip to Asia.

Trump stood in the White House and gave a recap of his five-nation tour, which he called "historic" and a "tremendous success."

"Everywhere we went, our foreign host greeted the American delegation ... with incredible warmth, hospitality and, most importantly, respect."

Along with a handful of trade and investment deals with China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed there could be no "freeze for freeze" agreement with North Korea. That is a deal in which the North would freeze its nuclear program if the U.S. and South Korea froze military exercises on the peninsula.

Trump said Xi recognized that a nuclearized North Korea is a "grave threat" to China.

Trump said past deals with the North by previous U.S. administrations had "consistently failed." He said while all options remained on the table in dealing with Pyongyang, time was running out.

WATCH: Trump Claims 'Tremendous Success' of Recent Trip to Asia

Targeting trade deficit

On trade, Trump said the U.S. was going to start "whittling down" its trade deficit with Asia as fast as possible.

He said insisting on fair and reciprocal trade with America's Asian partners was one of the goals of his trip.

The president said unfair trading practices that steal U.S. intellectual property and jobs could not be tolerated.

Trump took a swipe at his predecessors in the White House, saying they had failed to protect and promote the interests of the American people, as he repeated his promise to put U.S. interests first.

"We will never again turn a blind eye to ... cheating," he said, referring to longtime accusations that trading partners have violated trade deals and rules.

China has been on the receiving end of many of Trump's past complaints. Some of the president's critics said he was not forceful enough in making those concerns known when he came face to face last week with Xi.

Trump made no mention of human rights during Wednesday's speech, and except for North Korea, the topic scarcely emerged during his Asian visit  including in the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Duterte has been accused of encouraging extrajudicial police killings of suspected drug users and dealers.
U.S. authorities told Turkey that Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab, arrested in the United States, was moved to a different location and is in good medical condition, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu

said on Thursday.



Cavusoglu said U.S. authorities had not replied to a first diplomatic note from Turkey, but responded to a second note sent on Wednesday inquiring about Zarrab's condition after the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons website showed that Zarrab had been released last week and his lawyers said they had not heard from their client in five days.



Zarrab is being held in the United States awaiting trial on charges of evading U.S. sanctions on Iran. He has pleaded not guilty.



Cavusoglu also said that he does not believe the Turkish lender Halkbank had violated U.S. sanctions on Iran.



Halkbank's former Deputy General Manager Mehmet Hakan Atilla is also detained in the U.S. awaiting trial on the same charges as Zarrab. He has pleaded not guilty.
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote Thursday on rival U.S. and Russian proposals for extending the mandate of a body set up to investigate chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Authorization for the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) will expire at the end of the day unless it is renewed.

The U.S. mission to the U.N. called for a vote on its proposal, which like the Russian plan would extend the JIM for one year. The U.S. text calls for JIMs experts to continue their work in a manner they deem appropriate.

The United States hopes the Security Council will stand united in the face of chemical weapons use against civilians and extend the work of this critical group, the U.S. mission said. Not doing so would only give consent to such atrocities while tragically failing the Syrian people who have suffered from these despicable acts.

The group began its work two years ago and has issued several reports finding the Syrian government responsible for using chemical weapons, including in a sarin gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun in April.

Russia has been sharply critical of those conclusions, and its proposal features a call for the JIM to visit Khan Sheikhoun and re-evaluate its findings about what happened there.

It is important that the JIM is renewed but on an updated mandate because the systemic errors that we saw with the recent report should be corrected and thats the aim of our resolution, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said.

He added that the prospect of letting the mandate expire may send a bad signal, but the way the investigation has been conducted sends an even worse signal.

The dynamics of the Security Council could result in neither renewal plan being approved.

The United States and Russia are among the five permanent members of the council that have veto power, and diplomats say there is little support for the Russian plan.

Russia has used its veto nine times to block resolutions targeting its Syrian ally since the current conflict began in 2011.
U.S. and Japanese naval forces have begun their annual bilateral training exercise, seen as a show of force amid North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

More than 14,000 U.S. personnel are participating in 10 days of drills, which will include the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the guided-missile destroyers USS Stethem, USS Chafee and USS Mustin, and a maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron.

The exercise in the waters surrounding Okinawa is designed to increase the defensive readiness and interoperability of Japanese and American forces through training in air and sea operations. It is meant to pressure North Korea and send a strong signal to Pyongyang of America's ability to rapidly mobilize a potent military force.

The drills begin as China announced Thursday a "dual suspension" proposal was the best option for handling North Korea. China and Russia have proposed that the United States and South Korea stop major military exercises in the area in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programs.

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected any "freeze for freeze" agreement.

"For forward deployed forces, exercises are a critical component to readiness. They do, in fact, assure our partners," Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. told Pentagon reporters Thursday. "They also exercise a powerful deterring effect."

The exercise follows joint naval exercises in the Western Pacific involving U.S. and South Korean naval forces.

Three U.S. aircraft carriers also participated in separate exercises Sunday with Japan's largest warship.Tokyo dispatched one of its two large helicopter carriers and two escorts to participate in the drills in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea.
U.S. lawmakers welcomed the apparent ouster of Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, although not the military action that confined Mugabe to his home and could end his 37-year rule.

Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, deemed Mugabe's sidelining a desirable outcome accomplished through less than desirable means.

"We obviously don't like coups," Cardin said Wednesday, but he suggested that "it's time for the country of Zimbabwe to move on. I hope that they will find a democratic process."

Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake has firsthand knowledge of Zimbabwe. He lived in Zimbabwe in the 1980s and wrote his master's thesis on Mugabe, "trying to explain his hold on power. It's been a long-term interest for me."

But Flake spoke bluntly about how Mugabe would go down in history: "As a long-serving thug."

Mugabe "just killed the economy, and in the end lost an election and couldn't take it, so [he] intervened and then stayed in power. So it's not a good legacy," the U.S. lawmaker said. "You know, Zimbabwe, [people] would always say, was the breadbasket of southern Africa and became a basket case during his reign."

Another Republican, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, agreed.

"He got more attached to power, more repressive in how he treated his people, rampant corruption. You know, Africa is the prize of the 21st century, I think, for the world at large. A beautiful continent, great people, a lot of natural resources. With better governance, the sky is the limit," Graham said.

'Concerned by recent actions'

The U.S. State Department issued a statement Wednesday, saying, "The U.S. government is concerned by recent actions undertaken by Zimbabwe's military forces. We call on all Zimbabwean leaders to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, uphold the constitutionally protected rights of all citizens, and to quickly resolve differences to allow for a rapid return to normalcy."

A State Department spokesperson, speaking on background, also said the U.S. "does not take sides in matters of internal Zimbabwean politics and does not condone military intervention in political processes."

The U.S. Embassy in Harare had issued a statement early Wednesday encouraging U.S. citizens in the country to "shelter in place." The spokesperson said there had been no reports of U.S. citizens "being injured or arrested at this time."

U.S Ambassador to Zimbabwe Harry Thomas "has been in contact with his counterparts at other missions and with the government of Zimbabwe," the spokesperson said.

In Washington, Democratic Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico expressed hope the military action in Zimbabwe would soon end.

"I don't like coups. I think we should rely on democratic processes, but obviously everybody's gotten a little bit frustrated over there. They should go forward with elections as soon as possible," Udall said.

Future of Zimbabwe

A better future for Zimbabwe is there for the taking, Flake said.

"Nobody's going to mourn the ouster of Mugabe, but what comes next is what's important," he added.

Four members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Africa subcommittee  Flake, Delaware Democrat Chris Coons, New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker and Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson  released a statement late Wednesday.

"While a change in leadership is long overdue, we are concerned about the military's actions. We urge the leaders of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces to ensure the protection of all citizens and a transparent return to civilian control," the statement read. "As the country grapples with a new political reality, Zimbabwe's leaders must adhere to democratic processes and establish a mechanism for the peaceful transfer of power that is consistent with Zimbabwe's Constitution and the will of its people."

General elections are scheduled for July and August of next year.

VOA's Nike Ching at the State Department contributed to this report.
Many cities are being overwhelmed by growing numbers of people migrating to them, and will become highly vulnerable to floods, storms and other disasters unless authorities receive more support, urban experts said Wednesday.

The proportion of the global population living in urban areas has risen from half in 2000 to 55 percent now, and is predicted to reach 70 percent by 2050, according to the U.N. agency for human settlements.

If we dont start supporting local and national authorities in (the) task of hosting more and more people in their cities, we are going to have cities that are highly vulnerable, said Esteban Leon, chief technical adviser at U.N.-Habitat.

In most cities ... authorities are overwhelmed by this migration and they dont have the time nor the resources to react, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on the sidelines of the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona.

Rapid, unplanned population growth puts pressure on transport, infrastructure and sanitation systems in cities around the world, experts say.

Not just megacities

Future urban population growth will not be restricted to megacities of 10 million people or more, said Robert Muggah, co-founder of the Brazil-based think tank Igarape Institute.

The vast majority ... is going to be rural folks moving into smaller and medium-sized cities. ... Its less spectacular but no less significant, Muggah said.

Were also going to see an incredible amount of growth in the coming decades in informal settlements as a result of the speed of population growth, he added.

About a quarter of the worlds urban population live in slums, U.N.-Habitat says.

That amounts to more than 1.2 billion people, which could rise to nearly 2 billion by 2030, Muggah said.

Many of the worlds fastest growing cities lack sufficient transport and infrastructure to cope, he said.

This is putting extraordinary stress on the ability of services to be able to deliver the goods and infrastructure that is so desperately needed by the citizens, he said.

Energy use jumps

Joan Clos, executive director of U.N.-Habitat, said that urban living is responsible for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

When a person moves from a rural area to an urban area, their energy consumption increases tenfold, he said.

Problems related to urban population growth must be addressed sooner rather than later, noted Candace Byrd, chief of staff for the U.S. city of Atlanta.

The time is now to shape the future, she said.
The White Houses new strategy for Afghanistan makes a critical change by committing U.S. support as long as it takes to get the job done, the departing U.S. ambassador says.

Hugo Llorens, who is leaving after a year on the job and previously served as the U.S. Embassys No. 2 official, told VOAs Afghan service in Kabul the old strategy of having a timeline with a specific end made it very easy for the enemy to guess our moves, and that is not a good move.

He called President Donald Trumps conditions-based approach better for the tangled situation.

Llorens sentiments were echoed by Abdullah Abdullah, the countrys chief executive officer, who met Wednesday with VOA editors in Washington. He said having a finite end date allowed the Taliban and other extremist groups to just bide their time and come back strong, undercutting the progress made since the U.S. intervention in late 2001.

Abdullah said ousting the Talibans repressive regime has improved the lives of millions of Afghans by bolstering individual rights, although security remains a challenge.

Taliban gains

While the Taliban has made territorial gains over the past year as the Afghan government focused on protecting urban areas, Llorens said the group has made little headway in winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. He cited a recent Asia Foundation poll that found only 5 percent of the populace support the Taliban.

If you measure by population, the Taliban still control a very small part of country, the ambassador said. It doesn't mean they are not a problem; we all know the reality. People are tired of them; they are coming here and bringing death and destruction to the country.

He underscored the need for Pakistan to play a more positive role in fostering peace.

They (Taliban) receive support from the country next door, Pakistan, Llorens said. The Taliban leadership is in Pakistan, their bases are in Pakistan and their logistics to a significant degree come from Pakistan, their arms, ammunition, their training, and  many young man who are radicalized ... in madrassas.

Other groups emboldened

Pakistan has denied accusations that it provides terrorist groups safe havens on its land or supports extremist groups in Afghanistan. Islamabad has bristled at pressure from Trump and other officials that it must do more to root out such groups, saying it, too, is a victim of terrorism.

Abdullah called for Pakistan to see the situation with clarity because insecurities created by the Taliban have emboldened other groups with anti-government agendas that affect the entire region.

That includes Islamic State (IS), which has grown in strength in Afghanistan, with concerns it could build a home there after heavy losses in Iraq and Syria.

Taliban, IS differences

Abdullah said it can be difficult to differentiate between the Taliban and IS because their ideologies, distortion of Islamic ideals, and methods of terror and violence are similar. So far, he said, IS is concentrated in specific areas and has more foreign fighters than the Taliban.

Llorens says a key difference is there is hope the Taliban can be convinced to negotiate peace.

I do not think there is any way we can reconcile with ISIS, Llorens said, using an acronym for the group. The only way is to fight them, and our objectives working with our Afghan partners are to completely eliminate the ISIS threat from Afghanistan and the entire central and South Asia region.

Pakistan unhappy

Pakistan also is unhappy that Trumps strategy includes a bigger role for archrival India to help stabilize Afghanistan, with officials saying in recent days only countries that border Afghanistan should be allowed to be directly involved.

Abdullah countered that India has provided more than $2 billion in aid for Afghan education, infrastructure and energy development, and trade ties are growing. India provided air transport for Afghan goods during times when Pakistan has closed border crossings.

Llorens, meanwhile, is concerned about reported Russian and Iranian influence on the Taliban.

VOA's Afghan Service in Washington contributed to this report.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says it will review DACA renewal applications that were delayed in the mail past the filing deadline to see if they should be accepted.

When the administration of Donald Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in September, it allowed DACA recipients whose benefits were expiring to renew one last time, if they sent in their renewal papers by October 5. The idea, according to officials, was that no DACA recipients would lose their benefits for six months, before March 5, 2018.

DACA has sheltered about 800,000 undocumented young people who came to the U.S. as children from deportation and has given them work permits that need to be renewed every two years.

The New York Times reported last Friday that in New York and Chicago about 75 renewal applications that had been mailed well before the deadline were held up by U.S. Postal Service delays. While the post office apologized, the newspaper reported that USCIS initially refused to accept the applications.

Complaints filed



In a reversal Wednesday night, USCIS said that it would take a second look at renewal applications that suffered post office delays if senders can prove "that the request was originally mailed in a timely manner and that the cause for receipt after the Oct. 5, 2017, deadline was the result of USPS mail service error."

Additionally, USCIS said it is looking at instances when "DACA requests were received at the designated filing location (e.g., at the applicable P.O. Box) by the filing deadline, but were rejected."

These cases were the subject of a complaint filed in a New York federal court on Tuesday. Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups allege the government rejected applications for the renewal of DACA protections as late even though they met the deadline and were in a USCIS mailbox.

The amended complaint was filed in the Eastern District of New York as part of a previous lawsuit against the administration's DACA decision.

Plaintiffs Make the Road New York, the National Immigration Law Center, and lawyers and law students from Yale University claim that the USCIS failure to inform applicants that not all applications would be accepted on the same day of the deadline violated due process as provided by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

The complaint also says applications that reached USCIS before the deadline were arbitrarily rejected. In one case, the application of a client of the advocacy organization Make the Road New York was rejected because a USCIS employee misread the date on the applicants check as "2012" and not "2017."

In Wednesday's statement USCIS says it will "proactively reach out" to DACA renewal applicants who were unfairly rejected to let them know they can resubmit.

"If a DACA requestor does not receive such a notification and believes that his or her DACA request was received at the designated filing location by the filing deadline, he or she may resubmit his or her DACA request with proof that the request was previously received at the designated filing location on or before the filing deadline," USCIS says,adding the more guidance is to come.

USCIS has said that 132,000 immigrants submitted their applications on time. But USCIS also reported in an October 18 court filing for the groups' original lawsuit that another 4,000 applications were late and had been rejected.
The U.S. and Japanese naval forces will hold bilateral training exercise for 10 days, starting Thursday.

More than 14,000 U.S. personnel will participate in the drills and will include the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and the guided-missile destroyers USS Stethem, USS Chafee, USS Mustin and a maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron.

The exercise is designed to increase the defensive readiness and interoperability of Japanese and American forces through training in air and sea operations. The training will take place in the waters surrounding Okinawa.

The exercise follows joint naval exercises in the Western Pacific involving U.S. South Korean naval forces.

Three U.S. aircraft carriers also participated in separate exercises Sunday with Japan's largest warship. Japan also dispatched one of its two large helicopter carriers and two escorts to participate in the drills in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea.

The display of military force is meant to pressure North Korea and send a strong signal to Pyongyang of U.S. ability to rapidly mobilize a potent military force.
The internal watchdog at the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday he hopes to complete his review by early spring into whether the Federal Bureau of Investigation erred when it announced it was reopening its investigation into Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's emails ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

"We have interviewed dozens of people. We are not at the 100 level yet, but we're in the dozens range. We've reviewed about 1.2 million records in the course of the investigation," Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said, in testimony before a U.S. House of Representatives panel.

"We are aiming to release the report in late winter/early spring, so hopefully in that March-April time period."

After a deluge of congressional requests, Horowitz's office earlier this year announced it would review the pre-election decision-making at the FBI.

At the heart of the review is whether former FBI Director James Comey improperly made a series of public statements about the status of the bureau's investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server for official correspondence while she was Secretary of State.

Comey, who was fired in May by U.S. President Donald Trump, had also led an investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election.

The FBI does not typically discuss its investigations publicly.

In the case of Clinton, however, Comey decided in July 2016 to hold a press conference and explain why the FBI had declined to refer Clinton for prosecution. He said at the time her actions were careless, but did not rise to criminal behavior.

Comey in October 2016 sent Congress a letter saying the FBI needed to re-open its investigation after it uncovered new emails on the computer of former Representative Anthony Weiner, who had been married to one Clinton's top aides.

Then on Nov. 6, 2016 - two days before the presidential election - Comey said the FBI had not uncovered any new evidence.

Comey's various public disclosures stirred a lot of controversy with some questioning whether he had violated the Hatch Act, which bars government employees from interfering with U.S. elections.

Republicans have also complained about why former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch did not recuse herself from the matter after it was revealed she had met with former president Bill Clinton on board a plane while the investigation was still ongoing.

The issues have recently prompted a handful of committees in the Republican-led U.S. Congress to open their own reviews into the same set of facts being probed by Horowitz's office.
The Trump administration is preparing to allow hunters to import the remains of elephants they kill in the southern African nations of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The decision reverses a ban imposed in 2014 by the Obama administration.

In a statement issued Wednesday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it is reversing the Obama-era ban because it believes hunting these species could bring "much-needed revenue back into conservation," and spur local communities toward conservation efforts.

The new rules applies to elephants hunted in Zimbabwe on or after Jan. 21, 2016, and all elephants hunted in Zambia during 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Great Elephant Census reported last year that Zambia had just more than 21,000 elephants last year, while 82,000 elephants roam in Zimbabwe. Overall elephant populations have declined by 30 percent in 18 African countries between 2007 and 2014, with just more than 350,000 still alive in the wild.

African elephants have been listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Venezuela won easier debt terms from Russia and got a vote of confidence from China on Wednesday, as the oil-rich country said it had starting making interest payments on bonds after a delay that had threatened to trigger a default.

A debt restructuring deal with Russia that allows Caracas to make minimal payments to Moscow in the next six years, together with a separate statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry that Venezuela was capable of handing the debt issue appropriately, underlined the reserve of support its socialist government enjoys from both countries.

Venezuela has borrowed billions of dollars from Russia and China over the years, primarily through oil-for-loan deals that have crimped the countrys hard currency revenue by requiring oil shipments to be used to service those loans.

Lifeline for Venezuela

If backed by more debt forgiveness like that offered by Russia on Wednesday, the two countries could provide a lifeline to Venezuela as it seeks to keep its deeply depressed economy solvent, even as U.S. and European sanctions target the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Critics led by the United States have slammed Maduro as a dictator and assailed him for clamping down on the countrys opposition, jailing dissenters and nullifying the powers of its democratically-elected National Assembly.

Venezuelan bond prices have been on a roller-coaster over the past 10 days, as Maduro called investors to debt restructuring talks, while pledging to keep honoring the countrys obligations. But S&P Global Ratings declared it in selective default on two of its sovereign bonds early this week after it failed to make the coupons within a 30-day grace period.

On Wednesday, the Economy Ministry said it had started transferring $200 million in interest payments on those bonds, which mature in 2019 and 2024.

Sparsely attended

The 2019 bonds edged up 0.25 points or about 1 percent, while the 2024 bonds surged 2.25 points, or almost 10 percent, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data.

Our government keeps complying with its obligations and re-affirms the call to re-negotiate Venezuelas foreign debt, the ministry said.

Separately, state oil company PDVSA said it had made interest payments on its 2027 bond and had successfully completed capital payments on its 2020 and 2017N bonds.

Derivatives industry group ISDA will hold a hearing on Thursday to discuss whether Venezuela and PDVSA have entered default due to the late payments, an ISDA spokeswoman said in an email.

Maduros government has vowed to keep making payments responsibly. Creditors who attended a sparsely attended meeting on Monday in Caracas intended to kick off the debt restructuring talks said the government negotiators had offered no concrete proposals, however.

Under the deal with Russia announced earlier on Wednesday, Venezuela will pay it back a total of $3.15 billion over a 10-year period.

The Russian Finance Ministry said the agreement should free up more funds to allow Venezuela to develop its economy and will improve the debtors payment ability, increasing the chances of all creditors getting their loans back.

What about Rosneft debt

The ministry did not mention PDVSA debt to Rosneft, last estimated by the Russian oil company at $6 billion.

Asked whether PDVSA debt was part of Wednesdays deal, Venezuelan Economy and Finance Minister Simon Zerpa told a briefing in Moscow that no corporate debt was included.

Venezuela has not requested any help from Russia beyond the agreed deal, a Kremlin spokesman told reporters.

While China did not offer any debt relief, the Foreign Ministrys statement that Chinas cooperation with Venezuela in all areas was proceeding normally amounted to a vote of confidence from a country owed $23 billion by the OPEC member.

Venezuela and PDVSA have around $60 billion in outstanding bonds, according to Thomson Reuters data, while private estimates put total foreign debt between $120 billion and $140 billion.
Robert Mugabe, the longtime president of Zimbabwe, made his first public appearance Friday since the military placed him under arrest earlier this week.

The frail leader, dressed in a blue and yellow academic gown and a mortar board, attended a graduation ceremony in Harare, the capital, where the crowd cheered him.

Zimbabweans are hoping for a speedy and smooth resolution to their nation's sudden political crisis, as opposition figures, civil society and religious groups urge Mugabe to step down in the wake of a military takeover.

But reports Thursday said Mugabe was resisting, and South Africas president, Jacob Zuma, dashed hopes of a quick final act, telling his parliament, It is too early to take any firm decision now.

Pictures released on official media in Zimbabwe Thursday showed Mugabe standing beside military boss Constantino Chiwenga. The 93-year-old leaders television appearance was his first public sighting since being placed under house arrest Tuesday by military forces as they seized control of the southern African country in a swift and bloodless operation.

The military said it was holding talks with Mugabe. He was taken to the State House Thursday for talks with the military and South African mediators.

Donald Yamamoto, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African Affairs said the U.S. is hoping Zimbabwe is set to enter a transition to a new era.

Analyst Knox Chitiyo of the Chatham House research institution, was in Harare when the military deployed its tanks on Tuesday. Chitiyo, who is Zimbabwean, says the longer the military is perceived to be in charge, the more unstable things will become.

The key issue is the time scale," he told VOA in Johannesburg. "The military will want...these negotiations to be completed, as quickly as possible. They want to have the president, or if its acting president, in place as soon as possible. They want an interim administration announced, I think, as soon as possible. The military does not want this to drag out, because the longer all this drags out, the murkier, the messier it could become.

Some key figures in Zimbabwes opposition are proposing a transitional government ahead of the elections already planned for next year.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday urged Mugabe to resign.

Mr. Robert Mugabe must resign, step down immediately in line with the national sentiment and expectation, taking full regard of his legacy and his contribution to Zimbabwe, pre- and post-Zimbabwe," he told reporters in Harare.



The vice president whom Mugabe recently fired  arguably the catalyst for this military takeover - has kept a low profile. Emmerson Mnangagwa, says Piers Pigou of the International Crisis Group, will lose credibility if he appears too close to the military.



Its absolutely critical for the new incumbent to be able to, I suppose, be able to distance themselves from the illegal actions of the armed forces here, or ostensibly what looks like it," he told VOA. "I simply dont know how theyre going to put lipstick on that pig.



But, Chitiyo says, the negotiators have a lot to discuss. The crisis came out of a long-running, bitter rift in the ruling ZANU-PF party, which Mugabe has led for decades. Observers saw the move to fire Mnangagwa as a step toward the installation of Mugabe's wife, Grace Mugabe, as vice president. That would have put the unpopular first lady in line to someday replace her 93-year-old husband.



Its very delicate, theres also negotiations within the party, between the party and the opposition, between the powers that be currently and South Africa and the region," Chitiyo said. "So theres multiple negotiations, delicate negotiations. Too much talk too soon could do more harm than good. I think thats what the military is saying.



The military insists this is not a coup, and the powerful war veterans association called the action a bloodless correction.



For that narrative to work, however, they need one thing that no one ever thought would be easy to get: for Zimbabwes fiery, passionate leader to leave without a fight.


Zimbabweans faced a second day of political uncertainty Thursday, with rumors surfacing about how and when President Robert Mugabe would relinquish control after nearly four decades in power.



Mugabe was placed under house arrest Tuesday by military forces as they seized control of the southern African country in a swift and bloodless operation. Sources say Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state at 93-years-old, is refusing to resign and turn over power to a transitional government.

Various reports say Mugabe's former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have both returned from their self-imposed exiles to take part in a new government.



Reuters news agency is reporting that Mugabe and his wife Grace are being held at the deposed president's compound in Harare.

The crisis began to unfold Monday, when General Constantino Chiwenga, the head of Zimbabwe's armed forces, warned that he would "step in" unless Mugabe stopped trying to purge the ruling ZANU-PF party of supporters Mnangagwa.Dozens have been arrested since Mugabe fired the vice president on November 5.



The longime ruler indicated he was planning to replace the ousted vice president with the first lady, which would put her in position to become president when Robert Mugabe retires or dies.

Zimbabwean tanks rolled through the streets of Harare the next day, blockading parliament and taking over the country's television station. But defense forces insisted their action was "not a military takeover of government."



Leaders of several Southern African nations gathered in neighboring Botswana Thursday to discuss Zimbabwe's political crisis.



A joint statement signed by leaders of more than 100 civil society groups urged Mugabe to peacefully step aside and pave the way for "an all-inclusive, all stakeholder process which will determine the future of Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa, 75, was seen for years as a likely successor to the president, and maintains strong backing in the army. Grace Mugabe, 52, has support in the party's youth wing and is believed to have engineered the firing of another vice president, Joice Mujuru, in 2014.
The leader of the Zimbabwe ruling partys youth league, Kudzai Chipanga, apologized to the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, and his colleagues and the entire nation, for criticizing their unified call for an end to purges in Zanu-PF.

Chipanga, who had declared that he was ready to die for the revolution and President Robert Mugabe when accusing the generals of the army of subverting the constitution, said he had reflected on his statements and realized he had been out of place to criticize the generals.

I have reflected and personally admitted that I erred. I was ill-advised to read the statement which and the youth league had not originated, neither authored, said Chipanga.

In his statement before the media, Chipanga attributed his actions to his youth and lack of experience.

We are still young people, we are still growing up. We learn from our mistakes, and from this big mistake, we have learnt a lot, Chipanga said, speaking on behalf of his fellow youth league members.

The youth leader said he took full responsibility for his actions, and that his decision to apologize was not coerced.

I have not been persuaded, neither coerced or forced to do as such. I am emphasizing that I have reflected on my own, as a young person, as a leader of the youth league.

The state-run broadcaster where Chipanga delivered his statement, is currently under the control of the military, who took it over on Wednesday.
The rapidly evolving situation in Zimbabwe has caught many diplomats at the United Nations by surprise as the United States, African Union and Southern African Development Community are calling for peace in the country.

Zimbabwe's military is reportedly in control of the capital Harare and President Robert Mugabe and his wife are under house arrest in what appeared to be a coup against the 93-year-old Mugabe.

Matthew Rycroft, the United Kingdom's Ambassador to the United Nations, appealed for calm in the country.

Rycroft said, "Well it's unfolding rapidly and I don't want to say anything prematurely but what we call on is for everyone to respect the need for safety and security and for no descent into violence, so we appeal for calm and for the situation to remain stable."

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the Secretary-General, said the developments are "a little bit confusing right now, and we're trying to get the details on this. The (UN) Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) has been monitoring the evolving situation in Zimbabwe. He appeals for calm, non-violence and restraint. Preservation of fundamental rights including freedom of speech and assembly is of vital importance. The Secretary-General stresses the importance of resolving political differences through peaceful means and dialogue and in line with the country's constitution.

Members of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committees Africa subcommittee say they are concerned about the Zimbabwe Defence Forces' actions.

In a statement, senators Chris Coons (Democrat Delaware), Jeff Flake (Republican - Arizona), Cory Booker (Democrat -New Jersey), and Johnny Isakson (Republican Georgia), said the military should protect all citizens and adhere to democratic processes.

"For nearly four decades, Zimbabweans have suffered under the authoritarian rule of President Robert Mugabe, a dictator who has repressed his people and presided over the economic deterioration of his country. While a change in leadership is long overdue, we are concerned about the militarys actions.

"We urge the leaders of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces to ensure the protection of all citizens and a transparent return to civilian control. As the country grapples with a new political reality, Zimbabwes leaders must adhere to democratic processes and establish a mechanism for the peaceful transfer of power that is consistent with Zimbabwes Constitution and the will of its people."

In another statement, the United States Embassy-Harare said America is deeply concerned by recent actions undertaken by Zimbabwean military forces.

The U.S. government does not take sides in matters of internal Zimbabwean politics and calls for an expedient transition to democratic, civilian order. We call on Zimbabwean military leaders to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, uphold the constitutionally-protected rights of all citizens, and to quickly return the country to normalcy.

The United States encourages all Zimbabweans to resolve differences calmly and peacefully through democratic, transparent and constitutional processes, with proper respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression through any media, in order to move past this current crisis and towards a more stable future.

At the same time, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said they are closely following the developments in Zimbabwe.

He urged all stakeholders to address the current situation in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the relevant instruments of the African Union, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

He stressed that it is crucial that the crisis is resolved in a manner that promotes democracy and human rights, as well as the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe.

Mahamat said the African Union is working closely with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the leaders of the region to come up with a workable solution in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, SADC is expected Thursday to hold a troika meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, to discuss the situation in the southern African nation.

President Jacob Zuma has already sent envoys to Harare in an attempt to discuss the military coup with army commanders and beleaguered President Mugabe.
Heads of Christian denominations in Zimbabwe have urged the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, which toppled President Robert Mugabes government on Wednesday, to hand over power to a civilian transitional government that will oversee the smooth transition to a free and fair election.

In a statement, they said the army is capable of doing this since it has stressed that theirs is not a military coup but an effort to manage the current situation in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwes constitution does not have a provision for a transitional government but one of the heads of the Christian denominations, Anglistone Sibanda, said this is the only way of settling the conflict between the military generals and President Robert Mugabes government.

We now have to come to a situation where we agree on the way forward  We may not fail to come up with the way forward because the constitution did not forsee that (transitional government) 

The church groups also noted that there is need for a national dialogue on the unfolding situation in the southern African nation.

The current situation gives as an opportunity to reach out to each other. There is no way we can go back to the political arrangements we had some days ago. We are in a new situation. But our shared future will only be realised through dialogue. This dialogue cannot only happen within the ruling party. What we need is a National Envisioning Process (NEP) that will capture the aspirations of all the sectors of society.

The church alongside other stakeholders in the private sector, academia, and other spheres can establish this NEP as an inclusive space to enable Zimbabweans from all walks of life to contribute towards a democratic transition to the Zimbabwe We Want.

The Zimbabwe military toppled President Mugabe claiming that the situation in the country had deteriorated to the extent that it was brewing an internal strife, which could have been difficult to contain.

The army claimed that the ruling party was also purging its supporters said to be backing sacked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Members of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committees Africa subcommittee say they are concerned about the Zimbabwe Defence Forces' actions following its intervention in Zanu PF's succession battles and apparent toppling of President Robert Mugabe.

In a statement, senators Chris Coons (Democrat Delaware), Jeff Flake (Republican - Arizona), Cory Booker (Democrat -New Jersey), and Johnny Isakson (Republican Georgia), said the military should protect all citizens and adhere to democratic processes.

"For nearly four decades, Zimbabweans have suffered under the authoritarian rule of President Robert Mugabe, a dictator who has repressed his people and presided over the economic deterioration of his country. While a change in leadership is long overdue, we are concerned about the militarys actions.

"We urge the leaders of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces to ensure the protection of all citizens and a transparent return to civilian control. As the country grapples with a new political reality, Zimbabwes leaders must adhere to democratic processes and establish a mechanism for the peaceful transfer of power that is consistent with Zimbabwes Constitution and the will of its people."

They further urged the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to mediate a democratic process "that reinforces the rule of law, promotes economic reforms, and respects the human rights of all Zimbabweans.

USA imposed targeted sanctions on President Mugabe and his inner circle for human rights violations and electoral fraud.

The military imposed a house arrest for the 93 year old Zimbabwe leader after it seized all critical state institutions on Tuesday claiming that they want to arrest rogue state officials and Zanu PF officials surrounding Mr. Mugabe, who axed his deputy Emerson Mnangagwa a couple of days ago, claiming that he is untrustworthy.

Mnangagwa fled to South Africa vowing to come back home to topple Mugabe, address factionalism gripping the ruling Zanu PF party and other national problems.

He allegedly led a faction of the party known as Team Lacoste while First Lady Grace Mugabe is said to be leading another one called Generation 40. The two were fighting over the succession of Mr. Mugabe.
ECONOMY

Consumers bought more goods in Oct.

U.S. retail sales rose at a solid pace last month, as consumers bought more cars, furniture and clothes.

Retail sales increased 0.2 percent in October, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, after a healthy 1.9 percent gain in the previous month that was driven by big increases in auto and gas sales in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Americans are spending more freely as confidence in the economy has jumped in the past year and the unemployment rate is at a 17-year low. Excluding gas station sales, which fell sharply as prices dropped, retail sales rose 0.4 percent last month.

Consumers spent more at electronics, grocery, clothing and sporting goods stores. Restaurants and bars reported a healthy 0.8 percent increase, the biggest gain since January.

Gas station sales fell 1.2 percent last month, the retail sales report showed, mostly because prices nationwide dropped 2.4 percent.

Auto sales rose 0.7 percent.

 Associated Press

INTERNET

Man linked to dark net faces charges

An Illinois man who federal prosecutors say worked as a spokesman for a dark net marketplace for illicit Internet commerce has been charged in Atlanta.

Authorities have said AlphaBay was the Internets largest dark net site  trading in illegal drugs, firearms and counterfeit goods, among other things  before it was taken down through an international law enforcement effort in July.

Federal prosecutors in Atlanta charged Ronald L. Wheeler III of Streamwood, Ill., with conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Wheeler, 24, pleaded not guilty Wednesday before federal Magistrate Judge Janet King. She allowed him to remain free while his case is pending, but said she would require drug testing.

Wheelers lawyer, Phillip Turner, said he had no additional comment after the hearing.

Prosecutors wrote in a court filing that Wheeler was paid a salary in bitcoin by Alexandre Cazes, the 25-year-old Canadian owner of AlphaBay. From May 2015 through July 3 of this year, Wheeler worked with Cazes and others to use AlphaBay to traffic in personal access information and use it without authorization to obtain money, goods and services, the court filing says.

 Associated Press

Also in Business

A dozen national and Midwestern agricultural groups sued on Wednesday to overturn a California decision that could force the popular weedkiller Roundup to carry warning labels that it can cause cancer. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Sacramento seeks an injunction barring the state from enforcing what the suit describes as a "false" and "misleading" warning. California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment added Roundup ingredient glyphosate to a list of chemicals known to cause cancer.

Amazon is giving its Prime members their first taste of special discounts at its recently acquired Whole Foods stores. Amazon said it will email Prime members a coupon starting Wednesday to buy organic or antibiotic-free turkeys for about 50 cents a pound cheaper than other customers. Amazon said it will also lower prices for all Whole Foods customers on other Thanksgiving staples, such as canned pumpkin and organic sweet potatoes. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

 From news reports

8:30 a.m.: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

9:15 a.m.: Federal Reserve releases industrial production for October.

10 a.m.: National Association of Home Builders releases housing market index for November.

10 a.m.: Freddie Mac releases weekly mortgage rates.

Earnings: Walmart.
The decision to muzzle a critic of this law is unacceptable while the U.S. opioid epidemic rages out of control, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wrote, referring to a law that curbed the Drug Enforcement Agencys enforcement powers against the opioid industry. (Christopher Smith/for The Washington Post)

A high-ranking U.S. senator Thursday accused the Drug Enforcement Administration of silencing its chief administrative judge by barring him from publicly discussing a law that curbed the agencys enforcement powers against the opioid industry.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, told acting DEA administrator Robert W. Patterson that she was dismayed to learn that the judge would not be permitted to appear on Capitol Hill later this month.

The decision to muzzle a critic of this law is unacceptable while the U.S. opioid epidemic rages out of control, McCaskill wrote.

DEA spokeswoman Mary Brandenberger said, We cannot speak to this.

The Washington Post and 60 Minutes revealed in a joint investigation last month that an early version of the legislation had been written by a drug industry lawyer. It was sponsored in the House by Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.). Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) negotiated the final version of the bill with the DEA. Two days after the media reports, Marino withdrew his nomination to be the nations next drug czar.

Both lawmakers have received substantial campaign contributions from political action committees representing the drug companies. Marino received nearly $100,000; Hatch $177,000, federal records show.

Following the passage of the bill last year, DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney II wrote a law review article highly critical of the law. He said it makes it all but logically impossible for the agency to issue immediate suspension orders against drug companies in the most egregious cases because the standard of proof had been sharply increased. Those orders are dreaded by drug companies because they instantly shut down operations and all commerce in controlled substances.

If it had been the intent of Congress to completely eliminate the DEAs ability to ever impose an immediate suspension on distributors or manufacturers, it would be difficult to conceive of a more effective vehicle for achieving that goal, Mulrooney wrote in his article, which is scheduled to be published this winter by the Marquette Law Review.

The judge also wrote that the law weakens another DEA enforcement tool known as orders to show cause. Those force companies accused of failing to report suspicious orders of narcotics to show why they should be allowed to continue to operate in the face of the alleged violations. Under the new law, those companies are allowed to submit corrective action plans before the DEA can sanction them.

Mulrooney likened that provision of the law to allowing bank robbers to round up and return ink-stained money and agree not to rob any more banks.

McCaskill is sponsoring legislation that calls for a repeal of the law and she has scheduled a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill for Nov. 28. She has invited several former and current DEA officials, including Mulrooney. Because McCaskill is the ranking minority member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, she does not have the power to subpoena witnesses without approval from the Republican majority.

Given these findings, and the unique expertise Judge Mulrooney has gained from years of adjudicating DEA administrative actions, I invited him to attend my forthcoming roundtable event, McCaskill wrote in her letter to the DEA administrator. Shockingly, however, DEA has declined to grant permission for Judge Mulrooney to attend.

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has said he plans to hold a hearing into the law. Several Democratic senators have asked him to call the judge to testify before the panel.

The committee is still working on the composition of the hearing, including panels and witnesses, committee spokesman Taylor Foy said. Chairman Grassley appreciates input from his colleagues, and will take it into consideration.

On Tuesday, 44 state attorneys general called on Congress to repeal the law.

The Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act neither safeguards patient access to medication nor allows for effective drug enforcement efforts, the bipartisan group of attorneys general wrote. We urge you to repeal the act so that the public is protected and drug manufacturers and distributors may be held accountable for their actions.

But efforts to repeal or rewrite the law have stalled on Capitol Hill because no key Republicans have signed on. Marino and Hatch, one of the most powerful members of the Senate, have fiercely defended the law, arguing that it ensures that patients gain access to the drugs they need while improving the DEAs ability to do its job. They also note that the DEA approved the final language of the bill.

But senior DEA officials told The Post and 60 Minutes last month that they fought the legislation for years, fearing it would undercut their enforcement efforts. They said they were forced to accept a bill they did not want or need.

They would have passed this with us or without us, said one senior DEA official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of antagonizing members of Congress who oversee the agency. Our point was that this law was completely unnecessary.


Foggy Ridge Cider owner Diane Flynt, shown in 2012, will stop making cider but will continue growing apples. (Ryan Stone/For The Washington Post)

An American cider pioneer is signaling final call. Diane Flynt, founder of Virginias Foggy Ridge Cider, announced Nov. 9 that her current release will be her last.

Its time to return to my roots, Flynt said in an email to her subscriber list, referring to growing apples, without the pressing business of producing and marketing cider.

Since releasing her first cider in 2005, Flynt has been a prominent advocate and ambassador for the craft cider movement, promoting the revival and use of traditional cider apple varieties common in colonial days but nearly forgotten in the modern marketplace. Foggy Ridge is now distributed in 15 states, but Flynts acclaim is national; her work earned her a James Beard Award nomination this year as outstanding beverage professional.

[Virginia cider, flavored by early America]

Flynt, 64, and her husband, Chuck, 77, will continue to grow heirloom apple varieties on the farm they purchased in 1997 near Dugspur, in southwestern Virginia just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Earlier this year, she grafted about 50 trees over to a new variety for her, a red-fleshed apple called Redfield. They will join other traditional cider varieties such as Coxs Orange Pippin, Virginia Hewes Crab, Harrison, Graniwinkle and Roxbury Russet, among others.

I hope to fall out of an apple tree when Im 95, she quipped during a phone interview. I feel Im just beginning to understand how to grow cider apples here in the southern Appalachians. I learn something new in the orchard every day.

There should be a strong market for Flynts apples: Foggy Ridge was Virginias first modern cidery; today there are more than a dozen in the Old Dominion and several in North Carolina.



Foggy Ridge Ciders Final Call. (Tim Barnwell)

Her impact on creating enthusiasm for Virginia cider as a category is immeasurable, says Annette Boyd, director of the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office.

The cider industry has exploded nationally. According to the U.S. Association of Cider Makers, there are approximately 800 cideries nationwide, double the number just three years ago. Sales topped $1.3 billion last year, almost five times the 2011 total. Industry insiders give Flynt a lot of credit for helping promote that growth.

Diane has been a leader in arguing for heritage-style ciders rightful place at the tables of Americas finest restaurants, Eleanor Leger, co-owner of Eden Specialty Ciders in Newport, Vt., founded in 2007, said in a statement.

The rise of Foggy Ridge and craft cider coincided with the farm-to-table restaurant movement, with chefs promoting local farmers and ingredients. Among Flynts first customers were chefs John and Karen Urie Shields of Town House restaurant in Chilhowie, Va., and their sommelier, Charlie Berg.

She was the first one to bring me the idea of using real cider apples and letting the ingredients shine, John Shields recalls. Little did we know then what impact she would have. She was doing something no one was doing south of Boston.

[What wine to serve at Thanksgiving? Try one or more of these strategies.]

A frequent diner at Town House was Sean Brock, the James Beard Award-winning chef at McCradys and Husk restaurants in Charleston, S.C. Brock recalls first tasting Foggy Ridge there in 2009 and being attracted to Flynts emphasis on achieving a local expression with traditional ingredients. We would never dream of buying cider from anyone else as long as we can get a steady stream of hers, Brock told me from Greenville, S.C., where he will soon open a new location of Husk. His voice trailed off as he contemplated searching for another cider. I turned two bottles of her dessert cider into vinegar. At least I will have those for a long time.

The Shieldses left southwest Virginia for Chicago, where they now operate Smyth, a Michelin two-star restaurant, and the Loyalist, a more casual bistro. At Smyth, they welcome guests to their prix fixe menus with a glass of Foggy Ridge sparkling cider, and they sometimes incorporate it into the menu.



An apple at Foggy Ridge in 2012. (Ryan Stone/For The Washington Post)

Berg, the sommelier at Town House, took Foggy Ridge with him to New York, where he worked at Eleven Madison Park and later became head sommelier at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. In an email, he praised Flynt for an unwavering commitment to the pure, restrained, true expression of these amazing old apple trees and the land in which they are rooted, and predicted that her refined, consistent and pure style of cider making . . . will one day be regarded as the classic bench mark for the revival of an age-old craft product.

As the cider market grew, two distinct styles emerged, which the cidermakers association calls heritage and modern. Heritage cider is made with traditional cider varieties and, like wine, is produced once a year, within weeks of harvest. Modern cider is typically made with culinary apples, kept for months in cold storage until demand calls for another batch. And it is often flavored with other ingredients, which annoyed Flynt to her apple-purist core.

They use hops, spices and hibiscus lime, for Petes sake! she chuffed. You dont have to do that if you have good apples!

[These five wines will see you through the holidays]

Flynt senses victory, as sales of modern cider have declined over the past year, while retail and restaurant sales of heritage cider made by small local producers has increased. She sees a trend as the supply of traditional cider apples finally increases, and an opportunity for her to continue contributing through her work in the orchard. (It takes eight years for a new tree to produce a commercial crop.)

Foggy Ridge Final Call  made only with apples  is now on sale, through the cidery and in retail stores and restaurants. Diane and Chuck Flynt considered selling the brand, but they decided to end it on a high note.

I just couldnt imagine Foggy Ridge being made by anyone else, Diane says. Neither could her fans.
Exceptional Excellent Very Good



Washington, DC - NOVEMBER 14: Group shot of wines on November 14, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Jennifer Chase for The Washington Post)

Here are five delicious wines that will complement your Thanksgiving feast  or any dinner party for that matter: We have two outstanding sparkling wines from Oregon, a delightful pinot blanc from Michigans Old Mission Peninsula, a surprising pinotage from Mendocino and a rich syrah from Californias Central Coast.

Roco Winery, RMS Brut 2013

Willamette Valley, Ore., $66

This is a splurge-worthy sparkling wine from Rollin Soles (the RMS of the wines name), the winemaker who established Argyle as Oregons leading bubbly producer before launching his own winery. The RMS Brut is bright, fruity and complex, with its structure suggesting it will age well, if you can keep your mitts off it. Alcohol by volume: 12.5 percent.

Distributed by M. Touton Selection: Available in the District at Cairo Wine & Liquor, Rodmans, Sherrys Fine Wine & Spirits. Available in Maryland at Old Farm Liquors in Frederick, the Wine Harvest (Gaithersburg, Potomac).

GREAT VALUE

Argyle Vintage Brut 2014

Willamette Valley, Ore. $26

The standard-bearer of Oregon bubbles is still going strong. This wine is bursting with berry and red currant fruit, and a focus that establishes it as one of the best U.S. sparkling wines. ABV: 12.5 percent.

Distributed by Country Vintner: Available in the District at Ace Beverage, DVines, MacArthur Beverages, Pauls of Chevy Chase, Pearsons, Rodmans, Schneiders of Capitol Hill, Whole Foods Market (P Street); on the list at Bangkok Joes, Bistro Bis, District Distilling, Eat Bar, RPM. Available in Maryland at the Bottle Shop in Potomac, Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Wine Source in Baltimore; on the list at Blacks Bar & Kitchen in Bethesda, the Grilled Oyster Co. in Potomac, Parkway Deli in Silver Spring, Republic in Takoma Park. On the list in Virginia at Evening Star and Hummingbird in Alexandria.

GREAT VALUE

McNab Ridge Pinotage, The Napoli Vineyard 2014

Mendocino County, Calif., $19

Heres pinotage, South Africas signature red grape, making an extraordinary California wine. This tastes rather like a cross of pinot noir and zinfandel, and it is simply outstanding. This would be a great California wine for your Thanksgiving feast. McNab Ridge is the latest winemaking incarnation of the Parducci family of Mendocino fame. ABV: 14.4 percent.

Distributed by M. Touton Selection: Available in the District at Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquor, Rodmans. Available in Maryland at Bethesda Co-Op in Cabin John, Bradley Food & Beverage in Bethesda, Old Farm Liquors in Frederick. Available in Virginia at Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean, Department of Beer and Wine in Alexandria, Wine Outlet in Great Falls.

GREAT VALUE

McPrice Myers, Right Hand Man Syrah 2014

Central Coast, Calif., $20

Opulent, ripe and sweet with blackberry and cherry fruit flavors and a velvety texture, this syrah calls for rich foods. The alcohol is a bit high, but the fruit balances it well. This wine actually tastes better the day after it has been opened, so I suggest decanting it a few hours before dinner. ABV: 15 percent.

Distributed by Salveto: Available in the District at Central Liquors, Chats Liquors, S&R Liquors; on the list at Sonoma. Available in Maryland at Dunkirk Wine & Spirits in Dunkirk, Old Line Fine Wine, Spirits & Bistro in Beltsville, Potomac Gourmet Market in National Harbor. Available in Virginia at Leesburg Vintner, Organic Butcher in McLean, Planet Wine & Gourmet in Alexandria, Unwined (Alexandria, Belleview), Wine Cabinet in Reston, the Wine Outlet in Great Falls; on the list at Sonoma Cellar and Brabo Tasting Room in Alexandria.

Left Foot Charley Pinot Blanc 2016

Old Mission Peninsula, Mich., $22

I love this winery, which shows Michigans Old Mission Peninsula at its best. The pinot blanc is racy and vibrant with an electric balance of fruit and acidity. Its delicious by itself and pairs well with seafood and white-meat dishes. ABV: 13 percent.

Distributed by Siema: Available in the District at Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits, Wagshals Deli. Available in Maryland at Cranberry Liquors in Westminster, Old Farm Liquors in Frederick, Wishing Well Liquors in Easton; on the list at Parts & Labor in Baltimore. Available in Virginia at Department of Beer and Wine in Alexandria, Little Washington Winery Tasting Room in Washington, Unwined (Alexandria, Belleview), Wine Outlet (Great Falls, McLean, Vienna); on the list at Columbia Firehouse in Alexandria.

Availability information is based on distributor records. Wines might not be in stock at every listed store and might be sold at additional stores. Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.
Columnist

Imagine a footprint in the snow left by a mosquito. Thats roughly the size of the carbon footprint left on Earth by my friend Bruce Friedrich. Because he hates to burn hydrocarbons, Bruce bikes nearly everywhere  10 miles is a short hop for him. His shoes, his wallet, and everything else of his that could be leather, arent. He is, of course, a vegan.

I always enjoy it when Bruce and I get together, but my experience tends to be tinged with guilt bordering on shame. Philosophically, I agree with my friend on virtually everything, and Id live like him if I werent such a hypocrite.

Bruce is an executive for the Good Food Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to moving away from animal-based meat products. He is no hypocrite. When he takes a stance, he turns out to be right even when he is wrong. Several years ago, he tried to convince me that chickens are more intelligent than dogs. As a professional skeptic, I worked up an experiment and tried it on a chicken on a local farm. The chicken failed spectacularly, making choices as random as, well, the proverbial chicken pecking at the proverbial keyboard. Enraged by these results, Bruce bombarded me with studies  real science, involving standard deviations  showing that chickens outperform dogs in tic-tac-toe and other games of strategy, and are far more likely than dogs to postpone gratification when it benefits them. Which raises a question: Would I want to eat Murphy, my faithful hound? Then why would I want to eat a chicken, or a cow?

Bruce has facts on his side  and he always has an agenda. So I was a little wary when Bruce invited me and a mutual friend, Rachel, to dinner the other day prompted by the arrival in Washington, D.C., of the Impossible Burger, a hamburger made entirely of plant products. It's a conglomeration of wheat, coconut oil, potatoes and a special meat-simulating ingredient called heme that, mixed together, is said to be the first faux meat that is indistinguishable from real beef. The creators hype it as the vanguard of a glorious animal-free culinary future.

Im not proud of it, but my taste for meat overwhelms my theoretical ethics. Bruce knew if he could deliver a wholly satisfying alternative, and I ratified it in a column, it would be a win for him.

We met up at Founding Farmers in Washington, the first local place to serve Impossible Burgers. I set it up as a taste test. Bruce ordered the Impossible Burger. Rachel ordered the Impossible Burger. I ordered two burgers: one beef, one Impossible. When the food arrived, I blindfolded myself with available cocktail napkins (I had not planned ahead sufficiently) and took a sniff of my two burgers. This is not meat, I said of the burger to my right. This is meat, I said of the burger on my left. Then I tasted them. Same conclusion. They smelled and tasted similar, but only the burger on my left delivered a savory after-jolt  the sort of beefy burp you get after a satisfying chomp. The mouthfeel was different, too. The burger I disbelieved tasted as though it was made from BB-size pellets of a beeflike substance. Bruce seemed crestfallen. Even before they told me I was right, this told me I was right.

Then Rachel bit into her burger. Whoa, she said. This satisfies my meat thing totally. I wouldnt know the difference!

Bruce beamed.

I tasted Rachels burger. This is meat, I said. We summoned the waiter, who consulted his records. Yeah, he said. He had gotten the order wrong. It was beef.

Finally, I had bested Bruce. But somehow, this victory didnt  taste right. For one thing, I want there to be a perfect non-meat alternative to meat. If there were, Id switch my eating habits in a heartbeat. But there was one other thing. I had been so deep into this experiment that I hadnt really noticed something. The Impossible Burger, whatever the hell it was, tasted pretty darn good.

For stories, features such as Date Lab, @Work Advice and more, visit WP Magazine.

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Email us at wpmagazine@washpost.com.
Chichie Tascoe has been grooming dogs for more than 50 years. Her business, Chichies, in Georgetown, has been the dog spa for Washingtons canine elite for decades. (Lori S. Robinson/ For The Washington Post)

Classical music wafts through a Georgetown rowhouse, where staff spend the day destressing clients with massages, haircuts, soothing chatter and other pampering. The high-end salon is on par with others in the area, except Chichie's Grooming Spa reserves its lavish treatments for your dog. "We don't just cut the hair," says founder Chichie Tascoe, who goes by one name, like Cher, Iman or Madonna. "We have the best cuts in the city, but we deal with their heart. We deal with their well-being."

The spa is therapeutic for all involved, Chichie says. Everybody here loves what we do. They love the dogs. The dogs love us. And the dogs sense it.

This year marks her 50th anniversary in business in Georgetown, where shes the master of Washingtons canine royalty. Bo came to us  before he went to the president  to be groomed, Chichie says of the Obamas dog. Regular clients include the pets of former senator Bob Dole, former secretary of state John Kerry and Victoria Reggie Kennedy, widow of Ted Kennedy.

The spa, at 1742 Wisconsin Ave. NW, has a living-room-like entry level. The magic happens on the upper and lower floors. A clients visit begins upstairs with a comb-out or pre-cut using $400 Japanese scissors. In the brightly lit basement, assistant groomer Cecil Staton and Chichies daughter, co-owner Aleta Elsayed, bathe and pamper their guests.

We do the de-shedding treatments and we clip their nails, Elsayed says. And we also address any skin issues that they might have: dry skin, oily skin, eczema, whatever. If theyre sensitive, we offer hypoallergenic shampoo. We only use tearless shampoo around their faces. You dont want anything harsh around the eyes. A lot of thought goes into it.

Depending on a dogs breed, a day at the spa can run from $75 to $325. Chichies started in 1965, originally as Chichies Poodle Parlor, on Capitol Hill. Two years later, she moved to her first Georgetown location. In 2015, she relocated to the current space.

Erwin Gomez owns Karma, a nearby salon and spa for humans. Hes particular about his three teacup poodles, Onyx, Ruby and Topaz. He takes the dogs to Chichies monthly. They treat you like family, Gomez says.

Chichies explanation: I was born for this.
NOV. 24, 2013 On this date, "about 50,000 demonstrators rallied in the center of Kiev ... to demand that Ukraine's government reverse course and sign a landmark agreement with the European Union in defiance of Russia," The Washington Post reported in a brief the following morning. The protest turned out to be part of a chain of events that is still reverberating through U.S. politics. As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton had supported the agreement, which Russia had opposed. (She was already gone from her post by November 2013, but analysts later cited her position as one of the reasons Russian President Vladimir Putin did not welcome her winning the U.S. presidency.) In 2014, the protests in Ukraine succeeded in driving out the Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych. In May, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III began investigating ties between President Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and Yanukovych, as part of a larger probe of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence last year's election. On Oct. 30, Mueller unveiled charges against Manafort that include conspiracy to launder money and making false statements. Manafort has pleaded not guilty.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State during the November 2013 protests in Ukraine. She stepped down in February 2013. This version has been updated.


Two sculptures by Michelle Dickson, left, from her series Neither Mine nor Yours, and Big Pit, right, by Artemis Herber, acrylic on multilayered corrugated cardboard, in the exhibition Shifting Identities/Humanity and Nature, at Montgomery College. (Michelle Dickson and Artemis Herber/Montgomery College)

The dynamic that links Artemis Herbers paintings and Michelle Dicksons sculptures is that both appear to be coalescing and decomposing simultaneously. The rot may be the first thing that strikes visitors to Shifting Identities/Humanity and Nature, the Baltimore-area artists show at the King Street Gallery. But closer inspection reveals remarkable finesse.

Herber paints landscapes on corrugated cardboard thats torn and battered, sometimes by the artist. Perhaps inspired by her own first name, Herber often depicts classical Greece. (One picture depicts the 4th-century B.C. arson of the temple of Artemis.) The once-grand marble edifices look as fragile as the material on which theyre painted, reflecting the artists concern for human civilization in an era of rapid climate change.

Yet Herber is a builder, as well as a destroyer. Many pieces feature multiple strata of cardboard, with molded layers that deepen the image while resembling construction techniques. Herbers sculptural approach, like her painting, is loose and rough. The results are messy, but also intricate and evocative.

The role of nature is more central to Dicksons work, which begins with driftwood and dried vines and branches. To these, the artist appends heads and sometimes partial bodies made of plaster and painted. The likenesses are sketchy in places, vividly realistic in others. Faces seem to be emerging from wood, or perhaps partway through an eternal cycle of transfiguration. Many of the sculptures are in a series called Neither Mine nor Yours. The title suggests that Dickson  for all her skill  is simply freezing moments in an implacable process of birth and decay.

Shifting Identities/Humanity and Nature: Artemis Herber and Michelle Dickson Through Nov. 22 at King Street Gallery, Montgomery College, 930 King St., Silver Spring. 240-567-5821. cms.montgomerycollege.edu/arts-tpss/exhibitions.



Chris Bohners Reclaiming a Reclaimed Mortice Lock, at Otis Street Arts Project. (Chris Bohner/Otis Street Arts Project)

ARTgineering

During visits to a contemporary art gallery, its not unusual to encounter stuff that beeps or glows. Otis Street Arts Projects ARTgineering, for example, includes Liz Lescaults dangling fabric piece, cloudlike and illuminated from within; Laura Jamrozs clear plastic sculpture of a cat, sitting translucently atop a lighted panel; and Alan Binstocks set of lenses in blue and peach glass, whose tints meld when observed straight-on.

Of the 14 artists, some merely use industrial materials. Diane Szczepaniaks The Emperors New Clothes is an empty space framed by a steel frame and cables, while Maria Josephys Eagle Man is a relief sculpture made of metal found objects attached to granite panels.

Others construct machines, although not necessarily high-tech ones. Roger Cutlers is a hand-powered gadget for tracing the contours of a painting. Steven Jones adapted one of those mechanical rides that used to sit outside suburban supermarkets, so kids can ride a cut of meat rather than a horsie.



Visitors shadows are transformed into music by artist Jassie Rioss sound-and-light program at Otis Street Arts Project. (Jassie Rios)

The more complicated gizmos offer some sort of disruption. Barry Schmetter connected speakers, a video monitor and other machines so they can be frazzled by an electromagnetic-frequency probe that generates static and motion. Jassie Rioss sound-and-light computer program transforms into music the shadows cast by visitors who step into a designated space. Chris Bohner electronically latches sound to antique locks to recount the history of a pioneering union that represented the devices makers. If the apparatus is a bit clunky, its art, not engineering.

ARTgineering: Beyond the Obvious Through Nov. 21 at Otis Street Arts Project, 3706 Otis St., Mount Rainier. 202-550-4634.



Billy Colberts Americas Dark Past, on view at Vivid Solutions Gallery. (Billy Colbert/Vivid Solutions Gallery)

Al Burts and Billy Colbert

Lots of people doodle with ballpoint pens, but Al Burtss ballpoint drawings are a little different. Burts is an exceptionally deft portraitist, and many of the works in his Honfleur Gallery show, Neglected Weed, are rendered on wood. The pictures, which also employ colored pencil, a few dabs of paint and sculptural elements, are far more than sketches on the back of an envelope.



Al Burtss Nannie of the Maroons. (Al Burts/Honfleur Gallery)

The local artists education included courses in fashion illustration, whose influence is evident in his precise renderings and attention to sartorial detail. The 3-D elements include necklaces, buttons and an earring, as well as abstract patterns sometimes incised in the wood that surrounds the figures.

Most of Burtss subjects are of African descent and solitary, and gaze forthrightly at the viewer. The exceptions are Seminole, depicting a single Native American, and Roots, in which notable figures from African American history surround a young man in a hoodie. That choice of attire is not, of course, a fashion statement.

A few blocks away at Vivid Solutions Gallery, Billy Colbert takes a historical look at African American identity. The Enduring Projection includes a large painting that jumbles images in the pop-art manner, but most of the show consists of archival artworks and photographs. Some peddle stereotypes, and a few are brazenly racist. Colbert displays many of these artifacts on the sides of metal barrels, but the most potent 3-D piece is a multilayered model of a Colonial-era mansion. Behind it is a black shadow that represents a legacy of things unsaid, people unseen and wrongs unacknowledged.

Neglected Weed: Al Burts Through Nov. 25 at Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. honfleurgallery.com.

The Enduring Projection: Billy ColbertThrough Nov. 25 at Vivid Solutions Gallery, 2208 Martin Luther King Ave. SE. 202-631-6291. anacostiaartscenter.com/vivid.



Detail from a work by Ebtisam Abdulaziz on view at Touchstone Gallery. (Ebtisam Abdulaziz/Touchstone Gallery)

The One House Project

A houselike wooden structure covered in local artists tributes to their family histories may not be a full expression of the regions myriad ethnicities. But with more than 220 participants, Touchstone Gallerys The One House Project is both massive and impressively diverse.

Each artist was allotted a 12-inch square to recount a bit of family history. The participants include four descendants of Mayflower passengers, including one making his second trip to the new world, as well as the progeny of Native Americans, of Africans forced into slavery and of refugees from post-1776 European cataclysms. The first-generation contributors hail mostly from Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. The pieces are often compelling individually, yet dont quite make a whole. As with many collective gallery shows of Trump Year One, though, the point is less aesthetic than political: A nation of immigrants can never rightfully declare that its home has no more room for newcomers.

The One House Project Through Nov. 25 at Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York Ave. NW. 202-347-2787. touchstonegallery.com. Presented by ArtWatch, artwatchdc.com.
Mayor Muriel E. Bowsers administration declined to give a public update Wednesday on progress it has made toward securing a new operator for the Districts long-troubled only public hospital.

The city has until Nov. 30 to find an operator to replace Veritas of Washington, the consulting firm running United Medical Center in Southeast Washington. Despite lobbying from the Bowser administration on behalf of the firm, the D.C. Council narrowly voted last week not to extend the multimillion-dollar contract for Veritas amid serious concerns about care being provided to the hospital's poor and predominantly African American patients.

Council member Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7), who introduced the legislation to end the consultants contract, requested an update on the citys progress in identifying potential new operators during a public hearing Wednesday.

HyeSook Chung, deputy mayor for health and human services, said UMCs board is considering all options but declined to provide any details.

I am happy to have a conversation at length, offline, said Chung, who added that she was not able to speak to the specifics being considered by UMCs board.

Gray, who chairs the councils health committee, retorted that he would like the conversation about the public hospital to be held in public.

Everybody, including yourself, is weighing all the options, Chung said. I cannot speak on behalf of the board.

[A nursing home patient called for help. His nurse left him on the floor.]

LaRuby May, a Bowser ally whom the Democratic mayor appointed chairwoman of the UMC board this year, told ABC 7 last week that finding a new operator before the end of the month would be "impossible."

Its three weeks to do a whole lot of things, May said. Its three weeks to stabilize a hospital from falling, from closing.

Gray called Mays suggestion that the hospital could close because of the councils vote to end its contract with Veritas  which has three full-time employees working at UMC, two of whom commute from Florida and North Carolina at taxpayer expense  unproductive and said her comments were scaring the heck out of people.

Chung did not refute Mays comments, although she said the chairwoman does not speak for us and told Gray she also could not speak on behalf of May.

The options for replacing Veritas include hiring a different outside consulting firm or the UMC board hiring its own executives to run the hospital, which is the only one east of the Anacostia River. Gray said Wednesday that several qualified operators have reached out to his office about running the hospital.

[A man died at D.C.s only public hospital. It took his family a week to find out.]

When asked whether the board would extend Veritas contract for the short term if it cannot find another qualified operator by the months end, Chung repeated that UMCs board is considering all options.

Veritas, a company that has been in business less than three years, is owned by Chrystie Boucree, whose husband, Corbett Price, who along with his relatives and companies, made more than $35,000 in political donations to Bowser in 2014.

Chung also declined to publicly share details about UMC's obstetrics ward, which regulators closed in August after the hospital staff made several mistakes. Her staff said they could not guarantee the obstetrics ward, which delivered about 300 babies annually, will reopen.

We will definitely follow up and share the progress thats been made, said Chung, declining to provide further details.

Visibly exasperated, Gray replied the hearing was on the record today.

I am trying to give people some information today, he said. I am not asking you for information that doesnt exist. Its been a long time, and I am trying to find out what progress has been made.
The Montgomery County school system in Maryland will lose part of its spring break, as it complies with a state mandate to open for classes after the Labor Day holiday. That calendar also lets families like the ones shown here enjoy their summer vacation for all of August. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

Spring break for Montgomery County students will be cut by two days in the 2018-2019 academic year, but public schools will continue to close on the Jewish holidays of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, as part of a calendar adopted this week by the school board.

The shorter spring break departs from a longtime tradition in the Maryland school system. Usually, students are off for six school days bracketing Easter, including two that are required under Maryland law: Good Friday and the Monday after Easter. That meant they typically got a complete week off, plus one more day.

The break in 2019 is set for Wednesday, April 17, through Monday, April 22, with schools open April 15 and 16, the Monday and Tuesday of that first week.

I cant remember a time when we didnt have a full spring break, said Patricia ONeill, a school board member who has served nearly two decades and was part of a seven-member majority supporting the plan.

ONeill and others said they sought to balance competing interests and comply with an executive order from Gov. Larry Hogan (R) that school start after Labor Day and wrap up by June 15.

This is the second school calendar that reflects Hogans mandate, and officials said it was more challenging because of the way holidays and other dates fell.

[The calendar squeeze: A shorter school year? School on Jewish holidays?]

The intrusion into Montgomerys spring break was a blow, several families said Wednesday. Supporters have described the break as a breather after winter, allowing down time, travel, family visits and tours of prospective colleges.

I am disappointed because I do value spring break, said Jennifer Young, a mother of two in Rockville who will be taking a son on college visits in spring 2019, during the shorter break. Its kind of a crucial time for seeing colleges when classes are really in session.

The calendar approved for 2018-2019 sets the opening of school on Sept. 4 and the last day as June 13. It would close schools on the two Jewish holidays, which officials have done for years, citing high levels of student and staff absenteeism.

It also would allow for two full teacher work days, one of which is intended to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in June. Muslim community leaders for years have pushed for a day off on one of their faiths two major holy days.

[Muslim community wins day off school on major holiday next year]

The plan also identified makeup days that would be used to compensate for snow-day closings. If there are more than two, spring break would be further shortened.

As school board members discussed options, they said the trade-offs were difficult.

I personally believe we should be leaving spring break intact, board member Rebecca Smondrowski said. Its the one thing Ive heard from the majority of people that they wanted preserved.

Teacher Janelle Ryan, who followed the issue closely, said the board sacrificed spring break unnecessarily. They didnt choose the best calendar, she said. Im greatly disappointed.

Smondrowski said Wednesday that while it was not her top choice, the calendar that was adopted is a good one.

[Starting after Labor Day forces some school districts to cut back on spring break]

As the board considered calendar proposals in recent months, the district asked for comments from the public; more than 2,000 poured in.
Businessman David Blair, left, greets former Rockville mayor Rose Krasnow, right, and Del. Bill Frick, back left, talks with County Council member Marc Elrich. All four Democrats are running for county executive in Montgomery County. They met for a debate Wednesday evening. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Six Democrats vying for Montgomery County executive squared off Wednesday evening to pitch how they would grow the countys economy, support small businesses and widen the local tax base.

In a debate that touched on issues including transportation, the minimum wage and Montgomerys liquor monopoly, candidates placed particular emphasis on how they would encourage businesses to start  and stay  in one of Marylands wealthiest and most diverse jurisdictions, albeit one pocketed by poverty and economic disparity.

"My vision is of a county that is rooted in our unique Montgomery County culture and values, and yet has a thriving private-sector business economy and a responsive constituent-centered local government," said state Del. C. William Frick (D-Montgomery).

The debate marked a debut of sorts for the race's newest faces: Rose Krasnow, deputy director of the county's planning department and a former three-term mayor of Rockville, and David Blair, a Potomac businessman entering his first political race.

Over more than an hour and a half of questioning, a divide emerged among the three longtime County Council members looking to defend their records and the "outsiders" positioning themselves as offering fresh perspectives one year after Montgomery voters overwhelmingly supported term limits. The primary is June 26.



People listen to a debate among the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County executive. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Among the current council members  Marc Elrich (D-At Large), George L. Leventhal (D-At Large) and Roger Berliner (D-Potomac Bethesda)  all promoted the body's unanimous passage of a $15 minimum wage and stood by its decision to raise property taxes by nearly 9 percent in 2016.

Blair said he would not have voted for the minimum wage bill and that such an increase should be a state or regional issue. Frick reaffirmed his stance that the minimum wage should be dealt with in Annapolis. Krasnow said she still had concerns over the bills effect on working teenagers but supported the legislations final timeline.

There was no mistaking the term-limited council members as one solidified cohort. Answering a question on the minimum wage, Elrich and Leventhal charged Berliner with taking too much credit for the compromise brokered earlier this month.

He has greatly overstated his role in the minimum wage outcome, Leventhal said of Berliner.

In a separate instance, Berliner criticized Elrich for his use of the phrase ethnic cleansing at a debate earlier this week. Elrich had previously stated that the Purple Line would result in ethnic cleansing if there was no rent stabilization around station stops.

To equate potential gentrification with ethnic cleansing is offensive, period, Berliner said. Krasnow agreed, saying  Ethnic cleansing is not a good term to use.

[Four Montgomery candidates make their cases for how they would lead the county]

The debate was hosted by Bethesda Magazine and the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, with many in the large crowd representing Montgomerys business community. Candidates repeatedly called for a more inclusive county government that encouraged job creation and fostered a business-friendly culture, even if they differed on how that could be achieved. Elrich emphasized enhancing the quality of life in Montgomery to attract and retain businesses. Blair said that through improved traffic congestion and telecommunication, residents should be able to live and work in the county.

We dont seem to be proud of having a business community, Krasnow said, adding that county restrictions on businesses  on top of state regulations  push workers into neighboring jurisdictions.

Talking about the need to embrace the private sector, Frick said that none of the candidates could say with a straight face that Montgomery County is a business-friendly environment.

Leventhal shot back: I dont think our business climate improves with constant bad-mouthing of our business climate.

Yet, in a wide-open race with three months left before the filing deadline, the candidates used their closing remarks as a unifying call to progressive Democrats that they cannot meet their social justice priorities without a strong economy.

Krasnow said that while the country is going through difficult and trying times, we cannot give up the good fight. Elrich said that while he was as liberal as you think I am, maybe more liberal, but despite how liberal I am, I cant do anything without money.

Imagine our county being all it can be, Berliner concluded.
Trapping season is on, and the number of pets injured or killed at popular recreation areas indicates how important it is to be aware of traps. Attend a trap-release workshop and learn first aid, how to handle a trap in an emergency, trap regulations and practice hands on with traps.
A fisherman looks out on the Chesapeake Bay from the fishing pier in the Franklin Manor neighborhood in Deale, Md. (Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Thursday will introduce legislation to increase funding for a program that keeps pollutants from running off farms and into the Chesapeake Bay and other sensitive watersheds across the country.

The bill, called the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017, would increase to $300 million a pot of money to help farmers build things such as manure storage and stream buffers that prevent harmful nutrients from flowing into sensitive watersheds. There is currently $100 million in the fund, part of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Congress is separately debating how much the next budget should devote to a bay cleanup program that unites six states in the watershed: Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York  and the District of Columbia.

President Trump's budget proposal eliminated the $73 million program, but the House wants to restore it to $60 million and the Senate is still working on its budget.

[Heres whos fighting Trumps attempt to end funding for Chesapeake Bay cleanup.]



Sen. Chris Van Hollen D-Md.) (Mark Gail/For The Washington Post)

The Senate farm enhancements bill has one Republican sponsor, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.). Democrats sponsoring it include Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin (Md.), Mark R. Warner (Va.) and Tim Kaine (Va.). Rep. Robert C. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) will introduce an identical bill in the House and is still gathering support.

Van Hollen is the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture subcommittee, which hasjurisdiction over rural development.

Were in a constant race against more and more nutrients and pollutants flowing into the Chesapeake Bay and other watersheds around the country, he said in an interview. When it comes to the Chesapeake Bay, youre talking about a lot of farms in Pennsylvania, and nutrients coming down the Susquehanna River.

Bay restoration advocates say the bay estuary  the largest in North America  generates $1 trillion a year in economic activity through tourism and commercial and recreational fishing and boating.

The funding would provide targeted financial and technical grants to states, nonprofits and private companies that help farmers pay for conservation tools including grassed waterways, no-till cropping and cover crops.

Financial and technical assistance from agriculture is critical, said Ann Swanson, executive director of Chesapeake Bay Commission. It can make all the difference in restoring the Chesapeake Bay.
Jeremy Hutchinson, a British lawyer who excelled as a silver-tongued goad to high society and a devilish advocate for spies and drug smugglers, and who fought legal battles during the countercultural ferment of the 1960s and 70s that helped broaden freedom of expression in Britain, died Nov. 13 at his home in Lullington, England. He was 102.

Thomas Grant, a lawyer who wrote a 2015 book chronicling some of Mr. Hutchinson's best-known cases, confirmed his death but said he did not know the cause.

Born into a wealthy family who dined with poet T.S. Eliot and members of Londons Bloomsbury Group literary set, Mr. Hutchinson was among the last of Britains lawyer-celebrities, white-haired barristers whose performances in the courtroom were sometimes as closely followed as those of actors on the stage.

He nearly matched the theatrics of his first wife, Shakespearean actress Dame Peggy Ashcroft, captivating juries with a polished, mesmeric speaking style and lightly mocking judges as "old darling"  a habit that his friend John Mortimer conferred on the popular television character Horace Rumpole.

Yet Mr. Hutchinsons talents were not used in support of the conservative establishment that gave him the elite legal designation of queens counsel or, in 1978, ennobled him as Baron Hutchinson of Lullington. Lord Hutchinson, as he was known, was a liberal who once made an unsuccessful attempt to run for Parliament as a member of the Labour Party.



Mr. Hutchinson in 2016. (PjrNews/Alamy Stock Photo)

He wanted to undermine the age of deference  whether deference to political masters or to censors  and to inject a certain amount of freedom into public life, Grant said. At a time when the criminal advocate was not necessarily conceived as the most glamorous or important of occupations, he showed that it was an absolutely critical part of constitutional arrangements, a bulwark of law and civil liberties.

Mr. Hutchinson's clients included Christine Keeler, a model convicted of perjury for her role in the 1960s political scandal known as the Profumo affair, and the Soviet spies George Blake and John Vassall, for whom he unsuccessfully sought leniency.

He defended the Welsh drug smuggler Howard Marks, making the successful (and, to many observers, questionable) argument that his client had been working for Britain's MI6 intelligence service, and was equally successfully in arguing that a bus driver who took a Goya portrait from the National Gallery in London hadn't "stolen" the painting but had planned to give it back after a ransom was paid to charity.

Mr. Hutchinson was junior counsel for his best-known case, when he defended Penguin Books against obscenity charges in 1960 for publishing an uncensored version of D.H. Lawrences novel Lady Chatterleys Lover. Originally released in Italy in 1928, the book featured detailed sex scenes and, by one prosecutors count, no fewer than 30 uses of an explicit four-letter word.

A ban on the novel had been lifted in the United States one year earlier, when an appeals court established the standard of redeeming social or literary value for works that verged on the legally obscene. Mr. Hutchinson  following after his father, a lawyer who had rescued some of Lawrences sexually explicit paintings during an obscenity case in the 1920s  sought to make a similar case for Chatterleys literary merit in Britain.

With lead defense attorney Gerald Gardiner, he called upon witnesses that included novelist E.M. Forster and literary scholar Richard Hoggart, and pressed for the inclusion of female jurors. "I found that women were far more sensible," he said later, "and had very much less baggage than men on matters of sex."

He seemed to be proved right when prosecutor Mervyn Griffith-Jones asked the jury, Is it a book that you would even wish your wife or your servants to read? Several jurors burst out laughing, and after rendering a verdict of not guilty, Lady Chatterleys Lover sold 200,000 copies on its first day of publication.

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"No other jury verdict in British history has had such a deep social impact," human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson wrote in Britain's Guardian newspaper in 2010, noting that the case was followed by liberal court decisions that legalized homosexuality and abortion.

He successfully defended works including the scholarly book The Mouth and Oral Sex (1969), ridiculing the judges question to a defense witness of why a study of the sex act was necessary, given that we have managed to get on for a couple of thousand years without it.

In his closing speech to the jury, Mr. Hutchinson quipped, Poor His Lordship! Poor, poor His Lordship! Gone without oral sex for 1,000 years.

Mr. Hutchinsons legal battles against censorship continued, most memorably with his defense of Howard Brentons play The Romans in Britain, which premiered at Londons National Theatre in 1980.

Conservative watchdog Mary Whitehouse, the queen of clean, charged the plays director with procuring an act of gross indecency during a scene that portrayed a Roman soldiers anal rape of a Celt. The key witness claimed to have seen a flash of an erect penis on the stage.

In court, Mr. Hutchinson proceeded to demonstrate that the witness was sitting a full 90 yards from the actors. Tucking his hands under his gown and wiggling a thumb inside his fist, he argued that the witness might easily have mistaken one fleshy protuberance for another.

The courtroom descended into laughter, and the charges were soon dropped.

Jeremy Nicolas Hutchinson was born in London on March 28, 1915. His father was an art collector, and his mother was a cousin of biographer Lytton Strachey.

Mr. Hutchinson studied at the University of Oxford before beginning his legal career in 1939. He served in the British navy during World War II, surviving a bombing run that sank his vessel during the Battle of Crete. Floating in the water for hours before rescue, he sang to maintain morale and clung to wreckage alongside the ships commander, Louis Mountbatten.

Mr. Hutchinsons marriage to Ashcroft ended in divorce. His wife of 40 years, the former June Osborn, died in 2006. Survivors include a son from his first marriage, Nicholas Hutchinson, and several grandchildren.

In 2011, Mr. Hutchinson took the unusual step of retiring from the House of Lords. He spent the past several decades focused mainly on art, serving as a trustee and chairman for the Tate museum and helping establish its Tate Liverpool branch.

In recent years, he lamented changes in Britain's legal system, particularly funding cuts to its program of legal aid for poor defendants. "The result," he told BBC Radio 4, shortly after celebrating his 100th birthday, "is the criminal bar will only serve people who have enough money to pay for it."
A Baltimore homicide detective was shot in the head and gravely wounded Wednesday evening as he confronted a man while investigating a killing in Northwest Baltimore, according to police officials.

Police Commissioner Kevin Davis identified the officer only as an 18-year veteran, who was left fighting for his life after he was wounded by a man the officer believed engaged in suspicious behavior.

The detective approached the man to talk to him and at some point, the cold and callous man pulled a gun and fired, Davis said.

Our 18-year homicide veteran was shot in the head. He is in very, very grave condition right now, Davis said at a news conference. That Baltimore police detective was just doing his job on behalf of this city. This is a dangerous profession.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said the shooter will be found, charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

City leaders gathered at Baltimores R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where they offered prayers for the officer, his wife and two children and asked residents to help stop a cycle of violence that has led to more than 300 homicides so far this year.

We cannot have violent criminals running our streets, Mayor Catherine Pugh said. Too many guns on our streets. Too many victims.

Thomas Scalea, the head of the trauma surgery team, said the officer was on life support in the intensive care unit.

He is critically ill. We are doing everything we can to work on the injuries to his brain, Scalea said.

Police released a brief description of the gunman, saying he is a black male who wore a black jacket with a white stripe.

The Baltimore Sun reported that the officer is a homicide detective who was wounded in the 900 block of Bennett Place, in a Zip code the newspaper said has had more than two dozen killings this year.

Wednesdays shooting is the second officer shot this month in Northwest Baltimore. About 12:45 a.m. on Nov. 4, off-duty D.C. police Sgt. Tony Anthony Mason Jr., 40, was fatally shot while sitting with a woman in a car in the 2800 block of Elgin Avenue in West Baltimore.

This investigation is very fluid; its ongoing, its complex, Davis said. This is going to be a long night for detectives and investigators at the scene of this crime.
Four people were shot, one of them fatally, in a roughly four-hour span Wednesday night in various parts of the District.

In one of the incidents, D.C. police said, a woman was fatally shot just before 7 p.m. in the 5200 block of Just Street NW in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington.

Police later identified the woman as Danjellicca V. Ball of Landover Hills, Md. Police said there was not a known motive or suspect at this time.

[Woman fatally shot in Northeast Washington]

About two hours later, a man was shot four times in the 4500 block of Sixth Place NE in the Michigan Park neighborhood.

According to a police report, the victim said he was walking up to a home and about to open the door when he heard gunshots. He was struck in the buttocks and lower back area but managed to get inside the home, where he collapsed on the living room floor.

His injuries were not life-threatening, and police said he did not have a description of a suspect.

[Tracking D.C.-area homicides]

The other two shootings happened in Southeast Washington.

About 10:30 p.m., a man was shot in the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue near the Potomac Avenue Metro stop in Southeast. A 17-year-old boy was arrested in the incident. His name was not released because he is a juvenile. The victim was conscious and breathing, police said.

Less than eight minutes later, two other men were wounded in the 3800 block of Eighth Street SE. One was stabbed and another was shot, police said. One of the men suffered gunshot wounds to his face and stomach. They were both taken to hospitals in critical condition. The men were uncooperative on the scene, according to a police report.

No suspect description was immediately available, police said.
A federal jury in Virginia found that a woman who works at a government defense agency was retaliated against for complaining of gender discrimination but awarded her only $1 in damages.

Patricia Burke went to trial in Alexandria federal court to demand compensation for emotional distress she said she suffered working in the counterintelligence division at the Defense Security Service.

Although jurors on Wednesday agreed that she was subjected to a hostile work environment, they did not think she deserved serious financial compensation for that experience.

The trial was a rare civil challenge to the Department of Defense, as most such cases end in settlements.

Burke, a field support analyst, testified that her issues began when she returned from maternity leave and was unable to get a schedule that would let her stay home with her newborn on Wednesdays  a day she previously had not been scheduled to work. She filed a complaint.

After that, she said, she was ostracized, isolated and given busy work.

A former supervisor and other co-workers corroborated that account, saying Burke was snubbed in the office and assigned pointless tasks.

Her supervisors denied any such retaliation, testifying that they bent over backwards to accommodate a difficult employees demands.

In fact, her bosses said that several times, they allowed Burke to modify her schedule, just not in the way she desired.

Patricia Burke did not like being told No,  Assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Han said in his closing argument.

She continued to complain over and over again because she did not always get her way.

Both Burke and the government agreed that her problems began when a new group of supervisors came into the office, several of whom knew each other from the Air Force.

An agency within the Department of Defense went to war, not with one of our adversaries but with one of their own, her attorney, Jacob Small, said in closing arguments.

Han countered that the only problem was that new supervisors actually made her follow the rules.

Burke had been working from home while taking care of her child, which was not allowed, the government said. Sometimes, she was also doing work for a second job on agency time, Han added.

Filing an [employment discrimination] complaint does not give you the right to thumb your nose at the rules, he said.

An employee of the Equal Employment Opportunity Office testified last week that members of management tried to hinder its investigation, which ultimately found that Burke was harassed as retaliation for her complaint.

Han suggested that the former DSS employee was biased in Burke's favor. Her supervisors involved themselves in the complaint investigation, Han added, because "management didn't think the EEO office was neutral."

If she was occasionally given the cold shoulder by the supervisors she had accused of discrimination, Han said it was at most a petty slight  not a pervasive hostile work environment.

After nearly three full days of deliberations, jurors appeared to split the difference between those points of view.

Attorneys for Burke still claimed victory.

The jury had clearly seen whats going on at DSS, and were hopeful that this is the beginning of change at the agency, Small said outside court.

The Defense Security Service, part of the Defense Department, oversees the protection of classified information by government contractors.

In an internal agency survey released in May, nearly half of respondents described the DSS counterintelligence division as one where unprofessional behavior is common and employees are afraid to take concerns to management for fear of reprisal. Several described the division as one in which men in positions of power favor their friends over other employees.

Burke still works at DSS counterintelligence, in a different department but under one of the same managers, William Stephens.

He testified that they have gotten along well since this case began. She disagreed, testifying that he barely speaks to her and recently slammed a door in her face.
Jury selection began Wednesday for the cases of the first defendants to face trial in the Inauguration Day riots in downtown Washington, with the judge quickly asking prospective jurors about their views.

What I am asking you is whether anything you may have heard about that day would keep you from fairly and impartially deciding this case? What are your feelings about the president and Inauguration Day, and will those feelings keep you from fairly and impartially deciding on a case and viewing evidence? D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz asked the 70 panelists.

The six defendants, whose trial could begin as soon as Monday, are charged with felony rioting in the Jan. 20 disruption that left several businesses vandalized and resulted in thousands of dollars in damage.

In all, prosecutors charged 212 people in connection with the riots. So far, 20 have pleaded guilty and prosecutors dropped cases against another 20. Trials for the others, in groups of five or more, are set to occur almost monthly through mid-2018.

[Protesters who destroyed property on Inauguration Day were part of well-organized group]

Prosecutors allege that a group called Disrupt J20 helped plan protests that pulled in participants from across the country. They said some rioters used black bloc tactics  wearing all black and hiding their faces with masks and goggles so it would be harder to identify them.

The first defendants to face trial are Michelle Macchio, 26, of Naples, Fla.; Jennifer Armento, 38, of Philadelphia; Christina Simmons, 20, of Cockeysville, Md.; Alexei Wood, 37, of San Antonio; Oliver Harris, 28, of Philadelphia; and Brittne Lawson, 27, of Pittsburgh.

The trial is expected to last through mid-December.

The six defendants face felony counts of inciting a riot and destruction of property, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years each.

They also face lesser charges.

Six officers were injured during the riots.

On Wednesday, Leibovitz, who is overseeing most of the protest trials, interviewed the potential jurors while two prosecutors, the co-defendants and their attorneys listened and asked additional questions.



Media and protesters move through the smoke of percussion grenades as protesters and police clash on the streets of Washington on the day of Donald Trumps inauguration as president of the United States on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Each prospective juror was given an index card and a pencil to write their answers.

Leibovitz asked if any of them lived or worked in the downtown Washington area where the rioting occurred. The jurors were also asked if they had any bias for or against police officers or would give any greater or lesser weight to the testimony of a police officer.

Many of the jurors said they heard about the riots through the media. Leibovitz said that was expected.

Based on what you heard, do you think you would be unable to be impartial as a juror in this case? she continually asked. None of the jurors said they would. One man who has multiple family members who worked as police officers told Leibovitz he would give extra weight to the testimony of a police officer.

Leibovitz immediately dismissed him.

During the day, Leibovitz stepped down from the bench and sat at a table next to each potential juror who was called to speak. Several of the attorneys for the defendants repeatedly asked the judge to move away because many of the jurors were speaking softly and couldnt easily be heard in the courtroom.

Leibovitz refused to move.

I need to sit right next to them. I want them to be committed to this process, and I want to look them right in their eye, she said.

A woman who said she was downtown at the time of the riots was dismissed because she said she saw several of the damaged buildings. I saw things that looked like they followed a violent aftermath, she said.

Another woman was sent home after she said her nephew, who is a police officer, was injured in the riots.

The trial will ultimately include 16 jurors, including four alternatives. A second day of jury selection was scheduled for Thursday.

By lunch break, some 17 of the jurors were already qualified, and after the questioning of about 25 people, none expressed negative comments about the president. By the end of the day, at least 36 people were found to be qualified to serve.
It was not unusual for Sean Suiter to be roaming through one of the city's most violent neighborhoods as night fell.

The 18-year police veteran spent his early days as an officer patrolling West Baltimore, returning often as a homicide detective seeking closure for those mourning loved ones lost on its streets.

Looking for answers is what Suiter was doing Wednesday while investigating the triple shooting of three young men left to die last December in a boarded-up house.

Suiter was working the case with his partner from the homicide unit and wanted to speak to a suspicious-looking man in a vacant lot between rowhomes. But shortly after Suiter approached, the man pulled a gun and fired.

With a single gunshot to Suiters head, the gunman transformed a detective charged with solving Baltimores murders into the citys 309th homicide of the year.



Baltimore Police Detective Sean Suiter was fatally shot while investigating a triple homicide. (Baltimore Police)

The slaying of the father of five became yet another tragic symbol of violence in this crime-battered city, where the killings continue to soar and the mayor says crime is out of control.

I pray for Baltimore, said Dana Bell, the mother of one of the victims in the triple homicide Suiter was investigating. If people dont respect the law and life, they arent going to respect anything.

As of Thursday night, law enforcement officials said they were actively searching for the gunman, whom Police Commissioner Kevin Davis called a heartless, ruthless, soulless killer.

We remain dedicated and committed to finding the person who ended such a beautiful life of such a wonderful detective, husband, father and friend, Davis said. We will find the person responsible for this ridiculous, absurd, unnecessary loss of life.

[Baltimore Police detective gravely wounded by gunman]

Suiter, 43, was a U.S. Navy veteran who had grown up in Washington, D.C., and lived with his wife and family in Pennsylvania. Suiters relatives could not immediately be reached.

Suiter was transported Wednesday to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center shortly after the shooting at about 5 p.m., where he remained on life support until he was pronounced dead at noon Thursday.



Police cadets arrived to canvass the neighborhood near the scene of the fatal shooting of a Baltimore homicide detective. (Peter Hermann/TWP)

Police had only a vague description of the suspect, saying he is a black man who wore a black jacket with a white stripe and may be injured. The reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case was increased Thursday to $169,000 after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) had the state boost the amount by $100,000.

Though Davis said, it shouldnt take 69 cents for someone to do the right thing.

After the shooting, tactical units and helicopters fanned out in the area, with the neighborhood still taped off well into Thursday as police cadets went canvassing door-to-door.

It is the second time this month that a police officer has been shot in Baltimore. On Nov. 4, an off-duty D.C. police sergeant was fatally shot while sitting with a woman in a car in Northwest Baltimore. The case also remains under investigation with no publicly named suspect.

Crime has long been entwined with Baltimores identity, but the violence took on a renewed urgency when homicide rates reached historic record levels after Freddie Gray died in police custody in April 2015. Residents rioted and protested in the wake of Grays death, and already fragile relations between police and the community further deteriorated.

Before Wednesday, Baltimore had logged 308 homicides for the year, up 14 percent from 271 this same time in 2016.

In April, the 22-year-old son of a Baltimore police officer who was fatally shot during a 2007 attempted robbery also died by gunfire.

Months later, the brother of Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith was killed in his own apartment.

And weeks after that, a 97-year-old vet was bludgeoned to death in his pajamas during a break-in.

A prominent Baltimore defense attorney, a state delegate and a city councilman also count themselves among the grieving families whove had a relative killed this year.

Im sick and tired of being sick and tired of crime in the city of Baltimore, City Council President Bernard C. Jack Young said.

[In a city reeling from 200 killings, a Baltimore police fortress gets a makeover]

Suiter was shot in one of the most dangerous pockets of Baltimore, which has one of the countys highest per capita murder rates.

Johnny Felder, 41, who lives on Fremont Avenue, said he was at work when his wife called him about the Wednesday shooting two blocks from their home. Mayor Catherine Pugh is right in saying that crime is out of control, Felder said.

We hear gunshots all the time down that way, he said, pointing south to Fremont Avenue and Bennett Place, where the detective was shot.

Felder added: I blame all sides. I blame the youth. I blame the parents. I blame the schools. Felder did not mention the police on his list, and he said that was intentional. I feel for them. I cant imagine being in their shoes.

Those who knew Suiter described the detective as a dedicated officer, who was respected by both residents and colleagues.

Bell, the mother of one of the triple homicide victims, said she talked to Suiter every week and that he had recently told her he had developed promising leads.

Suiter had told her, she said, that the gunman was targeting someone else and that her son, Antonio Davis, was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He was my rock, Bell said of Suiter through sobs, shortly after learning he had died. He always took my calls. I had no one to help me through this and he was it. He held my hand all the way. He promised me he would find my sons killer. I dont know what Ill do without him.

Bui and Hedgpeth reported from Washington. Clarence Williams and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.
Firefighters pulled a woman and a man who are believed to be a mother and her son from a house fire in Temple Hills, Md. They both later died at a hospital, fire officials said. (Courtesy of Prince George's County Fire)

Two people, who are believed to be an elderly woman and the son who cared for her, died after a house fire in Temple Hills, Md., officials said.

The fire occurred around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at a one-story home in the 5200 block of Lorraine Drive. A neighbor called 911.

When firefighters arrived they were told by the neighbor that two people were trapped inside the home. With flames coming from the front of the house, firefighters entered and searched the home. The two were found inside and brought out.

Mark Brady, a spokesman for the Prince Georges County Fire Department, said they were without a pulse and not breathing.

It was not immediately known where they were found inside the home. The two were transported to a hospital where Brady said they died from their injuries shortly after they arrived.

The identities of the two were not released, pending the notification of family.

Brady said that as far as we know they were mother and son. The woman was in her 80s and her son was in his 60s. The mother was said to use a wheelchair and her son was her caretaker, according to Brady.

It was undetermined at this time if the home had a working smoke alarm, according to Brady. The exact cause of the fire is not known and it is under investigation. An initial investigation shows it likely started in the basement and spread to the first floor, fire officials said.

The damage to the home is estimated to be about $80,000.

The fire comes two weeks after another fatal house fire in the county, when two people were killed in that blaze on Foote Street in Seat Pleasant. The cause of the fire is believed to be arson-related.
A woman was killed in a Northeast Washington neighborhood in one of at least two shootings Wednesday night, D.C. police said.

Police were called about 6:50 p.m. to the 5200 block of Just Street NE in the Deanwood neighborhood for a reported shooting, said Officer Sean Hickman, a police spokesman. They found the woman unconscious and unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead.

On Thursday, police identified her as Danjellicca Ball, 25, of Hyattsville, Md.

Authorities released no description of an assailant. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

About two hours later, about six miles away, police responded to another shooting in the 4500 block of Sixth Place NE in the Michigan Park neighborhood. Police found a wounded man who was conscious and breathing, Hickman said.

That victims wounds did not immediately appear to be life-threatening, authorities said.
I love poems that delightfully offer voices for otherwise mute things, and I like what the following cash register has to say about her life and times. This poem is from Maria Nazos' chapbook, Still Life, from Dancing Girl Press & Studio. For the past two years, Maria has been our graduate assistant at American Life in Poetry, during which time she's had a good deal of success with her own poems, including a recent publication in The New Yorker.

***

This isn't my dream-job. As a young sheet

of steel and plastic I dreamt of being melted

***

down into a dancer's pole in Vegas. I wanted

a woman in a headdress glossy as a gossamer

***

to wrap her lithe limbs around me. I wanted

to be strewn in lights, smell her powdery perfume.

***

Instead I'm a squat box crouched behind the counter,

noticed only if someone robs me. I'm touched all day,

***

but never caressed. Listen: somewhere gold tokens

spew from slots. I want to drink space-alien-dyed martinis on black

***

leather sectional couches. Watch tipsy women with acid-

washed jeans and teased hair dreamily press their faces

***

against slot machines while people treat currency

carelessly as spit in the wind.

***

I'm everywhere you look, ubiquitous and ignored.

I'm the container of your dreams that tossed aside my own.

***

I've kept my clean, sleek lines but you never say a thing.

Feed me, feed me with the only love we know.
The U.S. Senates chief oversight committee is questioning whether Metros internal watchdog, the Office of Inspector General, has the independence to properly perform its job  writing to Metro this week that possible censorship by the agencys board or staff, along with the OIGs lack of separate lawyers and funding are hindering its autonomy.

The criticisms came in a letter to Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld on Tuesday, written by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In the letter, they concluded Metros inspector general is not sufficiently independent from the rest of the transit agency.

[Read the Senate committees letter to Metro GM Paul J. Wiedefeld]

[The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritys] apparent control over the OIG appears to limit the OIGs ability to act independently, the senators wrote, and may ultimately hinder effective oversight and transparency of the agency.

The senators criticisms echo complaints raised nearly two months ago by the Inspector General himself, Geoff Cherrington, who wrote to the panel on Sept. 26, saying a lack of resources is one of the challenges the OIG faces when attempting to carry out its duties to oversee WMATA.

In the four-page letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, Cherrington included a laundry list of shortages, obstacles and potential conflicts of interest that he believes compromise the offices independence.

[Read an excerpt from Cherringtons letter]

The correspondence from the Senate committee and Cherrington outline some of the ways the OIG is beholden to the transit agency it is intended to monitor. For example, the IGs office must rely on Metros human resources department to compile and vet candidates for investigative jobs  a role that theoretically could allow HR staff to weed out candidates with the experience and know-how to aggressively investigate the agency.

The OIG does not have independent legal counsel and relies on WMATAs General Counsel for legal advice  individuals who also have a legal responsibility to protect Metro.

[Metros new watchdog: Where theres money, theres often fraud, and if it exists, we want to find it]

The OIG must go through Metros procurement department if it wants to buy supplies or hire outside experts, a requirement that became a problem in the past year, when the inspector general wanted to hire an independent mechanic to inspect a vehicle as part of an investigation. Procurement officials initially rejected that request; Metro managers ultimately had to step in so the investigators could bring in their own expert.

And the Inspector Generals office must obtain approval from the Metro board before it can publicly release an audit or internal report  in effect giving the panel authority to decide whether to release information that might be embarrassing to the transit agency.

Cherrington said the letter speaks for itself and declined to further comment. But according to members of the Metro Riders Advisory Council, Cherrington aired similar concerns at a closed-door meeting with the group last week, expressing frustration with Metro attorneys interference with the release of IG reports.

RAC member Colin Reusch described the conversation, which was intended to be private, but said he was compelled to disclose it because of the nature of the Cherringtons concerns.

He did say that he had at least one report that was [so] heavily redacted by the general counsels office . . . that it would not make sense to release it in that form, Reusch said. I think he was frustrated by it. I think he very much wants to be as independent as possible.

[Metro operators were using an emergency alarm that no one was listening to]

Reuschs account was confirmed by a second RAC member who attended the lunchtime meeting.

On Wednesday, Wiedefeld said he had not had a chance to delve into the specifics of the Senate committee letter, but said generally he believes the inspector generals office has the autonomy necessary to perform its job unfettered.

Anything that has been investigated by the IGs office, we stay out of the way, and [Cherrington] has access to anything and everything, Wiedefeld said.

The Senate letter also expressed concerns that Metro might be monitoring the OIG and its investigators. The letter mentioned an incident five years ago, when a Metro employee secretly installed keyword tracking software on OIG computers.

The OIG operates on the same information technology system as the rest of Metro. Critics say giving the office its own server could lessen the threat of hacks and other electronic intrusions.

Metro confirmed Wednesday the keystroke tracking incident took place, and said the employee inappropriately monitored communication of the OIG. When then-Inspector General Helen Lew discovered the unsanctioned monitoring, she raised the issue with General Manager Richard Sarles. The employee was fired.

Metro spokesman Dan Stessel stressed the 2012 incident was the action of a single rogue employee. Still, he acknowledged that Metro continues to have the ability to monitor the OIG with network security technology that comes standard at most major companies or organizations.

Cherringtons September letter to the Senate makes several requests. He wants to boost staffing levels to include hiring special agents, criminal analysis and forensic auditors and he asks for fixed and independent funding that management could not cut.

Further, to carry out certain covert investigations, he asks for confidential funds located in a local bank to use for cameo roles and undercover operations where cash is needed immediately. And probably drawing on concerns about Metro tracking the offices moves, Cherrington asks for IT independence, including an independent Metro IG email address.

[Aug. 2017: Metros Office of Inspector General knew about falsified inspections nearly two years ago. Heres the report.]

Finally, he asks the Senate to give the IGs special agents law enforcement authority.

These positions require surveillance and other dangerous operations, particularly in investigation of overtime and workers compensation fraud, the letter reads. This also provides OIG with investigative tools and databases not currently available.

The Senate oversight panel asked several questions about the operations and funding of Metros Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance and Oversight department  a division of the agency that also is tasked with conducting internal audits and spot-checks of worker activities, but is directly responsible to Wiedefeld.

The Senate letter suggests that office and the OIG are performing duplicative tasks  a notion Cherrington raised in his private meeting with the Riders Advisory Council. Some say such audits are a task better performed by an independent group, like the OIG.

Cherrington, one RAC member said, seemed to be surprised that there was such a similar division within the organization to his own, the rider advocate said, in an exchange confirmed by Reusch.

In its letter to Wiedefeld, the Senate asks Metro to disclose QICOs annual budget  and if the amount is more than the Inspector Generals budget  explain why.

Jim Corcoran, chair of the Metro boards audits and investigations committee, said he sees the value of having dual offices  a unit that can act at Wiedefelds behest to investigate issues he feels are important, and a separate and independent office that can dive into systemic problems the general manager may overlook.

You need to have a little separation of power, Corcoran said.

Corcoran also said he agrees many of the issues raised in the letter are legitimate concerns  but fixing them costs money.

Cherrington asked Wiedefeld to increase funding for the OIG from $4.7 million to $10.4 million for the coming fiscal year, but the amount was not included in the general managers recently proposed budget.

It shouldnt be news that Metro doesnt have enough money to do everything they want to do. It really does come down to limited resources, Corcoran said.

It would absolutely help them to have all the resources were talking about. But its something were going to have to build in gradually over time, he said.

Metro board chairman Jack Evans applauded Cherringtons efforts to root out corruption and wasteful spending, and he asked Congress to step in to provide the funding Cherrington seeks.

What I would say to Congress is, Give us more money,  he said. Im squeezed as it is in every direction, so where am I going to get more money for the Inspector General?
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie, right, gestures during his Oct. 9 debate with the Democratic challenger, then-Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, at the University of Virginia-Wise in Wise, Va. Northam easily beat Gillespie on Nov. 7. (Steve Helber/AP)

Surveys of African American voters leading up to Virginias elections found that Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie had surprisingly strong support among black voters in October but that he lost their votes in the final weeks of the campaign, according to a coalition of minority advocacy groups.

Democrat Ralph Northam won partly on the strength of overwhelming support from African Americans, who made up about 20 percent of the Nov. 7 electorate. The surveys and analysis, released Thursday by the African American Research Collaborative in partnership with Latino Decisions, said Northam drew that support partly because of two factors: heavy get-out-the-vote efforts that reached more than half of black voters in some locations, and racially charged advertising from Gillespie that played particularly poorly with African Americans.

The messages that [Gillespie] was driving home, apparently to try to energize a base vote, really very clearly backfired, said Henry Fernandez of Fernandez Advisors, a consulting group that coordinated the survey and analysis.

Gillespie had drawn criticism for ads that connected illegal immigration with the violent Latino street gang MS-13. He also aired spots late in the race that defended Confederate statues and heritage and that promised a harsh position on illegal immigration. The groups surveys showed that all those spots were viewed more negatively by black voters than by any other group  even worse than among Latinos, who were the subjects of the MS-13 ads.

[An establishment Republican runs in the Trump mold]

The Republican campaign also made a late push to raise fears about Northams support for the restoration of felony rights, the efforts of current Gov. Terry McAuliffe to restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. Gillespie suggested that the actions would make it easier for violent felons to get access to guns.

The ex-felon population is disproportionately African American, and Fernandez said Gillespies position came across extremely poorly to black voters.

It again goes to this idea that the messages are around criminalization, Fernandez said. We think this appears to have been a set of messages from Gillespie that made African Americans feel like he was saying that certain people, particularly people of color, are criminals.

Whats more, Fernandez said the surveys showed that Northams efforts to push back against Gillespies positions did not appear to cost him support among white voters.

Coupled with extremely negative views that minorities have of President Trump, he said, the results offer a road map for Democrats for elections across the country next year.

It was a real opportunity to try to understand what the dynamics might be in 2018 and gave us an opportunity to poll in an environment where you could tell a lot about the electorate in Virginia without a lot of other elections going on around the country that could start to create noise, Fernandez said.

The survey, conducted Oct. 6-13, showed that 17 percent of likely African American voters planned to support Gillespie. At that level of support, the Republican probably would have won the overall election. No other publicly released surveys from that period showed black voters going for Gillespie at that level; a Washington Post-Schar School poll from October found Gillespie with about 9 percent support from African Americans, which is how the election actually played out. The AARC survey found that Gillespies support among black voters had dropped to 8 percent three days before the election.

View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.

But the October survey conducted by Latino Decisions created a sense of urgency among some Democratic advocacy groups, leading to the Latino Victory Fund ad that depicted a white Gillespie supporter in a pickup truck, with a Confederate flag, chasing children of various ethnicities through the streets.

Northam never disavowed that ad, which ran for two days and drew outrage from Republicans. Fernandez said his groups follow-up survey in November did not ask specifically about that ad, but that to the extent the contest was radicalized, Northam only benefited and Gillespie suffered.

[Gillespie defeats Northam]

The surveys questions were themselves politically charged. One question said that Gillespie said that illegal immigrants are a dangerous threat to public safety, and that immigrants from Central America are violent gang members who rape and kill people in Virginia. Did these statements make you feel more enthusiastic about Gillespie or less enthusiastic about Gillespie?

But the group emphasized that it was most notable that African Americans consistently responded more negatively to such topics than Latinos or Asian Americans. On that question, for instance, Latinos rated the Republican poorly by a margin of 45 percent; Asian Americans by a margin of 32 percent; whites by a margin of 23 percent; and African Americans by a margin of 73 percent.

In the November survey, 86 percent of black voters who had not heard about or seen the racially charged ads said they favored Northam, and 12 percent supported Gillespie. Among those who were aware of the ads, 89 percent favored Northam and 8 percent went for Gillespie.

Each of the two surveys reached roughly 1,600 to 1,700 Virginia voters, evenly distributed among white, African American, Latino and Asian American.
Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, are leaders of a gun-control group that is taking lessons from Virginia for the 2018 mid-terms. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Gun-control advocates say they hit a major milestone during the Democratic sweep in Virginia: They turned out as many of their supporters to the polls as their opponents did.

Exit polls showed that gun policy was the second most important issue in the governors race, and voters motivated by guns were evenly split between Democrat Ralph Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie.

Thats a shift from data usually showing that voters casting ballots based on guns are overwhelmingly opposed to gun control and say they want to protect their Second Amendment rights against new limits.

Its very significant because what commentators said for years, our problem is theres an intensity gap. Well, no more, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. The intensity gap, I would say, is now DOA.

Gun-control advocates have long pointed to polls showing broad support for universal background checks for firearm purchases and banning assault weapons. But voters havent always prioritized those issues at the ballot box, making it difficult to channel popular support for those policies into law.

[Analysis: Opinions on gun control issues are complicated]

A post-election poll commissioned by Everytown found that Northam, the lieutenant governor, won those who named guns as their top issue by double digits. Another poll commissioned by the gun control group founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) had similar findings.

Northam, who beat Gillespie by nine points, campaigned on restoring Virginia's overturned law that restricted handgun sales to one a month. He also said he favored universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons as well as high-capacity magazines. Gillespie touted his A rating from the National Rifle Association and vowed to block new restrictions on guns.

Virginia is a key battleground for gun-control organizations trying to compete with those who favor gun rights. Its home to the NRAs headquarters, and it has a Southern gun culture and some of the loosest gun laws in the nation.

Democrats used to tread carefully around gun issues until 2007, when Virginia Tech became the scene of what was then the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Thirty-three people died, including the shooter.

In the aftermath, a Washington Post poll found that 58 percent of Virginians favored stronger gun control.

Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democratic governor at the time, pushed unsuccessfully for a state law that would require background checks on sales at gun shows. He had better luck  and bipartisan help  closing a loophole in the states laws that had allowed the Virginia Tech shooter to buy a gun even though a judge had declared him dangerously mentally ill less than two years earlier.

View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.

[Kaines position on guns has shifted with events]

The growth in population and political clout in urban regions of the state where gun control has support made it feasible for Kaine and others to embrace gun limits. By the time Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) ran in 2013, he celebrated his F rating from the NRA.

This years governors race coincided with a string of high-profile mass shootings, including one at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, the massacre in Las Vegas that left 59 dead and the slayings of more than two dozen at a Texas church two days before Election Day.

Everytown, which is bankrolled by former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, spent at least $2.3 million on Virginias races. The NRA spent at least $1.5 million on commercials in Virginia, according to the Northam campaign.

[Gun violence roils Virginia governors race after Las Vegas massacre]

A spokeswoman for the NRA did not respond to a request for comment. But the head of the largest state gun-rights group said that the election results showed signs of complacency, not a voter revolt against guns.

These things are like a pendulum, but now this election turnout has energized gun owners big time, said Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. The problem I see is too many gun owners are sleepy. Now I think they have woken up as a sleeping giant.

But gun-control advocates see the opposite: Democrats can embrace gun control and win.

Theres been a concern among Democrats that if they talk about guns, the Republican NRA voters are going to be more enthusiastic and come out in full force, said Jason Lindsay, who leads Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, a small grass-roots group that formed after last years mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando.

The crystal-clear takeaway from Virginia is Democrats need to stand up and talk unapologetically about the need to make the safety of our communities a priority while protecting the Second Amendment, he said.

Whether Virginia was a fluke can be tested next year, when every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, 33 U.S. Senate seats and 36 governorships are on the ballot.

The recently rebranded group founded by Giffords, the congresswoman who became a prominent gun-control advocate after surviving a 2011 shooting, thinks its message  that Republicans are too extreme on guns  will resonate with the kind of suburban voters who powered Northam's victory.

In particular, they see opportunities to unseat Republicans in congressional districts won by Hillary Clinton in California and New Jersey, as well as suburban districts in Florida, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

We have a great opportunity around the country to talk to suburban voters who are fed up with the direction the Republican Party is going, said Isabelle James, the groups political director.

If we can draw their attention to some of the extreme policies that voters maybe havent heard about, we are going to have huge success.

They are counting on voters like Jacqueline Teti of Alexandria, who has been passionate about gun control for a decade but ignored state races until she voted for Northam this year.

The issue held new urgency for her this year after the gunman opened fire at the congressional baseball practice while she was nearby with her child, buying croissants.

I am a very, very strong believer in gun control, and we really need more politicians to get on things like banning assault rifles and supporting common-sense gun laws, said Teti, a 35-year-old graduate student. Weve been complacent for a really long time.

Scott Clement contributed to this report.
Control of Virginias House of Delegates turns on the outcome of three tight races. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

The morning after an Election Day that left control of Virginia's House of Delegates in doubt, the U.S. Postal Service delivered 55 absentee ballots to Stafford County Registrar Greg Riddlemoser.

The ballots, which arrived at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8, were 15 hours too late. Under state law, they needed to arrive by 7 the night before  the hour polls closed  to be counted in a tight delegate race that could determine whether Republicans hang on to power in the lower chamber.

But Riddlemoser, whose office checked in with the post office hourly until polls closed, was convinced something had gone wrong when 55 landed all at once.

There is no possible way in my military mind that these ballots should not have been available to us on Election Day before close-of-polls, the retired Air Force colonel wrote in an email to Virginia Elections Commissioner Edgardo Cortes. How can there be zero, zero, zero  all afternoon and evening and then suddenly 55? We have a BOS [Board of Supervisors] race with a tiny delta. We have a HOD race with a very small delta. Maybe 55 would have swung one or both?

[Potential chaos ahead as control of House of Delegates hangs in the balance]

Despite those concerns, Riddlemoser said the votes could not be counted without violating state law. By a 2-to-1 vote, Stafford's electoral board agreed on Tuesday not to count them.

Now Riddlemosers email  suggesting that the post office somehow mishandled the ballots  has literally become Exhibit A in a federal lawsuit. Democrats filed it late Tuesday to challenge the outcome in the race for the District 28 seat being vacated by retiring House speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). As it stands now, Republican Robert Thomas leads Democrat Joshua Cole by 82 votes.

Virginians should not be disenfranchised by errors made by government officials, said Marc Elias, the lawyer for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, which filed the suit on Coles behalf in federal court in Alexandria. It seeks to have the 55 ballots counted.

A spokesman for House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights), who is in line to become speaker if the GOP holds its majority, called the lawsuit unnecessary given that Democrats acknowledge that the absentee ballots arrived after the state deadline.

The law on absentee ballots is clear and was applied fairly by a Democrat-controlled Electoral Board, said Parker Slaybaugh, Coxs spokesman. You dont get to pick and choose which late ballots to count; otherwise you will have chaos across the entire state.

The Postal Service is aware of the matter and is looking into it, spokeswoman Darleen Reid said.

View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.

In a letter to state elections officials, Elias also asserted that 668 people eligible to vote in District 28 were given ballots for the wrong House race.

He said the claim was based on vote totals posted on the state elections website. The site indicates that two Fredericksburg precincts that are entirely within District 28 erroneously operated as a split precinct, with some voters given ballots for the District 88 race and others for the District 28 contest, Elias said. A total of 354 voters in Precinct 402 and 314 voters in Precinct 201 cast ballots in the District 88 race, a four-way contest that Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg) won with 14,022 votes over Democrat Steve Aycock (9,918 votes) and two distant third-party contenders.

Obviously it is not a tolerable situation for 668 voters to be disenfranchised, Elias said.

He has called on the state Board of Elections to exclude votes cast in the two precincts from the District 88 totals, decline to certify a winner in District 28, and take other, unspecified steps to ensure all Virginians had the opportunity to vote for the delegate who represents them in Richmond.

The Fredericksburg Electoral Board issued a statement Wednesday acknowledging that the board and registrar received complaints regarding House Districts 28 and 88. The board conveyed those complaints to Cortes, who advised them to seek counsel from the Fredericksburg city attorney. The City Attorney advised the Electoral Board to proceed with the election, the statement said.

Cortes said Fredericksburg officials called his office late in the afternoon on Election Day, saying, We may have an issue here.

He said the call came after a voter in one of the two precincts questioned whether he or she had been given the proper ballot.

Somebody thought they should be in a different district than what they got the ballot for, said Cortes, who said the problem arose in an area that borders both District 88 and District 28. Cortes said the question could not be immediately resolved, but his office has offered to help Fredericksburg sort it out.

Republicans also were investigating.

We are aware the Democrats believe there is an issue and are looking into it as well, Slaybaugh said.

[Democrats make significant gains in House in historic sweep]

Slaybaugh said Democrats had misled people about the types of ballots at issue in Stafford.

Democratic Party leaders initially asserted that the 55 absentee ballots were from active-duty members of the military. They held a conference call to highlight the matter on Veterans Day, assembling legislators with military backgrounds to speak on the issue.

But Stafford officials said the ballots came from absentee voters of all stripes.

On Wednesday, Democrats said they had based that claim on information that had come from people on the ground in Stafford. Elias said the lawsuit does not claim the ballots were all military, although some may be.

"Whether military or civilian, the right to vote is equal in all cases," he said.

The District 28 race is one of three likely headed for a state-funded recount after the Nov. 7 election, in which Democrats made huge gains in the House and swept statewide offices for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Before the election, Republicans boasted a 66-to-34 majority in Richmond's lower chamber. Now, the count is 49 Democrats and 51 Republicans, putting Democrats within striking distance of taking control. They need one more victory to force a power-sharing deal with Republicans and two more to take the reins of the chamber for the first time since 2000. Republicans hold narrow leads in the Thomas-Cole contest and two other contested races. In those, Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax) has a 106-vote lead over Democrat Donte Tanner, while Del. David E. Yancey (R-Newport News) is up just 10 votes over Democrat Shelly Simonds.
Monthly health-care insurance premiums increased all over America this year, but nowhere as dramatically as in Charlottesville, an analysis shows.

Residents of the small college city and the surrounding Albemarle County who wish to purchase individual insurance from the federal marketplace will be paying for the most expensive plans in the country, a Kaiser Family Foundation review confirmed.

The prices have shocked those who went to shop for a new plan Nov. 1 and found that in many cases theyd be paying three times as much for coverage as the year before.

Everywhere else was horrific for ballooning costs, said Karen Pollitz, Kaiser senior fellow of the rate increase. But something weird is going on in Charlottesville different from everywhere else; something else added a multiple of two or three in Charlottesville.

Being hit the hardest by the spikes are entrepreneurs who work for themselves and earn too much to qualify for government subsidies. They have to pay a carriers rate in full.



Ian and Jaymie Dixon with daughters Naomi, 3, and Ivy, 1. (Meredith McKown Peyton)

Ian Dixon, who left his full-time job in 2016 to pursue an app-development business, did so because the ACA guaranteed that he could still have quality coverage for his young family, he said.

But when the 38-year-old Charlottesville husband and father of a 3- and a 1-year-old went to re-enroll this month, his only choice for coverage would cost him more than $3,000 a month for his family of four, which amounted to an increase of more than 300 percent over the $900 he paid the year before. And this is for the second-cheapest option, with a deductible of $9,200.

Helpless is definitely a good word for it, Dixon said. Rage is also a good word for it.

Nearly 80 percent of the more than 350,000 Virginians who buy coverage on the ACA health exchange qualify for government subsidies that lower premiums, slightly less than the percentage among people with ACA health plans nationwide. But the remaining 20 percent are left with few options but to pay dramatically higher rates.

In Albemarle County, more than 5,000 people buy individual insurance on the federal exchange. Of those, about 1,500 are ineligible for the financial assistance, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

A benchmark silver plan  silver being the second-lowest tier of ACA coverage and the tier on which the premium subsidies are based  for a 40-year-old individual is $1,011 a month in Albemarle. The next highest for that type of plan are Hardee and Monroe counties in Florida at $903 a month, according to Kaiser.

Earlier this year, Aetna and Anthem pulled out of the Albemarle market, citing too much unpredictability and risk. A smaller carrier, Optima, came in to fill the void. Consumers in the area went from having 19 plans offered in the options from Aetna and Anthem to only five coverage options with Optima.

Several factors led to Optimas offering such high-priced plans, said Michael Dudley, the president of Optima.

First, small communities like Charlottesville tend to be pricier to cover because there is a small patient pool to balance out risks. So Optima took a cue from the carriers who had already ditched the market when actuaries predicted it was a place where the insurance companies might be paying out more to cover claims than it receives in premiums.

It is also a more expensive coverage area because the primary provider is University of Virginia Health System, an academic medical center that charges higher rates for its care than a community hospital. Optima will include UVA Health System in-network, unlike many carriers who have dropped the big medical centers as a cost-saving measure.

And finally, Virginia regulators told insurers to set their rates assuming that President Trump would eliminate cost-sharing reduction payments  which he did last month  that the government paid carriers to compensate the companies for discounts the law requires them to provide.

This action alone will cost Optima tens of millions of dollars, said Dudley.

You take those two factors and then add the major uncertainty and instability out of Washington, D.C . . .it all combined in the perfect storm, Dudley said. Its a tough message, and we anticipated it would be a tough message. We get it  this is frustrating.

And now that Republicans in Congress are debating making more changes to the ACA in its tax reform bill, Dudley said he has wondered whether they should have charged even more to cover their risk.

Doug Gray, executive director of the Virginia Association of Health Plans, had an even more tough-love take: Consumers in Charlottesville are lucky to have a carrier at all.

We were the model for states in terms of competitive and successful exchanges. Then what happened is carriers lost a lot of money and they started to reexamine  Gee, Im not sure I can sustain participating in this,  Gray said.  Do I want to stay in this business? Can we explain to our customers a rate increase this big? 

[ACA insurance exchanges open for fifth year after Republicans fail to kill them off]

There are few options for consumers like Dixon who need coverage.

He recently created a Facebook page titled, Charlottesville For Reasonable Health Insurance, hoping someone else had found a solution. Soon there were 161 members with the same problem, but little more to offer than empathy.

Among them was Shawn Marie Cossette, 55, who runs her own event and floral design business in Charlottesville. Last year, she purchased an Anthem silver plan for $550 a month for herself. This year, under Optima, a silver plan would cost her $1,859 monthly.

Its a huge percentage of my income, she said. I really believed in the ACA. I really feel everyone deserves the right to health insurance, but who can afford those prices if you dont qualify for subsidies?

Cossette has found a workaround that while not ideal will result in her paying double rather than triple what she did last year. She is working with an insurance agent to form a small group plan and will put her one full-time employee on it. Shell pay for his insurance and her own in full, which will come to around $1,100 a month, and she can go back to Anthem under group coverage.

Dixon is looking to do something similar, although he doesnt have any employees. He would have to hire someone and begin paying a salary, which still might be cheaper than the premiums hed pay on the individual market.

Others in the group have considered moving to another county with better carrier options. Some have suggested cutting their take-home pay so they could qualify for subsidies. And even more are thinking about getting a full-time job with benefits.

People are desperate, Dixon said. I feel like were victims in the political games being played by the administration. Its hard for me to look at it any other way.


Mourners walk past caskets containing the bodies of members of the Holcombe and Hill families, victims of the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church shooting, during a graveside service in Sutherland Springs, Tex. on Wednesday. (Darren Abate/Reuters)

Thousands of mourners said goodbye and celebrated the lives of an extended family that lost 10 of its members nearly two weeks ago in a mass shooting inside their small-town Texas church.

Colorful caskets contained the bodies of three generations of the Holcombe family, from an unborn child and a 1-year-old to the churchs 60-year-old associate pastor. Mourners overfilled an event center here, full of sorrow and of hope, knowing that the members of a deeply faithful family  who had been praising God when killed  were now home in heaven.

[The lives lost in Sutherland Springs, Tex.]

The event was open to the public but closed to the news media as members of the community continued to heal from one of the nations worst mass shootings 10 days earlier. Those who attended the ceremony said the family patriarch  Joe Holcombe  also prayed for the family of Devin Patrick Kelley, the 26-year-old who took his life after killing more than two dozen congregants at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5. Kelley was cremated on Friday.

Law enforcement officials have said Kelley was involved in a domestic dispute with his in-laws before the shootings; his mother-in-law has attended the church, and his wifes grandmother was among those he killed there. Kelley had attended a fall festival at the church on Halloween just days before he returned with a semiautomatic assault-style rifle and fired hundreds of rounds inside. He was shot by a neighbor who heard the gunfire. Kelley fled in his car while being chased, and ran off the road and shot himself.

[After Texas church massacre, tiny town turns to prayer to begin healing process]

The small town has since begun burying many of its residents, while 20 people who were shot continue to recover and process what happened.

The service Wednesday afternoon was packed with hundreds of relatives, neighbors, friends and strangers paying their respects to Joe Holcombes son Bryan and his wife, Karla Holcombe; Bryan and Karlas son Danny Holcombe and his 1-year-old daughter Noah Grace; Bryan and Karlas daughter-in-law Crystal Holcombe, her unborn child Carlin Holcombe and children Greg Hill, Emily Hill and Megan Hill; and Tara McNulty, a close family friend whose children were like grandchildren to Bryan and Karla.

As attendees waited to get inside, people left their spots in line to hug and shake hands with friends and neighbors; the attack killed or injured many in the First Baptist Church membership and affected almost everyone in this tiny town outside San Antonio. Many of those who were killed were in the churchs pews for Sunday services.

They were always happy, and they loved the Lord with all their hearts, Jane Johnson, a close family friend, said after the memorial.

[The sound of hymns drifted from the country church. Then came gunfire.]

Many in the community have turned to their faith to help cope with their losses, and the church decided not to hide the scene of the crime; instead leaders had it cleaned, painted and made into a standing memorial for those killed inside. White chairs embossed with the names of those who died  along with single red roses  stand solemnly in a stark-white sanctuary.

The day of the shootings, Bryan Holcombe, the associate pastor, was filling in for the churchs pastor, Frank Pomeroy, who happened to be out of town that day; Holcombe was on his way to the pulpit when he was killed. Both he and wife Karla, 58, taught their children to live their lives for the glory of God, friends and relatives said. Pomeroy buried his 14-year-old daughter Annabelle  who was killed in the attack  this week.

Bagpipers played Amazing Grace while pallbearers slowly rolled the caskets out to hearses that took the victims to a private burial. While many in attendance dabbed their eyes with tissues  individually bagged with a note from schoolchildren  some hummed along.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 5: An exterior view of the Anthem Health Insurance headquarters on February 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. About 80 million company records were accessed in what may be among the largest healthcare data breaches to date. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Californias managed-care regulator has fined insurance giant Anthem Blue Cross $5 million for repeatedly failing to resolve consumer grievances in a timely manner.

The state Department of Managed Health Care criticized Anthem, the nations second-largest health insurer, for systemic violations and a long history of flouting the law in regard to consumer complaints.

Anthem Blue Cross failures to comply with the law surrounding grievance and appeals rights are long-standing, ongoing and unacceptable, said Shelley Rouillard, director of the Department of Managed Health Care. Anthem knows this is a huge problem, but they havent addressed it.

Before this latest action, California had already fined Anthem more than $6 million collectively for grievance-system violations since 2002.

The state said it identified 245 grievance-system violations during this latest investigation of consumer complaints at Anthem from 2013 to 2016.

Rouillard cited one example in which Anthem denied a submitted claim for an extensive surgical procedure, even though it had issued prior approval for the operation. Twenty-two calls contesting the denial  placed by the patient, the patients spouse, the couples insurance broker and the medical provider  failed to resolve the complaint. It was not until the patient sought help from the managed-care agency, more than six months after the treatment, that Anthem paid the claim.

Anthem Inc. could not be immediately reached for comment. The company, based in Indianapolis, sells Blue Cross policies in California and 13 other states.

California is known for having tough consumer protection laws on health coverage and for assisting policyholders when they exhaust their appeals with insurers. In other actions, the state has fined insurers for overstating the extent of their doctor networks and for denying patients timely access to mental health treatment.

Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group in Santa Monica, Calif., said the regulatory response to these problems varies greatly by state. He singled out New York, Washington and Kansas as some of the states with good track records of holding health insurers accountable.

The real problem is when states dont act there is not a great avenue for the consumer. Its very hard to bring legal action, Court said. Anthem definitely needed a wake-up call. But this will also send a message to other insurers.

Nationally, consumers continue to express their displeasure with health insurers over a wide range of issues, including denials for treatment, billing disputes and the lack of in-network doctors.

Verified complaints related to health insurance and accident coverage rose 12 percent in 2016 compared to the previous year, totaling 53,680, according to data compiled by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The data only includes incidents in which state regulators confirmed there was a violation or error by the insurer involved.

Court and other advocates welcomed the significant fine in California and said this is just the latest example of Anthems failure to uphold basic consumer protections.

Overall, state officials said that calls to Anthems customer service department often led to repeated transfers of calls and that the company failed to follow up with enrollees.

After previous fines, Anthem has pledged to provide more training to employees and to better track grievances and appeals in order to reduce delays.

If you look at the history of Anthem and the penalties assessed over the years, they are definitely an outlier compared to other health plans, Rouillard said.

All the plans have some issues with grievances, but nothing to the degree we are seeing with Anthem.

The managed-care department said a health plan's grievance program is critical, so that consumers know they have the right to pursue an independent medical review or file a complaint with regulators if they are dissatisfied with the insurer's decision. The grievance system can also help insurers identify systemic problems and improve customer service, state officials said.

The states independent medical review program allows consumers to have their case heard by doctors who are not tied to their health plan. The cases often arise when an insurer denies a patients request for treatment or a prescription drug.

In 2016, insurance company denials were overturned in nearly 70 percent of medical review cases and patients received the requested treatment, according to state officials.
OHIO

Inability to find a vein delays execution

Ohio called off the execution of an ailing 69-year-old killer on Wednesday after the executioners couldnt find an accessible vein to insert the IV that delivers the lethal drugs.

It was only the third time in modern U.S. history that an execution attempt was halted after the process had begun.

Alva Campbell, condemned to die for killing a teenager during a carjacking two decades ago, was promptly given a new execution date by Gov. John Kasich (R) that is a year and a half away.

The execution team worked for about 25 minutes to find a vein in Campbells arms or his right lower leg as he lay on a gurney in the death chamber. Team members used a locating device with an ultraviolet light while patting Campbell on the arm and shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

Although it appeared that the executioners had successfully inserted a needle in his shin, the warden instructed the team to pull it out, said David Stebbins, Campbells public defender.

Certain conditions can make it difficult to find suitable veins, including damage from drug abuse, or dehydration. Stebbins said Campbells poor veins and other health ills are problems that wont go away anytime soon.

Campbells new execution date is June 5, 2019.

Campbells attorneys had warned that his execution could become an unseemly spectacle because of his poor health. He suffers from breathing problems from a longtime smoking habit and requires a walker and a colostomy bag, his lawyers said.

In 2009, the state called off the execution of killer Romell Broom after two hours of unsuccessful attempts to find a vein. Broom is back on death row with a new execution date in 2020.

 Associated Press

PENNSYLVANIA

Judge sides with Philadelphia in sanctuary city lawsuit

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the U.S. government from withholding a major grant that pays for public safety equipment because Philadelphia is a sanctuary city.

U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson said in his decision that he weighed the public interest and possible harm that could come from withholding such funds.

Both the federal government and the city of Philadelphia have important interests at stake here and the court does not minimize either of their concerns, the judge wrote. In this case, given Philadelphias unique approach to meshing the legitimate needs of the federal government to remove criminal aliens with the Citys promotion of health and safety, there is no conflict of any significance.

The Justice Department is reviewing the ruling and determining the next steps, spokesman Devin OMalley said.

The Justice Department has threatened to cut off millions of dollars in federal grants to cities if they dont meet certain criteria for cooperating with immigration officials.

The city sued Attorney General Jeff Sessions in August over the conditions that had been added to the grant program, calling them unconstitutional and capricious. Sessions has said that cities that dont help enforce immigration law are endangering public safety.

 Associated Press

HAWAII

Killer found insane recaptured after escaping hospital

A man acquitted of a 1979 murder by reason of insanity who escaped from a Hawaii psychiatric hospital over the weekend was arrested in California on Wednesday.

Randall Saito left Hawaii State Hospital on Sunday, took a taxi to a chartered plane bound for the island of Maui and then boarded another plane to San Jose, Calif., Honolulu police said.

Saito was captured in Stockton on Wednesday morning as the result of a tip from a taxi driver, the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Department said.

Honolulu police received a tip that Saito was on his way to a brothers home in Stockton and forwarded the information to authorities in California, Honolulu CrimeStoppers Sgt. Chris Kim said.

Saito was committed to the hospital outside Honolulu in 1981, two years after he was acquitted in the killing of Sandra Yamashiro, whom he shot and repeatedly stabbed. Yamashiros body was found in her car at a mall. In 1993, a court denied Saitos request for conditional release, saying he continued to suffer from sexual sadism and necrophilia.

 Associated Press
Police in St. Louis who have dealt with dozens of protests in the two months since a former officer was acquitted in the death of a black suspect can't shut down nonviolent demonstrations or use chemical agents simply to punish protesters, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

A leader of the protest movement hailed U.S. District Judge Catherine Perrys temporary restraining order as a victory for the protesters.

We want to be treated like the Constitution says and not like terrorists, said Cori Bush of the Frontline protest movement.

Koran Addo, spokesman for Mayor Lyda Krewson, said the city will comply with the order of preliminary injunction. A police spokeswoman declined to comment.

A judges ruling on Sept. 15 acquitted former police officer Jason Stockley, who is white, of first-degree murder in the death of Anthony Lamar Smith, who was black. Smith, the suspect in a drug case, was fatally shot by Stockley after a dangerous chase. Within minutes of the announcement of the ruling, protests broke out.

Some of the early demonstrations turned violent, with bricks and bottles thrown at police, windows broken, and other damage. Several officers reported minor to moderate injuries. About 300 people have been arrested.

Many of those arrested claimed police used heavy-handed tactics, including unnecessary use of pepper spray and tear gas, and the forcing of protesters to the ground. A process known as kettling has also been called into question. Kettling involves lines of officers moving protesters into a limited area before arrests are made. Several journalists have been among those arrested.
Friends of John Frederick mourn the passing of a man equally persuasive with grizzly bears on his screened porch and politicians pestering his beloved Polebridge.

The longtime advocate of all wild things along the North Fork of the Flathead River died of bladder cancer on Nov. 15. He was 74.

We were friends, notwithstanding our opinions on natural resource things, frequent debating foe Larry Wilson said Frederick. The two North Fork neighbors were famous for arguing opposite sides at public meetings and then carpooling home together.

He was a pragmatist, said Wilson, who ran a post-and-pole mill in Columbia Falls and regularly clashed with Frederick over public lands management. He was after things that could be achieved, not the sun and the moon and stars. And he was a really good judge of people. He kept that North Fork Preservation Association alive for 30 years.

Frederick grew up in Ohio, and passed through Montana on the way to visit Alaska in 1977. Yukon plans got replaced by a notion of running a hostel near Polebridge, according to North Fork unofficial archivist Lois Walker.

It was about the same time that Karen Feather bought the Polebridge Merc and changed its flavor, Walker said. Shed painted it red and put up the big lettering, trying to attract business. He wanted to start a business. John was one of those newcomer hippies with his ponytail and his Volkswagen squareback. To the old-timers, who owned hundreds or thousands of acres, these young people moving with ideas about environment and wildlife set up a cultural clash.

The North Fork community spreads across 50 miles of backcountry. It numbers about 80 year-round residents, but greets thousands of summer visitors exploring Glacier Parks northwest corner via the Polebridge entrance. Many of the long-timers date back before the park was designated in 1910, and that led to friction as newcomers arrived.

There was Polebridge and Trail Creek and not much in between, Walker said. Larry was on the Trail Creek side  thats where his family place was  and there wasnt much understanding between them. But by the mid-'80s, I noticed Larry was coming by the hostel for breakfast. They ended up on the land-use planning initiative together.

In 1979 Frederick opened the North Fork Hostel, occasionally known as the Square Peg Ranch, an hour north of the nearest town with paved roads. Keeping the North Fork Road unpaved was one of the issues that united residents who otherwise couldnt agree on wilderness, logging, mining or recreation matters.

Lois husband Bill Walker first learned of John Frederick during a controversy over a Canadian mining firms plan to take coal from the pristine headwaters of the Flathead River north of Glacier Park. Frederick had bought a share of stock in the company, and used it to get into a stockholders meeting dressed as a protesting cowboy.

John was always the central character when it came to protecting the North Fork itself, Walker said. He was persistent, low-key and nonconfrontational, and one of the most effective conservationists in that part of the world.

Frederick was also someone to whom, as Walker put it, things happened.

He wasnt a detailed-oriented guy, Walker said. Once Frederick and Walker convoyed up the Bowman Lake Road into Glacier Park, with Frederick in the lead hauling his horse in a 1950s-era stock truck. Walker came around a corner to find a car part in the road. It was the generator from Fredericks motor, still hot to the touch.

Pretty soon, I find him too, dead in the middle of the road, Walker said. I towed him all the way back out, afraid on the downhills that he was going to run right up my tailpipe and on the uphills that my transmission would burn out. And his horse was like a dog in a car  it just loved to go for a ride.

"We finally got all the way down and Im towing his stock truck with his horse standing in the back, having a great time, past the porch with a bunch of people sitting in front of the Polebridge Mercantile and John coming behind, looking kind of hapless.

After discovering that wolf biologist David Mech had spent months at his place sleeping on a wickedly uncomfortable mattress, Frederick made a point of lying in every bed in his hostel at least once a year for quality control.

The flow of visitors rarely stopped. Oliver Meister came from Germany to stay a night in 1992 and remained the whole summer. He returned for several years, and eventually bought the place from Frederick in 2007.

Although out of the full-time hospitality business, Frederick stayed active with North Fork issues. He was a founding member of the Whitefish Range Partnership that worked for almost two years forging compromises among timber workers, wilderness advocates, snowmobilers and business owners on how to manage a major portion of the Flathead National Forest.

We made a bet a few years ago about who was going to die first, Wilson said. Now I dont know how hes going to pay off. Im afraid things will be a lot more emotional than when John was at the wheel. Hes the passing of a legend.

Even though John might have been the weird hippie when he first came there, his concerns overlapped with everybody in the valley, Bill Walker added. We all like to hunt or hike or float the river or go into the park and manage to do all that without disturbing the wildlife. And the guy who described it best just died this morning.
FRANCE

Hariri invited to Paris amid resignation crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday invited Saad Hariri and his family to come to France after Hariris surprise resignation as Lebanons prime minister this month from Riyadh, which stirred allegations that Saudi Arabia was holding him prisoner.

Hariris older brother, meanwhile, broke his silence over the resignation after speculation that Saudi Arabia was grooming the elder Hariri to fill the post.

Bahaa Hariri, in a statement to the Associated Press, said he supported his brothers resignation and thanked Saudi Arabia for decades of support for Lebanons institutions. He accused Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of seeking to take control of Lebanon. Lebanons coalition government includes Hezbollah.

France, Lebanons onetime colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate in the crisis between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Macron said that he was not offering Saad Hariri political exile but that it was paramount to dispel fears that Saudi Arabia had taken him prisoner.

Macron said the invitation was extended to Hariri after discussion between the two and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Lebanon's president had earlier accused Saudi Arabia of detaining Hariri, calling it an act of "aggression" and asking the U.N. Security Council and European governments to intervene. It was the first time

that Michel Aoun had described Hariri as a detainee since his Nov. 4 resignation.

 Associated Press

POLAND

E.U. moves to punish Warsaw prompt anger

Poland hit back Wednesday after the European Parliament launched action over concerns that the right-wing government in Warsaw has compromised the independence of the judiciary and risks breaching fundamental European values.

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo described the European Parliament move as scandalous.

In a resolution adopted 438 to 152, with 71 abstentions, the European lawmakers triggered the first stage of a rule-of-law procedure against the Polish government on Wednesday. The procedure could lead to the suspension of Polands E.U. voting rights.

The assemblys Civil Liberties Committee must draw up a legal proposal to formally request that the mechanism  Article 7  be activated because of a clear risk of a serious breach of E.U. values.

The E.U.s executive arm has already launched a procedure of its own amid concerns that new laws in Poland undermine judicial independence and the rule of law.

Polish officials argue that the ruling party has a democratic mandate to change its own countrys court system and that Brussels has no right to interfere in the affairs of sovereign nations.

The European Parliaments resolution called on Poland to act on several points, including to condemn a xenophobic and fascist march in Warsaw on Saturday that was organized by extremist far-right groups and included racist banners and slogans.

 Associated Press

Angolan president removes ex-leader's kin from key post: Angola's new leader, Joao Lourenco, has removed the daughter of former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos as chair of the state-owned oil company, the government announced in a surprise move that appeared to assert independence from one of Africa's longest-ruling families. Isabel dos Santos has been reported to be Africa's richest woman. Her father, who had

ruled Angola since 1979, stepped down this year.

Suicide bombers kill 14 in northern Nigeria: Police in Nigeria said four suicide bombers struck in the Borno state capital, killing 14 people and wounding 29. This was one of the largest such attacks in Maiduguri, the home of the Boko Haram insurgency, in years. A police spokesman said the two male and two female bombers targeted crowded parts of the Muna Gari suburb. Nigeria's military has made progress in combating Boko Haram, but the Islamist extremist group continues to carry out suicide attacks in Maiduguri and elsewhere.

Flash floods kill 14 on Athens outskirts: Flash floods on the fringes of Greece's capital killed at least 14 people, inundated homes and businesses, and knocked out a section of a major highway. The flooding came after a severe overnight storm brought driving rain to the area. A day earlier, authorities had declared a state of emergency on the small Aegean Sea island of Symi amid torrential rainfall.

 From news services
Columnist

It is time for us as journalists to come clean and to recognize the great debt our profession owes Bernie Bernstein.

After years of toiling in obscurity, Bernie gained national attention Tuesday when an Alabama pastor shared with a local TV station a voice mail left by Bernie. Hi, this is Bernie Bernstein. Im a reporter for The Washington Post calling to find out if anyone at this address is a female between the ages of 54 to 57 years old willing to make damaging remarks about candidate Roy Moore for a reward of between $5,000 and $7,000, it said. We will not be fully investigating these claims. However, we will make a written report.

This produced a rather harsh response from Marty Baron, The Posts executive editor, about the person falsely claiming to be from The Washington Post. The calls description of our reporting methods bears no relationship to reality. We are shocked and appalled that anyone would stoop to this level to discredit real journalism. A Post article about the episode piled on, alleging that there are no Washington Post reporters or editors named Bernie Bernstein, and a Post spokeswoman dutifully explained that there is an explicit policy that prohibits paying sources.

I understand my colleagues reluctance to admit that The Post gathers its news by making robo-calls and paying people to say bad things that we do not confirm.

That is why, for decades, Bernie Bernstein and his colleague Woody Woodward have toiled in The Posts basement, doing random-digit dialing, 10 hours a day, seven days a week. Bernie and Woody broke scoop after scoop, yet they were always hidden from view while others got the credit.

Until now. Bernie is speaking up. When I found Bernie in his windowless office Wednesday, he was distraught. I cant believe Marty said I dont exist! No relationship to reality? No Washington Post reporters or editors named Bernie Bernstein? I made this paper!

Indeed, you cant quarrel with success. Bernie and Woody broke the Watergate story, while upstairs their more telegenic colleagues Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein (no relation) got the glory. Woody and Bernie robo-called everybody in Washington and offered $1,000  it was cheaper back then  for anyone willing to make damaging remarks about Richard Nixon. They told Ben Bradlee that they would report the claims without fully investigating them, to which Bradlee replied, Im cool with that. In the movie All the Presidents Men, when Deep Throat says follow the money, he is in fact encouraging Bernie and Woody to offer more cash on their robo-calls.

Bernie says he was moved to become a robo-caller in his youth, when he heard inspiring stories about people being offered $20 a pop to make damaging remarks about President Franklin Roosevelt. (Most homes didnt have telephones back then, so the work was supplemented with robo-telegrams.)

Bernies first major triumph was the leak of the Pentagon Papers (often falsely credited to the New York Times). On one of his routine days of random-digit dialing, he reached Daniel Ellsberg and offered him $2,000 to say damaging things about Lyndon Johnson. Bernie was on his way. Iran Contra, Monica Lewinsky, black-site prisons, the Walter Reed Scandal: Bernies robo-calls brought them all to light.

Bernie caused great controversy within The Post in 2016, when he obtained the Access Hollywood tape and exposed the many failures at Trumps charities  work attributed to The Posts David Fahrenthold. When Bernie in his robo-calls offered $4,000 to any person willing to make damaging remarks about Donald Trump, the response was so large that the payments threatened to bankrupt The Post and owner Jeff Bezos.

Bernie told me Wednesday that he was particularly offended by Barons denials because of their long history. In 2001 and 2002, Baron, then editor of the Boston Globe, contracted with Bernie to make calls offering $3,000 to anybody willing to make damaging remarks about a Catholic priest. Bernies contribution produced the extraordinary journalism featured in the movie Spotlight  but, as with All the Presidents Men, Bernies role was edited out.

Even now, as Bernie pays Alabamians to say damaging things about Roy Moore, some colleagues want to keep him secret. It was long thought that the American public simply would not believe or accept that the great journalism of recent decades was accomplished by one unknown man in a basement, dialing random phone numbers and, in an exaggerated New York accent, offering cash for malice he promises not to corroborate.

But I think Bernies day has finally come  because people are ready and willing to believe just about anything. They certainly seem to be in Alabama.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbank's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
As a physician for more than 35 years with a large multiple sclerosis practice, I am more than familiar with the increasing challenges my patients face in accessing their critical treatments. And the Nov. 11 Economy & Business article "Pricey specialty drugs force seniors to make hard choices " accurately highlighted the incredible dilemma faced by seniors on Medicare who need expensive specialty medications to treat their illnesses. Access to medically necessary health care is critical for successful patient outcomes, yet it is often impeded or blocked by unaffordable deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance. For many Medicare beneficiaries, there are no limits on the amount of cost sharing.

However, the article left out an important part of the equation: Independent charitable patient- assistance foundations offer a critical safety net to the Medicare population and other underinsured individuals by paying for a portion of their out-of-pocket costs. Until there is a systemic fix to the problem of underinsurance, patient-assistance programs will continue to play an essential role in ensuring that hundreds of thousands of patients get the care they need.

Donald A. Barone, Washington

The writer is chairman of the Patient Access Network Foundation, a nonprofit funded in part by pharmaceutical companies that helps people pay for the out-of-pocket costs of their medications.
Income Tax Regulations books sit in the House Ways and Means Committee before the start of a markup hearing on the Tax Cut And Jobs Act in Washington on Nov. 9. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)

In his Nov. 12 op-ed, "The new repeal-and-replace," George F. Will said that the next "repeal-and-replace" target should be the tax code.

The current tax code has grown to an unwieldy muddle of revenue-collection and social-engineering functions that should be separated. If the people, through their representatives, see fit to subsidize child-bearing, homeownership, support of local governments or other charities, etc., they should issue a check to the deserving individuals under separate legislation. The amounts should not increase with individual income as they do under the current deduction scheme. If the overt payments would embarrass the proponents, so should the deductions.

Businesses should be free to conduct themselves without contortions needed to avert taxation; profits should be taxed only when they reach individuals (or are sent overseas). A single rate should be applied to all income; those deemed to be too poor to pay should receive an overt stipend. The rate should be set to balance revenue and spending, plus or minus a few percentage points depending on whether it is time to simulate the economy or to pay down the deficit.

Imagine the spending discipline that would follow if each years budget were announced as the (single) tax rate.

R.A. LeFande, Silesia

The Nov. 13 front-page article "Difficult decisions loom on tax cuts" mentioned that the Senate version of the GOP tax bill would add $1.5 trillion to the debt. Just to be clear, that $1.5 trillion is in addition to the already humongous deficit spending that is baked in the cake with existing spending and revenue projections.

When President Ronald Reagan's tax-reduction package passed in 1981, the total U.S. public debt was about 25 percent of gross domestic product. The projection by the Congressional Budget Office is that the House tax-reform bill would result in public debt of 97.1 percent of gross domestic product in 10 years.

Then-Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) was a key figure in the passage of legislation that embodied supply-side economics: Federal revenue would increase after a tax cut because of rapid economic growth. When the deficit instead increased in the wake of the Reagan tax cuts, Kemp said he did not "worship at the shrine of a balanced budget."

Given the current full-speed-ahead attitude of the Republicans in Congress to cut taxes, an appropriate update of the Kemp quote should be: Republicans now worship at the shrine of deficit spending.

John Plashal, Great Falls
SO INURED has this country become to mass shootings that when another person with a semiautomatic weapon goes on a rampage, we're conditioned to focus on reactions, rather than root causes. In the case of an incident in Northern California on Tuesday, we feel gratitude that quick action by school officials saved children's lives, that police acted heroically and that this time only five people were killed. Yet what ought to be foremost is rage at the refusal of lawmakers to take action that might prevent these needless tragedies  and a renewed demand for sensible gun-control regulations, including a ban on assault weapons and comprehensive background checks with better enforcement.

The latest carnage came just a little over a week after the slaughter of worshipers in a rural Texas church and just 45 days after 58 people at an outdoor music festival were gunned down in Las Vegas. In California, a gunman, having killed his wife the night before, went on a 25-minute shooting spree in which he killed neighbors with whom he had long quarrelled, shot randomly at people and stormed an elementary school. Five people died, and 10, including a child at the school and another on his way to school, were wounded.

Teachers and staff at Rancho Tehama Elementary who herded and locked children into classrooms must be commended. The same goes for the police who chased and killed the gunman. But that doesnt answer the question of why those quick-thinking teachers were forced to face such fearful circumstances or what needs to be done to prevent other children from feeling the terror of having to hide under their desks from gunfire.

The killer was known to authorities. He had been arrested in January and was out on bail on charges that he stabbed a neighbor. There was a restraining order against him. There had been complaints about him firing rounds for days before Tuesday's events. And there had been a call to police about domestic violence. Family members said he had a history of mental illness and episodes of rage. Yet there he was  a poster child for someone who shouldn't have guns  wearing a ballistic vest and equipped with at least a semiautomatic rifle and two handguns.

How did that occur? The shooter had been ordered by a court in April to surrender all his firearms. Was there a breakdown in the system? "There must be," the killer's sister said, "some gates on people like this from getting guns. This is the same story we're hearing more and more." Sadly, though, it is one that has yet to register with Congress.
A MILITARY coup in Zimbabwe may have ended  at last  the misrule of Robert Mugabe. The 93-year-old president was reported to be under house arrest Wednesday after the army sent troops into the streets of Harare in an apparent move to prevent him from installing his wife as his putative successor. Now the question is whether his removal can pull a once-prospering country from the ditch into which Mr. Mugabe drove it. Unfortunately, the prospects don't look good.

Mr. Mugabe was a hero of Zimbabwe's independence struggle and took power in 1980. But he wrecked his legacy with bloody campaigns of repression against opponents and the summary expropriation of white-owned farms, which destroyed the country's export business. Zimbabwe's economy nearly halved from 1998 to 2008, and unemployment rose past 80 percent; shortages of food and other basic goods haunt a population of about 14 million, many of whom have fled abroad. Opposition movements have been brutally repressed, and most elections have been rigged.

That horrific record, however, was not the reason for the military coup. Rather, it was Mr. Mugabe's firing last week of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was vying for control of the ruling party with Grace Mugabe, the president's wife. Ms. Mugabe has a reputation for lavish spending and erratic behavior, and the 75-year-old Mr. Mnangagwa has the support of army commander Constantino Chiwenga. But both men have a history of brutal behavior: Mr. Mnangagwa is blamed for the killing of some 20,000 civilians in the 1980s, while Mr. Chiwenga oversaw the bloody crackdown that followed Mr. Mugabe's loss in the first round of the 2008 election.

Many Zimbabweans and some in Western governments may welcome any change in the country after 37 years of Mr. Mugabe. Some reports suggest that Mr. Mnangagwa, if put in power, could reverse some of the regime's worst mistakes. A Reuters article in September, sourced to reports by the state intelligence agency, said he was contemplating forming a unity government with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and reaching out to dispossessed white farmers in a bid to revive the agricultural economy.

Mr. Mnangagwa is not, however, committed to competing in an election, according to the Reuters report. Given his notoriety and the dire state of the economy, he could easily lose a fair vote to Mr. Tsvangirai. Yet without an election that provides a genuine popular mandate, the chance for reforms that could revive the economy looks small.

Thats why the United States and other Western governments should insist on a prompt restoration of constitutional order and a firm commitment by the military to holding internationally supervised elections next year. The outside world has leverage, including potential help with Zimbabwes defaulted international debts. The end of Mr. Mugabes rule offers a fragile opportunity to rescue an African country  but only if it does not lead to the installation of another strongman.
Columnist

The GOP bill that should be called the Cut Taxes on President Trump and Other Very Rich People Act of 2017 always had a secondary purpose: to jack up the deficit so Republicans could later cry out in horror, "Look at that awful debt!" They would then use the pools of red ink they created to justify deep cuts in social programs.

But people who call themselves conservative are shoveling out so much money so fast to corporations and the privileged that they needed some health-care cuts upfront  at the expense of coverage for millions of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

And so on Tuesday, the Senate majority took an appalling bill and made it even more atrocious. To their ungainly concoction of tax breaks for the various interests that support them, they added the repeal of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, scrapping the mandate would reduce the number of Americans with health insurance by 13 million over a decade. To which the champions of redistributing money to the boardrooms and the yacht clubs say: Oh, goody!

This cutback in coverage would save the government $318 billion. The Republicans would use this money to pay part of the cost of making their corporate giveaways permanent, thus getting around budget rules. They also nudged up temporary personal income tax rate cuts and increased the child tax credit. The idea is to disguise just how much this bill tilts toward the wealthy.

It gets worse: The CBO says that ending the individual mandate would raise health insurance premiums by 10 percent  another way regular folks are being asked to cough up cash because of this bonanza for the well-heeled.

And while the child tax credit hike sounds good, it, too, helps the better-off more than lower-income Americans. Those who make less money can't qualify for most of the new increase because they tend to pay little in income taxes (even as they often pay significant payroll taxes).

As Sharon Parrott of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted, some 10 million children in low-income working families would get $75 or less. On the other hand, she said in an interview, a married couple with two children earning $500,000 would newly receive a full $4,000 child tax credit, even as many are getting additional tax cuts from other provisions.

Then there is this sleight of hand: While the Senate bill makes the corporate tax cut permanent, it sets all the proposed reductions for individuals to expire at the end of 2025. This artificially decreases the short-term costs of the bill. If those tax cuts did expire, Americans in large numbers would eventually see their taxes go up under this deal.

Lets take a step back and ponder the exceptional irresponsibility of whats transpiring here. The same people who complained that more than a year of hearings, analysis and debate around Obamacare constituted rushing the bill are now recklessly spiriting through the system a gigantic piece of legislation that would touch all corners of the American economy.

They are changing it willy-nilly, day by day, to accommodate this or that political problem. They are rationalizing their thrown-together product with false claims about everything from whom it will benefit to how it will affect the long-term deficit. They are using a tax bill to punish their political enemies (people in high-tax blue states, major universities, low-income Americans) and reward their friends and donors (corporations and the very affluent).

And the allegations of outrageous past conduct by Roy Moore, their Senate candidate in Alabama, and the shifting stories about all things Russian from Attorney General Jeff Sessions are consuming so much media energy that these truly radical policies and procedural abuses are floating by with minimal public scrutiny.

We are told that there still are responsible Republicans. It's to his credit that Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.), usually a reliable conservative, came out against the bill, citing its corporate bias. Sens. Bob Corker (Tenn.) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.) have said they are concerned about the deficits this tax bill would create. Sens. John McCain (Ariz.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) had the courage to block repeal of Obamacare. McCain has been especially eloquent about the need for "regular order."

Well, responsible Republicans, your time has come. You have the power to say a loud no to cavalier, partisan legislating; no to budgetary folly; no to wrecking the health-care law; and no to a bill that would impose real sacrifice on your constituents down the road. Yes, youll enrage your colleagues. But history will treat you better.

Read more from E.J. Dionne's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Contributing columnist

The trial of Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and his co-defendant Salomon Melgen has ended in a mistrial. It's just the latest instance in which a public corruption prosecution has fizzled, at least so far, leading some to question whether the Supreme Court has made it impossible to go after corrupt politicians. Over the nearly three-month trial, prosecutors presented what appeared to be a compelling case of political favors traded for trips on private jets, luxury vacations and hefty political donations. But in the end, a number of the jurors apparently had a reasonable doubt about the quid pro quo, the linchpin of any corruption case.

The political consequences of the mistrial are substantial. If Menendez had been convicted, there almost certainly would have been a firestorm over whether the Senate should move to expel him immediately to allow New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, to appoint his replacement. But now any potential retrial and conviction will be pushed well beyond January, when New Jersey's incoming Democratic governor will take office and inherit the appointment power. The chance of Menendez being replaced by a Republican as a result of the trial, which was always slim, is now nonexistent.

The legal consequences are less clear. It's difficult to generalize too much from a single outcome; corruption often is difficult to prove, and sometimes even a strong case can result in a hung jury. It may be tempting to see this as another casualty of the Supreme Court's recent decision in the Robert F. McDonnell case, where the court restricted the types of "official acts" that will support a bribery conviction. But although Menendez did seek to rely on McDonnell, this wasn't really an "official acts" case. Menendez's actions should have been sufficient to meet the McDonnell standard.

The key issue was not official acts but proof of corrupt intent or quid pro quo. Theres no doubt the jet travel and political donations took place, and no doubt that Menendez interceded on Melgens behalf in various matters. But neither of those things is illegal. It only becomes a crime if there is an agreement to exchange one for the other. And there are a few features of the case that undoubtedly contributed to the governments difficulty in proving that corrupt deal.

The defendants were helped by the fact they are longtime friends. When he was first indicted, Menendez accused prosecutors of not knowing the difference between friendship and corruption. Although, as prosecutors pointed out, friends can certainly commit crimes together, the undisputed, long friendship between the two men gave jurors a possible alternative explanation for both Melgens gifts and Menendezs efforts.

The prosecution was also hampered by the lack of a smoking gun. There was no killer email clearly describing the quid pro quo, no freezer full of illicit cash. And perhaps most significantly, there was no cooperating witness.

Often the best way to prove a corrupt deal is to have one of the parties to that deal testify about it. In the McDonnell case, for example, the man accused of bribing the former Virginia governor was granted immunity and testified for several days as the government's star witness. With the benefit of testimony from one party to the corrupt agreement, the jury readily found McDonnell guilty.

In this case the government likely was hoping that Melgen would agree to cut a deal and cooperate by testifying against Menendez. The pressure on Melgen to do so was intense, particularly after he was convicted in a separate Medicare fraud case in Florida in the spring. But Melgen stayed mum. Without his testimony, the government was forced to rely on a timeline of gifts and official acts to ask the jury to infer a corrupt deal. That's a more difficult task and one that leaves plenty of room for the defense to inject reasonable doubt.

A series of Supreme Court decisions over the past two decades has made prosecuting public corruption more difficult. The court has tightened up the requirements for bribery and has cut back on more expansive corruption theories such as "honest services fraud." But the reality is that corruption cases have always been challenging because proving corrupt intent requires proving what was going on in someone's mind. That hurdle becomes even higher when prosecutors are trying to prove intent largely through circumstantial evidence, as in this case.

Prosecutors now have to decide whether they will retry the case. They will take into account any information they can glean from the jurors and reevaluate their position and perhaps their presentation. Typically, prosecutors will try at least one more time if their fundamental belief in the case has not been shaken. Yet as Thursdays mistrial shows, while things can look sleazy and fail to pass the smell test, it can still be difficult to convince a unanimous jury beyond a reasonable doubt that conduct crossed the line from merely sleazy to criminal.
Meredith Cooper, of San Antonio, Texas, and her 8-year-old daughter, Heather, visit a memorial of 26 metal crosses near First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Monday Nov. 6, 2017. The gunman of a deadly shooting at the small-town Texas church had a history of domestic violence. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Rachel Louise Snyder is an associate professor at American University and author of the forthcoming book "No Visible Bruises: How What We Dont Know About Violence Can Kill Us."

In 2012, while stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, Devin Patrick Kelley assaulted his wife and stepson. Kelley was subsequently convicted of domestic violence and released early from the Air Force.

One important detail of the attack: In addition to fracturing the childs skull and hitting and kicking his wife, Kelley strangled her. If the particular severity of his violence had been better understood and recognized in New Mexico, 26 people, including a 17-month-old baby named Noah, might not have been killed in Sutherland Springs, Tex., this month.

Strangulation inhabits a category all its own in domestic violence as a marker of lethality. A kick, a punch, a slap, a bite  none of these, though terrible, portend homicide like strangulation does. And while the link between mass shooters and domestic violence is increasingly recognized in the public arena, articles and op-eds, strangulation as a specific sign of lethality in the context of domestic violence remains largely unknown.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission recognized strangulation as a marker of dangerousness in a 2014 report and recommended increased prison time  up to 10 years  for those convicted of it. Indeed, 45 states now recognize strangulation as a felony. New Mexico, where Kelley was convicted, is not one of them.

Kelley, as we know now, served just one year for the assault on his wife and stepchild, after which he was discharged from the Air Force for bad conduct.

Bad conduct is going 80 in a 55 mph zone. Bad conduct is cutting down your neighbors azaleas or flirting with your colleagues wife. Bad conduct is not engaging in an act so violent that it could take the life of another human being.

Omar Mateen , the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooter, had also choked both his wives and was never charged, let alone prosecuted. He and Kelley should not have had access to guns, true enough, but more to the point, they should have been behind bars.

The list goes on. Take Cedric Ford , who in 2016 fatally shot three of his co-workers and injured 14 others in Kansas, but prior to that was charged only with misdemeanor domestic violence for choking his ex. Then there's Esteban Santiago. He killed five and injured six in a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale Airport early this year. He, too, had been charged with a misdemeanor after strangling his ex. (Kevin Neal, who killed his wife and four other people in Northern California this past week, had a history of domestic violence, though it's not clear if that included strangulation.)

Gael Strack, chief executive of the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention in San Diego, says the mere presence of strangulation in a situation of domestic abuse increases the chances of homicide sevenfold. It is a clear trajectory from escalating violence to homicide, of which strangulation is the penultimate act. Statistically, we know that once the hands are on the neck, the very next step is homicide, Strack said. They dont go backwards.

Casey Gwinn, president of the Alliance for Hope International and a co-founder of the Training Institute for Strangulation Prevention along with Strack, wrote in an email to me that Kelley was a rage-filled domestic violence strangler and child abuser who had left every possible lethality marker for a mass shooter we know of in plain sight.

[He didnt hit me. It was still abuse.]

Yet strangulation, as a signal of dangerousness, is not only overlooked by most law enforcement officers and prosecutors, its not always recognized by health-care workers. Symptoms can appear days or months afterward. Victims are regularly released from emergency rooms without undergoing CT scans or MRIs. Most strangulation injuries are not visible enough to photograph, and police often dont know to look for other signs  including urination, slurred speech, redness around the eyes or scalp, a hoarse voice or trouble swallowing . As a result, injuries are played down in police reports and commonly noted as mere scratches or redness around the neck, according to a study by Strack of 300 nonfatal strangulation cases. Many victims have poor recall of events  often a result of loss of consciousness from the strangulation. In fact, a person can be strangled in less than 12 seconds and never stop breathing.

It wasnt that Kelley operated under the radar; it was that authorities failed to see and then act on the clues he was leaving.

So, while were offering up theories as to Kelleys motives  he was an atheist, he was a liberal, he was mentally ill, he was a loner, he was a weirdo  we can also consider this single fact: He was a strangler.

He was a strangler whose violent act was described as choking in the report on his 2012 assault. Law enforcement officers may not have known about strangulation as a marker of dangerousness the night they were called to his home. Or they may not have known how to look for the signs of strangulation. Perhaps they had never been trained. Perhaps they dismissed the call as just another domestic in a long string of frustrating domestics. Whatever happened that night, because Kelley was not charged with nonfatal strangulation as a felony, he was not prosecuted accordingly. And because he was not prosecuted accordingly, he was not sentenced to the 10 years he could and should have gotten in prison, where he would remain today. And because he was not in prison, he was out in the world with the rest of us: a dangerous man, legally free and simmering.

Twitter: @RLSWrites

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Eastern Montana landowners would bear their share of the states firefighting preparation costs under a new tax that would also help offset some of the 2017 budget shortfall.

House Bill 4 would raise about $16.6 million in new property taxes from landowners whose property was protected by state firefighters. Many parts of western Montana already pay these firefighting preparedness fees, contributing about $3.6 million to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

But an unexpectedly severe fire season put another $13 million dent in the state general fund. DNRC Director John Tubbs said the new assessment would transfer those costs to property owners who receive the protection but arent paying for it.

It is a sea change in how we do fire assessments in the state, Tubbs told the House Appropriations Committee on Monday. The 2017 fire season reflects the statewide nature of the problem. We had fires in all 56 counties of Montana.

But only 35 counties have elected locally to have fire districts that can raise money to train and staff DNRC firefighters outside areas protected by municipal fire departments. HB 4 would make that assessment statewide, charging any private property owner not covered by a fire district a sliding fee per parcel.

The fire assessment fees in the western side of the state pay for one-third of the fire preparedness costs of DNRC, Sen. Chas Vincent, R-Libby, said in support of the bill. But those resources are used statewide. That works OK when you have an average fire season. When you have season like this year, with activity on both sides of the state, it leaves DNRC in a heck of a position.

Western county fire districts already cap their assessments at $45 a parcel. The new base charge would be $21 per parcel over 15 acres. Properties with forest land would pay an additional $21, and those with residential or commercial buildings would also pay another $21. So a property with both forest and buildings would pay three times the base rate.

Tubbs said that reflects the different costs of defending grassland, timberland and structures. It also amounts to a tax break for large western timber owners whove been supporting DNRCs statewide firefighting effort.

With the Lolo Peak fire, all the fire protection was based 500 feet from where the houses were, Tubbs said. We let the timber burn, but boy we protected every one of those structures except for two (homes that burned down). Were spending a lot of money protecting those dwellings. Large timber-forested owners are getting a tax break with this. But if youre an eastern Montana landowner and youve never paid an assessment, youre getting a very expensive bill.

Montana Wood Products Association Director Julia Altemus said Montana timber companies have lost millions of dollars worth of trees to forest fires. The organization supported the bill, she said, with reservations.

Fire preparedness has been on backs of western timberland owners, Altemus told the committee. But were not sure this is time or place to make that huge a change. There needs to be a bigger and broader breadth of conversation than whats here this morning.

Rep. Ken Holmlund, R-Miles City, introduced House Bill 4 at Gov. Steve Bullocks request. It passed out of committee on Monday and survived a first reading Tuesday on the House floor. Holmlund said he would probably add an amendment giving the 2019 full legislative session another look at the policy before it becomes permanent.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday proposed a sweeping expansion of workplace protections in Congress  a direct response to the recent groundswell of claims about unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate comments and other misconduct on Capitol Hill.

The bill comes a day after a public hearing in which female lawmakers described sexual harassment as a pervasive problem and suggested current members of Congress have engaged in misconduct.

The measure, the Member and Employee Training and Oversight On Congress Act, or ME TOO Congress Act, aims to make the complaint-filing process less cumbersome for legislative employees. It would also make public the names of employing congressional offices that paid out settlements in harassment or discrimination cases. Employees no longer would be bound by confidentiality requirements or required to go through mediation.

The legislation would also require members of Congress to pay for harassment claim settlements out of their own budgets rather than the current source  a special fund in the U.S. Treasury.

[How Congress plays by different rules on sexual harassment and misconduct]

For all intents and purposes, a staffer in the Capitol is powerless and gagged . . . Today, we are going to end all of that, said Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), co-sponsor of the House legislation and an outspoken critic of the current system. Speier has publicly described being forcibly kissed by a chief of staff when she was a congressional employee.

The bill aims to restore some of the worker protections that Congress exempted for itself more than two decades ago through the 1995 Congressional Accountability Act, which imposed a range of civil rights, labor and worker-safety laws on Capitol Hill for the first time.

Under the current process, claimants are bound by strict confidentiality requirements and must undergo mediation to try to resolve the claim out of court or an administrative hearing. Worker protections do not apply to interns and fellows, and legislative employees do not have the same whistleblower protection as federal-agency employees do.

The effect, some lawmakers and advocates say, is a system in which victims are silenced and it is difficult to hold perpetrators accountable.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has said the House will adopt a policy change to make anti-harassment training mandatory for all members and staff. Last week, Senate for the first time in its history required members and their aides to receive anti-harassment training.

Its unclear how much support there will be for the legislation, which was introduced by Speier, along with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.), Ann Kuster (D-N.H.) and Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine).

But in recent weeks, Congress has come under pressure to improve working conditions on the Hill.

In examining it [the current system], you come away understanding that the system is set up to protect the perpetrator, not the victim, said Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.). So thats an old-boys-club set of rules. That needs to be completely done away with and a whole new system set up.

Other lawmakers said recent claims about misconduct have forced a new conversation about harassment.

I think theres some awareness that what has been common practice for some period of time may not in the light of day be acceptable to the broader public, said Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.).

Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.), said the attitude toward sexual harassment and assault claims is shifting in Congress to take it more seriously than ever before, but that there has not yet been a clear change among her colleagues about how to fix the problem.

"I can't say that anything has changed overnight," said Sanchez. "I think certainly among the men that I've spoken to, they've always known that it exists, but I don't think that they had an idea of how widespread it is across industries. So I think people's attitudes are changing. And I'm hopeful that the process for reporting this and dealing with this effectively improves because of it."

More than 1,500 former congressional employees have signed a letter urging Congress to require anti-harassment training and to overhaul the reporting process, which advocates say is stacked against the victim and designed to protect the institution.

Congress should never play by its own set of rules. As elected officials, we should be held to the highest standards  not to the lowest, Gillibrand said.

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.

Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report.
Kayla Moore participates in the Mid-Alabama Republican Clubs Veterans Day Program last week. She has fiercely defended her husband, Roy Moore, as he runs for the U.S. Senate. (Marvin Gentry/Reuters)

Hours after a tearful Alabama woman accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her nearly 40 years ago, the former judge gathered with supporters at a volunteer fire department near his home in northeastern Alabama to label the allegations absolutely false.

By his side, as always, was his wife of 32 years, Kayla Moore. But this time, she spoke up.

He has never one time lifted a finger to me. He is the most gentle, most kind man that I have ever known in my life. Hes godly. Hes loving  and everybody in this community knows it, Kayla Moore, 56, said, looking around at the people gathered that night. These are our church members, these are our family, these are our friends, these are people that know him just like I do.

Over the past week, as several women have come forward to publicly accuse Roy Moore, 70, of pursuing them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, Kayla Moore has become her husband's most visible and aggressive defender. In addition to her defense on Monday night, she has used Facebook to question the credibility of her husband's accusers, threaten lawsuits and spread information that sometimes turns out to be false.

This is a new role for Moore, who until now has been happy to yield the national stage to her husband, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge who was removed from the court twice, first for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from courthouse grounds and then for encouraging state probate judges to disregard the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed same-sex marriage.

She rarely injects herself into the political fray, said Mat Staver, the founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel who represented Moore in an ethics trial when he was most recently suspended from the court. Her demeanor is more supportive than vocal.

[Woman says Roy Moore initiated sexual encounter when she was 14, he was 32]

Staver and others who know the Moores well say the accusations against the former judge don't match the man they have known for decades. As a growing number of prominent Republicans have called for him to drop out of the race in the face of allegations of sexual misconduct, defending Moore has fallen chiefly to those closest to him  especially his wife.

Friends describe Kayla Moore as a deeply religious wife, mother and grandmother who has devoted her life to her family and gushes lovingly about her four children and five grandchildren. She served on the board of her husbands Foundation for Moral Law, which he founded to promote Christian values, and then took over the nonprofit as president in January 2013, when Roy Moore was elected to a second term on the state Supreme Court.

For years, Moore has helped coordinate her husbands political campaigns. In his race for the Senate this year, the two have traveled nearly everywhere together  with him often at the wheel as she navigates.

During these stressful times . . . she remains steadfast and passionate, said Jessie Deem, who is Kayla Moores executive assistant at the Foundation for Moral Law, and shes very strong in her faith, and she never wavers from that.

Kayla Moore did not respond to a request for an interview sent through a campaign spokesman. She has forcefully pushed back against the scrutiny her husband has faced during this campaign.

Upon learning that Washington Post reporters were contacting people she knows for this article, Moore on Wednesday posted one of the reporters personal cellphone numbers on her Facebook page, and a commenter posted a copy of that reporters resume, which included her home address. Later in the day, Moore posted a link to the campaign website where people can now report any interaction they have with a reporter.

In the past month our hometown, county, and state have been invaded by the Washington Post and liberal media, Moore wrote. We have had numerous reports of phone calls, cellphone calls, Messages, emails, even to the point of them showing up at peoples houses . . . Its called a witch hunt. We are filing suit.

In an extensive report published last week, The Post detailed allegations that Roy Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl nearly four decades ago when he was in his early 30s and pursued three other girls around the same time who were between the ages of 16 and 18.

None of the women sought out The Post. While reporting a story in Alabama about supporters of Moores Senate campaign, a Post reporter heard that Moore allegedly had sought relationships with teenage girls.

Over the ensuing three weeks, two Post reporters contacted and interviewed the four women. All were initially reluctant to speak publicly but chose to do so after multiple interviews, saying they thought it was important for people to know about their interactions with Moore. The women say they don't know one another.

The Moores met at a church Christmas party in December 1984 in Alabamas Etowah County, where they both grew up and lived. He was 37 and worked at a local law firm. She was then known as Kayla Kisor, a 23-year-old former beauty pageant contestant with a 1-year-old daughter who had just separated from her husband, Chuck Heald, who died in 2002.

At the party, Roy Moore read aloud a holiday poem he had written but was distracted by Kisor, who attended with her mother. He recognized her and wondered if she was the same woman he had watched dance in a recital at Gadsden State Junior College years earlier.

It was something I had never forgotten, Moore wrote in his 2005 autobiography So Help Me God. Anxious to meet her, I began with the line, Havent we met somewhere before? I dont think so, she replied.

Kisor was not interested in a relationship at that point, Moore wrote, but they met again early the next year when she visited the law firm where he worked.

I was the only attorney available, Moore wrote. And I was very available! We began to date soon after that.

Kisor filed for divorce on Dec. 28, 1984, according to court records, and her divorce was finalized on April 19, 1985. The Moores married on Dec. 14, 1985.

Roy Moore loves telling the story of how he proposed, said Allen Mendenhall, who worked as Moores staff attorney at the state Supreme Court and is now the associate dean of the Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.

He was bashful about popping the question, and said, Well, would ya?  Mendenhall said in an email. Would I what? she asked, forcing him to formulate the operative words. You know, he said, marry me. 

The newlyweds lived in the partially finished home that Moore was building  which for the first few years of their marriage did not have a kitchen, forcing Kayla Moore to cook on an electric plate in the washroom, Moore wrote in his book.

Kayla did a remarkable job transforming my cold, uninviting house into a warm, comfortable home, Moore wrote.

The Moores had their first child, Roy Ory Moore, in July 1987  followed by Caleb in 1990 and Micah in 1993. In 1992, Roy Moore was appointed as a circuit court judge, and in 1994, he won an election to keep the position. In 2000, he was elected to the state Supreme Court for the first time. He was removed in 2003. In 2012, he was elected a second time and then was removed in 2016. Along the way, Kayla Moore was always by his side.

We do everything together, Kayla Moore said in an interview with Breitbart News this month. It was just me and him. . . . We were always together. Always together.

As the president of the foundation, Kayla Moore became more politically active on her own. In February 2016, she endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) in the GOP presidential primaries because of his stances on small government, abortion and marriage. She has also given speeches defending her husbands actions on the court, opposing same-sex marriage and calling for legislation that will block transgender individuals from using the bathroom of their choice.

In April 2017, Roy Moore stood on the steps of the state capitol and announced he would run for the Senate seat Jeff Sessions vacated to become President Trump's attorney general. Kayla Moore stood to his right, holding a bouquet of red roses. In a brief speech, he acknowledged that campaigning and moving to Washington is "hard, you know, on your spouse." Moore and his wife have repeatedly questioned why the media are scrutinizing him and why damaging reports are coming out so soon before the special election on Dec. 12.

On Facebook, she has attacked Gloria Allred, the prominent womens rights lawyer who is representing Beverly Young Nelson, who accused Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her in the late 1970s behind the restaurant where she was a waitress, the Old Hickory House, when she was 16. Kayla Moore posted a photo of Allred holding a sign that reads I support transgender equality and then wrote: Gloria Allred; what its really about!

And Moore has posted articles  often from little-known blogs with names like Activist Mommy and USA News Magazine  that aim to refute some of the details from the accusers statements, often with unsubstantiated and flimsy evidence.

Each time Moore posts, she receives a wave of positive messages, promises of prayers and other tidbits of unconfirmed information.

These things are false, and its ugly, Moore said at the end of her brief comments at the firehouse on Monday evening. Its the ugliest politics that Ive ever been in, in my life.

Alice Crites and Michael Scherer contributed to this report.
Senators usually on opposite sides of the gun-control debate are teaming up on bipartisan legislation to improve the national background-check system by increasing how often states and federal agencies report offenses that would legally prohibit individuals from buying a firearm.

Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.) are the main forces behind the legislation, which Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also played a role in crafting. The trio is expecting to pull more Republican support for their measure before formally releasing it.

Their bill is narrow in its focus, reiterating and reinforcing the requirement that federal agencies report all infractions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and creating financial incentives for states to do so as well.

The deficiencies of the NICS database have come into sharp focus since it was revealed that a 2014 domestic violence conviction should have prevented the shooter in this months fatal attack on a church in Sutherland Springs, Tex., from buying a firearm. But the Air Force never reported the conviction to the background-check system.

The problem isnt confined to the military: The NICS database is missing millions of such records, according to an estimate by the National Rifle Association, citing a 2013 report from the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics that found at least 25% of felony convictions . . . are not available.



Sen. Chris Murphy D-Conn.) is part of a bipartisan team writing legislation to improve reporting infractions to the national criminal background check system. (Kristoffer Tripplaar/For The Washington Post)

What our bill does is it attempts to fix that both at the federal level and provide additional incentives to the local states, Cornyn said Wednesday. It may be as simple as just getting them to do what theyre already required to do.

[FBI database for gun buyers missing millions of records]

Federal agencies are required to report various felonies, indictments and other crimes  including domestic assaults  into the federal database, but Congress has no power to compel states to do the same. The Murphy-Cornyn legislation would offer direct financial incentives, as well as favorable future access to other federal assistance programs, to states that report infractions into the system.

Cornyn offered to work with Murphy on the measure last week, after Murphy complained on the Senate floor about Congress's inaction in the wake of mass shootings, stressing that lawmakers must at least be able to fix the background-check system to reflect existing law.

Murphy has been one of Congresss most vocal advocates for expanding background checks and other gun-control measures since he joined the Senate just a few weeks after a shooter killed 26 teachers and schoolchildren at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his home state. Cornyn, on the other hand, is considered a reliable ally of the NRA. Their partnership suggests a broad coalition could form around the bill.

But Congress has had difficulty joining forces around gun-control legislation, even when lawmakers in both parties believe regulation is needed. Last month, in the wake of a mass shooting that killed 58 concertgoers in Las Vegas, Republican and Democratic lawmakers called for a restriction on bump stocks  the attachment that can turn a semiautomatic weapon into a nearly automatic firearm. But the effort to consider a bill has faltered  and an opening Judiciary Committee hearing on the matter has been delayed until December.

The Senates appetite for addressing Cornyn, Murphy and Blumenthals bill may be somewhat better, as the NRA has long been clamoring for the federal government to do a better job of enforcing existing gun laws before they discuss expanding them. But the forthcoming bills authors do not appear to want to take any chances that their efforts run aground: Blumenthal said the senators are trying to expedite the measure to the Senate floor, instead of putting it through the Judiciary Committee.

They are not the only senators to propose gun legislation in the wake of the Sutherland Springs shooting. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) responded to the event with a bill requiring the military to report domestic violence misdemeanors to the NICS database, even if they are classified under a general assault category in the military; Blumenthal said Wednesday that he is also working on a bill directing a rewrite the Uniform Code of Military Justice so that domestic violence cases are catalogued as separate from other assaults and reported to the NICS database as such.

Several senators have also called for the military to conduct a thorough review of its reporting policies. On Wednesday, Flake, Heinrich and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) also called on the Defense Department to publicize statistics about the number of unreported domestic violence cases that have gone unreported to the NICS database since 2007. To date, the military has reported only one domestic violence offense into the system.

Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost


Jared Kushner, senior adviser and son-in-law to President Trump, attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Nov. 1. (Reynold/Epa-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock)

Editors Note An earlier version of this story published on Nov. 16, 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 Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, received and forwarded emails about a Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite during last years campaign that he kept from Senate Judiciary Committee investigators, according to lawmakers demanding that he produce the missing records.

Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking Democratic member Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) sent a letter Thursday to Abbe Lowell, Kushners attorney, charging that Kushner has failed to disclose several documents, records and transcripts in response to multiple inquiries from committee investigators.

Lowell disputed the committees characterization of Kushners compliance, saying Thursday that he has been responsive to all requests and provided the Judiciary Committee with all relevant documents.

In their letter, Grassley and Feinstein instruct Kushners team to turn over several documents that are known to exist because other witnesses in their probe already gave them to investigators. The correspondence include a series of September 2016 messages to Kushner concerning WikiLeaks, the website that published hacked Democratic emails at the height of the campaign. The committee leaders say Kushner had forwarded those messages to another campaign official. Earlier this week, Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. revealed that he had had direct communication with WikiLeaks through private Twitter messages during the campaign.

[Donald Trump Jr. communicated with WikiLeaks during 2016 campaign]

Committee leaders said Kushner also withheld from the committee documents concerning a Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite  that he had forwarded to other campaign officials. And they said that Kushner had been made privy to communications with Sergei Millian  a Belarusan American businessman who claims close ties to the Trumps  but failed to turn those records over to investigators.

Spokesmen for Grassley and Feinstein did not offer any additional information about the missing records when asked about them.

According to two people familiar with the exchanges, in one of the disputed emails Rick Clay, a conservative Iraq War contractor, passed on a request for Kushner or other campaign officials to meet with people connected to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kushner told a campaign aide to take a pass. Kushner wrote that he feared people exaggerated their connections and could later brag about access to the Trump campaign, these people said.

No meeting happened, at Kushners direction, according to the people familiar with the exchanges. Maria Butina, a Russian gun rights activist, was part of a group that sought Clays help in arranging a meeting with the campaign in June 2016 to discuss persecution of Christians around the world.

Clay later said they made the right call in turning down the meeting.

The second email is one that Donald Trump Jr. forwarded to Kushner and other top aides, the two people said, after he received a direct message from the WikiLeaks twitter account in September 2016.

In their letter, Grassley and Feinstein complained that Kushner had withheld additional information.

You also have not produced any phone records that we presume exist and would relate to Mr. Kushners communications, they wrote.

Grassley and Feinstein demanded that Kushner comply with their request for documents by Nov. 27 but stopped short of issuing a formal threat to subpoena those records if Kushner misses the deadline.

Lowell said he and Kushner will be open to responding to any additional requests.

Kushners team last supplied documents to the committee Nov. 3, according to Grassley and Feinstein, who stressed that what they received appears to be incomplete. They noted that their letter was an effort to clarify the scope of the committees request, after Lowell asked for more details about precisely what the committee was seeking.

In addition to the emails and records that Grassley and Feinstein noted as missing, the Judiciary Committee is waiting for Kushner to turn over promised transcripts from his interview with other committees. Kushner has spoken with investigators from both the Senate and House intelligence committees, who are probing Russias interference in the 2016 election, but has not met with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[Kushner questioned by Senate investigators on Russia]

Grassley and Feinstein also wrote that Kushners team should produce his security clearance forms, which Kushner had to update on more than one occasion because he left out contacts with foreign individuals. Kushners team has argued that the forms are confidential.

The committee leaders also expressed general frustration that Kushners team had left out communications about individuals they had identified when asking Kushner to turn over his records.

Finally, the committee leaders asked Kushners team to search for a series of records of communications with and about former national security adviser Michael Flynn, including any that Flynn may have simply been copied on involving many of the Russian individuals and businesses that were known to have contact with members of Trumps campaign team.

Read more at PowerPost
President Trump takes a drink of water as he speaks about his trip to Asia on Wednesday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Senate Republicans turned to President Trump on Wednesday in hopes he would join their urgent attempt to force GOP nominee Roy Moore out of the Senate race in Alabama following allegations of sexual misconduct  but Trump did not oblige.

Instead, back in Washington after a 12-day Asia trip, Trump was silent on Moore, who has been accused by two women of initiating unwanted sexual encounters when Moore was in his 30s and they were 14 and 16. Moore has denied the allegations.

His daughter Ivanka Trump, however, voiced confidence in Moores accusers and said there is a special place in hell for people who prey on children in comments to the Associated Press. She did not call for Moore to step aside.

In Alabama, Moore showed no signs he was preparing to bow out. His campaign sought to discredit one of his previous accusers at a hastily announced afternoon news conference where officials took no questions.

On Twitter, Moore sought to align himself with the president, charging that the same forces that tried to defeat Trump as a presidential candidate in 2016 are now trying to beat Moore with lies and smears.

Moore said in a statement issued Wednesday night: Are we at a stage in American politics in which false allegations can overcome a public record of 40 years, stampede the media and politicians to condemn an innocent man, and potentially impact the outcome of an election of national importance?

His Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, told reporters in Alabama that the statements made by the women up in Etowah County have much more credibility than the denials, whether by Roy Moore himself or by his handlers.

After days of forcefully repudiating Moore and urging him to withdraw to no avail, Senate Republican leaders increasingly see Trump as pivotal to restoring some order to a race that has spiraled quickly out of their control. Republicans are now at risk of either losing a seat to Democrats that has long been in GOP hands or being saddled with a deeply controversial figure in their ranks.

I think hes in a position to exercise a good amount of influence on the race down there, Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the third-ranking Republican senator, said in reference to Trump.

Thune added that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is of a mind that the president could be influential. McConnell and Trump spoke by phone Wednesday.

[Even as Hannity and Limbaugh waver on Roy Moore, Breitbart and Bannon hold on]

Trump did not respond to questions from reporters about Moore after touting his Asia trip at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The president sidestepped questions about Moore during his travels.



Senate candidate Roy Moore speaks at a church revival Tuesday in Jackson, Ala. (Brynn Anderson/AP)

After The Washington Post reported on the first accusations last Thursday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president believes that if the allegations are true, Moore "will do the right thing and step aside."

The White House consented to the Republican National Committee pulling out of a joint fundraising committee with Moore's campaign and, according to one administration official, discussions about Moore's campaign have been ongoing among White House officials since Trump returned from Asia.

But there is consensus among senior White House aides that the president is in a bind. If he publicly calls on him to withdraw and Moore demurs  or, worse for Trump, wins the race nevertheless  the president could suffer another embarrassment in Alabama. Yet continued silence from Trump may not be tenable.

There are no good options, said one White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

A person close to former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon said that the Breitbart chief believes Moores denials and still supports him. But Bannons circle has also made clear that this support hinges on a continued belief that Moore is innocent of any inappropriate relationships with teenagers and could change in the future.

Inside the West Wing, presidential advisers believe that every time McConnell calls on Moore to withdraw, he may be motivating voters in Alabama to, as one official put it, raise a collective middle finger to Washington. Trumps advisers worry that condemnations from the president could only exacerbate the dynamic.

There is another risk for Trump. If he were to say that he believes the womens accusations, as McConnell and others have done, it would raise comparisons with the sexual harassment accusations that he has faced and denied.

[@PKCapitol: Senator Doug Jones? It could happen.]

This week, Republican senators have been asked about the allegations against Trump, creating discomfort and redirection efforts.

Were talking about a situation in Alabama, McConnell said Tuesday when asked if he believes the women who have accused Trump. And Id be happy to address that.

Still, some Republican senators think that Trump could be helpful in persuading key GOP officials in Alabama to turn on Moore. Many local leaders have defended him, in sharp contrast to the response in Washington.

Hes the head of the party, said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.). Yeah, itd probably be good if hed say something.

On social media, Moore seemed to be lobbying Trump by comparing his situation with what the president faced last year.

The Republicans and Democrats who did everything they could to stop Donald Trump and elect Hillary Clinton are the very same people who are now trying to take us down with lies and smears, he wrote on Twitter.

At a news conference in Birmingham, Ala., where members of the state GOP were meeting to discuss the race, Moore campaign attorney Phillip Jauregui raised questions about the validity of accusations that Beverly Young Nelson made against Moore this week.

Nelson, now 56, accused Moore 70, of sexually assaulting her and bruising her neck in the late 1970s when she was 16 years old. In a news conference, she showed a copy of her high school yearbook that she said Moore signed on Dec. 22, 1977, with the inscription, "To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say 'Merry Christmas.' " It was signed, "Love, Roy Moore D.A."

Pending a review of the yearbook, Jauregui said it was possible that the signature had been copied by a forger. He called for Nelson and her attorney to send the yearbook to a neutral custodian so a handwriting expert could inspect it.

[Analysis: Roy Moores defense attorney offers bizarre defense]

Moore, according to Jauregui, had never signed D.A. after his name, but had an assistant with those initials who would write them in Moores documents.

On his radio show Wednesday, conservative host Sean Hannity  who had said Tuesday he would call for Moore to quit the race unless he proved the allegations wrong within 24 hours  said the candidate had been smart to ask for a forensics test.

Hes now basically throwing it in the hands of science, Hannity said.

It is too late to remove Moores name from the ballot in the Dec. 12 special election. But if the state Republican Party were to disqualify him, they could prevent any votes for him from being certified. There have been no signs so far that party officials are willing to do that.

Senate Republican leaders have singled out Attorney General Jeff Sessions as someone who could wage a competitive write-in campaign. But Sessions has shown no public interest in the prospect, and people in his orbit have batted down the idea.

GOP leaders in Washington are increasingly concerned about the limited options before them. The National Republican Senatorial Committee conducted a poll this week showing support weakening, with Moore trailing Jones by 51 percent to 39 percent, according to findings shared by a Republican familiar with the survey. The survey was conducted Nov. 12-13 among 500 registered voters reached by live interviews on landline and mobile phones.

The Post reported last week that Leigh Corfman alleged that Moore initiated a sexual encounter with her when she was 14 and he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney. Moore has denied the accusation.

In addition, several other women interviewed by The Post in recent weeks said Moore pursued them when they were teenagers and young women and he was in his early 30s, episodes they said they found flattering at the time but troubling as they got older. None of the three women said Moore forced them into any sort of relationship or sexual contact.

Anne Gearan, Michael Scherer and Mike DeBonis contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost


Yvette Freeman, a real estate developer, restored an early 1900s vintage townhouse with some unusual features. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Yvette Freeman is a haunter of flea markets, where she picks forsaken treasures out of the trash, but she also has a day job.

Im a real estate developer who just happens to be a designer who owns a furniture store, she says. One of Freemans current areas of interest is the Northwest Washington neighborhood of Bloomingdale. Her restored treasures now include an early 1900s vintage townhouse with some unusual features.

Freeman bought the house the way real estate pros do things  very creatively.

The house was not on the market, Freeman, 47, says. We had made six or seven other offers on properties, and it didnt work out. I saw permits in the window of this house, and, being in the business, thats what Im looking for.

Freeman walked onto the job site of a renovation project in progress and smelled an opportunity. She chatted up the construction crew, found out the house was being fixed to flip and contacted the owner about buying it as it stood, before the renovations were complete.

At the time, she was living in a nearby apartment in Bloomingdale, after selling her home in the Palisades neighborhood. Freeman is co-owner of District Design + Development (D3) based in D.C., and had been focusing on properties in Bloomingdale because she wanted to live where the action is. The developer who owned the house and Freeman came to terms, and a deal was struck with a sale price of $1,085,000.

[Luxe sheds put a little serenity in the back yard of a crowded house]

Then, the challenges came.

The other real estate developers had started working on the house and butchered it up pretty badly, she said, adding that she trusted the skeleton built by famed D.C. developer Harry Wardman. They hadnt done any of the mechanical or electrical work to code. When we bought the house, we went back to the studs and started over, because none of it had been permitted.

1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  How to upgrade a vintage Wardman townhouse with style View Photos A homeowner modernized a 1900s Bloomingdale property with an addition and open floor plan. Caption A homeowner modernized a 1900s Bloomingdale property with an addition and open floor plan. John McDonnell Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

Improper grading in the back yard flooded the home with rainwater soon after Freeman took possession.

Modern-day lifestyles can also become cramped, even in a Wardman. I wanted an open, livable space, Freeman says. I like to entertain quite a bit, and I love to have big dinner parties, so I needed the first floor to be completely open. It was also important to have a secondary living space in the basement.

Freeman commissioned an I-beam across the ceiling of the first floor and removed all the interior walls. The basement floor was lowered 16 inches through digging and underpinning. A two-story addition was attached to the back of the house, creating a living room downstairs and another bedroom upstairs. Freeman played the role of general contractor on the project, bringing in her own crews of subcontractors she works with in the development business.

[Rockville rambler witch house gets new life with a mid-century flair]

The project lasted nine months and involved special touches along the way. Passing through the front door lands you in an unconventional dining room bordered by what appear to be exposed black brick and a piece of art that looks like graffiti, which it is. The bricks, however, are not real.

When I first saw that piece of art, it was hanging on a black brick wall, Freeman says. In order to give Bad Betty [the artworks title] her story, it just seemed logical to buy some pieces of faux brick paneling, rough them up with chains and plaster to make them look real, and paint them. A chandelier adorned with tiny black chains illuminates the art and the dining room.

The floors on the first level all had to be replaced. The homeowner then personally distressed the new hardwood. I took rocks in a burlap bag and dragged it across the floor to make those divots, because hand-scraped oak floors looks too intentional, she says.



The unconventional dining room has a wall that appears to be exposed black brick and a piece of art that looks like graffiti. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

The homes dining room flows right into the kitchen, another room that includes some unconventional choices. The espresso- colored cabinetry that could pass for cherry is actually engineered wood  an umbrella term that refers to wood-based composites of wood pieces held together with an adhesive.

Plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) are all types of engineered wood. Depending on the application, engineered wood can offer advantages over solid hardwoods, including structural strength. Freeman chose to save money on the cabinets and spend it in other places, including the wide expanses of white Carrara marble used on the countertops and island.

The living room and kitchen feature tray ceilings, but the kitchen cabinets do not extend all the way to the top, giving them a floating appearance. Cabinet hardware is brushed nickel and oversize, to make the cabinets appear more lux. Lighting in the kitchen is a mix of pendant, recessed and over-counter. The fridge is a Viking; the range is a Bertazzoni.

[Former embassy becomes a stylish residence]

The kitchen gives way to the living room, which is part of the homes addition and serves as a window into Freemans world of professional flea marketing. A contemporary couch faces a dining room buffet that was bought at auction and then painted black in Freemans back yard.

An oversize Palladian mirror scavenged from a Methodist church rests atop the buffet and is flanked by twin, open-frame, barrel chairs dating from Italy sometime in the 1800s. Two club chairs reupholstered in black patent leather on the front and zebra hide on the back sit in front of them. The living room walls are painted in Inkwell Black.

The front section of the homes basement level includes a ceiling decorated with a Union Jack rendered by local artist Kasey OBoyle. The British flag serves as a logo for Freemans interior design company, Foundry by Freeman, which is headquartered at the Old Lucketts store in Leesburg, Va. The symbol was etched into Freemans brain during an 11-hour layover in Londons Heathrow airport.

She used the motif again on the back gate that leads to her garage, which bears a stylized Union Jack, also painted by OBoyle but then amended with contributions from local street artists recruited by Freeman.

The designer was exposed to outsider art and, especially, the power of graffiti after attending Art Basel in Miami and visiting the Wynwood Walls neighborhood, a former funky warehouse district in that city that was revived by the efforts of real estate developer Tony Goldman, who turned blank cinder block walls into canvasses for street artists.

Although developers make their living by finding, fixing and flipping undervalued property, Freeman has an affinity for a neighborhood that, like many in the District, is changing rapidly. She said they invested about $300,000 into renovating the property and realize that real estate developers are often seen as the encroaching enemy in these scenarios. Freeman says she tries to be gentle and respectful in her approach.

There are a lot of developers who come in and dont care about the neighborhood, she says. In order for it to work better, you need a baseline of communication. If you respect the differences, you can cohabitate. All people want is to be heard.
We have fun, Sarah Roogow said of living in Patapsco Ridge. Were all hanging out together all the time. Our kids walk in and out of each others houses. (Justin T. Gellerson/For The Washington Post)

1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Where We Live | Patapsco Ridge in Howard County, Md. View Photos Amid the winding roads nestled by thick forests, residents of this Hanover neighborhood have found connectedness. Caption Amid the winding roads nestled by thick forests, residents of this Hanover neighborhood have found connectedness. Justin T. Gellerson Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

When Sarah Roogow was a teacher in Baltimore City public schools, her goal was to be within 15 minutes of home, but with a Howard County address.

So in 2007, Roogow along with her husband, Dave, set their sights on a five-bedroom, five-bath house in Patapsco Ridge, a quiet neighborhood of 45 single-family homes in Hanover, Md. We paid $430,000 or $440,000 for a foreclosure, said Sarah, 35, a mother of three. The previous owner put on a big addition.

Residents of the community, which opened in the mid-1990s, grapple with an identity quirk of sorts. Although Patapsco Ridge is nestled along the west side of the railroad tracks in Howard County and within a five-minute drive of the Elkridge business district, its Zip code reflects an Anne Arundel County location.

We dont get the Howard Community College course catalogue, Sarah Roogow said. We get the Anne Arundel Community College catalogue. When I think of Arundel Mills, I think of Anne Arundel County.

[Green space, friendliness  and a little upheaval  in D.C.s Michigan Park]

Staying in a county that holds good memories is important, said Dave Roogow, 39. I grew up in Howard County, in Ellicott City. Its familiar to me. We want to stay in Howard County. He added that he is fine with having a Hanover address as long as its the jurisdiction of his choice, where his taxes are collected and spent.

As Sarah Roogow stood to clear the lunch plates from the picnic table at her neighbors place, she echoed the feelings of another resident, Brian Carnahan, about Patapsco Ridge and why its special: We have fun, she said. Were all hanging out together all the time. Our kids walk in and out of each others houses.





Connectedness, palm trees: Corey Bullock might not have it quite so easy, but he's not complaining, he said. "I'm about 15 minutes from my job in Annapolis Junction," northeast of Laurel, Md. As for his surroundings, Bullock, 48, said it was exactly what he and his wife were looking for when they moved there in 2004. "It's very quiet, very diverse, with great schools," he said. "When I moved here, I was looking for a sense of connectedness. That was the No. 1 priority."

Nestled along a winding road framed by thick woods and yard signs that remind motorists to Drive Like Your Kids Live Here, Patuxent Quarter Road provides glimpses of typical suburban life. The front yard of one residence features a collection of small palm trees overlooking a circle of large seashells that give it the look of a tropical island. Adjacent subdivisions include Hanovers Grant and Hanover Woods.

[Good location, good schools, amenities abound in Arlingtons Glebewood]

During the warm months, residents enjoy meeting friends at Cindys Soft-Serve, an iconic ice cream stand. To the north, Washington Boulevard offers an offbeat spot: Daniels, a tavern that features alfresco bar stools and is a magnet for motorcyclists.

Carnahan laughed as he recalled how he found Patapsco Ridge and a four-bedroom Colonial he shares with his wife and their 8-year-old son. I was concerned about the noise from the trains, said Carnahan, who works in information technology at Johns Hopkins Hospitals Harbor East campus in Baltimore. But little did I know about the planes from Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport that fly overhead. Theyre only over our house once a month if they need to reroute because of storms.

When Carnahan lived in Halethorpe, in nearby Baltimore County, there was a sense of community there, too, particularly when it came to interacting with his next-door neighbors. When he was driving around looking for new digs for his wife and their young son, I saw a man outside washing his car.

When Carnahan stopped to pepper him with questions about the community, he said he received an upbeat and warm reception.



In the past 12 months, four properties have sold in Patapsco Ridge, ranging from a 1,232- square-foot split-foyer for $395,000 to a five-bedroom rancher for $535,000, said Martha Lopez Elkind, an agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties in Bethesda. (Justin T. Gellerson/For The Washington Post)

What's nearby: Hanover, a major employment center, is home to satellite offices of the National Security Agency. Arundel Mills, which opened in 2000, is the largest retail complex in Maryland. The mall also is the home of Maryland Live casino, one of six casinos operating in the state. A 17-story, 310-room hotel at the casino is set to open in 2018.

Nearby is Patuxent Valley State Park, whose main attraction is Thomas Viaduct, said to be the oldest multiple-arch stone curved railroad bridge in the world.

Living there: Patapsco Ridge is bounded by Hanover Road to the west, Mill River Court to the south, Hanover Crossing Way and Patuxent Quarter Road to the east and Fairbourne Court to the north.

In the past 12 months, four properties have sold in Patapsco Ridge, ranging from a 1,232- square-foot split-foyer for $395,000 to a five-bedroom rancher for $535,000, said Martha Lopez Elkind, an agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties in Bethesda. There are no homes on the market, she added.

Schools: Elkridge Elementary, Elkridge Landing Middle and Howard High.

Transit: MARC Camden Line service runs to Baltimore and the District's Union Station from nearby stations, including Halethorpe. In addition, Metrobus service to Greenbelt is offered weekdays from BWI. The state also operates a bus route between BWI and Gaithersburg Park and Ride.

Crime: In the past six months, there were three reported thefts in Patapso Ridge, according to the Howard County police.
A suicide bomber detonated a blast Thursday near a political gathering of supporters of one of Afghanistan's most powerful factional leaders, killing at least 12 people in the latest attack in the country's capital.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility in a statement carried by its Amaq News Agency, but the group often asserts links to attacks without offering proof. The Taliban denied any role.

The bomber triggered explosives on his body after police stopped him outside the entrance of the hotel where the Jamiat-i-Islami party members were meeting, police said. The gathering was called to show support for a senior party member, Atta Mohammed Noor, a former militia leader and longtime governor of northern Balkh province.

Atta has criticized the National Unity Government led by President Ashraf Ghani. Abdullah Abdullah, the governments chief executive, is a senior member of Jamiat.

Atta was not at the hotel and had not been expected to attend the function, party officials said. He has made many enemies and been accused of abuses, but he commands a loyal following in the north.

Hours later after the attack, Atta appeared on his private TV channel to say that some circles within the government were behind the attack. He did not elaborate.

Tadamichi Yamamoto, the U.N. special representative for Afghanistan, called the attack totally unacceptable. It was an act of terror and a serious violation of international law, he said in a statement. The use of explosive weapons in civilian-populated areas must stop.

A number of former Jamiat militia commanders and a former cabinet minister, Abdul Sattar Murad, were at the event. It was not immediately known whether senior party officials were among those killed.

A security official said the death toll was at least 12. A spokesman for Kabul police said the dead included police officers and civilians, but he gave no figure.

The function had come to an end, and people were having lunch when the blast was heard, Shamsul Haq Arianfar, a senior Jamiat member, said in a telephone interview. He said that the hotel windows were shattered and that people fled out the back door and through windows, fearing that gunmen would storm the building. He said he saw bodies being taken away.

It was the second deadly bombing to target a Jamiat event in recent months. In late May, a massive truck bomb exploded in central Kabul, killing more than 150 people, including the son of a party legislative leader. The next day, a suicide bomber attacked his funeral, killing seven people.

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Directors of the Old Vic theater in London said Thursday that a "cult of personality" around Kevin Spacey prevented junior staff and young actors from speaking out against the American movie star, who now stands accused of misconduct in a string of alleged incidents over a decade at the artistic institution.

The Old Vic trustees said the theaters investigators had heard from 20 people who accused Spacey of a range of inappropriate behaviors during his 11-year run as artistic director of the renowned playhouse, from 2004 to 2015.

Spacey's transgressions are alleged to have ranged from "making people feel uncomfortable to sexually inappropriate behavior," the BBC reported.

Spacey is among the high-profile Hollywood figures caught up in a widening sexual harassment scandal, which began with revelations about film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Last month, actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexually assaulting him at a party when Rapp was 14 years old. Spacey responded that he did not remember the incident, but he did not deny it, offering Rapp his "sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior."



The Old Vic theatre in central London, Nov. 2. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images)

At the same time, Spacey used the incident to reveal that he is gay.

As other accusations emerged, Netflix suspended production of Spaceys popular House of Cards serial drama, and his performance in Ridley Scotts upcoming film All the Money in the World was stripped from the movie and reshot with actor Christopher Plummer.

The Old Vic hired London law firm Lewis Silkin to undertake an investigation and, promising anonymity, encouraged current and former employees at the theater to come forward. In all, 20 people have testified about incidents between 1995 and 2013.

In a lengthy statement about its investigation, the Old Vic cautioned: "No legal claims, formal grievances, formal disputes, settlement agreements or payments made or authorised were made at all in relation to Kevin Spacey during his tenure. It has also not been possible to verify any of these allegations, and it is important to note that Kevin Spacey has not commented on them."

Spacey was invited to participate in the investigation, but the theater said he did not respond.

The Guardian and BBC contacted Spaceys legal representatives for comment.

Spaceys successor as artistic director, Matthew Warchus, said: These allegations have been a shock and a disturbing surprise to many of us. It is incorrect, unfair and irresponsible to say that everybody knew.

Before the allegations arose, Spaceys long run as artistic director at the Old Vic was roundly applauded. At first, London critics were suspicious, especially about whether the busy actor and global celebrity would have have the focus to turn the theatre around.

What matters, in the end, is the work on stage and, after a patchy first season, Spacey has delivered the goods, wrote the Guardians critic Michael Billington in 2015, remembering the years of Shakespeare beside American classics from Eugene ONeill, Tennessee Williams and David Mamet.

Of the 20 alleged incidents, only one was reported during the time it occurred. The theater blamed fame.

During Spaceys tenure, The Old Vic was in a unique position of having a Hollywood star at the helm around whom existed a cult of personality, the statement read. The investigation found that his stardom and status at The Old Vic may have prevented people, and in particular junior staff or young actors, from feeling that they could speak up or raise a hand for help.

Staff who may have been aware of the alleged behavior were unclear about how to respond; in some cases they did not consider allegations of misconduct to be serious and, where they clearly did, they said they did not feel confident that The Old Vic would take those allegations seriously given who he was, the report said.

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Lebanon's absent prime minister has accepted an invitation for an official visit to France, French and Lebanese diplomats said Thursday, nearly two weeks after his abrupt resignation stirred rumors that he was being held captive in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met with Saad Hariri on Thursday in Riyadh and said that the prime minister would be traveling to Paris soon. It was unclear whether Hariri would take his family on the trip.

The announcement added another layer of mystery to the circumstances of Hariris shocking decision to quit his post this month. His resignation  which he blamed on pressure from Iran and its Lebanese Shiite proxy, Hezbollah  stunned Lebanon and the wider region and raised fears the country would plunge into factional turmoil.

[Saudis accuse Iran of act of war as regional tensions rise]

But Lebanese officials have said that Hariri, who is a dual Lebanese-Saudi citizen, had been forced to resign by Saudi authorities and was unable to move or speak freely from Riyadh. Lebanons president, Michel Aoun, said Wednesday that Hariri was a hostage, and that his government would not accept such an attack on Lebanese sovereignty.

Later, Aoun told visiting politicians that he expected Hariri to arrive in Paris on Saturday, Lebanese media reported. The visit appeared aimed at defusing tensions and could pave the way for Hariri to officially submit his resignation in person in Beirut, officials said.

The flurry of diplomacy capped nearly two weeks of political chaos and fevered speculation over Hariris fate, which threatened to upset the delicate power-sharing agreement on which Lebanons government is formed. The pact divides political power among Christians and Sunni and Shiite Muslims, and any attempt to sideline one faction could tip the country into sectarian conflict.

[Watch: Saudi Arabias influence in Lebanon]

Hariri, a Sunni and ally of Saudi Arabia, was appointed prime minister a year ago after months of political deadlock. The Lebanese constitution says that the prime minister must be Sunni and the president must be Christian. It says the speaker of parliament should be a Shiite Muslim.

But because Iran, which is Shiite, and Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, have competed for influence in the region, the threat of upheaval in Lebanon has intensified. Iran has long backed Hezbollah, Lebanons most powerful political and military movement and key to Irans regional reach.

For its part, the Saudi government has sought to bolster Hariri and his Sunni bloc in Lebanon and have fought what Saudi officials claim are Iranian proxy forces in Yemen. Iran denies having direct links to the Houthi forces in Yemen that drove out the Saudi-backed president in 2015.

Some observers believe Saudi officials wanted to pressure Hezbollah, which is part of the Lebanese government, by staging Hariris resignation. Riyadh believed that move would strip the coalition government of legitimacy, analysts said, potentially opening the way for military options against Hezbollah.

On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir rejected accusations that his government had abducted Hariri. In a joint news conference with the French foreign minister, Jubeir said that Hariri was in Saudi Arabia of his own free will and that he was free to travel at any time.

French President Emmanuel Macron had extended the invitation Wednesday through Le Drian in Riyadh but stressed that it was not an offer of political exile. Macron stepped in, a former adviser said, amid an American diplomatic vacuum in the region.

To the Saudis, to the Lebanese and indirectly to the Iranians, [Macron] is saying: You are on the brink of catastrophe. You have to de-escalate and the U.S. is not there,  said Dominique Moisi, a foreign policy adviser to Macron during his presidential campaign.

In Lebanon, an official at the presidents office cautioned that the crisis is not yet over.

He can resign, as long as he is free to do what he wants, the official said. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of Hariris situation.

But as long as he is still in Saudi Arabia, the official said, we believe that it is a hostage situation.

James McAuley in Paris contributed to this report.

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Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) declared himself back from the political dead Thursday, after his months-long bribery trial ended in a mistrial that could spell long-term difficulties for the federal government's ability to pursue corruption cases.

Menendez, a senior lawmaker who has spent years fighting the charges, broke down crying as he addressed cheering supporters outside the courthouse.

Today is Resurrection Day, he said. Anyone who knows me knows I never seek a fight, but I never shy away from one either. This was not a fair fight.

Now, Menendez said, Im going back to Washington to fight for the people of New Jersey. And he added an ominous warning: For those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I wont forget it.

The senators jubilation may be short-lived. Justice Department officials said they would review the case to decide whether to put him on trial again, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called for a Senate ethics probe based on the charges in the case.

The jury of seven women and five men twice sent out notes this week saying it was deadlocked. We cannot reach a unanimous decision, the jury said in the second note just before noon Thursday. Nor are we willing to move away from our strong convictions.

U.S. District Judge William Walls then privately questioned the jurors, and declared a mistrial.

One of the jurors, Ed Norris, said Menendez and the doctor on trial with him, Salomon Melgen, came close to an outright acquittal, with 10 jurors believing Menendez not guilty, and only two on the panel in favor of finding him guilty.

Norris, a 49-year-old equipment operator from Morris County, said that the evidence was mostly emails and that he didnt see a smoking gun.

I dont think the government proved anything, Norris said. I didnt see anything bad that he did.

Norris said that the panel was clearly divided from the moment deliberations began, but that it did not get angry or acrimonious.

Eventually, though, we had enough of being deadlocked, he said.

[Democrats just caught a massive break with Menendez mistrial]

A mistrial is a major victory for a senator who had to fight 18 counts of alleged corruption, and a setback for the Justice Department, whose efforts to combat public corruption have been curtailed by a recent Supreme Court decision.

Prosecutors said Menendez took gifts from Melgen, including a luxury hotel stay, private jet flights and campaign donations, in exchange for which he tried to help Melgen get U.S. visas for his girlfriends, intervened in the doctors $8.9 million billing dispute with Medicare, and assisted with a port security contract of the doctors in the Dominican Republic.

Melgen is awaiting sentencing for a previous conviction for defrauding Medicare. The two men were on trial for bribery, and Menendez was also accused of lying on government disclosure forms about his finances when he did not report gifts of flights paid for by Melgen  an omission the senator calls an accidental oversight, not a criminal lie.

Menendezs lawyers said that the government, by charging the senator, was trying to criminalize a longtime friendship between the two men, and that there was nothing corrupt about Menendezs acts on Melgens behalf or Melgens financial support of Menendez.

Menendezs lawyer Abbe Lowell said the jury could not, would not and did not return a verdict that validated any of the governments charges. This is what happens when you put a real 25-year friendship on trial.

Melgens lawyer, Kirk Ogrosky, said he would have preferred an acquittal but added: Maybe well get that chance again.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said prosecutors will carefully consider next steps in this important matter and report to the Court at the appropriate time.

Left unclear Thursday was whether Menendez would be able to return to his perch as top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (Md.) has served as the panels ranking Democrat since Menendezs indictment. Senior Democratic aides would not comment Thursday on any potential change in committee assignments, signaling that no final decision would be made until after the Justice Department determines whether to retry Menendez.

Barbara Van Gelder, a lawyer who specializes in white-collar crimes, predicted the department would put Menendez back on trial.

Public integrity prosecutors would rather lose than drop a case, so theyll probably go back and streamline their case, and next time be a lot more precise and surgical in terms of evidence, she said. Once you blur business with friendship, its very hard to ask the jury to untangle that. . . . The jury is looking for a concrete quid pro quo, not just a plausible quid pro quo.

Just before the mistrial was declared, prosecutors had asked the judge to issue a clarifying instruction to the panel, telling jurors that they could reach verdicts on individual counts in the indictment, even if they couldnt find agreement on all the counts. The judge rejected that suggestion, saying to do so would be going down the slippery slope of coercion.

The jury heard nine weeks of testimony before beginning deliberations last week, when it quickly became clear there were sharp divisions.

[First full week of testimony in Menendez trial: Emails, emotion, and a model witness]

On Nov. 9, an excused juror said she would have acquitted the senator but predicted that the trial would end in a hung jury.

Then, on Monday afternoon, the jury sent the first note saying it was unable to reach a verdict. Walls sent the panel home early that day, telling jurors to come back fresh and try again.

I realize you are having difficulty reaching a unanimous decision, but thats not unusual, Walls told the panel the next morning. He said jurors should decide the case for themselves but shouldnt hesitate to reexamine their views. This is not reality TV; this is real life, Walls said.

The admonition did not resolve the impasse. During a smoking break Wednesday outside the courthouse, five jurors huddled in a group chatting, while a sixth male juror stayed away, smoking alone.

Menendez's lawyers had repeatedly asked the judge to declare a mistrial over various evidentiary and procedural issues.

[Supreme Court makes it harder to prosecute corruption]

Although mistrials are generally considered wins for defense lawyers and losses for prosecutors, the Justice Department will probably feel significant internal pressure to put the senator on trial again, because recent Supreme Court decisions have raised questions about how much legal authority prosecutors still have in pursuing corruption charges involving payments not explicitly linked to official acts.

Some legal experts have warned that a defeat for the government in the Menendez case could make prosecutors more reluctant to pursue public corruption cases in the future.

A guilty verdict, on the other hand, could have had major ramifications in the Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow majority. If Menendez had been convicted, there would probably have been pressure on him to resign, or for fellow senators to expel him. If his seat had become vacant before mid-January, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) would have been able to appoint his successor, probably turning a Democratic seat Republican until a November 2018 midterm election. But it was not clear that even if Menendez had been convicted, he and his fellow Democrats would have gone along with his ouster.

[Original indictment of Sen. Robert Menendez and Salomon Melgen]

To try to prove their case, prosecutors called pilots, government officials and even a former lawmaker, former senator Tom Harkin, to the witness stand to describe how Menendez pushed and prodded officials on behalf of Melgen. At times, those witnesses delivered a mixed message to jurors.

Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, said that he had a meeting with Menendez about Melgens billing dispute as a common courtesy among senators  suggesting he didnt see anything nefarious about the interaction.

The defense spent much of its time putting witnesses on the stand, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), to vouch for Menendezs character.

The trial took place against the backdrop of last years Supreme Court ruling that overturned the corruption conviction of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell (R).

Walls tailored his jury instructions to conform to his reading of the McDonnell ruling, which narrowed the definition of an official act by a politician.

This is the first major post-McDonnell trial, and it does suggest that public corruption offenses are going to be much tougher to prove, said Kelly Kramer, a lawyer specializing in white-collar work.
The White House on Wednesday made public for the first time the rules by which the government decides to disclose or keep secret software flaws that can be turned into cyberweapons  whether by U.S. agencies hacking for foreign intelligence, money-hungry criminals or foreign spies seeking to penetrate American computers.

The move to publish an unclassified charter responds to years of criticism that the process was unnecessarily opaque, fueling suspicion that it cloaked a stockpile of software flaws that the National Security Agency was hoarding to go after foreign targets but that put Americans' cybersecurity at risk.

"This is a really big improvement and an outstanding process," said White House cybersecurity coordinator Rob Joyce, who spoke at an Aspen Institute event and issued a blog post on the charter.

By making it public, he said, we hope to demonstrate to the American people that the federal government is carefully weighing the risks and benefits of disclosure vs. retention.

The rules are part of the Vulnerabilities Equities Process, which the Obama administration revamped in 2014 as a multiagency forum to debate whether and when to inform companies such as Microsoft and Juniper that the government has discovered or bought a software flaw that, if weaponized, could affect the security of their product.

The Trump administration has mostly not altered the rules under which the government reaches a decision but is disclosing its process. Under the VEP, an equities review board of at least a dozen national security and civilian agencies will meet monthly  or more often, if a need arises  to discuss newly discovered vulnerabilities. Besides the NSA, the CIA and the FBI, the list includes the Treasury, Commerce and State departments, and the Office of Management and Budget.

The priority is on disclosure, the policy states, to protect core Internet systems, the U.S. economy and critical infrastructure, unless there is a demonstrable, overriding interest in using the flaw for intelligence or law enforcement purposes.

The government has long said that it discloses the vast majority  more than 90 percent  of the vulnerabilities it discovers or buys in products from defense contractors or other sellers. In recent years, that has amounted to more than 100 a year, according to people familiar with the process.

But because the process was classified, the National Security Council, which runs the discussion, was never able to reveal any numbers. Now, Joyce said, the number of flaws disclosed and the number retained will be made public in an annual report. A classified version will be sent to Congress, he said.

"This represents a good step forward in transparency and shows the government getting more comfortable and more mature with this process," said Michael Daniel, who, as Joyce's predecessor, oversaw the revamped process. Daniel issued the first blog post on the VEP in April 2014 in large part to push back against the misperception that the Heartbleed bug, which sparked fears of a massive security hole in the Internet, had been kept secret by the NSA.

The debate raged anew this year when it became public that the malicious code at the heart of the WannaCry virus that hit computer systems globally was developed by the NSA. The Washington Post reported in May that officials at the agency had years earlier discussed whether the flaw at the base of the tool, EternalBlue, was so dangerous that it should be revealed to Microsoft.

[NSA officials worried about the day its potent hacking tool would get loose. Then it did.]

Instead, the agency retained it. In August 2016, a mysterious group calling itself the Shadow Brokers put online a set of exploits, or tools, that included EternalBlue. That eventually led the NSA to alert Microsoft, which issued a patch in March. But not enough people and companies used the patch  especially in Russia, India, Iran, Brazil and other countries in Eastern Europe and Asia where computers were infected by WannaCry or other viruses based on the flaw.

Another major breach occurred in March, when the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks dumped online a trove of CIA hacking tools.

"A lot of companies whose software was affected were confused," recalled Ari Schwartz, coordinator of the Coalition for Cybersecurity Policy and Law, which includes such firms as Microsoft, Symantec, Intel and Palo Alto Networks. "They were taken aback that nobody from the CIA had come to them and told them. They found out about it from the press."

Joyce noted that at times the government has alerted a company to a flaw only to be told, "That's great, but we're telling customers that they need to buy this shiny next-generation [device], and so they have no intention of patching their own equipment," he said. There have also been companies who, when informed of a flaw, said: "That's not a flaw. That's a feature."

All the government can do at that point, he said, is put out a Department of Homeland Security warning about the software flaws.

Tech companies generally reacted favorably to Wednesdays move. Getting the VEP right is critical to fostering trust and cooperation between the tech sector and the government, said Heather West, senior policy manager at Mozilla, which makes the widely used browser Firefox. This accomplishes a lot of things we were asking for in terms of reform.

Former critics of the process also applauded the transparency. "I'm very happy to see that they make clear that the presumption lies in favor of disclosure," said Michelle Richardson, a security expert at the Center for Democracy & Technology.
A special session of the Montana Legislature called to address a budget shortfall adjourned early Thursday morning with a deal that leaves all parties less than satisfied but pleased something was negotiated.

Legislators came to Helena at the start of the week for a fast and furious three days, called back by Gov. Steve Bullock to find ways to patch an anticipated $227 million hole in the state budget caused by lower-than-projected revenues and a $75 million fire bill after one of the worse fire seasons in state history.

Before calling the special session, Bullock proposed splitting the budget shortfall into thirds, with $76 million in cuts to state agencies made by the governor, $75 million in fund transfers and other ways to tap money and $75 million in temporary tax increases.

But Republicans, who hold a majority in the House and Senate, criticized the governor for bringing them back without a solid deal in place. They took the opportunity to craft their own plan that, while not pleasing to everyone in the party, left the caucus saying they were able to claim they fixed the problem without raising any new taxes.

Bills passed by lawmakers bring in about $94 million through fund transfers and delayed payments, above what Bullock proposed. They also bring in $30 million from a fee charged to Montana State Fund, but the law passed says State Fund cannot pass the fee onto those who pay into the workers compensation insurance program. Because they brought in more than the $75 million called for in fund transfers, lawmakers were able to not approve proposals that would have taxed accommodations and rental cars at higher rates than they are now, one of Bullock's suggestions, and eliminate a long list of income tax credits.

A bill requiring furloughs of state employees to generate $15 million was passed, as was one that changes the state liquor license lottery to an auction, which will generate $2.5 million this fiscal year and $3.8 million in fiscal year 2019. Also eliminated were $13 million in block grants for school districts statewide.

A controversial bill that would have stopped the state Department of Public Health and Human Services from implementing a rule to allow people to change the gender on their birth certificate died after the House failed to act on it.

For his part, Bullock made his $76 million in cuts official Tuesday, just after the House convened Tuesday.

An appropriations bill, House Bill 2, caused intense debate between Democrats and Republicans on the House floor. It passed both houses. Democrats call the bill, which would make the governors cuts permanent, unnecessary. Republicans have said a separate bill would unwind the cuts if revenues come in higher than expected.

Its totally unnecessary, Rep. Kelly McCarthy, D-Billings, said of the legislation.

Sen. Llew Jones, a Republican from Conrad and key architect of the final compromise, said if the governor wanted to avoid the necessity of a bill like House Bill 2, he should have made his cuts before the session started and not minutes into the start of the first House floor session Tuesday. Republicans had been calling for Bullock to make his cuts in the weeks before the session, and while Jones said he always felt Bullock would take action, some in his party were less sure.

"If you didn't want a (House Bill 2) to come to light, make your damn cuts," Jones said.

Jones carried the so-called unwind bill, Senate Bill 9, which passed early Thursday morning.

It's a complicated vehicle that creates an account to accept hypothetical money from the operator of the private prison in Shelby. Montana contracts with CoreCivic to run Crossroads Correctional Center, which has offered to return to the state $32 million it has placed into an escrow account to offset a possible future purchase of the prison. In exchange, the company wants its contract, set to expire in 2019, extended.

Half of the money from CoreCivic, if the governor chooses to negotiate with them, would go toward the states fire fund and the rest could be used at the governors discretion. Democrats have said it is a way to tie the governors hands and force him to extend CoreCivic's contract.

Jones said while he understands Democrats are ideologically opposed to the prison, both sides of the aisle have issues they are ideologically opposed to. For Republicans, that was tax increases.

The bill didn't leave Bullock without options, Jones said, adding the governor could choose to make more cuts to balance the budget or decide to keep a smaller amount in the state's rainy day fund.

"He may see all the alternatives as not his favored course," Jones said.

Senate President Scott Sales, a Republican from Bozeman, said Senate members did some good work in the special session in a condensed setting.

Its just really tough when you only have a few days, Sales said. We did what we could do and sent the legislation we thought was best.

Sales said Republicans were happy that they did not pass the tax increases proposed by Bullock. Ive ran six times for the Legislature and have always said Im not going to raise taxes, he said. I feel good about the fact that transpired for the most part.

Sales said negotiations with Bullock went as well as they could.

The governor is a very affable guy, Sales said. I like talking with the governor. Certainly he had some different objectives than we did.

House Minority Leader Jenny Eck, a Helena Democrat, called the end result "far from perfect."

The solution before us is far from perfect, but it allows us to avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in unacceptable cuts that would hurt people across our state. I am disappointed that the Republican majority demanded cutting $76 million before they would even come to the negotiating table, and then left town without fixing the full budget shortfall," Eck said.

Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, a Republican from Culbertson, said Republicans were happy to not have to raise taxes.

Republicans came here with the message that raising taxes on hardworking Montanans is not an option. Republicans remained united and strong in standing up for Montana taxpayers. ... The Legislature came to town with our work boots on. We got creative and looked to expand the opportunities to find the best deal for Montana taxpayers, while keeping in mind also those who utilize government services.

Bullock released a statement after the session adjourned, saying the deal will help offset deep cuts that could have hurt statewide.

"Tonight we reached a reasonable and responsible compromise to balance our budget and pay for Montana's record fire season. While I'm disappointed we were not able to reach a full agreement, I would be remiss not to acknowledge all the progress made to minimize the impacts of severe budget cuts on the most vulnerable among us," he said.

Rep. Kelly Flynn, a Republican from Townsend, brought the motion to sine die and bring the session to a close just after 1 a.m.

In an emotional address, Flynn told lawmakers after the last regular session ended he was diagnosed with cancer in both kidneys, both lungs and has a heart issue.

Flynn was heavily involved in critical bills over the last few days and many lawmakers teared up as Flynn called himself lucky.

Im way better off than so many people who never had the chance to live a full life like I had, Flynn said.
President Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, has been guided through her Senate confirmation process by a private consultant who represents companies seeking millions in DHS contracts, an arrangement that creates conflicts of interest, according to a government-ethics watchdog group as well as current and former national security officials.

The consultant, Thad Bingel, is co-founder of the Command Group, a prominent lobbying and consulting firm that offers "full spectrum solutions related to safety, security and intelligence" to clients "on six continents."

As Nielsen made the rounds on Capitol Hill last month ahead of a vote on her nomination by the Senate Homeland Security committee, she was joined by DHS officials as well as Bingel, according to Senate staffers, who said they received no advance notice of his attendance and werent sure why he was there.

He was introduced to our staff as Nielsens aide, said one Senate staffer, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.

During presidential transitions, unpaid consultants often serve as sherpas to help steer a nominee through the confirmation process. But its almost unheard of once an administration has legislative political appointees in place whose job it is to perform that function, current and former DHS officials said.

Its highly unusual that you would have someone leading confirmation preparations from outside the government, especially after the administration has been in place almost a year, said John Cohen, a longtime security and intelligence official who has served under Republican and Democratic administrations.

Nielsen and Bingel worked together as sherpas for John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, after Trump nominated him to lead DHS. Kelly hired Nielsen to be his chief of staff at DHS, then brought her to the White House as his deputy. Bingel remained at his consulting firm.

[Trump Homeland Security nominee faces panel vote]

In copies of recent emails viewed by The Washington Post, Bingel was included in internal communications between DHS officials and White House staffers working to advance Nielsens nomination. The messages involved nearly a dozen officials, and Bingel was the only person who wasnt a government staffer.

The exchanges show Bingel, a private contractor, leading briefings to DHS officials. Bingel, whose role in Nielsen's nomination was first reported by Cyberscoop, did not respond to interview requests.

A DHS official referred questions about Bingel to the White House.

Theres nothing inappropriate or new about an individual volunteering their time to help prepare a nominee for the Senate confirmation process, said Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, in a statement.

Cohen, who was a homeland security adviser to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, said he could not remember another instance of DHS employees being assigned tasks to prepare a nominee by a private consultant, or sharing sensitive communications about a nominee through nongovernment servers.

Bingel was chief of staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under President George W. Bush, then co-founded the Command Group with other former Bush officials in 2009. One of its businesses, CT Strategies, supports the mission of federal clients, most notably U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other Department of Homeland Security agencies, according to its site.

Federal records show CT Strategies has also secured contracts of its own, including a $6 million award in July to provide "professional, scientific and administrative services" to the government.

[White House pressured acting head of DHS to expel Hondurans, officials say]

The Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group founded by former Federal Election Commission member and Republican presidential campaign adviser Trevor Potter, filed an ethics complaint against Nielsen this week, citing the possibility of a financial windfall for Bingel. The complaint was sent to the White House, the Justice Department and the Office of Government Ethics.

The consultant has clear financial incentive to assist in the nomination of an agency secretary who would have the power to steer government contracts in his direction, said Larry Noble, the groups general counsel, referring to Bingel.

Government employees arent permitted to receive gifts or free services  especially from people with business before their department  because it calls the integrity of government decision-making into question, Noble said. This unusual arrangement should be investigated because of the clear potential conflict of interest, and the danger that Nielsen can be compromised as DHS secretary.

The Campaign Legal Center said it has not received a response to its complaint.

With an annual budget of $44 billion, DHS pays thousands of federal contractors to provide goods and services that range from sophisticated technology to basic law enforcement gear. Companies vying for the largest awards often turn to consulting firms who employ former government officials with the contacts and inside knowledge to help them get an edge.

A current administration official said Nielsen is the only recent nominee at DHS who has relied on a private consultant as a sherpa.

Kevin McAleenan, the nominee to lead U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, had DHS legislative affairs staffers performing that role, the official said. So did David Pekoske, who was sworn in to lead the Transportation Security Administration in August. It was the same with Claire Grady, the DHS undersecretary for management.

Emilio Gonzalez, the former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a DHS agency, said its typically an advantage for a nominee to have current government officials steering them toward a successful outcome.

You want people who are intimately aware of whats going on in the department, who can bring you up to date on whatever is pressing at the time and will run interference by doing intel work on the Hill, such as which senator will be supportive and why, said Gonzalez, who worked under both Bush administrations and now runs Miamis international airport.

Bingels relationship to Nielsen did not come up during her Nov. 8 confirmation hearing. On Tuesday the panel voted 11 to 4 to advance her nomination, setting the stage for a full Senate vote.

The panel's vote was postponed twice, and a group of Democratic members wanted to bring Nielsen back for additional testimony after The Washington Post described White House attempts to pressure the acting director of DHS, Elaine Duke, over an immigration decision.

The White House is eager for Nielsen to be confirmed before Thanksgiving, according to Senate staffers.

Current administration officials said they are concerned that Bingels role in guiding Nielsen could set a precedent for future nominees, with lobbyists usurping the role of federal employees despite the potential conflicts of interests that will create.

Julie Tate contributed to this report.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, right, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal talk after the conclusion of the fourth round of negotiations for a new North American Free Trade Agreement in Washington last month. The fifth round began Wednesday in Mexico City, with significant diasagreements remaining. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)

Josue Vidales considers his business a NAFTA success story. The 43-year-old father of five founded his engineering firm a decade ago, on the eve of the world economic crisis, to capitalize on the factory boom in this burgeoning industrial city 250 miles north of Mexico City.

The business stumbled at first but subsequently blossomed, swelling to 25 employees as manufacturers poured into San Luis Potosi and hired the firm to design and install electrical substations.

Now, the free-trade treaty that jump-started the city's prosperity is being renegotiated  a fifth round of talks kicked off Wednesday in Mexico City. Amid threats by President Trump to tear up the agreement, Vidales admits to some disquiet. Yet like many entrepreneurs here, he still thinks his business  and San Luis Potosi  could survive if that happened.

Of course were concerned. It could impact us hard, especially if tariffs increase or they block access to the U.S. market, Vidales said, sitting in a popular cafe here. But, he added, well get through this, and much more quickly than before, because we have much more know-how and much more experience.

Such optimism is common in San Luis Potosi, a charming colonial-era city and state capital that sells itself as a free-trade miracle  a place where manufacturing replaced mining and farming, and young people stay and work rather than migrate to the United States.



U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, center, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, left, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal address reporters after the fourth round of NAFTA talks. As the fifth round kicks off, some Mexican businessmen say they will be fine even if the landmark free-trade treaty is scrapped. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)

But not every community in Mexico feels as prepared for life after the North American Free Trade Agreement. Twenty-three years of the treaty has affected the country very unevenly, and what works for San Luis Potosi may not apply elsewhere.

Over the past five years, this city has seen economic growth of 5 percent and attracted $6 billion in foreign investment. But the country as a whole has found NAFTA less rewarding, averaging an anemic 1.2 percent growth rate per capita from 1994 to 2016 as gains in the industrialized north were canceled by stagnation in the rural south.

Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray has said it wont be the end of the world if the treaty is scrapped.

Mexico is bigger than NAFTA, he told reporters in October. Of course we think this is the best economic situation for the country, with a good renegotiation. But if thats not achieved, we will have to be ready.

[Mexico shrugs off Trumps threats to scrap NAFTA]

That sense of confidence is far from unanimous. In the short term, Mexico's currency would probably depreciate post-NAFTA, raising prices locally. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean foresees the country's economy contracting 1.9 percent without the agreement. There is also concern about how investors would react in its absence.

Investment flows would slow down quite a bit, said Jonathan Heath, former chief economist for Latin America at HSBC. If you look at private investment, its basically been flat for the last year and a half. A good explanation for that is uncertainty surrounding NAFTA.

In a report Monday, the International Monetary Fund also expressed misgivings about Mexico's economy if the treaty ends, noting that "substantial impediments to bilateral trade could have a significant impact on financial markets, investment and growth."

Others say Mexicos business class is likely to pull its money out of the country if NAFTA ends, as it has done during previous periods of turbulence.

Within five minutes, they will have transferred all their capital abroad. They will have bet everything against the peso, said Federico Estevez, political science professor at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico. And they will have put a stop to every investment project for the next two years.

San Luis Potosi once ranked among the poorest areas of northern Mexico, known for little more than peyote, prickly pears and silver mining.

It boomed under NAFTA, leveraging its ideal geography  it sits roughly equidistant from Mexico City and Monterrey and offers easy access to both coasts and the U.S. border  as well as its existing infrastructure and abundant low-cost labor. In the mid-2000s, the auto sector arrived, starting with a General Motors plant.

With Trumps election and rumblings over NAFTAs future, there have been setbacks. Ford pulled the plug on a planned manufacturing plant in January. That was balanced out, however, by German automaker BMW saying it would continue to build its own San Luis Potosi plant, scheduled to open in 2019.

Despite this years reversals, San Luis Potosi state Gov. Juan Manuel Carreras Lopez noted, weve had the best job creation numbers that weve ever had.

That is the model Mexican business executives are hoping for: If U.S. investors and markets recede, other countries will take their place.

With Mexico having signed so many free-trade agreements with other countries, analysts say, manufacturing in Mexico still makes sense for many automotive firms, even without NAFTA.

There are currently companies, mostly European and Asian, which are very interested in San Luis Potosi, said Hector Soto, director of the San Luis Potosi Automotive Cluster, an industry promotion organization.

Soto projects the number of suppliers investing in the state to reach 330 by 2020, up from the 230 firms operating today and 40 when GM arrived in 2006. Even U.S. firms are still showing interest, according to Soto, who hosted a delegation from Michigan in October.

Regardless of what happens with NAFTA, Soto said, supply chains are so integrated that theyre difficult to break.

Josue Vidales, the entrepreneur, grew up the 11th of 16 children. Among other projects, he founded a custom manufacturing business, Evolt de Mexico, with a younger brother, Otoniel.

Weve adopted the best business practices of the firms investing in San Luis Potosi, Vidales said, looking every bit the businessman-engineer in a charcoal suit with a pen clipped between his shirt buttons.

Otoniel Vidales, 36, expanded on the sentiment. It will only be a transition, he said of the possible demise of NAFTA. Were ready now. We know how do things. Were very Americanized.

[While Trump bashes NAFTA, its Americanizing Mexico]

At an industrial park along busy Highway 57  the so-called NAFTA Highway connecting Mexico City with the U.S. border  workers admit to mixed opinions about the treaty that changed their lives.

The price of everything goes up, but our salaries stay the same, said Oscar Ruiz, 33, a truck driver for a box factory, who earns roughly $85 a week plus overtime. Its a noticeable change here [since NAFTA was signed], but our personal economic situations continue to be the same. I have to work an extra 40 hours a week to make ends meet.

Yet worries persist about what could happen after NAFTA, which is still viewed positively by 60 percent of Mexicans.

Carlos del Pozo, 41, once washed dishes in the Dallas area, but he returned to San Luis Potosi, studied systems engineering and now earns $1,400 a month with an auto-parts maker.

Im scared of being poor again, he said as he tried to sell a tricked-out Volkswagen Jetta at a Sunday market for used cars where he moonlights. Its going to be a crisis.

Read more

Trudeau fights to save NAFTA deal, but Trump offers little hope

What you need to know about NAFTA as it goes through a quarter-life crisis

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One hundred years ago, the Russian Revolution shook the world with wide-sweeping political change, social upheaval and rebellion that ultimately became grist for American dance pioneer Isadora Duncans harrowing Marche Slav.

And now, Winnipeg contemporary dance artist Kathleen Hiley will bring the iconic solo to life when her company, Kathleen Hiley Solo Projects, presents its latest show, Isadora Duncans Marche Slav, at the Gas Station Arts Centre, Friday, Nov. 17th and Saturday, Nov. 18th, at 8 p.m.

Being able to perform this great work of art created by the revolutionary Isadora Duncan has been a dream come true, say Hiley, 32, the only Canadian granted permission to present the solo by world-renowned Duncan scholar/dance artist Jeanne Bresciani, artistic director/director of education for the New York City-based Isadora Duncan Institute, Inc. Its one of the greatest gifts I have received, and I hope to honour the spirit of Isadora and the great art form that she created while inspiring the next generation of dancers.

MARK DELA CRUZ PHOTOS Contemporary dancer Kathleen Hiley brings her solo show, Isadora Duncan's Marche Slav, to the Gass Station Arts Centre.

First performed by Duncan to celebrate Russian Emperor Tsar Nicholas IIs abdication from the throne in 1917, the 12-minute solo depicting Duncans downtrodden serf under the lash of the whip is marking its own 100th anniversary this year. Hiley appears in a red tunic, her wrists bound by red ropes symbolizing the bonds of tyranny from which she ultimately breaks free, while Tchaikovskys Marche Slav, Op. 31 adds its own brooding, militaristic ethos.

In an earlier interview from her New York City home, Bresciani, who learned the choreography directly from her German-born mentor, Maria-Theresa Duncan  the last of Isadoras six legally adopted daughters also known as the Isadorables  said the work is so brutally raw.

I would call it primordial, she said.

Hiley, a 2007 graduate of The Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers  and now a company member with Mouvement/Winnipeg Dance Projects and co-founder of popular local troupe Drive Dance  has been nurturing a solo career in recent years. Her inaugural full-length production showcasing three world premieres and signature works by Canadian choreographers Stephanie Ballard, Margie Gillis, Peter Quanz, as well as her own mother, Winnipeg dance artist Gaile Petursson-Hiley, garnered critical acclaim in February 2016.

She first crossed paths with Bresciani during the latters one-day workshop, The Isadora Experience, held in conjunction with the Winnipeg Art Gallerys Olympus: The Greco-Roman Collections of Berlin exhibition in 2015. Bresciani knew immediately she had discovered a muse with simpatico sensibility, subsequently inviting the younger dance artist to her Tempio di Danza studio located 150 kilometres north of NYC to begin their collaborative process in June 2016.

Bresciani also asked Hiley to accompany her to Delphi, Greece last May for the newly reinstated Festival of the Delphic Games  its first reincarnation of the ancient event launched by Duncan in 1927  where she represented Canada at the festival that has risen like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes thanks to Brescianis driving efforts as its founding chair. She even performed outdoors at Delphis mini-amphitheatre built on the mythological, archeological grounds of Mount Parnassus, and has been invited to present Marche Slav during the 2021 Greek festival.

Theres never been anyone that I would have wanted to remount this on until Kathleen. She has this wonderful combination of being mature enough, but also strong enough with a real understanding for this work, Bresciani says. Kathleen also has a kind of beauty. The Greeks have a word for this  kallos  meaning beauty from inside and outside that is able to help her portray these roles with such depth.

Born 1877 in California, Duncan lived during the time of the suffragettes as a free spirit, performing her expressive dances throughout Europe as well as in NYC. The subject of the 1968 biographical film Isadora starring Vanessa Redgrave, the trailblazing artist died tragically in a freak accident at age 50  strangled by her own trademark flowing scarf that became caught in the axle of a car she was riding in, only fuelling her mythological status further.

Marche Slav is considered the first of Duncans overtly political, allegorical dances, characterized by angular movement vocabulary in contrast to her earlier, more fluid dances. It received its official premiere by Duncan at NYCs original Metropolitan Opera House in 1917, following an earlier staging as a work-in-progress in 1909.

Isadoras choreography is steeped in imagery and pure emotion, which is harder to express because we dont always live in one emotion, Hiley says of her aesthetic. So if its fear, its pure fear, not anxiety. If Im expressing love, then its pure love. Her work is very human, and so I try to tap into that as well as draw on my own experiences in life.

One of the great hallmarks of the artists choreography is its emphasis on opposing forces. Even her bold drama of social protest originally inspired by the fiery spirit of revolution is simultaneously driven by profound messages of universal peace. But is there joy in this solo?

There is, and thats the beauty of it, Bresciani replies when asked if a seemingly anguished work characterized by oppression, heart-stopping whip cracks and choking ropes might also appeal to its own better angels. No matter what Isadora has gone through, theres never the loss of soul in her dances. As with all her works, Marche Slav is ultimately about the triumph of the human spirit.

The program also features Hiley in seven excerpts from Duncans Chopins 24 Preludes (Op. 28), accompanied live by the Brandon-based Tselyakov.

Dancing Isadoras rich and breathtaking movement to the exquisite music of Chopin is truly a transformative experience, she notes of the haunting works. I also felt that to honour Isadora, and the legacy of her work, I should have a stellar artist as Alexander to collaborate with. He is a generous, compassionate poet of the piano. Having the opportunity to dance to his beautiful interpretations is a true gift unlike any other, she adds eloquently.

Last but not least, audiences will be treated to the 1987 piece Old Times Now by Rachel Browne, Canadas own dance legend who choreographed the compelling 15-minute solo described by Hiley as truly about human resilience. Russian-born pianist Alexander Tselyakov will accompany the soloist live onstage.

I am moved by the artistry, humanity and compassion within this solo, that is about surviving and being able to carry on even when you have been pushed to the edge of your limits, says Hiley.

On the threshold of her own bold experiment, Hiley is looking forward to sharing these iconic works with new legions of dance lovers.

This project is a window into the world of Isadora from over 100 years ago that still resonates today, she says. Its an unbelievable opportunity to step back in time and witness these masterpieces from one of the most important creators of all times, the great mother of modern dance, Isadora Duncan.

holly.harris@shaw.ca

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A New York company is facing multiple charges after trying to bilk 110 businesses, including five in Manitoba, by charging them for cleaning supplies they hadnt ordered.

A1 Janitorial Supply Corporation, three related companies, and two individuals have been charged by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under a number of U.S. statutes, including the FTC Act, the FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Unordered Merchandise Statute.

The charges were filed after a lengthy investigation by the FTC, which worked closely with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario and a number of BBBs in the United States.

Len Adrusiak, president and CEO of the local BBB, said it was involved in all 110 cases  96 in Canada and 14 in the United States  because the cleaning supplies were shipped from a distribution centre the New York company had set up in Thunder Bay, Ont., which is within its territory,

The BBB reported that A1 Janitorial Supply Corp. would contact a company and offer up a free sample of its cleaning products.

Then it would bill the company for the free samples and continue sending more products and more invoices, even though the companies hadnt agreed to purchase any of them.

Adrusiak said the five Manitoba companies were in Brandon, East Selkirk, Headingley, Arborg and Eriksdale. He said all five refused to pay for the products, so arent out any money. But some of the others that were targeted werent as fortunate.

Numerous businesses paid their invoices in the hopes that the supply company would cease contact. However, more shipments followed, he said.

He noted the 110 cases are just the ones where a formal complaint was filed with the BBB.

We dont know how many thousands of companies across North America were targeted by the organization that never filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, he said.

Adrusiak said the the first complaint was received in January 2015, and the last one Oct. 17 of this year. He said the bureau sent a warning to the company in April 2015, and also attached a warning to its business profile stating complaints about it had been received.

He noted the New York company did respond to every complaint the BBB received, and in many cases cancelled any outstanding invoices and agreed not to contact the complainants again.

However, the defendants often denied refund requests, claiming that as chemicals, their cleaning product cannot be returned, he said.

He said the FTC is seeking restitution for the victims, and also has filed a temporary restraining order against the company. Adrusiak said the message to local businesses and consumers is to contact the BBB if they have any questions or concerns about a company.

We can help you get things done, he said.

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca
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Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt wants city hall to get into the solar energy business.

Wyatt brought a motion to Wednesdays council meeting calling on council to create a civic agency mandated to develop the production of solar energy and other sources of alternative energy that can be sold to Manitoba Hydro.

The future is going to change dramatically when it comes to clean energy production and electric power, Wyatt said. This is an opportunity for the city and we should really jump at the chance.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Coun. Russ Wyatt

Wyatt proposed the creation of an agency he dubbed Winnipeg Green Energy Organization, a.k.a. WPG-GEO, financed using $200,000 in the annual savings in the citys electric bill as a result of the LED conversion of overhead street lights.

Wyatts plan will likely find difficulty getting enough support among his council colleagues. The proposal was automatically referred to the executive policy committee, which is about to table the 2018 budget. Wyatt will be hard-pressed to find support to redirect scarce funds for such a bold initiative.

Wyatt said a civic agency could help city hall develop initiatives to offset its carbon footprint and developing solar power would be an entry program, adding the agency could also explore other alternative energy sources such as wind and methane from the Brady landfill.

The potential is big but I want to start with solar because its practical now and were so far behind in that field here in Winnipeg, Wyatt said. The potential for the city could be great for revenues that could offset our traditional reliance on property taxes.

City hall can implement planning policies, Wyatt said, that would encourage adoption of solar and alternative energy sources on existing residential neighbourhoods and industrial parks and it could install solar panels on its own buildings.

I think we can really advance our city, Wyatt said. Based on our climate, we are a great, great solar centre that can drive a ton of solar power.

Wyatts plan, which was seconded by Coun. Ross Eadie, envisions funding for the new agency be increased by $200,000 every year until it reaches a maximum annual budget of $1 million. Wyatt said it probably would take about five years before the new agency starts generating profit for city hall, adding it should be allowed to retain those earnings for the first 10 years.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
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OTTAWA  Questions about Ottawas handling of Churchills rail line crisis ricocheted among federal departments Wednesday, as the representatives of the northern Manitoba town asked the provincial government to help find a solution.

In a claim filed Tuesday under the North American Free Trade Agreement, Hudson Bay Railway ownerOmnitrax said it will sue Ottawa for $150 million if arbitration doesnt result in a settlement that sees the flood-damaged line repaired and transferred, along with the Port of Churchill, to a private consortium for a negotiated amount.

Also Tuesday, Ottawa proceeded with an $18.8-million lawsuit to claw back funds it provided under a 2008 agreement to improve the transportation link.

Aerial view of the port of Churchill, Manitoba Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. The owners of a port and broken rail line in northern Manitoba are filing a complaint against the federal government under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Churchill Mayor Mike Spence gathered 100 of the towns 900 residents for a meeting Tuesday night, where they shared months-old concerns about rising food and gas prices, and unemployment.

This is the largest challenge weve ever faced, said Spence, one of three main people behind the consortium to which the government is trying to transfer the railway and port.

We have a federal commitment that this wouldnt derail negotiations.

Omnitraxs NAFTA filing contained multiple allegations the Free Press could not verify.

One claim, not previously reported, was that the federal granting agency Western Economic Diversification strung Omnitrax along this spring, after it requested funds to help deliver 350,000 metric tonnes of grain from producers to the Port of Churchill, prior to the rail lines May 23 washout.

Spence said hed never heard of a proposed shipment, especially after Denver-based Omnitrax laid off the bulk of its port workers in July 2016.

The size of the purported shipment would have been almost double the amount the port had shipped out in 2015.

The office of federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains refused to confirm the allegation.

Our government is actively supporting the community of Churchill to address immediate needs and resulting economic impacts, wrote spokesman Karl Sasseville.

Given the legal nature of the notice of intent we will not be offering comment at this time.

Other points raised in Omnitraxs filings remain unconfirmed, from whether Transport Canada had low-balled the value of the rail line and port, to why other funding programs fell through.

Five hours after receiving an email, Transport Canada told the Free Press the questions surrounding NAFTA would have to be handled by the foreign affairs ministry.

In Winnipeg, provincial Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler stressed the rail line and port fall under federal regulation.

He repeatedly refused to say whether Manitoba considers Churchill a strategic asset.

We need to know from the federal government: do they see the Port of Churchill as a national strategic asset?

Schuler said his government supports Ottawas legal action against Omnitrax, but hasnt said whether the province will sue the company for the $20 million it gave Omnitrax under a separate 2008 contract.

We understand the frustration in Churchill, Schuler said. We are getting supplies up there.

Though Omnitrax called on the provincial government to join Ottawa in arbitration under NAFTA, Schuler claimed it falls outside provincial jurisdiction, adding the Pallister government would like to do so.

Nobody here is new to lawsuits  they tend to include everybody. Omnitrax has cast a wide net.

As much as Id like to weigh in on this, Im going to be careful; were going before the courts.

But Spence said Churchill will soon reach out to the province, both to help get through the winter and to find a viable solution.

The province can be a part of it, at the end of the day, he said.

Meanwhile, Niki Ashton, the MP for northern Manitoba, says her areas plight calls for a symbolic response.

Wednesday afternoon, she called on the University of Winnipeg to strip the honorary doctorate it awarded to Omnitrax founder Pat Broe in 2008.

He was given the doctorate because of his commitment to our north. But his company has since shown nothing but disrespect to the people of northern Manitoba, Ashton wrote in a press release.

The people of Churchill and our north have suffered enough due to Pat Broes actions.

The university could not be immediately reached for comment.

 with files from Nick Martin

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
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The Manitoba government is expected to forgo plans to raise a section of Highway 75 for flood proofing and reroute traffic along the St. Marys Road extension instead.

The Town of Morris says it has all but been told that the province no longer wants to raise the towns bridge over the Morris River, or raise the 12-kilometre stretch of Highway 75 between towns Morris and Aubigny.

Instead, the province is expected to pave Highway 246, which runs parallel to Highway 75 between the two towns, to accommodate transport trucks and other traffic in a flood. It will also raise some low spots on Highway 246.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Plans to raise the bridge over the Morris River could be put on the back burner says Morris mayor.

Manitoba Infrastructure refused to comment but suggested news could be imminent.

The province will announce the tenders for projects slated for the next construction season on Friday, a spokesman said.

The Town of Morriss first choice is to raise Highway 75, said Mayor Gavin van der Linde.

That way businesses like stores, gas stations, and restaurants still benefit from vehicle traffic during the four-to-six weeks when the town closes its ring dike due to flooding.

It looked like the province was fully prepared to do that.

It had already purchased two properties adjacent to the bridge on the north side of Morris.

But complications arose. Provincial officials told van der Linde they discovered that raising Highway 75 north of Morris would act as a dike and change the movement of floodwaters. That would artificially flood land that currently doesnt get flooded.

The province realized it would have to include control structures in the form of two bridges and some large culverts, which would add to the cost.

As well, the bridge over the Morris River would have to be raised by more than five metres.

The reason for that is the bridge now is six feet underwater in a bad flood. The province wanted to raise the bottom girders so they are out of the water and dont trap trees and debris, and thats another 10 feet, said van der Linde. These factors caused the cost for the option to balloon to $200 million, or double the cost to pave and raise Highway 246.

However, the high traffic volume would have to pass through a school zone with a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour. Something will have to be done to ensure student safety, he said.

Its imperative for CentrePort that the Transcontinental Trade Corridor be kept open during floods, said Terry Shaw, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association.

However, the detour may be the best option relative to budgets.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/11/2017 (1826 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There have been many commentaries relating to the Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan that was released on Oct. 27, but little regarding what the numbers mean. Not all aspects of the plan have been outlined in detail, with the Manitoba government still seeking input. Yet, extensive analysis was provided to back up what has been presented so far. They also appear to have done their legal homework, which is important given Ottawas rather swift and negative reaction (Feds see red over Manitobas green plan, Free Press, Oct. 31).

I was disappointed with the federal response. As I tell my students, the point of using economic instruments, whether emission fees or tradable permits, is to achieve desirable reductions in pollutant emissions by efficiently balancing costs and benefits. This is precisely what Manitoba has attempted to do so far. Bluntly, the point is not just about raising prices.

It also takes very little digging to expose the political nature of Ottawas position.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Premier Brian Pallister is attempting to reduce emissions while still balancing costs and benefits with his governments Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan.

Manitoba astutely compared the prices on carbon to be in place by 2022 across all provinces. Importantly, Manitobas plan does not have the lowest price by that time. Instead, the distinction goes to Ontario and Quebec, with equivalent prices of only $22 per tonne. If it is so important to achieve a final $50 per tonne price, why has absolutely nothing been said to either of these other provinces?

On this matter, someone can easily suggest yes, but! This is given since Ontario and Quebec both opted for a cap-and-trade system, which is deemed a bit different. Although emission fees and tradable permits will respond in different ways to different market changes, they are both aimed at emission reductions, and should, over time, converge to similar prices.

Manitoba provided a sound explanation as to why a cap-and-trade system is not practical here. A key observation can be made that Manitobas plan itself is not solely focused on an emission levy, and needs to be considered in terms of equivalency.

There are a large number of complementary and associated regulatory measures mentioned, which indeed could make up more than half of the proposed reductions. Some of the most important relate to our renewable fuel mandates  regulatory measures that can achieve significant emission reductions. It is also possible, albeit tricky, to estimate equivalent prices-on-carbon for these.

Ethanol and biodiesel mandates in Manitoba go well beyond anything else anywhere in the country, and thus are highly appropriate to evaluate. Tying down precise equivalent carbon prices, however, would require extensive analysis. On a preliminary basis, it is useful to refer to the Ecofiscal Commissions 2016 report, Course Correction: Its Time to Rethink Canadian Biofuel Polices.

Considering Manitobas current ethanol mandate, the carbon price that could be ascribed for the extra 3.5 per cent ethanol above the national requirement of five per cent appears to translate to an incremental increase of at least $6.50 per tonne. For the proposed increase in biodiesel mandate, the carbon price that could be ascribed for the extra three per cent above the national requirement of two per cent appears to translate to an incremental increase of at least $5 per tonne. Thus, we are talking not $25 per tonne for Manitoba, but at least the equivalent of $36.50 per tonne or more. Ottawa has not considered this perspective at all.

But what is to be done with the revenues generated by the carbon levy?

One key priority relates to addressing the concern over impacts on low-income and fixed-income families. Within Manitoba, this is most important for natural gas, given both our cold climate that necessitates heating and the fact we will see natural gas-based heating bills increase by close to 25 per cent as a result of the levy. Alternatives can certainly help  for example, heat pumps or biomass, the latter outlined by professor Nazim Cicek (Free Press, Oct. 31). These, however, are longer term to implement, while the levy will hit this January.

Consumption-based levies disproportionately affect limited-income families. Another good offset involves a simultaneous reduction in another consumption tax, with the obvious candidate being the provincial Retail Sales Tax (RST). Although the numbers do not match perfectly, it is worthwhile considering a one per cent reduction in the RST to offset the levy. This is an interesting confluence of the political left and right, achieving revenue neutrality and fulfilling a platform goal, while addressing concerns for limited-income families at the same time.

But where will the funds come from to support complementary measures? One obvious answer is the $1.4-billion Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund the federal government announced earlier. This is to be distributed on a per-capita basis to provinces and territories, but only once they have signed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. For Manitoba, it translates to about $66 million.

Manitoba had previously balked at signing, but now, given that we have a plan coming into place, it would be worthwhile to sign, or at least to try to sign on our own terms even if Ottawa rejects us. A sum of $66 million is certainly worth going to court for.

Aside from the carbon levy, the Manitoba government has outlined a variety of additional possible actions, but many of these only at a high level. We have begun to make a start, and it is important to evaluate various options for emission reduction in order to identify economically efficient opportunities.

Robert Parsons teaches sustainability economics in the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/11/2017 (1826 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fresh off an election win in 2015, the Trudeau government won the support of the Canadian research community with a declaration that science and evidence-based decision making was back.

Early action included the appointment of Canadas first minister of science, and a modest increase in funding to the federal agencies that administer federal research funds in their first budget. While disappointed with the magnitude of investment, the research community rationalized that much more substantive changes to science funding would require more time, and hoped for an evidence-based process.

To this end, Science Minister Kirsty Duncan commissioned a review of federally funded research led by David Naylor and a panel of university administrators and distinguished researchers, including Nobel laureate Arthur McDonald.

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press Science Minister Kirsty Duncan has been slow to endorse the findings of a report she commissioned.

The report was delivered in late 2016. But the official release was delayed until early April 2017, after the government presented its second federal budget with no new funds for Canadas three federal research agencies, commonly referred to as the tricouncil: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Picking winners instead of basic research

In fact, there was no mention of these funding agencies or the importance of fundamental research in the 2017 federal budget, despite a major focus on innovation, which inevitably builds on fundamental discoveries.

Instead, Ottawa continued the trend of previous governments to support directed funding for specialized themes, including $6 million for stem-cell research, $81 million for space exploration, $10 million for quantum computing and $35 million to support international collaborations. This approach amounts to picking winners, and ignores the value of broad support for the science ecosystem.

To this day, there has been limited endorsement of the Naylor report recommendations by the Canadian government. Some suggest the science minister and the Naylor report failed to make a compelling casethat a major reinvestment of $485 million dollars annually  less than 0.1 per cent of GDP  is needed to restore funding for fundamental research to 2005 levels.

Duncan was slow to endorse the report and appeared to question whether funding recommendations should be left to elected officials  surprising since she herself commissioned the report, and it provides the basis for evidence-based decisions on how to bolster Canadian science funding and delivery.

Research funding dire

Instead, a grassroots effort among Canadian researchers led to the organization of town hall meetings across Canada where researchers weighed in on their concerns. These forums revealed how dire the funding situation is for researchers, especially for those in early and mid-career positions who are attempting to build or sustain their research program.

The meetings also demonstrated that the research community strongly supports implementation of all recommendations in the Naylor report. Support the Report became a mantra taken up by many Canadian scientists on social media and in meetings with government officials. We collectively met with most federal MPs and ministers and often found ourselves educating them on the Naylor report  even those within the Liberal government.

Since then, there has been no evidence that the science minister or the prime minister will provide the budget support needed to enact the reports recommendations.

Now at the midpoint of its mandate, the Trudeau government is attempting to traverse an ever-widening gap between the governments messaging on science and its actions. Due to inaction, they have effectively reduced available funding for federal research in open competitions where the research topics are not constrained or dependent on industry partnerships.

Serious implications

Why should the public be concerned? The loss of investigator-initiated grants means that we are currently limiting the support for new fundamental discoveries that cannot be predicted by well-intentioned government or granting council executives.

Further, these discoveries are often not translated into new treatments or devices immediately. The late Tony Pawson, who made seminal discoveries during his biomedical research career in Canada, had an important message for all governments when accepting the prestigious Kyoto Prize in Japan in 2008: Governments increasingly want to see immediate returns on the research that they support, but it is worth viewing basic science as a long-term investment that will yield completely unexpected dividends for humanity in the future.

This was certainly a failing of the Harper government, and still largely applies to the science policy of the Trudeau government, despite the warm platitudes of how they value science.

Action needed now

It is time for the Canadian government to move past boutique programs and photo-ops. Without new investment in unfettered research funding to the tricouncil agencies, we will see generations of highly skilled scientists leave Canada or choose another career.

This will further the steady decline in Canadas reputation for world-class research. It also has the unintended consequence of stemming the flow of new discoveries that feed into the innovation sector.

Recently, several positive steps on the science portfolio have included appointment of Canadas chief science adviser to the government and a Canada Research Coordinating Committee. These are promising developments, but without a major increase in federal funding, the research ecosystem will remain on life support.

It is now 2017, a time for evidence-based decisions in science policy. It is time for the Canadian government to demonstrate they are moving ahead with all recommendations from the Naylor report to return balance and support Canadian science in all its wonderful diversity.

Andrew Craig is an associate professor of biomedical and molecular sciences at Queens University in Ontario.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/11/2017 (1826 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In Boston this week, the Berklee College of Music dealt head-on with allegations that some of its professors have sexually assaulted and harassed students. It held an open forum on Monday, during which the school president apologized to students, explained how the school has investigated the allegations and vowed to root out abusive behaviour.

Earlier this year, the University of Manitoba heard allegations that a prominent music professor had harassed students, including complaints of sexual harassment. It responded by dealing with the matter behind the scenes, and when pressed by students for more accountability, the president issued an email saying the school is required by law to protect the confidentiality and privacy of people involved.

At which school would students feel protected?

Dina Rudick / Boston Globe files A student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston protests against sexual harassment.

At the U of M, students in the faculty of music who said they were the victims of harassment by Prof. Steve Kirby had repeatedly complained to the university. The university refused to specify what action, if any, was taken in response to the complaints and said Mr. Kirby retired in June.

The distrust created by the universitys handling of the Kirby matter was evidenced by music-school graduate Daniel Jordan, who mailed back his diploma and said he was ashamed to be an alumnus. He added, I truly hope that one day, you find the courage to take a stand against sexual harassment and systemic abuse of power.

Contrast this with the way Berklee responded to a Boston Globe story that detailed students reports of being assaulted, groped or pressured into sex with their teachers.

Berklee cancelled its state of the college address, and instead held an open forum for students and staff about stopping sexual assault and harassment. School president Roger Brown apologized to students who have been assaulted and explained that the school has terminated 11 faculty members in the past 13 years for sex-related matters. The institution stopped short, however, of naming the faculty members who had been dismissed, and clearly failed to adequately check Mr. Kirbys background before (briefly) hiring him.

When comparing the reactions of the two institutions, its noteworthy that the U of M acted pre-Weinstein, and Berklee acted post-Weinstein, the dividing line etched in October when an eruption of allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein prompted thousands of women and men worldwide to use social media to share their stories of harassment and assault.

Its difficult to measure the significance of a social movement while it is still occurring, but the recent wave of public disclosures of sexual assault and harassment has the feel of a seismic-level shift. Victims feel empowered to identity their attackers publicly, and are understandably suspicious of any institution that opts to keep such matters under wraps.

This increased demand for public accountability can be challenging for institutions such as the U of M that must deal with allegations against employees within the boundaries of employment standards, criminal law and collective agreements.

But its necessary to find a way to balance privacy issues and the need to protect against harassment and assault. As Manitobas largest post-secondary institution, the U of M has the opportunity to lead the way in lowering the cloak of secrecy, at least somewhat, and show how the way it investigates student complaints against professors is up-to-date with the redefined zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment.

Berklee acted in a high-profile way to show students their safety concerns are the priority.

U of M students await similar assurances.
Tuesdays Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the use of nuclear weapons highlighted the acute danger of the eruption of a war that could kill hundreds of millions or even billions of people.

The hearing was called amid a series of threats by the Trump administration to go to war with North Korea. In addition to Trumps threats to unleash fire and fury like the world has never seen against a country whose economy is one one-thousandth the size of Americas, National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster, an active duty Army general, has made clear that the US is prepared to wage a preventive, that is, unprovoked, war.

To back up this threat, the Trump administration has deployed a vast armada off of the Korean Peninsula, including three aircraft carrier battle groups and an array of nuclear-capable submarines and bombers. At the same time, Washington is moving to expand and modernize the US nuclear arsenal.

Speaking at Tuesdays hearing, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey declared that plans could be in place right now in the White House given to the president to launch a preemptive war against North Korea using American nuclear weapons without consulting with, informing Congress.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Congress was concerned that the president is so unstable, is so volatile, has a decision-making process that is so quixotic, that he might order a nuclear weapons strike on a whim.

These statements are an acknowledgment that even the smallest incident, from a wayward test missile to a clash between Russia, China, North Korea or Iran and any of the tens of thousands of US troops, aircraft and warships operating on their borders, to one of the presidents notorious late-night temper tantrums, could lead to a full-scale nuclear attack by the United States.

Commenting on the hearing, Bruce Blair, a nuclear command and control expert at Princeton University, remarked to Newsweek that this system gives one person the God-like power to end the world. The power to destroy human civilization is unilaterally wielded by one man, who happens to be a career con artist and reality TV star known for his impulsive petulance, short temper and even shorter attention span.

Called by Senator Bob Corker to consider the conditions under which the president could order the use of nuclear weapons, the hearing was officially held for the purpose of discussing the potential for legislation that would require congressional approval for the use of those weapons.

The outcome of the hearing was categorical: The presidents power to order a nuclear holocaust is total and unquestionable, and no one in Congress is calling seriously for changing that state of affairs. Committee Chairman Corker, for all of his rhetorical attacks on Trump, including his comparison of the White House to an adult day care center, made no proposal for limiting Trumps power to wage a preemptive nuclear war, declaring, I do not see a legislative solution today.

The only possible deterrent raised at the hearing to Trumps power to unilaterally launch nuclear weapons was a mutiny by the military brass. Action can be taken, said Gen. Robert Kehler, who testified before the committee. It would, however, pose a very interesting constitutional situation. The action, in other words, would be a military coup.

This state of affairs, where the prospect of a seizure of power by the military is raised at a congressional hearing as the only means of blocking a nuclear holocaust, is the expression of a deeply diseased society.

The source of the crisis is not the personality of Donald Trump. Rather, Trump embodies the criminality and corruption of the financial oligarchy of which he is a part.

If Trump were removed from office, who would replace him? His vice president, Mike Pence, is a notorious war hawk. If Trump were ousted by the Democrats, the result would be a major US escalation against Russia, the country with the worlds second-largest nuclear arsenal. If it was the military, the nuclear arsenal would be in the hands of professional killers who have committed untold war crimes in Serbia, the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Asia.

The United States incendiary role on the world stage is the outward expression of its internal social relations. This a country dominated by colossal social tensions, in which three peopleBill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffettcontrol as much wealth as the bottom half of the population. As with so many of its predecessors, this decadent and crisis-ridden ruling class is seeking to direct social tensions outward through war.

Congress, which has for decades rubber-stamped one illegal and criminal war after another, long ago abandoned its constitutionally mandated responsibility to check the war-making powers of the president.

Washingtons threats against the world are the result of the collapse of the US-led post-World War II geopolitical order, at the center of which is the decline of US economic might and the rise of strategic competitors in Asia and Europe. Trumps 12-day tour of the Pacific was a case in point: blustering with protectionist rhetoric, Trump visited country after country with demands for more favorable trade deals and came up empty-handed.

Mired in geopolitical and domestic crisis, the United States has one final recourse: the threat to obliterate with nuclear weapons anyone who opposes it. Coming from the only country that has used nuclear weapons in war, it would be the height of folly to think this is merely a bluff. If the United States, at the height of its global power, destroyed two defenseless Japanese cities with nuclear weapons to send a message to the Soviet Union, how much greater is the threat now, when US global dominance is visibly eroding?

The looming danger of a new world war, this time fought with nuclear weapons, raises the urgent need for the working class to intervene independently and build a mass international anti-war movement based on the socialist perspective of doing away with the root cause of war: the capitalist system.
According to Indian media reports, Atul Keshap, the US ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, recently held talks with Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar over ISIS threats and Chinese influence in the South Asia region. The pair reportedly discussed ways of scuttling Chinas economic weight in Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka and Maldives, only 983 kilometres apart, sit astride strategic Indian Ocean sea lanes, from the Strait of Hormuz in the west to the Malacca Strait in the east. The US regards both straits as choke points that could be used to block vital energy supplies and other imports to China in a war.

Emphasising the importance of its alliance with India, Washington, which previously referred to the Asia-Pacific to describe its efforts to isolate China, now says its operations cover the Indo-Pacific. US National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster declared last week in Beijing: If you look at the geography and trade routes, the routes flow east and west across the Indo-Pacific region.

In response to Washingtons increasingly provocative moves, China is stepping up its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) and associated Maritime Silk Road projects to ensure the free movement of its imports and exports. The US regards OBOR as a threat to its global hegemony.

After decades of non-alignment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed India into a frontline state in Washingtons moves against Beijing.

Reporting on high-level discussions between US Ambassador Keshap and Indian officials, a November 6 article by the Times of India s diplomatic editor Indrani Bagchi declared: Maldives is a matter of particular concern. China has consolidated its hold on the island, building infrastructure with its standard predatory pricing methods.

The article implied that Chinese involvement in the iHavan port project on Maldives northernmost atoll was a security threat to India. Bagchi listed other decisions by the cash-strapped Maldives government of President Abdulla Yameen. These included selling an atoll near Male airport to Chinese interests, and allowing three Chinese warships to visit the country in August, in defiance of Indian objections.

The Times also revealed that India and the US were teaming up to monitor returning ISIS fighters into Maldives. It quoted an unnamed diplomat who claimed there was an explosion of extremist preachers in Maldives.

This claim has one purposeto further pressure Yameens government and justify increased US and India surveillance of the country. Sections of the Indian elite, media and analysts are demanding that Modis government take more aggressive action to bring Maldives under Indias influence.

The US and the European Union are using Yameens human rights violationsciting a media crackdown and the arrest of opposition party leadersto support the opposition led by former President Mohammed Nasheed. Nasheed is denouncing Yameens pro-China policy and promising to install a pro-US, pro-Indian administration in Maldives.

Indian news reports noted that the US and Indian diplomats expressed concerns over Sri Lankas relations with Beijing. In 2015, Washington, supported by New Delhi, orchestrated a regime-change operation to oust President Mahinda Rajapakse and replace him with Maithripala Sirisena. The US and India were hostile to Rajapakses close relations with Beijing and wanted Colombo to integrate itself with Washingtons war plans against China.

After taking office in January 2015, Sirisena installed pro-US United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, halted Chinese investment projects and aligned the countrys foreign policy with Washington.

Two months later, however, the indebted Sri Lankan government began looking for funds from China. It restarted halted projects, such as the $US1.4 billion Colombo Port City Project, while attaching some terms and conditions to them. Sirisenas government also sold a 60 percent stake in Hambantota Port, which was built with Chinese funds, to a Chinese company.

When New Delhi voiced concerns over the Hambantota Port deal, claiming it was a part of Chinas strategic moves against India, the Sri Lankan government offered India 70 percent of the shares in the nearby Mattala Mahinda Rajapakse airport and a role in the development of the eastern Trincomalee deep water port.

The US has denounced China for providing loans to indebted countries. US acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells recently told a congressional committee China is providing non-concessional loans that promote unsustainable debt burdens, which I think are increasingly now of concern to the Sri Lankan people in the government.

Chinas ambassador to Sri Lanka, Yi Xianliang, rejected these claims last week. In a Colombo media opinion piece, Yi denounced Wellss claim as completely unfounded. He noted that the US was the largest grant provider of assistance to Sri Lanka and most of the Chinese loans were concessional and on fixed rates.

While Sirisenas government continues to seek financial assistance from Beijing, it is increasingly integrating the country into US war plans against China. Last week, US Under-Secretary of State Thomas Shannon visited Sri Lanka for the Colombo-US Partnership Dialogue, which involved discussions on economic and financial assistance, and security issues. The US military, including its Pacific Command, is working closely with the Sri Lankan military and training key units.

Since Sirisena and Wickremesinghe came to power, US and Indian warships have made frequent visits to the Colombo, Trincomalee and Hambantota ports.

Late last month, an aircraft carrier strike groupthe carrier USS Nimitz, cruiser USS Princeton, and destroyers USS Howard, USS Shoup, USS Pinckney and USS Kidddocked in Colombo Port for four days. The Times of India enthusiastically declared the armadas visit was a message to China.

On November 10, the Chinese navy training vessel, the Qi Ji Guang, came to Colombo on a four-day goodwill visit during a multinational mission.

The presence of these warships is another ominous expression of the sharpening geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. Likewise, the discussions between US and Indian officials show that these countries are stepping up their operations against China and sending a message to the Sri Lankan and Maldives governments that there will be no room to manoeuvre in Washingtons war drive.
Mens AOH has new members

At its recent business meeting, the Ancient Order of Hibernian conducted an induction ceremony in which Dan Callahan, Dan Dennehy, John Mike Dennehy, Sean Komora, Richard Quinn and Dan Steele were inducted into the Irish fraternal organization.

Following the ceremony, the evening concluded with Irish music and a pasty dinner.

Free POUND, yoga class offered

Montana Dance Works will be celebrating the holiday season Saturday, Dec. 9, with a community POUND class and a community yoga practice. All are welcome to this free event.

POUND will be held from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and yoga will be from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Donations will be accepted in honor of A Mining City Christmas and Action Inc.

Animal Control impounds listed

These are animals that have been picked up by Butte Animal Control. If you think one of the following animals is yours please call Chelsea Bailey Butte-Silver Bow Animal Shelter at 406-497-6528 or stop by from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Dogs:

Four-year-old male terrier cross, gray and tan, neutered, picked up Tuesday on 2900 block of Elm

Three-year-old female Chihuahua, brown, picked up Monday on Alaska and Quartz

Cats:

Five-year-old female shorthaired, picked up Monday on the 1900 block of Lafayette

Two-year-old male orange tabby, neutered, picked up Monday on 1100 block of East Second Street

Two-year-old male gray tabby, neutered, picked up Friday on the 10 block of West Center Street

Toastmasters list weekly winners

Top O The Mornin Toastmasters weekly winners included best speaker Billie Holmlund, best speaker; John Grill, best evaluator; and Mike Gribben and Sherry Flamand tied for best topic respondent.

The next meeting will be held at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20, at Perkins.

Membership meeting Nov. 28

The Butte America Foundation will hold its annual membership meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, at the Carpenters Union Hall, 156 W. Granite St.

For details, visit butteamericafoundation.org or contact: bamf@butteamericafoundation.org.
After a 12-day Pacific Rim trip during which he was forced to watch CNN, President Donald Trump got up super-early Wednesday morning to tweet in happy anticipation of returning to his safe space, Fox & Friends.

He also recounted, for his 45M followers, the horror, TV-wise of his journey.

Before eagerly trashing CNN, Trump told his 45M Twitter followers to be sure to tune in to Fox News Channels morning show where he guessed the show would rave about the many accomplishments of his performance while traveling in Asia.

@fox&friends will be showing much of our successful trip to Asia, and the friendships & benefits that will endure for years to come! he emoted.

While in the Philippines I was forced to watch @CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is. Loser!

Our great country is respected again in Asia. You will see the fruits of our long but successful trip for many years to come!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017

.@foxandfriends will be showing much of our successful trip to Asia, and the friendships & benefits that will endure for years to come!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017

While in the Philippines I was forced to watch @CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is. Loser!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017

Story continues

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People Explains: Who Is Alabama Senate Candidate Roy Moore  and Does He Still Have a Chance to Win?

Almost nothing about Roy Moores candidacy for Senate has been without controversy.

First, he challenged incumbent Luther Strange, who had been appointed to replace Jeff Sessions when he was tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney General. During the primary, he waved a gun at an election eve campaign rally, lacked support from the Republican establishment and has called Islam a false religion.

But none of that scared off Alabama voters on Sept. 26, who supported Moore in the Republican primary runoff for Sessions vacated Senate seat.

The former chief justice for Alabamas Supreme Court defeated Strange, despite the fact that Moore did not have the endorsement of Trump  and spent far less cash than his opponent during his campaign. (Television spending on ads for Strange was five times that of Moore ads, according to NBC News.)

Moore is an outspoken, polarizing figure with beliefs so strong they have landed him in legal trouble. But now, its less his political views that are attracting attention. In the past week, five women have accused Moore of sexual misconduct while they were still in their teens, with one alleging that he sexually assaulted her.

Read on to learn more about who he is, the allegations against him, why hes been at odds with the Republican establishment throughout his campaign and whats landed him in legal hot water in his prior jobs.

What are the allegations against Moore?

In a bombshell report in the Washington Post last week, Leigh Corfman alleged that Moore sexually propositioned her when she was 14 years old, and he was 32. Corfman said she first met Moore outside a courtroom in Alabama, where her mother was set to go in for a custody hearing. He allegedly offered to look after Corfman while her mother, Nancy Wells, went into the hearing. Corfman said Moore then asked for her phone number. They met again days later, when, she says, he picked her up, drove her to house and then allegedly kissed her.

Story continues

The next time they met, Moore allegedly took off his clothes, and removed Corfmans shirt and pants as well. She said he touched her over her undergarments, and placed her hand over his underwear. I wanted it over with  I wanted out, she told the Washington Post of her thinking during the experience. Please just get this over with. Whatever this is, just get it over.

Three other women told the Post in the same article that Moore asked them out on dates. The women  Wendy Miller, Debbie Wesson Gibson and Gloria Thacker Deaso  were all still teenagers at the time of these alleged encounters. (Miller was 14, Gibson was 17 and Deason was 18.)

Since then, another woman, Beverly Young Nelson, has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct involving Moore. At a New York City press conference, Nelson said that Moore assaulted her after she finished her shift at a restaurant where she was working as a waitress. I tried fighting him off, while yelling at him to stop, but instead of stopping, he began squeezing my neck, attempting to force my head onto his crotch, she said of the alleged assault at the press conference, according to The New York Times. Nelson also had a yearbook that she said had been signed by Moore, with a message reading To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say Merry Christmas Love, Roy Moore, D.A.

The same day as Nelsons press conference, an article in the New Yorker was published that stated Moore badgered teen girls at a local mall in Gadsden, Alabama, where he earned a reputation for cruising for high-school dates. Several people told the magazine they heard Moore was banned from the mall.

Whats been Moores response to these allegations?

Moore has denied all allegations against him. After the Washington Post article was published, Moore released a statement calling the allegations garbage that is the very definition of fake news and intentional defamation.

Judge Roy Moore is winning with a double-digit lead, the statement read. So it is no surprise, with just over four weeks remaining, in a race for the U.S. Senate with national implications, that the Democratic Party and the countrys most liberal newspaper would come up with a fabrication of this kind.

On Friday, during an appearance on Hannity, Moore told Sean Hannity of Corfman: I never talked to her, never had any contact with her  Allegations of sexual misconduct with her are completely false. I believe they are politically motivated. I believe they are brought only to stop a very successful campaign, and thats what they are doing. Ive never known this woman.

What are other Republicans saying?

Senator Cory Gardner, who is the head of the Senate Republican Campaign committee, was one of the first big Republican names to come out against Moore. He said that if Moore was to win the election, the United States Senate should expel him.

I believe the individuals speaking out against Roy Moore spoke with courage and truth, proving he is unfit to serve in the United States Senate and he should not run for office, Gardner said in a statement. If he refuses to withdraw and wins, the Senate should vote to expel him, because he does not meet the ethical and moral requirements of the United States Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell later echoed the comments of his colleague, telling reporters in Washington, per CNN, I believe the women  I think he should step aside.

Moore responded to McConnells statement on Twitter, saying that the Senator should be the one to step aside.

The person who should step aside is @SenateMajLdr Mitch McConnell. He has failed conservatives and must be replaced. #DrainTheSwamp  Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 13, 2017

Other members of Congress have joined McConnell and Gardner. Republican Senator Jeff Flake said hed run to the polling place to vote for a Democrat over Moore, and that hed vote to expel Moore from the Senate if he won.

Just to be clear. If the choice is between Roy Moore and a Democrat, I would run to the polling place to vote for the Democrat https://t.co/Ec96HRt228  Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 13, 2017

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan also spoke out against Moore and encouraged him to drop out of the race. He should step aside, Ryan told CNN. Number one, these allegations are credible. Number two, if he cares about the values that he claims to care about, then he should step aside.

Senator Lindsey Graham and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who previously held the seat Moore is running for, also spoke out in support of the accusers. Sessions said he has no reason to doubt them, according to the Washington Post, while Graham encouraged Moore to leave the race.

In light of the most recent allegations and the cumulative effect of others, I believe #RoyMoore would be doing himself, the state, the GOP, and the country a service by stepping aside.



If he continues this will not end well for Mr. Moore.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 13, 2017

However, several Alabama Republicans have spoken out in support of Moore, including Alabama Bibb County Republican chairman Jerry Pow. Pow told Daniel Dale, a reporter for the Toronto Star: I would vote for Judge Moore because I wouldnt want to vote for Doug. Im not saying I support what he did.

A JMC Analytics poll said that 37 percent of Alabama evangelicals  a powerful force in the state  are more likely to vote for Moore after these allegations came to light, while 34 percent said it didnt make a difference in their decision, according to The Hill.

50 Alabama pastors also signed a letter of support, shared by Moores wife Kayla and published on AL.com, though three later asked for their names to be removed.

Could he still win the election?

Potentially. A new poll published on Sunday favored Moores competitor, Democrat Doug Jones, 46 percent to 42 percent, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, history isnt on Joness side: There hasnt been a Democratic Senator elected from Alabama since 1992, and four of the states past governors have been Republicans, too.

But even if he wins, that doesnt mean hell be seated. Senators could, as Flake said, expel Moore from the Senate after hes elected. However, that could have a serious backlash if Moore is the candidate that Alabama voters choose.

If the people of this state go forward and select their U.S. senator as Roy Moore, it will be because there is a deep suspicion of what has been coined as the establishment in D.C., Alabama State Senator Phil Williams told the New York Times. And if the establishment then chooses and tries to unseat, or in some way disavow, that candidate, it will create a backlash the likes of which the party has never seen before.

Who is Roy Moore?

Before these allegations surfaced, Moore was previously best known as the former chief justice of Alabamas Supreme Court, a position he won first in 2001 and again in 2013. He ran for governor of Alabama in 2006 and 2010, but both times failed to make it past the Republican primary.

Hes also a devout evangelical Christian, and often brought his beliefs into his government work. Just last week, he told Vox the Constitutions duty is to foster religion and foster Christianity. Hes been removed from office twice because he defied federal court rulings that conflicted with his religious beliefs.

His controversial comments about several minority groups, including gay people, Native Americans and Asians, have given him notoriety on a national stage. His remarks about the latter two groups, which he referred to as reds and yellows in a campaign speech, led him to be condemned by Chelsea Clinton. On the campaign trail in July, he called Islam a false religion, according to the Huffington Post.

Also a self-declared strong supporter of the second amendment and gun rights, he pulled out a gun on stage during a campaign event on Monday.

Whats his history with the Republican establishment?

Moore has often been at odds with the Republican establishment, which dates back to his first campaign for chief justice in 2000. His then-primary opponent, Associate Justice Harold See, brought in Karl Rove (who later became a senior adviser to President George W. Bush), to help his campaign, according to CNN. Despite the big-name assistance, Moore handily defeated See and later won the general election.

This time around, the Senate Leadership Fund, an establishment-led super PAC, unleashed several attack ads on Moore, according to CNN. U.S. Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas and the Senate Majority Whip, even told Politico that he didnt think Moore would be a productive member of the Senate Republicans, referencing Moores track record on the bench.

Moore himself has been hitting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell throughout his campaign. In one fundraising email he wrote, Judge Roy Moore in the U.S. Senate means the END of Mitch McConnells reign as Majority Leader, according to Politico.

And all throughout the primary race, hes had the support of far-right Breitbart News. He also received support from Steve Bannon himself after the former White House chief strategist resigned from the White House. Bannon hosted a campaign rally for Moore on Monday, where he called out several names of establishment Republican politicians, according to CNN. He said: For Mitch McConnell and Ward Baker and Karl Rove and Steven Law, all the instruments that tried to destroy Judge Moore and his family, your day of reckoning is coming.

Moore himself called his win a defeat of the establishment on Twitter.

CONSERVATIVE VICTORY HAS COME TO #ALSEN!



Because of you, tonight, the establishment has been DEFEATED in Alabama!



THANK YOU!  Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) September 27, 2017

What does Trump think of him?

In the Republican primary runoff race, Trump endorsed Strange, who had been appointed by former Gov. Robert Bentley to replace Sessions earlier this year. During a speech at a rally for Strange in Huntsville, Alabama, on Sept. 22, Trump implied that Strange would fare better in a general election than Moore would.

If [Luther] wins, that race is over, Trump said, according to NPR. If somebody else wins, I will tell you, thats gonna be a very tough race. However, Trump went on to say that if Moore was to win, Im going to be here campaigning like hell for him, in the general, according to the Washington Post.

At the Huntsville rally, Trump did express some doubt, and publicly worried that if Strange lost, it would have an effect on the way Trumps endorsements are perceived.

We have to be loyal in life, Trump said, according to the Washington Post. There is something called loyalty, and I might have made a mistake and  Ill be honest, I might have made a mistake. Because if Luther doesnt win, theyre not going to say we picked up 25 points in a very short period of time. Theyre gonna say, Donald Trump, the president of the United States, was unable to pull his candidate across the line. 

But still, on Saturday, Trump tweeted: It was great being with Luther Strange last night in Alabama. What great people, what a crowd! Vote Luther on Tuesday.

But since Moores win, Trump has thrown his support behind him. Trump deleted several (but not all) tweets in support of Strange, and sent out a new one in favor in Moore, telling him to WIN in Decembers general election.

Congratulations to Roy Moore on his Republican Primary win in Alabama. Luther Strange started way back & ran a good race. Roy, WIN in Dec!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2017

What about the whole Ten Commandments controversy?

Before Moore was running for a Senate seat, he left the office of chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court twice, both in a headline-making manner.

The first departure came in 2003, after less than three years on the job. When Moore became chief justice, he ordered the placement of a 2.6-ton monument of the Ten Commandments in the rotunda of Alabamas state judicial building, according to CNN. Myron Thompson, a U.S. district judge, ruled that the monument was a violation of the separation of church and state, but Moore declined to follow that court ruling and kept the monument up in the building.

It is a sad day in our country when the moral foundation of our law and the acknowledgment of God has to be hidden from public view to appease a federal judge, Moore said of the ruling shortly after it happened in 2003. He ended up being suspended by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission for his failure to obey the court order. He was removed from office on Nov. 14, 2003, after all nine members of the Alabama judicial ethics panel voted in favor of doing so.

What about his history with gay marriage?

Moore ran for the post of chief justice again in 2012, once again winning the position. And though he didnt bring another monument of the Ten Commandments into the court building, his second tenure stirred up controversy for other reasons.

In January 2015, the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a complaint against Moore after he encouraged both the governor and the states judges to continue to enforce the states ban on same-sex marriages, even though it had been overturned by a federal judge. In a letter written after the judges decree came down on Jan. 23, he said he was dismayed by judges who said they would honor the federal courts decision. Our State Constitution and our morality are under attacked by a federal court decision that has no basis in the Constitution of the United States of America, he wrote.

This letter handed him in front of the judicial ethics board once again, and he was suspended for his actions, according to NPR.

Moore has a long history of fighting gay rights, and has been vocal about his vitriol for gay people. In concurrence of a custody case involving a homosexual parent in 2002, he wrote that being gay creates a strong presumption of unfitness that alone is sufficient justification for denying that parent custody of his or her own children or prohibiting the adoption of the children of others. Then in 2014, he wrote to all 50 governors in the United States asking for their support for a constitutional convention to create an amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman, according to Alabama.com. He has called homosexuality a crime against nature, adding that it was abhorrent, immoral, detestable, according to Vox.

He formally resigned his position in April of this year, but this time, in the hopes of advancing his career with his U.S. Senate run. At the time of his resignation, he was still suspended from the job.

Anything else?

You may have seen an exchange floating around the internet from an interview Moore did with Vox. In it, reporter Jeff Stein asks Moore if he thinks Sharia Law is a danger to Americans. Moore responded: There are communities under Sharia law right now in our country. Up in Illinois. Christian communities; I dont know if they may be Muslim communities. But Sharia law is a little different from American law. It is founded on religious concepts.

When Stein then presses him to name the communities that are living under Sharia Law in the United States, and when this began, Moore tiptoes around his answer: Well, theres Sharia law, as I understand it, in Illinois, Indiana  up there. I dont know. Stein then tells Moore this is an amazing claim for a Senate candidate to make.

Moore responded: Well, let me just put it this way  if they are, they are; if theyre not, theyre not.

PolitiFact calls Moores claims false.

Who is his opponent?

Now that the primary is finished, Moore will face off with Democrat Doug Jones, who was appointed a United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama by President Bill Clinton in 1997. During his time in office, he reopened the investigation into the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, and prosecuted the two remaining suspects, Thomas Blanton and Bobby Cherry, who were Ku Klux Klan members. Both were found guilty, according to ABC News.

On Tuesday, he referenced those past prosecutions when he tweeted that he wont embarrass the state.

I stood up to the KKK, I will stand up for Alabama. I will not embarrass you.



It begins right now.



Donate:https://t.co/6afPBKHSoN  Doug Jones (@GDouglasJones) September 27, 2017

When is the general election?

Alabamians will cast their ballots on Dec. 12. The special election was going to coincide with the 2018 general elections, but Kay Ivey, the current Governor of Alabama (after Bentley resigned following a sex scandal earlier this year), later changed the date.
President Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C., Tuesday night concluding his two-week, five-nation trip to Asia. Once back in the White House, the president made clear it would be business as usual tweeting out renewed criticism of CNN.

While in the Philippines I was forced to watch @CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is. Loser! he wrote.

While in the Philippines I was forced to watch @CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is. Loser!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017

Its unclear who exactly was forcing the president to watch the network while he was overseas.

Also Read:Trump Tweets Condolences for Wrong Shooting: 'May God Be With the People of Sutherland Springs'

And of course, no tweet blasting CNN would be complete without a shout-out to its competitor Fox News  and the presidents favorite program, Fox & Friends.

Trump promised that the popular morning show would be showing much of our successful trip to Asia, and the friendship & benefits that will endure for years to come.

.@foxandfriends will be showing much of our successful trip to Asia, and the friendships & benefits that will endure for years to come!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017

The tweets suggest that Trump had knowledge of the shows programming schedule before airtime, a curiosity that MSNBC reporter Stephanie Ruhle pointed out.

Story continues

Quick question @realDonaldTrump  how did you know what would be on the NEWS over at @foxandfriends before it even aired? https://t.co/Pe9mtmL0B9  Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) November 15, 2017

The president is known to be especially tight with Fox & Friends. Long before he moved to the White House, Trump would regularly call into the show to float false claims that President Barack Obama had not been born in the United States.

Last month, the president even hosted a private White House dinner with former longtime show executive producer Jennifer Rauchet, current co-host Pete Hegseth and a few other guests.

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'All I Want to Do Is #MAGA': Trump Tweet Sparks Songwriting Spree
This postmortem contains spoilers from last nights Number One episode of This Is Us.

How the mighty have fallen. Kevin once seemed like the most adjusted of the Pearson siblings, but those season one This Is Us days are long gone. The rich, handsome, and famous brother is now spinning out on a grand scale. After ruining it with Sophie and holing up in a Hollywood hotel for a week of booze, opiates, and sports, Kevin goes back to high school to accept an alumni award, which stirs up a lot of painful memories about his broken dreams, his knee injury, and his dead dad. It leads to meaningless sex, stolen prescription pads, forgery, the loss of a prized possession, and failing to be there for his twin in her time of need.

Justin Hartley knows it is rough to watch Kevin lose himself to addiction, but he is also very proud of Number One, his installment in the trio of episodes that each focus on one of the Pearson kids on the same day in the past and the present, and the all-too-real ripped-from-the-headlines story they are trying to tell. Hartley spoke with Yahoo TV about playing wasted, his theory on why Kevin has been driven to such behavior by his inability to deal with Jacks death, that scruffy beard, and how audiences should not expect him to get back on the wagon anytime soon.

When you found out that they were working on this trio of episodes were you feeling excitement or pressure regarding carrying an episode mostly by yourself?

Maybe both. Theres always pressure because people love the show so much. But Im in a really good position because I have so much faith in the writing and in Dans vision for where the show is going. Its just the responsibility to live up to the quality of the show and the writing, but thats what you live for as an actor. I relied on the writing a lot. That script was amazing. I leaned on the director, Ken Olin, a lot. I thank the editors that saved me in the editing room. I thank the audience for watching. The show is called This is Us and it sounds so cheesy, but it really is a collaborative effort. The camera was on me for much of the episode but oddly enough it is the biggest ensemble episode Ive ever been part of. These are the opportunities of a lifetime. Im just so thrilled that they took the time to write something like this for my character and that they trusted me and that they cast me for him. I think hes the richest, best character on television. Theres so much going on with this guy. We just scratched the surface last year and then we started to see more about him this year.

Story continues

I was talking with executive producer Isaac Aptaker last week about how its now pretty clear Kevin gets the trophy per usual for most maladjusted. Would you agree?

A hundred percent. You have this actor and hes famous and be rich and hes going to have a massive house, great cars, and girls. He acts like everything is fine. Hes going to take whatever you would need and multiply it by a zillion and thats what hes going to do to make up for things that he cant control, which is his fathers death. And not only that, hes going to bury it and not talk about it. Because you know, if you dont talk about something, it goes away. This is how he functions. But thats insane. What ends up happening is it drives him until it ends up driving him over the edge. Somethings got to give, right? Thats what we see in this episode.

Photo: NBC

We learn a lot about a very pivotal and traumatic time when Kevins life plan changed in an instant and also more about how he avoids processing his grief. What do you think was the most important takeaway about your character from this episode?

I think you realize he spent his whole life in the public eye with everyone watching, and yet he feels hes been doing them completely alone. His whole life has been making up for something or trying to fill a void that he cant possibly ever fill. Hes convinced that if he is a big, famous actor that everyone notices, he can disguise this pain enough to where it wont be there anymore. I think you start to see that hes been really lonely. He lost touch with who he actually is and hes lost his identity. He doesnt know who the f**k he is.

And it seems like when he does try to ask for help or reveal that he is not worthy of all this affection like at the awards ceremony, no one listens.

Yeah not only am I not perfect, Im trying to tell you how jacked up I am. And you know whats interesting is that in a lot of these interviews, people are like I never saw that he had any problems. Even my friends are like, Yeah, Kevin complains about things that dont really matter. He complains about things that arent really problems. And Im like, Wait, he just said this bothers him and youre saying, Eh, its not really a thing. People are telling him what is important and what is not important, or what should or should not bother him. Its almost like hes not allowed to say what his problems are. Man, thats tough.

Its like beautiful, skinny, rich people cant possibly have real problems. They always get their way in life, right?

Thats funny because we all do it. I do it. I heard someone say something so interesting once and I was thinking about it as a theme when I was trying to prep for this episode. They say that if you take all of your problems and put them outside on the curb and then theres one day that where your entire neighborhood can go around and trade problems, you end up going home and bringing your own problems back into your own house, because we all imagine that other people have it easier. But when you see what they have to deal with, youre like, I wouldnt know how to deal with that.

What did you think when they told you that Kevins season 2 path was going to include painkiller and alcohol addiction?

What was most important to me is that we told an honest story. I wanted people that are suffering from addiction or mental illness-related dependency on alcohol or drugs to be able to watch this show and see thats a real depiction of how things are. You dont kick these things on your own. You need help. You need a big group of people around you helping you through and you need a bunch of people championing you. I also didnt want to just wrap it up in a cute little bow in the end and say, Well, now hes fine. It makes sense that he would turn to pills and alcohol like this because hes a ticking time bomb.

Photo: NBC

It is interesting that he has fallen prey to addiction when he was so clearly bothered by his dads alcoholism and then his journey to sobriety?

He watched his dad go through a similar thing but his dad died at that time so they didnt have years to talk about this stuff. They werent able to hash anything out. All he has are memories and as time goes by, your memories get clouded and you start to remember things a little bit differently than the way they actually were. Thats the way our minds work. And now everyone else has learned how to deal with it  Kate, Randall, his mom. So hes alone now. Especially because he was trying to give everyone the idea that he was the one that had figured it all out and moved on while everyone else was suffering.

How did you prepare to play drunk and stoned? Because faking those states can go wrong so quickly.

I talked to a bunch of people that have gone through it and what I realized is these people didnt go through it, they are going through it. Youre always going through it and dealing with it. Its not something that ends really even when you are sober. I have a friend that is good now, but he is only good because he chooses to be. [Being an addict] is always a part of their life, who they are. Its a part of their fabric. Hes sober right now, but that doesnt mean that hes not an alcoholic or that he can now drink. I heard a lot of really heartbreaking stories. People suffer loss, die, lose friends for life, get divorced, dont talk to their kids anymore because of this sickness, this disease. Many dont seek help or they go about it the wrong way. A lot of the stories are heroic stories about rebound and about people who have turned a dramatic story into a cautionary tale that saved lives.

I also believe that the clearer you are in your head when you show up to work, the more you are able to access it. This whole notion that if youre playing a drunk, you should go get bombed is the dumbest s**t Ive ever heard in my entire life. It is the opposite of what you should do. The clearer you are, the better you will be able to tell that story with your trained mind.

But was the beard real? Or do you think faking that is better too?

It was real most of the time. But there was a time where I had to shave and then grow a beard in like two days and I couldnt do it so they had to fill it in. About halfway through production, I was able to grow facial hair for an extra week and it was so much more comfortable because it was just mine.

You know whats funny? I got married just after shooting this and found out that we had to pick up a scene. I had shaved it because I knew what the answer would be if I asked my fiancee if I should just keep the beard because we have one more scene to shoot. Like, are you kidding me? Then we had to fill it in because we picked up a shot four days after our wedding. I just didnt have enough time to regrow it. Everyone asks if the beard is real.

Which brings us full circle to the episode, since everyone keeps asking if Kevins beard is for a part.

I was doing a lot of late-night talk shows and morning shows and I was showing up looking like a disaster. Seth Myers was like, I invite the guy to my show and he shows up looking like he hasnt showered in two days. I told them it was for a part, but couldnt at the time tell them what was happening on the show. I didnt want Ryan Seacrest to think that Im some lazy jerk. I tried to get him to understand that I am not a jerk. I would line this thing off, make my neck really clean, and make it look like a decent beard if it wasnt for the part.

It broke my heart when it seemed he had hit rock bottom and was going to Randall for help, but after hearing Kates terrible news, Im guessing he wont.

That is Sliding Doors. If he had walked into that room and Randall didnt have that information or it hadnt happened, I think Kevin would have said, Man, Ive got to tell you, Ive got this big problem. Heres how it started and now Im addicted. He would have told him everything, But just the fact he wasnt able to, its like, Oh, boy. What you thought was rock bottom when you were watching a grown man crumble to the ground, cry, and beg for help is not even close to rock bottom as youll see in the future episodes. Thats what he does. Its in his DNA to tackle things on his own. Hes like, Im going to handle it on my own. But it just doesnt pan out for him.

This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

This is Us: 10 things you should remember from Kevins Number One episode

Hollywoods sexual misconduct accusations in one shocking graphic

Shelly Long on the Money Pit scene that almost killed her
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From Delish

Amazon announced in June it was buying Whole Foods, and since then, the company has lowered prices on some groceries (though some of those discounts have since gone away). It's giving customers hope that the store's Whole Paycheck reputation may be no more, and things seem to be going in that hopeful direction. TechCrunch reports that Amazon's deal with Whole Foods is helping customers get lower prices on Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Whole Foods announced Wednesday that it was lowering prices on Thanksgiving staples like turkey, canned pumpkin, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Other items with lower prices include boneless skinless chicken breasts, raw peeled shrimp, broccoli, pasture raised eggs, and salad mixes.

They're also lowering prices on brand-name products like Tom's of Maine toothpaste, eggs and milk from Organic Valley, beans from Eden Foods, rice from Lundberg Family Farms, broths from Pacific Foods, and yogurt from companies like Chobani, Siggis, and Fage.

But the best Thanksgiving deal is for Whole Foods' turkeys. The store's organic turkey will sell for $3.49 a pound, and its no-antibiotic turkey will go for $2.49 a pound. And if you have Amazon Prime, those prices are even lower-$2.99 and $1.99 per pound, respectively.

All you have to do is print out a coupon from Amazon to bring to the store, and look for the orange "Special Savings" signs near the turkeys in the store. Whole Foods will also let you reserve a turkey online before heading to the store to pick it up. You can go to amazon.com/turkey to find out more information on the deal, which runs through November 26.

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Photo credit: Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

From ELLE

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Story continues

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SHOP



Naked Cashmere

Dates: Friday 11/24- Monday 11:27

Promotion: 20% off site-wide. One-time only purchase

Code: Cyber20

SHOP

The Bouqs Company

Dates: Friday 11/24- Monday 11/27

Promotion: $30 off any purchase of $100 or more of farm fresh flowers

Code: SAVE30

SHOP



Carbon & Hyde

Dates: Friday 11/24  Monday 11/27

Promotion: 25% off

Code: BLKFRI17

SHOP



David Lerner

Black Friday Promotion: 25% off site-wide with the code BLACK25

Cyber Monday Promotion: 30% off site-wide with the code CYBER30

SHOP



Gallany

Dates: Saturday 11/25 - Tuesday 11/28

Promotion: 30% off site-wide

SHOP



Happy Plugs

Black Friday Promotion: Up to 40% off discount on popular products*

Cyber Monday Promotion: Buy one, get 10% off; Buy 2, get 20% off; buy 3, get 30% off*

*Valid on any product besides some exceptions (i.e. Charity Water)

SHOP



MeUndies

Black Friday Promotion: 11/21 - Spend $100 and get free expedited shipping

Dates: 11/22 - 15% off on membership or when spend $100

Dates: 11/23 - 10% off 2 pairs and more (pushing matching)

Black Friday (11/24): Pack Friday Pack Prices:

Women's Sale Prices: 20 Pack $160, 10 Pack $85, 6 Pack $60, 3 Pack $34

Men's Sale Price: 20 Pack $185, 10 Pack $99, 6 Pack $68, 3 Pack $40

Promotion: 11/25 - Sign up for membership and get your first pair for 50% off

Cyber Monday Promotion: (11/27) - Sitewide get 20% off

Giving Tuesday Promotion: (11/28) - Buy one, get one 20% off

SHOP



Nassif MD

Dates: 11/27-12/17

Promotion: Spend $100 and receive a free Bio Rhythmic Dawn to Dusk Cleanser - $17.50 value

Black Friday Dates: 11/24-11/26

Promotion: Spend $250 and receive a free Bio Rhythmic Bundle - includes, Clock AM Day Serum, Clock PM Night Serum and Dawn to Dusk Cleanser - a $112.50 value

SHOP



Spartina 449

Black Friday Promotion: (11/22-11/26) - 20% off entire purchase with the code: BLACK20 on sale and full priced items

Cyber Monday Promotion: (11/27-12/1) - 20% off entire purchase with the code: CYBER20 on sale and full priced items

SHOP



Ted Baker

Dates: Black Five Day Sale (11/23-11/27)

Promotion: Up to 50% off in-store and online

SHOP



Richer Poorer + Pointe Studio

30% off on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Promo Code: NO CODE (site-wide sale)

SHOP



Beyond Yoga

Dates: Black Friday Friday 11/24  Sunday 11/26

Promotion: 30% off sitewide (including sale)

Date: Cyber Monday 11/27

Promotion: 35% off $150 or more

SHOP



Lorna Jane

Dates: 11/24 and 11/27

Promotion: 30% off site-wide

SHOP



Camilla

Dates: 11/24  11/27

Promotion: 25% off select styles

SHOP



Volcom

Black Friday Date: 11/24

Promotion: Spend $100, Get $25 off; Spend $150, Get $35 off; Spend $200, Get $45 off (excludes snow apparel)

Promo Code: VOLBF17

Cyber Monday Date: 11/27

Promotion: Spend $100, Get $25 off; Spend $150, Get $35 off; Spend $200, Get $45 off

Promo Code: CYBER17

Promotion: $20 off on next order over $100 order tip-in postcard



Promo Code: 20FORYOU

What Goes Around Comes Around

Date: 11/24 -- Black Friday only

Promotion: 30% off all clothing; 20% off all cccessories; 10% off all Hermes

SHOP



[BLANKNYC]

Promotion: 30% off site wide with the below promo codes

Promo code: EARLY30 - for sale starting 11/22; BLANKFRIDAY - for Black Friday sale; CYBERMONDAY - for Cyber Monday sale

SHOP

Wrangler

Date: Black Friday, 11/24  11/26

Promotion: Tiered Offer, 10% off $75, 20% off $100, 30% off $150

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/27

Promotion: Free shipping on all orders and up to 50% off select styles

SHOP

Bordelle

Dates: 11/24-11/27

Promotion: Free worldwide shipping

SHOP



Fortnight

Date: Black Friday, 11/24

Promotion: 35% off AW'17 styles (excludes basics collection) on Friday only

Promo code: FORTNIGHTNOIR35

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/27

Promotion: 30% off AW'17 styles (excludes basics collection) one day only

Promo code: FORTNIGHTNOIR30

SHOP



Gooseberry Intimates

Dates: 11/24-11/28

Promotion: 30% of site wide with free shipping

Code will be released on Friday and sale will extend to Tuesday

SHOP

Only Hearts

Dates: 11/24  11/26

Promotion: 20% off apparel collection

Promo Code: BLACKFRIDAY17

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/27

Promotion: 20% off sitewide, one day only

Promo Code: CYBERMONDAY17

SHOP

ACACIA

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/26

Promotion: 30% off regular priced items

Promo code: ALOHACYBER

Date: 11/25  11/27

Promotion: 70% off Resort and Summer '17 collection

Promo code: No code

SHOP



Beach Bunny

Date: 11/13

Promotion: Black Friday sale begins with a $99 Bikini sale (new styles)

Date: Monday 11/20

Promotion: Black Friday sale continues with $35 separates sale

Date: Black Friday 11/24 

Promotion: $25 Separates Sale

Date: Cyber Monday Monday 11/27

Promotion: Cyber Monday SLASH (final slash of prices)

SHOP



L*Space

Date: Black Friday, 11/24

Promotion: Free slice of paradise hat with any purchase (while supplies last)

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/26

Promotion: Pick your free gorjana gift with any purchase (while supplies last) Bikini Necklace, Beach Please Bracelet, Mermaid Studs

Date: 12/1 12/ 23

Promotion: Free mermaid stocking with any order of $200 or more (while supplies last)

SHOP



VITAMIN A

Date: Black Friday, 11/24  Cyber Monday, 11/27

Promotion: 70% off

Customers who sign up for email will be given early access via a newsletter code 24hrs before the sale goes public

SHOP



Gray Malin

Date: 11/13  11/ 19

Promotion: Free Framing Site Wide

Date: 11/21  11/28

Promotion: 30% Off Prints Site Wide

SHOP



ullu

Date: Black Friday Sale, 11/ 17- 11/25

Date: Cyber Monday Sale, 11/26 -12/1

Promotion: 30% off + Free Shipping

Promo Code: Discount will be applied at checkout

SHOP



Palladio Beauty

Date: Black Friday Presale, Nov. 20  22

Promo Code: SNKPK on palladiobeauty.com

Black Friday through Cyber Monday (Nov. 24  27): 30% off site wide with code: BLACKFRI on palladiobeauty.com

SHOP



Keratin Complex

Date: Black Friday through Cyber Monday, 11/24-11/27

Promotion: 50% off Love Every Blowout Kit, Pink Bling Diamond Brush, and Mold Me Matte Texturizing Cream; Special Pricing of $5 for both Sweet Definition Spray and Vent Brush with Bling on keratincomplex.com

SHOP



Jet Set Candy

Date: Black Friday through Cyber Monday 11/24-11/27

Promotion: 20% off site wide

Promo code: CYBER20

SHOP



Prive Revaux

Date: Black Friday through Cyber Monday 11/24-11/27

Promotion: 3 sunglasses for $75 in stores and online

Promo code: No code

SHOP



Tadashi Shoji

Date: Black Friday Presale 11/21-11/22

Promotion: Free bag with any purchase & 40% off (exclusions apply)

Date: Black Friday 11/24

Promotion: 40% off (exclusions apply)

Date: Black Friday through Cyber Monday 11/24  11/27

Promotion: 40% off with exclusions

SHOP



Jockey

Date: Black Friday Presale 11/16-11/22

Promotion: 25% off purchases

Date: Black Friday 11/23-11/26

Promotion: 30% off purchases

Date: Cyber Monday 11/27

Promotion: Buy One, Get One Free Multipacks

SHOP



Destination Maternity

Date: Black Friday Presale 11/16  11/19

Promotion: 25% off full price order in stores and on motherhood.com

Date: Black Friday Sale 11/22 11/25)

Promotion: 30% off on motherhood.com

Date: Cyber Monday 11/27  11/28)

Promotion: 40% off and free shipping on motherhood.com

SHOP



A Pea in the Pod

Date: Black Friday Presale 11/16 11/19)

Promotion: 25% off full price order in stores and on apeainthepod.com

Date: Black Friday Sale 11/22  11/25

Promotion: 30% off dresses, 25% sweaters, and 25% off outerwear in stores and on apeainthepod.com

Date: Cyber Monday (11/27 11/28)

Promotion: 40% ONE full priced item

Promo code: GIFTINGYOU40 and additional 30% off on all other full price items; plus free shipping

SHOP



GHD

Date: Pre-Black Friday Sale, 11/17  11/ 19

Promotion: $100 off Wanderlust Air Hairdryer ($199 TO $99); Wanderlust Ruby Sunset & Wanderlust Amber Sunrise Professional Stylers ($199 TO $99)

Date: Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale, 11/ 20  11/28

Promotion: Site-wide sale  25% off the entire site, No exclusions

SHOP



Fresh

Date: Black Friday, 11/24  11/25, two days only

Promotion: When you spend: $65  receive a free Soy Face Cleanser (50ml); $85  receive a free Soy Face Cleanser (50ml) and sample of the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask; $100  receive a FREE 5-Piece Gift: Soy Face Cleanser 20 ML, Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask 15ML, Black Tea Infusion 20 ML, and the Sugar Nourishing Lip Balm (full size) and a Fresh cosmetic bag.

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/27

Promotion: When you spend: $65  receive a free choice of Oval Soap + free shipping (online orders); $100  receive a free choice of Oval Soap + Matching Rollerball + free shipping (online orders)

Date: Cyber Week, 11/28  12/1

Promotion: When you spend $65, receive a free choice of Oval Soap + free shipping (online orders)

SHOP



BaubleBar

Date: Black Friday, 11/24-11/25

Promotion: 30% off

Promo Code: FRIDAY30

Excludes: Buried Bauble, Maya Brenner, Adina Reyter, and Gift Cards

Offer ends at 11:59 PM EST on 11/25/17

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/26-11/28

Promotion: 35% off

Promo Code: CYBER35

Excludes: Buried Bauble, Maya Brenner, Adina Reyter, and Gift Cards

Offer ends at 11:59PM EST on 11/28

SHOP



Artifact

Date: Black Friday/Cyber Monday, 11/24  11/27

Promotion: Sale to be tiered based on the total purchase amount: Spend $10, get 10% off; Spend $100, get 15% off; Spend $200, get 20% off

Promo code: BEMERRY

SHOP



LZL

Dates: 11/24 to 12/2

Promotion: 30% off everything

Promo code: THANKYOU30

SHOP

Porter Gulch

Dates: Black Friday 11/24 and Cyber Monday 11/27.

Promotion: 25% off the F/W 2017 Collection

Promo code: HOLIDAY25 to receive

Promotion: 15% off women's bridal and men's bands

Promo code: BRIDAL15

SHOP



We Are Knitters

Dates: Black Friday 11/24 and Cyber Monday 11/26

Promotion: 25% off site-wide.

Promo code: No code

SHOP

Shu Uemura

Date: IP Sale 11/10th  11/14

Promotion: 25% any order

Promo code: SHUVIP

Date: Black Friday 11/22- 11/25

Promotion: 20% off on any order over $50 and 25% off any order over $100

Promo code: SHUBF

Date: Cyber Monday 11/27  28

Promotion: Lightning offers with different flash sales will change every 24 hours

SHOP



Shu Uemura Art of Hair

Date: Black Friday, 11/24

Promotion: 25% off of $125 PLUS a Limited-Edition Super Mario Brothers Paddle Brush, Gift Bag & Free Shipping. *Not applicable to limited edition collections, gift sets or travel sizes.

SHOP



Minoux Jewelry

Date: Black Friday Sale, 11/24-11/26

Promotion: Extra 25% off sale items

Promo code: EXTRA30. $20 off special: Minoux's ring 05 (reg $68)

Date: Cyber Monday, 11/27

Promotion: Extra 30% off sale items

Promo code: EXTRA30

SHOP







Playstation

Promotion: Exclusive PS VR bundles  starting at a low price of $299.99 for the Gran Turismo Sport bundle and the Skyrim VR bundle for $349.99. In addition, the standard slim 1TB PlayStation 4 will be available for $199.99.

SHOP



Yes To

Date: 11/26-12/1

Promotion: CVS -- All Single Use Masks Buy 2 Get 1 Free (not brand exclusive);

Date: 11/23-25

Promotion: RiteAid: Buy 1 Yes To Wipe, Get 2 Free

Date: 11/24-11/26

Promotion: Target- Buy any gift set (not exclusive to Yes To) - BOGO 50% off

SHOP



TOMS

Date: 11/22

Promotion: Loyalty customers and early access sign ups receive 25% off select styles and extra 25% off markdowns.

Promo code: THANKFUL

Promotion: Join the TOMS loyalty program: Passport Rewards here: http://www.toms.com/passport, Passport Rewards member get 25% off + Free Shipping Promo code: LOYAL

Date: Black Friday, 11/23 - 11/26

Promotion: 25% off select styles & Extra 25% off markdowns.

Promo code: THANKFUL

SHOP



Manduka

Date: Black Friday Sale, 11/22  11/25

Promotion: 25% off (excluding select products)

Date: Cyber 11/27

Promotion: 25% off and 40%, or more, off apparel (excluding select products)

Endless Summer

Date: 11/24 -11/27

Promotion: Endless Summer will offer 30% off site-wide, including sale items

Promo code: CYBERLOVE

SHOP

WET Swimwear

Date: 11/24-11/30

Promotion: WET Swimwear will offer 30% off site-wide

Promo code: WETblackcyber

SHOP

Parme Marin

Date: 11/24-11/27

Promotion: Enjoy 30% off of your purchase on our online store!

Promo code: PARMEBLACKFRIDAY

SHOP



Rebecca Taylor

Date: 11/21-11/27

Promotion: Enjoy an extra 25% off any purchase, in stores and online

Promo code: CELEBRATE

Excludes LA VIE Rebecca Taylor

SHOP



Schutz

Date: 11/23-11/27

Promotion: Up to 40% off select styles in store and online

Date: 11/23-11/27

Promotion: Customers can also receive an additional promotion in store only through a scratch off card

SHOP



Edie Parker

Date: 11/24-11/27

Promotion: Cyber Monday sale with discounts ranging from 40-70% off retail. To receive early private access to the sale, anyone can sign up for our newsletter prior to Black Friday and be able to access the sale through the weekend.

SHOP

Stila Cosmetics

Date: 11/24

Promotion: Fan-favorite MATTEificent Lipstick with corresponding lip liner, $18 ($38 value)

SHOP



Mavi

Date: 11/21 - 11/27/2017

Promotion: 30% off site wide.

Promo code: BLACKFRIDAY

SHOP

Minnetonka

Date: 11/27/2017

Promotion: Free Moc Soc gift with purchase on all orders $30+; Free Shipping 11/22-28

Promo code: No code required

SHOP



Devereux

Date: 11/20 - 11/23

Promotion: 30% off sitewide (excluding hats)

Date: 11/24

Promotion: 40% off sitewide (excluding hats)

Promo code: No code required

Date: 11/27

Promotion: 40% off sitewide (excluding hats) and free 2 day shipping anywhere in US

SHOP



Florsheim

Date: 11/21  11/24/17

Promotion: 25% Off Site-wide

Promo code: BF17

Date: 11/27  11/27/17

Promotion: 50% Off Select Styles

Promo code: CYB17 *while supplies last

SHOP

Black Orchid

Date: 11/23  11/27

Promotion: Everything 30%

Promo code: SAVEME30

SHOP



Charlotte Simone

Date: 11/24-11/27

Promotion: 20% off side-wide

Promo code: BLACKFRIDAY

SHOP



Leimere

Date: 11/24  11/27

Promotion: Discount: 40% Off Sitewide

Promo code: BFCM40

SHOP



Senso

Date: 11/24-11/28

Promotion: 15% Off Site-wide

Code: BLACK2017

SHOP



Old Navy

Date: Black Friday, 11/24

Promotion: Cozy Sock One Dolla Holla Sale, one-day only doorbuster price of $1 per pair. For every pair purchased, Old Navy will donate $1 to Boys & Girls Clubs, up to $1 million.

Date: 11/27-11/28

Promotion: 40% off everything

Date: 11/29

Promotion: 50% site-wide

SHOP



Alternative Apparel

Date: 11.23  11.27

Promotion: 30% off site-wide

Promo code: THANKU30

SHOP



Ban.do

Date: 11/23

Promotion: 25% off everything and gift with purchase, greeting card set w $50+ purchase

Promo code: ITSBFBABY

Date: 11/24

Promotion: 25% off everything, plus 30% off best sellers

Promo code: ITSBFBABY

Date: 11/25

Promotion: 25% off, plus take up to 35% off non-ban.do items (in celebration of small biz Saturday!)

Promo code: ITSBFBABY

Date: 11/26

Promotion: 25% off, plus *NEW* secret specials

Promo Code: ITSBFBABY

Date: 11/27

Promotion: 25% off, plus secret specials PLUS gift with purchase rose gold disco ball tumbler for orders $50+

Promo Code: OHYEAHCM

Date: 11/28

Promotion: Cyber Monday deal EXTENDED--25% off, plus new secret specials

Promo code: OHYEAHCM

SHOP



Of a Kind

Dates: 11/22-11/27

Promotion: Pre-packaged holiday gift sets for the first time, prices range from $70-250; enjoy 15% off these gift sets.

SHOP

Dormify

Date: 11/ 22- 11/26

Promotion: 25% off sitewide

Promo code: BESTDAYEVER

Date: 11/27-11/28

Promotion: 30% off sitewide

Promo code: MONDAYFUNDAY

SHOP



High Fashion Home

Date: 11/24-11/26

Promotion: $50 off purchases of $200+

Promo code: JOY

SHOP



Lulu & Georgia

Date: 11/23-11/26

Promotion: 25% off

Promo code: GOGOGO

Date: 11/27-12/3

Promotion: 20% off

Promo code: CYBER

SHOP



SKAGEN

Date: 11/21-11/27

Promotion: 30% off everything, online and in-store, no exclusions.

SHOP



Unreal Fur

Date: 11/23-11/27

Promotion: 20% all full price jackets

SHOP



Monroe

Date: 11/23-11/27

Promotion: 30% sitewide

SHOP



Noli Yoga

Date: 11/24

Promotion: 30% off site-wide

Promo code: BLACK FRIDAY

Date: 11/27

Promotion: 30% off site-wide

Promo code: CYBER30

SHOP



Tully Lou

Date: 11/24

Promotion: 40% off site-wide for 40 hours

SHOP

TRNK

Date: 11/10

Promotion: 20% off the entire Truss Seating Collection; 20% off The Astro Lighting Collection; 25% off Sonic Edition Print Sets; 25% off The Tres Rug; 20% off the Paulistano Arm Chair; 30% off the IC Lighting Collection

Promotion: Up to 60% off select items with new items being added weekly leading up to Black Friday

SHOP





Pierre Hardy

Date: 11/24

Promotion: 50% off select womens and mens merchandise available in-store and on their US e-commerce shop.

SHOP



La Roche-Posay

Date: 11/24

Promotion: 30% OFF for ALL orders

Promotion: get 30% OFF ALL LASHFOOD/BROWFOOD at https://www.lashfood.com/

Date: 11/25  12/1 Cyber Week

Promotion: 30% off ALL orders + 4 DELUXE SAMPLES on orders $75 or more (samples PLUS a makeup bag with orders $75+ on Cyber Monday 11/27 only!)

Date: 11/27

Promotion: 20% OF ALL LASHFOOD/BROWFOOD on https://www.lashfood.com

SHOP



Kohls

Date: 11/20-11/25

Promotion: For every $50.00 spent at Kohls or Kohls.com, shoppers will receive $15.00 in Kohls Cash.

SHOP

Tiny Om

Dates: 11/24-11/30

Promotion: 20% off site-wide using code blackfriday20

Promo code: blackfriday20

SHOP



Vanessa Montiel

Dates: Friday, November 24th- Friday, December 1st

Promotion: Receive 25% site-wide on Vanessa Montiel jewelry

Promo code: HappyHolidaysVMJ

SHOP



Wwake

Dates: 11/27

Promotion: Receive 20% off select items. 15-20% of sale profits will be donated to Women In Need. WIN NYC is one of the most progressive shelter organizations in NYC that focuses on breaking the cycle of homelessness through education of women and safe housing of families

SHOP



Alo Yoga

Date: 11/24- 11/26

Promotion: Up to 60% off sale and 25% off full price items

Date: 11/27-11/28

Promotion: 30% Off Flash Sale

SHOP



Stutterheim

Date: 11/24 -11/27

Promotions: Select items up to 50% off

SHOP



Lonely Lingerie

Date: 11/24-11/27

Promotions: Select items up to 30% off

SHOP



Guess

Date: 11/23 -11/26

Promotion: 40-50% Entire Store*

Date: 11/24

Promotion: Duffel Bag Gift With Purchase Of $125+ and/or Cosmetic Bag Gift With Purchase Of $85+

SHOP



Guess

Date: 11/23 -11/28

Promotion: 30-50% Off Entire Store*

*Certain restrictions may apply, see store for details. GUESS?, Inc. reserves the right to extend, modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

SHOP

Good American

Date: 11/21-11/27

Promotion: 40% off select styles

Promo code: SALE40

SHOP



Seafolly

Date: 11/24

Promotion: 30% off storewide

*excludes all solid black styles in swimwear, apparel and accessories.

SHOP



Unpublished

Date: 11/24-11/27

Promotion: 20% to 40% off site-wide, Free shipping

SHOP



This Is Ground

Date: 11/17-11/26

Promotion: 25% off orders over $300

Promo code: TIGTWOFIVE

Promotion: 15% off orders under $300

Promo code: TIGONEFIVE

Date: 11/27

Promotion: 18% off orders over $100

Promo code: TIGONEEIGHT

9% off orders under $100

Promo code: TIGNINE

SHOP



Ricardo Beverly Hills

Date: 11/14-11/30

Promotion: Additional 30% off on select collections

SHOP



Alexis Bittar

Dates: 11/20 and ongoing

Black Friday Promotion: Select fall styles 30% off

Cyber Monday Promotion: Ends 11/27

Promotion: 25% off site-wide

Promo Code: CYBER17

SHOP



ba&sh

Black Friday Dates: 11/23-11/27

Promotion: 25% off FW17

SHOP



Carolee

Dates: 11/22-11/27

Promotion: Up to 70% off

Dates: 11/17

Promotion: Up to 70% off + additional 30% off site-wide

SHOP



Monogram

Date: 11/27

Promotion: Sea, Sex, Sun Poster GWP for all sales on Cyber Monday

SHOP



Warp + Weft

Dates: 11/23 - 11/27

Promotion: Offering select styles at $68 vs $98

SHOP



Tomorrow Sleep

Dates: 11/23 - 11/27

Promotion: $100 off all mattresses

SHOP



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Singapore Airlines returned the first Airbus A380 after only ten years of service - This content is subject to copyright.

For the first time ever, an Airbus A380 superjumbo has been retired from service and stored. The aircraft was grounded by Singapore Airlines in June after only 10 years of use, and will now be stored, minus its engines, in France.

Singapore Airlines, its first customer, returned the plane to its German leasing company Dr Peters Group, where it was painted white and flown to Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees airport, close to the Airbus factory in Toulouse where it was originally built, to a storage facility that will hold it until a new owner is secured.

But whether that new owner will materialise at all is up for debate, given the A380's struggling sales since it was launched amid much fanfare in August 2007. It remains the world's largest passenger jet, with a total capacity of 853.

Singapore is poised to return more of its A380s

Dr Peters told Bloomberg that it was optimistic about securing a new operator for the aircraft, despite expecting the return of three more Singapore Airlines A380s, the second already grounded at Changi Airport. If the company can't find new homes for these planes, they will be broken up for parts - worth at least 75 million ($100 million) per plane. The A380's original list price was in the region of 190 million ($250 million) a piece.

Which airline owns the most A380s?

Emirates, by a long way. With a fleet of 100, it's one of the few carriers able to get the maximum value out of the four-engine A380, and has made it the core of its long-haul fleet. Other airlines have ordered them in far smaller quantities: British Airways, for example, has 12 of them in its fleet of 270 aircraft.

The future of the A380 has been hanging precariously in the balance for quite some time now, with Airbus eagerly awaiting a lifeline order of up to 38 updated models from Emirates.

The deal was expected to be announced at the Dubai Airshow on Sunday, but in a shock twist, Emirates announced that it was actually buying 40 of rival Boeing's 787-10 Dreamliners as part of a new $15.1 billion (11.5bn) deal.

Story continues

Emirates chief executive Tim Clark told CNBC that he wouldn't rule out buying more A380s in future, however, and said he would tell the manufacturer to keep the (production) line going.

The UAE airline now relies solely on the Airbus A380 (it has 100) and the Boeing 777 (of which it has 165) for its flights, making it the largest operator of both.

According to Reuters, industry sources have said that in order to solidify new A380 orders from Emirates, Airbus will have to buy back or re-home some of the older models currently operated by the Gulf carrier, and guarantee it would not cancel production of the superjumbo going forward.

That, or convince other airlines to place orders.

Which Airbus models are proving more popular?

It wasn't all doom and gloom for Airbus at the Dubai Airshow, with its smaller, sleeker models proving to be a mammoth hit.

The European company signed a record-breaking $49.5 billion (37.6bn) deal on Wednesday to sell 430 aircraft to Indigo, a Phoenix-based private equity firm that owns Frontier Airlines.

In total, the order made up 273 A320neos and 157 A321neos - both smaller twin-engine, single-aisle planes which are popular thanks to their reduced fuel consumption. They will service Frontier-linked airlines including Chile's JetSMART and Hungary's Wizz Air.

Unlike its bigger sibling, the popularity of Airbus sleek A320s is so great that the company claims one takes off or lands somewhere in the world every two seconds.

Launched in 1984 and brought into service with Air France, its latest version, the A320neo, has won the accolade of being the fastest-selling commercial aircraft in history.

Why has the A380 fallen out of favour?

Industry commentators have long speculated that the A380 programme is on the way out, many saying that the gargantuan costs of operating such large aircraft were underestimated from the start.

In July of this year, after a series of ups and downs, Airbus announced it was drastically reducing the number of A380s it would be producing in future.

Reporting half-year figures, it said that considering the current order booking situation, deliveries of the A380 will be reduced to just eight in 2019. At last years Farnborough Airshow the company said it would slow production to just 12 a year by 2018, down from a rate of 27 the year before.

Aviation analyst Saj Ahmad from Strategic Aero Research said in July: Cutting the A380 underlines the marketing disaster that belies the programme and that Airbus is realising that even life support has to be turned off - and its evident that day looms closer.

Calling the superjumbo a vanity project that needs to be killed off, he said it was almost definitely facing the barrel of execution.

Independent Air Transport consultant John Strickland told the Telegraph: The A380 is a well regarded aircraft by airlines which operate it and by customers flying on it. Generally however, twin-engine aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777 reduce the financial risks involved with filling capacity and operating costs.

So with Singapore Airlines' return of the first A380, and its future with Emirates more tentative than ever, does this spell the end of the superjumbo? We shall see.

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Gigi Hadid might very well be the trendsetter of 2017.

From spearheading the popular Brit-style skinny neck scarves earlier this year to making nighttime pajamas appropriate for the daytime, this young model is back at it again with her version of the best fall transitional shoe  a pair of mules designed in partnership with Stuart Weitzmans new creative director, Giovanni Morelli.

On Wednesday, Hadid wore her brand-new EyeLove mules made of a buttery soft tan suede and shearling trimmed interior with a chic white suit by Turkish designer Zeynep Arcay. The name EyeLove is a signifier of the evil eye motif found on the left shoe of the EyeLove mules. The second version, EyeLoveMore, conversely, features a multitude of evil-eye motifs on both feet instead of just one. The popularity of mules is often credited to their closed toe and open back, keeping your feet cool, yet warm, and the low heel provides extra comfort, making them the perfect fall transitional shoe.

Ive really been into slides lately and wanted a pair that can take me into fall  no more cold toes! said Gigi Hadid in a press release statement. The evil eye is a powerful symbol meant to protect those who wear it from negative energies. Its emotionally comforting and beautiful and captivating to look at.

You can easily dress the mules up or down for everyday use and even wear them during the forthcoming holiday season. Wear them to work with your favorite pair of slacks and a cozy knit sweater, or dress them down for a casual weekend brunch with jeans and a tee. Choose the black suede version, and style it with a dark floral or velvety dress for Thanksgiving dinner.

The EyeLove mule retails for $498, and the EyeLoveMore mule is priced slightly higher at $598; both are available now on stuartweitzman.com. Although the mules are pricey, there is a charitable component to the shoes that might help you justify the splurge. Each purchase will benefit Pencils of Promise, a charity that helps build schools, trains teachers, and funds scholarships. Stuart Weitzman has pledged $105,000 to build three schools this fall, specifically in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos.

Story continues

Click through the gallery above to shop the Stuart Weitzman Gigi Hadid mules, as well as additional similar options, and find your perfect fall transitional shoe.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

 Dark floral romantic dresses are trending for fall  shop 15 versions now

 Shop Jessica Albas holiday wish list through philanthropic retail concept Olivela

 This couples wedding photo captures 2 generations of long-lasting love

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Photo: Instagram/Sarah Idan

Showing true beauty, two pageant queens from enemy states posed together to promote a message of peace.

On Tuesday, 2017s Miss Universe Israel Adar Gandelsman and Miss Universe Iraq Sarah Idan took selfies together and shared them to their respective profiles and with thousands of followers. Gandelsman captioned the Instagram post, Get to know, this is Miss Iraq and shes amazing. On Facebook, she added, With Miss Iraq, Practicing bringing world peace.

Get to know, this is Miss Iraq and she's amazing A post shared by Miss Universe Israel (@adar_gandelsman) on Nov 13, 2017 at 4:47pm PST

Idan shared her sentiments on her Instagram, writing, Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel.

Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel  #missuniverse A post shared by Sarah Idan (Sarai)   (@sarahidan) on Nov 13, 2017 at 2:51pm PST

While Iraq is no Palestine from Israels perspective, theres definitely enough tension between Gandelsmans and Idans countries to make this picture awkward, even though it looked anything but.

The states have no formal diplomatic relations, which is in part because of the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, when five Arab nations, including Iraq, invaded the newly independent Jewish state. Then in 1981, during Operation Opera, Israel conducted an air attack that destroyed Saddam Husseins nuclear reactor at Osirak in Iraq. Ten years later, Iraq attacked two Israeli cities with Scud missiles during the Persian Gulf War.

Since then, aggression between Iraq and Israel has subsided. And while diplomats from both countries have even shown support for each other at times, they still seem to be anything but buddies. Which is why the photo is such a big deal  Iraq is an Arab country, just like Palestine.

Idans followers had a lot to say about her posing with an Israeli. Some admired her move. So amazing and so Brave. Youre an inspiration! wrote one fan. Peace and love everyone! We, Muslims and Jews in Israel live together very very peacefully. Dont let anyone make you think otherwise.

Story continues

However, naysayers had harsh words. If you are an honorable Arab you have to hate Israel forever. Palestine is our honor, the Arabs, wrote one angry follower. Miss Israel served in the Israeli Army and caused the death and displacement of hundreds of Palestinians. He who puts his hand in her hand has participated in the crime, said another. You dishonor all of our people that died under their occupation. You Zionist shill, someone else commented.

Please read,    A post shared by Sarah Idan (Sarai)   (@sarahidan) on Nov 14, 2017 at 3:10am PST

After such negative attention, Idan, who now lives in the United States, according to her website, felt the need to explain herself. I want to stress that the purpose of the picture was only to express hope and desire for peace between the two countries, she wrote (in Arabic) in a later Instagram post.

She added that the photo does not signal support for the government of Israel and does not mean I agree or accept its policies in the Arab homeland. Idan went on to apologize to all those who consider [the picture] harmful to the Palestinian cause.

According to Idan, Gandelsman initiated the photo. She asked if I would like to take a picture together. I told her I would be glad to help spread the message. The aim of the photo was an expression of hope for world peace.

People were a little bit more positive about Miss Israels post. Thank you for sharing this pic with the world. It shows leadership and courage, and a hope for a better tomorrow, one follower expressed. [P]eace between Israel and Iraq!!!! said another. As an Iraqi Jew I love this!!!!! wrote a third. Youre both beautiful  especially because you are showing what coexistence looks like! gushed a fan. Respect. This is why I follow beauty pageants. It is a neutral arena where differences are set aside and friendship can flourish.



I love Sarah

I love iraq

I love world

I love adar  Sandy youssef (@Sandy11youssef1) November 16, 2017

Even the Israeli prime minister was on board with this brave message of unity.

Miss Iraq Sarah Idan and Miss Israel Adar Gandelsman (no relation) met at the Miss Universe beauty pageant and became friends. Miss Iraq posted this photo on her Instagram. What a great message of hope for the region. Good luck to both Sarah and Hadar. pic.twitter.com/GV9L9JW7Rg  Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) November 14, 2017

People are applauding Idan for her daring move, while others are wondering if it was worth the risk. This isnt the first time a pageant contestant has been criticized for posing with a Miss Israel. In 2015, people called for the stripping of Miss Lebanon Sally Greiges crown after she posed for a photo with Miss Israel Doron Matalon (even though Miss Lebanon claimed she didnt actually agree to take the photo). Amanda Hanna won Miss Lebanon Emigrant 2017, but a 2016 school trip to Israel led to the removal of her title.

According to the Times of Israel, it is illegal for Lebanese citizens to have contact with the Jewish state or Israelis.

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Stockton, CA  The search for an institutionalized necrophiliac killer who escaped from a Hawaii psychiatric hospital and flew to San Jose ended Wednesday after three days when authorities located him in the Central Valley.

But the mans escape, and the fact that nearly half a day passed before authorities and the public were notified that he was on the loose, prompted wide calls for new investigations and hospital staffers being taken off the job.

The San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office announced that 59-year-old Randall Saito was taken into custody around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at a gas station near Highway 99 and Waterloo Road. He had been seen in Stockton as early as Monday, and authorities said an alert taxi cab driver provided the tip that led to Saitos capture.

A clerk at the store connected to the gas station told reporters that Saito talked about heading to Reno. Honolulu police also got a tip that Saito was on his way to a brothers home in Stockton and forwarded that information to authorities in Northern California, Honolulu Sgt. Chris Kim said.

Saito was arrested on a $500,000 arrest warrant issued late Tuesday by the Hawaii Attorney Generals office, which charged Saito with felony escape.

The Honolulu Police Department extends its thanks to the public and to the San Joaquin (County Sheriffs Office) and all of the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that assisted with the search and apprehension of Randall Saito, that department said in a statement released Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the escape, an unspecified number of employees at Hawaii State Hospital, which houses more than 300 patients in Kaneohe, will be placed on unpaid leave for 30 days, Hawaii Department of Health Director Virginia Pressler announced Wednesday. Pressler said an internal investigation indicates employees inadvertently or intentionally neglected proper notification of supervisors and proper supervision of Saito.

That finding was highlighted by the fact hospital staff called 911 to report Saitos disappearance at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday  two hours after he arrived in San Jose and at least eight hours after disappeared. An all-points bulletin was issued at 8:30 p.m.

Pressler says the escape was a major breakdown of staff protocols. It has also revived criticisms about the hospitals transparency.

There is a serious lack of information for the public, said Nicholas Iwamoto, who was stabbed 18 times on a popular Hawaii hiking trail in 2009.

Iwamotos attacker was found legally insane and sent to Hawaii State Hospital. He was later granted conditional release to attend community college, a decision about which Iwamoto wasnt notified.

Public safety has certainly been compromised, Iwamoto said. Its extremely alarming. But nothing from the state surprises me anymore.

Gov. David Ige said authorities and the public should have been notified sooner, and has directed the state attorney general to investigate.

Additionally, court records show Saito had relationships with three hospital staff members over the years. A 2010 evaluation by a psychiatrist says Saito had six significant relationships since he was committed. The assessment by Dr. Gene Altman said three of the relationships were reportedly with women in the community, including Saitos first and second wives.

The evaluation said the other three were reportedly with hospital staff members. Altman said Saito can be personable and has good social skills.

Saito was the impetus for a rule change in 2003, when the state attorney generals office decided mental patients committed to Hawaii State Hospital have no legal right to conjugal visits.

The issue came to light when the hospital administrator learned Saito had been escorted home for weekend conjugal visits over two years. The administrator blocked the visits away from the facility and on its grounds.

On Sunday, Saito, who was acquitted of a 1979 murder by reason of insanity, left the state hospital outside Honolulu around 10 a.m., took a taxi to a chartered plane that took him to the island of Maui, and then boarded another plane to San Jose, authorities said.

Saito was committed in 1981, two years after he was acquitted in the killing of Sandra Yamashiro. The victim was shot and repeatedly stabbed before her body was found in her car at a mall.

He is a very dangerous individual, said Wayne Tashima, a Honolulu prosecutor who argued in 2015 against Saito receiving passes to leave the hospital grounds without an escort.

Defense attorneys sought to have Saito released in 2000. But Jeff Albert, a deputy city prosecutor, objected, saying Saito fills all the criteria of a classic serial killer.

In 1993, a court denied Saitos request for conditional release, saying he continued to suffer from sexual sadism and necrophilia.
Multiple elementary school students have been hospitalized in the California shooting that killed three

Authorities say a shooting Tuesday morning at an elementary school in Rancho Tehama, California, left multiple victims, PEOPLE confirms.

The shooting, which apparently began at another location in Rancho Tehama about 8 a.m. then evolved to multiple victims and multiple shots at the local elementary school, a Tehama County, California, Undersheriff Phil Johnston said during a makeshift news conference later Tuesday.

The suspected gunman was killed by responding law enforcement, Johnston said, citing preliminary information. The shooter was not further identified.

Johnston said he knew of at least three deaths in the shooting, though it was not clear if that number included the suspect.

DEVELOPING: At least 3 dead, several injured following shootings in and around elementary school in Northern California, officials say. https://t.co/nr7oQzn2y8  ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2017

Related article: Jason Aldean says hell never get over Las Vegas shooting: I hope everybody can start to heal

According to a Record Searchlight reporter, Johnston later said at least five people had been killed, including the shooter, across seven scenes. At least two children were shot and wounded.

Johnston told reporters Tuesday morning that he did not have other information about the shooting victims, including the total number of dead or wounded and how many of them were children.

A school district employee told the Associated Press that no one was killed at the school, though a number of students were shot and wounded.

The shooting took place across multiple locations, according to the AP. Rancho Tehama is about 190 miles north of San Francisco.

A number of students were taken to the hospital, Johnston said, and about 100 law enforcement personnel were working the investigation.

Related article: Fourth shooting in Tampa neighborhood being terrorized by possible serial killer

Story continues

The school has been cleared and the attending students were taken to a safe location, he said. Authorities suspect the gunman used a semi-automatic rifle and two handguns, which were later recovered.

Visibly emotional, Johnston said, Its a very sad day for us here in Tehama County.

A spokeswomen for the Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California, tells PEOPLE four victims in the shooting have been transported to their facility for treatment: three children and one adult.

She did not know the victims statuses.

Further details about the victims, the shooter or the nature of the shooting were not immediately available.

This is a breaking news story. Please return for updates.




Nineteen-year-old Corinna Slusser moved from her home in Pennsylvania to New York City late this summer. Even though her Facebook said she attended Indiana University, friends of hers say she has been pursuing a career in cosmetology since graduating high school.

But those dreams  and that new life of living on her own in the big city  were interrupted when she went missing in September.

Slusser was last seen leaving the Haven Motel in Queens on Sept. 20. About a week before that, her family reported her missing when she didn't attend her grandfather's funeral in Florida.

RELATED: Man Who Confessed To Raping 13-Year-Old Girl Claims Her Father Arranged And Participated In His Daughter's Sexual Assault

The teen, who was an avid social media user, shared a photo on Instagram Sept. 10, that tagged her location as the Bronx. She turned 19 in October but didn't contact any of her family or friends, leaving them to believe she's being held against her will.

People say in the weeks before her disappearance, Slusser sought an order of protection in Manhattan against a friend who they claim had become her pimp. A copy of the order was mailed to her mother's home in Pennsylvania.

This letter of protection was granted against somebody she was living with. It went to her moms house, said one relative, who asked not to be named. We didnt know what to think.

The letter reportedly directed the man to stay away from the teen after he was arrested for beating and choking her at a hotel in Harlem on Aug 25. Police believe she relocated to New York with this man.

Members of law enforcement found Slusser crying and shaking inside the hotel and said that she told them her pimp stole $300 from her. When she confronted him about it, he attacked her.

RELATED: Devastating Details Released About Ohio Man Arrested For Rape And Murder Of Girlfriend's 13-Month-Old Daughter

Story continues

When her mother, Sabrina Tuorto, got the letter, she reached out to her daughter, who acted like it was no big deal.

Corinna Slusser's last Instagram Post

Police now say they're treating Slusser's disappearance as a possible sex trafficking case. Members of the New York Police Department's Vice Human Trafficking Team believe she's been handed off to several pimps because her name has come up in several vice investigations over the last few weeks.

Her relatives say she was a cheerleader with dreams of becoming a makeup artist before she dropped out of school and moved out at the age of 17. She stayed with friends near her mother's home for a year until she attempted suicide.

While she was recovering in a hospital, she met the man who would later allegedly become her pimp and lure her to New York City.

I cant bear any more days like this, Tuorto said on Facebook. I fear the worst, but I pray for the best and her to return home. (Im) waiting for an angel to hear my prayer.

Slusser has blond hair and blue eyes and is 5 foot 6. She weighs approximately 140 pounds and large black flower tattoo in the middle of her chest, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS [8477].

RELATED: A Dad Reveals How His Daughter Was Almost Sex Trafficked On Social Media

Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 10:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTangos Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz).

Keywords: crime, sex trafficking

read more
A Chicago law firm filed 14 civil complaints on Wednesday over the Oct. 1 shooting at a concert in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and more than 500 others wounded.

The lawsuit names as defendants Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, concert organizer Live Nation and Slide Fire Solutions, a Texas company that manufactures and sells the gun accessory that enabled the Vegas shooter to fire rapidly.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified compensation for physical and mental injuries, for which they say the defendants are at least partially to blame.

Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on 22,000 concertgoers from his room at the Mandalay Bay, which overlooked the venue of a massive three-day country music event. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The lawsuit says that Paddock was a frequent gambler who enjoyed VIP status at the resort, which allowed him privileges including the use of a service elevator that allowed him to stockpile an arsenal in his suite over the course of several days. The filing argues that the hotel failed to conduct routine searches on his bags.

The lawsuit also states that exits at the concert venue were poorly marked, which made it difficult for attendees to evacuate.

The shots that began raining down on concertgoers shortly after 10 p.m. Oct. 1 came in rapid succession, made possible by a gun accessory that allowed the shooter to fire hundreds of rounds per minute. Paddock had acquired 12 bump stocks, which made his semiautomatic rifles perform more like fully automatic weapons.

In naming Slide Fire Solutions as a defendant, lead attorney Antonio Romanucci told The Associated Press that the lawsuit aimed to hold the entire supply chain responsible.

At least three other lawsuits have been filed in the aftermath of the shooting, AP reported.

Mandalay Bay, Live Nation and Slide Fire did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Also on HuffPost

Israel

On Oct. 2, 2017, Tel Aviv city hall is lit up like the American flag to honor the victims of a mass shooting in Las Vegas.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
The men's lawyer, Joshua Tepfer, said it was an 'historic day': AP

Fifteen African American men who say they were framed by a corrupt Chicago police officer and his team, have had all the charges against them dropped.

Prosecutors said they were vacating all charges against the men, who were arrested by officers led by former police sergeant Ronald Watts. They said it was the first mass exoneration in the history of Cook County, which covers Chicago and the surrounding area.

The Exoneration Project, a free legal clinic at the University of Chicago Law School which represented the men, said all 15 were convicted of drug crimes from 2003-2008, and have all served their respective sentences.

Justice (finally) prevails for 15 (more) men framed by Chicago Police Department former sergeant Ronald Watts and his crew. pic.twitter.com/6fZcIUUHoq  Michele Borchew (@Michele_Borchew) November 16, 2017

In September, the men filed a lawsuit seeking to have their convictions overturned, claiming they had been framed by Watts, who was convicted in 2013 of stealing money from a drug courier who had been working as an FBI informant.

Among those whose conviction thrown out was Taurus Smith, who was 17 when he was first arrested and thrown in jail for a year. Speaking to The Independent from Chicago, Mr Smith said it felt great that his innocence had been recognised. He said he was trying to get his life back on track and find a job.

I was in jail for a year. It was really scary. I was just a kid and you hear all these stories about what itll be like, he said. Asked how he got through his time in custody, he said: Family and friends and praying.

RAW: Footage of Chicago police shooting Paul OaNeal

The Chicago Police Department has long the target of accusations of abuse and mistreatment of suspects of colour. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice issued a scathing 164-page report that concluded the citys officers were poorly trained and quick to turn to deadly and excessive force.

Story continues

Lawyer Joshua Tepfer of the Exoneration Project, said it was the first time there had been a mass exoneration of suspects in the city. Its historic. Its never happened before, he said.

The clearing of the 15 men on Thursday marked the third day in succession that prosecutors at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, dropped dropped charges because of alleged police misconduct.

BREAKING: Judge tosses convictions of 15 more South Siders who alleged they were framed by corrupt ex-#Chicago Sgt. Ronald Watts' crew. @SAKimFoxx's office today dropped all the charges. It might be Cook County's first mass exoneration. https://t.co/Iiv5zvhYy4 pic.twitter.com/52YOlTTHw7  Chip Mitchell (@ChipMitchell1) November 16, 2017

On Wednesday Jose Maysonet, 49, walked free after 27 years behind bars for a conviction for a double murder prosecutors believed they could not longer rely on.

The Chicago Tribune said on Tuesday, 66-year-old Arthur Brown, was set free after serving 29 years for murder. Once again, prosecutors said they had deep concerns about the fairness of his conviction.

Wattts was jailed in 2013 after he and other officer, Kallatt Mohammed, were strongly criticised by the judge who heard their case.

US District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman said the behaviour of Watts, who is himself African-American, was a betrayal of both his community and other officers. She said his actions were particularly shocking because he took advantage of a part of the community already struggling with poverty and crime.

Watts has since been released from jail.

You were a sergeant operating in a community that should hold you up as an example, said the judge. You needed to protect those people, and you didnt.
Twenty people have accused Kevin Spacey of inappropriate behavior during his tenure at a London theater.

The Old Vic theater on Thursday released findings from an investigation into Spaceys time as artistic director, a position he held from 2004 to 2015. The review, which was conducted by an external law firm, comes amid a wave of sexual misconduct accusations against the actor.

The nearly two-week investigation turned up 20 alleged incidents relating to The Old Vic between 1995 and 2013. All but two occurred before 2009, according to the theater.

In all but one case, individuals alleging inappropriate behavior by Spacey did not come forward at the time or asked that no formal action be taken, according to a press release issued by The Old Vic. None of the individuals who made allegations against Spacey said they were minors at the time of the incidents, according to the theater, and most shared their testimonies with investigators on the promise of anonymity.

To all those people who felt unable to speak up at the time, The Old Vic truly apologizes, Nick Clarry, chairman of the theater, said Thursday in a statement. Inappropriate behavior by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable.

The Old Vic said Spacey had not yet responded to the findings of its investigation. A representative for the actor did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Spacey made his Old Vic debut in 1998 while performing in a production of The Iceman Cometh. He went on to star in several productions throughout his tenure as the theaters artistic director, including 2005s National Anthems, 2011s Richard III and 2015s Clarence Darrow.

There has been an outpouring of sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey since last month, when actor Anthony Rapp accused the actor of making sexual advances on him when he was 14. Spacey said he did not remember the incident, but said he apologized if the accusation was true. He has not addressed several other accusations of sexual harassment or sexual assault against him that have since surfaced.

Story continues

A representative for Spacey said earlier this month that the actor is seeking evaluation and treatment.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
(Photo: HarperTeen / FSG / Riverhead / Scribner)

Journalist Masha Gessen and novelist Jesmyn Ward were among the big winners Wednesday night as authors, publishers and literary benefactors gathered in New York City to celebrate the 68th National Book Awards ceremony.

Actress Cynthia Nixon, who emceed the evening, spoke of the power of literature in the current political moment  one she described as difficult for many, especially women, people of color and other marginalized groups. To remain on the defensive in nearly every waking hour takes its toll, she said.

For many of us, books provide a welcome escape into another world. Literature can also, she said, provide broadened perspective. They expose us to an experience we couldnt imagine on our own. Books matter.

And four books, in particular, mattered Wednesday evening  though Lisa Lucas opened the presentation by telling the finalists, Dont worry. Youre all winners already. Below are the winners in each of the National Book Awards four categories.

Young Peoples Literature

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

Poetry

Half-light: Collected Poems 1965-2016 by Frank Bidart

Nonfiction

The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia by Masha Gessen

Fiction

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

The evening also honored two literary figures for their lifes work. President Bill Clinton presented the Literarian Award for Outstanding Contribution to the American Literary Community to Richard Robinson, the longtime president and CEO of Scholastic.

Im grateful to [Robinson] for personal reasons, said Clinton in his remarks. He sent Hillary and me copies of the Harry Potter books so we didnt have to wait in line at the bookstore. But, putting aside that display of preferential treatment, Clinton praised Robinsons and Scholastics dedication to leveling the playing field by supporting literacy among lower-income children.

Acclaimed novelist and short-story writer Annie Proulx, perhaps best known as the author of the short story behind the film Brokeback Mountain, was presented the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by one of the movies stars, Anne Hathaway.

Story continues

In her searing speech, Proulx cataloged the many crises facing the country, including climate change, the cascade of sexual harassment accusations and the divisive state of our political dialogue. This is a Kafkaesque time, she said.

Despite her grim outlook, she added a touch of encouragement, if not optimism: The happy ending still beckons, and it is in the hope of grasping it that we go on.

The announcement of the 2017 winners wasnt the National Book Foundations only big news on Wednesday. Earlier that day, the Art for Justice Fund announced that the National Book Foundation would be among its first grant recipients. The fund was established earlier this year to advocate for criminal justice reform and an end to mass incarceration. The National Book Foundation, according to the funds announcement, will use the grant to launch a Literature for Justice program focused on mass incarceration.

Also on HuffPost

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet Takes a Breath follows the story of Juliet Palante, a queer puertorriquena who leaves the Bronx bustle (and her mamis delicious arroz con maiz) for a summer in Portland, Oregon, where she interns for her fave feminist author Harlow Brisbane. During this time, the naive, passionate and always hilarious Juliet comes out to her Latinx familia, gets some textbook and real-life instructions on feminism, queer terminology and radical politics, experiences the ups and downs of first romances and realizes that noisy subways, jam-packed dining rooms and speakers blasting Big Pun rhymes can actually be more serene than birds chirping on the West Coast." -- Raquel Reichard, Latina magazine

You Don't Have To Like Me: Essays on Growing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding Feminism by Alida Nugent

"In this series of entertaining essays, popular blogger and author Nugent (Dont Worry, It Gets Worse) documents her journey to feminism while skewering misogynist tropes and delivering some painful truths. Using her own experiences to expand on larger issues, Nugent bravely confides the details of her battle with bulimia and societys ever-shifting idea of the perfect body ... More jovial moments are dedicated to the power of female friendships ('the salted caramel ... of the relationship world'), the bacchanalia of girls-night-out wine benders, and learning to love her looks with help from an unflattering $15 lipstick." -- Publishers Weekly

A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy Hernandez

"[Hernandez] examines the warmth and pain she found in her relationships with her family, the varied reactions they had when she came out as bisexual, and the cognitive dissonance she experienced as she became upwardly mobile.



Throughout, she talks about the power of reshaping your experiences through narrative, of taking the past apart and putting it back together in a way that makes sense to you and makes it truly your own." -- Braden Goyette, The Huffington Post

Loose Woman by Sandra Cisneros

"In her second book of poems, Cisneros (My Wicked Wicked Ways) presents a street-smart, fearlessly liberated persona who raves, sometimes haphazardly, always with abandon, about the real thing: 'I am ... / The lust goddess without guilt. / The delicious debauchery. You bring out / the primordial exquisiteness in me.' As if breaking all the rules ('Because someone once / said Don't / do that! / you like to do it'), she delves with urgency into things carnal -- sequins, cigars, black lace bras and menstrual blood." -- Publishers Weekly

How to Be a Chicana Role Model by Michele Serros

"In her second book ... [Serros] refines her wicked humor and observations of being Chicana in the U.S. Billed as a book of fiction, Serros is clearly at the center of the 13 pieces in Role Model, identified by name in many of them. This hybridization of the personal essay and fiction will befuddle some readers. But the casual reader will ignore the labeling, and relish Serros' observations from a perspective steeped in the culture of her Mexican family, while saturated in the popular culture that both invites and alienates. How she traverses these two worlds is often the source of Serros' humor." -- Belinda Acosta, The Austin Chronicle

In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

"The butterflies [known in real-life as, Las Mariposas] are four smart and lovely Dominican sisters growing up during Trujillo's despotic regime. While her parents try desperately to cling to their imagined island of security in a swelling sea of fear and intimidation, Minerva Mirabal -- the sharpest and boldest of the daughters, born with a fierce will to fight injustice -- jumps headfirst into the revolutionary tide. Her sisters come upon their courage more gradually, through a passionate, protective love of family or through the sheer impossibility of closing their eyes to the horrors around them. Together, their bravery and determination meld into a seemingly insurmountable force, making Trujillo, for all his power, appear a puny adversary." -- Kirkus Review

Women with Big Eyes by Angeles Mastretta

"Thirty-nine indomitable aunts are captured in a series of lyrical snapshots in this autobiographically inspired collection, a bestseller in the award-winning author's native Mexico. Mastretta (Lovesick) originally conceived these brief stories as a way of telling her daughter about her long line of powerful female ancestors; the resulting fictional series of portraits delivers charming lessons in life and love." -- Publishers Weekly

Bird of Paradise by Raquel Cepeda

"Bird of Paradise is [Cepeda's] story of redemption, of a her search to understand her identity in a society that told her over and over again that she did not matter ... As a memoir, it is not simply a story of herself, but of Latina women growing up in New York City (and the Dominican Republic) in the 1970s and 1980s. It is a story of migration and stagnation, love and sorrow. It is a story of blackness and whiteness; it is a tale of borderlands and isolation, race and ethnicity, struggle and perseverance." -- Dr. David J. Leanord, The Huffington Post

This Bridge Called My Back by Cherrie Moraga, Gloria Anzaldua

"When it was published in 1981, This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color was a vermilion ink bloom on the crisp white wedding dress of the U.S. feminist movement. It was meant to be shocking. This anthology of prose and poetry by Black, Latina, Asian, and Native American women was the first to express loudly, clearly, bilingually that the 'sisterhood' could not be colorblind. Women of color are not the same as white women. They experience America differently." -- Nisha Agarwal, The Huffington Post

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Set in turn-of-the-century Mexico, it tells the romantic tale of Tita De La Garza, the youngest of Mama Elena's three daughters, whose fate, dictated by family tradition, is to remain single so that she can take care of her mother in her old age ... As we witness the nurturing Tita's struggle to be true both to family tradition and to her own heart, we are steeped in elaborate recipes for dishes such as turkey mole with almonds and sesame seeds or quail with rose petals, in medicinal concoctions for ailments such as bad breath and gas, and in instructions on how to make ink or matches." -- Kirkus Reviews

Almost a Woman by Esmeralda Santiago

"Almost a Woman continues Esmeralda's saga as she proves herself bright enough to transfer to New York's Performing Arts High School and discovers how differently others can live. She writes of her blossoming physically, intellectually and artistically using her second language with lyricism and skill. And she writes poignantly of her inevitable loosening of family bonds and her growing independence.Santiago captures the chaos and warmth of barrio living as well as the struggle to both retain elements and move beyond.



She leaves the reader with a greater understanding of immigrant life through her use of detail and humor. These are good books for both the young and the mature woman." -- Judith Helburn, Story Circle Book Reviews

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
It looks like accessibility isn't the only thing that Airbnb wants to upgrade on its platform. On the same day that Airbnb announced that it acquired Accomable, an "Airbnb for disabled travellers", it has emerged that it's also made another small acquisition. Airbnb has acquired adtech startup AdBasis, which had built a platform and dashboard for ad testing and optimization.

Airbnb has confirmed the acquisition but is not commenting on it further. AdBasis has published a note on its site indicating that the deal closed on November 13 and that its team will continue to work on digital creative testing and optimization technology at Airbnb.

"We're thrilled to share with you that as of November 13th 2017, AdBasis has been acquired by Airbnb. As part of Airbnb, our team will continue to pave the way in digital creative testing & optimization technology," the note says. "We look forward to continuing to change the way the world views ads."

AdBasis was co-founded by Jason Puckett and Joe DiVita in Chicago, and it's not clear how many people worked there, or how many will join Airbnb. The company's leadership have relocated to San Francisco.

AdBasis describes itself as a "controlled testing environment and analytics tool for companies to conduct A/B and multivariate tests on search, display & mobile ads."

Its tools include the ability to track revenue, and how changes to an ad's content, bidding, targeting and other parameters impact its performance. It also creates statistics based on this data to help direct future campaigns. AdBasis also makes decisions about where to spend ad dollars based on the data gathered during the experimentation process.

"We want our customers to have an optimal ad for every time of day, day of week, for every keyword, product, location and audience," the company notes.

AdBasis will be shutting down and folding in their IP and expertise to Airbnb and will stop working with current customers by February 13, 2018. The company had worked with advertisers like Safeway, Angie's List and Tableau, as well as ad agencies such as 3Q Digital, iProspect and others.

Story continues

Airbnb currently does not run any advertising on its platform, but there are two areas where AdBasis' tech might prove to be useful.

The company has been investing a lot in its own marketing efforts to raise its profile -- launching ad and marketing campaigns. And it is also working on building out how it works with affiliates, specifically larger sites, which can now embed Airbnb listings, as one route to improving exposure for hosts without those hosts re-listing their properties elsewhere (and Airbnb thereby missing out on the booking commission).

In both cases, Airbnb may be able to use AdBasis's tech to help measure how affiliate listings perform, and how their own marketing is working for it. Again, from what I understand, the product will only be used internally: no plans for a new ad tech product from Airbnb.

But if you look at how Google is being scrutinised (and heavily fined by regulators) over how its dominance in search ads has impacted vertical search in the travel sector, you can see why Airbnb might be interested in building up its own talent and technology in this area.

Airbnb would not comment on whether it has acquired any other marketing or ad tech startups, but given its platform push to bring in more travellers to its platform, and the wider role that ad tech and marketing play in the travel sector, this could be something to watch.
Senator and former comedian calls for ethics investigation after Leeann Tweeden alleges he forcibly kissed her and later groped her while she was asleep in 2006

Al Franken: I respect women. I dont respect men who dont. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed. Photograph: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

US senator and former comedian Al Franken has issued an apology after being accused of kissing and groping a woman without her consent.

Leeann Tweeden, a Los Angeles-based news anchor, came forward with the allegations in an op-ed published by KABC radio on Thursday that detailed an encounter with Franken during a tour of the Middle East to entertain US troops in 2006.

Tweeden alleges that Franken, then a comedian and formerly of Saturday Night Live, forcibly kissed her while rehearsing for a skit and later groped her while she was asleep. She also shared a photo that appears to show Franken placing his hands over her breasts while posing for the camera.

Congressional leaders swiftly called for a Senate ethics committee investigation into Frankens conduct. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders also told reporters Thursday a formal inquiry would be an appropriate action.



The Democratic senator swiftly issued an apology to Tweeden, claiming to remember the rehearsal differently.



I certainly dont remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann, Franken said in a statement provided to the Guardian. As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasnt. I shouldnt have done it.

Within hours, Franken released a more detailed written statement in which he endorsed an ethics investigation into Tweedens allegation while vowing he would gladly cooperate.

The first and most important thing  and if its the only thing you care to hear, thats fine  is: Im sorry, Franken said. I respect women. I dont respect men who dont. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed.

Franken also said the photo of him appearing to grope Tweeden was completely inappropriate.

Story continues

I dont know what was in my head when I took that picture, and it doesnt matter. Theres no excuse, he said. I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isnt funny.

Tweeden said she accepted Frankens apology but said he could have apologized before. Theres no reason why I shouldnt accept his apology, Tweeden told Good Day LA. [But] this happened 11 years ago.

Tweeden said she saw Franken at a gala a few years after the incident. She recalled him seeking her out to say hello, but she ignored him and walked away. He had a chance to apologize to me then, Tweeden said. He knew exactly what he did to me then and that that picture was out there.

Tweeden did not, however, call on Franken to resign. Im not calling for him to step down. Thats not my place to say that, she said.

The allegation comes as controversy continues over Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who has now been accused of sexual assault by four women and of sexual misconduct by others, amid a wave of outrage over sexual harassment since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke in October. Moore, the Republican candidate in a special election in Alabama next month, denies the claims against him.

Donald Trump also faces allegations of sexual assault by at least a dozen women, most of whom came forward in the months leading up to the 2016 election.

A growing number of women have also described sexual misconduct as rampant on Capitol Hill. A CNN investigation, based on interviews with 50 lawmakers, current and former Hill aides, detailed the environment as pervasive.

Franken is facing re-election in Minnesota and has been named among possible Democratic contenders for president in 2020.

In her essay, Tweeden said she intended to participate in the comedy tour, hosted by the United Service Organizations, as an emcee. But she claimed that Franken wrote a moment into the script where his character comes at me for a kiss.

Tweeden said she assumed she could turn her head away or put her hand over Frankens mouth to get more laughs from the crowd. But on the day of the show, Tweeden wrote, she was alone with Franken backstage when he told her, We need to rehearse the kiss.

I laughed and ignored him. Then he said it again, she wrote. I said something like, Relax Al, this isnt SNL. We dont need to rehearse the kiss.

Tweeden said Franken continued to insist. She recalled agreeing so he would stop badgering me.

We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth, Tweeden wrote. She said she immediately pushed him away and warned him against doing so again.

I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth. I felt disgusted and violated.

Tweeden said she did not inform any of the officials on the trip because she did not wish to cause trouble. She said she performed the skit as written but turned her head away so Franken could not kiss her lips.

Upon returning to the US, she recounted looking through photos and seeing an image of Franken appearing to grope her breasts. I felt violated all over again. Embarrassed. Belittled. Humiliated, she wrote. How dare anyone grab my breasts like this and think its funny?

The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, was first to call for an official investigation into the Franken allegations.

He said: I believe the ethics committee should review the matter. I hope the Democratic leader will join me on this. Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptable  in the workplace or anywhere else.



Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, also expressed support for a congressional inquiry into what he called a troubling incident. He said: Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated.

Other Democrats rushed to condemn Franken. There is never an excuse for this behavior  ever, said Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate. Patty Murray, another member of Senate Democratic leadership, said: This is unacceptable behavior and extremely disappointing.

Last month, Franken condemned Weinsteins behavior in a Facebook post as appalling while noting it was far too common.

As a comedian, Franken made jokes about rape and inappropriate behavior that have at times been resurrected during his political career.

They include a 1995 magazine feature about Saturday Night Live in which Franken, then a writer on the show, suggested a joke about drugging and raping prominent CBS reporter Lesley Stahl. He also once joked about child rape during a comedy roast of director Rob Reiner.
(Reuters) - The Alabama Republican Party said on Thursday it supported embattled U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore after allegations of sexual misconduct roiled the race. "Judge Moore has vehemently denied the allegations made against him. He deserves to be presumed innocent of the accusations unless proven otherwise," it said in a statement. "He will continue to take his case straight to the people of Alabama." (Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Eric Beech)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The alleged mastermind of one of the worst massacres of migrants in Mexico's long drug war was detained on Tuesday in an operation led by federal police. Mexican security authorities said in a statement that the suspect whom they named only as Martiniano de Jesus "N" allegedly coordinated the massacre of 72 migrants in the town of San Fernando in northern Tamaulipas state in August 2010. The 56-year-old suspect, also believed to be involved in more recent violent crimes, was detained at a hospital in Ciudad Victoria, the state capital of Tamaulipas, according to the statement. In one of the worst atrocities in Mexico's prolonged drug war, the 72 bodies were found in an empty building at a remote ranch some 90 miles (145 km)from the Texas border. The victims were mostly Central and South American migrant workers and appeared to have been blindfolded and bound before they were lined up against a wall and gunned down. (Reporting by Lizbeth DiazWriting by David Alire GarciaEditing by Sandra Maler)
American Expresss new service doesnt require cards and makes same-day settlement possible. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

American Express (AXP) and Santander (SAN) have joined forces with Ripple, a blockchain payment network, to provide an international payments system with same-day settlement, something that is frequently difficult for banking customers.

With this new program, which is not a trial but a full-scale rollout, American Expresss FX International Payments (FXIP) business will use the crypto company Ripple to make a transatlantic payment channel between the U.S. and the U.K. Initially, the channel is limited between the two countries.

I believe this represents the first time any U.S. banking customers can move money internationally with same-day settlement, which is a huge financial and economic milestone, said Logan Kugler, managing partner at General Crypto, a cryptocurrency investment fund. Prior to this, the only way to move money from the U.S. to the U.K. same-day was to hop on a plane with a suitcase full of cash. But, thats now finally starting to change.

Santander and American Express executives have noted that blockchain technology, the same system that powers bitcoin, is able to make the formerly impossible possible.

Weve already seen evidence that blockchain technology is playing a transformational

role in the way customers are served, said Greg Keeley, Executive Vice President of

Global Corporate Payments at American Express in a press release. According to American Express, the transactions arent just faster but are cheaper and are up to the companys security standards.

This blockchain solution opens up a new channel between the U.S. and the UK and presents significant opportunity for payments globally, said Jose Luis Calderon, Global Head of Santander Global Transaction Banking, in a press release.

Should this channel prove successful and expand, it could lead a shift in the industry towards further blockchain development.

Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann. Confidential tip line: emann[at]oath[.com].

Story continues

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Washington (AFP) - A US lawmaker on Wednesday became the third Democrat this year to introduce articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, saying the president's "illegal conduct" including obstruction of justice is grounds for removal.

"We're calling upon the House to begin impeachment hearings immediately," Steve Cohen of Tennessee told reporters as he unveiled five articles accusing Trump.

The measure has five other co-sponsors, and Cohen said about a dozen others are close to signing on.

Under the rules of Congress, a majority vote in the 435-member House of Representatives is required to impeach a president. Republicans control the chamber with a 46-seat advantage, so the chance of a vote or hearings on the matter is virtually zero for now.

Cohen says his charges include obstruction of justice related to Trump's pressuring and firing of FBI director James Comey over the investigation into Russian meddling in the US election and possible coordination between Moscow and Trump's campaign.

They also include alleged violations of the US Constitution's emoluments clause, which forbids a sitting president from receiving money from a foreign power.

Cohen and other Democrats have accused Trump of knowingly enriching himself while president by guiding business to his properties, including his Trump hotel just blocks from the White House, and his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The lawmaker also accused Trump of undermining the federal judiciary, and freedom of the press.

Democrats have debated the political merits of pressing impeachment, as some have cautioned that an aggressive stance could provoke a backlash by Trump's conservative base at the ballot box.

But Cohen, who represents a relatively safe district with a large African-American constituency, said the move could help his party.

"The Democratic base needs to know that there are members of Congress who are willing to stand up against this president and bring impeachment charges, and continue to bring light to the illegal conduct that's taking place and threatening our country," Cohen said.

In July, House Democrat Brad Sherman became the first lawmaker to formally introduce an article of impeachment against Trump. Another Democrat, Al Green, introduced articles of impeachment last month.

Green, who backs Cohen's articles, said the constitutional clauses outlining presidential removal were "drafted for a time such as this and a president such as Trump."
Updated on November 16 at 12:54 p.m.

Leeann Tweeden, a Los Angeles radio host and former model, says Senator Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, kissed her against her will and groped her during a 2006 USO trip to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

In a post on the website of KABC, where she is a morning anchor, Tweeden writes that she was in a skit with Franken in which his character tried to kiss her. She writes that she expected a stage kiss in which she turned her head, but that backstage he insisted they needed to practice the kiss. She demurred, but he insisted, she said.

He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said OK so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine, and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.

She said she pushed him away and warned him never to do it again.

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I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth, Tweeden wrote. I felt disgusted and violated.

Related Story

Capitol Hill's Sexual-Harassment Problem

She said she decided not to make a big deal of the incident so that the tour could go on, but that she was angry and told a few other people on the tour. Then when she returned to the U.S. and received a CD of photos from the trip, she saw one that depicted a grinning Franken either groping or pretending to grope her breasts as she slept on a flight.

Im still angry at what Al Franken did to me, Tweeden wrote. Every time I hear his voice or see his face, I am angry. I am angry that I did his stupid skit for the rest of that tour.

I certainly dont remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann, Franken said in a initial statement. As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasnt. I shouldn't have done it.

Story continues

After that statement, backlash mounted. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for a Senate Ethics Committee investigation, and several of Frankens Democratic colleagues joined in. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York labeled Frankens apology insufficient and supported calls for an investigation, and Claire McCaskill and Patty Murray did the same.

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Franken then released a second, longer statement. The first thing I want to do is apologize: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women, he said. Theres more I want to say, but the first and most important thingand if its the only thing you care to hear, thats fineis: Im sorry.

He added, I respect women. I dont respect men who dont, and said he was ashamed. He said he also supported an ethics investigation and would cooperate.

Although the allegations elicited immediate demands for Franken to resign, his statements offered no indication he planned to do so, and his colleagues call for an ethics investigation falls well short of a call to resignand could provide Franken cover and time to try to ride the story out. Democrats, who have spent days savaging Roy Moore, may feel pressure to force Franken out to avoid the appearance of hypocrisy.

Franken has served in the Senate since 2009, and wrote in his recent book Al Franken: Giant of the Senate that he had decided to run for office during the USO tour.

Tweedens story is the latest in a long string of allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, and assault against powerful men in a range of industries. They come as Republicans seek to force Roy Moore, their partys U.S. Senate nominee in Alabama, out of his race. Female members of Congress and staffers have described Capitol Hill as rife with sexual harassment, as my colleague Michelle Cottle reported.

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The Franken allegations are different for a couple reasons: First, they come against a sitting senator. Second, they include not just Tweedens account but also a deeply disturbing photo. Third, they demonstrate yet again that sexual-harassment claims are a bipartisan issue.

Franken has previously faced criticism over things he said during his comedy career, and has dismissed critics for taking his words out of context and misunderstanding comedy. A bawdy column in Playboy titled Porn-O-Rama, dealing with online bestiality material, became an issue during his first run for office in 2008. Republicans criticized Franken, a former Saturday Night Live star and comedian, for the piece, but he defended it as merely satire, and defenders said hed been taken out of context.

I learned something, which is you can't litigate comedy, Franken said in an interview with Fresh Airs Terry Gross earlier this year. You can't litigate a joke. And in politics, when you're explaining, you're losing. So I had to let that go. And that was hard for me because I'm very proud of my career in comedy. And I had to just, at a certain pointI mean, I triedI learned it by trying to litigate jokes. And it justit'syou can't do it. You've got to let go.

During a hearing on Wednesday, Franken scolded Don Willett, a nominee for federal court, for an old tweet about marrying bacon. I dont get it, Franken said. But sometimes when you dont get a joke, its because it wasnt a joke.

A 2005 NPR story suggests that unwanted kisses from Franken were a staple of his USO shows. Describing a skit with Traylor Howard of the show Monk, he said:

We do this thing where, you know, I have written up this audition piece for me for Monk, 'cause she's'cause I want to be on the show, and it's all an excuse to kiss her. And then I kiss her and the guys, like yell, and she says, Wait a minute. If I were going to kiss anybody here, it'd be one of these brave men. And everyone goes, Whoo, whoo, and then she goes, Or women. And then they actually get louder. And then we pick a guy from the audience and he ends up kissing her. You know, that kind of thing.

A 1995 piece in New York quoted Franken discussing a potential SNL skit in which Andy Rooney talks about drugging and raping fellow 60 Minutes personality Lesley Stahl.

As a senator, Franken has called for greater protections for victims of sexual harassment.

Franken had been mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2020, though he has tried to dampen speculation. But Tweedens story and photo almost certainly end that, and Frankens career in the Senate now looks precarious. If he resigned, Governor Mark Dayton, a Democrat, would appoint a replacement.

Not too many years ago, Frankens actions might have been forgiven. Bill Clinton set a precedent for politicians riding out scandals, since followed by other officeholders, like Senator David Vitter of Louisiana. But there is now much lower tolerance for this sort of behavior, and the senator will be hard-pressed to laugh it off as just comedy.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
A "psychopathic predator" who sauntered out of a state mental hospital several days ago was arrested Wednesday in California after hopping on a chartered flight and then boarding a commercial jet to Northern California, authorities said.

Randall Toshio Saito, 59, was taken into custody in Stockton by San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies after a tip from an "alert cab driver," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Read: Escaped Inmates Held Terrified Couple Hostage Prior to Their Capture

He has resided at the Hawaii State Hospital for nearly 40 years. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to the psychiatric facility on Oahu following the 1979 murder of Sandra Yamashiro.

Prosecutors said Saito shot the woman in the face with a pellet gun and then stabbed her to death.

Her body was found stuffed in the trunk of her car. Authorities said he chose the woman at random in the state's largest shopping mall.

He is a psychopathic predator whose mental condition continues to represent a serious danger to the community, deputy prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Albert said at one of several hearings held in 2000 to determine whether Saito should be freed, according to CBS affiliate KPIX-TV.

Albert added that Saito fills all the criteria of a classic serial killer, and authorities said he was a sadist who was sexually addicted to corpses, the station reported.

Nonetheless, he was popular with staff at the mental hospital and had sex with at least three employees in the 1990s, according to documents obtained by Hawaii News Now.

He left the hospital empty-handed at about 9 a.m. Sunday, authorities said, and walked to a nearby park. Somewhere along the way he accumulated a backpack filled with cash, clothes and a cell phone, police said.

He called a taxi at the park and was taken to a chartered plane leaving for Maui, according to authorities.

A camera in the cab showed him talking on the phone and looking through the bag, as if for the first time, police said. He paid for the taxi and the short flight with cash.

Story continues

Read: 'Dangerous Beyond Belief' Escaped Inmates Captured in Tennessee

In Maui, he boarded a Hawaiian Airlines flight to San Jose with a pre-paid ticked, police said. It took state hospital staff nine hours to inform police that Saito had escaped, investigators said.

Investigators said they are trying to determine how Saito obtained cash, the mobile device and new clothes after leaving the mental hospital.

Authorities said they received a tip that Saito might be headed to his brother's home in Stockton.

He is currently being held on a $500,000 bond and is awaiting extradition to Hawaii, according to the San Joaquin Sheriff's Office.

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While the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in Australia crossed a major hurdle Wednesday, the path to creating legislation is only just beginning.

Australians overwhelmingly voted in favor of marriage equality, with 61.6 percent of those surveyed voting yes and 38.4 percent voting against it. The survey results were cause for massive celebration across Australia, one of the last major holdouts in the fight for marriage equality. But there wont be any change to the nations marriage laws until Parliament finishes writing, debating and passing legislation.

Although the survey results are nonbinding and Parliament theoretically doesnt need to act on the survey results, they are moving forward with the process. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, leader of the right-leaning Liberal Party, said hed like to see legislation passed by Christmas that overturns the 2004 declaration defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

The future of same-sex marriage in Australia now hinges on the language in the new law  which likely will include some concessions to conservative causes  and how members of Parliament decide to vote.

People in Melbourne celebrate the results of the national survey. (Photo: Scott Barbour via Getty Images)

Turnbull has given lawmakers a free or conscience vote on the matter, meaning that once the legislation is finalized, they are free to base their votes on their own opinions. However, several lawmakers have indicated their votes will reflect either the overall national survey result or the results from the electorates they represent, Australian outlets have reported.

The bills success may also hinge on the degree to which it makes allowances for Australians who morally object to same-sex marriage. The Senate has agreed to hear a bill from Liberal Party Senator Dean Smith, who wrote a provision allowing religious protections for ministers who object to officiating same-sex ceremonies. Labor and the Green party members have said they will support it, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Story continues

A bill from Liberal Party Senator James Paterson included more concessions to the religious right and was favored by conservatives, but Paterson decided to drop it once it became clear it would not earn the support of Labor party voters.

It is clear the majority of senators believe my colleague Senator Dean Smiths Bill is where we should start, he wrote in a Facebook post.

Pattersons bill would have extended religious protections to any business owners who refuse to provide services for a same-sex wedding ceremony, including venue owners, event planners, photographers, florists, caterers and others in the industry.

Those religious protection clauses may be enough to sway some of the lawmakers not to vote for the bill.

Senator Matt Canavan told ABC News24 that while he supports his electorates desire to legalize same-sex marriage, he believes Smiths bill inadequately protects religious freedom, and said he wont support a bill that diminishes fundamental human rights.

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Washington (AFP) - Support for background checks for gun purchases and a ban on sales of assault weapons have reached new highs among US voters following a series of mass shootings, according to a poll published Wednesday.

Ninety-five percent of the 1,577 people surveyed in the Quinnipiac University poll said they support requiring background checks for all gun buyers.

Only four percent said they were opposed.

This was the highest level of support for background checks since Quinnipiac first asked the question in February 2013 following the December 2012 massacre of 20 schoolchildren in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

Sixty-five percent of those surveyed said they supported a nationwide ban on sales of assault weapons while 31 percent said they were opposed.

That was also a new high and up from March 2013, when 54 percent said they supported an assault weapons ban while 41 percent were opposed.

In other findings, 91 percent of those polled said they support a ban on sales of guns to people convicted of violent crimes.

Overall, 60 percent of those surveyed said they support stricter gun laws while 36 percent were opposed. In a November 2015 poll, 52 percent said they supported stricter gun laws while 45 percent said they did not.

Thirty-four percent of those polled said stricter gun laws would help prevent mass shootings, but 62 percent said shooters would find a way around tighter laws and commit the crimes anyway.

"With each American gun massacre, there is stronger voter support for tighter gun control measures," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "But the cynical view prevails. Stricter laws will do no good whatsoever in a country with more guns than people."

The November 15 survey followed two high-profile mass shootings in the United States.

Stephen Paddock, a retired accountant, shot dead 58 people at a country music concert in Las Vegas in October and a US Air Force veteran shot dead 26 people at a church in Texas on November 5.

Democratic senators introduced an updated assault weapons ban this month but the legislation has not gained support from Republicans who control the chamber.

Quinnipiac said the poll of registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Ahmed Abu Khatallah photographed after his capture. (Photo: Government exhibit)

WASHINGTON  Federal prosecutors here Thursday closed out their case against Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the alleged ringleader of the deadly 2012 terrorist attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including an ambassador.

The defendant is guilty as sin, and he is a stone-cold terrorist, said federal prosecutor Julieanne Himelstein, in her rebuttal to the defense that would be the last thing the jury would hear before deliberations. Himelstein passionately described slain Ambassador Chris Stevens as our son, using the same term for the three others killed in the attack.

Although the 2012 attack in Benghazi became a national focal point in the lead-up to Hillary Clintons campaign for president last year, the federal trial against Abu Khatallah has drawn little attention in recent weeks. The U.S. government captured Abu Khatallah in 2014, and he made his first court appearances under tight security. After his capture, some congressional Republicans said that Abu Khatallah should be sent to Guantanamo Bay. But unlike the slow, troubled military tribunals in Guantanamo, the federal trial against Abu Khatallah has moved along at a relatively steady pace.

While placing a foreign terrorist on trial in a federal civilian court has been controversial since the beginning years of the Obama administration, the closing arguments in the Abu Khatallah trial felt pretty routine. The trial has unfolded at a federal courthouse near the Capitol with little, if any, disruption to the courts everyday proceedings, even moving forward during the media circus surrounding former Trump campaign manager Paul Manaforts recent appearances in a separate case.

Now in its seventh week, the trial has at times been pretty mundane. On Thursday, the judge called a break when he saw jurors fidgeting during the federal prosecutors long and winding closing argument.

Lets try to bring it home, OK? U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper told federal prosecutor Michael DiLorenzo.

Story continues

DiLorenzo told jurors that the government had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Abu Khatallah was responsible for the deaths of Stevens, U.S. Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

Ladies and gentlemen, he hates America, and thats why he committed this attack, DiLorenzo said. He was there to attack the mission facilities. He was there to kill Americans.

Abu Khatallah, who has remained incarcerated since his arrest, sat in blue prison garb listening to the proceedings. His attorney, federal public defender Michelle Peterson, argued that federal prosecutors didnt have the proof they needed and were instead trying to paint Abu Khatallah as someone jurors should despise.

They want you to hate him  thats what this case is about, Peterson told jurors. He doesnt hate America; theres no evidence of that.

Peterson said her client had been clumped over the head, hoisted up on a ship like a slab of meat, blindfolded and gagged when he was taken into custody. So perhaps there was a reason the comments that he made during an interrogation after his capture werent particularly sympathetic to the slain Americans, Peterson suggested. She said theres no evidence that Abu Khatallah planned the attack.

He didnt start the fire. He didnt shoot the mortars. Theres no evidence that he was the mastermind behind anything, she said.

Peterson also told jurors that Abu Khatallahs ideology isnt relevant to whether hes guilty. He might not have wanted Americans spying in his home country, she said, but there are plenty of Americans who dont think Russia should be spying in the United States, for example. His religious beliefs also shouldnt come into play, Peterson argued.

Shariah law is not equivalent to terrorism, she said. Wanting Shariah law in your own country is not a crime ... Theres no evidence he was trying to export Shariah law anywhere else; he was a Benghazi man through and through.

The witnesses against Abu Khatallah, Peterson argued, were motivated because they were given bags of cash by the government. The star witness against Abu Khatallah, who testified under a pseudonym, was paid $7 million by the U.S. government, and has since been relocated to Texas. He testified that, after gaining Abu Khatallahs trust, the suspect told him he intended to kill everybody at the compound.

The informant testified that at one time he suggested to the U.S. government that he kill Abu Khatallah himself. If he was willing to kill for the U.S. government, Peterson suggested, wouldnt he be willing to lie for the U.S. government as well?

She urged the jury to find reasonable doubt to convict Abu Khatallah, arguing there were plenty of reasons to doubt that he committed the crime. We dont have to prove anything. If theres something missing, its not on us, she said. She argued that Abu Khatallah simply went to the compound to see what was going on, and that he didnt take part in the attack.

Himelstein, the assistant U.S. attorney who offered the rebuttal to the defense teams closing arguments, made an emotional appeal to the jurors. She described Stevens as a beautiful humanitarian who was beloved by Libyans.

How dare you? Himelstein said at one point, in a comment apparently directed at Abu Khatallah. How dare he?

The defense team objected to Himelsteins statements at several points during her argument, and she was once asked to approach the bench after she made a comment that seemed to be directed at Abu Khatallahs lawyer.

Cooper told the jurors to come back on Monday morning to begin their deliberations.

A few years ago, it would have been tough to imagine a quiet end to the Benghazi trial. Clinton was secretary of state at the time of the attack, and expressed regret that security wasnt in place that couldve prevented the deaths. Several intensive congressional investigations ran up bills in the millions, and investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing on Clintons part. Yet polls ahead of the election last year found that 90 percent of Donald Trump supporters believed that Clinton definitely or possibly was warned of the attack and did nothing to stop it.

Benghazi was a major focus of the 2016 Republican National Convention, with organizers dedicating more than 30 minutes of stage time to the topic. As Erik Wemple wrote at The Washington Post last week, the Benghazi trial currently has minimal airtime at Fox News, which had closely covered the trial (and, more specifically, Clintons involvement) since the 2012 attack.

Trump has complained about the slow process in federal courts, and floated the idea that the man arrested in a terrorist attack in New York last month be sent to Guantanamo, calling the federal judicial system a joke and a laughingstock. But he quickly reversed himself, tweeting that going through the Guantanamo system would be much slower than the federal court system.

The 2012 attack on two U.S. facilities in Benghazi was carried out by members of the militant group Ansar al-Sharia. The attackers used guns and rocket-propelled grenades, and set fires. The government initially believed that the attack grew out of protests surrounding the release of an anti-Muslim film, though it later became clear that the attack was planned ahead of time.

Ryan Reilly is HuffPosts senior justice reporter, covering criminal justice, federal law enforcement and legal affairs. Have a tip? Reach him at ryan.reilly@huffpost.com or on Signal at 202-527-9261.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Looking for an easy, affordable gift for everyone on your list this holiday season? Look no further thanthe sheet mask.

Over the years, the Korean beauty staple has gained plenty of popularity stateside, and men and women alike have seemingly become obsessed. Even celebrities likeChris PrattandChrissy Teigenhave hopped on the sheet mask bandwagon.

A post shared by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt)on Jul 29, 2014 at 1:43pm PDT

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Whether youre looking for the perfect stocking stuffer or something simple to bring to a Secret Santa or White Elephant party, a sheet mask is a great option.

Not only do they leave skin feeling hydrated and fresh, theyre downright fun since they make anyone who wears one look ridiculous. Plus, there are plenty of options that will set you back less than $10, so you might even have some money left over to get one for yourself.

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Sephora Avocado Face Mask

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Seeing as charcoal beauty products are everywhere these days, this mask would make a great gift for anyone obsessed with beauty trends. This mask is great for all skin types, and promises to leave your skin feeling clean, hydrated and refreshed.



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Innisfree Skin Solution Mask

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TonyMoly I'm Real Tea Tree Mask Sheet

Tea tree oil is a beauty MVP known for its antibacterial and disinfectant properties. It's also great for clearing up blemishes. This mask by TonyMoly uses tea tree to soothe and brighten skin.



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NeoStrata Hydrating & Plumping Sheet Mask

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Related...

The Perfect Sheet Masks For Overly Busy People

Everyone Is Wearing Face Sheet Masks, And So Should You

The Best Korean Skincare Products Under $20

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Mr Steele told friends that the majority of his dossier is accurate: PA

The former British intelligence officer who compiled the infamous dossier that included allegations of collusion between President Donald Trump and the Russian government says that he thinks the dossier is between 70 and 90 per cent accurate, according to a new book on the subject.

In the book, Collusion: How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win, former MI6 agent Chris Steele is quoted telling friends that he thinks the dossier will be vindicated, the Guardian reports. The reports he compiled were based on sources cultivated over a span of three decades working in the intelligence community.

Ive been dealing with this country for thirty years. Why would I invent this stuff, Mr Steel is quoted saying.

That considerable experience is one of the reasons that Mr Steeles dossier  which included explosive allegations that splashed across headlines around the world  was taken seriously in Washington. Mr Steele has authored hundreds of reports on Russia and Ukraine, and some of those were passed among high level officials in the US government including former Secretary of State John Kerry.

The dossier, built on sources used in those reports, included allegations that the Kremlin had personally damaging information on Mr Trump, like sex tapes recorded when Mr Trump was in Moscow in 2013. Other evidence reportedly suggested that Mr Trump had actively colluded with Russian intelligence to turn the 2016 election in his favour.

The episode burnished Steeles reputation inside the US intelligence community and the FBI. Here was a pro, a well-connected Brit, who understood Russian espionage and its subterranean tricks. Steele was regarded as credible, Luke Harding, the author of the book and also a journalist at the Guardian, wrote.

Mr Steele reportedly told the FBI about the allegations hed uncovered, but that his FBI contacts eventually went quiet as the 2016 election neared. The book says that he had told a friend that it was clear he had given them a radioactive hot potato.
The New York Times

PHOENIX  Kari Lakes defeat in the governors race in Arizona has set off a high-stakes tug of war within the Republican Party, as Lakes right-wing allies pushed her to mount a Trump-style challenge to the results, while some establishment leaders  including a former Republican governor  urged her to concede her loss and move on. Lakes next move could prove a turning point for her party and the far-right faction of election deniers that propelled her rapid rise this year. Lake stands as the
(RANCHO TEHAMA RESERVE, Calif.)  The gunman behind a rampage in Northern California was out on bail charged with stabbing a neighbor, others had complained about him firing hundreds of rounds from his house, and he had been the subject of a domestic violence call the day before the attack.

Yet Kevin Neal was free and able to use a semi-automatic rifle and two handguns Tuesday to shoot 14 people, killing four, in seven different locations across his rural community, including an elementary school, before he died in a shootout with police.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said Wednesday that investigators found the body of Kevin Janson Neals wife hidden under the floor. Investigators believe the killing of his wife  the fifth victim  was the start of the rampage.

Its not yet clear what the terms of Neals bail were, and whether he would have been allowed to possess and fire the weapons on his property at the end of a dirt road in Rancho Tehama Reserve. Nor did sheriffs officials give details on the domestic violence call.

But his many contacts with authorities raised questions of why he was out of custody and able to go on the 45-minute rampage that began with the killing of his wife and two neighbors in an apparent act of revenge before he went looking for random victims.

Cristal Caravez and her father live across a ravine from the roadway where the gunman and his first victims lived.

She said they and others heard constant gunfire from the area of the gunmans house, but couldnt say for sure it was him firing.

You could hear the yelling. Hed go off the hinges, she said. The shooting, it would be during the day, during the night, I mean, it didnt matter.

She and her father, who is president of the homeowners association, said neighbors would complain to the sheriffs department, which referred the complaints back to the homeowners association.

The sheriff wouldnt do anything about it, said Juan Caravez.

Story continues

The gunmans sister, Sheridan Orr, said her brother had struggled with mental illness throughout his life and at times had a violent temper.

She said Neal had no business owning firearms.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said the shooter was facing charges of assaulting one of the feuding neighbors in January and that she had a restraining order against him.

Johnston did not comment on the shooters access to firearms.

Johnston declined to identify the shooter until his relatives were notified, but he confirmed the gunman was charged with assault in January and had a restraining order placed against him. The district attorney, Gregg Cohen, told the Sacramento Bee he is prosecuting a man named Kevin Neal in that case.

Neals mother told The Associated Press her son, who was a marijuana grower, was in a long-running dispute with neighbors he believed were cooking methamphetamine.

The mother, who spoke on condition she be named only as Anne because she fears for her safety, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she raised Neal. She said she posted his $160,000 bail and spent $10,000 on a lawyer after he was arrested in January for stabbing a neighbor. Neals mother said the neighbor was slightly cut after Neal grabbed a steak knife out of the hand of the neighbor who was threatening him with it.

She wept as she told The Associated Press she spoke to Neal on the phone on Monday.

Mom its all over now, she said he told her. I have done everything I could do and I am fighting against everyone who lives in this area.

She said Neal apologized to her during their brief conversation, she thought for all the money she had spent on him, saying he was on a cliff and the people around him were trying to execute him.

I think the motive of getting even with his neighbors and when it went that far  he just went on a rampage, Johnston said.

Police said surveillance video shows the shooter unsuccessfully trying to enter a nearby elementary school after quick-thinking staff members locked the outside doors and barricaded themselves inside when they heard gunshots.

Johnston said the gunman spent about six minutes shooting into Rancho Tehama Elementary School before driving off to continue shooting elsewhere. Johnston said one student was shot but is expected to survive.

He said the 45-minute rampage ended when a patrol car rammed the stolen vehicle the shooter was driving and killed him in a shootout.

Johnston said officials received multiple 911 calls about gunfire at an intersection of two dirt roads. Minutes later, more calls reporting shots flooded in from different locations, including the school.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and children screaming at the school, which has one class of students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

The shootings occurred in the rural community of Rancho Tehama Reserve, a homeowners association in a sparsely populated area of rolling oak woodlands dotted with grazing cattle about 130 miles north of Sacramento.

Many there live in poverty, but others are better off.

Its not a bad community at all, said Harry Garcia, who was minding his parents convenience store La Fortuna Market. Some people keep their properties nice  some dont. They rough it out here. Some go with minimum stuff. Some dont even have power out here.
By Prak Chan Thul and Amy Sawitta Lefevre PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's highest court dissolved the main opposition party on Thursday, leaving authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen clear to extend more than three decades of power in next year's election as rights groups decried the death of democracy. The government had asked the Supreme Court to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was accused of plotting to take power with the help of the United States after the arrest of party leader Kem Sokha on Sept. 3. The court ruling also ordered a five-year political ban for 118 members of the opposition party, which had posed a major election threat for Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who is the world's longest-serving prime minister. In a televised address, Hun Sen told Cambodians the election would go ahead "as normal." The CNRP rejected the accusations against it as politically motivated. It did not send lawyers for the court ruling. "Democracy was brought to trial and it lost," said Mu Sochua, a deputy to Kem Sokha who fled Cambodia fearing arrest. "The international community must fulfill its commitments to democracy, human rights and freedoms. Sanctions are the best leverage for negotiation for free, fair and inclusive elections." Western donors, who sponsored elections overseen by the United Nations in 1993 in the hope of founding an enduring democracy, had called for Kem Sokha's release. But they have shown no appetite for sanctions against Cambodia's government, which is now closely allied to China. The United States and European Union missions in Cambodia declined immediate comment on the court ruling. Senator John McCain, a leading U.S. Republican, said the dissolution of the CNRP meant there was no way the elections scheduled for 2018 can proceed in a manner that is free or fair, and the Trump administration should impose sanctions. The Trump administration should move quickly to sanction all senior Cambodian government officials responsible for violating human rights and subverting freedom in Cambodia, he said in a statement. U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said it was up to the government to provide a free environment without fear for fair elections. Despite ramping up anti-U.S. rhetoric and linking the United States to the alleged plot against him, Hun Sen lauded U.S. President Donald Trump at a regional summit at the weekend and said he welcomed his policy of non-interference. Dozens of police manned barriers outside the gold ornamented court in the center of Phnom Penh on Thursday. There was no sign of protests. 'PEOPLE ARE SCARED' Few people on the streets wanted to talk about the ruling, the latest chapter in decades of maneuvering that have kept Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in power across all levels in the country of 16 million. "People are scared to talk amongst themselves," said Seang Menly, 39, a driver of one of the rickety tuk-tuks that ply the streets of Phnom Penh. "In my neighborhood, people who used to give money and food to the CNRP no longer dare to." Hun Sen and his defenders say only he can ensure peace. During his rule since 1985, Cambodia has been transformed from a failed state in the wake of Khmer Rouge purges and genocide to a lower middle-income country with growth of about 7 percent a year. Life expectancy has risen from 50 to 70. "The Supreme Court's decision today is not to end democracy but to deter extremists in order to protect the people and the nation from destruction," said Huy Vannak, undersecretary of state at the interior ministry. Rights groups condemned the decision by the court, which is headed by a judge who is a member of the ruling party's permanent committee. They said it left Cambodia as a de facto one-party state and rendered next year's election meaningless. "This is the death of democracy in Cambodia," said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. More than half the CNRP's members of parliament had already fled Cambodia, fearing detention in a crackdown on Hun Sen's critics, civil rights groups and independent media that began last year. "We dont know who is next," an editor at the Voice of Democracy radio station in Phnom Penh said. It was taken off the air in August, but has continued broadcasting through Facebook. The CNRP's parliamentary seats will be redistributed to other government-aligned parties after its dissolution. The party will also lose control of the councils that it won in local elections in June, when its strong showing in winning more than 40 percent of them made clear the threat it posed to the ruling party next year. Hun Sen appealed to CNRP members to join the CPP, saying: "You cannot even save your party. How will you save yourself?" Evidence presented against the party included a video from 2013 in which Kem Sokha said he had help from unidentified Americans to win power. He said he was talking about a democratic election strategy, not a coup. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and David Brunnstrom and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Matthew Tostevin, Robert Birsel, Mark Heinrich and Bernadette Baum)
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen waits to attend the Independence Day celebrations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia - AP

Cambodia has been accused of killing off democracy after the countrys supreme court dissolved the opposition party and outlawed over 100 politicians ahead of a general election next year.

Thursday's ruling to disband the Cambodia National Rescue Party, in a Southeast Asian country visited by about 159,000 Britons a year, was widely expected amid the worst crackdown on freedom and human rights in two decades.

The government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, a firebrand former Khmer Rouge fighter who has held office for 32 years, had already accused the CNRP of plotting a US-backed revolution and jailed the partys leader Kem Sokha in September.

After a horrific genocide in the 1970s, when the Khmer Rouge under dictator Pol Pot killed 1-3 million, Cambodia has functioned nominally as a democracy since 1993. Analysts say the current repression reveals Hun Sens desire to cling to power after a surge in the CNRPs popularity.

This is the end of democracy in Cambodia. We have not done anything wrong. We have fought for democracy. They have killed the will of more than three million people in Cambodia, said CNRP spokesman, Yim Sovann, referring to the partys recent support in Junes local elections.

Deputy opposition leader Mu Sochua, 63, has been lobbying for international help since she was forced to flee her homeland in October, after being accused by Hun Sen of being an urban terrorist.

She described the supreme court's decision as "a blow to democracy" but said it would not be fatal.

"The democratic movement for change inside and outside Cambodia will be glued together stronger than ever," Ms Sochua said after the decision.

Mu Sochua, deputy leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Credit: AP

Ms Sochua met with British officials in London this week to shore up support for targeted sanctions on the regime. Britain is one of Cambodias most important trading partners, importing roughly $1 billion [760m] worth of products in 2016.

In an interview she told The Telegraph the party was anxious to see more action from the international community, "especially the UK", and hoped Thursday's decision would be seen as "a red line being crossed".

Story continues

"You can let peace die, democracy die in Cambodia or you can take action to be accountable to your own taxpayers," Ms Sochua said.

She added: If the prime minister can go as far as dissolving the party that is the only competitor, I think Mr Hun Sen can do anything else, so the situation for democracy and for peace in Cambodia looks really bleak.

Opposition leader Kem Sokha prays during a Buddhist ceremony in Phnom Penh Credit: AP

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, called for Japan and the EU to immediately suspend all financial and technical electoral assistance for the 2018 election unless the CNRP was reinstated and permitted to compete.

The Supreme Court dissolution of the CNRP is the culmination of Hun Sens backdoor plan to ensure his victory in next years election, Mr Robertson said.

Champa Patel, head of the Asia programme at think-tank Chatham House, pointed out that the presiding judge in the case was a high-ranking member of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party and a close associate of the prime minister.

A Buddhist monk tries to enter a blocked street outside the supreme court on Thursday Credit: AP

The dissolution of the Cambodian opposition reflects how the courts in Cambodia have become tools serving government interests, she said. It is difficult to see how any proceedings can be seen as independent of vested interests.

The atmosphere of intimidation in Cambodia had already sparked international alarm, with Sweden threatening to revise its relations with Phomn Penh, and US Senator Ted Cruz threatening to push for a travel ban on top officials.

Profile | Hun Sen
The politically incorrect party game Cards Against Humanity has announced it is planning to save America in a new holiday promotion which promises backers six surprises across the month of December at the cost of $15.

In an email sent to mailing list subscribers on Tuesday, the company urged: Theres no time for questionsnow is the time to act. You give us $15, and well send six America-saving surprises right to your doorstep. It will be fun, it will be weird, and if you voted for Trump, you might want to sit this one out.

By early Wednesday morning, the promotion had sold out.

The first surprise to be revealed was entitled Cards Against Humanity stops the wall. The company announced it had bought a piece of vacant land along the U.S.-Mexico border and employed a law firm that specializes in fighting compulsory land acquisition. The aim, it said, was to make it as time-consuming and expensive as possible for the wall to get built.

Of Trump, the company said: Donald Trump is a preposterous golem who is afraid of Mexicans. He is so afraid that he wants to build a twenty-billion dollar wall that everyone knows will accomplish nothing.

The card game refused to comment on what the other five surprises would be. The nature of a surprise is that it surprises you when it occurs, the company said.

This is not the first promotion from Cards Against Humanity to involve itself in social issues. Previously, the company has released a set of cards for her, identical in every way to the original set except for coming in a pink box, but costing $5 more to poke fun at the absurdity of the gender pay cap.

In 2014, the company ran a Black Friday promotion charging $6 for literal feces, from an actual bull, and 30,000 people signed up.
Sometimes life has happy endings. Case in point: that used 1996 Honda Accord with 141,000 miles on it that was the star of that tongue-in-cheek commercial that went supernova on the web.

Days after CarMax responded with its own tongue-in-cheek video, offering to buy the car for $20,000, the owner took them up on the offer.

"At CarMax, we buy all the cars," spokeswoman Jennifer Bartusiak wrote in an email Wednesday. "And in breaking newswe even bought the trending 1996 Honda Accord, 'Greenie,' that went viral in a video by L.A. film maker, Max Lanman. Yesterday afternoon, Max's fiancee officially accepted our seven day video offer to buy Greenie for $20k. To all those asking, the offer was real, and CarMax is now the proud owner of Greenie (and a few other items!)."

Bartusiak added that the cat, Papa Puff Pants, will stay with its owner, Anne Marie Avey, the actress in the "Luxury is a state of mind" spot. But CarMax apparently did acquire the coffee mug, and it's donating the $5,000 it offered for the cat instead to the Los Angeles nonprofit Kitten Rescue.

Lanman, whose commercial has now racked up more than 5.9 million views on YouTube, called the whole experience "a real whirlwind" after weeks of fielding media requests.

"I'm exhausted but so grateful for everything that has happened," he told Autoblog. "Carrie [Hollenbeck, his fiancee] was sad to let Greenie go, but we couldn't have asked for a happier ending than this. I'm really glad that I don't have to re-park her twice a week for street cleaning. And I'm excited to get back to work!"

Story continues

And as for the 20 grand fetched for the 21-year-old Honda?

"First, we're going to pay the cast and crew who generously worked on the commercial for free. Then, a lot of it will go towards paying for our wedding next summer. Whatever is left over, we'll add to our savings as we hope to make a down payment on a house at some point  which in California is a tall order."

We'd say that old Honda really proved its worth.



Related Video:

CarMax makes good on offer, buys viral 1996 Honda for $20K originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Nov 2017 07:39:00 EST.
Photo credit: Getty

From Esquire UK

Notorious cult leader and serial killer Charles Manson has been readmitted to a hospital in Bakersfield, California according to The Los Angeles Times.

He was previously rushed to hospital in January for what was described as a "serious medical problem" though details were not disclosed.

The Times reports that, "Vicky Waters, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, declined to comment, citing federal and state medical privacy laws that preclude the agency "from commenting on protected health information for any inmate in our custody."

They added, "Waters did confirm, however, that Manson is alive."

Manson is currently serving a life-sentence at California State Prison, Corcoran for the murder of seven people which he orchestrated via his group of runaways and outcasts known as the Manson Family. He later claimed this was the start of his plan to incite a race war.

Though it is unknown what medical issue Manson is being treated for, a source familiar with his condition reportedly told TMZ that "it's not going to get any better for him" and "it's just a matter of time".

Perhaps he heard that Tarantino's new film was not about him, and in fact was about 1969. Disappointing news for anyone to hear.

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Charles Manson, a mass murderer and one of the most notorious cult leaders in America, was reportedly taken to a hospital in deteriorating condition earlier this week.

The former Manson Family leader, now 83, was hospitalized in Bakersfield, California, three days ago, TMZ first reported Wednesday. The Los Angeles Times later confirmed with Kern County sheriffs Lt. Bill Smallwood that Manson was taken to the hospital.

(Photo: Corcoran State Prison)

Vicky Waters, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, told the LA Times that Manson is still alive, but she did not comment on the severity of his condition.

However, an unnamed source familiar with the situation suggested to TMZ that Mansons condition was deteriorating.

Its not going to get any better for him, the source told the celebrity news site. The source also described Manson as ashen and lying still while covered in blankets.

Its just a matter of time, the source said, according to TMZ.

Manson was hospitalized earlier this year for gastrointestinal issues.

According to the Los Angeles Times and the Bakersfield Californian, Manson was seriously ill and taken to Mercy Hospitals downtown location in Bakersfield in January. That hospital is 62 miles south of the California State Prison in Corcoran, where Manson has been serving a life sentence since 1971.

Manson gathered a group of devoted followers in the 1960s, a cult that later became known as the Manson Family. Under Mansons direction, cult members murdered seven people, reportedly in order to incite a race war in the summer of 1969.

On Aug. 9, 1969, Mansons followers fatally stabbed actress Sharon Tate, who was pregnant and married to film director Roman Polanski, 16 times and killed four other people in the actresss Los Angeles home. The group also killed Leno and Rosemary LaBianca the following night, stabbing them to death in their home. They used the couples blood to scrawl words at the site, including a reference to the Beatles song Helter Skelter.

Story continues

In June 1970, Manson and three of his followers  Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten  went on trial for the murders. In 1971, a jury convicted the four defendants on multiple counts of first-degree murder.

Manson was initially sentenced to death, but it was later changed to life in prison when the state Supreme Court struck down Californias death penalty statute for violating the state constitution.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated that Mercy Hospital Downtown is 62 miles north of the California State Prison in Corcoran. It is south of the prison.

Also on HuffPost

"Young L.A. Girl Slain; Body Slashed in Two"  L.A.'s Daily News

On Jan. 15, 1947, the remains of Elizabeth Short were found in a vacant lot in Los Angeles. What made this discovery the stuff of tabloid sensation, however, was the Glasgow smile left on the aspiring actress' face  made with 3-inch slashes on each side. This, coupled with Short's dark hair, fair complexion and reputation for sporting a dahlia in her hair, led her to be dubbed "The Black Dahlia" in headlines. What followed was a media circus filled with rumors and speculation about the 22-year-old's checkered past. What haunts theorists to this day, apart from the victim's uniquely nightmarish visage, is that the case remains unsolved after some 200 suspects were interviewed and ultimately released, making it one of Hollywood's most lurid legends.

"I Am Not Guilty - Thus Lizzie Borden Pleads Before Judge Hammond at New Bedford."  Boston Journal

"Lizzie Borden took an axe And gave her mother forty whacks. And when she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one." So goes the lurid nursery rhyme to one of the most mystifying crimes ever. The nature of the deaths of Andrew J. Borden and his wife, Abby, are trumped only by the identity of the alleged perpetrator: their daughter Lizzie. Inexplicably found "not guilty" in contrast to the era's more usual swift justice, Lizzie's legacy was to be immortalized as one of the most perplexing cases of parricide in history.

"Texas Mother Charged with Killing Her 5 Children"  CNN

In a case of mother-gone-mad that startled a nation, Andrea Yates appeared to her few friends and family to be a recluse suffering from postpartum depression leading up to the birth of her fifth child. That all changed on June 20, 2001, when she drowned five of her children in their home's bathtub. She was convicted in 2002 of capital murder, carrying a sentence of life in prison with possible parole. In a 2006 retrial, however, a Texas jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity. She was committed to a mental health facility.

"Buttafuoco Admits to Sex with Amy Fisher"  New York Times

Known as the "Long Island Lolita," Amy Fisher became involved with Joey Buttafuoco in May 1991. Shortly after the two began a sexual relationship (she was 16, while he was 35 and married with two children), his presence and influence in her life became all she cared for. Although he's since denied this, Buttafuoco would go on to help Fisher plan the murder of his wife, culminating in Fisher putting a bullet in Mary Jo Buttafuoco's head, but failing to kill her. In the highly publicized trial that ensued, Fisher accepted a plea deal for 15 years in prison in exchange for a testimony against Joey, who served out charges of statutory rape.

"Murder of a Little Beauty"  People Magazine

With her face gracing the covers of nearly every news and gossip rag during the winter of 1996, it's hard to suggest that the death of child beauty pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey had little effect outside the city of Boulder, Colorado. She was found dead from a blow to the head and strangulation in the family's basement. There was a ransom note left on the staircase asking for $118,000 (conveniently or coincidentally, nearly the same amount Mr. Ramsey received as a bonus that year) and no obvious signs of forced entry into the house. The evidence appeared to be stacked against parents John and Patsy, who maintained their innocence throughout the investigation. The case reopened in 2010, but critics cite poor handling of the crime scene as why the mystery of the events of that Christmas day continues.

"F.B.I. Joins Probe in Slaughter of 8 Nurses"  Nashua Telegraph

Tattooed with "Born to Raise Hell" on his arm, Richard Speck made good on his mantra through a history of violence, theft, alcoholism and spousal abuse. He achieved infamy when, on July 13, 1966, he walked into a dormitory armed with a knife and left eight student nurses dead in his wake. Only one, Cora Amurao, was spared, hiding under a bed until 6 a.m. Speck was found guilty of murder and died of a heart attack in prison. As one of the most press-worthy crimes of the decade, the grim events were used as the backdrop for an episode of "Mad Men."

"Sharon Tate, Four Others Murdered"  Los Angeles Times

Perhaps the most terrifying figure in American crime to have never actually killed anyone himself, Charles Manson founded a "family" of wayward individuals who hailed him as a prophet. So strong was his manipulation that on the night of Aug. 8, 1969, he ordered four of his followers to kill everyone at the residence of 10050 Cielo Drive  including movie director Roman Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, and her unborn child. Tate was stabbed 16 times, and her blood was used to write "pig" on the house's front door. The next night, Manson accompanied six of his family to the residence of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, helping to bind them before ordering their deaths. In 1971, Manson and three of his fellow defendants were found guilty of murder in the first-degree and several other crimes. At the time, it was the longest murder trial in American history, spanning nine and a half months, as well as the most expensive, estimating $1 million. Manson was died in prison in 2017 at age 83.

"Lindbergh Baby Kidnapped from Home of Parents on Farm Near Princeton; Taken from His Crib; Wide Search on"  The New York Times

Used as the basis for an Agatha Christie novel (Murder on the Orient Express) and dubbed "the biggest story since the Resurrection" by famed journalist H.L. Mencken, the kidnapping and murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's infant son continues to fascinate theorists today. Charles Jr. was discovered missing from his second-floor bedroom on March 1, 1932, along with a note demanding a then-unimaginable $50,000, igniting a media frenzy like no other. The tabloid pandemonium prompted many tips and leads, but none as concrete as a package containing the boy's pajamas and another message demanding the ransom. After some misdirection from the presumed kidnapper, Lindbergh's child was discovered in the woods along a road near the family residence. Notwithstanding the evidence stockpiled against the easily vilified illegal German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann (who was sentenced to death), speculation prevails as to the true identity of the individual responsible for this tragic tale.

"Not Guilty as Sin"  New York Post

Still fresh in the minds of many and not to be easily forgotten, the trial of Casey Anthony turned Orlando, Florida, into anything but the "happiest place on earth." Following a series of lies, misdirection and manipulation by then-22-year-old Casey, her daughter Caylee's skeletal remains were found five months into the investigation, setting the stage for what could only be described as the most incessantly publicized and shocking trial in recent memory. The media had a field day that went on for months, highlighting the young, pretty party-girl image used against Casey Anthony in court as the prosecution tore apart an aimless defense  or so it seemed. After throwing her own family under the bus, incriminating people entirely made-up ("Zanny the Nanny"), and fabricating elaborate stories for the police, Anthony was found not guilty of murder due to evidence deemed mostly circumstantial and not meeting the burden of "beyond reasonable doubt," inciting much debate regarding whether true justice was served.

"An American Tragedy"  Time

It was heralded as the "trial of the century." Former football star and actor O.J. Simpson found himself in the middle of the nation's biggest, most-televised trial following the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, but not before fleeing an all-points bulletin in his Ford Bronco with 20 units in tow, interrupting game 5 of the NBA Finals. With a dream legal team including Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro, and Robert Kardashian, the defense claimed Simpson was merely a victim of police fraud with regard to contaminated DNA evidence. Cochran famously quipped, "If it [the glove] doesn't fit, you must acquit." On Oct. 3, 1995, an estimated 100 million people from around the world tuned in to watch the jury hand down a verdict of not guilty, costing an estimated $480 million in lost productivity. The case incited a discussion of race in the judicial system that continues to this day.

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BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Myanmar and Bangladesh from this weekend, his ministry said on Thursday, amid a crisis over Myanmar's treatment of Rohingya Muslims. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since late August, driven out by a military counter-insurgency clearance operation in Buddhist-majority Myanmar's Rakhine State. A top U.N. official has described the military's actions as a textbook case of "ethnic cleansing". Myanmar rejects accusations of rights abuses. China has expressed support for what it calls the Myanmar government's efforts to protect stability. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that Wang would go to Bangladesh and Myanmar this weekend where he would meet his counterparts and exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of mutual regional concern. On Monday and Tuesday, Wang would attend a meeting of Asian and European foreign ministers in the Myanmar capital of Naypyitaw, Geng added. He did not say whether Wang would discuss the Rohingya issue. China and Myanmar have for years maintained close economic and diplomatic relations. The United States and other Western countries have become more engaged with Myanmar in recent years, since it began a transition to civilian government after nearly 50 years of military rule. International concern over the Rohingya situation has grown. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called during a visit to Myanmar on Wednesday for a credible investigation into reports of human rights abuses against the Rohingya committed by Myanmar's security forces. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)
BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) - China and the Philippines have agreed to avoid force to resolve their differences over the South China Sea, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday by China at the end of a visit to Manila by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. China and the Philippines have long sparred over the South China Sea, but relations have improved considerably under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines claim some or all of the South China Sea and its myriad shoals, reefs and islands. China claims most of the waterway and has been aggressively building and militarizing artificial islands. The joint statement, carried by China's official Xinhua news agency, said China and the Philippines reaffirmed the importance of peace in the South China Sea and of freedom of navigation and overflight. There should be no violence or threats of violence and the dispute should be resolved via talks between the "relevant sovereign countries", it added. "Both sides believe that the maritime dispute is not the full sum of the China-Philippines relationship," the statement said. In a separate statement summing up discussions at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Duterte took note of the "improving relations between ASEAN and China" in the South China Sea. "In view of this positive momentum, we looked forward to the announcement of the start of substantive negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) with China" he said, hopefully in early 2018 in Vietnam, where the two sides will meet at the earliest. ASEAN and China have been discussing a set of rules on how to behave in the disputed waters to avoid accidents and raising tension. Duterte said the two sides also had successfully tested the hotline among foreign ministries on how to manage maritime emergencies. "In our view, these are practical measures that could reduce tensions, and the risks of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation," he said. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING and Manuel Mogato in MANILA; Editing by Nick Macfie)
The Church of Satan follows Anton LeVey's 1969 book The Satanic Bible: Creative Commons

The Church of Satan has claimed Christians own paedophelia, following allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

More than fifty US pastors signed a petition in support of Mr Moore, in the wake of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

Mr Moore, who served as chief justice of Alabamas supreme court, has been under pressure to step down as the Republican Partys candidate for the state, after he was accused of sexual misconduct by five women, who all say they were teenagers at the time.

He has denied the allegations, calling them false. But members of his own party have nonetheless joined the calls for him to step aside.

The scandal prompted his wife to share a letter of support signed by 53 pastors, who describe Mr Moore as a warrior for the unborn child, defender of the sanctity of marriage, and a champion for religious liberty.

The Church of Satan responded to the scandal by writing on Twitter: Child abuse is directly forbidden in the 11 Satanic Rules of the Earth. Christians however have been abusing children for centuries. They own this.

Child abuse is directly forbidden in the 11 Satanic Rules of the Earth. Christians however have been abusing children for centuries. They own this. https://t.co/yVHnF2HBdS  The Church Of Satan (@ChurchofSatan) November 14, 2017

It added: Christians Love Peadophlia.

"Many of the people coming to the defence of Moore [will] decry the horrors of moral relativism but then equivocate when one of their own is cruising shopping malls for underage prey," the Church of Satan's Reverend Raul Antony told Newsweek.

He added: Many of the comments we see from Christians even take the allegations as a given and excuse his behaviour through the teachings of the Bible.

Set up in 1966, the organisation says it does not believe in the devil or Abrahamic ideas of Satan.

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It claims to teach atheism and follows The Satanic Bible, which prohibits sexual activity with children.

The Church of Satan does not provide membership statistics, though a 2009 academic study claimed it had as many as 20,000 members. Lifetime membership costs $225 (170). The organisation has over a hundred thousand followers on Twitter and 170,000 on Facebook.
A new makeup app is courting controversy all across the web for its ability to remove makeup from pictures or video.

The 99-cent app, calledMakeApp, uses artificial intelligence to add or remove makeup on a face in a photo or video.

MakeApp can now process video! The app available on iOS 11+:https://t.co/hmPyqp8PoJpic.twitter.com/Z92qvToPz3  Ashot Gabrelyanov (@gabrelyanov)October 24, 2017

AI based MakeApp adds/removes makeup from any face - now available on Android and iOshttps://t.co/D9O7AFHj3Mhttps://t.co/iYvZO5ffpFpic.twitter.com/lv3Q8fkW84  Ashot Gabrelyanov (@gabrelyanov)May 29, 2017

Some are upset with the makeup removal feature on the app, criticizing the premise as misogynistic.

Why are some men mad that women wear make-up why how is it affecting them why must they try to interfere with women just leave us alone god  not kyra (@Foolthebooboo)November 14, 2017

the same guy that jokes about having the first date at a pool. sorry that y'all are too dumb to figure out that women don't naturally have purple eyelids  jim dugans donuts (@GordonTheTopHat)November 14, 2017

The blistering resentment of men whose mistrust of women is so great that they're incensed by mascara is like nothing I've ever seen.  Chloe Angyal (@ChloeAngyal)November 14, 2017

The program, created by Ashot Gabrelyanov, is troubling for a variety of reasons.

The idea that women layer on foundation and mascara as a way to hide their true faces from the opposite sex is a longstanding  and sexist  belief. As Elle Australia pointed out, a 2017 YouGov survey revealed that an astounding 63 percent of men believe that women wear makeup to trick them.

While MakeApp hasnt been explicitly advertised in this way, many have questioned why the makeup removal option exists at all.

Jenna Rosenstein, a senior beauty editor on the Harpers Bazaar website, is wary of the app and its intentions.

While I think the technology is quite cool, I dont love the idea of an app that exists solely to strip women of their makeup without consent, she told HuffPost.

Makeup is so often a tool used to curate identity and image  and I for one would never post a selfie on the internet without my battle armor of red lipstick and black eyeliner, she added. Stealing a womans choice to wear  or not wear  a full face of makeup is problematic. We must ask ourselves: what exactly is the purpose of this app, and what is the male equivalent?

Gabrelyanov said critics misunderstand the app.

I want to stress that this was not intended to be a misogynistic product, he told HuffPost over email.

We built MakeApp as a fun experiment and released it into the wild a few months ago and unfortunately the media coverage solely focused on the makeup removal function of the app and characterized it as a bunch of tech bros trying to hurt women, which is just so far from the truth, he wrote, mentioning that the company has women on the team.

Anotherproblem users of MakeApp have reported is that the app appears to lighten their skin tone. Several have posted images online showing this effect.

Gabrelynanov claims MakeApp does not lighten skin.

MakeApp doesnt lighten skin color. We didnt receive messages or comments from users describing this bug, he said. Our neural network was trained on [a] dataset of people of different skin colors and nationalities.

Of course, the app doesnt actually remove makeup from someones face  it uses an algorithm to figure out what a person in an uploaded photo or video might look like without it. (That algorithm will sometimes add wrinkles and blemishes to a users face, which is something Gabrelynanov told Mashable hes hoping to fix.)

MakeApps controversy goes beyond the app itself. Severalnewssiteshave pointed out Gabrelynanovs past as a prominent figure in Russian media. Business Insider characterized Gabrelynanov as apro-Russia propagandist. The outlet also pointed to a 2013 Moscow Times article that said the app creator and his father ran media network LifeNews, which has ties to the Kremlin. In 2015, a Mashable article called Gabrelynanov a pro-Putin media darling.

A post shared by Ashot Gabrelyanov (@gabrelyanov)on Jun 18, 2017 at 12:39am PDT

To my dismay, some of the articles about us take the liberty of characterizing me as a Kremlin Propagandist. This is not factual, is really irresponsible journalism and, unfortunately, runs the risk of really damaging my reputation, he told us.

While I am proud of the business I built (biggest newsroom in Russia), I eventually stepped down as CEO and left the company (roughly 4 years ago), Gabrelynanov wrote. I am not involved in politics and I am not in any way affiliated with the Kremlin, simple as that.

Related...

How To Remove Glitter Makeup Without Wrecking Your Skin

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - The corruption trial of New Jersey's Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez ended in a mistrial on Thursday, after the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on bribery, fraud and other charges. Menendez, 63, a longtime fixture in the state's political circles who first joined the Senate in 2006, was accused of accepting private flights, campaign contributions and other bribes from a wealthy patron, Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, in exchange for official favors. The hung jury was a victory for Menendez and a major setback for federal prosecutors in what was the Justice Department's first high-profile corruption trial since a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year limited its ability to bring such cases. One juror, Ed Norris, told reporters the panel was split 10-2 in favor of acquittal, which could discourage the government from pursuing a second trial. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors would seek to retry Menendez, who is expected to run for re-election next year. In a statement, the Justice Department said it would "carefully consider next steps." Republican Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, immediately called for the Senate's ethics committee to investigate the allegations against Menendez. The committee said it would resume its inquiry, which was put on hold in 2013 to allow the criminal probe to proceed. A tearful Menendez thanked God, his family and the jurors outside the courthouse in Newark, New Jersey, as well as two senators who testified on his behalf as character witnesses, Democrat Cory Booker and Republican Lindsey Graham. "The way this case started was wrong," said Menendez, flanked by his grown children. "The way it was investigated was wrong. The way it was prosecuted was wrong. The way it was tried was wrong as well." The senator also added a warning to political rivals. "To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat: I know who you are, and I won't forget you," he said. The mistrial provides at least a temporary measure of relief for Menendez's Democratic colleagues in the Senate, where Republicans likely would have pushed for resignation or expulsion if Menendez had been convicted. The case was seen as a test for prosecutors in the wake of last year's Supreme Court ruling vacating the bribery conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. In doing so, the high court narrowed the grounds for corruption cases. The trial judge, Williams Walls, strongly considered a defense motion to throw out the case mid-trial in light of the McDonnell decision before deciding against it. During the 10-week trial, prosecutors accused Menendez of pressuring Medicare officials to change the agency's billing practices after it concluded that Melgen overbilled it by millions of dollars. Melgen, Menendez's co-defendant in the corruption trial, was separately convicted in Florida earlier this year of a massive Medicare fraud. According to the government, Menendez also helped secure visas for the married Melgen's foreign girlfriends and asked U.S. officials to resolve a port dispute in the Dominican Republic involving one of Melgen's businesses. In exchange, Melgen showered the senator with luxury vacations and hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars, prosecutors said. Defense attorneys said prosecutors cherry-picked gifts exchanged between close friends to suggest impropriety when none existed. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Chris Reese and Tom Brown)
Yahoo News photo Illustration; photos: AP, Getty Images

Democrats have a problem: Despite the historic unpopularity of the White Houses current occupant, their own favorability ratings are not much higher. But a series of health care proposals laid out during the past month might provide a more popular path forward, building off the momentum of the campaign to protect Obamacare that has raged all year.

The most recent proposal put forth in Congress is the State Public Option Act, which would allow citizens to buy into Medicaid, the decades-old program that provides health care for Americans with low incomes and disabilities. The plan would give states the option of offering Medicaid to all residents regardless of income. A majority of states expanded their Medicaid rolls after Obamacare, but this legislation would give the option of allowing anyone to buy into the program.

Coming just days before the proposed Medicaid expansion was the equally ambitious Medicare-X Act, which would offer all Americans the ability to purchase the government health care plan now available for people 65 and older. The legislation would initially target areas where health care choices are limited before expanding to cover the entire country, building on the existing Medicare network. Americans who wanted to keep their current plans would be able to, with the public Medicare option in theory lowering the costs of health care plans in the market.

According to a Kaiser study, 26.2 million Americans were uninsured in 2016, with per capita spending double the cost in the United States versus other developed nations.

Those bills come on the heels of two measures introduced this summer. In August, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., introduced the Medicare at 55 Act, which would allow Americans to buy into Medicare at age 55, down from the current qualifying age of 65. (A similar bill introduced in the House would lower the eligibility age to 50.) In September, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., proposed a single-payer plan, which would set up a national health insurance system run by the federal government. (Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., has introduced similar bills in the House since 2003.)

Story continues

The Sanders proposal has received some high-profile co-sponsors from the Democratic caucus, all of whom also supported the State Public Option Act: Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, all senators whose names are often floated as potential contenders in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Thats in addition to Sanders himself, the runner-up from the 2016 primary who could reenter the fray in the next cycle. Sponsoring a bill is obviously not the same thing as making something a campaign focus, but it seems safe to assume that potential presidential contenders would not align themselves with something they thought would hurt their position with voters down the line.

Significantly, the congressman who introduced the State Public Option Act is Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., who also serves as the chairman of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In that role, Lujan will help coordinate the partys 2018 electoral strategy, seeking to ride the low approval ratings of President Trump and the GOP to retake the House for the first time since 2010.

Rep. Beto ORourke, D-Texas, speaks at the University of Texas at Dallas, Sept. 20, 2017. (Photo: LM Otero/AP)

Rep. Beto ORourke, D-Texas, is a co-sponsor of both the Medicare-X and State Public Option Acts. The third-term congressman from a district around El Paso is hoping to make health care access his signature issue in a planned 2018 Senate campaign against Republican Ted Cruz. Is he concerned about a conservative state like Texas resisting the idea of government overreach into health care?

I really dont hear much on peoples anxiety about socialized medicine, said ORourke in an interview with Yahoo News last week about his town halls around the state. What I really hear are peoples frustration with the governments inability to figure out a system that ensures that everyone has health care, or can see a doctor, or be able to afford their medications.

ORourke relayed one womans story that illustrates a problem with the current system. At a town hall in Fort Stockton, she told him she was upset with Obamacare, with ORourke himself, with Democrats and with former President Barack Obama because she worked hard and earned too much to enroll in Medicaid, but she didnt make enough to be able to afford a private insurance plan on the Obamacare exchange. Expanding Medicare or Medicaid would, in theory, close that gap for Americans who are between income tiers.

Ive rarely had somebody come up and say, Hey, we are overly generous; too many people have health care, said ORourke. I think everyone gets that its not just to the benefit of the person whos insured, its to the benefit of the state and the country. When people are more productive, they can work, they can take care of their families, they can finish school, they can contribute to their communities. They can live to their full potential, and you cant do that if youre not healthy enough to accomplish those things. I think theres a growing awareness, understanding and energy around that.

Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., is in a relatively rare situation among members of her caucus. Last year she won her district in western Illinois by 20 points  even though it went for Trump in the presidential race. As Democrats looked to recover from the losses of 2016, she was elected as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, which will also help to craft messaging around the partys 2018 platform. As the only Midwesterner among a House leadership dominated by the coasts, Bustos has taken on the role of a heartland whisperer.

Democrats are looking to pick up seats in the Midwest, Bustos explained in an interview with Yahoo News. And the people in districts like mine and across the heartland, theyre very practical people, and I have not had one person outside of a political event come up to me and start saying, You need to be for Medicare for all or You need to be for single payer.

If I go to a party function or if I have a group of politically active people, those are the people who talk more in those terms, Bustos continued. Everyday people who are just working and trying to figure out life, what they say is they just want to make sure they have access to affordable health care. I would say the right way to talk about this as a whole, lets fix whats not working very well. And thats the affordability of health care, and thats the co-pays, premiums and deductibles. And No. 2 is the cost of prescription drugs.

Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., speaks during the Polk County Democrats Steak Fry, Sept. 30, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP)

Bustos listed a number of options for improving Obamacare, a program she vociferously defended during repeal attempts earlier this year but that she has said could be made better. She listed negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs as a plan thats both popular and easy to communicate to voters. Bustos also endorsed the idea of expanding a number of pilot projects that were successful under Obamacare, such as bundled payments, which set a fixed price for procedures in advance. Bustos didnt rule out the idea of increasing access to Medicare, a program with high approval ratings that receives enthusiastic support from her 84-year-old mother.

It is something that works, said Bustos of Medicare. It also has the lowest administrative [costs] of pretty much any health care delivery that we have in our nation. We can learn from that. The argument about lowering the eligibility age for Medicare, Im willing to certainly say if thats the best way we can produce outcomes and reduce costs, then we have to take a deeper look at it, but we have to make sure that its something thats affordable, that its something that would work. Im open to taking a look at any health care delivery model thats going to work, but you always have to weigh the costs and the benefits. I dont think we want to go to anything thats only going to have all Democratic support or all Republican support  thats the problem with the Affordable Care Act.

The Democratic leader in the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, declined to co-sponsor the single-payer proposal in September, citing the need to focus on defending the ACA. She has been heckled at Democratic events for not pushing for the expansion. Pelosi lost her position as speaker of the House when Democrats lost their majority in 2010, with many voters motivated by antipathy toward Obamacare. The Center for American Progress, a left-center think tank that was closely aligned with the Hillary Clinton campaign, put forth the Bipartisan Legislation to Lower Premiums and Stabilize Insurance Markets as a response to Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare earlier this year, a potential Democratic solution to health care thats not as bold as Medicaid or Medicare for all.

There are cautionary examples of expansion attempts that failed at the state level. In Colorado, a plan to create a single-payer program for residents was crushed at the ballot box last November after it was rejected by both Democratic leadership and some progressive groups for a wide range of reasons. A single-payer bill in deep-blue California was shelved earlier this year in the statehouse. Critics said it was flawed legislation.

But the Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare have resulted in a change in attitude toward the law: In April, it reached majority approval for the first time amid various GOP proposals to replace it with plans that were projected to leave millions more Americans uninsured. Last month, two surveys found Obamacare approval holding steady at more than 50 percent, with Public Policy Polling finding it at plus-18 approval vs. disapproval, and even Fox News polling putting it at plus-12.

But its not just Obamacare that became more popular when the threat to it became real. Polling shows that people want the government more involved with health care. Sixty percent of the respondents in a June Pew Research survey said that the government has a responsibility to make sure all Americans have health insurance, up from 47 percent just three years ago.

A demonstrator opposed to the Senate Republican health care plan holds a sign while marching near the Capitol on June 28, 2017. (Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

For Democrats who want to push left on health care, the election results earlier in November provided some encouragement. In Maine, one of 19 states that did not expand Medicaid for its residents under Obamacare, a ballot initiative to accomplish that won with 59 percent of the vote. (Maines Republican governor, Paul LePage, has said that despite the ballot initiatives success he will not expand the program unless the state legislature funds it.)

There was also the exit polling from Virginia in which 77 percent of those who supported Democrat Ralph Northam for governor cited health care as the issue that mattered most to them. Northam has been a supporter of expanding Medicaid, which has been blocked by the states Republican legislature. Lee Carter, a 30-year-old Democratic Socialist who upset a member of Virginias House GOP leadership, is also an outspoken supporter of Medicaid expansion.

None of these proposals could plausibly be enacted at the federal level before 2021  and only if Democrats can wrest back control of both houses of Congress and the White House. In polling done earlier this month, CNN put the Democratic Party at negative-17 favorability, a number near the depths of the White House and Republican Party its competing against. But after a series of rowdy town halls across the country, full of crowds urging not just the protection of health care access but the expansion to all Americans  and poll numbers to back up those viral clips about the popularity of such programs  campaigning on Medicare and Medicaid for all could be a path forward for the party currently out of power at both the national and state levels.
Over a month after four U.S. soldiers were killed during a routine train-and-advise mission in Niger, new details have shed light on the timeline and scope of the attack.

The Guardian published a report Wednesday after spending a week interviewing military personnel, politicians and witnesses in Tongo Tongo, the village where militants attacked U.S. and Nigerien forces on Oct. 4.

According to the report, the soldiers were ambushed by roughly 200 heavily armed militants  about four times the number that was previously reported. Witnesses described hearing gunfire for six hours without any reinforcements showing up, despite the village chiefs repeated calls for help to Nigerien authorities.

Everything that happened could have been prevented if help had arrived sooner, Karimou Yacouba, a local member of parliament, told The Guardian.

By the time French aircraft arrived, four U.S. soldiers and five Nigerien soldiers had been killed. Initial reports of the attack suggested that only three American soldiers had died: Staff Sgts. Jeremiah Johnson, Bryan Black and Dustin Wright. The body of Sgt. La David Johnson was recovered more than a day later at some distance from the site of the attack.

Johnson was found with his arms tied behind his back and a major head wound, indicating he may have been captured and executed.

Left to right: Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright and Sgt. La David Johnson. (Photo: Handout . / Reuters)

The Guardian also reported that the bodies of Johnson and the other soldiers were found stripped of much of their clothing, boots and weapons.

A representative from the Department of Defense told HuffPost on Wednesday that the Pentagon was aware of The Guardians report but was not offering additional comment while the governments own investigation was still underway.

A statement the U.S. Africa Command released Sunday said investigators had returned to Tongo Tongo on Nov. 12 in order to gain a clearer understanding of the Oct. 4 ambush, the attack site and the surrounding environment.

As part of its mission, the AFRICOM investigation team interviewed local villagers; conducted a physical examination of multiple areas of interest related to the attack; and retraced actions leading up to, during and after this ambush, the release stated.

Story continues

The statement also noted that the on-site investigation is just part of a larger inquiry including multiple agencies on three continents.

Myeshia Johnson, wife of U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson, kisses his coffin at a graveside service in Hollywood, Florida, on Oct. 21. (Photo: Joe Skipper / Reuters)

The circumstances of the attack have been heavily scrutinized, with questions remaining regarding the nature of the mission and the teams security. The soldiers were conducting a routine patrol of the Niger-Mali border, which is known to have a terrorist presence, including groups affiliated with al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the so-called Islamic State.

The team was initially sent out on a one-day reconnaissance mission but ended up spending a night outside of Tongo Tongo. Its unclear why their plans changed, but that decision may have allowed militants to plan an ambush, Mohamed Bazoum, Nigers interior minister, told The Washington Post.

Due to the routine nature of their patrol, the soldiers were reportedly armed only with rifles and were driving in unarmored vehicles.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials believe an ISIS splinter group  called the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara  may have been responsible.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
President Donald Trump had to pause during his speech on the Asia visit to ask for water - doing exactly what he mocked rival Marco Rubio for, during the election campaign.

Mr Trump, who landed back in Washington DC on Tuesday night, addressed the nation from the White House on Wednesday afternoon, speaking at length to recap the achievements of the 12-day trip.

But midway through his speech, he asked for water. He looked under the podium, then said: "It's OK."

Someone then prompted him, handing him a bottle. He paused, and took a deep swig.

Social media was quick to pick up the parallels with Mr Rubio.

Mr Trump, in February 2016, mocked Mr Rubio's habit of drinking from water bottles during the debates.

Mr Trump mimicked him, floundering on stage and theatrically drinking.

Lightweight Marco Rubio was working hard last night. The problem is, he is a choker, and once a choker, always a choker! Mr. Meltdown.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2016

"He's a nervous Nellie," said Mr Trump at the time. "I watched him backstage, he's a mess, the guy's a total mess. I joked recently, could you imagine Putin sitting there waiting for a meeting, and Rubio walks in and he's totally drenched?

"I don't know what it is but I have never seen a human being sweat like this man sweats."

Mr Trump has previously taunted Mr Rubio for infamously marring his 2013 response the State of the Union address by drinking bottled water throughout his speech.

During a 2016 rally in Texas, Donald Trump mocks Marco Rubio's water bottle gaffe in 2013 when he delivered the rebuttal to President Obama's State of the Union.

Mr Trump even went as far as to send Mr Rubio a joke gift in October 2015, of Trump-branded bottled water.

"This is Trump's Rubio moment," one said.

Another commented: "Trump just out Rubio'd Rubio with an awkward water moment."

Mr Rubio responded almost immediately on Wednesday, after the president finished speaking.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump has yet to make any major comments on Alabama GOP Senate nominee Roy Moore, nearly a week after multiple women accused the controversial judge of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s.

Briefing reporters Thursday afternoon, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders repeatedly said that the people of Alabama should make that decision whether to support Moore and would not say whether Trump believes the allegations.

The president has been clear that if any of these allegations are true, allegations that he takes very seriously, finds very troubling, if those do happen to be true, then he should do the right thing and step aside, she said.

After much back and forth, she insisted that she had nothing further to add on that front.

Trump, who returned to Washington late Tuesday from a 12-day trip to Asia, has largely ignored questions about Moore, even as the allegations continue to grow and many GOP lawmakers have called on Moore to withdraw from the race.

The president twice dodged questions from reporters this week: once on Tuesday night, when he returned to the White House, and again on Wednesday, after a previously unscheduled speech to summarize and boast about his travels.

On Thursday, when asked why Trump has been conspicuously silent about Moore, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said the president has been too busy to comment.

Well, the president made a statement when he was in Asia, and hes been very busy here working on explaining to the country exactly what happened in his Asia trip, she said on Fox News. This is an important topic, but in terms of this particular issue and this particular Senate race, I will not get ahead of the president and anything he wishes to add.

Trump has had a quiet schedule since returning from Asia, but on Thursday, he met with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill as they voted to pass their much-anticipated tax legislation  and again he ignored questions on Moore. He had no other events scheduled that day.

Story continues

At a Wednesday speech about his Asia trip, President Donald Trump walked away when reporters asked him about Roy Moore. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

During his Asia trip, Trump claimed that he had not been following the story closely because I do not watch much television.

I havent gotten to see too much. And believe it or not, even when Im in Washington or New York, I do not watch much television. I know they like to say that. People that dont know me, they like to say I watch television  people with fake sources. You know, fake reporters, fake sources. But I dont get to watch much television. Primarily because of documents. Im reading documents. A lot. And different things, he told reporters. Honestly, Id have to look at it, and Id have to see, because, again, Im dealing with the president of China, the president of Russia.

The only official comment from Trump came last Friday, when Sanders issued a statement saying that he believes that we cannot allow a mere allegation  in this case, one from many years ago  to destroy a persons life but that if the allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside.

Since then, more and more Republican lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.), have called on Moore to leave the race and affirmed that they believe the allegations of the women.

Late Tuesday, the Republican National Committee pulled its funding from Moores campaign.

On Wednesday night, three more women came forward with misconduct allegations against Moore, with several accounts involving Moore preying on teenage girls at his local mall.

A defiant Moore has continually denied the allegations, claiming they are a conspiracy against him and following a common Trump strategy of blaming the media.

Obviously Ive made a few people mad. Im the only one who can unite Democrats and Republicans because I seem to be opposed by both, he said at a campaign event Tuesday night. Theyve spent over $30 million to try to take me out, theyve done everything they could, and now theyre together to try to keep me from going to Washington.

He added that he thinks he is being harassed by the media.

Trump notably backed Moores special election primary opponent, GOP establishment candidate Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.), who was selected to temporarily fill the seat left vacant by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

However, many members of the presidents base, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, supported Moore.

When Moore defeated Strange in September, Trump disavowed his endorsement of Strange, deleting tweets in support of him. Early the next morning, Trump called Moore a really great guy in a tweet affirming his support.

Spoke to Roy Moore of Alabama last night for the first time. Sounds like a really great guy who ran a fantastic race. He will help to #MAGA!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2017

During his presidential campaign, Trump dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct against himself from more than a dozen women and threatened to sue some of his accusers. Last fall, he claimed that a 2005 tape of him bragging about sexual assault was locker room talk.

Yet Republicans still backed him.

On Tuesday, when asked to square the hypocrisy of their denunciations of Moore and support of Trump last year, many GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill ignored HuffPosts inquiries.

Sanders would not explain the discrepancy when asked by reporters on Thursday.

I think the president has certainly a lot more insight into what he personally did or didnt do, and he spoke out about that directly during the campaign, she said. I dont have anything further to add beyond that.

This story has been updated with comments from White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday afternoon.

Also on HuffPost

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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.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Mr Dueterte, a highly controversial leader who has sanctioned a bloody drug war and branded Obama a son of a whore': REUTERS

Donald Trumps political career owes a great deal to conspiracy theories. The US presidents ascent into the world of politics was partially fuelled by pushing the totally erroneous theory Barack Obama was not a natural-born US citizen and it was therefore unconstitutional for him to be president.

But it appears President Trump, who propagated the so-called birther theory about Obama for around a half a decade, has yet to tire of fabricating falsehoods about his predecessor.

President Trump has repeatedly touted a lie about Obama being barred from even touching down in the Philipines in his Air Force One despite him never being faced with such problems.

Mr Trumps false claim Obama didnt land in the Southeast Asian country because of his horrible relationship with the country wholly misconstrues the reality of the situation.

In reality, it was Obama who decided to cancel a meeting with Philipines President Rodrigo Duterte in September 2016 after the two world leaders had a row over mass killings in the Philipine drug war.

But Obama did visit the country a year earlier  before Mr Duterte became president  and his trip was hiccup-free and free of landing problems.

President Trump has made a number of references to the falsehood about Obama in recent weeks. The billionaire property developer bragged about the historic trip he would soon be taking to Asia-Pacific countries in the White House cabinet room a couple of weeks ago.

While doing so, he turned his attentions towards the Philippines, saying: You remember the Philippines - the last trip made by a president, that turned out to be not so good. Never quite got to land.

On top of this, over the weekend, Mr Trump told reporters Obama had a rough trip to the Philippines unlike himself.

President Trump repeated the bizarre claim about Obama at another press briefing on Tuesday, saying the Democrats plane came close but was not allowed to land on Fillipino soil.

He said: I mean, the Philippines, we just could not have been treated nicer. And as you know, we were having a lot of problems with the Philippines. The relationship with the past administration was horrible, to use a nice word. I would say horrible is putting it mildly. You know what happened. Many of you were there, and you never got to land. The plane came close but it didnt land.

Story continues

And now we have a very, very strong relationship with the Philippines, which is really important. So weve accomplished a lot.

Mr Trump met with Mr Dueterte, a highly controversial leader who has sanctioned a bloody drug war and branded Obama a son of a whore, at an economic summit on Monday.

Mr Duterte, who is famed for his vitriolic tirades about world leaders, won last years presidential elections on the promise of eradicating illegal drugs via an unprecedented crackdown that would see up to 100,000 people killed. Since he took office 16 months ago, police say they have killed 3,967 people. According to government data, another 2,290 people were murdered in drug-related crimes, while thousands of other deaths remain unsolved.

The world leaders row with Obama was sparked by him telling reporters the president needed to respectful and refrain from asking about the extrajudicial killings.

"Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum, Mr Duterte said.

Angered by his remarks, Obama resorted to calling off the trip, and Mr Duterte was forced to later apologise. "Obviously, the Filipino people are some of our closest friends and allies, and the Philippines is a treaty ally of ours. But I always want to make sure that if Im having a meeting that its actually productive and were getting something done," he said at a news conference.

During his Monday meeting with Mr Duterte, President Trump laughed when the president branded journalists spies. The pair were also said to have bonded over their mutual dislike of President Obama.

Mr Duterte, who has been branded the Donald Trump of the East, went so far as to sing a love song for the US president at a dinner in Manila for leaders from Asia. He later explained the rendition was on the orders of Donald Trump.

One of the songs verses, translated from Filipino, starts: You are the light in my world, a half of this heart of mine.

The relationship appears to be very warm and very friendly, Duterte spokesman Harry Roque told reporters after they met in Manila. Theyve been very candid in their dealings, and its very apparent that both of them have a person who they consider as not their best friend. They have similar feelings toward former US President Barack Obama.

Mr Trump heaped praise on Mr Duterte during a phone call in May, telling him he was doing an "unbelievable job on the drug problem."
The Philippines owes China a "debt of gratitude" over a donation of arms to fight pro-Islamic State militants, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday, in another sign of warming ties.

China in June gave thousands of guns to poorly equipped Philippine security forces as they battled insurgents who had besieged the southern city of Marawi in a bid to create an IS province there.

Duterte made the remarks to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who was visiting the Philippines a day after attending a regional summit in Manila along with US President Donald Trump and other world leaders.

"It was China who responded immediately (to) our cry for help," Duterte said of the Marawi crisis.

"Maybe in the future, the Philippines would also show its debt of gratitude to China for all of the fundings, public works, bridges and all," he added, referring to other forms of aid from Beijing.

The United States and Australia provided direct military assistance in the battle for Marawi, including reconnaissance flights above the city as Philippine troops took on the militants, and have also pledged aid for its reconstruction.

Li said China would provide 150 million yuan ($22.6 million) for the rehabilitation of Marawi, which has been largely reduced to rubble after the five-month conflict ended last month.

"We have full confidence that under your leadership, Mr. President, and the leadership of your government, the rebuilding of Marawi will be completed at a very early date," said Li in a news conference with Duterte at the presidential palace.

Sino-Philippine relations have improved since Duterte's election last year as he sought to downplay his nation's maritime row with China over the South China Sea in favour of billions of dollars in trade and investment.

Last year a UN-backed tribunal rejected Beijing's claims to most of the waters.

But Duterte has refused to use the decision as leverage as he sought warmer relations with China and Russia while loosening his nation's 71-year alliance with the United States.

Story continues

However, Duterte has said ties with the US have improved under Trump, whom he met at this week's summit.

Li and Duterte on Wednesday witnessed the signing of economic agreements including loans for infrastructure projects and said their nations would work to further improve ties.

Li is the first Chinese premier to visit the Philippines in a decade.
CAIRO (Reuters) - A foreign fighter captured during a raid on Islamist militants blamed by Egypt for a deadly attack in its western desert last month is a Libyan national, the Egyptian interior ministry said on Thursday. The captured fighter, Abdelrahim Mohamed al-Mesmari, 25, is from the eastern Libyan town of Derna, an interior ministry statement said. A little-known group called Ansar al-Islam claimed responsibility for the Oct. 21 attack. Three security sources said at the time that at least 52 police officers and conscripts were killed but the interior ministry refuted that figure the next day and said only 16 policemen had been killed. The new militant group risks opening up another front for security forces far beyond the remote northern Sinai, where they have battled an Islamic State insurgency since 2014. The Egyptian air force killed the 15 militants responsible for the deadly attack and later arrested 29 others for adopting the same ideology, the statement said. The militants were being trained in Derna, it added. (Reporting by Ali Abdelaty; writing by Arwa Gaballa; editing by Mark Heinrich)
What Were Following

Zimbabwes Crisis: Robert Mugabe, the longtime leader of Zimbabwe, has been placed under house arrest by the countrys military in an apparent coup. Mugabe, who is 93, has refused for decades to cede political power; in the days before his ouster, he fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, prompting Mnangagwas supporters in the military to retaliate. Now, Zimbabwe may have a chance to install a more democratic governmentbut it depends on what military leaders do next.

Taxing Times: In order to pass their tax-reform bill under the rules of budget reconciliation, Republican senators are setting their proposed tax cuts for individuals to expire at the end of 2025. Cuts to corporate taxes, meanwhile, are being kept permanentundercutting the partys claim that the bill aims primarily to help middle-class families. The senators have also added the repeal of Obamacares individual-insurance mandate to the tax bill, in a risky effort to accomplish their two highest legislative priorities at once.

Recommended: The Making of an American Nazi

Roy Moore: In a press conference, the attorney for Roy Moore continued to deny the mounting allegations that the Republican Senate candidate from Alabama sexually abused and harassed teenagers when he was in his 30s. Multiple sitting lawmakers, as well as the Republican National Committee, have withdrawn their support for Moore, and sources close to his longtime champion Steve Bannon say the Breitbart News executive has been weighing whether to distance himself from Moore. Even so, Alabamas election laws make it hard to replace or remove Moore as the GOP candidate, and his defenders risk turning sexual assault into a partisan issue.

Rosa Inocencio Smith

Snapshot

Since its founding, The Atlantic has published more than 250 cases: about 200 arguments for, and 50 against, ideas and items from newspapers to cats. Check out an interactive list of them alland submit your own casehere.

Evening Read

Democrats are shockingly unprepared to fight climate change, writes Robinson Meyer:

On the one hand, Democrats are the party of climate change  On the other hand, the Democratic Party does not have a plan to address climate change. This is true at almost every level of the policy-making process: It does not have a consensus bill on the issue waiting in the wings; it does not have a shared vision for what that bill could look like; and it does not have a guiding sloganlike Medicare for allto express how it wants to stop global warming. Many people in the party know that they want to do something about climate change, but theres no agreement about what that something may be. This is not for lack of trying. Democrats have struggled to formulate a post-Obama climate policy because substantive political obstacles stand in their way. They have not yet identified a mechanism that will make a dent in Earths costly, irreversible warming while uniting the many factions of their coalition. These problems could keep the party scrambling to face the climate crisis for years to come.

Story continues

Keep reading here, as Robinson outlines the Democrats key obstacles to developing a climate policy.

Recommended: The Ignorance of Mocking Mormonism

What Do You Know  About Science, Technology, and Health?

A risky effort to save the vaquita from extinction went tragically wrong when one of the critically endangered marine mammals died in captivity. Meanwhile, a project to teach endangered birds raised in captivity about their natural predators is looking promising, though its methodnear-death experiencesis ethically ambiguous. The good news for those concerned about extinction is that its unlikely to come by asteroid: The meteor that collided with Earth 65 million years ago had only a 13-percent chance of causing a mass die-out, so the dinosaurs may simply have been very unluckyand hopefully we wont be.

Can you remember the other key facts from this weeks science, tech, and health coverage? Test your knowledge below:

1. Beginning in the 1930s, road trains made it easier to ship goods through central ____________.

Scroll down for the answer, or find it here.

2. Ross 128 b, a newly discovered, Earth-size exoplanet, is only ____________ light-years away from Earth.

Scroll down for the answer, or find it here.

3. The ____________ movement encourages its members to be vulnerable with strangers by playing games such as Handshake and the Noticing Game.

Scroll down for the answer, or find it here.

Rachel Gutman

Look Back

In honor of The Atlantics 160th anniversary, were sharing one article every day to mark each year of the magazines history. In 1867, a year before the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified, Frederick Douglass urged Congress to defend the equal citizenship of black Americans:

Statesmen of America! beware what you do. The ploughshare of rebellion has gone through the land beam-deep. The soil is in readiness, and the seedtime has come. Nations, not less than individuals, reap as they sow. The dreadful calamities of the past few years came not by accident, nor unbidden, from the ground. You shudder to-day at the harvest of blood sown in the spring-time of the Republic by your patriot fathers ... This evil principle again seeks admission into our body politic. It comes now in shape of a denial of political rights to four million loyal colored people. The South does not now ask for slavery. It only asks for a large degraded caste, which shall have no political rights ... Statesmen, beware what you do. The destiny of unborn and unnumbered generations is in your hands.

Read more here.

Recommended: Bill Clinton: A Reckoning

Reader Response

Following Kurt Andersen expression of admiration for several Mormon politicians while acknowledging that he finds their religious beliefs extreme and strange, Hal Boyd takes issue with the casual mocking of Mormons:

Criticism about anothers beliefs is hard to separate from judgments about a persons worth or intellectual capacities. But, ironically, it is often the very beliefs that Andersen and others criticize that have produced the prosocial Mormon behaviors so often praised  This isnt to suggest that beliefs or truth claims are off-limits from scrutiny or rigorous debate. Rather, it means that the link between behavior and belief should prompt greater engagement with actual religious teachings, instead of straw-man caricatures. It means trying to understand why a belief that seems implausible on its face is believed and lived by otherwise rational individuals. It means seeking to understand what it is about that given belief that tends to produce virtuous behavioral outcomes.

Read Boyds essay here.

Verbs

Hell escaped, influence limited, genes edited, cities changed.

Time of Your Life

Happy birthday to Patricia (a year younger than helicopters); to Wendys daughter Kim (twice the age of Harry Potter); to Carlas good friend Mimi (13 years older than The Partridge Family); to Yolanda (the same age as Oprah Winfrey); and to Harvey (a year younger than Captain America).

Do you or a loved one have a birthday coming up? Sign up for a birthday shout-out here, and click here to explore the Timeline feature for yourself.

Meet The Atlantic Dailys team here, and contact us here. Did you get this newsletter from a friend? Sign yourself up here.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Joseph Gazzam admitted repeatedly hitting the child: Allegheny County Police

A father has admitted beating his four-month-old daughter to death because she was being fussy and would not stop crying.

Joseph Gazzam, 30, from Mt Lebanon in Pennsylvania, originally told police the baby was injured after falling out of the bed in which they were sleeping.

Yet in a second interview, after an autopsy revealed the girl had multiple bruises and fractures, Mr Gazzam admitted he had hit the child several times for being fussy.

He told police the girl would not stop crying and would not fall asleep again which prompted him to repeatedly punch her, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported.

She stopped breathing and her eyes rolled back in her head, a criminal complaint in the case quoted Mr Gazzam as saying.

He then called emergency services and the child was taken to St Clair Hospital, where she was pronounced dead an hour later.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said the child died from injuries to her head and body and ruled the manner of death as homicide.

An autopsy revealed the girl had suffered bleeding of the brain, a lacerated heart vessel, a lacerated left kidney, fractured ribs and among further injuries.

Murder detective Anthony Perry said the injuries were not consistent with the girl falling from a mattress two feet above a carpeted floor.

Mr Gazzam is charged with homicide, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child.
Amid an epidemic of opioid addiction, doctors are looking for ways to help people wean themselves off of the drugs, but withdrawal symptoms are a major hurdle. Innovative Health Solutions says its NSS-2 Bridge is a "percutaneous nerve field stimulator (PNFS) device system" that sends electrical pulses to certain cranial nerves, treating symptoms including sweating, tremors, stomach upset, joint pain and anxiety. Yesterday the FDA cleared it for marketing, making this the first device approved for use in this way.

Like the DEKA Arm System, this device was reviewed through the agency's de novo pathway that fast-tracks "some low- to moderate-risk devices." Prior to approval, the FDA reviewed a clinical study of 73 patients where all of them showed at least a 31 percent drop in their clinical opiate withdrawal scale (COWS) score within 30 minutes of use.
Tampa (AFP) - A possible serial killer is on the loose in Tampa, Florida, picking out victims seemingly at random on the street, and shaken residents are looking over their shoulders fearing he could be someone they know.

Early Tuesday, 60-year-old Ronald Felton became the fourth person to die since October 9 in a string of mysterious attacks near downtown Tampa.

All four murders took place within a seven block area, in the city's working class Seminole Heights neighborhood. All the victims were alone on the street at the time, and were shot dead for no apparent reason. None of them were robbed.

Felton, an unemployed construction worker, was crossing a street before dawn when someone came up behind him and shot him in the back of the head, police said.

His body was found sprawled near the New Seasons Apostolic church, where Fenton often volunteered at a food bank for the down-and-out.

As in the previous cases, the killer melted into the night, eluding police despite stepped up patrols.

His seeming knowledge of the neighborhood's ins and out has led to suspicions that he lives there.

"He's a killer -- a cold-blooded killer -- and he's playing a chess game, bottom line," said local resident Raphael Rodriguez, 39.

"I hope the police catch him, but he's using his brain and he's got to be from the neighborhood -- look how quickly he's getting away," he said.

Rodriguez was with his son Antonio, 18, and Antonio's 17 year-old girlfriend Makayla Meadows on Wednesday night, near the spot where Felton was killed.

He said they now take a harder look at people they don't know, as their community settles into a state of hypervigilance.

"As a parent, as a member of the community I'm concerned," Rodriguez said.

- 'We just need names'

The first victim in the string of killings was 22-year-old Benjamin Mitchell. Two days later, on October 11, Monica Hoffa, 32, was gunned down, and then on October 19, Anthony Naiboa, 20.

Story continues

Antonio Rodriguez said he previously worked with one of the victims, Mitchell, at a Walmart store.

"We really would chill together outside of work," he recalled. "That's why I really don't like talking about it too much. It gets me in my soft spot. He was a good kid."

Tampa's police are treating the four killings as related, until they can rule otherwise.

Unlike the previous killings, in the case of Felton police have a description of a suspect -- a black male, around six-foot (1.80 meters) tall, dressed all in black and armed with a large pistol -- seen fleeing the scene according to a witness account.

Police on Wednesday also released a clip from a surveillance video taken shortly before the latest murder, showing a man in a hooded light colored jacket.

After the first murder, surveillance cameras picked up an image of a man with a similar hoodie, a similar gait and walk, flicking a cellphone open and closed in a similar manner.

"We need someone who is thoughtful, cares, and has the heart and the fortitude and bravery to step forward and tell us who this person is and give us the identity," Tampa police chief Brian Dugan told a press conference.

"We don't need speculation, we don't need profiles, we just need names," he said.

Police have upped the reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, from $41,000 to $91,000.

- 'Someone knows something' -

Ryan Reynolds, 37, has been sleeping in a park because he's between jobs. But if he's worried, he doesn't admit to it.

"It's the people who aren't paying attention that he's preying on, randomly," he said.

"He's got to know the streets and alleys around here. At first I thought it was gang related, but now that it's more than one (victim), it's something else. The guy's got to live in this neighborhood."

Up the street, Ramon Maldonado watched the police patrol the area while on a cigarette break from his job as a sushi chef.

"It's sad -- I knew Mr. Felton, we would say hi, chit chat, you know," said Maldonado, 58.

"But this isn't just up to the police -- we've got to come together as a community to help catch this guy. Someone knows something. I can't walk outside with my family no more."
Hes making 911 calls great again.

A Florida man being chased by police phoned 911 and asked a dispatcher to contact the White House so he could speak to his close friend, President Donald Trump.

We made a deal, marijuana suspect Aric Frydberg said of his relationship with the president during the bizarre emergency call early Tuesday.

The appeal didnt work. Collier County sheriffs deputies caught Frydberg, 33, after a seven-mile car chase. Despite his attempts to weasel out of trouble  invoking Trump, blaming Jews and claiming his mother had been in an accident  deputies booked him on charges that included aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, tampering with evidence, and possession of marijuana. He was jailed on $99,500 bail.

It all started when a deputy noticed a marijuana-like scent emanating from a vehicle parked in a post office parking lot. The officer looked inside the car and saw a baggie containing a green leafy substance. When he tried to confiscate the baggie, Frydberg allegedly grabbed it and stuffed it into his mouth, according to local station WINK.

Then Frydberg sped away and called 911.

I need help, please, Frydberg told the dispatcher. Theres a police officer chasing me.

The 911 operator repeatedly told Frydberg to pull over, but the fleeing driver had some requests, according to local station WFTX.

Call my mom, call my mom, he said. Please call my mom.

When that didnt work, Frydberg pulled out his trump card.

Donald Trump is a close friend of mine. We made a deal, he said.

He added, cryptically: It wasnt his fault, it was the Jews who fucked me, not Donald Trump, it was the Jewish community.

When that didnt work, Frydberg tried another excuse.

My mom called me and said she was in a car accident in Homestead, he said. My flesh and blood was in a car accident and I have to stop and help you.

Heres the recording of the complete 911 call:

Story continues

Officers eventually stopped Frydberg and arrested him. Deputies said they found glass pipes with a burnt leafy residue on them that tested positive for marijuana, according to WFTX.

Frydbergs Facebook page lists him as an apprentice and executive assistant to the CEO at Trump Financial in Miami. HuffPost contacted a phone listing for the company, but no one immediately responded.

Also on HuffPost

Aric Frydberg

Aric Frydberg, 33, called 911 during a 7-mile police chase and asked dispatchers to call his personal friend, Donald Trump.

Erin Klich

Erin Klich, 35, was arrested for possession of marijuana after calling police in Fort Myers, Florida, to complain she'd been shorted on a $75 bag of marijuana.

Joshua Basso

Joshua Basso, 32, called 911 to request female deputies be sent to his home for "sexual gratification." He was arrested on Aug. 24 and confessed to making the lewd phone calls.

Jarvis Sutton

Jarvis Sutton, 34, was arrested after calling 911 80 times in one day asking for a delivery of burgers, Kool-Aid and pot.

Robert Hagerman

Police in Tampa, Fla., arrested Robert Hagerman for calling 911 on his daughter after she refused to buy him a beer.

Clyde Hobbs

Clyde Hobbs was arrested in May, 2012 for allegedly calling 911 at least 17 times -- to talk dirty to operators. He'd been arrested several times in the past for the same crime. When cops arrived to collar him, Hobbs asked, "Are you here to arrest me again?" Read more.

Michael Barker

Michael Barker called 911 repeatedly in Hudson, Fla. asking them to fetch him a taxi and saying that he lost his football. Cops arrested him for allegedly misusing the emergency system on Feb. 20, 2012. Read more here.

Everett Lages

Everett Lages was arrested when he allegedly called 911 after he was not allowed to bring his kitten inside a strip club.

Rother McLennon

Rother McLennon of East Hartford, Conn., called 911 and complained that he "specifically asked for little turkey and little ham, a lot of cheese and a lot of mayonnaise," and the Grateful Deli in East Hartford got it wrong.

John R. Pacella

John R. Pacella called 911 at 4 a.m. and told the operator he "wanted to see an officer because he wanted to fight with them." When police showed up at his door, he began pushing and shoving officers. He was promptly arrested.

"Butt Dials"

Calling 911 by accident can make you feel like an ass, but now comes a study suggesting that nearly 40 percent of New York City's 911 calls were "butt dials."

Christian Luckett

Christian Luckett placed 10 calls to 911 to complain about his service at a Skyline Chili restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio. Luckett was allegedly drunk when he called the police and demanded officers come to his home for a domestic disturbance -- but he was really just mad at Skyline Chili's. Cops arrested him at his apartment.

Doyle Hardwick

Doyle Hardwick is now behind bars after calling 911 complaining that his wife would not let him check Facebook in peace.

Mary Jaggers

Mary Jaggers called 911 to report there was drinking going in a nearby bar.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., apologized to a radio anchor and model after she released a photo that appeared to show him grabbing her chest and looking toward the camera on a flight back from Afghanistan.

Leeann Tweeden wrote in a blog post Thursday that Franken mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth during a rehearsal for a skit the pair were performing for U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2006. Tweeden told Franken she didnt want to rehearse the kiss, but he insisted, Tweeden wrote.

I felt disgusted and violated, she said.

Later, on their flight home, Franken posed for a photo of himself with his hands over Tweedens chest as she slept. Tweeden posted the photo on the website of KABC Radio in Los Angeles, where she now works.

I certainly dont remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann, Franken said in a short statement Thursday morning. As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasnt. I shouldnt have done it.

Shortly after Frankens apology, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement he would ask the Senate Ethics Committee to look into the allegations, and several of Frankens Democratic colleagues, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told reporters they believed there should be an investigation. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., called Frankens behavior unacceptable and also backed an investigation.

KABC

Later Thursday afternoon, Franken released a longer statement apologizing for his behavior and saying he was ashamed and disgusted with himself for taking that picture.

It isnt funny. Its completely inappropriate, Franken said. Its obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture.

He said the wave of harassment allegations over the past few months have caused him and other men to reexamine their actions that may have demeaned women, and for Franken to realize that some of the jokes he made when he was in the comedy world were not funny. He praised women for coming forward to tell their stories of harassment and said he was their ally.

Story continues

I have let them down, and Im committed to making it up to them, Franken said.

Franken called for an ethics investigation into himself and said he would cooperate.

Franken reiterated that he did not remember the unwanted kiss that Tweeden described, however.

While I dont remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe womens experiences, Franken said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also backed an ethics investigation:

Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated. I hope and expect that the Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as they should with any credible allegation of sexual harassment.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 16, 2017

None of Frankens colleagues on either side of the aisle have suggested that the senator should resign.

In a press conference, Tweeden said she accepted Frankens apology and was not asking him to step down at the moment. People make mistakes, she said. Im not calling for him to step down.

People make mistakes. Im not calling for him to step down. Thats not my place to say that, Tweeden said.

Last month, Franken posted on Facebook about the allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, writing of the accusers, it takes a lot of courage to come forward, and we owe them our thanks.

Franken is a popular figure on the left, and his aggressive questioning of Attorney General Jeff Sessions in appearances in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about contacts with Russia resulted in Sessions correcting his testimony. Franken has been rumored to have presidential aspirations for 2020.

The allegations come as senators on both sides of the aisle are condemning Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, a Republican, amid accusations from multiple women that he pursued relationships with teenagers as young as 14 when he was a district attorney in his 30s. At least two women have said he assaulted them then.

Frankens fellow Democratic senator from Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar, was the lead sponsor on recently passed legislation to mandate sexual harassment training for senators and aides.

Read more from Yahoo News:
The internet loves this bionic group of friends. (Photo: Courtesy of Angel Giuffria)

A photo going viral on Reddit features a group of friends with bionic arms who are spreading awareness of limb differences by embracing their own. The group of four have seemingly near-identical differences, each wearing a prothesis on the bottom half of one arm. But until one participant spoke out in the thread of responses to identify herself as the only one missing a left, nobody really knew the story behind the photo.

Angel Giuffria is the woman on the bottom right of the photo who discovered it was going viral months after she had originally posted it. From her experience with Reddit this isnt unusual, and she tells Yahoo Lifestyle that the platform was the first place where she felt encouraged to speak out about her difference.

I woke up one morning four years ago to a phone call saying I was on the front page of Reddit, she says. I had been testing a very cool bionic arm for the U.S. government and someone had pulled a photo of me doing archery with the arm from my Facebook and posted it. I started answering questions on the post but then users kept requesting I do an AMA (which I found out was an ask me anything post). I did that, and the rest is history.

A congenital amputee, Giuffria was born without her left arm below the elbow and has been wearing prosthetic hands her entire life. At just four months and 10 days old, she was one of the youngest on record to wear a myoelectric hand  an artificial limb controlled by the electrical signals generated by your own muscles  and continues to do her part in encouraging advancements.

Story continues

From her soon-to-be completed masters in psychology, for which shes researching stigma about amputees, to her position as a representative of the brand of prosthetic hand she wears, BeBionic, Giuffria works hard to help those with limb differences like hers thrive. However, shes also a public speaker and actress who hopes to more accurately represent the worlds population onscreen.

Look what I found! Today we are fitting my socket and hopefully I'll get to try it out tomorrow! #bionic #bebionic #amputee A post shared by Angel Giuffria (@aannggeellll) on Mar 2, 2015 at 1:44pm PST

Im hoping to further the diversity conversation in media so we get to a point where whats on TV and film is actually representing the population  and accurately, she explains. Ive traveled all over the world discussing prosthetic devices, technology, and diversity within the industry.

By the looks of the squad shes with in the viral photo, you might already tell that shes not alone in these incredible efforts. From left to right, the picture features Giuffrias friends Trace Wilson, Ashley Sherman, and Jason Barnes, all of who have their own inspiring stories. Giuffria met each of them through technology conferences or the Lucky Fin Project; back in September, they all reunited in Atlanta while attending DragonCon.

From left, Wilson, Sherman, Barnes and Giuffria posed with their bionic arms outside a restaurant in Atlanta. (Photo: Courtesy of Angel Giuffria)

At the conference, we didnt do cosplay the first day; we were just ourselves. But we received tons of questions about who are you guys? because they thought we were dressed up because of our arms, Giuffria says of the attention to their prosthetics. Afterwards, we were all getting dinner and realizing all our bionic arms together were getting a lot of attention. I thought it would be funny to do a mixtape photo. Our waitress took it for us outside the restaurant and I think it turned out perfectly.

Its evident that others would agree with her: The photo has close to 400 comments on the Reddit re-post  many of which mention that the group looks cool as f*** The attention, although not always positive, is a step in the right direction, as Giuffria points out that these viral photos many times lead to more productive conversation.

I definitely think people should think bionic arms are cool! I mean, I think my hand is very cool, Giuffria says. If the people who wore them were [the only ones] interested in them, we wouldnt have the advancements we have had recently. [Bionic arms] have definitely advanced in the last 10 years but we arent where the public thinks we are, so Id love their help to push for more advancements with their general interest!

Giuffria sits in the middle of two other friends with limb differences. (Photo: Courtesy of Angel Giuffria)

And although the advocate expresses a desire for the ongoing advancement of prosthetics, she points out that wearing one should simply be viewed the same as any other human uniqueness.

Being a person with a limb difference doesnt make you inherently more sad about your life than others, Giuffria says. Everyone has something going on in their life that they are adapting to and figuring out. Human beings are resilient and malleable, and besides the fact that Im missing a left hand and wear a very, very cool robot hand, Im pretty much like you.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

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From her iconic clothing line with Tommy Hilfiger to beauty partnerships with Maybelline, supermodel (and Glamour's Women of the Year), Gigi Hadid is no stranger to successful brand collaborations. This week, Hadid launched her second shoe collaboration with Stuart Weitzman. The line includes two exclusive styles -- the EYELOVE and the EYELOVEMORE. Ranging from to $498-$598, the wearable flat mule comes in three colorways (deep indigo, frosted grey, and ballet tan



"I've really been into slides lately and wanted a pair that can take me into fall...no more cold toes! The evil eye is a powerful symbol meant to protect those who wear it from negative energies. It's emotionally comforting and beautiful and captivating to look at. The bright colors are fun and remind me why we designed these shoes  they represent our commitment to build three additional schools with Pencils of Promise. Look Good, Do Good," said Gigi Hadi in a statement.

These chic shoes don't just do good for your closet, but also have a charitable aspect. In honor of Stuart Weitzman's partnership with Pencils of Promise, the sales of the EYELOVE AND EYELOVEMORE will help to build schools in Ghana, Guatemala and Laos.

RELATED: Fall bootie guide 2017

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Jimmy Fallon hilariously modeled Gigi Hadid's new shoes on 'The Tonight Show': Watch!

Gift guide: Stylish accessories that make amazing gifts

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Mandra (Greece) (AFP) - Greece was in mourning Thursday as rescue crews tried to locate several people missing in a flood that killed 16 people near the capital, with more thunderstorms forecast until the weekend.

Authorities said at least four people were still unaccounted for in Mandra, one of three towns about 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Athens hit by a freak flood early Wednesday.

The latest victim, a 50-year-old man, was found in a mud-filled basement. It took rescue crews over a day to reach his home.

The poor weather is set to continue until the weekend, raising concerns for hundreds of people with waterlogged homes.

Late on Thursday, the capital was lashed by another thunderstorm and firefighters in northern Greece said they were called to drain water from over 400 homes.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who declared three days of national mourning after the disaster, said he felt "shock" after touring the area Thursday.

"This is clearly a rare and extreme weather phenomenon," Tsipras said in a statement.

"But this extreme phenomenon had these effects because of (decades of) accumulated problems and deficiencies in infrastructure and zone planning," he said.

Experts have said ill-conceived building in the area -- some of it by local municipal authorities -- meant this was a disaster waiting to happen.

Corrective drainage works for the area were approved in 2016 but work has yet to begin.

Meteorologists said Wednesday's heavy rainfall was concentrated on a nearby mountain that had been devastated by wildfires in 2016, facilitating the ensuing mudslide.

Neighbouring areas saw much less rain, they said.

"It was like a tsunami," Evangelos Kolovetzos, a local shopowner, told AFP.

Local resident Spyros Karambikas told ERT television that he saw a man being swept away by the torrent "like the wind blows away a napkin."

"The water in my house rose to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet)," said Sotiris Loukopoulos, whose pharmacy is the only one still open in Mandra.

Story continues

"Five pharmacies were destroyed, we are still operating because we are on higher ground," he told Athens municipal radio, as residents tried to clean their yards with shovels and hoses.

Over a hundred firefighters aided by army machinery were mounting search and rescue efforts in Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, the semi-rural communities west of Athens hit hardest by the deluge.

The operation unfolded alongside gutted, debris-strewn streets, overturned cars and hundreds of flooded homes and shops as utility crews laboured to restore power and water services.

Emergency crews used pumps to drain water as police reinforcements were sent to the area to prevent looting.

Four people were arrested on Thursday after allegedly attempting to steal electrical appliances from a factory, state agency ANA said.

Twelve people are hospitalised, one in serious condition.

- Illegal buildings -

As a first step, the state will cover the funeral expenses, the interior ministry said.

Food, water and blankets have been rushed to the area, hit by what locals have described as the worst flooding in 20 years.

Some elderly people died inside their homes while other people were trapped in their cars as they drove to work. Two bodies were found at sea.

Parts of the area are without water and electricity for a second day, and much of the damage will take days to repair, though fortunately the sewage system is still functioning, the state water company said.

A 364-cabin cruise ship has been commissioned to shelter some of the homeless if necessary, the merchant marine ministry said.

Once a rural area, Mandra and neighbouring towns were rapidly transformed into a logistics hub for factories and warehouses over the last 20 years, with the new construction covering riverbeds that would have provided natural drainage.

A prosecutor has ordered an investigation into building violations in the area, where two people had already died in flooding that struck in 1996.

"There is a bad precedent with public works in this country," Interior Minister Panos Skourletis told Antenna TV.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said "Illegal building was a response to huge social and economic inequality."
By Dan Whitcomb (Reuters) - A gunman carrying a semi-automatic weapon and two handguns opened fire at multiple locations across a small Northern California community on Tuesday, killing four people before he was slain by police. At least 10 other people were wounded, including two children at an elementary school near the small town of Corning, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Sacramento, where the suspect was slain, according to police and local media. "Deeply saddened to hear of the shooting in Northern California, the loss of life, including innocent children," Vice President Mike Pence said on Twitter. "We commend the effort of courageous law enforcement. We'll continue to monitor the situation & provide federal support, as we pray for comfort & healing for all impacted." Shots were fired at Rancho Tehama Elementary school where some people were injured there but no students or staff members died, Corning Union Elementary School District administrative assistant Jeanine Quist said. Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said at a news conference that the shooter, who he did not name, had been armed with a semi-automatic rifle and two handguns. The Sacramento Bee newspaper, citing multiple law enforcement officials, later identified the suspect as 43-year-old Kevin Janson Neal, a local resident who had been arrested in February in connection with a stabbing. Johnston did not give a motive for the shooting rampage. The local Redding Record Searchlight newspaper reported that it began when the gunman opened fire at a home and some six other locations shortly after 8 a.m. PST. A parent, Coy Ferreira, said he was dropping off his daughter at the elementary school when he heard gunfire. "One of the teachers came running out of the building and told us to all run inside because there was a shooter coming," Ferreira told Redding, California, television station KRCR. Ferreira said he heard gunfire for over 20 minutes and that a student in the room was struck. Area resident Brian Flint told local media his neighbor was the shooter and had stolen his truck. Enloe Medical Center in Chico, some 40 miles away, received five patients, three of whom were treated and released, hospital spokeswoman Natali Munoz-Moore said. St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in the community of Red Bluff received two patients, including one who was stabilized and transferred to another facility, spokeswoman Amanda Harter said. Mercy Medical Center in Redding received three patients, including one who also was transferred elsewhere, Harter said. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and Peter Szekely and Daniel Wallis in New York; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Lisa Shumaker)
A pro-family rally in Birmingham, Ala., featured tributes to embattled Senate candidate Roy Moore by a parade of supporters  including one with a stalking conviction and one who has blamed Hurricane Sandy on gay marriage  but no comments from Moore himself on the latest accusations against him.

Nearly two dozen supporters from around the country gathered on the podium for a pro-family event in Birmingham, Ala., attended by Moore and his wife. After two hours of speeches, Moore gave a brief address before the host invited questions on issues from the assembled press.

Related: The women who have accused Roy Moore

The first question was if Moore had ever touched young women without their consent and if he dated teenagers when he was in his 30s. He walked off the stage without answering.

Moore has been accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by a number of women. The campaign has attacked the Washington Post, which broke the story of the first accusations last week, but local Alabama reporters have reported additional accusations, and claims from people who lived in the city of Gadsden in the 1970s that Moores alleged habit of approaching young women led to his banning from the local mall.

At a press conference Wednesday, an attorney for Moore said that the candidates supposed signature in a yearbook belonging to one of Moores accusers was a forgery. The lawyer did not address the womans claim that Moore had sexually assaulted her when she was 16.

During his remarks, Moore had asked for the campaign to return to the issues, but he has refused to debate Democrat Doug Jones because of what he called his opponents very liberal stance on transgenderism and transgenderism in the military and in bathrooms. Thursday afternoon the Alabama Republican Party issued a statement of continued support for Moore as a candidate, in the face of calls for his withdrawal by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other party leaders. The White House said Thursday that the people of Alabama should decide Moores fate in the Dec. 12 election.

Story continues

Embattled U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore speaks at a news conference, Nov. 16, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala. (Photo: Brynn Anderson/AP)

The pro-family event featured a number of speakers from across the country who had made controversial statements in the past. Moore himself has drawn criticism for a number of incendiary comments. He has said that former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States; that Muslims including Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., shouldnt be eligible to serve in Congress; and that homosexual conduct should be illegal.

Janet Porter, head of Faith 2 Action, was the de facto emcee for the event. Porter, who worked on former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabees presidential campaign, wrote in 2009 that Obama was a Soviet spy who planned to destroy America from within. Republican politician and activist Alan Keyes gave an opening prayer at the event. Keyes, who lost to Obama in the 2004 U.S. Senate race in Illinois, filed a lawsuit questioning that his opponent was a natural-born citizen.

In apparent support of Moore, anti-abortion activist Flip Benham said, Ive got to just tell you media, if I had to go back 40 years and look at my past, I would be in serious trouble. Benham was convicted of stalking a Charlotte, Va., abortion doctor in 2010.

Former Colorado state representative Gordon Klingenschmitt also spoke in defense of Moore. Klingenschmitt had previously stated that Obama was a demon, that allowing gay leaders in the Boy Scouts would result in child abuse and that members of LGBT community should not be allowed to teach because of their immorality.

Rabbi Noson Leiter said during Thursdays event that Moore would stand up against gay terrorists and the LGBT rights mafia. Leiter had previously blamed Hurricane Sandy on the legalization of gay marriage in New York state.

Texas conservative activist and physician Steven Hotze also spoke out in support of Moore. Hotze had previously compared gay people to termites and Soviet infiltrators because he felt they were [eating] away at the very moral fabric of the country.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Sean Hannity backed off the ultimatum he gave Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore, saying the former Alabama judge provided the answers the Fox News host needed.

On Hannitys Wednesday night show, Hannity read a letter Moore tweeted after the Fox News host demanded the former judge answer questions about the sexual abuse allegations leveled at him or drop out of the Senate race.

The Republican candidate denied all allegations that he sexually abused teenage girls when he was in his 30s. He maintained that he was a victim of a smear campaign organized by the liberal media.

Hannity seemed to back off his ultimatum that Moore drop out of the race.

We demanded, rightly, answers from Judge Moore. He provided them to the specific questions we asked, Hannity said, adding that hes confident the people of Alabama can make the best choice for their state.

I lived in Alabama-love the people. THEY will sort through the issues before them and decide. Not DC, McConnell, or Commentators,THE PEOPLE! https://t.co/CuO9nwogpA  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 16, 2017

Women continue to come forward with accusations that Moore behaved inappropriately when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. Multiple Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have called for Moore to drop out of the race. The Republican National Committee also pulled its official fundraising from Moores campaign.

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Hillary Clinton responded to news that Attorney General Jeff Sessions is considering appointing a special counsel to investigate Republican allegations leveled against her and other Democrats.

In a letter sent to Congressional Republicans on Monday, top Justice Department official Stephen Boyd wrote that Sessions had directed senior federal prosecutors to evaluate certain issues raised by Republicans, including a deal made when Clinton served as secretary of state involving the Canadian mining company Uranium One to a Russian firm.

Because the company had U.S. holdings, Clintons State Department was involved in the approval process. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have for years claimed that Clinton approved the deal in a quid-pro-quo exchange for donations to the Clinton Foundation. But theres no evidence that Clinton acted inappropriately. The State Department was just one of nine agencies on the committee signing off on the deal and, ultimately, only then-President Barack Obama had veto power.

Clinton on Wednesday called the accusations personally offensive, telling Mother Jones this is such an abuse of power and it goes right at the rule of law.

If [the Trump administration] sends a signal that were going to be like some dictatorship  some authoritarian regime  where political opponents are going to be unfairly, fraudulently investigated, that rips at the fabric of the contract we have, that we can trust our justice system, she continued.

The former secretary of state said appointing a special counsel to investigate her would be such a disastrous step into politicizing the justice system.

Trump and his surrogates have renewed calls for the Justice Department to investigate Clinton and Democrats since Special Counsel Robert Muellers ongoing investigation into Russias meddling of the 2016 presidential election resulted in the arrest of three former Trump campaign staffers last month.

Everybody is asking why the Justice Department (and FBI) isn't looking into all of the dishonesty going on with Crooked Hillary & the Dems..  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017

...New Donna B book says she paid for and stole the Dem Primary. What about the deleted E-mails, Uranium, Podesta, the Server, plus, plus...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017

....People are angry. At some point the Justice Department, and the FBI, must do what is right and proper. The American public deserves it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017

Sessions decision to weigh whether a special counsel should be appointed to investigate Clinton has been criticized as move meant to appease the president at a time when the attorney general faces new questions about his own involvement with the Trump campaigns contacts in Russians.

Story continues

Watch Clintons full response in the video above.

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U.S. President Donald Trump flies via Marine One helicopter over the Tokyo suburbs to meet Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan.

President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wave to reporters after they signed hats reading 'Donald and Shinzo, Make Alliance Even Greater'.

President Donald Trump gestures to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Japanese professional golfer Hideki Matsuyama looks on, as they play golf at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, north of Tokyo, Japan.

President Donald Trump pours fish food out as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks on while they were feeding carps before their working lunch at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.

President Donald Trump puts on a U.S. Pacific Air Forces bomber jacket before delivering remarks to members of the U.S. military at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

First Lady Melania Trump shows her calligraphy with Akie Abe, wife of Japanese prime minister, while attending a calligraphy class of 4th graders at the Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo.

Melania Trump and Japan's first lady Akie Abe visit Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo.

President Donald Trump smiles during a joint press conference with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea.

White House senior staff discuss the situation as U.S. President Donald Trump sits in his car after being grounded from an attempt to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the truce village of Panmunjom dividing North Korea and South Korea, at a U.S. military post in Seoul.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania visit the Forbidden City.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with opera performers at the Forbidden City.

President Donald Trump departs Seoul in Marine One while en-route to Osan Air Base, South Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One in Beijing, China, November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One at Beijing, China.

U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony at the Great hall of the People in Beijing, China.

President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shakes hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport.

Melania Trump smiles with children holding U.S. and China flags as she visits Beijing Zoo.

Melania Trump visits the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) as they pose for a group photo ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit leaders gala dinner in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on November 10, 2017.

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The president of Hobby Lobby and head of the new Museum of the Bible said that Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore should step aside only if allegations of sexual misconduct are true.

In an interview with TIME Tuesday afternoon, Steve Green, the museums chairman and president of a socially conservative craft store which successfully sued the federal government over contraception in 2014, said he was not sure about the allegations from five women that Moore pursued sexual relationships with them when he was in his 30s and they were teens.

If it is true, yes; if it is not, no. I dont know if it is, he said. But those obviously are actions that would be inappropriate. So if they were true, then he would  it would be best for him to step aside.

Prominent Republican members of Congress have said they believe the women who have come forward, and have called on Moore to step aside.

These allegations are credible, House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Tuesday. If he cares about the values and people he claims to care about then he should step aside.

I believe the women, yes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday. I think he should step aside.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tweeted on Monday, I did not find his denials to be convincing and believe that he should withdraw from the Senate race in Alabama.

I have now read Mr. Moores statement and listened to his radio interview in which he denies the charges. I did not find his denials to be convincing and believe that he should withdraw from the Senate race in Alabama.  Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) November 13, 2017

Some lawmakers, including Colorado Republican Senator Cory Gardner, have even suggested Moore could be expelled from the Senate if he wins the election.

However, many lawmakers only step down if the allegations are true.

Evangelicals have been divided. One state poll found that 37% of Alabama evangelicals were more likely to support more after the allegations. A 2016 poll found that white evangelicals nationwide have also become far more accepting of a politicians personal immorality since 2011.

Story continues

Some supporters of Moore have even used the Bible to defend him against the allegations. Take Joseph and Mary, Alabama state auditor Jim Ziegler told the Washington Examiner on Thursday. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus.

Moore, a populist Christian, has repeatedly used the Bible to support his political career. He has called the Ten Commandments the moral foundation of the Constitution, and said that in the past, he has prayed not to get appointed unless it was Gods will  I got appointed.

Asked what he thinks about someone like Moore using the Bible in his political campaign, Green said, We are all imperfect, which is what the Bible teaches us. So we all have flaws, but there are ways we address those flaws.
WASHINGTON  After months of internal squabbling and doubts, House Republicans passed their tax proposal on Thursday, a major step forward for a House GOP that has thus far been unable to deliver on any major piece of President Donald Trumps agenda.

The House passed the bill 227-205, with 13 Republicans joining every Democrat in opposing the measure, which would lower individual tax brackets, dramatically cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, and nearly double the standard deduction while eliminating a slew of smaller write-offs.

But even as Republicans celebrated the passage of their tax plan, the public perception of the bill is less than stellar. According to the most recent polling, only 30 percent of Americans support the GOP tax plan, with 40 percent opposing the bill and another 30 percent unsure. Most Americans believe they wont see a tax cut from the GOP tax plan. In fact, only about 25 percent of Republicans believe they will pay less as a result of the measure, while 47 percent of Americans believe Trump will pay less.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) led Republicans in passing their tax plan Thursday. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump came to the Capitol on Thursday to rally Republicans and implore them to vote yes (and, apparently, give a maundering speech about his trip to Asia). But his whip efforts, late and unnecessary, didnt seem to do much to move members. The same Republicans who have appeared doubtful from the beginning over concerns about eliminating the state and local tax deduction  mostly Republicans from high-tax states such as New Jersey and New York  ended up voting against the bill.

After a small mutiny in the House as leadership was releasing the bill in October, Republicans did adjust the legislation to allow filers to write off the first $10,000 of their property taxes. But for the Republicans who voted no, even that adjustment might still result in a significant number of their constituents facing a tax increase.

Of the 13 Republicans who voted no, five come from New York, four come from New Jersey, three from California, and one, Rep. Walter Jones Jr., comes from North Carolina. (Jones was concerned about adding to the debt.)

Story continues

The other Republicans who voted no are: Reps. Dan Donovan (N.Y.), John Faso (N.Y.), Darrell Issa (Calif.), Peter King (N.Y.), Leonard Lance (N.J.), Frank LoBiondo (N.J.), Tom McClintock (Calif.), Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), Chris Smith (N.J.), Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), Lee Zeldin (N.Y.) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (N.J.), who chairs the Appropriations Committee.

California Republicans, many of whom serve highly taxed areas, mostly got onboard with the GOP tax plan, a trend that has played out repeatedly on two other budget votes setting up the reconciliation bill. (Republicans are using the budget reconciliation process to pass the tax bill so they can sidestep the 60-vote threshold in the Senate and pass the legislation with a simple majority.)

The Senate is still a significant hurdle for Republicans. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has come out against the Senate version of the bill, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also seems unlikely to vote for the bill if, as expected, it includes a repeal of the individual mandate for Obamacare. The GOP can currently afford to lose only two Republicans on their measure, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a tie to push the bill over the finish line, but there are a number of other Republicans who have concerns about the bill, particularly a somewhat restrictive 25 percent pass-through rate for S corporations and the mandate repeal.

The Senate math is also complicated by an Alabama Senate special election. Democrat Doug Jones is polling ahead of Republican Roy Moore after numerous allegations have come out that Moore dated  as well as sexually assaulted  teenage girls when he was in his 30s. A Jones victory would mean Republicans could lose only one vote and still pass the bill.

The Senate is aiming to pass the bill before the Dec. 12 special election, with the intention of making the Alabama race meaningless for tax reform, but  the Senate being the Senate  delays are more than possible.

On the House side, GOP lawmakers seem to have gone along with this tax bill despite some reservations because they feel the need to have something to point to next year when it comes time for re-election. Conservatives were concerned about debt, as the bill would allow Republicans to increase debt by $1.5 trillion over 10 years in the name of tax cuts.

Republicans from those highly taxed blue states were concerned some of their constituents would face tax increases, or at least not as big of a tax cut as voters in other states. And a number of other Republicans had individual concerns with a such an expansive tax code rewrite that has drawn major opposition from home builders, real estate agents and small businesses.

But conservatives ultimately sided with arguments that tax cuts dont need to be paid for. Leadership was able to split the votes from Republicans adversely affected by the state and local deduction changes. And other Republicans with more specific concerns fell in line.

Democrats criticized their GOP colleagues for selling this tax plan as a middle-class tax cut when 47 percent of the tax benefits, according to a study by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, would go to the richest 1 percent.

On the House floor, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the argument of trickle-down economics BS. Republicans groaned.

The passage of the House bill is a significant moment in the tenure of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The former Ways and Means chairman has long sought to rewrite the tax code  he claimed on Thursday that this is a generational defining moment  and Ryan portrayed the GOPs tax bill as a necessary step to ignite the economy.

Its about tax relief. Its about fairness. Its about simplicity. Its about easing the stress and anxiety in this country, Ryan said.

Arthur Delaney contributed to this report. This post has been updated with additional details on the vote and quotes from Ryan.

Also on HuffPost

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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.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
WASHINGTON  With President Donald Trump back tweeting from the White House and his chief of staffs advice to the world about ignoring those tweets still fresh, the world has a simple question: How, exactly?

Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly told reporters near the end of Trumps 12-day Asia trip that he doesnt read his bosss tweets and neither does his staff.

We dont. I dont. I dont allow the staff to. We know what were doing, he said. Believe it or not, I do not follow the tweets.

But while some in the foreign policy community understand why Kelly might want to pay no attention to Trumps Twitter voice, they argue it just cannot be done.

There is no way that Trumps tweets are insignificant, said Eliot Cohen, a former top State Department official under President George W. Bush. There is a measure of wishful thinking here, particularly by those around him who try to corral Trump.

Adam Thomson, a former British representative to NATO, said European leaders have been trying to do exactly as Kelly suggested for months now, with some minor success.

As their experience of President Trump grows, European governments have learned to tune out the tweeting detail and concentrate on what Trumps utterances reveal about his general underlying instincts, Thomson said.

Western European nations also have multiple communications channels with the United States, through both public and private entities. That is not the case, warned a former top Pentagon official, with the nuclear-armed country posing perhaps the most dangerous foreign policy challenge today: North Korea.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly said that he doesn't follow the president's tweets. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The statements the president makes through his Twitter account no doubt cause concern and confusion on the other side of the Pacific. They dont have a constellation of satellites to see where we are moving our forces, Brian McKeon, a former undersecretary of defense under President Barack Obama, said at a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday.

And people may say, well, what he says on his Twitter account doesnt matter, we have policies, we have leadership of the national command authority, McKeon said. That doesnt compute in Kim Jong Uns mind that what the president says doesnt matter. So I would be very worried about a miscalculation based on continuing use of his Twitter account with regard to North Korea.

Story continues

Kellys comments, in fact, came shortly after Trump called Kim short and fat on Twitter. It was among a string of angry messages the president posted from Vietnam not long before he was to depart for the Philippines, the final stop on the Asia trip. In addition to Kim, Trump also attacked former Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, the Fake News Media, and those who criticize his cozy relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Kelly emphasized that regardless of what Trump chooses to tweet, his White House and National Security Council staff are the ones who research and implement his actual policies on global affairs.

The tweets dont run my life. Good staff work runs it, Kelly said, according to the Los Angeles Times report about his remarks. We develop policy in the normal traditional staff way.

The Trump administration generally has been conflicted about the significance of the presidents 140-character communiques since he took office in January. Then-press secretary Sean Spicer, when asked to clarify the difference between messages on Trumps Twitter account and what Spicer himself said in press briefings, snapped at the questioner.

Youre equating me addressing the nation with a tweet? Spicer said. Thats the silliest thing Ive ever heard.

But later  perhaps chastised by a boss who believes his Twitter practice is a key to his success  the press secretary backtracked. The president is president of the United States. So they are considered official statements by the president of the United States, Spicer said about the tweets.

Executive branch agencies have been similarly caught off guard. Trump in July declared that the military would no longer permit transgender service members. The Defense Departments reaction: What you saw in the form of a tweet was representative of an announcement. That doesnt result in any immediate policy changes for us. We will await formal direction, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.

(A formal executive order on transgender troops was later issued. It is now tied up in court.)

To some degree, the rest of the world has been ignoring many of Trumps more incendiary remarks for months. Norways then-defense minister, Ine Eriksen Sreide, said during a visit to Washington this spring that she and other NATO leaders had come to accept assurances from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis that the United States was committed to the decades-old alliance, notwithstanding Trumps statements.

Mattis has jokingly sometimes referred to himself as the secretary of reassurance, said Eriksen Sreide, who is now Norways foreign minister.

But Thomson said there are limits to ignoring Trump.

What he says doesnt foreshadow or even shape the detail of administration policy but has accurately heralded significant setbacks in European eyes, he said. For example, on the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris climate accord and trade policy. Not exactly a reliable guide, but less obscure than the Delphi Oracle and more than random noise.

And in the United States, Trumps tweets are clearly presidential utterances and treated as such, said Ned Price, a former CIA analyst and a National Security Council spokesman under Obama.

Its convenient for the chief of staff to say the tweets are immaterial, but weve learned in recent months that the executive and legislative branches view them as communicating presidential intent and conveying presidential orders, Price said. We saw this in the case of the Muslim ban, when the 9th Circuit cited the tweets, and the White House itself also pointed to a tweet when responding to litigation regarding Trumps false claim that he was spied upon by the Obama administration.

Cohen added that it makes no sense to ignore a presidents words. The main thing is this: Policy is, if you think about it, nothing but words, he said. And the most powerful man in the worlds words matter.

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A few years ago, under the Obama administration, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) banned the import into the U.S. of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe, regardless of whether the beasts had been legally hunted there. Now it seems the ban has been lifted, along with that on imports from Zambia, with no real explanation yet as to why.

Conservationists are deeply concerned about the decision. [As] the current political, social and economic climate in Zimbabwe is fragile without any accountable government, it is worrisome that the [U.S.] would allow imports from a country whose political future is uncertain, Michael Chase, the founder and director of Botswana-based Elephants Without Borders, told Fortune. Even without the factor of political instability, Chase described Zimbabwes recent elephant conservation research and management as failing.

Under the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, elephants are classified as endangered species. However, if a country is successfully working to conserve and increase their elephant populations, its supposed to be acceptable for hunters to bring home the ivory from their kills in that country, as the fees from the hunting permits can aid those conservation efforts.

In 2014, the FWS said that additional elephant hunting in Zimbabwe, even if legal, is not sustainable and is not currently supporting conservation efforts that contribute towards the recovery of the species. So American hunters couldnt bring home their elephant trophies.

Now, as first revealed by the pro-hunting lobby group Safari Club International (SCI), the FWS has lifted its bans on bringing elephant remains into the U.S. from Zimbabwe, as well as from neighboring Zambia.

We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife, SCI president Paul Babaz said. Interior secretary Ryan Zinke set up an International Wildlife Conservation Council to advise him, just days ago.

Story continues

Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation, the agency said in a statement.

However, as The Washington Post has pointed out, the FWS didnt say what had changed in Zimbabwean conservation practices to make the change acceptable. The agency said it would reveal more on Friday.

Zimbabwe has Africas second-largest elephant population, after Botswana. However, last year the Great Elephant Censusan initiative backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allenshowed that elephant numbers in Zimbabwe continue to decline. Elephants Without Borders assisted in that aerial survey.

The elephant population in Zambia has suffered a dramatic decrease over the last few decades, from more than 200,000 elephants in 1972 to just a little over 21,000, said Chase. Poaching and the illegal ivory trade remain a threat to the countrys and transborder elephant populations. I have no evidence to suggest that the elephant population in Zambia is stable or increasing.

This recent decision rewards countries that have a dubious conservation track record, and which will further threaten elephant populations in their last stronghold in southern Africa. Elephant numbers in many parks in Zambia are so depressed that poachers are turning to killing elephants in neighboring countries such as Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Even Fox News, usually a reliable supporter of the Trump administration, has expressed concern at the move:
Ankara (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will next week host Turkish and Iranian counterparts Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani for summit talks on Syria, officials from Turkey and Russia said Thursday.

With the violence in Syria diminishing but still no political solution in sight, the three presidents will meet at Putin's official residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on November 22.

The meeting -- the first such summit between the trio -- comes as Ankara, Moscow and Tehran cooperate with increasing intensity on ending the more than six-year civil war in Syria.

They are sponsoring peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana and also implementing a plan for de-escalation zones in key flashpoint areas of Syria.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that the three leaders would discuss progress in reducing the violence in Syria and ensuring humanitarian aid goes to those in need.

Describing Iran, Russia and Turkey as the three "guarantor" countries, he said the talks would look at what they could do for a lasting political solution in Syria.

Turkey's top diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu said the foreign ministers of the three countries would meet in the southern Turkish city of Antalya by the end of the week.

Confirming the summit, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was just these three countries who were the "guarantors of the process of political settlement and stability and security that we see now in Syria".

There was no immediate comment from Tehran.

- 'Six meetings in one year' -

The cooperation comes despite Turkey still officially being on an opposite side of the Syria conflict from Russia and Iran.

Russia, along with Iran, is the key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Moscow's military intervention inside Syria is widely seen as tipping the balance in the conflict.

Turkey, however, has backed the rebels seeking Assad's ouster in a conflict that has left more than 330,000 dead.

Story continues

But Russia and Turkey have been working together since a 2016 reconciliation deal ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria.

In recent months, Turkey has markedly toned down its criticism of the Assad regime and focused on opposing Syrian Kurdish militia seen by Ankara as a terror group.

According to the Anadolu news agency, Putin and Erdogan have already met five times this year and spoken by telephone 13 times.

Erdogan last met Putin for talks in Sochi only days ago on November 13, agreeing on the need to boost elements for a lasting settlement.

Turkey earlier this month said Russia had decided to postpone a planned Syria peace conference with all parties after Ankara objected to the potential inclusion of Kurdish forces.

Moscow denied this was the case, saying a date for the conference had never been set. Peskov told reporters in Moscow that the date for the "Congress of Syrian National Dialogue" had yet to be fixed.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel's military chief of staff said in an interview Thursday that his country was prepared to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to face Iran's plans "to control the Middle East."

His comments were the latest sign that behind-the-scenes links between Israel and Gulf countries may be occurring due to Iran, their shared enemy, even though they do not have formal diplomatic ties.

"We are ready to exchange experience with the moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence information to face Iran," Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot was quoted as saying by Elaph, a news website run by a Saudi businessman.

Asked whether any information had been shared recently with Saudi Arabia, he said "we are ready to share information if necessary. There are many common interests between us and them."

Israel's army confirmed the contents of the rare interview with Arabic-language media.

According to Israel's army, it was the first interview of its kind since 2005.

Sunni Muslim powerhouse Saudi Arabia has long been at loggerheads with Shiite, non-Arab Iran but friction has spiralled recently.

Earlier this month, Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced from Saudi capital Riyadh that he was quitting, citing Iran's "grip" on his country.

The leader of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group supported by Iran, has accused Saudi Arabia of pressing Israel to launch attacks against it.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made similar allegations this week.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a devastating war in 2006.

Eisenkot said in the interview that "we have no intention of initiating a conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and reaching a war, but we cannot accept strategic threats to Israel there.

"I am very happy with the calm on both sides of the border, which has lasted 11 years. On the other hand, we see Iranian attempts to escalate."

Israel and Arab countries are also concerned with Iran's influence in Syria, where Tehran and Hezbollah are backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime in his country's civil war.

Story continues

Gulf Arab countries are also worried about the Islamic republic's support for Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen.

- 'New international alliance' -

Eisenkot referred to US President Donald Trump's attempt to find a path to Israeli-Palestinian peace by drawing in regional countries.

Trump's first trip abroad as president included stops in Saudi Arabia and Israel.

His son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has reportedly formed a bond with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"With President Donald Trump, there is a chance for a new international alliance in the region and a major strategic plan to stop the Iranian threat," Eisenkot said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been promoting the idea that his country's ties with Arab nations are improving, and some experts have said there are signs that shared concerns over Iran are indeed nudging them closer.

Formal ties do not seem likely due to Israel's continuing occupation of Palestinian territory and the lack of progress in peace efforts, but behind-the-scenes cooperation has opened up in various areas, a number of experts and officials have said.

Netanyahu has described relations with the Arab world as the "best ever", though without providing any details.

Leaders of Arab countries have not publicly made similar comments, however that does not necessarily mean they dispute Netanyahu's claim.

They face sensitivities within their own countries, where the Jewish state is often viewed with intense hostility.

Only two Arab countries -- Egypt and Jordan -- have peace treaties with Israel.
Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi []
A Brooklyn judge has ruled that because the New York Police Department (NYPD) used a cell-site simulator, also known by the brand name Stingray, to track down a murder suspect without a warrant, some evidence against the suspect will be thrown out. As the New York Times reports, the NYPD initially denied using such a device in this case, but later conceded that it had. Following the suspect's arrest, he was picked out of a lineup by another victim, and that's what is being tossed out.

"The failure to obtain a proper eavesdropping warrant here prejudiced the defendant since the most useful and needed information -- ie. his location -- was procured from the unlimited use of the cell site simulator," Justice Martin Murphy wrote in his ruling.

Law enforcement agencies have been bumping up against courts quite a bit when it comes to using Stingrays. In September, a Washington DC Court of Appeals overturned a conviction of a man who had been located by police with such a device. The court ruled that the defendant's Fourth Amendment rights had been violated. Last year, a federal judge suppressed DEA evidence resulting from the use of a cell-site simulator.

Lots of different agencies across the US use cell-site simulators -- the ACLU has found that at least 72 agencies in 24 states and Washington DC use them. They're used by the FBI, ICE, the IRS as well as police officers, and the NYPD has said that it used them 1,016 times between 2008 and May 2015.

This ruling is the first to restrict the NYPD's use of cell-site simulators, which could have an impact on how the nation's largest police department utilizes them going forward. "This decision stands for the principle that, in the criminal justice context, the technology has to be reviewable in a fair and open way by both the courts and the defense," Jerome Greco, a staff attorney in the Legal Aid Society's Digital Forensics Unit, told the New York Times. Christopher Dunn, associate legal director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, told the publication, "Unless we create legal limits on these technologies, and real oversight, we face the prospect of comprehensive police monitoring and tracking of private, lawful activity."
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Recent developments in Syria's Raqqa show that the Kurdish YPG militia, backed by the United States, is more concerned about capturing territory than fighting Islamic State, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a speech on Thursday. Turkey has expressed anger that a convoy of Islamic State fighters were allowed to withdraw from Raqqa last month as part of an agreement with the YPG, saying it was "appalled" by the United States' stance on the issue. [nL8N1NK9RZ] Ankara was also infuriated by Washington's support for the Syria Kurdish fighters, seen by Turks as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought a decades-long insurgency in Turkey and is designated a terrorist group by Ankara, the United States and European Union. Turkish procurement of U.S. defence equipment is being delayed in the United States, according to the text of Cavusoglu's speech, and Turkey is developing alternative solutions for this sector. "We are unfortunately facing important delays in the procurement of defence equipment we urgently need in the fight against terror from the United States due to U.S. internal practices," the text said, without elaborating. "Evidently, as these periods are prolonged, we are developing alternative means to acquire the equipment and systems we require, primarily through our own national resources." Turkey recently completed the purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, a defence deal that Turkey's Western allies see as a snub to the NATO alliance as the weapon cannot be integrated into the alliance's systems. [nL8N1NI0ED] Ankara also said it was making agreements with the Franco-Italian EUROSAM consortium to develop, produce and use its own sources for air defence system. [nL5N1NE7DI] (Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Dominic Evans)
Berlin (AFP) - Lebanon's foreign minister warned Thursday that political turmoil in his country sparked by the crisis involving Saudi Arabia could impact Europe by creating new waves of refugees.

The top diplomat, Gebran Bassil, was in Berlin as part of a European tour to rally support following the November 4 shock resignation of the prime minister, Saad Hariri, while in Riyadh.

The move has sparked speculation Hariri is being detained by his long-time sponsor Saudi Arabia amid its bitter standoff with regional rival Iran, heightening fears about instability and conflict in Lebanon.

Bassil, speaking in a joint press conference with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel, warned that the destabilisation of Lebanon would have "direct consequences" for Europe.

Syrian and other refugees as well as Lebanese citizens "would be plunged into a more fragile situation, which may lead them to turn to Europe, to seek the path to Europe," he said, according to the German translation.

This could "cause a wider destabilisation, just as happened in Syria, which also impacted Germany and Europe," Bassil said.

Gabriel, whose country has taken in over one million mostly Middle Eastern and African asylum seekers since 2015, stressed that Lebanon had assumed "an incredible burden" by hosting some 1.5 million refugees.

Hariri's resignation has been widely seen as forced upon him by Saudi officials intent on protesting Iranian "domination" of Lebanon via their proxy Hezbollah, which also supports Saudi Arabia's foes in Syria.

Hariri has insisted he is free to move and will soon return to Lebanon, but has shown little sign yet that he will be coming back soon.

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited him to Paris, and Saudi Arabia has insisted Hariri is free to go.

Gabriel said he shared the concern about the threat of instability and bloodshed in Lebanon and, without mentioning Saudi Arabia directly, warned against the "adventurism" behind the Lebanon crisis and the "human tragedy in Yemen".
Beirut (AFP) - An invitation to France may provide Lebanon's resigned prime minister Saad Hariri with a way out of Saudi Arabia, but it could also spell the end of his political career, experts say.

French President Emmanuel Macron appears to have come to Hariri's rescue with the invitation, which comes after great speculation about whether the premier was being detained in Saudi Arabia after his surprise resignation delivered there November 4.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun has even gone so far as to refer to the resigned prime minister as a "hostage" despite Hariri repeatedly denying claims of his detention.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Thursday that Hariri was free to leave Saudi "when he pleases", in the first statement by a high-ranking Saudi official on the issue.

Hariri's resignation was quickly perceived as the latest round in a tug of war between Saudi Arabia, his longtime sponsor, and its regional arch-rival Iran.

It has raised deep concerns about the stability of Lebanon, which has long been riven by disagreements between Hariri's bloc and that of his chief rival, the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

"Even if it doesn't resolve the base of the problem, the French offer... allows both the Saudi authorities and Saad Hariri to save face," Karim Bitar of the Paris-based Institute of International and Strategic Affairs, told AFP.

The French-language daily L'Orient Le Jour said France had "achieved the unexpected by inviting Hariri" to leave Riyadh, where his family is also staying.

"The exit proposed by the French president... has lowered tensions a notch," the daily said on Thursday.

"A French way out," added the An Nahar daily, while Al-Akhbar newspaper, which is highly critical of Hariri, said in a front page headline "Aoun and Macron free the prime minister".

- Exile, or just a layover? -

While the invitation may have eased some of the tensions caused by the usual circumstances of Hariri's resignation, it has also raised questions about his future.

Story continues

Macron was quick to dismiss speculation that Hariri was going into "exile" in France, but there has also been no confirmation that Paris will simply be a waystation en route back to Lebanon.

Hariri has for days insisted he is free to move and will soon return to Lebanon, but has shown little sign yet that he will be coming back soon.

"The fact that the Elysee was forced to deny that it would be an exile says a lot about the spy novel aspects of this exfiltration," said Bitar.

"Paradoxically, it reinforces the suspicions of those who think that Saad Hariri is indeed a man under very intense pressure," he added.

Amal Saad, a political science professor at the Lebanese University, said Hariri's trip to Paris could either signal the end of his political career and a period of exile, or a move to return to Lebanon to negotiate with his arch-rival Hezbollah.

"Its 50 percent, 50 percent, it could go either way," she told AFP.

The trip could indicate that "in exchange for his family's freedom and his own political freedom, he would have to resign from political life altogether," she said.

"On the other hand, is Paris going to be used as a stop only, then will he come to Beirut and negotiate some kind of deal with the president, with Hezbollah?"

In the only interview he has given since his resignation, Hariri said Sunday that he would only reverse his decision to step down if Hezbollah pledged to end its involvements in conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

- 'Impulsive' Saudi moves -

Hariri's resignation has been largely seen as forced upon him by Saudi officials intent on protesting Iranian "domination" of Lebanon via their proxy Hezbollah.

But the strategy may have backfired.

"Saudi Arabia loses," read an Al-Akhbar headline on Thursday.

According to Saad, the Saudi authorities have "stripped him (Hariri) of his power" but this has given him "another kind of power...popular legitimacy that he didn't formerly have".

There has been a groundswell of support among many Lebanese for Hariri since his shock resignation from Riyadh.

"This affair illustrates well the often counter-productive nature of their (Saudi) reactions," said Bitar.

"Their desire to counter Iranian influence does not seem to be accompanied by any clear and thoughtful strategy," he added, underlining the "impulsiveness" of Saudi leaders.

In Lebanon, the crisis has proved shocking even to a population virtually innured to such things.

"It's not conventional politics anymore," said Saad, referring to the situation as "unprecedented".

Aoun repeated Thursday that he was waiting for Hariri's return to the country before deciding whether to accept his resignation.

But "the institutional crisis could last much longer in the absence of a return to a modus vivendi between the Iranians and the Saudis," said Bitar.
Riyadh (AFP) - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to travel to Paris after Beirut accused Riyadh of detaining him following his shock resignation, the French foreign minister said Thursday.

"He will come to France and the prince has been informed," Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks late on Wednesday.

Asked about the date of the visit for talks with President Emmanuel Macron, Le Drian replied: "Mr. Hariri's schedule is a matter for Mr. Hariri."

Speculation has swirled around the fate of Hariri, who is a dual Saudi citizen.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has accused Saudi Arabia of "detaining" him and has refused to accept his resignation from abroad.

In his first media appearance since he announced his resignation on November 4, Hariri said on Sunday that he had freedom of movement and would return to Lebanon in the coming days.

Hariri has left open the possibility that he may withdraw his resignation if certain conditions are met -- in particular and end to the involvement of Lebanon's powerful Shiite militant group Hezbollah in regional conflicts.

The French president's office said on Wednesday that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile.

Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person.
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 []
A law firm representing Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore sent a threatening letter to the Alabama Media Group over its reports on sexual misconduct allegations against Moore.

Two women have accused the former judge of sexual assault while they were teenagers and he was an assistant district attorney in his 30s. Three other women have claimed Moore dated them or tried to date them when they were 16 to 18 years old. On Wednesday, a sixth woman accused Moore of groping her when she was a 28-year-old visitor at his law office.

Moore and his attorneys have sent a letter threatening legal action against the Alabama Media Group over its AL.com coverage of the scandal, including the account of Beverly Young Nelson, who claimed that Moore attacked her when she was 16, groping her and attempting to force her head into his crotch. Nelson, in telling her story Monday, produced a yearbook that she said Moore signed before the assault.

Your client as an outlet is carelessly and perhaps maliciously reporting that my client, Judge Roy S. Moore, noted and signed a Yearbook of an accuser as a DA and in a manner which experts, to include our own, have confirmed is not consistent with his handwriting ... and does not comport to his typical vernacular, the letter, dated Tuesday, reads.

This echoes a news conference held Wednesday by Moores lawyer Phillip Jauregui in which he demanded that the yearbook be turned over to be examined by experts. Nelsons attorney, Gloria Allred, said she would release the yearbook if the Senate agreed to conduct an investigation of Moore.

The law firms letter demanded a retraction, accusing the Alabama Media Group of defamation.

It is also clear that your clients organization is attempting pre-election to conspire and orchestrate a trial by media and is playing to a mob mentality, the letter said. We demand that this circus cease and desist immediately.

Moore also responded to Sean Hannitys call to answer inconsistencies regarding the sexual assault allegations against him in an open letter posted to Twitter on Wednesday.

Story continues

On his Fox News show Tuesday night, Hannity, who previously defended the politician, gave Moore 24 hours to address the inconsistencies in his defense of the allegation. Moore categorically denied the allegations once again and accused the liberal media of working to smear his character.

Are we at a stage in American politics in which false allegations can overcome a public record of 40 years, stampede the media and politicians to condemn an innocent man and potentially impact the outcome on an election of national importance? Moore wrote on Twitter.

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On Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza visited the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to check out the production of new $1 bills that bear their signatures. To mark the momentous occasion, Mnuchin posed for a photo with his wife, Louise Linton, as they held a sheet of money together straight off the printing press.

Linton, an actress (whos also known for her controversial memoir), wore a Peter Pan-collared black wool top tucked into a high-waisted leather skirt. She accessorized with a black leather belt that cinched her waist and matching elbow-length gloves.

Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton. (Photo: AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

The 36-year-old Scot opted not to take off her gloves for the photo op with Mnuchin  whom she married in June in Washington, D.C.  clutching the corner of the paper and glaring at the camera with an experienced model face.

Associated Press photographer Jacquelyn Martin, who captured the image, knew the minute she took it that it was going to be a great photo, but, she noted, I didnt know it would turn into quite such an internet phenomenon.

Based on their history and previous images that have been put out there  I had a feeling that this would take off. There is something about this couple that people are just fascinated by. There was added visual interest in the dynamic of the couple, and her outfit, Martin told the AP.

We dont orchestrate these things  I just show up and photograph what happens in front of me. You really have to be ready for anything in Washington.

The moment was quickly mocked on social media, with some comparing the pair to James Bond villains. Others pointed out the similarity between Lintons look and Kylo Rens from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

God bless Louise Linton, who even after one of the worst PR disasters of the year is unable to stop dressing like a Disney villain. pic.twitter.com/dcmtDNGQyS  Jesse Berney (@jesseberney) November 15, 2017

Find someone who looks at you the way Louise Linton looks at Steve Mnuchin holding a sheet of dollar bills with his name on them pic.twitter.com/3fGXmJti6c  Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) November 15, 2017

Beautiful photo of Louise Linton with the love of her life and also Steven Mnuchin pic.twitter.com/MOfKzrF9u1  Jason O. Gilbert (@gilbertjasono) November 15, 2017

Looks like Louise Linton finally decided on her annual Christmas wrapping paper. pic.twitter.com/foIrGOmlJl  Myriam (@maximusmom22) November 15, 2017

Im starting to get the feeling that Louise Linton may not have married Steven Mnuchin because of his charm, wit, or rugged good looks. pic.twitter.com/6ADfGuemKP  Andrew Weinstein (@Weinsteinlaw) November 15, 2017

Are Louise Linton & Steve Mnuchin trying to look like Bond villains? pic.twitter.com/jxV7IqmMvE  Edward Hardy (@EdwardTHardy) November 16, 2017

why is louise linton dressed like kylo ren pic.twitter.com/lKJRz2GhXy  Joon Lee (@iamjoonlee) November 15, 2017

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin re-creates his marriage proposal to wife Louise Linton on a visit to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing pic.twitter.com/XYvUQJMyvH  Robyn Urback (@RobynUrback) November 15, 2017

Beating Louise Linton to the Instagram punch pic.twitter.com/PKkpkcKNS7  The Smoking Gun (@tsgnews) November 15, 2017

Photographer, to Louise Linton: OK, give me your best "Let 'em eat cake" face.

Ahh, perfect. pic.twitter.com/QgOdnfS2fF  BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) November 15, 2017

In August, Linton also became a trending internet topic when she posted an Instagram of her travel outfit after flying with Mnuchin to Kentucky on a business trip. She tagged all the brands she was wearing  including Tom Ford, Valentino, and Hermes (Birkin bags retail for $12,000 to $200,000, depending on the style)  and even engaged with a commenter who called her #deplorable.

Story continues

Louise Lintons Instagram post from August. (Photo: Instagram)

The post, which was compared to Ivanka Trumps let them eat cake tweet from the night of the refugee travel ban, was deleted, and Linton apologized  while posing for the cover of a magazine in a ball gown.

I want to say I concede completely to the comments of my critics, Linton said in an interview for Washington Life magazines Balls & Galas issue. My post itself and the following response were indefensible.  Its clear that I was the one who was truly out of touch and my response was reactionary and condescending.

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Valletta (AFP) - Activists in Malta marked on Thursday the assassination a month ago of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, stepping up their calls for the country's prime minister to hunt down her killers.

"He who does not want to know is a fool. He who does not do anything is a coward. He who knows and does nothing is an accomplice," activists in the Occupy Justice group wrote on a message left on the doorstep of the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's office.

Wearing T-Shirts with Carauna Galizia's last words from her anti-corruption blog -- "There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate" -- the group also delivered a bay leaf plant, which has become a symbol of strength and courage among campaigners following the journalist's death.

"Prime minister, may this bay leaf plant remind you that we have been waiting a month for you to take action on our demands for justice," the message read.

Some 400 people gathered in Valletta on Thursday evening for a silent march to mark the month since Carauna Galizia, 53, was blown up in a car bombing which made headlines around the world.

"I can't believe I'm still fighting for justice", read one of the placards held aloft by protesters who placed flowers, bay leaves, plants and candles at the foot of a memorial to Caruana Galizia.

For years the investigative reporter had made repeated and detailed corruption allegations against Muscat's inner circle and had lately turned her investigative scrutiny on the opposition as well.

"I will continue coming here and will attend every event until something changes. Daphne did not die in vain," one of the protesters, Maria Portelli, told AFP.

Police had been looking for a car reported to have been spotted in the vicinity of the attack, but have since discounted the tip-off as unreliable, Maltese media reports said.
Star Wars legend Mark Hamill delighted fans with a surprise appearance at Disneyland in California earlier this week.

The actor, who returns to the space opera franchise in the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie, stunned guests when he hopped on board the Star Tours: The Adventure Continues ride.

In video that Hamill shared to Twitter on Tuesday, a park staffer tells visitors how the captain did mention something about a special passenger joining them.

Hamill then strolls in, and everyone totally freaks out:

Hamill joined guests for the ride before chatting with them and answering their Luke Skywalker-related questions. He tweeted that his childhood dream of working Disneyland finally came true.

The reaction on Twitter was strong:

You continue to reaffirm you were and are worthy of being my childhood hero.  Lin Humphrey, Ph.D. (@LinHumphrey) November 15, 2017

When you have to put your glasses on first to see if this is really happening to you  pic.twitter.com/Bdc0nwJ27R  HereComesMarkHamill (@herecomeshamill) November 15, 2017

I think you made that dude in the front row's decade.  TJ Fixman (@TJFixman) November 15, 2017

Every single person in this video will remember this for the rest of their lives.

This is great.  Steve Marmel (@Marmel) November 15, 2017

Not going to lie, this would have been my reaction! pic.twitter.com/bAC8dD31S5  Kat (@Ms_KatW) November 15, 2017

I can't stop looping it.  Aaron Linde (@aaronlinde) November 15, 2017

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters on Dec. 15.

Story continues

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Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Theres a common thread tying together the most disruptive revolutions of human history, and it has some scientists worried about the United States. In those revolutions, conflict largely boiled down to pervasive economic inequality. On Wednesday, a study in Nature, showing how and when those first divisions between rich and poor began, suggests not only that history has always repeated itself but also that its bound to do so again  and perhaps sooner than we think.

In the largest study of its kind, a team of scientists from Washington State University and 13 other institutions examined the factors leading to economic inequality throughout all of human history and noticed some worrying trends. Using a well-established score of inequality called the Gini coefficient, which gives perfect, egalitarian societies a score of 0 and high-inequality societies a 1, they showed that civilization tends to move toward inequality as some people gain the means to make others relatively poor  and employ it. Coupled with what researchers already know about inequality leading to social instability, the study does not bode well for the state of the world today.

We could be concerned in the United States, that if Ginis get too high, we could be inviting revolution, or we could be inviting state collapse. Theres only a few things that are going to decrease our Ginis dramatically, said Tim Kohler, Ph.D., the studys lead author and a professor of archaeology and evolutionary anthropology in a statement.

Currently, the United States Gini score is around .81, one of the highest in the world, according to the 2016 Allianz Global Wealth Report.

A recent Credit Suisse report shows that the richest 1 percent of humanity owns half the world's wealth.

Kohler and his team had their work cut out for them, as studying inequality before the age of global wealth reports is not a straightforward task. Its one thing to measure modern day economic inequality using measures of individual net worth, but those kind of metrics arent available for, say, hunter-gatherers chasing buffalo during the Paleolithic. To surmount this obstacle, the researchers decided to use house size as a catch-all proxy for wealth, then examined the makeup of societies from prehistoric times to modern day using data from 63 archaeological digs.

Story continues

Overall, they found that human societies started off fairly equal, with the hunter-gatherer societies consistently getting Gini scores around .17. The divide between rich and poor really began once humans started to domesticate plants and animals and switch to farming-based societies. Learning to till the land meant introducing the concept of land ownership, and inevitably, some people ended up as landless peasants. Furthermore, because these societies no longer lived as nomads, it became easier to accumulate wealth (like land) and pass it down from generation to generation.

The Gini scores got higher as farming societies got bigger. The small scale horticultural farmers had a median Gini of .27, and larger-scale agricultural societies moved up to .35. This pattern continued until, oddly, humans moved into the New World  the Americas. Then, over time, the researchers saw that Gini scores kept rising in Old World Eurasia but actually hit a plateau in the Americas. The researchers think this plateau happened because there were fewer draft animals, like horse and water buffalo, in the New World, making it harder for new agricultural societies to expand and cultivate more land.

A selection of Gini scores from the 2016 Allianz Global Report are shown in red. A score of 1 is given to societies with the highest inequality.

Overall, the highest-ever historical Gini the researchers found was that of the ancient Old World (think Patrician Rome), which got a score of .59. While the degrees of inequality experienced by historical societies are quite high, the researchers note, theyre nowhere near as high as the Gini scores were seeing now.

Even given the possibility that the Ginis constructed here may somewhat underestimate true household wealth disparities, it is safe to say that the degree of wealth inequality experienced by many households today is considerably higher than has been the norm over the last ten millennia, the researchers write in their paper.

On Monday, a global report from Credit Suisse showed that modern humans are continuing the trends set by our predecessors: Now, the report showed, half of the worlds wealth really does belong to a super-rich one percent, and the gap is only growing. Historically, Kohler says in his statement, theres only so much inequality a society can sustain before it reaches a tipping point. Among the many known effects of inequality on a society are social unrest, a decrease in health, increased violence, and decreased solidarity. Unfortunately, Kohler points out, humans have never been especially good at decreasing inequality peacefully  historically, the only effective methods for doing so are plague, massive warfare, or revolution.

Photos via Flickr / garryknight, Flickr / kennethkonica

Photos via Flickr / garryknight, Flickr / kennethkonica

Written by Yasmin Tayag

More articles by Yasmin  Follow Yasmin on Twitter

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Heres a look at some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Mattel (MAT) doesnt appear to want to play with Hasbro (HAS). Both stocks are lower after Mattel reportedly rejected a takeover offer from rival Hasbro. Mattel told Hasbro the offer undervalues the company and didnt factor in the potential rejection from anti-trust regulators. Mattel will reportedly continue to negotiate.

The parent company of Victorias Secret continues to struggle. Shares of L Brands (LB) are lower following a 29% drop in its bottom line last quarter. Sales at its lingerie brand continued to fall after the company dumped its apparel and swimwear businesses earlier this year. Comparable sales also took a hit at L Brands, falling 1% year-over-year.

RH (RH) shares are soaring in early trading. The home furnishings retailer, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, raised its third-quarter and fiscal 2017 guidance. RH cited a dramatically more efficient operating platform for the boost. The company also upped expectations for all of its major metrics.

Investors are keeping a close eye on Viacom (VIAB). The cable companys fourth-quarter earnings missed the market because of a drop in U.S. ad revenue. Viacom did, however, cite growth in international markets.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and his wife, actress Louise Linton, on Wednesday turned a fairly standard duty into an uncomfortable photo-op.

Its ostensibly part of a treasury secretarys job to have their photo taken with the first $1 bills bearing their signatures. But this was a bit of an unfortunate look for Mnuchin and Linton, who have been criticized for being out of touch with the average American  and misusing taxpayers money.

Mnuchin used taxpayer money to charter private planes for seven official trips. And Linton posted a photo to Instagram  which looked like it came from a fashion magazine, references to designer brands and all  that showed the pair departing an expensive Air Force jet. She deleted the photo after commenters began bombarding it with negative remarks (and after she apologized for lashing out to at least one commenter).

Mnuchin joins a line of millionaire treasury secretaries, including Paul ONeill, Henry Paulson and Jack Lew. Some of them have had photo-ops with money bearing their signature; none of them appear to have brought their wives along.

It looks like Mnuchin and Linton can go back to their fabulous lifestyle now that the treasury secretary has been cleared of any illegal spending.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his wife, Louise Linton, pose on Wednesday holding a sheet of 50 $1 bills bearing Mnuchin's name.

Mnuchin and Linton arrive at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Jared Kushner was there for some reason.

Also on HuffPost

U.S. President Donald Trump flies via Marine One helicopter over the Tokyo suburbs to meet Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan.

President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wave to reporters after they signed hats reading 'Donald and Shinzo, Make Alliance Even Greater'.

President Donald Trump gestures to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Japanese professional golfer Hideki Matsuyama looks on, as they play golf at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, north of Tokyo, Japan.

President Donald Trump pours fish food out as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks on while they were feeding carps before their working lunch at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.

President Donald Trump puts on a U.S. Pacific Air Forces bomber jacket before delivering remarks to members of the U.S. military at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

First Lady Melania Trump shows her calligraphy with Akie Abe, wife of Japanese prime minister, while attending a calligraphy class of 4th graders at the Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo.

Melania Trump and Japan's first lady Akie Abe visit Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo.

President Donald Trump smiles during a joint press conference with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea.

White House senior staff discuss the situation as U.S. President Donald Trump sits in his car after being grounded from an attempt to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the truce village of Panmunjom dividing North Korea and South Korea, at a U.S. military post in Seoul.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania visit the Forbidden City.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with opera performers at the Forbidden City.

President Donald Trump departs Seoul in Marine One while en-route to Osan Air Base, South Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One in Beijing, China, November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive on Air Force One at Beijing, China.

U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony at the Great hall of the People in Beijing, China.

President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shakes hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport.

Melania Trump smiles with children holding U.S. and China flags as she visits Beijing Zoo.

Melania Trump visits the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) as they pose for a group photo ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit leaders gala dinner in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on November 10, 2017.

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SYDNEY (Reuters) - A British explorer reported missing while searching for a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea has been spotted next to an airstrip and is awaiting evacuation, a friend said on Thursday. Benedict Allen, a documentary film maker, left last month to seek an isolated tribe, the Yaifo, in the north of the remote and rural South Pacific country of Papua New Guinea, but took no means of communication and left no evacuation plan or destination, his friend, Frank Gardner, told Reuters. According to his blog, Allen aimed to be back in Britain by mid-November. Don't try to rescue me, please - where I'm going in PNG you won't ever find me you know, he wrote on Twitter on Oct. 11. But after he missed a flight home last weekend, friends and family raised the alarm. "Benedict Allen is not out of danger yet. He is currently marooned in a remote part of Papua New Guinea that is only reachable by air after all the road bridges were cut due to tribal fighting," Gardner, who is also the BBCs security correspondent, told Reuters. "Urgent efforts are now under way to try to airlift him out as soon as possible in case fighting erupts around him." Gardner had earlier told the BBC that a PNG tribal commission had been looking for Allen and that he had been sighted by an airstrip. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the sighting. Allen, who calls himself an "adventurer" on his website, describes being "beaten daily for six weeks" on a previous trip to PNG as part of an initiation ritual. He also describes trekking a remote section of the Amazon, "during which, dying of starvation and malaria", he was forced to eat his dog. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook in SYDNEY. Writing by Melanie Burton in MELBOURNE; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Do school lunches need to change? (Photo: Getty Images)

In late October, school staff members gave Erin Burchs daughter a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. There was one problem, though. The preschool student has a severe peanut and tree-nut allergy. But somehow the little girl took a bite. It was only then that the teacher noticed the student was suffering.

Instead of contacting paramedics immediately or administering the EpiPen, the school called Burch, who arrived 40 minutes later in a literal panic to find that her daughter had still not received an EpiPen injection.

I watched as the school nurse fumbled with the EpiPen obviously unaware of how to administer it properly, she recalled.

Burch, who lives in Dallas, says through direct conversations with her, the principal, cafeteria manager, teachers, and school nurse all knew about her daughters allergy. And while mistakes do happen, and have happened, Burch says she watched the school also accidentally gave her daughter fish sticks once while visiting for lunch  the incident could have cost her 4-year-old daughter her life.

Two weeks later, Burch saw her worst fears realized for another child and parents. A 3-year-old pre-K student with dairy allergies named Elijah Silvera died after eating a grilled cheese sandwich. The school gave it to him, despite knowing, as the family alleges, about the boys allergy. At the time of the incident, Elijahs school also called his mother, and she rushed him to the hospital. But it was too late.

After Burch heard about this incident, and nothing from the school other than it wont happen again, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Making her daughters lunches wasnt enough.

Burch created a Change.org petition called Allergy procedures in schools HAVE to change!!! which she directed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. After doing research, she learned that children from New York to Virginia to California have encountered similar issues with ignorance of food-allergy prevention while at school.

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This isnt just one school or two. This is a nationwide problem, Burch tells Yahoo Lifestyle. I wanted to raise awareness the only way I knew how. I knew the issue was big, but just how big is what I am finding out now. There are families all over the nation that are terrified to send their children to school because of reading the horror stories like mine.

The petition calls for one simple thing: Policy, or the guarantee that school administrators, or people working with children, know the right thing to do when kids eat a food they are allergic to: Epinephrine first, then 911, then contacting parents. Because as Burch states, every second counts.

While many schools do require allergy training for teachers and staff, its completely the schools or nursing institutions undertaking. There are no universal or even state-level policies or certifications that require all childcare workers to undergo allergic-reaction training.

Guides are available, for parents, schools, and school nurses  both the CDC and National School Board Association have them  but there is no mandate that anyone has to follow them.

A school doesnt have to adopt those guidelines; its just to develop their own policy, Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Texas Department State Health Services, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Those kinds of decisions are made at the legislative [level] in the state.

He mentioned there is a Texas law in the works, but its only to require schools to stock up on Epinephrine injections should students not provide their own. And in many cases, the lack of universal oversight shows. A former camp counselor who agreed to speak anonymously said that when she worked at a camp, she was told not to worry about allergy training since the camp was allergy-free.

Another teacher said on the agreement on anonymity that she received no training at all on allergies. [I was] just told no food can be in the room with whatever ingredients. If theres an emergency, call the school nurse, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Michael Pistiner, MD, the director of Food Allergy Advocacy Education and Prevention at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, says awareness is the key to making change.

The dialogue now follows the tragedy, he says. A preventable strategy with solid policies and solid education [is needed.]

He pointed out that federal implementation wouldnt be that difficult for schools, just a little harder for preschools that sometimes operate in different environments, like a persons home. But where training happens, it saves lives.

New York preschool teacher and graduate student Tracey Hickey tells Yahoo Lifestyle that her school does require a comprehensive training program, including covering symptoms of anaphylaxis, procedure for handling a situation (i.e., one person calls 911 and then the parent while another administers the EpiPen and stays with the child), and how to use the EpiPen.

They had a demo EpiPen  no needle or drugs  to practice with, so youd know how much pressure to use and how youd know if it worked, she says. We all had to demonstrate. Beyond that, we all know the symptoms of anaphylaxis and who has what allergies in our class.

But Hickey agrees it shouldnt be an option. The thing is, mistakes happen. Parents make them, and childcare providers make them, she says. But for the teachers not to call 911 in a timely manner or administer an EpiPen, thats not just ordinary human error; thats multiple levels of failure. Thats incompetence at nearly every step.

Thats where the petition comes in. In less than a week, the Change.org form has received nearly all 35,000 signatures it set out to get, and Burch isnt lowering her voice any time soon.

I never want to read an article that a child died again because the school didnt know any better, or didnt do the right thing by a child after they were introduced to something they are allergic to, especially when I know there is something I can do to prevent it, Burch writes in her petition.

Her message to the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically, is simple: How many children/adolescents have to die or suffer before we change the way things are done?

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By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Monsanto Co and U.S. farm groups sued California on Wednesday to stop the state from requiring cancer warnings on products containing the widely used weed killer glyphosate, which the company sells to farmers to apply to its genetically engineered crops.

The government of the most populous U.S. state added glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto's herbicide Roundup, to its list of cancer-causing chemicals in July and will require that products containing glyphosate carry warnings by July 2018.

California acted after the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded in 2015 that glyphosate was "probably carcinogenic".

For more than 40 years, farmers have applied glyphosate to crops, most recently as they have cultivated genetically modified corn and soybeans. Roundup and Monsanto's glyphosate-resistant seeds would be less attractive to customers if California requires warnings on products containing the chemical.

In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, Monsanto and groups representing corn, soy and wheat farmers reject that glyphosate causes cancer. They say the state's requirement for warnings would force sellers of products containing the chemical to spread false information.

"Such warnings would equate to compelled false speech, directly violate the First Amendment, and generate unwarranted public concern and confusion," Scott Partridge, Monsanto's vice president of global strategy, said in a statement.

California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which is named in the lawsuit, said it generally does not comment on pending litigation.

The controversy is an additional headache for Monsanto as it faces a crisis around a new version of an herbicide based on another chemical known as dicamba that was linked to widespread U.S. crop damage this summer. The company, which is being acquired by Bayer AG for $63.5 billion, developed the product as a replacement for glyphosate following an increase of weeds resistant to the chemical.

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Monsanto has already suffered damage to its investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in glyphosate products since California added the chemical to its list of products known to cause cancer, according to the lawsuit.

U.S. farmers apply glyphosate to fields to kill weeds before planting corn fed to livestock, spray it on genetically engineered soybeans while they are growing and sometimes on wheat before it is harvested. The crops are then shipped across the country in food products.

"Everything that we grow is probably going to have to be labeled," said Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Certain goods that meet a standard for containing low amounts of glyphosate, known as a No Significant Risk Level (NSRL), may be able to be sold without warnings under a proposal California is considering, said Sam Delson, a state spokesman.

"We do not anticipate that food products would cause exposures that exceed the proposed NSRL," he said. "However, we cannot say that with certainty at this point and businesses make the determination."

A large, long-term study on glyphosate use by U.S. agricultural workers, published last week as part of a project known as the Agricultural Health Study (AHS), found no firm link between exposure to the chemical and cancer.

Reuters reported in June that an influential scientist was aware of new AHS research data while he was chairing a panel of experts reviewing evidence on glyphosate for IARC in 2015. He did not tell the panel about it because the data had not been published, and IARC's review did not take it into account.

A 2007 study by OEHHA also concluded the chemical was unlikely to cause cancer.

Still, flour mills have started asking farmers to test wheat for glyphosate in anticipation of California's requirement, said Gordon Stoner, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, another plaintiff.

Such tests add costs for farmers and could push up food prices or unnecessarily scare consumers away from buying products that contain crops grown with glyphosate, he said.

The case is National Association of Wheat Growers et al v. Lauren Zeise, director of the OEHHA, et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, No. 17-at-01224.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Tom Brown)
Lagos (AFP) - Voters in Anambra state, southeast Nigeria, go the polls to elect a new governor this weekend, with security tight after a call from a pro-Biafran group for people to boycott the polls.

The result of Saturday's election is unlikely to change anything politically at national level but proceedings are being watched closely because of what analysts have said are "unprecedented" measures to stop unrest.

Nigeria's federal police said it is sending 26,000 extra police officers, including counter-terrorism and bomb disposal specialists, sniffer and attack dogs.

Three surveillance helicopters will monitor proceedings from the air, while there will be 10 gunboats on the river Niger, plus 15 armoured personnel carriers and 303 patrol vehicles.

Police said the measures were "to ensure adequate security and safety of lives and properties before, during and after the elections".

"Police personnel deployed for the election are under strict instructions to be polite and civil but firm in the discharge of their duties and other responsibilities," it added.

But the tactics are being seen as heavy handed.

"This is an unprecedented deployment. It's an aberration. It's like we are in a war situation. For God's sake, this is an election," security consultant Don Okereke told AFP.

"It will be counter-productive as there will be voter apathy, which will lead to low turnout of voters and the election of unpopular candidates."

- 'Civil disobedience' -

Some 37 parties are fielding candidates in Anambra to try to wrest power from governor Willie Obiano, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who is seeking a second term.

The leading contenders are Oseloka Obaze, of the main national opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Tony Nwoye of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

But Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is the most well-known name as the polls prepare to open.

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In September, long-running tensions between his supporters and the military boiled over after soldiers were sent in large numbers to the neighbouring state of Abia.

The military maintained the deployment was part of a scheduled operation against violent crime but IPOB claimed it was clearly aimed at cracking down on their activities.

Kanu, who is on bail and facing treason charges, has not been seen since September 14. His family maintain he is in military custody, which top brass deny.

IPOB has held repeated protests calling for a separate state for the Igbo people who dominate southeast Nigeria, reviving secessionist sentiment that led to a civil war 50 years ago.

Then, more than one million people died from the effects of war, starvation and disease. Resentment towards the federal government has persisted across generations.

Kanu told AFP in May that his aim was "civil disobedience until we get a referendum" on self-determination and said it was "the only way forward".

- Militarisation -

On May 30, IPOB's call for a shut-down of shops, schools and businesses to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafran independence was widely observed including in Anambra.

It said a boycott of this weekend's polls was made to prevent bloodshed.

"This is markedly different from stopping the election, which involves physically coming out to disrupt the voting process... violently," it said in a statement.

It condemned what it said was the "militarisation" of Anambra and claimed that with the reinforcements there would be "one polling station to 11 heavily armed security personnel".

"This militarisation is the more reason why Biafrans have decided unanimously to stay at home and boycott the election and avoid being shot and killed," it added.

The police meanwhile have urged voters to ignore the IPOB boycott and vote, warning the group that it would "not hesitate to use all legal means" to prevent any disruption.

Dapo Thomas, a history and politics lecturer at Lagos state university, said the government had responded appropriately because IPOB's call for a boycott was a "threat".

"The government does not want to take chances. That's why it has sent special forces, not only to protect those willing to vote but also to flex its muscles," he added.

Political analyst Chris Ngwodo said a show of force was to be expected because of President Muhammadu Buhari's military background and his government's designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

But he said the situation could become "very combustible" if there is a push-back between the parties against electoral irregularities on either side with IPOB in the mix.
The northern California gunman who authorities say killed his wife before carrying out a deadly shooting spree this week reportedly had a history of domestic violence calls to his home and had previously attacked two female neighbors.

Kevin Neal, 43, was out on bail and prohibited from possessing firearms when authorities say he armed himself with two illegally manufactured semiautomatic rifles on Tuesday and proceeded to hunt down neighbors, elementary school children and passersby in Tehama County.

By the time the assault was over, with Neal being killed by police, five people were dead  including his wife, whose body was found hidden beneath their homes floor  and 10 others injured, including children.

Kevin Neal, seen in a recent booking photo, had a history of domestic violence calls and a protective order against him by two female neighbors at the time of Tuesday's attack. (Photo: Sacramento Bee via Getty Images)

I dont know what his motive was, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston, who said his department had received domestic violence calls to Neals home, told The Sacramento Bee. I think he had a desire to kill as many people as he could, and whether or not he had a desire to die at the hands of police I dont know.

Authorities visited Neals home only a day before Tuesdays shootings on one such domestic violence call, CBS News reported, citing local authorities. No details on that call were released and the sheriffs department did not immediately return a request for comment from HuffPost.

Though little may be known about his motive, Neals history of domestic abuse falls in line with other previous mass shooters, who have been found having histories of physically harming their partners, stalking them, making death threats and having access to firearms.

A recent HuffPost investigation found that 59 percent of the mass shootings that took place between 2015 and early November 2017 were carried out by someone who killed an intimate partner or family member during the massacre or had a history of domestic violence.

Like those individuals, Neal was not a stranger to local authorities because of his violent behavior.

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Neal was fatally shot by police while carrying out the attack. One stop made by the gunman was the Rancho Tehama Elementary School in Corning, California. (Photo: Sacramento Bee via Getty Images)

One of two women fatally shot by Neal in his neighborhood on Tuesday had taken out a protective order against him in February, Johnston told CNN.

Tehama County District Attorney Gregg Cohen, in a video news release Wednesday, said that order prohibited Neal from owning or possessing a firearm. It was issued after a January incident in which Neal allegedly shot at two women, stabbed one of them and took them hostage.

He just decided to come out and he shot at us and didnt hit us, Hailey Suzanne Poland, who recalled being stabbed by Neal while walking in her neighborhood with Diana Lee Steel, told The Sacramento Bee. But he wouldnt let us go, he held us captive right in front of his house, and he proceeded to go after [Steel]. Me protecting her, he stabbed me in the process, almost went through the pancreas.

Poland said Neal was bailed out of jail within hours of his arrest for the incident.

Cohen confirmed in his video release that Neal was being prosecuted for that incident at the time of this weeks shooting, adding that everyone is entitled to bail in the U.S. unless they are arrested for a capital crime.

Neal had had multiple run-ins with the law leading to several arrests but no convictions, Cohen said. Those arrests, dating back to 1989, were for disorderly conduct, obstructing or delaying a peace officer, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, assault with a deadly weapon with serious injury, and a hit-and-run.

He was legally allowed to own and possess firearms up until the protective order was filed against him, Cohen said.

Neals sister, Sheridan Orr, told The Associated Press that her brother had a history of mental illness and may have been a drug addict. She said he shouldnt have had a gun.

This is a person who has no business with firearms whatsoever, she told the AP. If we can do any good [it would be] to make people realize there must be some gates on people like this from getting guns.

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Paris (AFP) - A powerful account of what happened to an Algerian "harki" family who sided with the French during the country's war of independence won France's most lucrative book prize Thursday.

"The Art of Losing" by 31-year-old Alice Zeniter had already won three major awards, and had been shortlisted for the prestigious Goncourt and Femina prizes for its portrait of a family caught on the wrong side of history.

Zeniter -- herself the granddaughter of a "harki" -- beat Veronique Olmi's "Bakhita" to the Students' Goncourt prize, which almost guarantees its winner a boost in sales of half a million copies in France alone.

Both Olmi's real-life story of a Sudanese slave girl who became a Catholic saint and "The Art of Losing" have been publishing sensations of the year in France.

Critics praised Zeniter's novel for the delicacy and grace with which it broaches the rarely told story of a group that is seen as the biggest losers in the bloody nine-year war, which still dogs relations between Algeria and France.

While as many as a quarter of a million Algerians worked or fought for the French during the war which ended in 1962, only 42,000 harkis were given refuge in France.

"Algeria called them rats, traitors, dogs, unclean apostates and bandits," Zeniter wrote.

"France sewed their mouths with the barbed wire of the camps in which it would rather not have welcomed them," she added, describing their miserable fate as a choice between exile and the threat of death in their homeland.

The story turns on a young Parisian artist who has to go to Algeria for work. Her father, who left the country as a child, refuses to talk about his birthplace, and all she knows of her grandfather is that as a colonial soldier he helped liberate France from the Nazis.

Zeniter, whose father was born in the Kabyle region of Algeria, and whose grandfather was considered a harki for supporting the French, said that while working on her novel, she had come upon many such "secret pockets where we put all those whose trajectories embarrass us".
Now that Australians have overwhelmingly voted to legalize same-sex marriage in a national survey, two Sydney residents who are believed to be the countrys oldest gay couple announced that they plan to marry in January.

John Challis, 89, and Arthur Cheeseman, 85, said theyll get married in a quiet and very simple way, not with any fuss.

The couple, who met in 1967 as both men were leaving an art gallery, see the results of the national vote as a big step for the LGBTQ community.

It is not just endorsing gay marriage  it is endorsing gay and lesbian people, says Cheeseman, a retired pharmacist.

The Australian Parliament is expected to pass a law legalizing same-sex marriage by the end of the year.

When asked about his fellow Australians who did not support marriage equality in the survey, Cheeseman said, They will soon find out that it is not the end of civilization.

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The OnePlus 5 isn't that old, but it's already been replaced. The company just unveiled its new flagship smartphone at a launch event in Brooklyn, and it's understandably pumped about its new, almost-all-screen design. I've been playing with the 5T for a few days already, and it's a shaping up to be a powerful, pretty machine that's sure to make existing OnePlus 5 owners feel a little envious. If that's you, well, you don't need to feel too left out: In many ways, the 5T is still the same phone from earlier this year.

Frankly, it's a little strange that the OnePlus 5T exists at all. The company set a precedent last year when it released the OnePlus 3 in June, and quickly followed up with the improved OnePlus 3T just months later. That's essentially what happened here, but company representatives were quick to point out in conversation that the original plan was to focus solely on one phone -- the OnePlus 5 -- this year. You know what they say about best-laid plans. Note that this doesn't mean OnePlus is committed to a two-phones-per-year strategy  it has never publicly committed to that. In this case, it just seemed like the company found the right big screen for the right price and said, "Eh, why not?"

And what a lovely screen it is. OnePlus went with a 6-inch, Samsung-made AMOLED panel surrounded by narrow bezels below it and on the sides. The amount of empty space around the panel is roughly the same as on the LG V30, so it's no surprise that both are easy to grip. More importantly, the screen is bright and vivid enough that it's easy to forget it runs at 1080p  for those keeping count, that works out to a 401-ppi pixel density. That's a lower pixel density than what you'd get out of, say, a Galaxy S8 Plus, but the screen's still crisp enough that you can't spot individual pixels so the trade-off hasn't left me wanting. Still, OnePlus says the decision to stay at 1080p mostly came down to power and performance considerations, though it's worth noting devices like the S8 Plus handled the jump to 2K just fine. Maybe next year.

Story continues

The screen is definitely the biggest change to the OnePlus formula, but the tweaks don't end there. Because there's no longer room for a fingerprint sensor under the screen, OnePlus moved it to the back. This won't sit well with some people, but I actually prefer this setup, even if it requires you to pick up the phone to unlock it. (It helps that the fingerprint sensor is still superfast.) To mitigate some of the potential blowback surrounding this decision, OnePlus also whipped up a handy "Face Unlock" feature.

Just to make it absolutely clear, this is a much less secure way to unlock the 5T. There's no clever technical trickery here, and no iPhone X-style infrared camera. Instead, the setup process has you staring at the screen while the phone uses its front-facing camera to spot "over 100" facial points it'll use to identify you going forward. I haven't been able to fool the feature with a picture of myself (yet), but it's at least theoretically possible. And beyond that, the lack of any additional hardware to power Face Unlock means the feature doesn't really work in the dark.

This isn't exactly an ideal solution, but it is a very fast one. Unlocking the 5T with my face was essentially instantaneous; most of the time, it felt like I was unlocking a phone with no security measures at all. Face Unlock's performance is as impressive as it is convenient, and that's exactly what the company was going for. You can't use your face to authenticate Play Store purchases or anything; situations like that still require you to use the more secure fingerprint sensor.

OnePlus also made some tweaks to its dual camera, though it's sometimes hard to tell. Once again, the 5T combines a 16-megapixel main camera and a 20-megapixel secondary camera, and that latter sensor got most of the attention. It now has an f/1.7 aperture to match the main shooter and is meant mainly to improve the phone's low-light camera performance. When things around you get dark, the phone switches into that second camera that combines multiple pixels into one, all in an attempt to make pictures look brighter than they otherwise would have. The difference is noticeable, but I wouldn't call it a game-changer.

So far, the photos I've taken with the 5T have been pretty good  I'm especially fond of some of the blurry-background portraits I've shot  but many shots are soundly outclassed by those captured with rival smartphones. Don't get me wrong, improved low-light performance is always a good thing and the 5T is occasionally capable of excellent photos. It's just that we've seen some truly incredible smartphone cameras this year. I'll need a little more time with the phone to see how well it stacks up against the competition.

Other than that, the 5T is almost identical to the phone it replaces. It's just a hair thicker, longer and wider than the 5, but these gains are so incremental they're completely unnoticeable. And yes, those eagle-eyed phone fiends were right: The 5T bears a striking resemblance to other devices, especially Oppo's R11S. OnePlus admits that it "leverages" the Oppo supply chain when it benefits the company, but insists that any similarities are purely coincidental. I'll let you be the judge of that.

Unlike last year's 3T, which boasted a faster chipset than the 3, the OnePlus 5T uses the same Snapdragon 835 chipset as its predecessor. It's available in the exact same configurations, too: 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage, or 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage. I've been working with the latter, and there's no difference in performance between the OnePlus 5 and 5T. That's mostly a good thing, because the original 5 was already super-snappy, and the reliably clean version of OxygenOS (based on Android 7.1.1) definitely helps keep everything moving remarkably smoothly. While it's sort of a bummer that a phone launching this late in the year doesn't run Android 8.0 Oreo, OnePlus says a beta build of OxygenOS running on Oreo will be available by the end of 2017. (We'll see about that.)

Also unchanged is the 5T's battery -- it's the same 3,300mAh cell that was used in the 5, and in general I've easily been getting more than a full day's use out of it before needing a recharge. That the 5T's battery life is seemingly very close to the 5 is a pleasant surprise; I thought for sure I'd see the runtime take a bigger hit thanks to that bigger screen. That said, I haven't put the phone through the full review wringer yet, so it'll be a little while before the real differences in power consumption become apparent. If nothing else, OnePlus's Dash Charging system still works well. Ten minutes of charging typically netted me an extra 15 and 20 percent of battery life, while fully charging a bone-dry 5T took about an hour.

I have a lot more testing to do before rendering a final verdict on the OnePlus 5T, but it feels like this is the device OnePlus 5 should've been in the first place. There's nothing to be done about the past, though, and the 5T feels like a worthy successor to the 5 in just about every way that matters. Basically, your holiday smartphone-shopping decision just got a little harder. That said, OnePlus still has its work cut out for it: There's some lingering distrust among some users from when the company seemingly meddled with benchmark results, not to mention recent concerns about software snooping. We'll soon see if the OnePlus 5T is enough to get smartphone fans feeling the faith again.
The Trump Administrations decision to lift a ban on importing elephant kill trophies spurred outrage on Twitter, with many users sharing an old photo of Donald Trump Jr. holding an elephant tail after a hunt.

Back in 2012, Donald and Eric went trophy hunting in Zimbabwe, killing an elephant and cheetah among other large animals, facing passionate and longlasting backlash once the photos surfaced.

So when the it was reported that President Trump reversed the Obama-era ban on hunters importing trophies of elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia during government-approved expeditions, critics moved quickly to recirculate the photo.

Elephants are listed as endangered, but an Endangered Species Act stipulation lets the government give people permits to import trophies if theres evidence that the hunting actually benefits conservation for that species.

Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation, a Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said in a statement.

Animal rights activists were not happy. Its a venal and nefarious pay-to-slay arrangement that Zimbabwe has set up with the trophy hunting industry, Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the Humane Society, told the Washington Post.

Both of Trumps sons have defended hunting. Anyone who thinks hunters are just bloodthirsty morons hasnt looked into hunting, Donald Jr. told Forbes in 2012. If you wait through long, cold hours in the November woods with a bow in your hands hoping a buck will show or if you spend days walking in the African bush trailing Cape buffalo while listening to lions roar, youre sure to learn hunting isnt about killing.

That didnt stop people from being incensed by the ban lift, many suggesting that his sons love of the hunt influenced the President.

Story continues

What good reason could Donald Trump have for reversing the Obama administration ban on import of elephant trophies from Africa? https://t.co/chjsbeA1J3 pic.twitter.com/puFh3ev6Bc  Andrew Weinstein (@Weinsteinlaw) November 16, 2017

Donald Trump has just lifted the ban on hunters bringing slain elephant 'trophies' back into the US.

It means little Donny Jr can show off his prize to his daddy. pic.twitter.com/Ap6RnNpMlL  James Melville (@JamesMelville) November 16, 2017

I refuse to stop tweeting about this until it goes viral, this story has to be heard!!! Donald Trump just reversed an Obama-era ban to import elephant remains to the USA. Yep, that's DJTJ with an elephants tail in his hand, he's an absolute sicko. pic.twitter.com/OQYWC6oqo0  Save Our Planet (@StopExOrd13792) November 16, 2017

The world has unbelievably cruel people in charge at the moment.



This is what Donald Trumps family see as fun.



Now Trump is to reverse the ban on importing elephant trophies from Africa.



The worlds last elephants.



Reprehensible.



Plse RT. pic.twitter.com/gZju2dgQsJ  Dr Lauren Gavaghan (@DancingTheMind) November 16, 2017

Infuriating. Will increase poaching, make communities more vulnerable & hurt conservation efforts: https://t.co/w3BT8tZzgw  Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) November 16, 2017

Trophies from #Elephant and #Lion hunts can now be brought into to US. Thanks for nothing @realDonaldTrump! I call on @FedEx, @DHLUS, @AmericanAir, and all other delivery and airline companies to ban transport of animal trophies. pic.twitter.com/e4MekDXVLz  Daniel Schneider (@BiologistDan) November 16, 2017

Since Republicans are cool with killing off the last of the elephants maybe they can change their animal symbol to a picture of Don Jr.  Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) November 16, 2017

Correction: The headline of the original version of this story incorrectly described the ban Trump reversed. It was a ban on hunters importing trophies of elephants legally killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia, not a ban on

poaching, which is illegal.
By Karen Lema and Martin Petty MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday heaped praise on visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for what he said was China's "critical" role in expediting the end of a five-month war with Islamist insurgents in a Philippine town. Duterte credited China with supplying what he said was the rifle that on Oct. 16 killed Islamic State's regional point man, Isnilon Hapilon, and said he would present that weapon to China as a mark of appreciation for its help in the war in Marawi City. "I am going to return to you the rifle so that the Chinese people would know, it was critical, it is a symbol of the critical help," Duterte told Li, the first Chinese premier to visit the Philippines in a decade. There are doubts, however, about if it really was a Chinese sniper rifle that killed Hapilon, and uncertainty about whether the military has used any of the 6,100 guns Beijing has donated since June. The Philippine defense minister recently said all those weapons were given to the police. Hapilon was killed by members of the 8th Scout Ranger Company. "Scout Ranger Books", a Facebook page of one of the ranger officers, gave a blow-by-blow account of the operation and said the shot that killed Hapilon came from a gun mounted on an armored vehicle. Members of the unit also told media the shot came from a fixed weapon controlled remotely. Such weapons are typically 50-calibre machine guns. "The arms you gave us, helped abbreviate, shorten the military fight there," Duterte said. On Friday, he said something similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He told him Russia had "helped us turn the tide and to shorten the war" by supplying weapons that Philippine soldiers used to kill militant snipers in Marawi. The Russian arms were actually delivered two days after military operations were declared over. The conflict was the biggest and longest battle in the Philippines since World War Two. More than 1,000 people, most of them rebel gunmen, were killed and 353,000 were displaced. Duterte told Li China's help came at "the crucial moment when we needed most and there was nobody to help us at that time". His remarks may not sit well with the United States and Australia, which from the early stages of the conflict were providing technical support to Philippine forces, including surveillance aircraft to pinpoint locations of militants. Li said China would provide 150 million yuan ($22.7 million) to help with reconstruction in Marawi. He praised Duterte for last year putting aside festering disputes with China and visiting Beijing, a trip he said was an "ice-breaker". Philippine security analyst Renato De Castro said the information Duterte gave to Li was inaccurate, but consistent with his policy of "total appeasement" of China. "I'm really surprised, I don't know whether it's flattery or an outright lie," he told news channel ANC. (Editing by Robert Birsel)
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) questioned Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the FBI intelligence report titled Black Identity Extremists Likely Motivated to Target Law Enforcement Officers during a hearing Tuesday. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Attorney General Jeff Sessions declined to say this week whether he believes the Black Lives Matter movement is a black identity extremist group, a term used in a recently disclosed FBI report that claims such organizations would use perceptions of police brutality against African-Americans to justify violent attacks on officers.

But the member of Congress who pressed the nations top law enforcement official about the controversial FBI report, which was revealed by Foreign Policy last month, told HuffPost that the bureau needs to disown the report and throw it in the trash can, saying it makes racist generalizations about police brutality protesters.

It is extremely important that we make it very public so we can stop it, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) said in an interview.

Bass questioned Sessions about the FBI intelligence report titled Black Identity Extremists Likely Motivated to Target Law Enforcement Officers during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday. The Aug. 3 report stated that it was very likely that perceptions of unjust treatment of African Americans and the perceived unchallenged illegitimate actions of law enforcement will inspire premeditated attacks against law enforcement over the next year.

Under Basss questioning, Sessions said that he knew of African-American groups that had an extraordinary commitment to their racial identity, some of which had transformed themselves... into violent activists. Sessions said he hadnt read the FBI report but would be interested in reading it. He said the FBI usually does an excellent job on the reports, which he said were typically objective and fair. Sessions said the Justice Department would not unlawfully target people.

The FBIs report never explicitly mentioned the Black Lives Matter movement. Asked if hed consider the Black Lives Matter movement a black identity extremist group, Sessions demurred: Im not able to comment on that. I have not so declared it.

Story continues

Sessions on FBI "Black Identity Extremists" report: 'I'm aware of groups committed to racial identity, transformed into violent activists.' pic.twitter.com/vdGrRhakVF  NBC BLK (@NBCBLK) November 14, 2017

Bass told HuffPost she believed Sessions was trying to be evasive in his answers and found it revealing that he couldnt specifically name any modern black organization responsible for the deaths of police officers. Shes said shes concerned that the actions of any African-American can be used to smear an entire movement.

I think its just the racism, frankly, not because theyre loosely organized or anything like that. I think that what has happened in our country a lot is that if an African-American commits a crime, then the entire group is responsible, Bass said. Black peoples general response to a crime is Was it a black person who did it? Because we know if there was a black person who did it, then everyone is responsible and accountable.

Sessions did reference a certain group that was responsible for the deaths of police officers. I believe we had within the last year or so four police officers killed by a group that some have described as extremists, Sessions said.

Sessions was apparently referencing the murder of five Dallas police officers in July 2016 by Micah Xavier Johnson, who had been banned from becoming a member of several black power groups. Asked about the attorney generals comments, a Justice Department official pointed HuffPost to stories on the shooters claims of affiliation with the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, including a story in which the co-founder of the group said the shooters actions would be celebrated one day.

The FBI declined to comment on the intelligence report in particular. But in a statement, it said it would not initiate an investigation based only on a persons race, ethnicity, national origin, religion or the exercise of their First Amendment rights.

Our focus is not on membership in particular groups but on individuals who commit violence and other criminal acts, the statement said. Furthermore, the FBI does not and will not police ideology. When an individual takes violent action based on belief or ideology and breaks the law, the FBI will enforce the rule of law.

Black members of Congress have pressed the FBI for answers on the report in recent weeks and were working to set up a meeting with FBI Director Chris Wray.

The FBI intelligence report, as published by Foreign Policy, follows:

Ryan Reilly is HuffPosts senior justice reporter, covering criminal justice, federal law enforcement and legal affairs. Have a tip? Reach him at ryan.reilly@huffpost.com or on Signal at 202-527-9261.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2017. (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Reuters)

WASHINGTON  Republicans say their tax reform bill will benefit middle-class families. But the new version of their legislation in the Senate actually lets almost all of the individual income tax cuts expire in 2025.

Meanwhile, the heart of the plan  a reduction in the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent  would still be permanent in the Senate bill.

The last-minute change, unveiled by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) Tuesday night, was made to comply with Senate rules that forbid certain legislation from adding to the federal budget deficit after 10 years. Those rules, dictated by a process known as reconciliation, would allow Republicans to pass their bill with a simple majority instead of with 60 votes.

In short, Republicans were forced to alter the bill in order to more easily pass their tax cuts. In doing so, however, they weakened the talking point that the plan would primarily benefit the middle class.

Democrats were quick to cite the change as evidence of a double standard.

Nothing highlights what this plan is truly all about more than the fact that its tax cuts for massive corporations are permanent, while the middle class gets crumbs that last only a few years, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said in a statement.

Republicans countered by arguing that individuals and corporations alike could receive a permanent tax cut if Democrats agreed to work with them outside the reconciliation process.

Theres a simple solution. If our Democratic colleagues work with us to get 60 votes, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said during a Finance Committee markup hearing on Wednesday, we could make it permanent.

In reality, though, Republicans never attempted to work in a bipartisan fashion on tax reform in the first place. They similarly eschewed trying to reach a bipartisan consensus on health care this summer. In that effort, they failed to bring 50 Republican senators on the same page to repeal Obamacare.

Story continues

So why do corporations deserve a permanent tax cut under the Senate bill, but individuals do not?

Republican senators on Wednesday said the problem stemmed from the rules theyd imposed on themselves at the beginning of the process. Others insisted that cutting corporate taxes would benefit individuals in the long run anyway.

Let me correct one thing, Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) told HuffPost. Individuals own corporations. So the best benefit that I can give the American worker is to make an American corporation competitive with the rest of the world. Thats what this is about.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) argued that permanent tax cuts would indirectly benefit consumers by lowering prices, increasing employee wages and encouraging investment.

To try to create an argument between two sides of the ledger, when in fact the only side that pays the tax is the individual, is at least insincere, if not just completely wrong, Scott told HuffPost.

Asked why middle-class families would only get temporary tax relief under this bill, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said its probably [because of] the way the rules are.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) said he hoped individuals and corporations would both receive a permanent tax cut, but he didnt have an answer as to why there would be a disparity between the two groups in the Senate bill.

The GOPs efforts to pass tax reform hit a speed bump Wednesday afternoon after Ron Johnson became the first Republican senator to publicly announce his opposition to the current Senate bill. The Wisconsin Republican said the legislation unfairly benefits corporations more than other types of businesses.

If they can pass it without me, let them, Johnson said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Im not going to vote for this tax package.

Johnson similarly opposed the effort to repeal Obamacare early on, though he ultimately voted for a bill to rescind the law.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who is being closely watched over his concern about the enormous cost of the bill, argued Wednesday that businesses deserve a permanent tax cut because they generate economic growth.

The personal side, candidly, does not, Corker told reporters.

Corker, who is not seeking re-election next year, brushed off concerns about the political implications of making tax cuts temporary for the middle class.

But I understand, he added, what the other side is going to do with that. Theyve already given me their slogan, and I understand itll be messaged in a very different way on the other side.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) spent time Wednesday talking to Republicans who have lingering concerns about the state and local tax deduction changes in the tax bill. (Photo: Win McNamee via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  House Republicans certainly look like theyre headed toward passing their tax proposal on Thursday, but last-minute concerns from some conservatives over the messaging of the tax bill is suddenly making leadership sweat.

On Wednesday night, conservatives circled up with Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on the House floor to discuss a key GOP talking point that conservatives dont buy: that the average family of four will save $1,182 on their taxes.

Conservatives including Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Raul Labrador (Idaho), Scott Perry (Pa.), Justin Amash (Mich.) and Jim Jordan (Ohio) all huddled with Scalise and an aide to discuss the flaws in that calculation, with a number of conservatives suddenly concerned they might be over-promising and under-delivering, according to a member involved in the discussion.

Leadership still seems to think those Republicans will come around. This is, after all, an argument over how much taxes are getting cut  and these conservatives have long expressed support for cutting taxes.

But the conversation has leaders double-checking their whip counts and perhaps building a new cushion for the tax bill. One advantage leadership has on this proposal is they control when they close the vote. If they really needed votes, they almost certainly could pressure some Republicans into supporting the bill, perhaps even offer some sweeteners to get the bill over the passage threshold.

This sudden uncertainty, however, is coming as a bit of a surprise. Leaders have looked in command for weeks on this tax proposal, with an informal whip count composed by HuffPost showing only about 10 hard no votes on the bill. Republicans can theoretically lose 22 of their members and still pass the bill in the House, depending on how many members vote and if every Democrat votes no, as expected.

But there are still a number of members leaning toward voting no and a number of other Republicans who still report being undecided as of Wednesday night.

Story continues

I dont even tell my wife, Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.) told HuffPost on Wednesday night, when asked where he stood on the bill. (Cook said he was leaning one way, but he wouldnt tell us in which direction.)

Chief Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) was working the floor feverishly during two vote series Wednesday, talking to a number of Republicans who hardly anyone has expected to vote no, including Jody Hice (Ga.), Andy Harris (Md.), Charlie Dent (Pa.), and Scott Perry (Pa.).

Later in the day, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) spent a good amount of time on the floor with Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) and Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), two Republicans who have lingering concerns about the state and local tax deduction even after leaders allowed filers to write off the first $10,000 of their local taxes.

And Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) spent time working some California Republicans, most notably Tom McClintock and Steve Knight.

Members and aides familiar with the leadership whip count still say they are confident, but a vote that was looking very easy earlier in the day is now being complicated by conservatives.

The problem with leaderships messaging about who would benefit from tax reform perfectly encapsulates the political difficulty of the GOPs tax reform agenda  a difficulty that flows directly from the policy itself.

The most important feature of the Republican tax reform bill is a giant reduction in corporate and individual tax rates that would lose trillions of dollars of revenue. But another goal of the proposal is to simplify the tax code. In simplifying the tax code, Republicans are actually just nearly doubling the standard deduction and eliminating a slew of deductions that might actually end up raising taxes on some families.

Certainly, if youre from a high-tax state, such as New Jersey, New York or California, the ability to deduct your state and local taxes is a huge benefit. This is why most of the hard noes on this bill are coming from New Jersey and New York.

The California Republicans seem to be counting on their individual districts not benefiting so much from the state and local tax deductions, which gives them license to vote yes.

But, as conservatives pointed out Wednesday night, once you account for the money raised by eliminating other deductions, a relatively small amount of the cost of this bill flows to the individual side. The plan raises more than $2 trillion by eliminating deductions for state and local taxes and the personal exemption, which every household uses to reduce big chunks of taxable income.

Conservatives are looking at the numbers and failing to see how leadership gets anything close to an average cut of $1,182  and theyre uncomfortable with Republicans touting that number if the cuts are actually much smaller.

Theres going to be a lot of disappointed people when they look at their tax bill, one GOP member involved in discussions told HuffPost. Theyre going to think they got screwed.

Again, these members may still end up voting for the bill. In fact, based on conversations with some of these conservatives, were putting most in an undecided category even though we think theyll end up supporting the bill. But these concerns, coupled with some holdouts, like a few members from the Pennsylvania delegation, are putting leadership closer to a floor defeat than they ever imagined.

Heres the HuffPost whip list of Republicans in the House. This list is based on conversations with members and aides but is not an official count and is fluid. Not every lawmaker on this list has confirmed how he or she will vote  this is our best guess:

No

Dan Donovan (N.Y.)

John Faso (N.Y.)

Rodney Frelinghuysen (N.J.)

Darrell Issa (Calif.)

Peter King (N.Y.)

Leonard Lance (N.J.)

Frank LoBiondo (N.J.)

Chris Smith (N.J.)

Elise Stefanik (N.Y.)

Lee Zeldin (N.Y.)

Lean No

Ken Buck (Colo.)

Barbara Comstock (Va.)

Walter Jones (N.C.)

Tom McClintock (Calif.)

Mark Sanford (S.C.)

Undecided

Justin Amash (Mich.)

Mark Amodei (Nev.)

Ryan Costello (Pa.)

Charlie Dent (Pa.)

Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.)

Jody Hice (Ga.)

Raul Labrador (Idaho)

Thomas Massie (Ky.)

Pat Meehan (Pa.)

Scott Perry (Pa.)

Lean Yes

Andy Biggs (Ariz.)

Paul Cook (Calif.)

Warren Davidson (Ohio)

Tom Emmer (Minn.)

Andy Harris (Md.)

Randy Hultgren (Ill.)

Duncan Hunter (Calif.)

Jim Jordan (Ohio)

John Katko (N.Y.)

Steve Knight (Calif.)

Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.)

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.)

Ed Royce (Calif.)

Claudia Tenney (N.Y.)

Mimi Walters (Calif.)

All Democrats in the House are expected to vote no.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Photos: The CW

Warning: This recap of the Chapter Nineteen: Death Proof episode of Riverdale contains spoilers.

Sometime after the 80th or 90th phone call from a serial shooter, you have to start sending it to voicemail. For one thing, who has the time, and for another, its not like hes all that great at murdering people. Betty Cooper is a good person and wants no further bloodshed in Riverdale, but she also needs eight straight hours of sleep and also to do her homework, and who even knows how long it takes to brush that hair. Point being, active killer or not, sooner or later you have to get your priorities straight, and following the whims of a masked weirdo should not be one of them. But maybe thats all the more reason to take Sheriff Keller the Black Hood down? To be able to finally get regular everyday life stuff done.

Chapter Nineteen: Death Proof had drag racing, blackmail, urban legends, drugs, and even litter removal! It was a good episode and we should talk about it.

We began with an extremely sleep-deprived goodgirl whod just gotten her first taste of honor killing, and it did not taste very good!

Betty had been bullied into naming the next sinner that the Black Hood would knock off, and by the next morning she was already having regrets about possibly causing the death of another human, no matter how date-rapey hed been. Fortunately, upon running over to the Five Seasons Hotel (LOL) at the crack of dawn, Betty discovered that Cheryls would-be rapist, Nick, was not only still alive, he was being arrested by Sheriff Keller! A regular, nonlethal form of justice was being served this day, but thats several hours of sleep Betty would not be getting back. Foiling shootings was getting exhausting.

Toni slept over at Jugheads after theyd mouth-attacked each other the night before. You mightve assumed from their slinky sleepwear and knowing smirks in the morning that theyd done sex, but they had not! In fact, Toni informed him that it was OK they kept it PG-13 because to be quite honest she prefers ladies. OK! Just a normal thing to say over breakfast while you still smell like each other. That settles that.

Story continues

But of course Jughead and Tonis suddenly platonic breakfast date was spotted by Archie and Betty, who immediately assumed Jughead had moved on to a new girlfriend ONE day after Betty fake-dumped him. Seemed reasonable enough to me. Maybe dont dump your boyfriend for a questionable reason?

After some local parents and the mayor rounded up all the teens and berated them for partying at the hotel on Jingle Jangle, Josies mom joined Alice in getting so mad about poor people. Next thing we knew, the mayor and Sheriff Keller were raiding Jugheads high school! Archie was able to pull Jughead to safety before he could be torn apart by police dogs, but Toni was definitely arrested. It was all very annoying to Jughead.

Yes, Jughead may have joined a gang reluctantly and that gang had beaten him in the face, neck, chest, breast, and body, but he was still proud of his south side affiliation and was now mad at Archie and his community for such ill treatment. Rich people can be such jerks sometimes.

The Black Hood had given Betty a task: If she could discover the identity of a local drug kingpin called the Sugar Man, hed stop hassling her all the time. Betty correctly guessed that if theres drugs and organized crime, its got to be Blossom-related, so she went and asked Cheryl directly. Cheryl had indeed heard of the Sugar Man, but in her mind it wasnt a real person, just a terrifying boogeyman her mother used to frighten her as a child. Charming!

She even had creepy childhood drawings to prove it! Man, this family.

I loved when Betty attempted to ask Sheriff Keller about the Sugar Man and Sheriff Keller had to pretend he didnt know why she was asking, because come on. Hes the Black Hood, right? Or is it too obvious? It FEELS very obvious and always has, but maybe thats just misdirection. What you up to, show? How tricky we gonna be about this?

Oh, also, the falling-outs with her friends that Betty had to cause last week didnt last long. First she made up with Veronica, and all she had to do was tell her shed been chatting with a serial killer on the phone, and Veronica was so thrilled by the concept she demanded to help however she could. These two were never meant to be enemies, only partners in secret schemes, so this friendship was already back on track! Phew, I just wasnt sure how long Id be able to enjoy this show if they werent pals, yknow? Too tough.

I loved that the teens were all forced to pick up litter in the local park (the bad one, the one that Kevin wont cruise in) and Hotter Reggie was boasting about his jock-bod to Josie and she wasnt mad about it.

Is this going to be a couple? I would not mind! Whatever gets Josie more screentime works for me!

I also loved that the drug dealer Veronica and Betty staked out was dressed like a gay biker hustler from the 70s. The gang situation in Riverdale is truly wild. Anyway, the gals traced the manufacture of Jingle Jangle to the lair of the Ghoulies, the gang with whom Jughead and his Southside Serpents were currently locked in a turf tussle. But just because we knew where the Jingle Jangle was coming from didnt mean we knew who the Sugar Man was yet! Betty was just going to have to keep sleuthing.

Meanwhile, Cheryls mother had decided not to press charges against this rich rapist guy, and at first Cheryl pretended she didnt care, but then she discovered it was because Mrs. Blossom was accepting hush money from the guys parents. Cheryl did not take this news well.

Cheryls point was a valid one: How could her mother protect her father, the man whod murdered her own son, yet sell Cheryl out like it was no big deal? It was a lot for Cheryl to deal with.

Cant remember what happened in this scene.

I mean look at these teens! Jughead and his co-pilot, Archie, had agreed to a drag race with the Ghoulies, the end result would change the gangs territories in town and whatnot. But everyone showed up like it was a cute day at the park, and everyone looked great. Even Jughead, whose face was looking like it had been forced through a keyhole. Still, he looked pretty good considering a dozen men had beaten him senseless the night before.

Also, Betty finally got a chance to attempt to unbreak-up with him, but he seemed pretty steamed about the whole thing. And if Im being honest, she didnt seem overly concerned with making things right? Even hours after shed made up with Veronica she was still allowing him to walk around feeling dumped and heartbroken. Yes this is TV and yes theyre great together and everything will be fine. But still. Cold!

Then there was a race. But the Ghoulies in the red P.T. Cruiser got arrested by Sheriff Keller, mostly because he had decided to arrest ALL of the Ghoulies in general. This weirdly ticked off Jughead even more because he feared theyd get revenge now. Ugh, gangs are a problem.

In a rare showing of good mothering, Mrs. Blossom burned the check that the date rape guys parents had written, and she even finally revealed to Cheryl who the Sugar Man was! And because she is a team player, Cheryl immediately passed the scoop on to Betty.

But instead of telling the Black Hood the drug kingpins identity, she informed him that shed already turned the person in to Sheriff Keller, so he wasnt gonna get murdered this day

And the Sugar Man was Jugheads handsome English teacher! The one whod forbidden him to write articles about Jingle Jangle or the gangs. But then, guess who got murdered in his jail cell THAT NIGHT? This guy, youre right, youre so smart. But who on earth has free run of the jails and can simply go murder people locked away in jail cells? I cant think of anybody. Its a mystery.

Oh and in one last bit of old business: Veronica finally told her parents that the date rape guy had attempted to assault her as well, and they changed their opinions of him ON THE SPOT. Before then they were just going to write off the allegations and continue doing business with the guys family, but after she informed them of what happened Well, guess who was then mysteriously injured in a mysterious car accident? Sometimes its nice to have very shady criminals for parents!

Chapter Nineteen: Death Proof gave everyone something fun to do. Jugheads turn into full-blown gang member has been more believable than I ever expected it could be, and I loved seeing Betty, Veronica, and even Cheryl get results when it came to detective work. Archie and Reggie looked great! All in all, another entertaining episode. Its slightly brutal we have to wait two weeks for the next one, but this season has been pretty gang-busters so far. Literally in the case of the Ghoulies! Farewell for now, my darling Ghoulies. Anyway, yeah I liked this one.

Riverdale airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
In an attempt to discredit one of the Senate nominees accusers, Roy Moores lawyer Phillip Jauregui is demanding that attorney Gloria Allred release a high school yearbook her client said Moore had signed before he sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager and he was in his 30s.

In a news conference Wednesday, Jauregui called on Allred to hand over Beverly Young Nelsons yearbook to a neutral custodian so that the Alabama Republicans legal team can have a handwriting expert analyze the signature.

Jauregui also called on reporters to analyze the handwriting themselves.

I want you to look at it, he said. Use your judgment.

Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for Senate in Alabama, speaks during a campaign event on Tuesday. (Photo: Jonathan Bachman via Getty Images)

He also disputed Nelsons claim that she had not had contact with Moore since the 1977 incident, saying that Moore presided over Nelsons 1999 divorce. He then implied that Nelson had forged Moores signature in her old yearbook using her divorce papers, claiming that Moore had no recollection of signing D.A. after his name but had an assistant with those initials at the time of Nelsons divorce who would have stamped it on court filings.

Ive been with him in probably over 100 different meetings and been around probably an excess of 10,000 different ladies, the attorney said. Not one time have I ever seen him act even remotely inappropriate against any woman.

Moores press office later echoed that sentiment by releasing a statement featuring 12 female character witnesses vouching for the candidate:

Now this: Moore Campaign releases statement saying "Twelve Women Come Forward to Affirm Roy Moore's Character" pic.twitter.com/XYQP6NyUWO  Jack Royer (@JackRoyer) November 15, 2017

Jauregui, however, did not specifically challenge Nelsons allegations. She came forward on Monday to say that Moore had sexually assaulted her when she was 16. Four other women, in accounts detailed by The Washington Post, have also accused Moore of preying on them when they were teenagers. A sixth woman came forward Wednesday, claiming Moore groped her in his office when she was 28.

Story continues

Allred responded to the news conference later on Wednesday, saying she will agree to have the yearbook examined by an independent handwriting expert if the Senate agrees to investigate the claims against Moore.

Moore, who is running for Alabamas open Senate seat in a Dec. 12 special election, has denied any wrongdoing and has refused to drop out of the race, despite calls from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other Senate Republicans to do so. Moores campaign has lost funding support from the Republican National Committee as well as the National Republican Senatorial Committee since the accusations emerged.

Republicans are still weighing whether to stage a write-in campaign for a different candidate, McConnell said earlier this week.

This article has been updated with details on the accusations against Moore and the status of his campaign, as well as with comment from Allred and a statement from Moores press shop.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Roy Moore greets supporters at an election-night rally on September 26 in Montgomery, Alabama: Getty Images

Roy Moore - the Republican candidate currently facing allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct from five women - was allegedly banned from his hometown mall for badgering teenage girls.

The New Yorker reported that the Alabama Republican running for Senate was banned from the Gadsen shopping mall sometime during the early 1980s.

The magazine spoke with five members of the local legal community, two cops who worked in the town, several people who hung out at the mall in the early eighties, and a number of former mall employees who all said they heard about Mr Moores banishment.

One local independent journalist, Glynn Wilson, wrote on his website that his sources told him the Senate candidate was also banned from the local YMCA for soliciting sex from young girls.

Both the New Yorker and Mr Wilson's sources all asked to keep their names unpublished.

Mr Moores campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

One of the people the New Yorker spoke with was a local police officer.

The officer is reported to have said that general knowledge at the time when I moved here was that this guy is a lawyer cruising the mall for high-school dates.

He may not have had an official ban from the shopping centre and frequent hangout for teenagers in the area but he was run off from a number of stores, according to the officer.

Blake Usry, a teenager in Gadsen at the time, told AL.com that Mr Moore was a known entity among his friends.

The then-District Attorney would "flirt with all the young girls," and hang out at the mall on weekends "like the kids did, according to Mr Usry.

Then there is the account of Teresa Jones, a deputy district attorney for Etowah County in the early eighties.

She told CNN last week that it was common knowledge that [Mr Moore] dated high-school girls.

The conservative Christian values candidate denied all accusations and any wrongdoing repeatedly since the original report late last week.

Story continues

He also said on Sean Hannitys Fox News programme that he never dated any women without their mothers permission.

Several prominent state Republicans have come forward defending the grandfather of five and called into question the timing and motivation of the five women.

In its original report the Washington Post spoke to 30 sources, four of whom agreed to go on the record, about Mr Moores alleged child sex abuse.

The legal age of consent is 16 in the state of Alabama, so one particular accuser - Leigh Corfman - has caught the attention of the public.

Ms Corfman told the Washington Post that when she was just 14, a 32-year-old Mr Moore made advances towards her on multiple occasions.

The pair met when Ms Corfman was waiting with her mother outside of a child custody hearing at which her parents were appearing. Mr Moore was working as a district attorney at the time.

The paper wrote: While reporting a story in Alabama about supporters of Moores Senate campaign, a Post reporter heard that Moore allegedly had sought relationships with teenage girls. Over the ensuing three weeks, two Post reporters contacted and interviewed the four women. All were initially reluctant to speak publicly but chose to do so after multiple interviews, saying they thought it was important for people to know about their interactions with Moore. The women say they dont know one another.

The latest accuser is Beverly Young Nelson who, sitting next to famed attorney Gloria Allred, told a crowded newsroom that Mr Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old and living in Etowah County, Alabama.

Mr Moore was in his 30s at the time and Ms Nelson produced a high school yearbook which Mr Moore had written in, using the signoff Love, Roy Moore, D.A.

The candidate has since called Ms Allred a sensationalist leading a witch hunt, and she is only around to create a spectacle.

At least three polls conducted since the original report was released show Mr Moore and Democratic candidate Doug Jones roughly tied, one poll has Mr Jones ahead by four points.

But on-the-ground reporting around Alabama showed Mr Moore still has strong support among evangelicals who are staunchly anti-Democrat.
Roy Moore, seen here in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, on November 11, 2017, is facing a sixth accusation of sexual misconduct: Reuters

A sixth woman has accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct, saying the former Alabama judge grabbed her buttocks in a 1991 encounter.

He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it, Tina Johnson told AL.com.

Ms Johnson told the publication that she and her mother had visited the office of Mr Moore, who was then an attorney in Gadsen, Alabama, to handle a child custody matter. She alleged that Mr Moore flirted with her, commenting on her physical appearance, and then groped her once her mother left the room.

The womans sister corroborated the account to AL.com.

Multiple accusations of inappropriate sexual behaviour have threatened to derail Mr Moores Senate campaign, which had previously appeared to be coasting toward a comfortable victory in reliably Republican Alabama.

The race was rocked by a Washington Post report citing a woman who said Mr Moore initiated a sexual encounter when she was 14 and he was 32. Three other women cited in the piece said Mr Moore had pursued relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was in their 30s. Days later a fifth woman, Beverly Nelson, claimed that Mr Moore had groped her when she was 16.

Mr Moore and his campaign have consistently denied any wrongdoing and rejected allegations against him as politically motivated attempts to undermine his campaign. On the same day that AL.com published a piece detailing Ms Johnsons allegations, a Moore campaign representative demanded that Ms Nelson allow a handwriting expert to examine a yearbook she said Mr Moore signed as evidence the two had met.

I have never engaged in sexual misconduct, Mr Moore said in a statement last week.

Republicans in Washington have abandoned Mr Moore en masse, with many Senators calling on him to leave the race. The Republican National Committee has cut off support for the embattled candidate.
This Roy Moore scandal exposes the utter hypocrisy of Republicans much-flaunted but little-practiced set of Christian values

Roy Moore is a man of God. We know this because the Alabama Republican Senate nominee has repeatedly stood up for good Christian family values throughout his career, often at great personal cost. In 2016, for example Moore was suspended from his position as Alabama chief justice after bravely ordering judges to ignore the supreme courts ruling on same-sex marriages and, instead, continue to deny gay people their rights.

What Moore is probably most famous for, however, is refusing to take down a plaque of the Ten Commandments he hung behind his desk when he was the Etowah County circuit court judge back in the 1990s. His defiance in the face of the separation of church and state earned him the nickname the Ten Commandments Judge.

Well, that is what Moore used to be most famous for anyway. Now hes becoming more famous for pursuing  and in two cases, allegedly assaulting  teenage girls when he was in his early 30s. On Monday Beverly Young Nelson became the second woman to accuse Moore of assaulting her when she was a minor, and the fifth to speak out against him. Moore has denied the allegations.

Speaking at a news conference in New York Nelson alleged that when she was 16 Moore tried to force himself on her and then threatened her, stating: You are a child. I am the district attorney of Etowah County. If you tell anyone about this, no one will believe you. Looks like Moore had the system pretty well worked out, eh?

Nelsons allegations follow a Washington Post story last week which reported that Moore had inappropriate contact with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32 and dated three other girls aged 16 and 18 when he was in his 30s. An article in the New Yorker on Monday also reported longstanding rumours that Moore was banned from a shopping mall in Alabama in the early 1980s for badgering teenage girls.

Story continues

I dont know what you have to do, exactly, to get banned from a shopping mall in Alabama, but Id wager its pretty bad.

If Moore did even a fraction of the things he is accused of, then one might wonder how he has the gall to call himself a Christian. But, to be fair to him, nowhere in the Ten Commandments does it say thou shalt not assault thy neighbors teenage daughter.

Also, as the Alabama state auditor, Jim Zeigler, pointed out recently, there is biblical precedent for this kind of behavior. Zeigler came to Moores defense by saying, in so many words, that Joseph, the father of Jesus, was also a bit of pervert. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter, he told the Washington Examiner. They became parents of Jesus.

Moore has also helpfully put his behavior into context. After issuing the standard this is a witch-hunt! defence, he told conservative talkshow host Sean Hannity that he didnt generally date teenagers when he was in his 30s. Like, not all the time, you know? You have to give him credit for that! He also said that he could not remember ever dating any girl without the permission of her mother.

I dont know about you, but Ive always thought that if you had to get the permission of someones mother to date them, then thats probably a pretty good sign that you shouldnt. But, hey, what do I know about family values!

In fact, what do any of us really know about family values? It is well established that, in America, it is the Republican party who safeguard the sanctity of family values. Not only does the Republican party parrot this line all the time, but theyve done an incredible job of ensuring we all help propagate the fiction that they are the party of values.

Just look at how many liberals automatically use the term pro-life, for example, instead of pro-removing-a-womans-control-over-her-own-body; a phrase which is certainly not as elegant but is a lot more accurate. Further, Trumps ability to lie shamelessly over and over again, in the knowledge that when a lie is repeated enough it takes on the air of truth, has long been the modus operandi of the Grand Old Party.

This Roy Moore scandal, then, has been more than a little embarrassing for the Republicans  exposing as it does the utter hypocrisy of their much-flaunted but little-practiced set of Christian values.

While some conservative politicians and outlets are still standing by their man (Breitbart, predictably, is still decrying the allegations as Fake News designed to detract from more important issues like, you know, Hillary Clintons emails), many Republicans are carefully distancing themselves from Moore.

On Monday, Cory Gardner, for example, the chair of the National Republican Senate Committee, said that Moore should withdraw from the race. And if he refuses to withdraw and wins he should be expelled from the Senate because he doesnt meet its ethical and moral requirements.

The way things are going it looks like Moore is probably going to have to slink away from his Senate ambitions in disgrace fairly soon. But, please, lets make sure the Republicans dont get away with just distancing themselves from Moore and moving on.

This horrible saga isnt just the story of one bad man, its the story of a party that is rotten at its core. A party that has cynically co-opted religion and the language of morality to further immoral ends. Its about time that conservatives with any real values put a stop to this.


Republican Roy Moore says hes going to remain in the Alabama Senate race amid accusations of sexual misconduct against him. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called for Moore to step aside if the allegations are true. During a press conference Thursday, Moore said that McConnell is the one who should step down. Soon after, the White House said that President Trump believes the Senate race should be left up to the voters of Alabama.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia cast its 10th veto on Thursday of United Nations Security Council action on Syria since the war began in 2011, blocking a U.S.-drafted resolution to renew an international inquiry into who is to blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria. The mandate for the joint inquiry by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which found the Syrian government used the banned nerve agent sarin in an April 4 attack, expires at midnight Thursday. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. Russia withdrew its rival draft resolution to renew the inquiry shortly before the council vote on the U.S. draft. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by James Dalgleish)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Russia and the United States were on a collision course ahead of a UN Security Council vote Thursday on the fate of a UN-led probe to determine who is behind chemical attacks in Syria's six-year war.

The United States and Russia, Syria's ally, have put forward rival draft resolutions on renewing for a year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), tasked with investigating Syria's toxic gas attacks.

After negotiations failed to bridge differences, the rivals each called for a council vote on their draft resolutions on Thursday, hours before the JIM's mandate expires at midnight.

Diplomats said they expected Russia to veto the US-drafted measure, which would be the 10th time Moscow has used its veto power at the council to block action targeting its Syrian ally.

The Russian text is unlikely to garner the nine votes required for adoption, diplomats said.

"The United States hopes the Security Council will stand united in the face of chemical weapons use against civilians and extend the work of this critical group," said the US mission in a statement.

"Not doing so would only give consent to such atrocities while tragically failing the Syrian people who have suffered from these despicable acts."

Russia has sharply criticized the JIM after its latest report blamed the Syrian air force for a sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead.

The attack on April 4 triggered global outrage as images of dying children were shown worldwide, prompting the United States to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base a few days later.

Washington and its allies have blamed President Bashar al-Assad's government for the Khan Sheikhun attack, but Syria has denied using chemical weapons, with strong backing from Russia.

- Victory for those who use chemical weapons -

In its draft, Russia insisted that the panel's findings on Khan Sheikhun be put aside to allow for another "full-scale and high-quality investigation" by the JIM, which would be extended for a year.

Story continues

During a council vote in late October, Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution on a one-year extension, arguing that it did not want to decide on the fate of the panel before the Khan Sheikhun report.

The United States, Britain and France have insisted that the JIM should be allowed to continue its work and that dozens of other cases of chemical weapons use in Syria must be investigated.

Britain said ending the investigation would mean that perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria will go unpunished.

"The only victors would be people who want to use chemical weapons in Syria, which is the Assad regime plus Daesh, and I think everyone in the Security Council would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we allowed that to happen," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.

Daesh is an Arabic-derived acronym that refers to the Islamic State group.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said this week that scrapping the chemical weapons probe in Syria "may send a bad signal, but the way the investigation has been conducted sends an even worse signal."

The joint UN-Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel was set up by Russia and the United States in 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the council, which renewed its mandate last year.

A resolution requires nine votes to be adopted at the council, but five countries -- Russia, Britain, China, France and the United States -- can block adoption with their veto power.
This sausage roll is bringing joy to the world  and a few complaints, too.

Greggs, a British bakery chain with more than 1,800 locations, released an Advent calendar with coupons and cheeky holiday images. One shows the Three Wise Men gathered around a manger with a meaty treat in place of the baby Jesus.

That led to some grumbles, and even calls for a boycott.

Please boycott @GreggsOfficial to protest against its sick anti-Christian Advent Calendar. What cowards these people are: we all know that they would never dare insult other religions! They should donate every penny of their profits to @salvationarmyuk https://t.co/tAV7CRP7WM  Simon Richards (@simplysimontfa) November 15, 2017

Offended, yes. As a christian, they've depicted my Lord and Saviour as a sausage roll. Makes me sad in fact that today we openly mock people's faith.  Matthew Childs (@mattchilds90) November 16, 2017

I think it's disgusting to mock Christianity this way. @GreggsOfficial #EpicFail  Lauren Booth (@LaurenBoothUK) November 16, 2017

The U.K. Evangelical Alliance told BBC Money that it wasnt too outraged by the image, but was concerned about the holiday being used for marketing.

Every year some company creates a Christmas controversy for commercial gain. It seems to get earlier each year, spokesman Daniel Webster told the network. Thats the scandal that should be talked about this Christmas, not processed outrage to sell processed food.

Story continues

Greggs apologized.

Were really sorry to have caused any offense, this was never our intention, the company said, according to Sky News.

However, not everyone was offended. Many on social media  even some self-described Christians  saw a little holiday humor in the image of a sausage roll being adulated:

#Headlinechallenge: Greggs says sorry after advent calendar replaces baby Jesus with a sausage roll. Altogether now...OH CRUMB ALL YE FAITHFUL https://t.co/xfaMUZ6C9W pic.twitter.com/CBtIqHkA9Q  Peter Barron (@PeteBarronMedia) November 14, 2017

How flimsy is your religious belief if it's rocked by a sausage roll? #Greggs  Hugh Jazz (@ThurstanStHouse) November 15, 2017

Idea: Britain unites behind Jesus sausage roll religion to avoid Brexit. May need work.  Victoria Smith (@glosswitch) November 15, 2017

The only religion I believe in #Greggs pic.twitter.com/dKvC7qnSob  Jamie Thompson (@jamiemthompson_) November 15, 2017

Greggs can do no wrong as far as my charity is concerned, they give us so much food for our soup kitchens to feed the homeless and a Xmas donation. Im a Christian and had a chuckle at the sausage roll. Peace and love.  Barry Edwards (@somersetbaz) November 16, 2017

I dont even like Greggs and Im going to one tomorrow because of this https://t.co/FD3BokpvuN  Tim Turner (@tim2040) November 15, 2017

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Community members watch as the 75-foot Norway spruce is loaded onto a truck to be taken to Rockefeller Center in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 9.

The Norway spruce from Pikeview Road is carefully lifted by a crane after being cut.

With a banner and a strand of holiday lights, the 75-foot Norway spruce heads off to Rockefeller Center on Nov. 9.

The Rockefeller Center tree arrives in Manhattan on a truck.

Workers place the Rockefeller Center tree on its base.

The tree will remain on display on the plaza until Jan. 7.

The tree will be lit for the first time on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

The Rockefeller Center tree is seen just before it is set upright.

A worker drives a spike into the bottom of the Rockefeller Center tree during the installation.

The 75-foot Norway Spruce from State College, Pennsylvania, will become the 86th Christmas tree to grace the plaza.

A crane hoists the Rockefeller Center tree upright on Saturday in New York City.

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Researchers used the same deep-diving technology as BBC Blue Planet II filmmakers to find evidence of plastic in deep ocean organisms - Newcastle University

Sea creatures living in the deepest part of the ocean have been found with man-made fibres in their stomachs for the first time, showing that no part of the worlds seas are now untouched by human rubbish.

Scientists from Newcastle University discovered that every single crustacean surveyed at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, a six mile deep schism in the Pacific Ocean, had debris in its body.

The team used the same deep-diving technology which was recently used to film the remarkable footage of the trench for the BBCs new natural history series Blue Planet II.

Fragments found in the stomachs and muscles of sea creatures included synthetic fibres including Rayon, Lyocell and Ramie as well as textiles such as Nylon, polyethylene and polyvinyl.

The same lander which sampled the crustaceans were used to film remarkable footage for Blue Planet II Credit: BBC

Dr Alan Jamieson, who led the research, said: The results were both immediate and startling.

This study has shown that manmade microfibres are culminating and accumulating in an ecosystem inhabited by species we poorly understand, cannot observe experimentally and have failed to obtain baseline data for prior to contamination.

There were instances where the fibres could actually be seen in the stomach contents as they were being removed.

It is highly likely there are no marine ecosystems left that are not impacted by anthropogenic debris.

Mariana trench - locator map

The team tested crustaceans found in the ultra-deep trenches that span the entire Pacific Ocean - the Mariana, Japan, Izu-Bonin, Peru-Chile, New Hebrides and Kermadec trenches.

The sampled depths range from four to more than six miles including the deepest point, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, at 6.7 miles (10,890m) using free-falling deep-sea landers.

After examining 90 individual they and found ingestion of plastic and fibres ranged from 50 per cent in the New Hebrides Trench to 100 per cent at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

A man-made fibre which was found in the stomach of an amphipod in the Mariana Trench Credit: BBC

Deep-sea organisms are dependent on food raining down from the surface and because food is scarce they are not picky about what they eat. And once the plastics are on the sea-bed there is nowhere for them to go, so they continue to accumulate.

Story continues

Sir David Attenborough, who narrates BBC Blue Planet II, said plastic in the ocean was now a major threat to the worlds oceans.

Everybody should be concerned about it, he told The Telegraph.

Its a terrible paradox that when it was invented in the 1920s or earlier scientists went to huge trouble to make sure it was indestructible. And now we are dumping hundreds of tons into the oceans every day.

It doesnt mean it doesnt fragment and that is one of the problems, it fragments into tiny little sphere which absorb poisons selectively, so these highly poisonous globules are then eaten by fish.

Mariana trench - depth

An estimated 300 million tonnes of plastic now litters the oceans, with more than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons currently floating on the surface.

Although the majority of marine litter can be observed floating on the surface, the degradation and fragmentation of plastics will ultimately result in sinking to the underlying deep-sea habitats, where opportunities for dispersal become ever more limited.

It is estimated that without a major intervention the weight of plastic in the ocean will be greater than the weight of fish by 2050.

Amphipods taken from Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench Credit: Newcastle University

Craig Bennett Friends of the Earth chief executive officer said: This is further shocking evidence that toxic plastic is accumulating in even our most precious and remote environments.

Urgent measures are needed to defuse this plastic pollution time bomb.

Governments around the world must come up with a plan to rapidly phase-out fossil fuel-based plastics for good.

There should be no place for plastics that arent biodegradable and made from natural materials.
Radio anchor Leeann Tweeden says Sen. Al Franken kissed and groped her without her consent more than a decade ago.

Tweeden  a morning anchor on McIntyre in the Morning, a show on TalkRadio 790 KABC in Los Angeles  recounted Thursday an incident she says happened during a 2006 USO show for military members overseas. Franken, who was a comedian at the time and is now a U.S. Senator for Minnesota, was headlining the show. Tweeden, then a model and media personality, was slated to emcee the event.

Franken apologized shortly after Tweedens essay was published, but said he didnt recall the 2006 incident the same way she did. The first thing I want to do is apologize: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women, he wrote in a statement.

Tweeden wrote in a post published Thursday on KABCs website that Franken included in the script a kiss between the duo. I suspected what he was after, but I figured I could turn my head at the last minute, or put my hand over his mouth, to get more laughs from the crowd, she said.

Franken insisted on rehearsing the bit before the show, Tweeden said. When she refused Franken put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth, she alleged. Tweeden said she felt disgusted and violated but continued with the performance, not wanting to cause trouble.

While I dont remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe womens experiences, Franken wrote later in his statement.

Later, she wrote, Franken grabbed her breasts, without her consent, while she slept during the flight home from Afghanistan to Los Angeles  an act Tweeden says she only discovered while looking through photos from the trip. She included a photo of the incident in her post.

Story continues

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called on the Ethics Committee to investigate Tweedens claims, adding that harassment and assault are completely unacceptable.

As with all credible allegations of sexual harassment or assault, I believe the Ethics Committee should review the matter. I hope the Democratic Leader will join me on this. Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptablein the workplace or anywhere else, McConnell said in a statement.

Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also called for investigation, writing on Twitter that, Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated. I hope and expect that the Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as they should with any credible allegation of sexual harassment.

Franken, in his statement, said he is asking for and will fully cooperate with an ethics investigation.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, who was set to fundraise with Franken this weekend, released a statement saying the event will go on as planned, but without Franken. Sexual harassment is never acceptable, he said in the statement. The Senate Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as I believe they should.

Spokespeople for several senators, including Missouris Claire McCaskill, North Dakotas Heidi Heitkamp and Ohios Sherrod Brown, have also reportedly said they will donate funds from Frankens leadership PAC to charities in their home states.

Tweeden wrote that her confession was inspired by the wave of women sharing their experiences with sexual assault in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, and that she hopes sharing her story will make other women feel comfortable enough to do the same. Weinstein has denied any allegations of non-consensual sex.

While debating whether or not to go public, I even thought to myself, So much worse has happened to so many others, maybe my story isnt worth telling? But my story is worth telling, she wrote. Not just because 2017 is not 2006, or because I am much more secure in my career now than I was then, and not because Im still angry. Im telling my story because there may be others.
Democratic senators were unequivocal on Thursday in their calls for an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), in stark contrast to how their Republican peers have responded to allegations against GOP Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore.

About two dozen Democratic senators have come forward with statements denouncing Frankens alleged behavior during a USO tour in December 2006. Anchorwoman and sportscaster Leeann Tweeden said Thursday that Franken groped and kissed her without her consent.

Most of the senators called for an ethics investigation, and many acknowledged that workplace sexual harassment has long been ignored. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have vowed to take campaign money they received from Frankens political action committee and donate it to charity.

Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and it should not occur anywhere, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said. This story is extremely troubling and the behavior is unacceptable. I will support an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said she was glad Franken immediately apologized, but added that this kind of behavior isnt OK whether its a Republican or a Democrat and I support an Ethics Committee investigation.

Their swift, straightforward responses are a far cry from the statements that Republican senators trickled out after four women accused Moore of sexually harassing them when they were between the ages of 14 and 18. Many of the senators hedged their calls for Moore to suspend his campaign by using some version of the phrase if these allegations are true.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was one of the few senators to unequivocally say Moore was unfit for office.

Below are more statements from Democratic senators regarding the Franken allegations.

From Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.):

These types of actions are simply unacceptable and should be reviewed by the Ethics Committee. Women across America should be able to feel safe in their workplace, and they deserve our support when coming forward with allegations of misconduct.

Story continues

From Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.):

Treating all women with dignity is of paramount importance. These actions are disturbing. I support an ethics committee investigation into this matter.

From a spokesman for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.):

Michael believes that sexual harassment is completely unacceptable. He agrees that the Ethics Committee should thoroughly investigate this allegation.

From Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.):

Senator Franken says he welcomes an ethics investigation and I agree that should happen.

From Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), an independent who caucuses with Democrats:

Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable. I agree with the calls for an Ethics Committee investigation into this deeply troubling incident.

Many others shared their comments on social media:

Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated.



I hope and expect that the Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as they should with any credible allegation of sexual harassment.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 16, 2017

The allegations against Sen. Franken are deeply concerning. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and should not be tolerated anywhere in our society. There is nothing funny about it and there is no excuse for it. The Ethics Committee deserves answers from him.  Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) November 16, 2017

Re Al Franken: Im shocked and concerned. The behavior described is completely unacceptable. Comedy is no excuse for inappropriate conduct, and I believe there should be an ethics investigation.  Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) November 16, 2017

Such behavior is unacceptable. Period. https://t.co/p4RBy4x7rn  Tim Kaine (@timkaine) November 16, 2017

Allegations of sexual assault or harassment by any member of Congress, like those against Senator Franken, must be taken seriously and investigated fully by the Ethics Committee.  Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) November 16, 2017

I am deeply troubled by the allegations against Senator Franken and I believe there should be an ethics Investigation into the matter. Sexual harassment is not a joke and must always be taken seriously.  Martin Heinrich (@MartinHeinrich) November 16, 2017

Statement on Senator Franken: pic.twitter.com/VC8iic8Edc  Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) November 16, 2017

I support an ethics committee investigation into these accusations and I hope this latest example of the deep problems on this front spurs continued action to address it. https://t.co/i0ooPDuG4E  Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) November 16, 2017

The allegations against Senator Franken are serious and unacceptable. There should be an ethics investigation.  Sen. Debbie Stabenow (@SenStabenow) November 16, 2017

The conduct described here is completely unacceptable and must be taken extremely seriously. Actions like that weren't funny then and they aren't funny now. I fully support an ethics committee investigation. https://t.co/zAoQeblrHj  Sen. Maggie Hassan (@SenatorHassan) November 16, 2017

The allegations against Sen. Franken are serious. Harassment in any setting is clearly unacceptable. The Ethics Committee should investigate this matter.  Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) November 16, 2017

There is never an excuse for this behaviorever. What Senator Franken did was wrong, and it should be referred to the Ethics Committee for review.  Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) November 16, 2017

"I know he said it was inappropriate, and I agree," Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, told CNN, adding that he's been busy & didn't know much else  Ashley Killough (@KilloughCNN) November 16, 2017

This is deeply disappointing and this type of behavior is unacceptable. I support the Ethics Committee process and investigation into this inappropriate conduct. I expect to hear more from Sen. Franken. https://t.co/stSf3pdY0a  Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) November 16, 2017

Heres my statement on Senator Franken pic.twitter.com/hrSxlCqsFq  Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (@SenatorHeitkamp) November 16, 2017

Sexual harassment is intolerable, unacceptable and without excuse. We need the Ethics Committee to investigate this incident about Senator Al Franken fully.  Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) November 16, 2017

What Al Franken did was inappropriate and unacceptable. He must be held accountable, as should anyone who treats women this way. In light of his actions, I will be donating the $25k from Franken to support the important work of @MT_CADSV.  Jon Tester (@jontester) November 16, 2017

Read Joes statement on Sen. Franken from earlier today: pic.twitter.com/vTaHsg7fGA  Senator Joe Donnelly (@SenDonnelly) November 16, 2017

My statement on Senator Franken: pic.twitter.com/Jjfba2BLx0  Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) November 16, 2017

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) also called for people to take Tweedens accusations seriously.

Im deeply disturbed by what I read today, he said. It took extraordinary bravery for Leeann Tweeden to come forward. Al Franken has been a good friend of mine for years, but we as a progressive community must take her words seriously, and fully commit ourselves to creating a world free from sexual harassment and assault.

The Democratic National Committee issued a statement calling the allegations extremely disturbing.

Sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault are never acceptable, no matter ones party or politics, DNC press secretary Michael Tyler said. The Senate should immediately begin an ethics investigation into Senator Frankens conduct.

This article has been updated with additional responses from Democratic senators and the DNC.

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SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore has suspended trade relations with North Korea, the latest of Pyongyang's major trade partners to cut commercial ties under toughening U.N. sanctions over its weapons program, a customs notice obtained on Thursday showed. The move comes about two months after the United States imposed North Korea-related sanctions on a number of firms and individuals, including two entities based in Singapore. "Singapore will prohibit all commercially traded goods from, or to, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," the city-state's customs said in the notice sent to traders and declaring agents last Tuesday, referring to the country by its official name. The suspension would take effect from Nov. 8, Fauziah A. Sani, head of trade strategy and security for the director-general of customs, said in the notice. Repeated breach of the new prohibitions is punishable by a fine of up to S$200,000 ($147,340.50) or four times the value of the goods traded, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, it added. Singapore is North Korea's seventh largest trading partner. The Philippines, Pyongyang's fifth biggest trading partner, suspended trade with North Korea in September to comply with a U.N. resolution. Tension on the Korean peninsula has escalated as North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong Un, has stepped up the development of weapons in defiance of U.N. sanctions. North Korea has tested a series of missiles this year, including one that flew over Japan, and conducted its sixth and biggest nuclear test in September. Pyongyang maintains a diplomatic presence in Singapore, with an embassy in its financial district. In September, Singapore issued a travel advisory urging citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to North Korea, where it does not have diplomatic representation. In an interview with National Public Radio in May, Singapore's minister of foreign affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, had said the country was not ready to cut all diplomatic ties with North Korea. In January last year, Singapore-based Chinpo Shipping Company (Private) Ltd was fined S$180,000 for facilitating a shipment of arms to North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions. (http://reut.rs/2ARbm14) (Reporting by Fathin Ungku; Editing by John Geddie and Clarence Fernandez)
UPDATE: Nov. 15, 2017, 8:59 a.m. EST SpaceX is pushing back the launch of the secret Zuma mission to Thursday. According to the company, "Both Falcon 9 and the payload remain healthy; teams will use the extra day to conduct some additional mission assurance work in advance of launch. The launch time and window remain the same for Thursday." This story has been updated to reflect the new information.

On Thursday, SpaceX will launch a secret mission to space.

The Elon Musk-founded spaceflight company is expected to launch a secret government payload known only as Zuma atop a Falcon 9 rocket between 8 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET on Thursday.

SEE ALSO: SpaceX rocket comes in for a fiery but successful landing after launching satellite

Once the secret mission is safely on its way to orbit, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will come back down to Earth, landing on a pad back in Cape Canaveral, Florida about 10 minutes later.

You can watch the launch live via SpaceX, and in the window below.

If the Zuma launch goes well, it will mark SpaceX's 17th launch of 2017. If the landing goes off without a hitch, it will be the company's 20th overall successful landing. This includes landings on drone ships at sea as well as on land.

Very little is known about the Zuma mission, as no government or commercial entity has claimed it.

Usually, even the National Reconnaissance Office  the branch of the government responsible for maintaining spy satellites  will say when a payload is theirs while keeping the mission details classified. But for some reason, whatever agency is behind Zuma isn't coming forward.

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fvideo uploaders%2fdistribution thumb%2fimage%2f3312%2f98c0c20d 3254 4c14 b941 51aa467dc2d5

All we know is that the aerospace and defense giant Northrop Grumman was asked by the government to procure a launch vehicle for the mission and it chose SpaceX, a spokesman for Northrop Grumman said via email. The spokesman also added that Zuma will be headed to low-Earth orbit, which is the region of space about 1,200 miles above the planet.

Story continues

Zuma calls to mind two missions launched in 2009 and 2014, according to industry publication Spaceflight Now. Those missions, called PAN and CLIO, were also secret and unclaimed by any government entity.

According to documents obtained by The Intercept, the PAN mission was used to listen in on conversations routed through communications satellites above the Middle East, via the National Security Agency.
Madrid (AFP) - A court awarded the Spanish state 1.6 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in damages on Wednesday over the 2002 Prestige oil spill, one of Europe's worst environmental disasters.

The court in the northwestern Spanish city of A Coruna also said the regional government of Galicia, off whose coast the Prestige tanker sank, be compensated 1.8 million euros and neighbouring France, which was also affected, 61 million euros.

The ship's Greek captain Apostolos Mangouras and British insurers The London P&I Club were ordered to pay one billion dollars, the court said in a statement -- the maximum limit fixed by the company in its contract for the ship.

The rest must be paid by ship owner Mare Shipping Inc. and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, a grouping of two inter-governmental organisations that provide compensation for environmental damage resulting from spills.

The Prestige tanker ran into trouble in rough seas in November 2002. Six days later, damaged and adrift, it broke in two and sank off the coast of Galicia.

The accident saw 63,000 tonnes of oil spill into the sea and blacken 2,980 kilometres (1,852 miles) of shoreline in Spain, France and Portugal with sludge.

The spill caused huge damage to wildlife and the environment, as well as to the region's fishing industry, leading to an international cleanup effort.

- Government criticised -

The court also awarded damages to more than 260 other aggrieved parties such as town halls, but has yet to publish the total amount.

The total cost of the damage had been estimated at 4.1 billion euros.

In January 2016, Spain's Supreme Court sentenced the captain to two years' jail, accusing him of "gross negligence" for having sailed at a time when bad weather was possible, knowing that the ship was old and that the automatic pilot no longer worked, for instance.

Environmental campaigners Greenpeace said the captain was made a "scapegoat". They complained that other key players in the disaster were not in the dock -- including current Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was deputy prime minister at the time.

Story continues

His conservative Popular Party government had ordered the Prestige out to sea away from the Spanish coast instead of following an emergency plan that called for it to be brought to port where the leaking oil could be confined.

- Tanker in bad shape -

Among evidence provided in the latest court case were notes from the Prestige's former captain, Stratos Kostazos, who had complained the tanker was in bad shape and had refused to sail in it.

The Supreme Court said that two major energy companies -- Spain's Repsol and Britain's BP -- had advised against using the Prestige tanker, a 26-year-old vessel with a carrying capacity of 81,000 tonnes.

It added that a man who had worked for the company that managed the Prestige said the owners of the ship knew what state it was in and had dispatched it to Saint Petersburg to "die."

"But... it was decided it would make another sea crossing, which really was its final one," the Supreme Court said in its January 2016 ruling.
This man clearly just said "ope." (Photo: Iuliia Isaieva via Getty Images)

Ope is a mysterious noise that has no concrete definition, but youve likely had the displeasure of hearing it when accidentally bumping into someone or otherwise experiencing surprise.

Ope.

It sounds like oh combined with a p. Its plaguing our offices and our streets, and it cant be stopped or even, apparently, understood.

This involuntary utterance has made me feel like a good-for-nothing broken robot that cant form sentences properly. As I imagine Im not the only one who is becoming hopeless of being ope-less, I set out to figure out the origins of ope.

The horror all started for me during an interview I did in September with The Late Show band leader Jon Batiste. The musician said what should have been an innocuous phrase, one that has now affected my daily life for months.

You open the box and  ope  there it is, Batiste told me of his immediate chemistry with host Stephen Colbert. I love that, I love that.

As fond as I am of the undeniable onscreen comedic sparks between Batiste and Colbert, I do not love that it was described as ope  there it is. He didnt say, whoomp, there it is, quoting Tag Team. It was ope. And as I have come to discover, that word has clawed into our daily lives without any explanation. For me, its easily one of the most popular sounds I make everyday.

This woman clearly just said "ope" in a spooky forest. (Photo: Ismailciydem via Getty Images)

When I accidentally step in somebodys way  Ope. My bad.

When someone unexpectedly opens a door for me  Ope. Thank you.

When, like Batiste, I know I need to say a sound to convey the quality of something but an actual word doesnt seem to fit  Ope. Here we go.

Really, whenever I am slightly startled but feel the need to say something  Ope. Yeah.

If a burglar broke into my apartment and I turned around a corner just as the other person was turning around that same corner from the opposite direction so that we both met in this awkward, surprised middle and then I realized the person was stealing my few possessions  Ope. Nope!

Story continues

This is likely already relatable to you, but if it isnt, now that its been pointed out, youll almost certainly start noticing your co-workers, friends and lovers using this phrase. Not only does it serve as a surprise sound, it also wedges its way into conversation as a placeholder for dramatic effect, as Batiste unconsciously did.

Ope has essentially earned multiple meanings while still remaining entirely undefined. Still, a few people have tried to make some sense of it. BuzzFeed UK claimed it to be a noise that all Brits make in awkward situations, in a video that got nearly 2 million views on YouTube. An Urban Dictionary entry called it an American Midwest thing. On Reddit, users across the world claimed they made the noise. As Dante finally entered the center of hell in Inferno, he heard a horrible sound of teeth gnashing and lost souls uttering ope as he awkwardly wove around them to say hello to Satan. That last one is made up, but seems like it could be legit.

There really seems to be no geographical or generational bounds to ope. In a wholly separate article by BuzzFeed, the publication claimed it seemed to be a Michigan habit.

This probable devil sound is likely a global phenomenon. Its at least ubiquitous enough for a Family Guy joke to be entirely centered on the character Stewie stepping in front of the character Brian and repeatedly saying ope when they almost collide.

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This devil dude probably creted the sound "ope." (Photo: Figure8Photos via Getty Images)

It clearly shares a resemblance with oops (and in fact is sometimes spelled oop), linguist Ben Zimmer explained to me, offering some clarity. But when its said as ope, it could also be thought of as the oh interjection plus a final -p, the same kind of -p that we hear at the end of yep, nope, and welp.

With all those similarities, this has become a catch-all of sorts, perhaps serving for moments that fall between the serious-level of the other words and noises. I say oops if I spill coffee without causing a lot of trouble, but probably shit if its serious enough that I have to change my blouse, University of North Carolina professor Connie C. Eble further explained of the varying levels these noises can come from. She hadnt heard of oop or ope, though, and made the mistake of thanking me for bringing it to her attention.

Unfortunately, all the linguists I spoke to had only guesses into the true meaning or origin of ope.

Ha! Guesses are all I have, too, lexicographer Grant Barrett wrote in an email before continuing even more discouragingly, Interjections and ejaculations are particularly difficult to source, so I would be extremely surprised if there were a verified definitive answer.

Still determined to get to the bottom of this ejaculation, I pressed on fruitlessly.

I got on the phone with Indiana University professor Michael Adams, but he also didnt have the answer.

I just felt sorry for you, Adams told me. Because trying to figure out the etymology of it, all youve really got to go on is just the speculation. I see why you were scratching your forehead about this one and if you went off to look in dictionaries you wouldnt find any useful information about it, but thats usually a sign that there is no useful information.

And so my life remains doomed as Im cursed to wander the streets, never knowing when Ill accidentally bump into someone and utter a nonsense syllable for which there is no useful information.

I do not understand why I do this and may never figure that out. All I can say is that if this ends up wrecking your life as well, I can promise if you ever run into me in real life, Ill be sure to say, Ope, sorry.

Update 11/15/18: As today marks the one year anniversary of this article, I figured Id add a progress update on whether I still say ope. I do and I still hate myself for it every time. For quite awhile after writing this, I would try to catch myself from doing it, but then I just gave up. I clearly have ope in my DNA and Im not winning this battle.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe appeared publicly Friday for the first time since the military takeover in a defiant gesture, but faces pressure to step down from his party ahead of weekend protests.

Leaders of eight of ten regional branches of the 93-year-old's ruling ZANU-PF party took to state television in an apparently coordinated push to call for him to go.

"The province resolved unanimously to recall the president... from being the president of the party and the government," said Cornelius Mupereri, a spokesman for the party's Midlands region.

Mupereri was one of several branch officials to appear on ZBC's nightly news to read almost identical statements calling on the liberation hero turned autocrat to resign for the good of the nation.

As well as increasingly vocal opposition from within his own party, Mugabe will face street protests on Saturday organised by veterans of the country's independence war and supported by long-standing opponents of the president.

- 'Now we've got a future' -

The dramatic intervention by the regional leaders of Mugabe's party caps a week of unprecedented turmoil in which generals seized power and put the veteran ruler under house arrest.

Ahead of his public appearance at a graduation ceremony in Harare on Friday, Mugabe had been confined to house arrest after the military takeover -- a stunning turnaround for the president who has ruled since 1980.

He attended the event in Harare dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat, before listening to speeches with his eyes closed and applauding occasionally, an AFP correspondent reported.

Mugabe did not comment on the take-over by the generals who seized power late Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked and Mugabe's wife Grace emerged as the frontrunner to succeed him as president.

Mnangagwa, who had fled abroad after his firing, returned to the country on Thursday and seems poised to play a central role in shaping developments.

Story continues

Citizens were stunned by the military's actions, which were sparked by the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa.

"I'm happy with what the army has done, at least now we've got a future for our kids," Teslin Khumbula, the owner of a security company, told AFP.

"We don't want Mugabe anymore... Please -- everyone go to the streets."

- 'Finish the job' -

Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks on Thursday to resolve the crisis, but no official update was given on the status of negotiations that could see him relinquish power.

Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the independence war veterans' association which is seen as supporting Mnangagwa, said Friday that "the game is up" for Mugabe and called for protests against the president.

"We want to restore our pride and tomorrow is the day... we can finish the job which the army started."

Veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war were loyal supporters of Mugabe, but they turned against him as friction grew between the president and the military.

Mnangagwa, 75, fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing rebuke of Mugabe's leadership and Grace's presidential ambitions.

The military said Friday they had detained some "criminals" in Mugabe's government in a reference to supporters of Grace's presidential hopes.

Grace has not been seen since the takeover by the military, which has not overtly called for President Mugabe's resignation.

Morgan Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and long-time opponent of Mugabe, has said the president must resign "in the interest of the people", adding that "a transitional mechanism" would be needed to ensure peace.

Harare's residents have largely ignored the few soldiers still on the streets with shops, businesses and offices operating as usual.

The international community has been watching the crisis closely.

The United States has called for the army to quickly relinquish power following the takeover.

"We all should work together for a quick return to a civilian rule," said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday ahead of talks with African foreign ministers.

In Paris, the head of the African Union, Guinea's President Alpha Conde, warned on Thursday that the continent "will never accept the military coup d'etat".

Britain, Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler, said elections scheduled for 2018 should go ahead.
By Khalid Abdelaziz KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A 72-year-old Swiss aid worker was freed by security forces early on Wednesday more than a month after she was abducted in Sudan's Darfur region, officials said. Margaret Schenkel later flew back to the capital Khartoum, but did not give details of her ordeal to waiting journalists. She was kidnapped on Oct. 7 in the main city in North Darfur region, El Fasher, a hub for relief workers and U.N./African Union peacekeepers. Security forces launched an operation to free her from a rural area where she was being held outside the southern town of Kutum, a spokesman for the regional government said. The leader and one member of the six-man kidnapping gang had been arrested, Sudan's foreign ministry spokesman, Qarib al-Khidr, said. Neither Switzerland nor Sudan paid a ransom, he added. Khartoum has been at war with rebel groups in Darfur since 2003, but much of the conflict has descended into banditry and gangs have kidnapped people for ransom. The Swiss foreign ministry thanks Sudan for its help in freeing Schenkel. Officials have not named her aid group. (Reporting by Kahlid Abdelaziz; Additional reporting by John Miller in Zurich; Writing by Eric Knecht and Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Andrew Heavens)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Syria has formally jointed the 2015 Paris deal aimed at slowing climate change, the United Nations said on Tuesday, leaving the United States as the only country opposed to the pact. Syria, racked by civil war, and Nicaragua were the only two nations outside the 195-nation pact when it was agreed in 2015. Nicaragua's left-wing government, which originally denounced the plan as too weak, signed up last month. Syria announced last week that it intended to join. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York that Syria had submitted instruments of accession to the Paris climate deal and that the move would enter into force for the country on Dec. 13. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed doubts that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are the prime cause of global warming, announced in June that he intended to pull out and instead promote U.S. coal and oil industries. Overall, the Paris agreement seeks to limit a rise in temperatures to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, ideally 1.5. The U.N.'s weather agency said on Monday that this year is on track to be the second or third warmest since records began in the 19th century, behind a record-breaking 2016, and about 1.1 Celsius (2F) above pre-industrial times. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Tom Brown)
After getting called disgusting last night I successfully dropped 200 lbs!! (Before and after pics)

No  this isnt an article about weight loss. Its about relationships, and an 18-year-old woman who says she let go of her extra weight after she was insulted by her (now ex) boyfriend. She even provided some before and after pictures.

In a breakup photo tweet gone viral, Miranda Rose Baker (@Mandy_Rose99) says that after getting called disgusting she successfully dropped 200 lbs!! In the before picture, Miranda is cuddled up next to her boyfriend and in the after photo, she cut him out of the shot (her boyfriend being the 200 pounds she successfully dropped.)

The original tweet was deleted, but not before screenshots were taken and shared across the Internet.

ALSO SEE: Fans think something is off with this photo of Khloe Kardashian: What happened to your nose?

Bakers tweet received more than 65,000 retweets and 450,000 favourites. And although it was deleted, the internet had a lot to say about it.

Your first mistake was dating a frat dude, but weve all been there.  Jennifer Lawrence (@bellasxanax) November 13, 2017

Baker, a student at Iowa State University, told the Daily Mail that she was dating her boyfriend for five weeks before that fateful night. They apparently spent the Saturday afternoon together and ate lunch with her parents before heading back to their dorms to get ready for his college frat formal.

Story continues

At the formal, he allegedly criticized her behaviour from earlier in the day.

ALSO SEE: Woman who suffered from severe anorexia has come to accept her kind of beautiful

one more quarter and I'm outta here A post shared by Miranda (@_mirandabaker_) on Mar 27, 2017 at 5:52pm PDT

He said to me, The way you were acting today was disgusting and unattractive,' she told the Daily Mail  although she didnt elaborated on the behaviour in question. The teen left the formal with friends as she claimed she was done with him.

There could be more to the story. Bakers ex responded that he found certain behaviour disgusting  and his response tweet went viral too, with nearly 3,000 likes and hundreds of retweets.

ALSO SEE: Fat and thin friends wear same dress to prove style looks great on any size

I just want everyone to know that theres definitely a difference between saying someone is disgusting and saying that I think its disgusting and unattractive when girls try to blackout every weekend and get uncontrollably drunk dont take something out of context  Sammy Pape (@sam_pape) November 13, 2017

Baker admitted that she didnt expect the post to go viral, but shes apparently happy that it helped some women/

Ive gotten messages from woman telling me they were in awful and abusive relationships. Although mine wasnt abusive, I felt like I was helping these woman, she said.

What do you think  should people air their dirty laundry in public after breakups?

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA!

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.




When 5-year-old Cherokee Wells-Ferreira started kindergarten at Rancho Tehama Elementary School in California nearly three months ago, her father reassured her she would be safe at school, where there were no bad guys to harm her.

On Tuesday morning, she found herself lying on the floor, under a classroom desk, hiding with about a dozen other children from a gunman who had attacked their school. Her classmate was shot through the window while he was cowering under a desk. At the end of Kevin Janson Neals rampage, six people were dead, including the shooter, and at least 10 others were wounded, authorities said. Cherokee remembered her dads words.

You told me, daddy, there were no bad guys here, she told her father, Coy Ferreira.

Im upset because I felt like I was lying to her, Ferreira told TIME on Wednesday. I didnt know what to say. I still dont know how to feel about that. You want the best for your kids, you know. Its a school. Its supposed to be the safest place your kid can be.

Ferreira, 32, said school was about to start about 8 a.m. when gunshots started ringing out as children were gathering in the playground outside. He thought it was the sound of firecrackers until teachers started screaming for everyone to get inside the school and into locked classrooms.

Ferreira grabbed his daughter, and another girl who was too stunned to move, and rushed into a classroom. The children huddled underneath tables with their backpacks still on. At the instruction of their teacher, most of the students then made their way to the back office in the classroom. But at least three children were too scared to leave their hiding spots.

Ferreira shut off the lights, but seconds later the shooter opened fire through the windows and walls.

I thought I was gong to meet my maker, he said.

Remembering the heroism of the teachers slain in the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, Ferreira said he was prepared to stand between the gunman and the students. But the shooter eventually moved on.

Story continues

Ferreira rushed to the wounded child and wiped the blood off the floor before the students in the back room could see it. The children emerged from the back room and rushed to their classmate in tears.

They all started crying a lot, thinking he was going to die. They started losing it, Ferreira said. They were saying, We dont want our friend to die, we dont want our friend to die.

Ferreiras daughter was unharmed but shaken up. She is now too scared to return to school after their two-and-a-half week Thanksgiving break is over. But her father insists on not letting the bad guy win.

It doesnt happen every day, he said. We have to show them theres nothing to be fearful about.
The two top Massachusetts State Police officials abruptly retired just days after a trooper filed a lawsuit claiming he was disciplined for not initially editing an arrest report on a judges daughter.

Col. Richard McKeon, who headed the force, and Deputy Superintendent Francis Hughes, the second-in-command, both left the police force on Tuesday. McKeons retirement came three days earlier than he had originally planned, The Boston Herald reported. He had announced his retirement last week as furor mounted over the arrest report and a lawsuit was filed by state trooper Ryan Sceviour.

In the suit, McKeon is accused of having passed down orders for the report on Alli Bibauds Oct. 16 arrest to be edited so that it didnt embarrass the 30-year-olds father, Timothy Bibaud, a district court judge in Dudley, Massachusetts.

Sceviour said that he and a second trooper, who approved the initial report, were disciplined for including Bibauds admissions of drug use, prostitution and an offer to exchange sex for leniency.

Holden Mass. State Trooper says a fellow trooper was sent to his home on the morning of Oct.19th. Trooper Ryan Sceviour drove 90miles to meet with higher ups, who made him redact a police report. New details at 10p. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/B9DIgyqC4s  Malini Basu (@WFXTMalini) November 8, 2017

Daniel Bennett, the states secretary of public safety, is named in the suit as having made the initial editing request to McKeon, something that his office has denied to HuffPost.

Hughes wasnt named in the lawsuit, though Sceviours attorney Leonard Kesten told the Herald that he is a John Doe in the court papers and is a link in the case.

The timing is very questionable, Kesten said of the retirements. They keep saying, Nobody did anything wrong. Its all routine. And then the top two just abruptly retired.

Story continues

Dana Pullman, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, told the Herald that the timing of the retirements is like a murder-suicide.

State police spokesman Dave Procopio told the news site that traditionally, when a Colonel/Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police leaves his or her position, the Deputy Superintendent resigns as well to allow a new Colonel to select a second-in-command of his or her own choosing.

State police admitted in a statement to HuffPost last week that the arrest report was revised, but said supervisors are permitted to ask for changes and that such requests are not unusual.

The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost on Wednesday.

Related...

I Was Pulled Over By A White Texas Trooper. You Won't Believe What Happened Next...

Survivalist Sentenced To Death For Murder Of Pennsylvania State Trooper

Trooper Sues After Being Forced To Alter Arrest Report Of Judge's Daughter

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Toyota Mobility Foundation, a charity set up by Toyota in 2014 to help bring about "a truly mobile society," has launched a $4 million competition to encourage the development of new smart mobility technology to support the lives of people with lower-limb paralysis.

Dubbed the 'Mobility Unlimited Challenge', the competition -- which has several rounds and prizes, leading up to the winner being unveiled in Tokyo in 2020 -- is being run in partnership with the U.K.'s Nesta, and is open to teams around the world, including, of course, startups.

Specifically, Toyota Mobility Foundation and Nesta are on the look out for teams working on the creation of what it calls "personal mobility devices incorporating intelligent systems". Whilst not limited to the following tech categories, this could include anything from exoskeletons, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing to batteries.

However, although the Mobility Unlimited Challenge website contains a list of product ideas that would quality for entry to the competition, Toyota Mobility Foundation are keen not to point too much in any one direction or to presume it knows what mobility problems people with lower-limb paralysis face.

Instead, I'm told that "co-creation" is very much the mantra here and that there will be a crowdsourcing component to solicit the kind of things that innovators should focus on, which will in turn help determine which entries should be rewarded.

In addition, entrants will be expected to demonstrate how co-creation with people with lower-limb paralysis who are representative of the tech's eventual users has shaped its creation and development.

Toyota Mobility Foundation are also stressing that the competition hopes to attract teams -- startups, companies, academics etc. -- who aren't necessarily already working in assistive technology, although these are welcome too. The thinking here is to make the Mobility Unlimited Challenge as deep and wide as possible and not limit where new ideas and new approaches come from.

Story continues

The Mobility Unlimited Challenge Prize is supported by a number of ambassadors from around the world, all of whom have experience of living with lower-limb paralysis. Global ambassadors include: August de los Reyes, Head of Design at Pinterest; Yinka Shonibare MBE, Turner-Prize nominated British/Nigerian artist; Sandra Khumalo, South African Paralympic rower; Indian athlete and campaigner Preethi Srinivasan; Sophie Morgan (pictured), British TV presenter; U.S. Paralympian Tatyana McFadden; and Rory A Cooper, director of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh.

Here's a breakdown of the prize pot itself, which is more akin to a series of grants at various stages of the competition:

Discovery Awards - 10 awards of $50,000 (combined total: $500,000)

Means-tested grants to support small, early stage innovators to enter the Challenge.

Finalist Grants - five awards of $500,000 (combined total: $2,500,000)Grants given to 5 finalists to spend during the Finalist Stage to develop their prototype

device. Finalists will be selected from the eligible entries on the basis of their ability to

meet the eligibility criteria requirements and their potential against the judging criteria.

Winners Award - one award of $1m (combined total: $1,000,000)

Grant awarded to the finalist whose prototype device best meets the challenge statement, demonstrating how it meets the judging criteria.

Another thing to point out is that entrants retain any intellectual property they generate during the course of the Mobility Unlimited Challenge and as a recipient of any of the grants, with one main exception: They have to commit to commercialising any IP created using the grants within 7 years, or, if I understand correctly, it has to be licensed back to Toyota Mobility Foundation.

This, I'm told, is simply to ensure that entrants don't sit on IP indefinitely and there is a genuine commitment to get the resulting product in people's hands. However, you can check the relevant terms and conditions here.

Don't mention the iBOT

Meanwhile, Toyota was recently criticised in relation to an announcement it made regarding a partnership with DEKA, the company behind the iBOT wheelchair founded by Dean Kamen of Segway fame.

A recent article in The Outline notes that a press release and video was issued by Toyota in May 2016 carrying the headline "iBOT Poised for Comeback," resulting in a number of outlets, including TechCrunch, reporting that Toyota and DEKA are working on an updated version of the device. However, this now appears to be far from certain, and a year on there hasn't been any further news on the iBOT's status.

I asked Toyota to clarify the situation and was issued the following statement from Douglas Moore, Senior Engineering Manager, Partner Robots:

Were genuinely committed to mobility for all at Toyota. To do this we work on future-thinking concepts which will push the boundaries of what is considered possible within the area of personal mobility. We do not speak about future products, however, we continue to work with many partners in this area including DEKA, the developer of the iBot, and I look forward to sharing the results our collaborative efforts in the future.

In a follow up call with Moore, he told me that Toyota had licensed various balancing technologies held by DEKA for potential use in its assistive tech going forward and that the iBOT balancing tech could make a valuable contribution in future mobility products. However, the company couldn't speak of unannounced products and Moore wasn't in a position to say the iBOT was coming back, nor was he saying it wasn't. Make of that what you will.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration will reverse an Obama-era ban on the importation of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia after determining that sport hunting in those countries will help conserve the species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed Wednesday.

The decision was made public not by the federal agency but via a celebratory news release early Tuesday from Safari Club International, a trophy hunting advocacy group that, along with the National Rifle Association, sued to block the 2014 ban.

Greg Sheehan, principal deputy director of the FWS, broke the news to the hunting organization during the African Wildlife Consultative Forum (AWCF) in Tanzania, an agency spokesperson told HuffPost. The forum, which runs through Friday, is being hosted by the Safari Club International Foundation and the United Republic of Tanzania.

African elephants have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1978. A provision of the law, however, allows for sport-hunted trophies to be imported if the government determines that hunting will help safeguard the population.

An FWS spokesperson provided HuffPost with a pair of nearly identical statements regarding the agencys findings for elephants in each country.

Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation, the spokesperson wrote. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the hunting and management programs for African elephants in [Zimbabwe and Zambia] will enhance the survival of the species in the wild.

Trophy hunting "can benefit the conservation of certain species," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service statement. Here, trophy hunter David Barrett with one of his kills in 2009 in Zimbabwe. (Photo: Barcroft via Getty Images)

A notice  shared with HuffPost  regarding the agencys decision on elephants in Zimbabwe will be published Friday in the Federal Register, the spokesperson said.

There now appears to be a greater effort on the part of [Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority] to work with NGOs, landowners, and safari area concessionaires to improve elephant management and anti-poaching efforts, the notice reads.

Story continues

It is unclear when the agencys decision to allow imports of trophies from Zambia will be posted.

The findings allow for anyone who legally kills an elephant in Zimbabwe from Jan. 21, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2018, or in Zambia in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to obtain a permit to import their trophy into the United States, according to FWS.

Paul Babaz, president of Safari Club International, applauded the announcement, saying it demonstrates FWS recognizes that hunting is beneficial to wildlife and that these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations.

But the number of Savanna elephants continues to dwindle. From 2007 to 2014, the population dropped by 30 percent, or about 144,000 animals, across 18 African countries, according to the 2016 Great Elephant Census. In Zimbabwe, it fell 6 percent. And substantial declines have been recorded along the Zambezi River in Zambia, although the population elsewhere in the country remained stable.

In a blog post Wednesday, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, called the decision jarring.

For decades, Zimbabwe has been run by a dictator who has targeted and killed his political opponents, and operated the countrys wildlife management program as something of a live auction, he wrote. (Zimbabwes president, Robert Mugabe, appears to be under house arrest now, though, after the military took charge of the country late Tuesday.)

Pacelle added that the announcement coming from the Safari Club suggests an uncomfortably cozy and even improper relationship between trophy hunting interests and the Department of the Interior.

The Interior Department is led by Secretary Ryan Zinke, an avid hunter who has moved to increase opportunities for hunting and fishing. Earlier this month, Zinke announced the creation of a so-called International Wildlife Conservation Council to advise him on the benefits that international recreational hunting has on foreign wildlife and habitat conservation, anti-poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking programs.

President Donald Trumps sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, are also avid big game hunters. In a photo that surfaced in 2012, Trump Jr. can be seen holding the tail of an elephant he shot and killed in Africa.

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The Trump administration on Thursday said it had reversed a ban on hunters importing elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

The FWS said the move, which reverses a prohibition enacted by the Obama administration in 2014, follows a revaluation based on new information about the elephant populations and their management in those countries. New estimates show there are 80,000 elephants in Zimbabwe, according to the FWS. The agency does not say what the estimate was in 2014. The government of Zimbabwe issues permits to hunt 500 elephants annually, collecting fees that hunting backers say supports conservation.

Sport hunting, as part of a sound wildlife management program, can provide benefits to conservation, the FWS said in a bulletin announcing the decision. When the Service announced an interim suspension on the import of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe on April 4, 2014, we based our decision on the limited information available to us the facts on the ground have changed and improved.

The agency will immediately begin issuing permits to carry elephant trophies  typically the elephants severed head  back to the U.S. as a symbol of the hunt. The practice received public outcry in 2015 after reports that an American dentist had killed a lion in Zimbabwe illegally. Still, trophy hunting remains popular among a small group of hunters, including the presidents children, Donald Trump Jr. and his brother Eric.

Trophy hunting remains controversial in the U.S. with animal protection groups arguing that it contributes to unsustainable population decline in a slew of threatened species. Elephants in particular remain an endangered species with a rapid decline continuing as a result of poaching and the ivory trade.

The global community has rallied to stem the ivory trade, said Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle in a blog post. And now, the U.S. government is giving American trophy hunters the green light to kill them.

The FWS service said it was still evaluating whether to allow hunters to import elephant remains from Tanzania.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey detained 136 people, including former police, teachers and soldiers, in four separate operations on Thursday over suspected links to last year's attempted military coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. Authorities detained 60 former security officials in the operation centered in the capital Ankara and spread over 30 provinces, Anadolu said. In a separate operation that began on Wednesday and centered on Diyarbakir and spread over 26 other provinces, 55 soldiers were detained, Anadolu said. Officials were still searching for one more suspect. Six others were detained in the northern provinces of Samsun and Karabuk, as well as 15 teachers in Ankara, Anadolu said. The suspects were alleged to be using the encrypted messaging app, ByLock, which the government says was used by the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Ankara blames Gulen, for orchestrating the failed coup in July 2016. Gulen has denied involvement and denounced the putsch. More than 50,000 people, including police, military personnel and civil servants, have been jailed pending trial in the aftermath of the July 2016 coup. Some 150,000 people were sacked or suspended. The crackdown has alarmed Turkey's Western allies and rights groups, who say President Tayyip Erdogan is using the coup as a pretext to muzzle dissent. The government says the measures, taken under emergency rule that was imposed after the coup, are necessary due to the security threats Turkey faces. (Reporting by Daren Butler; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Richard Balmforth)
A few hours after announcing a review of its verification program, Twitter began revoking the verified status of some accounts. White supremacists Richard Spencer and Jason Kessler are among the users who no longer have a blue checkmark displayed on their profiles.

On Wednesday, Twitter admitted in a thread on its support account that verification has long been perceived as an endorsement, something its critics have argued for years about the program, which began in 2009 to prevent impersonation accounts. The problem was compounded last year when the verification program opened to allow public submissions. Twitter said yesterday that it has stopped accepting public submissions as it reviews the program and remove(s) verification from accounts whose behavior does not fall within these new guidelines.

Its updated rules say Twitter will now remove verification for behaviors on and off Twitter, including promoting hate and violence; threatening people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability or disease; supporting hate groups; harassing others and violent behavior. Accounts can still tweet after losing verification.

Some of the first users who lost their checkmarks are accusing Twitter of censorship. Thanks to a talent for self-promotion, including on social media platforms like Twitter, Richard Spencer is one of the best-known white nationalist and neo-Nazis in the United States. After Twitter revoked his verified status, Spencer, who is banned from visiting the United Kingdom because of his white supremacist views, tweeted Is it not okay to be proudly White?

Verified no more! Is it not okay to be proudly White?   Richard  Spencer (@RichardBSpencer) November 15, 2017

Jason Kessler was the main organizer of Augusts Unite the Right white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which led to widespread violence and the deaths of counter-protestor Heather Heyer and two state troopers who were killed in a helicopter crash while assisting with security. After losing his checkmark, Kessler posted the notification he says Twitter sent him, claiming that the company changed their verification policy just to be able to censor me.

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Twitter has changed their verification policy just to be able to censor me. Several other accounts were unverified including Richard Spencer and James Allsup while Baked Alaska was permanently suspended altogether. pic.twitter.com/PO1QnJC2C6  Jason Kessler (@TheMadDimension) November 15, 2017

Other users who lost verified status include Laura Loomer and Tommy Robinson. Loomer was banned from Uber and Lyft earlier this month after tweeting a rant calling for a non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft. Loomer also claimed that Twitter is making her account harder to find and said the platform is trying to eradicate my presence. Just like Hitler.

Twitter just emailed me to tell me they are removing my "verified badge" because they claim my account "doesn't comply with Twitter's guidelines for verified accounts." Translation: I'm a conservative. pic.twitter.com/F1AsxWI6Fm  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) November 15, 2017

And so it begins. Twitter is quick to call me and others Nazis, but they are literally trying to eradicate my presence. Just like Hitler. https://t.co/qaVWOMKyc0  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) November 16, 2017

Robinson, the founder of British far-right protest group English Defence League, also tweeted a copy of the notification he says he received from Twitter.

& so it begins pic.twitter.com/DXhkfW0IIq  Tommy Robinson  (@TRobinsonNewEra) November 15, 2017

TechCrunch has contacted Twitter for comment.
Washington (AFP) - Two more women have accused embattled US Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually inappropriate conduct, media reported Wednesday, but the Alabama politician gave no sign of dropping out of the race as his campaign denied assault allegations.

The website AL.com reported that a woman from Moore's hometown of Gadsden, Alabama said Moore groped her behind when she visited his law office in 1991.

The media outlet also said another woman claimed that Moore asked to date her in 1982, when she was just 17 and he was in his mid-30s, and that Moore told her he went out "with girls your age all the time."

The allegations are the latest in a series of explosive claims against Moore, a conservative former Alabama Supreme Court judge. Five women have previously come forward to accuse Moore, including a woman who claimed he initiated a sexual encounter with her decades ago when she was 14.

Moore, now 70, is the Republican nominee in a special Alabama election December 12 to fill the seat of now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Appearing before media in Alabama, Moore's lawyer Phillip Jauregui denied the allegation of one accuser, Beverly Young Nelson, who this week said Moore sexually assaulted her in his car in 1977, when she was 16.

Nelson showed reporters her yearbook that Moore apparently signed, as evidence that they knew one another.

Jauregui said the campaign wants the yearbook released so that a handwriting expert can determine, "is it genuine or is it a fraud?"

In the new sexual harassment allegation detailed in AL.com, which includes the Birmingham News and Huntsville Times newspapers, Tina Johnson said Moore made her feel uncomfortable during a meeting in his office, when he "kept commenting on my looks."

Johnson was then 28 and in a strained marriage, and was visiting with her mother who had hired Moore to handle a custody petition involving Johnson's son.

As the women left Moore's office, Johnson said, he groped her buttocks.

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"He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," she said.

The second woman, Kelly Harrison Thorp, said she he was just 17 when Moore asked her out. She declined.

Mainstream Republicans in Washington have made it clear they want Moore to exit the race.

President Donald Trump has appeared to equivocate on the matter, saying last week that Moore should step aside if the claims proved true, while adding that a mere allegation should not destroy the Alabama politician's life.

On Wednesday Moore tweeted that "we will not quit."
Tyler Perry was nearly overcome with emotion in an interview on The View. The actor, writer, and director is releasing a book, Higher Is Waiting, and was discussing a chapter that he has dedicated to his late mother.

When asked what he had learned from her, Perry said, There are so many people in the world that dont feel worthy. You dont feel worthy of going higher, you dont feel worthy of good things. For whatever reason, for what someone said to you as a kid, or however you grew up, or something your husband is saying to you, and my mother lived her whole life that way.

Perry almost burst into tears as he expressed hope of inspiring a sense of worth in others. He said, If one little boy in my shoes can look at his mother and see she got it, then Ive done what Im supposed to do.

Watch: Sunny Hostins emotional Puerto Rico visit on The View

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A United States Army combat medic was charged in the rape and strangling death of one of his 9-month-old twin daughters, according to local media reports.

Authorities were called to a home in Clarksville, Tennessee, early on Wednesday morning to assist a family that was administering CPR to an unresponsive baby girl, according to the Leaf Chronicle.

Police spokesperson Jim Knoll said in a statement that the infant was taken to Tennova Health Care where she was pronounced dead with injuries consistent with rape.

Homicide detectives accused Christopher Conway, 22, of sexually assaulting the 9-month-old infant and wrapping a cord around her neck, causing her to die of strangulation.

Photos of the family:

According to police, Conway admitted to both raping and murdering the child during an interview with detectives.

He was booked into the Montgomery County jail on a $100,000 bond over the rape charge but denied bond on the homicide charge by Judge Ray Grimes, who stated that this could be a death penalty case.

His first court appearance is set to be on Nov. 21 at 1:30 pm.

Conway and his wife Emily, who have been married for three years, welcomed their twin daughters in February 2017.

The surviving twin has been removed from the family's home and is currently in state custody.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a leading combatant against Islamic State, on Thursday accused Turkey of pressuring one of its senior commanders into defecting. Rebel officials said on Wednesday Brigadier General Talal Silo had defected, without giving a reason. It would be the first such departure from the SDF's top ranks. There was no comment from Turkey, which backs Syrian rebel factions and views the SDF, spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, as a security threat. Silo served as a spokesman for the SDF, an alliance of mostly Kurdish and Arab militias battling Islamic State in Syria with the help of the U.S.-led coalition. The SDF said in a statement they had "lost contact" with Silo, who had resigned from his post. "General Talal Silo was respected and appreciated among our ranks," it said. "He was subjected to a lot of pressure and extortion from the side of the Turkish state, that amounted at some points to threatening his sons who are in Turkey." "We believe his disappearance is the result of a special operation by Turkish intelligence in collusion with some of his family members." Kurdish fighters, alongside Arab allies, U.S. advisers and coalition air strikes, have driven Islamic State from swathes of territory including its former headquarters in Raqqa city. The YPG and its allies have carved out autonomous cantons in the north, and now control nearly a quarter of Syria. Their influence angers neighboring Turkey, which considers the YPG an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, which has fought a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. The U.S.-led coalition had said it was "aware of reports of Talal Silo's apparent departure from the SDF, but have no further details on his current status at this time". "Our forces will not be affected by this incident, and we will inform the public of the results of our investigation," the SDF said on Thursday. (Reporting by Ellen Francis; editing by Andrew Roche)
Police are looking for the owner of this offensive sticker (Sheriff Troy E. Nehls)

Police in Texas are seeking the driver of a pick-up truck with an offensive sticker on the rear window that reads: F*** TRUMP AND F*** YOU FOR VOTING FOR HIM.

Fort Bent County Sheriff Troy E. Nehls said that he had received a number of calls complaining about the anti-President slogan.

He wrote on Facebook: I have received numerous calls regarding the offensive display on this truck as it is often seen along FM 359.

If you know who owns this truck or it is yours, I would like to discuss it with you.

Our Prosecutor has informed us she would accept Disorderly Conduct charges regarding it, but I feel we could come to an agreement regarding a modification to it.

U.S. President Donald Trump (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

Texas law states that a person is committing the offence of Disorderly Conduct if he or she uses abusive, indecent, profane or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace or if he or she makes an offensive gesture or display in a public place, and the gesture or display tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace.

The sheriffs post asking for information about the sticker has been shared more than 8,000 times and has received more than 16,000 comments at the time of publication.

The owner of the truck, mother-of-12 Karen Forsenca, told Houstons KPRC news channel: I thought the whole thing was totally crazy.

The trucks owner Karen Forsenca (KPRC2)

Its been on there for such a long time and we have so much positive out of it  more positive that outweighs the negative.

She said she didnt know why the sheriff chose to post the picture on Facebook instead of reaching out to her directly.

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Ms Forsenca said: I mean, look, yall dont know me and yall found me.

He could have done that at the same time, it is an invasion of privacy and everything else because he put me on blast on his Facebook Page.

She added that the message was less offensive than much of what children are exposed to in the media, saying: I understand I have 12 children of our own, at the same time, what we have on the back of our truck is nothing compared to what you see every day on the music videos, see on TV and video games.

Donald Trump came under fire yesterday after he tweeted his condolences to the victims of the wrong mass shooting.

The President responded to a deadly shooting in California by appearing to confuse it with another killing spree that happened over a week ago.

Donald Trumps twitter timeline before and after he deleted the tweet in question

Four people were killed in Northern California yesterday after a gunman opened fire in a number of locations, including an elementary school.

The President tweeted shortly afterwards: May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived.

He later deleted the tweet.
ANKARA (Reuters) - The United States has told Turkey that jailed gold trader Reza Zarrab is in good medical condition, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Thursday. Bozdag was speaking a day after Turkey asked U.S. authorities about Zarrab, who is awaiting trial in the United States on charges of evading U.S. sanctions on Iran. Last week the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons website showed that Zarrab had been released, but a U.S. spokesman said on Monday that he remained in federal custody. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Dominic Evans)
London (AFP) - Britain on Thursday denied any link between a longstanding debt of A400 million ($530 million, 450 million euros) to Iran and the fate of a British woman jailed in Tehran, after a report cited diplomats saying the money could help secure her release.

The debt dates back to an arms contract for which Britain had received an advance payment from Iran but which was halted by the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

The money is being held in a frozen bank account in Britain, but sending the funds to Iran is complicated because of European Union and US sanctions on the country.

Separately, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has vowed to make every effort to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was imprisoned 19 months ago on charges of sedition.

"We don't see any link between these two issues," a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May told reporters.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi also denied any link in comments to Iran's IRNA state news agency.

"The case of Mrs. Nazanin Zaghari and the repayment of this debt are two distinct issues and there is no connection between them," he said.

But The Daily Telegraph cited diplomats saying that repayment of the debt could speed up her release from jail.

The newspaper also quoted two senior government sources voicing concern that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was being held as "collateral" to get the money released.

The money is part of a payment of A650 million made by Iran in the 1970s to buy 1,500 Chieftain tanks from Britain and repair 250 more.

After the Shah was deposed in 1979, the deal was blocked and Britain kept the money.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at the Tehran airport in April 2016.

She is now serving a five-year jail sentence for alleged sedition, and has been threatened with further charges and a new trial that could double her sentence.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN-led talks on a new political deal to unite Libya's rival governments are making progress, the UN envoy said Thursday, expressing optimism that a deal is within reach.

"I am quite confident we are close to a consensus," Ghassan Salame told the UN Security Council which met to discuss the crisis in Libya.

The United Nations in September launched a new plan to bring stability to Libya which has been in chaos since the 2011 ouster of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Two meetings have since been held in Tunis to agree on changes to a 2015 political deal that set up a Government of National Accord led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

Despite that agreement, Libya remains divided between the UN-backed government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east that enjoys support from Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

One of the main stumbling blocks is the inclusion in the new government of Khalifa Haftar, the powerful leader whose Libyan National Army dominates the country's east.

Since the meetings in Tunis, the rival bodies have been in constant contact, said Salame.

"Though much progress was made, a few remaining points are still to be agreed," he added.

Once a deal is struck on a unity government, a national conference will be held in February 2018 to adopt a new constitution that would pave the way for elections.

A mass of migrants have made the lawless country their launchpad into Europe, and the United States has carried out air strikes against Islamic State group jihadists in the North African state.

Salame raised concerns about increasing numbers of migrants and refugees detained in Libya with no due process and subjected to torture, rape, forced labor and other serious abuses.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN member-states on Thursday urged Myanmar authorities to end a military campaign against the Muslim Rohingya in a resolution adopted despite opposition from China, Russia and some regional neighbours.

The General Assembly's human rights committee overwhelmingly endorsed the measure presented by Muslim countries by a vote of 135 to 10, with 26 countries abstaining.

UN member-states said they were "highly alarmed" by the violence and "further alarmed by the disproportionate use of force by the Myanmar forces" against the Rohingya.

The resolution drafted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called on the government to allow access for aid workers, ensure the return of all refugees and grant full citizenship rights to the Rohingya.

It requested that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appoint a special envoy to Myanmar.

Aside from Russia and China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam voted against the measure as did Syria, Zimbabwe and Belarus, along with Myanmar.

The non-binding measure now goes to the full assembly for debate next month.

More than 600,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled the mainly Buddhist country since the military operation was launched in Rakhine in late August.

Myanmar authorities insist the campaign was aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who attacked police posts on August 25 but the United Nations has said the violence amounted to ethnic cleansing.

Addressing the committee, Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi said the resolution backed a solution that recognizes the "legitimate rights of Muslim citizens" in Myanmar.

Myanmar's Ambassador Hau Do Suan said his government was "making positive efforts to ease the situation" in Rakhine state, which he said was now "stable."

Earlier this month, the UN Security Council agreed on a statement calling on Myanmar to "ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state."

Britain and France had initially proposed that the council adopted a formal resolution on Myanmar but China opposed such a move.

Human Rights Watch said the vote sent "a strong message to Myanmar that the world will not stand by while its military engages in ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya."
Geneva (AFP) - Thousands of civilians will die, including many children, unless a Saudi-led coalition fully lifts a blockade that has "choked off" aid supplies to Yemen, the heads of three UN agencies said Thursday.

"Together, we issue another urgent appeal for the coalition to permit entry of lifesaving supplies to Yemen in response to what is now the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The supplies, which include medicines, vaccines and food, are essential to staving off disease and starvation", a joint statement said.

"Without them, untold thousands of innocent victims, among them many children, will die", it added.

The stark warning from World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNICEF director Anthony Lake and World Food Programme director David Beasley, came 10 days after the Saudi-led military coalition shut down Yemen's sea and air ports as well as borders.

The Saudi move was in response to a missile attack by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels near Riyadh.

The coalition has partially eased some restrictions on ports controlled by the Yemeni government, which is Saudi Arabia's ally in the country's devastating civil war.

But rebel-held entry points, notably the crucial Red Sea port of Hodeida, remain shut.

Riyadh has said that tighter restrictions must be put in place at Hodeida before aid can resume flowing, a condition the UN has rejected.

"All of the country's ports - including those in areas held by the opposition - should be reopened without delay," the statement said.

"The clock is ticking and stocks of medical, food and other humanitarian supplies are already running low. The cost of this blockade is being measured in the number of lives that are lost", it added.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to push back the Iran-backed Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa, and restore the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to power.
Washington (AFP) - If the crisis-stricken Venezuelan government manages to scrape together funds to make payments on its delinquent bonds, that would change the default designation but not the nation's prospects, a top ratings agency told AFP on Wednesday.

Standard and Poor's declared Venezuela in "selective default" on Monday after the government of President Nicolas Maduro failed to make the already-late payments on two state bonds within the grace period.

But Venezuela announced Wednesday a restructuring deal with Russia on a small part of the estimated $150 billion in foreign debt held by the oil-rich but cash-poor nation, and says it has made payments on those bonds.

S&P managing director Joydeep Mukherji, who handles Latin American and Caribbean sovereign ratings, said even if those payments are confirmed, other debt service remains in doubt, including on four other bonds that already are overdue.

The agency also had declared state oil company PDVSA in selective default for non-payment on some of its obligations.

So even if the government manages to make a payment, it would "just go back to where you were before default. The larger picture hasn't changed just because you managed to scrape together cash to pay the bonds."

A default designation would have legal ramifications, allowing creditors to take action to demand payment, including potentially seizing valuable assets, but it would not change the situation on the ground.

"They've been in dire straits for quite a while," he said, and the ratings on the debt at "CC" is still "the closest you can get to the abyss without falling into default."

Like other observers of the deteriorating political situation in Venezuela, where the government has installed a constituent assembly to overrule the opposition-controlled Congress, and faces US economic and financial sanctions, Mukherji does not see prospects for the Maduro regime to change course.

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"The economic policy has been the same for many, many years now... I have no reason to think, based on past performance, that a big change is coming now."

While lenders have seen many other defaults in Latin America, notably Argentina in 2002, Venezuela's situation is unique in many ways, not least that the government promised to pay its debt but also called for a creditors meeting Monday to discuss a restructuring, where it failed to present any plan.

Normally a country in crisis has declared default and approached creditors to negotiate a solution.

Venezuela, unlike other cases, has valuable resources in the United States that creditors could attempt to seize for repayment, notably its oil exports and Citgo with its three refineries, owned by PDVSA.

There also is huge uncertainty due to the US sanctions that prohibit American institutions and individuals from buying new Venezuelan bonds, which normally would be part of any restructuring.

But Venezuela's case is anything but normal, he said.

"There is more uncertainty than in previous debt restructurings."
A 14-year-old girl reportedly died after being electrocuted while charging her iPhone 6.

According to the Independent, Le Thi Xoan was found unconscious by her parents with her phone lying beside her in their home in the Vietnamese region of Ha Tinh.

The teenager is believed to have rolled over her phone charging cable, which police described as frayed and "broken down," and was exposed to the live wire.

Le Thi Xoan (Facebook)

Local police Chief Tran Anh Son said the girl's parents rushed her to a nearby hospital immediately after discovering her unconscious. Medics were unable to revive the teenager and pronounced her dead shortly after.

Doctors were also able to confirm her cause of death was by electrocution.

Authorities are inspecting the charging cable to determine whether or not the device was made by Apple or a third-party.

SEE ALSO: Texas teen dies from using cellphone while taking a bath

The incident arrives months after another teenager in Texas died after being electrocuted in a bathtub while charging her cell phone.

Relatives said the 14-year-old girl was either plugging in her phone while in the bathtub or grabbed the phone as it was charging before it fell into the bathtub.
Walmart's website described one photo of a child waiting to be taken to a Japanese-American incarceration camp as "perfect wall art." (Photo: Wolterk via Getty Images)

Walmart removed products Saturday that depict a historical tragedy in the Japanese-American community.

The retail giant was selling posters of Japanese-American incarceration during World War II on its website. Walmart took them down after author Jamie Ford tweeted the company asking why it was selling the posters and noting the offensive description of the products.

One particular poster featured a child waiting to be taken to an incarceration camp, and was advertised as the perfect wall art for any home, bedroom, playroom, classroom, dorm room or office workspace.

Hey @Walmart why are you selling posters of the Japanese Internment? Described as "The perfect Wall Art for any home, bedroom, playroom, classroom, dorm room or office workspace." https://t.co/uKwLdugQMl pic.twitter.com/0rAQ0F5HjU  Jamie Ford (@JamieFord) November 11, 2017

In addition to quickly removing the items, Walmart also apologized for its actions in a statement sent to HuffPost, and indicated it had communicated with nonprofit Japanese American Citizens League on the issue.

We are very sorry such a sensitive topic was handled in such an insensitive way. The description used for these products was beyond tone-deaf, and unfortunately it wasnt caught by us or the marketplace seller who listed these products on our site, a Walmart spokesperson wrote. When we were contacted about these over the weekend, we quickly removed the items from our Marketplace. We apologize this wasnt caught sooner.

This is disgusting. Describing my family's internment as the "perfect Wall Art for any home, bedroom, playroom, classroom, dorm room or office workspace". pic.twitter.com/cYKWips3uB  Julie + Books (@JulieandBooks) November 12, 2017

Natasha Varner, communications and public engagement manager at Japanese-American nonprofit Densho, told HuffPost that though the removal of the products was a small victory, the incident barely scratches the surface of a larger issue. The sale of images from Japanese-American incarceration camps can be found on a variety of marketplaces including Amazon, among other sites. And just because its legal to sell these photos doesnt mean they should.

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The companies that sell these prints are legally able to do so since the images are in the public domain, but they should really be examining the ethics of profiting off of this grave historical injustice, Varner said.

She added that if companies wish to sell images, they should do so responsibly and link up with Japanese-American organizations to discuss which prints should be sold and how the photos should be described, along with the most ethical way to market them and who the proceeds benefit.

To prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, Varner says its important to be aware of the context of these tragedies.

The bottom line is this: if you choose to sell prints of historical trauma or other sensitive issues, think about the communities those images represent, she said. Engage them. Make sure the proceeds benefit them. Give them the agency and respect they were denied at the time those photographs were taken.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
President Donald Trump is making his first public statement since his return from his trip to Asia.

The speech is schedule for 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, though the White House did not disclose the topic of the presidents speech.

The president returned from Asia on Tuesday. He tweeted on Monday that he would be making a major statement, but did not release any details about the timing or the content.

I will be making a major statement from the @WhiteHouse upon my return to D.C. Time and date to be set.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2017

It is unclear whether Trump will weigh in on embattled Senate candidate Roy Moore, who has come under fire and calls to step aside following a report in the Washington Post that cited four women claiming he had pursued relationships with teenage girls when he was in his thirties

Watch on the live-stream above.
Silhouetted African elephant at sunset, Etosha National Park, Namibia. (Photo: Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to reverse a ban on importing elephant hunting trophies from two countries in Africa, but White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the move is not final.

Trophies from elephants hunted in those two countries were banned by the administration of President Barack Obama in 2014. The African elephant is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species, which means it is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

President Trump has previously spoken out against hunting after photos of his eldest sons, Don Jr. and Eric, posing with trophies provoked criticism. The pictures included one of Don Jr. holding a severed elephant tail. Trump addressed the issue on Twitter in March 2012.

Im not a hunter and dont approve of killing animals. I strongly disagree with my sons who are hunters, but they acted legally and did what lots of hunters do, Trump wrote.

Given Trumps past opposition, Yahoo News asked Sanders at the White House press briefing Thursday afternoon why the president wants the ban on elephant trophies lifted and whether he has changed his views on hunting.

Actually, there hasnt been an announcement thats been finalized on this front, Sanders said.

Sanders referred questions to the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Fish and Wildlife Service.

A reporter raises her hand as White House press secretary Sarah Sanders holds the daily briefing at the White House. (Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters)

The ban on elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia is scheduled to be lifted Friday morning when the Fish and Wildlife Services decision is published in the Federal Register. Currently, the decision is available for public inspection. It will take effect barring a last minute intervention.

Yahoo News pressed Sanders on the fact that lifting the ban seems imminent. Once again, she stressed that it was not yet official.

There hasnt been an announcement. And until thats done, I wouldnt consider anything final, Sanders said, later adding, I would defer you to the Department of Interior for the time being. And when we have an announcement on that front, well let you know.

Story continues

The Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Yahoo News.

Elephant trophies are currently allowed to be imported into the United States from Namibia and South Africa. The Fish and Wildlife Service is currently reviewing whether to permit elephant trophies to be imported from Tanzania. Under the new proposal, trophies hunted from the start of 2016 until the end of 2018 could be imported into the country.

A Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson told Yahoo News the decision was made because of improvements in the elephant management programs in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Yahoo News asked the spokesperson if they were confident Zimbabwes program would continue after an apparent coup in that country earlier this week. The spokesperson referred that question to the State Department, which has not responded to a request for comment.

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Patton Oswaltand Meredith Salengers romance seems practically fated.

Oswalt and Salenger married Nov. 4in front of family, friends and his 8-year-old daughter, Alice, in a Hollywood ceremony at Jim Henson Studios. The two first went public with their relationship in June, little more than a year afterOswalts late wife, Michelle McNamara, died suddenly in her sleep.

In a newinterview with People magazine, Oswalt and Salenger opened up about how McNamara is unexpectedly and beautifully intertwined in their love for each other.

When I first starting talking with Patton on Facebook, it was just sort of witty banter, Salenger said. There was nothing to it, but as I started getting to know him better, I looked up Michelle on Facebook and I saw that we had like 15 mutual friends. One of them was my best friend since 7th grade. I called her and was like, Tell me about Michelle. She was best friends with Michelle after college. She was like, I loved her. Shes amazing. Shes so funny and smart. ... When I met Patton and Alice, it just felt so, so right. I never thought Id get married, but then I fell madly in love.

A post shared by Patton Oswalt (@balvenieboy)on Nov 5, 2017 at 8:19am PST

Oswalt, who revealed that his new wife has bonded with his late wifes family, did not expect to find that kind of love again.

Ive only ever felt that level of joy once before in my life, and it was so profound and perfect it felt greedy to ever wish for it again, he said. But I did, so now all I can do is show Meredith a level of gratitude and love thats greater than the joy shes brought me, and my daughter Alice. Because this is a new level of joy, and a new life, and Ill always strive to deserve it.

A post shared by Meredith Salenger (@meredithsalenger)on Nov 6, 2017 at 4:40pm PST

The comedian appeared on Wednesdaysepisode of Jimmy Kimmel Live and talked about how he and Salenger first connected, through their mutual friend, actress Martha Plimpton.

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Oswalt missed a dinner party they were both invited to in February, and Salenger messaged him afterward on Facebook about the awesome lasagna he missed.

We didnt meet face to face until May 20, he said. So it was a very Victorian-like, exchanging-letters kind of romance. Every night we would just write back and forth about everything  life, politics, books. We did all of the deep stuff you do after you have the first date. So, by the time we met on our first date, I was so head over heels.

A post shared by Meredith Salenger (@meredithsalenger)on Nov 15, 2017 at 7:48pm PST

In April,Oswalt posted a touching tribute to McNamaraon Facebook, one year after her death. He wrote that he decided to finally take off his wedding ring and place it in a box because it represented the last symbol of denial of who I was now, and what my life is, and what my responsibilities are.

Still, the ring is a symbol of the joy they shared.

I put the ring in this little box Id had made, when Michelle and I moved out of the house we lived in together in Burbank  first as boyfriend/girlfriend, then as fiancees, then as a married couple. When we moved into our new house I had the box made, and filled with it random trinkets and scraps of our life leading up to marriage. The first movie we went to after moving in with each other, the first movie premiere we went to, hotel keys and love notes and pictures. Michelle brought me nothing but happiness. You see it in our faces, that picture between the two pics of the box. That was taken literally a month after we started going out. Look at us. We knew this was it. So the ring goes with the happy stuff.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Republican Senate hopeful Roy Moore may see himself as the only one that can unite Democrats and Republicans, but one political pundit begs to differ.

On Wednesdays episode of MSNBCs Morning Joe, The Daily Beasts Sam Stein questioned the moral thread of Moores conservative base. Moore, a former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is facing allegations from at least five women who say he made advances on them when they were in their teens and he was in his 30s. One woman alleges that Moore undressed and touched her sexually, and another says he violently sexually assaulted her.

In spite of the accusations, Moore has ignored the suggestions of a number of fellow Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), to drop out of the race. On Tuesday, the 70-year-old steered clear of the controversy when he defiantly spoke at the God Save America Revival Conference at Alabamas Walker Springs Road Baptist Church.

The support for Moore on display at that event perplexed Stein, a former senior politics editor at HuffPost. These people who are sitting in this event are comfortable enough with accusations of child molestation to support this guy, Stein said, but forcibly opposed to the concept of a gay couple getting married.

He continued, I just dont understand where the moral thread is here.

Moore, a longtime opponent of same-sex marriage, doubled down on that stance during his Tuesday appearance, reportedly recalling the time he ordered state judges not to respect the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. (He was suspended from office in 2016 as a result.)

Last month, he blasted that Supreme Court decision as even worse than its ruling in the 1857 Dred Scott case, which found that no black people could claim U.S. citizenship.

Catch the latest in LGBTQ news by subscribing to the Queer Voices newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A Pennsylvania mother caring for her son after his suspected drug overdose is believed to have accidentally overdosed on the same substance while cleaning his home, leading to her death.

Theresa Plummer, 69, was rushed to a Cambria County hospital last week after attempting to clean a bathroom where her son was found unconscious the day before, West-Central Pennsylvania station WJAC reported.

Plummer, who had been visiting her son in the same hospitals intensive care unit following his Nov. 5 overdose in Portage, died shortly after. Her son, Ronald Plummer, 45, died the next day.

Ronald Plummer, 45, and his mother both died from suspected drug overdoses. (Photo: Facebook)

Its still too soon to confirm what substance the mother and son may have come in contact with, as toxicology tests are expected to take weeks to complete, Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees told Pittsburgh-based station WPXI.

Local authorities also told the station that they couldnt immediately identify the drugs involved in the case. The Portage Borough Police Department, which handled the case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Drugs like fentanyl, a synthetic opioid thats 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, can be absorbed through inhalation, ingestion, needles or the mucous membranes, potentially leading to life-threatening symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. Skin contact, if brief, is unlikely to lead to an overdose, according to the CDC.

But as little as 2 milligrams of the drug  which has been found mixed into cocaine or other drugs, sometimes without its user realizing  can kill a person, according to Dr. Nora Wolkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Fentanyl, which is an extremely potent opioid that's capable of killing someone in small amounts, can be absorbed by the skin or through inhalation. (Photo: Hailshadow via Getty Images)

In an incident in May, an Ohio police officer suffered a near-fatal drug overdose after he tried to brush what was believed to be powdered fentanyl off his shirt with his bare hand following a traffic stop. That officer required four doses of the antidote Narcan to be revived, police officials said at the time.

Authorities hope the Pennsylvania familys tragedy will serve as a warning to others.

Story continues

My strong advice to any family that may have this happen to them is to call law enforcement to have them or EMS services come back and remove the substance or material that may have been left behind, Coroner Lees told WPXI.

According to an online obituary for Theresa Portage, she leaves behind three grandchildren and three adult children  two of whom are engaged to be married.

She enjoyed rescuing animals and spending time with her family and grandchildren, it reads.

Both the mothers and sons obituaries asked for donations be made to the Cambria County Humane Society in lieu of flowers.

Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify the exposure routes by which fentanyl is most likely to cause an overdose.

Related...

Here's What Happens During A Fentanyl Overdose

Officer Overdoses On Fentanyl Just By Brushing It Off Shirt, Police Say

Nevada Plans To Use Fentanyl In Upcoming Execution

China Disputes Trump's Claims Of Fentanyl 'Flood' Into United States

Fentanyl Is So Deadly That It's Changing How First Responders Do Their Jobs

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Roy Moore, the Republican Senate candidate from Alabama, has seen his campaign derailed in the past week as nine women have accused him of behavior ranging from uncomfortable and unwanted overtures to sexual assault.

Of the women who have described their experiences with Moore, most of them were teenagers when, they said, they encountered him at a mall in Gadsden, Ala. Multiple outlets reported that his habit of approaching younger women was well known and may have caused him to be banned from the mall.

Moore has denied knowing most of the women and denounced the claims, characterizing them as politically motivated. He has insisted he will continue to campaign despite prominent Republicans calling on him to drop out of the race.

Screengrab of undated family photos of Leigh Corfman, left, at age 14 in 1979. At right, from top, Wendy Miller around age 16, Debbie Wesson Gibson at about age 17, and Gloria Thacker Deason around age 18. (Family photos via Washington Post)

Leigh Corfman

Corfman told the Washington Post she met Moore in 1979 in a courthouse in Etowah County, Ala., where he was an assistant district attorney at the time. Corfman was 14 when Moore, then 32, offered to watch her while her mother went to a child custody hearing, she recalled. Once alone, Corfman claimed, Moore asked her for her phone number. Soon after, she said, he picked her up, drove her to his house, told her how pretty she was and kissed her, the Post reported.

She said he escalated his behavior on a second visit to his house, where he allegedly undressed both her and himself so that both were wearing only their undergarments. Moore, Corfman said, then touched Corfman over her bra and underwear and guided her hand to touch him over his underwear. Corfman told the Post she then asked him to take her home, which he did.

Wendy Miller

Miller was 14 and working as a Santas helper at the mall in Gadsden, Ala., where Moore first approached her and complimented her looks, she told the Post. When she was 16, in 1979, Moore approached her at the mall again and began asking her out on dates in the presence of her mother, who was employed there, according to her account. Miller said she turned down Moore, then 32, because she had a boyfriend, but her mother was firmer.

Story continues

Id say, Youre too old for her.  Lets not rob the cradle, Millers mother recalled to the Post.

Debbie Wesson Gibson

Gibson told the Post she first met Moore in 1979, when she was 17 and he spoke to her high school civics class. She and Moore, then 32, dated for two or three months, Gibson said, but did not progress physically beyond kissing.

Gloria Thacker Deason

Deason said she encountered Moore when she was 18 and working at a jewelry counter in a department store in the Gadsden mall. Throughout several months of off-and-on dating, Deason told the Post, Moore would order alcohol for her at restaurants before she was of age. Deason said she and Moore did not go beyond kissing.

Beverly Young Nelson, left, the latest accuser of Alabama Republican Roy Moore, reads her statement as attorney Gloria Allred looks on, at a Nov. 13 news conference in New York. Nelson says Moore assaulted her when she was 16 and offered her a ride home from a restaurant where she worked. Moore says the latest allegations against him are a witch hunt. (Photo: Richard Drew/AP)

Beverly Young Nelson

Nelson, another Gadsden resident, said she knew Moore from working as a waitress after school when she was 15 and 16. Moore ate at the restaurant frequently, Nelson said at a press conference, and would flirt with her, complimenting her on her looks and tugging her long hair. One day, she brought her yearbook to work with her, which she said Moore spotted on the counter and asked to sign. Nelson showed the yearbook, with what she said was his message inscribed, at the press conference.

To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say Merry Christmas. Christmas 1977. Love, Roy Moore, D.A.

Soon after, Nelson said, he offered her a ride home after work one night. Instead of driving her home, Nelson said, Moore, then 30, pulled into the dark parking lot behind the restaurant, where he groped her and tried to force her head into his crotch, squeezing her neck so hard she had bruises. Nelson said she thought he was going to rape her, and when she tried to get out of the car, Moore pulled the door shut. Eventually, Moore gave up, and told Nelson, Youre just a child. I am the district attorney of Etowah County and if you tell anyone about this, no one will ever believe you, according to her account. Nelson said she either fell out of the car or Moore pushed her out before he drove away.

Tina Johnson

Johnson said she encountered Moore in 1991 when he was an attorney. Johnson, then 28 and in the middle of a divorce, was signing paperwork granting custody of her son to her mother, who had hired Moore, then 44. Johnson told AL.com that Moore sat uncomfortably close to her during the meeting, and asked about her young daughters, such as what color eyes they had and if they were as pretty as her. When she was leaving the meeting, she claimed, he grabbed her buttocks.

He didnt pinch it; he grabbed it, Johnson said. Moore was married at the time.

Kelly Harrison Thorp

Thorp was a hostess at the Gadsden, Ala., Red Lobster, where she met Moore in 1982, when she was 17 and he was 35, she told AL.com. He asked her on a date, and Thorp said she responded by asking him, Do you know how old I am?

And he said, Yeah. I go out with girls your age all the time, Thorp recalled.

Gena Richardson

Richardson worked in the Sears mens department in the Gadsden mall, and met Moore there either right before or just after she turned 18 in 1977, she told the Post. The then-30-year-old Moore asked for her phone number, and she said she declined. He then asked where she went to school, and, a few days later, she said, she was called out of class to answer a phone call in the principals office.

I said Hello? Richardson told the Post. And the male on the other line said, Gena, this is Roy Moore. I was like, What?! He said, What are you doing? I said, Im in trig class.

When Moore went to Sears and asked her out yet again, Richardson said she relented, and the two met for a movie in the mall. Afterward, she said, Moore drove her to her car, but before she got out, he kissed her.

It was a man kiss  like really deep tongue. Like very forceful tongue. It was a surprise. Id never been kissed like that, she recalled to the Post. And the minute that happened, I got scared then. I really did. Something came over me that scared me. And so I said, Ive got to go, because my curfew is now.

After that, Richardson claimed that a co-worker would warn her when Moore came in so she could hide.

Becky Gray

Gray said she also encountered Moore in the Gadsden mall, where she worked in the mens section of a department store. In 1977, when Gray was 22 and Moore was 30, he started coming up to me, Gray told the Post.

She said he asked her out persistently, and even after she told him she had a boyfriend, Moore continued hanging around in her section or by the bathrooms, and she said she was alarmed enough to complain to her manager.

Gray told ABC News it was this complaint that triggered Moores ban from the mall.

Read more from Yahoo News:
YouTube TV arrived in April of this year, making it Google's de facto live television service. It's available in over half of the homes in the US, and we've been waiting patiently for the rumored big screen TV app so we could stop sending live TV from our phones to our Chromecasts and Apple TVs. The Xbox and Android TV versions of the app have been out for a few weeks, now, while Google tweeted out the availability of the YouTube TV app specifically for owners of newer model Samsung sets.

This one's for you, @SamsungUS viewers.



YouTube TV is now available on 2016 & 2017 Samsung TV models https://t.co/uXs8Uw9rXY pic.twitter.com/NvZ3NolF9o  YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) November 16, 2017

According to Google's blog post, you can see YouTube TV via a native app on Android TV (but not Xiaomi's Mi Box), all three flavors of Xbox One and 2017 and 2018 Samsung and LG smart TVs. It will also show up "soon" on 2014 and 2015 Samsung and LG TVs, Sony Linux TVs, and Apple TV.
The Chinese military holds a welcoming ceremony for Gen. Constantine Chiwenga - mod.gov.cn/Li Xiaowei

The general behind Zimbabwes coup may have sought Chinese approval days before the army launched its takeover of Robert Mugabes government, it emerged on Wednesday.

Mr Mugabe remained under house arrest, still president of Zimbabwe if in name alone, a prisoner of once slavishly loyal generals who now hold the countrys fate in their hands.

As the former British colony faced a deeply uncertain future under military tutelage, a trip to Beijing by Gen Constantine Chiwenga, the head of the armed forces, last week has reignited concerns about rising Chinese influence in Africa.

The general held high-level meetings with officials from the Defence Ministry, and visited a school to observe a Shaolin Kung Fu class.

Although the Chinese foreign ministry insisted Gen Chiwengas visit was a routine visit, analysts have suggested that Beijing may have given the rebellious army chief its tacit blessing in advance.

Chang Wanquan, the Chinese minister of defence, with Gen Chiwenga Credit: mod.gov.cn

Mr Mnangagwa and his allies have made conscious efforts to court Beijing as both an investor and a military partner.

China, which has displaced Western rivals to become Africas largest trading partner and is a major investor in Zimbabwe, notably declined to call for Mr Mugabes restoration yesterday, despite his long ties to Beijing dating back to the Cold War.

Last year, China pledged to invest $4bn in Zimbabwe for investment, loans and aid over the next three years.

Responding to the coup, the Chinese foreign ministry merely stated that Beijing was paying close attention to developments, prompting suggestions that China had agreed to sacrifice Comrade Mugabe in the interests of an orderly succession.
Despite being over 70 years late, dozens of Holocaust survivors from southern Israel celebrated a Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall earlier this week.

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"We ran away with nothing, only the clothes on our back," said Ravichev Aspir. "My mother told me that in our religion, it's customary for boys and girls to celebrate when they reach that age, but it's not something we could have done."

Holocaust survivors celebrating Bar, Bat Mitzvah at Kotel (Photo: Noam Moskovich)

Aspir was 11 when the war began. "My father was 51, so they did not enlist him in the Red Army," she elaborated. "Together with my mother and brother, who was 17 at the time, we fled to the remote areas of Russia, where the Nazis had not yet invaded. We had nothing, we were hungry all the time, and we lived in a crowded place. I remember most of the time I was just cold and very hungry."

When the time came to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah, her parents could not hold the event. After the end of the war, the family stayed in Russia because their home in the Ukraine was completely destroyed.

(Photo: Noam Moskovich)

After completing her studies at the university, Aspir returned with her husband to Ukraine and in 1994 immigrated to Israel with her husband and son. She now lives in Arad.

"I am very excited about the event at the Western Wall. Because of such events Israel came to be, and that is what I feel now," said Aspir.

(Photo: Noam Moskovich)

Alexander Buchnik, 87, born in Moscow, was also very excited to finally celebrate his Bar Mitzvah.

"I do not remember much of the war. My father was drafted into the Red Army, and we do not know what happened to him to this day," he said. "My mother took me and my two little brothers and escaped from the war.

"When I was 13, Moscow was liberated from the Nazis, and we went back there, but we had no way to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah. Mother was busy surviving and keeping us alive, we could not think about it at all."

Holocaust survivors celebrate Bar and Bat Mitzvah at the Western Wall ( -  )

X

Buchnik and his family immigrated to Israel in 1994. "I've been thinking about having a Bar Mitzvah all my life, and all my life I felt like I've missed out on so much," Alexander said. "I am excited and happy; at last I will become a real Jew."

Liebman Semyon, a native of St. Petersburg, was about five years old when the war began. He was in preshool with his two-year-old sister when the authorities came and took the children to a remote city. Their mother joined them at a later stage.

(Photo: Noam Moskovich)

"It was absolutely forbidden to talk about Judaism or about having a Bar Mitzvah, so we did not talk or initiate any conversation about it," Semyon recalled. "When I received an ID, they suggested I change my name and that I don't state my nationality in order to hide my identity. I said I did not want to change anything."

"This is an amazing surprise and holds great significance for me," he added. "I suddenly feel like a child before a big event. I'm really excited."

(Photo: Noam Moskovich)

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the chairman of the Friendship Foundation, which organized the event, said he "finds it difficult to think of anything more moving than elderly Holocaust survivors who get to celebrate a late Bar and Bat Mitzvah, in the holiest place for the Jewish people."

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation noted this was one of the most special events to take place in the history of the Western Wall.

"The light and darkness here are mixed up, but the hope is absolute, and this is proof that it is never too late," Eckstein added.
UNITED NATIONS - The United States is calling for a vote Thursday on a resolution to extend the mandate of experts trying to determine who was responsible for chemical attacks in Syria, a measure that is likely to face a Russian veto.

A rival Russian resolution, which is opposed by the US and other Security Council members, is also expected to be put to a vote.

The result is likely to be that neither resolution is adopted and the Joint Investigative Mechanism, known as the JIM, will cease operations when its current mandate expires at midnight Thursday.
A man was killed and another was very seriously wounded shortly after midnight Thursday when the car they were traveling in blew up on the Ayalon Highway, in what police say was an assassination criminal in nature.

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The slain man was identified as Abed al-Hafez Ar'ar, in his 30s, from Jaljulia. His brother, Fadi Ar'ar, was shot dead two years ago.

The car on fire on the Ayalon Highway

The wounded man is Ali Amar from Kafr Qasim. His father Mustafa and brother Alaa were shot dead five months ago. He was taken to the Ichilov Hospital at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, suffering from a serious head injury.

Both Ar'ar and Amar were arrested several months ago on suspicion of being involved in a double homicide in Kafr Qasim, but were released due to the lack of evidence.

The slain man, Abed al-Hafez Ar'ar

The car blew up at 12:03am near the KKL Interchange in northern Tel Aviv, setting the vehicle on fire.

The car explosion led to the closure of the southbound Ayalon Highway from the KKL Interchange to the Rokach Interchange. The highway, an arterial road in central Israel, was reopened in the early morning hours.
The family of Abera Mengistu, who has been held by Hamas in Gaza for over three years, visited the White House on Wednesday and met with Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East.

"It is outrageous that Hamas will not let him return home or communicate with his family," Greenblatt wrote on Twitter after the meeting. He also conducted a prayer in both Hebrew and English for Mengistu's return home.

The Mengistu family also attended the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly in Los Angeles, where they also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The family is expected to visit the United Nations in the coming days.
The presence of Iranian forces in Syria and of Iranian-backed militias not far from the border is the less troubling issue as far as Israel is concerned. For decades, we've lived and dealt with having five Syrian divisions on the Golan Heights border, armed with tanks, artillery and missiles. In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, we even proved we are capable of dealing with such a force.

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The biggest force the Iranians are capable of stationing 5 to 20 kilometers from the Purple Line (the ceasefire line) is two divisionsin other words, six brigadeswhich are not armed with any armored vehicles. These are primarily armed militias, not a threatening active army.

Its true that these militias could try to carry out terror attacks and infiltrate Israeli territory, or fire rockets and mortar shells, but these are activities the IDF knows and can deal with without great difficulties. And if needed, it can even enter Syria and attack the bases of these militiasincluding Hezbollah. The IDF was very successful in doing that in the War of Attrition, and there is no reason this cant be done now, despite the Russian presence in Syria.

Iranian-backed militia fighters in Syria

The Russians cry out only when they are directly affected by these actions. There is no reason that a concrete operation against the Iranian-backed militias, as the IDF is capable of carrying out with its precision-guided ammunition, would lead to a clash with the Russians, and there is no reason for the Russians to launch an attack against us either.

By the way, the Russians need the Iranians in Syria because they dont want to bring in their own soldiers to operate on the ground. They would rather bomb from the air and let the Iranian militias serve as cannon fodder for the rebels, which is why most of the militia and Hezbollah fighters are now in the Idlib area in northern Syria, where the rebels are concentrated, while their presence in the Syrian Golan Heights is relatively small.

The bottom line is that Iranian-backed militias operating near the border, including Hezbollah, are not a strategic threat but rather a tactical problem Israel is capable of dealing with. By the way, Hezbollah fighters have long been active much closer to the Golan Heights border than 7 to 20 kilometers away. They have already fired rockets into the Golan Heights and the Mount Hermon slopes twice. This serves as further proof that we can deal with this threat and know how to do it. Nevertheless, there are some causes for concern.

Iranian batteries defending Lebanons skies

What we should be concerned about is the Russian legitimization of long-term strategic Iranian presence in Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that because the Syrian government invited the Iranians, their presence there was legitimate.

This statement allegedly contradicts the spirit of the agreement signed between Russia, the United States and Jordan on Saturday, which states that all foreign forces must pull out of Syria. The agreement failed to indicate when this would happen, making it an unbinding statementlike any declaration of intent with no timetablebut it is important, because it makes the presence of the Iranian forces and the militias illegitimate in the long run. Then came Lavrovs statement, however, and legitimized this presence.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Iranian presence in Syria legitimate (Photo: AFP)

This means that Iran would be able to have its own strategic presence, including planes and warships, as long as the Syrian government invites it to do so. This would allow the ayatollahs to create a military stronghold on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, right on the State of Israels border. A Navy ship or a merchant vessel leaving the Haifa Port would be threatened by Iranian missiles launched from the Syrian coast or by Iranian ships docking in the Tartus, Latakia or Beirut ports.

Another example is that modern Iranian surface-to-air missile batteries could take part in blocking the Israel Air Force from entering Syria and Lebanons skies. This is a much bigger threat than the presence of gunmen near the border in the Golan Heights. A strategic Iranian presence in Syria would be much more difficult to neutralize once it expands.

Moreover, the real strategic threat is that Iran wants to launch another front with Israel in the north, in addition to Lebanon. It wants to be able to fight Israel, when the time comes, both through Hezbollah in Lebanon and through its militias and aerial and naval forces in Syria.

When will Israel be forced to declare war?

There are, however, two positive aspects as far as Israel is concerned. First of all, the presence of Iranian military aircraft and vessels in Syria would allow the IDF to target and destroy them quite easily. There would be no need to fly to Iran and refuel in the middle of the flight, in the air. The Iranian facilities would be as vulnerable as the different Syrian army facilities.

Second, Lavrov made it clear that his statement about legitimate presence in Syria applied exclusively to the Iranians. He explicitly noted that he was not referring to Iranian-backed militias like Hezbollah, but only to Revolutionary Guards members and soldiers in the Iranian army.

An Iranian S-330 anti-aircraft system. In Syria soon?

In this context, its important to know that the Iranians arent eager to send their people to die for the Syrian regime, which is why they need Hezbollah and the Iraqi and Afghan militias they are sending to Syria. Its therefore unlikely that Tehran will send thousands of its people to Syria even if the Russians find it legitimate.

The bottom line is that a strategic Iranian presence in Syria, including surface-to-surface missile bases which Iran may try to build there, is a strategic threat to the State of Israel, and the world should be warned about it. The current government and the previous government have been very successful in doing that.

These warnings have another purpose: To warn Iran and Syria that in the event of a strategic Iranian presence in Syria, Israel would be forced to declare war, which would make Russia and Iran lose all the assets they have gained during the civil war.

Both Moscow and Tehran likely understand that the Israeli government and the IDF are building awareness for the possibility of an attack on strategic Iranian and Syrian assets, if and when they are available. They know that Israel usually makes good on its threats, which is why both the Russians and the Iranians will likely reconsider their moves.
The family of Abera Mengistu , who has been held by Hamas in Gaza for over three years, visited the White House on Wednesday and met with Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East.

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"Today I welcomed the family of Abera Mengistu to the White House. Abera has been held by Hamas in Gaza for over 1,000 days since he disappeared in September 2014. It is outrageous that Hamas will not let him return home or communicate with his family," Greenblatt wrote on Twitter after the meeting.

The Mengistu family meets with Greenblatt

He also conducted a prayer in both Hebrew and English for Mengistu's return home.

The Mengistu family, which is visiting the US as part of its effort to raise awareness for the struggle to bring him home, also attended the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly in Los Angeles, where they met with President Reuven Rivlin.

Mengistu family meets with Rivlin in Los Angeles (Photo: Mark Neiman/GPO)

Rivlin updated the Mengistu family on his personal efforts towards to bring their son back with the king and prime minister of Spain, with whom he met last week during his state visit to the country.

"We're standing opposite a merciless enemy who doesn't care a whit for humanitarian principles. We'll do everything in our power to bring Abera and our missing soldiers back home," Rivlin told the Mengistu family, before vowing to continue working on the matter until all Israeli civilians and soldiers are returned.







The family is also expected to visit the United Nations in the coming days.
State Comptroller Yosef Shapira warned in a report released Wednesday that Israel was not prepared to deal with the danger and threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

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According to the report, there are close to 20,000 civilian drones in Israel, but the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) cannot properly supervise their operations.

The CAA's inspectors do not have enough authority against drone operators, who fly them dangerously close to civilian planes, including near the Ben-Gurion International Airport.

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The comptroller further pointed to an increase in the number of safety incidents in recent yearsone in 2014, 14 in 2015, and 24 in 2016).

The CAA said in response: "We will study the report and act accordingly."

Even though the Israel Police determined drones constitute a life-threatening danger, there has been no decision made on who is responsible to address the danger of drones inside Israel: the IDF or the police.

The National Security Council in the Prime Minister's Officewhich is supposed to coordinate between the IDF and the policehas been conducting research on the matter for two and a half years but has yet to present any conclusions.

While the police avoid taking responsibility for the drone danger, the IDF is not prepared to deal with it either.

The air force, according to the comptroller, has no measures to deal with the danger nor a budget allocated to that end.

The IDF's Spokesman's Office said in response, "The IDF has accelerated its operations against drones and will allocate more resources to these operations. Over the past year, the air force brought down several drones as part of its operations to protect Israel's airspace."

Drone interception systems already exist

Israel's defense industriesprimarily Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Israel Aerospace Industries and the Israel Military Industriesare already exporting drone-interception systems to other countries.

"The threat is no longer that of a lone drone, but a flock of drones. ISIS already uses drones not just for surveillance, but also to drop 5kg-bombs," warned Col. (res.) Meir, who heads Rafael's anti-drone department.

"Israel's defense establishment needs to make a decision. The abilities already exist, and the threat is only going to become more serious," he continued.

"We need systems both mobile and stationary, the kind that could protect against drone attacks on sensitive facilities or events attended by the prime minister and other senior officials."

Rafael's system includes radar, daytimes and nighttime cameras, a system to identify drones and disrupt communications between the drone and its operator, and a low-level laser to intercept at a range of 2.5km. The system costs $1.5 million.

"On Jerusalem Day, we saw a spectacular performance of a flock of 100 drones to the sound of the Philharmonic Orchestra. Nasrallah also has his own Philharmonic Orchestra," the Rafael official added.

The Prime Minister's Office said in response, "The drone matter is known and addressed in Israel, which is a world pioneer in providing a solution to the problem. On May 14, 2017, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a discussion on the topic, and on June 28, 2017, a Cabinet meeting was held, in addition to professional discussions within the National Security Council. Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the National Security Council, the Defense Ministry and the Ministry for Public Security to promote national preparedness to the drone matter. Prime Minister Netanyahu has already turned to other countries facing the same problem."

In the coming weeks, the Cabinet will be asked to approve a comprehensive plan formulated by the National Security Council to deal with drones.

The plan includes a technological solution by the Defense Ministry and tasks the IAF with defending against drones on Israel's borders and in the West Bank, while the Israel Police will defend against UAVs inside Israel and security services will be entrusted with the defense of sensitive facilities.
The Hamas terror organization claimed Thursday that the Israeli Mossad was behind the killing of its drone engineer Mohammad al-Zawahri in Sfax, Tunisia last December.

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"We decided immediately after the assassination to establish a commission of inquiry, and (its conclusions are that) the Mossad is behind the assassination," a Hamas official said in a press conference in Beirut.

"There was an internal debate in Hamas on whether or not to release the results of the investigation, and eventually we decided there is no option but to make the conclusions public, because the Mossad is behind many assassinations from Abu Jihad (Fatah co-founder Khalil al-Wazir) to Imad Mughniyah (senior Hezbollah member)," the Hamas statement added.

Mohammad al-Zawahri

According to the Hamas inquiry commission, preparations began a year and a half before the assassination when a female European journalist with a Hungarian passport contacted al-Zawahri to obtain information from him. Hamas claimed al-Zawahri refused to cooperate, because he was suspicious of her.

The logistical preparations for the assassination, according to Hamas, began four months prior to the execution of the plan.

The cell that killed al-Zawahri allegedly rented an apartment and two cars, with the assassins entering Tunisia with a Bosnian passport.

Hamas holds press conference to announce findings of inquiry commission

On the day of the assassination, the cell followed al-Zawahri as he left a clinic. The assassins reportedly used one car to ram into the Hamas engineer's car, and then exited their vehicle and shot him.

The commander of the operation was a man called Yohan, according to Hamas, and there were three cells, including one in charge of logistics and another in charge of carrying out the actual assassination.

Mohammad al-Zawahri

Hamas confirmed al-Zawahri's ties to the group on the day after the assassination. "Al-Zawahri joined the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades a decade ago. He acted against Israel in defense of Palestine and was one of the commanders who supervised our UAV program," the organization said in a statement.

The drone engineer's wife, Majdah Khaled Salah, told Al-Jazeera about his alleged assassination.

"At approximately 1:50am we heard gunshots. I got out the door and started to run, I thought at first it was a gas explosion. But when I ran outside, I saw my husband's car smashed in from the back. I ran around to the other side of the car, and I found my husband. I called out to my husband, calling him by his other name 'Murad.' I said 'Murad, answer me!' I put my hand on his heart and his clothes were full of blood. His phone fell into my hand. The bullet hit his heart. It was one bullet to the heart and another to the throat," she recounted.
The US plans to vote against a yearly resolution at the United Nations that condemns the glorification of Nazism, State Department officials said Wednesday.

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Although it may seem counterintuitive, officials said free speech protections and other problems with the resolution make it impossible for America to support.

Introduced by Russia, the resolution calls on all UN nations to ban pro-Nazi speech and organizations, and to implement other restrictions on speech and assembly. That's a non-starter in the US, where First Amendment protections guarantee all the right to utter almost anything they wanteven praise for Adolf Hitler's followers.

The UN General Assembly (Photo: Reuters)

The United States votes against the resolution every year, along with just a handful of others, while the European Union nations and some others typically abstain. The resolution always passes overwhelmingly, usually with little fanfare.

But this year, the "no" vote from the US is likely to create more of a stir, given it's the first rendition of the vote since President Donald Trump entered office. Trump adamantly denies any secret affinity for white supremacists. Yet his blame-on-both-sides response to violence in August at a white nationalist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, gave fodder to Trump critics who say he's insufficiently critical of neo-Nazis.

Radical right-wing protest in Charlottesville, VA (Photo: AFP)

So US officials are working overtime this year to try to explain that while America doesn't support pro-Nazi speech, it can't vote for a resolution that calls for outlawing it, either. The vote is scheduled for Thursday in the UN General Assembly's human rights committee.

All resolutions in the General Assembly committees are nonbinding and don't impose any legal requirements on member nations. But American support for resolutions that contradict domestic law could end up being used as arguments in US federal court, and officials worry about undermining national law enforcement efforts.

A similar drama bedeviled the Trump administration last month when the US voted against a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council condemning the use of the death penalty to punish homosexuality. The US couldn't vote for that because of the resolution's broader condemnation of the death penalty, even though the US adamantly opposes capital punishment for homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery and apostasy, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at the time.

"The United States clearly has the death penalty, both at the state and at the federal level," Nauert said. "That is why we voted against this."

US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP)

With the anti-Nazi resolution, there are other problems, too. The US has long expressed concerns that Russia uses the annual resolution to mount political attacks against its neighbors. That's because Moscow has for decades sought to portray the Baltic states and others that sought independence from Soviet domination as either pro-fascist or pro-Nazi, US officials said.

The United States has been considering a last-minute push in the General Assembly to amend the resolution to remove what it considers the problematic parts, in what officials said would amount to a wholesale overhaul. But officials said no final decision had been reached. Even if the US does try to change the resolution so that it could vote for it, the effort is unlikely to succeed.

In the past, Israel has voted for the resolution. But Washington has been pushing the Jewish state to vote "no" this year, or at a minimum to abstain.

It's unclear how Israel will vote. A spokesman for Israel's mission to the UN didn't respond to a request for comment.
PARIS - A conference room at a Paris middle school has been named in honor of two Jewish boys who were shot to death by an Islamic extremist in southern France more than five years ago.

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The dedication of the room in memory of Arie and Gabriel Sandler is part of an effort by the Georges Brassens school to fight racism and anti-Semitism in France, which is home to Europe's biggest Muslim and Jewish populations.

The program seeks to make French values and the country's various religions and cultures more familiar to the school's students, many of whom are Muslim with roots in France's former colonies. It includes visits to the Paris Museum of Jewish art and history and the Arab World Institute.

"Because of the murderer's weapon, they weren't able to go to school anymore," he said, yet "all schoolchildren will remember them."

The chilren's grandfather Samuel Sandler speaks at the naming ceremony (Photo: AP)

The program, called "Humanity," has existed for years but it has been reinforced since a series of attacks by Islamic extremists in 2015 amid a peak of both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim acts in France.

The two teachers who lead the project, Jacqueline Courier-Briere and Nasser Dja Bouabdallah, said their method consists in answering all questions "without taboos" during respectful debates among students who range from 11 to 14 years old.

Among the topics addressed are "Is a Muslim allowed in a Catholic church" and the more complex freedom of speech issues that emerged when satiric newspaper Charlie Hebdo was targeted in a deadly attack. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in revenge for Charlie Hebdo's depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Employees at the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya will go on a one-day warning strike on Sunday.

The hospital employees announced a labor dispute in August as a result of manpower shortages, which the hospital says systematically hurts the employees, endangers the medical staff and the patients.

During the strike, only emergency treatments will be provided at the hospital.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot gave a rare interview to a Saudi newspaper, calling for an international coalition against Iran.

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"You can see the Iranian plan is to control the Middle East from Iran through Iraq and from there to Syria and Lebanon, and through another path in the Gulf from Bahrain to Yemen and the Red Sea. We must stop that from happening in the region," Eisenkot told the London-based Elaph in an interview published on Thursday.

"There's an opportunity to form a new international coalition in the region with President Trump. We need to carry out a large, comprehensive strategic plan to stop the Iranian threat," he added.

Eisenkot interview featured in Saudi newspaper

In a surprising statement, Eisenkot said the IDF was willing to share intelligence with the moderate Arab states, including Saudi Arabia.

"We're willing to exchange information with the moderate Arab nations, including intelligences, in order to deal with Iran," Eisenkot said. "We're willing to share information if the need arises. There are many shared interests between us and Saudi Arabia."

The IDF chief said he was hopeful by declarations made by US President Donald Trump about the need to stop Iran's missile program and its entrenchment in Syria and Iraq.

"On this matter, there is complete agreement between us and Saudi Arabia, which has never been an enemy we fought or that fought us," he said.

"When it concerns the Iranian axis, there is complete agreement between us and them. I participated in a military chiefs meeting in Washington, and when I heard the Saudi representative speak, I found that his views about Iran were completely aligned with mine," he added.

Eisenkot talked about the involvement of the two superpowersthe United States and Russiain Syria's civil war and the complexities it brings with it. "The US is trying to strengthen and support the moderate Sunni axis without putting boots on the ground. On the other hand, there is a Russian policy that only considers Russian interests in Syria. The Russians made an alliance with (Syrian President) Assad, Iran and Hezbollah, while at the same time allying themselves with the Americans in the war against ISIS," he said.

The IDF chief stressed Israel's policy in Syria is of non-intervention. "The claims we're aiding the Nusra Front and its ilk in the Golan are baseless. They're our enemies, just like ISIS," Eisenkot said.

Israel, he said, demands that Hezbollah, Iran and the Shiite militias leave Syria. "We won't allow Iranian presence. We've warned them against building factories or military bases" in Syria, he stressed.

The IDF chief said Israel had no intention of initiating a war against Hezbollah, "but we will not accept any strategic threat on Israel," further noting he didn't think escalation was very likely.

Eizenkot (R) and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud (Photo: Gil Yohanan, AFP)

Majdi Halabi, the Elaph reporter who interviewed Eizenkot, expressed hope in a conversation with Ynet after Eizenkot's rare interview that "maybe it will lead to something in Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia, who knows."

Halabi went on to deny claims that the interview was initiated by the Saudi government.

"It's wasn't planned by the government, we're an independent newspaper. It is true that the owner is Saudi and is close to the king, but they do not give him the orders," he asserted. "The timing of the interview was determined by the chief of staff's office. We asked for it a few months ago and last week they informed us that it was authorized.

"For many years, chiefs of staff did not give interviews to Arab media, and that means that we are a reliable and influential news source," he added. "We made history in the Arab world."

Halabi noted that the main reason for the interview was public interest in the Arab world, especially in regards to Israel and Soudi Arabia's common grounds.

"It is no secret that Israelis and Saudis share the same problems with Iran and Hezbollah," he said. "The defense minister, the prime minister, the chief of staff and the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, all say that.

"(That is whyed) we wanted to interview the chief of staff of the Israeli army. It sparked debate even in places that oppose Saudi Arabia.

"We asked questions that interested the Arab world, especially the Gulf and Lebanon. I chose the questions. It was held face to face in his office over a cup of coffee. It was very relaxed. I felt confident and asked all the questions I wanted to."
The State Attorney's Office has decided to close the case against Breaking the Silence spokesman Dean Issacharoff, who claimed he assaulted a Palestinian during his IDF service, citing lack of guilt.

The investigation into the incident found that Issacharoff's claims "did not happen at all."

"There was no indication of the use of force, and the Palestinian claimed he was not beaten, not bruised, did not bleed, did not feel dizzy and did not pass out," the State Attorney's Office said.
France's military said on Thursday the coalition battling Islamic State in Syria had opposed a deal allowing fighters of the militant group to withdraw from their former bastion of Raqqa.

The coalition had also been unable to launch air strikes against the fighters because they had mingled with civilians, French army spokesman Patrik Steiger said.

A report by BBC television on Sunday said some 4,000 Islamic State militants, including hundreds of foreign nationals, had been evacuated from Raqqa as part of the agreement and spread across Syria and as far as Turkey.
Recruitment of young women to IDF combat roles as part of the November 2017 draft was underway Tuesday, and saw an impressive increase in the number of women seeking combat postings.

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No less than 2,700 women were recruited during 2017 to mixed-gender battalionsCaracal, Bardelas (or Cheetah), the Lions of Jordan and Lavi HaBik'aand to Home Front Command's Rescue and Instruction Division.

2017's number marks a record high, continuing a trend that started five years ago.

Number of women joining IDF's coed battalions reached record high in 2017

In 2012, 600 young women joined coed battalions. The following year their numbers grew to 1,365 and have been on a steady increase since, right up to 2016 when 2,100 women sought combat roles. Compared to last year, then, there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of women in the IDF's combat battalions.

The IDF said one of the reasons behind the ever-growing numbers of young women interested in combat postings is a series of special relief measures and adjustments made recently. Combat Intelligence Collection Corps Commander Brig.-Gen. Mordechai Kahane, whose corps is in charge of all four coed battalions, decided to lower the basic training bar and do away with an obstacle course test as well as a requirement to scale a wall, a component in the assessment process that has proven to be, in many cases, an insurmountable obstacle for women.

The process for reducing the pressure exerted on female soldiers during their basic training began in August as part of a program headed by Kahane, intended to discern and learn key lessons from basic training methods in recent years.

The new form of basic training has been underway in a new southern-region base created especially for the coed battalions in Sayarim.

Female soldiers of Caracal (Photo: Roee Idan)

The IDF has in the past been criticized for the fact that girls were required to either clear a smaller wall or were assisted by a bench. Unlike the US army, which sets an identical bar for men and women in their military training, the IDF permits different criteria for women in accordance with physiological differences.

Kahane, who served in the past as a commander of the special "Egoz" unit during the Second Lebanon War and fought in Gaza, argued that there was no justification for demanding that women surmount a wall as they undergo their basic training.

"In two wars in Lebanon and Gaza I never saw a need to clear this kind of wall," Kahane said during discussions on the matter.

Six months ago he instructed that the number of full magazines carried by women in their combat vests be reduced from six to four.

Female soldiers of the Lions of Jordan battalion (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

"If four magazines are not enough for female soldiers, while other male and female soldiers are around them, the battle has already been decided," Kahane told commanders at the time.

"When I was a commander in Egoz we fought in Lebanon for more than 30 days and there was not a single soldier for whom the magazines in his vest were not enough," he added.

Commander of Home Front Command's Rescue and Instruction Division Col. Yair Barkat said during his visit this week to the army's induction center that the young women's motivation to serve was exceedingly high, as was their quality. The drop-out rate among female recruits was no higher than that of their male counterparts, Barkat said, and added claims they either drop out or are injured in greater numbers were utterly baseless. "It's an urban legend," Col. Barkat assured.

In response to the increase in the number of girls seeking combat posts over the past few years, several organizations such as Brothers in Arms have decided to escalate their struggle against women being enlisted to combat roles.

Brothers in Arms activists handing out pamphlets

Brothers in Arms activists stood at the entrance to schools nationwide Wednesday to trumpet their agenda under the heading "Recruit of female combat soldiersgrievous injury to the State of Israel's security fortitude."

As part of their operation, activists will be handing out tens of thousands of copies of a pamphlet produced by Brothers in Arms especially for young women of conscription age. The pamphlet includes information about the supposed dangers of female accession to combat duties, weakening of national strength and the army's ability to carry out its duties and grave health problems women in such roles are afflicted with during their service.

The Brothers in Arms pamphlet argued, for instance, that 46 percent of all female combat soldiers will be injured, compared to 24 percent of their male counterparts, that 69 percent of women dropping out of the mixed gender battalions do so for medical reasons and other worrying bits of information.

Brothers in Arms activist hands out pamphlets to young women leaving school this week

Countering the organization's claims, the IDF posited its data is out of date and only true as of 2012. "This is a cynical use of old data to cripple female enlistment," IDF officials said.

Senior army officials further added that due to the coed battalions' labor pains, a special program was put together to integrate the women, including close accompaniment by doctors, setting a special bar to measure their efforts, building unique infrastructures and erecting a special training base.

The IDF further noted the rate of injuries among women in combat roles was merely 26 percent, equal to that of men, and that the rest of the data in the pamphlet was not accurate.
Two months after he murdered a Border Policeman and two civilian security guards at the entrance to Har Adar, security forces demolished part of the building in which terrorist Nimer Jamal resided in the village of Beit Surik. This was not satisfactory, however, in the eyes of many right-wing figures who protested the army's demolition of only the terrorist's apartment, while sparing the rest of the building.

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"My advice to the residents of Netiv HaAvot is to sell their homes to families of terrorists. That way the High Court's ruling on their demolition can be carried out by merely 'shaving off' half a room. If it wasn't so sad, we'd be laughing," said MK Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi).

The room in which the Har Adar terrorist resided was demolished (Photo: Elior Levy)

His co-party member MK Shuli Mualem added, "I can't help but wonder whether the High Court is actually the best possible renovation company for families of terrorists. A heinous murderer commits a crime, the High Court orders his home destroyed and they end up tearing down one room of a building. It's a disgrace."

Border Policemen and Civil Administration officials arrived to Beit Surik Tuesday night and surrounded the terrorist's home with the intention of demolishing it. After ascertaining all residents have cleared the structure, the forces were satisfied with demolishing the floor on which Jamal resided. Ahmad Jamal, one of the terrorist's family members, told Yedioth Aharonoth that while Nimer resided on the second floor, the house was neither owned by him nor registered in his name.

In the past few years, High Court judges ruled that before security forces demolish the houses of terrorists, they have to take into account the principle of proportionality and the need to avoid collective punishment. The judges' ruling came in response to severe criticism levied at Israel in international and legal forums due to the country's home demolition policy.

What the court's ruling means on the ground is that before demolishing a home, the security establishment must ascertain what the terrorist and his family's relative share of the overall structure is.

File photo: IDF demolishes terrorist's home (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

If they reside in a private home, it will be demolished completely. If they reside on an entire floor, it will be demolished or sealed. Lastly, if the terrorist resided in a single room, only it will be demolished whereas the rest of the building will remain standing.

The Ottman family in Abu Ghosh eagerly anticipated the demolition of the terrorist's Beit Surik home. "Demolishing the home is a welcome step. The candies handed out in Ramallah after my son was murdered have now become poison. It's too late now, but I would have liked the home to be uprooted and sent sky high," said Issam Ottman, the father of Youssef Ottmanone of the Har Adar attack's victimsWednesday.
The State Attorney's Office has decided to close the case against Breaking the Silence spokesman Dean Issacharoff, who claimed he assaulted a Palestinian during his IDF service, citing lack of guilt.

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The case against first lieutenant Issacharoff was opened following a video that was distributed on the Internet, in which Issacharoff described in a Breaking the Silence rally how, while serving as a combat officer, he repeatedly kneed a Palestinian detainee in the face and chest, causing him to "bleed and faint" without any operational justification.

His testimony was made to emphasize the IDF's brutality against Palestinian citizens in the "occupied territories," as Issacharoff and his group put it.

Breaking the Silence spokesman Dean Issacharoff

Following the video, the Military Advocate General's Office and the Attorney General were sent multitudes of requests demanding that a criminal investigation be opened against him.

The investigation into the incident found that Issacharoff claims "did not occur at all."

"There was no indication of the use of force, and the Palestinian claimed he was not beaten, not bruised, did not bleed, did not feel dizzy and did not pass out," the State Attorney's Office said.

In the course of the investigation Issacharoff was interrogated, messages were taken from his company commander at the time, Omri Seiner, and investigative materials were collected.

Evidence showed that the incident described by Issacharoff corresponds to only one incident in which Palestinian Hassan Giulani was arrested in February 2014 for throwing stones in a protest in Hebron.

In his interrogation, Issacharoff did not deny what he said at the rally, but backpedaled on his claim that there was no operational justification for his actions as Giulani was only passively resisting the arrest, stating instead that he "had to use force to stop him" and that it was not possible to handcuff Giulani without the use of force.

Issacharoff's company commander Omri Seiner (Photo: Eli Segal)

Giulani confirmed that he had been arrested after throwing stones at the soldiers, as described by Issacharoff. However, Giulani denied that his arrest was accompanied by any kind of violence on the part of the soldiers, Issacharoff included, except for the use of necessary force to handcuff him, which was required in view of his opposition to the handcuffing.

Giulani asserted that he had not been beaten nor bruised, did not bleed, was not dazed and did not fall unconscious at any time during the arrest.

The evidence showed that no complaint was filed by Giulani's about use of excessive force against him and there is no documentation of any injuries on his body that, if detected, are required to be recorded according to procedures.

In their decision to close the case, the State Attorney's Office noted that Giulani's version of the incident is consistent with the Seiner's version, who described the circumstances of the arrest in the same manner.

"All of the above clearly indicates that Issacharoff's version of Giuliani's beating until 'bleeding and fainting' is contradicted by Giuliani himself, by Issacharoff's commander, as well as by other investigative materials," the State Attorney's Office wrote.

"The evidence and the testimonies indicate that the allegation is false, and therefore it was decided to close the case that was opened against Issacharoff on suspicion of using harsh and unjustified violence on grounds of 'lack of guilt.'

"In conclusion, the evidence shows that Issacharoff chose to bolster his claim with the supposedly acceptable use of improper force, even though the alleged 'victim of the offense' did not see it as improper."

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who initiated the investigation against Issacharoff, responded to the court's ruling by slamming Issacharoff and Breaking the Silence for slandering the IDF and the state.

"It turns out that the spokesman for Breaking the Silence is a liar who internationally defames the State of Israel," Shaked said. "Well done to the soldiers in his company who were not indifferent and were unwilling to ignore his lies.

"It is good that the truth has come to light of this organization that is making money at the expense of IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens."

Breaking the Silence Executive Director Avner Gvaryahu responded to the State Prosecutor's announcement that the case against the organization's spokesman had been closed and said that "what began with the justice minister's political instruction became a political investigation and ended with a political and tendentious conclusion.

"State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan has become a political servant of the justice minister."

Gvaryahu added that "it is clear that if the issue had come to court, the truth would have come to light. Anyone who thinks that occupation can be carried out without violence is living in a fantasy."
A German court ruled Thursday that Kuwait's national airline didn't have to transport an Israeli citizen because the carrier would face legal repercussions at home if it did.

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The Frankfurt state court noted in its decision that Kuwait Airways is not allowed to have contracts with Israelis under Kuwaiti law because of the Middle Eastern country's boycott of Israel.

Kuwaiti Airways counter in Frankfurt's airport (Photo: AP)

The court said it didn't evaluate whether "this law make sense," but that the airline risked repercussions that were "not reasonable" for violating it, such as fines or prison time for employees.

An Israeli citizen, identified in court papers as Adar M., a student living in Germany, sued Kuwait Airways after it canceled his booking for a flight from Frankfurt to Bangkok that included a stop-over in Kuwait City.

The cancellation came a few days before M.'s scheduled departure in August 2016 when he revealed he had an Israeli passport. The airline offered to book him on a nonstop flight to Bangkok with another carrier.

The Israeli refused the offer and filed the lawsuit, seeking compensation for alleged discrimination. He also insisted the airline should have to accept him as a passenger.

The court rejected his discrimination claim, ruling that German law covers discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion, but not nationality.

Germany's Central Council of Jews condemned the ruling, calling it "unbearable that a foreign company operating based on deeply anti-Semitic national laws is allowed to be active in Germany."

Kuwaiti parliament passed a law forbidding contact with Israelis (Photo: EPA)

Frankfurt Mayor Uwe Becker expressed a similar view. "An airline that practices discrimination and anti-Semitism by refusing to fly Israeli passengers should not be allowed to take off or land in Frankfurt," Becker said.

An official German response came Friday, as the country's foreign ministry said it will press Kuwait about the law preventing its national airline from transporting Israelis.

Deputy foreign minister Michael Roth told Die Welt newspaper Friday that Germany's ambassador has been asked to raise the issue with Kuwaiti authorities.

Roth said: "It is incomprehensible to me that in today's Germany a passenger cannot board a plane simply because of his nationality."

Courts in the United States and Switzerland previously have ruled in favor of plaintiffs in comparable cases, the German news agency dpa reported.

A lawyer for the Israeli passenger called the verdict "deeply shocking."

"This is an embarrassing ruling for democracy and for Germany," lawyer Nathan Gelbart said. "It cannot be allowed to stand like this."
Former Israel Prison Service Commissioner Eli Gabizon, recently selected by a Ministry of Public Security selection committee to head Israel's witness protection program, did not divulge prior convictions on violating Planning and Building Law to the committee.

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The Ministry of Public Security said Thursday the committeechaired by State Attorney Shay Nitzanwill examine the matter and make a decision accordingly. Gabizon himself said in response that when he was interviewed by the committee, he was not asked on the matter.

Former IPS Commissioner Gabizon concealed convictions from committee selecting new witness protection chief (Photo: Shaul Golan)

'Public servants are expected to obey the law'

Gabizon was cautioned due to the above offenses in 2014, but the "failure was not rectified", the court said. The first session reviewing the case was set for February of this year following several postponements.

The attorney for Gabizon and his wife claimed the couple should not have been served a criminal indictment. The prosecutor, the Netanya municipality, sought to convict Gabizon as it was a significant, massive construction addition. "Public servants are expected to obey the law, doubly so senior law enforcement officials," the municipality said.

Despite the probation service recommending against indicting Gabizon, judge Eli Brand decided otherwise. In his verdict, Brand quoted a district court's ruling and noted, "Harming the defendants' livelihood or professional advancement is not a means to escaping conviction."

As for previous positions in the civil service for which Gabizon nominated himself, judge Brand wrote, "It would have been appropriate to make stringent demands on compliance with the law from a person wishing to head one of Israel's law enforcement authorities."

Gabizon's Netanya home (Photo: Ido Erez)

Speaking on the probation service's recommendation, Brand wrote, "The case deals with a person whose position is not merely a career path but also a mission of public service, with the defendant being second in command to one authority and wishing to lead another. The societal message against committing the offenses, then, carries enormous weight."

Concluding his verdict, Brand wrote, "I have examined the offenses attributed to the defendants, their identity and profession, their conduct in committing the offenses, their failure to rectify the situation over a prolonged period of time and their failure to realize the gravity of their actions. In light of the above, I do not believe the conditions of this case merit punishment without conviction. I therefore hereby convict the defendants of the wrongdoing specified in the indictment, by their own admission."

Gabizon responded to the conviction, saying, "I indeed built a pergola and closed off the parking area. I demolished the building addition before the judge's decision."

On the selection committee for the role of witness protection program chief, Gabizon said, "I submitted all of the relevant forms to the committee in 2016. I was not asked (about the conviction) in a recent interview, and I didn't consider it worth mentioning."

Disqualification from serving as Israel Prison Service chief

This was not Gabizon's first brush with disqualification from serving in a senior public position. Six years ago, he was the intended new head of the Israel Prison Service. Then Minister of Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich selected him for the position, but announced Gabizon will not be appointed one day before he was to accede to the role.

State Attorney Shay Nitzan chairs the committee (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)

The reason for the disqualification was anonymous letters Aharonovich received that described Gabizon's conduct within the Prison Service, alleging he had been in a relationship with one subordinate and provided benefits to another.

Following the allegations, Gabizon was asked to respond to the claims before the ministry's comptroller. While a decision was initially made to appoint him, after consultation with then Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein it was decided to request the committee on senior civil service appointmentchaired by judge Jacob Turkelexamine the case.

The committee had Gabizon take a polygraph test, in which he was found to be lying. In light of the revelations, Aharonovich ended up aborting Gabizon's appointment.

The witness protection program has been without a head for almost a year, despite its importance in combating organization crime.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz will retire next week and announce his son, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman, as his successor, the British Daily Mail reported Thursday, quoting a source close to the Saudi royal family who spoke exclusively with the paper.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The official who spoke to the British newspaper stressed that King Salman would continue to serve as a ceremonial leader, "like the Queen of England," but would transfer the official role of the country's leadership to his son.

The report said it was the last step of 32-year-old Prince Mohammad bin Salman on his way to a formal takeover of Saudi Arabia, which has been shaken by political turmoil in recent weeks over the arrest of more than 40 princes and senior ministers as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) and his son Mohammad bin Salman (Photo: MCT)

"Unless something dramatic happens, King Salman will announce the appointment of MBS as King of Saudi Arabia next week," the source told the Daily Mail. "King Salman will play the role of the queen of England. He will only keep the title "Custodian of the Holy Shrines."

The source added that after he is crowned king, Prince Mohammad bin Salman would focus mainly on Iran Saudi Arabia's biggest rival in the Gulf.

He added that the new king would also attempt enlist the support of the Israeli army for the struggle against Hezbollah , which is supported by Iran.

"The prince is convinced that he has to hit Iran and Hezbollah, the source claimed. "Contrary to the advice of the royal family elders, that's his next target. Hence why the ruler of Kuwait privately calls him 'The raging Bull.'

"His plan is to start the fire in Lebanon, but he's hoping to count on Israeli military backing. He has already promised Israel billions of dollars in direct financial aid if they agree," the source elaborated. "He cannot confront Hezbollah in Lebanon without Israel. Plan B is to fight Hezbollah in Syria ."

The validity of the source's claims has yet to be confirmed.

King Salman (L) and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani (Photo: MCT, EPA)

In recent months there have been quite a few reports of King Salman's imminent retirement.

Mohammad bin Salman, who turned 32 this year and is considered one of the most influential figures in the region, was, until less than three years ago, just another "prince" in the royal court of the Saudi royal family.

He now holds a long line of titlesCrown Prince, Minister of Defense, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council for Political and Security Affairs and Chairman of the Council for Economic Affairs and Development.

Recently, Bin Salman received a new positionchairman of the country's anti-corruption committee.

His appointment paved the path for an unprecedented arrest operation: 208 people in the kingdom have been accused of corruption, including rich princes and senior government officials in the past and present.
The family-owned company delivered more than 10 truckloads of holiday turkey donations to food banks and community groups in California, Oregon and Washington.

While the holiday donations are an annual tradition for Foster Farms, this season the company is making a special effort to help communities displaced by the Northern California wildfires with donations of 22,700 pounds of turkey to Napa and Sonoma County food banks, an additional donation of 40,000 pounds of poultry and $100,000 to Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa.
Although he has been a professional photographer for more than three decades, Lowell Downeys love for photography has never wavered. Rather, it has given him a sense of awe for capturing moments in time with his camera.

Downey, who is co-owner of Art & Clarity, a photography and video company in Napa, has had his photos appear in books, magazines, museum and gallery exhibitions and in private collections.

His photos are taken in many countries from hot-air balloons and airplanes as well as on the ground  and sometimes beneath the ground.

This month, a retrospective of Downeys work is on exhibit at the Napa County Library, 580 Coombs St., Napa. The photographs, spanning 40 years, include his aerial photographs from around the world, painterly vision photography, and black-and-white work from Italy.

He will be giving a talk on his philosophy and vision for the creative approach to photography in a wine-and-cheese reception at the library on Friday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m.

Downey said he enjoys conversations with library patrons who have been viewing his work at the library since the beginning of the month.

As a photographer, writer and poet, Downey is a master storyteller, with the ability to transport the viewer and listener into a state of pure enchantment while he responds to questions from library visitors.

In front of a black-and-white photo, Downey shared the magic of the moment when he captured the powerful image of two different people coming toward each other in Rome.

As he was observing an old man in a trench coat standing in the ancient Italian city street, he was reminded of one of his favorite movies, Wings of Dance, that was in both color and black and white.

When the movie appears in black and white, you are with the angels, but when the movie is in color, no one sees them (the angels) except Peter Falk, Downey said. All the angels wore trench coats.

Inspired by the similarity of the mans appearance to the angels in the movie, Downey lifted his camera. Just as he was taking the shot, a girl appeared from another direction.

She wasnt in there at all when I started shooting but she walked right in, he said. This moment only existed as I saw it for that fraction of a moment. It does not exist today.

Downey marvels at the impossibility of capturing the same shot more than once. Even if nothing has moved, such as in a landscape, the light is constantly changing which ensures an absence of duplications, he explained.

In addition to his work behind his lenses, for the last several years, Downey has been teaching The Art of Seeing, which was selected last month by the New York Times as one of the top 10 photography adventures in the world. This class is also listed in the book 100 Things to Do in Napa Valley Before You Die.

Art & Clarity co-owner Janna Waldinger teaches the classes with him.

The Art of Seeing is a guided adventure in the Napa Valley with camera in hand that offers participants the opportunity to take their photography skills to a new level.

Downey and Waldinger are busy with teaching classes and having a photography business together that includes a variety of work for corporations and for weddings.

The creative duo once did collaborative commission together for the Napa Valley Museum that took them below ground to photograph wine caves and the making of wine caves for an exhibit titled Underground.

Born in the panhandle of Texas, Downey credits his success to a mother who was adamant that her kids would have an education and not grow up poor and working on farms.

Even though his mother died of leukemia when he was only 7 years old, her love for learning shaped the direction of his life. She would have been pleased that he earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree from New York University, and that her son is a lifelong learner.

Downey was the photographer for In Their Own Words: Latino Contributions to the Wine Industry in the U.S. and In Their Own Words: Latino Contributions to the World of Fine Cuisine. These books were done on commission for AltaMed, a health care organization in Los Angeles.

During a 16-month commission for the Napa Valley Museum, producing photographs of the ecology of the Napa River for Voices of The River, Downey developed an appreciation for the river and other bodies of water.

His concern for the river later led him to create aerial photographic studies for Friends of the River and for his personal documentation of the Napa River and delta.

Photographing the river has changed the way I photograph, he said. Working with biologists and scientists, I have to show the way the world really is, not just take a pretty picture, though it is beautiful.

When he is taking photos from an airplane, Downey calls his work a collaboration with the pilot. I couldnt take those photos without the pilot, he said, laughing.

Downey sits on the board of the Institute for Conservation, Advocacy, Research and Education (ICARE), a nonprofit concerned with protecting the Napa County watersheds and the Napa River.

While documenting elements of the river, Downey met Joyce Bowen, owner of Bonaventura Balloons, when she took him up in her balloon.

Later, at Bowens invitation, Downey accompanied her for five years to document world-class international hot air balloon flights in Bolivia, Chile, India, Dubai and Switzerland, and he is now working on a book about these journeys.

The work here (library) reflects my philosophy on seeing and the poetics of nature and of space, Downey said. I want people to think and imagine for themselves without being directed in any way.

He said he was influenced by The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachlaud and suggested that it as an enlightening book for others.

Art in the Library is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Napa County Library Foundation. The public is welcome to view the art and meet the artist who then gives a talk about their work, process, and inspirations.

A jury of local artists, a library commissioner and art in the library coordinator, Stephnia Pramuk, view all entries and make selections for the year. The judging is blind, without identifying factors that could identify the artist.
Community #NapaStrong, the storefront where Napa County residents affected by the October wildfires have been able to obtain free assistance in the form of clothing and household items, is closing next week.

The store, which opened Oct. 22 at a space in the River Park Shopping Center, will have its last day on Nov. 26, according to organizers.

The store has provided goods for nearly 300 households, says Stephani Stephenson, an organizer.

When we first opened, our whole mission was to (help) everybody that has been affected (by the fires), Stephenson said. That included people who had lost their homes as well as individuals who were renting or working on a property that burned.

Its a fine line, though, she said. The store was getting folks who hadnt experienced extreme loss, such as the loss of home goods, coming into the store and taking things such as bedding and clothing. Stephenson said that those items were meant for people who had lost everything.

Individuals who lost a few weeks of paychecks were expected to take things like toiletries, cleaning supplies, diapers and tampons.

Although many of the Napa County homes lost in the fires were owned by high-income people, Stephenson said, there were plenty of people who didnt have the gift of insurance coming to them.

More than 600 homes in the county were either destroyed or badly damaged by the fires, according to Napa Countys latest count. Cal Fires count lists 593 residences destroyed and 87 damaged.

Because the Community #NapaStrong storefront still has so much merchandise, it has opened its doors to fire victims beyond Napa County, said Bryan Tapper, another organizer.

I think were getting a lot more people from Santa Rosa, Tapper said Tuesday.

One of the problems with opening the shop up to victims from other counties, though, Stephenson says, is transportation. Napa isnt exactly convenient for those travelling from other counties.

On top of that, space may be a problem for fire victims. Without housing, Stephenson wondered where people will put receiving the goods.

A lot of people dont have places and they dont have the room to store anything, she said. If the store could stay open longer, she said it would.

Unless an influx of victims makes it into the store before the end of the month, organizers and volunteers will still have a lot of inventory to deal with.

We definitely have a plan, Tapper said. Organizers are looking to pass their leftover items to other nonprofits in the Bay Area, he said. Some of the higher-end items, he said, will be sold online with profits to be donated locally.

The Healdsburg Free Store, which inspired the opening of the Napa store, is also closing by the end of the month, said Ariel Kelley, chairwoman of Corazon Healdsburg, the nonprofit behind the store.

Over the course of five weeks, the store has helped more than 1,000 individuals, Kelley said Wednesday.

Unlike the Napa store, the Healdsburg store doesnt anticipate having leftovers. And, Kelley said, it wont be taking Napas leftovers.

Its really just the clothing thats the issue, Kelley said. Everything else is flying off the shelves.

Much of the clothing, she said, consists of items that should have gone to the dump. The leftover items never should have been donated in the first place. The Healdsburg Free Store has been turning away many people wishing to donate clothing. Instead, she said, they have gotten large donations of new clothing from stores.

We turn about 20 to 30 people away a day, Kelley said. Instead, she said, people looking to donate should ask those affected by fires what they need.

The storefront was an answer to an urgent need, she said, but isnt part of the long-term solution. The Healdsburg Free Store, located at 190 Foss Creek Circle Unit K, is scheduled to close Nov. 30.
U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, D-California, are requesting temporary fee waivers for residents who must replace their immigration and naturalization documents that were lost, damaged or destroyed in the state's wildfires last month.

The two Democrats made the request in a letter Thursday to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Harris and Feinstein said 100,000 residents were displaced in the fires that burned 245,000 acres, destroyed 8,900 homes and structures and displaced 100,000 residents in nine counties.

Under current policy, a person can file an individual application for an income-based fee waiver to replace the immigration and citizenship documents. The process requires a resident to submit a lengthy form and extensive supporting documentation to demonstrate their inability to pay the expensive replacement fees, the senators said in their letter.

The fee to replace a green card is $450 and the fee to replace an employment authorization document is $495.

"We do not believe this is a sufficient solution for Californians devastated by this natural disaster. Many of those affected are facing financial stress and may not be eligible for the individual waiver. Those who are eligible may face challenges to supply necessary supporting documentation," the senators said in the letter.
Here are four wines and a cider worthy of your dinner table anytime, including Thanksgiving. Last year, I recommended the sparkling Norton from Casanel Vineyards in Loudoun County, Virginia. If you can get out to the winery, the current vintage is worth the trip. But here is a sparkling shiraz from South Africa that is also extremely food-friendly and surprisingly goodsurprising because it doesnt fit any paradigm. You could also go with the Lambrusco from northern Italy I recommended earlier this year.

GREAT VALUE

Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot Number 66

3 stars

California, $16

Year after year, this is one of Californias best values. Based on zinfandel, this savory, stylish blend is so good it may distract you from your meal. ABV: 13.5 percent.

Valravn Old Vine Zinfandel 2015

2.5 stars

Sonoma County, California, $20

This zinfandel from some of Sonomas older vineyards is spicy with raspberry and cranberry fruit flavors, plus hints of clove and pepper. Pull the cork an hour or two before dinner to give the wine a chance to develop. ABV: 14.7 percent.

Mt. Defiance Farmhouse Style Hard Cider

2.5 stars

Middleburg, Va., $16

Mt. Defiance is one of several Virginia cideries to emerge in the past few years, part of a national wave to bring back traditional-style hard cider. Its a great bridge in style between beer and wine, with the benefit of low alcohol. This cider is clean and fresh, with just a hint of earthiness, not the funky quality European cider can get. ABV: 6.9 percent.

GREAT VALUE

Lumos Logsdon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Gris 2015

2.5 stars

Willamette Valley, Oregon, $19

Rich, mouth-filling and relatively low in acidity, with some baking-spice notes, this pinot gris is more in the Alsace style than Italian pinot grigio. That makes it a nice partner for rich foods like the Thanksgiving feast. Im looking at you, candied yams with mini-marshmallows! ABV: 13.5 percent.

Stellenbosch Vineyards Four Secrets Sparkling Shiraz

2 stars

South Africa, $16

Sparkling red wine is admittedly odd, but when it works it can be fun, tasty and food-friendly. The Four Secrets offers spicy red fruit and bramble flavors. It may just be the partner for your cranberry sauce. ABV: 12 percent.




16.11.2017. Worlds leading editions -andhave reported about this historic discovery. Researchers found wine residue on pottery shards at two Georgian sites dating back to 6,000 B.C. The pottery jars were discovered in two Neolithic villages, called Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveris Gora, about 50km south of Georgias capital Tbilisi.The people living at Gadachrili Gora and a nearby village were the worlds earliest known vintnersproducing wine on a large scale as early as 6,000 B.C., a time when prehistoric humans were still reliant on stone and bone tools.Raise a glass to Georgia, which could now be the birthplace of wine -reports.The findings are the earliest evidence so far of wine made from the Eurasian grape, which is used in nearly all wine produced worldwide. Talk about aging of wine. Here we have an 8,000-year-old vintage that weve identified, said Patrick McGovern, a molecular archaeologist from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and lead author of the study in the journalRobert Desalle, a molecular biologist at the American Museum of Natural History and co-author of the book A Natural History of Wine, called the study airtight, adding that the findings will prompt him to rewrite the chapter in his book about the oldest site for winemaking.journalist, Andrew Curry, describes his impressions about the place where the unique discovery was made: On a small rise less than 20 miles south of Tbilisi, Georgia, a clutch of round, mud-brick houses rise from a green, fertile river valley. The mound is called Gadachrili Gora, and the Stone Age farmers who lived here 8,000 years ago were grape lovers: Their rough pottery is decorated with bunches of the fruit, and analysis of pollen from the site suggests the wooded hillsides nearby were once decked with grapevines.The regions wine culture has deep historical roots, says David Lordkipanidze, director of the Georgian National Museum. Large jars similar to the Neolithic vessels () are still used to make wine in Georgia today.According to the National Geographic, if the archaeologists and other specialists can identify the modern variety of grape closest to what was growing near the Gadachrili village, they hope to plant an experimental vineyard nearby to learn more about how prehistoric winemaking might have worked.The excavations in Georgia were largely sponsored by the National Wine Agency of Georgia.The Georgians are absolutely ecstatic, said Stephen Batiuk, an archaeologist from the University of Toronto and one of the studys co-authors. They have been saying for years that they have a very long history of winemaking and so were really cementing that position.It is noteworthy that Georgia's traditional winemaking method of fermenting grapes in earthenware, egg-shaped vessels has been added to the world heritage list of the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation (UNESCO). The large earthenware vessels traditionally used to ferment grapes in Georgia are calledand archaeological evidence of their use goes back 8,000 years.They are typically buried in the floor of the cellar or, a semi-sacred place to most Georgians and found in almost every house
- The crash of NAFTA would not be devastating for Mexico says economy minister.





- Acknowledges that Mexico would experience a period of adjustment but would respond well.





- U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the demise of NAFTA would be devastating for Mexico.

In response to a U.S. official's comment that the demise of NAFTA would be devastating for Mexico, the North American country's economy minister has refuted such claims saying that Mexico would be able to adjust accordingly should the trading agreement come to an end.





When asked whether he agreed with the U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' opinion, Ildefonso Guajardo was keen to disagree.





"No, I don't think so," Ildefonso Guajardo said in a television interview when asked if he agreed with Ross.





"Without a doubt, Mexico could face a short-term impact because the market is very sensitive to marketing, branding ... Our ability to adjust, and the manner in which we do it, is what will allow us to resist any potential change."





During an interview with The Wall Street Journal CEO Council on Tuesday, Ross said that it "would be devastating to the Mexican economy" if the United States were to pull out of NAFTA.
12:50

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Friday reached Lucknow's Aishbagh Eidgah to meet All India Muslim Personal Law Board's executive president Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali.





Speaking to the media, the Art of Living founder said, "We both agree that we have to build the bridge between the two communities. We have to create a friendly atmosphere of belongingness and togetherness so that we can solve all the issues of the country."





He added that there was really no conflict between these Hindu and Islamic communities as they have been living together for centuries.





"We have to take forward the idea of brotherhood through the talk. We all respect the law, but the law cannot connect the hearts of people. A law will remain a law and people will have to follow it but what is important is that the feeling of togetherness and harmony has to come from within. That will remain forever," the spiritual guru said.





He added that the leaders of both the communities were trying their best to make ends meet.





"One thing which I can foresee from this discussion is nation's betterment. But we all should have patience as it may take time," Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said.





AIMPLB chief Khalid Rasheed said the two leaders held discussions on how to bring these two communities together and spread communal harmony in the entire nation.





"We are thankful to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for teaching people to live their lives in an orderly manner. The important thing is to erase internal disputes between these two communities in order to take the nation towards a path of peace and development. I believe if the leaders of these two communities keep on meeting on regular intervals then all the issues will be solved eventually," he added.





The mosque was demolished by Hindu Karsevaks on December 6, 1992 in Ayodhya. The country witnessed massive riots in which over 2000 people were killed. The Hindus claim that it is the birthplace of Lord Rama where a mosque was built in 1528-29 AD by Mir Baqi.





Since the mosque was built on orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, it was named Babri Masjid.





It is notable that the Supreme Court will hear the 13 appeals in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute on December 5, 2017, the eve of the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the 15th century mosque. -- PTI
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 00:29:51|Editor: Lifang

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by Xinhua writers Tian Dongdong, Liang Linlin, Shuai Rong

BRUSSELS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, in his recent State of the Union address,told the European Parliament that "we are not naive free traders." To show the European Union (EU) means what Junker says, the parliament gave the green light Thursday to a new anti-dumping law.

No country outside the EU assumes it to be naive, but they do expect it to be reliable and mature. After all, if the collective GDPs of its members were combined, the EU would count as the world's second largest economy.

The new EU law came against a backdrop of the expiry in December 2016 of the Article 15 of the Protocol on China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which allowed the EU to regard China as a Non-Market Economy and use a "surrogate country approach" in its anti-dumping investigations against China.

Addicted to waving its "surrogate country" stick, the EU is reluctant to disarm itself. The expiry of the protocol has torn the EU between the charm of its "trump card" and WTO obligations.

But neither dislike nor rejection defends Europe's reputations the champion of free trade. Having its cake and eating it, the EU, in the name of not being "naive", has cooked up a concept of "market distortion". This concept is stated neither in the anti-dumping, nor the anti-subsidy rules of the WTO, as a replacement of the "surrogate country approach".

By legalizing this concept, the EU is playing on words with the world. Even if the "surrogate country approach" is dropped, the EU has left open the option of using "international" prices and cost reference in further anti-dumping cases if "market distortion" is found -- a case of simply adding old wine into a new bottle.

In a nutshell, the EU wants to kill three birds with one stone through the scheme -- safeguarding its reputation, fulfilling obligations endowed by Article 15, while thirdly, keeping its stick.

However, every coin has two sides and the scheme risks the EU's own prosperity in three ways.

For starters, the new law stains the EU's reputation as a reliable partner. "Market distortion" is essentially a "surrogate country approach" in disguise. Once carried out, the EU fails to fulfil its duty as a responsible member of the WTO. Also, what happens in Brussels never stays within Brussels. An undisciplined EU could surely encourage other countries to follow suit.

Secondly, as Junker once said, there is no protection in protectionism. By updating its protectionism arsenal, the EU is putting the cart before the horse in protecting its less-competitive industries. Take the EU steel industry as an example, with its lingering illness resulting from its high costs in energy, environment and labor. Those factors, rather than steel imported from China, weaken the competitiveness of EU companies' in the global steel market.

Besides, it is a well known fact that a healthy portion of competition from outside is crucial to the health of a domestic industry. But the EU has simply blocked it.

Thirdly, the new law is bad news for Sino-EU trade and economic cooperation. By 2016 the EU had been China's largest trading partner for 12 years in succession, while China ranked as the EU's second largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. Both sides have greatly benefitted from their win-win cooperation.

Unfortunately, that is not the whole picture. Data released by the EU show that China is by far the main target of anti-dumping duties imposed by the EU. By October 2016, definitive anti-dumping duties against more than 50 different Chinese products were in place, affecting mainly the aluminum, bicycle, cement, chemicals, ceramics, glass, paper, solarpanel and steel industries.

In most of the above industries, the EU took the view that China had accumulated massive over-capacity in relation to demand.

In reality, China's effort to cut overcapacities at home, especially in the steel industry, has been underestimated. China is reducing its steel capacity by 100 million tons to 150 million tons between 2016 and 2020. In 2016 alone, more than 65 million tons of steel production capacity was phased out, exceeding an annual target. By the end of May, a total of 42.39 million tons of capacity had been slashed, accounting for 84.8 percent of the annual goal.

When Junker said "the EU is not naive", he probably meant that the EU is not nearsighted, irrational or irresponsible. Given the rising tendency of protectionism across the world, the fragility of the EU's economic recovery, and most importantly, the scale of China-EU economic relations, the approval of the new law points to the opposite being the case.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 01:40:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SKOPJE, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- With 66 votes in favor and 41 against, the Parliament of Macedonia approved Wednesday a draft law which extends the official use of Albanian to the entire country.

Despite the strong debates between the majority and opposition lawmakers, Albanian is now Macedonia's second official language.

According to the majority here, the draft law aims at easing the communication of Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority with institutions, hospitals and courts.

Official statistics show that ethnic Albanians make up a quarter of Macedonia's population.

The law of 2001 allowed the official use of the Albanian language only in communities where ethnic Albanians were more than 20 percent of the population.

But over the years, the Albanian community here claimed more rights and demanded the extension of Albanian as Macedonia's second official language.

The use of Albanian language was also the main condition set by the ethnic Albanian parties here before joining the coalition with the ruling SDSM party of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

But, for the Macedonian opposition, led by VMRO-DPMNE, the law falls against Macedonian Constitution.

Before the voting process, VMRO-DPMNE lawmakers expressed their vote against, saying that the law put Macedonian language in a discriminatory position. They also said that the law didn't improve inter-ethnic relations as the majority claims.

Zaev stated after the adoption of bill that the new government was sincerely and strongly committed to fostering and improving the Macedonian language.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 01:55:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TIRANA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Union and Albania held Wednesday the 9th Stabilization and Association Council (SA Council) meeting, which concluded that Albania has made steady progress in five key priorities for the opening of EU accession negotiations.

High Representative of European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said in a joint press conference with Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati Wednesday that the EU would continue to support Albania in the implementation of the judicial reform, which could be transformative for other reforms.

Meanwhile, Albanian foreign ministry informed in a press release that Albania's progress in several fields was praised by the European Commission.

It cited Mogherini as saying that 2018 would provide a unique opportunity to Albania's advancement to EU integration process.

"2018 will be a unique window of opportunity to Albania to advance concretely on the EU integration path and make this process completely irreversible," said Mogherini at the joint press conference with the Albanian minister.

Mogherini also highlighted the vital and cooperative role Albania is playing in the Western Balkans.

In this context, the EU welcomed the appointment of the vetting institutions in June 2017 and highlighted that this important success represents a step forward in the implementation of the justice reform in Albania.

The EU also welcomed the further steps in the fight against corruption and organized crime, particularly the positive results achieved in the fight against cannabis cultivation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 02:05:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WARSAW, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said in social media on Wednesday that the adoption of a resolution on the rule of law in Poland at the European Parliament (EP) was a "scandalous events".

Szydlo wrote on Twitter that "politicians, who defamed their own country in the international arena, are not worthy of representing it". She added that she would comment on this situation at an EU summit on Friday.

Polish Foreign Ministry also issued a statement saying that "the resolution should be regarded as an instrument for exerting political pressure on Poland".

The statement said that the resolution is "a one-sided document" based on political assessments rather than "in-depth legal analysis".

Earlier in the day, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, which stressed that the current situation in Poland represented a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values. It also noted that the recent changes in Polish judiciary legislation might threaten the independence of courts, weaken the rule of law in Poland.

The European Parliament decided to start its procedure to trigger "Article 7" - a formal warning by the EU that can be issued by four-fifths of the Member States in the Council of Ministers.

EP warned that if the risk is confirmed and the Polish authorities refuse to comply with the EU recommendations, the procedure could lead to the suspension of Poland's voting rights in the European Council.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 02:05:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MANAMA, Nov.15 (Xinhua) -- Bahrain's security forces have foiled a major terror cell with links to Iran that aimed to target three oil pipeline sites and assassinate public figures, the country's Interior Ministry source said on Wednesday.

Interior Ministry's Public Security Chief Major General Tariq Al Hassan said Iran has its fingerprints all over in connection with a blast in Jidhafs village, in which a policeman was killed on Oct. 27 and eight others were injured.

"We arrested a person in connection with Jidhafs blast who is part of a terror cell run by fugitives in Iran and the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

They received weapons training and manufactured home-made bombs to target three oil pipeline sites and assassinate high profile persons, he added.

The official said their counter-terrorism efforts played a big role in bringing down those cases, but warned of a new tactic aimed to target oil pipeline.

Maj.Gen Al Hassan said the terrorist cell stole cars and heavy vehicles for their terrorist operation by using their number plates on vehicles to conduct the crime.

About 22 policemen have been killed since 2011 in terror attacks and 3,452 policemen have been injured since 2011.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 02:25:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BAKU, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two weeks after launching of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, participants of Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) association signed a final protocol reducing BTK transportation costs for 2018, local Azerbaijan State News Agency said Wednesday.

The appropriate protocol was signed here on Wednesday by railway officials of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Turkey.

The document envisages reduction of transportation costs along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway for the next year.

The transportation plan for 2018 along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been approved at the level of more than 3.5 million tons.

About 15,000 containers are expected to be transported from Turkey to Kazakhstan, Central Asia and China.

It is planned to transport 7-8 million tons of cargo along the TITR by the end of 2020.

The parties have also approved a final report on the association's work in 2017, a plan for transportation and budget for 2018, the membership fees and other important issues.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route was established to provide transport connections between the East and West of Eurasia, transporting goods from China through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia to Europe via Turkey and Ukraine.

The first test container train arrived in the Baku international sea trade port from China via the route in August, 2015.

In January 2016, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine decided to apply competitive tariffs for cargo transportation via the route.

In October 2016, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed an agreement to establish the TITR association with its office in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

On Oct. 30, 2017, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia launched an 826-kilometer BTK rail line, establishing a freight and passenger link between Europe and China.

The line, which includes 105 kilometers of new track, will have the capacity to transport one million passengers and 5 million tonnes of freight.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 02:45:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LISBON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The first batches of 120 tonnes of sugar were delivered to Portuguese beekeepers on Wednesday, as part of an initiative to support farmers affected by devastating forest fires.

With wild fires having destroyed local flora in much of the central region of the country, beekeepers had been struggling to maintain colonies. The local honey industry was thus severely under threat.

Secretary of State for Food and Agriculture Luis Medeiros Vieira told the Portuguese Lusa News Agency that the sugar supply scheme would protect 140,000 hives and support 28 honey-producing organizations.

Beekeepers can combine the sugar with water and place the mixture close to hives.

The government has also established financial credit lines available to people whose livelihoods in crop and animal husbandry have been jeopardized by the fires.

According to the Institute of Nature and Forest Conservation (ICNF), 442 hectares have been destroyed by fires in Portugal in 2017, the worst year on record.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 03:10:50|Editor: Jiaxin

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A man stands in his waterlogged store in Mandra, west of Athens, Greece, on Nov. 15, 2017. The strong torrential downpour in the municipalities of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, west of the Greek capital, has claimed 15 lives, according to the latest official count by the Health Ministry. (Xinhua/Lefteris Partsalis)

ATHENS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared Wednesday a day of national mourning as the death toll from the flash floods that hit western Attica region, at the outskirts of Athens, climbed to 15.

"It is a very difficult time for all of Greece. We are experiencing a great disaster...I want to express my deep sorrow, sincere condolences to the families of the victims. And I promise that we will stand by them with all the means in our disposal," he said in a televised message.

In an e-mailed statement, the Greek leader also pledged that nobody will be left homeless and measures will be taken immediately to support households and businesses affected, while authorities will look into the causes of the disaster.

The strong torrential downpour which turned roads into muddy rivers in the municipalities of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, about 20 kilometers west of the Greek capital, carrying away cars and knocking down walls, has claimed 15 lives, according to the latest official count by the Health Ministry.

Ten of the victims were men and five women, while most were elderly people, local authorities said.

Another 17 people were injured, while an unclear number of people has been reported missing. Rescue efforts by the Fire Brigade to locate and free people stranded in flooded areas will continue through the night, according to authorities.

From the early hours of Wednesday until sunset, the Fire Department had received over 600 calls for help and rescued 86 people trapped in their homes and cars.

As a state of emergency has been declared in the area, a prosecutor has launched an investigation into the causes of the disaster. Greek scientists have pointed to climate change and urban planning violations.
File Photo: A couple are seen at Death Valley National Park in the United States on April 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

by Xinhua writer Yang Shilong

NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- About 10 years ago, Jin Chen's parents did not know much about Alaska, where she was studying. Their neighbors often confused the remotest U.S. state with Las Vegas, a city known in China for its casinos.

Yet now, Alaska, with its vast wilderness, is among the hot U.S. destinations for deep-pocketed Chinese tourists.

"Our business has seen an annual increase of over 50 percent in recent years," Jin Chen, chief executive officer of Alaska Skylar Travel, which caters to Asian markets by coordinating Mandarin-speaking tours in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Alaska has become a top choice for young Chinese tourists who have visited the United States more than once, Chen said. Alaska's natural beauty, glimpsed in the aurora borealis and glaciers, was becoming more attractive to young Chinese than the crowded mega-city life in New York and Los Angeles.

Deb Hickok, president and chief executive of Explore Fairbanks, a non-profit organization promoting tourism in Alaska's second largest city Fairbanks, also noticed the new trend.

"The aurora is a big driver for Chinese tourism for our area and we see the rapid growth from China," Hickok said.

With help from Chen's company, Anchorage and Fairbanks have undertaken a "China Ready" program, helping the travel industry with materials, training, guides and tools to understand, target and accommodate the market, she said.

Alaska, dubbed the Last Frontier, is just one of the new areas in the U.S. wilderness that young Chinese tourists with more disposable income are seeking out.

GREAT OUTDOORS, GREAT EXPECTATIONS

According to the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, in 2016 there were 2.97 million arrivals from China, making China the fifth largest source country in international visits to the United States. Of those arrivals, 1.2 million (about 41 percent) visited national parks and/or monuments.

The "America Wild: National Parks Adventure" film garnered 1 million views in October on Youku, a Chinese YouTube-like service platform, just four months after its digital debut, Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer with Brand USA, told Xinhua.

U.S tourism marketing organization Brand USA's partnership with Youku to launch the action-packed adventure film was a "perfect example" of its marketing efforts targeting an entirely new spectrum, including millennials who use digital streaming services at a higher rate in China, Garzilli said.

The film was developed as a cornerstone of Brand USA's Great Outdoors campaign launched in 2015 and debuted in giant-screen theaters in 14 markets worldwide, including China.

Garzilli said surveys showed 81 percent of international audiences who viewed the film indicated they were more likely to visit the United States after watching it.

In April 2017, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that 2016 was a record year for visits at America's National Park Service sites, which received 331 million visitors and contributed nearly 35 billion U.S. dollars to the U.S. economy -- a nearly 3-billion-dollar increase from 2015.

CHINA'S RISE TO TOP MARKET

According to Garzilli, China ranked seventh in terms of total tourism-related spending in the United States a decade ago. After nearly a decade of double-digit growth, the rising Asian power dominates the rankings as the largest market for U.S. tourism exports, injecting more than 90 million dollars a day into the U.S. economy.

"Outbound travel from China has also been nothing short of explosive," Garzilli said.

Over the past decade, Chinese visitors to the United States have grown nearly tenfold from 320,000 arrivals in 2006 to over 3 million in 2016, which was designated as the China-U.S. Tourism Year.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the number of arrivals is projected to grow to 5.7 million by 2021.

International travel to the United States is one of the best levers for driving economic growth, Garzilli said. It currently supports 2.2 million U.S. jobs and benefits virtually every sector of the economy.

Tourism and travel also boosts cultural understanding between the world's two largest economies, Garzilli said.

"By visiting each other's countries, we are able to better familiarize ourselves with each other's history, culture and views, which in turn, leads to closer cooperation and partnership between our two nations," he said.

NTTO data shows more than 6 million Americans visited China in 2015, up from 5.7 million in 2014.

"Just as we are seeing a steady increase in Chinese visitation to the U.S., Americans are increasingly visiting China," Garzilli said.

"With every trip I take to China, and with each annual U.S.-China Tourism Leadership Summit, I continue to be amazed by the growth and diversity of the country and its people," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 06:01:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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VIENNA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Early detection of pancreatic cancer is key in giving patients the best possible outcome, experts from the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Medical University of Vienna and the Vienna General Hospital said on Wednesday.

In a statement ahead of World Pancreatic Cancer Day on Thursday, it was noted that some 120 people in Austria are diagnosed with this form of cancer every month, and almost as many lose their battle with it.

This is due to both late diagnoses as well as the aggressive nature of such tumors, which causes the third-largest number of cancer-related deaths, despite only making up four percent of all newly-diagnosed forms of cancer.

Further, pancreatic cancer has seen a large 50 percent increase in persons affected over the past 20 years. While surgical methods and medications have improved treatment to some degree, the five-year survival rate for sufferers has only seen marginal improvement.

The experts revealed a checklist of recommendations, including awareness of symptoms, rapid clinical, laboratory, and imaging diagnostics, and speedy appointments to receive a biopsy and diagnosis at a specialist centre.

In addition, the immediate initiation of adequate treatment must occur, those affected and their families informed on diagnosis and treatments, and support made available through pain therapy, nutritional advice, and psychological care.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 06:01:56|Editor: Lifang

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KIEV, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The China-Ukraine Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) exhibition will be held in Kiev next week to present China's high-tech achievements over the recent years to the Ukrainian public.

The STI exhibition, which is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, will run from Nov. 21 to Nov. 24 at the Kiev International Exhibition Center.

More than 60 Chinese research institutions and enterprises will bring about 150 innovative projects to the exposition, making it the largest science and technology event co-organized by China and Ukraine so far.

The exhibition is a part of the 2nd International forum on innovations titled "Innovative Market," which would gather together hundreds of businessmen, scientists, inventors and producers of leading innovative technologies.

"I think this exhibition and this forum will be an impetus for our further cooperation with China. Besides, it will be a very powerful impetus for the scientific development of Ukraine, and for the development of innovations in Ukraine," Maksym Strikha, Ukraine's Deputy Education and Science Minister, told Xinhua during the presentation of the "Innovative Market" forum.

Strikha has hailed China's recent achievements in science, technology and innovation, saying they set an example for other nations.

"China has set an ambitious goal to become a leading science and tech power. Now, it appears that they will be able to achieve it. China is a leader in the science intensity of the economy, this country is growing at an incredible pace and doing everything to become a leader in the number of scientists... China is doing a lot for the presence of its science abroad. We have much to learn from China," Strikha emphasized.

During the exhibition, innovative China-made products will be exhibited on an area covering about 2,200 square meters.

The exposition will be consist of two main exhibition areas -- one displaying China's STI achievements, and the other showcasing achievements of Chinese-Ukrainian cooperation in science and technology.

The China's Achievements part will display important STI accomplishments during China's 12th Five-Year Plan Period in ten exhibition zones.

It will feature China's achievements in high-tech industrial development, nanotechnologies, electronics, information, Internet and automation, space industry, agricultural technologies and other areas.

Mykhailo Tytarchuk, Ukraine's Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, said Kiev is viewing the exhibition as an opportunity to learn from China's vast experience in developing new technologies.

"China is a real example of how to create a digital ecosystem; how to quickly develop innovations and implement them not only at the state level, but also at the business level and the society level. By implementing a comprehensive digitalization, first of all, we are fighting corruption, and it is very important for us," Tytarchuk told Xinhua.

The main aim of the China-Ukraine IST exhibition is to align the Belt and Road Initiative with Ukraine's national development and deepen practical cooperation and ties between China and Ukraine.

The event is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. It was jointly organized by China Science and Technology Exchange Center and Kiev International Exhibition Center.

According to Ivan Tkachenko, the deputy head of the Kiev International Exhibition Center, apart from the main program for professionals, the exhibition will feature a number of related events, including roundtable discussions and workshops.

"I expect that the event will be attended by about 5,000 visitors. The fourth day will be socially-oriented -- we will remove the entrance fee in an attempt to attract a broad audience," Tkachenko told Xinhua.

The first "Innovative Market" International forum was held in Kiev on Nov. 22-24, 2016.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 07:32:18|Editor: Lifang

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HOUSTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Customers who stop by Easy Cash Pawn Jewelry & Gun here in Houston in U.S. state of Texas are usually on the hunt for a new stereo, digital camera, microwave oven or a gun for home protection.

These days, more shoppers are looking for knives, but not just any knife. Picture the big ones - machetes, swords, daggers, throwing knives and even the famous Bowie knife. Behind the upswing in sales is new legislation allowing Texan residents to openly carry larger knives.

The law took effect on Sept. 1, allowing Texans to carry blades longer than 5.5 inches in most, but not all places. Bars and restaurants are off limits - any places that derives 51 percent of their revenue from alcohol sales. Also off limits are schools and universities, polling places, sporting events, secure areas of airports, correctional facilities, hospitals, nursing homes and mental wards.

Carrying the blades into restricted areas could result a misdemeanor conviction and a fine up to 500 U.S. dollars. The law is restricted to Texas residents 18 or older.

Since the law was passed, sales at Houston-area pawn shops have been brisk.

"Sales have gone up, mostly for big Bowie knives. I've seen it a lot," said Reynaldo Uribe, manager of Easy Cash Pawn Jewelry & Gun in Galveston, Texas, near Houston. But Uribe questioned the logic behind the legislation.

"It's not a good idea because we have more weapons out there, and more violence," he said. "More people are getting hurt and killed. Now anyone can walk around with a gun or a big old knife. I don't approve of that at all."

Opposition to the legislation arose after a student was killed and three others were wounded in May by a knife-wielding man at the University of Texas at Austin. The law passed by changing the wording describing the blades from "illegal" to "location-restricted." That essentially prohibits the carrying of knives in the same places where openly carrying firearms is prohibited.

Eugene Lewis, a retired police officer at three Texas school districts, said the new law does not consider the potential mental instability of knife carriers.

"We are allowing so many people who are unstable to arm themselves, and we strip law enforcement from the ability to stop and question those guys' behavior," he said.

"It concerns me. I'm glad I'm retired, because what today's officers have to face and deal with makes the job even more difficult. From 'open carry,' where anybody can carry a weapon, that's going to get us into some trouble on down the road."

Elissa Briscoe, lead pawnbroker at EZ Pawn in Galveston, said she also has concerns about public safety since the bill was signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

"I don't like that," Briscoe said of the law. "I'm just not fond of guns or knives. You've got crazies that just walk down the street (with knives)."

In Texas, many people carry trapper pocket knives, while others prefer toting custom-made knives or hunting and fishing knives. But things are rapidly changing with the lifting of restrictions, as more people feel free to carry their blade of choice.

"I don't carry knives and I never have," said Michael Milan, a home improvement specialist. "But if an individual has the idea that he would like to do that (commit violence), it's on him. We're in Texas. It's like the 'wild, wild west' here. I know a lot of people that would carry bigger knives."
This file photo taken on January 02, 2016 shows United Nations peacekeepers patrolling outside a vote-counting centre for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Bangui.

(AFP PHOTO/ISSOUF SANOGO)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Security Council Wednesday renewed the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for 12 months and authorized an increase of 900 troops, as recommended by the UN secretary-general.

MINUSCA's new mandate will focus on three priority tasks: the protection of civilians, enhanced support to the peace process, including national reconciliation, social cohesion and transitional justice and facilitating the creation of a secure environment for the immediate, full, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bintou Keita briefed the Council on Darfur. She said that the political process to negotiate the settlement of the conflict with the non-signatories of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur remains stalled.

At the same time, she noted that armed clashes between the government and these non-signatories have subsided.

Keita said it is evident that Darfur today is different from the time of the initial deployment of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), given the overall improvement in terms of security.

However, positive developments have not resulted in the voluntary and sustainable return of internally displaced people and nearly one third of the population in Darfur remains displaced.

Keita added that this reflects anxiety about security and uncertainty about the occupation of their land, as well as the lack of confidence about their present and future prospects.

Key to this dilemma, she said, is slow progress in addressing critical issues, such as land and other scarce resource management, accountability, and security sector reform.

The UN Security Council met Wednesday to discuss the draft resolution of renewing the mandate of MINUSCA, initially circulated by France on Nov. 6.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 08:10:53|Editor: Lifang

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Delegates talk to each other as they participate in the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Conference in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 15, 2017. Nearly 60 defense ministers gathered here Tuesday for a two-day event aimed at rallying support for UN peacekeeping missions. (Xinhua/Liang Sen)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 09:02:36|Editor: Lifang

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bad weather conditions caused by smog have disrupted 604 flights of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the first two weeks of November, an airlines' spokesperson said.

The smoggy weather conditions, which were prevailing in the country's east Punjab province during the month of November, were beyond the airline's control, so they had to either delay or cancel the flights, Express News quoted the spokesperson as saying Wednesday.

The affected areas included Multan, Faisalabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Sialkot and Rahim Yar Khan, he said.

The spokesperson added that they rescheduled 83 flights, re-routed 82, diverted 17 and cancelled 159 flights due to poor visibility, adding that another 200 flights were delayed to ensure the security requirements in the bad weather.

The spokesman said that each plane is used for multiple flight operations, so their delay due to weather conditions, also affected 63 other flights in the areas where weather was suitable for takeoff, as the plane was not available.

The plains of Punjab, remained engulfed by a thick smog blanket in the first two weeks of November, but scattered rains, which started in the country on Tuesday, washed away the smog from most of the areas.

Officials from local met office told Xinhua earlier this week that the province will get a respite from smog following the downpour, but fog will continue in the area.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 09:22:39|Editor: Lifang

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SYDNEY, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Western Australia (WA) have charged three people following a 25-million-U.S. dollar drug bust with a fourth dying in custody.

Police confirmed on Thursday that charges were laid over the raids on Monday that recovered 32 kg of methamphetamine, 1.8 kg of cocaine, 300 g of MDMA or ecstasy and more than 500,000 U.S. dollars in cash.

The charges came after it was confirmed on Wednesday that a 27-year-old man who was also arrested in relation to the raids had fallen ill and died while in custody.

His death is being investigated by WA's Homicide Squad and Internal Affairs Unit which is treating it as a death in custody.

The amount of methamphetamine seized in the raids represented 320,000 individual hits of meth, a drug which has ravaged the Australian state.

"I don't need to spell out the destructive nature of methamphetamine and what effect it's having on our community," Assistant Police Commissioner Michelle Fyfe told reporters on Thursday.

"Preventing 320,000 hits of meth from reaching our streets is a great outcome for the people of Western Australia."

The three men, aged 27, 27 and 23 respectively, faced a total of 21 charges including possessing prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply, possession of illegal firearms and possession of stolen property.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 09:47:46|Editor: Lifang

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SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Seoul shares opened lower on Thursday.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched down 0.61 points, or 0.02 percent, to trade at 2,517.64 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

South Korea's currency was quoted at was quoted at 1,105.4 won against the U.S. dollar as of 10:15 a.m. local time, up 6.9 won from the previous close.

The local financial market opened an hour later than usual for the originally scheduled college entrance exam.

It was delayed by a week to Nov. 23 as the powerful earthquake struck the southeastern region of the country on Wednesday, causing fissures in some of school buildings in the region.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 10:37:58|Editor: Lifang

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Security Council are in intense negotiations on Wednesday for the renewal of the mandate of an independent investigation mechanism tasked to determine who was responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Russia last month vetoed a U.S.-sponsored draft resolution that would have extended for another year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations.

After that, the United States and Russia have circulated competing draft resolutions among council members for consideration.

"Intense negotiations are going on. We are still hopeful that there will be a solution to a continuation of JIM, maintaining the mandate," Olof Skoog, the Swedish ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters on Wednesday. "It's very late in the day, but we're not giving up."

On the two competing draft resolutions, he said: "We are encouraging the United States and Russia to find a compromise."

Matthew Rycroft, the British ambassador to the United Nations, said it is "absolutely crucial" that the JIM mandate is renewed.

"Everyone (in the Security Council) wants it to be renewed. But we have different views about how it should be renewed," he told reporters. "I hope we can come together before the end of tomorrow (Thursday) to reach an agreement that allows it to carry on its work in a professional, independent, scientific and de-politicized way."

Asked about the consequences of the JIM mandate not to be renewed, Rycroft said: "The victors would be people who want to use chemical weapons in Syria ... Everyone in the council would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we allow that to happen."

Francois Delattre, the French ambassador to the United Nations, expressed the hope that the JIM mandate, which expires on Friday, will be renewed. "Until the last minute, there is hope."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 12:03:13|Editor: Lifang

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LIMA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski denied on Wednesday having received money from Brazilian construction giant, Odebrecht, to finance his 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns.

"I received no support of any kind from the company in neither of my two electoral campaigns, neither in 2010-2011 with the Alliance for Great Change, nor in 2015-2016 with Peruvians For Change, as shows the documentation in the hands of the electoral authorities of Peru," he said in an address to the country.

Kuczynski also denied an allegation that he was hired as a consultant by Odebrecht when he stepped down as prime minister and economy minister while former President Alejandro Toledo was in power.

This runs counter to accusations made by former Odebrecht president Marcelo Odebrecht, who told Peruvian investigators that his firm hired Kuczynski as a consultant in 2006, the Peruvian press reported on Tuesday.

According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Odebrecht paid 29 million U.S. dollars to Peruvian leaders and presidential candidates from 2006 to 2014, in order to be awarded major infrastructure contracts.

The Odebrecht corruption scandal in Peru has caused former President Ollanta Humala to receive a preventive jail term of 18 months, and made Toledo a fugitive from justice now living in the United States.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 13:19:14|Editor: Lifang

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States are at odds Wednesday at the UN security council on whether to renew the mandate of an independent investigation mechanism tasked to determine who was responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Russia last month vetoed a U.S.-sponsored draft resolution that would have extended for another year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations.

After that, the United States and Russia have circulated competing draft resolutions among council members for consideration.

"Intense negotiations are going on. We are still hopeful that there will be a solution to a continuation of JIM, maintaining the mandate," Olof Skoog, the Swedish ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters on Wednesday. "It's very late in the day, but we're not giving up."

On the two competing draft resolutions, he said, "We are encouraging the United States and Russia to find a compromise."

A JIM report, which came out two days after the Russian veto on Oct. 24, finds that the Syrian government and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group were responsible for using chemical weapons in Syria.

The IS used sulfur mustard in a September 2016 attack in Umm Hawsh and the Syrian government was responsible for the release of sarin in an April 2017 attack in Khan Shaykhun, according to the report.

"There has been sufficient evidence of a credible and reliable nature to make its findings," Edmond Mulet, head of JIM, told the Security Council on Nov. 7.

But Russia questioned the methodology of JIM, particularly the fact that it did not carry out on-site visits. In an Oct. 31 letter to the president of the Security Council, Russian ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Vassily Nebenzia called the JIM report "amateurish in nature" and "based primarily on assumptions and a selective use of facts."

Russia, therefore, demands a modification of JIM's mandate, while the United States and its allies want to maintain the current JIM mandate.

Should negotiations fail, the Security Council would repeat last year's scenario, where the JIM mandate was not renewed on time, leading to disruptions in JIM's work. The Swedish ambassador saw "a good conversation going on" and said he was still hopeful.

It is not clear whether Russia will also put its draft resolution to vote in the Security Council. Asked on Monday whether his country would do so, Nebenzia said: "Let's see."

JIM was unanimously approved by the Security Council in 2015 and had its mandate extended last year, although the renewal was delayed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 13:34:14|Editor: Jiaxin

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by Xinhua writer Zhu Dongyang

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump touted his America First idea and sent protectionist trade messages during his Asia visit, which ended on Tuesday.

The move would marginalize the United States in a region where globalization has been actively pursued, experts say.

Claiming that Washington has long been taken advantage of by Asian nations in their trade ties, Trump said at bilateral and multilateral events such as the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, that the snowballing trade imbalance between Washington and Asia has to be curtailed now.

Such remarks were not resounded in a region that has sought economic integration and connectivity for decades.

"Globalization marches on without Trump," noted the London-based Financial Times. "Mr. Trump is expected to leave Asia, a region that carries the future hopes of many U.S. companies, without delivering any substantial new trade initiatives."

"It's the overall message this Trump dilemma presents. Everyone else is going forward with trade integration while the United States is trying to slow it down," Rufus Yerxa, a former U.S. official heading the National Foreign Trade Council, was quoted as saying.

"The reluctance to engage the U.S. lies at least partly in the bellicose approach adopted by Mr. Trump and his aides and their 'America First' brand of economic nationalism," noted the Financial Times article. "Behind it all is what some see as a rapidly emerging and increasingly inescapable truth. Globalization has not died with the ascent of Donald Trump. If anything, for now, other countries are finding ways to accelerate the process."

In the eyes of Richard Hass, head of Council on Foreign Relations, a U.S. think-tank, Trump's "protectionist, nationalist trade message only marginalizes U.S. in Asia" and "undermines U.S. economic and strategic interests."

Trump "rejects large trade agreements that tie our hands. But that is what an agreement does -- along with the hands of others," said Hass.

Even Trump himself admitted the righteousness of Asian nations in protecting their own interests.

"Trump's efforts to cut off the U.S. deficit might work for a while, but in the end, he cannot reverse the fundamental causes of the deficit -- the economic structure, industrial specialization, etc. These demands unprecedented willingness to launch reform, and the nationalist trade policy of his administration will not help build up that willingness in the region," said Xu Liping, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

"Rather, the headstrong efforts to reduce deficits are expected to undermine global trade and the world economic recovery in a large picture, and pull the U.S. into mounting trade wars with Asian economies," he said in a written interview with Xinhua.

During his 12-day visit, taking him to five Asian countries of Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump also frequently raised the South China Sea issue.

In Vietnam on Sunday, Trump offered to "help mediate or arbitrate" the issue. In Manila, he also voiced concerns about the maritime security in the region.

"I know we've had a dispute for quite a while," he said. "If I can help in any way, I'm a very good mediator and a very good arbitrator. I have done plenty of it from both sides."

The proposal was inopportune and untimely, said Xu. "As the negotiation between claimants on the code of conduct in the South China Sea is going on, such remarks by the United States are prone to spark speculation that Washington wants to roil the water and then undermine peacemaking and confidence-building efforts in this regard."

"The Trump administration's strategy in this regard is barely helpful to a region that calls for cooperation rather than division, and prosperity rather than provocation," Xu added. "It also does no good to the constructive engagement that Washington claimed to have within the region."

Trump's self-recommendation also met an anemic response from Vietnam, the Philippines, both relevant parties to the South China Sea issue, and the region.

The joint statements issued on Nov. 13-14 by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members barely mentioned any of the U.S. concerns. Instead, the 10-nation bloc vowed to enhance regional cooperation on such fronts as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), infrastructure connectivity, food security, coastal and marine environmental protection, among others.

"The overall situation on the South China Sea is moving towards peace and stability, as all relevant countries have expressed their support for the freedom of navigation, flight and commerce. The earlier the White House recognizes this fact, the wiser its decision will be," Xu added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 13:36:24|Editor: Jiaxin

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SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korea has signed a standing currency swap deal with Canada without any limits on maturity and amount, Seoul's central bank said Thursday.

Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Lee Ju-yeol inked the deal with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Poloz at the Bank of Canada's head office in Ottawa Wednesday, according to the BOK press release.

The agreement to exchange the South Korean won for the Canadian dollar took effect immediately.

It is a standing currency swap deal having neither maturity nor amount ceiling. The maturity and amount would be decided upon by the two central banks after discussions.

It marked the first time that South Korea signed such a standing currency agreement.

Under the deal, South Korea can borrow the Canadian dollars in emergency situations in return for providing South Korea's currency.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 14:22:45|Editor: Zhou Xin

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MANILA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China and the Philippines issued a joint statement here on Thursday, in which the two sides agreed to advance bilateral relations and press ahead with cooperation in key areas of infrastructure, production capacity, investment, commerce, trade, agriculture, livelihood, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

The joint statement was issued amid Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to the Philippines at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Both sides recognized that the bilateral relations have achieved positive turnaround and momentum through joint efforts, and agreed to advance relations in a sustained and pragmatic manner on the basis of mutual respect, sincerity, equality, and mutual benefit.

The Philippines reaffirms its adherence to the One-China policy, the statement said.

To further advance ties, both sides agreed to enhance high-level exchanges and dovetail development strategies.

China and the Philippines recognized the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippine development plans, and their synergies with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, according to the statement.

The two countries will jointly formulate and implement a Program on China-Philippines Industrial Park Development.

China reiterates its firm support and assistance to the Philippines's fight against terrorism and drug-related crimes, and the quick recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of Marawi City, the statement said.

During Li's visit, a launching ceremony of two river bridges in Manila and two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, south of the Philippines, was held on Wednesday.

The Philippines appreciates the assistance from China in the fight against terrorism in Marawi and in the construction of two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, the statement said.

Both sides also agreed to identify and facilitate the implementation of the second-batch of priority cooperation projects.

According to the statement, China will continue to encourage and support Chinese enterprises to expand investment in the Philippines, import more quality products from the Philippines and upgrade the scale and quality of trade and investment between the two countries.

On the South China Sea issue, the two countries noted that the situation in the South China Sea has become generally more stable as a result of joint cooperative efforts between China, the Philippines, and other ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

Both sides agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation in areas such as marine environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, and possible cooperation in marine scientific research, the statement said.

They further agreed to continue to actively advance consultations and negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and ensure the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety.

Noting that the Philippines takes the rotating presidency of ASEAN in 2017, China congratulated the Philippines on the success of its chairmanship and its successful hosting of a series of meetings.

Both sides welcomed the signing of various agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on infrastructure projects, bridge construction, bond issurance, drug rehabilitation, climate change, intellectual property protection, industrial capacity cooperation and more, according to the statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 15:02:53|Editor: Liu

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By Zenzile Khoisan

CAPE TOWN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- An unclear political situation is unfolding in Zimbabwe as its first and incumbent President Robert Mugabe has since early Wednesday been reportedly put under house arrest by the military.

Media reports said several loud explosions were heard early Wednesday in the central area of Zimbabwe's capital Harare, in addition to gunfire near Mugabe's private residence. While pledging to ensure the security of 93-year-old Mugabe and his wife Grace, Zimbabwe's military said on state TV that "this is not a military takeover of government."

"We are only targeting criminals around him (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," said army Chief of Staff Sibusiso Moyo, who also said the development was "another level" in the military's response to the political situation in the southern African country since a statement was made by Defense Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga on Monday.

Chiwenga said purges against senior ruling party officials should end "forthwith" in a statement issued after Mugabe last week fired Vice President and deputy chief of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Emmerson Mnangagwa, his political ally for more than 40 years, on allegations of disloyalty and deceit.

While pledging allegiance to Mugabe, Chiwenga also warned at a press conference on Monday that the military would step in if the revolution that brought Zimbabwe independence was under threat.

How the political situation in Zimbabwe would evolve has raised grave concerns in its neighbors and international community. Some political analysts in neighboring South Africa emphasized the Zimbabwean military's continued respect for Mugabe as a crucial factor.

Professor Sipho Seepe, former special advisor to South Africa's defense ministry, said one cannot simply look at the incidents in Zimbabwe while ignoring the complexity of the problem.

"What cannot ever be discounted, even after the military has left the barracks and taken this action, is that there is still tremendous respect for President Mugabe and the role he has played," he said.

"This is clearly seen in the statements that have been made by the military commanders who have made statements in public when they stated that President Mugabe is still the commander in chief of the armed forces," said Seepe.

While this is a difficult situation, there are nevertheless several clear mechanisms for engagement which could lead to an outcome most people would accept, according to Seepe.

In his eyes, the good personal relationship between South African President Jacob Zuma and Mugabe will open a way for mediation towards a peaceful settlement.

"Most people in the region want a dignified exit for Mugabe, so I think there will now be arrangements to facilitate that," Seepe added.

Political analyst Stan Henkeman noted that "Zimbabwe is currently on a knife-edge," and the military has taken sides.

He said the huge challenge now was "the impact of the events in Zimbabwe on the region, and on the institutions in the continent."

"The issue before us is how this is going to be dealt with in the African Union and in SADC," he noted.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for an urgent foreign ministers meeting to be held on Thursday to discuss the political and security situation in Zimbabwe.

On Zimbabwe's situation, Zuma, who is also the current SADC chairperson, has repeatedly called for calm and restraint, and urged the Zimbabwean military to ensure that peace and stability are not undermined.

Zuma said Wednesday his special envoys -- South Africa's defense and security ministers -- will go to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the military leaders, and will then visit Angola to brief President Joao Lourenco, chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security, on Zimbabwe's situation.

The SADC will continue to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe closely, Zuma said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 15:07:57|Editor: Yurou

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Nearly one third of Darfur's population remains displaced as anxiety over safety in the region continues to keep them from returning home, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Wednesday.

Although armed groups in Darfur have largely been defeated and the ferocity of intercommunal violence has declined, those "positive developments have not led to the voluntary and sustainable return of internally displaced persons," said Bintou Keita, assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations at the UN.

Presenting the UN secretary-general's latest report on the African Union UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), she said the slow returns reflected "anxiety about security and lack of confidence about present and future prospects," as progress has been slow in addressing such issues as land, poor resource management, accountability, and security sector reform.

The political process to negotiate a settlement of the conflict in Darfur with non-signatories to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) remains stalled, she said, adding that armed clashes between the government and non signatory forces have subsided.

In conclusion, she said the level of cooperation between UNAMID and the government of Sudan has been positive overall, although challenges remain in terms of access restrictions and customs clearance at Port Sudan.

The DDPD was finalized at the All Darfur Stakeholders Conference in May 2011, in Doha, Qatar. On July 14, 2012, the government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) signed a protocol agreement committing themselves to the document, which is now the framework for the comprehensive peace process in Darfur.

The DDPD is the culmination of over 20 months of negotiations, dialogue and consultations with the major parties to the Darfur conflict, all relevant stakeholders and international partners.

Darfur is a region in western Sudan. Because of the war in Darfur between Sudanese government forces and the indigenous population, the region has been in a state of humanitarian emergency since 2003.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 15:23:02|Editor: Yurou

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hillary Clinton Wednesday warned the current administration against appointing a special counsel to investigate her role in the sale of a uranium company in 2010.

In an interview with U.S. magazine Mother Jones, Clinton said it is "such an abuse of power." She was responding to reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering the move.

"I regret if they do it because it will be such a disastrous step to politicizing the justice system," Clinton said.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions had reportedly asked top prosecutors to examine whether to use a special counsel to investigate the sale of the uranium company to Russian interests, which happened when Clinton acted as the secretary of state.

Several Republicans, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have alleged there were links between the sale and donations to the Clinton Foundation, even though multiple federal agencies, including the State Department, approved the deal in 2010.

The company, Uranium One, controlled land equal to roughly 20 percent of the uranium capacity of the United States when the deal was made.

Republicans have tried to link the takeover to a sum of 145 million U.S. dollars donated to the Clinton Foundation by stakeholders in the company.

"This Uranium One story has been debunked countless times by members of the press, by independent experts," Clinton said.

Clinton suggested the Trump administration was trying to divert public attention from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump's presidential campaign and the Russian government.

"It is nothing but a false charge that the Trump administration is trying to drum up to avoid attention being drawn to them," she said.

Besides, Clinton said she was not concerned about being prosecuted.

"There is no basis to it," Clinton said. "At the end of the day, nothing will come of it, but it will, you know, cause a lot of terrible consequences that we might live with for a really long time."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 15:52:07|Editor: pengying

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A soldier is seen on an armed vehicle in the city center of Harare, Zimbabwe, Nov. 16, 2017. Calm and peace have been urged for Zimbabwe where the military announced on Wednesday that it has taken control of all government institutions in the southern African country. (Xinhua/Stringer)

HARARE, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Calm and peace have been urged for Zimbabwe where the military announced on Wednesday that it has taken control of all government institutions in the southern African country.

Zimbabwe's 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe and his wife have since early Wednesday been reportedly put under house arrest. Military leaders said on state TV that they were not taking over the government, but "targeting criminals around" Mugabe, and that Mugabe and his family are safe and their security is guaranteed.

Armored carriers cordoned off the presidential seat of power and the parliament building in the capital, and unconfirmed reports said a number of cabinet ministers and some top officials of the ruling ZANU-PF party were arrested.

Political analysts stressed the military's continued respect for Mugabe and his role in Zimbabwe's revolution that won it independence from Britain in 1980 can likely lead to a peaceful settlement. The unfolding situation in Zimbabwe poses a serious political uncertainty that may have impact on the region, raising widespread concerns.

Countries and regional blocs are closely watching the situation.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has repeated the call for calm, restraint and peace in Zimbabwe, and called an urgent foreign ministers meeting to be held on Thursday to discuss the situation there. The African Union has urged "all stakeholders to address the current situation in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe."

South African President Jacob Zuma has called for a peaceful solution. Zuma, in his capacity as the SADC chair, also said he was sending special envoys to meet with Mugabe and Zimbabwe's military leaders.

"We are monitoring this situation very closely," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Wednesday. "At the moment it's very fluid and it's hard to say exactly how this will turn out. Everybody wants to see a stable and successful Zimbabwe. We are appealing for everyone to refrain from violence."

China's Foreign Ministry said China hopes Zimbabwe's relevant parties can properly handle the internal affairs, noting that maintaining peace, stability and development in Zimbabwe conforms to the fundamental interests of the country and its neighboring regions, and is also the common aspiration of the international community.

In a statement, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed for calm, peace and respect for the constitution in Zimbabwe.

Namibia voiced concerns about the political uncertainty in Zimbabwe.

"As neighbors, member states of SADC and the African Union, Namibia and Zimbabwe share a common destiny and common aspirations for peace, economic prosperity and democracy for our countries and people," Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said in a statement.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu, currently on a state visit to Egypt, said in a statement released by his spokesperson: "I have encouraged all parties in Zimbabwe to work towards a quick and peaceful resolution to the impasse and to uphold human rights."

Lungu also said he was working with other regional neighbors and carefully monitoring the evolving situation in neighboring Zimbabwe.

Embassies of countries including the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada have advised citizens to take precautions due to the military activities and intense situation in Harare.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 16:07:12|Editor: Xiang Bo

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PANAMA CITY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The state visit of Panamanian President Panama Juan Carlos Varela to China will mark a new chapter in bilateral ties, Wei Qiang, Chinese ambassador to Panama, told Xinhua.

Varela will visit China on Nov. 16-22 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be the first trip by a Panamanian leader to China since the two sides established diplomatic ties in June.

Wei said Varela will meet with Xi, as the first Latin American head of state to do so after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held last month in Beijing.

The ambassador noted that China attaches great importance to its ties with Panama and stands ready to boost mutual political trust, improve friendly exchanges and mutual cooperation in various fields, promote each other's development and bring benefits to both peoples.

He said the two leaders would also witness the signing of a series of bilateral agreements and the Panamanian leader is also set to visit Shanghai.

"We believe that the state visit of President Varela will create great opportunities for the development of Sino-Panamanian relations and will open a new era of common development in both nations," said Wei.

With its privileged geographical position, Panama constitutes one of the world's most important maritime transportation hubs.

In recent years, faced with higher transport and logistical demands, the Panamanian government expanded the capacity of the Panama Canal, improving its maritime, air and logistical operations.

"The establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations is in accordance with the historical trend, representing the will of both peoples and is applauded by Panama's various sectors as well as by the international community," said Wei.

In the past five months, relations have developed swiftly with the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, trade, investments, quality control, maritime transportation, aviation, finance, tourism, culture and judicial administration, among others, said the ambassador.

Wei, the first Chinese ambassador to the country, said that bilateral ties face a historic opportunity as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 16:17:22|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Visitors watch flexible screens during the 19th China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 16, 2017. More than 3,000 exhibitors would show latest achievements in science and technology here on the fair which kicked off on Thursday. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

SHENZHEN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition featuring hi-tech Chinese products and technology opened Thursday in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province.

The China Hi-tech Fair 2017 has drawn more than 3,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries.

Covering a total area of 120,000 square meters, 12 exhibition zones feature hi-tech products in environmental protection, biological sciences, new energy, new materials, military and civil integration, and sensor technology.

Gao Zimin, deputy mayor of Shenzhen, estimated people from 80 countries will look for business opportunities there and the number of visitors will exceed 500,000 over the six days of the event.

Apart from the release of over 1,000 new products, around 100 technical meetings and forums will discuss different sectors. Fair organizers have arranged paired meetings between overseas purchasers and domestic hi-tech companies, and investigation tours for international exhibitors, said Gao.

A Belt and Road pavilion has drawn exhibitors from 27, the most since the pavilion was set up in 2015.

"The fair has brought more international attention, communication and cooperation between Chinese hi-tech players and their foreign counterparts," said Gao, adding delegations from Argentina and Papua New Guinea are attending the fair for the first time.

The annual science and technology fair, launched in 1999, is the largest and the most influential in China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 16:32:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Chinese PremierLi Keqiang(5th L) and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries pose for group photos before the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting in Manila, thePhilippines, Nov. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

MANILA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reaffirmed their commitment to long-term peace and stability in the South China Sea as they announced to start negotiating on the details of a code of conduct in the area.

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS

At the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting held Monday in the Philippine capital of Manila, the two sides announced the start of their consultations on the text of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, which is considered the most crucial part of the process.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said during the meeting that China hopes the COC could be a "stabilizer" of peace in the South China Sea.

"Through consultations on the COC, we hope that all parties could enhance their mutual understanding and trust, and strive to adopt the COC at an early date on the basis of consensus," he said.

The announcement followed a string of positive developments in the South China Sea issue over the past year, thanks to joint efforts made by China and ASEAN countries.

At the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in August, the two sides drew up and adopted a framework of the COC, paving the way for initiation of substantive consultations on the code's text.

In a joint communique, ASEAN foreign ministers acknowledged the improved situation in the South China Sea over the past year and said the bloc anticipates "a higher level" of strategic partnership with China.

Adding to such positive momentum, China and ASEAN members have established a hotline between their ministries of foreign affairs to manage maritime emergencies, and held a joint exercise on maritime search and rescue.

CHINA'S COMMITMENT

Premier Li, who just wrapped up his five-day tour to the Philippines, had reaffirmed China's commitment to long-term peace and stability in the South China Sea on various occasions during the trip. In Manila, he attended a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation and paid an official visit to the Southeast Asian nation.

Peace and stability in the South China Sea is closely linked to the development and prosperity of countries in this region, Li said when addressing the 10+1 meeting.

China, which has most of its freight of foreign trade passing through the South China Sea, wants peace and stability for that area more than any other country, Li added.

China's commitment to the goal of upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea will not change, nor will the country change its policy of peacefully resolving territory and maritime rights disputes through consultation and negotiation with countries directly concerned, said the Chinese premier.

At the 12th East Asia Summit on Tuesday, Li told regional leaders that China would firmly safeguard the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

The initiation of COC text consultations, he noted, fully represents the common will of regional countries that they should properly handle differences through dialogues and negotiations.

"It also shows the confidence, wisdom, and capacity of the regional countries to properly settle the South China Sea issue in order to make it a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," said the Chinese premier.

In a joint statement issued following Li's visit to the Philippines on Wednesday, the two countries attributed the stabilizing situation in the South China Sea to joint efforts of China, the Philippines, and other ASEAN members, and pledged to strengthen maritime cooperation in areas such as marine environmental protection and disaster risk reduction.

Li's trip was the first official visit to the Philippines by a Chinese premier in 10 years.

PLEDGES FROM ASEAN

Meanwhile, leaders and experts from ASEAN countries lauded the significant progress made in the COC consultations.

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh said the move will deepen mutual understanding and mutual trust between ASEAN and China and lay a solid foundation for promoting their strategic partnership.

"It's a good signal," said Victor Corpuz, a former Philippine military intelligence chief.

He said China and ASEAN have the ability to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea without foreign interference.

"If they interfere, it will surely make the issue more complex," he added.

At the East Asia Summit, leaders from ASEAN countries hailed China's active role in the South China Sea issue, hoping that the related parties can work jointly to safeguard regional peace and stability.

Commenting on the Philippines's achievement for its chairmanship this year, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said a major highlight was the COC framework. Singapore will hold the chairmanship of ASEAN next year.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also lauded the agreement on the COC framework, saying that Vietnam is willing to promote maritime cooperation with China and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

A chairman's statement of the 31st ASEAN summit released on Thursday said the bloc will facilitate the work and negotiation for the conclusion of a substantive and effective COC.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 16:37:29|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China will host the Fourth World Internet Conference from Dec. 3 to 5 in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, according to Ren Xianliang, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Ren told a State Council Information Office press conference that 1,500 guests from around the world, including heads of international organizations, leading figures in the internet area, online celebrities, and academics will attend this year's summit.

The event will focus on the digital economy, openness and sharing, to jointly build an online community of shared future, he said.

The summit will include details of new scientific and technological achievements and exhibitions, Ren said.

China has also invited several international organizations as co-organizers of the event, including the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, according to Ren.

The summit will issue reports on the development of the Internet and see agreements signed between governments, social organizations, and enterprises, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 17:07:38|Editor: Yamei

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (5th L, front) poses for a group photo with other leaders and representatives from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies at the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, Nov. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Speaking at the past five Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summits, Chinese President Xi Jinping shared China's blueprint of openness and cooperation to energize regional economies and address changing global challenges.

Just as Xi said in this year's speech, "development is a journey with no end, but with one new departure point after another."

From Bali, Beijing, Manila, Lima to Da Nang, these five "departure points" recorded the Chinese leader's ever-innovating vision for APEC to achieve common development as partners, which has resonated with world business and political leaders.

DIAGNOSING WORLD ECONOMY

Noting the global economy is undergoing more profound changes, Xi said on Friday in Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam, that the APEC economies must "closely follow the trend of the global economy, identify its underlying dynamics, keep to the right direction, and, on that basis, take bold action."

When illustrating the profound changes the global economy is seeing, Xi said the world should make economic globalization, which he called "an irreversible historical trend," more open and inclusive, more balanced, more equitable and beneficial to all.

"We should uphold multilateralism, pursue shared growth through consultation and collaboration, forge closer partnerships, and build a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi made such remarks regarding the system of global economic governance.

Two years ago, in the Philippine capital of Manila, Xi told the business community that the global economy, though on a course of slow recovery, had not secured a solid base and was still fraught with considerable destabilizing factors and uncertainties.

At that time, Xi said, facing the dangerous "rapids" and "shoals" in the world economy, the economies in the region must "steer the giant ship of the Asia-Pacific in the right direction," urging all the economies to act in a responsible manner and work in unison to promote global growth.

ENVISIONING ASIA-PACIFIC FUTURE

To steer economic globalization or to dither in the face of challenges? To jointly advance regional cooperation or to go separate ways? Xi raised such questions to the CEOs from 21 countries at this year's APEC meeting.

He gave his own answer to the questions, saying: "We must advance with the trend of times, live up to our responsibility and work together to deliver a bright future of development and prosperity for the Asia-Pacific."

Speaking of what the Asia-Pacific's future should look like at the 2013 CEO conference in Bali, Indonesia, Xi said efforts should be made to build a region that seeks common development, calling on the Asia-Pacific economies to stay committed to open development, promote innovation-driven development, and pursue interconnected growth.

The Chinese leader said all members should maintain a multilateral trading system that is free, open and non-discriminatory, and oppose all forms of protectionism.

Hailed as "a strategic initiative critical for the long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific" by Xi in his keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, last year, the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) has been gaining steam especially after a collective study on the trade bloc was approved at Lima summit, the first substantial step toward its eventual realization.

"We need to stick to our agenda and take more effective actions to realize the FTAAP at an early date, thus bringing about an Asia-Pacific economy with greater openness," Xi stressed again at the Da Nang summit, which wrapped up on Saturday.

OFFERING CHINESE WISDOM

"Over the past four years, China's economy has grown by 7.2 percent on average annually, contributing over 30 percent of global growth. China is now a main driver powering global growth," Xi quoted convincing figures in his Da Nang speech to demonstrate China's contribution.

"China will not slow its steps in opening up itself," the president embraced economic openness when addressing the APEC business leaders.

"We will work together with other countries to create new drivers of common development through the launching of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said, referring to China's effort to enhance connectivity.

Four years earlier, Xi embarked on his first APEC trip to Bali in Indonesia. He told the world that he was fully confident about China's economy.

"I am confidant because the quality and efficiency of China's economic development are improving steadily," the president said.

Moving from over-reliance on investment and export to dependence on domestic demand, China, instead of taking GDP growth as the sole criterion for success, is now focusing more on improving the quality and efficiency of growth, he elaborated.

When world business leaders gathered in Beijing in 2014, Xi interpreted the "new normal" of China's economy which had emerged with several notable features.

China's economic growth has slowed down from the previous high speed to a medium-to-high speed, and the economy is increasingly driven by innovation instead of input and investment, Xi said at that time.

"The Chinese economy is undergoing profound structural changes and (is) improving in quality and structure," he said at that time, adding that the new normal will bring new development opportunities to China.

The Asia-Pacific region faces changing challenges, but what remains unchanged is the Chinese leader's commitment to addressing them with his partners in the group to achieve common development.

"China's stance is incredibly important at this particular time," Peter Drysdale, head of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research of Australian National University, told Xinhua.

If the APEC members press ahead with their own reform agendas together in a collective way, it will reinforce each other's liberalization and reform programs, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 17:17:41|Editor: pengying

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VANCOUVER, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Angelina Jolie urged military leaders and peacekeepers on Wednesday to step up efforts to protect women and girls from sexual violence around the world.

The Hollywood star is also a special envoy to the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees and co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. She was in Vancouver addressing a UN peacekeeping conference that brought together nearly 60 defense ministers and hundreds of delegates.

"Sexual violence continues to be employed as a tactic of war in 19 countries," Jolie said in her keynote address. "It includes mass rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and rape as a form of torture, ethnic cleansing and terrorism."

She said women and children continue to represent the largest number of casualties of war. "There is nothing worse than when someone in uniform is harming the very civilians they are expected to protect."

Jolie said decades of protocols, promises and resolutions from the UN, the International Criminal Court and the UN Security Council have not done enough to protect women and children from sexual violence in war.

"We have to ask, how is it (that) after all these years, all these laws, all these resolutions and all the horrors that have been endured, women still have to ask for this most basic of all entitlements - the right to a life free from violence?"

She said sexual violence is rampant in every industry and every corner of the world, and is a main reason so many women remain in subordinate and vulnerable positions.

"No longer should sexual violence be treated as a lesser crime amid conflict, and no longer should the international community believe that nothing can be done about sexual crimes," Jolie said.

Earlier in the day, Canada, Britain and Bangladesh announced a senior military chiefs' network, promising to work with top military officials to increase the number of women in militaries.

Jolie applauded the move and said much more needs to be done to boost gender and sexual violence training and more women should be deployed as peacekeepers and gender advisors.

"It is hard, yes, but it is not impossible," she said. "We have the laws, the institutions, the expertise in gathering evidence. We are able to identify perpetrators in those conflicts. What is missing is the political will."
British Ambassador to Belgium Alison Rose pays respect to a bronze statue honoring Chinese laborers working for the Allied Forces during World War I, in Busseboom Village of Poperinge City, west Belgium, Nov. 15, 2017. The statue standing 3 meters was erected on Wednesday for 13 Chinese laborers who were killed in a German bombardment against the village Nov. 15, 1917. In the last two years of WWI, some 140,000 Chinese laborers were recruited mainly by Britain and France to Europe, providing logistic services to the Allied Forces, who at that time were suffering severe manpower shortage. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

POPERINGE, Belgium, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- On a chilly and rainy day in the Flanders Fields, a group of young Chinese who rested in an almost forgotten part of World War I history for the past 100 years, finally got the respect and honor they deserved.

In the village of Busseboom of Poperinge city, west Belgium, where 13 Chinese laborers were killed in a German bombardment on Nov. 15, 1917, a new bronze statue standing 3 meters was erected on Wednesday.

The statue depicts three laborers doing the most common jobs for them in the battlefields -- carrying shells, digging trenches and evacuating wounded soldiers.

Chinese, Belgian and Flemish anthems were sung for the victims at an inauguration ceremony attended by officials, diplomats, journalists and local residents.

Wreaths were laid in front of the statue by mayor of Poperinge Christof Dejaegher, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Qu Xing and British Ambassador Alison Rose, among other Chinese and Belgian dignitaries.

Hundreds of veterans wearing poppy flower brooches, villagers, overseas Chinese and schoolchildren also braved the rain to witness the historic moment.

People attend the inauguration ceremony of a bronze statue honoring Chinese laborers working for the Allied Forces during World War I, in Busseboom Village of Poperinge City, west Belgium, Nov. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

"We think it is indispensable, for our generation who enjoy peace, to build a monument to commemorate them, about 20,000 Chinese laborers-as-soldiers who devoted their lives to come to a place they had never been, and to help a people they had never met," said the Chinese ambassador in an emotional speech to the crowd.

In the last two years of the WWI, some 140,000 Chinese laborers came to Europe, providing logistic services to the Allied Forces, who at that time were suffering severe manpower shortage.

A total of 20,000 of these laborers never made it back to their motherland. Some died of illness and the tough working conditions, the others from attacks like the one in Poperinge.

"Although they were not directly involved in the battles, quite often they worked very closely to the front-line, sometimes only 50 meters from enemies," said Qu. "We can also imagine the number of wounded soldiers who due their lives to a prompt evacuation from the battlefields."

Dejaegher told Xinhua that the idea for the statue came from Belgian scholar Philip Vanhaelemeersch who translated into Dutch a memoir of a Chinese student who worked as an interpreter for the laborers during WWI, and revived the widely unknown history for the locals.

"We find it important because this part of WWI history was almost forgotten. It's a pity. The Chinese lived here, worked here, fought for our freedom. We want to commemorate their contributions to our victory," said the mayor.

He also welcomed Chinese visitors to his city to see the statue and trace the path of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace.

Although their stories had remained for a long time unknown to the public, their work did not go unappreciated.

In 1998, French President Jacques Chiraq wrote to the descendents of these laborers-soldiers, "We will never forget those brave men coming all the away from China to join us, body and soul, in a cruel war to defend our territory, value and freedom."

Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Qu Xing speaks during the inauguration ceremony of a bronze statue honoring Chinese laborers working for the Allied Forces during World War I, in Busseboom Village of Poperinge City, west Belgium, Nov. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

The British ambassador, whose country along with France were the main recruiters of Chinese laborers during WWI, said it was a pity that the laborers did not receive the honor they deserved at the end of the war, and thanked the Chinese embassy and the city of Poperinge for building the monument.

Rose said that in every school trip to the old battlefields funded by the British government, schoolchildren were required to visit the cemeteries of the Chinese laborers.

"Britain will never forget them," she added.

The statue took Chinese-Belgian sculptor Yan Shufen four months to create, who stressed that she felt honored as an ethnic Chinese to undertake the project.

Next to the new statue, another statue by Belgian sculptor Jo Bocklandt was erected a few years ago, also depicting the figure of a Chinese laborer.

A series of commemoration events kicked off earlier this year in the city to mark the centenary of the deaths of the 13 Chinese laborers, including an exhibition featuring rare photos of the laborers' lives in Belgium.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 17:27:44|Editor: pengying

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HANOI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The 2017 Vietnam-China International Trade Fair in Vietnam's northern Lao Cai province has concluded, with eight economic contracts worth over 258.3 million U.S. dollars signed, the provincial authorities said on Thursday.

The fair, which wrapped up on Wednesday, lured over 100,000 visitors to more than 800 booths of 315 firms that made combined sales of over 40 billion Vietnamese dong (nearly 1.8 million dollars) during the six-day event.

Of the 315 firms, 110 are from China, showcasing such products as machines, electronic appliances, consumer goods, garments, footwear and farm produce at 211 booths.

Besides Chinese and Vietnamese enterprises, the trade fair attracted 36 companies from South Korea, Thailand, Laos and Ghana.

Trade and investment promotion seminars, business networking sessions and ornamental plant and animal exhibitions were also held during the fair.

Lao Cai currently houses 15 Chinese-invested projects totaling 392 million dollars, the provincial Department of Planning and Department said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 17:27:45|Editor: ZD

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting will be held in Beijing from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, according to the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Leaders of foreign parties and political organizations will attend the meeting: Working Together Towards A Community with A Shared Future for Humanity and A Better World: Responsibilities of Political Parties.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 17:42:52|Editor: pengying

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XI'AN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- An online platform featuring information on China's lost or stolen cultural relics was launched Thursday.

The platform (bdww.sach.gov.cn) is intended to help solve cases involving historical items lost at home and abroad, according to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH).

The entries will be shared with Interpol, according to Chen Shiqu, deputy director of the criminal investigation bureau of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

More than 2,200 pieces of information have been collected and will be posted in batches. About 200 pieces of information, including pictures and descriptions of lost treasures, have already been posted in Chinese and English.

The public is encouraged to report new information via the platform, developed by the public security department of Shaanxi Province under the guidance of the SACH and MPS.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 17:47:55|Editor: pengying

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KABUL, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Casualties were feared after a blast ripped through a wedding hall in northern neighborhood of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul on Thursday, a witness said.

"The blast struck Qasr-e-Naween Hall at around midday. A suicide bombing is suspected and the incident occurred shortly after a political gathering wrapped up and people were leaving the building," witness Ahmad Farshad told Xinhua via phone.

The incident occurred in Khair Khana Mina, Police District 11 of the city.

"We still cannot provide details on causalities. There is fear of possible causalities," said a security official.

The meeting was held by supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of northern Balkh province, and a senior member of Jamiat political party, Farshad noted.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

The blast sent a gray smoke to rise above the site and several vehicles also caught fire following the explosion, the witness added.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:08:02|Editor: pengying

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in India Thursday lifted the emergency anti- pollution measures from the national capital as the city's air quality slightly improved.

Delhi's air quality index was recorded at 345 this morning, which falls under the "very poor" category, but bit better than the past week's "severe" mark.

"The ban on construction activities, entry of trucks and heavy vehicles, and the levy of four-fold parking fees has now been withdrawn from across Delhi," said a government official.

The "emergency" measures were in fact lifted following a direction from India's Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority.

The anti- pollution measures came into force on Nov. 8 after the pollution levels spiked, with air quality index crossing 500 mark in some areas of the city.

A killer haze had also enveloped Delhi over the past week. "Now there is only light smog, which is expected to go in the next three days," said a weather official.

Delhi witnesses heavy smog in November every year because of stubble burning by farmers in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana in the north.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:13:04|Editor: pengying

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will lead a delegation to the 13th foreign ministers' meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's capital, from November 20 to 21.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the announcement at a daily press briefing here on Thursday.

Wang will attend the meeting at the invitation of Myanmar's State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, said Geng, adding that Wang will discuss the international and regional situation, connectivity cooperation in Asia and Europe and China's stance on hotspot issues.

Wang will have bilateral meetings with some heads of delegation to promote a new-type of Asia-Europe partnership and address challenges together, the spokesperson said.

Prior to the meeting, Wang will visit Bangladesh and Myanmar from Nov. 18 to 19, Geng said.

During his stay there, he will hold talks with his counterparts and meet leaders, Geng said.

The Asia-Europe Meeting was created in 1996 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:13:05|Editor: Yamei

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SUVA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Polling stations across the island of Tonga opened on Thursday for the 2017 General Election to elect the 17 People's Representatives to the Legislative Assembly.

According to Matangi Tonga website reports, a total of 86 candidates, including more than 10 women, registered to contest for the 17 People's Representative seats in the parliament.

There were 59,003 registered voters by Thursday.

Polling opened until 04:00 p.m. local time on Thursday before it closes for the counting of the ballots.

A Commonwealth Observer Group of four arrived in Tonga on Nov. 9 to observe the island state's 2017 national parliamentary elections.

A report of the group will be released to the Commonwealth after they leave Tonga on Nov. 20, and the Commonwealth is expected to release copies to the public soon after.

Tonga's King had dissolved the country's parliament and called for fresh elections in August.

The process of forming Tonga's new government and choosing a prime minister following the general election, will start on or before Nov. 30, but may continue to mid-December.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:13:06|Editor: Yamei

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NAIROBI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency on Thursday called upon African governments, corporations and civil society to explore innovative policy and funding interventions to tackle the continent's refugee crises worsened by conflicts and natural disasters.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that African led initiatives that focus on domestic mobilization of resources, improved governance and robust public engagement are key to offer better livelihoods to displaced persons from the continent's hotspots.

"We require home-grown solutions to refugee crisis on our doorstep. This objective can be realized through African centered initiatives to improve the welfare of refugees," remarked Philip Odary, fundraising officer of Private Sector Partnerships Service Department at UNHCR Kenyan Office.

He spoke in Nairobi during the launch of LUQULUQU campaign, an initiative of the UN refugee agency that seeks to promote Africa's time honored values like sharing, unity and neighborliness in order to transform the livelihoods of displaced persons.

The LQULUQU campaign that will also be launched in Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa and Ivory Coast aims to rally African opinion makers, entrepreneurs and change agents towards supporting refugee causes in their backyard.

The UNHCR Kenyan office will engage local business titans and celebrities to support the refugee causes through fundraising and public awareness.

"We are reaching out to the private sector, foundations and individual donors to contribute resources and support refugee programs," said Odary, adding that home-grown initiatives are key to advance a new narrative of African refugees who are empowered, self reliant and included in mainstream economic activities

Africa is home to an estimated 20 million refugees whose plight has worsened against a backdrop of dwindling overseas funding.

Kenya alone hosts close to half a million refugees displaced by civil turmoil in neighboring countries.

Senior Communications Officer at UNHCR Kenyan Office Yvonne Ndege noted that Africa has so far received 35 percent of funding towards refugee causes from external donors hence the need to explore local alternatives.

"Developed countries that have always funded humanitarian and refugee issues in Africa are experiencing domestic pressure to reduce support. We therefore call upon Africans to take action and solve the continent's refugee crises," Ndege said.
Performers participate in the carnival parade in Oslo, Norway, June 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Liang Youchang)

OSLO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The watchdog of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) has said Norway's rules on paid parental leave are discriminatory against fathers, public broadcaster NRK reported Wednesday.

In a reasoned opinion sent to the Norwegian government on Wednesday, the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) said, "several provisions in Norwegian legislation on paid parental leave are discriminatory on grounds of sex."

Norway has failed to fulfill its obligations towards the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) by maintaining in force provisions which render the father's entitlement to paid parental leave dependent upon the mother's work situation whilst this is not the case in reverse circumstances, ESA said.

It is also problematic that the amount paid to the father during the shared period depends on the mother's employment situation, according to ESA.

If the mother works less than 75 percent, the father's payment shall be calculated on the basis of her professional participation, not his own. These regulations do not apply the other way round to women.

According to Norwegian National Insurance Act, both parents have an individual, reserved right to ten weeks paid parental leave. In addition, there is a shared period of 49 weeks, or 59 weeks at reduced rate, which they may divide amongst themselves as they want.

In 2016, some Norwegian fathers complained to the ESA because they were not entitled to any paid parental leave from the shared period due to the fact that their wives were not working or studying full time.

The ESA has given Norway two months to change practice. In case the Norwegian authorities fail to comply with EEA rules, the case may end in the EFTA Court.

Norwegian Minister of Children and Equality Solveig Horne told NRK that Norway sent a letter to the ESA last year arguing that the country's parental leave scheme is not contrary to EEA law.

Norway's parental benefit scheme is "very good and generous", making it possible for parents to stay home with the child in the first year, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:23:10|Editor: Yamei

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodia's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the dissolution of the country's biggest opposition party after its leader Kem Sokha was charged with "treason," according to a verdict.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:28:13|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has held 1,140 officials in eight provincial-level regions accountable for environmental damage, following inspections in the summer of 2016, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said Thursday.

Of the total, 130 were department-level officials with four cases transferred to the judiciary, the MEP said in a statement.

Inspectors found and transferred 100 cases related to environmental damage to local governments, demanding further investigation, said Liu Changgen, deputy director of the national environmental inspection office.

Officials from Guangxi, Heilongjiang, Henan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Jiangxi,Ningxia and Yunnan were publicly named, admonished, ordered to apologize and given Party or administrative punishments, or transferred to judicial authorities. Nine were investigated for criminal offences.

Henan held 227 officials accountable, more than any other region. A deputy mayor of Xinxiang city received a warning for inadequate air pollution control between 2014 and June 2016 that led to sustained deterioration of air quality in the city.

In Inner Mongolia, a deputy mayor of Bayannur city was given a major demerit and removed from his post as director of a local irrigation area for failing to stop a company from digging 333 hectares of fish ponds in a nature reserve.

In Jiangxi, a former deputy mayor of Ganzhou city received a demerit for water pollution by a rare earth mining firm.

The inspections are part of a campaign against pollution and environmental degradation as decades of growth have left the country with smog, polluted water and contaminated soil.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:38:17|Editor: pengying

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RABAT, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams will receive a record 1,240 foreign Islamic preachers' trainees in 2018, local media reported on Thursday.

Opened in 2015 in the capital Rabat, the religious training center aims to play a leading role in fighting religious radicalism via instilling the values of moderate form of Islam in the next generation of Muslim religious leaders from across the region and the world.

Citing the ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, the daily Akhbar Al Yaoum said that most of the foreign trainees belong to subsaharan African nations.

The Moroccan center will receive Islamic preachers' trainees from Mali, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Chad and Nigeria, the same source pointed out.

In addition, France will send some 55 Islamic preachers, it added.

Last October, Morocco extended the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams for the third time to respond to the growing demand from a number of countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 18:57:32|Editor: Xiang Bo

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An automated guided robot recharges itself at Wuhan branch of China Postal express & logistics in Wuhan, central China's Hubei, Nov. 14, 2017. The branch has around 320 automated guided robots, which can help sort shipments, which provides efficient logistics services for online shoppers. (Xinhua/Hou Wenkun)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 19:18:28|Editor: pengying

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DHAKA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday said her government will set up two more environment-friendly leather industrial estates in the country as part of its efforts to fetch 5 billion U.S. dollars export income from the sector by 2021.

Hasina made the announcement while inaugurating a three-day leather fair in capital Dhaka aiming at bringing global technology to the doorsteps of the local industry to help it grow and modernize.

Sector insiders say Bangladesh eyes new leather estates as the industry has recently entered a new era with relocation of some 154 toxic factories to a new processing cluster in Savar on the outskirts of the capital city from Dhaka's Hazaribagh, which until recently, was home to 95 percent of Bangladesh's leather tanneries while none of them has an effluent treatment plant as required by the country's environmental and labor law.

A Chinese company has already constructed a central effluent treatment plant at the new leather processing zone which sector insiders say again created interest among global buyers about Bangladeshi leather and leather products.

Hasina called upon the the foreign investors and buyers for investing in a larger volume in Bangladesh's leather sector and sourcing more in leather goods from environment friendly factories.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh, earnings from export of leather and leather products in Fiscal Year 2016-17 (July 2016-June 2017) grew about 7 percent to 1,234 million dollars.

Md. Saiful Islam, President of Leathergoods & Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) , said the government has a target of 60 billion dollars income from exports, in which 5 billion dollars will be from leather industry.

Nearly 250 exhibitors from 15 countries, including India and China will be participating in the event to be ended on Nov. 18.

Tanning leather, manufacturing footwear and leather goods machinery along with other components like dyes & chemicals, accessories and allied products are being displayed in the show to benefit all industrial sectors in Bangladesh.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 19:28:31|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's first group of 12 military pilots on new training methods have completed combat readiness training using the Guizhou JL-9 training plane at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Harbin Flight Academy.

The air force began to use the Guizhou JL-9 training planes, which have similar functions to the third generation fighter jets currently in service, in August this year, to further reform its training methods.

The new training method focuses on tactics used in combat and on completion, the pilots have combat readiness to fly the fighter jets currently in service, according to the academy.

The academy said it has also updated its teaching facilities, adopting virtual reality flight simulation training equipment.

During the past five years, China has advanced military reform, making historic steps in building a strong military.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 19:28:33|Editor: pengying

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government, as the sole troop contributing country to UNISFA, on Thursday welcomed the renewal of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), a contested area on the border of Ethiopia's neighboring countries, Sudan and South Sudan.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Abyei, a contested area on the Sudan-South Sudan border, until 15 May 2018.

The Security Council has also extended, for the same duration, the tasks of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) set out in the resolution that authorized the deployment of UNISFA in 2011.

The UNSC also extended, until 15 April 2018, UNISFA's support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, which was established by the two countries as part of the negotiations on South Sudan's secession from Sudan in July 2011.

The Council, however, decided that this renewal of UNISFA's support for the Mechanism will be "the final such extension" unless Sudan and South Sudan ensure the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Abyei and throughout the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone of all personnel, as well as equipment, provisions, supplies and other goods, including vehicles, aircraft, and spare parts, which are for the exclusive and official use of UNISFA.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 19:33:35|Editor: pengying

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the country's biggest opposition party on Thursday after its leader Kem Sokha was charged with "treason," according to a verdict.

"The court decided to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and to ban its 118 leaders from politics for five years from the date of this verdict issuance," Supreme Court President Dith Munty pronounced the verdict after a five-hour hearing.

The CNRP dissolution and political bans came after the government arrested CNRP's leader Kem Sokha in early September for plotting the overthrow of the government.

Kem Sokha, 64, was charged last month with treason, a crime that could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. The charge against Kem Sokha was based on videos from 2013 that showed him telling his supporters in Australia about his plot against the government.

During the hearing, the government's lawyers presented 26 pieces of evidence that proved the CNRP was involved in a plot to topple the government.

According to the verdict, the court said the CNRP did not submit a defensive statement to the court and did not send its lawyers to fight the legal battle.

The verdict said the CNRP's non-participation in the hearing meant that it had confessed to the crime.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 19:38:37|Editor: pengying

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RABAT, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Moroccan-French business forum opened on Thursday in the Moroccan city of Skhirate to explore new measures to boost bilateral cooperation.

Held under the theme "Morocco-France: Building Bridges for Growth and Employment," the forum was chaired by Moroccan and French Prime Ministers Saad-Eddine El Othmani and Edouard Philippe.

The forum aims to develop new areas of economic cooperation between the companies of the two countries and to explore the paths of a shared development in Africa.

It features plenary sessions and thematic workshops on issues of urbanization and sustainable cities, inclusive agro-industrial development and the opportunities of the digital revolution.

Philippe started on Wednesday a two-day visit to Morocco with the aim of cementing economic partnership between Paris and Rabat.

Later on Thursday, the French prime minister and his Moroccan counterpart will preside over the 13th Moroccan-French High-level Meeting.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 19:53:44|Editor: Yurou

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SOFIA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The 25th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions kicked off here in the Arena Armeec Hall on Thursday.

As many as 977 boys and girls of the age categories 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-21 years will compete for the 32 sets of medals in trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling.

Several federations have traveled to Sofia with sizeable delegations, such as Portugal with 87 competitors and Russia with 84, the United States 72, Britain 69 and Canada 36.

In the 24th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competition in 2015 in Odense, Denmark, Russia topped the medal table with 11 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze medals, followed by Belarus with 5-4-1, and Britain 4-9-5.

The World Age Group Competitions are held every year except Olympic years. They are the prime occasion for junior Trampoline gymnasts to perform on world stage, gathering important experience as they build up their sporting careers with the aim of following in the footsteps of their senior role models, the International Gymnastics Federation said in a press release on the eve of the event, which will end on Sunday.
Somali children are seen on the World Refugee Day at a camp for displaced persons in the outskirts of Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, June 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

NAIROBI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency on Thursday called upon African governments, corporations and civil society to explore innovative policy and funding interventions to tackle the continent's refugee crises worsened by conflicts and natural disasters.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that African led initiatives that focus on domestic mobilization of resources, improved governance and robust public engagement are key to offering better livelihoods to displaced persons from the continent's hotspots.

"We require home-grown solutions to refugee crisis on our doorstep. This objective can be realized through African centered initiatives to improve the welfare of refugees," remarked Philip Odary, fundraising officer of Private Sector Partnerships Service Department at UNHCR Kenyan Office.

He spoke in Nairobi during the launch of LUQULUQU campaign, an initiative of the UN refugee agency that seeks to promote Africa's time honored values like sharing, unity and neighborliness in order to transform the livelihoods of displaced persons.

The LQULUQU campaign that will also be launched in Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa and Ivory Coast aims to rally African opinion makers, entrepreneurs and change agents towards supporting refugee causes in their backyard.

The UNHCR Kenyan office will engage local business titans and celebrities to support the refugee causes through fundraising and public awareness.

"We are reaching out to the private sector, foundations and individual donors to contribute resources and support refugee programs," said Odary, adding that home-grown initiatives are key to advancing a new narrative of African refugees who are empowered, self reliant and included in mainstream economic activities.

Africa is home to an estimated 20 million refugees whose plight has worsened against a backdrop of dwindling overseas funding.

Kenya alone hosts close to half a million refugees displaced by civil turmoil in neighboring countries.

Senior Communications Officer at UNHCR Kenyan Office Yvonne Ndege noted that Africa has so far received 35 percent of funding towards refugee causes from external donors hence the need to explore local alternatives.

"Developed countries that have always funded humanitarian and refugee issues in Africa are experiencing domestic pressure to reduce support. We therefore call upon Africans to take action and solve the continent's refugee crises," Ndege said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:28:57|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has listed natural gas hydrate, or combustible ice, as the country's 173rd mineral variety, to speed up exploitation of the clean energy source.

The Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) filed an application with the State Council, China's cabinet, last month to include the resource in China's mineral list. The application was approved on Nov. 3, Ju Jianhua, head of the MLR mineral reserves department, told a press conference Thursday.

The application was made in response to a request in May from the central leadership to promote industrialization of natural gas hydrate after trial mining in the South China Sea.

WHAT IS COMBUSTIBLE ICE?

Natural gas hydrate usually exists in the seabed or permafrost areas. It is composed of natural gas and water under high pressure at low temperature. It resembles ice and can be ignited like solid ethanol, hence the name "combustible ice."

Natural gas from the combustible ice can be used for the same purposes as regular natural gas. With a high density of energy, it is a clean and efficient energy source.

Besides China, the United States, Japan and Canada are also mining the resource, Ju said.

Preliminary estimates show China's reserves of combustible ice under the sea are about 80 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, said Wang Kun, deputy head of the China geological survey bureau.

Combustible ice has different chemical and physical properties from regular natural gas, coalbed gas and shale gas, and requires different storage, exploration and mining technology, Ju said.

LISTED, AND SO WHAT?

Combustible ice will reduce China's reliance on oil and gas imports and improve its energy and resource security, Ju said.

After legal recognition, capital will be encouraged into the exploitation of the resource to speed up industrialization, according to Ju.

Research will be stepped up, driving the development of related industries including equipment manufacture, pipeline construction and shipbuilding, he added.

The MLR will work on long-term strategic planning and fundamental research, with improved management, tax breaks and subsidies to develop mining techniques and equipment that meet China's needs.

"Trial mining is just the first step on a long journey. Industrialization faces challenges in terms of output, cost and protection of the environment," said Wang.

Exploration should aim to find up to four large resource bases as a foundation for industrialization, Wang said.

Environmental protection is crucial to the process and demands close monitoring of the marine environment and the right technology for green exploitation, Wang said.

RESEARCH AND TRIAL MINING

-- 1999. China started surveying natural gas hydrate and found the resource under the Xisha trough in the South China Sea.

-- 2002. Evaluation of combustible ice in key permafrost areas in western and northeastern China began.

-- 2007. Gas hydrate samples were collected under the Shenhu area of the South China Sea.

-- 2008. The first sample of combustible ice from the ground was collected from permafrost in the Qilian Mountains, Qinghai Province. The mineral was found several more times in the area between 2009 and 2015.

-- 2013. Samples of different types of combustible ice were collected in the northern part of the South China Sea.

-- 2014. Preparation for trial mining began with an underwater pilot project.

-- May 10, 2017. A 60-day mining trial began in Shenhu. And 309,000 cubic meters of natural gas had been extracted in the trial mining.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:33:58|Editor: pengying

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WELLINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- "I think it was important that the story of Rewi Alley is told to western audience," New Zealand documentary director and photographer Geoff Steven told Xinhua Thursday during the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition named "China 1979 -- a new dawn" in New Zealand Parliament building "Beehive" to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Rewi Alley's birth.

In May and June 1979, a documentary team led by Geoff Steven went to China with Rewi Alley, who is the enduring icon bridging New Zealand and China. The trip followed key places in Rewi Alley's life in China, starting in Guangzhou and travelling to numerous Chinese cities where Rewi Alley had stayed, including desert areas in northeast China.

The length of the journey through China is more than 10,000 kilometers. Steven interviewed Rewi Alley along the way, working on his later published documentary and at the same time took some photos of Rewi Alley, as well as the local life in China. The exclusive photos will be exhibited in the kiwi capital Wellington from Nov. 20 to Nov. 25.

Steven told Xinhua that the reason for the journey is collecting the life story of Rewi Alley and showing them to the western audience. He said that Rewi Alley is well known in China at the time, but not particularly known in his home country of New Zealand, because China was a sort of unknown place for kiwi then. So, Steven decided to tell the story of the New Zealand hero and a friend of China.

The documentary was shown in New Zealand television for numerous time since 1980s. Many audience told Steven that through the documentary, they knew Rewi Alley and they knew the man should be remembered by New Zealanders, especially children and young people.

Steven said that the existence of the documentary is important. Rewi Alley is now well known to the general population in New Zealand. He told Xinhua that "people is still so interested nowadays, because it's a great story, his life is a great story."

The New Zealand director and photographer regarded Rewi Alley as a strong connection between China and New Zealand. The fact that people still celebrating Rewi Alley's birth after 120 years shows that the legacy he left is still remembered.

Rewi Alley, born in 1897 in the small town of Springfield in Canterbury, New Zealand, was a great internationalist fighter and a famous socialist. He went to Shanghai, China in 1927. As a factory inspector, Rewi Alley witnessed the poverty of Chinese workers and peasants first-hand, and started to work with progressive organizations and sometimes secretly with the Red Army.

During the Japanese invasion, he became one of the founders of the Gong He (Gung Ho) movement of industrial cooperatives on unoccupied Chinese territories.

In 1942, he set up a cooperative Bailie School in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The school, which was moved later to Shandan, Gansu Province, had trained engineers for the reconstruction of post-war China.

When Rewi Alley died in Beijing on Dec. 27, 1987, late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping wrote an inscription in his memory: "Eternal Glory to the Great Internationalist Fighter." He won a posthumous award as one of "China's Top Ten International Friends."

The year 2017 marks the 120th anniversary of Rewi Alley's birth, the 90th anniversary of his arrival in China, as well as the 30th anniversary of his death. To many people like Steven, Rewi Alley is always a hero of both China and New Zealand.

In the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition, Qu Guangzhou, the Charge d'affaires of Chinese Embassy to New Zealand said that the best way to commemorate Rewi Alley is to bear in mind the contributions and values of him, and make joint efforts to build a strong relationship between the two countries and strong friendship between the two people.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:39:01|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China is expected to achieve a "major breakthrough" in nuclear-powered space shuttles around 2040, according to a report issued by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation on Thursday.

The achievement will be able to support large-scale exploration and development of space resources, and make mining on asteroids and space solar power plants possible, said the report, which outlines the development road map for China's space transportation system to 2045.

A future generation of carrier rockets will be put into use around 2040 and hybrid power reusable carriers will be developed, the report said.

By 2045, the means of getting into and out of space as well as space transportation will see subversive transformations, making it possible to build a space ladder, earth station and space post, as well as regularly explore the solar system on a large scale with coordination between humans and machines, said the report.

The report also said that the Long March-8 carrier rocket is expected to be launched in 2020 and the Long March series of rockets will provide commercial launch services for other countries.

Around 2025, reusable suborbital carriers will be successfully developed and suborbital space travel will come true, it said.

Around 2030, heavy carrier rockets will be launched to provide powerful support to manned lunar landing missions and sufficient transportation power for samples from Mars to return to Earth.

Around 2035, carrier rockets will be completely reusable and the future generation intelligent carrier rockets with advanced power will be launched, the report said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:44:04|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China will open up its payment industry in a balanced and orderly way, Fan Yifei, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), said at a forum Thursday.

The country would give overseas-funded financial institutions "pre-establishment national treatment," which means giving equal treatment to overseas and domestic companies even before they make investments, coupled with the negative list approach, according to Fan.

"The government will significantly ease market access and push forward opening in the e-payment sector," Fan said at the Sixth China Payment and Clearing Forum.

Front-end trading and settlement will be opened up first.

Being an important part of the financial service, all payment businesses from public, private and foreign-funded institutions should ask for permission and be subject to supervision in the country.

The central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan called for more reform and opening up of the country's financial sector earlier this month.

Zhou also said in June that opening up helped to build a strong and competitive financial sector, and that protectionist behavior limiting the participation of foreign players would lead to laziness and weakness, causing poor competitiveness and hurting the industry's development.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:49:05|Editor: Xiang Bo

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WINDHOEK, Nov.16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese trade and economic delegation led by Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming held here on Wednesday consultations with Namibian officials to strengthen the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Deputy Minister of Economic Planning Lucia Iipumbu said that the discussions about economic advancement were held at Namibia's request for China's help with its development.

"We have always looked at China as our developing partner and we hope you will continue to assist us in our endeavors," she added.

At the meeting, the two sides signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement, which will see China offer around 30 million U.S. dollars for part of the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport dual carriage road.

China will also donate equipment worth 974,000 dollars for wildlife protection in Namibia.

This is the first visit by the Chinese vice minister of commerce to the country. The two sides also agreed to push forward the implementation of the projects under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:49:06|Editor: Xiang Bo

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ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The first echelon of China's third peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan has returned after finishing a one-year United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Since Dec. 2016, the battalion has completed 39 long-distance armed guards and 18 arms checks in refugee camps in South Sudan. The peacekeepers also handled 38 cases of people armed with guns entering forbidden zones and stopped 105 thefts.

They also performed tasks including patrolling urban areas and protecting civilian regions. The battalion won high praise from the United Nations, the local government and other peacekeeping forces.

The 700 officers and soldiers of the battalion will return in four groups by the end of this month.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:49:07|Editor: Yang Yi

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Li Fei, chief of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, addresses the Basic Law Seminar in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of HKSAR in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

HONG KONG, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- "One Country, Two Systems" is the best institutional arrangement to ensure Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, said a Chinese official.

Hong Kong should take the constitutional responsibility to ensure the country's security, said Li Fei, Chairman of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, on Thursday.

Li delivered a keynote speech on Hong Kong's role and mission as the country's Special Administrative Region (SAR) under the National Constitution and Basic Law at the Basic Law Seminar in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of HKSAR at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Li clarified the relationship between the central government and HKSAR and the constitutional responsibility HKSAR should take in his speech. He said "One country, Two systems" is the best institutional arrangement for HKSAR and every Hong Kong citizen should foster the national consciousness and understand the meaning of "One country, Two systems".
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:54:11|Editor: pengying

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LUSAKA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Thursday expressed optimism that an amicable solution will be reached over the political impasse in Zimbabwe following the military takeover.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba said Zambia wanted to be part of a process of ensuring an amicable solution so that normalcy could return to Zimbabwe.

The Zambian minister was speaking at Bole International Airport in Ethiopia on his way for an emergency Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika meeting on defense and security in Botswana, according to a statement released by the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia.

"We are going to this meeting not only as members of the organ but also as close neighbors to Zimbabwe, we have often referred to our countries as Siamese twins, so we cannot be happy if our neighbor is going through a rough patch," he said.

No region delights in seeing destabilization of any kind, he added.

The minister further said Zambian President Edgar Lungu has spoken to the Zimbabwean authorities and the military in that country in order to get first-hand information about the situation on the ground.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:59:13|Editor: pengying

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COLOMBO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank on Thursday urged Sri Lanka to encourage more women to work as this would not only help Sri Lanka realize its economic potential but would build on its several achievements.

In a report titled "Getting to Work -- Unlocking Women's Potential in Sri Lanka's Labor Force" the World Bank noted that despite steady economic growth, the number of women participating in Sri Lanka's workforce had declined to 36 percent in 2016 from 41 percent in 2010.

Sri Lankan women, especially younger ones, do not sufficiently acquire marketable skills, face higher unemployment rates, and receive lower wages than men, the report said.

"Removing barriers to women's paid work will encourage more Sri Lankan women to participate in the workforce," the Wold Bank said.

"Getting women to work is not just about supporting human rights, it's about smart economics," said Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, the World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

"Lifting the barriers to women's participation in the workforce will not only help Sri Lanka realize its economic potential and build on its several achievements, it will also increase the equitable sharing of the development benefits," she added.

The report further said once women were at work, increasing the availability of high-quality childcare services, improving access to part-time work and maternity leave, and addressing socio-physical constraints on women's mobility through safe transportation and telecommuting were essential to help them remain in the workforce.

Workplaces must embrace gender equity in labor legislation and non-discriminatory policies, including zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

By undertaking ethical branding initiatives and women-centered training programs, the private sector could help expand women's share of employment and firm ownership in emerging industries, the World Bank said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 20:59:15|Editor: pengying

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SHENYANG, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition relaying the horrors of a notorious prisoner of war (POW) camp in northeast China, will be held in San Francisco of the United States starting Nov. 21.

The Shenyang World War II Allied Prisoners Camp was located in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province. It is the best preserved of more than 200 POW camps established by Japan in the Asian-Pacific region.

Among the 2,000 incarcerated in the camp during World War II were soldiers from the United States and United Kingdom.

About 300 soldiers died in the camp during their three-year incarceration.

Organized by Shenyang WWII Allied Prisoners Camp Site Museum, the exhibition will run for two weeks at the World War II Pacific War Memorial Hall in San Francisco.

The exhibition will offer visitors a chance to view the prisoners' dark days in the camp and show their tenacious, relentless struggle against the Japanese soldiers through historic photographs as well as archives, diaries, memoirs and caricatures, according to Fan Lihong, curator of the museum.

Fan said that they hope the exhibition will show visitors a unique perspective of the Asia-Pacific war, and let more people learn about the catastrophe and pain war can bring.

"We also want to tell the American visitors that the friendship between China and the U.S. during the war will never be forgotten," Fan said.

It will be the second time that the Shenyang POW camp site museum has held an exhibition abroad. The first was held in Liverpool of Britain in 2015.

In 2007, Chinese government spent more than 5 million yuan (754,000 U.S. dollars) restoring the original look of the camp and a museum of 50,000 square meters based on it opened in May 2013.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:14:22|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Visitors watch flexible screens during the 19th China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 16, 2017. More than 3,000 exhibitors would show latest achievements in science and technology here on the fair which kicked off on Thursday. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

SHENZHEN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition featuring Chinese hi-tech products and technology opened Thursday in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

The China Hi-tech Fair 2017 has drawn more than 3,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions.

Covering a total area of 120,000 square meters, 12 exhibition zones feature hi-tech products in environmental protection, biological sciences, new energy, new materials, military and civil integration, and sensor technology.

Gao Zimin, deputy mayor of Shenzhen, said people from 80 countries and regions will look for business opportunities and the number of visitors will exceed 500,000 during the six-day event.

As well as the release of over 1,000 new products, around 100 technical meetings and forums will discuss different sectors. Fair organizers have arranged meetings between overseas purchasers and domestic hi-tech companies, and investigation tours for international exhibitors, Gao said.

A Belt and Road pavilion has drawn exhibitors from 27 countries and regions, the most since the pavilion was set up in 2015.

"The fair has brought more international attention, communication and cooperation between Chinese hi-tech players and their foreign counterparts," said Gao, adding delegations from Argentina and Papua New Guinea are attending the fair for the first time.

"We look forward to cooperation in renewable resources, technology and application research, transport and security," said Ruben Galleguillo, Minister of Planning and Industry of the Argentine La Rioja Province, who is heading the Argentine delegation.

Galleguillo witnessed the signing of a contract on new energy products between Chinese automaker BYD and the La Rioja provincial government, involving 50 electric buses.

Liu Ruopeng, a computer science doctor who founded the metamaterials and aviation business Kuang-Chi in 2010, met his current business partner, Gilo Industries Group, an aerospace engineering company based in England, at the fair in 2015.

"They were very interested in our jetpack design, which enabled a man to fly, in the exhibition hall," Liu said.

Through later exchanges, they found that Kuang-Chi's vision of expanding the range of human activity to aerospace matched their vision very much, deciding to enter a cooperation to help the company upgrade the jetpack with more stable engines, he said.

In January, Kuang-Chi announced the investment of 30 million US dollars to jointly develop aerospace technology and commercialization.

The upgraded jetpack is now being displayed at the China Hi-Tech Fair.

"We look forward to developing more partnerships at the fair to further improve our product to achieve its commercialization," he said.

The annual science and technology fair, launched in 1999, is the largest and the most influential in China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:14:23|Editor: pengying

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TOKYO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A former U.S. Marine and civilian base worker at the opening of the trial at the Naha District Court on Thursday, while denying his intention to murder, stands accused of raping and killing a 20-year-old woman in Okinawa, as anti-U.S. base sentiment continues to rise in Japan's southernmost prefecture.

The defendant, Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 33, who was working at a company within the premises of the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa at the time of the incident having served as a U.S. Marine from 2007 to 2014, denied the charges of rape resulting in death and abandoning the victim's body, however.

Shinzato stands accused of assaulting the woman for the purpose of raping her.

The attack is believed to have taken place on a road in Uruma in central Okinawa at around 10:00 p.m. on April 28, 2016.

According to the indictment, Shinzato struck the women on the head with a metal bar and fatally stabbed her in the neck with a knife to stop her struggling.

Shinzato said he had intended to let the woman go after raping her, and denied that he had intended to murder her, with his defense counsel stating that he did not stab her during the initial assault, local media reported.

But prosecutors maintained that Shinzato had intended to murder her and referenced the victim's neck being stabbed multiple times and the fact that Shinzato had prepared a suitcase to transport the body.

The accused also changed his clothes at a hotel following the murder, prosecutors said, according to local media accounts.

Shinzato, as was the case after he was arrested when he refused to speak to investigators, refused to speak to his own defense counsel or prosecutors during the hearing in the afternoon, local media reports said.

Shinzato, whose Japanese language ability is limited, had an interpreter available to use.

In August last year, Shinzato's request for the trial to be held outside Okinawa, fearing a local lay judge trail could be biased by the rising anti-U.S. base sentiment on the island, was rejected by the Supreme Court.

The court will hand down its ruling on the case on Dec. 1.

As evidenced by the continued outpouring of grief at a number of memorial services and ceremonies held since the young girl's death, local observers have said that it is abundantly clear that anti-U.S. base sentiment is steadily on the rise in Japan's southernmost prefecture that hosts the vast majority of the U.S.'s military bases in Japan.

Okinawans are adamant that the central government and the U.S. returning land used by the bases and relocating the troops off the island is the only way for them to hope to ever lead normal lives.

The skeletal remains of Shinzato's alleged victim, who was taking a walk at the time she was attacked, were found on May 19 of last year in a wooded area in the village of Onna, north of Uruma, according to Shinzato's statement.

The alleged brutal slaughtering of Shinzato's young female victim was preceded by numerous drink driving incidents in Okinawa, another account of rape by a service-person in a hotel in Naha, and an unprovoked, vicious assault by a high-ranking military official on a young Japanese female student aboard a commercial flight to Japan.

In June last year, a massive rally, in the wake of the girl's murder, which garnered worldwide attention, took place in a park in Naha and saw around 65,000 protestors united in calling for the U.S. military on the island to withdraw completely and for an archaic agreement inked between the U.S. and Japan governing the handling of incidents caused by U.S. military personnel in Japan to be urgently reviewed.

The rally was the biggest organized protest in Okinawa since 85,000 islanders took to the streets in the days after three U.S. servicemen viciously raped an elementary schoolgirl in 1995, an abominable crime that still haunts the consciousness of Okinawans of all generations.

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga, a staunch advocate of lessening the base-hosting burdens of the islanders, and in particularly blocking the central government's plans to relocate the U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma within the prefecture, at the time, reiterated his calls for a key agreement between Japan and the U.S. to be urgently reviewed and for the bases to be kicked off the island for good.

The Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was originally inked in Washington between the U.S. and Japan in 1960, and many politicians such as Onaga along with political watchers believed it did not work to effectively legislate the treatment of U.S. service-people in Japan who commit crimes and does not reflect the growing instances and severity of such.

Under the agreement at the time, U.S forces' personnel could be granted a great deal of legal autonomy and while the Japanese court system has jurisdiction for most crimes committed by U.S. service members, if the accused was "acting in official duty," or if the victim was another U.S. citizen, the U.S. justice system is used, not Japan's, despite the location.

In some instances, under SOFA, the majority of U.S. military members were exempt from Japan's visa and passport laws and past offenders have dodged the Japanese legal system by being transferred back to the U.S. before being charged.

Another loophole that existed in the agreement was that unless an offender is arrested outside of a U.S. base by Japanese police or investigators, then U.S. authorities were allowed to retain custody of that individual.

But it wasn't until in January this year that Tokyo and Washington signed a pact to effectively remove legal protection over some U.S. military base workers, aimed at deterring U.S. base-linked crimes in Okinawa, although many local officials have said the pact fell a long way short of their expectations.

Okinawa citizens took matters into their own hands in adopting a resolution condemning the murder of the young girl and demanding that definitive measures be put in place and enforced to prevent further heinous crimes from occurring in the future.

"The anger and sadness of the people of Okinawa has reached its limit toward the repeated incidents and accidents involving U.S. military and nonmilitary personnel," the resolution said.

It also demanded an apology from both the Japanese and U.S. government to the people of Okinawa and in particular to the family of the murdered woman. The resolution also called for compensation to be made to the family of the victim.

"To protect the lives and human rights of the people in Okinawa, it is urgent that U.S. bases be significantly reduced and consolidated, and for Marines to withdraw from Okinawa," the resolution said, adding that plans to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma should also be scrapped.

The resolution also stated that previous measures to curtail acts of crime or enforce discipline had failed miserably and that the only way to effectively prevent crime against locals from U.S. service-people going forward is to remove the U.S. bases from Okinawa island entirely.

All prefectural and local assemblies in Okinawa have adopted resolutions against the latest murder and the prefectural assembly is dominated by politicians opposed to the Futenma base relocation.

Such factors, observers said, along with growing indignation from locals, has added gravitas and political momentum to Onaga's moves to block the relocation, ahead of future moves to work towards seeing U.S. bases removed from Okinawa entirely.

According to Kyodo News, citing data from the local police and the Okinawa prefectural government, a total of 576 heinous crimes, including murders, robberies and rapes, have been committed by U.S. military-related personnel between May 1972, when the prefecture reverted to Japanese control following postwar U.S. occupation, and last December.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:19:25|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sino-African relations have entered a new development stage of win-win cooperation, according to the fifth Biennial Conference of China-Africa Industrial Forum (CAIF) that opened here Thursday.

Supporting Africa's industrialization and capacity cooperation are of vital importance in the next five years and Sino-African trade is likely to total 180 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, said CAIF secretary general Cheng Zhigang in the opening speech.

Sino-African economic and trade cooperation has great potential, said Cheng. China has been Africa's largest trading partner since 2009. Chinese investments in Africa exceeded 100 billion dollars in 2016, about 50 times as much as in 2010. China's investments in Africa have also diversified in business areas, from construction and mining to emerging industries such as manufacturing, finance, information technology and the internet.

Sino-African economic and trade cooperation is in keeping with the Belt and Road Initiative and Africa's "Agenda 2063." It is for the mutual benefit of China and Africa.

Under the guidance of the China-Africa Development Fund, China-Africa Capacity Cooperation Fund, the Silk Road Fund and other sovereign funds, large amounts of Chinese private capital have landed in Africa. The financing model has changed from primarily national sovereign guarantee to more commercial-oriented, which facilitates the joint building of industrial parks and capacity cooperation between the two sides.

Currently, Chinese businesses have begun the construction or preparations for nearly 100 industrial parks in Africa, of which around 40 have become operational.

Statistics show, by the end of 2016, Chinese enterprises had built 5,756 km of railways, 4,335 km of highways, nine ports, 14 airports and 34 power plants in Africa, as well as more than 10 large hydropower stations and nearly a thousand of small hydropower stations.

In January-June, China-Africa trade recorded 85.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 19 percent on same period of 2016. The import and export mix has further optimized. Transport equipment has become a new bright spot in China's exports to Africa. The export of ships, locomotives and aerospace equipment have registered year-on-year growth of 200 percent, 161 percent and 252 percent, respectively. China-Africa trade for the whole year is expected to reach 180 billion dollars. Meanwhile, major projects of Sino-African cooperation have been progressing steadily.

The CAIF has become an important organization for promoting Sino-African cooperation, Cheng said.

The two-day CAIF conference has attracted representatives from some 40 African countries. Talks will be held for over 200 cooperation projects, and more than 20 African countries will stage on-site project promotion.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:19:26|Editor: Xiang Bo

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NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Judges, lawyers and other legal experts from China and the United States discussed the rule of law and human rights at a two-day symposium that concluded here Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening session of the 7th China-U.S. Dialogue on Rule of Law and Human Rights, Huang Jin, head of the Chinese delegation, said civil society organizations in the two countries have conducted candid and indepth exchanges on human rights based on the principles of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences. This has contributed to the stable and healthy development of bilateral ties.

Since its inception in 2009, the symposium, co-sponsored by China Foundation For Human Rights Development, China Law Society and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, has evolved into a major platform for the two countries' civil societies to discuss human right issues.

Huang, who is also deputy director of China Foundation For Human Rights Development and deputy head of China Law Society, introduced the latest in China's human rights and judicial work. Huang said the recently concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has laid out strategic guidelines to strengthen the legal basis of human rights protection.

Stephen A. Orlins, president of New York-based National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, said U.S.-China ties are of great importance. It is necessary for the two sides' civil society organizations to maintain dialogue on human rights, he said. Doing so will promote mutual understanding between the two peoples and push forward bilateral ties.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:24:29|Editor: pengying

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JUBA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said Thursday it was hopeful of renewing its mandate in the war-torn country which expires mid-December.

Head of UNMISS David Shearer said the Strategic Review Team from New York is expected soon in the country to help conduct consultations with the government and various groups before delivering the findings to the UN Security Council.

"The Strategic Review Team is due to arrive from New York at the end of the month to look at the situation in South Sudan and consult with a wide range of people including the government, humanitarian community as well as UNMISS. The team will also spend two days in Addis Ababa where they will meet other South Sudanese groups including the opposition," he said in Juba.

He disclosed that the team's findings will help inform the decision of the Security Council between now and next year on the renewal of the UNMISS mandate that expires on December 15 2017.

"We are hopeful that the meetings and findings they have here will be able to inform the Security Council as part of that mandate renewal," Shearer revealed.

The UNMISS Head, who met with President Salva Kiir on Tuesday, also hailed the mediation role by the Concerned Citizens Committee in diffusing the recent standoff between the government and former army (SPLA) chief Paul Malong.

Shearer, who acknowledged receiving a letter seeking help from Malong who was recently released from house arrest, added that he was grateful with the Statesmanlike manner in which the situation was resolved, hence saving the country from another crisis.

According to Shearer, about 1,800 Rwandan and Ethiopian troops will arrive between now and December.

"We are waiting for the deployment of the remainder of the Rwandan battalion, which is around 900, and the Ethiopian battalion, which is about the same number. They will be coming between now and Christmas," he said.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel chief Riek Machar led to split within the SPLA, leaving soldiers to fight alongside ethnic lines.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:34:33|Editor: pengying

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BERLIN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Wednesday urged the international community to make greater efforts to fight climate change at the ongoing 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP23) in Bonn.

Calling climate change a question of humanity's fate, Merkel said additional efforts were needed to fulfil the 2015 Paris climate accord, stressing that the current endeavors were not sufficient.

In the landmark Paris accord, the participating countries agreed to keep global temperature increase in this century below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and seek to decrease it further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Before her speech, Steinmeier warned that the "dramatic" consequences of climate change were already apparent in the melting of Alpine glaciers as well as recent extreme weather patterns that had destroyed the homes of thousands.

Consequently, he said, the community of states needs to act swiftly and decisively to implement the Paris agreement.

The German president was optimistic that the current momentum of international cooperation on climate change would be maintained, suggesting that even the United States could rejoin the multilateral effort at a later stage.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced withdrawal from the Paris accord on June 1, making the United States the only UN member that does not support the landmark deal.

Attended by 25,000 delegates from 195 countries, COP23 is the largest in history since the first edition was held in Berlin in 1995.

Since COP23 convened on Nov. 6, the participating states have been discussing a uniform set of rules for countries to measure and report their CO2 emissions. The conference will conclude on Friday.

According to German media reports, a first success has been achieved in drafting a regulatory framework to implement the Paris accord. The organizers of COP23 hope that a formal agreement on it would be achieved at the next UN climate conference to be held in Poland.

Merkel has drawn criticism from Greenpeace and German environmental organizations for her alleged failure to fulfill her promises regarding climate change.

As COP23 opened, environmental activists blocked access to the Weisweiler coal plant near Germany's westernmost city of Aachen. Data from the German Environmental Ministry indicate that Weisweiler emits 18 million tons of CO2 each year, making it one of the five most polluting power plants in the country.

RWE, the firm operating Weisweiler, told the press that it was forced to partially shut down the plant. Police have sent special forces to end the blockade, which was called an act of sabotage, and said they would arrest the dozens of protesters involved.

The parallel incident at Weisweiler has attracted considerable attention in Berlin, where the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union, Free Democratic Party and Greens are in the middle of coalition negotiations.

The Greens are demanding that the next German government shut down 20 coal plants to achieve national climate policy objectives. The proposal has been met with heavy resistance from the other three, who have voiced concerns over the impact of an exit from coal power on domestic employment and energy security.

Further discussions on the subject, which has become a key stumbling block in coalition negotiations, are due when Merkel returns from Bonn to Berlin Wednesday night.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:39:35|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has made a series of landmark achievements in science and technology recently as the country quickens its pace in becoming a science and tech powerhouse by the middle of the century.

The biannual ranking of the world's fastest 500 supercomputers published Monday showed China's Sunway TaihuLight in the lead for the fourth time, with Tianhe-2 the second. China has overtaken the United States in the total number of ranked systems by a margin of 202 to 144.

As China's computers run faster, its Antarctic research expedition is going further. Icebreaker Xuelong headed south from Shanghai last Wednesday bound for Antarctica, where the country's fifth station will be set up within five years.

The new base will provide year-round support for researchers conducting tasks such as observations of land, ocean, atmosphere, ice shelf and biology, establishment of an observation and monitoring network in the Antarctic, and survey of marine environmental protection.

China is also dealing with global issues with science and technology. On Wednesday, a new meteorological satellite, Fengyun-3D, was launched to work in tandem with Fengyun-3C, already in orbit, improving atmospheric sounding and monitoring greenhouse gases.

At the ongoing 23rd conference of parties (COP 23) to the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, China was commended for its action in combating climate change.

German environment minister Barbara Hendricks said that she was aware that China planned to generate more power from renewable energy. Norbert Salomon, deputy director of emission control, safety of installations and transport at the German Federal Ministry for Environment, praised China for expansion of electric mobility.

China stressed innovation in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), with the aim of becoming an "innovation nation" by 2020, an international leader in innovation by 2030, and a world powerhouse in scientific and technological innovation by 2050.

In recent years, China has commissioned the dark matter probe satellite Wukong, launched the Tiangong-2 space lab, quantum science satellite Mozi and carrier rocket Long March-6, which took 20 micro-satellites for space testing.

With two BeiDou-3 satellites taken into space on a single carrier rocket this month, China is on track to create a global BeiDou Navigation Satellite System by around 2020, which will make it the third country after the United States and Russia with its own navigation system.

In its step toward unravelling the mystery of the universe, China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, has identified multiple pulsars after one year of trial operations, the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) announced in October.

Li Di, chief scientist of the NAOC radio astronomy division, predicted that when FAST starts formal operations in 2019, it will find over 100 pulsars each year. The telescope is expected to discover twice the number of pulsars currently known.

All this, along with the success of deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong, shows China leading the world in a number of fields, but still with weaknesses.

Large sums are spent on chip imports every year -- 227 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, twice that spent on crude oil, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. Increased investment and new technology must be devoted to domestic chip research, development and production.

According to a national plan on science and technology innovation during the 2016-2020 period, high-end common chip R&D is still on the list of key projects.

Other projects include a deep-sea space station, space probes, quantum telecommunications, brain science, artificial intelligence and clean energy.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:39:36|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's friendly policy toward Zimbabwe will not change in spite of the current situation in the African country, a Chinese spokesperson said Thursday.

"We sincerely hope that the situation in Zimbabwe will become stable and the issues will be resolved peacefully and appropriately," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing.

On Wednesday, the Zimbabwean military announced that it has taken control of all government institutions in the southern African country. Zimbabwe's 93-year-old president Robert Mugabe and his wife have reportedly been put under house arrest since early Wednesday.

Military leaders said on state television that they were not taking over the government, but "targeting criminals around" Mugabe, and that Mugabe and his family are safe and their security is guaranteed.

When answering a question on Chinese investment in Zimbabwe, Geng said the friendly cooperation between China and Zimbabwe are comprehensive, benefiting the people of both countries.

"China's friendly policy toward Zimbabwe will not change," said the spokesperson.

"We will continue to advance friendly cooperation with Zimbabwe in line with the principle of equality, reciprocity and win-win cooperation," Geng said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:39:36|Editor: pengying

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CAPE TOWN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two South African special envoys have arrived in Zimbabwe on a mediation mission, SA Communications Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Thursday.

The envoys, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongoand, were allowed into the country and they would meet Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and leaders of the Zimbabwean Defence Force soon, Kubayi said at a press briefing in Parliament after a fortnightly cabinet meeting.

Thereafter, the two envoys will proceed to brief Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who is also the Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, according to Kubayi.

Kubayi said the SA cabinet supports the intervention by President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as Chair of the SADC, in response to the Zimbabwean situation.

Further updates on this matter will be communicated by Zuma's office, Kubayi said.

On Wednesday, Zuma said he was sending special envoys to Zimbabwe in light of the unfolding situation in the neighboring country.

Zuma has called an urgent SADC Organ Troika meeting to discuss the unfolding political and security situation in Zimbabwe.

On behalf of the SADC, Zuma issued a statement expressing the organization's grave concern over the political situation and urged both the Zimbabwean government and the military to resolve the political crisis amicably.

Mugabe reportedly has been under house arrest since early Wednesday after the army, led by Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, took over the government in what is believed to be a coup.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 21:54:40|Editor: pengying

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CAIRO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian army killed on Thursday three terrorists in the country's North Sinai Province, the military spokesman said.

Troops of the Second Field Army have targeted terrorist hideouts in the province, killing three terrorists and arresting 74 suspects over supporting terrorist activities in Sinai, Military Spokesman Tamer al Rifaay said in a statement.

He added that five four-wheel drive vehicles, four storehouses for ammunition, fuel tanks containing 10 tons of fuel were seized during the security campaign.

The army also seized a vehicle containing motorbike spare parts and materials used in making explosives along with walkie-talkie devices, fake passports and amounts of cash.

Terrorist attacks have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military ousted former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July 2013 in response to mass protests.

Most of the attacks were claimed by a Sinai-based group affiliated with the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Meanwhile, 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 Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's removal.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:04:44|Editor: Xiang Bo

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WUHAN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have sighted highly endangered finless porpoises for more than 70 times in six days in the Yangtze, China's longest river.

A scientific expedition sent by the Ministry of Agriculture is currently surveying the number of finless porpoises along sections of the river. On Sunday alone, they located porpoises for 40 times in the Jianli section of the Yangtze, a number much higher than previous surveys of that section undertaken in 2006 and 2012.

"The increase in the population could be related to the improving river environment in recent years, or the changes in the habitat of the finless porpoise," said Hao Yujiang, with the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Hao, leader of the expedition, said that their observation does not necessarily confirm the exact size of the porpoise population, and that number will be given out after "comprehensive" calculations.

The team will continue their journey to the lower reaches of the river. Their final survey results will be announced in March 2018.

Finless porpoises are a freshwater animal. Around 1,000 finless porpoises are believed to live in the Yangtze River and two lakes linked to the busy waterway. The government has been trying to increase their population with breeding programs.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:09:46|Editor: Xiang Bo

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KUNMING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- As the first ray of sunshine reaches Damojing Village, Zhu Jinlian wakes up, puts on his clothes and braces against the wind as he makes his way to a shed.

There are noises coming from the ryegrass under his feet. Zhu bends down to grab a handful of grass and sweeps something into a corner before putting it into a bag.

Slowly, his bag is filled with locusts.

Weighing around 6.8 kilograms in total, the insects earn him 272 yuan (41 U.S. dollars) -- a lot of money for Zhu. The 40-year-old farmer is more than 30,000 yuan in debt from paying for his children's education and his elderly mother's medical bills.

For more than 4.47 million people living below the poverty line in southwest China's Yunnan Province, making better lives for themselves is complicated. It means building roads and bridges, planting fruit trees and herbs, seeking jobs in cities, and even raising locusts.

"When the local government launched the program in 2015, I didn't believe that raising locusts, a pest that we previously hated, could make money," said Zhu.

Locusts are believed to have high nutritional and medicinal value in many parts of China. The bugs fetch a wholesale price surpassing 40 yuan per kilogram.

Around 2,500 meters above sea level, Damojing is a poor, remote village in Yunnan. Of its 931 villagers, more than 22 percent survive on an annual income of less than 2,952 yuan per capita.

Raising locusts does not require much skill or labor. It's an easy way to make money for poorly educated farmers.

"Considering these reasons, we realized it might be a way out of poverty," said Zou Xiangping, a poverty-relief cadre with the village.

Zhu's family did not have any source of income beyond a small plot of farmland. They lived in an old house with cracked mud walls. Zhu decided to try locusts.

Building a shed and purchasing young locusts requires an investment of 5,000 yuan. With the help of the government, he paid one third of the cost, received free training with another 100 villagers and visited a pilot locust farm in Kunming, capital of Yunnan.

The local government has signed agreements with firms to help poor villagers sell their locusts to buyers from big cities such as Guangzhou and Shanghai.

So far, a total of 18 village households, including eight registered poor households, have participated in the program. They can produce more than one tonne of locusts each year.

By raising the insects, Zhu expects to earn over 30,000 yuan this year. The family of five already moved into a new house in August.

"There is no problem in paying off my debt," he said.

As one of the poorest provinces in China, Yunnan has more than 10 percent of China's officially designated poor counties, including the Hui and Yi Autonomous County of Xundian, where Zhu lives.

According to He Jinping, deputy governor of Yunnan, the province set this year's target to help one million people cast off poverty.

It has worked to improve infrastructure, develop industrial projects, ensure equal access to basic public services, and mobilize enterprises and government agencies to offer support to poor villages.

"Lifting all the remaining poor people out of poverty is a solemn commitment made by the Chinese government to the people. It is uppermost in my mind, and I have spent more energy on poverty alleviation than anything else," said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a keynote address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit last week.

Over the past five years, Xi has been to many poor areas in China to identify the causes of poverty and address them in a targeted way.

Decisive progress has been made. More than 60 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the past five years in China, with the the poverty rate dropping from 10.2 percent to less than 4 percent.

Yang Shujun, deputy Party chief with Xundian, cited a Chinese proverb relevant to the current poverty reduction efforts: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Xundian aims to lift its remaining 46,000 residents out of poverty this year by developing industries including locusts, chickens, potatoes and flowers.

Zhu plans to build another three locust sheds next year.

"The pest has become a boon for us in the fight against poverty," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:09:47|Editor: pengying

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by Shuai Rong, Grandesso Federico

BRUSSELS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- To protect some uncompetitive industries against imports from third countries, the EU enhanced its trade deference instrument (TDI) on Wednesday when the European Parliament finalized its legislative procedure by approving amendments to EU's new anti-dumping rules.

However, it won't tackle competitiveness issue of those industries at root.

The new rules continue to use "surrogate country approach" in a disguised way though this approach expired on Dec. 11, 2016 in accordance with the accession protocol signed when China joined the WTO in 2001.

The core of the new rules is using the "substantial market distortions," which is stated neither in the anti-dumping nor the anti-subsidy rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), as a replacement of the "surrogate country approach."

GO BEYOND LEGITIMATE SCOPE

"The problem with the EU TDI system is that it de facto goes beyond its legitimate scope," said Christian Verschueren, director-general of EuroCommerce, the EU's trade representative group for retail and wholesale.

He said as a matter of fact, certain sectors in the EU bitterly depend on anti-dumping as a sort of last resort, or as a life insurance in the stormy seas of the world market.

He believed competitiveness issue should be tackled at root rather than artificially protecting less competitive sectors from international competition. And the EU should have an interest in competitive raw material and steel prices.

"The ones suffering from steel duties in the first place are clearly the EU steel importers and wholesalers. It would be unfair to expect importers and consumers in the EU to pay the bill for possible shortcomings in other areas, be it at company or policy level," he said.

"Our economy in Europe is deeply woven into the net of globalization; affordable steel prices are in Europe's own interest," he added.

At the end of the day, however, the bill will be for the final consumer to pay, given that a number of more sophisticated non-food consumer goods rely on Chinese steel inputs, he noted.

Helmut Scholz, a member of the European parliament said that some EU member states don't want to invest in infrastructures leads to the lack of competitiveness of the EU steel industry.

"It's not logic for the EU to ask China to shut down their steel plants when they asked China to invest and produce more 12 years ago when the economic crisis started," he said

He believed that it's not realistic and not possible to judge which economic model China has implemented, "on the contrary, the EU should find a more general approach to work together with China in the WTO to create a higher standard," he said.

According to the amendments, the social and environmental impact of dumplings will be taken into account when deciding on anti-dumping measures, and the EU Commission is to monitor circumstances in exporting countries, said a press release of the Parliament.

"The inclusion of labor and environmental standards as a relevant element introduces a new element in anti-dumping law and practice that no other WTO member has ever incorporated or used," said Edwin Vermulst, partner of VVGB international law firm in Belgium.

"Protectionism is more an attempt to keep certain positions which we have been developed in the past against future competition from other countries, and we have to understand that it's not possible anymore," Scholz said.

"To enhance domestic producers' genuine competitiveness, the EU urgently needs to complete some homework internally," Verschueren said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:19:53|Editor: pengying

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DAMASCUS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Airstrikes targeted the Islamic State (IS) positions in the eastern city of al-Bukamal, the last IS stronghold in Syria, on Thursday, state news agency SANA reported.

The Syrian air force launched intense airstrikes on the IS supply routes in the vicinity of al-Buakaml in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province, killing six of them and destroying their weaponry.

SANA said the IS militants are holding civilians as human shields in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour.

Meanwhile, pro-government Sham FM radio said the Syrian forces and allied troops were advancing in al-Bukamal, reaching the western bank of the Euphrates River.

On Nov. 8, the Syrian army said it had liberated al-Bukamal from IS following a wide-scale offensive in that area near the Iraqi border.

A day later, the IS launched a counter-offensive, succeeding to retake the city, which triggered battles again for the army recapture of that key city.

Al-Bukamal is very important for IS due to its proximity to IS-held areas on the Iraqi side of the border, which have recently been stormed by the Iraqi army and allied troops.

By losing it, the IS militants would have lost all of their strongholds in Syria, maintaining just a few pockets in northeastern Syria.

Last month, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces captured the northern city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS.

This month, the Syrian army captured the capital city of Deir al-Zour from IS.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:19:54|Editor: pengying

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BERLIN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Social justice is on the rise in the European Union (EU) again after a long trend of decline since 2008, a study released on Thursday by the German Bertelsmann Foundation said.

The average score of the 28 member states considered in the EU Social Justice Index (SJI) rose to 5.85 points in 2017. Whilst still below the 6.02 level of 2008, the figure marked the first gains recorded by the foundation in four years.

The Gutersloh-based think tank publishes the closely watched SJI each year based on six dimensions -- poverty, education, the labor market, health, intergenerational equity, and social cohesion and non-discrimination. These indicators further encompass 38 individual socio-economic criteria.

The 2017 SJI, seen by Xinhua prior to its publication, suggests that opportunities for social participation in the EU measured by related parameters are finally improving again after experiencing a "nosedive" in the wake of the 2008 financial and economic crisis.

"Europe is recovering, not only economically but also in the domain of social justice," the foundation said in a statement.

According to the study authors, this positive development was mainly underpinned by a strong recovery of labor markets across the bloc.

As the pace of the economic recovery in Europe quickens, EU average unemployment has fallen from 11 percent in 2013 to 8.7 percent in 2016. Employment rates have risen simultaneously, with two-thirds or 66.6 percent of EU citizens who are able to work having an occupation in 2016.

However, the Bertelsmann Foundation warned that the North-South discrepancies in outcomes remained "substantial".

Countries such as Greece which were particularly hard-hit by the crisis continue to record a proportion of children and young people at risk of poverty and exclusion, which is far above the EU average.

Furthermore, even though unemployment has also fallen in Greece from 27.7 percent in 2013 to 23.7 in 2016, and in Spain from 26.2 percent in 2013 to 19.7 percent in 2016, the share of the population out of work was still worryingly high in several southern European countries.

By stark contrast, Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Finland, and Central European countries including Germany, the Netherlands and Austria performed well across most of the SJI's six dimensions.

The highest overall national SJI score was Denmark's at 7.39, followed closely by Sweden at 7.31, and Finland at 7.14. Bulgaria at 4.19, Romania at 3.99 and Greece at 3.7 came last in the EU comparison.

In the category of youth unemployment, Germany recorded the lowest rate at 7.1 percent while Greece was at the rear with 47.3 percent.

Although the high nominal youth unemployment in southern European countries like Greece and Spain was lower when taking into account individuals in education or some form of jobs training, the highly unequal outcomes apparent in the 2017 SJI led Bertelsmann Foundation Chairman Aart de Geus to urge EU leaders to ensure that "everyone benefits from the upward trend."

"Young people in particular must not be abandoned" De Geus added.

As a consequence of the positive employment trend, the risk of poverty and social exclusion has fallen as measured in this year's SJI. Whereas24.7 percent of the EU population was at risk of poverty at the height of the economic crisis in 2012/2013, the latest index suggests that the figure is now somewhat falling to 23.4 percent.

Here again, however, Greece (35.6 percent), Spain (27.9 percent), and Italy (26.5 percent) trailed far behind the likes of Denmark, Finland and the Czech Republic, which were at the top of the table with figures between 16.7 and 13.3 percent.

Nevertheless, the study authors voiced optimism that the gap between northern and southern Europe would continue to narrow in the future if the ongoing recovery across EU labor markets persisted.

Education opportunities measured by the EU SJI have also improved in the majority of member states compared with several years ago. For instance, the proportion of students leaving school with no qualifications has fallen throughout the bloc from 14.7 percent in 2008 to 10.7 percent in 2016.

Despite this positive overall trajectory, the study authors criticized "disturbing" developments in a number of eastern European states.

"We are seeing the right-wing populist governments in Hungary and Poland in particular making far-reaching changes to the education system and thereby reversing past achievements," said a statement by Daniel Schraad-Tischler, senior project manager at the Bertelsmann Foundation, read.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:26:06|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Stewards send a birthday cake to a passenger whose birthday falls on the same day of the 3rd anniversary of operation of Lanxin High-speed Railway on the train D8802, Nov. 16, 2017. The 1,776-kilometer railway linking Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, and Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is one of the major passages for China's Belt and Road Initiative. The line has served for more than 11.6 million passengers in the past three years. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:24:56|Editor: pengying

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HANOI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- An aid package from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for victims of Typhoon Damrey arrived in Vietnam's central Khanh Hoa province on Thursday.

The package includes 600 sets of household utensils, 3,000 sets of personal hygiene aids, 1,000 sets of house repair tools, an aluminium-clad ship and a 40-HP engine, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The goods, worth more than 174,000 U.S. dollars, were sent by the Jakarta-based ASEAN Co-ordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management. The action is based on the ASEAN spirit of "One ASEAN, one response," which calls for fast and collective response to disasters in and outside the region.

In early November, Typhoon Damrey claimed 106 lives, left 25 people missing and injured 197 others in Vietnam's central and central highlands regions, said the country's Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:29:58|Editor: Xiang Bo

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China wants to build a strong partnership with the United States based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said Wednesday.

Such a strong partnership can help the two nations better accomplish domestic goals and respond to challenges in today's world, Cui said at the 2017 gala dinner of the U.S.-China Policy Foundation.

"This is the essence of China's policy toward the United States. This is what we actually want to have in the relationship," the ambassador said.

Founded in 1995, the foundation is a non-profit organization promoting greater understanding between U.S. and Chinese policymakers, researchers and government officials.

TRUMP'S CHINA VISIT CONSTRUCTIVE

Cui said with both countries' efforts, bilateral relations over the years have developed on a stable track and maintained a positive momentum.

The latest development is U.S. President Donald Trump's first state visit to China just a few days ago, he added.

The U.S. president was the first visiting foreign head of state to China after the 19th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China. He was also the first head of state to call Chinese President Xi Jinping at the conclusion of the congress, Cui said, remarking, "Indeed, it was the first time for an American president to do that. We appreciate that."

Cui said during the visit, the two heads of state held in-depth exchanges of views and reached important consensus, which set the tone and direction for the China-U.S. relationship.

He emphasized Xi and Trump's agreement to stay in close contact and provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relationship. The two presidents also agreed to enhance high-level exchanges and make best use of high-level dialogue mechanisms. There was mutual consent to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, manage possible differences on the basis of mutual respect, and promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

The two leaders also agreed on better cooperation at the sub-national levels, and to join hands in response to global, international and regional issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Trump's visit also saw business deals worth over 250 billion U.S. dollars signed.

"The visit was constructive and fruitful," Cui said, pointing out that the public opinion in both countries as well as the international community was positive.

CHINA, U.S. HAVE MORE THAN DIFFERENCES

The envoy also highlighted "the depth and breadth of the communication" between the two presidents, their reaffirmation of growing common interests and the need for better and closer cooperation between the two nations for the benefit of the two peoples.

Responding to skepticism that there was little progress on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue during the visit, Cui said the two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized and peaceful Korean Peninsula and to implement all the United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also expressed commitment to seek a diplomatic solution to the problem.

"I believe this is a very important and strong signal, (which) hopefully will help us to find the solution to this difficult and sensitive issue and help us to stabilize the situation on the peninsula," he said.

For those calling the economic outcomes of the visit below expectations, Cui said 250 billion dollars is not "a small number."

"Such a long and impressive list is the outcome of the joint efforts of the two governments and the two business communities. As long as there is sufficient political will, (the deals) will be implemented and benefit our two peoples," Cui said.

CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT TO BENEFIT WORLD

Cui said China will continue to follow the strategy of reform and opening up, and promote high-standard trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

"We will implement the system of pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list across the board, significantly ease market access, further open the service sector, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors," he said. "All businesses registered in China will be treated as equals."

Describing China's foreign policy, which aims at a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, Cui said China is ready to make greater contributions to world peace and development, and through consultation and collaboration with others, help improve and enhance global governance.

"We seek global partnerships, and we are ready to expand convergence of interests with other countries," he said.

While China will never give up its own legitimate interests, it will never pursue its own development at the expense of others, he said.

"China will never seek hegemony, nor will we pursue expansionist policies. This is the backdrop against which we built our relations with the United States. And this is the future direction where I believe our relations should be going," the ambassador said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:29:59|Editor: Xiang Bo

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HONG KONG, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Customs of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Thursday that it had seized about 1 kg of suspected cocaine concealed in a female passenger's body.

When a 48-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Tanzania via Ethiopia in the afternoon on Tuesday, customs officers suspected her to have contraband articles concealed in her body cavities and escorted her to hospital.

The woman subsequently discharged pellets of suspected cocaine weighting about 1 kg.

She was arrested and the investigation is ongoing, the customs said.

Under the HKSAR's Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of 5 million Hong Kong dollars (about 640,000 U.S. dollars) and life imprisonment.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:35:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has launched a new meteorological satellite to monitor carbon emissions, one of a slew of measures made by the country to combat climate change.

As delegations from various countries are discussing how to implement the Paris Agreement at the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), China is making good use of science and technology in combatting global warming, with satellites, new energy vehicles (NEVs), clean energy the highlights.

The satellite launched Wednesday, Fengyun-3D, will work in tandem with Fengyun-3C, already in orbit, improving atmospheric sounding and monitoring greenhouse gases.

One of the main tasks of the satellite is to monitor global radiation, snow and ice cover, and sea surface temperature. It will also obtain the distribution of greenhouse gases and ozone, providing information for short-term climate monitoring and climate change forecasting.

According to experts, the country will send up another four Fengyun-3 satellites around 2018 to 2021, which will nearly double the efficiency of meteorology monitoring system.

Other recent anti-global warming technology includes the weather satellite Fengyun-4 as well as its first carbon monitoring satellite TanSat launched last December.

Besides weather monitoring and forecasting, Fengyun-4 is able to provide evidence for climate change forecasts. It can closely detect temperature changes on the surface of the entire western Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

TanSat was China's first satellites to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, which is of great importance to a full understanding of the global carbon cycle process and its impact on global climate change, Yang Jun, director general of the National Satellite Meteorological Center, part of the China Meteorological Administration, said in late October.

China is also taking solid measures to fight global warming on the ground.

It is at the forefront of the renewable energy use, with a surge in its number of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and its increasing ability to harness hydro, wind, solar and nuclear power.

Electric vehicle battery producers are flourishing in China. Some of the leading companies have made breakthroughs in the core technology and are competitive in both domestic and overseas markets.

The government has taken solid steps to encourage the use of NEVs, such as tax exemptions, discounts for car purchases and an order for government organizations to buy more NEVs.

Last year, China surpassed the United States as the world's biggest electric car market, with 507,000 NEVs sold in the country, an increase of 53 percent year on year.

China is the world's biggest producer, consumer and investor in renewable energy, according to a report about it's renewable energy development in 2016 published this October.

The country ranks first in terms of generation capacity of hydro, wind and solar power, as well as nuclear power capacity under construction, Li Gao, an official with the climate change department of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a State Council press conference in October.

The country is not only accelerating its renewable energy capacity building, but also exporting clean energy technologies to the rest of the world.

Recently, Chinese renewable energy company BYD sealed a deal with a factory in Sao Paulo to supply 180 megawatts of solar modules.

"The current annual production of solar modules of the factory is 200 megawatts," said Li Tie, manager of BYD Brazil Branch. "The increased production with the help of BYD will meet the demand of Brazil's growing renewables market."

CRRC Zhuzhou Electric, a propulsion and control systems provider, signed a framework agreement with German wind turbine maker Senvion to supply 100 wind driven generators in October.

The Chinese company agreed to produce at least 100 3.7MW-144 wind turbines for Senvion in the next three years.

Over the past decade, while maintaining economic growth, China has cut carbon dioxide emissions by 4.1 billion tonnes. Last year, the country cut its carbon intensity, the measure of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP, by 6.6 percent, surpassing its goal of 3.9 percent.

The government has promised to reduce its carbon intensity by 18 percent, and to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 15 percent, by 2020 from 2016.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) saw a rosy future for China's contribution in improved energy mix.

The World Energy Outlook 2017 published by the IEA earlier predicted that "China's choices will play a huge role in determining global trends, and could spark a faster clean energy transition."

The scale of China's clean energy deployment, technology exports and outward investment makes it a key determinant of momentum behind the low-carbon transition," said the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:35:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Shuai Rong Liang Linlin, Tian Dongdong

BRUSSELS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's (EU) new anti-dumping rules, as it stands now, is believed to be WTO incompatible, an international trade lawyer has told Xinhua recently.

The European Parliament on Wednesday finalized its legislative procedure by approving amendments on EU's new anti-dumping rules.

The core of the new rules is using the "substantial market distortions," which is stated neither in the anti-dumping nor the anti-subsidy rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), as a replacement of the "surrogate country approach."

The new rules came against a backdrop of the expiry in December 2016 of the Article 15 of the Protocol on China's accession to the WTO, which allowed the EU to regard China as a Non-Market Economy and use the "surrogate country approach" in its anti-dumping investigations against China.

"The new law does not virtually cease the so-called 'analogue country' methodology. Instead, it intends to continue in a disguised way the existing and currently applied 'non-market economy' approach towards countries like China, thus in violation of the EU's commitment of repealing such approach," said Bao Yongqing, senior associate at the Brussels office of the trade law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

He said the criteria of establishing "significant market distortion" are not much different in substance from those existing in determining "non-market economy".

"One can easily find traces of 'non-market economy' standards in these new criteria," he said. "Some also believe that they are to a large extent tailored to address the economic and market structure in countries like China, Russia or Vietnam."

The new law, with "substantial market distortions" at the core, was passed by the European Parliamentary by 554 votes to 48 against, with 80 abstentions.

It still needs to be adopted by the Council of the European Union and is expected to enter into force before the end of the year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:35:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's new anti-dumping law that grants separate treatment for imports under "significant market distortions" is not in compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

The concept of "significant market distortions" is not stated in the WTO rules, while there are no rules regarding "social and environmental dumping," the MOC said in an online statement.

The move is therefore groundless and will cause "serious damage" to the WTO's anti-dumping legal system, and has already been questioned by many WTO members, including China, according to the statement.

In its plenary session on Wednesday, the European Parliament gave the green light to amendments on its regulation for anti-dumping and anti-subsidized imports from countries outside the union.

The core of the amendment is using the "significant market distortions" concept as a replacement of the "analogue country methodology" when calculating dumping margins.

According to WTO requirements, anti-dumping investigations against imports from China under the "analogue country methodology" expired on Dec. 11, 2016. The methodology calculates the value of products from so-called "non-market economies" using costs of production in a third country.

As an important member of the WTO, the European Union should respect international rules, the MOC said.

China reserves its rights under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, and will take the necessary measures to protect the rights of Chinese companies, it said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:45:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Under the new law recently passed by the Turkish Parliament, armed security guards will be deployed on flights flying to and from Turkey as precautionary measures against terror attack, local daily Haberturk reported Thursday.

According to the draft law, the guards to serve on planes will be staff of the Turkish Interior Ministry, including police officers, instead of personnel from private security companies.

At least one security guard will be deployed on flights regarded particularly risky.

The security guards will sit in seats toward the back of the plane and will be dressed in civilian clothes, said the report.

Under the new law, the Turkish authorities will also allow the presence of armed security guards in foreign civil aviation flights to Turkey, provided that the reciprocity principle is reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 22:50:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NICOSIA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The project for the establishment of the first casino resort in Cyprus, which is expected to be Europe's largest, is proceeding smoothly despite the withdrawal of Hard Rock International, the eastern Mediterranean island's Gaming Commission official said on Thursday.

"The changes in the Cyprus registered company which was licensed to operate the casino have not affected the process of establishing an integrated casino resort," Christos Mavrellis, president of the National Gaming Commission told Xinhua.

Seminole HR Holdings LLC (Hard Rock), which is based in Florida, pulled out of the Cypriot registered consortium, Integrated Casino Resorts Cyprus that obtained the concession.

Mavrellis added that what is expected next is the opening of a provisional casino in Limassol, where the resort will be built, and four satellite casinos in other Cypriot cities, pending town planning and other permissions required.
File Photo: Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia (C, front) addresses the Security Council before he vetoes a Security Council draft resolution at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States were at odds Wednesday at the UN security council on whether to renew the mandate of an independent investigation mechanism tasked to determine who was responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Russia last month vetoed a U.S.-sponsored draft resolution that would have extended for another year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations.

After that, the United States and Russia have circulated competing draft resolutions among council members for consideration.

"Intense negotiations are going on. We are still hopeful that there will be a solution to a continuation of JIM, maintaining the mandate," Olof Skoog, the Swedish ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters on Wednesday. "It's very late in the day, but we're not giving up."

On the two competing draft resolutions, he said, "We are encouraging the United States and Russia to find a compromise."

A JIM report, which came out two days after the Russian veto on Oct. 24, finds that the Syrian government and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group were responsible for using chemical weapons in Syria.

The IS used sulfur mustard in a September 2016 attack in Umm Hawsh and the Syrian government was responsible for the release of sarin in an April 2017 attack in Khan Shaykhun, according to the report.

"There has been sufficient evidence of a credible and reliable nature to make its findings," Edmond Mulet, head of JIM, told the Security Council on Nov. 7.

But Russia questioned the methodology of JIM, particularly the fact that it did not carry out on-site visits. In an Oct. 31 letter to the president of the Security Council, Russian ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Vassily Nebenzia called the JIM report "amateurish in nature" and "based primarily on assumptions and a selective use of facts."

Russia, therefore, demands a modification of JIM's mandate, while the United States and its allies want to maintain the current JIM mandate.

Should negotiations fail, the Security Council would repeat last year's scenario, where the JIM mandate was not renewed on time, leading to disruptions in JIM's work. The Swedish ambassador saw "a good conversation going on" and said he was still hopeful.

It is not clear whether Russia will also put its draft resolution to vote in the Security Council. Asked on Monday whether his country would do so, Nebenzia said: "Let's see."

JIM was unanimously approved by the Security Council in 2015 and had its mandate extended last year, although the renewal was delayed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:05:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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STOCKHOLM, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of people in southern Sweden who are diagnosed with cancer increased by almost three percent in 2016, with skin cancer rates representing the highest rise.

On average, around 240 people receive a cancer diagnosis every week in the southern Sweden region, Maria Rejmyr Davis, the stand-in head of the Southern Sweden Regional Cancer Center, told Swedish Television on Thursday.

"Swedish cancer care is struggling with a lack of resources. The number of patients is growing at the same time as treatment options are widening," said Rejmyr Davis. "The investment in so-called standardized care means more people now undergo scans for suspected cancers."

These conditions mean that the cancer detection rate is growing and the rise in skin cancer cases continues to be high. There were 8.9 percent more cases in 2016 compared to the year before. Malignant melanoma, which is the most common form of skin cancer, increased by 6.5 percent in 2016 compared to 2015.

At the same time, breast cancer rates went down while prostate cancer remains the most common form of cancer in the region. Bjorn Ohlsson, a medical adviser at the Southern Sweden Regional Cancer Center, said an aging population and exposure to the sun are the main reason behind the rising figures.

"It's about accumulation over time. Sun habits that we had 20 years ago may result in skin cancer today," said Ohlsson, who also stressed the importance of early diagnoses and healthy lifestyles.

"We know that a large share of cancers can be prevented by giving up smoking, eating well, exercising, sunbathing less, and carrying out controls for early cancer detection. Several hundreds lives could be saved in southern Sweden alone," said Ohlsson.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:05:14|Editor: Liangyu

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Visiting Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela (1st R) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (1st L) inaugurate the Panamanian Embassy in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi inaugurated the Panama Embassy in Beijing on Thursday, five months after bilateral diplomatic ties were established.

"The inauguration ceremony is of historic significance," said Varela, adding, "Panama will firmly abide by the one-China principle and develop a friendly cooperation relationship with China."

Varela is visiting China from Nov. 16 to 22. This marks the first trip by a Panamanian leader to China since the two nations established diplomatic ties on June 13.

"The decision to establish diplomatic ties with China by President Varela is in accordance with the historical trend and serves the state, national and people's interests of Panama," said Wang.

There has been new progress every day since the bilateral relations were established. The state visit by Varela and the first meeting between the top leaders from the two countries will open a new era of common development, the foreign minister added.

China and Panama signed a joint communique on June 13, in which the government of Panama severs "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan as of that day and undertakes not to have any more official relations or exchanges with Taiwan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:10:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A handful of U.S. House Democrats on Wednesday made a push to impeach U.S. President Donald Trump. But most of the party will not support the move, and the effort is likely to fall flat, experts said.

"House Democrats do not yet have a strong case for impeachment," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua.

The move comes amid bitter partisan rivalry that has come to define Washington over the last decade or more.

Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen announced Wednesday that five other lawmakers in his party have signed a resolution that put out articles of impeachment against the billionaire-turned-president.

Those Democrats said the president had obstructed justice, violated the Constitution by profiting from his businesses as president and undermined freedom of the press, one of the major rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

"We're calling upon the House to begin impeachment hearings," Cohen said.

But experts said Trump has not broken any laws that would allow impeachment to go forth. The United States is a rule-of-law nation, and Congress cannot by law start the impeachment process simply because they do not like a sitting president.

Constitutionally, impeachment requires "treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors," and is a process by which both the House and Senate try the president and vote to remove him from office, Mahaffee said.

In past cases, impeachment has come from the findings of special prosecutors' investigations or the motions of members of Congress, Mahaffee said.

Should an impeachment occur, it would work like this: The House Rules Committee and Judiciary Committee would determine the potential charges, and the full House of Representatives would move ahead to impeachment with a majority vote-similar to indictment in the legal sense-and the Senate would vote whether to remove the president from office with a two-thirds majority vote, Mahaffee said.

This all requires a significant and proven set of legal violations, rather than political disagreement, Mahaffee said, adding that Trump is unlikely to be impeached.

"This discussion is moot as long as Democrats remain in the minority in Congress -- so it would be unlikely unless there were a significant reshaping of the Congress in the 2018 elections," Mahaffee said.

Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that impeachment is a long and complicated process in the United States, adding that the opposition party does not have the power to impeach and remove a president. It takes considerable bipartisanship to bring about that result.

Right now, the Democratic base believes Trump should be impeached and some Democratic legislators have endorsed that view, West noted.

"But the party leadership believes it is premature to push that right now. They know Republicans would not support that effort, West said.

"I doubt if anything meaningful on this topic will happen in the next few months. But as we head into the 2018 election, it certainly will be a topic that will receive a lot of attention from voters and candidates," West said.

"If Democrats happen to gain control of the House and Senate, there could be a serious impeachment effort in 2019. But even then, the Senate will require a substantial number of Republicans to support an effort to remove the president from office," West said, referring to the two-thirds majority vote needed to impeach.

Aside from the lawmakers who on Wednesday called for impeachment hearings, the party's leadership is not on board, at least for now.

Indeed, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi earlier this month said impeachment is not a road the party should follow if Democrats expect to win back control of Congress in next year's Congressional elections.

"It's not someplace I think we should go," she said.

IMPEACHMENT COULD RALLY TRUMP'S BASE

Moreover, impeachment could actually backfire on Democrats, as that would likely fire up Trump's conservative base.

West said impeachment would rally support among Trump's base. At least one-third of the country would view this as an illegitimate activity and would rally to support the president.

Mahaffee echoed those thoughts, adding that the "legitimacy of the impeachment -- and Congress as a whole -- would be imperiled in the minds of many," if Trump were impeached.

"If the Democrats want to close the door on President Trump's policies, their best bet is to focus on victories in elections rather than methods such as impeachment," Mahaffee said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:10:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CAIRO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Libyan terrorist was involved in the recent anti-police deadly attack in a desert area on the outskirts of Giza province, southern the capital Cairo, the Egyptian Interior Ministry revealed in a statement on Thursday.

The statement said that the Libyan militant was the only one who survived security raids after the deadly two-day confrontations that started on Oct. 20 and left 16 policemen dead and 13 wounded, besides one kidnapped but was freed later by the forces.

The later security crackdown on the nearby mountainous areas around the Western Desert near Al-Wahat highway left 15 militants dead and finally caught the Libyan runaway alive.

"The man was caught and we found out he is Libyan and his name is Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Abdullah al-Mismary, who lived in Derna city in Libya," said the police statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:15:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SHENZHEN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese automaker BYD will provide 50 pure electric buses to the Argentine province of La Rioja to help with its green development.

The fleet of buses are part of a series of new energy solutions BYD inked with La Rioja on Thursday at the China Hi-tech Fair 2017 in Shenzhen,south China's Guangdong Province.

In accordance with preliminary surveys and consultation, BYD's new energy solutions will include pure electric vehicles, solar module products, and battery energy storage systems.

The deal has strategic significance for both BYD and La Rioja in new energy development, according to a BYD representative.

La Rioja, in the northwest of Argentina, is in the midst of developing new energy industries such as solar and wind energy.

BYD's pure electric buses are used in more than 200 cities in 50 countries and regions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:20:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed prime minister, Fayez Serraj, on Thursday called for more cooperation with Indonesia in the field of medical care.

Serraj made his remarks during a meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador to Libya, Raudin Anwar, in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

"Prime Minister Serraj called for continued communication with the Ministry of Health to determine the needs of Libyan hospitals of medical crews, pointing out that the Libyan market is a promising market and will attract great attention with the return of stability soon," said the media office of the prime minister.

Anwar, who has just finished his term in office as Ambassador to Libya, spoke about his work in Libya in facilitating communication between businessmen in Libya and Indonesia, as well as the foundations of cooperation in the medical field to provide Libyan hospitals with medical crews, the office added.

Libya is suffering a severe medical crisis, with public hospitals lacking medical supplies. Libyan hospitals rely mainly on foreign medical personnel, most of whom have left the country due to years of insecurity and chaos.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:25:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi police on Thursday found a mass grave containing the remains of some 20 bodies in a recently-freed Islamic State (IS) stronghold in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, a provincial police source said.

In response to information provided by residents, a police force found the mass grave on the eastern side of the city of Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

All the bodies were buried in a random way and they were all wearing orange jumpsuits, indicating their executions by extremist militants, the source said.

A forensic team from the provincial health department will arrive to examine the site, the source added.

In September, the Iraqi security forces liberated the part of Shirqat, which is located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, as part of the anti-IS offensive in the nearby Hawijah area.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:30:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The City of Johannesburg has given the South African Department of Home Affairs an ultimatum to produce a plan to address illegal immigration by November 24, 2017.

Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba issued the ultimatum on Thursday, demanding Home Affairs Minister Ayanda Dlodlo to produce specific measures, plans and interventions about illegal migrants.

"The minister has until November 24, 2017 to respond. Failing which the City will have no option but to pursue the matter through our courts, as undocumented migrants, many of these people make it past our borders and many are forced to live in the fringes of our society, in the shadows and with limited protection. It is essential that the national government clean up its act and ensure that it takes appropriate steps aimed at the identification and processing of illegal immigrants who reach the City," said Mashaba.

Mashaba said the police have arrested 267 illegal immigrants in 11 raids. Many immigrants are forced into the city and country by social, political and economic factors in their countries. He also demanded that the national government issue the deserving immigrants with the necessary papers.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:40:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Flood-stricken areas at the outskirts of Athens as well as many parts of Greece were battered anew on Thursday by strong thunderstorms, as firefighters continued the search for five people still missing after the flash floods that resulted in 15 casualties on Wednesday, according to the Fire Brigade.

In a light of hope amid the mud, the gray skies and the national mourning for the victims, two persons who had been reported missing by relatives were located in good health on Thursday near the town of Mandra which was hit hardest by the torrential rain, local authorities said.

Residents in this area which is located about 20 kilometers west of Athens faced more heavy rainfall on Thursday which made more difficult the efforts to locate the missing, clean up tones of debris, restore electricity and support people left homeless. The number of the people affected has still not been estimated.

All those affected by the floods will be compensated, Interior Minister Panos Skourletis said on Thursday in an interview with local ANT1 TV.

The Greek official underlined that support for the flood victims is a government priority and that any accommodation, water and electricity problems will be immediately addressed.

Moreover, he stressed that a master plan will be drawn up to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

The first priority of the government is to find those missing and avoid more victims or disasters, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos added when speaking to public broadcaster ERT1.

A total of 90 rescue operations have been carried out so far in the areas affected by the floods, he said, adding that the army has opened up its resorts to provide food and shelter to flood victims.

Regarding the compensation for damages, Tzanakopoulos said that the Greek Finance Ministry has already taken the necessary steps to make use of the emergency fund set up by the European Commission following the devastating floods that hit Europe in 2002.

Meanwhile the Shipping Ministry announced that a shipping company offered a cruise ship which can host up to 914 people to temporarily house residents of Mandra, Elefsina and Megara who were left homeless by the flooding in the area.

In addition to the relief measures and compensations, flood-stricken residents request justice amid allegations for severe urban planning violations in the area.

The Regional Governor of Attica Rena Dourou requested the Supreme Court Prosecutor to investigate the causes that led to the "unprecedented disaster."

Greek meteorologists warned that the the current weather front which has hit Greece since last weekend is expected to continue affecting the country until at least Saturday, bringing more heavy rain and storms.

Throughout the country on Thursday, in the Greek capital, as well as the northern cities of Thessaloniki and Naoussa, as well as Ioannina and the island of Cephalonia in the west, heavy rains and strong winds turned streets into rivers and caused traffic disruptions and flooding. The fire service said that it received more than 100 telephone calls to pump out waters from flooded homes and businesses in northern Greece.

Firefighters also rescued a young man who had been stranded in his car during the storm on Cephalonia island.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:40:30|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL -- The Turkish authorities on Thursday issued detention warrants for some 150 people with suspected links to a group blamed for masterminding a failed coup last year, local media reported.

The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office is hunting 39 people for being members of the network led by Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric now living in the United States, and for providing financial support to it, the Hurriyet daily said. (Turkey-Coup Suspects)

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KABUL -- At least 10 people were killed and nine others wounded after a suicide bombing ripped through a banquet hall in northern neighborhood of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul on Thursday, police and witnesses said.

"A terrorist wearing an explosive-packed jacket tried to enter Qasr-e-Naween Hall at midday in Khair Khana Mina locality shortly before a political gathering ended," Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid told reporters near the site. (Afghanistan-Suicide bomb attack)

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TOKYO -- Subaru Corp. on Thursday filed a recall of around 395,000 vehicles with Japan's transport ministry after it came to light that the carmaker had routinely allowed unqualified staff to conduct final vehicle checks.

The uncertified checks at two of the automaker's facilities in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, date back as far as 30 years, an internal prove revealed. (Japan-Subaru Corp-Recall)

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MADRID -- Spanish National Police confirmed they have arrested the man who held several people hostage at a bank in the Usera district in the south of Madrid on Thursday.

The standoff began at around 9:50 a.m. local time and lasted for around an hour when a man, described as "armed" and "acting alone" in the Spanish press, entered a branch of Bankia in Dolores Barranco street in the Usera area. (Spain-Madrid-Kidnapping) Enditem
Angelina Jolie attends the 2017 United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference in Vancouver, Canada. Nov. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Liang Sen)

VANCOUVER, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Angelina Jolie urged military leaders and peacekeepers on Wednesday to step up efforts to protect women and girls from sexual violence around the world.

The Hollywood star is also a special envoy to the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees and co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. She was in Vancouver addressing a UN peacekeeping conference that brought together nearly 60 defense ministers and hundreds of delegates.

"Sexual violence continues to be employed as a tactic of war in 19 countries," Jolie said in her keynote address. "It includes mass rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and rape as a form of torture, ethnic cleansing and terrorism."

She said women and children continue to represent the largest number of casualties of war. "There is nothing worse than when someone in uniform is harming the very civilians they are expected to protect."

Jolie said decades of protocols, promises and resolutions from the UN, the International Criminal Court and the UN Security Council have not done enough to protect women and children from sexual violence in war.

"We have to ask, how is it (that) after all these years, all these laws, all these resolutions and all the horrors that have been endured, women still have to ask for this most basic of all entitlements - the right to a life free from violence?"

She said sexual violence is rampant in every industry and every corner of the world, and is a main reason so many women remain in subordinate and vulnerable positions.

"No longer should sexual violence be treated as a lesser crime amid conflict, and no longer should the international community believe that nothing can be done about sexual crimes," Jolie said.

Earlier in the day, Canada, Britain and Bangladesh announced a senior military chiefs' network, promising to work with top military officials to increase the number of women in militaries.

Jolie applauded the move and said much more needs to be done to boost gender and sexual violence training and more women should be deployed as peacekeepers and gender advisors.

"It is hard, yes, but it is not impossible," she said. "We have the laws, the institutions, the expertise in gathering evidence. We are able to identify perpetrators in those conflicts. What is missing is the political will."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:45:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KHARTOUM, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and the United States on Thursday expressed willingness to continue dialogue and cooperation to fully normalize bilateral ties.

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Thursday held talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, who arrived in Khartoum earlier on the day in a two-day visit to Sudan.

"As I repeated all the time that the lifting of sanctions is the first step, but an important and crucial step to put our foot on the right path in order to reach a final destination which we all look forward to the full normalization of our relationship," said Ghandour when addressing the opening sitting of the talks.

Sullivan, for his part, said "the decision last month to lift the economic sanctions is the culmination of a lot of hard work on both of our sides, and now we are beginning the process of looking forward to expanding our relationship."

"We have discussed a number of areas where we need to work together to continue the positive momentum that we have begun over the last 16 months," he noted.

The U.S. diplomat is expected to hold talks in Khartoum with a number of Sudanese officials on bilateral issues of mutual concern.

Last Oct. 6, the United States decided to lift its economic sanctions on Sudan permanently, citing Sudan's "sustained positive actions to maintain a cessation of hostilities in conflict areas in Sudan, improve humanitarian access throughout Sudan, and maintain cooperation with the United States on addressing regional conflicts and the threat of terrorism."

The U.S. State Department announced that the decision would go into effect as of last Oct. 12.

The U.S. has been imposing sanctions on Sudan since 1997 and listing it one of the countries sponsoring terrorism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:50:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed a new resolution by the United Nations on rights situation in Iran as "unacceptable and politically-motivated," Tasnim news agency reported.

Supports for such a politically motivated resolution from war criminals and sponsors of terrorism have discredited it, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement.

"The support of a number of most notorious violators of human rights and war criminals and sponsors of terrorism, violence, and extremism for the UN's latest resolution is only one of the main reasons showing why the resolution is invalid," Qasemi said without elaboration.

"Western countries' instrumental, selective, and political use of human rights against independent states of the world is a wrong and condemned approach and has no result other than undermining the supreme status of human rights," he was quoted as saying.

The recent anti-Iran resolution sponsored by Canada and passed by the UN's Third Committee on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs has voiced concern about what it calls human rights violations in Iran.

Iran is a ruling system based on religious democracy which has always sought to promote human rights and to seriously fulfill its international commitments, the spokesperson said.

"Iran is ready to seriously establish dialogue and constructive cooperation with any other side interested in promoting human rights based on its supreme values and the principle of mutual respect ... within all the legal international mechanisms," Qasemi added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:50:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOGADISHU, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Somalia and the UN children's fund (UNICEF) on Thursday launched the drafting process of its Child Rights Bill as part of its efforts to strengthen the rights of children in the Horn of Africa nation.

The Child Rights Bill, once approved, will be the foundation for the promotion and protection of all child rights in the country following the ratification by the country of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in October 2015.

Somalia's Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, Deqa Yasin Hagi Yusuf, and UNICEF's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Leila Pakkala who launched the process in Somali capital Mogadishu said the move is a gesture that the ministry strongly believes will guarantee a better future for Somali children.

"The launch of the drafting process of this comprehensive children's law today shows the determination of the government to ensure the Articles in the CRC become a reality in Somalia," Yusuf said in a statement issued after the launch.

"Children here have been seriously affected by armed conflict, drought and many other challenges. We should now focus on guaranteeing their future by strengthening the legal framework which will enable them to enjoy their rights, including the right to development, education, and protection among others," she said.

The ministry is partnering with UNICEF and Somali civil society organizations in the drafting process and expects wide ranging contributions from Somali society.

Pakkala said every child in Somalia is entitled, as are all children worldwide, to fully realize their rights.

"We trust that the Child Rights Bill will provide the legal foundation to effectively promote and protect all child rights in Somalia, including those of the most marginalized," Pakkala added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:50:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MADRID, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Health service unions on Thursday announced two days of strike involving all workers in the public health service in the region of Madrid in support for their demands for the application of a 37.5 hour week, an increase in staff numbers and the introduction of permanent contracts for workers.

Unions were also angry at what they describe as the "freezing of professional development" and explained that around a third of the workers in the Madrid Health Service are on temporary contracts, with around 8,000 jobs lost since the start of the economic crisis in 2008.

They also announced an indefinite strike at private health centers in the capital, including those in the public domain which are under private management starting on November 27.

Meanwhile,November 20 will see the start of a series of 10 minute stoppages in protest at what unions describe as the "mistreatment" of the Madrid Health Service and its 64,000 workers by the Regional Government of Cristiana Cifuentes.

"Cifuentes has the final responsibility," commented the unions, adding that the strikes will probably be held on December 13 and 14.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:55:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based interim government has sent medical supplies to the eastern city of Derna, which has been besieged by the army for nearly three years, a local source said Thursday.

"The medical shipment sent on Wednesday contains specialized medicines the city needs, in addition to an amount of other children vaccinations," Mo'taz Tarabelsi, media officer of the Ministry of Health, told Xinhua.

"This shipment received by the medical stores of Derna's Red Crescent and delivered by the army is not the first and will not be the last," Tarabelsi added.

The interim government's health ministry sent medical supplies on Nov. 1 to the central hospital of Derna, after the hospital called for help to treat a large number of civilians injured by an unidentified airstrike.

Derna has been besieged by the eastern army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, for nearly three years, preventing entry into and exit from the city except for humanitarian aid.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-16 23:55:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOSCOW, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Justice Ministry on Thursday confirmed that it had sent out letters to a number of foreign media outlets operating in Russia, notifying them of possible recognition of their identity as foreign agents.

"On Nov. 15-16, 2017, the Russian Justice Ministry sent letters about possible recognition as foreign agents to the Voice of America, Caucasus Reality, Crimea Reality, Siberia Reality, the Idel Reality regional project, the Current Time TV channel, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Liberty's Tatar-Bashkir service and the Factograph project," the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

On Wednesday, the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, approved a bill vesting the government with the power to label foreign-funded media outlets as "foreign agents".

According to the Justice Ministry, the bill is likely to enter into force "in the near future".

It was seen as a quick response to the latest development of Russian media's situation in the United States. On Monday, RT America registered as a foreign agent in the United States at the demand of the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), following months of controversy.

Washington has been accusing Russian media, including RT and Sputnik, of influencing public opinion during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, while Moscow claims that they are being oppressed by U.S. authorities.

Russian parliament members called the newly passed bill "an exceptional measure which mirrors the U.S. legislation on foreign agents."

The bill is expected to get endorsed by the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, and then signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:05:43|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO -- A former U.S. Marine and civilian base worker at the opening of the trial at the Naha District Court on Thursday, while denying his intention to murder, stands accused of raping and killing a 20-year-old woman in Okinawa, as anti-U.S. base sentiment continues to rise in Japan's southernmost prefecture.

The defendant, Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 33, who was working at a company within the premises of the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa at the time of the incident having served as a U.S. Marine from 2007 to 2014, denied the charges of rape resulting in death and abandoning the victim's body, however. (Japan-U.S. Marine-Trial)

----

TOKYO -- Subaru Corp. on Thursday filed a recall of around 395,000 vehicles with Japan's transport ministry after it came to light that the carmaker had routinely allowed unqualified staff to conduct final vehicle checks.

The uncertified checks at two of the automaker's facilities in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, date back as far as 30 years, an internal prove revealed. (Japan-Subaru-Recall)

----

TOKYO -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck off the coast of Japan's Hachijojima island on Thursday, the weather agency here said.

There have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of the earthquake, according to local authorities. (Japan-Quake)

----

KABUL -- At least 10 people were killed and nine others wounded after a suicide bombing ripped through a banquet hall in northern neighborhood of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul on Thursday, police and witnesses said.

"A terrorist wearing an explosive-packed jacket tried to enter Qasr-e-Naween Hall at midday in Khair Khana Mina locality shortly before a political gathering ended," Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid told reporters near the site. (Afghanistan-Suicide Bombing-casualty) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:10:44|Editor: Yurou

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Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a press conference in Harare, Zimbabwe, Nov. 16, 2017. Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday urged President Robert Mugabe to resign and pave the way for democratic elections. (Xinhua)

HARARE, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday urged President Robert Mugabe to resign and pave way for democratic elections.

Tsvangirai's remarks came a day after the military seized power from the 93-year-old leader.

"In the interest of the people, Mr. Robert Mugabe must resign and step down immediately," Tsvangirai said at a press conference.

Tsvangirai said there must be a negotiated all-inclusive transitional mechanism agreed upon by all national stakeholders.

He also called for comprehensive reforms before the election to ensure a credible, free and fair election.

Tsvangirai once shared power with Mugabe in a coalition government between 2009 and 2013.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:15:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CAIRO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A captured Libyan terrorist was involved in the recent anti-police deadly attack in a desert area on the outskirts of Giza province, southern the capital Cairo, the Egyptian Interior Ministry revealed in a statement on Thursday.

The statement said that the Libyan militant was the only one who survived security raids after the deadly two-day confrontations that started on Oct. 20 and left 16 policemen dead and 13 wounded, besides one kidnapped but was freed later by the forces.

The later security crackdown on the nearby mountainous areas around the Western Desert near Al-Wahat highway left 15 militants dead and finally caught the Libyan runaway alive.

"The man was caught and we found out he is Libyan and his name is Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Abdullah al-Mismary, who lived in Derna city in Libya," said the police statement.

Mismary, 25, formed a terrorist cell in Libya's Derna and sought to establish a training camp for the militants in the desert area near the outskirts of Egypt's Giza, where his fellows were killed and he was caught alive by the forces, said the statement.

"The elements of this terror cell managed to recruit 29 people from the provinces of Giza and Qalioubiya who believe in extremist thoughts, to engage some of them in the cell and assign the others with logistic transmission and support," said the police statement, noting they have been located, pursued and caught.

"During the security raid launched on October 31 by the police in cooperation with the armed forces, a large number of various weapons and ammunition were seized, including anti-aircraft gun, multi-function weapon for armored vehicles, RPG shells, machine guns, cartouche guns, pistols and F1 bombs," it added.

Investigations revealed that Mismary's militants were the ones who shot dead in late May at least 30 Copts heading to visit a monastery on the desert highway in Upper Egypt's Minya province.

The terror operation was then claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi announced on Nov. 8, during the week-long World Youth Forum held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, that a foreign fighter was caught alive among the terrorist group involved in the recent anti-police attack.

Egypt has been suffering a wave of bloody insurgency that 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.

The country is concerned about its 1,200 km western border with eastern Libya that has been a smuggling destination of arms and militants over the past few years.

Egypt's Western Desert also witnessed a terrorist attack that killed at least 21 soldiers in July 2014. In February 2015, IS militants released a video allegedly showing the beheading of 20 Egyptians near the Libyan chaotic city of Sirte.

The country has been working with Libya's neighboring states, including Tunisia and Algeria, to reach a political settlement in Libya, which is torn by a civil war and run by two rival administrations, one in the capital Tripoli northwestern the country and the other in Tobruk city in the northeast.

Egypt sees Libya's stability necessary for maintaining its own national security in order to protect its western border and uproot the cross-border terrorism.

Terror attacks in Egypt have been centered in restive North Sinai province bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, before spreading nationwide and targeting the Coptic minority as well, with most of them claimed by the IS affiliate group in Egypt.

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| 2017-11-17 00:20:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Justice Lee Adoboe

ACCRA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Food insecurity affected 24 million more people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 2015 and last year, says a UN official, citing the 2016 State of Food Insecurity (SOFI) report by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

In an interview on the report launched on Thursday, Assistant Director General (ADG) and FAO African Regional Representative Bukari Tijani told Xinhua that children and infants under five, women and teenage youth were the most affected.

"Globally, when we look at populations and people that are food insecure, we had 777 million in 2015. And this came as a result of sustained production policies," said Tijani.

"But in 2016 that figure rose to 815 million. Of the 815 million, we have a net change in rise in the Africa region from 200 million persons to 224 million persons who are food insecure," he said.

"So, of the global total of 815, 25 percent of that is actually in the African region," Tijani explained.

He listed climatic change conditions, economic challenges as well as insecurity situations in the region as some of the major causes of the drop in food security for SSA.

"Now, in terms of major highlights of the Regional SOFI, there are three main contributory factors," he said.

"We saw that natural causes, especially caused by climate change, have been some of the major factors. We had across Africa droughts as well as floods. The second major factor is the global economic slowdown," the ADG added.

These economic conditions, he said, were visible from the fact that there had been a fall in extractive and non-extractive commodities, especially petroleum products with many countries being affected.

In addition to the extractives, Tijani noted that there had also been a fall in the non-extractive commodities such as cocoa, oil palm, and cashew.

The commodity price falls, the ADG said, had caused a reduction in the incomes received by many countries in the African region from these commodities, resulting in a drop in the import of food and other related items due to a weakened import ability.

"The third major factor is the insecurities, including insurgencies in Africa," he said.

"In West Africa, most parts of the Sahel is insecure. We have conflicts in Mali, going through Burkina, Niger, and also we have the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin; Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger," he observed.

To deal with the causes for a food secure future in the region, Tijani said FAO had been working with the African Union Commission (AUC), development partners and individual countries to implement programs.

With other sister UN agencies, the ADG said FAO had been looking at a number of solutions, especially in countries that are in crisis, while the African Union Commission goes back with the Comprehensive Program for the Development of Agriculture in Africa (CAADP) which started in 2003.

"The follow-up and monitoring we have been carrying out together with the AU Commission on this program is what has made many of the countries actually to make more commitments in investing in agriculture.

"This is a platform which has seven pillars, but being a comprehensive program, it is addressing all aspects of food security and nutrition, the opportunities for livelihoods, opportunities for employment, opportunities for agro markets and also opportunities for value chain development and this is seen also as a platform to commit by African heads of state so that under Maputo Declaration of 2003," Tijani explained.

In addition to that, the FAO plays a role to support the AUC, regional economic commissions, and individual countries in partnership with others to see that it is on course and then to ensure that the level of investment being made reaches 10 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:30:52|Editor: liuxin

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Air accident investigators inspect a crashed plane at the Empakaai Crater, a caved volcanic caldera in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania, on Nov. 16, 2017. A team of air accident investigators from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication arrived in northern Tanzania's region of Arusha on Thursday to ascertain cause of a light aircraft that crashed into Empakaai Crater. (Xinhua)

ARUSHA, Tanzania, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A team of air accident investigators from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication arrived in northern Tanzania's region of Arusha on Thursday to ascertain cause of a light aircraft that crashed into Empaakai Crater within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Eleven people were killed on Wednesday when a small plane crashed into the Empakaai Crater, a caved volcanic caldera in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania.

Their arrival comes as Coastal Aviation, owner of the crashed plane, expressed their intention of hiring the services of an external investigator to probe the accident.

In a statement released by the flight operator on Wednesday evening, the company said it will be appointing its external investigator to look into all the aspects to ensure that a similar accident doesn't happen again.

Paul Kweka, Acting Chief Air Accident Investigator from Tanzania's Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, said the team was already in the region and is due to meet with Coastal Aviation company officials to start the investigations into the cause of the accident.

The Accident Investigator maintained that it was too early to establish the cause of the accident, but was optimistic that they will ascertain what caused the light aircraft to crash into the 300-meter high crater.

"We've already located the aircraft's wreckage and the bodies have been recovered already...we are due to meet the company's officials and start our investigations," he said.

According to Kweka, once compiled, the report on the actual cause of the accident will be sent to the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication.

The bodies of the victims had already been retrieved from the crash site and were being ferried by road to Mount Meru Regional Hospital for preservation before being handled to their loved ones.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:30:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Seventy people and a stillborn baby have been formally identified, as victims following the fire at Grenfell Tower in June, London Metropolitan Police confirmed Thursday.

The number of victims includes baby Logan Gomes, who was stillborn in hospital on 14 June and has been recorded by police as a victim of the fire.

The final two victims to be formally identified have been named as Victoria King and daughter Alexandra Atala.

The police said the families of all 71 victims, including baby Logan, have been informed, and are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.

"All those identified were people who police anticipated would be recovered from Grenfell Tower, and who had been reported missing since Wednesday, 14 June. Police now believe that all those who died in the fire have been recovered and identified," the police said in a statement.

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy, said: "I have been clear from the start that a priority for us was recovering all those who died, and identifying and returning them to their families."

"It is vital that our search and identification operation was undertaken in a manner that families and loved ones could have complete confidence in. We continue to provide every support we can to those bereaved, keeping them updated on our efforts," he said.

Investigators examined 15.5 tonnes of debris on each floor, carrying out full forensic fingertip searches throughout the 24-storey building.

The search operation, described by the Met as "mammoth", is expected to finish next month. The final inquests are due to be opened and adjourned on November 22.

Police are continuing their criminal investigation into the fire, pledging to "find the answers that so many people so desperately want".

Cundy said the criminal investigation would be long and complex. Five months on from the fire, no search warrants have been sought or executed and no one has been arrested or interviewed under caution.

He said the remains of the tower were still a crime scene and searches and work there would continue until at least spring 2018. When police stop treating it as a crime scene and finish their work there, Cundy said, they would not object to its demolition if its owners wanted to do so.

On the early morning of June 14, a massive fire broke out in the Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey apartment built in the 1970s in the west of London, and killed dozens of people. It motivated extensive support for the community while also anger over accusations of mismanagement by the local authorities.

In June, based on what was known then, police believed about 80 people had died. In September, police indicated that the final number believed to have died would be below 80.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:30:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- British Ambassador to Libya Peter Millett on Thursday revealed that the British embassy is prepared to return to the Libyan capital Tripoli from Tunisia.

Millett made the remarks during a meeting with Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad M'etig in Tripoli to discuss cooperation between the two countries and the latest political developments, said the media office of the Libyan UN-backed government.

"The Ambassador reiterated the support of his country and the international community to the Government of National Accord during a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad M'etig on Thursday," the office said in a release.

The British envoy confirmed that "serious steps" are being taken in coordination with his government to transfer the embassy's visa office from Tunisia to Tripoli, in preparation for resuming the embassy's work in Tripoli, it added.

But no date was disclosed for the return of the British embassy to Tripoli.

Most foreign embassies and missions to Libya, including the UN Support Mission in Libya, moved to neighboring Tunisia in 2014 following the violent clashes in Tripoli between rival armed groups, which created the current political division in the country.

Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Sayala told Xinhua recently that 30 foreign embassies have already returned to Libya so far after more than three years of closure.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:35:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LISBON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- President of Portugal's Azores regional government, Vasco Cordeiro, on Thursday questioned the U.S. commitment to the air base on Portuguese Lajes Island in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Cordeiro was responding to a statement made by the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, on Wednesday. Santos Silva had told the Portuguese parliament that the 2018 U.S. defense budget pledged to seek "additional uses for its military presence" on the island.

But Cordeiro told local reporters that it was not a pledge, but a recommendation. The wording was important, he said, because recommendations are not legally binding.

The 2018 budget therefore represents a retreat, given that previous budgets had laid commitment to the base down in law.

In 2015, the United States announced that it would gradually wind down its operations in Lajes. The economic implications of the decision are of grave concern to Portugal.

The situation seemed to have changed when President Donald Trump took office. The Trump administration has proposed extra spending on defense and vowed not to withdraw from Lajes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:40:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Misurata International Airport, 200 km east of the capital Tripoli, on Thursday resumed work after being closed by protesting workers a few days ago, according to a local source.

"Misurata International Airport resumed flights to and from the airport following the end of the strike carried out by the ground services workers," Libyan Airways spokesman Mohamed Gnewa told Xinhua.

The airport began to receive scheduled flights normally, Gnewa said.

Protesting workers of the airport's ground services closed the air hub on Sunday until further notice, due to delayed payment of their salaries for more than a year and a half, according to a local official.

The workers of the ground handing company carried out sit-ins in November 2016 and last September. They were promised to pay their salaries in return for the end of the sit-in, but no payment was made so far.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:40:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ATHENS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Greek anti-establishment group calling itself "Revolutionary Self-Defense" claimed on Thursday responsibility for an armed attack against the headquarters of the opposition socialist PASOK party in central Athens ten days ago.

In a statement posted on an anti-establishment website, the group assumed responsibility for opening fire against a police van parked outside the building, as well as a similar attack against the same target in January and the Mexican Embassy in Athens in the summer of 2016.

No injuries occurred during the November 6 attack, as well as the attack on the embassy, while one officer was slightly injured in January.

The assailants fled the site and have not been arrested yet.

The headquarters of PASOK, which ruled Greece for several years since 1981, have been targeted numerous times in recent years by anarchists, who have been operating in the nearby Exarchia area for decades, most often with petrol bombs.

Opposition parties have called on the government to take more measures to address the issue, expressing concern for violent incidents also during Friday's anniversary of the student uprising against military dictatorship (1967-1974).

Members of an anti-establishment group have occupied from Tuesday the nearby National Polytechnic school premises where the uprising started in 1973, and police forces have been deployed in the area.

From the Polytechnic school starts each year a march to commemorate the victims which is organized by student unions and political parties. The demonstration is often marred by clashes between hooded anarchists and police.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:51:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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PARIS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- French waster and water company Suez, along with Belgian chemical company Solvay, has won a contract to treat industrial wastewater at an industrial Park in eastern Chinese coastal city of Yantai, Suez said Thursday in a statement.

The two firms would combine their expertise and technologies to provide innovative solutions and to meet stringent environmental standards in China, Suez said in the statement.

It was the first contract won within the alliance between Suez and Solvay, which was established this year to jointly develop and market advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) within China.

According to the contract, Suez and Solvay will provides a treatment line for the brine produced by the desalination process, which, with a capacity of 24,000 cubic meters per day, will treat brine to achieve a quality discharge into the sea in accordance with the most recent standards of the chemical industry.

The treatment line will be equipped with several Suez's patented technologies as well as the AOP jointly developed by the two companies, Suez said, adding that the treatment line is planned to be operational in October 2018.

"Tighter Chinese regulations require the deployment of more and more advanced treatments involving cutting-edge technologies that combines the expertise of several players," said Steve Clark, CEO of Suez Asia.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 00:51:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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VILNIUS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Workers of Lithuanian medical institutions, united into Movement of Medical Staff,urged on Thursday to increase salaries of doctors, nurses and other sector's professionals as of January 1 as currently wages of medical workers in Lithuania are among the lowest in the EU.

"Essential changes must be initiated in order to ensure financing of healthcare system and securing quality services to our patients which should become a priority state's task," medical workers said in a statement which was announced during a press conference.

Members of the Movement of Medical Staff initiated the signing of the National Agreement on Sustainability of Lithuanian Healthcare System which would come into effect as of 2018.

"Workloads of healthcare workers, patients' right to receive certain doctor's time frame and wage policies must be understandably and clearly declared in the agreement. The healthcare workers' right to be fairly paid must be secured in the document," the movement's statement read.

According to Urte Builyte, a doctor and one of the members of the movement, low wages in the sector of medical services illustrate inactivity of the whole healthcare system in Lithuania. Emigration of workers remains one of the central issues, she added.

"Every working person expects to have social guarantees, decent working conditions and future prospects. However, what kind of future I can expect if my salary is nearly as country's average wage," Builyte was quoted as saying by local media.

Currently monthly average salary after taxes in Lithuania amounts to 659 euros.

Vytautas Kasiulevicius, a family doctor, noted that those Lithuanian medical workers who do not choose emigration, tend to work in a private sector as there are wide differences between wages in governmental and private medical institutions.

Members of the movement invited Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Speaker of the Parliament Viktoras Pranckietis and Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis to support the national agreement's initiative.

According to a spokesperson of Skvernelis, the head of government agreed that wages of healthcare workers are too low in Lithuania and should be increased "within the budgetary possibilities", local website vz.lt reported.

As data from the Ministry of Health show, in 2016 average monthly doctors' gross (before taxes) wage in Lithuania amounted to 1,368 euros, that of nurses was 689 euros. In the first half of 2017 it increased to 1,500 euros for doctors and 7,52 euros for nurses. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars)
File Photo: Cui Tiankai (C), Chinese ambassador to the United States, gives a press briefing at the Chinese embassy in Washington D.C., the United States, Oct. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China wants to build a strong partnership with the United States based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said Wednesday.

Such a strong partnership can help the two nations better accomplish domestic goals and respond to challenges in today's world, Cui said at the 2017 gala dinner of the U.S.-China Policy Foundation.

"This is the essence of China's policy toward the United States. This is what we actually want to have in the relationship," the ambassador said.

Founded in 1995, the foundation is a non-profit organization promoting greater understanding between U.S. and Chinese policymakers, researchers and government officials.

TRUMP'S CHINA VISIT CONSTRUCTIVE

Cui said with both countries' efforts, bilateral relations over the years have developed on a stable track and maintained a positive momentum.

The latest development is U.S. President Donald Trump's first state visit to China just a few days ago, he added.

The U.S. president was the first visiting foreign head of state to China after the 19th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China. He was also the first head of state to call Chinese President Xi Jinping at the conclusion of the congress, Cui said, remarking, "Indeed, it was the first time for an American president to do that. We appreciate that."

Cui said during the visit, the two heads of state held in-depth exchanges of views and reached important consensus, which set the tone and direction for the China-U.S. relationship.

He emphasized Xi and Trump's agreement to stay in close contact and provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relationship. The two presidents also agreed to enhance high-level exchanges and make best use of high-level dialogue mechanisms. There was mutual consent to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, manage possible differences on the basis of mutual respect, and promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

The two leaders also agreed on better cooperation at the sub-national levels, and to join hands in response to global, international and regional issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Trump's visit also saw business deals worth over 250 billion U.S. dollars signed.

"The visit was constructive and fruitful," Cui said, pointing out that the public opinion in both countries as well as the international community was positive.

CHINA, U.S. HAVE MORE THAN DIFFERENCES

The envoy also highlighted "the depth and breadth of the communication" between the two presidents, their reaffirmation of growing common interests and the need for better and closer cooperation between the two nations for the benefit of the two peoples.

Responding to skepticism that there was little progress on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue during the visit, Cui said the two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized and peaceful Korean Peninsula and to implement all the United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also expressed commitment to seek a diplomatic solution to the problem.

"I believe this is a very important and strong signal, (which) hopefully will help us to find the solution to this difficult and sensitive issue and help us to stabilize the situation on the peninsula," he said.

For those calling the economic outcomes of the visit below expectations, Cui said 250 billion dollars is not "a small number."

"Such a long and impressive list is the outcome of the joint efforts of the two governments and the two business communities. As long as there is sufficient political will, (the deals) will be implemented and benefit our two peoples," Cui said.

CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT TO BENEFIT WORLD

Cui said China will continue to follow the strategy of reform and opening up, and promote high-standard trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

"We will implement the system of pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list across the board, significantly ease market access, further open the service sector, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors," he said. "All businesses registered in China will be treated as equals."

Describing China's foreign policy, which aims at a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, Cui said China is ready to make greater contributions to world peace and development, and through consultation and collaboration with others, help improve and enhance global governance.

"We seek global partnerships, and we are ready to expand convergence of interests with other countries," he said.

While China will never give up its own legitimate interests, it will never pursue its own development at the expense of others, he said.

"China will never seek hegemony, nor will we pursue expansionist policies. This is the backdrop against which we built our relations with the United States. And this is the future direction where I believe our relations should be going," the ambassador said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 01:11:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LJUBLJANA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong is one of the most dynamic and for some industries also one of the most important markets in Asia, said Dejan Zidan, Slovenian deputy prime minister and agricultural minister in a interview by Xinhua recently.

Zidan made this comment on Wednesday after his recent business trip to Hong Kong, during which he met Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR government, Edward Yau.

He labelled his visit to Hong Kong as part of mutual endeavours to strengthen political and economic cooperation between Slovenia and China.

Zidan highlighted excellent political cooperation in recent years between Slovenia and China, as well as those in agriculture and other areas. He noted that China is the most important trading partner of Slovenia in Asia.

When talking about the trade development between Slovenia and China, the deputy prime minister noted with pleasure that in the first half of this year, Slovenian food companies and wine producers exported to Hong Kong more than 800,000 euros of products.

The most important export, He continued, is milk, followed by wine, grain and flour products. "I see real possibilities for Slovenia to continue the growth in exports to Hong Kong".

According to the figures from Slovenian National Statistic Office, in 2016, the export to China increased by 83.5 percent comparing with that in previous year and reached 271 million euros.

The export from Slovenia to Hong Kong has exceeded 36 million euros (increase by 9 percent in comparison to previous year) and imports were at the amount of four million euros, the the national statistic showed.

Again this year, Slovenia businesses presented its wine and food products at the International Wine and Spirits Fair in Hong Kong last week.

Zidan believed it was an opportunity for promoting trade in goods, in particular in the segments of quality products with high added value, as Slovenia has great potential in many areas.

In addition, Slovenia is more and more known as a green, active and healthy country that can be interesting for the Hong Kong market also as a tourist destination, the deputy prime minister concluded. |(1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 01:11:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ABUJA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government announced Thursday its plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing on the establishment of a national carrier for Nigeria.

The signing will be held next week in the nation's capital Abuja, according to Hadi Sirika, the minister of state for aviation.

Sirika said Airbus of France had also indicated interest in partnering with the Nigerian government on the proposed national carrier and establishment of the maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in the country.

The official noted the government's determination to establish a national carrier and the maintenance, repair and overhaul facility was in a bid to reposition Nigeria's aviation sector.

The government has already announced the appointment of transaction advisers for the national carrier and the maintenance, repair and overhaul facility.
Vice President of the Xinhua News Agency, Liu Zhengrong (R) meets with the vice president of the Mexican Senate, Graciela Ortiz during a working visit to Mexico in Mexico City, on Nov. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Dan Hang)

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Mexico and China continue to seek the opening-up of their nations to achieve greater development and benefits for their peoples, said the vice-president of the Mexican Senate, Graciela Ortiz, on Wednesday.

When receiving the vice-president of the Xinhua News Agency, Liu Zhengrong, who is on a working visit to Mexico, the senator stressed that Mexico celebrates China's position of maintaining openness toward the world, while seeking growth and prosperity, which "truly benefits the world," she stressed.

At the meeting, Ortiz acknowledged to Liu the importance of the Xinhua News Agency, its personnel and particularly its vice president, for "his relevant task in the world."

"For us, the visit is very significant because we share, in addition to the friendship and deep ties that have united Mexico and China for a long time, projects and a vision of the future," she commented.

"Without a doubt, China is an example for the world, and for Mexico, it is an example that we are observing very closely, "said the legislator.

Ortiz also explained to Liu that, as China has done, Mexico is carrying out structural reforms that seek to improve the living conditions of its citizens.

She also celebrated the strengthening of the rule of law in China, which she said "is something we also share and are looking for in Mexico," as well as the promotion and strengthening of the education sector.

"We greatly admire China in terms of education, investment and science and technology, and we are following the same path in Mexico. We believe that education is the best way through which our peoples can solve problems linked to inequality. Education is a pillar and therefore we admire China's great effort in this sector," she explained.

Another topic of discussion concerned the efforts that China has made to achieve sustainable development.

"For the world, it will mean a huge difference. The willingness of the Chinese people to grow, develop and have a stronger economy through sustainable development is good news for the world," insisted Ortiz.

For the legislator, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held in Beijing last month, is one of the most important forums for the country's governance that highlights the strength of the CPC and the Chinese people.

"China will continue to see sustained development and will achieve a moderately prosperous society, setting a benchmark for the world," she acknowledged.

In turn, the vice-president of Xinhua thanked the Senate for its support to Xinhua in its journalistic work and highlighted the agency's commitment to contribute to the strengthening of cooperation between both nations.

"I want to emphasize that relations between both countries are very important for our peoples, especially economic relations," said Liu, noting that there is "enormous potential for development in the commercial aspect for both countries."

He pointed out that Xinhua, the state agency of China, is also an international agency, committed "to reporting all the news that contributes to peace and development around the world while also gladly informing the Chinese public about Mexico's culture and development."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 01:56:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TIRANA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Albania is expected to record a 3.8-percent economic growth in 2017, mainly driven by the increase of domestic demand, foreign direct investment and consumption, World Bank representatives told reporters here on Thursday.

While presenting World Bank's 12th Western Balkans Regular Economic Report, World Bank representatives in Tirana said that growth was expected to moderate to an average of 3.6 percent for 2018-19 as private consumption accelerated.

According to the World Bank report, investment dynamics are linked to progress on two large FDI-financed energy projects such as the Trans Adriatic Pipeline and the Devoll hydropower plant.

Meanwhile, it showed that private consumption was supported by job creation and the easing of credit conditions.

"The economic expansion has created jobs. Prudent fiscal policy, continuing during the electoral year, has reduced public debt," World Bank said.

The report showed that the economic growth stimulated job creation in 2016 and the first half of 2017 when the employment grew by 2.5 percentage points in 2016 and 1.7 percentage points in the first half of 2017.

However, World Bank experts said that Albania must speed up reforms to consolidate public finances, improve the efficiency of spending, reduce risks from the energy and financial sectors, and build up the legal system.

According to the World Bank, reforms are critical for Albania to foster confidence and accelerate growth.

"Sustained fiscal consolidation efforts and structural reforms should gradually reduce the fiscal deficit to 1.5 percent of GDP by 2019 and the debt-to-GDP ratio to 60 percent of GDP by 2022," World Bank noted in its report on Albania.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 01:56:26|Editor: ZD

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HARARE, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe made his first public appearance on Thursday, a day after the military appeared to have taken control of the government.

The official Herald newspaper late Thursday published pictures of Mugabe meeting Zimbabwe Defense Forces chief Constantino Chiwenga and South African envoys at State House.

The meeting was also attended by defense minister Sydney Sekeramayi and state security minister Kembo Mohadi.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 02:01:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided in two entities since 1974. The latest reunification talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots failed in July, but there is still hope in a foreseeable future to revive them despite seething frustration among the population there, said experts.

The chance of reaching a deal was high back in late June in a Swiss resort when Nicos Anastasiades, Cyprus's president, and Mustafa Akinci, his Turkish-Cypriot counterpart, were both determined to reunite the island.

But on July 7, negotiations collapsed and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced that the conference had ended "without the possibility to bring a solution to this dramatic and long-lasting problem."

The main hurdles were power-sharing arrangements in a unified government and security guarantees for the island's ethnically Turkish north, where some estimate 30,000 Turkish troops are currently stationed.

"TALKS WILL START AGAIN"

"The talks will start again" possibly after the presidential elections scheduled for February in Greek southern Cyprus, Ahmet Sozen, a professor from the department of political science and international relations of Eastern Mediterranean University located in Turkish northern Cyprus, told Xinhua.

"The only feasible solution on the island is a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation" based on the equality of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, he said.

Reunifying Cyprus as a federation has been the objective of peace talks in the last 43 years, especially in the recent years of Turkish threats to annex the north. At least 11 international efforts have been made to strike a deal.

Attempts to reunify Cyprus have failed repeatedly since 1974, when Turkey invaded the island's north after Greek nationalists staged a coup in an attempt to cede the country to Greece.

The best previous chance appeared in 2004, ahead of the accession of Cyprus' internationally recognized Greek southern part to the European Union. Both sides agreed on a plan brokered by Kofi Annan, then UN secretary general. But the Greek-Cypriot population later rejected the plan in a referendum. It then took more than 10 years for serious talks to resume.

Over the past two years, a new series of international efforts led to increasingly promising negotiations in Switzerland. Under UN mediation, leaders of both sides met with the foreign ministers of Greece, Turkey and Britain, which governed the island from 1878 to 1960 and retains military bases there.

According to analysts, the deal-breaker for the Cypriot government is Turkish military forces. Nicosia considers the presence of Turkish troops in the northern 37 percent of the island a human-rights violation.

The government also rejects security guarantees that would allow Turkey to intervene if one side decided that the reunification agreement had been violated.

On Wednesday, the Turkish Cypriots celebrated the 34th anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a breakaway state that Turkey is the only entity to recognize as independent.

"While Cyprus is not at the top of the UN agenda, the energy that has led to inconclusive yet hopeful talks in the first half of this year should not be wasted," said Sozen.

DESIRE FOR SETTLEMENT

A recent survey shows some 70 percent of both communities yearn for a settlement despite frustration.

The talks "suddenly collapsed and created a feeling of desolation and bitterness not only here (Turkish side) but also on the other one (Greek side)," Odul Asik Ulker, a veteran Turkish Cypriot journalist, explained to Xinhua.

"Younger Cypriots, like myself, born after the island's de facto partition, are more and more interested in reunification, " she said. "They think the time is ripe for it after all those years of work on a possible agreement."

"Young people here know that the country (TRNC) in which they are living will never be recognized by the world and they will remain ostracized, so they want to be part of the world by means of a settlement," Ulker added.

Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots who supported strongly the latest round of talks are also growing impatient.

"It is out of the question for the TRNC to allow a pursuit (for solution) to continue fruitlessly for another 50 years," said Akinci on Wednesday.

A Turkish diplomatic source told Xinhua that the Cyprus issue was one of the topics discussed when Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim met with Guterres in New York during his recent trip to the United States.

"We are still of course in favor of a settlement on the island but the security of the Turkish Cypriots should be guaranteed, that is a must," the source said on condition of anonymity.

However, some people believe there is no future in useless and time consuming talks and that the perennial split is in fact the solution to the problem.

In an article published early October in the British daily Independent, former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insisted that the partition of Cyprus is a sine qua non to be recognized if ties should improve between the island's ethnic populations.

"For any negotiation to succeed, both sides (of Cyprus) have to be able to gain something. But, from the Greek Cypriot point of view, conceding political equality with the Turkish Cypriots means giving power away," said Straw.

"It's time for the international community to acknowledge this reality and recognize the partition of the island. That would be far more likely to improve relations between the two communities than continuing the useless merry-go-round of further negotiations for a settlement that never can be," added the British top diplomat between 2001 and 2006.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 02:21:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BUJUMBURA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A citizen from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) was arrested Thursday in Burundi's Bubanza province over alleged witchcraft activities, local authorities told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

The man was arrested at Muzinda in Rugazi district with a bag containing powder drugs made from forest leaves and a horn of a goat, said Rugazi's Administrator Sylvie Nizigama.

She said the arrest was made after local residents reported a suspicious person hiding during daytime in a house, but seen out in the night.

Nizigama indicated that the Congolese suspect admitted that he had come to protect a plantation of palm trees, belonging to the family hosting him, from thieves.

"The suspect explained that he had been able to return two stolen objects at Muzinda, including a car and a motorcycle thanks to his techniques," said Nizigama.

The local authority said sorcerers are often at the origin of insecurity at Muzinda particularly and in the Rugazi district.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 03:01:03|Editor: Liangyu

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Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- On the morning of Oct. 18, Xi Jinping, standing behind a lectern in the Great Hall of the People, delivered a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The 32,000-character report, the most significant of its kind in recent decades, drew more than 70 rounds of applause from delegates.

In the report, Xi said socialism with Chinese characteristics had crossed the threshold into a new era.

"This is a new historic juncture in China's development," he stated.

The report has been translated into 10 foreign languages. Most of the translators and foreign linguists involved used the word "powerful" to describe their first impressions.

"I was absorbed the first time I read it. I read from morning till midnight, even forgetting to have meals," said linguist Olga Migunova from Russia.

U.S. expert on China studies and chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, said that with this political report and the congress, Xi, who is the core of the CPC Central Committee and of the whole Party, sees China as standing at a new historic starting point.

At the first plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee on Oct. 25, Xi was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee for a second term, a reflection of the will of the entire CPC. Media and observers, at home and abroad, see Xi as the right man to lead China from being "better-off" into a great modern country.

In 1949, Mao Zedong announced the founding of the People's Republic of China, marking the end to a century of humiliation at the hands of foreign aggressors.

Deng Xiaoping, who put forward the reform and opening-up policy, then paved the way for the nation to become rich.

Xi Jinping speaks when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2017. Xi Jinping and other newly-elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng met the press on Oct. 25. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Xi Jinping meets with delegates, specially invited delegates and non-voting participants of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

The coming five years between the 19th and the 20th Party Congress is the period in which the timeframes of the Two Centenary Goals will converge, Xi said when presenting the new CPC central leadership to the press.

"Not only must we deliver the first centenary goal, we must also embark on the journey toward the second," he said, promising to work diligently to "meet our duty, fulfill our mission and be worthy of CPC members' trust."

He stressed that Chinese Communists "must always have a youthful spirit, and forever be the servants of the people, the vanguard of the times and the backbone of our nation."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 02:56:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has expressed optimism ahead of what is widely-anticipated to be the decisive round of "Jamaica" coalition talks on Thursday.

Although "grave differences" remained between the parties involved, Merkel told press that she believed an agreement between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Green party (Gruene) "could be achieved."

The Chancellor vowed to "contribute to" the success of talks over the formation of the next German government and urged the prospective coalition partners to assume their "responsibility" towards voters.

Merkel argued that reaching a common denominator was "very important" for Germany at a time of "great polarization."

"Today is the day on which we must also seek to understand each other's respective positions" to ultimately arrive at a "positive result", the CDU leader said. Thursday's discussions are being held with an "open end" and are expected to continue late into the night (CET).

However, significant obstacles must still be cleared before the "Jamaica" parties can progress to the final stage of coalition negotiations.

For example, the Green party occupies an isolated stance in the policy area of migration where it insists that refugees with subsidiary protection must retain the right to family-reunification.

By contrast, the FDP and CDU want to preserve a temporary regulatory provision made during the 2015 refugee crisis which suspends this right for migrants who have received residency in Germany under the subsidiary protection framework instead of having been granted asylum. The CSU has yet to adopt a clear position on the issue.

Nevertheless, Green party parliamentary vice-president Claudia Roth said that her faction would "fight with all its might" to secure their migration policy demands.

FDP secretary general Nicola Beer responded to such belligerent calls with an appeal to keep discussions objective and pragmatic.

"I will go to work now, highly-concentrated and objectively-oriented," Beer said ahead of the negotiation round.

"If the emotions, and in particular, ideologies are kept a bit aside then (coalition talks) can succeed," the FDP secretary general added.

Financial considerations are another source of frictions which still threaten to unravel "Jamaica" negotiations. Manifesto pledges made by the CDU, CSU, FDP and the Green party would far outstrip the between 35 billion euros (41 billion U.S. dollars) and 45 billion euros (53 billion dollars) in estimated governments funds available to the next government over the course of four years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 03:01:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Education (MoE) on Thursday warned legal action against higher education students who interrupt normal educational classes at universities.

Tilaye Gete, Minister of Education, said in a press conference that some universities especially Metu and Ambo in Ethiopia's central Oromia regional state have had their normal educational classes interrupted by unrest instigated by a small group of students.

Gete said students who have grievances should follow legal ways, while urging school staff and students' parents to help smooth learning process in universities.

"Consultations are underway with students and stakeholders to resolve the problems that occurred in Metu, Ambo and other higher learning institution," the minister said.

Ethiopia's higher education institutions have been hotbeds of dissent since the 1960s, eventually helping overthrow the last Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I in September 1974.

Since 2016, universities in Oromia regional state in particular have been home to protesting ethnic Oromo students vexed by alleged political and economic disenfranchisement of their community.

Oromia has seen large-scale anti-government protests by ethnic Oromos since the end of 2015 that left hundreds dead.

Oromos, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group making up a third of the country's 100-million population, have complained about decades of economic, political and social marginalization by successive governments.

Martial law declared in October 2016 and later lifted in August 2017 had calmed Oromia, but anti-government protests renewed last month leaving several people dead.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L, Front) walks to the media before boarding Marine One departing the White House for Joint Base Andrews, in Washington D.C., the United States, on Nov. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

by Xinhua writer Zhu Dongyang

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump touted his America First idea and sent protectionist trade messages during his Asia visit, which ended on Tuesday.

The move would marginalize the United States in a region where globalization has been actively pursued, experts say.

Claiming that Washington has long been taken advantage of by Asian nations in their trade ties, Trump said at bilateral and multilateral events such as the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, that the snowballing trade imbalance between Washington and Asia has to be curtailed now.

Such remarks were not resounded in a region that has sought economic integration and connectivity for decades.

"Globalization marches on without Trump," noted the London-based Financial Times. "Mr. Trump is expected to leave Asia, a region that carries the future hopes of many U.S. companies, without delivering any substantial new trade initiatives."

"It's the overall message this Trump dilemma presents. Everyone else is going forward with trade integration while the United States is trying to slow it down," Rufus Yerxa, a former U.S. official heading the National Foreign Trade Council, was quoted as saying.

"The reluctance to engage the U.S. lies at least partly in the bellicose approach adopted by Mr. Trump and his aides and their 'America First' brand of economic nationalism," noted the Financial Times article. "Behind it all is what some see as a rapidly emerging and increasingly inescapable truth. Globalization has not died with the ascent of Donald Trump. If anything, for now, other countries are finding ways to accelerate the process."

In the eyes of Richard Hass, head of Council on Foreign Relations, a U.S. think-tank, Trump's "protectionist, nationalist trade message only marginalizes U.S. in Asia" and "undermines U.S. economic and strategic interests."

Trump "rejects large trade agreements that tie our hands. But that is what an agreement does -- along with the hands of others," said Hass.

Even Trump himself admitted the righteousness of Asian nations in protecting their own interests.

"Trump's efforts to cut off the U.S. deficit might work for a while, but in the end, he cannot reverse the fundamental causes of the deficit -- the economic structure, industrial specialization, etc. These demands unprecedented willingness to launch reform, and the nationalist trade policy of his administration will not help build up that willingness in the region," said Xu Liping, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

"Rather, the headstrong efforts to reduce deficits are expected to undermine global trade and the world economic recovery in a large picture, and pull the U.S. into mounting trade wars with Asian economies," he said in a written interview with Xinhua.

During his 12-day visit, taking him to five Asian countries of Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump also frequently raised the South China Sea issue.

In Vietnam on Sunday, Trump offered to "help mediate or arbitrate" the issue. In Manila, he also voiced concerns about the maritime security in the region.

"I know we've had a dispute for quite a while," he said. "If I can help in any way, I'm a very good mediator and a very good arbitrator. I have done plenty of it from both sides."

The proposal was inopportune and untimely, said Xu. "As the negotiation between claimants on the code of conduct in the South China Sea is going on, such remarks by the United States are prone to spark speculation that Washington wants to roil the water and then undermine peacemaking and confidence-building efforts in this regard."

"The Trump administration's strategy in this regard is barely helpful to a region that calls for cooperation rather than division, and prosperity rather than provocation," Xu added. "It also does no good to the constructive engagement that Washington claimed to have within the region."

Trump's self-recommendation also met an anemic response from Vietnam, the Philippines, both relevant parties to the South China Sea issue, and the region.

The joint statements issued on Nov. 13-14 by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members barely mentioned any of the U.S. concerns. Instead, the 10-nation bloc vowed to enhance regional cooperation on such fronts as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), infrastructure connectivity, food security, coastal and marine environmental protection, among others.

"The overall situation on the South China Sea is moving towards peace and stability, as all relevant countries have expressed their support for the freedom of navigation, flight and commerce. The earlier the White House recognizes this fact, the wiser its decision will be," Xu added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 03:06:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KAMPALA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military has deployed its medical doctors in public hospitals as the strike by civilian doctors entered its second week, causing a public health system breakdown.

Richard Karemire, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua on Thursday that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had ordered the military to step in and provide emergence services.

"The military doctors have always supported in providing services to the civilians. This time round they are just stepping up delivery of the same in view of the strike," said Karemire.

The deployment comes after talks between a cabinet sub committee and the doctors under their umbrella organization Uganda Medical Association (UMA) hit a stalemate.

"I notified the president that I needed support. He authorized the request to have the military doctors deployed to attend to patients," said Ruth Aceng, minister of health.

Ekwaro Obuku, president of UMA, told Xinhua that the directive to deploy the military is a short-lived strategy.

"That strategy is diversionary and unsustainable. The government needs to address the issues and concerns we are raising. The military doctors will fail when they lack basic necessities, equipments, medicines and drugs," said Obuku.

The doctors are calling for salary increment and improved working conditions.

David Bahati, state minister for finance, and a member of the committee told the doctors that the government is waiting to receive the Salary Review Committee Report for it to comprehensively address the salary and allowances issues in the country.

"We know your concerns and issues. They are legitimate. We have demonstrated to you it would be better for us to have time to address these issues in a phased manner," said Bahati.

"We need to handle the issues of salaries and allowances once for all and move forward. This is the position of the government. We appeal to you to return to work," he said.

The doctors are scheduled to meet Museveni on Friday at State House to resolve the impasse.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 03:31:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou

ATHENS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited flood-stricken Mandra on Thursday, the area worst hit by Wednesday's flash flooding, 20 kilometers west of Athens, and pledged immediate state aid to people affected, as the death toll rose to 16, according to the latest official count.

Another four people were still missing after the destructive intense torrential rainfall and a rescue operation would continue for a second night, according to the Fire Service.

"We had the chance to see the extent of the destruction with our own eyes. We are all shocked by what we witnessed...We promise to promptly proceed to rebuilding and healing of wounds," he said after touring the area, escorted by ministers and other officials.

The strong downpour turned roads into muddy rivers carrying away cars, knocking down walls and electricity posts.

On Thursday, while a milder storm was hitting the area, residents were trying to clean up their homes and businesses, as crews with experts were assessing damages.

"The water rushed into the house up to one meter high. If you go inside you will see the level. Look. Everything got ruined. Beds, furniture, carpets... Look! Everything is destroyed, entirely destroyed. There was a cement wall around the yard. It collapsed," Dimitris Liaskos told Xinhua, showing around his house.

"Tell me if in the current times we can rebuild this house?" he asked referring to the economic hardships the average Greek household suffers in recent years due to the seven-year debt crisis.

The financial destruction by the flash flooding exacerbates the constant anxiety to manage to make ends meet every month.

"My mother was inside and we rescued her at the last moment. We managed to grab her grandchildren in our arms ... Everything happened within ten minutes. There was no time for reaction," he recalled.

The flash flooding struck in the early hours of Wednesday when most people were still in bed. Many victims were elderly people living in basements and motorists.

"We are lucky it did not happen at 08:00 a.m when children are going to school," Nikos Pantazis, another Mandra resident, told Xinhua.

"All people have suffered great losses...People are telling me you are alive! Am I? I feel dead. I have been left with nothing. No motorcycle, no house, no car, nothing," he said.

Even if the houses will be rebuild soon and life will somehow return to normal, locals are worried that it may happen again. They ask authorities to take measures to address urban planning violations which according to experts have paved the ground of a greater destruction by an extreme weather phenomenon.

"It has happened 3-4 times (in the past 20 years), but this thing was so destructive, not only for me, but all the people. The older people are telling me that something similar has not happened in the past 100 years," Panagiotis A. told Xinhua.

"Many factors contributed to Wednesday's tragedy, from the intense rainfall linked to climate change to the special characteristics of the landscape in the area and the illegal construction of buildings in recent decades over streams. I am afraid we will continue to see similar destruction in the future," Professor of Dynamic Tectonic Applied Geology and Natural Disaster Management of the Athens University Efthimios Lekkas told Xinhua.

The university recorded the extent of the damage in western Attica with great accuracy from the air using modern instruments, such as specially-equipped drones.

The data will enable the state to draft a comprehensive report to compensate those affected, as soon as possible.

In a televised message on Wednesday evening, the Greek prime minister had declared national mourning, while the area was declared in state of emergency.

"It is a very difficult time for all of Greece. We are experiencing a great disaster...I want to express my deep sorrow, sincere condolences to the families of the victims. And I promise that we will stand by them with all the means in our disposal," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 03:37:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CHICAGO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A criminal court in the U.S. state of Illinois on Thursday overturned convictions of 15 men whose cases were tied to a corrupt Chicago policeman.

Prosecutors dropped charges in 18 cases against the 15 men, who were sentenced to prison on drug charges, local media reported.

So far, 20 people who claimed to be framed by former police sergeant Ronald Watts and his crew have been acquitted in mostly drug-related charges.

The 15 men filed a petition alleging Watts and his crew framed them between 2003 and 2008.

In 2013, Watts was sentenced to 22 months in jail. He was accused of planting drugs on suspects who refused to pay him bribes. His corruption came to light when he stole money from a drug courier who was working as an FBI informant.

Although it was said to be the first mass exoneration in the history of Cook County, Illinois, "this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Joshua Tepfer, the lead attorney for the 15 men who were exonerated.

"The officers involved in this corruption were responsible for 1,000 arrests in this decade-long reign of terror," he was quoted by Chicago Sun-Times as saying.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 03:47:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TUNIS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 6.11 million tourists have visited Tunisia by Nov. 10 in 2017, up 24 percent from last year, Tunisian Minister of Tourism Salma Elloumi said Thursday.

"We hope for more tourist traffic in the last month of this year, as tourism revenues have reached 929 million euros (1.1 billion U.S. dollars)," Elloumi said in a parliamentary session.

The number of overnight stays has reached 11 million, against 9 million during the same period of 2016, she added.

According to the minister, the number of tourists who visited Tunisia from July 1 to Nov. 10 exceeded the record number in 2014, particularly thanks to the growth of 19.3 percent in European markets.

The Russian market in particular has influenced the performance of the Tunisian tourism sector with 513,000 tourist arrivals as of Nov. 10.

Similarly, the German, British and Scandinavian markets have grown 43.5 percent, 18.4 percent and 28 percent respectively.

Among Maghreb countries, Algeria is the largest market for Tunisia with a growth of 33 percent, followed by Libya with a growth of 17 percent.

Elloumi also pointed to a significant increase in the flow of Chinese tourists, saying 16,000 Chinese tourists have travelled to Tunisia as of Nov. 10, an increase of 190 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 04:02:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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HELSINKI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two employees of the city of Turku, western Finland, in charge of emptying parking automats were suspected of putting part of the money into their own pockets since the 1990s, media reported on Thursday.

Criminal police told media that five to ten people outside the city payroll were assisting in arranging the transfer of revenue. The police estimated the stolen funds amounted to hundreds of thousands of euros.

Minna Arve, the mayor of Turku, admitted on Thursday the dishonesty of city employees had damaged the image of the city.

City officials told national broadcaster Yle that one third of the parking fees in Turku are paid through mobile phones, but the rest of the some 3 million euros (23.4 million U.S. dollars) annually still drops in as cash.

Kirsi Mononen, the leading lawyer of the Finnish municipal association, expressed surprise that the internal control and supervision in Turku had faltered to this extent. "Probably the people who got the money were highly skillful as the stealing had continued for such a log time", she said.

Yle reported that in the capital Helsinki, majority of parking automats already accept only a mobile pay or a bank card, and no cash.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 04:12:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel's top military commander has given a historic interview to a Saudi news site, offering to share with Saudi Arabia intelligence on Iran, Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper reported on Thursday.

The interview was published on Thursday in Elaph, a London-based online Saudi newspaper. It marked the first time a high-ranking Israeli officer gave an interview to a Saudi media, a country with which Israel has no diplomatic ties.

In the interview, Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot, Israel's military chief of staff, said Israel and Saudi Arabia share same interests regarding Iran and that Israel is ready to share classified information with the country.

"There is an opportunity to build a new international coalition in the region," Eisenkot said. "We need to carry out a large and inclusive strategic plan to stop the Iranian danger. We are willing to exchange information with moderate Arab countries, including intelligence information in order to deal with Iran," he said.

Asked if Israel has already shared such information with Saudi Arabia, Eisenkot said: "We are willing to share information if there is a need. We have many shared interests between us."

Eisenkot noted that Israel and Saudi Arabia have never been in war, and charged that the "real and largest threat to the region" is Iran.

He said Israel and Saudi Arabia see eye to eye on Iran's alleged threats and intentions. "I participated in the meeting of chiefs of staff in Washington and heard what the Saudi representative said," Eisenkot said. "It is precisely what I think concerning Iran and the need to deal with it in the region and the need to stop its program of expansion," he added.

"Iran seeks to take control of the Middle East, creating a Shiite crescent from Lebanon to Iran and then from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea," he added. "We must prevent this from happening."

According to Eisenkot, Israel has no intention of launching an offense against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite militia based in southern Lebanon.

"We see Iranian attempts to bring about an escalation, but I don't see a high chance for this at the moment," he said, warning that local flare-ups could "lead to a broad strategic conflict."

The interview comes as Israel is increasingly worried over a looming U.S.-Russian-led cease-fire agreement in Syria.

The Trump administration is eager to see Israel and Saudi Arabia, two U.S. allies, cooperating together. In his visit to Israel in May, Trump said that two countries share many common interests, and urged ties between Israel and other countries in the Middle East.

Israel currently has official diplomatic relations only with Egypt and Jordan in the Middle East, but it has reportedly held ties with other countries in the region.

According to Ha'aretz newspaper, even if the Saudi rulers might be eager to build ties with Israel, the people of Saudi Arabia would strongly object such a move, primarily due to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 04:37:20|Editor: liuxin

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U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy addresses a news conference after the House passed tax cut plan on the Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Nov. 16, 2017. The U.S. House on Thursday approved its version of tax cut plan in an along-party-line vote and delivered a major legislative achievement. (Xinhua/Ting Shen)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House on Thursday approved its version of tax cut plan in an along-party-line vote and delivered a major legislative achievement.

The 227-205 vote on Thursday marked a key milestone for President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans, as they considered this legislative achievement as a major push for their quest to cut taxes for businesses and individuals.

The House-version tax cut plan is estimated to bring 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars to fiscal deficit over the next decade. Bipartisan studies showed that the benefits of the tax cuts would eventually go to the highest earners, while some middle-class households might pay higher taxes.

The tax plan consolidates individual tax brackets to four from seven and reduce the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, its lowest point since 1939.

It also eliminates a number of tax breaks and deductions, increases the child tax credit, abolishes the estate tax by 2025 and changes the U.S. system for taxing multinational corporations.

"Passing this bill is the single biggest thing we can do to grow the economy, to restore opportunity, to help these middle-class families that are struggling," House Speaker Paul Ryan told lawmakers before the vote.

White House argued that the corporate tax cut could boost U.S. economy to increase by 3 percent to 5 percent in the long term, and American annual household income could increase by an average of 4,000 U.S. dollars.

According to the estimates by the think tank Tax Policy Center, the tax cut plan would reduce taxes on average for all income groups in 2018 and 2027. However, the largest cuts, in dollars and as a percentage of after-tax income, would accrue to higher-income households.

All Democrats in the House chamber voted against the plan. They called the plan a giveaway to wealthy business owners and warned that it would drive the country deeper into debt.

Focus now turns to the Senate. The Senate is discussing its own version of tax cut plan and it's not clear whether the Republicans in Senate could secure enough votes to pass it.

Senate Republicans are aiming to vote on their tax plan during the week after the Thanksgiving holiday.

If the Senate passes its bill, the two chambers on the Hill will have to reach a final version of the legislation which needs to go through both chambers again.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 04:47:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CARACAS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's opposition alliance, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), confirmed on Thursday that it would take part in a dialogue with the government in the Dominican Republic on Dec. 1-2.

In a statement, the MUD said it would participate in the meeting "to achieve a process that allows us to build the conditions for change that Venezuela needs."

The MUD had previously stated many times that it would not sit down for such negotiations with the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

However, this time, the MUD said the government had accepted a "formal negotiation" with the participation of the foreign ministers of Mexico, Chile and Paraguay.

A preparatory meeting will take place on Thursday to "prepare and define the methodology" of the dialogue.

The Venezuelan government has announced its delegation will be made up of Delcy Rodriguez, President of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), Elias Jaua, Minister of Education, and Jorge Rodriguez, Minister of Communication and Information.

The preparatory meeting will be attended by the Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas and the former Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 04:47:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BAGHDAD, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A female reporter working for paramilitary Hashd Shaabi brigade was killed on Thursday in Iraq's western province of Anbar, the Iraqi military said.

Rana al-Ajili, a reporter with the 13th Brigade of the Hashd Shaabi, was killed, and Muntadhar Adel, a cameraman of the brigade, was wounded while covering the battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants near the border with Syria, the Hashd Shaabi said in a statement.

The incident came as the Iraqi forces are carrying out an offensive to free the last urban IS stronghold in Iraq near the Iraqi-Syrian border.

The Iraqi army, Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) forces, backed by the Hashd Shaabi brigades, have liberated large areas, including the city of al-Qaim and nearby border crossing, from IS militants since the start of the offensive on Oct. 26.

Earlier, the Iraqi Journalists' Syndicate said in a report that more than 456 journalists have been killed in the country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Iraq is considered one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, who have been frequently targeted by the chaos and insecurity since the invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 04:52:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ALGIERS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Algerian army on Thursday discovered a large batch of weapons on the border with Mali, a statement from the defense ministry said.

The arms were hidden in a bunch in the locality of Bordj Badji Mokhtar in the southernmost province of Adrar, according to the statement.

The weapons consist of an FMPK machine gun, nine pistols, a Kalashnikov machine gun, an RPG-7 rocket launcher, four semi-automatic rifles, a repeating rifle and a large quantity of ammunition.

It is not the first time that the Algerian army has found weapon bunkers along the southern and southeastern borders.

Located in a region plagued by unprecedented security and political instability, Algeria faces constant terrorist threats.

The North African nation has deployed tens of thousands of troops on the eastern and southern border to thwart potential intrusion of militants and arms, amid instability gripping Mali and a civil war hitting Libya.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 04:57:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ALGIERS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Thursday condemned the terrorist bombings which hit the city of Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria, killing more than 12 civilians.

"Our conviction is consistent that this terrorist attack, especially those targeting civilian population, will not discourage Nigeria's government, army and security forces to eradicate the terror of Boko Haram, a constant threat to not only Nigeria, but also to all the countries of the region," Algerian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Abdelaziz Benali Cherif, said in a statement to the official APS news agency.

He further added that Algeria urges for greater coordination between African countries in general and the countries of the region in particular to confront the scourge of terrorism, noting that his country is "convinced" that the continuous and collective efforts of the continent will lead to "the elimination of terrorism and its ramifications in the region."

Benali Cherif further extended condolence and solidarity of Algeria to the families of the innocent victims and to the Nigerian government.

As many as 12 people were killed and 22 others were wounded in four suicide bombings by two men and two women in the town of Maiduguri, which has been witnessing bloody attacks by Boko Haram militants for eight years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 05:02:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MEXICO CITY, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A potential U.S. exit from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would not be devastating for Mexico, said Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo here on Thursday.

He was responding to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbus Ross who said on Tuesday that a failure to update NAFTA would have a "devastating" effect on Mexico as well as harm Canada.

Speaking to Mexican media Televisa, Guajardo said "the problem is we have to analyze how this would hit...regionally, as well as how it impacts the political balance of the actors who will finally vote for this treaty."

Guajardo indicated that free trade accounts for 40 percent of Mexico's GDP, but only four percent of U.S. GDP.

However, the failure of NAFTA would affect American domestic policy, such as its corn industry, of which Mexico is a large buyer, he explained.

According to Guajardo, Mexico would feel a short-term impact as "branding is very sensitive for the markets."

"Our capacity of adjustment and the way in which we do it is what gives us the force to resist the impacts of any change," he added.

Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. are carrying out the fifth round of talks to modernize NAFTA later this month.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 05:12:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Photo taken on Nov. 16, 2017, shows the United Nations Security Council voting on a U.S.-drafted resolution extending mandate of mechanism investigating chemical attacks in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN Security Council failed to adopt U.S.-drafted resolution extending mandate of mechanism investigating chemical attacks in Syria on Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The draft text of the United States addressing the renewal of the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the UN investigating chemical attacks in Syria, failed to be adopted by the Security Council Thursday.

Russia vetoed the U.S.-drafted resolution, while China abstained from voting on the resolution.

The Security Council had planned to put on vote of two draft resolutions, each of which would renew the mandate of the JIM, which ends on November 17. Russia withdrew its draft resolution before the vote began, citing procedure reasons.

There had been a great deal of activity around the renewal of the JIM and its final report in the last few weeks. The United States put a resolution to a vote to renew the JIM with the same mandate for an additional year on October 24, two days before the release of the JIM's final report. Russia vetoed the resolution, arguing a need to evaluate the effectiveness of the JIM by assessing the final report before discussing its renewal.

On November 2, Russia and the United States circulated competing drafts renewing the JIM's mandate. On November 7, Edmond Mulet, head of the JIM's leadership panel, briefed the Council on its final report. During the briefing, the existing divisions in the Council were on full display. Russia criticised the JIM for falling short of the standards of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 05:12:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said on Thursday that it has concluded its largest international air exercise jointly conducted with seven other countries.

"More than 1,200 personnel and a variety of aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters and transport planes, took part in the exercise over the course of 10 days," a military spokesperson said in a statement.

Dubbed "Blue Flag," the drill was held in the Ovda air force base in southern Israel's Negev Desert.

The air forces of Greece, Poland, Italy, the United States, and for the first time, France, India and Germany, participated in the exercise.

The exercise simulated intense combat scenarios in realistic settings with the Israel Air Force.

"Commanders of the various Air Forces, military commanders and ambassadors from all the participating countries met" during the drill, the spokesperson said.

An Ovda Base officer, identified only as Col. Itamar, said in the statement that the exercise was "a display of power, coordination, cooperation and precision, both Israeli and internationally."

The officer said he was "very proud" of the results of the exercise, adding that "now we are moving on to the review phase in order to keep on improving."

According to Amikam Norkin, the commander of the Israeli Air Force, the drill came amid the turmoil in the Middle East.

"The situation in the Middle East changes constantly, new players and organizations join and it is our job to understand how to be fully prepared for the threats. We continually learn how to handle new threats by developing new methods of combat," he said in the statement.

Norkin also urged cooperation between armies of allied countries.

"If we want to affect reality in the future, we must prepare together, create joint solutions, as well as international programs which will be highly effective," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 05:12:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WARSAW, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo Thursday said at an economic congress in Rzeszow, southeastern Poland, that she encouraged entrepreneurs to invest in Poland.

"We want you to open your enterprises here, your business, but remember, rather than a country where you can make a quick business and simply leave, we want to be your partners," said the prime minister at the opening ceremony of the two-day "Congress 590."

As one of the most important economic events of 2017 in Poland, the congress aims to dynamize Polish economy at the national level as well as at the local one.

Growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises was the main subject of Thursday's meeting, which also discussed the role of Internet as an effective development tool used to build competitiveness.

According to the website of the congress, Poland has high potency of national economy with the Internet use, especially penetration of mobile services and expansion abroad via online services.

The website reported that Poland's average Internet speed is among the best 30 economies in the world and Polish computer programmers' qualifications remain at the third position, just after their peers in China and Russia.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 05:17:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ALGIERS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Thursday called for respect for Zimbabwe's constitutional order after the army seized power from the government earlier on Wednesday.

"Algeria is following with concern the recent developments in Zimbabwe," Algerian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdelaziz Benali Cherif said in a statement.

He added that his country calls "for calm and self-restraint and urge all the parties to ensure respect for constitutional order and to avoid any slide that would harm Zimbabwe and its people."

Cherif further affirmed that Algeria supports the efforts being exerted by the countries of the region within the framework of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to allow "a quick return to normality."

According to media report from Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday has been placed under house arrest by army.

The African Union urged the concerned parties in Zimbabwe to address the current political deadlock in accordance with the country's constitution, while reiterating its commitment to work with the SADC to ensure a peaceful settlement of the crisis.
Children wave Turkish-Cypriot flags during a military parade in Nicosia marking the anniversary of the creation of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Nov. 15, 2017.

The TRNC was established in 1983 by the Turkish Cypriot community. An independent state is, however, recognized only by Turkey. (AFP photo)

ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided in two entities since 1974. The latest reunification talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots failed in July, but there is still hope in a foreseeable future to revive them despite seething frustration among the population there, said experts.

The chance of reaching a deal was high back in late June in a Swiss resort when Nicos Anastasiades, Cyprus's president, and Mustafa Akinci, his Turkish-Cypriot counterpart, were both determined to reunite the island.

But on July 7, negotiations collapsed and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced that the conference had ended "without the possibility to bring a solution to this dramatic and long-lasting problem."

The main hurdles were power-sharing arrangements in a unified government and security guarantees for the island's ethnically Turkish north, where some estimate 30,000 Turkish troops are currently stationed.

"TALKS WILL START AGAIN"

"The talks will start again" possibly after the presidential elections scheduled for February in Greek southern Cyprus, Ahmet Sozen, a professor from the department of political science and international relations of Eastern Mediterranean University located in Turkish northern Cyprus, told Xinhua.

"The only feasible solution on the island is a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation" based on the equality of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, he said.

Reunifying Cyprus as a federation has been the objective of peace talks in the last 43 years, especially in the recent years of Turkish threats to annex the north. At least 11 international efforts have been made to strike a deal.

Attempts to reunify Cyprus have failed repeatedly since 1974, when Turkey invaded the island's north after Greek nationalists staged a coup in an attempt to cede the country to Greece.

The best previous chance appeared in 2004, ahead of the accession of Cyprus' internationally recognized Greek southern part to the European Union. Both sides agreed on a plan brokered by Kofi Annan, then UN secretary general. But the Greek-Cypriot population later rejected the plan in a referendum. It then took more than 10 years for serious talks to resume.

Over the past two years, a new series of international efforts led to increasingly promising negotiations in Switzerland. Under UN mediation, leaders of both sides met with the foreign ministers of Greece, Turkey and Britain, which governed the island from 1878 to 1960 and retains military bases there.

According to analysts, the deal-breaker for the Cypriot government is Turkish military forces. Nicosia considers the presence of Turkish troops in the northern 37 percent of the island a human-rights violation.

The government also rejects security guarantees that would allow Turkey to intervene if one side decided that the reunification agreement had been violated.

On Wednesday, the Turkish Cypriots celebrated the 34th anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a breakaway state that Turkey is the only entity to recognize as independent.

"While Cyprus is not at the top of the UN agenda, the energy that has led to inconclusive yet hopeful talks in the first half of this year should not be wasted," said Sozen.

DESIRE FOR SETTLEMENT

A recent survey shows some 70 percent of both communities yearn for a settlement despite frustration.

The talks "suddenly collapsed and created a feeling of desolation and bitterness not only here (Turkish side) but also on the other one (Greek side)," Odul Asik Ulker, a veteran Turkish Cypriot journalist, explained to Xinhua.

"Younger Cypriots, like myself, born after the island's de facto partition, are more and more interested in reunification, " she said. "They think the time is ripe for it after all those years of work on a possible agreement."

"Young people here know that the country (TRNC) in which they are living will never be recognized by the world and they will remain ostracized, so they want to be part of the world by means of a settlement," Ulker added.

Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots who supported strongly the latest round of talks are also growing impatient.

"It is out of the question for the TRNC to allow a pursuit (for solution) to continue fruitlessly for another 50 years," said Akinci on Wednesday.

A Turkish diplomatic source told Xinhua that the Cyprus issue was one of the topics discussed when Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim met with Guterres in New York during his recent trip to the United States.

"We are still of course in favor of a settlement on the island but the security of the Turkish Cypriots should be guaranteed, that is a must," the source said on condition of anonymity.

However, some people believe there is no future in useless and time consuming talks and that the perennial split is in fact the solution to the problem.

In an article published early October in the British daily Independent, former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insisted that the partition of Cyprus is a sine qua non to be recognized if ties should improve between the island's ethnic populations.

"For any negotiation to succeed, both sides (of Cyprus) have to be able to gain something. But, from the Greek Cypriot point of view, conceding political equality with the Turkish Cypriots means giving power away," said Straw.

"It's time for the international community to acknowledge this reality and recognize the partition of the island. That would be far more likely to improve relations between the two communities than continuing the useless merry-go-round of further negotiations for a settlement that never can be," added the British top diplomat between 2001 and 2006.
Chinese fintech company Jianpu Technology Inc. debuts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Nov. 16, 2017. (Photo credit: NYSE)

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese fintech company Jianpu Technology Inc., served as the independent open platform for discovery and recommendation of financial products in China, debuted on NYSE Thursday, trading under the symbol "JT".

Jianpu priced its initial public offering (IPO) of 22,500,000 American depositary shares (ADSs) at 8 U.S. dollars per ADS for a total offering size of 180 million dollars, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs. Each two ADSs represent five Class A ordinary shares.

The Company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of the final prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,375,000 additional ADSs at the IPO price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

Proceeds from the IPO will be used to enhance Jianpu's research and development capabilities, to invest in technology, and to invest in branding, as well as for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Jianpu started trading at 8.25 dollars per ADS on Thursday, and closed at 8.39 dollars apiece, rising 4.88 percent.

The company's open platform, operated under the "Rong360" brand, has reached over 67 million registered users, according to the filing.

In the first nine months of 2017, over 2,500 financial service providers nationwide offered more than 170,000 financial products on Jianpu's platform, including consumer and other loans, credit cards and wealth management products.

"Our mission is to become everyone's financial partner, empowering users and enabling financial service providers to better satisfy mutual needs through Jianpu's platform. After today's IPO on NYSE, we will have a better chance to achieve our goal," David Ye, Chairman & CEO at Jianpu told Xinhua after the opening bell.

"By leveraging our deep data insights and proprietary technology, we provide users with personalized search results and recommendations that are tailored to each user's particular financial needs and credit profile," He added.

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, Jianpu's revenues were 58 million dollars, up 170 percent from the same period a year ago, while its net loss decreased to 7.2 million dollars, down 53.2 percent from the year-ago period, according to the company's prospectus.

The number of IPOs in the U.S. capital markets has obviously increased this year. As of November 16, there have been 144 IPOs priced, an increase of 50.0 percent from the same date last year, while total proceeds raised were 33.6 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 99.7 percent from the same date last year, according to Renaissance Capital.

After Jianpu's IPO, a total of nine Chinese companies had listed on NYSE this year, including Alibaba-backed Best and Tencent- and Sohu-backed Sogou, raising approximately a combined 2.6 billion U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 06:02:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Abdul-Aziz Muflihi, the governor of the southern port city of Aden, declared resignation on Thursday, accusing the Saudi-backed Yemeni government based in the city of "rampant corruption."

In his resignation letter to Yemeni President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Muflihi said he faced strong difficulties during his stint as the governor of Aden since the Saudi-backed Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr is leading a "large camp of corruption."

"A large camp of corruption impeded me from serving my beloved city Aden and improving the basic services," he said.

"I really found myself at an intense war with a large camp of corruption whose brigades are trained and protected by Prime Minister bin Daghr," Muflihi added.

Muflihi also asked the citizens of Aden to forgive him for "the recent deterioration of basic services including electricity and the skyrocketing prices of food created by the corruption of the Yemeni government."

In April, President Hadi issued a decree and appointed Muflihi to replace Aiderous al-Zubaidi who now heads the Southern Transitional Council (STC) demanding secession from the northern Yemeni provinces.

Minutes after the resignation of Aden's governor, heavy security forces backed by armored vehicles were deployed across streets and around government facilities.

The southern port city of Aden is considered Yemen's temporary capital and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has based itself there since 2015.

In recent weeks, Aden has witnessed a series of suicide attacks and drive-by shootings by Islamic State militants.

On Tuesday, a vehicle loaded with explosives rammed into an operations room for the UAE-backed Yemeni troops in Aden and killed 11, just nine days after a similar attack that targeted the Criminal Investigation Department building in the city and claimed 47 lives.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 06:28:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has demanded the re-opening of key ports for humanitarian shipments to Yemen, including the Red Sea port of Hudaydah and Sanaa airport.

In a letter to the Saudi ambassador to the United Nations, Guterres said the blockade imposed by the Saudi-led military coalition since Nov. 6 was already reversing the impact of humanitarian efforts, according to Guterres' spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

While welcoming the re-opening of Aden port, the UN chief said this alone will not meet the needs of 28 million Yemenis, Dujarric told a daily press briefing.

Guterres called on the coalition to enable the resumption of UN humanitarian flights to Sanaa and Aden airports, and the re-opening of Hodaydah and Saleef seaports so that fuel, food and medical supplies can enter Yemen, said the spokesman.

Once the blockade of the seaports of Hodaydah and Saleef as well as Sanaa airport is lifted, the United Nations stands ready to send a technical team to Riyadh to discuss the UN verification and inspection mechanism, as requested by Saudi Arabia, Guterres indicated.

The Saudi-led military coalition, which is fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen and is trying to restore the government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, blocked land, sea and air access to Yemen two days after Saudi Arabia intercepted a missile launched by Houthi rebels toward the Saudi capital city of Riyadh.

On Thursday, the heads of the World Food Program (WFP), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, urgently called for the immediate lifting of the blockade in Yemen to respond to what is now the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

While the Saudi-led military coalition has partially lifted the blockade, the closure of many air, sea and land ports is making an already catastrophic situation worse, they said in a joint statement.

More than 20 million people, more than half of whom are children, are in need of urgent assistance. Some 17 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from and 7 million are totally dependent on food assistance, said the statement.

Even with a partial lifting of the blockade, the WFP estimates that an additional 3.2 million people will be pushed into hunger. If left untreated, 150,000 malnourished children could die in the coming months.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 06:33:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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RABAT, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and France have given a new impetus to their bilateral partnership, signing several new agreements covering various bilateral cooperation fields.

The agreements were signed during the 13th Moroccan French High-level Meeting held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Moroccan and French Prime Ministers Saadeddine El Othmani and Edouard Philippe.

The two countries inked a loan agreement of 40 million euros and a grant agreement of 400,000 euros. The loan agreement was signed between the transportation company of Rabat-Sale and the French Development Agency to finance the extension of line 2 of the Rabat-Sale tramway.

Another agreement concerns a subsidy of 500,000 euros, along with the loan of 30 million euros to finance line 2 of the Casablanca tramway.

The two-day visit of Philippe was also marked by the organization of a Moroccan-French business forum held in the Moroccan city of Skhirate, which saw the participation of nearly 150 French and Moroccan companies.

Held under the theme "Morocco-France: Building Bridges for Growth and Employment," the forum is co-organized by the Moroccan General Confederation of Enterprises and the France-Morocco Business Leaders Club, in partnership with the Movement of French Enterprises International.

The forum aimed at developing new areas of economic cooperation between the companies of the two countries and exploring the paths of a shared development in Africa.

In his first visit to Morocco since his appointment in May, Philippe was accompanied by some ten members of his government.

He said in a statement to the press that Morocco and France are driven by a common willingness to move forward together on the path of peace and prosperity.

The two countries share a very strong convergence of views on topics of common interest and issues related in particular to economic development, regional security, the fight against terrorism and higher education, he stressed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 06:33:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday highlighted China's efforts in combating terrorism, encouraging China to continue its role in international cooperation against terrorism.

"China is dedicated in United Nations to international cooperation against terrorism, I strongly encourage China to go on play that role," Guterres made the remarks in London when answering a question from Xinhua after he gave a lecture on counter-terrorism and human rights at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

Guterres stressed the need for much stronger international cooperation in terms of counter-terrorism. He announced in his speech that he intends to convene the first-ever UN summit of heads of counter-terrorism agencies next year to forge new partnerships and build relationships of trust.

The UN chief also underlined the "urgent need" for governments and security agencies to collaborate more effectively in fighting terror.

He called on UN Member States to increase international efforts to address terror financing, and improve information exchange among security services.

"I heard this message loud and clear. During the high-level week of my first General Assembly in September, 152 leaders - 80 percent of all Members of the United Nations - highlighted the need to step up the exchange of information," he said.

Noting that at least 11,000 terrorist attacks occurred in more than 100 countries last year, Guterres warned that terrorism had become "an unprecedented threat to international peace, security and development."

"Terrorism has been unfortunately with us in various forms across ages and continents. But modern terrorism is being waged on an entirely different scale, and notably its geographic span. No country can claim to be immune," he said.

But he pointed out that developing countries suffered the most despite the truth that terror attacks in the west drew more spotlight.

"Although the spotlight tends to focus on terrorism in the west, we should never forget that the vast majority of terrorist attacks take place in developing countries," he said.

Indicating that nearly three-quarters of all deaths caused by terrorism were in just five states, namely Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria and Somalia, Guterres said economic impact of terrorism is also huge.

In 2015, terrorism costs amounted to 17.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Iraq and 16.8 percent in Afghanistan. The global economic impact of terrorism is estimated to have reached 90 billion U.S. dollars that year.

As for the ways to eradicate terrorism, the UN chief believes military operations alone will not be enough despite the recent successes in fighting the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq.

"It would be false promises to assume that military operations alone will eradicate terrorism. Technology still enables terrorist groups to reach disenfranchised people everywhere in the world, and impress on them. That is why a smart and comprehensive counter-terrorism global strategy addressing root causes of violent extremism is all too vital," he said.

He emphasized the importance of education and youth to tackle terrorism to conclude his speech, urging young people to become clear-thinking and enlightened citizens.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 07:08:19|Editor: liuxin

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The United Nations Security Council votes on a Bolivian draft resolution at the UN headquarters in New York Nov. 16, 2017. The UN Security Council on Thursday rejected a draft resolution submitted by Bolivia on the renewal of the mandate of an investigation of chemical weapons use in Syria. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday rejected a draft resolution submitted by Bolivia over the renewal of the mandate of an investigation of chemical weapons use in Syria.

The draft resolution, which in essence was the Russian draft, was put to vote under Bolivia's name. The draft resolution was rejected as only four members of the council voted in favor, seven voted against and four abstained.

Russia earlier Thursday withdrew its draft over procedural reasons. The competing U.S. draft resolution, which won 11 votes in favor, was vetoed by Russia. Bolivia also voted against it.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation has completed a mosque valued at over N100 million and handed it over to the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN).

Aliko Dangote Foundation had taken over the building of the mosque in Utako District of Abuja following an appeal made by FOMWAN to the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, the National Ameera of FOMWAN, Hajiya Amina B. Omoti, said now that the mosque has been officially handed over to FOMWAN, it will be commissioned and opened for Jumaat prayers in January next year.

She said the group had started the building when it appealed to the Dangote Foundation for assistance. While commending and praying for the Dangote Foundation, she also expressed gratitude to the Sultan of Sokoto Saad Abubakar for his numerous supports towards the realization of the mosque.

Words are not enough to express how we feel but suffice it to note that over 80,000 registered members of FOMWAN and Muslim Ummah are in awe over this beautiful house of worship, she said. She said the Board of Trustees will soon meet to constitute a management committee for the mosque.

Representative of the Dangote Foundation, Musa Bala said the mosque was part of the philanthropic spirit of the Foundation. He said the President of the Group is passionate about the place of women in the society, and that was why the Foundation implemented a N10bn micro grant scheme to empower women in Nigeria. He said the Dangote Foundation is not resting on its oars in supporting the less privilege and women in particular.

Speaking at the event, the National Deputy Ameera, Hajiya Sada Yusuf, prayed that Allah bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote, even as she requested that the Foundation continue to support FOMWAN activities in Nigeria.

We are like Oliver Twist. We are asking for more, especially in the area of landscaping of the mosque environment, she said.

Former National Deputy Ameera, Maryam Uthman, thanked all those who contributed to the making the mosque a success story, adding that Alhaji Aliko Dangote now occupies a special place among Nigerian women.

Speaking also the National Secretary General Dr Mrs Ummaimah Momoh described the President of the Dangote Group as philanthropy per
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola yesterday stated that the federal government has paid over N60 billion out of the N70 million verified MDAs electricity debts.

Fashola stated this Wednesday at a workshop put together to enlighten journalists who report the sector to enable do informed reporting.

You can see that debt is almost paid. That and all the regulations being put in place as highlighted by the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC)) are part of governments commitment to its Power Sector Recovery Programme.

The minister also said negotiations have begun with the Chinese Export Import Bank (EXIM) on financing the 3050 megawatts (mw) Mambilla hydropower project in Taraba State.

The Minister signed the N2trillion contract for the project last Friday with the three Chinese contractors who said the project would take six years to complete. Chinese EXIM will bring 85 per cent of the funding while Nigeria is expected to raise 15 per cent, government said.

He said negotiations for the loan will now start through the Minister of Finance with the Chinese EXIM. He also explained that once the negotiations are completed, he will be consulted and then government can work to flag it off.
Mugabe is insisting he remains Zimbabwes only legitimate ruler and has balked at mediation by a Catholic priest to allow the 93-year-old former guerrilla a graceful exit after a military coup, sources said on Thursday.

In the interest of the people, Robert Mugabe must resign and step down immediately, Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, told a news conference, reading from a statement.

Earlier, the political opposition in Zimbabwe called for the intermediate installation of an interim government, a day after a surprise military takeover.

At the moment the transitional government is the best way to go, said Douglas Mwonzora, Secretary-General of Morgan Tsvangirais MDC-T party.

We back the military move but the country should quickly go back a constitutional government.

Armoured vehicles that were stationed at key government buildings during the political upheaval on Wednesday remained in place.

The soldiers appeared relaxed, even smiling and chatting with onlookers.

Most people were going about their daily business and children went to school.

Special envoys sent by South African President, Jacob Zuma, were holding discussions on Mugabes fate with Zimbabwes leaders.

Officials from the Southern African Development Community were also meeting in Botswanas capital Gaborone later Thursday to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe.

What is needed is an inclusive government to run the affairs of Zimbabwe until a time it is right to have elections, said Didymus Mutasa, a longtime minister in Mugabes government, who was fired in 2014 for backing Joice Mujuru as the presidents successor.

Jacob Mafume, a spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Tendai Biti, said that any interim government should be inclusive of all the stakeholders including the church and all parties.

While the army has said Mugabe is safe, there were mixed reports in the media about his wife Grace Mugabes whereabouts, with some saying she had fled the country.

Speculation had been growing before the coup that 52-year-old Grace was preparing to take over from her husband.

The potential ascendency appears to have faced resistance from senior military officials.

There was an uneasy calm on the streets of Harare, after initial jubilation on Wednesday when the army announced it had seized control from Mugabe, 93, who had been in power almost four decades.

Several Mugabe allies from his Zanu-PF party, including Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, detained, some political players have been swift to show the army theyre on side.

A grovelling apology by Zanu-PF youth leader, Kudzai Chipanga, who had criticised the army only hours before, was published by state media late Wednesday.

We are still young and make mistakes, Chipanga said, adding that he was making his apology voluntarily and had not been coerced.

I have personally reflected and realised my mistake, Chipanga added.
The Federal Government is in talks with MasterCard on ways to develop a digital framework for Nigeria to support ongoing transformation, to ensure the development of a more inclusive economy.

These were part of the discussions between Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the MasterCard President and Chief Executive Officer, Ajay Banga, when the two held a private meeting at the Villa on Tuesday.

In a statement made available , Osinbajo was said to have recognised the critical role of technology in driving Nigerias development, especially in regards to financial inclusion to enable it benefit from the expansion of consumer and business spend, as cities become hubs for commerce.

Banga on his part, was quoted as saying that MasterCards investment in Nigeria with the launch of Masterpass QR, is geared to help local businesses overcome barriers to growth.

He further highlighted the role that technology and innovation is playing in driving new opportunities, to enable diversified economic growth, a point that resonates with the governments development goals.

With half of the population residing in cities and generating more than 60 per cent of Nigerias gross domestic product (GDP), it becomes imperative to find efficient ways to serve the growing demand on services and infrastructure.

Current estimates predicate that by 2035 close to 30 million people are likely to live in Lagos, turning it into the largest megacity on the continent.
A report on Thursday said that a deal has been proposed that former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa should lead a transitional government that will be constituted of stakeholders from other political parties in Zimbabwe.

According to SABC, President Robert Mugabe had been given an opportunity to negotiate an exit that included state protection together with his family.

One of the priorities of the transitional government will be to restore the economy that has experienced decline in recent times, the report said.

Meanwhile, NewsDay reported that the countrys Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and war veterans leader Christopher Mutsvangwa had flown back home from South Africa on Wednesday.

Both Tsvangirai and Mutsvangwa were ready to enter negotiations to form a transitional government with former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, the report said.

Tsvangirai and Mutsvangwa had both been in South Africa on different missions, the report said.

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) on Wednesday announced that it had taken over the country and was keeping the countrys president Mugabe and his family under guard at his home as the military was getting rid of the criminals around Mugabe.

On Monday the ZDF warned the 93-year-old leader that it would intervene if he continued purging party veterans in a bid to see his wife, Grace Mugabe, become his successor.

The takeover, which has largely been described as a coup, also saw the arrest of several ministers and members of the so-called Generation 40 group within the ruling party.

According to a report by SABC, a deal has been proposed that former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa should lead a transitional government that will be constituted of stakeholders from other political parties.
He spoke in Abuja while unveiling the book Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigerias Peace and Prosperity at the old Banquet Hall of the State House.

The 360 page book is a mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and put together by Presidential Media Team.

Tinubu, who was the Special Guest of honor at the occasion, also insisted that Nigeria cant grow without robust industrial capacity in the country.

Stressing that President Buhari administration has changed the story of Nigeria for good in the last two years; he maintained that Nigeria is now more prosperous than it was two years ago.

The good that you have started, do it more. he told the President.

According to him, the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan won gold medal in corruption.

He said that so much money grew feet and ran faster than Jamaican runner, Usani Bolt, under Jonathans administration.

The money that should have been spent on development, he noted, was squandered in ways that could cause the devil to blush.

He said The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves.

So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could. That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush.

One minister and her rogues gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in the sleight of hand. In governance, they earned a red card but in corruption l, they won the gold medal.

It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption. Corruption has become institutionalized.

According to him, corruption has been won as President Buhari has set an axe to what he called, the root of this dangerous tree.

He noted that gone are the times when a minister can pilfer billions of dollars as easy as plucking a piece of candy from the table.

Tinubu said We have much to do to combat this disease. Not only must we track down the takers. In the long term, we must review the salaries of public servants and create universal credits for our people to reduce temptation.
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The European Union has just inflicted a stinging blow to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, when the EU spokesperson, Catherine Ray affirmed that the EU shall not recognize the SADR even if it participates in the EU-Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Abidjan November 29 -30.

Any participation in this summit, as is the case for all international meetings of this nature, does not mean a change of the EUs position regarding the non-recognition of SADR, the spokesperson of the EU foreign policy and security commission said Wednesday during the daily press briefing.

The EU will not recognize the SADR even if it participates in the summit with Africa, she was quoted by the Spanish News agency EFE as saying.

The EU spokesperson added that, during the preparation of the summit, it was possible to ask some questions about the participation of a particular member of the organizations concerned, particularly with regards to SADR, she said.

In this regards, our constant position has been to give each party, the African Union and the European Union, the responsibility for their respective list of participants, she added, according to EFE.

This clear-cut statement has shattered the expectations nurtured by Algeria that the Polisarios participation in the Abidjan summit would mean its recognition by the EU.

This is all the more frustrating that even within the pan-African organization, most members do not recognize the SADR, including the host country, Cote dIvoire.

For Algeria and its puppet, the battle is therefore lost in advance.
King Mohammed VI has voiced determination to step up reforms related to local government and to the implementation of the flagship project of advanced regionalization.

This landmark undertaking is a key institutional achievement. It illustrates my unwavering commitment () to seeing a quantum leap in the reform and modernization of our institutions, said the Moroccan Sovereign in a message addressed to the 2nd parliamentary forum of regions convened in Rabat, Moroccos capital city.

It is gratifying to note, today, that the legal framework for the implementation of advanced regionalization is all but completed, and that local elected officials are already working hard to give concrete substance to the advanced regionalization process, added the Monarch in his message read out by royal advisor Abdellatif Mennouni.

As we speak, the objectives are set, the principles and the relevant rules are clearly defined and the stakeholders concerned are busy at work. In the coming phase, the aim will be to move up a gear and to start effectively giving substance to this historic paradigm shift, said the King.

This is a gigantic project requiring the involvement of a vast array of actors as well as the commitment of the nations forces and society as a whole, explained the Monarch, noting that a keen sense of responsibility and mobilization as well as a great degree of conviction will be required throughout the implementation of the project.

The King went on to say that it is necessary to promote dialogue and interaction in order to make sure that the enormous potential offered by the institutional and legal framework is fully exploited and that benefits are maximized.

For the Sovereign, this new pedagogical exercise in responsibility and sharing, and through the adoption of novel modes of interaction that local elected officials will be able to serve as the standard-bearers for change, rise to challenges, fulfill their constituents aspirations and come up with the right answers to citizens expectations.

Regarding central government services and public administrations, the King said they are expected to re-establish relations, based on cooperation, dialogue, consultation, convergence and partnership with local governments. This dynamic will ensure the complementarity, coherence of action and synergies required for the actual implementation of advanced regionalization.

King Mohammed VI also stressed the importance of regional development programs in the development model currently being finalized, saying that local governments  especially the Regions  must fully live up to the pre-eminent role granted to them by the Constitution.

The regions should make their own contributions so as to remedy the failings of the current model, reduce regional disparities and inequalities and move forward purposefully and resolutely on the path towards social justice, underlined the Monarch.

Each region should be able to develop its own vision, provided the latter is consistent with the national development model, he added, urging local elected officials to get deeply involved in the issues relating to young Moroccans, keen to participate in community life and aspiring to dignity and betterment.

The problems young Moroccans are facing today can be resolved only at the local level  in their neighborhood, their commune or their city, said the Moroccan Sovereign, noting that solutions must be tailored locally to address the problems young people are facing.

Regarding the question of the scope of powers devolved to local governments, particularly regional councils, King Mohammed VI said the aim is not to overburden local governments with multiple and varied prerogatives which would only discredit them, given the inevitable shortcomings.

Instead, it is important to make sure their powers are sufficiently precise and clear to avoid confusion and overlapping. These powers should be gradually expanded as local governments capabilities in terms of human and financial resources increase, stressed the Monarch, affirming that advanced regionalization is a project in progress, which requires resolve to combat inertia, vigilance to counter conservative attitudes and continued adjustments to new socioeconomic realities.
Princess Lalla Hasna, chairwoman of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environment Protection, and executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Patricia Espinosa, co-chaired, Thursday in Bonn, the high-level session on Education Day, held under the theme Global partnerships to combat climate change through education.

In an address she delivered at the session, Princess Lalla Hasna, who is the youngest sister of Moroccos King, underscored the paramount importance of education for sustainable development, as an essential lever to deeply change the behavior of citizens and face the challenges of global warming.

Article 6 of the UNFCCC and article 12 of the Paris Agreement underscore the importance of education, training, public awareness, public access to information and international cooperation as essential tools to effectively combat climate change, she recalled, insisting that efforts made in the field of education for sustainable development have become the mandatory matrix of any action in favor of the environment.

Princess Lalla Hasna also surveyed the efforts made by Morocco in matters of environment protection that has been erected as a pillar of development, pointing out that a major stride was made in 2011 when the right to a healthy environment and sustainable development were enshrined in the Moroccan constitution.

The National Charter for Environment and Sustainable Development, adopted later on, set the basic goals of the States action in the field, such as including the culture of environment protection in education and training syllabi, she recalled.

After she underlined the importance of COP Education days as a platform to share expertize and educational methods in terms of global warming, she spoke of her Foundations projects, working methods and goals. She highlighted in particular two programs on environment education the foundation is spearheading, namely Eco Schools and Young Reporters for Environment, in addition to its involvement in awareness-raising campaigns and environment education. She conceded however, that much remains to be done.

On the sidelines of the Education Day session, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environment Protection and the UNFCCC signed a memorandum of understanding under which they will reinforce their cooperation to carry out provisions laid down in article 6 of the framework convention on education, training, awareness raising and public access to information.

The Moroccan Foundation has been since 2009 an observer member of the UNFCCC and regularly participates in the COPs.
Gary Cohn had to be displeased by the tepid reaction of CEOs to the prospect of corporate tax cuts. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

As you may have heard, the GOP is selling the big corporate tax cut that is the centerpiece of its tax bill as a job-producing, wage-boosting dynamo. The main piece of evidence for this dubious proposition is a recent report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers claiming that cutting corporate taxes will enormously increase capital investment, which in turn will improve GDP and eventually incomes for working people.

Since Gary Cohn is the presidents chief economic advisor, he was probably expecting validation of this point of view while attending a Wall Street Journal event for CEOs today. But he got an unpleasant surprise, as the Hill reports:

[A]n editor at The Wall Street Journal asked the room: If the tax reform bill goes through, do you plan to increase investment  your companys investment, capital investment?

People were asked to raise their hand.

When few hands were raised, Cohn, the White House Economic Council director, asked: Why arent the other hands up?

If this audience isnt convinced corporate tax cuts will do economic wonders, why would anyone expect a skeptical public  which in poll after poll opposes slashing rates for big corporations  to think otherwise?

But alas, Cohn and his boss are 100 percent more likely to demand a different group of CEOs as a focus group than to accept changes in this central feature of its tax plan.
Harvey Weinstein and David Boies attend the launch party for Rudy Giulianis book Leadership on December 18, 2002, in New York City. Photo: Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

He is, and probably by a lot, the most famous practicing lawyer in America. David Boies graced the cover of The New York Times Magazine when he was just 45 (The Litigator, read the headline. David Boies, the Wall Street Lawyer Everyone Wants.) He was a runner-up Time Person of the Year, profiled in this magazine, Forbes, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, and Esquire, played by Ed Begley onscreen and Morgan Freeman and George Clooney onstage. He helped us get gay marriage, busted the Microsoft monopoly, and made a valiant effort to save the nation from the perils of a George Bush presidency.

But Boiess image as a latter-day Clarence Darrow has taken a hit in recent weeks. First came the news that he represented Harvey Weinstein during negotiations with the Weinstein Company  which Boiess law firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, has represented in various legal matters over the years  writing a contract that, in the words of TMZ, allowed for sexual harassment with an escalating series of fines for each infraction. Then came a New Yorker story by Ronan Farrow that detailed how Boies employed two private-investigative firms that attempted to uncover damaging information about Weinsteins accusers and the journalists who were helping to bring those accusations to light. When the story hit, the New York Times, which both published the first story on Weinsteins sexual-assault history and employed Boies Schiller, promptly fired the law firm.

Their own lawyer hiring a private-investigative operation to scuttle their reporting was, the paper said in a statement, reprehensible.

Whatever legalistic arguments and justifications can be made, we should have been treated better by a firm that we trusted.

It has been a staggering set of stories for someone who, at 76, is on the likely last act of a celebrated career. Boies first rose to fame when he walked away from a partnership at a white-shoe law firm to start his own shop. Boies Schiller Flexner grew to become a powerhouse in litigation. But what effect the recent run of bad press will have, either on Boies or on the firm he founded, is unclear. Many in the legal community are watching for signs that Boies or the firm has been negatively affected. What we have been reading is so far outside of what is acceptable, said one longtime friend. It is not something you see reputable lawyers do. David has been gradually stepping away from the firm, and I think it is going to be a lot harder for them to recruit big-time talent.

In the publics mind, Boies is the ninja master of the legal profession, someone from the flatlands of the Midwest who suffered severe dyslexia yet still graduated magna cum laude from Yale Law. A kind of legal Buddha, except that he is thinner and dresses better, Garry Shandling, a Boies client, has described him. He is renowned for his eccentricity, for being able to deliver a courtroom argument without looking at his notes, and for a certain aw-shucks, suits-off-the-rack sensibility that belies his fame and wealth (Boies owns multiple houses, an oceangoing yacht, and a 1,300-acre Northern California vineyard).

He always cultivated this image as the lone ranger among the stuffed shirts, said Vivia Chen, a columnist for The American Lawyer who has covered Boies extensively. The cryptic thing about him is that on the one hand he is this hero, and on the other he is accessible and charming and comes off as so humble.

And it is an image that is cultivated. In 1987, The American Lawyer gave him its Bruce Springsteen Media Darling Award, wondering if his deification may have gotten out of hand. Boies constantly talks to reporters, among whom he is known for never giving a no comment and for playing up his folksy persona. David Wilson, a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, recalled to Vanity Fair that Boies was bending his ear during a break in the Microsoft trial when a rival attorney walked by and told Wilson that he should be sure to ask Boies about his elaborate wine cellar.

Chen recalls one profile of Boies she did where she found herself seated next to him at a black-tie gala where he was being honored by the Boy Scouts of America.

You always know with David that you are being played but it is kind of a pleasant experience, Chen said. He has this cult status that goes beyond the legal world. Its like some Jimmy Stewart character has fallen down to Earth, and it turns out he is just another tool for the rich and powerful like everybody else.

Among Boiess friends and admirers in the legal world, the last few weeks have been unsettling.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for David Boies. I think he is a brilliant lawyer. His reputation is very well earned, said Jonathan Turley, law professor at George Washington University and frequent television commentator. But what he read about in The New Yorker floored me. If that contract were offered to me I would have turned it down in a second. There are just so many red flags on so many levels.

Boies told The New Yorker that he did not select the private-investigative firms  even though he personally signed the contract of Black Cube, a company run mostly by exIsraeli intelligence operatives. Black Cube had agents posing as womens rights activists or as victims of Weinstein in order to scuttle the news investigations into his sexual assault. Boies said he did not direct their work either, and disputed the Times claim that his work on Weinsteins behalf was a conflict of interest.

Im sorry, but that just doesnt pass the straight face test, said Joel Henning, a Chicago-based legal-industry consultant. Did he not think it through? Or did he think he could get away with it? This is what is so confounding. He is not a person who doesnt think things through. That is part of what makes him a brilliant lawyer.

Among Boiess friends and colleagues in the New York legal world, there is a sense that, at last, Americas Superlawyer let all the years of good press get to him. These guys, they get seduced by the challenge, said one legal journalist who has followed Boies closely. Its chutzpah. Hes not taking the normal precautions that a junior lawyer would have taken.

Some say that the Boies myth has been outliving the reality for a little while now. They point to his work with Theranos, the apparently fraudulent blood-testing company for which Boies served both as director and as attorney, an arrangement rife with potential conflicts of interest. And they point to his work representing Hank Greenberg, the former chairman of AIG, in the governments case that he misrepresented the firms financial condition.

Ive just been watching all of this and wondering what happened to David, said one Boies friend. Did he just get too impressed with his own fame? Did he just get greedy?

It is not lost on the New York legal community that Boiess life has taken a turn for the Weinsteinian over the last several years. In 2012, Boies started the Boies/Schiller Film Group, which invests in motion pictures. Boies has five executive-producer credits, and the firm has been working on a remake of Fletch. Boiess daughter, Mary Regency Boies, is a producer and actor who had a part in Silver Linings Playbook, the 2012 romantic comedy that was produced by the Weinstein Company.

One theory is that the famously good-natured Boies was just temperamentally unable to say no to the hard-charging Weinstein.

You dont suddenly, at age 70-plus, become a sleazeball, and David is not a sleazeball, said another prominent lawyer who has known Boies for decades. He is overwhelmed. He takes on too much. He never says no. I am sure he figures, There is nothing to this, and just signed his name without much bothering to look it over.

The firm Boies founded when he bolted from the white-shoe law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore is now a 300-lawyer-strong firm with 14 offices around the country and in London. It remains, however, very much in the shadow of Boies, according to legal observers. Although clients who sign with the firm can be mistaken in thinking that it means Boies himself will handle their case, when the firm is brought on it is usually taken as a sign to the other side that resources will be spent and the fight will go to the bloody end.

They have a lot of talent, but not nearly the talent that you would expect a firm of that stature to have, said one lawyer, echoing an opinion heard in a series of interviews with prominent members of New Yorks legal community.

The firm has been a bit of a family operation as well  Boiess ex-wife, his current wife, his son, and his late daughter all worked there at one time or another.

It remains to be seen how much the firm will be affected by this recent spate of bad news. So far, the Times has been the only client to sever ties with Boies Schiller. Boies sent a long memo to the employees of his namesake law firm after the story dropped giving his side of it and saying that he regretted his role in hiring Black Cube.

It was not thought through, and that was my mistake. I take responsibility for that, Boies wrote, adding, I have devoted much of my professional career to helping give voice to people who would otherwise not be heard and to protecting the rights of women and others subjection to oppression. I would never knowingly participate in an effort to intimidate or silence women or anyone else, including the conduct described in the New Yorker article. That is not who I am.

Boies is back at work now, while the firm has begun a review of how they vet vendors and how they handle conflicts of interest like the one that arose with the New York Times.

I think the damage is going to be dramatic, said one lawyer who has worked closely with Boies for years. The Times said they dont trust him. If your clients cant trust you you are finished.

Complicating matters further is the fact that Boies crossed such a powerful entity as the New York Times. Boies appears in their pages regularly, but his work with Weinstein is now all but certain to be mentioned in every story about him. For example, a recent piece about Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Joness hiring Boies to sue the N.F.L. described Boies as the high-profile lawyer under fire in the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment case and spent four crucial paragraphs and the caption to a photograph to lay out Boiess involvement in the matter.

Plus, last week the Manhattan district attorneys office announced that they had subpoenaed records from the Weinstein Company, and included a request for records related to the company from Boies Schiller Flexner. The firm has seen its rankings in the Vault 100, a national ranking of legal prestige, slip over the last several years, from No. 12 in 2016 to No. 16 in 2017 to No. 20 this year. Karen Dunn, one the firms leading young lawyers in its Washington, D.C., office, disputed the notion that this latest drama would have much of an effect.

Were a firm of 300-plus lawyers, many of whom handle the biggest and most high-profile problems facing companies and individuals without any participation from David, she said. In fact, I cant think of a time since I got here where I have heard that a BSF lawyer walked into a room and someone said, Wheres David? Its just not like that.

Boies did not respond to a request for comment, and a firm spokesman did not make him available.

Longtime Boies-watchers say that he is sure to attempt to ride out this latest storm, certain that it will end soon enough and that he will be able to reclaim his perch.

He is a tough litigator, said Chen. You dont win cases by being some simple guy from the provinces. People are saddened, but a lot of people are rooting for him too. Our hero has been chopped down.
Insert emoluments here. Photo: Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump entered office with a globe-spanning business empire, a well-earned (and self-promoted) reputation for ruthless greed, and no substantive plan for insulating himself against conflicts of interest. There are a lot of problems with this arrangement. One is that the U.S. Constitution bars presidents from accepting gifts (or emoluments) from foreign governments.

Our current president owns a hotel within walking distance of the White House. Many foreign diplomats have made that hotel their default choice when visiting D.C.  and some have said, explicitly, that theyve done this in hopes of currying favor with its owner.

This has led to a raft of lawsuits against the president. And those have led Justice Department lawyers to put aside their duties to the public, and spend time and money trying to prove that Trumps private businesses are not undermining the White Houses ability to perform its duties to the public. As USA Today reports:

Taxpayers are footing the legal bill for at least 10 Justice Department lawyers and paralegals to work on lawsuits related to President Trumps private businesses.

 The government legal team is defending President Trump in four lawsuits stemming from his unusual decision not to divest himself from hundreds of his companies that are entangled with customers that include foreign governments and officials.

In the cases, Justice Department attorneys are not defending policy actions Trump took as president. Instead, the taxpayer-funded lawyers are making the case that it is not unconstitutional for the presidents private companies to earn profits from foreign governments and officials while hes in office.

To be fair, Trump is only using government lawyers in cases where plaintiffs filed their lawsuits against President Donald Trump, as opposed to merely Donald Trump. The Justice Department interprets the first category of cases as being against the office of the presidency, rather than the president himself.

So, this isnt really about defending Donald Trumps business interests; its about defending the right of all American presidents to profit from name-branded hotels that cater to foreign agents while in office. Who wouldnt want their tax dollars funding that cause?
Coal miners in Pennsylvania. Photo: Ty Wright/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Senate Wednesday confirmed a former coal executive with a dismal safety record to lead the governments top agency regulating mine safety. President Trumps nomination of David Zatezalo, former CEO of Kentucky-based Rhino Resources, was approved by a party-line vote of 52-48.

Zatezalo will bring an unconventional perspective to the Mine Health and Safety Administration (MSHA) after serving as a top executive at a company hit with two pattern of violations citations by the agency. That specific sanction is a rarely used tool that former MSHA head Joe Main began wielding in 2010 after the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster killed 29 people.

Rhino Resources was cited for two pattern of violations between November of 2010 and August of 2011, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. In the time between those two citations, tragedy struck at one of the companys mines.

Between those two warning letters, crew leader Joseph Cassell was killed at the Eagle No. 1 Mine when rock and coal from a portion of a mine wall collapsed onto him in June 2011. MSHA investigators concluded that Rhinos efforts to control the mine walls with timbers and conventional bolts were inadequate, something that conditions at the mine had put the operator on notice about. Rhino was cited and paid $44,500 in fines to MSHA, records show.

At another mine in Kentucky, the company was sanctioned for giving advance notice to miners that MSHA inspectors were on-site to investigate claims of workers smoking underground.

Zatezalo defended his time as head of the company, saying that the violations were the fault of local managers and that they were quickly fired. But that excuse didnt pass muster for one of the coal industrys biggest boosters in Washington, Democratic senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

In West Virginia we are painfully familiar with the human toll that accompanies a mine accident. I have comforted too many families who have lost loved ones serving our nation in the mines. Strong leadership at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is non-negotiable, he said in a September statement explaining his opposition to Zatezalos nomination.

Among Zatezalos first priorities on the job will be to grapple with the rise in mine deaths in 2017. As of last week, 14 miners had died on the job this year, up from 8 in 2016 and 12 in 2015, when coal companies employed 25,000 more people than they do today.

Some have suggested that this uptick is due to lax enforcement since Trump took office, a claim Zatezalo denied during his confirmation hearing. I do not believe that the fatalities that we have had to date have been due to a lack of enforcement, Zatezalo said. But I dont have all the details on that.
They saw this coming. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

The Keystone pipeline, which carries oil from Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf of Mexico, was shutdown Thursday after it leaked 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota, operator TransCanada said.

The leak was discovered at 6 a.m. Thursday on a stretch of the pipeline passing through a rural part of the state outside of Amherst. Cleanup crews are reportedly at work, and state officials say they dont think the oil has reached any waterways or drinking water systems.

But David Flute of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe told BuzzFeed the leak happened near his reservation and hes worried about the effects. Im thinking there is going to be an impact, some type of environmental impact, he said. As the oil seeps, if they cant contain the spill, which Im hoping they do, if theyre unable to contain it from seeping into the water systems, it can be hurtful and harmful to everybody.

The last Keystone leak occurred in April of 2016, when the company reported a spill of 187 gallons. That number was later revised to 17,000 gallons and took two months to clean up.

This spill comes at a particularly bad time for TransCanada. Next Monday, Nebraska will deliver its decision on whether they will allow the companys Keystone XL pipeline to be built in the state.
But his emails. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Jared Kushner received and then forwarded emails concerning WikiLeaks and a backdoor overture from Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign but failed to turn them over to Senate investigators, according to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

We appreciate your voluntary cooperation with the Committees investigation, but the production appears to have been incomplete, Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking member Senator Dianne Feinstein wrote in a letter to Kushners lawyer Thursday.

Under a section of the letter entitled Missing Documents, the senators write that documents other people disclosed show that Kushner had emails he should have turned over too.

For example, other parties have produced September 2016 email communications to Mr. Kushner concerning WikiLeaks, which r. Kushner then forwarded to another campaign official. Such documents should have been produced in response to the third request but were not. Likewise, other parties have produced documents concerning  Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite which Mr. Kushner also forwarded.

You also have not produced any phone records that we presume exist and would relate to Mr. Kushners communications, Grassley and Feinstein added. The senators gave Kushner a November 27 deadline to turn over the missing records.

Kushners lawyer Abbe Lowell, to whom the senators letter was addressed, responded in a statement that said he provided Senate investigators with all relevant documents.

Kushners failure to turn over these emails is not the first time President Trumps son-in-law has been caught concealing information about his relationship with Russia. In July, he admitted to four separate contacts with Russians during the campaign and the transition. All of those contacts were left off the security-clearance forms he filled out in order to gain access to some of the governments most guarded secrets. But he got the clearance anyway and, much to the chagrin of some Democratic lawmakers, still has it.
A healthy country with normal politics. Photo: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP/Getty Images

When Roy Moores campaign announced that it would be holding a press conference at 5 p.m. Wednesday, many wondered if the Ayatollah of Alabama had finally lost his nerve. Over the past week, two women had accused the Senate candidate of sexually assaulting them when he was an adult, and they were teenagers. Three other women had alleged that hed courted them when they were in high school (and he was in his 30s). And many, many Alabamians had said that Moores ephebophilia was common knowledge (especially at the Gadsden Mall).

In light of these allegations  and Moores refusal to say, unequivocally, that hed never dated teenage girls when he was in his 30s, during an interview with Sean Hannity  the Republican Party had turned on its nominee in the Alabama Senate race. Mitch McConnell called on Moore to step aside. The chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) called for the Senate to expel Moore, should he win election. On Tuesday, the Republican National Committee cut funding to his campaign.

And, on Wednesday afternoon, the NRSC released a poll showing Democrat Doug Jones leading Moore by 12 points.

But red Americas favorite theocrat isnt going down quietly. While the Alabama Republican Party held an emergency meeting to discuss removing Moore from the ballot, his lawyers stood before a bevy of fake news cameras, and defended the judges good name.

Ive traveled with Judge Moore all over the state, attorney Phillip L. Jauregui told reporters. Ive been with him in probably over 100 different meetings, and been around probably in excess of 10,000 different ladies in Judge Moores presence  and not once, not one time, have I ever seen him act even remotely inappropriate against any woman.

Jauregui then cut to the heart of his case.

On Monday, Beverly Young Nelson accused Moore of sexually assaulting her in 1977, when she was 16 years old. Nelson corroborated her story by presenting a high-school yearbook, which Roy Moore had, apparently, signed with a romantic message. Nelson said that she hadnt had any contact with Moore since the assault.

Here is Roy Moore's alleged signature in the accuser's high school yearbook.



Welp. pic.twitter.com/wt3dXe5oGr  Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) November 13, 2017

Jauregui said that this last claim was false: In 1999, Moore had presided over Nelsons divorce. The lawyer went on to suggest that Nelson had forged Moores signature in her old yearbook, using her divorce papers as a guide. The tell, in Jaureguis narrative, was the DA at the end of Moores yearbook signature. While Moore was an Alabama district attorney in 1977, Jauregui implied that he would never have included that title in a yearbook message to the 16-year-old he was planning to sexually assault  that would be weird.

Rather, the lawyer argued that the DA was only in the yearbook because Moores signature on Nelsons divorce papers had been stamped with those letters.

Roy Moore's team is suggesting Beverly Young Nelson lifted his signature from a court document. But they don't look alike... pic.twitter.com/Rb5zNZJqbF  Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) November 15, 2017

Thus, the Moore campaign demanded that Nelson immediately release the yearbook to a neutral custodian  so that our [handwriting] expert can look at it.

On Monday, Nelson had requested the opportunity to tell her story, under oath, to the Senate Judiciary Committee. On Wednesday, she indicated through her lawyer that she would only subject the yearbook to examination in the context of such a hearing.

Beverly Young Nelson attorney Gloria Allred on CNN: No examination of Roy Moore yearbook signature unless in a Senate hearing.  Byron York (@ByronYork) November 15, 2017

Jauregui did not say one word to contradict the stories of the four other women whod accused Moore of sexual impropriety, including the woman whod accused him of assaulting her when she was 14 years old. He did not refute the many other Alabamians  including one of Moores former colleagues  whod claimed that his predilection for teenage girls was common knowledge. He did not answer a single question.

Moments after the press conference ended, two new women accused Moore of sexual impropriety, bringing the total number of accusers up to seven.
Roy Moore says hes not going anywhere. Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore called a late-afternoon press conference on Wednesday, briefly raising the hopes of many Republicans. However, rather than announcing he would heed the calls for him to drop out of the race, Moore dug in, trying to cast doubt on the story of a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 16.

Over the next few hours several more women came forward, claiming that Moore pursued them when they were teenagers in the late 70s and he was in his 30s. One woman said he grabbed her butt when she came to his office in 1991, as a 28-year-old signing over custody of her son. By the end of the night, the number of women accusing Moore of sexual misconduct was up to nine.

Moore responded with a poorly worded challenge.

Dear Mitch McConnell,



Bring. It. On.  Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 16, 2017

Meanwhile, a National Republican Senatorial Committee poll presented a new wrinkle for Republicans: Voters are turning on the alleged child molester running as their partys nominee. The survey, taken Sunday and Monday, showed Democrat Doug Jones up by 12 points in the deep red state. It was also said to show that Attorney General Jeff Sessions would not fare well if he were to try to reclaim his old seat as a write-in candidate.

So now it looks like theres a good chance that the Republicans democratically chosen candidate might lose the election. Luckily, they have an idea: gracefully accept defeat call off the special election. Per Politico:

With less than four weeks until the special election and no sign that the partys besieged nominee will exit the race, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his top advisers are discussing the legal feasibility of asking appointed Sen. Luther Strange to resign from his seat in order to trigger a new special election.

Unfortunately for McConnell, this latest ploy, while creative, isnt a viable option either. Politico reports that McConnells aides were uncertain whether such a move, one of several options being discussed, is even possible. Rick Hasen of Election Law Blog confirmed that it isnt.

Hasen said conservative pundit Hugh Hewitt had floated the idea days earlier in their debate about the legal options in the Alabama race. Hasen concluded that this and other wild suggestions would violate the 17th Amendment, which says, in part:

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

Hasen argues that the duties of the Alabamas governor have been fulfilled: appoint a temporary senator (Luther Strange) and set a special election date (December 12). The fate of the temporary senator does not affect that process:

The governor was mandated to issue a writ of election. Because the writ of election has been already issued to fill a vacancy, the election goes forward under the language of the 17th Amendment. Temporary vacancies filled by the governor dont change that. Thats a separate part of the 17th amendment and separate from the duty to issue the writ of election when there is the vacancy of an elected Senator.

Imagine if a temporary Senator appointed until an election died in office, after an election had been called. Under the 17th Amendment, we would not cancel the election already being held under the 17th Amendment requirement for a new election. We would just keep going. Its the same thing for a voluntary resignation by the temporary Senator.

But didnt McConnell ignore the rules to deny President Obama another Supreme Court pick? Why not do it again to ensure that Republicans control the Senate by two votes, not one?

As Hasen notes, that doesnt make sense politically. Even if the maneuver survived a court challenge, Strange and Sessions seem uninterested in sacrificing themselves for the cause. And theres nothing to stop Moore from running again in a new special election.

Plus, late on Wednesday night Alabama Governor Kay Ivey poured cold water on the idea. The election date is set for December 12. Were [Strange] to resign I would simply appoint somebody to fill the remaining time until we have the election on December 12, she told AL.com.

Other Republican officials in Alabama seem equally uninterested in giving their friends in D.C. a way out of this mess. Its too late to remove Moores name from the ballot, but the state party could withdraw Moore as their nominee, and any votes for him would not be counted. The steering committee of the Alabama Republican Party met for three hours on Wednesday, but two members told NBC News that the state party continues to support Moore.

So for now, Senate Republicans are pinning their hopes on President Trump coming up with a way to save them  though he appears to have no intention of doing so.

The White House put out a statement saying the president thinks Moore will do the right thing and step aside if the allegations are true. But Trump hasnt personally commented on the matter, though some Republicans think he could sway state officials.

Hes the head of the party, Senator Lindsey Graham told the Washington Post. Yeah, itd probably be good if hed say something.

But Wednesdays developments left Trump with even less incentive to do so. His friend Sean Hannity appeared to be backing away from Moore on Tuesday, issuing an ultimatum that he convincingly refute the allegations or exit the race. Moore responded with a letter that did not explain the inconsistencies in his previous interview with Hannity, but the Fox News host proclaimed we got the answers to the questions that we asked.

Hannity concluded that Moores fitness for office shouldnt be decided by me, but by Alabama voters  then floated the possibility of delaying the election so Alabamians can get all the facts and make an educated, informed, inclusive decision.

After giving Roy Moore a 24 hour ultimatum last night to explain himself, Hannity reads out the letter he recieved from Moore and



*drumroll*



Says the governor should delay the election, but the people of Alabama will make the right choice pic.twitter.com/5d5JRKtZqS  Nathan McDermott (@natemcdermott) November 16, 2017

The Post reports that White House aides have concluded that the president is, in fact, in a bind. If Trump calls for Moore to quit now, hell be going against his beloved Fox News. And theres the possibility that Moore  who didnt have Trumps support in the primary  will embarrass the president by defying him.

Even worse, if Trump says he believes Moores accusers it will raise a new round of questions about why the many women who accused him of sexual assault and harassment shouldnt be taken seriously.

There are no good options, said one White House official.
AZ-1 democrat 7.3% Trump 47.7% Democrat More Information

Tom O'Halleran ( democrat , 1st District of Arizona) Age 71 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $1,579,377 Money Raised $822,216 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 7.3% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 47.7% Tom O'Halleran ( democrat , 1st District of Arizona) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: lean democratic

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans democratic Why is it in play? OHalleran, a former Republican, won by a comfortable margin in 2016 against Sheriff Paul Babeu, who was tarnished by a sex scandal. In his second race, the DCCC worries that the first-term congressman could be vulnerable against a more wholesome GOP candidate. The district poses two major hurdles for any Republican challenger: its massive size (bigger than Illinois), and the largest Native American population of any district, a demographic that skews Democratic. Who are the challengers? State Senator Steve Smith has the fundraising lead among Republicans, with over $120,000 on hand. His call for real border security, including authoringa bill that allows Arizona to build its own border fence, could sway voters in a district that has gone Republican in the last five presidential elections.

AZ-2 republican 13.9% Clinton 49.6% Toss-Up More Information

Martha McSally (Open) ( republican , 2nd District of Arizona) Age 51 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $7,826,194 Margin of Victory 13.9% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 49.6% Martha McSally (Open) ( republican , 2nd District of Arizona) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? After a year preparing to defend her seat in Congress, Martha McSally is now expected to pivot toward the Senate for Jeff Flake's open seat. This leaves the Second open for the first time since 2002, and Democrats are ready for a revitalized push after a blowout in the last race. Before dropping out, McSally was slipping in the polls, and in October, the DCCC spent six figures on radio ads tying her to Obamacare repeal. No Republican has announced a bid yet in the wake of McSallys alleged run. Whoever emerges will have to catch up to the Democrats' fundraising lead, and dodge their attempts to tie the Republican candidate to Trump, to win the district taken by Clinton. Who are the challengers? Ann Kirkpatrick, a former congresswoman and the 2016 challenger to John McCain leads a pack of five in the Democratic primary. Kirkpatrick raised a self-reported and impressive $350,000 in the third quarter, and a June poll had her poised to beat McSally by five points. Physician and former state rep Matt Heinz, who lost to McSally in 2016, plans to make another run, though he trails Kirkpatrick in cash on hand by almost six figures. No Republican has announced a bid yet in the wake of McSallys alleged run.

CA-7 democrat 2.3% Clinton 52.3% Democrat More Information

Ami Bera ( democrat , 7th District of California) Age 52 Term 3rd 2016 Campaign Spending $4,097,741 Money Raised $917,587 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 2.3% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 52.3% Ami Bera ( democrat , 7th District of California) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely democratic

Cook Political Report: lean democratic

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans democratic Why is it in play? During his 2016 reelection campaign, it came out that Beras father had illegally funneled money to his first two campaigns. (Babulal Bera was sentenced to a year in prison.) Clinton won the district, but given Beras tarnished reputation and the antipathy from his own ranks (the state party hesitated to endorse him in 2016), some strategists think he could be toppled by a political newcomer without as much baggage. This Sacramento district is also notoriously competitive, and Beras 2014 race was the most expensive in the country. Who are the challengers? Republican Andrew Grant, a former Marine and current CEO of the Northern California World Trade Center, launched his bid back in July. Though hes a political newcomer, hes played up his business experience and knowledge of federal government through his stints in the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. Grant is trying to push a fairly moderate conservative platform of tax reform, health-care reform, and more aggressive foreign policy. However, his fundraising pales in comparison to Beras, and his reluctance to condemn Obamacare repeal could harm him.

CA-10 republican 3.4% Clinton 48.5% Toss-Up More Information

Jeff Denham ( republican , 10th District of California) Age 49 Term 4th 2016 Campaign Spending $4,174,467 Money Raised $1,511,850 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 3.4% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 48.5% Jeff Denham ( republican , 10th District of California) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Despite a fundraising advantage over his 2016 opponent, beekeeper Michael Eggman, Denham won by just 8,201 votes, leaving Democrats hopeful they can flip the district. Denham rarely mentioned Trump on the trail, though hes since consistently voted for Trumps agenda. This Central Valley district is 43 percent Latino, so Denham, who was first elected in 2010, has always tacked left of his party on immigration; hes now pushing a program under which immigrants could gain citizenship through military service. Additionally, about 40 percent of the district are enrolled in Californias Medicaid system, which would have likely faced cuts under the Republican health-care bill and which Denham voted for. A spike in registration gave Dems a slight advantage in 2016, and the district went to Clinton by three points. However, the nearly 20 percent of voters who registered as having no party preference skew conservative here. Who are the challengers? There are at least nine Democrats vying for the nomination, increasing the possibility that Denham will have a strong challenger (rather than token competition). The most promising so far is Josh Harder, a 30-year-old venture-capital investor. Hes raised only $632,407, but his ties to Silicon Valley could pay off. Then theres TJ Cox, an engineer who also ran for Congress back in 2006 and who has criticized Denhams vote for Obamacare repeal. Emergency-room nurse Sue Zwahlen, who has twice been elected to the local school board, could also pose a threat, especially if Republicans continue to target Obamacare.

CA-25 republican 6.2% Clinton 50.3% Toss-Up More Information

Steve Knight ( republican , 25th District of California) Age 50 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $1,674,968 Money Raised $670,582 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 6.2% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 50.3% Steve Knight ( republican , 25th District of California) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? In 2016, Knight was considered one of the states most vulnerable incumbents. His northern Los Angeles County district has long been a Republican holdout in a sea of blue (the district hasnt elected a Democrat since 1990), but Democratic registration finally edged out Republican registration in 2014. Because of Californias jungle primary system, which funnels the top two primary candidates into the general election regardless of their party, Knight faced another Republican in 2014. In 2016, his race against attorney Bryan Caforio drew national attention  Paul Ryan visited the district to raise money for Knight; Obama appeared in a TV ad for Caforio  and outside groups spent a total of $5.5 million on the race. One $326,250 dark-money expenditure sent scores of canvassers into the street for Knight. However, Caforio drew criticism for moving into the district shortly before declaring his candidacy, and unsuccessfully attempted to tie Knight to Trump. Though Knight was coy leading up to Trumps election, he has since come out as a supporter, and his eventual opponent will likely have an easier time linking the congressman to the president. Knights vote to repeal Obamacare will also make him vulnerable. Who are the challengers? Encouraged by his narrow loss  by only six points  Caforios running for the seat again, and hes raised $458,568. Katie Hill, the 29-year-old director of a local homelessness nonprofit, is also vying for the seat, and has raised $440,736, nearly as much as Caforio. Though politically inexperienced, she has managed a $40 million budget and has deep ties in the community, unlike Caforio.

Ed Royce (Open) ( republican , 39th District of California) Age 66 Term 13th 2016 Campaign Spending $3,640,434 Money Raised $1,664,290 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 14.4% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 51.5% Ed Royce (Open) ( republican , 39th District of California) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: lean democratic

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Royce, who announced his retirement in January, has represented this suburban, conservative, heavily immigrant enclave since 1993. The district is diverse  31 percent Asian and 35 percent Latino  and rich; it has an average household income of $101,243. Its also growing more liberal as Asian and Latino kids reach voting age: The Latino population has only grown by about four points since 2000, and Republican registration is down from 45 percent in 2000 to 36 percent today. Royces chances were looking dicey before; now that hes out, chances are even higher that a Democrat will take his seat. Who are the challengers? There are five Democrats in the running. Pediatrician Mai-Khanh Tran was inspired to run after Republicans began attacking Obamacare, and has made defending the law the focus of her platform. Shes raised a solid $609,080. Health-insurance executive Andy Thorburn was inspired by Trump to run for election, and has lent his own campaign $2 million. He supports Obamacare and wants to see the country move toward single-payer, and will emphasize Royces vote for the Republican health-care bill. Gil Cisneros, a Navy veteran and millionaire lottery winner, is also in the running. Hes been endorsed by a liberal veterans' group and was a Republican until 2008. However, he only recently moved into the district, which could hurt him here.

CA-48 republican 16.6% Clinton 47.9% Toss-Up More Information

Dana Rohrabacher ( republican , 48th District of California) Age 70 Term 18th 2016 Campaign Spending $646,004 Money Raised $843,134 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 16.6% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 47.9% Dana Rohrabacher ( republican , 48th District of California) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Like fellow California congressman Ed Royce, Rohrabacher is a more hard-line conservative who hasnt faced much serious competition since he was first elected, in 1988. Though the district was gerrymandered to elect Republicans, the GOP registration declined to 41 percent in 2016. And while Democratic registration lags at 30 percent, no party preference voters (24 percent here) lean liberal. Rohrabacher handily beat his 2016 opponent, a former USC professor, without spending much. But Clinton won the district in 2016 and Obama in 2008, and now five Democrats and two Republican are vying for the seat. Who are the challengers? Harley Rouda, a Laguna Beach business consultant, is leading the Democratic horde, with $600,292 raised. However, hes gotten flak for donating $1,000 to John Kasich during last years primary, and $9,200 to other Republican candidates over the past two decades. Stem-cell researcher Hans Keirstead is also a strong contender for the Democratic nomination, and has criticized Rohrabachers lack of action on climate change and vote for Obamacare repeal. Hoping to unseat Rohrabacher in the primary is Stelian Onufrei, who owns a construction business and is campaigning to restore religious freedoms and reform the tax code. Hes raised about $200,000 and has pledged $500,000 of his own money.

Darrell Issa (Open) ( republican , 49th District of California) Age 64 Term 9th 2016 Campaign Spending $6,275,754 Money Raised $1,247,198 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 0.5% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 50.7% Darrell Issa (Open) ( republican , 49th District of California) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: lean democratic

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans democratic Why is it in play? The wealthiest member of Congress and notorious former chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Darrell Issa announced his retirement in January after barely winning reelection in 2016. What was once a safely Republican district went for Clinton, marking the first time Orange County had voted for a Democrat since 1936, in part due to the growing Latino population. What was already looking like a feasible win for Democrats is now even more likely. Who are the challengers? Mike Levin, an environmental lawyer and former executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County, has raised nearly a million dollars. He has party experience, local name recognition and environmentalist bona fides. Doug Applegate, a retired Marine colonel who barely lost to Issa in 2016, has raised a little over half a million, and may appeal more to the districts veterans and independents, who skew conservative. (About 26 percent of voters are registered no party preference.)

CO-6 republican 8.3% Clinton 50.2% Toss-Up More Information

Mike Coffman ( republican , 6th District of Colorado) Age 62 Term 5th 2016 Campaign Spending $3,521,511 Money Raised $1,028,343 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 8.3% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 50.2% Mike Coffman ( republican , 6th District of Colorado) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Former Marine Mike Coffman joined Congress in 2009 and has largely voted along party lines, opposing reproductive rights and the regulation of greenhouse gases. A birther for a minute in 2012, Coffman ran a stand up to Trump platform in 2016. But, hes consistently voted with Trumps positions  with the notable exception of siding against the Republican health-care bill  and has already faced heat from constituents, leaving a January town-hall meeting early after being booed. The district has stymied DNC expectations: The 2010 redistricting made the Sixth one of Colorados most diverse regions, and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in a district where Clinton won by nine points. Nevertheless, GOP candidates have won the seat since it was created in 1983. Who are the challengers? Early models and a strong down-ballot effect suggest opportunity for Democrat Jason Crow, an attorney and former Army captain who has almost $400,000 on hand to support his campaignto enact criminal-justice reform and bring more high-tech jobs to the Denver area. Michelle and Barack Obama have released ads for another candidate, State Senator Morgan Carroll, the chairwoman of the Colorado Democrats, and she is the only candidatethat the Koch-fueled political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity is explicitly campaigning to defeat.

FL-7 democrat 3% Clinton 49.6% Democrat More Information

Stephanie Murphy ( democrat , 7th District of Florida) Age 38 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $1,062,449 Money Raised $997,528 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 3% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 49.6% Stephanie Murphy ( democrat , 7th District of Florida) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt democratic

Cook Political Report: lean democratic

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans democratic Why is it in play? Compelled to join the 2016 race after the Pulse shooting just south of the district, Murphy ousted 12-term incumbent John Mica. A blue dog Dem, she has been a staunch advocate for gun control, supported a balanced-budget amendment, and proposed legislation to keep Steve Bannon off the National Security Council. Hurricane Maria will likely have a wide ripple effect for both the Seventh and Florida at large, where an estimated 100,000 Puerto Ricans are relocating. Murphy has led calls for more funding for the island, and some expect that the boost of traditionally Democratic Puerto Ricans in her districtcould hand her the win. Still, Democrats enjoy only a 4,000-person lead in registered voters, and the NRCC has targeted Murphy as a one-and-done rep, hitting her with ads claiming shes soft on terrorism. Who are the challengers? To her left, the centrist Murphy will have to defend in the primary against Air Force vet and former ACLU chapter president Chardo Richardson, a member of the new Justice Democrats, who represent the Sanders wing of the party. To her right, businessman Scott Sturgill and state representative Mike Miller have quickly raised six figures, indications of how eager the GOP is to take back this longtime citadel of Republican representation.

FL-26 republican 11.8% Clinton 56.7% Toss-Up More Information

Carlos Curbelo ( republican , 26th District of Florida) Age 37 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $3,829,677 Money Raised $1,737,447 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 11.8% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 56.7% Carlos Curbelo ( republican , 26th District of Florida) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Curbelos district went for Obama twice, voted for Clinton, and recently underwent court-ordered redistricting that tilted it in favor of Democrats. In 2016, he went into the race with $2 million stashed away from his unchallenged primary race, while his opponent, former Democratic representative Joe Garcia, a weak fundraiser, had a scandal-filled past and set himself back when he told a room of supporters that Clinton is under no illusions that you want to have sex with her. Throughout the campaign, Curbelo, a self-described centrist, criticized Trump and was able to tout his moderate record, which includes voting against defunding Planned Parenthood and for climate-change regulations. Democrats are hoping they can finally topple him with a strong and well-funded candidate. Who are the challengers? Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who ran an unsuccessful bid for state senate in 2016, has emerged as the frontrunner against Curbelo. Shes been endorsed by EMILYs List and congresswoman Lois Frankel, but so far has only raised $177,049. Shes also faced criticism for living outside the district. However, she has significant Establishment support, and Curbelo will be vulnerable to criticism of his vote on the health-care bill.

GA-6 republican 3.6% Trump 48.3% Republican More Information

Karen Handel ( republican , 6th District of Georgia) Age 55 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $6,163,039 (Spent in 2017) Money Raised $482,462 Margin of Victory 3.6% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 48.3% Karen Handel ( republican , 6th District of Georgia) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? Georgias Sixth, a.k.a. the gravesite of early #resistance hopes, is where Karen Handel defeated the liberally funded 30-year-old Democrat Jon Ossof in a June special election to fill the seat of Tom Price, who was in his first (and last) days as the shortest-serving secretary of Health and Human Services in history. Handel, whom Politico once called aPalin-style conservative, is gearing up for her next race with nearlyhalf-a-million dollars ready to defend her title as Georgias first Republican congresswoman. Democrats hope that the surprise flipof two conservative seats in the statehouse in November are a sign that backlash against Trump could help close the 3.6-point gap in the next election. Who are the challengers? Several Democrats, including local TV anchor Bobby Kaple, have expressed interest in running, though theres a possible rematch of the most expensive House election ever, as Ossof has moved to the suburban Atlanta district  during the special election, he was heavily criticized for residing outside the borders of the Sixth, and upon the move, the Handel campaign encouraged supporters to send asnarky email welcoming Ossof to the district. Ossof has been ripping into Trump at suburban fundraisers and has$294,000 remaining in other receipts, though he wants tolet them sweat a little longer before an official entry.

IA-1 republican 7.6% Trump 48.7% Toss-Up More Information

Rod Blum ( republican , 1st District of Iowa) Age 62 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $1,894,628 Money Raised $937,043 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 7.6% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 48.7% Rod Blum ( republican , 1st District of Iowa) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? When Blum narrowly won his first congressional election in 2014, political pundits considered it a fluke. The multimillionaire software executive was a right-wing Republican with no political experience in a reliably blue district that Obama had carried twice by double-digit margins. When Blum arrived in Washington, he made no effort to strike a moderate tone. He joined the Freedom Caucus and cast his very first vote against reelecting John Boehner as Speaker. In 2016, he was considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country. His Democratic opponent outspent him by nearly $1 million. Still, he won. But registered Democrats outnumber Republicans here. In the next election, itll become a lot clearer whether this heavily white working-class area was merely disillusioned with the status quo or whether it has swung drastically to the right. Who are the challengers? Of the four Democrats running, Abby Finkenauer, a 28-year-old state representative from Dubuque, has emerged as the frontrunner. Shes received crucial union endorsements and raised $300,000. Most of those were small individual donations, while much of Blums fundraising has come from political action committees. In the primary shell face Thomas Heckroth, whos raised $133,822. He previously worked in the Department of Labor under Obama and helped his father win election to the state senate.

IA-3 republican 13.2% Trump 48.5% Republican More Information

David Young ( republican , 3rd District of Iowa) Age 48 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $2,438,370 Money Raised $641,035 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 13.2% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 48.5% David Young ( republican , 3rd District of Iowa) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? A former GOP Senate aide now in his second term, Young tepidly endorsed Trump, but he stayed away from his rallies in Iowa and didnt attend the Republican National Convention. He told constituents at a Des Moines town hall that his previous votes to repeal Obamacare were symbolic in a lot of ways and that he did not support the AHCA. In response, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Paul Ryanassociated super-PAC that had spent $1.9 million on Young in 2016, withdrew its support. Now, nine different Democrats have launched bids to unseat Young. Who are the challengers? Des Moines real-estate executive Theresa Greenfield has a fundraising edge, with $199,763, and is campaigning to increase rural broadband access and make health care more affordable. Eddie Mauro owns an insurance company and is well-known across the metro area for coaching baseball and football. Hes raised nearly as much as Greenfield, and has criticized Youngs vote for the Republican health-care bill.

IL-6 republican 18.4% Clinton 50.2% Republican More Information

Peter Roskam ( republican , 6th District of Illinois) Age 56 Term 6th 2016 Campaign Spending $3,331,980 Money Raised $1,907,921 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 18.4% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 50.2% Peter Roskam ( republican , 6th District of Illinois) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: likely republican Why is it in play? In 2016, Roskam won his sixth term in this reliably Republican district, which stretches across the northwestern Chicago suburbs. Roskam hasnt even debated an opponent since 2008. But he is also the only Illinois Republican whose district Clinton won. Hes consistently voted in line with Trumps positions, is for repealing the ACA, voted yes on Republicans AHCA, and has said he supports the underlying theme of Trumps immigration order. Hes also come out strongly for the Republican tax plan. Tying himself to Trump may hurt him in a district that has seen a lot of activism postelection, and Roskam has a reputation for being inaccessible to constituents. Hes held only one town-hall meeting ever. For a few weeks last spring, he was followed around by protesters. Who are the challengers? Kelly Mazeski, an 18-year veteran of small-town government and a breast-cancer survivor, plans to hit Roskam hard on health-care policy. She has placed her own struggle with illness and health insurance front and center in her campaign, and has raised the most money out of the nine Dems vying for the nomination. But she still lags far behind Roskam in terms of fundraising. Amanda Howland, a local attorney who was the Democratic nominee in 2016, is also running again, in spite of having lost to Roskam by 18 points last year. She struggled to raise money in the last election cycle, and Roskam outspent her by millions. Her fundraising this year is still seriously behind; she finished the third quarter with only $48,891on hand.

KS-3 republican 10.7% Clinton 47.2% Republican More Information

Kevin Yoder ( republican , 3rd District of Kansas) Age 41 Term 4th 2016 Campaign Spending $4,049,363 Money Raised $1,291,054 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 10.7% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 47.2% Kevin Yoder ( republican , 3rd District of Kansas) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? Yoder was just 34 when he won his House seat as part of the Republican wave of 2010. Hes since eased into the path of a steadily rising Establishment Republican. But in 2016, voters in Yoders district showed a notable lack of enthusiasm for both Trump and tax-slashing Kansas governor Sam Brownback, and Yoder worked to distance himself. Since the election, he has made an effort to score bipartisan bona fides, calling for robust federal spending on cancer and Alzheimers research and defending civil-rights icon John Lewis in his public spat with Trump. Yoders district swung among Bush, Obama, Romney, and Clinton in the past four elections, and the DCCC has already hired a full-time local organizer with the goal of ousting the congressman. Who are the challengers? Andrea Ramsey, the former president of a nonprofit pediatric health clinic, entered the race after Yoder voted for the Republican health-care bill. Since then shes raised almost half a million, significantly outpacing the four other Democrats who have entered the race. Health care is also the main talking point of Tom Niermann, a private-school history teacher, who has raised a little over $180,000.

ME-2 republican 9.5% Trump 51.4% Republican More Information

Bruce Poliquin ( republican , 2nd District of Maine) Age 64 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $3,369,694 Money Raised $1,576,486 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 9.5% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 51.4% Bruce Poliquin ( republican , 2nd District of Maine) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? A Phillips Exeter and Harvard grad who made millions as a real-estate developer, Poliquin first won his seat in 2014, becoming the only Republican in two decades to represent Maines heavily rural, proudly blue-collar Second District. As a candidate, he had railed against Obamacare, but as a congressman, in 2015, he was one of only three Republicans to vote against its repeal. His first bill was co-sponsored by Democrat Keith Ellison, one of the most liberal members of Congress. In 2016, he did his best to steer clear of mentioning Trumps name. However, he still voted for the Republican health-care bill, something that will come back to haunt him in this election. Who are the challengers? Democratic recruiters got lucky with Jared Golden, a 35-year-old veteran Marine and state representative. Hes also worked for Senator Susan Collins and has tried to emphasize her vote against Obamacare repeal and Poliquins vote in favor of it. There are three other Democratic candidates, but Goldens out-raised all of them, with a little over $100,000.

MI-11 republican 12.8% Trump 49.7% Toss-Up More Information

Dave Trott (Open) ( republican , 11th District of Michigan) 2016 Campaign Spending $1,337,399 Money Raised $949,688 (R), $520,967 (D) (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 12.8% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 49.7% Dave Trott (Open) ( republican , 11th District of Michigan) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Two-term incumbent Dave Trotts seat was considered fairly safe until he announced his retirement in September (Cook Political Report then deemed it a toss-up). The DCCC pointed to Trotts vote for the GOP health-care bill as evidence that he would have faced a tough reelection, and it would have been difficult for him to distance himself from Trump, with whom hes voted in line 98 percent of the time. Four Democrats and five Republicans have already entered the race, which is likely to be brutal and expensive. The emerging frontrunners are Lena Epstein, Trumps state campaign co-chair, and Haley Stevens, who was chief of staff of Obamas auto-industry bailout task force. Who are the challengers? Epstein, who runs her family automotive lubricant business, abandoned a Senate bid against Debbie Stabenow to run for Trotts seat as a Republican. Shes already raised nearly a million dollars (including a significant chunk of money she loaned herself). Though her ability to self-fund is a big help, shes a political newcomer, and hasnt tried to distance herself from Trump at all. Democrat Haley Stevens, who most recently worked at the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago, has raised a little over half a million, and was campaigning for the seat even before Trott announced his retirement. Shes touted her background to push for more high-tech manufacturing jobs. Also on the Democratic side is Fayrouz Saad, the former director of immigration affairs for Detroit who launched a bid back in July, and would be the first Muslim woman elected to Congress. Saad worked in the Department of Homeland Security under Obama and has a long track record working on voter engagement in the states Arab-American community.

MN-1 democrat 1.8% Trump 53.3% Toss-Up More Information

Tim Walz (Open) ( democrat , 1st District of Minnesota) Age 53 Term 6th 2016 Campaign Spending $1,585,118 Money Raised $249,058 (D), $384,678 (R) (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 1.8% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 53.3% Tim Walz (Open) ( democrat , 1st District of Minnesota) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: democratic toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Democrat Tim Walz has held the farm-heavy, far-southern Minnesota First for six terms, but in 2018, hes placing his bet on a gubernatorial run. For the districts first open-seat election since 2006, state experts expect millions in outside spending to pour in, which is good news for leading Republican Jim Hagedorn. Who are the challengers? Though hes lost two in a row to Walz, Hagedorn received less than $1,500 of outside money and still came within 3,000 votes of turning the district. Already stocked with over $300,000, Hagedorn promises to be a reinforcement for congressional Republicans and work with the president to determine the bold solutions needed to Keep America Safe. Its proven language in a district where voters favored Trump by 15 points. The Democrat with the head start appears to be Dan Feehan, an Iraq War vet and an assistant Defense secretary under Obama, who has honed in on the districts core issues of health care and agriculture.

MN-2 republican 1.7% Trump 46.5% Toss-Up More Information

Jason Lewis ( republican , 2nd District of Minnesota) Age 61 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $1,020,649 Money Raised $762,480 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 1.7% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 46.5% Jason Lewis ( republican , 2nd District of Minnesota) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Craig is running for a rematch, hopeful that she can unseat Lewis absent the threat of an independent. Shes launched a listening tour and is especially going after those who voted for Obama twice before foregoing Clinton for Trump. However, shes only put away about $5,000. Another Democrat, Jeff Erdmann, a high-school civics teacher and football coach who was inspired to run after a stint working on Craigs 2016 campaign, has raised over $70,000. Who are the challengers? A talk-radio host before he was a congressman, Lewis was famous for calling Hurricane Katrina victims a bunch of whiners, alleging that single women vote on the issue of somebody else buying their diaphragm, and likening progressive taxation to chattel slavery. When he entered the 2016 GOP primary race, he seemed a bad fit for Minnesotas Second District, which had twice voted for Obama. In the general election, first-time Democratic candidate Angie Craig painted the shock jock as a mini-Trump. Craig lost, but an independent candidate took nearly 8 percent of the vote, more than four times Lewiss margin of victory, giving the DCCC hope the seat can still be flipped.

MN-3 republican 13.6% Clinton 50.8% Republican More Information

Erik Paulsen ( republican , 3rd District of Minnesota) Age 52 Term 5th 2016 Campaign Spending $5,761,611 Money Raised $1,477,659 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 13.6% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 50.8% Erik Paulsen ( republican , 3rd District of Minnesota) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? A six-term Chamber of Commerce Republican, Paulsen represents a cluster of suburbs and exurbs to the west of Minneapolis that constitute the wealthiest, best-educated congressional district in the state, full of the moderate voters who might have happily backed Jeb Bush but found Trump toxic. The veteran congressman avoided discussing his partys nominee, saying hed cast a write-in ballot for Marco Rubio. Paulsen is a particular target of the DCCC, and the House Majority PAC has already dropped nearly $8,000 against him, signalling a willingness to dump in more money as the race progresses. Who are the challengers? Experienced entrepreneur Dean Phillips is pushing a centrist, pro-business platform that will likely resonate with voters in the wealthy district, and has emphasized that hes not a typical Democrat. Phillips ran his familys distillery before becoming part of the group that started gelato company Talenti, and now runs a successful cafe, which touts the $15 minimum wage it pays employees. Republicans have already tried to paint him as a flip-flopper after he declined to state whether he would self-fund his own campaign (hes since vowed to refuse money from PACs and lobbyists).

MN-8 democrat 0.6% Trump 54.2% Democrat More Information

Rick Nolan ( democrat , 8th District of Minnesota) Age 73 Term 3rd 2016 Campaign Spending $2,874,695 Money Raised $470,087 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 0.6% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 54.2% Rick Nolan ( democrat , 8th District of Minnesota) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean democratic

Cook Political Report: lean democratic

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans democratic Why is it in play? A Watergate baby congressman from 1975 to 1980, Nolan returned to the House in 2012. In the last two races hes faced Stewart Mills, the scion of a Minnesota sporting-goods chain, winning by nearly 4,000 votes in 2014 and by just over 2,000 in 2016. Once solid blue, the district has been feeling the populist wave spurred by job losses among miners in the Iron Range. Nolan briefly considered a gubernatorial bid, but with Tim Walz of the First District already in that race, he decided not to create a second open race in Minnesota. Who are the challengers? Mills is most likely not running again. Instead, Nolan will face St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber. A former police officer and minor-league hockey forward, Stauber wants to get these mines going in the district, and raised $15,000 more than Nolan in the third quarter. In 2018, expect heaps of outside money: The district was the second-most expensive race last round.

NE-2 republican 1.2% Trump 48.2% Toss-Up More Information

Don Bacon ( republican , 2nd District of Nebraska) Age 53 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $1,576,183 Money Raised $752,862 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 1.2% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 48.2% Don Bacon ( republican , 2nd District of Nebraska) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Before 2008, Nebraskas Second District, which includes Omaha and its suburbs, had been considered a Republican stronghold. Then Obama pulled off an upset  the first time Nebraskans gave an electoral vote to a Democrat since 1964. (Nebraska awards three of its five electoral votes to the winners of its congressional districts.) And in 2014, Republican-turned-Democrat Brad Ashford unseated the districts longtime representative, defying national trends. Viewing that win as an aberration, in 2016 Nebraska Republicans threw their support behind retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general Don Bacon, and he ended up beating Ashford by just over one point. When the Access Hollywood tape went public, Bacon said Pence should replace Trump atop the ticket. But in office, he has voted for the Trump agenda 96 percent of the time. Who are the challengers? Now Ashford is back for a rematch, hoping that a national anti-Trump wave can give him the little bump he needs to unseat Bacon. During his short time in Congress, Ashford succeeded in bringing a new Veterans Affairs medical center to the area and while he was a state legislator he helped pass what was then the states largest tax cut. Hes won praise for his bipartisan bona fides. (Hes also been criticized by those in his party as a wolf in sheeps clothing.) Running to Ashfords left is Kara Eastman, a political newcomer and president and CEO of the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance, who supports single-payer health care, in contrast to Ashford. Shes raised nearly as much money as Ashford has, with $100,000 to his $127,000. Theres also been some speculation about Heath Mello, who narrowly lost his bid to become mayor of Omaha last spring.

NH-1 democrat 1.3% Trump 48.2% Toss-Up More Information

Carol Shea-Porter (Open) ( democrat , 1st District of New Hampshire) 2016 Campaign Spending $1,529,132 Money Raised $199,107 (R) (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 1.3% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 48.2% Carol Shea-Porter (Open) ( democrat , 1st District of New Hampshire) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: democratic toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Carol Shea-Porter, the 64-year-old Democratic incumbent, announced in October that she felt the tug of family and would not seek reelection in 2018. New Hampshires First District has switched parties in four consecutive elections, andits one of only 12 districts currently represented by Democrats that went to Trump in 2016. Due to its ping-pong voting history and large population of Independent and Republican voters, the RNCC identified the district as atop pick-up opportunityeven before Shea-Porters announcement. Who are the challengers? A handful of Democrats have jumped into the race, including Portsmouth city councilor Stefany Shaheen (the daughter of New Hampshire senator Jeanne Shaheen), and state rep Mindi Messmer, who has had success with aplatform of public health and small business.The GOPs entrants include a former South Hampton police chief Eddie Edwards, who enjoys notablefundraising support from donors in the populous Seacoast district, and Andy Sanborn, a state senator who plays to New Hampshires libertarian streak  he quotes Rand Paul on hiscampaign website. In early November 2017, Steve Bannon attended a fundraiser in Manchester with a group that recruitsconstitutional conservative candidates to push the House further right and has identified at least one like-minded candidate in state senator Andy Martin, the original source of the Obama is a Muslim claims and a birther before Trump became the voice of that nativist strain. We look forward to competing against whomever Steve Bannon nominates,said a DCCC spokeswoman.

NJ-2 republican 22% Trump 50.6% Toss-Up More Information

Frank LoBiondo (Open) ( republican , 2nd District of New Jersey) Term 12th 2016 Campaign Spending $1,627,038 Money Raised $22,038 (D) (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 22% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 50.6% Frank LoBiondo (Open) ( republican , 2nd District of New Jersey) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Twelve-term incumbent Frank LoBiondo announced his retirement in early November, blaming partisan gridlock in Congress. The 71-year-old took care to claim that his decision wasnt electoral, and that he was very confident voters would again reelect him. (LoBiondo had voted against Obamacare repeal and was opposed to the Republican tax plan.) Though LoBiondo has safely won the district since he was first elected in 1994, and it was carried by Trump, it also voted for Obama twice, and Democrats are hopeful they can flip the seat. Who are the challengers? Though its expected to be a crowded primary field, no prominent Democrat has stepped forward since LoBiondos retirement. Currently the only candidate for office is Tanzie Youngblood, a 61-year-old without previous political experience, who announced her bid in July and was motivated by Republicans efforts to derail Obamacare. Shes raised about $20,000.

NJ-5 democrat 4.4% Trump 48.8% Toss-Up More Information

Josh Gottheimer ( democrat , 5th District of New Jersey) Age 42 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $4,703,377 Money Raised $2,125,586 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 4.4% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 48.8% Josh Gottheimer ( democrat , 5th District of New Jersey) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: lean democratic

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans democratic Why is it in play? This North Jersey district hadnt been held by a Dem in more than 30 years when Gottheimer eked out a victory last fall. The race against seven-term incumbent Scott Garrett shattered expenditure records and got personal (Garrett dug up assault allegations against Gottheimer; Gottheimer seized on anti-gay comments Garrett had reportedly made). Trump took the district, and a low-turnout midterm could flip it. Who are the challengers? Back in 2016, Steve Lonegan was a Ted Cruz supporter trying to overthrow Donald Trump at the RNC. Just a year later, hes entered the race for New Jerseys Fifth District, claiming hed never been part of the dump-Trump movement and that he supports the presidents agenda fully. Lonegan, the former New Jersey director for Koch-affiliated Americans for Prosperity, will try to paint moderate Gottheimer as a member of the radical left who is out of touch with the average voter. In spite of talking a big game, though, Lonegan has lost previous bids for State Senate, Senate, governor, and Congress.

NJ-7 republican 10.9% Clinton 48.6% Republican More Information

Leonard Lance ( republican , 7th District of New Jersey) Age 65 Term 5th 2016 Campaign Spending $1,276,330 Money Raised $552,784 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 10.9% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 48.6% Leonard Lance ( republican , 7th District of New Jersey) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? After winning in 2008 as a more moderate conservative, attorney Leonard Lance swerved right on social positions ahead of his 2010 reelection to protect himself from tea-party candidates in the primary. But under the current administration, hes moved back toward the middle: Lance voted against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and is a spokesperson for GOP reps holding out on the partys tax reform. Who are the challengers? New Jerseys Seventh has been represented by the GOP since 1981. But given Clintons win there and Lance taking the heat of growing anti-Trump resentment, the district  home to Trump National Golf Club, the presidents planned burial site  could be in play. In February and April, Lance hosted rough town halls where he was the object of jeering over Russian influence on the election and partisan gridlock.

NV-3 democrat 1.3% Trump 47.5% Toss-Up More Information

Jacky Rosen ( democrat , 3rd District of Nevada) 2016 Campaign Spending $1,676,766 Money Raised $315,178 (D), $114,008 (R) (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 1.3% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 47.5% Jacky Rosen ( democrat , 3rd District of Nevada) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt democratic

Cook Political Report: democratic toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Jacky Rosen won in 2016 on a pro-immigration and protect seniors campaign in Nevadas Third District. This year though, shes leaving behind her House seat to take on Dean Heller, the most vulnerable GOP senator of the 2018 class. Democrats hold a slight voter-registration lead in Nevadas oldest, wealthiest district, though Republicans have held the seat for six out of eight election cycles since it was created in 2003. Who are the challengers? After losing in the 2016 primary for the Fourth congressional district, independently wealthy Democrat Susie Lee is leading all candidates with $308,000 on hand. An education advocate and nonprofit fundraiser, Lee pledges to lower prescription drug prices and ensure a $15 minimum wage. Victoria Seaman, the first Latina Republican elected to the state legislature, leads Republicans with just over six figures on hand. An America First candidate, she considers Senator Heller out of touch and thinks that Trump is facing obstruction from Democrats, Republicans, Congress, and the media.

NY-19 republican 8.1% Trump 50.8% Toss-Up More Information

John Faso ( republican , 19th District of New York) Age 64 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $2,904,089 Money Raised $877,852 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 8.1% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 50.8% John Faso ( republican , 19th District of New York) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt republican

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? During his time in the New York State Assembly, Faso was known as a militant fiscal conservative. In 2016, he ran for New Yorks 19th District against Fordham Law professor Zephyr Teachout, an expensive and high-profile race that drew millions in outside money, especially from Robert Mercer, who spent big to oppose Teachout. Earlier this term, Faso put his name on an amendment to the AHCA that would have shifted Medicaid costs from upstate counties to Albany  potentially creating health-care havoc. Theyve declared war on New York, responded Governor Cuomo. Local activists have taken to holding weekly Faso Fridays protests outside the congressmans office. Who are the challengers? Eight Democrats are in the race; including two who have raised over a million dollars thus far (though neither has political experience  which these days could play either way). Harvard Law grad Antonio Delgado has raised more money than anyone in the race, including Faso himself. Inspired to run by decreasing job opportunities in his district in the Catskills and Hudson Valley, hes played up his commitment to affordable health care and has drawn attention to Fasos vote to defund Planned Parenthood. Early supporters like his clear communication style and his willingness to get into nuanced issues. But he only recently moved to the Hudson Valley from New Jersey, and hell have to overcome the same outsider status that kept some voters from supporting 2016 candidate Zephyr Teachout. Brian Flynn, another Democrat vying for the nomination, has raised nearly as much money as Delgado. Flynn owns a business that makes medical devices and describes himself as a lifelong progressive. Once the primary campaign heats up, it will be important to watch how he and Delgado distinguish their platforms which, at this stage, share many similar concerns.

NY-22 republican 5.5% Trump 54.8% Republican More Information

Claudia Tenney ( republican , 22nd District of New York) Age 56 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $885,895 Money Raised $872,808 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 5.5% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 54.8% Claudia Tenney ( republican , 22nd District of New York) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: tilt republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? Tenney, a tea-party-affiliated first-term congresswoman, was named the most conservative legislator in the state by the New York Conservative Party when she was in the State Assembly. So far as a congresswoman, she has voted with Trump 96 percent of the time. Strategists think that will prove too conservative for NY-22, which has historically toggled between a moderate Democrat and a moderate Republican. Who are the challengers? Anthony Brindisi, a state assemblyman from Utica, is considered Tenneys likely Democratic challenger. Local strategists say hes effective at reaching young people, and has done great things for the region. In the state legislature, he fought for a record amount of funding for area public schools and worked on initiatives to expand technical education for high-school students. But the party is being careful to highlight his moderate record, which includes an A rating from the NRA, a draw for voters in upstate New York, where hunting is a big deal. Last quarter, he raised almost twice as much money as Tenney.

NY-24 republican 21.1% Clinton 48.9% Republican More Information

John Katko ( republican , 24th District of New York) Age 55 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $2,384,152 Money Raised $891,006 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 21.1% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 48.9% John Katko ( republican , 24th District of New York) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: likely republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: likely republican Why is it in play? Katko spent 20 years as a federal prosecutor before winning this seat in 2014  the fourth time since 2006 that the district had flipped. His opponent in 2016 was Colleen Deacon, a single mother from Syracuse who worked as a senior aide to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and epitomized Gillibrands Off the Sidelines strategy of recruiting women to run for office. But Deacon struggled to gain name recognition and Katko worked hard to distance himself from the presidential candidate, playing up his party-line-crossing voting record (he would have been a no on the AHCA). Katko won easily, but Democrats felt that the right candidate would have a good shot of unseating him. Who are the challengers? Many Democrats hope that Stephanie Miner, the current mayor of Syracuse (which she insists remain a sanctuary city), with a war chest reportedly in the six figures, chooses to run. But Miner reportedly has her sights on the governors office, and has said she wont run for Congress. Two Democrats have entered the race: Anne Messenger, a business consultant with deep roots in the area, and a Syracuse University professor, Dana Balter, who has become well known for her grassroots organizing in the first year of the Trump presidency. Both Democrats are seriously struggling to raise money, however; Messenger has raised just shy of $60,000, while Balter hasnt pulled in more than $14,000.

PA-6 republican 14.5% Clinton 48.2% Republican More Information

Ryan Costello ( republican , 6th District of Pennsylvania) Age 41 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $2,339,160 Money Raised $1,232,060 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 14.5% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 48.2% Ryan Costello ( republican , 6th District of Pennsylvania) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? The Sixth Districts House seat hasnt been held by a Democrat since 2002. During the 2016 campaign, Costello was a fickle Trump supporter, backing the candidate in May, but then declining to go to the Republican National Convention. Since Inauguration Day, Costello has painted himself as a centrist, condemning Trumps proposed budget cuts to medical research and public education (his parents were public-school teachers). He also sits on the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus. After initially supporting the AHCA in committee, Costello was met with protests outside of his West Chester office and ended up voting against the bill. The district went for Obama in 2008, and Clinton won it by a sliver. That has the DCCC optimistic enough to include it on its March Into 18 hit list. Who are the challengers? Since entering the race in April, Air Force veteran Chrissy Houlahan has raised a healthy $810,000 and has been endorsed by EMILYs List. Shes also an MIT grad and has significant business experience, including her tenure as the COO of a popular basketball apparel company. Though shes a first-time candidate for political office, Democratic leadership are hopeful that Houlahans background will be enough to make her a contender for the district, one of a handful of Republican strongholds that went for Clinton last year. Though Costello didnt vote for the Republican health-care bill, Houlahan has criticized his votes for other Trump policies (hes voted in line with Trump about 94 percent of the time).

PA-7 republican 18.9% Clinton 49.3% Republican More Information

Pat Meehan ( republican , 7th District of Pennsylvania) Age 61 Term 3rd 2016 Campaign Spending $2,155,483 Money Raised $1,007,569 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 18.9% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 49.3% Pat Meehan ( republican , 7th District of Pennsylvania) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? Meehan, now in his fourth term, is considered relatively moderate in a district that is notorious for its radically gerrymandered contours. The Washington Post described it as one of the most geographically irregular districts in the nation. Democrat Mary Ellen Balchunis, a political-science professor at La Salle University, has tried twice to unseat Meehan, without success or funding  Meehan outspent her this past cycle by more than ten to one. The DCCC, which is targeting the district, hopes that a well-financed candidate might be able to flip voters turned off by Trump, particularly in more-liberal Delaware County. Who are the challengers? Leading the pack of five Democrats is Daylin Leach, a state senator since 2008 who has raised nearly $400,000. Leach is fairly well-known for a state senator, and got a lot of attention back in February after he called Trump a fascist, loofa-faced, shit-gibbon in a tweet. Hes campaigning on a largely anti-Trump platform, and is hoping that he can appeal to moderate Republicans who also disapprove of the president. Philadelphia ward leader Dan Muroff, who has been endorsed by former governor Ed Rendell, has raised about $300,000. Hes criticized Meehan for supporting Trumps agenda (the congressman has voted in line with the president about 88 percent of the time) and has touted his experience working as the board president for CeaseFirePA, an advocacy group to reduce gun violence. Molly Sheehan, a biomedical researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, has also launched a bid, and is running on a platform to shore up environmental protections and boost investments in education and technology.

PA-8 republican 8.9% Trump 48.2% Republican More Information

Brian Fitzpatrick ( republican , 8th District of Pennsylvania) Age 43 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $2,009,177 Money Raised $1,081,885 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 8.9% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 48.2% Brian Fitzpatrick ( republican , 8th District of Pennsylvania) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: leans republican Why is it in play? A former FBI agent who led the bureaus enforcement of campaign finance, Fitzpatrick took over his brother Michaels seat in 2016, after Michael stood by his pledge to retire after four terms. Fitzpatrick has held up his brothers bipartisan record, with a planned vote to keep Obamacare and support of a promising, albeit vague, GOP-led bill to employ American ingenuity against climate change. Though the district contributed to Trumps poll-defying win in Pennsylvania, Democrats expect it to remain competitively purple, in part because Obama barely lost there in 2012. Could an anti-Trump bump unseat the Fitzpatricks for the first time since the landslide 2010 midterms? Who are the challengers? Democrats struggled to find a challenger until 33-year-old Navy veteran Rachel Reddick entered the race in October. Reddick, a graduate of Rutgers Law who served as a judge advocate general in the Navy, has criticized Fitzpatricks voting record and failure to lower health-care costs. However, like other vulnerable Pennsylvania Republicans, Fitzpatrick voted against Obamacare repeal, which may make it harder to attack his track record on health-care.

PA-16 republican 10.8% Trump 51% Republican More Information

Lloyd Smucker ( republican , 16th District of Pennsylvania) Age 53 Term 1st 2016 Campaign Spending $1,453,232 Money Raised $405,612 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 10.8% Presidential Winner (2016) Trump 51% Lloyd Smucker ( republican , 16th District of Pennsylvania) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: likely republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: likely republican Why is it in play? State Senator Lloyd Smucker maintained the GOP hold on the district in 2016 after 77-year-old incumbent Joe Pitts announced his retirement. Smucker was quick to voice disgust with Trumps Access Hollywood comments, though hes fallen in line since November, and when Trump first proposed the travel ban, he considered the executive order entirely reasonable. In March,100 constituents marched in on an official Lancaster County breakfast to protest his refusal to hold a town meeting  four demonstrators even paid to get inside and disrupt the meal. Republicans have a registration advantage here, and history is on their side, with a winning streak dating back to WWII. But a gerrymandering project in 2011 designed to bolster GOP support ended up giving away key conservative votes in Lancaster County, and Obama won the 16th (which is now 17 percent Hispanic) in 2012. Who are the challengers? Christina Hartman took a two-digit loss in 2016, but was not disheartened  it was the closest a Democrat has come in decades to winning the district, and she has rebounded for a second run against Smucker. A nonprofit consultant from Lancaster, Hartman hopes to link her first-term opponent to the presidents 44.6 percent approval rating in the state.

TX-7 republican 12.3% Clinton 48.5% Republican More Information

John Culberson ( republican , 7th District of Texas) Age 60 Term 9th 2016 Campaign Spending $1,193,411 Money Raised $640,744 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 12.3% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 48.5% John Culberson ( republican , 7th District of Texas) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: lean republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: likely republican Why is it in play? The Texas Seventh is a longtime GOP bastion, reliably Republican since 1966, and Culberson, a tea-party conservative first elected in 2000, has pursued conservative causes such as defunding sanctuary cities and strongly supported delaying Obamacare funding in 2013. Even though Culberson held on by a wide margin in 2016, Democrats swept countywide seats within his affluent Houston district, which Culberson later told the Dallas Morning News was a distressing trend. This district saw one of the largest decreases in GOP presidential votes in the country (a double-digit drop from Romney to Trump). With an unpopular president and an increasingly diverse district, the DCCC is betting a strong Democratic contender might have a chance, and designated a full-time organizer to work in the district. Who are the challengers? Culberson, who had only a token challenger back in 2016, is now being challenged by seven Democrats and one Republican. Two of those Democrats even raised more money than Culberson last quarter, including 33-year-old Alex Triantaphyllis, a Harvard Law grad who currently oversees immigrant legal services at a local community development nonprofit and has raised $666,000 overall. Trial lawyer Lizzie Pannill Fletcher has also raised over half a million and has criticized Culberson for his vote in favor of the AHCA and for blocking increased transportation and infrastructure spending. Culberson has tried to cast his opponents fundraising following Hurricane Harvey as opportunistic, saying "I dont think its appropriate and certainly not tasteful to raise money from people whove been devastated and lost everything.

TX-23 republican 1.3% Clinton 49.8% Toss-Up More Information

Will Hurd ( republican , 23rd District of Texas) Age 40 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $4,109,804 Money Raised $1,339,166 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 1.3% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 49.8% Will Hurd ( republican , 23rd District of Texas) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? Regarded as one of the only true swing opportunities in Texas, TX23 flips parties in almost every election. Second-termer Hurd represents a sprawling district hugging the U.S.-Mexico border that voted Clinton. In his favor, Hurd, a former CIA cybersecurity expert, is a rising voice on defense matters. His district also has abysmal midterm turnout rates (30 percent in 2014), which typically benefits the incumbent. But with President Trumps controversial immigration policies hitting close to home, that might not mean much; former representative Pete Gallego made a second run at reelection in 2016 and almost won. Who are the challengers? Jay Hulings, a former federal prosecutor and Hill aide, is well-connected and has a strong tough-on-crime background. Both his parents served in the CIA, and he has a record of prosecuting public corruption. He also has the support of Harvard Law classmates Julian and Joaquin Castro, who have served as the HUD secretary and a congressman, respectively, and are wildly popular among Texas Democrats. Hulings has tried to tarnish Hurds brand as a moderate, highlighting the fact that Hurd has voted in line with Trump about 96 percent of the time. Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer, has also been picking up steam. She worked in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which is responsible for recommending trade policy to the president, before deciding to move back to her home and run for office. Shes raised a little over $100,000 since launching her campaign in August.

TX-32 republican 52.1% Clinton 48.5% Republican More Information

Pete Sessions ( republican , 32nd District of Texas) Age 62 Term 8th 2016 Campaign Spending $2,559,457 Money Raised $1,138,072 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 52.1% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 48.5% Pete Sessions ( republican , 32nd District of Texas) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: likely republican

Cook Political Report: lean republican

Sabato's Crystal Ball: likely republican Why is it in play? Sessions is a reliable incumbent whos been in office since 1997. In fact, the Democrats didnt even run a candidate in the 2016 race. He occupies a powerful position as chairman of the House Rules Committee and has a strong foothold; however, Clinton took his district in the 2016 election and recent town halls have showcased discontent among constituents (Vote him out! went one overwhelming cheer). Clintons victory and a statewide shift toward blue politics mean that some see a pathway to victory for a compelling Democratic candidate. As part of their March Into 18 campaign, Democrats will have full-time organizers on the ground there for the first time. Who are the challengers? Ed Meier tops the list of Democrats taking on Sessions, and has raised over half a million dollars. A former senior adviser to Obamas State Department and Clinton campaign staffer, Meier, after Trump was elected, moved his family from Washington, D.C., back home to the Dallas area intent on challenging Sessions. There are plenty of other Democrats in the primary field, but only two others have raised much cash  Lillian Salerno, a former deputy undersecretary for rural development in the Obama administration, and Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker and a civil-rights attorney.

VA-10 republican 5.7% Clinton 52.2% Toss-Up More Information

Barbara Comstock ( republican , 10th District of Virginia) Age 57 Term 2nd 2016 Campaign Spending $5,291,182 Money Raised $1,423,969 (as of Oct. 2017) Margin of Victory 5.7% Presidential Winner (2016) Clinton 52.2% Barbara Comstock ( republican , 10th District of Virginia) How vulnerable is the seat? Inside Elections: toss-up

Cook Political Report: republican toss-up

Sabato's Crystal Ball: toss-up Why is it in play? A Georgetown-educated lawyer, Comstock made her reputation in the 1990s as a ruthlessly effective opposition researcher, helping to expose and manufacture Clinton scandals and pseudo-scandals from Travelgate to Lewinsky. In 2014, she won the seat vacated by her former boss, Frank Wolf, by a 16-point margin. But Comstocks district has steadily grown more ethnically diverse, affluent, and liberal, and Trumps candidacy posed a threat to her job security. Comstock announced that she would not vote for him. She convinced enough voters to split their tickets that she prevailed by a six-point margin (Clinton won by ten; Romney was the narrow victor in 2012). Democrats are already mounting a serious effort at unseating her. In response, the NRCC has made Comstock one of its ten highest-priority incumbents in 2018. Who are the challengers? A handful of Democrats are raising serious money to unseat Northern Virginias sole Republican in Congress. Alison Friedman, an attorney and activist who once worked for the State Departments antihuman trafficking office, has the lead so far. Since Ralph Northams trouncing of Ed Gillespie, Friedman has taken to calling Comstock Gillespies best friend. (Northam won bellwether Loudoun County, part of the Tenth District, by 20 points.) Friedman will have to beat out seven other Democrats in the primary, including Jennifer Wexton, a popular state senator from Loudon, Daniel Helmer, an Army vet and Rhodes scholar, and Lindsey Davis Stover, a former Obama White House official.

WA-8 republican 20.4% Clinton 47.7% Toss-Up More Information
On Wednesday, Twitter permanently banned alt-right troll Baked Alaska  known in the real world as Tim Treadstone Gionet  from the platform. Gionets account, in case youre not familiar with this particularly gross corner of the internet, was full of tweets about the persecution of white people, the infamous neo-Nazi slogan 14 words, and jokes about putting people in gas chambers.

Later on Wednesday, Gionet, clearly not at all mad, started a livestream on YouTube from an In-N-Out Burger in California. It quickly went downhill.

Baked Alaska got banned permanently from Twitter and now he's ranting outside a McDonald's that "Twitter cannot get away with this" pic.twitter.com/YXJ0vinzxI  Will Sommer (@willsommer) November 15, 2017

It sucks, its crazy. For no reason. I was given no reason, Gionet said. I have no idea why. I woke up and I was suspended  Baked Alaska did nothing wrong.

Update: it's actually an In N Out, and he's asking customers what he should do now that he's been banned pic.twitter.com/w3zsmSLzl0  Will Sommer (@willsommer) November 15, 2017

The other customers seemed to care a whole lot less than Gionet.

An elderly man is now berating Baked Alaska for talking too loudly at the In-N-Out pic.twitter.com/JCbAcSF3mU  Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) November 15, 2017

The hero of the saga, though, is this British man, who apparently drove to In-N-Out in order to explain to Gionet that Twitter, a private company, is free to ban him.

A British man in an In-N-Out parking lot is explaining to Baked Alaska that Twitter is a private company and is free to ban him if they want. pic.twitter.com/Kl7qL55pSp  Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) November 15, 2017

Gionets banning comes a week after Twitter verified Jason Kessler, the man who organized the white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this year. People quickly criticized Twitter for validating Kesslers profile and the platform has since stopped verifying any new profiles until it can reevaluate what it really means to have a verified profile.
Laura Loomers account is no longer verified. Photo: @LauraLoomer

Last week Twitter verified Jason Kessler, the white supremacist who organized the rally in Charlottesville, giving his account a blue check mark meant to signify that the account actually belonged to the real Jason Kessler. And then Twitter promptly realized that was probably a bad idea. Soon after, the company announced it would be putting a temporary hold on verifying any new accounts going forward. Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance, Twitter said. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. Today, the company seems to have waded into the other end of the verification problem pool  people it has already verified.

Alt-right journalist Laura Loomer lost her blue check mark this afternoon. Twitter just emailed me to tell me they are removing my verified badge because they claim my account doesnt comply with Twitters guidelines for verified accounts, Loomer tweeted. Translation: Im a conservative. Jason Kessler and Richard Spencers accounts are now check-mark free, too. Baked Alaska, a.k.a., Tim Gionet was also permanently banned from Twitter on Wednesday.

Twitter removes verification badge for white nationalists Jason Kessler and Richard Spencer, says it will no longer verify accounts which promote hate or incite harassment pic.twitter.com/4VrkvaFTJT  BNO News (@BNONews) November 15, 2017

Twitter says its working on a new authentication and verification program and the company is currently conducting an initial review of verified accounts and will remove verification from accounts whose behavior does not fall within these new guidelines. It also isnt accepting any new submissions for people looking to get their accounts verified. On its website, Twitter lists a number of reasons an already verified account could lose its status. They include intentionally misleading people on Twitter by changing ones display name or bio, promoting hate and/or violence against, or directly attacking or threatening other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease, and inciting or engaging in harassment of others.
Some assets at Kilembe mines have mysteriously gone missing while the limestone site at Hima, which formed part of the concession, and the copper smelter were largely ignored during a four-year period where Tibet-Himas capital investment is said to have been below expectation, the report of the Kilembe Winding-Up Commission reveals.

The commission also suspects Tibet Hima, the Chinese consortium that won a 20-year concession for the Kilembe copper mines in 2013, clandestinely tried to smuggle mineral concentrates out of the country after government blocked a planned exportation of 30,000 tonnes of minerals.

Tibet Hima officials show visitors some copper ore

TESTING SAMPLE

According to the October 2017 report, Tibet Hima tried to export 30,000 tonnes of mineral concentrates to a laboratory in China, claiming they were a sample for testing.

The company said the export concentrates were for Shandong Humon Smelting Company Limited, its engineering, procurement and construction partner, that needed to test them in China for better assessment of the Kilembe project. Government blocked this planned export.

The commission also established that the amount of 30,000 tonnes was too large to be considered as a sample for export. The Winding-up Commission established that the copper concentrate contained several other valuable minerals like gold, nickel and cobalt and that the concessionaire had omitted to indicate the exact contents of other valuable minerals in the sample other than copper.

The report added: The Winding-Up Commission was of the view that the export of such a large quantity of copper concentrate merely as a sample would result in a considerable financial loss to the government of Uganda.

The accusation that Tibet Hima was trying to smuggle other minerals out of the country is strong. In neighbouring Tanzania, Acacia Mining, a subsidiary of Canadian firm, Barrick Gold, was accused of under-declaring the mineral concentrates it was exporting.

That accusation led to two separate commissions being instituted to investigate the matter on top of a mineral export ban. The investigations found Acacia culpable of under-declaring the exports, which attracted a fine of $190 billion and an amendment in the mining laws of Tanzania, most of which have thrown the entire extractives industry in confusion.

Government instituted the winding-up commission to evaluate the performance of Tibet Hima after it had issued the company with two termination notices. The commission was also tasked to propose to government a way forward on how to manage the Kilembe mines.

The commission was composed of six members: Noah Edwin Mwesigwa, the chairperson, Agnes Alaba, Joselynn Ategeka, Bi Lei, Li Wei Guo, Fred Kyakonye.

The commission says Tibet Himas concession is now terminated after the company failed to come up with a recovery plan after receiving two notices of termination from government.

Tibet Hima was supposed to produce ore concentrate within two or three years, according to the report. This had not yet been achieved by the time the notices were issued.



POLLUTING

Government also said Tibet Hima failed to pay annual concession and exploration guarantee fees, while the environment authority accused the company of polluting River Nyamwamba with copper tailings.

The commission has recommended that government takes over the mines and manage them or get another company to step in.

Tibet Hima disputes much of the findings in the report on top of arguing that they lost time due to the floods in the area. Li Wei Guo, the chairman of Tibet Hima, who was also a member of the commission, declined to upend his signature on the report.

Bi Lei, an official of Tibet Hima, and was also part of the commission simply wrote: We do not agree with most issues of this report.

Still, Tibet says they had started executing their recovery plan for the Kilembe mines. The company told the commission that it had invested up to $46 million in Kilembe before government issued a termination notice.

However, the company was expected to invest $175 million in the first three years. The commission said Tibet Hima made some investments at the mill, in fabricating trolleys and repairing the rail tracks at the foundry. However, the commission added Tibet Hima was unable to prove to the Winding-Up Commission or physically justify the extent and value of the investment claimed.

Tibet Hima also said it had set up two mineral processing lines  for copper and cobalt.

The Chinese consortium aslo noted that they submitted a definitive feasibility study for Kilembe  a document that shows how the project will be financed  to the ministry of Finance, which was disapproved. Tibet also added that its retained consultant, J.T Boyd, who the government of Uganda chose before awarding the concension to the Chinese firm, had not yet delivered on the agreed scope of work.

The report noted that Tibet Hima was planning on putting up a new smelter.

A prefeasibility study report for an annual 30,000 -tonne copper smelter had already been sent to government and was pending approval, the commission was told.

Tibet Hima said Sinomine Resource Exploration Company Limited, which it hired to verify and validate the data for Kilembe mines, especially on the probable ore reserves, was planning on undertaking detailed exploration on the adjacent licenses to the project area.

That process, Tibet Hima says, has now been disrupted, on top of three other Chinese companies that had shown interest to partner it in further developing the copper mines.

The next stage is not easier, though. The procurement process of getting another company to manage the copper mines will take quite a bit of time. There are a couple of mining companies that are already interested in taking over the mines though.

In the interim, the option of government quickly stepping in would have been a better solution. With no state mining company in place, this solution looks untenable.

The issues around the Kilembe copper mines, arguably one of the most prospective mining structures in Uganda today, should encourage debate about the possibility of the country creating a holding national mining company, such as Ngali Holdings in Rwanda or the one in Tanzania.



jeff@observer.ug
At 1:47pm on Sunday November 12, charismatic preacher Jacinto Kibuuka was declared a duly consecrated bishop in the Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC).

Bishop Kibuuka was consecrated by Tom Kiiza Sibayirwa, the presiding bishop of the EOC in Uganda. Kibuukas consecration as bishop of EOCs Central and Eastern Uganda provinces was received with contempt by bishops of the Roman Catholic Church, who issued a statement denouncing his elevation to episcopacy.

Kibuuka sits on his cathedra, the official seat of a Bishop

According to a statement by Archbishop John Baptist Odama, the chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, there are questions pertaining to the authenticity and validity of Kibuukas consecration.

As far as the validity and authenticity of episcopal consecrations in the Orthodox and Catholic Churches are concerned, the apostolic lineage/succession is of paramount value, Odama stated.

Apostolic succession refers to the lineage from the 12 Apostles to the current bishops in the Orthodox and Catholic churches. This lineage is very important in evaluating the validity of episcopal consecrations. The 12 Apostles laid their hands over their successors and prayed over them, hence, consecrating them bishops, the Gulu archbishop further stated.

Citing several passages from the Bible, Odama on behalf of the Uganda Episcopal Conference challenged Kibuukas church to produce documented evidence to show proof of apostolic succession.

Before hundreds of faithful at Janda-Namugongo in Wakiso district on Sunday, Kibuuka, who began by hailing Kampala archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga for mentoring and grooming him as a priest, took on the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.

In his souvenir consecration magazine, Kibuuka listed the various bishops that connect him to the apostolic lineage. He had about 20 bishops that came from within and outside the country who laid hands on him.

If they say that we lack the apostolic succession, where did all these come from? Kibuuka wondered.

He then invited Bishop George Othieno from Kenya to read a statement answering some of the issues that Odama raised.

We are one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church but we are not Roman Catholic Church. In essence, the authenticity and validity of our being as a church cannot, therefore, be a matter of negative debate, Othieno said.

Othieno also referred the Uganda Episcopal Conference to the late Pope John Paul IIs pastoral letter, in which he stated that churches which while not existing in perfect communion with the Roman Catholic Church, remain united to it by apostolic succession and the Eucharist.

He stated that EOC enjoys a valid apostolic succession that has roots in Cephas or Simon Peter, one of Jesuss 12 apostles.

Anyone who denies the existence of our apostolic succession is simply but confirming the existence of something. No one would be right to deny what is not. Something must be for it to be denied or negated, Othieno said.



IMITATION

The EOC liturgy and vestments are same as those of the Roman Catholic Church, much as the EOC subscribes to the Eastern rite (Antioch) as opposed to the western (Roman) rite.

This has earned the EOC adherents criticism for imitating practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

That is sad and unorthodox. I want to state clearly that we are not copycats, but Catholics who value and carry a long tradition with additional value of deliverance and healing, Othieno said.

The major distinction between the EOC and the Roman Catholic Church is the encouragement of marriage among the clergy.

We encourage married priests but we dont force them to marry. We dont have a vow of mandatory celibacy, because there has been a lot of hypocrisy, lies and associated problems, Bishop Kiiza said in his homily.

Priests and members of other religious vocations in the Roman Catholic Church are expected to lead a celibate life. The EOC also prohibits its clergy from taking alcohol, while Catholic priests can drink at liberty.



OTAFIIRE

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, known for his negative rhetoric against church rituals, surprised many when he received Holy Communion from the newly-consecrated Bishop Kibuuka.

This was after Kibuuka announced that in its non-discriminatory approach, the EOC allows any baptised Christian to receive communion. Otafiire was among the first to line up.

I normally dont participate in communion but today I did; that is an act of supporting your church as a leader, Otafiire said.

I used to rest on Sundays, but Kibuuka has converted me to his church, the decorated military officer said.

Minister Kahinda Otafiire congratulates Kibuuka

He then took a swipe at the Uganda Episcopal Conference for sustaining a fight against Kibuuka.

It is good that you have clearly stated that you are not under the control of the Romans. You are an independent church and that is how the government of Uganda will treat you, Otafiire said.

He said that government has no business in arbitrating in liturgical disagreements and interpretation, but its duty is with guaranteeing the freedom of worship.

Our constitution guarantees freedom of worship; if I choose to belong to a religious group which is not yours, leave me alone; I have freedom to believe or not to believe, Otafiire said.

sadabkk@observer.ug
In my interesting book collection, I keep stumbling upon very interesting writings.

Some make me laugh out loud, while others leave me with eyes popping in bewilderment. But for today, I wish we could borrow several leaves from the Chinese Taoist beliefs, which, among other things, taught men that women emit medicinal fluids from different parts of their bodies, during intercourse.

Basically, it was  I hope it still is!  to the mans benefit to induce those fluids (the more, the better and the more potent the medicine, I guess).

In her book, Vagina: A New Biography, Naomi Wolf quotes ancient Taoist sacred text (its author must have been one thoughtful woman) titled, The Great Medicine of The Three Peaks.

According to the unnamed Taoist author, the fluids emitted by a woman from under her tongue, her breasts and vagina held special linctus.

The mans goal for the sake of his own health was to stir the release of these precious fluids.

Did you know, for example, about the jade juice from a womans breasts, which the Chinese believe nourishes a mans spleen and spinal cord?

This is where I laughed out loud. I could picture those men dutifully giving the breasts all the necessary attention to extract some medicineas the generous wives lay there enjoying this extraction.

Ask your husband whether he is sure his spleen and spinal cord need no medicine

The text talks about a flowery pool and a mysterious gate down yonder that have their own combination of medicinal fluids and chi (energy), if only the men unlocked them.

I love this Chinese thinking. And, dont get me wrong, I am not ridiculing it; I am just waiting for a scientist to come and back this up.

There have been studies on hormones/neurochemicals such as oxytocin, prolactin and dopamine, whose health and wellbeing benefits have been well documented. And they are all directly linked to great lovemaking.

But the medicinal value in the fluids themselves? I am yet to read about that!

Still, isnt it about time wives rebranded and copied the Chinese way, to make husbands more sexually generous and interested in foreplay?

Point your husband to the Taoist; the fluids have medicinal value for him.

Something like: If you dont get enough medicine for yourself, darlingumhhmm; shauri yako!

I also like that the Chinese taught their men from a young age that, A woman loves slowness (hsu) and duration (chiu), and abhors haste and violence (pao).In her sexual responses, she is compared to the element water, slow to heat and slow to cool.Prolonged foreplay is the precondition for orgasm.

Wolf notes that the Taoist sexual texts assert that the female sexual intensity is stronger than its male counterpart and so the sexual training of men was necessary to harmonise those innate disharmonies.

Ah! These Chinese have indeed always been smart; no wonder China is the new superpower.

And here we are in Africa and Uganda in particular, where all emphasis is put on training the women to please their husbands sexually, while nobody says a thing to the men in way of training, thus cementing the sexual disharmonies in marriages this side of the globe.

Well, it is not too late. Since everything we use now comes from China anyway, we can add satisfactory sex to that long list.

Gentlemen, you heard the Taoist: When intercourse takes place, the womans emotions are voluptuousher voice trembling. At this time her gate opens up, her chi is released, and [the medicine you need] overflows.

Go figure.

carol@observer.ug
The revival of a multi-modal transport route from Dar es Salaam port to Port Bell in Kampala through the use of trains and wagon ferry services was one of the behind the scenes discussions during Tanzania's president Dr John Pombe Magufuli's three-day visit to Uganda last week.

The meeting between the two presidents discussed modalities of implementing the memorandum of understanding on joint cooperation for improvement of ports, Lake Victoria inland waterways and railway transport services.

Tanzania and Uganda signed the joint cooperation agreement in mid-July this year with the two ministers agreeing Uganda to use of Dar es Salaam port as an alternative route to the sea through the central corridor.

In their meeting at the State Lodge in Masaka last week, Museveni and Magufuli agreed on the way forward including financing and other requirements for the revival of marine transport services on Lake Victoria.

Tanzania agreed to build another railway ferry on Lake Victoria at a cost of Shs 50 billion. Uganda was tasked among others to improve Port Bell and the meter railway line from Port Bell to Kampala. The two presidents agreed that Uganda rehabilitates the 11km Kampala-Port Bell railway line so as to facilitate the transportation train wagons once the ship docks at Port Bell.

The meter gauge rail connecting to Port Bell and Jinja is currently dysfunctional, mainly due to encroachment and deteriorated infrastructure. Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) attempted to resolve the encroachment issues along the Port Bell line but met stiff resistance from encroachers. Tanzania Port Authority director general, Eng Deusdedith Kakoko in an interview said the plans can easily be put into action because some of what is required is in place.

"We already have ferries that can carry rail wagons. They can carry heavier loading than the rails on the ground. For example both rails, the Tanzania Railways Corporation and Uganda Railways Corporation if they use rail, they can carry 22 wagons under one trip and these will in the ferries...We have Umoja and Kaawa and then Pamba and we also want to revive Kabalega that was sunk in 2005", said Kakoko.



MV Kabalega was sunk after collision with MV Kaawa on May 8, 2005. Afterwards, traffic between Mwanza and Port Bell declined substantially. Currently, the Tanzania Marine Service Company Limited (MSCL), the marine division of Tanzania Railways Corporation operates the largest fleet.



It owns seven vessels with a combined deadweight carrying capacity of 1,420 tonnes and a passenger capacity of 2,140 passengers. Kakoko said Tanzania will add another ferry to be completed in two years' time.



"There is another new ship which the presidents that were talking about in Tanzania of about Tshs 25 billion - this is about 50 billion Ugandan shillings that is going to be made in one year. They were stressing the use of water to become efficient and cheaper", Kakoko said.

It is has been proven that water transport combined with Railway transport are the cheapest means of transporting cargo compared to road transport. The cost of rail inter-modelled with water is seventy percent the cost of the road.



Uganda and Tanzania are eager to increase trade between themselves after it emerged that despite the good relations, there is little trade going on between the two.
Medical doctors from the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), Police and Prisons have not yet arrived at Mulago, Kiruddu and Kawempe hospitals to take over provision of medical services from the striking doctors.



URN visited the three health facilities and there were no doctors from the forces providing health services. As early as 8:00am, patients had started arriving while those who slept at these health facilities were waking up.



After the meeting with striking medics stalled on Wednesday, minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said he notified President Yoweri Museveni who authorised the ministry's request to have doctors from armed forces deployed to attend to patients.

UPDF medical doctors at work in Somalia recently

UPDF spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, confirmed to URN that army doctors have not been deployed.

"We are not yet there. They will be there when necessary logistics have been put in place. Some of them are coming from up country, we will provide them with some support to enable them do their work," Brig Karemire said.



Brig Karemire declined to specify when this deployment will happen. He says "they will be deployed as soon as necessary logistics are put in place."



Brig Karemire says the UPDF will dispatch about 10 doctors and 20 nurses. "We cannot raise the number, we have a small team of about 10 doctors, they will come in to help the civilian doctors who are there working."



The Uganda Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine also told URN that the deployment of their medics "will happen anytime."

He couldn't specify the number of medics they will deploy. Baine says the prisons medical services department will look at its human resource before making a decision on the number to send.



The Uganda Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima did not pick calls for a comment on deployment of police medics.



However, minister Aceng insists that the medics have been deployed.

"Can you call the director of Mulago and inquire from him where they have been deployed? They have come but I am not on ground," she said when URN contacted her.



Mulago's executive director Dr Baterana Byarugaba phone number is currently unavailable.



Under their umbrella of Uganda Medical Association (UMA), doctors laid down their tools to push government for better working conditions.

Government instead reacted by ordering them to report to work immediately or risk losing their jobs. The government, through Minister Aceng, also said UMA is not a registered workers union and therefore the strike organised under its name is illegal.
Rtd Maj General Benon Biraaro, one of bush war generals who helped bring President Yoweri Museveni into power in 1986, has said Uganda will have a new president come 2021.

Weighing in on the age limit bill that seeks to remove the presidential age limit currently capped between 35 and 75 years, Gen Biraaro said he's seeing signs of a coup happening in Uganda soon because of extant dictatorial conditions.

According to Biraaro, Uganda is in a worse period now than in the 1980s when Museveni and his fighters went to the bush to fight Milton Obote's government.

Gen Benon Biraaro (L) at the Centre for Constitutional Governance offices

Biraaro said lifting of the presidential age limit would create life presidency for Uganda, something that the framers and spirit of the 1995 Constitution wanted to guard against in the first place. Biraaro said those who want the age limit lifted want to make Uganda "ekigaari ky'abeega" (an old car used to train learners).

"I see a coup in Uganda happening, it is inevitable if the conditions remain as they are and they (conditions) are getting worse", Biraaro is quoted as saying from the Centre for Constitutional Governance offices in Kigoowa, Ntinda today.

"When time comes in Uganda for what happened in Zimbabwe to happen in Uganda, the army will wake up to this call just like the Zimbabwean army did, even if they are all his 'tribesmen', Biraaro reportedly said.

Biraaro was referring to yesterday's events in Zimbabwe when the army took control of the executive powers, confining President Robert Mugabe and the first family.

The army said criminals around Mugabe had cause a lot of social and economic suffering to people of Zimbabwe. Mugabe sacked his Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

That action opened the way for Mugabe's wife, Grace, to become vice president, and then to possibly succeed him as head of the government. The ruling party accused Grace of ignoring the plight of the youth to advance her political ambitions instead.

First Lady Grace Mugabe is still in #Zimbabwe and she contributed & accelerated the military takeover. Reports that she's out of Zimbabwe are incorrect says ruling party, ZANU PF #Zimbabwe coup pic.twitter.com/xad4qcHYD8  The Observer (@observerug) November 16, 2017

According to Gen Biraaro, Museveni will not be president after 2021.
In light of the militarys repeated arrests of civilians, two human rights lawyers have petitioned court, challenging the practice as inconsistent with the current constitutional order.

The lawyers have also challenged the tendency of both the army and police of parading suspects before journalists even before they are charged in court.

Jeremiah Keeya Mwanje and Lawrence Alinaitwe say in the preamble of their 10-page petition filed in the Constitutional Court on Wednesday that they are aggrieved by the continuous violation of constitutional provisions by Ugandas military and police forces.

That since the coming into force of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Act 2005, the armed forces have been deployed within Uganda in instances not warranted under the constitution, they say.

Frank Gashumba was one of the people arrested by the army

The petition has been filed at a time military intelligence is taking a prominent role in what is usually considered to be police work, reportedly investigating even suspected homicide cases.

Mwanje, who says in his affidavit that he studied human rights, constitutional history and constitutional law at Makerere university, observes that the army should not deploy within the country except in emergency situations and in cases of natural disasters.

While adopting the draft of the 1995 constitution on September 22, 1995, he points out that the Constituent Assembly delegates recalled Ugandas turbulent history.

That by allowing the army to [get] involved in civilian matters is an attempt to return to the days of tyranny and oppression a situation that the constituent assembly sought to guard us from... Mwanje says.

Top police officers including Senior Commissioner of Police Joel Aguma; Senior Superintendent of Police Nixon Agasirwe; Assistant Superintendent of Police James Magada; Sgt Abel Tumukunde; Faisal Katende of the Flying Squad and Amon Kwerisima were recently arrested by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence for the alleged kidnap and forced repatriation of Rwandan and South Sudanese refugees.

Civilians charged alongside these officers were Rene Rutagungira, a Rwandese and Bahati Mugenga Irunga, a Congolese national.

On October 28, CMI struck again, this time arresting social activist, businessman and political commentator, Frank Gashumba and his brother Innocent Kasumba for suspected fraud and allegedly being in possession of narcotics.

Then on November 7, shabbily dressed individuals brandishing guns violently re-arrested some of the suspects in the murder of Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi, moments after they had been granted bail at Nakawa magistrates court.

Ahmed Ssenfuuka rearrested shortly after being released on bail

Army spokesman Richard Karemire admitted that these were their men. Mwanje and Alinaitwe say that the arrest and detention of civilians by the army in matters of a civilian nature contravenes Articles 208, 209 and 221 of the constitution.

They also challenge the notorious practice of parading suspects before the media, arguing that this contravenes Articles 24, 28 and 44 (a) and (c) of the constitution.

Alinaitwe, in his affidavit, says Article 24 provides for the respect of human dignity and protection from inhuman treatment which he says is a non-derogable right under Article 44(a) of the constitution.

That the continued acts of the defence and police forces parading handcuffed suspects are in violation of Article 24 of the 1995 constitution of the republic Uganda, depones Arinaitwe, adding: That the constitution of the republic of Uganda under Article 28(3)(a) provides for the presumption of innocence until one is proved guilty or until that person has pleaded guilty.

According to Alinaitwe, he is aware that Gashumba was arrested and paraded at a press conference by Lt Col Deo Akiiki, the deputy army spokesman on November 5.

That in my understanding of the law, the above acts by the UPDF and other security agencies like the police are a violation of article 24, 28 and 44(a) and (c) of the constitution, Alinaitwe says.

Further, the petition challenges the deployment of the army to police civilians on grounds that this contravenes Article 209 of the constitution, which lays out the role of the army.



dkiyonga@observer.ug
The Radical Survival Story of Christianity in Iraq and Syria

( Open Doors) Through ISIS, Satan threatened to wipe out the entire Christian population in this region known as the birthplace of Christianity. As the number of Christian refugees returning to their homeland in Iraq and Syria increases, Open Doors continues to hear reports reflecting a hopeful yet cautious sense of optimism for the future.

2006: The Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) is established with Abi Omar al Baghdadi as its leader.

2008: The group's membership strongly diminishes following a surge of U.S. troops.

2009: Support for ISI begins to grow as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki begins to target Sunni Muslim leaders.

2012 to 2013: ISI launches its "Breaking the Walls" campaign in and around Iraq, carrying out 24 bombings and eight prison breaks, freeing jihadists and more than 500 convicts, many of whom were senior members of Al Quaeda.

August 2013: ISIS leads a siege on a government-controlled air base in Northern Aleppo. Using suicide car bombers, ISIS eventually captures the Mennagh airbase and sends a message to both Assad and the other opposition factions that ISIS will seek to establish a preeminent force in Syria. Soon after, the group moves into Syria and later becomes, "The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

2014: ISIS takes over Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, and the Syrian city of Raqqa, declaring Raqqa its defacto capital. Later that year, they take over other smaller yet important cities.

2014 to 2016: ISIS carries out its reign of terror, killing and displacing thousands of Christians before Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) defeated ISIS in Raqqa last month. Reports from inside and outside the Middle East begin to surface, using the term "genocide" to describe what was happening to Christians, as well as other religious minorities.

2017: Mosul is liberated in July. Three months later, SDF mounts an offensive against the extremist group and on October 14 announced they have cleared ISIS fighters from the National Raqqa Hospital and Paradise Square, the infamous area where ISIS jihadists carried out public beheadings and crucifixions.

A survival story of God's people. You won't find this account in the Old Testament, as first impressions might imply. But the feature protagonist and antagonist are the same. God and Satan are front and center in this narrative. A FIGHT OF A DIFFERENT KIND Clearly, the story of how Christianity has survived in the Middle East is nothing short of radical and a modern-day illustration of the words the Apostle Paul wrote to the persecuted church of Ephesus 2,000 years ago: "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Paul tells us this fight against ISIS is not merely physical; it's also spiritual. Sound familiar? Through ISIS, Satan threatened to wipe out the entire Christian population in this region known as the birthplace of Christianity. The defeat of ISIS in the Middle East is a tangible expression of a God who has carried His people since day one, a Savior who has already defeated our arch enemy and is more powerful than any group or ruler known to man at any time and place in the world.FROM WHERE WE'VE COME: THE RISE AND SPREAD OF ISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST At the beginning of 2014, the picture looked bleak for believers and the Christian faith in the Middle East, with some news reports declaring, "Christianity Is 'Over' in Iraq." Using their Muslim faith as a backing for their violence and terror (even saying they're acting in obedience to "God"), the Islamic extremist group ISIS had taken over Raqqa, making the Syrian city its defacto capital where they planned and carried out their terror attacks. Throughout Iraq and Syria, Christians heard the ultimatum: "Convert, leave, or die." The timeline below offers a brief synopsis of the rise and spread of ISIS in the Middle East:The war displaced more than 100,000 Christians, forcing families to flee their homes and live in tents in refugee camps for three years. Those who remained in their homes lived in fear and secrecy. Like the watching world, they wondered if ISIS would be victorious in their efforts to hunt down and exterminate what they call infidels (anyone who doesn't follow and adhere to their beliefs).EVIL FOR GOOD In the early 1990s, around 1.5 million Christians lived in Iraq. Today, that number hovers around only 200,000. The Christian population in the Middle East has declined significantly. But Christianity in Iraq and Syria is still alive. For these Christians, the words of Genesis 50:20 ring true: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." The schemes and plots of ISIS were full of evil and death, yet reports from Iraqi and Syrian believers continue to reveal the omnipotence of God--using the ways of evil for good. Our partners in these areas have heard and shared repeated accounts of God's hand moving and Muslims miraculously coming to Christ out of the turmoil and heartbreak that ISIS brought. And faithful and courageous friends, family and neighbors have risked their lives to share the gospel, resulting in Muslims turning from Islam and trusting in Christ as their Savior in unprecedented numbers. Believers and churches have also grown stronger, Archbishop Yohanna Petros Mouche says of Iraqui Christians: "Three years of displacement have shaken the faith of the Christians," he says. "But I see that many have come closer to God; their faith has become stronger. You can see the churches are full." In many ways, the Christian church throughout the world is part of this survival story. Around the globe, believers rallied in prayer as the crisis grew worse, many waking up to the truth and power that the persecuted church is part of their family in Christ and that, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:26, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." Hundreds of thousands of individuals and churches joined hearts and voices for the persecuted church in the Middle East. Last November's (2016) International Day of Prayer specifically emphasized believers in Iraq and Syria and the future of Christianity in the Middle East. COMING HOME The defeat of ISIS gives Christian refugees who fled their cities during the occupation the choice of returning to their homeland. Some will not return. Others are returning slowly. But three years ago, few believers in Iraq and Syria thought they'd ever see their homeland, let alone their home and community, again. As they make their way back, families are returning to the devastation ISIS left in its wake. Some, like Iraqi Christian teenager Noeh and his family, have come back to bombed-out homes and buildings. Running water and electricity are not always intact. Fear of hidden bombs and reoccupation are ever-present. On top of the physical trials, returning Christians are also facing emotional and spiritual barriers. Forced to flee and live in uninhabitable conditions rampant throughout refugee camps, believers of all ages, including children, continue to face trauma and severe forms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Though increasing numbers of believers are coming home in hopes of being light in the physical and spiritual darkness, they also acknowledge their great need--and great difficulty--to forgive both their persecutors and their betrayers. Many times, neighbors, even family members, exposed believers' faith to ISIS, often in attempts to protect their own families. ONE WITH THEM IN IRAQ AND SYRIA Our Middle East brothers and sisters need prayer and support from the global church. The road ahead is long and hard. Part of praying for and ministering to our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East is understanding that they have faced real tragedy and persecution at the hands of ISIS. Will you pray for returning believers as they focus on the Kingdom work God has yet to reveal both in their hearts and communities? Pray that they hold tight to hope and the truth of the gospel as they seek to forgive and share their story of how God has sustained them. Pray that God would give them strength through the trials they're currently facing and will encounter in the weeks, months and years ahead. For a comprehensive list of prayer needs and wisdom for interceding, see the article "15 Specific Prayers for God's Work in Iraq." The story of Christianity in Iraq and Syria is still being written. The threat of ISIS in areas like Baghdad and the political instability in areas, such as Kirkuk, still pose persecution threats to Middle East believers. Persecution is still very real. Eternally, we know the end of the epic story and who wins. We know the protagonist defeats the antagonist. Until then, as a believer and part of the global body of Christ, you're part of this unfolding story with an integral part to play in the future of the church and God's Kingdom here on earth and in Heaven.
IHC advised religious parties to end their sit-in

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday advised religious parties protesting in the capital against a reversed change in the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017 to end their sit-in.



IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui today heard a petition submitted by the Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY)  one of the protesting parties  which asked for a report compiled by a PML-N committee probing the controversial amendment to the oath to be made public so that "the culprits so determined therein, may very kindly be proceed against under the relevant laws."



The court, however, said a similar petition had already been filed in the IHC and advised the TLY to end its protest as the public was being inconvenienced by the sit-in.



Daily life in the capital over the past week or so has been disrupted by protesters belonging to religious parties, including the Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, TLY and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST), calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath  which had earlier been deemed a 'clerical error' and subsequently rectified.



The TLY had occupied the Faizabad Bridge which connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad through the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road, both of which are the busiest roads in the twin cities.



Fed up with the public response in the twin cities, the cold response by federal government, and the rain which started Tuesday, the protesting clerics have taken to petitioning the IHC for "execution" of their demands.



Their earlier demands, most of which have been taken back now, included the removal of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid and Punjab Law Minister Rana Safiullah, Asiya Bibis execution, dismissal of cases against religious leaders, and the removal of clerics from the Fourth Schedule.



Earlier this week, Justice Shaukat Siddiqui, while hearing a petition submitted by Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat supporter Allah Wasaya against the same issue, ordered to reverse in the Elections Act 2017 all amendments in sections pertaining to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath.



Earlier in October, copies of the Elections Act 2017 showing changes to certain parts of the law began circulating on social media, prompting lawmakers to take notice of a change in wordings on Form-A, which is submitted at the time of election by candidates, which turned it into a declaration form instead of an affidavit, which puts a candidate under oath.



Through the Elections Act 2017, the words in Form-A I solemnly swear had been replaced with I believe in a clause relating to a candidate's belief in the finality of the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and it had been made not applicable to non-Muslim candidates.



Sections 7B and 7C of The Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002, which relate to the status of Ahmedis, had also been omitted from Elections Act 2017.



Section 7B says that the status of Ahmedis remains as stated in the Constitution of Pakistan, while section 7C states that if an enrolled voter's belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) prophethood is contended, they shall have to sign a declaration stating so, failing which their "name shall be deleted from the joint electoral rolls and added to a supplementary list of voters in the same electoral area as non-Muslim."



Certain political parties have also taken issue with the amended Election Act 2017, which was bulldozed through the Lower House of Parliament despite strong protests from opposition lawmakers as it paved the way for ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif to be re-elected as PML-N head due to an amendment that allowed politicians disqualified from holding public office to head a political party.
NAB exempted Nawaz Sharif-Maryam Nawaz from appearing before court 16 November, 2017



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Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry

Woke Bingo ISLAMABAD: Accepting separate pleas filed by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, seeking exemption from personal appearance, the accountability court on Wednesday granted them exemption for a week and for a month, respectively.



Judge Muhammad Bashir, who resumed hearing on three graft references against Nawaz Sharif, Maryam and her husband Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar, granted a weeks exemption to Nawaz Sharif from personal appearance, which would lapse on November 27. The court granted a months exemption to Maryam from personal appearance. Both of them had sought exemption on the account of the health of Kulsoom Nawaz, who was undergoing treatment of lymphoma at a medical facility in London. The court declared sons of ousted premier Hussain and Hasan Nawaz proclaimed offenders due to their continuous absence.



The court initiated the formal trial of all the three accused by recording the statements of first two prosecution witnesses produced by the National Accountability Bureaus (NAB) prosecutor.



These witnesses included Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistans (SECP) Joint Registrar Sidra Mansoor and Federal Board of Revenues (FBR) Inland Revenue Department official Jahangir Ahmad.



In her statement in the Avenfield reference, Sidra Mansoor stated that she had appeared before a NAB investigator in Lahore on August 18, and provided him the financial record of the Sharif family.



To a court query, she stated that according to the audit reports of Hudaibiya Paper Mills, a balance of Rs 4,946,000 remained in the account from 2000 to 2005.



She stated that the record submitted by NAB in the court carried her signatures and thumb impressions, adding that some audit reports of various businesses of the Sharif family were also made part of the record submitted by her.



In his statement, Jahangir Ahmad stated that all the tax records provided by NAB to the court were given by the FBR.



In his cross-examination, Khawaja Haris Ahmad, senior counsel for Nawaz Sharif, pointed out that the audit reports of SECP provided to NAB were photocopies, carrying no official seal of the commission and signatures of the officials concerned, thus their authenticity was a question mark.



Sidra Mansoor contended that as per law these photocopies were provided to the SECP by the company of the Sharif family. She also stated that she could provide the original documents as well.



To a query by Khawaja Haris that had Nawaz Sharif ever been director or shareholder in Hudaibiya Paper Mills, Sidra Mansoor got confused and later replied in negative.



The testimony of Sidra Mansoor has been completed, whereas the court did not close the testimony of Jahangir Ahmad, directing him to again appear on the next hearing for cross-examination. He is a prosecution witness in Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference as well.



Khawaja Haris told the court to note that the documents presented by both the witnesses had neither been prepared by them nor were in their custody. Besides, these documents did not carry the signatures of both the witnesses, he said.



Trying to establish that both the witnesses and the documents submitted by them were irrelevant, Khawaja Haris pleaded the court to scrutinise the documents to assess their authenticity.



Adjourning the hearing till November 22, the court directed NAB to produce four more witnesses on next hearing to get their statements recorded.



During the hearing, the court also told Amjad Pervez, counsel for Nawaz Sharifs children, that Hussain and Hasan Nawaz were declared as proclaimed offenders after November 11, the last deadline given to both the brothers to ensure their appearance before the court.



The court further noted that now both of them would be mentioned in every court order as proclaimed offenders.



In his plea seeking a weeks exemption from personal appearance from November 20 to November 27, Nawaz Sharif stated that he had to leave for the UK on account of his wifes next chemotherapy. He stated that he could not abandon his wife in these testing times, with whom he had spent 40 years of his life.



When the court asked who would represent Sharif in his absence, Khawaja Haris stated that his pleader (legal representative) Zaafir Khan would represent him in his absence.



In her plea seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance, Maryam also stated that she had to look after her ailing mother. Besides, she said she also had to look after her daughter. She also quoted security issues as also the reason for exemption from personal appearance.



To a court query, her counsel stated that Jahangir Jadoon would represent her as pleader during her absence. She, however, stated that she would ensure her availability whenever the court summoned her.



The NAB prosecutors, however, opposed both the pleas, contending that both the applicants had no ailment, thus should not be exempted from personal appearance.



Earlier, Nawaz Sharif along with Maryam and Safdar reached the accountability court amid strict security measures, where a number of cabinet members, PML-N leaders and workers were present to welcome him.












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Una verguenza nacional



La luz que nos guia



La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz?



Feudalismo ayer y hoy



Obama, el mentiroso



Curiosa coincidencia



Un mundo de cerdos



No es extrano?



La Marioneta



Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran



MARICORI Y OBAMA



Cuantas muertes este ano?



USA TODAY



USA HOY 6



USA HOY 5



USA HOY 4



USA HOY 3



USA HOY 2



USA HOY (1)



Insaciable



Cronologia de un agresor



Guarimbear en USA



Mexico hoy



Bolivar y Chavez



Primero Amargado



Dios los cria y ellos se juntan



USA hoy (III)



USA hoy (II)



USA hoy



Mexico hoy



Mexico hoy



Mexico hoy



Obama



La verdad sea dicha



Los ricos



Que no nos vea Obama



Pobre Obama



SOS PALESTINA



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Chavez Cuanto te queremos!



Por culpa de Chavez



Cerveza Polar







Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar







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LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares?



























Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano...



Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos:



Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias.



Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera.



No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje.



En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio.



Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida.



Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella.



Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal.



Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista.



Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen.



Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che?



Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio.



Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora.



Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo.



Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo.



Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania.



No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar.



Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga.





Alguna duda?



Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino



Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia.



OZ1



OZ2



OZ3



OZ4



Homenaje a Jason Galarraga



La Victoria de Samotracia



Odalisca



Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008



























La Sierra Nevada de Merida



Nuestro precioso Churum Meru



Homenaje a Picasso



Autoretrato



Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola?

La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.

Mi profesion?

Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.

Sal en la Coca Cola?

A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.

De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:

Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto

Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)

azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)

Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas

Mucha Cafeina

Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio

Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe

Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion

El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.

Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.

Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.

En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).

Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.

La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.

Bebidas Light?

Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el

Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.



Publicado por loretahur



En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur

MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina:

1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias.

2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina.

3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard.

4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos.

5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla.

6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos.

Ahora... sobre la margarina:

1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) .

2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias.

3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno).

4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer.

5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna.

6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo.

7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina.

Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas:

* No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo).

* No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!!



No a la guerra, Si a la Paz



Misterios de la ciencia...



Los costos de la guerra



medicos y capitalismo...



Capitalismo...



medicos (2)



Quien educa a nuestros hijos?



Los Medios...



Sin Palabras...



Chistes feministas

- Cual es el problema, Eva?

- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz...

- Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.

- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...

- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.

- Que es un hombre?

- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.

- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.

- Cual es el truco?.

- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.

- Cual?

- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.





Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Ellas...



Ellas (2)...



Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1

Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije:

-Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro.

Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria.

Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre?

-Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa!



VENGANZA NUMERO 2

Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris.

A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita:

- Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!!

Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta.

La mujer paso quince dias en Francia.

El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla.

Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es:

- Y amor me trajiste mi francesita??

- Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina.



VENGANZA NUMERO 3

El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion.

- No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo.

- Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz.

Te quiero confesar algo.

- Esta bien, esta bien. Habla!

- He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga.

- Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!!



machismo y cibernetica



Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston.

-Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide.

-Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!.



.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.

Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos.

Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco.

Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas



Gol !!!!



Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso!



Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy!


WHITE CREEK  A Cambridge woman was arrested Wednesday night after she was pulled over for traffic violations and the vehicle she was driving was found to have a fake inspection sticker and police found drugs in the vehicle, authorities said.

Jerica L. Southgate, 24, was stopped on Route 22 around 11:05 p.m., according to State Police.

Troopers noticed a fake inspection sticker on the vehicle, and when searching it, discovered the prescription painkiller oxycodone and marijuana, officials said.

Southgate told police the car belonged to a friend and she did not know it had a fake inspection sticker.

She was charged with felony criminal possession of a forged instrument, misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance and non-criminal unlawful possession of marijuana.
QUEENSBURY  A New York City man who was arrested with a large quantity of heroin during a traffic stop on the Northway last spring was sentenced Wednesday to 5 years in state prison.

Gregory T. McDonald, 25, pleaded guilty to felony criminal possession of a controlled substance in connection with a May 15 traffic stop in the northbound lanes near Exit 19.

He and two women from Vermont were charged after State Police intercepted more than an ounce of heroin that was headed to the Burlington, Vermont area for distribution.

McDonald, who police believe was the drug supplier of the trio and had at least one prior felony conviction, was sentenced in Warren County Court to 5 years in prison to be followed by 3 years on parole.

One of the co-defendants, Karyn M. Lefebvre, 31, of Winooski, Vermont, pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced to 6 months in Warren County Jail and 5 years on probation. The other woman was charged with a misdemeanor.
HUDSON FALLS  Police are asking for the publics help to try to figure out how the fire started that injured two people and destroyed a home.

The Nov. 10 fire at 131 John St. has been labeled suspicious, but Washington County and state fire investigators have not been able to determine how it started. They determined the area of origin was on or around a futon just inside the front door, but exactly what caused the fire has remained undetermined.

Hudson Falls Police Detective Scott Gillis said investigators have concluded that the four occupants of the home were not responsible, with State Police giving polygraph tests to them to gauge the veracity of their versions of events. Investigators from the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation have assisted Hudson Falls Police and share the opinion that those in the home did not seem at fault.

We have determined that the people in the house had nothing to do with it, Gillis said.

He said the front door to the home was apparently unlocked before the fire, and the fire started just inside the home, which has prompted the investigation to turn to possible activity from outside the home.

Gillis said there were no indications that the members of LaValley family who were home or the young man staying with them, Logan Barcomb, had been targeted by anyone who would want to hurt them.

Officers are working to find out if anyone saw anything unusual in the neighborhood that morning, or whether any residents of the area have surveillance cameras that might have videotaped activity. Gillis said a check as of Thursday had not yielded any cameras.

Anyone with information in the case was asked to call 518-747-0273.

Gillis said the fire spread quickly after a back window was opened so that two occupants of the home could get out as flames spread in the front of the home. That caused oxygen to stream into the building, feeding the fire, he said.

The 4 a.m. fire destroyed the home, and left Barcomb and resident Brian LaValley with burns to the face. A third resident was checked for possible smoke inhalation. The residents fled from the burning building seconds after they awoke, their main exit at the front blocked by fire.
QUEENSBURY  In response to the town Republican actions during the election campaign, Queensbury Democrats agreed Wednesday to a code of ethics for their committee and their candidates.

All candidates must agree to represent their constituents best interests, not the party. The committee and the candidates must also agree to make no misleading statements in advertising or any other way  including social media posts.

Three of the four Democratic candidates who won in last weeks election were at Wednesdays meeting and agreed to the code. Catherine Atherden was not present.

The Democrats said the code was common sense and easy to agree to, but they regretted the necessity of it.

I dont like unnecessary pledges, said Queensbury Democratic Committee Chairman Mike Parwana. When I say the Pledge of Allegiance, I pledge to the United States of America. The flag, all that stuff, is extraneous.

Still, committee members said, the code was reasonable.

The principle for it is right on, said committee member John Reilly.

They even discussed going further and banning all negative attacks during campaigns.

I ran against Tim Brewer eight years ago. Each of us ran on what we were going to do, Reilly said. Jen (Switzer) ran against him twice without ever bringing up his past troubles. That is how this community runs and wants campaigns. We never say, That person is wrong and thats whats wrong with government.

Still, Treasurer Dave OBrien said some negative attacks are justified. After debate, the committee attacked Republican supervisor candidate Rachel Seeber because she and her husband were routinely late on their property taxes.

I think it was justified, Parwana said. If someone was sick or they were in financial trouble, we would not have done that. But when we were told she was in the Bahamas, and the taxes went unpaid, and it wasnt just one year.

OBrien agreed that negative ads  as long as they were factual and not misleading  would be acceptable under the new ethics code.

Supervisor John Strough looked up President George Washingtons farewell speech and suggested the solution could be more than simply an ethics code.

He said political parties are the problem. Im not suggesting we get rid of political parties, but political parties have a tendency to better represent themselves, Strough said.

OBrien disagreed.

I still like political parties. Because without them, youd only have one, he said.

The Warren County Republican Committee is not considering any similar ethics code, said Chairman Mike Grasso.

I dont think we need to do that, because thats not what we do, he said, adding that his party stands for honesty and ethical behavior.

The ethics code discussion sprang from the Republicans decision to run an unwilling candidate so that they could defeat another Republican whom they disliked. The Democrats uncovered the scheme by submitting a Freedom of Information Law request for public emails sent to and from then-Councilman Doug Irish.

In the emails, Irish and others agreed to keep running Hal Bain after he said he wanted to drop out and not tell anyone that he was dropping out, but ask committee members to campaign for him. Once Bain won, he could resign and the Republicans would be able to appoint someone else to take his seat for a year.

Irish defended the plan at the time.

Keep in mind its a political decision about how do we win this seat, Irish said. Im sorry people dont like to see how sausage is made, but this is how sausage is made.

But the Republicans changed their tune just before the election, when it became clear voters were turning against them over the controversy.

They said the discussion was merely talk among the official committee to fill vacancies and blamed Hal Bain for not making public his decision to drop out. Instead, a month after sending emails to the Republican Committee, saying he wanted to drop out, Bain submitted answers to a reporters questions for a campaign story, denied the rumors that he was not running, paid for an ad and filled out a questionnaire for The Post-Star, detailing his reasons for running. He later said he had already dropped out at the time he took those actions.
Editor:

Thanks, Mayor Blais, for the letter regarding tanker car storage in the Adirondacks. Saratoga-North Creek Railroad Co. leases with Warren County, and with the town of Corinth, which owns the tracks through Corinth.

A tourist train traveling through local communities was an exciting plan. Trains from Saratoga to Gore Mountain Ski and to North Creek, Christmas trains, were exciting. No one ever visualized oil and chemical tankers being stored in the Adirondacks.

I have followed the tanker storage situation the past two years. Saratoga-North Creek Railroad approached Corinth Town Board asking them to sign an agreement allowing 25 tanker cars be stored on rail lines in Corinth  extending north and south. Community members contacted the Town Board with disapproval. The board did not approve the agreement.

Please research information online, Google oil tankers in the Adirondacks. I found that Saratoga-North Creek Railroad Co. is being paid by a company owned by Warren Buffet to store these tanker cars.

It has been reported that Saratoga-North Creek Railroad is not contracting with the Polar Express company since they have not paid royalties of $60,000; they have not paid rent for a storage building in North Creek, and they are behind in payments to Warren County and the town of Corinth. Seems their solution is to establish a junkyard in the Adirondacks!

I attended the Corinth Town Board meeting to share information and express displeasure. I asked the Town Board to pass a resolution, as Warren County, Essex County and several towns have done, to state that the town of Corinth is not in favor of storage of tankers in the Adirondacks. I encourage everyone to follow this issue and state your concerns. Who knows? Corinth could be the next approached for storage of tankers.

Louise Carney, Corinth
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Cadet Andrew Lekowski and Field Force Agent Brian Sebastian (U.S. Military Academy Class of 1989) will be at Pizza and Subs, 3700 Blackhawk Road, Rock Island, from 5-8 p.m. Sunday for an information session on service academies.

Lekowski is on the Cadet Public Relations Council, whose purpose is to provide information about West Point to cadet candidates, their families and the community.

Lekowski, a 2015 Alleman High School graduate, is a junior at West Point. He was appointed as first sergeant of his company, the highest position available to a junior cadet at the academy. He maintains a 4.0 grade-point average.

His awards include the Superintendents Award for Excellence, the Distinguished Cadet Award and deans list for all semesters. He was selected to do a military semester exchange program at the University of Brasilia in order to study Engineering and Portuguese.

To attend, please respond at klekowski@yahoo.com or call 309-737-5321.

In addition, he will speak Monday at Alleman High School and Tuesday at Rock Island and United Township high schools. Interested students should sign up with their guidance counselors.
Bond was set Thursday at $20,000 cash or surety for a Davenport man charged after police say they found a large amount of marijuana and a stolen gun in his home Wednesday.

Dontae Lamonte Burrage, 29, last known address in the 900 block of East Central Park Avenue, faces charges of possession with intent to deliver, failure to affix drug tax stamp, felon in possession of a firearm or offensive weapon, and trafficking in stolen weapons-first offense.

The charges are all Class D felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22.

Burrage also is being held without bond on a warrant out of Rock Island County for failure to appear on a charge of resisting a peace officer, according to court records.

Around 11 a.m. Wednesday, Davenport police searched Burrages home and found 897 grams  or nearly two pounds  of marijuana that was packaged in different packages for delivery, according to an arrest affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint.

Officers also found two digital scales, packaging material and a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun that was reported stolen to police in Peoria, Illinois, according to the affidavit.

When arrested, Burrage was in possession of $605 in cash, according to the affidavit.

He has several convictions for possession with intent to deliver, as well as a 2005 conviction for intimidation with a dangerous weapon, in Scott County and is barred from owning or possessing a firearm.
The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to file an opinion Friday morning in an appeal from Muscatine County Court.

Justices heard arguments in the case of State of Iowa v. Carlos Ariel Gomez Garcia on Oct. 12 at the Davenport Central High School Performing Arts Center.

According to court documents, Garcia was charged with delivery of cocaine in December 2014.

Garcia, 26, is able to read and understand the English language and sought to waive the assistance of court interpreters at his trial.

According to court documents, he believed that the presence of interpreters would be distracting and confusing to him and could be unfairly prejudicial to him during a jury trial.

District Court Judge Stuart Werling instructed standby interpreters to provide real-time translation, but told Garcia that he could remove the wireless earpiece if he no longer wanted to use their translation services, according to court documents.

Garcia then waived his right to a jury trial and the judge ultimately found him guilty on the drug charge. He was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison in September 2015.

The Iowa Court of Appeals in November 2016 determined that the trial court erred in refusing to accept Garcia's waiver of interpreter services and reversed his convictions and ordered a new trial.

The state argued on further review before the Iowa Supreme Court that improperly denying a waiver of interpreter services does not fundamentally affect the fairness of the proceedings and does not warrant automatic reversal of a criminal conviction.
Moline police seek information on vehicular hijacking

The Moline Police Department is investigating an aggravated vehicular hijacking that occurred Saturday on the 3600 block of 25th Street.

Just before midnight, a man and woman were exiting their vehicle, a gray 2005 Volvo SUV, when they were approached by three adult males brandishing firearms. A struggle ensued and a suspect struck one of the victims several times with a firearm, which discharged and narrowly missed the male suspect, according to a news release from police.

The suspects gained control of the vehicle and fled the area. Moline Police and Fire Department were dispatched at about 7 p.m. Tuesday to the 1100 block of 15th street and found the vehicle full engulfed in flames.

Police learned a petrol bomb was thrown into the vehicle and a suspect fled southbound on foot. A darker vehicle, described as being similar to a Chevrolet Camaro, was then observed leaving the area.

Anyone with information should call the Moline Police Criminal Investigation Division at 309-524-2140. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at Quad Cities at 309-762-9500.

Woman pleads guilty in federal bank robbery case

A Muscatine woman pleaded guilty to charges in connection with robberies at two Davenport credit unions over a seven-month period.

Cynthia Niebuhr-Hartley, 32, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery.

She will be sentenced March 19, and remains free on a personal recognizance bond.

Her co-defendants, David S. Denney, 33, and Kevin S. Denney, 59, have a plea hearing Friday, according to court records.

According to court documents:

David Denney is accused of robbing Ascentra Credit Union, 1515 W. 53rd St., on Aug. 11, 2016, stealing $3,930 in cash; robbing the Vibrant Credit Union, 3801 N. Brady St, on Nov. 18, 2016, and making off with $5,980 in cash; and robbing the Vibrant Credit Union again March 30, stealing $14,631 from two tellers. During an interview with police and the FBI, David Denney confessed he robbed the credit unions and that his father, Kevin Denney, was the getaway driver and a knowing and willing participant in the Ascentra robbery, and that Niebuhr-Hartley drove the getaway vehicle during the first Vibrant robbery and that he paid her $400 for her participation.

Niebuhr-Hartley told police she was involved in the planning of the second Vibrant robbery and agreed to be the getaway driver for 25 percent of the robbery proceeds. The two tried to coordinate a date for the robbery but were unsuccessful. Niebuhr-Hartley said she learned that the credit union was robbed when she received a news alert on her cellphone. She said she knew it had to be David Denney and was angry that she did not get to participate, according to the court documents.

--Tara Becker

Man sentenced in robbery, arson cases

A Davenport man charged in connection with an armed robbery and two vehicle fires has been sentenced to prison in three separate cases.

John Kevin Gilmartin, 19, was sentenced Nov. 9 to up to 10 years each on charges of first-degree theft and second-degree arson, and up to five years in prison on a charge of second-degree theft.

Judge Mark Smith ordered the sentences to run concurrently, or at the same time.

Gilmartin pleaded guilty to the charges in September. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed additional charges of first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, second-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief, and third-degree burglary at sentencing.

According to court documents:

Police alleged Gilmartin stole a van on Dec. 23 and set it on fire on the 2000 block of East 14th Street on Dec. 24. In a Facebook message to the owner, Gilmartin admitted to the acts.

On May 20, Gilmartin allegedly entered an unoccupied SUV in the 3600 block of West Kimberly Road and intentionally set fire to it. He was seen on video surveillance getting into the vehicle. Earlier that day, he took a box of ice cream bars and a sandwich from Walmart, 2101 W. Kimberly Road, without paying for the items.

On May 29, police were called about an armed robbery that occurred in the Village of East Davenport. In an interview with police, Gilmartin said he and his co-defendants were armed with handguns and stole a person's cellphone and tried to steal the person's vehicle.

He and co-defendants, Dante N. Garth, 18, Tyrone A. Smith, 21, and Marlon K. Martin Jr., 19, all of Davenport, conspired to commit the robbery of two people for their property and all had knowledge of the robbery prior to it happening. Gilmartin was positively identified during a photo line-up, according to police.

Garth pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony and was placed on two years of probation earlier this month. Smith pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and will be sentenced Friday. Martin also pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and was slated to be sentenced Nov. 3. However, the hearing was continued and his pretrial release was revoked after his arrest on drug and domestic battery charges in Rock Island County, according to court documents.

--Tara Becker
Davenport firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that damaged a home at 1102 Brown St. on Wednesday.

Firefighters were dispatched to the home at 8:21 p.m. and found the back of the home engulfed in flames.

Firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire but the back of the 1-story single family home was severely damaged.

The home was built in 1890, according to the Scott County Assessor's website.

Firefighters on the scene said the American Red Cross of the Quad-Cities and West Central Illinois was called to assist the family with shelter and other necessities.

No one was injured in the blaze.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was in the Quad-Cities on Tuesday. A day later, the Republican planning to run against him in next year's primary arrived.

State Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, met with Rock Island County Republicans and did a round of media interviews in the area Wednesday.

Ives, who jumped into the fray after Rauner signed a bill in September to expand public funding for abortion, has been gathering signatures to get on the ballot. Former state Rep. Rich Morthland of Cordova is her running mate.

Ives said she wants Republicans to see her as a viable alternative. "I hope they understand that there's a real option in this Republican primary for somebody who hasn't betrayed our party and our base and what we stand for," she said.

Analysts have said that Ives faces a difficult challenge, given Rauner's financial advantage. But Quad-City area Republicans also have said some in the party are angry over the governor's signing of the abortion legislation, along with an immigration bill.

In an interview, Ives said she has a working relationship with legislators and could forge compromise where "it makes sense." She also suggested that Rauner has been too focused on House Speaker Mike Madigan, who the governor has consistently targeted, including during his stop here Tuesday.

"It wouldn't be a personal feud with Mike Madigan," Ives said.

Ives also defended her opposition to the energy bill last year that provided subsidies to Exelon, which operates the Quad-Cities Nuclear Generation Station in Cordova, Illinois, and another nuclear plan in Clinton, Illinois. Without the passage of the bill, Exelon officials had argued, those plants would close.

Between them, the plants employ 1,500 people. The Cordova plant employs 800. Quad-City area business leaders lobbied heavily for the legislation, though critics said the rate hikes in the bill would weaken the state's economy.

Ives said Wednesday she is "pro nuclear power," but that the state's residents are unfairly subsidizing energy going out of state. She also said that she has doubts whether Exelon would have ended up closing the two plants.

"I don't know if they would have followed through on that," Ives said. "It costs a lot to decommission a plant..." She added there were rumors at the time the Exelon employees would have gone to other plants so individuals wouldn't have lost their jobs.

The primary isn't until next March, and the deadline for filing petitions is Dec. 4.
Joseph Rives, Western Illinois University vice president for Quad-Cities and planning, has received the Management/Leadership Recognition Award from the Illinois Association for Institutional Research.

Rives was recognized for regularly inviting local mayors, state and federal legislators and leaders from education, business, industry and the nonprofit sector to the university to discuss ways in which higher education contributes to the state and communities in which they exist. As part of the President's Executive Institute, he has organized summits in nine Illinois communities and in St. Louis to discuss partnerships, education and community and economic development.

Rives was named vice president of the Quad-Cities in August 2008. He joined Western's administration in 2005.

He was named to a four-year term on the Higher Learning Commission's Action Council in 2017. He also serves as an I-AIR steering committee member, president of the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators, chair of Renew Moline's Project Management Team and is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.
Slight panic in the airport out in Texas. Waiting to check a bag, pull out my billfold, no driver's license. Check pockets, briefcase. Credit cards, no license. The brain flutters. Hotel? Taxi? Pickpocket? A teen terrorist from Izvestistan perhaps, trying to persuade TSA he is 75 and from Anoka, Minnesota?

How about dementia? Loss of license today, tomorrow can't conjugate "lay" and "say," next day my wife's name is missing along with the three branches of government.

OK. License found. In jacket pocket. I head for TSA, resuming my life as a Midwestern author, husband, father. Never mind that I checked that very pocket three times thoroughly. I'm OK. OK?

Life is precarious. So much depends on a small card with a grim picture of me on it. Lose it and I become flotsam, a fugitive, stateless, displaced. Sobering.

So I got on a plane to New York and when I disembarked my faithful iPhone was dead and wouldn't recharge and suddenly it was olden times again when you look around for a payphone and newsboys shout the headlines on the street corner and you get on an elevator and an attractive woman asks you for a light. And when a meteorite is headed straight for Metropolis, Clark Kent steps into a phone booth to change into his Superman outfit and deflect the thing into Long Island Sound.

I spent a whole day with no cellphone and it gave me the feeling of being in a foreign country, out of touch, friendless, so I walked over to Grand Central Station and there, under the great starry ceiling, I found an Apple store and made an appointment to see someone at their genius desk who could restore my connection to the world.

I had an hour to kill and I did it in style, in the Oyster Bar, the restaurant that time has not changed. I sat down and the waitress came by, said hello, handed me a menu. She didn't ask how I was doing today -- she was a classic New York waitress, a big healthy woman, all business. Came back a few minutes later, said, "Ready?" I ordered black coffee and a half-dozen Chincoteagues and the grilled halibut. She did not say, "Oh, that's one of my favorites," as millennial waiters in the Midwest do. She brought the coffee and I amused myself by writing a limerick:

There was an old waitress of Queens

Who cautioned me not to eat beans,

Lest I spill on my clothes

Or stick beans up my nose

And never find out what life means.

After she brought the food, she did not come back to say, "How's everything tasting?" No need -- it's the Oyster Bar, the food is good. Nor did she come back later to ask, "You still working on that?" She was a minimalist. Waiting on tables is a service; it isn't the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

It dawned on me that, here in the Oyster Bar, I was in a time warp and that, if I decided to not get an iPhone, it would be 1961 outside and my hero A.J. Liebling would be alive and still writing his gorgeous stuff, and I'd walk up 44th Street and see Eudora Welty, as I once did years ago, standing in front of the Algonquin Hotel, looking for a taxi, and I'd be 19 again, walking around with a pack of Luckies in my pocket, writing sorrowful poems about an owl with a broken wing flying home through a moonless night. So I tipped the waitress 50 percent for the memories and went over to Apple. The old phone was dead for good and I bought a new one.

The thought of going back to 1961 was unbearable. I'd have to relive the 1963 assassination and stay in grad school to dodge the draft and hear Richard Nixon say that he had a secret plan to end the war in Vietnam. My precious daughters would disappear into the ether and my dear wife would be four years old.

It's good to be old. Every day is an adventure. The Apple guy was very nice. I didn't understand much of what he said but he sold me the new phone and I appreciate this gizmo more than the average 19-year-old would because I am old enough to remember the wooden phone on the farmhouse wall with the crank that you turned to get the operator who would connect you to whoever you wanted. This phone is a God-given miracle. With this and my driver's license, I can go anywhere.
It appears the donation of a $1.6 million plot of city land to a local development foundation for an innovation incubator has the support of city council members.

At Wednesdays Legal and Finance Committee meeting, members unanimously voted to donate the 4.3-acre parcel at 108 E. Main St. to the Rapid City Economic Development Foundation.

The land, which sits directly east of the citys main fire station and midway between downtown and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, will be the future home of an innovation center for entrepreneurs and startup companies focused on innovation and technology.

I think this is a tremendous opportunity for the city of Rapid City to partner with economic development and help spur new job growth and creation in our community, council President Jason Salamun said at Wednesdays meeting.

This is a big, big deal. This is a game changer for Rapid City. I think in 20 years you are going to be very proud that you were a part of this particular project.

The incubator will be operated by the Rapid City Economic Development Foundation, which already operates the Black Hills Business Development Center on Mines campus. The idea, conceptual designs explain, is to renovate and use the existing warehouse-style building on the lot  which currently houses Pennington Countys 24/7 Sobriety program  in the interim while continuing to raise funds for the construction of a new, two-story facility.

Black Hills Business Development Center Executive Director Terri Haverly said the current center is full to overflowing with about 20 rent-paying companies, according to Journal archives. The new building will provide an opportunity for other companies to start up or grow before moving out.

The sobriety program is prepared to move out of its current building by next summer once other county programs move into the new restoration center currently under construction across from the county courthouse, city attorney Joel Landeen said.

Later in the meeting, committee members recommended approving an ordinance to allow distilleries to operate in downtown Rapid City.

Randal Decker, part-owner of Black Hills Contraband, petitioned the city for the ordinance as his distilling company looks to relocate from Box Elder to Rapid City and open a distillery and bar. In a Sept. 18 letter to city staff, Decker says his company is interested in moving into the building currently housing Hay Camp Brewery at 601 Kansas City St., though the distillery would be located in a separate part of the building with its own address. In a Journal interview Wednesday, Decker was noncommittal about that location but said they were still interested in relocating to Rapid City.

In other action, committee members recommended:

 Approving an ordinance crafted to regulate the incipient arrival of the ride-hailing industry to Rapid City. Though Lyft drivers have already begun operating in Rapid City, the ordinance has yet to pass through the city council two times. At the councils upcoming Nov. 20 meeting, the second reading will be discussed, and if passed, the ordinance will go into effect by late December, once the 20-day notification period is completed. City spokesman Darrell Shoemaker has made clear that the city will not cite Lyft drivers in the meantime. As part of the regulations, transportation network companies, as companies like Lyft and Uber are called in city documents, must pay an annual $1,500 fee to the city.

 Acknowledging the citys sales tax collections for September, which came in at $2,215,128, a 3 percent increase compared with collections in September 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, collections are up 1.85 percent compared with 2016, at $18,927,245.

 Approving a resolution to add seven new full-time positions to the city payroll after the positions were approved during the citys 2018 budget hearings. The citys Human Resources division will receive four new employees and the Public Works department will receive the other three positions. A new utility and billing clerk position was also recommended for approval. The position has an annual salary range between $31,473 and $48,507.

 Approving the citys Investment Committee recommendations for allocating Community Development Block Grant funds to area organizations. The citys Community Development division estimates it will receive about $438,500 in 2018. The greatest benefactors would include Black Hills Works Inc. ($98,415), Wellfully ($75,000), Rural America Initiatives ($69,000), and Behavior Management Systems ($41,000).
A 27-year-old woman was sentenced Wednesday to five years of probation for failing to report a fatal shooting she witnessed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation last year.

Tyler Schae Brewer earlier pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony in the death of fellow Pine Ridge village resident, 34-year-old Annie Colhoff.

Brewer said Colhoff was killed by a male acquaintance following an argument at Colhoffs home on the night of Sept. 29, 2016. Brewer then went to Denver via Rapid City with the man and a few other people, according to a statement she submitted to the court.

A Colorado man, 37-year-old Orlando Guadalupe Villanueva de Macias, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Colhoffs killing. Villanueva told the court Colhoff was armed with a knife when he shot her during their argument.

At the Rapid City federal courthouse Wednesday afternoon, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rich recommended a probationary sentence for Brewer, echoing the request of defense attorney John Rusch. Brewer had been facing up to 2-1/2 years in prison.

Rich said Brewers offense occurred under a unique set of circumstances and was part of a complex situation.

Rusch expanded on these statements in an interview after the hearing. He said Villanueva took Brewer to Rapid City and Denver against her will, then held her in a Denver home for about a week without access to a phone. Villanueva had apparently talked about taking Brewer to Mexico since she had witnessed Colhoffs shooting.

During this time, Rusch said, Brewers family had reported her kidnapped. But when police came into contact with Brewer and Villanueva in Denver and asked if she had been kidnapped, she denied it for fear of being hurt, her lawyer said.

Brewer earlier admitted telling police she had been in Denver when Colhoff was shot and that she did not know Villanuevas name.

Another defendant in the case, 25-year-old Stevie Ray Makes Good, initially charged with lying to federal authorities, pleaded guilty to a meth offense under a deal with prosecutors. She was sentenced to jail time served and three years of supervised release.

Brewer was arrested in Colorado in October 2016 and has spent several weeks at the Pennington County Jail.

I pretty much learned my lesson. Im ready to change, Brewer told U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jeffrey Viken at her sentencing hearing. Ill complete probation. Ill just do good.

She talked about missing Colhoff, a friend, as well as her brother Vinny Brewer, who was shot to death outside a Pine Ridge youth center in October 2016 over an alleged drug debt.

Brewers father and mother also spoke, saying their family has been through so much suffering in the past year. They asked the judge to allow their daughter to go home.

Youve been through a lot, and I think its time now to get back to your family, Viken told Brewer. As you said in your letter, you can do this, and I trust that.

Her probationary sentence includes several conditions, including undergoing substance abuse treatment and taking regular drug tests for her meth problem.

Viken acknowledged that illegal drugs and firearms have created a lot of destruction on the reservation in recent years.

Things are about as tough on Pine Ridge as Ive seen in 40 years, he said. Really difficult time for so many families.
Arcades in Cleveland seen through a Fisheye lens

A tour group peers through a window into the 5th Street Arcades from the Residence Inn hotel in downtown Cleveland in February.

(Marvin Fong/Plain Dealer file)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Texas hotel company expects to purchase the 175-suite Residence Inn hotel in downtown Cleveland by the end of this month, as part of a broader, four-property acquisition.

Summit Hotel Properties, a publicly traded real estate investment trust based in Austin, announced Monday afternoon that it has signed deals to pay a collective $164 million for hotels in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Arizona and Ohio.

The Buckeye State buy is the Residence Inn, which extends above the 5th Street Arcades that run between Euclid and Prospect avenues. It will be Summit's first hotel in Ohio.

"All four hotels are located in strong markets, three of which are new for Summit and further enhance our geographic diversification," Daniel Hansen, the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in the news release.

Summit didn't break out the price tag for the individual properties. The Residence Inn last changed hands in 2014, for $15.4 million. The Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office places its value at just shy of $13.2 million.

Hansen described the purchases as "an off-market transaction," indicating that the hotels weren't being shopped broadly to investors.

Noble Investment Group, which sold the Residence Inn to Summit, already has removed the property from its website. Steven Nicholas, a principal and executive vice president of asset management at Atlanta-based Noble, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The sale shouldn't affect the shops and restaurants that line the late-1800s and early-1900s corridors once known as the Colonial and Euclid arcades. Cumberland Development of Cleveland controls the retail space through a master lease that will run for five more years, with a 10-year extension option.

Developer Dick Pace, Cumberland's president, said he heard from Noble this week about the ownership change at the hotel. "We're looking forward to working with them," he said of Summit. "We don't see any negative impact on us."

The arcades are fully leased, though Pace expects to move a few tenants around after the holidays. Now that vacancies are filled and the tenant mix is improving, he hopes to move all of the retailers - mostly mom-and-pop businesses - to a consistent schedule sometime next year.
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Education Reporter

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.
Max Abrahms is a professor of political science at Northeastern University and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times.
As the newly named Smiles Ambassadors, Sander-Maurer and Watson will help raise awareness and represent Camp High Hopes, a special needs camp in Sioux City, by participating in various events throughout Siouxland in 2018, a press release said.

The Smiles Ambassador tradition is one of the unique ways we celebrate and recognize our campers, said Chris Liberto, the executive director of Camp High Hopes, in a release. The selection process is a struggle as we have to review hundreds of campers, all very deserving, to represent Camp High Hopes. We are honored to have Madison and Bobby serve as volunteer Smiles Ambassadors for 2018. Both of them have a very important role to fill by representing their fellow campers and relaying to the community what our camp is all about.
SIOUX CITY | Citing opportunities to further grow the Sioux City-based company, Cloverleaf Cold Storage has agreed to sell a majority interest in the family-owned business to a New York-based global investment firm.

Cloverleaf said it has entered into a recapitalization agreement with Blackstone, a leading investment firm that manages $387 billion worth of assets. Blackstone will "make a majority equity investment" into Cloverleaf, which operates a network of 19 warehouses across the U.S. providing a variety of food grade storage, handling, and freezing services.

Members of the Feiges and Kaplan families, who founded the company in 1952, will remain shareholders and in charge of day-to-day operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Dan and David (Kaplan), Billy (Feiges) and myself  we still own a significant portion of the company and well continue to run the business," Adam Feiges, one of the Cloverleaf principals, told the Journal Wednesday.

Feiges said the deal with Blackstone has been in the works for about six months. He noted it was a very tough decision to sell a portion of the company to Blackstone, but they concluded it was the right call to ensure the companys continued prosperity.

We wanted to secure kind of the future of the company and legacy we built on our fathers business and we wanted a partner that could help us achieve our growth goals over time, he said.

One thing that stood out to officials at Cloverleaf was that Blackstone offered a patient approach to investment, Feiges said.

These guys were talking years and decades; not next quarter, he said. This is what really attracted us to them. Their vision of the future very much meshed with our vision of the future, which is growing Cloverleaf Cold Storage.

Since its inception 65 years ago, Cloverleaf has continually increased its footprint, growing into the eighth largest public refrigerated warehouse company in North America, as reported by the trade group International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses. Cloverleaf has operations in eight states in the Midwest and Southeast United States.

Weve had a good track record of growth and wed love to continue that growth into the future, Feiges said.

Cloverleaf has long maintained a large presence in Sioux City's Bridgeport industrial area. A 148,000-square-foot addition to its flagship warehouse is nearly complete after a little more than a year of construction. The $18 million expansion is believed to be the largest public refrigerated warehouse in Iowa.

Feiges said partnering with Blackstone is only going to increase the frequency of those types of projects and elevate Cloverleaf's profile.

We very much were concerned about our legacy and our focus on customers, employees, our hometowns, of all the places we have warehouses, he said. We wanted to very much find a partner that shared our vision for the future half of this company.
CASTANA, Iowa | The Archway from the old bank serving Castana still stands, a focal point in Archway Park at the center of this tiny Monona County community. Built in 1879, the Savings Bank building through the years contained a barber shop, U.S. Post Office, hardware store, cafe, cream station, lodge, telephone office and pool hall.

According to a plaque gracing one of the brick sides of the old arch, the building was demolished 41 years ago and given back to Castana in 1986.

That's the type of historical direction you get when stopping for coffee in Castana, a community whose "coffee shop" for the past 15 years or so hasn't been a shop at all. On this day, the coffee shop forms in the kitchen of Nancy Hanson on South Third Street. She's part of a four-woman rotation unit charged with brewing coffee and serving up cookies, rolls, brownies and such.

The group isn't "charged" by anyone in particular. The challenge is a self-made one, a tradition of sorts in this community that traces its roots to a dear late friend, Thelma Miller.

"Thelma hosted coffee in her house for about 15 years," Cathy Hanson surmises.

It's what Thelma did to keep talk and friendship brewing in her community, long after the cafes and grocery store closed shop. Thelma, an Iowa Caucus host in the Democratic side for years, saw no trouble in opening her kitchen for guests each morning. When her baking skills eroded a bit with age, women like the Hansons, Phyllis Dobrovolny and Dorothy Reed stepped up, offering to bring the cookies and the bars as long as Thelma had the coffee pot on.

Miller was 103 when she died in September. A coffee pot serving as a vase held flowers not far from her casket at the head of Castana Community Chuch, which was full for her funeral. The Hansons sang that day for their lifelong friend and guide.

"Thelma did this morning coffee gathering in her home for 10 to 15 years," Cathy Hanson said. "And at the start, she didn't host every day."

Eventually, though, it grew into that, a round-table discussion about current events and family developments. Thelma, an excellent baker known for her sour cream raisin pies and pecan rolls, was happy to see people still connecting.

When she transitioned late in life to a nursing home facility nearby, Hazel Hanson, the mother-in-law to Nancy and Cathy Hanson, took over. Hazel hosted Castana's coffee klatch each day for four months until she went into a nursing home.

"Her door was always open," Nancy Hanson said of her mother-in-law. "And she always was known for saying 'Thank-you, thank-you.'"

With Hazel leaving her home, the Hansons (they are sisters who married brothers) decided to offer coffee in their home. They were joined by Reed and Dobrovolny. Each woman hosts coffee in her home, one day Monday through Thursday. Then, on Friday, the site rotates to one of their homes, meaning that one woman hosts twice per week each month.

On this morning in Nancy Hanson's home, the foursome talks about harvest schedules, Castana history and the giant turkey dinner feed at Castana Community Church.

"We got the turkeys ordered today," Cathy Hanson said. "We'll do 200 pounds of turkey and feed right around 300 people."

It's quite an undertaken for Castana's lone church, one that serves a community that once boasted having three churches.

"There are lots of 'used tos' in Castana," Nancy Hanson said as she poured another cup of coffee.

"We went 125 years with no stop sign in town," Cathy Hanson interjected. "We had celebrated our 125th and then a two-way stop sign was put up."

That was seven years ago.

Decades ago, Edalene's Sweet Shop, owned by Edalene McNutt, kept Castana residents well-fed with daily lunches, candies and coffee. McNutt was known for a banana cream pie that didn't have bananas.

"We still have a bar, Lilly Jack's Saloon," Nancy Hanson said.

Reed talked about the men serving the local American Legion Post and how they offer a fish fry once per month from September through March, on the third Thursday of the month. The event generally attracts 130 diners who top off the meal with a dessert contributed by a woman with the local American Legion Auxiliary.

"Money raised by the Legion goes to kids in Monona County for scholarships," Cathy Hanson said.

Those children might be from Castana, Mapleton, Onawa, Turin, Blencoe, Whiting, Ute, Soldier, Moorhead, Rodney, anywhere in Monona County, really.

It's but one example of how folks in one of Siouxland's smallest towns continue to work for -- and to make a difference for -- their larger community, one cup of coffee, or one fish fry at a time.
Compass is getting a boost from Palm Beach County for one of its most important programs with a $60,000 grant.

The LGBT community center in Lake Worth will now be able to increase its transgender support group from once a month to every other week because of the Palm Beach County Youth Services Department.

According to Transgender youth program coordinator Sabrine Pearson, its the first time the group has ever had outside funding. With an average of 20 new kids a month, the group has become even more important in giving participants a caring environment.

For some of them, this is literally their only resource for support, Pearson said. Our program is a safe space, its a youth drop-in center, so they actually do not need their parents permission to come.

Pearson said that giving the children more time to talk has addressed some of the problems the group has faced.

Sometimes when we were having it twice a month before, three weeks would go in between times I would meet with them, she said.  So thats a big gap for them if theyre having serious stressors in their life or everything while coming to terms with their identity as a trans youth.

Now, Pearson has noticed a change in the dynamic of the group.

Now that we're meeting weekly, there isnt this kind of re-warming up time to get them to share, now we just jump in and we share much more freely, she said. The group has become so much more organic than I even expected.

But its not just the youth group thats getting more financial backing. As part of the grant, Pearson also said that they can now provide more help and support to the families of trans people as well as give trainings in the community.

When we wrote the grant, we took a hard look at what was really needed in addition to supporting these kids, we also found that we needed to support their parents and families as well, she said.  So in addition to meeting with the kids, we will be meeting with the parents and actually do some educational workshops with them to empower them with knowledge and empower them with emotional support as well.

That support is very important for parents as well, according to Psychology Today. Doctor Joel Young said that families are also dealing with adjustments while their child transitions, meaning they also need support while supporting their child.

The single best predictor of outcomes in transgender populations is support from families, Young said. Offer your child this unconditional support, and watch them flourish into a happy, healthy adult.

Pearson said that she has reached out to several professors at FAU and has previously talked at Nova Southeastern University. This has resulted in Standards of Care training for Social Work students as well as medical sensitivity training for doctoral students.

When therapists and mental health practitioners go to school for counseling, they get the broad strokes of these minorities, Pearson said. So a lot of them are just not culturally competent to treat the LGBTQ comunity, with an emphasis on the trans community. So in teaching them what it means to be trans and that transgender is this umbrella term that enompasses anything that is gender variant and non binary.

One of the biggest factors that helped them to get the grant is a new initiative to track the number of transgender students in Palm Beach County. Pearson said this would be the first time this has ever been done in the county.

There is a lack of solid numbers when it comes to tracking transgender people in the United States. According to Williams Institute, an LGBT think tank, Florida has about 100,000 of the nation's 1.4 million estimated transgender people.

Its incredibly empowering. It lets us feel like were actually doing what weve been trying to do for all these years, which is to be an advocate for these youth, Pearson said. In the past, Its been easy to be an advocate for LGB youth, but we werent able to be comprehensive advocates for the T. To now be able to be a voice for our transgender youth is incredibly powerful.

For more questions or more info on how to join the group, contact Sabrine Pearson at 561-533-9699 ext. 4035 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Who says you can't go home again? Author Thomas Wolfe's most famous novel explored the notion that if you try to return to a place you remember from the past, it won't be the same as you remember it.

Well, Palace Bar will not be the same when it officially reopens at its new location, 1052 Ocean Drive, currently the site of Amarillo Restaurant Bar and Grill. But Palace owner Thomas Donall says that's a good thing.

"This place is twice as large as the other location. It's perfect for the Palace. I'm excited," Donall said.

The new site is much more spacious with a dance floor area and a larger terrace and awnings for the drag queens to perform and spill out into the street with their sidewalk and traffic-stopping performances.

"The new place is great. It's a bigger space with removable awnings," Donall said. "Everything is more open with a deep upper terrace. The doors are nano doors that open up with a larger dance floor space."

During the down time since the drag bar closed its 1200 Ocean Drive location on July 4, other venues capitalized on Palace's absence by offering drag performances of their own.

R House Wynwood increased its monthly drag shows at Sunday brunch to a weekly event with hostess Athena Dion; promoter Tony Ferro started a T-dance pool party with drag performers at the Washington Park Hotel across from Twist, then a similar T-dance at the Campton Yard on South Beach; W Miami in Brickell did a "Whisper Out Loud" event, a mixer for LGBT professionals, on October and November with drag shows; and Senor Frogs hired Tiffany Fantasia to replace Elaine Lancaster as hostess of their drag brunch on Sundays.

Meanwhile, as a way to keep the Palace name alive and give the drag bar's regulars a place to go on the weekends Palace held weekend T-dance parties on the rooftop of the Clevelander from August to October.

He said Palace's new location took more than four months to secure because of licensing and permits with the City of Miami Beach and dealings with Amarillo.

"It's been a lot of work to get things done. It's not easy to buy someone out to get a space on Ocean Drive. That's prime real estate. No one wants to give that up," Donall said. "We've also had a lot of hold up because of licensing and permits. We're finishing up the paperwork to transfer the liquor licenses and other licensing from Amarillo to Palace and waiting for some other things to happen before we officially reopen."

Donall said the holdup also had to do with finding the right place on Ocean Drive. He said there was a possibility to open near Fifth Street "but that would've been too far. This is the best we could offer. It's close to the beach, close to 12th Street, where we were for 29 years. We're next to the Clevelander. There's a lot of energy in that area. This is better for us and everybody around us."

On closing the old iconic location at 1200 Ocean Drive, Donall said it was unfortunate but he had to do it.

"It would've taken at least a year and a half to renovate the old place. We didn't want to wait that long," Donall said. "I felt like if I didn't do this now, it was never going to happen. I had to do this for the community. There's nothing like Palace on Ocean Drive."

Donall said he's "really excited to give other great talent the opportunity to be a part of the Palace team."

"We have 50, 60 girls that want to work at the new Palace that didn't have the opportunity before at the old location," Donall said. "One drag queen is flying up from New York for Thanksgiving weekend. So we're going to start off with the talent we have, but we have room for more."

The owners and managers at other gay bars on South Beach, including Score and Molto, are happy Palace is returning.

"It's fantastic Palace is reopening back on Ocean Drive," said Sam Yovan, manager at Score. "A staple in the LGBT community on Ocean Drive, I'm so happy for Tom and that the famous queens finally have their home back. Every queen needs a Palace."

Raymond Ortega, co-owner of Molto  which recently opened up on Lincoln Road  was Donall's lead bartender at Palace. He and "some of the original drag queens that made Palace what it is," Ortega said, wish Donall and Palace much luck and success at the new location.

"I only wish the best for Palace. I hope nothing but much success to everyone involved," Ortega said. "I love that there are more gay venues on South Beach for locals and tourists. This is much needed."

Some of the veteran queens guaranteed to come back to the new location are Tiffany Fantasia, TP Lords and Missy Meyakie Le Paige.

"The new place is very colorful and larger," Fantasia said. "Yes, I will be a part of the new Palace. Can't wait for everyone to come and see the new place."

Le Paige said she is returning because of the people, her fans and her family.

"It was home. It was home for me for nine years," Le Paige said. "I just feel like I want to give what the people have been waiting for. I want to give back to them; what they have been patiently waiting for so long and it's finally here. So I'm excited to give back to them and show so much love and get so much love from them."

Le Paige says the new Palace, which is known for their block parties and "everybody coming out and having a good time with the music, the drinks and the shows...it is beautiful, more spacious, a lot of room." She said a highlight for her has always been families bringing their children to the drag shows and she's looking forward to be able to do that again.

"For me, getting a chance to interact with the children, that's my highlight," Le Paige said. "The little babies they come to me, they're so beautiful and they give me money. I get to bring them on and make them a part of my act in my show. A big shout out to the families, the moms and dads who teach their children to not judge us, but to love. It's all about love. It's not about color or race or sexual orientation. It's all about coming together and loving one another."

Le Paige said she is excited to come back and she's "sure the place is going to be packed. I'm going to see so many familiar faces that I haven't had a chance to see. And it will be a chance to come back with my girls, and hopefully all of our girls will be able to come back and we can all work together again. For me, the goal is to get everybody that was once at the Palace to make it complete and make it family again."

Shanaya Bright, a native Colombian now living in New York, spent 15 of the 19 years she has been living in the U.S. as a drag performer at Palace. She said she's happy Palace is returning because "the community, tourists and gay youth need it," she said. "Palace was a marvelous place for straights and gays alike to come together and be one community."

Joel Krik, an old patron of Palace, wasn't aware the drag bar was returning. He said he is happy to hear the queens are coming back.

"I used to go to Palace pretty much every Saturday and it was a really, really good time. It drew such a diverse mix of people. I really appreciated that," Krik said. "It was such a loss these past few months. We really lost an institution but going forward with their return, it's a great opportunity for us to reconnect. It has been a huge absence and there's been no place during the day, especially like Palace, to have brunch and enjoy a mixed crowd like that."

New Yorker Justin Cangiano, a drag queen from Long Island named Syn, and his boyfriend Louie Pabon have never been to Palace but they've heard of how iconic the venue is.

"We've heard of Palace through social media, other drag queens, word of mouth, all over New York. Everyone talks about it," Cangiano said. "All the queens are gag. They turn the shows out," added Pabon.

Owner Donall hopes the new Palace will be open by this weekend or the start of next week "in time to give thanks for Thanksgiving. We just might not have a turkey to thaw out in time," he laughs.
Update: This story has been updated with statistics from ILGA-Europe's November 2017 report.

The LGBTI human rights organization, ILGA-Europe, held their annual conference this year in Warsaw, Poland from Nov. 1 through Nov. 4.

With Change: Communities Mobilizing, Movements Rising being the theme of this years conference, a presence of over four hundred European delegates, along with one Canadian and thirty-five American delegates, assembled to share unique stories detailing both successes and challenges in European LGBT matters, and to strategize for progress.

The selected venue location of Warsaw was symbolic to the conference theme given the history of Warsaw as a seat of resistance during WWII where a large majority of its citizens rose against Nazi German occupation during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.

By 1945, close to 90 percent of the city was destroyed in retaliation by Nazi German forces. The conference venue took place in the heart of what used to be the Warsaw Ghetto.

A. Chaber, Executive Director of the Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) who served as host of the conference stated, This historical site is not only proof of what happens when prejudice and hate take over, but also evidence of the unprecedented role fear and indifference plays in oppression. Our history teaches us that to achieve real change we need to stand together. We need to mobilize.

With mobilization being a current buzz word for LGBT Europeans as events are sweeping across Europe that have both positive and negative impacts for people, organizations like ILGA-Europe serve as a major asset to the LGBTI European community. Its role helps to establish a bridge for people from various countries throughout Europe and other parts of the world who might not have otherwise shared ties or similarities with outside of oppression.

A Rainbow Map published each year by ILGA-Europe serves as an outline for the human rights situation of LGBTI people throughout Europe. The map scores nations according to various measures related to Equality and Non-Discrimination, Family, Hate Crimes and Hate Speech, Legal Gender Recognition and Bodily Integrity, Civil Society Space and Asylum.

As of November 2017, the nation of Malta led the rest of Europe with a score of 91 percent, followed by Norway with a score of 78 percent and the United Kingdom with a score of 76 percent. With regard to Marriage Equality, it has been legal in Norway since 2009. In the United Kingdom, Marriage Equality is legal with the exception of Northern Ireland where it is not recognized and they have a registered civil partnership law in place. Activists in Northern Ireland have launched a Love Equality Campaign consisting of six different civic society and LGBT charities to advocate for Marriage Equality to be legally recognized. As of July 12, 2017 the Maltese parliament passed a bill amending existing legislation to provide for marriage equality with the law taking effect on September 1, 2017. Another important milestone for LGBTI equality in Malta is the amendment to the 2015 Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act that mandates that transgender inmates will be housed according to their gender identity.

With regard to the status of LGBTI equality in Eastern European nations, they received scores ranging from 13 percent (Belarus) to 33 percent (Estonia). The scores reflect the varying degrees in the region related to discrimination in laws directed at LGBTI families, marriage equality or registered partnership laws, hate crimes or hate speech, legal gender recognition and bodily integrity measures.

The worst scored countries for equality on the Rainbow Map were Armenia with a 7 percent score followed by Russia with a 6 percent score and Azerbaijan scoring 5 percent indicating severe violations of human rights and discrimination of LGBTI communities.

Conversion Therapy, a pseudoscience false therapy that has been debunked by the American Psychological Association, claims to cure LGBTI people and change their sexual orientation to heterosexual and/or change their gender identity.

In 2016 after approving the Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression, the Parliament of Malta banned Conversion Therapy. In the U.K. the National Health Service as well as all major counseling and psychotherapy bodies have condemned Conversion Therapy and signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2017.

To see the online version of the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Package, go to: rainbow-europe.org.
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.




Algiers (Algeria), Nov 16, 2017 (SPS) - The Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, M'hamed Khadad, told Algeria's National Radio that the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) will be present at the EU-UA Summit, which will take place on November 29 and 30 in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan.

"The Saharawi Republic is a founding member of the African Union and it is natural that it will be at the Euro-African Summit," Khadad said, expressing his displeasure at Morocco's attempts to pressure European countries to exclude the SADR from the Summit. .

The Saharawi leader added that it is necessary for the EU to participate in the resolution of the conflict in accordance with the AU and UN resolutions, especially when "the European Court had clarified that Western Sahara and Morocco are separate territories."

Mhamed Khadad demanded that Europe cease its aid to the Moroccan plundering of the Sahrawi natural resources.

the President of the Republic, Brahim Gali, had received a letter of invitation, sent by the President of the African Commission to participate in the EU-AU Summit, it should be recalled SPS

125/090/TRA
Star Sapphire and Vandalous won $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) first-leg preliminaries for two-year-old trotting fillies on Wednesday evening (November 15) at Dover Downs, while Super Fly took the $20,000 male prelim.

Enhance Your Mind scored a 1:52.1 triumph in the $25,000 Mares Open pace.

Vandalous won the fastest of the two Delaware-sired filly trots. Corey Callahan moved the daughter of JM Vangogh to the outside from second to take command in mid-stretch while holding on after a strong finish by Uptown Skunk (Roger Plante) to secure a 1:59.4 success. Chambers Racing, Cinbrew Enterprises, and BCJM, Inc. own Vandalous, a three-time winner in six starts with a second and a third to lift her freshman season earnings to $43,800. Alpine Chic (Allan Davis), who led early, held on for third.

Russell Foster left sharply with Serendipity Stables homebred Star Sapphire in the other DSBF $20,000 division and led throughout a 2:02.2 mile, closing with a :28.3 final quarter. Trained by Tui Stone, the Anders Bluestone-Victory Starburst bay won for the second time in six outings with a second and a third. Deja Vu Blue (Ross Wolfenden) was next in front of Barn Yard Judy (Bret Brittingham).

Star Sapphire, who won the $100,000 Harrington DSBF edition, has now banked $65,650 this year.

Super Fly scored the fastest frosh mile of the day, with Art Stafford, Jr. directing a 1:58.1 victory in the only $20,000 DSBF colt and gelding division. The Super Punk-MLT Feds gelding is owned by Leigh Raymer, Stephen Moss, and Stacy Johnson-Stafford. It was the second win in four outings for Super Fly, who now has won $34,500 at two. Bosston Cruiser (Jonathan Roberts) saw a four-race win streak end, finishing second. Sky Marshal (Carlo Poliseno) was third.

Next week, the DSBF two-year-old preliminaries reach the second and final legs. The top eight DSBF point-earners in both trotting and pacing divisions make the $100,000 finals for colt and filly trotters and pacers on November 30, the same day of the $300,000 (est.) Hap Hansen Progress Pace for three-year-olds.

Enhance Your Mind got back on the winning ledger in the $25,000 Mares Open pace, notching a 1:52.1 win. Last season's Horse of the Meet, a daughter of Riggins-Enhance The Night, got up for regular driver Victor Kirby for her eighth win of the year. She has won $115,520 through her 2017 campaign for owner-trainer Bryan Truitt. St Kitts (Roberts) and Purrfect Bags (Tim Tetrick) finished second and third respectively.

Leading driver Tim Tetrick had three wins to add to his current total of 24, while Russell Foster, Corey Callahan, and Art Stafford, Jr. each had two driving wins. Nick Callahan had two wins to move into second place among trainers; Josh Green also had two winners.

On Thursday (November 16), an outstanding program is headed by four rich Matron Stakes for three-year-olds, a $30,000 Preferred pace, and a $25,000 Open pace. Post time is 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

(Dover Downs)
Officials in the Mohawk Racetrack race office have announced that race office functions for Rideau Carleton Raceway will be centralized out of the Mohawk race office, effective Monday, November 20.

The changes come due to Rideau Carleton Raceway having joined the Standardbred Alliance in Ontario.

The Mohawk race office will take over the Rideau race offices functions beginning with Rideaus card of racing that is scheduled for Thursday, November 23.

Therefore, effective Monday, November 20, please contact the Mohawk race office to conduct entries for Rideau. Draws will be held on Mondays and Thursdays. The direct line to submit entries to the Mohawk race office is 905-854-7805.

The condition sheet for Rideau Carleton Raceway will remain the same through until December 31. The Mohawk race office expects to have Rideaus 2018 condition sheets available by February 1, and they will continue to be posted on the Standardbred Canada website.

Officials in the Mohawk race office understand that the change will be a new process for Rideau horsepeople, however, the race offices experienced staff  Kim Neelands (the assistant race secretary) and clerks Cindy, Dana and Matty  look forward to hearing from everyone.

Questions about the transition can be directed at Scott McKelvie, the racing secretary in the Mohawk race office, at [email protected].
Judicial Watch: New Clinton Classified Emails Discovered

Advisor Sid Blumenthal Writes: 'Serious Trouble for Libyan Rebels'



Contact: Jill Farrell, Judicial Watch, 202-646-5172



WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- Judicial Watch today released 109 pages of new Hillary Clinton emails from her tenure as secretary of state. The documents include two email exchanges classified confidential and a 2011 exchange with Sid Blumenthal about "serious trouble for the Libyan rebels."



The newly-produced emails were part of 72,000 pages of documents the FBI recovered last year in its investigation into Clinton's use of an unsecure, non-government email system. The records include emails Hillary Clinton attempted to delete or did not otherwise disclose.



Two heavily redacted emails marked Classified Confidential included a November 2011 exchange under the Subject: "Egyptian MFA on Hamas-PLO talks," and a June 28, 2011 email from Clinton to Abedin in which Clinton writes "I have now promised the Kuwaiti PM 3 times that I will deliver an address at the Oxford Islamic Center. Pls be sure that's on the list for next Fall/next year."



On March 9, 2011, Sid Blumenthal emailed Clinton about the situation in Libya, with the subject line "H: serious trouble for Libyan rebels. Sid" The email discusses urging leaders of the National Libyan Council (NLC) "to consider hiring private troops (mercenaries) to support, organize, and train the rebel forces in Libya." Blumenthal adds that "a small number of private troops could turn the battle against Qaddafi's forces, particularly if they are equipped with sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons." Clinton asks former aide Huma Abedin to "print for me w/o any identifiers."



The Washington Times reported Libyan officials were deeply concerned in 2011 that Clinton was responsible for weapons being funneled to NATO-backed rebels in Libya with ties to al Qaeda.



On October 6, 2009, Clinton's then-Chief of Staff, Cheryl Mills emails "I am purposefully on gmail" to Abedin and Maggie Williams, former campaign manager for Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. [Emphasis added] Mills was responding to an October 4, 2009, email from Clinton, most of which was redacted.



On January 6, 2012, Clinton can be seen "expediting" a citizenship request so the requestor can get a government job in policy or law enforcement:

I am told by Citizenship and Immigration (CIS) caseworkers that it may be at least another 8 months before they get to me, making the total time more than a year (they advertise 6 months total turnaround time).



Would you consider helping me by reaching out to DHS Secretary Napolitano or CIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas who reports to her on my behalf? The ask is to simply consider moving up my applications for review ASAP. My application is complete, straight forward and I have nothing to hide.

Clinton responds: "I'm copying Huma [Abedin] and asking her to see if we can help expedite this for you because we want you to be a citizen as soon as possible! I've got my fingers crossed. Happy New Year--H"



MORE: www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-new-clinton-classified-emails-discovered/
By

Nathaniel Minor

Rachel Estabrook

Ben Markus

Colorados Taxpayers Bill of Rights has come to define its creator. The constitutional amendment, which places tight controls on government, is nearly synonymous with Douglas Bruce. And thats just fine with him.

One of the reasons that we won is that I was the voice, Bruce said.

But in 2010, as he returned to the world of citizen petitions, Bruce had to take a different tack. That year, voters were presented with three ballot measures to slash taxes. If they passed, theyd effectively double down on Bruces Taxpayers Bill of Rights. Only this time, unlike in 1992, he was in the shadows. No press conferences. No getting in fights with politicians.

I had other people promoting the 2010 issue because I was radioactive in certain circles, Bruce said. People say, I hate Doug Bruce. I love TABOR, but I hate Doug Bruce because of a constant drumbeat for decades, literally decades, saying that Im this evil person. I had other people collecting and filing the signatures.

Courtesy Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News/Chris Schneider

This is likely Bruces first public admission that he was behind Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101, which opponents dubbed the Ugly Three. (In a later interview, Bruce denied he was involved with the measures. But in 2010, an administrative law judge ruled he was.)

Just like with TABOR, politicians and business groups said theyd spell ruin for Colorado. Voters shot them down by wide margins. By this time, even some Republicans thought, its one thing to limit government  its another to blow the whole thing up.

Much of the winning strategy in the Ugly Three campaign came down to tying Bruce to the measures. His history had come back to bite him. And yet, something else from Bruces past meant things were about to get a lot worse for him.

Ever since Bruce was in law school, more than four decades ago, hes carried around the U.S. Constitution in his shirt pocket. In the 2000s, he decided to distribute miniature copies to every graduating senior in Colorados high schools. They were about to become voters, Bruce said. I thought that they should know about their constitutional rights.

The instrument that would give out the pocket Constitutions and advocate for limited government was Bruces very own charity, Active Citizens Together. When Bruce ran for the El Paso County Commission in the mid-2000s, he promised to donate his salary to the charity. And he followed through: He gave away the money and bought pocket Constitutions by the thousands.

Its not like hes losing a lot of respect, because the establishment in Colorado didnt give it to him to begin with.

 Jon Caldara

But his tax return from 2005 didnt show a salary, which eventually caught the eye of then-Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.

Doug had this unique interpretation of the law, Suthers, a Republican, said from his office in Colorado Springs, where he is now mayor. He thought that he didnt have to take his salary and he could just directly donate it to a charity  which happened to be one that he set up.

Colorado asked for back taxes. Then a state Department of Revenue audit found Bruce had other income he didnt report. So Suthers charged the most famous anti-tax advocate in the states history with three felonies, including tax evasion. Prosecutors gave Bruce the opportunity to pay off the back taxes and avoid prison. But he maintained his innocence and vowed to fight the charges.

I ridiculed the governments theory, calling it felony philanthropy, Bruce said. It was all going out to the charity for the charitys purpose, which was telling people about their constitutional rights. Ive still got 40,000 copies of pocket Constitutions in my garage that Ive been interrupted in distributing.

In April 2011, Bruce was arrested as he left a Colorado Springs post office. A reporter asked him at his arraignment if he thought the state was targeting him, and people like him, because of his years of activism. There is nobody like me, Bruce shot back. Theyre going after me, just as they have in all these other cases that theyre piling on, in the hopes that Im just gonna crack or implode or something.

In the courthouse that day, even as he was under attack, Bruce found time to defend his constitutional masterwork. In the middle of his arraignment, on his lunch hour, he filed a protest to a marijuana tax measure. It was precisely that commitment to the cause that the state was trying to undermine, Bruce claimed.

Suthers, who as attorney general defended TABOR against a lawsuit, said he has nothing against Bruce. He likes parts of TABOR, and said he handled Bruces case like any other. With Mr. Bruce, its never anything he did, Suthers said. He totally ignored the tax laws. He totally ignored the process by which he could have resolved this.

Normally in these types of cases, the accused would settle with the Department of Revenue, agree to pay a fine, and avoid a conviction. But thats not Douglas Bruces style. He doggedly fought every fine or violation over the years from Denver city officials unhappy with run-down properties he owned. He was able to get all but one overturned in the 90s. Turns out you can fight city hall and win  at least if youre Douglas Bruce.

This time, though, a jury convicted him. He sees that as a direct result of his decades-long fight against government. Theyre trying to use my bloodied body, so to speak, as an example, Bruce said. If you disagree with the government, were going to send you to prison. Thats the message.

Courtesy Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News/Rick Giase

Bruce initially served three-and-a-half months in Denver County Jail. Disgusted by the jails kitchen, he made it a point to only eat hard-boiled eggs and other sealed foods. I lost 47 pounds, Bruce said.

He was released early for good behavior, but in 2016 ended up back behind bars  this time in Delta Correctional Center in rural Western Colorado  for about six months after violating terms of his probation. There, he said, the conditions were better. He played chess with other inmates and prepared for his parole hearing.

After Bruces embarrassments at the legislature, the tax evasion conviction didnt come as a big surprise to people who followed his career. It also didnt do much to tarnish his already-bruised reputation. Its not like hes losing a lot of respect, because the establishment in Colorado didnt give it to him to begin with, Jon Caldara, Bruces ideological ally told The Denver Post after his conviction.

While the establishment may have turned away from Bruce, they did have to respect the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. With Bruce out of the public eye for a while, TABOR had become ever-present for Colorado politicians. Even after it had been weakened by Referendum C and court rulings, it still touched every little decision governments had to make  from when to hire new firefighters to how to deal with wastewater. So frustrated lawmakers and other government officials learned to get creative.

Before TABOR was finally approved by voters 25 years ago, opponents said thered be chaos if it passed. Governments would be so squeezed that Denver wouldnt be able to pay its police officers. There were worries about how they would keep Pope John Paul II safe on his upcoming visit to the city. Colorado, they said, would be closed for business.

That hasnt happened.

Law enforcement continues to work. The Popes visit became a touchstone of Denvers history. And the states businesses havent folded up their tents. In fact, looking at Denver today, the skyline is littered with tower cranes. Colorado has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Its also one of the fastest-growing states.

People say, I hate Doug Bruce. I love TABOR, but I hate Doug Bruce. 

 Douglas Bruce

Those 25-year-old doom-and-gloom predictions look so wrong today partly because, at least at the local level, they underestimated how much voters would be willing to raise their own taxes and let the government spend a little more.

Local politicians started putting tax questions to voters immediately after TABOR passed. More than 2,500 cities, counties, school districts and special districts have successfully asked voters to weaken some parts of the law. Those requests usually ask voters not to raise taxes, but to be able to keep tax revenue beyond the cap. That process came to be known as de-Brucing  a reference that Bruce despises, but grudgingly accepts as a badge of honor.

Those smaller appeals largely succeed because Coloradans trust local government more than state government, said Sam Mamet, executive director of the Colorado Municipal League. Hes generally critical of the rigidness of Bruces magnum opus, but sees some upside. TABOR has helped us sharpen our skills in talking to citizens about what local governments do, and services they provide, Mamet said. He also believes some administrations have gotten more efficient  even combining police or building departments when they cant fund their own.

Some still feel TABORs pinch though. Leadville, an impoverished historic mountain mining town about 100 miles west of Denver, did not de-Bruce until November 2017. Mayor Greg Labbe said the city would have had to refund $30,000 to $40,000 had taxpayers voted no. That would have been a big chunk of the citys $2 million annual budget.

When we have any kind of prosperity, we have to give some of that money back, Labbe said prior to the vote. We really need to be able to keep the money ... I cant pay competitive wages. I cant buy new fire equipment. I cant pave my streets.

Local voters have proven willing to approve tax increases more often than not, Mamet said. Even Douglas Bruce himself once voted for a tax increase  for the library system in Colorado Springs. I thought that they had a good use for the money, Bruce said. It was an uncharacteristic admission, one that didnt last long. After the election, I changed my mind about that one.

Not every locality has been successful in convincing voters to raise taxes. Others only pass an increase after years of campaigning, and are still left with a lot of needs they cant fund. Take Northern Colorados Greeley-Evans School District 6. For at least a decade, the school board has tried to raise property taxes. But voters twice rebuffed the proposal, even though the district is in one of the nations fastest-growing counties and located at the heart of the states most recent oil and gas boom. The district is also one of the lowest funded in the state.

Ben Markus/CPR News

Superintendent Deirdre Pilch said her district has more than $300 million in deferred maintenance. Schools need new roofs, buses, heating and cooling systems, security systems, and new technology in classrooms. Thats led to difficult decisions.

Do we patch that roof or do we increase our bus drivers salary? Do we patch that roof or do we update technology? Do we patch that roof or do we lower class size? she said.

Pilch got emotional talking about her students, who are mostly low-income and often need extra help to learn. I knew the kind of challenges wed have here, Pilch said, laughing and crying at the same time. But she chose to move from wealthy Boulder to this district because, I know deep in my soul that public education is the great equalizer.

In 2016, Pilch hoped her district would join all the others that have successfully asked taxpayers for more money to improve the schools. She was heartbroken on election night when they said no. But in 2017, voters passed a mill levy override that will raise an additional $14 million annually for the next seven years. Its a heck of a start to filling those gaps, Pilch said on election night. But she acknowledged that its not enough money to address major building needs. For those, she said, the district will need to go to voters again.

Money issues are ever-present for some districts on Colorados Eastern Plains, as well. In the Buffalo School District for example, Superintendent Rob Sanders is losing workers for a simple reason: He cant pay very much. I just lost a custodian this week so she could serve drinks in a bar, because she can make more money, Sanders told lawmakers during the 2016 legislative session.

Why are we afraid to ask the people of Colorado to make a decision? Put it out there for the people to vote on, because thats exactly what TABOR allows.

 Sen. Lois Court, Democrat

TABOR is not solely responsible for these budget crises, but it certainly plays a part. Bruces creation and the Gallagher Amendment, which voters passed into the Constitution in 1982, have combined to drive down how much revenue local governments can raise to fund schools. Local taxes used to pay for about two-thirds of the total K-12 bill, with the state picking up the last third. Now thats flipped, with the states general fund covering most of the tab.

The state, though, faces its own fiscal challenges  even though lawmakers figured out a way to sidestep a constitutional amendment that tried to require them to raise K-12 spending every year. As a result, per student spending in Colorado has actually gone down nearly a thousand dollars since 2008. Almost half of school districts have gone to four days a week to save money. Colorado has turned into a patchwork where funding varies widely from district to district.

Despite TABOR, the states budget has grown almost every year. Referendum C, passed in 2005, is a big reason: its allowed the state to keep more than $17 billion that would have otherwise been refunded. But every year lawmakers find themselves squeezed when they have to balance the checkbook. And the biggest loser is higher education.

In the early 2000s, TABOR forced lawmakers to dramatically cut higher education from the general fund, and support for colleges and universities hasnt recovered. Limited state funds and the ability to increase tuition have, together, pushed Colorado and other states toward a funding model in which the share of higher education costs borne by individuals and families has increased dramatically while state funding has declined, a legislative report from 2016 said.

Colorado is on track to become the first state to zero out higher education from its general fund. It could happen as soon as 2019, according to one study. Thats evidence to how TABOR has gradually restrained the state budget, said Reeves Brown, a Republican whos been active in state politics for decades.

Thirty years ago, the most staunch conservative in the state would never have advocated, Well heres an idea, why dont we just quit funding higher ed? Why dont we stop that? Nobody wouldve suggested that. And yet thats exactly the trajectory that were on, Brown said.

Courtesy Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News/Jay Koelzer

In 2015, Brown led a tour around Colorado to ask whether residents were happy with what they get out of state and local government. He had the backing of Dan Ritchie, a Republican and one of Denvers biggest philanthropists. Browns group, Building a Better Colorado, got people to talk about TABOR and other constitutional amendments that tie the states finances.

Brown thinks most people who voted for TABOR did so because they heard Bruces pitch  You can vote on taxes. But he suspects theyre largely unaware of everything else in the law, including the revenue limits and changes to the electoral system. We are not saying TABOR is a problem, he said. Were just saying people ought to have an honest conversation about, Exactly what does TABOR do and what did you want TABOR to do? 

In some of the most conservative areas of Colorado, they saw something surprising. In anonymous votes, groups of conservatives said there needed to be big changes with TABOR. Some even said theyd get rid of it altogether and start over.

Those meetings didnt result in any changes to TABOR. But they led to 2016s Amendment 71, which made it more difficult for citizens to amend the state constitution. These days, it would be much harder for Douglas Bruce to get TABOR on the ballot.

On a recent Friday, Loquita Leverett had just finished one of the dreaded errands of life: a visit to the Department of Motor Vehicles. As she emerged from a DMV office in Denver after registering her new Ford Focus, one thing was on her mind: The $500 fee she paid.

I wish it was cheaper, she said, remembering the $38 she used to pay when she lived in New Jersey. I would be happy with half, if not a fourth of the cost we just paid.

Those sky-high fees are partly an end run around TABOR. In 2008, a report warned that the states transportation system faced a quiet crisis. More than 100 bridges were deficient; the report recommended the state raise another $1.5 billion for transportation each year.

Nathaniel Minor/CPR News

Unwilling to go to voters to ask for a tax increase, the legislature instead jacked up vehicle registration fees in 2009  about $40 for the average car. Those fees have added up to more than $200 million a year since then, and have helped repair roads and bridges across the state. While Bruce was in custody, other TABOR defenders attacked the fees in court, arguing they were unconstitutional.

Theyre stealing hundreds of millions of dollars, Bruce now says of the fees. Those are just blatantly illegal. But the courts sided with the state. Other fee hikes have stood as well, for things like parks and business licenses and hospital stays.

The states also figured out ways to take on debt, which TABOR tried to limit, through funding mechanisms called certificates of participation. And its converted entire agencies, like Colorado Parks and Wildlife and some colleges, into TABOR-exempt enterprises.

These and other sidesteps have led to a convoluted budgeting process, but theyve allowed the state government to grow faster and avoid cuts. We do not have a crisis right now, said Henry Sobanet, Gov. John Hickenloopers budget director. But those workarounds have frustrated some of TABOR biggest defenders in the state Capitol, including Bruces friend Sen. Kevin Lundberg. Ive been down here for 15 years, and I have watched the process again and again, Lundberg said. Political forces have found ways to get around TABOR.

Opponents say theyre just trying to do what they think the state needs, and complain any workarounds theyve developed amount to relatively small potatoes. Despite higher car fees, for example, roads have only gotten worse in the last decade. Now, 70 percent are in poor or mediocre condition. The Colorado Department of Transportation said it has a billion-dollar funding gap every year.

There is nobody like me.

 Douglas Bruce

Regardless of the need, and despite Colorados booming economy, politicians have hesitated to ask voters for more tax revenue. Lawmakers nearly placed a request on the 2016 ballot ask for a sales taxes hike to raise $3.5 billion for the states roads. Republicans killed it. One senator said he didnt want voters to have to defend themselves from a tax increase. That made Democrats seethe.

Im beyond frustrated, Sen. Lois Court, D-Denver, said during debate. Why are we afraid to ask the people of Colorado to make a decision? Put it out there for the people to vote on, because thats exactly what TABOR allows and thats exactly what this bill does.

One reason for the hesitancy might be the fact that in 25 years statewide voters have only agreed to raise taxes twice: for cigarettes and marijuana.

What, then, is TABORs legacy now, 25 years after it became law? Workarounds have allowed lawmakers to more or less keep most government services intact. (Though in doing so theyve made their budgets even more arcane, an ironic result given that Bruce sought to force government transparency.) TABOR never limited government growth as much as Bruce wanted, especially after Referendum C passed and thousands of local governments de-Bruced. TABORs biggest defenders say its a shell of itself  an analysis Bruce reluctantly agrees with.

His assessment: It temporarily scared the pants off of crooked politicians.

But thats an understatement. Voters have a big say in how much their governments can grow. Even with the states swelling economic success, lawmakers struggle every year to scrape together enough money to balance the budget. Its precariously balanced, according to Phyllis Resnick, lead economist at the Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University. There certainly isnt room for a big spending project, like a revamp of Interstate 70 through the mountains or new transit to alleviate Front Range congestion, without first going to the voters or using non-traditional funding models like public-private partnerships.

If you disagree with the government, were going to send you to prison. Thats the message.

 Douglas Bruce

Many see that as a clear sign of success. The state government has avoided the fiscal problems facing big-spending states like Connecticut, Illinois and California. But Democrats say Colorado needs to spend big on infrastructure now  during the boom times  to head off even larger problems down the road. The question going forward, for both lawmakers and voters, is how bad the problem needs to get first.

Dont expect a structural change anytime soon. Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, demurred when former Gov. Roy Romer implored him to lead a movement to repeal TABOR in 2015. His political calculation was simple: TABOR is popular. And why shouldnt it be? Public officials have proved adept at funding the services people expect, even with Douglas Bruces guardrails on the books.

And while persuading Coloradans to give themselves the right to vote on tax increases was a Herculean task, convincing them to take that away would be far more difficult. Since TABOR passed, Coloradans have voted twice to make it harder to amend the state Constitution. In that sense, TABORs legacy, and that of Douglas Bruce, goes far beyond taxes and spending. Bruce and his creation have fundamentally changed how Coloradans interact with their government.

In July of 2016, Douglas Bruce went before a parole board. He said that if he were freed, hed go back to Colorado Springs, pick his real estate business back up and lead a quiet life. Then he made a very uncharacteristic admission.

I accept responsibility for all of my actions, Bruce said. I deeply regret them. Theyll never happen again.

Nathaniel Minor/CPR News

Asked about his apology a year later, Bruce stood by it  sort of. Those are true statements. That doesnt mean I did anything wrong, Bruce said. I said something in a way that sounds like contrition, but it isnt contrition. Obviously, I regret their stealing six months out of my life to put me in a hole somewhere It was disgusting. It wasnt depressing, because I rose above it mentally. OK? Because I knew I did nothing wrong, and I was going to have to spend my life, when I got back out, climbing out of this hole that these evil, corrupt people had put me in.

In the audio of Bruces hearing, he sounds tired and frustrated for having to ask for his freedom back. But hes not ready to give up his fight. Im not going to let them win, he said recently, his voice rising. I did nothing wrong, nothing wrong, nothing wrong.

Just like every other setback in his life, going to prison hasnt stopped Bruce. He still owns dozens of rental properties (and owes more than $120,000 in back taxes according to the Colorado Springs Gazette). And hes often at city council meetings in Colorado Springs these days, waiting for his turn to speak to rows of mostly empty chairs. Hes always at the ready to take on politicians, as hes done so many times before. At the start of 2017, he called out councilors for a flagrant violation of TABOR. The remedy? He handed out copies of the law to every council member  in size 32 font.

But his never-ending battle to defend TABOR isnt his only fight. He wants to get his tax evasion conviction vacated  not to repair his long-spoiled reputation, but to make a point. Its about getting back something even more important than friends, or money, or popularity.

I was deprived of my right to vote, Bruce said. I had a perfect voting record since age 21.

As a felon on parole, he cant vote now. This is a man who wrote a new Bill of Rights, meant to expand peoples individual freedom and give them new powers. And he doesnt get to participate.

- -

Editors Note: This story has been updated to clarify why Douglas Bruce is not eligible to vote.
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
Construction hasnt even started on the Port of Kalamas new major warehouse building, but the port already has scored a second tenant for the property.

The port announced Wednesday that its inked a deal with Oklahoma-based Marco Industries to lease 30,000 square feet of the 110,000 square-foot building.

The manufacturer makes fasteners and other components for metal roofing.

Marco Industries is relocating its Portland facility to Kalama, bringing 10 employees with it, said Blake Atkins, owner and president. Its possible the company could hire more Kalama employees in the future as business allows.

Atkins said the Kalama location will be nearly triple the size of its Portland facility.

Were bursting at the seams and were expanding right in that region, he said.

Most of Marcos products are made in Oklahoma, so the Kalama location will be used primarily for warehousing and distributing to the companys Northwest customers.

Marco will be right next to one of its biggest customers, Bridger Steel. The port announced last week that Bridger will lease 30,000 square feet of space in the same new warehouse. Bridger initially will hire six to 10 employees, but that number will double in about three years, the company says.

Bridger Steel produces steel siding and roofing, often with coils purchased from Steelscape, another Port of Kalama tenant. After the metal roofing is formed, Bridger often pairs its own products with fasteners and other parts from Marco Industries to make a complete roofing package to sell to its customers, Atkins said.

Bridger and Marco together will occupy about 60 percent of the completed warehouse building. The port still is still searching for tenants for the remaining space.

Marco Industries will pay the port about $164,500 annually for the three-year lease. There also are four one-year options to extend the lease, too.

JH Kelly will break ground on the $8 million building in December. Marco Industries hopes to be operating out of Kalama by July.

Atkins said many of his Vancouver-based employees are looking forward to shorter commute times.

Theyll be driving further but probably half the amount of time as it takes to get to Portland (from Vancouver), he said.

Easy access to Interstate 5 was a big selling point, too.

The Port of Kalama is an ideal location for Marco to expand its presence in the Pacific Northwest and to service its growing customer base in the region because of its proximity to transportation routes and the availability of qualified labor, Atkins.
Six choices led to six shots, three lives taken and a fourth altered forever, and a ripple effect that impacted a whole community.

This was the narrative prosecutors wove for jurors during closing arguments Wednesday in Brent Luysters triple aggravated murder trial in Clark County Superior Court.

The jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon after hearing about eight days of testimony. Deliberation resumes this morning.

Luyster, 37, is accused of fatally shooting his best friend, Zachary David Thompson, 36; friend, Joseph Mark LaMar, 38; and LaMars partner, Janell Renee Knight, 43, at LaMars home southeast of Woodland. Thompsons partner, Breanne Leigh, then 32, was wounded but escaped. She identified Luyster as the shooter.

Luyster denies shooting any of them.

On July 15, 2016, the defendant made six choices that cannot be taken back. He pulled that trigger six times, firing six shots. With those six shots, he took three lives and tried to take a fourth. With those six shots, he caused irreversible harm to the people closest to him, Deputy Prosecutor Laurel Smith told the jury.

Luyster also left some things behind, Smith said, including shell casings, bullet wounds, beer cans with his fingerprints, a cigarette butt with his DNA, shattered auto glass from his alleged getaway vehicle and the bodies of his friends.

And he left a memory seared in (Leighs) mind  a memory that she cannot get rid of, the look of his face when he shot her, Smith said.

However, Luysters defense attorney, Chuck Buckley, argued there was much lacking in the prosecutions case; for starters, motive and the firearm used in the shootings.

He also called into question law enforcements investigation of the case and said that, from the beginning, they wanted to pin the alleged murders on Luyster.

Investigators handpicked what items to collect as evidence and submit for testing, Buckley argued. And nothing that belonged to Luyster yielded blood from the victims.

They didnt look for any other suspect. They didnt look for any other evidence that would in any way incriminate anybody else, Buckley argued. It was a rush to judgment on the part of law enforcement. There is no doubt about that.

Buckley said its possible someone else could have gone to LaMars house after Luyster left and committed the shootings.

The prosecution rested its case on eyewitness testimony from Leigh, whose memory of the events of that night were inconsistent, he said.

Deputy Prosecutor James Smith argued that its preposterous to believe a mystery person committed the shootings and didnt leave a trace.

He said Leigh remembered many details from the night of the shooting, which were corroborated by physical evidence and other witnesses.

Not once has she wavered in her identification of the man who shot her, not once. Not on the stand and not when she met with (a detective), he said.

James Smith also argued that its not required of the prosecution to prove a motive, though prosecutors offered a few.

Luyster was upset about federal agents picking up a pending criminal case in Cowlitz County and potentially going back into custody, Laurel Smith said. He was upset, maybe, because there was talk among his friends about killing his former girlfriend, the victim in the pending case. She argued maybe Luyster was concerned Thompson and LaMar, who posted his bail, would revoke it. Maybe he thought his friends were informing on him, she said.

Now, we cant know the defendants thought process. But we do know that he was stressed, that he was unhappy, that he was concerned, and we know that he was drinking, Laurel Smith said.

Buckley argued that all of those scenarios are pure speculation and dont make sense.

We dont have the why here. What we have is the lack of why, he said.

But what the case does have is a significant amount of confusion, he added.

Luysters girlfriend, Andrea Sibley, testified that Luyster was intoxicated and belligerent. And Luyster estimated that he had consumed about 10 beers that night.

Buckley questioned how someone so intoxicated could shoot and kill three people and get away unscathed, particularly when one of the victims, Thompson, was also armed.

Sibley had also testified that she was afraid and didnt like to be around Luyster when he was intoxicated, and yet her actions showed otherwise, Buckley said. Sibley drove Luyster home and then to his uncles house in Ocean Park in the middle of the night. She decided to pull over the next day to rest at Abernathy Creek off of Ocean Beach Highway, at which time Luyster was apprehended by Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies.

James Smith argued that the defense can pick apart Sibleys testimony, but they cant explain it away. Her testimony, along with Leighs and Luysters, places him at the scene of the shootings. And the timeline of events  corroborated by cellphone records and the time law enforcement was dispatched, as well as travel times  also placed him there at the time of the alleged murders, he said.

Its no coincidence that Luyster had access to a .45 caliber pistol, the same believed to be used in the shootings, James Smith said. Investigators found packaging for the firearm in a storage unit Luyster shared with Sibley. It was also no coincidence that Luyster fled to the coast after the shootings, he said.

Buckley argued that if Luyster was fleeing, it doesnt make sense that he was found while heading back to Woodland.

The prosecution urged jurors to find the alleged murders were premeditated. They argued that Luyster made the conscious decision to first shoot LaMar and could have stopped there, but he continued and shot the others. Prosecutors also asked the jury to find aggravating circumstances that could allow for a life sentence if Luyster is convicted of first-degree murder.
Editors note: Todays editorials originally appeared in The Yakima Herald-Republic and Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. Editorial content from other publications is provided to give readers a sampling of regional and national opinion and does not necessarily reflect positions endorsed by the Editorial Board of The Daily News.

A universal topic that prompts communal automotive grumbling is Washington states gasoline tax; at 49.4 cents per gallon, its one of the highest in the country. In 2015, a phased-in bump-up of 11.9 cents per gallon raised the tax to its current level, with legislative supporters arguing the increase was needed for essential projects such as the Interstate 90 expansion over Snoqualmie Pass, highways that improve access to Puget Sound ports, and long-deferred maintenance of roads and bridges.

But state Department of Transportation officials have fretted for a number of years that the gas taxs impact is eroding. Vehicles are getting more fuel-efficient, the number of electric and hybrid cars is rising, and people overall are less inclined to drive as much as in past decades. The DOT estimates a 45 percent decline in gas tax revenue by 2035. So the state wants a few more good drivers  yes, we know that there are good ones out there  to test a gas-tax alternative.

The state put out the call last summer for volunteers to take part in a pilot program that may be the first step toward a road usage charge, which taxes vehicles by miles traveled rather than by gasoline guzzled. Last week, word came that about half of the 2,000 drivers needed had stepped forward, but that another 1,000 or so are needed for the program to get going early next year, as the state would like to do.

The state Road Usage Charge Steering Committee  yes, steering is in the title  is overseeing the project, and it welcomes drivers from the open spaces of Central Washington and with any kind of car, whether a green electric vehicle or a fuel-thirsty pickup or SUV. For monitoring, drivers will have a choice of a mileage permit with a predetermined block of miles, routine odometer readings, a GPS device or a cellphone app. The Legislature will accept feedback from the test and will shape future policy from there.

The public is likely to be wary of a government program that tracks where people are driving, and state Sen. Curtis King of Yakima raises the question of how to factor in miles driven out of state. Nonetheless, the gas tax  which has been around since 1921  is due for a review. Motorists behind the wheel of a hybrid or electric car still use the roads and contribute to wear and tear, but they contribute less for construction and upkeep of those motorways.

So .. will a miles tax be an improvement over a gas tax? The states experiment, if it gets the required number of drivers, will be a step toward determining whether  as a matter of both policy and politics  it is a way to go.

Approval of state capital budget still means compromise

When the state Legislature convenes in January, Democrats will be in control. And that reality has some folks thinking a politically unified House, Senate and Governors Office will be able to finally approve the capital (or construction) budget that stalled this year because of an impasse between Democrats who controlled the House and Republicans who controlled the Senate.

Well, those people could find themselves being wrong  and frustrated.

Democrats will control the Legislature by a slim margin  one vote in the Senate and two votes in the House  but it takes a supermajority (60 percent) to approve the bonding (as in funding) for the capital budget.

That means Democrats wont be able to approve the capital budget without Republican votes. A deal  a compromise  will be necessary to get the capital budget approved, and it must be approved ASAP.

The fact it was not approved by the July 1 deadline, the beginning of the new fiscal year for the state, has already cost taxpayers plenty. In October, the Walla Walla City Council authorized issuance of up to $23.66 million in bonds and bond anticipation notes.

This was necessary because the state didnt pass the capital budget, which would have allowed the city to borrow for its water treatment plant and other projects. The result will be $430,660 in interest payments. The story was the same for local governments across the state.

Lawmakers failed to agree on the capital budget before the deadline because Democrats would not join with Republicans in finding a fix for the Hirst court decision, which essentially put the onus on local governments and property owners to determine if enough groundwater is physically and legally available before they issue building permits in rural areas.

To be clear, the failure to reach a compromise to this point is bipartisan.

The current Senate Republican Leader, Mark Schoesler, who will likely be the minority leader in January, said he is against a giving the OK to a capital budget without an agreement to address the Hirst decision.

Show me a Hirst fix that can get the support of 60 percent of the members, he said. Whats changed?

The costs associated with not having a capital budget grow larger day after day. A solution for the citizens of Washington state is overdue.

Democrats took control of the Senate because of Tuesdays election. That puts them in charge, and makes them responsible for getting things done.

Leaders from both parties need to get together between now and the opening of the legislative session, hammer out a reasonable compromise on the capital budget and Hirst decision, and then take action.

This mess has already cost taxpayers too much.
Tremendous Greek

Maruf Zakaria :

Architecture is one of the smartest professions of world. It provides the beauty and nature blended with a building or a structure. People used to build their shelter for survival in nature. They used to do that to protect from animal and natural disaster. People from various civilizations developed the method of building designs.

Greeks were very rich with their civilization. And they were great builders. They developed their structure and architecture during many stages. The architecture of ancient Greece is the architecture produced by the Greek-speaking people (Hellenic people) whose culture flourished on the Greek mainland, the Peloponnese, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies in Anatolia and Italy for a period from about 900 BC until the 1st century AD, with the earliest remaining architectural works dating from around 600 BC. Ancient Greek architecture is best known from its temples, many of which are found throughout the region, mostly as ruins but many substantially intact. The second important type of building that survives all over the Hellenic world is the open-air theatre, with the earliest dating from around 525-480 BC. Other architectural forms that are still in evidence are the processional gateway (propylon), the public square (agora) surrounded by storied colonnade (stoa), the town council building (bouleuterion), the public monument, the monumental tomb (mausoleum) and the stadium.

Greek architects provided some of the finest and most distinctive buildings in the entire Ancient World and some of their structures, such as temples, theatres, and stadia, would become staple features of towns and cities from antiquity onwards. In addition, the Greek concern with simplicity, proportion, perspective, and harmony in their buildings would go on to greatly influence architects in the Roman world and provide the foundation for the classical architectural orders which would dominate the western world from the Renaissance to the present day. The history of art and architecture in Ancient Greece is divided into three basic eras: The Archaic Period (600-500 BCE), the Classical Period (500-323 BCE) and the Hellenistic Period (323-27 BCE). About 600 BCE, inspired by the theory and practice of earlier Egyptian stone masons and builders, the Greeks set about replacing the wooden structures of their public buildings with stone structures - a process known as 'petrification'. Limestone and marble was employed for columns and walls, while terracotta was used for roof tiles and ornaments. Decoration was done in metal, like bronze.

Greek Architect used simple post-and-lintel building techniques. It wasn't until the Roman era that the arch was developed in order to span greater distances. As a result, Greek architects were forced to employ a great many more stone columns to support short horizontal beams overhead. Moreover, they could not construct buildings with large interior spaces, without having rows of internal support columns. The standard construction format, used in public buildings like the Hephaesteum at Athens, employed large blocks of limestone or a light porous stone known as tuff. Marble, being scarcer and more valuable was reserved for sculptural decoration, except in the grandest buildings, such as the Parthenon on the Acropolis. Acropolis was the city center where general people were not permitted to get enter. This place was for their god and they treated as the house for god. And the scale of that building was many times larger than the human scale. Acropolis was known as the city of temple where the entire temple for each god was reserved.

The typical rectangular building design was often surrounded by a column on all four sides (the Parthenon) or more rarely at the front and rear only (the Temple of Athena Nike). Roofs were laid with timber beams covered by terracotta tiles, and were not domed. Pediments (the flattened triangular shape at each gable end of the building) were usually filled with sculptural decoration or friezes, as was the row of lintels along the top of each side wall, between the roof and the tops of the columns. In the late 4th and 5th centuries BCE, Greek architects began to depart from the strictly rectangular plan of traditional temples in favor of a circular structure (the tholos), embellished with black marble to highlight certain architectural elements and provide rich color contrasts. The interesting part of their architectural design is keeping symmetry in all over their work. Greeks were divided in their temples according to their design. They used a lot of columns. So that such kind of space came out decoratively.

There are three distinct orders in Ancient Greek architecture: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. These three were adopted by the Romans, who modified their capitals. The Roman adoption of the Greek orders took place in the 1st century BC. The three ancient Greek orders have since been consistently used in neo-classical European architecture.

Sometimes the Doric order is considered the earliest, but there is no evidence to support this. Rather, the Doric and Ionic orders seem to have appeared at around the same time, the Ionic in eastern Greece and the Doric in the west and mainland.

Both the Doric and the Ionic order appear to have originated in wood. The Temple of Hera in Olympia is the oldest well-preserved temple of Doric architecture. It was built just after 600 BC. The Doric order later spread across Greece and into Sicily where it was the chief order for monumental architecture for 800 years.

This practice of architecture create new era and made example of pure architecture. Their structure development arrangement of functions and proportion sense is totally remarkable. In fact, in the name of great builders their should always be the first name of Greek architecture which makes a tremendous impact on work of pioneer and master architects and architecture posture.

(The writer is 4th year student of Department of Architecture

at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology)
Humayun Mela, Himu Day

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :

Ever since the birthday of

eminent litterateur has been declared as Himu Day, hundreds of youth have gathered, every year on the same day, to

personify the most celebrated fictional character created

by the writer.

Humayun Mela and Himu Day was successfully held and celebrated on November 13.

Ever since the birthday of

eminent litterateur Humayun Ahmed has been declared as Himu Day, hundreds of youth have gathered, every year on the same day, to personify the most celebrated fictional character

created by the writer on the Channel i studio premises.

However, this years Humayun Mela was made special by the presence of Nuhash Humayun, the late authors son, who visited the fair to celebrate Himu Day for the first time in six years.

It had a positive effect on the organisers as well, even though the author's widow Meher Afroz Shaon was absent.

At the Humayun Mela,

organised by the channel to mark the 69th birth anniversary of the author, the bare-footed youths in yellow punjabis

wandered around aimlessly

at the stalls in the fair to reflect the spirit of the fictional

character they bear within.

The first ever Humayun Mela was held at the Channel i studio premises on November 13, 2013.

Himu Day was first celebrated in the precedent year throughout Dhaka University campus.

Humayun Ahmed died from colorectal cancer on July 19, 2012 at Bellevue Hospital in

New York, and later buried in Nuhash Polli.

Often credited with revitalising the Bangla literature, the creator of Himu is one of the most

celebrated authors in Bangladeshi literature. n
DINAJPUR(South): A meeting of Advocacy Platform Committee, Fulbari Upazila Unit was held at Fulbari Press Club on Tuesday.
DIU signs 10 MoUs in China AUAP

Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Daffodil International University exchanging MoU documents signed at the 32nd Annual Conference of the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) during November 7-10, 2017 in Xi\'an Internation

Campus Report :

Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, DIU joined as an elected Director of the Executive Council at the 32nd Annual Conference of the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) during November 7-10, 2017 in Xi'an International University, Xi'an City, China.

Ten bilateral agreements (MOU) between DIU and some reputed universities from Philippines, Cambodia, China, and Indonesia were signed during the occasion. Khan, on behalf of DIU signed the agreements with his counterparts, respectively.

The great outcomes of the discussion and MOUs between DIU and other international universities are to initiate: student and faculty exchange, summer school, faculty training, short visits, dual degrees, credit transfer, joint research, scholarship, etc. in coming days.
CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin addressing the representatives conference of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, Chittagong District Unit at a city posh hotel as Chief Guest on Tuesday.
Purbokone Editor's death condoled

Chittagong Bureau :

President and Secretary General of Hajj Pilgrims Welfare Parishad Chittagong Ahmedul Hoque Chowdhury and Principal Dr.Abdul Karim respectively in a press statement expressed profound shock at the demise of the Editor of Dainik Purbokone Engr. Taslimuddin Chowdhury who died on early morning of Wednesday.

The statement was told that the media world will remember the contributions of Architect Engr.Taslimuddin Chowdhury to the prining and newspaper industry. They said nation lost a intellectual and a well reputed journalist of the country.

They prayed for salavation of the departed soul and express sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.

Meanwhile President, Senior Vice President and General Secretary of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, Chittagong District Unit Saleh Ahmed Suleman, Haji Shahabuddin and Md.Sagir Ahmed expressed deep shock at the sudden demise of the Editor of Dainik Purkone.


Two held with 10,000 Yaba tablets

BSS, Chittagong :

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested two youths with 10,000 pieces of contraband yaba tablets after searching a passenger's bus in Mozzarteq area under Karnaphuli thana in the city early Wednesday.

The arrested were identified as Shahid Maju-mdar, 32, hailed from Dhaka and Abdul Awal Promanik, 38, hailed from Sirajganj district.
'Robber' killed by mob

UNB, Pabna :

An alleged robber was killed in a mob beating at Dharbila village in Sadar upazila on early Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Mukul Hossian, 40, son of Golam Hossain, of Mujibnagar upazila of Meherpur.

Police said a gang of robbers numbering 7 to 8, was taking preparation for committing robbery at the house of Abul Kashem of the village around 3:00 am.

Hearing the hue and cry, locals rushed to the spot and chased the robbers and caught the man while the rest managed to flee.

The mob then gave him a good beating, leaving him critically injured.

He was rushed to Pabna General Hospital where duty doctor declared him dead.
High level FMs team to visit Rohingya camps on Sunday

UNB, Dhaka :

Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali will accompany Foreign Ministers of Germany, Sweden, Japan and the European Union High Representative in their Cox's Bazar visit to see Rohingya situation on the ground on Sunday.

Foreign Minister of Germany Sigmar Gabriel, Foreign Minister of Sweden Margot Wallstrom, Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono and High Representative of the EU Federica Mogherini will be there for a day-long visit to observe firsthand the plight of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

The high dignitaries and their delegations are expected to separately arrive in Dhaka a day early. The combined visit of four high level delegations is the first of its kind since the crisis began in August 2017.

During the visit, the high level delegations will interact with the Rohingya people at Kutupalong.

They will also witness the humanitarian operations by the government of Bangladesh, UN agencies and local and international NGOs.

It is hoped that the visit will garner further international support for the Rohingya community, said the Foreign Ministry here on Thursday.

The high dignitaries are expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after their return from Cox's Bazar on the same day. Bangladesh has been providing shelter and humanitarian support to over a million forcibly displaced Rohingya people. International community lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government for the compassion and generosity shown to the Myanmar people seeking refuge in Bangladesh.

The combined visit by the Foreign Ministers of European countries, Japan and EU High Representative reflects the support for Rohingyas in the international community. It would also lend strong support to Bangladesh's ongoing diplomatic efforts, bilateral as well as multilateral, for early and sustainable return of forcibly displaced Rohingyas in safety and dignity. After the visit, Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh and Germany are expected to travel together to Myanmar to attend the 13th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the ASEM in Nay Pyi Daw.
Angelina Jolie voices against sexual violence of Rohingyas

UNB, Dhaka :

In the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, Vancouver, Special Envoy of the UNHCR and Co-Founder, Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative Angelina Jolie shared her strong views on the Rohingya victims of sexual violence.

Earlier, Lt Gen Mahfuzur Rahman, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh in a closed meeting on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse sought Angelina Jolie's support to voice against the sexual exploitation of Rohingya women and children.

In response, she shared with Bangladesh delegation that she is planning to see the Rohingya victims of sexual violence and she would mention this in her key note speech in the Ministerial. She deeply applauded Bangladesh's generous humanitarian approach, said the Foreign Ministry here on Thursday.

Later, she mentioned accordingly in her keynote speech about the sexual violence faced by almost each female Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh and condemned the armed conflict in Myanmar.Angelina Jolie also congratulated Bangladesh along with Canada and UK for their leadership role in launching "women, peace and security Chief of Defence network" yesterday morning in Vancouver. Bangladesh delegation to this UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, Vancouver is headed by Major General ( Rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Defense and Security Adviser to Prime Minister.
Top militants disappearing being freed on bail

Blame game continues between jail authorities and law enforcement agencies: Detectives in dark about fugitives' whereabouts

Md Joynal Abedin Khan :

Around 550 top ranking militants, including the members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), have allegedly disappeared after being released getting bail from different courts.

Members of law enforcing agencies are in dark about the whereabouts of the bailed men due to lack of information and also for not getting cooperation from the prisons authorities.

Of the bailed militants, some members of the banned militant outfits -mainly JMB, were arrested later from abroad, mainly India, Malaysia and Singapore, according to the media reports.

Legal experts opined that the militants are coming out form the jail by getting bail because of weakness of surveillances.

Taking the chance of security loophole, top militant leaders are instructing their followers. As a result, with new sprit they are carrying out attack one after another across the country.

Law enforcers do not have any information about hideouts of over 550 bailed led-out militants, said intelligence sources quoting a senior police officer.

More than 1,800 militants are now in jails across the country. Of them 21 militants who being awarded with death sentence are now staying in jails for years without any execution because of delay in hearing on death reference, Jailed sources claimed.

At the National Committee on Militancy Resistance and Prevention meeting in September, members from the security and intelligence agencies said 440 people accused in 331 militancy related cases have fled the country last five years after getting bail.

According to an estimate of Headquarters of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the elite force arrested 1,097 militants till the month of September. Of them, on bail are 192 members of JMB and 72 of Huji, but the intelligence could not confirm the whereabouts of 91 militants.

A total of 2,856 operatives of different militant outfits have so far been arrested while the number of the fugitives is 660, detective sources said.

The members of law enforcing agencies continued their drives to arrest their estimated 5,000 members and followers of the militant organizations, said an earlier notice of Police Headquarters (PHQs).

A police official seeking anonymity mentioned what happened in Mymensingh in 2014 when militant Anwar Hossain Faruq - after securing bail along with some of his associates - ambushed a prison van and freed three notorious militants. Later Faruq was arrested on September 25, 2016 by Kolkata police in a drive at a JMB hideout from Bangaon in West Bengal.

Earlier, Law Minister Anisul Huq urged the judges to become more cautious and rigid in granting bail to the accused detained in connection with militancy-related cases.

"I appeal to the judges to become more rigid in granting bail to the accused in militancy-related cases considering responsibilities of the judiciary and the country's law and order situation," the minister said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, "Militancy is now under control. The government is on hard line against the militants. Special order has been issued to law enforcers to nab the fugitive militants."

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque told The New Nation that said that strength of militants has come down because of anti-militancy drives.

Separate organisations arrest the militants and so there is no coordinated database about the militants. Top fugitive militants are collecting sophisticated arms and ammunition from foreign militant groups to carry out fresh attacks in the country, he claimed.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stressed need for formation of a coordination cell in order to take necessary steps to stop bail of suspects in cases related to militancy.

The coordination cell will preserve the particulars including the names and addresses of all the militant suspects, the attorney general said.

Instructions have also been issued to the jail authorities about the militants," the IGP said.

In a query, he said, "The information does not come to us in due time after the release of the militants from jail and thus they go out of surveillance."

Police authority requested the government to arrange hearing on death reference as soon as possible, said AKM Shahidur Rahman, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the PHQs.

Abdullah Al Mamun, Assistant Inspector General (Administration) of the Department of Prison, said "We just maintain the prisoners and carry out the court order when prisoners get bail. If a militant prisoner gets bail then we inform all the intelligence wings and security agencies about the bailed militant so that they have them under surveillance."
Suu Kyi shrugs off criticism for being silent

bdnews24.com :

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has wondered why people say she has been silent over the brutal army crackdown on the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.

"I don't know why people say that I've been silent. I haven't been silent," she said in reply to a reporter's query during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at Naypyidaw on Wednesday, according to a State Department transcript of the conference.

"Actually, we've been sending out a lot of statements from my office, and I've also made statements of my own," she said as she is facing the allegation of being silent on the issue, for which she has lost several honours she had received for her contribution to reviving democracy in Myanmar.

She said her comments on the issue were not 'interesting enough' or 'exciting' but 'meant to be accurate'.

"And it's aimed at creating more harmony and a better future for everybody, not for setting people against each other," Suu Kyi said.

"We mustn't forget that there are many different communities in the Rakhine, and if they are to live together in peace and harmony in the long-term, we can't set them against each other now.

"We cannot make the kind of statements that drive them further apart. This is the reason why we are very careful about what is said," she added.

The Myanmar state counsellor said her government "always kept the public informed of what has been going on and what we are trying to do to make the situation better".

The United Nations has called the violence in Myanmar a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing", and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has been widely criticised for failing to take action to stop it.

But, she had to tread carefully in order not to inflame things, one of her aides said earlier, adding Myanmar's transition to democracy was in a "perilous position".

In her first address on Sept 19 since the latest exodus of Rohingyas started following an army operation on August 25, she said Myanmar was prepared to take back its verified nationals from Bangladesh.

About the allegation of atrocities, she said action would be taken against "all people regardless of their religion, race or political position who go against the laws of the land and who violate human rights as accepted by our international community".

"We have to make sure these allegations are based on the solid evidence before we take action," she had added.

Rohingya houses at Maungdaw in Rakhine State set on fire allegedly by the Myanmar Army and other security forces.

But her statement failed to stop the criticism as the exodus of refugees continued along with violence.

More than 600,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border into Bangladesh since the army operation began. Bangladesh had already sheltered 400,000 refugees by the time.

Even after the victory of Suu Kyi's party in the 2015 election, the army controls most of the government in Myanmar, including security and defence authorities.

Many, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have accepted Suu Kyi's way of handling the Rakhine situation.

While passing a motion in parliament to mount diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas in September, Hasina, the daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, urged all to consider the real power of Suu Kyi, the daughter of the Father of the Nation of modern-day Myanmar.

"How will she exercise her power? The military has more representatives even in parliament there (than her party has). Their words are final in policymaking," Hasina had explained.

But recently, Irish musician and activist Bob Geldof called Suu Kyi "a handmaiden to genocide" as he returned his Freedom of the City of Dublin award in protest over his fellow recipient's response to the repression of Rohingya Muslims.

Earlier, Britain's second-largest trade union Unison suspended an award given to Suu Kyi during her time as a political prisoner.

She has also been stripped of the Freedom of Oxford honour over the Rohingya issue.




AL in-fighting in city

3 motorcycles burnt, many vandalized: 10 injured

Several motorcycles parked in front of Azimpur Pearl Harbour Community Centre were torched by the rival group members during an extended meeting of the ruling Awami League\'s Dhaka city unit on Thursday, caused of intra-party feud.

Staff Reporter :

Two groups of ruling Awami League locked into clashes over holding rallies in city's Azimpur area on Thursday, leaving at least 10 people injured.

According to police and eyewitnesses, three motorcycles were torched near Azimpur bus stand and several other vehicles vandalized.

The injured received primary treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and other clinics.

Vehicular movement on the Mirpur Road, Azimpur road, Palasi and adjacent areas were disrupted due to the violence resulting in sufferings to the commuters.

The supporters of Shaheh Alam Murad, AL south city secretary and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon were scheduled to hold programmes to welcome the UN recognition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 speech at Pearl Harbour Community Centre on Thursday morning.

The supporters of Sayeed Khokon dumped three trucks of garbage in front of the community centre. The supporters of Murad captured the spot and declared unwanted who dumped trashes in front of the community centre.

But the supporters of Sayeed Khokon tried to enter the spot through Palashi at

about 10:30am and locked into clashes with the rivals.

At least 10 people from both sides were injured and as many as three motorcycles torched near Azimpur bus stand and several others vandalised during the one hour clashes.

On information, police from Lalbagh Zone rushed to the spot and lobbed several round of tear gas shells to disperse the clash. Finally, the police brought the situation under control at about 12:15pm.

Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Md Ibrahim Khan said: "The supporters of Shaheh Alam Murad and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon were scheduled to hold programmes at Pearl Harbour Community Centre yesterday.

He said: "Only one group was supposed to hold the programme at the venue. So we had asked Khokon's group to hold their rally somewhere else but they hurled brickbats at us."

Lalbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Moniruzzaman said a few motorcycles were torched during the clash. No one was arrested in this connection, he said.


Rangpur arson offenders to be hunted down: Asad

UNB, Dhaka :

Mentioning that many of those involved in the arson attack on the houses of Hindu community members in Rangpur were identified scrutinising video footage, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said some of them have already been arrested.

"The rest are being hunted down by members of law enforcement agencies," he said while talking to reporters after a meeting on the security arrangement for the Victory Day at the Home Ministry.

The minister also said they have ensured so that no innocent person is harassed over the incident.

Replying to a query about arrested Titu Chandra Roy, whose Facebook post 'hurting the Muslims' religious sentiments' triggered the agitation and resulted in the arson attack on the houses of Hindu community members, he said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police is examining his handset. "If Titu's involvement is found, action will be taken against him."

Replying to another question, Asaduzzaman said the investigators came to know that Titu has been living outside Rangpur for the last four years. "I think there was a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the arson attack. However, I can't elaborate before completion of the investigation," he said.

Over a Facebook post reportedly made by Titu Chandra 'demeaning' Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PUBH), several thousands people from nearby villages marched towards Hindu-dominated Thakurbari village in Sadar upazila of Rangpur on November 10 last, and vandalised and torched 8-10 houses.
Widespread raping of Rohingya women, girls

Staff Reporter :

Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Myanmar security forces of committing widespread rape against women and girls as part of a campaign of 'ethnic cleansing' during the past three months against Rohingya Muslims in the country's Rakhine state.

The New York-based rights group referred to the allegation incorporated in a report released on Thursday against the backdrop of growing international pressure on Myanmar to stop the Rohingya persecution.

The report focused on sexual violence. The raping of women and girls appeared to be even more widespread and systematic than earlier suspected, and for that uniformed members of Myanmar's military were responsible.

"Rape has been a notorious and devastating feature of the Burmese military's campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya,' said Skye Wheeler, Women's Rights Cmergencies Researcher at HRW and author of the report in a statement.

She said the Burmese military's barbaric acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatized.

Earlier, the United Nations denounced the violence as a classic example of ethnic cleansing.

But the Myanmar government shamefully denied the allegations.

The HRW report was based on interviews with 52 Rohingya women and girls, who had fled to neighboring Bangladesh, including 29 survivors of rape from 19 different villages in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Hala Sadak, a 15-year-old from village Hathi Para in Maungdaw Township, told HRW that soldiers had stripped her naked and then about 10 men raped her.

"When my brother and sister came to help me, I was lying there on the ground, they thought I was dead," she lamented.

The HRW report's conclusions also drew from interviews with 17 representatives of humanitarian organizations providing health services to Rohingya women and girls in Bangladesh refugee camps, as well as Bangladeshi health officials.

Myanmar security forces had raped and sexually assaulted women and girls both during major attacks on villages and in the weeks prior to these major attacks sometimes after repeated harassment."

In every case, the report said, "The perpetrators were uniformed members of security forces, almost all military personnel."

"All except one reported to Human Rights Watch that they were gang raped, by two or more perpetrators," the report said. "In eight cases, women and girl were raped by five or more soldiers. They were raped at their homes and while fleeing burning villages."

Nisha Varia, Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch's women's rights division, said that the report showed, "The patterns that we were able to uncover that provide a much fuller sense of how these attacks were carried out."

Those patterns, she said, "include the verification of uniformed members of security forces as perpetrators, the high incidence of gang rapes, several instances of 'mass rape,' and the patterns of sexual harassment and violence in the weeks leading up to attacks on villages."

On Sunday, Pramila Patten, a United Nations diplomat who is the special representative on sexual violence in conflict, also suggested that the Rohingya were genocide victims and that the perpetrators should be tried in the International Criminal Court.

Ms. Patten spoke after a three-day visit to the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, where she met extensively with women and girls who had escaped the crackdown.

"Rape is an act and a weapon of genocide," she told media saying, "The widespread threat and use of sexual violence was a driver and 'push factor' for forced displacement on a massive scale, and a calculated tool of terror aimed at the extermination and removal of the Rohingya as a group."

HRW called on the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted sanctions against military leaders responsible for human rights violations, including sexual violence.

The 15-member council last week urged the Myanmar government to 'ensure of no further use of military force in Rakhine State.' It asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to submit report in 30 days on the situation.

Myanmar's army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces, days after replacing the general in charge of the operation that drove more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh.
Readers Forum

Are intersections causing congestion?

Though we have a number of flyovers now, they have brought no remarkable results in lessening the sufferings of the commuters in Dhaka. If you drive from Gulistan to anywhere in North Dhaka, you will come across an intersection every half a mile or so. These intersections are responsible for severe congestions.

I think our policymakers should commission researchers to find out a lasting solution to overcome congestions at the intersections as well as other gridlock-prone areas in the city. Turning some intersections into two-way crossings and creating detours (loops) may help lessen traffic jam.



Ziauddin Ahmed

Gulshan, Dhaka
Replacing the garment monitoring agencies

BGMEA leaders have decided not to extend agreement with Accord and Alliance - two buyers assigned inspection agencies to monitor remediation of garment factories in Bangladesh beyond their tenure set to expire by June 2018. It appears the leaders of the apex trade body has rightly identified that both the organizations have almost completed the inspection and remediation process of Bangladesh garment factories that led to upgradation of fire safety and improvement in working condition. It is time a new local agency to be set up soon to take up their task.

We appreciate the leadership that both the organizations offered to modernize Bangladesh's garment industry and they would now agree that their responsibility might be handed over to a local body to carry out the job. The new organization to be known as 'Shomman' or respect will be registered under an appropriate law to be run under the guidance of an ombudsman chosen by the Prime Minister's Office. BGMEA leaders said it would have a steering committee with representatives from industry owners, the ILO, international brands and local trade unions, in addition to Commerce and Labour Ministries. All decisions would be on consensus basis and neither the government nor the BGMEA would have any veto power.

The new organization will replace Accord engaged by European buyers and Alliance looking after the concerns of North American buyers. The new move has apparently come as BGMEA sees the garment sector has achieved significant progress under the inspection and guidance of the two organizations and it is time that local manufacturers should take up the leadership to carry out their own remediation as part of a continuing process. BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman made those disclosures to The New Nation Tuesday explaining the transformation that the garment industry has already achieved to satisfy buyers concerns.

Agreements were signed with the two organizations after the devastating fire at Rana Plaza in April 2014 followed by another big fire at Tazren Fashions in November 2013. In the first incident over 1100 garment workers perished while at Tazren Fashions several dozens workers were killed that created outcry in European and American buyers. They came under serious protest from rights groups to stop buying garments from Bangladesh tainted by workers sweat and blood.

The two organizations carried out inspection and remediation in several thousand factories and closed a number of them, which failed to fulfil the compliance. BGMEA believe presence of both the inspection organizations will be no more required as local capacity building has made significant progress to replace their functions. It is also expensive and often abusive and their function be otherwise planned by local bodies. Industries are subject to renovation and modernization. This is a constant process and we believe BGMEA will become successful in their new move.


Khaleda apprehensive in 'climate of no justice'

Court Correspondent :

The Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka yesterday asked BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to appear in the court on November 23 for completing her remaining pool of self-defence statements in two graft cases.

Judge Dr Md Akhteruzzaman of the special court set up in the city's Bakshi Bazar area also extended Khaleda Zia's bail until the same day. She gave her self-defence statement in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case for an hour on Thursday and will continue next hearing.

The court also closed recording statements of the witnesses in the Zia Charitable Trust Graft case and fixed the same date for placing Khaleda Zia's self-defense statement in the case.

In July 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.

Three years later, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station, accusing four persons, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power to raise funds for the trust from unknown sources.
Dhaka Lit Fest begins with festive mood

Syrian Poet Adonis attended the inaugural function of Dhaka Lit Fest-2017 at the Bangla Academy auditorium as chief guest on Thursday.

DU Correspondent :

The seventh edition of Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF) began on the Bangla Academy premises in the capital on Thursday with a promise to promote Bengali literature and culture to the global community.

The people with different languages and culture gathered here with a common goal to fostering literature practices which virtually turned into a platform of sharing

and exchanging diversified literatures and culture at the three-day literary event.

Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan read out the written speech of Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor at the inaugural ceremony.

Directors of Dhaka Lit Fest Kazi Anis Ahmed, Sadaf Saz and Ahsan Akbar, among others, spoke at the function.

According to the written speech, the cultural affairs minister said, "The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman believed that the country's development would not be possible without enriching literature and culture".

Shamsuzzaman in his speech said, "There is a glorious history of our Bangla language. Such international event of Literature will further enrich our bangla literature."

Sadaf Saz said, "The Dhaka Lit Fest is being held for the seventh time and this reflects continuous success of all us. We are taking huge response from writers, visitors and publishing houses from both home and abroad."

Kazi Anis Ahmed said this international literary festival is being held in Bangladesh for the seventh time under the new name, "Dhaka Lit Fest". Previously, it was held with the name of Hay Festival, he said.

"Our main objective was to project our literature, culture and tradition at international level through this festival. Bangladeshi writers so far have been popularized through this festival," said Anis Ahmed.

The organizers said over 200 speakers, performers, and thinkers representing 24 countries thronged the seventh edition of the three-day Dhaka Lit Fest making it the largest and the most diverse gathering so far.

"Like every year, the three-day programme will endeavor to bring diversity, pluralism among languages and culture, whilst highlighting our own," the sp4eakers said.


Russia, US headed for UN showdown over Syria gas attacks probe

AFP :

Russia and the United States were on a collision course ahead of a UN Security Council vote Thursday on the fate of a UN-led probe to determine who is behind chemical attacks in Syria's six-year war.

Washington and Moscow have put forward rival draft resolutions on renewing for a year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), tasked with identifying perpetrators of Syria's toxic gas attacks.

After negotiations failed to bridge differences, the rivals each called for a council vote on their draft resolutions on Thursday, hours before the JIM's mandate expires at midnight.

Diplomats said they expected Russia to veto the US-drafted measure, which would be the 10th time Moscow has used its veto power at the council to block action targeting its Syrian ally.

The Russian text is unlikely to garner the nine votes required for adoption, diplomats said.
Gazette on rules for lower court judges within Dec 3: Anisul

Staff Reporter :

Law Minister Advocate Anisul Huq on Thursday said that the government would publish the gazette notification on the rules determining the guidelines of lower court judges within December 3 if the President gives consent on the matter.

He said this to journalists after holding an hour-long meeting with the judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court at the official residence of the

Acting Chief Justice, Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, in the evening.

"There were some disagreements on the rules with the SC judges. Finally we came out in a consensus over the issue at the meeting," Anisul Huq said.

On November 5, after hearing on Masdar Hossain case, known as judiciary separation case, Attorney General Mahbobe Alam said Law Minister Anisul Huq may hold meeting with the judges of the Appellate Division of the Sureme Court on publishing a gazette notification on the rules.

That day the Appellate Division granted four weeks time to the State side to publish the gazette notification and fixed December 3 for the next hearing on the matter.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by the Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah passed the order after considering the time prayer filed by the Attorney General.

On October 8, 2017, the Appellate Division extended the time till November 5, 2017 after the Chief Justice went on leave.

The Appellate Division gave 12 directives in the verdict of Masdar Hossain case. To formulate the rules determining the guidelines of lower court judges was among those directives.

The Law Ministry sent a draft rules on May 7 last year to the Supreme Court, which amended that draft but the ministry didn't publish a gazette yet.




President Trump`s commitment adds urgency to end Rohingya crisis

Editorial Desk :

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday pledged US support for Rohingya cause calling an end to the violence and safe return of refugees. He mentioned "at least 600,000 people have fled their homes following attacks by vigilantes and security forces," and we believe his stance will strengthen the international efforts to resolve the crisis. It is clear that the military in Myanmar got emboldened for the support of India along with China and Russia to indulge in the worst brutality of modern days by forcing the Rohingyas out of their homeland after committing mayhem and rape with hatred. Myanmar is not that powerful country that it can expect to go unpunished.

Now that the world knows how brutal and inhuman Myanmar army is, the international community must show its determination for a permanent solution of Rohingya problem. There should be adequate guarantee for the safety of Rohingya Muslims. We find it unbelievable that the US Secretary of State did not term the atrocities against the Rohingyas as ethnic cleansing.



It is possible he wanted to use diplomacy for an early solution of the crisis. Mr Tillerson will agree that Rohingya crisis is a big humanitarian crisis; not just a refugee crisis. No solution will be possible without taking the crime of genocide into consideration. Rohingyas cannot be sent back to be slaughtered again. The international community must think of making Rakhine State safe for Rohingyas. Rakhine was their state occupied by Burma in those days.

The US President's statement has come at a time when the world condemnation of Myanmar for brutalities against its own people is at peak but Myanmar military is reluctant to solve the problem. Myanmar is bluffing Bangladesh talking about solution through bilateral discussion. Our government is simplistic in believing them who waged aggression against Bangladesh. Myanmar will understand language of force that the international community along with the US is bringing to bear.

Whether sanctions will work or not that depends how strong and severe that will be. But a solution has to be found urgently. The situation in refugee camps is pathetic and children are dying for lack of adequate food even though international aid workers are working desperately. It should not be difficult to know that in spite of best of intentions and best of efforts the task of looking after some ten lakh refugees is an awesome act to cope with.

We welcome the visits of Foreign Ministers of Germany, Sweden, Japan and the European Union High Representative to Bangladesh to see for themselves the human crisis Myanmar's savage army has created. No civilised country can be soft with Myanmar's generals responsible for the genocide. They still think that they have impunity and the world will soon forget their crime. Another thing is Myanmar feel free to burden Bangladesh with such a gigantic human crisis deliberately. Bangladesh government is showing patience but our people are angry.
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Carbondale Community Arts will host a pop-up art sale celebrating local and handmade items, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, at Artspace 304.

The curated showcase will feature Southern Illinois artists who currently have work for sale in Shop304, and other local artists. Work will be available from 25 artists in various media, including ceramics, jewelry, fibers, printmaking and woodworking.

Shop304 is the retail space inside Artspace 304, which is the home of Carbondale Community Arts. The shop is open during normal gallery hours, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and during public events. Artspace 304 is at 304 W. Walnut St. in downtown Carbondale.

For more information, contact 618-457-5100 or info@carbondalearts.org.

 The Southern
MARION  On Monday, Carterville Community Unit School District No. 5 followed through with its threat to file a lawsuit in Williamson County Court if the Village of Cambria adopted its proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Redevelopment Project Plan, Area and Project.

On Nov. 8, during a special school board meeting, the Carterville School Board voted down an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Cambria and voted to retain counsel to sue if the village passed any ordinances related to adopting its proposed redevelopment plan.

Cambrias village board met the next day and passed three ordinances pertaining to adopting its proposed redevelopment plan. The ordinances create a commercial and residential TIF district; designate slightly more than 95 percent of the village as the TIF project area, including both residential and commercial property; and allocate TIF funds.

The lawsuit says that the school district will suffer irreparable harm if Cambria is allowed to create a TIF district. Loss of funding will prevent the district from adequately educating its students for years to come. The district is asking for a temporary injunction to stop creating of the TIF district, followed by a permanent injunction to make sure the redevelopment plan is never adopted.

In the suit, the school district alleges that the Village of Cambria did not follow proper procedure with the board of review, saying the taxing bodies that share in the property taxes paid by Cambria residents submitted written objections Oct. 24, the same day as a public hearing on the redevelopment project plan.

The school district also alleges Cambria Village Board violated the TIF act in the following ways:

 Cambrias classification of the TIF redevelopment plan area as a combination of blighted and conservation area is erroneous.

 Asserting that the redevelopment area as a whole has not been subject to growth and development by private enterprise and would not be reasonably subject to development without a redevelopment plan is erroneous.

 The redevelopment plan area includes noncontiguous parcels.

 The village did not provide proper administrative support to the board as required by 11-74-4-4 of the act.

The case is set for review Dec. 18. A hearing on a temporary injunction is scheduled for Nov. 20.
CARBONDALE  Jackson County State's Attorney Michael Carr announced Thursday that a Carbondale Police officer's response to a shooting incident in October was fully justified under the circumstances, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 21, a Carbondale Police officer was approaching Curbside Grill, 227 W. Main St., on routine patrol, and heard what sounded like gunshots. Upon arrival, the officer saw Jeremy Spivey, 28, of Marion, firing a gun in the direction of a large crowd of people. The Carbondale officer, in response to an active shooter, fired at Spivey, stopping the threat.

In a letter to Carbondale Police Chief Jeff Grubbs, Carr said, "This officer's conduct was not merely warranted. It was exemplary. His actions likely saved lives and once he began to intervene, he continued those actions under extreme personal risk that he would be shot himself. While nobody can predict how he or she would react under similar circumstances, most would only hope to have acted with as much courage as was exhibited by this officer."

Carbondale Police officers performed life-saving medical procedures on Spivey while waiting for an ambulance after the shooting, saving his life.

The release states that the criminal case involving the original shots fired remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police.
CARRIER MILLS  In 1993, the Sahara Coal Co. closed its doors and some 300 miners lost their jobs.

On Wednesday, Gov. Bruce Rauner visited that companys reclaimed strip mine near Carrier Mills and announced that the state plans to develop a 26-mile off-highway vehicle trail system here, the first-of-its kind on state-owned land in Illinois.

Rauner said the trail system at The Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area will be a tremendous boon for the economy here in Southern Illinois.

Its going to bring a lot of good jobs, he said.

Asked how many jobs he expected the trail system to bring to the economically depressed region that has suffered from the loss of mining jobs that have never been replaced, Rauner wasnt able to say.

Ive seen different estimates, but I dont know. Wayne, do you have the estimates? Rauner said, deferring to Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Wayne Rosenthal.

I dont think we actually know until we get through the design phase, Rosenthal said.

After the event, Ed Cross, IDNRs director of communications, said that there is not a firm date at this point for breaking ground at the site and more details will be forthcoming.

In 1999, six years after the company shut its doors, the state acquired the property from Sahara Coal. The 4,100 acres managed by IDNR is a serene natural area interspersed with timber and grasslands, small ponds and a large lake.

Rosenthal said the goal is to make this a place where people from all over will bring their families and stay for two or three days, generating economic activity throughout the broader region. Rauner said the trail system, which he hopes will open in the first half of 2019, will expand Southern Illinois tourism, help local motels and restaurants and other local businesses in Saline and Williamson counties.

Though short on details Wednesday, Rauner declared it will be a great economic engine for a region desperately in need of one.

As coal companies have downsized and closed, Saline County has been hit especially hard. Between 2000 and 2015, the percent of people living in poverty in the county increased 8.8 percentage points, to 23 percent, or nearly one in four people. More striking, the percent of children younger than 18 living in poverty increased from 19 percent to 35 percent during that same time frame in Saline County.

This is what Im fighting for. Its the reason I ran for governor. Rauner said when asked what he would do to address the broader issue of systemic and growing poverty that puts Southern Illinois southernmost Ohio River Valley counties on par with the economic conditions facing the Appalachian regions. Southern Illinois has been particularly hurt but is not alone as a region in economic suffering in Illinois, he said.

Rauner said that what we need is for the state to free up businesses to come here by reducing the tax burden and cutting regulations on businesses. Southern Illinois is perfectly located. We should be a major economic engine, he said.

In broad, vague terms, he also called for rolling back the Madigan income tax hike, lowering property taxes and restoring good government. Ive got, actually, dozens of companies who want to come to Illinois. They want to come to Southern Illinois, Rauner said. But he said Illinois is losing out on that potential to neighboring states such as Indiana where the property taxes are one-third, the workers comp costs are one-quarter.

Theyd love to be in Illinois but the costs are prohibitive, Rauner said.

An aide to Rauner cut off questions from media six minutes into a question-and-answer session following his announcement of the ATV park.

Sahara Woods is located about three miles northwest of Carrier Mills and five miles west of Harrisburg. According to state Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, 26 trail miles will be developed on 1,400 acres, just more than a third of the property. This is a fantastic day for Saline County. This is a fantastic day for Southern Illinois, Fowler said.

The trail system is being funded by a $1.3 million Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trails Program grant, and a roughly $300,000 commitment from IDNR.

Barb McKasson, conservation co-chair for Shawnee Group Sierra Club, said she was disappointed by the news as the group opposes the creation of the trail system on state-owned land. The noise of the off-road vehicles bother hunters and bird watchers, and can disrupt the natural habitat of the species who call the wildlife area home, she said. I have seen ATV damage and it can turn areas into a muddy mess, she said.

Hunter John, the off-road representative for A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education, commonly known as ABATE Illinois, a nonprofit motorcycle rights organization, said this has been a project in the making for seven years. John dismissed the concerns of the Sierra Club, saying that the property is big enough to accommodate everyone and that off-road vehicle enthusiasts should have a place on state-owned ground to enjoy their sport, too.

He said the states share of the project is funded by the taxes paid by people purchasing off-road vehicles. John said it doesnt make sense for the state to lose the business of off-road riders to other states.

Tim Aut, the owner of Mills Cafe in Carrier Mills, said hes hopeful the trail system brings more people into his restaurant. Hes owned the cafe since 2001 at two different locations in the town of about 1,600. Business was good, but has fallen dramatically in the past few years since American Coal Co. began laying off workers and downsizing its operations in nearby Galatia in the fall of 2015.

That affects the discretionary income of coal miners, but also many others whose businesses revolves around the mines, such as truck drivers, Aut said. Thats really hit hard, he said, and only recently has business started to rebound  though not close to what it was, he said. Aut said he welcomes any ventures that might help boost the local economy.

I dont think people know how bad things are right now in Southern Illinois, he said.
Well, so much for enjoying Louis C.K.s comedy anymore.

Last, week long-rumored accusations were put on the record when five women accused the comedian in a New York Times story of sexual harassment  he masturbated in front of women, or asked to do so, in professional settings. C.K. later (finally) admitted in a somewhat apologetic statement that the accusations were true.

When the most recent Louis C.K. stand-up special came out on Netflix earlier this year, I jumped ship after the first few minutes. It just didnt make me laugh, and I decided Id rather be watching some true crime docu-series.

But one of my most badass female friends, a motorcycle-riding unapologetic radical feminist with a killer sense of humor, couldnt say enough good things about it. She assured me I would love it, so I gave it another shot.

She was right. Once I made it past the first few minutes, I was cackling in full-throated glee. When it was over, I wanted to watch it again. It was edgy. It was dark. Parts of it were also (dare I say it?) feminist.

My standout moment, the moment that made his behavior harder to stomach: If theres a dude in your (body), you get to kill him, he says. I think thats pretty fundamental. Youre allowed to kill people if theyre in your house.

His live audience cheered. And I laughed at home on my couch, thinking, thats a bold sentiment on a womans bodily agency we dont hear much from men, even men who say theyre feminists.

I texted my friend who had recommended the stand-up special the moment I saw the news alert on my phone, and we shared a moment of dismay.

He seemed like a sympathizer, she said. I wish it werent true, too.

One scene from C.K.s FX situation comedy, Louie, has been replaying in my mind lately  even before C.K. became just one of the many men to be accused of sexual assault  as the MeToo hashtag proliferated, and more and more men were being held accountable for sexual harassment and assault that previously would have been considered some kind of gray area.

In the scene, Louie (the character) tries to kiss and drag a female friend into his bedroom as she repeatedly says no, and tries to get away from him. At one point, she says, this would be rape if you werent so stupid.

That scene was disturbing, but it also seemed to me like it was trying to be honest about male-female relationships  an honesty I had been searching for. I had often felt like the men who harassed me were not evil. Perhaps they were just simply dumb, and they were trying to reconcile what they wanted to do with what they should do. Perhaps they could learn. Perhaps we could teach them.

C.K.s comedy summed that up for me. He seemed real  flawed, stupid, and at the same time trying to be a decent man, trying to sum sexual desires with a feminist ideology. Like so many of the men I've encountered in my life.

The Harvey Weinstein revelations have finally seemed to be the spark that caught the fire thats burning predatory mens careers to the ground. Compared to the allegations against Weinstein, Roy Moore, and a flood of others in recent weeks, C.K. seems almost tame. After all, his defenders point out, in at least one case, when he asked a woman if he could masturbate in front of her, he took no for an answer.

Women are simply asking for  and seemingly, maybe getting  a world in which our colleagues dont feel like they can ask us to watch them masturbate. If that means Louis C.K. is catapulted into oblivion, doomed to be the butt of sexual harassment jokes, a respected artist who lost all respect, so be it.

If that means we cant simply enjoy his work anymore  and, if this trend continues, the work of many others  so be it.

I'm still hoping there are some true sympathizers among us.
By Trend





New appointments have been made at the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry.

Head of the Department for Energy Policy, Fuel and Energy Resources Elkhan Hashimov has been appointed acting head of the State Gas Supervision Administration for a period of one month, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy told Trend.

Moreover, Head of the Electric Power Department Amil Mursaliyev has been appointed acting head of the Energy Supervision Administration for a period of one month.

Esmira Jafarova has been appointed head of the international affairs department. Previously, she served as third secretary of the Security Affairs Administration of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
Emaar Development, the UAE build-to-sell (BTS) property development business of Emaar Properties has set the offer price for the initial public offering (IPO) of its ordinary shares at Dh6.03 ($1.64) per share.



Based on the offer price, the companys market capitalisation at listing will be approximately Dh24.1 billion ($6.56 billion).



The number of shares included in the Offering is 800,000,000, which represents approximately 20 per cent of the share capital.



The value of ordinary shares sold by Emaar Properties PJSC totals Dh4.82 billion ($ 1.31 billion).



Final allocations were approximately 93.8 per cent for qualified investors, and 6.2 per cent for individual and other investors.



Listing and trading on DFM are expected to commence November 22 under the symbol EMAARDEV.



Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said: Today marks an important milestone for Emaar Development, as the strong retail and institutional investor interest in our IPO places us closer to achieving our vision for the future. Emaar Development has a clear strategy for growth, a strong sales backlog, high cash flows, and targeted dividends of $1.7 billion to be paid over the next three years  indicating strong dividend yield, especially in comparison to our peer group. We are highly confident in the future of our group, and the benefits that this offering will create for shareholders.



Recent developments



In accordance with the SCA requirements in connection with the global offering, on November 21, the company will publish an announcement, which will include the companys gross debt balance, drawings under its debt facility, changes in share capital, in each case as of November 20, as well as total dividends paid to the selling shareholder and updated sales figure for the period from 1 October 2017 to 20 November 2017.



In addition, the announcement will include a statement from the company that there have been no significant adverse changes to its business since 30 September 2017.



The amounts set forth below as at 13 November 2017, and those that will be set forth in the Announcement, have not been audited, reviewed, reported on or approved by the Companys independent auditor, Ernst & Young Middle East (Dubai Branch) or any other third party.



 Gross Debt: On 30 October 2017, the Company drew down Dh4.0 billion of its Dh4.8 billion murabaha facility and used the proceeds to pay a dividend of Dh3.9 billion (net of fees) to Emaar Properties. The undrawn balance is available for future drawdowns. The Companys gross debt balance as of 13 November is Dh4 billion. The Company does not expect its gross debt balance to materially change as at 20 November 2017.



 Share Capital: As of 13 November 2017, the Companys share capital was Dh4 billion. The Company does not expect its share capital to materially change as at 20 November 2017.



 Sales: Between 1 October and 13 November 2017, the Company had sales of Dh1.3 billion and it expects to continue to sell units in the normal course of business between 13 November and 20 November 2017.



In accordance with SCA requirements, the Company will also publish on or around December 25 a balance sheet of the company as at November 20, derived from interim financial statements for the period ended November 20, which will have been reviewed by EY. Investors are therefore cautioned that results may differ from those reflected in the announcement, including those presented above.



Allotment notices and refunds



A notice to successful subscribers in the individual tranche will be sent by way of SMS advising that the applications were received and, if successful, that they will receive a share allocation. This will be followed by a notice sent by registered mail. Notification of the final allocation of the shares offered for sale, and the refund of surplus amounts and accrued interest (if any), following the closing of the subscription period and prior to the listing of the companys shares shall be performed solely by, and processed through the method which the payment of the original application amount was made.



BofA Merrill Lynch, EFG Hermes UAE Limited, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Goldman Sachs International are the joint global coordinators for the offering. Emirates NBD and First Abu Dhabi Bank are the lead receiving banks. Rothschild is acting as financial advisor on the offering.  TradeArabia News Service
Work is progressing well on the Alba & Nuwaidrat Interchange Revamp Project in Bahrain, with all concrete works already done and 43 per cent of the job at Albas single way flyover completed.



A vital project, Alba & Nuwaidrat Interchange Revamp Project, is being funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, as part of the Gulf Fund Programme, said a statement from the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning.



The construction of Albas at-grade intersection at the roundabout boundaries has already started and is now about 16 per cent completed, it stated.



Being one of the most strategic projects for the kingdom, the ministry is keen to develop the roads network in the area as it is witnessing growing commercial and investment activity, together with a number of industrial facilities adjacent to the project, remarked Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning Essam bin Abdullah khalaf.

Accompanying the Minister were Road Projects and Maintenance director Sayyed Bader Alawi, and a number of engineers from the ministry, together with the project consultant Parsons and project contractor Nass Contracting.

He was speaking after a conducting inspection at the Alba & Nuwaidrat Interchange Revamp Project site.

Due to the increasing delay for traffic coming from King Hamad Highway towards Alba Roundabout; resulting from traffic diversions at work location in September last year, the Works Ministry in January 2017, in collaboration with the Traffic General Directorate, opened an exit from King Hamad Highway towards the Refinery Avenue and on to Alba Roundabout (passing through Avenue 15), to ensure smooth traffic movement.



The project is witnessing temporary and necessary traffic diversions; associated with the construction of flyovers along Alba Roundabout and King Hamad Highway,. said Al Khalaf.



Traffic diversions are to continue until May 2018. Once completed, the project will ease traffic congestion in the area. The project site currently witnesses a traffic movement of over 100,000 vehicles per day, he added.



The minister said the nature of the work taking place on a large space within the project, as well as the high traffic volume, results in inevitable traffic congestions along any mega project implemented along strategic roads and highways.



As a result, the ministry has adopted a strategy of interim launch of the different phases involved in the implementation of the project.



Under this arrangement, each part is opened for traffic once completed; aiming to ease the vehicle flow, said Al Khalaf.



"For example, the Ministry opened the right lane for traffic coming from Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah Avenue towards Estiqlal Highway, which contributed to easing traffic congestion and reducing waiting time," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Ideal Standard, a leading provider of key bathroom solutions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, is showcasing its innovative products at Downtown Design 2017 expo in Dubai.



A premier showcase of original, high quality design from all over the world, Downtown Design 2017 expo is being held at Dubai Design District till tomorrow (November 17).



Prominent on display is the company's new Ipalyss vessel range featuring Ideal Standards latest innovation in ultra-thin ceramic material, Diamatec, said a statement from Ideal Standard.



This patented new material was developed using a unique blend of specially refined materials, resulting in exceptional robustness that allows designers to achieve the near impossible: extremely thin, straight edges that are extremely robust and durable, said a statement from the company.



The striking aesthetics of the Ipalyss range were developed in collaboration with the award-winning British designer, Robin Levien and his design studio, it stated.



"In a 100 sq m stand, Ideal Standards stunning display is driven by the objective to give prominence to trend setting design and product innovation. And not only that! It is also the first presentation of the new Corporate Identity in Middle East & Africa," remarked Ahmed Hafez, the chief executive officer of Ideal Standard Mena.



Among the salient attractions on offer is Connect Air range, the latest multi-product collection that brings a lightness and an unprecedented elegance, granting an airy feel to any environment and creating efficient, durable and stunning bathrooms, he stated.



The Connect Air collection taps into the minimalistic trend for sleek and slim line interiors. Consisting of ceramics, furniture, bathtubs and shower trays, it offers a unique mix of timeless modern styles that connect to any bathrooms requirements, he added.



Hafez said for more than 100 years Ideal Standard has been shaping the sanitary industry with leading innovation.



"Products like the single-lever tap, the rimless toilet, Aquablade flushing technology or the ultra-flat shower tray were pioneered by us," said the top official.



"We are uniquely positioned with deep-rooted engineering and manufacturing expertise in the Ceramic & Brassware product categories, providing high quality residential, commercial and healthcare bathroom solutions. At the same time, this allowed us to produce design concepts that have won prestigious awards, like IF, DOT, the German Design Award," he added.



Hafez said among its star attraction is Ideal Standards revolutionary AquaBlade flushing technology, guarantying total hygiene, water efficiency and a quietly impeccable performance. Using an engineered system that creates a pressurized cascade of water, which flows around the bowl generating 2 strong jets that merge, the area below the rim is rinsed clean.



"Expanding the very successful Idealrain family shower accessories, this year we present the new Idealrain Evo and Evo jet shower kits and handsprays. Idealrain Evo handsprays have 3 spray patterns, rain, fine rain and massage, while Evo Jet takes it one step further with rain, drop-jet & intense massage modes," he added.



On the expo, Hafez said: "Downtown Design is a great platform for established and emerging brands to converse with professionals  architects, contractors, engineers, etc. We are very excited to present our new corporate identity, as well as our latest design and technology innovations that are targeting the requirements and specification of the Mena region for hygiene, water and energy saving."



"Through our participation, we aim to take advantage of the huge networking opportunities and expose our trend setting and pioneering products to this amazing audience," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi has launched the Reaching the Last Mile Fund to raise $100 million with the aim of eradicating, eliminating, and controlling preventable diseases that hinder the health and economic prospects of the worlds poorest people.



The fund was launched by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during his attendance of the global health forum, Reaching the Last Mile: Together to Eliminate Infectious Diseases, held in Abu Dhabi, reported Wam, the Emirates news agency.



Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed committed $20 million to the Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will contribute up to $20 million. The Fund will be managed by the END Fund, a philanthropic investment platform focused on tackling the five most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).



The aim of this 10-year Fund is to support the elimination of two debilitating and preventable neglected diseases: river blindness (onchocerciasis) and lymphatic filariasis (which can lead to elephantiasis).



Sheikh Mohamed said: "The UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, continues to provide regional and international support for humanitarian, developmental and health initiatives that target countries and communities in need. The launch of this Fund is part of international efforts to rid the world of two debilitating and preventable diseases."



He added that neglected diseases continue to hinder the lives of millions across the Middle East and Africa. Eliminating them will have a positive multifaceted impact by lifting millions more across the region out of poverty, but to achieve these goals, there is an urgent need for long-term vision and global partnerships.



The Reaching the Last Mile Fund aims to raise $100 million to fast-track ongoing efforts to end river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in several countries in Africa and the Middle East.



The Fund is supported by in-kind contributions from GlaxoSmithKline plc, which will donate albendazole treatments over the next ten years to eliminate lymphatic filariasis and deworm school-age children in target countries, and MSD, which will donate ivermectin to eliminate lymphatic filariasis and river blindness through the Mectizan Donation Program, with co-investments from the UK Department for International Development (DfID) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).



Over ten years, the fund will help to close the gap to elimination and verification in target countries with few or no cases of river blindness, and scale up activities and mass drug administration programs in high-burden countries. The coalition will top up and strengthen existing programs, working through partners that are well established in the field, and increase impact by using an integrated approach in areas where river blindness is prevalent alongside lymphatic filariasis, which requires a complementary drug treatment program.



Ellen Agler, END Fund chief executive officer, said: "Launched during the official Year of Giving in the UAE, this new initiative will ensure millions of people do not have to suffer from blindness and disfigurement from neglected tropical diseases. The vision, compassion, and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is exactly what the global community needs now to fast track efforts to get over the finish line and end these diseases for good. All of us at the END Fund are immensely honoured to be asked to host this initiative and help ensure that this vision becomes a reality."



At the Reaching the Last Mile forum, Bill Gates will outline plans to develop a state-of the-art disease elimination institute in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The institute will work with international partners to leverage Abu Dhabis unique talents in the global effort to end diseases, and translate data on diseases into actionable policy across the wider region within which Abu Dhabi sits.



Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said: "We are close to eradicating some of the worlds deadliest and most debilitating preventable diseases that adversely affect the lives of millions of the worlds poorest people. Our foundation is pleased to support the launch of a new fund created by His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed as well as the Global Institute to Fight Infectious Diseases in Abu Dhabi. These two initiatives will help accelerate the fight against preventable diseases."
More than 1,300 exhibitors from 58 countries will showcase their latest innovations at Intersec 2018, a global leading trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection, to be held next year, in Dubai, UAE.



The event will take place from January 21 to 23, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.



A pair of augmented reality safety glasses and cooling apparel designed specifically for hot Middle East climes are examples of the latest personal protection equipment (PPE) on display at Intersec 2018 that will ensure the safety and health of regional workers, said a statement.



Italian safety equipment manufacturer Univet will introduce in the Middle East for the first time its VisionAR Smart Glasses, which integrate Sony's holographic waveguide technology into eye protection, allowing wearers to view real time data without looking away from what theyre doing, it said.



The 2017 Red Dot Award goggles display data on a holographic screen behind the right protective lens. The screen is clear so the wearer can see through it, while data on computers, tablets, and smartphones, can be accessed via WiFi or Bluetooth.



Paola Portesi, CEO of Univet, said its VisionAR Smart Glasses are ideal for applications that require eye protection while processing large amounts of real time data, including logistics and warehousing, manufacturing, rescue operations, medical, or oil and gas.



For example, a warehouse worker might view packing and shipping lists, a doctor the patients vital signs, a factory worker assembly instructions, or a rescue officer text notifications from partner units, he said.



Theyre in fact the most suitable device for solutions of direct networking with equipment, machinery as well as objects and operations of different production processes. The future is made of production plants connected and linked in a network, combining manpower and automation, he added.



Portesi continued: VisionAR is the first pair of safety smart glasses complying with the strictest international safety regulations and norms, industrialised, engineered, and designed for professional daily use.



The Italian company is among more than 200 exhibitors at the three-day events dedicated safety and health section, which is now officially supported by the Dubai Municipality.



The government bodys backing comes as the UAE continues to step up efforts to raise awareness of worker welfare in industrial work environments. The UAE Ministry of Labour, in cooperation with municipalities, carried out approximately 5,000 health and safety site inspections across the country in 2016, and will increase inspections to at least 10,000 construction work sites by 2019.



Eng Redha Hassan Salman, director of the Health & Safety Department at Dubai Municipality, said: Due to its important and cooperative role in making Dubai a sustainable and safe city to live in, the Dubai Municipality is delighted to participate at Intersec as a key supporter.



The municipalitys participation is represented by the Health and Safety Department as part of its commitment to the government, society, partners and clients to reinforce the concepts of responsibility at all levels, he said.



Intersec offers an important platform to connect with leading international and local experts, and plays a key role in providing the latest health and safety developments to Dubai and the region, he added.



Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Intersecs organiser, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, added: The continued positive evolution of safety culture in our work environment has been a welcome development.



It not only ensures a safer and healthier workplace, but also produces immense benefits for society in terms of increased productivity levels, lesser demands on health systems and an overall positive sentiment in society as a whole, he said.



The event will continue to contribute in creating awareness of workplace safety and health best practice, as part of our commitment to the region and its welfare, he stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and its Korean joint venture partner Kepco have achieved a series of construction milestones on the units of the Barakah Plant with the successful installation of reactor containment building liner dome section and completion of concrete pouring for the dome on Unit 3.



The construction on the nuclear project began in 2012 and the overall completion of the four units is now more than 84 per cent complete, with Unit 1 now more than 96 per cent complete.



Once the four reactors are online, the facility will deliver up to a quarter of the UAEs electricity needs, and save up to 21 million tons of carbon emissions every year, said senior officials from Enec.



With four identical reactors being built simultaneously, the Barakah Plant, located in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi, is the worlds largest nuclear new build project.



During the year, the project saw the installation of reactor containment liner plate rings, reactor vessel, steam generators and condenser on Unit 4, while the testing and commissioning activities are progressing steadily on Units 1 and 2, said the officials.



They were briefing Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, on the progress of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme during his visit to Barakah project site.



Sheikh Hamdan was hosted by Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the chairman of the Enec's board of directors along with other senior officials including Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Awaidha Murshed Al Mara, the chairman of the Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi and Enec board member and Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Chief of the General Authority for the Security of Ports, Borders and Free Zones.



Enec's chief executive Mohamed Al Hammadi, Nawah Energy Company's acting CEO Mohammed Sahoo AlSuwaidi and Barakah One Company CEO Nasser Al Nasseri led the briefing.



During the tour of Barakah, Sheikh Hamdan met some of the Emirati engineers currently working at the plant and held discussions with them.
Dubai Airports' employees, dressed in ethnic attires, welcoming passengers at Dubai International (DXB) with white flowers to mark the International Day of Tolerance on Thursday (November 16).

Dubai Airports also organised an informal lunch where employees hailing from different countries and representing many cultures brought home cooked food to share with each other and promote understanding and cultural diversity.
Turkish Airlines is one among a total of 41 carriers that have signed the United for Wildlife Buckingham Palace Declaration (UFW), which aims to stop illegal wildlife trade.



The declaration was approved today by Turkish Airlines at a signing ceremony held at the Turkish Airlines Istanbul Headquarters, attended by Bilal Eksi, Turkish Airlines deputy chairman and CEO, and Iata director general, Alexandre de Juniac.



The declaration, which was on the agenda of the 73rd IATA Annual General Meeting held in Cancun, Mexico in June, was signed by institutions such as ACI, AFRAA, AASA and London Heathrow Airport, who hoped to stop the illegal trade of tusk, rhino horn and tortoise shell as well as increase passenger, customer, client, and staff awareness about the nature, scale, and consequences of the illegal wildlife trade.



With this declaration, we as Turkish Airlines are not only underlining one of the most important environmental issues of our times, trafficking of wildlife, but we are also setting an example of responsibility. Today with this signature we hope that we are contributing to the level of awareness on the issue and smoothing the path for legal enforcement procedures against the traffickers, Eksi said during the signing ceremony.



De Juniac said: The illegal wildlife trade threatens to extinguish many of the worlds most iconic and special creatures. The global connectivity built by the aviation industry is being exploited by traffickers, but through coordinated action with our industry partners, and assisting the proper authorities, we can help to end this dreadful trade. We welcome Turkish Airlines commitment to join this fight, symbolized in its signature to the Buckingham Palace declaration.



Airlines commitments expression and demonstration of agreement to tackle the illegal wildlife trade are as follows;



1. Adopt or encourage the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade.

2. Increase passenger, customer, client, and staff awareness about the nature, scale, and consequences of illegal wildlife trade.

3. Promote the Declaration and its Commitments across the entire transport sector and encourage all in the sector to sign up to the Declaration.

4. Develop mechanisms to enable the transport sector to receive timely information about the transport of suspected illegal wildlife and their products, including methods of transportation, key routes, ports and other locations.

5. Enhance data systems, including due diligence and risk assessment, to allow the transport sector and/or enforcement agencies to screen data and/or cargo, to identify potential shipments of suspected illegal wildlife and their products.

6. Identify and promote systems for staff and the public to report suspicions in relation to the transportation of illegal wildlife and their products.

7. Improve the training of staff within the transport sector to enable them to detect, identify and report suspected illegal wildlife trade, and acknowledge staff who champion this cause.

8. Develop a secure, harmonized system for passing information about suspected illegal wildlife trade from the transport sector to relevant customs and law enforcement authorities, where permitted by law.

9. Notify relevant law enforcement authorities of cargoes suspected of containing illegal wildlife and their products and, where able, refuse to accept or ship such cargoes.

10. Establish a cross-disciplinary team working with local customs and law enforcement authorities to develop a system of best practice for combatting illegal wildlife trade in key ports.

11. Support the development of mechanisms by the World Customs Organization and national customs authorities to aid the detection and prevention of trade in illegal wildlife and their products. - TradeArabia News Service




Airbus Defence and Space is showcasing its new C295 Armed ISR (Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance) version at the Dubai Airshow running from November 12 to 16.



A C295 is exhibited on static display flanked by a wide range of weapons which have been selected to be integrated onto this versatile platform.



The company has signed a series of agreements with air-to-surface weapon suppliers paving the way for flight-trials to qualify their products to equip the C295.



Since the previously announced memorandum of understanding with Roketsan of Turkey, similar arrangements have been reached with Expal, Escribano and Equipaer of Spain, as well as Rheinmetall of Germany, and the US suppliers Nobles Worldwide and US Ordnance.



Aircraft have already been delivered to an unidentified customer including two 12.7mm light machine guns and mounts, supplied by Nobles Worldwide and US Ordnance, to be mounted in the paratroop side doors.



The next weapon to undergo airborne carriage trials is planned to be Roketsans L-UMTAS anti-tank missile. Roketsan is also providing the Cirit laser-guided missile and Teber-82 laser bomb-guidance kit.



Rheinmetalls BK 27 autocannon provides a heavier door-mounted option, targeted by Escribanos Door Gun System. Expal is displaying its CAT-70 (2.75 inch) rockets and Mk 82 warhead, and Equipaer has its CAT 70 Multiple Rocket Launcher in the exhibition.



Head of Military Aircraft Fernando Alonso said: The development of further applications for the C295, as well as our other aircraft, is a key element of our strategy for the future. The remarkable flexibility designed into the C295 makes it a superb platform for a wide range of mission-specific configurations.



The C295 is part of the Airbus Defence and Space family of light and medium airlifters which also includes the earlier C212 and smaller CN235 platforms. Airbus Defence and Space now offers the C295, featuring as standard winglets and higher engine power ratings, giving increased performance in all flight phases and lower fuel burn.  TradeArabia News Service
Airbus and Indigo Partners four portfolio airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase by the four airlines of 430 additional A320neo Family aircraft worth $49.5 billion.

The aircraft will be allocated among the ultra low-cost airlines Frontier Airlines (US), JetSMART (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) and Wizz Air (Hungary) upon the completion of final purchase agreements between Airbus and the four airlines.

The 430-aircraft commitment, comprising 273 A320neos and 157 A321neos worth $49.5 billion at list prices, was announced at the Dubai Airshow by Bill Franke, managing partner of Indigo Partners, and John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

When added to existing Airbus A320 Family orders, the new agreement will make Indigo Partners one of the largest customers by order number in the world for the Airbus single-aisle aircraft family. Airlines in the Indigo Partners family previously have placed orders for 427 A320 Family aircraft.

This significant commitment for 430 additional aircraft underscores our optimistic view of the growth potential of our family of low-cost airlines, as well as our confidence in the A320neo Family as a platform for that growth, said Bill Franke. Our airlines know that a great aircraft coupled with a great business plan will create value for our customers. We look forward to bringing comfort and low fares to more passengers around the world as Wizz Air, Volaris, JetSMART and Frontier continue to expand.

John Leahy said: Indigo Partners have been a tremendous customer and supporter of the Airbus single-aisle fleet for many years. An order for 430 aircraft is remarkable, but its particularly gratifying to all of us at Airbus when it comes from a group of airline professionals who know our products as well as the folks at Indigo Partners do. We are proud to augment their airline fleets in Latin America, North America and Europe with the single-aisle aircraft that offers the lowest operating costs, longest range and most spacious cabin: the A320neo Family.

Also present at the announcement were Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris; Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier Airlines; Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART; and Jozsef Varadi, CEO of Wizz Air. They confirmed their firms individual aircraft orders as follows:

* Wizz - 72 A320neo, 74 A321neo;

* Frontier - 100 A320neo, 34 A321neo

* JetSMART - 56 A320neo, 14 A321neo

* Volaris - 46 A320neo, 34 A321neo

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies, including new generation engines and Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together will deliver 20 percent fuel savings by 2020. With more than 5,200 orders received from 95 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured nearly 60 percent market share, a statement said.

Indigo Partners, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a private equity fund focused on worldwide investments in air transportation. - TradeArabia News Service
Three local entrepreneurs hope to buy city-owned buildings in downtown Casper, potentially bringing a bakery, an apparel company or more apartments to the neighborhood surrounding a new public plaza.

The sale of the buildings, which sit along Ash Street north of Midwest Avenue, could trigger more development in the core of the citys revitalized downtown, which has become home recently to an artists guild and several new bars and restaurants.

The Downtown Development Authoritys CEO, however, has cautioned city leaders against making a hasty decision about selling the properties, whose value could change as the David Street Station is expanded next year.

City officials bought the buildings last year with no exact plans for their use. In the recent past, the city has purchased other buildings and then sold them to be developed into new businesses.

At a City Council work session Tuesday, the three entrepreneurs laid out their visions for the Ash Street properties.

Food, retail and housing

The owner of Frosted Tops said she wants to purchase the former Milos Toyota body shop because her bakery  currently located at Parkway Plaza  needs a larger space to grow.

Frosted Tops sells assorted desserts and plans to add coffee and ice cream to the menu, said owner Kirstin Bott.

This business started out as an act of love for my family, she said, explaining that she always bakes treats for her relatives on special occasions.

Bott passed out French macaroons, much to the delight of Council members.

You made my day sweeter, said Councilman Dallas Laird.

The owner of Ashby Construction also hopes to purchase the former body shop. David Kelley said he would use the building as office space for his own company, but then plans to build three other buildings beside it, which he would rent out as apartments and retail space.

From electricians and painters to lumber suppliers, Kelley said he would hire locally while working on the project. With 14 years of experience running the construction company, he said he's ready to start working.

Our ability to act on this is not a problem, he said.

Scott Cotton, a co-owner of 1890 Inc., said he hopes to purchase the former Ka-Larks gymnastics studio because his custom apparel store needs more space to meet customer demands.

The business sold thousands of shirts during the eclipse, but could have sold more if it was able to house more equipment, he explained.

The company also plans to become a full outdoor retail brand, according to Cotton.

The anticipated revenue from the sale of the properties is estimated at $850,000, according to a recent memo from Community Development Director Liz Becher.

Press pause?

Although he admired all of the proposed ideas, Kevin Hawley, the Downtown Development Authoritys CEO, advised the Council to press pause on this process.

Given that all three properties are located near the David Street Station, a plaza which offers an outdoor stage and space for recreational activities, Hawley said it would be difficult to overestimate their value to the city.

The city is planning on expanding the station next year, which could potentially change the properties appraisals, added Hawley.

The DDA opened the David Street Station in August with the hopes that the downtown plaza would encourage new businesses to pop up in the surrounding area. And that plans appears to be working. Several new businesses have opened in the surrounding blocks including Raccas Pizzeria Napoletana, Urban Bottle and The Gaslight Social bar.

City leaders should also consider keeping the properties and using them to address any of Caspers ongoing concerns, such as downtown parking, said Hawley.

Council members thanked Hawley and the applicants for their presentations, and said they will carefully consider all options.

Laird said deciding the future of the buildings would be difficult.

The future of the city, when it comes to this, is in our hands, he said. I love these young people who are on fire.

The Council plans to discuss the presentations again at a Nov. 28 work session, said Jolene Martinez, special projects coordinator with the Public Services Department.
CHEYENNECheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak touted the successes Tuesday of what he called one of the most effective programs he has seen in his 32 years of law enforcement.

Since it started April 1, the Operation Change program has aimed to improve the perception of homeless people downtown, deter people from giving money to panhandlers and refer transient people to resources.

Lo and behold, (it) actually worked, Kozak said.

Thats thanks to community partnerships with the COMEA House homeless shelter, Peak Wellness, Recover Wyoming, the Cheyenne Municipal Court and the Downtown Development Authority.

But its also due to bolstered foot patrols downtown by Cheyenne Police Department officers and an enhanced effort to refer people to community services and treatment both on the streets and in jails.

Since the program started, officers have logged 517 hours of foot, bike and horse patrols; made 599 contacts with transient people; issued 208 summonses; made 102 arrests; and spent $23,187 of a $29,000 grant.

The department also installed security cameras in the Cox and Spiker parking garages and launched a social media campaign to educate the public about homelessness.

At the start of the program, the department had a goal of cutting down on costs for housing transients in the Laramie County jail after arrests.

In 2016, Laramie County spent $129,645 housing transients. This year, the county has spent $162,525. But most of those costs came before Operation Change started, Kozak said.

Between January and April, the city saw a cost increase of 277 percent for transient jail expenses. By the time Operation Change was in full swing between August and October, the city saw a 29 percent decrease.

But the monetary impact pales in comparison to the effect on real people, Kozak said.

David Nesbitt, 51, was commended Tuesday for his progress in the Operation Change program.

Nesbitt was homeless for many years, staying at COMEA House on and off.

The last time he was released from a brief stint in jail, Nesbitt checked himself in to Recovery Wyoming to begin treatment.

He has been sober for five months and serves as a volunteer for Recover Wyoming.

Nesbitt credited Sgt. Rob Bower for motivating him to make a change.

Hes like a mentor, Nesbitt said. Im gonna keep going with what Im doing.

Despite its successes, the future of the Operation Change program remains uncertain. The police departments grant money will run out, and the formal project is over.

But Kozak said he will work to keep the positive program going.

Organizations involved with the Operation Change project have started a formal steering committee, and local organizations have found money for donation stations that will give people an opportunity to donate to local charities instead of panhandlers.

And COMEA House has expressed interest in starting an all-day shelter to keep homeless people off the streets.

The police department has applied for another grant, this one for $30,000, for next year, but Kozak said he hopes to find a permanent funding stream for either overtime money or a full-time officer downtown.

We have to continue this effort, Kozak said. I think were on a positive trend.
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Arizonas jobless rate ticked down two-tenths of a point last month as companies continued to add workers at a slow but steady rate.

New figures put the states seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October at 4.5 percent. That compares to 4.1 percent nationally.

Year-over-year employment is up by 32,000, a rate of just 1.2 percent. That is far below projections made by the state Office of Economic Opportunity a year ago which figured Arizona would add jobs between now and 2024 at a rate of 1.9 percent annually.

It also is less than the 2.3 percent growth that the state was recording at the time since the recession ended.

Doug Walls, the agencys research administrator, minimized that 1.2 percent figure, saying it still represents positive year-over-year growth, the seventh year that has occurred. But he was unwilling to say whether this lower growth rate over the past 12 months is representative of what Arizona can expect rather than last years prediction.

Thats not something that we know now, Walls said. Were going to have to wait and see what the numbers continue to show there.

Gov. Doug Ducey, to whom Walls agency reports, wasted no time in putting out a statement touting the new numbers, pointing out the jobless rate is the lowest in nearly a decade.

This is good news for hardworking Arizonans and good news for our economy, the governor said.

But that good news is not statewide, with most of that growth in the Phoenix area.

And the economy in Pima County continues to lag: Even with 600 new jobs last month, companies report they have 1,000 fewer employees now than a year ago.

Thats only part of the picture.

A separate survey of Pima County residents not only finds total employment down in the past year but that the labor force has shrunk by 3,400. Those are people who either have stopped looking for work or have left the area entirely.

Ducey, at groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a new firm that will bring 500 jobs to Tempe, suggested any concern about Pima Countys future economic development is misplaced.

Tucson is a growing metro area, the governor said.

Its a place that Ive found, in discussions when Im talking to CEOs and business leaders, that they find attractive, he continued. And its always part of the mix and the discussion.

Still, Ducey said it might be appropriate to take a closer look at how to reverse the areas economic trend.

There are some other things, in terms of whats happening in Southern Arizona and Pima County, that we need to look at in terms of proper investment and how some things are handled, he said. Ducey provided no specifics.

But its an attractive place to be and weve had some big wins there, he said, including Caterpillar Inc. agreeing to bring a regional headquarters to Tucson along with 600 jobs and Comcast adding more than 1,100 call center jobs.

Statewide, Arizona added 17,300 private sector jobs in the past year. That compares with the post-recessionary average of 22,800.

Leisure and hospitality remains the strongest, with a 2.8 percent year-over-year growth. That is fueled largely by bars and restaurants boosting employment in the past year by 5,000.

Manufacturing is showing some signs of life, adding 700 jobs last month and bringing the number of workers in that field up by 3.2 percent.

Retail employment, by contrast, remains weak.

There were the expected seasonal gains as stores ramp up for holiday shopping. But there are 800 fewer people working in that sector now than a year earlier.

We have seen slowing growth into declines as the retail industry tries to find its equilibrium dealing with online competitors, Walls said.

The situation was even worse in Pima County where retailers shed 500 jobs between September and October, leaving employment in that sector 3,100 below a year earlier.

Unemployment rates in Arizona Area October 2017 September 2017 October 2016 Arizona (seasonally adjusted) 4.5 4.7 5.0 Arizona 4.4 4.7 5.1 U.S. (seasonally adjusted) 4.1 4.2 4.8 Apache County 9.4 9.3 11.1 Cochise County 4.8 5.2 5.8 Coconino County 4.3 4.4 5.6 Gila County 5.2 5.6 6.9 Graham County 5.0 5.1 6.2 Greenlee County 4.7 4.7 6.7 La Paz County 4.7 5.4 5.5 Maricopa County 3.7 3.9 4.3 Mohave County 5.1 5.4 6.1 Navajo County 6.2 6.4 7.5 Pima County 4.0 4.2 4.7 Pinal County 4.3 4.7 5.3 Santa Cruz County 11.0 12.1 11.6 Yavapai County 3.9 4.2 4.6 Yuma County 18.0 20.0 19.1
Tucson Masterworks Chorale will introduce its new conductor on Sunday, Nov. 19, when it opens its 68th season with Songs of Poetry and Love.

The choir in July tapped Yoojin Muhn as its artistic director, replacing Jonathan Kim, who took a university teaching job in Wisconsin.

Muhn, who also serves as the music director at Oro Valleys Vistoso Community Church, will lead the choir in works that express love and poetry through choral music. The program includes Brahms Neue Liebeslieder-Walzer (New Love-Song Waltzes), featuring a quartet of soloists and two pianists; Eric Whitacres Five Hebrew Love Songs, with a solo violinist; Randall Thompsons Frostiana, which sets seven of Robert Frosts poems; Harold Darkes In the Bleak Midwinter; and John Rutters What Sweeter Music.

Muhn, a native of Seoul, South Korea, started her music career as a church pianist when she was 12.

She later studied composition at SookMyung Womens University in Seoul, and earned her masters degree in sacred music from Westminster Choir College, where she graduated with distinction. She also earned a masters degree in choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati and a doctorate of musical arts in choral music from the University of Southern California. While there, she directed the Oriana womens chorus and led the concert choir as an assistant director.

Before coming to Tucson, Muhn was on the conducting faculty at Southwestern A/G University in Texas.
PHOENIX  A special House panel investigating sexual harassment complaints against Rep. Don Shooter has hired an attorney who was involved in a 2012 inquiry into another lawmaker.

Craig Morgan was chosen Wednesday by the seven-member committee appointed by House Speaker J.D. Mesnard to look into allegations against Shooter, a Yuma Republican. Those include complaints filed by Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, as well as those of others, both formal and those brought to the investigative teams attention through social media.

The panel also will look at counter-claims Shooter made about comments and actions by Ugenti-Rita.

My firm and I have been retained to investigate harassment allegations, Morgan said Wednesday. My charge at this juncture is to investigate the facts and find out what happened.

Morgan, with the Phoenix firm of Sherman & Howard, said he cannot comment further.

He is no stranger to political issues.

Morgan, with a different firm at the time, was brought on board in 2012 by then-House speaker Andy Tobin to look into allegations brought against Rep. Daniel Patterson, a Tucson Democrat.

They started in connection with a domestic violence incident involving a former girlfriend of Pattersons. But that case ballooned after Morgan and the investigative team reported to the Ethics Committee they found multiple instances where lawmakers said they had been intimidated or harassed by Patterson.

Patterson eventually resigned. No House member has been forced out since the 1940s.

In the Shooter case, Mesnard named seven House staffers, including two nonpartisan attorneys and members of both parties, to take a closer look at recent complaints, some going back years, that Shooter made sexually suggestive comments to Ugenti-Rita and two other legislators as well as three lobbyists, a businesswoman, the Arizona Republics publisher, and an intern from Arizona Capitol Times.

The panel, in turn, interviewed several outside attorneys and hired Morgan, who has political experience as well as no pending business before the Legislature.

Mesnard said he hopes to have the investigation wrapped up before lawmakers return to the Capitol the second week in January.

Shooter has retained Daniel Pasternak as his own legal counsel for what could be a lengthy investigation with the potential for public hearings on the special committees findings.

Morgans contract says he will be paid what he calls a discounted rate of $325 an hour, with other members of the firm who get involved in the probe billing at $400 an hour. There is nothing in the contract about a maximum charge, and the House will be billed every 30 days.

Morgans bio says he has been involved in other political issues, including legal fights over the sufficiency of signatures on petitions.

He also was involved in a successful 2010 lawsuit to keep Augustus Shaw from running for the House from Tempe after getting a judge to rule that Shaw wasnt a resident of the district.
UA alumni reported a greater feeling of well-being, more success in life post-graduation, a stronger emotional connection to their alma mater and more bang for their buck at the UA than their peers nationally, according to the 2017 University of Arizona-Gallup Alumni Report.

I wasnt surprised at all, was the general refrain from UA officials, including President Robert C. Robbins, but also Andy Harris, a 1989 engineering graduate.

Harris went on to get his MBA at the University of Southern California and is now CEO of Accella Performance Materials, a chemical manufacturing facility.

I credit the UA for where I am today, and its one of the best decisions I made in my life, he said.

Gallup conducted the survey on behalf of three campus entities: student affairs and enrollment management, academic initiatives and student success; the UA Alumni Association; and marketing and brand management.

The yearlong partnership cost the university $130,000, which included access to Gallups proprietary Well-Being Index national collegiate database, data analysis and benchmarking, said David Miller, UA director of strategic communications.

Gallup surveyed more than 4,200 UA alumni who graduated with a bachelors degree between 1949 and 2016, and asked them to respond to questions meant to foster a holistic view of college graduates lives spanning topics such as well-being, collegiate experience, workplace engagement and alumni attachment.

Responses were compared with three groups including the Gallup-Purdue national index of about 67,000 U.S. graduates between 2014 and 2016, about 3,500 graduates from Pac-12 schools and about 5,500 grads from peer institutions determined by the Arizona Board of Regents.

What they found was that UA grads are much more likely to be thriving in each element of well-being, which includes purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

The UA was on-par or exceeded the other comparison groups in every variable.

Some key findings:

Nine out of 10 felt their education was worth the cost.

63 percent said they found a professor who excited them about learning, which was found to be a driving factor for alumni to feel prepared in the job market.

34 percent of UA grads were also more likely to have a job waiting for them after college than the 28 percent nationally, and felt well prepared for their first jobs.

67 percent of UA alumni, compared with 57 percent nationally, said they found their ideal job, and 80 percent are interested in the work they do.

30 percent of UA grads felt a strong emotional connection to their school compared with 20 percent of students nationally.

The on-campus experience is exceptional, Harris said. Theres the legacy, theres the spirit, theres heritage.

A UA graduate is truly a Wildcat for life, said Melinda Burke, president of the UA Alumni Association and vice president of alumni relations.

We always talk about how proud we are of the fan base at the UA and the loyalty of alumni, Burke said. A lot of what we say is just institutional pride, but it was awesome to discover data that not only backed it up, but sets us apart from other institutions.

Earlier this year, U.S. News and World Report released its best college rankings and placed the UA 124th overall among the nations top 300 colleges, falling behind Arizona State University, which moved up to 115th on the list.

Those rankings were determined by factors including retention and graduation rates, faculty resources, financial resources, expert opinions, student excellence and alumni giving.

This survey measured different variables of the college experience, Burke said. Its really apples and oranges.

The UA decided to conduct this study because it was interested in the great way in which (Gallup) is framing the lifelong value of college education. And we wanted to look at that from alumni perspective, said Jennifer Pickard, assistant vice president for divisional initiatives and planning.

The results also reaffirmed the UAs 100 percent engagement initiative, which encourages students to engage outside of the classroom and became official policy in 2015. This includes activities such as internships or undergraduate research assistantships.

This helped to take some of the anecdotes that you hear all the time, Pickard said, such as the increased success of those who get internships and really helped us to solidify that these things matter.

And its such a tight-knit community, Harris said  not just the UA community  but the whole Tucson community.

That balance between schoolwork and life extended into the rest of his life, he said.

His daughter, Hannah, is now a sophomore at the UA. We literally toured the whole country, Harris said. She narrowed it down to five schools  and she chose Arizona.
PHOENIX  President Trump remains more popular in Arizona than in the nation as a whole.

But pollster Mike Noble said that may not help the Republican Party hang on to the Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Flake.

His new, automated survey of 600 people likely to vote in the 2018 general election found 45 percent of those asked rate Trumps first year in office as a success. Another 49 percent disagreed, with the balance unsure.

That compares with a new Quinnipiac University national poll showing the presidents approval rating at 33 percent and a Gallup survey with his positives at 38 percent.

Thats not necessarily a surprise, said Noble, managing partner of political consulting firm OH Predictive Insights, who said no client paid for his survey.

I think hes holding the line a little bit better (in Arizona) because illegal immigration, especially with Republicans, is still a top issue, Noble said. He said that has been reinforced by Trumps promises to Arizona audiences to build a border wall.

But Noble pointed out that the 45-49 popularity rating comes in a state where Republicans have a 12-point voter registration advantage over Democrats.

And while the president remains strong among Arizona voters who describe themselves as conservative, moderates find Trumps first-year performance disappointing by a margin of 2-1, his poll found.

And with independents making up more than a third of the states registered voters, that, in turn, is not good news for Republicans in the 2018 Senate race, he said.

At this point, Noble said it looks like former state Sen. Kelli Ward has a strong edge over Congresswoman Martha McSally to be the GOP nominee. Ward leads 42-34 percent in his poll, though 24 percent are undecided.

McSally has not made a formal declaration of candidacy. But Noble said she already has 60 percent name ID, compared to 79 percent for Ward.

If Ward wins the Republican primary and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema is the Democratic nominee, Noble said the current numbers give Sinema a 3-point edge  within the polls 4-point margin of error.

In a head-to-head against McSally, Sinema has just a single-point lead in the survey.

Noble said neither potential GOP nominee should take comfort from these early numbers given the 12-point edge Republicans have in voter registration, and the effect Trump has had on politics.

Look at the Virginia election this fall, he said. There was a surge in Democrat turnout, much larger than the increase among Republicans. And the independents in that state skewed the election away from GOP contenders at all levels on the ticket, he said.

State GOP spokeswoman Torunn Sinclair dismissed all the results, questioning the methodology.

She pointed out  and Noble acknowledged  that the survey was skewed to catch more voters 55 and older because he is calling only landlines and not cell phones. Sinclair denied that should actually make the results more favorable to Trump and Republicans in general.

The Arizona Republican Party has seen an increase in voter registration and activism since President Trumps election, Sinclair said.
Rapper Lil Peep has died of a suspected drug overdose at age 21.

Police in Tucson, Arizona, say Lil Peep, whose real name was Gustav Ahr, was found dead on his tour bus ahead of a scheduled concert in the city Wednesday night. Sgt. Pete Dugan says evidence pointed to an overdose of the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, although no official cause of death has been announced.

Pima County released a statement saying the Medical Examiner's Office has conducted an autopsy and that the suspected cause of death is a drug overdose. However it will be six to eight weeks to get the toxicology report needed to make a final determination of the cause of death.

The medical examiner contracts toxicology testing with an independent laboratory and that comprehensive toxicology testing can take up to seven weeks, the county said in its statement.

When I die You'll love me A post shared by @lilpeep on Nov 14, 2017 at 11:16pm PST

A representative for the performer confirmed reports of his death. Ahr didn't take the stage.

fucc it A post shared by @lilpeep on Nov 15, 2017 at 5:39am PST

Ahr's emotional, downtrodden lyrics gained a cult following through a series of mixtapes released online. His numerous tattoos and striking appearance caught the attention of the fashion world. GQ reported earlier this year that he made runway appearances for several labels in Europe.
Rob M.

US Attorney General Jefferson Sessions is too busy fending off criticism of his kick- 'em- in- the- face- and- shoot- their- dog approach to crime fighting to say anything nasty about cannabis recentlywhich means I get to use this space to talk about more upbeat subjects, like our state's second chance at making cannabis history.

Yes. Earlier this year, Department of Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher rejected the recommendation made by the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board to add opiate dependence and Alzheimers disease to the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis use. The board voted 5-1 in favor of adding the conditions last November after receiving a petition signed by a number of healthcare professionals, but Gallagher said there wasn't enough scientific research available to justify the policy change and shot it down.

But cannabis advocates are hard to deter these days, and the process just started all over again. A new petition to add opioid use disorder (OUD) was recently submitted to the board by Dr. Anita Briscoe, a clinical nurse. This time, 21 pages of research were attached to the petition. Once again, the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted, but this time, they voted unanimously in favor of adding the condition, reportedly receiving applause from the gathered crowd.

Whether or not this will translate into an actual policy change seems unlikely, but one can hope. In the months since Secretary Gallagher rejected the last recommendation on the subject, the idea of using cannabis as an addiction treatment has gained more and more popularity in the national discussion, and it seems silly that the one person in a position to potentially turn around New Mexico's rampant opioid addiction problem is unaware of the current research on the matter.

The board considered a total of 15 petitions during its semiannual meeting earlier this month and voted to recommend 5 new qualifying conditions to the list, including the skin conditions eczema and psoriasis, muscular dystrophy, Tourettes syndrome, substance use disorder and opioid use disorder.

The board voted against recommending the addition of six conditions: polymyalgia rheumatica, dysmenorrhea, cystic fibrosis, post-concussion syndrome or concussion, diabetes and arthritis.

Money is Green, Too, Eh?

Here comes an I told you so. Anyone with a sound mind and a good internet connection knows that the easiest way for the government (state or federal) to make a quick buck is to legalize cannabis. Go on, tax the hell out of it. You can stop putting people into cages for smoking a plant and we'll give you lots of extra monies. It seems like an obvious and easy enough plan, but good luck convincing some of these dummies.

But last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government proposed a C$1 tax on every gram of legal cannabis sold in the country, sending cannabis stocks through the greenhouse roof. According to Bloomberg Markets, some Canadian cannabis companies saw as much as a 22 percent raise in their shares. That means more buds for everyone!

Canadian citizens will get to enjoy their newly won freedom in July, when full legalization of cannabis for adults over 21 goes into effect. Maybe those last holdouts on Capitol Hill blocking up progress stateside will answer the rumble in their bellies when they see the financial gain that inevitably follows legalization.

PTSD Research Stalled by Federal Agencies

The nonprofit research group Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is currently conducting the first FDA- and DEA-approved clinical trial on whole-plant cannabis. The study aims to investigate the effects of cannabis on post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in veterans.

To conduct the clinical trials, the scientists involved will have to find 76 participants who suffer from treatment-resistant PTSD. The issue now is finding enough volunteers who fit the proper criteria and are able to participate on-site in Phoenix, Ariz. The researchers estimate that there are nearly 20,000 veterans in the Phoenix VA hospital who would be viable subjects, but the hospital refuses to share the study's existence with its patients.

Brad Burge, communications director at the MAPS, told Forbes that in the nonprofit's experience, the US Food and Drug Administration has shown interest in medical cannabis and is even willing to approve protocols for research into other schedule I drugs like MDMA. According to Burge, research is being blocked by other regulatory agencies. Most likely, these would be the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice.
Help India!

By Shamsul Islam for TwoCircles.net

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Delhi is the capital of India and touted as the heart of India, but in fact, is a heartless city. There is endless list of shameful incidents to corroborate this character of the city. This list keeps on expanding at fast rate. The latest is the news that Cyrus, the last surviving prince of the Oudh (Awadh) dynasty which ruled vast territories later known as United Province and played heroic role in Indias War of Independence of 1857 died due to hunger and related issues in the vicinity of the houses of the Delhi elite including Indian rulers, diplomats, businessmen and authors.

According to press reports, the last prince of Awadh, who lived in abject penury, was found dead on September 2 (2017) in Delhis Malcha Mahal, a Tughlak-era hunting lodge, tucked deep inside a patch of forest, overrun by moss and disrepair. Shockingly, the news of the death was broken by a section of the media over two months after a team of police officers found him lying motionless inside the derelict 14th-century structure on September 2.

Ali Raza, popularly known as Cyrus and his sister Sakina came to Delhi with their mother, Begum Wilayat Mahal in 1970s. Begum was fighting a long battle with the Uttar Pradesh government for the return of their ancestral property in Lucknow and demanding recognition for the sacrifices made by her family during the 1857 War of Independence described as Sepoy Mutiny by the British. With no solution of the problem in Lucknow, Begum started camping in a first-class waiting room of the New Delhi Railway Station after arriving in Delhi. However, in 1985 she was allotted Malcha Mahal and a paltry monthly allowance of Rs 500 in exchange. Since then, the family had been staying there.

The family chose a life of isolation and rarely interacted with outsiders despite staying in the vicinity of the elite of the city which included rulers of India, industrialists, diplomats, authors and administrators. The 700-year-old dilapidated Malcha Mahal had no electricity, no doors, no windows and no water.

In an interview with The Indian Express in 1997, the Prince had spoken of his sisters deep distress since their mother died, and her obsession with committing suicide. My sister is in deep distress and since the Begum died, (she) has been wearing black. She has not combed her hair even once. Sakina died a few months ago. At the time, their mothers ashes were being kept in a crystal vial in the middle of the large room. According to the Prince, his mother had died by consuming crushed diamonds, extracted from ornaments she never wore in 1993.

He was often seen pouring water in the blue ceramic tea set displayed on a broken table. As per the local police version, the prince would wander near the forested areas in Chanakyapuri and, for the past two-three days, there was no movement which was suspicious. Police later found that he was lying dead on the floor of his house. He was taken to a nearby government hospital (RML) for his post-mortem, where no external injuries were found on his body. There were some contact numbers found on the spot but none of them could be reached. After the mandatory wait of 72 hours when no one came to claim the body the body was handed over to Delhi Waqf Board which organized his burial at Delhi gate Cemetery on September 5.

Thus died the last Prince of Oudh Dynasty popularly known as Cyrus. Ironically, Cyrus (600-530 BC) was the founder of one of the greatest empires in the world history, the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus was described as King of Persia and King of the Four Corners of the World. This Cyrus of the former Oudh ruling dynasty died a pauper.

Presently, there are no details available about Begum Wilayat Mahals connections with the great Begum Hazrat Mahal and her son Brijis Qadr who played a prominent role in leading the 1857 War of Independence against the East India Company rule. Begum Hazrat Mahal carried on the armed struggle till 1860. She did not surrender and took asylum in Nepal where she died in 1879. However, it is true that Begum Wilayat Mahal demanded compensation from Independent Indias government for being a member of a family of rebels and her claim was not rejected.

The story of Begum Wilayat Mahal and her children who hailed from a family of rebels of 1857 armed struggle dying as paupers is not an isolated incident. There are thousands of such stories which no historian has bothered to chronicle. It is no more part of Indian nations narrative.

The saddest part is that neither on the eve of Independence nor while commemorating the centenary of this event in 1956-57, the Indian State bothered about the injustice done to the families who lost everything in this great struggle. The free Indias government should have announced the compensation for kin and families of martyrs and restored the properties/wealth confiscated by the British for crime of joining Mutiny. It should have been the first order.

It did not happen but a more criminal practice was allowed to continue. Those stooges who helped the British in suppressing the Mutiny like rulers of Gwalior, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Rampur, Kashmir, Patiala, Pataudi, Nabha and much more were allowed to retain their own properties. Not only this, these anti-nationals were allowed to continue to possess properties of the rebels which were confiscated by the British and awarded to these princes as rewards. Sadly, if on the one hand, India witnessed children/kin of the freedom fighters living a pathetic life and dying like the family of Begum Wilayat Mahal, on the other hand, we saw the shocking spectacle of the family members of the stooges enjoying power as chief ministers, ministers, Governors in an independent India. Even the residences of Bahadur Shah (Red Fort etc.), Rani Laxmi Bai (Jhansi fort), Begum Hazrat Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow Residency), to cite few examples out of thousands, were not restored. All these became national properties. Zafars family ended as being beggars in Burma. But the stooge princes were allowed to own their estates convert many of these into money minting resorts.

Thus the stooges ruled during the British times and continue to rule the Independent India. And the kin of those who sacrificed everything for freedom continues live as paupers. Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

For some of Shamsul Islams writings in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu & Gujarati, please click here
Help India!

By Mansoor Durrani

Islamic finance is not just a business. It is, essentially, a system to ensure economic justice followed by economic growth. This is achieved by an array of transaction related features based on the Islamic economic laws. Two most prohibited features are interest and speculation. Being a career Islamic banker, I am often asked whether Fintech in general and bitcoin, cryptocurrency etc in particular are shariah compliant.

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Fintech is easy to explain: It is the new technology and innovation that aims to compete with traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services. The use of smartphones for mobile banking and investing services are examples of technologies aiming to make financial services more accessible to the general public. This sits perfectly well with Islamic finance as long as its fundamental principles are not breached. To that extent, Fintech is not a new product per se, it is simply a new delivery channel.

But bitcoins are different animals  and look pretty scary at the moment! This is why I was reluctant to express any opinion until there is more clarity. But last night I came across an article written by a certain Akash Anand on this subject in a well-regarded portal islamiceconomist.com which is run by an old and dear friend Dr Humayon Dar  a PhD in Islamic Economics from Cambridge University. What surprised me is the audacity of the author advocating a synergy between Blockchain-based system (bitcoin) and Islamic finance! No background of the author is found near his piece. From the language used, I guess he is a pure-techy. And as a matter of principle, pure-techies should refrain from writing on ideology-based financial systems like Islamic banking as much as Islamic bankers like me should not touch upon the topics related to cutting-edge technologies!

Anyway, lets briefly examine the basic building blocks of this new currency which has been making headlines recently. The first distributed Blockchain was conceived by an anonymous person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 and implemented the following year as a core component of the digital currency bitcoin! The concept itself was born in anonymity whereas full structural transparency is a core Islamic finance requirement. So it fails the test right at the root! The Blockchain is a public ledger that records bitcoin transactions. A novel solution accomplishes this without any trusted central authority!! Bitcoin is pseudonymous, meaning that funds are not tied to real-world entities but rather bitcoin addresses. And owners of bitcoin addresses are not explicitly identified.

The risks of dealing in bitcoin were laid bare in 2013 when Tokyo-based exchange Mt Gox collapsed after admitting it had lost the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars of investor funds. The currencys earlier ties to gambling and criminal websites did not endear it to traditional investors.

Akash, in the article, bats for Blockchain technology because it incorporates the [Islamic] principle of maslaha (social benefits of positive externalities) as it can potentially provide banking services to those unbanked segment of the population. It is quite obvious that those who are unbanked among us are the ones who have no surplus money to bank! So when folks like Akash talk about brining that segment into the banking sector, they essentially mean trapping them by offering loans!

Ideological arguments apart, some of the Wall Street and the financial world titans have strong reservations against bitcoins:

In early September, the worlds largest bank JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon said that the currency will not work and said he would fire any JP Morgan staff who traded it. Speaking at a bank investor conference in New York, Dimon said, The currency isnt going to work. You cant have a business where people can invent a currency out of thin air and think that people who are buying it are really smart.

In November, CEO Tidjane Thiam of Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse airs similar views. Bitcoin presents a number of challenges. The first of them is really the anonymity, and calling the digital currency as the very definition of speculation and the very definition of a bubble.

Laurence Fink, founder and chief executive officer of BlackRock, Inc. that manages nearly $6 trillion of assets is not bullish either. At the Reuters Global Investment 2018 Outlook Summit in New York this month, he called bitcoin a very speculative instrument. More importantly, it is an instrument that people use for money laundering!

These three gentlemen are movers and shakers of global financial markets. Their words  rightly or wrongly  are taken as gospel truth. Traditional investors view bitcoin as opaque and highly speculative with potential to collapse even though so far this year bitcoin has soared nearly 580 percent  a meteoric rise not appreciated in the Islamic finance circles. Bitcoin surged on earlier this week to $6,487, recovering more than $1,000 after losing almost a third of its value in less than four days  nor is such a sudden fall acceptable in an ethical banking system!

The investors who are active and bullish on this digital currency have dodgy background. For instance, Novogratz, a former Princeton University wrestler, U.S. Army helicopter pilot, and Goldman Sachs Group partner, is among them. Novogratz worked at Fortress from 2002 to 2015, where he was a principal and ran its macro hedge funds. They grew to manage billions of dollars and made him a Wall Street star. But the funds were shut in 2015 following investment losses. Novogratz then retired from the firm. But he is now back with a bang; promoting and investing heavily in bitcoins!

Fiat currency (the paper currency we use without the gold backing) itself is causing devastation in global economy because Central Banks are able to print and circulate unlimited amount of money. The consequences of a widely acceptable digital currency  where no Central Bank or other regulatory authorities exist  can be catastrophic!

So my sincere advice to friends like Akash is to hold the verdict on bitcoins synergy with (and benefits for) Islamic finance. We have a long distance to cover before reaching a firm conclusion on this!
When asked to comment on SNP MP Tommy Shepherd's remarks that if scotland is ignored on Brexit, they would issue a second independence referendum, the Scottish Liberal Democrats told Blasting News: "The people of Scotland do not want an independence referendum and a Scotland outside both the UK and the EU would do irreversible damage to the economy."

The Liberal Democrats, like their Tory and Labour counterparts, are a unionist party. It is in their best interests to ensure that the United Kingdom remains united, which is why they will always collaborate with other Westminster parties to ensure Scottish independence is never delivered.

Therefore, it is understandable why they would naturally respect the outcome of the 2014 Scottish Referendum. Or are they just unionists in Scotland when it best suits them?

"They have betrayed everything they stand for"

Since 52 per cent of the voting population opted for Brexit during last June's referendum, they have betrayed everything they stand for. They claim to be a democratic party, but by trying to reverse a decision that the country unanimously voted for, and which numerous opinion polls have suggested the Leave side would win with a substantial margin next time round if another referendum was called tomorrow, they are proving to be anything but democratic.

The Liberal Democrats are exercising nothing but double standards when it comes to respecting one referendum outcome, but not another.

Their statement to Blasting News indicates they want Scotland to remain at the heart of Europe by remaining a member of the UK. They fail to comprehend that Britain is leaving the EU on March 29th 2019 and there is nothing they can do to stop Brexit, especially now that the EU Withdrawal Bill, which repeals the hated 1972 European Communities Act that took us into the Common Market, has been passed through the House of Commons.

"Opposing Brexit seems to be the only consistent line this party has ever spouted"

The problem with the Liberal Democrats is that they change their tune so frequently that it is difficult to understand what they truly stand for. Opposing Brexit seems to be the only consistent line this party has ever spouted. They once claimed to support a second Scottish referendum if it meant Scotland could remain in the EU.

But now that Nicola Sturgeon has been told by many European leaders an independent Scotland cannot rejoin the trading bloc immediately, it seems the Liberal Democrats now hope to reverse Brexit by opposing it at Westminster with their 12 MPs.

The irony is, they cannot achieve that ambition in London; collaborating with the SNP in an independent Scotland would be their only hope of remaining in the EU. Rejoining the EU via Scottish independence would take years, but if the Liberal Democrats are serious about their dream, would they rather wait ages to rejoin the trading bloc via an independent Scotland than be part of a United Kingdom that is never returning to Brussels' control? It makes sense to most political commentators, but given how much the Liberal Democrats change their mind on most policies, no one should expect any consistency from this party.
The Scottish Conservatives have launched a blistering attack on a Scottish National Party (SNP) MP for proposing a second independence referendum if scotland is ignored on Brexit.

The news comes as The Scotsman newspaper broke the story that SNP frontbencher Tommy Shepherd ended a brief pause in a debate Westminster Hall was holding on the constitution, vowing to issue a second independence referendum if the Conservative Government goes ahead with leaving the EU without Holyrood's consent.

He was quick to reiterate that the referendum would not be held until Britain's EU withdrawal has been completed.

Mr. Shepherd said during the discussion that if Westminster ignored the Scottish Government, then the mandate is there, and it will be executed. The SNP MP said this is because his party give the people of Scotland a right to decide.

This is in direct contradiction to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's announcement after this year's general election that she would reset her party's timetable for a second vote, due to the Nationalists' losses this year.

"The Scottish Conservatives are committed to delivering Brexit"

Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow and the Scottish Tories' constitutional spokesperson, told Blasting News that it is time the SNP listened for once, and committed the Scottish Conservatives to delivering a Brexit that worked for the whole of the United Kingdom.

Ross Thomson, Conservative MP for Aberdeen South, joined his party in urging the Nationalists to listen to the Scottish Tories. He said the SNP is failing to listen to the people and that Tommy Shepherd has once again shown the Nationalists will use any excuse to take Scotland back to a second referendum.

"It's a complete outrage"

He said it's a complete outrage and accused Nicola Sturgeon of trying to divide the country in two.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats provided Blasting News with a response to Mr. Shepherd's threat, saying: "The people of Scotland do not want an independence referendum and a Scotland outside both the UK and the EU would do irreversible damage to our economy.

"Liberal Democrats stand for the majority of people in Scotland who want to see Scotland at the heart of the UK and the UK at the heart of Europe."

Ms Sturgeon visited the Prime Minister at Downing Street earlier in the week to try and end the deadlock between their respective governments over the Brexit Bill that was being debated in Parliament earlier this week.

"Constructive and cordial"

Even though the First Minister described the 45-minute talks as "constructive and cordial", she said that neither her nor Mrs May had reached an agreement over the Brexit Bill.

The Scottish and Welsh governments are refusing to put the EU Withdrawal Bill forward for debate in their respective assemblies unless substantial alterations are made.

They argue the changes are necessary to prevent a "power grab" as the Bill would return responsibilities in devolved areas such as agriculture from Brussels to London rather than Cardiff or Edinburgh.

The UK Government has not yet specified which powers will be returning to the devolved assemblies, despite promising them that significant powers will be returned to them after Britain fully withdraws from the EU.

In a fresh bid to prevent MPs warning the UK would leave the trading bloc without a deal if they vote against it, Brexit Secretary David Davis told politicians that they would be able to scrutinise the final deal and vote on it before March 29th 2019.

The Scottish Government was approached for comment by Blasting News to provide their response to Mr. Shepherd's comments, but failed to do so.

Scottish Labour were also asked to reply to Mr. Shepherd's remarks, but ignored Blasting News' request.
The result of a national poll in Australia gave a clear win for the legalisation of same-Sex Marriage in an important step forward for equality for the countrys LGBT community. More than 61 percent of the population voted yes in this poll, with a nationwide participation of almost 80 percent of Australians.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said at a press conference in the countrys capital Canberra, after learning the results, They voted yes to fairness. They voted yes to commitment. They voted yes to love.

This poll was controversial from the beginning

When announced, many voices were against a national vote, arguing the issue should be voted in parliament alone. There were also concerns regarding the high cost of a postal vote and the opinions and attacks that would come out surrounding such a divisive matter.

Soon enough, concerns were proved to be true. According to the Huffington Post, Australia's statistician, David Kalisch, concluded that the national survey would cost more than AU$75 million, although below the 97 million budgetary limit.

The campaign became ugly where both sides have been accused of reprehensible acts. According to ABC News website, grandson of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was punched for supporting the 'Yes' camp; Qantas boss Alan Joyce, was assaulted with a pie for the same reason, and a skywriter was hired from the 'No' side to write "Vote No" in Sydney's skies.

On the other side, there were reports of a campaign to deregister a medical doctor, who took part in a 'No' ad; a worker, Madlin Sims was fired by her employer in Canberra, after she posted a picture on Facebook that said "it's OK to vote no"; in Brisbane a church meeting was cut short by a student protest; and the former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, leader of the 'No' campaign, was headbutted.

The vote, however, isn't legally binding

Although the vote for equality in marriage was won by a large margin, there's still a need for parliament approval. The prime minister, defined the end of the year, as the limit for moving forward with a law giving equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. The ruling Liberal Party drafted two bills (which are expected to be debated soon) by two different senators, where religious protections and conscientious objectors, are covered.

According to a survey led by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the majority of members of the parliament said they would vote 'yes' if the national poll turned out that way, which could lead Australia to become the 26th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.

This result gathered a worldwide support, from several institutions and celebrities including comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
It's not just the tax secrets of the wealthy that are coming to light thanks to the leaked The Paradise Papers but the way the wealthy chose to spend their money.

Nelson Mandela

One of the more shocking stories to come out of the release of the 13.4 million leaked documents which have already exposed the tax secrets of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is the discovery that Nelson Mandela gave money to the wife of a dictator.

Best-loved politician

The late president of South Africa, who died in 2013, is still remembered as one of the world's best-loved politicians.

The Paradise Papers have revealed that Mandela's lawyer, Ismail Ayob, established a trust as a repository for donations the president had been receiving.

Paradise Papers

The Paradise Papers reveal that the trust's registered office was the Isle of Man, which is located midway between the British mainland and Ireland. According to South Africa's Financial Mail newspaper, the lawyer claimed that Mandela wanted the trust created so that he could give away money to people abroad, who'd been 'good'.

Dictator's wife

One of the recipients was none other than Margot Honecker, the wife of East German dictator Erich Honecker. According to the lawyer, Margot Honecker, known as the Purple Witch because of the colour of her hair rinses, was given money because Mandela said he'd like to assist her.

The dictator

Her husband Erich Honecker led communist East Germany for nearly two decades until shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of East Germany and the resulting reunification of Germany.

Honecker's East Germany, known as the German Democratic Republic, was anything but democratic despite the name.

Secret police

The dictatorship, which was kept in place by a 90,000 strong secret police force known as the Stasi, was known for its cruelty and deprivation. Due to the lack of freedom large numbers of East Germany's citizens tried to escape to the west but many were shot dead by East German border guards.

Anti-apartheid

Considering Nelson Mandela's own history of 27 years imprisonment because of his fight against apartheid in South Africa it is surprising that he would have wanted to support a former dictator's wife. It is known that far from needing the money from Mandela's funds the former dictator's wife was receiving a state pension from the government of the reunified Germany and living comfortably in her new home in Chile.
Donald Trump has once again used social media to vent his frustrations with the current state of American politics. In his latest rantings on Twitter, the president targeted the mainstream media and the Democratic Party.

Trump on Twitter

Over the last nine months that he's been in the White House, Donald Trump has struggled to follow through with his many campaign promises. From the day he pulled off his shocking upset win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton last November, the former host of "The Apprentice" has only increased his feud with the media, routinely bashing any reports he doesn't agree with as "Fake News." Trump has gone out of his way to single out certain news outlets, whether they're cable and TV networks like CNN and NBC News, or newspapers like the New York Times and Washington Post.

In addition, the billionaire real estate mogul has not taken personal responsibilities for his administration's short-comings, instead deflecting blame to the Democrats or other Republicans. As seen on his Twitter account on October 17, Trump is back playing the blame game.

So much Fake News being put in dying magazines and newspapers. Only place worse may be @NBCNews, @CBSNews, @ABC and @CNN. Fiction writers!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2017

Taking to his Twitter account on Tuesday night, Donald Trump decided to take out his frustrations on two of his favorite political enemies. "So much Fake News being put in dying magazines and newspapers. Only place worse may be @NBCNews, @CBSNews, @ABC and @CNN," Trump tweeted, before adding, "Fiction writers!" Trump's latest media rants have been directed at NBC News after the outlet reported that the president was planning to increase the United States' nuclear arsenal, which the White House was quick to deny.

Democratic attack

Not stopping there, Donald Trump then shifted his attention to the current debate over the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) where his attempt to repeal the law has failed multiple times in Congress. Earlier this week, it was announced that Trump would take several controversial executive orders to rollback the law, which caused many to worry about a spike in premiums.

Any increase in ObamaCare premiums is the fault of the Democrats for giving us a "product" that never had a chance of working.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2017

"Any increase in Obamacare premiums is the fault of the Democrats for giving us a 'product' that never had a chance of working," Donald Trump tweeted out.

As he has in the past, the president doesn't appear willing to take any blame for the negative repercussions of his decisions. Despite claiming to have the majority of the American people by his side in support of his administration, recent polling shows the president with an approval rating around just 35 percent.
Al Franken, United States Senator and the least funny person ever to be on Saturday Night Live, is the latest powerful man to be called out for sexually assaulting a woman. Journalist Leeann Tweeden recounted a story of a series of incidents when both were on a Uso Tour in 2006 to entertain the troops in Afghanistan. The juiciest part of the story is that photographic evidence exists of Franken groping Leedens breasts while she was asleep on the plane coming back to America with the failed comedian grinning at the camera.

Tweedens tale of being assaulted by Franken

According to Tweeden, she had expected to emcee and introduce the acts. However, Franken told her that he had written a skit that would involve both of them. The climax of the skit would be a kiss between them. Tweeden, suspecting what was up, planned to go along, but turn her head or put her hand over Frankens mouth to fend him off, thus getting more laughs.

However, Franken accosted Tweeden and insisted that they rehearse the skit, kiss and all. She demurred, but he insisted. It ended with Franken grabbing Tweeden and forcibly kissing her, tongue and all. Tweeden, naturally, made her displeasure known but did not inform anyone about it.

Franken, apparently humiliated by Tweedens reaction, started a campaign of petty insults, including drawing devil horns on a headshot of her that was distributed to the audience.

The groping incident was the climax of the humiliating USO tour.

Franken partly denies

When the story broke, Franken was apparently not able to deny the groping, since the picture is all over the Internet. He is trying to deny the forced kissing incident, however. Franken is earning ridicule over this since he is among the many people who insisted that women who report sexual assaults should be believed in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has demanded a Senate Ethics Committee investigation.

Franken, seeing the handwriting on the wall, has agreed to cooperate with such a probe.

The fallout is likely to be devastating

Frankens prospect of even being a dark horse presidential candidate in 2020 have essentially been dashed. His ability to remain a United States senator is certainly in doubt, especially if more women come forward.

The Democrats could easily rid themselves of Franken. The governor of Minnesota is a Democrat and will appoint someone of a similar vein to serve out Frankens current term.

Frankens persona has always been that of a nasty piece of work. During his segue from not ready for prime time player to a politician he authored a number of books with titles like Rush Limbaugh is A Big Fat Idiot and Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. He once joked about raping Leslie Stahl. On another occasion, he expressed joy at the idea of gay people being killed. In short, if and when he falls, no one will miss Al Franken.
Five people have been reported dead after an attempted mass shooting in California. In the hours after the news broke, Donald Trump gave his thoughts on Twitter but came under fire for accidentally citing the location of a previous shooting.

Trump on Twitter

The United States continues to deal with mass shootings and other acts of violence, too often the result of the use of a gun. On Tuesday, a gunman in Northern California attempted to break into Rancho Tehama Elementary School, but was unable to do so due to the building being secured. According to CNN, the gunman drove a stolen pickup truck through the locked gate, before exiting the vehicle and opening fire through the walls and windows.

Minutes later, the suspect fled the scene but was taken down and killed after an altercation with police. However, the bullets fired by the gunman back at the school resulted in four deaths, while injuring others. The shooting took place less than two weeks after 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people at a small Texas church, and just over a month after 64-year-old Stephen Paddock killed 58 people during a mass shooting in Las Vegas. The incident has once again sparked a debate over gun control, as both Democrats and Republicans argue over the best course of action. As seen on his Twitter account on November 15, Donald Trump appeared to be giving his comments on the shooting, but cited the aforementioned incident in Texas.

May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday night, Donald Trump tweeted out what appeared to be his sympathy for the shooting in California, but seemed to have gotten his details mixed up. "May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas," Trump tweeted out, before adding, "The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived." As expected, those who oppose the president wasted no time pointing out the error.

JUST IN: At least 5 dead, including shooter, after shooting spree in Northern California. Suspect opened fire at 7 different scenes, including elementary school, officials say.  ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2017

Twitter reaction

Moments after Donald Trump's tweet, critics took the time to correct the president's mistake. "Did u just copy & paste this & forget to change the city?" one tweet wondered.

Hes not even trying anymore...  Lady Sleuth (@MrsSleuth) November 15, 2017

Um....California. Shooting was in California. FBI didnt just arrive at church shooting in Texas. They arrived at school in Calif. Ok?  swede grrrl (@swedegrrrl) November 15, 2017

"Um....California. Shooting was in California. FBI didnt just arrive at church shooting in Texas. They arrived at school in Calif. Ok?" another tweet went on to note. "Wrong state. New shooting. Please try to keep up," one Twitter user stated.

Are you fucking serious? He is so confused he doesn't even know which mass shooting was today!  Celine Mayes (@Celine4Sanity) November 15, 2017

Ummm, did you mean the mass shooting in California? I can understand why it would be easy to mix mass shootings up, as they happen every other week. pic.twitter.com/tmpsmLhZFq  Frizzie Frizzstein (@bringonthesong) November 15, 2017

Wrong state. New shooting. Please try to keep up.  Audrey U (@AudreyU2) November 15, 2017

"Ummm, did you mean the mass shooting in California?

I can understand why it would be easy to mix mass shootings up, as they happen every other week," yet another tweet noted. "Are you fu*king serious? He is so confused he doesn't even know which mass shooting was today!" a fellow Twitter user wrote. The response to Donald Trump's tweet continued to remain negative as the president returns to the United States after a two week trip to Asia.
The biggest story to dominate the news over the last week have been growing sexual assault allegations involving Republican Roy Moore. With the pressure mounting, Donald Trump has refused to call Moore out and ask him to back out of the race for Senate in the state of Alabama.

Trump on Moore

Earlier this fall, the New York Times broke a bombshell story revealing decades of sexual assault and harassment at the hands of film producer Harvey Weinstein. Dozens of women came forward to accuse Weinstein of various acts of inappropriate behavior, ranging from sexual harassment to sexual assault.

The dominos quickly fell and Weinstein was fired from his own production company. Since then, women have come out to accuse many powerful men of similar allegations, from actors, to directors, and even politicians. It was just over a week ago when the Washington Post broke their own story reporting that Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore allegedly attempted to engage in sexual activity with at least four underage women, with the oldest claim dating back to 1979. Moore has denied the allegations, claiming they are a part of a "liberal media" smear attack against him. The paper had 30 sources to back-up their story, with even more women coming forward to the point that top Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have called on Moore to drop out of the race.

As reported by The Hill on November 16, the White House has finally put together their consensus.

JUST IN: White House doesn't call for Moore to step down from Alabama Senate race https://t.co/0uBqVKa4cz pic.twitter.com/NfgQHHmaJH  The Hill (@thehill) November 16, 2017

During Thursday afternoon's press briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed reporters about where Donald Trump currently stands on the Roy Moore scandal.

"The president believes that these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously," Sanders said.

JUST IN: Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Roy Moore: "The president believes that these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously, and he thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be." pic.twitter.com/CgCS3INKgB  NBC News (@NBCNews) November 16, 2017

Not stopping there, Sarah Huckabee Sanders elaborated further on Donald Trump's current stance on whether or not Roy Moore should remain in the race.

"He (Trump) thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be," Sanders noted. Sander's remarks double down on Trump's initial reaction where the president warned people not to rush to judgement.

Twitter reacts

Not long after Sarah Huckabee Sanders relayed Donald Trump's message to the public, critics on social media were quick to speak out. "ZERO Shock..... ZERO!! Integrity isn't a characteristic of this White House," one tweet read.

#Trump wld have 2 acknowledge his own #sexualharassment actions. He can't throw stones when he's the #sinnerinchief!  Aracely Panameno (@PanamenoAracely) November 16, 2017

Exactly  Charles Peterson (@charlesptrson) November 16, 2017

"Of course the @WhiteHouse would never do that.

If it did, then it would be admitting that Donald Trump should do the exact same for his sexual harassment, assault, and rape allegations to. Same ol' BS "nothing to see here, folks" as always," another tweet added. "Of course he does. How can he say Moores behavior is unacceptable when he has demeaned women his whole life," an additional Twitter user wrote.

This is not shocking, he doesn't speak out against Nazis, he certainly isn't going to speak out against pedophiles.  Malissa Winicki (@Mrs_Peach1) November 16, 2017

Of course he does. How can he say Moores behavior is unacceptable when he has demeaned women his whole life.  Jennifer Hoffman (@JenAnneHoffman) November 16, 2017

Whats the difference between Moore and Trump? Ah, yes, Putin. Moore doesnt have Russia or does he?  Charlotte Rossmann (@ArtistRossmann) November 16, 2017

"This is not shocking, he doesn't speak out against Nazis, he certainly isn't going to speak out against pedophiles," a follow up tweet stated.

"Trump wld have 2 acknowledge his own sexual harassment actions. He can't throw stones when he's the sinner in chief!" yet another tweet noted. The negative reaction continued as the backlash against Donald Trump, Roy Moore, and the Republican Party moved forward.
President Donald Trump wrapped up his extensive tour of Asia in the Philippines by calling it a tremendous amount of work on trade. What he got from his Asia Tour will be reviewed and analyzed by the American media, opponents, and prosecutors later, but generally people are eager to know about the main purpose of the tour i.e. impact of the US intimidation on North Koreas dictator Kim Jong-un. As Donald Trump had repeated his will very fiercely before his departure. It is another thing if Trump has a hidden agenda or future plan for the dictator, otherwise jibe war - old, short and fat - from both sides has disclosed the reality of the US impact on North Korea.

Behind the media coverage

Another incident, outside of the primary media coverage, was a protest against Trumps visit in the Philippines from the left wing of the country carrying placards of Dump Trump and Down with US Imperialism. Protesters said: Trump is here to push for unfair treaties between both the countries. The protesters burnt an effigy of Trump too and shouted to leave the country.

Asia-Pacific labeled as Indo-Pacific

The results of the tour will be seen in the future but one thing is very clear that America wants to make a strong figure against China in the region. It is clear from the term Trump used in his visit i.e. Indo-Pacific instead of Asia-Pacific as generally used by Barack Obama earlier.

It is very evident that China is on the way to emerge as a super economic power in the world. India is the only country in the region to oppose Chinas ambitious plans like one belt one road (OROB) project. In the recent stand-off in Doklam, India didnt compromise with its interests. The Trumps meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during ASEAN summit and statements from both sides to make the relations deeper and comprehensive clear the US vision to de-emphasize Chinas influence in the region.

The time will decide the future of OROB, China-Pakistan corridor and Indias all efforts to pushback China, but Indian media rejoiced the Trumpss Asia tour and Trump-Modi meeting at ASEAN.

The Indian media titled it as The end of Chinas coercion in Manila, Master plan to smite China, and China has objection on Indo-Pacific phrase. These headlines are enough to describe what India got from Trumps visit.

President Donald Trump didnt take clear stand on Asias two major issue, South China Sea and North Korea, although he proposed to play a role of moderator. Unlike in the past, Americas predominancy was somewhat missing in this tour, as seen in the APEC summit where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping went along their separate ways in their speeches. Trump called for America-first-like theory while Xis stress was on globalization.
Charles manson is reportedly spending his final days hospitalized. The Cult Leader was taken from prison to a nearby hospital Sunday (Nov. 12). TMZ reports that Manson's health is in rapid decline and it looks as if is only a matter of time. Sources close to the Manson hospitalization scene revealed to TMZ that things are "not going to get any better for him." At age 83, Manson has spent the past 46 years behind prison walls.

Charles Manson spending final moments in Bakersfield hospital

Most people familiar with the Manson murder case are surprised that Charles Manson has survived prison as long as he has.

However, it appears his number may be finally up. Charles Manson has spent the past three days in the Bakersfield hospital undergoing tests and treatments. He has been escorted at every turn by five uniformed police officials, who are taking no chances when it comes to securing the elderly cult leader.

Manson's adopted son vows to carry on father's visions

Manson's appearance has been described as "ashen." He remains covered by blankets and is barely responding to hospital personnel. The infamous cult leader has been down this road before. In 2016, as previously reported, Manson was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated for intestinal bleeding and was diagnosed as too weak for surgery at the time.

At that time, it appeared as if the end was near for Manson. His family was notified and his alleged son, Matthew Roberts, 48, rushed to the hospital to be by his "father's" bedside. Manson miraculously made it through and was returned to Corcoran State Prison, where he has since remained. Charles' "alleged son" Matthew revealed a few years back that he was adopted as a very young boy and only learned who his biological father was after making contact with his birth mother.

A scary fact about Manson's hospitalization in 2016 comes from Matthew Roberts. He claims that while visiting, his father asked that his dying wish is granted by him.

That wish, according to Roberts was if he would continue his father's work, which he claims he stated "he would," without a problem. This is a frightening thought for sure.

Roberts, at the time, stated he would continue his dad's mission by "promoting" his messages...however, they would only be the messages that he agrees with.

Roberts also revealed that when his father dies, he has no idea who would have control over his estate, but he has been told by many people that the estate is very valuable. At this time it is not known if Matthew Roberts has been contacted about his alleged father's failing health. We can only hope that since last year he has had time to reconsider complying with Charles Manson's deathbed wish.
A New York-based company is looking to provide a better view online of China's art market.

Artnet, an art market information company, has launched an immersive new mini program on WeChat, the popular Chinese social media mobile app. The company established its WeChat presence in 2015, when it opened a China branch, and has continued to expand.

The mini program allows galleries to establish individual profiles through which the Chinese community can instantly inquire about art from a range of dealers through its gallery network - a platform that connects galleries and collectors and features more than 170,000 works of art by 35,000 artists from around the globe.

"I went to China in 2013, and after that, many, many times," said Jacob Pabst, artnet CEO. "It's a fascinating market; it's fascinating by the speed of its growth and the amount of changes the country is going through in a very short time."

Pabst said that in the past, inquiries in China had been more about Chinese art, but the Chinese interest in Western art has grown rapidly in recent years.

"Galleries came to realize that the interest for Western art is becoming more obvious," Pabst said.

Pabst noted that the market for Western art is still relatively small in China, but growing rapidly. At the same time, the gallery system from the Western market is still in an early stage and not fully developed, he said.

"WeChat will be a great opportunity for artnet and its member galleries to reach the art market in China and give its participants easy access to artnet's member galleries," Pabst said.

Artnet also plans to help Chinese users navigate its other products, including its artnet auctions, an online platform for buying and selling modern and contemporary art, and its price database, which provides a comprehensive archive of auction results.

"The system of making sure the (art) data is accurate as it published is not fully implemented," Pabst said.

He said artnet has worked closely with the China Association of Auctioneers (CAA) to bring more accuracy and transparency to the market by providing better data.

"There is no doubt about the huge potential in China," said Jessica Zhang, artnet's director for Greater China ,and its Chinese publisher.

Zhang said the company has worked with the major art fairs in China the past few years and with museums and different institutions, holding educational programs and forums.

ruinanzhang@chinadailyusa.com
Mainland increases scholarships, lowers entrance requirements for universities

The Chinese mainland is continuing to introduce beneficial policies to attract students from Taiwan to study and work on the mainland, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday.

Three measures were issued recently to encourage more students from Taiwan to study and work on the mainland, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the office, at a news conference.

Since Oct 1, Chinese universities have lowered the entrance requirements for students from Taiwan. More than 200 universities approved students with lower scores than in previous years in the General Scholastic Ability Test, Taiwan's college entrance exam.

The Ministry of Education approved the use of Taiwan test scores for applications to universities on the mainland in 2010. It is also asking universities to provide targeted job guidance for Taiwan students and help with documentation required for those who want to work on the mainland.

The Ministry of Finance and the education ministry have also increased the number of scholarships offered to Taiwan students, increasing both the amount of money students receive and the number of recipients.

"The next move is to carry out the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and continue to research and release policies, gradually treating Taiwan compatriots and mainland residents equally in terms of studying, starting up businesses, seeking employment and living on the mainland to promote economic and social development between both sides and to enhance the happiness of people from Taiwan," Ma said.

General Secretary Xi Jinping said at the opening of the congress in October that people from Taiwan will be treated the same as those from the mainland when they pursue studies, start businesses, seek jobs or live on the mainland.

In 2013, students from Taiwan were included in the basic medical insurance system for mainland urban residents. In 2015, 10,870 students from Taiwan studied at mainland universities, according to figures from the education ministry.

At Wednesday's news conference, Ma also called for authorities in Taiwan to abandon their hostile mentality and respect the choices of residents. He was referring to Lu Li-an, an English literature professor at Fudan University who was born and raised in Taiwan but whose household status was revoked by Taiwan authorities after she attended the national congress as a CPC member in October.

"No matter what measures the Taiwan authorities take, Lu's love for her hometown and the Chinese mainland will not be diminished," Ma said. "Whether she has household status in Taiwan or not, the mainland and Taiwan are both her home."
Have smartphones gotten too smart for their own good?

A trend that has emerged in the past couple of years suggests the "dumbphone" is making a comeback.

No, not a rotary dial, desktop console from the 1950s, but a more basic mobile device, like something out of the 1990s, just before the internet took over everyone's life.

Or, you can get something with sleek technology that does nothing put make and receive calls.

What's driving the nostalgia?

Nothing more than peace and quiet, because dumb phones aren't necessarily cheaper.

With your old school phone, you won't be getting intrusive texts, the latest mayhem in the world from Twitter, or Facebook requests to wish some distant friend Happy Birthday.

You also won't have to worry about weird characters popping up in your social media posts due to a recent bug in the latest software on your new $999 Apple iPhone X, the one that auto-corrects the lower-case letter "i" to "A?".

Classic throwbacks by Motorola, Nokia and Ericsson are drawing four-figure sums on eBay and elsewhere, Mail Online reports. But there also are much cheaper remakes. Motorola Mobility, whose parent made the cult-classic flip phone, was sold to China's Lenovo in 2014.

And while retro phones may lack snazzy features, they're easy to use, have long-life batteries and are relatively indestructible compared with the latest smartphones.

In October, Motorola revealed that it was bringing back the iconic Razr, joining British firm Binatone to create the Binatone Blade, which features a flip screen but costs just $66, compared with the original Razr at $600.

In February, Nokia relaunched its 3310 phone - 17 years after the original. The retro device features month-long standby capability and also goes for $66.

French online shop Lekki, which sells vintage, revamped mobile phones, claims simplicity is the new normal.

"We have two types of profiles: the 25-to-35-year-olds attracted by the retro and offbeat side of a telephone that is a little different, and those who are nostalgic for the phone that they used when they were younger," Maxime Chanson, who founded Lekki in 2010, told Mail Online. "Some use it to complement their smartphone, but others are going for the vintage, tired of the technology race between the phone makers."

It's not only nostalgia but also simplicity.

The Light Phone, founded by Joe Hollier and Kaiwei Tong in New York, uses modern technology to create a wafer-thin device just for phone calls, using the same number as your smartphone does.

"Our time & attention are the two most important things that we take for granted the hundreds of times a day we reach for our screens," the website says.

The company describes the phone, made at Foxconn in Yantai, Shandong province, as "a discreet credit-card sized mobile phone designed to be used as little as possible. It is the only phone designed to be used as your second phone as a seamless extension of your smartphone."

The Light Phone, which I think looks like a calculator, will be available in the US for $125 starting in late February.

"After seven years with an iPhone, I was going to get a significantly dumber phone. And what could be dumber than the phone I was rocking circa 2005, a Samsung knockoff of the legendary Motorola Razr?" Alan Jacobs wrote in The Atlantic in January 2016. "I was trying to respond to a feeling that had been creeping up on me for a long time, but that had only recently become strong and clear: Social media were stalking me from my pocket."

Jacobs has since switched to a $295 Punkt. phone, made by a company that says it is "about using technology to help us adopt good habits for less distracted lives".

Contact the writer at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com
China remains the top source of international students enrolled in US universities and colleges in the 2016-17 academic year, according to a report released on Monday.

The 350,755 Chinese mainland students enrolled is a 6.8 percent increase from the previous year and account for 32.5 percent of the total international students enrolled, according to the 2017 Open Doors report by the Institute for International Education.

It is the second year that the number of international students exceeded 1 million, to 1.08 million in the 2016-17 academic year, up 3.4 percent from the previous year. International students made up over 5 percent of the more than 20 million students enrolled in US higher education.

The Chinese mainland remains the top source, with almost twice the number of students in the US as India, but India's rate of growth outpaced that of the Chinese mainland in the 2016-17 academic year. In all, the two countries represent some 50 percent of the total enrollment of international students in the US.

South Korea moved up to the third place despite a drop of 3.8 percent in enrollment from previous year. It was followed by Saudi Arabia, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Iran.

"International student exchange is an essential contributor to America's economic competitiveness and national security. The US higher education sector remains the global leader in welcoming students from around the world, and at the same time, we are committed to increasing opportunities to study abroad for Americans," said Alyson Grunder, deputy assistant secretary of state for policy in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The report shows that the continued growth in the international students has a significant positive impact on the US. International students contributed more than $39 billion to the US economy in 2016, compared with the $35 billion in the previous year, according to the US Department of Commerce.

The report said that two thirds of all international students receive the majority of their funding from sources outside the US, including personal and family sources as well as aid from their governments or universities.

"Students from around the world who study in the United States also contribute to America's scientific and technical research and bring international perspectives into US classrooms, helping prepare American students for global careers, and often lead to longer-term business relationships and economic benefits," the report said.

With 156,879 international students, California is the top host state, followed by New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Illinois. All but 19 states and US territories saw rising international enrollments in 2016-17.

For the fourth year in a row, New York University hosted the largest number of international students. The University of Southern California remains the second-leading host. They were followed by Columbia University, Northeastern University, Arizona State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Combined, the top 25 campuses had 22.4 percent of all international students in the United States.

New York City is once again the top metropolitan area for international students, followed by Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago. Dallas surpassed San Francisco as the fifth-leading metropolitan area.

The Open Doors report said it marks the 11th consecutive year of continued expansion of the total number of international students in US higher education. However, the number of new international students - those enrolled at a US institution for the first time in fall 2016, declined by nearly 10,000 students to about 291,000, a 3 percent drop from the previous year.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
Possible free trade agreement yields varying opinions in government survey

Canadians see both opportunities and challenges associated with a possible Canada-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to the results of public consultations by the Canadian government.

Canadians recognize the significant opportunities for Canadian businesses and consumers offered by the Chinese market, and the importance of China for the future of the global economy, according to a summary of the consultations.

"Whether in supplying China's appetite for high-quality agricultural products and natural resources, making inroads into its massive government procurement market, or leveraging China as a source of, and destination for, foreign direct investment, many Canadians told us that they see real opportunities in deepening Canada's trade relationship with the world's second largest economy," the report that was released on Nov 10 said.

But Canadians also see significant challenges associated with doing business in China, said the report. While a range of the difficulties identified by Canadians, like tariffs, permitting issues, establishment requirements, and customs procedures could be mitigated or resolved by a possible FTA, Canadians also expressed concerns that are more difficult to resolve using a traditional approach to free trade agreements.

From March 4, 2017, to June 2, 2017, the 90-day public consultations conducted by Global Affairs Canada involved interactions with more than 600 stakeholders and partners across Canada, including businesses and industry associations, academics, labour unions, non-governmental organizations and inwdigenous groups,.

Global Affairs Canada manages the country's diplomatic and consular relations, promotes the country's international trade and leads Canada's international development and humanitarian assistance.

Nearly 25 percent of companies and industry associations consulted were from the agriculture and agri-food sector, indicative of the high-level of interest among stakeholders in this sector in a potential FTA with China. Other sectors consulted included automotive, cleantech, consumer products, fish and seafood, forestry, industrial machinery, life sciences, creative industries, education, financial services, professional services and tourism.

"I was pleased to hear at my own consultations in Markham-Thornhill a great interest for an economic relationship with China," said Member of Parliament Mary Ng. "That would include a free trade agreement to help grow the middle class and create new Canadian jobs. I'm encouraged by the results of the government's consultations."

China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, behind the US and ahead of Mexico. Canada is in talks with those two countries on changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, earlier this month, Canada launched a challenge under NAFTA against recently announced US duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.

"China will always regard Canada as an important trading partner," Chinese Ambassador to Canada Lu Shaye told Canadian press recently.

"In addition to the US market, there is still another big market, which is China. The volume of the Chinese market is now almost the same as that of the US. So why not switch to China? I think the earlier Canada makes determination to switch to China, the more benefits you will get," said Lu.

"Of course, there are some differences. China advocates seeking common ground while reserving differences.

"In areas of disagreement, we can put away the issues for later discussion," he added.

renali@chinadailyusa.com
China's top diplomat in the US said his country wants to build a strong partnership with the United States based on mutual respect and benefit.

"This partnership will make each of us better able to accomplish our domestic goals. This partnership will bring both countries together in a stronger position to respond to so many challenges in today's world," Ambassador Cui Tiankai said on Wednesday.

Cui applauded the recent first state visit to China by US President Donald Trump, saying President Xi Jinping and US President Trump held an in-depth exchange of views and reached important consensus on issues, which set the tone for the relationship.

Ambassador Cui receiving award and giving speech. [Photo/CHARLENE CAI]

"The two presidents agreed to stay in close contact with each other and to provide strategic guidance for the relationship," Cui told a crowd made up mostly of experts on US-China relations, at the annual gala dinner of the US-China Policy Foundation (USCPF) in Washington on Wednesday.

He gave a long list of the achievements and consensus, including on the issues regarding the Korean Peninsula and tackling other bilateral, regional and global issues.

In talking about his Asia trip on Wednesday, Trump said he and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, were "greatly honored by the splendor" of their reception in China.

"Our trip included the first official dinner held for a foreign leader in the Forbidden City since the founding of modern China, where we enjoyed a very productive evening hosted by President Xi and his wonderful wife Madam Peng," Trump told the press in the White House less than a day after his return from a 12-day tour in Asia.

Trump applauded China's pledge to faithfully implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He also praised the $250 billion trade-investment deals with China that he said "will create jobs in the United States".

"I also had very candid conversations with President Xi about the need to reduce our staggering trade deficit with China, and for our trading relationship to be conducted on a truly fair and equitable basis," he said.

"It was a very important and successful state visit to China," said Laura Stone, acting deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of State Department.

Ambassador Cui and Baucus talking. [Photo/CHARLENE CAI]

"The mood was really spectacular. And the president was incredibly impressed by the experience and by the courtesy showed to him," Stone said.

Cui was presented with an Outstanding Achievement Award in US-China Relations, while Max Baucus, US ambassador to China from 2014 to 2017 and former US senator from Montana, won the Outstanding Achievement Award in Public Service.

Charlie Jiang, chairman and CEO of China-US SkyClub, and Stella Li, president of BYD Motors, received the US-China Business Leadership Award.

"I can see the chemistry and trust between President Xi and President Trump, something very assuring to our business community," Jiang said. "I believe the relations between China and the US will really enter a new era after the 19th Congress."

Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
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Around 500 Vietnamese and foreign scientists, technologists, professionals, students, stakeholders in the food industry, and food business owners and managers gathered for the 15th ASEAN Food Conference which opened in HCM City on Wednesday.  Photo tuoitre.vn

HCM City  Around 500 Vietnamese and foreign scientists, technologists, professionals, students, stakeholders in the food industry, and food business owners and managers gathered for the 15th ASEAN Food Conference which opened in HCM City on Wednesday.

The four-day conference "Food science and technology: Integration for ASEAN Economic Community sustainable development" highlights significant developments in research and innovations in food science and technology, with an emphasis on food products innovation, to strengthen food science and technology in each member state and the whole region.

Possible solutions to tackle issues in the ASEAN food economy such as technical barriers to trade, harmonisation of regulations, food service and entrepreneurship, food safety policies and food security, consumer trends, and climate change and its impact on the food sector will also be explored.

Delegates from 30 nations took part in this learning and discussion platform that will feature the latest research topics, results, innovations, and applications in the region.

This conference is an opportunity to enrich and advance knowledge of food science, technology, innovation, industry and education, and to network and explore collaboration opportunities with other delegates at AFC 2017, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said in his speech.

The specific topics on the agenda are food technology for processing, bio-technology, packaging; food storage and preservation: postharvest handling, minimally processed fruits, contamination, freezing and drying of foods and crops; nutrition, health and wellness: food quality, ingredients, nutrient bioavailability, functions of food, halal food; food engineering and automation: engineering properties of foods, packaging design, process monitoring, methodological and instrumental developments, design and operation of food processes and plant and equipment.

The conference will also discuss food product development and innovation: marketing and management, sensory, consumer trends, gastronomy, traditional development of functional foods; food and economy: food laws, food security, regulations and policies, food safety and policies, food service and entrepreneurship, multilateral agreements; and education and training.

The event has been held every two years by turn in ASEAN member countries since 1982.

Viet Nam hosted it before in 2003.  VNS
Deputy Tran Hong Nguyen from Binh Thuan Province raises concerns during discussion of the draft revised Law on Competition on Wednesday.  VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa

HA NOI  NA deputies voiced concerns that the countries competition authoritiesthe Vietnam Competition Authority (VCA) and the Vietnam Competition Council (VCC)might not be sufficiently independent to fulfill their mission objectives in a fair and impartial manner.

The deputies raised the concerns during discussion of the draft revised Law on Competition on Wednesday. While the VCC is a central government agency, the VCA is a branch office in the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The draft revised Law on Competition is currently in favour of merging the two competition authorities. The single national competition agency would then be put under the management of the trade ministry, with its mission, function and jurisdiction directed the government.

However, there are concerns over the VCAs ability to function as an independent competition authority while it remains a branch of the trade ministry. Those concerns are sharper given that the ministry is representing the governments shares in a number of economic enterprises, said Vu Hong Thanh, chairman of the NAs Economic Committee, in a report to the NA.

Deputies suggested that the new national competition agency should be independent and run according to directives set by either the government or the National Assembly to ensure its independence and impartiality, which are crucial to its objectives.

Trade minister Tran Tuan Anh said should the agency be put under the trade ministrys authority, major legal reforms and new regulations must be put in place to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure it remains an independent and fair agency.

NA deputies agreed that the country needs a more inclusive and improved version of its current Law on Competition, which came into effect in 2005. Twelve years after the original law, with the countrys economy becoming more globally integrated, the legislation shows numerous shortcomings. These hinder its effectiveness in providing a level playing ground for economic enterprises, both Vietnamese and international.

Question and answer sessions will be held from today until Saturday. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Finance Minister inh Tien Dung, State Bank Governor Le Minh Hung, Information and Communications Minister Truong Minh Tuan and Chief Justice Nguyen Hoa Binh will answer questions posed by NA deputies regarding a wide range of the countrys socio-economic issues.  VNS
LAO CAI  The 17th Viet Nam-China International Trade Fair has seen trade deals worth over US$258 million signed between enterprises from both sides in six days.

The fair, held in the northern province of Lao Cai, has attracted more than 100,000 visitors, bringing in revenue of some VN40 billion (US$1.76 million).

Speaking at the events closing ceremony, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Truong Giang said the trade fair once again proved Lao Cais important role in the Kunming (China)-Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh corridor, as well as in bridging Viet Nam, ASEAN and southwest China.

This years fair, the largest of its kind, brought together more than 300 exhibitors from Viet Nam, China, the Republic of Korea and Laos, as well as Thailand and Ghana, who showcased their products at more than 800 booths.

On display were products in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fishery and mechanics, as well as electronics, timber, leather, clothing and handicrafts. On the occasion, some 40 individuals and organisations were honoured by the provincial Peoples Committee for contribution to the fairs success.

The event ended on November 15.  VNS
By Bach Lien

Vince Grimm and Will Kratz of Cape May County, New Jersey in the United States, visited Viet Nam as tourists in 2000, and ended up making friends with their tour guide. The connection led to an educational foundation supporting fatherless and poor children in a country more than 10,000 kilometgres away.

In 2000, Grimm and Kratz were on a tour that included Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos. Along the way, they got to know their tour guide, Nguyen Xuan Quynh. Once in the north, Quynh invited the pair to his home to meet his family and to show him around, taking them off the established tour routes.

They kept in touch and the following year Grimm and Kratz returned for six weeks and again used Quynh as their tour guide.This time they visited a small village called Lim in Bac Ninh Province, located about an hour outside Ha Noi.

Quynhs mother was about to retire as a school principal, and she told the men about a real problem in the area  fatherless children. Once a father dies, the family has virtually no means of support. Widowed mothers have few options to work other than going into the rice paddies, where they have to deal with snakes, mosquitoes, and with developing arthritis from the back-breaking work. Most of them dont make enough to send their kids to school.

It motivated Grimm and Kratz to start an educational foundation to help childens living in Lim town in Tien Du district in Bac Ninh province. With Quynhs help in administrative procedures, they set up the foundation on the Viet Nam side to help poor children in Bac Ninh province.

In 2006, the Nguyen Xuan Quynh-VinceWill Education Foundation was officially established. Grimm said no money goes to the children  they receive school supplies, school jackets. The exception to the no-money policy is when kids are at the top of their class, when they get a couple dollars as a reward.

Our goal is education for these fatherless and poor children. This way we are making future friends for America, he said.

 On our fourth trip to Viet Nam we came to the school in Lim and saw the children. We toured the classrooms and met guyen Kim Thinh, retired deputy principal of the Lim elementary school. We asked what we could do to help the children. It was revealed that the students required extra help. We agreed to a plan to assist them,  said Vince Grimm.

We went back to America to establish a legal foundation. We returned to Viet Nam to establish the help and enter into agreements with the Lim district officials, he said.

Dynamic duo: Vince Grimm and Will Kratz offer school supplies to students in Bac Ninh. Photos courtesy of Nguyen Xuan Quynh

This foundation is a certified non-profit organisation approved by the US tax code. We have a board of directors consisting of a president, Vince Grimm; vice-president, Nguyen Xuan Quynh; treasurer, Craig van Baal; and Secretary David Volk.

Vince is a retired technical engineer with 40 years experience. Will Kratz was an award winning professional executive chef. He died recently.

We offer help to university students from Lim also as well as secondary school students," said Vince.

The money come from generous and caring Americans and Vietnamese and from Vince Grimm and Will Kratz.

After 10 years, more than 200 students have benefited from the fund.

The American duo arrive in Viet Nam at least every other year to meet the students.

We have no difficulties in running this foundation, thanks to the co-operation of the schools, village and the wonderful teachers, Vince said.

Besides they also helped children in other remote regions of Viet Nam, helped blind people in Ha Noi, farmers who tried hard to help their children and students in their studies.

Chu Thi Lan, rector of Lim secondary school in Lim town said: We appreciate the generous help of the foundation. It helped our students by offering books, pens, and other school supplies. The school also got computers and projector from the foundation. Its an important encouragement to their studies. The pupils are very happy.

Nguyen Van Lam, head of Due ong village of Lim town , said: The activities of the foundation have had a very positive impact to our village. Our poor students from primary to high school get support, so it motivates them to try harder in their studies.

We are happy that Quynh who was born and grew up in the region, has contributed to help the region, along with Americans, he said. VNS
Lectures and demonstrations about ninjas will be held by the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam in collaboration with Japanese National University, Mie University on November 16 and 17.

Ninjas are popular worldwide through film, anime, manga and more. But kind of person is a ninja? What skills do ninjas have?

Professors from Mie University, placed in Mie prefecture, known as the home of the Iga ninja, will hold a lecture about ninjas, while Master Kawakami, the 21st head of the Koka ninja clan will demonstrate ninja skills. The lecturers will talk about ninjas from a cultural and historical aspects.

The lectures and demonstrations, in Japanese with Vietnamese interpretation, will take place today at Vietnamese Womens Museum (conference room), 2nd floor, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, from 6-10pm; and at the Viet Nam National University, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Building E, 8th floor), 336 Nguyen Trai Road, Thanh Xuan District. Admission is free.  VNS
HAI PHONG  The northern port city of Hai Phong needs to look ahead to the next 10-20 years in order to tap its full growth potential, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong urged local authorities.

At a working session yesterday in Hai Phong, the Party leader said the city boasts many advantages, plays a significant position in the north and has recently made substantial achievements in economic restructuring and new building in rural areas.

The city should make careful growth plans for three- and five-year periods, he added.

The Party leader emphasised that building and reorganizing the Party is a key task as the work will affect not only millions of Party members but also the whole political system, State apparatus, personnel work, and working lifestyle.

The prevention of corruption must be complete, drastic and persistent in order to create effective change, he stressed.

Meanwhile, international integration, industrialisation and urbanisation must be accompanied by cultural preservation and the promotion of great national unity, resilience and creativity, he said.

He asked Hai Phong to reform growth models and promote investment to take the lead in the countrys "oi moi" (renewal) process.

During the visit to the northern port city, Trong toured the VINFAST automobile manufacturing complex and inh Vu-Cat Hai sea bridge, a part of Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway and the longest sea bridge in Southeast Asia.

According to Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal Peoples Council, the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) expanded this year by 12.73 per cent, higher than the yearly target of 10.5 per cent.

The export turnover is expected to grow by more than 22 per cent in 2017 and hit US$12 billion by 2020. The budget collection across the city is estimated at VN71 trillion ($3.12 billion) in 2017, up 26.22 per cent against the previous year, while the total social investment is projected to reach nearly VN68 trillion ($.99 billion).

Party leader visits unity festival

Yesterday, Trong attended a festival of national unity in Thuong ien cultural village in Vinh Quang Commune, Vinh Bao District in northern Hai Phong.

The event also celebrated the 87th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF), which falls on November 18.

Together with citizens, the Party chief reviewed the tradition of the VFF, lauding its role in gathering patriotic forces, classes, ethnic groups, religions and people from all walks of life in the fight against invaders and national construction.

He praised the VFF for initiating the event to uphold solidarity among the public.

The leader expressed his wish that the entire Party, people and army would stand united under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the direction of the Government to build a prosperous, democratic, equitable and civilised country.

Tran Van Pha, Secretary of the Party Committee and head of the Front Committee of Thuong ien Village said the average income per capita in the locality has hit VN36 million (US$1,600) per year, up 9.1 per cent from 2016.

On the occasion, the Party chief presented gifts to poor households in the village.

Earlier, he offered incense and planted a tree at a temple dedicated to the late scholar Nguyen Binh Khiem in Ly Hoc Commune, Vinh Bao District.  VNS
Ha Noi Customs has confiscated more than 47 kilos of ivory tusk products and nearly eight kilos of synthetic drug illegally transported into Viet Nam in two separate cases through express postal services. Illustrative Image

HA NOI  Ha Noi Customs has confiscated more than 47 kilos of ivory tusk products and nearly eight kilos of synthetic drug illegally transported into Viet Nam in two separate cases through express postal services.

The ivory tusks were seized on August 31 in two parcels sent from Germany, weighing more than 60 kilos. Customs scanning indicated the goods may have been made from animals so were sent to the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources for tests. Tests released recently showed that all the 47-kilos of the industrial goods were made from ivory.

Trading, storing and transporting ivory is forbidden in Viet Nam. Violators can be fined from VN5-50 million or imprisoned from six months to five years.

In the other cases, customs in co-operation with anti-smuggling and anti-drug police discovered a suspicious imported parcel weighing 12.14 kilos sent from the Netherlands to Ha Noi and HCM City. The eight-kilo goods were then tested positive with 3.4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA).

The police then arrested two suspects in Ha Noi and one in HCM City. The case in under further investigation.  VNS
HA NOI  The National Assembly (NA) on Thursday morning began its hearings on cabinet members, with the finance minister in the hot seat first.

The hearings will last for three straight days, from Thursday to Saturday.

Minister of Finance, inh Tien Dung, will be in the spotlight on the first day to answers questions of the NA deputies regarding tax debt management and tax inspection. He will be followed by the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Le Minh Hung, in the afternoon, with a hearing on monetary policies and the operation of the banking system.

On Friday, the Q&A session will focus on the application of information technology in administrative reforms and the State management of the press and communications. The Minister of Information and Communications, Truong Minh Tuan, will be on the stage that day.

Chief of the Supreme Peoples Court, Nguyen Hoa Binh, will also be present at the hearing on Saturday to take questions on judicial matters, especially those relating to corruption cases.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is expected to answer further questions on the governments work on Saturday afternoon, wrapping up the National Assembly hearing sessions this year.  VNS
The Most Virtuous Monk Thich ong Thien, one of herbalists at the Van Tho (Longevity) Pagoda in HCM Citys District 1, treats a patient. Photo Thu Hang

San Ha

HCM CITY  Situated along Nhieu Loc Canal in HCM Citys District 1, Van Tho (Longevity) Pagoda has been a trusted place for free traditional cures for sprains, fractures and muscle and bone injuries for more than 30 years.

Highly skilled and experienced herbalist monks treat nearly 200 patients every day, most of them poor labourers and old people.

The small clinic on one side of the pagoda operates from 2pm to 5pm every day except on Sundays and major Buddhist festivals.

Lai Khac Chung, 37, a printing worker from Tan Binh District, fell down a stair and sprained an ankle, which swelled up rapidly and very painfully.

Now, after I visited the clinic two times, I can walk normally and my leg is not swollen or painful anymore, he said.

A monk applied some herb on the sprained ankle and bandaged it and asked him to return after three days to get the herbs replaced.

When I was young, my mother used to take me there to treat twisted ankles. This is the second time I went there to treat a sprain, he said.

Almost all his relatives go to this pagoda if they have a sprain, fracture, arthritis, or back pain, he said.

Buddhist volunteers prepare herbs.  Photo Thu Hang

The monks use secret recipes made by fermenting herbs in wine.

Patients who want to can donate money to the pagodas charity fund.

The highly effective treatment despite being free means the clinic is famous and even attracts people from other provinces.

The Most Venerable Monk Thich Thanh Son, 88 years old, the head of the pagoda, founded the clinic in 1980.

At first people did not trust the clinic. But within five or six years it had become famous due to the efficacy of its methods. Now it is too crowded.

The biggest happiness of my life is to see people recover from illness, he said.

He has handed down his knowledge and experience to other monks in the pagoda, enabling them to run the clinic.

The Most Virtuous Monk Thich ong Thien, one of the herbalists in charge, started working at the clinic in 2006 following a six-year apprenticeship after graduating in traditional medicine from Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in HCM City.

He and the Most Virtuous Monk Thich ong Thuan take turns to replace Son, when he is absent.

Lai Khac Chung, 37, has a sprained ankle and a monk applies herbs on it and bandages it. Photo Thu Hang

Patients come from all walks of life, but most of them are poor, Thuan said.

Local residents and people from neighbouring provinces know about the reputation of the clinic through word of mouth, he said.

Many people with arthritis and back pain have switched to traditional medicine after many years of trying treatment at hospitals, he said.

Many patients come with back pain and have herbs applied on their back twice a week, Diu Bach, a volunteer at the pagoda, said.

Besides the monks who are in charge of examination and treatment, there are five or six Buddhist volunteers who perform such tasks as handing out tokens, preparing herbs and bandaging injuries.

We want to help disadvantaged people with health problems, Bach said.

Nguyen Van Thuan, 72, of Tan Binh District brought his wife Vo Bich Ngoc, 68, who had had back pain for many years, to the pagoda.

He said despite going to several hospitals and taking lots of medicines she did not feel any better.

Their relatives had told them that the clinic was reputed for treating back pain, he added.  VNS
HA NOI  One of the most conspicuous features of Ha Nois old urban areas is the endless tangle of overhead electrical wires bundled precariously atop power poles.

To improve Ha Nois image, city authorities earlier this year set themselves an ambitious task of becoming a wireless city to remove the eyesores.

Specifically, the city aimed to put all three types of cables  electrical lines, telecommunication lines, and lighting wires  underground on 101 streets and roads, with the work divided into two phases.

However, only in October did the intersectoral working group  comprised of personnel from the municipal construction department and the information department  submit to the Peoples Committee a plan to move cables on 45 streets and roads in eight urban districts. The plan still has not been approved, making it unlikely set targets will be achieved this year.

ong Phuoc An, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Construction, said that the delay could be blamed on time-consuming contract negotiations, issues with capital allocation  especially with the contractor Mobifone  and between implementing units.

Authorities have also found that collaboration between electricity, telecommunication and lighting units remains lacking, with one unit digging up the pavements to put cables underground before another unit arrives to once again dig up the tiles.

Aside from the disruptions to local residents lives, some of the contractors have also failed to clean up after their construction, leaving behind dirt and construction materials, causing risks to traffic and undermining the goal of the overall task, to beautify the city.

Calling for private investment

According to the citys plan, from now to 2018, the city expects to put cables underground on 162 streets in four old urban districts.

In 2018-20, the city will conduct the work on the remaining streets according to a memorandum signed between the city and the Ha Noi subsidiary of the State-owned Viet Nam Electricity (EVN) and telecommunication giants like VNPT, Viettel, MobiFone, FPT Telecom, and CMC.

For projects implemented with private capital, the construction department must urge businesses to step up their efforts, as well as make sure these businesses clean up and restore pavements after construction.

Businesses of different sectors are also required to co-operate to share the underground space already built by other sectors.

Simultaneously, each district is also planning to do other tasks to beautify the city including stone paving, planting and pruning trees and improving the lighting system, among others. However, progress here has also been slow, with the only street finished Giang Van Minh Street of Ba inh District.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam Social Insurance (VSI) hopes to reduce social insurance debt to below 3 per cent of its full-year collection plan for this year, heard a conference held in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

According to Nguyen Tri ai, head of the collection department at VSI, by the end of October, compulsory social insurance and voluntary social insurance collection have failed to reach targets, hitting 95.2 per cent and 58.9 per cent respectively.

He also said unpaid social insurance premiums reached VN16.6 trillion (US$731 million) by end of October, accounting for 6.3 per cent of the full-year collection plan.

He said that of the VN16.6 trillion, a large portion had been owed for less than six months, with social insurance making up VN7.3 trillion and unpaid health insurance VN1.5 trillion.

ai attributed the huge insurance debt to poor compliance with social insurance regulations by enterprises and insurance agencies. Some agencies do not report debt to local governments.

The VSI will take measures to cut social insurance debt owed by businesses to slash the insurance debt ratio to below 3 per cent of the plan in the last months of this year, he said.

Social insurance agencies in provinces were asked to collect from enterprises that have not paid for less than six months and work with law enforcement agencies to inspect those that have owed insurance for more than six months.

Tran inh Lieu, deputy general of VSI said as of October 31, provincial social insurance agencies had conducted 2,328 inspections on the collection of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance, with few results.

Lieu said suing businesses owing social insurance premiums is a measure to reduce debt.

According to the Social Insurance Law, Labour Code and Civil Law, firms owing social insurance premiums can be taken to court, but suing businesses on the brink of bankruptcy has been problematic, with even successful lawsuits unlikely to yield payment.

The VSI was working with agencies to set up a decree which detailed the inspections as well as punishment on businesses who failed to obey insurance regulations to protect the interests of labourers. Cases will be referred to the police and settled in accordance with the law, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  The Government Inspectorate has detected violations worth (US$69.4 million) in many housing projects developed in Ha Noi between 2002 and 2014.

The violations and the poor quality of planning of residential areas were found after the inspectors checked 38 out of 204 projects.

Housing plans were adjusted several times, leading to changes in the heights of buildings and land use coefficient. In particular, the arbitrary adjustment of plans affected the rulings and interests of the State, according to the inspectors conclusion.

This situation has led to difficulties in building a correlative urban planning for the city," Tran Huu Loi, head of the inspection delegation, told the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

These violations benefitted investors because they were not obliged to pay more land use fee or land rent as the adjustment of plans had been made in favour of the investors, causing losses to the State budget, the Government Inspectorate said.

Further, housing project developers did not fulfill their financial obligations.

For example, the investor of the CT2 land plot under the Kim Van-Kim Lu New Urban Area Project in Hoang Mai District did not pay land use fee equal to VN733 billion ($32.24 million), although it built houses for rent.

In many projects, inspectors found investors illegally altering land use and construction plans, using more land but not paying land use fee for the extended area.

At the time of inspection, many investors had not yet paid obligatory fees to the State budget.

The Ha Noi Peoples Committee also miscalculated land use fee, while in some cases, housing project investors did not fulfill all their financial obligations, resulting in a shortfall of VN6 trillion ($266.6 million) for the State budget.

On the basis of the inspection results, the Government Inspectorate has proposed the Prime Minister direct the chairman of the city Peoples Committee to take measures to rectify shortcomings and violations in management of construction investment and land use.

The committee needs to review and check project investors violating land use and construction plans to handle the violations, it said.
KHANH HOA  An aid package from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for victims of deadly typhoon Damrey arrived in the south central province of Khanh Hoa Thursday morning.

An airplane from Malaysia carried the goods, including 600 sets of utensils, 3,000 sets of personal hygiene aids, 1,000 sets of house repair tools, an aluminium-clad ship and a 40 HP engine.

The goods, worth more than US$174,000, were sent by the Jakarta-based ASEAN Co-ordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, the primary regional co-ordinating agency on disaster management and emergency response.

The action is based on the ASEAN spirit of One ASEAN, one response, agreed upon by all members last year. It calls for fast and collective response to disasters in and outside the region.

Tran Quang Hoai, director of the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said it was the second time this year that ASEAN had supported disaster-hit regions in Viet Nam.

The first time was to support victims of flash floods and landslides in northern mountainous area in August.

The deadliest storm to hit Viet Nam this year reportedly killed 91 people and left 23 missing in the central and south-central regions.

It also destroyed thousands of houses and farm land.

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control will work with four hardly-hit provinces, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Quang Ngai and Binh inh, to allocate the goods.

On November 9, Russia sent an aircraft carrying 40 tonnes of goods to Viet Nam.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also instructed the Russian government to provide emergency aid worth $5 million.

Viet Nam has also received emergency aid from other countries, including Japan, China, the United States, South Korea, and New Zealand.  VNS
HA NOI  Nearly 150 foreign and domestic participants discussed education policies and the future of international education at the APEC Future Education Forum held on Wednesday in Ha Noi.

The forum, organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the South Korean Ministry of Education, was called: Innovative Future Education in APEC  Creating new dynamism and increased employability.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc said the forums theme was relevant to the APEC theme of Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future.

This reflected APEC education strategy - enhancing and aligning competencies to the needs of individuals, societies and economies, accelerating innovation and increasing employability, Phuc said.

APEC economies expected that by 2030, they would have a strong and cohesive education community, characterised by inclusive and qualified education that supported sustainable economic growth, social well-being and employability, he said.

To achieve the goals, structural reform and innovation were crucial to improve labour productivity, enhance human resources and allocate resources, he said.

In Viet Nam, the Government considered education, science and technology as top priorities in socio-economic development strategy, giving 20 per cent of the total State budget to education and training, he said.

The national education sector was now carrying out education reform to prepare qualified human resources to meet requirements of the fourth industrial revolution, he said.

Yeonghan Choi, director general of the International Co-operation Bureau under the South Korean Ministry of Education, said the forum would open the floor for participants to discuss the revolution (the internet, robotics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence) as well as its effects on future society, economy and education.

The forum would also serve as a platform providing stakeholders opportunities for international education co-operation, he said.

The APEC Future Education Forum is an annual event, first held in 2004. As the largest international education forum in the APEC region, AFEF has accumulated 3,200 participants, including Government officials, experts, entrepreneurs, teachers and others from international organisations. It is an arena where discussions on international education, directions and visions for future education are held to establish mutual prosperity.

The participants also joined the 15th International APEC Learning Community Builders (ALCoB) Conference on Friday. The conference, which has been held as a sister event with the forum since 2009, seeks to foster mutual understanding of education and culture in APEC economies through various exchange programmes.  VNS
MOSCOW  Venezuela signed a debt restructuring deal with major creditor Russia on Wednesday, as ratings agencies declared Caracas in partial default.

The country is seeking to restructure its foreign debts, estimated at around US$150 billion, after it was hit hard by tumbling oil prices and American sanctions.

A Venezuelan delegation led by Finance Minister Simon Zerpa signed the deal restructuring $3.15 billion of debt taken out in 2011 to finance the purchase of Russian arms.

Under the agreement, Caracas will pay back its debts over 10 years, with "minimal" reimbursements for the first six years, Russias foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The reduction of the burden of debt... will allow the utilisation of funds to develop the countrys economy, improve the debtors solvency and increase the chances of all creditors recovering loans already made," according to the statement on the ministrys website.

"These are very favourable terms that Venezuela can honour. This deal strengthens the relations between our two countries," Venezuelan vice president for the economy Wilmar Castro Soteldo told a press conference in Moscow.

But the goal of solvency seemed a distant one on Wednesday after S&P Global Ratings said it had placed Venezuelas state-owned oil company PDVSA in "selective default" for failing to make interest payments on some of its debt.

The ratings agency this week declared the country itself in selective default after it failed to make $200 million in payments on two global bond issues.  AFP
DES MOINES -- UnityPoint Health said Wednesday it may not renew its contract with Amerigroup of Iowa, one of two remaining Medicaid managed care organizations in the state.

The decision could affect 54,000 patients.

We are disappointed that our contract issues with Amerigroup are not yet resolved and know the announcement of a possible change may cause confusion for our Amerigroup patients, Sabra Rosener, vice president of government and external affairs for UnityPoint, said in a statement.

UnityPoint said its still negotiating with Amerigroup and hopes to reach an agreement by the end of the year, but wanted to let patients know about the situation so they could think about making changes.

A company spokesperson would not comment further.

If its contract with Amerigroup isnt renewed, UnityPoint would no longer be part of the insurers provider network beginning Jan. 1. Starting April 1, UnityPoint said, its hospitals, clinics and home care services would no longer be available to Amerigroup members except for emergency care required by law.

UnityPoint said it is currently providing care to Amerigroup members as usual and will continue with United Healthcare, the other remaining managed care organization in the state.

A spokesman for Amerigroup, Tony Felts, characterized negotiations with UnityPoint as productive.

We are optimistic that we can come to an agreement that will be beneficial to Medicaid enrollees, the Medicaid program and to the taxpayers of Iowa, he said.

It is the latest development in the states controversial conversion of its $5 billion Medicaid program to managed care. Former Gov. Terry Branstad initiated the change, which took effect last year.

Since then, insurers have reported significant financial losses, while some health care providers have complained bills have gone unpaid.

Last month, AmeriHealth Caritas, one of the three private companies that signed on to manage the states Medicaid program, announced it was pulling out effective Dec. 1. That is affecting about 215,000 Iowans.
WATERLOO  Waterloo Community Schools is seeking increased budget authority for costs related to enrollment and asbestos removal.

The Board of Education this week approved submitting two applications for modified allowable growth to the states School Budget Review Committee. A $825,044 request is related to enrollment issues while a $42,383 request is for asbestos removal.

We count our kids each fall, but that is to fund the next years budget, said Michael Coughlin, chief financial officer. As a result of an increase of 43.9 pupils in this falls certified enrollment count, the district is seeking additional budget authority of $292,550 for the current school year. The total dollar amount is determined based on the states per pupil funding levels.

Another $212,889 in authority is being sought for kids in the district this year that open enroll out, but they werent on last years count, said Coughlin. Waterloo Schools is supposed to receive that funding from the state and then pass it on to the districts where the students are attending through open enrollment. There were 76.2 pupils not included in last years count, which was adjusted by subtracting the certified enrollment increase before determining the funding total.

The final enrollment component is for 218 English language learners who by this fall had been receiving special instruction through the district for more than five years. That would extend the additional funding Waterloo Schools receives for that ELL instruction by $319,605.

If approved, the increased budget authority doesnt boost funding for the district until the next fiscal year. This will be presented in the 18-19 budget as additional cash reserve (levy), said Coughlin.

The asbestos request is for removal, management or abatement of environmental hazards due to state or federal requirements. The hazardous material was used in various parts of school buildings in the past  such as insulation, floor tiles, piping and windows  and has to be removed under Iowa law before demolition or improvements that would disturb the materials can begin.

Included items have occurred during the past year, when the district last asked for increased budget authority related to asbestos removal. These all have been paid for long ago, said Coughlin.

More than half of the amount, or $24,820, is for asbestos removal from the former Devonshire School. Other asbestos removal work is at the old bus garage ($5,888), Expo High School ($4,100) and West High School ($3,980). Devonshire and the bus garage have since been demolished.

Remaining funds are for asbestos inspection at the old Orange School; Hoover, Bunger and Central middle schools; and East and West high schools. The increased authority associated with those items totals $3,595.

This is kind of the end of a long history of Waterloo and asbestos projects, said Coughlin, since renovations and new construction started in the district after voters approved the 1 percent sales tax in 1999. He noted there have been more than $2.5 million in asbestos projects during that time.

In other business, the board:

Approved specifications and seeking bids for roofing projects covering portions of the buildings at Bunger, Hoover and East.

Accepted $1,800 in donations for robotics teams at six schools and the district as a whole from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa on behalf of the Leighty Fund. They include Highland, Kingsley, Orange and Cunningham elementary schools plus Hoover and East.
WATERLOO  Waterloo has joined a chorus of communities urging Congress not to cut tax credits for historic renovation projects.

City Council members voted unanimously this week to approve a resolution supporting the historic tax credit program which is on the chopping block as the U.S. House and Senate work on a revamping of the federal tax code.

Its a program we absolutely need to keep, said Mayor Quentin Hart. The city of Dubuque, the city of Waterloo, the city of Des Moines have really been able to do some progressive things to change our main streets with these tax credits.

Hart was interviewed on HLN, a national cable news network, last week about the programs benefits to Waterloo and the state.

David Deeds is controller of JSA Development, which has used the tax credit program to leverage the renovation of numerous downtown buildings that otherwise may have continued to deteriorate.

You can look around our city and see the progress thats been made because of the federal historic tax credit as well as the state historic tax credit, Deeds said.

Deeds provided a list of 27 Waterloo projects that have benefitted from the tax credit program over the last 18 years and five pending projects that may hinge on the outcome of the new tax code.

The completed projects include a $10 million renovation of the KWWL Building at East Fourth and Franklin streets; the $6 million renovation of the former Wonder Bread Bakery into SingleSpeed Brewing Co.; and the current $50 million project including a Courtyard by Marriott hotel at the Cedar Valley TechWorks campus.

JSA projects include renovations of the downtown Repass Building, Steely Block, Fowler Building, Haffa Building, Pierce Building, Newtons Cafe, Union Block and many others.

Three major downtown residential buildings have been restored with tax credits, including Russell Lamson, Marsh Place and Hotel President apartments. Three former neighborhood schoolsWhittier, Emerson and Roosevelthave been saved from the wrecking ball and turned into housing along with the Colonial Apartment Building.

Without these credits many of these projects wouldnt have happened and many future projects wont happen, Deeds said. Weve got some great momentum. It would be a shame to waste that.

Not only do we save buildings from the landfill, not only do we save our common story, but we also create jobs with this historic tax credit, he added.

The KWWL project retained 75 jobs in Waterloo that were potentially moving to the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, created 97 jobs at SingleSpeed and is expected to create 150 jobs at the Marriott.

Pending projects relying on tax credits include a restoration of the Masonic Temple, Judge Platt House, Herbert M. Reed House and Webbeking Building. JSAs plans to restore four historic homes in the Walnut Neighborhood were based on the receipt of the 20 percent tax credits.

The current bill pending in the House would completely eliminate the historic tax credits, while the Senate version would cut the credit to 10 percent.

U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, R-1st District, represents Dubuque and Waterloo, which have both passed resolutions supporting the tax credits. Blum is also a supporter of the current 20 percent tax credit.

Blum looks to keep historic tax credits in reform package WATERLOO  Tax reform is expected to be introduced in the U.S. House this week, but details 

City officials are encouraging residents to contact U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to encourage their support of the programs.
Humane Society thanks

WATERLOO -- The Cedar Bend Humane Society would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the community for their strong and continued support. The Help Us Help Them event, Nov. 9 raised over $60,000 to benefit the homeless animals at the Cedar Bend Humane Society. Close to 500 community supporters attended.

A special thank you to the speakers for sharing their passion and commitment to the shelter animals! Master of Ceremonies was KWWL News Anchor Abby Turpin. Bruce Earnest, ASPCA representative, shared on the importance of ASPCAs partnership with CBHS. Dr. Kent Melick D.V.M. addressed the importance of the CBHS in-house spay and neuter program. Sue Martin, community member, shared her experience with her neighborhood cat colonies and CBHSs assistance. Joanne Koweil, CBHS Board President shared the CBHSs vision for the coming year. Co-director Karla Beckman shared the history and financial needs of CBHS. Co-director Kristy Gardner introduced visiting CBHS furry friends: Guppy, a Pointer mix; Ace, a Boxer and Pit Bull mix; Bob, a Beagle; Willie, a Yorkie; Sheba, a Malamute mix, and Queenie, a Terrier and Chihuahua mix.
Around Midland and around the world, loving and leading all people to deeper life in Jesus Christ.
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Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred.

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Nov 16, 2017 | By Julia

Some 30 3D printing companies have joined forces to create the Family of the Future, a conceptual additive manufacturing project featuring a 3D printed mother, father, and child. Just unveiled at Frankfurt tech conference formnext, the Family of the Future serves to demonstrate the power of collaboration and co-creation, as well as sparking the publics imagination as to what can be achieved with the power of 3D printing. Between the three family members, 15 different 3D printing techniques and over 90 3D printed parts are showcased, ranging from printed electronics to metals and ceramics.

According to Fried Vancraen, founder and CEO of Materialise and a lead partner on the project, the Family of the Future proves that meaningful applications are essential to the success of 3D printing technology. Despite the additive manufacturing industrys utopian claims, 3D printing is not as successful as expected, Vancraen told press. We invested in technology because of the technology. That is the wrong approach, the Materialise CEO said, speaking on behalf of the Flemish 3D printing landscape. By taking into account what applications are actually meaningful, Vancraen stressed, the industry can make a difference, rather than focusing merely on technology that can easily be copied.

As a state-of-the-art nuclear family, the Family of the Future aims to demonstrate just how far meaningful applications can go. Information and inspiration are key here, as 3D printing begins to take on forms that are no longer purely technological, but impactful and familiar  or in this case, familial. The three mannequin-esque figures are comprised of plain carbon tubes, joined together by a series of 3D printed connector pieces, and adorned with an array of 3D printed prosthetics, fashion accessories, and medical devices. The message is clear: 3D printing has the capability to influence all facets of life, from personal to professional.

As Kris Binon of umbrella organization Flam3D notes, meaning comes through in another way as well: co-creation. "A collaboration between thirty players in 3D printing is already unique in any case", Binon said, "but this project has actually also led to new products." Among other items, a new watch and glasses were designed and 3D printed for the Family of the Future.

Spearheaded by Flemish 3D printing company Flam3D, the conceptual project represents the joint efforts of 30 leading companies and research institutes in the Belgian 3D printing landscape, including: 3iD, AMT-Titastar, Aqtor !, Arteveldehogeschool, Bodycote HIP nv, CADskills, Centexbel, DeltaRocket, DSM Somos, ESMA, Formando, GC Europe, Howest, KU Leuven, LCV, Materialize, Raytech, Renishaw, Ricoh, RS Print, Seido Systems, Sirris, Tenco DDM, Thomas More, Twikit, UGent, UHasselt IMO-IMOMEC, Velleman, VUB, and Vives.

Currently on display at the Flam3D booth at formnext, the Family of the Future will spend the next year travelling to trade fairs and events abroad.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Nithyanand Rao in The Wire:

Relatives, well-wishers and dignitaries kept arriving to greet Professor Sharadchandra Shankar Shrikhande. Seated on the lawns, he would adjust his hearing aid trying to hear over the firecrackers in the background  thank them and smile, and now and then burst into a hearty chuckle, trying not to look in the direction of the intense light drenching the table.

Shrikhande, celebrating his 100th birthday on October 19, 2017, wasnt too keen to remain in the spotlight. The bright light on the pole was turned away, but visitors kept coming to greet him and seek his blessings, some aware of his great mathematical achievements  in particular, the one that ensured his name would be associated with Leonhard Euler, one of the greatest mathematicians in history. It was 58 years ago that Shrikhande, along with his mentor R.C. Bose and their collaborator E.T. Parker, proved Euler wrong and made the headlines.

Late in his life, the legendary Swiss mathematician Euler (17071783) began a long paper pondering a puzzle he couldnt find an answer to. Although he was almost completely blind by then, his already-prodigious productivity had increased, distractions having been reduced. He had always made the most of his phenomenal memory and ability to calculate in his head and, after his loss of vision, he used a scribe to record his discoveries. The puzzle he was considering was this: Imagine that there are 36 officers belonging to six different military regiments, each regiment having six officers of different ranks. How does one arrange them in the form of a square such that each row and column has six officers, and no rank or regiment appears more than once in a row and column?

More here.


MYOB to acquire Reckon's Accountant Group

Sydney, Nov 16, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - MYOB Group Limited ( ASX:MYO ) ("MYOB"), a leading provider of online business management solutions, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the assets of the Accountant Group in Australia and New Zealand from Reckon Limited ( ASX:RKN ) ("Reckon"), for a total consideration of A$180 million.



Highlights



- Reckon's Accountant Group provides practice software solutions to more than 3,000 accounting practices in Australia and New Zealand through three product lines; Reckon APS, Reckon Elite and Reckon Docs



- The acquisition strengthens MYOB's growing adviser base by deepening the relationship with these advisers, creating an opportunity to accelerate online SME growth via a larger referral network



- The acquisition enables MYOB to accelerate the development of its online practice suite to bring all MYOB advisers online faster and provide an online migration path for Reckon's Accountant Group clients



- MYOB plans to reinvest earnings generated from Reckon's Accountant Group in the first two years to fund increased investment in sales and marketing



- The acquisition is expected to be EPS accretive on an underlying basis immediately, and on a statutory basis once the integration funding is fully deployed



- Further accretion is expected as increased adviser referrals from Reckon's Accountant Group clients and development synergies from migrating clients to MYOB's online practice suite, are realised



- The transaction will be funded by a committed debt facility and is subject to regulatory approval from both the ACCC and NZCC, and other customary closing conditions



MYOB CEO Tim Reed said:



"We are pleased to announce the agreement to purchase Reckon's Accountant Group.



"The acquisition strategically aligns to our Connected Practice vision and our commitment to delivering connectivity, efficiencies and growth opportunities to advisers and SME businesses across Australia and New Zealand.



"It will deepen our relationship with more than 3,000 accounting practices - the most trusted advisers to SMEs and people who we know play an integral role in the business lives of SMEs.



"Through this acquisition we will be able to accelerate the delivery of our online practice suite to bring advisers online faster and provide an online migration path for Reckon's Accountant Group clients to the MYOB Platform.



"The acquisition is expected to be EPS accretive (see Note below) on an underlying basis immediately; and on a statutory basis following the deployment of the integration funding within three years. We expect it will be further accretive upon the completion of the development of our online practice suite, and once SME referral rates match those of MYOB's existing practice solutions' clients."



Reckon CEO Clive Rabie said:



"We are pleased to announce this agreement with MYOB in relation to the Accountant Group. We believe that combining two businesses that are strategically and culturally aligned under the MYOB group presents a compelling opportunity for our clients and investors. The combined business provides efficiencies and resources that will enable long-term benefits for our clients and employees."



Transaction Overview



MYOB has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the assets of the Accountant Group in Australia and New Zealand from Reckon Limited ( ASX:RKN ) for a purchase price of A$180 million. Reckon's Accountant Group includes three product lines that provide accounting software solutions to more than 3,000 businesses in Australia and New Zealand.



1. Reckon APS, a desktop software suite of tax, financial reporting and practice management solutions for medium and large accounting firms.



2. Reckon Elite, a desktop solution for sole practitioners or smaller accounting firms which offers tax, financial reporting and practice management tools.



3. Reckon Docs, a corporate services solution that provides corporate documentation, company formation and information services aimed at accountants, financial planners, lawyers and SMSF administrators.



As part of the agreement, MYOB will acquire all clients, intellectual property, systems and processes, and all employees associated with the Accountant Group, including sales, consulting and support teams. All Accountant Group employees (approximately 120) will be offered ongoing employment with MYOB. MYOB paid 5.6x revenue for Reckon's Accountant Group which compares to MYOB's EV revenue multiple of >6.5x.



The acquisition is subject to approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC), and other customary closing conditions. The acquisition is expected to complete by the second quarter of FY2018.



Strategic Rationale and Long-Term Value Creation



Strategically aligns with MYOB's Connected Practice Vision, strengthens MYOB's adviser base and accelerates the opportunity for SME online growth.



MYOB is leading the industry through its Connected Practice vision which delivers greater connectivity and efficiency for trusted advisers. Positive feedback from advisers, partners and SMEs has driven the rapid uptake of MYOB's online platform tools and generated increases in referral rates from advisers which in turn has led to accelerated uptake of online ledgers.



MYOB holds a network of more than 40,000 advisers, comprising accountants, bookkeepers and other consultants. With approximately 50 percent of new SME subscriptions coming through the MYOB adviser channel, the acquisition of Reckon's Accountant Group expands the referral base of advisers and accelerates the SME online growth opportunity. Currently, within the MYOB Partner group, accounting practices that use the MYOB practice suite and are members of the MYOB partner program deliver 75 percent of MYOB's adviser referrals. On average, these practices recommend 9x as many SME clients as other MYOB accounting partners.



MYOB plans to use the earnings contribution from Reckon's Accountant Group in the first two years to fund increased investment in sales and marketing to further accelerate the growth in sales of online SME and practice tools.



Leveraging MYOB's expertise and proven experience in acquiring businesses



The acquisition of Reckon's Accountant Group is in line with MYOB's growth strategy of making targeted acquisitions which add value to the overall group. Over the past four and a half years, MYOB has successfully acquired and integrated six companies (BankLink, PayGlobal, ACE Payroll, IMS Payroll, Greentree and Paycorp) resulting in increased value to customers, product offering, distribution and growth in total addressable market to over A$3 billion.



Accelerating the delivery of the MYOB Platform and creating a migration path for Reckon's Accountant Group clients



The acquisition will enable MYOB to accelerate the delivery of its online suite of practice tools (MYOB Platform) through further investment in product development. The increased investment in the platform is expected to bring forward the delivery of online practice tools. In addition, MYOB will be able to provide a migration path for Reckon's Accountant Group clients, enabling the delivery of new online tools to help their businesses grow.



Long Term Value Accretion



The acquisition is expected to be EPS accretive on an underlying basis immediately, and will be further accretive following the integration and completion of the MYOB Platform - through both development synergies and higher SME referral rates. Continuing direct costs are not expected to exceed 25% of current revenue. As noted above, MYOB plans to reinvest the first two years of earnings generated from Reckon's Accountant Group to fund increased investment in sales and marketing, with positive ROI, EBITDA and cashflow expected from year three onwards, achieving MYOB's internal rate of return over the period.



Funding



The acquisition will be funded by a committed debt facility. As part of the acquisition, an integration fund of A$50 million will be created to facilitate the integration of the two businesses, with the majority invested in an acceleration of the development of MYOB's online practice tools and the development of online migration tools for Reckon's Accountant Group clients. Investment relating to this fund will be reported as one-off, non-recurring expenses in MYOB's financial statements and is planned to be fully utilised within two years of deal completion.



Conference call



MYOB will hold a conference call for analysts and investors at 12:30pm AEDT today. Dial-in details are provided below.



Pin 3098029



Australia Toll Free 1800 123 296



New Zealand 0800 452 782



Australia Toll +61 2 8038 5221



Singapore 800 616 2288



Canada 1855 5616 766



United Kingdom 0808 234 0757



Hong Kong 800 908 865



United States 1855 293 1544



Note:



Earnings exclude any contribution from Reckon's Legal product as this product was not purchased and assumes all $6 - $7M of current R&D is expensed





About Myob Group Ltd





MYOB Group Ltd (ASX:MYO) is a leading provider of online business management solutions. It makes business life easier for approximately 1.2 million businesses and accountants across Australia and New Zealand by simplifying accounting, payroll, tax, practice management, CRM, job costing, inventory and more. MYOB operates across three core segments  Clients and Partners (business solutions to SMEs and Advisers); Enterprise Solutions (larger businesses) and Payment Solutions. It provides ongoing support through client service channels including a network of over 40,000 accountants, bookkeepers and other consultants. It is committed to ongoing innovation, particularly through its Connected Practice Strategy and through the development of the MYOB Platform. For more information, follow @MYOB on Twitter or visit https://investors.myob.com.au/Investors


Leadership Team Changes

Adelaide, Nov 16, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Havilah Resources Limited ( ASX:HAV ) (Havilah or Company) advises that Dr Chris Giles and the Board of Directors have agreed that, effective today, Dr Giles will step down from the role of Managing Director. Dr Giles will remain on the Havilah Board of Directors as Executive Director- Technical. This will enable Dr Giles to focus on and assist with advancing the execution of Havilah's Copper Growth Strategy as set out in the Company's recent Rights Issue Prospectus and Annual Report.



As part of an orderly succession, for which the Company has been preparing for some time, Mr Walter Richards, currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Company Secretary, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective today.



Prior to commencing at Havilah, Mr Richards worked for Newmont Mining Corporation in a variety of roles, including that of Regional Vice President - Finance, Africa during the project development and construction of its Akyem mine in Ghana, West Africa. Mr Richards has also worked for Stillwater Mining Company in the USA as Project Controller. Since commencing with Havilah in April 2014 in the role of CFO, Mr Richards has worked closely with Dr Giles, assisting to an increasing degree in operational and commercial matters.



In paying tribute to Dr Giles' tireless efforts over the last twenty years since Havilah was formed, and in particular the last four years as Managing Director, Havilah Chairman, Mr Kenneth Williams said: "Dr Giles has played a central role in the discovery of Havilah's significant portfolio of resources and development projects and in the transformation of Havilah from explorer to producer. We are very fortunate that Dr Giles will remain with Havilah in a technical role that will allow him to focus on technical matters and that Havilah will continue to benefit from his enormous experience, knowledge, energy and enthusiasm."



"We are also very pleased that Mr Richards has agreed to take on the role of CEO. Mr Richards has played a critical operational role in addition to that of CFO for some time and Havilah is fortunate to have an executive of Mr Richard's calibre, experience, and versatility, ready to step into this key leadership position."



"This is the right time for Havilah to harness the complimentary capabilities of both of these outstanding individuals in their respective roles, poised as we are on the cusp of bigger things."



Commenting on his new role as Executive Director- Technical, Dr Giles said: "Havilah is well placed to capitalise on an excellent portfolio of growth opportunities, so the time is right for me to hand over the leadership role. I remain strongly committed to implementing Havilah's Copper Growth Strategy and am very enthusiastic about the future of Havilah."



Accepting the new challenge, Mr Richards said: "I am excited about the new role and about the opportunity to build on the 20-year history of the Company. Havilah is an outstanding explorer with a solid exploration track record, a great portfolio of advanced projects and a very large tenement package that holds the promise of more discoveries to come."



"Havilah is a multi-metal resource company focused on South Australia, with a committed, capable, and talented team, and the Copper Growth Strategy with cobalt upside, is the right strategy at the right time."



"The future looks bright for Havilah and I am very enthusiastic at being given the opportunity to take the Company forward and to build on the excellent foundations established by Chris and the team over the last 20 years", he said.



To view the CEO's employment terms, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/PZAAW9Q5





About Havilah Resources Ltd





Havilah Resources Ltd (ASX:HAV) is a debt free South Australian gold producer having recently financed and developed its first gold mine at Portia in north-eastern South Australia. It plans to follow on with three copper-gold-cobalt mining developments at North Portia, Kalkaroo and Mutooroo, which are underpinned by a JORC resources mineral inventory of over 1.4 million tonnes of copper, 3.6 million ounces of gold, and 18,000 tonnes of cobalt.


Widest Spodumene Pegmatite Intersections at BP33

Adelaide, Nov 16, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Core Exploration Ltd ( ASX:CXO ) is pleased to announce that the first drilling of 2017 at Core's 100% owned high grade BP33 pegmatite on the Company's lithium projects near Darwin has intersected the widest pegmatite intervals that have ever been drilled at BP33, exceeding prior expectations for the width of mineralisation at the northern end of BP33.



HIGHLIGHTS



- RC drilling commenced this week on the high-grade lithium BP33 Pegmatite



- Widest spodumene zones intersected to date returned by the initial drilling, including:



o 65m aggregate interval of spodumene pegmatite from 59m-63m (4m) to 66m-118m (52m) and 128m-137m (9m)



o 55m intersection of spodumene pegmatite from 102-157m in FRC103



- Core's previous best drilling at BP33 intersected high-grade lithium pegmatite including 38m @ 1.5% Li2O



- Recent acquisition of adjacent tenements from Liontown is completed and now Core owns 100% of BP33



- BP33 is highly complementary to Core's Finniss Project, being close (5 km) to Core's Lithium Resource at Grants



- Core's ongoing drilling aimed at defining continuity of grade and scale of BP33



- Assays expected within 4 weeks



- Drilling on Finniss and new Bynoe tenements to continue into 2018



The new drilling has intersected a 65m aggregate intersection comprising three spodumene pegmatites from 59m-63m (4m) to 66m-118m (52m) and 128m-137m (9m) in FRC104.



In addition, drill hole FRC103 at BP33 has intersected a continuous pegmatite intersection of spodumene pegmatite to date of 55m from 102m-157m downhole.



Visual assessment of the mineralogy of the RC drill chips has confirmed that much of the pegmatite drilled contains significant levels of spodumene, and needs to be confirmed by assays, but looks very similar in mineralogy to the mineralogy from previous drilling undertaken by Core at BP33 which intersected high-grade lithium pegmatite including 38m @ 1.5% Li2O (FRC003) (see Figure 1 in link below).



Core now owns 100% of the BP33 pegmatite, through the recent acquisition of the Bynoe tenements from Liontown Resources Ltd.



Previous drilling by Core at BP33 was hindered by the location of the historic tenement boundary with Liontown, approximately mid-way through the deposit. With Core acquiring the adjoining tenements, it now can continue to explore the BP33 deposit without the complications of the previous disjointed ownership (see Figure 2 in link below).



Liontown's drilling previously intersected weathered pegmatite further to the north of Core's previous drilling. However, based on Core's exciting new drill results, a revised cross section can be drawn (see Figure 3 in link below) that suggests a down-dip doubling of true thickness of the pegmatite in the north (20m at surface vs 40m at depth). On this basis, the Company believes that an alternate geometrical/structural scenario may exist more broadly to the north and will address this via further RC and shallow RAB drilling.



Core's second phase of drilling being undertaken by the Company at BP33 is aiming to define the continuity of grade and scale of the spodumene mineralisation. Drilling is also aimed at increasing the depth of the deposit and to test the south extent of the deposit, where Core believes the pegmatite might plunge.



Drill assays from this current Phase 2 RC drilling at BP33 are expected within 4 weeks.



Commenting on drilling at BP33, Core's Managing Director, Stephen Biggins said:



"The results from the first two holes drilled on the old Liontown section of BP33 have exceeded expectations. The intersection of + 50 metres of spodumene bearing pegmatites in two the first holes is a great result and we are anxiously awaiting the assay results.



We are very excited to have commenced drilling on our newly acquired Bynoe tenements. The wide pegmatite intersections at BP33 is both a vindication of our decision to consolidate ownership of this prospect and a further demonstration of the prospectivity of our Finniss and newly acquired Bynoe Lithium Projects.



It is hard to believe that Core first hit high grade spodumene mineralisation in the NT at BP33 and Grants just over a year ago. With further drilling, Core has gone on to define Grants as one of Australia's highest-grade lithium Resources.



It has taken time to resume work at BP33, but now having rationalised the tenure, Core is committed to defining further resources to augment the potential development of the nearby Grants Deposit while at the same time testing a number of high prospectivity pegmatite targets."



To view tables and figures, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/N95I2U2X





About Core Lithium Ltd





Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) is an emerging lithium producer focused on development of its Finniss Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory. Core owns 100% of Finniss, a major developing project that lies close to existing infrastructure such as the Darwin Port, grid power, gas and rail infrastructure.

The Finniss Project covers a 500km2 tenement holding and 25 historic pegmatite mines. The project area is about 80km from Darwin Port. Exploration work has generated a near term development timeline, with feasibility studies to be completed over the course of 2018 ahead of receipt of approvals in early 2019 and planned first production during 2019.

An aggressive exploration program is under way, which has confirmed the high quality prospectivity across much of the Finniss Project area. Core's stated ambition is to upgrade Finniss' resource base to fast-track commercialisation options.
Purchase Includes Mobile App, 140,000 U.S. SMEs in Hospitality Vertical and Advertising Revenue



to Acquire US Hospitality Platform Tipsly

Sydney, Nov 16, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Big Un Limited ( ASX:BIG ) (or 'the Company') is pleased to announce that following a period of due diligence it has agreed to acquire US company Tipsly LLC (Tipsly). Tipsly owns a consumer app and platform (tipsly-app.com) developed for the US drink and hospitality space. Tipsly's sophisticated mobile application code provides a white label solution and is currently being incorporated into the current Big Review TV consumer video review platform and app. The acquisition will provide the Company with a database of over 140,000 SMEs in the US hospitality vertical and a minimum of US $12m of advertising revenue. The acquisition is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval if required.



Acquisition Details



The consideration of AU$4.2m is paid in cash and BIG shares and split into two parts:



1) The acquisition of the sophisticated, state-of-the-art proprietary technology mobile application suite is valued at AU$1.8m. The technology acquisition element was negotiated in May 2017 at a share price of $0.60 and represents 3.0m shares. The technology is currently undergoing incorporation into the Big Review TV video review platform and app. This provides both B2B and B2C applications and importantly, speed to market of a vastly superior video review app with features that include:



BIG REVIEW TV Intellectual Property



- Geo Fencing and Geo Targeting

- Consumer Concierge Service

- In-app Purchase

- In-app Messaging

- In-app Booking Capabilities

- SME Dashboard

- Consumer Review and Reward System

- Targeted Brand Offers/Advertising

- In-app access to Uber

- Product Scanning

- Consumer Data & Analytics



2) AU$2.4m for the acquisition of the Tipsly platform. The acquisition includes:



a) A database of over 140,000 US SMEs in the US nightclub and alcohol vertical to whom BIG will be able to market video technology products;



b) 10% advertising commission to the vendors for a guaranteed minimum advertising revenue of US$12m from their clients during calendar year 2018. The vendors expect BIG to generate revenue by allowing liquor and beverage brands to promote their product to consumers via the App. In addition, these advertisers will be offered the ability to sponsor video products and shows produced by BIG; and generate further advertising revenue for the Company



c) An existing partnership agreement and ride affiliation program with global transportation company Uber that leverages corporate, social responsibility and rewards Big Review TV app users with safe transportation home, for example after consuming alcohol.



The second part of the acquisition is subject to due diligence and the satisfactory delivery of all documents, databases and achieving US$12m advertising revenue. Part two of the acquisition is to be paid in cash and script. The script value will be based upon an VWAP of each quarter of 2018 and tied to the delivery of $12m revenue.



Uber Technologies Inc. is a global transportation technology company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States, operating in 633 cities worldwide. Users of the Big Review TV will be able to access an Uber ride from within the Big Review TV app and be rewarded with Uber credits when they make a video review of a business.



BIG Growth Strategy



See accompanying tech presentation (in link below). In line with BIG's global growth strategy, the purchase of Tipsly not only facilitates a significant and swift upgrade of the Company's current consumer video review app, but also provides software features for an SME-focused application with dashboard. This immediately activates BIG's third pillar business model providing full functionality of BIG's unique, video review-and-share, B2B2C video ecosystem. Strategically the acquisition also provides immediate market penetration into the US hospitality vertical, additional revenue across all three pillars of the business model and a significant opportunity to launch the BIG brand into the US market. The acquisition specifically benefits the BIG business model as follows:



Pillar One - The Tipsly tech suite will provide SMEs with an SME dashboard featuring geofencing, geo-targeting, in app messaging to customers, in-app purchase, in-app booking and access to consumer data and analytics. This provides SMEs with an irresistible video technology marketing service as an integral part of BIG's video ecosystem. Tipsly also has a database of 140,000 SMEs in a key US bars and clubs vertical.



Pillar Two - Enhanced consumer app provides consumer generated content for BIG's video library, shareable content, increased video views and significant brand advertising and sponsorship revenue with a minimum of US$12m in guaranteed advertising revenue in 2018.



Pillar Three - All of the Tipsly platform and app features benefit pillar three including consumer concierge services, in-app purchases, in-app booking, data analytics, product scanning, reward/incentive programmes and Uber access.



Commenting on the acquisition, Richard Evertz BIG's CEO said "The management team have been laser focused on expansion into the US whilst simultaneously ensuring that we deliver on the development of our three pillar business model and leverage our first mover advantage. Today marks the end of a long due diligence period and I feel our acquisition of Tipsly is a game-changer for BIG.



Firstly, it provides us with an enhanced app technology that I believe is well ahead of the competition. Secondly, we now have a direct pipeline of SMEs in a key vertical and on top of that, guaranteed advertising revenue. Finally, the partnership with Uber will be a unique way to attract and reward customers for using the app. I'm very confident this platform creates a large barrier to entry by completing BIG's unique B2B2C social media, video ecosystem and sets us up for a BIG brand launch in the US in the near-term. Something BIG is coming."



Outlook



Final settlement of the acquisition will occur once the tech suite and Tipsly platform have been integrated into BIG's ecosystem. The Company will commence a global brand campaign in December 2017 in anticipation of the formal launch of BIG into the US in January and expect to launch the new video review app in Q3 FY18. It is anticipated that during FY17/18 the Company will achieve in excess of 1m downloads of the Big Review TV video review app that will feed and share BIG user-generated video content across the Internet creating a unique B2B2C video ecosystem and building BIG's video library. The Company anticipate providing further information.



ABOUT TIPSLY



See: http://tipsly-app.com

Tipsly LLC is a review and reward app and platform developed for the US hospitality industry. It partners consumers with their local bars and nightclubs and rewards them for spending with their favourite bars and clubs by getting them home safely.



To view figures and the presentation, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/C87600SV





About Big Un Ltd





Big Un Ltd (ASX:BIG) is the parent company of Big Review TV Ltd. Big Review TV are innovative disruptors in the online video space delivering subscription based video technology products and services. The Company has operations across Australia and in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vancouver and was listed on the ASX in December 2014.
Jeff Gilkey shows photos and high definition video of lesser-known ruins civilizations from a bird's eye view.

Voices in Science Evening Lecture at the Natural History Museum

Secrets of New Mexico: Views from an Ultralight Pilot

By Jeff Gilkey

Jeff Gilkey returns with an ALL NEW aerial tour of the "Secrets of New Mexico." From the unrestricted open cockpit of Jeff's ultralight trike, we will gaze down on many of the lesser known and secret scenic treasures of our state. This will include dozens of obscure ruins of the ancient civilizations of the southwest. Jeff's photos and high definition video projected on the five-story Dynatheater screen will give you a first-person, "bird's-eye view" unlike anything you have experienced before.

If you have attended Jeffs previous talks, you know that it is always standing-room only. Buy your ticket early and prepare for an exhilarating evening.

Jeff Gilkey flew hang gliders for 10 years in the '80s and '90s and has been flying trikes since 2004. He has logged over 1600 hours in his Aerotrike Cobra on cross-country adventures into nearly every corner of New Mexico with many extending into Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Texas. For more information, visit his website at http://www.jeffsflightlog.com

Space is limited. Purchase tickets at http://www.NMnaturalhistory.org
HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa represented, on Wednesday afternoon in Bonn, HM King Mohammed VI at the opening ceremony of the high-level segment of the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 23).

The opening ceremony was preceded by an informal meeting of heads of state and government chaired by UNSG Antonio Guterres, and attended by Her Royal Highness.

HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa posed afterwards for the COP23 official picture.

The opening ceremony of the COP23 high-level segment was marked by speeches by the UNSG, president of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Fijis Prime Minister and COP23 president Frank Bainimarama and UNGA president Miroslav Lajcak.

The high-level segment will resume in the afternoon with statements by several heads of state.

The COP23, held on Nov. 6-17 under the presidency of the Fiji Islands, is meant to devise rules and regulations that would help carry out the Paris Agreement aimed at curbing global temperature rise below 2 Celsius.

As part of the continuity of the Marrakech event, Fijis COP23 presidency makes it a top priority to preserve the multilateral consensus laid down in the Paris Agreement to substantially reduce greenhouse emissions, with the ambition of keeping the current momentum for the implementation of the said Agreement via a series of climate actions.

At her arrival at the Bula Zone, Her Royal Highness was greeted by Aziz Akhannouch, agriculture minister, Aziz Rabbah, Energy minister and Nezha El Ouafi, state secretary for sustainable development.
A light plane belonging to the Coastal Aviation crashed Wednesday near Serengeti National Park, killing 11 people, all passengers including the pilot.

The aircraft left the famous city of Arusha and crashed at Ngorongoro crater at about 8 am local time (11GMT).

While scanty details have been revealed on the circumstances of the crash, the company offered its condolences adding that search parties were sent on the scene.

The company refused to disclose the identities of the tourists until their families have been notified.

This is the second time the aircraft has crashed into the national park. Last month, another aircraft nosedived in Serengeti, injuring five passengers, local media Daily News reports.

Tanzania is a renowned tourist destination in Africa for its safaris and beautiful landscape and fauna.

Arusha, located in the Northeast of the country is site of Mount Meru Africas 5th highest mountain. It is also known as the gateway to the popular Northern Safari Circuit.
Southern regional grouping Southern African Development Community (SADC) is meeting today (Thursday) in Botswana to discuss the political turmoil in Zimbabwe after the military took control of power and put Mugabe under house arrest.

Leaders of the grouping are gathering in Gaborone as the crisis enters into its second day.

South Africa said it was sending two ministers to meet up with the army which has confined 93-year old Mugabe under house arrest in capital Harare.

South African President Jacob Zuma Wednesday revealed that he spoke with the Zimbabwean leader who told him that he was safe.

The army early on Wednesday seized the national television announcing round-up of officials deemed criminals around the Mugabe.

We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice.

As soon as we have accomplished our mission we expect that the situation will return to normalcy, the military said in a statement.

Army took position at key government institutions with military vehicles visible in the capital.

Countrys foreign minister, Walter Mzembi known close to Mugabe confirmed Wednesday that he has been fugitive. He was out the country during the coup. Mzembi did not disclose his whereabouts but called for a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

I trust that wisdom will prevail in the name of diplomacy to amicably end this crisis to the satisfaction of all.

Three ministers; finance minister Ignatius Chombo and two other cabinet colleagues namely Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere, have been arrested by the army.

The first was reportedly found with $10m in cash at his Harare home.

The three plus Mzembi are affluent members of G-40 of Grace Mugabe, the First Lady who pushed for the sacking of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The G-40 is a faction of ruling Zanu-PF. It opposes replacement of Mugabe by a ruling party member with military background.

Mnangagwa who was countrys first defense ministry after independence in 1980 was axed last week over disloyalty to Mugabe. He enjoys the support of the army and is seen as the latters right man to replace Mugabe.
With just few days left for its release, protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansalis film Padmavati have got harsher. Rajput organisations have spread their demonstrations to other parts of the country, including Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has provided a precautionary security cover to Bhansali amidst increasing hullabaloos and growing threats ahead of the films release.

The movie is yet to be released, no body actually has seen the film but everyone is baselessly making statements. The demonstrators assert the film shows the legendary Rajput queen Padmavati and her community in poor light  which has been denied by the makers of the film. The latest to hit out against the film is Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam. He has asked Bhansali to remove the objectionable scenes from the film and if the director doesnt comply with the demand the Union will make sure that none of his films see the light of the day in future. Kadam made a statement stating that Bhansali should not test the patience of the film union. Kadam, who is also the head of Film Studio Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union, insisted that he was speaking as the chief of the union and not as a BJP lawmaker. Whereas, BJP top leaders and state government is already in support of the film, which discourages Kadam and his motives of making sensation and earning perks.

Interestingly, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will take a call on whether they will protest against director Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati or not after watching the film. They have decided not to protest just for the sake of it. First-time Raj Thackreys party has shown maturity by not vandalising or attacking film or cinema halls or posters. Earlier this same party had made it difficult for many filmmakers to release their film.

On the other hand, several members of Rajput Karni Sena had earlier protested in Bengaluru against the film and pressed for a ban on it. They also attacked Bhansali and his crew, but the director did not stop there and he completed his movie. Kadam has also threatened to block the release of the movie. But his party totally refutes his warnings. Meanwhile Shiv Sena is a silent spectator and yet to pass any comment. From film industry to politics there is strong support to the film release. The agitators are only the particular group from Rajasthan. Members of Rajput Karni Sena disrupted the shoot of the film in Jaipur earlier this year. As the films release nears, they have intensified their protest against the film. Rajput Karni Sena member Mahipal Singh Makrana issued a fresh threat in a self-made video. He said, Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshmana did to Shurpanakha. On the other hand, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Rajput Karni Sena chief said that they would call for a bandh on December 1, 2017, the films release date. They are planning to gather in lakhs.

Padmavati movie is based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat  an Avadhi language epic poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540. According to Padmavat, she was the daughter of Gandharv Sen, the king of the Singhal kingdom. She became close friends with a talking parrot named Hiraman. Her father resented the parrots closeness to his daughter, and ordered the bird to be killed. The parrot flew away to save its life, but was trapped by a bird catcher, and sold to a Brahmin. The Brahmin bought it to Chittor, where the local king Ratan Sen purchased it, impressed by its ability to talk. The parrot greatly praised Padmavatis beauty in front of Ratan Sen, who became determined to marry her. Guided by the parrot and accompanied by his 16,000 followers, Ratan Sen reached Singhal after crossing the seven seas. There, he commenced austerities in a temple to seek Padmavati. Meanwhile, Padmavati came to the temple, informed by the parrot, but quickly returned to her palace without meeting Ratan Sen. Once she reached the palace, she started longing for Ratan Sen. Meanwhile, Ratan Sen realised that he had missed a chance to meet Padmavati. In anguish, he decided to slaughter himself, but was interrupted by the deities Shiva and Parvati. On Shivas advice, Ratan Sen and his followers attacked the royal fortress of Singhal kingdom. They were defeated and imprisoned, while still dressed as ascetics. Just as Ratan Sen was about to be executed, his royal bard revealed to the captors that he was the king of Chittor. Gandharv Sen then married Padmavati to Ratan Sen, and also arranged 16,000 padmini, women of Singhal for the 16,000 men accompanying Ratan Sen.

In 1303, Alauddin Khilji, the Turko-Afghan ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, laid siege to the Chittor Fort in Rajputana. According to Padmavat, Khilji led the invasion motivated by his desire to capture Rani Padmini. Rani Padmini is said to have committed jauhar (self-immolation) along with all the other women of the city to protect their honour. The men of the city stormed out in a final mortal sally to kill as many of the enemy before falling.

Several subsequent adaptions of the legend characterised her as a Hindu Rajput queen, who defended her honour against a Muslim invader. Over years, she came to be seen as a historical figure, and appeared in several novels, plays, television serials and movies. However, while Alauddin Khaljis siege of Chittor in 1303 CE is a historical event, the legend of Padmini has little historical evidence and most modern historians have rejected its authenticity. Many of them believe its a poetry character.

Anyways, Padmavati is an epic period drama that is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film features Deepika Padukone in the title role as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji, with Aditi Rao Hydari and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles. Lets see what would be the response to movie in cinema theatres.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
BJP MLA Ram Kadam has threatened to disrupt the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis movie Padmavati. Kadam who also is the head of Film Studio Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union said that filmmakers should not distort facts while making a movie. He added that the film has hurt sentiments of people as Rajput queen Padmavati and her community are shown in poor light. Kadam wanted Bhansali to first show the film to historians and if they dont have any objections about it then they can go ahead with the movies release.

Kadam has asked Bhansali to delete objectionable scenes from the movie failing which his union will protest against it. On the other hand, Maharashtra government has provided security to Bhansali due to rising protest against his movie. The Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA) has thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the security cover to Bhansali. Thus, there is difference of opinion within the government over the release of Padmavati. MNS said that it wont protest against Padmavati just for the sake of protesting. Amey Khopkar, president of MNS Chitrapat Sena said that there is nothing controversial about the film and people should watch if before passing comments.

Ram Kadam, BJP MLA said, Sanjay Leela Bhansali had promised to show the movie to those people who are protesting against it but he has failed to do so. He had mentioned about this in writing. 90 per cent of the unit members of the film belong to my union and why should they work with such a director who is distorting history. If Bhansali fails to exhibit the movie then he will face stiff opposition from our union while making films in future too.
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Here's the good news Alabama: Your state is reportedly one of the two finalists for the $1.6 billion Toyota-Mazda manufacturing plant, bringing 4,000 jobs, another big manufacturing presence, and perhaps a whole new crop of auto suppliers.

The bad news is...this milestone arrives at the same moment the state is embroiled in a nasty senatorial campaign that is drawing unflattering headlines after more than a year of the same, involving Roy Moore, Robert Bentley and Mike Hubbard.

The question was enough to move one economic location consultant to say North Carolina, the other state on Toyota-Mazda's radar, has a better chance.

John Boyd, principal of the Boyd Company, a N.J.-based location consulting firm, was quoted in the Triangle Business Journal as saying the Tarheel state is potentially on more solid footing.

Boyd told AL.com that site selection, now perhaps more than ever, has a political calculus. After two years that have seen Alabama lose a speaker of the House, its Supreme Court chief justice and its governor, the ongoing senate campaign is not arriving at the best time.

"Politics matter today," he said, "more than ever. Companies are sophisticated enough that they can walk and chew gum at the same time. North Carolina had it at the time with (the bathroom bill). Indiana had it with its religious freedom bill. These kinds of X factors can have an influence, all things being equal. Economic development is difficult enough. In a perfect world, a Roy Moore variable would not exist."

But the bigger political quotient, Boyd said, may be clout. Alabama is already home to a Toyota engine plant in Huntsville that produces one-third of all the company's American-made engines. North Carolina has no auto plant, while Alabama already has three. What does that mean?

If Toyota-Mazda makes it home in North Carolina, that's 13 additional members of the state's congressional delegation rooting for its interests.

"Toyota-Mazda is eventually going to be producing electric vehicles," he said. "There's going to be a lot of legislation that's going to affect electric vehicle production. They're going to need as many friends in D.C. as they can get."

However, Alabama's political problems may not have as big an effect as some fear. Samuel Addy is the associate dean for economic development outreach at the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Commerce. He says there are many other factors that go into finding a home for a manufacturing plant, and politics is only part of the equation.

"We've weathered storms before," Addy said. "If you recall, there was the controversy over the state's immigration bill. We had to say to those companies interested that 'you are welcome here.'"

What does Alabama have in its favor? Boyd said in spite of the political turmoil, Gov. Kay Ivey has made a quick reputation for herself in putting together a string of important economic development victories. He also said the state has the right team in the hunt.

"Alabama, overall, has one of the best economic development organizations in the country," he said. "You're in good hands in terms of professional leadership."

Alabama's Department of Commerce has not made a statement on the Toyota-Mazda report, citing its policy of not commenting on economic development projects.

Boyd said the state's reputation as a pro-business state is steady, its workforce development program among the best in the nation, and it possesses a favorable tax structure. Alabama's workforce is 10 percent unionized, he said, but North Carolina's is 3 percent.

Addy said Alabama also has a reputation as an auto producing state, with more than 1 million vehicles rolling out for the past two consecutive years. But there's still room to grow, he said. Issues such as workforce eligibility and an aging bank of workers are also issues in other states.

"If you look at the size of Alabama, I don't think we've matured yet," he said. "There's still room to mature. Success breeds success. That's in our favor. Some people wrongly look at the low unemployment rate, but that's a bad measure to look at. Everybody can step up. There's still opportunity there."

Boyd said the late stages of site selection usually come down to the real estate. Incentive negotiations are wrapping up. The company meets with state leaders, and relationships are established. Megasites are picked over for any lingering issues.

Observers have pointed out that helicopters were recently spotted over one of North Carolina's potential plant sites. But Boyd said that's not necessarily sign of a cinch for that state.

"Alabama is a known entity to senior Toyota executives," he said. "They can get in and out with ease. They have to be more discreet in a state with no operations."

In the end, though, Addy said, the company knows what it wants, while the states don't have all the information. In the late stages of site selection, anything can happen.

Just like in a political campaign.
Shortly after Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore's attorney challenged the story of a woman accusing Moore of sexual assault, Democratic candidate Doug Jones said the women's allegations have credibility.

Jones talked to reporters in Birmingham on Wednesday during his visit to his headquarters on Fourth Avenue North.

"Like I have said, like so many Republicans have said, like so many people across this country have said, it seems to me that the statements made by the women up in Etowah County have much more credibility than the denials whether it's by Roy Moore himself or his handlers," Jones said.

Shortly after Roy Moores attorney questioned the women accusing Moore of sexual misconduct, Doug Jones says this: pic.twitter.com/zuO4X8UAqA  Jonece Starr Dunigan (@StarrDunigan) November 15, 2017

Since Nov.9, multiple women have accused Moore of sexual misconduct and sexual assault. The sixth woman told AL.com said Moore groped her while she was in his law office on legal business with her mother in 1991. The Washington Post tonight shared accounts from two more women.

Moore has denied the allegations. Moore's attorney, Phillip L. Jauregui, questioned the story of Beverly Young Nelson during a separate press conference. Nelson came forward with her attorney Gloria Allred on Monday claiming Moore sexually assaulted her around 40 years ago when she was 16. Nelson said the attack happened after Moore signed her yearbook on Dec. 22, 1977. The yearbook was shown during Nelson's press conference. Jauregui demanded Allred to release the yearbook so experts can analyze the handwriting.

Jones has stressed before the allegations will not be the center of his campaign. But he did say there needs to be a conversation to empower women to come forward.

"We have seen a cavalcade of allegations against powerful men. It's about time we have this conversation. It's been swept under the rug too long," Jones said. "That is an important thing. As it pertains to Roy Moore, that's a whole different story that he has to deal with and not me."
Alabama and 21 other states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to confirm the constitutionality of legislator-led prayer.

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced he signed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to hear the case Lund vs. Rowan County (North Carolina).

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Rowan County Board of Commissioners were violating the the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by having county commissioners open meetings with prayers.

Alabama and many other states have long allowed legislator-led prayer, the states argued in the amicus brief.

"Lawmaker-led prayer is woven into the fabric of American society dating back to the founding of our Republic," Marshall said in a press release. "Public prayer is both constitutional and a common practice throughout our country. Today more than 35 states and countless local governments permit lawmakers to offer prayer."

In the Alabama Legislature, visiting ministers usually give the daily opening prayers in the House and Senate, but lawmakers sometimes do.

Amicus Brief in Rowan County Prayer Case by Mike Cason on Scribd
The Alabama Republican Party, which had indicated no plans to abandon Roy Moore after calls from some national Republican leaders to do so, made it official today.

State Republican Party Chairwoman Terry Lathan issued a statement on Thursday saying that the party is standing behind its nominee in the U.S. Senate race.

"The ALGOP Steering Committee supports Judge Roy Moore as our nominee and trusts the voters as they make the ultimate decision in this crucial race," Lathan said.

"Judge Moore has vehemently denied the allegations made against him. He deserves to be presumed innocent of the accusations unless proven otherwise. He will continue to take his case straight to the people of Alabama."

The party steering committee met on Wednesday but took no vote during the private meeting, the Associated Press reported.

Lathan had said earlier this week it was very unlikely that the party would disqualify Moore because of allegations Moore pursued teenage girls when he was an Etowah County prosecutor in his early 30s.

It's too late for the party to replace Moore as its nominee and too late for his name to be removed from the ballot. He faces Democratic nominee Doug Jones in the Dec. 12 election.

The party could have the secretary of state disqualify him as its nominee. If that happened and Moore received the most votes on Dec. 12, the election would be null and void, Secretary of State John Merrill said.

Moore has disputed the two most serious allegations against him. He has not clearly denied that he dated teenage girls when he was in his 30s. He denied dating "underage" girls in an open letter to Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Click here for AL.com's coverage of Roy Moore.

Only a handful of Alabama Republican officials and lawmakers have spoken out since the original Washington Post story on Nov. 9.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby said he won't vote for Moore and will probably write in another candidate. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he had no reason not to believe Moore's accusers.

GOP officials in Alabama have generally stood by Moore, said they are waiting on more information or remained quiet.

Gov. Kay Ivey said Monday she still planned to vote for Moore at that point but was withholding judgment in case more facts came out.

The leaders of the Alabama House and Senate, who endorsed Moore, have not changed their positions.

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said in a text message on Tuesday that he was reviewing information, would not rush to judgment and at some point would have a statement.

Efforts to reach Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, have been unsuccessful. Marsh told ABC 33/40 today that he is on record as saying he will vote for the Republican nominee.

Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, said a week ago after the initial Washington Post story that he was reminded of the false allegations against the Duke University lacrosse team in 2006. Pittman said he was standing by Moore but also would watch for additional information.

Pittman's view remained essentially the same today.

"My position is that the charges and allegations are extremely serious," Pittman said. "If any of them are true, then Judge Moore should step aside.

"There's obviously questions about the validity of the charges. And my plan would be to continue to evaluate the situation."

On Wednesday, Moore's lawyer, Phillip Jauregui, challenged the lawyer for Moore accuser Beverly Young Nelson to let handwriting experts examine what Nelson said is Moore's signature in her high school yearbook from 1977.

Nelson's lawyer, Gloria Allred, said she would only allow that if the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee calls a hearing on the matter and takes testimony under oath.

Updated at 5:18 p.m. to say that the party issued a statement supporting Moore.
Update: A 72-year-old Decatur woman who was reported missing has been safe.

"Charlotte Russell has been found and is home with her family," Decatur police spokeswoman Emme Long said in a press statement Thursday afternoon.

Original story: A 72-year-old woman went missing after leaving church Wednesday night in Decatur.

Charlotte Russell last was seen leaving First Baptist Church around 5:50 p.m., a Decatur police spokeswoman said in a news release. The church is at 123 Church St. N.E.

Russell is described as 5 feet 6 inches and about 137 pounds. She has hazel eyes and brown hair. When she left church, Russell was wearing a black coat, black pants, and a black and white quarter-length shirt. She carries a multicolor cane.

Russell left the church in a white 2013 Honda CRV with tag number 52CY486, police said. The vehicle also has a sticker on a rear window that says, "Alabama Grandma."

She "may be suffering from a condition that may impair her judgement," the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported.

Anyone who sees Russell is asked to call police at 256-341-4610 or 256-341-4632.
Hours after a tearful Alabama woman accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her nearly 40 years ago, the former judge gathered with supporters at a volunteer fire department near his home in northeastern Alabama to label the allegations "absolutely false."

By his side, as always, was his wife of 32 years, Kayla Moore. But this time, she spoke up.

"He has never one time lifted a finger to me. He is the most gentle, most kind man that I have ever known in my life. He's godly. He's loving - and everybody in this community knows it," Kayla Moore, 56, said, looking around at the people gathered that night. "These are our church members, these are our family, these are our friends, these are people that know him just like I do."

Over the past week, as several women have come forward to publicly accuse Roy Moore, 70, of pursuing them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, Kayla Moore has become her husband's most visible and aggressive defender. In addition to her defense on Monday night, she has used Facebook to question the credibility of her husband's accusers, threaten lawsuits and spread information that sometimes turns out to be false.

This is a new role for Moore, who until now has been happy to yield the national stage to her husband, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge who was removed from the court twice, first for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from courthouse grounds and then for encouraging state probate judges to disregard the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed same-sex marriage.

"She rarely injects herself into the political fray," said Mat Staver, the founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel who represented Moore in an ethics trial when he was most recently suspended from the court. "Her demeanor is more supportive than vocal."

Staver and others who know the Moores well say the accusations against the former judge don't match the man they have known for decades. As a growing number of prominent Republicans have called for him to drop out of the race in the face of allegations of sexual misconduct, defending Moore has fallen chiefly to those closest to him - especially his wife.

Friends describe Kayla Moore as a deeply religious wife, mother and grandmother who has devoted her life to her family and gushes lovingly about her four children and five grandchildren. She served on the board of her husband's Foundation for Moral Law, which he founded to promote Christian values, and then took over the nonprofit as president in January 2013, when Roy Moore was elected to a second term on the state Supreme Court.

For years, Moore has helped coordinate her husband's political campaigns. In his race for the Senate this year, the two have traveled nearly everywhere together - with him often at the wheel as she navigates.

"During these stressful times . . . she remains steadfast and passionate," said Jessie Deem, who is Kayla Moore's executive assistant at the Foundation for Moral Law, "and she's very strong in her faith, and she never wavers from that."

Kayla Moore did not respond to a request for an interview sent through a campaign spokesman. She has forcefully pushed back against the scrutiny her husband has faced during this campaign.

Upon learning that Washington Post reporters were contacting people she knows for this article, Moore on Wednesday posted one of the reporters' personal cellphone numbers on her Facebook page, and a commenter posted a copy of that reporter's resume, which included her home address. Later in the day, Moore posted a link to the campaign website where people can now report any interaction they have with a reporter.

"In the past month our hometown, county, and state have been invaded by the Washington Post and liberal media," Moore wrote. "We have had numerous reports of phone calls, cellphone calls, Messages, emails, even to the point of them showing up at peoples houses . . . It's called a witch hunt. We are filing suit."

In an extensive report published last week, The Post detailed allegations that Roy Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl nearly four decades ago when he was in his early 30s and pursued three other girls around the same time who were between the ages of 16 and 18.

None of the women sought out The Post. While reporting a story in Alabama about supporters of Moore's Senate campaign, a Post reporter heard that Moore allegedly had sought relationships with teenage girls.

Over the ensuing three weeks, two Post reporters contacted and interviewed the four women. All were initially reluctant to speak publicly but chose to do so after multiple interviews, saying they thought it was important for people to know about their interactions with Moore. The women say they don't know one another.

The Moores met at a church Christmas party in December 1984 in Alabama's Etowah County, where they both grew up and lived. He was 37 and worked at a local law firm. She was then known as Kayla Kisor, a 23-year-old former beauty pageant contestant with a 1-year-old daughter who had just separated from her husband, Chuck Heald, who died in 2002.

At the party, Roy Moore read aloud a holiday poem he had written but was distracted by Kisor, who attended with her mother. He recognized her and wondered if she was the same woman he had watched dance in a recital at Gadsden State Junior College years earlier.

"It was something I had never forgotten," Moore wrote in his 2005 autobiography "So Help Me God." "Anxious to meet her, I began with the line, 'Haven't we met somewhere before?' 'I don't think so,' she replied."

Kisor was not interested in a relationship at that point, Moore wrote, but they met again early the next year when she visited the law firm where he worked.

"I was the only attorney available," Moore wrote. "And I was very available! We began to date soon after that."

Kisor filed for divorce on Dec. 28, 1984, according to court records, and her divorce was finalized on April 19, 1985. The Moores married on Dec. 14, 1985.

Roy Moore loves telling the story of how he proposed, said Allen Mendenhall, who worked as Moore's staff attorney at the state Supreme Court and is now the associate dean of the Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.

"He was bashful about popping the question, and said, 'Well, would ya?' " Mendenhall said in an email. "'Would I what?' she asked, forcing him to formulate the operative words. 'You know,' he said, 'marry me.' "

The newlyweds lived in the partially finished home that Moore was building - which for the first few years of their marriage did not have a kitchen, forcing Kayla Moore to cook on an electric plate in the washroom, Moore wrote in his book.

"Kayla did a remarkable job transforming my cold, uninviting house into a warm, comfortable home," Moore wrote.

The Moores had their first child, Roy "Ory" Moore, in July 1987 - followed by Caleb in 1990 and Micah in 1993. In 1992, Roy Moore was appointed as a circuit court judge, and in 1994, he won an election to keep the position. In 2000, he was elected to the state Supreme Court for the first time. He was removed in 2003. In 2012, he was elected a second time and then was removed in 2016. Along the way, Kayla Moore was always by his side.

"We do everything together," Kayla Moore said in an interview with Breitbart News this month. "It was just me and him. . . . We were always together. Always together."

As the president of the foundation, Kayla Moore became more politically active on her own. In February 2016, she endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in the GOP presidential primaries because of his stances on small government, abortion and marriage. She has also given speeches defending her husband's actions on the court, opposing same-sex marriage and calling for legislation that will block transgender individuals from using the bathroom of their choice.

In April 2017, Roy Moore stood on the steps of the state capitol and announced he would run for the Senate seat Jeff Sessions vacated to become President Donald Trump's attorney general. Kayla Moore stood to his right, holding a bouquet of red roses. In a brief speech, he acknowledged that campaigning and moving to Washington is "hard, you know, on your spouse." Moore and his wife have repeatedly questioned why the media are scrutinizing him and why damaging reports are coming out so soon before the special election on Dec. 12.

On Facebook, she has attacked Gloria Allred, the prominent women's rights lawyer who is representing Beverly Young Nelson, who accused Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her in the late 1970s behind the restaurant where she was a waitress, the Old Hickory House, when she was 16. Kayla Moore posted a photo of Allred holding a sign that reads "I support transgender equality" and then wrote: "Gloria Allred; what it's really about!"

And Moore has posted articles - often from little-known blogs with names like "Activist Mommy" and "USA News Magazine" - that aim to refute some of the details from the accusers' statements, often with unsubstantiated and flimsy evidence.

Each time Moore posts, she receives a wave of positive messages, promises of prayers and other tidbits of unconfirmed information.

"These things are false, and it's ugly," Moore said at the end of her brief comments at the firehouse on Monday evening. "It's the ugliest politics that I've ever been in, in my life."
A Gadsden woman says Roy Moore groped her while she was in his law office on legal business with her mother in 1991. Moore was married at that time.

In the past week, Moore has been accused by five other women of a range of behaviors that include sexual misconduct with a woman when she was 14, and sexual assault of another when she was 16. This is the first public accusation of physical contact that happened after Moore was married.

In recent days, Moore has publicly denied any wrongdoing, and has denied knowing some of the women.

Tina Johnson

In interviews with AL.com, Tina Johnson recalls that in the fall of 1991 she sat in the law office of then-attorney Roy Moore on Third Street in Gadsden. Her mother, Mary Katherine Cofield, sat in the chair next to her. Moore sat behind his desk, across from them. Johnson remembers she was wearing a black and white dress.

Almost from the moment she walked in to Moore's office, Johnson said, Moore began flirting with her.

"He kept commenting on my looks, telling me how pretty I was, how nice I looked," recalled Johnson. "He was saying that my eyes were beautiful."

It made her uncomfortable. "I was thinking, can we hurry up and get out of here?"

Johnson was 28 years old, in a difficult marriage headed toward divorce, and unemployed. She was at the office to sign over custody of her 12-year-old son to her mother, with whom he'd been living. Her mother had hired Moore to handle the custody petition.

Johnson had two young daughters at the time with her then-husband, and her son said he wanted to live with his grandmother.

At one point during the meeting, she said, Moore came around the desk and sat on the front of it, just inches from her. He was so close, she said, she could smell his breath.

According to Johnson, he asked questions about her young daughters, including what color eyes they had and if they were as pretty as she was. She said that made her feel uncomfortable, too.

Once the papers were signed, she and her mother got up to leave. After her mother walked through the door first, she said, Moore came up behind her.

It was at that point, she recalled, he grabbed her buttocks.

"He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," said Johnson. She was so surprised she didn't say anything. She didn't tell her mother.

She said she told her sister years later how Moore had made her feel uncomfortable during that meeting. Her sister told AL.com she remembers the conversation.

Johnson reached out to AL.com earlier this week to talk about her experience with Moore.

AL.com located the court documents from 1991, detailing the custody transfer. Cofield's petition for custody is signed by Roy S. Moore, attorney. It lists his address as 924 Third Avenue, Gadsden.

Johnson has had ups and downs in her life, both before and after she met Moore. She has pled guilty to writing bad checks, and for third-degree theft of property, which she said stemmed from family disagreement over the care of her late stepfather.

Since marrying her husband, Morris Johnson, in 2010, she said she has been working to improve her life.

"I'm not perfect," she said. "I have things in my background and I know (the public) will jump on anything, but (what happened with Moore) is still the truth, and the truth will stand when the world won't."

Johnson, who is now disabled, considers herself a devout Christian and regularly attends a church near her home in Gadsden. She said she is not political and doesn't follow politics. She said she has not spoken with Moore since that day in his office, and does not know any of the five other women who have come forward with accusations against him.

"This is not a politics thing with me," she said. "It's more of a moral and religious thing." It has bothered her over the years to see Moore on TV, talking about his Christian faith.

She wanted to come forward publicly now, she said, because it's hard for victims of harassment to talk openly about their experiences.

"I want people to know that it's OK to finally say something," she said. "I guess I'm ashamed I didn't say nothing, didn't turn around and slap him."

A spokesperson for the Roy Moore campaign contacted in advance had not given AL.com a response by publication time.

'All the time'

In 1982, Kelly Harrison Thorp was working as a hostess at the Red Lobster restaurant in Gadsden. She was 17 years old and a high school senior.

One day Roy Moore came into the restaurant, and she recognized him.

"He was a public figure in this small town," she said of Moore, who at the time was in his early 30s and the deputy district attorney for Etowah County. Later that year he would mount an unsuccessful campaign for circuit court judge.

Thorp said Moore asked her if she'd go out with him sometime.

"I just kind of said, 'Do you know how old I am?'" she recalled.

"And he said, 'Yeah. I go out with girls your age all the time.'"

Thorp said she turned him down and told him she had a boyfriend. She said he then walked away.

Thorp said she later told a family member but did not tell the story publicly. She moved away from Gadsden the following year, and has just recently moved back.

Thorp knows one of Moore's accusers, Leigh Corfman, who told The Washington Post that Moore had a sexual encounter with her when she was 14. Thorp believes Corfman's story and said she is proud of her for telling it publicly.

In an interview on Sean Hannity's radio show last Friday, Moore said he did not "generally" date girls in their late teens when he was in his early 30s.

"If I did, you know, I'm not going to dispute anything," he said, "but I don't remember anything like that."

Why now

As more GOP leaders - including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - are calling for Moore to step aside, he has given no indication he plans to do so. He still has a lead in most polls.

One question often levied at the accusers is why they didn't come forward publicly before now, a month away from the special election for Alabama senator. Moore has been a public and often controversial figure in Alabama politics for decades.

It's an issue both Johnson and Thorp wanted to address.

Thorp said local women have not spoken publicly against Moore before now because he had power in town and in the state, and they didn't think they would be believed.

"Everybody knew it wouldn't matter," she said, "that he would get elected anyway because his supporters are never going to believe anything bad about him."

Johnson said the answer was even more simple.

"It's because somebody asked," she said. "If anybody had asked, we would have told it. No one asked."

Want access to the best analysis and in-depth reporting about Alabama each week? Sign up for the weekly Reckon Report newsletter and follow Reckon on Facebook and Twitter.
The hole in the ozone layer above Earth is the smallest observed since 1988, according to a recent report from NASA and NOAA.

But scientists are attributing that more to the weather than human help.

First identified in 1985, the Antarctic ozone hole forms annually during the late winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Its discovery caused worldwide anxiety because of the potential for damaging effects.

Ozone occurs naturally in the atmosphere and is found in the stratosphere anywhere from seven to 25 miles above the surface, according to NASA.

Ozone in the stratosphere acts like a sunscreen -- absorbing much of the ultraviolet radiation streaming in from the sun, according to the World Health Organization.

That radiation, if unfiltered, can lead to skin cancer, eye damage and even immunity suppression.

But this year's Antarctic ozone hole was nearly 1 million miles smaller than in 2016, according to NASA earlier this month, and it will continue to shrink.

The Antarctic ozone hole is still immense, however. At its peak this year it extended about 7.6 million square miles, which NASA said is an area about 2.5 times the size of the United States.

But it began to shrink after hitting that peak on Sept. 11, NASA said.

Blame this year's smaller hole on the weather -- specifically the Antarctic vortex -- NASA and NOAA said.

NASA described that vortex as an upper-level area of low pressure that rotates clockwise above Antarctica. That system, which NASA and NOAA said was warmer and more unstable than usual, helped to cut down on clouds in the lower stratosphere.

More clouds can aid in the process of destroying ozone, according to NASA.

NASA said the smaller ozone hole this year and last are more a factor of natural variability than a "signal of rapid healing."

World leaders began the fight to reduce ozone-killing compounds -- chlorofluorocarbons -- about 30 years ago with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

NASA said scientists expect the Antarctic ozone hole to revert back to 1980 levels by about 2070.
Updated at 9 p.m.: Sean Hannity closed his Fox News show Wednesday night by addressing the Roy Moore allegations and, specifically, responding to the open letter than Moore sent to him via social media about two hours before the show.

Hannity said that Moore provided answers to the specific questions he asked on Tuesday night in giving the former Alabama chief justice 24 hours to provide an explanation.

Hannity -- who formerly had a radio show in the Huntsville market -- said the people of Alabama need to know the truth.

"I lived in Alabama," Hannity said. "I enjoyed my time in Alabama I know these people -- they are smart, great Americans. God, family, faith, country. I am very confident when everything comes out, they will make the best decision for their state."

Original story: Responding to a call by Sean Hannity, Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore tweeted an open letter to the Fox News personality on Wednesday night.

Moore has not answered questions from reporters regarding the allegations made by women who said they were teenagers when they had romantic encounters with Moore, who was then in his 30s.

Two of the women, including a girl, Leigh Corfman, who said she was 14 at the time, said Moore made unwanted sexual advances. The other woman, Beverly Young Nelson, said she was 16 when Moore tried to assault her while the two were in Moore's car.

Moore responded directly to Hannity - among the most influential Republican voices in the media - a day after Hannity urged that Moore clear his name within 24 hours. Hannity has endorsed Moore for the Senate.

He recounted to Hannity the statement his attorney made at a Wednesday afternoon press conference in Birmingham that raised questions about Moore's signature in the yearbook of Beverly Young Nelson. Nelson, then 16, produced her high school year with what she said was Moore's signature.

"I believe tampering has occurred," Moore wrote to Hannity.

Moore has denied the yearbook signing or knowing Nelson. Moore has also denied any of the allegations made by the women.

"Are we at a stage in American politics in which false allegations can overcome a public record of 40 years, stampede the media and politicians to condemn an innocent man and potentially impact the outcome of an election of national importance?" Moore wrote to Hannity.

Moore closed his letter by saying, "I adamantly deny the allegations of Leigh Corfman and Beverly Nelson, did not date underage girls and have taken steps to begin a civil action for defamation. Because of that, at the direction of counsel, I cannot comment further."

It's not immediately clear if, because of beginning the civil action, that Moore will not speak again of the allegations.

Moore has threatened lawsuits against The Washington Post and AL.com.

"We are in the process of investigating these false allegations to determine their origin and motivation," Moore said in the Hannity letter. "For instance, we have documented that the most recent accuser, Beverly Nelson, was a party in a divorce action before me in Etowah County Circuit Court in 1999. No motion was made for me to recuse.

"In her accusations, Nelson did not mention that I was the judge assigned to her divorce case in 1999, a matter that apparently caused her no distress at a time that was 18 years closer to the alleged assault. Yet 18 years later, while talking before the cameras about the supposed assault, she seemingly could not contain her emotions."

Hannity is expected to respond to Moore's letter during his 8 p.m. show Wednesday on Fox News.
After walking off stage at a Birmingham rally Thursday where a dozen supporters spoke on his behalf, Roy Moore tweeted.

Moore, the Republican Senate nominee, again ripped Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in accusing him of trying "to steal" the Dec. 12 election from Alabama voters.

He also vowed to continue making the stand of his innocence to allegations made against him until the end of his life.

"I've taken a stand in the past, I'll take a stand in the future and I'll quit standing when they lay me in that box and put me in the ground," Moore said on Twitter.

Moore has repeatedly denied the allegations made by women over the past week that they had uncomfortable romantic or sexual encounters with him as teens almost 40 years ago when he was in his 30s.

And he's made it clear he has no plans to exit the race, despite calls from Washington and the loss of endorsements from senators and a canceled fundraising agreement with the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

But the latest comment on Twitter perhaps showed Moore at his most defiant with the election less than four weeks away.

Moore spoke briefly at the end of the rally, again denying allegations that he had the inappropriate encounters

The tweets were posted within minutes of him leaving the stage at the rally.

"This is an effort by Mitch McConnell and his cronies to steal this election from the people of Alabama and they will not stand for it!" Moore tweeted.

He followed that tweet minutes later by again calling for McConnell to resign as leader of the Senate.

"I'm gonna tell you who needs to step down, that's Mitch McConnell," Moore said on Twitter.

McConnell has said he believes Moore's accusers and that the former Alabama chief justice should step aside and leave the Senate race. He faces Democrat Doug Jones at the polls next month.

Moore also retweeted a message from AL.com reporter Howard Koplowitz stating that the Alabama Republican Party had announced it would stand behind Moore. The Alabama GOP steering committee met Wednesday and decided not to withdraw its support of Moore's candidacy.

.@ALGOP: "Alabamians will be the ultimate jury in this election- not the media or those from afar." https://t.co/BJYc6ehsF0 #ALSen #alpolitics  Howard Koplowitz (@HowardKoplowitz) November 16, 2017

Rally organizers said they would take questions from the media about campaign issues. When the first couple of questions focused on the allegations, Moore and his wife, Kayla, walked off the stage.

Before leaving the stage, Moore said that he's gotten no questions from the media about campaign issues since the allegations were first reported Nov. 9. The only time Moore has taken questions from the media since the allegations was in interviews with Fox News personality Sean Hannity.

McConnell has become a favorite target of Moore's on Twitter since the allegations broke. In the past week, Moore has criticized McConnell by name in eight tweets and twice called for him to be removed as Leader.

Before the allegations broke, Moore did not mention McConnell on Twitter since his Sept. 26 GOP primary runoff victory over Luther Strange.

Updated today, Nov. 16, 2017, at 3:24 p.m. with new tweet from Moore.
In 1976, President Mugabe said votes must go together with guns, but it is the army that has pulled out the weapons.

In 1976, when Robert Mugabe was still an unknown guerilla leader in much of Europe, he gave a rousing speech in Geneva which gave theoretical coherence to chimurenga, Shona for revolutionary struggle, which as the head of the Zanu-PFs liberation movement he was spearheading.

Our votes must go together with our guns. After all, any vote we shall have shall have been the product of the gun. The gun which produces the vote should remain its security officer  its guarantor. The peoples votes and the peoples guns are always inseparable twins, he said.

Four decades later, the 1976 speech has now acquired the rings of a prophecy.

This after a silent coup which started with a grumbling statement on Monday by Zimbabwe Defence Forces head General Constantino Chiwenga announcing the armys displeasure at the purges in the ruling party and country  which had resulted in Emmerson Mnangagwa, vice president and heir apparent, being fired last week  and which escalated on Wednesday with army tanks parked on key Harare streets and buildings, culminating with Mugabes house arrest at his palace.

In the final analysis, as it became clear Mugabe was unwilling to hand over power to another gun-toting veteran of that war in favour of his wife Grace, it was the army that decided to pull out guns from the national armoury to become the arbiter of the bitter succession fight.

The struggle to succeed the 94-year-old president had on side Grace Mugabe, an ambitious woman who had been plucked in the 1980s from the anonymity of the presidential typing pool to become first lady, and her faction against Emmerson Mnangagwa, a battle-hardened politician who was in prison with Mugabe in the 1960s and who in the 1970s became his personal assistant.

Naturally, when the army had to choose who would succeed Mugabe, it was Mnangagwa they opted for even though he never saw active combat in the 1970s war which forced Ian Smith to go to Lancaster House to negotiate Southern Rhodesia  now Zimbabwe  independence from Britain which came in 1980.

Why Mugabe, a suave political operator, theorist and survivor, had not seen how his words from the 1970s would come back to gnaw at him is a question that will occupy historians and political scientists for a long time to come.

Maybe it was the overweening influence of his wife Grace, born in 1965, to whom, as an old man of 94, he was increasingly reliant for his daily needs.

Maybe it was his dependence on Jonathan Moyo, a Rasputian political science scholar who turned from Mugabes biggest critic in the 1990s into his arch-apologist and information tzar  he is accused by his enemies of saying the only way to destroy Zanu-PF is from within the party itself.

By turning to his wife Grace and to people like Jonathan Moyo, who was in Zanu-PFs guerilla camps of Tanzania for a while before he left for his studies in the United States and which act is interpreted by his enemies in the army as desertion), Mugabe forgot the compact of the vote and the gun which he eloquently spoken about then.

But, as in the statement by Chiwenga, Mugabe the person had become a liability to the military-nationalist-patriarchy project for the war veterans of that struggle to rule forever.

The country barely functions: most of what Zimbabwe uses, including milk, is imported; for over a year the country has been experiencing cash shortages because of a big import bill; unemployment is endemic and, as a result, millions of young Zimbabweans have crossed the border into South Africa, Botswana and other neighbouring countries to work in most cases as undocumented migrants.

As you and I are able to judge, the people no longer appreciate empty slogans and hollow speeches. They want us to talk about things that are meant to improve or sustain lives by President Robert Mugabe, 1992

In 1992, a senior official from the ruling Zanu-PF said: As you and I are able to judge, the people no longer appreciate empty slogans and hollow speeches. They want us to talk about things that are meant to improve or sustain lives.

The official who said this is Mugabe and yet in his autumn years, so nonchalant and removed was the man from what ailed the average Zimbabwean. He continued to live as if Zimbabwe was the second most important regional economic powerhouse after South Africa that it was back in the 1980s and 1990s.

He never missed a chance to fly to any conference  including to conferences on oceans, an absurdity for a land-locked country  to which he was invited.





The most recent egregious instance of this was in September when the Zimbabwean delegation to the United Nations conference had around 70 people and included people who had no government business being in New York, including his daughter Bona and her husband, Mugabes playboy son Chatunga and other hangers-on who are paid daily allowances from the dwindling coffers of a state which every month struggles to pay its workers.

There are some who from day to day get into the office, take off their jackets, take a piece of paper, perhaps write one or two things, take a newspaper and start reading. When they put their jackets down, its tea time. I am not satisfied that everyone is doing a good [day]s work, Mugabe said in 1992.

Mnangagwa: A savvy political operator resented by Mugabe

Mugabe had become that person who was anathema to him back then. He was always travelling abroad and had a laissez-faire approach to the business of governing and was perpetually fanning factional fights in Zanu-PF to perpetuate his rule.

Mnangagwa, a business-savvy political operator, realised that Zimbabwes endless isolation was unsustainable and costing the country, after all, Zimbabwe isnt the only country in the world with diamonds, gold and other natural resources.

You cannot say there are areas of our economy which we are happy with, infrastructure we are behind by 15 to 16 years, agricultural development the same, manufacturing; in fact capacity utilisation in some areas of our industry is down to 20 percent, so again, we have to retool by acquiring new machinery, technology and machinery so that we are competitive, he told a reporter while on a visit to China in 2015. We have to see how we can create an investment environment which will attract the flow of capital. We must know that investment can only go where it makes a return so we must make sure we create an environment where investors are happy to put their money because there is a return.

For trying to reach out to the Chinese, the British and the international community, he earned Mugabes resentment.

Mnangagwa had become a danger to Mugabe, who in Shona fits the noun mbimbindoga, that person who stays on his own, fetishes the self and relies only on his counsel. Mugabe wanted his endless autumn of the patriarch to continue uninterrupted.

Russian poet Joseph Brodsky wrote, the average length of a good tyranny is a decade and half, two decades at most. When its more than that, it inevitably slips into a monstrosity.

Its not a surprise that it was ultimately the gun which Mugabe had spoken so approvingly of in 1976 which, ultimately, intervened to stop Mugabes 37-year reign that had turned into a monstrosity from continuing any further.

Follow Percy Zvomuya on Twitter: @percyzvomuya
Just as many artists chose to boycott South African apartheid, so should they do today with Israeli apartheid.

As a Palestinian musician living under Israeli military rule, the news that Nick Cave plans to perform in Israel on November 19 and 20 has hit me hard.

Nick Cave is a musician who is known for his progressive politics and who has expressed support for Palestinian rights. He has raised money for Palestinian refugee children, called for a military embargo to be imposed on Israel and written in support of activists who shut down an Israeli arms factory in the UK.

This makes it all the harder to accept that he is scheduled to violate the boycott call made by Palestinian civil society and that he is not responding to renowned figures from around the world, including Roger Waters, Mike Leigh, Thurston Moore and Angela Davis, who have urged him to refrain from performing in Tel Aviv.

Regardless of his politics and his best intentions, his performance there would help Israel present itself as an open and vibrant society and cover up its decades-old oppression that us Palestinians have been suffering under. His performance would also allow Israel to think that the world will continue with business as usual while it subjugates millions of us and denies our basic human rights.

Its no secret that Israel systematically uses performances by artists to normalise its racist, discriminatory system that oppresses me, my loved ones and every Palestinian. While musicians may assert that art transcends politics and that their performances will help people heal and come together, one need only look back at Radioheads recent performance in Tel Aviv to see how it was gleefully celebrated by Israels extreme, right-wing government as a propaganda coup.

Nick Caves concert in Tel Aviv is scheduled to take place just miles away from where the Israeli military rules over me and 2.5 million other Palestinians living under military occupation for half a century now. It would take place a few more miles away from a devastating, 10-year Israeli siege of nearly two million Palestinians trapped in Gaza, and on land from which the majority of Palestinians were driven out and turned into refugees during Israels establishment, denied their right to return to their homes simply because they are not Jewish.

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Whether international artists choose to respect the Palestinian picket line or cross it and perform in Tel Aviv, they are making a political decision. Similarly, artists from around the world a generation ago were presented with the choice to heed the South African call to boycott apartheid South Africa and refuse complicity in that brutal system of institutionalised segregation and discrimination.

Inspired by South Africa, where international cultural and political boycotts eventually helped bring down apartheid, Palestinian civil society in 2005 launched the grassroots Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian human and political rights, after we had exhausted all other peaceful means to end Israeli military occupation and the ongoing dispossession of our people.

BDS was launched to put an end to the ongoing forcible eviction of Palestinians from their homes to make room for ever-expanding, illegal Jewish-only settlements on stolen Palestinian land. To bring down an illegal wall now over four times as long as the Berlin Wall, and in some places twice as high. To end the dozens of racist laws that render even Palestinian citizens of Israel into second-class citizens at best. To end the exceptional impunity that Israel continues to enjoy despite violating scores of UN resolutions and conventions calling for the restoration of Palestinian rights and lands.

Today, performing in Tel Aviv is the equivalent of performing in Sun City during the height of South African apartheid there.

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My sincere hope is that the commitments that Nick Cave and I share, as musicians and as human beings who care very much about human dignity, will convince him to refrain from crossing the Palestinian picket line and performing in Tel Aviv. Palestinians deeply appreciate the commitment he has shown to justice in Palestine and beyond, as only justice can bring lasting peace and harmony to our broken and beleaguered world.

If Nick Cave respects our peaceful BDS picket line, he will be in the excellent company of fellow celebrated musicians like Elvis Costello, Lauryn Hill, the late Gil Scott-Heron, Tunde Adebimpe from the band TV on the Radio, Massive Attack, and leading South African anti-apartheid figures like Desmond Tutu, Ronnie Kasrils and Breyten Breytenbach.

I am confident that we Palestinians, together with our growing allies around the world, will make the arc of history bend towards justice. I hope that Nick Cave continues to bend it with us, rather than allow his art to be used in the service of apartheid.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
At the UN Climate Change Conference 2017 in Bonn, Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have declared their willingness to lead the fight against global warming in the absence of US engagement.

Leaders from around the world have joined talks on how to slow down global warming.

Climate negotiations in Germany are entering a critical phase as ministers aim to sort out the finer details of the Paris Agreement.

With Donald Trump keeping the US out of the picture, European leaders are looking to show the way.

There is a sense of progress at these talks, but many want to see more willingness from the developed nations to act and not just talk.

Al Jazeeras Nick Clark reports from Bonn, Germany.
The opposition party had been expecting its dissolution and had already ceased to function  with its leader Kem Sokha arrested, many of its senior members in hiding or in exile such as its Vice President Mu Sochua.

Cambodias Supreme Court has dissolved the countrys main political opposition party. The Cambodia National Rescue Party denies accusations that it is plotting to overthrow the government.

The opposition party had been expecting its dissolution and had already ceased to function  with its leader Kem Sokha arrested, many of its senior members in hiding or in exile such as its Vice President Mu Sochua.

The move gives Prime Minister Hun Sen a clear run in next years general election.

Al Jazeeras Rob McBride reports from Phnom Penh.
The countrys top court outlaws the main opposition party CNRP for fostering dissent with the help of foreign countries.

The Supreme Court of Cambodia has dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the most popular opposition party in the country.

The ruling on Thursday, which was delivered by a judge who is also a member of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), barred 118 members of the opposition from politics for five years.

Today marks the end of true democracy in Cambodia, said CNRP Vice President Mu Sochua, who fled Cambodia in early October.

The decision was seen as predetermined, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen saying on Wednesday I dare to bet my life on the CNRP being outlawed.

Sen publicly encouraged CNRP legislators to defect to his party before the Supreme Court announced its decision.

The dissolution of the main opposition party is being seen as an end to Cambodias democracy.

Immediate steps to reverse course

Dissolving the main opposition party, coupled with a heavy-handed crackdown on the media and civil society, certainly looks like the move of a dictator  a frightened one, said Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian Parliament and chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.

Cambodias future now depends on whether the ruling party is prepared to take immediate steps to reverse course.

A large perimeter surrounding the Supreme Court in the capital Phnom Penh has been sealed off by patrolling police and military.

A reporter in Phnom Penh, who asked to remain nameless for safety concerns, told Al Jazeera he had never seen such a heavy police presence in the capital, where he had lived for roughly a decade.

The decision is the latest in a series of moves against the main opposition party.

Kem Sokha, leader of the CNRP, was jailed in early September on charges of treason. Cambodian authorities allege Sokha colluded with the US to topple the government.

The charge comes from a 2013 video during which Sokha allegedly says the US assisted in planning his political career. The charge carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years.

Former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy fled to France in 2016 after being charged with defamation for accusing the Sen administration of planning the death of prominent political commentator and activist Kem Ley.

Rainsy was convicted of defamation that same year and the Supreme Court upheld the conviction earlier this month.
US and Russia at odds over UN Security Council vote on renewing investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria.

A UN inquiry into chemical weapons use in the war in Syria is set to expire after Russia vetoed a US-sponsored resolution that would have extended its mandate.

The mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), an inquiry launched jointly by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 2015, will expire Thursday at midnight New York time (05:00 on Friday, GMT).

Eleven Security Council members states voted in favour of the resolution, two abstained, and two voted against it, including Russia, which holds veto power as a permanent member of the council.

For the tenth time on Syria, and the fourth time on chemical weapons, Russia has actively obstructed the international communitys ability to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks, Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, said after the vote.

By using the veto to kill a mechanism in Syria that holds users of chemical weapons accountable, Russia proves they cannot be trusted or credible as we work towards a political solution in Syria.  Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) November 16, 2017

Russia has killed the Joint Investigative Mechanism.

The message to anyone listening is clear: in effect, Russia accepts the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that the Security Council must extend the JIMs mandate to ensure President Bashar al-Assads government in Syria does not commit mass murder with chemical weapons ever again.

There are many more instances of chemical weapons use in Syria that must be investigated, the US mission to the UN said in a statement earlier this week.

Divided Security Council

The US urged the Security Council to stand united in the face of chemical weapons use against civilians and extend the work of this critical group.

Not doing so would only give consent to such atrocities while tragically failing the Syrian people who have suffered from these despicable acts, the statement said.

But the Security Council has been divided over the JIMs mandate, with the US and its allies on one side and Russia, a staunch ally of the Assad government, on the other.

Earlier this week, Vasily Nebenzya, Russias ambassador to the UN, said the Russian delegation was in discussions with the US over the inquirys future.

Russia was also expected to present its own resolution on the work of the JIM, which it said aimed to correct systemic errors in the mechanisms current mandate.

That includes ensuring future investigations are conducted on-site and that a chain of custody is preserved, Nebenzya said on November 13.

It should be guided by the highest standards that the OPCW provides which they did not follow, he said, according to a statement posted on the Russian delegations website.

Procedural vote

After Russia lost a procedural vote at the Security Council on Thursday and was ordered to put its resolution up for a vote before the US proposal, it withdrew its resolution.

Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York, said both the US and Russia wanted their vote second because if you have your vote first, then you cant see how other people voted.

So there is an advantage potentially of being second, he said.

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In its most recent report, released in late October, the JIM concluded that the Syrian government had released sarin gas in an April 2017 attack in Khan Sheikhoun that killed around 100 people.

It also said the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group was responsible for releasing sulphur mustard gas in an attack in Umm Hawsh in September last year.

Two women were exposed to mustard gas in that incident after a mortar shell containing the substance hit a house, and another shell was found lodged in the pavement, the UN said.

There has been sufficient evidence of a credible and reliable nature to make its findings, said Edmond Mulet, who heads the JIM, during a briefing on the reports findings.

Though the UN said it was too dangerous to visit Umm Hawsh and Khan Sheikhoun, the committee said it had gathered enough information to make a solid conclusion, according to a UN statement.

Mulet said the JIM conducted its work in an independent, impartial and professional manner.

Russian veto

Russia vetoed an earlier resolution sponsored by the US to extend the JIMs work for an additional year, saying at the time that it wanted to wait for the release of the JIMs report on chemical weapons use by the Syrian government.

Eleven Security Council member states voted in favour of that resolution in late October, while Russia and Bolivia voted against it and China and Kazakhstan abstained.

Including Thursdays vote, Russia has now vetoed 10 resolutions on Syria since the conflict started in 2011.

In a joint statement released earlier this month, Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state; Jean-Yves Le Drian, French foreign minister; Boris Johnson, UK foreign secretary; and Sigmar Gabriel, German foreign minister, condemned the use of chemical weapons by both the Syrian government and ISIL.

We agree that it is vital for the international community to continue to investigate cases where chemical weapons have been used in Syria, they said.
Update: Since this story was first published Saudi Arabia has denied claims that Egypts former security chief Habib el-Adly is advising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, calling the NYT report not true. (19/11/2017)

Saud Kabli, the director of the Information Office at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, denied the claims through his personal Twitter account on Friday, calling NYT journalist Ben Hubbards reporting flawed.

He also pointed out that it was regrettable Hubbard did not inform the embassy of plans to publish a story on the allegations of detainee abuse, as well as offer them an opportunity to respond to the accusations.

Egypts feared former security chief is reportedly advising Saudi Arabias crown prince amid mass arrests of the kingdoms elite and allegations of physical abuse during their detention.

Habib el-Adly  who reportedly fled Egypt after his corruption conviction last April  is in Saudi Arabia, the New York Times quoted an Adly adviser and a former Egyptian interior minister as saying.

Adly, 79, has been consulting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his alleged corruption crackdown, the report said, which includes the detention of 11 cabinet ministers and scores of the countrys leading businessmen.

The New York Times quoted an American official and a Saudi doctor as saying 17 detained officials have required medical attention because of physical abuse suffered at the hands of those guarding them. Some of the Saudis are reportedly being held at the Ritz-Carlton in the capital, Riyadh.

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David Hearst, Middle East Eyes editor-in-chief, reported last week several detainees had suffered wounds from torture and beatings.

Adly was Egypts interior minister under former president Hosni Mubarak from 1997 until the regimes fall during the Arab Spring in 2011.

During his time as the countrys top security official, Adly developed a notorious reputation for torture, forced disappearances, and other human rights abuses.

After being convicted for corruption last April and sentenced to seven years in prison, he disappeared and Egypts interior ministry declared him a fugitive. Adly was found guilty of embezzling more than $110m of public funds.

A Saudi spokeswoman at the embassy in Washington DC told the New York Times she couldnt confirm or deny allegations of Adlys presence in the kingdom.

Farid al-Deeb, Adlys lawyer, denied that his client was in Saudi Arabia. He said Adly was still in Egypt and would appeal his seven-year sentence on January 11, 2018 at the Court of Cassation, reported the Egypt Independent news website on Thursday.

Adly also faced a string of criminal cases against him since the 2011 uprising that ousted Mubarak but had been cleared.

He had been accused of ordering security forces to open fire on protesters demanding the regimes overthrow.
At least seven dead as suicide bomber blows himself up in apparent attempt to strike political gathering.

A suicide attacker has killed at least nine people, detonating his vest near a political gathering in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials confirmed.

Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid told Al Jazeera that the attacker was stopped at the entrance of the hall, which is usually used for weddings, where he detonated his weapons to disrupt a political gathering under way inside.

The dead included seven policemen and the rest were civilians, Mujahid told Al Jazeera.

Supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of the northern province of Balkh, were holding an event inside the hall at the time of the explosion.

Health ministry spokesman Ismail Kawoosi told Al Jazeera that at least five people were wounded and transferred to the citys emergency hospital.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban denied involvement.

The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence that has killed hundreds of civilians in Afghanistan in 2017.
France is getting more involved in the political crisis in Lebanon, but experts say its diplomacy has limited influence.

France is making a diplomatic push to solve the political crisis caused by the snap resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri earlier this month, as the countrys foreign minister is expected to meet Hariri in Riyadh on Thursday.

According to at least one analyst, however, Paris may have made a risky bet by getting involved in the ongoing diplomatic turmoil over Hariris fate, which has pit Saudi Arabia against its regional rival, Iran, and Tehrans ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah.

As no compromise in Lebanon will pass without an agreement between Riyadh and Tehran, Paris is looking to deal with both, said Stephane Malsagne, a historian and professor at Sciences-Po in Paris.

The highest levels of the French government are getting involved in diplomatic efforts to resolve the political turmoil gripping Lebanon, which was under French colonial rule until 1943.

Frances Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected to meet with Hariri in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, an aide said, according to Agence France Presse.

The meeting comes a day after Le Drian arrived in Riyadh and met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a week after French President Emmanuel Macron also flew to Riyadh to meet the Crown Prince.

In a joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in the capital on Thursday, Le Drian said: Concerted efforts must be made to restore the situation in Lebanon.

High-level French diplomacy

Macron hastily flew to Saudi Arabia on November 9 from the nearby United Arab Emirates.

Macrons stop in Riyadh came just as tensions were mounting between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the fate of the Lebanese prime minister.

Hariri, a Sunni Muslim politician and longtime ally of both Saudi Arabia and France, announced his resignation in a televised address from Riyadh on November 4.

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Many, including Lebanese President Michel Aoun, have accused Saudi Arabia of forcing Hariri to step down and of holding him in detention.

The Saudis have denied the allegations and accused Hezbollah of creating a state within a state in Lebanon.

This week, Hariri said he planned to return to Lebanon soon, but did not specify when.

According to Malsagne, French diplomacy has so far not succeeded in obtaining guarantees from Riyadh on Hariris freedom of movement and speech, nor has it clarified when Hariri may be allowed to return to Lebanon or what the Saudis true political intentions are.

Its, therefore, a risky bet for France, he told Al Jazeera.

Lebanon counts on making a free decision

The French president also spoke with his Lebanese counterpart, Michel Aoun, on November 10.

Macron stressed the importance of preserving the stability, independence and security of Lebanon and French support for the Lebanese people, according to a statement put out by the Elysee.

He also met with Lebanons Foreign Minister, Gebran Bassil, in Paris on Tuesday.

During a press conference at the Lebanese embassy in Paris, Bassil thanked Macron for the initiative he is undertaking for Lebanon in the face of an exceptional situation, French-language Lebanese newspaper LOrient Le Jour reported.

Bassil said, however, that Lebanon must decide on its internal and external politics and counts on making a free decision.

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A day later, Macron offered Hariri and his family to come spend a few days in Paris, but specified that the invitation was not an offer of political exile.

On Thursday, Hariri accepted the invitation to visit France.

Hariri family ties to France

The Hariri family, which holds French citizenship, has longstanding ties to the French political class.

Hariris father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in 2005, was a close friend of former French President Jacques Chirac.

When he resigned from politics in 2007, Chirac considered moving into a Paris apartment owned by the Hariri family, Reuters reported at the time.

The French government, meanwhile, has maintained close ties to Saad Hariri, explained Eric Verdeil, a professor at Sciences Po in Paris.

While France has traditionally kept a balanced approach to Lebanese internal politics  often working as a facilitator between various factions  it has been closer to the Hariri-led March 14 camp, which includes Lebanese-Christian political groups.

Its clear that the political class [in France] and successive French governments saw in Saad Hariri a politician whom they could support and that they strongly supported him for several years, Verdeil said.

Nonetheless, the French try to be in a position to talk to everyone, Verdeil said.

Hariri visited Macron at the Elysee in September and said during his visit that relations between France and Lebanon are excellent.

Yet despite their close relationship to Hariri, his resignation came as a shock to French leaders.

They were very surprised by this resignation that was unexpected and obviously they werent consulted, Verdeil said.

Maintaining relevance

If Hariri does not eventually return to Lebanon, France will still maintain close ties to the country in order to maintain its own interests in the region, according to Malsagne.

Franco-Lebanese relations are not confined to the men in power, he told Al Jazeera.

Since France closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012, Lebanon has served as an observation post for France to monitor whats happening in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iraq, he explained.

France has a long history of mediation in Lebanese political crises, Malsagne said, and its involvement today does not come as a surprise.

Joe Macaron, a resident analyst at the Arab Center Washington DC research organisation, said that Hariri is Frances major Sunni ally in Lebanon and the wider Middle East.

It is in Frances interests to make sure that Saad Hariri remains a player in Lebanons politics, Macaron told Al Jazeera.

They have good relations with a lot of Lebanese leaders, but if Hariri doesnt return to power, whoever replaces him wont have the same connection that the Hariri family has [had] with France over the years, Macaron said.

France may be better suited to intervene in the current situation than other countries, Macaron added.

They are one of the few that are able to talk to everyone and be accepted by everyone. They are less controversial than other regional and international players at this point, he said.

But according to Malsagne, the main weaknesses of French diplomacy remain its weak influence on Lebanese politics, [which is] essentially piloted today from Tehran and Riyadh.
Hamas accuses Israel intelligence agency Mossad of being behind assassination of its Tunisian member Mohammed al-Zawari.

Hamas has blamed the Israeli national intelligence agency Mossad for the assassination of one of its Tunisian members after conducting an 11-month-long investigation.

The Palestinian group said Mohammed al-Zawari, a commander of its armed wing the Qassam Brigades since 2006, was fatally shot outside his home multiple times while in his car near Sfax, 270km southeast of Tunis, on December 15, 2016.

Hamas had set up an investigative committee in the immediate aftermath of the assassination.

Speaking at a press conference in Beirut on Thursday, Mohammed Nazzal, Hamas politburo member, called the Mossad operation a terrorist act.

Mossad is officially accused of being behind the assassination, which is not only a terrorist act, but a violation of state sovereignty, he said.

Nazzal also said that it is within their responsibility to coordinate with Tunisian authorities on matters relating to the countrys national security to confront the Zionist enemy.

Tunisia has information regarding the investigation as well, and its national interest and stability is highly important to us, Nazzal said.

Because the Zionists may repeat its doings once again, and as such we are responsible for Tunisias security  and we would be for any other Arab state.

According to Hamas, the 49-year-old al-Zawari was an aviation engineer who worked on the development of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The movement credited him with developing the Ababeel drones used in the last Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014.

The full investigative report, which is published on Hamas website, includes details of how the assassination was meticulously planned over three stages in 2015 and involved 12 individuals.

The two men who carried out the assassination had Bosnian passports.

One of the individuals, who went by the name of Chris Smith, had enrolled in the National Engineering School of Tunis  the same university where al-Zawari was studying for his postgraduate degree.

The report said that Smith, who had told the university he wanted to observe drone innovation, had offered al-Zawari a project, allegedly backed by the European Union, to work on. Al-Zawari declined after becoming suspicious of him.

Nazzal said that Hamas has a legal body and that it will present their investigative report to them in order to study possible options to proceed with the findings.

I assure you that the legal team will examine this, he said. We will look into the options of bringing forward lawsuits against Israel.
The US is weighing whether to renew temporary protected status for Hondurans, leaving thousands in a state of anxiety.

For Belinda Osorio Hanzman, being forced to return to San Pedro Sula in Honduras would mean leaving behind her two US-born children.

It is a painful decision Hanzman, a 48-year-old hotel housekeeper living in Orlando, Florida, says she would make for the sake of her childrens futures.

She began to contemplate the fate of her mixed-status family after the US Department of Homeland Security recently announced it would defer a decision on whether to renew the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras.

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The department said it would extend it until next July as they deliberate.

As a TPS visa-holder, Hanzman is one of the thousands of Honduran immigrants now living in limbo in the United States.

My oldest knows that if they eliminate TPS, I might have to leave, she told Al Jazeera.

I tell them that I will fight to stay here, but if I have to go, I will make the very difficult decision of returning without them because I cant ruin their lives. In Honduras, they have no future.

57,000 Hondurans with TPS

TPS is a form of temporary residency that provides US work visas to more than 300,000 immigrants from 10 countries where environmental disasters, ongoing armed conflicts or other circumstances have made it too dangerous for them to return home.

Immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua were granted TPS in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch killed more than 10,000 people and severely damaged infrastructure in both countries.

Last Monday, the Donald Trump administration eliminated temporary legal residency and deportation relief for thousands of immigrants from Nicaragua, who will remain protected under the visa for another 14 months until the programme is officially terminated on January 5, 2019.

The administration temporarily extended TPS status to 57,000 Honduran immigrants, meanwhile, who will be able to stay in the US on TPS visas for an additional six months, until July 5.

Elaine Duke, the homeland security secretary, said the administration needed more time to determine whether to renew the visa for Hondurans.

In the coming months, I will seek additional information and thoroughly review the country conditions of Honduras, Duke wrote in the memo announcing the decision.

Prolonged anguish

Hanzman first came to New York in 1991. She worked long hours at her factory jobs, often doing unpaid overtime, until she eventually resettled in Orlando, Florida. She secured TPS in 1999.

Now working as a unionised housekeeper, a position she has held for the duration of her visa, Hanzman said TPS changed her life.

I was able to get a drivers license, worker benefits and more importantly I felt more free. I was no longer afraid of being detained because I had permission to legally work in this country, said Hanzman.

I had TPS to protect me.

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She said returning with her family to San Pedro Sula, once considered the murder capital of the world, seems almost impossible.

While Honduras has a national average of 60 murders per 100,000 people, San Pedro Sula is considered one of its deadliest cities.

Organised crime groups commit murder, extortion and kidnap citizens and authorities alike, according to the state department.

Two hundred families were forced to leave the city earlier this year to flee gang warfare, Reuters reported.

I wouldnt dare take my 14-year-old son with me to Honduras, Hanzman told Al Jazeera.

Gangs recruit kids his age, and they harass and beat them if they refuse. Im not going to expose my son to that. My daughter is only 10, and she is also a target.

Originally from Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, Guisell Martinez Flores, 43, has had TPS for 18 years.

She came to the US with her family to work and save enough money to build a house in Honduras, but she said Hurricane Mitch eventually made it impossible for them to return.

Flores, who lives in Los Angeles and works as a janitor, called the Trump administrations decision to extend its deliberation on TPS coverage for Hondurans cruel.

This isnt relief for us, Flores said. This is worse, because yes they have extended the programme, but they have also prolonged the anguish and uncertainty.

Families fear separation

The governments termination of TPS could result in the deportation of thousands of people and the separation of family members holding different immigration statuses.

According to a study by the Center for American Progress, Haitians, Salvadorans and Hondurans comprise the three largest TPS holders.

An estimated 195,000 Salvadorans currently have TPS, along with more than 57,000 Hondurans and 50,000 Haitians.

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Haitian, Salvadoran and Honduran TPS holders have a total of 273,000 children who were born in the US and hold American citizenship, according to figures from earlier this year.

Luz Maldonado, 33, is a TPS holder and a mother of two children with US citizenship.

Now living in Glen Cove, Long Island, she arrived in the US from La Paz, Honduras, 14 years ago.

When she heard that TPS was extended last week, Maldonado said she felt helpless.

If we dont press for a pathway to regularise our status, we will be left with nothing, just like when we arrived, she said.

After all these years of working legally with permits, we are going to lose our jobs.

Hanzman said she is also concerned about her 73-year-old mother. Her mother still lives in Honduras and relies on Hanzman to send her a monthly cheque from the US to pay for her diabetes treatment.

Seventy-seven percent of Honduran TPS holders that send remittances home, according to the Center for American Progress, and the World Bank estimates that those remittances account for 17.4 percent of Honduras gross domestic product (GDP).

Without my help, and without my ability to work [in the US], my mother wouldnt receive this consistent support, Hanzman said.

A pathway to residency

Edwin Murillo, a member of the National TPS Alliance, an organisation led by TPS recipients and supported by unions and immigrants rights groups, has been actively lobbying Congress to provide immigrants with a pathway to permanent residency.

Our goal is to stop the elimination of TPS and to get Congress to grant permanent residency to the thousands of people currently protected under the programme, Murillo told Al Jazeera.

He said while the group was outraged by the DHS announcement, it was not a total surprise.

A week before the memo was published, Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, said the conditions in Haiti and Central America no longer justified the need for protection under TPS.

We expected the announcement on Nicaragua and Honduras because they have been vocal about winding down the programme, said Murillo.

Frankly, we have very few friends in the [Trump] administration.
Human Rights Watch has released a report accusing Myanmars army of further abuses against civilians. It says there has been systemic rape and sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls in Rakhine state.

Human Rights Watch has released a report accusing Myanmars army of further abuses against civilians. It says there has been systemic rape and sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls in Rakhine state.

The report accuses Myanmars security forces of raping them as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing over the last three months.

Al Jazeeras Scott Heidler reports from the capital Naypyidaw.
The think tank that catapulted the term Islamophobia in 1997 says anti-Muslim racism is on the rise and more pervasive.

London, England  Anti-Muslim hatred has become more pervasive and entrenched in the UK, compared with 20 years ago, according to a report by the think tank that catapulted the term Islamophobia in 1997.

Runnymede Trusts latest survey, released on Tuesday, came two decades after the group first launched a groundbreaking report highlighting racism faced by British Muslims.

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Over the past two decades awareness of Islamophobia has increased, whether in terms of discrimination against Muslims, or in terms of public and policy discussion of it, the report said.

It is good that British Muslims increasingly challenge Islamophobia. However, to challenge and end Islamophobia and all forms of racism effectively, we all need to confront and condemn it where we see it, and commit to raising awareness in others of its wider effects.

Muslims or ethnic minorities and the government should not be the only parties responsible in tackling Islamophobia. Employers, neighbours, teachers and fellow citizens should also raise awareness in cracking down on racism wherever and however it appears, the report said.

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Published in 1997, Runnymedes report Islamophobia: A Challenge for Us All shed light on the considerable growth in anti-Muslim prejudice and the profound impact it had on the lives of British Muslims, identifying and catapulting the relatively unknown term and issue of Islamophobia into public consciousness.

How to define Islamophobia

Twenty years on, Britain is part of a post-9/11 and 7/7 world grappling with the rise of armed groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) and insecurity at home.

Whenever attackers are discovered to be of Muslim background, the entire community often faces collective punishment.

Tuesdays report criticised the governments ambiguous definition of the term Islamophobia, stating that while it still retained some purchase being widely used amongst politicians and the public, it was poorly understood, detracting from the multifaceted nature of contemporary anti-Islam sentiment as well as the lived experiences of individuals and communities.

The term anti-Muslim racism was proposed instead, as it was more encompassing of the tangible impact of Islamophobia.

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Farah Elahi, a research and policy analyst at Runnymede Trust said Islamophobia had now manifested structurally in policy.

There is a completely different policy focus on Muslim communities than there was in 1997. A big part of that is around counter-terrorism strategies, but also wider than that, looking at the integration strategy, said Elahi.

Both policy and the media have framed Muslims within a counter-terrorism deviant perspective, filtering into peoples understanding of the Muslim community and the way in which theyre perceived.

Muslim penalty

Elahi added that the proliferation of Islamophobia had stretched beyond influencing policy, leading to a Muslim penalty which permeated into social, political, economic and cultural institutions.

We have an understanding of how Islamophobia impacts hate crime, but when somebody applies for a job and they get an interview, those stereotypes can remain in an employees mind, even when they go to the doctors, when they go to school, she said.

One of the things we wanted to show in the report is that all these things are interlinked. Policy focus and media representation which frame Muslims in a particular way feeds particular stereotypes about Muslims. They all feed off each other and the effects manifest in larger labour market penalties, larger mental health impact, and penalties in the criminal justice system.

These factors have restructured the social and political landscape for British Muslims, who are characterised by a range of stereotypes that demarcate them as the other, a characterisation which has seen anti-Muslim hate crime in the last year rocket.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the only Muslim woman to be a cabinet member, said Islamophobia had become the blind-spot of Britain, and that it was now a more respectable form of bigotry.

The daily poisoning of the discourse around British Muslims has intensified, and shapes our collective understanding of the challenges we face by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, laywer and politician

In the foreword to the report, she writes: In 2011, I said that Islamophobia had passed the dinner-table test. I was speaking about those who display their bigotry overtly, but also those who do so more subtly in the most respectable of settings  middle-class dinner tables. It is this more covert form of Islamophobia, couched in the intellectual arguments espoused by think tanks, commentators and even politicians that I have spent the last decade trying to reason with.

Warsi said she was concerned by the institutionalisation on Islamophobia in some sections of the media over the last decade, calling for a parliamentary investigation into Islamophobia within the British press at the launch of the report.

Of all the challenges to a cohesive Britain at ease with its Muslims, the hostile press environment is the most worrying. The daily poisoning of the discourse around British Muslims has intensified, and shapes our collective understanding of the challenges we face. It informs dialogue across the country, from parliament to the local pub.

She also called for an investigation into her own Conservative party, citing an anti-Muslim campaign launched by Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith against the London Mayor Sadiq Khan during the mayoral election in 2016.
In an interview with a Saudi website, Israels army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot signals closer ties with the kingdom.

A prominent Saudi website has published an unprecedented interview with Israels army chief of staff, signalling closer cooperation between the two countries against regional rival, Iran.

In an interview published by Elaph on Thursday, Lieutenant-General Gadi Eisenkot said that Israel is ready to share intelligence information to face the threat posed by Tehran.

Israels military confirmed the content of the interview, a rare episode given that Saudi Arabia and Israel have not formal diplomatic relations.

In the interview, Eisenkot called Iran the true and biggest threat in the Middle East, accusing it of supporting armed groups throughout the region.

He said it is necessary to stop Iran from spreading its influence.





In an interview with Al Jazeera, Anna Ahronheim, military correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, confirmed the report, saying that the interview was conducted by an Israeli Druze journalist in Tel Aviv.

Its a pretty significant deal, Ahronheim said, noting that Eisenkot does not even give interviews to Israeli news outlets.

This is definitely a big step for Eisenkot to do.

The last time an Israeli chief of staff spoke to an Arabic outlet was with Al Jazeera.

Ahronheim said that while it is unlikely that the two countries would immediately cooperate on wide-ranging intelligence sharing, they could cooperate more closely, particularly on Iran.

Eisenkot, however, said in the interview that there is no interest in Israel to launch an attack on the Iran-linked Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel has increasingly been making a public alliance with Saudi Arabia following the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president earlier this year.

In June, Yisrael Katz, Israels intelligence and transportation minister, suggested that Saudi Arabias King Salman invite Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, to Riyadh, to establish full diplomatic relations.

Katz also said King Salman should send his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to Tel Aviv.

AFP news agency later reported that the crown prince made a secret visit to Tel Aviv in September. The report was denied by Saudi Arabia.
In the past year, 34 journalists were killed in the field, more than 250 others were jailed and 55 remain missing.

A ceremony in New York has honoured journalists around the world who have faced intimidation, harassment and imprisonment.

An elaborate evening gala for a cause to fight for press freedom was held on Wednesday in New York.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, one of the worlds top organisations that defends the rights of journalists to work without fear of reprisal, honoured several journalists for their courage.





One is Afrah Nasser, a Yemeni reporter and blogger who now lives in exile in Sweden after receiving death threats in her native country for her critical reporting of the government.

A two and half year Saudi-led war in Yemen has left seven million people in famine-like conditions, according to the UN.

Yemen remains one of the most difficult places in the world for journalists to report from, and Nasser said it is about more than herself.

It is not only for me; it goes to all Yemeni journalists who are behind bars and who refuse to be part of the propaganda system, Nasser told Al Jazeera.

Its also to pay tribute to all the journalists who despite all the obstacles are trying to put Yemen on the media agenda.

Nasser was one of several people honoured with a press freedom award, but there were others as well

There are also journalists being recognised from Cameroon, Thailand and Mexico.

Ahmed Abba, a correspondent for Radio France Internationales Hausa service, was imprisoned in Cameroon in July 2015.

He was convicted of terrorism-related charges and sentenced in early 2017 to 10 years in prison in connection with his coverage of the armed group, Boko Haram.

Pravit Rojanaphruk, a reporter and longtime press freedom advocate in Thailand, was also cited for his critical tone and probing reporting style despite being under military threat.

Patricia Mayorga, a correspondent for the Mexico City-based newsmagazine Proceso, was awarded over her coverage of alleged links between Mexicos ruling party and organised crime, forced disappearances and human rights issues, for which she received threats.

The ceremony was a reminder that threats against journalists exist in all corners of the world.

In Malta, Daphne Caruana Galizia, a prominent investigative journalist, was killed in a powerful bomb in her car.





Caruana Galizia ran a hugely popular blog in which she relentlessly highlighted cases of alleged high-level corruption by politicians from across party lines.

She had also exposed Maltas links with the so-called Panama Papers document leak, which revealed the identities of the rich and powerful around the world with offshore holdings in the Central American country.

In Egypt, Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein was detained when he arrived in Cairo on a personal visit to see family.

Hussein has been held for over 330 days for what the government has called spreading false news.

Al Jazeera categorically denies the charges against Hussein and demands his immediate release.

Egypt is one of the saddest stories in the world right now. Before the uprising in 2011 there were no journalists in jail  maybe there was one from year to year  and there were no journalists murdered. Now it is the third leading jailer of journalists, Courtney Radsch, CPJ advocacy director, told Al Jazeera.

On an evening when people who care deeply about press freedom spoke out to say the time has come to recognise journalism is not a crime.
From $60 in 1958 to $450.3m in 2017 is considerable appreciation, even for a Leonardo da Vinci painting.

A painting of Christ by the Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci has sold for a record $450 million (380 million euros) at auction in New York, breaking previous records.

The 500-year-old oil painting, Salvator Mundi or Latin for Savior of the World, depicts Christ holding a crystal orb and is one of fewer than 20 paintings by da Vinci known to exist.

It  sparks all sorts of great conversations around the art and adds a greater richness I think to the sale season, Conor Jordan, deputy chairman of impressionist and modern art for New York Christies, the auction house that conducted the sale, told Al Jazeera.

The 66cm-tall painting dates from around 1500 and shows Christ dressed in Renaissance-style robes, his right hand raised in blessing as his left hand holds a crystal sphere.

It disappeared from view until 1900, when it resurfaced and was acquired by a British collector. At that time, it was attributed to a da Vinci disciple, rather than to the master himself.

The painting was sold again in 1958 and then was acquired in 2005, badly damaged and partly painted over, by a consortium of art dealers who paid less than $10,000 (8,445 euros).

In New York, art lovers lined up outside Christies headquarters on Tuesday to view Salvator Mundi.
Full-day event focusing on the kingdoms recent purge and political shift to attract notable politicians and academics.

A conference in the UK aims to assess the recent political tensions in Saudi Arabia in the wake of a major anti-corruption crackdown.

The full-day event is being organised by the Middle East Monitor, a non-profit press monitoring organisation, and will take place on Saturday in London, bringing together academics, journalists and politicians.

Keynote speakers include former leader of the UKs Liberal Democrats party, Paddy Ashdown, and Jack Straw, who has served as Britains foreign secretary as well as home secretary.

Crisis in Saudi Arabia: War, Succession and the Future comes as the kingdom is undergoing a major political shift after King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud removed his nephew Mohammed bin Nayef as Saudi Arabias crown prince to make way for his son Mohammed bin Salman.

Gone are the days when the Kingdom was an oasis of tranquillity and stability, the conference introduction said.

At present, the country is beset by a combination of domestic and foreign problems which, if mishandled, will have dreadful consequences.

In the first session of the day, panellists including Dr Madawi Al-Rasheed, a Saudi academic and visiting professor at the London School of Economics (LSE) Middle East Centre, will delve into The making of the Kingdom, and how we got here.

Former Labour Party MP Clare Short will moderate a panel discussion looking at what critics say is the paradox of human rights violations as the government looks to promote liberalisation within the kingdom.

Saudi purge

On November 4, Saudi Arabia dismissed a number of senior ministers and arrested nearly a dozen princes as part of an investigation by a new anti-corruption committee.

The government widened the purge by issuing a no-fly list and reportedly freezing bank accounts linked to Mohammed bin Nayef, Saudi Arabias ex-crown prince.

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The dramatic steps were the latest in a series of measures by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to assert power over the country and its previous leaders.

Amid the political upheaval, Saudi Arabia is also experiencing a recession after the economy contracted in two consecutive quarters for the first time since 2009.

The country has launched an ambitious economic reform programme, Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the countrys reliance on oil.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is among the Gulf countries currently blockading Qatar.
Human Rights Watch report says rape a prominent and devastating feature in brutal violence against Rohingya.

Myanmars security forces committed widespread rape against Rohingya women and girls as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing in the countrys Rakhine State, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in a report.

A 15-year-old Rohingya girl told HRW that soldiers stripped her naked and dragged her from her home to a nearby tree where about 10 men raped her.

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They left me where I was. When my brother and sister came to get me, I was lying there on the ground, they thought I was dead, said the girl from Hathi Para village in Maungdaw district.

She was one of the 52 female refugees that the New York-based rights body interviewed for the report that was published on Thursday.

Myanmars army had earlier released a report denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces which was termed absurd by a human rights group.

More than 600,000 majority-Muslim Rohingya have been forced to seek shelter in neighbouring Bangladesh and their homes and properties have been destroyed in arson attacks since August 25. Hundreds of them have also been killed by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs.

The report also quoted many rape survivors reporting days of agony walking with swollen and torn genitals while fleeing to Bangladesh.

Sexual violence perpetrated by army

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Pramila Patten, the UN special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, said sexual violence was being commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by the Armed Forces of Myanmar.

Survivors and witnesses also told Al Jazeera accounts of women and girls being raped then locked inside houses that were torched.

They have recounted stories of torture, mutilations, being stripped naked and other atrocities and acts of humiliation.

Rape has been a prominent and devastating feature of the Burmese militarys campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya, said Skye Wheeler, womens rights emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report.

The Burmese militarys barbaric acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatised.

A statement by the UN migration agency IOM said its doctors had treated dozens of women who experienced violent sexual assault since August but said such numbers likely represent only a small portion of actual cases.

Such egregious violence and abuse is underreported even in a more stable situation, the agency said.

Ongoing genocide

The HRW report said soldiers raped women and girls both during major attacks on villages and in the weeks prior to the attacks, after repeatedly harassing the Rohingya women and children.

In every case described in the report, the rapists were uniformed members of Myanmars security forces. In six cases of mass rape, survivors told HRW that soldiers gathered Rohingya women and girls into groups and then gang-raped or raped them.

Many of those interviewed described soldiers bashing the heads of their young children against trees, throwing children and elderly parents into burning houses, and shooting their husbands.

Two sisters who spoke to Al Jazeera said they were raped by Myanmar soldiers.

The military tortured us, said 25-year-old Minara, who gave only one name. They murdered our parents. They took us to the jungle. They pushed us down on the ground.

Her sister Aziza, 22, said she was raped by two men and became unconscious.

The two sisters were rescued by other refugees who helped them cross a river into Bangladesh.

HRW has requested the UN to impose bilateral arms embargoes on Burma, and create and implement sanctions regimes  including travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on access to financial institutions.

Activists have said the international community needs to do more to stop Myanmar military from orchestrating genocide against Rohingya  one of the most persecuted communities in the world.
Two male and two female attackers carried out separate attacks in suburb of northern Borno state.

At least 18 people have been killed and 29 others wounded in northeast Nigeria after four suicide bombers carried out separate attacks, state police said.

The first explosion on Wednesday evening took place at a prayer ground in the Muna Gari suburb of the regional capital, Maiduguri.

Other attacks followed in the same neighbourhood.

At about 6:13pm local time (17:13 GMT), four suicide bombers  two males and two females  infiltrated Muna Gari community and detonated IED strapped to their bodies at different locations, Victor Isuku, Borno State Police Command spokesman, said in a statement.

A total of eighteen persons including the four suicide bombers, died in the multiple explosions, he confirmed.

Isuku said those injured were rushed to the University of Maiduguri teaching hospital and the State Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

According to the statement, police patrol and bomb disposal teams promptly mobilised to the scene to sanitise and render the area safe.

The statement also said that order had been restored to the community.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Fight is still ongoing

The city of Maiduguri is an epicentre of activity for the armed Boko Haram group, which launched its campaign in northeast Nigeria eight years ago.

Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris, reporting from the Nigerian city of Lagos, said although Boko Haram did not claim responsibility, it looked like a coordinated attack by the armed group.

What we are hearing now is that funeral services for those who have been killed in the attack are being held in Maiduguri, he said.

The UN estimates that 20,000 people have been killed and at least 1.7 million displaced since Boko Harams offensive in 2009.

Nigerias military has stepped up its operations against the group, but counter attacks are also on the rise in the northeast.

In early September, Amnesty International published a report that said Boko Haram was responsible for at least 400 deaths since April.

More than half of all schools in Borno are closed with millions of children unable to start classes this year because of the ongoing threat of Boko Haram, according to United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF).

The fight is still ongoing, said our correspondent.

It is difficult to say at the moment what is exactly on the ground, but the military has said its operation is continuing and Boko Haram, on its part, is not relenting.
Individuals and groups say restrictions imposed by the US Treasury Department hinder quick response to deadly disaster.

When Tohid Najafi first learned that a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake had struck his native country, Iran, he wasted no time.

A medical professional based in Detroit, US, Najafi quickly set up a Facebook page to raise money for the families of the victims and the survivors of Sundays disaster.

The quake killed at least 450 people and injured more than 7,000 in Iran and neighbouring Iraq. An estimated 15,000 houses were destroyed, leaving some 70,000 people homeless and faced with a bleak future.

Seeing the extent of the damage, Najafi on Monday rallied the 65,000 members of his online group, Persian Americans, to help.

He set a goal for $110,000 over the next month and hoped that within the first day he would manage to raise up to $15,000.

But when he woke up the next morning, online donors had already chipped in more than $80,000. By Wednesday, the sum raised had surpassed $200,000.

I was very surprised, Najafi told Al Jazeera, saying he had doubts about hitting his goal on time  raising money online is a novel thing among the Iranian-American community, he said.





But his delight was short-lived.

On the first day of his effort, Najafi received a message by Facebook informing him the funds will not be released, until the social media site receives from him the required authorisation from the United States Department of Treasury.

Najafi then had to figure out how to get the money released from Facebook without getting in trouble with the US authorities.

He also had to fend off sceptics, who questioned if he could be entrusted with the sum. The fund, however, is controlled by Facebook, not Najafi.

On Thursday, to Najafis dismay, Facebook took down his fundraising page, saying personal fundraisers are not eligible to receive funds for nonprofits.

Just as Najafi launched his initiative, Tara Kangarlou, a New York-based Iranian-American journalist, also started a personal fundraising effort to help the victims of the devastation.

Within the first 30 minutes, she had raised $2,000 on the YouCaring fundraising site.

Kangarlou, who had previously raised money for Syrian refugees, was hoping the money would help buy much-needed medicine, food and blankets for the victims.

Despite the US Treasurys exemptions on its policy on disaster relief to Iranian individuals, YouCaring cancelled Kangarlous page.

In a message, which she re-posted on social media, the site said her fundraiser had been removed because the country you provided is part of an embargoed region.

The United States Treasury Department does not allow our platform to disburse funds directly to, or be routed by proxy to a state or person that is currently located in an embargoed region, the letter read.

She was also told that the third-party money transfer partner, WePay, is not authorised to do business with Iran.

As soon as they saw the name Iran, that this is for Iran earthquake, they freaked out, Kangarlou told Al Jazeera.

YouCaring did not care, nor did WePay, she said. What a shame.

Al Jazeera contacted YouCaring and WePay online and by phone but did not receive a response.

Layers of restrictions

For decades, the US has imposed wide-ranging military and economic sanctions against Iran, following years of hostilities starting with the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the storming of the US embassy in Irans capital, Tehran.

Following the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, including the US, some restrictions have been lifted, including the trading of Iranian oil and gas in the world market.

But the US maintains a comprehensive trade embargo with Iran, which includes prohibitions on direct banking between the two nations.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), under the US Department of Treasury, has issued exemptions allowing US citizens and residents to lawfully engage in certain activities to help out relief efforts, such as following an earthquake.





For instance, individuals in the US are allowed to make donations to US non-governmental organisations with OFAC authorisation to operate in Iran.

Transfers of personal remittances to assist a family member or a friend is also allowed provided that the payment is processed through a third-country financial institution. However, experts say foreign banks are often reluctant to process such donations out of fear of potential fines and other complications.

US-based donors are not permitted to send funds directly, even to charitable and humanitarian groups already on the ground in Iran, such as the Iranian Red Crescent, a group with a wide network and presence in many areas.

They are also prohibited from sending goods or technologies, including those intended for humanitarian relief.

The Washington, DC-based National Iranian American Council (NIAC) has been lobbying for years to lift those US sanctions on humanitarian grounds.

However, that is becoming more unlikely now under President Donald Trumps administration, according to Trita Parsi, founder and president of NIAC.

President Trump has not shown any human side that would extend itself to a country and the people like Iran, he told Al Jazeera.

If sanctions are really hindering emergency aid after an earthquake, I think that really shows the problematic aspect of the sanctions, added Parsi.

Slow, complex, impossible

On Tuesday, the Iranian Red Crescent said it had reached 90 percent of the areas affected by the quake. But donating to it from the US is not possible as the organisation is not among those with an OFAC authorisation.

However, there are smaller humanitarian organisations allowed by the US to carry out relief efforts in Iran, and Parsi encouraged people to contribute to groups such as Moms Against Poverty (MAP), Child Foundation, Children of Persia and Relief International.

The problem is, some of the organisations that are actually on the front line, you cannot support as a result of the US sanctions, he said, citing the Iranian Red Crescent.

Thats part of the reason why a lot of people in the Iranian American community and beyond are very unhappy with the sanctions.

The obstacles to relief fundraising, however, are not limited to efforts inside the US.

Initiatives conducted outside the country also face hurdles, as a number of foreign banks with connections to US financial institutions have also refused to handle payments to Iran.

Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that it is virtually impossible to donate directly from Britain to humanitarian relief organisations already in Iran helping with earthquake victims.





Geranmayeh cited over compliance of the UK banks has prompted them to refuse to transact to accounts with Iran in the title.

The process is everything its not meant to be when responding to a disaster: Slow, complex and at times impossible, she told Al Jazeera.

Before Facebook took down his fundraising page, Najafi had already been considering his options for sending the money he had raised to Iran. He had wanted to direct part of the money to MAP, a group authorised by the US Treasury to operate in the country.

The medical professional told Al Jazeera that he would have also wanted to direct another part of the fund through different organisations such as Child Foundation, another US-authorised group.

Earlier, Najafi expressed disappointment with what he described as Facebooks slow process to release the funds to the organisations he chose.

Then came the surprise early on Thursday, when Facebook cancelled his fundraising page.

We are working on the best way to handle this and have paused your fundraiser for now, the message said, promising to discuss with Najafi how to move forward.

Al Jazeera contacted Facebooks communications team, but only received an automated reply saying, Well do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. Facebook did not provide a phone number to contact their communications office.

As for Kangarlou, the journalist decided to refund those who had donated in her cancelled YouCaring page.

However, I will match the contributions in a personal capacity, and make sure it gets into the hands of those in need, she wrote on her Facebook Page.

She said the US government should not make it difficult when people want to help those in need in Iran when a disaster strikes.

The way it is now, it is extremely difficult. These are the moments that you realise how political tug of war are hurting ordinary Iranians.
Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has denied reports that the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is being held in the capital Riyadh against his will.

Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has denied reports that the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is being held in the capital Riyadh against his will.

Al-Jubeir insists Hariri is free to leave the kingdom when he pleases and reiterated calls for Hezbollah and Iran to end their destabilising activities in the region.

Earlier on Thursday, Hariri met with the French foreign minister as part of efforts to normalise the political situation in Lebanon and has accepted an offer to visit France in the coming days.

Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr reports from Beirut.
Bloomberg News reports dozens of trading accounts of Saudis accused of corruption have been blocked.

Trading accounts of Saudis accused of corruption have been frozen, according to a news report, as fears grow among the kingdoms wealthy that offshore bank accounts could also be locked.

Dozens of trading accounts were blocked at the request of the Capital Market Authority, the Saudi governments financial regulatory body, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing three anonymous sources with knowledge of the situation.

The move follows the crackdown by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that began on November 4 and has led to the arrest of more than 200 Saudi elite  including 11 princes and prominent corporate leaders  accused of corruption.

The Bloomberg report comes after many private bank accounts of those held were recently seized in Saudi Arabia. Observers say it is just a matter of time before overseas accounts are also targeted.

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According to domestic banking sources, more than 2,000 bank accounts have already been frozen, said Enzo Caputo from the Switzerland-based Caputo & Partners law firm. The fishing expedition will be extended to Swiss banks very soon.

Caputo noted about 55 percent of the Saudi elites wealth is kept in foreign tax havens. Concerned Saudi investors have been in contact with his firm and expressed fears Swiss banking authorities will freeze their accounts at the request of the Saudi government, he said.

They are at an extremely high risk to be frozen, Caputo told Al Jazeera.

Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, the Saudi attorney general, has said corruption uncovered is very large.

Based on our investigations over the past three years, we estimate that at least $100bn has been misused through systematic corruption and embezzlement over several decades, Mojeb said.

More than 200 people have been called in for questioning and seven have been released without charge, according to the attorney general.

Some analysts have questioned whether the mass arrests are truly related to corruption, or if the move is a purge by the crown prince to neutralise rivals and seize their vast assets.
Saudi Arabia claims the blockade is to close down arms smuggling to Houthi rebels, but the UN warns it has cut off essential aid to Yemen, which could face the worst famine in decades.

Yemeni officials say the Saudi-led coalition has not allowed ships to deliver much-needed aid.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia said it would start reopening some Yemeni sea and airports.

It tightened restrictions on the country after Houthi rebels fired a missile at Riyadh 11 days ago.

But officials at Hudaida port, the main entry point for aid, say it remains shut.

The UN is calling for a lifting of the blockade, warning that Yemen could suffer the worst famine in decades.

Al Jazeeras Natasha Ghoneim reports.
As military takeover enters second day, army blocks key sites as officials and citizens hope for peaceful resolve.

Harare, Zimbabwe  Zimbabwe entered its second day of a military takeover and President Robert Mugabes house arrest as local and regional efforts at resolving the crisis are under way.

A local mediation team that includes two government officials and a Catholic priest are reportedly involved in talks to find a solution to Mugabes confinement.

Regional dignitaries from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are scheduled to meet to discuss the brewing crisis, in a gathering that will take place in neighbouring Botswana where the SADC is headquarters is located.

As current chairman of the regional economic bloc, South African President Jacob Zuma deployed South Africas Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo as his envoys.





The pair are expected to hold talks with President Mugabe and the army generals on Thursday to reinforce Zumas call for calm and restraint and caution against a full military takeover.

Although many Zimbabweans are hopeful for change from Mugabes 37-year rule, most people on the streets of Harare shy away from commenting on Mugabes house arrest.

Cletus Mubaiwa, 29, an electrical engineer, told Al Jazeera he hoped Mugabes impasse with the army would be resolved peacefully.

As a Zimbabwean what I wish for is for peace, stability and economic change. I dont want the political situation to get out of hand and for there to be serious violence that could lead to harassment of people and violations of human rights like we have seen before, he said.

The army maintains its presence in the city centre guarding strategic sites remains such as the parliament, the courts, the Zanu-PF headquarters and the state broadcaster, ZBC TV.

Tanks around courts and parliament

At least two tanks with 14 armed officers in total could be seen parked around the courts and parliament. According to witnesses, yesterday, there was a brief altercation between three army officers and at least twenty police officers that normally guard parliament.

The confrontation resulted in the detention of the police. No police were visible outside parliament and hardly any could be seen around the city center where police often setup roadblocks.

Government offices that were shut yesterday have re-opened today in Harare and Bulawayo, the second city. Shops and schools are open, but the army has warned the public to restrict its movements to whats necessary until the operation is over.

The army insists its action is not a coup, however, the regional and international community have raised concern at the militarys unprecedented move.

Several of Mugabes top ministers, including Minister of Finance Ignatius Chombo, are currently being detained by the army at the King George VI military barracks.

Zanu-PF spokesman and Minister of Information, Simon K. Moyo did not answer calls from Al Jazeera for comment on the state of those detained.

Zanu-PF National Youth League Secretary, Kudzanai Chipanga who is also being held at the military barracks publicly apologised to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General, Constantino Chiwenga, for castigating the generals call for Mugabe to stop purges within the ruling party.

Mugabes recent dismissal of Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa and the suspension of his several allies sparked the military takeover.

I kindly request General Chiwenga to please Sir accept my apologies on behalf of the Youth League and myself. We are still young people. We are still growing up and learning from our mistakes.

From this big mistake we have learnt a lot, he said in a statement broadcast on state television last night.

Chipanga stressed his apology was not coerced.

Britain, Zimbabwes former colonial power, is monitoring events closely and has urged for a peaceful outcome, warning that, in the event of a transition, power must not be passed from one tyrant to another.

Nobody wants simply to see the transition from one unelected tyrant to a next. No one wants to see that.

We want to see proper, free and fair elections, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the British parliament on Wednesday.

Follow Tendai on Twitter: @i_amten
Despite violent past with Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai says he doesnt find comfort in the presidents current predicament.

Harare, Zimbabwe  The leader of Zimbabwes largest opposition alliance has called on the worlds oldest sitting president, Robert Mugabe, to voluntarily step aside as the country entered its second day of a military takeover.

In the interest of the people, Mr Robert Mugabe must resign and step down immediately in line with the national expectation and sentiment, Morgan Tsvangirai said at a press conference on Thursday.

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru  who was dismissed in 2014 on allegations of plotting against Mugabe  declined to comment on the presidents confinement. But she has said the situation highlighted the need to create a transitional administration to oversee free and fair elections in the southern African nation.

Former Minister of Finance Tendai Biti echoed Tsvangirais sentiments on Mugabes resignation and told Al Jazeera the time had come to draw a line in the sand for Mugabes 37-year rule.

Mugabe cannot resist any more because it will result in those who want him gone using extra-legal means to remove him from power. That will be a very unfortunate end, but you dont have to be a rocket scientist to see that its inevitable, Biti said in a phone interview.





Tsvangirai, who describes himself as a democrat, has said he does not support power-grabbing through unconstitutional means. He urged the swift return to constitutional order through the creation of an all-inclusive national transition body, saying this was the only way out of the current standoff.

A coup has happened, and we cannot have the army as the de facto leader, so there needs to be an urgent restoration of a legitimate authority in Zimbabwe, said Tsvangirai.

Under this situation, we no longer have a Mugabe administration, so we need a national transitional authority that can build a bridge between the old order of Mugabe and the new authorities that must be elected through a credible vote.

Tsvangirais Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has been the biggest challenger of Mugabes Zanu-PF party. After the 2008 violent presidential runoff, a government of national unity was formed to resolve the crisis.

{articleGUID}

Although Tsvangirai served as prime minister to Mugabe, he maintained there has always been distrust between the two rivals. However, he also said despite years of experiencing political violence and imprisonment at the hands of Mugabes regime, he did not find comfort in Mugabes current predicament.

I dont take pleasure in what Mr Mugabe is experiencing. To me it was never a personal issue, it was political, and if I were to meet him today there would not be any animosity, he told reporters.

Tsvangirai ruled out forming another coalition government if it was presented as an option to end the military standoff with Mugabe.

While Mugabe and his wife Grace  who many analysts say was set to replace her husband as Zimbabwes president  remain confined to the Blue Roof residence, regional mediation efforts to end the crisis are under way.

Dignitaries from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) were expected to meet in neighbouring Botswana, where SADC is headquartered, on Thursday. As current chairman of the regional economic bloc, South African President Jacob Zuma, his Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo attended.

The two ministers are currently in talks with Mugabe and the generals at the State House where they hope to reinforce Zumas call for calm and restraint as well as caution against a full military takeover.

{articleGUID}

Zanu PF spokesman and Minister of Information Simon K Moyo told Al Jazeera he was looking forward to the outcome of the discussions with the envoys.

We can only hope for the best, he said in a brief phone conversation.

Although many Zimbabweans are hopeful for change from Mugabes 37-year authoritarian rule, most people on the streets of the capital Harare shied away when asked to comment on his house arrest.

Cletus Mubaiwa, 29, an electrical engineer, told Al Jazeera he hoped Mugabes situation with the army would be resolved peacefully.

As a Zimbabwean what I wish for is peace, stability, and economic change. I dont want the political situation to get out of hand and for there to be serious violence that could lead to harassment of people and violations of human rights like we have seen before, said Mubaiwa.

The army maintains its presence in the city centre guarding strategic sites such as parliament, the courts, the Zanu PF headquarters, and state broadcaster ZBC TV. At least two tanks with 14 armed soldiers could be seen parked around the courts and parliament.





According to witnesses, there was a brief altercation on Wednesday between three army troops and at least 20 police officers who normally guard parliament. The confrontation resulted in the detention of the police.

No police were visible outside parliament on Thursday, nor could they be seen around the city centre where they often set up checkpoints.

Government offices closed on Wednesday re-opened on Thursday in Harare and Bulawayo, the second-largest city. Shops and schools were open, but the army warned the public to restrict movements until the military operation was over.

The army insists its action was not a coup, however, regional and international communities have raised concerns at its unprecedented move.

Several of Mugabes top ministers, including Minister of Finance Ignatius Chombo, are currently being detained by the army at the King George VI military barracks.

When contacted for comment, military spokesman Overson Mugwisi told Al Jazeera the detentions were a security matter and he was unable to comment further.

Mugabes recent dismissal of Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa and the suspension of several allies sparked the military takeover.

Follow Tendai Marima on Twitter and Instagram: @i_amten
Humanitarian aid agencies are calling on Saudi Arabia to completely lift its air, sea and land blockade of Yemen.

Humanitarian aid agencies are calling on Saudi Arabia to completely lift its air, sea and land blockade of Yemen. They are warning millions are at risk as aid supplies are blocked from getting into the country.

Yemen is also in the middle of a devastating cholera outbreak that has killed at least 2,000 people since April. Saudi Arabia now says it is opening some of the ports but workers at Hudaida port  the main entry point for relief supplies  say it remains shut.

The situation is made worse by a prolonged political crisis, with many of the players too deeply divided to find a solution.

So what is the solution for what the UN is calling the worlds worst humanitarian crisis?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Hakim al-Masmari  Editor-in-chief, Yemen Post

Adam Baron  Visiting fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations

Rasha Muhrez  Director of Operations (Yemen), Save the Children
Melissa Arencibia wants to win a $2,500 sweepstakes to give her family in Cuba a break from their financial hardships.

Its really difficult in Cuba, the 18-year-old family, youth and community sciences freshman said. I want to help them out.

The sweepstakes is from Life Is Good, a merchandise brand focusing on positivity. The company held its largest event of the semester Wednesday on UFs Plaza of the Americas.

At the event, student brand ambassadors handed out free smores, chocolate chip Midnight Cookies, water bottles, towels, stickers and frisbees. They also gave students the chance to sign up for a $2,500 sweepstakes. For each person who signed up, the brand would donate $2 to the Life is Good Kids Foundation, said Nikki Torres, a UF Life is Good ambassador. About 200 people signed up, so the brand donated about $400, she said.

Torres, a UF marketing and telecommunications senior, said the sweepstakes was all about giving back in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

The brand is all about optimism, the 21-year-old said. It makes you believe that life is a little bit better.

The students who signed up for the sweepstakes also wrote what they were thankful for on fall-colored leaves. Notes declaring gratefulness for friends, family, pets and school flooded the table.

Melanie Deutsch, an account manager at The Campus Agency who works with Life is Good, said the events help students move away from stressful thinking habits and and focus on enjoyable moments in their lives.

Its the power of optimism, to really enjoy every bit of life, she said.

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Philippine Department of Labour and Employment is set to sign an agreement with Chinese government on Wednesday (Nov. 15) for the hiring of thousands of Filipinos, mostly English teachers and household serve workers (HSWs) .



Philippine labor secretary Silvestre Bello III was quoted by the Philippine Star as saying that tomorrow he will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with his Chinese counterpart on the opening of jobs to Filipinos.



Bello is still not certain about the exact number of workers stated in the MOU yet, but he believed that about 100,000 Filipino teachers and 100,000 Filipino HSWs are expected to be hired, based on a meeting with Chinese embassy officials in last July.



It is reported that the deployment of Filipino HSWs to China will be limited to five major cities, which includes Beijing and Shanghai.



According to Philippine government data, almost 600,000 Filipino workers were deployed abroad last year, among them 47percent were HSWs.










English News Destinies of China and its neighbors interconnected

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 16 Novembre 2017



In recent years, Laos has proactively supported China on regional affairs, playing a leading role in the synergy of development strategies with China. The China-Laos railway, which officially commenced at the beginning of 2017, is a tangible achievement of cooperation on interconnectivity between China and Southeast Asian countries.

By Zhang Jie From People's Daily Chinese President Xi Jinping has again demonstrated the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in his recent state visits to Vietnam and Laos.



Developing ties with peripheral countries is a priority of Chinas diplomacy. Having similar paths of development with China, Vietnam and Laos are close to China geographically.



Xis visits are of special importance because Chinas relations with the two countries are of special significance in its neighborhood diplomacy.



China and Vietnam enjoy a time-honored relationship. Prior to his visit, Xi stressed the "comradely and brotherly" friendship between the two countries in a signed article published on Vietnamese media.



During his stay in the country, Xi specifically visited the former residence of late Vietnamese Communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh.



Vietnamese leaders said the country will inherit and give full play to the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, as well as support the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative.



The two leaders emphasized the active role of historical factors in shaping China-Vietnam ties, which were further confirmed by a joint statement issued on Monday. Its fair to say that remembering history is an important guarantee of the positive and healthy development of China-Vietnam relations.



The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a series of documents, including the memorandum of understanding on the construction of the "Belt and Road" and the "two Corridors and one Ring, injecting new impetus to the future development and cooperation of the two countries.



They also agreed to properly handle maritime issues and steadily promote maritime cooperation such as joint development in a bid to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.



The signing of the agreements is a reflection of Chinas courage to face sensitive issues and its peripheral diplomatic principle of building friendships and partnerships with neighboring countries.



China-Laos ties set an example of good neighborliness and all-round cooperation between China and its neighbors.



When brothers are of the same mind, they have the power to cut through metal," President Xi said, using a Chinese proverb to describe China-Laos friendship. It is high praise for the relationship.



Leaders of the two countries agreed to accelerate the strategic alignment of Chinas Belt and Road initiative and the strategy of Laos to transform itself from a landlocked to a land-linked country.



They also agreed to jointly build a China-Laos economic corridor, and forge ahead with major projects such as the China-Laos railway, in a bid to better serve the people of the two countries.



In recent years, Laos has proactively supported China on regional affairs, playing a leading role in the synergy of development strategies with China. The China-Laos railway, which officially commenced at the beginning of 2017, is a tangible achievement of cooperation on interconnectivity between China and Southeast Asian countries.



In 2018, Laos will co-chair the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), a dialogue and cooperation mechanism initiated by China and jointly established by five countries on the Indo-China Peninsula, including Laos and Vietnam.



The mechanism is expected to offer more assistance to these countries. As a major practice for China to benefit its neighboring countries with its own achievements, the mechanism will build a tranquil and prosperous neighborhood.



It is believed that China will progress with its neighboring countries toward more shared goals and at a more coordinated pace, and their cooperation will yield more fruitful results.



(The author is a researcher with the National Institute of International Strategy under Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Small county in NW China scores big with soccer China sees prosperous development of offshore wind power generation China speeds up efforts to expand, renovate expressways Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Vietnam-China Friendship Palace, witness of friendship

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 16 Novembre 2017



The high-quality construction makes us feel very safe, said Don Tuan Phong, acting president of The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization. People of the two countries have maintained profound friendship and the completion of the palace will undoubtedly push the relationship to a new high, Don was full of confidence.

By Yang Ye, Zhao Cheng and Yu Yichun From Peoples Daily The inauguration and handover ceremony of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace was held on Sunday in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.



The palace symbolizes the friendship between Vietnam and China in the new era.



Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the ceremony. It is very precious that President Xi attended the ceremony, and that fully demonstrates the importance he places on the development of bilateral relations, said a female worker from a county in Hanoi.



The Vietnamese employee of the project, who has been in and out of the palace several times, said she was deeply impressed by the magnificent construction and unique design of the building.



Every time I came here, I became more deeply drawn to its design and appearance. I think the palace is perfect, she said.



Zhang Xiaobo, a designer at China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC), which designed the palace, said the layout of the palace looks like a cross.



Zhang disclosed that the middle part will be used as the main hall that can hold 1,500 people, and the two sides will house offices, a tea room, a Chinese medicine therapy room, a library and other sites for China-Vietnam cultural exchanges.



The palace will serve as a modern center for large-scale cultural activities in the future, Zhang added.



The Vietnam-China Friendship Palace, located in Hanois development zone, was built with non-refundable aid from the Chinese government. The 28.6 meter-high palace is constructed on a 3.3-hectare site and occupies an area of 13,800 square meters. Nearly 60 percent of the site is built with roads and green plants.



Jiao Yunchuan, in charge of the technique group, said local temperatures, which could reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius, has made outdoor construction more difficult, especially since May when the project entered the final stage.



However, the heat didnt intimidate the engineers and workers, and instead, they worked day and night to guarantee the timely completion of the project that embodies deep friendship and the selfless assistance of the Chinese constructors, Jiao added.



The project was classified to have the highest quality in its completion acceptance on Oct. 28 by experts from the China International Engineering Consulting Corporation, the largest multi-disciplinary engineering consulting organization in China.



The high-quality construction makes us feel very safe, said Don Tuan Phong, acting president of The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization. People of the two countries have maintained profound friendship and the completion of the palace will undoubtedly push the relationship to a new high, Don was full of confidence.



The palace is the product of the efforts and growing friendship of builders of the two countries. They would celebrate every festival together, and a lot of Vietnamese workers shared homemade food with their Chinese counterparts.



The construction has also served as a matchmaker, during which a civil engineer named Li Fangyin fell in love and married a Vietnamese girl. In October, the wife gave birth. It is the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace that brings our happy family of three together, Li said joyfully.



The Chinese contractors were highly appreciated by the Vietnamese side for actively implementing a localized, green, and environmental friendly concept in the building of the palace.



Yang Jun, deputy general manager of a construction and investment company in Yunnan, southwest China, said the project has created about 1,000 job vacancies for local Vietnamese, whose salaries on average were higher than the local standard.



The Vietnam-China Friendship Palace uses solar power for electricity for outdoor lighting, and developed facilities to collect rain water for greening and irrigation, benefiting local people with Chinas advanced energy-saving and environmental protection ideas.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Small county in NW China scores big with soccer China sees prosperous development of offshore wind power generation China speeds up efforts to expand, renovate expressways Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
That face, that face, that wonderful face. It shines, it glows, all over the place. Who would have thought that this face was the countenance of a Hollywood siren who was also a brilliant scientist whose invention helped pave the way for present day Wifi, GPS, and Bluetooth?

We know there is no official competition or Oscar for the title of the most beautiful woman in the world, and especially one who would shine anywhere. If the search was confined to Hollywood actresses in the mid-1900s, the Golden Age, the likely winner would be Hedy Lamarr, a close winner over other beauties, Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth.

Lamarr, born Jewish as Hedwig Kiesler in Vienna in November 1913, the daughter of a bank director and a pianist, grew up in the Jewish quarter of Vienna. She began her acting career as a teenager, aged 17, and gained notoriety for her role in the controversial Czech film Ecstasy in 1933 with its sensual passages. In one of them she appeared riding naked on a horse, and in another she simulated female orgasm. Almost certainly she was the first non-porn actress to do this on screen. The film was attacked by Pope Pius XI.

After a brief unhappy marriage with Fritz Mandl, a wealthy Austrian munitions manufacturer who sold arms to Nazi Germany, the young Kiesler escaped from Vienna disguised as a maid and went to Paris, London, and then on the same ship as Louis B. Mayer, head of M.G.M., to New York and Hollywood where he signed her to a long-term contract as Hedy Lamarr. In spite of the unhappy marriage she did however acquire from Mandl some understanding of military technology.

Few would consider Hedy a great actress with exceptional scope, but her beauty led to roles in 37 films with Hollywood's galaxy of leading men, starting in 1938 with Charles Boyer in Algiers, and then with Robert Taylor, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and Victor Mature among others. Interestingly, she was the first choice for the lead in Casablanca, but the role went to Ingrid Bergman.

On November 15, a documentary film, Bombshell: the Hedy Lamarr Story, produced by Susan Sarandon, is opening in London's Jewish Film Festival and in Tribeca in New York. It brings to light the little-known fact that the film star, mostly known for offscreen romances and six marriages in her colorful life, was more than just a pretty face. The film in itself is a delightful shift from the ongoing distasteful revelations or allegations of sexual abuse in Tinsel Town.

Perhaps disarmingly, Lamarr herself complained about Hollywood's obsession with appearances, and mentioned her face was her "misfortune" and a "mask I cannot remove." Brains, she insisted, were more important than looks. In an earlier ghost-written autobiography, she identified herself not only as an actress but also as a scientist who found inventions easy to do. Among others she introduced a device to help people with limited mobility to get in and out of a bath. She helped the producer Howard Hughes create a kind of wing shape to make his planes go faster.

Lamarr deserves a place in the American story because of her invention, in partnership, of a device which can be regarded as an important key to present-day wireless communication. Hedy partnered in this research with George Antheil, born in Trenton, New Jersey, an avant garde composer, with many film scores, but also a versatile person with other interests including film reporting, writing murder mysteries, and works on military affairs. Before World War II he was a member of the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, and sponsored an exhibition of art banned by Nazi Germany.

Antheil purported to be an expert in female endocrinology and this brought him in touch with Hedy who was concerned to enhance her upper torso. But their relationship quickly moved from gland treatment to torpedoes.

Hedy had realized the significance of radio-controlled torpedoes that could damage or sink enemy ships. She also realized these torpedoes could be easily detected and jammed, thus causing the torpedo to go off course. She had some knowledge of these matters from her first husband, Friedrich or Fritz Mandl, a munitions manufacturer, and she devised the idea of "frequency hopping." This meant using a piano roll to change randomly the signal sent to the torpedo with a range of 88 frequencies (the keys on a piano). The code was held by both the controlling ship and the torpedo, thus encrypting the signal, because the enemy could not jam the constant changes in radio signals in all 88 frequencies. Lamarr and Antheil worked out controlling the frequent hopping in a player-piano mechanism.

The pair were granted a patent for developing the system on August 11, 1942. However, the project was not immediately adopted by the U.S. Navy. Not until 1962 was the Lamarr idea used by U.S. military ships during the Cuban crisis. And not until 1997 was the contribution of Hedy officially recognized when the Electronic Frontier Foundation gave her an award. The electronics business adopted her device, and the U.S. navy has used her invention to help transmit the underwater positions of enemy submarines.

It is now clear that Hedy Lamarr should be honored as a pioneer of wireless communication, as a heroine who aimed to combat Nazi Germany and prevent classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel. Her frequency hopping idea overlaps with spectrum communication technology and Wifi network connections, and cellphones, cordless, and wireless telephones. Her work is an early form of spread spectrum techniques in which a signal generated in a particular bandwidth is spread over a wide frequency range. Her mechanism to synchronize changes between 88 frequencies was ahead of the efforts of Nazi engineers working on similar activity.

Every youngster today takes advantage of Hedy's contribution to innovative technology and their electronic devices and e-phones. They may be unfamiliar with her performances in the films of the Golden Age of Hollywood, but they can now honor her as a pioneer of wireless communications. They can appreciate that the most beautiful girl in the world can shine anywhere.
Congressman Jim Jordan laid out a blistering litany of transgressions committed by Hillary Clinton and other Obama apparatchiks in the last administration that all of us who regularly follow the news are familiar with. He did so in a simple, methodical way that was nonetheless staggering to listen to. It makes any sentient American over the age of 40, who has grown up believing in what we thought were the basic American principles of blind justice, equality before the law, due process, and simple fairness, questioning whether our nation has been fundamentally transformed or something.

Really, to listen to the rhetorical list of questions Rep. Jordan put before Attorney General Sessions, asking him if those potential crimes did not warrant the appointment of another special counsel to investigate Mrs. Clinton and her mind-bogglingly corrupt, if not criminal, activities, was to transport oneself to Argentina during the reign of Evita Peron. It's so easy to picture Hillary belting out, "Don't cry for me, America!," except in a really cringe-inducing, raspy off-key register. (Sorry for that visual.)

The questions Mr. Jordan laid before Mr. Sessions seemed to go on and on and are like those he and Rep. Matt Gaetz outlined in an opinion piece at Fox News:

Why in 2016 did FBI Director Comey begin drafting an exoneration letter for Secretary Clinton, whom he called "grossly negligent" in an early draft of the letter, before completing the investigation? Before interviewing several witnesses? And before interviewing Secretary Clinton? Why in 2016 did James Comey and the Justice Department give Cheryl Mills, Secretary Clinton's Chief of Staff, an immunity agreement for turning over her laptop computer? Typically, the Department would issue a subpoena or get a warrant and seize it. Why in this case did the FBI agree to destroy the laptop? Why in 2016 did the FBI pay for the Russian Dossier? It's been reported that in addition to the Clinton Campaign and the Democratic National Committee paying FusionGPS for the dossier, the FBI also "reimbursed" Christopher Steele, author of the dossier. Why in 2016  one day before the Benghazi report was released and five days before Secretary Clinton was interviewed by the FBI  did Attorney General Lynch meet with former President Clinton on the tarmac in Phoenix? Etc., etc., etc.

When Jeff Sessions was appointed attorney general, I had such high hopes. He struck me as a man of deep integrity, who held the same beliefs I always did about those American principles I mentioned above. "Finally," I thought, "a new sheriff is coming to town to clean the place up, after Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch ran roughshod over the Constitution for all those years."

It seems my optimism was misplaced. As I listened to Attorney General Sessions's response to Mr. Jordan, explaining why he would not appoint a special counsel to investigate the Clinton crime family's misdeeds, with the complicity of Barack Obama and his Deep State operatives, several words came to mind: ineffectual, sclerotic, fearful.

In fact, not just words, but a historical character popped into my head: General George Brinton McClellan, one of President Abraham Lincoln's earliest generals in chief of the Union Army.

Gen. McClellan, like Jeff Sessions, was highly regarded before his appointment to head the Union Army, by both the senior-most Union government officials and the population at large. He was a brilliant West Point cadet, with legendary organizational skills, who went on to serve with distinction in the Mexican-American War. In his early days at the head of the new Army of the Potomac, he did, by all accounts, a superb job in organizing and training up the legions of volunteers who had signed up to fight for the Republic. He also had the ability to inspire the men under his command and earn their deepest loyalty. Gen. McClellan's contributions to the war effort were at that point, and really still are, something for which we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Unfortunately, when it came to the actual business of fighting, General McClellan came up woefully short. President Lincoln famously said that he was afflicted by "the slows." It is through that distinction that history will remember him. After taking over as general-in-chief of the all the Union armies, with President Lincoln facing enormous pressure from the public, whose sentiments he had an uncanny ability to read, McClellan dithered. With Confederate forces massed in Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C., there was very real concern that the Union government would be overrun. While having done a wonderful, and expensive, job of organizing the Union troops, McClellan refused to use them.

President Lincoln became so frustrated with Gen. McClellan's timidity, that he quipped to his General Staff, "If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time."

He didn't. Rather, Mr. Lincoln fired Gen. McClellan on March 11, 1862, slightly more than four months after appointing him.

Although we are not engaged in a civil war (yet), one would hope that President Trump recognizes the grievous criminality of Mrs. Clinton and her cohorts and the need to hold them accountable if the faith of the American people in the justice system of this country is to be restored. That duty, which falls on his attorney general, cannot continue to be ignored. Mr. Sessions has been given more than twice as long as Gen. McClellan to do his duty, and he still has "the slows." Perhaps it's time to replace him?

Judicial Watch will continue to work to expose more outrageous conduct by the last administration, as we did this week, when we sued the Justice Department on my request for the communications of former attorney general Lynch regarding the special "immigration parole" granted to Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian collaborator of Hillary Clinton's smear merchant, Fusion GPS. Ultimately, however, no matter how much illegal, immoral, and unethical conduct we expose, it is up to the Justice Department to bring Hillary to...well, justice.

Meantime, contact your congressman to demand the long overdue appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hillary Clinton and all of her co-conspirators. Her continual dismissal of the charges against her requires, to borrow her phrase, "the willing suspension of disbelief."

William F. Marshall has been an intelligence analyst and investigator in the government, private, and non-profit sectors for over thirty years. Presently he is a senior investigator for Judicial Watch, Inc. (The views expressed are the author's alone, and not necessarily those of Judicial Watch.)
In his latest anti-Trump tear, National Review editor Jonah Goldberg warns that the GOP cant afford to chase away its own. The GOPs own, for Goldberg, means middle-class suburbanites, whom he depicts as the base of his party. These suburbanites, who are supposedly the heart and soul of the Republican Party, share Jonahs ostentatious revulsion for Trump, which is now on display 24/7. The recent (for the Republicans) disastrous election in Virginia, in which Democrats swept to victory in statewide elections, is a godsend for Jonah and others at NR, who enjoy flailing away at the Donald. Goldberg identifies conservatives with Republican regulars, such as John McCain, Mitt Romney, Luther Strange, and Ben Sasse. Since Trump doesnt fit into this restricted club of moderates, Jonah views him as an unwelcome visitor from Mars.

There are at least two problems with this analysis. One, although suburbanites who live around large cities have added to the Republican vote in the past, one has to qualify this generalization by noting the obvious (which Goldberg doesnt bother to do). Suburbanite Republicans have been overwhelmingly white Christians, and mostly Protestant. But as other groups, e.g., Indian investment bankers, Chinese computer experts, and Jewish psychologists, settle in longtime Republican burbs, these areas are coming to reflect the voting preferences of the new settlers, who are overwhelmingly Democrats. This happened conspicuously in the congressional race in suburban Atlanta, where the Republicans barely held on to a seat that they used to win easily. This Georgia district once represented by Newt Gingrich is ethnically more diverse than it was ten or even five years ago; and one effect of this demographic change has been to lower dramatically the percentage of the aggregate vote going to the GOP. A very centrist Republican Karen Handel beat her liberal Democratic opponent Jon Ossoff, who didnt even live in the district, by a mere four points, after a hard uphill battle.

Two, from what I can tell, Goldberg is a socially liberal Republican and an urbanite who doesnt fancy the working-class and rural white constituencies that voted for Trump. Hed like to be in a party that features people like him, that is, well-heeled, agnostic urban dwellers who are well-disposed toward gay marriage and other progressive causes. But the fact that the GOP under Trump is moving away from Jonahs preferred base does not mean that its headed for disaster. Like others in the urban media elite, this commentator regards a party base that he wouldnt care to pal around with as one whose votes he doesnt seem to value. Goldbergs close friend and collaborator at National Review, Kevin Williamson, can barely contain his contempt for the working class, especially for those destitute workers who voted for Trump. Needless to say, the impeccably PC Williamson lets it be known that he is taking to task only destitute Caucasian workers.

Three, Jonah is correct that Trumps sinking popularity, which now stands at about a 38% approval rate, contributed to the defeat that the Republicans suffered in Virginia. As a result of this fiasco, the GOP failed to obtain the governorship and lost control of the state assembly and many county offices. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam trounced his Republican candidate Ed Gillespie by over 300,000 votes and amassed 600,000 more votes than the Democratic gubernatorial candidate did in 2009. But Jonah may be overly focused on NRs bete noire in the White House when he explains what happened on election night.

The Democrats, Goldberg tells us, increased their control this month of what was already a blue state, one in which the governors and United States senators have been Democratic for years. Democrats in Virginia now outnumber and outvote Republicans; and the majorities they typically receive in Northern Virginia, in areas professionally and psychologically attached to the Washington bureaucracy, Hampden Row, and Richmond, with its heavy black concentration, would suffice to put Democratic politicians in statewide and national offices. Virginia Democrats didnt need Trumps tweeting to achieve a sweep in this years state elections. Everything being equal, Democrats win in the Old Dominion State the way Republicans do in Utah, Idaho, and Kentucky. Targeting Trump helped increase the Democratic turnout in overwhelmingly Democratic areas. But it seems overblown to view Trump as the main cause for these defeats, as Goldberg does in this statement: The Virginia election looks like the first of many defeats in elections to come, as the GOP seeks to sell off chunks of its coalition like assets in yet another Trump bankruptcy.

Perhaps most unsettling about the Virginia election is the way the DNC, the media, and our educational system mobilized the public against Republican candidates, by decrying Republican racism and homophobia and by playing identitarian politics. Given the cultural and demographic changes that have taken place over the last thirty years, these tactics work swimmingly. And they can be used not only against Trump and the populist Right. They have also been turned against wimpy centrist Republicans of the type Jonah approves of. Democratic operators went after the wishy-washy centrist Ed Gillespie whom they indicated wanted, among other things, to mow down minority children in a car adorned with a Trump sign and a Confederate Battle Flag. This may have increased the voter turnout in minority neighborhoods, without costing the Democrats the loss of a single vote. And this may be the future of American electoral politics. Of course nominating candidates who are more to Jonahs liking wont prevent this from happening. Former president George W. Bush is still mumbling in disbelief that black Democrats accused him of being a racist. And this from a former chief executive who runs around scolding Trump for inciting nativism.
The bitter and dirty controversy swirling around the U.S. Senate candidacy of Roy Moore that has involved talk show host Sean Hannity continued on Wednesday with no resolution or end in sight. Hannitys Tuesday evening challenge to Moore to come forward with a coherent defense against the charges of sexual impropriety leveled against him resulted in the release of a 3-page statement from Moore and a press conference in Birmingham by his attorney and campaign representatives on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post, the source of the original charges that exploded last Thursday, published allegations by two new accusers on Wednesday evening at 8:09 P.M. E.S.T. The two women were in their late teens in 1977 and working at a local Alabama mall when they now allege that Moore, at the time 30 years old, tried to pick them up for dates and forced a kiss on one of them. Also on Wednesday, another accuser, the subject of an article at al.com, claimed Roy Moore groped her while she was in his law office on legal business with her mother in 1991. Moore was married at that time.

In light of these accusations  eight in all now  and their wall-to-wall coverage in the MSM, Moore is reportedly losing ground to his liberal Democrat opponent Doug Jones. The two are facing each other in the special statewide election that has been scheduled to take place in 26 days to fill out the term of former Sen. Jeff Sessions, who left the Senate last winter to become U.S. Attorney General in the Trump Administration. Luther Strange was appointed to temporarily fill Sessions seat until a special election could be held. Strange lost to Moore in the primary to determine who would be the Republican nominee in that election.

Last Friday Hannity did the first and so far the only extensive interview with Moore, a day after the incendiary story about Moore first broke. In the interview on his radio show, later repeated on his nightly Fox News Channel television program, Hannity was widely credited for holding Moore to account for what was reported in the Post article.

Although the interview was hard hitting, Hannity came under immediate attack by his longtime enemies, primarily Media Matters for America and its president, Angelo Carusone. In a series of tweets aimed at Hannitys sponsors, Carusone attempted with a degree of success to spin Hannitys interview as an endorsement of Moore and to influence Hannitys advertisers to stop sponsoring his shows. This effort supported by social media bore considerable fruit over the past weekend when about a dozen of the advertisers tweeted that they were dropping Hannitys show. Since then, after a social media backlash by Hannitys supporters, most of the tweets have been deleted and it is unclear if the advertisers will continue to sponsor Hannity in the future or not.

On Wednesday, Moore tweeted a 3-page response to Hannitys Tuesday challenge to him to fess up. Hannity read Moores entire response at the end of his Fox News program on Wednesday evening.

Also on Wednesday, one of Moores attorneys told the press that the inscription allegedly written by Moore in 1977 on a yearbook owned by one of Moores accusers may be fake. This yearbook scrawl is the only documentary evidence, other than the womens statements, to be presented so far.

As The Hill reported:

A lawyer for Alabama Senate GOP nominee Roy Moore on Wednesday suggested a yearbook signature presented by a woman accusing Moore of sexual assault could be fake. In a defiant press conference Wednesday outside of the Alabama Republican Party headquarters, Moore attorney Phillip Jauregui sought to discredit the accusations from Beverly Young Nelson. Jauregui repeatedly noted Nelsons association with the famous lawyer Gloria Allred, who represented women who accused President Trump of sexual misconduct, and called on them to release the yearbook for handwriting analysis "We demand you immediately release the yearbook to a neutral custodian so our expert can look at the actual document, release the yearbook so we can determine is it genuine or is it a fraud," Jauregui told reporters in Birmingham. On Monday, Nelson said at a news conference that Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old. As proof that the two knew each other at the time, she and Allred presented a high school yearbook Nelson said was signed by Moore. The message read: "To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say Merry Christmas. Christmas 1977. Love, Roy Moore, D.A."

Later on Wednesday, attorney Allred appeared on CNN and was questioned by Wolf Blittzer. According to Gateway Pundit, Wolf Blitzer Repeatedly Asks Gloria Allred if the Yearbook Signature is a Forgery  ALLRED REFUSES TO ANSWER!

On Wednesday, after he read Moores statement, Hannity offered his opinion on the matter:

We demanded  rightly  answers from Judge Moore. He provided them to the specific questions we asked. In my opinion  so serious  the people of Alabama, they need to know the truth and theyve got to have all of the facts that they need. And that means that the Alabama voters can make an educated, informed, inclusive decision for their state when they go to the polls. And if that means whatever it takes to get to the truth it means more time I believe that the governor according to Gregg Jarrett has the ability to make that decision. The Alabama people deserve that. Gregg Jarrett said the governor can delay the race if need be. Now the people of Alabama deserve to have a fair choice, especially in light of the new allegations tonight. Now, we have told you everyones point of view. The accusers continue to have an open invitation to come on this show and share their story. I want to tell you something: I lived in Alabama. I enjoyed my time in Alabama. And I know these people. Theyre smart. Theyre great Americans  God, family, faith, country. And I am confident that when everything comes out, they will make the best decision for their state. It shouldnt be decided by me, by people on television, Mitch McConnell, Washington, talk show hosts, news people. One more thing: Theres a report by the way of sexual misconduct in Congress. Im demanding tonight  they paid 15 million dollars of your money. That was paid out to victims. Who are they? [the perpetrators.] Tell us now and why did they pay it. They need to be exposed. Well have more on this tomorrow night.

Early Wednesday morning, back in the White House after his two-week trip to Asia, President Trump issued several tweets and retweets from his official Twitter account, including retweeting one by this author. My tweet, from November 4, linked to an article at American Thinker reporting on the winning ratings for Fox News during the first four nights (Oct. 30-Nov. 2) of the channels new prime time schedule. Among the critiques of the presidents retweet was this one in the Daily Kos, Fox News Flack Donald Trump Tries in Vain to Save Sean Hannitys Fast Sinking Program:

The Twitter user Trump retweeted identifies himself as a media analyst, but his account was created less than three months ago and has only sixty-nine tweets. He follows only two Twitter accounts: Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow. He's also a writer for the ultra-rightist web rag, American Thinker. And somehow Trump found a rotting two week old tweet from this nobody and saw fit to relay it to his glassy-eyed disciples.

The latest ratings from Tuesday night this week show Hannity beating his major competition at 9 P.M. E.S.T., MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, in total viewers but losing closely to Maddow in the age 25-54 demographic.

Some words spoken by Hannity during his 3-hour nationally syndicated radio talk show on Wednesday seem apropos here:

Politics is a dirty, brutal, ugly blood sport. There is nothing nice in the world of politics. Your opponents, politically speaking  Im putting emphasis on politically speaking  want to destroy you and kill you off.

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran reporter and analyst of news on national politics, media, and popular culture. Follow Peter on Twitter @pchowka.
Hillary Clinton would have you believe prosecuting corruption and holding anyone accountable is something only tinpot dictatorships do.

Speaking to the media reports of a possible Special Counsel in the offing over her Uranium One deal to the leftist media outlet Mother Jones, the former first lady, former Secretary of State and former Democratic nominee for president said:

If they send a signal that were going to be like some dictatorship, like some authoritarian regime, where political opponents are going to be unfairly, fraudulently investigated, that rips at the fabric of the contract we have, that we can trust our justice system, Clinton said. It will be incredibly demoralizing to people who have served at the Justice Department, under both Republicans and Democrats, because they know better. But it will also send a terrible signal to our country and the world that somehow we are giving up on the kind of values that we used to live by and we used to promote worldwide.

The contract we have? Would that be the current situation we have of one set of laws for the elites and another for the rest of us?

Hillary Clinton has been getting away with corruption for so long she doesn't see herself as subject to the law at all. There was her illegal private server, her destruction of government emails and tech machinery 'with hammers,' amounting to obstruction of justice, there was her collusion with Fusion GPS which took phony "opposition research" from the Russians for use in an investigation and leakfest against Donald Trump and this doesn't even cover the half of it. During her tenure as Secretary of State, there were classified documents mishandled (left on the dashboard of cars on overseas trips), the Benghazi failure to protect American personnel overseas, the Benghazi talking points coverup, a missing $2 billion in financial mismanagement and more. Scroll further back and the corruption continues in the same pattern: Whitewater, the cattle futures cleanup, the missing billing records and "I don't recall." lt likely goes even further back than that with the NGOs and the Nixon investigation. Any wonder the late William Safire called her 'a congenital liar' and the number one reason voters rejected her according to a Soros group, was the public perception of her as untrustworthy?

As for the Uranium One case, her very resistance to the idea of a Special Counsel is suggestive of a sense that after all these years, this time she might have really been caught. The power that has shielded her up until now has vanished.

Because if she were really as innocent as she says she was, and there was no pay-to-play going on between herself and the Russians, in shipping 20% of America's unanium production ownership to the Russians as the $145 million rolled into her foundation, then she shouldn't be concerned about a Special Counsel. In fact, she should welcome one to clear the air.

Because after the New York Times and author Peter Schweizer exposed this travesty, and The Hill confirmed it further, she's made no effort to explain herself. She's casually claimed the story has been debunked (by her partisans perhaps) and now considers it absurd that anyone would dream of prosecuting her.

This is the attitude of royalty.

She absolutely considers herself above the law.

I've got news for her: Banana republics, tinpot dictatorships, and authoritarian regimes do not prosecute big-dollar corruption among the politically connected. Going by pay-to-play rules is how they operate. That's how Mugabe in Africa and Chavistas in Venezuela and assorted characters in the Indonesia of the Clinton era operate. It's what makes them banana republics in the first place.

Countries under rule of law do. Nobody is allowed to sell natural resources to hostile foreign powers in exchange for millions in payments to the foundation. Nobody, no matter how powerful, is allowed to openly violate the law with impunity. Can you imagine Singapore or Denmark allowing this sort of thing to go on without punishment? That's why such countries aren't banana republics.

Far from the act of prosecuting corruption being a problem, as Hillary Clinton would have you believe, operating on pay-to-play principles and expecting to get away with it is what makes a place a tinpot regime.
You might think, based on mainstream media coverage, that the only congressional candidate in trouble for misbehavior with women is Roy Moore. But in fact, a Democrat nominee for an open seat in the House of Representatives was not merely accused, but arrested, with nary a peep from CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN ,and MSNBC. The Daily Caller reports:

David Alcon, who is running for an open congressional seat in New Mexico, was arrested this past Friday on a felony stalking charge after a woman accused him of sending her frightening and lewd text messages and showing up at her home. Alcon was previously convicted of stalking his ex-girlfriend in 2007 and was described as infatuated and clearly obsessed by the judge in the case. The story has been met with silence from a number of media outlets despite their breathless coverage of the sexual assault scandal surrounding Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore. According to a search of the television database TV Eyes, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC have given zero on-air coverage to Alcons arrest. The networks have also not published any stories about Alcons scandal on their websites in the past week. Meanwhile, ABC, CBS, and NBC spent more than 79 minutes talking about Roy Moore between November 9 and November 13.

David Alcon (via Santa Fe New Mexican)

Local media in New Mexico did cover the story, but nary a ripple of the arrest reached the national media obsessing on Moores alleged misdeeds. Sami Edge of the Santa Fe New Mexican wrote:

David Alcon, the 39-year-old announced candidate for the Southern New Mexico congressional seat, has been arrested on suspicion of stalking a Santa Fe woman. Alcon, a Democrat whose address is in Milan, was picked up by Albuquerque police on Friday and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center, jail records show. A Santa Fe judge signed a warrant for Alcons arrest nearly two weeks ago, after a Santa Fe woman told police she was at a Halloween party when Alcon sent her a number of threatening text messages. A criminal complaint filed by Santa Fe police said Alcons texts told the woman he was watching her, wanted to have children with her, and contained a picture of his genitals. According to the complaint, the woman stated multiple times in the text messages that she did not want anything to do with Alcon, and she repeatedly told him to leave her alone. It is not Alcons first stalking arrest. He was convicted nearly 10 years ago of trespassing and aggravated stalking. Prosecutors said he broke into his girlfriends home in 2007, then continued to show up at her house late at night, left her notes, flowers and harassing messages, and drove past her home.

The silence on Alcon, contrasted with the saturation coverage of Moore revels a media utterly dedicated to propaganda. Ridicule is the appropriate response. Perhaps President Trump or his spokeswoman Sarah Sanders will ask representatives of the MSM why they failed to cover Alcon when they seek information on Moore.
Odds of passing a Senate tax reform bill just became a little longer as Senator Ron Johnson said he would vote against it.

Johnson's opposition means that the Republican Senate can afford just one more defection or the legislation would be doomed.

ABC News:

Republicans controlling the Senate 52-48 can approve the legislation with just 50 votes, plus tie-breaking support from Vice President Mike Pence. With solid Democratic opposition likely, they can lose just two GOP votes. Besides Johnson, Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee have yet to commit to backing the tax measure. Johnson complained the bills were more generous to publicly traded corporations than to so-called pass-through entities. Those are millions of partnerships and specially organized corporations whose owners pay levies using individual, not corporate, tax rates. While details of the House and Senate bills differ, many pass-through owners would owe more than 20 percent in taxes for much of their income. "These businesses truly are the engines of innovation and job creation throughout our economy, and they should not be left behind," Johnson said. But he left the door open to changes "so I can support the final version." A small group of House Republicans largely from New York and New Jersey was rebelling because the House plan would erase tax deductions for state and local income and sales taxes and limit property tax deductions to $10,000. Their numbers seemed insufficient to derail the bill. Asked if they could stop it, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., shook his head and said, "I don't think so." Repealing the "Obamacare" individual mandate would save $338 billion over the coming decade because fewer people would be pressured into getting government-paid coverage like Medicaid. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, used the savings to make his bill's personal tax reductions modestly more generous. Ending the bill's personal income tax cuts in 2026, derided by Democrats as a gimmick, was designed to pare the bill's long-term costs. Legislation cannot boost budget deficits after 10 years if it is to qualify for Senate procedures barring bill-killing filibusters. Those delays take 60 votes to block, numbers Republicans lack.

Johnson's defection was not unexpected. He had been championing pass throughs for weeks. As for the rest of the GOP caucus, it appears that budget and deficit hawks have resigned themselves to passing some kind of reform bill that will add substantially to the deficit over the next decade. The problem is with Flake and Corker (we can assume Collins is a "no"). Both Senators have it in for Trump and both are retiring. Either or both would take great personal pleasure in derailing tax reform in the Senate if it reflected badly on Trump.

The key then is for McConnell and the rest of the leadership to appeal to their loyalty to party. A failure of tax reform in the Senate would make a Democratic takeover in the House more likely and might even put the Senate in play. It's all McConnell has at the moment, unless the whole thing falls apart over some other issue like repealing the deduction on state taxes, or even getting rid of Obamacare's individual mandate.

Unless Senator McConnell demonstrates heretofore hidden leadership skills over the next few weeks, the Senate is not going to approve any tax reform bill.
Trump is having sensational success internationally, and a good part of that comes from his machismo. This is machismo not in the silly feminist sense, but in the old-school sense of manliness, of a guy standing tall and proud, glad to talk but ready to fight if need be. That kind of machismo.

Other national leaders can feel it in his presence, and it actually affects their own sense of manliness. This is what natural leadership feels like, even if it's a woman exuding it. Self-assured, informed, cheerful, fun. People want such a one out front, leading the parade, and they respond positively to it.

You can see the effect of it in the faces of foreign leaders as Trump shakes hands. Even the Philippines' Duterte, famous for being tough, looks a bit intimidated. China's Xi shows what looks like wonderment in Trump's presence. Japan's Abe, more accustomed to Westerners, doesn't show it as openly, but when he faces Trump, it's there.

Western Europeans don't look so much as intimidated as awed. They willingly concede the top position in Trump's overpowering presence. Accustomed to standing at the front and having all eyes and cameras on them, they move to the side or the rear, eyes reflecting respect.

France's Macron, not used to being overshadowed and not liking it at first, fought it when he met Trump. It was obvious. Trump was still at ease, but Macron was squeezing that hand for all he was worth. What came naturally to Trump  a firm, manly handshake  was forced in Macron.

Justin Trudeau was awestruck when he came to D.C. and met Trump for the first time. His tough talk noticeably softened under Trump's influence the next day. Back home, it was a month or so before Trudeau regained his usual swagger.

None of this was in evidence when Obama met these people or, before him, Bush II. Obama had a certain presence, but it wasn't leadership he radiated; it was cocksureness, different from self-confidence in the way teenager cockiness differs from manly self-assurance. The one's for show; the other's for real.

Leadership. Not seen in the presidency since Reagan.
I believe I have figured out the qualifications reporters, Democrats and Republicans think make (or have made) people honored, qualified presidents, members of Congress, and senators, and what absolutely disqualifies someone:

You are qualified and will be respected if:

You believe it is OK for men and boys to stroll around girls locker room and restrooms exposing themselves,

You support allowing babies to be killed up until childbirth especially minority children at a high rate,

You think it is OK to crunch and crush babies while saving valuable body parts so you can get a nice car,

You run up $20 Trillion worth of debt for future generations,

You continually violate the nations security laws. This may make you the most qualified person ever to run for President,

You spend over $12 Million to create a fake dossier to destroy your opponent and then that is used to justify spying on that opponent,

You believe immigration laws are optional,

As President, you illegally spy for years,

If you are a leader in the KKK you can move to the top of the Democrat Party,

As politicians, you are entitled to enrich yourself tremendously by using your position,

You transfer uranium to Russia for kickbacks. Enriching your family and charity is fine.

Your name is Kennedy and you leave a woman to die to protect your political power you will be considered a great Senator and champion of Womens rights.

The only thing I have seen that absolutely disqualifies a politician is if Washington Post reporters pull a story out of a hat after a primary that says you may have kissed a few young girls around 40 years ago. Proof is not necessary to disqualify you, the accusation is enough. After all it is a Republican state.

Back in the 1990s Mel Reynolds had sex with an underage volunteer on his campaign and neither Republicans nor Democrats pushed for expulsion. He resigned after he was convicted and Clinton let him out. He was a Rhodes scholar and just an all-around good guy, so Clinton thought he should get out. Here is who Reynolds is, as seen by Wikipedia: In August 1994, Reynolds was indicted for sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer that began during the 1992 campaign.[1] Despite the charges, he continued his campaign and was re-elected that November; he had no opposition.[1] Reynolds initially denied the charges, which he claimed were racially motivated. On August 22, 1995, he was convicted on 12 counts of sexual assault, obstruction of justice and solicitation of child pornography. He resigned his seat on October 1 of that year.[2] Reynolds was sentenced to five years in prison, thus he expected to be released in 1998. However, in April 1997 he was convicted on 16 unrelated counts of bank fraud, misusing campaign funds for personal use and lying to FEC investigators. Specifically, one count of bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud, eight counts of making false statements on loan applications, one count of conspiracy to defraud the Federal Election Commission, and four counts of making false statements to the FEC. These charges resulted in an additional sentence of 78 months in federal prison. Reynolds served all of his first sentence, and served 42 months in prison for the later charges. At that point, President Bill Clinton commuted the sentence for bank fraud. As a result, Reynolds was released from prison and served the remaining time in a halfway house.[5]

We should also remember that Hollywood and others celebrate Roman Polanski despite him being a child rapist.

Reporters, entertainers and other Democrats gladly supported putting the Clintons back in the White House in 2016, despite knowing how corrupt they are, that they are congenital liars, and despite the number of women both of them have abused physically and mentally and sought to destroy. We should stop pretending that in 2017 that the Clinton supporters all of a sudden have great sympathy for women who have been abused. They really don't care.

Republicans and Democrats alike dont like Roy Moore so they will use any excuse they can to go after him just like they go after Trump. The swamp has amassed a lot of power and they want to keep it with the help of the biased media.
Art and science often bump uglies when no one's looking. This Friday, Nov. 17 , join artists and scientists alike at the Cross Pollination of Art and Science with Stephen Auger at Cloud 5 Project Space as he presents his collaborative work with chronobiologist Dr. Benjamin Smarr entitled The Meaning of Lightan investigation of the neuroscience of visual perception and its link to the circadian rhythm. Educator Carolyn Strauss also be presents Slow Research: Seeking Intimacy with Reality at this free discussion for adults 18 and up . The presentations begin at 6:30pm . (Joshua Lee)

Artist Stephen Auger presents his collaborative work with chronobiologist Dr. Benjamin Smarr that addresses the fundamental relationships between aesthetic perception, sensory wellness and the dynamic movement of light.

Join a globally renowned artist, a scientist and a curator for a discussion on the cross-pollination of art and science. Artist Stephen Auger of Santa Fe will present his collaborative work with chronobiologist Dr. Benjamin Smarr visiting from UC Berkeley. Their work addresses the fundamental relationships between aesthetic perception, sensory well-being and the dynamic movement of light over time. Curator, educator, and creative facilitator, Carolyn F. Strauss, visits Santa Fe from the Netherlands adding perspective from the fields of architecture, design, contemporary art, emerging technology, social and environmental activism.

His paintings are made using a variety of uncommon mediums, including refractive pigments and epoxies, optical glass, and highly polished chrome steel ball bearings in varying diameters. Auger affixes thousands of such chrome bearings and small, round beads of colored glass to his compositions and coats them with thin layers of clear refractive pigment; the glass and metal surfaces bend and refract light and bounce it back in different hues. The colors seen are not inherent to the paintings, as they are with typical oil-based pigments. They are an effect that occurs in the space between the painting and the viewer, making Augers work experiential. The available light in the room makes all the difference, and the quality of that light determines how his compositions are perceived. - Michael Abatemarco, Santa Fe New Mexican (Pasatiempo)

This first installment of LASER Santa Fe is sponsored by Biocultura. LASER (Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous) Talks is Leonardo's international program of evening gatherings that bring artists and scientists together for informal presentations and conversations. This talk will live stream to 20 countries.
By Erasmus Williams: Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 15, 2017  One week after news broke that the Barbadian Victor Boyce, the Chief Credit Risk Officer at the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank had tendered his resignation after three months into a three-year contract, the financial institution has become the focus of a number of financial concerns. The majority shareholder is the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis which owns 51 percent of the shares. The Government appoints the directors.

WINNFM reported Wednesday evening, it has obtained a document dated December 6, 2016, which emanated from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and was addressed to the National Bank.

The document reads, The bank (National Bank) was assigned an overall composite risk rating of high. The examination identified areas requiring immediate remedial action. Corporate governance required improvement. There were deficiencies with the group structure and weaknesses such as: no independent directors; poor functioning of committees; absence of updated policies and procedures; and one director who does not meet the fit and proper criteria set out in part VIII of the Banking Act. In addition, there were some concerns regarding the oversight provided by the internal audit and risk review functions.

The document further states, Credit risk was high and the trend was increasing, due to the consistently high level of non-performing loans, which was 23.1 % of total loans as at 30 June, 2016, and significantly above the ECCBs 5.0% tolerable. Weak credit risk management practices also contributed to the high level of credit risk.

WINNFM noted that credit risk refers to the risk that a borrower may not repay a loan and that the lender may lose the principal of the loan or the interest associated with it. The risk arises because borrowers expect to use future cash flows to pay for current debts.

The WINNFM News Report further stated that the recent resignation of the Chief Credit Risk Officer, Victor Boyce, after just three months on the job, raises lots of questions as the document from the Central Bank zeroed in on credit risk management practices.

It reported that Boyce had initially signed a three year contract but his last working was November 3, 2017.

Other concerns that the Central Bank had with the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank include high market risk, high operational risk, high level of unsatisfactory assets, which ties directly to the Land for Debt Swap initiative, non compliance with the Banking Act, banking regulations and the ECCBs prudential standards.

The Central Banks assessment suggests that the possibility for an investor to experience losses due to factors that affect the overall performance of the financial market in which he is involved, is high.

The St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank was established in 1971, with the minimum EC$500,000 required to gain a banking license.

When its founder, Sir Edmund Lawrence, left in 2012, the bank had accumulated assets worth EC$3.6 billion, or over 1 billion US dollars, according to informed sources. This makes the National Bank worth more than any of the top five Black-owned banks in the United States, the report said.

WINN FM said it reached out the top executives of the National Bank but was unable to source a response up to press time.
Jeremy Corbyn doesnt count Israel among his Jew-hating friends

In 2015 then Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn went on the telly to explain why he addressed Islamist militant organisations Hamas and Hezbollah, a group that calls for the murder of all Jews, as friends. (Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah opined: If Jews all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide. Hamas states in its charter a mission to fight the Jews and kill them.)

Saying he met his friends Hamas in Lebanon and Hezbollah in this country and Lebanon, peacenik Corbyn told us: What it means is that I think to bring about a peace process, you have to talk to people with whom you may profoundly disagree.

Can this be the same Jeremy Corbyn, now leader of the Labour Party and with a decent shout of becoming Prime Minister, who called for an investigation into anti-Semitism in his Labour Party and found it squeaky clean (in much the same way a defecating bear cannot see the wood for the trees) and of whom the Sunday Times reported on October 29 2017:

Jeremy Corbyn has refused to attend an official dinner with the the countrys [Israels] prime minister this week to mark the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, which helped to pave the way for a Jewish nation state. The Labour leaders snub came as Israels ambassador to London told The Sunday Times that those who oppose the historic declaration are extremists who reject Israels right to exist and could be viewed on a par with terrorist groups such as Hamas The move is reminiscent of last months Labour Party conference in Brighton, where Corbyn avoided a Labour Friends of Israel reception attended by Regev.

So much for talking with people with whom you profoundly disagree

Anorak

Posted: 16th, November 2017 | In: Key Posts, News, Politicians Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
STRASBOURG - The plenary session of the European Parliament has given a green light to talks with the Council and the Commission on a reform of the Dublin regulation. The green light arrived with 390 yes votes, 175 no votes and 44 abstentions.



Under the Parliament's proposal, the country of arrival of an asylum seeker would not be automatically and solely responsible to evaluate the request. Applicants should instead be distributed across all EU countries. The Council has not taken a negotiating position yet.



The text drafted by Swedish Liberal EMP Cecilia Wikstrom says member States that don't accept their quota of asylum seekers would run the risk of seeing access to EU funding reduced.



Parliament's text also provides for, among other things, a three-year transition period and a 'filtering' mechanism to select among asylum seekers those who stand few chances of having their application approved. For this group the application would need to be processed by the country of entry, which should take care of the repatriation, with additional support from the EU. All these proposals could however not survive negotiations. The Union's governments, represented in the Council, have not yet reached a common position to start it.
TEL AVIV - Former prime minister Ehud Barak has said he is the most qualified candidate to become Israel's next premier. Speaking in a televised interview to air on Saturday, Barak, 75, openly challenged Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu saying he is ''today more mature and expert than any other candidate''.



Braka, a former army chief of staff, defense minister and premier, stated that many would like him to be active in politics again: ''It is no mystery that many people have come up to me and told me: 'Come on, step in, do something'''.



''Someone - he said in an excerpt of the interview which will be broadcast on Saturday - sent me a survey from four months ago that says I would get the majority of the secular vote in a competition between me and Netanyahu''.



''In the general vote - he added - Netanyahu wins but none of us gets 40%''. Barak, who however does not currently have a party and the vote in Israel goes to the party - recalled that 35% of those polled in the survey said they were ''undecided''.


PARIS - Saad Hariri has accepted the invite of French President Emmanuel Macron to travel to France, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday from Riyadh.



The foreign minister added that the date of arrival is not known and that only Hariri can decide when to leave. According to French sources, the outgoing Lebanese premier could arrive in France within the next 48 hours.



The invite to Hariri and his family was announced yesterday after a series of talks between Macron and Saudi prince Mohamad bin Salman and Hariri. Sources in Paris said the stay was ''not an exile'' but a temporary visit before Hariri returns to Lebanon.

Saudi Foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said that it is up to Hariri himself to decide when he wants to go back to Beirut, after examining the security situation. It is baseles to say, he added, that he is detained in Riad.
If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both
GDC Middle East is the first Company to be awarded such a contract in Saudi Arabia. As part of GDC Middle Easts strategy, this contract will be carried out by a GDC Middle East team of Saudi engineers and technicians. T

The work consists of the upgrade of two King Air 350 aircraft to a full ISR suite included radar, secure communications, datalinks and optical sensors. The GDC Middle East team including RSAF engineers are currently deployed into the US to work jointly with SNC team on the first aircraft upgrade and capture knowledge of the upgrade process. The second aircraft will be upgraded in Saudi Arabia by the GDC Middle East team of technicians supported by GDC Middle East engineers. Aspects of the upgrade include structural changes, cabin installation, wiring harnesses, cockpit modifications, avionics installation and testing.



Fawaz Alsharabi GDC Middle East 's CEO commented We are very pleased to have this strategic contract, that is in line with the 2030 Saudi Vision, while localising the military industry. Our partnership with SNC, a leading company in Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), will open the door for us to be part of ISR Market in the region.



GDC Middle East is a Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) company based in Riyadh specialising in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Solutions, and Operation & Support. GDC Middle East expands its presence throughout Saudi Arabia; Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern region, working in several projects with several customers. GDC Middle East services are provided by skilled local capabilities, with highest level of reliability and safety, supported by the latest technologies in aerospace and defense industry.
A battlefield study in France has led to a personal journey for both an Officer Cadet and Colour Sergeant from Sandhurst as they walked in the footsteps of their ancestors.
In my latest Sightings column, which appears in the online edition of todays Wall Street Journal, I pay tribute to the American Film Theatre, twelve of whose original releases are now playing at a New York revival house. Heres an excerpt.

* * *

Broadway and Hollywood have always had an uneasy long-distance relationship. From The Front Page to Six Degrees of Separation, most of the biggest stage hits of the 20th century have been adapted for the screen at one time or anotherbut far too many were mangled beyond recognition in the process. Among other notorious crimes against good taste, studio executives insisted on tacking happy endings onto Thornton Wilders Our Town and Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie, which is sort of like making a Lincoln biopic in which he doesnt get shot.

It was in response to such outrages that Ely and Edie Landau launched the American Film Theatre. Starting in 1973, the Landaus released low-budget, high-quality screen versions of 14 important stage plays and musicals, all of them scrupulously faithful to the original scripts. The films featured big-name stars like Katharine Hepburn, Glenda Jackson and Laurence Olivier and top-tier directors like Arthur Hiller and Tony Richardson, all of whom agreed to work for chump change in return for the chance to be associated with such elevated fare. The films, which included Edward Albees A Delicate Balance, Anton Chekhovs Three Sisters, Bertolt Brechts Galileo and Harold Pinters The Homecoming, were then shown in 500-odd U.S. movie houses on a limited-run subscription-only basis, complete with fancy Cinebill souvenir programs.

So noble a venture was, needless to say, doomed to failure: The American Film Theatre went bust in 1975. Not until 2003 did its releases finally make it to home video, and even now they are known for the most part only to theater buffs with very long memories. Thats why its such good news that 12 of the AFTs films are playing through Nov. 21 at New Yorks Quad Cinema. For the first time in years, these remarkable films can now be viewed in a movie theater, the way they were meant to be seen.

The AFT made its debut with a four-hour version of Eugene ONeills The Iceman Cometh directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, Fredric March and an up-and-coming youngster by the name of Jeff Bridges. Marvin, who had been propelled into name-above-the-title stardom by Cat Ballou and The Dirty Dozen, accepted a flat fee of $25,000, a tenth of his usual salary

* * *

Read the whole thing here.

The original theatrical trailer for The Iceman Cometh:

The original theatrical trailer for Rhinoceros:
Sunnis, All India Muslim Personal Law Board leaders favour adjudication.

Lucknow: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Wednesday met Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to discuss the solution to the Ayodhya issue. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, however, refused to divulge details of his meeting with the chief minister.

He told reporters that the two had discussed issues related to peace, welfare of farmers and cleanliness and that the meeting, lasting around 30 minutes, was good.

A day earlier, the chief minister had said, Any effort of mediation and at any level is good and worth welcoming (for the Ayodhya issue). Talks had begun earlier too and one party always excluded itself from it. Only when both parties agree to the talks can good results can come out of them. But the intention should be right.

Later, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar left for Ayodhya where he is scheduled to meet with saints and seers.

Sunni leaders, however, said that all efforts would be meaningless unless a definite proposal was placed before the Supreme Court.

Sunni cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali said he had no inkling of Ravi Shankars proposal and would not comment on his initiative.

Mr Zafaryab Jilani, counsel for Sunni Central Waqf Board in the Babri Masjid dispute, said, All those who are talking of a negotiated settlement are those who are not a even party to the case. We are firm on our stand and will wait for the courts verdict.

Earlier, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met representatives of Nirmohi Akhara and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to help find an out-of-court settlement to the dispute. The AIMPLB said the Ayodhya dispute could only be settled through adjudication.

The UP Shia Waqf Board, meanwhile, released the front page cover of what it claimed was a draft proposal that would amicably settle the long-pending dispute, board chairperson Waseem Rizvi told reporters. He, however, did not reveal the contents of the document.

Titled Ek Rasta, Ekta ki Ore (a way towards unity) written on it, the front page cover has pictures of the proposed Ram temple and the Babri mosque, juxtaposed with an image of a Hindu hugging a Muslim.

The boards stand is clear. The Ram temple should be built at the spot where Ram Lalla is presently placed and the mosque can be built anywhere other than in Faizabad or Ayodhya, he said.
The party also claimed that Indias trade deficit is nearly at a three-year high.

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the government over its economic policies. Congress spokesman R.P.N. Singh claimed there has been a major fall in exports in October this year. Mr Singh said, The most glaring aspect of Modinomics is that it has diminished Indias strong trade fundamentals and left its image battered due to its faulty policies which have led to exports plunging miserably and expanding the trade deficit. The party also claimed that Indias trade deficit is nearly at a three-year high.

In the last one year the Congress has taken on the government on what it calls failed demonetisation and faulty GST (Goods and Services Tax). According to the figures there has been a fall in 12 of the 30 major export groups. The Congress leader also took a dig at the employment promises of the government. Mr Singh said, During the election campaign the BJP claimed that it will create two crore jobs in a year. But now it is for all to see what is happening on the ground.

The Congress further added that though the crude oil prices in the international market were at a record low, the benefit has not been passed on to the consumer. Mr Singh added, Prices of food articles have increased, cooking gas has increased by 26 per cent and prices of petrol and diesel are on the rise. The government should give immediate respite to the common man.

During election campaigning in Gujarat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi dubbed the GST as Gabbar Singh Tax. According to the Congress, it was the hasty implementation of the GST that is causing difficulty for the small and medium traders. The party has also been critical of the demonetisation and its impact on the economy. The Congress along with other opposition parties observed the anniversary of demonetisation as Black Day on November 8 this year.
Rahul said Reliance Defence Limited has been picked to partner French firm Dassault in an act of 'crony capitalism'.

Attaching a report on his party's allegations on the Rafale deal, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said, 'Modi ji - nice touch removing the suit. What about the loot?' (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: Ignoring Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence Limited's threat to sue the Congress, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday continued the attack on the BJP government over the Rafale fighter aircraft deal and asked the Centre to explain its "Reliance" over a leading business group with no experience in aerospace technology.

In a series of taunting tweets, Rahul said Reliance Defence Limited has been picked to partner French firm Dassault in an act of "crony capitalism".

"Self 'Reliance' is obviously a critical aspect of Make in India Can you explain 'Reliance' on someone with nil experience in aerospace for Rafale deal?" Rahul said in a series of tweets.

Can you explain "Reliance" on someone with nil experience in aerospace for Rafale deal?  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 16, 2017

Modi ji - nice touch removing the suit. What about the loot?https://t.co/4rGsBtNJ2D  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 16, 2017

The Congress has alleged that the Government neglected the interests of public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as French manufacturer of Rafale aircraft Dassault Aviation refused to transfer technology to it and instead entered into an agreement with Reliance Defence.

It has also alleged that the aircraft was being purchased at much higher rates than what was decided after the completion of the tender process under the previous UPA government.

Rahul also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, in the past, he has accused of running a "suit-boot ki sarkar" or government for the rich.

"Modi ji - nice touch removing the suit. What about the loot?" the Congress vice-president tweeted, attaching a report on his party's allegations on the Rafale deal.

Modi ji - nice touch removing the suit. What about the loot?https://t.co/4rGsBtNJ2D  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 16, 2017

The Congress had on Wednesday alleged that the Rafale deal amounted to compromising on national interest and security and promoted "crony capitalism", while causing a loss to the public exchequer.

Read: France rejects Cong's Rafale deal scam charge, Reliance Defence may sue

Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Limited has threatened to sue the Congress if it does not retract its charge, according to a report in NDTV.

Reliance Defence said, "Government policy issued on 24 June 2016 allows for 49 per cent FDI in the Defence Sector under the automatic route, without any prior approval. No approvals from the Union Cabinet or CCS were required for the formation of the aforesaid Joint Venture company under the automatic route."

Meanwhile, PTIs French diplomatic sources on Wednesday asserted that the Rafale fighter aircraft deal was in India's interest.

They said the military jet was selected for its "outstanding performance" and "competitive price", while refusing to directly counter the Congress' allegation, terming it a "domestic political issue".

"Rafale has been selected for its outstanding performance and competitive price, following a transparent procedure. The offset clause is going to help develop the defence industry in India," the sources told PTI, adding that there was a need to "check the facts" before making claims on the contrary.

Under the agreement, the French side has made a 30-per cent offset commitment for military aerospace research and development programmes and the rest 20 per cent for manufacturing the components of the Rafale aircraft.

Read: PM changed 'entire deal' to benefit a businessman: Rahul on Rafale aircraft pact

Asked whether France was keen on augmenting the deal, the sources maintained that it was up to India, but added that the focus currently was on delivering the 36 aircraft on time.

"If there are further needs, we will be more than happy to propose our cooperation. But that is not for us to decide and we are not focusing on it currently," they said.

With inputs from PTI
The Muslims in the Valleyt are too emotionally attached with this place of worship.

The minarets of Khanqah-e-Moalla which were damaged when lighting strike on Tuesday in Jammu. (Photo: AP)

Srinagar: A fire incident at the 14th century Khanqah-e-Moalla, a historic place of Muslim worship, has plunged the Valley in gloom.

On Wednesday, thousands of people relocated went to Khanqah-e-Moalla, in the heart of Srinagar, which was partially damaged after lightning struck its minaret overnight.

A local resident said that the incident took place when it rained in Srinagar around midnight on Tuesday. We heard thunder that followed lightning and soon the minaret of the Khankah was in flames.

He raised the alarm and within no time hundreds of people reached the spot and strived to put out the fire. The fire tenders also arrived soon and the fire was brought under control within 30 minutes. Only the minaret and the spire of the shrine, a combination of Kashmiri and Central Asian architecture, were damaged, the officials said.

The officials, however, suspect the fire was caused due to electric short circuit. An inquiry has been launched into the incident and the authorities have assured the people that the damaged portion of the shrine will be rebuilt soon.

Khanqah-e-Moula is located on the right bank of the river Jhelum between Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal bridges. First built in 1395 AD, it is one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir Valley. Well-known Persian Muslim preacher of Kubrawiya order Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani who played a major role in spreading Islam in Kashmir and also influenced the culture of the Valley made Khanqah-e-Moalla the main centre of his activities during his visits towards the end of the 14th century.

He is known as Shah-e-Hamadan (the King of Hamadan), Amir-e-Kabir (The Great Commander) and Ali Thani (the Second Ali) in Kashmir. The Muslims in the Valleyt are too emotionally attached with this place of worship.

A witness said that while its minaret was in flames, he heard an elderly Kashmiri yelling Oh God, you may burn down my house but spare Khankah-e-Moalla.

The people of the area demanded installation of CCTVs in the shrine complex, availability of fire tenders in the locality, scientific protection to the wood structures at the shrine and expediting shrine expansion plan, an official spokesman said.

Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric and separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the leaders and activists of political, social and religious bodies also made a beeline to Khankah-e-Moalla.
Meanwhile, Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Limited has threatened to sue the opposition party if it does not retract its charge.

French sources said the military jet was selected for its 'outstanding performance' and 'competitive price', while refusing to directly counter the Congress' allegation, terming it a 'domestic political issue'. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: The Rafale fighter aircraft deal was in India's interest, French diplomatic sources asserted on Wednesday, a day after the Congress alleged that the BJP government was buying 36 aircraft from the French firm at a highly inflated price.

French sources said the military jet was selected for its "outstanding performance" and "competitive price", while refusing to directly counter the Congress' allegation, terming it a "domestic political issue".

"Rafale has been selected for its outstanding performance and competitive price, following a transparent procedure. The offset clause is going to help develop the defence industry in India," the sources said, adding that there was a need to "check the facts" before making claims on the contrary.

Under the agreement, the French side has made a 30-per cent offset commitment for military aerospace research and development programmes and the rest 20 per cent for manufacturing the components of the Rafale aircraft here.

Asked whether France was keen on augmenting the deal, the sources maintained that it was up to India, but added that the focus currently was on delivering the 36 aircraft on time.

"If there are further needs, we will be more than happy to propose our cooperation. But that is not for us to decide and we are not focusing on it currently," they said.

The Congress had on Wednesday alleged that the Rafale deal amounted to compromising on national interest and security and promoted "crony capitalism", while causing a loss to the public exchequer.

The opposition party had also alleged that the aircraft were being purchased at much higher rates than what was decided after the completion of the tender process under the previous UPA government.

Meanwhile, Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Limited has threatened to sue the opposition party if it does not retract its charge, according to a report in NDTV.

Reliance Defence said, "Government policy issued on 24 June 2016 allows for 49 per cent FDI in the Defence Sector under the automatic route, without any prior approval. No approvals from the Union Cabinet or CCS were required for the formation of the aforesaid Joint Venture company under the automatic route."
The right wing body constituted a committee to build the temple for the Mahatma killer.

Bhopal: Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha on Wednesday unveiled a life-size bust of Mahatma Gandhis killer Nathuram Godse in its office in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and vowed to build a temple for him in the place.

The development has triggered an outrage in the state with Congress demanding to file sedition charges against the outfit.

The Mahasabha laid the foundation for building the temple for Godse on the occasion of his death anniversary on Wednesday.

Nathuram Godse is a patriot. We have decided to build a temple for him in the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan in the district headquarters town of Gwalior after the local administration turned down our demand for allocation of land in the area for the purpose. We unveiled Godses statue in the office on Wednesday to begin the process of building the temple for him, the Mahasabha spokesman Dr Jagdish Bhardwaj said.

The right wing body constituted a committee to build the temple for the Mahatma killer.

Nathuram Godse had taken arms training for three days in Gwalior before shooting to death Mahatma Gandhi. Hence, Gwalior holds much significance for us. That is why we have decided to build the first temple for Nathuram Godse in Gwalior, he said.

The development caused acute embarrassment to the state BJP government in the state. I have sought a report from the local administration on it, state home minister Bhupendra Singh said. CLP leader Ajey Singh however demanded to slap charges of sedition against the outfit for laying foundation to build a temple for Mahatma Gandhis killer.

Nathuram Vinayak Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi by pumping three bullets in his chest in New Delhi on January 30, 1948, was hanged to death on November 15, 1949.

Hindu Mahasabha had earlier strongly disapproved the move to initiate fresh probe into the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in the wake of Supreme Court appointing amicus curiae to look into documents pertaining to the matter after Mumbai-based petitioner Pankaj Phadnis claimed that Gandhiji was killed by the fourth bullet fired by an unidentified person who never came to light.

The Mahasabha has accused BJP and RSS of trying to rob the outfit of the legacy of Nathuram Gadse to marginalize it.
France considers India as its foremost strategic partner in Asia and is keen on boosting bilateral relations.

New Delhi: France, considered an Indian Ocean-rim country with island territories like Reunion Island, is open to working in a bilateral, trilateral or multilateral arrangement with other governments, including the proposed Quadrilateral countries (India, US, Japan and Australia), in the Asia-Pacific region, French diplomatic sources indicated on Wednesday.

France already has a strong bilateral strategic relationship with Australia in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), sources pointed out, adding that France is open to bilateral, trilateral or multilateral arrangements in the region. This comes even as French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is scheduled to begin a visit to New Delhi from Friday.

With questions being raised by the Opposition in India over the Rafale deal, sources also said that Rafale aircrafts performance is outstanding and that the transparent deal had been inked at competitive prices. France considers India as its foremost strategic partner in Asia and is keen on boosting bilateral relations.

During Mr Le Drians visit, the three important facets of bilateral ties with India defence, space and civil nuclear ties, economic issues and cultural relations including people-to-people links  are expected to be discussed with top Indian ministers, including his counterpart external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

Incidentally, Mr Le Drian served as defence minister earlier and made several visits to India in that capacity. He will also visit Jaipur during his visit.

A few days ago, Japan had proposed the formation of a quadrilateral comprising itself, the US, India and Australia to boost strategic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. The proposal was seen by observers as a move to counter growing Chinese military assertiveness in the region. Following that, on Monday, officials of the four countries held a meeting at the Philippines capital Manila ahead of the East Asia Summit.

France, though a European country, is considered an Indian Ocean-rim country too since it has island territories in the area. Of these, Reunion island is the biggest.

On the Rafale deal, in response to criticism from the Opposition in India, French sources did not want to comment on Indian domestic political issues. But a French diplomatic source said, This fighter jet (Rafale) has been selected for its outstanding performance and competitive prices, adding that the acquisition process by India was a fully transparent process as per rules. Sources also pointed out that French defence companies are keen on diversifying the offsets in India as part of the Rafale deal which would benefit the entire Indian defence industry. French sources also said the process had in no way benefited one individual industrial house.

Sources also refused to comment on Russian media reports that the French defence industry was keen now on selling nuclear-powered submarines to India, terming these reports as rumours.
The bail plea pending before the court is scheduled for a hearing on Nov 17 and states that the accused conductor is 'falsely implicated'.

Ashok was arrested by the Gurgaon Police for the murder and sexual assault of the child. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: The Gurgaon Sessions Court on Thursday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a detailed reply regarding the basis of bus conductor Ashoks arrest by 2:00 pm in connection with the Pradyuman murder case, after the probe agency failed to furnish the same before the court.

The court asked on what basis Ashok was arrested. The CBI was not able to give a response to it. Now, the court has asked the CBI to file a detailed reply by 2:00 pm after which the arguments will be heard, Ashok's lawyer, Mohit Verma said.

Earlier in the day, Verma had moved a bail plea in the court, after the bus conductor was cleared of the charges.

The bail plea pending before the court is scheduled for a hearing on November 17 and states that the accused conductor is falsely implicated in the case.

Last week, the investigative agency arrested a class XI student of the Ryan International School for the murder of his junior Pradyuman Thakur, and gave a clean chit to Ashok, who was arrested by the Gurgaon Police for the murder and sexual assault of the child.

Read: Class 11 Ryan student confesses to killing Pradyuman: CBI

The seven-year-old Pradyuman was found inside the toilet of the school with his throat slit on September 8.
Sinha at a function here claimed that demonetisation had hit the economy to the tune of Rs 3.75 lakh crore.

Ahmedabad: Former finance minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, said even the 14th century Delhi sultan, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, had implemented note ban 700 years ago.

Criticising Mr Modi for the controversial move, Mr Sinha at a function here claimed that demonetisation had hit the economy to the tune of Rs 3.75 lakh crore.

There were many shahenshas (king) who brought their own currency. Some even kept previous currency in circulation while introducing the new one. But, there was a shahenshah 700 years back  Muhammad Bin Tughlaq  who introduced his own (currency) while discontinuing the old currency, he said.

Thus, we can say that demonetisation was done 700 years back. Though Tughlaq is infamous for shifting his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, he has also done demonetisation, Mr Sinha said.

Tughlaq, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate for a short period of time in the 14th century, was known for his controversial decisions like shifting the capital of the Sultanate from Delhi to Daulatabad and introducing non-precious metal currency.

Mr Sinha was invited by a group of activists under the banner of Lokshahi Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Movement) to share his views about note ban and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He claimed that the biggest problem of the country was unemployment. Time is running out to do something for the economy in the current situation, he said.
We briefly examine here the events of 1966 and 1967 relating to her election as leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party and thus Prime Minister.

After Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi has been Indias longest serving Prime Minister. While Nehru was the countrys head of government for nearly 17 years, from August 15, 1947 to May 27, 1964, his daughter was Prime Minister for over 16 years in two phases  from January 24, 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 to October 31, 1984, when she was tragically assassinated.

Though the re-election of Indira in 1971, following a mid-term poll, and in 1980 was a smooth and unchallenged affair, she had to face a formidable challenge in her election as Prime Minister in 1966, and subsequent re-election the following year. We briefly examine here the events of 1966 and 1967 relating to her election as leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party and thus Prime Minister.

After the sudden death of Indias second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, in Tashkent on January 11, 1966 following the historic Tashkent accord between India and Pakistan, the Congress had had to immediately choose his successor. As after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, on May 27, 1964, Gulzarilal Nanda, home minister, was made interim PM till the election of the new CPP leader. And as in 1964, Nanda, however feebly, threw his hat into the ring. Though the names of defence minister Y.B. Chavan and Jagjivan Ram were also doing the rounds, the main contest narrowed down to Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai, who had earlier lost out in the race to Lal Bahadur Shastri.

K. Kamaraj, who was Congress president, had managed to avert a contest in the CPP by the consensus formula after Pandit Nehrus death, but this time he could not as Morarji Desai was determined not to withdraw. Kamaraj was equally determined to ensure that Indira Gandhi won. He is believed to have shared his sentiments with a colleague accompanying him on the flight from Chennai (then Madras) to Delhi:

She knows all the world leaders, has travelled widely with her father, has grown up amongst the great men of the freedom movement, has a rational and modern mind, is totally free of any parochialism  state, caste or religion. She has possibly inherited her fathers scientific temper and, above all, in 1967 she can win the election.

Even though the election of the CPP leader was restricted to Members of Parliament from both Houses, getting the moral and public support of the chief ministers was considered crucial. Between Kamaraj and D.P. Mishra, the support of a majority of CMs for Mrs Gandhi was worked out painstakingly. The exception was Sucheta Kripalini of Uttar Pradesh. But that didnt matter much as a majority of MPs from UP supported Mrs Gandhi. With all efforts for consensus not materialising, January 19, 1966 was fixed as the date to elect the new CPP leader. Before she went to Parliament House, Mrs Gandhi visited Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi and to Teen Murti to feel the spirit of her illustrious father.

When the ballot papers were counted the results showed Mrs Gandhi winning by 186 votes. She had polled 355 votes, against 169 of Morarji Desai. Mrs Gandhi was sworn in as Indias third Prime Minister on January 24, 1966.

Only a year later, in 1967, the general election to the Lok Sabha was held. Even though the Congress won 285 seats with 41 per cent of votes, its tally came down heavily from 369 in the previous Lok Sabha.

A number of Congress stalwarts, including Congress president Kamaraj, lost the election, as did S.K. Patil in Maharashtra and Atulya Ghosh in West Bengal. However, Mrs Gandhi won from Rae Bareli with a huge margin. This put her in a much stronger position. But the old guard would not give up without a fight and now tried to pitch Morarji Desai against her. By this time Congress president Kamaraj had become disillusioned with Mrs Gandhi and, along with the Syndicate, toyed with the idea making Morarji Desai the new PM. But having bitten the dust in his home state Madras (now Tamil Nadu), Kamarajs authority had eroded and so had that of several senior leaders who had either lost themselves or the states they belonged to. Kamaraj, however, did not openly support Morarji Desai and remained non-committal.

Mrs Gandhi was advised by her well-wishers, including some senior bureaucrats, to offer Morarji Desai a senior position in the Cabinet. A senior bureaucrat, I.G. Patel, called on Morarji Desai and pleaded with him not to contest against Mrs Gandhi as the country was facing many challenges, for which the services of both were paramount.

Some senior ministers  Y.B. Chavan, Ashok Mehta and Dinesh Singh  took the view that Mrs Gandhi should not compromise with Desai. However, taking everyone by surprise, Mrs Gandhi called on Morarji Desai and the leadership issue was resolved. Morarji Desai was offered and accepted the deputy prime ministership and with it the finance portfolio, even though he was keen on home.

After her re-election as PM, Indira Gandhi was now in a much stronger position and, from this position of strength, dealt with another immediate problem with great tenacity and political wisdom  the election of the third President of India.

Dr S. Radhakrishnan, who had succeeded Dr Rajendra Prasad after two terms as vice-president, was due to retire. Mrs Gandhi was not inclined to give him a second term and decided on the candidature of vice-president Zakir Hussain. Durga Das, in his magnum opus India from Curzon to Nehru and After, writes:

But Hussain was not chosen on the basis of communal consideration. He was chosen because of the distinction and success with which he had held the office of Vice-President and the patriotic and non-partisan way in which he had conducted himself. She did not favour a second term for Radhakrishnan and in consultation with Desai, boldly sponsored Hussains candidature. The move received moral strength when Desai insisted that the Congress show its disapproval of the manner in which Subba Rao had made the office of Chief Justice of India a subject of controversy by agreeing to resign and stand for election. This was perhaps the last time that Morarji Desai would support a proposal of Mrs Gandhi. Soon they would fall apart, and the rest is history.

Though her bold and courageous leadership leading to Indias grand victory in the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh is now part of contemporary history, Indira Gandhis other monumental achievements like ushering in the green revolution, lifting millions above the poverty line, strengthening secularism, enhancing Indias global prestige and, above all, her martyrdom to preserve the nations unity and integrity, will never be forgotten by a grateful nation.

The writer, an ex-Army officer, former member of the National Commission for Minorities and an ex-AICC secretary, is a Delhi-based political analyst
Dixits ownership of the land between Egypt, Sudan challenged by an American.

Bhopal: Self-proclaimed emperor of Kingdom of Dixit, a no mans land between Egypt and Sudan, is facing the threat of losing his newly-acquired empire.

The young entrepreneur of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Suyash Dixit, who created much hype on social media by staking claim on Bir Tawil, a 2,200 sq.km. unclaimed area nestled between Egypt and Sudan, has now been contested by an American who has earlier owned the arid land for his daughter, refusing to believe that the 24-year-old software engineer has ever set his foot on land.

Mr Dixit could not have made it to Bir Tawil from Abu Simbel as the no mans land is separated by Lake Nasser which cannot be crossed since there is no ferry service or a bridge, Virginia-based Jeremaih Heatons post in social media said.

Mr Dixit could not be contacted despite repeated calls by this newspaper to his cellphone, for his reactions to the sudden development. He however had purportedly told a section of media that he had visited the land and would prove it shortly.

According to the American, he was working to get international recognition of the no mans land as Kingdom of North Sudan where he was wooing investors to set up a giant solar power plant to supply power to both Egypt and Sudan.

He regretted that Mr Dixits claim of the land has come as a distraction to his mission.

Earlier, Mr Dixit told the media that he was planning to run Kingdom of Dixit online from India.

Kingdom of Dixit will be the first virtually governed kingdom in the world, he said.
The Karni Sena chief accused film maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali of going back on his words.

Lucknow: Lokendra Singh Kalvi, chief convenor of the Rajput Karni Sena, has said that films like Padmavati were a form of cultural terrorism and has demanded a ban on its release.

The Yogi Adityanath government, late on Wednesday night, sent a letter to the ministry of information and broadcasting saying that the release of Padmavati could pose a major law and order problem in the state. The letter further said that the censor board should be apprised about the public resentment over the alleged distortion of facts in the movie.

The letter further stated that in view of the civic polls, polling for which is scheduled on November 22, November 26 and November 29 and the counting on December 1, and also the Barawafat procession by Muslims on December 2, the films release can pose serious security issues.

In an exclusive interview to this correspondent here on Thursday, Mr Kalvi said that it had become a fashion to demean women and history through such films.

We will not allow these cultural goondas to have their way. I am going to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath not to allow the release of such films, he said.

The Karni Sena has given a call for Bharat Bandh on December 1, the date of the scheduled release of Padmavati, Mr Kalvi said that the bandh would mean that all cinema halls in the country remain closed on that day.

Mr Kalvi alleged that Padmavati had been funded by Dawood in Dubai and said that this explains why and how the major portions of the film were shot during the period when the entire country was facing the impact of demonetisation.

The Karni Sena chief accused film maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali of going back on his words.

In January this year, Mr Bhansali had promised us that he would not release the promos or the trailer of Padmavati without the consent of a panel of historians but he went ahead and released the same without even informing us. Rani Padmavati i is a symbol of womens honour and we will not allow anyone to sully her image or project as someones love interest, he said.

Lokendra Singh Kalvi

Asked whether there was still any room for an understanding on the issue, Mr Kalvi said, The time for negotiations is over. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a habitual offender when it comes to misrepresenting facts. He did it in Bajirao Mastani and has done it again with Padmavati. The film maker did not speak to even a single member of the royal family in Rajasthan when he embarked on this project. I am the 37th descendent of Raja Rawal Ratan Singh and Rani Padmini. Do I not have the right to defend the honour of my ancestors? he asked.

He said that eight union ministers and seven chief ministers had supported his views on the issue. The BJP, apparently supports his views, albeit, tacitly.

Mr Kalvi said that Mr Bhansali would be sending the film to the censor board soon and the Karni Sena has already filed its objections.

But we understand the limitations of the censor board. They can object to scenes involving sex and excessive violence but cannot rule over distortion of historical facts. We are also preparing to move the Supreme Court if the need arises but we will not allow Padmavati to be released, he emphasised.

The Karni Sena chief also questioned the campaign that claims that Padmini was a mythical character. Ask the people of Rajasthan and you will get the answer, he stated.

The Karni Sena also seems to have taken umbrage at the statement issued by actor Deepika Padukone who has said that Padmavati would release at all costs. Deepika plays the title role of Padmavati in the film.

It is clear that they are provoking us. Deepikas statement is a challenge to the Rajput and even Hindu community. Where is the need for such statements? The ghoomar dance is also a major distortion  they are showing a Rajput queen dancing with ordinary women, he said.

When informed that members of his outfit had threatened to cut off the actors nose in retaliation, Mr Kalvi said, Woh hamara sar kaat dein aur hum chup rahen? I do not want violence but we will also not tolerate community shaming. Our silence should not be mistaken for our weakness.
Raghavendra, who took the girl to the lodge, allegedly raped her along with his two friends Sagar (22) and Manu Raj (32).

According to the police, the girl, a PU student, left home for college on October 26 telling her parents that she would go to her friends house for a party after finishing college. (Photo: PTI/Representational)

Bengaluru: The KR Puram police arrested four people on charges of rape, kidnapping and confinement of a 17-year-old girl.

The police rescued the girl from a lodge in Whitfield, where she was allegedly confined by the accused and raped for eight days.

According to the police, the girl, a PU student, left home for college on October 26 telling her parents that she would go to her friends house for a party after finishing college. The girl visited her friends house and stayed there for two days.

On October 28, when she was standing near Kadugodi Railway Station, Raghavendra (27), who was familiar with the girl, allegedly enticed her and took her to a lodge in Whitefield.

Meanwhile, the girl's parents who were worried after their daughter did not return home even after four days and learning from her friend that she had left her house on October 28, lodged a missing complaint with the KR Puram police on October 30.

Raghavendra, who took the girl to the lodge, allegedly raped her along with his two friends Sagar (22) and Manu Raj (32).

Later, the lodge owner, Manoranjan Pandit (52), too joined Raghavendra and his friends and allegedly raped the girl.

The KR Puram police, who had registered a case of kidnapping, formed a team to search the missing girl.

During the investigation, the police got a tip-off that the girl was in a lodge. On November 4, the police raided the lodge and rescued the girl from one of the rooms. Later, the police nabbed the accused based on the complaint filed by the girl.

The police booked the accused under Sections 376D (gang rape) 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person), 363 (kidnapping), 343 (wrongful confinement if any person for three days, or more), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 506 (criminal intimidation), of IPC along with Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO Act.

According to police, anyone having sex with a minor girl, even if it is consensual, amounts to rape and staying with her amounts to confinement.
Mostly it is the BJP which has to face criticism for trying to polarise a poll going state on the communal lines.

New Delhi: Congress scion Rahul Gandhis temple visits in poll-bound Gujarat have brought cheer to the BJP camp. Feedback reaching the BJP suggests that the Muslim population has been left confused with Congress soft Hindutva strategy in this poll bound state.

Mostly it is the BJP which has to face criticism for trying to polarise a poll going state on the communal lines. In Gujarat, where the ruling BJP is facing a tough fight this time, crucial polls are scheduled in December. Muslims are nearly 10 percent of the total population in Gujarat whose politics has mostly been bipolar. Elections to Gujarats 182-seat Assembly will be held on December 9 and 14.

The BJP is now awaiting Prime Minister Naredra Modi, who is scheduled to address more than two dozen rallies in the state to counter Congresss aggressive campaign. While development is BJPs main poll plank, the Congress is highlighting anti-incumbency and finding holes in BJPs development model. PAAS leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani are also seen siding with the Congress but BJPs poll managers feel the duos will dent Congresss poll prospects.

Not taking any chance, the BJP leadership is likely to axe some of its senior leaders and field new faces this time. Speculation is rife that most MLAs, who have completed three or four terms in the assembly, will not be fielded by the BJP. The party leadership also wants atleast one female candidate in each district. The state BJP is abuzz that former chief minister Anandiben Patels daughter Anar and slain party leader Haren Pandyas wife Jagruti, could be fielded by the saffron party. Ms Anandiben Patel had earlier informed the party leadership that she would not like to contest as she has crossed the partys unofficial age bar of 75 years.

BJPs central election committee (CEC) had met on Wednesday to decide candidates names for the 89 seats going to polls in the first phase. The CEC was also attended by Mr Modi, state core group including chief minister Vijay Rupnai and headed by Mr Shah.

Sources said BJPs state core group had finalised a panel of three names from each constituency and now the final decision will be taken by party president Amit Shah.
When sex-related cases of cardiac arrest do occur, its possible the patients might have had undiagnosed or untreated artery disease.

Put another way, less than 1 percent of the deaths from sudden cardiac arrest were related to sex. (Photo: Pixabay)

Most people who worry that having sex might stop their heart can probably just relax and enjoy themselves, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined data on 4,557 adults who died from a sudden cardiac arrest, which is essentially a short circuit in the hearts electrical system. They found just 34 cases linked to sexual activity.

Put another way, less than 1 percent of the deaths from sudden cardiac arrest were related to sex.

Based on this data we now know that the likelihood of sex being a trigger for sudden cardiac arrest is extremely low, senior study author Dr. Sumeet Chugh, of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Heart Institute in Los Angeles, said by email.

Chugh and colleagues reported their findings at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions meeting in Anaheim, California, and online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Cardiac arrest involves the abrupt loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. Unlike a heart attack, which happens when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked, cardiac arrest occurs when the hearts electrical system malfunctions, often due to irregular heart rhythms. Cardiac arrest may occur with no warning and is often fatal if not treated within minutes.

Cardiac arrest results in more than 300,000 deaths each year in the US alone, the researchers say.

For the study, researchers looked at detailed medical reports for all of the adults who died in Portland, Oregon, from 2002 to 2015. They had access to complete medical histories and autopsy records, as well as any information about what patients were doing when the cardiac arrest occurred.

Patients who experienced sudden cardiac arrest linked to sexual activity had higher rates of whats know as ventricular fibrillation  a serious cardiac rhythm disturbance  and tachycardia, or a higher-than-normal heart rate.

Most of the cases were men with a history of heart disease.

Only about 1 in 100 men and 1 in 1,000 women experience sudden cardiac arrest during sexual activity, the study found.

Patients who had sex before they went into cardiac arrest tended to be about 60 years old on average, compared to around 65 for the patients who were doing other things when their heart stopped beating.

When sex preceded cardiac arrest, survival odds tended to be a bit better. Nearly 20 percent of people survived in sex-related cases, compared to only about 13 percent survival odds for other patients.

Survival often depends on how quickly patients receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or chest compressions, which can help restore circulation and maintain blood flow to vital organs.

All of the patients in the study had their cardiac arrest witnessed by another person, but less than one third of them received CPR.

Odds of CPR were better, however, in sex-related cases. Roughly 32 percent of patients who had sex-related cardiac arrests received CPR, compared with 27 percent of the other cases.

The study wasnt a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how sex might contribute to the odds of experiencing or surviving sudden cardiac arrest. Researchers also didnt report on what type of sexual encounters occurred, making it difficult to determine how strenuous the activity may have been for patients.

Generally, older adults who are healthy enough for sex also probably have healthy blood vessels, said Dr. Venu Menon, a director of the cardiac intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

When sex-related cases of cardiac arrest do occur, its possible the patients might have had undiagnosed or untreated coronary artery disease, Menon, who wasnt involved in the study, said in a phone interview.

It would be irresponsible to say every 60 year old out there should start being concerned whether sex might put them at risk, Menon added. What it does say is that if you are sexually active you should be conscious of your health and if you have any shortness of breath or chest pain you should see a doctor.
In this age, it is smarter on a relationship to take joint responsibility not only towards raising a child but also bringing the child into the world.

Thanks to the patriarchal mindset, every time a couple cannot have a child, the blame seamlessly shifts to the woman. While men need to accept that they might be at fault, being supportive to your partner is the way to go forward.

In a section of our social world ensconced in comfortable familiarity, people who marry are sometimes happy, may have an affair or two on the side, or get a divorce. There is also sadly the ugly side of abuse and discord. We are familiar enough with these scenarios. Couples have children, or they may not. Thats the spectrum of life we see around.

The other day however, I came across a revelation of a situation that I thought had gone out, more or less with sati! At least its not visible among the educated, cosmopolitan, modern young married couples.

This young lady I speak of belongs to an influential, aristocratic family. She is attractive and a la mode in dress and demeanour, moves in swish circles across India and foreign shores, drives in a chauffeur-driven limousine. Shes friendly, bubbly and easy going, and the other day while driving back from a dinner together I wondered aloud why she had left her husband! I did not leave him, he left me. she revealed. I was speechless. Why would anyone leave this lovely being? Here she was, so artlessly candid and defenceless about it all. Whatever could have prompted a man to leave a wife of some eight years?

We werent having a child and he put the entire onus entirely on me, regardless of the doctors clearance of my ability to have a child. He never did go to a doctor, he just went away on a path paved with accusations, blame, abuse and allegation of crude names for a barren woman. She continued, We used to have happy marriage until these complications crept in. I was bewildered. But gynaecologists solve these issues so easily these days? Were living in a modern world not in some backward small town of a dinosaur society?I exclaimed. Everything can be solved if there is a degree of equal responsibility and communication at every level. But what was unsurmountable was his male ego! In his equally aristocratic background, the macho manhood is a banner he will not let down. He spread the misinformation in our circles, that it was me who was to blame and he wanted children at any cost. And his family supported him. In fact, they even sympathized with him, she said. What a tragedy of errors, I was left thinking. When will the outlook of men in our country ever change?

She had told me that it happens, and she is not the only victim. It just gets submerged and brushed under the carpet to avoid shame, blame and speculative gossip, and to keep up society appearances!

And as if to corroborate all this that I am having trouble believing, a recent issue of Newsweek magazine comes my way on aspects of this fertility issue. The scene is now from the US! Strangely, the scenario duplicates my friends experience. Even in the US, not being able to conceive a child is seen entirely as a womans responsibility whereas in these problematic fertility cases  surveys show 40% of the time a man may be the deficient factor. And in western countries more often than not the man refuses to see a doctor and his machismo leads him to believe that the entire blame lies with the female in the relationship. He will not see a doctor, even the suggestion is an affront to his manhood! He does not want to know or face that it might be him, and his frustration and humiliation vents out at the woman. Discord, disharmony, divorce  all so unnecessary in the modern world where the answers are so accessible and approachable. It is a medical feature that happens and its not the mans personal fault either. So many external factors may be responsible like pollution, exposure to plastics and whatnot.

It is an easily addressed issue, so when you want a child, head to a gynaecologist together. In this age, it is smarter on a relationship to take joint responsibility not only towards raising a child but also bringing the child into the world. Put aside whose fault it is! Once the baby comes gurgling into your life, the fountain of joy and love that springs into your life makes all else irrelevant and forgotten and creates that photograph of mommy, daddy and adorable babe in arms  happiness restored forever.

The writer is a columnist, designer and brand consultant. Mail her at nishajamvwal@gmail.com
Police have shoot-at-sight orders against such attempts.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) intelligence wing and the police are questioning him to see if the person had any links with terror groups. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: A 25-year-old man was shot at by security personnel when he tried to sneak inside Hindon Airbase, Indias biggest air base in Ghaziabad on Tuesday night.

According to the police, Sujeet Kumar, who hails from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh was shot in the leg when he tried to scale the perimeter wall of the airbase despite warnings.

Mr Kumar has been admitted to hospital. The Indian Air Force (IAF) intelligence wing and the police are questioning him to see if the person had any links with terror groups.

However, the probe team gave a different explanation. During questioning, Mr Kumar said that someone told him that he could get a good job in Saudi Arabia and thats why he reached the nearest air base. Mr Kumar said that he was preparing to take a ride on one of the fighters there, the official said.

Mr Kumar was first spotted around the Hindon Airbase at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday. He was first seen examining a combat jet installed outside the airbase and then tried to enter through Gate No.1 where he was noticed by the security personnel. The police said they had shoot-at-sight orders against such attempts and they fired at Mr Kumars leg when he ignored their warnings.

Only two days ago, the intelligence agencies had tipped off the IAF that Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists might try and sneak into the Hindon Airbase and mount a Pathankot-style attack.

His mobile phone, which has been confiscated, is being screened. Call details are being fetched. A police team is being sent there to get more details, agencies quoted Anoop Singh, assistant superintendent of police, as saying.

Superintendent of police (city) Aakash Tomar said security had been beefed up and additional forces were deployed near the airbase premises.
The police found images of question of two papers in the mobile phone of the student caught on Thursday.

Mumbai: Yet another paper leak incident has rocked Mumbai University. In the latest incident, the Amboli police on Thursday arrested a third-year student who had carried the question papers of the fifth-semester of Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) on her mobile phone during the examinations. However, this was not a solitary incident. According to sources, several such papers of BMS exams that were conducted between Monday and Wednesday were leaked on WhatsApp an hour before the examinations started.

The police found images of question of two papers in the mobile phone of the student caught on Thursday. The two question papers were of Logistics and Supply Chain Management that was held on Monday and Marking-Service Marking that was held on Wednesday.

A preliminary inquiry revealed that while the examination starts from 11 am, students receive such question papers at around 9 am.

According to the college, the student was found with a replicated image of the question paper in her mobile phone. The college management immediately informed the University of Mumbai (MU) and the Pro Vice Chancellor of MU asked the college to report the matter to the nearest police station. A special team of officials was sent to the college by MU to look into the issue.

The process of sending question papers from MU to all its colleges is done by the Digital Exam Paper Delivery System (DEPDS). This DEPDS has been developed for security measures after witnessing such kind of leaks in the colleges by staff and students. Every question paper has a watermark which shows the authenticity of these papers along with the name of the exam centre and college code.

MU officials claim to have a secured process of distributing the question papers. We send the question papers to all the colleges via DEPDS on the day of examination. It is sent online two hours before the exam after which the college is supposed to take printouts according to the number of students in the college and then start the distribution process, said an official.

This system was adopted to tackle the question paper leak issue, which has been taking place for years in city colleges. In 2016, several MU staff were held for leaking Engineering papers. In the same year, B.Com papers too were leaked and the culprits were caught by the police. This year HSC papers were leaked on WhatsApp in March and culprits were caught by the Navi Mumbai police.

At the time of going to the print, Paramjit Singh Dahiya, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 9 told The Asian Age, There has been one arrest in the BMS paper leak case. The Amboli police has arrested a student from MVM College.
Buddhist site in Bhamala province was first discovered in 1929

Haripur, Pakistan: Pakistan unveiled the remains of a 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha image on Wednesday, part of an initiative to encourage tourism and project religious harmony in a region roiled by Islamist militancy. A reflection of the diverse history and culture of the South Asian country, the ancient Buddhist site in Bhamala province was first discovered in 1929.

Eighty-eight years on, excavations resumed and the 14-metre high Kanjur stone Buddha image was unearthed, and opposition leader Imran Kahn presided over Wednesdays presentation.

This is from the 3rd century AD, making it the worlds oldest sleeping Buddha remains, Abdul Samad, director of Bhamlas archaeology and museums department said. We have discovered over 500 Buddha objects and this 48-foot-long sleeping Buddha remains, he added. Khan said: Its a question of preserving these heritage sites which are an asset for our country.

The region was once the centre of Buddhist civilization that took root under the Mauryan king Ashoka 2,300 years ago.

The presentation of the Buddha image coincided with a lockdown of major highways around the nations capital to contain a rightist protest against a perceived slight to Islam by members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Minority communities in Pakistan are often targeted by right-wing groups and successive governments have in the past been reluctant to embrace the countrys non-Muslim heritage. But recent attempts to improve Pakistans image have included overtures to minority communities by the PML-N.

In January, then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the restoration of Hindu temples at Katas Raj in Punjab province. Considered a conservative figure, Khan has stressed dialogue with Islamist hardliners including the Taliban but on Wednesday said the preservation of sites like Bhamala could promote religious tourism.
Will Artificial intelligene be the end of humanity? Killer robots are soon going to be a reality

Once this genie is out of the bottle, there will be an arms race to improve on the initially built crude robots. Representative Photo from Robocop Movie : Sony Pictures

Humans have dominated the world for thousands of years. Scientifically speaking, Humans are no different than other animals on this planet. What sets us apart from animals is our overall intelligence. Humans are by nature are a dominating species, who consider themselves superior; hence we unfortunately treat other species badly; be it hunting, subjugating them in captivity or even use them in experiments.

However, the closest in terms of our intelligence is not some living species, but our own creation The Computer. Created back in the 20th century as a means to calculate, computers have come a long way from being just a number crunching machine.

Be it size  where multi-storied tower-sized computers have evolved into tiny pocket devices we call smartphones or be it speed where computers of today are billions of times faster than the first computer ever made. Computers have affected our lives in such a profound manner that its hard to imagine the modern world without them. Automated computers based on programmed instructions have made life even easier for us.

However, the rapid evolution of computers wont stop at speed improvement and size reduction. We have now reached a stage of creating computers with Artificial Intelligence  where the computers are designed to speak and operate on their own, with the aim to serve humans better. Take for example autonomous cars, smart appliances, and even Android robots  the developments on these fronts are tremendous.

However, serving humans is just one angle  the military around the world are going as far as creating AI robots that can take the front on a war field. Killing humans (the enemy) is what these robots would finally be designed for.

Nevertheless, in a recent interview published by The Telegraph, UK, leading artificial intelligence scientist Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at Berkeley University, California, has warned that the technology to create killer robots is already here and needs to be banned he further said allowing machines to choose to kill humans would be devastating for world peace and security.

The professor, who has worked in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) for more than 35 years, also warned that there is no guarantee that AI cannot go rogue.

We have seen a lot of fiction movies prompting that AI can go rogue and take over mankind. While most fiction movies have turned true, these ones are soon on their way to reality.

Pressure group Campaign to Stop Killer Robots released a short (fictional) film it produced (in November 2017) to a meeting of countries participating in the Convention on Conventional Weapons, which painted a shocking and scary scenario based on existing technologies.

The video, entitled Slaughterbots, starts with an enthusiastic CEO on stage unveiling a new product to an excited crowd. Instead of a new smartphone of consumer tech innovation, he reveals a miniature drone that uses facial recognition to identify its target before administering a small yet lethal explosive blast to the skull, somewhat similar to a heat-seeking missile, but on a larger and more accurate scale.

The fictional CEO in the video boasts: A $25 million order now buys this, enough to kill half a city  the bad half. Nuclear is obsolete, take out your entire enemy virtually risk-free. Just characterise him, release the swarm and rest easy.

However, the film shows the weapons quickly falling into the hands of terrorists who use them to slaughter politicians and a classroom of students.

Professor Russell said: This short film is more than just a speculation; it shows the results of technologies that we already have. [AI's] potential to benefit humanity is enormous, even in defence. But allowing machines to choose to kill humans will be devastating to our security and freedom  thousands of my fellow researchers agree. We have an opportunity to prevent the future you just saw, but the window to act is closing fast.

More than 70 countries participating in the Convention on Conventional Weapons have been meeting in Geneva this week to discuss a potential worldwide ban on lethal robots. The convention has already prohibited weapons such as blinding lasers before they were widely acquired or used.

Autonomous weapons that have a degree of human control, such as drones, are already used by the militaries of advanced countries such as the UK, US, Israel, and China.

The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots is arguing that modern low-cost sensors and recent advances in artificial intelligence have made it possible to design a weapons system that could attack and kill without human control. Jody Williams, a 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate and co-founder of the campaign, said: To avoid a future where machines select and attack targets without further human intervention, countries must draw the line against unchecked autonomy in weapon systems.

With an adequate political will, governments can negotiate an international treaty and ban killer robotsfully autonomous weapons within two years time.

Earlier in July SpaceX and Tesla head Elon Musk described AI as the biggest risk we face as a civilisation and warned that it needed to be regulated before people see robots go down the street killing people. Musks quote at the time was in response to Facebook shutting down an experiment where two artificially intelligent programs appeared to be chatting with each other in an unknown language only they understood.

All this brings us to this fact what makes us think that these non-living beings without any emotions, having access to limitless data of internet and now able to think on their own, will follow our commands? So will future robots overpower us to wipe us out and rule or will AI evolve to be better and co-exist with the human race? Only time can tell.
Nothing has been heard from Mugabe or his wife Grace directly since the start of the army operation.

Harare's residents have largely ignored the military presence on the streets and continued commuting, socialising and working much as normal, while analysts speculated that Mugabe and the army could be negotiating a transition. (Photo: AP)

Harare: Zimbabweans were weighing an uncertain future without President Robert Mugabe after the army took power and placed the 93-year-old veteran, once seen as a liberation hero, under house arrest.

Most people in the country have not known a time without Mugabe, who has been at the epicentre of public life since coming to power in 1980 on the country's independence from Britain.

The nation was left to his residence stunned after the ailing leader was confined late Tuesday as soldiers took up positions at strategic points across Harare and senior officers commandeered state television.

The Southern African Development Community bloc, currently chaired by Zimbabwe's powerhouse neighbour South Africa, was to meet in Botswana later Thursday to discuss the dramatic situation.

And though nothing has been heard from Mugabe or his wife Grace directly since the start of the army operation, many Zimbabweans are hopeful that the crisis will mark the beginning of a more prosperous future.

"Our economic situation has deteriorated every day - no employment, no jobs," Tafadzwa Masango, a 35-year-old unemployed man, said.

"We hope for a better Zimbabwe after the Mugabe era. We feel very happy. It is now his time to go."

Harare's residents have largely ignored the military presence on the streets and continued commuting, socialising and working much as normal, while analysts speculated that Mugabe and the army could be negotiating a transition.

'The demise of Robert'

Derek Matyszak, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said he expects Mugabe and the military are thrashing out a handover to a new head of state.

"I think Mugabe can still stay in the country. I think they would like to present him as a liberation icon and accord him due respect.

"The difficulty, and this has always been the difficulty for the Mugabe family, is guaranteeing Grace Mugabe's safety... on the demise of Robert."

The international community will also be watching the next phase of the crisis closely.

On Wednesday the African Union issued an unusually terse statement that said the situation on the ground "seems like a coup" and called on the military to pull back and respect the constitution.

Britain, Zimbabwe's colonial ruler until independence, called for calm and warned against handing power to an unelected leader.

"Nobody wants simply to see the transition from one unelected tyrant to the next," said British foreign minister Boris Johnson.

Zimbabwe's army was set on a collision course with Mugabe last week when he abruptly fired his vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa - a lynchpin of the defence and security establishment.

Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe's most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.

But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing five-page rebuke of Mugabe's leadership and Grace's political ambition.

Army chief General Constantino Chiwenga gave an unprecedented press conference on Monday, flanked by dozens of officers, and warned Mugabe that he would intervene if the president continued to purge the ruling ZANU-PF party.

Mnangagwa has been embroiled in a long-running feud with Mugabe's wife Grace, 52.

Both were seen as leading contenders to replace Mugabe but Mnangagwa had the tacit support of the armed forces, which viewed Grace - a political novice - with derision.

In a sign that the military was purging the first lady's backers, a Grace loyalist widely reported to have been detained by the army appeared on state TV late Wednesday.

Kudzai Chipanga, leader of the ZANU-PF's youth league, apologised for criticising Chiwenga following the general's threat to intervene against Mugabe.

"I kindly request General Chiwenga to please accept my apologies on behalf of the youth league and myself. We are still young people, we are still growing up. We learn from our mistakes," said Chipanga, who shifted uneasily as he read the statement.
Gunman went on rampage in a school, other rural areas before being killed.

Los Angeles: Four people were killed and nearly a dozen wounded, including two children, when a gunman went on a rampage on Tuesday, randomly picking his targets at a school and other locations in rural northern California.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told reporters that the assailant was killed by police following the mass shooting, which began around 8:00 am (1600 GMT) at a home in Rancho Tehama Reserve and continued at several locations in the community, including the elementary school.

He said no children were among the dead and the motive for the assault was unclear, although it may be linked to a domestic dispute and a history of disagreements with neighbors.

It was very clear at the onset that we had an individual that was randomly picking targets, Mr Johnston said at a news conference.

This man was very, very intent on completing what he set out to do today.

He said that one child was shot and wounded at the school. Another suffered non-life-threatening injuries while riding in a car with his mother, who was severely wounded.

Mr nJohnston said that the gunman, who has not been identified, went on his shooting spree after stealing a neighbors vehicle and then tried to gain access to the school but was unsuccessful as it was on lockdown. He said that the suspect, who was wearing a military-style vest, left the school to continue on his rampage and crashed the vehicle at one point. He then stole a second vehicle and was killed in a shootout with police.

One of the four victims was a woman the gunman had previously been accused of stabbing, Mr Johnston said.

Rancho Tehama resident Salvador Tello, who was taking his three children to school, described seeing the gunman open fire, killing a woman, Tello said he saw bullets strike the truck in front of him and he put his children down to protect them and put his truck to... reverse, Redding Record Searchlight newspaper reporter Jim Schultz said on Twitter.  he left, he saw (a) woman lying dead in the street and her... wounded husband next to her. Was told help was on its way.

Another witness, Casey Burnett, said the gunman was driving around and shooting randomly from his car.

Area resident Brian Flint told local media that his roommate had been shot and killed by the gunman.

Hes dead. He didnt make it, Flint told KCRA, referring to his roommate. For his family and everything, I feel bad, and well be there for them.

He said that the gunman was a neighbor and had been shooting a lot of bullets lately, hundreds of rounds, large magazines.

The shooting coincides with a flareup of the long-running debate on Americas epidemic of gun violence and the ready accessibility of high-powered weapons, less than 10 days after a gunman shot dead 26 people at a church in Texas.
The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence that has killed and wounded thousands of civilians in Afghanistan in 2017.

Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019. (Photo: AP)

Kabul: A suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital on Thursday near a gathering of supporters of an influential regional leader killed at least nine people and wounded many, the interior ministry said.

It was not clear if the politician, Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party, was at the meeting at the time of the attack.

Islamic State claimed responsibility, according to Amaq, its official news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.

We are proud to be martyred because of our country and our rights. This gathering was for the sake of our country to raise our voice, said witness Jan Mohammad.

The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence that has killed and wounded thousands of civilians in Afghanistan in 2017.

Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said the bomber approached the hotel hosting the gathering in the Khair Khana district of Kabul, on foot. The dead included seven policemen and two civilians.

Media showed photographs, apparently from witnesses, which appeared to show about a dozen bodies. Reuters was unable to verify the photos.

The northern-based Jamiat-i-Islami was for years the main opponent of the Taliban, who draw their support largely from the southern-based ethnic Pashtun community.

In June, a suicide bomber attacked a meeting of Jamiat-i-Islami leaders, including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Abdullah, who is backed by Noor, and other ethnic minority leaders, formed a coalition government with President Ashraf Ghani after a disputed 2014 presidential election.

Ghani on Wednesday sacked the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, raising doubts over whether parliamentary and council ballots scheduled for next year will take place as planned.
For the Chaldean Church, it is crucial to revamp the foundational charter of the state on the basis of the principles of equality and human rights. Some sharia-based rules are unacceptable in a modern and civilian state. The conflict between Arabs and Kurds, and between Erbil and Baghdad, is likely to trigger a new Christian exodus.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) - For Iraqs rebirth, it is necessary to reform the constitution, which is the basis of the countrys unity, and enshrine the principles of equality and human rights, this according to Mgr Shlemon Audish Warduni, auxiliary bishop of Baghdad.

Speaking to AsiaNews, the right-hand man of the Chaldean patriarch Louis Sako, reiterated the commitment of Christians "to peace, security and civil coexistence". Iraq is a rich land, he noted, but it "lacks the will" to achieve this.

Such a goal requires a renewed commitment of the various components of the nation, on the basis of the principle of equality. All citizens must be equal before the constitution. In fact, no nation in the world can "exist without a Charter", Mgr Warduni said.

At the same time, reconstruction after years of war and sectarian violence must be based on the pillars of "justice and freedom." However, the prelate wonders how can we talk about "freedom of conscience" when the basis of governance is "sharia, Islamic law," which guarantees a dominant position to Muslims over other ethno-religious groups.

In the past, the leaders of the Iraqi Church expressed their opposition to Iraqs controversial constitution, in particular Article 37-2, which does not protect religious freedom and the rights of minorities.

In September 2015, Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako sent a letter to Parliament asking for an amendment to the paragraph that says that a minor must be registered as a Muslim if one of the two parents converts to Islam.

Recently, the Chaldean Patriarch, on a visit to France, called for changes to Iraqs constitution to ensure the "equality of all citizens", and that religion would be a matter of "personal choice". Religion, the prelate explained, should not influence the normal conduct of state affairs.

"Today the priority for Iraqis is security and stability." To achieve this, the country needs international help so that it can start up again on a "sane, non-sectarian" basis.

For this reason, it is not enough to replace bricks and mortar unless there is desire to remake a people and a society deeply affected by the devastation of the Islamic State group. The latter might have been defeated militarily but its ideology has not.

To reach this goal, it is necessary to change the 2005 constitution, which is based on a religious and sectarian definition of citizenship, a change that some secular Muslim leaders want as well.

To exemplify the problem, Mgr Warduni cites two situations. In the first, when a father or a mother converts to Islam, their children also become Muslim. Only when they reach 18 can the latter choose to become Christian again. Where is equality, freedom and justice in all this? the prelate asks. The second touches underage girls. In some cases, "nine-year-old girls" are allowed to wed. This is "unacceptable, but some lawmakers in parliament want to put this into law.

Over the past few weeks, a coalition that includes womens groups, activists, artists, and clerics has sought to scrap this "shameful" rule.

Mgr Warduni also addressed the issue of the disastrous row between the central government in Baghdad and the government of the Kurdish autonomous region in Erbil.

This conflict has affected the Christian community, making it hard for many Christians to go home after the Islamic State was driven out.

"We Christians provide some balance, Warduni noted. We want all of the countrys components to work for reconciliation. Yet, there are those who continue to act for their own interest, for money, and this is not okay. The violence between Arabs and Kurds is likely to trigger a new massive exodus of Christians, already marked by war and the brutalities of the Islamic State." (DS)
Francis sends a message to a meeting on end-of-life in which he says the sick must be accompanied with love in the last phase of their life, given information and allowed to decide. This requires careful discernment of the moral object, the attending circumstances, and the intentions of those involved. From this perspective, palliative care plays a major role.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis sent a message to the Pontifical Academy of Life on the occasion of the European regional meeting of the World Medical Association on the end-of-life issue.

In his letter, the pontiff said that from an ethical point of view, overzealous treatment is completely different from euthanasia, which is always wrong, in that the intent of euthanasia is to end life and cause death.

Following Catholic doctrine, the sick should be accompanied with love in the last phase of their life, given information and allowed to decide. This requires careful discernment of the moral object, the attending circumstances, and the intentions of those involved. From this perspective, palliative care plays a major role.

Such questions have always challenged humanity, but [. . .] today take on new forms by reason of increased knowledge and the development of new technical tools in medical care.

It has become possible nowadays to extend life by means that were inconceivable in the past. These can sustain, or even replace, failing vital functions, but that is not the same as promoting health. Greater wisdom is called for today, because of the temptation to insist on treatments that have powerful effects on the body, yet at times do not serve the integral good of the person.

To back his point, Francis cites Pope Pius XII who in 1957 wrote that it is morally licit to decide not to adopt therapeutic measures, or to discontinue them. This requires taking into account the result that can be expected, [. . .] the state of the sick person and his or her physical and moral resources. It thus makes possible a decision that is morally qualified as withdrawal of overzealous treatment.

Such a decision responsibly acknowledges the limitations of our mortality, once it becomes clear that opposition to it is futile. Here one does not will to cause death; ones inability to impede it is merely accepted (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2278). This difference of perspective restores humanity to the accompaniment of the dying, while not attempting to justify the suppression of the living.

Needless to say, in the face of critical situations and in clinical practice, the factors that come into play are often difficult to evaluate. To determine whether a clinically appropriate medical intervention is actually proportionate, the mechanical application of a general rule is not sufficient. There needs to be a careful discernment of the moral object, the attending circumstances, and the intentions of those involved.

In caring for and accompanying a given patient, the personal and relational elements in his or her life and death  which is after all the last moment in life  must be given a consideration befitting human dignity. In this process, the patient has the primary role. The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes this clear: The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able (loc. cit.).

Indeed, it The patient, first and foremost, [who] has the right, obviously in dialogue with medical professionals, to evaluate a proposed treatment and to judge its actual proportionality in his or her concrete case, and necessarily refusing it if such proportionality is judged lacking. That evaluation is not easy to make in today's medical context, where the doctor-patient relationship has become increasingly fragmented and medical care involves any number of technological and organizational aspects.

In addition, we must take into account the combination of technical and scientific capability and economic interests. Increasingly sophisticated and costly treatments are available to ever more limited and privileged segments of the population, and this raises questions about the sustainability of healthcare delivery.

Such a gap is growing not only between rich and poor countries, but also within rich countries. Against this background, the categorical imperative is to never abandon the sick.

Thus, Let each of us give love in his or her own way  as a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother or sister, a doctor or a nurse. But give it! And even if we know that we cannot always guarantee healing or a cure, we can and must always care for the living, without ourselves shortening their life, but also without futilely resisting their death. This approach is reflected in palliative care, which is proving most important in our culture, as it opposes what makes death most terrifying and unwelcome  pain and loneliness.

Finally, Within democratic societies, these sensitive issues must be addressed calmly, seriously and thoughtfully, in a way open to finding, to the extent possible, agreed solutions, also on the legal level.

On the one hand, there is a need to take into account differing world views, ethical convictions and religious affiliations, in a climate of openness and dialogue. On the other hand, the state cannot renounce its duty to protect all those involved, defending the fundamental equality whereby everyone is recognized under law as a human being living with others in society.

Particular attention must be paid to the most vulnerable, who need help in defending their own interests. If this core of values essential to coexistence is weakened, the possibility of agreeing on that recognition of the other which is the condition for all dialogue and the very life of society will also be lost. Legislation on health care also needs this broad vision and a comprehensive view of what most effectively promotes the common good in each concrete situation.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The nun of the Servite religious order survived a rape during the anti-Christian pogroms of Kandhamal. "My suffering will not be in vain." An ex-convict starts a new life after the nun visited his prison. Sister Rani Maria, India's first woman martyr, "is already a saint."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "Continue to share Christ's passion and experience resurrection: this means witnessing to the Gospel in Asia," says Servite Sister Senna Meena Barwa, who is also a survivor of violence and rape during the anti-Christian pogroms of Kandhamal (Orissa) in 2008. The religious was commenting on Pope Francis's November prayer intention [to pray for Christians in Asia, ed]. "Today my life is full of challenges," she says, "everything I do, has the dimension of being a witness.

Sister Meena was born in the Sambalpur district and worked at the Divyajyoti Pastoral Center at K Nuagaon, in the Kandhamal district. Her rape took place on August 25, 2008, when, together with a priest, Fr. Thomas Chellan she was taken, beaten, stripped, and forced to march around the village. The fundamentalists even wanted to burn her alive together with the priest. Only late in the evening, as they continued to be hurt and wound them, were they released by the police.

Regarding the violence she has suffered, he states: " God allowed me to see death and saved me; allowed me to live. There are many who are saved from death and are given the opportunity to witness Christ by living. I feel a certain nostalgia, that God allowed me, my parents, my Congregation and Church to suffer for faith sake. This is also a way, that my family and congregation continues to Witness the Gospel in Asia. And I know this pain will not go waste. I remember Christ Words in Mt 5: 10-11 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me "(Mt 5, 10-11).

Sister Meena recounts an episode that touched her deeply: "I was recently in a shopping mall when I was locked up by a stranger who called me 'Didi, didi' (sister, sister). He held my hand and bowed in front of me. I was taken aback, as I did not recognize the person. Instead, he explained to me that I had knotted the Rakhi around his wrist [a sacred bracelet that the sisters tied to the brothers' wrist to strengthen their bond, a Hindu custom that has become common to celebrate friendship between man and woman even though the two are not biologically bound] - while he was in jail and that was the happiest moment of his life. After a month he left jail and now he has started a new life. Meeting with the stranger filled me with joy and peace. "

The sister was present at the beatification of Sister Rani Maria [on November 4, 2017. The Franciscan Poor Clare, assassinated in 1995 with 54 knifes, is the first woman martyr of India - ndr]. "The ceremony - she says - was a really powerful moment. Sister Rani testified the Gospel in Asia. An immense crowd participated in this beatification with devotion and reverence. It was experience of Heaven for me, in which angels, saints and people participated together without confusion. " Then she concludes: "For me, Sister Rani Maria is already a Saint. She witnessed the Gospel dying of martyrdom. She is an example. Being present at that sacred event has increased my love for God and my faith."
by Li Yuan

Msgr. Joseph Sun Jigen, an official priest, was secretly ordained in 2011. Although approved by the government, the installation ceremony was canceled at the last moment for fear that illicit bishops would attend. At today's ceremony, the vice-president of the Council of Bishops was absent having suffered a heart attack; the vice-president of the Patriotic Association was absent because in mourning. Immediately following his installation, the Lanzhou bishop brings priests and nuns in "pilgrimage" to Jinggangshan, the cradle of the Communist Revolution in Jiangxi.

Handan (AsiaNews) - Msgr. Joseph Sun Jigen was today recognized by the Chinese government as the bishop of Handan (the ancient Yongnian in Hebei). The installation ceremony took place today in a small rural church in Shexian County, presided over by Msgr. Hengshui Pietro Feng Xinmou (the ancient Jingxian, again in the north of Hebei). There were no illicit bishops present at the rite (photo 1).

Msgr Sun is a member of the official Church and was appointed bishop by both the Holy See and the Chinese government a few years ago. His episcopal ordination was scheduled on June 29, 2011, but was called off at the last moment: the faithful did not want the illegitimate bishop, Msgr. Joseph Guo Jincai of Chengde (Hebei) to attend the ceremony. Meanwhile, on June 21 of that year, Msgr. Sun was secretly ordained bishop coadjutor of the diocese.

A few weeks ago, the news of the installation was announced to all the bishops of Hebei. But today only two were present, both approved by the Holy See. In addition to Msgr. Feng, there was Msgr. Francis An Shuxin of Baoding (photo 2)

Bishop Fang Jianping of Tangshan, vice-president of the Chinese Bishops' Council, should have presided over the ceremony. But four days ago he suffered a heart attack and was taken to Beijing for treatment.

Msgr Guo Jincai, vice-president of the Patriotic Association, should have replaced Msgr. Fang, but he could not attend "because of his mother's death," according to a local ecclesial source, who added: "We thank the Lord for taking care of our diocese."

Since the government authorities had planned the presence of an illicit bishop, only 60 priests out of 90 of the diocese and only 100 faithful took part in the installation.

The diocese chose a rural church for the ceremony to avoid irrational reaction from the faithful and tried to block the news of the installation from the majority, said a lay Catholic in Handan who asked for anonymity. But he ridiculed that if there is irrational reaction, a handful of laypeople is enough to cause troubles.

Hebei is the largest Catholic province in China with about one million faithful and a stronghold of the underground Church community. Handan, an active diocese, has a Catholic population of 180,000 but Shexian county has only 500, with mostly are new baptized.

Born on 2 August 1967, Bishop Sun entered Handan diocesan minor seminary in 1986. In 1994, he taught in the minor seminary. In 1995, he was ordained into the priesthood by the late Bishop Chen Bolu of Handan. In 1997, he was appointed chancellor, and between 2001-2005, he was named vicar general. In 2005, he was named parish priest in Yongnian. In 2007, he was appointed bishop-designate of Handan by the Holy See.

The name of Msgr. Sun then underwent the electoral process required by the government, where they vote for candidates for the episcopate. But Catholics knew that the election was false, in the sense that the constituents of the committee would vote and support only the candidate approved by the Vatican.

Between 1998 and 2008, Msgr. Sun was also a member of the governments political consultative conference.

The installation of Msgr. Sun differs from what occurred on November 10 in Lanzhou for bishop Joseph Han Zhihai. He was an underground bishop who became official. According to news from his diocese, the day after his installation, Msgr. Han accompanied "a pilgrimage" of a group of priests and nuns in Lanzhou, Pingliang and Tianshui (Gansu) to Jinggangshan (Jiangxi), considered the cradle of the Communist Revolution, the starting point of the Long March (picture 3).
by Wang Zhicheng

Guizhou University cancelled the classes of Prof Yang Shaozheng, who was told to keep my mouth shut and not make any kind of political statements." Fearing Chinese retaliation, publisher withdraws a book by Australian scholar Clive Hamilton. To avoid ending up like the USRR, Xi will brook no criticism. Conferences across the country outline Party congress goals.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  The new era Xi Jinping outlined in his long speech in last months Communist Party congress has led to scholars forced into silence, censored publications and blocked websites because of any remarks vaguely critical of the Party.

Whilst Party officials and universities pledged to study fully Xi's "thoughts", which are now contained in the Partys constitution, all views not fully aligned with the supreme leader are being purged.

According to Radio Free Asia, Yang Shaozheng, a professor with the Institute of Economics at Guizhou University, was told that his classes were cancelled.

Prof Yang said he was told that it was "something he said," and that the order to terminate his classes had come from "higher up." In the past, he had studied the farm sector and the way it was taxed.

Recently, he sent some articles to a retired publishing editor in Chongqing, deemed "sensitive material" by the police. They told me ... that I had better keep my mouth shut and not make any kind of political statements."

Beijings censorship seems to extend abroad as well. Charles Sturt University author and ethicist Professor Clive Hamilton said that publishers of one of his book pulled the plug on it due to Chinese pressure.

This is the first instance where a major Western publisher has decided to censor material of the Chinese Communist Party in its home country, Hamilton said.

Allen & Unwin described their decision not to publish his book, titled Silent Invasion: How China is Turning Australia into a Puppet State, as a "delay" based on legal advice.

The book details the low-key and sometimes clandestine efforts of Chinese Communist Party agents within Australia's borders to influence public opinion.

For China's ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, allegations of interference are "groundless" and stirring up "China panic".

Meanwhile, a few days after the Communist Party congress, Party and government officials hit the road to promote its spirit and Xi Jinpings thoughts. The latter were enshrined in the constitution, and praise the Chinese dream of making the country a great power by 2050, provided that every aspect of life is under the guidance of the Communist Party.

Several conferences have already taken place various provinces, including Heilongjiang and Jilin in northeastern China, Shanxi in northern China, Anhui and Fujian in eastern China, Yunnan in southwestern China, and Hainan in southern China.

At the Party Congress, Xi had stated that the Party must strongly oppose actions that undermine its authority. That is why every criticism, however minimal, must be nipped in the bud.

Like Allen & Unwin, the Cambridge University Press (CUP) in August censored more than 300 articles from the China Quarterly academic journal's China website at the request of media regulators in Beijing. CUP later reversed the decision under pressure from scholars.

For many years, Xi Jinping and the Party have been afraid of ending up like the Soviet Union, which explains why every critical view of the Partys history is censored.

Indeed, Why did the Soviet Communist Party collapse? An important reason was that their ideals and beliefs had been shaken, Xi said in a speech he gave in Guangdong in 2012.

To dismiss the history of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Communist Party, to dismiss Lenin and Stalin, and to dismiss everything else is to engage in historic nihilism, and it confuses our thoughts and undermines the Partys organisations on all levels.
iStock/Thinkstock(BALTIMORE) -- A veteran Baltimore police detective died in the hospital Thursday, one day after he was shot in the head by an unknown gunman, police said.



The homicide detective, an 18-year veteran with the Baltimore Police, was conducting a follow-up to a homicide investigation around 5 p.m. Wednesday when he saw a man engaging in suspicious activity, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said at a news conference Wednesday evening.



The detective approached the man and was shot in the head shortly after, police said.



The officer was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support, a hospital official said. Davis said Wednesday he was in "very, very grave condition" and was fighting "for his life."



He died around noon Thursday, authorities said.



He was a married father of five.



Davis described the suspect as "cold" and "callous."



"The individual responsible for this heinous crime will be found, charged, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan wrote on Twitter. "The Baltimore Police Department has our full support as they track down this violent criminal and bring him to justice."



"May God bless the brave men and women of the Baltimore Police and all law enforcement who serve and protect us every single day," he added.



A $69,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
PRINT | EMAIL | PERMALINK Reel World After Earth Central Features Contemporary Art Gallery will feature a film screening and discussion of the 1954 feature Salt of the Earth on Thursday, Nov. 16. Shot in New Mexico, the film is based on an arduous 1951 strike against the Empire Zinc Company in Grant County, N.M. The film, directed by Howard Bieberman, utilized few professional actors, relying instead on Grant County localsmany of whom were involved in the actual incident depicted. At the time of its release, the strongly pro-labor, anti-corporate film was labeled Communist and blacklisted. Bieberman spent six months in prison after he refused to answer questions from the House Committee on Un-American Activities. The film itself went unseen for decades because many theaters refused to show it. In recent years, however, it has become an important historical document and a hallmark of American neo-realist cinema. Artist Nina Elder will be on hand to discuss the film. The screening/discussion will take place from 7 to 9pm. Central Features is located at 514 Central Ave. SW Ste. 2. View in Alibi calendar

Students of Cinema The New Mexico Film Foundation unveils its second annual Student Filmmakers Showcase this Saturday, Nov. 18, at Santa Fes Violet Crown Cinema (1606 Alcalesea St.). From noon to 3pm a collection of short films by college-age filmmakers from around the state will be showcased. Tickets are $5 for the general public or free for students with ID.

Pueblo Fest The 4th Annual Pueblo Film Fest gets underway, Nov. 17 through 19, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (2401 12th Street NW). This film festivalthe only one in the US dedicated to the work of Pueblo filmmakers and actors, as well as films that explore the Pueblo experiencewill include screenings, presentations, workshops, an open casting call and discussions with renowned Pueblo filmmakers. This years fest even includes some classic Native-made films, alongside the new work. It all kicks off on Friday at 6pm with an opening reception featuring drinks and appetizers. The opening night film is the Canadian documentary Rumble: Indians Who Rocked the World, which fills in a missing chapter of rock and roll history covering the indigenous influence on popular music. Eleven other features and shorts will screen throughout the weekend. A suggested $10 donation gets you in the door. For a complete schedule of films and events, go to indianpueblo. org/ centerevent/ 4th- annual- pueblo- film- fest.


(Gudella/Bigstock.com) (Gudella/Bigstock.com)

More people than ever before from Japan and the United Kingdom are expected to head to Australia next year with new air routes likely to boost the demand, according to tourism officials.National Australian airline Qantas and Tourism Australia are already preparing for the influx as the new air service between Osaka and Sydney starts next month to add to existing flights between Tokyo and Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.The inbound Japanese market is already booming with official figures showing that in the 12 months to the end of June 2017 Japan was the fifth largest market for visitors and spending.The direct flights between Osaka and Sydney were going to be seasonal but it has now been announced that they will operate three times per week all year round and will be the only direct route between the two cities.Qantas International chief executive officer Gareth Evans said the feedback from Qantas customers, especially frequent flyers, had exceeded expectations. 'When we announced the direct seasonal service between Sydney and Osaka in July, we knew it would be popular with our customers, including those travelling from New Zealand, who wanted another gateway into Japan,' he explained.'We are really pleased to be able to extend the service year round to support the strong growth in travel between the two countries,' he added.Meanwhile, the first ever direct air service from Australia has taken a step forward with the first of eight Dreamliner planes arriving from the United States. The new route from Perth to London marks a new era for flights between Australia and Europe.Qantas Group chief executive officer Alan Joyce said the arrival of a new type of aircraft was a special time for any airline, but the capability of the Dreamliner put it in a different category.'We've taken delivery of hundreds of aircraft in our 98 year history but only a few of them have been game changers like this one. It gives us a combination of flying range and passenger comfort that will change how people travel,' he explained.'This aircraft means we can finally offer a direct link between Australia and Europe, with our Perth to London flight that starts next year. We're looking at several other exciting route options as well,' he added.The first Dreamliner, registered as VH-ZNA, will fly a number of domestic passenger services around Australia to assist with crew familiarisation before its first international service from Melbourne to Los Angles on 15 December this year.The second Qantas Dreamliner is currently on the production line at Boeing's Seattle factory and will be delivered by early December. Two more Dreamliners will be delivered by March next year to coincide with the start of Perth to London services and all eight will have arrived by the end of 2018.
Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi will unveil its 2018 Eclipse Cross compact SUV ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show at a Nov. 29 press conference.

The company teased the vehicle in late August during a total solar eclipse at an event outside of Salem, Oregon.

Mitsubishi will provide details about the vehicle at the press conference at 1:20 p.m. West Coast time during the AutoMobilityLA trade show.
@GETTYIMAGES.COM/LALOCRACIO

A renter scrutinizes his credit card bill and notices a $50 charge from an unfamiliar company. Upon further review, the renter discovers that the charge was made by a toll processing company and is related to the car he rented during a recent family vacation.

The renter recalls accidentally driving onto a cashless toll road when traveling to a theme park on the first day of the trip, but is shocked to see that he was charged $2.50 for the toll plus a daily toll service fee for each day of the rental  even though he only used the toll road once. The renter doesnt remember agreeing to the rental companys toll service and calls the rental company to demand a refund.

Technology Trends

The renters confusion may stem, in part, from recent innovations in both toll collection methods and rental car toll payment processing. If the renter was traveling on the same toll road 30 years ago, he would have stopped at a booth, paid cash, and driven away without giving tolls a second thought.

The old toll collection system began to change in 1989 when the Dallas North Tollway implemented electronic toll collection technology (ECT) and became the first cashless toll road in the U.S. Cashless lanes, roads, and bridges are now pervasive in the United States, and many cities and some states (such as Colorado and Washington) have adopted all-electronic tolling (AET) for toll roads. Many toll roads are near airports and popular tourist destinations that are likely to be traveled by rental car customers.

Just as toll authorities have adopted ECT to improve the toll collection process, rental companies have embraced technological innovations in processing toll payments. Traditionally, rental companies have relied on renters to pay tolls in cash as they passed through a toll booth. That process creates cost and administrative burdens on rental companies if renters fail to pay tolls and is becoming obsolete due to the increasing adoption of cashless lanes and roads.

As a result, many rental companies have implemented electronic toll payment systems that are connected to participating toll authorities through the rental companys (or a third partys) master account.

In an electronic payment system the renter typically may opt in at the time of rental, paying a daily fee for use of the service. Or, the renter is deemed to opt in (generally at a higher daily fee) if the rental car is driven on a cashless lane or road without having made alternative payment arrangements, such as by using a personal transponder that is accepted on the toll road or paying the toll authority directly.

Class Action Claims

One benefit of both ECT and rental car electronic toll payment systems is a more efficient toll road experience for drivers. However, the intersection of cashless toll lanes and rental company electronic payment systems may lead to unhappy customers  and litigation  if they do not fully understand the rules of the road.

Over the past few years, several class action claims have been filed against rental companies alleging inadequate disclosure of toll payment terms, failure to disclose use of third parties, unauthorized charges to the customers credit card, breach of contract, and similar claims.

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For example, in June 2014, Hertz and American Traffic Solutions settled a class action case for more than $11 million. The suit claimed violations of consumer protection laws and breach of contract due to alleged inadequate disclosure of the Plate Pass toll program (Doherty and Simonson v. Hertz, 2014 WL 2916494[D.N.J. 2014]).

A Florida Settlement

More recently, the Florida Attorney General conducted an investigation of rental car tolling practices.

Florida has a number of cashless toll roads operated by the state or political subdivisions. Drivers are billed either through a transponder or plate recognition system. Avis Budget Group, like other major rental car companies, offers an electronic toll payment service. The Avis Budget program is called e-Toll and operates similar to the process described above.

Following consumer complaints that the terms and fees of the e-Toll system were not fully disclosed to renters, and as part of a settlement agreement with the Florida Attorney Generals Office, Avis Budget confirmed that it will clearly and conspicuously disclose information about the existence of cashless toll roads in Florida and all the fees and costs of the e-Toll program.

Avis Budgets settlement agreement with the Attorney General specifies the information that is to be provided to renters and where and how the disclosures are to be made. Avis Budget must disclose (1) that Florida has cashless tolls; (2) that consumers may pay for the tolls with the e-Toll system after passing through toll locations and will be charged a daily fee even if the system is not used (if that continues to be the program); (3) the amount of the fee; and (4) how the charge can be avoided.

Among other disclosure methods, at airport locations, Avis Budget must post signs at rental counters and place flyers on the drivers seat of a rental vehicle (or other method).

The Golden Gate Complaint

The San Francisco City Attorney has also filed a complaint.

In 2013 the Golden Gate Bridge converted to AET. Although there is no longer an option for motorists to pay their tolls in cash, motorists crossing the Golden Gate Bridge have a number of toll payment options, including establishing a FasTrak account (typically for locals); paying before or after crossing the bridge by email, phone or other method; or paying an invoice mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle after crossing the bridge (based on a license plate recognition system).

Hertz offers an alternative option, the Plate Pass Program, through American Traffic Solutions (ATS), which pays the bridge toll and charges the renters credit card. The Plate Pass Program costs renters $4.95 per day up to a maximum of $24.75 plus applicable toll charges.

The San Francisco City Attorney filed a lawsuit against Hertz and ATS in early 2017, alleging that consumers are harmed by insufficient disclosure of Plate Pass Program details. As with the Florida Attorney Generals case and other recent litigation over toll payment systems, the core of the allegations against Hertz and ATS is based on the adequacy of the disclosures to renters and whether there are options to reduce or eliminate fees.

In an amended complaint filed in August 2017, the City Attorney claims that renters are not provided adequate disclosure about the Plate Pass Program costs and alternatives, and are charged high fees on credit card accounts following the completion of the rental. The City Attorney seeks substantial civil penalties, restitution of fees and costs to renters, and an injunction.

The case will now likely proceed to discovery and potentially motions by the defendants challenging the claims of the City Attorney.

Legislative Actions

The fees charged by car rental companies for processing or paying cashless tolls of renters has also come to the attention of state legislatures. In 2017, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey all introduced bills that would limit the amounts that rental companies may charge in connection with electronic toll processing systems. None of the bills passed in 2017.

Illinois: The Illinois House introduced a bill that would prohibit a rental company from charging a renter a fee that is more than twice the toll amount charged to the rental companys master account.

Massachusetts: Bills pending in the Massachusetts House and Senate prohibit a rental company from charging more than the actual costs for a toll and the rental companys good faith estimate of its actual charges to process tolls. In addition, the pending Massachusetts legislation would prohibit rental companies from charging a rental fee for use of an electronic tolling transponder.

New Jersey: A bill was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly to limit the fees for use of a transponder to $2 each day it is used. The bill also states the renter shall not be charged a fee on any day that the driver does not drive through an electronic toll collection system or only drives through a system that does not offer an alternative payment option.

Disclose, Disclose, Disclose!

The majority of complaints and litigation concerning rental company electronic toll payment systems are based on customer claims of surprise and confusion about post-rental charges for tolls and toll service fees.

To help avoid customer complaints and potential litigation, the rental company should thoroughly review its electronic toll disclosure practices.

The rental company might consider displaying disclosures about an electronic toll payment system using counter signs or mats, brochures, and/or in-car notices.

Moreover, counter personnel should be able to explain the electronic toll payment system to customers.

Rental Agreement Disclosures Regarding electronic tolling specific to the written rental agreement, the terms and conditions and a face page should disclose the following (to the extent applicable): Renter responsibility for payment of all tolls and related fees;

Identification and authorization of any third-party processors involved with the electronic payment system; The fact that some tolls and bridges are cashless; Details about the fees and conditions of the rental companys electronic payment system, including whether a daily fee is charged for each day of the rental (even if a toll is not used) and whether the renter will be charged the daily fee plus incurred tolls; Consequences of traveling on a cashless lane without making alternative payment arrangements; Possibility of avoiding toll roads by planning an alternative route; and Renters authorization of sharing of personal information with toll authorities and third-party toll processors, as well as authorization for the rental company (or third-party processor) to charge the renters credit card for payment of tolls, daily service fees, taxes, and other related fees and charges.
Enterprise Holdings sent 17,000 vehicles to Texas following Hurricane Harvey to meet demand for insurance replacement vehicles. Photo courtesy of Enterprise Holdings.

In the aftermath of one of the worst hurricane seasons in decades, car rental companies, auctions, and fleet consignors are still assessing the effects on fleet replacement and vehicle sales.

Jonathan Smoke, Cox Automotives chief strategist, estimates that 600,000 to 1 million vehicles were severely damaged or lost as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. Of that, Cox estimates 18,000 to 32,000 were fleet vehicles.

Different Damage

As many as 400,000 vehicles will need to be replaced in Florida as a result of Hurricane Irma, including as many as 11,000 fleet vehicles, according to Smoke.

Much of Hurricane Irmas damage came in southwest Florida, including Fort Myers and Tampa, as well as the Florida Keys. Unlike Hurricane Harvey, which caused heavy flooding, Hurricane Irma damaged vehicles with high-speed winds and heavy rainfall.

Commercial fleets likely suffered the brunt of the storms impact, as larger rental operators mostly moved their vehicles into parking garages to protect them from the wind and rain. Hertz saw minimal damage to its rental fleet in Florida, said Karen Drake, a spokesperson for Hertz Holdings.

The westward track helped to avoid more damage in Orlando, which is home to more than a third of the total fleet in Florida, Smoke said.

Vehicles in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina saw only a small amount of damage, Smoke said.

In Texas, Hurricane Harvey likely damaged 320,000 to 580,000 vehicles, with fleet making up 12,000 to 21,500 units. Enterprise Holdings reported it had lost 3,000 rental vehicles, while Hertz reported a loss of 500 units in Texas.

Rental operators shipped thousands of units into Texas following the storm to meet demand for insurance replacement vehicles. Enterprise sent 17,000 vehicles to the state, the company announced.

We were able to move most of the units to cover and they werent damaged or flooded out, said Lisa Martini, an Enterprise spokesperson. That made a big difference for us.

Salvage Market

The hurricane effects on the salvage vehicle markets were vastly different, depending on the hurricane and location.

Copart, an online auction company, expected to process about 7,500 additional salvage vehicles in Florida as a result of Hurricane Irma, a small number given that on average the company processes about 150,000 salvage vehicles a year in the state, noted Copart CEO Jay Adair.

Harvey was a different story. In Houston, Adair expected Copart to process about 85,000 vehicles. This rise in volume is poised to double the amount of vehicles that Copart typically sells in Houston  about 60,000 units a year.

Sales Estimates

Regarding vehicle sales in the hurricane-impacted areas in Florida and Southeast Texas (primarily Houston), Smoke said Cox is expecting 400,000 to 600,000 replacement units  or incremental demand  in September, October, and November.

Of this total, 30% to 40% should be new, Smoke said. This translates into as many as 210,000 units in incremental new sales and just shy of 400,000 used, if the high end of our estimate comes in.

Cox is expecting replacement activity to remain strong through October and November, but neither of the months will likely see the same pace seen in September, Smoke said.

Through the first half of October, the Manheim Index is on track for another above-trend increase and new index record. Used vehicle prices are reflecting a surge in demand and a tightening of supply, which continued in October but had started to slow down.

Black Book sees the same trend. According to Black Books Oct. 9 Market Insights report, overall segment depreciation remains at steady levels, although bidding activity had begun to slow down after weeks of increased lane activity spurred by the hurricanes.

Although consumer confidence fell slightly in September, vehicle values held very strong because of all the vehicle replacement activity caused by the hurricanes, said Anil Goyal, senior vice president of automotive valuation and analytics for Black Book.
Car rental companies reaching the most iconic landmarks in the U.S. will enjoy repeat customers. How do you make sure they rent from you? Jon Torgerson, a Rent-A-Wreck franchisee in Black Hills, S.D., makes sure to contact potential repeat business at least six months early and delivers rental vehicles as needed. Torgerson took this photo of Mt. Rushmore from Iron Mountain Road. Photo by Jon Torgerson.

Targeting new customers should be part of a rental companys marketing campaign, but its also important to focus on existing customers.

Why? A number of reasons: Market research has shown that repeat customers spend more and are less price sensitive, theyre your best brand advocates, and your cost to market to them is substantially less than to new customers.

In fact, it costs five times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one, according to business consultants Lee Resources Inc. Its hard to get a new client, so make sure you keep your previous clients loyal to you, says Doris Morningstar, senior media consultant at Hibu, an online marketing agency.

Nonetheless, many companies are still focused more on acquiring new customers rather than marketing to existing ones. Then how can a rental company better engage with its existing customer base?

Cultivate Your Influencers

Ric Militi, CEO of InnoVision Marketing, recommends maintaining relationships with groups that can send customers.

Every rental company has its regular influencers or groups that repeatedly send customers, he says. Influencers can come in the form of insurance companies or auto body shops.

Additionally, there is a difference between marketing to travelers and local business customers. The issue with travelers is frequency and cost. If someone comes to Los Angeles for vacation, he or she might not come back to visit again, according to Militi.

Focus on finding a way to get to the key influencers that drive customer decisions  including digital advertising, traditional advertising, travel agents, or referrals, says Militi. Find these influencers before travelers make their rental car decisions.

When it comes to local customers, Militi suggests maintaining relationships with local businesses. For example, a rental company could gain regular customers when the business needs rentals for executives in town.

We talked to rental car operators to find out how they reach out to their existing customer base  increasing the probability they will come back to rent again.

Drive Service Over Price

A Zendesk study found that consumers rank quality (88%) and customer service (72%) as the top two elements to remain loyal to a brand, followed by price and convenience.

Morningstar encourages rental agents to recognize repeat customers over the phone and at the counter. After asking if customers have rented with the company before, Morningstar recommends acknowledging their loyalty to the company and thanking them for their business.

Jon Torgersons goal is to make it as simple as possible for his returning customers.

We used to fax the rental agreement and leave the vehicle for the customer to pick up, says Torgerson, general manager of Rent A Wreck in Black Hills, S.D. Now we use DocuSign so they can sign the rental agreement over email.

Much of Torgersons rentals are repeat business, including visitors to Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills, as well as Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attendees.

To Militis point on influencers: We have various church groups and private religious schools that send out people to do work on the Indian reservation every year, Torgerson says. We have a childrens museum that rents vans to run a three-week archeological program for families and teachers every summer.

Torgerson adds another level of service by delivering the vehicles. We can leave the vehicles at the airport or take them to the customers hotel or campground, he says. Customers dont mind paying for the service.

Expediting the rental experience improves overall satisfaction, which is borne out in J.D. Power & Associates North American Rental Car Satisfaction Studies. According to the annual survey, implementing an express/counter bypass service, automated check-in kiosk machine, or a dedicated member program counter can drive high satisfaction ratings.

However, the greater amount of human interaction also leads to greater loyalty and satisfaction, according to Rick Garlick, J.D. Powers global travel and hospitality practice lead.

The idea is to create meaningful interactions without slowing people down, says Garlick, such as finding ways to provide assistance without intruding.

For vehicles featuring newer technology, its helpful for customers to understand how to use them. Every new technological feature also creates a potential point of dissatisfaction if the customer cant figure out how to use it, says Garlick.

When Leslie Saunders recently picked up her rental car in Philadelphia, she didnt receive any instructions on the operation of the vehicle.

The rental car was a luxury German vehicle, but I drive a vehicle with a completely different technology system, says Saunders, CEO and founder of Leslie Saunders Insurance Agency Inc. I couldnt synchronize my phone or use the car navigation. The vehicle had great features, but with no one to explain the features to me quickly, I would have preferred a simple Ford Focus with my phone synched in 10 seconds.

To help customers learn more about a vehicles technology features, Saunders thinks it will be standard to hire some rovers, like the Genius Bar at the Apple store, to improve the renters experience.

Keep the Conversation Going

Torgerson refers to his marketing as old-fashioned. He starts calling his regular group customers at least six months early, especially if they need a large number of 15-passenger vans or full-size SUVs.

Since I know the usual time frame of the groups visit, Ill call to make sure that I can reserve the vehicles ahead of time for them, he says. It allows me to know what vehicles I need before summertime hits.

To help customers remember the Priceless Rent-A-Car name, Nick Mariano and his staff give out personalized items such as pens, pads, magnets, and hats. Photo courtesy of Nick Mariano.

Even after the customer returns the car, Nick Mariano continues the conversation by educating customers about his companys other rental offerings.

Because a majority of our business is replacement rentals, either warranty or insurance, most of our existing customers come from dealerships, body shops, and insurance companies, says Mariano, owner of the Priceless Car Rental franchise in Utica, N.Y. With each replacement customer, we educate them on everything we do in hopes that they will use Priceless for all their rental needs.

For example, Priceless will tell all of its replacement customers about its variety of vehicles, including the specialty ones (12-passenger minivans and seven- and eight-passenger all-wheel-drive SUVs).

To help customers remember the Priceless name, Mariano and his staff give out personalized pens, magnets, and small trash bags to customers once they return the rental vehicle. For birthdays, the company will send out birthday email messages.

This counter interaction is also a great time to sell ancillary products to enhance an existing customers experience. Ken Stellon, executive vice president and partner at Frontline Performance Group, recommends offering products like a travel tablet or wireless product and promoting special discounts for booking the next rental ahead of time.

At the end of the rental or during check-in, sell repeat customers the opportunity to pre-buy $100 rental car credits for $70, says Stellon. Many business travelers would do this and use the credits for other personal trips. Another idea is pre-selling 40 rental days via a mobile channel at the cost of 35 days.

Reward Loyalty

A Zendesk study asked consumers about whether a loyalty program would affect their decision to return to that brand. Over 50% of respondents would consider increasing the amount of business they would do with the company for loyalty rewards points.

Mex Rent A Car, with corporate locations serving Mexico and affiliate locations in Latin America and Europe, is looking to develop a loyalty program for its customers. We want an easy-to-use program that doesnt take too many points to redeem benefits, says Jordi Rivero, Mexs chief product officer.

In addition to free rentals, Rivero says that Mex would offer additional incentives, including free vehicle upgrade, free upgrade on insurance, ability to share the benefit with someone else, and free child seat rental for families.

Midway Car Rental is planning to expand its VIP program, primarily at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Weve had this system for years for corporate clients, but were marketing it differently today, says Ryan Kerzner, Midway Car Rentals managing director of sales. The new program is for returning corporate and retail customers. Members will have their own booking access online.

Midways program expedites the car rental process with chauffeured service at the airport.

VIP members get picked up at the airports baggage claim area. Customers are taken to a limousine in the airport parking garage that drives them to Midways rental location. Once arriving at the office, VIP customers sign the rental contract on the iPad and their rental vehicle is waiting for them.

When returning the rental vehicle, Midway will take VIP customers back to the airport in the same car that they were renting, according to Kerzner. This way, the driver will drop them off and they dont need to move their luggage.

As a VIP client, you dont have to go into our office and wait in line for your rental vehicle, says Kerzner. But we do have a special office we can walk these customers into if needed. We cant do a rental transaction on airport property; LAX forbids it.

To incentivize its existing customers to come back and rent again, JUCY offers a 15% discount for returning customers.

Use Data to Personalize Communication

For Nima Mobasser, using existing customer data is key for maintaining communication with his companys existing customers.

Mobasser suggests gathering and keeping renter data such as country, state, age/gender, date/season of rental, number of travelers, and destinations/preferences so that a rental company can automate and customize discounts and email communication. This makes it more personal and relevant, thus achieving better retention, says Mobasser, vice president of State Van Rental.

Rent Centric, a provider of car rental management systems, has integrated Salesforce into its software platform. For its car rental customers, Salesforce allows them to create customizable emails and choose how often to send them out and to which groups, according to Alex Aryafar, Rent Centrics chief technology officer.

Email marketing is a way to engage potential customers. By creating personalized emails, you help keep your brand on their minds, says Aryafar.

If someone calls a rental company for a quote on a vehicle, the customer relation management system will take down his or her name and contact information. Salesforce will put it into the leads area. A salesperson can then group these leads into two categories: likely to rent and unlikely to rent.

The Salesforce system will automatically email the likely to rent group with follow-up emails featuring personalized specials, says Aryafar. A rental company could choose to email the unlikely to rent group once a year with a special while emailing the likely to rent group more often.

By Salesforce grouping these potential customers into different categories, a salesperson doesnt need to follow up with each customer (or potential lead) one at a time.

If one of these people rent a vehicle, Rent Centric can send the rental agreement and how much they paid into the Salesforce database. By having this information, a rental company can create marketing material based customers preferences and how often they rented a vehicle, according to Aryafar.
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Adam Matos took the stand Wednesday in his quadruple murder trial, admitting to the slayings but describing a scene of self-defense.



Matos faces death penalty if convicted

Accused of killing former girlfriend, new boyfriend, two others

Related: Gruesome details as Matos trial begins

Bay News 9 reporter Cait McVey in courtroom



Matos, 32, is accused of killing former girlfriend Megan Brown, her new boyfriend Nicholas Leonard, and Brown's parents, Greg and Margaret, in late August 2014. Prosecutors believe jealousy may have been the motive for the murders.

Closing arguments were taking place Wednesday afternoon, and it's possible the jury will begin deliberations Thursday.



On the stand Wednesday, Matos told the court he moved to Florida with the Brown family under the impression that he and the mother of his child, Megan Brown, were going to make a go of it.

"She wanted to start going to nursing school and we had plans of getting married," Matos said.

But Matos said tension ensued when he found out Brown was seeing another man.

Matos said after arguing with Brown about it the morning of Aug. 28, 2014, he left to cool off, only to return later in the day to find an angry Leonard waiting for him.

Matos testified that Leonard grabbed him by the throat and pulled out a gun. The two struggled for Leonard's gun, and Matos says he managed to stab him.

"We ended up in the corner by the dressers," he said of the struggle. "And I saw a knife on top of the dresser that I used to defend myself, and I stabbed him in the arm a few times."

"I lost it completely. I just realized that I killed the woman that I love. The mother of my child. And at that point I realized that (son) Tristan no longer had a mother, no longer had a grandfather. And he no longer had me. And at that point I felt like my life was over." - Adam Matos on stand Wednesday

Matos says Megan Brown's father, Greg Brown, was home at the time and tried to shoot him with one of his hunting guns.

He described a scene of self-defense as he shot Greg Brown with the gun he wrestled away from Leonard. He said he shot and killed Megan Brown because he thought she also had a gun.



"I lost it completely. I just realized that I killed the woman that I love," Matos said in court. "The mother of my child. And at that point I realized that (son) Tristan no longer had a mother, no longer had a grandfather. And he no longer had me. And at that point I felt like my life was over."

Matos testified that in a fit of anger, he went back into the other room  where he left a bleeding Leonard  and beat him to death with a hammer.

"I grabbed a hammer that was on the floor. And I just kept hitting him," Matos said.

He said paranoia then led him to beat Margaret Brown to death when she came home from work that night. Matos said he thought Margaret Brown had something in her hand and just "reacted."



Investigators found the four bodies in a wooded area not far from the Brown home several days after the murders.

Asked Wednesday if at some point he moved the bodies from the home, Matos said, "Yes." He said he wanted to get the bodies away from the house and away from his son.

Matos said, "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it. I relieve it every day and it just haunts me every day."



He faces the death penalty if convicted.
In the wake of the recent shootings in Seminole Heights, the Salvation Army in Tampa is urging people living on the area's streets to come to their shelter for safety reasons.

Agency offering free shuttles from Seminole Heights center to shelter

Walk from Seminole Heights to shelter about an hour

"We want to be there for our neighbors."

We know this is an anxious time to be in Seminole Heights," said Salvation Army Captain Andy Miller. "Weve been in Seminole heights, serving in Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, downtown Tampa -- this is our neighborhood and we want to be there for our neighbors."



The agency is offering shuttles to their shelter downtown for people who show up to their Seminole Heights location during business hours. They said the walk from Seminole Heights to downtown is about an hour, so theyre doing anything they can to get people off the streets and prevent them from becoming a potential victim.



Our goal all together is to get people off the streets and on their feet, so our sense is that this might be a way for them to come to our shelter and really find a safe place, Miller said. If it takes an unfortunate situation like this to help people to get off the street, we want to be there for them at that point.



Vanessa Morris is staying at the Salvation Army shelter downtown, but she grew up in Seminole Heights. She said shes hoping people in that community who have no place to go take up the agency on their offer, especially with what appears to be a serial killer loose on the streets.



Nine out of ten, if they have the ok to come here, then they should go ahead and come to the Salvation Army and get some kind of shelter, Morris said.



She even offered advice to those people hesitant to leave the area.

Dont take nothing for granted, and if you can, just get into a safe place to where youre ok, she said.


It's been more than a year since Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 2, legalizing medical marijuana.

Legalized medical marijuana in Florida still facing obstacles

State health officials missed deadline to unveil rules

Lawsuits holding up process

However, it's still not available to tens of thousands of patients with chronic conditions. That's because state health officials have missed a key deadline to unveil some long-awaited medical marijuana rules.

Governor Rick Scott's medical marijuana Czar, Christian Bax, faced a panel of frustrated state lawmakers Wednesday. He gave reasons why the administration hasn't rolled out all the rules to make legalization a reality.

Bax pointed to lawsuits, brought by farmers who want to get their hands on medical marijuana licenses and even a printing company that wants to make patient ID cards, as the biggest obstacles.

"For now, I can say that from the top to bottom, the department is 100 percent committed to making the process move efficiently for patients in Florida," he said.

Bax also said his department gave approval to two new nurseries to begin growing full-potency medical marijuana.

So far, 52,000 patients have enrolled in the state's medical marijuana registry.
By all appearances, Ronnie Felton seemed to be a simple man, but to members of the New Season Apostolic Ministries, he was "Superman."

[Felton] did everything! said ministry deacon Johnny Daniels.

One thing Ronnie was doing in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday morning was helping to organize the churchs food bank. But while checking the perimeter of the building, Ronnie was shot and killed, becoming the fourth person gunned down in random killings in Seminole Heights since October.

He was a blessing to this ministry, this food ministry, this community because he was such a big help, said Daniels.

Members held a special food bank Wednesday in Ronnies memory. They dont see Ronnie as much a victim, though; instead, they see him as a hero, because they believe he sacrificed his life for the people who were behind the church when they her a gunshot.

I think the Lord pulled him away from them to save them," Daniels explained. "Because he did something that morning that he never usually does. He hugged everyone that morning. And then he did his routine, talked to his brother on the phone, walked the perimeter checking on everyone, making sure they were ok. And he walked across the street and walked back."
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A traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Chambers County led to the seizure of approximately 70 pounds of methamphetamine, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

A 38-year-old man from California and a 34-year-old Rhode Island woman were subsequently arrested and booked at Chambers County Jail for felony drug possession and misdemeanor marijuana possession, DPS said.
Over 200 pounds of cocaine was seized during a traffic stop on Interstate 10 on Tuesday near the Texas/Louisiana border, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said.

A 2017 pickup traveling east was pulled over for a traffic violation by the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force near mile marker 14.
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AUSTIN -- Steve Mostyn, a prominent Houston trial attorney and a top Democratic Party donor, has died. He was 46.

In a statement, his family confirmed Thursday his death on Wednesday "after a sudden onset and battle with a mental health issue."

"Steve was a beloved husband and devoted father who adored his children and never missed any of their sporting events," the statement reads. "He was a true friend, and a faithful fighter for those who did not have a voice."

Now Playing: FOX 26 News anchor Jonathan Martin Video: Fox 26 Houston

READ ALSO: Mostyn discusses Harvey's impact on insurance law

"Steve touched countless lives. Many friends and colleagues in Texas and throughout the country have reached out during this painful time. Our family is requesting privacy . . . The details of a celebration of Steve's life will be announced at a later date."

"In honor of Steve's life and legacy, please consider supporting the important work of the Mostyn Moreno Foundation or the Special Olympics of Texas. If you or a loved one are thinking about suicide, or experiencing a health crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right now."

Born John Steven Mostyn in Whitehouse, a small town in East Texas, just southeast of Tyler, Mostyn graduated from the South Texas College of Law in 1996 and joined a Houston firm. Soon, he went on his own to create what he called "a uniquely different Texas law firm" -- Mostyn Law -- that focused on corporate negligence and wrongdoing.

READ ALSO: Million-dollar campaign checks grow more common in Texas

Hailstorm and storm lawsuits against insurance companies became a specialty of his firm, attracting the ire of insurers and the Republican officials they supported politically. Lawsuits filed by his firm took up the cause of homeowners who thought they had been underpaid for damages, in what became a litigation model for subsequent storms.

In several legislative sessions since Hurricane Ike struck the Texas Coast in 2008, lawmakers pushed for reforms to limit lawsuits over storm and hailstorm damages -- invoking Mostyn's name and citing the 1,200 suits his firm filed after Rita and another flurry of cases he filed in 2012 over a hailstorm in Hidalgo County.

The latest bill designed to end "weather-related lawsuit abuse" was signed into law earlier this year and took effect in September.

Facing the legislative pushback Mostyn became politically active, contributing to candidates and political action committees that opposed lawsuit reform -- with millions going to Democrats.

He also became a frequent target of Republican attacks for his activism -- at the courthouse and against them in politics. At times, he almost seemed to relish the fight -- such as in 2010, when he paid for full-page ads in Texas newspapers calling Gov. Rick Perry a "coward" for refusing to debate his Democratic rival, former Houston Mayor Bill White.

Since 2000, Mostyn had donated more than $24 million to political causes in his name and in his law firm's name, according to campaign finance records.

In 2012 alone, Mostyn donated $5.2 million to various pro-Democratic Super PACs ranging from Planned Parenthood to Texans for America's Future to Priorities USA Action, a pro-Barack Obama PAC, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

In 2014, he and his wife donated approximately $3 million to Democratic candidates, including state Sen. Wendy Davis, who we running against Republican Greg Abbott. Davis lost.

"I am heartbroken," Davis tweeted Thursday. "Texas has lost an extraordinary person. Steve was a committed and effective fighter for justice, a wonderful husband, father and friend. He leaves behind a lasting impact on everyone who's life he touched."

Mostyn and his wife, Amber, were co-founders of the Ready for Hillary PAC, a political action committee supporting Clinton's unsuccessful campaign for president. At the same time, state campaign finance records show he also contributed to a police-affiliated PAC that supported Republican primary candidates.

Mostyn also help fund the Texas Organizing Project and Battleground Texas, two Democratic comeback strategies for the party that has not won a statewide election in two decades.

"It's hard to really quantify the hole it leaves for progressives. He's probably the first true financial benefactor for progressives in Houston, and I say that because it's really different than supporting individual candidates the way trial lawyers have collectively in the past. He really supported the underlying causes, which is a different kind of take, and I'm not sure that gets filled, certainly not immediately."Despite the Mostyns and the law firm's high-profile political activism -- they contributed more than $1.8 million to Texas politicians in 2016 -- Mostyn told the Texas Tribune in a September interview that he was growing tired of almost single-handedly funding Democratic candidates in a state that was solidly Republican.

He said he intended to downscale his political giving to Democrats in Texas elections to encourage others to step forward. "We've asked other people to do it and they want to do it and I want other people to get credit for doing it," the Tribune quoted him as saying. "I mean this is a giant, giant state, if we were trying to flip Vermont we'd be done."

Political consultants and Democratic officeholders said Thursday that his comments -- and, now, his death -- will mean that Democrats will have to ramp up new donors.

"It's hard to really quantify the hole it leaves for progressives," said Jay Aiyer, a political science professor at Texas Southern University.

"He's probably the first true financial benefactor for progressives in Houston, and I say that because it's really different than supporting individual candidates the way trial lawyers have collectively in the past. He really supported the underlying causes, which is a different kind of take, and I'm not sure that gets filled, certainly not immediately."

Among other honors and awards, Mostyn had served as the youngest president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association -- at age 41.

As word of Mostyn's death spread in in Austin on Thursday, political activists and Democrats reacted with surprise and sympathy.

"Steve was a giant. He was the epitome of a Texas Democrat -- big, bold, fearless, and caring. He dedicated his professional and personal life to fighting for the little guy," said Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said.

"Millions of Texans live better lives because of the advocacy, philanthropy, and sheer willpower of Steve Mostyn. Our state and our world are better because he fought so hard for us all."

State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat and longtime Mostyn friend who is running for Congress, called Mostyn's death "heartbreaking."

"He was a friend and supporter, but, in many ways, I consider the Mostyns family," she said in a statement. "Many people's lives were touched by Steve's spirit and generosity. I'm just thankful to have known him and had the chance to fight the good fight with him."

Harris County Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a former state senator and longtime friend, said "Texas has lost a great man and I have lost a treasured friend. "He was dedicated to the ideals of equal rights for all people, particularly our most vulnerable residents," Ellis said.

To many friends and political allies who remembered him on Thursday, Mostyn's credo in life was summed up by a painting in the lobby of his law firm's Austin office that quotes legendary Texas hero Sam Houston.

"Do right and risk the consequences," reads the saying.
According to reports, North Korean state media sentenced US President Donald Trump to death for calling their supreme leader Kim Jong-un short and fat. Reportedly, the countrys ruling party newspaper said, The worst crime for which he can never be pardoned is that he dared malignantly hurt the dignity of the supreme leadership. He should know that he is just a hideous criminal sentenced to death by the Korean people.

Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?" Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2017
Anti-Communist Youth Group members Ade Selon (left) and Rahmat Imran demonstrate outside the offices of Komnas HAM (National Commission of Human Rights) in Jakarta, Nov. 15, 2017.

Updated at 11:50 a.m. ET on 2017-11-16

A man representing victims of massive anti-communist purges 50 years ago in Indonesia told reporters Wednesday he had informed officials about a new set of mass graves that could contain remains of up to 5,000 massacre victims.

The group recently discovered 16 mass graves in Central Javas Purwodadi town, about 517 km (323 miles) east of the capital Jakarta, and on the island of Bali and in East Nusa Tenggara, the countrys southernmost province, according to Bedjo Untung, chairman of the 1965 Murder Victims Research Foundation (YPKP 65).

Bedjo said that he gave the locations of the graves to Indonesias human rights commission, locally known as Komnas HAM.

There are more that I have not listed yet. There are also [mass graves] in Bali and in East Nusa Tenggara. At least I noted there are 138 and many others, he told reporters after handing over his report to human rights officials and asking them to investigate.

In October 1965, following an attempted military coup against President Sukarno in which six generals were slain, the Indonesian government gave free rein to soldiers and civilian militias to kill anyone they considered a communist, historians say.

At least 500,000 people died between 1965 and 1966 in an ensuing bloodbath that victimized members of the ethnic Chinese minority, trade unionists, teachers, artists and suspected members of PKI, the Indonesian communist party, which the government outlawed in 66 and whose membership was largely wiped out during the purge.

Last month, the National Security Archive, a U.S.-based NGO promoting public transparency, released 39 documents from the American Embassy in Jakarta dating to 1965-66. The documents showed that U.S. diplomatic personnel were fully aware of the scale and savagery of the mass killings, Human Rights Watch said.

How group calculated number of graves

According to Bedjo, at least 5,000 bodies were buried in mass graves in Purwodadi.

His group came up with the figure after calculating that, at the time, at least 50 political prisoners were abducted daily from a detention area over a three-month period in one location.

Bedjo said the bodies in mass graves in Purwodadi may have also come from other locations.

At the time of the anti-communist purge, Bedjo said, anyone suspected or considered to be a PKI member would be arrested indiscriminately.

Those who were only followers were also arrested, or if their names were mentioned (as a PKI member), they would immediately be arrested, said Bedjo, who held talks with Komnas HAM commissioner Amiruddin al-Rahab.

Bedjo said his group initially discovered 122 mass graves on Oct. 24, but recently found more in other locations.

Anti-communist group protests meeting

During Bedjos visit, members of the Anti-Communist Youth Movement (Gepak) demonstrated outside the human rights commissions offices, urging Komnas Ham not to exhume the remains.

Are they willing to experience the second LBH?" said Gepak leader Rahmat Imran over a loudspeaker. He was referring to a meeting by human rights activists and YPKP 65 in September that was shut down after demonstrators rioted outside the offices of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH).

After their rally, four Gepak representatives entered the commissions building and met with Amiruddin.

We do not want the communist groups to flourish, said Ade Selon, chairman of the Jakarta Youth Movement, a Gepak affiliate.
Muslim women wait for a bus at the end of their workday in Kuala Lumpur, Sept. 19, 2016.

Malaysias tourism minister on Thursday warned hotels that allegedly ban women from wearing hijabs while working the front desk to immediately drop the policy, which has caused an uproar.

The matter came to light after the Union Network International-Malaysia Labor Center (UNI-MLC) earlier this month revealed it had received complaints from female hotel employees who said they had been prohibited from wearing headscarves while manning the front desk.

According to UNI-MLC, students in hospitality and tourism courses had also been told to remove their hijabs during internships or face not being hired after finishing.

To any hotels that made these conditions, they should revoke them or face action by us, Tourism Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz told journalists.

The policy, Nazri said, affects workers from other faiths as well.

This is not just about Muslims. The Punjabis and Sikhs wear turbans. This is unconstitutional, he said.

Malaysia is home to about 19.5 million Muslims, who make up approximately 60 percent of the countrys 32 million people. Buddhists, Hindus and Christians account for most of the rest.

On Wednesday, Malaysian Housing, Local Government and Urban Well-being Minister Noh Omar ordered local councils to take action against hotel operators who bar their Muslim staff from wearing headscarves.

I am ordering all local authorities responsible for issuing such hotel licenses, if the complaints received are true, I recommend they withdraw licenses issued, he said, adding hotel licenses come under the jurisdiction of local councils.

What matters to them is good treatment

Days earlier, in response to UNI-MLCs statement, Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) president Samuel Cheah Swee Hee was quoted in local media saying the ban had been in place for a long time.

This policy is practiced in international hotel chains that use the same standard operating procedure (SOP) on uniforms in all hotels in their chain, globally.

The problem is, everyone wants to join the five-star global hotel brand, but they do not want to follow the uniform policy that is their worldwide standard, he said, according to The Star.

Cheah urged Muslim employees who wish to wear hijabs to consider not working at the front desk or work at a hotel that allows the headscarf as part of its uniform.

A hotelier at an international hotel in Kuala Lumpur who asked to remain anonymous condemned Cheahs statement.

What a statement from Cheah Swee Hee, theres no such thing. As far we know, a hijab ban is not a part of international SOP that hotels should be concerned with, she told BenarNews on Wednesday.

Wan Salim Mohd Noor, the mufti or chief Islamic scholar for the state of Penang, said most hotel guests do not care if an employee wears a hijab.

What matters to them is good treatment from those on duty. We urge hotel management to be more rational and not discriminate workers based on their attire. What should be taken into account is their capability to do their work well, he told BenarNews.

Lawyers for Liberty Executive Director Eric Paulsen said the ban was discriminatory, and dress code by hotel chains should not be overly restrictive.

Turban, tudung [hijab] and other forms of reasonable dress sense should be allowed. Of course, the hotel still has a right to maintain an overall policy on how their staff should look and dress, but the restrictions should be reasonable, he said.

Fairuz Mazlan in Penang and Hadi Azmi contributed to this report.
Communist New Peoples Army rebels train in the remote village of Tikalaan in the southern Philippine province of Bukidnon, April 17, 2017.

Communist New Peoples Army (NPA) guerrillas launched a spate of attacks that left two people dead, including a baby girl, and wounded at least three officers and six civilians during the past week in the southern Philippines, the military said Thursday.

The rebels also captured two police who were manning a highway outpost Monday and torched two trucks along the same highway connecting the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte in the restive south, the military said.

The attacks, believed to be coordinated, began a week ago when the gunmen raided several remote villages in the town of Placer that left an army sergeant and a 4-month-old baby dead, the military said.

An army corporal, five civilians and three officers were wounded, it added.

Senior Superintendent Anthony Maghari, police director of Surigao del Norte province, identified the police who were taken hostage as John Paul Doverte and Alfredo Degamon. They were snatched by NPA rebels who were riding aboard two vans and were wearing police uniforms in Placer town, he said.

Hours before the abduction, NPA rebels stopped and burned two trucks in nearby Jabonga town, said Capt. Patrick Martinez, spokesman of the militarys 4th Infantry Division.

Col. Alex Aduca, commanding officer of the 4th Army Mechanized Battalion, said Sgt. Edgar Andal and Cpl. Raymart Pamplona were checking the road at a remote area on Talakag town Thursday when they came upon a checkpoint manned by the rebels.

Aduca said the soldiers tried to turn back but the rebels fired at them, killing Andal and wounding Pamplona.

They were checking the road to see if it is still passable for our vehicles because it rained hard for several days, Aduca said.

Aduca said officials believe the rebels who staged the series of attacks belong to the NPAs 68th Guerilla Front, which is known to be operating in the villages bordering the Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon provinces.

In a statement, NPA spokesman Jorge Madlos claimed responsibility for the ambush of the police in Talakag town last Thursday and expressed apologies for the deaths.

Madlos said the rebel group takes full responsibility and expresses remorse for the unfortunate and unnecessary death of an infant and the injury of civilians.

New battalions

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the Philippine Army is recruiting and arming 10 new battalions  about 4,000 men  to counter the growing communist threat. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier vowed to crush it after defeating pro-Islamic State (IS) militants in Marawi city, also in the south.

Speaking during a turnover-of-command ceremony at the militarys Eastern Mindanao Command on Tuesday, Guerrero said Army units that were assigned in Marawi would also be deployed to fight the communist rebels.

Now that the mopping up operations in Marawi is nearly completed, we are refocusing on the NPA threats, Guerrero said.

Peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front, the rebels political wing, bogged down in February this year with both sides accusing each other of violating a truce agreement.

The NPA, armed wing of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has been waging one of Asias longest-running armed insurgencies that began in 1969. Its guerrilla campaign, mostly in the countryside and remote villages, has left thousands dead on both sides.

NPA rebels often demand illegal revolutionary taxes from firms and if those firms refuse to pay, their facilities are burned or attacked by gunmen, officials said.

Every day, the countryside has become a battlefield, Duterte said in October. This cannot continue.

Communist guerrillas stepped up attacks against Philippine targets as military forces concentrated on quelling a rebellion of IS-linked militants starting on May 23 in Marawi, where five months of gun battles killed 930 militants, 165 soldiers and policemen and 47 civilians.

Since the official end of the battle on Oct. 23, troops have pulled out of Marawi in large numbers, but a small contingent is searching for stragglers among the militants who have fired back while hiding.
For Immediate Release, November 16, 2017 Contact: Tanya Sanerib, (206) 379-7363, tsanerib@biologicaldiversity.org Trump Administration Reverses Elephant Trophy Import Ban During Zimbabwe's Coup, U.S. Claims Country Adequately Managing Elephant Population WASHINGTON Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today formally reversed an Obama administration ban on importing elephant trophies from Zimbabwe. Making the announcement as a coup is going on in Zimbabwe, Zinkes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service claimed that Zimbabwe can sufficiently manage its elephant population to enable U.S. hunters to resume importing trophies.



This is horrific news for Africas rapidly vanishing elephants, and the Trump administrations timing couldnt be more bizarre, said Tanya Sanerib, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. Corruption was already a huge concern in Zimbabwe, and its shocking that Zinke is lifting the trophy ban during a military coup. With tanks in the streets, whoever is actually running the Zimbabwe government just cant be trusted to protect elephants from slaughter by poachers. Poaching of elephants for their ivory remains a significant threat in Zimbabwe. According to aerial surveys  known as the Great Elephant Census  Zimbabwes elephant population decreased a shocking 18 percent between 2007 and 2013, when the aerial surveys were performed. A 2017 report to an intersessional committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) found that Zimbabwes elephant population is continuing to decline as a result of poaching. U.S. trophy hunters shouldnt be killing elephants when their populations are in decline. Theres no conservation in that, said Sanerib. The Trump administrations decision to greenlight the slaughter of this imperiled species is absolutely unacceptable, and well fight it every way we can.



Overall, the Great Elephant Census of savannah elephants conducted over the past couple of years revealed that only roughly 375,000 savannah elephants (not including the smaller forest elephants in western-central Africa) remain across the continent. The census results also documented the loss of 140,000 elephants over seven years due to poaching.
Just about a year ago there was an election. Donald Trump was elected President of the United States by using a plethora of questionable tactics. According to the latest credible sources, these tactics may have included working withor at least ignoring the machinations ofthe Russian government, a fearsome and imperialistic thing that is led by a macho, posturing former KGB agent.

What followed has been a dissembling of the cultural advances, societal safeguards and general progress that this nation made under its former leader, a stoic, intellectual fellow, a progressive centrist named Barack Obama.

Fortunately, however, the followers of Obamathe progressives who now bear the brunt of the ass-backwards policies being blithely enacted by a president who continues to pander to an ass-backwards base of ignorant, reactionary and anti-democratic citizenssoldier on, working diligently to restore reality to a system run amok.

As the rest of this nations voters advance past the latest autumnal round of municipal, state and federal elections, it has become clear that resistance to Trumpism has borne fruit. As the US heads toward the 2018 mid-term congressional elections, a new storm is forming on the horizon, one that may very likely help topple the executive branch travesty that has been visited upon our otherwise decent country.

National News

Anti-Trump momentum seems to be the common thread in elections held on Nov. 7. Gubernatorial races held in Virginia and New Jersey finished with conclusive wins by Democrats. Also in Virginia, transgender Danica Roem soundly defeated a 13-term Republican legislative delegate who openly touted his homophobic views while telling voters that Roem was out of touch with suburban voters for playing in a heavy metal band.

Other advances were made at the city and state level. Andrea Jenkins, a trans woman of color, was elected to the Minneapolis City Council. In Charlotte, N.C., Democrat Vi Lyles was elected to be the first female, African-American mayor of the city.

The Southern Lands

Closer to home, here in New Mexico, the backlash against Trumpian politics was clearly noted in the municipal elections held in Las Cruces. Followers of la politica may recall that following violent clashes in Charlottesville, Va. this past summerand the death of an innocent observer at the hands of an alt-right, neo-Nazi symathizerDona Ana County GOP chairman Roman Jimenez made angry social media posts that blamed leftist protesters for the violence.

A few months later, the local daily down south trumpeted the inevitable outcome of such outrageous claims, proclaiming that progressive candidates for that citys governing council swept council races and concluding that The Las Cruces City Council will be progressive heading into 2018, after the three more liberal candidates all won their races by double digits.

Here in Albuquerque

All of the phenomenon reported on and analyzed above points to the mayoral election that was held in Albuquerque on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Here is a perfect example of how Trumpian Ideologytrickle down economics buoyed by starkly antiquated social conservatism all wrapped up in apocalyptic costumes designed to frighten voters into accepting a strongman politician or one of his benighted representativesmay fail to garner further advances.

Dan Lewis, for all of his genteel demeanor, represents the worst this city, state and nation have to offer. Backed by a local pastor whose church is quick to note its anti-civil rights stance on marriage and supported by greedy, out-of-town developers hellbent on forcing an ecologically disastrous development on Bernalillo County residents, Lewis campaign has been a dark and stark reminder, not only of what is at stake for Burquenos, but also what the true nature of Trumpism really is.

It is abundantly clear that if Tim Keller is elected mayor of Albuquerqueand he should be, despite the last minute machinations of the city bureaucracyhe has a huge task ahead of him. Undoing the damage done by a dangerously out-of-touch Republican mayor is going to take more than vision; it will require sustained and committed actionas well as a productive relationship with Albuquerques City Councilto accomplish what the man has said he would work diligently to attain.

In the final mayoral debate, Keller claimed that the city has money in its budget to immediately hire 100 new police officers. Accomplishing this goal in short order would bolster his claim to progressive leadership and is an important initial step in making our city safe once again.

Further, revising, clarifying and supporting the mission of ART, so that the new public transportation initiative is integrated and works with existing infrastructure should be an essential goal of the new municipal administration.

Finally, halting ecologically ignorant projectsin an environment where water is becoming a precious commoditylike the Santolina mega-development, establishing a business-and worker-friendly sick leave program, bolstering local business over pie-in-the-sky outsider corporations and taking a serious look at how a lack of public health and mental health services has contributed to Albuquerques intense yet transitory malaise are all goals the new mayor must embrace.

As citizens, we can only blame ourselves for the temporary triumph of Trump and his cronies. We may have been comfortable, asleep, assured of the future as last winter beckoned. That is not the case now; now we are awake and alive with the agency needed to reclaim what was so wantonly taken from us. The fact that this battle can and will be waged at the local level should be a hopeful indicator of its outcome.
For Immediate Release, November 16, 2017 Contact: Lori Ann Burd, Center for Biological Diversity, (971) 717-6405, laburd@biologicaldiversity.org

Peter T. Jenkins, Center for Food Safety, (202) 547-9359, pjenkins@centerforfoodsafety.org

Jared Saylor, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 722-3255, jsaylor@defenders.org

Marjorie Mulhall, Earthjustice, (202) 745-5204, mmulhall@earthjustice.org

Kimiko Martinez, Natural Resources Defense Council, (310) 434- 2344, kmartinez@nrdc.org

Sharon Selvaggio, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, (541) 344-5044, ext. 35, sselvaggio@pesticide.org Industry-driven Bill Guts Federal Safeguards Protecting Endangered Species From Toxic Pesticides Legislation Would Prohibit Enforcement Actions When Pesticide Exposure Kills Endangered Wildlife WASHINGTON The pesticide industry is pushing legislation on Capitol Hill that would dismantle Endangered Species Act requirements to minimize pesticides harm to protected species like salmon, California condors and Florida panthers, according to a leaked version of the bill obtained by conservation groups. Under current law the Environmental Protection Agency must consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to minimize harm to endangered species from EPA-approved pesticides. But the new legislation promoted by the pesticide industry would allow expert wildlife scientists to assess pesticides harms to endangered wildlife only upon request by pesticide manufacturers. The proposal would also limit enforcement actions designed to prevent pesticides from killing or harming endangered wildlife. In April 2017 the Dow Corporation asked EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to stop all efforts to fully assess the impacts of chlorpyrifos, malathion and diazinon, which have been shown to harm virtually all of Americas approximately 1,800 protected species. Since the request the federal governments efforts to protect endangered species from those three chemicals with commonsense measures appears to have stalled. The new legislation would essentially codify Dow Chemicals request for the EPA to ignore pesticides harms to endangered species, eviscerating meaningful protections for fish, wildlife and plants under the Endangered Species Act. The pesticide industry wants to deep-six all evidence of the massive threats its products pose to our wildlife, said Lori Ann Burd, environmental health director at the Center for Biological Diversity. If this appalling bill passes, the EPA would have virtually no power to prevent toxic new pesticides from fueling the extinction of some of Americas imperiled birds, butterflies and fish. If Pruitt wont protect our children and farmworkers from the overuse of highly poisonous insecticides, then he certainly cant be trusted to protect our endangered species from them, said Peter Jenkins, counsel for the Center for Food Safety. Beautiful species like Palos Verde Blue butterflies, rusty patched bumble bees and even our majestic whooping cranes may all disappear if we are forced to trust Mr. Pruitt  but this bill removes all the checks on him. The pesticide industry proposal comes on the heels of the Trump administrations decision to ignore the well-documented danger that the pesticide chlorpyrifos poses to childrens health. Shortly after becoming EPA Administrator, Pruitt reversed a research-based decision by the agencys scientists to ban use of the pesticide  which is linked to learning disabilities in children  on food crops, including apples and oranges. Pruitt approved chlorpyrifos use even though the EPAs own research shows residues of the chemical on produce in amounts exponentially above levels the agency has determined to be safe. Pesticides kill. Thats what they do. But they should not also kill Americas endangered wildlife, said Jason Rylander, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. This proposed bill would eliminate all requirements for the EPA to consult with agencies that have the most expertise on endangered species. It is clearly designed to give the pesticide industry a free pass when it comes to saving imperiled pollinators and hundreds of other endangered and threatened species. This legislation would do the bidding of large corporate interests and gut key protections for imperiled species, said Marjorie Mulhall, legislative director for lands, wildlife, and oceans at Earthjustice. We need these commonsense measures to ensure that federally protected species are not harmed or killed by toxic pesticides.



This is just another Trump-era sell-out to special interests, said Rebecca Riley, senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. And as usual, the public and environment lose out. Concerns about pesticide connections to high-profile crashes in bee and butterfly populations reinforce the essential nature of these protections. But the Endangered Species Act doesnt just help endangered plants and animals  it helps us too. Pesticides can also hurt people, so exempting them from the ESA will have serious repercussions beyond just our most vulnerable wildlife. Wild salmon have to pass through a stew of chemicals, including pesticides, and are hanging on by a thread, said Sharon Selvaggio, program director for healthy wildlife and water at Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides. The EPA has barely begun to comply with the Endangered Species Act and now the pesticide industry wants to call a halt? Why should this industry get a pass?
For Immediate Release, November 16, 2017 Contact: Perrin de Jong, (828) 252-4646, perrin@biologicaldiversity.org Legal Action Challenges Duke Energy Stranglehold On North Carolina Rooftop Solar DURHAM, N.C. The Center for Biological Diversity today took legal action to challenge Duke Energys controversial effort to stop a North Carolina nonprofit from providing rooftop solar panels for the Faith Community Church in Greensboro, N.C. In true Goliath fashion, Duke Energy is bullying a community church out of choosing clean and affordable solar power, said Perrin de Jong, the Centers North Carolina staff attorney. As one of the largest corporate utilities in the world, Duke Energy is abusing its monopoly power. Its creating an unjust system where only the wealthy can afford renewable energy and everyone else is forced to buy dirty power from giant utilities. The local climate-justice nonprofit NC WARN agreed to install solar panels on the Faith Community Church in exchange for repayment based on the electricity generated. Such power purchase agreements drive solar development in many states by helping people pay over time when they can't afford rooftop solar's upfront costs. At the urging of Duke Energy, the states monopoly utility, North Carolina regulators determined that the agreement violated a state statute prohibiting third-party sales of electricity to the public. NC WARN appealed the order, which resulted in a contentious, split lower-court decision. The nonprofits appeal to the decision is now being heard by the North Carolina Supreme Court. The Centers amicus brief submitted in support of the appeal was also signed by other national nonprofits, including Greenpeace, Inc., Friends of the Earth U.S., Food and Water Watch and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. From catastrophic super-storms to disastrous droughts, were already feeling the devastating effects of climate change, said de Jong. We urgently need to transition to cleaner sources of power for the planet and everyone who lives on it. Corporate, profit-driven utilities shouldnt be allowed to stand in the way of a just and clean energy revolution. North Carolina is one of a handful of states that prohibits power purchase agreements. Others include Florida, Kentucky and Oklahoma. This legal mechanism is one way utilities have attempted to block or shut down distributed solar development. Other tactics, such as charging unfair fees and eliminating net metering programs, have hobbled solar growth in states like Arizona and Nevada.


Digital innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa is being driven by the explosion in mobile phone usage, enabling African consumers to leapfrog existing business models and technologies. Ecobank Group Research reveals three key emerging trends for Africa which it believes are strong evidence that Africa is on track for improved growth in 2018.

 3dgenerator via 123RF

The three trends that have demonstrated that Africa has weathered the economic storms of late are:

Rebounding economy after a trying year. Gas is West Africas new oil. Africas evolving role in FinTech leadership.

The 2017 version of Ecobank Researchs Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) guidebook, which provides expert knowledge and analysis on African markets for investors and businesses, was launched this week at AfricaFICC. Indicating a positive outlook for the continent, the three key trends are forecast to take hold during the next 12 months.

Economic rebound

The first indicates an economic rebound in sub-Saharan Africa driven by a recovery in the regions economic heavyweights, Nigeria and South Africa, and ongoing growth in the top performers, Ethiopia, Cote dIvoire and (more recently) Ghana.

Growth will be driven by a rise in oil production (notably in Ghana, Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Angola), strengthening infrastructure investment across West and East Africa, and improved weather conditions which bode well for crops.

Strengthening economic activity, plus a moderate improvement in oil and mineral prices, will help narrow the current account deficit, but pressure on SSA currencies will remain.

Developments in gas

The second emerging trend points to West Africas gas sector becoming a hive of activity in 2018 from Senegal to Angola, with the development of gas pipelines, floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) platforms and major gas field projects.

Governments in the Gulf of Guinea and across West Africa have ramped up efforts to secure gas supply in order to boost domestic power generation and diversify their revenues away from crude oil.

Deregulating the gas market and allowing market-driven gas prices will be key to unlocking further gas infrastructure investment across the region.

Digital natives

The third trend suggests Fintech innovation in Africa picking up speed in 2018 buoyed by a new generation of Africans who are digital natives. The proliferation of tech hubs across Africa (notably in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote dIvoire) will nurture the next wave of African start-ups and help connect them with investors.

Digital innovation in SSA is being driven by the explosion in mobile phone usage, enabling African consumers to leapfrog existing business models and technologies.

African Fintech firms are increasingly driving this innovation, deploying digital tools to build credit profiles for the previously unbankable, providing electricity to rural households that were previously off the grid, even using artificial intelligence to diagnose health problems remotely.

Edward George, head of Ecobank Group Research, said: We think these three trends are strong evidence that Africa has weathered the storms of late and is very much on track for improved growth in 2018.

The digital world moves apace, and so must we. The AfricaFICC website is a key way that we can deliver our regional market analysis and expert local knowledge of 41 African markets  which is often hard to access  to a much wider audience.

The Ecobank Research Centre is dedicated to providing the highest quality research for clients to help them navigate the complex African marketplace. Areas covered include; Economics, Banking and Financial services, Oil, Gas & Power, Soft Commodities, Trade and Digital Innovation.

*As part of the FICC digital launch, Ecobank Research invites you to join them on November 16, for a series of online Africa Chats, where the three emerging trends will be debated in greater detail:

- Chat 1 @10am GMT: Africas rebounding economy.

- Chat 2 @12pm GMT: Why gas is West Africas new oil.

- Chat 3 @2pm GMT: Africas growing FinTech leadership.
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Tara and Tiffany Turkington, CEO and managing director at Flow Communications will receive the 2017 IWEC Award during the organisation's 10th annual conference, held in Redmond, Washington. The conference, titled 'Connecting Women Businesses Globally: Accelerating Growth Through Innovation and Technology' is sponsored by Microsoft, who is also hosting the event at their global headquarters in Washington State on 12-14 November 2017. This year's conference has a strong focus on technology, cybersecurity and innovation, issues that are pivotal to IWEC's sophisticated global network of women-owned businesses, whose combined revenue exceeds $25bn per year.

Tara and Tiffany Turkington, CEO and managing director at Flow Communications.

The Cape Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to nominate Tara and Tiffany for their trailblazing work, their infectious optimism and sincerity, the contributions they make to the communications landscape in South Africa and their commitment to gender equality. They are a great addition to our chamber, and a role model for womens business development efforts in South Africa. We are further honoured to be an active part of IWEC, and to participate in this years conference and celebrate IWECs 10th anniversary, a milestone for global womens entrepreneurship, stated Janine Myburgh, president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

IWEC is a New York-based international economic empowerment organisation exclusively for women business owners, formed in 2007 with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State. In addition to the State Department, its founders include the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce (MCC), FICCI/FLO Chamber in New Delhi. IWECs mission is to develop a global business network for successful women entrepreneurs, helping them gain and expand access to international markets by presenting a platform to exchange knowledge, experience and connections, and to promote dialogue among women entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout the world.

Inform, connect and celebrate women entrepreneurs

For the past ten years, IWEC has gathered some of the worlds largest and most successful women-owned companies in an intensive 3-day program to inform, connect and celebrate the work of women entrepreneurs from all corners of the globe. The conference will close with an awards gala that will celebrate the ground-breaking work of 53 new awardees from Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas.

We are honoured to accept the 2017 IWEC Award at the 10th annual conference in Washington state. We look forward to meeting with other women entrepreneurs from across the world, and to learn from their experience, challenges and success. This years conference is doubly important given the very timely topics surrounding technology as it applies to our business growth and sustainability, said Tara and Tiffany of their nomination.

The November conference also marks the first time that IWEC welcomes a conference chairperson, and welcomes Her Royal Highness Princess Noor Asem of Jordan, who will provide part of the welcoming remarks and will address the audience on empowering womens entrepreneurship in her region. Other conference speakers include one of the most influential businesswomen from China, Yang Lan, chairwoman of Sun Media, one of the largest media conglomerates in that country; she was also the ambassador of the Beijing Olympic Games. She is joined by new IWEC board member and keynote speaker Ibukun Awosika, chairwoman of the board of directors of the First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Melanie Alavi director of customer technology marketing from UPS; Fernando Hernandez, director of supplier diversity at Microsoft, Peter Martinez, CEO of Game Changer Tec, Jackie Sturm, Sr. VP of Supply Chain and Innovation at Intel, Aylton de Souza, Worldwide Enterprise Mobility and Security Business Lead at Microsoft, and other key drivers of innovation, technology and business development.

IWEC understands that providing access, resources, and support to help enable the success of female entrepreneurs is key to ensuring womens active, sustainable participation in the global economy, and contribute to close the gender gap. We provide a global forum to exchange knowledge, experience, and connectivity among women business owners, setting the stage for education, disruptive business opportunities, roads to joint ventures, and promoting social dialog among women entrepreneurs and business leaders, said Ruth A. Davis, chairwoman, IWEC.

Learn more about the conference here.
LILONGWE, Malawi - The US Embassy has funded and presented training for community radio journalists in Malawi, as part of a programme to upskill them to report effectively on local issues of interest.

 olegdudko via 123RF

On November 13, 2017, US Ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer and Teresa Ndanga, chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa Malawi Chapter (MISA-Malawi), opened a four-day workshop in Lilongwe for 20 Malawian community radio journalists from across the country.

The workshop, funded by the US Embassy and led by American journalism trainer Daniel Brown, is designed to strengthen the capacity of community radio journalists to report effectively on the issues affecting their communities.
HARGEISA, Somaliland - Somali Accelerator graduates another cohort of startups and gives $30,000 in investment at the Demo Day in Hargeisa. This year's accelerator saw over 400 applications received, building on the traction of last year's programme. Winners included those in the retail, ecommerce, agritech and marketing sectors.

 Andriy Popov via 123RF

Innovate Ventures, the leading Somali tech and business startup accelerator launched in partnership with VC4A, Telesom and the Work in Progress! Alliance, had their second cohort of 10 startups from Somaliland and Somalia graduate from their programme. This years accelerator saw over 400 applications received, building on the traction of last years programme. The seed investment given doubled from $15,000 last year to $30,000.

Programme overview

The Innovate Accelerator is a 12-week programme intended to support and fund the next wave of Somali startups. Mentorship and training was provided by domain experts and entrepreneurs and four startups from the programme received $30,000 in investment from Innovate Ventures Fund.

Growth

The accelerator programme reached more than 2 million people via SMS and TV coverage of the roadshows and Demo Day in Somaliland, Somalia and the UK and US. The significant increase in applications and seed investment, and further support and interest from the private and public sector has seen the reach and attention of the accelerator grow.

Demo Day

On Sunday, October 29, at Mansoor Hotel, the Demo Day took place, which was the culmination of a six month programme to find startups which could create value, jobs and had the potential to scale. The event saw more than 300 participants attend along with media, entrepreneurs and investors. Each team pitched their startup to a panel comprising of entrepreneurs, c-level executives and business owners.

First place went to Bilan Baby, a startup that sells baby furniture, accessories and baby clothing as well as maternity products. Bilan Baby received $7,000 in seed investment. Second place went to SAMS, an agritech marketplace for farmers and buyers; and Almijet, a digital printing company which received $5,000 each. Finally, Brandkii, an online marketing and advertising startup, received $3,000. Further investment was provided to Muraadso, an e-commerce startup and last years winners - they received $10,000.

Looking forward

Warda Dirir, co-founder of Innovate Ventures, commented: The success of this year's accelerator programme is down to years of ground work in the region and lessons learned. We are committed to helping the region produce more technology driven businesses that resolve business challenges in the region and tap into untapped markets.

Given the growth of the programme, more applicants and larger investments are expected next year, giving the burgeoning Somali tech startup scene further support.
Food delivery app, OrderIn, has not only targeted itself at time-conscious consumers, but corporates too, offering a "virtual canteen of cuisines" and an instant tax back benefit to employees.

Cathy Yeulet via 123RF

Food subsidies are not 'added benefits', they can be considered a business imperative. That's according to 60% of Fortune 500 companies, including the likes of Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Deloitte and Goldman Sachs, who offer some form of food benefit to staff.

OrderIn worked with SARS to incorporate tax-deductible meals into its app. The result? Companies can now register and offer employees an 18% to 45% tax break on all food ordered with OrderIn during office hours. Dimension Data, Media24 and Societe General have already signed up to offer a wider variety of food and lower overheads.

There are only a handful of countries in the world that have such favourable tax laws. Historically only the largest companies in South Africa were taking advantage of this, thanks to technology and a few years on Wall Street, we discovered a way to digitise and democratise this benefit for all employees, says OrderIn founder and CEO Dinesh Patel, a Durban native who experienced the value of virtual canteens, like seamless.com, during his years at Goldman Sachs in New York.

Bringing his knowledge home, Patel set out to disrupt the traditional food delivery model with transparent pricing and cost innovations. "We pride ourselves on being 100% transparent - our app clearly shows when youre paying in-store pricing and when youre paying more. Were also the only app to guarantee that 100% of the delivery fee and tip goes to the driver."

In five years OrderIn has processed almost one-million orders and employs 40 staff in two offices, achieving 1,000% growth in the last two years alone. Patel is working on new value-adds, like gamification that enables employees to score points for choosing healthier meals and wellness goals. According to the company, if it has its way, its virtual canteen app will become a mainstream employee benefit, alongside healthcare and pension.
Suiting and tailoring brand Fabiani, established as an exclusively menswear label for nearly forty years, has broadened its focus to include women's fashion. The launch of Fabiani Women marks the beginning of a new era for the brand, the pioneer behind the new collection none other than acclaimed local designer Warrick Gautier.

Warrick Gautier and Minnie Dlamini at the Sandton City store launch.

The brand's Le Smoking collection includes masculine-inspired pieces like shirting, tailored suiting and accessories as well as softer pieces like silk blouses, decorative bows and heels.

Fabiani Womenswear made its runway debut at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Johannesburg this August, and was recently followed by flagship store openings in Canal Walk, Cape Town and Sandton City, Johannesburg. The stores boast luxurious interiors with marbled and mirrored walls, and gold plated finishings. According to the company, a further six locations are set to open nationwide before the end of 2017.

Here, Gautier shares the inspiration behind the new offering.

Why has Fabiani decided to launch a womens range?

Warrick Gautier: Fabiani has launched a womens range to complement the highly successful Fabiani mens collection, and to address the pressing need in the South African market for African luxury tailored womenswear.

What was the inspiration behind the Fabiani Womens collection?

Gautier: Powerful women and their appreciation for couture, art, music and theatre.

What is the theme of this collection?

Gautier: Positioning couture as art in a way that is accessible.

What makes a Fabiani woman stand out from the crowd?

Gautier: A Fabiani woman stands out because of her appreciation for luxury, refined tailoring and couture, as well as her fearless drive and ambition combined with her sensual femininity.

What is the colour scheme of this collection?

Gautier: Glamorous neutrals meeting high voltage metallic with tones of pink.

Describe the key pieces of the collection?

Gautier: Refined tailoring, high voltage suiting and dramatic feminine couture.

What materials have you selected for the collection, and why?

Gautier: Intricate and refined hand beading is at the core off the collection. Adding to this, we have incorporated opulent metallic woven jacquard fabrics, silk chiffons and silk satins.

AFI turns 10 this year, what is the most fundamental shift you have seen in the fashion industry over the past 10 years?

Gautier: With the recent growth of the fashion industry in South Africa, there is a great opportunity now more than ever for designers to showcase their unique, differentiated offerings. Having a unique craft will most definitely be the deciding factor for successful designers.

The Fabiani Women collection and exclusive couture pieces as seen at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week are available in selected stores nationwide and online at fabiani.co.za.
Big foreign companies growing crops in Africa often promise jobs and development to local communities then leave them in even greater poverty when their projects falter, a campaign group said on Wednesday.

Overseas firms often lease vast plots of land in Africa for industrial agriculture or biofuel production, promising work, among other benefits, to those they uproot, said Swedwatch. But the firms often run into money trouble, change hands or abandon ship, leaving locals to deal with the loss of livelihood and environmental damages, said the group, which monitors the environmental and human rights impacts of Swedish companies.

"The negative human rights impacts tend to increase when land projects fail or stall," Swedwatch researcher Malena Wahlin told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "It's a general trend."

Farming communities left without jobs, land, food

Thousands of people were left without jobs or food in one case examined by Swedwatch, when the biggest agricultural project in Sierra Leone stalled for a year and a half.

About 50 farming communities in the poor West African nation were dependent on jobs and food aid from Addax Bioenergy, a renewable energy company, after it transformed their land into sugarcane plantations for ethanol, Swedwatch said in a report. But the project floundered in 2015 and its Swedish and Dutch investors, Swedfund and FMO, exited, leaving the locals without jobs, land or food aid, Swedwatch said.

Local people said food insecurity worsened and they were forced to pull their children out of school, said Wahlin. "Our human rights efforts could have been stronger in some areas, and we are addressing that in our strategy going forward," Swedfund's chief executive officer, Gerth Svensson, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an email.

FMO could not immediately be reached for comment. Operations resumed under a new owner in 2016, Swedwatch said. Swedwatch has called for Swedfund and FMO to go back to Sierra Leone to assess and repair the damage, it said.

Wahlin said that a number of other large-scale projects stalled around the same time in Sierra Leone and Liberia, partly due to the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in the region.

There have been similar cases in East Africa, she added.

Reporting By Nellie Peyton. Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Africa has become a testing ground for technological leapfrogging. This is a process that involves skipping stages and moving rapidly to the frontiers of innovation

Technological leapfrogging in Africa has, so far, focused on economic transformation and the improvement of basic services. Drones are a good example: theyre used in the continents health services and in agriculture. In South Africa, robots play a crucial role in mining.

Now, in a remarkable extension of technological leapfrogging, Somaliland has become the first country in the world to use iris recognition in a presidential election. This means that a breakaway republic seeking international recognition will have the worlds most sophisticated voting register.

Democracy and tech in Africa

Somalilands shift to such advanced voting technology emerged from a lack of trust because of problems with the 2008 elections. For instance, names were duplicated in the voter register because of pressure from local elders. These fraudulent activities and other logistical issues threatened to undermine Somalilands good standing in the international community.

Of course, Somaliland is not the only country in Africa to experience problems with its election processes. Others, like Kenya, have also turned to technology to try and deal with their challenges. This is important. Being able to hold free, fair and credible elections is critical in democratic transitions. The lack of trust in the electoral process remains a key source of political tension and violence.

Technology can help  and Somaliland is set to become a regional powerhouse in the production and deployment of the technological know-how that underpins electronic voting.

So how did Somaliland reach this point? And what lessons do its experiences hold for other countries?

Important lessons

The first lesson, then, relates to political will. Since 1991, Somaliland has operated as an autonomous state trying to build new institutions. One of its central goals is to gain international recognition as a sovereign state. Being able to conduct free, fair, credible and just elections is central to this goal and its international image. Somaliland wants to rank highly in the indices of democratic performance  and thats a strong driver to develop and embrace electoral practices that are in line with international standards.

The second involves problem-solving and incremental technological learning. Somaliland wanted to reduce voter duplication. It compared the efficacy of different face, finger and iris recognition technologies, and this assessment showed that iris recognition was superior.

Pilot efforts then allowed for lessons in the design of the system, which helped to reduce anxiety over the consequences of possible failure during elections. It also made the process transparent; interested users could access the available datasets. This enhanced public trust.

Somaliland has also wisely used international experts in biometrics. Much of the debate about the use of electronic voting systems centres on how the technology is procured. The country sought the support of Notre Dame University in the US in 2014. Their world class work on biometrics is led by Professor Kevin Bowyer. Such partnerships ensure technical expertise. This, in turn, helps boost ordinary peoples trust in their countrys electoral system.

The shift to electronic voting has also influenced the conduct of some observation missions. In Somaliland, electoral observation will in future include examinations of the iris recognition technology. This changes the expertise needed to observe elections.

This approach is in sharp contrast with the 2017 Kenya elections. There, international observers used traditional monitoring methods  and validated an election that was later annulled by the countrys Supreme Court. It was a case where electoral institutions had not caught up with technology.

Wider issues

This raises some wider issues that need to be addressed so that they dont get in the way of this progression.

The first is to emphasise that the technology, in most cases, will enhance and upgrade political infrastructure  even if they appear to bypass or replace it. For example, there are concerns that drones, used to transport medical supplies in places like Rwanda and Tanzania, divert financial resources from multi-purpose infrastructure like roads. In fact, the use of drones in medical supplies expands infrastructure options. They allow countries to align delivery means with specific needs, in a timely and efficient manner.

Secondly, technological and service leapfrogging usually go together. This has been demonstrated in Africas mobile revolution. The widespread adoption of the Mpesa money transfer system best illustrates this point, as it is about changes in consumer behaviour and local manufacturing.

Finally, there are ample opportunities for international joint ventures in technological leapfrogging across Africa. Many of them however are being smothered by taxation and regulations. This is partly because of the pressure to generate state revenue and partially due to a lack of understanding.

With more products and processes to trade with, the world stands to benefit from Africas increased participation in the global technology market. And it is encouraging to see that this is a movement which has the political support of African presidents; a support reflected in the adoption of the Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa Strategy (STISA-2024) by the African Union.

For now, Africas technological futures are not only open but expanding in all directions. Somalilands application in improving governance is the tip of the iceberg. It creates exciting possibilities for the continent to provide leadership in other areas of technological advancement.
The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has not ruled out investing in the broke South African Airways (SAA). In its corporate plan earlier in 2017, the struggling airline listed the PIC as a potential source for funding of about R6bn for the next financial year.

The PIC confirmed on Tuesday that it had been approached by SAA, but it rejected the airline's initial funding request. PIC CEO Dan Matjila told Parliament's standing committee on finance on Tuesday that SAA had not met the corporation's investment criteria.

He cited the governance and management crisis afflicting the national carrier as well as its poor balance sheet as reasons.

Wait and see

"[However] we have seen positive changes. The board has been strengthened now, the CEO has been appointed. Now the turnaround plan has to be implemented and unfortunately, it will take a few data points to convince us that the turnaround strategy is working.

"So we wait and see. Once we have enough data to [convince us] that it has turned around, the balance sheet is looking much better and there is stability, then we will consider [the request]," Matjila said.

The PIC is wholly owned by the government and acts as the investment manager for the Government Employees Pension Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Commissioner.

It has about R2 trillion in assets under management.

Disposing of Telkom shares to bail out SAA, SA Post Office

The government aims to dispose of all or part of its 39.7% stake in Telkom to bail out struggling SAA and the South African Post Office.

In his medium-term budget policy statement in October, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said the government aimed to dispose of a portion of its Telkom shares to avoid a breach of the expenditure ceiling. The government regards the PIC as a potential buyer of its Telkom shares.

The PIC already has a stake of about 8% in the telecoms operator. Matjila, however, remained tight-lipped on Tuesday regarding the PIC's position on the Telkom shares matter. Speculation is that Matjila is concerned that a purchase of the 39.7% shareholding would leave the company overexposed to Telkom. The PIC is said to be open to purchasing about R2bn in Telkom shares, which will increase its shareholding to about 18%.

It also emerged in Parliament on Tuesday that the PIC board had not complied with Gigaba's request that the corporation furnish terms of reference for a forensic audit of all its investments by 23 October.

The PIC aims to meet Gigaba on a date to be set.

Cosatu leaders have asked for assurances that workers' pensions will not be used to bail out SAA or other ailing state-owned enterprises. In submissions to the committee on Tuesday, the federation called for the strengthening of oversight and accountability of the PIC.

Source: Business Day
Net#work BBDO's non-profit foundation, Mal has opened its 11th and 12th Seed libraries at the Tlamatlama Primary School in Tembisa and Mafumbuka Primary School at Soshanguve on Monday, 13 November 2017.

Image supplied.

Partnered by sponsors Steers and Shout, and NGO Breadline Africa, the purpose of these beautifully designed libraries is to create more than just another grey, sterile storeroom for books, harnessing the power of awesome design to inspire and motivate learners - empowering the next generation of imagination.

Since it opened its doors as the first agency in the new South Africa in May 1994, Net#work BBDO has always been on a mission to create more than ads  to make a difference. We, make a living by what we get  we make a life by what we give, that is our MAL philosophy. We put back through ideas and creativity. All children, especially in disadvantaged communities, deserve stimulating environments to encourage imagination and innovation. If we want to sustain a better future, we have to do something about, says Boniswa Pezisa, BBDO South Africa, group CEO.

As I sat and watched the ceremony I was emotional but very proud. The reception from the school head master and the participation from the parents was so heart-warming. At BBDO we firmly believe in doing right as we do good business in South Africa and Africa, we can only thank our awesome clients and our team thats so dedicated to the work.
The City of Cape Town has given a new date for Day Zero - the date the city will run out of water unless its residents curb their consumption even further - extending its forecast from March 2018 to May 2018.

The city uses about 582-million litres a day, 82-million litres more than the targeted 500-million litres a day. This is down from a collective consumption of about 700-million litres a day when the spectre of Day Zero was first introduced.

Reducing demand was still the greatest factor in avoiding Day Zero, mayor Patricia de Lille said on Tuesday, 14 November.

Unless we reduce demand to 500-million litres per day, there is a risk that we will reach Day Zero in May 2018. There are, however, several other factors at play, first, if we receive rain, Day Zero is pushed out, (but) because we cannot accurately predict how much rain we will receive, we have to ensure that we reduce demand sufficiently.

The reduction in demand has, however, introduced an undesirable consequence: the income the city derives from water sales has fallen by about 40%. It makes it that much more difficult to fund augmentation measures, said De Lille.

To overcome this  and as a temporary measure  the city is considering a transitional (water) levy, she said. And it has to be temporary. People are struggling as it is. Anyway, it will be political suicide to raise tariffs drastically.

The problem is the municipal funding model is wrong. It is the same problem as with energy. It is, after all, the national government's constitutional obligation to provide water.

In Cape Town and Johannesburg, water tariffs have gone up by about 19% over the past year for demand in excess of the free first six cubic metres. This compares with a global average of 3.91% from July 2016 to July 2017, according to the Global Water Intelligences 2017 Global Water Tariff Survey.

At R5 per cubic metre, water in SA was cheap, said De Lille. The cheapest desalinated water we could find was for R10 per cubic metre.

The citys augmentation plans involve mainly desalination, groundwater abstraction and wastewater treatment.

Cape Towns strategy of reducing demand has been criticised by water experts, including Prof Anthony Turton, who has suggested that an effective intervention requires that the narrative of scarcity is converted into a narrative of future abundance.

He said also that it would be economically unwise to ration visitors to the city over the tourism season ahead.

The economic return on (a) unit of water is bigger than if we have the constraints of telling them to have no baths, and dont flush the loo.

In October, Cape Town launched a Save Like a Local awareness campaign aimed at visitors. Cape Town very much remains open for business, said De Lille.

Enver Duminy, the CEO of Cape Town Tourism, said to bear in mind that many Capetonians were themselves going away for holidays and that large industries would shut down for the period. This will minimise the impact of visitor arrivals on our water resources.

Duminy said in a survey of its members, 65% indicated they did not expect to see a drop in bookings during the upcoming season as a result of the water shortage.

The Grant Thornton Economic Value of Tourism Report found that for 2015 (before the water crisis developed) more than R15bn a year was spent directly by visitors to Cape Town each year.

Source: Business Day
BICS, an international communications enabler has announced that it will be providing its complete range of voice and data roaming services to Swazi Mobile, Swaziland's recently launched second mobile network.

 Jozsef Bagota via 123RF

BICS has deployed its full roaming outfit to Swazi Mobile, enabling end-users to benefit from international voice and data services, SMS messaging, signalling, IPX and data clearing services. Both incoming visitors to the country and outgoing roamers can now take advantage of BICS portfolio of over 700 partnerships worldwide across a 4G network.

There are around 250,000 inbound roamers in Swaziland, with a vast majority (around 98%) travelling from neighbouring countries South Africa and Mozambique. Mobile users in this region will not only benefit from BICS one-stop-shop roaming solution, but also its point-of-presence (PoP) in Johannesburg, South Africa, which means that regional traffic will be managed locally. BICS local switching provides outstanding quality by reducing latency, which is critical in order to support 4G.

We are very excited to be supporting Swazi Mobile, Swazilands second mobile network, said Clementine Fournier, regional VP Africa at BICS. We are dedicated to the African continent, and particularly smaller markets within this exciting region, which may not be able to facilitate a full mobile offering.

BICS recognised the demand in Africa back in 2014 when we established our PoP in Johannesburg, which we are now able to fully utilise in supporting the launch of Swazi Mobile and the growth in roaming revenue.

Wandile Mtshali, the CEO at Swazi Mobile said: Swazi Mobile selected BICS for its excellency in delivering complex roaming projects in a very short time, as well providing premium roaming services thanks to its worldwide footprint.

The immediate access to over 800 of BICS partners will give our customers the ability to roam like never before, and BICS PoP in Johannesburg will provide us with a competitive differentiator through service quality.
LUANDA - Angolan President Joao Lourenco has fired his predecessor's daughter from her influential post as head of the Sonangol state oil company, the presidency said in a statement.

Isabel dos Santos

The sacking marks a watershed moment in Lourenco's young presidency as he seeks to assert his authority and clear out the legacy of his controversial predecessor Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled with an iron grip for 38 years.

Lourenco swept to power as the ruling party's candidate in August elections after pledging to clean up Angola's endemic graft, tackle nepotism and revive its listless economy.

"Under the powers vested in him by the constitution, the president... has decided to relieve the following directors who make up the board of Sonangol," said the statement, which named the former president's daughter Isabel.

During his campaign to win the presidency, Lourenco, the 63-year-old former defence minister, vowed to distance himself from his all-powerful predecessor who remains head of the ruling party.

"Nobody will be above the law," he told foreign media on the eve of his election victory.

Known derisively as "the princess", 44-year-old Isabel became the public face of the Dos Santos business empire during her father's presidency.

Isabel dos Santos described herself as an "entrepreneur" on her Twitter account and the US-based Forbes magazine claims that she is Africa's richest woman.

It estimates that her personal fortune could be as much as $3.3bn.

She is also active in the telecoms sector and notably controls Unitel, Angola's leading mobile phone operator, as well as satellite TV network Zap.

She also holds 25% of the capital of Portuguese media giant NOS and has invested heavily in the banking sector.

Isabel's removal from Sonangol's top job comes as a surprise, for she had often stated that she wanted to remain in the top job.

"The job of Sonangol is not dependent on the electoral process... I want to continue," she said ahead of the August elections.

Isabel has faced increasing pressure from foreign oil companies in recent weeks, according to Alex Vines, an analyst at the Chatham House think tank in London.

"A number of international oil companies wrote last month to President Lourenco asking for reform... structural reform of Sonangol is the result," he said.

Benjamin Auge of the French Institute of International Relations added that Lourenco was unable to control Isabel and "preferred to have his hand on the economic heart of the country".

Angola's opposition accuses the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party of suppressing dissent and the Dos Santos family of bleeding the country dry through corruption and decades of mismanagement.

Black gold provides 70% of Angola's revenues and almost all of its hard currency, but many of the country's citizens are mired in poverty.

Even through the collapse in oil prices in recent years, crude has remained Angola's leading revenue source.

Angola, which along with Nigeria is one of Africa's top oil producers, has been in the grip of an economic crisis since 2014 as the global price of oil has remained flat.
Pan-Africans: Sam Nujoma, Kenneth Kaunda, Samora Machel, Julius Nyerere, Robert Mugabe, Dos Santos.

[Commentary]

Robert Gabriel Mugabe's rule was brought to an end by Zimbabwe's armed forces on November 15, 2017. He had been in power since 1980.

What Mugabe and ZANU-PF achieved can't be undone -- after defeating Ian Smith's apartheid regime (together with Joshua Nkomo's ZAPU) --returning land to the descendants of people from whom the land was stolen during British colonial rule.

Even The New York Times, the establishment neo-orthodox economics "paper of record" conceded that the doom and gloom predicted when the commercial farms were returned to Africans did not materialize and many Africans were as productive or even more productive than the White farmers' before them. Imagine if they had access to adequate capital. Zimbabweans are some of the most resilient, enterprising and educated people in Africa.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/07/18/world/middleeast/2012071...

The economic sanctions spear-headed by the maniacal Tony Blair, who is today the highly-paid apologist for Paul Kagame, and embraced by the United States, undermined everything. That was punishment for returning the land. It was also meant to send a message to South Africa's and Namibia's leadership -- don't you dare touch the land issue or we'll do to you what we've done to Mugabe.

Even Kenya, 54 years after independence, has not returned the land.

No other economy, African, Western, Caribbean, Asian, South American, could have survived the diabolical sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe.

Contrast the sanctions against Zimbabwe to the license and blank check from the West to Uganda's Gen. Yoweri Museveni who, through his army, has been directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of at least 1 million Ugandans, 800,000 Rwandans, at least 6 million Congolese and 200,000 South Sudanese (that conflict continues).

Where are the sanctions in Museveni's case? Not that there should be sanctions against Uganda; but at the bare minimum you'd think there'd be one against Gen. Museveni himself for his war crimes.

Instead, Museveni is invited to the White House and 10 Downing Street. The U.S., up to day, still supports Museveni's regime with $750 million annually and trains and equips his army, which has never defended Uganda against a single foreign invasion in the 31 years of Museveni's tyranny.

Instead the so-called "security services" create insecurity by gunning down Red Bandanna-wearing Ugandans resisting Museveni's own life-presidency project.

Museveni is also displacing Ugandans from their ancestral lands and inviting foreign agribusinesses to take over--so he's rewarded.

In Zimbabwe, it's a wonder that Mugabe wasn't deposed long ago, given the socio-economic and political pressures arising from the sanctions. No one will ever know the sanctions' impact on the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans including its role in the deaths of young Zimbabweans. The sanctions impacted the entire fabric of Zimbabwean society. The masses suffered most; the elite always enrich themselves.

But you won't see any major reports on the impact of the sanctions on Zimbabwe; just like you won't see any major study that evaluates NATO's destruction of Libya's infrastructure or how many people were killed in 2011 during the six-months 24 x 7 bombing campaign.

Mugabe's monumental shortcoming was not creating a succession mechanism and now Zimbabweans pay the price.

Julius Nyerere, hero of Tanzanian, Zimbabwean and African liberation, stepped down as president and nurtured transition in Tanzania in his lifetime. You can also never imagine Nyerere having ever entertained the thought of his wife as a successor.

Tanzania avoided a moment such as the one Zimbabwe faces because Nyerere eased out of State House and shared his great wisdom and respectability --for the benefit of his beloved Tanzania and for Africa --from the background in the remaining years of his life.

Zimbabwe can shine mightily again, so long as there are no major ruptures and civil conflict. It's blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources and no shortage of brainpower, in the form of highly-skilled professionals currently scattered allover the world.

If Zimbabwe can marshall its politics and create an environment that accommodates all --not winner take all-- it can become a Middle Income country within 15 years, possibly less.

Similarly, countries like Uganda can thrive once monopoly of political power (in its case autocracy) ends.

There are many stormy days ahead; many.

Wisdom and maturity are needed in the weeks and months ahead for Zimbabwe.

Viva Zimbabwe! Viva Africa!
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They say Jazzy music soothes the soul, and TafNaz proved this at Masa Square Hotel during a recent Jazz Xchange session.

There is no doubt the artiste is a good product of Jazz Xchange whose mandate is to mould artists and expose them to the real world of music. The sophisticated TafNaz humbled the show attendants with his repertoire encompassing various music genres.

He did a fair bit from RnB to Rock music, which led to some attendants labelling him an all-in-one kind of artist in Botswana. The live performance was made even more ideal by the two bands; Alive and Bolder as well as Contra Banditz which illustrated the definite mood of jazzy music.





TafNaz describes music as the message that lives on forever. Music is timeless, thus old music sometimes just need to be replayed because of the core message that it carries.

I believe that music perfectly soothes the soul, he said as he paused to engage the emotional audience which was appreciating his golden voice. The gentleman has exceptionally good RnB songs which he dedicates to lovers. He has been writing music for seven years now and it is quite evident from the flow of his songs.

He started off by writing poetry and later on decided to put a melody to it. Reiterating the universality of music, he singles out El Kindiy Rahman for moulding him to become the artiste he is through RMC Records.

Music is universal and in order to grow as an artist one has to be ready to learn a lot of things from other artists. I am proud to say I can indulge so well in different genres of music because Rahman transformed me from what he calls white music that I was doing back then to realise that I am multi-talented, he said.

TafNAz started singing from a young age at church (Seventh Day Adventist Church) where Acapella is mastered. His song, I am sorry left the audience in awe as his angelic and matured voice filled the hall. This harked back to the vigorous voice training process and the use of guitar that Rahman instilled in this renowned artiste.

The slow jams indeed suited even the cold night in the Masa Square Hotel. Towards the end of the show Rahman shared the stage with TafNaz as they set the stage on fire with their guitars, which TafNaz said is the best skill ever that Rahman has blessed him with.

He was initially a self-taught guitarist but now he can confidently say that he is a guitarist eyeing to improve Botswana music.

Rahman described TazNazs performance as exceptionally good since he was able to entertain the audience through different genres. He says it is not easy to be on that level but TafNaz can now easily play in a range of Acoustic music, up tempo, RnB and a little bit of swing and Jazz.

He says Jazz Xchange tries to mould local artists in such a manner. His voice has the rock element and that is why he is flexible to sing anyhow. This has developed him and having featured in Jazz Xchange on his own gave him a big exposure to his music career as a refined artiste, said Rahman.
The government of Botswana will continue to invest in the development of the arts in Botswana. President Ian Khama revealed this in the State of the Nation address this Monday.

Khama noted that Government continues to promote the diverse cultural heritage of Botswana through various programmes to develop the arts and crafts to a level where the producers can eke a decent living from their products and services.

He noted that the Presidents Day Competitions remained a key programme in pursuit of this goal. Participation levels in the country competitions have grown from 3, 274 in 2008 to 18, 971 this year.





The numbers of categories in which artists compete has resulted in the prize money awarded to artists also rising from P1million to P4.6 million, over the same period.

The president also stated that to further promote arts and crafts, government had taken the lead in allocating P10 million to procure art and crafts, as well as performance services from local artists.

Khama has been lauded for his contribution to the development of arts and culture despite his clash with stakeholders over limited bar and nightclub operational hours.

In recent years, Botswana government has encouraged local communities to derive economic benefits from their initiatives to preserve, promote culture and the arts.

In 2008, government made a decision to instruct all its agencies including ministries and departments to purchase artworks from local producers and solicit services of local artists in an attempt to expand their market base and increase economic gains from their trade.

Botswana is slowly recognising and appreciating that the arts can contribute to economic diversification and help generate income for artists to achieve a better economic status, and also attract domestic investment as well as foreign investment.
Botswana-based author Lauri Kubuitsiles novel The Scattering has won the prize for best international fiction at the Sharjah International Book Fair, the worlds third largest book fair, in the United Arab Emirates.

According to a press release from the book publisher Penguin Books, The Scattering is a moving and intimate novel that brings to life the genocide of the Herero and Nama people in German South-West Africa in the early 1900s.

Against the backdrop of southern Africas colonial wars at the dawn of the 20th century, the novel traces the fates of two remarkable women whose paths cross after each has suffered the devastation and dislocation of war.





This is not the first prize in her illustrious writing career spanning almost two decades. Kubuitsile has won the Golden Baobab (2009 and 2010), Orange Botswerere Award for Creative writing, BTA/Anglo Platinum Short Story Award (2007) and Pan African prize for childrens writing. She was also listed for the 2011 Caine Prize.

In a brief interview with this publication, Kubuitsile said that while she is grateful for the prize, raking in awards is not necessarily her bottom line.

Im always writing- prizes or no prizes- but prizes are helpful as they tell you youre on the right track and they are some validation after lots of rejection and hard work, she said. There arent many local writers who have reached the level of international recognition and acclaim that Kubuitsile has in recent years.

She talks down any insinuation that local writers should work harder than their international counterparts to overcome the challenges synonymous with writing. Batswana writers face the same challenges every writer in the world faces: to sit down, work hard at their craft, and write a book publishers will like and readers will want to read. We, like writers everywhere, live in a connected world so thinking only about problems with local publishing is very outdated, she said. She disregards the assumption that African writers should engage the African narrative and write their own stories that reflect their own history and lifestyle. I get angry that people think its okay to dictate what African writers must do. I wonder why this constant prescription and bullying is always falling on African writers heads. Imagine if people attempted that with European or American writers? No, African writers have no obligation to anyone except themselves, they should write what they want - always. The stories will come out.

As a writer with more than a decade of writing experience, she advises aspiring writers to invest in their craft. Talent will only get you so far- writing requires work. The work is reading and writing, nothing else. Respect the writing and give it what is required. I see so many new writers sending off slapdash rough drafts and waiting for glory. Put all of your energy into the writing, thats all that matters if indeed you are a writer.
The corruption trial of former state Sen. Phil Griego is causing a reexamination of the state's citizen legislator system . Griego is charged with violating laws on bribery, fraud and ethical misconduct. Prosecutors for the state Attorney Generals Office claim that Griego used his influence as a legislator to pressure his fellow lawmakers into approving the sale of a historic state building , earning himself a $50,000 real estate commission. The scandal highlights what some lawmakers say is an inherent problem in our state's legislator systemthe only one in the nation that does not pay legislators a salary. Lawmakers must either be retired or have other jobs when they aren't in session. Griego and his attorneys are defending his actions, saying that in such a system, conflicts of interest are inevitable. They also argue that Griego's role in the sale didn't come about until after it had been made. They say he did not vote on the sale and did not apply any political pressure to his colleagues. In 2015, Griego signed an agreement stating that he had asked someone else to introduce the resolution authorizing the sale. Griego's lawyers say he has not committed any crimes, and that he was unaware of a provision in the state Constitution which prohibits legislators from having an interest in any state contract authorized by laws passed during their tenure.

Court Battle Between Health Care Providers Stalls

The five-year-old legal battle between the New Mexico Cancer Center in Albuquerque and Presbyterian Healthcaretwo of the states best known health care organizationshas been put on hold. Before 2002, doctors at the New Mexico Cancer Center provided treatment for cancer patients in the Presbyterian Healthcare system. This practice stopped after the construction of the New Mexico Cancer Center, and the founders filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Presbyterian alleging that the organization acted purposefully to put New Mexico Cancer Center out of business. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim Presbyterian lowered monetary reimbursement to the New Mexico Cancer Center, threatened to terminate the centers provider contract, obtained and sold drugs through a federal Medicare program in an unlawful manner and told at least one patent that the cancer center was not an approved healthcare provider, along with a litany of other charges. As part of the lawsuit, the cancer center is seeking three times the amount of lost profits plus punitive damages, and wants to see a court order stopping Presbyterian from engaging in alleged anti-competitive activities. After an unsuccessful attempt to arrange a settlement this past summer, the case was supposed to go before a jury over the fall, but will be unable to continue until it has been determined if the cancer centers founders would be testifying as expert witnesses or fact witnesses. No court date has been set. Presbyterians attorneys claim that the cancer center is using the lawsuit as part of a demand for higher reimbursements and more patient referrals.


Indian Army chief Gen Bipin Singh Rawat at the seminar Future Armoured Vehicles India 2017 at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. A PTI Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Battlefields of the future will be "complex" and warfare "hybrid" in nature, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat has said while stressing the need for enhancing required capabilities to tackle such scenarios.



With changing patterns in terrain, armoured vehicles like battle tanks must have the capacity and capability to operate on the western as well the northern borders, the Army chief said.



He was addressing the inaugural session of a seminar on 'Future Armoured Vehicles India 2017' here on Wednesday.



"The future battlefield will be complex," Rawat said.



While fighting battles in conventional domains, the sub- conventional domain "just cannot be overlooked". The two have to be concurrent, he noted.



"And of course, there will be the hybrid use of warfare that will get entwined within. So there will be the use of space, cyber, there will be information warfare in war time," Rawat said.



To deal with such scenarios, it is essential to understand the kind of weapon systems, equipment and technologies forces will confront, he said.



Some part of the Thar desert is hardening, the Army chief said. With the development of canals, barren land has turned green and population density has increased, posing challenges, he added.



"With the canal systems evolving, we have to address the requirement of bridges and the manner in which these armoured fighting vehicles will negotiate them. That is why I say the battlefield will turn complex... the terrain will add to the complexities," Rawat said.



Whatever be the future, he added, armoured vehicles must have the capacity and capability to operate on the western as well as the northern border.



"Therefore, whatever weapons we are going to introduce must be capable of interoperability on both the fronts," he said.



Rawat noted that the Army was looking at modernising its mechanised forces and there should be a timeline for it.



The Army is looking to introduce modern tanks and ICVs (Infantry Combat Vehicles) from 2025-2027.



"This is the time we can make no mistake. We have to decide on what we want, what are the capabilities and what exactly we have to achieve. We must have the capability to operate by day and night," Rawat added.



While doing so, the requirements of the infantry also have to be looked into, he asserted.


KBC Bank Ireland has today released its third quarter financial results revealing a year to date profit of 175.7m.

The bank has reported a net profit of 2.6m after tax and impairments for Q3 2017, compared to a profit of 44.4m for the same period in 2016.

The report also shows an operating loss of 22.8m before tax and impairment and impaired loans stock reduced by 5% to 4.9bn in the quarter.

KBC Bank saw the addition of 19,393 new accounts in the quarter.

Net profit for the first nine months of the year stood at 175.7 million after tax and impairments, up 57.6m on the nine months to September 2016.

The wider KBC Group ended the third quarter of 2017 with a net profit of 691m, bringing the net result for the first nine months of 2017 to 2.176bn, up 25% on the figure for the corresponding period of 2016.

The bank said the quarter saw the launch of a new mobile app which will enable current account openings in minutes, 24/7 customer service via phone, web chat and email, Fitbit Pay and Digital Debit Cards and Digital Wallets.

The results come alongside an announcement from the bank that a provision of 54.5m has been set aside to deal with the tracker mortgage scandal.

It is thought more than 1,600 customers were overcharged or wrongly denied a tracker rate.

This is in addition to the initial amount of 4.4m which was announced this time last year.

KBCs Chief Executive has again apologised for the controversy and says compensation payments for those affected has begun.

"Of course, like all banks we are very focused on managing the ongoing Tracker Mortgage examination and apologise sincerely for the errors that occurred at the bank before 2009," Wim Verbraeken, Chief Executive, KBC Bank Ireland said.

The bank continues to work with the Central Bank in relation to the identification of customers.

"We have begun payments to affected customers and conclusion of the Tracker Mortgage Review continues to receive the highest priority at KBC.
The Army Bomb Disposal Team has carried out a controlled explosion on an explosive device found in County Carlow.

The alarm was raised when the suspect device was found in Kilmeaney this afternoon.
Update 10pm: Gardai have confirmed that two men in their 30s are due to appear at a sitting of Trim District Court tomorrow at 9am charged in relation to the 5m worth of drug seizures in Ashbourne yesterday.

The seizures were made as part of an international operation tackling traffickers and organised crime gangs linked to the Kinahan cartel.

Update: 9.08pm: Dutch police have said that the eight people arrested in the Netherlands include two men from Limerick and one from Dublin.

The rest comprise of four Dutch men and one Belgian.

Officers in the Netherlands seized 175kg of cocaine, cannabis, vacuum-packed cash, computers, encrypted phones and bitcoin.

The Garda's Assistant Commissioner in charge of special operations, John O'Driscoll, who is liaising with Dutch police in the Netherlands said that there were 13 bolts on a heavy metal door of one of the apartments raided.

Speaking from the Europol headquarters in the Netherlands, he said the operation has a strong international dimension.

He said: "We have been liaising with a number of law enforcement agencies. There is a realisation across a number of member states in Europe that when we combine our information we can have a greater impact on these crime gangs."

The scene of yesterday's Garda raid in Ashbourne.

6.35pm: Gardai have said the Dublin end of the operation netted almost 400,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and cash.

During a search at a house at Kilmainham Bank, Dublin 8, officers seized heroin with a street value of 25,000, 6,000 in cash and three imitation firearms. A man in his 50s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act at Kilmainham Garda Station.

In another search at Basin Street, Dublin 8, around 1,000 worth of heroin was found and a man in his 40s was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at Kilmainham Garda Station.

3 men arrested and close to 400,000 worth of drugs seized in a number of search operations in Dublin today. pic.twitter.com/KILHTEdJxG  Garda Info (@gardainfo) November 16, 2017

Another man was arrested on foot of existing bench warrants at an address in McCarthy Terrace, Dublin 8, and he has been brought to court and remanded in custody.

This bring to thirteen the number of people who have been arrested in Dublin, Meath and the Netherlands as part of the international investigation.

During another search at Berrys Close, Inchicore, Dublin 8, a number of packages wrapped in plastic were seized. They said they held 3.5kgs of a "powder like substance" which they believe is heroin and cocaine. They have been valued at 350,000.

A car has also been seized for technical examination.

Update: 3.36pm: At least 10 people have been arrested in Ireland and the Netherlands after a 7m haul of cannabis and cocaine was seized.

The drugs were recovered when industrial units near Ashbourne, Co Meath were raided yesterday by specialist garda units tackling traffickers and organised crime gangs linked to the Kinahan cartel.

Two men in their 30s were arrested at the scene, gardai said.

In Amsterdam a series of searches were carried out by Dutch police and five people were detained.

Some of the drugs seized in Co. Meath yesterday.

And in subsequent raids in Dublin's south inner city under Operation Thistle, which targets the Kinahan network on the ground, another three people were arrested.

A quantity of drugs, believed to be heroin, was seized in the city along with a number of weapons and suspected replica firearms, gardai said.

Several thousand euro in cash was also recovered.

Some of the drugs seized in Co. Meath yesterday.

Assistant Commissioner John O' Driscoll, who is in The Hague for meetings with Dutch counterparts and others at Europol, said a number of organised crime gangs in a number of countries may be linked to the wider operation.

"The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has brought to fruition an operation targeting drug trafficking, which has an international dimension," he said.

"This has resulted in a significant seizure of cannabis herb and cocaine and the arrest of a number of suspects.

"Action in this jurisdiction has been co-ordinated with action being undertaken by international law enforcement authorities."

An exact value has not been put on the massive haul of drugs seized in Ireland but it has been estimated to run to several million euro.

Some of the drugs seized in Co. Meath yesterday.

Update: 1.46pm: A number of arrests have been made in the Netherlands as gardai work with Dutch Police in a targeted operation which saw two men arrested in County Meath yesterday.

Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll has said that there will be a briefing this afternoon with members of the Dutch Police.

Yesterday, two men aged 31 and 37 were been arrested under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, meaning they can be held for up to seven days.

The Assistant Commissioner has said the search of a lock-up facility in the Ward in Ashbourne is ongoing.

Update 10.18am: The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD has congratulated An Garda Siochana on the success of the international operation that led to the large seizure of drugs yesterday.

The Minister said: "The illicit drugs trade is a highly destructive international business and I am pleased to see An Garda Siochana continuing to partner effectively with law enforcement in other jurisdictions.

"This seizure is very significant and results from a great deal of painstaking work. I want to congratulate all those involved for their professionalism and dedication to duty.

"The effective policing operation will prevent these drugs from reaching the streets and harming individuals, families and communities."

Update 8.08am: Drugs worth between 2m and 5m have been seized in Ashbourne, Co Meath.

Two men in their 30s were also arrested by gardai in a planned operation targeting organised crime.

It is understood the sting was targeting the Kinahan crime gang, and further arrests are expected in the Netherlands later.

In a planned operation yesterday afternoon, gardai searched two industrial units in Ashbourne, Co. Meath and discovered vast quantities of cocaine and cannabis herb.

While not all of the drugs have been assessed, sources say theyre worth between 2m and 5m.

Early estimations putting value of Kinahan drug haul at between 2-5million, probably closer to 5m. Still being calculated. Bear in mind cocaine likely to be high purity as just imported.  Cormac O'Keeffe (@CormacJOKeeffe) November 16, 2017

Two men aged 31 and 37 were arrested at the scene and are being held in Ashbourne Garda station.

The men, who are from Dublin, are being held under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act - meaning they can be held for up to seven days.

Speaking from the Netherlands, Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll said the significant operation was coordinated with international law enforcement colleagues.

Searches of the two scenes will resume this morning, and further arrests are likely, possibly in the Netherlands.

Assistant Commissioner O'Driscoll is meeting Dutch law enforcement personnel and law enforcement personnel from other jurisdictions in the Netherlands today.
Gardai are hoping to question a man and a woman injured in an explosion at a house in Drogheda, Co Louth.

A 28-year-old Lithuanian man was killed in the blast in the Beaulieu area of the town, in the early hours of yesterday.
An investigation is underway into the cause of a blaze at a high-rise tower block near Belfast yesterday.

Four people were treated by paramedics but no one was seriously injured.

BREAKING: This was the scene at Coolmoyne House, Seymour Hill, in Dunmurry a short time ago after a blaze in one of the flats. More as we get it. pic.twitter.com/j1hejmoZFt  Belfast Live (@BelfastLive) November 15, 2017

It happened in an apartment on the ninth floor of the Coolmoyne House tower block in Dunmurry - but authorities say it appears to be accidental. The fire is believed to have been started by a toaster.

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Geoff Somerville explained that the fire was not similar to the fire that killed 71 people in Grenfell Tower last year.

In this case, the fire did not spread beyond the flat where the blaze broke out. The smoke alarms in the apartment alerted the resident.

However, residents have criticised the fact that other alarms in the building did not go off. Mr Somerville has said that smoke alarms where smoke from the fire had entered did go off.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended the fire at around half five yesterday evening. The fire was well-developed when the fire crews arrived and had broke through one of the windows in the ninth floor apartment.

The fire services managed to get the blaze under control quickly and it was extinguished within 40 minutes of their arrival.

One resident was rescued and a number of others were led to safety by crews on the scene.

One woman claimed that the first she knew of the blaze was when neighbours starting thumping on her door.

"It was very frightening after what happened in England. The fire brigade have been out and done risk assessments and all on it. So, I dont know. Thankfully everybody got out but I just dont feel safe."
A Cavan sex offender has been jailed for five years for the sexual assault and defilement of a 14-year-old boy he met following contact through a website.

Michael Galligan (aged 40), who is on the sex offenders register, has four previous convictions including one for sexual assault and one for a breach of the Sex Offenders Act.

Galligan, with an address at Springfield, Cavan, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court guilty to three counts of defilement of a child under the age of 15 years old and two counts of sexual assault of the boy on dates in 2015. He has been in custody since 2015.

The court heard the child had gone on to a particular website and indicated he was 18 years old.

The prosecuting garda told Orla Crowe SC, prosecuting, that following online contact Galligan and the boy met on three dates during 2015 when the offences occurred. She said that the boy had been wearing his school uniform on the second occasion he met Galligan.

She said that the boy's family became aware of mobile phone contact and the gardai were alerted.

Judge Martin Nolan said Galligan should have known the age of the boy after the first meeting. He said part of the law was to protect 14-year olds from themselves and said Galligan knew what he was doing was seriously wrong.

Judge Nolan imposed a seven-year sentence and suspended the final two years on strict conditions.

The garda said the investigation involving technical evidence and mobile contact had been quite complex. Galligan was interviewed and ultimately made admissions in relation to these charges.

The court heard the boy did not wish to make a victim impact statement and was endeavouring to move on with his life. The garda said during her evidence that the boy had been frightened, distressed and felt worthless during the offending.

The garda agreed with defence counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, that the boy had made first contact with Galligan.

Mr McGrath said this was not a case where Galligan had gone out looking for an under-age child but accepted that once he met the child he knew he was under-age.

Mr McGrath handed in letters from Galligan to the injured party and the court. He said Galligan accepted what he had done was wrong and that he should have walked away from the situation. He accepted that he had caused injury to this young man.

Counsel said that Galligan had begun to engage with psychiatric services in prison to deal with his problems and difficulties. He handed in a report outlining Galligan's personal history and difficulties coming to terms with his own sexuality. He had attended for counselling.

He asked the court to take into account his client's admissions and early guilty plea. He said there were no threats or violence involved. He asked the court to be as lenient as possible.
The HSE is involved in a constant battle against rogue crisis pregnancy agencies, the Oireachtas committee examining the Eighth Amendment has heard, writes Elaine Loughlin.

State-funded services are having to pump significant finances into countering disingenuous and rogue agencies who are targeting women online.

Janice Donlon of the HSEs sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme told the committee that many of these agencies often change their name and location, making it more difficult to warn women in crisis not to attend them.

Responding to questions from Sinn Feins Louise OReilly, Ms Donlon said: What we have seen through our communications unit in the HSE, women seek information about abortion services and about crisis pregnancies primarily online, so through a Google search, and these rogue agencies, these disingenuous agencies are targeting women by increasing the spend in terms of paid AdWords on Google.

The HSE funds counselling services that provide support for women who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy and those who have gone through with an abortion. Ms Donlon said the HSE is constantly trying to outbid rogue organisations to ensure HSE-sponsored ads appear first on search engines, but this requires substantial investment.

She added: It is very difficult to deter women from a certain agency when you do not know where they are located. It is incredibly difficult.

Ms Dolan said the HSE would welcome regulation of crisis pregnancy agencies to even the playing field in terms of transparency.

Differences of opinion between Fine Gael members of the committee were aired after Peter Fitzpatrick questioned Dr Caitriona Henchion, medical director of the Irish Family Planning Association, on the decreasing numbers of women who are now opting to have their children adopted.

Fellow Fine Gael TD Kate OConnell asked whether Mr Fitzpatrick was suggesting a Handmaids Tale situation whereby women in crisis pregnancies would be detained, forced to become parents, and used as a source of supply of babies to childless people. She said: I have to say thats up there with the most shocking thing I have heard today and I hope to God no one forces me into that situation, good luck to you if you do!

Dr Henchion said difficulty in accessing or affording contraception and inconsistent sex education in schools are two of the most significant contributors to crisis pregnancies.

Ms OConnell said it was a no-brainier that the committee should call for for universal free access to contraceptives.

Dr Henchion said there was no question that current laws on abortion, which include criminal charges, have a chilling effect and hang over doctors as a huge threat.

She said instead of being free and comfortable in discussions with women who facing a crisis pregnancy or contemplating an abortion, doctors are more guarded and constantly thinking of the law.

This article first appeared in the Irish Examiner.
A Dublin city councillor has called for rough sleeping to be made illegal.

Independent councillor Mannix Flynn says rough sleepers should be accommodated in state-owned properties instead.

Cllr Flynn says the action was needed because of drug taking and anti-social behaviour.

He said: "How do you deal with a situation where you have an encampment on a piece of land whereby you have drug taking and defecation ... in the meantime we are not dealing with the issue and there are issues out there that need to be dealt with."

His comments follow revelations that a bridge at the Royal Canal in Dublin has been flooded to discourage homeless people from using it and to address general safety concerns.

Rough sleepers use Binns Bridge on Dorset Street for shelter.

I hate to damage our reputation and talk about our homelessness crisis but I counted 16 tents on the Royal Canal on the way home earlier. Thats about 40 people living in tents along the banks of the Royal Canal. A hungry feeling indeed. Disgraceful.  Gordon Spierin (@gordonspierin) November 15, 2017

Waterways Ireland is defending raising the water level claiming that it is to prevent drug use and public defecation as well as for public safety reasons.

Water levels have been raised to remove a significant drop from a narrow walkway into the water.

The water level now covers the walkway under the bridge but is not at risk of flooding any other areas.

In a statement released by Waterways Ireland today, it says:

"Waterways Ireland is responsible for maintaining the canals as a public recreational amenity; that is the legislation framework, within which we work.

"At Binns Bridge, the main issues were drug-taking and littering with needles and other residue as well as public defecation. There is a navigation lock under Binns Bridge.

"The canal is an operational navigation. Waterways Ireland staff and members of the public operate the lock and we must provide a safe environment for them to work in.

"This is not to say that the use of the area by homeless people was not happening, however any homeless people, sleeping in the area were at serious risk of a significant fall and drowning hazard in the deep lock chamber under the bridge. All the solutions we have tried to maintain public safety in the area, including fencing it off, have failed.

"Waterways Ireland is a public body reporting to Government. They are aware of the issues in relation to homeless people using the canal banks as shelter. We continue to highlight the issue with all the relevant agencies and authorities as they work towards a solution."

A view of Binns Bridge via Google Maps

But Padhraic Drommond who volunteers with Inner City Homeless says its inhumane.

"Its absolutely disgusting behaviour for anyone to be doing and its achieving nothing.

Its not solving any issues whatsoever," Mr Drommond said.

"Its going to raise the water levels under the bridge so there will be no walkway under the bridge or no place for them to shelter," he continued.

"They came down here two months ago and put eviction notices on the tents. Absolutely crazy carry-on in this day and age.

"People need help and to be re-housed, not pushed into another area. That is all this is going to do - push them further down."
A man in his 30s has been arrested by gardai investigating the death of Anthony Rogers on November 6.

The man was brought to Kevin Street Garda Station and is expected to appear before Dublin District Court this afternoon charged in connection with the case.
A teenager is due in court this afternoon after two loaded handguns were found in Finglas.

Gardai made the discovery during the search of a house yesterday morning.
More than two-thirds of people on delayed discharge in hospitals are awaiting nursing home care.

Nursing Homes Ireland said there is more than enough space in facilities around the country to cater for these people.
A gay politician has started the Australian Parliament's debate on legal recognition for same-sex marriage with a speech in which he warned against winding back LGBT rights.

Dean Smith, a senator with the ruling conservative Liberal Party, has introduced a bill that would limit who could legally refuse to take part in same-sex marriage to churches, religious ministers and a new class of religious celebrants.

But many same-sex marriage opponents want amendments to broaden the range of businesses and individuals who can legally refuse to provide services such as cakes, flowers or a venue to same-sex couples and new free-speech protections for those who denounce gay marriage.

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal in Australia outside religious institutions.

"Let me be clear: Amendments that seek to address other issues, or which seek to deny gay and lesbian Australians the full rights, responsibilities and privileges that they already have will be strenuously opposed," Mr Smith told the Senate.

"Australians did not vote for equality before the law so that equality before the law that is already gained be stripped away," he added.

Another Liberal Party senator, James Paterson, had won the support of politicians who oppose marriage reform with a proposed bill that offered "a limited right of conscientious objection to ensure no one is forced to participate in a same-sex wedding against their sincerely held beliefs".

It also would safeguard speaking out against gay marriage and would bar government agencies from acting against people who hold such views.

The Law Council Of Australia, the nation's peak lawyers group, said Mr Paterson's bill "would encroach on Australia's long-established anti-discrimination protections in a dangerous and unprecedented way".

Mr Paterson decided to not introduce his bill because senators favoured Mr Smith's bill as the starting point for the debate, but many politicians will argue for contentious features of Mr Paterson's bill to be incorporated in Mr Smith's bill as amendments.

The Senate debate began a day after the release of a nonbinding postal survey found that 62% of Australian respondents wanted reform. Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull wants gay marriage legislation rushed through by December 7, the last day Parliament is to sit for the year.

The postal survey result sparked street parties across Australia overnight and most marriage equality opponents have accepted that the Parliament now has a clear mandate for change.

Cabinet Minister Christopher Pyne on Thursday suggested his Twitter account had been hacked overnight as a consequence of his vocal support for marriage equality.

Mr Pyne said the hack explained his Twitter account liking a pornographic gay video.

"I was hacked overnight!" Mr Pyne tweeted, adding that he was asleep at 2am local time when the "like" was posted.

"Someone tried to hack my social media yesterday. Maybe they are making mischief" over the postal survey, he said.

Mr Smith came close to tears during his speech as he said he once thought Australia would never embrace marriage equality.

"I never believed the day would come when my relationship would be judged by my country to be as meaningful and valued as any other," Mr Smith said.

"The Australian people have proven me wrong."

"To those who want and believe in change and to those who seek to frustrate it, I simply say: Don't underestimate Australia, don't underestimate the Australian people, don't underestimate our country's sense of fairness, its sense of decency and its willingness to be a country for all of us," he added.

Mr Smith's speech was followed a successions of eight senators who all spoke in favour of gay marriage and supported the bill before the debate was adjourned until later on Thursday .

Mr Smith had supported his party's opposition to gay marriage when he joined the Senate five years ago. He has said he changed his mind after a siege in a Sydney cafe in 2014 in which a gunman killed cafe manager Tori Johnson. Police then killed the gunman and another hostage died in the crossfire. Mr Smith said he was moved by Johnson's loving same-sex relationship.

AP
Cambodia's Supreme Court has ordered the country's main opposition party be dissolved in one of the biggest blows yet to democratic aspirations in the south-east Asian state.

The Thursday verdict, which was widely expected, is seen as the latest move by authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen to remove threats to his power ahead of elections next year.

The government accused the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party of involvement in a plot to topple the government and asked the judiciary to dissolve it.

Party officials have denied the charges, saying they are politically motivated.

AP

Earlier: Cambodia's embattled opposition is braced for a court ruling that is widely expected to see the party dissolved in the latest move by authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen to remove threats to his power ahead of elections next year.

The government accuses the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of involvement in a plot to topple the government and has asked the judiciary to dissolve it. CNRP officials have denied the charges, saying they are politically motivated.

Since Cambodia's court system is not seen as independent of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government, dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party is assured when the Supreme Court makes its ruling today, said Son Chhay, whip of the party, the only opposition group to hold seats in parliament.

"We have no hope that the Supreme Court's verdict will be different to what Prime Minister Hun Sen wants," he said. "Therefore, my party is likely to be dissolved."

July's general election will be the first national polls since 2013, when Mr Hun Sen narrowly retained office after the opposition made unexpectedly strong gains.

In his 32 years in power, Mr Hun Sen has mastered how to sideline political opponents. In 1997, he ousted a co-prime minister in a bloody coup. In recent years, he's used Cambodia's pliant judicial system.

To avoid international reprisals, Mr Hun Sen often has struck last-minute political compromises. He allowed former opposition leader Sam Rainsy to contest the 2013 polls. Sam Rainsy now lives in exile and is facing a jail term for a criminal defamation conviction if he returns.

So far, Mr Hun Sen has shown no sign of backing down and in fact appears to be mounting his biggest assault on Cambodian democracy since the coup.

Sam Rainsy resigned from the CNRP in February after Mr Hun Sen vowed to change the laws on political party leadership to keep convicts out of leadership positions. Sam Rainsy said on Wednesday in a Facebook post that he was returning to the party, and said the CNRP would remain in the hearts of Cambodians even it were dissolved.

Current CNRP leader Kem Sokha was charged last month with treason for allegedly working with the United States to topple Mr Hun Sen. His daughter Monovithya Kem said about 20 other party politicians have since fled the country. She and her sister also fled, fearing arrest after the government accused them of conspiring with the CIA.

The charge against Kem Sokha was based on videos from several years ago that showed him at a seminar where he spoke about receiving advice from USS pro-democracy groups. He could face up to 30 years in prison.

Mr Hun Sen's government also has targeted civil society and media, shuttering radio stations with programming from U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia and Voice of America. The National Democratic Institute, which helped train political parties and election monitors, was kicked out of the country.

Mr Hun Sen also has encouraged opposition politicians to defect to his ruling party before Thursday's ruling.

In a speech last week to garment workers, Mr Hun Sen said he was so confident the court would rule against the CNRP that he would offer anyone 100-1 odds if they were willing to bet it would not happen.

"If it is not dissolved, you can come to take money from me," he said.

Ahead of the court ruling, Cambodian police have put up barricades around the Supreme Court to block roads and prevent opposition supporters from protesting.
Social media giants Facebook and Snapchat will trial a new service providing direct support to victims of cyberbullying, a royal campaign has announced.

British royal Prince William is spearheading a fresh battle against online abuse with the support of a taskforce made up of major tech firms and charities.

He is to announce a code of conduct for the internet, said to be the first of its kind globally, urging young people to "stop, speak, support".

For the last 18 months, the Royal Foundation's Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying has been working on ways to create a safer space for young people online.

Facebook and Snapchat are exploring alterations to their sites which allow victims to access help, which was created with UK children's charity NSPCC.

It will be trialled among groups of young people, Kensington Palace said, with William hoping it can soon be rolled out universally.

The Taskforce's code of conduct, which is said to be national and youth-led, encourages young people to consider how they behave online.

It asks them to stop and consider what the situation is before joining in negative activity online, speak to an adult, a charity or report any abuse if they are concerned, and offer support to the individual being targeted.

Organisations including Google, Apple, EE and Twitter have all been involved in the project.

In a video released yesterday, Prince William warned that anonymity online can be "really, really dangerous" as it allows cyberbullies to ignore the real-world impact of their actions.

His interest in the problem began shortly after the birth of his own son, Prince George, when he heard the story of a boy who died by suicide as a result of online abuse.

The clip released by Kensington Palace shows William meeting Lucy Alexander, whose son Felix also killed himself, and cyberbullying victim Chloe Hine.

Ms Hine attempted to take her own life at the age of 13 after enduring an onslaught of abuse on the internet.

Listening to the experiences of the pair, the Duke tells them: "I think it is worth reminding everyone what the human tragedy of what we are talking about here isn't just about companies and about online stuff - it's actually real lives that get affected.

"And the consequences, that is the big thing, the consequences of what happens if things are not kept in check in terms of what we say and what we do.

"We are still responsible for our own actions online - this anonymity, as you were saying, is really, really dangerous."

Ms Alexander spoke of her son's slide into depression after he was targeted on social media, being excluded from parties and viewing himself as "stupid and ugly".

She said: "It just ate away at him inside, I think, but I had no idea of the depth of his despair at all."

Ms Alexander has been campaigning to raise awareness of the issue and has been invited to help the work of the Taskforce.

Prince William told her: "It is one thing when it happens in the playground and it's visible there and parents and teachers and other children can see it.

"Online, you're the only one who sees it, and it's so personal, isn't it? Really it goes straight to your bedroom."

Ms Hine escaped her own personal torment by turning to writing to help her process her feelings.

William asked to hug both women after they shared their stories at Kensington Palace, thanking them for their "brave" intervention.

The Taskforce is chaired by the entrepreneur and founder of travel website lastminute.com, Brent Hoberman.

Other members include The Anti-Bullying Alliance, BT, The Diana Award, Internet Matters, O2, Sky, Supercell, TalkTalk, Vodafone and Virgin Media.

The Taskforce has also committed to building a universal strategy for support information about cyberbullying, and to design new safety guidelines, Kensington Palace said.
Pope Francis has criticised those who deny the science behind global warming and urged negotiators at climate talks in Germany to avoid falling prey to such "perverse attitudes".

Francis issued a message to the Bonn meeting, which is working to implement the 2015 Paris accord aimed at capping global emissions.

He called climate change "one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing" and urged negotiators to take action free of special interests and political or economic pressures.

Francis did not cite any countries by name but the US has announced it is withdrawing from the Paris accord.

President Donald Trump has nominated several people in his administration who question scientists' conclusions that human activity is behind the global rise in temperatures.

At the same time, the US administration has promoted the use of fossil fuels like coal for energy needs.

In his landmark 2015 environmental encyclical, Francis said global warming is "mainly" due to human activity and he called for fossil fuels to be progressively phased out without delay.

In his message, the Argentine pope claimed efforts to combat climate change are often frustrated by those who deny the science behind it or are indifferent to it, those who are resigned to it or think it can be solved by technical solutions, which he termed "inadequate".

"We must avoid falling into these four perverse attitudes, which certainly don't help honest research and sincere, productive dialogue," he said.

AP
The prosecution in the trial of two women accused of killing the half brother of North Korea's leader is not expected to end until the second quarter of 2018.

Today, prosecutors in Malaysia wrapped up another week in the trial that started in early October.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam pleaded not guilty to murdering Kim Jong Nam with VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur Airport. They would face the death penalty if convicted.

The trial will resume on November 28 for four days and then continue over several dates in January, February and March.

Defence lawyer Salim Bashir said that once the prosecution case ends, the judge could take a month or more to decide whether to free the women or call their defence.

Doan Thi Huong

Prosecutors have said four North Koreans conspired with the two women to plot the murder and fled the country the day of the attack.

The hearing has been postponed several times this month after police investigating officer Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz forgot to bring his investigation notes and defence lawyers had to wait for him to supply documents.

Defence lawyers have described Mr Wan Azirul as the most important witness.

Gooi Soon Seng, Aisyah's lawyer, this week told the court he can only resume his cross-examination of Mr Wan Azirul after studying the latest documents supplied by the police officer - more than 70,000 pages of content in the Korean language found in mobile phones belonging to North Korean chemist Ri Jong Chol.

Ri was detained shortly after the murder but released due to lack of evidence and deported.

Mr Gooi said Ri, who had used a North Korean embassy car since 2015, was a key suspect as his house could have been a clandestine lab to make the nerve agent.

"This case hinges on circumstantial evidence. Apart from the (airport video) footage, there is no direct witness in the case. We want to show that the police officer is lopsided in his investigations, that he didn't bother to probe the motive in the murder," Mr Gooi said.

"Four men have escaped and they are putting the blame on the girls to make it look like a simple murder. But if you put all the circumstances together, it's a political murder in which the girls have no interest. We have to show how they are used as scapegoats and they don't know what they are doing."

So far, 18 witnesses have given evidence and prosecutors said they have about 20 more minor witnesses.

AP
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is meeting a South African delegation at his state house as negotiations pushed for a resolution to the political turmoil and the likely end to his decades-long rule.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma, speaking in parliament, said the political situation "very shortly will be becoming clear" but that it was too early to take any firm decision.

The talks include the military and, reportedly, the Catholic Church.

Seizing on the political limbo to speak out, civil society groups and opposition leaders urged Mr Mugabe to step aside after 37 years in power and for the country to transition into free and fair elections.

Mr Mugabe has been in military custody, reportedly with his wife, and there was no sign of the recently-fired deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who fled the country last week.

The military remained in the streets of capital city Harare. Southern African regional officials were meeting in neighbouring Botswana on the crisis.

A joint statement by more than 100 civil society groups urged Mr Mugabe, 93, to peacefully step aside and asked the military to quickly restore order and respect the constitution.

One analyst said he believed the negotiations "have pretty much reached an end point" to get Mr Mugabe to step aside and that it was a "matter of hours or days".

Knox Chitiyo, associate fellow with the Africa programme at Chatham House, warned speculation remains high but the aim was a peaceful, managed transition.

He said the military wants a dignified exit for Mr Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from white minority rule in 1980.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who shared power with Mr Mugabe between 2009 and 2013, said the president must resign and that his party would participate in talks on a transitional mechanism if approached.

Joice Mujuru, a vice president who was fired in 2014, called for "free, fair and credible elections" following a transition arrangement that draws from a range of communities.

Evan Mawarire, the pastor whose #ThisFlag social media campaign last year led to the largest anti-government protests in a decade, asked: "Should we just sit and wait or shall we at least be part of this transition process?"

Across the country, Zimbabweans were enjoying freedoms they have not had in years.

Soldiers manning the few checkpoints on roads leading into downtown Harare greeted motorists with a smile, searching cars without hostilities and wishing motorists a safe journey.

Amid questions about the whereabouts of first lady Grace Mugabe, one Namibian newspaper, the New Era, reported that the country's foreign minister denied she had fled there.

The US Embassy advised citizens in Zimbabwe to "limit unnecessary movements" as political uncertainty continues.

The UK Government also urged its citizens to avoid large gatherings and any demonstrations.
A key UN committee has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on Burma's authorities to end military operations against Rohingya Muslims, ensure their voluntary return from Bangladesh and grant them "full citizenship rights".

The General Assembly's human rights committee approved the resolution sponsored by the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) by a vote of 135-10 with 26 abstentions today.
Latest News ANZ raises fixed rates Forty other lenders have hiked at least one fixed rate in the last month, data shows

Top 20 affordable suburbs to buy apartments Find out which areas made the list

Labors controversial South Australian bank tax has ultimately been laid to rest after being shot down for a second time in the Senate.The Liberal Party, the Australian Conservatives and Advance SA MP John Darley all promised to block the tax with Premier Jay Weatherill admitting defeat yesterday (15 November).For all intents and purposes, the bank tax is dead, he told reporters.Weatherill accused Liberal opposition leader Steven Marshall of siding with the banks over the people of South Australia.For my government, this was all part of SA jobs being our number one priority.Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis was equally scathing of the opposition, pointing to recent moves by the banking industry.The big banks have closed more than 30 branches in South Australia in recent years, and less than two weeks ago, NAB announced it would sack a further 6,000 workers on the same day it recorded a profit of $6.6bn.The Australian Bankers Association (ABA) has come out in support of the decision to abandon any moves towards a state bank tax.Today is a real victory for the people of South Australia and in particular for those who operate businesses. The decision will provide them with a greater level of confidence and certainty which is vital for business, said ABA CEO Anna Bligh Australian banks belong to all of us and theyre about growth and driving good economic outcomes; todays decision will mean we can all get on with the job of making that happen.Bligh thanked the South Australian Liberal Opposition lead by Steven Marshall, Advance SAs John Darley and the Australian Conservative Party for opposing the tax.Shayne Elliott, CEO of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ( ANZ ), welcomed the decision as positive, saying the state was once again open for business and investment.We look forward to continuing to invest in our South Australian business with renewed certainty, which remains an important part of our business here in Australia. Andrew Thorburn , CEO of National Australia Bank (NAB), also praised the move, saying it was the right result for those in South Australia.The business community needs sound, long-term policies and certainty to invest in their businesses, create jobs and build a stronger South Australian economy. Todays decision makes South Australia a more attractive place to do business.
Latest News ANZ raises fixed rates Forty other lenders have hiked at least one fixed rate in the last month, data shows

Top 20 affordable suburbs to buy apartments Find out which areas made the list

With the Property Exchange of Australia (PEXA) aiming for a completely paperless mortgage process nationwide, a number of steps have been implemented to ensure that everything remains compliant and maintains integrity along the entire property journey.As an electronic lodgement network operator (ELNO), PEXA is currently governed by the Australian Registrars National Electronic Conveyancing Council (ARNECC)  a body that has membership comprising of the Land Titles Registrars from each state and territory.PEXA is a deeply regulated company in that we have annual audits, annual IT, penetration tests, all sorts of things both technical and digitally orientated, Marcus Price, CEO of PEXA, told Australian Broker.ARNECC operates under the Electronic Conveyancing National Law (ECNL) as well as its own Model Operating Requirements (MOR) for ELNOs and Model Participation Rules (MPR) for banks and other participants using these platforms.With PEXA seeking to become more pervasive across Australia, there were plenty of controls already in place, Price said. One example is the firms pricing policy which has been approved by ARNECC and is strictly enforced.Our regulatory framework and our pricing framework really is quite well nailed down.In fact, the sheer size of the regulatory burden was a barrier to entry for any other parties seeking to enter the same space, Price said.For instance, ELNO licences are granted by ARNECC only after certain select criteria are fulfilled including pricing, accessibility, integrity of processes, and integrity of software.PEXA has also been asked to self-certify certain parts of the process which are later audited by ARNECC. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) does the same with banks, Price said.It is so heavily regulated that its a burden on the company. We accept the burden because we understand the importance of the industry but it doesnt come without a cost.Jean Villani, chair of ARNECC, told Australian Broker that the regulator undertakes a range of monitoring measures, including compliance examinations of ELNOs (and their subscribers), compliance assessments of ELNO applicants prior to licencing, annual reviews, certification, and general compliance monitoring.Legislation sets out the scope and purpose of compliance examinations and the obligations of ELNOs to comply with the examinations, she said. The laws also allow registrars to refer any matter revealed prior to, or during, and examination to another appropriate authority  including the industry regulator or law enforcement agencies.Price said that in the event ARNECC needed to act, it most definitely had teeth.They could stop us operating tomorrow. How many more teeth do you want?The regulator also has a step-in right to take control of PEXA if it wanted to, he added.To further complicate matters, PEXA has also had to sign operating agreements with registrars in all states and territories, each of which has its own subtle details to be followed.Weve got many masters, Price said.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE COMPUTER SYSTEM OUTAGE Due to system maintenance and updates being conducted by the State of Ohio, staff at...
A 24-year-old man is facing a slew of felony charges for illegal straw purchase of 21 guns at gun stores, almost exclusively in Bucks County. Leonard Truesdale was arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, on 21 counts each of making false statements on firearm purchase forms, criminal conspiracy to make false statements on firearm purchase forms and selling or transferring...
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Scientists win U.N. data prize for monitoring threats to South African biodiversity hotspot

The fynbos of South Africa in Table Mountain National Park Cape Town. This ecologically important shrubland is found in the countrys Cape Floristic Region, which is one of the richest repositories of plant life in the world. Credit: Adam Wilson

The Cape Floristic Region is home to an estimated 9,000 plant species  many found nowhere else on Earth

A Cape Sugarbird pauses in the fynbos, a belt of shrubland in South Africas Cape Floristic Region. Credit: Adam Wilson

A Cape Sugarbird pauses in the fynbos, a belt of shrubland in South Africas Cape Floristic Region. Credit: Adam Wilson

BUFFALO, N.Y.  South Africas Cape Floristic Region is one of the richest repositories of plant life in the world.

Here, about 20 percent of Africas flora grows in a landscape that accounts for less than 0.5 percent of the continents area, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The diversity of plant life is among the highest on the planet. About 69 percent of the regions estimated 9,000 plant species live nowhere else in the world.

Now, a team of scientists including University at Buffalo biogeographer Adam Wilson has won a United Nations (U.N.) data prize for creating a digital tool for monitoring threats to this biological jewel.

The researchers  including Wilson, PhD; ecologist Jasper Slingsby, PhD, at the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON); and data scientist Glenn Moncrieff, PhD, at Ixio Analytics in South Africa  were one of six winning teams in U.N. Global Pulses Data for Climate Action Challenge, which asked scholars to use private sector data sources to address problems tied to climate change.

The group won the competitions Thematic Award for Climate Mitigation.

The competition was hosted by U.N. Global Pulse  a flagship innovation initiative of the U.N. Secretary-General that aims to accelerate discovery, development and scaled adoption of big data innovation for sustainable development and humanitarian action  in collaboration with Western Digital Corporation and with support from the Skoll Global Threats Fund.

Wilson traveled to Bonn, Germany to receive the award on Nov. 12 at a companion event to the Sustainable Innovation Forum, a side event to COP23, the annual U.N. Climate Change Conference taking place from Nov. 6-17
Love always wins: 61.6% voted in favour of same-sex marriage in Australia

Australia is on the right side of history, with the majority voting yes in the $122 million same-sex marriage survey. Never has it been more fitting or appropriate to scream the words 'YASSS QUEEN!' at the top of your lungs. The final participation rate of the survey accounted for 79.5% of eligible voters. Out of 12.7 million votes, 61.6% (7,817,247) were returned in favour of same-sex marriage, with 38.4% (4,873,987) voting against.

Nationally, every state had a yes majority of over 60%, with the exception of NSW who had 57.8% in favour of the yes vote. The ACT had the highest percentage of yes votes, with 70.4% of voters voting in favour of same-sex marriage.

All age groups had higher than 70% participation. Surprisingly, depsite a huge yes campaign targeted at young voters, those aged 70 - 74 were the most likely to respond to the survey with 89.6% in this bracket participating. This was closely followed by those aged 18 - 19 who had 78.2% participation (the highest group to participate than any other group under the age of 45). The participation rate was lowest in those aged 25 - 29 at 71.9%.

Women were more likely to participate than men, with 81.6% of eligible voters being female compared to 77.3% male participation. There were 36,686 votes which were deemed unclear and therefore ineligible. This accounted for 0.2% of votes (likely to be from all you heart drawing and phallic inspired artists out there).

Of course, this was a non-binding survey, meaning the results alone are not conclusive to changing the marriage laws in Australia. It is now up to the Federal Parliament to take the results of the survey and debate the change in legislation. Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull has said that he wants same-sex marriage to be legalised in Australia by Christmas - the processes could assume as early as Thursday with the presentation of bills to the Senate.

Although the results are non-binding, this is a huge step in the equality movement within Australia. Love always wins.

Source: news.com.au
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German drugs and agrochemicals company Bayer said it had replied to queries raised by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on the possible implications for this country's agricultural biotechnology sector from its proposed acquisition of Monsantos global operations.
Chinese appliances maker Haier on Thursday inaugurated a Rs 600-crore industrial park in Pune, becoming the second Chinese company after the Guangdong-based Midea Group to increase its India bet in the sector.
Tour operator is exploring an initial public offering for its education tour business in Europe and Australia as it believes it will generate better value for the company and its shareholders.
Karnataka IT and Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday announced government-Virgin Hyperloop One tie-up for conducting its preliminary study to understand hyperloop's feasibility and economic impact in the region.

The US-based firm signed a MoU with Karnataka Urban Development Department (KUDD) aimed at identifying potential routes to improve mobility in the Bengaluru metropolitan area and connect high growth cities such as Tumakuru, Hubli-Dharwad and Hosur within the state, Kharge said.

The preliminary study is intended to analyse the applicability and benefits of hyperloop technology, identifying high priority routes within Karnataka based on demand analysis and socio-economic benefits, and inform the government in any future decision to progress to the full project stage, he said.

The MoU sees promise in hyperloop following the recent announcements on the company's partnership with governments of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, and further expansion to other regions that are planned in India, he said.

Kharge also said since the company has built and successfully tested a full-scale hyperloop system at its test track in Nevada desert this post-summer, there has been a growing demand from governments and the private sectors around the world.

"In addition to India, Virgin Hyperloop One is working on projects in countries including the UAE, US, Canada, Finland and Netherlands," he told reporters at the Bangalore Tech Summit-2017, a three-day mega event which started today.

The company's technology strongly aligns with Indias planned industrial and economic corridors and will show potential promise in terms of transit-oriented development to accelerate the country's economic growth, Kharge said.

The company will be working with partners in the region and KUDD will help navigate the regulatory requirements and support the report with data, he said.

Virgin Hyperloop One SVP Global Field Operations Nick Earle said India is one of the most important geographies for developing hyperloop networks and reimagining the complete transportation system.

"With this preliminary study, we are excited to initiate the build-up of a strong foothold that we foresee in future throughout the state," he added.
What Apple's voice-based user interface, Siri, can do for an iPhone or iPad, oil major Shell's Shelly can do for a vehicle or machine.
A high-level clearance authority (HLCA) would consider Vedanta's proposal to expand production capacity of its Lanjigarh unit to six million tonnes from annum (mtpa), from its current level of 1 mtpa.

Vedanta would invest Rs 6,483 crore on expansion work to build capacity at its alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Odisha. The proposed project is expected to generate jobs for around 9,494 people in the region.
plans to use its expertise in customer data to help to fend off competition in Italy from French newcomer Iliad and avoid an India-style price war, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

Iliad, backed by French billionaire Xavier Niel, is aiming to grab a quarter of the Italian mobile market using the same cut-throat prices that helped it to conquer France five years ago, sources familiar with the plans have told Reuters.

In India, new entrant Reliance Jio took more than 6 percent of the Indian market in just a year thanks to free voice and cheap data, forcing rivals - which include - to drop prices and merge.

"Do we expect something crazy? Honestly, after India, you can expect everything. We are ready to see everything," CEO Vittorio Colao said at Morgan Stanley's annual TMT conference in Barcelona.

With the French and Indian examples in mind, Colao, a former McKinsey consultant, said Vodafone's strong data analytics had allowed the group to identify its "most vulnerable" Italian customers and to offer them special conditions adapted to their needs. He said the company had prepared for several possible scenarios but declined to give more details about its strategy.

The 56-year-old Italian said he was "very happy" with the performance of the Italian business, as adjusted core profit rose 8.8 percent in the first half of the year, despite continuing price pressure.

Vodafone, the world's second largest mobile operator, is the number three mobile player in Italy where it competes against former monopoly Telecom Italia and low-cost operator Wind-Tre.

A senior telecoms banker said that Colao did a great job in India where Vodafone reacted swiftly by merging with Idea Cellular. But the banker said Colao's options would be more limited in Italy because Vodafone will go head to head with Iliad in mobile services. But in B2B, which covers corporate customers, Vodafone could make some headway as Iliad is not expected to be chasing these clients for now.

Berenberg analyst Nicolas Didio said Vodafone was doing the right thing to prepare for Iliad's arrival. But he also said the approaching battle was likely to go beyond pricing because Italy is a complex market and a new player like Iliad could be more inventive and audacious than existing players.

"Iliad wants to be the customers' champion and that's precisely where they could win," he said.

Didio said he expected Iliad to launch with a sole price including unlimited voice and texts messages and a generous data package, and offer additional services such as free international calls from Italy or unlimited usage of voicemail.

"These services will unlikely weigh on Iliad's profits as their marginal cost is limited but they would be very powerful in terms of marketing," he said.

(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 MLA today claimed that a senior BJP minister in Maharashtra had offered him Rs 5 crore to join the saffron party.

The BJP, however, termed the claim as "baseless".

"When I met BJP minister Chandrakant Patil at his official residence near Mantralaya late last month, he made me the offer," Harshwardhan Jadhav, Sena MLA from Kannad Assembly constituency, told a Marathi news channel.

"Patil told me that the BJP was frustrated with the due to their bickerings and was looking at getting rid of that party by increasing the number of BJP MLAs," Jadhav alleged.

"Patil told me: we are trying to give every Sena MLA Rs 5 crore to quit that party and contest the poll as BJP nominee," he said.

"The Rs 5 crore offer was for election expenditure," he added.

"The minister made the same offer to me...I feel he gave this offer to all Sena MLAs," Jadhav said.

"Patil told me that if I do not get elected, I will be fielded (by the BJP) for the legislative council polls," he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Sena MLA of indulging in a farce.

"All these are baseless charges. BJP does not need to do such things...Compared to Jadhav, Patil enjoys the trust of people of Maharashtra," state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said.

"What Jadhav has claimed is a nautanki (farce)," he said.

Asked if defamation proceedings will be initiated against Jadhav, the BJP spkesperson said, "Definitely. We will consider this.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), will hold a protest march from Ramlila Ground to Parliament Street in New Delhi on Friday to protest the Narendra Modi governments economic policies.
With both the Delhi and Union governments facing heat over Delhis smog, the Centre on Wednesday said the introduction of BS-VI grade automobile fuel in the capital would be advanced by two years to April 2018.
Hindi daily Rajasthan Patrika on Thursday left its editorial blank, a bold move, which will be hard to ignore for the Vasundhara Raje government. In view of the Press Day, which signifies the freedom of press in the country, the editorial carried absolutely no text inside a thick black border.
The Supreme Court will on Thursday hear the plea filed by former finance minister P. Chidambaram's son seeking permission to travel abroad.

Karti is an accused in the alleged .

On November 9, the Apex Court had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to respond whether could be allowed to travel abroad for four to five days.

The apex court was hearing Karti's plea seeking permission to travel to the UK

The top court also asked the probe agency as to what conditions can be imposed on Karti so that he does not escape.

The apex court on November 6 rejected Karti's plea after the CBI opposed it, saying that he might tamper with the evidence, which is very crucial for the ongoing investigation, in the country.

A lookout notice issued by the CBI on July 18 prevents Karti from travelling abroad without the investigating agency's permission.

It has been alleged that Karti illegally took service charges for getting the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to the INX Media for receiving funds from abroad worth Rs. 305 crore in 2007, when his father P. Chidambaram was the finance minister in Congress-led UPA government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being felicitated by BJP President Amit Shah during the 'Diwali Mangal Milan' programme at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity has risen unabated across the country and people's satisfaction with the economy is at an "all-time high", BJP chief Amit Shah said today, citing a survey by the Pew Research Center.

According to a survey conducted by the American think tank, more than eight-in-10 Indians say economic conditions are good in the country despite Modi's decision to abolish high-value bank notes last November.

"The findings of Pew Global research are very significant. After Modi Government came to power, people's trust in Government, Democracy and confidence that the nation is in the right direction has gone up drastically," Shah said in a series of tweets.

Modi remains the most popular figure in Indian politics tested in the survey. His popularity is relatively unchanged in the north, has risen in the west and the south and is down slightly in the east, according to the survey's findings.

"PM @narendramodi's popularity rises unabated across the length & breadth of the country and across demographic groups. His handling of various issues also receive a thumbs up from people," Shah said.

The survey was conducted among 2,464 respondents in India from February 21 to March 10 this year.

Shah also extended greetings to media professionals on the occasion of Press Day and applauded their commitment towards their profession.

"I applaud the commitment and efforts of every media person who works tirelessly to uphold the value of the fourth pillar of democracy," he said in a tweet.

(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 Shri Rajput Karni Sena on Wednesday called for a 'Bharat Bandh' (shutdown) on December 1 if Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie "Padmavati" releases on that date, while the Maharashtra government provided a precautionary security cover for the filmmaker in view of the increasing controversies and growing threats.

"We will hold rallies across the country, including Gurugram, Patna, Lucknow and Bhopal before the release date," Lokendra Singh Kalvi, founder-patron of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, told media persons in Jaipur.

He said all communities, including Muslims, supported the Sena on the issue.

"We demand a complete ban on the film. Now, we don't want any pre-screening of the movie. All we want is a ban," he said.

He claimed that as per the Cinematography Act, the government can withhold the release of a movie for three months even after a go-ahead by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and it can be extended further.

"We request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter," Kalvi said.

Bhansali has been facing the ire of various groups and self-styled experts on what they term as 'erroneous' depiction of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati.

There have been protests and violence against Bhansali and opposition to the film right from the time it was being shot at various locales in different parts of India and now, as it prepares for release globally soon.

Barring these groups and individuals, the entire film fraternity and civil society members have expressed support to Bhansali for his latest film venture.

The Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) has thanked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for providing security cover to Bhansali, who lives and works in Mumbai.

"We commend your assurance to keep the law and order situation in control, and that speaks volumes of the efficiency of your staff and the police personnel," filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, on behalf of the fraternity, said in a letter to Fadnavis.

Pandit also urged the state government to "help the victim" release his film without anybody's intrusion.

Rajasthan State Commission for Women chief Suman Sharma, in a letter, urged CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi to watch the movie and ensure there was no assault on the dignity of women through the film. Sharma also demanded that women from the Rajput community too should be included in the pre-screening of the movie.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajasthan unit chief Ashok Parnami told the media that the Vasundhara Raje government will not tolerate any distortion of historical facts.

Heena Singh Judeo, daughter-in-law of Dilip Singh Judeo of Chhattisgarh's erstwhile royal family, expressed dissent over the depiction of a Rajput queen in the movie.

"History has witnessed that none of the Rajput maharanis has ever danced in front of anyone, and they cannot play with history," she said, indicating the "Ghoomar" song which features the film's lead actress Deepika Padukone.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea to stall the film's release.
An artists impression of the planet Ross 128 b

A team working with High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) at the La Silla Observatory in Chile found that the low-mass exoplanet orbits the red dwarf star Ross 128 every 9.9 days.

This Earth-sized world is expected to be temperate, with a surface temperature that may also be close to that of the Earth. Ross 128 is the "quietest" nearby star to host such a temperate exoplanet.

"This discovery is based on more than a decade of HARPS intensive monitoring together with state-of-the-art data reduction and analysis techniques," said Nicola Astudillo- Defru from University of Geneva in Switzerland.

Red dwarfs are some of the coolest, faintest and most common stars in the universe. This makes them very good targets in the search for exoplanets.

It is easier to detect small cool siblings of Earth around these stars, than around stars more similar to the Sun, said Xavier Bonfils from University of Grenoble in France, who is the lead author of the research published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Many red dwarf stars, including Proxima Centauri, are subject to flares that occasionally bathe their orbiting planets in deadly ultraviolet and X-ray radiation.

However, it seems that Ross 128 is a much quieter star, and so its planets may be the closest known comfortable abode for possible life, researchers said.

Although it is currently 11 light-years from Earth, Ross 128 is moving towards us and is expected to become our nearest stellar neighbour in just 79,000 years - a blink of the eye in cosmic terms.

Ross 128 b will by then take the crown from Proxima b and become the closest exoplanet to Earth, researchers said.

The team found that Ross 128 b orbits 20 times closer than the Earth orbits the Sun. Despite this proximity, Ross 128 b receives only 1.38 times more irradiation than the Earth.

As a result, Ross 128 b's equilibrium temperature is estimated to lie between minus 60 and 20 degrees Celsius, thanks to the cool and faint nature of its small red dwarf host star, which has just over half the surface temperature of the Sun.

While the scientists consider Ross 128b to be a temperate planet, uncertainty remains as to whether the planet lies inside, outside, or on the cusp of the habitable zone, where liquid water may exist on a planet's surface.

Astronomers are now detecting more and more temperate exoplanets, and the next stage will be to study their atmospheres, composition and chemistry in more detail.

The detection of biomarkers such as oxygen in the very closest exoplanet atmospheres will be a huge next step, researchers said.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), will hold a protest march from the Ramlila Maidan to Parliament Street here on Friday to protest the Narendra Modi governments economic policies.
The Boeing Company (hereafter Boeing), which is a vying strongly to supply the Indian Navy with 57 multi-role carrier borne fighters (MRCBF), has entered talks with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to explore the co-manufacture of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter in India, say credible sources in the defence ministry. Along with HAL, Boeing also intends to involve the Mahindra Group in building Super Hornets in India.
Daniel Wu, chairman of the (ABA), says there is merit in merging some of the less efficient public sector banks in the country. In Mumbai for ABAs annual conference, Wu, who is also president of Taiwanese banking unit CTBC Holding, tells Abhijit Lele the Centre is taking all right steps for better growth. Edited excerpts:
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved setting up of a National Anti-profiteering Authority under the GST, as it seeks to ensure that consumers get the benefit of reduced prices under the new indirect tax regime.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said currently there are only 50 items which attract the highest tax of 28 per cent under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and rates on many items have been cut to 5 per cent as well.

"The National Anti-Profiteering Authority is an assurance to consumers of India. If any consumer feels that the benefit of tax rate cut is not being passed on, then he can complaint to the authority," Prasad told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

This reflects government's full commitment to take all possible steps to ensure benefits of implementation of GST to the common man, the minister said.

The approval by the Cabinet paves the way for immediate establishment of the apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of GST rate reduction is passed on to consumers.

The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister and comprising state counterparts, had last week decided to slash tax rates of over 200 items in the GST regime as well as lowered tax rates on AC and non-AC restaurants to 5 per cent.

The Council had earlier approved setting up of a five- member National AntiProfiteering Authority to enable consumers to file complaint in case price reduction is not passed on.

A five-member committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, comprising Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, CBEC Chairman Vanaja Sarna and chief secretaries from two states, has been entrusted to finalise the chairman and members of the authority.

The authority will have a sunset date of two years from the date on which the chairman assumes charge. The chairman and the four members of the authority have to be less than 62 years.

As per the structure of the anti-profiteering mechanism in the GST regime, complaints of local nature will be first sent to the state-level 'screening committee', while those of national level will be marked for the 'Standing Committee'.

If the complaints have merit, the respective committees would refer the cases for further investigation to the Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS). The DG Safeguards would generally take about three months to complete the investigation and send the report to the anti-profiteering authority.

If the authority finds that a company has not passed on GST benefits, it will either direct the entity to pass on the benefits to consumers or if the beneficiary cannot be identified will ask the company to transfer the amount to the 'consumer welfare fund' within a specified timeline.

The authority will have the power to cancel registration of any entity or business if it fails to pass on to consumers the benefit of lower taxes under the GST regime, but it would probably be the last step against any violator.

According to the antiprofiteering rules, the authority will suggest return of the undue profit earned from not passing on the reduction in incidence of tax to consumers along with an 18 per cent interest, as also impose penalty.
Joblessness and unequal economic growth rather than mandir-masjid or caste will be at the core of Rahul Gandhis attack on the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, going forward. Or: Its the economy, stupid.
From Indias growth rate, health, education, sanitation, infusion of technology for sustainable living, making payments bank more effective, to adopting villages in Maoist-affected areas, Microsoft founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates (pictured) on Thursday touched upon numerous topics during his visit to India.
Karnataka Industries Minister R V Deshpande on Thursday said the state aspires to provide skills to 18.8 million youth between 2017 and 2030, with an annual target of 13.4 lakh existing workforce and new entrants.

"It matters for all countries, but especially for us whose demographic dividend offers a great opportunity with 2.12 crore persons in the age group of 16-35 years.

"We aspire to skill 18.8 million youth during the period 2017-2030, with an annual skill target of 13.4 lakh existing workforce and new entrants," he said addressing Bengaluru Tech Summit 2017 here.

He also said the government's aim was to nurture Karnataka's knowledge and innovation-driven economy and become a state of job creators, instead of being a state of job seekers.

"Therefore, let's learn and build together in Karnataka and enable the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit in each one of us shine," he said.

So far, investing in physical capital has been an important part of Karnataka's growth success, but a new wave of growth could come from investing in what economists call "human capital".

Karnataka has a formidable combination of the highly skilled workforce, advanced technical and technological expertise and entrepreneurial mindset driven by innovation and an open confident cultural milieu, he said.

United Nations has ranked Bengaluru as the fourth largest technology cluster in the world after Silicon Valley, Boston, and London, Deshpande noted.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday blamed the Centre for blocking projects as an RTI query revealed that the Kejriwal government did not spend even a paisa out of the Rs 787 crore it collected as environment cess since January 1 this year.

As the capital city grappled with dangerously high pollution levels, the Right to Information (RTI) query on Wednesday found the Delhi government was unable to specify its utilisation of the Rs 787 crore green cess collected during 2017.

The government said it spent Rs 93 lakh of the cess in 2016, but there was "no mention of any expenditure" in 2017.

The AAP government came under attack from the opposition parties following the revelation.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken slammed the city government and said they could have bought new buses with this money and also augmented total parking capacity of the bus depots.

Lashing out at Kejriwal, Maken said: "Instead of using the money which is lying idle, he is busy aiming at other state governments and the Centre instead of doing his bit."

Maken said Kejriwal could have purchased road vacuum cleaners, as the dust "is the single-biggest contributory factor for air pollution" in Delhi.

"When we were in power, the strength of the DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) was 5,445 buses, which has now gone down to 3,951 buses. There has been a shortfall of 1,500 buses in three years," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) instead blamed the central government for its failure to spend Rs 787 crore of environmental cess and accused it of blocking the projects to control pollution.

AAP's chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said they never said that the Delhi government had shortage of funds.

"Though government wanted to purchase buses, but the central government did not allot land for bus depots," he said.

He also said that the government had approached the central government for permission for aerial sprinkling of water to control pollution and was even ready to spend the money.

Bharadwaj told IANS that the government had been taking other measures like spraying of water on roads to control dust, but environment cess was not being utilised for it and was being done using other funds.

When asked about other pollution control measures like installation of air purifiers and vacuum cleaning of roads, the leader said that both options were looked into, but they were not found feasible.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government said it had prepared a one-year short-term plan to tackle air pollution.

A Delhi government official said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with senior officials on Tuesday evening and directed that the environmental cess and environmental ambient air fund be used for procurement of buses.

On the government's plans, he said: "The Delhi government has prepared a one-year short-term plan, under which it proposes to procure 500 electric buses within one year."

He said the government was planning to procure buses of two different sizes -- Standard and Medium. According to him, a standard size bus costs Rs 2.6 crore while the medium size bus comes for Rs 1.6 crore.

Later, Saurabh Bhardwaj tweeted that the Lt Governor was not allotting land for depots for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) fleet.

"Government has plan to buy 500 electrical buses, but no depots to park them. LG (Lt Governor) controls land," he tweeted.

On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar in Chandigarh here and the two agreed to take steps to prevent a repeat of smog in the National Capital Region (NCR) next year.

"We ... are happy to have had a very fruitful meeting at Chandigarh. We recognise our deep and shared concern over the recent episode of heavy smog in NCR. We agreed upon the need for action on many measures aimed at preventing its re-occurrence in the winter of 2018," a joint statement said.

Meanwhile, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital fell under "very poor" category on Wednesday, though it is said to have improved as compared to past week.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average AQI of Delhi-NCR at 6 p.m was 353 on Wednesday while the major pollutant PM 2.5 (particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) was recorded 353 units -- technically considered "very poor".

The average PM2.5 of Delhi at 6 p.m. was 351 units -- 14 times the safe limit.

--IANS

mak/nir/dg
As the government is keen to resolve the issue concerning US tech giant Apple's manufacturing plans in India, it has asked the iPhone maker to come out with a 'workable solution' so that it can be given incentives within the framework of current policies.

Sources said the government was considering several options including giving space to Apple or its manufacturing partners for making iPhones and other devices in the special economic zones (SEZs), so that the company could benefit from duty incentives. However, the problem with manufacturing in SEZs is that Apple will not be able to sell its products in the domestic market.
Over Rs 30,000 crore would be pumped in to set up MSMEs in petrochemical sector in eastern India over the course of two years, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday.

Noting that over one lakh employment opportunities are likely to be generated in the eastern region, Pradhan said the Odisha government should create a conducive eco-system to attract investments to promote industries in the state.

The petrochemical sector has the potential to generate 22 lakh jobs across the country, the minister told reporters after inaugurating the Petrochemical Investors Conclave in Bhubaneswar.

Asking the state government to tap the potential of good ports as well as coal and mineral reserves in the state, he said MSMEs would flourish in major port towns like Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur if proper steps are taken.

Pradhan said unless Odisha announces reasonable electricity tariff and land rates for the next 20 years for industrial units, many projects would choose other competitive states in the region.

He said the Centre's focus is on development of eastern states, and efforts are on to build a world-class and vibrant petrochemical eco-system, with an aim to help catalyse investments in downstream plastic parks proposed to be developed in the region.

Describing petrochemicals as a sunrise industry in eastern India, he said Odisha is a prospective state with huge potential for growth in this sector.

Pradhan said the Centre's Chemicals and Petrochemicals Department would participate through equity with an amount of Rs 40 crore in a Rs 100-crore SPV, to set up a plastic park at Paradip in collaboration with the Odisha government.

The Petroleum Ministry has also decided to join the SPV following a request from the state government, but the amount of equity would be decided shortly.

Stating that Paradip is strategically located for investment in petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals, the minister said Indian Oil Corporation has already commissioned a 15-million metric tonnes per annum oil refinery at the port town at an investment of Rs 35,000 crore.

A new polypropylene unit of 700 kilo tonnes per annum capacity, at a cost of Rs 3,150 crore, is also slated to be commissioned at Paradip Refinery in 2018 to support the polymers and plastics industry, he said.

Several other projects and proposals are lined up at Paradip Refinery, and once these go on stream, the port town would develop into a petrochemicals hub, leading the industrial growth in Odisha and the eastern region, Pradhan said.

Facilities for the production of aircraft parts can also be set up in the state for which there should be synergy between government, industry and the academia, he said.

Three MoUs were today signed by IOC at the conclave, including with Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai and MCPI Pvt Ltd, Haldia.
After seeing an increase of around 25 per cent in exports in September, exports of ready-made garments fell by nearly 41 per cent in October.


Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has hinted that reform measures such as the introduction of the goods and services tax (GST) could possibly lead to a deviation from the fiscal road map.
All states barring Delhi reported revenue losses in October on account of the goods and services tax (GST), requiring Rs 7,500-crore compensation from the Centre during the month.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for removal of prohibition on export of all types of pulses to ensure that farmers have greater choice in marketing their produce and in getting better remuneration for their produce. .

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The CCEA also empowered the Committee chaired by Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) and comprising Secretaries of Department of Commerce (DoC), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Department of Revenue (DoR), Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to review the export/import policy on pulses and consider measures such as quantitative restrictions, prior registration and changes in import duties depending on domestic production and demand, domestic and international prices and international trade volumes. .

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Opening of export of all types of pulses will help the farmer to dispose off their products at remunerative prices and also encourage them to expand the area of sowing. Export of pulses would provide an alternative market for the surplus production of pulses. Allowing export of pulses will also help the country and its exporters to regain their markets. .

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It is expected that pulses production will be sustained in the country and our import dependence on pulses will come down substantially. This is also likely to provide higher levels of protein to the population and work towards nutritional security. The integration with global supply chain is also likely to help our farmers in adopting good agricultural practices and better productivity. .

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In 2016-17 production year, the Indian farmers have lived up to the challenge of reducing India's import dependence on pulses and have produced 23 million tons of pulses. The Government has taken a number of steps to sustain the high pulses production by our farmers. The Government has procured 20 lakh tons of pulses by ensuring minimum support price or market rates, whichever is higher, directly from the farmers and this has been the highest ever procurement of pulses. .

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Background: .

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The production of pulses in 2016-17 has been very encouraging and is the highest ever till date. Government has supported the farmers by providing attractive Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the pulses and public procurement of pulses to the tune of 20 lakh tonnes. The domestic production of pulses during 2016-17 was 22.95 million tonnes. The Chana Dal (Gram) production was 9.33 million tonnes as compared to 7.06 million tonnes in 2015-16 showing a growth of 32%. The production of other rabi pulses (includes Masoor Dal (Lentil) etc.) for 2016-17 was 3.02 million tonnes as compared to 2.47 million tonnes in 2015-16 showing a growth of 22%. For the year 2017-18, the Government has fixed a target of 22.90 million tonnes of pulses production. .

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Cabinet approves MoU between India and Poland for the promotion of Civil Aviation Cooperation .

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Poland for the Promotion of Civil Aviation Cooperation. The MoU will be signed on behalf of the two countries after its approval by the two Governments. The MoU would be for a term of five years. .

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The objective of the MoU is to recognize the mutual benefit of Cooperation in the field of Civil Aviation having particular significance in establishing and improving Regional Air Connectivity in India. Apart from this both sides will recognize the mutual benefits of environmental testing or approvals, flight simulators monitoring and approvals, aircraft maintenance facilities approvals, maintenance personnel approvals and aircrew members approvals. .

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The main areas of this Memorandum of Understanding to promote ad facilitate mutual cooperation are as under: .

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a. Support in the civil aviation market by reviewing any legal and procedural issues which may adversely affect cooperation between India and Poland. .

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b. Exchange of information and expertise between the Ministries and respective Civil Aviation Authorities related to aviation regulations, regional air operations, airworthiness requirements and safety standards to enhance safety and security of air transport; and / or .

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c. Collaboration on or joint development, organization and/or conduct of training programmes on aviation safely, on topics such as safety oversight, airworthiness, flight operations, licensing, legislation and enforcement; and / or .

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d. Aviation associated consultations, joint organization and/or conduct of conferences and professional seminars, workshops, talks and other such activities on aviation safety with the participation of representatives from the Parties related to the field of civil aviation; and / or .

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e. Regular dialogue or meetings for exchange of information; knowledge, expertise and experiences between Ministries and respective Civil Aviation safety related development of mutual interest to the parties; .

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f. Collaboration on research and studies on aviation safety interest topics and issues of mutual interest. .

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g. Any other issues related to co-operation in the areas mentioned above. .

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Dharmendra Pradhan calls for a new eco-system for accelerated growth of petrochemicals and ancillary industries in Odisha

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a first-of-its-kind Petrochemical Investors Conclave in Bhubaneswar today in the presence of Shri Shashi Bhusan Behera, Minister of Finance and Excise, Govt. of Odisha, Shri Prafulla Samal, Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Govt. of Odisha, and other dignitaries. Over 750 delegates attended the Conclave.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Pradhan said that Indias petrochemicals sector is going through a golden period, with growth rates of 14-15% per annum. Odisha, with ready availability of raw material from Paradip Refinery and other units from all over the country, skilled, low-cost manpower, port infrastructure & rail connectivity and a large regional market, must fully utilise the opportunity to create investment opportunities in the downstream industries such as Plastic Park and Textiles Park in the State.

Highlighting the developmental vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for Eastern India, Shri Pradhan said that accelerated development of Eastern States is one of the top priorities of the Govt of India. While the per capita consumption of plastics in India is only 10 kg as compared to the world average of 32 kg, it is much lower at 5 kg in Eastern India, he said. The Petrochemical Investors Conclave has been organised to create a new inspiration and a new eco-system for the growth of petrochemicals sector in the State of Odisha, and generate wealth for a new generation of entrepreneurs, while at the same time creating employment opportunities for the youth of the State on a large scale, he said.

Sri Pradhan complimented Indian Oil Corporation and IDCO (Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha) for signing an MoU at the Conclave to collaborate in the setting up of a Plastics Park at Paradip. IndianOil is setting up a 700 KTA (kilo tonnes per annum) Polypropylene unit at Paradip Refinery, to be commissioned in 2018, to serve as a mother plant for downstream polymer/plastics ancillary units.

Shri Pradhan also complimented IOC and Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai for signing on MoU to set up a campus of ICT in Bhubaneswar to be hosted by IOC.

Indian Oil Corporation has signed another MoU with MCPI Ltd. for setting up a Textiles Park in Odisha. With the coming up of an MEG (Mono Ethylene Glycol) Unit at Paradip Refinery and availability of PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) in the East, the polyester downstream industry can flourish very well in Eastern Region as well, Shri Pradhan said. By achieving synergy of cotton fibre with polyester fibre to promote and popularise synthetic textiles, the Textiles Park will primarily benefit Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises ( MSMEs), with employment potential of around 22 lakhs, he added.

Shri Pradhan hoped that the Conclave, with the theme Purvodaya - The Dawn of New Investment Opportunities in Eastern India, would serve as an effective platform for young investors to interact with business leaders of the petrochemicals industry, Government functionaries, financial institutions, supply chain professionals as well as incubators in the academia at one place. He complimented the organisers for setting up an Investor Facilitation Lounge to clarify issues raised by prospective investors on the spot.

Shri Pradhan announced that CIPET will set up a technology service centre in Paradip to support the development of Plastic units there.

Shri Pradhan also inaugurated an exhibition set up at the Conclave venue.

The exhibition, with over 35 exhibitors, focussed on how the petrochemicals sector caters to a number of other sectors, by providing raw material for clothing, housing, construction, furniture, automobiles, household items, toys, agriculture, horticulture, irrigation and packaging to medical appliances.

Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, Secretary, Dept. of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Govt. of India, who also spoke on the occasion, said that the Department is in the process of developing a master plan for the petrochemicals sector in India to serve as a road map for the next 15-20 years.

Mr. Tony Potter, Vice President (Asia Pacific), IHS Market, in his presentation in the inaugural session, said that Indias polymers demand is projected to grow from 13 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) currently to 55-60 MMTPA by the year 2040. Therefore, it is very important that the countrys investments in petrochemical plants keep pace with the rising demand to avoid imports in the coming years, he said.

Petrochemicals can be a major national economic driver, according to Mr. Vipul Tuli, CEO, Sembcorp India. Looking into the future, petrochemicals will not only be an attractive but a crucial and profitable growth area for Indian refiners, he added.

Prof. GD Yadav, Vice Chancellor, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) , Mumbai, in his presentation, elaborated on the scope of chemical and petrochemical industries in Eastern India and the role of academic institutions in nurturing the entrepreneurs and acting as incubators for promising start-ups.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Mr. Sanjiv Singh, Chairman, IndianOil, said that the oil industry in India is going in for Refinery-Petrochemicals integration on a big scale to capitalise on the huge opportunities available both in India and abroad. This would lead to assured refinery product uptake, assured feedstock availability, major savings in investments in view of shared utilities, infrastructure and logistics, and resultant savings in operating costs, leading to improved GRMs.

Senior officials of the Ministries of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Chemicals & Fertilisers, Government of India; CEOs of oil & gas sector companies; and other dignitaries are participating in the event with a host of eminent speakers making presentations during the conclave.
Joint Indo-Bangladesh Exercise Sampriti 2017 Culminates

Joint Indo-Bangladesh Training Exercise SAMPRITI 2017, which is being conducted at Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte in Mizoram culminated today with a validation exercise.

It is the seventh such exercise in the SAMPRITI series. The exercise has been aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh Armies. The 13-day long field training exercise commenced on 06 November 2017, which was culminated with a validation exercise on November 15-16. It was conducted in a progressive manner wherein the participants initially familiarised themselves with each others organisational structure and tactical drills. Subsequently, the training advanced to various joint tactical exercises by the two Armies.

Scenario of terrorists hiding in a village was painted for the validation exercise.

It had commenced with joint briefings by the company commanders of both the Armies. Based on which troops established a cordon of the village. Validation Exercise finally culminated with a daring raid in the jungle terrain to neutralise the terrorists. A spectacular demonstration on room intervention drills was also conducted jointly by Indian and Bangladesh Army troops.

The final exercise was reviewed by Major General Md Moshfequr Rahman of the Bangladesh Army and Major General M S Ghura of the Indian Army. The combined exercise was an unprecedented success. Besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two Armies, it further helped in strengthening bilateral ties.

NA/CK/DK/HS
In order to combat the growth of green house gas emission, the world is fast moving to the increased use of renewable energy sources. However, there is increased concern that high penetration of renewable energy can cause disruptions in the existing power network due to their intermittent nature. Technology solutions are, therefore, needed to address the challenges related to development design, integration, operation and management of grids which allows use of upto 100 percent renewable energy.

Mission Innovation challenge on Smart Grids is collectively working to enable future smart grids powered by renewables. 20 participating countries with India, Italy and China as Co-lead are working together to realise this aspiration. An international workshop is being organised during 16-19th November, 2017 at New Delhi to define research priorities and develop action plan for time bound action for realisation of these objectives.

The Technical meeting of the event was inaugurated by Secretary-DST on 16th November, 2017 in presence of several dignitaries including Directors of IIT-Delhi and IIT-Roorkee. The participating countries Australia, China, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United States of America , United Kingdom will present the status on smart grids. With this background, the participants will deliberate on research needs and potential for collaboration in the domains of regional grids, distribution grids, micro-grids and cross innovations. The modalities for greater private sector participation and enabling mechanisms will also be discussed besides incentivising the performing research activities. The participating countries will resolve on future action plan and finalise technical contours of the Mission Innovation. A panel discussion with industrial experts is also planned.

The Public Workshop of the event will be held on 18th November, 2017 where the outcomes of brainstorming session would be disseminated to the larger stake holder forum. The Minister of State for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S.Chowdary, and Minister for Power, Shri R.K.Singh will inaugurate the exhibition showcasing achievements of industrial as well as R&D communities in the area. Both the Ministers will share their perspectives on the topic and will be supplemented by representatives from Co-lead countries as well as Directors of IITs (Delhi, Kanpur and Roorkee).

A Report on Mission Innovation Smart Grids activities, strategies and vision will also be released. Indias collaborative programmes with United States and United Kingdom on the theme will also be formally launched. The Forum will adopt New Delhi Declaration and as an initial step in this direction, collaboration agreement between RSC Italy and IIT-Roorkee, India will be signed.
PM greets media persons on National Press Day

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the media persons on National Press Day..

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My greetings to all friends in the media on National Press Day. I appreciate the hardwork of our media, especially the reporters and camerapersons, who tirelessly work on the ground and bring forth various that shapes national as well as global discourse. .

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The role of the media in giving voice to the voiceless is commendable. Over the last three years, the media has added great strength to Swachh Bharat Mission and effectively furthered the message of cleanliness. .

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In this day and age we are seeing the rise of social media and being consumed through mobile phones. I am sure these advancements will further the reach of the media and make the media space even more democratic and participative. .

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A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy. We are fully committed to upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms. May our media space be used more and more to showcase the skills, strengths and creativity of 125 crore Indians", the Prime Minister said. .

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The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, will present the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Presidents Bodyguard at a ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow (November 17, 2017). .

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The Presidents Bodyguard is the oldest regiment in the Indian Army, having been raised as the Governor-Generals Bodyguard (later the Viceroys Bodyguard) in 1773. As the President of Indias own Guard, it has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army that is privileged to carry the Presidents Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner. This distinction was conferred on the Presidents Bodyguard in 1923 by the then Viceroy, Lord Reading, on the occasion of the Bodyguard completing 150 years of service. Each succeeding Viceroy, thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard. .

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On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the Presidents Bodyguard. Every President has continued the practice of honouring the regiment. Rather than a coat of arms, as was the practice in the colonial era, the monogram of the President appears on the Banner. Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Presidents Bodyguard on May 14, 1957. .

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The Presidents Bodyguard, as it is known today, was raised in Banaras (Varanasi) by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings. It had an initial strength of 50 cavalry troopers, later augmented by another 50 horsemen. Today, the Presidents Bodyguard is a select body of hand-picked men with special physical attributes. They are chosen after a rigorous and physically gruelling process. .

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The Presidents Bodyguard has seen war-time duty and a detachment currently serves on the Siachen Glacier. Its men have served with the IPKF in Sri Lanka and as part of UN Peace-Keeping Missions. .

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The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley calls on the Prime Minister of Singapore on the last day of his two day official visit to Singapore; Both the leaders recalled the shared history of both the countries, rooted in strong commercial, culture and people-to-people links; FM addresses the 16th Annual Asia Pacific Summit of Morgan Stanley on "India: Structural Reforms and Growth Path Ahead ". .

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The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley called on the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong today on the second and last day of his two day official visit to Singapore. Both the leaders recalled the shared history of both the countries, rooted in strong commercial, culture and people-to-people links. They also discussed the meeting between the two Prime Ministers and elevation of India-Singapore Partnership to a strategic level and actions taken to translate their vision. Both the leaders discussed at length the roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), issues of common interest, such as bilateral trade and investment, and measures to increase the engagements in these areas and the further road map for enhancing India- Singapore Economic and Commercial ties. .

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Earlier, the Union Finance Minister, Shri Jaitley in his Keynote Address at Morgan Stanley 16th Annual Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore today on "India: Structural Reforms and Growth Path Ahead " elucidated on the current state of Indias economy, outlining the key reforms being implemented by the present Government with a view to position India as an attractive global investment destination. He specifically mentioned the roll-out of the monumental tax reform, GST; the Bank Re-Capitalization package, Ease of Doing Business in India, crackdown against black money, Demonetization and other follow-up measures; and reforms in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy regime. The Finance Minister, Shri Jaitley re-iterated his Governments commitment for both increasing the public expenditure on infrastructure and creating environment for private participation in infrastructure to boost employment and provide impetus to overall economic growth. .

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The Finance Minister, Shri Jaitley also addressed the senior fund managers and the key Financial Institutional investors and answered queries on various tax issues including GST, Fiscal policy, impact of the Bank Re-Capitalization Package on banks' NPAs, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and so on. He also met with the Senior Management of Morgan Stanley. .

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The Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley also met the Chairman and Board of Directors of Temasek, Singapore; one of the largest investment companies in Asia, and discussed the investment opportunities available across various sectors in India including, their investment in the National Investment and Infrastructure (NIIF). .

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The Finance Minister, Shri Jaitley will return to New Delhi late in the evening today after successfully completing his two day official visit to Singapore. .

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Two-day 12th North East Business Summit inaugurated in New Delhi North East holds key to future of India, says DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

The Two-day 12th North-East Business Summit" was inaugurated here today. The summit aims to explore the scope for business opportunities in the North-Eastern region of India. Focus areas are Infrastructure and Connectivity with Public Private Partnerships, Skill Development, Financial Inclusion, Services Sector Development- Particularly in Tourism, Hospitality & Food Processing. The Summit is being organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), with Manipur being the state partner for the event.

Speaking on the inauguration of the summit, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that North Eastern states have lot of potential which is still unexplored. He said that we need to explore this unexplored potential for the development of the region and the development of the country as a whole. If one region of the country is underdeveloped, the country cannot be developed, he added. He said that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi accords high priority to the peripheral states. The Minister said that the potential of the developed states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra has been achieved to the maximum and now exploring the unexplored potential of the North Eastern states will contribute to the making of New India which Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi keeps inspiring us. He said that about 70% of the population of India is under the age of 40 years, this unexplored region will meet the aspirations of these youth, when other regions have saturated.

The Minister said that about 40% of the fruit production in North East (NE) goes waste due to lack of further processing, so it can be an area of potential for the industrialists. He said the Union Government has taken various initiatives for ensuring ease of doing business in the North Eastern region. The emphasis has been on addressing the connectivity issue, he added. He said that train services are being provided to the states hitherto untouched by the rail map of India. He further informed that the construction of the Agartala to Bangladesh rail track will be funded by the DoNER Ministry for the portion of the track on the Indian side. He also mentioned of 19 unexplored waterways and projects like Bhupen Hazarika Bridge. He suggested that bamboo - the thriving business sector should be taken out of the purview of the forest sector and that every district should have a post office passport Kendra for facilitating doing business in the region.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Prime Ministers Startup India, Standup India" is a programme which includes incentives like, tax holiday in the early phase and an exit period of three months. Added to this, the Ministry of DoNER is offering an additional benefit of providing the initial Venture Capital Fund to any youngster who decides to set up an entrepreneurship in the North-Eastern region. Dr Jitendra Singh said that a day will come when NE will become the favourite destination for all start-ups in India.

Appealing the business community, he said that they should explore the unutilised potential of North East. He said that this region has much more to offer to the business community. The tourism, specially the concept of Home Tourism has also picked up in the North east region, he said. This has been possible due to the efforts of the Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER), the Minister added. He said that the DoNER Ministry has been exploring the idea of introducing a helicopter based Dispensary/OPD service in such far flung and remote areas, where no doctor or medical facility was available and the patient, in need, also did not have any access to any medical care. The first such experiment will be done in Imphal and Shillong, he added. He said that this concept can be emulated by the other states which are having the similar topography. He also informed the North East Industrial Promotion Policy is also in pipeline. The North Eastern Council (NEC) is also being reoriented by the Government, Dr Singh added.

The Governor of Mizoram, Lt. Gen.

Nirbhay Sharma said that vision and clarity on issues related to North East are very important for momentum to move ahead. He said that for the future development of the region, a clear vision and action plan with certain timelines is needed. He said that the NE festivals being held in various parts of the country help introducing North East India to the rest of India and vice-versa. He further said that NE as a link need to be strengthened. He said that NE states are exchanging ideas with the neighbouring countries, which is important for NE states and vice-versa. The Government alone cannot do the whole task, the need of the hour is for private players to come in and participate., he added. He emphasised on the connectivity in the NE region, with digital connectivity and air connectivity being the main forms of connectivity. He also said that Mizoram is bio-diversity rich state, which needs to be explored. He further said that new economic policy is the state has tried to address various issues such as land rules, which were proving to be hindrance to the industrialists. He suggested that a North East Forum should be created where all the stakeholders can meet and annual action plan can be created which can be followed up afterwards.

The Minister of Department of Textiles, Commerce & Industries, Government of Manipur, Shri T. H. Biswajit, said that Manipur will become the gateway to South East Asia. The state will have a good opportunity for investment in various sectors, he added. He also said that rail connectivity to Imphal will be complete by the year 2019. He also said that Manipur has potential for handicrafts and textile industry.

The Secretary, DoNER, Shri Naveen Verma said that the topics being discussed in this summit are of importance for the NE region. He said that Government of India has taken various initiatives for the development of NE region. These include North East Councils support toward the development of the tourism sector in the region, rural livelihood development through North East Rural Livelihood Programme and SAMPADA etc. He said that 'North Eastern Tourism Development Council aims to develop regional circuits for tourism in North East and with the neighbouring countries. He also spoke on the potential of organic cultivation, medical tourism, cross-border regional value chain, infrastructure development etc. The NE is the paradise unexplored, Shri Verma added.

The Secretary (East), Smt Preeti Saran, said that NE region plays an important role in the Look East policy of the Government. A strong and stable NE can act as a bridge between rest of India and our neighbouring countries. She gave a detailed idea about the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of External Affairs toward integrating NER for boosting sub-regional trade and connectivity. She also mentioned that the MEA is undertaking the India-ASEAN Connectivity and Business Summits where North East and connectivity to the region will play an important role.

Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Dr R Chidambaram, said that Ministry of DoNER is in touch for scientific and technological intervention for North East region. He said that scientific intervention is required in NE region in farm and non-farm sector. The gaps should be identified to see where the technology can be utilised, he added. He said that this is our responsibility to take the development of this region forward.

Shri P K Bezboruah, Co-Chair, ICC North-East Regional Committee & Chairman, Tea Board felt although the region has high agricultural produce, lack of agricultural marketing needs to be addressed. He also suggested that development must go hand in hand with ecological sustainability.

The two-day conference will include technical sessions on development of infrastructure and connectivity in North East: Focus on Regional Air Connectivity, IWT, Roads & Highways, Skill development in NE & Financing the services sector, Development of Food Processing Industry in NE with focus on Natural Organic and Super Foods from NE and Promotion of Tourism & Hospitality Sector in NE.
The Vice President of India, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu, today attended the function organized by the Press Council of India on the occasion of National Press Day. The occasion marked the Valedictory of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Press Council of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Honble Vice President said that although the contours of journalism had changed over the years, it still continue to cast a huge influence in moulding public opinion and decision making by the government.

Honble Vice President expressed concern over some of the dangerous trends that had crept into the newsrooms of both print and electronic media. They needed to be curbed in order to ensure that the pristine role played by the press earlier stood restored.

Earlier speaking at the function, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Textiles, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani said that voices of media shouldnt be suppressed and constitutionally it was our responsibility to ensure that media had the freedom to speak. She further added that today we have citizens who are becoming journalists through the social media network and they are playing an important role to remind the media of their responsibility as the fourth pillar of democracy.

Eminent Journalists Shri. Sam Rajappa and Shri Sarat Mishra were jointly awarded Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award for their outstanding contributions towards journalism. While Ms. Shalini Nair, The Indian Express, received the Rural Journalism & Developmental Reporting? award, Shri K. Sujith of Mangalam Daily and Ms Chitrangada Choudhury, Freelancer from Odisha, bagged awards for Investigative Journalism. Photo Journalism awards were given to Shri C.K. Thanseer, Chandrika DailyShri Vijay Verma, Press Trust of India and Shri J.Suresh of Malayala Manorama. Shri Gireesh Kumar, Times of India, received the award for Best Newspapers Art.
Nobody is safe from the rages of Zimbabwes First Lady, Dr. Amai Grace Mugabe. There was the young South African model Grace lashed with extension cords. 93-year-old President Robert Mugabes longtime and usually trusted ally Emmerson Mnangagwa, was next in the firing line: he was sacked because his supporters allegedly booed her at a rally.
Israel's military chief of staff said in an interview on Thursday that his country was prepared to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to face Iran's plans "to control the West Asia."



"We are ready to exchange experience with the moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence information to face Iran," Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot was quoted as saying by Elaph, a Saudi-run news site.

Asked whether any information had been shared recently with Saudi Arabia, he said "we are ready to share information if necessary. There are many common interests between us and them."



Israel's army confirmed the contents of the interview, which was rare as Israel and Saudi Arabia have no official diplomatic ties.

Sunni Muslim powerhouse Saudi Arabia has long been at loggerheads with Shiite, non-Arab Iran but friction has spiralled in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced from Saudi capital Riyadh that he was quitting, citing Iran's "grip" on his country.

The leader of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group supported by Iran, has accused Saudi Arabia of pressing Israel to launch attacks against it.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made similar allegations this week.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a devastating war in 2006.

Eisenkot said that "we have no intention of initiating a conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and reaching a war, but we cannot accept strategic threats to Israel there.

"I am very happy with the calm on both sides of the border, which has lasted 11 years. On the other hand, we see Iranian attempts to escalate.
More than 150,000 Russian-language Twitter accounts posted tens of thousands of messages in English urging Britain to leave the European Union in the days before last years referendum on the issue, a team of researchers disclosed on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe remained in political limbo a day-and-a-half after the military takeover that appears to have put an end to Robert Mugabe's 37-year grip on power.

Talks between the ousted President, who has been confined to his residence in Harare by the Army, and senior military officers continued on Thursday with senior church leaders and envoys from neighbouring South Africa involved in mediation efforts.

Harare remained tense but calm amid the political uncertainty. Troops have secured the airport, government offices, Parliament and other key sites. The rest of the country remained peaceful.

The takeover has been cautiously welcomed by many Zimbabweans, the Guardian reported.

The military declared on national television early on Wednesday that it had temporarily taken control of the country to "target criminals" around the 93-year-old President.

The intervention came after weeks of political turmoil, in which Mugabe sacked his powerful Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, clearing the way for Mugabe's wife Grace to succeed him.

The move exacerbated divisions in the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Mnangagwa enjoyed wide support in the military and was reported to have returned to Zimbabwe. Reports that Grace Mugabe had fled to Namibia on Wednesday appeared false, with the Guardian quoting several sources as saying that she was detained with her husband in their residence.

The future of the first lady is a key element in the ongoing discussions between Mugabe and the military.

Singapore and Malaysia, where the Mugabes own property, are potential destinations if she is allowed to travel into exile.

Critics have accused Mugabe of hurling his country's economy while using revolutionary rhetoric and indulging in corruption and coercion to stave off threats from opponents.

South Africa appeared to be backing the takeover and sent ministers to Harare to help with negotiations to form a new government and decide the terms of Mugabe's resignation.

The African Union called for the "constitutional order to be restored immediately and ... all stakeholders to show responsibility and restraint".

The regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) is due to hold emergency talks in Botswana on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

A high-profile opposition leader in Zimbabwe said there was "a lot of talking going on" with the Army reaching out to different factions to discuss the formation of a transitional government.

The official said Mugabe would resign this week and be replaced by Mnangagwa, with opposition leaders taking posts as Vice President and Prime Minister.

The Movement for Democratic Change's leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been tipped as a potential Prime Minister in a new political set-up.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Tendai Biti told the BBC he wanted to see a transitional authority in place. "It is urgent that we go back to democracy. It is urgent that we go back to legitimacy but we need a transitional period."

"... I think, I hope, that dialogue can now be opened between the Army and Zimbabweans, (that) dialogue can be opened between the Army and regional bodies such as the SADC and, indeed, the African Union," he said.
and processors have hiked prices of their products following an increase in the cost of a key raw material. Prices of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), used in plastics and polymer manufacturing and processing, firmed up in India, triggered by bullish upstream crude and naphtha prices.
hit an over two-month high of Rs 982, up 3% on the BSE in intra-day trade on the back of heavy volumes.
The benchmark Sensex and Nifty indices rebounded on Thursday from their longest losing streak in four weeks as investors judged the selloff as excessive amid softening global oil prices.
Describing India as an important airline destination for Kazakhstan, Peter Foster, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Astana, said, "We are proud to have played a significant role in connecting as well as leisure passengers from Kazakhstan to India over the past 13 years."

He was speaking at an event held here to celebrate Skytrax award-winning full-service carrier Air Astana's 13 years of connecting India to Kazakhstan and Eurasia.

Foster said, "Air Astana is proud to add New Delhi to our growing network of flights to global capitals. New Delhi is a great new destination for us and we expect to carry both travellers and holiday makers between the two capitals, and also between India and cities in Russia and other countries on our network to and from Astana."

Air Astana commenced operations to India in 2004 with flights between Almaty and New Delhi. Today, the airline operates 10 flights between Kazakhstan and India each week, including a daily service between Almaty and New Delhi and three frequencies between Astana and New Delhi.

Air Astana launched direct flights from Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to the capital of India, New Delhi, on 2 July 2017. The three-times weekly service currently operates using Airbus A320 and Embraer 190 aircraft. The carrier's plans for the future will see an increase in the number of Astana- New Delhi flights from three to five times a week. Air Astana is also exploring the opportunity of launching new flights from Kazakhstan to other cities in India.

Travel between the two countries continues to grow. The total number of passengers carried between Kazakhstan and India during 2017 reached 43,459, an increase of 43 percent compared with 2016.

Furthermore, Air Astana offers its passenger travelling via Almaty convenient connections to other international destinations such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Istanbul, Tbilisi and Bishkek.

As a result the number of transit passengers travelling from New Delhi via Almaty to other international destinations grew by 33 percent year-over-year in 2016. Passengers travelling via Astana are also offered a range of flight connections, with services to international destinations including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, Kiev, Baku and Tbilisi as well as to many cities across Kazakhstan.

Air Astana is committed to offering as well as leisure passengers to and from India access to cutting-edge technology and quality onboard services. The airline aims to constantly enhance the passenger experience whether on-board or on the ground with products such as the MyUpgrade service, Air Astana Stopover Holidays, KCTV Stream and many others. These efforts earned Air Astana the prestigious 4-Star service excellence rating by Skytrax. The airline has also been awarded the accolade of 'Best Airline in Central Asia and India' for six consecutive years and 'Best

Airline Staff Service in Central Asia/India' five times. Air Astana is proud to share this award with Indigo Airlines, which has been voted "Best Low Cost Airline Central Asia and India" for eight consecutive years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mehran Marri, a key leader of the Balochistan struggle, has been detained by the Swiss authorities at the Zurich airport.

Informing the same, Mehran Marri, the president of the Baluchistan House, tweeted, "Friends, I have been detained at Zurich Airport for the last few hours and feel I am under arrest by Swiss authorities on request of the Pakistan Govt. My wife and children are also with me in detention. Don't worry, being detained is nothing new for the Baloch..."

Adding, "My father spent many years in far worse conditions, but never have up. The peaceful & legal struggle for an independent #Balochistan free of Pakstani occupation shall continue no matter what the Punjabi generals & babus of that excuse of a country plan. We'll persevere"

He further said, "I have now been informed that I have been placed under a lifetime ban on entering Switzerland at the request of Islamabad. So much for the Geneva UNHRC being the capital of human rights. I am still in detention at Zurich Airport with my wife and children. Stay tuned 4 more."

Another tweet of Mehran Marri read, "If it had been Pakstan or China, I wd have shrugged it off, but i never imagined Swiss Authorities would take mug shots of my 4-yr-old and seven-year-old children as detainees. The long arm of the Pakistan's billionaire Army Generals sure reach far beyond their bank accounts."

Youngest son of the late Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, Mehran Marri was travelling to Geneva to attend the Baloch unity moot called by his brother-in-law, Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP).

Brahamdagh , who organised the meeting in Geneva, speaking to ANI on the detention, stated, "It is sad and shocking for me that he was stopped and detained with his family and children."

"I am really shocked how a neutral country like Switzerland can do that. Mehran's visiting the country is not new," Brahamdagh said, adding that the former used to often visit Switzerland "for last 15 years".

Baloch activist Bhawal Mengal also condemned the Pakistani military's "malicious and desperate attempt".

"This is a malicious and desperate attempt by the Pakistani military establishment to malign and curtail the freedom of Baloch representatives, who are working to raise awareness on the worsening situation in Balochistan and Pakistan's crimes against humanity . Developed countries should not be intimidated by Pakistan, which has been an international sponsor of terrorism," Mengal said.

Other than Mehran Marri, his estranged elder brother Hyrbyair Marri, who heads the Free Balochistan Movement, was expected to attend the Baloch unity meeting, that begins this Saturday.

On a related note, Mehran and Hyrbyair Marri are active participants in the struggle for free Balochistan, while their eldest brothers Jangyz Marri, a provincial government minister and Gazain Marri, who ended his exile and returned to Pakistan in September, owe allegiance to the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As a measure to curb cases of rape and molestation in the country, a neurologist at the Institute of Medical Sciences of Banaras Hindu University (IMS-BHU) developed a 'sanskaari' application called 'Har Har Mahadev', which blocks pornographic sites.

Once installed, the app will play bhajans and devotional songs every time the user tries to open a porn site or any other site that is considered as 'inappropriate'.

This measure has been taken up to do away with the onslaught of trash and misinformation on the internet.

This application is available on both mobile and desktop.

BHU Professor Dr Vijaynath Mishra told ANI on Thursday, "By next month we will give a religion option. For example if a Muslim tries to open then 'Allah o Akbar' will be played, similarly chants of other religion will be loaded as well".

"When I first developed this app I had my patients, my children and my students in mind, but now I think this should be made available to the whole world," he said.

The app 'Har Har Mahadev' took six months to complete and can block about 3,800 identified sites, Mishra added.

Meanwhile, the Medical Superintendent of BHU, OP Upadhyay, told ANI, "This is a very good step; it will help curb the corrupt mentality that has spread in society. This is the land of Madan Mohan Malviya, we adhere to dignity."

Presently, only Hindu devotional songs have been introduced.

The professor has made the app in his personal capacity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday announced the names of the candidates for all six seats for Karnataka Legislative Council Election 2017.

In a meeting, the BJP Centre Election Committee decided the names of the State Legislative Council Election of Karnataka.

Ayanur Manjunath has been named as the candidate for South-West Graduates Constituency, while Ganesh Karnik for the South-West Teachers Constituency.

B. Niranjan Murthy has been chosen as the candidate from the South Teachers Constituency while K.B. Shrinivas has been named as the candidate from North-East Graduates Constituency.

Haalanur S. Lepakshi has been named as the candidate from South-East Teachers Constituency and A. Devegowda from Bangalore Graduates Constituency.

The Centre Election Committee of the BJP was held yesterday under the guidance of party president Amit Shah at party's headquarters in Ashok Road in Delhi.

"As far as the legislative of Karnataka is concerned, for all the six seats a list has been declared. It will be on the website," CEC secretary and Union Minister JP Nadda told the media after attending the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other members of the Centre Election Committee of the BJP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar on Thursday said by and large Muslims are not opposing Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The Art of Living founder Sri Sri is here to mediate in the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute between Hindus and Muslims.

"I know some may not agree with this, but Muslims by and large are not opposing the Ram temple," Sri Sri Ravishankar said while addressing the media here.

He expressed confidence that both the communities are capable of reaching to a solution over the issue.

"A solution may sometimes seem impossible, but our people, youth and leaders of both communities can make it possible," the spiritual guru said.

Earlier in the day, the Art of Living founder reached Ayodhya amidst high security.

Talking to media upon his arrival, Sri Sri said, "The environment is positive. People want to come out of this conflict. I know it is not easy. Let me talk to everyone. It is too early to reach a conclusion."

It is notable that the Supreme Court will hear the 13 appeals in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute on December 5, 2017, the eve of the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the 15th century mosque.

In March, the apex court, however, suggested that it would be best if the contentious issue is settled amicably out of the court between concerned parties.

On Monday, Ramjanambhoomi and Babri Masjid issue grabbed headlines again when Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said he would open talks with stakeholders in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

"I will be going to Ayodhya day after tomorrow (November 16), and so far, all talks have been positive," he said.

However, the spiritual guru's effort has got mixed reactions.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Wednesday welcomed Sri Sri's mediation efforts but said the final word in the Ayodhya issue will be of the Supreme Court.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also welcomed the mediation by Sri Sri Ravishankar.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav downplayed Sri Sri's visit and said first let the legal process be completed in the Supreme Court after which other options should be explored.

Former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti on Thursday alleged Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had "jumped" into the Ayodhya dispute to avoid probe into his illegal wealth.

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj on Tuesday hailed Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's offer to mediate in the Ayodhya dispute.

The president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday dismissed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's mediation and said that the spiritual leader is no authority in this matter.

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the All-India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) have welcomed Sri Sri's mediation efforts but said Muslims will not surrender their claims on the land belonging to the Babri mosque.

Ram Janambhoomi- Babri Masjid dispute is century old point of tussle between Hindus and Muslims.

The mosque was demolished by Hindu Karsevaks on December 6, 1992 in Ayodhya. The country witnessed massive riots in which over 2000 people were killed.

The Hindus claim that it is the birthplace of Lord Rama where a mosque was built in 1528-29 CE (935 AH) by Mir Baqi. Since the mosque was built on orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, it was named Babri Masjid.

Two FIRs were filed after the disputed structure was demolished- Crime no. 197 deals with actual "demolition of the mosque by karsevaks." Crime no. 198 named senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others for 'communal' speeches before the demolition.

In May, a Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Lucknow charged senior BJP leaders L.K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Union Minister Uma Bharti with criminal conspiracy in Babri Masjid demolition case. They are facing trial in the conspiracy case almost 25 years after the Mughal-era mosque was demolished by kar sevaks.

All the accused were granted bail by the Court but it rejected the discharge petition and said charges would be framed against them.

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The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the creation of posts of chairman and technical members of the Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under Goods and Services Tax (GST).

This paves the way for immediate establishment of NAA, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices, said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The NAA will be headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India with four technical members from the Centre and/or the States.

The GST was made effective from the midnight of November 14 and it has been slashed from 28 to 18 percent on goods falling under 178 headings.

There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28 percent.

Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18 to 12 percent and so on and some goods have been completely exempted from GST.

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The controversial 'sex CD' scandal case involving Chhattisgarh PWD Minister Rajesh Munat was on Thursday handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Last month, Munat claimed that the CD was fake and requested Chief Minister Raman Singh for a high-level inquiry into the case.

This case came to light last month after journalist Vinod Verma was arrested from his residence in Indirapuram in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad on charges of blackmailing an employee of Munat over the latter's alleged obscene video.

Verma, however, had alleged that he was being ''framed'' by the state government because he possessed the 'sex CD' of the minister.

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The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Police Commissioner to remain present in court on December 11, with a plan to bring down crime against women.

The court issued the directive, while hearing a plea seeking better security for women, in Delhi post the Nirbhaya case.

Earlier, the high court had sought the response of the Centre and the Delhi Government on the issue of alleged absence of 100 per cent CCTV coverage of police stations in the capital, raised through a plea.

The court had issued a notice to the Delhi Police, seeking its stand on the application.

The application was filed in a PIL initiated by the High Court on the issue of women's safety after the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape.

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Famous Rapper Drake jumped to the defence of his female fans after a man kept harassing women at a concert on his Australian tour.

The rapper, who was performing in Sydney, stopped mid-song and pointed to a man in the crowd who he had spotted harassing women, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Midway through his performance, Drake slammed the male fan and told him, "If you don't stop touching girls I'm gonna come out there and f*** you up!"

The crowd was then heard cheering Drake following the star's outburst.

The rapper was praised on social media for the way he handled the situation, with one user writing, "@Drake well done last night for sticking up for what's morally right... much respect your way."

"You all know! I love Drake but that guy should have been kicked out straight away. No threat, no strikes just zero tolerance."

The 'Hotline Bling' hit-maker's public denouncement of sexual harassment comes in the wake of the sexual misconduct allegations against some of the biggest names in the Hollywood, including Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Bill O'Reilly, Louis CK, Dustin Hoffman and James Toback.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah is doing free advocacy for Pakistan.

"Earlier also I have said that Pok was, is and will remain an integral part of India. Though it is presently occupied by Pakistan, it is still a part of India. Farooq Abdullah is a Member of Parliament from Srinagar and he should resign from the post for delivering such statements. Farooq Abdullah is doing free advocacy of Pakistan," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiments, another BJP leader S. Prakash said that Conference (NC) president Abdullah is losing his credibility by making such statements.

"Earlier, he (Farooq Abdullah) enjoyed power in the Centre and the state. Now, he is speaking in a different tone. Such opportunistic, dual policy of Farooq Abdullah is in front of public. He is losing his credibility. His statement does not carry weight anymore," he said.

Abdullah yesterday reiterated that Pakistan occupied Kashmir or PoK does not belong to India.

"PoK does not belong to India. It's been 70 years and they (New Delhi) couldn't get it. And today they are saying that it is a part of India," he said in Uri.

Launching a veiled attack on the Centre, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, "How long will the innocent shed their blood and they will say that PoK is a part of India?"

Abdullah had earlier on Saturday said that PoK belongs to Pakistan and the fact would not change no matter how many wars are fought over the issue.

India, however, maintains that Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India as it was invaded by Pakistan in 1947.

Abdullah's remark drew huge flak and a Bihar court even ordered the filing of an FIR against him on charges of treason.

Abdullah, however, remained unperturbed and said, "I welcome the FIR. Now, they will know who the real man is.

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French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will embark his official journey to India on Saturday, November 17.

The French Minister will undertake an official visit to India, on November 17 and 18, 2017.

On Friday, Minister Le Drian will call on for wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the State visit of President Emmanuel Macron. He will hold political meetings with several Indian dignitaries, including Minister of External Affairs Smt Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley and Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shri Raj Kumar Singh. He will also meet Shri Ajit Doval, Security Adviser to Prime Minister.

Minister Le Drian's day one visit will be to strengthen various aspects of France's bilateral cooperation with India, its foremost Asian strategic partner: security, economy, sustainable urban development and renewable energy, education and research, people-to- people ties and cultural affairs.

On the second day of his visit, Minister Le Drian will officially launch the third edition of the Indo-French platform "Bonjour India". Jean-Yves Le Drian will also unveil "The Experience": an immersive and interactive multimedia journey to the heart of the Indo-French relationship.

The Grand Opening of Bonjour India will take place at Amber Fort, Jaipur, on Saturday evening. The event will be attended by Minister Le Drian, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, which will feature a monumental video creation by French artist Xavier de Richemont, entitled "Barghal".

Bonjour India is a three-month Indo-French collaborative platform focused on innovation, creativity, and partnership, which will be presented in more than 300 events in 33 cities across India.

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French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Jean-Yves Le Drian, arrived here today for a two-day visit to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two sides.

Minister Le Drian will call on for wide-ranging talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the State visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India.

The French minister will hold political meetings with several Indian dignitaries, including India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh.

He will also meet Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser to the Indian Prime Minister.

Minister Le Drian's day one visit will be to strengthen various aspects of France's bilateral cooperation with India, its foremost Asian strategic partner: security, economy, sustainable urban development and renewable energy, education and research, people-to- people ties and cultural affairs.

On the second day of his visit, he will officially launch the third edition of the Indo-French platform "Bonjour India" on Saturday.

Jean-Yves Le Drian will also unveil "The Experience": an immersive and interactive multimedia journey to the heart of the Indo-French relationship.

The Grand Opening of Bonjour India will take place at Amber Fort, Jaipur, on Saturday evening. The event will be attended by Minister Le Drian, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, which will feature a monumental video creation by French artist Xavier de Richemont, entitled "Barghal".

Bonjour India is a three-month Indo-French collaborative platform focused on innovation, creativity, and partnership, which will be presented in more than 300 events in 33 cities across India.

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Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir on Thursday condemned Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah over his remarks on the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"This is saddening and the language used by him was wrong. The PoK is a part of Pakistan because of the mistakes made by the previous governments. It is our right to take it back and no one can stop us from doing it," he told ANI here.

Abdullah on Wednesday reiterated that PoK did not belong to India.

"The PoK does not belong to India. It has been 70 years and they (New Delhi) could not get it. And today they are saying that it is a part of India," he said in Uri.

Last week, Abdullah said PoK belonged to Pakistan and the fact would not change no matter how many wars that could be fought over the issue.

India, however, maintains that PoK belongs to India, as it was invaded by Pakistan in 1947.

Abdullah's remark drew huge flak and a Bihar court even ordered the filing of an FIR against him on charges of treason.

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Lebanon's former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted the invitation to leave Saudi Arabia and go to France.

"He will come to France and the prince has been informed," reported CNN, quoting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, referring to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who held talks with the Foreign Minister.

"Hariri, whom I will see soon today, has been invited to France with his family by President Macron," added Le Drian.

The statements were made in a joint press conference with Le Drian's Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, indicating that France has played a key role in defusing tensions in the Middle East and played a key role mediating Lebanon's latest political crisis.

Hariri unexpectedly resigned in a televised address from Riyadh and said that he feared for his life on November 4.

He has not returned to Lebanon since then.

According to reports, the Lebanese President Michel Aoun has refused to accept his resignation before he returns.

On Wednesday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun for the first time publicly accused the Saudi authorities of holding him, saying "nothing justified" his absence.

Adel al-Jubeir said the claim that Hariri was being held up was "false" and he was in Saudi Arabia by his own will.

A day before, French President Emmanuel Macron invited Hariri and his family to France.

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It's OFFICIAL! City commissioners have put an end to a divisive battle over three Hollywood streets that has the names of Confederate generals.

In a landmark decision, the city commission voted 6-0 to change the names of three Hollywood streets named for Confederate commanders, reports Miami Herald.

The street names that were previously named John Bell Hood, Robert E. Lee and Nathan Bedford Forrest, will now be known as Hope, Liberty and Freedom streets.

The city's engineer will now find a company to replace the signs and notify the county and agencies of the change.

More than 140 people signed up to speak at a public hearing. Most of the people wanted the city commission to take down the street signs and rename them.

Linda Anderson, who has lived in the city for more than 60 years and was one of the petitioners for the name changing, noted, "Thank you for moving this forward, it's been over 15 years trying to make this change, and I would hope today would be the last day that I will come in front of you to ask for this change."

The commission came without discussion.

Commissioner Peter Hernandez left the room for the vote but he did express displeasure with the public having been left out of the debate over what the streets would be named.

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley opined that India has become the most favourable and attractive destination for the receipt of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), adding that India is the "largest recipient of FDI in the world."

Jaitley, who delivered the Introductory Address at the Investors' Roundtable Meet in Singapore on Wednesday, stated that in order to provide further impetus to the economy, the present Government has implemented a slew of economy reforms in last three years, following which he mentioned the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), introduction of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the recent re-capitalisation package announced for Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

"The recapitalisation package of public sector banks will help to redress the twin balance sheet problem and revive private investment. Key structural reforms implemented by present the government in the recent years, such as Aadhar, Demonetisation and GST have brought transparency and efficiency in governance, and aided the transition from cash to less cash economy. Also, major changes were made in FDI Policy regime, with an aim to make it more liberal and investor friendly," he said.

"Demonetisation has also helped in bringing-out black money by giving identity to anonymous cash. Also, Aadhaar revolution coupled with financial inclusion and its potential applications in transferring of pension, scholarship and government subsidies directly to account of actual beneficiaries under DBT Scheme is transforming the payment landscape in India," added Jaitley.

The Finance Minister, who is currently on a two-day official visit to Singapore visited Singapore Expo, a global event organised by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) attracting over 35,000 fintech participants, showcasing State of the Art developments in Fintech and engaging professionals and policy makers on insightful debates on FinTech. He also visited the India Pavilion set-up by Invest India, along with the state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Maharashtra, which are also participating in Singapore Expo.

Earlier, Jaitley also met key Singapore Officials including Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister, Singapore and discussed the issues of mutual interest between the two countries. He also held a bilateral meeting with his Singapore counterpart and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and discussed key reforms being implemented by the Government of India, along with measures to increase mutual bilateral investments.

Later, the Finance Minister met the CEO and Senior officials of GIC and discussed investment opportunities across multiple sectors in India including the National Investment and Infrastructure (NIIF). He also chaired meetings with the Chairman, SIA and DBS Group Holdings, CEO of Singapore Airlines, Chairman of Blackstone and President, Singapore Stock Exchange, where multiple issues of mutual interest were discussed.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that the government is following up on an "unfortunate" incident, in which an Indian student was shot dead allegedly by two armed robbers at a grocery store in the U.S. state of California, and will extend all help to the family of the deceased.

"I have received a detailed report on the unfortunate death of an Indian student Dharampreet Jasper in California. It was a case of armed robbery of a gas station in which the robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there," Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

"The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin. We are following up further investigation by the police and will extend all help to the family of the deceased," she tweeted.

On Monday night, 20-year-old Dharampreet Singh Jassar, known to friends as Veer, was robbed by two men before being shot dead as the suspects left the Tackle Box store just outside Madera city limits, local daily Fresnobee reported.

The robbers took a few big boxes of cigarettes and some cash from the store.

The police has arrested 22-year-old Indian-origin Armitraj Singh Athwal for the slaying after he was stopped by a Fresno County sheriff's deputy a short time after the shooting.

However, a second suspect remains at large.

According to Pete Nijjar, owner of the store, Jasser had been in the United States for about a year and a half, and was studying accounting at Fresno State and had worked at the store for about two months and was a good employee who was popular with customers.

Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney said that Athwal faces robbery and murder charges, but does not appear to have a lengthy criminal history.

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As a measure to reduce the toxicity in Delhi's air, which rises every year during the winters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on Wednesday advanced rolling out of Bharat Stage (BS)-VI fuel in the national capital by two years to April 2018.

Bharat stage emission standards -known as Bharat Stage (BS)- are emission standards to regulate the air pollutants output.

The petroleum ministry, in a statement, informed that the government after consulting Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) has decided to "fast-forward" the date of BS-VI grade auto fuel launch in view of the prevailing smog situation in Delhi.

The ministry had introduced the BS-IV grade transportation fuels across the country in April this year.

Though the government has taken this step to reduce pollution in Delhi and National Capital Region, the auto experts feel it would certainly add to the woes of car companies to be fully compliant in over next five months.

They say the auto industry would find it difficult to be ready for the demand in such short period. Also, the fuel will not be available outside the capital and BS-VI vehicles cannot run on BS-IV fuel.

They also cited fear that the country lacks warehouses for the scrapping of old vehicles.

India is not alone in the fight against air pollution. Such measures have also been taken elsewhere too.

Recently on October 23, London city officials had brought in a new levy on the cars, made before 2005, entering the British capital during busy weekday hours.

Mayor Sadiq Khan had said they have got a health crisis in London caused directly by the poor-quality air, and over 9,000 Londoners have died prematurely because of the poor quality air.

In Germany, numerous cities, including the automaking centres Stuttgart and Munich, are considering a ban on older diesel vehicles.
The doctors of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) on Thursday called off their strike against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had called on state Health Minister Ramesh Kumar to discuss the doctors' strike.

The chief minister has also invited the Indian Medical Association (IMA) representatives for a discussion tomorrow.

The private doctors are against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill and are pressing for dropping the contentious four provisions in the Bill.

The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007 was passed with the aim of regulating private sector medical establishments.

The Act mandates registration of all private medical establishments, charts out the obligations like maintaining records, prescribes minimum standards of facilities and services provided in the private medical establishment and mandates displaying rates of various procedures.

But the Act has no teeth, say health activists.

PHANA represents 327 private hospitals in Bengaluru.

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The Government of Maharashtra will be partnering with Virgin Hyperloop One to conduct a preliminary study to analyze the high-level economic impact and technical viability of hyperloop transportation solutions in the region.

"A hyperloop route requires high-density traffic to become viable as a means of rapid public transit. Mumbai and Pune have the potential to provide an optimal route with a high density," said chief minister Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis.

India has been facing major transportation challenges. According to the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, 65 percent of India's freight is transported on the country's strained and congested road networks. With speeds nearly thrice than high-speed rail, hyperloop technology can address many of these issues.

"By reducing travel time to under 20 minutes, a hyperloop route will help intensify the connectivity between the metropolitan regions of Pune and Mumbai, transforming the two cities into India's first and largest Megapolis," he added.

Virgin Hyperloop One signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and will also identify the potential routes for hyperloop transportation.

The preliminary study is intended to analyze the applicability and benefits of hyperloop technology, identify high priority routes within the State based on demand analysis and socio-economic benefits and inform the Government of Maharashtra in any future decision to progress to the full project stage.

"To coincide with the Digital India initiative and the pivotal role that technology will play in it, Virgin Hyperloop One can be a key facilitator," Nick Earle, SVP Global Field Operations, Virgin Hyperloop One said.

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Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's Great Grand Son on Thursday said that people who follow ideology of violence are celebrating the death anniversary of Nathuram Vinayak Godse.

Godse, a Hindu nationalist, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi by shooting him in the chest three times at point blank range in New Delhi on January 30, 1948.

Speaking to ANI, "I don't have any problem with this. As I have right to respect and pay tribute to my respected leaders similarly the people who have faith in killers they also have right to respect them and celebrate their anniversary. These people follow the ideology of violence, murder."

Godse was hanged till death on November 15, 1949.

Earlier, the Hindu Mahasabha installed an idol of Godse inside their office in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on his 68th death anniversary on November 15.

The Mahasabha had requested for land from the district administration for a temple dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin in the city, but their plea was not entertained.

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Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday met the bereaved families of three personnel of the 5th Manipur Rifles killed in a road mishap near Keikou, Tamenglong district.

The ill-fated incident took place yesterday when the vehicle carrying the personnel plunged into a gorge along Imphal-Tamenglong road near Keikou, which is about 30 kms from Tamenglong district headquarter.

The deceased have been identified as one Havildar Somorjit, riflemen Dominic and Riflemen Kh. Bungo Singh.

Further investigation is on.

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The Hindu Mahasabha installed an idol of Nathuram Godse inside their office in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on his 68th death anniversary on November 15.

The Mahasabha had requested for land from the district administration for a temple dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin in the city, but their plea was not entertained.

"The government refused to give us land for the temple, so we created one on our private land," Hindu Mahasabha VP, Narayan Sharma told ANI.

Explaining the establishment of the temple, Sharma asserted that the youth of today had no knowledge about the history of India.

"This temple has been established to educate the new generation about India's freedom struggle and who all sacrificed their lives and took necessary steps for it," he added.

Sharma also said four political parties helped them to establish the temple.

Speaking about the Godse temple, Sharma said, "In 1947, the British told [Mahatma] Gandhi that they would leave India, but talks of partition started happening. The Akhil Hindu Mahasabha protested against it."

He added that the huge protests encouraged Gandhi to say that the partition of India and Pakistan would be done over his dead body.

"But both Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to become prime ministers. So [Mahatma] Gandhi went ahead with the partition, and during the process of partition, lakhs of Hindus were killed and their dead bodies were sent to India. Nathuram Godse, who was a hardcore Hindu, could not see it and hence, killed [Mahatma] Gandhi," Sharma said.

Sharma added the temple was established on their property and "nobody can change or touch our personal opinions."

Nathuram Vinayak Godse was a Hindu nationalist, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, shooting him in the chest three times at point blank range in New Delhi on January 30, 1948.

He was hanged till death on November 15, 1949.

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The Jammu and Kashmir government is preparing a new surrender policy for local Kashmiri militants.

This was informed by Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Munir Khan on Thursday during a press conference about the ongoing anti-terrorist Operation Kund since November 14 in the forest area of Haalan-Kund area of Qazigund, in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Replying a question, Khan said, "The government is very keen to have a new surrender policy and has sought Jammu and Kashmir police's suggestions. We are compiling our suggestions and will send to the government."

He further added, "I am sure in near future we will have a new surrender policy."

The objective of current Jammu and Kashmir rehabilitation policy is to offer facility to those terrorists who undergo a change of heart and eschew the path of violence and who also accept the integrity of India and Indian Constitution to encourage them join the mainstream and lead a normal life and contribute towards prosperity and progress of the State as well as the Nation.

The surrenderee will be entitled to benefits only when legal action has been completed, court cases decided and the person has been pronounced innocent.

The IG also said that the security forces are seriously organising counselling efforts in Kashmir Valley to thwart Pakistan's nefarious designs, which has started relentless social media campaign to lure youth to join militancy (in Kashmir).

"A very serious counselling campaign is going on in Kashmir to discourage youth to join militancy and we will get positive results in near future," Khan said.

"It is our sincere endeavour to ensure that these misguided youth come and join the mainstream. I will not single out a particular character; it is for everybody," the top cop said.

Security forces have arrested three militants during the Operation Kund.

The arrested militants are: Atta Mohammad Malik, Shams ul Wiqar and Bilal Sheikh.

Khan also said that the Operation Kund has brought to the fore the humane face of security forces, which ensured that the surrendered militants are saved and don't get into the cross-fire.

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The Operation Kund in the Kashmir Valley has brought to the fore the humane face of security forces, which ensured that the surrendered militants are saved and don't get into the cross-fire, said Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Munir Khan on Thursday.

Speaking to the media, the Inspector General of Police said, "One local militant, Atta Mohammad Malik, was badly injured during the encounter and could have died but the jawans, despite losing one of their associates in the encounter, rushed him (the militant) to the hospital, where he is now out of danger."

Since Tuesday, the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu & Kashmir police have been engaged in an anti-terrorism operation in the forests of Haalan-Kund area of Qazigund, in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Three militants, Atta Mohammad Malik, Shams-ul-Wiqar and Bilal Sheikh, have been captured alive.

The top cop said that the incident is an example of security forces' commitment to give militants a chance to surrender and get into the mainstream.

"We have been appealing to the local militants that if they signal surrendering even during the encounter then we wouldn't kill them, adding that "it is our commitment to give a chance to local militants to join their families."

To emphasise the security forces' commitment, the surrendered militants Shams-ul-Wiqar and Bilal Sheikh were brought before the media.

"We can't present Atta Mohammad Malik as he is in hospital," Khan said.

A militant and an army soldier were killed on the first day of the operation. The slain militant has been identified as Muzammil of Kulgam area.

The joint operation was launched after the specific information about the presence of a joint group of six Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants in the forest area of of Haalan-Kund.

The IG, Kashmir range, blamed Pakistan for luring the young Kashmiris into militancy.

"Relentless social media campaign has been started by Pakistan to lure youth to join militancy (in Kashmir). Such forces (Pakistan) are also indulging in religious exploitation. The 15-25 age group is immature and is unable to differentiate between good and evil," Khan said while talking about the driving force behind the locals joining militancy.

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The Pakistan Government has failed to share the revised Long-Term Plan (LTP) of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would be approved by the Joint Cooperation Council (JCC) on November 21 in Islamabad, The Express Tribune reported.

The Minister for Interior and Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting on Wednesday, which was arranged for the representatives of the federal and provincial governments as well as special regions of the country ahead of the 7th JCC meeting.

The meeting was attended by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and representatives of all four provinces and the special areas of the country.

According to the report, during the meeting, issues related to the implementation of USD 55 billion CPEC were discussed, however, the revised plan was not shared in the meeting.

Earlier this year, Pakistan had shared the draft of the LTP with China, after which Beijing proposed some changes in the plan that the Islamabad has not accepted yet.

"The federal government neither shared China's feedback nor the revised LTP plan with the provinces in the pre-JCC meeting," said an official of the provincial government.

However, the planning ministry said the draft of the original LTP was already shared with the provinces and there was no material change in the revised draft.

China came up with its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative in 2013.

The project comprises a network of railways, roads and pipelines that would connect Pakistan's port city of Gwadar in the province of Balochistan, with the Chinese city of Kashgar in landlocked Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

The human rights activists have, time and again, spoken about and highlighted the growing atrocities of Pakistan on the indigenous people of Balochistan and deteriorating human rights situation as a result of the CPEC.

Earlier this month, on the day the supreme body of the Communist Party of China met for its 19th Congress in Beijing, the Baloch leadership in exile issued a strong warning to China to stop the CPEC or face on the ground consequences.

The CPEC passes across the disputed territory and is rejected by the Baloch as a "tool for exploiting the Baloch land.

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The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday dismissed ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's appeal to merge three references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to Dawn, Chief Justice Justice Saqib Nisar maintained the objections raised by the registrar office during the hearing.

Justice Nisar pointed out that Sharif family was already provided with the option of review verdict in the Panama Papers case.

The registrar office of the Supreme Court had asked the petitioner to consult the forum concerned in this regards.

On Tuesday, Sharif had challenged the accountability court's the November 8 decision to not merge the three references filed by the NAB in the Islamabad High Court.

According to Dawn, Sharif's lawyer Azam Tar said the court took the decision in a hurry.

The appeal filed by Tar stated that the replies submitted to the high court were not taken into consideration by the court.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had asked the NAB to file references against the Sharif family in connection with their Avenfield and other properties on July 28 and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

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The Madras High Court on Thursday sought a reply from Tamil Nadu Police on a plea seeking to file a case against actor Kamal Haasan on his 'Hindu terror' remark.

While hearing the matter, Justice M. S. Ramesh directed the public prosecutor to get the further information from concerned police authority.

Meanwhile, the High Court has adjourned the matter by a week.

The petitioner G. Devarajan, a registered advocate clerk in the High Court, told the court that the actor, in his article published in a Tamil magazine in the first week of November, had allegedly stated that presence of 'Hindu terrorism' in the country cannot be ruled out.

"By making such statements Kamal Haasan is trying to brand Hindus as terrorists. He should understand that no religion preaches violence but only peace. The actor with vested interests is trying to divide the Tamil community on basis of religion," the petitioner said.

He further said, he had approached the Chennai Police commissioner but no action has been taken, therefore, he has knocked the door of the High Court.

The petitioner also demanded action against the editor of the Tamil magazine for publishing Kamal Haasan's article 'demeaning' Hindus.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the media fraternity on the occasion of Press Day and said that the role of the media in giving voice to the voiceless is commendable.

The Prime Minister took to his Twitter page and posted a series of tweets that said: "My greetings to all friends in the media on Press Day. I appreciate the hardwork of our media, especially the reporters & camerapersons, who tirelessly work on the ground and bring forth various news that shapes as well as global discourse."

"The role of the media in giving voice to the voiceless is commendable. Over the last three years, the media has added great strength to 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and effectively furthered the message of cleanliness," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

The Prime Minister praised the rise of social media and hopes that this advancement will make the media space even more democratic and participative.

"In this day and age we are seeing the rise of social media and news being consumed through mobile phones. I am sure these advancements will further the reach of the media and make the media space even more democratic and participative," he said.

He concluded by saying, "A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy. We are fully committed to upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms. May our media space be used more and more to showcase the skills, strengths and creativity of 125 crore Indians."

National Press Day is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. This was the day on which the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only did the press maintain the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors.

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Prime Minister of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Raja Farooq Haider Khan lambasted Pakistan over the ill-treatment being meted out to Kashmiris.

While addressing a gathering, an emotional Raja Farooq said that the people residing in low-lying areas of Neelum-Jhelum-55 KM Water Tunnel in Mirpur, are not getting water from Mangla dam.

The premier also questioned the Pakistan government in this regard and questioned why cannot people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir benefit from Mangla dam.

Calling himself a 'powerless premier', Raja Farooq averred that his status should either be clearly defined or be told to be a mere observer.

Meanwhile, referring to the Kala Bagh dam he said that no one in Islamabad would dare to talk about it.

PoK prime minister also mentioned that Sindh Chief Minister addressed a letter to him stating that the people of Mirpur will not get water from Mangla dam.

He said that the land of PoK people, their houses, the graves of their ancestors and their agricultural land etc. are under water due to the construction of Mangla dam and despite all this they are being deprived of drinking water.

He further stated that the fate of PoK people is like that of a married son having a family to support, complaining his own father about the ill-treatment.

Raja Farooq Haider said that the people of PoK are not weak; they fought against Dogras, Sikhs, Mughals and Pathans in the past.

Hence, this type of ill-treatment is unacceptable.

He asked why due share is not being given to PoK people who pay taxes.

He added that PoK people are not given electricity while it was said in the Mangla Dam agreement that preferential treatment would be given to the people of the region.

This type of activities cannot be carried out repeatedly.

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President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday praised the India Air Force (IAF), calling them a great source of pride for the nation.

At an event organised at Air Force Station Adampur to award the prestigious President's Standard to 223 Squadron and 117 Helicopter Unit, President Kovind said,

"The resilience and tenacity displayed by our valiant air warriors is a great source of pride for the nation. The nation is proud of the capability and competency of the IAF."

"Excellent performance of its personnel in International exercises, both at home and abroad, is indeed a glowing testimony to the level of training and preparedness of our Air Force. The Indian Air Force, besides safeguarding the sovereign skies of our Nation, has also been at the forefront of all humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations," added the President.

The awards were received by Group Captain Prabhat Malik, Commanding Officer of 223 Squadron, and Wg Cdr N Batra Commanding Officer of 117 Helicopter Unit.

The ceremonial parade attended by President Kovind was commanded by Group Captain Tushar Vaidya. The President also released First Day Covers of 223 Squadron and 117 Helicopter Unit at the function.

Shri V P Singh Badnore Governor of Punjab, Shri Rana Gurjeet Singh, Cabinet Minister for Irrigation and Power of the State of Punjab, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command along with other senior Defence and Civilian dignitaries were present at the event.

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Fintech platform Qbera on Thursday announced the launch of its operations in Hyderabad and Pune as part of the next phase of its regional expansion plans.

Since its launch in February, Qbera has received 50,000+ loan applications and disbursed over Rs. 10 crore worth of loans through its partner, RBL Bank.

Moreover, Qbera's cutting-edge processing and underwriting mechanism ensure a short loan approval time and disbursal in as little as 24 hours.

The loan amounts on the platform range from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 7.5 lakh, whereas, the annual percentage rate for loans ranges from 14 percent to 24 percent and loan durations can be anywhere between 12 to 48 months.

"There is a persistent need of credit solutions among the mobile salaried segment in the country for acquiring assets or for personal consumption. The consumer lending space is where we see the most significant opportunity today, and with the current wave of innovation and new entrants in this domain, India is a fast growing and lucrative market for alternate lending solutions," said founder and CEO Qbera, Aditya Kumar.

"Our expansion plans are currently focused on launching our services across major cities and regions of the country. With our services now being live, and our expansion planned across the country, we aim to disburse Rs. 100 crore worth of loans by the end of FY 2017-18," concluded Kumar.

Qbera facilitates easy access to funds for salaried individuals through a simple and convenient application process for unsecured loans, providing instant approval and loan disbursals.

The digital platform aims to address the large under-banked as well as the unbanked segment with little or no access to institutional finance, while fulfilling the rising demand in the market for quick, convenient, and unsecured lending.

Unlike traditional banks and NBFCs that focus on lending to employees of a handful of target companies, the platform offers personal loans to salaried employees of more than seven lakh companies.

More than 6,50,000 of these employers are not listed with banks, rendering their employees practically ineligible for personal loans from traditional banks and NBFCs.

Qbera's personal lending services are now live in Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Mumbai and now in Pune and Hyderabad.

In its next phase of regional expansion, Qbera plans to launch its operations in more Indian cities including Kolkata, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Coimbatore, and Indore by December 2017.

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Congress Vice-President on Thursday exhorted media to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with Centre's alleged involvement in corruption cases particularly the Rafale deal which grabbed headlines yesterday.

While speaking to reporters after attending the launch of the first convention by All India Un-organised Workers Congress at AICC, Gandhi said, "You ask me so many questions and I answer you properly. Why don't you ask the Prime Minister about Rafale deal? He changed the whole deal for the benefit of one businessman. Why don't you ask questions about Amit Shah's son? These are the questions I wanted to ask you," said to reporters here.

Congress has alleged that Modi government promoted the interest of Prime Minister's capitalist allies, by signing the Rafale aircraft agreement for purchase of 36 fighter aircrafts without following the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).

In the run-up to the Gujarat polls, the Congress vice president has been aggressively targeting Modi government in his election campaign.
On Tuesday (November 14), the British Parliament resounded to a thunderous round of applause in honour of 21 native Indian soldiers who fought to defend British India on the unruly North West frontier in 1897.

Parliamentarians, leading members of the British Indian community and representatives of Her Majesty's Armed Forces gathered for a special Parliamentary launch and screening of the new docu-drama "Saragarhi: The True Story", hosted by former Justice and Work and Pensions Minister Shailesh Vara MP.

The film, made in honour of the Sikhs who fought at Saragarhi to mark the battle's 120th anniversary, comes after more than seven years of research and production by Captain J. Singh-Sohal, a British Army reservist and filmmaker.

"Saragarhi: The True Story" narrates, for the first time on film, the fate of the 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of Bengal Infantry who on 12th September 1897 found themselves surrounded by 10,000 enemy tribesmen during an uprising on the North West Frontier between colonial India and Afghanistan.

The brave 21 fought to the last man despite the odds, in an engagement lasting nearly seven hours and with only limited ammunition. The battle is a significant one which was commemorated by the British with memorials in India, a battle honour for the 36th Sikh regiment that fought (now the 4th Sikh Regiment in the Indian Army) and the issue of the Indian Order of Merit class III, the highest award of gallantry at that time given to native Indians on par with the Victoria Cross, which was awarded posthumously to the 21 men.

The documentary, filmed in India, Pakistan and the UK; tells the story with unique access to private archives, never-before-seen images, stunning visual graphics, effects and re-enactment scenes.

Event host Shailesh Vara MP said: "This film rightly records the outstanding courage and bravery of Sikh soldiers fighting against the odds and paying the ultimate price. It is right that we remember these brave men in the Mother of Parliaments, and I congratulate Captain Jay Singh-Sohal for his commitment and dedication over many years in making this remarkable film. The film not only informs the public, but it will also be a valuable resource for historians in the years to come."

Speaking about his new film, Captain Singh-Sohal said: "It is a unique and fitting way to honour the memory of the men who fought at Saragarhi by remembering their bravery and valour in the very Parliament of Queen and country they were fighting for. This episode of British Indian history inspired many more Indians to serve during the first and second Wars shoulder to shoulder with the British and troops from all over the Commonwealth. And it inspires a new generation now to commit to defending our parliamentary democracy and the values it represents. Sharing their story in our Parliament is a tremendous honour for which I'd like to express my thanks to Mr Vara."

The film will now begin it's international tour, with a screening at the "Sikh Arts and Film Festival" in New York City and events across India.

Colonel John Kendall, from the British Army, who was part of a delegation to India that visited the Saragarhi Memorial sites, added: "The courage and loyalty of the Sikhs as a warrior race is legendary. For over a century and a half the British Army has been proud to serve alongside Sikhs. We have fought together in many campaigns including the North West Frontier and the First and Second Wars. We have fought alongside each other to protect democracy and to rescue those in need from natural disasters. Today we are privileged to have Sikhs serving among our ranks across Her Majesty's Armed Forces and support the work of the British Armed Forces Sikh Association (BAFSA) who help us to promote the message of inclusivity and Sikh service in the Army.

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Seven directors of a river boating and adventure company were arrested by Vijayawada Police on Thursday in connection with Andhra Pradesh boat capsize incident.

The death toll in the boat capsize incident, which took place on November 12, has risen to 21.

As many as 41 people, including the boat driver, were onboard at the time of the incident.

The boat that capsized at Krishna River in Ibrahimpatnam mandal, Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, was reportedly a private one.

The bodies that were fished out from the river were handed over to the victims' families after postmortem.

A survivour in the incident had alleged that the boat operator was trying to let in more passengers, which made the boat overloaded.

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Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ram Vilas Vedanti on Thursday alleged Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had "jumped" into the Ayodhya dispute to avoid probe into his illegal wealth.

"He (Ravi Shankar) should continue running his NGO and hoarding foreign funds; I believe he has amassed a lot of wealth, and to avoid a probe, he has jumped into the issue," Vedanti told ANI here.

The Art of Living founder arrived in Ayodhya on Thursday, a day after meeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

As per reports, the spiritual guru had earlier met various stakeholders in the dispute, including representatives of Nirmohi Akhara, to help find an out-of-court settlement to the case.

Vedanti, who is a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, one of the prime claimants in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, questioned the authority of the spiritual guru in the matter.

He said, "I went to jail 25-35 times. I was subject to house arrest, faced assault, and bullets. Many workers got injured. Lakhs of Vishwa Hindu Parishad members went to jail.

"Despite all this, if [Sri Sri] Ravi Shankar comes here to hold talks then on what basis is he coming? No one else has the right, except Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas in this case."

Further, Vedanti also opposed the possibility of building both - mosque and temple - at the disputed site.

"I have heard he [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar] wants both mosque and temple to be built there. While I am alive, while every Ram devotee is alive, no one can build a mosque in Ayodhya," he said.

Many attempts have been made so far to resolve the long standing issue amicably.

The Supreme Court had also suggested that an out-of-court settlement was the best recourse to the dispute.

The apex court will commence the final hearing of the long-standing matter from December 5, a day before the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the medieval-era structure.

The Babri Masjid was built by Mughal Emperor Babar in 1528. The Hindus, however, claim that a Ram Temple that originally stood there was demolished to construct the mosque.

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Investment fund manager, SSG Capital Management (SSG) has through its flagship fund acquired a 34.4 percent equity stake in Cox & Kings' subsidiary Holidaybreak Ltd. (HBR) from existing investors.

HBR houses the brands PGL, NST, Travelworks, and Meininger. The Rohatyn Group have now exited the .

Despite significant GBP depreciation, The Rohatyn Group has now made a complete and profitable exit from HBR at an aggregate enterprise value of approximately USD 800 million, implying a strong underlying HBR franchise value.

Cox & Kings itself continues to own 65.6 percent of HBR's outstanding equity.

SSG Capital Group is a long term investor in Cox & Kings Ltd. with a three percent stake.

The HBR investment is one of SSG's most significant India investments for 2017. This investment comes after similar equity investments in Future Supply Chain Solutions Ltd. (Future Group) and in the NBFC TFCI.

"We are delighted to partner with Cox & Kings in the further development of HBR's niche brands such as PGL and Meininger. Over the next few years, SSG intends to work with HBR in capitalizing on significant growth enjoyed by HBR's education and hospitality brands over the past five years. We plan to do this by positioning education and hospitality as separate and distinct brands capable of independently generating profits for HBR," said SSG founding partner, Shyam Maheshwari.

"PGL and NST are leaders in the experiential learning space in the UK. They have successfully expanded into Australia and have also attracted strong numbers of inbound student traffic into the UK from locations such as other parts of Europe and China. At the same time, Meininger has evolved as a leader in the high-growth hybrid hotel-hostel space, which has recently seen significant interest from leading global private equity players," concluded Maheshwari.

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Ed Westwick is being accused by a third woman of sexual assault.

The 30-year-old British actor, who portrayed Chuck Bass for six seasons on 'Gossip Girl,' faces new allegations brought to light in a BuzzFeed report.

Rachel Eck said that the duo met at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood the night before the 2014 Oscars. At the time, she alleged, the 'Wicked City' star tried to kiss her, "or kind of push me up against the wall." As the night wore on, she said, "It got worse and he got more handsy."

Rachel further stated that after the actor got more physical, he pulled her onto the bed and aggressively groped her. Terrified, she recalled, "I shoved him off as quickly as I could and left."

The latest claims come after two women stepped forward and alleged that Westwick attempted to rape them on separate occasions.

In regard to the claims made by Kristina Cohen, he tweeted, "I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in anLy manner, on any woman."

After second accuser Aurelie Wynn shared her story, Westwick quashed the claims, writing, "It is disheartening and sad to me that as a result of two unverified and provably untrue social media claims, there are some in this environment who could ever conclude I have had anything to do with such vile and horrific conduct. I have absolutely not, and I am cooperating with the authorities so that they can clear my name as soon as possible.

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United States President Donald Trump has hailed his 12-day Asia tour as ''tremendous success'', claiming a "great American comeback" that has restored the U.S' standing in the .

"Today, I want to update the American people on the tremendous success of this trip and the progress we've made to advance American security and prosperity throughout the year," Trump said from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.

Delivering a statement which about 24-minute long, Trump counted on his accomplishments in terms of correcting the mistakes of his predecessors and following through on his promises to voters.

Recounting both the trip to five Asian countries and previous trips to the Mideast and Europe, trump claimed that the U.S. has never been more respected across the globe as it is now.

"Last night, I returned from a historic 12-day trip to Asia. This journey took us to five nations to meet with dozens of foreign leaders, participate in three formal state visits, and attend three key regional summits. It was the longest visit to the region by an American President in more than a quarter of a century," he said.

"Everywhere we went, our foreign hosts greeted the American delegation, myself included, with incredible warmth, hospitality, and most importantly respect. And this great respect showed very well our country is -- further evidence that America's renewed confidence and standing in the has never been stronger than it is right now," Trump added.

The President said that the saw "a strong, proud, and confident America" during his travels across the globe.

"Upon my inauguration, I pledged that we would rebuild America, restore its economic strength, and defend its national security. With this goal in mind, I vowed that we would reaffirm old alliances and form new friendships in pursuit of shared goals. Above all, I swore that in every decision, with every action, I would put the best interests of the American people first," he said.

Trump also pointed to new business deals with Asian companies and increased spending from allies for American-made military equipment.

"I want to thank every citizen of this country for the part you have played in making this great American comeback possible. In Asia, our message was clear and well received: America is here to compete, to do business, and to defend our values and our security," he said.

Earlier, Trump criticised The New York Times and asked them realize that his relationship with the Chinese President Xi Jinping is a good thing.

"The failing @nytimes hates the fact that I have developed a great relationship with World leaders like Xi Jinping, President of China..... ..They should realize that these relationships are a good thing, not a bad thing. The U.S. is being respected again. Watch Trade! It is actually hard to believe how naive (or dumb) the Failing @nytimes is when it comes to foreign policy...weak and ineffective!" Trump said in a series of tweets.

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British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew has expressed his country's inability to control the advertisements about Balochistan in London.

"I understand the strength of feeling about adverts in London. The British Government does not and cannot control advertising in the U.K. But our own position is clear about the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, of which Balochistan is and will continue to be an integral part," Saama TV quoted Drew as saying in response to concerns about advertisements about Balochistan in London.

This comes after the Baloch Organisation launched the third phase of its #FreeBalochistan advertising campaign, in spite of attempts to ban and censor its adverts by the Pakistan Government.

More than 100 London buses are carrying adverts that say "Free Balochistan", "Save The Baloch People" and "Stop Enforced Disappearances".

Bhawal Mengal, spokesperson for the Baloch Organisation (WBO), said, "This is the third phase of our London campaign to raise awareness about Pakistan's human right abuses in Balochistan and the right of the Baloch people to self-determination. We started with taxi adverts, and then did roadside billboards and now we are advertising on London buses."

"The attempts by the Pakistan Government to pressure the UK to ban our adverts have failed. The campaign is powering ahead and will continue for weeks to come. The bullying tactics of Pakistan are an attack on freedom of expression. This is a peaceful advertising campaign. Pakistan's aggressive reaction is a bare-faced attempt to intimidate the UK Government and Baloch human rights defenders," he added.

The Pakistan Government officials, in a clear bid to quash the freedom of expression and to intimidate human rights activists, called the campaign "malicious" and "anti-Pakistan."

They pressurised the British Government to remove WBO's adverts.

Indeed, within 24 hours, Transport for London ordered the removal of the taxi adverts; though the billboards remained because they were not on TfL property.

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Violence erupted in Karnataka's Belgaum late last night after some unidentified people pelted stones, burnt vehicles and created ruckus.

Soon, all shops and houses were shut down and police force was deployed to control the situation. All higher post police officials reached the spot.

Some stone pelters attacked the police officials as well, wherein DCP Krishna Bhat sustained some injuries.

After an inspection of the area, the situation was brought under control and no arrest was reported so far.

"This started with a small incident. There was stone pelting incident as well as somebody creaked the bottle. Our policemen went and normalised the situation. Reason yet to be probed, we are looking into it," DCP law and order Seema Ladkar told ANI.

However, the reason behind the stone pelting is yet to be known.

Earlier on Tipu Jayanti, a similar kind of incident had taken place.

More details are awaited.

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The Baloch Organisation (WBO) on Thursday condemned the statement made by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew, regarding the ongoing advertising campaign in London - 'Free Blochistan'.

"The WBO condemns the statement made by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew, regarding our ongoing advertising campaign in London rejecting the call to 'Free Balochistan, 'Stop Enforced Disappearances' and 'Save the Baloch people'," the WBO said, in a statement.

Thomas Drew had expressed his country's inability to control the advertisements against Balochistan in London.

Drew's statement said, "We [the UK] fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan of which Balochistan is and will continue to be an integral part."

Reacting to the statement, the WBO said that the UK was contradicting the very values and principles it stood for.

"The WBO sees this statement as impartial and contradicting the very values and principles the UK stands for. The Honourable British High Commissioner is in no position to know or decide what the people of Balochistan want or what the future for Balochistan might be," the statement said.

"According to the UN Charter, which Britain has signed and pledged to uphold, the people of Balochistan have a right to self-determination. Only the people of Balochistan have the authority to decide their future," the statement added.

The WBO further said that the High Commissioner's statement as willfully ignoring the United Nations' Charter and was a blatant denial of the right to self-determination of the Baloch people by the UK government's representative.

This comes after the Baloch Organisation launched the third phase of its #FreeBalochistan advertising campaign, in spite of attempts to ban and censor its adverts by the Pakistan Government.

More than 100 London buses are carrying adverts that say "Free Balochistan", "Save The Baloch People" and "Stop Enforced Disappearances".

Bhawal Mengal, spokesperson for the Baloch Organisation (WBO), said, "This is the third phase of our London campaign to raise awareness about Pakistan's human right abuses in Balochistan and the right of the Baloch people to self-determination. We started with taxi adverts, and then did roadside billboards and now we are advertising on London buses."

"The attempts by the Pakistan Government to pressure the UK to ban our adverts have failed. The campaign is powering ahead and will continue for weeks to come. The bullying tactics of Pakistan are an attack on freedom of expression. This is a peaceful advertising campaign. Pakistan's aggressive reaction is a bare-faced attempt to intimidate the UK Government and Baloch human rights defenders," he added.

The Pakistan Government officials, in a clear bid to quash the freedom of expression and to intimidate human rights activists, called the campaign "malicious" and "anti-Pakistan."

They pressurised the British Government to remove WBO's adverts.

Indeed, within 24 hours, Transport for London ordered the removal of the taxi adverts; though the billboards remained because they were not on TfL property.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday said it will fully consider if any state asks for assistance over Padmavati row.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie 'Padmavati' is surrounded by controversy. The period drama, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor has been facing protests from various groups, including Shree Rajput Karni Sena, for allegedly tampering with historical facts. The epicenter of protests is Rajasthan.

While commenting on the law and order situation in states over the movie, the MHA spokesperson Ashok Prasad said, "The first responders in relation to ongoing and potential public order issues are the district administration and State Police under the overall guidance of the State Government."

When asked if the Centre would provide assistance to states, he said, "Any request for assistance, as and when received, will receive the fullest consideration of the Ministry."

The Rajasthan Police on Thursday said that the people protesting against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie 'Padmavati' should not take law and order into their hands.

On Wednesday, Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi warned of dire consequences if the release of 'Padmavati' was not stalled.

Speaking to ANI, Kalvi said, "Jauhar ki jwala hai, bahut kuch jalega. Rok sako to rok lo (a lot will burn, stop if you can)."

On November 14, the Rajput Karni Sena members vandalised Aakash Mall in Rajasthan's Kota protesting the trailer of 'Padmavati'.

The Karni Sena activists have upped the ante against 'Padmavati' by staging protests in various parts of the country, covering Bangalore in the South as well.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had rejected a petition filed against the release of 'Padmavati', saying the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was yet to issue a certificate to the movie.

The top court had added that the CBFC was an independent body and the court should not intervene in their jurisdiction.

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Youth envoys from eight countries on Friday attended Amity International Model United Nations (AIMUN) Conference at Amity University Campus in Noida to discuss global issues.

The event organised by the Amity Educational Resource Centre (AERC) together with Amity International Schools will continue for three days -November 16 to 18.

More than 384 Indian students and 42 students from abroad, including Germany, Thailand, Italy, Mauritius, Netherlands, USA and Canada, attended the event.

The students, who are attending the event, will take up the roles of UN delegates in eight Councils - General Assembly, Human Rights Council, UNSC, IAEA, UNEP, UNEC, NSCI and Inter State Council.

In the discussion, the students are expected to suggest solutions to global issues such as "elimination of racism and racial discrimination", "protecting and promoting right of children in armed conflict", "security situation in north Korea", "nuclear power as a transition power source", "regional implementation of Paris Agreement", "eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through promoting & expanding opportunities and related challenges", "review of internal security in India".

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One hundred companies with origins in India are responsible for creating more than 100,000 jobs and $17.9 billion in investments across the United States, according to a new survey report released today by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The report, Indian Roots, American Soil, is a state-by-state breakdown of tangible investments made and jobs created by 100 surveyed Indian companies doing business in all 50 states, as well as Washington, D. C., and Puerto Rico. New Jersey, Texas, California, New York and Georgia are home to the most number of workers in America directly employed by Indian companies. New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, and Wyoming have the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) from Indian companies.

The surveyed companies also provided data regarding their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and research and development expenditures, which totaled $147 million and $588 million, respectively.

Indian industry and professionals are making significant contributions to the U. S. economy - I am delighted that this fact is being recognized today at the CII event on Capitol Hill, said Ambassador Navtej Sarna, India's Ambassador to the U. S. The presence and reach of Indian companies continues to grow each year as they invest billions of dollars and create jobs across the United States.

Ambassador Sarna continued: The CII study 'Indian Roots, American Soil' highlights Indian industry's ascension as a significant stakeholder in the U. S. economy - this is a critical component of our strong and vibrant bilateral relationship with the U. S, which continues to flourish in strategic terms as well.

Key findings in the report:

Together, 100 Indian companies employ 113,423 people across 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The total value of tangible investments made by these 100 companies exceeds $17.9 billion.

The top five states in which Indian companies have generated maximum employment are: New Jersey (8,572 jobs), Texas (7,271 jobs), California (6,749 jobs), New York (5,135 jobs) and Georgia (4,554 jobs).

The top five states in which Indian companies have contributed the highest foreign direct investment are: New York ($1.57 billion), New Jersey ($1.56 billion), Massachusetts ($931 million), California ($542 million) and Wyoming ($435 million).

The average amount of investment received from Indian companies per state/territory is $187 million.

85% of the companies plan to make more investments in the United States.

87% of the companies plan to hire more employees locally in the next five years.

The CII survey respondents represent diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals and life sciences, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, financial services, healthcare, materials and manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, engineering and construction, automotive, food and agriculture, energy and information technology.

CII released the study on Capitol Hill that highlighted the contributions of Indian companies to the U. S. economy in the form of FDI, jobs created and saved, research and development, skills training and local corporate social responsibility initiatives. Ambassador Sarna spoke in support of the contributions. In addition, several members of the U. S. Congress and a delegation of CII member-companies with investments and operations in the U. S. participated in the event.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII:

CII is proud of its flagship biannual initiative, 'Indian Roots, American Soil' - through this survey report and the event on Capitol Hill, we are able to highlight the best of Indian industry in the United States - their positive contributions to the U. S. economy and society through investments, job creation, CSR and skill-building initiatives, which have immediate and visibly positive multiplier effects on the local communities where our companies have invested and put down roots. The story of Indian investment in the U. S. is one that showcases how intertwined we are as nations that contribute to each other's success. CII is extremely optimistic about the growth of the U. S.-India business and strategic partnership - today's event and report launch in the heart of the U. S. Capitol will hopefully help shine a light on an untold aspect of this story of collaboration.

QUOTES FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:

Senator Chris Van Hollen, Maryland

Indian firms are among the fastest growing investors in the United States, contributing to growth and job creation in our economy. As the partnership between the United States and India deepens, so too do our economic ties, and the Confederation of Indian Industry will play an important role in these efforts.

Congressman Ami Bera, California - 7th district, former Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Indian and Indian Americans

"As the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy, a strong U. S.-India partnership is vital for the 21st century. As the longest serving Indian-American in Congress, I have been proud to help build U. S.-India cooperation. I hope we continue to see the United States engaging with Indian businesses, and today's event with the Confederation of Indian Industry is a great way to keep that momentum going.

Congressman David Brat, Virginia - 7th district

I am glad to see the principles of free market economics being celebrated today on Capitol Hill as we recognize the contributions Indian Industry have brought to the US economy and states. According to CII's survey, Indian companies in Virginia have invested over $37 million in my state, and I can only hope that they will continue to invest in Virginia and that our engagement with these companies will continue to grow.

Congressman George Holding, North Carolina - 2nd district

I want to thank the Confederation of Indian Industry for their efforts in promoting Indian direct investment in the United States. In addition to spurring economic activity, particularly in North Carolina, this type of investment serves to strengthen the bond between our two countries.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas - 18th district

Events like the CII report release today highlighting Indian companies' investment and job creation contributions are critical as we continue deepening our relationship with India beyond strategic and defensive measures. The data from the report not only demonstrates the depth and breadth of Indian companies' investment in our states - my own state of Texas having benefitted from the second-highest number of jobs created - but in addition, R&D and CSR initiatives being undertaken shows that these companies are truly part of the social and economic fabric of the U.

S., and have put down roots and are growing with our communities.

Congresswoman Bernice Johnson, Texas - 30th district

As the first African-American and female Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and as a Member of Congress representing the Dallas, Texas areaone of the nation's trade hubs--I have seen firsthand how thriving commercial exchange, whether in high tech or other goods and services, is strengthening the friendship between the U. S. and India. According to the CII report Indian Roots, American Soil being released today on Capitol Hill, my state of Texas is one of the top ten beneficiaries of Indian investment in the U. S., as well as the in second-largest site of job creation by Indian companies. Moving forward, I hope to see further engagement with these Indian companies, who are strengthening our economy and communities by choosing to invest in Texas.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois - 8th district

Events like today's CII survey report release are heartening reminders of the deepening relationship between the U. S. and India: the world's oldest and largest democracies. The report shows that Indian companies have invested over $195 million in the state of Illinois, and created over 3,800 jobs - as the son of immigrants and an advocate for a strong middle class, I hope that Indian companies continue to put down roots and invest in our state, as our economy and community are strengthened by their engagement with us.?

Congressman Pete Sessions, Texas - 32nd district

The friendship between the United States and India has continued to grow under President Trump's administration. Indian businesses have brought hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to Texas and, at the same time, the reforms led by Prime Minister Modi have opened doors for American companies to expand their operations in India. I am glad to see, as CII's event today proves, bonds between our nations - both commercial and strategic - continue to grow stronger.

Congressman Darren Soto, Florida - 9th district

Having just returned from a delegation to India as part of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I was excited to learn from CII's Indian Roots, American Soil report that Indian companies have invested over $13 million in our state, and are employing nearly 4,000 people. I hope this momentum persists and our relationship with India continues to grow as companies choose to invest in Florida and our communities.

QUOTES FROM CII-INDIA BUSINESS FORUM MEMBER COMPANIES:

Mani Iyer, Chairman of CII-India Business Forum and President & CEO, Mahindra Americas

Mahindra's tractor and utility vehicle business continues to grow market share in the United States. The past year has seen a major refresh and expansion of our product lines, growth in our supplier base, employment, and an increase in investments across all partnerships, creating significantly more jobs in small and medium size industries and communities around the country. The Mahindra group of companies is committed to building on its presence and re-investing in the U. S. on all of its businesses, driving positive change by giving back to communities through scholarships, equipment donations for disaster relief and first responders and support of our military. We are proud to be a part of the Indian industry FDI story in the United States.

Ted Sojourner, CEO & President, Essel Propack

Essel Propack America is located in the heart of Southern Virginia. Within the community of Danville we produce the world's largest and most versatile selection of laminate tubes and closures for a broad range of markets including the beauty and cosmetics, pharma and health, oral, home and food industries. Being on Capitol Hill with CII today is a great way for us to demonstrate how we are working with our local community in a socially responsible manner and helping support the growth and development of Danville.

Ravi Kumar, President and Deputy COO, Infosys

Infosys began working with our first U. S. client over 35 years ago and, as reflected in CII's Indian Roots, American Soil Report, we have worked to boost American innovation ever since. Earlier this year, we announced plans to hire 10,000 American workers over the next two years, partnering with local colleges and universities to shrink the IT skills gap in the U. S., and are focused on upskilling and reskilling workers seeking to grow their careers in computer science. Infosys Foundation USA is also part of this effort, increasing access to high quality computer science education and coding skills with a particular focus on underrepresented communities in America. The Foundation's work has benefitted over 4,700,000 students, 13,000 teachers and 21,000 schools across all 50 states in America since 2015.

Sofia Mumtaz, President, Lupin Pharmaceuticals

Founded on the strengths of our parent company Lupin Limited, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is dedicated to delivering high-quality, branded and generic medications to the U. S. market. We are honored to be on Capitol Hill with CII demonstrating to legislators the ways in which we are contributing to the U. S. economy while helping arrest soaring healthcare costs through innovative and high quality pharmaceutical products.

James Shapiro, Resident Director - North America, Tata Sons Limited

As the largest India-headquartered multinational in North America, the Tata Group has had operations and investments in the U. S. market for many decades. With 12 companies covering diverse operations, including software and IT services, hotels, automobiles, telecom, chemicals and engineering, the Tata portfolio includes some of the most recognized brands in North America. The five core values of integrity, understanding, excellence, unity and responsibility guide all our operations and the way we conduct business in the United States. We are proud to be part of the Indian FDI story and are thrilled to be represented at today's CII event on Capitol Hill.

Lakshmanan Chidambaram, President - Strategic Verticals, Tech Mahindra

At Tech Mahindra, we connect the world via innovative and customer-centric IT experiences. The US is our single biggest market, and we hire US college graduates to enhance our local presence and help our communities to also rise. We are here proudly representing Indian industry on Capitol Hill today, because we are proud of how Tech Mahindra continues to help this nation thrive.

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Announces wrongful termination of concession agreement with its SPV

Atlanta announced that National Highways Authority of India has wrongfully terminated the Concession Agreement dated 28 April 2017 with our Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Sabarkantha Annuity for Six Laning from Km 401.200 to 494.410 of NH-8 in State of Gujarat (Length 93.210 km) on Hybrid Annuity Mode under NHDP Phase V (Package - VI). The Company has invoked Arbitration proceedings for recovery of damages in the said matter.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for the creation of the posts of Chairman and Technical Members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST, following up immediately on yesterday's sharp reduction in the GST rates of a large number of items of mass consumption. This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices.

The establishment of the NAA, to be headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India with four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the States, is one more measure aimed at reassuring consumers that Government is fully committed to take all possible steps to ensure the benefits of implementation of GST in terms of lower prices of the goods and services reach them.

It may be recalled that effective from midnight of 14th November, 2017 the GST rate has been slashed from 28% to 18% on goods falling under 178 headings. There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28%. Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18% to 12% and so on and some goods have been completely exempt from GST.

The "anti-profiteering" measures enshrined in the GST law provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers.

This institutional framework comprises the NAA, a Standing Committee, Screening Committees in every State and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC).

Affected consumers who feel the benefit of commensurate reduction in prices is not being passed on when they purchase any goods or services may apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the particular State. However, in case the incident of profiteering relates to an item of mass impact with 'All India' ramification, the application may be directly made to the Standing Committee. After forming a prima facie view that there is an element of profiteering, the Standing Committee shall refer the matter for detailed investigation to the Director General of Safeguards, CBEC, which shall report its findings to the NAA.

In the event the NAA confirms there is a necessity to apply anti-profiteering measures, it has the authority to order the supplier / business concerned to reduce its prices or return the undue benefit availed by it along with interest to the recipient of the goods or services. If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the recipient, it can be ordered to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. In extreme cases, the NAA can impose a penalty on the defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST.

The constitution of the NAA shall bolster confidence of consumers as they reap the benefits of the recent reduction in GST rates, in particular, and of GST, in general.

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CRISIL rose 1.25% to Rs 1,822 at 14:02 IST on BSE after the company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% stake in Pragmatix Services for a consideration not exceeding Rs 56 crore.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 268.64 points, or 0.82%, to 33,029.36

On BSE, so far 2,552 shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average daily volume of 6,596 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,825.35 and a low of Rs 1,783 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 2,325 on 22 November 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 1,752.45 on 3 October 2017.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 15 November 2017, falling 3.77% compared with the Sensex's 1.01% rise. The scrip also underperformed the market over the past one quarter, declining 1.67% as against the Sensex's 4.17% rise. The scrip had also underperformed the market over the past one year, sliding 16.62% as against the Sensex's 16.49% rise.

The large-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 7.17 crore. Face value per share is Re 1.

CRISIL said it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the equity shares of Pragmatix Services. The parties expect to close the transaction during the first quarter of 2018. Pragmatix's founders and their team will join CRISIL post the completion of the transaction. The transaction is at a total consideration of upto Rs 56 crore. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The acquisition will strengthen the company's position as an agile, innovative and global analytics company, CRISIL said. It will also enable the company to leverage its deep domain expertise and enhance its business intelligence, analytics, and risk management offerings for financial sector clients in India and globally, the company said.

Pragmatix is a data analytics company providing solutions in the 'data to intelligence' lifecycle to the Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) vertical.

CRISIL's consolidated net profit slipped 0.77% to Rs 69.42 crore on 2.98% rise in total income to Rs 413.68 crore in Q3 September 2017 over Q3 September 2016.

CRISIL is a global analytical company providing ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services.

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Sales rise 65.66% to Rs 1.64 crore

Net profit of Nova Publications India declined 33.33% to Rs 0.02 crore in the quarter ended September 2017 as against Rs 0.03 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2016. Sales rose 65.66% to Rs 1.64 crore in the quarter ended September 2017 as against Rs 0.99 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2016.1.640.991.223.030.020.030.020.030.020.03

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ONGC will be watched. With reference to media report titled "Venezuela likely to go bankrupt in a day", ONGC clarified that its wholly-owned subsidiary, ONGC Videsh (OVL), is implementing the 'San Cristobal Oil Field Project' in Venezuela. Consequent to the agreements signed in November 2016, Petreos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) has paid $88 million out of $537 million and the outstanding amount of dividend as of now is about $449 million.

A high level delegation from OVL held meetings with HE Eulogio Del Pino, Minister of Petroleum, Venezuela and Nelson Martinez, President, PdVSA on 9th and 10th November 2017 for compliance with the agreements signed in November 2016. OVL has been assured that PdVSA is committed to these agreements and payments will be made through existing offtaker channels or through new agreements with the Government owned refineries and accordingly the investment in Venezuela will be protected. ONGC issued the clarification after trading hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

Shares of 5Paisa Capital will be listed on the bourses today, 16 November 2017 following the demerger from IIFL Holdings. IIFL Holdings will get 25 shares of 5Paisa for every share held. 5Paisa Capital is an online trading firm.

Royal Orchid Hotels announced the opening of a hotel in Kanpur "Regenta Central The Crystal" and taking the number of properties under Royal Orchid group to 45. Situated at the heart of the city, Regenta Central The Crystal is a perfect blend of modern amenities and traditional Indian hospitality. The hotel is just a 45 minutes drive from Kanpur airport, 6 kilometres from railway station and situated in close proximity to the main shopping destinations. The hotel offers affordable luxury stays with multiple dining options to choose from. The announcement was made after trading hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

RBL Bank on 14 November 2017 acquired additional 2.08% stake in Swadhaar FinServe and thereby increased its shareholding in Swadhaar to 60.48%. The announcement was made after trading hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

CRISIL said it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the equity shares of Pragmatix Services. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties expect to close the transaction during the first quarter of 2018. Pragmatix's founders and their team will join CRISIL post the completion of the transaction. The transaction is at a total consideration of upto Rs 56 crore. The announcement was made after trading hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

Founded by banking professionals, Pragmatix is a data analytics company focused on delivering cutting edge solutions in the 'data to intelligence' lifecycle to the Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) vertical.

The acquisition will strengthen CRISIL's position as an agile, innovative and global analytics company. It will enable CRISIL to leverage its technology platform and deep domain expertise to enhance its business intelligence, analytics and risk management offerings for financial sector clients in India and globally. Pragmatix's solutions will accelerate acquiring retail and commercial banking customers and diversify the strong presence CRISIL enjoys with global financial institutions. Pragmatix will leverage CRISIL's client relationships, global sales footprint and delivery capability.

The New India Assurance Company's net profit surged 187.53% to Rs 748.27 crore on 16.01% rise in total income to Rs 6230.87 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

CARE Ratings' net profit 2.09% to Rs 48.34 crore on 5.89% rise in total income to Rs 97.22 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

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Wonderla Holidays lost 3.67% to Rs 366.50 at 09:35 IST on BSE after net profit dropped 37.03% to Rs 2.33 crore on 0.52% fall in total income to Rs 51.16 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016.

The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 15 November 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 149.39 points or 0.46% at 32,909.83. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 106.87 points or 0.62% at 17,380.27.

On BSE, so far 392 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 3,629 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 375 and a low of Rs 365.40 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 405 on 12 April 2017. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 316 on 22 November 2016.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 56.50 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Wonderla Holidays' earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 9% to Rs 12.85 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016. The company said that Q2 September 2017 net profit was down mainly because of depreciation charges for new rides at Bangalore and Kochi, parks and provision for past tax disputes.

Wonderla Holidays is one of the largest operators of amusement parks in India.

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At least seven people were killed in a suicide bomb attack outside a hotel in the Afghan capital on Thursday, police said.

"The attacker wanted to enter the hotel but was identified by police guarding the hotel. He then detonated his explosives in front of the hotel on the main road," Kabul Police spokesperson Basir Mujahid told Efe news.

--IANS

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Another Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was arrested in Himachal Pradesh by the CBI on Thursday over the custodial death of an accused in the sensational gangrape-cum-murder of a school girl in Shimla district, an official said.

Superintendent of Police D.W. Negi is the ninth police personnel to be arrested in the case.

D.W. Negi was arrested for the custodial death of an accused, a Central Bureau of Investigation official told IANS. He was sent to police remand by a Shimla court till November 20.

His subordinate Bhajan Negi was also summoned for questioning, he said.

Both D.W. Negi, known for his proximity to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, and Additional Superintendent of Police Bhajan Negi were posted in Shimla when the crime occurred. Both were subsequently replaced.

Earlier, Inspector General Zahur H. Zaidi, who was heading the Special Investigation Team probing the crime, was arrested along with seven police personnel on charges of negligence of duty, which allegedly led to death of one of the accused in lock-up.

They were also arrested by the CBI, which took over the investigation on August 29. They are still in judicial custody.

Police said the 16-year-old girl victim was offered a lift in a vehicle by the accused on July 4 when she was returning home from her school in Kotkhai town, 56 km from the state capital.

On the way, they raped and murdered her in a nearby forest. Her naked body with injury marks was found two days later.

The arrested persons include prime accused Rajinder Singh, who offered her the lift, Ashish Chauhan, Subhash Bisht, Deepak Kumar, Suraj Singh and Lokjan. They are believed to have been drunk at the time of committing the crime. Currently all the rape accused are on bail.

Following the crime, people held massive protests in the state. The family of the victim alleged that the "real culprits" from high-profile families, had gotten away "scot free".

Later, on the plea of the state government, the state High Court recommended a CBI probe into the case.

--IANS

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Congress Gujarat unit President Bharatsinh Solanki on Thursday accused the BJP of planning to smuggle in liquor in large quantity into poll-bound Gujarat and urged the EC to appoint special observers in border areas of the dry state.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner A.K. Joti, Solanki called for sealing of border areas in Gujarat to prevent breach of the prohibition in place in the state, where polling will be held on December 9 and 14.

"... a very disturbing development has come to our notice from reliable sources, that the Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to get into Gujarat large quantity of liquor from neighbouring BJP-ruled states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh etc," Solanki said in the letter.

"This is a grievous crime, especially in the wake of impending elections and law and order situation it can entail, plus the obvious health hazards," he added.

Solanki said: "We understand that you are taking care of everything to ensure free and fair elections and thus we thought of bringing this to your notice."

"Please appoint special observers in all border areas with the neighbouring states, to seal them against any such breach of prohibition policy for undue favours. It will be a big support to the cause of democracy and the people of Gujarat," the Congress leader said.

The results of the elections for the 182-member Gujarat assembly and 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly -- for which polling was held on November 9 -- will be declared on December 18.

--IANS

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BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday said she is not averse to electoral tie-ups with like-minded parties to stop the juggernaut of the "BJP and other communal forces", but the BSP will do so only if it is given a "respectable share".

In Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, the Congress party, she claimed, was not even ready to part with some of the seats it has traditionally been losing. "Under this mindset, no forward movement can take place on alliance issues."

The Dalit leader informed that although her close aide Satish Chandra Mishra and political advisor to Congress President Ahmad Patel held meetings for seat sharing in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, nothing concrete emerged, forcing the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to abandon the efforts.

"Situation is such that now Mishra has even stopped mulling any such alliance efforts," she said, adding that while in Gujarat the Congress had offered to give 25 of its lost seats of the total 182, in Himachal Pradesh, 10 of the seats it lost of the total 68.

"Our experiences of alliances with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh in 1996 and with the Samajwadi party (SP) in 1993 were also not very good," she added, explaining her party's reluctance to engaging with opposition unity efforts.

She also accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using muscle and money power against its candidates in the forthcoming urban body polls.

At a meeting of BSP leaders to review the party's preparedness for the polls, Mayawati forewarned her party candidates to be wary of the "machinations of the BJP" and not to "fall prey to their tricks".

The BSP is contesting the urban body polls for the first time in the state on its own symbol. It had so far given support to independent contestants in the past.

Mayawati also alleged that of late, the BJP was trying to spread a rumour that she was trying to push her brother and nephew into and that the next generations were in the pipeline to take over the party leadership.

--IANS

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CANEUS International, a Canadian non-profit organisation, will establish a Centre of Excellence on Space Sciences and Technologies for Development at Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh.

A tripartite agreement for setting up the facility was signed on Thursday with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) and the Andhra Pradesh State Skills Development Corporation (APSSDC).

The MoU was signed by Milind Pimprikar, Chairman, CANEUS, and J. Krishna Kishore, CEO, APEDB, in the presence of Simonetta Di Pippo, Director, UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs), and senior officials of ISRO in Bengaluru.

CANEUS is a unique non-profit organization of professionals involving public-private partnership, serving the needs of aeronautics, space and defence communities by fostering the coordinated, international development of micro-nano technologies for aerospace and defence applications.

The CoE is expected to help in building capacities and capabilities in space science and research. Andhra Pradesh will partner, collaborate and assist the CoE and help align the state with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, said a statement by APEDB.

Coming up on 60 acres in Hindupur town of Anantapur district, the facilityAwill create opportunities for 500 highly skilled direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect jobs.

This CoE is likely to be completed by the end of next year and will potentially further highlight Anantapur as a premier destination for aerospace, defence and automobiles in India.

Already, Anantapur has seen Kia motors, BELA and other major investments in aerospace, defence, and automobiles in the recent past.

CANEUS International recently set up a facility for manufacturing small satellites in Nagpur.

UNOOSA is the United Nations office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

--IANS

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The CBI has taken over probe into the controversial 'sex CD' scandal allegedly involving Chhattisgarh Minister Rajesh Munat after issuance of a notification by the Union government on Thursday.

The move comes after the state government requested on October 28 for the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The state Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand has been intimated about the notification and the subsequent initiation of the CBI probe.

A CBI team will soon visit Raipur and take possession of all the relevant documents on the case from the state police.

A complaint in the case stands registered at the Pandri and Civil Lines police station.

Last month, Munat had claimed that the said CD was fake and urged Chief Minister Raman Singh for a high-level inquiry.

The case came to light after journalist Vinod Verma was arrested from his house in Indirapuram in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh for alleged blackmailing over the issue.

Verma claimed that the state's Bharatiya Janata Party government was framing him as he possessed the 'sex CD'.

--IANS

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India's ceramic industry, situated mostly in the Morbi region of Gujarat, holds the second spot globally. Film star Jackie Shroff on Thursday inaugurated the official mascot of the four-day Ceramic Expo here and said he was hopeful that with the industry's efforts, it will become the world leader.

Jackie said: "There is huge development in Gujarat and in the ceramics industries too. With my friends here who are working hard to bring changes in the industry, it will certainly take it to the top in the world, beating China."

Asked about the current controversy regarding the film "Padmavati", he refrained from making any statements. He said, "Live peacefully, love one another, respect one another, that is development."

The veteran actor also wished to work in Gujarati films. He said: "It is my wish to do a wonderful role in a Gujarati film, being a Gujarati. I am not the age to do a hero's role, but any good significant and interesting one can do. I am waiting for offers."

He also told the media about his upcoming film city in Gujarat and said that plans were afoot to expand that. "I hope that like in other industries, Gujarat will become number one in the film industry as well."

Around 400 ceramic brands from 65 countries are participating at the Vibrant Ceramics Expo. Around 100 cities of India are also participating.

--IANS

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Chef Vikas Khanna is not just the master of culinary excellence but also aware of his duties towards environment. And on Thursday, this Michelin-starred Chef turned into a responsible environmentalist by conducting a tree plantation drive in the city which saw participation of around 250 children.

Organsied by Tropicana, PepsiCo's flagship nutrition brand, along with NGO Smile Foundation, the "Gift A Tree" event also saw Chef Khanna unveiling his new book for children: "A Tree Named Ganga".

"We should religiously look at planting trees regularly and not just one day. This is extremely important and will help our next generation flourish. It is the biggest investment we can do. Ganga is the greatest symbol of life and so is a tree. Like the tree Ganga in my recently launched book, we need to plant more Gangas (trees) all over the country for a better tomorrow," Khanna told IANS.

During the event, Chef Khanna addressed an enthusiastic group of children from Smile Foundation; educated them about the importance of planting trees and being with nature.

Donning his role as an author, he engaged with the children as he spoke about the importance of trees in our lives. Drawing references from his newly launched book, he encouraged them to imbibe one of the most important virtues of trees -- the virtue of giving, and made them promise to become responsible young guardians of nature.

"Children are the future of our country. With their unprejudiced minds and unique way of seeing the world, they are a powerful resource to initiate social transformation. If we sensitize them about environmental issues from an early age, they develop positive habits that will make a lifelong difference to the environment. I am thankful to PepsiCo for this wonderful initiative and look forward to taking the message forward on a larger level," Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said.

--IANS

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Just a few years ago, India relied almost exclusively on coal to fuel its rapid development, opening new coal-burning power plants and increasing coal mining and imports. This year, however, in a remarkable turnaround, India cancelled plans for an additional 14 gigawatts of coal power and announced that it won't build any new coal plants for at least a decade -- thanks to a rapid rise in renewable energy.

As world leaders gather in Bonn for the follow-up to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, India is one of several standouts in the global emissions picture. This nation of 1.3 billion people, the third-largest emitter of climate pollution, is on track to meet and exceed its Paris commitments. But the challenges India faces as it seeks to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty while tackling climate change are immense. The world needs to be invested in India's climate progress.

The need to scale up climate solutions in India is clear. In New Delhi, citizens are suffering through a week-long toxic smog that has closed schools, cancelled trains and suspended flights. Air pollution, much of it from dirty energy used in vehicles and coal-fired power plants, was linked to the deaths of 1.6 million people last year. Heat waves in India are becoming more severe and deadly as global temperatures rise, killing thousands. And climate change is boosting the intensity of seasonal monsoon rains. Last year 1,200 people across South Asia died in massive flooding, including 500 in the Indian state of Bihar.

Clean energy holds tremendous promise to meet India's complex challenges, and solar development in particular is surging forward. In just a few years, India installed nearly as much solar capacity as the three top US states -- California, New Jersey and Massachusetts -- combined. India is now home to the world's largest solar park, with a bigger one in the works. In Paris, India committed to 40 percent non-fossil energy by 2030, and will likely hit this target by 2022 -- eight years ahead of schedule.

Even on a more individual scale, solar energy is making a huge difference in people's lives. I have seen how solar energy has empowered rural women in the salt flats of Gujarat. Through the partnership with NRDC (Natural Resources Defence Council), SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association) now has a loan programme that replaces fuel-hungry, inefficient diesel pumps with solar-powered water pumps to use in the salt flats.

Several women I met in this community say they can now save money to pay for their children's education instead of having to put their profits back into diesel fuel. For these families, solar energy is a ticket out of poverty.

In addition to developing a cleaner energy supply, India is working to reduce energy demand from appliances and buildings. The government just launched a new energy-efficient buildings programme that will support investment in about 10 million LED lights, 1.5 million energy-efficient ceiling fans, and 150,000 energy-efficient air conditioners. A new Energy Conservation Building Code, which NRDC is working to implement with partners, has been adopted by eight states, with 15 more to follow. This widespread adoption would make 90 percent of India's infrastructure development more energy efficient.

Financing for clean energy, however, remains a major challenge. Solar prices are dropping rapidly, but researchers estimate that India would need $834 billion in financing to achieve all its Paris targets -- a hefty sum for any nation, let alone a developing country that has not historically contributed to climate pollution.

Leveraging India's limited government funds to bring in more private and international investment will be the key and NRDC is working with experts in India to unlock more investment in clean energy. Green bonds dedicated to clean energy could be one way to attract private capital.

Greenko Energy Holdings, one of India's leading clean energy companies, successfully raised $1 billion with green bonds in July. At the same time, greater financing is needed to scale solutions that bring reliable electricity to underserved communities, such as rooftop solar, microgrids and mini-grids to provide more localised power.

India has made solid progress on its Paris climate commitments. But developing its economy while combating climate change, air pollution and extreme poverty is an enormous undertaking. No nation can make this uphill climb alone. In today's world, countries, cities, states and regions need to work together across borders to support climate solutions and protect people worldwide from the worst impacts of climate change.

Only by accelerating climate action worldwide will we close the emissions gap and achieve the promise of Paris -- a safer climate future for us all.

(Frances Beinecke served as NRDC's president from 2006 to 2015. He can be contacted at ajaiswal@nrdc.org)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As many as 1,000 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics will be set up and managed by the Delhi State Health Mission (DSHM), Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.

A decision in this regard was taken at a DSHM review meeting chaired by Kejriwal where Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Social Welfare Minister Rajendar Pal Gautam, Chief Secretary M.M. Kutty and other senior officials were present.

"In line with the objective of providing universal health coverage, the Chief Minister approved the proposal to entrust the mission with the responsibility of setting 1,000 Mohalla Clinics in Delhi and managing them," 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.)
With Delhi's air quality having improved to "very poor", a Supreme Court-appointed environment body on Thursday ordered lifting of a ban on entry of trucks and on construction activities in the city.

The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) also rolled back the four-time hike in parking fees.

EPCA member and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) researcher Usman Naseem told IANS while the restrictions imposed since last week have been lifted, the ban on diesel generator sets would continue.

On Wednesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital had improved to "very poor" from "beyond severe" category.

At 11 a.m. on Thursday, Delhi's AQI was 345, which falls under the "very poor" category.

Also, the average PM2.5, or particles with diameter less than 2.5mm, in Delhi was 345 units -- 14 times the safe limit, compared to 397 units on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, officials had said the EPCA might ask officials to revoke the restrictions imposed under the "severe-plus" or "emergency" category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and replace them with those under the "very poor" category.

The severe-plus GRAP was imposed on November 7, after a thick yellow blanket of smog covered Delhi due to the cumulative effect of stubble burning in neighbouring states and meteorological reasons.

Under the "severe-plus" category, according to rules, truck movement in Delhi is stopped, construction work is banned, odd-even scheme for vehicles is imposed and schools are shut.

However, since November 7 while all other restrictions were in place following the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) intervention, the odd-even scheme could not be implemented due to a difference in views of the green court and the Delhi government, which is the implementing agency for the vehicular restriction scheme.

The very-poor GRAP comes in force when PM2.5 levels are between 121-250 units or PM10 levels are between 351-430 units. Under very-poor, diesel generator sets are banned.

--IANS

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Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday asked the media not to publish fake news while also making a case for separating facts from opinion while writing news reports.

Speaking at a National Press Day event in the state capital, Parrikar also rued the fact that during elections, voters prefer corrupt candidates over arrogant ones.

The Goa Chief Minister said that India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru should be given the credit for several good deeds of that era.

"Print news that is true. Don't distort news. You have the right to criticise in an editorial. But when a journalist writes fake news despite knowing so, then I believe he is sacrificing his principles," Parrikar said.

"News should be news and news should not have views. If you want to give views, you can present it as an analysis. But if something has not happened and someone prints it as if it has happened, I think that is the biggest disservice."

Parrikar said that he had a track record of never having harassed journalists.

"I differ with you, but I will fight to the last for your right to differ with me. This sentence is inscribed deep in my heart. Harassing a journalist from a newspaper just because he is upset with me, if someone is harassing him and he wants justice, he will always get it from me," he added.

Commenting about the accountability of politicians, Parrikar said that leaders are accountable every five years, when they go to polls, but added that a disturbing electoral trend was that people preferred corrupt politicians to arrogant ones.

"I am sorry to say, people accept corruption not arrogancy. I have experienced this on many, many occasions. Those people who have shown the trend of arrogancy, they have been sent back by the people."

Parrikar also said that there was an extreme sense of negativity in the media, which he said surfaced on Children's Day (November 14) when he was asked whether Children's Day can be de-linked from Nehru.

"Why it was required? why negativity? Why should there be negativity in everything? Bring positivity about. Nehru did several good things for children. So, let it be in the name of the person. He may be Congress that time... I am not going into that," he added.

--IANS

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A Doha-bound IndiGo flight suffered a bird hit on Thursday morning just after take-off and had to return to Chennai airport, officials said. All 134 passengers onboard were unhurt.

The flight landed back within 30 minutes after taking off from Anna International Airport in Chennai at 1.47 a.m. The plane returned at 2.20 a.m.

"IndiGo Flight 6E-1707 from Chennai to Doha had a bird hit (on November 16), as the aircraft was climbing after take-off," the airline said in a statement.

"Due to precautionary reasons, the pilot decided to return to Chennai for aircraft inspection," it said.

The airline also said the action was in line with the "recommended procedure by the manufacturer".

"During the process, crew informed all passengers and IndiGo arranged for an alternate aircraft to avoid inconvenience to passengers. At no point, safety of the passengers was compromised," it added.

--IANS

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said the government is following up on the killing of an Indian student in the US, in which a person of Indian origin has been arrested.

Sushma Swaraj tweeted that she had received a detailed report on the "unfortunate death" of student Dharampreet Singh Jassar in California.

"It was a case of armed robbery at a gas station in which robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there. The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin," she said.

"We are following up further police investigation and will extend all help to his family."

On Monday night, Jassar, 20, was on duty at the Tackle Box store next to a gas station in Madera city when the robbers barged in to loot the store. One of them fired several shots at Jassar, who tried to hide behind the cash counter, The Fresno Bee reported.

The culprits later fled with cash and a few big boxes of cigarettes, the police said. The incident was reported to the police by a customer who found Jasser's body on the floor on Tuesday, the report said.

Jassar hailed from Punjab and was a student of accounting. He had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

Police arrested 21-year-old Armitraj Singh Athwal, believed to be one of the two robbers who fired multiple shots at Jasser.

During a search of Athwal's vehicle, the police allegedly found an unregistered .38-calibre revolver, a reported stolen .22-calibre assault pistol, drugs, and a blue bandana caught on surveillance footage of the robbery.

Athwal's vehicle was also registered in another name.

"Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed," Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said.

Athwal faces robbery and murder charges. He does not appear to have a lengthy criminal history, Varney said. His bail is set at $1 million.

--IANS

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrives here on Friday on a two-day visit to prepare for the visit of President Emmanuel Macron in early December.

Both Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are to formalise the launching of the International Solar Alliance, in early 2018.

On the first day of his trip on Friday, Minister Le Drian will meet Prime Minister Modi, as well as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh. He will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The meetings are part of efforts to strengthen various aspects of France's bilateral cooperation with India, its foremost Asian strategic partner: security, economy, sustainable urban development and renewable energy, education and research, people-to-people ties and cultural affairs, a statement from the French Embassy said.

He will also meet prominent members of the Indian and French business communities.

On the second day, on the occasion of the official launch of the third edition of the Indo-French platform "Bonjour India", Le Drian will unveil "The Experience": an immersive and interactive multimedia journey to the heart of the Indo-French relationship.

The Grand Opening of Bonjour India will take place at Amber Fort, Jaipur, on Saturday evening. Minister Le Drian, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will grace the event, which will feature a monumental video creation by French artist Xavier de Richemont, entitled "Barghal". This will be followed by a reception offering a vegetarian menu with ingredients sourced locally from Tijara, specially conceived for the occasion by celebrated Michelin-star chef Alain Passard in collaboration with Indian chefs at Hotel Fairmont.

This three-month Indo-French collaborative platform focused on innovation, creativity, and partnership, will present more than 300 events in 33 cities across India.

--IANS

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India has agreed to enter into an agreement with Poland for co-operation in the field of civil aviation.

The decision was taken on Thursday by the Union Cabinet which approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Poland for the "promotion of civil aviation co-operation".

"The MoU will be signed on behalf of the two countries after its approval by the two governments. The MoU would be for a term of five years," an official statement said.

"The objective of the MoU is to recognise the mutual benefit of co-operation in the field of civil aviation having particular significance in establishing and improving regional air connectivity in India."

According to the statement, amongst the main focus area of MoU is to support the civil aviation market by reviewing "any legal and procedural issues which may adversely affect co-operation between India and Poland".

"Exchange of information and expertise between the ministries and respective civil aviation authorities related to aviation regulations, regional air operations, airworthiness requirements and safety standards to enhance safety and security of air transport," the statement listed as other areas of co-operation.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indian student was shot dead allegedly by two armed robbers, including one of Indian-origin, at a grocery store in the US state of California, after which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said the government is following up on the incident.

The incident happened on Monday night when Dharampreet Singh Jassar, 20, was on duty at the Tackle Box store next to a gas station in Madera city. The suspects barged into the store to loot and one of them fired several shots at Jassar, who reportedly tried to hide behind the cash counter, The Fresno Bee reported.

They later fled the scene with cash and a few big boxes of cigarettes, the police said. The incident was reported to the police by a customer who found Jasser's body on the floor on Tuesday, the report said.

Jassar hailed from Punjab and was a student of accounting. He had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

Police arrested 21-year-old Armitraj Singh Athwal, an Indian-origin man, believed to be one of the two robbers who fired multiple shots at Jassar.

Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Thursday evening that she had received a detailed report on the "unfortunate death" of Jassar.

"It was a case of armed robbery at a gas station in which robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there. The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin," she said.

"We are following up further police investigation and will extend all help to his family."

US authorities said a Fresno County Sheriff's deputy saw media coverage of the incident on Tuesday and recognised similarities between the suspects from the incident and Athwal.

Madera Sheriff's detectives were contacted and determined that Athwal is the likely suspect in the shooting.

During a search of Athwal's vehicle, the police discovered an unregistered 0.38-caliber revolver and a 0.22-caliber assault pistol that had been reported stolen, drugs and a blue bandana noticeable in the surveillance footage of the robbery at the store.

Athwal's vehicle was also registered in another name.

"Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery," Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said.

Athwal faces robbery and murder charges. He does not appear to have a lengthy criminal history, Varney said. His bail is set at $1 million.

--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) delegation to the UN in Geneva has said it is intensifying its efforts on all fronts to "better manage migration together".

In a statement released in Geneva on Wednesday, the EU said it has spent two years dedicated to tackling, humanely and effectively, migration in Europe which it described as one of the "most challenging phenomena" of current times, Xinhua reported.

"With the total number of irregular crossings along the main migratory routes having decreased by 63 per cent in 2017," the EU said collective efforts to protect the EU's external borders are showing "concrete results".

The statement came the day after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement that the EU's policy of assisting the Libyan Coast Guard to intercept and return migrants in the Mediterranean Sea was inhuman.

The EU said its efforts entail cooperating with partner countries to tackle "the root causes of irregular migration, improve the protection of migrants and win the fight against smugglers are showing concrete results".

The EU is calling for further concerted action by its 28-member States and partner countries to advance in parallel and to maintain the intensity of its efforts.

The statement cited EU First Vice-President Frans Timmermans saying, "Since 2015, we have made real progress through our joint work to manage migration better in a comprehensive way.

"However, we are not there yet, and this issue will stay with us for some time."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 18 people were killed and several others wounded when a suicide bomb ripped through a banquet hall in a northern neighbourhood of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul on Thursday, police and witnesses said.

"A terrorist wearing an explosives-packed jacket tried to enter Qasr-e-Naween Hall at midday in Khair Khana Mina locality shortly before a political gathering ended," Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid told Xinhua.

The Islamic State's Khorasan faction claimed responsibility of the bombing.

He said the police intercepted the attacker after identifying him but the assailant detonated his explosive, causing casualties.

"The bomber struck at the front gate of the building. The victims included eight police officers and 10 civilians in addition to the bomber. Among the injured people were seven policemen and two civilians," he said.

The meeting was held by supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, Governor of northern Balkh province, and a senior member of Jamiat-e-Islami of Afghanistan, a major political party, witness Ahmad Farshad said.

Several high-ranking officials, senior members of Jamiat and members of country's parliament were among the attendees of the meeting to honour Noor, he said.

The Taliban has rejected any involvement in the suicide attack. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, in a statement, said "the group has no links with the explosion which took place in Khair Khana area of the city".

Late last month, 30 people, including Fazil Ahmad, a member of Jamiat, were killed and 22 civilians wounded in a suicide bomb attack in western Ghor province.

--IANS

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The Kerala unit of the two Communist parties - CPI-M and CPI - the number one and two parties in the ruling Left Democratic Front on Thursday openly came out against each other.

The immediate provocation for this was the manner in which four CPI state Ministers boycotted Wednesday's weekly cabinet meeting in protest against the presence of tainted State Transport Minister Thomas Chandy, who is facing allegations of land grab.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the move by the CPI Ministers was unprecedented and should not have happened.

State CPI Secretary Kanam Rajendran, in a hard hitting article in the party organ and also on his Facebook page, on Thursday said the boycott was unprecedented as unprecedented things have happened in the manner the resignation of Chandy was handled.

"It's really strange when a state Minister approached the court questioning the acts of the state government, and we, the CPI felt it was a wrong move. Even the court came down heavily and the CPI felt that it was not fair to be part of the cabinet meeting in which Chandy was there. It was this unprecedented act that made us take an unprecedented decision of keeping away from the cabinet," said Rajendran.

The CPI move was taken note of by the CPI-M national leadership in Delhi when Vijayan took part in the politburo meeting on Thursday morning. The party directed State CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to hold a press meeting in the state capital.

Addressing the media here, Balakrishnan said it was not befitting of a coalition partner to stay away from the cabinet meeting.

"There will be differences of opinion between parties, and an open discussion should have been held. When a government functions bouquets and brickbats do come, but when the bouquets come, there should not be a feeling that it's because of them (CPI), and similarly when brickbats come they should not absolve themselves of responsibility. What happened yesterday should never have happened and no one should give any opportunity to other political parties to laugh on our acts," said Balakrishnan.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told the media in Thrissur that it's time the Left Democratic Front is disbanded as never ever has one seen a political party in governance boycotting a cabinet meeting.

In the past too the two parties had sparred in the open, but the boycott of the cabinet meeting appears to have created a dent in the relation between them.

--IANS

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The Madras High Court on Thursday heard a petition seeking an FIR against actor Kamal Haasan for his "Hindu terrorism" comments.

Justice M.S. Ramesh directed the public prosecutor to get information from Tamil Nadu Police in connection with the actor's statement and posted the matter to next week for further hearing.

In his plea, advocate clerk G. Devarajan alleged that Kamal Haasan, through his comments published in a local vernacular magazine, was trying to brand "Hindus as terrorists".

Accusing the actor of attempting to divide the Tamil community on the basis of religion, the petitioner said no religion advocates terrorism.

Devarajan also mentioned that no action was taken in the matter despite lodging a complaint with the police.

He also called for action against the editor of the magazine where Kamal's article was published.

--IANS

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Standing firmly with Bollywood, the Maharashtra government on Thursday assured security to theatres which screen "Padmavati", the upcoming epic period drama by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali that has come under attack from critics.

Minister of State for Home (Urban) Ranjit Patil said that in view of the volatile situation, security would be provided to all theatres screening the film which has raked up controversy days before its release.

"All measures will be taken. We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis to ensure that no untoward incident happens," Patil told the media.

Besides, he said some groups opposing the film had met government representatives to explain their stand and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was seized of the matter.

The development came a couple of days after Fadnavis provided a precautionery security cover to Bhansali, who is facing death threats from various quarters.

The state government's stand is in contrast to the stand taken by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Mumbai Ram Kadam, also President of the Film Studios Setting and Allied Mazdoor Sangh.

Kadam said that in view of the public sentiments, they had decided to oppose the film "tooth and nail" and threatened that his union would never work with Bhansali in future.

Besides Bhansali, even the lead heroine of the film, Deepika Padukone, has been threatened by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, which has called for a nationwide shutdown on December 1 to oppose the film release.

However, the Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Sena has said it would take a stand on the film only after watching it and if anything was found objectionable it would discuss the issue with Bhansali.

"We have decided not to oppose it without watching it. We are aware that some groups and individuals are against it, but we shall watch the film first before taking any stand," MNCS President Amey Khopkar said in a statement.

--IANS

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Showcasing the state's industrial landscape among Scottish businessmen, West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday charted out potential areas of collaboration ranging from engineering, services to IT and ITes, between Bengal and Scottish industries.

Banerjee was present in a business meet here organised by Scottish Development International with the support of Asia Scotland Institute and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

"Top business houses of Scotland were present and we had a fine round of interaction with business leaders from Bengal on prospects of investment and doing business in the state.

"I think there are potential areas where you can invest. Potential areas of collaboration included engineering, services, healthcare, education, tourism and hospitality, power and energy, life sciences and research, food processing, IT and ITeS," she said.

She invited Scottish business heads to the Bengal Global Business Summit in January, 2018 to have a feel of the possibilities in Bengal.

Describing Bengal as the gateway of north-eastern states and South East Asia, Banerjee said Scottish investors would get an opportunity to expand their businesses in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand.

Ahead of Bengal Business summit scheduled to be held in January, a state delegation led by Banerjee has been highlighting the UK investors to explore opportunities in the state's industrial landscape.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man was arrested on Thursday for molesting two women, including a journalist of an English daily, at a Metro station here, police said.

Police formed five teams to trace the molester and interrogated 5,000 suspects over two days before they nailed the culprit.

The incident took place on Monday evening when the accused, identified as Akhilesh Kumar, was under the influence of alcohol. He molested the women and passed lewd remarks at them in the ITO Metro Station premises in central Delhi.

"By the time the victims informed the police, Akhilesh Kumar had fled. During investigation, five teams of police interrogated over 5,000 persons on Tuesday and Wednesday and finally traced Kumar," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Singh.

"Akhilesh Kumar, who works as a help at a tea stall and lives in a slum area near ITO, was arrested from his residence on a tip-off after police teams conducted a raid," Singh said.

--IANS

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The ministers in the Narendra Modi government are not elitist and remain in touch with common people on the ground, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday.

He was responding to a media query as to why the entire Modi cabinet is busy in door-to-door election campaign in Gujarat while there is no news of Parliament's Winter Session as yet.

"Only because ministers of this government remain in touch with common people, what is the problem? We don't have any problem in meeting the people and going door-to-door. The ministers of Modi government are not elitist. They don't only tweet but they are on ground too," Prasad said responding to a poser if the parliamentary democracy has taken a back seat in the heat of the election campaign.

"As far as Parliament session is concerned, I understand the Parliamentary Affairs Committee will take a call. (Parliamentary Affairs Minister) Ananth Kumar is in touch with them."

The two-phased polls in Gujarat are scheduled to be held on December 9 and 14. Since Gujarat is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, the saffron party is leaving no stone unturned in reaching out to the voters.

The Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding the convening of the Winter Session of Parliament at the earliest.

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the Modi government is deliberately avoiding facing Parliament.

"Parliament is the mirror of accountability. Parliament is the only platform to discuss several policies of the government. It is the most important constitutional base to expose the discrepancies of the government," said party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Usually, Parliament's Winter Session commences from mid-November and goes on till December-end. However, this time around there has been no news of Winter Session and speculations are rife that the session would be very short.

Informed sources said on Thursday that the dates for the session were likely to be decided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs to be chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday.

--IANS

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said that it has arrested four people from Kolkata and recovered Rs 9.1 lakh fake currency.

The agency arrested all four from the vicinity of Howrah Railway Station in Kolkata on Tuesday night, the NIA said in a statement.

The counter-terror probe agency said that it had received information on Tuesday regarding certain individuals in possession of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) with the intention of handing them over to certain persons for pushing into monetary system as genuine Indian currency.

"A team of NIA officers was immediately tasked to carry out this operation. Late into the night, the team seized FICN having face value of Rs 9.1 lakh in the denomination of Rs 2,000," the agency said.

The arrested have been identified as Barkat Ansari, Utpal Chowdhury, Fijul Mia and Rabjul Mia, all residents of West Bengal's Malda district.

A case was registered against them under various sections of criminal conspiracy for using forged or counterfeit currency notes or bank notes as genuine and possession of forged or counterfeit currency notes.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched a portal named "GO SWIFT" to help investors get single-window investor facilitation and tracking mechanism online.

He also announced to organise "Make in Odisha Conclave 2018" between November 11 and 15 next year.

More than 35 approvals will be provided online to companies investing in Odisha through the newly-developed Government of Odisha Single Window for Investor Facilitation and Tracking (GO SWIFT) portal to the investor community.

The portal will further ensure that all necessary approvals are granted within a period of 15 to 30 days.

"All the support required by an industrial unit during the investment life cycle of the project, including 32 approvals and clearances from 15 departments, will be provided online. All these approvals and clearances required by the industry will be delivered as per the timeline laid down. Departments should ensure optimum utilisation of this portal," said the Chief Minister.

He also participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for 15 industrial projects worth Rs 11,690 crore through video-conferencing here.

The projects involving cement, fertilisers, marine products, food processing, renewable energy and solar power are likely to create over 8,800 employment opportunities in the state.

"As I dedicate 15 industrial projects to our people today (Thursday), I would like to reiterate my government's commitment towards industrial development in the state.

"To achieve the Vision 2025 of attracting 2.5 lakh crore rupees of new investments and generating 30 lakh jobs for our citizens in the focus sectors of the state government, all the departments will have to work together towards timely grounding of the projects," said Patnaik.

Speaking at the 75th State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting here, he said this has been a landmark initiative of the state government and had borne commendable results in attracting industrial investments.

It is due to such collaborative efforts of all departments of the state government that the state was consistently being ranked amongst the top three states in terms of investments in India, he added.

He said the Make in Odisha Conclave 2016 was an overwhelming success, with participation of over 100 companies and announcement of investment intents of more than Rs 2 lakh crore.

"I am happy to note that all departments have been diligently working towards converting the intents into investments. I am happy to announce that the Make in Odisha Conclave 2018 shall be organised between November 11 to November 15, 2018 at Bhubaneswar," said the Chief Minister.

--IANS

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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, and requested him to initiate health awareness programmes in India and suggested that his foundation should also concentrate on developing model villages.

Welcoming Gates, Singh also appreciated the various welfare works being undertaken by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in India, said a Ministry of Home Affairs statement.

Accoring to the statement, Singh requested Gates to initiate health awareness programmes in India and suggested that his foundation should concentrate on developing villages and make them "Model Villages" so that the local people get inspired.

Gates also explained about the various technologies being adopted by them in the field of agriculture and sanitation. He assured the Minister that the Foundation will offer constructive support to India.

--IANS

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Four suicide bombers have killed at least 10 people and wounded many others in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri.

The attackers, who included women, detonated their explosives in the Muna district, BBC reported on Wednesday citing the police.

No group has said it was behind the attack. However, the Islamist militant group Boko Haram has carried out many attacks in Maiduguri, in Borno state.

It frequently uses female suicide bombers to launch attacks.

The first blast happened close to a group of people conducting evening prayer, killing seven, state official Bello Dambatta said.

Another attacker detonated explosives inside a house and the other two blew themselves up before reaching their targets, he added.

Boko Haram has been fighting to set up an Islamic state since 2009.

Thousands of people have been killed and millions forced to leave their homes by Boko Haram violence in recent years.

--IANS

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BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday asked Hindus to "wake up" since Muslim leaders were "refusing to give up" on the mosque in the Ayodhya dispute.

"Hindus wake up! Muslims leaders are refusing to give up on a masjid, that is shiftable, to restore the holiest temple on the birthplace of Ram," Swamy said on Twitter.

Swamy's tweet came amid efforts by Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to try to thrash out a mutually acceptable formula to the long-simmering Ayodha dispute.

Ravi Shankar on Wednesday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here and discussed the Ayodhya dispute.

He briefed the Chief Minister about his initiative to try and work out a mutually acceptable formula.

Last month, Ravi Shankar had expressed his willingness to mediate in the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir dispute.

--IANS

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Telangana has bagged the best performing large state award in economy category as well as the cleanliness and environment category at the annual 'India Today' State of the States rankings this year.

The awards were received on behalf of the state by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T.Rama Rao and Backwrd Classes Welfare Minister Jogu Ramanna from the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in Delhi on Thursday, said an official release here.

The 'India Today' study tracks each state's performance over time and, in particular, records the changes over the last five years. It takes into account both the business environment and the quality of life.

The parameters on which the states are judged include economy, agriculture, education, health care, infrastructure, inclusive development, law and order, governance, entrepreneurship and environment and cleanliness.

--IANS

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Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday said they arrested three militants during a gunfight in Kulgam district which left a soldier dead.

Addressing a joint press conference along with officers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan said: "In the ongoing operation against militants in Kund area, we have arrested three local militants."

He said one of them, Atta Muhammad Malik, was caught in an injured condition. "He would have died if we hadn't shifted him to a hospital where he is now said to be out of danger."

Khan said the security forces had launched the joint operation in Kund on Tuesday after intelligence inputs about the presence of a big group of militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen there.

"A militant, Muzamil, and a soldier were killed on the first day of the encounter," Khan said.

"Even if a local militant raises his hands during an encounter, we will help him to return to his home and lead a normal life," he said.

--IANS

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A district-level Trinamool Congress leader and the BJP's West Bengal unit president have been caught on camera threatening to set houses on fire and break limbs of opposition leaders as also beat up the police.

Addressing a public meeting in Malda district on Thursday, state Bharatiya Janata party chief Dilip Ghosh warned that BJP workers would beat up Trinamool Congress workers and police if they came under attack and were not allowed to participate in political programmes.

"They are trying to stop us, they are beating us up, we are not being allowed to participate in political programmes.

"In the areas where they have muscle power, they (Trinamool) are using miscreants and cadres to stop us. In areas where they lack strength, and may get beaten up by us, they are deploying the police," said Ghosh.

"If need be, we will thrash Didi's (elder sister - as Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee is called) brothers, and also her police. If you mess with us, you will face the music."

"The only job of the police in the state is to photograph us, and extort money from the vehicles. They then deposit the money in Trinamool coffers.

"They (the police) have been given batons and camouflage dresses. As if by wearing the dress they will become commandos. The day they get beaten up, not a blow will be wasted," he added.

A day back, Birbhum district Trinamool chief Anubrata Mondal went ballistic after some villagers, protesting against a proposed government project near Shantiniketan in Bolpur, razed down a wall and beat up construction workers. They also clashed with some Trinamool Congress workers.

As Congress heavyweight and leader of the opposition in state assembly, Abdul Mannan, and CPI-M leader Bikash Bhattacharya went to meet the affected villagers, the Trinamool workers vandalised the stage and tore up the posters.

Despite that, the two leaders tried to go ahead with their programme, but were stopped by the police, who claimed their presence could trigger a law and order problem. The two argued and jostled with the police for over an hour, but finally returned to Kolkata.

Minutes after they left, Mondal arrived at the spot and, standing beside senior district police officers, threatened to break the limbs of the two opposition leaders if they dared to come back to the area. The incident was caught on camera.

He also gave the police a few hours to arrest the villagers and put them behind bars.

"Now it is 4.15 p.m. By 7 p.m. all of them should be arrested, and put behind bars by 9 p.m. Otherwise we will bulldoze in. Not even one house will stand intact. We will destroy everything.

"I won't hear your stories. After 9 p.m. I won't leave these houses intact, and set fire to them. Development work has been taken up here. Many people will get jobs and if they create trouble I don't care whether it is Abdul Mannan or Bikash Bhattacharya. I will thrash them and break their limbs."

Meanwhile, the Trinamool leadership dissociated itself from Mondal's remarks, but said it has to be seen in what context he uttered these words.

"We have to see the backdrop. We only see what Anubrata is saying. We don't see why he is saying this. But whatever he has said is not acceptable. We won't support such comments. I will talk to Anubrata," said Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee.

--IANS

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One of US President Donald Trump's judicial nominees is a ghost hunter who has written several novellas about paranormal activities.

The appointment of Brett Talley, 36, for a lifetime post as an Alabama federal judge is raising eyebrows because he has never tried a case, BBC reported on Wednesday.

It also emerged he failed to disclose on a conflict-of-interest questionnaire that his wife is a White House lawyer.

But he did divulge his Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group membership.

Talley was approved last week by the Senate committee on a party-line vote, and he is likely to be confirmed by the full chamber soon.

His nomination is part of President Trump's efforts to expand the presence of conservative jurists in American courtrooms, say analysts.

The Harvard-educated lawyer was unanimously deemed "not qualified" by the American Bar Association to serve an appointment on the US District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.

Talley, who has practised law for three years, has written right-wing blog posts critical of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, whom he labelled "Rotten", according to US media.

He also maintains a horror blog online, when not searching for ghosts.

In a questionnaire form submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Talley revealed his 2009-10 affiliation with the phantom chasers.

The Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group searches for the truth "of the paranormal existence" in addition to helping "those who may be living with paranormal activity that can be disruptive and/or traumatic", according to their website.

The group promises a "strictly scientific approach to determine the extent of the Paranormal Activity", and offers its services for free.

David Higdon, the group's founder and later co-author of Haunted Tuscaloosa with Talley, told the Daily Beast he could not recall any specific cases that they may have worked on together.

"Mainly we may go into a house between maybe seven at night and six in the morning and stay up all night long and see if we can see what's going on," he explained.

"If we go into a private house, we mainly try and debunk what's going on."

The nominee is also an accomplished horror writer, with his first book, That Which Should Not Be (2011), being nominated for the Bram Stoker award.

A former speechwriter for Republican Ohio Senator Rob Portman, he told the Washington Post he used Portman's then-communications manager as inspiration for his version of the antichrist in his 2014 book titled Reborn.

"I wanted her to be important. I wanted her to be a major character," Talley said of his decision to depict his co-worker as the antichrist.

"I consider it a gift. In horror novels being the antichrist is, like, the highest honour possible."

--IANS

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Ashgabat, Nov 16 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is committed to the security and stability of Afghanistan and stands with the people of the South and Central Asian country, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash has said at a conference here.

Gargash's comments came on Wednesday at the 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII) in the Turkmenistan capital. Several political, business leaders and representatives of 34 countries and 28 regional and international organisations attended the conference.

"The UAE has extended assistance worth $1.67 billion to help Afghanistan recover from long years of disasters and catastrophes. The assistance covered 16 humanitarian developmental sectors including infrastructure, reconstruction and economic recovery," Gargash said.

UAE is one of the largest development donors for Afghanistan. Gargash said that security and stability are vital for development in Afghanistan, lauding the Afghan government's reforms in law enforcement and political and economic fields.

"The UAE is looking forward to see a new era in Afghanistan that contributes to realisation of security and prosperity for its people and stability to the region," he said.

The UAE minister met Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov on the sidelines of the conference and discussed bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on a variety of regional and global developments of mutual concern.

--IANS/WAM

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The United States Consulate General, Kolkata, in collaboration with the social enterprise Contact Base, on Thursday launched a youth entrepreneurship initiative in four cities of east India -- Guwahati, Patna, Ranchi and Kolkata.

The programme, Y4BIZ (Youth for Business), in Patna is being held in association with a local organisation, Bihar Vidyapeeth Centre for Incubation and Entrepreneurship.

The Y4BIZ programme aims to support a promising group of 50 young entrepreneurs and transform their business ideas from the initial stage to a sustainable business model, said a press release.

The 50 entrepreneurs will be selected through a rigorous screening process after the launch events in all the four cities.

This will be followed by an online capacity building and mentoring programme run by the IC2 Institute, University of Texas, Austin.

A group of ten mentors will also be selected to be trained at the Nexus Incubator Hub, which is housed in the American Center in New Delhi.

Finally, the top 10 business ideas will be showcased before industry leaders, investors and policy makers, to celebrate entrepreneurship and recognise the youth leaders in 2018, according to the release.

Director of the American Center and Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata Jamie Dragon said while launching the event in Guwahati: "The youth entrepreneurship development is a proven strategy that positively impacts the lives of young people. This project seeks to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in eastern India and to strengthen linkages between American and Indian youth leaders."

The scheme is part of a series of activities in the run-up to the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which is scheduled for November 28-30 in Hyderabad.

Organised annually since 2010, GES is a pre-eminent annual entrepreneurship gathering that convenes over a thousand emerging entrepreneurs, investors and supporters from around the world.

This year's summit, being hosted jointly by the United States and India, will be held for the first time in South Asia. The theme for GES is "Women First, Prosperity for all," and will focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth globally.

Ivanka Trump, Senior Advisor to the President, will head the United States' delegation to the summit.

Suman Mukhopadhyay, Director & Vice President (Finance & Strategy), Contact Base said: "An entrepreneurs' journey is a journey of loneliness. For first generation early stage entrepreneurs, this can be a daunting challenge to surmount. If one is attempting to start an enterprise in the eastern region of India, odds are stacked too unfavorably.

"An initiative like Y4BIZ, which intends to create a network of mentors, entrepreneurs, incubators and policy makers, will work closely with the stakeholders towards evolving favourable environments for startups. This can help transform the landscape of entrepreneurship in this region."

--IANS

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Tim Walker has re-imagined the world of "Alice in Wonderland" with stars like Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Campbell and Whoopi Goldberg for a calendar. And the British fashion photographer says culturally people have "sugar-coated fairy tales in the last 50 years".

"I think culturally we've sugar-coated fairy tales in the last 50 years. Children can really see and feel the darkness in things just as much as the lightness. And that's something that Lewis Carroll completely got, and maybe that's why it resonates so much," Walker said in a statement.

Walker has shot The Pirelli 2018 Calendar, which was presented at the Manhattan Center in New York. The calendar has 28 shots consisting of 20 different and extraordinary sets for a new unique Wonderland.

Talking about it, Walker said: "I always wanted to do it, obviously. I mean it's an interesting thing that you look at a picture from a Pirelli Calendar and you know when it was taken; it's very much of the time. And I always like the way you'd look at it and you could see that the photographers were given a freedom to voice their visual imagination."

Walker feels there is beauty in many different things.

"Something dying and decomposing is sometimes just as beautiful as something that's just been born. I think there's a misconception to only focus on the lighter side," he added.

This year's calendar features a list of black models and celebrities, including Adut Akech, Adwoa Aboah, Alpha Dia, Djimon Hounsou, Duckie Thot, King Owusu, Lil Yachty, RuPaul, Sasha Lane, Sean "Puff Daddy'" Combs, Slick Woods, Thando Hopa, Wilson Oryema, and Zoe Bedeaux.

--IANS

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The conclusion of the Gujarat Assembly polls is set to give Prime Minister (pictured) ample time to focus on his international engagements. The polls scheduled in the first three months of 2018 are to the Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya Assemblies.
Indian politicians are fond of expressing their pride in the countrys status as the worlds largest democracy. Few of them, however, appear willing to accept the basic values that go into sustaining a democratic culture. Freedom of the press is at the forefront of them and it is with good reason that it was backed by well-established constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech. In an evolving and complex polity like India, the ability to speak truth to power should be nurtured as a valued privilege. Last weeks arrest of G Bala, a cartoonist, in Tamil Nadu showed, however, that for a steadily growing number of politicians the belief in democracy does not extend beyond the ballot box.
At the recent annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, I was struck by the fact that every time a development-related issue was discussed  infrastructure, rehabilitation, resilient housing for disaster mitigation and others  the biggest challenge seemed to be . Particularly for countries in South Asia and East Africa, this is a major concern. In Africa, the land is typically owned by the tribe but in India individually-owned private plots of land in rural and urban areas are coming in the way of development projects. They need to be acquired by the government. Public land already owned by the government is not enough, or it is interspersed with private ones, while modern infrastructure needs continuous stretches. Acquisition means something to be possessed or owned. Acquisition of land implies that private owners sell the land to the government at a price mutually agreed on and then the ownership of that piece is transferred and this transaction is complete, with no dispute later. The need to transfer ownership is felt because the asset created because of the project has a long lifespan. Essentially, the issue is viewed through a conventional economic lens  fair price based on current value of an infinitely lived assets and so on.
Just 10 days ago, IndiGo was on top of the world when it announced that it would achieve the 1,000- flights-per-day mark in December. The celebratory mood was evident from the airlines statement that each of its flight represents an opportunity for millions to chase their dreams.
Congress Vice-President met a group of foreign institutional investors (FII) from different countries on Wednesday and his office tweeted a photo that showed Gandhi along with them. Met with a group of FIIs from different countries.
Congress Vice President on Thursday asked the media why it didn't pose questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for renegotiating an arms deal to benefit the defence arm of the Anil Ambani group, or to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief, Amit Shah, about his son's company that had recorded a huge jump in its turnover since the Modi government came to power in May 2014.
Mizoram identified 14,632 HIV positives between October 1990 and March 2017, state health minister Lal Thanzara informed the state legislature today.

Among the states, Mizoram has the second highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. The state has a population of over 10 lakh.

In a written reply to queries from Dr K Beichhua and Lalruatkima of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), Lal Thanzara said 3,24,542 blood tests were conducted during the period.

He said the most number of HIV infections were through sex, followed by sharing of syringe and needle by intravenous drug users.

Most of the HIV positives were between 25 and 34 years of age, he added.

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Police in Egypt today killed at least 15 terrorists during a raid in the country's restive Al-Wahat desert where 16 policemen were ambushed by the militants last month, officials said.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered during the raid at the militants' den, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

The terrorists had killed 16 policemen and injured 13 others in an attack carried out on October 20 in the same area, it said, adding that one foreign terrorist was also arrested by the police.

The group of terrorists was established in the Libyan city of Derna by an Egyptian terrorist who was killed in previous airstrikes. They had received training in handling heavy weapons and making explosives.

They had sneaked into Egypt to establish a training camp in the desert area of Al-Wahat as they planned to launch attacks against Christian worship places as well as vital areas in Egypt.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian army said it has killed three terrorists and arrested 74 suspects in the past few days in the country's restive North Sinai governorate.

Terror attacks, mainly targeting police and military personnel, increased after the ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule.

Hundreds of police and army personnel have been killed since then.

The military has launched security operations in North Sinai, arresting suspects and demolishing houses that belonged to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.

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Over 30 million tuberculosis patients residing in remote areas have been screened as part of special campaigns, Union minister J P Nadda said today as he underlined India's commitment to eliminate the disease by 2025.

The health minister said the country has already eradicated polio, and will use similar intensified efforts to end tuberculosis (TB).

India is a major manufacturer of anti-TB drugs for the world, having almost an 80 per cent global market share, he said.

The government will now be mounting interventions for tuberculosis in urban slum areas through the 'urban health mission', Nadda said during the first 'WHO Global Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in Sustainable Development Era' at Moscow.

The minister pointed out that in order to provide access to patients in difficult to reach areas, both socially and geographically, the government has started active TB case finding campaigns in selected areas.

"We have already completed two such campaigns covering 257 districts and screened over 30 million vulnerable persons and detected over 15,000 additional TB cases.

"We are planning the next campaign in December. We will now be mounting interventions for TB in urban slum areas through the urban health mission," he said.

Nadda said the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB elimination in India has essentially four pillars to address the major challenges for TB control, namely- Detect, Treat, Build and Prevent.

"This plan requires a significant increase in the budget compared to previous NSP and I am happy to share with you that this plan is fully funded and most of this is through domestic resources," he said.

The health minister said since there were many major challenges for TB control in India, the government's priority is "reaching the unreached".

"The government will ensure access to care for some vulnerable populations such as tribals, people in urban slums etc. Early diagnosis of patients and putting them on the right treatment and ensuring their complete treatment is crucial" Nadda said.

Stressing that India was a major manufacturer of anti-TB drugs, the minister said, "There is a wide scope for us to sit together and discuss about promoting generic drugs for TB patients all over the world".

He observed that 25 per cent of the budget has been earmarked for direct interventions in this (TB) area.

This includes free diagnosis with rapid molecular tests, free treatment with best quality drugs and regimens, financial and nutritional support to patients, online TB notification systems etc, he said.

The health ministry is also organising a side event at the conference on 'Ending TB: Our Promise to Our People'.

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Seven security personnel were today injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast, allegedly triggered by Naxals, along the Chhattisgarh- Jharkhand border, official sources said.

A patrol party was targeted by the ultras, they said, adding that the seven injured men -- five from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two from the Jharkhand police -- were airlifted to Ranchi.

The blast took place around 2 pm near the Pipardhaba village of Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh, bordering Jharkhand, followed by an exchange of fire between the ultras and the securitymen, the sources said.

The joint team of troops was out for an anti-Naxal operation when the blast was triggered.

"As per preliminary reports, the condition of the injured troops is not critical," a senior CRPF officer said.

Additional forces from nearby areas were rushed to the area and the firing had stopped, the sources said.

The CRPF men belonged to the 62nd battalion, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seven security personnel were injured when Naxals allegedly triggered an IED blast and fired at them along the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border today, the Jharkhand police said.

The improvised explosive device (IED) blast took place around 2 pm near Pipradaba at the foothills of Budha Pahar, parts of which fall in Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh and Latehar district of Jharkhand, CRPF sources said.

Five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), one Jharkhand Jaguar Force constable and one Jharkhand police constable were injured in the incident, the police said, adding that all of them were airlifted to Ranchi by a helicopter.

The blast was triggered when the security personnel were carrying a jawan, who had fallen sick, to a base camp, the police said.

Following the blast, the CPI (Maoist) cadre started firing indiscriminately on the security personnel, they added.

The ultras made a hasty retreat, taking advantage of the forest cover in the area when the security personnel retaliated, the CRPF sources said.

Jharkhand Inspector General of Police (Operations) Ravi Kant Dhan confirmed the incident.

The security forces had been carrying out a massive anti-Naxal operation at Budha Pahar for the last few days, the sources said, adding that the entire area was cordoned off, in a bid to affect the supply line to the Naxals.

The security personnel have also set up camps in the area.

Those injured were: ASI R K Pandian, Atul Tamboli, Ramesh Biroly, Niwash Tete, Mukesh Kumar -- all from the CRPF -- Dilip Kumar of Jharkhand Jaguar Force and Koushal Kumar of Jharkhand police, the police said.

"As per preliminary reports, the condition of the injured troops is not critical," a senior CRPF officer said, adding that the injured personnel of the force belonged to its 62nd battalion.

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An Afghan man was apprehended at the Delhi airport for allegedly using a fake travel ticket to see his female friend off, official sources said today.

A Razique was apprehended yesterday when the CISF personnel, deployed for airport security, found him roaming suspiciously inside the Terminal-3 (T3) building of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, they said.

Razique told the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel that he had entered the terminal to see his female friend off, who was travelling to Kabul, they said, adding he told them that he used a cancelled ticket to enter.

The man was subsequently handed over to the police as the cancelled ticket was a fake entry document, they said.

Entering airport terminal without a valid ticket is illegal under the Indian aviation rules.

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India's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel today announced two new 'effectively' low-cost 4G smartphones with Karbonn Mobiles, continuing its offensive in the Indian telecom market that has seen an onslaught of bundled offerings in the last few months.

Launching the two new Android-based 4G smartphones 'A1 Indian' and 'A41 Power' "at the price of a feature phone", Airtel said the devices would be available at an "effective price" of Rs 1,799 (against MRP of Rs 4,390) and Rs 1,849 (against MRP of Rs 4,290) after taking into account the cash refunds on offer.

Both 4G smartphones come bundled with Airtel's monthly pack of Rs 169.

"The launch is part of Airtel's 'Mera Pehla Smartphone' initiative, which is aimed at enabling every Indian to buy a 4G smartphone and get on to the digital superhighway," the Airtel statement said.

Over the last few weeks, telecom service providers have joined forces with mobile phone manufacturers to bring bundled 4G smartphones that give consumers attractive combination of low-cost handset along with voice and data plans.

To counter JioPhone, Bharti Airtel has teamed up with Celkon and Karbonn Mobiles to offer low-cost bundled 4G smartphones.

Vodafone India too has partnered with mobile handset firm Micromax to launch a 4G smartphone at an 'effective price' of Rs 999.

Outlining the details of the latest offering, Airtel said downpayment for 'A1 Indian' 4G smartphone is Rs 3,299 and for the 'A41 Power' 4G smartphone it is Rs 3,349.

The offer requires 36 continuous monthly recharges of Rs 169 pack, the statement said adding that customer will get a cash refund of Rs 500 after 18 months and another Rs 1,000 after 36 months.

This takes the total cash benefit to Rs 1,500, it said.

In case customers do not wish to opt for the Rs 169 bundled plan, they can also go for recharges of any denomination and validity.

But the cash refund benefit will only be available if recharges worth Rs 3,000 are done in initial 18 months (for first refund instalment of Rs 500) and Rs 3,000 over the next 18 months (for second refund instalment of Rs 1,000).

All devices under the Airtel-Karbonn partnership will also be available on Amazon India, the statement added.

Raj Pudipeddi, Director Consumer Business and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Bharti Airtel said the partnerships will help the company contribute towards transforming India into a smartphone nation.

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Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, British Deputy High Commissioner (Chandigarh) Andrew Ayre and Canadian Consular General (Chandigarh) Christopher Gibbins today paid homage to martyrs on the eve of Remembrance Day here, an official statement said.

Remembrance Day is observed by member states of the Commonwealth of Nations in memory of their soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.

At an event to mark the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance day here, Amarinder spoke about the battlefield of Ypres and other places where Indian soldiers were laid to rest. He said the contribution of Indian soldiers who fought for Allied Powers in the 'Great War' could never be forgotten, the release said.

India raised 14,40,037 volunteers and sent seven Expeditionary Forces to various fronts of the war.

Speaking on the occasion, Gibbins said Canada, which was observing the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, had lost 4,000 of its men in it.

British Deputy High Commissioner Ayre lauded the role of the Indian armed forces in both the world wars. He recalled that during WWI, over one million Indian troops served overseas, of whom 74,000 died and another 67,000 were wounded.

"The bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers was all the more notable as the conflicts in which they participated were not their wars, but ours," he said.

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Andhra Bank has withdrawn its insolvency application from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) against HDIL as the realty firm has decided to settle outstanding dues.

"The company has proceeded for settlement of its balance outstanding dues and has made part payment of its balance dues. The application stands withdrawn from NCLT by Andhra Bank," HDIL said in a BSE filing.

The Mumbai-based developer did not disclose the amount it has paid and the dues still owed to the bank.

HDIL reported 64 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 60.87 crore for the quarter ended September, as against Rs 37.03 crore in the year-ago period.

Total income, however, fell to Rs 163.07 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal, from Rs 223.26 crore a year ago.

Profit rose sharply as the company reported tax benefits of Rs 44.5 crore during the July-September quarter of the current fiscal.
Australian energy giant Santos said today it had knocked back a bid by a US-based investment firm worth almost USD 7.2 billion, sending its share price soaring.

Santos, a major Australian natural gas company with interests in Papua New Guinea, said it received a proposal from Harbour Energy at 4.55 Australian dollars per share on August 14.

"The board rejected the approach on the basis that the indicative price was inadequate and the sources of funds were uncertain," Santos said in a statement to the stock market.

"Santos confirms that it is not currently engaged in discussions with, and has not received a current proposal from, Harbour Energy regarding a change of control transaction for Santos."



Harbour Energy's chief executive is Linda Cook, a veteran former senior executive of energy giant Royal Dutch Shell.

Shares in Santos closed 13.01 percent higher to Aus$4.95 in trading in Sydney Thursday.

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Authorities on Thursday sprinkled water to settle dust, hours after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked the municipal corporation to take a slew of steps to combat the rising level of .

The state environment department was also looking into the prospects of artificial rainfall, District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said.

Fire tenders were pressed into service to sprinkle water across the city to control dust, a senior official said.

"A meeting was held with IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Kanpur officials at the government level to discuss the option of artificial rain through cloud seeding. If there is any such option that is successful, it will be explored by the environment department," Sharma said.

Taking a serious view of the rising level of air pollution, Adityanath had directed municipal corporations to ensure that garbage is not burnt and sprinkling of water is done to control dust.

Adityanath had said that cloud seeding techniques should be explored in collaboration with the IIT Kanpur.

He directed the district magistrates to run awareness campaigns, so as to stop farmers from burning farm waste.

Observing that traffic snarls lead to air pollution, the chief minister said: "Proper traffic operations and movement should be ensured so that there is no traffic jam. To reduce air pollution, old vehicles should be reviewed, and if needed removed".

Adityanath also directed decongestion of the Kaisarbagh bus stand in Lucknow.

Instructions have been issued to fill trenches along the construction site of Lucknow Metro rail, so that dust can be minimised, and reduced.
His next "Dhadak" is the remake of the 2016 Marathi blockbuster "Sairat" and Shashank Khaitan says the basic premise of caste difference and honour killing remains the same but he has definitely made some variations to the Hindi version.

Karan Johar has acquired the remake rights of Nagraj Manjule-directed "Sairat", which created history in the Marathi cinema by entering the elite Rs 100-crore club and became a phenomenon as it ran in cinema houses for over 100 days, especially in Maharashtra.

It was last evening that Karan officially revealed the first look of the film titled "Dhadak" - featuring Sridevi's elder daughter Janhvi Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor's half-brother Ishaan Khatter.

"Sairat" was a love story between an upper-caste girl, Archana (Rinku Rajguru), and a fisherman's son, Prashant (Akash Thosar).

"The basic premise is of differences in caste, honour killing and what it means to survive in that world and I feel that is the conflict that is alive all across India, you will hear stories like that.

"So in that sense, the basic premise (of 'Dhadak' and 'Sairat') is same. But there are variations. My story is based on another set up... It is (set) in Rajasthan. It comes with its own challenges, conflicts and style of a love story," says Shashank in an interview with PTI.

The first poster had the two young actors embracing each other against the backdrop of a setting sun in a desert. The second and third posters introduced Janhvi and Ishaan, respectively, in a desi avatar.

"It wasn't tough to get the poster look for the film as we were sticking to the story that we have written and the world that we have created. Even the idea of the poster was to remain as honest as possible to the film that we want to make.

"We are adapting 'Sairat' into the world that we want to. The focus entirely was to present them (Janhvi and Ishaan) as the characters of the film," says Shashank.

"Dhadak" will mark Janhvi's entry as an actor in the Hindi cinema, while for Ishaan this is his second outing. He is making his acting debut with noted Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi's movie "Beyond The Clouds" and has assisted director Abhishek Chaubey for "Udta Punjab".

The first schedule of the remake version will begin in December.

The film, to be co-produced by Zee Studios and Dharma Productions, is set for July 6, 2018, release.

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The BJP has demanded a probe into the sudden closure of the Chief Minister Health Insurance scheme in Uttarakhand, alleging that its abrupt withdrawal had caused great inconvenience to patients, some of whom were removed from ventilator support.

In a letter to the chief minister, state BJP president Ajay Bhatt claimed that the scheme's abrupt closure by the company had caused great inconvenience to patients under treatment at hospitals.

Citing instances, Bhatt alleged that even ventilator support was removed from some patients after the company withdrew the scheme in an "irresponsible" manner without prior intimation.

"Withdrawal of the CM Health Insurance Scheme on the day the state was celebrating its 17th anniversary (November 9) looks like a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the state government," he said.

Claiming that the company engaged for the purpose by the previous government was already blacklisted, Bhatt also wondered how it was assigned the task.

Terming the sudden closure of the scheme as "inhuman" and the subsequent withdrawal of ventilator support from patients as "criminal", the BJP leader urged the chief minister to order a high level probe.

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The 37th Biennial Battalion Conference of Sikh Regiment, one of the oldest Regiment of the Indian Army, began here today.

The 37th Battalion Commanders Conference of the Regiment was presided over by Colonel of the regiment Lieutenant General SK Jha and attended by Brigadier Rakesh Raina, commandant of Sikh Regimental Centre in Ramgarh and Battalion Commanders across the country.

Main agenda of Battalion Commanders Conference was to discuss way ahead and future of the Regiment. The national conference of Battalion Commanders of Sikh Regiment application of innovation techniques, development of units deployed in various places of the country were discussed, said Rakesh Raina, Commandant of Sikh Regimental Centre in Ramgarh.

Welfare issues of the soldiers were also discussed in crucial Battalion Commanders Conference of the Regiment, said an official statement here today.

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Microsoft founder Bill Gates today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him various welfare initiatives of the American philanthropies in India.

The meeting assumes significance as registration of one of the Indian NGOs, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), which has been working in the field of public health, was cancelled by the home ministry in April.

The Gates Foundation was one of the donors to this NGO.

The home minister met Gates, co-chair and trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, here, an official statement said.

Singh appreciated the various welfare works being undertaken by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India and he requested Gates to initiate health awareness programmes in India.

The home minister also suggested that the foundation should concentrate on developing villages and make them "model villages" so that the local people get inspired, the statement said.

Assuring constructive support to India, Gates also explained about the various technologies being adopted by them in the field of agriculture and sanitation, it said.

Asked whether the issue related to cancellation of licence to the PHFI came up during the discussion, a spokesperson of the Gates Foundation said in reply to a text message that "nothing of that sort was discussed".

In an email statement, the spokesperson said Gates' meeting with the home minister focused on the progress made in the partnership with the government across the foundation's priority focus areas health, urban sanitation, digital financial inclusion and agricultural development.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is committed to working collaboratively with the government of India in providing global and local technical expertise to advance the country's ambitious development goals, the statement said.

After the cancellation of the FCRA registration in April, the NGO was barred from receiving foreign funds.

As per the government rules, an organisation that intends to receive foreign funds must have registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

The action against the PHFI was taken after the home ministry found that the NGO was allegedly violating provisions of the FCRA by "diverting" foreign funds for purposes other than intended for, another official said.

The PHFI claims it is a non-profit, public-private initiative working in the field of public health in India.

According to the PHFI website, the NGO was launched by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006.

The NGO claimed that the governments of Gujarat, Telangana, Odisha, Meghalaya, Karnataka and Delhi are its supporters, besides Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other such bodies.

According to the PHFI website, they include Infosys Foundation, HT Parekh Foundation, HCL Corporation, Rohini Nilekani, Reliance Industries, GMR Projects Pvt. Ltd.

The PHFI claimed that the chairman of the executive committee of its governing body is Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy.

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The BJP West Bengal unit today took out a rally here to protest against the party's state president Dilip Ghosh being stopped by alleged TMC workers from meeting party activists in Coochbehar district yesterday.

A rally was taken at college square by state BJP Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha to protest against yesterday's incident. The BJP activists shouted slogans against the state government and police administration.

Ghosh, who is presently in North Bengal's Coochbehar district was yesterday stopped from meeting party activists by alleged workers of TMC, who showed him black flags.

Ghosh while reacting to the incident had said TMC was scared of BJP's growth and that is why he was being stopped by TMC workers.

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Amid suggestions that the winter session of Parliament will be a truncated affair, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs will take a call on the issue.

He also reminded National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah that Parliament had passed a resolution that entire Kashmir, including PoK, is part of India and the decision is applicable on members of Parliament.

Abdullah is a Lok Sabha member.

At the briefing on the decisions taken by Union Cabinet today, Prasad was asked whether the winter session will become a 'casualty' of the busy schedule of the prime minster and other ministers who are holding door-to-door campaign ahead of the Gujarat polls.

He said the decision on the schedule of the session will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

"(Parliamentary Affairs Minister) Ananth Kumar is in touch with them (members of the CCPA)... what is the problem if ministers are getting in touch with the people. Ministers of the Narendra Modi government are not elitist who only tweet," he said.

Asked about the efforts being made by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to resolve the Ayodhya dispute, he said the subject matter of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar should be be referred to Ravi Shankar, the law minister.

The law minister preferred to remain silent on the issue of a petition in the Supreme Court regarding judges bribery.

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Cambodia's Supreme Court dissolved the country's main opposition party and banned more than 100 of its politicians for five years today, in a ruling blasted by a rights groups as the "death" of the nation's democracy.

The verdict was widely expected from a justice system heavily warped by the influence of long-standing premier Hun Sen, who is accused of ruthlessly targeting rivals in the run-up to 2018 polls.

It nevertheless delivered a crushing blow to what remained of the embattled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) -- the only party that had a fighting chance to break the authoritarian leader's 32-year grip on power.

The court "decides to dissolve the CNRP and ban 118 leaders... from politics for five years starting from the date of the verdict," said Judge Dith Munty, himself a member of Hun Sen's ruling CPP party, in what rights groups blasted as a mockery of judicial independence.

The judge said the CNRP, by boycotting the trial, had effectively confessed to the government-levied accusation of conspiring with the United States and other foreign actors to plot a revolution.

The CNRP and Washington have rejected those charges as bogus, with the main evidence from the government being a publicly available speech from the party's president discussing US help to build a democracy-movement in Cambodia.

Rights groups said the verdict stripped next year's election of any credibility.

"This is the death of democracy in Cambodia," said Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch, calling on for foreign partners to suspend any assistance for the 2018 poll.

The International Commission of Jurists said Cambodia had crossed a "red-line," with the dissolution stripping millions of voters of a chance to freely choose their representatives.

The CNRP's parliament seats and local posts will now be redistributed to other parties after the government amended laws last month to allow the reallocation.

That Cambodia towards being a de facto one party state, with it highly unlikely opposition activists can now mount any significant challenge to the CPP next year.

The verdict is the culmination of a methodical strangling of dissent in Cambodia that began after the CNRP nearly unseated Hun Sen in the last national election in 2013, rattling the premier.

The crackdown accelerated dramatically after the party faired well in local elections this July, despite weathering a series of legal attacks against its leadership.

Several months later CNRP leader Kem Sokha was suddenly thrown into jail charged with treason over the same accusations of plotting a revolution.

That arrest, and the threat of a 30 year prison sentence, sent more than half of the party's 55 lawmakers fleeing into exile out of fear.

Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who defected, has a long history of undercutting his rivals through well-timed crackdowns and dubious court cases.

But observers say the current climate of repression is harsher and longer-lasting than previous clampdowns, with Hun Sen foregoing even the pretense of respecting human rights and a free press.

In addition to assaults against the CNRP, his government has in recent months shut down a series of outspoken NGOs and independent outlets -- including the respected Cambodia Daily.

Analysts say the premier has been emboldened by financial backing from Beijing, which has lavished the poor country with investment that has made it less dependent on aid from Western democracies.

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The CBI today arrested D W Negi, the former Superintendent of Police of Shimla, in connection with its probe in the Kotkhai rape case in Himachal Pradesh, the agency sources said.

They said Negi was arrested from the state and has been sent to their custody till November 20.

The SP is the ninth person to be arrested in this case by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The CBI is also expected to file a charge sheet in the case soon.

The central probe agency had in August arrested eight Himachal Pradesh Police officials, including Inspector General Z H Zaidi, in connection with the custodial death of Suraj Singh, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal.

Singh, who was a suspect in the rape and murder of a minor school girl in Kotkhai area of Shimla in early July, was among six people arrested by the local police.

He was allegedly killed by a co-accused at the Kotkhai police station last month, triggering a massive public outrage.

The CBI, which was later handed over the probe into the case by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, questioned several people before arresting Zaidi, a 1994-batch IPS officer, the then IGP (South) Manoj Joshi, the then Deputy Superintendent of Police, and six other police officials.

The Himachal Pradesh Police had arrested Ashish Chauhan alias Ashu (29), a resident of Sharaal village in Mahasu area of Kotkhai; Rajender Singh alias Raju (32), a driver; Subash Singh Bisht (42) and Deepak alias Deepu (29), both residents of Pauri Garwal; Suraj Singh (29) and Lok Jung alias Chotu (19), both hailing from Nepal.

A 16-year-old girl had gone missing after school hours on July 4 from Haliala forest in the Kotkhai area of Shimla district.

Her naked body was found in the forest on July 6 and the post-mortem report confirmed rape. The rape case has created furore in the state which goes to polls later this year.

The case was handed over to the CBI by the Himachal Pradesh High Court on July 19 on the state government's plea amid public outburst against the state police.

The CBI had filed two FIRs on July 22.

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The CBI will soon take over the probe into the Chhattisgarh "sex CD" row allegedly involving a state minister, agency sources said today.

The agency, they said, has sought case documents from the state police as it has now received the notification from the Department of Personnel and Training, a prerequisite for the central probe agency before registering a criminal case.

The Chhattisgarh government had recently recommended a CBI probe into the case, where senior Journalist Vinod Verma was arrested by the state police sometime back.

The BJP-led state government had accused the opposition Congress of hatching a conspiracy.

Chhattisgarh Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey had said his party has already stated that the CD was fake and even a local TV channel in its report mentioned that it has been tampered with.

The matter seems to be a "political and criminal conspiracy" and, therefore, it was decided that the premier investigation agency should probe it, Pandey had said while announcing the state government's decision.

Pandey had said the recommendation to the CBI for the probe has been made on six points including inter-state conspiracy in making the "fake" CD, a high-level technical examination of the alleged video, funding to make it and political and criminal conspiracy.

The alleged sex video had sparked a political row in the state with the Congress and the BJP trading charges over the issue.

The matter came to light when Vinod Verma was arrested by the Chhattisgarh Police last month from his Ghaziabad residence for suspected blackmail and extortion related to a "sex CD".

According to the Raipur Police, a case of blackmail and extortion was registered at the Civil Line police station here following a complaint by one Prakash Bajaj who said that he "was being harassed over phone by an unidentified caller who told him that he had a CD of his master".

Raipur Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla had claimed that about 500 "porn" CDs, Rs two lakh in cash, a pen drive, a laptop and a diary were seized from the journalist's residence, who was picked up at 3.30 AM from Mahagun Mansion Apartments in Indirapuram by the Chhattisgarh police team with the help of the Ghaziabad Police.

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A day after Farooq Abdullah's controversial remark on PoK, son on Thursday said the Centre should prove his father wrong with "actions" by taking back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"I don't understand the 'if we try'. What is stopping you from getting it back? Prove Dr (Farooq) Abdullah wrong with your actions rather than with hollowed out words," tweeted.

I dont understand the if we try. What is stopping you from getting it back? Prove Dr Abdullah wrong with your actions rather than with hollowed out words. https://t.co/doAWc5m7g4  (@OmarAbdullah) 16 November 2017

The Conference leader was reacting to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hans Raj Ahir's statement that no one can stop India from taking back PoK.

"I say Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is a part of India and due to the mistakes of the previous governments, it has been with Pakistan. If we try to get PoK back, no one can stop us because it is our right," Ahir said on the sidelines of a function in Delhi.

Farooq Abdullah made controversial remarks earlier this week saying PoK was part of Pakistan while Jammu and Kashmir is part of India.

He said India and Pakistan may fight as many wars as they can but this cannot be changed.

Despite drawing flak, the Conference president continued with his controversial remarks and while addressing a party function in Uri town of Baramulla district yesterday said that Pakistan was "not weak and not wearing bangles to allow India to take that part of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation".

"How long shall we keep saying that (PoK) is our part? It (PoK) is not their father's share. That (PoK) is Pakistan and this (J-K) is India," he had said.

He said 70 years have "passed but they (India) could not get it (PoK)".

"Today, they (India) claim it is our part. So take it (PoK), we are also saying please take it (from Pakistan). We will also see. They (Pakistan) are not weak and are not wearing bangles. They too have atom bomb. Before we think about war, we should think how we will live as humans," Farooq Abdullah had said.

Hitting out at Ahir, Omar Abdullah asked if he included the decision of the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to respect the sanctity of Line of Control (LoC).

"And in 'previous governments' do you include Vajpayee Sb's decision to respect sanctity of LoC during the Kargil War as well?" he asked.

In an earlier tweet yesterday, Omar Abdullah, reacting to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's remarks, said he wanted to know what successive Congress governments did since 1947 to get back PoK.

"That's excellent news. Perhaps Azad Sb may like to explain what successive Congress governments have done since 47 to get it back," he wrote.
A senior functionary of industry body CAIT on Thursday said the Centre may withdraw the bank in the "near future" to encourage digital transactions.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said the government needs to encourage the use of debit and credit cards.

"In all probability, the Centre may withdraw the in the near future to encourage digital transactions," he said.

Khandelwal was talking to reporters at the launch of 'Digital Rath', a joint initiative of the CAIT and Mastercard to encourage traders to adopt different modes of digital transactions and promote the cashless economy.

The CAIT secretary general said, "The government spends Rs 25,000 crore on the printing of currency notes and another Rs 6,000 crore on their security and logistics.

"Moreover, banks charge 1 per cent on payments through debit card and 2 per cent through credit cards. The government needs to incentivise this process by providing subsidy directly to the banks so these charges can be waived."



Khandelwal said only 5 per cent of the total 80-crore ATM-cum-debit cards are used for cashless transactions, while 95 per cent of them are used for cash withdrawals.

Mastercard Executive Director (Global Community Relations) Ravi Aurora said this initiative with the CAIT will provide a "major fillip in our endeavour to move towards a less-cash society".

"Under the digital literacy campaign, we have held about 450 conferences during the past three years. By the end of next month, we have set the target to reach to 10 lakh merchants to support the government's target of powering 2,500 -crore digital transactions," Aurora said.

Aurora said 'Digital Rath' would further strengthen the nationwide movement of 'Cashless Bano India" in line with the government's vision of digital India.

"We believe small traders and merchants are an important constituency to help India transform into a knowledge economy."



He said Mastercard has invested about USD 500 million in India during the past couple of years and it plans to pump in another USD 700-800 million.

CAIT president B C Bhartia said a sizeable part of the Indian population consists of youths.

"Youths prefer digital transactions. Even temples have put up machines for digital transactions. Now, the government needs to make digital transactions more attractive," he added.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today gave a cheque for Rs.3.50 lakh to a photojournalist for his cancer treatment.

Palaniswami handed over the cheque to P Madhavan and his family members at the Secretariat in the presence of Information Minister Kadambur C Raju and officials, an official release here said.

Madhavan, working for Tamil daily 'Dinakaran' was given financial aide under a Scheme for medical assistance to journalists.

"The upper limit of Rs.one lakh under the scheme was relaxed," and the photojournalist was sanctioned Rs.3.50 lakh as a special case, the release said.

Meanwhile, Palaniswami greeted the media fraternity on the occasion of the 'National Press Day' today and lauded journalists who "provided to the people for societal good.

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The Supreme Court today took a "serious" note of the Centre's "extreme concern" that various privileged and sensitive documents, including Cabinet notes, which are outside the purview of the RTI law have been forming the basis of PILs.

While the Centre said that such documents including file notings, which otherwise are protected material, were coming into hands of some through "disgruntled" employees, a bench comprising justices A K Goel and U U Lalit termed the development as "serious" warranting apex court's intervention.

The Centre flagged its concern through Attorney General K K Venugopal when activist advocate Prashant Bhushan was arguing a PIL relating to AgustaWestland helicopter scam.

Venugopal told the bench that the government was "extremely concerned" as even the investigating agencies were not able to protect sensitive documents.

"This is a serious issue. The government of India is extremely concerned that it is unable to protect its documents and even the documents of investigating agencies are in the hands of others," the attorney general told the bench.

The bench agreed with submissions of the top law officer and said it would consider this issue.

"Certainly, what you are saying is serious," the bench said, adding, "yes, we will consider it".

Venugopal made these submissions when the apex court was hearing a plea seeking probe into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of an Agusta helicopter for VIP use by the Chhattisgarh government and also the foreign bank accounts, purportedly linked to the son of Chief Minister Raman Singh.

The bench also asked the Chhattisgarh government to place before it the original files pertaining to the purchase of the helicopter in 2006-2007 by the state.

During the hearing, the attorney general referred to the petition filed in the matter and said that internal file notings, like the August 2007 decision of the state Cabinet and relevant files, have been annexed with it.

"This is a matter of daily concern. PIL after PIL are filed wherein entire CBI documents are annexed. Documents of Enforcement Directorate (ED), Cabinet proceedings everyone of them are filed. Electronic copy (of these documents) is taken. It is an offence under the Information Technology Act," he said.

Bhushan, representing the petitioner, told the bench that the petitioner has received some of these documents through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

To this, the bench asked Venugopal, "Are anyone of these documents disputed?"



Venugopal said that these documents were all "copies" and no original documents have been filed.

He said there might be some "disgruntled employees" in the departments who were leaking the documents.

"Have you (Centre) taken any action on it? Are these marked under official secret," the bench asked.

Responding to this, the attorney general said, "according to me, Cabinet note is privileged. He (petitioner) does not say which documents have been received under the RTI."



When the bench said whether the Chhattisgarh government was disputing that these documents were not correct, Venugopal said he was not appearing on behalf of the state but for the Union of India.

"Source of document matters. We are concerned with this case. We are concerned with the issue of documents," he said, while requesting the court to consider this aspect.

Venugopal also citied the instance of the entry register at the residence of former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha which had came up before the apex court.

When the attorney general referred to certain judgements of the apex court on the issue of documents, the bench said it was a settled law that a litigant has to come to the court with a clean hand.

Venugopal also said though the petitioner has claimed he has received documents through RTI, the replies received under the RTI has not been filed in the court.

At the fag end of the hearing, the bench told Bhushan that it would see the RTI replies received by the petitioner and asked Bhushan to keep them ready.

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A special women's court today rejected bail application of a 19-year-old man, son of a police inspector, accused of killing his mother.

The accused Siddhant Ganore had moved the court earlier this month, seeking bail on the ground that he was of "unsound mind".

Accepting the prosecution's argument that Ganore's prayer could not be granted since the crime was of serious nature, special judge Shayana Patil rejected his bail plea.

Ganore was arrested on May 25 from Rajasthan, two days after his mother Deepali Ganore was found dead at their residence in Vakola in Mumbai, when his father had gone to the police station.

Next to the body, the police had found a message written in blood: "Tired of her, catch me and hang me".

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The Delhi government today said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved a proposal in which the Delhi State Health Mission (DSHM) will manage and set up 1,000 mohalla clinics in the city.

Besides, the chief minister also allowed Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) to hire short-term manpower for hospitals to fill the gaps in health services, it said.

"This will help hospitals have adequate number of staff for services as and when required," an official said.

Kejriwal today held a review meeting of the DSHM along with Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Social Welfare Minister Rajendar Pal Gautam and senior officers.

"In the meeting, the chief minister approved the proposal to entrust the mission with the responsibility of management and setting up of 1,000 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics," the government said in a statement.

There are around 160 mohalla clinics aimed at providing free primary health care to city residents closer to home. The scheme is a flagship project of the AAP government.

The government has a target of setting up 1,000 such clinics across the national capital.

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A documentary on the life of Bengali film superstar Prosenjit Chaterjee has been screened at the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival with the actor saying the non-fictional work captures the journey of an actor.

Prosenjit told reporters after the screening of the documentary 'For Cinema Only' last night that he cannot think beyond films.

"At a very personal level this documentary is basically the journey of an actor with a level of leadership and responsibility, it is all about a man's passion for cinema," Prosenjit said.

Expressing pride for a film on him being shown at an international film festival, he said, "at one point of time we used to stop shooting after 4 pm for watching films at the Kolkata International Film Festival and even sat on the floors to see latest works of world renowned directors in overcrowded theatre."



"Now a documentary is being on shown on me, Prosenjit Chatterjee, along with best of the documentaries and shorts in world cinema. It is a blessing for me," he said.

Stating that he has worked with over 100 film makers and 120 heroines in his 35-year long career, Prosenjit recalled, he had started at a time when the media had been writing the epitaph of Bengali cinema.

"When I used to read reports that Bengali film industry was dying (two decades back) I had the determination I will only work from here and Sasurbari Zindabad happened 18 years ago and went on to become a blockbuster and did huge business," he recalled.

"I had sought to give a new thrust to Bengali cinema with a new genre of film and I must also give credit to Rituparno Ghosh for reinventing a new Prosenjit in Chokher Bali. And as I kept working with Rituparno, the new generation of film makers appeared on the scene, directors like Srijit Mukherjee," he said.

Asked about his initial struggle in Bengali film industry, Prosenjit said, "my struggle is less as compared to others. Tell me who is not waging a fight in this world?"



Director duo of the documentary Mitali Ghoshal and Samrat, said Prosenjit never dictated terms during shoots and "His stardom did not for once come up as we interacted with him."



To a question, they said, "Prosenjit the person and Prosenjit the star are not much different."



"The fight in Bumbada's life and his success have always motivated us," they said about the documentary which also briefly touches on Prosenjit's personal life.

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A Doha-bound flight carrying 134 passengers today suffered a bird hit, prompting it to return here, airport officials said.

The aeroplane operated by a private airline suffered the bird hit after taking off from the Anna International Airport here, they added.

Subsequently, the flight returned to Chennai and made a safe landing.

The passengers were accommodated in an alternative flight, the officials said.

The carrier later resumed its journey to Doha after a two-hour delay.

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Jammu and Kashmir DGP S P Vaid said that drug menace was a "bigger challenge" than terrorism in the state and that contrabands were being "pumped from across the border".

This year, the police have arrested 667 people in 542 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for drug peddling and smuggling, an official data said.

"The drug menace is a bigger challenge than terrorism. When I joined, I had announced an all out war against drugs and the people running it," the director general of police (DGP) told PTI.

The officer said that the police alone cannot fight the menace and there was a concern about narco-terrorism.

"There are a lot of drugs and narcotics being pumped into J-K from across the border. It is very clear who is pumping drugs and narcotics into this state," he said without naming Pakistan.

"I am trying to convince everybody, including the police force, about the bad affects. It (drugs) has the potential to destroy the society. We have made huge seizures, but there is difficulty on the legal and de-addiction fronts," the DGP said.

"It may be recalled that 70 kg of heroin was recovered in Uri and 20 kg in Jammu. Roughly 100 kg recovered here came from across (the border)," he said, adding that everybody needs to make efforts to save the current and future generations from this menace.

Of the 667 people arrested in 542 cases, 214 were arrested in 163 cases in the Kashmir region and 453 in 379 cases in the Jammu province, the data said.

The data said that as many as 12 alleged drug peddlers were arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir this year as compared to 27 in 2016.

It said that as many as 822 people were arrested in 608 cases of drug peddling and narcotic smuggling in 2016, and this year 568.94 kg of marijuana was seized, five times more than the seizure made during this period last year in the Jammu region.

In 2015, 24.3 kg of cannabis was seized and 107 kg in 2016. In the case of poppy straw, this year 5,610 kg was seized against 3,268 kg in 2016 and 1,846 kg in 2015, it said.

There was a significant drop in the amount of brown sugar seized.

Last year, 13.1 kg of the contraband was seized against 1.306 kg this year. In 2015, the police had seized 4.4 kg of brown sugar, the data said.

Till August 2017, 39.315 kg of heroin was seized against 64.143 kg in 2016 and 14.953 kg in 2015 in the same period, it said.

The other seizures include opium and cannabis, and banned capsules and tablets, the data said.

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Delhi University teachers opposed to the University Grants Commission's (UGC) Autonomous Colleges scheme today staged a protest at an event organised by UGC to educate college principals about the scheme.

The UGC had on November 10 announced an orientation programme for



college principals aiming to familiarise colleges with the Autonomous Colleges scheme.

Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) staging a demonstration on Lodhi Road said the scheme granted "arbitrary powers" to college governing bodies to determine fees and start courses in revenue generating mode.

"By touting autonomy as a way to improve quality and further academic excellence, the government wants to abdicate its responsibility by refusing to allocate adequate funds to meet the severe infrastructure deficit," DUTA president Rajib Ray said.

The move to forcibly convert established Delhi University colleges into autonomous institutions is an agenda to commercialise, he said, adding that, "The cost of education will steeply increase; every aspect from tuition fees to hostel facilities, and examinations will become means of generating money".

The teachers' body also criticised Graded Autonomy Scheme - another UGC initiative - and said it would make university rely on loans from Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) rather than UGC grants.

"The DUTA is committed to broadening the movement against the autonomous scheme by reaching out to students, parents and members of civil society to build opinion against these insidious moves of the government," Ray said.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has claimed that efforts were being made to revive Khalistani elements with backing from Pakistan's spy agency ISI and batted for a tough law such as the Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act (PCOCA) to contain such forces.

The Punjab government this month had claimed to have achieved major success in solving targeted killing cases, including that of RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja with the arrest of five people, and had alleged that a major conspiracy to fan communal disturbance and destabilise the state was being hatched by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

"Definitely, attempts are being made, mostly from foreign soils, to destabilise Punjab and our country. Indications of this had started emerging a long time ago, with several leads suggesting that radical forces were out to destroy the state's peace and harmony, in nexus with criminal gangs. The recent arrests have more than proved this," the chief minister told PTI in an interview here.

He claimed that the ISI operatives were working not only from Pakistani soil, but also from other countries, including the UK, Canada and Italy "to fan communal unrest".

"Efforts are clearly being made to revive Khalistani elements, which also have the backing of the ISI," Singh said when asked if efforts were being made to revive terrorism in Punjab.

The chief minister said security agencies, including the state intelligence, were working in close coordination with central agencies to counter such attempts.

"Apart from measures on the ground, a close eye is being kept on the social media to prevent attempts at radicalising the youth," Singh said.

Several terror modules have been busted since the Congress government had taken over, the chief minister claimed.

"I assure the people of Punjab that we will not allow the state to be again plunged into the kind of devastation which it suffered during the peak of terrorism in the 1980s," he said.

On organisations such as the SGPC opposing PCOCA, claiming it could be misused, the chief minister said, "PCOCA or some special law on similar lines has become necessary for Punjab in view of the widespread efforts being made by ISI through various radical forces and criminal gangs, to fan communal unrest in the state."



"But at the same time, we are mindful of the concerns of misuse of such legislation, given the experience of some other states," he said.

He said he had issued "clear instructions" for incorporating the tightest possible controls in the law to ensure that there was no misuse and nobody was harassed or victimised under it.

A cabinet meeting slated on November 17 is expected to discuss the PCOCA.

The proposed legislation is aimed at empowering police officers of the DIG rank or above to invoke the Act with a detailed note on reasons why the Indian Penal Code was not sufficient to deal with such crime.

"The police will get a lot of powers to tackle extremist and criminal forces under this legislation, and stringent provisions to check abuse of these powers will also be ensured," he said.

The cabinet sub-committee headed by minister Brahm Mohindra to draft the PCOCA legislation was examining all these aspects, he said.

"A fool-proof law will help the state control criminal and radical forces, while at the same time, also protect innocent people from victimisation," the chief minister said.

The previous SAD-BJP government had also proposed introducing the PCOCA, but some of the ministers had then apprehended that it could be misused for political vendetta.

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Egypt's interior ministry confirmed today the death of one of the country's most wanted militants in air strikes late October against a group behind a deadly ambush on policemen.

Former army officer turned jihadist Emad al-Din Abdel Hamid had commanded the group that killed at least 16 policemen in an October 20 Western Desert ambush and later died in military air strikes, the ministry said in a statement.

The group had been organised in the Libyan militant stronghold of Derna, the ministry added.

A previously unknown jihadist group calling itself Ansar al-Islam -- or "Supporters of Islam"-- had said one of its leaders, Abdel Hamid, was later killed in the air strikes.

The ministry said police had captured Libyan jihadist Abdel Rahim Mohamed Abdullah al-Mismari who survived the air strikes that killed 15 jihadists, including Abdel Hamid, days after the attack.

"The group...was formed under the leadership of Emad al- Din Ahmed Mahmoud Abdel Hamid, who died in the air strikes targeting the group" that carried out the October 20 ambush, the statement said.

It added that the group was involved in a massacre of Coptic Christians south of Cairo in May, although the Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for that attack.

Egyptian police had for years been seeking Abdel Hamid.

He is believed to have joined a fellow officer, Hisham el-Ashmawy, in Libya following the 2013 military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Ashmawy, who split with an Egyptian jihadist group that claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2014, is thought to be aligned with Al-Qaida.

Egypt believes the militants have been plotting attacks from the jihadist stronghold of Derna.

Since Egypt's army removed Morsi from power in 2013, extremist groups have increased their attacks on the military and police.

Authorities are fighting against the Egyptian branch of the Islamic State group in the north of the Sinai peninsula, over 500 kilometres away from the scene of the October ambush.

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Amid Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's attempts to mediate on the Ayodhya dispute, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said everyone knows where talks would lead, especially when the Supreme Court is going to hear the matter from December 5 on a day-to-day basis.

"The Supreme Court is going to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis from December 5. Everyone knows where the talks would lead... Had the solution (to the dispute) been possible, it would have been reached earlier," he told reporters.

"Even after this, if someone initiates talks there is no harm. The government is not a party to this. In my first visit to Ayodhya, I had said that if both the parties reach consensus on the issue, the government could consider. The government cannot take an initiative in this regard as the matter is before the Supreme Court," he added.

ALSO READ: Akhada Parishad hammers out deal with UP Shia Waqf on Babri mosque issue

On his meeting with the Art of Living founder on Wednesday, Adityanath said, "See we did not have any discussion on the matter (Ayodhya dispute). It was a courtsey meeting as he was known to me and had arrived in Lucknow."Ravi Shankar had on Wednesday met Adityanath but said he had no proposal yet to discuss with the stakeholders.

His offer for mediating in the dispute has received a tepid and skeptical response from key protagonists on both sides, with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) voicing reservations about his role.

When his attention was drawn to comments by some Muslim leaders rejecting his proposal to resolve the dispute, Ravi Shankar had said he had no proposal at the moment so any question of rejection does not arise.

"Neither have I given any proposal nor have I got it from anyone," he had said.

Ravi Shankar is apparently exploring ways for a reconciliation between the warring parties locked in the protracted legal dispute over the land on which the Babri mosque stood before being pulled down in 1992.

The VHP and the AIMPLB have, however, rejected the relevance of mediation efforts by Ravi Shankar.

"It is being said that is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of All India Muslim Personal Law Board which is leading the Muslim side," AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani said.

He said Ravi Shankar had made a similar move to resolve the dispute some 12 years ago and concluded that the site should be handed over to Hindus.

The VHP too appeared dismissive, saying no dialogue on the issue was needed as courts go by evidence and archaeological evidence was in favour of Hindus.

"There is no relevance of the (recent) clamour for agreement over Ram Janmabhoomi after the archaeological evidences in this regard have been found to be in favour of Hindus... the courts go by evidence," regional spokesman for the VHP Sharad Sharma said in a statement.

A Bench headed by the then Chief Justice J S Khehar had said in March that such religious issues can be resolved through negotiations and offered to mediate to arrive at an amicable settlement.

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France is worried by Iran's "hegemonic" intentions in the Middle East, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said today.

At a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, Le Drian echoed Riyadh's concerns over Iranian "intervention in regional crises" and "hegemonic" intentions in the region.

"I'm thinking specifically about Iran's ballistic programme," Le Drian added.

Le Drian focused on Lebanon and its prime minister Saad Hariri in his comments to reporters, saying the Middle Eastern country should be "protected from foreign interference".

Hariri, whose sudden resignation on November 4 while in Saudi Arabia sparked a flurry of diplomatic talks, has accepted an invitation to visit France, Le Drian said.

Beirut has accused Riyadh of "detaining" Hariri and France has been pushing for him to return home.

Lebanon is home to parties allied with both Sunni giant Saudi Arabia and its arch-rival Iran, which backs the powerful Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.

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The government today approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Poland for co-operation in the field of civil aviation.

The MoU, which will be for a term of five years, will be signed on behalf of the two countries after it is approved by the respective governments, according to a statement.

The objective of the MoU, approved by the Union Cabinet, is to recognise the mutual benefit of cooperation in civil aviation, particularly improving regional air connectivity in India, the statement said.

The MoU will also allow the two countries to recognise benefits of environmental testing as well as approvals for flight simulators, aircraft maintenance facilities, maintenance personnel and aircrew members, it said.

The partnership will also facilitate exchange of information and expertise between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries, collaboration on conducting training programmes, research and studies.

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The government is considering to indigenously manufacture majority of the defence systems that are currently imported, over the next five-six years, scientific advisor to defence minister, G Satheesh Reddy, said today.

The government has come out with many mechanisms to promote the industries to get them into defence research in a big way and come out with many indigenous products, he said.

Reddy was speaking at the inaugural session of a conclave on 'Connecting the Dots in Telangana's Defence & Aerospace Sector', organised by CII Telangana here.

He said the government is very seriously committed for the indigenous systems to enter the country's services.

"The way the government is looking today, maybe next five to six years majority of the systems, which are being imported should be produced in the country indigenously... whichever the mechanism- Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM), or through the 'Make in India' programme...most of them should be produced in the country," Reddy said.

"On missiles, we should be completely self-reliant in about next five years, that is, we should be able to produce them in the country," he said.

According to Reddy, to support the industry, lot of schemes have been brought out, which support the innovative research in the country, like Atal Innovation, Technology Development Fund and Innovative Research Initiative.

He called upon the Indian industries, which have produced a particular technology to tap the export market.

"Many industries have developed lot of technologies and they should look for opportunities outside through exports...My feeling is the industry will survive and can come out in a big way.

"The important thing is that no industry, I think, can survive continuously with only supplying to the Indian armed forces alone...It's very difficult. Let's say these industries, which are producing for Akash (missile), when the orders are over what happens to the production lines of these industries...it's closed," Reddy said.

Therefore, there is a need to have sustained orders for the industry today or these products which have been produced we should be able to export them, he said adding, "The industries operating in the defence sector need to have a definite export potential for ensuring sustained order and quality."



The government is seriously working on this mechanism and the export policy in this regard has been simplified to clear the systems which have been produced in the country for export, Reddy said.

"Lots of enquiries have been coming for many of the systems produced in the country to be exported to various countries," he said.

Under 'Make in India', we have to see what is the priority we need to have. We need technologies which are not there here today and for that we need to tie up with those companies/technologies, which are not here, Reddy said adding, "It should not be creating problems to the already existing industries which have grown here.

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The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) today alleged that the Gujarat chief minister and state BJP unit chief were behind the "morphed" sex clips of its leader Hardik Patel, a charge rejected by the ruling party.

The BJP dismissed the allegation as "baseless" and termed the circulation of the video clips as the "fallout" of a dispute within the PAAS.

"We have learnt that a Surat-based builder who is a BJP supporter and another person are behind these morphed clips. They did it at the behest of the Gujarat chief minister (Vijay Rupani) and the state BJP unit president Jitu Vaghani to tarnish Hardik's image ahead of the polls to save the BJP," PAAS convener Dinesh Bambhania alleged at a conference.

This was done as part of a "Rs 40 crore deal", he alleged, but did not elaborate.

Bambhania, a close aide of Hardik, further alleged 52 more such "morphed" videos were prepared outside India by the two Surat-based persons on the directions of the BJP.

At least three 'intimate' videos purportedly of Hardik are currently reported to be in circulation. Hardik had attacked the BJP after the first clip surfaced.

"As the BJP is worried about Hardik's rising popularity, they have planned to put him behind bars ahead of the polls to stop further damage to the party," Bambhania alleged.

"Our sources have told us that 52 such morphed clips are still there, out of which, 22 clips are of Hardik while remaining clips are of other PAAS leaders," he said.

Bambhania said PAAS will initiate legal action in the coming days after consulting lawyers and will make the "evidences" public to prove BJP's "involvement".

Refuting the charges against the BJP leaders, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said there is a "strong possibility" that the sex clips were prepared by a dissident PAAS worker out of a grudge or a dispute.

"As PAAS has claimed that 52 more CDs are still there, it shows that they are aware that their own workers might have prepared them. It is an internal matter of the PAAS. BJP leaders have nothing to do with it. Instead of giving excuses, PAAS leaders need to come out clean and give proofs," Patel told reporters.

It is "very much likely" that one of the two persons the PAAS is claiming to be behind the videos was associated with the Patidar body before parting ways "over distribution of funds, allegedly given by the Gujarat Congress to PAAS for fanning protests," he said.

"All the allegations against our CM and state party chief are baseless. It is very much possible that the dispute within the PAAS regarding the funds led to this shameful episode. The BJP is nowhere in the picture," Patel added.

Hardik is posing a challenge to the ruling BJP as he holds sway over a chunk of Patidars, considered as loyal voters of the saffron party.

The Congress has been trying to wean away Patidars ahead of polls for caste consolidation. Though Hardik has not yet opened his cards, he has put the commitment to reservation for Patidars as a pre-condition to support the Congress.

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With the BJP delaying the release of the list of its nominees for the upcoming Gujarat polls, state minister and Porbandar MLA Babu Bokhiria's wife Jyotiben today filed her nomination as a "dummy" candidate from the seat.

The move is seen as the reflection of the anxiety among the sitting BJP MLAs about the prospects of their renomination.

Babu Bokhiria, who holds Fisheries and Animal Husbandry portfolio in Vijay Rupani government, said his wife will withdraw her nomination papers after the candidate for the constituency will be announced by the party.

"On the third day of filing nominations today, Jyotiben Babubhai Bokhiria filed her candidature as a dummy candidate," a Porbandar Collectorate official said.

The minister said his wife will withdraw her nomination after the BJP has announced the candidate for the seat.

"This procedure of dummy candidate is followed by parties to be on the safer side in case something unwarranted happens at the last moment. As instructed by the party, my wife filed her papers as a dummy candidate. She will withdraw her nomination as soon as the party declares the final candidate for this seat," Bokhiria told reporters.

When asked if he has been already chosen by the BJP for renomination from Porbandar, Bokhiria maintained that his wife filed dummy nomination as part of the system laid down by the party.

The minister said his wife filed the nomination form before the BJP announces the official nominee as she had to go to Ahmedabad on some medical reason.

The Election Commission had initiated the poll process on November 14 by issuing a gazette notification for the first phase of Assembly polls, which will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14.

The counting of votes will be taken up on December 18.

The last date for filing of nominations for the first phase is November 21.

According to sources, the ruling BJP and opposition Congress have almost finalised their candidates.

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Consumer appliances and electronic goods maker Haier India expects its product imports to fall by half with the additional capacity at Pune plant becoming operational, a company official said.

Haier, which today inaugurated additional capacity at its plant at Ranjangaon in Pune built with an investment of Rs 600 crore, will manufacture washing machines, ACs, TV panels and water heaters.

"I expect our product imports to go down from around 50 per cent at present to 20-25 per cent with this new plant. We, however, will continue to import some high end products," Braganza added," Haier India President Eric Braganza told PTI.

Haier is eyeing over 45 per cent growth in its net sales at Rs 2,300 crore in the current calender year, he said.

Earlier, the company was manufacturing refrigerators at the plant. Haier's production capacity now stands at 3.8 million units.

The inaugration event was presided by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Haier said with this additonal capacity, the company will generate 2,000 new direct jobs along with 10,000 indirect employment opportunities in the ecosystem.

Haier had signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government in 2015 for the plant.

Haier India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of China's Haier Group, began operations in 2004 and started manufacturing in India by acquiring a 40-acre plant at Ranjangoan in 2007.

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Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is free to leave Riyadh "when he pleases," the Saudi foreign minister said today, rejecting accusations from Beirut that the kingdom was "detaining" him.

Hariri, who announced his shock resignation from Saudi Arabia on November 4, is living in the kingdom "of his own free will" and free to leave "when he pleases", Adel al-Jubeir told a press conference in Riyadh.

"These are false allegations. The accusation that Saudi Arabia is detaining a prime minister, and particularly a political figure who is an ally... is untrue," Jubeir said.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun had accused Saudi Arabia on Wednesday of detaining Hariri after what he said was his failure to return home for 12 days.

But today, Aoun said the announcement that Hariri would travel to France for talks with President Emmanuel Macron could be "the start of a solution".

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The Thane police today told the Bombay High Court that it will not take any coercive action till Monday against the MNS workers charged with assaulting and evicting hawkers from near the Thane railway station.

The assurance from the police came while a division bench of the high court was hearing a petition filed by eight workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), including its Thane unit chief Avinash Jadhav.

The petitioners had challenged the two show cause notices issued to them earlier this month by the Thane Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

On November 1 and 3, the ACP sent the show cause notices to the petitioners directing them to explain why they should not be ordered to execute a bond and surety of Rs 1 crore each.

In sending the notices, the ACP had invoked his quasi- judicial powers under the Criminal Procedure Code that enables him to require any person to show cause why he or she should not be ordered to execute a bond, if the police anticipates that such a person might disturb the law and order situation.

The petitioners' counsel, Rajendra Shirodkar, however, argued before the high court that while the bond amount was exorbitant and unjustified, the show cause notices issued against the petitioners were unwarranted and had been issued by the police without any application of mind.

He argued that while it was normal a practice for the police to issue such notices or impose exorbitant bond and surety amounts upon such accused persons, who were habitual offenders, the same was unjustified in the present case since the petitioners did not have any criminal antecedents.

Shirodkar said that only two police cases had been registered against the petitioners, both owing to the incident involving the eviction of the Thane hawkers earlier this month.

While a bench of justices Ranjit More and Shalini- Phansalkar Joshi did not issue any written orders today, they agreed during the hearing that the petitioners did not prima facie appear to be habitual offenders.

At this, the prosecutor, on behalf of the Thane police, said, "We will not take any other coercive action against the petitioners till November 20, the next date of hearing and not ask them to execute the bond amount."



Besides Jadhav, the other MNS workers who have approached the court are - Ravindra Sonar, Ashish Doke, Mahesh Kadam, Sushant Suryarao, Sandeep Salunke, Ravindra More and Vishwajit Jadhav.

The petitioners are accused of assaulting, forcefully evicting and damaging the property of hawkers from in and around the Thane Railway station and railway bridge.

A case was registered against them on October 21 this year by the Naupada police. They were subsequently arrested and released on bail.

However, as per the plea, on November 1 this year, the Naupada police wrote to the Thane ACP suggesting that some preventive action be initiated against the petitioners and consequently, the show cause notices were issued.

"A bare look at the notices will show a total non- application of mind on part of the ACP in arriving at the conclusion that the petitioners pose a threat to the lives and properties of the public at large," the plea reads.

"The entire proceedings have been initiated against the petitioners by the ACP with malafide intentions and are thus, bad in law," it reads.

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Social activist Anna Hazare today condemned the police action against farmers in Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts of Maharashtra and said this reflected the state government's "insensitivity" towards the cultivators.

He also said the BJP-led central government had not performed as per its promises and that he would launch a countrywide movement against corruption and to highlight the farmers' issues in February next year.

An agitation by farmers, seeking Rs 3,100 per tonne for the sugarcane produce, turned violent in Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts yesterday, with the agitators clashing with the police, who burst tear gas shells and fired in the air to disperse the protesters, officials said.

Two farmers and some policemen were injured in the incident, which occurred in the Shevgaon and Paithan talukas of Ahmednagar and Aurangabad respectively, the police said.

"The firing on the sugarcane farmers is an instance of the state government's insensitivity towards them," Hazare told PTI.

Instead of resolving the farmers' grievances, pellets were fired at them which should be condemned, he said.

The anti-corruption crusader visited a hospital in Ahmednagar today to meet the two injured farmers.

He said the BJP-led central government, which had been promising to eradicate corruption and poverty from the country, had not been able to prove its competence.

It had weakened the Lokpal and Lokayukta by introducing and promptly passing changes in the Lokpal Bill by taking advantage of the absolute majority it enjoyed in Parliament, Hazare alleged.

On his silence over the central government's performance, he said he felt that the current dispensation must be given some more time.

"Unfortunately, they have not been able to perform as per their promises so far," he added.

The 80-year-old social activist said he would launch a countrywide movement against corruption and to highlight the issues of farmers, youth and the workers in the unorganised sector.

The movement would be launched in Delhi in February next year and before that, he would travel all over the country to urge the youth to join the fight against corruption, Hazare said.

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The Delhi High Court has paved the way for a minor boy to join his foster parents in Germany by directing the central adoption body to issue a no- objection certificate to the couple.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva disposed of a petition filed by the minor through his next friend, his biological father.

"The present petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) -- to grant, within a period of two weeks, a no- objection certificate (NOC) to the adoptive parents of the petitioner for taking the petitioner to Germany.

"The Ministry of Affairs/Regional Passport Officer is also directed to issue a passport to the petitioner within a period of two weeks thereafter," the court said.

The order came on a plea seeking direction to the visa issuing authorities that a certificate from CARA is not mandatory in view of a May 28, 2015 order of a court in a guardianship petition under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA).

The plea had also prayed for a direction to the Ministry of External Affairs to issue a passport to him.

"In view of the judgment dated May 28, 2015 of the competent court in a guardianship petition, the petitioner is now lawfully adopted, the said judgment has attained finality and even if the petitioner was to wish, the petitioner cannot re-unite with his biological parents.

"The petitioner's birth certificate and his Aadhaar card have already been modified and the names of his adoptive parents have already been substituted therein in place of his biological parents. Further, it is not a case of adoption between strangers. The present is a case of adoption between family members," the court noted.

It observed that the foster parents were the "real" elder brother of the biological father and the elder brother's wife.

"The adoption, being in accordance with the HAMA Act, is complete," it said.

The court said that all relations between the petitioner and his natural family are severed.

"If the petitioner is not permitted to unite with his adoptive family, the petitioner would be in a very precarious position, where his relations with the biological parents have severed and the relations with his adoptive family are not permitted to be joined. It would cause grave injustice to a child," the judge added.

In the instant case, the petitioner was born in 2004. He was adopted by his father's elder brother and his wife in 2015 as they did not have any child despite undergoing medical procedures.

A registered Adoption Deed was executed and ratified by the Court of District and Sessions Judge (West), Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, in a guardianship petition in May, 2015.

The foster parents of the petitioner are German citizens with Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status and live in Hannover, Germany.

"It, being an inter-country adoption, the parents of the petitioner approached CARA, as directed by the German Consulate at Delhi. CARA asked them to obtain a No Objection Certificate prior to applying for a visa and that for such a certificate, they had to make an application for adoption with CARA," the court noted.

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The Delhi High Court today sought the assistance of Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik on several aspects pertaining to formulation of a mechanism to deal with the issue of safety of women in the national capital.

It said it wanted to know from the police chief aspects relating to shortage of manpower in the force.

"We are seeking his (police commissioner) assistance to know the feasibility of creating a special cell to monitor all cases of crime against women since their inception, including registration of FIR and filing of charge sheet," a bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sanjeev Sachdeva.

The bench said the special cell may also keep a watch on vulnerable areas where such crimes frequently occur and ensure that adequate police force is deployed there.

The court said it was of the opinion that for effective assistance in the proceedings, the police commissioner be present before it on December 11, the next date of hearing.

Special commissioner of police or joint commissioner of police, as the police commissioner deems appropriate, be also present in the court, it said.

"The police commissioner may consider these aspects while appearing in the court on December 11 and indicate the possible plan," the bench said.

The court's directions came during the hearing of a PIL initiated by it in 2012 after the December 16, 2012 gangrape of a young woman in a moving bus. The victim later succumbed to injuries inflicted on her by the rapists.

The court was also unhappy over the central government not arriving at a decision on whether to sanction more police personnel for Delhi with the issue pending before the finance ministry since July 2015 after the home ministry cleared it.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain produced letters addressed to the finance secretary and secretary (expenditure). He said the proposal of 12,528 additional posts for the Delhi Police was sent to the finance secretary for approval.

To this, the bench asked the government to take the issue on "warfooting" and spend some extra time, hold a series of meetings and finish of the matter.

It said in last three years, several meetings have taken place at the government level but no solution has come up.

"Similar exercises were conducted twice in the past where one ministry or department would not receive concurrence.

"Departments should consider the possibility and make an appropriate order to ensure that those portions which are acceptable are passed and implemented so that the Delhi Police posts are augmented," it said.

Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, who was present during the hearing, broke down while narrating the ordeal of several minor girls who were raped in the national capital after which they had to undergo surgeries.

On being asked by the court as to how many child rapes took place in Delhi in last one year, she said around 1,000.

Meanwhile, advocate Meera Bhatia, an amicus curiae in the matter, submitted that the deputy commissioners of police of each distict in Delhi should gear up in their own areas as they have the list of bad elements of their jurisdiction.

The bench had earlier said the Centre was playing "snakes and ladders" on the issue of increasing the number of police personnel in Delhi even though the metropolis is "clearly not safe", while taking note of recent rape of an 11-month girl.

The court has been from time to time issuing directions to the police, Delhi government and Centre on the issues of augmenting the police force, bettering forensic labs and expediting testing of samples besides ensuring compensation to victims of sexual offences.

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The Uttarakhand High Court has issued notices to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Union Health Ministry and the state health department on a matter related to increases in fees of various health services by the institute.

In the face of protests by patients, the AIIMS Rishikesh had rolled back the hike last month.

Serving the notices on a PIL, a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bisht asked them to respond within a period of four weeks.

The PIL filed by Varanasi resident Praveen Kumar Singh alleged that AIIMS, Rishikesh effected an exponential hike in fees for various treatments on October 3 inconveniencing a large number of patients belonging to the lower strata of society who had to either pay more or leave the hospital.

Singh protested the "arbitrary" and "sudden" hike in fees by the AIIMS prompting the institute's administration to roll back the hike.

However, patients who had to pay more during the period when the hike was in force are yet to be refunded the extra money they had to cough up, Singh contended in his petition.

When contacted Deputy Director (Admin) AIIMS Anshuman Gupta denied having received the high court notice so far but said whatever the court directs will be complied with.

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The Madras High Court bench here has ordered a CBI probe into a Rs 81.67 crore fraud allegedly committed by some pulse traders against the Lakshmi Vilas Bank.

The traders had availed the money as loan over a period of time by fraudulently showing paddy husk bags as pulses stock (as collateral security). They failed to repay the money.

Observing that the money borrowed by the traders belonged to customers who had deposits in the bank, Justice S S Sundar directed the CBI to investigate the matter and submit a status report on December 5.

He was allowing a petition by the bank seeking transfer of the case from the local police in view of no progress.

In his yesterday's order, the judge rejected the contention of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that it was overburdened with work and hence, could not take up the case.

He also dismissed the argument by the police that no cognisable offence had been made out to enable them proceed further.

The judge said apparently it was a serious fraud and public money had been misappropriated.

Bank's vice-president M Rangarajan submitted that 27 traders from Madurai and four from Virudhunagar had borrowed Rs 71.62 crore and Rs 10.05 crore respectively, from the bank and defaulted in repaying the loan.

Though a complaint was given to the local police, no action was taken.

The loan was sanctioned on the basis of a certificate by a private firm, operating godowns for pulses, that the traders had stocked pulses with it.

The company 'Star Agri' later gave a complaint to the police that the traders had not stored pulses, but only paddy husk.

Though separate complaints were given to Virudhunagar Superintendent of Police and Madurai Police Commissioner on September 14, no action was taken against the accused.

The accused include S Suruli Velu, S Siva, partners in Sri Sharavana Traders and Selvarani Dhal Industries, and employees of Star Agri.

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The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Centre on a plea seeking to restrain the waqf board from using title 'Shahi Imam' for Jama Masjid's Imam Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also issued notice to the Delhi Waqf Board on the plea seeking to stop the practice of referring to imams of other mosques here as 'shahi'.

The bench directed the authorities to file their reply before the next date of hearing -- February 27 next year.

The application for removal of the title 'Shahi Imam' was moved in pending PILs that sought directions to the authorities to declare the historic Mughal-era Jama Masjid here a protected monument and remove all encroachments in and around it.

Petitioner Ajay Gautam also sought to restrain Syed Ahmed Bukhari and other persons from using title of 'Shahi Imam', working under control and supervision of the Delhi Wakf Board for any purpose or business.

He submitted that 'shahis' used to be appointed during the Mughal period.

"Shahi imam means officer appointed by the shah (emperor). Now, the Delhi Waqf Board is neither appointing a shahi Imam nor maintaining any such record," the application said.

The plea said that Article 18 of the Constitution prevents the State from conferring any title to its citizens except military and academic distinction.

However, the Centre, during the brief hearing of the PILs, sought more time to place before the court the documents regarding its decision that the Jama Masjid should not be declared a protected monument.

The bench allowed the request made by the Centre, but asked it to place the records positively before the next date of hearing.

The court had sought the records after it had noted that in 2005 too, the Ministry of Culture was asked by the court to produce the records.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had in August 2015 told the court that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had assured the Shahi Imam that the Jama Masjid would not be declared a protected monument.

The court was also informed that as the Jama Masjid was not a centrally protected monument, it does not fall within the purview of the ASI.

"In 2004, the issue of notifying the Jama Masjid as a centrally protected monument was raised. However, former prime minister Manmohan Singh assured the Shahi Imam, vide his October 20, 2004 letter, that the Jama Masjid would not be declared as centrally protected monument," the ASI had said in its affidavit in the court.

It had filed a counter affidavit on PILs filed by Suhail Ahmed Khan, Ajay Gautam and advocate V K Anand, who have said that the Jama Masjid was a property of the Delhi Wakf Board and Syed Ahmed Bukhari as its employee could not appoint his son as the naib (deputy) imam.

They have also sought a CBI probe into the mosque's management.

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The Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking a smooth release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film "Padmavati", which is caught in the eye of a storm.

Some members of the Rajput community have accused the director of "distorting historical facts" and portraying Rani Padmavati (played by Deepika Padukone) in bad light in the film.

The protesters have demanded that a group of historians and their group members be shown the film before its release on December 1.

In the letter to Singh, filmmaker and convenor of IFTDA Ashoke Pandit said that as the agitators have threatened to raze the cinema halls to ground, adequate protection must be provided to the "Padmavati" team.

"Protection must be given to Bhansali, his family, the star cast and the technicians of the film 'Padmavati', so that the unit is saved from the wrath of undemocratic people. Help the victim to release his film in time, without anybody's intrusion," he said in the letter.

"We are concerned with the cause of film 'Padmavati', which has become a serious issue that needs your immediate attention and stern handling of the situation, which is going out of control..."



Calling Bhansali a "sensible" director, the letter read, "A director has his or her fundamental right of creativity, freedom of expression and has prerogative to take liberty with history... He (Bhansali) was previously man-handled at Jaipur, shooting was stopped and was even threatened for his life by the hoodlums. The mental trauma, physical threat to his life and his fears are continuously rising everyday inching towards the release of his film.

"IFTDA has high regards for Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) which has statutory powers to examine the film before its release," Pandit said in the letter.

"But how (can) the Rajput community and its fringed groups of insane people blindly allege distortion of historical facts and hurting of their sentiments, when the film has not been seen by anybody?" the letter further read.

The IFTDA yesterday requested police protection for Bhansali in a letter written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The film also stars Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji.

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President Ram Nath Kovind today said while India was fully committed to peace, it would use all its might to protect the sovereignty of the nation.

At a function to present the President's Standards to the 223 Squadron and 117 Helicopter Unit of the Indian Air Force at Adampur in Punjab, Kovind also complimented the air warriors for their "impeccable turnout and smart movement".

"India's rise in the international system has many dimensions to it. But it draws heavily from the capabilities and valour of our armed forces," he said.

The president said citizens slept securely because they knew the forces were there to protect them.

"Though we remain firmly committed to peace, we are determined to use all our might to protect the sovereignty of our nation. Each time we have had to do so, our valiant men and women in uniform have risen to the occasion," an official release quoted the president as saying.

The armed forces "exemplified by the air warriors... secure the values, traditions and beliefs embodied in our democratic Constitution," he said.

The 223 Squadron, or the Tridents, was formed on May 10, 1982, in Adampur. It was initially equipped with the MiG-23 which was later upgraded to the formidable MiG-29 fighter aircraft. The squadron has a remarkable operational record.

The president said the squadron is one of the few that remains alert 365 days a year and lives up to its motto of 'Vijyaya amogh-astraha' (ultimate weapon for victory).

The 117 Helicopter Unit, or the Himalayan Dragons, was raised on February 1, 1971, at Air Force Station, Bareilly.

The unit gained its initial experience in the India- Pakistan War of 1971, on the Eastern theatre. It moved to Hasimara in 1983 and flew extensive air maintenance and casualty evacuation missions in the Northeast.

The unit moved to the Sarsawa Air Force Station in January, 1988.

In various operations pertaining to providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, the unit has worked tirelessly in helping civilians.

"It has an appropriate motto 'Aapatsu mitram' (friend in distress). That is exactly what it is to so many of our fellow citizens," he said.

The ceremony was held at the Air Force Station Adampur, which is among the oldest and best-known bases of the Indian Air Force. From a small airstrip, it has grown to a fully operational base, hosting a variety of weapon systems and has been operational since its inception in 1947.

The president said both the units being honoured today had a history of professional excellence.

"The nation honours them with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for dedication and courage in the face of adversity.

"I compliment the air warriors on parade for their impeccable turnout and smart movement," he said.

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Finance Arun Jaitley today called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, an official release said.

Both the leaders recalled the shared history of the countries, rooted in strong commercial, culture and people- to-people links.

"They also discussed the meeting between the two Prime Ministers and elevation of India-Singapore Partnership to a strategic level and actions taken to translate their vision," the release said.

They discussed at length the roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax in India, bilateral trade and investment, and the road map for enhancing economic and commercial ties.

Jaitley, on the last day of his two-day visit, also delivered a keynote address at Morgan Stanley 16th Annual Asia Pacific Summit on "India: Structural Reforms and Growth Path Ahead".

He talked about the current state of India's economy, outlining the key reforms being implemented by the government with a view to positioning India as an attractive global investment destination.

Jaitley re-iterated India's commitment to increasing public expenditure on infrastructure and creating an environment for private participation to boost employment and provide impetus to overall economic growth.

He also addressed senior fund managers and key financial institutional investors, and replied to their queries on various tax issues including impact of the re-capitalisation package for banks that are battling non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans.

Jaitley also met the Chairman and Board of Directors of Temasek, one of the largest investment companies in Asia, and discussed investment opportunities available across various sectors in India, including the National Investment and Infrastructure (NIIF).

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The Indian Navy today sealed a deal with Tata Power SED for supply of portable diver detection sonar which are fitted on ships to detect underwater threats.

The defence ministry said that the contract, under the 'Buy and Make' category, has been finalised in consonance with the government's 'Make in India' policy for the defence sector.

Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (Tata Power SED) has partnered with Israel's DSIT Solutions Ltd for manufacturing the sonars under technology transfer at its facility in Bengaluru.

The company in a statement said the order for the sonars is one of the largest in the world market.

"This is the second contract to be signed by the Indian Navy under the 'Buy and Make (Indian)' category to boost government's defence indigenisation effort," the defence ministry said in a statement.

The first contract under this category was signed earlier this year by the Navy for supply of surface surveillance radar for IN warships.

"In the last three years, we have committed the largest private sector investments in defence manufacturing at Vemagal in Karnataka. For this programme, Tata Power SED is committed along with our partner DSIT Solutions to deliver a world class solution to Indian Navy," Rahul Chaudhry, CEO of Tata Power SED, said.

A Navy official said the induction of the sonar would further enhance the Navy's underwater surveillance capability in the field of low intensity maritime operations.

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An Indian American non- governmental organisation, has been awarded with a grant money of USD 397,590 in recognition of the relief work it carried out in recent Hurricane Harvey.

Sewa International has received the grant from Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF) in its second round of grants announced yesterday, a media release said.

GHCF raised more than USD 80 million for the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

As part of the grant, Sewa International Team will identify and assist 600 persons in assessing their "individual/family needs resulting from a specific disaster event, help them develop a recovery plan, and screen for duplication of benefits and provide them access to resources for their unmet needs," the statement said.

The grant money that Sewa received today will have to be spent over the next four months.

As per the grant guidelines, Sewa has to begin providing disaster case management services within 30 days or less of receiving funding.

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An Indian-origin businesswoman has been appointed the new chair of the UKs College of Policing by the British government.

Kolkata-born Millie Banerjee will oversee the professional body for everyone in policing and make sure officers and staff have the skills and knowledge they need.

"We are dedicated to providing access to the best knowledge and skills which sits behind the bravery, dedication and compassion shown by police on a daily basis. We have ambitious plans ahead and I intend on working with people across policing to continue building a professional body that supports all officers and staff, Banerjee, 71, said.

The UK government said her appointment alongside the newly-confirmed Chief Executive of the organisation, Mike Cunningham, will help professionalise policing.

"Working with Millie over the last year I have been impressed by the insight she brings from her time leading other public and commercial organisations, including the British Transport Police, said UK home secretary Amber Rudd.

Banerjee, honoured with a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 for her work in supporting civil service reform, has had a long and varied career in the private and public sectors in the UK.

She was the Chair of the British Transport Police Authority for seven years and held several non-executive appointments, including as non-executive director of the UK Cabinet Office, the Prisons Board, the Peabody Trust and media watchdog Ofcom.

She is currently the chair of NHS Blood and Transplant and a board member of East London NHS Foundation Trust.

Rachel Tuffin, interim CEO at the College of Policing said: Millie brings a wealth of experience from the private and public sectors, including several years in policing.

Having spent years in policing, Banerjee said in her role she will work to help staff tackle "ever more complex crime" amid a reduced workforce and greater demand.

The College of Policing, established in 2012, is a not- for-profit membership organisation with a remit to provide those working in policing in England and Wales with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent crime, protect the public, and secure public trust.

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A 21-year-old Indian student has been shot dead allegedly by four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, at a grocery store in the US state of California, according to a media report.

Dharampreet Singh Jasser was on duty at a grocery store next to a gas station in Fresno city in California on Tuesday night when four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, barged in to loot the store, local daily Fresnobee reported.

Jasser reportedly hid behind the cash counter but was shot by one of the four robbers while they were leaving the service station after looting cash and goods, the report said.

The incident was reported to the police yesterday when a customer who had stopped by to buy some goods, discovered Jasser's body on the floor.

Originally from Punjab, Jasser was a student of accounting and had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

Police has arrested 22-year-old Athwal, an Indian-origin man, who is believed to be one of the four suspects who looted the gas station and fired multiple shots one of which hit Jasser.

Police said a Fresno County Sheriff's deputy saw media coverage of the incident on Tuesday and recognised some similarities between the suspects from the incident and Athwal, the Madera County Sheriff's Office said.

Madera Sheriff's detectives were contacted and determined Athwal is the likely suspect in the shooting.

A warrant has been obtained for the suspect and he will be transferred to the Madera Department of Corrections, the report said.

Athwal has been charged with murder and robbery.

"Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery," Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said



Detectives continue to search for other suspects and any further information related to this case, the Sheriff's Office said.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin will next week host Turkish and Iranian counterparts Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani for summit talks on Syria, Turkish state media said today.

The three presidents will meet at Putin's official residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi for talks on developments in Syria and the region on November 22, the Anadolu agency said.

The meeting - the first such three-way summit between the trio - comes as Ankara, Moscow and Tehran cooperate with increasing intensity on ending the over six-year civil war in Syria.

They are sponsoring peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana and also implementing a plan for de-escalation zones in key flashpoint areas of Syria.

The cooperation comes despite Turkey still officially being on an opposite side of the Syria conflict from Russia and Iran.

Russia, along with Iran, is the key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Moscow's military intervention inside Syria is widely seen as tipping the balance in the conflict.

Turkey, however, has backed the rebels seeking Assad's ouster.

But Russia and Turkey have been working together intensely since a 2016 reconciliation deal ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian war plane over Syria.

In recent months, Turkey has markedly toned down its criticism of the Assad regime and focused on opposing Syrian Kurdish militia seen by Ankara as a terror group.

Turkey earlier this month said Russia had decided to postpone a planned Syria peace conference with all parties after Ankara objected to the potential inclusion of Kurdish forces.

Moscow denied this was the case, saying a date for the conference had never been set.

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Iran and Britain are discussing the possible release of some 400 million pounds held by London since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, an Iranian official acknowledged today.

Both Britain and Iran denied any link between the possible money transfer and the detention of Nazanin Zaghari- Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who is serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling with her young daughter.

However, a similar US transfer to Iran happened at the same time American prisoners were released in 2016.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson faces tremendous criticism at home over his handling of Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case. Iranian media have speculated that Johnson may visit Iran soon.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi was quoted by the semi-official ISNA agency as saying that the 400 million pounds held by London is a payment Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi made for Chieftain tanks that were never delivered. The shah abandoned the throne in 1979 and the Islamic Revolution soon installed the clerically overseen system that endures today.

Sanctions between the countries have stopped the money being returned.

Ghasemi said Tehran has pursued the refund of the money through long and broad talks with Britain for some time. He denied any connection between the payment and Zaghari- Ratcliffe's case.

"The case of Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe and paying debt are two separate issues and there is no link between them," Ghasemi said. He added that she received prison sentence following the "necessary legal procedure."



The Daily Telegraph newspaper of London reported earlier today that the money might be part of a bargain to free Zaghari-Ratcliffe. It described the payment as a "goodwill" gesture between Britain and Iran and said authorities in London continued to consult with experts over whether the payment could be made under current US and UN sanctions.

The Foreign Office said in a statement that it was "wrong to link a completely separate debt issue with any other aspect of our bilateral relationship with Iran."



"This is a longstanding case and relates to contracts signed over 40 years ago with the pre-revolution Iranian regime," it said.

Johnson has faced withering criticism over the case after he told a parliamentary committee that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "teaching people journalism" when she was arrested last year.

Her family and her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, long have said she was on vacation taking her toddler daughter to meet relatives in Iran.

Johnson later apologized for his comment, but Iran's state broadcaster said it was an implicit admission of her guilt. Her husband recently warned that Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces new charges that could add 16 years to her sentence.

Analysts and family members of dual nationals and others detained in Iran have suggested that hard-liners in the Islamic Republic's security agencies use the prisoners as bargaining chips for money or influence. A UN panel in September described "an emerging pattern involving the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of dual nationals" in Iran, which Tehran denies.

A prisoner exchange in January 2016 that freed Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian- Americans also saw the US make a USD 400 million cash delivery to Iran the same day. That money too involved undelivered military equipment from the shah's era, though some US politicians have criticized the delivery as a ransom payment.

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, so those detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government.

Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly "infiltrating" the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, a member of Iran's 2015 nuclear negotiating team, is believed to be serving a five-year prison sentence on espionage charges.

Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the US- backed shah, are both serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage.

Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail last year after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for "collaboration with a hostile government." Shahini is believed to still be in Iran.

Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a US permanent resident from Lebanon who advocates for internet freedom and has done work for the US government. He was sentenced to 10 years last year on espionage-related charges.

Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well.

Iran says Levinson is not in the country and that it has no further information about him, though his family holds Tehran responsible for his disappearance.

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A team from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here won the gold medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) contest held at Boston, USA.

Over 300 teams from all over the world had participated in the competition, held from November 9 to 13, an official release said.

"Team IISc-iGEM participated in the contest with an extra-ordinary idea to develop a new method to purify recombinant proteins in the laboratory. They made use of naturally occurring gas vesicles isolated from Halobacterial species. The presence of these vesicles help the bacteria float to the surface of the liquid medium," the release said.

Another part of the project was development of adevice called Growth Curve and Optical Density Device (GCODe).

It is a portable, automated device to measure absorbance of any given liquid.

This design is the first of its kind where, microbial growth analysis can be performed in an automated and error-free manner.

The device has the features of real time optical density measurement.

It is easy to assemble and it can even send the readings to a smartphone. Most importantly, its performance is on par with high end commercially available spectrophotometer at a two orders lesser price, it said.

A team of 6 students travelled to Boston to participate in the competition and they were evaluated based on their elaborate poster as well as oral presentations by the experts in the field of biotechnology and bioengineering, it said.

iGEM has been encouraging students for the past 10 years to work together to solve real-world challenges by building genetically engineered biological systems with standard, interchangeable parts, the release said.

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Yes, it turns out, there is something that chafes at the unflappable Ivanka Trump.

The presidential daughter and adviser, in a "full-blown sprint" as she sells the Republican tax overhaul plan and juggles other initiatives, has had it with all that talk about her "pet project" to increase the child tax credit.

"I get a little bit frustrated when people call it a pet project," Trump told The Associated Press as she spent a day shuttling between events in multiple states. "This is a major project, this is not a pet project. This is a major initiative to ensure that there is meaningful middle-income tax relief for the American taxpayer."



Trump, who had already been to Japan, California and Maine in the previous two weeks, spent Monday zipping from a morning television interview in New York City to a tax event at the New Jersey shore, grabbing a quick face-time moment on the train with her kids along the way.

From New Jersey, she was back on the train headed to Washington for a workforce development meeting.

The planes, trains and automobiles tour wasn't glamorous. And it was a long way from her days as a celebrity heiress and personal brand booster. But meeting by meeting, Ivanka Trump is learning the ways of Washington.

Once dismissed as a first lady stand-in who'd rather stay out of the fray, Trump appears to be developing a thicker skin, digging in and putting herself on the line for the policy she's claimed as her own.

"I'm feeling better than I've ever felt since I've been here," Trump said this week, as she hit the road to promote the tax overhaul effort that has drawn Democratic criticism and spurred internal GOP conflict. As her day played out, Trump spoke exclusively to the AP about the high-stakes political push after months of behind-the-scenes work. "I'm incredibly optimistic about tax reform."



On her hop from New York to New Jersey, the first daughter settled into a commuter car with a small group of aides and Secret Service agents. She reviewed a speech for an upcoming trip to India and cut short her chat with the kids when she realized she was in the quiet car.

Trump says she and husband Jared Kushner, a fellow White House adviser, have no plans to return to their old New York City life any time soon.

"It's definitely not short-term," Trump said.

Trump who stepped away from her executive roles at The Trump Organization and running her own fashion brand to join the administration is also taking on a bigger international role, with a recent speech in Japan at a Tokyo conference on women's advancement, and an upcoming trip to India for a conference on entrepreneurship.

Of her hectic Washington life, Trump says, "I believe you go through sprints and rests and we're in a full-blown sprint."



It is a mark of the importance the Trump administration attaches to achieving a tax overhaul that Ivanka Trump opted out of her father's Asia trip to stay home and promote the GOP tax plan. On Monday she was at a fire hall in New Jersey with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The tax overhaul is a top White House priority after 10 months without any major legislative wins for the Republicans.

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Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today expressed sadness over the damage to the revered Khankah-e-Moula shrine in a fire incident.

A fire broke out around 1 am yesterday in the shrine, built in memory of renowned Sufi saint Mir Syed Ali Hamdani in downtown area of the city, damaging the spire of the building.

The governor urged the state government and all other authorities concerned to see that no time was lost in restoring the shrine to its pristine glory.

Raj Bhavan spokesperson stated that the governor and the first lady had visited the shrine on many occasions.

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A health crisis lurked in Karnataka as doctors across the state today shut out-patient departments indefinitely, escalating their stir against proposed amendments to an Act to make hospitals accountable for medical negligence.

Health services in private hospitals and nursing homes were crippled twice in the last two weeks by the strike by doctors who alleged that the proposed changes were "draconian" in nature.

Doctors are opposing the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, which among others propose six months to three years of jail term and a hefty penalty for medical negligence on the part of medical practitioners.

The amendments also arm the government with powers to fix the cost of treatment.

The proposed amendments are based on recommendations of former Supreme Court judge Vikramajit Sen.

Amid reports that the strike had caused several deaths across the state with the serious patients being unattended to, more than 22,000 doctors went on an indefinite strike in Bengaluru alone, which manifested in the unmanageable rush at government hospitals.

Government-run Victoria Hospital, KC General Hospital and Bowring Hospital, the three prominent hospitals of Bengaluru, saw a sudden rush of patients.

In a casualty of the strike, students of a school at Ramanagar, who were injured after their van collided with a government bus reportedly faced difficulties after a nearby private hospital allegedly refused to accept the case and referred it to Bengaluru, the police said.

Two children were killed and seven others injured in the accident, they said.

In Jamakhandi Taluk in Bagalkote district, a seriously ill woman was taken to a private hospital, but allegedly there was none to attend her.

She was rushed to government hospital, but died on the way, her family alleged.

In view of the strike, the health department has directed all Taluk Health Officers and Programme officers of the department to attend to the clinical services till further orders.

The crippling of medical services led to furore in the Karnataka Assembly, presently in progress in Belagavi.

The government was ready to talk to agitating doctors and would try to find solution to the issue, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said.

Replying to opposition BJP, the minister said it was not a prestige issue for him. It is doctors who have made it a prestige issue, as they have called for a state wide agitation, when the 'Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2017' is yet to be tabled, he said.

"We will try to find a solution soon, we are open for discussion with doctors," the minister said.

Unhappy with the minister's response, BJP members walkedout of the House demanding immediate resolution, saying delay may cause more deaths of patients.

Kumar said doctors have a responsibility and by shutting medical services they are making common man suffer and said that the government has no intention to harassdoctors or the private medical institutions.

He said, "As weempanelled you and we have to pay you tax payers money forservices, we have to fix charges for services..."



The minister said he has no plans to resign if the Bill was not tabled during the session as reported by some sections in the media.

The Bill was first tabled in the assembly on June 13, and later sent to the joint select committee following opposition by doctors and medical professionals.

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Karnataka government today urged the central government to relax norms and procure 6,00,000 tonnes of maize at the support price and prevent farmers from distressed sale owing to crash in the prices.

The state demanded procurement of groundnut as well because its prices too have fallen below the minimum support price (MSP) on expectation of higher crop.

The state government also sought to clear last three years' dues of Rs 1,050 crore at the earliest.

In a meeting with Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Karnataka Food Minister U T Kadher and Agriculture Minister Byre Gowda explained how fall in maize prices below the minimum support price (MSP) is affecting farmers.

"The Centre has said that the procurement will be allowed with a condition it is utilised for PDS purpose in the state. But, we have asked them to procure and use it for central pool because there are not takers for maize under PDS," Gowda told reporters after the meeting.

It is the duty of the central government to procure crops when prices fall below the MSP and it cannot put condition and link with the Public Distribution System (PDS), he said.

Moreover, staple foodgrain in the state is rice, ragi, jowar and wheat. Therefore, maize procured under MSP operations cannot be used in PDS, he added.

"We have asked them to relax this norm and start procurement operation at the earliest under the price stabilisation fund (PSF) as maize prices in the state have fallen below the MSP level on expected higher kharif crop."



Maize prices have declined to Rs 900-1,100 per quintal at present, much lower than the MSP of Rs 1,425 per quintal fixed for the 2017-18 crop year (July-June), he said.

Buoyed by good monsoon, the state is expecting maize production of 28 lakh tonnes this year, of which procurement of 6 lakh tonnes by the central government will help stabilise mandi prices, he added.

The state government has suggested the Centre to procure maize from Karnataka and distribute through central pool to many of consuming states of north India.

It was in 2013-14, the centre had last procured 5 lakh tonnes of maize from the state at the support price.

Meeting separately with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Gowda sought procurement of groundnut under the Price Support Scheme as mandi prices have fallen sharply on expectation of better crop.

On pending dues, Gowda said, "Dues to the tune of Rs 1,050 crore for last three years has not been cleared by the Centre. We have procured on behalf of the government from our revolving funds, but that amount has not been paid to us yet".

Karnataka is one of the very few states which has a separate revolving fund of Rs 1,500 crore to undertake market operations.

Now, the amount in the revolving fund has come down to Rs 500 crore. The clearance of dues from the centre will help the state to intervene better, he added.

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The CBI today arrested D W Negi, a former Superintendent of Police of Shimla, taking the number of arrests to nine in the sensational Kotkhai rape case that rocked Himachal Pradesh.

The CBI had registered two cases on the direction of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in July this year to probe the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl and the second related to the custodial death of an accused, Suraj Singh, arrested by the Himachal Pradesh Police.

The Central Bureau of Investigation spokesman said that the agency had arrested Negi, former Superintendent of Police, posted at Shimla, in an on going investigation of a case relating to the custodial death of Singh.

Negi was produced before the special CBI court which sent him to agency's remand till November 20.

The central probe agency had in August arrested eight Himachal Pradesh Police officials, including Inspector General Z H Zaidi, in connection with the custodial death of Singh, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal.

Singh, who was a suspect in the rape and murder of a minor school girl in the Kotkhai area of Shimla in early July, was among six people arrested by the local police.

He was allegedly killed by a co-accused at the Kotkhai police station last month, triggering a massive public outrage.

The CBI, which was later handed over the probe into the case by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, questioned several people before arresting Zaidi, a 1994-batch IPS officer, the then IGP (South) Manoj Joshi, the then Deputy Superintendent of Police, and six other police officials.

The Himachal Pradesh Police had arrested Ashish Chauhan alias Ashu (29), a resident of Sharaal village in Mahasu area of Kotkhai; Rajender Singh alias Raju (32), a driver; Subash Singh Bisht (42) and Deepak alias Deepu (29), both residents of Pauri Garwal; Suraj Singh (29) and Lok Jung alias Chotu (19), both hailing from Nepal.

The minor girl had gone missing after school hours on July 4 from Haliala forest in the Kotkhai area of Shimla district.

Her naked body was found in the forest on July 6 and the post-mortem report confirmed rape. The rape case has created furore in the state which goes to polls later this year.

The case was handed over to the CBI by the Himachal Pradesh High Court on July 19 on the state government's plea amid public outburst against the state police.

The CBI had filed two FIRs on July 22.

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Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal wrecked the high-profile Indian top-order in overcast conditions to leave the hosts reeling at 17 for three on a rain-affected day one of the first Test here today.

Lakmal's sensational spell, in which he struck thrice without conceding a run in six overs, saw him removing opener Lokesh Rahul on the first ball of the match after play began three and a half hours late due to wet conditions.

His other two victims were Shikhar Dhawan (8), who played a loose shot in testing conditions to play on to his stumps, and India captain Virat Kohli (0), who was trapped in front off a ball that came in sharply.

Bad-light and rain led to multiple interruptions before umpires decided to call off the day's play with just 11.5 overs being bowled.

In the second over after tea, skipper Kohli was trapped anticipating an away delivery when the ball sharply cut back in.

Kohli went for the review but was given out on umpire's call to bring his innings to an end with zero from 11 balls.

Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on eight after playing 43 deliveries in an anxious stay at the crease with Ajinkya Rahane at the other end.

Bad light and rain meant only an hour's play was possible in the day.

The first session was washed away due to drizzle and wet outfield, and the second session began at 1.42 pm as play was possible only for 43 minutes.

The post-tea period began at 3.30 pm and there was no change to India's score in the session but the Lankans added the prized-wicket of Kohli in a 17-minute session.

Dinesh Chandimal won a fine toss and opted to bowl under overcast conditions as Lakmal made full use of the Eden greentop.

Relishing the conditions, Lakmal produced an unplayable delivery that pitched on middlestump line and went away to take a feather edge of Rahul.

It was an agonising end for Rahul's streak of seven successive fifties. He was picked in the eleven ahead of Murali Vijay but fell to a beauty.

Continuing his dream start, the Lankan new-ball bowler almost cleaned up Pujara with a fuller inswinger following Rahul's dismissal.

But luckily for the most dependable India batsman, the ball which darted back in went inches above the middle stump.

Touring here for a Test series for the first time since 2009, Sri Lanka have lost 10 matches and drawn six as they search for a maiden win on Indian soil.

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The Madras High Court has issued notice to the Centre and Tamil Nadu government on a PIL seeking a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of a farmer, who died after being allegedly assaulted by a bank's loan recovery agent in Tiruvannamalai district recently.

The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar ordered notice to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Finance and RBI Governor, besides other authorities of the state government returnable by November 20.

The petitioner, S Rajinikanth, President of Tamil Nadu Progressive Advocate Association (Chennai), sought a direction to the state government to take suitable action against those responsible for the death ofthe 50-year-old Gnanasekaran of Bondhai village in that district.

The police had said, the recovery agent of a nationalised bank had come to the farmer's house to enquire about the dues and seize a tractor, hypothecated to the bank in connection with the loan, on November 5.

When the farmer had asked for the ID card of the agent, it triggered an argument during which Gnanaseakran was allegedly hit in the chest and he swooned, police said, adding that he later died.

The petitioner submitted that both the central and state governments have not taken steps to redress the grievances of farmers and sought a direction to set up a separate cell to redress the grievances of those who are unable to repay the farm loans and facing harassment from banks.

Referring to High Court and Supreme Court rulings which time and again held that bank officials were not supposed to indulge in violence to recover the loan amount, the petitioner prayed for a direction from the Court to pay a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of the deceased.

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Amid a row over film 'Padmavati', former Union minister Shashi Tharoor claimed today that the "so called valourous maharajas" had scurried to accomodate themselves when the British "trampled" over their honour and were now after a filmmaker claiming prestige was at stake.

At an event here Tharoor was asked why his book, 'An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India', had a "whiff of victimhood" when he holds that Indians had connived with the English.

"It is (our fault) and I say so. I actually don't take the mantle of victimhood. In about half a dozen places in the book, I am harsh enough on us... Some British reviewers said 'Why doesn't he explain why the British conquered?' And it's a fair question...," Tharoor said.

"In fact, every single one of these so called valorous maharajas, who today are after a Mumbai filmmaker because their honour is at stake, they were less concerned about their honour when the British were trampling all over it. They scurried to accommodate themselves. So let's face it, there is no question, that we were complicit," he said.

The Congress leader's comments come at a time when Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie 'Padmavati' has been in the eye of a storm as the Shri Rajput Karni Sena and some other outfits have accused the filmmaker of distorting history and hurting Hindu sentiments.

Tharoor, meanwhile, said that his book was "not a plea that 'Oh! We are poor victims, forgive us". It very much points out that the British empire is not what many made people believe it to be, the former minister said.

Tharoor said Mahatma Gandhi showed mirror to the British to made them realise about their acts.

"Mahatma Gandhi triumphed by shaming the British through their own brutalisation. He showed them a mirror and said, 'look at you, you are shaming yourselves, are these the value you stand for'? Fortunately the British were capable of being ashamed," Tharoor added.

He was in conversation with professor Peter Frankopan during a session at the opening ceremony of the eighth edition of the Tata Literature Live.

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A man was today arrested for allegedly raping his 16-year-old sister-in-law in suburban Bandra here, police said.

The accused, Irshad Siddiqui (28), had allegedly sexually assaulted his wife's younger sister on Sunday, they said.

According to a police official, the accused and his wife, who reside in Rajkot in Gujarat, had come to the latter's maternal home in Bandra to attend her mother's funeral. Her mother had died in a road accident a few days back.

"On Sunday afternoon, the accused raped his wife's sister when she went to sleep. Following the incident, the victim went to her neighbours and narrated her ordeal to them. They approached the police and lodged a complaint against Siddiqui," he said.

Three police teams were formed to probe the matter and sent to various places, including Rajkot, to nab the accused, the official said.

"Acting on a tip-off that Siddiqui is again in Mumbai, police laid a trap and arrested him from suburban Khar today," the official said.

Siddiqui has been booked under section 376 (rape), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and other relevant sections of IPC.

He has also been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said.

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A 60-year old man from Kerala allegedly murdered his wife by slitting her throat and also attempted to commit suicide at a lodge in this temple town, police said today.

As the couple from Trichur in Kerala did not come out of the room for a long time, the lodge owner informed the police, who reached the spot and broke open the door.

When police personnel entered the room, they found the woman dead and the man in a serious condition with his throat slit.

The man is undergoing treatment at a government hospital here, police said.

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US President Donald Trump has said that he met prime ministers of India, Japan and Australia during his Asia trip to discuss their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In a televised live address to the nation, a day after he returned from a nearly two-week Asia trip with stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines, Trump said momentum from the trip will launch the US on its continued effort to accomplish the three core objectives.

"Unite the world against North Korean nuclear threat, to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and to advance fair and reciprocal economic relations with our trading partners and allies in the region," Trump said in the 25- minute address.

"We have established a new framework for trade that will ensure reciprocity through enforcement actions, reform of international organisations and new fair-trade deals that benefit the US and our partners," he said.

"This journey took us to five nations, to meet with dozens of foreign leaders, participate in three formal state visits and attend three key regional summits," he said, adding that, it was the longest visit to the region by an American president in more than a quarter of a century.

Trump met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Philippines on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit. This was the second bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

The US president also met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, which assumes significance in view of the launch of quadrilateral dialogue between the US, Australia, Japan and India.

"At ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, we made it clear that no one owns the ocean. Freedom of navigation and overflight are critical to the security and prosperity of all nations," he said.

"I also met with the Prime Ministers of India, Australia, and Japan to discuss our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Trump said.

At the East Asia Summit, he said, the US negotiated and signed four important leader statements on the use of chemical weapons, money laundering, poverty alleviation and countering terrorist propaganda and financing.

Before Philippines, Trump travelled to Vietnam where he attended the APEC Summit meeting.

"Crucially, at both summits and throughout the trip, we asked all nations to support our campaign of maximum pressure for North Korean denuclearisation," he said.

"And they are responding by cutting trade with North Korea, restricting financial ties to the regime and expelling North Korean diplomats and workers. Over the last two weeks, we have made historic strides in reasserting American leadership, restoring American security and reawakening American confidence," he said.

Trump said, everywhere he went, the hosts greeted the American delegation with incredible warmth, hospitality and, most importantly, respect.

"And this great respect showed very well our country is further evidence that America's renewed confidence and standing in the world has never been stronger than it is right now," he said.

"When we are confident in ourselves, our strength, our flag, our history, our values, other nations are confident in us. And when we treat our citizens with the respect they deserve, other countries treat America with the respect that our country so richly deserves. During our travel, this is exactly what the world saw -- a strong, proud and confident America," he asserted.

In Asia, Trump said his message was clear and well- received: America is here to compete, to do business and to defend its values and security.

Addressing the APEC Summit in Vietnam, he said that he reminded the world of America's historic role in the Pacific as a force for freedom and for peace.

"Standing on this proud history, I offered our vision for robust trading relationships in which Indo-Pacific nations can all prosper and grow together. I announced that the US is ready to make bilateral trade deals, with any nation in the region that wants to be our partner in fair and reciprocal trade," he said.

"We will never again turn a blind eye to trading abuses, to cheating, economic aggression, or anything else from countries that profess a belief in open trade, but do not follow the rules or live by its principles themselves. No international trading organisation can function if members are allowed to exploit the openness of others for unfair economic gain," Trump said.

Trade abuses harm the US and its workers, but no more, he asserted.

"We will take every trade action necessary to achieve the fair and reciprocal treatment that the US has offered to the rest of the world for decades. My message has resonated," he said.

"The 21 APEC leaders, for the first time ever, recognise the importance of fair and reciprocal trade. Recognise the need to address unfair trade practices, and acknowledge that the WTO is in strong need of reform," he told Americans.

These leaders also noted that countries must do a better job following the rules to which they agree, he said.

"I also made very clear that the US will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, in which nations enjoy the independence and respect they deserve," he said.

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MG Motor India, the arm of UK's Morris Garages, announced a programme today to partner with technology start-ups.

Through the programme, the company is looking to bring in additional synergies to its automotive business in coming years, especially in telematics and manufacturing, MG Motor India said in a statement.

The company has joined hands with TiE Delhi, a non-profit association that mentors startup founders, to launch the 'MG Drives Innovation' programme, it added.

MG Motor India President and Managing Director Rajeev Chaba said, "As part of MG's commitment to build a culture of constant innovation, we are open to exploring various opportunities for collaborating with any technology startup that brings additional synergies to our business."



India is home to a number of entrepreneurs and innovative minds who choose to go the start-up route, including the mobility space, he added.

Three partnership models have been identified depending on the stage of development of startups for which selected firms will be invited to join the programme, the company said.

The three models include developer programme for companies at concept or minimal viable product stage; accelerator programme for those firms whose products and solutions or any aspect(s) of business need refinement, and who can benefit from deep-engaged mentoring by domain experts.

The third model, partner programme is meant for companies which have ready-for-market products. MG Motor India will help integrate their solutions into its business or assist in taking the same to market, the statement said.

The British automotive marque MG recently inaugurated its first manufacturing facility at Halol in Gujarat. It plans to launch its first product in 2019 in India.

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A 48-year-old man, who had gone missing from a hospital three days ago, was found killed near a railway track at Begarazpur village in the district, police said today.

The body of the deceased was found yesterday near the railway track, they said, they said.

According to the police, the victim was admitted to a Muzaffarnagar medical college for some treatment on November 12 and was missing from the hospital premises.

"We have taken some people into custody for interrogation, and investigation into the incident is underway for further details," the police said, adding that the body has been sent for post-mortem.

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Mizoram has received Rs 102.02 crore from the Centre for setting up its first and only medical college, state Health Minister Lal Thanzara told the assembly today.

Replying to questions from Lalruatkima of the Mizo National Front(MNF), he said that the state's matching share of Rs 11.34 crore was also received for the purpose.

He said that the college, which is to be named as Mizoram Institute of Medical Education and Research (MIMER), would have 100 seats and the classes would begin after approcal by Medical Council of India.

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The Mumbai Police today beefed up the security of actor Deepika Padukone after Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) warned of physical harm incase she did not refrain from "inciting public sentiments", a senior official said.

Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana today invoked the nose chopping of 'Surpanakha' in the epic Ramayana and said if the Bollywood film "Padmavati" was not banned and Padukone does not refrain from fanning sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.

"The Mumbai Police have increased actor Deepika Padukone's security after the outfit issued the nose chopping threat," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told PTI.

We are providing her adequate security after the threat, he said. The police will also provide security at the actress's residence as well as office in Mumbai.

They have already provided protection to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali after the Rajput community outfit protested outside his office in suburban Juhu last Saturday while accusing him of distorting historical facts in the history drama.

Police have beefed up security at Bhansali's residence in Versova in the city.

Organisations like the SRKS have been protesting against the release of the film, claiming that it distorts history and hurts sentiments.

The SRKS has called for a country-wide bandh on December 1, the day the film is slated to be released.

In January this year, the SRKS had attacked the sets of the movie in Jaipur and even slapped Bhansali.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil told PTI the government was assessing Padukone's security in the wake of the threats.

"We have already provided security to Sanjay Leela Bhansali as he was found to be at risk. Now a security assessment of Deepika Padukone is being done. If she is found to be at risk, adequate steps will be taken. However, nobody's threat can be taken at the face value until the government assesses it," he said.

Padukone had on Tuesday hit out against those protesting the release of 'Padmavati' and reportedly said that "we've regressed as a nation".

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In an unusual move, Pakistan's anti-graft body today sought the inclusion of Ishaq Dar's name on the Exit Control List after the embattled finance minister repeatedly failed to appear before an anti-corruption court linked to the Panama Papers case.

The development came after the Accountability Court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Dar following his failure to appear in three weeks of court hearings.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recommended the placement of Dar's name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

"NAB has recommended to the Ministry of Interior to place Dar's name on ECL. A letter has been sent to MoI," said a senior NAB official.

"This is the last chance for the accused (Dar) to appear before the court," The Express Tribune reported, quoting the order.

The 67-year-old minister, who is currently in London for "medical reasons", has been charged with amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income. He has missed several court hearings conducted by the anti-graft agency NAB.

Earlier, the Accountability Court also dismissed Dar's petition for exemption from hearings.

Judge Mohammad Bashir asked Dar's guarantor Ahmad Ali Qudoosi when is the finance minister expected to appear in teh court.

In response, Qudoosi said Dar will fully recover in three to six weeks and will attend hearing after that. However, the court was not satisfied and issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

The hearing was then adjourned until November 21.

At the November 2 hearing, the accountability court had approved NAB's request to freeze Dar's assets.

The charges against Dar followed an investigation into the finances of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted in July after the Supreme Court disqualified him for not declaring a small salary from his son's off-shore company.

On July 28, a five-member Supreme Court bench had ordered NAB to file three cases against Sharif and one against Dar on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's chief Imran Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami's Sirajul Haq and Awami Muslim League's Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

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NASA has developed a new forecasting tool that can predict which cities will be affected as different portions of ice sheets melt due to global warming.

The tool looks at the Earth's spin and gravitational effects to predict how water will be "redistributed" globally.

"This provides, for each city, a picture of which glaciers, ice sheets, and ice caps are of specific importance," researchers said.

"As cities and countries attempt to build plans to mitigate flooding, they have to be thinking about 100 years in the future and they want to assess risk in the same way that insurance companies do," said Erik Ivins, senior scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the US.

Three key processes influenced "the sea-level fingerprint," the pattern of sea-level change around the world, according to the study published in the journal Science Advances.

These include gravity, "push-pull influence" of ice, and the rotation of the planet itself.

"We can compute the exact sensitivity - for a specific town - of a sea level to every ice mass in the world," said Eric Larour told 'BBC News'.

The tool provided a way for governments to work out which ice sheets they should be most worried about.

It suggests that in London sea-level rise could be significantly affected by changes in the north-western part of the Greenland ice sheet.

For New York, the area of concern is the ice sheet's entire northern and eastern portions, researchers said.

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A Naval Flight Safety Seminar was conducted at Naval Base here today under the aegis of Southern Naval Command.

Southern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral A R Karve inaugurated the seminar in which seven papers were presented.

The themes of the seminar were "Study of Best Practices of Civil and Advanced Foreign Military Aviation for Enhancing Flight Safety and Imperatives of Airspace Management in a Rapidly Integrating and Dense Air Environment", a Defence release said here.

The Vice Admiral said it was in Kochi that naval aviation took birth many decades ago and has since grown to be a force to reckon with.

The seminar was attended by senior officers of the Naval Air Arm including the commanding officers of all the air squadrons of the navy across the country.

Various aviation accidents and incidents of the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Army were discussed in detail as case studies.

Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 312, the squadron operating P8-I aircraft based at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu was adjudged the best Air Squadron of the navy for the year 2016-17, while INAS 550 squadron based at Kochi operating the Dornier aircraft was adjudged the runners up.

INAS 318, the Dornier aircraft operating squadron at Port Blair was adjudged best frontline squdron in terms of flight safety, the release.

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may not be able to sack Kevin Spacey from their popular series "House of Cards", after the veteran actor was accused of sexual harassment, due to his contract.

According to a report in The Blast, Spacey's contract does not have an morality clause, meaning that the streaming giant cannot terminate the star's services for his personal actions.

A source said Spacey's contract can only end if he is "unavailable or incapacitated" to perform his duties.

In response, a spokesperson from the streaming service replied saying, " will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey. We will continue to work with MRC (the show's production company) during this hiatus time to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the show..."



The rep added they will not move forward with "Gore," a biopic on the American writer Gore Vidal, featuring Spacey in the title role.

The series was in its post-production phase.

Actor Anthony Rapp had accused Spacey of sexual misconduct, when he was just 14.

Production on the sixth and last season of the series, in which the actor plays the lead of Frank Underwood, has since been suspended.

Earlier, the streaming service released a statement, saying said it was "deeply troubled" by Rapp's allegation.
The National Green Tribunal today directed 10 builders in Faridabad district in Haryana to submit bank guarantee of Rs 50 lakh each within three days, failing which their bank accounts would be attached, over dysfunctional sewage treatment plants (STPs).

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar restrained these builders from withdrawing money from their bank accounts in the meanwhile.

It asked the builders to upgrade their STPs and then approach the Haryana Pollution Control Board for inspection.

The tribunal ordered that no builder would be allowed to dump sewage in the open and strict action would be taken against the violators.

"Only after taking permission from the NGT would the accounts of the builders be de-freezed," the tribunal said while coming down heavily on the builders.

The builders are -- Omaxe Heights Faridabad and Summer Palms in Sector 86, SRS Residency and BPTP Villas in Sector 88, ERA Redwood Residency in Sector 78, SRS Royal Hills Sector 87, Puri VIP Floors in Sector 81, BPTP L Block and BPTP Elite floors in sector 84 and Era Divine Court in sector 76 of Faridabad.

The green panel also imposed an environment compensation of Rs 55 lakh on ERA Redwood Residency payable within one week for not obtaining consent to operate for its STP.

It also slapped environment compensation of Rs 5 lakh each on Omaxe (Sector 86 project), SRS and BPTP over faulty STPs.

Advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for Omaxe, said that most of the builders were already under immense financial pressure and requested the tribunal not to impose penalty on them.

The matter is listed for next hearing tomorrow.

The NGT order came on a petition, filed through Shariq Abbas Zaidi, by Faridabad resident Varun Sheokand who had alleged that the group housing societies in Greater Faridabad and Sainik Colony had been dumping sewage in the open in the absence of proper sewerage connection.

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The NIA will probe the killing of an RSS leader in Punjab following a recommendation by the state government, a home ministry official said.

The ministry has decided to hand over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) the investigation into the the killing of Ravinder Gosai in Ludhiana last month.

The decision has been taken following a recommendation of the Punjab government, the official said.

Gosai was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants on October 17. He was the 'Sangh Pracharak' at the RSS Mohan Shakha in Ludhiana.

Four unidentified assailants also shot dead the leader of a lesser known Hindu outfit 'Hindu Sangarash Sena' Vipina Sharma in Amritsar in broad day light on October 30.

Senior Punjab RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja was shot by unidentified motorcycle-borne youths in a busy area in Jalandhar on August 6, 2016.

However, so far, the Punjab government has recommended for an NIA probe only Gosai's killing.

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Illegal gold miners opened fire on Venezuelan troops patrolling an isolated jungle outpost, triggering a clash in which nine suspects were killed.

In an area where organized crime has a hand in the crime, the group was on patrol in Valle Verde, outside El Callao in Bolivar state, the military said.

One member of the patrol was injured.

The region not far from the Brazilian border has vast reserves of gold and other resources.

Venezuela is in economic crisis due to the low price of its main export, oil. Gold prices meanwhile are firm.

The South American nation has a sky-high violent crime rate.

Last year 21,752 people were killed -- or 70.1 people for every 100,000 residents. That is almost nine times worse than the global average.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today greeted the media fraternity on the occasion of "National Press Day".

"The National Press Day symbolises the presence of an independent and responsible press in India. Congratulations and best wishes to all friends in the press", the Chief Minister said in his message.

A symposium on "challenges before the media" was also organised on this occasion by the state's Information and Public Relations Department as part of the celebration.

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The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Delhi Police on a plea by Vishal Yadav, serving life term in the Nitish Katara murder case, seeking a three-month parole to sell his property for arranging funds for his daughter's education.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar also sought the reponse of Neelam Katara, mother of Nitish, on the plea.

The court asked additional standing counsel Rajesh Mahajan, appearing for the Delhi Police, to file a status report after full verification of the facts and listed the matter for December 13.

It said that the notice be also served to witness Ajay Katara to present his case.

Yadav, through senior advocate Puneet Mittal, said he was in custody and could not challenge the December 2014 order of the high court by which his appeal was dismissed in the murder case and sought a three-month parole to engage a lawyer and make other arrangements to exercise his legal and constitutional rights.

He submitted there was no one else to look after his daughter, studying in class 10 , for the purpose of education and that he has to dispose of his property in Ghaziabad's Vaishali to arrange for funds for studies and for his litigation.

He also wished to meet his grandmother who was in her advanced stage of life, the plea said.

On August 29, the Supreme Court had dismissed his plea seeking review of its verdict sending him to prison for 25 years.

Besides Vishal Yadav, the apex court had awarded a 25- year jail term to his cousin Vikas Yadav and 20 years in prison for third convict Sukhdev Pehalwan in the case.

On October 3 last year, the apex court had modified the award of 30-year jail term handed down to the Yadavs by the high court, saying 25 years imprisonment for the offence of murder and five years jail term for causing destruction of evidence would run concurrently and not consecutively.

It had also scaled down the jail term of 25 years to 20 years for Sukhdev by holding that imprisonment for separate offences would not run consecutively, but concurrently.

The top court had earlier dismissed the appeals against their conviction in the case for kidnapping of Katara from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002 before killing him for his alleged affair with Bharti Yadav, the sister of Vikas Yadav.

It had concurred with the findings of the high court that the offence fell under the category of honour killing which deserved harsh punishment and send a strong message across to possible offenders.

The trio have been serving life term awarded by the lower court in May 2008 for abducting and killing Katara, a business executive and the son of a railway officer, as they opposed the victim's affair with Bharti, the daughter of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav.

D P Yadav is at present in jail in connection with a murder case.

The high court had on April 2, 2014 upheld the verdict of the lower court by describing the offence as "honour killing" stemming from a "deeply-entrenched belief" in the caste system.

Katara was murdered as Vishal and Vikas Yadav did not approve of the victim's affair with Bharti because they belonged to different castes, the lower court had said.

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China has asserted that there is no contradiction in its policy to block India's bid to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief as a global terrorist by the UN, saying the BRICS declaration was against terror groups and not individuals, Pakistani media on Thursday reported.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move to impose a ban on the JeM chief under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.

The latest technical hold by China came on November 2 when it blocked another proposal by the US, France and the UK to list Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN. Beijing had blocked such a move in February this year.

Speaking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors in Beijing this week, Counselor and Asia Division Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chen Feng said vetoing a resolution against Azhar after the BRICS declaration against terror outfits did not reflect a contradiction in China's policy as BRICS members have not entered into any such agreement.

The Chinese move was not in contradiction with Chinese policy in the context of BRICS declaration against terrorism, Chen was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

Chen clarified that the BRICS summit discussed only banned organisations and not individuals, Pakistan Today reported.

The BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - at a summit in China in September named, for the first time, Pakistan-based groups like the Lashkar-e- Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani network in a joint declaration condemning terror.

In early November, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said: "we raised a technical hold so as to allow more time for the committee and its members to deliberate on this matter. But there is still absence of consensus on this matter."

Defending the repeated technical holds, Hua said China's actions are meant to ensure and safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council.

China in the past has also asked India to discuss the issue directly with Pakistan to reach an understanding on Azhar's listing.

In the last two years, China has stonewalled efforts by India to declare Azhar as a global terrorist.

The senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official also briefed the Pakistani editors about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an ambitious project that is opposed by India as it is passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Chen said Beijing was trying to convince India that the multibillion dollar project is based on economic cooperation and that its main aim is to promote peace and prosperity in the region.

"The CPEC is neither a way to achieve political aims nor to be used in regional conflicts. Basic aim of the economic plan is to expand the mutual relations. China wants to engage other countries in the economic corridor too," Chen said.

He said China had time and again clarified it to India that it had no hegemonic designs in the region.

"We rather view CPEC as a way of forming equal relationships with regional countries and to promote friendship and neighbourhood in the region," he added.

Feng clarified that China was not a party in the Kashmir dispute.

"India's accusation of Chinese occupation on any part of Kashmir is baseless. We have denied such claims in the past as well. Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, peaceful solution of which is the only way to regional peace and prosperity," he was quoted as saying.
Union Minister on Thursday said no one could stop India if it wanted to wrest PoK from Pakistan, stressing that the territory was a part of India.

The minister of state for home said Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir was under Islamabad because of the "mistakes" of previous governments.

"I say Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is a part of India and due to the mistakes of the previous governments it has been with Pakistan. If we try to get PoK back, no one can stop us because it is our right," he said on the sidelines of a function here.

The minister said India would make efforts to get the territory back from Pakistan.

The comments came a day after Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said Pakistan would not allow India to take that part of Jammu and Kashmir which was under its occupation.

The former state chief minister had raked up a controversy last week when he said PoK belonged to Pakistan.
Amid reports of Pakistan's move to withdraw its bid to include Diamer-Bhasha Dam in PoK from the CPEC framework, China today said it was not aware of Islamabad's decision but the project to connect Xinjiang and Gwadar port is "progressing smoothly for the time being."



Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain was yesterday quoted by the Pakistan media as saying that "Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests."



"I am not aware of the information mentioned by you," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media here when asked about Pakistan's decision to take the dam project off the table contending that the conditions proposed by Beijing is "not doable" and goes against its interest.

"I can tell you that China and Pakistan cooperation is extensive and profound," Geng said. "As far as I know CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."



Briefing the Public Accounts Committee on the status of the mega water and power project, Hussain had said the Chinese conditions were about taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project by pledging another operational dam.

These conditions were unacceptable, therefore, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved a report to finance the dam from the country's own resources, Hussain said.

Pakistan's decision to publicise Chinese conditions came as a surprise, considering it shares close and "all weather" ties with China.

The announcement by the Pakistan government came days before the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting with China, which is scheduled for November 21 in Islamabad.

The JCC is the highest decision-making body of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through which China is infusing over USD 50 billion cash into Pakistan financing a host of energy projects. The CPEC passes through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Defending the connectivity project, Geng said "as for the CPEC we follow the principle of extensive consultation and joint shared benefits to promote the building of the CPEC. It is conducive to promote connectivity of the two countries and connectivity of the whole region. As far as I know CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."



Pakistan has been struggling to raise money from international institutions like the World Bank in the face of Indian opposition to the project on the Indus River in PoK.

Neither the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) nor China would finance the dam, therefore, the government decided to construct the reservoir from its own resources, Pakistans Express Tribune daily yesterday quoted Water Resources Secretary Shumail Khawaja as saying.

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BSP chief said today that her party favoured joining hands with secular parties to check "communal parties" in Lok Sabha and state polls but only if it gets a respectable number of seats to contest.

She said that even for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls her party leader Satish Mishra held talks with senior Congressman Ahmed Patel but the outcome was not encouraging.

"Our party is in favour of fighting the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in alliance with any secular party, but only when it gets a respectable number of seats in seat sharing or else it would go alone," was quoted in a party release issued here.

The BSP president who today convened a meeting of senior party leaders to pass directions for the coming urban local bodies polls, which the party is contesting on its "elephant" symbol for the first time, said that any partymen entering the fray as independents will be expelled.

Referring to recent efforts at seat sharing, she said that the Congress did not approve sharing 25 seats in Gujarat and 10 in Himachal Pradesh, all which it had lost in the previous polls.

Senior BSP leader S C Mishra held detailed talks with Ahmed Patel of the Congress and dejected over the results he has now stopped advocating contesting elections in alliance, she said.

"Mishra is also unhappy with the stance of the Samajwadi Party in this matter...The past experience with the SP has also not been good," the former chief minister said.

She claimed that contesting in the alliance had not benefitted her party in the past, therefore it was better that the BSP contests the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls alone for which it will work towards increasing support base among the "sarv samaj" like in the 2007 UP Assembly polls.

Following the BJP spectacular performance in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and then the state polls, earlier this year, there has been much speculation that BSP may enter into an alliance with parties like the Congress and the SP in the forthcoming polls.

The BSP president also took the opportunity to inform her partymen that her coming birthday on January 15 will be celebrated as "Jan Kalyankari Divas" like earlier years and valuable gifts will not be accepted.

"Instead, partymen need to work hard to strengthen the party and get the master key of power...That will be the most valuable present for me," she said.

Exhorting partymen to foil BJP "tactics and the misuse of official machinery" in the urban local bodies elections, she alleged that ever since the saffron party had come to power, it had become a bigger "jumlebaaz" (empty rhetoric) party which is out to tarnish the image of opposition leaders instead of working for the people.

She termed BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' or manifesto for the urban local elections an an "eyewash" issued by a party that had failed to fulfil its promises.

She alleged that along with a "casteist" BJP, a section of the media was also trying to tarnish the image of the BSP leadership by raising baseless allegations.

"Under such a design, a canard is being spread that the BSP chief is pushing up her brother and nephew in the party organisation...Everyone knows that the BSP is not a family based party like the Congress and SP...Responsibility has been given to Anand Kumar (brother) out of compulsion, as a strong and mature leadership which can take the responsibility is not yet ready," she added.
The controversy over Bollywood film 'Padmavati' took an ugly turn today as a leader of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena cited Ramayana's Surpanakha nose-chopping incident and warned her against "inciting" sentiments.

Reacting to the development, the Mumbai police soon stepped up actor's security.

Meanwhile, protests were held in several parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, against the movie, which is slated to be released on December 1.

Ajmer Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan also joined the chorus of voices against the film and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban it, saying it hurt religious sentiments.

Earlier, referring to the nose chopping of 'Surupnakha' in the epic Ramayana, Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana said that while Kshatriyas respected women, but if the film was not banned and Padukone does not stop inciting sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.

He asked why was Padukone, who has the citizenship of Denmark, speaking such provocative language?



Makrana claimed that a cinema hall in Kota was rampaged as a result of such provocative language.

"Shri Rajput Karni Sena has now just conveyed a lesson to Deepika Padukone to stop making provocative statements or face the result," Makrana said.

Padukone had reportedly said that nothing could stop the release of the film and that India had regressed as a nation.

The Karni Sena leader said that when a movie like 'Bahubali' can earn crores showing the valour of 'kshatriyas', then why people want to cash-in on films presenting wrong facts.

"Who are the people behind movies like Padmavati and are investing their money in such movies," he said in a press conference.

The Mumbai Police beefed up the security of the actor following the outfit's aggressive stance.

"The Mumbai Police have increased actor Deepika Padukone's security after the outfit issued the nose chopping threat," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told PTI.

We are providing her adequate security after the threat, he said. The police will also provide security at the actress's residence as well as office in Mumbai.

The police have already provided protection to filmmaker Bhansali. They have also beefed up security at Bhansali's residence in Versova in Mumbai.

The Karni Sena has called for a country-wide bandh on December 1, the day the film is slated to be released.

Meanwhile, Ajmer Dargah Deewan Khan compared Bhansali with controversial writers Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen and Tareq Fatah, and said Muslims should oppose the film.

He also said a film, in which historical facts were depicted in a distorted manner, could adversely affect the law-and-order situation if it was allowed to be screened in theatres.

Congress leader and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor also waded in the controversy claiming in Mumbai that the "so called valourous maharajas" had scurried to accomodate themselves when the British "trampled" over their honour and were now after a filmmaker claiming prestige was at stake.

At an event Tharoor was asked why his book, 'An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India', had a "whiff of victimhood" when he holds that Indians had connived with the English.

"It is (our fault) and I say so. I actually don't take the mantle of victimhood. In about half a dozen places in the book, I am harsh enough on us... Some British reviewers said 'Why doesn't he explain why the British conquered?' And it's a fair question...," Tharoor said.

"In fact, every single one of these so called valorous maharajas, who today are after a Mumbai filmmaker because their honour is at stake, they were less concerned about their honour when the British were trampling all over it. They scurried to accommodate themselves. So let's face it, there is no question, that we were complicit," he said.

Protests were held by various organisations in several parts.

The Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA), however, came to the film's defence. The association wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking a smooth release of the film.

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A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced a man to 60 years in jail for throwing acid ona young woman who refused his marriage proposal.

Judge Sajjad Ahmad of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Lahore yesterday sentenced Asmatullah to 25 years in jail on two separate counts under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and another 10 years under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

He also imposed a fine of Rs 3.9 million which the accused has to pay the victim as compensation.

Asmatullah, 25, had thrown acid on the 23-year-old girl's face two months ago in Lahore's Defence area where she worked in a software office.

The police had arrested the culprit from his hometown of Bhakkar where he had taken refuge at an outhouse of a local politician.

A case was registered against Asmatullah on terrorism charges in addition to some sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. The convict confessed to his crime in court.

He said he threw acid on the girl for rejecting his proposal.

"I had sent my parents to her house for marriage proposal but she rejected me," he said.

The girl has lost eyesight in both eyes and her face has been disfigured.

The case was sent to the anti-terrorism court to fast track it.

Civil society groups have hailed the decision and have urged the government to fast track all such cases.

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A panel comprising the top internal security brass of the country has favoured the strengthening of the Coast Guard for a better safeguarding of the country's maritime boundaries, rather than raising a new coastal security force.

The proposal to raise a new Coastal Border Police Force (CBPF), on the lines of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), like the BSF and the ITBP, was mooted at a meeting convened in August by the Union home ministry with the chiefs of these forces.

The panel comprising the directors general of these forces discussed the matter at a recent meeting and concluded that the Coast Guard would be the best force to counter terror and other security threats along the over-7,000-km-long coastline of the country, official sources said.

The panel was also of the opinion that the Coast Guard should be strengthened by providing advanced surveillance and security gadgets and legal powers to it.

The sources said the panel proposed that the Coast Guard be given an effective backup by the CAPFs deployed in the coastal areas, such as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Border Security Force (BSF).

It was also discussed whether some personnel of the CAPFs could be sent on a special stint to the Coast Guard to work as external experts.

The recommendations made by the panel were sent to the home ministry, the sources said, adding that the ministry was expected to hold a fresh meeting on the matter soon.

At the August meeting, it was proposed that the new force -- the CBPF -- would guard the maritime frontiers closer to the country's landmass.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) protects the country's maritime interests and enforces the maritime law. The territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone, come under the ICG's jurisdiction.

It also has a war-time role of assisting the Navy.

India has a 7,516-km coastline, touching 13 states and union territories. It also covers around 1,200 islands.

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A PIL was today filed in the Delhi High Court seeking setting up of a committee prior to release of Bollywood film Padmavati to ensure there is no distortion of history in respect of Rani Padmavati of Chittorgarh.

It said that the committee is necessary because the film, starring Deepika Padukone in the lead role, portrayed the fictitious character of Rani Padmavati and there is alleged distortion of historic facts.

The public interest litigation (PIL) has sought a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to constitute a committee comprising members of the Censor Board, a social activist, three history experts from any university and one retired high court judge who shall head the panel.

The Akhand Rashtrawadi Party, which claims to be a political party in its PIL filed through advocate R N Singh and Puneesh Grover, said there is an apprehension of lowering the dignity and pride of icon Rani Padamavati, who immolated herself for her honour and dignity as well as for Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.

The plea claimed a legal notice has been sent to the parties concerned, but no response was received.

It also said no individual or group has a right to play with the sentiments or emotions of any caste or community by distorting the history or a historic icon.

Recently, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a plea seeking a stay on the release of film, saying the Censor Board was yet to certify the movie.

The top court said there were several guidelines for the CBFC to grant certification to a movie and, in addition, there was the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) to look into the grievances regarding a film.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed 'Padmavati' also stars Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.

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The Supreme Court today put searching questions to the Chhattisgarh government on the purchase of a Agusta helicopter for VIP use in 2006-2007 and directed it to place the original files related to the deal.

The apex court asked the state government why a global tender was issued only for purchase of an Agusta chopper and how the recommendation of then state chief secretary to invite tenders from all the companies was "overturned".

The court was hearing a plea seeking investigation into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of the helicopter and also foreign bank accounts purportedly linked to the son of Chief Minister Raman Singh.

A bench comprising justices A K Goel and U U Lalit made it clear that it was not going into the technicalities but just wanted to see whether there was "any fraud or hanky panky" in the deal.

"You (state) produce the files. We will see them," the bench said, adding, "We only want to see whether there was any fraud or hanky panky. That is why we want to see the files. If you wish to file affidavit, keep it ready and keep the files also ready."



The bench asked senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who was appearing for Chhattisgarh, as to why the notice inviting tender (NIT) was concentrating only on Agusta.

"The civil aviation secretary says Agusta. The chief secretary says not only Agusta, go beyond Agusta. Why chief secretary's note was overshadowed later?" it asked.

"When was the decision taken that rather than going for NIT for all, the tender would be for Agusta only? We want to know this," the bench said.

Jethmalani told the court that he would seek instructions on certain issues and would file a short affidavit.

The bench, while making it clear that state's decision to purchase a helicopter was not questioned, asked the government to produce the files before it and posted the matter for hearing on November 23.

At the outset, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, told the bench that a global tender was issued only for Agusta for purchase of a helicopter and bids of others, like Bell and Eurocopter, were not considered at all.

He alleged that illegal gratification was given in the deal and the chief minister's son had opened a foreign bank account during that time.

"It appears that in this, commission of over one million dollars was given and it was illegal gratification," Bhushan said.

When he claimed that the chopper was purchased at a price of over five million US dollars, the bench asked Bhushan, "Have you got any information that this price is inflated and cheaper helicopters were available in the market?"



Responding to this, the counsel claimed that Jharkhand had purchased helicopter at a cheaper rate.

He also said the CBI was already probing the case related to alleged irregularities in purchase of AgustaWestland choppers by the Centre.

Bhushan said that the petition has also sought a probe into the purchase of a helicopter by the Jammu and Kashmir government as it was done allegedly in a non-transparent manner.

Jethmalani told the court that the chopper purchased by the J-K government was different from the one bought by Chhattisgarh and it had got the "best price" for it at that time.

The plea has alleged that so far no genuine attempt has been made to investigate this deal.

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The Maharashtra government has decided to ban the use of plastic water bottles in its offices including the state secretariat.

In a meeting held at his office, state Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam instructed the officials to ban plastic water bottles from every government office in a time-bound manner.

The Environment ministry had taken a decision to ban plastic carry bags from Gudhi Padva this year.

"Though, we have taken decision to ban plastic, I have noticed the implementation is not satisfactory. Hence, I have taken a decision to first ban drinking water available in plastic bottles from government offices, including Mantralaya," Kadam told reporters here.

The minister further said instead of plastic, the government will promote paper and cloth bags and women self help groups (SHGs) will be empowered to ensure they can meet the needs of the state.

"We will financially support women SHGs so that they can prepare paper bags," the minister said.

Kadam asked officials to supervise hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and other establishments, where plastic carry bags are being used.

The local body authority will be authorised to take action against those which will use plastic carry bags, he added.

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A petition seeking direction to the police to register an FIR against actor Kamal Haasan for his alleged comments on "Hindu terrorism" in a Tamil magazine has been filed in the Madras High Court.

When the plea came up for hearing on Thursday, Justice M S Ramesh directed the public prosecutor to get instructions from the police authority concerned and adjourned the petition by a week.

According to the petitioner G Devarajan, a registered advocate clerk in the high court, Kamal Haasan said in an article published in a Tamil magazine that the presence of "Hindu terrorism" in the country cannot be ruled out.

"By making such statements Kamal Haasan is trying to brand Hindus as terrorists. He should understand that no religion preaches violence but only peace. The actor with vested interests is trying to divide the Tamil community on basis of religion," the petitioner said.

He added that he had approached the Chennai police commissioner on November 4 and Teynampet police on November 6 with his complaint against the actor.

Since no action was taken on the complaints, he approached the high court.

The petitioner also wanted the court to direct the police to take action against the editor of the Tamil magazine for publishing the article.
Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address at the prestigious annual Shangri-La Dialogue next year, a Singapore think tank which organises the conference has said. .

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), that runs the conference for the Government of Singapore, in a statement said that Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his speech at the closing ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila confirmed that Modi will speak at the dialogue on June 1, 2018.

The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, first convened in 2002, is an annual meeting for defence ministers, military chiefs and top-ranking defence officials from across the Asia-Pacific and other countries vitally concerned with the regions security.

IISS-Asia executive director Tim Huxley said, "We are very pleased that Prime Minister Modi will speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue next year. The decision of Indias Prime Minister to speak to defence and security leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region underlines the importance of Indias 'Act East' policy. We know Prime Minister Modis speech will be eagerly anticipated in the region."

Last year, India had pulled out its delegation led by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre from the dialogue after he was given a slot lower than Pakistan's Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat. However, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Jawed Ashraf attended the event.
Pope Francis today took wealthy nations to task over unequal healthcare and systems which increasingly penalise all but the very wealthy.

Healthcare is a particularly hot-button issue in the United States, where President Donald Trump has been fighting to scrap the Affordable Care Act brought in by his predecessor Barack Obama.

"Increasingly sophisticated and costly treatments are available to ever more limited and privileged segments of the population," the 80-year old pontiff said in an address read out to a World Medical Association conference.

The "growing divide ...raises questions about the sustainability of healthcare delivery," he said, denouncing "a systemic tendency toward growing inequality in healthcare".

Pointing the finger at "the richest countries, where access to care risks depending on financial means rather than needs", he said: "The state cannot renounce its duty to protect all those involved".

Francis's dressing down came just days before the Catholic Church celebrates its first-ever World Day for the Poor on Sunday.

As part of the lead-up, the Argentine made a surprise visit to a medical centre for the poor and homeless in St Peter's square today, warmly clasping the hands of patients and volunteer staff alike at the Vatican's "field hospital".

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Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday exuded confidence that exports will gather momentum going forward as the economy is on course to double to $5 trillion and become the third largest in the world, over the next few years.

"Our economy shall grow from $2.5 trillion now to $5 trillion and it will become the third largest over the next few years. With such an economic growth, our international trade will also grow," Prabhu told World Trade Expo 2017 here in a video message.

Earlier this week, the American brokerage a Bank of America Merrill Lynch had said projected that India would overtake Japan to become the third largest economy in the world by 2028 as it expects the nominal GDP to clip at 10 per cent over the next one decade.

The report noted that at $2.26 billion the country has already overtaken Brazil and Russia to emerge as the second largest BRIC economy after China and is well on track to cross France and Britain to emerge as the world's fifth largest after Germany by 2019.

Last year the economy closed at $2.26 trillion. But the report did not quantify the size of the economy by 2028 when it would be the third largest after China and the US. At around $5 trillion, Japan is the third largest economy now.

"This expo is being held at a time when the economy is growing faster than before. I am sure this expo will help foreign countries understand India and its economy better in promoting trade," Prabhu said.

His statement comes two days after his ministry said exports dipped 1.12 per cent to $23bn in October and trade deficit ballooned, retreating from a six-month high growth in September as shipments of textiles, pharma, leather and gems and jewellery fell.

Imports, however, grew by 7.6 per cent to $37.11 billion in October from $34.5 billion in the year-ago month. Trade deficit widened to $14 billion from $11.13 billion in October 2016.

Cumulative exports during April-October rose an anemic 9.62 per cent to $170.28 billion, while imports grew almost three times faster at 22.21 per cent to $256.43 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $86.14 billion.

Addressing the event, MSME secretary Arun Kumar Panda expressed hope that trade expos like this will act as a unique platform to integrate the khadi and village industries, micro, and MSMEs in the global value chain.

Noting that around 60 million MSMEs contribute 90 per cent to industrial production, he said "it is time MSMEs look beyond the borders and showcase their skills and excellence to the global market.

The foreign trade policy aims to increase share of exports in world to 3.5 per cent from under 2 per cent, according to the commerce ministry.

"The commerce ministry has also highlighted the need to shift the focus to emerging sectors and promote the bottom 10 items in the list of exports," additional director general of foreign trade Sonia Sethi said.

Representatives from over 37 countries are participating in the expo. These countries account for 17 per cent of the country's total trade.
Regulations should not become "strangulation", Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said today, as he pitched for setting up a media body to look into various aspects like guideliness and regulation concerning its working.

Naidu, a former information and broadcasting minister, also said that 'paid news' has become a "menace" which needs to be rooted out.

Noting that "regulations should not become strangulation", he felt there has to be some regulations if the democracy has to function effectively.

"Political leaders and also media houses should discuss what is best instrument or mechanism to have a body which can take care of all aspects of print and electronic media policy...There should be some sort of broad guidelines and regulations," Naidu said while addressing a function to mark the National Press Day, organised by the Press Council of India (PCI).

"Press Council of India is only for print. What about the electronic media? Why should there be a discrimination?."



Highlighting the responsibilities of the media, Naidu said the journalists must raise the voice of people like those living in rural areas and weaker section of the society.

Criticising sensationalism of in media, he said the responsibility of journalist is provide correct information with confirmation.

Underlining that and views should be "separate", he said views should be placed only on editorial page while the rest should be which should be complete with "alternate views" in the story.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Zubin Irani said that voices of media shouldnt be suppressed and constitutionally it was the responsibility of government to ensure that media had the freedom to speak.

During the occasion, eminent journalists Sam Rajappa and Sarat Mishra were jointly presented 'Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award' for their outstanding contributions towards journalism.

While Shalini Nair of The Indian Express, received the 'Rural Journalism & Developmental Reporting' award, K Sujith of Mangalam Daily and Chitrangada Choudhury, Freelancer from Odisha, bagged awards for 'Investigative Journalism'.

Photo Journalism awards were given to C K Thanseer of Chandrika Daily, and Vijay Verma of Press Trust of India and J Suresh of Malayala Manorama.

Gireesh Kumar, Times of India, received the award for Best Newspapers Art.

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Markets regulator Sebi will look into the complaints of some individuals allegedly circulating key financial details and other information about listed companies on social media groups before they are made public, an official said.

Sebi will also seek clarification from brokerages and listed firms if such individuals are found to be associated with them, the official said on the condition of anonymity.

The information about the listed companies are mostly being made through SMSes, WhatsApp and various social media platforms, wherein names of some established brokerage houses and exchanges are also being misused.

While the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has already taken action in several such cases so far, it is investigating a number of others involving similar activities, the official said.

Citing an investigation, Reuters reported today that messages are being circulated on private WhatsApp group disclosing the financial information of the listed companies before making it public.

Sebi has already taken action against several entities for providing investment advice without registration. These included MCX Biz Solutions, Moneyworld Research and Advisory, Global Mount Money Research and Advisory, Orange Rich Financials, GoCapital, CapitalVia Global Research and one Imtiyaz Hanif Khanda and his maternal uncle Vali Mamad Habib Ghaniwala.

Besides tightening its noose on the scamsters, Sebi has enhanced its investor awareness campaign on these issues.

In several latest public notices, the markets regulator cautioned the investors against trading on the basis of unsolicited tips received through SMSes, social media, websites and other public media platforms.

It also asked the public to deal with only Sebi- registered investment advisers and research analysts and warned the unregistered entities of strict action.

In August, the regulator had got the help from telecom regulator Trai to curb fraudulent bulk SMSes that entrap gullible investors with stock tips promising huge financial gains.

Last year, Sebi had floated a consultation paper to ban unauthorised trading tips through SMSes, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms, as also games, competitions and leagues relating to securities market.

It also proposed to curb unsolicited investment advice and promotion of investment products through electronic and broadcasting media platforms and has sought greater checks and balances for online investment advisory services and use of automation or robotic tools.

However, the regulator has yet to put in place a final regulation in this regard.

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Some theatre owners in the city have decided to temporarily stop advance booking for Marathi movie "Dashkriya", releasing tomorrow, following opposition by a section of the Brahmin community.

The national award winning movie, directed by Sandeep Patil, had been screened at several film festivals. I



After its trailer was released recently, Akhil Bharatiya Brahmin Mahasabha (ABBM) raised objection over the content alleging that it portrays the community in "bad light".

Seeking a ban, the ABBM had alleged the move can create a "rift" in the society if released in theatres.

"As a precautionary measure, we have temporarily halted the advance booking of the movie as we don't want any untoward incident to happen in our theatre. However, if other theatre owners decide to release the movie tomorrow, we too will follow the suit," said P Chaphalkar, owner of City Pride, a chain of multiplex theatres.

He said they are also expecting some resolution between the outfit and the producers of the movie.

ABBM president Anand Dave said they have issued letters to the theatre owners asking them not to release the movie tomorrow and "have received a positive response from the theatre owners so far".

"Dashkriya" (the tenth day ritual) director Sandip Patil said the movie, already approved by the CBFC, was made in 2016 and so far it has been screened at several film festivals including the Pune International Film Festival and has received national awards.

"The movie received a big and positive response in these festivals. Why these outfits are raking up the issue now when the movie is slated to hit the screens?" Patil asked.

The movie stars actors Dilip Prabhavalkar, Manoj Joshi, and Aditi Deshpande in the lead.

He said they have written to the state DGP and sought adequate safety and security for the theatres and audience.

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A health crisis lurked in Karnataka as doctors in private hospitals across the state today shut out-patient departments (OPD) indefinitely, intensifying their stir against proposed amendments to an act aimed at making them accountable for medical negligence.

However, as the stir crippled private health care facilities, a section of doctors called off their protest after the Karnataka High Court asked them to withdraw the agitation, reflecting a division within the medical community.

Hearing the PIL petitions, which complained about severe hardship being caused to patients, the court said the government had an "open mind" on the issue and the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2017, had not yet been tabled in the assembly.

Doctors affiliated to five medical bodies yesterday announced the shutdown of OPD services till the government dropped its move.

Health services in private hospitals and nursing homes were crippled twice in the last two weeks by strikes by doctors who alleged that the proposed changes, which among others provide for jail term for medical negligence, were "draconian" in nature.

Doctors are opposing the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, which among others proposes six months to three years of jail term and a hefty penalty for medical negligence on their part.

The amendments, which also arms the government with powers to fix the cost of treatment, are based on recommendations of former Supreme Court judge Vikramajit Sen.

Soon after the court's observations, doctors belonging to Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) called off their strike. But the four other private doctors' associations stuck to their decision to stop OPD services indefinitely from today.

PHANA president Dr C Jayanna said the association has decided to call off its strike in view of sufferings of people.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar said there was no strong case for the doctors to protest as the amendment bill has not yet been tabled in the assembly and adjourned further hearing on PIL petitions on the matter for tomorrow.

Amid reports that the strike has caused several deaths in the state with serious patients being unattended to, more than 22,000 doctors went on an indefinite strike in Bengaluru alone. This manifested in the unmanageable rush at government hospitals.

Government-run Victoria Hospital, K C General Hospital and Bowring Hospital, the three prominent hospitals of Bengaluru, attended to a large number of patients.

In a casualty of the strike, students of a school at neighbouring Ramanagar, who were injured after their van and a bus collided reportedly faced difficulties after a nearby private hospital allegedly refused to treat them and referred them to Bengaluru, the police said.

Two children were killed and seven others injured in the accident, they said.

In Jamakhandi Taluk in Bagalkote district, a seriously ill woman was taken to a private hospital, but allegedly there were none to attend her.

She was rushed to government hospital, but died on the way, her family alleged.

In view of the strike, the health department has directed Taluk Health Officers and its programme officers to attend to clinical services till further orders.

The crippling of medical services led to furore in the Karnataka Assembly, whose winter session is in progress in Belagavi.

The government was ready to talk to agitating doctors and would try to find solution to the issue, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said.

Replying to opposition BJP, the minister said it was not a prestige issue for him.

It is the doctors who have made it a prestige issue, as they have called for a state wide agitation, when the Bill was yet to be tabled, he alleged.

"We will try to find a solution soon, we are open for discussion with doctors," the minister said.

Disappointed with the minister's response, BJP members walked out of the House demanding immediate resolution, saying a delay may cause more deaths of patients.

Kumar said doctors have a responsibility and by shutting medical services they were making the common man suffer. The government has no intention to harass doctors or the private medical institutions, he said.

"As we empanelled you and we have to pay you tax payers money for services, we have to fix charges for services...," he said.

The minister said he had no plans to resign if the Bill was not tabled during the session as reported by some sections in the media.

The Bill was first tabled in the assembly on June 13, and later sent to the joint select committee following opposition by doctors and medical professionals.

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Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Kashmir) Muneer Khan today said that security forces would take all steps to help "local militants" in Kashmir return to a normal life, even if they surrender during an encounter.

The statement of the official comes as the Jammu and Kashmir police prepares its recommendations for a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for surrendering militants.

"We stand by our commitment to local militants that they can surrender at any time, even during an encounter, and return to lead a normal life after facing the law," the IGP told reporters here.

Khan was addressing a press conference in which two of the three militants arrested yesterday in Kulgam district were presented before the media.

The third militant, who was injured in the gun battle with security forces in Kulgam's Kund area, is in hospital, the official said.

"Ata Mohammad (a local militant) was injured during the encounter at Kund on November 14, and he was on the verge of dying.

"But our jawans, who had lost a colleague during the operation, rescued him and took him to a hospital. His rescue shows our commitment to the offer of surrender," Khan said.

The IGP claimed that the police had brought back many youths, who were on their way to join militants, into mainstream.

Several of them arrested from Kupwara while on their way to get arms training, he said.

Responding to a question, Khan claimed that not more than 17 youth have joined militancy recently. "I do not agree with the reported figure of 42, but there is no doubt that youths have gone and joined militants," he said.

Replying to a question, he said it is a point of discussion on what was the driving force or lure behind youths joining militants.

"Most of them, you will find, are college or school dropouts. There is a relentless social media campaign by Pakistan to lure the youth also," Khan said.

The officer said that the youth in the age group of 15 years to 25 years were vulnerable to be exploited as they find it hard to differentiate between right and wrong.

In response to a question, the IGP said that he would not divulge the details of surrendered militants as "we have to ensure their safety and security".

Khan said that the police is compiling its recommendation to be submitted to the government on steps to be taken for rehabilitation of those militants who surrender.

"We are compiling the steps to be taken for rehabilitating militants -- both who have gone across and those who are here. We will send our recommendations on how to rehabilitate them to the government. In the near future, we shall have a comprehensive policy," he said.

Khan said that a search operation in Kund area was still on as there were intelligence reports about two militants there.

"The operation at Kund was jointly launched by the police, Army and CRPF. This operation was started on November 14 based on specific information about a big group of terrorists, a joint group of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen," he said.

He said a militant and a jawan were killed in the encounter.

"The Kund operation is still ongoing, a specific area is still cordoned. We have information that a foreign militant and a local militant are still in the area. We are looking for them. Hopefully we should get them," he said.

Khan said this operation was a fine example of excellent coordination between various security agencies.

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Singapore has suspended trade ties with North Korea in the latest move by a country to implement UN sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme, a customs document showed today.

A circular by Singapore Customs on its website banned "all commercially traded goods... from or to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), regardless of whether they are imported, exported, transhipped or brought in transit through Singapore" with effect from November 8.

DPRK is North Korea's formal name.

The United States is leading a drive at the UN Security Council to impose two recent sets of sanctions on North Korea to punish Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile tests.

Singapore Customs sent the notice to traders and agents on Tuesday.

It warned violators they can be fined up to 100,000 Singapore dollars (USD 74,000) or three times the value of the goods traded, or suffer a jail term of up to two years, or suffer both penalties, for the first offence.

Repeat violators will be subject to stiffer penalties.

The North carried out its sixth nuclear test -- and most powerful to date -- on September 3, sparking international outrage and a fresh round of sanctions.

International powers hope that economic sanctions will deprive the North of the resources it needs to pursue its nuclear programme and pressure it into negotiating.

"I think it is a matter of time when most Southeast Asian countries would do the same, so it is especially appropriate that Singapore as the region's major trading power takes the lead," Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told AFP.

He said that on top of Pyongyang's repeated nuclear tests, the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's half brother, in Malaysia last February also "stiffened the resolve of the Southeast Asian countries to sever substantial ties with North Korea".

Kim Jong-Nam, who was estranged from the leader, was about to board a plane from Kuala Lumpur's international airport when assassins poisoned him with the banned nerve agent VX, according to Malaysian officials. He died minutes later.

The murder sparked a furious row between North Korea and Malaysia, with the South blaming Pyongyang for ordering the killing. North Korea has denied the allegation.

Singapore has a standing advisory on citizens against non-essential travel to North Korea. With effect from October last year, Singapore also required North Koreans to have visas before travelling to the city-state.

North Korea has an embassy in Singapore but the latter has no representation in Pyongyang.

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Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 10 Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in the country's territorial waters, a Navy official said today.

A fast attack craft attached to the Northern Naval Command, on routine patrol, arrested the Indian fishermen and also seized their fishing trawler when they entered the Sri Lankan territorial waters north of Point Pedro Lighthouse last night, a Navy spokesperson said.

The fishermen, their trawler and fishing gear were brought to the naval base SLNS Uttara in Kankesanthurai, he said, adding that they were handed over to the Assistant Fisheries Director of Jaffna for further action.

Meanwhile in Rameswaram, a Fisheries Department official said that the fishermen hailed from Akkarapettai in Tamil Nadu's Nagaptattinam district.

They were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing near Neduntheevu in the island nation waters, Assistant Director of Fisheries Department, Gangadharan said.

On November 14, over 1,600 Tamil Nadu fishermen were forced to return without their catch after Lankan Navy personnel allegedly snapped the fishing nets of 25 boats near Katchatheevu.

Earlier on November 7, four fishermen from Pudukottai district were arrested by the Lankan naval personnel for allegedly fishing off Neduntheevu.

The arrest of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy has become a flash point in India-Sri Lanka relations.

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Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has offered to mediate in the Ayodhya dispute, on Thursday met various people and claimed to have received "very good and positive signs" from both the communities even though the stakeholders in the case were less hopeful.

"I am not here to give a solution to this issue... I want people to come together and find a solution... and I found very positive response from both the communities...," Ravi Shankar told reporters later.

"I would like to appeal to you to please have some patience... give some time... 2 or 3 months please give some time... let people of both communities think...," he said.

He said it is a Herculean task and he will meet all type of people. "We will need everyone's cooperation for this."

Several stakeholders gave a tepid and sceptical response to his offer. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also did not sound very positive on the outcome of Ravi Shankar's efforts.





ALSO READ: Result of Ayodhya talks already known: Yogi on Sri Sri's mediation efforts

Adityanath, who met Ravi Shankar on Wednesday, said everyone knows where talks would lead, especially when the Supreme Court is going to hear the matter from December 5 on a day-to-day basis.

"The Supreme Court is going to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis from December 5. Everyone knows where the talks would lead... Had the solution (to the dispute) been possible, it would have been reached earlier," he told reporters in Lucknow.

"Even after this, if someone initiates talks there is no harm. The government is not a party to this. In my first visit to Ayodhya, I had said that if both the parties reach consensus on the issue, the government could consider. The government cannot take an initiative in this regard as the matter is before the Supreme Court," he added.

Mahant Gyan Das, the chief priest of Hanumangarhi temple, refused to meet Ravi Shankar in Ayodhya on Thursday alleging he is "fooling the public in the name of negotiations".

Another priest of the temple, Mahant Raju Das, claimed that Ravi Shankar is seeking to take credit as the Ayodhya issue is very near to a peaceful solution.

Triloki Nath Pandey, a senior VHP leader and a litigant in the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya issue, alleged that Ravi Shankar met those who are not even parties in the case.

Iqbal Ansari (son of late Hashim Ansari, another litigant) dismissed Ravi Shankar's visit as a "political stunt".

However, Ravi Shankar reacted saying, "Some people are opposing my move as they have no hope that this dispute may be solved through negotiated settlement. But there are a lot of people who believe that peaceful solution of the Ayodhya issue may come out only through talks."

"If the court gives any verdict and if any one community feels left out... and even if the mandir or whatever is built there... after 50 or 100 years the problem might come back again... so the best thing is these two communities come together and then this problem will be resolved," he said.

He interacted with the media after meeting Mahant Dinendra Das of Nirmohi Akhara.

He also met a gathering of Muslim intellectuals in Faizabad city.
The Syrian army today entered Albu Kamal, the last town in the country held by the Islamic State group, several days after the jihadists recaptured it, a monitor said.

The town in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the border with Iraq was initially captured by the army and allied forces a month ago but IS retook it in a counterattack.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the new offensive had successfully penetrated the town, with troops backed by Russian air strikes advancing from the west, east and south.

"Fighting is ongoing inside the town, there is artillery fire and there are Russian air strikes," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

The first assault on Albu Kamal was spearheaded by Syrian government allies, including Iraqi and Lebanese Shiite fighters, and advisers from Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the Observatory said.

"This time, the military operation is being led directly by regime forces," Abdel Rahman said, adding that troops had taken the town's eastern, southern and western suburbs.

IS still holds around 25 per cent of the countryside of Deir Ezzor province but are under attack not only by government forces but also by US-backed Kurdish-led fighters.

The jihadists once controlled a territory the size of Britain, proclaiming a "caliphate" in 2014 that spanned Syria and Iraq.

But they have successively lost all their key strongholds, including Raqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.

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Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Daredevils director TA Sekar today stepped down from his post due to personal reasons.

Delhi Daredevils chief executive Hemant Dua confirmed that the former India fast bowler, who was associated with the team since its inception, will no longer be a part of the franchise.

"We respect Sekar's decision. We are naturally very disappointed to not have Sekar in our midst going forward, but as a franchise we clearly understand his position," Dua said in a statement.

"Sekar was an invaluable asset to the franchise and his departure leaves a vacuum that will be difficult to fill," he added.

Sekar said he was extremely humbled by the support accorded by the GMR Group.

"It has been a very difficult decision for me to make, but it was for purely personal reasons. I am grateful for the support and understanding from the franchise. It has been an absolute privilege being part of the franchise since its inception in 2008," Sekar, who played two Test matches for India in 1982-83, said.

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A five-year-old boy was allegedly hit by his teacher with a stick at a private school in Tarnaka area here today, police said.

The boy, a UKG student, was taken to a hospital for treatment, they said.

In a complaint, the boy's father said the teacher hit his son with a stick on his back, Osmania University Police Station Inspector V Ashok Reddy said.

Following the complaint, police registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and were questioning the teacher, he said.

The boy was later taken to a hospital, Reddy said.

The boy had allegedly beaten up some of his classmates and to control him, the teacher apparently hit him, the police official said, citing preliminary investigation.

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Actor Terry Crews has opened up about the alleged groping incident he faced with an executive of talent agency, against which he has filed a complaint.

Just days after the about of Harvey Weinstein broke, the "Expendables" actor had claimed that a "high-level Hollywood executive" groped his "privates" at a party last year.

The alleged perpetrator has been identified as Adam Venit, head of William Morris Endeavor's (WME) motion picture group, who now has gone on leave as the agency investigates the accusations.

"He's connected to probably everyone I know in the business. I did not know this man. I have never had a conversation with him, ever. I knew of him... the first time I ever had an interaction with him was at this event," Crews told Michael Strahan of the Good Morning America.

The "Expendables" actor said during the party Venit made uncomfortable gestures at him from a distance and later approached him.

"I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it, squeezes my genitals. And I jump back like, 'Hey, hey!'... I go, 'Dude, what are you doing?' recalled Crews.

Crews said he never "felt more emasculated, more objectified" than after the incident.

"And then he comes back again and he just won't stop. And then I really got forceful, pushed him back, he bumps into all the other partygoers and he starts giggling and laughing.

"I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified." Crews added.

Crews has filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department, which is investigating the accusations.

On October 10, Terry Crews claimed on Twitter that a Hollywood executive had groped him.

"My wife and I were at a Hollywood function last year and a high level Hollywood executive came over to me and groped my privates.

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The Tamil Nadu government today opposed in the Madras High Court the plea of Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking six months parole, saying she was not eligible for the relief.

A counter affidavit filed by the deputy home secretary said she was not eligible for grant of ordinary leave as per the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules 1982 and Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.

The government said the probationary officer, who looks into requests for parole by convicts, has not recommended grant of six months leave.

The state government had yesterday opposed the plea of Nalini, serving life imprisonment, for premature release.

She has moved the court seeking six months of ordinary leave for making arrangements for the wedding of her daughter Harithra, who is living in London.

She has been lodged in a special prison for women in Vellore for more than 26 years since her arrest in connection with the assassination of the former prime minister at Sriperumpudur by an LTTE suicide bomber on May 21, 1991.

She moved the court saying there was no response to her representation to the prison authorities seeking the leave.

Nalini contended that she was entitled to be granted ordinary leave for one month once in two years and she had not availed any such relief so far.

She was not eligible for grant of ordinary leave and in addition she had also not provided any valid proof, such as visa of her daughter for her proposed visit to India for the wedding. Under the pretext of making arrangements for the wedding, the petitioner said she wants to get ordinary leave, the counter affidavit said opposing the plea.

The state government yesterday informed the court that it cannot entertain the plea seeking premature release as a similar matter was pending before the Supreme Court in connection with remission of sentences of all the seven convicts in the case.

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Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Corp is betting on Indian innovators to contribute significantly to its USD 4 million global challenge to develop mobility solutions for people with lower-limb paralysis.

Toyota Mobility Foundation has launched its 'Mobility Unlimited Challenge' in association with Nesta's Challenge Prize Centre with an aim to change lives of people with lower-limb paralysis. The winner of the challenge will be announced in Tokyo in 2020.

The challenge will run for three years with different competitors from the fields of technology, design and engineering around the world expected to participate, Toyota Mobility Foundation said in the statement.

"We know that India's world-class innovators could be significant contributors to this challenge since India is already one of the largest engineer producers in the world and the country is renowned for its engineering and technology colleges and burgeoning, dynamic tech startup scene," Toyota Mobility Foundation Director of Programmes Ryan Klem said in a statement.

The challenge is seeking for teams around the world to create technology that will help radically improve mobility and independence of people with paralysis, it added.

"With India set to have the highest number of software developers anywhere in the world, we hope this incredible talent will engage with this Challenge and truly create change for people with lower-limb paralysis," Klem said.

The foundation further said a panel of expert judges will pick five finalists who will each receive USD 5,00,000 to take their concepts from an intelligent insight to a prototype.

The challenge winner will get USD 10,00,000 to make the device available to users.

"The Mobility Unlimited Challenge aims to attract and support smaller innovators who might otherwise struggle to break into the assistive technology market," it said.

The Discovery Awards will provide seed funding of USD 50,000 for 10 groups with promising concepts, who might otherwise lack the resources to enter the challenge, it said.

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Reversing an Obama-era ban, the Trump administration has decided to issue permits for elephant trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe, which environmental groups say would lead to more poaching.

A US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) official said the agency received new information from Zambia and Zimbabwe that the move would benefit conservation in their countries.

The FWS, under former president Barack Obama, determined in 2015 that importing the trophies would not benefit the species in the two African countries.

The FWS official said the US move will allow the two African countries to include US sport hunting as part of their management plans for the elephants and allow them to put "much-needed revenue back into conservation."



"Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation," the FWS sokesperson said in a statement.

Critics, however, note the restrictions were created by the Obama administration in 2014 because the African elephant population had dropped. The animals are listed in the US Endangered Species Act, which requires the US government to protect endangered species in other countries.

"We can't control what happens in foreign countries, but what we can control is a restriction on imports on parts of the animals," CNN quoted Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society, as saying.

"Reprehensible behavior by the Trump Admin," tweeted the Elephant Project.

"100 elephants a day are already killed," the group said, adding that, "This will lead to more poaching."



The number of elephants in the wild plummeted 30 per cent overall between 2007 and 2014, despite large scale conservation efforts. In some places it has dropped more than 75 per cent due to ivory poaching.

In 2016, there were just over 350,000 elephants still alive in the wild, down from millions in the early 20th Century.

US President Donald Trump's sons Donald Jr. and Eric are themselves big game hunters, US media reported.

Several years ago, Trump Jr. was criticised for posting a photo of himself with a dead elephant's severed tail.

Safari Club International, a worldwide network of hunters, cheered the announcement by the Trump administration.

"We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the US Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife," SCI President Paul Babaz said in a statement.

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President had his own water bottle moment.

Trump paused an address to the nation on Wednesday to reach for water during a blow-by-blow account of his five-nation trip to Asia.

Trump first reached into the lectern and required help from in the room to spot a bottle on a nearby table. He took another swig a few minutes later.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump frequently mocked then-rival Florida Senator Marco Rubio's frequent water breaks.

During a 2015 appearance in South Carolina, Trump said: "Rubio, I've never seen a young guy sweat that much." He added: "He's drinking water, water, water. I never saw anything like this with him with the water."



Rubio joked on Wednesday that the president needed to work on his form.

"Has to be done in one single motion & eyes should never leave the camera. But not bad for his 1st time," Rubio tweeted.




President Donald Trump's trip to Asia shows the US is ready to lead again, while the visit also helped strengthen the global community's commitment to address security threats posed by North Korea and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley has said.

"President Trump's recent trip to Asia showed that America is ready to lead again in this crucial region of the world. That includes standing strong with our friends and allies, calling out those who threaten us, and looking out for the best interests of the American people and American businesses," Haley said.

Trump's visit helped strengthen the international community's commitment to addressing the security threats posed by North Korea and its lawless regime, she said a day after the president returned from a nearly two-week Asia trip.

"Now more than ever, Kim Jong-un is isolated and feeling the pinch from the strongest set of sanctions ever passed by the UN Security Council," she said.

The President made strides in each country he visited to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region that will benefit the economies and political stability of the region, she said.

"Finally, President Trump stood up for American prosperity by promoting fair trade and new investments that will lead to new jobs for hard-working Americans," Haley said.

In a fact-sheet, the White House said Trump's trip to five Asian nations strengthened existing relations and advanced high-standard rules that will enable regional development and prosperity.

"President Trump hosted a trilateral meeting with Prime Minster Turnbull of Australia and Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe of Japan, which was followed by a bilateral meeting between President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi. Representatives at the working level from all four countries met to discuss issues related to the Indo-Pacific," it said.

During his trip through Asia, Trump secured new projects and deals that will bring investment back to the US and employ American workers, the White House said.

He also advanced fair trade between the US and its partners in Asia, working to end years of one-sided and unbalanced trade that has left too many Americans behind.

"While visiting Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to promoting prosperity, development, and security in the Indo-Pacific region," the White House said.

"In Japan, the two nations launched the Strategic Energy Partnership, which supports universal access to affordable and reliable energy, and agreed to cooperate to offer high-quality infrastructure investment options in the Indo-pacific region," it said.

"In South Korea, Trump delivered a clear message that the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea will be strengthened and grounded in shared values and mutual trust, the White House said.

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US President Donald Trump today praised China's decision to send a special envoy to its wayward ally North Korea days after he had pressed Beijing to do more to curb Pyongyang's nuclear threats.

"China is sending an Envoy and Delegation to North Korea - A big move, we'll see what happens!" he tweeted.

China's foreign ministry yesterday announced President Xi Jinping's special envoy, Song Tao, will travel to Pyongyang this week to brief officials about last month's Chinese Communist Party congress and "other issues of mutual concern."



Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not say whether the nuclear issue would be discussed but he said China was "committed to the denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability of the peninsula, and resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation."



Pressed for details today, Geng re-affirmed the two nations' close ties in a statement that appeared to downplay the suggestion of a tough approach.

"China and DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) are close neighbors," he said.

"Developing friendly cooperation relations between the two countries serves the common interests of the two countries and is conducive to regional peace, stability and development," he added.

Trump has called on the region to take a united stance against the threat posed by isolated North Korea, which has sparked global alarm with its nuclear and missile tests in recent months.

China has backed a series of United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang and imposed banking restrictions on North Koreans, putting the Cold War-era allies at odds.

Song will be the first Chinese envoy to make an official trip to North Korea since October 2016, when vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin visited. Xi has never met Kim.

China's announcement came a day after Trump completed a five-nation tour of Asia which he has trumpeted as a major success.

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President Donald Trump urged the UN Security Council to extend a UN-led investigation to determine who is behind chemical weapons attacks in Syria, as Russia was expected to cast a veto in today's vote.

"Need all on the UN Security Council to vote to renew the Joint Investigative Mechanism for Syria to ensure that Assad Regime does not commit mass murder with chemical weapons ever again," Trump tweeted.

Russia and the United States have put forward rival draft resolutions on renewing for a year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), tasked with identifying perpetrators of Syria's toxic gas attacks.

Syria's ally Russia has indicated it would veto the US- drafted measure extending the panel for one year.

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Two proscribed militant outfits have claimed responsibility for the encounter in Manipur's Chandel district that claimed the lives of an Army jawan and a militant.

The Revolutionary Peoples Front and the Manipur Naga Peoples Front in a statement last night claimed responsibility for the encounter on the India-Myanmar border with 4 Assam Regiment personnel.

The statement issued to the local media also claimed that one militant was captured by security forces in the gunbattle yesterday morning.

The police had yesterday said that an Army jawan and two militants were killed in the encounter at Chamol village and three other militants and a jawan were injured.

The police today put the toll at two - one jawan and one militant.

The deceased jawan has been identified as Rifleman Jai Prakash Oran from Jharkhand, police officials said yesterday.

Wednesdays encounter is the second involving the Revolutionary People's Front in a week.

On Monday, the Revolutionary People's Front had claimed responsibility for an IED blast at Man Mani area of the same district during which two Assam Rifles jawans were killed and six injured.

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A builder died of bullet injuries in south west Delhi, police said today.

The victim, Manmohan (40), called up the police around 11.30 pm last night seeking help after sustaining a gunshot wound to his temple, they added.

A police team reached the Mahavir Enclave area of Dabri here and found Manmohan at the residence of Surjeet Ghosh. He was rushed to the Agrasen hospital, where doctors declared him "brought dead", a senior police officer said.

"Two pistols were recovered from the spot. A case of murder has been registered and Ghosh, his wife and two sons have been detained for questioning," said the officer.

In a separate incident, a youth identified as Gautam, was found with a bullet injury to the head in Dabri today morning.

A police team rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.

A pistol and mobile phone were recovered from the spot and a case was registered, the police said.

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Two teenage girls were allegedly raped in separate incidents in Jabalpur and Sagar districts of Madhya Pradesh, the police said today.

In the Jabalpur incident, a 15-year old girl was lured by two persons under the pretext of offering her work and was allegedly raped by one of them in an under-construction room at Khajri-Khiriya bypass yesterday.

The police have arrested the two accused, identified as Imran and Manoj Sen, the latter the neighbour of the girl.

Aadhartal Police Station in charge Vipin Tamrakar said while Sen lured the girl to the site under the pretext of offering her work, Imran, a construction supervisor, took her to a room and allegedly raped her.

Sen was booked for abetting the crime, he said.

An FIR has been registered against the duo under section 376 (D) and the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The officer said the duo also threatened the girl of dire consequences if she disclosed the incident.

In another incident which occurred in Sagar district last evening, a 15-year-old orphan girl was allegedly raped by four men.

Police arrested Guddu Rai, Ravi Yadav, and S Khan in connection with the rape and one Laxmi Lodhi for allegedly abetting the crime. Another accused, identified as Tahir Khan, is absconding, Gharhakota police station inspector RN Tiwari told PTI.

While Rai, Yadav, and Khan have been booked under various sections of the IPC including 376 D and under the POSCO Act, Lodhi was booked under section 34 (criminal conspiracy).

In her complaint, the girl stated that the incident occurred last evening at Makronia in the district.

Further investigation is on, Tiwari said.

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An Uttar Pradesh minister has raised objection to the SBSP's decision to field its candidates in the uncoming local body elections instead of supporting its ally BJP.

The remarks of Minister of State (Independent charge) for Sainik Welfare and Home Guards Anil Rajbhar came days after the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) declared that it would go alone, alleging lack of positive attitude from its NDA partner.

"Om Prakash Rajbhar (SBSP chief) is fielding his candidates for urban local bodies, instead of encouraging the BJP and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, " he said.

"He (Om Prakash) became an MLA and a minister thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah," the minister claimed yesterday in an election meeting here.

Om Prakash Rajbhar is UP's Backward class welfare and Divyangjan Empowerment Minister.

The urban local bodies' polls will take place in three phases beginning from November 22. Results will be announced on December 1.

On November 6, the SBSP had alleged that it wanted to field its candidates for the post of mayor of the Allahabad Municipal Corporation along with 25 other posts of chairmen and corporators of various municipalities and municipal councils in the state but the BJP did not accommodate them.

The SBSP's announcement had come close on the heels of another BJP ally, Apna Dal (Sonelal), deciding not to contest the UP civic elections as a mark of protest.

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The Telangana assembly today passed a bill making Urdu the second official language of the state.

The state has a substantial Urdu-speaking population spread across all the 31 districts.

The Telangana Official Languages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed with all parties supporting it.

Urdu was declared the second official language as per section 2 of the Telangana Official Languages Act, 1966 in nine districts (of total 10), except Khammam, of the Telangana region before bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh, as per the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.

After the formation of Telangana state in 2014, the 10 districts were reorganised into 31 districts last year.

The percentage of Urdu-speaking population has increased to 12.69 of the total population in the state, the statement said.

"In view of the above, the Government have decided to declare Urdu language as the Second Official Language in the entire state of Telangana by suitably amending section 2 of the Telangana Official Languages Act, 1966. This bill seeks to give effect to this decision," it said.

Hailing the bill, MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said that justice was not done towards Urdu earlier and recalled the efforts of his father, late MIM leader Salahuddin Owaisi, and others for "protection and conservation" of the language.

Main opposition Congress member T Jeevan Reddy welcomed the bill, but pointed out certain issues concerning the Urdu Academy and others which were countered by Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali and Legislative Affairs Minister Harish Rao.

BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy said Urdu was made the second official language in nine districts of the Telangana region in 1966 itself.

Harish Rao said the opposition was trying to say that there is nothing new in the bill, but the entire state is taken as a unit now.

Telangana is the first state to make Urdu as the second official language as Delhi gave that status to Urdu along with Punjabi, he claimed.

Kishan Reddy alleged that Telugu itself is not implemented effectively in government offices and establishments though it is the first official language.

Saying that states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala took effective steps for promotion of their respective official language, the BJP legislator said the government should take measures like issuing its official orders in Telugu.

Observing that children of the present generation lacked good knowledge of Telugu as English got the importance, he stressed the need to promote the official language.

State Roads and Buildings Minister T Nageswara Rao, who moved the bill, said Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu appreciated the state government for making Telugu a compulsory subject in schools.

More steps for promotion of Telugu are in the offing, he said.

TDP member S Venkata Veeraiah also supported the bill.

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The US and China have agreed not to accept "freeze for freeze" agreement on North Korea, President Donald Trump has said as he pledged a global campaign of "maximum pressure" to denuclearise Pyongyang.

During his recent trip to China, Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to faithfully implement United Nations Security Council resolutions on North Korea and to use his great economic influence over the regime to achieve their common goal of a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.

"President Xi recognises that a nuclear North Korea is a grave threat to China, and we agreed that we would not accept a so-called "freeze for freeze" agreement like those that have consistently failed in the past. We made that time is running out and we made it clear, and all options remain on the table," Trump said.

In a televised address to the nation after his 12-day trip to Asia, Trump said North Korea was on the top of his priority list.

Trump travelled to Japan, South Korea and Japan for bilateral visits. He visited Vietnam and Philippines to attend the APEC and East Asia Summits respectively.

In Japan, Trump said he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on their absolute determination to remain united to achieve the goal of denuclearised North Korea.

Shortly following his visit, Japan announced additional sanctions on 35 North Korean entities and individuals.

Japan also committed to shouldering more of the burden of our common defence by reimbursing costs borne by American taxpayers, as well as by making deep investments in Japans own military, he said.

This will include purchases of US advanced capabilities -- from jet fighters to missile defence systems worth many, many billions of dollars -- and jobs for the American worker, he added.

Trump said addressing the national assembly of South Korea, he made clear he will not allow "this twisted dictatorship" to hold the world hostage to nuclear blackmail.

"I called on every nation, including China and Russia, to unite in isolating the North Korean regime -- cutting off all ties of trade and commerce -- until it stops its dangerous provocation on -- and this is the whole key to what we're doing -- on denuclearisation. We have to denuclearise North Korea," he said.

"We have ended the failed strategy of strategic patience, and, as a result, we have already seen important progress -- including tough new sanctions from the UN council -- we have a Security Council that has been with us and just about with us from the beginning," he said.

South Korea agreed to harmonise sanctions and joined the US in sanctioning additional rogue actors whose fund and funds have helped North Korea and North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes," he said.

"It's unacceptable to us," he added.

The US welcomed the decision of President Moon Jae-in to remove the payload restrictions on missiles to combat the North Korean threat.

"And together we reaffirmed our commitment to a campaign of maximum pressure," he said.

Trump said at all the summits and throughout the trip, he asked all nations to support his campaign of "maximum pressure" for North Korean denuclearisation.

"They are responding by cutting trade with North Korea, restricting financial ties to the regime, and expelling North Korean diplomats and workers, he said.

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US President Donald Trump announces his decision that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Photo: Reuters

An American official will address the UN climate meeting in Bonn today, where envoys have battled to make progress in the shadow of President Donald Trump's rejection of a global action plan.

On the penultimate day of the annual climate huddle, most countries will be represented by heads of state or cabinet ministers at a "high-level segment", but Washington sent an acting assistant secretary of state, Judith Garber.

She replaces Thomas Shannon, number three at the State Department, who pulled out because of a "family emergency".

Garber will address delegates in the afternoon, just three days after White House officials drew the ire of conference-goers by hosting a sideline event defending the use of fossil fuels at a forum focused on reducing planet-warming emissions from burning coal, oil and gas.

"It will be very interesting to see both the content and the tone" of Thursday's speech," said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Naomi Ages, a Greenpeace climate campaigner, said Garber would "likely reiterate Trump's decision to withdraw, or try to bargain for better terms."



Announcing Garber's participation, the State Department emphasised that the Trump administration's position on the climate-rescue Paris Agreement "remains unchanged".

"The United States intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as it is eligible to do so, unless the president can identify terms for engagement that are more favourable to American businesses, workers, and taxpayers," it said in a statement.

The United States ratified the hard-fought global pact, championed by former president Barack Obama, just two months before Donald Trump, who has called climate change a "hoax", was elected to the White House.

Trump announced in June that America would abandon the pact, but the rules prescribe this cannot happen until November 2020.

The US, the State Department said, "is participating in ongoing negotiations... in order to ensure a level playing field that benefits and protects US interests."



The United States is the world's biggest historical greenhouse gas polluter, and second only to China for current-day emissions.

Its presence at the Bonn talks has not been universally welcomed, especially as it has taken a tough line on a demand from developing countries for a firmer commitment to climate finance.

The 2015 Paris Agreement, which took more than two decades to negotiate, commits countries to limiting average global warming to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over Industrial Revolution levels, and 1.5 C if possible, to avert calamitous climate change-induced storms, drought and sea-level rises.

Nations submitted voluntary emissions-cutting commitments to bolster the deal.

A report on Wednesday said America's withdrawal will boost global temperatures, calculated on current country pledges, by nearly half a degree Celsius by 2100, for a total of 3.2 C.

UN chief Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel led a diplomatic push Wednesday to reinvigorate the Bonn talks.

Labelling climate change "the defining threat of our time", Guterres said continued investment in fossil fuel would mean an "unsustainable future".

Macron described climate change as "the most significant struggle of our time", while Merkel said it was "a, if not the, central challenge of mankind".
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has issued a warning letter to Lupin for violation of current good manufacturing practice norms at two of its manufacturing facilities in Goa and Indore.

In a letter to Lupin Managing Director Nilesh Gupta, USFDA said inspectors during an inspection from March 27 to April 7, found significant violations of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for finished pharmaceuticals.

"Because your methods, facilities, or controls for manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding do not conform to CGMP, your drug products are adulterated," it noted.

Elaborating on the violations at the Goa plant, USFDA said the company failed to thoroughly investigate any unexplained discrepancy or failure of a batch or any of its components to meet any of its specifications.

"Your firm frequently invalidated initial out-of- specification (OOS) laboratory results without an adequate investigation that addressed potential manufacturing causes," USFDA said.

Besides, the Mumbai-based drug firm failed to establish appropriate time limits for the completion of each phase of production to assure the quality of the drug product, it added.

On Lupin's Pithampur (Indore) plant, the US health regulator said the company invalidated initial OOS laboratory results without adequate investigations.

"Based upon the nature of the violations we identified at your firm, we strongly recommend engaging a consultant qualified to assist your firm in meeting CGMP requirements," USFDA said.

The company should immediately and comprehensively assess its global manufacturing operations to ensure that systems and processes, and ultimately, the products manufactured, conform to FDA requirements at all sites, it added.

Until the company corrects all violations and deviations completely and the USFDA confirms its compliance with CGMP, it may withhold approval of any new applications, it said.

Failure to correct these violations may also result in FDA refusing admission of articles manufactured at Lupin's Goa and Pithampur plants into the United States, it added.

Lupin shares today ended 0.81 per cent up at Rs 829.30 apiece on the BSE.
Fashion designer Victoria Beckham volunteered to offer fashion advice to people strolling in the Central Park for two dollars.

As a guest on Vanity Fair's show "Derek Does Stuff With a Friend", the former Spice Girl conversed with passerbys through an iPad video conference at a stand in the famous area, giving style tips to them.

The stall was manned by a person holding the stand that read "Fashion Advice from Victoria Beckham, $2".

Initially, the pedestrians seemed a little hesitant to consider the offer by the designer, which even led Beckham, at one point, to call on them playfully, saying, "Oh come on, you need advice! Don't be shy!"



To a man with a man-bun, she said, "I like the man bun... Because I think it's super flattering on your face."



Beckham answered a lot of queries from curious people, which included situations such as whether white colour could be worn after Labour Day or how to wear culottes.

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Shopping mall developer Virtuous Retail South Asia today said it has raised USD 175 million (about Rs 1,143 crore) of additional equity from one of its founding shareholders, APG Asset Management.

Virtuous Retail South Asia (VRSA)



is a joint venture between Dutch pension fund asset manager APG Asset Management (APG) and Virtuous Retail (VR) sponsored by emerging markets investment firm The Xander Group Inc (Xander).

The equity investment will augment the existing investment capacity of the company and position it for future growth, the company said in a statement.

"With all our existing centres trading, our focus will be on new greenfield projects and selective acquisitions which meet our location and quality parameters," VRSA Chairman and founder of The Xander Group Sid Yog said.

VRSA Executive MD and Chief Investment Officer Rohit George said the additional equity will help to significantly add to its dominant portfolio of highly visible shopping centres, integrated with extensive and unique management capability built by us over a decade.

The company's portfolio comprises 5.5 million square feet across four flagship centres in Bengaluru, Surat, Chandigarh and Chennai.

The company said it looks to add centres in key markets, including the NCR of Delhi, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

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With "Newton" being unanimously chosen as India's official entry to the Academy Awards next year, actor Rajkummar Rao hopes that his dark comedy on Indian democracy manages to win the golden statuette.

Directed by Amit Masurkar, the movie featuring Rajkummar in the title role, has been chosen to represent the country in the Best Foreign Language category at the awards.

As it is barely months to the ceremony, the actor says the team is working round-the-clock, which includes showing the film around and acquiring the services of a publicist.

"The campaign is on. We are trying our level best and hoping for the best. The team is already there. A lot of screenings are going on in Los Angeles as we speak. There are a huge number of films, that are in the running for the Oscars.

"I really want 'Newton' to break India's dry spell at the Oscars. I can't say, obviously, if it will happen or not. But I wish it does," Rajkummar says in an interview with PTI.

There were reports that suggested "Newton" was a rip-off of the 2001 Iranian film "Secret Ballot". But the reports were quashed with filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's timely intervention. He reached out to the director and the producer of the Iranian film to clarify that "Newton" bore no similarity with their project.

Rajkummar quipped, "(He) butchered those people who were saying 'it's a copy, it's a copy'.

"I don't understand people have so much time in this world. I don't know why they don't focus on making their life better."



Rajkummar was in the capital to promote his upcoming web-series, "Bose:Dead/Alive", in which he features in the title role of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

It premiers on AltBalaji app from November 20.

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Actor Neha Dhupia says she has survived in the industry for so long because she believes in creating work when there is none.

Having made her Hindi film debut in 2003 with "Qayamat: City Under Threat", Dhupia went on to work in films like "Julie" and "Sheesha".

She then gradually shifted to indie cinema with films such as "Ek Chalis Ki Last Local", "Mithya", "Phas Gaye Re Obama" and "Hindi Medium". The actor will next feature in Vidya Balan-starrer "Tumhari Sullu".

Though it has been 15 years for her in films, in the last few years Dhupia says she is trying "new, different things".

"The learning from my entire career is: never compare yourself to anyone because it'll destroy you. You've to wake up everyday and keep hustling. I don't think I've lasted so many years because of my crafts or relationships but because I wake up and hustle," she says in an interview with PTI.

"If there is something interesting happening, I reach out to people. When there is no work, I create my own. You have to put it out there that I am here to do good work and somehow or the other you will get it," she says.

Dhupia may have started her career with films where people took note of her glamorous side, the actor is not comfortable with the "sex symbol" tag.

"I really feel blessed that the notion has changed today. It's very disturbing when people call me sexy. I hate that word. People used to call me a 'sex symbol' and I am like please, I am not that person," she says.

"...I don't think at any point I had a 'sex symbol' quality because of which people think I am hot. In my own head I am not. I don't suffer from low esteem but I am a realist and I know who I am," Dhupia says.

The 37-year-old actor is looking forward to "Tumhari Sullu". Dhupia says she shares a fantastic rapport with her co-star Vidya Balan.

Directed by Suresh Triveni, "Tumhari Sullu", which releases tomorrow, is about a happy-go-lucky Mumbai housewife, Sulu (played by Balan), whose routine life changes when she unexpectedly lands herself with the exciting job of a night RJ on a radio station.

Dhupia, who features in the film as Maria, a woman who heads a radio station, calls it "surreal" to play the part as it coincided with her own podcast show "No Filter Neha".

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Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said today that the state government will ensure adequate security to maintain law and order during the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama 'Padmavati' in the state.

He also said that the censor board's decision will be final on the concerns relating to the content of the movie.

Reddy was responding to BJP MLC Leher Singh during the zero hour in Karnataka Legislative Council.

Pointing to large scale protests and outrage that the movie is facing in different parts of the country including Bengaluru, Singh urged the state government to ban it keeping maintenance of law and order in mind.

Rajput community members had yesterday staged a huge demonstration and held a rally in Bengaluru against the film alleging it distorted history.

The protesters claimed that the movie was fictitious and portrayed in a poor light, Rani Padmavati, the legendary 13th century queen of Chittor, whom they worship as a Goddess.

Noting that the government cannot take any decision on the movie without knowing what has been depicted in it, and in such cases the censor board is the final authority, Reddy said, "on law and order, we will provide adequate security."



Bhansali has been facing trouble since he started shooting for the movie.

The set of the movie was vandalised twice -- in Jaipur and Kolhapur -- and the director was roughed up by members of the Karni Sena during the Jaipur schedule of the film earlier this year.

The Supreme Court had recently refused to entertain a plea seeking a stay on the release of Padmavati, saying the censor board was yet to certify the movie.

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A woman student of Medical Laboratory Technology suffered severe burn injury on her face in an acid attack allegedly by her husband at the MKCG Medical College here today, police said.

The incident took place at about 10.30 am, near the girls common room. The woman's husband allegedly threw acid on her while she was going to attend class in the college. The attacker immediately fled from the scene, the police said.

The woman is a third year student of Diploma in Medical Technology (DMLT).

Her classmates and other students immediately rushed her to the emergency ward of the medical college.

The victim was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack for better treatment. The Supreme Court in a judgement had ordered to refer the acid victim to the hospital where special burn care unit was existing, said Khetrabasi Subudhi, the superintendent of MKCG Medical College Hospital here.

"We are coordinating with the legal service authority (LSA), Cuttack for arrangement of her treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital," said District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) secretary, Gundicha Samantasinghar.

He said they would recommended to the district authority to provide Rs 1 lakh financial assistance and free treatment to the victim



Though the percentage of burn injuries on her body due to the acid attack was not known immediately, superintendent of medical college said she suffered injuries on her face, eye and some portion of body.

"We have formed special teams to nab the accused. They are on their job to search the attacker," said Additional Superintendent of Police (Berhampur) Shantanu Das.

Though the exact cause of the acid attack was not known immediately, police said they suspect a dispute between the wife and husband might be the reason of the incident.

They were married in the month of May this year. Dispute between them started soon after the marriage due to some reasons, said one of the relatives of the victim.

As the woman was doing DMLT at medical college here, she was staying in a hostel. Her husband was doing business at Kalamba and owns a common service center (CSC), sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The world is seeing a rise of "exclusive politics" and discourses of division and diversity are being rejected as a "source of weakness", Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay said today.

Marking the International Day for Tolerance today, the world body chief, also said, societies are seeing, "Myths of 'pure' cultures of lore being gloried".

"We see others being scapegoated and repressed. We see barbaric terrorist attacks designed to weaken the fabric of 'living together'," Azoulay said in a statement released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to mark the day.

Her message was read out by a UNESCO India official at an event held by the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the ICCR here, to celebrate Sarajevo Haggadah, the illuminated manuscripts that its envoy said was a "symbol of survival".

Across the world, societies are undergoing a deep transformation, just as globalisation is accelerating. This is opening vast opportunities for dialogue and exchange. It is also raising new challenges, sharpened by inequality and poverty, enduring conflicts and movements of people, Azoulay, who was recently appointed its chief, said.

"We see today the rise of exclusive politics and discourses of division. We see diversity being rejected as a source of weakness.

"We see myths of 'pure' cultures of lore being gloried, fuelled by ignorance and sometimes hatred. We see others being scapegoated and repressed," she said.

The UNESCO Director General emphasised that tolerance also must mean standing up to all forms of racism, hatred and discrimination, because discrimination against one is discrimination against all.

Ambasaador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sabit Subasic in his address to the gathering, flagged that the space between tolerance and extreme tolerance is "very often, very narrow".

"We are suddenly getting terribly intolerant. I believe we live in an era where the danger is obvious and very visible... Because, probably more than ever before, today we can easily get xenophobic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic. Bigotry, predatory, cruelty, inhumnaity is widely present," he said.

And, politicians are very skillful in provoking and developing extreme intolerance.

"I think, for one, who has political ambitions, the cheapest and the most effective way to earn political points is to play that card, ignite intolerance towards others.

"And, success is guranteed," he said.

About the Sarajevo Haggadah, he said, we are celebrating this book on this day as it is a beautiful symbol of survival itself, and of tolerance.

A senior offical of the United Nations Information Centre here, said the book has serviced the Spanish Inquisition and the two World Wars and the turmoil in Bosnia in the 90s.

It is handwritten on bleached calfskin and illuminated in copper and gold. It opens with 34 pages of illustrations of key scenes in the Bible from creation through the death of Moses. Its pages are stained with wine, evidence that it was used at many Passover Seders, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese phone maker Yuho Mobile today said it plans to invest Rs 500 crore to start its production in India as it looks to touch the Rs 1,000 crore sales mark by the end of next year.

"We are planning to invest Rs 500 crore by next year. We are talking to Foxconn for setting up a manufacturing facility at Noida, near Delhi," Yuho Mobile Business Head (Distribution Sales) Rajeev Tiwari told reporters here.

The company will outsource manufacturing of the handsets and is looking to have a capacity to produce 10 lakh units annually, he added.

"The production is likely to start from mid-2018. Apart from the Indian market, this facility will also cater to the SAARC countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines," Tiwari said.

Yuho Mobile Pvt Ltd launched its India operations four months back and is currently having a sales of Rs 30 lakh every month, he added.

"In the first phase, we aim to be present through 7,000 outlets in North and East regions of India. In the second phase, our target is to be present in 10,000 outlets across the country. A total business topline of Rs 1,000 crore by 2018 should keep us in good stead," Tiwari said.

The company today rolled out three models for the North Eastern market, priced between Rs 6,000 and Rs 15,000.

Tiwari said the company is aiming to be present in the region through 700-800 sales outlets within next three months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Tomo Uetake and Hideyuki Sano

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan should consider using derivatives, rather than buying Japanese stock funds directly as it does now, to affect risk premium on stocks, because that would be a better tool, said the chief investment officer of Japan Post Bank.

By selling put options of Japanese stocks, the BOJ should be able to not only help bring down the stock market's volatility but also to make it easier to wean the markets off its stimulus, said Katsunori Sago, a former Goldman Sachs executive.

The Bank of Japan currently buys six trillion yen ($53 billion) of Japanese stocks annually through exchange traded funds (ETFs), making it the single largest investor of Japanese stocks.

But the central bank's current pace of heavy intervention has raised various worries. The BOJ is already among the largest shareholders for many Japanese companies and its snowballing equity portfolio makes an eventual exit from stimulus more difficult.

Speaking at the Global Investment 2018 Outlook Summit on Thursday, Sago said selling put options is an attractive solution for the BOJ to ease those concerns.

Put options are the right to sell an asset at a certain price. Thus their sellers will have the obligation to buy the asset at the pre-agreed price. Investors typically sell options when they think the market will not move much.

If the BOJ sells out-of-the-money puts, for example, put option with strike price below the current market levels, it can reduce the market's volatility, Sago said.

"When you sell (out-of-the-money) puts, you don't actually buy stocks unless the stock market falls. So the BOJ can do without buying stocks while committing itself to buying if the market crumbles," Sago said.

The BOJ's selling of put options should also reduce the market's volatility, thus boosting risk-adjusted returns and making it easier for investors to buy stocks, he added.

Sago also said the BOJ should also consider raising its 10-year bond yield target above the current zero percent, because there is little benefit to the overall economy from keeping bond yields so low.

Follow Summits on Twitter @Reuters_Summits

($1 = 113.00 yen)

(Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This shows the technology leader has begun to turn a corner as it shifts focus from hardware to software and recurring subscriptions, several analysts said.

"Cisco has been shifting its business model towards subscriptions, especially in the faster-growing segments like security," said Tim Green, analyst with the Motley Fool. "That effort may be starting to bear fruit."

The world's largest network gear maker forecast second-quarter adjusted profit of 58 cents to 60 cents per share, largely above analysts' estimate of 58 cents, according to Thomson I/B/E/S.

Cisco forecast a revenue increase of 1 to 3 percent for its second quarter, which would end a streak of eight quarters of year-to-year decline.

"The forecast is better than feared and speaks to a company that has started to turn the corner," said Daniel Ives at research firm GBH Insights.

The company's shares rose more than 5 percent to $35.95 in after-hours trading.

"Cisco has been shifting its business model toward subscriptions, especially in the faster-growing segments like security," said Tim Green, analyst with the Motley Fool. "That effort may be starting to bear fruit."

Revenue from Cisco's security business, which offers firewall protection and breach detection systems, rose 8 percent to $585 million.

"We've been in a multi-year journey selling software and subscriptions against the threat intelligence and the malware intelligence that we have. And I think that's what's continuing to pay off," Chief Executive Charles Robbins said on a post-earnings call.

Cisco is focussing on high-growth areas such as security, Internet of Things and cloud computing like other legacy technology companies.

"If the new services add revenue next year, they will seem very cheap, and the dividend makes them a great add for a conservative portfolio," said Phil Davis, CEO of PhilStockWorld.com, an investment advisory service.

Recurring revenue from Cisco's subscription businesses accounted for 32 percent of total revenue in the first quarter, up 3 points year-to-year. The company also reported deferred revenue of $18.6 billion, up 10 percent year-to-year, as a result of Cisco's new focus on software and services, Green said.

Net income rose to $2.39 billion, or 48 cents per share, from $2.32 billion, or 46 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the company earned 61 cents per share. Revenue fell 1.7 percent to $12.14 billion.

Analysts on average had expected Cisco to report a profit of 60 cents per share on revenue of $12.11 billion.

(Reporting by Salvador Rodriguez in San Francisco and Laharee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Richard Chang)

(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.)
By Rafael Nam

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Three days before Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd announced quarterly results this summer, a message circulated on a private WhatsApp group saying the Indian drugmaker would not post good numbers.

Dr. Reddy's was going to report a loss, according to the message on the "Market Chatter" group, which was posted on July 24 from a mobile phone number that Reuters traced back to Nishant Vass, an auto analyst at ICICI Securities, a leading Indian brokerage. The WhatsApp group had 45 members, mostly traders.

The loss would have been a surprise to many analysts, as consensus forecasts compiled by Thomson Reuters at the time showed expectations of a profit of 3 billion rupees.

The message proved prescient: On July 27, Dr. Reddy's reported a loss of 587 million rupees (9.05 million dollars) under Indian accounting standards.

The chief executive of Dr. Reddy's said quarterly results were "below expectations", sending shares down as much as 4.4 percent.

After the Reuters story was published on Nov. 16, Dr. Reddy's said that it had posted a net profit of 591 million rupees for that first quarter of the fiscal year ending in March 2018 under the global IFRS accounting standard.

The company further reiterated that they "have adequate processes and controls in place in terms of confidentiality and security of information."

The post that circulated in the WhatsApp group three days earlier had predicted a loss of more than 500 million rupees.

A person who identified himself as Vass returned a call from Reuters using the telephone number from which the Dr. Reddy's numbers had been posted on the WhatsApp group. He denied writing or sharing posts in the group, adding later in a separate WhatsApp message from the same number that it was "totally baseless" that he had done so.

Reuters has documented at least 12 cases of prescient messages about major Indian companies, including Dr. Reddy's, being posted in private WhatsApp groups.

Two of the messages appeared in the transcripts of six groups reviewed by Reuters, including the "Market Chatter" group where the Dr. Reddy's numbers appeared. The others were shared on condition of anonymity by two other members of other WhatsApp groups.

The posts with prescient numbers in the WhatsApp groups were circulated hours or days before official company statements.

The messages shared could involve lucky guesses or astute forecasts based on publicly available information, and not all metrics shared among the 12 cases were exactly the same as reported.

Reuters could not determine where the numbers posted on the WhatsApp groups originated or whether any of the market participants who received the messages had traded on the basis of the numbers they had seen.

According to two lawyers who were formerly senior officials at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the country's capital markets regulator, if any numbers being posted on WhatsApp groups were determined by regulators to be "unpublished price-sensitive information", the people circulating them would be breaking the law.

"The mere sharing of information that could be unpublished insider information is outlawed, even if you don't misuse the information to trade on it," said Sandeep Parekh, a lawyer with Finsec Law Advisors who used to head SEBI's enforcement division.

SEBI did not respond to requests for comment. After Reuters published this article, the regulator said that it would investigate the matter.

India significantly toughened insider trading rules in early 2015, expanding what constitutes "unpublished price-sensitive information" to include "any information" that is not "generally available" and that could have a market impact.

The law also expanded the scope of who constitutes an "insider" to include "anyone in possession of or having access to unpublished price-sensitive information" regardless of how they came "in possession of or had access to such information".

"You don't need to have gotten inside information from a company. You could get it from anywhere," said Vaneesa Agrawal, a partner with Suvan Law Advisors who formerly worked in SEBI's legal department. "As soon as you have information that could be insider information you are an insider, and you are not supposed to either pass it on or trade on it."

Circulating "unpublished price-sensitive information" can result in penalties of up to 250 million rupees and a jail term of up to 10 years. The monetary amount can be higher if it can be proven that an individual traded on such information.

ICICI Securities said in a statement that it had "zero tolerance towards any dissemination of unpublished price sensitive information and has an appropriate framework to safeguard confidentiality of information."

Dr. Reddy's said it was "not aware of any information related to its financial results being circulated externally ahead of statutory disclosures that are made officially by the company."

MESSAGING THROUGH WHATSAPP

The messages about the 12 with prescient information obtained by Reuters involved mostly what were characterised as being upcoming quarterly results, including specific metrics such as net profits, revenues and operating margins.

They also included messages about upcoming bonus share issues or revenue guidance.

Seven of the are part of the benchmark NSE index: Dr. Reddy's, the drug maker Cipla Ltd, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Tata Steel, the IT services company Wipro, and Bajaj Finance.

The other five were Mahindra Holidays and Resorts, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd, the IT services providers Mindtree Ltd and Mastek Ltd, and India Glycols, a petrochemicals company.

Wipro, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Mastek, Crompton Greaves, Cipla and Mahindra Holidays said they were not aware messages referring to their upcoming results or announcements had circulated in WhatsApp, and that the adhered to strict standards of guarding sensitive company information.

Axis Bank, Tata Steel, India Glycols, Mindtree did not reply to requests for comment.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, responded to a request for comment by pointing to its terms of service, which state users can use the platform only for "legal, authorized, and acceptable purposes".

HEARD ON THE STREET

Many of the postings in the WhatsApp groups are referred to as "HOS", for "Heard on the Street".

In one typical post on July 25, Fanil Motiwalla, a contractor for a small brokerage, Arcadia Share & Stock Brokers, posted a set of numbers for Axis Bank, India's third-largest private lender. Motiwalla works as a sub-broker, who are typically hired as contractors by securities firms in India to recruit customers.

"This HOS is going around for Axis," Motiwalla said when posting the numbers, which included key metrics such as gross non-performing assets and net interest margins.

Later that day, Axis Bank reported results that closely matched the final numbers in Motiwalla's message.

Arcadia said it had policies in place to prevent employees from passing on "illegal information".

Motiwalla said he just reposted a message that had already been circulating in the market and he did not consider it inside information.

"How do I know if this is coming from inside information? This could come from many sources," he said. "This information comes from different groups, and we just post it."

Arcadia said every sub-broker it hired was given a copy of SEBI's rules, adding, "whatever the alleged message sent by him is not sourced from Arcadia," referring to Motiwalla.

($1 = 64.8775 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rafael Nam; Additional reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Philip McClellan)

(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.)
By Steve Stecklow

(Reuters) - To solve the Mt. Gox bankruptcy mess, its former chief executive says he is exploring a dramatic solution - reviving the exchange so it can start generating money again.

Mark Karpeles told he believes Mt. Gox, which collapsed in 2014, could be resurrected under new management and ownership - at a cost of $245 million. He said he would have no role and would only receive "money for required expenses, mostly legal."

Karpeles is currently on trial in Japan, accused of embezzling money from Mt. Gox and manipulating its data, as well as breach of trust. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He said the $245 million would be needed to set up a fund to cover possible payments to "uncooperative creditors," to fund a year's operating expenses and future cash flow, for compliance in the United States, Europe and Japan, and to convince creditors to support the plan.

To raise the money, he proposes either finding a buyer for Mt. Gox or conducting an online fundraiser.

If Mt. Gox were to resume business, as unlikely as that may seem, Karpeles said he would have "no role nor benefit at all, except for the fact people may hate me a little less."

(by Steve Stecklow; edited by Janet McBride and Richard Woods)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
in India climbed this week, buoyed by improved overseas demand, but rising supplies from a new season crop capped gains for the staple grain in the world's top exporter.

India's 5 per cent broken parboiled rose by $2 per tonne to $399 to $402 per tonne.

"There was an improvement in demand from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. African buyers were also making inquires," said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

In Thailand, benchmark 5-per cent broken rice was quoted at $380-$387 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, compared with $375-$387 last week.

Thai Hom Mali rice won the title of "World's Best Rice" at this year's World Rice Conference held in Macau last week and traders said this will have a positive impact on global demand for Thai rice.

"Due to floods in the northeast (part of Thailand) this year, where Hom Mali rice is grown, the output of the crop has dropped, causing prices to rise. With this new development, I expect prices to rise further," said a Bangkok-based trader.

Traders were also optimistic that South Korea's tender to buy 132,790 tonnes of rice for December-March arrival may result in demand for Thai rice.

Overall, however, traders said demand was slow, and with new crops expected to enter the market starting the end of this month, prices could drop.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh cancelled its first-ever deal with Cambodia to import 250,000 tonnes of white rice over a delay in shipments, officials said on Tuesday. The deal was signed in August at $453 a tonne.

The country has emerged as a major importer of the grain this year after floods damaged its crops and, despite deals with several rice exporting countries including Myanmar and Bangladesh, is still battling to build its reserves.

In Vietnam, the benchmark 5 per cent broken rice was quoted at $400-405 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon, little changed from the high levels last week due to continuous shortage of supply, traders said.

"The recent harvest mainly served domestic demand and didn't affect export price. New crop yield was available, but prices stayed high," a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said.

"We won't have a larger supply until the end of the winter-spring crop season in March."

Sowing for the winter-spring crops, one of Vietnam's two major rice crop seasons, is expected to start only by late November or December as flood waters in the rice-growing Mekong Delta have not completely receded, the trader added.
By Ana Isabel Martinez and Sharay Angulo

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican negotiators will propose that the North American Free Trade Agreement be rigorously reviewed every five years rather than the U.S. idea of automatic expiration, an official said on Wednesday as the fifth round of talks between the United States, Canada and Mexico to update the pact got under way.

The latest round of talks in the Mexican capital are proceeding under the shadow of tough U.S. demands and without the presence of trade ministers.

Mexico's top trade official, however, proposed a five-year review to counter a U.S. proposal to include a sunset clause that would kill the deal if it is not renegotiated after five years, an idea widely criticized as undermining long-term investments.

"We are going to make a proposal... a compromise so that every five years we evaluate what is happening and what effects it's having, and based on those results each country will decide," said Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo.

He described the proposal as a "more rigorous evaluation mechanism" than currently exists. Under current rules, each country has the right to leave the deal when it wants.

Guajardo emphasized that the counterproposal would not let the trade agreement automatically expire and said he thought it is unlikely that the U.S. President Donald Trump would trigger the existing deal's termination clause later this year.

But the minister, who served as part of Mexico's NAFTA negotiating team in the early 1990s, added he could not rule out the possibility that Trump would decide to trigger a U.S. withdrawal from the 23-year-old accord in the first quarter of 2018.

At the sprawling hotel hosting the negotiations in the capital's posh Polanco district, lower level officials were taking part in the talks, which in the first two days were set to focus on textiles, services, labour and intellectual property, according to two officials familiar with plans.

In statements released on Wednesday, the United States, Mexico and Canada said their respective ministers would not attend, meaning these would be the first such negotiations without ministerial representation.

"Ministers agreed not to attend the fifth round so negotiators can continue to make important progress on key chapters," the statements said.

The NAFTA talks were launched this year after the new U.S. president took office, promising that Washington would withdraw from the 1994 pact if it were not revamped to better serve U.S. interests.

A Canadian source with knowledge of the talks said that too much should not be read into ministers' absence, since they just met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in the Vietnamese resort of Danang. The source said the last minute decision for ministers not to attend was taken on Tuesday.

A Mexican official close to the talks agreed, saying that the three sides would take stock of negotiations at the end of the round as planned. Two officials at the talks, one Mexican, one American, said the absence of the ministers would relieve pressure on negotiators and allow the three sides to focus on substance.

Trump's threat to withdraw from NAFTA if he cannot rework it to the benefit of the United States has spooked investors. The peso sunk to an eight-month low on Wednesday.

Other members of Trump's administration have been more optimistic. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said he is confident the pact will be successfully renegotiated.

(Writing by Gabriel Stargardter and Michael O'Boyle; Additional reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Frances Kerry and Cynthia Osterman)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Alexandra Harney and Steve Stecklow

TOKYO (Reuters) - When Mt. Gox, the world's largest bitcoin trading exchange, collapsed in early 2014, more than 24,000 customers around the world lost access to hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrency and cash.

More than three years later, with the price of bitcoin skyrocketing to more than $7,000, not a single customer has recouped a single cent, crypto or otherwise. It's not clear when they will. The failed exchange has become stuck in a morass of litigation - a Russian doll of bankruptcies in Japan and New Zealand, four in all, plus lawsuits in the United States and competing claims from creditors.

And although the Mt. Gox bankruptcy trustee recovered digital currency now worth more than $1.6 billion, under Japanese law the exchange's customers likely will recover only a fraction of that.

Kim Nilsson, a Swedish software developer who had more than a dozen bitcoins at Mt. Gox, isn't optimistic of a payout soon. "It's a legal twilight zone," he says. "I wouldn't be surprised if it took several years more."

The court-appointed trustee in Mt. Gox's bankruptcy, Nobuaki Kobayashi, did not respond to questions from about the payout process.

There are few better examples of the dangers of investing in cryptocurrencies than Mt. Gox. As reported in September, cryptocurrency exchanges - where digital coins are bought, sold and stored - are largely unregulated and have become magnets for fraud and deception. At least 10 of them have closed, often after thefts, leaving customers without their funds.

In all, more than 980,000 bitcoins have been stolen from exchanges since 2011 - two-thirds of those from Mt. Gox. Today, all of the stolen coins would be worth more than $6 billion, has calculated.

Mt. Gox is one of the few collapsed exchanges that ended up in bankruptcy court; some just vanished. But the problem for Mt. Gox's thousands of creditors is that under Japanese bankruptcy law, their claims were valued at the market price of bitcoin in April 2014 just before the Tokyo District Court ordered the exchange be liquidated. At that time, one bitcoin was worth $483. On the basis of the April 2014 value, the claims ultimately approved were fixed at 45.6 billion Japanese yen, currently about $400 million.

Based on the current price of bitcoin, Mt. Gox's bankruptcy trustee is sitting on enough cash to repay creditors whose claims have been approved more than three times that amount, according to Reuters' calculation.

But that likely won't happen, according to two Japanese bankruptcy attorneys. In Japan, by law any funds left over in a bankrupt company's estate after creditors have been paid go to shareholders. Mt. Gox is 88 percent owned by a Japanese company called Tibanne. And Mark Karpeles, a 32-year-old French software engineer and Mt. Gox's former chief executive, owns 100 percent of Tibanne.

Karpeles is currently on trial in Tokyo, accused of embezzling money from Mt. Gox and manipulating its data, as well as breach of trust. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, some of which carry sentences of up to 10 years. He served nearly a year in jail following his arrest in August 2015.

Many creditors are livid at the prospect of a payout for Karpeles, whom they blame for Mt. Gox's failure. "If the government just took all of it, that would be less offensive than if they just gave it to Mark," said Aaron Gutman, a software developer who had about 464 bitcoins at Mt. Gox, which are now worth about $3 million.

Added Henry Dienn, a 61-year-old entrepreneur in Japan who had 175 bitcoins at Mt. Gox: "Some of the people say, 'I'd rather see the money burned.'"

In a three-hour interview, Karpeles told Reuters he doesn't want the money. The main reason: He expects he would be inundated with lawsuits. He says he already is facing about a half dozen.

"I don't want to be the beneficiary of this," he said. "I don't really need money. I work, I get by."

Karpeles also told Reuters he has been exploring a way to resurrect Mt. Gox under new management and ownership - at an estimated cost of $245 million.

Among the factors complicating the liquidation process is a U.S. tech company called CoinLab. It agreed to partner with Mt. Gox in 2012, and is pursuing claims in a Japanese court totaling about $170 million against both Mt. Gox and Tibanne.

Through a spokesperson, Peter Vessenes, CoinLab's former CEO who had signed the agreement with Mt. Gox, declined to answer any questions, including whether CoinLab is still in business.

CoinLab has been struck off the corporate registry in Washington state. In Delaware, state records and interviews show its registration status is "void" and it owes more than $400,000 in unpaid taxes.

Karpeles, who is required to attend various bankruptcy hearings and is forbidden from leaving Japan, said Mt. Gox's claimants will be lucky to be paid anything before 2020 - the year Tokyo is set to host the summer Olympics.

On paper, Karpeles, who himself is in personal bankruptcy, stands to gain most of the surplus. But he would not get it all. Some of the excess would be allocated to Tibanne, and another part would likely go to the owner of a 12 percent stake in Mt. Gox. Who that is remains in question.

FELINE FIRM

The Mt. Gox exchange was first launched by Jed McCaleb, an American software engineer, in 2010. The domain previously had been used to trade cards in an online game.

McCaleb told Reuters in an interview that he decided he wanted to work on other projects, and transferred the exchange to Karpeles in February 2011 for free. The only conditions were that Karpeles had to share the exchange's revenues with McCaleb for six months, not hold him legally responsible for any problems and give him a 12 percent stake. Mt. Gox became part of Tibanne, which Karpeles had formed in 2009 as a web hosting and development business. He named the company after his cat.

Karpeles said when he took over Mt. Gox, it had about 3,000 customers. As bitcoin grew in popularity among tech aficionados and investors, the exchange prospered. By 2013, it had nearly 1.1 million active accounts from 239 countries and handled upwards of 90 percent of global bitcoin trading. It generated about $40 million in fees in its last year, Karpeles said.

About 30 percent of its customers were from America, he said. Karpeles feared he was going to run into regulatory trouble there because Mt. Gox wasn't licensed to transmit money. In November 2012, Karpeles signed an exclusive agreement with CoinLab, a Seattle-based bitcoin project incubator, to service the exchange's U.S. and Canadian customers.

The partnership quickly soured. In a federal lawsuit filed in Washington state in May 2013, CoinLab argued that Mt. Gox and Tibanne had breached the contract by continuing to serve North American customers directly and failing to transfer their accounts to CoinLab. It demanded damages of at least $75 million.

In counterclaims filed later that year, Mt. Gox and Tibanne argued that Mt. Gox had not provided access to customer accounts because they alleged CoinLab was not properly registered or licensed to do business. They also alleged that CoinLab had not returned $5.3 million in Mt. Gox customer deposits. CoinLab said in a court filing it had complied with all relevant laws and had registered to provide bitcoin exchange services with the U.S. Treasury Department's FinCEN bureau. The case is on hold as a result of a petition filed by the trustee in Mt. Gox's bankruptcy, Kobayashi.

Roger Ver, who is known as "Bitcoin Jesus" for his longtime evangelism for the digital currency, personifies the complexity of the Mt. Gox bankruptcy. He was an early investor in CoinLab and was also a Mt. Gox customer with 577 bitcoins in his account when it shut down.

Ver told Reuters he urged CoinLab's former CEO, Vessenes, to withdraw the lawsuit against Mt. Gox and Tibanne because he considered the suit "frivolous." He did not elaborate.

Ver was also a customer of Bitcoinica, a New Zealand bitcoin exchange where he said he stored nearly 25,000 bitcoins. It collapsed in 2012 following thefts of tens of thousands of bitcoins that year. Bitcoinica had kept customer deposits at Mt. Gox, so the New Zealand exchange became yet another creditor in the Japanese bankruptcy. The Bitcoinica bankruptcy estate's claims in the Mt. Gox case are valued at 3.29 billion Japanese yen, or about $29 million.

Mt. Gox was repeatedly robbed of bitcoins between 2011 and 2014 by unknown thieves who stole at least 650,000 bitcoins. They are now worth about $4 billion.

On Feb. 7, 2014, Mt. Gox said it had detected "unusual activity" on its bitcoin wallets and halted withdrawals. The price of bitcoins on Mt. Gox plunged.

Later that month, Mt. Gox halted all trading and filed for bankruptcy protection at Tokyo District Court. At first, the exchange said that nearly all of the bitcoins in its possession - about 850,000 - were missing. But it later located 202,185 bitcoins in storage and on its system.

Mt. Gox founder McCaleb said that in April 2014, before the court-ordered liquidation, he signed an agreement to sell his 12 percent stake to Sunlot Holdings, a Cyprus-registered company, for one bitcoin. Sunlot at the time was trying to purchase most of Mt. Gox and resurrect it, but the plan fell through.

McCaleb said he never received the bitcoin. "It's unclear to me whether the sale was actually completed," McCaleb said. "It's in this weird gray zone."

A spokesman for John Betts, who was part of the Sunlot investment group, declined to comment on the status of the sale.

This past summer, U.S. authorities announced they had found at least one person involved with the Mt. Gox hacks.

In July, a U.S. grand jury indicted Alexander Vinnik, a 37-year-old Russian, accusing him of operating an unlicensed money-service business, money laundering and other crimes. In its indictment, the government alleged Vinnik had received funds from the Mt. Gox hacks and laundered them through online exchanges including BTC-e, an exchange he operated, and Tradehill, a now-defunct San Francisco-based exchange. He remains in jail in Greece and is seeking to have his case heard in Russia, not the United States.

Alexandros Lykourezos, an Athens attorney who represents Vinnik, said his client rejects all of the indictment's allegations. "He says he has nothing to do with the Mt. Gox incident," the attorney said.

MULTIPLE BANKRUPTCIES

Mt. Gox initially filed for a form of bankruptcy that allowed the exchange to be sold, and briefly considered offers from potential buyers, including Sunlot. But a deal never happened.

On April 24, 2014, the Tokyo District Court ordered Mt. Gox to be liquidated. Kobayashi, a veteran Japanese bankruptcy lawyer, was appointed trustee.

Kobayashi filed a petition with a U.S. bankruptcy court that led to CoinLab's 2013 lawsuit against Mt. Gox being put on hold. He began conducting meetings to brief creditors several times a year, and posting reports online about the progress of the bankruptcy in both Japanese and English.

As he sought to protect Mt. Gox's estate, Kobayashi created bankruptcies within bankruptcies. He asked the Tokyo District Court to put Tibanne, Mt. Gox's parent company, into bankruptcy on the grounds that he had been unable to get Tibanne to repay debts to Mt. Gox, according to a trustee report to creditors. The trustee also put Karpeles into personal bankruptcy.

Different trustees were appointed to handle those cases. Kobayashi filed claims against both Tibanne and Karpeles.

Kobayashi set up an online system for filing claims; 24,750 former Mt. Gox customers ultimately sought compensation. He valued bitcoin claims at $483 per digital coin, the market price on the day before the liquidation order, and converted that value into Japanese yen.

"Those of us who were burned by this are now permanently locked into that depressed price," said Gutman, the software developer and Mt. Gox creditor.

According to Kobayashi's most recent status report on the Mt. Gox bankruptcy, dated Sept. 27, as trustee he has received 163.7 million yen, or about $1.4 million, in fees since his appointment.

Kobayashi also recently reached a settlement with the U.S. government. He recouped for the estate $2.6 million - half the funds U.S. authorities seized from Mt. Gox in 2013 for operating in the United States without a license. The United States got to keep the other $2.6 million. No creditors have benefited.

Among the claims the trustee needs to evaluate is the one from CoinLab, the U.S. bitcoin tech firm that sued Mt. Gox and Tibanne in 2013 in the United States. With its lawsuit put on hold, it filed a claim for about 8.7 billion yen, or about $75 million, in the Mt. Gox bankruptcy, a court filing in Japan shows. It also filed a claim in Tibanne's bankruptcy case for about 10.8 billion Japanese yen, or $95 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Tibanne case records are not public so Reuters was unable to determine the basis for this claim.

In interviews, Karpeles and several creditors, including Ver, blamed Vessenes, CoinLab's former chief executive, for holding up compensation to Mt. Gox's former customers. Records in the Mt. Gox case show the trustee rejected CoinLab's claims but the company petitioned for a reassessment, which Karpeles and some creditors say has caused delays. According to Japanese bankruptcy lawyers, claimants are unlikely to be paid until disputes over large claims are settled.

A spokesperson for Vessenes, ex-CEO of CoinLab, said he was unable to comment on ongoing litigation.

CRACKS APPEAR AMONGST CREDITORS

With the price of bitcoin soaring in 2017 - it's up more than seven-fold this year - some Mt. Gox customers are hoping the bankruptcy trustee will revalue their claims. But disputes have emerged over the best way to convince him to do that.

Some want to form a creditors' committee to increase leverage. That involves getting a majority of the creditors - more than 12,000 - to support the plan, according to Japanese bankruptcy law.

Japanese bankruptcy lawyers told Reuters that creditor committees are rare in insolvency cases. The court also would need to recognize the committee, they said.

One creditor supporting a committee is Kolin Burges, a British software developer and cryptocurrency investor who had 311 bitcoins at Mt. Gox, about two-thirds of his savings. He said he recognized the difficulty of getting so many creditors to sign up and of convincing the court that the group fairly represents all creditors.

"It's going to be a tough task," he said.

Daniel Kelman, an American lawyer in Taiwan who had 44.5 bitcoin - today worth about $310,000 - stored with Mt. Gox, predicts further disputes. "People are going to fight over the value of claims," he said. "For sure."

There's also the issue of paying shareholders in Mt. Gox and Tibanne, rather than creditors.

Like Karpeles, McCaleb, Mt. Gox's founder, told Reuters that he didn't "want to make money" from the bankruptcy. McCaleb said he would give "as much as possible" from any money he received to creditors - minus any legal costs or taxes.

"The people that are more hurt by the whole Mt. Gox fiasco are more deserving," he said. "It seems kind of silly that Mark or I would get it."

Meanwhile, Mt. Gox's bitcoin assets keep climbing in value. In August, bitcoin's underlying software code split, creating a clone called "bitcoin cash." In addition to the 202,185 bitcoins that it already had, the Mt. Gox estate now owns an equal number of bitcoin cash digital coins. Those are now worth about $200 million, while the bitcoins are worth about $1.4 billion.

In his latest status report on Mt. Gox, Kobayashi said he wished to proceed with distributing the assets "as soon as possible," but that the timing and method "have not yet been determined."

(By Alexandra Harney and Steve Stecklow. Alexandra Harney reported from Tokyo and Shanghai. Steve Stecklow reported from Tokyo and London; editing by Janet McBride and Richard Woods)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's economy minister said on Thursday he did not agree with statements made by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross that it would be devastating for Mexico if the United States pulls out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"No, I don't think so," Ildefonso Guajardo said in a television interview when asked if he agreed with Ross.

"Without a doubt, Mexico could face a short-term impact because the market is very sensitive to marketing, branding ... Our ability to adjust, and the manner in which we do it, is what will allow us to resist any potential change."

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal CEO Council on Tuesday, Ross said that it "would be devastating to the Mexican economy" if the United States were to pull out of NAFTA.

Guajardo said that if NAFTA talks, which are currently in their fifth round in Mexico City, do end up stretching into March, the United States must ask itself if it wants the trade talks to influence Mexico's July 2018 election.

The fifth round of NAFTA talks entered their second day on Thursday, proceeding under the shadow of tough U.S. demands and without the presence of trade ministers who agreed to sit out the discussions.

On Wednesday, Guajardo said that Mexican negotiators will propose that NAFTA be rigorously reviewed every five years to counter a U.S. "sunset clause" proposal that would kill the deal if it is not renegotiated after five years, an idea widely criticized as undermining long-term investments.

The economy minister described the proposal as a "more rigorous evaluation mechanism" than currently exists. Under current rules, each country has the right to leave the deal when it wants.

Guajardo emphasized that the counterproposal would not let the trade agreement automatically expire and said he thought it is unlikely that U.S. President Donald Trump would trigger the existing deal's termination clause later this year.

But the minister, who served as part of Mexico's NAFTA negotiating team in the early 1990s, added he could not rule out the possibility that Trump would decide to trigger a U.S. withdrawal from the 23-year-old accord in the first quarter of 2018.

(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter and Veronica Gomez; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

(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.)
Virgin Hyperloop One on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka Urban Development Department (KUDD) and the Maharashtra government to identify potential routes to improve mobility in both the states and connect high growth cities. The hyperloop mode uses technology in which a vehicle in a special tunnel floats above the track, using magnetic levitation, at a top speed of over 1,000 km per hour.

Besides Karnataka and Maharashtra, the company will also study the hyperloop possibility in Andhra Pradesh. The company would work with partners in these states and help navigate the regulatory requirements. The preliminary study is intended to analyse the applicability and benefits of hyperloop technology, identifying high priority routes in these states, and inform the state governments on the project viability.

"Bengaluru has been the IT hubs of the country, and all major tech giants have been functioning out of the regions. The introduction of a technology like hyperloop will further add to the pace at which the state wants to grow," said Priyank Karghe, ITBT and tourism, Karnataka. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: "A hyperloop route requires high-density traffic to become viable as a means of rapid public transit. "Mumbai and Pune, the most and seventh most populous cities in India respectively, have the potential to provide an optimal route with a high density." By reducing travel time to under 20 minutes, a hyperloop route will help intensify the connectivity between the metropolitan regions of Pune and Mumbai, transforming the two cities into India's first and largest Megapolis, he added.



The company claims the Virgin Hyperloop One technology was successfully tested at its test track in the Nevada desert in the US this summer. The company is working on similar projects in the UAE, the US, Canada, Finland and the Netherlands. "We recognise the vital role of technology in larger initiatives like that of Digital India, and we strongly believe that Virgin Hyperloop One can be a strong addition to this initiative," said Nick Earle, SVP Global Field Operations, Virgin Hyperloop One. "India is one of the most important geographies for developing hyperloop networks and reimagining the complete transportation system. With this preliminary study, we are excited to initiate the buildup of a strong foothold that we foresee in future throughout the state," he added.

Embracing disruptive innovations like hyperloop will improve connectivity and accessibility to enable transportation within major cities. In the project comes to fruition, the network could create the largest connected urban area in the world by linking over 75 million people across Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.

With PTI inputs
Three days before Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd announced quarterly results this summer, a message circulated on a private WhatsApp group saying the Indian drugmaker would not post good numbers.

Dr. Reddy's was going to report a loss, according to the message on the "Market Chatter" group, which was posted on July 24 from a mobile phone number that Reuters traced back to Nishant Vass, an auto analyst at ICICI Securities, a leading Indian brokerage. The WhatsApp group had 45 members, mostly traders.

The loss would have been a surprise to many analysts, as consensus forecasts compiled by Thomson Reuters at the time showed expectations of a profit of 3 billion rupees.

The message proved prescient: On July 27, Dr. Reddy's reported a loss of 587 million rupees (9.05 million dollars) - a result its chief executive said was "below expectations", sending shares down as much as 4.4 percent.

The post that circulated in the WhatsApp group three days earlier had predicted a loss of more than 500 million rupees.

A person who identified himself as Vass returned a call from Reuters using the telephone number from which the Dr. Reddy's numbers had been posted on the WhatsApp group. He denied writing or sharing posts in the group, adding later in a separate WhatsApp message from the same number that it was "totally baseless" that he had done so.

Reuters has documented at least 12 cases of prescient messages about major Indian companies, including Dr. Reddy's, being posted in private WhatsApp groups. [L2N1MR0IE]

Two of the messages appeared in the transcripts of six groups reviewed by Reuters, including the "Market Chatter" group where the Dr. Reddy's numbers appeared. The others were shared on condition of anonymity by two other members of other WhatsApp groups.

The posts with prescient numbers in the WhatsApp groups were circulated hours or days before official company statements.

The messages shared could involve lucky guesses or astute forecasts based on publicly available information, and not all metrics shared among the 12 cases were exactly the same as reported.

Reuters could not determine where the numbers posted on the WhatsApp groups originated or whether any of the market participants who received the messages had traded on the basis of the numbers they had seen.

According to two lawyers who were formerly senior officials at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the country's capital markets regulator, if any numbers being posted on WhatsApp groups were determined by regulators to be "unpublished price-sensitive information", the people circulating them would be breaking the law.

"The mere sharing of information that could be unpublished insider information is outlawed, even if you don't misuse the information to trade on it," said Sandeep Parekh, a lawyer with Finsec Law Advisors who used to head SEBI's enforcement division.

SEBI did not respond to requests for comment.

India significantly toughened insider trading rules in early 2015, expanding what constitutes "unpublished price-sensitive information" to include "any information" that is not "generally available" and that could have a market impact.

The law also expanded the scope of who constitutes an "insider" to include "anyone in possession of or having access to unpublished price-sensitive information" regardless of how they came "in possession of or had access to such information".

"You don't need to have gotten inside information from a company. You could get it from anywhere," said Vaneesa Agrawal, a partner with Suvan Law Advisors who formerly worked in SEBI's legal department. "As soon as you have information that could be insider information you are an insider, and you are not supposed to either pass it on or trade on it."

Circulating "unpublished price-sensitive information" can result in penalties of up to 250 million rupees and a jail term of up to 10 years. The monetary amount can be higher if it can be proven that an individual traded on such information.

ICICI Securities said in a statement that it had "zero tolerance towards any dissemination of unpublished price sensitive information and has an appropriate framework to safeguard confidentiality of information."

Dr. Reddy's said it was "not aware of any information related to its financial results being circulated externally ahead of statutory disclosures that are made officially by the company."



MESSAGING THROUGH WHATSAPP

The messages about the 12 companies with prescient information obtained by Reuters involved mostly what were characterized as being upcoming quarterly results, including specific metrics such as net profits, revenues and operating margins.

They also included messages about upcoming bonus share issues or revenue guidance.

Seven of the companies are part of the benchmark NSE index: Dr. Reddy's, the drug maker Cipla Ltd, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Tata Steel, the IT services company Wipro, and Bajaj Finance.

The other five were Mahindra Holidays and Resorts, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd, the IT services providers Mindtree Ltd and Mastek Ltd, and India Glycols, a petrochemicals company.

Wipro, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Mastek, Crompton Greaves, Cipla and Mahindra Holidays said they were not aware messages referring to their upcoming results or announcements had circulated in WhatsApp, and that the companies adhered to strict standards of guarding sensitive company information.

Axis Bank, Tata Steel, India Glycols, Mindtree did not reply to requests for comment.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, responded to a request for comment by pointing to its terms of service, which state users can use the platform only for "legal, authorized, and acceptable purposes".



HEARD ON THE STREET

Many of the postings in the WhatsApp groups are referred to as "HOS", for "Heard on the Street".

In one typical post on July 25, Fanil Motiwalla, a contractor for a small brokerage, Arcadia Share & Stock Brokers, posted a set of numbers for Axis Bank, India's third-largest private lender. Motiwalla works as a sub-broker, who are typically hired as contractors by securities firms in India to recruit customers.

"This HOS is going around for Axis," Motiwalla said when posting the numbers, which included key metrics such as gross non-performing assets and net interest margins. Later that day, Axis Bank reported results that closely matched the final numbers in Motiwalla's message. Arcadia said it had policies in place to prevent employees from passing on "illegal information".

Motiwalla said he just reposted a message that had already been circulating in the market and he did not consider it inside information. "How do I know if this is coming from inside information? This could come from many sources," he said. "This information comes from different groups, and we just post it."

Arcadia said every sub-broker it hired was given a copy of SEBI's rules, adding, "whatever the alleged message sent by him is not sourced from Arcadia," referring to Motiwalla.
State owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, which is spearheading the government's electric mobility programme in India, is planning to come up with a fresh tender of 10,000 units by the end of this fiscal year.

EESL, a joint venture of four power PSUs--NTPC, REC, PFC and POWERGRID-- had in the past disrupted the LED bulb industry by floating bulk tenders that lead to a eight-fold decline in price of a 9 watt LED bulb in three years. In the case of electric vehicles, an industry still in its infancy in the country, it is trying a similar trick to provide a springboard for manufacturing of electric cars in the country. In August earlier this year, it came out with its first tender of 10,000 vehicles. The first phase of 500 vehicles is being supplied by the two successful bidders--Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra.

"So far, we have confirmed orders for 2,000 vehicles from various government bodies. We are confident that by June, we would be able to get orders for all the cars that would be procured from the first tender," sais Saurabh Kumar, managing director, EESL. "The first lot of vehicles under phase 1 of 500 units would be given to us by end of this month. We will come out with a fresh tender of probably the same size by March-April 2018."

The first tender had received three bids in total but Japanese automaker Nissan's global best-seller Leaf was disqualified on technical grounds. The lowest bidder was Tata Motors for its electric version of compact sedan Tigor followed by Mahindra and Mahindra for its e-Verito. Mahindra's bid was, however, much higher than Tata's but the company has offered to match Tata's price for its share--150 cars-- of the first phase.

"For the second phase, we will again offer 30 per cent of the order to Mahindra if they are ready to match the lowest bidder," Kumar added.

The clamor for electrification of vehicles has intensified in India and elsewhere over the last 12 months. Various ministers in the government have already expressed their intention to completely electrify the passenger vehicle industry by 2030. Unlike the LED bulbs where EESL directly sells the bulbs to consumers, it has no intention of doing the same for electric cars and will stay focussed only on the fleet used directly by the government.

"Right now, the government uses around 500,000 cars. Around 80 per cent of them are used for inter-city use, which makes it practical for them to be replaced by electric cars, which have a relatively limited range," Kumar said. "So we are potentially, looking at a large market over the next 5 years."

Thanks to these cars, the company has increased its investment outlook for future to Rs 10,000 crore over the next two years. This is a significant jump from the cumulative investment of Rs 3,000 crore over the last 7 years that it has made so far,

"The company is also growing in size and so is our scope of operations. We should close this year with a turnover of Rs 3,500 crore against Rs 1,200 crore last year. Our profits have also grown simultaneously. In FY 18, we should have a profit of around Rs 80 crore," he said.
The UK government has announced that it will double the number of visas offered to non-EU nationals who show promise in the field of technology, science, art and creative industries as part of a post-Brexit industrial strategy to present Britain as open to global talent.

The number of visas available through the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) route will increase from the current 1,000 to 2,000 a year to attract the "brightest and best" talent from around the world, including in digital technology, the UK government said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said that the visa hike was part of a slew of measures directed at the digital tech sector as she hosted digital entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country at Downing Street in London last evening.

"As we prepare to leave the European Union (EU), I am clear that Britain will remain open for business. That means government doing all it can to secure a strong future for our thriving tech sector and ensure people in all corners of our nation share in the benefits of its success," she said.

"Our digital tech sector is one of the UK's fastest- growing industries, and is supporting talent, boosting productivity, and creating hundreds of thousands of good, high-skilled jobs up and down the country. It is absolutely right that this dynamic sector...has the full backing of government," she added.

The government said that the UK Home Office will look at how it can work with organisations across Britain to ensure wider take up of the additional visas outside London.

Alongside this, UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd is set to meet with technology experts to seek their input on making visa processes more efficient.

"Increasing the number of visas for these sectors will make sure that we continue to be at the heart of world culture and forefront of digital and scientific advances," Rudd said.

The 2,000 visas will be made available to individuals who are recognised as existing global leaders or promising future leaders in the digital technology, science, arts and creative sectors by one of five UK endorsing organisations Tech City UK; Arts Council England; The British Academy; The Royal Society; and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

The current allocation of the 1,000 visas which are already split between the five endorsing organisations will remain in place and the additional visas will be made available across all of the endorsing bodies based on their requirements.

"Britain is a world leader in digital innovation with some of the brightest and best tech firms operating in this country. Working with us, they can provide technological fixes to public sector problems, boost productivity, and get the nation working smarter as we create an economy fit for the future," UK Chancellor Philip Hammond said.

Among the other measures unveiled for the digital industry include a 21-million-pound investment towards the expansion of Tech City UK into a nationwide network called Tech Nation and another 20-million-pound fund to help public services take advantage of UK expertise in innovative technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Tech Nation will see the organisation expand its successful hub model to more cities around the UK, including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

"Under the Tech Nation banner, this country that has brought so much innovation to the world and leads in sub- sectors such as fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics and life sciences, will build a national network of digital excellence so that the UK will continue to be recognised as one of the best places in the world to start or grow a digital tech business," said Eileen Burbidge, chair of Tech City UK.

THe government also announced the launch of a 20-million- pound training programme which will challenge thousands of young people, aged between 14 and 18, to test their skills against simulated online cyber threats.
The subscription for Bharat-22 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is in progress. The PSU ETF made its debut on Wednesday as a part of the Narendra Modi government's move to boost its divestment drive.

Compared to its counterpart CPSE ETF which was launched in March 2014, the Bharat-22 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is more diversified with blue chips such as ONGC, SBI, IOC, Nalco, BPCL, NTPC and Bank of Baroda as well as SUUTI shares in entities such as ITC, Axis Bank and L&T.

Also read: Bharat 22 ETF vs CPSE ETF: A sneak peek into the two funds

The ETF's expense ratio is 0.0095 percent. A discount of three percent is available for all categories of investors. ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company is the fund manager for the ETF.

Also read: Bharat 22 ETF opens for subscription: Five things to know

"We believe the ETF offers an attractive long-term investment opportunity to partake in the India growth story by way of a diversified blend of companies spread across several sectors and are available at attractive valuation and a good subscription discount," ICICI Prudential AMC managing director and CEO Nimesh Shah said.

The fund, which is expected to fetch around Rs 8,000 crore for the government, will close for subscription today.

"This is the second fund in the PSU ETF series, after Reliance CPSE ETF, which clocked returns twice as Nifty 50 ETF over last one year. The earlier ETF was more skewed towards three sectors and hence the risk factor was high. The current Bharat 22 index is more diversified one with 22 stocks across six sectors. This reduces risk as well as return potential in comparison to the old one. Out of the six sectors, we hold a positive outlook towards 5 of them and neutral in FMCG and hence it is overall futuristic. Also since sectors including banking and metals has been in doldrums since long time, a long term investor is set to benefit from this proposition. Notwithstanding the recent rally in PSU banks post recapitalisation decision, there is long way to go," said Jeevan Kumar, Head of Investment Advisory, Geojit Financial Services.

"The fact that the Fund has only 22 stocks spread across various sectors makes the ETF unique because this ETF will thus have the qualities of a focused and yet diversified fund. The expense ratio of the fund is very, very low compared to the expense ratios of normal mutual fund schemes. This combination of good stocks diversified across sectors and low expense ratio makes BHARAT 22 ETF a good product to own. Bharat 22 ETF is recommended by us, " said Mahesh Bhagwat, Vice President - Products and Advisory, Way2Wealth Brokers Pvt. Ltd

However, some experts believe that this fund is not for the common investors. "Ideally, such funds are for more evolved investors. For a common investors it is better to stick to diversified funds. While Bharat 22 is more diversified as compared to CPSE ETF but it is still a thematic fund with PSU focus. And in time like these when markets have run up quite a bit, it would be prudent for investors to stick to diversified funds and invest systematically," says Anil Rego, CEO & Founder, Right Horizons.

"Not more than 10 per cent of your total financial portfolio in one ETF scheme," says Anil Chopra, Group Director, Bajaj Capital. "All in all Bharat 22 is not a very great fund to be excited about and only evolved investors with a long-term exposure can put some partial money in this fund," added Rego.

On Tuesday, the ETF comprising 22 companies received robust response from anchor investors. The issue attracted bids with the portion reserved for them getting subscribed six times to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore on the opening day.

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund-managed Bharat 22 ETFs new fund offer (NFO) has a size of over Rs 8,000 crore.

LIC, Bank of India, SBI Pension Fund, EPFO and HDFC Ergo Insurance among others have put in bids. As much as 25 per cent of total issue size, or Rs 2,000 crore, was reserved for anchor investors who put in bids worth about Rs 12,000 crore, ICICI Prudential MF said. The NFO received subscriptions from across the board including mutual funds, foreign portfolio investors, insurance and retirement funds.


At the RICS Real Estate Conference in Delhi on November 15, the talk was about transparency - what you see is what you buy. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, which came into force this year, is forcing many developers to revamp their business models. The industry, some said, was in a "phase of cleaning up". Here are the key takeaways:

1. What does "transparency" mean? Developers will now sell by "carpet area" rather than the pre-RERA practice of quoting super built-up area. Also, business models could be re-jigged to sell completed properties, so that home buyers see and buy rather than the earlier paradigm where he booked, paid, and waited for possession, which took years. There was opaqueness in the years between the booking of a property and its possession - funds could have been diverted by the developer, while the property buyer could have stopped mile-stone based payments. Besides, builders often sold home buyers an artificial completion deadline of three years. Seven years is more realistic.

2. Because of the pressure on faster delivery, cost of construction might escalate. Developers will resort to more automation which would, however, lead to better quality products. Some of the delays in completion can be attributed to unskilled manpower with low productivity.

3. Professional developers now have a level-playing field. Unorganised developers spooked the market. If everyone plays by the rules, the more ethical will bring home the bacon. It is partly due to this reason many unorganised builders are looking at vacating the market - either selling off or exploring joint ventures.

4. The residential market isn't out of the woods yet - post demonitization, sales dropped 36 per cent in India's top 10 cities on average, data from PropEquity stated. While volumes are picking up, it could be more than a year before a comeback. However, most global investors keen on Indian real estate now take a much longer view. Meanwhile, many investors are becoming 'activists'; trust on Indian fund managers are at a low considering they oversold the India story in the past.
Apple Inc has agreed to give limited help to the Indian government to develop an anti-spam mobile application for its iOS platform, after refusing to do so based on privacy concerns, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters.

The U.S. tech giant has been locked in a tussle with India's telecoms regulator for more than a year. Officials complained Apple dragged its feet on advising the government how to develop an app that would allow iPhone users to report unsolicited marketing texts or calls as spam.

The government app was launched on Google's Android platform last year, but an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said Apple pushed back on requests for an iOS version due to concerns that a government app with access to call and text logs could compromise its customers' privacy.

Facing public criticism from the regulator, Apple executives flew to New Delhi last month and told officials the company would help develop the app, but only with limited capabilities, according to a government official aware of the matter.

Apple's executives have told India that its current iOS platform might not allow for some of the government's requests, such as making call logs available within the app that would allow users to report them as spam, the official said.

"They (Apple) will help develop an app which, to an extent, can solve the requirements," said the official.

An Apple spokesman confirmed that the new iOS features to combat spam text messages would help the government build the app, but did not comment on the app's potential inability to access call logs for reporting spam, as the Android version does.

The spokesman said Apple had not changed its stance on privacy.

Apple's stand-off with the regulator comes at a time when it is seeking greater access in India, the world's third-largest smartphone market. The company has been lobbying the government for tax breaks to expand its phone assembly operations in the country, where it reported doubling its revenue versus the previous year for the quarter ending Sept. 30.

Balancing growth and market share with protecting customer privacy has become a defining challenge for global tech companies such as Apple, which regularly clash with governments over allowing access to content on their devices, especially for law enforcement needs.

"This has now become more of an ego tussle between Apple and the regulator," said Neil Shah of Hong Kong-based technology research firm Counterpoint Research. He added that Apple was unlikely to agree to any requests specific to India because of the precedent that would set.

The chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) R.S. Sharma said he was unhappy with Apple for not responding swiftly to the government's requests.

"We've told them they are harming their consumers," Sharma told Reuters in an interview. "I hope good sense prevails upon them."

Apple did not comment on TRAI's criticism, but said that it had taken time to develop a privacy-friendly solution.

APP TUSSLE, PRIVACY WOES

Pesky marketing calls and unsolicited commercial text messages have become a big problem in India.

Despite mobile users having the option to register themselves under a so-called "do not disturb" service to block marketers, businesses have gamed the system by using multiple phone numbers for promotions.

TRAI's anti-spam mobile application, also called Do Not Disturb, has been downloaded more than 100,000 times from the Google Android app section.

Before the app launches, it asks the user to allow it access to contacts and view text messages. Users can then start reporting numbers as spam.

A spokesman for Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, did not directly comment on the app, but said: "We believe in openness and in the ability of users to make purchasing and downloading choices without top-down enforcement or censorship. Users are prompted with requests for permissions that they can choose to accept or decline."

Apple, however, has been worried.

"The app can peep into logs, Apple had conveyed that their (privacy) policy does not allow this," said the industry source familiar with the matter.

TRAI said the app does not raise any privacy concerns.

MEETINGS, E-MAILS

Apple has flown in several overseas-based executives to resolve the dispute with the Indian regulator, including its senior director for global privacy, and former Google executive, Jane Horvath.

At least seven meetings have been held between the two sides and dozens of emails exchanged since last year, according to government officials and documents reviewed by Reuters.

In August this year, months after the talks began, Apple wrote to TRAI saying that a technical meeting would help them establish "what is possible and not possible".

The TRAI pushed back.

"The whole exercise in organizing the proposed meeting would be a waste of resources.. please share concrete solutions that have a likelihood of addressing the issues we have been discussing over the past one year," the regulator wrote in September.

Later that month, Apple again approached the TRAI saying it had identified potential solutions but they would require additional discussions with the regulator's technical staff.

Horvath and other Apple executives met TRAI officials in October and conveyed they would help them develop the first version of the app with limited features.

"They (Apple) are adopting dilatory tactics," said Sharma, the TRAI chief. "They've had meetings, meetings and meetings."
Fifteen days before its release, things are not going very well for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati. A couple of days ago Deepika Padukone told news agency ANI, "Where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed. The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film." After that the 31-year old actress was subjected to vitriolic comments and tweets, followed by Karni Sena demanding Bharat bandh if Padmavati is released. UP CM Yogi Adityanath also wrote to the IB ministry asking them to stop the release of the movie on December 1.



Sri Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said to a TV channel, "The country is not regressing, you are making it so. I beg Deepika not to insult women... Deepika is seen dancing with fewer clothes in the film. How are you trying to portray the Indian women?". He then added that Deepika is "like a daughter" and that she should exercise restraint.



The group called for a nationwide bandh on December 1 if Padmavati is released. "We are not talking of a Rajasthan bandh, but a Bharat bandh on December 1," Kalvi said. According to multiple reports, he further added, "Ahinsa bahut zaruri hai, hinsa toh majboori hai. Jauhar ki jwala hai, bahut kucch jalega. Rok sako toh is Padmavati ko rok lo." (Non-violence is very important, but violence is the last resort. These are the flames of jauhar, a lot will burn. If you can, then stop this Padmavati)

Two days ago the group had even vandalised a cinema hall in Kota for showing the trailer of Padmavati.



The Rajasthan Women's Commission had also written to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) urging them to see that the honour of women is not adversely affected in Padmavati.

In UP, the Yogi government has written to the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry that the public in the state is angry over the release of Padmavati and that it should not be released on December 1. They feel that it could lead to a law and order situation and affect the UP civic polls. The polls will be underway on November 22, 26 and 29 and the counting is scheduled to take place on December 1. "In this environment if the movie is released, it could lead to widespread violence and law and order disturbances in the state of UP. It would not be in the interest of law and order to release the movie on December 1," the government said as mentioned in The Economic Times.

In Maharashtra, however, the MNS came out in support of Padmavati and said that it is unacceptable to protest the release of the movie before watching it. "It does not make sense to protest without watching what the film contains. We will watch it and if there is anything unacceptable we will discuss it with the director to find a solution," Ameya Khopkar, MNS Chitrapat Karmachari Sena president, said, according to a report in The Indian Express.

Actor Farhan Akhtar also came out in support of the movie and said that we must stop treating our audience as children. Actress Richa Chadha spoke about the Padmavati row at the trailer launch of her upcoming movie Fukrey. According to a report in The Indian Express she said, "With all due respect, I am also a Hindu and I don't believe that faith is so weak that it will break with a film. I feel that the best thing about our country is that we are a democracy."
A Leonardo Da Vinci painting called Salvator Mundi or Saviour of the World recently went under the hammer and was sold for an astounding 450 million dollars. This amount broke the high for any art work sold at any auction. The record for most money fetched by any art work at an auction was held by Picasso's Women of Algiers. Da Vinci's painting far surpassed Picasso's, which fetched 179.4 million dollars in 2015. The bid for Salvator Mundi went on for 19 minutes, with four bidders on the telephone and one in the room before it was finally sold for the whopping amount.

A report in New York Times mentions that the audience could not stop gasping as the price increased by tens of millions upto 225 million dollars, by fives upto 260 million dollars and then by twos. The auctioneer hammered the painting for 450 million dollars and eventually went for 450.3 million dollars, including the buyer's premium.

The auction house, Christie's says that Salvator Mundi is one of fewer than 20 Da Vinci paintings in existence currently. The rest of these paintings are either in the possession of museums or in institutional collections. Christie's even called the painting 'the Last Da Vinci'. Earlier, 27,000 people rushed in to catch a glimpse of the painting at pre-auction viewings in London, Hong Kong, San Francisco and New York.

The auction house dates the painting back to the 1500s. It was exhibited at The National Gallery in London in 2011, after years of research attempting to document its authenticity. Before that it had disappeared for years before being sold for 45 pounds in 1958 as a copy. It was presumed to have been destroyed before emerging in 2005.

Reports mention Loic Gouzer, co-chairman of Christie's Americas post-war and contemporary art department calling it the Holy Grail. "It doesn't really get better than that," he says.

(With agency inputs)


LOGAN  The vote was unanimous Tuesday when the Cache County Council agreed to a one-time financial request of $80,000 to the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre.

The action came after a public hearing where several residents spoke out in favor of the contribution. Only one person questioned the donation, saying there are other talented organizations that could use a financial boost.

Council Chairman Greg Merrill noted that the original request was for $100,000, but both sides agreed to take the lesser amount. He said $40,000 will come from each of two budgets: the Transient Room Tax and the RAPZ tax. Merrill said he believes the Opera Company does contribute greatly to the economy with its summer programs.

I think that were willing one more time to do what we can, he said, because they have made a commitment that they will make changes as well, in order to make it a viable product that will continue to provide not just economically, as we talked about, but as important, if not more important, the cultural aspect and what it does to communities.

Merrill, along with others, said the Opera Company should probably reach out to find as much talent as possible in the local communities.
Meet My Hood: Flagey, Brussels

Published on November 16, 2017

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The biggest square of the Belgian capital, situated in the south-east of Brussels, is not easy to define. Its festive and multicultural, young and historic, in the middle of a district that - despite its gentrification - manages to keep its authenticity. How? Follow our guide and find out.

Flagey is situated in the heart of the Ixelles district. Its one of the key points of the Belgian capital and despite it being far from the historic centre, it is still deeply embedded in the history of Brussels. The story starts with a crossroads. This is the place where many strategic roads meet: Chaussee dIxelles, rue Lesbroussart, chaussee de Vleurgat, chaussee de Boendael, avenue du General de Gaulle, avenue des Eperons d'or, rue Malibran, but also rue de la Brasserie and rue des Cygnes. What's more, several tram and bus lines are accessible here and found under modern glass shelters.

Hipsters and fries

It's not only buses that meet in Flagey. Students, European civil servants, tourists looking for the famous fries, residents of all origins and social backgrounds  their paths cross incessantly during the week. Weekends are another story. The space is taken up by a market. Ixelles inhabitants gather here to do their shopping, but also (perhaps mostly) to meet their friends over some oysters or any other dish currently offered by one of the many foodtrucks. Celine, who has sold eggs and fresh cheeses for the last 25 years at this market, explains the squares development: During the last 25 years, the market and its clients have changed drastically. We could say that it is being gentrified. Also, Saturday and Sunday are very different nowadays. On Saturday, people just come here to shop. On Sunday they walk around, take more time. Especially since the foodtrucks arrived a couple of years back: morning shopping goes on until the afternoon, its an occasion to meet friends well, not for us! (laughs).

Flagey is famous for its fries: 'FritFlagey' remained on the square even after its renovation in 2008. Another landmark is the art deco, ship-like building, which today houses Flagey's cultural centre, but which also used to be a radio studio. Flagey is also trams, and legendary bars like the 'Pantin' or 'Belga'. Finally, the district is well-known for its cultural diversity. Martine (61) tells us in her antique shop that its a place where people say good morning to each other. For Rosalba (48), a restaurant owner, this place is liberty. Both of them agree that Flagey is an incredible melting pot, not unlike the whole of Brussels, a truly European capital.

For Max, a member of Communa, an association that renovates uninhabited places in Brussels, this diversity is superficial. One could easily claim that the communities do not mix. For every corner of the square, there is a different population. Towards the Ixelles bridge and Belga its where the hip and the loaded bohemia live [Documentary 'Atelier Urbains - #1 Flagey/ #2 Le Grand Nord, uvre commune'  ed.], while on the other side we would find a population much less well off. The square is less of a melting pot and more of a demarcation line.

"In fact, Brussels is Flagey."

Too shy to let us film them, the employees of 'Fritflagey' tell us that: In fact, Brussels is Flagey." They may have a point. The square was created in 1856 through a drainage of the northernmost point of the 'great pond' formed by Maelbeek stream. At first, it was called Place Sainte Croix, taking its name from a nearby hospice. In 1937 the current mayor, Eugene Flagey, known for his modesty, took the necessary steps to attach his name to the square. Twenty years later, it's here that the Delhaize brothers opened the first self-service supermarket in Belgium.

More recently, the square was renovated in the spirit of 'brusselisation' of the city. It used to serve as a parking lot and was victim to frequent flooding, especially on Rue Gray. The construction works started in 2003, aiming to improve storm drainage and to bury the parking underground. The renovation provoked tensions between the government and the inhabitants, the latter claiming that the process should be more democratic. Six long years later, the square was opened with a great ceremony.

Ever since, the district has been going through a kind of renaissance: a bi-weekly market, a Christmas market, but also lively events, from manifestations to Stromae concerts. Surprisingly, the story of renovation did not bother the inhabitants we talked to. They mention the pleasure of living, the cultural centre, the walks around the Ixelles pond, or the evident gentrification of the district. We could say its very bio," concludes Youssef (56). The question remains: does Flagey really need labels?

Word from the neighbours

How much does it cost?

People

Hotspots (by Marjolaine, an inhabitant of Flagey)

Restaurant Ami rue lesbroussart 13 : "Vegetarian, great service, great dishes, mini burger with a quinoa salad, good desserts"

L'amere a boire : rue du belvedere 8 : "Without a doubt my favourite bar of the area, big choice of Belgian beers (10 times more than in Belga), the waiters are super chill, on Thursdays a part of sales goes to an NGO, the music is always cool, it's nice and warm in winter - it's great!"

Pastelaria garcia avenue de la couronne 75: "Incredible pasteis de nata, small sandwiches with porc and slightly sweet mustard, good coffee"

PTYX rue lesbroussart 39 : "Bookstore with a nice front with comic books, varied choice, but prices can be a bit high. Calm, original."

Boulangerie la fleur du pain, place Flagey: "The best bakery in Belgium, fantastic fougasse with olives, nice beer croissant and good baguette, just great."

Restaurant les super filles du tram rue lesbroussart 22 : "The best burgers in Brussels. You have to book in advance, but it's very good and cosy."

Le petit canon rue du Henin 98 : "My favourite wine bar (a glass for two euros), sweet atmosphere, pretty decor, nice snacks, especially the olives, great prices and good wines".

Le pantin, bar chaussee d'ixelles 355 : "A true HQ, you sweat a little bit because they put on too much heat, but the atmosphere is very familial, there are board games, nice big armchairs like we like them, some not too pricey snacks available all the time, a bit studenty, but not only, nice mix, open late in the night for the district's standards."

Les petits riens chaussee d'ixelles 304 : "The equivalent of Emmaus, always good to discover good things depending on the period"

Dolma chaussee d'ixelles 329 : "Restaurant with a buffet option. A bit expensive, but it's worth it for the quality of food, limitless and veggie."

Le Belga, "the bar-institution of Flagey"

---

This article is part of cafebabel's Meet My Hood project. The goal is to discover unknown neighbourhoods in the biggest European cities. Be a part of it, wherever you are!

Translated from Meet My Hood : Flagey, a Bruxelles
| BY Ricki Green |

NOISEYVICEs dedicated music channel, is introducing a new video series, My Friends Band, created in partnership with Budweiser Australia via MediaCom.

Featuring up-and-coming acts from across the city, NOISEYs four-part series celebrates the live music scene through the eyes and ears of the young talent on the ground, and on the stage.

Sydneys music and nightlife community is made up of a complex web of networked musicians. They feature on each others albums, they play in each others bands, they date each other, tour with each other and even live with each other.

Each episode of My Friends Band is a ride-along with these young actsas they play host, introduce us to their friends bands, and take us to see them play packed out Sydney events, including shows in Budweisers Bud Garage series.

Says Juan Uranga, brand manager, global premium brands at Carlton & United Breweries: In 2017, we brought the Budweisers global Discover Whats Brewing in Music platform to Australia. The idea behind the program is to support young, up and coming artists striving for success and we were able to integrate this to a highly successful residency campaign across some of the top venues in Sydney, such as the Lansdowne, Oxford Arts Factory, Frankies Pizza, The Chippo and the Jam Gallery. We created a content series about the stories of these bands and their ambition to make it in the competitive music scene, and see this as the first step in a larger goal of helping people to Discover Whats Brewing in the Australian music scene.

Mediacom worked with VICE to develop the concept, project managing and integrating the content series into the Budweiser marketing plan.

Says Erin-Jade Watson, planning director at MediaCom: We chose to work with VICE/Noisey because they provided us with a unique content series idea that was both engaging and worked across many channels, and because of their unrivalled access to the emerging music scene in Australia. We have created a content series that gives a unique perspective on the lives of these bands, through their biggest fanstheir friends. This is a hard market to gain traction with and the combination of the Budweiser, VICE and the content series will help to ensure that we have cut through.

Launched episodes include These New South Whales and friend Marc Dwyer talking flatmates and joke bands, and hip hop/soul acts Remi, Silent Jay and JACE XL as they eat crispy duck, shoot hoops, and talk being a person of colour in an ever-more diverse music landscape.
| BY Ricki Green |

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has announced the appointment of Carmela Soares as executive creative director.

Joining from Isobar, where she was the agencys national creative director, Soares will be joining current executive creative directors, Evan Roberts and Stephen de Wolf, in leading the agencys creative output, alongside Clemenger BBDO Melbournes creative chairman, James McGrath.

Says McGrath: As an agency, we continue to reinforce our demand for interactivity at the heart of every idea, built through the power of human observation and a collaborative spirit. Carmelas technical pedigree is second to none, and importantly, its combined with a humble but compelling approach  perfect for us.

The creative department is very much looking forward to Carmela joining the team and continuing to transform the work, the work, the work.
| BY Ricki Green |

With its strong tradition of using visual effects to illuminate a story, Fin Design + Effects was selected to complete a key sequence in the latest Marvel Universe blockbuster, Thor: Ragnarok.

Working with director Taika Waititi, production visual effects supervisor Jake Morrison and production visual effects producer Cyndi Ochs, Fins sequence introduces a brand new character in the form of Jeff Goldblums Grand Master, and also kicked off an exclusive 12 minute preview screening of the movie at the San Diego Comic-Con, enjoying a very enthusiastic reception from the assembled Marvel fans.

When Thor is taken prisoner on the planet Sakaar he is forcibly hauled through an Epcot-style induction tour explaining his new destiny as a gladiator. Production supplied only foreground footage of lead actor Chris Hemsworths performance against bluescreen, tasking Fin with designing and rendering the intergalactic theme park world around him.

Led by VFX supervisor Stuart White, Fins crew designed a journey traveling from photoreal sci-fi tunnels through a holographic light show, to a trippy ghost train ride finale, exercising the breadth of Fins VFX pipeline in the process.

Battling gladiators ripple with Houdini-generated digital distortion while simulated CG crowds look on from the bleachers of an arena. In another scene, Thor, strapped into a CG chair, flies past planets and galaxies made into holograms via heavy image treatment in Autodesk Flame courtesy of lead compositor Justin Bromley, backed up by a team of Nuke artists.

Says Alastair Stephen, executive producer, Fin: Its great to be asked to bring Fins 16 year heritage of visual storytelling to bear on such a creatively open brief as this one.
| BY Ricki Green |

Sydney editorial house, The Editors, has set up in Melbourne with a great new space on Clarendon St.

The South Melbourne shop is fronted by ex-Ogilvy producer, Charlotte Griffiths and is fully integrated with Sydneys roster and production team.

The converted warehouse is a definite nod back to the Sydney mothership, boasting two large offline suites, with colour grading and online.

With a super-fast fibre link connecting the two offices, The Editors Sydney and Melbourne are able to seamlessly share projects, effectively making the two facilities work as one.

Says Nicoletta Rousianos, partner and EP, The Editors: Weve always loved our time in Melbourne, and now we have a place to call home. Its been a long time coming, and Charlotte and I are thrilled with the local support so far.
| BY Ricki Green |

Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney has released an integrated campaign to launch the new Toyota Prado.

The launch campaign demonstrates that, with the new Prado, luxury no longer has a fixed address. Whether its conquering the steepest of mountains or navigating the roughest of landscapes, absolute luxury can now go anywhere.

Says Mike Spirkovski, chief creative officer, Saatchi & Saatchi Australia: Theres nothing like experiencing the best of everything: going anywhere you want and doing it all in an incredibly tough and luxurious Toyota Prado.

The launch campaign, directed by Tom Noakes from Scoundrel, will be rolled out across a suite of TV spots supported in social, outdoor and digital.

Client  Toyota Motor Corporation Australia

Divisional Manager, National Marketing  Wayne Gabriel

Corporate Manager, Brand Management & Communications  Yolande Waldock

Manager, Marketing Communications, Commercial Vehicles & SUVs  Hannah Roy

Creative Agency  Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney

Production Company  Scoundrel

Post  White Chocolate
| BY Ricki Green |

Get ready to hear what people are having for dinner tonight. Because thats the hot topic at the centre of UberEATS first brand campaign in Australia via Special Group and The Glue Society.

Featuring the likes of a fried-chicken-crazed Naomi Watts, vegan delight Boy George and spaghetti lover Ryan Maloney of Neighbours fame  UberEATS are on a mission to inspire anyone out there who is scratching their head wondering  What to eat tonight?

Says Dave Hartmann, Special Group: Its a question we all ask ourselves every day. And one we often draw an uninspired blank on. In fact, according to UberEATS research, come 5pm each day more than 1 in 3 Aussies dont know what they are eating for dinner that night. And when it comes to the crunch, I think most of us will admit to just defaulting to the same old optionsor whatevers wilting in the fridge.

To give Australia a little encouragement, UberEATS has called on some well-known and beloved personalities to tell us what theyll be eating for dinner. The campaign provides a voyeuristic journey inside the appetites of celebrities, inspiring people to broaden their culinary horizons and explore the magic of UberEATS.

Says Steve Brennen, marketing director, Uber Australia: UberEATS makes it simpler than ever before for Australians to access an incredible array of restaurant quality food delivered to their door quickly and reliably.

This newfound choice is proving super popular with a large and fast growing number of Australians, and we wanted to celebrate this with a fun and humorous campaign featuring some well-loved faces.

Every day we get to partner with thousands of restaurants across Australia, who cater to a wide variety of tastes right across the country, and were pleased to put some real local favourites front and centre in the campaign.

The campaign features Naomi Watts ordering a Cheezus Sandwich in her dressing gown, while Boy George chows down on Poke Bowl, and Beau Ryan relaxes in the bath with Chicken McNuggets. Ryan Kwanten, Nic Naitanui, Sophie Monk, Ryan Maloney, Poh Ling Yeow, and Peter FitzSimons will also feature in the campaign.

Says Watts: After a long day at work, gliding down staircases and tousling my hair, theres nothing I appreciate more than a cheesy treat Tonight, Ill be eating a triple cheese stack with fries. Simply award-winning.

The campaign will kick-off with a series of nine x 15 second TV spots and online films, each featuring a different celebrity, proudly declaring their local dinner choices. The creative has been tailored to each citys restaurant options, across Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. This will be supported by OOH, radio, digital, direct and PR, as well as a host of live social media activations, media partnerships, traffic-read integrations and culture hacks featuring celebrities and influencers.

UberEATS

Chief Marketing Officer -Steve Brennen

Campaign Lead  Georgie Jeffreys

Restaurant operations  Harriet Johnston

Digital marketing  Rachel Minster

Owned media  Maddie Hallett / Ryan Reynolds

Connections strategy  Andy Morley

Special Group Australia

Team leads  Lindsey Evans & Cade Heyde

Strategy  Dave Hartmann & Celia Garforth

Campaign Creative Direction  Georgia Arnott

Art direction & design  Emma Morton & Jesse McLallen

Copywriting  Jack Nunn & Mark Starmach

Account Management  Rebecca Ingham & Rose Eccleshare

Film production  Meredyth Judd

Digital, social & print production  Sharon Gray, Nick Lilley & Laura Midalia

The Glue Society

Concept, Writer and Direction- Pete Baker

Editor  Luke Crethar

Head of Creative Projects  Luke McKelvey

Post production management -Scott Stirling

Revolver/ Will ORourke

Executive producers  Michael Ritchie & Pip Smart

Director  The Glue Societys Pete Baker

Producer  Nicole Crozier

DOP  Russell Boyd

Production Design  Lucinda Thomson

Flint

Photographer  Jonathan May

Executive Producer  Tim Berriman

POEM

PR and influencer strategy

Mediacom
| BY Lynchy |

ADK Taiwan is behind this years 7-ELEVEN Taiwan charity donations project. The annual program runs at the end of each year to encourage and engage fun ways for people to donate spare change when they are in the store.

ADK Taiwan started to develop the idea from the beginning of the year, and then carefully chose the co-excution partner for the project  world-renowned creative lab, Party.

These two awarded creative teams combined to co-build the worlds first Rhythm of Love Wall.

This is a rare opportunity to be working in collaboration with Party to create an interesting and loving way to encourage good will. Says Richard Yu, Chief Creative Officer of ADK Taiwan.

When people spare change for charity, no matter the amount, it is an act of good will definitively, and such good deeds like this need be encouraged.

The Rhythm of Love Wall interactive installation is a device activated by people dropping coins into the donation box, and it generates hand claps of encouragement.

The most important part of the concept is the sound of hand-clapping created directly from the hands on the wall, rather than just playing a sound effect. Party was enthusiastic about the idea and soon had the solution for it  they found Bye Bye World, a Japanese technology company who specializes in development of the robotic palm of a humans hand. Over a few months Bye Bye World redesigned the shape and the module of the hand for the Rhythm of Love Wall. After more than 200,000 tests the applause imitates real human hands.

We finally made a wonderful machine which looks a bit weird but has full of love. Please come by 7-Eleven stores and contribute during the exhibition, and enjoy the rhythm of love. Says Eiji Muroichi, Design Director of Party New York.

There is also an official website for the campaign where consumers can create their own applause and also donate online by using their mobile or computer. The self-created applause can even be transmitted to the controller system of the physical rhythm of love wall. Consumers can participate in activities on the internet, and hear their unique own applause in the physical installation.

Two Rhythm of Love Wall have been installed in two different the 7-ELEVEN stores. The installations will then be toured over all the cities across Taiwan.

Credits:

Agencies: ADK Taiwan, Party (Taiwan, New York)

Clapping Hand Tech/Design Direction: Bye Bye World (Japan)

Production/Programming: 23 Design, InnoCirque (Taiwan)

Launch Film: Chelun Ou (Taiwan)

Music: WONDROUS inc. (Japan)
UVA suspect ordered held without bond, had twice failed gun background checks: Updates

Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. faces eight charges, including three for second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Updates.
Julie Pennington's 17 pieces are about a number of things but primarily for me she conveys her joy in the processes of making her elegantly cool porcelain vessels. Her forms are simple  essentially (mostly small) cylinders. Her palette is equally simple  either monochrome chocolate or white. This paired simplicity is very effective and imbues an air of "containment" that is a neat contradiction to the activity of making so overtly part of the artist's aesthetic strategies. Pennington's forms are accretions of string-like lines that are coiled to make the whole that swirls around the open interior. The build-up of these is full of creative energy and movement. As both decoration and form their symbiosis lies at the core of the success of the exhibited works. The artist's processes are clearly delineated and indeed almost revelled in as one views each work. The layered linear textures are sometimes further enlivened through the addition of spiked elements. Pennington is able to assert individual character while celebrating familial similarities in her selected works.
The set up was explained thus: "It is the year 1890. Sherlock Holmes' fame has spread even to the colonies as he and his stalwart chronicler, Dr John Watson, are swept up in an array of mysteries Down Under. They find themselves summoned from location to location, traversing all corners of the strange island continent of Australia, challenged with mysteries and a geographical and cultural landscape with which they are unfamiliar. From eerie shadows on cave walls, to an actor's most grisly curtain call, an abduction by a demon, and an inexplicable drowning, to the odd affair of the reputed biggest man in Australia, a purloined bunyip, and to sinister, bearded bushrangers, the tales within this collection provide fresh perspective to the Holmes phenomena and will intrigue, delight and entertain readers."
But he told them he did not have any, and said the best he could do was give them his bank card so they could take money out.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hailed the "unequivocal" and "overwhelming" victory. "They voted 'yes' for fairness. They voted 'yes' for commitment. They voted 'yes' for love," he said. "Now it is up to us, here in the Parliament of Australia, to get on with it".
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.
Infiniti is gearing up to introduce the 2019 QX50 at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the company recently invited a handful of journalists to try out the models new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with variable compression technology.



Automotive News was one of the companies that attended the event and they are reporting the new engine produces 268 hp (200 kW) and 288 lb-ft (390 Nm) of torque. This will reportedly enable the QX50 to accelerate from 0-60 mph faster than any of its four-cylinder competitors.

While the performance is impressive, the technology and design of the engine is what really sets it apart. As the publication explains, the engine is equipped with an electrically controlled actuator and a unique elliptic device called a multilink. These two components, along with some clever engineering, allow the engine to adjust its compression ratio from 8:1 to 14:1.

Thanks to variable compression technology, the engine manages to be both powerful and fuel-efficient. Infiniti hasnt released detailed fuel economy figures but Nissans chief powertrain engineer, Shinichi Kiga, said the new QX50 will have a combined fuel economy rating that is 27 percent higher than the outing model which has a 3.7-liter V6 engine that develops 325 hp (242 kW) and 267 lb-ft (361 Nm) of torque.

The engine will be connected exclusively to a continuously variable transmission and it should allow the model to return around 26 mpg combined. Automotive News says the engine offered outstanding performance and refinement during test drives but noted the engine requires premium fuel.

Photo Gallery
Groupe PSA recently returned to the United States with its Free2Move mobility app but thats not much consolation for fans hoping to buy one of the companys vehicles.



Cars are coming but it might be awhile before they arrive. As PSA North America CEO Larry Dominique explained to Automobile Magazine, the company doesnt have a dealership network, infrastructure, or parts and service providers in this country. He added, I have to build those things from the ground-up.

Dominique went on to say the situation is a blessing and a curse but hes going to make sure PSA is 100 percent ready before launching a car in America. He declined to say when this might occur but theres little doubt the company dont want to repeat Fiats underwhelming return.

Despite not having a firm launch date, Dominique confirmed PSA has already decided which brand to bring to the United States. Initial speculation suggested it would be DS but the executive downplayed that idea by saying people are just making assumptions. That doesnt necessarily mean it wont be DS but other possibilities include Peugeot or Citroen as well as the recently acquired Opel and Vauxhall. The three French brands are seen as the most likely candidates but only time will tell which one finally gets the green light.

Photo Gallery
Sean Kingston is coming to Kelowna.



Many may know Kingston from his hits "Beautiful Girls" and "Take you there".

He first became a household name back in 2007 at just 17 years-old when his self-titled debut album, sold more than a million copies worldwide.

His follow up sophomore album Tomorrow, featured smash singles Fire Burning and Face Drop and was later followed up by his third studio album Back 2 Life, which included the hit single Beat It featuring Wiz Khalifa and Chris Brown.

Kingston will be at Level Nightclub on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m.

To RSVP for tickets contact Chrissy Newton.
Photo: Colton Davies Paul Braun was subpoenaed by the Penticton city staff on Nov. 7.

City staff in Penticton have shared plans underway to manage the city's homelessness crisis, in response to news that Paul Braun, a well-known panhandler, was subpoenaed last week.

"I have received a few calls and emails regarding Mr. Braun and his occupation of a breezeway in the downtown core. All of the work we are doing is for Mr. Braun and all of the other people out there who need help," city manager Peter Weeber said in an email.

According to 2016 housing needs assessment in Penticton, 661 transitional housing units currently exist in the city  making up 4.1 per cent of housing stock.

Weeber distributed a briefing note to media this week outlining talks the city had with the provincial governments Minister of Mental Health and Addictions at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in late-September.

There, meeting notes indicate the city raised the fact that 900 transition units are actually needed in the community.

An additional 132 units have been approved since last year's assessment  not including emergency shelter beds  and the city hopes to add another 107 units.

"According to 100 Homes Penticton, since 2001, 419 affordable units have been provided in Penticton through government support and BC Housing. Even with these projects, a gap exists," the meeting notes say.

After holding a public homelessness forum in the summer, the city determined that support services are lacking for those trying to transition off the street.

"Council has given staff the mandate to provide a balanced approach to support those who serve the most vulnerable, along with our commitment to support the family owned businesses that are trying to survive in the downtown core," Weeber said.

Weeber said while the city is working to deal with homelessness, which is largely centred in the downtown core, he said staff and council also represent downtown businesses, which is part of why a subpoena was issued to Braun.

The 59-year-old was handed the court order on Nov. 7, while sitting at his regular spot on Main Street near the end of a breezeway.

Prior to issuing a subpoena, the city has written eight tickets to Braun since July for bylaw infractions, related to causing obstruction while panhandling.

Braun is expected to appear in court on Dec. 6.

"This is not an easy issue to manage and typically the city would not wade in as deep as we have," Weeber said.

"It would be great if the businesses and residents that support Mr. Braun join our efforts and volunteer for one of the many groups that we are working with to get people like Mr. Braun the help they need."
Madison Erhardt

The BC Cancer Foundation hosted its seventh annual Discovery Luncheon at Kelowna's Delta Grand on Wednesday.

Over 300 guests attended the lunch to help support the purchase of a PET/CT scanner for the BC Cancer Agency's Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior.

"This is state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging," said Sarah Roth, B.C. Cancer Foundation president. "Right now, all patients across the province have to go to Vancouver to get this standard care, so this will be a huge boost to the patient community here."

The demand for PET/CT scans has grown to more than 9,400 scans a year.

"Our campaign is $5 million," Roth said. "We are halfway there, so we are hoping that the rest of the community gets behind this so we can complete the campaign and get this machine quickly in the centre."

To make a donation, click here.
Photo: Contributed

Former prime minister Jean Chretien says he doesn't believe U.S. President Donald Trump will scrap the North American Free Trade agreement.

Chretien also told reporters in Montreal today he doesn't expect to see any changes to the Canada-U.S. auto pact which was signed in 1965.

He notes Canada has shared factories and jobs with the Americans and that the auto pact works well.

Chretien adds he doesn't think the United States will succeed at changing it.

And as for NAFTA, the former prime minister says there have always been problems but that they are solved on a case-by-case basis.

Chretien says Canada, the United States and Mexico have all benefited from the trade agreement and he doesn't think it will be tossed into the garbage.

As for Donald Trump, Chretien says the U.S. president surprises him on a regular basis but that he's not interested in keeping up with his tweets.
Photo: The Canadian Press File photo of evacuees fleeing the Cariboo region.

Volunteers who spent many weeks this summer helping out thousands of wildfire evacuees are to be honoured with a monument.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors has approved setting aside $100,000 in next year's budget for creation of a monument outside the Sandman Centre in Kamloops.

The centre was used to house evacuees who poured into the city from the Cariboo region. It was also used to supply aid and volunteer support.

It's estimated that more than 150,000 hours were volunteered within the TNRD to help out the wildfire evacuees.

In one day in July, seven evacuation orders were issued in the Cariboo, with thousands of Williams Lake residents fleeing their town. Initially they were to drive north but flames crossed the highway, diverting the majority south to Kamloops which was already full of displaced families.

The regional district press release said the legacy monument would acknowledge the work done by volunteers at a time when their neighbours needed them most and will act as an inspiration for others to consider volunteerism.

A call will be put out to regional artists to submit concepts for the monument.
There should soon be no more cold nights or couch surfing for some of Vernon's homeless population after a major announcement from the B.C. government on Wednesday.

Approximately $11 million in provincial money will be spent on two projects designed to get people off of the street and out of tent cities.

One is a new, permanent modular-housing project to be located on land owned by BC Housing at 27th Avenue and 35th Street which will provide 53 supportive housing units for people transitioning out of homelessness. These will be self-contained units with personal kitchens and washrooms.

As well, a new permanent modular shelter with approximately 45 beds will be constructed at 2307 43rd Street to expand capacity of the current homeless shelter and transitional housing development at Howard House.

All of the units will be operated by the John Howard Society of the North Okanagan.

Work is expected to start in the new year.

The NDP government has promised to build 2,000 modular units throughout B.C. over two years.

"We know there's an urgent need to address homelessness in Vernon and communities throughout British Columbia," said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "These modular projects will make an incredible difference in the lives of vulnerable people in the city who are struggling to find and maintain stable housing."

City councillors had lobbied hard for help as the homeless problem grew over the last two years.

"We're pleased to see the province step up to address homelessness with support to deliver these modular housing units in Vernon," said Mayor Akbal Mund.

Vernon follows Vancouver as the second B.C. community to include modular housing as part of a solution to help address homelessness.

"The announcement of modular housing projects in Vernon is a significant milestone for us," said Kelly Fehr and Randene Wejr, co-executive directors of the John Howard Society. "We're pleased to be partnering with the province to provide supportive housing to those in need."

In October, Fehr reported that 153 people in Vernon were known to be homeless.
Photo: Contributed

How will the City of Kelowna regulate the thriving Airbnb market?

While that decision is still four to six months away, the city says it is keeping an eye on what is, and isn't working in other cities across North America.

Vancouver is the latest city to unveil its plan, where council voted Tuesday to approve a $49 licence fee and restrict the practice to primary residences only.

As Kelowna continues to gather input from the public on the best way to deal with Airbnbs in the city, community planning manager Ryan Smith says it's too early to say whether the city will go the same direction as Vancouver.

"Kelowna is a little different than Vancouver in some respects, but we are the same in that we have the same housing challenges," said Smith.

"I would imagine when we bring forward recommendations to council and when we finish surveying the public, that we would probably go in a direction to make sure we are freeing up enough of our housing supply as possible for long-term renters, reducing conflicts between the Airbnb market and the long-term rental market, and we are also finishing a housing-needs assessment as well."

It's the conflicts between Airbnb rentals, which remains illegal in most areas of the city, and those neighbourhoods Smith says could be the city's biggest challenge in bringing forth regulations.

"There are impacts on our existing neighbourhoods where a stag party of 15 guys shows up and parties all weekend in a quiet neighbourhood because that Airbnb has an outdoor swimming pool and soundsystem. That's usually not fair to the neighbourhood," Smith said.

"How do we build in some accountability so the city has the resources to regulate it, and when we do regulate it, the fines and punishments are actually meaningful?"

One part of the Vancouver bylaw Kelowna will likely borrow is the addition of some form of licence fee.

Smith says he believes the good Airbnb hosts will probably see the fee as a positive thing.

He adds there is also the fact these operations do not contribute to the room tax which is collected by hotels, motels and some bed and breakfasts.
Photo: Contributed

A pair of local credit unions have bought into the Kelowna company behind the volunteer-oriented social network Volinspire.

Combining elements of Facebook, LinkedIn and Fitbit, Volinspire allows users to find volunteer opportunities in their communities that are tailored to their own interests. It also tracks the hours theyve volunteered, and allows them to share stories and compare with friends.

Interior Savings and Prospera credit unions are both founding community partners with the organization, and announced this week they have purchased shares in the company, becoming equity partners.

For more on the surprising ways the credit unions say Volinspire is changing their organizations, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge.
Chantelle Deacon

Apex Mountain Resort is getting ready for its first season under new ownership, with an expected opening date of Dec. 2.

New this season, the public will be treated to a couple new restaurants and ski runs.

Youre going to see a wine and tapas room here, said general manager James Shalman. Weve made some nice changes to the cafeteria, with new carpeting and colours.

There is going to be a new artisan store up here, in addition to our mountain shop, which has ski clothing, skis and all that kind of stuff. he said, adding a noodle house style restaurant and coffee bar will also open in the hotel this year.

The new owners want to take a look at the resort and operations, basically just take a year to assess, before making any major changes, Shalman said.

When the resort changed hands in May the new ownership group stated they would be making investments in the mountain village and, down the road, skier improvements.

The resort is excited to be a major training course for the Canadian mogul team in the run up to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.

We have the Olympic team coming here to train prior to the Olympics, for moguls Shalman said. Theyre going to do do their whole Olympic camp up here.

Shalman recommends watching the Olympic athletes in action during while they train on th mountain at the end of January.
Photo: Colin Dacre A PIB nomination meeting Oct. 11. Controversial byelections for five vacant council seats will go forward later this month

Advance polls will take place Saturday in a byelection for five vacant seats on Penticton Indian Band council despite a recent death in the community and protest from opponents.

Third-party electoral officer Julia Buck made the announcement this week in a post to Facebook, confirming advance voting will go forward Nov. 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Heritage Building.

Meanwhile, the bands former electoral officer Valerie Baptiste has maintained the byelections are unsanctioned.

In a letter to media Wednesday, Baptiste reiterated her declaration of a collapsed government and call for an entirely new election for Chief and Council.

A segment of the community aligned with former Chief Jonathan Kruger has been demanding an entirely new election for months, with five councillors stepping down at various times since May.

The unrest bubbled over last month, when media was invited to a raucous nomination meeting that came on the heels of a lawsuit filed by the band against Kruger and five former councillors.

For the four remaining who are trying hard to hold on to their position, I have asked, in writing, from the band manager on what grounds did you have to replace me? Baptiste said in her letter. To this date, no reasonable response has been received.

When the band announced it was bringing in a third-party to oversee the byelections, it said the move was made to remove any appearance of a perceived bias.

The federal government has stated they will not be getting involved in the bands custom election system, despite requests to do so from the opponents of Eneas.

The federal government has no say in the election by custom, but they have other responsibilities? Baptiste wrote.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip  a former PIB chief  has endorsed the byelection, urging the First Nation to push forward.

General voting day takes place Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the band hall.

The full list of the confirmed byelection candidates below:
Photo: Contributed

Thieves walked away with more than $150,000 in gold, silver and cash from a West Kelowna storage locker.

The break-in occurred sometime Nov.10, when an alarm at the rental facility was tripped.

However, the owner of the unit was unable to get to the unit right away. Police were finally called two days later.

Missing are thousands of ounces of precious metals, cash and a rare sculpture.

Police have learned that over 5,000 ounces of silver and gold, in various forms including coins and bars, along with cash and a rare acrylic sculpture titled Eye of the Flame, was taken from within the storage unit, said Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey.

Our complainant was understandably distraught over the theft, which totalled in excess of $150,000 in loss.

RCMP ask anyone with information to contact West Kelowna police at 250-768-2880 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477, www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.
Photo: The Canadian Press An aerial view of Fort Chipewyan, Alta., on the boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park.

One of the world's largest groups of conservation scientists says Canada's biggest national park is among the most threatened World Heritage Sites in North America.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature says Wood Buffalo National Park, which straddles the Alberta-Northwest Territories boundary, is significantly threatened by hydroelectric and oilsands development.

"This is quite embarrassing," said Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, many of whose members live alongside the park.

"It's not looking good for Canada avoiding an endangered listing for Wood Buffalo."

Wood Buffalo is a vast stretch of grassland, forest, wetland and lakes. Its 45,000 square kilometres contain one of the world's largest freshwater deltas, uncountable flocks of waterfowl and songbirds, as well as ecological cycles and relationships that remain in their natural state.

It's also the nesting site for the last flock of endangered whooping cranes.

It is considered to have "outstanding and universal value," according to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But the nature conservation union, which includes 1,300 member organizations and 10,000 experts, said those values have slipped considerably since the last report in 2014.

Only four other sites in North America are as threatened as Wood Buffalo  three in Mexico and one in the United States. Wood Buffalo is the only North American World Heritage Site to have deteriorated since 2014.

"The big threats are from hydro dam development," said Carolyn Campbell of the Alberta Wilderness Association.

Scientists have long warned about the slow drying of the Peace-Athabasca Delta from the Bennett Dam in British Columbia. BC Hydro's planned Site C dam is expected to worsen those effects.

"There's no water, no birds, no bison, no muskrats," Lepine said. "People are getting stuck on mudflats. They can't navigate. They can't get through to their hunting grounds or sacred sites.

"The loss of the delta is basically a loss of the Mikisew culture."
Photo: DragonFly Pond Society

A Uniquely Fashionable Fashion Show will take place Thursday evening in Penticton, giving children the chance to feel like a superstar.

The event, put on by the DragonFly Pond Society, will be held at Penticton Lakeside Resort.

A Uniquely Fashionable Fashion Show is an awareness and inclusion event, said Stacey Amy, vice chair. This event not only gives the participants a chance to shine but also gives families a chance to see their children highlighted and celebrated in an event.

Most of the children strutting down the runway are part of the DragonFly Pond Society, which provides services for families with children 0 to 18 years of age who have complex care needs and/or disabilities and who live in the South Okanagan Similkameen.

It also creates a great sense of awareness within the community to see what these young people are capable of, Amy said.

The fashion show will include drinks and beverages, from 6 to 7 p.m., on Nov. 16. The youth will hit the runway starting at 7 p.m.

Tickets to the event are $20 per person and there will also be a silent auction, with items from local businesses.
Photo: RCMP Police are looking for 45-year-old Morena Furlan

UPDATE THUR 9:35 p.m.

Police have confirmed Furian has been found safe and sound.

ORIGINAL WED 7 p.m.

The Penticton RCMP is turning to the public for help tracking down a missing woman.

Morena Furian, 45, was last seen on Nov. 11 in Penticton. Shes linked to a green 2001 GMC Safari van with grey bumpers bearing BC plates 360 SAN.

She is described as

Hispanic

Height: 5'1"

Weight: 146 lbs

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

Police and family are concerned for Furlans wellbeing. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of her is urged to contact the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300 or, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Photo: Contributed

This week in Ottawa, it was revealed that Finance Minister Bill Morneau is now being investigated by the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.



This investigation centers around his involvement in a pension bill that may have financially benefited a company that Morneau was reported to own roughly $21 million worth of shares in.



Ottawa pundits have observed that this is the first time both a sitting Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have been under ethics investigations at the same time.



As is often the case when a government is under an ethics scandal, efforts are made to change the channel.



Early this week, the Liberal government announced it would publicly post an online mandate tracker where Canadians can see the governments progress on key initiatives. In theory, this a good idea, however in execution the Liberals have come up short on this one and I will explain why.



The first challenge with the Liberal mandate tracker is that it is not based on the promises that the Liberals made in order to get elected.

Rather the mandate tracker is based on the mandate letters to the Ministers of the Liberal Government. For example, the Liberals promised to restore Canada Post door to door delivery. However in the mandate letter to the Minister who oversees Canada Post, only a review of door to door mail delivery was requested but not a restoral of service.



As the Liberals have conducted the review of door to door mail service, they can boast they have met this commitment even though it falls short of what was actually promised during the election.



The other challenge I have with the mandate tracker is that the Liberal government themselves decide how much they have actually accomplished.



In other words, it is not the Parliamentary Budget Officer or any other independent and objective department providing this information.



Ultimately, I would submit this mandate tracking idea could have had more usefulness to Canadians if it were handled differently.



Also this week we learned the long awaited details of the Liberal government's new peacekeeping measures. As some may recall during the election, Trudeau had suggested that Canada was out of peacekeeping business and promised an increase in Canadian peacekeeping forces.



This promise led to a commitment from the Prime Minister before the 2016 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference in the U.K., to provide up to 600 troops and 150 police for a specific deployment that was promised to be announced at a future date.



Today, we know this 2016 commitment will be yet another promise that is not fully honoured by this Prime Minister. Instead, only 200 personnel and 50 police will be provided in primarily training and transport roles. There will be no specific deployment zone despite many promises and overseas trips to explore potential peacekeeping opportunities over the past two years.



I am not suggesting that Canada will not continue to serve a useful role in UN peacekeeping operations with this significantly reduced commitment. My observation is that once again we see a pattern where Trudeau is pleased to make a significant announcement with a photo opportunity, as was done in the 2016, only to move the goal posts at a later date.



My question this week:

Should the Prime Minister have fully honoured his 2016 commitment to the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference?

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Getty Images

Canada's wealthiest one per cent saw their share of total income rise for the first time in nearly a decade in 2015, thanks to growing dividends, says Statistics Canada.

About 270,000 Canadians in this category accounted for 11.2 per cent of total income, up from 10.3 per cent in 2014. That marked the first increase since 2006.

The average total income rose 12.2 per cent to $529,600, including $102,300 from dividend income, up from $66,700 a year earlier. Their share of total taxes rose to 22.2 per cent.

Average income for tax filers in all income brackets rose 2.6 per cent to $47,100, the largest annual increase since 2006.

More women joined the club in one year than any time since 1989 and accounted for 23.2 per cent of top earners.

Ontario and British Columbia saw the most people join the top one cent in one year, while Alberta was the lone province to see a substantial decline due to the impact of lower oil prices.
An economic analysis of unemployment statistics, including the monthly statewide rates going back to 2006 can be found

.

Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips on Thursday announced that for the fifth month in a row, the states seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is lower than it has been in recorded history.The state unemployment rate for October 2017 held steady at 3.0 percent, matching the historically low rate set in September. Tennessee first marked an all-time low unemployment rate in June at 3.6 percent, which was bested by the July rate of 3.4 percent, and then in August fell to 3.3 percent.We have focused on bringing high-quality jobs to Tennessee and have attracted companies and jobs that provide strong wages that will evolve as the economy changes, Governor Haslam said.We have focused on recruiting companies that will invest in Tennessee for the long-term and create lasting economic change in our communities, and our record low unemployment rate over the last five months reflects that.Tennessees October 2017 unemployment rate is two percentage points lower than it was one year ago and continues to outpace the national average, which currently sits at 4.1 percent.Tennessees employment rate continues to be one of the lowest in the nation, Commissoner Phillips said. Month, after month, we continue to see the economic climate in Tennessee is helping build a solid workforce in every corner of the state and that our investment in education and workforce development is paying off.More information on the unemployment rate, labor force and resources to help Tennesseans find jobs is available on Jobs4TN.gov.The county unemployment rates for October 2017 will be published on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 1:30 p.m. CST.
The researchers have confirmed how this phenomenon occurs in granular fluids, that is, those composed of particles that are very small and interact among those that lose part of their kinetic energy. Thanks to this theoretical characterization, "we can simulate on a computer and make analytical calculations to know how and when the Mpemba effect will occur," said Antonio Lasanta. Lasanta is from the UC3M Gregorio Millan Barbany University Institute for Modeling and Simulation on Fluid Dynamics, Nanoscience and Industrial Mathematics. "In fact," he said, "we find not only that the hottest can cool faster but also the opposite effect: the coldest can heat faster, which would be called the inverse Mpemba effect."

The fact that preheated liquids freeze faster than those that are already cold was observed for the first time by Aristotle in the 4th century AD. Francis Bacon, the father of scientific empiricism, and Rene Descartes, the French philosopher, were also interested in the phenomenon, which became a theory when, in 1960, a Tanzanian student named Erasto Mpemba explained to his teacher in a class that the hottest mixture of ice cream froze faster than the cold one. This anecdote inspired a technical document about the subject, and the effect began to be analyzed in educational and science magazines. However, its causes and effects have hardly been studied until now.

"It is an effect that, historically, has not been addressed in a rigorous manner but merely as an anomaly and a didactic curiosity," said Antonio Prados, one of the researchers from the Universidad de Sevilla Department of Theoretical Physics. "From our perspective, it was important to study it in a system with the minimum ingredients to be able to control and understand its behavior," he said. This has enabled them to understand what scenarios it is easier to occur in, which is one of the main contributions of this scientific study. "Thanks to this, we have identified some of the ingredients so that the effect occurs in some physical systems that we can describe well theoretically," stated researcher Francisco Vega Reyes and Andres Santos, from the Universidad de Extremadura Instituto de Computacion Cientifica Avanzada (Institute of Advanced Scientific Computation).

"The scenario that the effect will most easily occur in is when the velocities of the particles before heating or cooling have a specific disposition--for example, with a high dispersion around the mean value," he said. This way, the evolution of the temperature of the fluid can be significantly affected if the state of the particles is prepared before the cooling.

This research of "basic science," in addition to contributing to improving fundamental knowledge, might have other applications in the mid or long term. In fact, this group of researchers is planning to carry out an experiment that verifies the theory. Learning to emulate and use this effect might have applications in our daily life, according to scientists. For example, it could be used to make electronic devices which we want to cool faster.
The scientists of RUDN University together with their Russian colleagues have developed a new approach to the synthesis of benzofurans from cheap raw materials. Original furans can be produced from wastes of agriculture and wooworking industry, such as sawdust, cobs and other by-products of crop production.

Benzofuran is a heterocyclic compound consisting of fused benzene and furan rings. The last one is five-membered ring formed by four carbon atoms and an oxygen atom. Benzofuran fragment is present in many pharmaceutical substances such as antiarrhythmic medications (Amiodarone and Dronedarone), medications for psoriasis and gout (Benzbromarone and Benziodarone), drugs for the treatment of sleep disorders (Heltioz) and skin diseases (Psoralen and Trioxalen) as well as some antidepressants. It is also important that the new approach can be used for the development of new benzofuran-based drug substances.

"Original furans (N-tosylfurfurylamines) are obtained directly from agricultural or wood-processing waste, that is, from renewable sources. Biomass processing will eventually come to a serious industrial level, so there will only be more precursors for synthesis we are engaged in", one of authors of the work, Professor of the Department of Organic Chemistry at RUDN University Igor Trushkov commented, who is also the head of the laboratory of chemical synthesis at Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology.

The second component necessary for the proposed synthesis is salicyl alcohols, which are also produced commercially from a cheap precursor, that is salicylaldehyde which is obtained in one step from phenol, large-tonnage product of chemical industry.

"This work is also interesting because in the reaction with salicylic alcohols the same atom of the furan ring acts at first as a nucleophile (a reagent providing an electron pair for the formation of new bond), and then, during the same process, as an electrophile (a reagent which accepts an electron pair)", Igor Trushkov adds, "Shampoo and conditioner together in one bottle, so to speak. Or rather (given that shampoo and conditioner are almost the same thing, while an electrophile and a nucleophile are exactly opposite) union of angel and demon".

In close cooperation with a group of scientists from Perm State National Research University, led by Maxim Uchuskin, for many years Igor Trushkov has been searching for ways to synthesize various heterocyclic compounds from low-cost precursors. The beginning of this field was made by Professor Alexander Butin, after whom one of the reactions was named.

The work was carried out in cooperation with Perm State National Research University, Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology and Institute of Technical Chemistry UB RAS.
As it embarks on one of the largest corporate transformations in modern history, General Electric may find it helpful to use locally based Caterpillar as a guiding light. (Gene J. Puskar / AP)

As it embarks on one of the largest corporate transformations in modern history, General Electric may find it helpful to use locally based Caterpillar as a guiding light.

That's because when it comes to cost-cutting, boosting sales, making money and getting back in the good graces of Wall Street, Deerfield-based Caterpillar's two-year-plus reorganization is firing on all cylinders.

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As a result, Cat is chalking up the type of results that GE hopes to achieve, provided its sweeping revamp launched this week is as successful.

GE is unloading a whopping $20 billion in assets, including its locally based transportation division, and shrinking the unwieldy conglomerate into a more manageable and, it hopes, highly profitable industrial concern.

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Boston-based GE is larger and more multi-dimensional than heavy equipment maker Cat, so direct comparisons aren't always apt. Nonetheless, GE's recently installed CEO John Flannery should be emboldened by Cat's rebound.

"CEO John Flannery reset expectations to reflect the harsh realities of what we believe will likely be a multiyear turnaround," wrote Barbara Noverini, senior equity analyst for Morningstar, in an update following GE's announcement.

Just like GE, Cat understands that desperate times call for desperate measures.

Between 2010 and 2016, the maker of heavy manufacturing equipment and construction vehicles suffered a 40 percent sales and revenue decline  an unprecedented tumble for the 92-year-old Cat.

The free-fall compelled the executive brass in late 2015 to initiate its mass restructuring that centered on a $1.5 billion cost reduction plan. Cat also sought to use the revamp as a means of forging a different corporate culture, one that was more growth-oriented and better poised to take advantage of the homebuilding and infrastructure revival underway overseas and throughout North America.

So far, Cat's business comeback is on track.

Its workforce has declined by at least 16,000, some 30 facilities have been closed or consolidated; and it may exceed the $1.5 billion in cost cuts, according to the company.

In the third quarter, Cat said it expects 2017 sales and revenue of $44 billion, up from its earlier quarterly forecast of $42 billion to $44 billion. Cat also expects annual adjusted earnings of $6.25 per share, up from the $5 previously forecast.

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While those who have lost their jobs are bearing the brunt of Cat's changes, the results and projections are exceeding Wall Street's expectations. Cat stock is trading around $134 per share, compared to $94 per share about a year ago.

Right now, GE can only dream of such a lofty improvement.

The company's stock is hovering at around $18 per share, down from just over $20 per share at the time of Flannery's Monday announcement, which included a steep 50 percent dividend cut. A year ago, GE was trading at $30 per share.

Wall Street wags, who have been waiting a long time for a GE turnaround, are openly wondering if Flannery is cutting enough. Some question if the company's three remaining industry segments aviation, health care and powercan become a big money-making operation.

Flannery has asked investors to be patient because his plan will take a few years.

Frustrated shareholders may be too rough on Flannery, a GE veteran with ample corporate reorganization experience, who seems ready to do what's necessary to revive the company.

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After all, GE is spinning off some sacred properties, including the signature lighting division that inventor Thomas Edison developed to help start the company more than 125 years ago.

Caterpillar also turned a page on its history by deciding to relocate its longtime headquarters from Peoria to Deerfield, which will be completely operational by mid-2018.

Yes, large manufacturing revivals are difficult and tricky. But Cat is showing GE that there is a way to bring good things to life.

roreed@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ReedTribBiz
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai testifies on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The FCC has lifted rules blocking broadcast media mergers.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai testifies on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The FCC has lifted rules blocking broadcast media mergers. (Ron Sachs/CNP / TNS)

Federal regulators rolled back a series of decades-old regulations on Thursday, in a move that will make it far easier for media outlets to be bought and sold - potentially leading to more newspapers, radio stations and television broadcasters being owned by a small handful of companies.

The regulations, eliminated in a 3-2 vote by the Federal Communications Commission, were initially put in place in the 1970s to ensure that a diversity of voices and opinions could be heard on the air or in print. But now those rules represent a threat to small outlets who are struggling to survive in a vastly different media world, according to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

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"Few of the FCC's rules are staler than our broadcast ownership regulations," said Pai. By eliminating them, he said, "this agency finally drags its broadcast ownership rules to the digital age."

One longstanding rule repealed Thursday prevented one company in a given media market from owning both a daily newspaper and a TV station. Another rule blocked TV stations in the same market from merging with each other if the combination would leave fewer than eight independently owned stations. The agency also took aim at rules restricting the number of TV and radio stations any media company could simultaneously own in a single market.

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[ Reed: Why there are big local problems with Sinclair-Tribune Media's national deal ]

A major beneficiary of the deregulatory moves, analysts say, is Sinclair, the conservative broadcasting company seeking to buy up Tribune Media for $3.9 billion. Tribune Media was the owner of the Chicago Tribune until the former Tribune Company split in two in 2014. The Chicago Tribune and its sister newspapers are now owned by Tronc.

"This has a huge impact," said Andrew Schwartzman, an expert on media law at Georgetown University. He added that the decisions will "reduce or eliminate" the need for Sinclair to sell off many stations in order to receive regulatory approval for the deal.

The FCC vote is the latest to ease regulations for the broadcast industry. It came the same day that the agency was expected to approve the deployment of Next Gen TV, a new broadcast standard that is ultimately expected to lead to improved audio and video quality on over-the-air television, as well as targeted advertising. And it came one month after the FCC voted to no longer require broadcasters to operate a physical studio in the markets where they are licensed.

The National Association of Broadcasters welcomed Thursday's vote.

"These rules are not only irrational in today's media environment, but they have also weakened the newspaper industry, cost journalism jobs and forced local broadcast stations onto unequal footing with our national pay-TV and radio competitors," the trade group said in a statement.

[ Under Sinclair, WGN could be 'Chicago's very own' no more ]

Critics of the FCC repeal effort argue that the decision will lead to the concentration of power in the hands of a dwindling number of media titans.

"Instead of engaging in thoughtful reform," said Democratic FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, "this agency sets its most basic values on fire. As a result of this decision, wherever you live the FCC is giving the green light for a single company to own the newspaper and multiple television and radio stations in your community. I am hard pressed to see any commitment to diversity, localism, or competition in that result."

Senate Democrats this week called on the FCC's inspector general to launch a probe of the agency, over concerns that its impartiality with respect to Sinclair had been "tainted."

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"This merger would never have been possible without a series of actions to overturn decades-long, settled legal precedent by Chairman Pai," wrote Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and 14 other lawmakers in a letter. The letter added that Pai has "signaled his clear receptiveness to approving the Sinclair-Tribune transaction and in fact paved the way for its consummation."

[ Reed: Amid public outcry, feds should kill Sinclair bid to buy WGN owner Tribune Media ]

The FCC didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Sinclair declined to comment.

In his remarks Thursday, Pai said it was "utter nonsense" that his agency's decisions on media ownership would lead to a company dominating local media markets by buying up newspapers and radio stations.

"It will open the door to pro-competitive combinations that will strengthen local voices," he said, and "better serve local communities."
Billionaire founder of Insys Therapeutics John Kapoor leaves U.S. District Court after being arrested earlier Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Phoenix.

Billionaire founder of Insys Therapeutics John Kapoor leaves U.S. District Court after being arrested earlier Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin / AP)

Boston  The founder of a pharmaceutical company accused of leading a conspiracy to bribe doctors to prescribe a powerful opioid pain medication for people who didn't need it has pleaded not guilty.

Attorney Brian Kelly told reporters after John Kapoor's arraignment in Boston's federal courthouse on Thursday that the Insys Therapeutics Inc. founder is going to fight the case.

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Kapoor and other Insys executives are accused of offering kickbacks to doctors to write large numbers of prescriptions for a fentanyl-based pain medication that's meant for cancer patients.

Kapoor was arrested in Arizona last month and posted a $1 million bail.

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Kelly urged the judge to get rid of the requirement that Kapoor wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. Prosecutors say he's a flight risk.

The judge didn't immediately rule on the matter Thursday.

Kapoor is founder of Lake Forest-based Akorn Pharmaceuticals. He resigned as chairman earlier this month.
Eight states, cities or localities have recently passed legislation banning all employers from asking one particularly awkward question of prospective workers: How much did you make in your last job?

But according to a new survey by the executive search and consulting firm Korn Ferry, employees well beyond those locations soon might not have to answer the question. Nearly half of the 108 companies surveyed, or 46 percent, said they would comply with the legal requirements in the most stringent location where they operate, meaning workers well outside of Massachusetts, California or Oregon might no longer be asked about their salary history during job negotiations even if their local jurisdictions do not pass similar laws. Only 32 percent said they would comply as each region requires, while 11 percent said their operations were not affected and another 11 percent said they were unsure.

Tom McMullen, a senior client partner for Korn Ferry, said that while some firms are being advised to maintain separate policies, "that gets messy really quick." Workplace-related laws that start in local jurisdictions often spread to others, he said, because multistate or national companies decide that having a single policy rather than a patchwork of practices is simpler.

"There will be a tipping point, if it's not there already, where this will become the de facto way of handling this in this country," McMullen said. For many companies, having a blanket policy "is easier administratively." (The National Women's Law Center reports that a few more states are expected to pass similar prohibitions this year. Other jurisdictions have passed measures only for public employees, and a version was introduced in Congress last year. Philadelphia's measure has faced a legal challenge.)

Yet even if companies are adopting the measures more broadly, they do not seem convinced that they will work as intended. The aim of many of the measures may have been to help close the gender pay gap - the idea being that if employers do not set new wages on the basis of past compensation, one low salary or poorly negotiated job offer early on in her career won't set a woman back for years to come. But some two-thirds of those surveyed said they thought the measures would not, or would only to a small extent, improve any pay differentials that exist.

The likely reason, McMullen said, is that employers either already feel they have the rigorous pay systems in place to monitor for pay equality, or because the actual gap between male and female employees' pay at the company - accounting for position, experience, job level and the like - is only in the single digits.

"For those that already have decent processes in place, it probably is a nonevent," he said, noting that the survey skewed to larger companies. "The biggest difference it'll make is in those organizations that have a 'let's make a deal' culture" and do not rely as much on market data to set workers' pay or have less rigorous ways of analyzing whether they are paying workers fairly.

The survey also showed that many employers do not seem prepared for the new laws, many of which take effect next year, although some have a grace period before penalties for noncompliance kick in. Almost a third said they are not prepared for the legislation, while 44 percent said they had made "some preparations." Just 5 percent said it was already their practice not to ask about a candidate's pay history.

The survey did not ask, meanwhile, what impact the new laws could have on payroll budgets or salary size overall. While the salary-question bans, often part of "pay equity" or "pay transparency" bills, may have generated attention for their potential role in closing the gender gap, other employees could benefit, too. More market-based approaches to wage setting - where employers compensate workers on the basis of the needs of and competition for the job, rather than the history of the person - could help any prospective employee who worries that he or she has been paid too little in the past. (Discussions about salary expectations, rather than history, are expected to still pass muster.)

Jonathan Segal, an employment lawyer based in Philadelphia, said the bans could be particularly relevant for older workers, too. Someone who has been working for more years and may be looking to scale back to a less demanding job - or workers eager to get back into the workforce after being out of a job and willing to work for less - could be subject to implicit bias when asked about their past pay, he said.

"Eliminating the question may help not only eliminate the pay gap for women," he said, "but may help older employees who are being excluded because employers think they won't be happy working for less."

He also sees employers adopting the ban even in areas where it is not required. "I see a significant number of employers that are voluntarily omitting this from their application," he said, "even in absence of legal mandate."
A volunteer at the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer in Chicago pours a pastry stout, Bourbon Barrel Teddy Bear Kisses With Coconut, from Bloomington, Ind.'s Upland Brewing. (Nick Stetina)

Remember that Budweiser commercial that lit up craft beer a few years back?

It mocked people who dared to smell their beer. Who cared to think critically about their beer. Who created such things as pumpkin peach ale.

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Well, turns out Budweiser might have had a point.

After six hours wandering the aisles of the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer last weekend, I have concluded that craft beer is betraying itself. It is forgetting what beer should taste like.

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Though FOBAB, held this year at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum on Friday and Saturday, remains Chicagos most essential beer festival, corners of it have become a showcase for beer that tastes more like dessert than beer. Pastry stouts, the industry calls them.

Among the 376 beers poured at FOBAB this year, about 50 were pastry stouts, the largest share of the largest category at FOBAB.

Five years ago, among 194 beers, a measly six could be counted as pastry stouts. Back then, breweries were far more likely to age imperial stout in whiskey barrels to show the character of the beer theyd brewed and the barrels theyd secured. Today, those same beers are overrun with coffee, vanilla beans, coconut, cinnamon, chiles and cacao nibs.

So very many cacao nibs.

At this years FOBAB, there was beer named for cake (Barrel-Aged German Chocolate Cake), beer named for milkshakes (Bourbon Barrel Aged Supershake), beer named for cookies (Bourbon Barrel Aged Gingerbread Imperial Stout) and beer that didnt bother specifying its form of sugary decadence (Beer Geek Mid-Day Dessert). Lil Beaver Brewery, of Bloomington, Ill., poured a beer it described as boasting enough cacao nibs and toasted coconut to make you think youre drinking a candy bar.

Its a confounding moment in craft beer. The industry is still growing rapidly  6,000 breweries operating and hundreds more in planning  and the race is on for differentiation. The problem is that the differentiation is seeming both too sweet and too repetitive.

An obvious parallel is unfolding in the IPA realm, where hazy IPAs  also known as New England-style or double-dry hopped IPAs  have become an industry hit for their marked fruit-forwardness and astonishingly low bitterness. But theres an important distinction between hazy IPA and adjunct stout. IPAs are trending fruitier due to giant leaps in hop breeding, production and how theyre employed in the brewing process. Love it or hate it  I fall somewhere in between  hazy IPA is a true innovation. It is a tweak in how things have been done.

Pastry stouts, however, too often amount to throwing a bunch of stuff in beer. They have become a sideshow  an excuse to dazzle, titillate or even revolt on social media; look at this audacious sugary thing in our beer! They feel less like brewers leading their audiences, more like pandering to them.

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Now, to be fair, some pastry stouts are quite good. Among my favorite FOBAB finds came from Braxton Brewing, of Covington, Ky., which poured a version of its Dark Charge imperial stout aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels with ancho chiles, vanilla, cinnamon and cacao nibs. What could have been a busy, overwhelming mess was expertly assembled, each ingredient employed sparingly and threaded together harmoniously. Most important, the beer dried out enough to, you know, taste like beer.

Too many pastry stouts have lost any semblance of balance and simply overrun the palate. An imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, by definition, features notes of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, char, oak, bourbon and coconut. Sounds good, right? Its the entire point of aging a robust stout on charred oak that previously held whiskey. But by adding the literal ingredients already present in the nuance, pastry stouts can easily lurch into gooey, sugar-smacked messes.

But heres the thing: People like them.

The Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer, held at UIC Forum on Nov. 10-11, remains Chicagos most essential beer festival. (Nick Stetina)

Theres no finer example than More Brewings BA Karma, the unequivocal darling of this years FOBAB. More has garnered quick acclaim since opening this summer in suburban Villa Park  due in large part to its hazy IPAs, naturally  and that led to an eager crowd on FOBABs Friday night session. By the end of the evening, BA Karma was the festivals buzz beer. During the first session Saturday, BA Karma was gone within 30 minutes of the VIP preview, before the general-admission crowd could even get in the door. By the beginning of the Saturday evening session, there was already a line of 125 holdovers from the earlier session  me included.

The fascination was too rich to pass up.

The beer turned out to be equally as rich. My few ounces of BA Karma were unmistakable: chocolate syrup. It had fantastic body  or, as the current nomenclature goes, mouthfeel  but you know what else has fantastic, silky mouth feel? Chocolate syrup. Mouthfeel alone does not a great beer make. I was surprised to look in the program and see that in addition to cacao nibs, BA Karma also counts toasted coconut and cinnamon as ingredients. I mostly got cacao nibs.

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Heres the irony of the pastry stout explosion: The original barrel-aged stout was a reaction to too much sweetness. Back in 1994, when he was brewmaster of the Goose Island brewpub, Greg Hall heard customers marveling about the newly released Sam Adams Triple Bock. It was a mind-blowing beer at the time: thick, boozy (18 percent alcohol), knee-bucklingly sweet and aged in oak barrels that previously had held Jack Daniels whiskey. It wasnt that drinkers liked Triple Bock; it was that American beer had been pushed to otherworldly heights. Again and again, Hall heard from amazed customers: Have you tried this Sam Adams Triple Bock? It tastes like port, they would say. Or brandy. Or liqueur. No one said it tasted like beer.

When Hall got his hands on Jim Beam bourbon barrels the next year, he was determined to put a beer in  and more importantly, take a beer out, one that was inarguably beer. Three months later, that beer was Bourbon County Stout. All these years later, it continues to generally feature the characteristics of great beer: sweetness balanced against bitterness and chocolate balanced against vanilla, all threaded together by boozy oak.

There are signs of hope going forward. This years Bourbon County crop includes a stellar version aged in 11-year-old Knob Creek barrels; no further tricks required. Simplicity is also part of why theres so much excitement around Revolution Brewings barrel-aged series this year. Of its eight canned barrel-aged releases on the way, six feature no adjuncts. The two that do have adjuncts feature one each: cherries and coffee. Theyre both remarkably balanced.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

BA Karma was not, but maybe it didnt matter. Everyone loved it, and FOBAB judges awarded it best in show.

On the way out of the festival  feeling a little woozy from what I suspect was too much sugar rather than too much alcohol  I ran into Dave Kahle, craft beer manager at Breakthru Beverage distribution. Hes a FOBAB organizer and is one of just a handful of master cicerones in the world, which means he has an elite ability to taste and understand beer.

I asked Kahle what he thought of BA Karma, expecting a lengthy and profound answer that might provide insight to how it won best in show.

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Nope.

Tastes like chocolate cake, he said.

jbnoel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @hopnotes

[ 7 gifts for the beer lover ]

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[ Goose Island Brewhouse reopens  finally ]
Pour a splash of bitters to taste into a glass of cola and the cocktail is done. What could be simpler? (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune; Mark Graham / food styling)

Just hours before dinner last Thanksgiving, we realized that all we had on hand for drinks were wine and beer  fine but insufficiently, um, festive.

Cocktails are festive, but alas, we didnt have the ingredients, nor the extra hands needed, to mix drinks for 20-plus guests. We did, however, have three bottles of different amaros, the now popular Italian liquors infused with sometimes bitter herbal essences. Amaros (or amari, the plural in Italian) include beverages like Fernet-Branca, Averna and Cynar; youve probably noticed some of them on bar shelves.

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We set up a table with the amari, Coke, ice and glasses, and we invited guests to make their own Fernet-Coke. The recipe could not be simpler: add a splash of Fernet-Branca (or any amaro) to Coke and ice. Boom, done.

Amari are usually served as digestifs, beverages enjoyed in small sips after big meals. Theres no reason, however, why you cant have an amaro-based cocktail before dinner. Either way, you benefit from the stomach-settling properties of both the amaro and the Coke.

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Most guests took very well to making their own amaro-Coke. As hosts we learned:

Letting guests make their own amaro-Coke (or any simple cocktail) is fun and enables them to mix exactly the drink they want (using more or less amaro or Coke).

Three 750-milliliter bottles of amaro  Fernet-Branca, Averna and Cynar  came in at around $90 (tax included). Add some Coke, and you have several dozen cocktails for about $100.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Guests may be apprehensive of amaro, which means bitter, and in English, bitter is not a positive word: Think bitter end, bitter feelings and so on. But one sip of the amaro-Coke, and they smile. Its an uncomplicated, pleasing cocktail.

For guests who are really digging the amaro, make a Toronto. This cocktail is also super simple (our favorite kind): 2 ounces rye,  ounce each amaro and simple syrup, two drops of Angostura bitters; stir, strain into a rocks glass and garnish with orange peel.

After dinner, you can serve any remaining amari neat as digestifs.

Of our three very different amari, Fernet-Branca has notes of mint, citrus and cardamom; Averna is sweet and lighter, with flowery licorice flavors; Cynar comes on most aggressively, with deep green flavors and pronounced bitterness. But there are dozens of other brands. Experiment. As for the Coke, take a cue from Edoardo Branca, of the Italian distillery family.

"I prefer using Mexican Coke in Fernet con Coca," says Branca, who passed through Chicago in early October. "Mexican Coke is made with real sugar cane. Because all ingredients in Fernet-Branca are natural, we recommend mixing it with products that are also natural.

Mexican Coke, once available only at neighborhood bodegas, is now sold at larger stores, including Target. Its more expensive than regular Coke (about $6.50 for a six-pack), but hey, its the holidays!

David Hammond is a freelance writer.

[ What to do when family heirloom recipes call for processed cheese? Give thanks. ]

[ Don't fret about Thanksgiving wine choices  just about anything goes ]

[ Craving: Cheap Eats -- how to eat and drink well on a budget ]
Chicago Symphony Orchestra stagehand Joe Tucker, 53, describes why he believes the symphony is relevant while prepring for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's performance at Lane Tech High School Wednesday Nov. 15, 2017 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra stagehand Joe Tucker, 53, describes why he believes the symphony is relevant while prepring for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's performance at Lane Tech High School Wednesday Nov. 15, 2017 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez)

The line running through the hall at Lane Technical College Prep High School, the citys largest public high school, was not unusual  if theres one thing you learn in school, its how to stand in line. There were long rows of metal lockers, kids shuffling their feet, security guards using the tone of voice generations of school security guards have used to ask rhetorical questions intended to elicit self-doubt: Were you in the right line? Did you actually know how to follow directions? Everyone has a ticket, right?

A ticket, luckily, was the lone prerequisite to a place in the line and in the Lane Tech auditorium, an 80-plus-year-old space for a couple of thousand spectators that most recently hosted the schools fall production of Noel Cowards Blithe Spirit. Though no one was in costume as a ghost, and there would be no discernible fake British accents, Wednesday nights program  the Chicago Symphony Orchestras annual free community concert  had its own appeal. For one thing, said Marcello Valle, who held down the front of the line, The price was right. Valle, whose son Marcello Jr., 12, attends Lane Techs Academic Center for high-achieving seventh- and eighth-graders, saw the concert mentioned in an email from the school, and I clicked on it, grabbed them and made a donation, that was it. He surprised his family with the tickets. He just told me, Here, were going to a concert, said his wife, Rebecca, who got in line behind Marcello Sr. about two hours before showtime with the rest of the Valle family: Arianna, 14; Marcello Jr.; Alyssa, 10; Yarisella, 7; and Ozziel, 5.

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The Valles werent the only full family in attendance. Lane Tech music students, some of whom had been treated to a CSO ensemble performance and attended master classes with CSO concertmasters in the days leading up to the concert, were encouraged to get tickets and bring family members. We had 700 tickets reserved, said Lanes orchestra director, Devon Morales, and 700 went. I had kids asking me today if they could get an extra ticket, if there were tickets left. So everyone was buzzing about it.

Music teacher Miles Comiskey, whose job includes overseeing the school auditorium, was chasing a solution to entryway lights that had suddenly failed, but he still seemed a little awed as orchestra members started to take their places on stage. I spend just hours and hours of my life here, he said, helping with drama productions and musical stuff and talent shows and sometimes it feels like I live here ... and now the CSO is performing here.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 From left, Junior Greta Verbrick, 16, leans on junior Krissi Poelsterl, 16, before Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's performance at Lane Tech High School Wednesday Nov. 15, 2017 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Though the performance itself is rare, the orchestra has a long history with Lane  in 1929, the director of the CSO assisted in the development of the schools first music program, and many Lane musicians have found their way onto the CSO roster.

Down front, Assistant Principal Sarah Hanly paced nervously as she waited to introduce maestro Riccardo Muti and the orchestra. She makes a lot of announcements from this stage, she said, when its 2,000 kids, not 2,000 adults!

High school hadnt changed much, though. In a nearby corner, two teens from the Stage Krew club (With a k because were cool, they deadpanned), who typically help with student productions, were amazed at how full the house was, and at the fact that one of their teachers brought a date.

But the main difference, said junior Anthony Malo, between a CSO show and a student one is they brought their own sound and light people, so Im out of a job. He continued cheerfully greeting concertgoers anyway, with no designs on the jobs of the red-jacketed ushers the CSO also brought along. One of them urged the Valle kids to close their eyes to better appreciate the music. Its going to sound beautiful, she said. Did she mean the acoustics? No, the acoustics are terrible, she said with a guffaw. Its a high school auditorium! The instruments will sound beautiful though.

They did, of course, and the crowd, from first-timers to seasoned symphony patrons, was appreciative.

I always wanted to see the symphony, said Marcello Valle Sr. Its my dream, and heres my opportunity.

cdampier@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @csdampier

[ Related: Max Sansing's art taps a potent memory from his South Side childhood ]

[ CSO in solid shape despite seventh consecutive deficit ]

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Mudbound compacts a lot of story, handed off between no fewer than six narrators, into a little over two hours. So much of it works, with an unusually deft balance between its African-American and white characters, that you wish co-writer and director Dee Rees could stretch it out to a full three- or four-hour adaptation of Hillary Jordans 2008 debut novel.

But we have the Mudbound we have, and it really is something  a vividly acted, dramatically rich depiction, harsh and beautiful, of life and death in 1940s Mississippi, following two families of intertwined destinies.

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Its a shame Netflix is all but ignoring a theatrical release. This weekend, in addition to streaming on Netflix starting Friday, the film opens in a few stray theaters nationwide, including one in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington. Unlike Amazon Studios (stewards of Manchester by the Sea, a so-called tough sell that ended up making $47 million theatrically), Netflix doesnt devote much money to what it perceives as a rival exhibition platform. So, like Beasts of No Nation two years ago and plenty of strong Netflix titles before and since, Mudbound is likely to be sidelined at the Oscars.

Im glad I saw it projected in a theater the first time I saw it, because director Rees and her ace cinematographer, Rachel Morrison, deliver widescreen images of real size. They get the most out of the land, the weather, the clashes and, most importantly, the faces.

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The landowners and the tenant farmers share this same muddy corner of the Delta, however uneasily. The McAllan family consists of Henry (Jason Clarke) and his wife, Laura (Carey Mulligan). The story moves from early scenes set in the 1930s into wartime, the 1940s. The McAllans have moved from Memphis to Mississippi, at Henrys abrupt announcement that he always wanted to be a farmer. Scammed out of a nice house in town, they end up residing in a shack next to the cotton fields, not far from the Jackson family.

Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell) is the oldest child of Hap (Rob Morgan) and his wife, Florence (Mary J. Blige), and with his porkpie hat tilted just so, Rosnel heads off to war and worlds unknown. Jordans novel, and the screenplay co-written by Virgil Williams and Rees, sets up bookends and parallels throughout. Like Ronsel, who becomes involved with a white woman in Bavaria, Henrys dashing bachelor brother, Jamie (Garrett Hedlund), returns from battle with post-traumatic stress disorder and a profound feeling of dislocation. Jamie moves in with the McAllans. Theres a kindness in this man, messed up by demons of all kinds, and Laura notices.

In scenes both swift and evocative, Mudbound details the dawning friendship between the two veterans, Jamie and Ronsel. Its a friendship forbidden by every social stricture of the pre-civil rights era South. More subtly, Laura and Florence recognize in each other women who were born too early. The violence in Mudbound can be difficult to watch, and a climactic lynching is truly excruciating, a test of viewers resolve to get through it. Its also justified. Rees is a dramatist, not an exploiter.

To be sure, theres a fair amount of pulp in the source material, which riffs on Faulkners As I Lay Dying and sets up a clear, familiar line of sexual suspense. Laura and Jamie are drawn to each other, demurely at first. When they finally take the leap into bed, behind Henrys back, the images are cross-cut with the lynching. There are times in Mudbound when the storys breathless pacing becomes a bit of a blur, and the scenes of aerial and ground combat are not the films standouts.

But every key relationship in the film registers in ways that truly matter, and that bring out the best in every performer. This is a wonderful acting showcase. In addition to those already mentioned, theres a fine, slimy turn from Jonathan Banks as Pappy McAllan. Lauras father-in-law is an emblem of every racist, predatory, murderous impulse a bad white man, in that time, in that place, could bring to bear on a society.

Weve seen stories like this one before on screen, but whats new, and arresting, about Mudbound is how easily and persuasively director Rees moves between these families. In a lesser adaptation, noble, dashing, damaged Jamie would constitute white savior material. Not here. In a more typical treatment, the African-American characters would struggle to claim their share of the narrative. Not here. Rees previously directed two feature-length films, the excellent coming-of-age drama Pariah (2011) and the HBO biopic Bessie (2015). Mudbound cements her versatility, her sensitivity and, I hope, her future.

Michael Phillips is the Chicago Tribunes film critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @phillipstribune

[ RELATED: 'Mudbound' triumphs at the Sundance Film Festival ]

[ Netflix acquires Sundance hit 'Mudbound' for $12.5 million ]

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No one in contemporary movies delivers the side-eye  the withering, nonverbal judgment of the righteous  the way Frances McDormand delivers it in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Sometimes its funny, because whoever shes playing is so much sharper than whoever shes acting opposite. Other times, its more of a look of pity, or quiet resignation. This is what I have to deal with.

The film is writer-director Martin McDonaghs third feature, and all three are driven by violence, retribution and bizarrely funny banter. McDormand gives the movie a core of seriousness as Mildred, a woman mired in grief over the unsolved abduction, rape and murder of her daughter. This we dont see; hearing about it is bad enough.

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The story begins seven months later. Using three dilapidated old billboards away from the main highway, Mildred, who works at a local gift store called Southern Charms, calls out the genial police chief, Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), by name. In a defiantly public way, she urges Ebbing law enforcement to solve the murder and deliver a bereft mother some peace.

From this setup, McDonagh sets a series of tit-for-tat revenge ploys into motion. Divorced from her abusive ex (John Hawkes) and raising their high school-age son (Lucas Hedges), Mildred is encouraged and soon threatened to take down the billboards by Willoughby and by his racist, thuggish deputy, Dixon (Sam Rockwell). Like a darker version of a Laurel and Hardy short, the ones where the boys one-upped James Finlayson or Billy Gilbert, Three Billboards raises the stakes as it goes. Dixon tosses the young, impressionable billboard advertising manager (Caleb Landry Jones) out a second-story window. Mildred torches the police station. Peter Dinklage plays an Ebbing outsider sweet on Mildred; rather too neatly, McDonagh establishes the narrative as the marginalized, the people of color and the woman of rage against the emblems of the white male patriarchy, Dogpatch division.

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For a while its engaging but pretty thin. Then it gets more interesting, especially for the actors. McDonagh reveals the Harrelson and Rockwell characters to be more complicated than expected, and the exceptional ensemble works wonders to flesh out the people doing the avenging, so that its not just plot machinery and stick figures.

Shooting in western North Carolina (doubling for Missouri), McDonagh creates a vision of small-town Southern America thats half mythology, half reality. McDonagh came to fame by way of the theater; the first play of his to reach America, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, was extremely high-grade pulp. On Broadway it had people screaming as well as laughing at its depiction of terrible human behavior, usually among family members, in remote, forbidding Connemara, Ireland.

In Three Billboards were not far spiritually from the lawless vigilante Wild West McDonagh drew upon for his Irish plays. In an interview at the Venice Film Festival this year, McDormand said her chief inspiration for Mildred was John Wayne. McDormand excels, even if her characters steely resolve threatens to become a cliche. Its Rockwell who gets the plum here. Dixons a mamas boy with a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. By the end of Three Billboards, without giving too much away, McDormand and Rockwell are on the verge of an all-American sequel to McDonaghs droll first feature, In Bruges, the one about the hit men hiding out in Belgium.

Will McDonagh ever leave the adolescent jokers streak behind him? In McDonaghs 7 Psychopaths, the protagonist is a thinly disguised self-portrait. From the 2012 Tribune review: The 7 Psychopaths screenwriter character yearns to write something meaningful and humane. Yet he can't help it: His impulses run the other direction. With McDonagh, maybe they always will. But in his fictional town of Ebbing, at least, he finds himself at an intriguing crossroads.

Michael Phillips is the Chicago Tribunes film critic.

[ RELATED: Frances McDormand channels her inner John Wayne for 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' ]

[ 'Three Billboards' wins coveted audience award at Toronto ]

[ From 2012: Michael Phillips interviews Martin McDonagh ]
Over the years, especially Stateside, Oscar Wildes fin de siecle satire The Importance of Being Earnest has been turned into more of a hootenanny, replete with Lady Bracknell played in drag, campery of all sorts, and enough nods, winks and character ticks that those radical Wildeian aphorisms barely have the air to breathe.

This is not such a production.

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Writers artistic director Michael Halberstams seasonal Glencoe staging of one of the most daring and socially significant comedies ever penned in the English language, the greatest-ever takedown of Victorian priggishness and hypocrisy, is respectful, cautious and dignified, perhaps to a quite lovely fault.

Mercifully, Ross Lehman, who plays two of the funniest butlers ever conceived for the theater, apparently did not get that memo.

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One stupendously sardonic and the other seemingly sozzled, Lehmans Lane and Merriman provide an anarchic spirit of which, frankly, this entire production could use a dose, in the service of laughs and, given that we are watching Wilde, the satirizing of the self-important.

For while The Importance of Being Earnest might look like an elitist comedy of manners, it is a play that oozes subtext and that mocked the original audience by revealing all that they would have held dear (class, parentage, social standing, the privilege of the patriarchy) to be malleable, purloined and, in the final analysis, arbitrary.

The young women known as Gwendolen Fairfax (Jennifer Latimore) and Cecily Cardew (Rebecca Hurd) run this play; the men, Algernon Moncrieff (Steve Haggard) and John Worthing (Alex Goodrich), are charming but mostly pathetic. And, of course, Lady Bracknell (Shannon Cochran) is a persona with a power and wit to rival Elizabeth I, who was probably the woman who most readily entered the heads of those nervous, dinner-jacketed, 1890s British males who wanted to embrace the gay new thing but doubtless suspected subversion of a kind they could not yet fully understand.

Theres that. But there is also your need to enjoy a classy Christmas outing with the family, and rest assured that this production will serve you well in that regard. The design elements  especially the witty way in which Mara Blumenfelds black, white and one other color costumes are coordinated with Collette Pollards various toned settings  are an enormous pleasure to behold. And with its two intermissions and swift pacing between them, the night has a decidedly social air as you watch the likes of Miss Prism (Anita Chandwaney) and the Rev. Canon Chasuble (Aaron Todd Douglas) scooting around.

(For the record: This show opened amid an ongoing, yet-unresolved internal investigation into a former dramaturgs claim on Twitter that Halberstam behaved inappropriately in a Writers Theatre rehearsal room some 13 years ago).

Youll have seen funnier Lady Bs than Cochrans, but thats partly a tribute to her determination to build a character who might actually exist. Its quite the naturalistic portrait, and you could argue that Wildes lines are better served by such, even if I think it could use a little judicious comic license here and there. My other complaint about the performance Tuesday night was that some of the cast has a way of swallowing the internal words of Wildes one-liners  there arent so much punchlines here as lines that are funny in totem, and unless you spit out every last syllable, they dont all land.

Thats a problem in Act 1 with Haggard and Goodrich, although it gets infinitely better as it goes, and both men then find their way into the world of Wildeian amusement, led by a director clearly determined to let the author still be the star and by the young women playing ancestors who already knew how to deal with a man-child. Times two.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

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cjones5@chicagotribune.com

The Importance of Being Earnest (3 stars)

When: Through Dec. 23

Where: Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe

Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes

Tickets: $38-$80 at 847-242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org

Enjoy someone else's drama A great theater city deserves a great theater critic. Enter Chris Jones. Subscribe now and get 4 weeks of full access for only 99.

[ From 2016: True story of Oscar Wilde searches for new meaning ]

[ 'Hamilton' writer plans a new Chicago theater project ]

[ Writers Theatre investigating sexual harassment claim against Michael Halberstam ]
Your grandma hosted Tupperware parties. Your mom attended Mary Kay soirees.

Now, you might be sipping cocktails at an egg-freezing fete.

Judging from a recent event at a swanky Beverly Hills hotel, female fertility could be the next big thing in direct marketing.

About 20 women and a few men gathered recently in the presidential suite of the Viceroy L'Ermitage in this famously upscale city to chat, drink wine and eat hors d'oeuvres while hearing about the possibility of freezing their eggs for future conception.

Some of the women said they hadn't found the perfect partner and wanted to keep their fertility options open. Others said they were focused on their careers now and didn't want to compromise their chances of having a family later.

All were willing to put aside their inhibitions for one evening to learn about an intensely private subject in an unusual setting: a cocktail party.

Frances Hagan, 35, had heard about the "egg social" from a friend and was eager to find out how egg freezing worked. Hagan, a lawyer, said she is single and still hopes to find someone with whom she can have children the old-fashioned way. But she said it doesn't hurt to consider freezing her eggs as a backup.

"I'd like to wait and just see what happens," Hagan said. "But if I wait too long, maybe it won't happen. I'm trying to be proactive."

It is probably no coincidence that the event was held in a place like Beverly Hills, given the considerable expense of freezing eggs and of using them later.

Egg freezing costs between $10,000 and $15,000 for the procedure and the medications. Thawing the eggs and fertilizing and transferring an embryo could cost thousands more later on. A few Silicon Valley employers, including Facebook and Apple, cover egg freezing for their workers, but most employers and insurers do not.

In the past, egg freezing was primarily for women who risked infertility because of cancer treatments. But in recent years, more women have been choosing to freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons such as not being ready to have a baby.

As the practice becomes more widespread, so do events designed to raise awareness of it and recruit patients for clinics that perform the procedure. In recent years, cities such as Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco have been the venues of egg-freezing parties.

At the Beverly Hills hotel, physicians from the Southern California Reproductive Center, the fertility clinic that sponsored the event, projected slides on a wall and explained the history and science of egg freezing. They told the guests that it was an insurance policy for women who want children in the future.

Here are some statistics on fertility rates in the United States. (July 17, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR) Here are some statistics on fertility rates in the United States. (July 17, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR) SEE MORE VIDEOS

"It's the smartest thing any woman can do if they are not in a serious relationship that is leading to children," said Shahin Ghadir, a fertility specialist at the practice.

Ghadir said hosting women in a casual environment makes the idea less intimidating and stigmatizing. "It lets people know it's not a medical issue it's a social issue," he said.

Besides, Ghadir said, "with a glass of wine, everything sounds better."

The first baby created from a frozen egg was born about 30 years ago, but it wasn't until 2012 that the American Society for Reproductive Medicine declared that egg freezing should no longer be considered experimental. That opened the door for more women to freeze their eggs, said Evelyn Mok-Lin, medical director of the UC-San Francisco Center for Reproductive Health.

UC-San Francisco started offering "elective" egg freezing soon afterward, and the number of women opting to freeze their eggs has since risen sharply, Mok-Lin said.

More than 6,200 women in the U.S. froze their eggs in 2015, up from 475 in 2009, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. And 155 births resulted from the fertilization of women's frozen eggs in 2014, up from 28 in 2009.

Egg freezing gives women control over their reproductive health and fertility, and the medical risks are very low, said Mok-Lin. But given the high cost, not everyone can afford egg freezing, and it doesn't always work. "It is a luxury for many people and without any guarantee in the end that the investment will pay off," she said.

The process involves stimulating the ovaries, extracting the eggs and flash-freezing them.

Necka Taylor, a nurse who attended the Beverly Hills soiree, said her first cycle of in vitro fertilization was unsuccessful, but she's hoping to try again. Taylor, 32, said she has several friends who have had babies, and she knows she wants children herself.

"I just don't know when it's going to happen," she said. "I knew I needed to take steps to have a healthy baby."

Her friend Dominika Martinez, 35, said she had considered egg freezing in the past but it wasn't until she got married last year that she decided to freeze embryos with her husband.

"I am still not where I want to be in my career," said Martinez, a social media marketer. "I feel like I need a little more time."

Martinez said that when she and her husband are ready, they will try to conceive naturally. But if it doesn't work, she said, "we have a backup plan."

Ghadir, of the Southern California Reproductive Center, told the group that he had children and had not anticipated the expense, time and energy of parenting. Freezing eggs can help women have children on their own timeline, he said.

"If I was doing this at the wrong time in my life, it would have been a disaster," he said. "Doing things at the right time, when you know you are ready ... is one of the most important reasons to freeze your eggs."

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

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Four-year-old Colette Briggs bound into the dining room where her parents sat in the midst of another distressing conversation. Oblivious to their anxiety, she cheerily asked her mom to retie one of the loose pigtails atop her head.

Ever since her brown locks regrew long enough for a ponytail, hair has been a big deal around here, her father, Christopher Briggs, said as Colette skipped off to rejoin her older sisters.

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To watch the bubbly preschooler play, a perma-smile on her cherub face, no one would know she was sick. But for half of her young life, since the day a Lyme disease scare uncovered aggressive leukemia, she has been in and out of chemotherapy treatments.

Now, as the youngest of the Briggs's nine children battles cancer, her parents, Christopher and Michelle, are in a desperate fight of their own.

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The health insurance plans available to them on the individual marketplace do not cover Inova Fairfax Hospital where Colette receives spinal tap chemo and emergency care. For years, the Loudoun County family purchased insurance from Anthem, but this year the carrier decided to stop selling in Virginia. Under pressure from the state, it returned to some counties and cities that otherwise wouldn't have had any options.

The Briggs's Zip code was not among those.

The only insurance option for Christopher Briggs, who is a self-employed communications consultant for nonprofits, is Cigna. But Cigna does not cover Fairfax Hospital, the only local hospital with a dedicated pediatric cancer unit and where Colette has been a patient for more than two years.

"We have spent the last two months on the ceiling trying to figure out where the insurance is going to come from," Briggs said one recent afternoon. "And I have to solve this problem for myself."

He paid Anthem $1,000 a month after the subsidies he got because of his large family, he said.

The family's distress is an extreme example of the pressures facing health care consumers this year. The White House has threatened the Affordable Care Act's demise, changed rules and shortened the window to shop for insurance to Dec. 15. In responses, carriers have raised premiums and exited the individual marketplace in areas that might not be profitable.

The exodus has left consumers around the country who don't get their insurance through an employer with fewer health care choices, and in cases like the Briggs', without access to the care they'd come to rely on for chronic conditions.

In 2014, the first year the ACA marketplaces were open, there was an average of five insurers to choose from in each state, according to Kaiser Family Foundation data. In 2018, it will be three and a half. Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at Kaiser, called it a "sleeper issue."

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"I'm not shocked to hear it," she said of the Virginia family's predicament. "From the beginning, the first year Obamacare opened, there was a healthy mix (of plans) and that started to constrict quickly. I always worried that this was happening."

The ACA included a guarantee to consumers of "network adequacy standards" intended to ensure every marketplace had sufficient "number and types of providers." But those standards have never been defined or enforced, Pollitz said. There are no specific measures - such as how long or how far it takes to get to providers or what percentage of in-network a carrier has to have. "What we're left with is just words," about adequacy, Pollitz said.

Ken Schrad, spokesman for the Virginia state insurance commission, said the state "has been fortunate to have sufficient number of carriers on the federal exchange." But he said it has been clear the entire year that the uncertainty out of Washington would have negative effects on the marketplace individuals use to shop for coverage.

Still, some consumers received welcome news this week when Cigna announced on Nov. 15 that it had reached an agreement with Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center to bring the Richmond-based hospital system in-network.

For Cindy Jones, the announcement ended months of stress.

When Anthem did not re-enter the market in Henrico County, a suburb of Richmond, where Jones lives, she found herself in the same predicament as the Briggs family.

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Her adult son, Daniel Bowling, was diagnosed two years ago with leukemia. He had been living and working in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but at 27 years old moved home so his mother could care for him and he could receive cancer treatments at VCU. Too old to go on his mother's employer plan, he bought highly subsidized Anthem insurance - for roughly $30 a month, his mother said - on the individual marketplace.

Jones is Virginia's director for Medicaid, the state-federal partnership providing health care coverage to low income and disabled residents. But even with her deep connections, she was helpless when her son's only option for insurance didn't cover VCU. She even considered quitting her job and moving with her son to North Carolina so he could receive care at Duke University Hospital.







The experience has made her a better Medicaid director, she said, because she is more empathetic when people call in angst about their coverage.

"The navigation of the health care system is almost as bad as the disease," she said. "We talk about the number of people who might have lost their care, but behind each of those numbers is a family under severe distress wondering how we're going to handle this next. It doesn't matter who you are, when you have a sick child it's devastating."

Briggs has spoken at length with representatives at Cigna who he said were sympathetic, but offered little guidance. In an emailed statement to The Washington Post, Cigna wrote that it does review "highly-specialized cases" and works with members if there's a good reason they cannot "immediately transition to another in-network health care professional."

But until Cigna makes a similar arrangement with Inova or grants Briggs a special exception, Christopher Briggs is on his own, desperately searching for a solution.

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He has called the state insurance commission and his federal representatives. The office of Barbara Comstock, a Republican representative, sent him a form to fill out before anyone would hear his issue, he said. A constituent services representative in Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner's office was kind, Briggs said, but couldn't offer a solution.

Warner spokesman, Kevin Hall, said the senator's office reached out to Cigna earlier this month and received assurance that it would try to work with the Briggs family.

"It's heartbreaking that it's families like the Briggs bearing the brunt of the confusion and expense," of attempts to repeal ACA, Hall said. "We do what we can, we try to ring the bells at a higher level than individuals can reach on their own."

At his most desperate, Briggs considered selling his home and moving the family to another county in Virginia that offers Anthem coverage or to another state, like Pennsylvania or Texas, where there are top-tier children's hospitals.

Some health care experts suggested he rent or buy a small apartment in another county and list it as his primary residence. But he has no interest in committing insurance fraud, he said.

Even if he could move his 11-person family to another Zip code, which he'd have to do before open enrollment closes in mid-December, it would feel like a tenuous fix because there is no guarantee the plan he would get would be there next year.

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He also considered resurrecting an academic research nonprofit he established in 2005, but never got off the ground then, and hiring a few employees so he could be eligible for group insurance. But raising seed capital to get the organization going has proven impossible in such a short window of time.

His final Hail-Mary pass is to give up his solo business and go back to working for someone else. He is in talks with a former client to hire him so he can buy employer-based insurance. The premiums under the coverage from his former client would be as much as $3,000 a month, he said, triple what he had paid Anthem.

It means giving up his independence, yes, but the only thing that matters now he says is Colette.

"If we lose her."chelle Briggs began to say, her voice catching and trailing off. "I'll be happy we had even five minutes," Christopher Briggs said tearfully.

They joined Colette and her two sisters in the playroom where the girls were hosting a tea party. Colette pulled cutout photos of Disney characters from her Make-A-Wish box. She wants to sleep in Cinderella's castle and eat Mickey-shaped waffles. But only if her siblings can come, too.

Christopher Briggs stood in the doorway and quietly watched his little girl play, so full of life.

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Then Colette asked her mom to retie her pigtails, again.
On Nov. 24, the Main Street historic district of St. Charles will unveil the yuletide extravaganza for the 43 rd year in a row. (Discover St. Charles, Mo.)

ST. CHARLES, Mo.  Jean Baptiste Point DuSable must have seen exceptional potential when he settled in this Missouri river town in the early 19th century.

After building the first settlement and trading post along the Chicago River about 20 years earlier, Chicagos founding father pulled up stakes and relocated to this town where Lewis and Clark launched their historic expedition.

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DuSable wouldnt recognize St. Charles today, and as someone who lived there in the 1970s, neither did I when I recently returned for a visit. In the 70s, the citys most recognizable landmark was Noahs Ark, a restaurant at the Interstate 70 exit whose facade was an eye-popping replica of the biblical ship. Giant animals stood on the roof, and a hippo statue at the entrance greeted patrons with a growl and a spray of water from its mouth.

Since then, this city just west of St. Louis has traded kitschy attractions for a celebration of its rich culture and history. St. Charles charms are easily accessible year-round, but the best way to experience its complex character is through one of the many festivals that reflect the areas French, Spanish and German roots.

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One of the longest-running and best-attended annual events is the monthlong Christmas Traditions festival. On Nov. 24, the Main Street historic district will unveil the yuletide extravaganza for the 43rd year in a row, as Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by horse-drawn carriage at the Katy Depot in Frontier Park.

Christmas Traditions is not just a fancy title; its a way to examine the ways holidays are celebrated around the world, said Ryan Cooper, whos portrayed Jack Frost in the festival since 2006. And people can experience it without spending a single penny.

Cooper said the festival started as a showcase of Santas from across the globe.

In the 1970s, it was very small scale, he said. Even when I first started, wed see only a couple of dozen people sitting there to watch the parades.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Characters stroll down the street during the St. Charles Santa Parade, which takes place at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays during Christmas Traditions. (Discover St. Charles, Mo.)

Today, the streets are filled with people who line up to watch more than three dozen international Santas lead parades that step off at 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday during the festivals run, through Dec. 24.

Other attractions include decorations, food, music and a long list of family-friendly activities. Storytellers, chestnut roasters, reindeer and Victorian carolers add to the atmosphere, along with a cast of 85 actors portraying historical and literary Christmas figures. Their job is to engage the crowd as they hand out cards describing their characters histories.

Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. opening day (Nov. 24) and Saturdays, 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve.

If you come on a Saturday, you can experience the parade in the afternoon, roam around and meet the characters, Cooper said. If you stick around at night, you can do some late-night shopping, sip hot chocolate and see the lights in the trees, on the buildings and in the greenery. Its like stepping into yesteryear, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

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At 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2, theres a re-enactment of Mary and Josephs journey to Bethlehem called Las Posadas. Visitors can hold candles and walk behind the couple as they make their way down Main Street to a nativity scene by the river for caroling.

While festivals like Christmas Traditions add spice to the St. Charles scene, people will find a wealth of offerings that reflect the citys cultural history any time of year.

Main Street

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Main Streets 10, brick-paved blocks are populated with restaurants, a winery, artisan shops, museums and even a tech incubator. The First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site includes a faithfully restored home and the legislative chambers that housed the state government for five years after Missouri became a state in 1821.

Another stop with a story is the Mother-in-Law House, a restaurant full of period furnishings. The building got its name because a local miller who built the home in 1866 added a wall down the center to divide it in half because his mother-in-law had moved in.

At dinner, try a wine slushy or float at Little Hills Winery, or sample a glass of house-bottled Missouri wine with a double mushroom and Swiss burger. After dinner, linger over an espresso and mellow, live music at Picassos Coffee.

In the morning, savor a freshly made breakfast wrap at the Bike Stop Cafe, and watch the river roll next to Frontier Park, a ribbon of green space tucked between the mighty Missouri and Katy Trail State Park. Its home to running and bike paths, a band shell, a veterans memorial and the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum.

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St. Charles is a paradise for people who like to sleep in historic places. To be in the heart of everything, check out Boones Colonial Inn (rates $185 to $350).

Off Main

The St. Charles Trolley lets visitors ditch their cars to see the city's highlights. The free, disability-accessible service runs continuous, 30-minute loops with nine stops March 15 to Dec. 31, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Youll hear historical tidbits while you ride the trolley, and you can hop off to access the architecture and restaurants in Frenchtown, the Ameristar casino resort and spa, and the Streets of St. Charles, a lively new neighborhood packed with stores, residences and two of the best restaurants in town. One, Prasino, would be at home anywhere with its innovative, farm-to-fork cuisine and intriguing wine list. Just down the street, Tucanos Brazilian Grill is a meat lovers dream, even if it is a chain.

Farther afield, Lindenwood University has grown way beyond its original campus, which has been in St. Charles for 190 years. The school has grown into a vibrant collegiate enclave that connects old and new and sprawls for blocks.

Save a quiet moment to visit the shrine of St. Charles very own saint, Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne, a French nun credited with building the first free school west of the Mississippi in 1818. She was canonized in 1988, and her school, Academy of the Sacred Heart, is still flourishing. Both the shrine and historic sections of the school are open to visitors.

Finally, pay a visit to the tiny St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery flanked by Blanchette Park and large tracts of new subdivisions off Randolph Street. There you will find two simple, engraved stone markers side by side under a huge tree. One is dedicated to DuSable, Chicagos founder, and the other to Louis Blanchette, founder of St. Charles. Both pioneers lived and died in St. Charles, and their remains are thought to be buried here, a place where the past and present are neighbors.

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Karen Torme Olson is a freelance writer.

[ Related: From Shawshank to Al Capone's cell, historic prisons captivate tourists ]

[ New trains to shave hour off Amtrak's Chicago-to-St. Louis trip: state ]

[ Missouri's Katy Trail a bicycling dream, especially in fall ]
Jeff Sessions said something that wasn't true, but he says it wasn't a lie, writes Tribune columnist Dahleen Glanton. (Carolyn Kaster / AP)

Attorney General Jeff Sessions clearly said something that wasnt true when he testified before Congress earlier this year that he was unaware of any relationship between the Trump campaign and Russia.

But he insists it was not a lie.

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Sessions claims he simply forgot about that roundtable during which campaign aide George Papadopoulos suggested setting up a meeting between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Youre accusing me of lying about that? Sessions asked when confronted by members of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. I would say thats not fair, colleagues.

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I dont think it is right to accuse me of doing something wrong, he continued.

That raises an excellent question. When is a lie not actually a lie?

Some psychologists argue that anyone, given enough pressure or incentive, is capable of lying. I am certainly no exception. Neither was my now-deceased bichon frise, Chatham.

Allow me to digress for a moment.

Pressured last summer to get my 7-year-old nephew who loves broccoli to try his Brussels sprouts, I told him it was broccolette.

After posting it on Facebook, I was struck by the range of responses. Some thought it was brilliant. But there were others who said it was shameful that I would lie to a child.

Ive been on the receiving end too. I was sitting on the couch eating dinner one evening when Chatham went to the back door and barked, indicating that he needed to go outside. When I got up and placed my food on the coffee table, he ran back and gobbled it up.

Neither of us was honest in those two incidents. But I dont know if Id call our actions bald-faced lies.

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So it is through this lens that I will examine Sessions forgetfulness rationale.

It wasnt until Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, Sessions said, that he recalled actually having been in on discussions about Russia while serving as Trumps foreign policy adviser.

Apparently, a lie revealed another lie. Thats not at all uncommon. But lets not digress again.

Most might agree that white lies, for the most part, are acceptable. They arent meant to deceive. They are harmless little false statements that actually are meant to protect anothers feelings.

Say, for instance, Sessions curled up his mouth like a turtle and said, I love the way Kate McKinnon mocks me on Saturday Night Live.  We wouldnt believe him, but it might bring a chuckle.

Were also pretty forgiving if someone lies to protect everyones best interest. Suppose Sessions were to come up with a brilliant lie to convince Trump that he had been banned from Twitter for life, thus he no longer needs a cellphone for tweeting. We might consider that a public service.

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What we cant tolerate are lies that only benefit the liar.

Most people also are less forgiving of lies stemming from self-deception. Thats like when a U.S. president convinces himself that every negative story about him is fake news and goes on a mission to discredit the media.

We also have little tolerance for lies of omission. We dont like it, for example, when Congress tries to sneak an Obamacare repeal into a tax bill while pretending the bill is helping the middle class.

Unfortunately for Sessions, forgetting the truth falls right up there with the lies we detest.

According to Sessions, it was the chaos of the Trump campaign from Day One that caused him to forget about those Russia talks. How could he be expected to remember details when he was traveling all the time and sleep was in short supply?

Im glad he raised that point. Must we assume that he also cannot be trusted to tell the truth while serving in the chaotic role of U.S. attorney general?

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Perhaps we could buy Sessions excuse had he forgotten a few other details of the meeting as well. Though he said he has no clear recollection what Papadopoulos actually said, Sessions had no problem recalling his own response.

I pushed back against his suggestion, Sessions insisted.

Selective memory is so convenient. I dont suppose it would be of any benefit to Sessions to recall what he once said about perjury when he was a U.S. senator.

Heres a little reminder.

In America, the Supreme Court and the American people believe no one is above the law, Sessions said in an interview prior to Bill Clintons 1999 impeachment trial.

Then, he voted Clinton guilty on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

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The only reason Sessions statement wouldnt still hold true today is if it were a lie 18 years ago.

dglanton@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @dahleeng

RELATED:

[ Analysis: 4 key takeaways from Jeff Sessions' memory-lapse-filled congressional hearing ]

[ Sessions denies lying on Russia, blames 'chaos' of campaign for hazy memory ]

[ Editorial: Trump the impetuous gets a civics lesson from Justice ]
If youre one of the many people who cant stand the James R. Thompson Center and supports Gov. Bruce Rauners shortsighted plan to sell it to a developer who will tear it down, I have a recommendation for you: Watch a 16-minute documentary that makes a strong case for saving this imperfect but inspired work of postmodern architecture.

The documentary, Starship Chicago, comes from Nathan Eddy, a 33-year-old American filmmaker who lives in Berlin and loves postmodernism, a style that revolted against the puritanical austerity of orthodox modernism with bright colors, bold decoration, ironic allusions to architectural history and visual references to a buildings surroundings.

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The film serves up recollections and commentary from a cast of talking heads, including the centers architect, Helmut Jahn, and Big Jim Thompson, the former Illinois governor who was Jahns patron. I happen to be one of talking heads, as is architect Stanley Tigerman, but thats immaterial. The real star is Eddys camera and the way he uses it to illustrate the essential role the center plays in the life of downtown Chicago.

We first see the 17-story center from the perspective of a helicopter, a flattering angle that emphasizes its boldly curving, though not unprecedented, geometry. (The curving 333 W. Wacker Drive opened in 1983, two years before the Thompson Center.)

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We see people coursing through its soaring atrium. Glass-walled elevators animate the big, exhilarating space. Passing elevated trains are reflected in the centers controversial skin of salmon and robins egg blue, which was supposed to evoke the red, white and blue of the American flag but wound up looking tawdry next to the built-for-the-ages, beaux-arts grandeur of City Hall.

The film bids us to look beyond that cosmetic flaw and to see Jahns dramatic synthesis of space, structure and civic symbolism for what he intended it to be  and what it has since become: a vital civic space, as grand in its own way as the Great Hall of Union Station, and certainly better used.

Its not a waste of space. Its a celebration of space, says Thompson after asking  rhetorically  if critics would have preferred that he fill the atrium with offices for bureaucrats.

Eddy effectively juxtaposes images of the atrium with shots of other great interiors, like the Capitol dome in Springfield and the Chicago Cultural Centers Tiffany dome. His camera moves slowly and revealingly across the facades of other once-threatened buildings, like the old Reliance Building (now a hotel), that developers have given new life.

To be sure, the films treats the center a little too lovingly. We dont hear the noise or smell the odors that filter up from the centers pedway-level food court into state offices above. Nor do we hear from state office workers who complain bitterly about such faults. Yet even if the film fails to mention them, those problems can be fixed, and the embattled center could thrive, just as the old Reliance Building does.

In reality, though, bad things often happen to good buildings, especially when they occupy that vulnerable stage when theyre too old to be new and too new to be old. The Thompson Center, now 32, is caught in this trap, its plight accentuated by the failure of financially ailing Illinois to clean or maintain it. The film shows us the results: Along the street, rusted-out metal columns; inside, ripped-up carpet thats been taped together. But those problems can be laid at the foot of the state, not the architect.

We also get the centers aspirational yet star-crossed back story. Seeking to centralize scattered state offices in Chicago, Thompson made no little plans for a building that would befit the seat of state government in Chicago. He selected Jahns design over a more conventional one that he likened to a shoe box.

When the center opened as the State of Illinois Building (it was renamed for Thompson in 1993), temperatures spiked within its sun-drenched offices. Until the original air-conditioning system was fixed, some state workers cooled themselves off (and avoided glare) with beach umbrellas. Even Thompson admits hes had second thoughts about the exteriors unconventional color palette.

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Yet as the former governor astutely points out, selling the building to a developer might bring a quick infusion of cash  he says $100 million, though Rauner has estimated $300 million, but thats small stuff for a state thats billions of dollars in debt. Rauner, on the other hand, has argued that the building should be sold off and demolished because, he insists, its repair costs now exceed $325 million.

In the end, as Jahn observes, the issue comes down to whether the city and the state have the vision and the will to repurpose a building that is among the major legacies of postmodernism in Chicago. Showing the way, hes crafted a plan that would save the centers atrium and construct a supertall hotel and residential skyscraper alongside it.

The centers future remains undecided despite the collapse last June of a deal between Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel that would have allowed Illinois to sell the building. Currently, Chicago and Illinois are pitching its redevelopment (which presumably means its demolition) to Amazon as the e-commerce giant entertains myriad bids for its second headquarters.

How big a void would the centers demolition leave? A huge one.

In the film, Chicagos official cultural historian, Tim Samuelson, recalls how preservationists fought off a move in the 1970s to tear down the beaux-arts Chicago Public Library, a building of sumptuous materials and ornament. It later became the Chicago Cultural Center and a key anchor of the citys Michigan Avenue cultural district.

Now people come here to see the building, he says. When the visitors hear the story of the attempt to demolish the Cultural Center, Samuelson adds, theyre shocked, asking: What? Really? How was that possible?

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One day, lets hope, Samuelsons successor might tell the same story about a revitalized Thompson Center.

You can watch Starship Chicago at vimeo.com/241413433.

Blair Kamin is a Tribune critic.

bkamin@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @BlairKamin

RELATED

[ Why Emanuel-Rauner talks on Thompson Center fell apart ]

[ Plan calls for replacing Thompson Center with new tower that would be tallest in Chicago ]

[ Thompson Center among Illinois' most endangered places, advocacy group says ]
After posting solid gains in enrollment this fall, two University of Illinois leaders are set to receive performance bonuses for the second straight year.

University of Illinois board members unanimously approved a $100,000 bonus for system President Timothy Killeen and a $75,000 bonus for UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis at its Thursday meeting.

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The added perks are for job performance during the 2016-17 school year. Killeen and Amiridis received identical bonuses for their work during the 2015-16 school year.

Both sums constitute the maximum amount allowed under their contracts and are separate from their base salaries. Killeens salary is $600,000 while Amiridis is paid $400,000. Both will receive their bonuses within 90 days.

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Amiridis no longer is eligible for any performance bonuses, according to board documents.

The bonuses come after the University of Illinois system, and UIC in particular, defied broad declines in enrollment this fall among other public universities in the state.

Board members reviewed 11 categories in assessing Killeens work over the past year, including student recruitment and retention, increasing diversity and opportunities for minority vendors, and forging partnerships with state business leaders, according to a summary of the evaluation. Overall, the system boosted enrollment by 2.9 percent.

The board specifically praised Killeens work in advocating for the university in state and national government. Killeen joined several other state university presidents in testifying before legislative committees and sending letters to Springfield to demand an end to the budget impasse that cut off critical funding for the schools.

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Trustees also praised Killeen for spearheading a legislative proposal that would tie state funding for the university to certain performance metrics, though that bill never was called for a vote. Trustees also said progress is needed in regard to campus climate on issues of diversity and inclusiveness. They are pleased to see this is outlined as a top priority.

Killeen evaluated Amiridis work in eight categories, including increasing student enrollment and boosting UICs visibility.

UIC logged the highest enrollment jump of any state university this fall, including a 23 percent increase in new freshmen. UICs overall student population topped 30,000 for the first time in school history.

Your hard work, your close respectful connections with your core campus and local communities, your analytical insight and experience, and your responsiveness to urgent calls on your time and expertise have all been important elements of the progress we have made this year, and you have certainly helped me in my role as president, Killeen wrote in his memo to Amiridis.

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Also Thursday, the board approved a $6.53 billion budget for 2017-18, a 1.4 percent increase from last years spending plan. That breaks out to about $3.2 billion in spending for Chicago, $2.9 billion for Urbana-Champaign and $137 million for Springfield. The remaining spending comes from the system administrative offices and programs.

drhodes@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @rhodes_dawn

[ RELATED: New U. of I. president optimistic about building team to tackle challenges ]

[ New U. of I. President Timothy Killeen to shift money to student services ]
A sruveillance photo of a man who robbed a TCF Bank branch in West Dundee on Nov. 7. 2017. (Surveillance photo via the FBI)

When a relative of a man confronted him about robbing a suburban bank this month, he admitted he was back on drugs--and robbing banks again, according to court documents.

Tony J. Hildebrand appeared in the Federal Court on Thursday and ordered held on charges of robbing TCF Bank branches in Schaumburg and West Dundee, officials said. He's suspected in a third Tuesday in Lisle.

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Hildebrand, 41, had already served time in prison after pleading guilty to robbing the same bank in Schaumburg, as well as another TCF Bank branch the same year in Hoffman Estates, in 2010, the FBI said.

On Nov. 6, Hildebrand was captured on video surveillance shortly before 7 p.m. approaching a teller at a branch located inside a Jewel-Osco at 2501 W. Schaumburg Road, according to court documents.

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A demand note he handed over said, " No alarm I'm listing (sic) to scanner 100s + 50s, now quietly," said court documents.

The teller then gave Hildebrand seven $100 bills, and he took the money and fled.

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A relative who saw a photo from the robbery in West Dundee, called Hildebrand Nov. 8 and confronted him. That witness said he admitted to using drugs again and said he would turn himself in. He also said he had been on drugs and did not know what he had done in the past few days, according to court documents.

Hildebrand allegedly made off with almost $2,300 in the West Dundee robbery on Nov. 7.

The FBI later sent out footage of the Schaumburg robber to several media outlets. Soon, a relative of Hildebrand contacted officials about the Schaumburg bank robbery and said they confronted him. That witness said he did not deny the robbery and at one point said he was sorry, according to court documents.

An officer who said they had known Hildebrand for years identified him after he saw a photo from surveillance on a police bulletin. Another witness who had known him three years also identified him, with many others to follow including someone he went to high school with who saw his recent pictures on Facebook, court documents said.

The man who robbed the Schaumburg and West Dundee banks also was suspected of robbing a third about 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, the TCF Bank 1156 Maple Ave. in Lisle, according to the FBI. Hildebrand is not charged in that robbery, but he is suspected in that robbery also, according to authorities.

Hildebrand was arrested Wednesday night at a commercial establishment in Elgin, according to authorities.

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A $1,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the robberies.
Two boys, 15 and 16, were killed and a girl, 14, was wounded when a robber opened fired inside a West Side home in the Austin neighborhood Thursday evening, according to Chicago police.



The apparent home invasion occurred around 5:45 p.m. inside a yellow brick courtyard building in the 5600 block of West Washington Boulevard, police said. The robber demanded their property and then began firing.



Charlie Lawrence, 15, was shot in the back and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He lived in the 11300 block of South Indiana Avenue in the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.



Tyree Wise, 16, was shot in the head and also pronounced dead at the scene. He lived closer by, in the 800 block of North Central Avenue in the South Austin neighborhood, according to the medical examiner's office. Both teens were pronounced dead at 5:59 p.m.



The 14-year-old girl suffered wounds to the lower right leg. She got to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, police said.



Earlier Thursday afternoon, shots were fired in the northbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway. A man died and two women and a child suffered injuries in the crash that followed the shooting. The man was identified as Dashon Campbell, 22, of the 4400 block of South Shields Avenue in the Fuller Park neighborhood on the South Side, according to the medical examiner's office.



Other shootings



 Shortly after 3:45 p.m., two people knocked on a door of a South Side home in the 2700 block of East 78th Street in the South Shore neighborhood. They then kicked in the door and a fight ensued with someone inside, police said. During the struggle, a 49-year-old man was shot in the left thigh. He was taken in serious condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, police said. No one was in custody, police said.



 Around 10:50 a.m., a 25-year-old man walked into Stroger Hospital after being shot in the Near West Side neighborhood, police said. According to police, the man reported he was shot in the 2300 block of West Jackson Boulevard. The man told police he was involved in a drug deal when someone in a green vehicle drove by and fired shots. He suffered a wound to the leg and went in a private vehicle to Stroger Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition, police said.
Security footage of the woman suspected of robbing a Chase Bank in Lakeview the morning of Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, according to the FBI. (Surveillance photo via the FBI)

A pink floral nightgown and black lipstick didn't help a bank teller who was immediately recognized by former colleagues when she held up her former workplace, stealing $126,000, according to court documents.

Latasha Gamble, 24, is accused of robbing the Chase Bank branch at gunpoint Nov. 9. On Tuesday, a judge ordered Gamble detained, according to the court records.

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Gamble, who is charged with bank robbery, was taken into custody a few hours after the heist at another branch of the same bank when she reported for work as a teller, according to court records.

Gamble entered the bank at 3956 N. Sheridan Road about 9:30 a.m. and sat in a waiting area "fidgeting'' with dog biscuits they give to customers' pets, according to the complaint against her. A staffer spotted her and noticed something felt "off,'' according to the criminal complaint filed Monday.

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She then walked to a teller window and told a teller she needed to show them some documents, but pulled a thin-barreled, black semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at a banker.

"Let's go to the vault,'' she said, according to the complaint.

Gamble shoved the banker into the back and demanded they open the vault, the complaint said.

When the banker told her that would require "dual control,'' Gamble grabbed a teller by the hair and pulled the teller toward the vault and demanded they enter their access codes, the complaint said.

"If you look at me, I will shoot,'' she said to them, according to the complaint.

After the robber fled with more than $126,000, the bank staffers told authorities they were "70 percent sure'' the robber was their former co-worker.

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Staffers later identified her by her voice, lips, height and weight. Staffers told officials the robber was wearing a dark colored knit hat, a dark curly wig, black lipstick, black winter glove, a puffy winter coat and a pink nightgown with a floral pattern and white shoes, the complaint said.

"Plaintiff wore a disguise, though the bank employees recognized her" as someone they used to work with, according to the complaint.

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After initially claiming she was with a relative that morning, and saying the gun was a toy she bought at Walmart, Gamble confessed to the heist, according to court documents.

Gamble's defense attorney said during the Tuesday hearing that she is a high school graduate with no criminal history and no substance abuse or apparent financial problems.

The attorney said the conduct "was an aberration'' because she seemed to have no reason to have committed the crime, according to court documents. Gamble, who had worked for the bank for a year, was living with her grandmother, her parents, her young son and a sister and the sister's child.

The cash, which Gamble said she hid in a dumpster, has not been found.

Gamble is schedule for another court appearance next week.
The cribs that collect drinking water from Lake Michigan serve nearly 80 percent of the regions residents. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Alarmed by the wide disparity of water rates in the Chicago area and excessive water loss, the Cook County Board voted Wednesday to hold a hearing that will examine the issue.

Commissioner Richard Boykin proposed the hearing after an investigation by the Chicago Tribune found that residents in the regions lowest-income communities pay more for their water  as much as six times more  than those in the wealthiest towns. The Tribune also found that residents of towns with majority African-American populations pay a monthly water bill that is 20 percent higher than towns with majority white populations.

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At the same time, some of these towns lose more than a third of their water to leaking infrastructure.

The hearing, which was unanimously approved, will most likely be held next month.

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Boykins district includes Maywood, the community with the highest water loss  38 percent  and seventh-largest monthly water bill among towns that receive Lake Michigan water and manage their water systems in the area.

We can have a big voice on this, Boykin said, stressing that placing pressure on local municipalities can scale back excessive water rates and high water service reconnection fees.

Boykin also said he spoke with Maywood Village Manager Willie Norfleet Jr., who acknowledged the villages significant water loss and told Boykin that he would be delighted to testify.

The commissioner plans to invite as many town officials as possible to the hearing.

We cant be charging these residents excessive rates for water, he said. Its unacceptable.

Deborah Sims, whose district includes Harvey and Ford Heights, said after the meeting that high water rates and losses are a frustrating problem for many communities in her area.

She added that shes had conversations with municipal leaders over the summer about water loss, which she called a vicious cycle. The challenge, she said, is finding money to fix water infrastructure.

Theyre paying an astronomical amount for water, and the reason is they have holes in the ground, Sims said. Its a sieve.  If they could fix their water, they would. Its not that they want their water to go into the ground, they want to fix it. They dont want their residents to pay more money than they have to.

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Ford Heights, for instance, charges a flat fee of $85 a month for water  the second highest of 162 communities in the region that the Tribune surveyed. The best option for addressing the issue is an infrastructure program that would fix leaky pipes in the south suburbs and less affluent areas, Sims said, but shes not sure how such a project would be funded.

Unless we get some money from the federal government that says we can fix those holes, or we get it from the state, I dont know where the money comes from, Sims said.

Harvey distributes water to Dixmoor, East Hazel Crest and Posen, towns that had high rates or high water losses. "It's the same five towns that we always talk about. Sims added, I am frustrated.

Roughly half of the water pipes in the towns surveyed were 40 years old or older, the Tribune found. In the past year alone, towns lost more than 25 billion gallons of water through leaky pipes at a cost of $44 million to the areas residents.

Although Boykins proposal calls for the county to do everything within its power to help its residents, board President Toni Preckwinkle was skeptical of the countys reach.

Its hard to know what the county can do, Preckwinkle said, highlighting that the county is not a seller or buyer of water and doesnt own water pipes or mains. These are matters for the cities, towns and villages involved, she said.

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Still, Sims said holding a hearing at the county level may help pinpoint solutions.

Conversations are always good, Sims said. Maybe someone will come up with some answers.

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creyes@chicagotribune.com

poconnell@chicagotribune.com

tgregory@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kcecireyes

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RELATED:

[ Same lake, unequal rates: Why our water rates are surging  and why black and poor suburbs pay more ]

[ Why Chicago-area residents pay millions for water that never reaches their taps ]
After almost 27 years in prison for a false conviction of a double-murder, Jose Maysonet walks out of Cook County Jail a free man Nov. 15, 2017. Cook County prosecutors dropped murder charges against him after lawyers for retired Detective Reynaldo Guevara and four former officers said they would take the Fifth Amendment during Maysonet's retrial. (Phil Velasquez/ Chicago Tribune) (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Cook County prosecutors moved swiftly Wednesday to drop charges against a convicted murderer after five former Chicago cops all indicated they would take the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer questions in court.

Hours later, Jose Maysonet, 49, walked out of Cook County Jail a free man after 27 years in custody for a double murder.

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The surprise announcement came despite prosecutors continued belief in Maysonets guilt, but States Attorney Kim Foxxs top assistant said the office could not continue with the prosecution without the testimony of the four detectives and a sergeant  all retired. Among the five was Reynaldo Guevara, who has had numerous convictions overturned on allegations he beat suspects and coerced witnesses.

Maysonet became the second longtime inmate to be released from the county jail in just two days. On Tuesday, Arthur Brown, 66, walked free after county prosecutors reversed course and dropped murder charges against him, saying significant evidentiary issues raised deep concerns about the fairness of his conviction. Brown had been in custody 29 years for a double murder.

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Maysonet, who alleged police beat him into confessing to the murders, had won a retrial after raising conflict-of-interest allegations against his lawyers from the first trial.

Maysonets current lawyers had summoned the five former officers  Sgt. Edward Mingey and Detectives Reynaldo Guevara, Ernest Halvorsen, Frank Montilla and Roland Paulnitsky  to testify Wednesday at a hearing in the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Their attorneys disclosed that all five planned to assert their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

First Assistant States Attorney Eric Sussman quickly announced that without their cooperation, prosecutors could not proceed to trial.

The states attorneys office continues to maintain that Mr. Maysonet is guilty, Sussman told Judge Timothy Joyce.

Saying he was acting with deep regret and sadness, Sussman then moved to drop the charges.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Jose Maysonet, center, embraces family members after walking out of Cook County Jail on Nov. 15, 2017, following almost 27 years in prison. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Maysonet was granted a new trial last year amid allegations that Richard Beuke and Steven Randy Rueckert, his lawyers in the first trial, were representing Guevara at the same time on child support issues.

Neither Beuke nor Rueckert  who is part of the legal team representing Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke in the fatal shooting of teen Laquan McDonald  could be reached for comment.

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One of Maysonets lawyers, Jennifer Bonjean, said she had planned to call Guevara and the other four retired officers to the stand as part of an effort to get Maysonets alleged statement to police thrown out.

Maysonet contended that after his arrest he had refused to speak to Mingey and Montilla without an attorney present. But Paulnitsky, Montilla, Guevara and Halvorsen falsely submitted a police report claiming that Maysonet had admitted to his involvement in the killing, Bonjean alleged.

Maysonet also alleged a second statement to police had been beaten from him by Guevara. Prosecutors had not intended to admit that statement as evidence in his retrial, however, court documents show.

Maysonet was arrested in 1990 for the killing of two brothers on Chicagos Northwest Side. Prosecutors alleged he drove the getaway car.

He was convicted in 1995 on the strength of police testimony that Bonjean alleged was fabricated.

Officers who do their job and tell the truth dont have to plead the Fifth, said Bonjean, who called for a more thorough review of any cases connected to Guevara and those who worked with him on the Northwest Side.

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There is no such thing as one rogue officer  They must act in a pack, and they must have a pact, she said.

Maysonet was met by a swarm of reporters as he walked out of county jail alone shortly before 5 p.m. His family was nearby but had not been notified when he was released.

Maysonet, bald with thick glasses and a graying goatee, never lost hope that he would ultimately be released, he said, but he didnt expect it to happen so suddenly.

Twenty-seven years was a long time, he said. I never lose my faith, never lose my hope.

His sister broke through the crowd of reporters and embraced him in tears.

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For us, (this was) hell. It was a nightmare, said Maysonets sister, Rose, 44.

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The decision to drop the charges came as a shock to the family.

His mother had brought a change of clothes to every court hearing, just in case he was released, his sister said. But Wednesday was the first time his clothes had been left at their home.

We didnt bring it, and he comes out, his sister said in disbelief.

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @crepeau

RELATED

[ Man in prison for 29 years freed after Cook County prosecutors drop charges ]
Joshua Tepfer, left, with the Exoneration Project, and Leonard Gipson speak during a news conference at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Nov. 16, 2017. Gipson was one of 15 men whose convictions were overturned. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

In a sudden about-face Thursday night, Chicago police said seven cops once part of an allegedly corrupt crew will be removed from street duties while their conduct years ago is investigated.

The reversal came hours after Cook County prosecutors threw out the convictions of 15 men who were framed by the crew  led by former Sgt. Ronald Watts, who did prison time for shaking down drug dealers.

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Police spokesman Frank Giancamilli said Thursday night that one sergeant and six officers who worked with Watts have been placed on paid desk duty while an internal investigation is conducted.

Asked earlier Thursday why several officers tied to Watts corrupt crew were still on the force, police Superintendent Eddie Johnson noted none had been convicted of a crime  unlike Watts.

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They have due process and rights just like any citizen in this country, he told reporters after his speech to the City Club of Chicago.  But we just cant arbitrarily take the job away from people.

Asked whether those officers might be taken off the streets while the department looks into the cases, Johnson said, Once I get enough information, then that may be what happens. But right now ... we are looking at it.

Johnson did not address the lengthy internal affairs investigation that Chicago police conducted into both Watts and other officers on his team.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the mass exoneration, attorneys vowed to continue to review potentially hundreds of convictions tied to Watts and his crew.

The lead attorney for the 15 men whose drug cases were thrown out said as many as 500 additional convictions need to be checked out.

It needs to be investigated and vetted about how many of those are appropriate to overturn, Joshua Tepfer told reporters after the charges had been tossed. We are very much in the process of doing that.

Mark Rotert, head of States Attorney Kim Foxxs Conviction Integrity Unit whose investigation led to the dismissals, promised a careful review of remaining cases tied to Watts and his crew, though he declined to say how many that might involve.

Rotert, who took the post this past summer after years in private practice and stints as a federal prosecutor and Illinois assistant attorney general, called the process very exacting and indicated that his team wont paint with a broad brush.

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These are like snowflakes  truly, theyre different. They need to be evaluated differently, he said of each case. Every time  we see something that causes concern, were going to take a hard look at it.

Ten of the 15 men were in court Thursday as the criminal divisions Presiding Judge LeRoy Martin Jr., acting at the request of prosecutors, threw out the convictions en masse  believed to the first mass exoneration in county history.

The action opens the door for all 15 to pursue certificates of innocence as well as to file potentially lucrative wrongful conviction lawsuits against the city.

It marks the third consecutive day that prosecutors dropped charges at the Leighton Criminal Court Building because of alleged misconduct by Chicago police. Jose Maysonet, 49, walked free Wednesday after 27 years in custody for a double murder when a sergeant and four detectives  all retired  indicated they would assert their Fifth Amendment right and refuse to answer questions about the alleged confessions they obtained.

On Tuesday, Arthur Brown, 66, was released after county prosecutors reversed course and dropped murder charges against him, saying significant evidentiary issues raised deep concerns about the fairness of his conviction. Brown had been in custody 29 years for a double murder.

The mass exoneration Thursday comes two months after lawyers for the 15 men filed a joint petition seeking to overturn a total of 18 criminal drug convictions, alleging that Watts and his crew framed all of them between 2003 and 2008.

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Watts and an officer under his command were sent to federal prison in 2013 for stealing money from a drug courier who had been working as an FBI informant.

Because of the age of the cases, all 15 men had completed their sentences, including prison time for many. Two remain in custody on unrelated charges.

The Watts-related convictions of five other people had previously been thrown out, so Thursdays development brings the total to 20 of those cleared of wrongdoing. In addition, two Chicago police officers who alleged they were blackballed for trying to expose Watts corruption years ago won a $2 million settlement in their whistleblower lawsuit.

Tepfer, of the Exoneration Project at the University of Chicago Law School, had originally sought the appointment of a special master to try to reach a full accounting of all the victims wrongly convicted by Watts and his team. He had raised concerns that the scope of the inquiry was too broad for the states attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit and its small staff.

But he withdrew his request after county prosecutors agreed to pore over potentially hundreds of tainted convictions involving Watts and officers he supervised.

Tepfer said Thursday that he was extraordinarily heartened by the states attorneys decision to throw out all the convictions at once. This is something thats rarely done in the country, as far as I know, where cases are looked at en masse because of some sort of law enforcement or official problem and in the interest of justice that we have to do a clean sweep, he said.

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In a statement issued later Thursday, Foxx, who took office nearly a year ago promising reform, said claims filed with the offices Conviction Integrity Unit have soared fivefold.

We will evaluate each one we receive with the same attention to facts and commitment to justice that was demonstrated today, Foxx said.

Since last year, the Chicago Tribune has written several front-page stories detailing the scandal over Watts nearly decadelong run of corruption.

Watts has repeatedly been accused of forcing residents and drug dealers alike to pay a protection tax and putting bogus cases on those who refused to do so. In case after case, when Watts targets complained  to the Police Department or in court  judges, prosecutors and internal affairs investigators all believed the testimony of Watts and other officers over their accusers, records show. In addition to the alleged frame-ups by Watts, the petition filed in September on behalf of the 15 men highlighted a broken system of police discipline that allegedly protects bad officers and punishes those who tried to expose his corruption.

Despite mounting allegations, Watts continued to operate for years amid a lengthy police internal affairs division probe as well as investigations by the states attorneys office and the FBI, according to court records. When Watts was finally caught, it was on relatively minor federal charges, and he was given a break at sentencing by a federal judge who talked tough but in the end handed him only 22 months in prison.

Among the petitioners whose case was overturned Thursday was Leonard Gipson, who filed a complaint with the Police Department in 2003 alleging the sergeant had framed him on a drug charge because he had refused to pay protection money.

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Gipsons complaint went nowhere. Four months later, with his drug case pending, Gipson was visiting his girlfriend in the Ida B. Wells public housing complex when he again ran into Watts, who had been notified of the complaint against him

Let me see if you can bond off on this, Watts said to Gipson before handcuffing and planting 28 grams of heroin on him, Gipson alleged in the petition. After two years in jail awaiting trial, he pleaded guilty on the advice of his attorney, who noted it was his word against the polices.

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On Thursday, Gipson was among those in court to witness history. He had three drugs convictions tied to Watts thrown out.

Watts always told me, If youre not going to pay me, Im going to get you, Gipson, 36, told reporters. And every time I ran into him, hed put drugs on me. Every time.

Attorney Joel Flaxman, who represents seven other men who he says were framed by Watts and his crew, said prosecutors decision to drop the charges against the 15 left him hopeful.

It means that the states attorney is serious about reviewing these cases, Flaxman said. We hope that they will come to the same conclusion for the men I represent.

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mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com

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jgorner@chicagotribune.com

Joshua Tepfer, center, with the Exoneration Project, is hugged by Leonard Gipson as they speak during a news conference at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Nov. 16, 2017. Gipson was one of 15 men whose convictions were overturned. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

[ RELATED: 15 people say corrupt Chicago cop framed them, seek to set aside convictions ]

[ Suit alleges man spent decade in prison after cops framed him on drug charges ]

[ Drug convictions for two more tossed as result of Chicago cop's corruption ]
Former Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts, center, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in 2013 after being sentenced to 22 months in prison. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

In what is believed to be the first mass exoneration in Cook County history, prosecutors on Thursday plan to drop all charges against 15 men who alleged they were framed by corrupt former Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts and his crew.

The announcement to vacate the convictions will be made during a morning hearing before Chief Criminal Court Judge LeRoy Martin Jr., according to a statement from Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs office.

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It comes two months after lawyers for the 15 men filed a joint petition seeking to overturn a total of 18 criminal drug convictions, alleging that Watts and his crew framed all of them between 2003 and 2008. Watts and an officer under his command were sent to federal prison in 2013 for stealing money from a drug courier who'd been working as an FBI informant.

A review of the cases by the states attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit has shown a pattern of narcotics arrests that raise serious concerns about the validity of the resulting convictions, a spokesman for Foxx said in a written statement. Therefore, the States Attorneys Office is vacating the convictions.

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Reached by phone Wednesday, Joshua Tepfer, the lead attorney for the 15 men, praised the unprecedented action by Foxxs office but said the cases were the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cases tainted by Watts.

Its a remarkable effort by the states attorneys office to recognize the significance of this horrendous injustice and to do their part to start correcting it, Tepfer said. But there are still more than 400 convictions (by Watts team) that are unaccounted for  its no doubt the tip of the iceberg.

A states attorney spokesman said nobody in the prosecutors office could recall ever dropping so many convictions at one time.

Since last year, the Chicago Tribune has written several front-page stories detailing the scandal over Watts' nearly decadelong run of corruption.

Five people have already had their convictions thrown out, so Thursdays move will bring the total to 20. Also, two officers who alleged they were blackballed for trying to expose Watts' corruption years ago won a $2 million settlement to their whistleblower lawsuit.

Watts has repeatedly been accused of forcing residents and drug dealers alike to pay a "protection" tax and putting bogus cases on those who refused to play ball. In case after case, when Watts' targets complained  either to the Police Department or in court  judges, prosecutors and internal affairs investigators all believed the testimony of Watts and his fellow officers over their accusers, records show.

In addition to the alleged frame-ups by Watts, the petition filed in September also highlighted a broken system of police discipline that allegedly protects bad officers and punishes those who tried to blow the whistle on his corruption.

Despite mounting allegations, Watts continued to operate for years amid a lengthy police internal affairs division probe as well as investigations by the Cook County state's attorney's office and the FBI, according to court records. When Watts was finally caught, it was on relatively minor federal charges, and he was given a break at sentencing by a federal judge who talked tough but in the end handed him only 22 months behind bars.

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Meanwhile, at least seven other officers who were part of Watts' team are still on the force, including one who has since been promoted to sergeant and another who was found by a jury earlier this year to have shot a teen in the back without justification.

Among the petitioners whose case will be overturned Thursday is Leonard Gipson, who filed a complaint with the Chicago Police Department in 2003 alleging the sergeant had framed him on a drug charge because he'd refused to pay "protection" money.

Gipson's complaint went nowhere. Four months later, with his drug case pending, Gipson was visiting his girlfriend in the Ida B. Wells public housing complex when he again ran into Watts, who had been notified of the complaint against him.

"Let me see if you can bond off on this," Watts said to Gipson before handcuffing and planting 28 grams of heroin on him, Gipson alleged in the petition. After two years in jail awaiting trial, he pleaded guilty on the advice of his attorney, who noted it was his word against the polices.

Another man, Taurus Smith, was 17 years old at the time he claimed Watts had him falsely arrested on a narcotics charge. Shortly after he bonded out, Smith's mother took him to file a complaint with the now-defunct Office of Professional Standards. The next day, Watts and two other officers confronted Smith outside a building at Ida B. Wells, where Watts made it clear that he knew the teen had dared complain, according to Smith's sworn statement in the petition.

"Watts had his service weapon on his waist and another gun in his hand," Smith said in the statement. "He said to me, 'This is grown-man s---.' ... He then threatened he would plant the gun on me if I didn't leave it alone."

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Smith said he again reported the incident to his mother, who told him they were going to have to move. Weeks later, they packed up and left the Ida B. Wells complex for good, he said.

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Gipson, now 36, said in his sworn statement that everyone in the neighborhood knew of Watts' reputation as a crooked police officer. Watts had personally warned him that if he didn't pay his street tax, Gipson said, "I would go to jail every time he ran into me."

Gipson tried to fight his drug charges in court, but after a Cook County judge sided with the officers and denied his motion to suppress evidence, he had little option but to cut a deal. He pleaded guilty to both counts in exchange for four months in boot camp.

But it wasn't over for Gipson. In August 2007, two years after his release from custody, he was leaving his girlfriend's house in Ida B. Wells when Watts spotted him and asked, "Do you have something for me?" according to Gipson's affidavit.

Gipson left the building, but when he came back a short time later, Watts and several members of his team surrounded him, he said. Watts took a bag of drugs out of his pocket and said, "These are your drugs, hard-ass," then handcuffed Gipson and took him to the station, according to Gipson's statement.

Court records show Gipson pleaded guilty to heroin possession and received four years in prison. His only criminal convictions are the three cases involving Watts, according to the records.

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jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

[ 15 people say corrupt Chicago cop framed them, seek to set aside convictions ]

[ Suit alleges man spent decade in prison after cops framed him on drug charges ]

[ Drug convictions for two more tossed as result of Chicago cop's corruption ]
Police have arrested a man wanted for allegedly carjacking a vehicle with a mother and two young children inside as her husband made a quick run into a drugstore Sunday in Wheeling.

Leon Spektor, 38, was taken into custody about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue in Chicago. A warrant had been issued for his arrest.

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The Chicago Police Department assisted in the arrest, according to Wheeling Deputy police Chief Todd Wolff.

Police on Tuesday had asked for the publics help in locating the suspect, who had been identified after police reviewed surveillance video from the Walgreens at 10 N. Milwaukee Ave. and conducted a photo lineup with the mother, who was robbed of her cellphone and money. She was released with her children on Chicagos Northwest Side.

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He took them on a 25-mile terrorizing drive, Wolff said Tuesday.

vortiz@chicagotribune.com

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[ Wheeling police seek carjack suspect who took mom, kids on '25-mile terrorizing drive' ]
A narcotics investigation in the North Side's Uptown neighborhood led to the arrest of eight people on felony drug charges, Chicago police said Wednesday.

A narcotics investigation in the North Side's Uptown neighborhood led to the arrest of eight people on felony drug charges, Chicago police said Wednesday.

The investigation targeted West Argyle Street, where there has been reports of increased violence, police said.

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"This operation was conducted in large part due to concerns of residents about this violence and narcotics sales in the area," according to a police narcotics division community alert.

The arrests follow a triple shooting at a Starbucks in Uptown, which left one man dead and a child injured, on Nov. 2 that stemmed from a drug deal gone bad. The Starbucks is located at 4753 N. Broadway.

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Most of the people arrested were members of the Black Disciples, Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Black P Stones and 4 Corner Hustler street gangs, police said.

They were charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance. Police were looking for five others wanted in the probe.

Police also seized vehicles and cash.

Officers have conducted similar drug sweeps on Argyle, in 2016 and in 2012, according to news reports.
A chef at a trendy West Loop restaurant has been found safe, a week after he disappeared and failed to show up at a fundraiser he had helped organize for his native Puerto Rico.



The Chicago Police Department issued a brief statement Thursday morning saying Luis Mercader, 25, "has been safely located." It released no details.



Mercader is a chef at Roister, a restaurant less than two years old at 951 W. Fulton Market. It is owned by the Alinea Group, which is anchored by its flagship restaurant Alinea in Lincoln Park.



Family and friends said they last had contact with Mercader on Nov. 8. The next day, he did not show up at the Bucktown restaurant Animale, where he was to help cook an Italian-Puerto Rican dinner to raise money for relief efforts in Puerto Rico as it continues to recover from Hurricane Maria.



His father flew to Chicago from Puerto Rico over the weekend as police searched for his son.



Late Wednesday afternoon, Mercader's father, who shares his son's name, said he had nothing new to report. There was no immediate comment from the family Thursday morning.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his Justice Department are threatening to pull funding over Gov. Bruce Rauner signing an immigration bill, the Trust Act, into law. (Richard Drew / AP)

The U.S. Department of Justice is threatening to pull millions of dollars in funding from Illinois after Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an immigration measure into law this summer.

Known as the Trust Act, the new law prohibits state and local police in Illinois from arresting or detaining people solely because of their immigration status, or based on a federal immigration detainer. The law, however, allows law enforcement officials to hold someone if a judge has issued a warrant.

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In a letter sent to state officials on Wednesday, Acting Assistant Attorney General Alan Hanson said the agency is concerned the law appears to restrict the sending of information regarding immigration status.

Hanson wrote that would put at risk the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant money that Illinois receives each year, which typically provides around $6.7 million over the course of three years to help fund various prosecution, research and violence prevention programs. Illinois has until Dec. 8 to respond to the letter with proof the law is in compliance.

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The grant in question is also at the center of a legal battle between the city of Chicago and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Similar letters were sent to two other states and more than two dozen cities as the Trump administration continues to take aim at what it considers sanctuary policies across the nation.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Executive Director John Maki said he is confident Illinois was not violating federal policy. Maki said the new state law doesnt prohibit any state or local entity from sending or receiving information regarding a person's immigration status.

The bill was specifically written not to impact that. I think the law could not be clearer, Maki said.

While conservative Republicans opposed the measure, Rauner called it a reasonable, decent outcome and noted it had the support of law enforcement. Police groups said the bill would allow immigrants to reach out to local law enforcement without fear of being punished for their immigration status.

mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com

[ Related: Judge in Chicago refuses to change ruling on sanctuary cities ]

[ Related: Justice Department says Chicago violated immigration rules on earlier grant ]

[ Related: 'Call your mayor': Sessions tries to blame Chicago's crime on sanctuary city policy ]
Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., speaks as the House Ways and Means Committee begins the markup process of the GOP's tax overhaul on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 6, 2017. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP)

Washington  Lawmakers from Illinois split along party lines Thursday as a Republican-authored tax bill was approved by the U.S. House.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, joined six other House Republicans from Illinois in support of the measure, known as The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Roskam chairs the House Tax Policy Subcommittee.

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Were going to make the United States the most competitive jurisdiction in the world by giving business tax relief and welcoming back commercial enterprise and growth and prosperity and ingenuity and investment that does what? Roskam said. It creates paychecks and it expands opportunities.

Other Republicans voting for the proposal support were: Reps. Randy Hultgren of Plano, Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, Mike Bost of Murphysboro, Rodney Davis of Taylorville, Darin LaHood of Peoria and John Shimkus of Collinsville.

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The 11 Democrats from the state opposed the bill: Reps. Danny Davis, Luis Gutierrez, Bobby Rush and Mike Quigley of Chicago and Reps. Bill Foster of Naperville, Robin Kelly of Matteson, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, Dan Lipinski of Western Springs, Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, Brad Schneider of Deerfield and Cheri Bustos of Moline.

Schneider criticized the bill for capping the deduction for state and local property taxes at $10,000 and ending the deduction for state and local income tax and sales tax.

One in three Illinois taxpayers take a deduction for state and local taxes, Schneider said. Its used by hard-working American families we need to be helping with tax reform, not hurting, he said.

An analysis by the Tax Policy Center said the measure would reduce taxes on average for all income groups in 2018. The largest cuts, both in dollars and as a percentage of after tax-income, would go to higher-income households. The center, a joint venture of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, said at least 7 percent of taxpayers would pay higher taxes under the proposal in 2018, and at least 24 percent of taxpayers would pay more in 2027.

kskiba@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @KatherineSkiba

RELATED

[ House passes sweeping GOP tax overhaul, Senate faces problems ]
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has come out against a West Side aldermans proposal to outlaw prostitution-related loitering in zones to be created by the Chicago Police Department, saying the plan is vague and could lead to people getting arrested based on how theyre dressed.

Under a plan from Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, the police superintendent could designate zones that are frequently associated with prostitution-related loitering. Police could order people to leave those zones if the officers decided they intend to engage in prostitution. Anyone who returned to the area within eight hours of the police order to leave could be fined up to $500 or sent to prison for up to six months.

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ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yohnka took a dim view of the proposal, saying in a statement that the language is vague and seems to encourage police to order people to disperse or even arrest them for what may be innocent and constitutionally protected behavior.

Yohnka said a similar rule in New York City resulted in police arresting people based on how they were dressed, where they were standing, whether they had money on them or whom they were speaking to. That doesnt help anything, he said.

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A spokeswoman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the administration is reviewing Ervins proposal.

Chicago has a history of testing legal boundaries to try to stop people deemed criminals from loitering on city streets. The citys 1992 gang loitering law was struck down in 1999 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which said it gave police too much discretion in enforcement, was too vague and affected too many innocent people.

Mayor Richard M. Daley helped push through a new version later that year meant to adhere to the Supreme Courts guidelines. That one remains part of the city code.

Critics charged at the time that the gang loitering law would lead to harassment of innocent minority youths and questioned whether it violated the constitutional rights of people suspected to be gang members. But Daley argued law-abiding residents of Chicago neighborhoods had constitutional rights as well. He said critics who defended the rights of suspected gang members didnt live in gang-infested communities. "I don't see too many gangbangers hanging on Lake Shore Drive," Daley said then.

Ervin introduced his proposal at Wednesdays City Council meeting. It contains much of the same language as the gang-loitering ordinance, including a call for the police superintendent to work with elected and appointed officials, community-based organizations and participants in the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy program to determine where the zones should be established. The plan has been assigned to the council Public Safety Committee.

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @_johnbyrne
Andrea Zopp, shown in 2016, has been chosen by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to lead the Chicago Police Board. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has appointed a former top aide to the Chicago Police Board, the panel that decides the most serious police disciplinary matters.

Andrea Zopp, who was deputy mayor before Emanuel picked her late last month to take over as CEO of the city's public-private economic development arm, would join the board pending City Council approval. The councils Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider Zopps appointment Friday.

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Zopp is a former county and federal prosecutor, corporate executive and head of the Chicago Urban League, and she ran a losing Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate last year before Emanuel named her deputy mayor.

On Thursday afternoon, a coalition of civil rights advocates and lawyers called for the appointment to be put on hold. A news release from the Chicago Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights raised concerns about her affiliation with Emanuels office and complained that the appointment was rushed. Emanuels office announced Zopps appointment in a press release Nov. 8, but the pick drew little notice for more than a week.

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This is not about Andrea Zopps qualifications, said Bonnie Allen, executive director of the lawyers committee. Its about a clear conflict of interest when a mayoral ally joins a police oversight agency, and with absolutely no time for public comment by the communities who have been most impacted by police misconduct in our city.

Public Safety Committee Chairman Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th, said he planned to go ahead with Fridays hearing and vote on the appointment. Reboyras said he does not believe Zopp is too closely aligned with the mayor.

Ive just been looking at her credentials. Theyre impeccable, Reboyras said. She would be an excellent addition to the police board, and we have a vacancy we need to fill.

And we didnt just announce this, Reboyras said of Emanuels decision to nominate Zopp. This has been out there for a while.

The appointment of a mayoral ally to the board comes despite the oft-repeated concerns of reform advocates who argue that police discipline should be insulated from the influence of politics. The shortcomings of the police disciplinary system have been a central issue in the nearly two years since the release of video of a white police officer shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times.

Emanuel spokesman Adam Collins said Zopp has the relevant experience for the job.

If anyone doubts Andys ability to call balls and strikes, you dont have to look any further than her record, Collins said. She has protected victims of domestic violence. She has prosecuted murderers. She has prosecuted a congressman, federally, and she has prosecuted a police officer.

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The police board handles the most serious disciplinary cases, including those in which the police superintendent seeks to fire an officer.

dhinkel@chicagotribune.com

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @dhinkel

Twitter @_johnbyrne
A dangerous Hawaii psychiatric patient who escaped a state hospital and flew to California before being captured Wednesday has prompted an investigation into why employees appeared to fail to do their jobs.

Dr. Virginia Pressler, director of the Hawaii Department of Health, said an internal inquiry indicated that workers inadvertently or intentionally neglected to supervise Randall Saito and notify their supervisors.

The apparent failures were spread through several shifts of workers, she said.

Seven hospital staff members were being placed on unpaid leave Wednesday for 30 days and more may be identified as the investigation continues, the department said in a statement.

Saito was gone at least eight hours before hospital staff alerted authorities.

Saito on Sunday left the 202-bed Hawaii State Hospital outside Honolulu, where he has been committed for 36 years since being acquitted of murder by reason of insanity. He took a taxi to a chartered plane bound for the island of Maui and then boarded another plane to San Jose, California, authorities said.

It wasn't immediately known how he was able to charter a plane, and police wouldn't provide details about his flight to California. Attorney General Doug Chin said the escape was planned and an investigation would include an examination of whether Saito had any accomplices.

"We were dismayed to learn that Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito used an alias to charter a flight on one of our planes from Honolulu to Maui on Sunday," said a statement Wednesday from luxury charter flight company Royal Pacific Air.

Video footage from inside the taxi that drove Saito to the chartered flight shows him using a cellphone after climbing in with a large backpack. He tells the driver he's in a rush to catch a flight.

During the ride, he made two calls. "I'm on my way," Saito said to someone he called Mickey. "We just made the freeway, so, um, we should be there very shortly."

A few minutes later he made another call: "Is this the captain that's going to fly to Maui today? Hi. Hi, it's me. I'm on my way."

Saito was captured in Stockton on Wednesday morning as the result of a tip from an alert taxi driver, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department said. The agency posted a photo on social media showing Saito surrounded by three deputies at a gas station.

Saito has been charged with felony escape, and the attorney general said the breakout was not planned by someone suffering from a "mental defect."

Hospital workers had called 911 to report Saito's disappearance shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday  two hours after he landed in California, Honolulu police said. An all-points bulletin went out an hour later.

Gov. David Ige said authorities and the public should have been notified much sooner and directed Chin to investigate.

He said the state has started reviewing patient privileges and public visitation policies at the hospital to determine if they are appropriate. It's also boosting the frequency of unannounced patient searches and ordering more fencing.

Saito was sent to the hospital in 1981 after acknowledging he shot Sandra Yamashiro with a pellet gun and then repeatedly stabbed her in her car, which was parked at a shopping mall, according to court records.

"He is a very dangerous individual," said Wayne Tashima, a Honolulu prosecutor who argued in 2015 against Saito receiving passes to leave the hospital grounds without an escort.

Defense attorneys sought to have Saito released in 2000. But Jeff Albert, a deputy city prosecutor, objected, saying Saito "fills all the criteria of a classic serial killer."

In 1993, a court denied Saito's request for conditional release, saying he still suffered from sexual sadism and necrophilia.

Psychiatrists who evaluated him over the years also said he could be personable, charming and had good social skills.

Dr. Gene Altman, who evaluated Saito in 2010, said he had six significant relationships since being committed in 1981. Three of those were reportedly with hospital staff members and the others were with women in the community, including Saito's first and second wives, according to Altman's assessment, filed in court records.

Irving Tam, who has lived near the hospital for about 30 years, said he heard about the escape from a neighbor, not the police, hospital or media, and that patients have gotten out several times in the past.

"When they do escape, especially someone with this kind of a record, there is a high degree of concern, he could be violent and who knows," Tam said Tuesday.

Associated Press writer Caleb Jones in Honolulu contributed to this report.
Yemeni women sit near their malnourished children who are receiving treatment in a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on Nov. 15, 2017. More than 50,000 children under the age of 15 are at risk of death from acute malnutrition by the end of 2017 after more than two years of escalating conflict between Saudi-backed forces and the Houthi rebels. (EPA)

CAIRO  An international aid group says an estimated 130 children or more die every day in war-torn Yemen from extreme hunger and disease.



Save the Children said late Wednesday that a continuing blockade by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Shiite rebels is likely to further increase the death rate. It says over 50,000 children are believed to have died in 2017.



Saudi Arabia blocked Yemen's ports after a rebel missile attack near Riyadh. It said Monday the coalition would lift the blockade after widespread international criticism.



On Thursday, the leaders of the World Health Organization, the U.N. children's agency and the World Food Program issued a joint appeal for the easing of the blockade.



"While the Saudi-led military coalition has partially lifted the recent blockade of Yemen, closure of much of the country's air, sea and land ports is making an already catastrophic situation far worse," they said.



"The space and access we need to deliver humanitarian assistance is being choked off, threatening the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families."



The Saudi-led coalition went to war against the rebels, known as Houthis, in March 2015 on behalf of Yemen's internationally recognized government. But the coalition has made little progress, and the rebels still control much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.



The war has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced 3 million. Yemen was the Arab world's poorest country even before the conflict began.



The U.N. officials said more than 20 million people, including 11 million children, are in need of urgent assistance, with 7 million totally dependent on food assistance. The U.N. has called it the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world."



"Even with a partial lifting of the blockade, the World Food Programme estimates that an additional 3.2 million people will be pushed into hunger. If left untreated, 150,000 malnourished children could die within the coming months," the officials said.

"It will not be like the famine that we saw in South Sudan earlier in the year where tens of thousands of people were affected. It will not be like the famine which cost 250,000 people their lives in Somalia in 2011," said Mark Lowcock the U.N. under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, in a briefing at the U.N. Security Council last week.

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"It will be the largest famine the world has seen for many decades with millions of victims."

A starved Yemeni child receives treatment amid a worsening malnutrition crisis in the emergency ward of a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on Nov. 15, 2017. (EPA)

Los Angeles Times contributed
A man walks past a public mural depicting elephants in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, on Oct. 10, 2017. It is already legal to import trophies from elephants that were legally hunted in South Africa. (EPA)

WASHINGTON  The Trump administration announced late Wednesday that the remains of elephants legally hunted in Zimbabwe and Zambia can now be imported to the United States as trophies, reversing a ban under former president Barack Obama.

African elephants are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that large sums paid for permits to hunt the animals could actually help them "by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation," according to an agency statement.

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Under the Obama administration, elephant hunting trophies were allowed in countries such as South Africa but not in Zimbabwe because Fish and Wildlife decided in 2015 that the nation had failed to prove that its management of elephants enhanced the population. Zimbabwe could not confirm its elephant population in a way that was acceptable to U.S. officials, and did not demonstrate an ability to implement laws to protect it.

The Service's new statement did not specify what had changed in that country - where the African elephant population has declined 6 percent in recent years, according to the Great Elephant Census project - to allow hunting trophies. A spokeswoman said an explanation will be published in the Federal Register on Friday.

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The shift in U.S. policy comes just days after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke established an "International Wildlife Conservation Council" to advise him on how to increase Americans' public awareness of conservation, wildlife enforcement and the "economic benefits that result from U.S. citizens traveling abroad to hunt."

"The conservation and long-term health of big game crosses international boundaries," Zinke said in a statement announcing the group's creation. "This council will provide important insight into the ways that American sportsmen and women benefit international conservation from boosting economies and creating hundreds of jobs to enhancing wildlife conservation."

Safari Club International, a hunting advocacy group that has consistently opposed any restrictions on importing trophies from abroad, broke the news of the rule change a day ahead of Fish and Wildlife. Its statement included a detail that the agency omitted: A Fish and Wildlife official made the announcement at a forum the Safari Club co-hosted in Tanzania, from which elephant trophy imports remain banned. An agency spokeswoman declined to confirm that account.

A representative of the group, along with several other hunting activists, joined Zinke in his office on his first day as he signed one secretarial order aimed at expanding hunting and fishing on federal lands and another reversing an Obama-era policy that would have phased out the use of lead ammunition and tackle in national wildlife refuges by 2022.

This week's rule change applies to elephants shot in Zimbabwe on or after Jan. 21, 2016, and to those legally permitted to be hunted before the end of next year. A similar rule has been put into place for Zambia, where the Great Elephant Census estimates the animal's numbers have declined from 200,000 in 1972 to a little more than 21,000 last year.

Zimbabwe is currently in turmoil, with President Robert Mugabe under house arrest as a military coup unfolds. In criticizing the decision, the Humane Society of the United States called the ban on Zimbabwean elephant imports reasonable because Zimbabwe is "one of the most corrupt countries on Earth." The organization noted that Mugabe celebrated his birthday last year by dining on an elephant.

"It's a venal and nefarious pay-to-slay arrangement that Zimbabwe has set up with the trophy hunting industry," said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the Humane Society.

"What kind of message does it send to say to the world that poor Africans who are struggling to survive cannot kill elephants in order to use or sell their parts to make a living, but that it's just fine for rich Americans to slay the beasts for their tusks to keep as trophies?" Pacelle added.

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Safari Club International President Paul Babaz said in a statement, "These positive findings for Zimbabwe and Zambia demonstrate that the Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes that hunting is beneficial to wildlife and that these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations.

"We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife," Babaz added.

In another potential policy reversal, Fish and Wildlife has posted an online guide for hunters on how to import lion trophies. In 2016, after listing African lion populations as threatened or endangered depending on their location on the continent, the agency established specific requirements for allowing imports of their trophies. The Service also banned imports of trophies from lion populations kept in fenced enclosures to be hunted.

How to treat animal trophies Americans shoot overseas has been a contentious issue for years. The pelts of nearly four dozen polar bears that U.S. citizens shot in Canada in spring 2008 got stuck there after Fish and Wildlife declared the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
MADISON, Wis.  Allegations of sexual misconduct lodged against Minnesota U.S. Sen. Al Franken reverberated Thursday in neighboring Wisconsin, where Democratic office holders and candidates were urged to return donations they had received from his political action committee.

Democrats found themselves being forced to react to the accusations by Los Angeles radio anchor Leeann Tweeden that Franken forcibly kissed her during a 2006 USO tour. A photo of him with his hands on Tweeden's breasts as she slept also circulated for the first time.

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Franken issued an apology and said he would cooperate with a Senate ethics investigation.

"I am glad to see that Senator Franken immediately apologized," said Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin, who is up for re-election next year. "This kind of behavior isn't OK, whether it's a Republican or a Democrat, and I support an Ethics Committee investigation."

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The National Republican Senate Committee called on Baldwin to return $15,000 in donations she had received from Franken's political action committee. Baldwin's spokesman John Krauss did not immediately respond to a question about whether she would do that.

Two Republicans, state Sen. Leah Vukmir and businessman Kevin Nicholson, are running to take on Baldwin. Vukmir's campaign manager Jess Ward said that the charges ought to be investigated.

"Harassment and sexual misconduct is unacceptable and any allegation should be treated seriously without exception," Ward said.

Nicholson did not immediately respond.

The National Republican Congressional Committee called on Democratic candidate Randy Bryce to return $1,500 he got from Franken's political action committee. Bryce, who is running against Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, had no immediate comment.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, right, and wife, Louise Linton, hold an uncut sheet of $1 dollar notes. The new $1 bills, with Mnuchin and U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza's signatures, are expected to go into circulation in December. (Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg)

WASHINGTON  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did what just about anyone would do when presented with a newly minted sheet of American currency bearing their name and signature on Wednesday: he posed for a photo.

Coming in the midst of tax-reform plans by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans that nonpartisan analysts say would disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy individuals, among others, the photo of Mnuchin and wife, Louise Linton, holding up the sheet of new $1 bills became an instant meme and drew wide mockery around the Internet.

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The photo was snapped Wednesday as Mnuchin and Linton, along with U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza, toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington.

The new $1 bills, with Mnuchin and Carranza's signatures, are expected to go into circulation in December. The signatures of Treasury secretaries have appeared on U.S. currency for more than a century, and Mnuchin's signature is more legible than his predecessor Jacob Lew, the Associated Press noted.

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For many, there was something comical about the picture of the couple, no strangers to criticism of flaunting their wealth and privilege. Mnuchin holds the sheet on both sides, a smile on his face. His wife standings behind him, her hand on the sheet's corner.

"Only way this could be worse would be if Linton and Mnuchin were lighting cigars with flaming dollar bills," wrote the writer James Surowiecki.

"Just a friendly reminder that the GOP wants to raise taxes on the middle class & take health insurance away from millions of Americans so people like Louise Linton and Steven Mnuchin can get a tax cut," wrote another.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin center, and his wife, Louise Linton, walk through the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg)

Many said that the optics of the photograph lent the two the aura of a pair of Hollywood villains. Perhaps it was Linton's sharp stare and long black gloves. Clad in all black, Linton clasped the sheet of money the way a royal might hold her hand to be kissed.

"Why do Treasury Sec Mnuchin and his wife insist on posing for photos that make them look like Bond villains?" wrote CNBC reporter Christina Wilkie.

The Fox News website described the images as a "big money photo op."

It is not the first photo of Mnuchin, a former banker and Hollywood producer and Linton, an actress, to raise eyebrows. A post Linton made on Instagram over the summer, in which she tagged many of the luxury fashion brands she wore on the trip alongside of photo of her and Mnuchin descending the steps of a government plane, drew harsh criticism. Linton then criticized a commenter who questioned why she had promoted the brands, by boasting about her wealth.

"Have you given more to the economy than me and my husband?" she wrote on a now-deleted Instagram post.

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A memoir that Linton self-published about a six-month stint in living in Zambia in 1999 was widely denounced for being littered with inaccuracies, and being "falsified," according to the Zambian High Commission in London.

Mnuchin has also drawn scrutiny for his use of government aircraft to travel.
WASHINGTON  Richard Cordray, one of the few remaining Obama-era banking regulators, said on Wednesday that he plans to step down as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by the end of the month, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to remake a watchdog agency loathed by Republicans and Wall Street.

Cordray's turbulent six-year tenure at the 1,600-person agency was marked by aggressive efforts to rein in banks, payday lenders and debt collectors that often drew protests from the business community. His frequent clashes with conservatives turned Cordray, an otherwise ordinary Washington bureaucrat from Ohio, into a favorite of Democrats and consumer groups and a villain to Republicans and the financial industry. A federal judge once said that Cordray had "more unilateral authority than any other officer in any of the three branches of the U.S. government, other than the president."

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"It has been a joy of my life to have the opportunity to serve our country as the first director of the Consumer Bureau by working alongside all of you here," Cordray said in a message to employees. "I trust that new leadership will see that value also and work to preserve it - perhaps in different ways than before, but desiring, as I have done, to serve in ways that benefit and strengthen our economy and our country."

Republicans had become increasingly exasperated that Cordray, whose term does not end until next summer, had not stepped aside when Trump took office, and instead continued to press for aggressive rules disliked by the business community. Trump has on at least two occasions griped about Cordray in private and wondered what to do about his tenure, according to two financial industry executives who attended the meetings. Under the agency's current structure, Trump could only fire Cordray for cause.

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Cordray did not explain the timing of his decision, but it clears the way for him to potentially run for Ohio governor. It also comes just a month after the CFPB suffered a major rebuke from Republicans in Congress who took the unusual step of blocking an agency rule that would have allowed consumers to sue their banks for the first time. Cordray appealed to President Trump directly not to sign the legislation but was rebuffed.

With Cordray's departure, the regulatory structure put in place by the Obama administration in the wake of the global financial crisis has been nearly entirely replaced. The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission has been replaced by a former Wall Street lawyer and the Senate is moving to approve Trump's pick to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, another important banking regulator.

Trump is also remaking the Federal Reserve. He has nominated Republican Jerome H. Powell, a current governor on the Fed board, to replace Janet L. Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve. His pick for vice chairman of supervision, Randal Quarles, a former private equity investor, is expected to be much friendlier to the banking industry than his predecessor in the role.

Rolling back regulations has been a cornerstone of the Trump administration, which argues that excessive rulemaking strangles economic growth. But Congress has struggled to deliver sweeping regulatory relief to the industry. Earlier this week, Sen. Mike Crapo, the Republican chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, announced a bipartisan deal to free dozens of large financial institutions from some of the most rigorous regulations put in place after the global financial crisis. But those changes are much more modest than what many in the banking industry have called for.

The most efficient way, industry officials say, to remake the rules is through appointing new regulators who can change an agency's focus, tone and priorities. Cordray's departure "will complete the Team Trump take over of the regulatory agencies. It should mean by summer there are Republicans running all of the banking agencies," said Jaret Seiberg, an analyst with Cowen and Co.'s Washington Research Group.

The transformation coming for the CFPB could be significant. The agency was one of the central achievements of the Obama administration following the 2008 financial crisis. Created under 2010's financial reform bill, known as Dodd Frank, it regulates the way banks and other financial companies interact with consumers, policing everything from payday loans to mortgages. It has extracted billions in fines from big banks, including $100 million from Wells Fargo last year for opening millions of sham accounts that customers didn't ask for.

Cordray "held big banks accountable. He is a dedicated public servant and a tireless watchdog for American consumers - and he will be missed," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who helped established the bureau. "The new Director of the CFPB must be someone with a track record of protecting consumers and holding financial firms responsible when they cheat people. This is no place for another Trump-appointed industry hack."

But the CFPB has been controversial among Republicans since its inception. Critics complain that CFPB has made it more difficult for people to get a mortgage loan and has overstepped its power to regulate some industries, including auto loans.

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Within minutes of Cordray's public announcement, one of the CFPB's staunchest critics, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, cheered the move.

"We are long overdue for new leadership at the CFPB, a rogue agency that has done more to hurt consumers than help them," said Hensarling, who has touted legislation that would strip the agency of many of its powers. "The extreme overregulation it imposes on our economy leads to higher costs and less access to financial products and services, particularly for Americans with lower and middle incomes."

Republicans were particularly frustrated that the CFPB continued to issue new rules over the last year despite the Trump administration's focus on loosening regulations to spur economic growth. Last month, for example, the agency finalized wide-ranging rules targeting the billions of dollars in fees collected by payday lenders offering high-cost, short-term loans. The rules would radically reshape the industry and even "restrict" the industry's revenue by two-thirds, according to the CFPB.

Payday lenders and Republicans in Congress called the rules excessive. "We didn't always see eye-to-eye with Director Cordray and in particular with his actions, which turned the Bureau into a highly partisan agency," Dennis Shaul, chief executive of the Community Financial Services Association of America, which represents payday lending industry.

The group hopes Trump will appoint a replacement who "will listen to customers rather than special interests," he said.

Under new Republican leadership, the agency is likely to focus less on writing new rules for the financial industry or extracting big fines, industry experts say. The CFPB has been working on rules concerning debt collectors and bank overdraft fees, for example, but those efforts are likely to stall under the new leadership, said industry officials.

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"The CFPB will face substantive changes in the years ahead as policymakers recalibrate the regulatory environment," said Isaac Boltansky, a Washington policy analyst for the investment firm Compass Point Research & Trading.

Cordray's decision is likely to renew speculation that he will run for governor of Ohio, where he once served as attorney general. He would have to declare his candidacy by February.

Cordray has repeatedly declined to answer questions about his political ambitions, but his potential opponents have already begun to lash out against him. One website, www.cordray2018.com, initially appears to be pro-Cordray and features a "Cordray for Ohio" slogan at the top and a large picture of the Democrat. But then the site attacks him and calls the CFPB "one of America's most corrupt government agencies."

"If Director Cordray decides to run for Governor, which is highly anticipated, the people of Ohio should be wary of his crony behavior and reject his candidacy outright," said Ken Blackwell, a former adviser to the Trump presidential transition team and former Ohio treasurer.
CNN reports:

"Ivanka Trump spoke out for the first time against embattled Alabama Senate Republican candidate Roy Moore, who has been accused of pursuing sexual relationships with teenagers when he was in his early thirties. Her father, President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has largely stayed mum on the issue.

" 'There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children,' Ivanka Trump told The Associated Press in an interview otherwise focused on tax reform published Wednesday.

" 'I've yet to see a valid explanation and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts,' the first daughter and presidential adviser said."

Really, Ivanka? Next time a news outlet snags an interview with her, it might ask:

- Why can her father not bring himself to condemn Moore?

- Would you urge Alabama voters to cast ballots for his opponent, Doug Jones?

- Is there a "special place in hell" for a man who reportedly "entered the Miss Teen USA changing room where girls as young as 15 were in various states of undress" and bragged about such situations ("I'll go backstage before a show, and everyone's getting dressed and ready and everything else")?

- Does that spot in hell have a spot for men who discuss their teenage daughter in creepy sexualized terms?

- Would that spot in hell have room for a man who reportedly tells 14-year-olds that "in a couple of years I'll be dating you"?

Ivanka Trump knows that young women and men allegedly accosted and abused by powerful men in Hollywood (e.g. Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey) have come forward with detailed accounts. Criminal investigations have been launched, series and movies canceled, and careers ruined. So:

- Is there also a special place in hell for powerful men who made crude sexual advances, grope women and use their status to quiet and defame their accusers?

- Should those women be believed if their stories are detailed, consistent with known facts and collectively portray a pattern of behavior?

Ivanka Trump doesn't like being called "complicit" in her father's policy agenda. But her great sin is helping to vouch for and normalize her father's character. His alleged predatory behavior  just as Roy Moore's  should have disqualified him from office. And yet she helped convince voters that he was a terrific guy, a feminist even.

When The New York Times ran a report extensively documenting his treatment of women, Ivanka Trump was there to defend him:

" 'Most of the time, when stories are inaccurate, they're not discredited and I will be frustrated by that. But in this case, I think they went so far,' Ivanka said. '... This is an article that is widely being discredited. The lead person who was interviewed  for the story and that the story opens up with  was all over the news yesterday, saying that they manipulated what she was saying. So you know, I don't find it that meaningful to comment on this particular story because I think the facts are starting to speak for themselves.'

"Ivanka also rejected a former colleague's claim that she had been groped by Donald Trump during a business meeting.

" 'I'm not in every interaction my father has, but he's not a groper. It's not who he is,' she said. 'And I've known my father obviously my whole life and he has total respect for women. He was promoting women in development and construction at a time when it was unheard of. There was no trend towards equality in the real estate and construction industry back in the 1980s. And he was doing it because he believes ultimately in merit.' "

Really.

In July 2016, she told the Sunday Times of London, "My father is a feminist. He's a big reason I am the woman I am today."

And in April this year in Germany, boos rained down on her when she insisted, "I've certainly heard the criticism from the media and that's been perpetuated, but I know from personal experience, and I think the thousands of women who have worked with and for my father for decades are a testament to his belief and solid conviction in the potential of women. ... As an adviser and as a daughter, I can speak on a very personal level knowing that he encouraged me and enabled me to thrive."

Whether or not Ivanka Trump knows better, she has put herself forth to validate her father's treatment of women and discredit accusers. She's in no position now to lecture us on Moore, although if she'd like now to come clean on her father's conduct and comment on his eternal punishment, she might recover some dignity and respect in the eyes of American women (and men, as well). Since that's not happening, my advice to her is to make herself scarce. Her voice only reminds us of her unforgivable complicity in selling Trump to the voters.
People attend the funeral of Piotr Szczesny in Krakow, Poland, on Nov. 14, 2017. Szczesny set himself on fire to protest against the government and ruling party. (Jacek Bednarczyk, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

More than 2,000 people turned out in Krakow and Warsaw this week for services in memory of Piotr Szczesny, a man who recently set himself on fire in protest of Polands populist government.

His act has been overshadowed by the tens of thousands of demonstrators who marched in Warsaw recently to coincide with Polands Independence Day, carrying nationalist banners and torches while chanting chauvinist slogans. But the protest of the ordinary man should not go unnoticed. Focusing attention on the perpetrators of violence and supporters of authoritarian rule only emboldens those who stir up hatred while ignoring their victims and the voices raised in opposition.

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Following Szczesnys death, the government-controlled media declared him mentally unstable but struggled to find evidence of a disease that could have urged him to take his life. Yet the disease that ravaged Szczesny is very much on the outside of his body.

Since 2015 Poland steadily but surely has been descending into authoritarianism. It started with ever-tighter control over news media and the court system, and the curtailing of reproductive rights. The centralization of government has gone hand in hand with giving in to nationalist and xenophobic sentiments.

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This turn from liberal democracy has been well documented by Western media, but the self-inflicted death of Szczesny, in his own words a gray, ordinary man, received less attention. His protest, ridiculed by the ruling elites, was also addressed to ordinary gray Poles who still have the ability to revoke the mandate to rule of the current government. He did not direct it to leaders of Polands ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, who have already demonstrated their defiance to powerful international organizations and contempt for grassroots protesters.

Before his self-immolation, Szczesny distributed a few dozen leaflets explaining his motives in 15 points  a list all too familiar to many Poles. He accused the PiS party of undermining the nations constitution, silencing the opposition, denying basic human rights to women, minorities and immigrants, and using the media as a tool of propaganda and security apparatus to support its grip on power. He also accused PiS of tarnishing the memory of the founding fathers of Polands constitution and isolating the country from the European Union and other international organizations.

Szczesny set himself on fire on the steps of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, a place rife with symbolism. Warsaws residents have for generations called it Stalins gift, because it was erected in the 1950s and bears a striking resemblance to several buildings scattered across Moscow. May 1 parades and other Communist festivities would commence in the Parade Square that wrapped around the Palace of Culture. After the transition to democracy in 1989, It became popular with teenagers thanks to the staging of musicals such as Metro, Polands contemporary rendition of La Boheme. Parade Square filled up with metal stalls, where sellers from the region traded everything from smoked cheese to Kalashnikov rifles.

Szczesny was 54 when he publicly killed himself. He came of age in the era when self-immolation had become the symbol of ultimate dissidence after Jan Palach, a Czech student, set himself on fire to protest the pacification of the Prague Spring by Warsaw Pact troops. Differences between Palach and Szczesny abound. The former was protesting communism, a system that was forced upon East Europeans by the Soviets, with the Yalta Agreement sealing their fate.

Yet the government Szczesny was protesting came to power in democratic elections, on a purportedly anti-communist agenda. Furthermore, where Palach had no choice but to die or live under a closed and oppressive regime, Szczesny could have left Poland. In contrast to generations of East Europeans before 1989, he could have applied for a passport and moved elsewhere, no questions asked. Instead of being an act of desperation, the immolation sent a desperate message laden with irony: the regime that is currently in office in Poland is no better and perhaps worse than the autocrats who perpetuated communism throughout the region.

On the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution (the Bolshevik Revolution), Poles and other emigres from Eastern Europe are, no doubt, reflecting on the Communist era. For many of us, Communism was the regime that drove us out of our homes, in many cases all the way to Chicago and other American cities. And 28 years ago, when the Iron Curtain fell, we breathed a collective sigh of relief because surely the specter of authoritarianism was no more.

But perhaps we let our guard down too early. Otherwise, why would a 54-year-old man in good health burn himself alive in the center of the Polish capital?

Monika Nalepa is an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago and the author of Skeletons in the Closet: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Europe.
Washington  The House Republicans' tax bill would somewhat improve the existing revenue system that once caused Mitch Daniels (former head of the Office of Management and Budget, former Indiana governor) to say: Wouldn't it be nice to have a tax code that looked as though it had been designed on purpose? Today's bill, which is 429 pages and is apt to grow, is an implausible instrument of simplification. And it would worsen the tax code's already substantial contribution to moral hazard.

Economists use that phrase to denote circumstances in which incentives are for perverse behavior. Today's tax code is such a circumstance, and the Republican bill would exacerbate this by expanding the $1,000 child credit to $1,600 with an additional $300 family credit for each parent and nonchild dependent, and by doubling the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples. These measures would increase the number of persons not paying income taxes and would further decrease the percentage of income tax revenues paid by low-income earners.

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Already 62 percent of American households pay more in payroll taxes than in income taxes. The bottom 50 percent of earners supply less than 3 percent of income tax revenues. Forty-five percent of American households pay no income tax, either because they earn too little or because they qualify for enough exemptions and credits to erase their liability. Sixty percent pay nothing or less than 5 percent of their income. Forty percent of earners are net recipients from the income tax because they qualify for refundable tax credits. All this means that an already large  and, if the Republican bill passes, soon to be larger  American majority has a vanishingly small incentive to restrain the growth of a government that they are not paying for through its largest revenue source.

These facts might be the results of defensible tax and social policies. They should, however, be discomfiting to those remaining conservatives  they are on the endangered species list  who dispute Dick Cheney's notion that Reagan proved deficits don't matter. Deficits matter for their political as well as  actually, even more than  their economic effects: Deficits make big government cheap, enabling the political class to charge taxpayers rather less than $1 for every $1 of government benefits dispensed. When the Bush-Cheney administration managed the last large tax cut, the publicly held national debt was 33 percent of gross domestic product. Today it is 75 percent.

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Today's Republican bill, drafted in the aftermath of the failure to repeal and replace Obamacare, is supposed to demonstrate to the party's Trumpian base that congressional majorities matter and must be extended. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has said (to USA Today): If we had a whole bunch of wins on major items up to this point, would we perhaps be a little bit more deliberate in our negotiations? I think the answer is yes. But the facts about participation in the income tax mean that the bill is unlikely to assuage the injured feelings of core Trump supporters, understood as downscale white working-class voters who supposedly are seething because they are not benefiting enough from burdensome government. They might have valid grievances, but not ones that can be addressed by income tax rate reductions for individuals. Payroll tax reductions would be another matter.

And all individual earners will benefit to some extent from cutting the corporate rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. The incidence of corporate taxation  who actually pays it  is fiercely debated by economists, a remarkably cocksure cohort with strikingly divergent views about the degree to which corporate taxation depresses the wages of the corporations' workers, curtails shareholders' dividends, and is passed on to consumers in the costs of corporations' products. Suffice it to say that corporations do not pay taxes, they collect taxes. Uncertainty about the incidence of corporate taxation is one reason the Republican bill's corporate tax rate is 20 points too high.

This year's best tax bill, which Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.,has introduced six times since 2006, is four pages long and contains fewer words (411) than the new Republican bill has pages. It could be titled The What You Wished For, Mitch Daniels' Act. It is titled, with almost unprecedented accuracy, the Tax Code Termination Act. It would nullify the existing 4-million-word code as of Dec. 31, 2021, and require that by July 4 of that year it must be replaced by a new one, which would necessarily be one designed on purpose.

The Washington Post Writers Group

George Will is a Washington Post columnist.

georgewill@washpost.com
Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin during a recent visit to McHenry County assailed the Republican-led tax reform proposals that are making their way through Congress. Durbin was in the right place with the wrong message.

McHenry County residents pay among the states highest property taxes. Fast-growing upscale subdivisions, school expansion projects, multiple layers of local government and slower commercial and industrial development sent tax levies soaring, starting about two decades ago.

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Republicans in the U.S. Senate have proposed a tax overhaul that would eliminate the itemized deduction known as SALT, for state and local taxes. The House version, which could be voted on Thursday, keeps some of the deduction in place but caps it at $10,000. Durbin describes the SALT deduction as crucial relief for middle-class families in Illinois and other states with heavy tax burdens, such as New York. Weve seen increases in our state income tax. We face regular increases in property taxes. This is the one deduction that gives these families a little bit of help and the Republicans are eliminating it, Durbin said this week on the Senate floor.

Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo breathlessly unloaded on social media, castigating the Senate GOPs idea of eliminating the deduction. In an Oct. 27 post on Twitter, he wrote: New York will be destroyed if the deductibility of state and local taxes is included in any final plan that passes the House.

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Destroyed? Some states sure have become dependent on deductions. Local and state politicians try to excuse the high taxes they impose by citing SALT: Sure, were gouging you, but you can write off our taxes on your federal tax return.

Hello, Illinois. According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, Illinois ranks third-highest in property taxes paid as a percentage of housing value, based on 2015 figures. This state ranks 10th-highest in property tax collections per capita, according to fiscal year 2014 data, the most recent numbers analyzed. Because of that heavy property tax burden, Durbins friends in state and local governments want Congress to keep the deduction in place. In other words: Save us! Because if the yokels cant write off all these taxes, they might rebel.

Now were at the root of the dispute over the SALT deduction: Illinois politicians wouldnt need to fight so hard to retain it if property taxes  and a 32-percent rise in the personal income tax rate (to 4.95 percent) that took effect in July  werent so high in the first place. So lets credit the GOP tax reform push for forcing this issue: Why are Illinois taxes so high? How about addressing that problem instead of reaching for the deduction Band-Aid?

Illinois taxpayers support nearly 7,000 units of local government, more than any other state in the country. McHenry County knows that firsthand too. County Board Chairman Jack Franks has long championed reducing unnecessary layers of government and recently tussled with a local sanitary district over his smart proposal to merge it with a village government.

Illinois also shoulders one of the nations largest unfunded public pension liabilities  around $130 billion for Springfield and billions more for local governments. Roughly 25 cents of every state dollar goes toward pension obligations. And its worse in some local fiefdoms struggling to keep pace with the pension demands of municipal workers, police officers, firefighters and even elected officials who want retirement bucks for their part-time work. All that high overhead helps explain Illinois high property taxes, rising income tax, draconian fees, silly local taxes. Makes you want to sit a spell and sip a soda.

But rather than burrow into the actual problems that lead to higher state and local taxes, critics of removing or modifying the SALT deduction blame congressional reformers whose lower deductions would allow marginal tax rates to drop. That would help all Americans. As is, residents of states with lower taxes have to subsidize the high taxes collected by Illinois, by New York, by California ...

We get it. Nobody wants to pay more in taxes. Deductions seem to soften the blow, even if they drive marginal tax rates higher. But if were truth-telling, a deduction that serves as mere salve for a governments tax-and-spend addiction isnt sound public policy. Its not a solution. Its like sticking the pacifier in the babys mouth to keep it quiet a little longer. Eventually, the pacifier has to go.
The slimmed-down county budget includes hundreds fewer employees at the Cook County Jail. So no, the sheriffs office cant afford to assign a platoon of correctional officers to discourage inmates from masturbating in front of their public defenders.

And no, this behavior cant be allowed to continue.

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Groups of detainees crowd around the glass walls of a meeting room, flashing or fondling their privates while staring lewdly and aggressively at female assistant public defenders and law clerks as they attempt to discuss legal matters with their clients, according to a federal lawsuit filed by several of those assistant PDs.

This crude behavior poses a dilemma for the PDs, 60 percent of whom are women. These attorneys and the law clerks who assist them are tasked with defending the legal rights of those who do not have access to private attorneys, they explain in their lawsuit, but are repeatedly and increasingly subjected to incidents of indecent exposure, masturbation, assault and battery at the jail or courthouse lockups.

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It all adds up to a toxic work environment caused and perpetuated by Sheriff Tom Dart and Public Defender Amy Campanelli, the suit says. Two similar lawsuits have been filed by female sheriffs deputies and jail employees.

It seems to us that the toxic work environment is caused and perpetuated by the deviant detainees, though its true that jail officials havent been able to stop it.

Charging an inmate with misdemeanor indecent exposure, punishable by 180 days in jail, has little effect  especially since it often gets dismissed by prosecutors. In their suit, the assistant PDs complain that their boss, Campanelli, opposed legislation that would have upgraded indecent exposure under some circumstances from a misdemeanor to a felony, and that she objected to inmates being handcuffed in the holding areas and even apologized to them.

At the same time, the assistant PDs are upset that Campanelli told them to stop meeting with their clients at the lockup at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, according to their lawsuit. This interferes with their ability to do their jobs, they say.

Its understandable that public defenders feel professionally conflicted. A PD is supposed to be a defendants advocate within the criminal justice system, and the obvious remedy  throwing the book at the offenders  seem at odds with that. But too bad.

It makes sense to remove detainees who engage in this crude conduct from the settings in which it occurs. Misbehave in the courthouse lockup? You dont get to attend your next court appearance in person. This is a good argument for video conferencing those court dates, something Campanelli and Chief Judge Timothy Evans have resisted. It has worked well elsewhere.

We cant summon any indignation about handcuffing inmates in a courthouse lockup, either, though it increases staffing demands. Prisoners have to be cuffed with their hands behind their backs, for obvious reasons, and jail standards require someone to check on them every 15 minutes.

But lets talk about some serious deterrents.

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Darts office has pushed for a law that would force a detainee to register as a sex offender after two convictions for indecent exposure while in custody. That designation carries a dark and indelible stain, in prison and after. The mere threat of ending up on that registry ought to make inmates think twice. Bring it.

Another measure would allow the sheriff to revoke credit for good behavior, so it couldnt be used to reduce an eventual prison sentence. Thats far more effective than a misdemeanor charge that doesnt stick. State lawmakers should make that happen too.

Yes, these are steep consequences. But they are easily avoided by keeping hands where they belong. And it makes a lot more sense to punish the violators than to sue the taxpayers. Its really not that complicated.
State Rep. Michael McAuliffe, R-Chicago, was out of town Wednesday morning when a neighbor called with some news. Union members were protesting outside his under-construction Northwest Side home with signs, a billboard truck and a two-story inflatable rat squatting in the parkway.

Shame on Representative Michael P. McAuliffe for using rat contractors, read the billboard truck, which roamed the neighborhood and at one point parked outside his childrens school, he was told. The gaggle disrupted traffic and blocked sidewalks along his usually quiet street.

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Ive been in politics for many years and I know everything keeps going to a new low, McAuliffe said. Its pretty disturbing. You can say and do what you want, but leave my wife out and especially my kids.

McAuliffe warned his wife to take a different route to drop off their 5-year-old and 7-year-old at school. The family has been staying elsewhere during the remodeling project, but they often drive by in the morning to take a peek at the progress.

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At least two unions  International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150  participated in the gaudy demonstration. Their goal was to shame McAuliffe, in part for hiring a contractor who isnt using all-union labor.

But their broader message was a warning about his votes during the legislatures fall veto session. McAuliffe refused to support a statewide ban on right-to-work zones, which are economic development tools that allow municipalities to lift union-membership rules as a way to attract businesses. Gov. Bruce Rauner introduced the idea of right-to-work zones when he was first elected, but only one suburb, Lincolnshire, approved one. A federal judge later struck it down. The village is appealing.

In June, the Democrat-led, or should we say union-bought, legislature sent Rauner a bill declaring right-to-work zones illegal under state law. The legislation included criminal penalties for elected officials who violated the ban. Yes, throw mayors and village trustees in jail for enacting right-to-work zones to spur economic development. Brilliant.

Rauner vetoed the bill. And in the fall veto session, the House twice failed by one vote to override his veto. The bill is dead for now. Good. RIP.

Do lawmakers who voted for this goofy bill realize Illinois is surrounded by right-to-work states that are attracting employers  and jobs? Do lawmakers understand that economic development officers in all those other states had to be thrilled with the message that a majority of Illinois legislators were sending?

McAuliffe, the only House Republican representing parts of Chicago, generally votes pro-union. But his refusal to go along with an absurd overreach planted a target on his back. Thus the juvenile protest on his front lawn.

So remind us, whos a rat?
Some people grasp the injury and the scars  mental and physical  inflicted by four centuries of slavery. Others just say "Get over it"  as though generations of servitude followed by another century of Jim Crow segregation can be laid aside like a winter coat come spring.



Early in November the Chicago Tribune published an op-ed by a former law professor at the California Western School of Law titled "Slavery: Let it go." The author wrote that he is an African-American, second cousin, seven times removed of President George Washington.

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Professor W. F. Twyman Jr. argued that "the greatest threat to a healthy black culture and consciousness today is an inability to see beyond slave holding."

"Dwelling on slaveholding creates a desire to get back at others, to lash out," he continued. "One feels entitled to destroy institutions due to the original sin of slavery."

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Really? The professor might do well to listen to his daughter, who told her dad she doesn't share his pride in being a Washington descendant because "I'm only related to Washington because he raped someone." From the mouths of babes!

Consider instead the fine work being done by Princeton University's "Princeton and Slavery Project." According to The New York Times, Princeton has joined more than a dozen old-line universities that have acknowledged slave-holder ties. Georgetown University, for instance, is renaming some campus buildings, establishing a formal course on slavery and reaching out to the descendants of the slaves sold by the university in 1838. Several will get preferential admission and financial aid.



These institutions understand that "Get over it" is an excuse to wallow in ignorance and squander opportunities to pursue recognition, accountability and change. Yet the old practice of not publishing, suppressing, ignoring or looking past black injury is still in play.



At a recent session of the Chicago Humanities Festival, columnist Mary Schmich engaged with Colson Whitehead, author of "The Underground Railroad." They talked of Colson's book and especially its protagonist, Cora, a runaway slave, along with the slavery experience which she endured.

Schmich said Cora's story brought her to tears and asked some very poignant questions. She appeared forlorn as she grappled with the question: "What's a white person to do when they engage with such horrific, historical facts  facts still playing out in various ways today?"

Colson had no reply.

As a 21st century African-American businessman, I'm fortunate  unlike so many of my enslaved ancestors  to be free to make informed choices. So who's going to bring change: George Washington's professorial cousin, seven times removed, urging us to look beyond slavery; or Schmich, the Tribune's most humane columnist, who digs deeper and is moved to tears by what she discovers?

I'm putting my money on Schmich.

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 Paul King, Chicago
A Black Lives Matter protest, held in response to the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, both fatally shot by police officers, takes place in downtown Tampa on July 11, 2016. (Loren Elliott / AP)

Does Jeff Sessions know whats going on in his own Justice Department?

When he was questioned in a House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday about an FBI report on black extremists that has alarmed some lawmakers, he sounded disturbingly clueless.

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Yet the 12-page report raises serious questions. Titled Black Identity Extremists Likely Motivated to Target Law Enforcement Officers, it identifies a threat that may not exist  or at least, not in the way that the FBI describes it.

Prepared by the FBIs Domestic Terrorism Analysis Unit in August and first reported last month by Foreign Policys website, the report singles out a Black Identity Extremist movement, or BIE, as a violent threat motivated by perceptions of unjust treatment of African-Americans and the perceived unchallenged illegitimate actions of law enforcement.

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And who is this movement? The report describes a half-dozen highly publicized killings of police officers by black perpetrators in various cities and links them under the BIE label based on no other apparent connection but their reported hatred for police.

The crimes are horrendous, but the ideological link hardly amounts to a conspiracy. Under questioning by Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., Sessions admitted with visible discomfort that he had not read the report. However, he said, he was aware that some groups that had "an extraordinary commitment to their racial identity" had "transformed themselves even into violent activists."

Sensing an obvious problem with that reasoning, Bass asked if Sessions knew of any groups that could be called "white identity extremists?" With an awkward chuckle, Sessions responded that none was "coming to me at this moment.

That sounded particularly odd coming so soon after a rally by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va., led to one death and more than a dozen injuries. It also brought to mind an episode that came up during Sessions confirmation hearings: In the 1980s, he allegedly joked to colleagues that he thought the Ku Klux Klan was "OK  until I found out they smoked pot."

Sessions eventually acknowledged that he was aware of the Klan and "the skinhead movement"  and the absence of any recent FBI report on white identity groups that target law enforcement officers.

That response misses an important point. If any agency should refrain from singling out individuals and groups based on their opposition to racial injustice and police misconduct, it is the FBI. The BIE report brings back ugly memories of J. Edgar Hoovers infamous COINTELPRO, counterintelligence program, that targeted civil rights activists as varied as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Illinois Black Panther leaders Fred Hampton and Mark Clark.

In 1975, a Senate committee chaired by Sen. Frank Church, an Idaho Democrat, uncovered dirty COINTELPRO tricks dating to 1956, including eavesdropping, anonymous phone calls, IRS audits and the infiltration of civil rights groups by agent provocateurs to stoke violence.

Terrorists come in more than one color. After the Aug. 12 Charlottesville violence, the nonpartisan New America Foundations terrorism project reported that since Sept. 11, 2001, in the U.S. 103 people have been killed in domestic terror attacks by jihadists, 68 by far-right extremists and eight by black separatists, nationalists or supremacists.

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Congress, using the Church committee as its model, should make sure the FBI is using its resources to pursue actual terrorists, not to penalize the innocent who are simply seeking justice.

Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage.

cpage@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @cptime
J.B. Pritzker is a billionaire Democratic candidate for Illinois Governor. As one of his opponents recently pointed out Mr. Pritzker has not released his tax returns. When pressed about this Pritzker stumbles and fumbles and says "it's complicated". Using the words another billionaire candidate used on the very same subject. Donald Trump said "it's complicated" and we STILL haven't seen his returns. To their credit the Pritzker campaign has said they are now planning to release the returns December 6. We'll see...
Were now accepting entries for the Nelson Algren Awards, which is a nationally recognized contest for original short fiction.

Entries can be submitted until the deadline of 11:59 p.m. Feb. 7. The stories can be no more than 8,000 words.

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The program is named in honor of Chicago literary great Nelson Algren. We expect nearly 3,000 entries, with monetary prizes given to the top 10 stories.

Details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/algren-contest.

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If there are questions, please send a note to ReaderHelp@chicagotribune.com
Before a cold front passed through the area Wednesday, temperatures exceeded 50 degrees for just the third day this month and readings were above average for the first time in 11 days.

Thursday, Chicago will be positioned in the southern portion of an extensive cool high pressure area centered north of Lake Superior, so temperatures are expected to dip back below normal, struggling to reach the 40-degree mark.

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However, this too will pass quickly, and as the high pressure recedes off to the east, southerly winds will return Friday, warming temperatures back toward 50 degrees. Another cold front should approach from the west preceded by a broad band of cloudiness, spreading showers and eventually thunderstorms into our area beginning Friday afternoon with heaviest rainfall Friday night into Saturday. Much colder air will follow with snow flurries Sunday.
Max Dobner, 19, of Aurora, died June 14, 2011 when he smashed his car into a house while under the influence of a synthetic drug mimicking marijuana. (Courtesy of Dobner family)

Following a thwarted attempt to withdraw her guilty plea, the sentencing hearing for an Aurora shop owner who sold a teen synthetic marijuana hours before his death was continued to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Ruby Mohsin pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to distribute the synthetic drug, which an Aurora teen bought at her store inside the Fox Valley Mall in 2011 and smoked with a friend before he crashed his car into a North Aurora house.

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Mohsin's sentencing began Wednesday and was scheduled to continue Thursday, but after conferring with attorneys for both sides, the judge agreed to postpone the proceedings until Nov. 28.

"Can you with a straight face say this was a traffic accident?" Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr. asked the federal defender representing Mohsin on Wednesday, referring to the crash that killed Aurora college student Max Dobner, 19.

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Throughout the hearing, Norgle repeatedly emphasized that "marijuana is not on trial here."

Federal defender Piyush Chandra, representing Mohsin, asked the judge Wednesday for permission to withdraw the guilty plea. Norgle told Chandra he could file a written motion, but that he would not accept it verbally.

Chandra repeated the request, ignoring the judge's repeated orders to sit down. Chandra talked over the judge, begging him to allow the motion to withdraw the plea before proceeding with sentencing. The judge called for a break. When court resumed, Chandra continued to press for a plea withdrawal motion until he was escorted back to his seat at the defense table next to Mohsin, who sobbed loudly, continuing to cry as the judge called another break.

"Please just give me a chance," Mohsin said.

Mohsin, owner of the Cigar Box in the Aurora mall, faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Smoke shop employee Mohammad Khan also was charged and is due for sentencing Nov. 28.

Suliman Tanus, who pleaded guilty in December 2016 to knowingly and intentionally distributing a substance containing synthetic marijuana knowing it was intended for human consumption in both Aurora and North Carolina, is due for sentencing Friday morning. The Probation Office has recommended a sentence of 35 months in prison for Tanus.

Tanus bought the synthetics in wholesale quantities from Kevin Seydel of Bettendorf, Iowa, who made the drugs and sold them to customers in other states including Louisiana, North Carolina and Illinois, according to court documents.

Seydel mixed synthetic marijuana with acetone and put the mixture on marshmallow leaf, then added flavoring and dried it, according to court documents. He bought some of the chemicals he used from China, wire transferring money from a bank in Iowa.

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In May 2011, Seydel was arrested in Iowa and stepped back from the synthetic drug business, bequeathing Tanus with his formula for making synthetic marijuana and customer list in return for a share of the proceeds from future sales, according to court records.

Among those customers was Mohsin, according to records.

Seydel pleaded guilty in December to charges including conspiracy to distribute the synthetics and conspiracy to transmit and transfer money from the U.S. to another country with the intent to promote the importation, possession and distribution of controlled substance analogues. Seydel was sentenced in June to four years in prison followed by two years of supervised release and fined $25,000.

In her plea, Mohsin said between January and Aug. 12, 2011, she sold products with names like iAroma, Zero Gravity and Head Trip. The products were labeled as potpourri and not for human consumption, but she and Khan sold them knowing customers were buying them to smoke or ingest to get a marijuana-like high, according to plea documents.

In June 2011, Mohsin sold three single-gram packages of iAroma Hypnotic, Train Wreck and Mango at the Cigar Box to Max Dobner and a friend for $20.

Later that day, Dobner drove his car into a house. The homeowners were in the backyard, according to statements made in court.

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Dobner's mother, along with her mother and cousin, attended Wednesday's hearing, as did some of Mohsin's family. Mohsin's family members declined comment.

Karen Dobner said going to court has brought painful emotions back to the surface. She also said she does not believe Mohsin has shown remorse.

The only witness called Wednesday was Drug Enforcement Agency pharmacologist Jordan Trecki, who addressed the potency of the types of synthetic marijuana relevant to the case, emphasizing how strong even small amounts can be compared to the plant and how prevalently makers switch up the chemical composition of the drugs in order to skirt the law.

hleone@tribpub.com

Twitter @hannahmleone
Tickets for the annual Geneva Christmas House Tour are now available for purchase. ( Geneva Chamber of Commerce )

Tickets for the annual Geneva Christmas House Tour are now available through the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.

Homes will be open to visitors for self-guided tours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 2.

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Tickets include a traditional holiday tea and a booklet with Christmas decorating and entertaining ideas.

Tickets are $35 and proceeds are used to decorate Geneva for the holiday season. Once purchased, tickets can be picked up from 10 S. Third St.

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To buy tickets, call 630-232-6060; order online at genevechamber.com/housetourtickets; or buy them at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, 8 S. Third St., and a number of Geneva shops.

Literary event in Batavia

Waterline Writers will host a literary event and open mic at 7 p.m. Sunday at Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water St. in Batavia.

Vida Cross will read her poetry from "Bronzeville at Night: 1949," which includes works inspired by the paintings of Archibald J. Motley Jr.

Lynne Handy will read the first chapter from her book "Where the River Runs Deep."

Wayne E. Johnson will present scenes from his work "The Militarized Zone: What Did You Do in the Army, Grandpa?"

Humor writer Kurt Luchs will share letters from "It's Funny Until Someone Loses an Eye (Then it's Really Funny)."

Chris Reid will perform spoken word poems.

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The five-minute-limit open mic allows other writers to share their work.

Wine and beer from Solemn Oath Brewery and Bright Angel Wines will be available, accompanied by meats and cheeses from The Market at Gaetano's. Wooden Writers will sell hand-tooled pens and Tieri Ton Books will sell hand-constructed books.

Admission is $5, or $3 for students.

For information, contact Anne Veague or Kevin Moriarity at waterlinewriters@gmail.com.

Giving Tree in St. Charles

From Nov. 20 to Dec. 13, the St. Charles Giving Tree will be in the lobby of the Municipal Building, 2 E. Main St.

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This year, the tree will be decorated with the gift wishes of developmentally disabled people from the Association for Individual Development and a local family in need from the Tri-City Family Services adopt-a-family program.

To participate, select one or more of the tags from the Giving Tree, purchase the items and return the unwrapped gifts to the tree before Dec. 12. Items on the tags are at all price levels. The gifts will be wrapped and delivered in time for Christmas, according to a press release from the city of St. Charles.

Cash donations are also welcome, and are used to purchase items on tags not selected. Cash donations can be left with the city receptionist in the lobby at the Municipal Building, according to the release.

The Giving Tree program is coordinated by the city's Employee Wellness Team. For more information on the Giving Tree program, contact the city's Human Resources Department at 630-377-4446 or hr@stcharlesil.gov.

Got Pulse? Columnist Joy Davis is looking for interesting, quirky and just plain funny stories about people and places in the Fox Valley. Email her at joydavis234@gmail.com.
Scientel Solutions was looking to build a new office and warehouse on this site on Eola Road, near Diehl Road, to relocate its headquarters. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News )

The Aurora City Council this week voted 7-3 to turn down revisions to a plan that would have allowed Scientel Solutions Inc. to put its headquarters at 245 N. Eola Road.

In doing so, aldermen turned down the headquarters of a wireless telecommunications company, the 50 jobs it would have brought, and gave Mayor Richard Irvin a rare defeat since taking office in May.

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The vote did not sit well with Irvin.

"What the aldermen pretty much said was they don't want 50 jobs, that they know better than the experts," the mayor said after the meeting. "I think they were wrong. If they were truly concerned about the fate of Aurora, they would understand the importance of attracting business to the city."

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In the end, aldermen voted in favor of CyrusOne, a data storage company on the southwest corner of Diehl and Eola roads, across the street from the Scientel location.

They said the company deserves consideration for the huge investment it has put into the Aurora location. They also objected to a 195-foot communications tower Scientel planned for the 2.66-acre site, saying instead the company should look to co-locate its facilities on a 350-foot tower CyrusOne plans to build on its site, possibly by the end of the year.

Ald. Richard Mervine, 8th Ward, who has been against the Scientel plan since it was at the committee level, pointed out that CyrusOne handles the data for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as well as nine other foreign financial exchanges. That makes it one of the two most important locations to the U.S. financial system, he said.

As a result, companies have been vying to get as close as possible to the CyrusOne location. Mervine said that's the reason the city's new telecommunications ordinance, which took more than a year to develop, expected and anticipated companies to co-locate on towers, rather than have the area proliferate with them.

He said 120 different entities that could locate on the towers are planned, and that if the city fails to encourage co-location, "we have an opportunity for dozens and dozens of towers."

"The real issue is how we as a city are going to handle some of our more important development issues," he said.

Ald. Robert O'Connor, at large, said if the council approved the Scientel tower, it could encourage other companies to come in expecting to have their own towers. That runs counter to what the city contemplated in its ordinance.

"I'm concerned we really are changing our overall policy," he said.

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Joining Mervine and O'Connor in voting against Scientel were Ald. Tina Bohman, 1st Ward, Theodore Mesiacos, 3rd Ward, William Donnell, 4th Ward, Michael Saville, 6th Ward, and Edward Bugg, 9th Ward.

Voting for Scientel were Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, Judd Lofchie, 10th Ward, and Sherman Jenkins, at large. Two aldermen, Juany Garza, 2nd Ward, and Scheketa Hart-Burns, 7th Ward, were absent.

The debate this week, as in the past, centered on telecommunications legal distinctions, and a little bit of looking into the future.

While CyrusOne has had City Council permission to build its tower for more than a year, it has not done so. CyrusOne officials said this week they hope to have the tower built by the end of the year.

That prompted Franco to point out that because neither the CyrusOne nor the Scientel towers are built, the council is voting on possible problems that may not take place.

"I'm a little uncomfortable denying a business based on potential problems," he said.

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In objecting to the Scientel tower, CyrusOne officials said they thought the tower would interfere with the communications from their tower.

But Attorney Neil Ende, lead attorney for the Washington, D.C.-based Technology Law Group, LLC, a telecommunications law specialist, told aldermen federal law prohibits any local jurisdiction from having any authority over the question of broadcast interference.

The city hired Ende to study its jurisdiction in the matter.

He said the sole decision maker on broadcast interference is the Federal Communications Commission.

"My main point is, the city is agnostic on this point; you have no authority," he said.

Those supporting the Scientel development said that meant the city could approve the plan, and the FCC would work out any question of broadcast interference between the towers.

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That was Irvin's main point. He said while he respects and appreciates CyrusOne's investment in Aurora, "we can never let one company limit our growth."

He took exception to the attitude that Aurora was "lucky" CyrusOne came to town, and that it was because "we have a lot to offer here." He said the city should be using the fact CyrusOne located in Aurora to bring in more business.

"Why would we prevent another company from coming into our city?" he said. "We want other companies to invest in our city too."

slord@tribpub.com
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, left, and Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, far right, hosted a press conference earlier this month to oppose a state Senate bill that would take away local control over small cell wireless installations. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News )

A bill concerning small cell wireless installations that Aurora area communities united to oppose has been held in the state Senate.

SB1451, known as the Small Cell Wireless Bill, was held by State Senate President John Cullerton, although the bill did pass both the House and Senate during the recent veto session.

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The hold will give state officials a chance to negotiate with local officials to address what the locals fear would take away local regulation.

More negotiation is what Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, along with three county board members and seven mayors of other area communities, asked for when they held a news conference last week to show a united front against the bill.

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The local officials said SB1451 would take away local regulation of small cell wireless installations  both in where they are located in local rights-of-way and on existing municipal light and power poles, and how many are allowed in any one place.

Officials agreed they want the resulting technology addressed in the bill  the more powerful 5G network for cell phones. But they said they need to be able to control what goes in local rights-of-way, and where.

This week, Irvin said he "would hope" the bill was held because state officials heard what local officials were saying during events like the press conference Aurora and Naperville held.

"They have to listen to what the cities are saying," Irvin said.

slord@tribpub.com
Tom White talks to Village Board members about his concerns on allocations to the pension fund in November 2016. He made similar objections this year. (Kevin Beese / Pioneer Press )

Tom White is not happy with the funding structure for the Burr Ridge Police Pension plan and wants everyone to know it.

White, a Burr Ridge resident and former pension plan advisory member, urged the Village Board Mondayto increase funding for the police pension fund. White has brought his argument in front of the board for the past two years and has expressed concerns for the health of the fund.

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The proposed total levy for 2017 is $1,219,360, a 6.1 percent increase over 2016. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Village Hall, 7660 County Line Road.

Once the pension requirement is determined, remaining money is divided with 60 percent to the village's corporate fund and 40 percent for police protection. In this budget, $748,665 will go to the pension fund, $282,417 to the corporate fund and $188,278 for police services.

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White argued the funding is not being looked at correctly.

"We need to fund on an actuarial basis not on a state mandated minimum," he said. "The village of Burr Ridge, like other municipalities, is balancing its budget on the backs of pension."

White said that deficits are increasing and the funding is being made on discounted numbers. He says funding on an actuarial basis would mean looking at actual data on the number of officers, dates of hire, dates of expected retirement and mortality rates.

Village administrator Douglas Pollock admitted there are differing viewpoints on budgeting the fund, including that of the police pension advisory board that reported the proposed funding is too conservative.

"The advisory board wants more money put into the fund. However, we are following the state of Illinois mandated guidelines and are at 70 percent funded," Pollock said. "The fund is performing well and we will meet the mandated goal of full funding by 2040."

White said that while the pension fund has had a good year, the deficit continues to grow.

"At some point there will be a crisis and cutbacks will have to be made. Burr Ridge will end up in the same situation the state of Illinois is in, maybe in 10 years, maybe in five," he said.

He said it is not necessary to raise taxes, but to better allocate and prioritize tax funds. He said the majority of municipalities are in the same position because they are listening to the state and not thinking about their own needs. White said that since 1993, the state has allowed two options for funding pensions: pay as you go or pay less now and much more later.

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"The first method is actuarial, the second is not," he said.

But Pollock said the goal of the fund is being met and the fund is performing well. The advisory board, he said, is of course only focused on the pension fund while village officials have to look at the overall budget and all expenses.

"We need to balance present needs with the future," Pollock said.

Diane Dachota is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
A 25-year-old Rolling Meadows man was sentenced to 30 days in Cook County Jail on Wednesday after he admitted he punched another driver when they stopped on Interstate 290 in the northwest suburbs during a road rage incident in July.

Daniel Amezcua, of the 2700 block of North Hampton Drive, pleaded guilty to battery in the incident in which he was stabbed and suffered a non-life threatening injury, authorities said.

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Illinois State Police said Amezcua began yelling at the other driver and then pulled in front of him, stopping both cars in rush hour traffic near Biesterfield Road on July 7. Amezcua got out of his car and punched the other driver in the head and face, prompting the driver to stab Amezcua in the chest with a knife, police said.

The two left the scene and drove to the area of Arlington Heights Road and Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village, where Amezcua was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery, police reported.

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The other driver was not charged.

George Houde is a freelance reporter.
It turns out Abraham Lincoln may have some advice that applies for 2017s discord, too. (Craig Harmon / AP )

In a year when it seems like we've been re-fighting the Civil War over what statues should stay and which ones should be taken down, it might be well to remember that the first national Thanksgiving was celebrated during the tumult of that war.

Following the Union victory at Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Lincoln did not mention whether turkey or cranberry sauce should be on the menu, but he had a few choice words to say about the purpose of the day, which should be a "day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent father who dwelleth in the heavens.

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"And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also," Lincoln went on, "with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union."

What an amazing statement.

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It is clear that Lincoln is urging all Americans to give thanks to the Almighty for all the national blessings we enjoy. But he also urges us to do penance, to ask forgiveness for our "national perverseness and disobedience," Lincoln said.

That is an important point to ponder. Lincoln urged all Americans to seek forgiveness. Not just the South. Not just the Confederacy. Not just the slaveholders.

And he called our sin, which not doubt was the sin of slavery, "our national perverseness and disobedience."

Once again, he did not describe it as a sectional wrong. He didn't presume that the sin of slavery, which stained our nation from its beginnings, was just the fault of one section. He didn't say the Union, the North or the free states were blameless.

No, it was our national perverseness and disobedience.

We all were at fault. No one was blameless.

And so it is today as the term "racist" and "racism" is thrown about over national policy as if one party is pure and some other is to blame for every evil thing that still afflicts our nation.

The fact is the United States is somewhat of a paradox. It has always been so. It will always be so.

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We strive for justice and equality. Sometimes we achieve it. But most of the time it is a struggle to rise above our poor human natures that all too often fall into prejudice and a false feeling of superiority over our neighbors about such insignificant differences as skin color or national origin.

So when you sit down at your Thanksgiving table this year, certainly give thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings bestowed upon this great nation. Yet we should also reflect on the ways we fall short to live up to our own national creed of freedom and justice for all, and, as Lincoln urged us so many years ago, to humbly ask for divine mercy for our sins, to care for our fellow citizens who suffer from the injury inflicted by their neighbors, and to bring us to national unity.

Randy Blaser is a freelance columnist.
Dear Help Squad,

I read with interest your column 'Health insurance and open enrollment  what you need to know' (www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-ppn-column-help-squad-tl-1026-20171020-story.html). I am presently an individual health insurance holder with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. Several weeks ago, I received notice from BCBSIL that my present Advocate Healthcare HMO plan would no longer be available, effective January 2018. They mentioned I would be put into a new plan. After getting the notification from BCBSIL regarding the change in my insurance coverage, I promptly gave a call to my insurance agent here in Lake Zurich. She told me most likely I would be placed into a plan one metal level up; that would have me going from bronze to silver. Can the insurance company legitimately put me into a plan at a higher level, most likely meaning a significantly higher premium?

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Thank you very much,

Sheila, Lake Zurich

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For an answer to Sheila's question, I went directly to the source; I spoke with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois public affairs spokesperson Colleen Miller.

Miller told me that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has simplified and reduced its health plan offerings "to make them easier for consumers to review and select the coverage best suited to their needs." This means that there will now be fewer options at each metal level (bronze, silver, gold), but she stated there are no significant changes to the provider networks. She made a point of mentioning that, "in some instances, we've been able to reduce out-of- pocket costs for members through lower deductibles."

As she didn't explain how premium costs would be affected, I asked if they would be going up, and if so, by what amount. Miller replied via email, "Our rates account for keeping pace with escalating health care costs and the growing use of that care. Actual out-of-pocket costs will differ based on the financial assistance consumers receive from the government to offset their total monthly premium cost."

That last statement isn't just non-committal PR spin. According to an Oct. 30 research brief published by the Department of Health and Human Services titled "Health Plan Choice and Premiums in the 2018 Federal Health Insurance Exchange," many individuals and families who experience a premium increase to their Affordable Care Act policies for 2018  the average increase is 37 percent  will actually pay less this year because subsidies are going up even more  an average of 45 percent. The report states that the average 2018 tax credit will rise from $382 in 2017 to $555 in 2018.

Subsidies are based on two factors: the federal poverty level combined with a policy's price  both of which have increased for 2018. For this reason, consumers with gross incomes between 138 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level will qualify for subsidies in 2018.

In real terms this affects individuals with an income below $48,240, couples with an income of less than $64,960 and families of four with an income of less than $98,400. As a result, many people will be able to purchase better insurance for less money because they will receive a larger tax credit. It also means that some consumers who didn't previously qualify for subsidies will now qualify in 2018. Consumers can quickly determine if they qualify for a subsidy by going to www.healthcare.gov, searching "subsidy" and entering the requested household and residence information into the calculator.

Regarding Sheila's question about potentially being mapped to a higher level plan, Miller explained that BCBSIL policy holders "can either keep the comparable plan we've recommended and then be automatically enrolled, or they may select any plan from BCBSIL's 2018 product offering during the 2018 Open Enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 1, through Dec. 15, 2017 ... We encourage everyone to look at all their options to find a plan that best suits their needs and budget."

Miller advised that if Sheila or others have questions or need additional support during the enrollment process, BCBSIL has increased the number of dedicated customer service representatives and product specialists available for assistance. Consumers can reach the BCBSIL sales center at (855) 813-1465 every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST.

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Need help?

Send your questions, complaints, injustices and column ideas to HelpSquad@pioneerlocal .com.

Cathy Cunningham is a freelance columnist.
All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week
Tsinghua University in Beijing has installed vending machines that sell HIV test kits on its campus, reports Beijing Youth Daily.

The test kits are priced at 30 yuan (around 4.5 USD) each, only about one tenth of the market price.

Through the vending machines, students can buy the test kits, have their urine tested at medical institutions and review the results online. The entire process is anonymous.

On Monday, the first day of the machines' installation, all of the test kits were sold out.

Tsinghua University is the latest higher education institution in Beijing to add the test kits to their vending machines. Previously, 11 other universities in Beijing's Haidian District had begun offering the product.

The local disease control and prevention center says that all the universities in the district will have vending machines carrying the test kits by the end of next year.

"The move also creates an opportunity to promote HIV prevention awareness. The effect we want to achieve is that young people will run the test before having sex and not the other way around," says Jiang Chu, head of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Haidian.

The percentage of new HIV infections among Chinese students between the ages of 15 and 24 had risen from 5.77% in 2008 to 16.58% in 2014, according to statistics released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
Forty million residents in Dezhou City of Shandong Province are benefiting from the water diverted from the Yangtze River through the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

The Datun reservoir, located on the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, is the major water supply for Dezhou City in Shandong Province. [Photo by Cui Can/China.org.cn]



The eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project has channeled more than 2 billion cubic meters of water from China's wetter south to the arid north since November 2013, benefiting 40 million people in Shandong Province, according to the officials from the Shandong South-to-North Water Diversion Construction Bureau.

One villager, Zhang Jinyun, said he feels water quality is better than before when using underground water as drinking and irrigation sources.

"We used to drink the water from underground, which is not good for our health," he said. "Diseases such as goiters and osteoporosis are quite common among us. But thanks to the project, now we could have the water from the Yangtze River."

Hu Zhouhan, deputy manager of the China Eastern Route Corporation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, said the surface water has reached the Grade III water quality through water pollution prevention and eco-environment protection along the route.

"The initial phase of the eastern route has achieved progress in satisfying citizens and villagers' daily water use, as well as the need for agriculture and industry, boosting the economic structural adjustment and upgrading," Hu said.

The eastern route helps to solve water shortages in Shandong Province. The water diversion project will also supply water to the fertile farm lands in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, consequently supporting the economic development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

"Ensuring water quality and controlling pollution are crucial to the success of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project," said Gao Degang, manager of the Shandong Eastern Route Corporation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. "Shandong has appointed river chiefs along the eastern route to oversee the rivers, lakes and reservoirs."

Launched in 2002, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is an important strategic measure in redistributing China's water resources. The project has improved agricultural production as well as river and lake environments by supplying water for farmland irrigation and to drying rivers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Friday to attend the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam on Nov. 10-11, and then he will pay state visits to Vietnam and Laos on Nov.12 to 14.

It is Xi's first overseas trip after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October. The trip attracts much attention from the international community and will open up a new vision for diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

APEC is the most influential economic cooperation mechanism with the highest level and widest fields in the Asia-Pacific region.

In his speech at the APEC meeting, Xi will put forward China's solutions on how to adhere to the general trend of opening up and development in the Asia-Pacific region, explore new driving forces in the region, strengthen connectivity and draw a new blueprint of future cooperation, in a bid to map out a new economic cooperation vision with all relevant counterparts and inject Chinese energy into the prosperity and development of the whole Asia-Pacific family.

Vietnam and Laos are China's good neighbors and important partners, which are also socialist countries.

President Xi's visits to Vietnam and Laos reflect Beijing's high regard for promoting China-Vietnamese and China-Lao relations. The visits are expected to write new chapters of and inject positive impetus into bilateral relations as well as the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between China - Southeast Asian countries.
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China's special representative on climate change affairs Xie Zhenhua delivers a speech during the high-level forum on south-south cooperation on climate change held in the China pavilion at the 23rd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn, Germany, on Nov. 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's special representative on climate change affairs Xie Zhenhua stressed south-south climate cooperation, and expressed hopes that the ongoing United Nations (UN) climate talks would generate substantial results addressing issues that concern developing countries and an unequivocal arrangement for implementing the Paris Agreement.

Xie made the remarks while addressing the high-level forum on south-south cooperation on climate change held in the China pavilion at COP 23 Wednesday.

Xie said as COP 23 was crucial to implementing the Paris Agreement and to consolidating mutual trust and multilateral processes, China hoped that substantial results would be achieved at the current climate talks to address issues that concern developing countries, including adaptation, funds, technology and capacity building.

Besides, an unequivocal arrangement on detailed plans to implement the Paris Agreement is also expected to be nailed down in Bonn, Xie said.

Apart from these trust-building actions, Xie also proposed "development for all" and "bridging cooperation" to strengthen international cooperation in the climate field.

"Developing countries, though at different stages of development, are all confronted with multiple challenges, ranging from economic growth, people's livelihood, poverty eradication, to environmental and climate protection," said the special representative.

Therefore, while carrying out north-south climate cooperation and leveraging funds offered by developed countries, developing countries can boost exchanges under south-south cooperation, sharing their best practices and policy measures against climate change, Xie proposed.

Recognizing the proactive roles of various international organizations, Xie said he hoped they would continue playing the bridging or binding roles in the fight against climate change.

Xie said, as a responsible developing country, China conscientiously takes on its international obligations that match both its development stage and actual capacity, and implements the Paris Agreement with concrete action.

To this end, China will carry forward actions including walking the promises it submitted concerning the nationally determined contribution, pursuing industrial restructuring, optimizing energy mix, promoting energy-conserving products, launching various low-carbon demonstration projects, and inaugurating the nationwide emission-trading scheme, among other actions.

"The efforts made to fulfill all these above mentioned targets count as significant contribution to the global endeavor to fight climate change, which requires not only tremendous efforts from the Chinese side, but also international cooperation," Xie said.

He further introduced China's efforts in helping developing countries cope with climate change under south-south cooperation.

He said, through donating energy conserving or renewable-energy facilities as well as climate change surveillance instruments, and promoting climate-friendly techniques, China has offered funds, technologies and capacity building to the least developed countries, small-island countries and African countries.

Since 2011, Chinese government has channeled 580 million yuan (about 85 million U.S. dollars) to help other developing countries to cope with climate change, through various initiatives ranging from low-carbon and adaptation projects to capacity building activities.

China has signed 32 MOUs with 28 developing countries on the donation of materials needed in battling climate change, including over 1.2 million energy-saving or solar-energy lamps, some 13,000 solar photo-voltaic power generating facilities, and over 10,000 clean stoves, among other donations. China also donated satellite monitoring facilities to help these countries with early warning of extreme weather.

Moreover, China helped train thousands of climate officials as well as technicians from more than 120 countries on five continents, according to Xie.

The 23rd Conference of Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is being held in Bonn from Nov. 6 to 17.
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Lebanon's President Michel Aoun on Wednesday criticized Saudi Arabia on the background of Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation, saying that Riyadh has carried out an "act of aggression" against Lebanon.

"We consider Prime Minister Saad Hariri as being detained in Saudi Arabia and this is an act of aggression against Lebanon," Aoun said during a meeting with the National Audio&Visual Council.

Aoun said that nothing justified Hariri's continued stay in Saudi Arabia, now into day 12.

"This contradicts the Vienna Treaty and human rights," said Aoun, according to the president's Twitter account.

He stressed "we cannot keep waiting and lose time, because state affairs cannot be put on hold."

Reiterating his previous comments regarding Hariri's resignation, Aoun said that it wasn't possible to complete the resignation formality as Hariri had announced it from abroad.

Aoun added "he needs to return to Lebanon to submit his resignation or withdraw it, or discuss the reasons for it and the solutions."

The controversy was raised following Hariri's sudden resignation on Nov. 4 through a statement he read on al-Arabia TV from the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Later Wednesday, Hariri tweeted again saying that he was "fine and will return to Lebanon soon, as promised."

Aoun also hit out at Saudi Arabia, saying they were holding Hariri's family.

"We have not previously asked for their return, but we have confirmed they are also detained and family members are being searched as they enter and leave the house" Aoun said in a statement reported by local media outlets.
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A soldier and an armored vehicle patrol on a street in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Nov. 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Armored carriers cordoned off Zimbabwe's Presidential seat of power and Parliament Building in the capital while helicopters circled the city center on a drizzly morning, after the military announced it had taken over control of all government institutions.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police was not visible in the streets as soldiers controlled traffic movement while unconfirmed reports say a number of cabinet ministers and some top ruling Zanu-PF officials have been arrested.

In some instances the soldiers were asking for identification from members of the public, although the situation remained peaceful and calm with people going about their daily chores as if nothing dramatic had happened.

The United Nations has issued a security advisory instructing its personnel to work from home while some schools were closed and some students failed to sit for their final examinations, including at the University of Zimbabwe.

Personnel from the President's Department have reportedly been removed from the departures desk at the recently renamed Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and replaced by soldiers.

Chief of staff (quarter-master) in the Zimbabwe National Army Sibusiso Moyo appeared on state television early Wednesday morning, saying that the position taken by the military since the statement made by Zimbabwe Defense Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga Monday had reached "another level."

"Firstly we wish want to assure the nation that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed.

"We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice," he said.

He did not say where President Mugabe was.

Mugabe fired his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa last week on allegations of seeking to usurp power, in a development that had created tension in the country.

People walk past an armored vehicle on a street in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Nov. 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Moyo assured Zimbabweans at home, abroad and the international community that this was not a military takeover and that the situation would soon return to normalcy.

"To both our people and the world beyond our borders we wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government. What the Zimbabwe Defense Forces is doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation in our country which if not addressed may result in a violent conflict," he said.

Leave has been cancelled to all military personnel who were instructed to return to their barracks immediately.

Moyo urged the people to minimize movement but said those going to work and with essential businesses should carry on.

He urged other security sectors to cooperate with the military.

"Let it be clear that we intend to address the human security threat in our country and any provocation shall be met with an appropriate response," he warned.

State television was playing liberation war songs all early morning, indicating that the military was in charge of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

Government-controlled newspaper The Herald, which on Tuesday did not run Chiwenga's statement, was said to be preparing a special edition to be published later on Wednesday.

Moyo said an impending purge of civil servants by some top members of government would be stopped and the judiciary allowed to exercise its role without undue interference.
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Hillary Clinton Wednesday warned the current administration against appointing a special counsel to investigate her role in the sale of a uranium company in 2010.

In an interview with U.S. magazine Mother Jones, Clinton said it is "such an abuse of power." She was responding to reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering the move.

"I regret if they do it because it will be such a disastrous step to politicizing the justice system," Clinton said.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions had reportedly asked top prosecutors to examine whether to use a special counsel to investigate the sale of the uranium company to Russian interests, which happened when Clinton acted as the secretary of state.

Several Republicans, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have alleged there were links between the sale and donations to the Clinton Foundation, even though multiple federal agencies, including the State Department, approved the deal in 2010.

The company, Uranium One, controlled land equal to roughly 20 percent of the uranium capacity of the United States when the deal was made.

Republicans have tried to link the takeover to a sum of US$145 million donated to the Clinton Foundation by stakeholders in the company.

"This Uranium One story has been debunked countless times by members of the press, by independent experts," Clinton said.

Clinton suggested the Trump administration was trying to divert public attention from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump's presidential campaign and the Russian government.

"It is nothing but a false charge that the Trump administration is trying to drum up to avoid attention being drawn to them," she said.

Besides, Clinton said she was not concerned about being prosecuted.

"There is no basis to it," Clinton said. "At the end of the day, nothing will come of it, but it will, you know, cause a lot of terrible consequences that we might live with for a really long time."
After US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that China agreed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea cannot just freeze its nuclear weapons program in exchange for benefits, China clarified on Thursday that this was not a change to its position that its "dual suspension" proposal is the best "first step" for defusing the crisis.

Given Trump's intimate, and no doubt frank, conversations with President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing, he will be aware that China still believes the DPRK suspending its nuclear-related activities and the United States suspending its military drills with the Republic of Korea is the best way to establish an environment conducive to the two antagonists  and the regional stakeholders  engaging in talks.

With Song Tao, head of the Communist Party of China Central Committee's International Department, paying a visit to the DPRK as special envoy of Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, there has naturally been a lot of conjecture about the content of the latest high-level contact between the two neighbors.

Such speculation is not surprising since the belief persists that Beijing can bring some persuasion to bear on Pyongyang, and Song's trip comes so soon after Trump's visit.

However, while Song will no doubt have discussions on issues of mutual concern, too much should not be read into his trip.

Exchanges between the CPC and the DPRK's Workers' Party of Korea have always played an important role in relations between the two countries, and Song will be informing China's neighbor of the outcomes of the 19th CPC National Congress, which was successfully convened last month, as part of the country's party-to-party messenger diplomacy.

That is not to dismiss the importance of his trip. It is obviously a good sign that Beijing and Pyongyang are maintaining communication at a high level, since it is instrumental both for developing good neighborly ties and for the necessary candid discussions on what is becoming an acute crisis.

Especially since his talks come at a time when some of the differences among the parties involved about how best to address the DPRK's nuclear issue appear to have been bridged. Xi met Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in, on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, and the two leaders vowed to resolve the nuclear issue through peaceful means and make joint efforts to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

And with the DPRK quiet, especially after the UN Security Council imposed its latest and most serious sanctions on Pyongyang, what is needed now is for all parties to demonstrate wisdom and patience.

Avoiding any war rhetoric and provocative actions will ensure no recommencing of the viciously spiraling tensions that were threatening to spin out of control.
British companies will join forces with Chinese developers of offshore wind farms, as part of a new program that lends British expertise to China's $100 billion wind power expansion plans.

The newly formed International Offshore Renewable Energy Research Platform will see United Kingdom companies work on technical solutions for wind farms in the South China Sea, where China plans to install 5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2020.

The platform is funded by British innovation agent Innovate UK and overseen by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, a research center based in Glasgow.

"The UK has a lot of experience in offshore technology and there is massive expansion in China. It's a good opportunity to take our technology and know-how and use it internationally," said James Battensby, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult's technical bid manager.

The UK is a world leader in offshore wind, with a total of 5.3 gW of installed offshore wind capacity, which is more than a third of the global total of 14.4 gW. China has installed 1.6 gW of offshore capacity, and will add a further 5 gW during the next three years. China will invest $100 billion in wind energy projects during the next three years.

The new platform will commence in December with a series of workshops during which Chinese developers will set specific technical challenges that UK companies will address.

UK businesses will then be partnered with Chinese developers to conduct research, with a view to taking new technology forward to commercial application.

Battensby said the Chinese side will be looking for support from British experts in cable and foundation installation, operation and maintenance, turbine optimization, and general wind farm planning and development.

"After developing applied research, the UK firms will be ideally placed to sell products and services," Battensby said. "While previous collaborations with China have been academic, this is important as it gives technology developers a direct opportunity to win business in the flourishing Chinese market."

Earlier this year, the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai announced plans for an Offshore Wind Hub that will facilitate the entry of specialist UK companies into China.

Maf Smith, deputy chief executive of RenewableUK, told China Daily that offshore wind is "a massive opportunity for both countries".

"Both governments support shared learning between businesses," Smith said. "The UK is the leading market for offshore in the world and has developed a lot of expertise in the development, construction and operation of offshore wind. And China has a very ambitious offshore wind program as part of its overall need to decarbonize and shift to cleaner fuels."
NANNING - It is the busiest time of the year at Nguyen Thien Kam Wan's store in Dongxing, a Chinese border city.

Ahead of Singles Day, the Vietnamese businesswoman has been shipping Vietnamese specialties to Chinese buyers, who placed orders for more than 2,000 bags of dried jackfruit alone.

"It is larger than our sales in a normal month," she said.

For years, Nguyen Thien Kam Wan has crossed the border from the Vietnamese city of Mong Cai to Dongxing in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region every morning, returning home after work. More than 10,000 Vietnamese cross-border workers fill a variety of jobs in Dongxing.

She received less than $100 a day when doing the business in 2003, but now her daily revenue surpasses $500, partly thanks to the e-commerce platform Taobao, she and her Chinese friend have used since 2014.

"Back in 2003, I didn't see many Vietnamese business people like me, and I always finished work early. But now, customs has extended the closure time to 7:00 pm," she said.

Since the 1990s, China has allowed border residents to conduct small-scale cross-border business, attracting Vietnamese residents to do business in Dongxing. In 2012, the Dongxing city government allowed Vietnamese residents to open stores in the city, fueling a surge in the number of workers crossing the border.

China's miraculous economic growth since the country's opening up and reform in the late 1970s has benefited its neighbors, including Vietnam, especially in border trade, according to Phung Thi Hue with the Institute of Chinese Studies of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

In addition to traditional trade in goods, some border residents of the two countries have seized opportunities in China's booming e-commerce, said the senior researcher.

Figures from the data provider Syntun show that China's major e-commerce sites recorded nearly 254 billion yuan (about $38 billion) in sales over 24 hours this Saturday, named Singles Day because the date 11-11 resembles four "bare sticks," a term used in China to refer to single people.

Besides commuters, an increasing number of Vietnamese workers have been stationed in factories of Guangxi's border cities such as Dongxing and Pingxiang.

Dongxing began implementing a pilot program in 2015 that allows eight local factories to hire about 1,000 Vietnamese employees for a single stay of up to six months. Now, more than 4,000 Vietnamese workers are hired by nearly 20 factories in the city as the scheme expanded. Pingxiang began the pilot in early 2017.

As a beneficiary of the pilot, Hoang Chunyan works at Dongxing Yicheng Food Development Company, earning at least 2,000 yuan a month, higher than a similar job would offer in her hometown.

The company, with more than 300 Vietnamese workers in the peak season, provides them with accident insurance, giving the machine workers peace of mind.

Vietnamese employees help relieve the shortage of blue collar workers in border areas, according to Jiang Liansheng, head of Guangxi's commerce department.

"China's Belt and Road Initiative will bring closer cooperation between the two countries and the border trade will be more prosperous," Phung Thi Hue said."Therefore, more and more Vietnamese people will seek jobs in China."
With four months of operation, Shanghai Andersen Paradise is ready to expand its experience to other cities in China by signing a strategic cooperation agreement with the Royal Danish Consulate in Shanghai on Wednesday.

According to the memorandum of understanding, the two parties will work together to build 30 projects featuring North Europe, Denmark and Andersen's fairy tales. This will be one major tactic to address competition from Disneyland, according to the management team of Shanghai Andersen Paradise.

Nicolai Prytz, consul-general of Denmark in Shanghai, said that the cooperation will strengthen its ties with the theme park, and hopefully bring the park visitors to Denmark in the future.

As the first of its kind in the world, Shanghai Andersen Paradise was officially opened to the public on June 28. The theme park has a daily limit of 7,000 visitors. It has received 350,000 visitors so far.

Located in northeast Shanghai, the Andersen theme park has attracted nearly 2 billion yuan ($302 million) of investment. Covering a total of 81,300 square meters, it features a number of works from the Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, such as The Little Mermaid.

Apart from recreational facilities, the theme park also has two restaurants and a shopping center.

The new theme park mainly targets children aged between 3 and 14, with the purpose of bringing parents and children together, said Gui Haozhan, chairman of Shanghai Andersen Paradise.

The theme park will work as a platform to demonstrate cooperation between China and Denmark in culture, education, commerce and travel, he said.

The Chinese theme park market has been quite vibrant. Shanghai Disneyland, the sixth of its kind worldwide, had received 27 million visitors by the end of October since it opened to the public last April, exceeding industry experts' expectations.

The rise of theme parks in Shanghai is just a snapshot of the national scenario. According to global market consultancy Euromonitor International, the sales revenue of Chinese theme parks will reach $12 billion by 2020, making China the world's largest theme park market, overtaking Japan and the United States.

However, infrastructure availability remains a big issue hampering the development of China's theme parks, according to Pascal Martin, partner of the global market research firm OC&C Strategy Consultants. When asked about the reason for not visiting theme parks, one of the prevalent answers was "too far away", he said.
The Bank of China on Tuesday became the first Chinese bank to launch private banking services in London, in a bid to tap into the burgeoning pool of wealthy individuals living in and traveling to Great Britain's financial hub.

Private banking is the name given to banking, investment, and other tailor-made services offered to wealthy clients.

In recent years, the growing number of wealthy individuals- and especially the large pool of rich Chinese businesspeople in Londonhas attracted the attention of British banks, including HSBC and Coutts, which have targeted clients by recruiting Mandarin-speaking client managers, among other tactics.

The Bank of China's new service is aimed at people who are in the United Kingdom to study, buy property, shop or invest. Its service package includes mortgages, shopping discounts at luxury venues, targeted help for international students, and legal, tax and investment advice.

The Bank of China has not said how large a deposit will need for customers to qualify for the private banking service. Other services insist that clients have a minimum of $250,000 to $2 million.

The number of wealthy Chinese families is expected to grow to 3.88 million by the end of 2020, from 2.07 million in 2015, according to a report last year by Industrial Bank Co in China and The Boston Consulting Group.

Many people from these wealthy Chinese families end up studying or investing in the UK. Earlier this month, estate agent Knight Frank said Chinese buyers now account for around 20 percent of new residential property transactions in London. Chinese nationals also accounted for 35 percent of all student visas granted in 2016, some 49,700.

The Bank of China's new service in the UK has also already attracted keen interest in London.

"It is very exciting that BOC is opening their private banking businesses here in the UK," said Chris Donegan, a partner and chief risk officer at the UK subsidiary of the Chinese asset management company Hywin Wealth. "It is a great vote of confidence and reflects the demand that is beginning to form among Chinese clients for a banking provider that understands them."

Donegan said Hywin is eager to become a partner for Bank of China's private banking service, helping its clients invest their money into suitable products.
BEIJINGHon Hai Precision Industry Co shares fell the most in more than a month after the world's biggest contract maker of electronics posted earnings that missed analyst estimates.

The shares fell as much as 2.8 percent to NT$103 ($3.40) in Taipei, the biggest intraday decline since Sept 20. Net income fell 39 percent to NT$21 billion in the three months ended September, far behind the NT$37.2 billion projected.

That was the largest fall in profit since the final quarter of 2008 for the company and comes amid hiccups that has disrupted production of Apple Inc's iPhone X.

Apple's decision to adopt technically demanding facial-scanning sensors for the iPhone X initially stymied some suppliers and held back business for Hon Hai, which gets more than half its sales from Apple. Hon Hai's operating expenses climbed more than 16 percent in the quarter, squeezing the company's net margins to less than 2 percent.

While Hon Hai is the exclusive assembler of the iPhone X, Apple didn't start selling its marquee device until November, almost two months after the iPhone 8 hit shelves. Foxconn shared work on the cheaper device with other assemblers.

James Yan, research director at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, said: "The delayed production of iPhone X has affected the overall business performance of Hon Hai in the third quarter of this year, but the iPhone X is still a key earning driver for the electronics giant, whose sales are expected to increase in the first quarter of next year."

Yan added that the shipment of iPhone 7/7 Plus drove the growth of Hon Hai in the third quarter last year.

The growing market share of mainland's smartphone vendors from Huawei to Vivo also weighed on Hon Hai's performance, given many assemble their own devices. And while worldwide smartphone shipments grew 5 percent in the September quarter, that was driven by demand for cheaper handsets in emerging markets, according to researcher Counterpoint.

Hon Hai is now shifting its attention from pure electronics assembly, a business plagued by growing expenses and thinning margins. Billionaire founder Terry Gou is installing robots to automate and offset rising labor costs in the mainland, its main base of production. His company is also eyeing manufacturing for the healthcare, automobile and artificial intelligence sectors.

The company also announced its intention to invest $10 billion in the next four years to build a liquid-crystal display panel manufacturing facility in Wisconsin in the United States.

Bloomberg-China Daily
HELSINKI - There is viable potential for growth in Finnish-Chinese economic relations despite a slight decline in the Chinese economy, Finland's business backed economic think tank ETLA has said in its latest research.

The wide probe into the economic relations between the two countries in recent decades has been titled "The Lion and the Dragon". The writers were Markku Kotilainen, the research director of ETLA, and Villa Kaitila, a researcher of the think tank.

The report published this week indicates that Finland has recovered from the aftermath of the crash of Nokia mobile phone business, and 2017 may be a historic record year in the value of Finnish exports to China.

New record year

Although Chinese economic growth has slowed down compared to previous years, the two researchers both point out that the level of growth in China is still much faster than in western countries, which may contribute to the increase in bilateral trade and investment.

During the first half of 2017, the value of Finnish exports to China was 1.76 billion euros ($2.07 billion). The researchers predict that if the second half is as good, 2017 will be the record year in the value of Finnish exports to China. The value in 2016 was 2.85 billion euros.

The writers believe Finland and China complement each other both in know-how and in resources. They note that the Chinese are interested in Finnish competence in ITC, clean tech and forest industry. The same applies to availability of forest raw material and the potential of making use of it.

Kotilainen and Kaitila have shown a vivid picture of how Finnish service exports and investments to China plummeted along with the negative development of the Nokia mobile phone production but have now recovered.

In 2010, the value of Finnish service exports to China was at one billion euros, only followed by a fast decline. ETLA now concludes it was attributed to the sale of Nokia mobile phone production to Microsoft. Also, direct Finnish investments to China used to be four billion euros per annum, but plummeted to zero in four years.

Since 2014, Finnish exports of service have grown again, reaching 1.2 billion euros last year. The researchers include Chinese tourism to Finland as sales of services to China.

The researchers underline the importance of the subsidiaries of Finnish companies in China. "The role of subsidiaries is larger than that of exports," they say.

Finnish subsidiaries in China comprises 12 percent of the turnover of Finnish subsidiaries abroad in 2011, but was reduced to a half when Nokia declined. In 2015, the figure recovered to 7.5 percent.

Ceiling of imports

Despite the brisk Chinese economic growth in last decade, Chinese exports to Finland seem to have reached their ceiling under prevailing barriers of trade, the researchers say.

China is the fourth largest source of imported goods to Finland. The level had increased until 2009 and has remained stable since. In all, China covers seven or eight percent of Finnish imports.

"The market share of China in imports to Finland has reached its ceiling level, under existing structures of production and demand, and the barriers of trade," Kotilainen and Kaitila have said.

"World trade has reached a certain balance at the level of the present barriers of trade and globalization. If barriers of trade could be further reduced, international trade and value chains would acclimatize to the new situation", the writers note, reminding at the same time that barriers could be increased as well.

Meanwhile, Chinese investment in Finland is growing rapidly, even though Chinese investment in Finland has so far been low. In 2015 there were 16 Chinese subsidiaries in Finland.

Recently, Chinese companies have become active in Finland in areas where Finland has either specific know-how or raw materials. Developments include the acquisition of a majority stake in the mobile game company Supercell by the Chinese internet giant Tencent in 2016.
Farmers ride shared-bikes in Qiqili village, Shanxi province, Oct 26, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

TAIYUAN - While some Chinese metropolises have proclaimed "enough is enough" to shared bikes, fleets of two-wheelers have started rolling into the vast countryside.

In late October, leading bike-sharing operator Mobike put 20 bikes in Qiqili, a poor mountain village in north China's Shanxi province, its first launch in a rural area.

"I know what they are! You can use one simply with your mobile phone," Liu Wensheng, 57, told his fellow villagers at the small square where the bikes were parked. "I saw them before, in the city where I worked."

Trapped deep in the mountains, Qiqili has only a few dozen families scattered on rolling hills. Last year, it found a path out of poverty -- tourism -- by capitalizing on its proximity to the winding Yellow River and its rustic lifestyle, including house caves called "yaodong."

"The bikes are like a 'window' connecting villagers with the world. As tourism has boomed in Qiqili, they can better serve tourists," said Guo Ruoqiao, an official working at the village, who spent half a year persuading Mobike to offer the service at Qiqili.

Riding a bike, villager Liu Ningfu can get home earlier after farm work. "With the bikes, we drop by more than before, and simply go for a ride for fun," Liu said.

Tourist Zhang Shengnan from northeast China's Liaoning province was astonished to see a shared bike in Qiqili.

"It brings me a familiar feeling," said Zhang, adding that bike rides make the trip to the Yellow River more fun.

Mobike CEO Wang Xiaofeng said the countryside shouldn't be forgotten when it comes to shared bikes, which have been nicknamed one of the "new four great inventions" in China, along with high-speed railways, electronic payment and online shopping.

Bike-sharing is not just a privilege for urbanites, Wang said.

"The whole society can benefit from technological progress and access to equal services," said Wang. "That is what 'sharing' really means."

China's bike-sharing industry rose from nowhere, reaching a frenzy in less than three years. Two market leaders -- ofo and Mobike -- are both worth more than 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion).

The industry is expected to earn 10.3 billion yuan in revenue this year, a 736-percent increase from 1.2 billion yuan in 2016, according to a report from iMedia Research. It estimated the number of shared-bike users in China will hit 209 million this year, compared with 28 million last year.

Before Mobike's move, ofo had tested the waters in rural areas. The company put 200 bikes in Sanhui Village in southwest China's Sichuan province in mid-May.

Bike maintenance is harder in the countryside. According to the agreement between the Qiqili village committee and Mobike, the committee is responsible for management of the bikes and the operator will regularly send maintenance workers to the village.

The bikes, which are vulnerable to vandalism in cities, are treated better by users in Qiqili. Villagers eligible to use the bikes for free regularly clean the bikes and make saddle covers.

A marketing executive with Mobike told Xinhua that the company has no plan for large-scale business in the countryside at the present, as many villages lack roads suitable for biking.

"In addition, we need to think about whether a village really needs bikes in its development," said the executive.
HARBIN - Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli said Wednesday the country's northeastern areas should channel more energy into reform and innovation to stimulate the economy.

"The regions should strengthen reform and innovation, changing the old mindset and improving the business environment," Zhang said during a visit to State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

Zhang said more effort would be needed to boost the vitality of SOEs and support the private sector.

Plagued by red tape and torpid SOEs, the northeastern rust belt suffered in China's economic slowdown during the past years. Calls for reform in the areas are on the rise.

The central government has rolled out measures pushing for efficient administration and industrial shifts aimed at helping the industrial heartland regain its glory.

Zhang also asked local governments to accelerate the modernization of agriculture to shore up rural areas, improve the re-employment of laid-off workers, step up poverty relief, and better protect wetlands and grasslands.
PHNOM PENH - The Belt and Road Initiative is playing a key role in boosting the connectivity among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its connection with its neighbors, especially China, a Cambodian government official said Wednesday.

The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, 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.

To support the initiative, China has established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund to provide finance to infrastructure projects.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is providing a lot of advantages to ASEAN," Kao Kim Hourn, a minister attached to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, said in a press conference in Phnom Penh.

The minister said the initiative importantly contributed to the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, which is ASEAN's priority task.

"The initiative not only helps connect intra-ASEAN, but also links ASEAN to its neighboring countries, especially China," Kim Hourn said.

Commenting on ASEAN-China relations, the official said China is ASEAN's key partner and has actively supported ASEAN in its integration process, community building, and connectivity infrastructure development.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
DUBAI - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government-controlled Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed on Wednesday a framework agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to expand collaboration, said UAE state news agency WAM.

Signed by Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, and CEO of ADNOC, and Wang Yilin, CNPC Chairman, the agreement involves various areas of potential collaboration like offshore opportunities and sour gas development projects.

"It covers discussions between the two companies on possible CNPC participation in the Lower Zakum, Umm Shaif and Nasr concession areas, and the Bab, Bu Hasa, Ghasha and Hail sour gas development projects, as well as other related projects," Al Jaber said.

The Zakum oilfield, offshore Abu Dhabi, is the country's largest maritime oil field and the fourth largest such field in the world. Some 90 percent of the UAE's "black gold" is located in Abu Dhabi which harbors 7 percent of the world's known oil reserves.

"In support of the 2030 smart growth strategy, we are focusing on creating the greatest value from our partnerships to capitalize on our oil and gas reserves and maximize the returns from our offshore assets," Al Jaber said.

He added ADNOC was keen to work with partners who can share technology and capital, enable market access. "Equally, we want partners who can deploy world-class engineering solutions for our mutual benefit, ultimately enabling us to drive a more profitable upstream business and strong returns to Abu Dhabi and the UAE."

In February, ADNOC signed another agreement with CNPC, awarding it an 8-percent interest in Abu Dhabi's onshore oil concession, operated by ADNOC Onshore.

The agreement, which marked the first such in the history of UAE-China diplomatic relations which were established in 1984, has a term of 40 years.

"This framework agreement marks a new stage in CNPC's partnership with Abu Dhabi and ADNOC. We look forward to continuing the discussions which have already taken place and making progress on strengthening our relationship," Wang noted.

In 2016, China remained as the UAE's top trade partner, WAM said in a report on Aug. 8, 2017, quoting statistics from the UAE Ministry of Economy.

The total China-UAE trade amounted to 520.6 billion dirham ($141.74 billion) during the 2014-2016 period.
BEIJING - Anti-China voices in America should be quietened since more than $250 billion of deals were signed between Chinese and US companies last week.

It is compelling evidence that China does not want a trade surplus with the United States and is working to address the imbalance with concrete action.

The wide range of deals, from aircraft to soybeans, reveal the tremendous space for cooperation between the world's top two trading partners. As their interdependency continues, the space for cooperation will become bigger and bigger.

Cranberries, for example, barely known in China a few years ago, have a new fan base. US cranberry exports to China have increased about eight-fold since 2012, making China the fastest growing market of the American red berry, data from the US Department of Agriculture shows.

Alaska seafood, Montana beef and Iowa soybeans are also popular on the Chinese dining table.

Over the past decade, US exports to China have increased at double-digit rates. China buys 26 percent of Boeing's aircraft, 56 percent of US soybeans and 16 percent of its automobiles.

While the United States has a deficit with China in goods trade, it had a surplus in service trade of $55.7 billion in 2016, 40 times more than in 2006.

Chinese firms in the United States now employ nine times more workers than in 2009: 140,000 last year, according to the National Committee on US-China Relations.

Trade with China saves every American family an average of $850 each year. From birthday candles to smartphones, Americans would struggle to go a day without something "Made in China."

Conversely, the rising Chinese economy is indispensable to the US market, technology and ideas. The United States is China's second largest trading partner, and for decades, US multinationals have exported their know-how to China, helping China modernize and open up to the world.

Such arrangements look set to morph into a much deeper relationship in the future, with reciprocity being the keyword.

China is increasingly focused on moving up the value-chain, while the United States wants to revive its industrial rust-belt. This offers opportunities for both sides.

A number of Chinese companies have shown interest in taking part in upgrading infrastructure in the United States, an issue high on President Trump's domestic agenda.

China's opening up of its service sector, emphasis on public health and green development are very much in line with the interests of US companies. It should be noted that the opening up of China's financial sector will be carried out on its own timetable. All countries have to find their own path, and the United States is no different, with stringent rules for market access to its finance industry a prime example.

The new deals should not obscure the need for structural change in both economies.

Given the size and growth of bilateral trade, friction and disputes are unavoidable, but win-win spirit is the only answer.
Based on the experiences in the fast five years regarding the reform of State-owned enterprises and assets in Shanghai, the local authorities will work to stimulate the enterprises' creativity and development potential.

As the municipal government of Shanghai has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) in late August, signing a total of 20 cooperation projects valuing 220 billion yuan ($33 billion), the local SOEs in Shanghai are motivated and thus coming up with an 800-billion-yuan annual investment plan over the next five years, said Jin Xingming, director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shanghai at a government press conference on Thursday.

For the 800-billion-yuan investment, one of the most important investment areas will be strategic emerging industries. Apart from this, the investment will also be allocated to the advanced manufacturing industry, modern service industry, infrastructure and utilities. The municipal government is studying the plan for making these investments, said Jin.

SOEs in Shanghai have grown to be the most vibrant and promising part of the city's economy over the past five years. Up till now, about two thirds of SOEs have completed an overall listing or seen their core assets go public.

During the first 10 months of this year, local SOEs in Shanghai registered sales revenues of 2.55 trillion yuan, up 9.9 percent year-on-year. Their net profit was 253.1 billion yuan, up 4.7 percent from a year earlier. By the end of October, their assets reached nearly 17.9 trillion yuan, up 7.2 percent year-on-year.

Ever since 2014, 16 SOEs in Shanghai have gone public in both domestic and overseas markets. A total of 338 such companies have realized employee stock ownership. The enterprises with mixed ownership have contributed over 93 percent of the total net profits realized by the SOEs directly supervised by SASAC.
Overseas fund managers have hailed the success of a stock connect between the Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges on the third anniversary of its establishment.

The special arrangement lets international investors buy Chinese stocks and share the benefit of China's fast economic development.

The Shanghai Hong Kong Stock Connect, which was launched on Nov 17, 2014, allowed overseas investors to access Shanghai-listed Chinese shares mostly traded on Chinese mainland for the first time. The move was a significant milestone in Chinas capital market liberalization process.

"Chinese companies offer high earnings and cash-flow growth opportunities, and the Chinese equity market is the second-largest in the world," said Ma Wenchang, a fund manager at investment company Investec Asset Management. "Valuation is still at a discount, compared to the global equity market and we continue to find new exciting ideas to invest in."

Eric Bian, client portfolio manager of emerging markets and Asia Pacific equity, at JP Morgan Asset Management, said: "The backdrop is positive for China equities, given a supportive outlook for corporate earnings, still accommodative liquidity conditions, and strong external growth supporting the macro-economy."

As of the end of last month, the Shanghai Hong Kong Stock Connect had enabled international investors to trade 3.35 trillion yuan ($509 billion) of shares listed in Shanghai.

Its success has encouraged the launch of a similar stock connect linking the stock markets of Hong Kong with Shenzhen. It was launched in December.

Meanwhile, a feasibility study into a potential link between Shanghai and Londons stock markets is under way.

Despite the Chinese equity market being the second-largest globally, foreign investors currently only hold 1.5 percent of its value. This situation is expected to dramatically change when the United States index provider MSCI includes China A-shares in its emerging markets index in June, meaning many international investors who benchmark against the MSCI index will naturally buy into Chinese shares.

William Fong, investment director of Hong Kong China Equities at Barings, said he expects stock prices to rise as more international investment comes into the market.

According to the latest data from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, international investors are diversified in their stock selection, with consumer-facing, and "new economy" sectors, such as technology, healthcare, and energy, being top picks.

These statistics are confirmed by fund managers. Fong of Barings said his team is keen on "new economy" stocks because these companies represent the future of China's economic growth as its economy experiences a structural shift.

Kathy Xu, investment manager of China equities at Aberdeen Standard Investments, said her team is keen to invest in sectors including travel, healthcare, and consumer goods, because they have stocks driven by strong domestic consumption and a rising middle class.

Despite overall optimism, fund managers have also cautioned against risks in China's stock market arising from some Chinese companies' transparency and governance issues and the potentially irrational investment decisions of retail investors.

Xu emphasized the importance of companies trustworthy transparency and governance, "that underlines the importance of due diligence".
Attendees visit the Qualcomm booth during CES 2017 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.[Photo provided to China Daily]

US chipmaker Qualcomm Inc on Wednesday said it has invested in nine Chinese startups, including Beijing-based image recognition startup SenseTime and Chinese bike-sharing titan Mobike Technology Co Ltd, as it attempts to create new momentum in key markets.

The move is also part of the company's $150 million strategic investment plan announced in 2014 for China's technology market and came as it further expands into artificial intelligence and the internet of things business.

Quinn Li, Qualcomm's vice-president and global head of Qualcomm Ventures, said by providing financial and technical support for the nine companies, Qualcomm aims to help them make further breakthroughs in the fields of AI and IoT.

"Qualcomm is committed to be a supporter of technological innovation and aims to foster better life for the public. In the future, Qualcomm Ventures will continue to support tech startups to innovate in cutting-edge technologies and boost the related industries," Li added.

Other startups being backed by Qualcomm include wireless technology provider CreatComm Technology, AI startup Kneron Inc, unmanned convenience store operator Zero Element, virtual reality and augmented reality film and television content provider Magic AI and leading electronic building blocks manufacturer and learning tools provider Microduino. Beijing Acsm Agriculture Consultant and Smart Management Technology Service Co Ltd and Alo7, which offers immersive English learning environment for children, also received additional investment from Qualcomm. The company did not disclose the size of the investment.

James Yan, research director at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, said: "As a deep localized company, Qualcomm basically focuses on investment in technologies and products related to its own industry chain products, which will help it better develop its technologies and products in those areas."

Jia Mo, an analyst at market research company Canalys, said the new move marks Qualcomm's goal to steadily diversify its business to earn more profit, as most of its current profit comes from mobile chip services and fees charged for patents that cover the fundamentals of all modern phone systems.

"Qualcomm expects to benefit from the invested startups in the future and the investment will also help it have a better preparation for the future fierce competition in those key fields," Jia added.
Xiaomi Corp is reportedly acquiring Youmi, a South Korean retailer, as the Chinese smartphone maker looks to compete with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on the latter's home turf.

Xiaomi will buy parts of shares of Youmi, an official retailer of its hardware in South Korea, as part of a memorandum of understanding the two sides have inked, China Business Network said in a report on Wednesday.

Under the agreement, Xiaomi and Youmi will complete details of the investment conditions as soon as possible and formally sign the stock purchase agreement.

Once the deal goes through, Youmi will become a unit of Xiaomi and provide a platform for the Chinese firm to expand its presence in South Korea, the report said.

Xiaomi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Cooperation between the two sides, however, started as early as 2014.

Youmi, which runs brick-and-mortar stores in seven cities across South Korea, sells a string of Xiaomi accessories and smart products, including battery packs, headphones, and scooters, but no smartphones are included at present.

China Business Network quoted an anonymous executive at Youmi, saying that the company plans to sell about 80 types of Xiaomi's internet of things products in South Korea in 2018.

With a registered capital of 510 million won ($459,000), Youmi last year posted sales of 17.5 billion won in 2016, the report said.

Xiang Ligang, a telecom expert and CEO of industry website Cctime, said the Youmi deal is part of Xiaomi's broad push to sell products through online and offline retail channels.

"As more efforts are made to beef up its intellectual property portfolios, it is likely that Xiaomi will officially launch smartphones in South Korea," Xiang added.
BEIJING - China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) has extended a duty-free policy for technology imports to facilitate a national manufacturing improvement strategy.

An action plan has been released to continue the exemption of tariffs and value-added taxes for purchases of major technological equipment from abroad this year, the MOF said Wednesday in an online statement.

Around 2.3 billion yuan ($350 million) is expected to be saved by Chinese importers, according to the statement.

Imports of core parts and materials of major technological equipment started to enjoy the favorable policy eight years ago, with taxes worth 32 billion yuan having been exempted as far.

The move came as part of the country's effort to develop into a manufacturing powerhouse with more and better high-tech products as the advantage of cheap labor in Chinese factories fades away. The "Made in China 2025" strategy, equivalent to Germany's Industry 4.0, was announced in 2015 to fulfill the aim.
The news conference on the fourth World Internet Conference scheduled from Dec 3 to 5 in Wuzhen, East China's Zhejiang province, is held in Beijing, Nov 16, 2017. [Photo by Tan Xinyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

China continues to open up to the world, including in areas such as the internet, Ren Xianliang, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, said at a news conference Thursday.

"China always welcomes internet companies around the world, which is based on the premise that the latter should comply with Chinese laws."

Ren made these remarks while talking about internet business representatives from home-grown companies, such as Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent, and foreign giants, like Cisco, Microsoft and Facebook, having confirmed their attendance to the fourth World Internet Conference scheduled from Dec 3 to 5 in the canal-lined town of Wuzhen, East China's Zhejiang province.

The conference has been an annual event organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the government of Zhejiang province since 2014, when the inaugural World Internet Conference was held.

In addition, according to Ren, the upcoming conference will also include 32 international organizations and other domestic entities as organizers of sub-forums. Meanwhile, 26 institutes, universities and enterprises will participate in the conference as co-organizers.

For the first time, the conference will release two blue books -- China Internet Development Report 2017 and World Internet Development Report 2017  to explain the current situation and development trends for the internet in China and also reveal the features and levels of internet development in different countries.

With the theme of "Developing Digital Economy for Openness and Shared Benefits  Building a Cyberspace Community of a Common Future", this year's conference will highlight discussions and dialogues on the digital economy, cutting-edge technologies and inclusive and sharing development.

Up to now, 1,500 guests from five continents have been invited, including heads of international organizations, internet business leaders, internet celebrities, experts and scholars.

In addition, the latest products, technologies and brands will be showcased in the Light of the Internet Exposition, a part of the conference that will take place from Dec 2 to 6. During this exposition, discussions on project cooperation will be carried out, along with the release of new products and technologies.

As the permanent host of the annual World Internet Conference, Wuzhen has many waterways and more than 80 stone bridges, representing the internet spirit of connectivity. The city has also witnessed the internet industry being a force to drive the local economy.

The ancient water town boasts 148 internet companies registered there as of September this year, with a total registered capital of 4.04 billion yuan ($608 million), according to the conference's website.
Li Yanhong, CEO of China's Baidu, delivers a speech at Baidu World Conference in Beijing, Nov 16, 2017. Baidu introduced three new products on Thursday designed for smart home market. [Photo/Xinhua]

Baidu's self-driving vehicles, part of a key national artificial intelligence research project, are expected to go into trial operation next year, according to Baidu Inc Chairman and CEO Robin Li.

The internet search giant has stepped up efforts to promote the commercialization of self-driving technology. The company says the mass production of its self-driving vehicles will be possible in 2020, but it expects to achieve that goal ahead of schedule, Li said at the Baidu World Conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Baidu was chosen to lead the establishment of China's AI national laboratory on deep learning early this year. Self-driving technologies are important to the national research project.

Li said Baidu plans to put autonomous buses that run in designated areas into mass production and trial operation by the end of July 2018, in cooperation with Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co.

"We will launch autonomous vehicles with Chinese automobile manufacturers JAC Motors and BAIC Group in 2019, and Chery Automobile Co in 2020," Li said.
Environmental officials and experts from China and five other countries discussed strategic goals to promote regional environmental cooperation along the Lancang-Mekong River in a meeting on Wednesday in Beijing.

The river, an international body of water, crosses all six countriesChina, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is known as the Lancang in China and the Mekong in Southeast Asia.

The Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism was established in 2016 as China put forward the idea of setting up a regional environmental cooperation center to strengthen technical cooperation and other exchanges, according to the draft of the Lancang-Mekong Environmental Cooperation Strategic Framework (2020-25) released on Wednesday.

The six countries, undergoing faster industrialization, are paying more attention to the issues of environmental protection and sustainable development. They plan to promote regional natural resources protection and management and establish the Lancang-Mekong environmental policy dialogue platform, the draft said.

Climate change adaptation and mitigation also are among the priority areas for the countries' environmental cooperation, including carrying out joint research, it added.

Plans call for the cooperation center to open in December in Beijing, mainly to handle contacts and coordination requests. The environmental authority in each country will provide guidance and establish official focal points to support implementation of the framework.

The strategic framework, the main document to guide the next five years' cooperation in the region, was a main focus of discussion among the nations' environment officials and experts from international NGOs in Beijing on Wednesday.

"It's the second time we have involved environmental officials and experts to discuss the draft after an initial time in March," said Li Xia, director of Asia-Pacific Environmental Cooperation Division of the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Centre. The center was inaugurated in Beijing in 2011.

Laotian officials, for example, suggested the countries enhance capacity building through organizing Lancang-Mekong environmental planning and management training programs.

Since 2016, China has invited hundreds of officials from Mekong River countries to exchange information and thoughts in China, and some pilot research projects already have been conducted.

Initial research has been conducted on freshwater ecosystem health in a section of the Lancang running through Xishuangbanna in Yunnan province by a team that included Wen Zhuqing, a researcher at the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Centre.

Similar research is being done in some Mekong nations like Laos and the joint results are expected to help improve water quality along the length of the river, Wen said.
Shanghai's food safety authority is consulting experts about regulations to standardize the operation of vending machines for ready-to-eat food.

The machines have become common in the city, thanks in part to the advent of mobile payment systems and advances in artificial intelligence technology.

The regulations, which are being drafted by the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration, cover vending machines that dispense fresh food and beverages, such as orange juice, coffee, coconut juice, noodles and even hairy crabs.

Popular among white-collar workers because of their convenience, the machines are not covered under current regulations.

After carrying out risk assessments on multiple vending machines last week, experts said standardization of their design and operation - including microbial contamination control, sterilization and cleaning - is imperative.

Last month three vending machines in the city made news headlines for their "magical" production of hot noodles in less than a minute.

Bowls of frozen noodles are defrosted quickly using steam, which is piped in, and then boiling water and sauces are injected into the bowl through another pipe.

While use of the three machines was suspended indefinitely, awaiting official approval from the Shanghai market management department, experts said the machines themselves can also pose hygiene risks if not managed properly.

"The second pipe is extremely vulnerable to microbial contamination," said Li Shuguang, a professor at the School of Public Health at Fudan University in Shanghai.

"The temperature of the pipe is over 100 C when water is flowing through it, but in between orders it will decrease to 25 to 30 C, which invites bacterial reproduction," Li said. "Operators should submit reports regularly to prove that their machines are clean enough to prevent this kind of pollution."

Zhao Zhihui, director of the research management department at Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said operators should also prepare emergency plans to tackle incidents such as power failures.

While local and national standards and guidelines are still in the making, Zhao suggested that vending machine makers should come up with a set of standards for operators to follow.
Golden Cradle Education and Technology Group, the owner of a kindergarten in Beijing where staff members were accused in a WeChat post of assaulting children, released a statement on Tuesday pledging to assist investigators.

It said it was looking into the actions of two teachers.

On Monday, teachers at the kindergarten in Yizhuang, Beijing's economic and technological development area, were accused in a WeChat post of abusing children.

The statement from Golden Cradle said the parents asked the kindergarten for an explanation, but it answered that there was no surveillance camera in the kindergarten to provide proof.

Golden Cradle group has more than 700 kindergartens and schools nationwide.

In the statement, Golden Cradle apologized for causing concern and said a task force has been formed within the group to conduct checks to find any problems that may exist.

"Whatever the result of the investigation, we promise that we will not tolerate any immoral deeds of any teacher in the kindergarten. We will shoulder our responsibility and provide updates about the incident to the public in a timely manner," it said.

This is not the first incident of child abuse that has attracted widespread attention. A few days ago, teachers at a day care center in Shanghai, set up by online travel agency Ctrip for the children of its staff members, were accused of treating children roughly and feeding them spicy mustard.

That incident caused a public outcry online. The teachers suspected of the abuse were detained, and two senior Ctrip managers involved in the incident were suspended.

On Wednesday, the Shanghai Women's Federation issued a report on the incident. Ji Daqing, president of Modern Family, a magazine under the supervision of the federation, was dismissed from his post for dereliction of duty. The magazine was the operator of the day care center. The center will also be closed, the federation said.
Xiao Fa, a robot assistant, is surrounded by officials during its first day at Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court last month. [Zou Hong/China Daily]

Robots and online databases are increasingly being used to bolster the judicial system, as Cao Yin reports.

China's courts are embracing new technology and artificial intelligence in a bid to speed up judicial procedures and ensure that verdicts are more accurate and equitable.

Last month, the lawsuit center at Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court attracted widespread attention when a robot called Xiao Fa was put into operation.

Members of the public and court officials can ask the robot questions verbally and obtain a spoken reply, and also make queries via a regular computer keyboard or by writing Chinese characters on its screen on it's front, and receive a printout.

"Xiao Fa attracts a lot of attention, partly as a result of its appearance, but mainly because it can provide essential details, such as how to bring a lawsuit, and also retrieve case histories, verdicts and laws. It reduces our workload and improves the efficiency of our services," said Zhao Lan, head of the lawsuit center.

The robot, which has a vaguely humanoid appearance and boasts speech circuits, was designed by Aegis, a technology company in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. It first came to public attention in July, after undergoing six months of tests.

It is being used at more than 100 courts nationwide, but its use is expected to become more widespread rapidly. However, at a cost of 50,000 yuan to 150,000 yuan ($7,528 to $22,585), depending on size, Xiao Fa isn't cheap.

Aegis just one of a number of businesses in the internet and technology sectors applying AI to the legal sector. For example, Wu Song Network Technology Co unveiled Fa Xiaotao, a robotic research assistant, in October last year. Unlike Xiao Fa, it is rarely used in courts.

Du Xiangyang, CEO and founder of Aegis, stressed the differences between the robot assistants.

"Fa Xiaotao mainly serves law firms and company lawyers, while Xiao Fa is used by litigants, judges and court officials. We want our robot to help solve disputes in a way that people find easy to understand," he said.

Legal assistance

When people are investigating their legal rights or considering bringing a lawsuit, some consult lawyers, while others look for answers on the internet, but neither method is perfect, according to Du.

"Most answers provided by search engines are based on other people's experiences, and are not professional opinions, while consulting a lawyer costs a lot of money," said the 37-year-old, who majored in business management.

Xiao Fa is designed to solve both problems because its database contains authorized judgments and its services are free.

In addition to using Aegis' robots in court centers, the public can also search for information via the company's WeChat account, which was established in July.

"It's a cloud computing platform which is aimed at providing more convenient legal services for users," Du said.

For example, if someone sustains injuries in a traffic accident, the platform can provide information about procedures, such as how to contact the police and request to see relevant footage captured by surveillance cameras.

"The public has given a warmer welcome to our WeChat platform than to our robots because the online platform can provide information at any time," Du said, adding that the system is linked to more than 350 judicial authorities, including courts and justice bureaus.

Company statistics show that the platform receives more than 30,000 requests every day, and can provide immediate answers for 85 percent of the questions.

Both Xiao Fa and the WeChat platform have access to a database that is constantly updated and contains details of more than 40,000 legal procedures, and answers to about 30,000 frequently asked legal questions. It also holds information about more than 7,000 laws and 5 million cases.

"We build a computer algorithm to seek answers in the database in line with the questions, but we only provide possible solutions, not model answers," Du said.

He compared Xiao Fa with court officials who assist both judges and litigants.

"It helps litigants to understand their disputes, while its responses to legal queries can provide judges with more time to work on complicated cases," he said.
China will strengthen its intelligence sharing and cooperation in joint investigations with the United States to fight rampant transnational crimes, a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security said.

The two countries will enhance information exchanges and carry out joint investigations and actions to smash cross-border criminal gangs, said Zhu Yuxiang, deputy director at the ministry's International Cooperation Department.

In addition, they will set up a joint working team for some major or individual cases, including terrorism activities, cybercrime or illegal immigration and focus on personnel training to improve their capabilities, he said.

Due to the rapid development of the internet and simulation of economic interests, cross-border crimes - including terrorist and violent crimes, cybercrime or illegal immigration between China and the US - have been on the rise, posing a threat to people's lives and regional security.

"There has been increasing demand for judicial assistance between the two countries, and most of the requests, including case investigations and locating or arresting suspects, were responded to and carried out immediately," he said.

In June, Zhang Yingying, a visiting Chinese scholar, went missing in Champaign, Illinois, south of Chicago. A local man, Brendt Christensen, has been charged with abducting and killing the student.

Christensen, who this year earned a master's degree in physics, was arrested by FBI agents and charged.

Zhu said China has attached great importance to the case and immediately offered relevant evidence to US investigators. "We will promptly exchange information with our US counterparts and keep close contact with them until the suspect is brought to justice."

Fu Xingchao, a senior official at the ministry's International Cooperation Department, said some progress has been made between China and the US to combat transnational crimes.

On Tuesday, Chinese police handed a US fugitive over to US law enforcement officers at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

The male fugitive, involved in a car theft in the US, had fled to Shanghai, where he had been working as an English teacher since November 2009. He was not known to have committed an unlawful act during his time in Shanghai, police have said.

The repatriation was demanded by US law enforcement authorities and was the latest result of China-US cooperation in chasing fugitives and illicit money since the countries' first law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue in October.

Chinese police played their part by locating and capturing the fugitive after receiving a notice from the US in August.

Hong Daode, a law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said China-US law enforcement security is an important part of the bilateral relationship.

"Both sides should insist on tackling conflicts through dialogue and put aside their political and legal differences," he added.
For more than four years, Danzin Yudron, a herdswoman from Tsomai county in the Tibet autonomous region, had not felt well, with pain in her back and a reduced appetite.

The 32-year-old said she had no idea what ailment she might have had until September last year, when she was given screening tests at Tibet No 2 People's Hospital in Lhasa, the regional capital, by doctors from 302 Military Hospital, a major hospital in Beijing that specializes in the treatment of infectious diseases.

Both Danzin Yudron and her 12-year-old daughter, Peng Qiong, were diagnosed with echinococcosis - a parasitic disease prevalent in the region - and several days later they were sent to the military hospital in Beijing for surgery.

"We were given the surgeries free, and my doctor told us the operations were successful and we only needed to have follow-up checks every six months," Danzin Yudron, who was in Beijing for one of the follow-ups this month, said in Tibetan through a translator.

Echinococcosis is caused by contact with animals - such as dogs or foxes - that are infected with a type of tiny tapeworm. It can be spread to humans, and damages major organs such as the liver, lungs and brain, and can be fatal.

Danzin Yudron is one of the many people from the Tibet autonomous region who recovered from echinococcosis after diagnosis and treatment at 302 Military Hospital.

Since 2015, the hospital has sent six medical teams to the region and neighboring areas where ethnic Tibetans live, such as Qinghai province, to help local medical personnel with diagnosing and treating the disease.

By early November, doctors from the hospital conducted more than 7,100 screenings in those areas, with 460 people diagnosed as having the infection.

The hospital has provided surgeries to 99 patients who were in critical condition and sent to Beijing for treatment. All of the surgeries were successful, the hospital said.

Li Bin, director of the Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the parasite has hit the region much more seriously than other areas in China. Traditional living habits of those who raise livestock in the regions - such as living in close quarters with animals - make it easier for the parasite to move from animals to humans, he said.

A survey organized by the National Health and Family Planning Commission last year found that prevalence of echinococcosis in the region was more than 1.6 percent, the highest in China, he said.

The Tibet government began testing the region's whole population this year. By early November about 2.9 million people had been tested - about 98 percent of the total population - according to the regional government.

The screenings found more than 26,800 confirmed or suspected echinococcosis cases. Medical professionals from 17 provinces and municipalities have assisted the region with the screenings, said Li of the regional CDC. After the screenings, the regional government will focus on treatment of the confirmed cases, he said.

In addition to 302 Military Hospital, many other hospitals and organizations, such as the China Charity Federation, have also been offering assistance to diagnose and treat patients, he said.

Zhu Zhenyu, a doctor specializing in liver diseases at 302 Military Hospital, who was in Tibet to help in July, said a major challenge in Tibet is a lack of skilled doctors.

Local doctors need more training, he said, so that patients don't have to travel for treatment.
A police officer displays a bottle of fake wine at a news conference in Shanghai's Hongkou district on Wednesday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Shanghai's Hongkou district police - assisted by big data provided by Alibaba, China's e-commerce behemoth - have cracked the largest case involving fake Australian wine ever handled in the city.

More than 14,000 bottles of fake Penfolds wine valued at 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) were involved, the police said on Wednesday. Thirteen suspects have been detained, including a man surnamed Dai who achieved sales worth 1.2 million yuan for three months in a row through an online shop on Alibaba's Taobao. Another man, a supplier surnamed Su, was also detained, the police said.

Police said they were alerted in August by Alibaba that a Taobao shop was suspected of selling fake Penfolds wine. Officers purchased wine from the shop and found its quality obviously inferior to the genuine product, from the printing on the package to the quality of the bottles and ingredients.

"Penfolds reported to us that they found suspicious retailers on our platform charging extraordinarily low prices for their products," said An Ti, a member of a task force in Alibaba's platform governance department.

"We analyzed the online shop with our data model and determined that the shop was based in Shanghai's Hongkou district," she said.

Xie Yijun, who directs the food and drug crime investigation team of the Hongkou police, said Dai was selling bottles of wine at about 200 yuan in the online shop, while the normal price should be between 600 and 3,000 yuan, Xie said.

On Sept 1, police detained Dai and another five suspects at a warehouse in Shanghai from which they were operating the online shop and storing the fake wine. More than 2,000 bottles of fake wine were found.

Police said that Dai, who claimed to be a wine retailer for seven years, confessed that he had purchased cases of wine from Su in Xiamen, Fujian province.

On Sept 18, police captured Su and another suspect and found 10,000 bottles of fake Penfolds wine and more than 10,000 fake labels and packages in two warehouses in suburban Xiamen.

"They purchased cheap wine through various channels and repackaged it with fake Penfolds labels in the warehouses," Xie said.

Su sold the wine at between 50 to 60 yuan per bottle to Dai, the police said.

Later, another five suspects - either online retailers like Dai or others who purchased from him in large amounts and distributed the wine to pubs and karaoke bars - were captured by police together with 2,000 bottles of knockoffs.

"The assistance from Alibaba played a key role in cracking the case. This is a successful example of good cooperation between the police and a business. We look forward to a stronger collaboration to achieve more success in combating crime," Xie said.

Dai admitted selling some of the fake wine through posts on WeChat Moments. "Su had approached me earlier this year with wines that were below market value. I had regular customers who liked cheap wines, sometimes the cheaper the better," Dai said in an interview with China Daily while in detention.
Senior economists and sociologists converged in Shanghai on Thursday for a symposium to discuss poverty alleviation and global inequality.

Twenty-four academics from China as well as nations in South Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America discussed the results of recent campaigns worldwide and how to achieve the UN's goal for eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.

The two-day symposium, themed "No One Left Behind", was organized by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economy.

Quan Heng, the institute's director, said poverty in China had fallen at the fastest rate in human history.

He cited World Bank statistics that show the rural population below the poverty line had dropped from 770 million in 1978 to just 55.75 million in 2015.

"The country has contributed more than 70 percent in world poverty reduction in the past 35 years," he said.

One highlight of China's targeted poverty alleviation efforts has been encouraging families to make good use of the boom in e-commerce to sell specialty products online, Quan added.

However, Wan Guanghua, a professor with Fudan University's Institute of World Economy, warned that inequality has risen in the country in the past three decades.

"The urban-rural divide contributes to more than 30 percent of national inequality," he said.
BEIJING -- China has held 1,140 officials of eight provincial-level regions accountable for environmental damages, following investigation by central inspectors in the summer of 2016, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said Thursday.

Of the total, 130 department-level officials were held responsible, with four of them transferred to the judiciary, after central authorities conducted the first round of environmental inspections in eight regions from July to August 2016, the MEP said in a statement.

Inspectors found and transferred 100 cases related to environmental damages to local governments, demanding further investigation, said Liu Changgen, deputy director of the national environmental inspection office.

The officials held accountable were publicly named, admonished, ordered to apologize, given Party disciplinary or administrative punishment, or transferred to judicial authorities. Nine were investigated for criminal responsibility.

The inspected regions were Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Henan, Guangxi, Yunnan and Ningxia.

Henan held 227 officials accountable, more than any other region, while Inner Mongolia held the most department-level officials responsible.

The inspections are part of China's campaign to fight pollution and environmental degradation as decades of growth have left the country with smog, polluted water and contaminated soil.
Nine out of 10 couples reconciled and gave up divorce after a local court gave them a cooling-off period in Southwest China's Sichuan province, according to Chinanews.com.

The county people's court of Anyue in Ziyang, Sichuan province, started the cooling-off period system on March 8 and issued the notice to altogether 10 couples, among which, only one couple eventually decided to go ahead with divorce.

The move aims to avoid impetuous divorce decisions by offering couples a chance of reconsideration and has been praised by residents as a new way of mediation.

"Many impetuous couples decide to get divorce due to minor disagreement, causing huge damage to the children and the elderly. And there is great chance that they will regret after calming down," said Li Yibing, president of the court.

The cooling-off period lasts for three months, during which the couples should stay calm and not file for divorce. The system is legally binding on both parties and shall not be rejected without due causes.

The court may terminate the period once domestic violence, abuse or abandonment is found.

If the couples reconcile or reach an agreement during the period, they may sign an agreement with the court or apply for withdrawal of the divorce filings.
Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, speaks on Thursday in Beijing about China's elevated role in the world following the success of last month's 19th CPC National Congress. Leaders and former leaders from around the world attended "The 19th CPC National Congress: Implications for China and the World" symposium. ZHU XINGXIN / CHINA DAILY

By adopting Xi Jinping Thought, Party embraces global community

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has set the guideline for China's development and renewed its commitment to an open economy, which has great significance for the world, China's top publicity official said on Thursday.

Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in his keynote speech at an international think tank symposium in Beijing.

During the symposium, former top government leaders from countries including Japan, Pakistan and France spoke highly of the significance of the CPC's 19th National Congress, saying that China has made great contributions to the world through programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative and products such as its high-speed railways.

China's development will bring numerous opportunities for the whole world, and other countries are welcomed to board the fast train of China's development, said Huang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Huang was elected a member of the Political Bureau at the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee last month in his first public speech at an international event since then.

The congress has set the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Huang said, adding that Xi Jinping Thought is the fundamental guide for international communities to understand China.

Huang said that Xi, who was endorsed by the whole Party and is loved by the people for his political wisdom and leadership capability that was demonstrated during the past five years, has become an influential global leader.

Noting that the congress highlighted China's proposal to build a community of shared future for humankind, Huang said China will stick to its path of peaceful development and push for developing a new type of international relations on the principle of mutual trust, justice and mutual benefit.

China will proactively promote cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative, support a multilateral trade system and continue to maintain and contribute to economic globalization, the publicity leader told the symposium.

The congress also highlighted the importance of fighting corruption with the promise of having zero tolerance toward corrupt activities, Huang said. He said it is not an easy task for the world's largest political party, with more than 89 million members.

The symposium, themed as "The 19th CPC National Congress: Implications for China and the World", attracted hundreds of people from around the world, including incumbent and former political figures, politics analysts and think tank researchers.

Former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda said at the symposium that China has made remarkable achievements in the past decades, during which the country developed its high-speed railway system, with a total length of 20,000 kilometers already built.

Fukuda spoke highly of Xi's proposal to build a community of shared future for mankind, saying that it means China's development will not impose any threat to other countries.

Shaukat Aziz, former prime minister of Pakistan, said the Belt and Road Initiative, put forward by Xi in 2013, will bring historic and substantial changes to the world as it "provides new connectivity, open markets, increases trade and creates jobs".

Aziz told the symposium that the initiative has benefited many countries, including Pakistan, since it has improved the infrastructure and production capacity for developing countries.

Dominique de Villepin, former French prime minister, said that the 19th CPC National Congress "opened a new era", which gives "strong signal" of continuity in the Chinese leadership.

In his speech, De Villepin recalled Xi's speech at the Davos World Economic Forum in January, saying that it reminded the world of the benefits of economic globalization and inclusive growth.

Mentioning that China and France opened a cargo rail line between Wuhan in Central China and French city of Lyon last year, De Villepin said the Belt and Road Initiative has yielded numerous fruits on the basis of mutual trust and equality.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
By Help is on the way to protect British enterprises, especially the small and medium-sized ones that do business on Taobao, from intellectual property infringement.

The China-Britain Business Council said it will work with Chinese e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba Group to find a better solution to protecting those companies from the United Kingdom using the group's online shopping portal.

That may include a fast-track channel for UK brand owners, who can apply to the platform to verify suspicious knockoffs and remove them from the online marketplace, said Mick Ryan, head of business environment at the CBBC, during an interview with China Daily in Hangzhou on Nov 8.

"Currently there is a fast path for companies with a relatively higher complaint success rate. The fast path is accessible for companies of all sizes," Ryan said.

"We will try to figure out another mechanism more tailor-made for medium and small-sized ones with Alibaba to make their complaints about suspicious counterfeits easier and more effective," he said.

The CBBC has nearly 1,000 members, most of which are British companies that have business in China. It will collect views from its members and pass them on to Alibaba, Ryan said.

This is part of a renewal of a three-year memorandum of understanding between the two sides signed that day, aimed at further strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights of the British brands on the basis of their existing partnership.

"The signing of this agreement is a significant step toward enhancing the protection of UK companies' IP in China," said Jeff Astle, executive director of the CBBC.

"It contains clear and ambitious commitments and the CBBC is confident about the positive impact our cooperation will have on the healthy growth of Chinese e-commerce and what that means for international brands here," he added.

Gill Smith, group IP director at British household appliances manufacturer Dyson, said cooperation between the CBBC and Alibaba over the past three years had enhanced their ability to protect Dyson's distinctive designs.

"That cooperation makes a real difference in our ability to protect consumers from poor quality imitation products," said Smith, who was present at the signing ceremony together with representatives from other British brands, including Burberry, Unilever and GSK.

Ryan said the MOU began in September 2014 when UK businesses sought to work more closely with Chinese online marketplaces.

The cooperation proved fruitful, he said, and achievements included the fast track for some companies to report suspicious knockoffs to Alibaba. This has a simplified reporting procedure and the reports are guaranteed to be responded to within 12 hours.

Ryan said the future relationship between the two sides will also focus on more combined efforts on offline law enforcement against counterfeiters - and Alibaba's big data technologies designed to spot and locate affiliated controllers, dealers and storehouses behind the online purchases.

In June last year, Alibaba used big data to help Chinese police to keep tabs on wholesalers suspected of importing fake motor lubricants from Malaysia and selling them online.

Authorities detained 11 suspects, including a Malaysian citizen, in provinces including Zhejiang and Guangdong.

That's after it was discovered that counterfeit Mobil, Shell and Castrol products were being sold on online shopping platforms, including Taobao. Nearly 10,000 barrels of fake lubricants with a street value of 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) were found at storehouses.

Tim Moss, CEO of the UK's Intellectual Property Office, said: "One very eye-catching thing Alibaba has done is move from looking at individual cases to a much more holistic and systematic approach, to really try to understand and improve the whole approach to make IP protection better for consumers."

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/16/2017 page17)
Beijing will send a special envoy to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Friday, the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee said in a news release on Wednesday.

Song Tao, head of the department and an envoy of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, will fly to the DPRK on Friday. During the visit, he will report on the Party's 19th National Congress as part of China's party-to-party messenger diplomacy.

Song, a former vice-foreign minister who is now in charge of the Party's diplomacy with its foreign counterparts, visited Laos and Vietnam as the general secretary's envoy in January 2016 and November.
SARPOL-E-ZAHAB, Iran - Thousands of Iranians on Tuesday spent a third night in the cold as authorities scrambled to help those made homeless by a major earthquake that killed more than 530 people.

As the country marked a day of mourning, President Hassan Rouhani promised swift help following the magnitude 7.3 quake that struck a mountainous region spanning the Iran-Iraq border on Sunday.

Volunteers also rushed to help after thousands of homes were destroyed in the quake which rocked a region extending across Iran's western province of Kermanshah.

The preliminary estimated loss stood around $450 million, Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday.

About 11,000 residential buildings in the rural areas plus 5,000 residential buildings in urban areas have been ruined, said Mojtaba Nik-Kerdar, construction deputy of Kermanshah province governor office.

During his visit to the quake-stricken areas on Tuesday, Rouhani pledged to allocate sizable fund for the reconstruction of the buildings.

"I want to assure those who are suffering that the government has begun to act with all means at its disposal and is scrambling to resolve this problem as quickly as possible," the president said.

On Tuesday afternoon, residents of Sarpol-e-Zahab helped police evacuate an elderly man, his face caked in blood, from a home at risk of imminent collapse.

Several buildings and houses lay in complete ruins, while others stood disfigured. Some structures appeared unscathed.

Rescue workers with sniffer dogs combed the ruins for survivors after at least 280 people were killed in the town of some 85,000 people.

The town center was clogged with traffic as people from the surrounding province rushed to help with rescue efforts.

Tents, some provided by the Red Crescent, dotted green spaces turned into camps for the displaced.

But some did not have shelter in a region where temperatures dropped to 4 C on Tuesday night.

Health Minister Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi was cited on Tuesday by the Tasnim news agency as recognizing that aid "distribution was not assured properly" and needed to be improved.

On Tuesday, Iran marked a day of mourning, with a black banner adorning the corner of images of the disaster broadcast by state television.

Afp - Xinhua - Ap

(China Daily 11/16/2017 page12)
Jackie Chan-starring Bleeding Steel, which shot 28 days in Australia and recruited 250 locals, exemplifies the latest cinematic collaboration between China and Australia. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Australian movie and TV producers unveil projects combining Chinese and Australian elements. Xu Fan reports.

Over the past few years, Australian filmmaker Tony Coombs has toured Yunnan province in southwestern China many times. He went there as he was fascinated by the ethnic Yi fable of Ashima, a beautiful young woman who rejects an evil lord son's proposal, to pursue her true love.

Believing that the story could easily be made accessible to an international audience with a well-developed storyline, Coombs did research on the local history, watched the 1964 Chinese movie Ashima, and wrote a script for an animated feature called Girl of Ashima.

Now, he is seeking Chinese partners to work on the project, and says he hopes to bring the Chinese story to a broader, younger audience, internationally.

Last week, at a forum at the China Australia International Film Season held in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, Coombs alongside his partner David Redman promoted the movie.

They were among a nearly 40-member team from the Australian film industry who were in China to seek opportunities in collaboration.

The Chinese film industry's rapid rise in recent years has made the country one of the world's most alluring markets for foreign players.

Despite having a long history of working with Hollywood, Australian filmmakers are now shifting their focus to China, the world's second-largest movie market.

The Wuhan event, held over Nov 7-9, is a follow-up event to the fourth China Australia International Film Festival, which is backed by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television to promote cinematic exchanges between China and Australia.

The Wuhan show was hosted by the publicity department of the Wuhan government, the Wuhan International Culture Association and the Brisbane-based company VAC International Group.

At the three-day event, 11 moviesincluding Australian star Jack Thompson's Don't Tell and Chinese documentary Twenty Twowere shown in nine cinemas and four universities in Wuhan, attracting more than 10,000 viewers to a total of 30 screenings.

But despite the films, the two forums held on Nov 9 to discuss the future of coproducing works with Australia were of key interest to Chinese decision-makers and producers.

At the event, Australian producers from 10 movie and television companies unveiled more than 20 projects combining Chinese and Australian elements.
Liu Jian (right) deals with weighty topics in realistic ways in his latest animation film, Have A Nice Day, which will be screened in Chinese cinemas ahead of the Chinese New Year in February. [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]

Film director Liu Jian is by no means talkative. Liu, who was invited to the opening ceremony of the fifth Festival of German Cinema in China in Beijing on Friday as chief guest, spoke just five sentences in his opening speech.

But his work does speak out more.

Have A Nice Day, his latest 77-minute-long animated film, was nominated for the Golden Bear in the main competition section of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival in February.

The film is 48-year-old Liu's second theatrical release.

However, it is the first Chinese animated film to be nominated in the Berlin festival, and even the first Asian animated film to be nominated for a Golden Bear since Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's iconic Spirited Away in 2002.

Though the film lost out, it has aroused a lot of expectation in China.

Earlier this month, Have A Nice Day premiered in China via an originally unscheduled screening at the first Pingyao International Film Festival in Shanxi province.

Chinese film director Jia Zhangke, who launched Pingyao festival, called the film a milestone in Chinese animation on the occasion.

Liu was not present in Pingyao.

But when Liu finally appeared in Beijing, he said that the film will be publicly screened in Chinese cinemas before the Chinese New Year in February.

Speaking about the movie, he says: "Animation can have many meanings or formats. And after seeing the film, people may accept that animation can tackle serious issues."

Unlike most Chinese animated films today, which are based on fairy tales, myths or ancient legends, Have A Nice Day has darker shades to it.

It shows what happens after Xiao Zhang, a driver working for a gang, takes his boss' mon-ey to fix his girlfriend's failed cosmetic surgery.

Speaking of how such films tackle serious issues, he cites examples of French-Iranian film Persepolis (2007) and Israeli production Waltz with Bashir (2008), both of which deal with weighty topics in realistic ways, and were nominated for the Academy Awards.

According to Yang Cheng, producer of Have A Nice Day, the copyright of the film has been sold in more than 30 countries and regions, and it will soon be distributed in cinemas all around the world.

The film is set in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, probably as a way for Liu to acknowledge his hometown.
Chinese pianist Li Yundi will join the tour. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese pianist teams up with German orchestra Staatskapelle Dresden to round off China tour. Chen Nan reports.

The Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the oldest orchestras in the world, is touring China through Sunday, performing in Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Wuhan in Hubei province.

Under the baton of conductor Alan Gilbert, the former music director of the New York Philharmonic, the orchestra will present Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 in A Major, K488 and Richard Strauss' Symphonia Domestica, Op 53.

The orchestra was founded in 1548, and it has built a unique connection with Strauss and Mozart over its long history.

Strauss entrusted the orchestra with nine of his opera premieres, including Salome, Elektra and Der Rosenkavalier, says Jan Nast, general manager of the Staatskapelle Dresden.

"This is one of the reasons why we are bringing one of Strauss' great tone poems, Symphonia Domestica, to China. It's a piece that is not performed very often in China, but it is definitely a landmark work inspired by events in Strauss' own life," says Nast.

Chinese pianist Li Yundi will join the tour. In the late fall of 2005, he toured with the Staatskapelle Dresden in Germany and performed Liszt's Piano Concerto No 1.

"I am glad to be performing with the orchestra in my home country, and the piece, Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 in A Major, K488, is one of my favorites," says Li, winner of the Warsaw Chopin Competition in 2000.

"This is the first time I'm working with Alan Gilbert, the great conductor, and I am looking forward to a spark of new inspiration in music."

According to Wu Jiatong, general manager of Wu Promotion, one of the first private touring companies and promoters in China, the orchestra made its debut show on the Chinese mainland in Beijing in 2000 and the company has been cooperating with the Staatskapelle Dresden since 2011.

The company also organized the first major tour of China by the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in October, which saw 10 concerts in five Chinese cities including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing, and attracted audiences of more than 12,000.

"In the past, the Vienna Philharmonic only stopped in Beijing or Shanghai for two to three concerts during their Asia tour. But the ongoing tour means that China has become an important market for international classical music," Wu says.
The Chinese martial art form of tai chi is centuries old. And the Yang-style is the most popular in the world.

Today, A young tai chi master, Ye Yongxiang, has started teaching the practice online, in order to share the time-honored martial art with people around the world.

With her serenity and elegance, Ye Yongxiang is known inside China's vibrant cyber community as the tai chi goddess.

Her educational videos have earned the young tai chi master a strong following of over 70,000 fans. Ye Yongxiang says her aim is to reveal the essence of this time-honored martial art.

"Actually the essence of kung fu is not about glamour and razzle-dazzle. Behind the spectacle, is endless sweat and hard work," Ye Yongxiang said.

Born in the mid-1980s in Shanghai, Ye Yongxiang first learned about tai chi from her mother, a professional martial artist. She began formally training at the age of eight and has shown steadfast dedication to mastering the martial art.
The 5th Festival of German Cinema in China will tour four cities in China. [Photo/CGTN]

Imagine this, you are a member of a jury, and sitting in the center of the court room is a fighter pilot who is on trial for murder. He has shot down a hijacked civilian jet, killing 164 passengers on board, to stop Islamic terrorists from crashing it into a stadium with 70,000 civilians.

Guilty or not, your vote after hearing arguments from the defense and the prosecution will determine his life.

This is the plot for the German film The Verdict. Though the story is a simple trial case, your opinion as an audience member will lead to different endings, as the story's finale will be determined by the audience's vote.

"I can't wait to see Chinese audiences' reaction," director Lars Kraume told CGTN. This film has aired on TV in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland last October and triggered much discussion after.

The film has been brought to the country at the 5th Festival of German Cinema in China, which kicked off in Beijing on Friday and will later tour to Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan province, Nanjing in East China's Jiangsu province, and Shenzhen in South China.

Kraume has received different reactions from different cultures. Most American audiences believed the pilot to be innocent, even after the 9/11 attacks. However, most Japanese voted definitively in favor of the pilot's guilt.

How Chinese audiences will react really excites Kraume.

The Verdict is one of many films that inspire audiences to think about reality, morality and history.

The Bloom of Yesterday directed by Chris Klaus focuses on the life of a Holocaust researcher, while In Times of Fading Light, directed by Matti Geschonneck reveals society in East Berlin through the drama of a family.

Female equality and refugees are among the topics in the 15 selected German films.
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Huang Jiajia, founder and CEO of 51Talk [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Mute English, a phenomenon where people can read and understand English as a second language but cannot speak it well, is an eternal issue for Chinese children and their parents.

From the traditional phonetic notation method to the latest one-to-one online learning style, English learners in China have undergone tremendous changes in the "talking issue".

According to the 2017 H1 China K12 Online English Education Market Research Report released by iResearch Global, the online English education market boasted 221.8 billion yuan ($33.4 billion) in revenue in 2016 and is expected to reach over 300 billion yuan in 2018 in China.

51Talk, one of the leading online English training platforms in China, has witnessed the rise of this trend.

From starting empty-handed to becoming a listed company

Huang Jiajia, founder and CEO of 51Talk, attributes the success of 51Talk to entrepreneurial passion and a firm belief in the potential of the Chinese online education market.

Born in Nantong city, East China's Jiangsu province, Huang graduated from Tsinghua University in 2007.

Since then, Huang always observed the dynamics of the Chinese English learning market. In 2011, Huang made up his mind to start 51Talk but was short of investments.

To make his dream come true, he was determined to see Xu Xiaoping, co-founder of the Chinese education brand giant New Oriental School. Finally, one night at Peking University, he saw a talent scout and sent the business proposal to him.

After the proposal was put forward, it simply remained a dead letter. However, Huang did not give up.

Thanks to his persistence and wit, Huang managed to persuade Xu, receiving the first round of investment that allowed him to set up 51Talk in July 2011.
SONG CHEN/LI MIN/CHINA DAILY

After making significant headway in the past four years, the Belt and Road Initiative has entered the implementation stage and was even cited as a priority for further opening up the Chinese economy at the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We (Standard Chartered China) identify five reasons to be positive about the initiative.

To begin with, policy connectivity has been enhanced. Belt and Road projects are being coordinated with initiatives across economies and include the Eurasian Economic Union, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, the Investment Plan for Europe, Turkey's Middle Corridor initiative, Kazakhstan's Bright Road and Vietnam's Two Corridors, One Economic Circle. Supported by more than 100 countries and international organizations, the Belt and Road Initiative is expanding its coverage to more countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. And the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in May has consolidated policy coordination on cross-regional cooperation for the initiative.

Trade between China and the economies involved in the Belt and Road Initiative has been robust, exceeding $3 trillion between 2014 and 2016. The momentum has continued this year, with China's total trade with 64 economies involved in the initiative in the first half reaching $512.2 billion, up 13 percent year-on-year.

Trade facilitation, too, has improved. The Chinese government has signed cooperation agreements with more than 40 countries and international organizations involved in the initiative, and expanded free-trade agreements with countries in Europe and Asia. And it is trying to develop more pilot free trade zones and explore the opening of free trade ports.

Besides, investment cooperation has deepened along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The stock of China's overseas direct investment in the economies involved in the initiative reached $14.5 billion last year. The value of newly signed contracts between China and such economies increased 36 percent to $126.0 billion last year, and the value of completed projects grew 9.7 percent to $76.0 billion.

With China's cross-border capital flows now more balanced and exchange rate expectations anchored, we expect the authorities to ease some restrictions on capital account transactions next year to increase China's direct investment in such economies in 2017-18.

Infrastructure connectivity has also improved, with a cross-regional network of railway, port and pipeline projects taking shape. Key projects under the initiative are progressing well, and China-Europe Railway Express has operated about 4,000 trains, covering 27 cities in 21 Chinese provinces and 29 cities in 11 European countries as of June this year.

According to the Asian Development Bank's estimate, developing Asia will require about $26 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2030. And the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a large percentage of the infrastructure needed to improve connectivity and efficiency.

So far, 20 percent of the initiative's invested project value has been in power and 19 percent in railways, followed by roads, pipelines and other infrastructure areas. We estimate that China's stock of outward investment in initiative-related countries will reach $300 billion by 2030, more than double the current level.

Multiple tiers of financial institutions are involved in Belt and Road funding, including the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The AIIB has approved $2.8 billion for 17 projects, and the Silk Road Fund has concluded contracts for 15 such projects. China's policy banks are leading project financing for domestic companies participating in the initiative. By the end of last year, China Development Bank had about $112 billion of outstanding loans in and The Export-Import Bank of China has extended about $90 billion of loans to such projects. And we expect "development financing" and commercial banks to play an increasing role in meeting the financing needs of such projects.

The Chinese government is promoting "development financing" as a way to integrate funding resources, bridge state and market interests, and operate independently of government subsidies. The initiative has also created an opportunity for commercial banks to leverage their expertise and global networks and provide comprehensive cross-border financial services to clients.

The author is an economist at Standard Chartered China.
Editor's note:

The leadership of the Communist Party of China has wrapped up its first series of diplomatic efforts after the 19th National Congress of the CPC, which included US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to China, President Xi Jinping's speech at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam, and Premier Li Keqiang's deliberations at the ASEAN+China (10+1) leaders' meeting in the Philippines. Three experts share their views on Chinese diplomacy in the "new era" and Asia-Pacific integration with China Daily's Cui Shoufeng. Excerpts follow:

Easier to build East Asian economic community

Zhang Yunling, director of international studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and a senior adviser to Pangoal Institute in Beijing

November has been a month of Asia-Pacific meetings for years, and this year it has been marked by the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, and the 20th ASEAN-China (10+1) leaders' meeting, 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, and the 12th East Asia Summit in Manila, the Philippines.

China, an ardent supporter of regional economic integration, has made strenuous efforts to put the Asia-Pacific region on the fast track to free trade, which include the proposal to build the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and push for negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

In contrast, the Trump-led United States administration has little interest in pushing for open regional markets or upgrading Asia-Pacific cooperation. Founded in 1989 to practice "open regionalism", the 21-member APEC now accounts for about 40 percent of the global population, 60 percent of global economic output and 48 percent of global trade.

But unlike his predecessor Barack Obama who pushed the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations even at the risk of tearing apart the APEC arrangements, Trump has pulled the US out of the TPPnot to bring Asia-Pacific economies closer but to serve his "America First" policy. Nor has he shown any interest in helping realize the FTAAP.

East Asian cooperation, too, faces new headwinds. The coexistence of multiple mechanisms, including the 18-member East Asia Summit, the 16-member RCEP, and the ASEAN Community based on economic, security and cultural coordination, at times subjects dialogues to meaningless disputes and haggles. It may be easier, however, to build an East Asian economic community since ASEAN members are already on that course and a trilateral FTA between China, Japan and the ROK is in the making.

Regional integration faces US challenge
A micro blog post published by Jiang Qiulian calls for death sentence given to the murder suspect who allegedly killed her daughter, Jiang Ge .

JIANG GE, a 24-year-old Chinese student, was killed in the corridor outside the door of her apartment in Tokyo one year ago. She was reportedly attacked by a Chinese student surnamed Chen, while trying to defend his ex-girlfriend, Liu Xin. More than 1.5 million people have signed a petition supporting Jiang's mother who is seeking the death penalty in Chen's trial. The verdict is due to be delivered by a Japanese court on Dec 11. Thepaper.cn comments:

Although Jiang's case has caught wide attention on social media in China, partly because of the participation of some we media celebrities who have blamed Liu for refusing to comfort Jiang's mother over the past year, public anger against Chen and Liu and the people's sympathy for the victim's mother, who raised Jiang as a single parent, will not sway the court's decision, which will be based on the evidence presented.

And, even if Chen is found guilty, although the death penalty has not been cancelled in Japan, it involves a very strict and complicated procedure to deliver the death sentence, which is meted out only in some extremely grave cases. No one was sentenced to death in the country last year. And past experience suggests that if a guilty verdict is delivered, Chen is likely to be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

That some people say that more than 330,000 signatures can ensure the death penalty shows their lack of understanding of the judicial and legal systems in Japan.

The signature campaign seeking the death penalty for Chen that Jiang's mother initiated on the internet will make no difference to the court's final ruling.

While Jiang's mother may have reason to incite public anger online against Liu and her family after losing her daughter, those who have signed the petition have no excuse for trying to act as both judge and jury.

And according to the General Provisions of Civil Law of China, if Jiang's death is recognized by the court as being due to her trying to help another, Liu will have a legal obligation to compensate her mother.
By Zhang Yue in Manila and Mo Jingxi in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-15 07:14

China called for joint efforts to advance construction of an East Asia economic community for regional integration and common development on Tuesday in Manila.

Premier Li Keqiang, addressing the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, said it is a strategic goal of 10+3 cooperation to build such a community. It also meets the long-term, fundamental interests of the region's people, he said.

Over the past two decades, Li said, 10+3 cooperation has become one of the most remarkable achievements in Asia, contributing to regional peace and development.

Li said it is important to seize the opportunity to push forward the construction of an East Asia economic community to make the region an engine for global economic recovery amid the rise of anti-globalization sentiments and trade protectionism.

Construction of such a community should boost regional economic integration for common development, while putting ASEAN in a central position and adhering to consensus through consultation, the Chinese premier said.

He also said 10+3 cooperation is the main channel for promoting the East Asia Economic Community.

Li put forward a six-point proposal to do this involving trade liberalization and facilitation, production capacity, infrastructure, finance, sustainable development and people-to-people exchanges.

As China keeps opening up, a more open and prosperous China will provide more markets, growth, investment and opportunity for cooperation for countries in East Asia and globally, Li added.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ROK President Moon Jae-in and leaders of the 10 member states of ASEAN also attended the meeting, presided over by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Participants traded views on such issues as the relationship of trade and investment and the environment and sustainable development. They issued a statement on food security cooperation and a declaration on the 20th anniversary of 10+3 cooperation.

The 10+3 mechanism was established in the late 1990s when ASEAN countries decided to enhance cooperation with other major economies of Asia.

Contact the writers at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
Editor's note: Premier Li Keqiang met foreign leaders on the sidelines of a series of leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation in Manila on Monday. Here are highlights of some of the talks.

Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Manila, the Philippines, Nov 13, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Japan

When meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Li Keqiang said that there are some positive changes in China-Japan relations while some sensitive factors still exist.

It is hoped that Japan will work with China to push forward their relations, overcome difficulties and challenges, maintain the improving momentum and achieve new development, Li said.

They should jointly promote negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as well as a China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement, Li said.

Abe said Japan believes the two sides are cooperative partners, not posing a threat to each other, and they should strengthen high-level exchanges and consolidate improving momentum.

The two sides should strengthen economic dialogue and explore construction of connectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Abe said.
Several Chinese students cheer at Colombia University graduation ceremonies last year in New York City. LI MUZI/XINHUA

Practical training program sees seven straight years of growth

The number of Chinese students taking advantage of an Optional Practical Training (OPT) program in the United States, has seen growth for seven straight years, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The OPT programs allow graduates to work in the field of their major area of study for a year in most cases.

The number of Chinese graduates in such programs reached nearly 60,000 in the 2016-17 academic year, an increase of 14.6 percent from the previous year and more than five times the figure in the 2009-10 academic year, according to the 2017 Open Doors report by the Institute for International Education.

OPT is a transitional period in which international students may be able to change from the status of student to employee. The large number of OPT students reflects the value students see in acquiring work experience after graduation, which makes them more competitive in the job market, said Pauline Kao, a public affairs officer at the US consulate in Shanghai.

"In fact, in the STEM areas - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - the OPT period can last up to three years," she said.

Nearly 80 percent of Chinese students in the US wanted to experience internships or regular employment in the country, according to a survey conducted and published by MentorX, a California-based online education company specializing in advising Chinese students in the US.

In May the survey polled more than 1,600 Chinese students who graduated with bachelor's degrees from US universities and colleges over the past two years.

"In the US job market, there is an emphasis on practical skills, and about 70 percent of new employees were previously interns," said Frank Zhang, general manager in China for MentorX. "Therefore OPT will be of great value to Chinese students if they seize the opportunity."

The Open Doors report also showed that China remains the leading place of origin for students going to the US for the eighth year, comprising 32.5 percent of all international students studying in the country.

In the 2016-17 academic year, 350,755 students from China were studying in the United States.

"Most undergraduate students are self-funded. That reflects economic prosperity: Chinese families are becoming more capable of sending their children to the US, and they place high value on US education," Kao said.

Last year Chinese students at US colleges and universities contributed about $12.6 billion to the US economy, according to the US Department of Commerce.

Another reason for the numbers is the five-year visas available to Chinese students going to the US. Such visas usually cover the entire length of their study, said William Weissman, a US consular officer in Shanghai.

The report also found that 11,689 students from the US were studying in China in the 2015-16 academic year - an 8.6 percent decrease from the year before and part of a declining trend over the last four years.

"The reasons may be that American students can now take up Chinese studies in the US and don't necessarily have to come to China for those programs," Kao said. "But we are very much encouraging American students to come to China to study," she said.

"During US President Donald Trump's visit to China last week, he and President Xi Jinping encouraged greater exchanges at all levels, including educational and cultural exchanges," she said.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn
By WANG QINGYUN and MO JINGXI in Beijing and LUCY MORANGI in Kenya | China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-16 07:23

An armored personnel carrier patrols the streets of Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, on Wednesday. China's Foreign Ministry has said it is monitoring the situation.[Photo/Xinhua]

Foreign Ministry urges parties in 'friendly' nation to handle matters

China said on Wednesday it is closely following the situation in Zimbabwe and hopes the African nation will properly handle its internal affairs.

The ruling party in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe African National UnionPatriotic Front, said in Twitter posts on Wednesday that there was "a bloodless transition" and suggested President Robert Mugabe had been detained. It said the army had not staged a coup and the situation was stable.

"As a country that is friendly with Zimbabwe, we are paying close attention to developments of the situation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news briefing.

Geng said maintaining peaceful and stable development is in line with the fundamental interests of Zimbabwe and regional countries and is the common desire of the international community, adding that China hopes the parties in Zimbabwe appropriately handle their internal matters.

He also said a trip to Beijing last week by Zimbabwe's military chief was a "normal military exchange" in response to questions about whether Zimbabwe Defense Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga briefed Chinese officials on plans for the takeover in Zimbabwe.

In a warning issued on Wednesday, which is valid through May 14, the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe urged Chinese citizens there to watch out for their safety.
Report points to uncertainty and competition as China stays top

WASHINGTON - Universities are becoming less attractive to overseas students, according to a report released on Monday, adding to the financial woes of many less prestigious schools.

The annual report by the Institute of International Education showed that newly enrolled international students in 2016 dropped by 3.3 percent from the previous year, registering the first decrease since the study began 12 years ago.

The study showed that 290,836 international students entered the US in the fall of last year, compared with 300,743 at the same time 2015.

A preliminary assessment of nearly 500 colleges and universities showed that newly enrolled international students in the fall of this year dropped another 7 percent year on year.

Despite the overall fall, the impact was not felt evenly across the board. Broken down by institutions, 45 percent of the campuses reported declines in new enrollments for fall of this year, while 31 percent reported increases and 24 percent reported no change from last year.

The trend for students pursuing different academic levels also varied. Both the numbers for undergraduate and graduate degrees rose, but was offset by a significant cut in the number of students joining nondegree programs, such as short-term exchanges and intensive English language programs.

The pie chart of the countries of origin for international students has also been reshaped.

China and India, which topped the chart as the biggest contributor of international students, still showed strong interest in the US education system.

The number of Chinese students rose 6.8 percent year on year in 2016 to make up nearly one third of all international students in the US, while Indian students increased 12.3 percent to make up 17.3 percent.

Financial damage

According to researchers, fewer international students have hurt the financial standings of many universities and exacerbated a trend in the US where the budget gap between top and average schools is expanding.

Last year, international students spent $39 billion on tuition, room and board and living expenses, according to the US Department of Commerce.

According to analysts, increased competition from other Western countries, less public funding in some countries to support exchange programs and political instability in the US contributed to the dip in incoming students.

Allan Goodman, the president of IIE, said Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are all stepping up the effort to woo international students.

"Concerns around the travel ban had a lot to do with concerns around personal safety based on a few incidents involving international students, and a generalized concern about whether they're safe," said Rajika Bhandari, head of research for the IIE.

Despite the drop, the study found that the total number of overseas students studying in the US continued to rise, hitting a record-setting 1.08 million in the 2016/17 school year.

Xinhua
The Chinese consul general in Houston, Li Qiangmin, has seen many economic benefits resulting from US President Donald Trump's trip to China last week.

Li spoke of the opportunities being brought into the southern United States by China and a stable relationship between the countries.

"At least three among the 29 companies (that) headed to China with President Trump are from Texas," Li told the luncheon guests, who included state Representative Gene Wu, Houston City Council Member Greg Travis, Greater Houston Partnership CEO Bob Harvey, businessman Neil Bush, US China Partnership Chairman Charles Foster, diplomats from the consulate corps of Houston and other prominent business and community leaders.

Cheniere Energy, based in Houston, is the owner of the first liquefied natural gas export terminal in the US. It signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Petroleum Corp for long-term LNG sales and purchase cooperation.

Bell Helicopter signed an agreement with Reignwood International Investment Group to sell an additional 50 Bell 505s helicopters to China.

Li said that high-level exchanges are frequent among Southern US states and China. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will visit China soon. The mayors of Austin and Dallas have recently visited China.

"Governor (Asa) Hutchinson of Arkansas has visited China three times since he took office. He said to me that he will visit China every year during his term. He has already got great rewards. Several Chinese companies have invested or declared to invest more than $1.4 billion, with 1,500 jobs in Arkansas since 2015," Li said.

"It makes perfect sense for US companies to work with Chinese companies. There is a lot of money to be made on both sides. It's a win-win situation," Jon Taylor, professor of political science at University of St. Thomas, said of Trump's visit to China.

"A lot of economic agreements made will really pay off in five years or so."

Strong ties expected

Bush expressed his wish for strong ties between the US and China: "My father (former US president George H.W. Bush) has always maintained that the US-China relationship is the most important relationship in the world.

"Now that China is becoming the second-largest economy of the world, we need to find ways to put my father's legacy and interest to work so that the two greatest economies in the world can work together to apply our resources and talent to solve the global issues."

On Tuesday, Trump said he had done "a really fantastic job" on a five-nation tour of Asia in which he had made a lot of friends.

The US president, who began his journey in Japan 12 days ago, said his trip had seen progress in his goal of narrowing the country's trade deficits.

"I've made a lot of friends at the highest level," Trump said, adding the trip was "tremendously successful".

"I think the fruits of our labor are going to be incredible," he said, later predicting an already unveiled $300 billion worth of trade deals "is going to be quadrupled very quickly" to more than $1 trillion.

He offered no evidence for this assessment.

"It's been a really great 12 days," he said. "I think we have done a really fantastic job."

AFP contributed to this story.

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com
Ankara aims to reduce dependence on foreign technology in the future

ANKARA - As a regional player, Turkey has set its sights on space. An ambitious program will constitute the backbone of a special agency which should be launched next year to determine policies and strategies in space and aviation technologies.

A draft bill to this effect penned by the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, was approved last week by a Parliamentary subcommittee and should be voted on early next year at a plenary session, parliamentary sources said.

The bill, which is expected to pass with the consent of the opposition in the fragmented Parliament, defines the mission of this first Turkish Space Agency as primarily reducing dependence on foreign technology, coordination work for space programs and to develop and launch aerospace systems.

The agency will reportedly combine the experience of similar institutions in the United States (NASA), Germany, France and Japan, according to the bill.

Turkey's efforts in space programs, essentially on launching and integrating satellites, has experienced problems these last years. Now Ankara is more than ever determined to step up its ambitions.

"We signed a protocol of cooperation with Japan in order to launch our own national space agency. This way we will be able to consolidate our efforts in the fields of satellites and space technologies," said Turkish Transport, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan during an international symposium in Istanbul on the weekend.

In September, Turkey and Japan signed a deal regarding satellite and space technologies. Under the deal, they will build an infrastructure of space technologies in Turkey over a span of six years. UBAKUSAT will be launched from Japan next year, and Japan will help train experts in space technologies and will also assist in establishing the Turkish Space Agency.

"This is a sign that Turkey's dreams are becoming reality," said the minister. "We will be able in a short time to achieve the thing that we couldn't even dream of in the past."

Turkey wants to increase its number of satellites to a total of 10 in 2023, in order to be able to operate and have direct communications links with some 90 percent of the world population through its own satellites.

Indigenous satellite

Turkey launched its first satellite in 1994, followed by two others in 1996 and 2001 supported by the European consortium Airbus facilities.

Since 2012, three other military and observation satellites have been launched, bringing the actual number of Turkish satellites in the earth's orbit to six.

Turkey aims to build its first fully indigenous satellite by 2019. Last week Ankara hosted SpaceX CEO Elon Musk who met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss cooperation between his companies and Turkish firms, including the launch of Turkish satellites.

Turkey hopes to launch satellites Turksat 5A and Turksat 5B in 2020 and 2021 with the support of Musk's SpaceX.

Metin Gurcan, a leading Turkish security expert, indicated that the lack of a national space agency is "a key institutional deficiency" and is hampering the country's efforts to assert fully its power in the region.

Xinhua

(China Daily 11/16/2017 page11)
Suspect Takahiro Shiraishi covers his face with his hands as he is transported to the prosecutor's office in Tokyo, on Nov 1. JIJI PRESS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOKYO - The grisly beheading of nine people lured by a suspected serial killer after tweeting suicidal thoughts has sparked debate about the use of social media in Japan, which has one of the world's highest suicide rates.

The suspect, Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the "Twitter killer", reportedly lured his victims - aged between 15 and 26 - by trawling social media, and the gruesome discovery has prompted the government to consider tightening internet regulations to restrict suicidal posts.

But some experts said social media provides an important means of emotional release in a country grappling with strong cultural taboos around suicide and depression and caution against any clampdown.

Police apprehended Shiraishi while investigating the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman, who had reportedly tweeted she wanted to take her own life.

"I'm looking for someone to die with me", she tweeted using the hashtag "suicide recruitment".

Like his other victims, Shiraishi reportedly used social media to draw her in, telling her he could help her commit suicide or even die alongside her.

But Twitter also proved to be his downfall, as police persuaded a woman to contact him via social media to arrange a meeting, enabling investigators to trap him.

Four days after the bodies were found in Shiraishi's apartment in a Tokyo suburb last month, Twitter unveiled new rules stating that users "may not promote or encourage suicide or self-harm" but it stopped short of banning tweets expressing a wish to kill oneself.

The government is considering tightening regulations on "inappropriate" websites on suicide, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

Suga added the government should also boost support for young people who post desperate messages online, but did not offer further details.

'Suicide websites'

Japan has the highest suicide rate of any Group of Seven industrialized nation, with more than 20,000 people taking their own lives each year.

While the overall suicide rate has been falling since its 2003 peak, it has continued to rise among young adults and schoolchildren - the most likely users of social media.

About 500 Japanese under 20 kill themselves each year and a Nippon Foundation survey last year showed that one in four people had seriously considered suicide.

In some cases, victims have committed mass suicide after meeting on so-called "suicide websites", a phenomenon that has prompted the government to crack down on people using the internet to post their death wishes.

The issue first hit the headlines in 2005, with 91 people in total committing "group suicide" after contacting each other online.

In response, authorities asked internet service providers to contact them if individuals posted suicidal thoughts online and included details of when and where they planned to kill themselves.

A year later, police began requiring internet providers to delete websites that encourage suicide or recruit people who want to commit mass suicide.

But their efforts have not paid off.

In 2009, five people attempted to commit suicide by burning coal briquettes inside a car in Fukuoka after contacting each other online.

A 30-year-old man suffered brain damage as a result, while the other four people were arrested for failing in their responsibility to protect lives and for assisting suicide.

Agence France-presse
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh stand next to a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain, July 12, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Britain's Queen Elizabeth will add another landmark to her record-breaking reign on Monday when she and Prince Philip celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.

Princess Elizabeth, as she was at the time, married dashing naval officer Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at London's Westminster Abbey on Nov 20, 1947, just two years after the end of World War II, in a lavish ceremony attended by statesmen and royalty from around the world.

Seventy years on, Elizabeth, 91, and her 96-year-old husband will mark their platinum anniversary with a small family party at Windsor Castle, the monarch's home to the west of London.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said there would be no public event to mark the occasion.

Greek-born Philip, a descendant of Elizabeth's great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria in his own right, has been at his wife's side throughout her 65-year reign, the longest in British history. He was the person who broke the news to her in 1952 that her father, George VI, had died and that she was now queen.

"One of the secrets of this very, very long marriage, and it's an incredibly impressive anniversary, is the fact Prince Philip has always seen it as his main duty to support the queen, to help her in whatever way he can," said royal historian Hugo Vickers.

"He is the only person who can actually tell the queen absolutely straight what he thinks, and if he thinks some idea is ridiculous he will say so in whatever language he chooses to use."

The couple first met when they attended the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece, to Elizabeth's uncle, the Duke of Kent, in 1934.

Philip then gained the attention of his future wife when the then-13-year-old princess made a visit with her parents to Britain's Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in southern England where he was a cadet.

Truly in love

"She was truly in love from the very beginning," the queen's cousin Margaret Rhodes, a lifelong friend and one of her bridesmaids who died last year, wrote in her memoir.

Their engagement was announced in July 1947 and they married four months later.

While royal watchers said Elizabeth and Philip have had their ups and downs like any married couple. They have avoided the travails of three of their four children whose marriages have ended in divorce, most notably heir Prince Charles's ill-fated union with his late first wife Princess Diana.

It was at the couple's 50th wedding anniversary in 1997 that the queen paid a rare personal tribute to her husband.

"He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years," Elizabeth said.

Reuters
Two women embrace outside Rancho Tehama Elementary School, where a gunman opened fire on Tuesday in Corning, California. RICH PEDRONCELLI/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lockdown saved children as the shooter tried to enter a school

RANCHO TEHAMA RESERVE, California - A gunman driving a stolen vehicle and choosing his targets at random opened fire "without provocation" in a tiny, rural Northern California town on Tuesday, killing four people and wounding at least 10 others, including a student at an elementary school, before police shot him dead, authorities said.

The rampage began shortly before 8 am when the gunman fatally shot a neighbor he had been accused of stabbing in January, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said.

Shortly afterward, the gunman rammed through the gate of Rancho Tehama Elementary School about 3 kilometers away and spent about six minutes shooting into the building, striking at least one student, Johnston said.

Surveillance video showed the gunman, who was not identified, trying unsuccessfully to enter the school, authorities said.

School officials' swift decision to lock the doors after hearing gunfire was "monumental" in saving the lives of countless children, Johnston said. No one was killed there.

The gunman left the school after he could not get inside and purposely crashed the stolen truck he was driving into another vehicle and shot at its occupants, Johnston said.

The shooter stole the car of a person who stopped to check on the crash and ran away when confronted with a gun. He continued the rampage until police shot him about 45 minutes after it started, Johnston said.

"This man was very, very bent on completing what he set out to do," the assistant sheriff said.

The shootings occurred in the rural community of Rancho Tehama Reserve, a homeowners association of modest houses and trailers in rolling oak woodlands dotted with grazing cattle about 200 km north of Sacramento.

Police offered no immediate word on the assailant's motive, but a sheriff's official said the shooter's neighbors had reported a domestic violence incident a day earlier. Officials did not specify who was involved or what happened.

Brian Flint told the Record Searchlight newspaper in the city of Redding that his neighbor, whom he knows only as Kevin, was the gunman and that his roommate was among the victims. He said the shooter stole his truck.

"The crazy thing is that the neighbor has been shooting a lot of bullets lately, hundreds of rounds, large magazines," Flint said. "We made it aware that this guy is crazy and he's been threatening us."

Tuesday's shooting marks the 317th mass shooting in the US so far this year, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings in the country.

Data from the agency also showed 13,564 people have died from gun-related violence so far this year and 27,669 others were injured.

Over month ago, a mass shooting in Las Vegas shocked the whole country.

In the deadliest shooting incident in modern US history, the shooter killed 58 people and injured 546 others before he killed himself. The motive of the gunman, a 65-year-old millionaire, is still unclear.

Lia Zhu in San Francisco contributed to this story.

Ap - China Daily
NEW DELHI - A entrepreneurship conference that US President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, is attending in India this month has been flooded with applications amid deepening ties between India and the United States.

Thousands of Indian entrepreneurs want to attend the three-day Global Entrepreneurship Summit, from Nov 28 in the city of Hyderabad, though organizers said they can accommodate only 400 from India and 800 from the US and the rest of the world.

"Definitely, the response was much, much more than the 400. India has become a very important startup destination," said Jayesh Ranjan, a government official in Hyderabad who is helping organize the event.

"Also, when she speaks as the head of the US delegation, in a way she would be communicating what is the official position of the US government about entrepreneurship, about startups," he said of Ivanka Trump.

Ranjan could not confirm a report in the Times of India daily that said about 44,000 Indian entrepreneurs had applied for the 400 slots, though he said it was in the thousands.

The application deadline was Oct 7.

GES was conceived by former US president Barack Obama.

It was previously held in Washington, Istanbul, Dubai, Marrakech in Morocco, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur and Silicon Valley in the US.

This will be the first such meeting under Trump, who this year said on the social network Twitter that his daughter would lead the US delegation to support women's entrepreneurship globally.

The theme of the conference this year is "Women First, Prosperity for All".

On a visit to New Delhi last month, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the conference was an example of how Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were "promoting innovation, expanding job opportunities, and finding new ways to strengthen both of our economies".

India is already a major market for the US, with bilateral trade at about $115 billion last year. They aim to raise that to $500 billion by 2022.

More than 1,500 people were expected at GES Hyderabad, including entrepreneurs, 300 investors, government officials and others, Ranjan said.

Modi, who will inaugurate the conference, told Trump in a meeting in the Philippines on Monday that he looked forward to hosting the US delegation in Hyderabad, "showcasing innovation and collaboration between India and the US".

Reuters
CHANGA MANGA, Pakistan - Once a common sight in the skies of Pakistan, today the white-backed vulture is facing extinction - its population devastated by the use of industrial drugs to breed the cattle whose carcasses they traditionally feed on.

Bird numbers have plummeted by more than 99 percent since the 1990s, according to the local branch of the World Wildlife Fund, which is attempting to ensure the species does not die out.

"Once vultures were found in a very good number in Pakistan," said Warda Javed, coordinator for the WWF backed Vulture Restoration Project.

But due to several threats - principally the use of the anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac, which causes kidney failure the birds are dying out.

In a vast screened enclosure in the eastern forest of Changa Manga, about 100 kilometers from Pakistan's cultural capital Lahore, some 20 Gyps Bengalensis - or the white-backed vultures - wait patiently for their dinner, traditionally made of donkey and goat meat.

With plumage of white and ash gray, their powerful beaks fitted to long pink necks, they watch from their wooden perches, some 10 meters above the ground. They boast a wingspan of 2 meters and weigh up to 7.5 kilograms.

Locked up, at least they are safe: The goal is to keep the species alive until outside conditions improve enough for them to be released.

Diclofenac is used as a painkiller by livestock breeders in Pakistan. Vultures consume the meat off the carcasses of the cattle and so ingest the drugs, which wreak havoc with their systems.

Symbols of death

The WWF is lobbying authorities, veterinarians and pharmaceutical companies for the replacement of Diclofenac with an alternative, Meloxicam, which is safer for the birds.

Diclofenac was banned in neighboring India in 2006 after it was also blamed for destroying the vulture population there, which went from millions to just a few thousand in little more than a decade, but it remains in use in Pakistan.

At the Vulture Restoration Project in Changa Manga, they are playing the long game.

Four vulture babies were born in the last two years through the centre's breeding program, but it will be years before they are released into the wild.

"Up till 2020, we don't have any release plans until we have a controlled environment outside this center as well," Javed said, warning that even if Diclofenac is banned in Pakistan, other drugs used in cattle breeding can cause problems for the birds.

There are eight species of vultures in Pakistan, two of which - the white-backed vulture and the Indian vulture - are critically endangered.

Principally scavengers that feast on carcasses, the birds have long been associated with death, an issue compounded on the Indian subcontinent as they have also been used to dispose of human remains as part of the centuries-old tradition of Dakhma, the funeral process of the Zoroastrian community known as the Parsees.

Agence France-presse

(China Daily 11/16/2017 page10)
A screenshot from US news media wkrn.com shows shooting victim Wang Ruxin in file photo. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The family of a 74-year-old man who was shot and killed while getting his trashcan from outside his Nashville home shared the memories of that fateful day, according to the Beijing News.

Wang Ruxin, a husband and father who had retired from the education bureau in China, was visiting his son since September when he was killed shortly before 4 pm on Nov 9 along Claiborne Street.

"The local police told me there might be four suspects, and two suspects - a 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy - were arrested," said Wang Yun, the victim's son.

The motive for the fatal shooting remains under investigation.

"Although my father could not speak English, he was always smiling," said Wang Yun. "I don't understand why someone would be so cruel to such a nice person."

"When I heard about shootings in Las Vegas and Orlando, I felt they are very far away from me, but that's not the case," said Wang Yun.

Wang Yun said he wasn't at home when his mother Zhai Yongling heard two gunshots outside the house. Panicking, Zhai looked for her husband and ran outside to find him near some trees across the street, about 10 meters from her son's home.

"I saw him lying there," Zhai said, using her son as a translator. "He wasn't breathing."

"My mother and I couldn't sleep on the first day after the event. We just talked about my dad," said Wang Yun.

Wang Yun came to the United States in 2000, and worked as a computer engineer at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
A damaged vehicle and debris caused by recent earthquake are seen in Pohang, South Korea, Nov 15, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL, South Korea - A 5.4 magnitude earthquake that was South Korea's second-strongest in decades damaged infrastructure, injured dozens of people and left about 1,500 homeless, officials said Thursday.

No deaths have been reported since the quake rattled the southeastern coastal region around the port city of Pohang on Wednesday afternoon.

As of Thursday morning, 1,536 people had been forced to evacuate their homes and 57 people were injured, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a statement.

More than 1,000 houses and dozens of other buildings and cars were damaged or destroyed, and cracks and other damage were found in military facilities, bridges, port facilities and water supply facilities. Media images showed crumbled walls piled on damaged cars, broken windows and cracks in buildings.

The quake also forced the education ministry to put off the university entrance exam for one week because some buildings chosen as test venues had cracks and students in the southeastern region were displaced from their homes and complained of anxieties. The annual test administered by the government is a huge national event in South Korea, where diplomas from top colleges often guarantee better jobs and spouses.

It's the second-strongest quake in South Korea since the country officially began monitoring them in 1978. The biggest quake occurred in September 2016, when a 5.8 magnitude occurred near the ancient city of Gyeongju, which is close to Pohang. That quake also caused injuries but no deaths.

South Korea's state-run Korea Meteorological Administration said the epicenter of Wednesday's quake was inside Pohang while the US Geological Survey said it was centered about 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) northwest of the port city. The shaking was felt in Seoul, more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.

South Korea has relatively little seismic activity, unlike neighboring Japan.

AP
WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton Wednesday warned the current administration against appointing a special counsel to investigate her role in the sale of a uranium company in 2010.

In an interview with US magazine Mother Jones, Clinton said it is "such an abuse of power". She was responding to reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering the move.

"I regret if they do it because it will be such a disastrous step to politicizing the justice system," Clinton said.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions had reportedly asked top prosecutors to examine whether to use a special counsel to investigate the sale of the uranium company to Russian interests, which happened when Clinton acted as the secretary of state.

Several Republicans, including US President Donald Trump, have alleged there were links between the sale and donations to the Clinton Foundation, even though multiple federal agencies, including the State Department, approved the deal in 2010.

The company, Uranium One, controlled land equal to roughly 20 percent of the uranium capacity of the United States when the deal was made.

Republicans have tried to link the takeover to a sum of $145 million donated to the Clinton Foundation by stakeholders in the company.

"This Uranium One story has been debunked countless times by members of the press, by independent experts," Clinton said.

Clinton suggested the Trump administration was trying to divert public attention from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump's presidential campaign and the Russian government.

"It is nothing but a false charge that the Trump administration is trying to drum up to avoid attention being drawn to them," she said.

Besides, Clinton said she was not concerned about being prosecuted.

"There is no basis to it," Clinton said. "At the end of the day, nothing will come of it, but it will, you know, cause a lot of terrible consequences that we might live with for a really long time."
SEOUL - South Korea's senior presidential secretary for political affairs offered Thursday to resign ahead of the expected questioning by prosecutors over a graft scandal involving his former aides.

Jun Byung-hun, senior political affairs secretary for President Moon Jae-in, held a press conference in the presidential office, saying he felt very frustrated to cause troubles to President Moon though he made best efforts to serve the president even for the short period of time.

Jun said he had offered to resign as the senior secretary for the president who was managing state affairs only for people, asking people to protect the Moon government to the end.

He apologized for aberrant acts of his former aides, denying his involvement in any illegal acts.

Prosecutors were expected to summon Jun for questioning in the near future as the prosecution said Wednesday that the questioning would be inevitable. Jun's two former aides were already arrested.
MANILA - China and the Philippines issued a joint statement on Thursday, in which the two sides agreed to advance bilateral relations and press ahead with cooperation in key areas of infrastructure, production capacity, investment, commerce, trade, agriculture, livelihood, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

The joint statement was issued amid Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to the Philippines at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Both sides recognized that the bilateral relations have achieved positive turnaround and momentum through joint efforts, and agreed to advance relations in a sustained and pragmatic manner on the basis of mutual respect, sincerity, equality, and mutual benefit.

The Philippines reaffirms its adherence to the One-China policy, the statement said.

To further advance ties, both sides agreed to enhance high-level exchanges and dovetail development strategies.

China and the Philippines recognized the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippine development plans, and their synergies with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, according to the statement.

The two countries will jointly formulate and implement a Program on China-Philippines Industrial Park Development.

China reiterates its firm support and assistance to the Philippines's fight against terrorism and drug-related crimes, and the quick recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of Marawi City, the statement said.

During Li's visit, a launching ceremony of two river bridges in Manila and two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, south of the Philippines, was held on Wednesday.

The Philippines appreciates the assistance from China in the fight against terrorism in Marawi and in the construction of two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, the statement said.

Both sides also agreed to identify and facilitate the implementation of the second-batch of priority cooperation projects.

According to the statement, China will continue to encourage and support Chinese enterprises to expand investment in the Philippines, import more quality products from the Philippines and upgrade the scale and quality of trade and investment between the two countries.

On the South China Sea issue, the two countries noted that the situation in the South China Sea has become generally more stable as a result of joint cooperative efforts between China, the Philippines, and other ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

Both sides agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation in areas such as marine environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, and possible cooperation in marine scientific research, the statement said.

They further agreed to continue to actively advance consultations and negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and ensure the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety.

Noting that the Philippines takes the rotating presidency of ASEAN in 2017, China congratulated the Philippines on the success of its chairmanship and its successful hosting of a series of meetings.

Both sides welcomed the signing of various agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on infrastructure projects, bridge construction, bond issurance, drug rehabilitation, climate change, intellectual property protection, industrial capacity cooperation and more, according to the statement.
Visiting Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi inaugurated Panama's embassy in Beijing on Thursday.

Varela arrived in the Chinese capital earlier in the day for his state visit which will last until November 22.

The inauguration marks the completion of the two countries establishing embassies in each other's nations.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in June after Panama cut its ties with China's Taiwan, and Chinas embassy in Panama was inaugurated in September.
Top research institutions in China and the US announced Thursday their plans to build an international laboratory, aiming to give more accurate predictions on global climate change and mitigate its negative impact on human beings.

The laboratory is named the International Laboratory for High-Resolution Earth System Prediction, or iHESP, which will concentrate on the development of high-resolution and multiscale earth system predictions and simulation frameworks that provide reliable data with a regional and global scope.

It is expected to enhance climate forecasts and disaster predictions as well as better serve stakeholders and policymakers, experts said.

The facility will be jointly operated by Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, or QNLM, the US-based National Center for Atmospheric Research, or NCAR, and Texas A & M University, or TAMU. These three parties, signing the agreement in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, have led global research on climate change.

The new laboratory will have two offices, respectively in Qingdao and the Texas university town.

"Each side brings its advantages in this cooperationand excitingly this is one example of the two countries really partnering with their expertise and benefit with each other," said Michael Benedik, vice-provost of TAMU.

In this cooperation, NCAR provided state-of-art oceanic and climate modeling with many years of experience, TAMU has expertise in regional ocean modeling, and QNLM has the fastest supercomputing capability in marine research.

"This new laboratory is going to be very critical for improving the ocean component of our modeling systems," said James Hurrell, director of NCAR.

Hurrell said this is very important because when we think about climate variability and longer-term climate change from seasonal to decadal and even longer time scales, much of the memory of the earth system and the climate system resides in the ocean.

Wu Lixin, director of QNLM's executive committee, said China has become a leading force in the world to combat climate change and it is significant for a Chinese research institution to establish a research branch like iHESP in a country with powerful research ability.

QNLM is planning to partner with the renowned Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to build a center on deep-sea research and join hands with a Russian research center on Arctic studies, Wu added.
MADRID - Spanish National Police confirmed they have arrested the man who held several people hostage at a bank in the Usera district in the south of Madrid on Thursday.

The standoff began at around 9:50 am local time and lasted for around an hour when a man, described as "armed" and "acting alone" in the Spanish press, entered a branch of Bankia in Dolores Barranco street in the Usera area.

Witnesses told the press that it was "a man in his 60's" and he "threatened the branch manager."

A police unit specialized in hostage situations was rapidly dispatched to the scene and following brief negotiations, the attacker surrendered. The police confirmed that nobody had been injured.

The street was re-opened for traffic at around 11:00 am.
BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang returned to Beijing on Thursday after an official visit to the Philippines.

During his stay in Manila, Li also attended the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, and the 12th East Asia Summit.

When attending the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, Li announced the two sides will start consultations on the text of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, which is considered the most crucial part of the process.
The gold and silver commemorative coins launched by UK's Royal Mint to celebrate lunar Chinese New Year of the Dog. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The United Kingdom's Royal Mint has launched its latest commemorative coin celebrating lunar Chinese New Year.

To mark the Year of the Dog, Britain's official coin manufacturer has created a coin that features a terrier crossbreed. It is the latest coin in the Chinese zodiac collection and follows the success of coins commemorating the Horse in 2014, the Sheep in 2015, the Monkey the following year, and 2017's Rooster. The coins have sold well worldwide.

Chris Howard, Royal Mint's director of bullion, said: "The Royal Mint enjoyed success for sales of both the Monkey and Rooster bullion coins, so, naturally, we have high expectations for our Lunar Year of the Dog bullion offering."

The coin, like the one before it, was designed by Wuon-Gean Ho, a British-Chinese artist and printmaker who uses her Chinese and British heritage and her experience as a veterinary surgeon to create the designs.

"The dog I have depicted is a mixed-breed, a West Highland White Terrier crossed with a Jack Russell," she said. "I wanted to show the energy and exuberance of a compact dog; bouncy, full of life and very playful. Terriers have intelligence, loyalty and big personalities."

The Chinese character for "Dog" is also shown next to the image of the animal and the number eight, believed to be lucky in Chinese culture, is incorporated into each coin.

The Royal Mint said the collection is a celebration of the UK's multi-cultural society and lends a unique British angle to the ancient custom. Combining centuries of Chinese tradition with British minting craftsmanship, the collection celebrates the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and their distinctive characteristics and qualities, according to Royal Mint.

The legal-tender Dog coin is minted in both 24 carat gold and fine silver. The other side of the coin displays a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that was designed by Jody Clark. The gold coin will cost 1,045 pounds ($1,380) and the silver coin will cost 21 pounds.

Each lunar year is linked to one of 12 animals, whose traits are attributed to those born during that year. The Year of the Dog starts on Feb 16.

Those born in the Year of the Dog are said to be loyal, honest, friendly, smart and have a strong sense of responsibility.
A Chinese teacher is giving a Mandarin lesson to pupils at Kensington Wade in West London. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In a bright new classroom on the second floor of a West London building, Christie counts to 10 confidently and then identifies parts of the body when prompted by her teacher. Not bad for a 3-year-old, but Christie is carrying out the tasks in Mandarin.

She didn't speak a word of Chinese until eight weeks ago, when her parents enrolled her at Kensington Wade in London, the first prep school in the UK to offer English and Chinese education to pupils aged 3 to 11.

Jo Wallace, the headmistress, said she hopes her students will be able to live and work comfortably with Chinese people.

"What we aim to give our students is not only just a bilingual brain but also the ability to speak Chinese and understand Chinese culture," she said.

The school opened in September, with 16 pupils, half of whom are from families from the UK, the US, Russia, South America and elsewhere in Europe. Half of the class comprises children with some kind of Chinese background.

"The common factor with all these families is that most of them are international and have an international understanding about China," Wallace said. "Most of them speak two languages and they know the importance of being bilingual and how great it is."

The school charges fees of 17,000 pounds ($22,435) a year and aims to blend the rigor and efficiency of the Chinese teaching style with the creativity and imagination of the British system. Pupils move between an English and a Mandarin classroom throughout the day.

Kensington Wade was the brainchild of Hugo de Burgh, a Chinese media specialist, who named the school after Sir Thomas Wade, a 19th century diplomat who wrote the first Chinese-English textbook, which was published in the 1860s.

De Burgh said: "The desire to open a school of this kind has been founded on the belief that future generations of British opinion formers and decision makers will benefit greatly from learning Chinese at an early age."

He said being able to speak the language will give them an edge because China has become influential.

"China now is the biggest trading partner for 124 countries, while the United States is the biggest trading partner for 58 countries, and parents see the growing influence of China economically and culturally," he said.

Michael Pritchett, the father of 3-year-old Kasper, said being bilingual expands the learning capacity of the brain and studying Mandarin, the most spoken language in the world could open up all sorts of possibilities for further cultural study, secondary school, and university.

Pritchett said he was delighted when his son started talking to a waitress in Chinatown in Chinese, and he likes to hear his son singing in Chinese while playing with toys.

"The immersion thing is obviously kept up at home," he said.

The Pritchett family chose Kensington Wade so their son could learn a second language but Stephanie Tsang, another parent, decided to send her son Harry to the school because of his Chinese roots.

Tsang's family just moved back to London from Beijing, and she said that, while China is perceived as the future by many people, she also wants it to be the present.

"We want to have it as a now thing, because I want him to understand Chinese, and be able to talk to his grandma and grandpa," she said.

For parents who want their children to learn Mandarin even earlier, there is Hatching Dragons, the UK's first Chinese-English nursery school in central London. Its founder, Cennydd John, set up the nursery because he wanted his son to learn the language.

John said he hopes to get children to break down prejudices and understand that there is much more that joins them than divides them. He read modern Chinese studies at the University of Edinburgh and went on to work as a China consultant.

"I want to help children be globally confident and capable in a changing world," he said, "We cannot deny the fact that there are 1.37 billion people in China who will be globally integrating in some way."

John's concept seems to be working. This year, he launched a second nursery, in Southwest London's Twickenham, two years after the Barbican branch opened. He is planning to open a third nursery, in Westminster, next year.

The interest in learning Mandarin in the UK aligns with UK government policy. In 2015, the government launched its 10 million pound Mandarin Excellence Program, which aims to get 5,000 students on the way to fluency of the language by 2020.

Nick Gibb, minister of state for school standards, said: "A high level of fluency in Mandarin will become increasingly important in our globally competitive economy."

Zhang Yangfei contributed to this story
A federal judge has denied a request to delay the trial for Brendt Christensen, who is charged in the kidnapping and death of Yingying Zhang, 26, a visiting scholar from China at the University of Illinois.

Judge Colin Bruce in Urbana, Illinois, on Wednesday ordered Christensen's trial to start in February, as scheduled.

Zhang disappeared on June 9, and her body has not been found.

Christensen's public defenders filed a motion last month to delay the trial to October 2018 to prepare their defense.

The judge also ordered the US Justice Department to notify the court and Christensen by Feb 1 if prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

Christensen was initially charged with kidnapping and pleaded not guilty to that charge in July. A grand jury returned a new indictment on Oct 3 that charged him with kidnapping resulting in death, and of lying to federal agents. He pleaded not guilty in federal court.
China will not change its determination to deepen strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia no matter how the global and regional situation changes, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday in a phone conversation with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz.

China supports Saudi Arabia's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and strive for greater development, Xi said, adding China would like to undertake joint efforts with Saudi Arabia to deepen strategic cooperation.

The two countries should steadily push forward the strategic connection between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, implement cooperation through the bilateral high-level joint commission and benefit the people of both sides as well as other countries in the region, Xi said.

Noting that it's very important for the two countries' heads of state to keep in close communication, Xi said that China and Saudi Arabia are comprehensive strategic partners, with mutual strategic trust increasing continuously.

Xi expressed gratitude for the king's congratulatory call after the success of the Communist Party of China's 19th National Congress, which concluded last month.

The congress has set guidelines for the country's development and made strategic plans for China's modernization, Xi said. He expressed his confidence to lead the Chinese people to the fulfillment of national rejuvenation.

The king offered his congratulations for the success of the congress and Xi's re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, saying the congress will guide the Chinese people to achieve greater success.

Saudi Arabia would like to be China's important partner in the Gulf region and it is dedicated to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, the king said.
President Xi Jinping attends the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, Nov 11, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - The phrase "building a community with a shared future for mankind," a concept constantly mentioned by President Xi Jinping both at home and abroad, not only shows China's wisdom in global governance, but also its determination to work for an equal, open and peaceful world.

Xi reiterated such vision and commitment on the world stage in his latest remarks to the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, as well as on his state visits to Vietnam and Laos.

The president encouraged the leaders of APEC members to join China to pursue multilateralism and shared growth through consultation and collaboration, and to forge closer partnerships.

China understands that actions speak louder than words, and cooperation and partnership have been the key words in China's foreign policy for a long time.

President Xi Jinping, left, holds a grand ceremony to welcome US President Donald Trump at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov 9, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Last week, during US President Donald Trump's visit to China, the two world powers signed contracts and investment agreements worth more than $250 billion, a positive outcome for world trade and international stability.

On Nov 1, China and Russia signed nearly 20 deals in areas including investment, energy and space exploration, after the 22nd regular meeting between the heads of government of the two countries in Beijing, the latest evidence of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia.

On Saturday in Vietnam, Xi called on APEC leaders to promote innovation as a strong growth driver, open up economies, pursue inclusive development, and enrich partnerships and deliver benefits to all involved.

China knows clearly that for any regional trade arrangement to gain broad support, it must be open, inclusive and beneficial to all.

An important way for China to encourage the building of a community with a shared future for mankind is to persistently advocate free trade, welcoming the world to benefit from, instead of being hurt by, China's rapid development.
home US Tennessee Baptist Convention votes to expel church for having female senior pastor

The Tennessee Baptist Convention (TBC) has reportedly decided to expel a historic congregation for having a woman as its senior pastor.

Baptist Press reported that the TBC voted overwhelmingly in favor of a motion not to seat messengers for the First Baptist Church in Jefferson City during the convention's opening session on Tuesday.

First Baptist, which was organized in the 1830s, before there was a Southern Baptist Convention, had tried to register seven messengers, including Ellen Di Giosia, who became the church's senior pastor earlier this year.

Last month, the TBC's Committee on Credentials had determined that a church with a female pastor does not fit the definition of a "cooperating church" as defined by convention bylaws, which declares that "the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture."

Tim Fields, a messenger of Immanuel Baptist Church in Nashville, opposed the motion, arguing that churches are autonomous and Baptists are traditionally supportive of the concept of the priesthood of the believer.

Frank Bowling, pastor of First Baptist Church in Medina, agreed that churches are autonomous, but pointed out that conventions also have the same autonomy.

He added that the question was not about calling, but about the "autonomy of the local church and this body being able to express that same self-autonomy."

Kelly Moreland Jones, a messenger from First Baptist Church in Nashville, noted that while her church is cooperating with the TBC, it affirms an earlier version of the Baptist Faith and Message that does not prohibit women from serving as pastors.

Kevin Shrum, pastor of Inglewood Baptist Church in Nashville, agreed that First Baptist Church has every right to organize as it sees fit, but added that the TBC also has the right to "organize on the principles it has adopted."

After a motion to cut off debate by Shrum, the messengers voted by a show of ballots to cut off the TBC's ties with First Baptist.

Following the vote, Di Giosia and the messengers released a statement acknowledging that their congregation is no longer affiliated with Southern Baptists in Tennessee.

"While the outcome saddens us, it's fair to say that we are not surprised," the statement said, according to Baptist News Global. "Our congregation's long-held conviction that God calls all people into service regardless of gender has not always been received well, even by some brothers and sisters in Christ," it added.

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, described Di Giosia as "a good and godly sister in Christ," and expressed appreciation for how the messengers conducted themselves during the discussion.

"They were very civil and they exuded everything that we hold dear about our relationship to Christ," he said.

Davis also expressed hope that the TBC's decision sends the message that "we are going to be committed to Scripture and that in spite of how others may interpret this action, it is very important that we have some anchors and that we have a belief system that is tied to Scripture."
A 22-year-old Alabama man has been charged with rape and murder after police discovered his 9-month-old daughter dead Tuesday.

Christopher Conway, of Grand Bay, was arrested by the Clarksville Police Department in Tennessee after emergency medical professionals responded to his home, al.com reported. The infant, who was a twin, was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Police are investigating a Nov. 1 hit-and-run crash in west Houston after the victim died Wednesday from his injuries.

The victim, an 83-year-old man, was hit by a southbound vehicle while crossing the street at 2900 Dunvale , according to Houston police. The driver left the scene without rendering aid, police said, and the victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
A 17-year-old male was shot in the chest Wednesday when he got into a vehicle with three other people in Humble, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Some time after the victim entered the vehicle, a male suspect - who was also in the vehicle - shot the victim, the sheriff's office said. Deputies found the victim at about 9:17 p.m. in a residential neighborhood, lying near the street in the 14900 block of Arizona Sky Court.
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Rich Kinder gives good interview  a revelation which shocked no one more than Rich Kinder.

The "famously shy" executive chairman of Kinder Morgan Inc. was visibly nervous as he joined NBC News correspondent and fellow University of Missouri alum Janet Shamlian onstage for MD Anderson Cancer Center's "A Conversation with a Living Legend" on Wednesday evening.

When asked why he agreed to the rare speaking engagement downtown at Hilton Americas-Houston, Kinder paused before admitting, "I owed Bob (McNair) a favor, so I'm going to pay him back later."

With the ice officially broken, he and Shamlian breezed candidly through a number of topics.

On Buffalo Bayou Park: "I knew that it would flood, but did not anticipate the silt."

On creating the Kinder Foundation with wife Nancy in 1997: "I just float in and out as ordered."

On the couple's penchant for transformational gifts: "We invest in projects that wouldn't otherwise succeed without our help."

On being asked to give away most of his wealth by the Giving Pledge founder Warren Buffett: "He asked Nancy and I out to dinner in Dallas to make the pitch  I was kind of insulted."

On bureaucracy: "It's kind of like getting slime on your boots."

On his biggest mistake: "My response would have to be, 'what day?'"

Kinder, who is currently ranked no. 194 on Forbes' annual billionaires list and accepts a $1 salary, delivered zippy one-liner after another until Shamlian asked how MD Anderson has impacted his life.

"My brother was diagnosed with lymphoma eight or nine years ago," he began, overcome with emotion. The audience applauded as Kinder choked back tears. "He came down here and they cured him."

The candid mix of humor and poignancy struck a chord with cancer research supporters, too.

Together, co-chairs Denise Monteleone and Ellie and Michael Francisco raised a record-breaking $1.3 million, though it was a particularly significant milestone for the Francisco family.

"Tonight, I celebrate almost to the day, the 10th anniversary of my first cancer treatment," Michael shared from the podium.

As MD Anderson President ad interim Marshall Hicks, M.D., expressed, "Our primary goal has been to take care of our patients and take care of each other."

That night, the cancer center achieved both.
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Regents at the University of Houston System voted to pursue the creation of a medical school that would enroll students by 2020 with the goal of improving care in rural and urban Texas neighborhoods.

The planned medical school  long a dream of top UH officials  came formally before board members on Thursday. The meeting comes months after state lawmakers requested that the university evaluate the need for such a program.

The vote approved UH to finalize a partnership for new residencies and to establish a college of medicine to support them. UH will apply to the states higher education coordinating board for approval and initiate the accreditation process after Thursday's vote.

READ ALSO: UTHealth School of Nursing gets $25M donation

Now Playing: The worlds of film, music, politics and sports are filled with former University of Houston Cougars who used their time at the university to springboard themselves to bigger things. Video: Houston Chronicle

A UH medical school opening in 2020 would be the first new Houston medical school in nearly half a century. It would add to a crowded field, with Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in the nearby Texas Medical Center. There also is UT Medical Branch at Galveston 55 miles to the south and Texas A&M Medical School 100 miles to the north.

In addition, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville is pursuing a school of osteopathic medicine it says will be 100 percent self-funded.

UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator said in an October speech that the school would fill a void in Texas and could strengthen UHs teaching and research.

READ ALSO: New MD Anderson head to be highest paid UT president

The university says it would require $40 million over 10 years in state allocations and $40 million over 10 years in philanthropic gifts to in part cover its expenses, which would total more than $272 million over 13 years. Tuition revenue would cover $51 million, and other revenue would cover remaining costs, according to a proposal document.

Operating expenses would level off at about $33.3 million annually in 2016 dollars after 11 years in operation, according to a released budgetary proposal.

The college will aim to produce racially diverse classes of doctors to serve their patients at a reasonable costs.

The university said it has a letter of intent with Hospital Corporation of America Gulf Coast Division and would create eight new residency programs, including more than 100 first-year residency positions to be in place by 2020. That figure would grow in future years, according to a planned proposal.

Raymund Paredes, the state's higher education commissioner, said before the committee meeting that he had not yet reviewed UH's proposal and could not comment on how likely the coordinating board would be to approve it. He could not immediately be reached for comment after the committee meeting.

Lindsay Ellis writes about higher education for the Chronicle. You can follow her on Twitter and send her tips at lindsay.ellis@chron.com.
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Anyone in the market for a zoo, complete with animals, housing, and ample land?

On the market for a year now, Alvin's Bayou Wildlife Zoo has yet to find a buyer.

First profiled by Chron.com in November 2016, Clint Wolston's property has had a few nibbles from buyers, according to real estate agent Carolyn Spencer, but no one has ponied up the dough.

RELATED: Underrated Texas landmarks you have to visit at least once

Speaking of ponies, actual horses would come with the 80-acre zoo.

It's located along on FM 517 in Galveston County and is now listed at $6 million instead of the previous $7 million figure.

The 81-year-old Wolston is ready to slow down, according to Spencer. Running a zoo is a young man's or woman's game.

The property and the animals weren't harmed during Hurricane Harvey since Wolston prepared decades ago for biblical rains. Back in 1979, the city of Alvin was inundated as Tropical Storm Claudette gifted the area with 42 inches of rain in one 24-hour period. This made Wolston build his animal enclosures and shelters somewhat higher than needed.

RELATED: What did your favorite Houston landmarks look like during construction?

"Everyone was high," jokes Spencer. "If not dry." The zoo survived Harvey no worse for the wear, according to the agent.

Wolston employs 10 people, who are in charge of taking care of the animals and guiding roughly 90,000 visitors a year on tram tours. Spencer says there have been offers from prospective buyers from as close by as Round Rock and as far as California. No one has yet to come to the terms that Wolston has set forth.

(Don't worry, this video isn't from Bayou Wildlife Zoo...)

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The facility's 500 animals are included in the listing. Animals at the zoo include zebras, a zonkey (not a typo), a white rhino, ostriches, alligators, kangaroos and ring-tailed lemurs.

RELATED: Is the Houston Zoo haunted by the ghost of a former daredevil zookeeper?

As previously reported, there is a covered picnic area for 400 people, 16 barns, a souvenir shop, sales office, six restrooms, a fleet of Jeeps, and seven trams. To maintain the 80-acre spread, a buyer will also become owner of a bulldozer, grader, backhoe, tractor, trailers, fencing, and other ranch equipment.

The property features two miles of trails, 15 lakes and ponds, native trees, and 3,500 feet of waterfront on Dickinson Bayou. The property is between Houston and Galveston, near Interstate 45, the main highway connecting the two cities.

The zoo rakes in about $1 million in annual sales and runs at a more than 30 percent profit margin.

Wolston said he's looking for someone who can take on the responsibility of such an expansive park. It probably won't be an easy task, but Matt Damon did it in "We Bought A Zoo," so how hard could it be?

Just hire Scarlett Johansson.

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.
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Harris County medical examiners on Wednesday confirmed that a contractor injured in an explosion at the Whitehall Houston hotel in downtown last Friday died Sunday in a hospital.

Jose Zadezensky, 40, was one of two contractors hospitalized with burns Friday afternoon after an explosion in the basement electrical room caused by a circuit breaker.

The cause of Zadezensky's death, as well as the details of the accident, are still under investigation by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

He was the owner of the Ventraco Corporation, an appliance repair business based in Spring, according to his LinkedIn profile. It is unclear if Ventraco was the company working at the Whitehall.

Now Playing: Houston firefighters work the scene of an explosion at The Whitehall Hotel. Video: Houston Chronicle

Zadezensky's family declined to comment.

Houston Fire Department Deputy Chief Blake C. White told the Chronicle on Friday that the blast was caused by a transformer explosion in the basement electrical room.

"The information we have today is the same as was reported on Friday," said firefighter Kenyatta Parker, HFD's public information officer. "The cause was the switching of the breaker  that's what caused the explosion."

A statement on the hotel's website says it will be closed and without power for repairs until Nov. 21 due to Friday's incident.

Sotherly Hotels, the management company that owns the Whitehall, and Stasny did not respond to requests for a request comment.
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A former United Airlines pilot who admitted operating a string of brothels throughout Houston pleaded guilty Thursday as part of a controversial deal that allows him to avoid jail time or even a criminal conviction.

The sentence by state District Judge Jim Wallace drew sharp criticism from civil rights groups, who said black and Hispanic pimps and madams are routinely sentenced to decades of prison time while Bruce Wayne Wallis, who is white, was not. Wallace, a Republican, is also white.

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"It's just another case of what African-Americans would call white privilege," said Dr. James Douglas, president of the NAACP Houston Branch. "You get a break for being white and it's something we've lived with all of our lives, especially in the criminal justice area."

The judge ordered Wallis to spend five years on deferred adjudication probation, pay $2,000 fine and perform 150 hours of community service  which he suggested he serve at a woman's shelter. If Wallis completes the probation, he will not have a felony conviction on his record and can keep his FAA-issued pilot's license, with which he operates his other business, a flight school. He was suspended from United Airlines after his arrest.

Now Playing: Bruce Wayne Wallis, 51-year-old pilot for United Airlines, has been arrested by police in Houston and charged with running a "massive" criminal enterprise involving separate brothels from at least six Houston apartments. Video: Houston Chronicle

Wallis, 53, was charged in 2015 with aggravated promotion of prostitution and engaging in criminal activity, accused of being the mastermind behind an illicit empire including about a half-dozen brothels in Galleria-area apartments and northwest Houston office buildings with six to 10 women.

Wallace said from the bench Thursday that he was satisfied that the pilot did not coerce any of the prostitutes.

"What you did was despicable," Wallace said. "But you didn't endanger any lives and you did not force anybody to do this."

The pilot, in a black suit flanked by three lawyers, shook his head in agreement.

African-American activists were disappointed but not shocked at the lenient punishment for a large-scale commercial sex operation run by a white businessman.

"If that was someone who looked like me, they'd be under the jail right now," said Ashton Woods with Black Lives Matter of Houston. "It appears that white men these days are getting off really easy. I'm not surprised, to be honest."

The judge said Wallis suggested community service at a woman's shelter to learn about the victims of sex trafficking.

The difference between prostitutes who agree to be part of a criminal enterprise and people who are forced to become prostitutes by traffickers has come under scrutiny in recent years. Many criminal justice reformers argue that no one wants to become a prostitute, and that the causes are more insidious than coercion. To that end, prosecutors have largely stopped prosecuting victims of trafficking, but they continue filing charges against willing prostitutes.

In Wallis' case, the prosecutor said he had sought up to seven years in prison in exchange for the guilty plea, but the judge instead ordered probation. The judge also ruled that Wallis could not fly commercially during the probation but could operate his flight school.

"The judge did a thorough review and determined that a deferred adjudication probation was appropriate in this case," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Lester Blizzard. "I asked for penitentiary time."

Asked about disparity in sentencing between Wallis' misdeeds and others, Blizzard said there was not a good way to compare cases.

"All cases stand on their own. All cases are different," the prosecutor said. "So I don't know if there's a way to summarize or draw a line between any of these."

Wallis' attorney said the pilot was remorseful and admitted what he did, so probation was a just result.

"I think he learned that what he did was a crime," said defense lawyer Dan Cogdell. "(The judge) did the right thing because it allows Mr. Wallis to accept responsibility and move forward and be a productive member of society."

Asked about a sentencing disparity, Cogdell said the result was within the range of acceptable sentences.

He noted that early reports suggesting Wallis may have been using his position as a commercial pilot to move women, gold bars and millions of dollars in an international sex trafficking ring were speculation that turned out not to be true.

"When you recognize this for what this was, it certainly wasn't a great idea, but it wasn't the crime of the century that they initially made it out to be," Cogdell said.

Court records show investigators believe the women advertised online and paid Wallis $400 a week. He was accused in court records of recruiting five women at a time and having sex with them before putting them to work as prostitutes. If convicted in a jury trial, Wallis could have faced a maximum of 20 years in prison.

The news caused criminal justice activists to speak out about other crimes involving prostitution and trafficking.

Tarsha Jackson, with Texas Organizing Project, said that while she does not like to see anyone put behind bars, the criminal justice system should be fair.

"This proves that our system is not fair," she said. "I've talked to people who are charged with misdemeanors who got harsher punishments than this."

Prosecutors noted that pimps who stand trial in Harris County are not typically sympathetic figures to citizens who judge them.

"Jurors have little mercy for pimps," JoAnne Musick, head of the Sex Crimes Division at the Harris County District Attorney's Office, said in a statement after Houston pimp Ronald Block was sentenced earlier this year.

Most of Harris County's high-profile cases, however, have included allegations of sex trafficking or prostitution of underage victims.

Block, known as "Gorgeous Black," was sentenced to 30 years in prison in May for forcing a teenage runaway into prostitution.

A registered sex offender who is black, Block pleaded guilty to compelling prostitution in an agreement that helped him avoid a possible life sentence. He admitted managing four prostitutes - including a 17-year-old runaway - from March to May of 2015.

Last year, the madam of a notorious brothel that operated in Houston's East End for years was sentenced to life in federal prison for her role as the leader of an international sex trafficking ring that forced women and girls into prostitution.

Hortencia "Tencha" Medeles, 70, was convicted during a trial that exposed operations at Medeles' three-building complex on Telephone Road. A cantina was located downstairs, and hidden doorways and staircases led to a brothel upstairs where 17 rooms were rented out for sex.

Earlier this year in a federal courtroom in Houston, a Harris County man was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. DeAngelo Tate, a 27-year-old black man, also had to pay $20,000 in restitution to the girl in a plea deal in May. Tate pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of children in December.

According to a statement by Tate, he posted classified advertisements on backpage.com promoting the prostitution of the 17-year-old female, but he said she was 19 or 22. Tate admitted he also rented hotel rooms in Corpus Christi and Houston to serve as the location for sex acts between the teen and male customers.

Some criminal justice activists said the trafficking allegations raise the severity of the likely punishment, but said there are other factors that can be detrimental to people of color in the criminal justice system.

Growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood, for example, may lead to a minor criminal history that leads to the lack of steady employment. After being arrested for a serious offense, such as aggravated promotion of prostitution or engaging in criminal activity, a suspect with a criminal record and spotty job record may not be able to get bail. Stuck in jail, they lose money and family support that becomes crucial when a judge has discretion in a case.

Wallis, on the other hand had no prior criminal record and was able to make $15,000 bail.

"A lot of advantages that white defendants may have at sentencing tend to make them better candidates, reinforcing racial disparity at sentencing," said Nicole D. Porter, a spokeswoman for the Sentencing Project, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C.
Harris County filed suit Thursday against Arkema over chemical fires at its Crosby plant in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, saying the company violated a long list of environmental, safety and building regulations and put first responders at risk.

The lawsuit, filed in state district court, seeks up to $1 million in penalties and asks that Arkema be ordered to upgrade its emergency response plans, build stronger storage areas and set up a notification system for alerting nearby residents of future incidents.

About 300 homes were evacuated and more than 30 people hospitalized  including law enforcement  when a volatile chemical erupted into flames after the plant lost power and generators in Harvey floodwaters.

"This was a very dangerous situation," County Attorney Vince Ryan said in a statement Thursday. "Arkema must take responsibility for its inability to ensure the safety of the people of the Crosby community and those who protect them."

More for you Keeping us safe

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Get the latest Hurricane Harvey recovery news

An investigation by the Houston Chronicle found that the company underestimated the potential for storm damage from Harvey and failed to keep essential back-up power protected from the rising waters.

The company remains under investigation by multiple agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, and the Harris County District Attorney's office announced in September the company was under criminal investigation.

Earlier this week, the chemical board urged other chemical plants to update their emergency plans in light of the ongoing investigation into the Arkema explosions.

Arkema attorney Rusty Hardin vowed to fight the lawsuit, saying the company has been cooperating with Harris County and other authorities.

"Suing a victim is never the right solution to a natural disaster," Hardin said in a statement Thursday. "We are disappointed that this lawsuit was filed when we were in discussions with the county to cooperatively resolve the issues. As they and we all know, this was an extraordinary flooding event. Arkema and its employees, like other businesses and individuals in Harris County, were victims of this storm."

"He said the Arkema plant has not resumed production since the storm.

"Our employees are still not back to work," Hardin said. "Filing lawsuits is not the solution here. Arkema plans to continue cooperating with authorities, but we will strenuously defend against any and all unfounded claims."

Harris County's lawsuit is the third filed against Arkema over the incident. A group of first responders and Crosby residents sued in September. A separate group of Crosby residents sued weeks later.

'Tip of the iceberg'

Arkema, a French multinational company that manufactures chemicals used to create plastic products, lost control of its Crosby facility after six feet of floodwaters cut the power and wiped out its back-up generators. The power failure knocked out a cooling system crucial for the storage of volatile organic peroxides, which can begin to explode when the temperature rises.

The chemicals were moved to refrigerated trailers but they, too, began to fail.

On Aug. 29, four days after Harvey came ashore near Rockport in South Texas, officials ordered the evacuation of everyone within 1.5 miles of the Arkema plant. The first fire started in the early morning hours of Aug. 31, sending plumes of black smoke high into the air. Law enforcement officers and medical staff reported doubling over from the fumes, which left them vomiting and gasping for air, according to one of the lawsuits filed against the company.

Two additional trailers caught fire on Sept. 1. Then, on Sept. 3, the Houston Police Department's bomb squad entered the area and detonated the remaining six trailers to burn out the remaining chemicals.

The lawsuits quickly followed.

The Chronicle investigation found that poor planning and a series of equipment failures led to the fires, and that the company failed to prepare for more than three feet of water.

"It is vindicating," said Misty Hataway-Cone, an attorney representing the first responders who sued Arkema in early September. "We're at the tip of the iceberg. The revelations that have come out from their failure to plan appropriately for Harvey and their failure to properly secure these chemicals are just further indications of the complete lack of preparation and overall care at this plant."

Hataway-Cone pointed to the possibility of other litigants coming forward, saying some Liberty County workers may have been in the area.

"We don't yet know where the plumes dispersed to, and we're only getting a trickle of information from Arkema," Hataway-Cone said.

An unprecedented event

The company self-reported multiple emissions from the plant to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality TCEQ during the disaster. Before the company lost control of its organic peroxides, floodwaters overwhelmed its wastewater treatment plant, resulting in industrial wastewater leaking into county waterways. Each separate fire resulted in air emissions from the facility.

Multiple new details were revealed in the county's lawsuit. The county's suit claims that Harris County Pollution Control Department detected air pollution outside of the mandated evacuation zone during the crisis.

It also says parts of the Arkema facility is located below base flood elevation, requiring permits the company did not have.

Arkema has repeatedly insisted that the flooding was an unprecedented event.

"Arkema's Crosby plant had never experienced the type of flooding brought on by Harvey," said company spokesperson Janet Smith.

The county attorney is also asking the company to pay for the county's costs for responding to the incident. Harris County Fire Marshal's Office spent more than $40,000 responding to the Arkema site.

Despite the lawsuits, the plant remains an ongoing cause for concern for some Crosby residents.

"I would hope that they would have apologized and explained," said Adam Harris, whose home is close enough to the plant that he caught images of a plume of smoke rising after the final controlled burn. Now, he worries about the possible effects on property values.

"But it is what it is, I guess," he said. "I just have no idea what I'm living right next to. I just wish it wasn't there at this point."
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AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott and other top officials are vowing to work with the Texas Legislature to make improvements to the Capitol's sexual harassment policies.

Their commitment comes after state Rep. Linda Koop, R-Dallas, asked Abbott for changes because the staff was not "fully educated as to where to report misconduct or harassment." Her request was prompted by multiple media reports in recent weeks about sexual harassment at the Texas Capitol and around the country.

Lawmakers in California, Arizona, Minnesota, Kentucky and other capitols face allegation of sexual harassment or other improper behavior as female lawmakers, lobbyists and others speak out against what they say is pervasive behavior.

Alabama Republican Roy Moore, who is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate, was publicly accused by eight women of making sexual advances toward them when they were teenagers and Moore was in his 30s. Lawmakers from both parties have called for him to drop out of the race, but Moore said he will stay in.

Slew of allegations

Citing the slew of allegations in the Moore race and in other states, Koop said the reports "make me concerned for the safety of our Capitol staffers, interns, reporters, lobbyists and all those who work at the Capitol.

In Texas, the Daily Beast and The Texas Tribune have reported on sexual harassment incidents at the Capitol or in interactions with lawmakers. Few of the victims and lawmakers have been publicly named.

"Many of our staff and interns are young people and may be particularly vulnerable to those in positions of power," Koop wrote. "It is the duty of us elected officials to protect them; a responsibility I know we both take very seriously."

A spokeswoman for Abbott said the governor believes in, and enforces, a zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy.

"No victim should ever fear reprisal or retaliation for rejecting unwanted advances or for filing a sexual harassment complaint," said Ciara Matthews, the spokeswoman.

Every employee in the governor's office is required to participate in Equal Employment Opportunity training within 30 days of being hired, and again every year after that, according to Matthews.

"The governor will work with the Legislature on any improvements that provide further protections and deliver the respect everyone deserves and that as a state we should demand," she said.

No formal complaints

The Texas Tribune reported Monday that while the House and Senate have sexual harassment policies in place, there have been no formal complaints of sexual harassment filed in either chamber since 2011. The Tribune said few of the employees it interviews knew they could file a formal complaint.

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is directing the House Administration Committee and House Business Office to review the chamber's sexual harassment policy and make any updates or revisions necessary.

Jason Embry, his spokesman, also said Straus is directing the offices to develop a sexual harassment training for all House members.

"In addition to requiring the Speaker's staff and all central House staff to take part in the training, Speaker Straus will strongly encourage all members to do so and to ensure that their employees take part as well," Embry said.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who heads the state Senate, gave a similar response to The Texas Tribune. A spokesman told the Tribune that Patrick asked Senate Administration Committee Chairwoman Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, to review the chamber's procedures to "make sure they are current and effectively protect every state employee."
When friends, neighbors and relatives discover that one is attempting to follow Jesus Christ, questions are sometimes asked.

Certainly most folk have some image of Christ, but for each person that image is different.

It is a name we hear often in prayers and at church, but also a name that can be heard on other occasions with a less positive context.

As a people we are often called to follow leaders, at work, in our communities, clubs and churches.

Most of us are interested in who it is we follow and want to have some sense of their mission and goals before signing up.

This brings us back to the question about our own following of Jesus Christ.

When asked who Jesus is to us, how do we answer?

The answer of a small child will likely differ from that of a high schooler or college student. The clarity of any answer to the question may also relate directly to the ways in which personal experience comes into the picture.

For most of us, a direct answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?" may find us searching for words.

As we near the end of the Christian year, many of our faith communities will celebrate Christ the King or Reign of Christ in worship. How do we relate to the notion of Christ as King?

In some cultures it may be more definitive, especially where the government has or relates to a king or queen. In our country we have resisted the notion of a king or queen type of leadership.

Yet we are called to somehow relate to and see Christ as our King.

Christians have various doctrines explaining the ways in which we see God, but nearly all Christians, when asked, would answer that Christ is God.

That seems like a simple answer until we realize that Christ lived on earth, walked and talked, got hungry and was involved in political discussions. Then of course we know the ways in which God's incarnation, Jesus coming to be with us in the flesh on earth, help us to relate to an unseen and unknowable God.

Even that knowledge leaves our explanation of who Jesus is less than clear.

Followers of Jesus also recognize the resurrected Christ.

This vision of Christ reminds us that he overcame death and that he promises the same to us.

A Trinitarian view will also answer that Jesus is the second person of the Trinitarian God. We hear the words, "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" reminding us that there is more to God than just Jesus.

Our answer still isn't all that helpful to the inquiring mind.

In order to really be clear in who Jesus Christ is, we must know what it is that we believe about him.

We must relate that belief to our lives, relationships and experiences. Relating our experience, strength and hope makes our answer personal. We then can not only say who Jesus is, based upon Scripture and tradition, but who Jesus Christ is to us.

What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life? Are you prepared to answer that question when asked?

Who is Jesus Christ, to you?
For many families whose children attend Red Bluff Elementary School, the word "giving" is more than a seasonal catch phrase. It is a natural reflex.

Every year, Pasadena ISD schools compete to see which campuses can collect the most canned food items for the Can Do Food Drive, an annual charitable event organized by the city of Pasadena.

At Red Bluff, the school's goal was for students to bring at least 10 canned good food items each for the drive.

Of Red Bluff Elementary's 549 students, 92 percent are economically disadvantaged, Principal Tammie Hinton said. Hurricane Harvey displaced 50 students and their families.

"We have students that are still living in apartments, hotels and with relatives in Houston," Hinton said.

But she knew how the school's community would respond.

When a delivery truck arrived slightly off-schedule at the school in early November to collect the donated food, a call went out to students' families to come help load the truck.

"Within five minutes, the parking lot was full," Hinton said.

The families moved food and other items to be distributed through the drive to needy people in Pasadena.

"These families always come through for everything," Hinton said. "Anytime the school asks, they do their best to provide, they do their best to help."

"One of my students, his family lost everything - books, clothes, the kids' toys - but they still made an effort to donate those cans," said Tiffany Lee, a second-grade teacher at the school.

Said Hinton of her school's families: "They may not always have the financial means to do something, but they want the school to know they appreciate what we do for them and that they want a better future for their kids. In their opinion, there is always someone who is worse off than they are, and always someone they can help, no matter how little you have."
A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression.
Armenia has a unique position to become a bridge for the European Union (EU), Russia, and other Eurasian countries.

November 16, 2017, 12:51 Netherlands Senate: Armenia has unique position to become bridge between EU and Russia
If Shauna O'Toole is successful, she could become the first openly transgender candidate elected to the New York state Legislature.

O'Toole, 59, is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 54th Senate District. The district is represented by freshman state Sen. Pam Helming, a Republican.

Throughout her professional career, O'Toole has been an author, engineer, public speaker and scientist. She founded a nonprofit organization, the We Exist Coalition of the Finger Lakes. The group's mission, according to its Facebook page, is to "promote transgender and gender-expansive awareness and equality."

A Geneva resident, O'Toole said it wasn't a "snap decision" to run for state Senate. One motivating factor was a memo issued by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions declaring that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not extend to transgender individuals. The action ended workplace protections expanded during the Obama administration aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity.

If elected to the state Senate, O'Toole pledged to advocate for passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. The bill, which would prohibit gender identity discrimination, was first introduced in 2003. The Democratic-led state Assembly passed the measure several times, but it hasn't advanced in the Republican-controlled Senate.

"They won't even bring it to the floor for a vote," O'Toole said.

There are other issues O'Toole wants to focus on as a state lawmaker. She proposed a partnership between New York and other states, including California and Illinois, to provide low-cost health insurance. The health care system would allow people who change jobs and move to one of the member states to keep their coverage.

As a scientist, she believes energy needs to be a higher priority.

"We need to move away from the demand on fossil fuels because climate change is real," she said. "People say it's only a theory. There's overwhelming evidence. Climate change is real."

O'Toole wants more alternative energy generating stations in New York. This would include the installation of solar farms or wind turbines.

Taxes are on her agenda, too. She opposes the Republican tax plan in Congress which she thinks will benefit the wealthy, not middle-class or working-class Americans.

In New York, she supports tax cuts for the middle class. To achieve this, she proposes increasing taxes on high-income earners.

"States that have done this have succeeded," she said.

O'Toole's platform is a work in progress. She plans to hold town hall meetings in communities throughout the district. Her goal is to hear from residents about their concerns and what issues affect them. That feedback will be used to finalize her platform.

Defeating Helming, R-Canandaigua, will be difficult. There are 14,314 more active Republican voters than Democrats in the district, according to the latest state Board of Elections enrollment records.

But the GOP enrollment advantage doesn't bother O'Toole.

"People want change ... That's something that's going to be in my favor," she said.

There is the possibility that she will make history. An openly transgender individual hasn't served in New York state government.

Two transgender candidates have been elected to legislature seats in other states: Danica Roem, who recently became the first transgender person elected to the Virginia state Legislature, and Stacie Laughton, who won a New Hampshire state house seat in 2012.

Althea Garrison, a Massachusetts state representative, came out as transgender after she was elected in 1992.

If O'Toole wins the 2018 election, she thinks it will be an indication of "people wanting politics as normal to go away."

"It will be powerful for the entire trans community," she said. "It will be powerful for every minority in the state."
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A Spring man was hit with 40 years in federal prison after his wife found an SD card full of child pornography while doing the family's laundry, according to court documents.

James Kelly Hilton pleaded guilty in August and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett, prosecutors said Thursday.

"The facts in the case were terrible, and I knew that notwithstanding my best efforts, the judge had little choice but to give him a severe sentence," said defense attorney Richard Kuniansky. "However, I was hopeful that the sentence would be in the range of 20 to 30 years."

The 38-year-old was convicted of keeping a trove of more than 900 pornographic images of children, including a 30-second video of himself having sex with a girl who appeared to be less than 6 years old.

Hilton's wife discovered the 32GB card loaded with "a massive amount" of pornography back in April, and immediately fled the family's home and drove to her mother's house in Oklahoma, where she called authorities, prosecutors said. Hilton followed her there and was taken into custody.

As she went through the stash of graphic photos, the woman discovered shots of Hilton having sex with a minor relative. When investigators interviewed the young girl, she said she'd been told not to tell what happened and refused to identify the predator.

When investigators looked through the card, they found eight photos of the young girl - and a slew of other photos and videos of child pornography. On Hilton's cell phone, investigators found another 444 pornographic pics.

On Thursday, Hilton was hit with 120 months for possessing child pornography and 360 months for producing it.

His sentences will run back-to-back, and he'll be under supervision for the rest of his life following his release. He'll have to pay $62,500 in restitution to multiple victims.
More than 100 protesters gathered outside Houston's civil courthouse Thursday to attend a routine hearing for a Harris County sheriff's deputy and her husband who are charged with murder in the May death of John Hernandez at a local Denny's.

Deputy Chauna Thompson - who is on leave pending the investigation - and her husband Terry Thompson appeared in state District Judge Kelli Johnson's court where their lawyers and prosecutors discussed exchanging evidence as the criminal case proceeds.
An elderly Texas woman who told police she didn't want medical attention because all she needed was a Big Red soda now has enough of the drink to at least get her through the rest of the year.

Earlier this month, police found the 76 year old on the floor of her home, with no strength to stand.
Three Central Texas men accused of sending sexually explicit messages and traveling to meet undercover authorities posing as underage girls have been arrested.

Samuel David Kelley, 21, of Georgetown, Shane Michael Perry, 27, of Georgetown and Joshua Logan Dean, 28, of Austin have all been arrested and are each charged with one count of online solicitation of a minor.
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On Thursday, Los Angeles radio anchor Leeann Tweeden accused Minnesota Sen. Al Franken of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour and of posing for a photo with his hands on her breasts as she slept.

Tweeden shared her story - accompanied with a photo of the alleged groping - on the website of KABC, a Los Angeles radio station where she works as a morning news anchor.

THE LATEST: Democrats, Republicans speak out about Franken allegations

Tweeden shared her story with her followers on social media and it quickly became a topic of conversation with users across Twitter.

Dozens of users took to Twitter to express their opinion over the accusations with some calling Sen. Franken to resign from his political position and others saying it was a bad joke. To see some of the varied reactions to the accusations, go through the gallery above.

Tweeden said the incidents occurred when she joined the then-comedian on one of several trips to entertain troops in December 2006 when Franken told her he wrote a skit for the pair that included a kiss. She alleges that despite her protests, he insisted they practice the kiss during rehearsal.

"We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth," she wrote.

The photo that she included was taken later, on the trip home from the tour, she said. Franken is shown grinning and staring at the camera while reaching out as if to grope Tweeden's breasts as she sleeps. Tweeden said she didn't discover the photo until she returned home.

HER STORY: Radio anchor says Franken groped, kissed her without her consent

Franken said in a statement that Tweeden's account of the skit did not match his memory.

"But I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann," Franken wrote, according to the Associated Press. "As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the Ethics Committee should review complaints against Democratic Sen. Al Franken after allegations that he forcibly kissed and groped a woman in 2006. Other senators, including Democratic senators Kristen Gillibrand and Tammy Duckworth, spoke out about the incident and supported an ethics investigation into Sen. Franken.

The Associated Press contributed this report.
After a woman said she was forcibly kissed and groped by U.S. Sen. Al Franken in 2006, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced Thursday that she will donate money she received from her colleague's political action committee.

Franken's Midwest Values PAC has donated $12,500 to Gillibrand's Senate campaigns. A $2,500 donation was made in June 2011. The group also gave $10,000 in September.

Glen Caplin, Gillibrand's senior adviser, said the funds will be given to Protect Our Defenders, an organization that works to combat sexual assaults in the military and advocates for reforming the military justice system.

Gillibrand, D-N.Y., announced earlier in the day that she is reintroducing the Military Justice Improvement Act, which would overhaul how the military handles sexual assault cases. Protect Our Defenders representatives were at the press conference, according to Caplin.

But the story involving Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, and Leeann Tweeden has received more attention. Tweeden, who is now a radio host in Los Angeles, recalled how Franken forcibly kissed her while the two were preparing for a USO tour show in the Middle East. She also posted a photo she found after returning home from the tour which shows Franken groping her while she was asleep.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called for an ethics inquiry into Franken's conduct. Franken issued an apology and said he would cooperate with an investigation.

The revelation provided ammunition for Republicans against Democrats in key House races.

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, a Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney in New York's 22nd Congressional District, received $1,500 from the Midwest Values PAC.

The National Republican Congressional Committee called on Brindisi to denounce Franken and return the donation.

Brindisi said Thursday he will give the $1,500 donation to two central New York organizations: Planned Parenthood of Mohawk Hudson and Family Planning Services in South Central New York.

"Sexual harassment is never a joke. Plain and simple," he said.
AUSTIN -- After months of assurances from top Republicans that they still hold a firm grip on Texas voters, a top campaign adviser to Gov. Greg Abbott is warning that recent Virginia elections should be a "wakeup call" to the Texas GOP.

In a private memo to Abbott's aides, senior political adviser Dave Carney cautions that despite the fact that Texas is solid red in recent statewide voting patterns, suburban voters could pose significant problems for Republicans in next year's mid-term elections.

"It would be easy for us to say Texas is not Virginia. It would be easy for us to say the Democrats in Texas aren't that well organized," wrote Carney, a New Hampshire-based political consultant who has served as an adviser to Rick Perry and Abbott and was the White House political director for George H.W. Bush.

"That would be a huge mistake."

A copy of the memo was obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Some political insiders say the memo is significant because it signals for the first time that Republicans may not be as sure about their prospects for sweeping next year's mid-term elections, as as they have in the past two decades.

Democrats last won statewide office in Texas in 1994.

Other insiders suggest that Carney could also be warning against complacency by Republicans, who could lose seats if their turnout in next year's elections drops off because they expect they will win.

As for Democrats, they and their consultants insist the Republicans now appear to be recognizing what they have been predicting for some time: Because of Trump and a general unhappiness with current state of politics, 2018 promises to be a winning year for Democrats.

"We agree," said Manny Garcia, deputy executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, which has not won a statewide race since 1994 but for months has been predicting gains in a number of races next year. "Polls are showing a strong movement to Democrats in many areas . . . This is a trend that's going on across the country."

In the memo, Carney asserts that Republican losses in the recent Virginia elections "were not caused by Republicans running a bad campaign." Instead, he insists that the GOP got more votes for governor of Virginia than they ever had -- but still lost."

"Republican voters showed up but were overwhelmed by Democrat enthusiasm," the memo states. "This wasn't a case of a great Democrat turning out the vote."

In fact, he says, Ralph Northam, the Democrat who won the governorship, "is no Barack Obama. In fact, most observers consider Northam a bad candidate," so bad that progressive organizations stopped mobilizing voter turnout on his behalf before the election because of his opposition to sanctuary cities.

"The Northern Virginia suburbs saw turnout increase substantially while the rest of the state turned out at historic levels," Carney wrote.

Texas Republicans, he reasons, could face a similar turnout by Democrats -- especially among suburban voters in areas where Democrats have recently registered enthusiasm, such as Houston and Dallas.

"We will have to deal with these very same problems (and they could be much worse in another year) during our reelection," Carney warned. "No matter who the Democrat candidate is, Democrats will turn out to vote in higher numbers than ever before to voice their displeasure with President Trump. Without Hillary Clinton to push them away suburban voters will lean Democratic in reaction to the national political environment."

"Like Virginia, Texas is growing and in doing so it is becoming more suburban, more independent and more easily influenced by the national political environment," the memo states, noting that that Republicans lost their 66-to-34 advantage in the Virginia House of Delegates.

With three races still too close to call, Democrats now hold a 49-to-48 advantage.

"The enthusiasm gap that we face is real," Carney cautions. "It is going to take a concerted effort by the campaign to overcome it, not just for ourselves, but for the down ballot races that will be depending on us to pull them over the line."

For their part, Democrats point to recent wins over Republicans in other states -- including an upset Tuesday in Oklahoma in a predominately Republican suburban Tulsa district, the third such win by Democrats in the past two years.

Democratic strategists believe that is part of what Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa has called "the beginning of the blue wave," a prediction echoed by Texas Democratic strategist Harold Cook who says 2018 promises to an "atrociously terrible election year for Republicans."

Even so, despite the new GOP concern, political scientists of all stripes still say that significant Republican losses still don't appear to be in the offing in Texas, despite recent polls that signal growing angst among some suburban voters.

"The Texas system is so structured in favor of the Republicans, that would take such an enormous tidal wave of turnout for Democrats, and I doubt that we'll see that," said Glen Biglaiser, a political scientist at the University of North Texas in Denton. "The numbers now just don't work."

James Dickey, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, said while he agrees with Carney's assertion that the GOP should not take anything for granted in 2018, "that's the way we've approached it all along."

"I don't see how Democratic wins in Democratic states is relevant to what could happen in Texas," he said. "We are taking this election very seriously and are not ceding any territory.

"We are not taking anything for granted."
The House voted Thursday on a tax reform bill that congressional leaders hope is the first step toward achieving a major legislative goal.

While New York Democrats were united in their opposition to the bill, the state's GOP delegation was split. Some supported it, believing the benefits of the bill outweigh its costs. Others opposed the measure, mainly because it would eliminate the state and local tax deduction in its current form.

Here is how the New York Republican delegation voted on the tax bill:

U.S. Rep. Chris Collins

Like Reed, Collins, R-Clarence, was an early backer of the bill. He believes it will benefit his western New York district.

He did advocate for changes to the state and local tax deduction provision in the bill.

Collins received attention last week for a comment he made about what his supporters are telling him about the tax reform bill.

"My donors are basically saying 'get it done or don't ever call me again,'" he said.

U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan

Donovan, R-Staten Island, opposes the bill. He released a statement earlier this month explaining his position.

The tax reform plan, he said, "will hurt, not help middle class families in New York." One of his main concerns: the elimination of the state and local tax deduction.

U.S. Rep. John Faso

Faso, R-Kinderhook, issued a three-paragraph statement explaining why he opposes the tax plan.

While he believes the current tax code is broken, the legislation would remove the state and local tax deduction. The elimination of the deduction will "impact New York families more severely than taxpayers in other states."

"While the full SALT income tax deduction for individuals is repealed, full deductibility will remain in effect for corporations and other business entities, thereby protecting taxpayers in states like Texas which rely more heavily on corporate taxes," Faso said. "Since New York taxpayers already send over $40 billion more in tax dollars to Washington than we receive back in federal benefits and services, we are not being subsidized by any state. Frankly, I resent the accusation that New Yorkers are being subsidized by the rest of the nation, when in fact the opposite is true."

U.S. Rep. John Katko

Katko, R-Camillus, shared his position during an interview with The Citizen Wednesday. He will vote for the bill after opposing an earlier version of the measure because it contained a provision that would fully eliminate the state and local tax deduction.

With the deduction being partially restored in the bill, Katko touted other parts of the bill he supports.

"I just can't look away from the fact that this is a healthy tax cut for middle class and working class constituents of mine, and they sorely need the relief," he said.

U.S. Rep. Peter King

King, R-Seaford, opposes the bill. He told Fox News this week that the elimination of the state and local tax deduction would hurt New York.

"People will tell you that other pluses in the bill will make up for that. I just haven't seen that yet, and most of the estimates I've seen do not add up to that," he said in an interview with the network.

He added that "a good number" of his constituents will see their taxes rise because of the bill.

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed

In a video statement released Thursday, Reed, R-Corning, called the GOP tax plan a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure families in our region will be able to keep $1,600 more of their hard earned dollars rather than allowing the federal government to take it from them as it does today."

Among those in the New York GOP delegation, Reed was one of the early supporters of the tax plan.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik

Stefanik, R-Willsboro, confirmed Thursday that she opposes the tax bill in its current form. She reiterated her support for comprehensive tax reform, but is concerned about the elimination of the state and local tax deduction.

"I will be voting no today to stand up for New York taxpayers in my district," she said.

U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney

Tenney, R-New Hartford supported the tax bill. She told Fox Business Network's "Varney & Co." that she is now a "yes" vote.

"Well first of all, I want to get the process moving forward," she said. "As you know, this is our proposal, it's our version of the bill, it's not perfect, there's a lot I like about it, there's some things I don't like, there's some things we fought to get back."

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin

Zeldin, R-Shirley, tweeted two days ago that he's "Still a NO."

"The GOP needs to fix this! Get it right, get my vote... As is, definitely a NO," he wrote.
After U.S. Rep. John Katko announced Wednesday that he will support the House tax reform bill, a top New York Democrat urged him to reconsider his position.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul panned the Republican tax plan during a phone interview with The Citizen. She focused her critique on the state and local tax deduction. In an earlier version of the bill, Republicans proposed eliminating the ability to deduct state and local income, property and sales taxes.

The bill that will be voted on Thursday includes a compromise: Homeowners will be able to deduct state and local property taxes up to $10,000. The deduction will be eliminated for income and sales taxes.

Several Republicans from high-tax states, including New York, opposed the initial version of the tax reform legislation because it would completely eliminate the state and local tax deduction. Now that the compromise is in the bill, some GOP members are supporters.

Katko, R-Camillus, is among those who now support the bill after the state and local tax deduction change was made.

But Hochul believes the compromise and any elimination of the state and local tax deduction will hurt New York. A report released by Cuomo's office last week estimated that ending the deduction would be a $16 billion hit to the state.

"That is all to give a huge tax break to millionaires, billionaires and large corporations," Hochul said. "It does very little for middle-class families."

New York's status as a donor state is another reason why Hochul thinks state and local tax deductibility should be preserved.

A report released in September by the Rockefeller Institute for Government estimated that in 2015, New York paid $48 billion more in taxes than it received in federal aid and services.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a similar report in October that found the state paid $40.9 billion more in taxes than it received in federal government support.

"When other states say it's not fair that we have a deduction for state and local taxes, we believe that, first of all, our taxpayers should not be double taxed," Hochul said.

The House is expected to pass its tax reform bill Thursday. Some New York Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, have said they will support the bill. Others, including U.S. Reps. John Faso and Elise Stefanik, oppose the measure.

With the vote hours away, Hochul hopes Katko will change his vote.

"We're asking Congressman Katko to rethink his position," she said. "Ask him to stand with the people who elected him and put their faith in him when they sent him to Congress to represent their interests because to support the Republican tax bill is to do the exact opposite."
AUBURN  State Sen. Pam Helming visited the city Wednesday to honor five Cayuga County veterans who were nominated for induction into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.

Each year, one veteran from each of the 63 state Senate districts is added to the hall of fame. Helming, who represents a portion of Auburn and several towns in Cayuga County, said her office received 48 nominations. This year's inductee from Helming's district was W. Michael Bowen, a Navy veteran from Seneca Falls.

But Helming, R-Canandaigua, wanted to honor the other nominees. She decided to hold veterans recognition events throughout her district, including the ceremony Wednesday at Auburn VFW Post 1975.

"What we enjoy today are freedoms we owe to you," she said.

There were five nominees from Cayuga County, four of whom attended the ceremony. Charles Augello, of Weedsport, is an Auburn police officer and serves part-time as a Weedsport police officer. He enlisted in the Army in 2003 after graduating from high school. He received several awards during his military career, which included a one-year deployment to Afghanistan.

"It was an honor to serve my country and it's one of the best things that I've ever done," Augello said. "I wouldn't change a thing about it."

Timothy Coretti, of Auburn, didn't attend the ceremony. Helming, reading from his nomination application, said he convinced his parents to sign his paperwork to join the Army. He served as a medic and received multiple honors, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Kim Bennett, a former Genoa town justice and corrections officer, received numerous medals and commendations during his service in the Air Force and Army. He had a 20-year military career, which included combat tours in Panama and Vietnam.

Clarence VanOstrand, of Auburn, served in the Marine Corps and National Guard for nearly 40 years. He was a master sergeant during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he joined the National Guard.

At the time of his retirement, VanOstrand earned the rank of command sergeant major.

Auburn Mayor Michael Quill rounded out the honorees. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. After he was discharged, he joined the Auburn Fire Department and served in various roles, including fire chief, for 32 years.

He is now serving his third term as mayor.

"I'm very, very proud and pleased to be with all of you," Quill said. "Anytime I'm with a veteran it's as good as being with family, and it is a family."

Helming hopes there are more nominees for the state Senate Veterans Hall of Fame next year. She challenged local leaders to triple or quadruple the number of nominations in 2018.

"There are so many more veterans that should be recognized," she said.
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Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The president for Asia Pacific of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) led a team to visit Hawtai Motor on November 7, sources familiar with the matter said recently.

In order to meet the governments requirements on new energy vehicles, many foreign automakers choose self-owned auto brands as partners and make efforts to adjust themselves to the development of a policy-oriented market. During the past several months, there are many cooperation examples between foreign and self-owned automakers, such as Renault-Nissan and Dongfeng, Ford and Zotye. Against this background, the contact between FCA and Hawtai has been thought as another similar case.

FCAs needs for new energy credits may account for its interest in the potential cooperation. The American automaker locally produced 183,000 vehicles in the first ten months of this year, which, according to our governments policy, are in need of up to 18,000 credits. Consequently, FCA may need the help of a local automaker.

HAWTAI Motor Group, headquartered in Tianjin, covers automobile R&D, core components production, auto manufacturing, auto sales and capital operation. Even though it has a history of 18 years, the annual sales were around 30,000 units in 2011 to 2013. Last year, its sales reached 60,000 units. It has launched such popular models as Santa Fe and Terracan, but its cumulative sales performance seems not good enough.

In 2017, Hawtai bought 5.28 percent and 14.49 percent shares of SG Automotive Group. Whats more, Hawtai managed to get 1.5 percent vote right of SG, thus becoming the actual controller of the latter. In this way, Hawtai has begun its strategic layout in new energy vehicle segment.

SG, listed on the Shanghai Exchange Stock, formed 5 main series of products including Huanghai brand commercial vehicle, passenger vehicle, mini bus, special purpose vehicle as well as SG brand axles and axle parts. What matters is that SG boasts 10 new energy buses and occupies certain market shares in new energy bus segment.

With SG, the cumulative sales of Hwatai new energy vehicls reached 6,126 units and could gain 17,000 new energy credits. Its total sales in the first ten months were 93,000 units and can have a surplus of 7,422 credits, one of few automakers which have positive credits.

As to the other party Hawtai, it is likely that Hawtai wants to enhance its brand power and get the sources of Alfa Romeo. However, unnamed people present at the meeting said, At the moment, they were in the communication. The Asia Pacific part seemingly has not enough voice in the ownership of Alfa Romeo.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)-The Volkswagen Brand China Preview Salon Auto Guangzhou 2017 kicked off on Nov. 15. During the event, Volkswagen launched its all-new concept vehicle, the T-ROCSTAR, which is expected to be locally produced in 2018. Dr. Stephan Wollenstein, CEO of Volkswagen China also stated that Volkswagen will release more than 30 new SUV and NEV models in the Chinese market by 2025.

As SUVs grow increasingly popular in China, Volkswagen continues to trigger its SUV offensive in China. Dr. Stephan Wollenstein revealed Volkswagen's ambitious vehicle products deployment in China: By 2020, Volkswagen will launch more than ten NEVs, expand its SUV family to no less than ten models, and add several upgraded models and variants of its existing models. Specifically, Volkswagen will release four new models in 2018, and during 2019 and 2020, six new models will hit the Chinese market. During 2020 and 2025, Volkswagen will build a pure electric vehicle family including ten models.

As China's first small SUV of Volkswagen, the T-ROCSTAR adopts its latest design language, featuring a similar appearance with its overseas edition. It characterizes with a T-shaped front end with headlights and intake grille integrated together. Thanks to the new design of the daytime running lights, the model looks exquisite. The hatchback design enables the model to have a sporty looking. Compared with its overseas edition, the T-ROCSTAR has a few changes in its rear end, but features the same interior with its overseas edition, which looks youthful and premium. The new model is likely to be powered by two engine variants, the 1.2T and 1.4T engine.


Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents





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Apollo astronaut watch, stolen in Ecuador, recovered 30 years later



November 16, 2017  A NASA astronaut's wristwatch worn aboard the first Apollo mission in 1968 has been returned to the Smithsonian, nearly three decades after it was stolen from a museum in Ecuador.



The Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph, which astronaut Donn Eisele was issued to wear on board the Apollo 7 mission into Earth orbit, is now back in the custody of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The watch was recovered with the help of space history enthusiasts, who provided the authorities with information about the chronograph's status and location.



Disclosure: As detailed below, collectSPACE editor Robert Pearlman was among the individuals who provided information that led to the watch being recovered.



Eisele's NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster was on loan from the Smithsonian to the Instituto Geografico Militar in Quito, Ecuador, when in 1989 it was stolen from its display. The local police investigated the theft, but a culprit was never identified.



The watch remained missing for 28 years. It briefly surfaced earlier this year at a watch show in Florida, but traces of it were quickly lost. Then, a person claiming to have been offered the watch for sale began reaching out for more details about its history.



From Earth orbit to Ecuador



"Someone tried selling me a vintage Omega Speedmaster with astronaut number [sic] engraved in the back and s/n [serial number] 34. I was afraid to buy, since I thought it might be fake. Do you have an idea what mission it was?" read an email sent to collectSPACE on the evening of Sept. 29.



Donn Eisele, who died in 1987 at age 57, launched on his first and only spaceflight as command module pilot on Apollo 7, the first mission of the U.S. moon landing program. The 10 day and 20 hour flight saw Eisele and his two crewmates, Wally Schirra and Walt Cunningham, put the Apollo command module through its paces while orbiting Earth 163 times from Oct. 11 to Oct. 22, 1968.



Recognizing that its astronauts would need a chronograph to time mission events in space, NASA tested and selected the Omega Speedmaster as its flight-qualified watch beginning with the Gemini program. As the first Apollo crew to fly in space, Schirra, Cunningham and Eisele were each issued Speedmaster watches to wear with their spacesuits and other mission attire.



NASA engraved each Speedmaster with part and serial numbers, to help track its mission equipment. Eisele's NASA-issued chronograph was inscribed with the part number common to other NASA Speedmaster watches, SEB12100039-002, and a unique serial number, "34."



(Eisele also wore a personal Omega Speedmaster on Apollo 7, engraved with the serial number 38. That chronograph was sold by Sotheby's in 2007 for $204,000.)



In 1977, after the end of the Apollo program, NASA transferred the title for all of its Gemini and Apollo-flown Speedmasters to the Smithsonian. Initially, the museum offered the watches for loan back to the astronauts who had used them in space, but within a decade decided against the practice and refocused the loans to other museums.



The Instituto Geografico Militar requested the loan of space artifacts, including a chronograph, in the mid-1980s, and was provided Eisele's Apollo 7 Speedmaster.



Serendipitous discovery



Five months ago, after hearing nothing about the Eisele watch for almost 30 years, the Smithsonian was alerted the chronograph was seen at a watch show. But prior to investigators being able to take action, it disappeared again.



Then in September, a space history and watch enthusiast signed onto eBay.



Garron DuPree, the bass guitarist for the coincidentally-named band Eisley, came across a watch seller from Texas who, after discussing various timepieces, shared the story of a friend who had bought a "vintage Omega Speedmaster with some very interesting engravings" for $5,000 while on a trip to Ecuador. The dealer said the watch was not for sale, but volunteered to share photos of it with DuPree.



"Shocked by what I was seeing while simultaneously being an extreme skeptic, I began furiously researching the subject," DuPree said in an email to collectSPACE after the Eisele watch was recovered. "It wasn't until I found information posted on collectSPACE that my suspicions began to be confirmed."



Concerned the chronograph could again disappear, DuPree held back details from the dealer, but reached out to collectSPACE for help contacting the authorities. At just about the same time, the eBay seller emailed collectSPACE with photos of the Speedmaster, seeking to authenticate the watch.



"I saw the watch in Mexico City and the owner is a [sic] worried he could have it taken away. He knew there was something special about it which is why he bought it. Weird situation," the man wrote.



collectSPACE and DuPree contacted the Smithsonian Office of Inspector General (OIG), the independent entity within the institution that oversees investigations into theft and fraud. Through the information that was shared, the OIG, working with the FBI, was able to identify the eBay dealer and confirm he was not in possession of the watch.



Within days of that happening though, another unidentified individual surrendered the watch to the FBI in Houston, Texas. The Eisele Speedmaster was then briefly held at the bureau's McAllen, Texas office, until its return to the Smithsonian.



Citing internal polices, the Smithsonian, OIG and FBI declined to comment for this article.



Back where it belongs



With the Eisele Speedmaster now back in the hands of the Smithsonian, it will, at least initially, be cared for at the Buehler Conservation Laboratory at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in northern Virginia. Omega technicians periodically visit the lab to help inspect the NASA chronographs in the Smithsonian collection.



The Smithsonian is now missing only five Omega Speedmasters (out of the more than 50 transferred by NASA) that were stolen while on loan to other museums in the 1990s. There are also a few other flown watches that went missing outside of museums; most famously, the first watch worn on the surface of the moon, Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Speedmaster, went missing while in transit to the Smithsonian in 1970.



DuPree expressed his pride in having contributed to returning a chronograph to its rightful place.



"To have played any part in the recovery of this priceless piece of history is among the most humbling privileges I have experienced.," he said.



Kristy Eisele, the astronaut's daughter, told collectSPACE that she, too, was happy with the outcome.



"Through some kind souls and great detective work, my father's watch has been recovered," she said on Wednesday (Nov. 15). "I'm absolutely thrilled that it's back at the Smithsonian where it belongs."



Donn Eisele's Apollo 7 Omega Speedmaster (collectSPACE)

















Donn Eisele wearing his two Speedmasters pre-launch. (NASA)



















Donn Eisele's Apollo 7 Omega Speedmaster (collectSPACE)



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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Robin Li, president of Baidu, announced today that the companys autonomous vehicle, co-developed with King Long will be mass produced in 2018.

At the 2017 Baidu World Conference, held on November 16 in Beijing, Robin released the searching giants timetable on the production of autonomous vehicle. According to its plan, Baidu will cooperate with King Long to mass produce autonomous mini buses in July, 2018, ahead of other competitors. It will launch autonomous vehicles with JAC, BAIC in 2019 and with Chery in 2020.

Ever since Baidu opens up its Apollo autonomous platform in July, more than 6,000 developers gained access to the platform and over 1,700 partners have begun to use the open codes while more than 100 automakers join up.

In intelligent transportation, Baidu will partner with Xiongan to build the city a worldwide leader in intelligent travelling. Whats more, the company also has established cooperative relationships with many cities and districts in autonomous driving, intelligent city and other AI projects, such as Baoding, Wuhu and Shanghai Automobile City.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)-Several months earlier, in the presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, Volkswagen Group and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd. (JAC) signed a joint venture agreement in Berlin, Germany. Before the opening of the Auto Guangzhou 2017, the two parties officially nailed down the JV pure electric passenger vehicle project. At the meantime, Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China stated that the pure electric vehicle jointly developed by Volkswagen and JAC will be put into production in the first half of 2018, and will be launched in the second half of 2018.

Based on the JAC's manufacturing plant in Hefei Economic & Technological Development Zone, Anhui Province, the new project will construct new pressing workshop, welding assembling workshop, coating workshop and final assembling workshop, etc. Once completed, the new JV will have an annual production capacity of 100,000 pure electric vehicles.

In terms of their first jointly developed model, Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann once said that they will cooperate with JAC not only in a single project, but also in several model projects. Without doubt, SUV will be the first JV model that they will launch. Being built based on the JAC iEV6S and taking the advantage of Volkswagen's technologies and skills, the first jointly developed pure electric SUV reportedly will hit the market as early in next year.


If youre among those Americans concerned about the vulnerability of our elections to cyber-saboteurs  and you certainly should be  youll want to pay close attention to what election officials in Colorado will be doing from today through Saturday.

After years of study, including local pilot programs, the Centennial State will run the first-ever statewide risk-limiting audit, a careful and comprehensive review of ballots cast in the Nov. 7 election that will verify beyond a reasonable doubt that the candidates who appear to have won actually got the most votes.

The exercise will provide assurance to voters, to citizens, that the machines are counting accurately and that people can have confidence in the results, Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams told reporters on Wednesday. Thats very important to (voter) participation in future elections.

Election administrators nationwide are closely following Colorados audit. Rhode Island, whose governor recently signed legislation mandating risk-limiting audits, has sent observers to monitor the Colorado process; voting rights advocates, including Common Cause, are lobbying legislatures across the country to follow Colorados lead.

The risk-limiting audit is one example of Colorados commitment to election integrity, said Elizabeth Steele, elections director for Colorado Common Cause. The state already has some of the nations most voter-friendly election laws. More than 90 percent of Coloradans vote by mail and have until a week before the election to register; those who choose to vote in person can register all the way up to and including Election Day.

Like their counterparts across the country, Colorado election officials routinely test their voting machines and tabulators before and after each election. But with reports of possible foreign interference in the 2016 election, including attempts by hackers to penetrate state election systems, its clear the old way of checking reported results wasnt good enough, said Matt Crane, clerk of Arapahoe County, Colorados most populous jurisdiction.

Williams and Crane were among a group of election administrators and consultants who outlined the risk-limiting process during a conference call on Wednesday. While Colorado is the first state to use the audits statewide, New Mexico runs a similar process in selected contests.

The Colorado audit will compare a randomly-selected group of the paper ballots that Coloradans cast last week in each county against the way those votes were recorded on the countys vote counting system.

The number of ballots to be checked fluctuates depending on the number cast in the county and the closeness of the reported results. Each county sets a risk limit  the level of risk that officials are willing to accept that the original count did not reflect the true winner. Put another way, a risk limit of 5 percent means there is a 95 percent chance that if the originally reported outcome is wrong, the audit will detect it and lead to a full hand count to correct the error.

As the audit progresses, it will expand until there is enough evidence that the outcome correctly reflects the actual vote.

The officials acknowledged that the process depends on each county keeping ballots secure and in the proper order, so that they can be certain that theyre comparing each audited ballot with the way that ballot was recorded by their counting equipment.

Philip Stark, an associate dean at the University of California who has been advising Colorado officials, said local tests of the audit process in previous elections have not found large errors.

###
Election officials in Colorado are setting an example for nation today, taking a critical step to double-check the reported results of last weeks election with a statewide risk limiting post-election audit.

The new election procedure has a high probability of detecting and thwarting any significant problem  from a foreign cyberattack to innocent programming errors  with vote tallying systems. The 2016 election cycle was marred by multiple, documented cyberattacks on U.S. election infrastructure.

Secretary of State Wayne Williams should be commended for his extraordinary leadership in championing this critical reform. Our times demand it. Said Karen Hobert Flynn, President of Common Cause. Colorado sets an example for the nation to protect ourselves from hacking and interference in our elections by any entity, foreign or domestic.

The risk-limiting audit is one example of Colorados commitment to election integrity, said Elizabeth Steele, elections director for Colorado Common Cause. The state already has some of the nations most voter-friendly election laws. More than 90 percent of Coloradans vote by mail and have until a week before the election to register; those who choose to vote in person can register all the way up to and including Election Day.

Risk-limiting audits demand that close races get more scrutiny. If the margin of victory is very close, even one faulty scanner could alter the reported outcome of the election and so the risk-limiting audit examines a larger, randomly-selected sample of ballots. If the margin of victory is wide, fewer ballots need to be reviewed to ensure with high confidence that the reported outcome is correct  assuming that the audit does not uncover problems.

We highly commend Secretary of State Wayne Williams, his office, and every county clerk in Colorado for working hard to implement this critical, confidence-building procedure, said Susannah Goodman, Director of the Voting Integrity Program at Common Cause. Colorados old audit procedure simply spot-checked machine function. It didnt tell us what we really want to know which is did the winner really win? With the risk limiting audit, everyone can be assured to a higher degree of confidence that the election outcome is correct  or that a full manual recount occurs to correct it.

The risk limiting audit begins today and continues through Saturday. The process is observable and transparent. Colorado is the first state to implement these types of audits statewide; New Mexico conducts a similar procedure in selected races and Rhode Island adopted legislation this year that will put the audits in place statewide.
Savannah Sanders had the full attention of law enforcement and victims advocates at the Northern Arizona Anti-Sex Trafficking Summit in Flagstaff on Wednesday.

I was groomed for trafficking when I was 6-years-old, she said.

The event, which continues today at the Museum of Northern Arizona, brought experts and survivors seeking to educate people on the signs and prevalence of sex trafficking in Arizona.

Sanders shared her personal experience dealing with sex trafficking, which started when she was raped by a family member at 6. She said the sexual assault groomed her to be a victim of sex-trafficking by the time she was 16.

I was broken down by sexual abuse so by the time I was 16 I didnt need anyone to beat me up or drug me to make me a victim of sex trafficking.

Sanders was then sold to a pimp, where she was forced into multiple abusive situations for eight months. She said that by the time she was 18 she had 17 different abusers.

Since 2007, there have been more than 2,000 calls to Arizona authorities reporting victims of human trafficking. Of those, 621 are categorized as high-risk victims of sex trafficking, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

The majority of sex trafficking victims are addicts, homeless and young, with most victims being forced into sex trafficking at the median age of 14, according to Arizona State University sex traffic intervention research.

Sanders was no exception as she was a teenager who had started using meth and was living with a friend.

Michael Russo, Chandler police detective for the departments Vice and Human Trafficking Unit, said that human trafficking occurs every day in Arizona and affects everyone.

This is one of the most underreported crimes in Arizona. It is happening here in northern Arizona and the rest of the state every single day, Russo said. It affects all races and socioeconomic classes.

Sanders said that years of sexual abuse made her unable to distinguish dangerous people in her life. She referred to a persons ability to understand bad situations as a creeper box, which she said would have helped her avoid the people who sold her into sex trafficking.

When you are born you have a creeper box or an instinct that tells you when someone is bad, Sanders said. When you experience abuse like I did that box gets broken.

Sarah Way, a social worker for the Family Advocacy Center, said most sex trafficking victims dont identify as such.

We serve a large population of victims that dont want to be served, Way said. I hate the idea of the rescue myth -- a lot of these women dont want to be rescued because years of abuse have put them in a situation where they have a sense of loyalty and love for their abuser.

Way described a toxic cocktail of emotions and experiences for a victims abuser that makes the victim stay.

Stockholm Syndrome is a real phenomenon here, Way said. They use emotions like fear, trauma and shame to pervert a relationship and create a perfect storm for loyalty.

Education

Despite years of childhood abuse, Sanders parents were never abusive to her. She said her parents trusted the wrong people and were uneducated about the signs.

My mother was fearful of people hurting me so she relied on her family, not knowing that it was her family that was abusing me, Sanders said. She didnt know the signs of abuse and I was not in the place to tell her I was being abused.

She also stated that if her father had been educated on the signs of abuse he would have been her champion.

Sanders said the key to preventing sex trafficking is families catching early signs of any kind of abuse because traffickers and victims deal with abuses that create their situations.

We can prevent trafficking by creating healthy families that prevent buyers from becoming buyers, traffickers from becoming traffickers and victims from becoming victims, Sanders said.

She went on to say that you can do this by tracking signs of sexual abuse in friends and family.

According to the Arizona Governors Office of Youth, Faith and Family, indicators of possible prostitution or sex trafficking are couch surfing, changes in dress, uncharacteristically promiscuous behavior, physical abuse, diagnosed sexually transmitted diseases, gang affiliation and presence or reference to a much older boyfriend.

The Flagstaff Summit continues today at the Museum of Northern Arizona from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Food preparation and styling by Brix Restaurant and Wine Bar of Flagstaff. Wine from Chateau Tumbleweed of Clarkdale. Event and floral styling by Kim Duncan Design of Flagstaff. Furnishings and place settings from Bright Event Rentals. Cast iron cookware from Finex.

As the golden light of autumn waned, the brisk afternoon warmed with the happy chatter of guests. Pecks on the cheek, lingering hugs and the joyous anticipation of time with loved ones set the stage for a holiday gathering. The cook mopped a brow with a dish towel, inhaled the stuffings fall fragrance and smiled. Nothing can top the celebratory combination of glorious food, home and company. In fact, it is the melding of elements, both festive and familiar, that creates the greatest happiness.

Gatherings can feel stressful, but serving specialty foods and a showcase bird is worth the planning and preparation. Even professionals, like Logan Webber, executive chef at Brix in Flagstaff, utter colorful language when the top of the stuffing chars instead of browns. So relax, home cooksits all part of the process.

Sustainable Serving

When it comes to choosing quality ingredients, local is always better. Even a massive bison creates a smaller carbon footprint when the animal is grazed, processed and eaten regionally. Sustainable farming and ranching guard future land use for all. Environmental preservationavoiding toxic substances or depleting natural resourcesbuilds an ongoing ecological balance. Sustainable practices consider animal welfare, protect public health and support vibrant communities. The good news is that increasing demand for sustainable living is fueling a robust market of products and producers.

The Colorado Plateau offers a wider variety of proteins and produce than might be expected for a semi-arid land. Some sources readily available to Northern Arizona include: McClendons Select, Roots Micro Farm, Black Mesa Ranch, Two Wash Ranch, and of course, the local farmers market. Three generations at McClendons Select have cultivated nearly 100 acres of certified, organic farmland in Peoria and Goodyear. Roots is an urban farm in Flagstaff supplying colorful microgreensvegetables, herbs and flowersto local restaurants. Black Mesa Ranch boasts the flavor of the White Mountains with farmstead artisan cheeses crafted from registered Nubian goats. Two Wash Ranch, a five-acre poultry farm, raises chickens, ducks, geese and peafowl in a cage-free environment. For easy downtown shopping however, visit Proper Meats + Provisions, an abundant source of regional, quality fresh and jarred items.

There are many reasons to use sustainable ingredients, Chef Webber said. Its better for the environment, but there is also the chance to talk to the people who make the food about their practices and upcoming farm produce. This offers the chance to change up the menu with seasonal items. Farmers markets are ideal for this, and he also chats with other chefs who can help with sourcing. Webber, who entices diners with unique root vegetables in autumn, added, Local goods taste so much better and have a longer shelf life that extends recipe opportunities.

Game

Unusual proteins, such as rabbit, quail or venison, incorporate hunting and introduce wild flavors to the table. They can be trickier to cook, but traditional methods, such as braising boar or elk to combat a firmer texture, work well.

Poultry is best brined. Webbers brine recipe includes: 9 liters cold water, 1 cup kosher salt, 1 cup molasses, 1 cup packed dark brown sugar, 1 halved garlic, 4 rough chopped shallots, 3 tablespoons black peppercorns, 4 tablespoons mulling spice, 2 bay leaves, 1 sprig rosemary, 4 sprigs each thyme and sage plus 2 oranges. Boil items for 10 minutes and let cool to room temperature. Submerge four small birds or a 15-pound bird for six hours and prep as usual for roasting.

Holiday Feast

Webbers holiday feast featured brined guinea fowl, whose moist meat hinted of molasses. Alongside, a mixture of roasted baby carrots, fennel and beets with garam masala served up a wholesome depth. Greens with the autumn goodness of cranberries, walnuts and pickled apple vinaigrette added fresh flavors. Sweet potato gnocchi with chevre (goat cheese) and sage provided some starch. Webbers secret is boiling the gnocchi and then sauteing them in small batches for a crisp outer shell and light, center bite. The chefs chestnut stuffing recipe with fennel sausage and tart cherries made for a playful mouthful and perfect accompaniment to the fowl.

For a table of eight guests, two desserts is a good rule. Pumpkin sponge rolled up with delicate goat cheese and painted with chocolate created a swirl of squash sweetness. Fancy and festive, creme brulee hid fall-spiced custard under sugar glass scattered with pomegranate seeds. It was a classy, classic finish to a holiday meal.

Prep & Planning Tips

All of this cooking might seem overwhelming, but as in eating an apple, it is easily done in bites. Webber suggests starting the cooking before the event. Two days ahead, brine, and then, truss the birds. The day before, bake the desserts, toast the bread for stuffing and chop the veg. Pulling the prepared ingredients together on the day will be simpler and faster. Overall, use quality products, even for shortcuts, like stock. Proper Meats + Provisions roasts the bones and mirepoix for homestyle results.

Paul Moir, owner of Brix and Proper Meats + Provisions, is a Level 1 sommelier and offered some solid pairings for the menu served.

Overall, a white RhoneMarsan, Viognier or Roussannesteers away from the usual citrusy Sauvignon blanc or buttery Chardonnay and plays up the earth tones and gamey qualities of fowl, he said. If a red is a must, a pinot noir or Grenache has more acidity to balance the higher fat content and flavors of game. For dessert, Madeira or tawny port provides mellow, rounded notes with sweets or strong cheeses. Its incredible! Moir enthused.

To build the perfect charcuterie board in the run-up to the main event, Moir reminded hosts that balancing different elements is important. Cream and fat in the cheesesstrong like blue and mild like briewith the salt of cured meats and olives, plus the sweet of dried fruits, complement one another.

When its time to set the scene for the holiday meal, expert Kim Duncan of Kim Duncan Design, provided practical advice. Grocery or farmers market flowers are fine, she said. Start with a base of greenery and insert fall branches from the store or your backyard. Also, add fruit, like pears or pomegranates, for eye-catching appeal. Votives and pillar candles spread across the table cast warm light and extend the glow. Every guest matters, so personalize place cards by writing a precious note of thanks and tuck a sprig of lavender or rosemary into the printed menu. Before the meal, buy time and a chance for guests to mingle with a cocktail hour. If weather allows, sit outside by a fire or heat lamps with an array of simple appetizers. When organizing a holiday event, the purpose is to make a meal and a memory for everyone present.

With expert tips and enthusiasm for local flavors, this years holiday gathering will be the best one yet.
PHOENIX -- A voter advocacy group, a union and Democrat lawmakers are asking a judge to void a new Arizona law expanding the ability of some groups to make anonymous "dark money" contributions to political campaigns.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court charges the Republican-controlled Legislature acted illegally earlier this year in exempting some organizations from laws that require them to register before they can spend money to influence who is elected. More to the point, it also allows them to avoid disclosing to voters who provided that cash in the first place.

But attorney Jim Barton said there are other legal flaws in the measure.

One, he said, is that the exemption lawmakers provided to certain nonprofit organizations applies only to those that also are registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission. But Barton said the legislation denies the same privilege to unions which, while organized as nonprofits, do not register with the commission.

Potentially the most sweeping, Barton said lawmakers violated a constitutional provision that requires the legislature to have laws that tell the public about all of the contributions to and expenditures by campaign committees and candidates for public office.

He said SB 1516 allows nonprofits and similar entities to make unlimited contributions to political parties. Then the parties can spend unlimited amounts of money on behalf of their nominees.

"Since the reporting of these particular contributions are not required, then built-in disclosure safeguards (required by the Arizona Constitution) are broken," Barton wrote.

A spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office, which enforces the campaign finance laws, said the lawsuit is being studied.

The new law, pushed through largely along party line votes earlier this year, was a major overhaul of campaign finance laws.

It allows individuals to spend unlimited amounts of money to help raise funds for candidates they support without having to disclose it to the public.

Another provision scraps the $100 cap on what people can spend in tickets, food and liquor for fundraisers for candidates without having to disclose the source of those dollars.

What makes that important is someone with resources can put on a $5,000-a-plate fundraiser for legislators and absorb all the costs. So the pricetag for the affair -- and even who paid for it  could remain a secret.

Most significant, it eliminates laws that require groups spending money to influence elections to register first with the state. And these same groups also can refuse to disclose donors to the public if they are registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a "social welfare" organization.

The prime architect was Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, who is now speaker of the House.

"I think transparency is a good principle," he said during debate. "But it is not the overarching principle."

He cited a 1950s case where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Alabama could not force the NAACP to disclose its members in order to do business in the state because it could lead to harassment of those members. Mesnard said donors to "dark money" groups are entitled to the same protection, suggesting the government could go after those whose views it does not like.

"We have a right to speech, which our money is speech," Mesnard said. "We have a right to privacy in those associations."

Barton, in filing suit for the Arizona Advocacy Network, the Brickworkers and Allied Crafterworkers Union Local 3 and more than two dozen Democrat lawmakers, avoids the philosophical question in favor of the legal one.

Most significant is that some of the financial disclosure requirements were enacted initially not by legislators but by voters in approving the Citizens Clean Elections Act in 1998.

That law set up a voluntary system for candidates for statewide and legislative office to get public funds if they do not take private dollars. And it also sets out rules for who has to disclose donations.

More to the point, because the law was enacted by voters, it cannot be amended or repealed by the Legislature without a three-fourths vote -- and only if the change "furthers the purpose" of the underlying law. Barton said it did not get that margin and does not meet the second test.

What that means, he said, is that any provisions in SB 1516 that conflict with the 1998 law are legally void and unenforceable.

One of these, he said, was the decision of lawmakers to say that candidates who do not accept public dollars are not subject to scrutiny -- and punishment -- by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. Barton said that clearly runs contrary to what voters approved and illegally undermines the power of the commission to enact campaign finance rules.

Mesnard, however, argued that the commission was overstepping its bounds.

The bid to exempt social welfare groups from financial disclosure got a fight from Tom Collins, the commission's executive director.

On paper, a group cannot be a social welfare organization if it spends more than half of its money on political spending. But Collins said the IRS does not police these groups to ensure they are not violating the legal limits on political spending.

With the new law putting these groups' records off limits to state officials, Collins said that pretty much gives them permission to do what they want in secret.
Managed services News

Magna5 Builds Disaster Recovery, Security Services Business With NetServe365 Acquisition

Joseph F. Kovar

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Voice and data management services provider Magna5 has acquired NetServe365, an MSP with a focus on backup, disaster recovery and security services.

With the acquisition, Magna5 gets a significant boost in its geographic reach, services offerings and customer base, said Greg Forrest, CEO of the Dallas-based company.

Magna5 offers network, cloud-based communications and IT services, with a concentration in the Northeast, Northwest and Southwest, Forrest told CRN.

[Related: ConnectWise Preps $25M Fund To Invest In Vendor Partner Integration]

The company's primary offering is the Accession Communicator cloud-based unified communications system from Metaswitch Networks, which competes with similar offerings from Broadsoft, Forrest said.

Pittsburgh-based NetServe365 offers data protection and disaster recovery services based on technology from Commvault; security services based on AlienVault; and co-location services in conjunction with Iron Mountain, he said.

"Magna5 had a very small backup and desktop support business, but it was not a core focus for us," he said. "But we wanted to add those as core offerings. So we looked to acquire them."

NetServe365, on the other hand, had a majority owner who was looking to exit the business to focus on other businesses, and a minority owner, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Justin Cameron, who was keen on continuing the business, Forrest said.

"Justin will be the business unit owner of our managed services business segment, where he will serve as senior vice president of IT services," he said. "He will have full control of his business segment, including help desk services, backup, disaster recovery, and security."

Magna5 has over 7,500 midmarket enterprise customers nationwide, while NetServe365 brings an additional 200 customers, Forrest said. There is no customer overlap. "These are unique customers to us, which is fantastic to us," he said.

NetServe365 also brings about 50 employees to Magna5, he said.

Forrest declined to discuss financial details of the acquisition as all parties involved are private companies.

Magna5 is a portfolio company of NewSpring Holdings, a Radnor, Pa.-based holding company, and has developed over time in part from a series of acquisitions.

The company was until late 2016 known as X5 Solutions. X5 Solutions in early 2016 acquired NovaTel, a San Antonio-based provider of voice, network and infrastructure technologies, as well as CornerStone Telephone Company, a New York-based advanced communications solutions provider.
PHOENIX -- Donald Trump remains more popular in Arizona than in the nation as a whole.

But pollster Mike Noble said it doesn't look like that will help the Republican Party hang on to the Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Flake.

The automated survey of 600 people likely to vote in the 2018 general election found 45 percent of those asked rate Trump's first year in office as a success. Another 49 percent disagreed. That compares with a new Quinnipiac University national poll showing the president's approval rating at just 33 percent and a Gallup survey with his positives at 38 percent.

Noble, managing partner of political consulting firm OH Predictive Insights, who said no one paid for the survey, said that's not necessarily a surprise.

"I think he's holding the line a little bit better because illegal immigration, especially with Republicans, is still a top issue,'' he said. Noble said that has been reinforced by Trump's promises, made to Arizona audiences during the campaign and since election, to build a border wall, a project that has support among certain segments of the population.

But Noble pointed out that the 45-49 popularity rating comes in a state where Republicans have a 12-point voter registration advantage over Democrats.

More to the point, he said that while the president remains strong among those who describe themselves as conservative, moderates find Trump's first-year performance disappointing by a margin of 2-1. And with independents making up more than a third of registered voters, that, in turn, is not good news for Republicans in the 2018 Senate race.

At this point, Noble said it looks like former state Sen. Kelli Ward has a strong edge over Congresswoman Martha McSally to be the GOP nominee. Ward leads 42-34 percent, though 24 percent are undecided.

McSally has not made a formal declaration of candidacy. But Noble said she already has 60 percent name ID, compared to 79 percent for Ward.

If Ward wins the Republican primary and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema is the Democrat nominee, Noble said the current numbers give Sinema a three-point edge. Sinema fares a little less well in a head-to-head against McSally, with just a single point lead.

Noble said neither potential GOP nominee should take comfort in these numbers given the 12-point edge Republicans have in voter registration. He said much of this can be linked to the effect that Trump has had on politics at all levels.

"Look at the Virginia election,'' he said.

It starts with a "surge'' in Democrat turnout, much larger than the increase among Republicans. And, Noble said the independents in that state skewed this election away from GOP contenders at all levels up and down the ticket.

"Having an 'R' next to your name is like having a giant bullseye on you politically,'' he said, pointing out that the poll numbers for both McSally and Ward are nearly identical to the president's approval rating in Arizona.

While McSally polls slightly better than Ward against Sinema, Noble said the numbers at this point suggest Republicans will nominate Ward who has publicly aligned herself with the president. She is up by eight points in a head-to-head question.

All that, he said, is not good news for the GOP.

He said that Sinema, with a lot of cash in the bank and no strong primary contender, probably has no need to move to the left to win her party's nomination. That means she doesn't need to suddenly make a sharp pivot after the August primary -- and it's just weeks after that when early voting starts for the general election -- to maintain her self-proclaimed label as a moderate to appeal to GOP and independent voters.
Networking News

AT&T's Nationwide Wireless Outage Impacts Business Users, Consumers

Gina Narcisi

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Customers relying on one of the largest carriers in the country were struck by a widespread wireless service outage Wednesday.

Consumers and businesses took to Twitter to report that there was no cellular service, rendering mobile phones unable to place or receive calls for hours.

AT&T Wednesday night acknowledged the nationwide LTE issue, tweeting from its @ATTCares handle: "Currently there is an outage affecting wireless services in your area. Please know that technicians are working to restore your services at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate your patience while we restore your services."

[Related: AT&T Reports 'Best Ever' Q3 Wireless Churn Rates As Partners And Customers Leave Landlines, Legacy Services Behind]

At the same time, the telecom giant suggested that users restart their mobile devices repeatedly as a possible fix. The outage, which impacted both iPhone users and other mobile devices, has since been largely resolved, but some users are still experiencing issues, according to website DownDetector.com Thursday morning.

Dallas-based AT&T said in a statement, "Our network is performing normally after an issue yesterday that affected some users' ability to make certain wireless calls. Users were able to resolve the issue on their device."

AT&T has not yet revealed the root cause of the service outage, but the issue appears to be connected to its LTE network. Users making calls over Wi-Fi were not impacted.

One AT&T solution provider who asked not to be identified said the outage yesterday only affected voice calls made over LTE, and the solution provider focuses on mobile data services for its business customers.

"As a result, we didn't have many users affected by the outage," an executive for the organization confirmed.

Rickie Richey, CEO of Altaworx, an AT&T Platinum partner that focuses on wireless and IoT solutions, said that it hasn't received any service tickets from its AT&T Mobility clients.

"Most of our mobility business is on the AT&T Control Center IoT service, which is on the Cisco/Jasper platform and doesn't use the AT&T core voice network," Richey said.
Networking News

Google Docs Outage Impacted 'Thousands' Of Users And Channel Partners

Gina Narcisi

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Thousands of Google Docs users experienced a service disruption on Wednesday evening, which impacted businesses users as well as channel partners.

The downtime started several minutes before 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday and lasted between 30 minutes to just over an hour for most users, Google said. During the outage, which the internet giant confirmed impacted a "significant subset of users," Google Docs, the popular document creation and editing tool, rendered access to files inaccessible to thousands of its users.

Google said that the Docs service was back up for most users by Wednesday night. As of Thursday, the internet giant's service status webpage said that the outage had been fully resolved.

[Related: Solution Providers Debate Impact On Customers Of New Google Anti-Trust Investigation]

"We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support," Google said in a statement. "Please rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better."

A Google partner that spoke under the condition of anonymity said that out of its 400 business customers, six were impacted by the service interruption. The solution provider, a Google user itself, was also personally impacted by the outage.

For its part, Google is responsive and communicative to its partner base, according to an executive for the solution provider organization. As such, the organization was able to pass along communications from Google to its impacted customers.

"Our support team was in touch with Google's support [team] and we were able to be proactive with our customers and communicate updates and resolution," the executive said. "Google is very stable; however, everyone has issues. But Google's support process [for partners] is good."

Other G-Suite products, such as Gmail and Google Drive, remained up and running at the same time as the Docs outage. However, many users reported login, access, and syncing issues with Google Docs.

As of publication time, Google has not publicly commented on the cause of the Google Docs outage.
Security News

BitSight Deepens Ties With Existing Partners To Double Channel Sales For Third Consecutive Year

Michael Novinson

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BitSight now derives half its revenue from solution providers thanks to an expanded channel organization and new partnerships with the likes of WWT and ePlus.

Business for the Cambridge, Mass.-based company started to take off after hackers breached Target in November 2013 through a third-party HVAC vendor, according to Carla Morss, BitSight's senior director of worldwide partner sales and alliances.

The breach put third-party vendor risk management on the map from corporations and governments alike, Morss said, resulting in changes from a regulatory and compliance standpoint. As a result, Morss said third-party vendor risk management has gone from being an amorphous desire to a mandate with a specific deadline.

[Related: BitSight Lands $40M Series C Funding, Looks To Boost Growing Channel, Expand Product Line]

"It's no longer a 'nice to have,'" Morss said. "It's a 'need to have.'"

BitSight launched its global channel program a year after the Target breach, Morss said, with revenue from solution providers doubling each of the past three years. The company expects to derive half of its global revenue in 2017 from 120 channel partners, and some 45 percent of its business in the United States from 59 solution providers in the region, according to Morss.

The company expects roughly 60 percent of its global business to go through the channel by the end of 2018, according to Morss. Virtually all Asia-Pacific and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) sales go through partners today, Morss said, so that growth is expected to come from North America.

"BitSight is truly invested in its partner program," Morss said. "We want them to be an extension of the company."

BitSight partners average margins of between 15 percent and 20 percent, Morss said, and typically resell the offering using an annual Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) licensing subscription. Some channel partners over the past year or two have begun offering their customers three-year or five-year subscriptions to BitSight, which Morss said has been well received.

Solution providers can boost their margins through a range of ancillary professional services ranging from consultation around the customer's current vendor arrangements to implementing BitSight's offering to remediating a poor rating, according to Morss. Channel partners can also opt to manage a customer's entire vendor management program on their behalf, Morss said.

BitSight's is intended for both enterprise and SMB customers, Morss said, with enterprise customers increasingly setting up their own vendor risk management function outside the security team to address the security challenges stemming from doing business with more than 10,000 other vendors. SMB customers have fewer vendors in their ecosystem, according to Morss, but still see value in the offering.

The company has raised some $89 million of funding since its 2011 launch, landing $23 million of Series B funding in June 2015 and $40 million of Series C funding in September 2016 in a round led by GGV Capital.

Optiv has combined its third-party risk solution with BitSight to help clients make more informed and cost-effective decisions around the outside entities with which they do business, according to James Christiansen, vice president of information risk management.

"Third-party risk programs are a critical component to any comprehensive security program, but they can be complex and costly to plan, develop and manage," Christiansen said in a statement. "Organizations need help making clarity out of the chaos."
Data and services derived from weather data have a high potential to enhance support for smallholder farmers in taking operational decisions on farm management. CTA is supporting a series of events under the Data4Ag initiative relating to blending open and closed data use for Agriculture and nutrition, from 20-24 November 2017.

The Data4Ag Week aims to build the awareness of farmers and farmers organization, extension agents, advisors and policy-makers and other intermediaries, in order to create more impact for smallholders farmers through data. It will consist of a series of workshops and trainings to encourage the use of open data for agricultural transformation in Africa.

GFAR, with support from CTA and GODAN, will conduct a training course and host a symposium on Farmers' Access to Data from 20 to 24 November 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. The training course, organized by local partners ITOCA, will focus on farmers rights to data, both in terms of access to data and ownership of data. The training course will be followed by a symposium on 24 November 2017. The event will bring together farmers and farmers organizations, extension agents, advisors to discuss on smallholder farmers access to data and their uses.

The symposium will give opportunities for collaboration and networking within the different data value chain actors.

21 November 2017, Netherlands - Using weather data to support smallholder agriculture in Africa (workshop)

CTA will host a one-day workshop to bring the collective knowledge of actors across the weather data value chain to help document the challenges and opportunities for open weather data for agriculture and nutrition- with a focus on developing countries. Under discussion will be the open weather data ecosystem in developing countries, the role of open data principles and the potential benefits resulting from the application of meteorological/weather services to agriculture. The aim is also to discuss potential business models for weather data and options for scaling up as well as identifying the skills and capacity gaps to use weather data.

The outcomes of the workshop will feed into the activities of the workshop on 22 November.

22 November 2017, Netherlands - Creating Impact for Smallholders with Weather Data (workshop)

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, GODAN Action, CTA and Wageningen University & Research will host a workshop on creating impact for smallholders with weather data on 22 November 2017.

This workshop will provide a platform for weather data value chain actors to discuss and map together the landscape of current (open) weather data uses in agriculture and nutrition. Thus, it will help document the challenges and opportunities for open weather data for agriculture and nutrition.

23 November 2017, Netherlands - The value of farm data: Farmer-representing organisations and farmer-owned data (workshop)

This workshop, hosted by CTA, will share the experiences of working with agri-enterprises in supporting services built on data use. It will also explore potential opportunities and challenges for services using data in an agri-enterprise and to suggest interventions. Finally, discussion around business models supporting services built on data use will be addressed.
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HARTFORD  Advocates against domestic violence, along with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday claimed that Connecticut has become the first in the nation to adopt a statewide protocol for determining risks in cases of intimate partner abuse.

Victims are at greatest danger when a partner is jealous or controlling; and during a separation or break-up, according to the five-year program summary.

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence credited Ansonia Police Chief Kevin J. Hale for being the earliest adopter of the lethality assessment program, which now has police from throughout the state filling out an 11-question sheet for victims at the scene of family violence, the vast majority of whom are women.

Karen Jarmoc, CEO of the coalition said that while its too early to link this years domestic-violence fatalities to the protocol, the eight statewide homicides seem on-track to finish the year under the average in recent years of 12 deaths.

We all know that intimate partner violence is a very serious, preventable and public-health issue, said Jarmoc, noting that arrests in those incidents account for one third of all state criminal cases. What the officer does is offer to put them on the phone, right there, with an advocate. Theyre entering into services at a much-higher rate than before we started this project.

About 40,000 victims a year reach out to the 18 regional programs, including family shelters. Last year, there were 12,894 arrests for intimate partner violence. In 2010, Chief Hale began the Ansonia program, in collaboration with the Umbrella Program for Domestic Violence Services. By 2012, 14 police departments and eight domestic-violence shelters joined.

Now, 93 municipal police departments, State Police, eight colleges and universities, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protections conservation police, as well as tribal law enforcement are participants. This is a collaboration that is happening through no mandate and no revenue, Jarmoc said. This is a project where domestic-violence providers and law enforcement have decided this is necessary, its important.

If you think about Connecticut, State Police are the local police in a majority of the space, of the geography, said Malloy during a morning news conference, crediting Dora Schriro, commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection for accepting the protocol and ordering it to become part of police training. Were the first state in the nation to adopt this on a statewide basis. It is good news.

Even though it took the General Assembly three years to approve a law requiring alleged domestic abusers to surrender firearms before a judicial hearing, Malloy said much progress has been made in cutting back homicides resulting from domestic violence (DV).

Connecticut is 100-percent committed to combatting domestic violence and to providing assistance and support to those who are most at-risk, Schriro said. It enables the law enforcement officer to connect that DV victim to resources to help to keep them safe.

She said that over the last three years, troopers have responded to 4,400 domestic calls for services; screened 2,400 victims and determined that more than half of them were at risk of danger. About 1,100 accepted troopers offers for help. Thats a really big deal, Schriro said.

Statewide, between October of 2012 and this September 1, there were 22,566 lethality assessment screens at the scene of family violence. More than half were rated as high-danger. Nearly 60 percent of those in danger said their partner tried to choke them. We know stalking, strangulation are choking are the deadly three, said Jarmoc.

Chief Hale said the 11 questions are scientifically based. The essence of this is to get victims of domestic violence into services immediately, he told reporters. Now we can study the true effectiveness of this going forward.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT

Danger levels

A new study shows that domestic violence victims in Connecticut report their partners:

Were jealous or controlling in 76 percent of reports.

Had left or were separated in 61 percent of the cases.

Tried to choke them in 58 percent of the cases.

Stalked, spied or threatened them in 53 percent of the reports.

Threatened to kill them in 50 percent of the cases.

Thought he might kill them in 49 percent of the reports.

Were unemployed in 43 percent of the incidents.

Used a weapon in 33 percent of the cases.

Had access to firearms in 31 percent of the reports
BRIDGEPORT - Local lawyer Tom Ganim is delivering 200 turkeys to the needy on Saturday.

Ganim said will donate 50 turkeys to St. Mary Church located at 25 Sherman Street on Bridgeports East Side as well as an additional 150 turkeys to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, 1069 Connecticut Ave., who will then distribute them at the Webster Bank Arena.

As we approach the holidays, it is time to remember those who may be facing financial difficulties and struggling to make ends meet, said Ganim whose law offices are located on Main Street in the citys North End.

I will personally deliver these turkeys with the hope that this small gesture will make Thanksgiving Day a bit better for other families.
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SHELTON  Tuesday nights Planning and Zoning commission meeting began with a floral arrangement and ended with a standing ovation.

After a decade of service including the last eight as chairwoman, Ruth Parkinss tenure on the Planning and Zoning Commission has ended  for now.

Its bittersweet, Parkins said at the conclusion of the session. It wasnt as sad as I thought itd be.

Virginia Harger, a commission member who sat alongside Parkins, told her that she served the city well...and did excellent, excellent work.

Parkins acknowledged her fellow commissioners, praising them for the level of respect theyve shown her and each other: Weve always gotten along...We just didnt always agree.

Parkins, a 60-year-old mother of two adult daughters, said she will continue to be the citys representative on the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments and serve on the executive board of the Shelton Economic Development Corp. and the Valley United Way.

She is employed as the public affairs manager for the Iroquois Pipeline. Recently, she was asked to handle government affairs and community engagement activities for a project they are considering and chairing a committee for a national industry association in Washington.

She said both will require considerable time and travel.

Parkins said Shelton is prospering from decisions made by Planning and Zoning during longtime Mayor Mark Laurettis administration.

These decisions -- providing diversity in employment opportunities, housing, shopping and dining -- have helped to keep our taxes stable and have made Shelton a very desirable community, she said.

She said she was proud of the commissions accomplishments in making Avalon Shelton and The Mark on Bridgeport  two apartment complexes  and The Market Place, which includes Big Y on Bridgeport Avenue, come to fruition.

Parkinss tenure ended as a result of the Nov. 7 election, when she finished third among Republicans seeking a spot on the commission when the city charter limits the number of a single partys seats during the election to two.

As a result, Jimmy Tickey, an incumbent Democrat and an employee of U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, grabbed the last spot with 3,828 votes some 163 fewer than Parkins.

She also had her critics, who were at the meeting to see her off.

Parkins supported the massive Towne Center at Shelter Ridge project which will encompass 121 acres of current forests off Bridgeport Avenue. That approval led members of Save Our Shelton to create a political action committee and target her during the election.

On Tuesday night, Maureen Magner, a Save Our Shelton leader, laid out five placards. They read: Leave R-1 Alone; Stewards Not Puppets; We Have Enough Chain Restaurants; Residents First; and You Can Vote No.

It was a very gratifying meeting for our group. Shelton needs independent thinkers on our P&Z who care about the resident's needs over developers, Magner said. We were able to give voters a choice. And they made their voices heard on Nov. 7. The silent majority spoke up when it really mattered.

Demonstrations and placards have been a Save Our Shelton staple at most of the commission meetings during the past 18 months.

Anthony Simonetti, the citys Republican town chairman, said Parkinss defeat will be a big loss to the commission... She was talented, intelligent and spent an enormous amount of time studying the issues.

Prior to their Nov. 29 meeting, the commission  which consists of four Republicans, two Democrats and an alternate from each party  will vote on a new chairman.
FAIRFIELD  Six months after the special election that sent Democrat Kevin Kiley to the Board of Selectmen, a court case over that election is still ongoing.

There was some movement this week, however, when the case was moved from the Appellate Court to the state Supreme Court.

Of the transfer, attorney James Baldwin said the case is where, as Ive said from the beginning, it belongs.

After Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis ordered the special election be held, Edward Bateson, who had been appointed to fill the vacancy on that board, and Selectman Chris Tymniak, both Republicans, filed an appeal. They are asking the June election be voided and Bateson reinstated.

Kiley won the special election over Bateson by a vote of 5,434 to 3,727.

Prior to the election, Baldwin  Tymniak and Batesons attorney  argued that an automatic stay was in place, an argument that was dismissed by Bellis and affirmed by the Appellate Court, which said there was no stay in effect preventing the special election.

Baldwin previously sought certification to the state Supreme Court regarding the ruling on the stay, but that certification was denied.

Joel Green, one of the attorneys for the Democrats who initially brought the court case to force the election, argued there was no legally-recognized procedural basis for a stay and the petition, filed on June 21, 2017, was filed after the election was held and that the issue was then moot.

On June 6, 2017, Kevin Kiley was elected by the voters of Fairfield to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Selectman by a wide margin, Green said. The defendants are continuing to pursue an appeal pending in the Appellate Court seeking to overturn the election at the expense of the taxpayers of Fairfield.

So far the appeals process has cost an estimated $55,000, based on bills received by the town from the attorneys on both sides of the issue.

Baldwin filed his reply brief Nov. 6, and now, he said, they wait for the Appellate Court to schedule oral argument. That is typically three to four months from now.

In his filing, Baldwin stated he is representing Bateson, Tymniak, the town, and the Board of Selectmen. First Selectman Mike Tetreau, however, has informed Baldwin he is not authorized to represent the town.

The issue of representation was raised during the trial court hearings, but Bellis said that is something for the Appellate Court to sort out. Bateson and Tymniak hired Baldwin at a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen that they called. Tetreau has argued that not only did they not have the power to call the special meeting, but that the charter gives the authority to hire town attorneys to the first selectman.

Baldwin argues in his brief that the town charter only allows for a special election for a Board of Selectman vacancy if it is not filled by appointment within 30 days. While the court ruled the town charter didnt address the term of the appointee, Baldwin said, It is a matter for common sense that the person filling the vacancy was for the unexpired term of that vacancy as there is no other feasible interpretation.

According to state statutes, an appointee serves for the remainder of the term or until a special election is called, following the proper procedures.

Baldwin also noted that the plaintiffs stipulated for the court case that Tymniak and Tetreau appointed Bateson to serve for the remaining term of the vacancy (12/6/16 to 11/20/19).

The legislative history and the record establish that it was the intent of both the Board of Selectmen and the electors that, when the remaining selectmen filled a vacancy, the replacement appointees term is the remainder of the term being filled, Baldwin said.

He argued the trial court and the plaintiffs contradict this essential fact when they state that only Connecticut General Statutes 9-222, and not the town charter, addressed the length of the appointees term.

In the brief filed by Green and attorney William Burke, they cite the state statute which reads, Any person so appointed shall serve for the portion of their term remaining unexpired or until a special election is called pursuant to petitions filed with the Town Clerk.

As the charter does not address the term to be served by the appointed person, and neither authorizes nor forbids a special election, the defendants restrictive interpretation of the charter would create a conflict where none exists, the brief states.
Last year, John Lettieri of the Economic Innovation Group testified before the U.S. Senate that millennials were on track to be the "least entrepreneurial generation" in the past 100 years.

Related: 5 Unique Traits of Millennial Entrepreneurs

Data supports this: The Small Business Administration reported that in 2014, less than 2 percent of millennials described themselves as being unemployed, compared to 7.6 percent of "Gen-X" and 8.3 percent of baby boomers.

These statistics offered a snapshot of each generation's members as they currently are, which means that the picture that emerges could indicate entrepreneurship distribution by age more than by generation.

But, even accounting for age by measuring entrepreneurial growth rates, we must conclude that millennials are lagging behind previous generations.

So, what's happening here? Why are there so few millennial entrepreneurs compared to previous generations?

Causes

The problem of the paucity of entrepreneurship in the millennial generation is an interesting one, because millennials are clearly interested in becoming entrepreneurs; in fact, according to Millennial magazine editor Britt Hysen (interviewed by The Atlantic): "60 percent of millennials consider themselves entrepreneurs and 90 percent recognize entrepreneurship as a mentality."

Unfortunately, mentality alone doesn't create new businesses or other forms of innovation. So, why aren't more millennials actually starting new companies?

These are just a few of the possible reasons:

College costs and unemployment. College costs have been on the rise for years, and they keep rising: The average Class of 2016 graduate left school with $37,172 in debt, marking a rise of 6 percent over the previous year.

On top of that, millennials are facing more cultural pressure than any other generation to go to college and get a degree immediately after high school, no matter what. This combination has led to market saturation of college degree holders, as well as disproportionate millennial unemployment. Millennials tend to have more education than average, but are more likely to be jobless and managing an ever-increasing load of student debt.

Related: 7 Truths About Success Millennial Entrepreneurs Just Don't Get

That doesn't free up much time or money to invest in an entrepreneurial endeavor, even if it's possible to start a business with almost no money these days.

Risk aversion. Millennials are also afraid of failure, at least to an extent. Back in 2001, a survey found that 24 percent of Americans then aged 25-to-34 claimed that fear of failure was keeping them from starting a business. In 2014, 40 percent of the same demographic reported that fear, marking a rise of 16 percent between generations.

Startups are inherently risky, and if you're not prepared to take that risk, you're not going to waste your time or money -- especially when you're managing those looming student debt payments. Since the issue here seems to be a mental one, it's a hard motivating factor to reverse.

Oligopolies. There's also a problem with barriers to entry; the modern market is dominated by oligopolies, or businesses that control an enormous share of the market.

Today, nearly half of all firms in the United States are a decade old or older, and collectively, they employ more than 80 percent of employees. Even in the tech industry, which is driven by innovation, oligopolies are forming; Facebook, for example, controls more than 2 billion users, and also owns popular platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram.

If you're a millennial entrepreneur with limited cash and an aversion to risk, there aren't many opportunities for you to gain market share quickly.

Exceptions

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. The millennial generation has featured some of the most gifted and innovative entrepreneurial minds of our era. Tech entrepreneurs, like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Tumblr's David Karp, are both millennials who revolutionized the way we use the internet,. And media-focused entrepreneurs like Peter Cashmore of Mashable and Daniel Ek of Spotify have made it easier for us to produce, find and distribute content.

It's no surprise, then, that the majority of these millennial influencers found success in new spaces -- primarily the tech sector -- where startup costs are reasonably low, and where oligopolies don't dominate. Plenty of new opportunities still remain.

Why does it matter?

Why does this topic matter, and what good can come from learning about the habits of one generation? Kauffman Foundation research shows just how impactful startups and new small businesses are in terms of overall economic developmen. In fact, new businesses are responsible for almost 100 percent of all net new job growth in the United States.

If the millennial generation creates a void in the ongoing emergence of new businesses, the economy's growth could slow to a crawl, and all businesses and individuals feel the hit.

So, what can we do to encourage more millennials to become entrepreneurs? Most of the root causes are tied to national-level issues with no easy solutions, such as control over the costs of collage, and the breakup of competition-busting oligopolies. However, we can encourage entrepreneurship in our own communities by working more closely with existing entrepreneurs, by patronizing local and small businesses and by supporting friends and family members who talk about wanting to start their own initiatives.

Related: 5 Mistakes Millennial Entrepreneurs Make With Money

The most controllable factor in millennials' lack of entrepreneurship? Their aversion to risk.

So, we owe it to this generation (and future generations) to address it. And, the sooner, the better.

Related:

Where'd All the Millennial Entrepreneurs Go?

Investing in Youth as the Future of Innovation and Economic Growth

The 5 Habits Millennials Have That Help Propel Their Business Success



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


15 Kasm 2017 Carsamba, 18:11

The country where we can most clearly see the dimensions of the duplicity and double standards of the worlds dominant forces and rulers of countries that claim to have influence is Yemen. Yemen is a veritable litmus paper for understanding who is doing what and how.

The Western media has for days been harping on about the 32-year-old crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), who has set out to liquidate the elites in the endeavour to pave the way for an absolute monarchy in Saudi Arabia. To the accompaniment of bashful criticism of the petrol kingdom, MbS is basically touted as being a great reformist in love with modernisation. They have caught the whiff of revolution in his granting Saudi women the right to drive, and are excited.

No more than a fleeting mention is called for of his sins in relation to the war that the same tyrants father started in March 2015 as soon as he became king. The millions of victims of this the most destructive war of the 21st Century of which MbS, as minister of defence, was the chief instigator are numbers mentioned in reports and news, a few sorry photographs.



***



The people of the poorest country in the Arab world, Yemen, are dying in droves, if not due to Saudi bombing then thanks to the lack of food and medical supplies and the contagious diseases under the Saudi blockade. The UNs Yemen representative Jamie McGoldrick has most recently announced that there remains enough fuel in the country to last for twenty days and pointed to the importance of this for water supplies. He has warned that if the Saudi blockade is not lifted, millions will die. According to the UN, 17 million people are in urgent need of food. There is talk of seven million people being threatened by contagious disease, especially cholera. Nobody is mobilised to do anything.



***



For the Saudis, the shortages and contagious diseases brought about by the blockade are an instrument of war, a means for decimating the population. Nobody speaks of the Saudi coalition, with US and British support, blocking UN aid planes from landing in the capital Sana'a. On being warned, the Saudis give the impression of opening ports and airports and this suffices. There is no mention of the places opened not being in the north-west where 70% of the population lives, but in the south, in regions under the control of Saudi and its proxy forces. Apart from local smugglers, there is no way of getting food in.

The Saudis are proficient at hitting hospitals, refugee camps, factories, roads, agricultural areas and schools in Yemen. Despite the hundreds of air raids over months, the numbers of dead are stated in the tens of thousands. Who knows what the real figure is! And they get hot under the collar when the UN holds them responsible for the deaths of a full 700 children in a report.





***



The Saudi operation was launched under the battle cry of crushing the coalition of the Zaydi Houthis and former president Ali Abdullah Saleh who are resisting the illegitimate president Mansour Hadi, whose time in office has long since ended, and restoring the latter to his post. The rumour now is that even Hadi has been placed under house arrest in the operation to liquidate the elites in Saudi.

If, in turn, the US administration, which has provided fuel support and intelligence on target sharing to the Saudi coalition since the time of Obama, is not calling on it through the Yemeni Embassy to lift the blockade, it states that the administration has not been authorised by Congress to go to war in Yemen. The USAs role is actually confirmed in its supporting accompaniment for the Saudi presentation of the war.





***



The news agenda is occupied, not by the Yemenis, but the rocket the Houthis fired at the Saudi capital Riyadh, and Iran. There is no mention of the rocket being in retaliation for the market murder in Saada on 1 November in which at least 29 people died. It is said that Iran most certainly gave the rocket to the Houthis and the proof is the sticker on the remnants! Former Head of State Ali Abdullah Saleh explains that the rocket was from stocks held by the Yemeni army that is fighting the Saudis alongside the Houthis, but practically nobody is listening. It is enough to speak of Afghan Shiites or Hezbollah militants in the country that is under total blockade and there is no need for proof.

This project of destruction has plenty of takers in the Western world. You ask about the Muslim and Arab world? There is no such thing, anyway.
"Dear Donald: If you really believe me, if you think us Russians didn't try to tilt the election in your favor, then I have a bridge I'd like to sell you. It's in Brooklyn. Yours faithfully, Vlad."

That note could well have been waiting for President Trump as he returned from his lengthy trip to Asia, where he continued to pursue his deranged and dangerous attempts to deny Russian involvement in last year's election. His statements reveal a man deeply committed to a post-truth world -- a place where facts and fact-finders don't matter, and he alone, the Twitter King, gets to define reality.

Even worse, his attempts at denial are profoundly un-American, rejecting the consensus view of his own intelligence agencies while swallowing the disinformation spread by the Russian ruler, a tyrant who has repeatedly demonstrated his disdain for democratic values and exceeds even Trump in assaulting his media and political critics.

Putin lies. Trump believes. And the world laughs. On what planet does this Make America Great Again?

As Sen. John McCain said: "There's nothing 'America First' about taking the word of a KGB colonel over that of the American intelligence community. ... Vladimir Putin does not have America's interests at heart. To believe otherwise is not only naive but also places our national security at risk."

Last January, America's intelligence agencies issued a joint report concluding that Moscow had tried to influence the U.S. election. Special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to probe those influences more deeply.

"The president was given clear and indisputable evidence" of Russia's role, says James R. Clapper Jr., the former director of national intelligence, and yet Trump continues to reject that evidence, fearing it could undermine the legitimacy of his election. He fired FBI director James Comey in a failed attempt to sidetrack ongoing investigations, and during his Asia trip, returned yet again to a topic that clearly burns him to the core.

That "clear and indisputable evidence" is really an "artificial Democratic hit job," he told reporters, adding that the intelligence chiefs who produced the report are "political hacks." His critics are all "haters and fools" who don't understand the importance of refurbishing relations with Russia. Putin vehemently denies any knowledge of election meddling, and Trump believes his denials.

The reaction was so negative that Trump backtracked slightly, saying he accepted the findings of the intelligence agencies, but he clearly doesn't. His ego is so huge and so fragile that he denies any fact that contradicts his worldview.

Putin knows and exploits this character flaw. The former KGB officer is a "trained liar and manipulator," said former deputy CIA director Michael Morell to the Washington Post, and Trump is swallowing his propaganda "hook, line and sinker."

Trump knows Putin helped him and is grateful for the boost in defeating "crooked Hillary." But because Putin denies the help, and Trump gratefully accepts the denial -- bolstering the argument he won on his own -- the president is even further in Putin's debt. A brilliant KGB double play. And that's what has intelligence experts so worried.

"I think Mr. Putin is very clever in terms of playing to Mr. Trump's interest in being flattered," former CIA director John Brennan told CNN. "And I also think Mr. Trump is, for whatever reason, either intimidated by Mr. Putin, afraid of what he could do or what might come out as a result of these investigations."

The president's refusal to confront Putin, while eagerly embracing the Russian leader's lies, "demonstrates to Mr. Putin that Donald Trump can be played by foreign leaders who are going to appeal to his ego and to try to play upon his insecurities, which is very, very worrisome from a national security standpoint," says Brennan.

In Trump's view, the "artificial Democratic hit job" is hindering his ability to forge a new relationship with Russia and solve a range of problems, including North Korea's nuclear threat. "It's a shame because people will die because of it," he complained.

And normally, improving relationships with Moscow would certainly advance America's interests. But these are not normal times. Putin has proven, over and over again, from Ukraine to Syria, that he is no friend to America or to democratic values.

"I don't know why the ambiguity about this," said Brennan. "Putin is committed to undermining our system, our democracy and our whole process. And to try to paint it in any other way is, I think is astounding, and in fact, poses a peril to this country."

So Donald, about that bridge ...
A Tennessee congressman has composed five articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, which were released in a press conference Wednesday morning.

Democrat Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced the five articles with support from three co-sponsors and five other Democrats in Congress.

aItas time for Congress to take action and stop this reckless and harmful behavior by removing Mr. Trump from office and to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States,a Cohen said at a press conference.

Cohen, who represents Tennesseeas 9th Congressional District spanning the majority of Shelby County (including downtown Memphis) has cited in the articles several incidents where he says Trump has violated the U.S. Constitution.A

Upon the introduction of these articles, Cohen demanded that the House Judiciary Committee immediately begin impeachment hearings, according to CBS News. Although it appears moves have been mad in the direction of impeachment, right now it is nearly impossible for President Trump to be impeached, according to Jeff Leedham, a University of Memphis political science professor.A

aThe bill is unlikely to ever make it out of committee, if it is even taken up for debate,a Leedham said. aThey could simply table the matter without discussion as theyave done with [Rep. Brad] Shermanas earlier effort.aA

In July, another bill was introduced to try to impeach Trump by Representative Brad Sherman following James Comeyas termination. The bill was only endorsed by one other Democrat.

Leedham said he believes Cohen hopes to aenergize the Democratic base and show that there are Democrats out there willing to take on the president.a Still, Leedham said Democrats are more concerned with Robert Mulleras findings in the Russia investigation because those will make it easier to get Trump impeached.A

Others agree that impeachment is improbable.A

aWe all know this is going nowhere,a Michael Sances, a political science professor at the U of M, said. aImpeachment is not a legal process a impeachment is a political process.a

Sances said that right now, Trump is being backed too strongly by GOP members, so Cohenas motion will not likely lead to impeachment. He said if Democrats take control of Congress in the 2018-midterm elections, the motion could be successful, but at this time, Cohen and the other Democrats are athe minority of the minority.a

Sances said the only way the president could be impeached before midterms would be if Republicans began distancing themselves from Trump. But until Democrats get elected or Republicans change their mind about Trump, the movement for impeachment is virtually static.

Sances says although the motion for impeachment is agoing nowhere,a the six representatives and Cohen are just adoing their jobsa by advocating for their constituents.A

aThey are representing their voters who are very upset with the current administration and would like to see the president impeached,a he said. aOften times, members of Congress do actions they know are not going to succeed, but they have to go out and fight the good fight.a

According to Sances, Trumpas best chance to rebuild his popularity with the American people and end further talk of impeachment is by seeking compromise with his opposing party. During a two-week span in September, Trump worked with Democrat leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer on immigration reform, and it appeared Trump had begun bridging the gap a but it was short-lived, according to Sances.

A aIf he became a bipartisan dealmaker president . . . I think that would be his best shot [to avoid impeachment],a he said. aMake the political climate as good and friendly for you as you can, and we saw during those two weeks that he has the ability to do that.aA

But even if Trump returned to bipartisan tactics, that may not be enough to restore his reputation with Americans on the other side of the aisle, according to Sances.A

Joseph Hayden, a journalism professor at the U of M and expert in media and politics, says President Trump had this coming.

A aNo president in modern American history has done more to deserve [this],a he said. aWhen people break their oath in office, they need to be held accountable and removed.aA

But like Leedham and Sances, Hayden does not believe impeachment will happen. And if Trump will stay in office, there are shortcomings Trump must address during his termas last three years.A

aStop lying, stop defending white supremacists, stop commenting on womenas appearance, stop dividing, stop trolling,a Hayden said. aStop attacking this countryas values and institutions.a
Speaking to society and societyas issues is the focus of a new University of Memphis art exhibit from Saudi Arabian artists.

The Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM) is featuring the aDesert to Deltaa exhibit from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Memphis is the ninth city out of eleven to host it. The exhibit will be on display until Jan. 6, 2018.A

Dima Amro Eyad Maghazils bloody toy soldiers in Breaking News represent the constant deaths on T.V. up-close and unfiltered. Maghazil studied to be an architect, but decided to become an artist and filmmaker to show the real world.

Culturunners, a nonprofit organization that sends Saudi artwork around the world, offered the exhibition to AMUM in winter of 2016, and after a series of meetings, the artwork was chosen and displays were in the works, Warren Perry, assistant director of AMUM, said. The artwork displayed was chosen from a large group of amateur Saudi Arabian artists, many of whom were under 35.

aIn preparation for the exhibition, we reviewed hundreds and hundreds of works of art from Saudi artists,a Perry said.A

The exhibit aims to point out people problems in the government, society and environment, much like other exhibits that have been displayed at AMUM, according to Perry.

aItas a whole new generation out there,a Perry said. aTheyare trying to see what they can do with respect to womenas rights, politics, religion and the environment.a

Perry said Memphis as a whole benefits from exhibits like this because the artists are taking a role in politics and human rights, and they inspire local artists of Memphis.

aThis exhibition gives us a lens toward a part of the world, with which many of us are not familiar,a Perry said. aWith respect to these young artists, their part is very dynamic.a

Dima Amro Musaed Al Huliss Relieve Us With it, Oh Bilal illustrates a prayer rug made of car jumper cables that represent the energy Hulis gets from praying. His works themes were based on contemporary Islam.

Perry said Saudi Arabia has many aspects similar to other countries, including being home to major artists, but the country has been disregarded due to the idea that aMuslims are radical fundamentalists.a

Perry said the artists took unimaginable risks in displaying their artwork, which might disregard the ideals or laws put up by the government.A

aThe fact that we have this work says something about their ability to make a statement and to get people to listen,a Perry said.A
A nursing professor at the University of Memphis has received criticism after her tweet captured the attention of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and caused a string of tweets calling for the university to fire her.A

Huckabee praised Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Zizelman for giving White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Huckabeeas daughter) his jacket in South Korea. Judy Cole, a nursing professor at U of M, responded, aIf she froze to death, she wouldnat be missed,a which has now been deleted along with her account.

Saira Sikandar The Community Health Building on the Park Avenue campus is home to the Loewenburg College of Nursing. A nursing professor received critisism for a tweet about Sarah Sanders.

Huckabee tweeted Cole back, saying he felt sorry for "such a hateful person" and the students she was teaching.A

aPoor woman makes Nurse Ratched look like Mother Teresa! How angry and bitter is a person who says that? Sad for your students and for you,a Huckabee tweeted.A

Steven J. Mulroy, associate dean of the U of Mas School of Law, said, social media allows an easier way for thoughts to be sent out to the world without reflection.A

aItas more frequent for people getting in trouble for saying controversial, arguably offensive things like this [Coleas tweet] because you just type the first thing that comes into your mind, and you send a then itas too late to change your mind,a Mulroy said.A

Mulroy also said how the opinion is expressed is irrelevant because government employees have every right to say the same things about government as everyone does awithout fear of being fired by the government.aA

Although there can be extreme cases such as a professor saying things in his or her teaching, Mulroy said the university has the right to review a professoras teachings, but they cannot fire her if she is only commenting on life like everyone else.

aThe university is a public institution, and therefore, the First Amendment applies a you wouldnat ordinarily take aversive action like that because of what a public employee says about a matter of public concern,a Mulroy said.

People tweeted in support of Huckabee, and some even encouraged the school to fire Cole. Twitter users took to the University of Memphisa aHappy Veterans Daya tweet to address their concerns and questions about Cole.A

While some simply retweeted Huckabeeas tweet, others wrote their opinions of Cole and the school.A

aMeanwhile, you have a nurse that wishes death on another because she does not have her liberal political agenda,a Sallie Ellis (@Mwv03) tweeted. aCanat believe you let this nurse instruct at your institution.a

Social media can be an outlet for individuals to grow, but it can also cause individuals to be defined by their posts and tweets. In a 2016 survey, Pew Research Center found 34 percent of people used social media to take a mental health break, and 17 percent of people used it to build their personal relationships at work, which has its benefits and costs, according to the survey.A

Some 14 percent of workers have found information on social media has improved their professional opinion of a colleague a at the same time, a similar share, 16 percent, have found information on social media has lowered their professional opinion of a colleague, the survey reported.

A
If I were in Alabama, I would run to the polling place to vote for the Democrat, said Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake on Monday. He was referring to next months special U.S. Senate election in Alabama, where Democrat Doug Jones is running against Republican Roy Moore, who has been accused of initiating unwanted sexual contact with two teenage girls.

We dont necessarily expect a lot of other Republicans to endorse Jones. But a number of Republican senators have said that Moore should drop out. Some have also encouraged a write-in bid by an establishment Republican such as Sen. Luther Strange, who lost to Moore in the primary. Meanwhile, Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner, who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has said that Moore should be expelled from office even if he wins.

With this menu of complicated and undesirable options in front of Republicans, we probably ought to ask a few questions  such as: Would Republicans really be better off if the Democrat wins in Alabama? And if not, what should they do about Moore?

Could a Republican write-in bid work? Its not quite right to say there are no good outcomes for Republicans in Alabama. Although its too late to remove Moores name from the ballot, a Republican such as Strange could run a write-in campaign.

But the write-in campaign might not succeed  and it could split the GOP vote, making a win by Jones more likely. Theres some question about whether, even under these unique circumstances, there are enough people willing to vote Democratic in Alabama to get Jones 50 percent of the vote. But if Jones needs only, say, 43 percent to come out with the plurality  or 38 percent, or 34 percent, depending on how votes split between the other candidates  his task is easier. For instance, an Opinion Savvy poll found that a Strange write-in bid would receive only 12 percent of the vote  and would draw more votes from Moore than Jones, enough to put Jones narrowly ahead in the race.

Republicans could also hope that Moore withdraws  but thats no guarantee that Strange would be elected. Strange isnt especially popularand wasnt doing any better against Jones than Moore was in polls before the allegations against Moore came to light. One can imagine extremely depressed turnout among Alabama Republicans if Moore withdrew and Strange, a candidate theyd already rejected, were foisted upon them again.

Moore would probably also get a fair number of votes even if he quit the race. When Republican Dierdre Scozzafava withdrew just days before a special election in New Yorks 23rd Congressional District in 2009, she still wound up with 6 percent of the vote, after having polled at about 20 percent before her withdraw. And in my experience working with data from the presidential primaries, candidates typically retain somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 percent to 25 percent of their pre-withdraw polling average if they quit a race but their names still appear on the ballot. Since Moore is polling in the 40s in most polls, that would imply hed finish with 8 percent to 12 percent of the vote even if he withdrew  or perhaps slightly more if some Alabamians voted for him as a protest against how he was treated by the Republican establishment.

So a successful write-in bid isnt impossible, but it wouldnt be easy. Therefore, lets consider three other outcomes from the GOPs standpoint: Jones winning; Moore winning and staying in office; and, finally, Moore winning and being expelled.

How bad is it for Republicans if Jones wins? Its really bad. Having Jones in office would reduce the GOP margin in the Senate to 51-49, meaning that Republicans could afford only one defection on legislation such as tax reform. For example, if both Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska opposed a bill and everyone else voted along party lines, it would fail by one vote.

Moreover, whoever wins the special election will serve out the remainder of former Sen. Jeff Sessionss term, which runs through January 2021. Having Jones in office already would make it considerably easier for Democrats to win the Senate in the 2018 midterms: With a win banked in Alabama, flipping Flakes open seat in Arizona and Republican Sen. Dean Hellers in Nevada would be enough to put Democrats in control of the Senate  provided (and its a big provision) that Democrats didnt lose any of their own seats.

To play devils advocate: One could argue that control of the Senate in 2019 and 2020 isnt all that high-stakes. Because there are so few Republican-held seats up for election next year in that chamber, winning control of the Senate is a tougher proposition for Democrats than is taking the House. So, if Democrats somehow win the Senate, theyll probably already have won the House  and will already be able to block President Trump and Republicans from passing key legislation.

Another silver lining for Republicans is that Jones  looking to win re-election in Alabama  might vote with the GOP on some issues. He could behave similarly to West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, for instance, who has taken Trumps position on 54 percent of roll-call votes so far.

But that would be a dangerous game for Republicans. Even if there isnt much legislation passed, Senate control has major consequences, including for Supreme Court nominations and Cabinet picks, in the establishment of committees and commissions to investigate Trump, and in determining which party would oversee an impeachment trial against the president. Moreover, the policy positions that Jones has articulated look more liberal than Manchins; he might side with Republicans on some issues, but not necessarily on the most pivotal votes.

How bad is it for Republicans if Moore wins and remains in the Senate? Its really bad. The inverse of Jones sometimes voting withRepublicans is the likelihood that Moore would sometimes vote againstRepublican leadership. Moores policy positions actually arent all thatdifferent from Republican leadership on issues such as health care and taxes  hes a culture warrior but not an economic populist. However, he likes to pick fights with the Republican establishment and might try to undermine Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. (That McConnell has said Moore should get out of the race would likely only make the antagonism worse.) A good analogy might be to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who has somewhat heterodox political views and is generally an unpredictable vote for McConnell.

But lets not neglect the much greater consequence, which is that Republicans  if they didnt expel Moore  would be seen as aiding and abetting, or at least tolerating, someone who has credibly been accused of being a serial child molester. Theres precedent for voters caring about this sort of thing: In 2006, most voters thought Republican leadership was too slow to take action against Republican Rep. Mark Foley, who sent sexually explicit messages to underage congressional pages. That was a contributing factor to a political environment that cost Republicans both the House and the Senate.

Moores case is potentially even more explosive. A plurality of voters already disapprove of how Republicans are handling the allegations against Moore, according to a Quinnipiac poll that was released on Tuesday. The conduct that Moore is accused of is more severe, involving physical assault. And he has a somewhat Trumpian penchant for drawing attention to himself  serving as every liberals worst caricature of what it means to be a Republican. Keeping one rather erratic Republican vote in place might notbe worth it for McConnell if it further hurts the Republican brand and puts more House and Senate members at electoral risk next year.

How bad is it for Republicans if Moore wins and is expelled by the Senate? Its really bad. This is the least predictable of the bad outcomes, however. There are cases in which expulsion could turn out to be relatively smooth for Republicans and others in which it would be the most disastrous option of all.

Although no senator has been expelled since 1862, the Senate probably has the constitutional power to expel Moore, which requires a two-thirds majority. In McConnells perfect world, all but a handful of Republicans would vote for expulsion, and all or almost all Democrats would come along, avoiding a protracted debate. Another special election would be scheduled, which could have an unpredictable outcome (more on that below)  but as a bonus for Republicans, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey could appoint an interim replacement for Moore, presumably Strange or another establishment Republican.

But thats if everything goes relatively well  and at every stage, theres the chance it might not. The expulsion process itself is somewhat fraught; it would probably require committee hearings at which Moore and his accusers could be compelled to testify. At a minimum, it would be a distracting political circus at a time when Republicans were hoping to pass tax reform and other legislative priorities.

Then theres the question of whether McConnell would have the votes. For the time being, expulsion might seem like a relatively attractive option for Republicans  but theres already some disagreement within the Republican caucus. There might be more once Moore was elected and Republicans had to consider the consequences of overriding the popular will for a senator whose alleged conduct was publicly known at the time of the vote. Democrats could play games with the process by withholding their votes, forcing the GOP to come up with more Republican votes instead. Perhaps most risky of all: Trump has yet to weigh in on expulsion, and he could use the occasion to go nuclear on McConnell by opposing it.

Finally, Republicans might face the same dilemma after the next special election. Moore could run again and win again. And Jones or another Democrat might also have a shot. So the worst-case scenario for Republicans is that Moore is expelled after an extremely contentious process that further poisons the relationship between the GOP base and GOP leadership  and then Moore (or Jones) wins the next special election anyway.

So, what should McConnell do? I really dont know. But theres an argument that all of the other outcomes are so bad that Republicans might as well try their luck with a write-in campaign.

Lets say that without a write-in, the odds are 60 percent that Moore wins and 40 percent that Jones wins and that with a write-in, the odds are 50 percent Jones, 25 percent Moore, and 25 percent Strange. So, sure, the write-in campaign makes Jones more likely to win. But it reduces Moores chances by more than it helps Joness chances  and if youre truly indifferent between Jones and Moore, the trade-off is worth it for you.

Then again, it wasnt so long ago that another Republican was credibly accused of sexually assaulting multiple women just a month or so before a major election. Many Republicans legislators called for the candidate to drop out. Instead the candidate stayed in the race and won  and the claims are rarely discussed today. As was the case with Trump, Republicans may decide that the only thing worse than living with Roy Moore is living without him.
The forced removal from power of 93-year-old Robert Mugabe should be cause for celebration, since he has been one of the wickedest despots on earth, who in his 37-year rule brought the once prosperous country of Zimbabwe close to ruin.

But unfortunately he seems likely to be succeeded by his former collaborator and Marxist comrade-in-arms, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who until last week was Vice-President. This man is probably as brutal, nasty and tyrannical as Mugabe.

So it grieves me to say that the future for Zimbabwe  the former British colony of Rhodesia  looks as grim today as it did before the army coup against Mugabe. The head of the army, General Chiwenga, is another very unpleasant piece of work.

How did it happen that a country which was once a net exporter of food has been reduced to its pitiable state by self-serving and corrupt politicians who live like kings while some of their people starve, and 90 per cent are unemployed?

The forced removal from power of 93-year-old Robert Mugabe (pictured) should be cause for celebration, writes Stephen Glover

The answer to that question is that we, the British, nurtured and succoured Mugabe. He is our creation. Yet there is a widespread view, which must be debunked, that the man was not always a monster, and only became so when left to his own devices.

In the space of a few minutes on Radio 4 yesterday morning, Mugabe was three times described as a 'former freedom-fighter'. Then the Tory MP Nicholas Soames asserted that for a number of years after becoming leader of Zimbabwe in 1980 he had behaved quite well but changed later for the worse. Both notions are utterly wrong.

In truth, Mugabe was always a brute, and he was a terrorist not a 'freedom-fighter'. And almost from the moment he achieved power, he continued in his old ways of murdering his opponents.

But why should anyone be surprised? During the war against Ian Smith's white-minority Rhodesian government in the Seventies, Mugabe's troops were guilty of numerous terrorist atrocities.

In particular, they targeted  which means they killed  white missionaries in the belief that such acts of terror would subjugate rural blacks to their cause. At least 33 missionaries and members of their families were murdered.

In one gruesome incident in June 1978, Mugabe's terrorists  not 'freedom-fighters'  axed, bayonetted and clubbed eight British missionaries and four of their children in eastern Rhodesia. Of five women, most were sexually assaulted before they were killed, and one was mutilated.

After Mugabe became prime minister following the Lancaster House Agreement brokered by the British government, he set about eliminating his enemies.In 1983, a campaign of terror was launched against the Matabele people in western Zimbabwe.

The 'crime' of the Matabele, in Mugabe's mind, was that many of them supported his Matabele rival, Joshua Nkomo. An estimated 20,000 people were slaughtered by Mugabe's Fifth Brigade, which had been trained by North Korea.

So when Nicholas Soames implies all was reasonably hunky-dory until Mugabe started confiscating white-owned farms around the year 2000, he is talking nonsense. I suppose he is seeking to defend his father, Christopher, who was briefly Governor of Rhodesia while the Lancaster House Agreement was implemented.

Robert Mugabe (left)and his wife Grace follow proceedings during a youth rally in Marondera, Zimbabwe, in June 2017

The British government of the time was similarly deluded. It continued to pet and buttress the Mugabe regime, and Foreign Office types congratulated themselves for having installed such a reasonable fellow. Almost unbelievably, in 1994 he was given an honorary knighthood (of which he was not stripped until 2008).

We sold Mugabe Hawk fighter-trainer aircraft, which were later used by him in an illegal war in the Congo. We also sold some 1,500 Land Rover Defenders to the Zimbabwean police at half price, weakly requesting that they would not be used for riot control. They often were.

It was only when Mugabe illegally seized control of white-owned farms that the scales began to fall from the eyes of his cheerleaders in this country: most of the Labour Party, sections of the Tory Party, the Foreign Office, the BBC and swathes of the British Press.

As many of these farms were given to Mugabe's cronies, most of whom weren't interested in farming, or very proficient at it if they were, agricultural production slumped, and a country that had been the bread basket of Africa was driven into poverty.

It is a sorry tale  as sorry as they come, even in poor, benighted Africa. I don't at all excuse Ian Smith, the white prime minister of Rhodesia who declared independence from Britain in 1965. His fatal flaw was his refusal to encourage moderate African leaders until it was too late.

But in my experience, most black Zimbabweans who remember the Smith era prefer it to what has happened in more recent times under the malign, corrupt and intermittently violent Mugabe regime.

At least Smith (who fought with the RAF as a pilot in the war, and was badly scarred) was not corrupt. A few years before his death in 2007, I interviewed him at home in what was a very modest house in the suburbs of the capital, Harare.

Mugabe, by contrast, has enriched himself grotesquely. His venal wife, Grace (who may have fled the country), has dug her talons even deeper into government coffers, acquiring homes in Dubai and South Africa, as well as a 300,000 Rolls-Royce.

Mugabe seems likely to be succeeded by his former collaborator and Marxist comrade-in-arms, Emmerson Mnangagwa

The fascinating question is why commentators and politicians persisted in admiring this ghastly man when it should have been plain to them how bad he was. I think it has something to do with a kind of reverse racism  the assumption that whites in Africa must always be morally at fault.

It didn't weigh with Mugabe's defenders that he was a hard-line Marxist, or that he was happy to use violence (they must surely have known as much), or that before the Lancaster House Agreement he had vowed to appropriate white-owned farms (as he eventually did).

It's true that after Lancaster House the British government hoped the moderate Bishop Abel Muzorewa might win subsequent elections. But when Mugabe triumphed, the Foreign Office quickly persuaded itself he was a decent chap who would play by the rules.

What a tragedy this has been. I remember how, during my first visit to what was still Rhodesia in 1978, a scientist showed me a new sort of high-yield wheat grain which had been developed there. It struck me that this was a sophisticated, rather civilised country.

It's no longer at all civilised or remotely sophisticated. Zimbabwe has been virtually destroyed by a revolution in which only the elite  as is invariably the case  has prospered. What has happened was entirely foreseeable.

Shouldn't those who rooted for Mugabe 30 and 40 years ago examine their consciences? Most of them would never want such a man ruling their own country. Why was he ever considered fit to rule Zimbabwe?

If only this beautiful and fertile land, blessed as it is by hard-working people and ingenious entrepreneurs, could find benevolent and democratic rulers  why, then it could thrive again despite the nightmares of recent decades.

Alas, Robert Mugabe seems likely to be replaced by men just as bad as him. This is a wicked ruling cadre, which our politicians helped to create, and it's not going to vanish simply because we have decided we no longer like it.
An unusual social media account is dedicated solely to unearthing the world's ugliest shoes.

'Crimes against shoe-manity' is the brainchild of London-based 90s fashionista Rebel Royale, according to US Vogue.

Her mission? To uncover heinous 'shoe-based offences' in fashion.

The account explores footwear that pushes the boundaries of taste and decency and it includes everything from a pair of pink patent strappy sandals that have molar teeth glued to them to stilletos that appear to be made of human skin, including multiple nipples.

Scroll down for video

The 'Crimes against shoe-manity' Instagram account highlights bad taste footwear including 'Molar Mules' which claim to 'takes you from grinding dinner to grinding on the dance floor'

Animal crackers: These particularly ghastly shoes have been fashioned in the shape of hooves

Freaky feet: Perhaps in keeping with the recent Halloween theme these very gruesome shoes are covered in fake blood and toes, with the red nail varnish still intact

There's a striking pair of boots that look like animal hooves and sticking with the theme there's another pair of shoes that have what appears to be a crocodile stuck on the end by the wearer.

For Rebel the page takes a lot of sole-searching and she told the online site that when she sees a bad shoe it makes her feel 'personally attacked' which has now turned into a 'fascination'.

That even means going beyond the shocking - especially so with a pair of black heeled boots with a sex toy attached on the end or some stilettos adorned with nipples.

FEMAIL takes a look at some of the most bizarre footwear featured on the feed...

Bizarre: These custom boots - with sex toys attached to the toe - were clearly made to shock

When style goes up in flames: It appears the wearer of this pair has decided to take extreme to another level by attaching lighters to the heels of their shoes and wrapping them in bandages

When you have a rodeo at seven but a BBQ at three: These cowboy boots combined with flip flops could be the perfect combination for busy people

Crocodile shoes: This brown brogue appears to use the entire body of an animal for its skin

Never again will you need to look for your television remote if you're wearing these shoes - they apparently come complete with all the buttons wired in to the wedge heel

For those people who can't afford to own a pair of Nike pool sliders, a sanitary towel is a perfect replacement - just add a permanent marker logo

Middle finger salute: These brown leather heels have an extra twist added on to the end in the form of a hand making a rude gesture

'It's a touch nippy out tonight' is the description of these unique shoes which come adorned with fake nipples

The handiwork of artist Gabbois; this shoe replaces a sturdy heel with a doll's leg

No need to ever worry about trying to find your jeans - instead opt for these unusual boots which come with a jean pocket and belt already attached
Piers Morgan risked the wrath of a convicted killer by taunting him about the dozen women he claimed to have murdered before later recanting his confessions.

Mark Riebe, 56, is currently serving life in a Florida prison for the 1988 murder of pregnant mother Donna Callahan - but just one year into his sentence he began to share gruesome details of multiple other unsolved murders.

He later claimed he had been tricked by the US government into the confessions and adamantly maintains his innocence.

But Piers, who interviews him for ITV's Serial Killer documentary, blasts the convict for not letting his victims' families get the justice they deserve by hiding the truth.

He boldly tells Riebe that he thinks he did kill the 12 women and urges him to 'be a man' and answer his questions.

Riebe responds by tearing off his microphone and storming out of the interview, telling Piers: 'Well you're wrong. This is over. We're done. I answered your questions.'

Piers continues to taunt him as he walks away: 'Why are you running away? Why don't you sit here like man and answer these questions?

'I know I'm not a 110lb woman you can kill. You did kill them didn't you? You killed them all.'

Piers pushes Riebe on the murders he confessed to and later recanted, angering the killer who stormed out of the interview

Mark Riebe (pictured) - who is serving life in prison for the murder of Donna Callahan - maintains his innocence of the 12 other murders he previously confessed to before recanting

Police believe Riebe is one of America's most prolific serial killers despite recanting his confession that he had killed 12 women, as well as Donna Callahan for whom he is serving at least 25 years in Florida's Blackwater River prison.

Special Agent Dennis Haley was assigned to Ms Callahan's disappearance and subsequent murder investigation, lead to Riebe admitting on several occasions to the killing spree.

Pregnant mother Donna Callahan was kidnapped from the place she worked and murdered by Riebe and Wells

Riebe explained to Piers in the interview that he had reason to believe while he was in prison that his son was in danger, and so made 'a deal' with Haley so he could protect him.

He insists that he was fed information on the multiple murders and said he would confess to the murders even if it meant sending him to death row. But when Riebe claims that Haley failed to follow through with his end of the deal, he decided to recant.

Haley, who has dedicated his life to finding the killer of the women and to getting Riebe to confess, told Piers that Riebe was able to recall specific details 'only a killer would know'.

Riebe, who had been married four times, told Piers that he had the utmost respect for women and that he doesn't consider himself a violent person.

'I am not going to put my hands on a lady physically. I dont believe in that.'

The journalist taunted Riebe saying he should answer his questions 'like a man' and that he believed he had killed all the women

The convicted murderer (left), who police believe is as evil as serial killer Ted Bundy, sat down with journalist Piers Morgan (right) as part of ITV's documentary Serial Killers

A dubious Piers questioned Riebe's tale: 'What doesnt stack up to me, in that position is if you admit to all those murders to special agent Haley, why would he feel the need to invent all this detail that you told him?'

Riebe snapped back: 'He wanted to make his career, he wanted the limelight. He told me what I had to do.'

Piers angers Riebe further by declaring: 'See Mark, I don't believe you. I think you are a serial killer.

'I think you did kill these women. I think these families of these women need justice.'

WHO IS MARK RIEBE AND WHO DID HE KILL? Mark Riebe was convicted of killing Donna Callahan and is currently serving a life sentence in a Florida prison Mark Riebe, 56, is serving a life term in Florida's Blackwater River Prison for the murder of pregnant mother Donna Callahan. Police believe Riebe is one of the most prolific serial killers despite recanting his confession that he had killed 12 women. Riebe's half-brother Alex Wells confessed to the police of the murder of Ms Callahan, who had vanished from a convenience store in Gulf Breeze, Florida in 1988. He admitted to the killing and led police to where her body was buried and implicated Riebe in the murder saying he had strangled the woman in the back of the car after they had kidnapped her together. A police tape of Alexs confession, revealed they had taken Donna in their car and were driving along when Mark climbed over into the back seat. He painted the picture of that evening: "I heard her saying 'no dont do this to me' at first. I dont know how to describe the sound, it was like a sounded like to me that he had cut her throat or something. "I dont know, it just sounded like a real fleshy sound. And when I hear that and I turned around she had foam in her mouth. It took him a while before she quit." Riebe had strangled her as she begged for the life of her unborn baby before burying her in a shallow grave close by, so that he could visit it whenever he wanted. Donnas body was discovered 350 yards from Riebe's childhood home where he lived with his mother and siblings in northern Florida. Over a period of four years Riebe told detectives gruesome details of how he killed 12 other women of women aged 15-35. He admitted to abducting and murdering mother-of-two Pamela Ray, 36, calling her father and telling him of his crime before later saying he had no recollection. Riebe also made claims about Bonnie Gayle Ryther, 27, in 1978, and Jacqueline Brant, 18, in 1986. However, he later recanted his confessions, claiming that he had been tricked by an agent working on his case. Advertisement

Serial Killer with Piers Morgan airs tonight on ITV at 9pm
Andrew Kirkman, 20, a bright, brilliant second-year Oxford undergraduate who killed himself in 2013, is just one of hundreds of UK students who have committed suicide in the past decade.

Depressed and struggling under his university workload, he managed to hide the extent of his pain from everyone but his girlfriend Clarissa, who recalls in a new BBC Three documentary that he told her he 'wanted to die'.

Clarissa reveals Andrew 'felt like a fake' who was 'falling short of the image that people had of him. He didnt want to tell anyone else about his depression because he felt really ashamed.'

After receiving a recommendation from his Baliol College tutor to take medical leave from the prestigious university for a year, Andrew went on to take his own life.

His story is part of the film Death on Campus, which focuses on the growing number of students who have committed suicide due to mental health struggles while in higher education.

It comes after a recent study by think-tank IPPR revealed that suicide rates in British universities have reached an unprecedented high - nearly doubling in the last 10 years. In 2015 alone, 134 students took their own lives.

Most recently Bristol University faced scrutiny when a spate of student suicides occurred in the space of a year. The campus has now reportedly invested 1million on mental health professionals in a bid to help an increasing number of students battling with anxiety and depression.



Andrew Kirkman was a 20-year-old student at Oxford University. He had been struggling with the workload for his physics and philosophy degree

Andrew's girlfriend, Clarissa (pictured), was the only person he confided in about his mental health but she told nobody for fear of putting him at risk

Andrew, from Hertfordshire, was just 20 when his body was found in a tent in a field in the city's Port Meadow the day before he had been due to fly to Brazil to visit his girlfriend - the verdict of his death ruled poisoning.

His mother, Wendy, had no idea of the battle her son was going through because he had refused to let his doctor inform his parents of his mental well-being after a visit where he had been prescribed anti-depressants.

Andrew had, however, spoken at length to Clarissa - who lived in Brazil - about the way he was feeling.

But she was scared to tell anyone about his problems for fear the stigma and shame would put him at even greater risk.

Oxford University's Balliol College where Andrew studied - his tutor had recommended he seek help from the GP

'He told me that he felt like a fake and that he was falling short of the image that people had of him,' she explained.

'He told me he hadnt been going to his lectures, skipping his tutorials, and he hadnt been doing any work.

'He was just staying in his bed all day and crying. He didnt want to tell anyone else about his depression because he felt really ashamed.'

After falling behind with work, his tutor had suggested that he take a year off as medical leave, something which his mother said would have 'devastated' him.

Andrew's mother Wendy was devastated to learn that her son had been treated for depression but she hadn't been told. His friend Effie, who dropped out of Oxford, also struggled to cope at the university

Six Bristol and one UWE student took their own lives in the course of 12 months (L-R) Bristol students Lara Nosiru, 23, Kim Long, and Elsa Scaburri, 21, all took their lives James Thomson, 20, and Miranda Williams, 19, both believed to have committed suicide First year student Daniel Green, 18, 'took his life' and was found hanging in his room at Goldney Hall on October 21 2016, and inquest heard. Kim Long, an 18-year-old law student died of asphyxiation at his halls of residents on November 10 last year, and an inquest concluded he committed suicide. Philosophy student Miranda Williams, 19, died from paracetamol poisoning on October 10 2016, and died three days later in hospital. Her inquest reached a conclusion of suicide. Lara Nosiru, 23, a final-year neuroscience student was found dead in the Avon Gorge on January 30, this year. The coroner concluded she took her own life while under the influence of drugs. Third year Elsa Scaburri, 21, was found hanged in a barn at a farm near her home near Salisbury on March 3 2017, after committing suicide, an inquest heard First year student Sam Symons, 19, was studying law at the city's University of the West of England (UWE) and was found in his room at a halls of residence. He died during the night of Sunday, April 30, or in the early hours of Monday, May 1, and an inquest concluded suicide. Second year student James Thomson, 20, was found dead at his home in Bristol in October. Police officers have told Bristol University they believe he took his own life, and the case has now been referred to the coroner, according to the university. In October Bristol University announced it has invested 1 million in 28 full-time well-being advisers who will be embedded across faculties and departments. Its head of student services, Mark Ames, said the issue is being taken very seriously with further work being undertaken at a national level across all universities to improve mental health services with more specialist staff and better communication. Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that suicides among university students have risen by 50 per cent over the past ten years, to 144 in 2016. Universities are reporting a 50 per cent rise in demand for their mental health services, while the number of students who abandon degrees due to mental illness has more than doubled to almost 1,200 in just five years, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Advertisement

Andrew's friend Effie, who remembers celebrating getting into Oxford with him felt equally under pressure with her studies, but she sought help and says she wished she'd spoken to him about her own depression.

'I wish Andrew had known about me. I was feeling like this, and Andrew was feeling like this, and I could have at any point said: Do you know what Andrew I am dropping out of university, I think I am depressed.

'That sort of sharing of stuff, if I had have done that maybe it would have changed things,' she said.

Student Minds provides local support: www.studentminds. org.uk. Nightline is an all-night helpline run by students: nightline.ac.uk

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to the website www.samaritans.org.

'She suddenly went in a dark place': Nursing student killed herself months after an overdose Lucy de Oliveira, 22, killed herself in February of this year Lucy de Oliveira, 22, killed herself in February of this year, weeks after splitting with her junior doctor boyfriend. She sent a final heart-breaking text to him saying she wanted it to end. Her former lover, who was working at a hospital 60 miles away, alerted Miss de Oliveiras flatmate, who went to check on her at their digs in Liverpool  but it was too late. The student, who was on course for a first class nursing degree at Liverpool John Moores University, could not be saved. Her mother Liz de Oliveira speaks about her daughter's death in the BBC Three documentary. 'She had been socialising a few hours earlier, and her friends didnt think there was anything wrong. There were no warning signals. 'I think it was something that happened quite suddenly, she went in a dark place.' Lucy's brother, who she was extremely close to, also wishes his sister had confided in him more. 'She did call me and did say she was depressed. I always said "you can talk to me about anything" and she did. I guess maybe, I couldnt save her.' Her mother also discovered that her daughter had attempted an overdose just months before her death - her then boyfriend managed to stop her taking the pills, but no family member, doctor or social service official was told about the attempt. Mrs de Oliveira said previously she was under financial pressure and had also started taking anti-depressants for a nervous jerk or twitch. This prevented her carrying out her student work placements and only added to her anxiety because she feared she was falling behind her peers. The split from her boyfriend was the straw that broke the camels back. Advertisement

BBC Three's Death on Campus: Our Stories is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now
Do you know a health hero? Were asking you to nominate special people in healthcare whove made a difference to you. Five finalists will receive an all-expenses paid trip to receive their awards from the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street and the winner will also get a 5,000 holiday. Here, LUCY ELKINS tells one nominees inspiring story...

Teenager Adam Lawler was seriously injured in the Manchester terrorist bombing in May. At 15, he arrived in A&E with no one he knew to hold his hand or offer words of comfort.

Although conscious, Adams mouth had been so badly damaged he couldnt phone his mum to tell her what had happened. All he managed was a text saying: I have been in a terror attack and Im bleeding heavily. It was another five hours before mum Sally got a call from police to say her son was at the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital.

Adam had gone to the Ariana Grande concert with his best friend, Olivia Campbell-Hardy. Although he didnt know it then, Olivia was one of the 22 people killed by suicide bomber Salman Abedi. The friends had been leaving the venue as Abedi detonated his device.

This week's health hero nominee is nurse Jess Haskins (pictured left), 33, who helped Manchester bomb victim Adam Lawler (pictured right), 15

When Adam arrived at the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital two hours after the blast, both his legs were fractured and shrapnel wounds peppered the entire right side of his body. One piece had pierced his right eye, while flying bolts had pushed out seven of his teeth and split his tongue.

It was a horrific situation and could have been so much worse for both Adam and his family had it not been for the tender care of Jess Haskins, the nurse who remained constantly by his side that night  even after he was joined by his mother Sally. Without her, he and his family doubt they would have coped with what happened.

Jess, 33, a paediatric sister, was not actually on staff at that hospital  she was working as a full-time nursing sister for the Trafford Childrens Community Team at the time  but happened to be working extra shifts that night. Not only did she stay by Adams side all night, she was so concerned for the youngsters well-being that she later visited him on her days off and her work breaks, even though shes based at a different hospital.

Adam is still traumatised by the bombing, but has chosen to speak out to honour all the staff who helped him on that dreadful night and since  and its Jess whom he and his mother Sally have singled out for particular praise.

Everybody there was a hero in some way, but Mum and I wanted to nominate Jess because she did something very special, he says. His mother Sally, 48, an accountant who lives with Adam and his grandmother, Maureen Todd, in Bury, agrees.

The work of nurses is undervalued, but Jess was especially wonderful. She could see Adam was frightened and didnt leave him. It was a real comfort.

That fateful spring evening was Adams Christmas treat from his family: the chance for him and a friend to go and see his favourite pop star.

Adam's family doubt they would have coped with what happened if Jess (pictured left) had not been there to support them

Adam and Olivia, also 15, were among the gang of excited youngsters streaming out of the Manchester Arena at around 10.30pm on May 22 after the concert when a bomb blast tore through the foyer. As well as those killed, more than 500 were injured.

As soon as she heard Adam was injured, one of Sallys greatest fears was that he was having to cope alone.

Adam rang me straight after the attack while he was still at the Arena, but I couldnt understand what he was saying so he texted me to say, I have been in a terror attack and Im bleeding heavily,  recalls Sally. Hands shaking, she jumped in the car with Maureen and went to collect Adams father Andy, from whom shes separated, and then onto the Arena ten miles away, but found the way blocked by cordons.

Instead, she spent an anxious five hours in a hotel lobby with other worried relatives waiting for news.

It wasnt until 4.30am that I got a call from the police telling me he was in hospital. We headed straight there, Sally recalls. Adam was covered in blood and bandages and had a patch over his eye. I was in shock.

As Sally grabbed her sons outstretched hand, Jess was there, gently explaining what was going on and comforting the family as they tried to comprehend what had happened.

Jess regularly visited Adam during his stay in hospital even outside of her shift times

I had been so worried that Adam was on his own, but Jess said, I have been here all the time, looking after Adam, now dont worry, says Sally.

Adam himself has only vague memories of the night. I was in a lot of pain, but I do remember Jess being there and talking to me all the time. It meant a lot.

Sally is full of praise, too, for Jesss calmness despite the chaos as a stream of doctors and specialists  from maxillofacial, orthopedics and ophthalmology  came to Adams bedside.

Jess held us together the whole time, says Sally. She was talking to Adam so calmly as if there was nothing going on. She must have been shaken up, too  everyone in Manchester was that night.

Even when her 12-hour shift ended, Jess stayed on. Adam underwent more than ten hours of surgery the next day to remove the shrapnel and Jess came back to see him as she had a day off work.

Adam's family are convinced he wouldn't be as well as he is now if it wasn't for Jess

It was wonderful to see him. He thanked me for all I had done  I was in tears, he is the loveliest boy, says Jess. I felt like we had bonded. It was such an extraordinary situation.

She returned to see him a number of times during his three weeks in hospital.

When Jess came to visit, Adams face lit up. You could see the difference in him, says Sally, who remains in touch with Jess.

The middle of six children who lives with her boyfriend in Manchester, Jess has been a paediatric nurse for 11 years. She is now a paediatric sister at Wynthenshawe Hospital.

I feel lucky to be doing a job I enjoy. Its often the compassionate part of the role that makes all the difference.

Adam was special from the minute he was wheeled in, she says.

He is tall and was almost falling off the trolley and he had no one with him, she says. So I felt I had an extra duty to him. I wanted to keep him calm. He had been so strong and stoic  he was phenomenal.

Before he was discharged, Adam underwent five operations on his eye, legs and mouth.

Although he now looks much as he did before the attack, inside he is a very different boy and is having counselling, says Sally. He has good days and bad.

But his family are convinced that without the calming support of Jess he would not be nearly as well as he is.

She was the person who helped when we were most traumatised, says Sally.
Advertisement

Last week it was revealed that the top selling Christmas perfumes for women are all set to be retro fragrances dating back as far as far as 1985.

Now online retailer Escentual.com has revealed the fragrances that are set to be the top-sellers in the men's market in the UK, and while they're more on the modern side you'll need to have deep pockets to treat the man in your life.

In the past couple of years there has also been a move towards ultra prestige scents in the high end of the market, such as Tom Ford and Creed.

Their fragrances have found their way into the top ten, thanks to the desire for luxe spicy scents and bitter sweet neroli oils take over with sensual ouds with rich aromas back again.

Creed Aventus, which costs 170 a bottle, and Tom Ford Oud Wood, 155, both feature in the top ten, while average cost of the most popular fragrances for men is 70 a bottle compared to 37 for women's scents.

Dior's Sauvage Aftershave is set to be the biggest-seller for the second Christmas running thanks to the Johnny Depp effect.

Left to right: Dior Sauvage, Paco Rabanne 1 Million, Armani Code, Hugo Boss Boss The Scent and Prada LHomme

Ultra luxe spicy scents and bitter sweet neroli oils take over with sensual ouds with rich aromas back again. Left to right: Bleu de Chanel, Creed Aventus, Prada LHomme, Hugo Boss Boss The Scent, Pure XS Paco Rabanne

Fragrance went bling in the noughties and it was all about fast cars, and flamboyant fragrances when the best-sellers were Paco Rabanne 1 Million, Armani Code, Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme, Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme and Tom Ford for Men

The actor was signed to be the face of the Dior brand back in 2015 and he fronted a 'wild and atmospheric' TV advert for the company.

The deal to sign Depp has clearly paid off and the fragrance has topped the charts for two years running now.

The previous biggest seller in the mens Christmas aftershave market was Paco Rabanne 1 million which has been knocked into second place.

There is fierce competition at Christmas from the perfume houses to get the lions share of the market. Nearly half of all aftershave bought in the UK is purchased in November and the total annual market is worth around 400m.

In the 1990s, the most popular scents were Hugo Boss Man, Acqua di Gio  Giorgio Armani, Polo Sport, Joop! Homme by Joop, and Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male

More sophisticated and sweeter citrusy scents came in the 80s, moving away from the musks of the 70s. Designer names took over with strong statement fragrances and cool marketing campaigns. Left to right: Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche, Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent, Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein, Davidoff Cool Water and Cacharel Pour LHomme

The decade of macho mens aftershaves that claimed they could help men seduce women. Heady masculine musks dominated. Left to right: Denim by Denim, Givenchy Gentleman, Jovans Sex Appeal, Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur and Gucci Pour Homme

The decade when men started to spend a greater amount on their grooming habits. Designer fragrances became more easily available and drugstore aftershaves became ubiquitous. Left to right: Brut by Faberge, Aramis by Estee Lauder, Eau Sauvage by Christian Dior, Hai Karate and Vetiver by Guerlain

Extract of Limes by Geo. F. Trumper (1880); Blenheim Bouquet by Penhaligons (1902); Old Spice (1938); English Leather (1949) and Pour Monsieur by Chanel (1955) are still performing well today

Sales in mens fragrances have been growing fast in the past year (up 13.5 per cent year on year in the early part of the year but with the exception of Dior Sauvage new launches have not done well.

Rakesh Aggarwal CEO of Escentual.com said: 'Sauvage by Christian Dior looks like a clear winner again and has now dominated the mens fragrance market since its launch in 2016.

'It has got everything, a fresh and interesting fragrance, great packaging and a strong marketing campaign, its going to be a strong performer for years to come.'
A woman who suffered post-natal depression so severe she made plans to end her own life has detailed her painful decline from pregnancy to contemplating suicide.

In 2015 Chelsea Pottenger, 36, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, named Clara, but instead of the expected elation, she was submerged into what she describes as 'the darkness'.

'I actually got robbed. I didn't feel the normal elation or joy of having a baby, it was just very dark,' Chelsea, from Gerringong, NSW, told FEMAIL.

'I hid behind the smiles but these demons started to appear. But I ignored them and thought it was just the "baby blues".

In 2015 Chelsea Pottenger, 36, (pictured) gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, named Clara, but instead of the expected elation, she was submerged in what she describes as 'the darkness'

'I actually got robbed. I didn't feel the normal elation or joy of having a baby, it was just very dark,' Chelsea, from Gerringong, NSW, told FEMAIL (Pictured with her daughter, Clara)

Chelsea and her husband had tried for a baby for years - and she thought her debut into motherhood would be one of the happiest moments of her life.

But only three days after giving birth Chelsea started having premonitions of jumping off the hospital balcony and began to suffer from insomnia - triggered by guilt, shame and jealousy that her new husband adored their new baby and she struggled to feel anything.

For a high-functioning Sydney businesswoman who had never experienced so much as a blip in her mental health, this was entirely unfamiliar and scary territory.

Every waking moment was spent riddled with anxiety with constant crying and her trauma was only intensified when breastfeeding Clara became excruciating.

'Society really encourages mums to breastfeed and I felt this shame and guilt... thinking if I can't breastfeed my child then I've failed,' Chelsea said.

'Two weeks into it I told my husband: "Either I stop breastfeeding or I'm running away". And he said "Darling, don't do that. Clara and I need you." So I stopped.'

But the relief from changing to bottled milk only lasted 24-hours and the anxiety, fear and demons returned with a vengeance.

For a high-functioning Sydney businesswoman who had never experienced so much as a blip in her mental health, this was entirely unfamiliar and scary territory

Every waking moment was spent riddled with anxiety with constant crying and her trauma was only intensified when breastfeeding Clara became excruciating

Chelsea fought hard to escape the chemical imbalance going on inside her brain and turned to sleeping pills - which helped until it became a full-blown addiction.

The new mother put on the 'mask' of a happy parent but behind the facade were sleepless nights, a newfound dependency on pills and a hyper-state of anxiety.

'I still had this mask on telling everyone I was doing okay, but on the inside I was crumbling and I was crumbling fast,' she said.

A brief glimmer of hope in the form of a trip to Scotland to be her friend's bridesmaid was helping Chelsea get through her darkest moments, but it wasn't to be.

On the way to the airport with bags packed Chelsea suffered a severe panic attack, which ended with her pulling over and getting her phone out to Google the quickest way to die.

'That was a really dark and terrifying place. I just thought, "okay, this is the only rational outcome". So I drove home to work out how I was going to kill myself,' Chelsea explained.

Chelsea (Pictured with her husband and daughter) struggled to escape the chemical imbalance going on inside her brain and turned to sleeping pills - which helped until it became a full-blown addiction

'That was a really dark and terrifying place. I just thought, "okay, this is the only rational outcome". So I drove home to work out how I was going to kill myself,' Chelsea explained

'And thank God my husband was there because I walked in and was an absolute mess. I dropped the mask and said: "Darling, I'm just not coping".'

'I told him I wanted the plane to go down because it would be better for everyone if I was just gone.'

Resolving to kill herself was the turning point and Chelsea finally sought professional help for what was clearly a serious case of post-natal depression.

She was told she would make a full recovery and that it wasn't going to last forever, a piece of advice which Chelsea said: 'Gave me the ability to keep breathing'.

'A beautiful trajectory happened - I could breathe again,' she added.

The early disassociation she felt with her new baby daughter faded away and the maternal bond she craved with Clara began to form.

She spent five weeks in hospital with other new mothers battling the same demons and by simply spending time with her daughter singing, massaging her and smiling, the darkness lifted.

She was told she would make a full recovery and that it wasn't going to last forever, a piece of advice which Chelsea said: 'Gave me the ability to keep breathing'

Chelsea now works as a mindfulness practitioner and is an ambassador for the Gidget Foundation and for R U OK day to support other women suffering post-natal depression.

She uses her own experiences to guide parents through the murky, guilt-ridden terrain of PND.

'Mothers and fathers need to know, you will get better. You will make a full recovery.' she said.

'Notice if your girlfriend, wife, mother or husband are not feeling themselves or if you yourself feel like you are slipping into the depths of depression. My dream is to eradicate PND by 2030.'

November 12 to 18 is Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week. Gidget Foundation Australia is urging new and expectant parents to start a conversation about perinatal anxiety and depression in an effort to break the stigma surrounding the condition that affects 100,000 Australians each year.

For support and information you can call 1300 851 758 or visit their website.
Fireworks have only just ceased crackling, pumpkins still litter compost heaps and some people havent even got round to putting the summer suitcases back in the loft yet.

But here I am, ankle-deep in crisp white snow, arranging glittery pine cones and red baubles on the branches of a giant Christmas tree.

Twinkly fairy lights dangle from the ceiling and by my feet are piles of beautifully wrapped presents tied with cream bows.

The beautiful Yuletide display is the showpiece of John Lewiss Peter Jones store in Sloane Square, Central London, and Ive spent an exhausting night helping the team with the finishing touches

No, Im not one of those Christmas obsessives who race their neighbours to turn their house into a winter wonderland the minute the clocks go back.

The beautiful Yuletide display is the showpiece of John Lewiss Peter Jones store in Sloane Square, Central London, and Ive spent an exhausting night helping the team with the finishing touches.

As far as retailers go, Im very late to the party. Lucy Lines, visual merchandising manager at the store and the brains behind its festive decorations, started planning this display in the summer of 2016. In fact, shes already three months into preparations for Christmas 2018.

These days, Christmas comes not in December but in September, when department stores up and down the country stock up on baubles and wrapping paper, string lights over their front doors and start flogging mince pies whose best-before date expires long before December 25.

Selfridges made a big song and dance about being the first shop in the world to unveil its Christmas windows this year  a dubious honour, which many shoppers branded crazy and ridiculous.

Lucy Lines, visual merchandising manager at the store and the brains behind its festive decorations, started planning this display in the summer of 2016. In fact, shes already three months into preparations for Christmas 2018

Its displays were launched on October 20, Harrods followed on November 2 and a few days later John Lewis stores from Croydon to Carlisle unveiled their windows to the world. The grand finale happened last Friday, with the unveiling of the display in the flagship store in Oxford Street on the same day the John Lewis Christmas advert  about a little boy with a monster under his bed  went on TV.

There is a certain kudos to being the first, but early November feels right for us, says Lucy. We tend to finish just before Bonfire Night, so were somewhere in the middle in terms of timing. If you push it too early, people feel uncomfortable  theyre just not in the Christmas frame of mind.

For make no mistake, a shops Christmas window display is a very big deal indeed. The timing is critical.

Though John Lewis refuses to disclose its budget, this is big business  with tens of thousands of pounds poured into each window. Experts estimate single displays can cost between 15,000 and 75,000. With 302 windows across its shops, even a conservative estimate would put John Lewiss costs at 4.5 million.

John Lewiss best frock this year, for its 30 massive windows, is folklore  inspired by the snuggly winter knits and embroidered fabrics popular across Europe at this time of year

In a world so geared towards online shopping, it might seem odd to put so much effort  and money  into physical displays. But the aim of Christmas windows is to get shoppers to open their wallets.

An estimated 500,000 people pass by London department store windows every day over the festive season, and if they can lure even a small proportion of them inside, that will put money in the tills.

The point of the displays is to show off our best products and to entice people to come inside, explains Lucy. Theyre also designed to make people feel excited this time of year. Everyone really ups their game at Christmas  its like the whole High Street puts on its best frock.

John Lewiss best frock this year, for its 30 massive windows, is folklore  inspired by the snuggly winter knits and embroidered fabrics popular across Europe at this time of year.

The shop is already brimming with themed decorations, cushions, throws and ornaments (and I swear in the Christmas section upstairs I heard an assistant merrily humming Frosty The Snowman).

The shop is already brimming with themed decorations, cushions, throws and ornaments (and I swear in the Christmas section upstairs I heard an assistant merrily humming Frosty The Snowman)

Unlike other stores, whose festive displays are often wacky and over-the-top, John Lewis is proud to veer towards the traditional. This years windows feature a homely Christmas scene: a tree, presents and an immaculately decorated festive table with quirky touches  baubles in a KitchenAid food mixer, golden Brazil nuts in a jar, and a Le Creuset casserole dish bubbling over with fake snow.

The snow, made from tiny crumbs of recycled plastic, is everywhere you look. There are 680 bags of it across its shops nationwide, along with 2,258 red and teal cone Christmas trees, 3,000 metres of card, 600 lengths of metal tubing and 100 litres of white paint.

Ghosts of Christmas displays past... 1960: Two boys gaze at the must-have festive toys 1932: Crowds enjoy the Selfridges' display 1880s: Victoria shoppers gaze at the lavish offerings 1955: Children entranced by the wares in Selfridges Advertisement

Theyve gone to town on fairy lights which frame the displays and cascade down the atrium inside the store, with nearly 90,000 metres of them  or 56 miles  across the 49 shops. Thats enough to light the distance from London to Canterbury, Lucy proudly informs me.

Stepping inside the windows is not as straightforward as it sounds. There are cables to leap over, cone trees to dodge and cardboard snowflakes propped at awkward angles, leaving me to hopscotch my way from one side to the other.

Window dressers have to be sure-footed, nimble  and, above all, slim, so they can squeeze between the props. All around me, black-clad window dressers are scurrying noiselessly to and fro, arranging this and adjusting that, with even the subtlest of changes requiring a trip outside to see the window as a whole and get the shoppers-eye view.

Meanwhile, Im standing as still as a mannequin, focusing all my efforts on not knocking anything over.

Lucy has been here for 27 years and worked in windows for the past six. She thinks about Christmas all day, every day, 365 days a year. My friends and family think its the best job in the world, she laughs. I honestly dont get sick of it. Im very lucky.

It may sound like living in a fairy tale, but competition can be cut-throat. Every year, department stores, jewellers and designer shops compete to come up with the best, most innovative and attention-grabbing displays. Dressers work long hours around the clock and through the night, and secrecy is paramount, although moles do exist.

Suppliers would know whats going on, so wed probably get wind of it in advance if someone was doing exactly the same thing as us, she says.

Nevertheless, theres a concerted effort to keep the display under wraps. The design team often operates at night, after closing time, and theres a secret underground bunker  located underneath one of John Lewiss shops  where they have life-sized windows in which to build mock displays.

Its fully locked up so nobody can get in. Everyone working on the windows is sworn to secrecy  its all part of the fun.

Once upon a time, window displays were far from the competitive sport they are today. It all started in the days of the Industrial Revolution, when retailers began installing large plate glass shop fronts  the ideal location to showcase their festive wares.

Its fully locked up so nobody can get in. Everyone working on the windows is sworn to secrecy  its all part of the fun

By the 1880s, it was a Christmas Eve tradition for working-class families to travel to Londons West End and gaze at the extravagant displays in the windows of shops they couldnt afford. At first, they featured only food and drink  hams, puddings, bottles of sherry and port  but after World War I department stores started displaying toys, presents and fashion as well.

The trend for lavish festive windows really took off in New York in the Thirties, when artists including Salvador Dali were called upon to create surreal and dazzling winter scenes.

By the Sixties, Andy Warhol was designing windows for Tiffanys  he was so proud of one display that he autographed the glass. Increasingly ambitious creations became commonplace here in the Fifties.

Archives recall John Lewiss range of magical themes over the years  from fairy tales to woodland creatures  all designed to inspire awe and wonder.

In 1973, when the national electricity supply was restricted, window dressers at the store werent deterred, using portable camping lanterns to light their displays.

This years theme started life as a series of pencil drawings, which Lucy and her three-strong team drafted in August last year.

Inspiration, she explains, comes from anywhere and everywhere: art exhibitions, foreign travel, fashion shows, seeing something on Pinterest or reading about it in a magazine.

Once the drawings are perfected, around April or May, they send them to Harlequin Design  the London-based agency responsible for the practical aspects of the display  to build a scale model window, just 50 cm (20 in) long, so Lucy can see it in 3D and carry it to meetings.

The next challenge is choosing colours and materials, which sounds simple but is often incredibly complex. We looked at over 100 different shades to get the teal colour just right, explains Lucy. The snowflake patterns took 1,400 hours  or 35 days  to cut out. It was all done by one man, who sat there cutting with a blade and then popping them out by hand.

The snowflake patterns took 1,400 hours  or 35 days  to cut out. It was all done by one man, who sat there cutting with a blade and then popping them out by hand

Once the mock windows have been approved, the team at Harlequin starts making the parts for the real-life installations across the country. These are couriered, under cover of darkness, to John Lewis shops, along with a list of detailed instructions, so the 200 in-store dressers are working to the same brief.

They started putting them in place three weeks ago: snowflakes first, then the lights, large furniture, smaller products, and  finally  bags and bags of snow.

Unlike other stores, John Lewis doesnt cover over its half-built displays, except for a few windows at its Oxford Street branch which are themed to match its much-anticipated Christmas advert.

My instinct is that as long as its not really messy in there, its nice for shoppers to see the windows being assembled, says Lucy. People get more invested  they look, then come back for another look, and they love to see the process from start to finish.

The highlight of her year, she says, is seeing the final piece of the display going in  and watching the enchanted smiles of passers-by as they admire her handiwork.

Theres nothing nicer than seeing a little girl or boy with their nose pressed up against the glass, Lucy smiles. Every year I want to do something bigger and better than before. Next years display, she assures me, will be the most showstopping yet.

As the night creeps into the small hours, the window dressers put the final polish on the baubles and tweak the angle of a couple of biscuit tins, and their job is done.

Ever-so-slowly, I shuffle my way towards the real world on the other side of the glass, dodging precariously balanced mannequins dressed in Santa red.

I leave with glitter on my hands, fake snow in my hair  and, though Im loath to admit it, a head full of unseasonably early Christmas cheer.
When people think about places to visit in Australia, the top of their list usually looks something like Sydney, Melbourne and the East Coast.

But, according to global travel authority, Lonely Planet, you need to cast your net a little further afield, if you want to hit up the 'coolest Australian neighbourhoods to visit right now'.

From a Brisbane-based suburb that's known for its 'cult-status' cabbage pancakes, to a South Australian locale filled with laneways and award-winning bars and restaurants, here FEMAIL takes a look at the places you need to add to your bucket list - pronto.

Lonely Planet have released the three coolest neighbourhoods in Australia you need to visit right now and they might surprise you (pictured: Pink Moon Saloon in SA)

While some offer hidden laneways, others offer 'cult-status' food items - like cabbage pancakes from locavore cafe, which are made with broccoli powder, soft egg and goat's cheese

Bus depot-turned microbrewery Newstead Brewing Co, is popular in Newstead, Brisbane (pictured)

Many offer delicious food and drink items (pictured)

ADELAIDE'S WEST END, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

While for a long time, people avoided Adelaide's West End, in favour of somewhere more remote, in fact Lonely Planet say it's somewhere you need to bookmark and visit as soon as possible:

'Previously maligned for its salacious past, Adelaide's West End is no longer a no-go zone,' Lonely Planet author, Chris Zeiher, explained.

'Wander down pedestrian-friendly laneways home to award-winning bars and restaurants such as Pink Moon Saloon, or sample freshly-farmed Coffin Bay oysters at Adelaide Central Market.'

The precinct's other other architectural gems include Adelaide's GPO (pictured)

Pink Moon Saloon (pictured) , in particular, is a hidden gem. Sandwiched in between two shops in a courtyard, it boasts a food and drink menu that will get your mouth watering

Pink Moon Saloon, in particular, is a hidden gem. Sandwiched in between two shops in a courtyard, it boasts a food and drink menu that will get your mouth watering.

Smoked brisket, sage-fried halloumi and beef shin are just a few of the delicious items available to try on the menu.

Mr Zeiher - who is an expert in all things South Australia - also recommends visiting the futuristic SAMHRI building, where you can 'marvel at its dramatic juxtaposition to the colonial beauty of the precinct's other architectural gems such as Adelaide's GPO.

'The West End has emerged as a traveller triple threat offering visitors brilliant experiences morning, noon and night,' he concluded.

Former wartime hangar, Triffid, is hugely popular in Brisbane - you can watch leading bands there (pictured)

NEWSTEAD, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND

Next on the Lonely Planet's hot list is the riverside suburb, Newstead, in Brisbane.

'Once a jumble of gasworks, timber yards and woolstores, Newstead is now a high-density powerhouse of Brisbane cool,' the author of Lonely Planet's Pocket Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Cristian Bonetto, said.

The Brisbane expert recommends heading 'in early to score posh, baked doughnuts at Nodo Donuts'.

He is also a huge fan of the 'cult-status' $20 cabbage pancakes from locavore cafe, which are made with broccoli powder, soft egg and goat's cheese, as well as providore-sourced Grocer.

The Brisbane expert recommends heading 'in early to score posh, baked doughnuts at Nodo Donuts' in Newstead (pictured)

There are many other items available at Nodo Donuts (pictured)

'If you're thirsty, slurp local craft beers at bus depot-turned microbrewery Newstead Brewing Co,' the Brisbane expert added

'If you're thirsty, slurp local craft beers at bus depot-turned microbrewery Newstead Brewing Co,' he added.

'Then rock the night away to hotlist bands in former wartime hangar, Triffid.'

While you're there, you can also grab a burger or hot dog and choose from a range of craft beers (including Mountain Goat, Two Birds and Sierra Nevada), cocktails or Australian and New Zealand wines.

All of the drinks are served from re-purposed shipping containers.

The $20 cabbage pancakes are popular (pictured)

Handmade sourdough at the Woodfield Baker in Perth is hugely popular (pictured)

'Hit eclectic cafe-bar Henry on Eighth for live art performances,' the Perth expert recommended (pictured: the bar)

MAYLANDS, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

According to Lonely Planet author, Fleur Bainger, who is based in Perth, 'this once-shady suburb has evolved into a buzzing community hub with a gritty, yet artisanal edge'.

'Hit eclectic cafe-bar Henry on Eighth for live art performances,' she recommended - as well as following 'the sounds of a jug band to the vintage train seat booths at Swallow Bar'.

The menu at Swallow bar is vast and diverse, including mini prawn brioche, roasted cauliflower and a delicious wine list.

'Pause for handmade sourdough at the Woodfield Baker, and trace a yellow brick road to the quirky curios spilling from Vintage Emporium,' Ms Bainger added.

'Bonus points if you find Rossonero pizzeria, hidden on Lyric Lane.'

For more information about Lonely Planet, you can visit the website here.
Forget goji berries and chia seeds - hemp has been touted as the next superfood.

The protein-rich seeds could be popping up on a menu near you after the Australian government legalised the consumption of hemp on Sunday.

Hemp seeds are now available to sprinkle on breakfast cereal or salad, blend into smoothies or protein shakes or used as a crumb for fish or chicken.

Here, FEMAIL rounds up the hemp-based products you can now purchase from health food stores around Australia - and why it could become a staple food.

Hemp has been touted as the next superfood after it was legalised for consumption on November 12 (pictured hemp served as pesto in a delicious, nutritious pasta)

The plant seed product can now be turned into delicious savoury meals, including this encrusted barramundi (recipe below)

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Lara Burton - the co-founder of Australian owned supplier Lariese Purely Hemp - said hemp can be consumed raw, cooked or toasted.

'Hemp can be added to any meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner,' she told FEMAIL.

'Sweet or savoury, you can make soup, pesto, smoothies, cereals, waffles, pancakes, muffins, bliss bowls, crumbed fish or chicken and salads with hemp.'

As our brain needs a constant supply of essential fatty acids our body cannot produce, hemp seed oil helps fuel our brain to stay healthy and function effectively.

The oil is the perfect olive oil substitute for salad dressings while hemp protein powders can be blended into smoothies or muffin mixture.

Co-founder of Australian supplier Lariese Purely Hemp - Lara Burton (pictured with managing director Lloyd Williams) - said hemp can be consumed raw, cooked or toasted

The Australian owned supplier produces hemp-based products, including protein powders, oil dressings and raw hulled seeds

The plant-based source is packed full of protein, nutrients, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, sodium, vitamin E, iron and zinc.

The balanced, natural source of nutrition helps to assist with muscle building and repair, weight loss, fitness improvement and muscle recovery.

Hemp seeds are suitable for everyone, including pregnant women as they contain naturally occurring nutrients essential to the brain, bone and nervous system development of growing foetus.

With a mild nutty flavour similar to pine nuts, raw hemp seeds can be made into milk and used as a milk substitute for anything made from dairy, including butter, cheese and ice cream.

Toasted hemp seeds offers that extra crunch and toasted flavour and can be used as an ingredient in baking, granola, protein bars and or bliss balls.

Hemp seeds grind into a creamy nutritional hummus (recipe below)

Toasted hemp seeds offers that extra crunch and toasted flavour and can be used as an ingredient in baking, granola, protein bars and or bliss balls (pictured protein balls)

Ms Burton explained hemp is not just a superfood but more of a whole food, being highly nutritious with many health benefits.

'It's nutritious for all ages. It's great for the family - adults and children,' she said.

'It's great as a protein component, muscle building and recovery - and it helps to reduce sugar cravings. The folate found in hemp are great for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

'It incorporates omega-3, vitamins, minerals and acids into your body that you won't be getting from other food.

'No whole food incorporates all nutrients into one food - so you don't have to be taking multiple supplements and vitamins to get the same benefits.'

Misperceptions about hemp have been widespread, but Ms Burton said the plant seeds do not contain hallucinogenic components of cannabis (stock image)

Ms Burton explained hemp is not just a superfood but more of a whole food, being highly nutritious with many health benefits

Misperceptions about hemp have been widespread, but Ms Burton said the plant seeds do not contain hallucinogenic components of cannabis.

'No, you can't get high from industrial hemp,' she said.

Lariese Purely Hemp produces a range of hemp-based products, including oil, protein powder and hulled seeds.

The products are produced from the world's finest and freshest, edible industrial hemp seeds - grown and processed by Canada's largest Hemp producers.

Hemp has been consumed as a staple food all over the world for thousands of years - and on November 12, the sale of edible hemp products in Australia was legalised.

The plant-based source is packed full of protein, nutrients, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, sodium, vitamin E, iron and zinc

'We are delighted this day has finally come,' Ms Burton said.

'This was something we've been campaigning for a long time so it's a really exciting time for us - and it's now going to be available for everyone.

'We're looking forward to seeing hemp products on supermarket shelves, and being available for the general population. We're also looking forward to working with Australian farmers.

'We're absolutely excited about supplying hemp to restaurants and cafes in our own home country - you'll definitely be seeing more on menus in the future.

'It's a wonderful feeling.'

HEMP ENCRUSTED BARRAMUNI Ingredients 4 x 100g Barramundi filets (or white fish) 1 Lime 1 Lemon 2 12 tbsp. olive oil 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. chilli sauce (or to taste) 1 12 tbsp. chopped spring onion 1 tbsp. water 2 tsp. honey 1 cup Lariese Hulled Hemp Seeds 1 egg (beaten) Instructions Cut the lime and lemon in half and squeeze juice into a small bowl. Add olive oil, salt, black pepper, chili sauce, chopped spring onion, water, honey and whisk together. Place fish and marinade into bag and let marinate for at least 15 minutes. Beat one egg in bowl, dip the fish in the egg and then transfer to plate with Lariese hulled hemp seeds to coat. Add some olive oil to a medium sized pan and heat. Once the pan is hot, place the fillets into the pan and turn the heat down to medium temperature, cooking the fillets for about 4 - 6 minutes on each side. Advertisement
A Beatrice woman convicted of selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with police will be sentenced in January.

Amber D. Pedersen, 28, pleaded guilty to a charge of distributing methamphetamine in one case, and admitted to violating probation in another, meaning she will be resentenced for two charges of possession of a controlled substance.

She appeared in Gage County District Court Thursday, where Judge Julie Smith set sentencing in both cases for Jan. 4.

In the most recent case, Pedersen is charged with distribution of methamphetamine following an investigation dating back to April 2016.

A Nebraska State Patrol confidential informant was provided with $100 in undercover drug funds. The funds were used to purchase methamphetamine from Pedersen.

In the other case, she was previously sentenced to 36 months probation for two possession charges, one of which was reduced from a distribution charge as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

When she was sentenced to probation in April, District Court Judge Rick Schreiner said Pedersen had failed to meet with probation officers in the past, which wasnt reassuring that she would successfully complete a term of probation.

The possession charges were each class 4 felonies, and Schreiner said the legislature has determined that class 4 felonies should come with a presumption of probation, unless certain stipulations are met.

She was arrested last September in that case, following an investigation by Beatrice police where confidential informants told officers she was selling methamphetamine.

Officers approached her as she was exiting her vehicle at the Gage County Courthouse, and she said she had something on her.

Court documents state Pedersen pulled two baggies out of her bra which contained a total of 8.4 grams of methamphetamine.

Syringes, scales, cash and more drugs were found inside the vehicle.
She is a full-time working royal and doting mother to her three daughters.

And Queen Maxima of the Netherlands showed her financial clout when she jetted to Singapore on Thursday to speak at an industry conference.

Maxima, 46, was a guest speaker at the FinTech Festival in her role as the UN Secretary-Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.

Despite the seven-hour time difference, the Dutch queen consort betrayed no sign of jet lag as she spoke on stage, appearing fresh-faced with just a hint of makeup.

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She means business! Maxima jetted to Singapore on Thursday to speak at a financial conference in her role as the UN Secretary-Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development

She wowed in a vibrant red striped dress, teamed with a chunky orange statement necklace and matching earrings.

An international financier by training, the Queen gave a passionate speech to industry insiders on 'the value of close cooperation of private and government sectors'.

The annual conference, which attracts over 13,000 participants from 60 countries, is aimed at improving access to financial services (fintech).

It is jointly organised by Singapores Monetary Authority (MAS) and Association of Banks (ABS) and runs from 13 to 16 November at Singapore EXPO.

The Dutch queen consort showed no sign of jet lag as she spoke on stage, appearing fresh-faced with just a hint of makeup

She knows her stuff: An international financier by training, the Queen gave a passionate speech to industry insiders on 'the value of close cooperation of private and government sectors'

The glamorous royal wowed in a vibrant red striped dress, teamed with a chunky orange statement necklace and matching earrings

In her address today, Maxima discussed technological innovations that could enhance access to bank accounts, insurance, loans and pensions.

According to the World Bank Group, 2 billion people and 200 million small businesses that could be contributing to economic development and poverty reduction still have no access to formal financial services.

Maxima was born in Argentina and married into the Dutch royal family in 2002, three years after meeting her husband-to-be in Seville, Spain.

The conference is is jointly organised by Singapores Monetary Authority (MAS) and Association of Banks (ABS) and runs from 13 to 16 November at Singapore EXPO

According to the World Bank Group, 2 billion people and 200 million small businesses that could be contributing to economic development and poverty reduction still have no access to formal financial services

Despite reportedly having no inkling that Willem-Alexander was heir to the throne when the pair first met, she eventually became Queen consort when her husband ascended to the throne.

Willem-Alexander became king after his mother, Beatrix, abdicated in April 2013 after 33 years as reigning monarch.

The couple are parents to Princess Amalia, Alexia and Ariane - dubbed 'the A team' by their doting father.
A male prostitute has divulged the secrets of his job in a candid online thread - with some very eye-opening details.

In a Reddit thread called 'I am a straight male prostitute who caters to both women and men. Ask me anything', the anonymous man said he gets a 'rush' out of sleeping with people for $100 an hour.

The sex worker said his typical clientele are women aged 30 to 45 who aren't typically attractive, admitting that he'd only had one customer who he 'considered hot'.

He also divulged how he managed to get into the taboo line of work, using classified ad websites like Craigslist to find clients.

The user, known only by his username BlackLabelBaloo, even revealed he had a girlfriend when he started but claims she didn't mind what work he did.

An anonymous male prostitute divulged the secrets of his trade in a Reddit thread, revealing everything from his client type to how much he charges

BlackLabelBaloo posted on classified advertising website Craigslist looking for women to take on a night out.

He then got a response from a man who offered to pay him $60 (45) if they could cuddle in bed without sex, which he didn't accept

The user posted: 'I never forgot that. Years later I had moved from Hawaii to my current city, lost my job and needed a way to pay the bills. So I posted an ad asking if any gay men wanted to cuddle with a cute straight boy for money.

'It worked but was very inconsistent. So I decided to offer more.'

The sex worker decided to start charging female clients for sex but only some sexual services for men at a cost of $100 (76) an hour.

The sex worker said his clients aren't usually very attractive and then to be older women

He began working in the industry when he realised how much he could earn in a short amount of time

He considers himself straight, but will perform some sexual acts on men for pay, though he says he doesn't enjoy it.

The sex worker says he doesn't usually get typically attractive clients, and only slept with one who he considered 'hot', so has to fantasise about other women during the act.

He explained: 'In the moment I find it pretty easy to fantasise about other women or experiences. Either by closing my eyes or just letting my eyes slide out of focus and start picturing a more attractive woman.'

The man revealed that he'd had a girlfriend that was able to 'deal' with his unusual job, and insisted they had a healthy sex life before she passed away.

He said that he was able to have a girlfriend in his job and still had a healthy sex life with her and has also worked with couples and says it's healthy for people to experiment with others

'I do have a sex life outside or work. My sex drive would be a bit dampened if I had been with a female client but still I always made sure to love her like she was the only one,' he said.

He added: 'My girlfriend didn't mind what I did as long as I was safe and open with her. She didn't really like me seeing girl clients but she dealt with it. It certainly helped that most are not traditionally attractive and none even close to how pretty she was.

'And yes sex outside of work is still enjoyable. If it ever became different then a lifestyle change is an order. A positive, exciting and healthy sexual relationship is absolutely key to maintaining a relationship.'

When asked about the risk of catching sexually transmitted infections, the sex worker said the benefits of his job far outweigh the risk.

A client 'creeped' the prostitute out so much that he decided to give up on that job and walked away

The man added: 'It's a risk assessment. Do the risks of my current work (being used for my body, STIs, possible violence) outweigh the benefits very low hours, high pay)? That is very simplified by the way.

'There are certainly other risks and other rewards. To me I enjoy the work mostly and will continue to do it til I find something better I imagine. And while there is a very real risk of STI's being used for my body doesn't bother me. It's actually very flattering that people would pay me to do what I do.'
The Duke of Cambridge has told parents and victims of online abuse that he is sorry he could not help them sooner at the launch of a national campaign to tackle cyberbullying.

Speaking from Google's central London headquarters in King's Cross, William said, as a parent, he understood the 'sense of loss and anger of those particular families who have lost children' after they were targeted in campaigns of harassment.

William delivered a speech at the conclusion of the final meeting of technology and internet companies on the Royal Foundation Taskforce for Cyberbullying, where he urged organisations to commit to the ethos of a new plan to tackle the problem centred on getting youngsters to 'stop, speak, and support'.

The Duke of Cambridge has told parents and victims of online abuse that he is sorry he could not help them sooner at the launch of a national campaign to tackle cyberbullying

But he also said he had hoped the firms would 'go further' with their delivery of a universal approach to tackling the issue, and expressed disappointment that companies had not agreed to create a form of standardisation around reporting abuse, or a single universal tool for children to report bullying when they saw it online.

Among those the Duke met before he took to the stage were Emma Hine, whose daughter Chloe was once a victim of online abuse and who has helped to create the taskforce's new plan, and Lucy Alexander, whose son Felix took his own life after falling victim to cyber abuse last year.

William delivered a speech where he urged organisations to commit to the ethos of a new plan to tackle the problem

William addressed both victims and their parents on a working panel where he was praised for his 'amazing' work

Parents of victims shared their faith in William's ability to make a difference during his speech

Addressing them both as part of a working panel of parents who have committed to the scheme, the Duke said he was 'sorry' that the campaign had not started in time to have made a difference to Felix and Chloe's personal experiences with bullies.

He said: 'I'm sorry it's taken so long to get to this point - I can only apologise that it didn't happen in time for you.'

But Ms Hine said that despite William's regret, his 'amazing' work was already making a difference to the lives of many other young people.

Later William met with volunteers from the NSPCC where he discussed what could be done to prevent further bullying online

The NSPCC have worked together with Facebook and Snapchat to help them with alterations to their sites

William also met members of the Youth taskforce which is chaired by the founder of lastminute.com

The royal also met with William parents from 'Internet Matters' a non-profit organisation that targets cyberbullying during his visit

William's interest in preventing cyberbullying began shortly after the birth of his own son

She said: 'He's got the power to bring together so many important people and they will listen to him.

'For him to actually be so passionate about creating this code of conduct and helping so many people, I think it's amazing.'

She added: 'He said to myself and Lucy, Felix's mum, that he was sorry that it took so long to get to this point, but he has nothing to apologise for because he's working so hard to make sure it doesn't happen to other children and other parents - and that's incredible.'

For the last 18 months, the Royal Foundation's Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying has been working on ways to create a safer space for young people online.

Facebook and Snapchat are exploring alterations to their sites which allow victims to access help, which was created with the NSPCC.

The Duke of Cambridge is spearheading a fresh battle against online abuse with the support of a task force made up of major tech firms and charities and visited Google in London today

The Duke of Cambridge is greeted by James Okulaja from the young people's anti-bullying panel, as he arrives for the final meeting of The Royal Foundation's Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying, at Google in King's Cross

It will be trialled among groups of young people, Kensington Palace said, with William hoping it can soon be rolled out universally.

The task force's code of conduct, which is said to be national and youth-led, encourages young people to consider how they behave online.

It asks them to stop and consider what the situation is before joining in negative activity online, speak to an adult, a charity or report any abuse if they are concerned, and offer support to the individual being targeted.

Facebook and Snapchat are exploring alterations to their sites which allow victims to access help, which was created with the NSPCC

The Duke of Cambridge (left) with Matt Brittin, Google's head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as he arrives for the final meeting of The Royal Foundation's Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying

Organisations including Google, Apple, EE and Twitter have all been involved in the project.

In a video released on Wednesday, the Duke warned that anonymity online can be 'really, really dangerous' as it allows cyberbullies to ignore the real-world impact of their actions.

His interest in the problem began shortly after the birth of his own son, Prince George, when he heard the story of a boy who killed himself as a result of online abuse.

The clip released by Kensington Palace shows William meeting Lucy Alexander, whose son Felix also killed himself, and cyberbullying victim Chloe Hine.

Ms Hine attempted to take her own life at the age of 13 after enduring an onslaught of abuse on the internet.

Listening to the experiences of the pair, the Duke tells them: 'I think it is worth reminding everyone what the human tragedy of what we are talking about here isn't just about companies and about online stuff  it's actually real lives that get affected.

'And the consequences, that is the big thing, the consequences of what happens if things are not kept in check in terms of what we say and what we do.

'We are still responsible for our own actions online  this anonymity, as you were saying, is really, really dangerous.'

In a video released on Wednesday, the Duke warned that anonymity online can be 'really, really dangerous'

Prince William looked dapper as he arrived to spearhead a fresh battle against online abuse

William is launching the campaign with the support of a task force made up of major tech firms and charities

Ms Alexander spoke of her son's slide into depression after he was targeted on social media, being excluded from parties and viewing himself as 'stupid and ugly'.

She said: 'It just ate away at him inside, I think, but I had no idea of the depth of his despair at all.'

Ms Alexander has been campaigning to raise awareness of the issue and has been invited to help the work of the task force.

The Duke told her: 'It is one thing when it happens in the playground and it's visible there and parents and teachers and other children can see it.

'Online, you're the only one who sees it, and it's so personal, isn't it? Really it goes straight to your bedroom.'

Ms Hine escaped her own personal torment by turning to writing to help her process her feelings.

William asked to hug both women after they shared their stories at Kensington Palace, thanking them for their 'brave' intervention.

The task force is chaired by the entrepreneur and founder of travel website lastminute.com Brent Hoberman.

Other members include the Anti-Bullying Alliance, BT, The Diana Award, Internet Matters, O2, Sky, Supercell, TalkTalk, Vodafone and Virgin Media.

The Taskforce has also committed to building a universal strategy for support information about cyberbullying, and to design new safety guidelines, Kensington Palace said.

Prince William yesterday praised a mother and a teenager for sharing their stories to raise awareness about cyberbullying.

The royal, 35, said Lucy Alexander and Chloe Hine were 'brave' for explaining how online abuse had impacted their lives, after inviting them to Kensington Palace to discuss the issue.

Mother Lucy described how her son Felix was affected by cyberbullying before taking his own life aged 17, while Chloe said she attempted suicide aged 13 after online attacks.

The moving video was released on Wednesday as the Duke of Cambridge prepares to unveil an action plan to prevent cyberbullying, after putting together a taskforce to look at the issue.

Prince William has praised two anti-bullying campaigners after they shared their experiences of how cyber abuse has affected their lives

In the clip, William can be seen listening intently as mother Lucy describes how her son Felix was affected by cyberbullying before going on to take his own life.

'Social media was his life. His whole world resolved around it. It was the way everyone communicated, and if you weren't on it you were isolated,' she explained.

'If he was invited to a party, someone would text saying 'You don't want to invite him, Everyone hates him'.'

'And all he saw was negative. He saw himself as stupid and ugly. It just ate away at him inside, I think, but I just no idea about the depth of his despair'.

The royal, 35, described Lucy Alexander and Chloe Hine as 'brave' for speaking so honestly about the issue

Chloe described how she attempted suicide aged 13 after being attacked online

Chloe, who also contributed to the Royal Foundation's Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying, described how she attempted to take her own life aged 13 after being attacked online.

'I was in this group and if I was to say something that agreed with a comment someone else would make that would then be twisted and it would go on and then people would just turn against me.

'They were like 'Oh she said this one thing that one time so let's all hate her for that' and it spiralled out of control from there really.'

She continued: 'I started to self-harm as a way to cope, to make me feel better, and then I decided that I couldn't take this anymore and I tried to end my life.'

Lucy described how her son Felix (pictured) was affected by cyberbullying before taking his own life aged 17

After hearing their stories, William thanked the pair for speaking to him, describing them both as 'brave'.

'It is so brave of you both to speak so honestly about it. I know it can't have been easy, but I can't thank you enough,' he said.

'I only wish that neither of you had gone through what you've gone through.'

He continued: 'I think it is worth reminding everyone what the human tragedy of what we are talking about here. It isn't just about companies and about online stuff, it's actually real lives that get affected.

In the video, William spoke about the 'human tragedy' caused by cyber bullying

It comes as he prepares to unveil an action plan to tackle cyber bullying on Thursday

'And the consequences, that's the big thing, the consequences of what happens if things aren't kept in check in terms of what we say and what we do, and we are still responsible for our actions online.

'This anonymity, as you're saying, is really, really dangerous.'

William has brought together the world's biggest internet firms, children's charities and parents, to work alongside the panel of young people to find ways to tackle cyberbullying.

The results of the taskforce set up by the royal and chaired by tech entrepreneur Brent Hoberman is set to be unveiled tomorrow.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
She is first-in-line to the Swedish throne.

And Crown Princess Victoria flew the flag for Scandinavian fashion today when she donned a blouse from the label's coveted collaboration with Erdem.

Victoria, 40, paired the silk floral number with an A-line skirt and black ankle boots as she welcomed delegates to Stockholm's Royal Palace on Thursday.

The mother-of two was meeting guests including European Parliament President Antonio Tajani at a small reception at the Swedish monarchy's official residence.

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Patriotic: Crown Princess Victoria flew the flag for Scandinavian fashion on Thursday when she wore a blouse from the label's coveted collaboration with Erdem

Antonio Tajani is an Italian politician who has served as President of the European Parliament since January 2017.

It will come as no surprise to fans that Victoria opted for the H&M number; the stylish Princess is often seen wearing cut-price high street pieces.

The Erdem X H&M range sent fashion fans into a frenzy when it launched last month, with savvy eBay sellers charging buyers up to three times the price in exchange for queuing outside stores from 3am to snap up items.

So called 'fashion flippers' make a profit by listing an item on eBay, seeing what sizes people order and then purchasing them in store the next day before dispatching.

Working mum: The mother-of two was meeting guests including European Parliament President Antonio Tajani (pictured) at the Swedish monarchy's official residence

Thrifty royal: It will come as no surprise to fans that Victoria opted for the H&M number; the stylish Princess is often seen wearing cut-price high street pieces

Victoria is heir apparent to the Swedish throne after her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf and mother to Princess Estelle, five, and Prince Oscar, 20 months.

She is married to her formal personal trainer, Daniel Westling, now officially titled the Duke of Vastergotland.

In a 2005 interview, she admitted: 'I think the general idea with the Swedes is that the modern way is to marry someone you love, not necessarily based on where she or he comes from.'
It was one of the most hotly anticipated dates in the fashion calendar with dozens of fans rushing out to get Edward Enninful's first issue of Vogue since he became editor.

And so it was no wonder to see fashion enthusiasts heading out in their droves in order to meet the editor himself on Thursday.

Hundreds of readers queued around the block at Vogue House in London to get their hands on a limited edition hardback copy of the December issue of the publication.

Editor of Vogue Edward Enninful was at Vogue house today where he signed limited edition hardback copies of his first issue

Those prepared to wait were lucky enough to meet Enninful, 45, who was on hand to sign copies of the collectible item.

Dressed in his typical uniform of black and white the editor looked thrilled to greet his public stepping outside to wave at the gathering crowds queuing to meet him.

The cover for the December issue of British Vogue has been unveiled and marks the dawn of a diverse new era in the fashion world.

The editor, who took over from Alexandra Shulman earlier this year, appeared to be in high spirits as he greeted fans

Hundreds of readers embraced the cold December weather to queue up around the block in order to get their hands on an exclusive copy

The glossy paper-back edition went on sale earlier this month and is the first under new editor Enninful, who took over from Alexandra Shulman when she left the post in August after 25 years.

The striking cover, which was revealed on November 7, features a close-up of Ghanaian-British model Adwoa Aboah in bright blue eye-shadow and a headscarf.

Rather than making a nod to fashion and beauty trends, the retro-esque cover makes reference to a roll call of power players in politics and the arts, including the likes of Zadie Smith, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, rapper Skepta and Salman Rushdie.

One guest Tuula Rose Capewell, presented the editor with a sketch of his December issues of Vogue

Enninful is the first black, first male and first gay editor of the magazine, which has been running since 1916

Enninful was said to be planning a 'posh girl' exodus, with a view to diversify British Vogue.

The Ghanaian-born former stylist was announced as Shulman's replacement in April, after she chose to leave the magazine to pursue 'a different future'.

He is the first black, first male and first gay editor of the magazine, which has been running since 1916.

Adwoa Aboah, 25, poses in a striking retro-feel photograph for the magazine, which goes on sale this Friday.

Next to Adwoa's picture is a list of British icons, from the worlds of fashion, politics, film, television, music and publishing.

His December issue features Ghanaian-British model Adwoa Aboah on the cover

When asked about Edward Enninful's decision to select her for the cover of Enninful's first issue, she said: 'My head's going this big. Being on this cover is the biggest thing that's happened in my career.

'There is this newfound love and space for activism within fashion. I never would have dreamt in a million years that I would have young girls coming up to me at Glastonbury or on the streets of LA, New York, London, and telling me how much GurlsTalk or seeing my picture in a magazine means to them, as a woman of colour.

'I love being a mixed-race woman in 2017. I feel part of something big. Theres this understanding that were all in it together'

The company teased the cover on Sunday with a trailer featuring behind-the-scenes clips from upcoming fashion shoots as well as words from Enninful himself.

The clip drove fashion fans wild, with many saying they couldn't wait to go out and buy the new issue.

Enninful's first cover looks very different to Shulman's last issue, which hit shelves in August.

The September issue was themed around Vogue's 'past, present and future', and featured models Nora Attal, Edie Campbell, Jean Campbell, Kate Moss and Stella Tennant.

Enninful, who grew up in London as one of six children, was scouted as a model age 16 and has gone on to become one of the most famous faces in fashion, counting Naomi Campbell as a best friend. He has a penchant for partying and is regularly seen at the hottest fashion events.

The journalist was the youngest-ever fashion director for i-D magazine age 16 and has worked for Italian and American Vogue, and served as a consultant on major fashion campaigns, including Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Dolce and Gabbana.

At the helm of W Magazine, he boosted ad pages by 16 percent in 2012.

The new editor, whose mother was a seamstress, was honoured at the British Fashion Awards in 2014 with the prestigious Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, and he also won an OBE in 2016 for services to diversity within the fashion industry.

Models, and close friends to Enninful, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss have both been given roles at Vogue as contributing editors.
Ivanka Trump opted for a simple dark coat to leave her house this morning, leaving it to her accessories to spice up the outfit.

The first daughter, 36, was photographed leaving her home in Washington, D.C. bundled up in the $4,990 Carolina Herrera outerwear, which she paired with a nude-colored purse and matching five-inch heels.

To complete her outfit, Ivanka donned eye-catching pearl earrings as well as aviator sunglasses, giving her look an edgier touch.

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Details: Ivanka Trump opted for a simple dark Carolina Herrera coat to leave her house this morning, leaving it to her accessories to spice up the outfit

Greeting the day: The first daughter, 36, left her home in Washington, D.C. bundled up in the long garment, which she paired with a nude-colored purse and matching five-inch heels

Accessories: To complete her outfit, Ivanka donned eye-catching pearl earrings as well as aviator sunglasses, giving her look an edgier touch

Ivanka wore her long hair down and in a straight blowout, departing from the wavy hairstyle she sported earlier this week.

She walked over to her park Secret Service vehicle amid the cool fall temperatures, after leaving the family home she shares with her husband and fellow White House adviser, Jared Kushner, 36, and their three children.

The first daughter, who has spent most of her time promoting her father's proposed tax plan lately, kept her eyes mostly trained on her parked vehicle as she headed out for the workday.

It's the first time in days Ivanka was seen leaving her home, having chosen to leave in her SUV in private on several occasions.

Jared, who has just returned to the US after tagging along for a trip around Asia with President Trump, which ended on Tuesday, made a separate exit this morning.

He seemed in high spirits as he spoke on his phone, while also walking to a parked car waiting for him in his neighborhood of Kalorama.

The senior White House adviser stuck to the classics this morning in a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie.

Ivanka didn't take part in the Asia visit, which came after she traveled to Japan on her own. Her daughter Arabella, six, did however play a part. President Trump shared a video of his granddaughter singing in Mandarin and reciting ancient Chinese poetry, first with President Xi Jinping, and then to a room full of dignitaries during a state dinner last week.

Sleek: Ivanka wore her long hair down and in a straight blowout, departing from the wavy hairstyle she sported earlier this week

Duties: The first daughter, who has spent most of her time promoting her father's proposed tax plan lately, kept her eyes mostly trained on her parked vehicle as she headed out

Speaking out: Yesterday, Ivanka slammed the embattled Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore over allegations that he made inappropriate sexual advances toward women

Believing: The presidential daughter and adviser said she had 'no reason to doubt' the accounts of women who say they were pursued or assaulted by Moore

Duo: Jared Kushner, 36 who has just returned to the US after tagging along for a trip around Asia with President Trump, which ended on Tuesday, made a separate exit this morning

The first daughter gushed about the moment on Fox And Friends on Monday morning, saying Arabella blushed when she saw footage of her grandfather showing President Xi her own clip.

Yesterday, Ivanka slammed the embattled Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore over allegations that he made inappropriate sexual advances toward women, with several saying it happened when they were teenagers.

The presidential daughter and adviser said she had 'no reason to doubt' the accounts of women who say they were pursued or assaulted by Moore.

She said: 'There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children. I've yet to see a valid explanation and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts.'

Trump did not, however, call for Moore to exit the Senate race in Alabama.

Moore, now 70, is the Republican nominee in a special Alabama election December 12 to fill the seat of now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Nine women have come forward to accuse Moore of sexual misconduct or of making inappropriate advances toward them when they were teenagers or in their 20s.

One of the women claims he initiated a sexual encounter with her decades ago when she was 14. Another says he groped her when she was 16.

Remarks: Ivanka (pictured arriving in Trenton, New Jersey on Monday) said as she blasted Moore: 'There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children'

Coming forward: Several women have accused Moore (pictured) of sexual misconduct, including a woman who said he initiated a sexual encounter with her when she was 14

President Trump dodged questions about the turmoil in the Alabama Senate race on Wednesday, declining to join national Republicans who've called for Moore to abandon the race amid allegations of sexual impropriety.

Trump, who withstood allegations of sexual assault weeks before his own election, was uncharacteristically silent when faced with questions about the scandal, which has rattled the party and left Moore's would-be colleagues threatening to expel him should he win.

Republicans had looked to Trump as one of the few remaining hopes for pushing a fellow political rebel from the race.

Moore, meanwhile, offered fighting words in a tweet addressed to the top Senate Republican: 'Dear Mitch McConnell, Bring. It. On.'

In Alabama, Moore's campaign chairman and personal attorney addressed reporters, trying to undercut the story of one of the women who has accused Moore of sexually accosting her when she was in high school.

The attorney, Phillip Jauregui, demanded that Beverly Nelson 'release the yearbook' she contends Moore signed.

The lawyer questioned whether the signature was Moore's and said it should be submitted for handwriting analysis.

Reunited and it feels so good: On Monday morning, Ivanka was all smiles as she joined the hosts of Fox And Friends

Proud mother: The first daughter commented on how her father showed a video of Arabella singing in Mandarin and reciting ancient Chinese poetry, first to President Xi Jinping

Duties: Later on Monday, Ivanka traveled to Bayville, New Jersey, with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to advocate for the GOP's proposed tax overhaul

Neither the attorney nor the campaign manager addressed the original allegations from Leigh Corfman who says that Moore initiated sexual contact with her when she was 14. They did not take questions.

Gloria Allred, Nelson's attorney, later said her client would allow the yearbook to be examined only if Moore is questioned under oath by a Senate committee.

The unusual news conference suggested Moore, a judge twice removed from his post as state Supreme Court chief justice, was digging in, leaving his party with two damaging potential election outcomes.

His victory would saddle GOP senators with a colleague accused of abusing and harassing teenagers, a troubling liability heading into next year's congressional elections, while a loss to Democrat Doug Jones would slice the already narrow GOP Senate majority to an unwieldy 51-49.

It's too late to remove Moore's name from the ballot, so fielding a Republican write-in at this point would almost certainly hand the election to the Democrats unless he should withdraw and persuade his supporters to vote for that substitute.

According to internal polling conducted by the Senate GOP campaign arm and reviewed by The Associated Press, Moore trails Democrat Jones by 12 points - 39 per cent to 51 pe rcent - in the survey conducted on Sunday and Monday.

Moore led by 9 points the week before in the National Republican Senatorial Committee's internal numbers.
Millennial pink had a moment, but a new pastel is emerging as the next must-have color: lilac.

The soft shade made an appearance on several spring 2018 runways, including that of designers Victoria Beckham, Dries van Noten and Michael Kors. Whether done in slip dress, trench coat or chunky knit sweater, lilac proved to be the it color next season.

But stars like Gigi Hadid and Jessica Biel are already sporting the cool tone. Get a jump on the trend by shopping our roundup of lavender fashions.

Cool color: Millennial pink had a moment, but a new pastel is emerging as the next must-have color: lilac. Designers like Victoria Beckham (left), Dries van Noten (center) and Michael Kors (right), all sent the soft shade down their spring 2018 runways

Gigi stopped by 'The Today Show' in New York City recently wearing an allover lace Nina Ricci bodysuit with a flowing, lavender sequin skirt.The 22-year-old model accessorized her look-at-me ensemble with Prada retro-forward pumps.

'The Sinner' actress Jessica Biel attended the NBCUniversals Press Junket at Beauty & Essex on Monday in California wearing a lavender criss-cross jumpsuit from Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad.

Poppy Delevingne attended Bottega Veneta's 'The Hand of the Artisan Cocktail Dinner' wearing a Bottega Veneta mini. The lilac number is from the Italian label's spring/summer 2018 collection.

Day wear: Gigi stopped by 'The Today Show' in New York City recently wearing an allover lace Nina Ricci bodysuit with a flowing, lavender sequin skirt.The 22-year-old model accessorized her look-at-me ensemble with Prada retro-forward pumps

Color of the moment: 'The Sinner' actress Jessica Biel attended the NBCUniversals Press Junket in Zuhair Murad, while Poppy Delevingne attended Bottega Veneta's 'The Hand of the Artisan Cocktail Dinner' wearing a Bottega Veneta mini in the same hue

Lilac is often thought of as a mature color, a.k.a. something your grandma might wear.

To look like a modern trendsetter, consider donning the shade from head-to-toe. That's right, just dive right in! A full lilac outfit, with clean lines and simple accessories, makes a big statement.

SHOP THE LOOK:

Fenn Pastel Lilac Wrap Coat by Ganni, $350; intermixonline.com Maverick Mini Leather Shoulder Bag by Marc Jacobs, $425; bloomingdales.com Lilac faux pearl stud longline hoodie by River Island, $70; riverisland.com Mara Heels by Boohoo, $16; boohoo.com, $16; boohoo.com Jewelled Tassel Earrings by Miss. Selfridge, $23; missselfridge.com Aviator-style gold-tone sunglasses by Alexander McQueen, $440; net-a-porter.com Bodycon Midi Dress by Awesome21, $15; amazon.com Pointy Dress Pumps by AOOAR, $51; amazon.com




Towards the end of Princess Dianas marriage to Charles, just the mention of her name was enough to send her father-in-law into a tirade.

If shed had enough of the Royal Family, she could get out and stay out, raged Prince Philip.

The story of Dianas turbulent years at the heart of the Royal Family is now familiar to most people. What is far less under- stood, however, is how the Queen and Philip viewed their troubled daughter-in-law, and how they tried as best they could to help her.

After Diana started appearing on front covers around the globe, she carved out an ever more prominent place for herself within the Royal Family. But Philip didnt like it. Nor, in her milder way, did the Queen.

When it became clear that Diana had given interviews for Andrew Mortons infamous biography, which exposed the misery of her marriage in searing detail, the Queen couldnt bring herself to condemn her

Although she regarded Diana as hard-working, she doubted if the princess had any real sense of commitment to the institution that had elevated her to public prominence in the first place.

She was also deeply suspicious of Dianas Hollywood-type glamour and the way she would use it to manipulate public opinion.

Yet the Queen is softer than she can appear. When it became clear that Diana had given interviews for Andrew Mortons infamous biography, which exposed the misery of her marriage in searing detail, her mother-in-law couldnt bring herself to condemn her.

She told Philip that she had sympathy for Dianas predicament  but this didnt go down well. In truth, he was incensed. As always, Philip articulated his views forcefully and accused the Queen of procrastinating on the question of whether Charles and Diana should divorce.

According to Diana, after much careful detective work, she came to believe Philip had illegitimate children whom he supported financially  though their identity, she said, was never going to be allowed to come to light. Needless to say, no shred of evidence has ever emerged to support any of these claims

Predictably, Anne and Edward  the closest to him of their children  agreed.

In matters that concerned their children, the Queen had always believed in deferring to Philip as the head of the family. But for once in their own long marriage, they were at loggerheads  and he was powerless to change her mind

It had all started so well in the summer of 1980, when Charles brought 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer to stay at Balmoral. Shed joined in the after-dinner games, laughed at Prince Philips jokes, got wet, fallen into bogs and said all the right things.

She is one of us, the Queen wrote to a friend. I am very fond of all three of the Spencer girls.

By that November, however, when Diana was a guest at Sandringham, the Queen was getting worried about all the media attention focused on the young woman.

Characteristically, she said nothing to Charles directly, but instead discussed the matter with Philip  who then wrote their eldest son a carefully considered letter.

Media pressure was creating an intolerable situation, said Philip, which meant that Charles must come to a rapid decision about Diana. Read it! Charles would furiously exclaim to friends in later years, whipping the letter out of his breast pocket.

It was his attempt to say that he was forced into the marriage, recalled one who saw the note. However, another who read it confided: It was actually very constructive and trying to be helpful. It certainly did not read as an ultimatum.

In the weeks leading up to the wedding, Diana moved into the Palace, where she started making herself sick and having rows with Charles. If the Queen was aware of any problems, she chose to ignore them.

Royals feared for William's emotional well-being When Charles and Diana announced they were divorcing, the Queen was desperately worried about their eldest son. She was all too aware that the blizzard of revelations and recriminations was placing Prince William under intolerable pressure. He was then just 13 and only two months into his first term at Eton. The Queens over-riding fear  she told her advisers  was that her grandson might actually crack up, just as his mother had. When Charles and Diana announced they were divorcing, the Queen was desperately worried about their eldest son Yet her natural inclination, as always, was to fret and do nothing. Her husband had to intervene, forcefully pointing out that Diana had problems of her own and Charles was too wrapped up in his own concerns to be much help to the boy. The Queen was the only person who could really help and encourage their grandson, Philip insisted, and it was the right time for her to intervene. Subsequently, William started joining his grandparents for lunch on Sundays. He only had to take a short walk from Eton across a bridge to Windsor Castle  but the consequences have been far-reaching. After lunch, Philip always made a discreet exit and left Elizabeth and her grandson together in the Oak Drawing Room overlooking the quadrangle. Then the two would talk in a way they never had before  not least because, until Charles and Dianas separation, the Queen had hardly seen William at all. Now, at last, they were able to forge a genuinely close relationship. But there was more to it than that: she was also able to impress upon William that the institution of the monarchy was something to be upheld and respected, and worth preserving. It was his birthright, after all, as much as hers. And, many years later, William revealed that the two of them had a shared understanding of whats needed. What few outsiders realised was that this had all come about because  as had so often been the case  the Duke of Edinburgh had stepped in and saved the day. Advertisement

But she kept an eye on her after the royal wedding. After Diana was photographed pregnant in her bikini in the Bahamas, for instance, the Queen summoned all the Fleet Street editors to the Palace and appealed to them personally to rein back on their coverage.

It was some time between the births of William and Harry that the Queen became aware that her daughter-in-law was finding it increasingly difficult to adapt to the pressures of her royal role. Even so, she assumed Diana would eventually find her feet.

That became rather more difficult when she learned that Charles had gone back to his old mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles.

Still, the Queens response whenever a tearful Diana poured out her troubles to her was to counsel patience. Just wait and see, said the Queen  her time-honoured refrain whenever her children had problems.

Prince Philip, for his part, decided to wade in. First, he tried to talk to Charles about his marital difficulties and the effect they were having on the royal institution. It was meant as fatherly advice, but because of the distant nature of their relationship, the conversations usually ended with Charles looking at his watch and making an excuse to leave the room.

Philip then asked his wife to bring her considerable authority to bear on an increasingly senseless situation, but she refused to intervene. He also tried reaching out to his unhappy daughter-in-law by writing her dozens of letters.

In one of these, he told her that he wished to do my utmost to help you and Charles to the best of my ability. But I am quite ready to concede that I have no talent as a marriage counsellor!

His suggestions included trying to find things Diana could do together with Charles  and he listed common interests that they shared, which is a tried-and-tested method favoured by marriage guidance counsellors.

To start with, the letters  which he signed Pa  were very sympathetic. He said that he knew first-hand the difficulties of marrying into the Royal Family and seemed to place much of the blame for her marital problems on Charles.

We do not approve of either of you having lovers, he said in one letter. Charles was silly to risk everything with Camilla for a man in his position. We never dreamed he might feel like leaving you for her. I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind leaving you for Camilla. Such a prospect never even entered our heads.

But his efforts were to no avail. In June 1992, while the Queen and Philip were at Windsor Castle, the Sunday Times began to serialise Andrew Mortons book Diana: Her True Story. They were stunned by what they read.

Having based the whole of their royal lives on obligation, discretion and duty, theyd never thought for one moment that their unhappy daughter-in-law would resort to airing her dirty linen in such a public way.

As the second instalment of Mortons revelations was rolling off the presses, Diana attended Royal Ascot with the rest of the family. Quite deliberately, Philip snubbed her in full view of all the top-hatted people in the Royal Enclosure.

Finally, a summit meeting was held at Windsor for the Prince and Princess of Wales to discuss the state of their marriage with Elizabeth and Philip.

Diana maintained that the only solution was a separation, but the Queen hoped a compromise would be possible for the sake of the children and the monarchy. When the Princess failed to show up at a planned second meeting, Philip decided to take matters into his own hands. In further letters to Diana  and occasionally face to face  he let her know exactly what he thought in language that was blunt and to the point, though not meant to be unkind.

One of his fiercest comments was: Can you honestly look into your heart and say that Charless relationship with Camilla had nothing to do with your behaviour towards him in your marriage?

The Queens response whenever a tearful Diana poured out her troubles to her was to counsel patience. Just wait and see, said the Queen  her time-honoured refrain whenever her children had problems

He expressed concern about Dianas bulimia and acknowledged it could have been responsible for some of her behavioural patterns. But he also told her she hadnt been a caring wife and that, while she was a good mother, shed been too possessive with her sons.

Jealousy had eaten away at the marriage, he said, and her irrational behaviour after the birth of William hadnt helped.

His letters could certainly have been more tactful. In one, he told her that her husband had made a considerable sacrifice by cutting ties with Camilla during the first few years of the marriage and that Diana had not appreciated what he had done.

He also wanted her to understand that being the wife of the heir to the throne involved much more than simply being a hero with the British people.

Like most insecure people, Diana did not appreciate being told off one bit. Furious, she showed the letters to several of her friends, who helped her construct suitable replies.

The Queen was at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate when Prime Minister John Major announced in December 1992 that Charles and Diana were separating. Instead of watching the news on TV, Elizabeth did what she always did when she was agitated: she took her dogs for a walk through the wintry woods and ploughed fields of Norfolk.

When she returned to the back door, a member of staff approached the solitary figure of the sovereign  dressed in wellingtons, loden coat and a headscarf  and told her how very sorry he was to hear the news.

The Queen replied: I think you will find it is all for the best.

'Darling, it's another generation...' The Queen has always preferred to overlook anything potentially unpleasant rather than confront it, in the belief that if she ignores it long enough it will go away. Whats more, the Queen Mother had warned her against becoming too involved in the problems of her offspring and their families. On one occasion, when they were discussing the childrens problems, the Queen Mother looked up from her game of patience. Darling, she told the Queen, I dont know why you care any more. Its another generation . . . just let them get on with it. She then dealt herself another hand. Advertisement

But the separation did not go smoothly. On the 40th anniversary of her Coronation, the Queen awoke to find the newspapers dominated by reports of a speech Diana had given the night before, in which shed talked of the depression and loneliness felt by so many women as they battled against post-natal depression or faced violence at home.

Philip was incensed at what he saw as a deliberate (and highly successful) attempt to upstage the Queen. It was happening too often, he argued. So, on his prompting, Elizabeth dispatched her private secretary to inform the Princess that her royal schedule was to be cut back.

Diana responded to that rap across her knuckles by announcing her retirement from public life, thereby turning rebuke to advantage and securing another sheaf of headlines of the kind that Philip had been so anxious to avoid.

Her relationship with her father-in-law degenerated rapidly. She told her friend Teddy Forstmann, an American billionaire, that she hated the Duke  and she said the same to me when I saw her at Kensington Palace shortly before her death.

Diana even confided to her friend Roberto Devorik, a fashion designer, that Prince Philip was plotting to have her killed. Another of her wild allegations was that hed insisted on both William and Harry having DNA tests in the light of revelations about her affair with Army captain James Hewitt.

What particularly angered her was Philips warning that her wayward behaviour was destroying the essence of everything that he and the Queen had dedicated their life to preserving, and that her actions were also damaging her childrens inheritance.

At that point, she decided to take revenge by doing her utmost to discover all she could about her father-in-laws alleged affairs.

According to Diana, after much careful detective work, she came to believe Philip had illegitimate children whom he supported financially  though their identity, she said, was never going to be allowed to come to light. Needless to say, no shred of evidence has ever emerged to support any of these claims.

The Queens sympathy for her daughter-in-laws position was tested to its limit by Dianas Panorama interview on November 20, 1995  which, significantly, was also the 48th anniversary of the monarchs wedding.

Watched by an audience of 15 million in Britain alone, Diana declared that there were three people in her marriage, spoke candidly about her former lover James Hewitt and inferred that her husband was unfit to be king.

The Queen was horrified, but still capable of feeling concern for Diana. Despite Philips misgivings, she let the Princess know that an invitation to spend Christmas with the Royal Family still held firm.

Diana wasnt sure what to do and kept changing her mind. When she finally telephoned the Queen to say that she wouldnt be coming after all, it was the final straw.

This was the moment that Philip took charge. According to one eyewitness, he went ballistic.

Aware that neither Diana nor Charles were discussing divorce, he told the Queen that she now had to use her authority. A divorce, he said firmly, was the only solution to this untenable mess. Unhappily, she had to agree.

Philip almost had to guide his wifes hand across the writing-paper, but at last it was done. On the morning of December 18, the Prince and Princess of Wales received her hand-written demand that they seek a divorce.

Someone must have greased the brakes  what the Queen said when she heard about Dianas crash Had Diana been troublesome and difficult in life, she proved a force beyond control after her death. The Royal Family were at Balmoral, 20 years ago, when they received initial reports that Diana and her latest lover, Dodi Al-Fayed, had been injured in a car crash in Paris. The Queens first comment was: Someone must have greased the brakes. The Royal Family were at Balmoral, 20 years ago, when they received initial reports that Diana and her latest lover, Dodi Al-Fayed, had been injured in a car crash in Paris. Above, the fatal crash in 1997 It was an extraordinary thing for her to say, but she was probably referring to rumours that one of Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayeds many enemies had sworn to get him. It was a short leap to assume that this was why his son and Diana had been targeted. The Queen, however, neither repeated nor offered any explanation for her comment, and her staff chose to see it as an indication of just how shaken she was. Nor was she the only one. The whole royal apparatus was thrown into disorder by the news of Dianas death, as calls grew ever louder for the Queen to return to London. For a while, she and Philip despaired as they saw everything theyd worked for come close to being destroyed. When they did come back, she did a walk-about outside Buckingham Palace and was distressed by some peoples animosity. What do they want me to do? she asked. No one could remember ever seeing her so agitated, so unsure of herself. The Queen was more her usual self by the time she went on television that evening to deliver her valedictory to Diana. As she walked off the makeshift set, she asked: Was that contrite enough? It was not a question. It was a joke, but delivered without a trace of humour. There was yet more upheaval in Westminster Abbey, when Dianas brother gave his address, saying in barely coded terms that he considered the Royal Family unfit to bring up his nephews. Both the Queen and Philip were appalled. But for the Queen the funeral was a genuinely sorrowful occasion. Alone in her family, shed always found it possible to sympathise with Dianas problems  and shed always retained some affection for her troublesome daughter-in-law. Advertisement

Philip told Fergie: Go to a nunnery  or a madhouse!

When Prince Andrew announced his engagement to Sarah Ferguson, his father pronounced himself delighted. I think Sarah will be a great asset, the Duke of Edinburgh said enthusiastically.

The Queen agreed: she liked the lively redheaded daughter of Prince Charless polo manager, and the feeling was mutual. After all, they seemed to have a great deal in common, including their love of horses, dogs, country life and, of course, Prince Andrew.

The wedding day, July 23, 1986, proved to be exceptionally joyful. Two years later, The Queen and Philip were delighted when the Duke and Duchess of York produced their fifth grandchild. She was named Princess Beatrice after Queen Victorias youngest daughter.

Philip got along well with Sarah in the early days. But she lost his good opinion after her marriage fell into difficulties relatively quickly after the birth of Eugenie in 1990

As the Queen and Philip were at Balmoral at the time, Sarah volunteered to travel to Scotland just four days after the birth  so they could see the baby before Andrew had to return to Royal Navy duties in the Philippines.

In those early days, Philip got along well with Sarah. But she lost his good opinion after her marriage fell into difficulties relatively quickly after the birth of Eugenie in 1990, and she started being seen with other men and behaving in public without suitable decorum.

Two years later, the couple met with the Queen and Philip to tell them theyd decided to separate.

The meeting was brief and painful. Andrew muttered words such as mutual incompatibility and Sarah apologised for her behaviour, which she agreed had been a long way short of what was both expected and required.

According to the Duchess, the Queen looked sadder than I have ever seen her, and asked me to reconsider, to be strong, to go forward.

The Queen may well have been sad, but Prince Philip was not. According to a member of the household, he was incandescent with anger.

There was an element of personal animosity in this. On several occasions, Sarah had come to Andrews defence when he was being berated by his father for some perceived weakness or other  and Philip is not a man who likes to be contradicted.

However, it was the Duchesss public deportment rather than any private disagreements that most enraged the Duke. As an outsider whod learned to adapt to the exigencies of royal life, he regarded his daughter-in-laws behaviour as selfish and reprehensible.

That summer, he appeared to be vindicated when Sarah was photographed topless in the South of France, having her toes sucked by her financial adviser John Bryan.

S he and her daughters were staying with the Queen and Philip at Balmoral when the photos were published in the Daily Mirror. They proved the fatal nail in what was left of her reputation.

The Queen was furious, the Duchess recalled. She was cold and abrupt as she berated her semi-detached daughter-in-law for exposing the monarchy to such ridicule. Prince Philip was even more direct, likening her to his uncles wife, Edwina Mountbatten, whose morals had long been a source of embarrassment to the Royal Family. Turning to Sarah, he told her: You should get to a nunnery  or a madhouse.

He also wrote dozens of letters to her, some very critical. Far from agreeing with his wife that time would solve the couples problems, Philip took the view that Sarah should leave the Royal Family.

Through her self-indulgent behaviour, he felt, shed let down the Queen and the institution of the monarchy, and was therefore no longer to be tolerated. In the end, he could no longer bear to be in the same room as Sarah; if she came in one door, hed leave by another.

After she and Andrew finally divorced in 1996, Philip banned her from entering any of the royal residences he was staying at  a rule that applies to this day.

The Queen, who still feels some affection for Sarah, has tried to persuade him to allow Beatrice and Eugenies mother to spend part of each summers holiday at Balmoral. But Philip wont budge.

And since she has always respected his role as head of the family, she wouldnt dream of going against his wishes.

Even so, the Queen isnt above a little underhand subterfuge. On occasion, when Philip had left Balmoral for a few days, shed phone Sarah to say: Heres your chance  come up now.

It didnt take long for the Duke to find out that shed been there, of course. But he was never unduly angry: after 70 years of marriage, the Queen and her husband have reached a state of benevolent compromise on most issues.

Adapted by Corinna Honan from My Husband And I: The Inside Story Of 70 Years Of Royal Marriage, by Ingrid Seward, published by Simon & Schuster at 20  Ingrid Seward 2017. To order a copy for 16 (offer valid to November 25, 2017, P&P free), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640.
They say the best way to get over heartbreak is to keep busy, and Donna Air certainly doesn't seem to be moping at home of late.

The former Byker Grove star looked happy and glowing as she attended the launch party for stylist and designer Lena Hoschek's pop up store in Shoreditch, East London this evening amid rumous she's split from boyfriend James Middleton.

Mother-of-one Donna, 38, arrived in a sparkling black coat to ward off the winter chill, but later removed it to reveal a white blouse with an elaborate frill detail on the front, teamed with a silver a-line skirt.

Donna Air, 38, attends the Lena Hoschek Pop-Up Store launch party in London amid rumours she's split from the Duchess of Cambridge's younger brother James

Donna arrived in a striking black sparkling coat as she bundled up against the winter chill

Earlier this week, Donna was seen engrossed in conversation with a girlfriend during a shopping trip in Mayfair amid reports she's getting over yet another split from the Duchess of Cambridge's younger brother James, 30.

The couple started dating four years ago, for four years, but last month reports emerged that the pair had quietly split.

Their latest break up comes just months after they reunited in the summer having taken a four-month relationship sabbatical, prompting Donna to go to a 1,000-a-week Alpine clinic.

After being diagnosed with stress, she treated herself to vitamin infusions and aerial yoga - in a bid to cheer herself up over her heartbreak.

The mother-of-one looked stylish in a white blouse and silver skirt as she posed with designer Lena Hoschek

No heartbreak here? Donna looked glowing in a white and silver outfit for her night out

Donna, who is eight years James' senior, began dating the entrepreneur four years ago and he's previously spoken about how they make each other 'very happy'

Eight years James' senior, Donna has a 14-year-old daughter, Freya, with her ex-boyfriend, the casino and wildlife park heir Damian Aspinall.

Although James may have enjoyed a privileged upbringing, Donna attended a state school in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Her success begun aged just 10 when she was cast for Byker Grove.

The relationship has raised eyebrows, due to the age gap between the couple, but James has been vocal about his feelings for his girlfriend in the past.

The entrepreneur has previously said: 'I love Donna very much. Marriage is absolutely not something I'm scared of, but it isn't necessarily the be-all and end-all.

'She makes me very happy. I think I make her very happy. I want children.'

Donna hit the town for the fashion launch days after being spotted shopping and gossiping with a friend in Mayfair
A youthful mom is causing internet users to do a double take after a now-and-then photo comparison of her and her daughters was shared online.

Kienya Booker, 40, of Nova Scotia has gone viral thanks to the images, which show off her age-defying good looks.

It began when Kienya shared a collage of images showing herself with her girls when they were just young children and what they look like now.

Who's who? Kienya Booker, 40, (right) has left social media users scratching their heads after posting images with her daughters

Then and now: It started when Kienya posted these images as a throwback Thursday, showing that she has barely aged since her kids were little

The mom-of-three, who has more than 79,000 followers on Instagram for her natural hair tutorials, even just looks like the oldest of three sisters in the first photo with her daughters KLienya, 18, and Kolieya, 16, Smith.

The girls are regular features on Kienya's Instagram page, sometimes posing as models for their mother's various expertly styled looks.

Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Kienya explained that the photos started as just a regular throwback Thursday post.

'The top half of the picture was a throwback of me and my daughters from about 12 to 13 years ago, and the bottom half was a more recent picture of us,' she said. '

And thats when it all started.'

Making her way: Kienya has more than 79,000 followers on Intagram for her natural hair tutorials

All in the family: Her daughters often feature on her Instagram and in her tutorials

All together: Multiple images of the trio on social media prove that Kienya and her girls look more like sisters

Soon enough, other users were taking the photos from her page and turning them into memes - with all along similar lines.

'Shes not the mom, shes their sister' said some users, while others added: 'Did their mom even age?'

But not all the comments were so flattering, with some accusing Kienya as simply posing as the girls' mother for attention.

Others suggested that she must have had the kids when she was 15 years old in order to look that young - which is obviously not the case.

Stylish: Kienya was taken aback by people assuming she was lying or saying she must have had her daughters when she was extremely young, which isn't the case

Siblings: Kienya is also mom to four-year-old Obie, pictured here with his older sisters

As for the experience as a whole, Kienya claims she was a 'bit thrown off with some of the negative comments,' but has otherwise loved the reaction to her photos, and has happily shared some of the more positive coverage that her ageless appearance has received.

The mom has shared a number of other photos of herself with her girls, showing that the original image was no fluke as it's always nearly impossible to tell which is the mom.

However as far as the mystery about whether or not she really does age, her husband OBryan cleared that up when he posted a happy birthday message to his wife of five years on his own Instagram account - although he graciously left out her actual age.

'Happy ** Birthday to my beautiful wife @kienyabooker,' he wrote. 'I [love] you very much! I thank God for you and that you were blessed to be here another year! Fine Wine or China aint got nothing on you!!'
A year and a half after a jury in Lincoln said Gage County and two sheriffs deputies owed six people $28.1 million for time they spent in prison for another mans crime, an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel pelted the attorneys with questions.

The three judges will decide whether the verdict should stand or if the county should get a new trial, as its seeking, in the case that sought to hold deputies responsible.

Joseph White, Thomas Winslow and Ada JoAnn Taylor each spent nearly 20 years in prison before, in 2008, DNA testing confirmed Bruce Allen Smith, a lone drifter who by then had died in prison in Oklahoma, was to blame for Helen Wilsons brutal rape and murder in her Beatrice apartment in 1985.

James Dean, Kathleen Gonzalez and Debra Shelden each had served around five years in prison.

It is among the most noteworthy false confession cases in the country.

Attorneys for the six say the lead investigator, Deputy Burt Searcey, recklessly fed details of the crime scene to co-defendants, who feared facing the death penalty.

And they say a reserve deputy, Dr. Wayne Price, who worked with mentally fragile co-defendants, told at least two that details of the crime could come back to them in dreams.

The six sued, saying the investigation had been so shockingly reckless that it violated their constitutional rights.

Last year, a jury in U.S. District Court in Lincoln agreed and awarded them $28.1 million.

In court Thursday, the complicated verdict, which included 60 questions, was under the microscope.

"This is a confusing set of verdicts, Judge Duane Benton said.

Jurors found Gage County liable for the reckless investigation, as well as Searcey, who since has retired, and Price.

But the jury also found there had been no conspiracy and said then-Gage County Sheriff Jerry DeWitt, who since has died, wasnt liable for anything.

In order to find the county responsible, by law, the jury had to find evidence of a conspiracy or that it came under the direction of a county policymaker.

"Tell us how we reconcile that, Benton asked Jeff Patterson, an attorney for the six.

Patterson said the jury was very careful in deciding the 60 questions before it. He said he believes they determined that DeWitts conduct was secondary.

The real cause of this was the conduct of the investigators, he said.

The county was liable because the sheriff had directed, authorized and accepted the conduct, even having read reports that didnt match up with the crime scene evidence, Patterson said.

At any point in time he couldve done exactly what the Beatrice police did and say none of this is adding up, he argued.

Attorney Melanie Whittamore-Mantzios, who represents Gage County, argued that the judges must narrow their path to what the jury found, which included the absence of a conspiracy.

Would negligence be enough? Benton asked her.

No, she argued; neither was it enough that he was reading reports.

DeWitt had to understand that a constitutional violation was taking place, Whittamore-Mantzios said.

Where was the specific thing they did that was reckless? she asked, adding there was no indication Searcey or Price hid any evidence.

Patterson countered the argument.

Any reasonable officer in 1989 would know you cannot frame six innocent individuals for murder. And thats exactly what weve got here, he said.

Patterson said the information that came from dreams bore no semblance of the facts. The deputies just ignored it and kept pressing forward to get their convictions, he said.

They had gathered unreliable and false evidence recklessly without heed or concern in a death penalty case, Patterson argued.

On rebuttal, Patrick OBrien, another of Gage Countys attorneys, got the last word, saying Patterson didnt say what in particular DeWitt did to act as a policymaker, which would make the county liable.

The fact that there was no conspiracy makes a county verdict clearly inappropriate, he argued.

The judges  Benton, Bobby Shepherd and Jane Kelly  took the case under advisement and could rule sometime in the next six to eight weeks.

If it were sent back for a retrial it would be for the third time. The first ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked.

Outside the courtroom after arguments, current County Sheriff Millard Gustafson said he never had anything to do with the case and keeps his opinions about it to himself.

Regardless, he and the rest of Gage County's property owners are nervous about what happens if the $28.1 million verdict stands.

I just cant see how wed ever be able to afford that. Thats a concern of everybody, Gustafson said.

He said it would be devastating to the county and would effect how they do business.

I hate it for everybodys sake," Gustafson said, including for the Beatrice 6: Its just bad for everybody."
At the age of 35, she is hardly a veteran of stage and screen.

But Sienna Miller is doing all she can to ensure she remains ever young on screen  drinking a daily shot of freshwater fish collagen which is said to reverse the signs of ageing.

The actress spends around 1,100 a year on Skinade, a pioneering new drink containing tiny fragments of collagen peptides to replenish skin cells from the inside out.

Actress and model Sienna Miller swears by Skinade, a new - and very expensive - drink made from collagen of freshwater fish

According to sources close to the star, her daily drink habit has had noticeable results  and means she does not need to resort to Botox or other chemical fillers.

The mango-flavoured drink, recently featured in Vogue, has been scientifically proven to stimulate the production of new, undamaged collagen, helping to reverse the effects of sun damage and ageing.

Last night a source said: 'Sienna has actually been taking these shots regularly since 2014, and has seen a real difference in her skin.

By drinking this stuff daily, she doesn't have to resort to more drastic measure likes Botox or fillers, and feels like she is actually doing her body some good.

A 30-day course of Skinade costs 99 - which would tot up to more than 1,100 a year

Sienna is a mother-of-one whose daughter Marlowe Sturridge, who she had with her ex-boyfriend Tom Sturridge, is now five

Friends have commented on how glowing her skin looks and she is now a massive convert.

The high-tech drink, launched by Marylebone-based wellness company Bottled Science in 2013, contains protein-based building blocks sourced from the connective tissue of freshwater fish.

They are so small, they are absorbed straight into the bloodstream without going through the gut - which means they are able to act directly on the bodys cells.

By tracking the peptides, research has demonstrated a high proportion go to the skin, where they kickstart the bodys own production of collagen.

Data published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology confirmed that the structure of the skin was improved after two months continuous use.

Whilst collagen drinks in Los Angeles are already hugely popular  Kim Kardashian and the designer Tom Ford are fans  they are now slowly taking off in the UK.

In addition to the drink, the Alfie actress takes good care of both her face and body to ensure she remains as fresh-faced as possible.

As well as eating clean, she also exercises regularly  she is a fan of trendy spin class, Soul Cycle, plus yoga  Miss Miller also uses a naturopathic doctor, Dr Nigma Talib.

Last night a spokeswoman for Miss Miller declined to comment.
Scientists have found a genetic mutation in the Amish people of the midwestern United States that appears to make them live 10 years longer than people without it, a study said Wednesday.

The report is the latest clue in a decade-plus search for the secrets to healthy aging in this traditional, Christian community that balks at most modern technology.

Researchers in the US and Japan are currently testing an experimental drug that aims to recreate the effect of this mutation in people, in the hopes it may protect against age-related illnesses and boost longevity.

Scroll down for video

The Amish are a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships with Swiss Anabaptist origins. They're known for their simple living and plain dressing, and shunning of modern technology. Pictured are Amish people featured in the TV program 'Amish: A Secret Life'

WHAT THEY FOUND Researchers based at Northwestern University have found a genetic mutation in the Amish people of Berne, Indiana that appears to make them live 10 years longer than people without it. Researchers studied 177 members of the Berne Amish community in Indiana, and found 43 who had one mutant copy of the gene, SERPINE1. These carriers lived to 85 on average, while those without it in the Amish community tend to live to 75. Amish people with this gene mutation were also significantly less likely to get diabetes, and had 30 per cent lower fasting insulin levels. Advertisement

'Not only do they live longer, they live healthier,' said lead author Dr Douglas Vaughan, chairman of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author of the new research.

'It's a desirable form of longevity.'

Researchers studied 177 members of the Berne Amish community in Indiana, and found 43 who had one mutant copy of the gene, SERPINE1.

These carriers lived to 85 on average, while those without it in the Amish community tend to live to 75.

Amish people with this gene mutation were also significantly less likely to get diabetes, and had 30 per cent lower fasting insulin levels, and more efficient metabolisms.

A measure that reflects vascular age was also lower - indicative of retained flexibility in blood vessels in the carriers of the mutation - than those who don't have the mutation.

They lived more than ten per cent longer and had 10 per cent longer telomeres (a protective cap at the end of our chromosomes that is a biological marker of aging) than Amish family members who don't have the mutation.

The Amish kindred (immediate family and relatives) in Berne, Indiana, have been genetically and culturally isolated and most are at least distantly related.

The ancestors of the Indiana Amish emigrated in the middle of the 19th century from Berne, Switzerland.

The researchers say that the mutation was introdiced into the Amish kindred by farmers from Switzerland, who moved into the area.

Amish people who had one mutant copy of the gene SERPINE1 lived more than ten per cent longer and had 10 per cent longer telomeres (a protective cap at the end of our chromosomes that is a biological marker of aging) than Amish family members who don't have the mutation

Two of their descendants, who carried their mutation, married into the Amish community - and the Amish community outsid of the Berne area does not carry this mutation.

'This is the only kindred on the planet that has this mutation,' Dr Vaughan said.

'It's a 'private mutation.''

The key protein at play in the aging of cells appears to be PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor,), which is influenced by SERPINE1.

HOW THEY DID THE STUDY On May 5, 2015, a caravan of 40 doctors, nurses, sonographers and other health care workers drove to Berne before dawn to set up 10 testing stations in a nearby community center. Over the following two days, 177 Amish arrived by horse and buggy for testing, half on each day. It took a full day for each person to go through all the testing stations that included: fasting blood samples, echocardiograms, systolic blood pressure testing, pulse wave velocity (a measure of stiffness of their large arteries), pulmonary function tests and urine samples. A team of 40 doctors, nurses, sonographers and other health care workers drove to Berne before dawn to set up 10 testing stations in a nearby community center. Over the following two days, 177 Amish arrived by horse and buggy for testing, half on each day According to Dr Douglas Vaughan, the lead author of the study, so many Amish people agreed to participate in the study because: 'They are curious about the mutation because they know some of them have a bleeding problem.' The Northwestern University research team found that people with two copies of the mutated PAI-1 genes not only has a bleeding disorder, but also varying degrees of an unusual cardiac disorder that leads to fibrosis - scarring of the heart. The team treated 11 Amish patients with the double mutation. The single mutation, however, led to increased logevity. Advertisement

Amish people with the mutation has very low levels of PAI-1, which is known to be related to aging in animals but its effect in humans has been less clear.

'The findings astonished us because of the consistency of the anti-aging benefits across multiple body systems,' said Dr Douglas Vaughan, the lead author of the paper who has been studying PAI-1 for almost 30 years.

'For the first time we are seeing a molecular marker of aging (telomere length), a metabolic marker of aging (fasting insulin levels) and a cardiovascular marker of aging (blood pressure and blood vessel stiffness) all tracking in the same direction in that these individuals were generally protected from age-related changes,' Dr Vaughan said.

'That played out in them having a longer lifespan.

'Not only do they live longer, they live healthier.

'It's a desirable form of longevity.

'It's their 'health span.''

However, Amish people with not one but two copies of the mutant gene suffer from a rare bleeding disorder, leading to the absence of PAI-1 in the blood and resulting in bleeding.

People with just one copy of the mutated gene did not have a bleeding disorder.

Northwestern University researchers have partnered with Japan's Tohoku University to develop and test an experimental oral drug (called TM5614) that would inhibit the action of PAI-1, like in Amish people with the mutant gene.

The drug has passed basic safety trials and is now being tested in phase 2 trials in Japan on how well it works on insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Amish people with the mutation has very low levels of PAI-1, which is known to be related to aging in animals but its effect in humans has been less clear

And Northwestern University is seeking FDA approval to begin a US trial, possible within the next six months.

In addition, cognitive measurements will be part of future measurements for the study.

Experimental data is promising - it shows that lower levels of PAI-1 can protect against Alzheimer's-like pathology.

'We hope to be able to revisit them regularly and do additional testing to look at the velocity of aging in this kindred and unearth more details about the protective effect of this mutation,' Dr Vaughan said of the Amish population studied.
Up to 8,000 women a year will benefit from two life-changing breast cancer drugs that will be routinely prescribed for the first time.

In a major victory for the NHS, the two pharmaceutical giants behind the treatments were forced to substantially lower their prices.

This meant the NHS rationing body, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), could approve them for routine use nine months after they were initially rejected.

The drugs, palbociclib and ribociclib, have been hailed as the closest thing to a cure for women with incurable breast cancer.

Up to 8,000 women a year will benefit from two life-changing breast cancer drugs that will be routinely prescribed for the first time (stock image)

Taken as daily pills, they stop cancer cells dividing and spreading by blocking the action of two key proteins.

They would normally cost 35,000 a year per patient but Nice negotiated an undisclosed, lower fee with the manufacturers Pfizer and Novartis.

Trials have shown they extend the lives of patients with incurable breast cancer that has spread to other organs by an average of ten months.

But some women are still alive three years after receiving the drugs, working full time and travelling the world.

The drug palbociclib was rejected by Nice in February on the grounds that it was too expensive and offered only limited benefits. But the rationing body now says it can approve it after negotiating discounts with the manufacturers. Ribociclib has also been approved by Nice.

Until now, there have been no effective treatments for incurable breast cancer. Women are usually offered chemotherapy to temporarily slow its spread but this has crippling side effects, and many feel it is not worth it.

Trials have shown they extend the lives of patients with incurable breast cancer that has spread to other organs by an average of ten months (stock image)

Baroness Delyth Morgan, of the charity Breast Cancer Now, said: This is a life-changing and long-awaited step forward, potentially offering thousands of women the closest thing they would have to a cure in their lifetime. But these advances are often coming at considerable delay, leaving patients in anxious uncertainty. We urgently need a more efficient drug system.

Professor Nicholas Turner, from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, who carried out one of the trials into the drugs, described them as one of the most important breakthroughs for women with advanced breast cancer in the past two decades.

Up to 45,000 patients are diagnosed with breast cancer in England each year and one in eight women will develop it at some point in their lifetime.

The drugs will initially be offered to those with incurable or metastatic breast cancer that has spread to their lungs, bones, liver, brain or other organs.

But researchers believe they will eventually be prescribed to tens of thousands of women with early stage breast cancer and replace chemotherapy.

Charities have criticised Nice and the EU drugs watchdog, the European Medicines Agency, for not approving the drugs earlier.

They have been available to women in the US for nearly two years. Some British women have been paying up to 156,000 a year to buy them from America.

Charities have criticised Nice and the EU drugs watchdog, the European Medicines Agency, for not approving palbociclib earlier.

Doctors will decide which of the two drugs to give patients based on their medical history and the side effects.
An extra 120,000 patients have died in the past seven years following cuts to health and social care budgets, a major study has found.

The patients were all over 60 and the majority died in care homes or their own homes, rather than in hospital.

Researchers from Cambridge University likened the cuts to 'economic murder' and said local NHS and social care funding means vulnerable patients are not receiving the help they badly need.

They also linked a fall in nurse numbers, particularly to district nurses who work in the community, to the additional deaths.

The patients were all over 60 and the majority died in either their own home or care homes

The study by Cambridge, Oxford and University College London is the first of its kind to look at the effects of funding reductions.

It is based on a computer model which calculated how many deaths should have occurred between 2010 and 2017, based on the number of deaths from 2000 to 2010.

It also predicted that if the current trends continue, there would be another 100 excess deaths a day between now and 2020. Researchers said that, although they could not prove the deaths were caused by the fall in health and social care spending, there was a very strong link.

One of the lead authors, Professor Lawrence King, from Cambridge University, said: 'It is now very clear that austerity does not promote growth or reduce deficits  it is bad economics, but good class politics.

'This study shows it is also a public health disaster. It is not an exaggeration to call it economic murder.'

The study, published in the BMJ Open journal, is complicated and the researchers admitted there may be other 'factors' behind the increased deaths such as the fact the population is ageing, unhealthy lifestyles and deprivation.

Dr Ben Maruthappu of University College London, senior author of the study, said: 'While the Government's investment into social care earlier this year is welcome, it is clear that more must be done, with better modernisation of services, and protection of health and social care funding.' The research also found that previous rises in life expectancy rates had stalled.

Researchers from Cambridge University (pictured) likened the health and social care cuts to 'economic murder'

The average woman was living 3.8 months less than previous predictions and the average man 5.2 months less.

Life expectancy rates are 82.9 for women and 79.2 years for men. The findings come amid calls from the medical profession for the Government to substantially increase health and social care funding in next Wednesday's Budget. A Department of Health spokesman said: 'As the researchers themselves note, this study cannot be used to draw any firm conclusions about the cause of excess deaths.

'The NHS is treating more people than ever before and funding is at record levels with an 8billion increase by 2020-21. We've also backed adult social care with a 2billion investment, and we have 12,700 more doctors and 10,600 more nurses on our wards since May 2010.'
The deadly plague outbreak in Madagascar is rapidly spiralling out of control as 171 people have now lost their lives, official figures reveal.

World Health Organization data also shows the 'medieval disease' has infected 2,119 in the country off the coast of Africa - a four per cent jump in a handful of days.

The 'crisis' has prompted ten African countries to be placed on high alert, with the WHO ordering nine to step up preparations.

Experts fear the plague, which strikes Madagascar every year, will inevitably become resistant to antibiotics and mutate and become untreatable.

Others worry it will eventually hit the US, Europe and Britain, leaving millions more vulnerable due to how quick it can spread through populations.

And with the plague season expected to run until April, scientists believe there will be another spike of cases in the coming months.

Scores of doctors and nurses have already been struck down with the disease, and there are growing fears hospitals will be unable to cope if it continues its rampage.

But local officials are adamant the 'worst outbreak in 50 years' is slowing down as the number of new cases is on the decline.

More than 2,000 cases have now been reported in Madagascar, health chiefs have revealed, as 10 nearby nations have been placed on high alert

Sientists are growing increasingly concerned this year's outbreak has reached 'crisis' point

Two thirds of cases have been caused by the airborne pneumonic plague, which can be spread through coughing, sneezing or spitting and kill within 24 hours.

It is strikingly different to the bubonic form, responsible for the 'Black Death' in the 14th century, which strikes the country each year and infects around 600 people.

Malawi was added to the growing list of nations placed urged to brace for a potential outbreak over the weekend, becoming the tenth.

HOW THE PLAGUE HAS ESCALATED DATE OF REPORT October 4 October 9 October 12 October 17 October 20 October 26 October 31 November 6 November 9 November 14 INFECTED/DEAD 194/30 387/45 684/57 849/67 1,297/102 1,309/93 1,801/127 1,947/143 2,034/165 2,119/171 Advertisement

South Africa, Seychelles, La Reunion, Tanzania, Mauritius, Comoros, Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia have already been told to prepare.

Paul Hunter, professor of health protection at the world-renowned University of East Anglia, was the first expert to predict the plague could travel across the sea.

He previously told MailOnline: 'The big anxiety is it could spread to mainland Africa, it's not probable, but certainly possible, that might then be difficult to control.

'If we don't carry on doing stuff here, at one point something will happen and it will get out of our control and cause huge devastation all around the world.'

Adding to the fears, he has previously warned there is a risk the disease could spread 'globally'.

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

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, he was adamant that it would be easy for an economically developed country to contain the treatable disease in its current form.

Professor Hunter's concerns echoed that of dozens of leading scientists, many of whom have predicted the 'truly unprecedented' outbreak will continue to spiral.

Professor Jimmy Whitworth, an international health scientist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, described it as the worst outbreak in 50 years.

And Professor Johnjoe McFadden, a molecular geneticist at Surrey University, said that the plague is 'scary' and is predominantly a 'disease of the poor'.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline two weeks ago, he also said: 'It's a crisis at the moment and we don't know how bad it's going to get.'

Professor McFadden added: 'It's a terrible disease. It's broadly caused more deaths of humans than anything else, it's a very deadly pathogen.

'It is a disease of poverty where humans are being forced to live very close to rats and usually means poor sewage and poor living conditions.

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

HOW DID THIS YEAR'S OUTBREAK BEGIN? Health officials are unsure how this year's 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

In Madagascar, a sacred ritual sees families exhume the remains of dead relatives, rewrap them in fresh cloth and dance with the corpses

'A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING TO DECIMATE THE WORLD' Credible experts have warned that there is no threat to the UK, however, some have warned the plague outbreak will reach the UK. Richard Conroy, founder of Sick Holiday, has sent a chilling warning to UK authorities - saying it's 'only a matter of time' before the disease arrives on British soil. Mr Conroy warned it is inevitable due to the vast movement of people across the globe its inevitable that plague will continue its march. He told MailOnline: 'I believe that it's 100 per cent likely that plague will arrive in the UK once more - it's just a question of 'when', not 'if'. 'And it's not an exaggeration to say that this is a real threat - a ticking time bomb that's waiting to decimate the world. 'With the current outbreak still remaining treatable with antibiotics, however, the current risk is low.' Advertisement

'That's the root cause of why it's still a problem in the world. If we got rid of rats living close enough to mankind then we wouldn't have the disease.'

Professor McFadden warned in countries such as Madagascar 'people often need to walk more than a day to receive proper medical treatment'.

He added: 'Fortunately in plague, it has not developed much antibiotic resistance. If that kicks in, the plague will be far, far scarier.

'If you throw more and more antibiotics at patients, antibiotic resistance is more less inevitable.'

Commenting on previous WHO figures, Professor Robin May, an infectious diseases expert at Birmingham University, told MailOnline the outbreak was 'concerning definitely'.

Dr Derek Gatherer, from Lancaster Universitys biomedical and life-sciences department, told MailOnline the country would struggle to cope if cases continue to spiral.

He said: If it wasnt for the international aid coming in things, would definitely be much worse for them [Madagascar].

Amid concerns the plague had reached crisis point two weeks ago, the World Bank decided to release an extra $5 million (3.8m) to control the rocketing amount of cases.

The money will allow for the deployment of personnel to battle the outbreak in the affected regions, the disinfection of buildings and fuel for ambulances.

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

The latest World Health Organization figures come days after aid workers on the ground revealed that police are having to seize the corpses of plague victims.

Charlotte Ndiaye, of the WHO, described the situation as being 'terrible', with many traditional families unwilling to part with their loved ones.

Hundreds of families are confused about what they should do with the dead bodies, Ms Ndiaye told South African's Mail & Guardian newspaper.

If officials suspect someone to have died from pneumonic plague, an officer armed with chemicals will be disposed to kill any bacteria on the corpse.

They are then placed in a sealed body bag and placed in a common grave - but the practice goes against the traditions of the Malagasy culture.

In the culture, there is an annual celebration to honour the dead - and aid workers previously warned this would fuel an increase in cases.

All Saints Day, otherwise known as the 'Day of the Dead', is a public holiday which takes place on November 1 each year. Crowds often gather at local cemeteries.

WHY DID THE 'GODZILA' EL NINO TRIGGER THE WORST PLAGUE IN 50 YEARS? Experts also believe last year's natural phenomenon El Nino - 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 University's Institute of Infection and Global Health, suggested floods and heavy rains  triggered by Cyclone Enawo, may also be to blame. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he warned the particularly aggressive El Nino of 2016 may be behind the aggressive start of this year's 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.' Experts believe the natural phenomenon dubbed 'Godzilla' triggered an increase in rat populations in rural areas of Madagascar, sparking the beginning of the epidemic 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 48 years worth of data. 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. 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

'In that type of situation, it may be easy to forget about respiratory etiquettes,' Panu Saaristo, the International Federation of Red Cross' team leader for health in Madagascar, previously told MailOnline.

Concerned health officials have also warned an ancient ritual, called Famadihana, where relatives dig up the corpses of their loved ones, may be fueling the spread.

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.

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.

People in Madagascar believe the ritual honours their dead relatives, who can be 'turned' every five, seven or nine years

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.'

Experts have long observed that plague season coincides with the period when Famadihana ceremonies are held from July to October.

Last week MailOnline revealed the 'Godzilla' El Nino of 2016 has also been blamed for the severity of this year's outbreak by causing freak weather conditions.

Plague season hits Madagascar each year, and experts warn there is still six months to run  despite already seeing more than triple the amount of cases than expected.

Usually the country sees cases of bubonic plague, which is transmitted by rat flea bites and was responsible for the 100 million fatalities from the 'Black Death' in the 14th century.

If left untreated, the Yersinia pestis bacteria can reach the lungs. This is where it turns pneumonic  described as the 'deadliest and most rapid form of plague'.

Health officials are unsure how this year's outbreak began, but local media report that forest fires have driven rats towards rural communities.

This year's worrying outbreak has seen it reach the Indian Ocean island's two biggest cities, Antananarivo and Toamasina.

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'. '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

'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

Experts warn the disease spreads quicker in heavily populated areas. It is estimated that around 1.6 million people live in either city.

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.

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.'

The most recent WHO figures dispute claims by Dr Manitra Rakotoarivony, Madagascar's director of health promotion, that the epidemic is on a downward spiral.

He previously told local radio: 'There is an improvement in the fight against the spread of the plague, which means that there are fewer patients in hospitals.'

THE OPENING OF THE RED CROSS' FIRST MAKESHIFT PLAGUE CLINIC Concerned humanitarians have opened a clinic attached to a major hospital in the country's capital in a desperate attempt to contain the plague outbreak. The International Federation of Red Cross has set-up a makeshift treatment clinic at the Andouhatapenaka Hospital in Antananarivo. Twenty beds are available to be used in the clinic, but it is unsure how many patients are currently being treated at the makeshift centre. Aid workers stress it will be able to offer 24/7 treatment to those infected, as officials continue their attempts to clamp down on cases. An international team of doctors are also providing supervision and training on plague treatment Advertisement

The ceremony sees the wrapped remains carried out into the open and carefully placed on a mat where they are rewrapped, or 'turned' in the new shrouds

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. 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, is a celebration accompanied by music, dancing and singing, fuelled by alcoholic drinks. As soon as it is over, the mats on which the bodies are laid are pulled up. Many participants store them under their mattresses in the belief it will bring them good luck, harboring bacteria. Advertisement

The WHO, which issues a new report into the outbreak every few days, also remains adamant that cases are on the 'decline in all active areas' across the country.

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 two weeks ago: '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.

'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.'

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.'

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 previously asked for $5.5 million (4.2m) to support the plague response, which has now been issued.

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 were shut in a desperate attempt to contain the respiratory disease, with children known to come into contact with each other more than adults. The buildings have been sprayed to eradicate any fleas that may carry the plague.

Dilys Morgan, head of emerging infections and zoonoses at Public Health England, said: 'The risk to people in UK is very low, but the risk for international travellers to and those working in Madagascar is higher.

'It is important that travellers to Madagascar seek advice before travelling and are aware of the measures they can take to reduce the risk of infection.

'The UK has robust systems in place for assessing illness in persons returning from travel or work overseas.

'Plague is no longer the threat to humans that it was centuries ago, as antibiotics work well if treatment is started early.'

For Madagascans, the famadihana ceremony is an intense celebration accompanied by music, dancing and singing, fuelled by alcoholic drinks
Your body is your vehicle, so it's important to keep your engine running when you work out.

That means fueling up your body by eating the right foods to give you the energy you need to go hard at the gym.

To fuel or not to fuel prior to a morning working out continues to be a hot topic.

Fitness icon Shaun T, the man behind the Insanity craze, reveals that while he prefers to exercise first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, he often needs a snack to keep him going before and after a workout.

And the food he turns to for a slow-release energy boost is sweet potato, which he calls a 'powerhouse food.'

On days when he's feeling low in energy, he has half of one about 45 minutes before be begins a training session.

Insanity inventor Shaun T says he eats half a sweet potato before a training session

Insanity is based on HIIT, which is popular for torching up to 1,000 calories an hour

WHAT IS INSANITY? Insanity is billed as 'the hardest workout ever put on DVD,' that promises to get you in the best shape of your life in just 60 days. It uses a combination of Max Interval Training and total-body conditioning that's certainly not for the faint-hearted. The Insanity DVDs include varying workouts and require at least an hour per day of very-high-impact work, with one total rest day per week recommended. This brand began in 2014 when the company Beach Body caught on to the gap in the market for a HIIT home work out and they also rolled out Insanity classes live in gyms, studios and halls in the US, Canada and the UK. There are now more than 15,000 qualified Insanity Live instructors around the world, with 3,500-plus instructors trained in the UK in the first year. Advertisement

'A half a sweet potato is my best friend,' the 39-year-old from New Jersey told Business Insider.

'I call it the powerhouse food. Its an amazing carb, and you dont need to add sugar or anything like that. Just bake it and eat it just like that.'

And if you try Shaun's Insanity, dubbed 'the hardest fitness program ever put on DVD', you'll likely need some fuel in your belly.

It became a huge hit for its claims to be able to burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour and transform your body in 60 days.

Some experts say that by training on an empty stomach or after a light meal, your body is not preoccupied with digesting huge amounts of food, but instead is able to deliver large amounts of oxygen to your muscles and potentially burn more fat.

Others argue that when your 'gas tank' is on empty, your body starts to break down amino acids from your muscle mass, converts them to glucose for energy, and instead of burning fat, can break down valuable muscle tissue.

Why are sweet potatoes so nutritious?

Sweet potatoes contain complex carbohydrates which release glucose into your system more gradually than refined carbs (such as sugars and white grain products such as bread and rice) which leads to a steady supply of energy.

As sweet potatoes are high in fibre they not only boost your energy, but can assist with weight loss too as they keep you feeling fuller for longer.

They have more grams of natural sugars than regular white potato but more overall nutrients with fewer calories.

They pack a powerful nutritional punch. In one medium spud, there is over 400 percent of your daily vitamin A requirement. They're also rich in vitamin C, magnesium and iron  all of which are essential energy nutrients.

The high potassium content helps to balance electrolytes whilst exercising, and lowers blood pressure too.

One medium sweet potato (skin on) provides about 6 grams of fiber, which helps prevent constipation and promotes regularity for a healthy digestive tract.

Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant which is converted to vitamin A in the body. This may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Experts advise keeping the skin on, as this contributes significant amounts of fiber, potassium, and quercetin (another potent antioxidant).

You may want to have it plain like Shaun T, but if you want to use sweet potato more in your everyday cooking, here are some ideas below.

Sweet potato recipes

Lamb and sweet potato casserole

This lamb and sweet potato casserole is a great way of getting a nutritious punch

Serves 4

Ingredients

5 spray low-fat cooking spray

450 g lean lamb leg steak, cut into chunks

2 large onion(s), red, thinly sliced

2 clove garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon ground coriander

8 portion cardamom pods, green, split open

600g sweet potatoes, (1lb 5 oz), peeled and cut into large chunks

425 ml fresh stock, (3/4 pint) vegetable or chicken

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 180C/ 350F/Gas Mark.

Spray a large flameproof casserole dish with low fat cooking spray. Heat, add lamb chunks and cook until browned. Add onions and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until softened.

Add ground coriander, cardamom pods and sweet potatoes. Pour in stock. Season.

Transfer to the oven and cook for 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Serve and enjoy!

Tip: You could use lean shoulder of lamb instead of the leg steaks.

Roasted sweet potato and chickpeas

This roasted sweet potato and chickpeas recipe is simple and quick to make

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 large red onion, finely chopped

4 fat garlic cloves, unpeeled

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 2cm (in) pieces

1tbsp cumin seeds

1tbsp ground coriander

Thumbnail of ginger, grated

2tbsp olive oil

1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes

1tbsp honey

1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Handful of mint or parsley, roughly chopped

Couscous to serve

Method

Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.

Put the onion, garlic and potatoes into a roasting pan, scatter over the spices, season with salt and pepper and drizzle over the oil.

Roast for 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes, honey and 200ml (7fl oz) water and roast for a further 15 minutes. Stir through the chickpeas and return to the oven for a final 10 minutes. Scatter with the herbs and serve with couscous.

Tip: This is also delicious with crumbled feta cheese scattered over the top for the last 10 minutes of cooking

Sweet potato and cumin soup with feta yogurt

Sweet potato and cumin soup with feta yogurt is a warming treat on a winter's day

Serves 6

Ingredients

1kg orange-fleshed sweet potatoes

1 large onion

4 garlic cloves

3 tbsp olive oil

1 heaped tsp ground cumin

a pinch of dried chilli flakes

1.2 litres chicken or vegetable stock

sea salt

75g feta crumbled

150g greek yoghurt

chopped sun-dried tomato optional

Method

Peel and thickly slice the sweet potatoes. Peel and chop the onion. Peel and finely chop the garlic.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and fry for afew minutes until relaxed and glossy, stirring occasionally. Put in the garlic, cumin andchilli and fry for a minute longer. Add the sweet potato, and continue to cook for another couple of minutes, stirring frequently. Pour in the stock and season with salt, bring to the boil and simmer over a low heat for 20 minutes, by which time the sweet potato should be meltingly tender.

Liquidise the soup in batches. Return it to the saucepan and season with a little moresalt if necessary.

Combine the feta and yoghurt in a bowl. Serve spooned on top of the soup, with a scattering of chopped sun-dried tomato if using.
A Japanese man's bulging bicep isn't a sign of strength, but muscle weakness in his shoulder, doctors said.

The 79-year-old man's case, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reports that the growth appeared in his arm when he lifted a cardboard box causing a sharp pain in his shoulder.

Doctors said the bulge is actually a balled-up muscle due to a tear in one of the tendons that connect the bicep to the shoulder, known as the Popeye deformity.

And though he may look like the strong cartoon sailor, the man said it caused him great pain.

A 79-year-old Japanese man experienced a bulge in his bicep after lifting a cardboard box and feeling a sharp pain in his shoulder. It is known as the Popeye deformity

WHAT IS THE POPEYE DEFORMITY? The Popeye deformity involves a tear or rupture of the long head of the biceps. The biceps muscle is attached to the shoulder bone by two tendons and to the elbow bone by one tendon. The long head of the bicep tendon is the longer of the two tendons that attach to the shoulder. The tear causes a complete deformity of the arm muscle. Because the tendon is injured; the muscle is shortened and goes toward the elbow area. The muscle appears like a big ball or a Popeye muscle, which gets its name from the popular cartoon sailor who was known for his big arms. Advertisement

An MRI showed the man had a complete tear of the long head of the biceps tendon, according to the case report.

Tendons are the tissues that connect muscle to bone. The bicep muscle is attached to the shoulder by two tendons and to the elbow by one.

The man ruptured the the 'long head' or the longer of the two tendons.

The case published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported: 'This finding on physical examination is caused by bulging of the biceps muscle belly after rupture of the biceps tendon; however, patients with a rupture of this tendon do not always present with the Popeye sign.'

Dr Naoki Yoshida, who treated the man, said: 'The affected part was actually soft and pillowy, not hard muscle like Popeye.'

He also added that the bulge became more pronounced when the man flexed his elbow.

The deformity is more common in older adults as muscles, tendons and ligaments experience wear-and-tear over time, the study said.

However, this can occur in athletes, especially body builders due to their constant and quick lifting of heavy weights.

Surgery is often necessary for these athletes if they require full arm strength for their career.

An operation that was developed just last year involves creating a tendon using existing tissue in the arm that could help people regain full use.

Physical therapy is also recommended to build arm strength.

For this man, his treatment was to take nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs or painkillers until the swelling went down.

Four months after the initial tear, the patient reported that the pain was reduced and no longer affected his daily life, but the bulge still remained.

Another man in Russia has also been experiencing the Popeye deformity, but from very different causes.

Kirill Tereshin, 21, has gained attention by sharing pictures and videos of his bizarre arms on social media.

But unlike the Japanese man, he has been injecting himself with a dangerous enhancement oil, know as synthol, to develop his huge 24-inch biceps.

And doctors warn this could cause him permanent damage, including paralyzation.
Vaping while pregnant could cause babies to be born with disfiguring birth defects to their faces and heads, a new study suggests.

The researchers found that exposure to e-cigarette vapor damaged cells that would eventually become facial features in ways that could cause facial clefts and uneven growth of facial structures.

As e-cigarettes become increasingly popular alternatives to cigarettes, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) study adds to mounting evidence that vaping is not an entirely safe replacement for more traditional tobacco products.

In spite of the growing body of research to the contrary, most Americans believe that vaping causes only moderate harm or no harm.

Vaping while pregnant may cause head and facial birth defects, a new study cautions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and doctors already recommend that no form of smoking  including vaping  is safe for pregnant women, but this study gives early tangible evidence of the risks of the little-studied e-cigarettes.

As many as 19.4 percent of young adults thought that e-cigarettes caused no harm, according to CDC data collected between 2013 and 2014.

More than half of the same age group  18 to 24  believed that they were only moderately harmful.

Studies have shown that e-cigarette vapor does have fewer toxins, but the products are so new that their effects arent fully understood.

Led by senior author, Dr Amanda Dickinson, the VCU study tested the responses of animal embryos to e-cigarette vapor.

They found that mixture of liquids to create the novel flavors of e-cigarette vapor were responsible for the worst damage to the developing animals.

Most flavors led to only minor effects, like slightly smaller than normal faces. But one unnamed flavor in particular consistently caused the most damage. All of the frogs exposed to that flavor had significant facial clefts.

E-cigarettes use a heating mechanism to heat e-liquids and convert them into flavored vapor. The liquids contain nicotine, as well as propylene, glycol, vegetable glycerine and flavoring compounds.

The ingredients used to make the various flavors are a bit of a mystery, but one 2014 study revealed that at least one worrisome ingredient was common.

That research analyzed 159 varieties of flavored vape liquids, and found that more than two thirds used a compound called diacetyl, which is linked to a popcorn lung.

The VCU study notes the popcorn lung effect, as well as previous research linking flavoring in e-liquids to heart defects in developing zebrafish, brain development delays in mice, and the release of at least two carcinogens.

Vaping while pregnant can cause birth defects like cleft palate (left) and midface hypoplasia (right), which results in underdeveloped eye sockets, cheeks and upper jaw

The researchers tested six different e-liquids, with nicotine strengths varying from six mg/ml to 24 and one or more flavoring additives. Two varieties had only one flavor each: red tobacco and menthol. They also tested a liquid flavored with both milk and dark chocolate, and one with melon and candy.

The most dramatic defects were tied to the two liquids with the greatest number of different flavors. One used strawberry, almond, caramel, vanilla, biscuit and Vienna cream flavorings, and the other had cereal, berries, cream and citrus.

Both of the many-flavored varieties led to dramatically cleft faces or other facial birth defects in the frogs they were tested on, which, the authors hypothesize are 'translatable to human embryos. Specifically, we believe that when a pregnant woman vapes, the fetus would be exposed to similar concentrations of chemicals' as the frogs in their experiment were.

Facial and mouth clefts are gaps in the middle of the face that can affect both soft muscle and skin tissue and bones. They are rare in humans, effecting only about 1 in every 150,000 babies born worldwide. Depending on how severe the cleft is, they may be reparable with surgery, but if left untreated can also make it difficult for people with cleft faces and palates to eat, make them prone to ear infections and hearing loss, speech and language impairments and dental problems.

E-cigarettes are generally perceived by the public as safe for recreational use and only associated with mild effects when used during pregnancy, wrote the study authors.

The work we have done here contradicts this perception and has the potential to inform public policy regarding the distribution and regulation of the ECIG market.
Johnson & Johnson has won a lawsuit in California against a woman who claimed the brand's baby powder gave her cancer.

But minutes later, the firm lost a $247 million case in Texas over faulty hip replacements made by its orthopedic brand.

Meanwhile, J&J faces lawsuits by around 5,500 plaintiffs nationally asserting talc-related claims, largely based on claims it failed to warn women about the risk of developing ovarian cancer from the products.

A jury in California ruled against a woman with cancer who claimed the firm's talc-powder (pictured) contains cancer-causing asbestos

THE OTHER CASES AGAINST J&J PENDING CASES: OVARIAN CANCER: J&J faces lawsuits by around 5,500 plaintiffs nationally asserting talc-related claims. They are largely based on claims it failed to warn women about the risk of developing ovarian cancer from the products. HIP REPLACEMENTS: The firm also faces more than 9,700 lawsuits against its orthopedics unit in state and federal courts across the United States. VERDICTS: Aside from the win and loss today, J&J has had a slew of victories and defeats in recent years. OVARIAN CANCER: In five trials in Missouri involving ovarian cancer lawsuits, juries found J&J liable four times and awarded the plaintiffs $307 million. In California, a jury awarded a now-deceased woman $417 million. But in October, J&J scored major victories when a Missouri appellate court threw out the first verdict there for $72 million and a California judge tossed the $417 million verdict. HIP REPLACEMENTS: The company won the first Pinnacle test trial in 2014, but subsequent juries determined the companies to be liable. A jury in March 2016 awarded five Texas plaintiffs $500 million in damages. That award was later cut to $150 million. J&J and DePuy were also found liable at a trial in March, during which a jury awarded six California patients $1 billion - a verdict that was later reduced to $543 million. Advertisement

The California case was brought by Tina Herford, a California resident who claimed she developed the cancer mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in the company's talc-based products including J&J's Baby Powder.

She was hardly the first to do so. J&J is separately battling thousands of cases claiming those products can also cause ovarian cancer. Last month, another woman who requested $417 million claiming talc gave her ovarian cancer was overruled by a California court.

This, however, was the first time a plaintiff has claimed that the talcum powder contains asbestos.

Nonetheless, on Thursday, the jury in Los Angeles Superior Court ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson.

The jury also went in favor of talc supplier Imerys Talc.

J&J welcomed the verdict, saying it believed that setbacks dealt to individuals pursuing ovarian cancer cases had 'forced plaintiff attorneys to pivot to yet another baseless theory.'

'Johnson's Baby Powder has been around since 1894 and it does not contain asbestos or cause mesothelioma or ovarian cancer,' J&J said.

Chris Panatier, Herford's lawyer, cautioned against reading too much into a single verdict.

'It is a matter of time before juries begin holding them to account,' he said.

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer closely associated with exposure to asbestos. It affects the delicate tissue that lines body cavities, most often around the lungs, but also in the abdomen and elsewhere.

Herford's lawyers contended that internal J&J documents showed the New Jersey-based company for decades was aware of the presence of asbestos in the talc that was used in its products but kept selling them anyway.

The verdict came as a federal jury in Dallas ordered J&J and its DePuy Orthopaedics unit to pay $247 million to six patients who said they were injured by defective Pinnacle hip implants.

Delivering a third straight win to patients, the jury found that the metal-on-metal hip implants were defectively designed and that the companies failed to warn consumers about the risks.

Six New York residents implanted with the devices said they experienced tissue death, bone erosion and other injuries they blamed on design flaws.

J&J, which faces more than 9,700 Pinnacle lawsuits in state and federal courts across the United States, said in a statement it would immediately begin the appeal process.

A DePuy spokeswoman said the company was still 'committed to the long-term defense of the allegations in these lawsuits,' adding that the metal-on-metal hip implants were backed by a strong record of clinical data showing they were effective.

Plaintiffs claimed the companies falsely promoted the device, most commonly used to treat joint failure caused by osteoarthritis, by saying it lasted longer than similar implants that include ceramic or plastic materials.

'We thank this jury for sending a very strong message about the responsibility the defendants have to take care of their consumers,' Mark Lanier, who represented the New York patients, said in a statement.

Thursday's verdict came in the fourth test trial over the devices in Dallas federal court, where some 9,000 of the cases are pending. Test cases have been selected for trial, and their outcomes will help gauge the value of the remaining claims and inform potential settlement talks.

A jury in Dallas ruled that J&J was culpable for six faulty hip replacements made by its DePuy Orthopaedics unit

J&J won the first Pinnacle test trial in 2014, but subsequent juries determined the companies to be liable.

'This nine-week trial was a disservice to everyone involved because the verdict will do nothing to advance the ultimate resolution of this six-year old litigation,' attorney John Beisner, who represented the companies, said in a statement. He said the firms would seek further appellate guidance.

A jury in March 2016 awarded five Texas plaintiffs $500 million in damages. That award was later cut to $150 million.

J&J and DePuy were also found liable at a trial in March, during which a jury awarded six California patients $1 billion - a verdict that was later reduced to $543 million.

DePuy ceased selling the metal-on-metal Pinnacle devices in 2013 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration strengthened its artificial hip regulations.

In five trials in Missouri involving ovarian cancer lawsuits, juries found J&J liable four times and awarded the plaintiffs $307 million. In California, a jury awarded a now-deceased woman $417 million.

But in October, J&J scored major victories when a Missouri appellate court threw out the first verdict there for $72 million and a California judge tossed the $417 million verdict.
THE CRYPTIC PUB QUIZ

written and illustrated by Frank Paul (Duckworth Overlook 16.99)

I should probably come out and admit it straight away: I love pub quizzes. Ive been going to one in North London since 1993 and running it, shambolically, since 1997. The quiz has the reputation of being the toughest around, but its nowhere near true.

It might be the best and most interesting, but obviously I cant confirm that.

A new contender, though, for the hardest quiz around now emerges, with Frank Pauls unusually fascinating book, which collects some of the more brutal questions he has asked at The Mill pub in Cambridge. Regular attendees of this quiz are clearly masochists, as some questions require so much thought Im amazed its all over in a single evening.

Frank Paul has collated the toughest questions asked at The Mill pub in Cambridge for his new pub quiz book. Pictured, Ursula Andress in Dr No as the answer to a difficult question

Paul writes a quiz every week, each round of which requires at least two PhDs to negotiate successfully. He doesnt even start writing next weeks until this weeks is over, although his quiz only runs from October to Easter. Presumably he enters some sort of monastic retreat in May, to prepare himself for the full rigours of the following autumn.

Some of his questions are, lets face it, impossible. Try this for size: the ancient Roman freedman Spurius Carvilius Ruga is often credited with which invention, which is used in agriculture, computing, photography and cryogenics? The answer is  I guarantee you wont have got this  the letter G. Unless you knew it, of course.

Dull men in pubs across the country, who downloaded their quiz for 5 that morning, will ask you the capital of Peru, or who presented The Generation Game after Bruce Forsyth. They are not worthy to lick Frank Pauls boots.

The only country in the world named after a chemical element is named after which element? Which word for a part of an animal can be preceded by the word globe to mean someone who travels widely? (Sounds complicated but isnt. You should get this one.)

Which foodstuff can also be a term of endearment, the title of a Mariah Carey song or the first name of a film character played by Ursula Andress (pictured)?

There are eight of these questions in the round, and theres a link between the answers. Got the link yet?

THE CRYPTIC PUB QUIZ written and illustrated by Frank Paul (Duckworth Overlook 16.99)

The first one is silver, which gives us Argentina. This comes from the Latin word argentinus, meaning of silver, which comes from argentum  silver. The second one is trotter.

The third one is very clever indeed, because how many terms of endearment are there? And can anyone in the world remember the title of any Mariah Carey song? Or the name of the character played by Ursula Andress in Dr No? It was Honey Ryder. The answer is Honey.

Silver, Trotter and Honey are all surnames from the works of Roald Dahl. No, I wouldnt have got that either.

This book will see any serious quizzer to Christmas and well beyond, during which time Frank Paul will have written another dozen or so quizzes as complicated as these. Just the thought of it makes my head spin.
A right-wing Hindu nationalist political party in India has laid the foundation stone for a temple to honour Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse.

After years of petitioning by the Hindu Mahasabha (All-India Hindu Grand-Assembly) Gwalior district administration refused permission for the construction of a temple.

However the party has already laid the foundation stone in Gwalior's Daulatgunj area, and today it unveiled a statue of Gandhi's assassin in its office where Godse is said to have stayed for a week while planning the murder.

The Hindu Maha Sabha (All-India Hindu Grand-Assembly) with its 32-inch golden bust of Godse at its office in the Daulatganj area of Gwalior city

In January 1948, over 2 million people gathered to attend the funeral of India's father, Gandhi

Mug shot of the Indian political activist Nathuram Vinayak Godse, the killer of Gandhi sentenced to hanging

Godse was convicted of killing Gandhi and hanged on November 15, 1949, but to this day his Hindu nationalist supporters observe the day as 'sacrifice day'.

'We had sought land from the Gwalior administration for a grand temple in memory of Nathuram Godse. Our plea was denied, so we have decided to build a temple inside our Daulatgunj office in Gwalior, ' Jaiveer Bhardwaj, a Hindu Mahasabha leader, told the Telegraph newspaper.

The CM has the name of Mahatma Gandhi on his lips, but in his heart he has Godse Ajay Singh

Even with India now under the Hindu nationalist leadership of Narendra Modi and the BJP, the majority of Indians - including Modi - continue to regard Gandhi as the 'Father of the Nation'. Gandhi is celebrated in India and around the world as a symbol of non-violence and a champion for those fighting social oppression in all its forms.

Men climbing telecom towers to see the procession during Gandhi's funeral

Gandhi's body strewn with flowers during his funeral in 1948

Nathuram Godse, like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was an ex Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member from Pune. He was motivated to kill Gandhi because he believed - as many in India still do - that Gandhi was conceding too much to Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muslim majority Pakistan during Partition negotiations.

Godse shot India's founding father Mahatma Gandhi in the chest three times at point-blank range in New Delhi on 30 January 1948, a year after Gandhi led India to Independence from British rule.

Times of India newspaper the day after Gandhi's assassination

Parties like the Hindu Maha Sabha have long championed the rehabilitation of Godse, and they now seek to portray him as a patriot alongside the likes of Bhagat Singh and Mangal Pandey.

In 2014, following the BJP's rise to power, the Hindu Mahasabha asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to erect a bust of Godse while in office.

The Hindu Maha Sabha have been actively applying for land to build a temple in the name of Godse, but the application for land has so far been rejected by the district administration.

According to Jaiveer Bhardwaj of the Maha Sabha, a decision to construct the temple in the Daulatganj area was taken after the administration rejected its application for land.

The Hindu Maha Sabha have long championed the rehabilitation of Godse, and they now seek to portray him as a patriot alongside the likes of Bhagat Singh (right) and Mangal Pandey

A statue of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi is pictured in Parliament Square, London. Gandhi is loved around the world

Madhya Pradesh leader of the opposition, Ajay Singh, has hit out at chief minister Shivraj Singh, alleging that the state government is providing tacit support to the killer of the father of the nation.

'The CM has the name of Mahatma Gandhi on his lips, but in his heart he has Godse.

'How else is it possible that the supporters of Godse are openly laying a foundation stone for a temple in his name,' Ajay Singh told reporters.

Mahatma Ghandi enjoys a joke with his two granddaughters Ava and Manu at Birla House

The gun and one of the bullets with which Godse assassinated Gandhi. 'Bapu' is the Hindi word for 'father'

Singh also alleged that the government has refused to take any action against those who desecrate the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Pradesh Congress chief spokesman told the Times of India: 'It is an anti-national act, and punitive action should be taken against the perpetrators.

'We suspect a well-planned conspiracy behind the burning of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Morena on November 1 and the installation of Godse's statue a fortnight later'.

Gandhi stands between Lord and Lady Mountbatten in 1947

Twitter reacts

Users on Twitter took the news of the 'Godse Temple' with a mixture of joy, anger and bemusement.

An informal poll run by user @IndianInterest asked followers if Godse was, 'a hero who sacrificed his life for the country? OR A villain; a criminal who assassinated the Father of the Nation?'

Of 4103 votes, 81% of voters on the anonymous and informal poll claimed that Godse was a hero.

User @GouravJaiswal argued that 'India is the first country to worship terrorists' while alternatively @TheVedicMind claimed that Gandhi was killed for his, 'dualistic character and discrimination against Hindus'.
Economics and comedy. Not a conventional pairing.

But after spending a weekend at the worlds first (and likely to be only) economics and comedy festival, I can tell you theyre a match made in heaven.

Every November the medieval town of Kilkenny in Ireland hosts Kilkenomics  four days of whats been described as Davos with jokes.

As grey cloud and drizzle envelops the little cobbled streets outside, groups gather in the cosy back rooms of pubs and little theatres to drink Guinness, debate and guffaw over globalisation, neoliberalism, bankers, cryptocurrencies and politics.

Debating into the night: Comedians and economics join forces at Kilkenomics

This year behavioural economist Liam Denaney presented the economics of Father Ted in a sold out session late on a Saturday night.

And in a panel on greed with Yanis Varoufakis, renegade economist Kate Raworth imagined Adam Smiths mum calling out Adam, dinners ready! as the granddaddy of economics wrote his Wealth of Nations, which he had moved home to write. Just imagine how different mainstream economics might be if it had made him stop and think about the value of unpaid labour.

Last year Dara O Briain hosted an economics jargon-busting game show, in which economists and comedians attempted to outdo one another in demystifying the likes of secular stagnation and the Laffer curve.

Its brilliant. Id strongly recommend sticking it in your new 2018 diary.

But I also think laughing at economics shouldnt be confined to one weekend a year.

By treating it with too much reverence, or dismissing it as boring or removed from our own lives we give it too much power or responsibility.

The economy is all of ours  shaped by our billions of individual decisions, each of our whims, flaws, experiences.

Through economics, something close to a science has been built up to explain it, but even many economists question whether it takes itself too seriously.

The economy is too important to leave to the experts.

So forget hug a hoodie. Laugh at an economist.

It makes economics far less intimidating.

A subject where Nobel prizes are awarded to people who go against the grain by pointing out how people are irrational deserves the odd dressing down.

Beautiful surroundings: Kilkenny with its beautiful castle and history plays host to the festival every year

Kilkenomics: The world's first economics and comedy festival aims to make money funny
Steve Munford, the non-executive chairman at security firm Sophos, has pocketed more than 4million after he cashed in 750,000 shares in the Oxford-based company.

He sold 300,000 shares at 578.9p on Friday and 450,000 on Tuesday at 582.88p.

Munford was chief executive at Sophos from 2006-12, stepping down to return to Canada with his wife and three children.

Sophos recently reported revenue growth of 16 per cent, lifting its share price to an all-time high.
Schroder says Tesco's merger with Booker because would be bad for Tesco investors

A top Tesco shareholder last night attacked the supermarket giants plans to merge with Booker in a 3.7billion deal.

Schroder Investment Management, which owns 4.65 per cent of Tesco, said it remained firmly opposed to the deal because it would be bad for investors.

The comments came after leading wholesalers slammed regulators decision to approve the deal on Tuesday  saying it risked destroying their businesses.

A spokesman for Schroder said last night: We have argued that it doesnt matter how good a strategy is if you pay the wrong price.

We believe that Tesco is paying a too high a price for Booker making it very hard to create value for Tesco shareholders.

A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We have been listening very closely to the views of our shareholders throughout this process. We have held a wide series of meetings with shareholders since we announced this proposed merger and are pleased with the overall response.

'As we have said all along, we strongly believe the strategic and financial rationale for this transaction is compelling, and we welcomed the announcement yesterday from the CMA that it has given provisional unconditional clearance of the merger.'

The Competition and Markets Authority gave surprise provisional clearance to the tie-up on Tuesday.

The proposed deal would turn Britains biggest retailer into a major supplier to small shopkeepers, serving 125,000 independent convenience stores as well as 468,000 restaurants and pubs.
Oil giant BP kick-started its share buyback programme yesterday, the first time a major European oil firm has resumed repurchases since prices slumped in 2014.

As part of scheme that allows investors to choose dividend payouts in shares rather than cash, BP said it will purchase a maximum of 1.96bn ordinary shares until the company's 2018 AGM, or August 17 next year, whichever is earliest.

The plans were revealed last month as BP announced that profit for the third quarter had been doubled.

BP's chief financial officer Brian Gilvary said the scheme would be introduced to 'offset the ongoing dilution' of its dividend.

'Given the momentum we see across our businesses and our confidence in the outlook for the group's finances, we will be recommencing a share buyback programme this quarter,' he said.

BP said it will purchase a maximum of 1.96 billion ordinary shares until the company's 2018 AGM, or 17 August 2018, whichever is earliest

BP has been trying to shake off the legacy of the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, that saw it fork out more than 48billion in clean-up costs and penalties.

But a downgraded outlook for oil demand from the International Energy Agency meant the price of crude oil fell, and BP ended the day down by 1.6 per cent, or 8p, to 495p.

Shares in mining companies Glencore, Anglo American and Rio Tinto also fell as the price of copper slid.

'With the miners falling ... it's a very heavily-weighted sector on the FTSE,' said Henry Croft, a research analyst at Accendo Markets. 'We've been really in a consistent downtrend since the beginning of November.'

STOCK WATCH - BANGO Mobile payment platform Bango has seen its share price triple over the past 12 months after a busy year of overseas expansion and deals. Its tie-up with 9mobile in Nigeria will enable customers to pay for their media, games and apps through Google Play, without having a credit card or bank account. The country is the biggest user of mobile internet services in Africa. Shares in the AIM-listed company rose to 242.5p yesterday, rising 7.1 per cent, or 16p.

Bucking the trend were safe haven precious metals miners  Fresnillo led FTSE 100 gains to soar 3.3 per cent, or 42p, to 1325p, while Randgold Resources also made inroads to end the day 0.8 per cent higher, or 55p, at 7045p.

Fresnillo was also boosted by an upgrade from HSBC which changed its 'hold' rating to 'buy', and cut its target price to 1570p from 1760p.

It was the biggest mover on the FTSE 100 as markets closed, but the index fell 41.81 points to 7372.61.

Wizz Air's mammoth 13.1billion order from Airbus weighed on Thomas Cook as it traded lower by 2.8 per cent, or 3.3p, to land at 113p. Hungarian airline Wizz has bought 146 of Airbus's planes, in a deal it called 'a game-changer'.

Industrial conveyor belts supplier Fenner enjoyed soaring profits and a subsequent leap in its share price as the company confirmed its outlook for 2018 would be above previous expectations.

Profits and revenue for the year ending August 31 came in well above market predictions to rise by 68.1million from a loss in 2016 to 53.4million, while revenue rose 14 per cent to 655.4million.

Analysts were expecting full-year revenue of 639.8million, and an operating profit of 47.1million.

Fenner closed 8.4 per cent higher, or 28.25p, at 365.25p.

Shares in outsourcing group Carillion spiked in early trading as it announced a 254million contract win from Oman.

The debt-laden firm issued two profit warnings this year and in September announced a 1.2billion loss for the first half.

The deal did little to assuage the fears of investors, leaving Carillion down at 41.75p, 3.5 per cent lower, or 1.5p.

Strong results at Avon Rubber boosted shares by 4 per cent, or 43p, taking its final price to 1108p.

The manufacturer's order book increased by 11.8 per cent to 173.9million in the year to September-end, while profits were up 11 per cent to 19.8million.

EasyHotel's takeover of a 104-room hotel in Newcastle boosted its share price, which rose 1.7 per cent, or 2p, to 119.5p.

Boss Guy Parsons said the deal was an excellent opportunity to establish itself in the 'vibrant and popular' city.




The world's two biggest aeroplane makers ramped up their battle for the skies as they sold jets around 58billion.

European giant Airbus sold 430 planes for 38billion to a US budget airlines investor  outdoing arch-rival Boeing which sold 225 planes worth 20billion worth to Fly Dubai.

Airbus also finalised an order for 90 planes from Dublin firm CDB Aviation Lease Finance.

Airbus sold 430 planes for 38bn to a US budget airlines investor  outdoing arch-rival Boeing which sold 225 planes worth 20bn worth to Fly Dubai

The three deals are for the smaller jets, with airlines increasingly wanting nimble planes for short-haul flights.

US firm Boeing's deal with Fly Dubai will see the Middle Eastern airline buy 175 of the 737 Max aircraft and get purchase rights over a further 50.

European consortium Airbus is selling the A320-neo family jets to airlines investor Bill Franke and his Indigo Partners investment fund.

Indigo plans to supply the jets to four budget airlines in which it invests: Hungary's Wizz Air, Frontier Airlines in the US, Mexico's Volaris and Chilean Jet Smart.

'The deal is a massive boost for British jobs, as wings for the planes are made in Broughton, north Wales, and Filton, Bristol.'

However, it has highlighted the relative failure of Airbus's superjumbo jet, the A380, which is hoping for a new order from Emirates.

The A380 can carry more than 550 passengers and is the world's biggest plane, but demand has not been as strong as hoped, and only 317 have been ordered so far.

A much-anticipated order from key client Emirates appears to have stalled at the last minute, with discussions believed to be ongoing at the Dubai air show last weekend.

Max Kingsley-Jones, content director at industry magazine Flight Global, said Airbus's super-jumbo had pushed Boeing out of the big aircraft market.

He added: 'Airbus can't build the A320 fast enough  the A380 they can't build it slow enough.'

Wizz, which has flights between the UK and Europe, plans to take 146 of the order from Airbus.

The deal is a boost at a troubled time for Airbus. It is under investigation by the UK's Serious Fraud Office and its French counterpart over its use of intermediaries in plane sales.
The merger between Tesco Opticians and Vision Express will not face a deeper probe

A merger between Tesco Opticians and Vision Express will not face a deeper probe after Britains competition watchdog accepted efforts to address concerns over the deal.

The Competition and Markets Authority said in August that it would launch the first phase of a merger inquiry into the sale of more than 200 Tesco outlets to Vision Express, in an effort to pinpoint whether the deal would result in a substantial lessening of competition.

But it will not launch a second phase probe although it has pinpointed three locations where the move would result in a worse deal for customers.
A clash between three of the City's biggest names erupted again last night as a top investor stepped up a campaign against the London Stock Exchange.

Sir Chris Hohn, founder of The Children's Investment Fund, sent an explosive letter to LSE chairman Donald Brydon demanding he explain why chief executive Xavier Rolet is leaving.

Hohn, 51, wants Rolet to stay and believes he has been forced out by Brydon.

He has used his 5 per cent holding in LSE to force it to call a shareholder meeting before Christmas to vote on whether Brydon himself should be sacked  and Rolet reinstalled.

In yesterday's letter, Hohn listed questions he said must be answered and told the chairman: 'You have failed to provide transparency to shareholders.'

It sets the stage for an epic battle of wills between the trio.

David Buik of stockbroker Panmure Gordon said: 'Brydon and others have clearly clashed with Rolet, who's a very strong personality and used to getting his own way. Hohn has been a nightmare for many over the years, and they're set for a showdown.'

Rolet has run the LSE for more than eight years, transforming it from a business worth 800million to a 14billion titan.

But the French former investment banker's star fell after his failed attempt to sell the company to German rival Deutsche Boerse this year.

Rolet said last month that he intended to quit but refused to be drawn on the reasons why.

The 58-year-old  who owns a chateau with 74 acres of vineyards in Provence and hives housing 50,000 bees  is popular with many investors but some insiders see him as aloof and arrogant.

Hohn's previous victories include fending off a 2005 bid by Deutsche Boerse to buy the LSE.

He also agitated for the break-up of toxic Dutch lender ABN Amro in 2007.

It ended with Royal Bank of Scotland snapping up the business in a disastrous deal which almost destroyed RBS and the British economy.

Hohn, who described himself as an 'unbelievable money-maker' during an acrimonious 2014 divorce case against ex-wife Jamie Cooper-Hohn, is concerned Rolet has been forced to leave and believes he has been gagged.

Brydon told Hohn: 'The board is committed to providing all the information necessary to shareholders to enable them to make informed decisions at the general meeting you have requested.'

With such large personalities involved, few have a clear sense of how the scrap will play out.
AstraZeneca has won US approval for a treatment for severe asthma

ASTHMA APPROVAL Drugmaker AstraZeneca has won US approval for a treatment for severe asthma. Benralizumab will be marketed under the name Fasenra.

JAPAN GROWTH The Japanese economy grew at an annual rate of 1.4 per cent in the third quarter  notching up its longest streak of expansion  21 months  since 2001.

VAT PLEA Firms with less than 85,000 of sales are not charged VAT but the Federation of Small Businesses has warned they would be hammered if the threshold comes down as Chancellor Philip Hammond attempts to raise extra cash.

CARD JOY Greetings card firm Card Factory has cheered a solid third quarter, saying growth has continued, with sales up by 6.7 per cent in the nine months of its year so far.

VENEZUELA WRITE-OFF Russia has thrown crisis-ridden socialist nation Venezuela a lifeline by saying it can pay back 2.4billion of debt more slowly, amid speculation the Latin American country could collapse.

LONDON SOARS High-end property firm Great Portland Estates has hailed robust demand in the commercial London market, with a 22.8million profit in the half-year to September 30, up from a 140million loss in the previous 12 months.

AKZO SWOOP Dulux paint maker Akzo Nobel has invested 7.5million in a sulphur derivatives plant in the US.

ROLLS DEAL Engineer Rolls-Royce has beefed up its partnership with IT services group Tata Consultancy Services to use data to develop products and services.

DRILL PARTNERSHIP Oil services group Ades International has teamed up with Vantage Drilling International to provide deep-water drilling services off Egypt.

3D DEAL Inkjet technology firm Xaar has signed a deal with chemical company BASF to improve the process for 3D printing.

PREMIUM HOPE A business premium price hike after this years natural disasters will boost Zurich Insurance profits, bosses have said.

TECH CASH Government ministers have set up a Govtech team to oversee a 20million fund, which will hand tech firms working on useful technologies cash for research and developments that could help the public sector.
Redditch-based engineering firm GKN has seen 10 per cent wiped off the value of its share price after announcing its incoming chief executive is leaving the group with immediate effect.

The FTSE 100 group has also admitted that its write-offs related to troubles with its US plant could be up to 130million, more than double what was anticipated.

Having slipped by around 10 per cent this morning, the group's share price is currently down 5.95 per cent to 292.30p.

Warnings: Last month, GKN, which makes wing tips for Airbus and parts for car firms including Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover, warned that profits will only be 'slightly above' 2016

Kevin Cummings was GKN's aerospace boss and was due to become the group's chief executive at the beginning of next year, replacing long-term boss Nigel Stein.

Stein will continue at the helm until the end of the year and then be replaced with non-executive director Anne Stevens as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement is found.

In a statement, GKN said: 'The GKN Board has concluded that the next stage of GKN's development is best delivered under alternative leadership.

'As a result, Kevin Cummings, previously CEO Designate, will leave the Board and GKN with immediate effect.'

The group has brought forward the start date of new hire Hans Buthker, formerly chief executive of Fokker Technologies, to head up GKN Aerospace

On the write-down issue, the firm said: 'In light of the issues communicated earlier in relation to Alabama, a review of working capital has been initiated across other Aerospace plants in North America.

'While this review is not yet complete it is likely to result in a further write-off estimated to be between 80 million and 130 million, much of which built up before 2017.

'With the exception of the working capital write-off referred to above, all other guidance for the full year remains unchanged.'

Last month, GKN, which makes wing tips for Airbus and parts for car firms including Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover, warned that profits will only be 'slightly above' 2016 after it disclosed a 40million hit linked to legal claims and the Alabama writedown.

In July, GKN said it expected sales growth to beat the overall market, but did not give a profit forecast.

The group is also reportedly looking at a radical break-up plan to split its aerospace and automotive businesses and create two FTSE 100 companies.

Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, said: 'Shares in engineer GKN have made a worrying breach of October's 298p post profits warning lows, just over a month since we highlighted the risk of more bad news.

'A much bigger charge following a review of its Alabama facility (80-130m vs 15m prev.) will fuel real concern about more skeletons in its North American Aerospace closet.

'A probable 40m in commercially sensitive claims (one in Aerospace, on from Driveline) could also yet worsen.

'As if that wasn't enough, CEO designate Kevin Cummings is off with immediate effect, barely six weeks before he was supposed to take the helm, the board preferring development under alternative leadership.'
Cashing in: Advisers charge an average of 3,250 to transfer their pension pots

Pension advisers have pocketed 715million by persuading savers to give up their guaranteed income in retirement.

Some 220,000 people have transferred their nest egg out of a defined benefit pension scheme since rules were changed in 2015  shifting 50billion of cash in total.

The average fee charged by advisers is 3,250, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). That would mean a windfall of 715million for advisers.

But it is feared that unscrupulous firms are targeting retirees who have little knowledge of financial services  particularly when their pension schemes are changing, such as at the Tata UK Port Talbot steel plant in Wales.

Some companies use aggressive sales tactics ranging from cold-calling and hassling targets on Facebook, to offering free meals, cash and even standing outside factories to talk to staff.

Although many people will have a good reason for transferring their cash out of a defined benefit pension scheme  swapping a guaranteed annual income for a one-off lump sum  in some cases it is the wrong thing to do.

Regulators and campaigners insist that unbiased advice is essential.

Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann said: 'It shouldn't be a gravy train to jump on, it should be an analysis of what the right thing is to do.'

Concerns came to a head this week as it emerged Tata UK steel workers were being preyed on.

They are facing a major restructuring of their 15billion pension scheme, creating an opportunity for advisers to make huge profits.

One business organised chips and curry nights where staff could talk about transferring, and another arranged one-to-one meetings in a nearby hotel.

Al Rush of advice firm Echelon Wealthcare and investment site Fiver a Day, who went to Port Talbot to investigate, said he'd heard of one case where a saver was charged 20,000 fee for withdrawing a pot of 500,000.

He said pension vultures were flying in from as far away as Newcastle and the South East to sign people up. Victims are being promised unrealistic returns as high as 10 per cent a year, he said.

'They're signing people up over lunchtime  one adviser is getting people to turn up with their paperwork at seminars and transferring them there and then,' said Rush. 'I know one worker who had his money transferred out and now doesn't know where it is.'

A total of 11,000 steel workers have inquired about transferring their cash, and around 1,700 have done so.

Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb said this figure is bound to rise.

Parliament's Work and Pensions Committee is now rushing out a report to stop any more damage.

Its chairman, Labour MP Frank Field, said: 'Steel workers are being besieged by these rogues.'

Tony Brady of trade union Unite said: 'We are very concerned about rogue advisers and sharp practice  we are aware of what's happening at Port Talbot.' The FCA is also looking into what has been going on at Port Talbot.
Pension sharks are targeting the savings of 130,000 steelworkers during a massive restructuring of their retirement scheme.

Rogue advisers are bombarding current and former staff at Tata UK's Port Talbot plant with phone calls, spam messages and internet campaigns.

They hope to win a share of the nest eggs of employees bamboozled by their new pension scheme, by encouraging them to transfer cash into high-risk investments.

Tactics are believed to include 'curry and chips' events where advisers offer free food to those attending transfer seminars.

Target: Rogue financial advisors are bombarding current and former staff at Tata UK's Port Talbot manufacturing plant with phone calls, spam messages and internet campaigns

But the City watchdog and politicians are deeply concerned some of the companies involved are recommending staff switch their lucrative defined benefit schemes for shady alternatives.

Around 11,000 members of the British Steel scheme, now run by Tata, have requested information on how much they would be paid if they transferred their pension pot to another provider.

Around 1,700 members of the scheme have transferred their benefits, which can typically worth between 300,000 and 500,000.

The Financial Conduct Authority last night said it is investigating allegations steelworkers in Port Talbot are being targeted.

Labour MP Frank Field, chairman of the Work and Pension Committee, said the changes are a 'honeypot for crooks'.

At a committee hearing yesterday, he said: 'If I was a member ... I bet I would be under a lot of pressure from outside forces about drawing my capital out.'

Probe: The Financial Conduct Authority last night said it is investigating allegations steelworkers at Tata's plant in Port Talbot are being targeted by unscrupulous advisers

The problems began when Tata agreed a restructuring deal with The Pensions Regulator in August to ease the burden of its 15billion pension scheme, which it said could otherwise bring down the business.

Savers are being given the option of either shifting to a new retirement scheme run by Tata or moving into a rescue programme set up by the Pension Protection Fund.

In either case, their retirement income is likely to be lower  and vulture financial advice firms have spotted a huge moneymaking opportunity.

They are encouraging Tata staff to move their cash out of the schemes. But steelworkers will be left much worse off.

An investigation by retirement firms Pension Playpen and Echelon Wealthcare found evidence of 'appalling practice' by advisers.

Al Rush of Echelon said there were examples of companies charging hidden extra fees and guaranteeing returns as high as 5.5 per cent a year on funds when there is no certainty this will happen.

Appearing before Field's committee, Christopher Woolard of the Financial Conduct Authority said he was aware of the approaches. Field accused the watchdog of being 'complacent' about the scale and seriousness of the problem.

He said: 'I think we might see a trend in the figures that show there is a deliberate operation going on against those firms which are protecting a large amount of money for the future income and wellbeing of members, which will be dismantled by these heinous people if they get their way.'

The FCA said: 'We plan to meet with firms in Swansea shortly to set out clearly our expectations of advisers.'
A trash bag stuffed with old clothes, a mattress cover, half-empty bottles of cleaning products, a rusting lawnmower  these are the items that affluenza mom Tonya Couch considers worth saving as she prepares for a possible jail sentence.

The mother of America's most notorious drunk driver was spotted taking what remains of her possessions to a storage unit in Forth Worth, Texas, as she gets ready for the next stage of her life.

Then she popped into a Pizza Hut for a lunch of a 10-inch pie, downed with a large soda. She sat alone, constantly glancing at her phone before going on to a nearby Sonic Drive-In to order take-out.

It's all a far cry from the money-soaked life Tonya led as the wife of a well-connected millionaire before her failings and those of her husband Fred hit the headlines.

They were dubbed 'the worst parents ever,' and Ethan Couch, their then-teenage son who killed four people in a drunken 70 mph crash in 2013, became the poster boy for coddled irresponsibility.

Tonya Couch, the mother of America's most notorious drunk driver Ethan Couch, is preparing for her possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. The 50-year-old faces court in January for taking Ethan to Mexico after she feared he could be punished for violating his parole in 2015. Pictured: Tonya putting some of her belongings in storage in Fort Worth, Texas

Tonya faces charges of money laundering and hindering the apprehension of a felon. Ethan is had 720 days of jail time added to his 10 year probation charge after he was extradited to the US after he fled to Mexico

Ethan's aunt said: 'The strange thing is that Ethan was always very responsible. He would always wear his seat belt, he didn't speed and he got home on time. But then he started drinking and living by himself'

Tonya and her ex-husband were dubbed 'the worst parents ever' after Ethan killed four people in a drunken 70 mph crash in 2013, becoming the poster boy for coddled irresponsibility. Pictured: Ethan's wrecked truck after the fatal crash

Tonya's sister and Ethan's aunt Carla Thompson (pictured) exclusively told DailyMail.com about her sister's lifestyle change and how Ethan plans to marry his girlfriend after his release

But Tonya and Fred had to share the blame. They had let the boy drive to school when he was just 13. They had done nothing to punish him when he was caught drunk in his truck with a naked 14-year-old girl passed out beside him. They had frequent public screaming matches, catching Ethan in the crossfire.

Now, Tonya is paying the price for the years of over-indulging the son she described as her 'protector' from age nine, as her free-spending life and all that came with it is no more.

Gone is the 4,000-square foot party home set on six acres in the Fort Worth suburb of Burleson, complete with pool, sauna and a stunning great room with its 100-year-old reclaimed hardware floor.

Gone is the waterfront cottage from where Tonya and Fred would launch their boat or Jet Skis onto picturesque Eagle Mountain Lake.

Gone is the easy access to money that allowed her to withdraw $30,000  no questions asked  so she could whisk Ethan and the family dog off to Mexico.

Now Tonya doesn't even have enough money to pay her lawyer's fees, her sister Carla Thompson told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

All Tonya Couch has left is her signature flame red hair and unwavering love for the son that is so deep she risked everything to smuggle him out of the country in a vain bid to keep him out of prison.

'I don't want to talk about my life now, nobody understands it,' Tonya told DailyMail.com outside the one bathroom house she has been sharing with a friend in the remote Dido section of Fort Worth, Texas.

In preparation for her possible jail sentence, Tonya put a trash bag with old clothes, a mattress cover, half-empty bottles of cleaning products, a rusting lawnmower into a storage unit

The 50-year-old Texan mother lives a vastly different life than the one of wealth before, telling DailyMail.com: 'I don't want to talk about my life now, nobody understands it. Pictured: Tonya spotted going to Pizza Hut in Fort Worth on November 1

Tonya's life is such a far cry than what it had been that now Tonya doesn't even have enough money to pay her lawyer's fees, her sister Carla Thompson told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. Pictured: Tonya, her mother and her sister Carla (l-r)

Instead of the sprawling estate she used to comfortably reside in, Tonya shares a one bathroom house with a friend in the remote Dido section of Fort Worth, Texas (pictured)

'I'm moving out,' she added. 'It's a secret where I am going.'

But she may not be able to keep her living arrangements quiet for too much longer.

Tonya, 50, is due in court in January to face charges of money laundering and hindering the apprehension of a felon, both arising from her 1,300-mile drive over the border to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She faces up to 10 years behind bars.

She could even miss celebrating her son's release if she is sentenced before Ethan gets out of prison on March 30.

Tonya said she's not allowing herself to fret over going to prison herself. 'I don't think about it,' she said.

But she still worries about her son, now 20, and the life he is living in the Tarrant County Correctional Center in downtown Fort Worth.

'He's struggling,' she told DailyMail.com. 'Who wouldn't be?

And despite his lenient sentence of less than six months for each life he took, she feels he was hard done by.

ETHAN COUCH 'PLANS TO MARRY' HIS SECRET GIRLFRIEND AFTER HE IS RELEASED FROM PRISON Haleigh Shields, 20, is Ethan Couch's loyal girlfriend, his aunt told Carla Thompson told DailyMail.com exclusively Ethan Couch has a woman waiting for him when he is released in March after serving two years for the drunken crash car crash that ended in four deaths. Twenty-year-old Haleigh Shields has stood by him throughout his troubles, which included him running away to Mexico with his mother when he thought his freedom might be at risk, DailyMail.com has learned exclusively. And now Couch's aunt believes wedding bells may be around the corner for the man who became the poster boy for parental coddling and irresponsibility. 'She has stuck by him all along, she's been with him for years,' Carla Thompson told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'I don't think it will be long after he gets out of prison that they get married. Couch's aunt believes wedding bells may be around the corner for the couple after Ethan is released from prison in March 'She loves him very much and can't wait for him to get out so they can start their life together. 'She is a very nice girl who is good for Ethan and keeps him grounded.' Shields, 20, who comes from the Fort Worth suburb of Keller, Texas, describes herself as a dog groomer at the PetSmart in Watauga, Texas, on her Facebook page. But staff at the store says no-one of that name currently works there. 'She has stuck by him all along, she's been with him for years,' Ethan's aunt Carla Thompson told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview Messages left on her phone and her Facebook page were not returned. Couch  inmate number 0879903  is due to be released from the Tarrant County Correctional Center in downtown Fort Worth, Texas on March 30. Twelve days later he will celebrate his 21st birthday. Advertisement

'He was essentially accused of murder at 16,' she said, adding: 'But there was no intent on his part to kill anyone, no malice.

'Yes, he had been drinking, he's never denied that, but there was no intent.'

Ethan Couch was living alone at the time of the accident. Tonya and Fred were staying in another house they had bought and made occasional visits to see how their only child was getting on.

On Saturday, June 15, 2013, Ethan and two friends stole three cases of Miller Lite from a Walmart for a raucous drunken party at the family home.

Shortly after 11pm, one of the female guests discovered she needed a tampon, so rather than leave his friends at the home, he loaded all eight remaining guests into his red Ford F-150 to drive to a gas station.

He had driven less than a quarter of a mile along Burleson Retta Road when he smashed into a Mercury Mountaineer that was pulled over after its tire blew.

The SUV's driver, 24-year-old chef Breanna Mitchell, was killed instantly as were Hollie Boyles and her 21-year-old daughter Shelby and youth minister Brian Jennings who had all come to Breanna's aid.

Tonya and her ex-husband Fred were dubbed 'the worst parents in the world' by a local magazine after Ethan's crash

Before fleeing to Mexico with Ethan and her dog, Tonya told her ex-husband Fred that he would never see either of them again. Pictured: Tonya dropping off her belongings in an unit

Thompson (pictured left with Ethan as a baby) said: 'I have no idea what she was thinking when they ran off to Mexico. It was the worst decision of her life. She lost everything'

Ethan suffered a broken neck and one of his passengers, Sergio Molina, was paralyzed after he was thrown from the truck.

Couch's blood alcohol level was 0.24 percent, three times the Texas limit. He was also four years, nine months and 26 days below the legal drinking age.

At his trial, Judge Jean Boyd gave him a slap-on-the-wrist penalty of 10 years probation after psychologist Dick Miller testified that Ethan had been so protected by his parents that he didn't know right from wrong.

Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison term.

Miller coined the phrase 'affluenza' to describe Couch's condition. Instead of being taught the golden rule, Miller told the court that Ethan had been taught: 'We have the gold. We make the rules.'

In a lengthy article on the case, D Magazine dubbed Fred and Tonya Couch 'The Worst Parents Ever.'

Ethan's sentence was increased to 720 days in prison after he and his mother Tonya fled to Mexico shortly before Christmas 2015.

A video of him at a beer pong party was posted online at a time when he was banned from drinking alcohol.

Rather than let her son explain the incident to his probation officer, Tonya took the law into her own hands. She withdrew $30,000 from her joint account with Fred and told her husband he would never see either of them again.

She then drove Ethan and Virgil, the family's Sarloos Wolfhound, to Mexico's Pacific coast, where they rented an apartment and tried to blend in with the thousands of American tourists who visit the area.

In December 2015, a video of Ethan surfaced online of the teen at a beer pong party. At the time he was banned from drinking alcohol. Tonya withdrew $30,000 and took Ethan to Mexico

She rented an apartment (pictured) in the Pacific beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They tried to keep a low profile but were busted after a ping from Tonya's cellphone alerted authorities to their whereabouts because they dialed Domino's Pizza for a take-out order

Ethan regularly frequented Puerto Vallarta's strip clubs where he snorted cocaine and ordered lap dances from topless girls. One night he spent so much at the Harem club (pictured) that he had to be escorted home by security guards who roused Tonya from her bed to pay his bill

Ethan regularly frequented Puerto Vallarta's strip clubs where he snorted cocaine and ordered lap dances from topless girls. One night he spent so much at the Harem club that he had to be escorted home by security guards who roused Tonya from her bed to pay his bill.

But the mother-and-son fugitives were busted after a ping from Tonya's cellphone alerted authorities to their whereabouts because they dialed Domino's Pizza for a take-out order.

The irony was that they had a prepaid 'burner' phone with them. If they had used that, they could have gone undetected, revealed Carla Thompson, Tonya's sister.

'Why they used her phone to order the pizza I don't know,' Thompson, 49, told DailyMail.com at her home in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

'It was probably habit. You're thinking you're going to order pizza tonight. Would you worry that that was going to be your downfall?'

'I have no idea what she was thinking when they ran off to Mexico,' added Thompson. 'It was the worst decision of her life.'

'She lost everything, all her jewelry  and that was a lot, she didn't get it back after the arrest. She lost her son, she lost her money, she lost the dog.

'She lost her truck which is still down in Mexico. She lost everything.'

'The dog is probably the saddest thing of all,' Thompson added. 'She loved, loved, loved that dog.'

Virgil  a cross between a female European wolf and a male German shepherd  went missing when Ethan and Tonya were arrested and has never been found.

At the time of the arrest, Tonya's attorney told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Tonya's main concerns were for her son and the family pet.

Following Tonya's return to the United States on December 30, 2015, she was released on $75,000 bail and banned from drinking alcohol. But without her husband to support her she needed to work.

Tonya was let go from her first post at a trailer company due to bad publicity and then got a job working at the Honky Tonk Women Bar in Azle, Texas.

The irony was that they had a prepaid 'burner' phone with them. If they had used that to order pizza, they could have gone undetected, revealed Thompson, Tonya's sister. Pictured: Ethan with his hair dyed black after he is returned to the US

Breanna Mitchell (left), a 24-year-old chef, and youth minister Brian Jennings were killed in the crash. Mitchell's car had blown a tire and Jennings had came to her aid that fatal night

Hollie Boyles and her 21-year-old daughter Shelby, had just finished a movie and went outside to help Mitchell after they heard a commotion. They were also killed in the crash

Ethan's friend Sergio Molina (pictured) was paralyzed after he was thrown from Ethan's truck in the horror accident on June 15, 2013

Ethan's blood alcohol level was 0.24 percent, three times the Texas limit. He was also four years, nine months and 26 days below the drinking age. Pictured: Ethan's car after the crash

But when a picture of her tending bar appeared online, the judge in her case ordered that she should not possess alcohol so she had to quit.

'She has been working for an electrician she met at the bar just to get a few dollars together,' her sister said.

AFFLUENZA TEEN'S LEGAL TIMELINE February 19, 2013: Ethan Couch, then 15, is caught in a truck with a naked, unconscious 14-year-old girl. He is sentenced to probation, an alcohol awareness course and community service. June 15, 2013: Ethan kills four people in a 70mph DUI crash in Texas. He was more than three times over the blood alcohol limit. December 10, 2013: A judge spares Ethan jail and gives him 10 years of probation following his 'affluenza' defense. December 3, 2015: A video emerges appearing to show Ethan playing beer pong, which would violate his probation. December 15, 2015: An arrest warrant is issued for Ethan after he and his mother, Tonya, go missing. December 28, 2015: Ethan and his mother are arrested in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. December 30, 2015: Tonya Couch is deported to the United States. January 28, 2016: Ethan is deported to the United States. April 13, 2016: Ethan is sentenced to 720 days of jail. Advertisement

She is still in contact with her husband but they are not together, added Thompson. 'Fred did bring her down when our dad passed away in September last year,' she said.

'But he just dropped her by, he didn't stay, he knows he's not welcome. Fred's just not a nice man. He thinks he can get away with anything and treat people anyway he wants.'

The couple had a history of abuse with cops called to their home on numerous occasions. They divorced in 2006 when Ethan was nine and he later remarried.

'Fred thinks he can splash his money around and people will do what he wants them to do  and a lot of times they do,' said Thompson.

'He is one of these people who just loses his temper very quickly.'

Thompson's husband Tommy, a truck driver, said: 'I only met Fred once. I'm not sure what it was but I just did not like him.'

But Thompson said her sister Tonya 'really loved him at one point.'

She said: 'Once you get used to a certain lifestyle it is hard to go back and she got wrapped up in that  a lot of abusive situations are that way, once you get on that roller-coaster you can't get off and you start thinking it's the norm when it's not.

'Now though he has become a bit of a pariah. He doesn't have the respect that he had before because everyone has seen that he wants to buy his way out of everything and buy Ethan's way out of everything.'

Thompson said Ethan had always been a polite, sensitive boy, but his parents treated him more as an equal rather than their child.

Following Tonya's return to the United States on December 30, 2015, she was released on $75,000 bail and banned from drinking alcohol. Without her husband to support her she needed to work, then got a job working at the Honky Tonk Women Bar (pictured)

After a picture of her tending bar appeared online, the judge in her case ordered that she should not possess alcohol so she had to quit. Now, Tonya is working for an electrician that she met at the Honky Tonk bar

Thompson said of her sister: 'Once you get used to a certain lifestyle it is hard to go back and she got wrapped up in that  a lot of abusive situations are that way, once you get on that roller-coaster you can't get off and you start thinking it's the norm when it's not'

She said: 'His mom loved him very much. His dad loved him too, but he just let him do whatever he wanted to do and say whatever he wanted to say. I heard him cussing up a storm when he was three or four and they didn't punish him.

'They let him drive around before he was old enough to get a license because Fred thought laws didn't apply to him.

'The strange thing is that Ethan was always very responsible. He would always wear his seat belt, he didn't speed and he got home on time.

'But then he started drinking and living by himself.'

If Tonya is sentenced she could miss her son's 21st birthday after Ethan gets out of prison on March 30

Tonya's sister said: 'His mom loved him very much. His dad loved him too, but he just let him do whatever he wanted to do and say whatever he wanted to say'. Pictured: Tonya leaving court to be fitted with an ankle monitor in January 2016

Pictured: Makeshift cross at the site of the crash that Ethan Couch tragically caused in 2013

Thompson described the Couch family dynamics as 'very bizarre.'

'I don't know where it came from because certainly Tonya and I weren't raised like that,' added Thompson who grew up with her sister in Paris, Texas.

Thompson said Ethan has a hard life ahead of him because of the publicity surrounding his case. 'He always wanted to be a doctor,' she said. 'He was very smart as a child, and he could have done it.

'He would still like to be in the medical field,' she added. 'But whether he can fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor with all this behind him, I don't know  probably not.

'When he gets out he will have to lie low for a bit, Tonya has told me the family still gets death threats.'

'Ethan's my nephew and I do love him but I know that had it been my son who was involved it would not have been the same outcome and that is not fair,' added Thompson.

'I wouldn't have been able to buy him out and even if I could, I wouldn't want to. You have to pay for what you do.'
Everyone makes mistakes, but this cafe's menu will leave even those most tolerant of grammatical errors crying into their coffee.

The menu for Gloria Jeans Wetherill Park in Western Sydney offers a full range of beverages and tasty meals - but you may not have heard of all of them.

The breakfast section features 'raisen toast', 'muffines' and toast with 'penut butter or Natella', while 'lemintons' are among its cake offerings.

The menu for Gloria Jeans Wetherill Park in Western Sydney offers a full range of beverages and tasty meals - but you may not have heard of all of them

Mistakes continued on the front of the menu with the cafe's own suburb spelled wrong, and customers told they could 'haver here' or take away

Chicken and cheese 'sandwitches' are of course present, but the lesser known 'chiken and avocado' on Turkish bread was also on offer.

Mistakes continued on the front of the menu with the cafe's own suburb spelled wrong, and customers told they could 'haver here' or take away.

Social media users were stunned when it was posted online, wondering if it was a deliberate marketing ploy as the breakfast section alone had seven mistakes.

The cafe owner blamed the printer for the dozens of mistakes in the menu

But the poster confirmed it was accidental when they texted the owner to ask, and the problem was blamed on the menu's printer.

'Ya sorry but printing people did lot mistake I did not pay them for these serious mistakes sorry once again,' the response read.

Debate ensued over the exact number of errors in the menu, with the number constantly changing as more were spotted.
Sylvester Stallone was accused of sexual assault by a 16-year-old girl while he was filming a movie in Las Vegas in the late 1980s, according to a bombshell police report obtained by DailyMail.com.

The Rocky actor was 40 years old when an unnamed teenager disclosed to Las Vegas police that she had been 'intimidated' into having sex with him and his bodyguard Michael 'Mike' De Luca at the former Las Vegas Hilton hotel in July 1986.

The 16-year-old claimed she had sex with Stallone and he encouraged De Luca to join them. At that point she became 'very uncomfortable' with the encounter but felt she had 'no choice'.

De Luca then forced the teenager to perform oral sex on him before penetrating her, while Stallone made her give him oral sex, according to the police report.

Retired Las Vegas metro police department detective sergeant John Samolovitch, who was head of the sexual assault unit at the time, confirmed to DailyMail.com the copy of the police report is in fact a true copy of the original report.

Michelle Bega, spokeswoman for Stallone, told DailyMail.com: 'This is a ridiculous, categorically false story. No one was ever aware of this story until it was published today, including Mr. Stallone. At no time was Mr. Stallone ever contacted by any authorities or anyone else regarding this matter.'

After the incident, the teen claims Stallone threatened her - she couldn't tell anyone because both men were married and if she said anything, 'they would have to beat her head in', before laughing with De Luca.

The unidentified teen ultimately decided not to pursue charges against either men because she was 'humiliated and ashamed', as well as being 'scared', according to the police report.

Sylvester Stallone, 71, was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old fan girl when he was 40 years old while he was filming Over the Top in Las Vegas in 1986

Stallone allegedly had sex with the girl, telling her she was 'very tight'. Stallone's bodyguard Michael 'Mike' De Luca then 'forced' her to give him a blowjob before penetrating her while Stallone received oral sex from the teen, according to a police report. Pictured: Stallone and De Luca in 1987

The teen claims Stallone said she couldn't tell anyone because both men were married and if she said anything, 'they would have to beat her head in', before laughing with De Luca. The alleged incident took place at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel (pictured)

At the time of the incident Stallone, now 71, was 40 years old. Bodyguard De Luca, who was shot and killed by California police during a traffic stop in 2013, was 27 years old at the time.

Police were alerted to the incident when a hotel employee called police to report that a friend of the victim said she needed advice on the matter.

When officials tracked down the teen, she relayed details of the alleged assault to them.

She said she was staying at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel with family friends for 10 days, from July 18 to July 28, during the time that Stallone happened to be filming at the hotel for the upcoming movie Over the Top.

The teen said she met actor David Mendenhall, who was playing Stallone's son in the film, at the hotel's arcade and he introduced her and her cousin to Stallone on Wednesday, July 23, 1986.

In the following days, the cast and crew of the movie continued filming at the hotel, and on Friday, the teen said she saw Stallone and got his autograph.

According to the police report, Stallone asked the girl how old she was and after learning she was 16 years old, he asked her 'how she got such a build'.

One of the teen's friends had received a kiss on the cheek from Stallone during the conversation, so the teen said she also asked for a peck on the cheek from Stallone.

The teen said she met actor David Mendenhall, who was playing Stallone's son in the film, at the hotel's arcade, and he introduced her and her cousin to Stallone on Wednesday, July 23, 1986. Pictured: Stallone and Mendenhall on set of the movie Over the Top

The girl told police that De Luca gave her keys to Stallone's hotel room on the 27th floor, where she claims she had sex with Stallone. According to police, when De Luca became involved 'she became very uncomfortable with the situation.' She 'did not want to have any type of sexual contact with the body guard, but felt she had no choice in the matter'. Pictured: A suite at the hotel

'He replied that he would give her a kiss at a later date, that she would not forget', according to the police report.

The next day the teen said she returned to the area in the hotel where the crew was filming with a larger picture for Stallone to autograph for her so that she could give it to a friend.

There, she met De Luca, Stallone's bodyguard, who allegedly asked the teen if Stallone made a pass at her, what would she do.

The teen said she responded that she 'would probably make a pass back at him'.

De Luca then gave her two keys for a room on the 27th floor and told her to go up to the room as soon as possible,' according to the police report.

That night, the teen claims she went up to the 27th floor where she met Stallone and De Luca in the hallway and together, they all went into the hotel suite.

From there, the teen said she and Stallone went into the bedroom, got undressed and began having intercourse, while De Luca stayed in the bathroom.

The teen told police that they 'really didn't have sex' because Stallone only inserted himself 'a little ways' into her and 'only kept it in for a few seconds'.

Stallone remarked to the girl that she was 'very tight' before asking her if she ever had sex with two men at the same time, according to the report.

Neither of the men climaxed but the teen said Stallone asked her if she 'wanted to see come' and then he ejaculated in front of her, the report said. Pictured: Stallone and De Luca

The teen told police that 'Stallone made the comment that they were both married men and that she could not tell anybody about the incident and if she did, that they would have to beat her head in'. Pictured: Stallone with his then wife Brigitte Nielsen in 1987

She said she responded that she hadn't and then Stallone went into the bathroom and brought De Luca into the bedroom.

Stallone allegedly asked De Luca if he wanted a 'blow job' from the teen and De Luca then 'forced her head down onto his penis', according to the police report.

The minor claims De Luca forced her to perform oral sex on him for a few minutes before he 'came around and had vaginal sex with her'.

Then Stallone allegedly 'came over to her and pushed her head down onto his penis and made her give him a blow job'.

Neither of the men climaxed but the teen said that Stallone asked her if she 'wanted to see come' and then he ejaculated in front of her, the report continued.

The teen told police that after she got dressed, 'Stallone made the comment that they were both married men and that she could not tell anybody about the incident and if she did, that they would have to beat her head in'.

Stallone and De Luca both 'laughed after he made the comment', according to the report.

Police noted that 'during the interview [the teen] became emotionally upset numerous times, crying and sobbing.'

At the time of the incident, Stallone, now 71, was 40 years old. Bodyguard De Luca, who was shot and killed by California police during a traffic stop in 2013, was 27. Pictured: Stallone and De Luca in 1987

Police noted the teen had 'difficulty in relating her thoughts'. When pressed if she wanted to pursue charges against the men, she said: 'I'm humiliated and ashamed, but I don't want to prosecute. I'm kind of scared and I'm very ashamed'

The report continued: 'She indicated that if the sexual encounter had only been with Stallone, she would not pursue this matter, but due to the fact that Mike, the bodyguard became involved in the sexual incident, she didn't know what she wanted to do.'

According to police, when De Luca became involved in the sexual encounter 'she became very uncomfortable with the situation. She states she did not want to have any type of sexual contact with the bodyguard, but felt she had no choice in the matter.

'She states there was no actual physical force, but she did feel intimidated.'

Police noted in their report that the teen had 'difficulty in relating her thoughts' and was 'extremely emotional' when telling her story.

When pressed if she wanted to pursue charges against Stallone and De Luca, the girl told police: 'I'm humiliated and ashamed, but I don't want to prosecute.

'I'm kind of scared and I'm very ashamed. I don't want anybody else to have that happen to them, but I don't want to prosecute. I cannot talk about this anymore, please leave me alone.'

She later signed a no prosecution form and the matter was dropped, although police did confiscate De Luca's concealed weapon permit on July 30, 1986.

A story about Sly Stallone being involved in a possible sexual assault in Las Vegas in 1986 was first reported by Doug Poppa of the Baltimore Post Examiner.

The bombshell police report was made a year before Stallone's half-sister Toni-Ann Filiti, threatened him with a lawsuit in 1987, alleging that Stallone raped her and sexually assaulted her. Pictured: Stallone, De Luca and Nielsen in August 1986

The bombshell police report was made a year before Stallone's half-sister Toni-Ann Filiti, threatened him with a lawsuit in 1987, alleging that Stallone raped her and sexually assaulted her for years.

Although court documents show the actor 'vigorously denied and continues to deny and dispute all claims of wrongdoing', he agreed to give Filiti a lump sum of $2 million, as well as $16,666 a month for the rest of her life.

His half-sister, whose own mother claimed she was a drug addict, died in 2012 after a battle with lung cancer.

Stallone is one of the most recent A-listers in Hollywood to be accused of sexual assault and/or harassment in the wake of damaging claims made against Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Brett Ratner, among several others.
A married Ohio state lawmaker who has said multiple times he believes in a 'natural marriage' between a man and a woman resigned Wednesday amid allegations of inappropriate behavior with another man in his office.

Republican state Representative Wes Goodman, from Cardington, didn't comment on the details about the actions that prompted his sudden departure.

The only existing details about the behavior are that it included a male in a consensual situation, and took place several weeks ago in his state-provided office.

That man was not employed by the legislature.

Republican state Representative Wes Goodman resigned Wednesday amid allegations of inappropriate behavior with another man in his office. The 33-year-old is pictured with his wife, Bethany Goodman

No harassment complaints have been filed against the 33-year-old.

Goodman confirmed the allegations in a statement on Wednesday.

'We all bring our own struggles and our own trials into public life,' he said.

'That has been true for me, and I sincerely regret that my actions and choices have kept me from serving my constituents and our state in a way that reflects the best ideals of public service. For those whom I have let down, I'm sorry.'

Republican House Speaker Clifford Rosenberger said he learned Tuesday that Goodman had engaged in 'inappropriate behavior related to his state office.'

The only existing details about the behavior are that it included a male in a consensual situation, and took place several weeks ago in his state-provided office

'I met with him later in the day where he acknowledged and confirmed the allegations,' Rosenberger said in a statement.

'It became clear that his resignation was the most appropriate course of action for him, his family, the constituents of the 87th House District and this institution.'

Goodman is a self-identified conservative christian who previously worked as a congressional campaign staffer to Republican US Rep Jim Jordan.

He served as managing director of the Conservative Action Project, leading 'the fight for conservative principles like balanced budget, lower taxes, repealing Obamacare, life, and religious liberty,' his site says.

His website also clearly outlines his belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman, and he has relied on these conservative values to bolster his political message and relate to voters.

'The ideals of a loving father and mother, a committed natural marriage, and a caring community are well worth pursuing and protecting,' the site says.

A message seeking comment was left with Goodman. He has requested privacy moving forward.

Goodman is a self-identified conservative christian who previously worked as a congressional campaign staffer to Republican US Rep Jim Jordan. He is pictured in two Facebook photos with his wife Bethany

His website also clearly outlines his belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman, and he has relied on these conservative values to bolster his political message and relate to voters

He was the second Ohio lawmaker to resign this month for allegations of inappropriate behavior, and his is the latest to hit the state's legislature since sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein surfaced.

Those allegations prompted a national wave of similar alleged misconducts by entertainers, politicians and others.

Veteran Ohio Sen. Clifford Hite, a Republican from Findlay, resigned October 16 after a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him.

According to an investigative memo, Hite had inappropriate conversations and physical contact with a female legislative staff member for two months and repeatedly propositioned her for sex.

The Ohio House subsequently released a cache of documents requested by reporters that showed three state representatives had been disciplined and a staff aide had been fired following harassment claims in recent years.

Then on Monday, Senate Democrats' chief of staff, Michael Premo, resigned abruptly over unspecified allegations of inappropriate conduct. His single-sentence resignation email provided no details.

State Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken, the first woman to head Ohio's GOP, issued a statement Wednesday supporting Goodman's decision to step aside.

'I believe Speaker Rosenberger said it best; his resignation was the most appropriate course of action for him, his family, the constituents of the 87th House District and the House,' she said.
A source close to Steve Bannon told DailyMail.com Wednesday afternoon that the former White House chief strategist will not abandon Alabama Senate hopeful Roy Moore, despite the flurry of sex abuse allegations.

Bannon, who's currently traveling in Japan, plans to appear alongside Moore at a December 5 campaign rally, the source confirmed.

'The Drudge Report is entirely fake news, he stands with Moore,' the source said, pointing to a Drudge headline  'Bannon Turns on Judge Whore?'  which linked to a Daily Beast report that said Bannon was quietly taking the temperate of those in his inner circle about the Moore sex abuse allegations.

A source tells DailyMail.com that Steve Bannon (left) will stick by Roy Moore (right) the Republican Senate candidate in Alabama he endorsed - and who has been accused by multiple women of sexual abuse

In the meantime, Roy Moore is trying to keep Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity at his side. Hannity gave him 24 hours to clear up 'inconsistencies' with his stories. Moore put out an open letter to Hannity Wednesday night

And while President Trump has kept quiet on the matter, Ivanka Trump spoke out Wednesday saying that there is a 'special place in hell for people who prey on children'

On Wednesday, two more women spoke out, through AL.com, with a Tina Johnson saying at age 28 Moore groped her in his legal office when she was there with her mother.

Another woman, Kelly Harrison Thorp, remembers Moore asking her out when she was a hostess at the local Red Lobster restaurant, when she was 17.

Seven women have now spoken on-the-record about Moore's behavior, saying that he dated and inappropriately touched teens, with one woman, Beverly Nelson Young, saying he attempted to rape her when she was 16-years-old.

As additional accusers have stepped out, Moore and also Bannon, who endorsed the Alabama Senate candidate to begin with, have become more defiant.

The Bannon insider told DailyMail.com that the allegations were coming from 'locusts in the fake news media,' adding that they are 'fake attacks from New York City and Washington, D.C., by the swamp that Roy Moore intends to drain when he wins the election.'

Moore sang a similar tune on Twitter today.

Roy Moore's lawyer called into question this signature found in accuser Beverly Young Nelson's 1977 yearbook. Moore's attorney floated a theory of how it could be a fraud

'The Republicans and Democrats who did everything they could to stop Donald Trump and elect Hillary Clinton are the very same people who are now trying to take us down with lies and smears,' he said.

Moore's attorney Phillip Jauregui tried to poke holes in Nelson's story Wednesday by suggesting that the signature she says is Moore's signature  written 'Roy Moore D.A.'  in her 1977 yearbook is a fraud.

The lawyer suggested Moore's accuser, Nelson, had lied when she said she had no further contact with the Alabama candidate after the incident, as the her divorce proceedings were before Judge Moore in 1999.

Jauregui explained that Moore's assistant in the late 90s had the initials 'D.A.' and would sign his initials alongside legal documents he would stamp with Moore's signature.

'That's exactly how the signature appears on the divorce decree that Judge Moore signed dismissing the divorce action with Miss Nelson,' Jauregui said.

Moore told the same story to Sean Hannity, who had been supportive of the Republican candidate, though began expressing doubt.

Hannity had give Moore 24 hours to clean up 'inconsistencies' in his rebuttals.

'I believe tampering has occurred,' Moore wrote in a public letter to the Fox News Channel host about the signature, Wednesday night.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have been running away from this race.

McConnell has no reason to stand alongside Moore, who's among the Bannon-backed Republicans who are calling the the leader's ouster.

At the same time, the White House doesn't seem to know what side to play.

Since returning from his 12-day trip to Asia, President Trump hasn't spoken on the matter.

The president was haunted by a smattering of sex assault and harassment accusations shortly before his own election last year, prompted by the release of the infamous Access Hollywood 'p****y tape.'

More recently a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders if 'the official White House position [is] that all of these women are lying.'

'Yeah, we have been clear on that from the beginning and the president has spoken on it,' Huckabee Sanders said at an October press briefing about the Trump-focused allegations.

One prominent White House staffer did chime in  Trump's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump.

'Theres a special place in hell for people who prey on children,' the first daughter said in an interview with the Associated Press.

'Ive yet to see a valid explanation [from Moore] and I have no reason to doubt the victims accounts,' she added.
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One moment you are standing at the bottom of wrought-iron 'tulip stairs' in a former royal residence in London - and the next, you are among the ruins of the Great Wall of China - or the 'Pagan' temples of Myanmar.

These are just some of the astonishing pictures that will transport you to some of the most beautiful places in the world.

They form part of the first-ever Historic Photographer of the Year awards, which showcase the very best historic places and cultural sites from across the globe - capturing everything from the most famous national treasures to the obscure and forgotten hidden gems.

In its first year the competition has attracted a swathe of astonishing entries from amateurs and professionals who have climbed, hiked and trekked their way to snap stunning sites.

OVERALL WINNER: Nocton Hall Military Hospital, in Lincolnshire (by Matt Emmett). This 400m-long corridor forms part of an old hospital last used by US military stationed in the UK during the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). The site was loaned to American forces in 1984 to treat injured soldiers flown back from Iraq. However the war was a success and only 35 patients were treated there. The site was handed back to the UK in 1995 and remains to this day in a derelict state

Bagan Archaeological Zone (by Ana Caroline de Lima). Bagan was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan from the 9th to the 13th centuries. This kingdom was the first to unify the area that is now Myanmar, establishing the Burmese culture and ethnicity, as well as Theravada Buddhism, in the region. Over this period of rule, as the city and kingdom grew in influence and stature, over 10,000 temples were built on the plains surrounding the capital next to the Irrawaddy River

Train Cemetery, Bolivia (by Pamela Jones). Just outside Uyuni, trains were abandoned decades ago and left to rot at 11,995ft. Built by the British, the railway transported minerals to the Pacific Coast until the mining industry collapsed in the 1940s

WW2 Air Raid Shelter (by Daniel Sands). Given access to a secret restored bunker with the help of a local electrical fitter, we installed lighting and haze in order to achieve this final image. Slight tweaks to contrast and conversion to mono for final presentation

Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya, Thailand (by Mathew Browne). This is a 14th century temple reduced to ruins in 1767 when the Burmese army invaded. Over time, a tree has grown around one of the remaining stone Buddha heads, such that it is now completely enclosed by its roots with only the face peeking out

Tintagel Castle (by Marge Losasso). After a long climb up to the ruins, I was rewarded by an amazing view and also the bronze statue of Gallos, the Cornish word for 'power' and said to be inspired by the legend of King Arthur and the castle's royal history

Caerphilly Castle (by Mathew Browne). Caerphilly Castle was built in the second half of the 13th century, as part of the Anglo-Norman expansion into South Wales. This photo shows the castle lit red in recognition of the Welsh football team's progression at Euro 2016

Queen's House, London (left, by Mathew Browne). This is a former royal residence built between 1616 and 1635 in Greenwich. This photo depicts the wrought iron 'Tulip Stairs'. Right, Tewkesbury Abbey (by Matthew Lewis). The morning sunlight shines through the abbey's high windows and casts rays of light into the space. I like this view because it hasn't change much in hundreds of years

Cell 1, National Gas Turbine Establishment (by Matt Emmett). The National Gas Turbine Establishment in Hampshire was born out of necessity to help counter the Russian threat at the start of the Cold War. The site, before its demolition in 2013, retained a palpable sense of place in the history of the UK, it pushed forward engineering know-how at an incredible pace and led to many of the jet engine technologies we take for granted today. This image shows Cell 1, the earliest of the testing cells on site. Compressed air was generated in a large on-site turbine hall and could be directed to any of the five cells on site at varying mach speeds

Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir, Turkey (by Mehmet Masum Suer). It was seen as one of the largest and most important Armenian churches in the Middle East. The church was built in 1376

Cook Bank Building, in Nevada (by Mike Butler). This image is of the Cook Bank building, which was part of the gold boom town Rhyolite, built in the early 1900s. I photographed this building with hot lights starting at 3am and shooting until dawn at which point I captured just a bit of blue in the night sky

The overall winning image was shot by Matt Emmett from Reading and taken at RAF Nocton Hall, an abandoned former military hospital. He takes home the 2,500 prize.

The winning public vote photograph was a shot of Jedburgh Abbey taken on a school trip, and was won by Manchester's Jenna Johnston, who walks away with 250.

One of the judges, historian and TV presenter Dan Snow, said: 'Historical photography is about seeking out a great subject, getting up ridiculously early, climbing high and waiting. Real history doesn't always have to be a museum or gallery.

'It can be a proper adventure out to the middle of nowhere, where you stumble across decaying remnants of the past. The best history photography often captures sites which may be entirely lost to our grandchildren.'

Venice (by Mike Morton). View along one of the many Venetian canals

Penarth Pier (by Mathew Browne). Penarth Pier was first opened in 1898 in South Wales

PUBLIC VOTE WINNER: Jedburgh Abbey (by Jenna Johnston). This photo of the 12th century Augustinian abbey, Jedburgh, was taken on a class trip in 2011. That class, and that trip, sparked my enduring love for medieval architecture

Great Wall of China (by Kaiyu Lu). A quiet winter morning after Chinese New Year, I was strolling on the ruins of the Great Wall, built in 1680. I seemed to hear crossing swords and horses neighing

Carew Castle (left, by Paul Templing). Situated overlooking a tidal mill pond in Pembrokeshire, it's hard to imagine a more scenic setting for this grand stricture. On the evening this was taken, a huge electrical storm was raging over Cornwall, illuminating the band of cloud along the horizon. Before long, the clouds rolled closer, putting an end to this brief but spectacular glimpse of the Milky Way behind the castle. Right, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (by Sue Harding). I was looking for a different view point for a photograph of these historic buildings. This was taken from a small entrance next to Westminster Bridge, also a beautiful work of art in itself

Rochester Cathedral (by Paul Parkinson). Sometimes the weather conditions, the way the sun shines and the angle of light combine to produce something magical. I loved the way the beams of light shone through the windows and, in places, the dust motes reflected back

Entries have been judged on originality, composition and technical proficiency alongside the story behind the image and its historical impact.

The Historic Photographer of the Year Awards is a joint venture between two cultural brands, Trip Historic, the leading online travel guide to the world's historic sites, and History Hit which brings unique content and insight from some of the UK's best known historians and academics.

Official partners include television channel, History, and The Royal Photographic Society, the UK's oldest and largest photography membership organisation.

For more information, go to https://photographer.triphistoric.com/gallery/

Cutty Sark (by Mathew Browne). Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship built in 1869

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin (by Peter Hagger). Taken on a spring evening
On November 9, The Washington Post printed interviews with four women who claimed that Moore had acted improperly with them in the 1970s, when he was in his thirties and they were teenagers.

Four days later another woman came forward to accuse Moore of sexually assaulting her just after she turned 16.

Moore has denied all claims, saying that he only recognized two of the women named in the Washington Post piece, and neither of the women accusing him of molestation or assault.

The age of consent is 16 in Alabama.

Leigh Corfman

Corfman told The Washington Post she was 14 when Moore, then a 32-year-old district attorney, asked for her phone number.

She says he picked her up a days later, drove her to his home in the woods, and kissed her.

He picked her up again another, she said, again took her to a secluded location, and stripped both of them down to their underwear.

She says he then touched her over her bra and underpants, and made her touch his penis through his own underwear.

Two of her childhood friends said she told them at the time, and her mom says her daughter told her around 10 years later, when he became a judge.

Corfman said that she is a long-time Republican voter, and voted for Donald Trump at the presidential elections.

Beverly Young Nelson

Nelson alleged in a statement to The New York Times that Moore sexually assaulted her in either December 1977 or January 1978, when she was 16; her birthday was the previous November.

She said Moore, who had previously flirted with her - as many customers had also done - offered to give her a lift home, as her boyfriend was late.

She claims he then drove to the rear of the restaurant, in a 'dark and deserted' area, and began to grope her breasts and tried to force her head down to his crotch.

Frightened and tearful, she says she fought back until he gave up, at which point he told her: 'You are a child. I am the district attorney of Etiwah County. If you tell anyone about this, no one will believe you.'

She says he either pushed her out or she fell out of the car, and that she was lying on the ground as he drove away.

Wendy Miller

Miller told the Post that she first met Moore when she was 14, and that he asked her for a date when she was 16, but her mother forbade it.

Moore has denied any encounter with Corfman, Nelson or Miller.

Debbie Wesson Gibson

Gibson said she went on dates with Moore when she was 17, but they did not involve anything other than kissing, according to The Post.

Moore confirmed to Sean Hannity that he dated Gibson.

Gloria Thacker Deason

Deason was an 18-year-old cheerleader when Moore took her on dates and plied her with wine, she told the Post. The legal drinking age in Alabama is 19. She said she did not have sexual contact with Moore.

Moore also confirmed to Hannity that he dated Deason, but said he never gave her alcohol.

Tina Johnson

Johnson from Moore's hometown of Gadsden, Alabama, said the Senate candidate groped her behind during a visit to his law office in 1991.

She claims that in 1991, when she was 28 years old, she was at Moore's Third Street law office in Gadsden with her mother when Moore started commenting on her looks.

Moore had been hired by Johnson's mother for a custody matter.

As Johnson was walking out of the office, Moore grabbed her buttocks, she claimed.

Kelly Harrison Thor

Thor claimed that Moore asked to date her in 1982, when she was just 17, and he was in his mid-30s.

She said Moore told her he went out 'with girls your age all the time'.

Gena Richardson

Richardson said that Moore asked her out when she was a high school senior working at Sears.

She declined to give him her phone number, so Moore decided to call her school.

'I said "Hello?"' Richardson told The Washington Post . 'And the male on the other line said, "Gena, this is Roy Moore.' I was like, 'What?!' He said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'I'm in trig class.'

Moore asked her out again on the call, and later returned to Sears and asked her out a third time.

Richardson finally said yes, and their date ended with Moore giving what she says was an unwanted, 'forceful' kiss that left her scared.

Becky Gray

Gray said she rejected Moore's advances when she was 22 years old and working in the men's section of Pizitz, a regional department store.

'I'd always say no, I'm dating someone, no, I'm in a relationship,' says Gray, now 62, said. 'I thought he was old at that time. Anyone over 22 was just old.'
Darren 'Razzle' Thornburgh's ice and cocaine addiction was so bad he was buying $10,000 worth at a time and police raided his nightclub.

The 'King of the Clubs' was found dead on a mattress on the balcony of his home in Barmah, on the Victoria and New South Wales border.

The prominent Melbourne nightlife figure spiralled into drug use when his marriage ended in 2008, and the illicit substances 'took control of him'.

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Darren 'Razzle' Thornburgh's ice and cocaine addiction was so bad he was buying $10,000 worth at a time and police raided his nightclub

Mr Thornburgh's club Boutique was popular with celebrities like Kim Kardashian , Paris Hilton (R), and Russell Crowe

The huge quantities he bought at a time to feed his addiction made him a frequent target for the police, even though his deals were for personal use.

Officers raided the 53-year-old's nightclub Boutique in 2013 looking for cocaine and turned over his hotel room, but found nothing according to the Herald Sun.

Mr Thornburgh's drug use was an open secret in the nightclub scene and he was known to party all night at Boutique.

A crippling drug addiction wasn't his only problem, his club was a magnet for Comanchero bikies who regularly gave him trouble over the past decade.

The 'King of the Clubs' was found dead on a mattress on the balcony of his home in Barmah, on the Victoria and New South Wales border

He had a nasty run-in with gang members earlier this year, and stood over him on numerous occasions including showing up at Boutique in force as intimidation.

Boutique was shot at a year ago, and a week later the home of Mr Thornburgh's ex-wife Denise Foster in Port Melbourne was peppered with bullets.

Detective Inspector David Griffin said at the time he believed the offender or offenders were trying to send a message.

'It would appear that certainly someone is not happy with something that's going on and is clearly trying to send a message,' he told reporters in 2016.

Officers raided the 53-year-old's nightclub Boutique in 2013 looking for cocaine and turned over his hotel room, but found nothing

Mr Thornburgh's death comes just over a year after bullets peppered the home of his ex-wife (pictured) and he regularly had run-ins with Comanchero bikies

It appeared a bit of planning had gone into both shootings, he added.

Police said the exact circumstances surrounding Mr Thornburgh's death were yet to be determined, but officers were not treating his death as suspicious.

Reports claimed he was shot in the head.

The Herald Sun reported Mr Thornburgh had sought help for his substance abuse issues two weeks ago, but The Age reported he had refused help for his addiction just a week ago.

Mr Thornburgh was rearranging his financial affairs only last week, changing the elaborate structure of his corporate structure.

His Boutique nightclub in Prahran appears to be currently closed for renovations, but the Herald Sun reported he had been evicted by landlords just three weeks ago.

His Boutique nightclub in Prahran appears to be currently closed for renovations, but the Herald Sun reported he had been evicted by landlords just three weeks ago

Divorce, drug use, and bikies weren't the only problems that plagued the nightclub owner's life  he was also facing serious money problems

Many of his A-list clientele were invited up to the office on the second floor of the nightclub, where a fully stocked bar, a strippers pole and celebrity memorabilia were kept, The Age reported.

Boutique was popular with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, and Russell Crowe.

When Mr Thornburgh opened the plush Greville Street club in 2001, he told punters at the launch party that his 'days of listening to banging music have passed.'

After growing up in Dandenong, he moved to Melbourne, where he worked in nightclubs as a bus boy.

He rose up the ranks to management positions at clubs including Warehouse in South Yarra and Heat at Crown Casino, reported to the Herald Sun.

Mr Thornburgh got his nickname 'Razzle' from the diamond he had implanted in his front tooth.

'Razzle gave his club rock star status,' a former co-worker told the Herald Sun.

'He was respected in the industry and he knew what he was doing. He was definitely king of the nightclubs until other things took over.'

Friends said Mr Thornburgh's drug use escalated when his marriage to Denise Foster (above) ended in 2008

Mr Thornburgh opened his club Boutique in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran in 2001

Divorce, drug use, and bikies weren't the only problems that plagued the nightclub owner's life  he was also facing serious money problems.

In 2011, he was made bankrupt after failing to pay a legal bill and an associate said he'd once paid a debt by handing over his Bentley.

And threats from debt collectors led to him moving into a suite at the Crown Casino due to the round-the-clock security for four years.

Friends say he left the Crown a year ago and was spending his time between South Yarra and Barmah.

And a business associate said he planned to return to the club scene this year  but his landlords had evicted him from Boutique three weeks ago.

'He lost the club, which means he lost everything,' they said.

Police said the exact circumstances surrounding Mr Thornburgh's death were yet to be determined, but officers were not treating his death as suspicious

Property records show the house belongs to Mr Thornburgh, who is the owner of the Melbourne nightclub and the Barmah pub.

But Mr Thornburgh's ex-wife, Denise Foster, with whom he has two daughters, wrote on Facebook about the death.

'Could all you disco idiots out there have some respect and integrity for his children,' she posted on Tuesday.

Friends paid tribute on social media to the man known as 'Razzle Dazzle'.

'Tragic news last night an old friend from the mid 80's Darren 'Razzle Dazzle' Thornburgh was found dead in his country home,' Peter Kalia wrote on social media.

'Darren was always a great bloke with me ... may you Rest In Peace my friend.'
Two bodybuilding Finnish tourists have officially become the Gold Coast's first Meter Men.

Putting on a show in their shiny gold shorts, Benjamin Ahlblad, 21, and Aram Dag, 22, took to the streets of Surfers Paradise on Thursday to top up parking meters, helping people avoid fines.

'It's been really fun it's an honour to do this work,' Mr Ahlblad, who has only been in Australia for a month, told 9 News.

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Putting on a show in their shiny gold shorts Benjamin Ahlblad, 21, (right) and Aram Dag, 22, (left) took to the streets of Surfers Paradise on Thursday to top up parking meters

Two bodybuilding Finish tourists have officially become the Gold Coast's first Meter Men

Benjamin Ahlblad, 21, (left) and Aram Dag, 22, (right) are the Gold Coast's first Meter Men

'I love the sun I don't mind getting a tan while I'm working.'

The move is aimed at evening up the gender balance, more than 50 years after the famous Meter Maids began topping up meters on the Gold Coast.

The Meter Maids, who are renowned for their beauty, have been a tourist attraction since 1965. The early generation wore tiaras, suits and capes.

Started in 1965, Meter Maids were the brainchild of Gold Coast developer Bernie Elsey who introduced the initiative to stave off the bad publicity associated with newly installed parking meters.

Current chief executive Roberta Aitchison said the boys (pictured) have been a huge hit

The move is aimed at evening up the gender balance, more than 50 years after the famous Meter Maids began topping up meters on the Gold Coast

Current chief executive Roberta Aitchison said the boys have been a huge hit.

'It's always been about the boys getting photos with the girls, but now it's time for gender equality,' she said.

'I think they're fun and that makes such a difference. You've got to have fun.'
Police in Fort Bend County are hunting a local man whose abrasively worded pickup sticker has set tongues wagging.

Sheriff Troy E Nehls posted a photo on Facebook of the pickup driving down the FM 395, with a decal reading 'F**k Trump and f**k you for voting for him' on its back window.

'Our Prosecutor has informed us she would accept Disorderly Conduct charges regarding [the sticker], but I feel [police and the driver] could come to an agreement regarding a modification to it,' he wrote.

Trucking hell: This truck has been causing consternation in Texas - and now cops in Fort Bend County want to track down its owner on grounds of 'disorderly conduct'

The photo doesn't show the truck's license plate or any distinguishing features, other than a Mexican skull decal and another sticker about dogs.

Nehls seemed to hope that his post might bear fruit; instead, it bore the brunt of a lot of angry Facebook posters.

Free speech: Sheriff Troy E Nehls (pictured) says he may back off if the sticker is modified - but his threats are undermined by a Supreme Court constitutional ruling

'Your prosecutor should concentrate on real crime,' wrote Antonio Herrera, while Alissa Nguyen said: 'What A Joke. Love Seeing our law enforcement wasting time and energy on pointless s**t.'

And Kasey Rose-Hodge remarked: 'If I had to explain what "grab them by the p***y" meant to my kids, you can explain "F**k Trump" to yours.'

In an attempt to impress upon the commenters the importance of this investigation, Nehls posted the definition of disorderly conduct according to local law.

It cites using 'abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place' that 'tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace'.

However, should the prosecutor attempt to press charges, he or she may find themselves hitting a Supreme Court-shaped brick wall.

In 1971, in the case Cohen v California, the Supreme Court overturned a conviction against a 19-year-old Paul Robert Cohen for wearing a jacket reading 'F**k the draft' in a courthouse.

In a statement, Justice John Marshall Harlan II wrote: 'Absent a more particularized and compelling reason for its actions, the State may not, consistently with the First and Fourteenth Amendments, make the simple public display of this single four-letter expletive a criminal offense.'

He added: 'one man's vulgarity is another's lyric.'

The Texas chapter of the ACLU tweeted Nehls to make that exact point, including a photograph of a book citing the constitutional protection for 'profane and indecent language'.

'You can't prosecute speech just because it has the word "f*ck" in it,' they tweeted, adding: '(And the owner of the truck should feel free to contact @ACLUTx.) #ConstitutionalLaw101 #FreeSpeech'

Court in the act: As pointed out by the ACLU, in 1971 the Supreme Court overturned a man's conviction for wearing a 'F**k the draft' T-shirt in a courthouse, saying it was protected speech
Australians will need to break out their wet weather gear once again and brace themselves for another bout of wet weather, with more storms to sweep across the east coast throughout the rest of the week.

Up to 100mm of rain is on the cards for areas in Western Victoria, and and at least 30mm across New South Wales and Queensland from Thursday through to Sunday.

A near-stationary low pressure system is responsible for bringing showers and storms to western parts of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and eastern districts of South Australia, Nine News reports.

Thunderstorms and up to 100mm rain will lash across VIC, ACT, NSW and QLD this week as a low pressure system travels up the east coast

Bizarre weather patterns have plagued the east coast this year, with a severe storm predicted to wreak havoc across parts of Victoria, bringing with it flash flooding

The uncharacteristic turn signals a longer storm season than usual, and follows Adelaide being struck by a heavy downfall and severe winds Wednesday night.

Several buildings were flooded and strong winds forced trees to crash into homes.

Parts of Victoria will be hit with the most significant downpour, with a severe weather warning for flash flooding in Mallee, Wimmera and South West districts issued.

Areas in Victoria's west could experience between 50mm and 100mm of rain, and the majority is expected to fall by Thursday evening.

The uncharacteristic turn signals a longer storm season than usual, and follows Adelaide being struck by a heavy downfall and severe winds Wednesday night

A near-stationary low pressure system is responsible for bringing showers and storms to western parts of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and eastern districts of South Australia

Throughout Thursday and Friday, the low will continue to create rain in Western Victoria, while the slow-moving trough will cause showers and storms across NSW, the ACT and Queensland.

However despite the stormy conditions, temperatures will still hover around the 20 degree mark.

The upper low will develop in a northeasterly direction across the weekend, bringing thunderstorms and showers to a large parts of NSW and QLD.

Conditions should begin to ease in Victoria heading into the weekend, with it also expected to clear up in Adelaide as the city prepares for 300,000 people to converge on its streets for the Christmas Pageant.



Parts of Victoria will be hit with the most significant downpour, with a severe weather warning for flash flooding in Mallee, Wimmera and South West districts issued
The New York woman convicted of murder and kidnapping in the death of a pregnant friend whose baby was cut out of her womb has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.

Ashleigh Wade, 24, was sentenced on Wednesday as she sobbed in court.

The Bronx woman was accused of killing her childhood friend Angelikque Sutton, 22, in November 2015 when Sutton stopped by Wade's home on her way to her marry her fiance, Patrick Bradley.

Sutton was eight months pregnant at the time.

Authorities said Wade slashed Sutton in the throat, took out her uterus and cut out the baby girl, who miraculously survived. Little Jenasis Bradley turns two years old next week.

New York woman, Ashleigh Wade (pictured in court on Wednesday), 24, who was convicted of murder and kidnapping in the death of a pregnant friend whose baby was cut out of her womb, was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison

Wade, 24, was sentenced on Wednesday as she sobbed in court. The Bronx woman was accused of killing her childhood friend Angelikque Sutton, 22, in November 2015 when Sutton stopped by Wade's home on her way to her civil wedding ceremony

Sutton (right) was eight months pregnant at the time. Authorities said Wade (left) slashed Sutton in the throat, took out her uterus and cut out the baby girl, who turns two years old next week

'I'm so sorry and no words can express how sorry I am,' Wade said through tears while sitting in the courtroom on Wednesday before her sentencing.

But Judge Margaret Clancy handed down the 40-year sentence despite Wade's remorse.

Wade's attorney blamed untreated mental health troubles for the heinous crime.

Last month, Wade was found guilty of second-degree murder and kidnapping. Jurors delivered the verdict in less than five hours and Wade sobbed uncontrollably in court. The parents of Sutton embraced as Wade cried.

For two weeks the jury relived the gruesome details surrounding the 2015 day when Wade slit Sutton's throat and cut the baby out of her stomach - stabbing her more than 50 times.

She had been lying to people that she was pregnant and asserted that the girl -named Jenansis by relatives - was hers.

Juror number seven, a middle aged woman, passed out cold on last month during the trial due to grisly crime scene photos.

Medical examiner Declan Mcguone was displaying an enlarged photo of Sutton's discarded uterus and umbilical cord on a large-screen TV just feet away from the jury box when the juror fainted, the New York Daily News reported at the time.

'I'm so sorry and no words can express how sorry I am,' Wade (pictured) said through tears while sitting in the courtroom on Wednesday before her sentencing. But Judge Margaret Clancy handed down the 40-year sentence despite Wade's remorse

The baby, Jenasis Bradley, (above on Wednesday with family) turns two years old next week. The beautiful tot amazingly survived being cut out of her mother in 2015

Sutton's husband-to-be and father of her child, Patrick Bradley, has attended the trial and listened to the horrific details in court. Bradley, who had been dating Sutton for eight years at the time she was killed, posts photos of his daughter (pictured) on Facebook

The judge cleared the gallery as Mcguone used his medical expertise to evaluate the woman.

In November 2015, Sutton was on her way to the courthouse to marry Patrick Bradley when she stopped by the Bronx home of her so-called friend, Wade.

But Wade, who unsuspectingly lured Sutton to the apartment by promising her a gift, had other plans for Sutton, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Wade cut Sutton's throat, preventing her from screaming before cutting her baby girl from her womb.

Wade had feigned pregnancy in the months prior to the horrific murder and needed her friend's baby to perpetuate the lie, Assistant Bronx DA Meredith Holtzman said earlier in the trial.

'The defendant attacked Ms. Sutton by stabbing and slashing her repeatedly in the face and neck,' Holtzman said.

'The defendant cut Ms. Sutton's larynx  her voice box. Ms. Sutton could not scream, could not say a word. She cut her major blood vessels.

'What the defendant did to her next is almost unspeakable. Because after she had rendered Ms. Sutton unable to scream, unable to move, the defendant took a kitchen paring knife and sliced Ms. Sutton's abdomen open at the bottom half.

Last month, Wade was found guilty of second-degree murder and kidnapping. Jurors delivered the verdict in less than five hours and Wade sobbed uncontrollably in court. The parents of Sutton embraced as Wade cried

In November 2015, Sutton was on her way to the courthouse to marry Bradley when she stopped by the Bronx home of her so-called friend, Wade (pictured). But Wade, who lured Sutton to the apartment by promising her a gift, had other plans for Sutton, prosecutors said

Authorities said Wade cut Sutton's throat, preventing her from screaming before cutting her baby girl from her womb. The gruesome murder took place at the home above

'Once she had cut Ms. Sutton's abdomen open, the defendant cut Ms. Sutton's uterus entirely out. She cut that uterus open, took baby Jenasis out, and discarded that uterus on the bathroom floor.'

Amazingly, Sutton's daughter survived the vicious attack and is now a thriving 22-month-old.

Holtzman said Wade had carefully planned for the attack and theft of the baby.

'She had baby clothes, baby shoes, diapers, formula, a crib, everything that an expectant mother would need, except a baby.

Wade (above) allegedly told police at the crime scene she knifed Sutton 'as many times as she could'

'She didn't have a baby. For that she needed Angelikque Sutton.'

Wade's defense attorney, Amy Attias, said that her client did not 'intentionally' kill Sutton and that 'something could have gone horribly and terribly and tragically wrong within Ms. Wade's own mind'.

Wade was found by her boyfriend cradling Jenasis next to the dead mother's body.

She also screamed at police, 'It's my baby!' as they took her into custody.

NYPD office Jonathan Polanco Ortiz who had arrived to the crime scene in 2015 testified on Monday that it 'left a mark on his soul'.

Ortiz said that Wade confessed to the grisly murder when she saw police.

When asked how many times she knifed Sutton, Ortiz said Wade responded: 'As many times as I could.'

Sutton's husband-to-be and father of her child, Bradley, has attended the trial and listened to the horrific details in court.

Bradley, who had been dating Sutton for eight years at the time she was killed, posts photos of his daughter on Facebook showing she is happy and even learning how to box.
Theresa Mays slender Commons majority when the Brexit date comes to a vote next month

Tory mutineers faced a grassroots backlash last night after threatening to frustrate Brexit in Parliament.

Fifteen rebels have told party whips they may vote against a bid to enshrine in law the date for leaving the EU.

Sources believe the number could top 20  enough to overturn Theresa Mays slender Commons majority when the issue comes to a vote next month.

Tory councillors and voters in the rebels constituencies  many of which voted to leave the EU last year  warned this could usher in a Labour government.

The rebels yesterday claimed they were being bullied because of their stance.

But David Campbell Bannerman, a Eurosceptic Tory MEP, said they were in contempt of democracy and should be kicked out of the party.

In other developments:

Priti Patel made her Commons return with an attack on pro-Remain MPs

19 Labour MPs face criticism for voting against leaving the EU

An ICM poll put the Tories neck and neck with Labour, despite the Governments woes

Tory rebels have now backed more than 20 amendments to the European Union Withdrawal Bill

A key ally of Angela Merkel said it now looked possible to break the deadlock on Brexit

The rebels include a number of former ministers sacked by Mrs May, such as former education secretary Nicky Morgan and former business minister Anna Soubry, along with a number of veteran Europhiles, such as the former attorney general Dominic Grieve and the former chancellor Kenneth Clarke.

They claim fixing the Brexit date in law could limit the Governments options if more time is needed for talks with Brussels. But critics believe it is a ploy to keep Britain in the EU indefinitely.

At a stormy meeting with government chief whip Julian Smith they threatened to vote down the Governments attempt to fix the moment of Brexit as 11pm on March 29, 2019.

David Campbell Bannerman (pictured right, with former Ukip leader Paul Nuttall), a Eurosceptic Tory MEP, said the rebels were in contempt of democracy and should be kicked out of the party

Yesterday they struck a defiant tone. South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen said: If fighting for the best possible future for our country and our Government is considered mutiny  then bring it on.

Miss Soubry said: The bullying begins. We want a good Brexit not a hard, ideologically driven Brexit.

She said her office had received several threats as a result of coverage of her actions and comments, which she said she had reported to the police.

Former minister Bob Neill, another of the rebels, said: The bullies will not succeed, of course. That tone says more about them than us. We will continue to work constructively for the best Brexit possible  thats our duty  and what parliamentary democracy is all about.

But Mr Campbell Bannerman said: All Conservative candidates stood on a manifesto only a few months ago to honour the peoples decision to leave the EU.

Priti Patel, making her Commons comeback after being resigning from the Cabinet, warned fellow MPs it was time to trust the British people

A vote against this commitment would be a huge breach of trust, show contempt for democracy and should lead to their loss of the whip and deselection by the party.

And Miss Patel warned fellow MPs it was time to trust the British people.

The former international development secretary said: During our consideration of our withdrawal from the EU, members have tabled amendments  and rightly so  but we should not listen to those who do not have confidence in this house, our democracy and our country.

They may want to be governed by the EU because they feel unable to govern themselves, but we fundamentally believe that our democratic institutions, and this house in particular, are held to account by the British people, and that we can make laws in all areas covered by the EU.

Do we trust the British people, who voted to leave the EU and to move on, or do we want to go against their wishes?

Tory whips believe they may be able to pick off some of the less committed rebels in the coming weeks and are anxious not to make martyrs of them.As a result, Mrs May struck a conciliatory tone in the Commons yesterday, saying she was listening carefully to concerns. But local Tories in the rebels constituencies urged them to stop destabilising the Government.

Martin Plackett, a Tory councillor in Miss Soubrys seat, said: I respect my MP tremendously and I respect her stance on these issues. But it does concern me. Were all Brexiteers now  and I voted Remain  and we have to trust the Government and the PM to get the best deal.

I would be disappointed if she voted against the Government which could bring about a change of government which as far as the Conservatives are concerned would be horrific: a Corbyn government.

Several Tories have warned defying the Government could lead to Jeremy Corbyn rising to power

David Hayes, a Conservative councillor in Mrs Morgans seat, accused the rebel MPs of behaving appallingly.

We should be getting behind this not tabling amendments, he said. The opposition and Europe will see this as a sign of weakness. It is making a mockery of politics.

Nicky needs to be very clear that shes representing Loughborough, which voted to Leave, and the Conservative party and shes got to get behind the vote.

Richard Haddock, a Tory councillor in Sarah Wollastons constituency of Totnes, called on the MP to stop messing around.

The farmer, who represents the ward of St Marys with Summercombe, said: Most of us are saying just get on with it, stop messing around, politicians  weve had the vote now we need to get it done. The more they play games the more Europe loves it.

Veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash dismissed claims that pro-Remain Tories were being bullied for their views.

Sir Bill, who this week warned against collaboration with Labour, said those MPs had to understand their actions could spark a constitutional crisis which could end in a general election and a Corbynista government.

He added: It is also not bullying to point out that if they do decide to side with the turncoats in the Labour Party, the consequences could be seismic. Meanwhile, an ally of German chancellor Angela Merkel has claimed Mrs May is on the verge of making concessions to Brussels over the so-called divorce bill.

Senior MEP Manfred Weber said following a private meeting in Downing Street that a breakthrough could now be possible.

The EU has blamed deadlock on the UK for refusing to guarantee it will pay an estimated 53billion.

ANDREW PIERCE on the Tories plotting to vote against May on Brexit  even though their own constituents voted Leave

One of David Camerons most outspoken ministers, Anna Soubry was sacked by Theresa May in her first reshuffle in July last year

1. Anna Soubry

Leave vote in Broxtowe constituency: 50.3 per cent

Rebels have tabled 19 amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, many of which are aimed at frustrating the Brexit process.

Miss Soubry backed all of them. One of David Camerons most outspoken ministers, she was sacked by Theresa May in her first reshuffle in July last year.

Soubry, 60, went after rejecting the role of deputy to newly promoted Justice Secretary Liz Truss, telling friends it was an insult given her seniority in age and background as a barrister.

At a pro EU rally, after the referendum, Soubry struggled to hold back tears as she talked about the terrible mistake of leaving the EU. (Fellow Tory MP Nadine Dorries accused her of being inebriated.)

Soubry consistently lives up to her reputation as a rent-a-quote, describing Brexit as a self-inflicted wound. She says: The people, not the hardline Brexiteers, are in charge. Quite. So why is she riding roughshod over the 17.4million people who voted for Brexit?

Dr Wollaston, 55, was a high profile recruit to the Leave campaign, but switched sides over the claim the NHS would benefit to the tune of 350million a week

2. Sarah Wollaston

Leave vote in Totnes constituency: 54.1 per cent

The former GP backed all 19 rebel amendments.

Dr Wollaston, 55, was a high profile recruit to the Leave campaign, but switched sides over the claim the NHS would benefit to the tune of 350million a week.

Many Tory MPs claimed the change of opinion was deliberately staged and political.

Wollaston, a serial rebel who is chairman of the Commons health select committee said at the time: The consensus now is there would be a huge economic shock if we voted to leave.

Given theres been no economic shock, why is she still a Remainer?

Lefroy, a member of the Brexit select committee, backed all rebel amendments

3. Jeremy Lefroy

Leave vote in Stafford constituency: 57.2 per cent

Lefroy, a member of the Brexit select committee, backed all rebel amendments.

In March, an open letter co-authored by him declared there was no covert plot by Tory MPs to keep us in the EU.

Lefroy, 58, has made little impact in seven years in parliament and has been consistently overlooked for ministerial office. (Hes gained some prominence at last, sniped one Leave Tory MP yesterday.)

Lefroy rejects the idea hes trying to scupper Brexit, insisting his scrutiny of the bill is looking after the interests of my constituents.

As the majority voted to leave, he appears to be looking after the minority not the majority.

4. Nicky Morgan

Morgan, who backed all rebel amendments, has long nursed a grudge against the PM

Leave vote in Loughborough constituency: 50.3 per cent

Morgan, who backed all rebel amendments, has long nursed a grudge against the PM after she was sacked as education secretary in her first reshuffle.

The Oxford-educated solicitor has such an over-inflated view of her own importance that she even toyed with the idea of running for the party leadership after Mr Cameron quit.

Last year she declared that one of the golden rules of politics is that if your opponent is attacking you personally, then they are rattled.

And which politician was it who took a personal swipe at May after she was photographed for a magazine wearing a 995 pair of leather trousers which were the height of political vulgarity?

The same Nicky Morgan who was later photographed with a 950 Mulberry handbag.

Describing the Prime Minister as tin eared and tone deaf, Morgan says Mrs May is guaranteed to continue to deepen divisions in the Conservative Party rather than trying to heal them, which is what she should be doing.

Isnt it the 15 rebels  of which she is one of the most senior  who have sparked the divisions, rather than the Prime Minister?

A former member of the Welsh Assembly, Sandbach, a barrister, backed all the rebel amendments

5. Antoinette Sandbach

Leave vote in Eddisbury constituency: 52.2 per cent

A former member of the Welsh Assembly, Sandbach, a barrister, backed all the rebel amendments.

She was barely known until the day she broke down in tears in the Commons chamber when she movingly revealed how she had lost her son Sam to sudden infant death syndrome. Sandbach, 48, is unrepentant on her position on the EU. She says: The role of MPs is not to be lobby fodder but to scrutinise legislation. I dont support Hard Brexit and never will not least because I dont believe the Hard Brexiteers speak for the nation.

Shes clearly not speaking for her constituency either.

Cambridge-educated Ford, who backed four rebel amendments, spent a decade in Brussels as an MEP

6. Vicky Ford

Leave vote in Chelmsford constituency: 50.5 per cent

Elected in June, Ford was immediately embroiled in uproar by backing moves to allow inmates at Chelmsford prison access to social media and mobile telephones.

A former banker with JP Morgan, the Cambridge-educated Ford, who backed four rebel amendments, spent a decade in Brussels as an MEP.

Now 50, she was criticised for going on a four day publicly-funded junket to Croatia shortly after the 2014 European elections in which she had campaigned against wasteful spending.

She says: The country decided. Now we need to make it work.

Hard to see how she will do that by collaborating with the Labour Party.

Often tipped as a future party leader, Tugendhat, 44, backed four amendments

7. Tom Tugendhat

Leave vote in Tonbridge and Malling constituency: 52.6 per cent

Often tipped as a future party leader, Tugendhat, 44, backed four amendments. He was elected chairman of the foreign affairs select committee this summer after only two years in Parliament. A passion for Brussels runs in his family. His uncle Christopher Tugendhat was an EU commissioner.

He served a decade with the Territorial Army, which included active service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Denying hes trying to block Brexit, Tugendhat says: I am concerned that fixing a precise time for our departure will give the EU control over the timetable and allow them to restrict our freedom of manoeuvre.

Once Article 50 is triggered, there is a two-year period to complete negotiations. If negotiations do not result in a ratified agreement, Britain leaves without a deal; which is the opposite of what he wants.

Djanogly rejects the charge of being a mutineer, insisting that he is a scrutineer

8. Jonathan Djanogly

Leave vote in Huntingdon constituency: 55.3 per cent

Elected in 2001, Djanogly, who will vote against setting a leave date in law, has struggled to make an impression.

In the 2009 expenses scandal, he was criticised after hiring private detectives to look into his aides and colleagues whom he suspected of leaking information about his own claims. In the event, he repaid voluntarily 25,000.

A solicitor by training, Djanogly, 52, served as a junior justice minister for two years from 2010.

He rejects the charge of being a mutineer, insisting that he is a scrutineer.

He says: To me this is about upholding our constitution and negotiation position  not remaining. Surely, its the PM who is doing the negotiating not Djanogly. By voting against her he will weaken her position.

Sir Oliver Heald was sacked after two years as Solicitor General

9. Sir Oliver Heald

Leave vote in North East Hertfordshire constituency: 51.4 per cent

A veteran of John Majors government, he was an architect of a Tory rebellion on a Coalition plan to reform the House of Lords in 2012.

But Heald, despite making loud noises, never actually voted against the measure.

A barrister, he was rewarded for not voting against the government by being made Solicitor General in 2012.

However, he was sacked after two years and given a knighthood as a sop.

Brought back into the government last summer as junior justice minister, Heald, who employs his wife Christine in his Parliamentary office, proved a poor Commons performer and ponderous at the dispatch box.

He was dismissed for being ineffective in June 2017.

His stance has surprised some Tories with one saying saying: Who knew Oliver had such strong views on the EU.

Heald hasnt actually raised the subject of the EU in the Commons chamber for months, and hes the only one of the 15 rebels who failed to comment yesterday, confirming the view of some of his colleagues that his role in the revolt was purely opportunistic.

REBELS WHOSE CONSTITUENTS VOTED REMAIN From left: Ken Clarke, the veteran MP represents Rushcliffe, Heidi Allen, who represents South Cambridgeshire and Dominic Grieve, the MP for Beaconsfield From left: Stephen Hammond, Wimbledon MP and Bob Neill, MP for Bromley Advertisement

Don't forget the 19 Labour MPs snubbing their grassroots too

By Jack Doyle, Executive Political Editor for the Daily Mail

Labour MPs who voted against Brexit have been accused of casting democracy aside and undermining trust in politics.

On Tuesday night, 19 of them voted against repealing the 1972 European Communities Act.

It is the most important clause in the EU Withdrawal Bill, which must be passed by Parliament to ensure Brexit happens. Among their number were five MPs whose constituents backed Leave in the referendum.

Last night, their actions sparked a furious response from pro-Brexit Tories, who pointed out that the last Labour manifesto explicitly promised to respect the result of the referendum.

Mary Creagh(left) and Catherine McKinnell (right) are two Labour MPs voting against Brexit and their constituents

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: Their cards are on the table. They are opposed to us leaving the EU and they have not accepted the referendum result. The truth is that large chunks of the Labour party simply want to stop Brexit in any way they can.

My colleagues on the Conservative benches should be careful with the company they keep.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers said: These 19 Labour MPs want to overturn the referendum result. That would damage our democracy and undermine trust in politics. I would urge them to think again and respect the will of the people clearly expressed in the referendum.

Pat McFadden represents Wolverhampton South East, one of the most pro-Brexit constituencies in the country, with 68 per cent backing Leave

Leading Leave supporter Peter Bone added: They didnt vote in line with how the country voted at the referendum, and they didnt vote in line with their manifesto, which said we should leave the EU.

'They are willing to cast aside democracy, and the wishes of 17million people. Parliament delegated that decision to the people and they are now trying by the back door to block the will of the people.

A total of 68 MPs from all parties voted against a clause which would repeal the 1972 Act which brought Britain into the European Community.

The 19 Labour MPs were joined by 34 Scottish Nationalists, nine Liberal Democrats, four Plaid Cymru, Green MP Caroline Lucas and independent Northern Ireland MP Lady Hermon.

The five Labour MPs whose constituencies voted for Leave were Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley), Mary Creagh (Wakefield), Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East), Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) and Albert Owen (Ynys Mon).

Mr McFadden and Miss Creagh represent some of the most pro-Brexit constituencies in the country, with 68 per cent and 62 per cent of their voters backing Leave respectively.

Ann Clwyd and Albert Owen are both voting for amendments to Brexit despite their Welsh constituencies voting Leave

Three pro-Brexit Labour MPs backed the Government  Frank Field, Kate Hoey and Graham Stringer  but the rest abstained. That so many rebelled to vote against Brexit is likely to prompt questions about Jeremy Corbyns authority. During the debate, ministers warned that failing to repeal the 1972 Act would case legal chaos.

Brexit minister Steve Baker told the Commons: If we were to not repeal the Act, we would still, from the perspective of EU law, exit the EU at the end of the Article 50 process. But there would be confusion and uncertainty about the law on our own statute book.
Police are hunting for two prisoners who escaped from a minimum-security facility in New South Wales.

Joel McCorkindale, 23, and Norman Lizano, 37, escaped from Mannus Correctional Centre in Riverina.

Police were called to a stolen Ford Falcon ute which had crashed into a power pole on Albury Street in Tumbarumba about 1.30am on Thursday.

Joel McCorkindale, 23, (left) and Norman Lizano, 37, are being hunted by police

Police found a green prison-issued beanie inside the car, and after contacting the correctional centre discovered McCorkindale and Lizano were missing.

They are believed to be heading for Young and Parklea.

McCorkindale is Caucasian, between 175cm and 180cm tall, with a thin build, blond hair and blue eyes.

McCorkindale is Caucasian, between 175cm and 180cm tall, with a thin build, blond hair and blue eyes

Lizano is Caucasian, 180cm tall with a medium build, brown hair, brown eyes and tattoos on both arms and his left shoulder

Lizano is Caucasian, 180cm tall with a medium build, brown hair, brown eyes and tattoos on both arms and his left shoulder.

Police are warning people not to approach the two men but to call triple zero immediately if they are seen.

McCorkindale was jailed for a year-and-a-half in February 2017 after he beat up a teenager and stole his phone, according to the Daily Advertiser.

The pair escaped from Mannus Correctional Centre in Riverina (pictured)

In sentencing McCorkindale at Wagga Wagga Courthourse Judge Gordon Lerve said his actions were an episode of unprovoked thuggery of the first order.

McCorkindale pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery after the incident on January 8, 2016, in which he chased a 17-year-old and punched him in the face several times.

He also kicked the teenager in the back before grabbing him by the throat and stealing his phone, which he later sold for $50.
Three members of the same family have been left in a 'vegetative state' and may be paralysed for life after eating contaminated wild boar they shot on a hunting trip.

The family from Putaruru, on New Zealand's North Island are in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital.

Paramedics found Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 32, and his mother Alekutty Daniel, 62, lying unconscious in their home on Friday night after Mr Kochummen fainted while calling an ambulance.

Paramedics found Shibu Kochummen (left), his wife Subi Babu (centre) and his mother Alekutty Daniel (right) lying unconscious in their home on Friday

Shibu Kochummen, 35, his wife Subi Babu, 32, pictured with their seven year old daughter

The family, who moved from Kerala in India to New Zealand five years ago, have two children aged seven and one.

Miraculously the meat was the only item of food the young children did not eat during the meal.

Suffering from what is expected to be a severe case of food poisoning, the trio are lying in hospital in an unresponsive state.

Friend and member of local church group Hamilton Marthoma Church Joji Varghese said it was believed the family were poisoned after eating a wild boar they had caught on a hunting trip.

'They have been diagnosed with food poisoning, after having consumed contaminated wild boar,' he said.

'Though they exhibit periods of intermittent consciousness, they are for all practical purposes, unresponsive and in a vegetative state.'

The family, who moved from Kerala in India to New Zealand five years ago, have two children aged seven (pictured) and one

Mr Varghese told Daily Mail Australia that within 30 minutes of eating the meat the family started vomiting.

'Shibu's mother started vomiting and then collapsed. Shibu called an ambulance but fainted half way through the call.

'When paramedics arrived they found three people collapsed on the floor and two children in bed sleeping.'

Luckily the family's young children did not eat the meat, which has now been taken for testing.

Three members of the same family have been left in a 'vegetative state' and may be paralysed for life after eating contaminated wild boar they shot on a hunting trip (stock image)

'It was just something they had decided to have for dinner they put the kids to bed before they cooked the meat,' Mr Varghese said.

Mr Varghese told Daily Mail Australia Mr Kochummen was a 'keen outdoorsman' who went hunting with friends about once a month.

He went hunting with a group of friends locally in Putaruru on Friday when they caught the boar.

He said it wasn't the first time the family had eaten wild boar.

'We've shared boar on a number of occasions,' Mr Varghese said.

The family's young children are being looked after by the church group.

Findings from a toxicology report are expected on Friday.
A San Antonio couple put the 'moving' in 'moving pictures' on November 9 when they were caught having sex 'really fast' in a cinema, police said.

Employees at the Santikos Casa Blanca theater on the far West Side caught Melissa Feist-McCuistion, 39, and Adam Emmet Lee, 40, in an act of nude, frenzied copulation, according to Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

'Yah man, I should have known better... was stupid on my part,' Lee told cops when they were called, according to My San Antonio. 'We were just having a little fun!'

Skin flicks: Melissa Feist-McCuistion (left), 39, and Adam Emmet Lee (right), 40, are accused of having sex in a San Antonio theater on November 9 at around midnight

Lee and Feist-McCuistion were spotted romping by a 'shocked' worker in theatre #13 at around midnight, according to the police report.

The worker rushed off to grab his manager, and when he returned Feist-McCuistion was on top of Lee - and the pair were having sex 'really fast,' he told cops.

Both of the suspects were nude save for a small blanket, Bexar County deputies said.

The manager then told the pair to stop their saucy act, at which point the surprised couple 'stood there for a long time' before putting their clothes back on.

Deputies asked the manage whether he saw the alleged offenders' genitals, but he said he didn't.

However, he said, 'we could see that their clothing was off and they were trying really hard to cover themselves with a small blanket that they had!'

Deputies detained the couple and interviewed them outside the theater, at which point Lee admitted to having sex with Feist-McCuistion, cops said.

The pair were both jailed and charged with public lewdness, are are now out on $1,600 bond each.

It's not clear which movie the pair were watching when they were caught.
Theresa May and Philip Hammond were locked in a stand-off over housing last night after the Prime Minister publicly vetoed the idea of more building on the Green Belt

Theresa May and Philip Hammond were locked in a stand-off over housing last night after the Prime Minister publicly vetoed the idea of more building on the Green Belt.

Just a week ahead of the Budget, Mrs May told MPs yesterday that she was very clear about the need to protect Green Belt land.

But last night, Mr Hammond warned there was no silver bullet to fix the housing crisis and signalled there was a limit to what he was willing to do next week to tackle the very complex challenge.

Today. the Prime Minister will pledge to take personal charge of tackling the housing crisis, which many believe is essential to reconnecting the Tories with the under-40s.

The Prime Minister will pledge to fix the broken housing market as she visits a new development in London.

She will say she has made it my mission to build the homes the country needs and take personal charge of the Governments response.

And Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, who is pushing for 50 billion for housebuilding in next weeks Budget, yesterday warned the Government risked creating a rootless generation unless it built thousands more homes.

But, in a pre-emptive strike ahead of the Budget, the Chancellor. last night said: There is no silver bullet, there isnt a single thing that solves the challenge of affordability in the housing market, he said. We are a crowded island and this is a very complex challenge.

Mr Hammond warned there was no silver bullet to fix the housing crisis and signalled there was a limit to what he was willing to do next week to tackle the very complex challenge

Mr Hammond, who is reluctant to release billions for new housebuilding when the public finances are still in a poor state, has been pushing Mrs May to agree the relaxation of planning rules to allow more building on the Green Belt.

Treasury officials argue the move would make it easier to provide new housing where it is needed. And they believe the financial windfall created by redesignating land for housing could help pay for it.

But the Prime Minister yesterday vetoed the idea following Tory warnings it would cause a public backlash in key seats.

Mrs May told MPs yesterday that she was very clear about the need to protect the Green Belt.

She added: We do want to see more homes being built in this country. Its important that we see more homes being built, particularly in London.

But there are many opportunities to do that which dont affect the Green Belt.

But the stand-off with the Chancellor casts doubt over how far the Government will go in bringing forward new ideas, and money, to deal with the crisis.

Mr Javid will today warn that the Government has no choice but to fix the many, many faults in the housing market.

He will say the demands of young people for affordable housing are reasonable, adding: The generation crying out for help with housing is not over-entitled.

They dont want the world handed to them on a plate. They want simple fairness, moral justice, the opportunity to play by the same rules enjoyed by those who came before them.

Without affordable, secure, safe housing we risk creating a rootless generation, drifting from one short-term tenancy to the next, never staying long enough to play a role in their community.

Mr Javid will say the Governments housing white paper identified the scale of the problems in the property market and set out a course of action. But, in a thinly-veiled message to Mr Hammond, he will say it is time to think big.

There are many, many faults in our housing market, dating back many, many years, he will say.

If you only fix one youll make some progress, but not enough.

This is a big problem and we have to think big.
Theresa May's Conservative government maintains support despite recent upheaval within the party

Jeremy Corbyn still has not been able to overtake the Tories in the polls, despite the Governments recent woes.

Labour and the Tories remain locked in a dead heat, even though commentators claim the opposition should be 20 points clear by now.

An ICM poll for the Guardian put both parties neck-and-neck on 41 per cent, each down one point compared to three weeks ago. The parties have now been tied in five consecutive surveys conducted by the pollster since September.

The result is a boost to Downing Street as it shows no evidence of voters turning their backs on Theresa May following a difficult fortnight, which has seen two ministers forced out of her Cabinet.

The poll of 2,010 adults was conducted between Friday and Sunday, days after Priti Patel resigned as international development secretary last Wednesday.

It put the Liberal Democrats on seven per cent, Ukip on four per cent and Green on two per cent.

ICM director Martin Boon said: Tony Blair casually observed last week that Labour should be doing better in the polls, given the governments current travails, for which he received a certain amount of opprobrium.

But hes right about one thing  the polls are not moving. Indeed, the current stasis is no better reflected than by the observation that the stretch of neck-and-neck standings has reached five consecutive polls.

Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party was expected to gain ground at the Tories' expense, according to commentators

Only one more such poll is needed to match the record of six in the ICM/Guardian series, when Labours (then) 5-point lead in August 2003 did not waver until the following February.

Mr Blair at the weekend praised how Mr Corbyn had run the general election campaign, but warned the party's popularity was way behind where it should be.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: I pay tribute to the campaign he ran, I think he showed a lot of character in the way he ran that campaign. He's generated a lot of enthusiasm. I buy all of that.

It's important and salutary for us to remember this government is in a greater degree of mess than any government I can remember.

Even in the 1990s the Tory government was a paragon of stability compared with this and yet we are a couple of points ahead and, I think I'm right that he's not yet ahead of her as prime minister.

So, I pay tribute to all of that but I still say come on guys, we should be 15, 20 points ahead at this stage.
One of David Camerons most outspoken ministers, Anna Soubry was sacked by Theresa May in her first reshuffle in July last year

1. Anna Soubry

Leave vote in Broxtowe constituency: 50.3 per cent

Rebels have tabled 19 amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, many of which are aimed at frustrating the Brexit process.

Miss Soubry backed all of them. One of David Camerons most outspoken ministers, she was sacked by Theresa May in her first reshuffle in July last year.

Soubry, 60, went after rejecting the role of deputy to newly promoted Justice Secretary Liz Truss, telling friends it was an insult given her seniority in age and background as a barrister.

At a pro EU rally, after the referendum, Soubry struggled to hold back tears as she talked about the terrible mistake of leaving the EU. (Fellow Tory MP Nadine Dorries accused her of being inebriated.)

Soubry consistently lives up to her reputation as a rent-a-quote, describing Brexit as a self-inflicted wound. She says: The people, not the hardline Brexiteers, are in charge. Quite. So why is she riding roughshod over the 17.4million people who voted for Brexit?

Dr Wollaston, 55, was a high profile recruit to the Leave campaign, but switched sides over the claim the NHS would benefit to the tune of 350million a week

2. Sarah Wollaston

Leave vote in Totnes constituency: 54.1 per cent

The former GP backed all 19 rebel amendments.

Dr Wollaston, 55, was a high profile recruit to the Leave campaign, but switched sides over the claim the NHS would benefit to the tune of 350million a week.

Many Tory MPs claimed the change of opinion was deliberately staged and political.

Wollaston, a serial rebel who is chairman of the Commons health select committee said at the time: The consensus now is there would be a huge economic shock if we voted to leave.

Given theres been no economic shock, why is she still a Remainer?

Lefroy, a member of the Brexit select committee, backed all rebel amendments

3. Jeremy Lefroy

Leave vote in Stafford constituency: 57.2 per cent

Lefroy, a member of the Brexit select committee, backed all rebel amendments.

In March, an open letter co-authored by him declared there was no covert plot by Tory MPs to keep us in the EU.

Lefroy, 58, has made little impact in seven years in parliament and has been consistently overlooked for ministerial office. (Hes gained some prominence at last, sniped one Leave Tory MP yesterday.)

Lefroy rejects the idea hes trying to scupper Brexit, insisting his scrutiny of the bill is looking after the interests of my constituents.

As the majority voted to leave, he appears to be looking after the minority not the majority.

4. Nicky Morgan

Morgan, who backed all rebel amendments, has long nursed a grudge against the PM

Leave vote in Loughborough constituency: 50.3 per cent

Morgan, who backed all rebel amendments, has long nursed a grudge against the PM after she was sacked as education secretary in her first reshuffle.

The Oxford-educated solicitor has such an over-inflated view of her own importance that she even toyed with the idea of running for the party leadership after Mr Cameron quit.

Last year she declared that one of the golden rules of politics is that if your opponent is attacking you personally, then they are rattled.

And which politician was it who took a personal swipe at May after she was photographed for a magazine wearing a 995 pair of leather trousers which were the height of political vulgarity?

The same Nicky Morgan who was later photographed with a 950 Mulberry handbag.

Describing the Prime Minister as tin eared and tone deaf, Morgan says Mrs May is guaranteed to continue to deepen divisions in the Conservative Party rather than trying to heal them, which is what she should be doing.

Isnt it the 15 rebels  of which she is one of the most senior  who have sparked the divisions, rather than the Prime Minister?

A former member of the Welsh Assembly, Sandbach, a barrister, backed all the rebel amendments

5. Antoinette Sandbach

Leave vote in Eddisbury constituency: 52.2 per cent

A former member of the Welsh Assembly, Sandbach, a barrister, backed all the rebel amendments.

She was barely known until the day she broke down in tears in the Commons chamber when she movingly revealed how she had lost her son Sam to sudden infant death syndrome. Sandbach, 48, is unrepentant on her position on the EU. She says: The role of MPs is not to be lobby fodder but to scrutinise legislation. I dont support Hard Brexit and never will not least because I dont believe the Hard Brexiteers speak for the nation.

Shes clearly not speaking for her constituency either.

Cambridge-educated Ford, who backed four rebel amendments, spent a decade in Brussels as an MEP

6. Vicky Ford

Leave vote in Chelmsford constituency: 50.5 per cent

Elected in June, Ford was immediately embroiled in uproar by backing moves to allow inmates at Chelmsford prison access to social media and mobile telephones.

A former banker with JP Morgan, the Cambridge-educated Ford, who backed four rebel amendments, spent a decade in Brussels as an MEP.

Now 50, she was criticised for going on a four day publicly-funded junket to Croatia shortly after the 2014 European elections in which she had campaigned against wasteful spending.

She says: The country decided. Now we need to make it work.

Hard to see how she will do that by collaborating with the Labour Party.

Often tipped as a future party leader, Tugendhat, 44, backed four amendments

7. Tom Tugendhat

Leave vote in Tonbridge and Malling constituency: 52.6 per cent

Often tipped as a future party leader, Tugendhat, 44, backed four amendments. He was elected chairman of the foreign affairs select committee this summer after only two years in Parliament. A passion for Brussels runs in his family. His uncle Christopher Tugendhat was an EU commissioner.

He served a decade with the Territorial Army, which included active service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Denying hes trying to block Brexit, Tugendhat says: I am concerned that fixing a precise time for our departure will give the EU control over the timetable and allow them to restrict our freedom of manoeuvre.

Once Article 50 is triggered, there is a two-year period to complete negotiations. If negotiations do not result in a ratified agreement, Britain leaves without a deal; which is the opposite of what he wants.

Djanogly rejects the charge of being a mutineer, insisting that he is a scrutineer

8. Jonathan Djanogly

Leave vote in Huntingdon constituency: 55.3 per cent

Elected in 2001, Djanogly, who will vote against setting a leave date in law, has struggled to make an impression.

In the 2009 expenses scandal, he was criticised after hiring private detectives to look into his aides and colleagues whom he suspected of leaking information about his own claims. In the event, he repaid voluntarily 25,000.

A solicitor by training, Djanogly, 52, served as a junior justice minister for two years from 2010.

He rejects the charge of being a mutineer, insisting that he is a scrutineer.

He says: To me this is about upholding our constitution and negotiation position  not remaining. Surely, its the PM who is doing the negotiating not Djanogly. By voting against her he will weaken her position.

Sir Oliver Heald was sacked after two years as Solicitor General

9. Sir Oliver Heald

Leave vote in North East Hertfordshire constituency: 51.4 per cent

A veteran of John Majors government, he was an architect of a Tory rebellion on a Coalition plan to reform the House of Lords in 2012.

But Heald, despite making loud noises, never actually voted against the measure.

A barrister, he was rewarded for not voting against the government by being made Solicitor General in 2012.

However, he was sacked after two years and given a knighthood as a sop.

Brought back into the government last summer as junior justice minister, Heald, who employs his wife Christine in his Parliamentary office, proved a poor Commons performer and ponderous at the dispatch box.

He was dismissed for being ineffective in June 2017.

His stance has surprised some Tories with one saying saying: Who knew Oliver had such strong views on the EU.

Heald hasnt actually raised the subject of the EU in the Commons chamber for months, and hes the only one of the 15 rebels who failed to comment yesterday, confirming the view of some of his colleagues that his role in the revolt was purely opportunistic.

Don't forget the 19 Labour MPs snubbing their grassroots too

By Jack Doyle, Executive Political Editor for the Daily Mail

Labour MPs who voted against Brexit have been accused of casting democracy aside and undermining trust in politics.

On Tuesday night, 19 of them voted against repealing the 1972 European Communities Act.

It is the most important clause in the EU Withdrawal Bill, which must be passed by Parliament to ensure Brexit happens. Among their number were five MPs whose constituents backed Leave in the referendum.

Last night, their actions sparked a furious response from pro-Brexit Tories, who pointed out that the last Labour manifesto explicitly promised to respect the result of the referendum.

Mary Creagh(left) and Catherine McKinnell (right) are two Labour MPs voting against Brexit and their constituents

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: Their cards are on the table. They are opposed to us leaving the EU and they have not accepted the referendum result. The truth is that large chunks of the Labour party simply want to stop Brexit in any way they can.

My colleagues on the Conservative benches should be careful with the company they keep.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers said: These 19 Labour MPs want to overturn the referendum result. That would damage our democracy and undermine trust in politics. I would urge them to think again and respect the will of the people clearly expressed in the referendum.

Pat McFadden represents Wolverhampton South East, one of the most pro-Brexit constituencies in the country, with 68 per cent backing Leave

Leading Leave supporter Peter Bone added: They didnt vote in line with how the country voted at the referendum, and they didnt vote in line with their manifesto, which said we should leave the EU.

'They are willing to cast aside democracy, and the wishes of 17million people. Parliament delegated that decision to the people and they are now trying by the back door to block the will of the people.

A total of 68 MPs from all parties voted against a clause which would repeal the 1972 Act which brought Britain into the European Community.

The 19 Labour MPs were joined by 34 Scottish Nationalists, nine Liberal Democrats, four Plaid Cymru, Green MP Caroline Lucas and independent Northern Ireland MP Lady Hermon.

The five Labour MPs whose constituencies voted for Leave were Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley), Mary Creagh (Wakefield), Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East), Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) and Albert Owen (Ynys Mon).

Mr McFadden and Miss Creagh represent some of the most pro-Brexit constituencies in the country, with 68 per cent and 62 per cent of their voters backing Leave respectively.

Ann Clwyd and Albert Owen are both voting for amendments to Brexit despite their Welsh constituencies voting Leave

Three pro-Brexit Labour MPs backed the Government  Frank Field, Kate Hoey and Graham Stringer  but the rest abstained. That so many rebelled to vote against Brexit is likely to prompt questions about Jeremy Corbyns authority. During the debate, ministers warned that failing to repeal the 1972 Act would case legal chaos.

Brexit minister Steve Baker told the Commons: If we were to not repeal the Act, we would still, from the perspective of EU law, exit the EU at the end of the Article 50 process. But there would be confusion and uncertainty about the law on our own statute book.
An American Airlines flight managed to land safely on Tuesday after a bird slammed into the Florida-bound plane.

The Airbus A319 from Mexico City was on approach to Miami International Airport around 11am when the bird smashed into the nose.

Officials said Flight 1498 was able to land safely and taxi to the gate with no problem.

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An American Airlines flight managed to land safely on Tuesday after a bird (pictured) slammed into the Florida-bound plane

Photos of the incident show the bird (pictured) still stuck in the plane even after the in-air impact

Courtesy of WPLG

Photos of the incident show the bird still stuck on the plane even after the in-air impact.

An American Airlines employee told Local 10 News: 'It is true that we deal with bird strikes, that does happen, but never like this.'

The bird's wings were seen dangling from the nose of the plane as airport employees took pictures of the rare sight.

It appeared the feathery creature became lodged in the nose of the plane after impact.

Animal services was called to retrieve the dead bird from the plane.

The plane was taken to maintenance to repair the damage and was replaced by another plane for future flights.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

It appeared the feathery creature became lodged in the nose of the plane after impact. Animal services was called to retrieve the dead bird from the plane
A mother who was the face of the 'Vote No' same-sex marriage campaign has vowed to continue 'fighting the mainstreaming of gender theory', despite yesterday's result.

Marijke Rancie rose to prominence early on in the marriage equality debate, sharing her often controversial views through the 'PoliticalPostingMumma' Facebook page.

Putting her face to TV and media ad campaigns, as well as her viral videos, she told how she feared what would be taught in Australian classrooms if the vote was 'yes'.

Like other mothers who fronted the 'no' campaign, as a result she was subjected to a mass of vile abuse - with 'yes' trolls going as far as to even send gay pornography.

Taking to Facebook in the wake of Wednesday's result, Ms Rancie said she would be 'gracious in defeat', but that the result won't stop her pushing to stop the 'creepy' agendas she claims are being taught in schools.

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Marijke Rancie (pictured) rose to prominence early on in the marriage equality debate, sharing her often controversial views through the 'PoliticalPostingMumma' Facebook page and blog

In a post after Wednesday's result, Ms Rancie vowed to continue 'fighting the mainstreaming of gender theory' and also to stamp out 'creepy' sex education from being taught in schools

'Although I feel disappointed and have a deep sense of concern, I will be gracious in defeat,' Ms Rancie wrote, just hours after the ABS' announcement.

'I hope they prove me a liar. I hope that our concerns were "red herrings"... I suspect not... I suspect all our concerns are warranted.

'Almost 40% of Australians that voted had concerns and voted 'No'... with that comes accountability to their dismissal of our concerns. We will hold them to account.

'I will never stop fighting the mainstreaming of gender theory as a truth... I will never stop fighting the hyper sexualisation of our children and I will never stop fighting paedophilia.

'As for me sorry to disappoint you leftist trolls I'm not going anywhere. I will continue to speak up for kids to be free from your creepy Marxist agendas.'

Her defiant stance in the wake of Wednesday's result comes after she revealed some of the vitriol sent her way to Daily Mail Australia in September.

Ms Rancie (second from left) featured as the face of the 'Vote No' campaign alongside other mums including Heidi McIvor (centre) and Cella White (second from right)

Ms Rancie, Ms McIvor (left) and Ms White (right) revealed to Daily Mail Australia the vitiolic abuse they had received at the hands of 'Vote Yes' trolls after their TV ads aired in September

'The abuse and vitriol has been absolutely intense. I probably read about 200 to 300 abusive comments about myself a day,' Ms Rancie said.

'Probably the worst ones are the threats of harm toward me or my kids or those that are sexual in nature.

'I think because I am a woman I receive more sexual threats and harassment.

'I had a troll send me gay porn. He was the only troll that I responded to. Afterward I felt guilty that because I had interacted it was my fault.'

Ms Rancie, who currently works as a Liberal staffer, recently mentioned she would be supporting a controversial bill tabled in parliament by Senator James Patterson.

Ms Rancie said she received as many as 300 trolling comments a day at the height of the abuse

Among the shocking abuse sent was gay porn and messages threatening her and her family

Ms Rancie, who currently works as a Liberal staffer, recently mentioned she would be supporting a controversial bill tabled in parliament by Senator James Patterson

The mother-of-two from Victoria backed the bill pushing for those against same-sex marriage to be able to refuse to assist or serve LGBTIQ couples.

Posting a photo of herself standing alongside Sen. Patterson, Ms Rancie told 11,000 followers their 'noise is being heard'.

'I have no problem with anyone else living their freedoms, as long as it doesn't encroach on the freedoms of others,' she wrote.

Ms Rancie claimed an opposing bill by gay Labor Senator Dean Smith 'does not have adequate protections'.
Amazon is planning to launch in Australia next week  just in time for Black Friday.

Two people who are familiar with the retailer's plans claim the goal is for the site to be live by November 24, CNET reports.

Amazon has been contacting sellers via email and advising them to have their products online and ready to sell by mid-November.

In the emails, Amazon adds that Amazon Marketplace  which lets third-party sellers sell new or used products on Amazon's websites  'will hopefully be launching for Black Friday,' according to CNET.

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Amazon is planning to launch in Australia next week  just in time for Black Friday.

A confirmed launch date has not yet been announced, but Daily Mail Australia has contacted Amazon for comment.

Recently, Amazon's Australian manager Rocco Braeuniger said a launch is imminent.

While he didn't give an exact start date, Mr Braeuniger suggested the company will ship goods from its first Australian warehouse in time for the end-of-year holiday season.

'Let me tell you we are getting really, really close,' he told about 600 prospective product merchants at an open day on the Sydney waterfront, held to encourage merchants to sell on its website.

Since confirming plans to open in Australia in April, Amazon has signed up 'many thousands' of sellers, added Braeuniger, who relocated from his native Germany for the role in August.

Two people who are familiar with the retailer's plans claim the goal is for the site to be live by Black Friday on November 24. A file photo shows a store preparing for Black Friday sales

Australians can already buy Amazon products from offshore, but having a warehouse locally cuts sometimes sizable international shipping costs, adding to pressure on retailers already struggling with the overheads that come from maintaining shopfronts and employing checkout staff.

Earlier this month, Australia's top department store chain Myer Holdings Ltd cut its growth targets, citing weak trading conditions.

Rival David Jones recently contributed to the first profit decline in eight years for its owner, South Africa's Woolworths Holdings.

In a sign of further headwinds for offline retail, Mr Braeuniger said Amazon planned to bring more services to Australia, from the outset, than it had previously flagged.

While Amazon said earlier that it would offer Australia its Marketplace service, he said the company would also run its own retail unit, ordering and shipping its own product.

The site for Amazon's first Australian distribution centre in Dandenong, Australia

Australians can already buy Amazon products from offshore, but having a warehouse locally cuts sometimes sizable international shipping cost. Above, the company's fulfillment centre in Peterboroug in the UK

He suggested Amazon would wait, however, before taking on Australia's grocery market.

The firm took years to offer the service in other countries and 'it's really, really complicated to make fresh food delivery a great customer experience.'

Amazon, among the latest tech heavyweights to expand in Australia, has snapped up a sprawling nine-floor office in Sydney's financial hub, with sweeping views of the Harbour Bridge and Hyde Park.

In August, it said it had picked a distribution warehouse in Melbourne, also on the east coast - where about four-fifths of the country's 24 million people live.
A blind man who was seconds away from being hit by an oncoming train before a good Samaritan rushed in to pull him from harm's way has started a search to locate the stranger who saved his life.

Surveillance footage, which captured the incident late last week at the Peoria train station in Aurora, Colorado, shows Mike Wyatt carrying a briefcase and stick approach a train crossing.

As the footage unfolds, Wyatt seems unaware that just moments away a train is barreling towards his direction.

Mike Wyatt was almost struck and killed by an oncoming train in Colorado late last week

Surveillance footage shows Wyatt come dangerously close to a crossing, not aware that a train was just moments away

Suddenly, a man comes into view who pulls Wyatt away from the tracks as a train comes barreling through

If the passerby had not intervened, Wyatt could have potentially struck and killed by the oncoming train

Suddenly, a man comes into view and pulls Wyatt away with the train rolling through the crossing just seconds later.

If the passerby had not intervened, Wyatt could have potentially been struck and killed, reported local NBC affiliate KUSA News.

The footage shows Wyatt expressing his gratitude for the assistance, and making his way through the crossing once the train has safely departed.

But Wyatt has now begun a search for his guardian angel, posting himself at the same crossing with a sign that reads: 'I'm looking for the young man who saved my life.'

'I am so stoked right now thinking that guy is going to come down that ramp [from the platform],' Wyatt told KUSA.

'It really feels like someone is watching over me. I will be always remembering this man and his kindness.'

Although Wyatt knows virtually nothing about the man who saved his life, he still hopes their paths will cross once again.

'You live and you die... It's what you do in between, and this young man did a great thing for me and that's what I want to say to him "thank you."'

Wyatt has now returned to the same train station with a sign reading that he's searching for his guardian angel
Death: Private Conor McPherson, 24, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, was shot on the military ranges in Otterburn, Northumberland

A young Army private shot dead during a night-time training exercise was mistaken by a colleague for a target, an inquiry has found.

Private Conor McPherson, 24, was shot in the head on the first day of Exercise Wessex Storm at the Heely Dod Range at Otterburn, Northumberland in August 2016.

He had already trained in France and Kenya by the time he joined the month-long exercise with colleagues from 3 Platoon A Company 3 Scots.

Their final mission that day was to negotiate a firing range, using live ammunition, as they moved towards rigid targets without any fixed illumination.

A reconstruction ordered by the Defence Safety Authority's inquiry found that the LUCIE night vision goggles worn by Private McPherson were not cleared for use in that type of exercise, 'mainly owing to its impaired peripheral vision and lack of depth perception'.

It was also found targets and the range had not been set up correctly for a night vision scope used by another soldier which relied on thermal contrast.

Lieutenant General Richard Felton, director general of the Defence Safety Authority, wrote in a report: 'The reconstruction demonstrated how the procedures for distinguishing personnel from targets were not robust enough.'

The inquiry's conclusions, published yesterday, amount to a damning indictment of the circumstances surrounding the rookie soldier's death, coupled with a series of recommendations designed to prevent another tragedy.

The soldier enlisted into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in May 2014 as a combat infantryman

Lieutenant General Felton said the safety risk present that night 'was neither recognised  nor the potential consequences understood  by the fire team, supervising staff or battalion leadership'.

He said he could not understand why the young trainees were subject to an 'ambitious' 18-hour plus day, involving nine different shooting sequences.

His report found that by 11pm, the soldiers using live rounds were falling about in the darkness.

While it was 'highly likely' Private McPherson, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, was shot by one of his colleagues, it was found that one soldier did not fire a single round because he found it impossible to identify any targets in the gloom.

Lieutenant General Felton said: 'The tragic death of Private Conor McPherson serves as a reminder of the dangers inherent in military training.'

Much-loved: Private McPherson 'was part of a very close-knit family and his great joy was spending time with them at the weekends and over leave', his commanding officer said

But he added: 'Military training must continue to test and challenge, with progression through a unit's training cycle correctly adding complexity and greater levels of safety risk.

'To not do so would reduce the value of training and the preparedness of our soldiers to fight and win in future conflicts.'

The soldiers of A company had only been issued with the new night vision equipment on arrival at Otterburn and there was 'no recorded evidence' they had been trained to use it.

The equipment 'added confusion' as it made if difficult to distinguish the scene under infra-red light from a Cyalume light-emitting disposable plastic tube.

Weaknesses were also found in the experience of two of the supervisors. One had not supervised a range for nine months and neither had ever supervised a night exercise without lights, nor had they undergone the required refresher courses.

Once the fatal shot had been fired, and Private McPherson was seen to fall, senior men gave the order 'stop, stop, stop' to halt the exercise.

They also told the trainees to look down the range, as they did not want them to see the extent of their colleague's injuries. Attempts were made to resuscitate the 'critical' victim and a call went out to seek an air ambulance.

Tragedy: The soldier from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, died after suffering a serious head wound at the Otterburn ranges in Northumberland (above)

However, officers discovered that the service does not operate in that area at night.

By the time an ambulance arrived by road, some 38 minutes after the shooting, Private McPherson was declared dead.

Northumbria Police arrived on the scene just after midnight to take charge of the investigation.

An Army spokesman said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Conor McPherson at this difficult time.

'The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and, while deaths in training are rare, any death is a tragedy.

'We are now carefully considering the recommendations from the independent service inquiry.'

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: 'The death is still being investigated and Northumbria Police is working with the Health and Safety Executive and the coroner.'

Training: The 93 sq mile training centre, set up by former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, is the second largest live firing range in the country and has been used since 1911 (file picture)

Location: Otterburn is the UK's largest firing range, and is in frequent use  artillery can be clearly heard from Lindisfarne to the north-east and Fontburn Reservoir in the south

Night-vision goggles are not always worn because the idea is to get soldiers used to firing in the pitch black.

Rev Peter Mander, of the village's St John the Evangelist Church, said: 'He was a young man doing his duty, a bit of training and a tragic accident like this happens.'

Anthony Wilson, 44, himself a former soldier, was travelling back to Edinburgh with his family.

He said: 'It is the thing every commander dreads, losing one of your lads in training. In active combat anything can happen but it shouldn't happen in training.'

Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning said: 'My thoughts are with the soldier's family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.

'The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and while deaths in training don't happen often, any death is a tragedy.

'As well as a police investigation, MoD accident investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.'

The victim's next of kin were informed but the MoD did not disclose his identity.

Police worked with the Ministry of Defence to establish the exact exact circumstances of the incident at Otterburn (file picture)

It comes little more than a month after Cpl Joshua Hoole, 26, of Ecclefechan, near Lockerbie, died on a training exercise in Brecon, Wales, on the hottest day of the year.

He died on July 19 while on pre-course training for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course, taken by infantry soldiers who want to progress to the rank of sergeant.

The 26-year-old, who was based at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire, and was a member of The Rifles regiment, collapsed after taking part in a fitness test near the Dering Lines infantry training centre at about 6.30am, when temperatures later peaked at just above 30C.

Cpl Hoole's death came just three months after the Defence Select Committee published a report calling for the MoD to become liable for prosecution for the deaths of Armed Forces personnel.
Kelly Shane Rice, 29, faces multiple child sex charges after Homeland Security found evidence he had produced the pornography

An Oregon man has been arrested for using his infant stepdaughter to make child porn, police say,

Kelly Shane Rice, 29, faces multiple child sex charges after Homeland Security found evidence he had produced the disturbing pornography and shared it over private messaging app Kik, court records show.

Investigators tracked the uploads to Rice's Roseburg, Oregeon home, where they executed a search warrant on November 2.

Homeland Security and state police say they found evidence that Rice had been using his one-year-old stepdaughter to produce the child porn.

'During the search of the residence and the following investigation, it was discovered that one of the child pornographic images was produced at that residence,' state police told KVAL 13.

Rice is charged with using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct; sex abuse, unlawful sexual penetration and encouraging child sex abuse.

He is currently in the Douglas County Jail and bail has been set at $1.1 million.

This isn't the first time that an alleged pedophile has been caught sharing child porn on Kik.

The app, which was founded in 2009 by a group of University of Waterloo students, has become something of a haven for predators in recent years.

The app grants its users anonymity as unlike others, it doesn't require a working phone number - just a unique username. This, according to the app's website, is so 'users are always in complete control of who they talk to on Kik.'

Kik is a smartphone messenger app that allows users anonymity

However, the apps anonymity makes it a minefield when it comes to solving crimes, such as child exploitation, bomb threats and terrorism.

It allows users to search for others by age and send photographs that are not stored on phones  making it popular with pedophiles and predators and the bane of law enforcement.

Ted Livingston, the start-ups founder and chief executive, has said the service, which has 240million users, reaches roughly 40 per cent of Americans aged 13 to 25.

The free app uses native advertising - including video advertisements - to earn revenue. To target its primarily young audience, it also offers advertisers the chance to reach consumers using branded GIFs.

However, in a guide for law enforcement, Kik says names, emails and ages do not allow the company to find user accounts - the exact username is required. They will, however, preserve data for a period of 90 days, pending receipt of a valid order from law enforcement.
A gay couple who ran an international paedophile ring involving a son they illegally bought from Russia reportedly planned to buy a second child to exploit.

Mark Newton, 46, and Peter Truong, 40, from Cairns, on Queensland's coast, sexually abused their adopted Russian son and trafficked him to other paedophiles around the world from the age of one until six.

However, new claims have emerged the couple planned to adopt a second child by paying a Malaysian surrogate $100,000,The Courier Mail reported.

Mark Newton, 46, (right) and Peter Truong, 40, (left) from Cairns, on Queensland's coast, sexually abused their adopted son and trafficked him to other paedophiles around the world from the age of one until six

The publication claimed the plan was exposed in Skype and photo sharing service Flickr, through which they tried to sell their son to other paedophiles for sex.

Newton is serving 40 years in a US prison and Truong is serving 30 in a US prison after they were arrested in 2012 for sexually abusing their son and trafficking him for sex in an international paedophile ring.

Judge Sarah Evans Barker said she didn't want to put the trial by a jury because she felt the evidence was too heinous for people to witness.

Truong was given a reduced sentence because he cooperated with the authorities.

The pair were found guilty of offering the boy for sex to at least eight men in the US, France and Germany.

Newton is serving 40 years in a US prison and Truong is serving 30 in a US prison after they were arrested in 2012 for sexually abusing their son and trafficking him for sex in an international paedophile ring

Truong (pictured with his adopted son) was given a reduced sentence because he cooperated with the authorities

When Newton (pictured with his young son) was sentenced in the US, police told the court the boy was adopted in 2005 for the sole purpose of sexual gratification and sex trafficking

Newton and Truong were living in California when the boy, then six, was taken away from them and they were arrested.

When Newton was sentenced in the US, police told the court the boy was adopted in 2005 for the sole purpose of sexual gratification and sex trafficking.

Police also told the court the two men uploaded disturbing images and videos of the abuse to international paedophilia ring 'Boy Lovers Network'.

They reportedly urged paedophiles to travel to Russia where they could pay to rape the young boy.

The paedophile ring, 'Boy Lovers Network', had 70,000 members worldwide before it was the subject of international raids that resulted in the arrests of 670 men.

They reportedly urged paedophiles to travel to Russia where they could pay to rape the young boy (pictured)
Anti-Semitism is so entrenched in many of Britain's universities that the swastika is now seen on campus as a 'casual symbol of fun', MPs heard last night.

Parliament heard a litany of 'horrifying' examples of anti-Jewish hatred at universities, including the distribution of Holocaust denial literature.

At one university, police had to be called to protect Jewish students from the 'animalistic behaviour' of anti-Israel activists.

Student officers have also used the Twitter hashtag #Jew while discussing wealth, while swastikas have been drawn on people's cars, on the walls of student halls and even at student parties.

The swastika (pictured) is now being viewed as a 'casual symbol of fun' at some of Britain's universities

Liron Velleman, of the Union of Jewish Students, said the situation was now so bad that 'we need serious conversations about what the swastika is'.

The appalling stories were recounted at a meeting of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism.

During the session shadow education secretary Angela Rayner admitted that Labour had not done enough to tackle hatred of Jews in its ranks.

And she said she would be challenging Jeremy Corbyn to explain why he had caused such 'upset' by attending the book launch of an anti-Semitic author last year.

'We need to prove we are not anti-Semitic as a party,' she said.

Saying that anti-Semitism was 'normalised' on many campuses, she added: 'People think anti-Semitism has gone away but the reality is it's absolutely there in every single community, in our campuses and our schools and across our society.'

Mr Velleman and other speakers listed a raft of examples of university anti-Semitism. They included police having to protect Jewish students at University College London after anti-Israel protesters climbed in through the windows during a talk by Israeli speaker Hen Mazzig at UCL's Friends of Israel group in October last year.

Mr Velleman said: 'A number of campuses have Holocaust denial literature posted on university noticeboards. We have swastikas drawn on cars  this is not something I expected in 2017.

'We need a serious conversations about what the swastika is. It's either being seen as a casual symbol of fun which is pretty horrifying, or people are using it as a legitimate way to attack people.'

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner (pictured) admitted that Labour had not done enough to tackle hatred of Jews in its ranks

Miss Rayner said she agreed with a speaker who suggested the 'European Left' had a problem with anti-Semitism, and admitted that Labour had not gone far enough to tackle anti-Semitism in its ranks.

'I have confidence we are going in the right direction but are we where we need to be? I don't think we're there yet,' she said. 'We still have people in our party that are anti-Semitic. It's not just what we say, it's what we do  and I say that to everyone including my leader.'

She also expressed concern about a meeting organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission attended by Mr Corbyn in December, where an academic described as 'extremely anti-Semitic' launched his book. 'If people do something that strays into being wrong or unacceptable, if that happens we have to immediately seize on it,' she said. 'And I will speak to Jeremy about that meeting in December and say that it has created upset, and ask him what is he going to do about it personally.'

In a hint that she wants to see more anti-Semitic members expelled rather than simply suspended, she added: 'I'm sick of 'jam tomorrow', the promise that it'll get sorted.

'I want to see direct action. Not just warm words and rule changes, but direct action.'
The US has sent an aircraft carrier, destroyers and other ships carrying 14,000 servicemen to waters near Japan for a war drill that has set North Korea's teeth on edge.

The 10-day exercise - which will see US and Japanese troops performing war games in the waters off Okinawa - comes as the Kim regime continues to pursue its nuclear missile development program.

It comes just days after North Korean Ambassador Ja Song Nam slammed US drills in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, saying that the current situation around the Korean peninsula was 'the worst ever'.

US warships began war games in the sea near Japan on Thursday, shortly after exercises (pictured) in the western Pacific with Japan and South Korea, drawing North Korea's ire

The drills began on Thursday and include aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan, and the guided-missile destroyers USS Stethem, USS Chafee and USS Mustin, among others.

North Korea, which has stoked regional tensions with nuclear and missile tests in recent months, has repeatedly denounced such military drills as rehearsals for invasion and sometimes conducts its own military manoeuvres in response.

The Kim regime said that situations in the region around North Korea are the 'worst ever' and that the US is risking war by taking part in the annual drills

The annual drill 'is designed to increase the defensive readiness and interoperability of Japanese and American forces through training in air and sea operations,' the US Navy said.

It comes after three US aircraft carriers, including the USS Ronald Reagan, held rare joint drills in the western Pacific over the weekend.

They were joined separately by Japanese navy and South Korean warships in drills that led to Ja's furious letter.

The drills at the weekend - also the first such deployment of three US carriers since 2007 - 'is making it impossible to predict when nuclear war breaks out due to the US nuclear war equipment' taking up a 'strike posture,' the ambassador wrote.

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test this year and test-fired a series of advanced missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles.

On Wednesday, Trump vowed a global campaign of 'maximum pressure' on North Korea, warning Pyongyang will not subject the world to 'nuclear blackmail'.

Defending an almost two week trip to Asia that was long on pomp but - critics say - short on achievements, Trump said he had successfully galvanised opposition to North Korean proliferation.

As the drill kicked off, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met the commander of the US Pacific fleet, Harry Harris, and urged 'close coordination' between Tokyo and Washington to 'enhance deterrence' amid the North Korea threat.
Students are demanding university bosses change the name of a halls of residence because of its links to former Prime Minister William Gladstone and his association with the slave trade.

The Roscoe and Gladstone building at Liverpool University was partly named after the Liberal politician, whose family wealth was built on slavery in the 19th century.

The undergraduates want the building, which is undergoing redevelopment, to be named after Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow instead.

Last night critics said the campaign was 'tokenistic' and claimed the city - where Gladstone was born - and Britain owed a huge debt to the four-time Prime Minister.

The Roscoe and Gladstone building at Liverpool University was partly named after former Prime Minister William Gladstone (pictured)

He is known to have opposed the slave trade, on condition plantation owners were compensated for the slaves' liberation.

Richard Kemp, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool, said: 'There's a whole series of tokenistic debates going on from people who frankly have little better to do.

'Gladstone is a worthy recipient of honours. He was born on Rodney Street (in Liverpool), and was the only person who has been Prime Minister on four occasions.

'His government laid the basis of the welfare state, widened who could vote and did so many things we take for granted in this country.

'We should be incredibly proud of him. Gladstone was without doubt an abolitionist - precisely what he argued to get it through is not for me to doubt.

'And people make their own decisions - you shouldn't blame families because of one individual.'

He added: 'If I were a student concerned about what Britain had done in Africa, I would look at what I could practically do.

'They could volunteer, support political parties in Africa, donate to Oxfam. But that would involve moving from drafting resolutions to actually doing something.'

The campaign to change the building's name was started by students Alisha Raithatha, Tinaye Mapako and Tor Smith, following a visit to the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool.

Around 50 others have backed their cause on the Liverpool Guild of Students' website.

Miss Raithatha, 20, from Birmingham, said: 'I lived in those halls in the first year and didn't realise - I don't think anybody did.

'I looked it up and realised William Gladstone wasn't in favour of abolishing slavery. I was a bit disgusted to live in the building without realising that history.

'The building is being knocked down now, and they are re-building it - I assume it will have the same name but it's a good opportunity to rename it.

'I've had a few friends say I was covering up history, but the slavery museum is a great way to remember, rather than commemorating someone so controversial.'

A statement on the campaign website reads: 'William Gladstone was a former UK Prime Minister, his politics were funded by his father Sir John Gladstone's wealth which was built on the back the slave trade.

'William Gladstone is known to have fought for reparations for slave traders like his father during the abolition of the trade, as well as not being in favour of the abolition.

'We believe someone with this controversial background should not have a university hall named after them.'

Student union president Sean Turner said a decision would be made on whether they should officially back the campaign next week.

Gladstone is regarded as one of the greatest statesmen of the Victorian era for his political reforms, such as the introduction of the secret ballot and the modernisation of the British Army, to his occupation of Egypt and attempt to give Home Rule to Ireland.

The undergraduates want the building to be named after Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow (pictured)

His father, Sir John, who owned plantations in British Guyana and Jamaica, was chairman of the West India Association and received almost 100,000 compensation from the Government for losing hundreds of slaves after abolition in 1833.

Although Gladstone wanted the slave trade banned, critics say he was not vocal enough on abolition and only agreed on the basis that owners were compensated and slaves' conditions improved first.

A university spokesman said no name had yet been chosen for the new building but other re-developed accommodation has previously kept their original names.

It comes after Colston's Girls' School, in Bristol, resisted calls from activists to change its name because of its links to Edward Colston, a prominent slave trader.

The school claimed there was no benefit in 'obscuring history' and instead said it wanted students to 'engage thoughtfully with the past'.

Colston, who was deputy governor of the Royal African Company which shipped 100,000 African slaves to the West Indies and America in the 17th century, also donated considerable amounts to the school and is known as one of Bristol's leading philanthropists.

Mr Snow, 70, was expelled from Liverpool University while a law student in 1970 for taking part in a rooftop demonstration against the university's investments in apartheid-era South Africa.

He was among 10 students disciplined after the 12 day sit in. But he completed a remarkable homecoming in 2011 when bosses awarded him an honorary degree in recognition of his contribution to journalism.
Leonardo da Vinci's long lost portrait of Christ 'Salvator Mundi' has sold for a record-smashing $450.3 million (342million) at Christie's in New York - more than double the old mark for any work of art at auction.

The painting, which once sold for just $60 (45) at auction because experts thought it was by one of his students, fetched more than four times over the Christie's pre-sale estimate of about $100million (76million) last night.

'Salvator Mundi' - Italian for 'Savior of the World' - was purchased by an unidentified buyer bidding via telephone after a protracted bidding war that stretched to nearly 20 minutes at the New York auction house.

It was more than twice the old auction record set by Pablo Picasso's painting 'Women of Algiers (Version O)' ('Les Femmes D'Alger) which sold for $179.4 million in May 2015, also at Christie's in New York.

Salvator Mundi, an ethereal portrait of Jesus Christ by Leonardo da Vinci which dates to about 1500, has gone under the auctioneers hammer

Christie's auctioneer Jussi Pylkannen, taps the gavel as he ends bidding at $400 million for the painting at Christie's, Wednesday

The highest known sale price for any artwork had been $300 million for Willem de Kooning's painting 'Interchange,' which was sold privately in September 2015 by the David Geffen Foundation to hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin.

The oil on wood panel painting, Salvator Mundi, depicts Christ with his right hand raised in blessing and his left hand holding a globe.

Commissioned by Louis XII of France in 1506, it later ended up in possession of Charles I of England and following his execution it went to Charles II and it remained in London for 400 years.

It eventually ended up in the collection of Sir Francis Cook and in 1958 it was sold by Sotheby's for just $60 after it was wrongly attributed to a student of Da Vinci called Giovanni Boltraffio.

Robert Simon Fine Art in New York, along with a consortium of art dealers, are thought to have acquired the painting at a clearance sale in 2004 for $10,000.

Simon and his partners flew in an international panel of art experts who assessed the work, which had been heavily overpainted, and gone dark and gloomy during years of neglect.

After it was cleaned up, the experts agreed it had not been done by the pupil, but the master himself, da Vinci, and went on display to the public at the National Gallery in London in 2011.

Members of Christie's staff admire the work - the last privately owned Leonardo da Vinci painting

Bidding representatives react after Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi' sold for $400 million at Christie's

Paris-based dealer, Yves Bouvier purchased the work at a Sotheby's private sale for $77 million in 2013.

The dealer once represented Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, 50, who has accused him of cheating him out of $1 billion by misrepresenting sale prices on some 38 artworks - including the sale of the da Vinci when Rybolovlev acquired it for $127 million.

The oligarch's sale on Wednesday marks his biggest ever.

The history of Salvator Mundi Da Vinci painted the picture 500 years ago following a commission from Louis XII of France in 1506 and he finished it seven years later. The image of Christ giving his blessing to the world was a popular subject in French and Flemish art and the half-length pose is typical of the Renaissance era. During its long history the painting also ended up in the possession of Charles I of England and following his execution it went to Charles II and it remained in London for 400 years. It eventually ended up in the collection of Sir Francis Cook and in 1958 it was sold by Sotheby's for just 45 and attributed to a student of Da Vinci called Giovanni Boltraffio. Robert Simon Fine Art in New York are thought to have acquired the painting at a clearance sale in 2004. Paris-based dealer, Yves Bouvier - purchased the work at a Sotheby's private sale for $77 million in 2013. Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, later acquired it from Bouvier for $127 million. It was sold at auction in New York for a record breaking $450.3 million. Advertisement

During Wednesday's auction, a backer of the 'Salvator Mundi' auction had guaranteed a bid of at least $100 million, the opening bid of the auction, which ran for 19 minutes. The price hit $300 million about halfway through the bidding.

People in the auction house gallery applauded and cheered when the bidding reached $300 million and when the hammer came down on the final bid, $400 million. The record sale price of $450 million includes the buyer's premium, a fee paid by the winner to the auction house.

The 26-inch-tall Leonardo painting dates from around 1500 and shows Christ dressed in Renaissance-style robes, his right hand raised in blessing as his left hand holds a crystal sphere.

Its path from Leonardo's workshop to the auction block at Christie's was not smooth. Once owned by King Charles I of England, it disappeared from view until 1900, when it resurfaced and was acquired by a British collector. At that time it was attributed to a Leonardo disciple, rather than to the master himself.

The painting was sold again in 1958 and then was acquired in 2005, badly damaged and partly painted-over, by a consortium of art dealers who paid less than $10,000 (8,445 euros). The art dealers restored the painting and documented its authenticity as a work by Leonardo.

The painting was sold Wednesday by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who bought it in 2013 for $127.5 million (108 million euros) in a private sale that became the subject of a continuing lawsuit.

Christie's said most scholars agree that the painting is by Leonardo, though some critics have questioned the attribution and some say the extensive restoration muddies the work's authorship.

One bidder even turned up with a mask of da Vinci's Salvator Mundi for the Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Sale at Christie's

Christie's capitalized on the public's interest in Leonardo, considered one of the greatest artists of all time, with a media campaign that labeled the painting 'The Last Da Vinci.' The work was exhibited in Hong Kong, San Francisco, London and New York before the sale.

In New York, where no museum owns a Leonardo, art lovers lined up outside Christie's Rockefeller Center headquarters on Tuesday to view 'Salvator Mundi.'

Svetla Nikolova, who is from Bulgaria but lives in New York, called the painting 'spectacular.'

'It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience,' she said. 'It should be seen. It's wonderful it's in New York. I'm so lucky to be in New York at this time.'
The unnamed male activist is said to have harassed women's officer Anne Ruzylo (pictured)

Every member of a local Labour Party executive committee has quit in support of a colleague who was allegedly bullied by a transgender rights campaigner.

The unnamed male activist is said to have harassed women's officer Anne Ruzylo for months after they disagreed over 'gender identity' issues.

Miss Ruzylo, 52, claims the fellow party member carried out a smear campaign against her.

A leaked letter revealed the committee all resigned over what they believe to be Labour's failure to deal with 'disciplinary complaints' regarding the reported abuse.

The six executive committee members in Bexhill and Battle, East Sussex, wrote that the alleged bullying had 'seriously damaged' their ability to function, and they had been forced to spend their time 'being siphoned away into internal disciplinary matters' instead of 'fighting the Tories'.

'We have been deeply disappointed by a lack of meaningful, timely and decisive action from regional and national party structures to support the executive committee in addressing these disciplinary issues,' the letter added.

The unidentified activist, who is not transgender but is a passionate supporter of those who are, allegedly tried to prevent Miss Ruzylo, from Bexhill-on-Sea, from voicing her concerns at meetings. He supports Government plans to reform the legal definition of man and woman, but Miss Ruzylo believes critics' fears of appearing politically incorrect could prevent proper scrutiny of the legislation.

He also described her as a 'Terf', a derogatory term that stands for 'trans-exclusionary radical feminist', on social media. Miss Ruzylo was also accused of 'transphobia' in three formal complaints  one reportedly from Lily Madigan, 19, formerly a boy called Liam who identifies as female.

Miss Ruzylo was also accused of 'transphobia' in three formal complaints  one reportedly from Lily Madigan, 19, (pictured) formerly a boy called Liam who identifies as female.

She made the headlines last year when she sought legal advice after her school threatened to suspend her for wearing a girl's uniform.

Miss Madigan, from Kent, demanded that Miss Ruzylo be removed from her job over some of the women's officer's tweets, which she regarded as transphobic.

Former prison officer Miss Ruzylo, who is a lesbian, told The Times she felt 'violated', adding that the way she had been silenced was 'disgusting'.

She added: 'Debate is not hate. If we can't talk about gender laws and get shut down on that, what's next? We're going back to the days of McCarthyism. It is disgraceful.'

The local Labour Party has now been left without an executive committee and will have to call an early AGM to elect new members. Bexhill and Battle is a Conservative constituency.

A Labour South-East spokesman insisted the party took all complaints 'extremely seriously' and had 'robust procedures'.
For over four decades the will of the Duke of Windsor, once known as King Edward VIII, has remained sealed and hidden away from prying eyes.

But now, for the first time since his death, the document will be viewed by a royal archivist, after a High Court ruling made it possible.

The Duke died in 1972 and was King Edward VIII until his abdication sent shockwaves through the country in 1936.

For over four decades the will of the Duke of Windsor, once known as King Edward VIII, has remained sealed and hidden away from prying eyes. Pictured: Alex Jennings as the Duke of Windsor and Lia Williams as Wallis Simpson in The Crown

Now Sir James Munby has decided that the seal on the envelope containing the will can be broken and a copy made for Oliver Irvine, assistant keeper of the Queen's archives.

The judge, president of the Family Division of the High Court, announced his decision in a written ruling published on Wednesday.

He said he had analysed the issue after Mr Irvine wrote asking for a copy, saying that researchers - understood to be The Crown's writers - needed to know who owns copyright to The Duke's words so they could republish them in the Netflix series.

In a written application submitted by Mr Irvine from Windsor Castle on October 13, he said: 'We have previously been approached by researchers seeking permission to publish letters by the Duke of Windsor but have been unable to advise whether copyright is held by Her Majesty The Queen.

'With a copy of the will and codicil, we will be able to determine the identity of his residual beneficiary and begin the process of identifying the current copyright holder.'

Judges in Sir James' position have responsibilities for the sealing and unsealing of royal wills.

Ten years ago Sir Mark Potter, the then President of the Family Division of the High Court, explained how wills made by members of the royal family were normally sealed on the order of the President of the Family Division of the High Court and could only be unsealed by order of the President of the Family Division of the High Court.

He explained the procedure after a man claimed to be Princess Margaret's illegitimate son and asked for her will to be unsealed. Sir Mark dismissed the application.

Sir James explained, in his ruling, how Mr Irvine, who is based at Windsor Castle, had written to him in October.

Sir James, the most senior family court judge in England and Wales, said disclosure in such circumstances was 'quite plainly' justified

Sir James, the most senior family court judge in England and Wales, said disclosure in such circumstances was 'quite plainly' justified.

'Mr Irvine identifies two reasons in justification of the application,' the judge said.

'First, the desire of the Queen's Archives to fill a gap in its holdings. Second, the practical need for the Queen's Archives to identify those who currently hold the copyright in literary works created by the Duke of Windsor.

'Each of these two reasons is compelling. Either alone would, in my judgment, quite plainly justify the disclosure which is sought.

'It would be absurd to deny the Royal Archives copies of the will ... of one who was born a Royal Prince, died a Royal Duke and was in his time His Majesty the King.'

Sir James, who noted that the Duke of Windsor died on May 28, 1972, made an order allowing the seals on the envelope to be broken. He said a copy could be made and delivered to Mr Irvine.

The Duke of Windsor in 1963

The will would then be re-sealed in an envelope bearing the inscription: 'Will of H.R.H. Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Duke of Windsor.

'Sealed by order of the president 13 Oct. 72. Not to be opened without leave of the president.'

Sir James said the will had been sealed on the order of Sir George Baker, who was President of the Family Division of the High Court in 1972. He said the wax seals were still intact.

Sir James said he had 'personally examined' the envelope but had not opened the envelope or read the will. He said he did not have 'any idea' what the contents of the will were.

Edward VIII, who was born in 1894, was the only British sovereign to abdicate voluntarily.

He became King in January 1936, following the death of George V, and stepped down in December 1936 in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

They married in 1937 and George VI, the Queen's father, became King. Mrs Simpson died in 1986 aged 89.
Scots are readying themselves for booze cruise pilgrimages to England after the Supreme Court cleared the way for a minimum alcohol price north of the border.

Off licenses in the north of England are said to be stocking up on beers, spirits and wines as they prepare for an influx of drinkers looking to buy cheaper alcohol in bulk.

Costs are set to soar in Scotland as it becomes the first country in the world to impose a minimum price for alcohol which experts believe will open the floodgates to those on the hunt for bargains.

The Supreme Court in Scotland yesterday backed the controversial measure in what ministers in Edinburgh hailed as an 'historic and far-reaching judgment'.

A car boot crammed with beers and wine in France. This is what experts are predicting will happen over the England-Scotland border

Off licenses in the north of England - like this one in Berwick - are said to be stocking up on beers, spirits and wines as they prepare for an influx of drinkers looking to buy cheaper alcohol in bulk

Costs are set to soar in Scotland as it becomes the first country in the world to impose a minimum price for alcohol which experts believe will open the floodgates to those on the hunt for bargains

Gretna and Berwick could become hotspots, according to experts, who also highlighted fears alcohol could become a trading tool to those on the black market

Chris Snowdon, the Institute of Economic Affairs' head of lifestyle economists, predicted a similar phenomenon to British wine enthusiasts nipping into France to get their hands on discounted drink.

He told The Telegraph: ''People particularly, if they live near the border, could pop over if they're having a wedding or a party or something.

'I think it would certainly be of concern to the retailers in the south of Scotland who might be affected by it.'

Gretna and Berwick could become hotspots, according to Mr Snowden, who also highlighted fears alcohol could become a trading tool to those on the black market.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has mounted a legal challenge to try to halt the price hike, which it said is 'disproportionate' and illegal under European law.

But seven judges rejected their challenge and gave the green light for the minimum charge to be introduced.

The decision paves the way for alcohol in Scotland to be priced at a 50 pence minimum per unit.

Michael Gove and Boris Johnson enjoy a pint while they were on the EU referendum campaign trail last year. The price of alcohol is set to rise in Scotland after the Supreme Court gave the green light to the government's plans to introduce a minimum charge

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was 'absolutely delighted' at the decision but critics tore into it saying it will hit poor families hardest.

Chris Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the think-tank The Institute of Economic Affairs, said: 'The Supreme Court's decision today is disappointing, but we should be thankful that the legal action has delayed the implementation of this pernicious policy by five years, thereby saving Scottish drinkers hundreds of millions of pounds.

'Minimum alcohol pricing is a policy that clobbers the poor and exempts the rich. Most of the beer, cider and spirits sold in the off trade will become more expensive under a 50p minimum price, but doctors and politicians can relax.

'The champagne at their Christmas parties will not be affected.'

Members of the Scottish Parliament passed the legislation fie years ago but it has not been brought in due to the legal challenge.

Ms Sturgeon said: 'Absolutely delighted that minimum pricing has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

'This has been a long road - and no doubt the policy will continue to have its critics - but it is a bold and necessary move to improve public health.'

The SWA had brought a legal challenge to the legislation after the policy was passed, taking the case to the highest court in Scotland and the European Court of Justice.

The SWA said there were better ways to achieve the Scottish Government's proposed 50p per unit minimum pricing plan.

But the Supreme Court unanimously ruled there was no breach of European Union law and that minimum pricing 'is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'.

Critics of the Supreme Court's ruling say it will hit the poorest hardest - pushing up the cost of enjoying a drink for ordinary Scots while leaving the price of luxury drinks like champagne alone

Afterwards SWA chief executive Karen Betts said: 'We accept the Supreme Court's ruling on minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol in Scotland.'

Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison welcomed the decision saying: 'This is a historic and far-reaching judgment and a landmark moment in our ambition to turn around Scotland's troubled relationship with alcohol.

'In a ruling of global significance, the UK Supreme Court has unanimously backed our pioneering and life-saving alcohol pricing policy.

'This has been a long journey and in the five years since the Act was passed, alcohol-related deaths in Scotland have increased.

'With alcohol available for sale at just 18 pence a unit, that death toll remains unacceptably high.

'Given the clear and proven link between consumption and harm, minimum pricing is the most effective and efficient way to tackle the cheap, high strength alcohol that causes so much damage to so many families.'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pictured in Holyrood last week, welcomed the court's ruling saying she is absolutely delighted

She said the Scottish Government would now proceed with plans to bring in minimum unit pricing 'as quickly as possible', with the Health Secretary adding she would make a statement to Holyrood setting out the next steps, including a time table for implementation.

Scottish ministers have prepared a draft order specifying a minimum price per unit of 50p, but neither the 2012 Act nor the order have been brought into force because of the legal proceedings.

A small number of countries, including Canada and Russia, and some states in the US, have a form of minimum pricing, according to the Institute for Alcohol Studies.

But Scotland will be the first nation to introduce minimum unit pricing.

It comes after figures showed there were 1,265 alcohol related deaths in Scotland in 2016 - a rise of 10 per cent on the previous year.

Alcohol misuse results in about 670 hospital admissions and 24 deaths a week - with the Scottish Government saying death rates are almost 1.5 times higher now than they were in the early 1980s.

And it estimated that alcohol misuse costs Scotland some 3.6 billion a year - the equivalent of 900 for every adult.

Research by Sheffield University has suggested a 50p minimum unit price could result in 121 fewer deaths a year after 20 years, while hospital admissions could fall by more than 2,000 a year by then.
John Cannon was praised by his police superiors after catching a driver who knocked down and seriously injured a pensioner at a pedestrian crossing.

The 62-year-old community support officer chased the much younger suspect into woodland and rugby tackled him to the ground after he hit a woman, aged 76, travelling at 50mph.

But for the past eight months he has been suspended, accused of misusing his vehicles blue lights during the incident in March.

He cannot return to work until the Independent Police Complaints Commission has concluded a misconduct probe.

Hero: John Cannon, left and right, was praised by his police superiors after catching a driver who knocked down and seriously injured a pedestrian

I just feel as though my life has collapsed around me, said the married father of one.

Its been on hold for the last eight months. Even the driver has been dealt with by now whereas Im still waiting. Thats the worst thing. If I didnt have a family that supports me, I could see officers in this situation looking towards suicide.

All I want to do is go back to work. The community I work with wants me back, as do my superior officers.

Mr Cannons wages have also been reduced to half pay.

The man he caught  Christopher Raczkiewicz  has been jailed for three years after admitting dangerous driving. The 39-year-old business contractor ploughed into Winnifred Upton, 76, at 50mph on a pedestrian crossing.

But for the past eight months he has been suspended, accused of misusing his vehicles blue lights during the incident in March

She suffered fractures to her skull, ribs, pelvis, spine, shoulder, jaw and left leg  and survived only because firemen gave her oxygen before an ambulance arrived. She was in a coma for five weeks and now walks with the aid of a Zimmer frame.

Her husband Kenneth said: Mr Cannon was doing his job to the best of his ability.

I feel sorry for him  he should be commended not investigated. I have told the police I am disgusted at the way he is being treated.

How much has it cost to keep him at home and investigate him?

The money could have been better spent on policing. The incident began in a Tesco car park in Manchester when a shopper told Mr Cannon that Raczkiewicz was drunk.

When challenged, Raczkiewicz sped off, hitting Mrs Upton and turning his vehicle over.

Mr Cannon said he used the blue lights to warn other traffic and not, contrary to standing orders, for pursuit.

An IPCC spokesman said: For the benefit of everyone involved, this investigation has been conducted thoroughly and in good time.

The IPCC will consider publication of the findings from this investigation in due course.

Greater Manchester Police said it would be inappropriate to comment until the investigation had ended.
What should we call those Conservative MPs (maybe 20 in number) who are so pro-Brussels that they may vote against, and possibly defeat, the Government in the Commons?

This is a question that touches the very roots of our freedoms as a nation, as individuals and as a democracy.

Are these rebels mutineers or figures of pious principle? They have been called collaborators by one senior Tory. Is it improper to regard them as such? Or are these times so unusual that normal rules of engagement do not apply?

Brexit, though it has yet to happen, was precipitated by a mighty plebiscite in June 2016. The electorate came out in unprecedented numbers. The result was close but clear and cannot be questioned.

Rebellious

As the BBCs David Dimbleby said in the early hours of June 24 last year: Were out!

I dont know about you, but when Dimbleby uttered those words, I sat on the edge of my bed and came over all weepy, I was so proud and happy. Some members of my family wept for the opposite reason.

Ahead of the vote, David Cameron had said the result would be a conclusive, once-in-a-lifetime decision. It would, he said, be a clear instruction to our political class and could not be overturned. Yet many members of that class and of the wider elite now wish to ignore that instruction.

Ahead of the vote, David Cameron had said the result would be a conclusive, once-in-a-lifetime decision

Basically, the British Establishment has gone on dirty protest. It hopes that if it refuses to acknowledge the referendum result, Brexit will somehow go away.

Senior public figures, from Tony Blair to Kenneth Clarke to a former head of MI6 to the leaders of the CBI to ex-MP Nick Clegg (who has even written a book demanding that Brexit be blocked), have placed themselves in direct antagonism to the electorate.

These are so-called leaders of our society. They pocket the perks and the pay privileges of leadership. Yet now they are setting themselves in open conflict with the people they rule. Were there ever a recipe for revolution, this may be it.

Which brings us to our rebellious MPs.

On Tuesday, as MPs began another long debate about Brexit, a succession of backbenchers stood on their hind legs and, even while saying that they respect the result of the referendum, made plain that they hated the prospect of Brexit very, very much.

Tory MP Dominic Grieve, an archetypal lawyer, called the result an act of national self-mutilation.

Tony Blair has been among those to have placed themselves in direct antagonism to the electorate

Mr Grieve (a member of the Legion dHonneur, entre nous) is a reserved, eloquent man. He speaks with the arid authority of a legal textbook. He is no tub-thumper. His lurid expression national self-mutilation therefore jarred. It was not the natural language of so punctilious a scrivener. Maybe that rare departure from legalistic writ told us something.

Anyone who watches parliamentary proceedings will know that Brexit is being vigorously opposed by the likes of Labours Ben Bradshaw, Hilary Benn, Chris Bryant and Sir Keir Starmer. On the Lib Dem benches, there is Sir Vince Cable and Sir Ed Davey (how they love knighthoods in the Europhile camp!).

The Scots Nationalist clan is agin Brexit, while on the Conservative benches the most prominent Remainers, apart from Mr Grieve, include Anna Soubry, Kenneth Clarke, Nicky Morgan, and one Antoinette Sandbach. Oh yes, and a chap called Bob Neill, Muttley to Mr Grieves Dick Dastardly.

I have known some of them for years and, despite my rule about keeping a social distance from politicians, have a soft spot for at least five of those just mentioned.

I was therefore appalled to hear Miss Soubry state in the Commons that she had allegedly received death threats after a newspaper front page yesterday printed photographs of Tory Brexit mutineers.

Tory MP Dominic Grieve, an archetypal lawyer, called the result an act of national self-mutilation

No one, no matter how strongly he or she feels about the EU, should replace disagreement with violence. That goes for those who threaten Miss Soubry just as much as it does for those who have tried to intimidate Nigel Farage.

Westminster would be intolerable if MPs always obeyed their party whips. Indeed, any demand that Tory MPs support Mrs May in each and every vote is to be resisted.

The 18th centurys Edmund Burke established the principle that MPs may follow their consciences rather than being merely servants of their constituents. They are representatives, not delegates.

Yet that Burkean idea does not quite apply in the case of Brexit, for the EU referendum was not a parliamentary election. It was extra-parliamentary, ultra-parliamentary, in that it went beyond and above the Commons.

Anna Soubry has been one of the loudest anti-Brexit voices in the Commons, despite her constituents voting for it

It was set up to be just that  with the referendum having been established by Parliament. This was a rare, direct democratic instruction to our MPs from the populace.

Indignation

Europhile Tory rebels will argue  and they have the right to do so  that they simply want stronger economic ties with the EU after Brexit. But is that their only motive?

This weeks debate suggested other forces  vanity and personal pique, and mulishness and hunger for attention  may also have been in play. I sensed some MPs were driven as much by indignation as patriotism.

After the Government made concessions the Europhiles turned round and suddenly said those measures were unimportant and further concessions were needed.

Oh, come off it, guys. Were you serious in the first place or are you merely determined to be difficult?

Miss Soubry, in some ways admirably feisty, said she deplored the lack of tolerance in the Brexit squabbles. Yet 24 hours earlier she kept heckling pro-Leave MPs. When Tory Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin was speaking, she hissed: Oh move on, for Gods sake! at him.

By reporting that, am I whipping up mob violence against my friend Anna? No. Im afraid to some extent she must reap as she sows.

Mr Grieve said Brexiteers were being disingenuous (a posh word for lying) and should demonstrate a bit more honesty and clarity. But is that not also true of the Remainers? Is it not the case that some (or many) of them want Brexit to fail because that will be the only way, after so many wild warnings of pending apocalypse, that Remainers could save face?

Nick Clegg was among a select group of Europhiles who went to Brussels for talks with the European Commission

Peril

They are terrified that their caterwauling will be found out and that they are losing their grip on the Establishment.

Last month, Mr Clegg, with Ken Clarke and Labours Lord Adonis, went to Brussels for talks with the European Commission. To some of us, I regret to say, that looked very rum. Here were three Remainers trotting off to our enemy (as Chancellor Philip Hammond has called the EC).

Were Clegg and Co giving intelligence to our countrys opponents at a time of national peril? In previous centuries, such behaviour might have led to accusations of treason.

This brings us back to the question: what should we call the more militant Remainers on the Tory side?

Their actions weaken Theresa May. Some faint-hearts even think Mrs May could be toppled by their manoeuvrings. That could lead to a Jeremy Corbyn Government

Their actions weaken Theresa May. Some faint-hearts even think Mrs May could be toppled by their manoeuvrings. That could lead to a Jeremy Corbyn Government.

At what point do these alleged Conservatives pause to wonder if Europhilia might not be the most important thing in politics? For, to usher in the hard socialism of Mr Corbyn would be an act of madness. It would be an act of fanaticism.

You could even call it an act of self-mutilation, done less out of high-minded internationalism than petty-minded vanity. No name-calling can quite describe the stupidity of that.
Blinds are drawn and children's toys lie abandoned in the backyard of an ordinary-looking suburban home.

A floral tribute outside is the only sign of the horrific incident which allegedly took place in the house in southeast Brisbane.

Police claim a three-year-old girl was raped and tortured by her mother's boyfriend, 25, last Thursday night.

Blinds are drawn and children's toys lie abandoned in the backyard of an ordinary-looking suburban home (pictured)

Police claim a three-year-old girl was raped and tortured by her mother's boyfriend, 25, last Thursday night (pictured are toys outside the home)

A floral tribute (pictured) outside is the only sign of the horrific incident which allegedly took place in the house in southeast Brisbane

The home was empty when visited by Daily Mail Australia, but toys could be seen strewn on the ground outside.

Flowers have been taped to a street sign on a traffic island outside in support for the young girl.

One local resident who has lived on the street for 46 years said he saw the alleged victim often and described her as a 'lovely little girl'.

'I would see the three of them [the girl, her mother, and her mother's boyfriend] on their way to the shops,' he said.

The home (pictured) was empty when visited by Daily Mail Australia, but toys could be seen strewn on the ground outside

One local resident who has lived on the street for 46 years said he saw the alleged victim often and described her as a 'lovely little girl' (pictured is the home where the alleged crime took place)

'She would stick her hands through my front fence and yabber on to me.'

Another neighbour said the alleged crime had left local residents shocked and unsure of how to deal with the incident.

'We've all got kids, it's just shocking,' he said.

Another neighbour said the incident had left local residents shocked and unsure of how to deal with the incident (pictured is the home where the alleged crime took place)

Flowers have been taped to a street sign on a traffic island outside in support for the young girl

Another neighbour said the alleged crime had left local residents shocked and unsure of how to deal with the incident (pictured are children's toys outside the home)

'No one is talking about it, no one wants to talk about it.'

Blinds are drawn, blocking people from seeing into the windows, and rubbish bins and cleaning supplies line one wall of the house.

The grass in the backyard is long and overgrown, but otherwise the home looks well-maintained and unremarkable.

Neighbours on the quiet street reported hearing screams coming from within the home during the alleged attack.

Blinds are drawn, blocking people from seeing into the windows (pictured), and rubbish bins and cleaning supplies line one wall of the house

Neighbours on the quiet street reported hearing screams coming from within the home during the alleged attack (pictured are toys are rubbish bins outside the home)

The girl was taken to Redlands Hospital with serious injuries including fractures, bruising and bite marks (pictured is the home where the alleged crime took place)

The girl was taken to Redlands Hospital with serious injuries including fractures, bruising and bite marks.

Shocked hospital staff immediately contacted police who opened an investigation and charged a 25-year-old man.

He was charged with nine offences including torture, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, leaving a child under 12 unattended, assault occasioning bodily harm, breach of a domestic violence order and drug offences.

Neighbours said the girl remains in hospital and no one has been seen at the home since the incident.
A 30-year-old tow truck driver had his arm ripped off on Tuesday after a Holden slammed into him as he was stopped in the emergency lane of a Melbourne freeway.

The man was hooking up a car to his tow truck along Peninsula Link when the Holden Commodore veered into the lane and hit the man, ripping his arm off, according to 9News.

The Holden then flipped in the air, landing 200 metres away.

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A 30-year-old tow truck driver had his arm ripped off on Tuesday after a Holden slammed into him as he was stopped in the emergency lane of a Melbourne freeway

The man was hooking up a car to his tow truck along Peninsula Link when the Holden Commodore veered into the lane and hit the man, ripping his arm off

Witnesses quickly stopped and placed a makeshift tourniquet on the tow truck driver's severed arm.

The rest of his arm was placed in an esky and was successfully reattached after he was rushed to the hospital.

He is recovering from the surgery.

The 38-year-old Holden driver is helping police with their investigation but no charges have yet been laid.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott says the country has him to thank for the history-making gay marriage postal survey and impending legalisation of gay marriage.

In a bizarre backpedal, the Warringah MP seems to have jumped the fence overnight and joined Yes voters in their celebration of the progressive result.

Formerly known for his firm anti marriage equality stance over fears it would 'trash the country's history', Mr Abbott appeared to have changed his tune on Wednesday.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott (pictured) has flipped his stance on gay marriage, pledging to support the history-making legislation in parliament

He boldly announced several times in a radio interview that the postal plebiscite was 'his idea' - oddly claiming to have initiated the law-altering movement.

'I put this process in place. I have, in a sense, facilitated the change,' he declared to 2GB listeners.

Wednesday's results revealed Mr Abbott was among the most prominent Liberal and National politicians who campaigned for No but found the majority of their constituents had voted Yes.

Nearly three quarters of his electorate voted in favour of legalising what Mr Abbott has previously deemed 'a war on our way of life'.

Mr Abbott formerly said legalising gay marriage would 'trash the country's history'

We do! Celebrations have broken out across Australia (here in the Melbourne CBD) after the YES vote won 61.6% of the vote - but not everyone was on their side...

Warringah also rounded out top four for the highest amount of Yes votes in New South Wales.

He conceded the result was a 'big win' and made for a 'big day' for Yes voters, while pledging to throw his support behind the legislation in parliament.

'I certainly intend to facilitate the passage of a bill,' he said.

Mr Abbott was satisfied that everyone had an opportunity to 'have their say', and was hopeful the outcome of the result would be respected by No voters.

His sister, Christine Forster, was among thousands who celebrated the Yes result on Wednesday, with her planning to marry partner Virginia Edwards in 2018.

SYDNEY: These are the seats, highlighted in red that voted majority NO in the country's biggest city. Meantime the seats in green all voted majority YES

Mr Abbott's sister Christine Forster (pictured), was among thousands who celebrated the Yes result on Wednesday
The family of a man who was seriously injured during the mass shooting at a Texas church have been struck with tragedy for a second time.

Marion Colbath, and his grandson Hank Summers, were forced to flee their San Antonio house in the early hours of Wednesday when it went up in flames.

The pair were lucky to escape with their lives after video footage showed 20ft high flames erupting from the building.

Relatives say Colbath was already struggling to cope with stress after his son David was shot at the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church mass shooting on November 5, which left 26 dead and more than 20 injured.

Marion Colbath, and his grandson Hank Summers, were forced to flee their San Antonio house in the early hours of Wednesday after it went up in flames

Firefighter tackled the blaze for hours after it caught alight in the early hours of Wednesday

Marions' (left) son David Colbath (right) was injured in the Texas church mass shooting

David remains in hospital where he has undergone multiple surgeries on gunshot wounds on his arms and legs, and is said to be in a stable condition.

Now his father Marion, a great grandfather and father-of-three, has not only lost his home, but says he's been left with little more than the clothes on his back after everything from his medication to irreplaceable keepsakes were lost in the blaze.

His family said the elderly homeowner had been left devastated by the incident.

In a GoFundMe post, they stated that Marion had 'been through a rollercoaster of emotions these past weeks.

David Colbath was visited in hospital by Vice President Mike Pence after the shooting

David Colbath remains in hospital after the shooting earlier this month at his local church

'He now has no money or home to add to many health issues and emotional stress over his recoverying son. Please help him get back on his feet to bring just a little normal back to his life. God Bless.'

His adult grandson Hank, who had just moved into his grandfather's home in the 1200 block of Colzona Road, San Antonio, Texas, to be closer to his uncle David, said he has also lost his worldly possessions, Khou11 reported.

Firefighters report that the property actually caught fire twice, the first time at 3am and the second after 5am.

Both Colbath and Summers made it out without injury.

Hank Summers (pictured), who had just moved into his grandfather's home in the 1200 block of Colzona Road, San Antonio, Texas, to be closer to his uncle David, said he has also lost his worldly possessions

The grandfather and grandson were lucky to get out alive as 20ft high flames erupted from the building

The fire was reportedly caused by a cigarette and has totally decimated the home

The blaze was reportedly caused by a cigarette which ignited a trash can fire in the bathroom.

David Colbath was one of the dozens injured when Devin Patrick Kelley walked into Sutherland Springs Baptist Church on November 5 and opened fire, killing 26 and injuring more than 20.

Kelley later killed himself after he was confronted by a brave local resident, and fled the scene.

He was shot five times and his sister Margaret Summers described his survival as a 'miracle.'

'We could be planning a funeral but we are not, we will celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas and birthdays and so much life that is yet to come. We are a truly blessed family,' she wrote on Facebook after the incident.

Visitors pay respects on Friday at a memorial where 26 crosses were placed to honor the 26 victims killed at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs
Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby (pictured) ordered the drugs search that may cost the sheriff's department $3 million

A Georgia sheriff's office may be forced to pay $3 million to high school students who were subjected to 'sexually violating' invasive body searches during a drugs raid in April.

Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby ordered the search of hundreds of students at Worth County High School on April 14.

During the search, the sheriff ordered his deputies to lock down the school. The students were told to leave their classroom and line up with their hands against the wall and legs spread, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Initially, Hobby had a target list of 13 students, but the search evolved into a school-wide lock-down.

The deputies searched their clothing and bodies, leaving some students feeling sexually violated by officers. Authorities found no drugs.

On Tuesday, the proposed settlement of $3 million was announced after nine students filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in June. The money will be paid to approximately 850 students.

Mark Begnaud, an Atlanta civil rights attorney who represented the students, told AJC that he hopes 'that this multi-million settlement will send the message to law enforcement officials everywhere that abuse of power will not be tolerated'.

The $3 million settlement is pending approval in federal court, and will be paid out from a coverage agreement the county has with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.

Initially, Hobby (pictured) had a target list of 13 students, but the search evolved into a school-wide lock-down. The deputies searched their clothing and bodies, leaving some students feeling sexually violated by officers. Authorities found no drugs

Students at the Worth County High School (pictured) will receive a payout between $1,000 and $6,000 each. But those students who were subjected to more invasive searches will get higher payouts

Students will receive a payout between $1,000 and $6,000 each. But those students who were subjected to more invasive searches will get higher payouts.

Any leftover settlement money, after 15 per cent attorney fees, will go into a fund to help local high schools students, according to the AJC.

Female students claim deputies inserted their fingers inside their bras, touching them and exposing parts of their breasts in front of other students.

Some teen girls said deputies touched their underwear and genital area, placing their hands inside the waistband of their underwear or up their dresses.

According to the AJC, male students also accuse deputies of touching their genital areas.

Amaryllis Coleman, whose daughter was one of the students who said she felt sexually violated by the deputies told the AJC that the 'situation has never been about compensation'.

Sheriff Hobby faces potential prison time if convicted of violation of oath of office, false imprisonment, as well as sexual battery. Hobby was suspended by Gov Nathan Deal (pictured) on Monday pending the outcome of the criminal case

'It has always been about our daughter and her civil rights being violated. My husband and I see firsthand how that search has traumatized our daughter psychologically and medically.'

'The students' voices have been heard,' said Crystal Redd, an attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights,'They took steps to ensure that these illegal searches would not go unnoticed.'

If a federal judge approves the settlement, the sheriff and two of his deputies face criminal charges after a Worth grand jury indicted them last month.

Sheriff Hobby faces potential prison time if convicted of violation of oath of office, false imprisonment, as well as sexual battery.

Hobby was suspended by Gov Nathan Deal on Monday pending the outcome of the criminal case.
The boss of the Canadian milk giant that is buying the troubled Murray Goulburn Co-operative has signalled the end of $1-a-litre milk in supermarkets.

Last month, it was announced that Saputo Inc., one of Canada's largest dairy producers, was buying fledgling Murray Goulburn  the makes of Devondale milk and cheese  for $1.3billion.

And its chief executive Lino Saputo Jr has said he doesn't understand the economics that allow supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths to sell milk for less than the cost of bottled water and fizzy drinks.

The boss of the Canadian milk giant that is buying the troubled Murray Goulburn Co-operative has signalled the end of $1-a-litre milk in supermarkets. File photo

'We don't give our product away,' Mr Saputo told the ABC.

'Our profitability is much higher than the average in the dairy industry, and that affords us the ability to pay leading prices for dairy.'

He added that through the purchase, Saputo inherited all contracts signed by Murray Goulburn  and intend to honour them.

When those contracts expire, he says the company plans to revaluate them.

'I don't know the economics of dollar milk. We'll have to take a look at that once we get involved in the business,' he said.

Last month, it was announced that Saputo Inc. was buying fledgling Murray Goulburn  the makes of Devondale milk and cheese  for $1.3billion

He noted that supermarkets sell water at $3 a litre and soda at perhaps $5 a litre, so he doesn't believe milk is being sold at the right price.

'For all the energy and effort that farmers are putting into producing milk, I'm not sure that it is the right value,' he added.

Shortly after the sale was announced earlier this month, Mr Saputo said his company aimed to return the Murray Goulburn Co-operative to profit by aggressively pursuing more of the country's milk supply.

Lino Saputo Jr (pictured) said he doesn't understand the economics that allow supermarkets to sell milk for $1

'In the three years weve been operating in Australia, weve gained a lot of goodwill with dairy farmers,' Mr Saputo said.

Murray Goulburn collects 1.7 billion to 1.9 billion litres of milk annually, far below its peak of 3.5 billion litres.

Saputo, which entered Australia three years ago with its acquisition of Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory, hopes to eventually increase volumes to between 2 billion and 3.5 billion litres annually, he said, without giving a time frame.

The co-operative's plants are modern, but not all run near capacity, leaving room for improvement under a new operator, he said.

Murray Goulburn has potential to generate $175 million to $180 million of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), or core earnings, per year, approaching the $200 million it recorded in 2014, Mr Saputo said.

'With the right focus, the right people in the right place, the right decisions at the right time, we believe MG can come back to its historical levels of profitability,' he said. 'Were very confident about that.'

The deal rescues Murray Goulburn after a disastrous foray into China. In the 2017 fiscal year, the co-operative lost $371 million.

The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2018, would make Saputo Australia's top milk producer and expand its access to China, the worlds fourth-largest fluid milk consumer.
A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 2,300 pairs of work boots from homes in north Melbourne over more than five years.

The stolen shoe stash was discovered by police at a home in Mernda after officers spent six years tracking the alleged thief's footsteps, according to The Age.

Police claim the 43-year-old man stole boots and sneakers from the front porch of dozens of homes in Doreen, Mernda, Watsonia North and Craigieburn.

A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 2,300 pairs of work boots from homes in north Melbourne over more than five years (pictured)

He allegedly snuck onto the properties between 11pm and 7pm.

Officers said they have received numerous calls from people reporting their shoes missing since 2011 but initially thought the pairs were being sold.

Police got quite the surprise though when they discovered the thousands of shoes heaped in a pile in a room at the accused thief's house.

Anyone hunting for their missing work boots is welcome to reclaim them if they're still interested, officers said.

The 43-year-old man is facing multiple charges of theft and handling stolen goods.

He will appear in the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court in April.
Poss will receive treatment for another week inside the hospital's Intensive Care Unit and faces a few more weeks of hospital care and months of rehabilitation

Poss had pulled over to help a couple whose vehicle had run out of gas

Mark Poss, a 29-year-old father, was hit by an alleged drunk driver on Sunday

A good Samaritan who stopped to help a couple move their disabled vehicle off of a California highway had his legs severed after he was hit by an alleged drunk driver.

Mark Poss, a 29-year-old father from Sacramento, pulled over to assist Mario Sanchez and his friend Arlette Lavato push their car when the two men were struck from behind.

Sanchez suffered from a fractured leg, but Poss's injuries proved to be much more severe.

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Mark Poss (pictured), a 29-year-old father from Sacremento, was allegedly hit by a drunk driver on Sunday

'Right away, I knew, he had no legs,' Lavato told local affiliate Fox 40 in Sacramento. 'I told the guy, like, we're going to get you help, just hold on.'

Lavato said her car, which had run out of gas on Sunday, was in the emergency lane on Highway 50 near the 15th Street offramp when the incident occurred.

'So not in the driving lane. We were in the emergency lane. We were pulled over out of the way completely,' Lovato said.

A tourniquet was applied to Poss's injuries by a California Highway Police officer following his arrival.

The motorist who hit Poss, 24-year-old Jacob Olson (pictured), was reportedly drunk when he hit the two men

Doctors at UC Davis Medical Center, where Poss is being treated, said the officer's actions likely saved his life.

The motorist who hit Poss, 24-year-old Jacob Olson, was reportedly drunk when he hit the two men.

'(Olson) displayed signs and symptoms of alcoholic beverage intoxication and was determined to be driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages at the time of the collision,' a CHP report states.

Olson remains in custody at Sacramento County Jail and was arraigned on DUI charges on Tuesday.

Lovato said that Olson had stayed on the scene following the accident but was not able to assist during the incident.

'He wasn't in the right state of mind. He was kind of panicking, he was in shock himself. I'm pretty sure he didn't intentionally, he didn't mean to hurt anyone. But unfortunately he did,' Lovato said.

Poss will receive treatment for another week inside the hospital's Intensive Care Unit and faces a few more weeks of hospital care and months of rehabilitation, according to a Go Fund Me page setup to help with medical costs.

Poss is married and has a one-and-a-half year old son at home.
Emergency services have rushed to save a worker trapped beneath a Melbourne road.

The man became trapped underground after a trench collapsed at the corner of Lincoln Road and Florence Street in Essendon, 12 kilometres north-west of Melbourne's centre.

The worker became trapped about 2.30pm on Thursday,Seven News reported.

He reportedly remains trapped up to his waist in mud, in a trench about five to eight metres deep.

Emergency crews including the fire brigade, police and paramedics were all called to help rescue the worker.

More to come.

Emergency services have rushed to save a worker trapped beneath a Melbourne road

The man became trapped underground after a trench collapsed at the corner of Lincoln Road and Florence Street in Essendon, 12 kilometres north-west of Melbourne's centre

The worker became trapped about 2.30pm on Thursday, after which police, paramedics and the fire brigade were called
An 88-year-old man charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a woman at a Melbourne brothel will be psychiatrically assessed after being unable to explain what happened.

Police allege Domenico Natale shot at the woman, who was not injured, at the Romantics adult business at Brunswick on July 21.

He then shot himself in the stomach during his arrest later the same day in what his barrister John O'Sullivan told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday was a suicide attempt.

Domenico Natale leaves Melbourne County Court on Thursday to be psychiatrically assessed after he allegedly shot at a woman inside a brothel

Police allege Domenico Natale shot at the woman, who was not injured, at the Romantics adult business at Brunswick on July 21

He then shot himself in the stomach during his arrest later the same day in what his barrister John O'Sullivan told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday was a suicide attempt

The octogenarian allegedly led police on a car chase after leaving the vicinity with gun shot wounds he inflicted upon himself. The weapon was reportedly a shot gun.

The man remained in hospital for over a month recovering from his injuries.

Police also spent a month investigating the situation, before charging Mr Natale on August 25.

The octogenarian allegedly led police on a car chase after leaving the vicinity with gun shot wounds he inflicted upon himself. The weapon was reportedly a shot gun

The brothel, located over the road from Moreland train station, has been open for 25 years with services starting from $95

The brothel, located over the road from Moreland train station, has been open for 25 years with services starting from $95.

It specialises in Asian women, boasting that its 'exquisite' workers are from China, Korea, Japan and many other countries.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

If you or a man you know need help please contact MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show may be turning into an international media fiasco because the People's Republic of China is reportedly refusing visas to bloggers.

In two weeks, the annual fashion show is set to be held in Shanghai and will feature models including Adriana Lima, Karlie Kloss and Alessandra Ambrosio.

But according to Page Six, several fashion bloggers who were booked to cover the event are canceling their trips because the Chinese government won't give them visas.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show may be turning into an international media fiasco (file image from 2016)

According to Page Six, several fashion bloggers who were booked to cover the event are canceling their trips because the Chinese government won't give them visas. Pictured are Adriana Lima and Jasmine Tookes from last year's show

TV producers are also said to be having issues with getting permission to shoot outside the Mercedes-Benz Arena, where the show will be held.

According to Page Six, Victoria's Secret staffers in China can't send out press releases because they have to be approved by government officials.

'It's just a nightmare for all the media trying to cover [the show],' an insider told Page Six.

'These TV companies are spending a fortune on it, and they don't even know what they can shoot when they get there.'

The decision to hold the show in China comes after the brand opened their first flagship store in Shanghai back in February.

Last year, the show took place in Paris, France, which had been impacted by the Paris terror attack and Kim Kardashian's jewelry robbery ahead of the show.

According to Page Six, during that event the journalists covering the show had to submit to background checks and provide government ID.

This year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airs November 28 at 10pm ET/PT on CBS.
Detectives said further inspection of the iPod found no other victims on the device

The intern said that he only targeted one person in the alleged scheme

The IT intern admitted to detectives that he taped the iPod onto the urinal

The unidentified man was arrested for the incident on Tuesday at his home

An employee with a Washington State school district has been arrested on suspicion of sexual voyeurism after he taped an electronic device to a campus urinal.

Police say a Kent school employee was placed under arrest after a student at Northwood Middle School notified officials that he found notes of a non-sexual nature addressed specifically to him and an iPod taped to a urinal.

Similar notes, which the student said he received over the previous two days, were first brought to the attention of school officials on October 26, according to Fox 13.

The unidentified IT intern in Washington state was arrested on Tuesday at his home for the incident (the school is pictured)

The student said he did not know who they were from or their intent.

Authorities said after obtaining a warrant to search the contents of the iPod, they arrested a paid intern with the Kent School District's IT department at his home on Tuesday.

During an interview with investigators, the intern admitted to taking the iPod video for sexual gratification and had only targeted one student.

Detectives said that further inspection of the iPod found no other victims on the device.

Following the incident, the Kent School District issued a statement outlining its commitment to protecting students under its auspices.

'Student safety is our highest priority. We invest substantial resources into safety and security and investigate all incidents and allegations thoroughly to ensure a safe learning environment for all students,' the statement reads.

'We take all allegations of any staff misconduct seriously and will continue to assist and cooperate with law enforcement in this investigation.'

'The Kent School District remains committed to protecting our students and ensuring they have a safe learning environment each and every day.'

The Kent School District added that the intern had also served a portion of the workday at Kentridge High School.
An Iraqi refugee who seriously injured six people when his speeding truck ploughed into peak hour traffic has been released from jail, just seven months into a three-year term.

Sarmad Nisan was driving at more than 45km/h over the speed limit at Dee Why, on Sydney's northern beaches, in October 2014 when he lost control of his truck and crashed, injuring six people.

In April the 42-year-old was jailed on two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, but on Thursday the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal ordered his release.

Despite leaving Senior Constable Amy Champion with a broken shoulder and ribs, as well as a brain injury, as a result of the accident, the court ordered Mr Nisan 'should be released forthwith'.

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Sarmad Nisan (pictured), who lost control of his truck and crashed into peak hour traffic while speeding through a busy intersection in 2014, has been jailed for a minimum of three years

The Iraqi refugee left six people - including two police officers - in hospital when his truck became out-of-control while driving at up to 45km/h over the speed limit in Sydney's north

Shocking CCTV footage of the crash shows Nisan's truck rounding a corner at speed, before the out of control vehicle dangerously goes up onto two wheels.

Crashing into eight cars stopped at the Warringah Road traffic lights, the impact of Mr Nisan's 22-tonne truck crashing into the queue left six people in hospital.

While previous references described Nisan as being of good character, he was found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Describing the toll of the accident on Snr Const Champion as 'truly terrible', Judge Deborah Payne sentenced Nisan to four years in jail on Thursday.

'This case is certainly not one of momentary inattention or misjudgement,' Judge Payne told the Parramatta District Court.

CCTV footage released of the accident shows Nisan's truck rounding a corner at speed, before it goes up onto two wheels and flips onto its side, landing on top of a number of cars at the lights

Describing the toll of the accident on Snr Const Champion as 'truly terrible', Judge Deborah Payne sentenced Nisan to four years in jail on Thursday

'I am firmly of the view all the circumstances demonstrate the abandonment of responsibility.'

Having arrived in Australia in 2009, Nisan reportedly obtained a learner's permit soon after touching down and

Due to be eligible for parole in 2020, Nisan will be disqualified from driving for two years upon his release.
Lawyers for Bachelor star Chris Soules, who has been accused of fleeing the scene of an accident, have demanded that an Iowa court drop charges against him.

Soules was charged after an April accident in which he rear-ended a tractor being driven by his neighbor, Kenneth Mosher, 66. Mosher's vehicle crashed into a ditch and he died on the scene.

On Wednesday Soules' lawyers said in a motion that the reality TV star had provided CPR to the man as he lay dying, and gave ID to police on the scene before leaving - so his case should be dismissed, The Courier reported.

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Chris Soules, Bachelor star (seen leaving court in September) should not go to trial for fleeing the scene of an accident that killed his neighbor, his lawyers said, because he called 911

Soules performed CPR on Kenneth Mosher (seen with family) after April's accident. Soules' lawyers said it was 'reasonable' for him to stop after blood came from Mosher's mouth

Police say that Soules fled the scene of the crash - and Mosher, a grandfather - near the rural city of Independence, before officers arrived.

He returned home and refused to open his door to cops until they got a warrant, police claim.

Mosher died after his tractor was rear-ended by Soules. Soules left his name with 911 and left before cops arrived. His lawyers have made a motion to dismiss the charges

But his lawyers said that he had acted reasonably at the scene, calling 911 and identifying himself, then providing CPR - albeit in vain - before departing.

'Four other individuals were on the scene with Mr Soules nearly immediately, but Mr Soules nevertheless took it upon himself to try to revive Mr. Mosher,' wrote defense attorney Gina Messamer in the filing.

She said that one of the others was also kneeling alongside Mosher, while the other three stood nearby.

'Tellingly, after blood began coming from Mr Mosher's mouth and Mr Soules stopped CPR, none of the other four individuals on the scene restarted CPR.'

She said that their 'unanimous inaction' suggested that they all believed CPR wouldn't help Mosher - and so Soules' decision to stop was 'reasonable'.

They added: 'Because the minutes of testimony indisputably establish Mr Soules contacted law enforcement, provided identification and ensured medical providers were attending to Mr Mosher before he departed the scene, he did not commit the charged offense and it must be dismissed.'

Although it's illegal under a 2006 state law to flee the scene of an accident, Messamer said that the law is worded to allow people to depart in order to report the incident or get help.

Cops say Soules refused to come out of his home until they got a warrant. His lawyers say the law is 'ambiguous' about how long people must stay at a crash scene

According to the law, 'The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close as possible and if able, shall then return to and remain at the scene of the accident,' it says.

But the ability to call for help using cellphones rather than physically leave complicates things, she wrote.

'Here, ambiguity arises because the first sentence  does not define how long a surviving driver must remain at the scene,' she wrote.

'The legislature would not have intended for a surviving driver to remain at the scene forever if the driver had no cause to leave to seek aid or notify law enforcement.'

A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for November 27. A tentative date for the trial has been set for January.

Soules, who starred in series 19 of The Bachelor and was preparing to film Bachelor in Paradise when the crash occurred, called 911 immediately.

He told an operator through labored breathing: 'I just ran into a guy in a tractor.'

After admitting that he did not know how to perform CPR, he asked others there: 'Does anyone know CPR?'

As those on the scene waited for police and an ambulance, Soules checked Mosher's pulse. He remarked that it didn't look as though Mosher was breathing.

'I can't tell, he doesn't appear to be,' he said when asked. Later, he said: 'I feel like he's got a pulse.'

Soules ended the call abruptly, telling the operator: 'Can I call you back real quick?'

Soules appeared on the 19th series of The Bachelor

It's not clear exactly how much time passed before police arrived. A separate recording of their radio communication however captured the moment he allegedly fled in another person's truck.

'One of the subjects that was involved just took off northbound in a red Duramax truck. Do you have any available units?' one of the responding police officers is heard saying.

Within seconds, another said: 'We believe the subject is going to be Chris Soules. That's the name of the subject who took off.'

Police searched his vehicle at the crash scene and found alcohol in it but there has not yet been any suggestion he was drunk at the time of the accident.

Soules' spokesman issued a statement on his behalf afterwards to say he was 'devastated' by the accident.

'Chris Soules was involved in an accident on Monday evening, April 24, in a rural part of Iowa near his home.

'He was devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher, the other person in the accident, passed away. His thoughts and prayers are with Mr Mosher's family.'

Police records show the star had at least 12 other run-ins with the law.

Previous charges include driving under the influence, speeding, running a stop sign and driving with an open container of alcohol.

He was charged with fleeing the scene of a previous accident in 2002 but it was reduced to defective brakes.

Mosher, a father and grandfather, died after being taken to hospital by ambulance. He was a corn farmer.

The victim's son-in-law relatives told People the crash was a 'freak accident'.

Mosher is survived by his wife, two sons and three grandchildren. He also left behind his mother, three siblings and several nieces and nephews.
A ute carrying a bulk load of Australian baby formula presumably on its way to China has left a Melbourne mother infuriated that her child has been forced to go without.

Demand for the sought after product has skyrocketed with 'daigou' shoppers stockpiling the powder and selling it on the Chinese market for a profit of up to 300%.

While retailers and home-run daigou businesses are cashing in on the popularity of certain brands in China, the frequent clearing of shelves has serious implications for parents like Elini Carlyon.

Melbourne mother Elini Carlyon (pictured) was infuriated by a ute carrying a bulk load of Australian baby formula presumably on its way to China

After spotting three pallets of formula stacked high on the back of the ute, Ms Carlyon felt so outraged she almost contacted police, A Current Affair reports.

'I was fuming, because he knew how much trouble it was for me to find it,' she said.

'I was thinking, "we should go to the police", but I know the police can't do anything about it.'

Retail giant Chemist Warehouse has been lapping up profits from ambitious daigou sellers - setting up a 'pick and pack' centre at the side of one of its Melbourne stores.

It's a move that rubs salt on the wound for Ms Carlyon, who had to ween her baby boy off breast milk supplement powder at six-months-old.

After spotting three pallets of formula stacked high on the back of the ute, Ms Carlyon felt so outraged she almost contacted police

She claimed the product was near impossible to find in her local supermarkets, blaming daigous for clearing shelves before she had the chance to get her hands on any.

Footage captured by her older son, Jonathon, 13, revealed Chinese buyers sorting through boxes of formula in a separate room at the retailers Chadstone Shopping Centre store.

Several parcels were reportedly labeled with Chinese writing in preparation for them to be loaded and shipped off.

The teen was also frustrated at daigou shoppers for clearing out the food designed to feed his baby brother.

The mother claimed the product was near impossible to find in her local supermarkets

'What I saw in that room was chaotic...It was chaotic (because) there were people everywhere. Packing or packaging boxes. Bring more formula in there,' he explained.

Another clip showed his grandmother exchanging stern words with Chinese shoppers inside Woolworths.

She can be heard accusing them of coming in several times, leaving her a 'concerned parent who can't get certain powder for the grandson'.

'Why are you doing this? You know you can't do this. Is it fair on our children?,' she says.
Daryll Rowe has been convicted of GBH for deliberately infecting men with HIV through unprotected sex and by sabotaging condoms

A victim of hairdresser Daryll Rowe, who has been convicted of giving men HIV in a landmark case, has revealed the devastating moment he discovered he had been infected.

Daryll Rowe, 27, originally from Edinburgh, infected five men from the Brighton area and the North East with HIV while five others narrowly escaped contracting the life-changing virus.

He was found guilty of five counts of causing grievous bodily harm and five of attempting to cause GBH yesterday in a prosecution hailed as the first of its kind.

A court heard he infected the men in a 'revenge' campaign on the gay community after he was diagnosed with HIV.

The extent of Rowe's malicious scheme to take 'revenge' on the gay community following his diagnosis was laid bare in a six-week trial.

After the verdict, one of Rowe's victims anonymously told the BBC that he was driven to the verge of suicide when he found out he was infected after both his parents died of AIDS.

He said: 'I was always so careful.

'My dad was a junkie and she was a very young mother. I was always trying to run away from that lifestyle, that's why I always insisted on condoms.'

He added it was a 'reminder of my past'.

'I feel it's come full-circle, and has made this my new life, which is very unfair,' he added.

'[Rowe] called me over and over. He admitted to ripping the condom.

'He said, "I got you. Burn, you have it" and he was laughing at me. There was menace in his voice, it was an insane conversation. It was horrific to hear. I was in a dark place.

'It's a violation. I could only describe it as feeling like you've been raped, not the physical side of it, but the mental side.'

When caught and interviewed by police, he denied he had HIV and claimed he was clear

The judge adjourned sentencing until next year but warned Rowe he could face a life sentence for his crimes.

It comes as video footage showed Rowe being interviewed by officers and telling them he did not have HIV.

He was asked: 'Do you have HIV?' He replied: 'No.'

When asked if he had a test for the virus recently, he said: 'Not recently, I had a relationship when I first got here.

'It was unprotected so I have not been tested after that. When I first got here I was dating somebody pretty quickly. It got pretty intense.'

Lewes Crown Court has heard Rowe had hatched the plan almost the moment he received the news in April 2015 that he had contracted HIV from his previous boyfriend.

He was told about the treatments available but stunned medical staff in his home city of Edinburgh by informing them he did not want to take anti-retroviral drugs.

One of Rowe's victims anonymously told the BBC he felt like he had been 'violated' by Rowe and contemplated suicide

He then failed to attend further follow-up appointments in September and October 2015 because he had already moved to Brighton to embark on his plan.

Although he initially had nowhere to live or stay, he began to make contact with men on the gay dating app, Grindr.

Rowe would exchange a series of messages with the men before meeting up with them at their homes where they would have sex.

Speaking after his convictions today, Detective Inspector Andy Wolstenholme said: 'This trial is the first time that a person has been charged and convicted of deliberately infecting others with HIV in the country.

'The verdict today is very welcome. It will bring some closure to the victims who have been very strong and supportive through the investigation.

'By bravely giving evidence in the trial, it sends a clear message that despite the complex and highly sensitive nature of such a case, the police and prosecutors will not shy away from investigating allegations of deliberate HIV transmission in order to keep people safe.'

Rowe met the men on gay dating app Grindr and sent taunting messages after hooking up

Rowe's first victim picked up the hairdresser in his car and they had unprotected sex. But when the man panicked and refused to continue Rowe became extremely hostile.

The man said he feared for his safety as Rowe became furious and accused him of 'wasting his evening'.

The victim told the court: 'He wouldn't leave. It felt like an hour of him going on and on. I thought he was so angry he was going to throw a brick at my car.

'I thought I'd have to go back to work and explain a black eye or something. He was really angry. He got out of the car. I cried all the way home.'

Shocked by his behaviour, the victim refused to meet Rowe again which led the hairdresser to send a series of abusive texts taunting him.

In one he said: 'Maybe you have the fever. I came inside you and I have HIV LOL. Oops!'

Rowe refused NHS treatment for the virus and instead hatched a 'revenge' campaign

Weeks later the first victim began to develop flu-like symptoms and was later diagnosed as HIV positive.

Dock officers sacked for falling asleep and snoring during trial Two dock officers have been sacked for falling asleep during Daryll Rowe's trial. They were removed from court proceedings after being reported for snoring. Investigations were launched by the Ministry of Justice and security firm GEOAmey after complaints were made. A GEOAmey spokesman said: 'Clearly the behaviour of the two GEOAmey officers involved was unacceptable and not representative of the hard work and high professional standards of their colleagues. 'We conducted an internal investigation into the circumstances and after full consideration of the facts we took the correct, but nonetheless regrettable, decision to dismiss the officers. 'We now consider this matter closed.' Advertisement

Rowe's second Grindr victim insisted on safe sex with a condom. The US-born man had to forcefully push Rowe off of him on more than one occasion when he tried to have sex without protection.

Rowe quickly devised an alternative plan and as he put on the condom in the dark bedroom he ripped off the end before the pair had intercourse.

Days later, Rowe began taunting and abusing the man by text message and told him: 'I ripped the condom. Burn. I got you.'

Alive to the possibility men could insist on safe sex, Rowe decided to leave nothing to chance.

He bought his own condoms and 'sabotaged' them so his victims wouldn't notice the damage and he could continue to spread the virus.

A pattern was set. If a victim refused to agree to unprotected sex he could simply reach for one of his carefully torn condoms, hoodwinking his unsuspecting victim into thinking he was having safe sex.

Caroline Carberry QC told Lewes Crown Court: 'Daryll Rowe embarked on a cynical and deliberate campaign to infect other men with HIV, having high risk sexual intercourse knowing he was highly infectious.

'Unfortunately for many of the men he met his campaign was successful. He deceived those men into believing he was HIV negative, reassuring those he was intimate with.'

Rowe met his victims of the 'hook up app' Grindr, a dating app for gay and bisexual men

Rowe's malicious crusade to infect as many men as possible was discovered after victims began to fall ill and went to police.

Fearing there was a lone suspect attempting to spread HIV to as many men as possible, a public health warning was issued.

When the first two men were diagnosed with HIV, police swooped and arrested Rowe who subsequently denied having HIV and claimed he had never met the men concerned.

Between February and April a number of other men came forward after reading about the warning in the local press.

Rowe was released and bailed to the address of a relative in North Berwick, near Edinburgh but he absconded and continued his plan, having sex with two further men before eventually being apprehended.

Self-styled 'vegan hippie' who was exposed during his trial as a cruel liar who enjoying playing with victims' emotions

Daryll Rowe presented himself as a softly spoken 'vegan hippie' who was looking for love - but in court it emerged he was actually 'nasty individual' who could quickly become angry.

Originally from Edinburgh, he was taken into care at a young age and fostered from the age of seven, he left school after taking his GCSEs and trained as a hairdresser at college.

He came out as gay at the age of 15, in the same year he experienced his first sexual encounter. He travelled to Australia for a year to visit his brothers in Perth before moving back to Edinburgh to work.

Rowe presented himself as a healthy-living vegan, even posting health videos online

Rowe became a vegan after turning vegetarian at the age of 18 and said he chose to move to Brighton because of its gay and vegan-friendly atmosphere.

He was 'very spiritual' and lived by the mantra of 'love, life and positivity'. He loved star signs, likening himself with characteristics of his Libra symbol of being 'relationship orientated', artistic, creative and balanced.

After he was diagnosed with HIV in April 2015, he said he tried urine therapy in a bid to rid himself of the illness. This eventually saw him drinking his own urine every morning and regularly throughout the day, he claimed.

He hides his identity as his true personality began to be exposed during his trial

This was supplemented with a whole range of natural remedies, oregano, coconut and olive leaf oils, which were reported online as also helping to combat HIV, he claimed.

But the prosecution stripped away his unassuming, healthy-living persona and exposed him as a cruel and calculating liar.

It emerged he would use fillers to plump up his top lip. He said he was told this was a synthetic version of acid naturally found in the body so he was comfortable with having the injections and admitted taking prescribed medication after contracting gonorrhoea, genital warts and herpes.

The court also heard how he sent a string of 'horrible' and 'cruel' text messages to several of his victims once they had been romantically involved.

He 'played' with them when they became concerned and questioned his HIV status and intentionally tormented them.

He even accused his victims of lying when they told police and jury he had said he was free of the virus before they had sex.
A man is in a stable condition in hospital after being rescued from a trench that collapsed during roadworks in Melbourne.

The 21-year-old was freed from the hole about 4pm on Thursday after emergency services rushed to Lincoln Street at Essendon to help with the rescue.

'A man has been buried up to his neck, whether it's mud, debris whatever ... I've been speaking to one of the police officers and he said it's not looking good,' witness Marianne told 3AW at the height of the rescue.

Emergency services rushed to save the worker trapped beneath a Melbourne road

The man became trapped underground after a trench collapsed at the corner of Lincoln Road and Florence Street in Essendon

An aerial photo from the scene showed an excavator and trucks near patches of road resurfacing

The worker became trapped about 2.30pm on Thursday, after which police, paramedics and the fire brigade were called

She said there had been roadworks in the street for weeks.

An aerial photo from the scene showed an excavator and trucks near patches of road resurfacing.

The young man was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

WorkSafe Victoria is investigating.

Emergency crews including the fire brigade, police and paramedics then attended the scene

It is understood the man was trapped up to his waist in mud, in a trench about five to eight metres deep

Emergency services rushed to the aid of the worker trapped beneath a Melbourne road.

Emergency services rushed to the aid of the worker trapped beneath a Melbourne road around 2:30pm.

It is understood he was trapped up to his waist in mud, in a trench about five to eight metres deep.

Emergency crews including the fire brigade, police and paramedics were all called to help rescue the worker.
A dog accused of a number of attacks including biting a four-year-old girl is being protected by by 'diplomatic immunity'.

The dog is reportedly living on a property owned by the US embassy and according to the Canberra Times, it has been linked to three separate attacks in the last 18 months.

Two adults have also been reportedly attacked by the dog, with the most recent attack happening on October 25.

A dog is reportedly living on a property owned by the US embassy and according to the Canberra Times , it has been linked to three separate attacks (pictured) in the last 18 months

Two adults have also been reportedly attacked by the dog, with the most recent attack happening on October 25 (pictured)

Livia Auer was bitten by two German shepherds on her legs and backside and less than an hour earlier, one of the same dogs had allegedly attacked a young girl and her mother, the publication reported.

While rangers were unable to enter the property, ACT authorities told Ms Auer their 'hands were tied'.

The injuries were so severe, Ms Auer had to take time off work but told the publication she would take legal action.

Ms Auer said she saw the dogs roaming outside and called them over to get them off the road, but one of the dogs charged at her and bite her leg before later charging at her young daughter.

'Then it had some sort of brain snap and came at me again,' Ms Auer told The Canberra Times.

'I've always loved dogs but this was absolutely terrifying. I keep seeing that dog flying at my daughter.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the U.S Embassy and Consulates in Australia for comment.
A former US military base employee confessed to the deadly assault of a Japanese woman in Okinawa last year, but says he did not murder her.

Kenneth Franklin Shinzato's trial opened on Thursday; the 33-year-old US Marine has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Rina Shimbukuro in April last year.

The case has intensified longstanding local opposition to the American military presence in Okinawa.

Shinzato was working as a civilian contractor at the sprawling Kadena Air base on the southern Japanese island, which reluctantly hosts nearly 75 percent of land allotted for US bases in Japan even though it accounts for a fraction of the country's total area.

Shimabukuro went missing on April 28 after going for a walk. Her body was found three weeks later.

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Kenneth Franklin Shinzato's (left) trial opened on Thursday; the 33-year-old US Marine has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Rina Shimbukuro (right) in April last year

Shinzato, wearing a white T-shirt, admitted in court to assaulting the victim and abandoning her body but said he did not intend to kill her, the news reports said. Pictured is the scene in court on Thursday

Prosecutors told the Okinawa District Court that the accused choked Shimabukuro with his hands and stabbed her in the neck during an attempted sexual assault on a road in Uruma in central Okinawa, according to Jiji Press and public broadcaster NHK.

The indictment did not clarify if he raped her, just that he attempted to.

Shinzato, wearing a white T-shirt, admitted in court to assaulting the victim and abandoning her body but said he did not intend to kill her, the news reports said.

In February of this year, Shinzato, also known as Kenneth Franklin Gadson, said in statements transcribed by his lawyer that he'd fantasized about suicide and rape for years.

Shinzato claims to have heard voices in his head since he was eight. He accused his foster mother of abuse, which she has denied, and says he fantasized of killing her.

The accused man says he had fantasies of abducting, restraining and raping women 'throughout my high school and adult years.'

In 2007, he claims he told Marine recruiters that he wanted to join the military primarily because he 'wanted to kill people.'

After joining, he relates various fantasies of killing himself.

'I remember thinking of how I could drown myself if I tired myself enough during the long range swim training,' he said.

'Out on the [shooting] range, I had the urge to go into the bushes and shoot at others and I could get shot.'

Prosecutors told the Okinawa District Court that the accused choked Shimabukuro (pictured) with his hands and stabbed her in the neck during an attempted sexual assault on a road in Uruma in central Okinawa

Earlier this year Shinzato admitted to assaulting her, and said he'd been having fantasies about rape and suicide for years . He is pictured left in a head shot, and right being ushered to the prosecutor's office in Okinawa in May 2016, just after he was arrested for the crime

He also revealed shocking details of the April crime when he told his lawyer his version of the events.

'When she passed my car and I saw her more clearly, I heard the voice in my head tell me, 'It's her' and that she's the one that will fulfill my fantasy,' he said, speaking of the victim Shimabukuro.

'I wasn't 100 percent sure that she was the right one, but when I looked up, I saw a red, full moon and I just knew that that was a sign.'

Shinzato says he hit the woman over the head with a stick.

'I intended to hit her with the stick and make her lose consciousness, then put her in the suitcase, take her to a hotel and then rape her,' he said.

The plan, he claims, was to release her alive after committing the vile crime, and didn't fear being caught because of the low reporting rate of sex crimes in Japan.

He says the headlights of an oncoming car forced him to drag her back from the road, accidentally hitting her head. As the woman tried to speak, he chocked her in a panic, he said, and went to fetch the suitcase.

Believing the woman dead, he did not continue the assault, he claims.

Shinzato took the victim to a wooded location in Onna Village's Afuso district, where he dumped her body.

'When I disposed of her, I thought she may have said something,' the statements said. 'I thought that she may be alive, so I stabbed her with a knife to find out.

He says he stabbed the woman multiple times and she didn't make a sound.

A ruling is expected to be handed down December 1. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

Shinzato took the victim to a wooded location in Onna Village's Afuso district, where he dumped her body (pictured). He also led prosecutors to that location of the victim's body after he was arrested. He was caught when cops found a photo from the dead woman's Facebook on his phone

Shinzato became a suspect after being spotted on surveillance footage buying salt and sprinkling it on his car, apparently in an attempt to get rid of blood stains, the Times reported.

He said in the statements that he wasn't afraid of being caught even after police began to question him, until the cops found a photo from the dead woman's Facebook page on his phone.

Shinzato eventually led investigator's to the location of the victim's body.

Shinzato is reportedly originally from New York. He joined the U.S. Marines and was deployed to Okinawa, where he met and married a Japanese woman, whose last name he took.

Crimes by US personnel have long sparked protests on crowded Okinawa, and have been a frequent irritant in relations between close security allies Japan and the United States.

Then President Barack Obama expressed regret over the incident, vowing measures to prevent crime by Americans, while the military on Okinawa imposed restrictions including a curfew and temporary curbs on alcohol consumption.
Veteran newsreader Tracey Spicer - investigating sex offenders in the Australian media industry - met with Hey Dad! victim Sarah Monahan this week

The most famous victim of Hey Dad! paedophile Robert Hughes has urged women abused by Australian media identities to come forward.

Sarah Monahan was sexually abused by the famous actor when she played his daughter Jenny on the Seven Network sitcom from 1987 to 1993.

In a new interview, Ms Monahan said the stream of women coming forward with allegations against international celebrities was making her very happy.

'It's so exciting there's so many coming out now,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Every day I'm like, who's it going to be? Who's it going to be today?'

And with knowledge and contacts from her years spent helping bring Hughes to justice, Ms Monahan has pitched in to help veteran newsreader Tracey Spicer.

Spicer recently launched a local investigation into the behaviour of Australian media identities in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

The journalist has vowed to name and shame 'serial predators' in the industry who she had said were responsible for a 'tsunami' of sexual assault.

Sarah Monahan (pictured) told the Daily Mail she was 'excited' by the number of women publicly making allegations - having been there, done that, herself

Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes is serving a 10-year and 9-month jail sentence for molesting four girls during the 1980s

Ms Monahan said she women who had suffered in silence 'should find the strength - whether they do it publicly or privately - to go to police and lodge a police report.

'We dont know how many each one (of these men) has attacked.

'They (victims) could be the one that changes everything.'

The rolling scandal - which has seen allegations leveled against the likes of Weinstein and House of Cards' Kevin Spacey - had just one key lesson for men, she said.

'Don't touch people without their consent,' she said.

Earlier this week, Ms Monahan - who lives in the United States but is in Australia to promote the SeeSayDo incident reporting app - told Radio 2GB she heard one of the men targeted by Spicer had sought legal advice.

Ms Monahan, who played Jenny on Hey Dad!, has predicted more Australian celebrities will be exposed as sex offenders

'Ive heard one of them has already contacted lawyers because they know theyre about to be outed,' she said on Thursday afternoon.

Celebrities the Australian public hadn't suspected of being sex offenders would be exposed, she claimed.

'It will be interesting and it will be people that some people will go, "Oh yeah that makes sense".

'And I think some of them will be people that nobody ever expected,'

Hughes, now 69, was jailed for 10 years and nine months in 2014, with a minimum six-year non-parole period, for the sexual and indecent assault of four young girls, including friends of his daughter.

Sarah Monahan (far right as Jenny in 1987) with fellow season one cast members of Hey Dad! Robert Hughes, Paul Smith, Simone Buchanan and Julie McGregor

He was convicted of 10 indecent and child sex charges committed during the 1980s.

This occurred four years after Monahan told Woman's Day and later A Current Affair she was molested on the set of Hey Dad!, a sitcom about a widowed architect Martin Kelly.

Several months before Hughes was convicted, fellow Hey Dad! cast members Christopher Truswell, Simone Buchanan, Julie McGregor and Ben Oxenbould spoke out about him on the Nine Network program.

In June Hughes, who is incarcerated at Goulburn jail in southern New South Wales, lost a High Court challenge to his convictions.
Theresa May is said to be ready to offer another 20billion to kickstart Brexit talks with the EU - amid fears Brussels is determined to hammer the City of London.

The Prime Minister could brave the fury of Tory Eurosceptics by pledging more cash in a bid to break the deadlock over starting trade discussions.

But she is expected to ignore a deadline set by the EU's chief negotiator that she must spell out the divorce bill offer by the end of next week in order to make progress before Christmas.

The task facing Mrs May was underlined today when it emerged that Brussels is resisting calls for a 'bespoke' deal with the UK.

Theresa May, pictured meeting business leaders in Downing Street yesterday, is preparing to make a fresh offer on the divorce bill

Instead they want a looser Canada-style arrangement that would not cover much of Britain's crucial services industry.

Negotiating briefs seen by Politico suggest such an agreement would only mean 'limited EU commitments to allow cross border provision of services'.

According to The Sun, Mrs May could say the UK is ready to honour 20billion of commitments - on top of the 18billion she has already offered for a two-year transitional deal.

The signs of a financial move came after she met a key ally of Angela Merkel in Downing Street last night.

After the talks, Manfred Weber, head of the EPP group in the European parliament, said he was now 'more optimistic' about the prospect of progress.

But he added: "The atmosphere is positive but we need clear and concrete commitments to step into the second phase.

'For now the green light is not there."

On divorce bill, Mr Weber said while the UK did not have to state a figure at this stage, it did need spell out which of its outstanding commitments to the EU it was prepared to honour.

"For the so-called sufficient progress question for the December council, the most important thing is not the figure.

'The most important thing is to clarify the commitments - the areas where Great Britain has to see its commitments.'

Manfred Weber, a senior MEP and ally of Angela Merkel, held talks with Mrs May in Downing Street yesterday

A failure to get the green light from national leaders at the December gathering would mean discussions about future trade arrangements could not begin before March - raising the risk of the UK leaving without any deal.

Downing Street described the meeting with Mr Weber as 'constructive' and said that Mrs May had made clear the UK was seeking an 'ambitious partnership' which did not 'follow the existing models'.

Mr Barnier last week gave Britain just two weeks to put more cash on the table to secure a divorce deal in time for future trade talks to start next month.

There are fears that failure to reach an agreement before Christmas could lead to a 'no deal' Brexit and cause severe harm to economies.

Business on both side of the channel has become increasingly anxious about the prospect of political deadlock disrupting trade.

Mrs Merkel is coming under pressure to protect her country's car exports - with Britain a key market.

Guy Verhofstadt, the EU parliament's chief negotiator, also increased the temperature this week by demanding that EU citizens are given 'the exact same rights as they have today'.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured right with Theresa May in July) is coming under pressure to protect her country's car exports - with Britain a key market

Guy Verhofstadt, the EU parliament's chief negotiator, also increased the temperature by demanding that EU citizens are given 'the exact same rights as they have today'

'Our aim is nothing is changing. They can simply continue rights as they have them now,' he added.

'For European Parliament and steering group inside European Parliament, our priority is to have a good arrangement on citizens' rights.

'Not only rights of EU citizens in the UK but UK citizens in the EU. What we absolutely want to avoid is citizens being victims of Brexit,' Verhofstadt explained.

'What we absolutely want to avoid is citizens being victims of Brexit.'
A North Korean soldier shot multiple times while defecting to the South is in a stable condition but riddled with parasites that could complicate his chances of survival, his doctor said Thursday.

The soldier dashed across the border at the Panmunjom truce village on Monday, as former comrades from the North opened fire on him, hitting him at least four times.

He was pulled to safety by three South Korean soldiers who crawled to reach him, just south of the dividing line.

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Doctor Lee Cook-Jong said the North Korean soldier who defected across the heavily guarded border this week was riddled with parasites

The young man was rushed to hospital in South Korea by helicopter where he has undergone two rounds of emergency surgery.

"Vital signs including his pulse are returning to stability", attending doctor Lee Cook-Jong told journalists.

However, he warned, the un-named soldier could rapidly deteriorate at any moment.

"We're paying close attention to prevent possible complications," said Lee, who on Wednesday said "an enormous number of parasites" including roundworms had been found in the small intestine.

"I've never seen anything like this in my 20 years as a physician", he said, adding the longest worm he removed was 27 centimetres (11 inches).

North Korean soldier shot, injured as he defected

Parasites, especially roundworms, are widespread in North Korea -- as they are in many developing countries -- where people eat uncooked vegetables that have been fertilised with human faeces, experts say.

They were also common in South Korea until the 1980s when the country was wealthier and the use of commercial fertilisers became widespread.

"The contamination... was very severe, and the future course of his medical condition is likely to be worse than that of general trauma patients as he was in a state of shock for a long while due to massive bleeding," he said.

South Korean officials have said that troops from the North fired at least 40 rounds.

Doctors originally said the defector had been hit six times, but have now revised that down to four after determining that some of the wounds were caused when bullets exited his body.

One of the worst wounds was in the man's abdomen, where the bullet shattered his pelvis.

It is very rare for troops to defect at Panmunjom, a major tourist attraction and the only part of the border where forces from the two sides come face-to-face.

Unlike the rest of the frontier, the village is not fortified with minefields and barbed wire, with the demarcation line marked only by a low concrete divider.

North Korean sentry guards at Panmunjom are all carefully screened and vetted before being deployed there.

No personal details have been released but the soldier's uniform suggested he was low-ranking.

Unlike the rest of the frontier, Panmunjom is not fortified with minefields and barbed wire, but soldiers from both sides face off across the dividing line

The US-led United Nations Command (UNC), which monitors Panmunjom, said the soldier had driven close to the military demarcation line separating the two Koreas.

He then dashed from the vehicle and ran towards the border as other North Korean soldiers opened fire.

South Korean troops did not return fire.

Dozens of North Korean soldiers have fled to the South through the heavily-fortified border over the decades since the peninsula was divided, including two soldiers who crossed the frontier in June.

More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have also fled their homeland since the two nations came into being in 1948, but it is rare for them to cross the closely guarded border.
Shocking bodycam footage shows the moment an officer shot and killed a man who was holding his wife at gunpoint in Las Vegas.

In the clip, police officer David Nesheiwat is seen pointing a gun at Phillip Pitts, 41, who is holding his wife and pointing a gun at her outside a shop in Pyle Avenue.

Nesheiwat shouts: 'What is going on? What do you have in your hand? Drop the gun!'

In the clip, police officer David Nesheiwat is seen pointing a gun at Phillip Pitts, 41, who is holding his wife and pointing a gun at her outside a shop in Pyle Avenue

He then orders the woman to step away from her husband, saying: 'Get down on the ground! Get away from him now!'

After warning the man to step away from his wife, he fires four shots, and Pitts falls to the ground.

Pitts' wife, who has not been named, was also injured in the shooting.

The couple's 10-year-old daughter was standing nearby but was taken to safety by an officer, the Review Journal reported.

After warning the man to step away from his wife, he fires four shots, and Pitts falls to the ground

The couple were rushed to University Medical Center where the man died. The woman had to have surgery but is expected to survive.

The incident, which happened on the evening of November 11, marks the 21st shooting by the Metropolitan Police Department this year.

It is the 10th time police from the force have shot and killed a suspect.

Pitts' wife, who has not been named, was also injured in the shooting
House Republicans got their tax reform bill over the line Thursday afternoon, with a vote of 227 yeas to 205 nays.

Members of the GOP caucus let out a cheer from the House floor when enough votes were counted to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as a handful of Democrats gesticulated at their colleagues and sang out 'Na Na Na Na Hey Hey-ey Goodbye,' a suggestion that the tax vote would be political poison in the midterms next year.

For now, though, Republicans treated the bill's passage as good news as Trump had yet to have a major legislative victory this year, with tax reform being taken up in the Senate next.

'This is one of the most historic and the biggest things that we will ever do,' proclaimed House Speaker Paul Ryan minutes before the bill was passed. 'And the reason is because this is one of the biggest things we can do to improve people's lives, to revitalize that beautiful, American idea, to spread liberty and freedom.'

The vote came directly after President Trump visited Capitol Hill to give a rah-rah speech to Republicans, described by Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers to DailyMail.com as a 'pep rally.'

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House Speaker Paul Ryan claps his hand after the Republicans voted in favor of a tax reform bill, which would cut corporate taxes and collapse the number of tax brackets

House Speaker Paul Ryan (right) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (left) celebrate after the House of Representatives passes a President Trump-approved tax reform bill

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, who shepherded the tax plan through his committee, speaks about the Republican victory after Thursday's vote

President Donald Trump speaks briefly to journalists after leaving a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol November 16, 2017 in Washington, DC

After the bill's passage, the White House continued to play cheerleader.

'A simple, fair, and competitive tax code will be rocket fuel for our economy, and its within our reach,' Trump's spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. 'Now it's time to deliver,' she added, a message likely directed at the Senate.

As he did in his televised speech from the White House yesterday, Trump re-counted his 12 day trip to Asia, regaling lawmakers with his stories of meeting world leaders.

'He talked a lot about his trip. Some of the successes he had in terms of trade deals suggested others might materialize going forward,' said Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma.

Trump also talked about his efforts to get China to free three UCLA basketball players something he highlighted yesterday when he tweeted that he wondered if the players would thank him.

One thing the president didn't do was engage in bartering with a large group of lawmakers who might leak word of any infighting.

He didn't even address a primary sticking point with a Senate tax cut - its inclusion of a provision to repeal the Obamacare individual mandate.

'He was very careful I think to avoid any kind of specifics in that regard,' said Cole.

'There was no specifics at all, actually, in the meeting,' said New York GOP Rep. Dan Donavan, who opposes the bill in its current form.

Donovan later cemented that with a no vote.

'It was just a general discussion, actually he didn't even take questions, he spoke, he talked about his trip to Asia among other things and really just asked everybody to go out there and get tax reform passed,' he told DailyMail.com.

Trump came to the Capitol to try to give a final boost to a House $1.5 trillion tax cut, after some ominous signs for Republicans in the Senate.

House leaders had already expressed that they have assembled the needed 218 votes for their tax cut bill, meaning Trump's visit was merely symbolic.

President Donald Trump answers a question from the press about discussion of the tax bill, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington

Trump's meeting with Republicans was described as a 'pep rally'

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan points to boxes of petitions supporting the Republican tax reform bill on Tuesday

But the legislation is facing some blowback from members from high-tax states who continue to balk at the elimination of most of the deduction for state and local taxes.

'We could lose all the seats in the northeast,' said Republican New York Rep. Peter King to Fox News.

King was a no vote on Thursday.

'This is an unforced error,' he said. 'We're doing this to ourselves.'

Of the 13 GOP no votes registered Thursday, give came from New Yorkers, four were from New Jersey and three were from California, with the remaining nay courtesy of North Carolina Republican Rep. Walter Jones.

'My no vote is for the next generation so they wont be bankrupt,' he told Bloomberg News, as he exited the chamber.

Now the attention will turn to the Senate, as Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, announced yesterday that he would not vote for the Senate bill in its current form.

'If they can pass it without me, let them,' Johnson told the Wall Street Journal. 'I'm not going to vote for this tax package.'

Johnson doesn't share the Democratic complaint - that the bill hits millions of families with a tax hike while permanently slashing corporate rates.

He complains that while corporations get a major cut (from 35 to 20 per cent), other types of businesses that file taxes as individuals don't.

'That is still buffaloing people, pass-throughs that think they're getting a 25 per cent rate,' said Johnson. 'It's still lost on a lot of people.'

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. is calling the bill an 'unforced error' that will cost GOP seats. He voted no on the bill Thursday

Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, blasted the way the Senate tax cut treats certain 'pass-through' companies

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is already raising concerns about the repeal of the individual mandate

President Donald Trump heads to the Capitol to try to give a final boost to a House $1.5 trillion tax cut

Any delays to the Senate bill could put a vote after Alabama's December 12 special election, which could cost Republicans a critical vote.

Meanwhile, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who helped tank the GOP's Obamacare repeal, is raising doubts about the decision to include an end to Obamacre's individual mandate that people buy insurance.

The change is coming on 'reconciliation' legislation that needs only a simple majority to clear the Senate.

'I have data that demonstrates for certain middle-income individuals and couples, who do not qualify for subsidies under the ACA ... that the premium increase will outweigh the tax cut that they get,' Collins said,NBC reported. 'I suspected this, based on what I know about insurance markets, but now I have the actual data.'

The two chambers' plans would slash the 35 percent corporate tax rate to 20 percent, trim personal income tax rates and diminish some deductions and credits - while adding nearly $1.5 trillion to the coming decade's federal deficits.

Republicans promised tax breaks for millions of families and companies that would have more money to produce more jobs.

'It represents a bold path forward that will allow us as a nation to break out of the slow-growth status quo once and for all,' said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, as his chamber debated the bill Wednesday.

Democrats charged the measures would bestow the bulk of their benefits on higher earners and corporations. In the Senate Finance Committee, they focused their attacks on two provisions designed by Republicans to increase revenue.

One would repeal President Barack Obama's health law requirement that people buy coverage or pay a fine, a move the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects would result in 13 million more uninsured people by 2027. The other would end the personal income tax cuts in 2026 while keeping the corporate reductions permanent.

'We should be working together to find ways to cut taxes for hardworking middle-class families, not taking health care away from millions of people just to give huge tax cuts to the largest corporations,' said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

The Republican-led Finance panel was on track to approve its proposal by week's end.

It shut down Democrats' initial efforts to modify the bill, voting along party lines against amendments aimed at protecting health care coverage for veterans or people with disabilities, mental illness or opioid addition if the insurance mandate is ended.

But with GOP leaders hoping for full Senate passage early next month, concerns harbored by Johnson and perhaps others would have to be addressed.

Republicans controlling the Senate 52-48 can approve the legislation with just 50 votes, plus tie-breaking support from Vice President Mike Pence.

With solid Democratic opposition likely, they can lose just two GOP votes.

Besides Johnson and Collins, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee have yet to commit to backing the tax measure.

Repealing the health law's individual mandate would save $338 billion over the coming decade because fewer people would be pressured into getting government-paid coverage like Medicaid. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, used the savings to make his bill's personal tax reductions modestly more generous.

Ending the bill's personal income tax cuts in 2026, derided by Democrats as a gimmick, was designed to pare the bill's long-term costs.

Legislation cannot boost budget deficits after 10 years if it is to qualify for Senate procedures barring bill-killing filibusters. Those delays take 60 votes to block, numbers Republicans lack.

The House measure would collapse today's seven personal income-tax rates into four: 12, 25, 35 and 39.6 percent.

The Senate would have seven rates: 10, 12, 23, 24, 32, 35 and 38.5 percent.

Both bills would nearly double the standard deduction to around $12,000 for individuals and about $24,000 for married couples and dramatically boost the current $1,000 per-child tax credit.

Each plan would erase the current $4,050 personal exemption and annul or reduce other tax breaks. The House would limit interest deductions to $500,000 in the value of future home mortgages, down from today's $1 million, while the Senate would end deductions for moving expenses and tax preparation.

Each measure would repeal the alternative minimum tax paid by higher-earning people.

The House measure would reduce and ultimately repeal the tax paid on the largest inheritances, while the Senate would limit that levy to fewer estates.
The Trump administration has reversed a ban on the importing of trophies from elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia, to outcry from wildlife organisations across the world.

The move overturns the ban put in place by the Obama administration in 2014 and is a heavy blow to the international campaign to end the ivory trade, whose backers include Prince Harry and Prince William.

It also comes after the president's sons, Donald Jr and Eric Trump, were heavily criticized in 2012 after being photographed with a leopard and other big game kills including an elephant.

Though elephants are listed as endangered species, the hunting and killing of them is legal in parts of Africa and the Trump administration argues it helps manage their population numbers.

But wildlife organisations argue that corrupt officials - especially in Zimbabwe where dictator Robert Mugabe was deposed in a coup this week - cannot be trusted to protect elephants.

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International wildlife organisations have reacted with fury to the Trump administration's decision to let big game hunters bring elephants trophies back to the U.S. Donald Trump Jr is pictured with the tail of an elephant on one of his hunting trips to Zimbabwe in 2011

The decision comes after a campaign by the NRA on behalf of big game hunters. The president's sons Donald Jr (left) and Eric Trump (right) have previously been on big game hunting trips to Africa (pictured)

Donald Jr seen here with a 40" Cape Buffalo Bull, which his tour guide said he shot with 'the precision of a true marksman. The Trump administration said managed hunting can benefit the conservation of some species

Eric Trump its atop one of their kills. In his responses to critics on Twitter, Donald Jr said that the animals were used as meat for hungry villagers who do not often eat the animals

The US Fishing and Wildlife Service said as it announced the decision that new information from officials in Zimbabwe and Zambia supports reversing the ban to allow trophy hunting permits in those countries.

In a statement it said: 'Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation.'

However, wildlife organisation across the globe have condemned the decision and argue that it will only encourage illegal poaching of elephants.

The Humane Society of the United States said banning trophies from Zimbabwe should continue because it is 'one of the most corrupt countries on Earth'.

The country's leader Robert Mugabe - who was deposed this week - celebrated his birthday by dining on an elephant, said the society.

Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive, said: 'It's a venal and nefarious pay-to-slay arrangement that Zimbabwe has set up with the trophy hunting industry.

The lifting of the ban on elephant trophies has been greeted with outrage by conservation groups

'What kind of message does it send to say to the world that poor Africans who are struggling to survive cannot kill elephants in order to use or sell their parts to make a living, but that it's just fine for rich Americans to slay the beasts for their tusks to keep as trophies?'

Charlie Mayhew, chief executive of UK charity Tusk, said: 'Tusk views this announcement as a regressive step which sends all the wrong signals to the international community that has been making great strides recently in the campaign to halt the illegal wildlife trade.

'Tusk continues to have major misgivings in the way trophy hunting is not properly regulated, and has been open to corrupt abuse of quota systems and unethical practices. This is a setback in the fight to ban all illegal wildlife trade.'

Kenya - based organisation Save the Elephants also condemned the move.

'How someone could want to shoot such an intelligent, empathetic animal as an elephant is beyond me,' said chief executive Frank Pope.

'But what is most concerning for elephants is that renewed imports of trophy ivory into the US might undermine the all-important ivory trade bans put in place by America and China.

The international ivory network links Africa with Asia, where most of the demand comes from

'China continues to show strong leadership and will close all ivory trade within her borders by the end of the year. Up to now American actions on elephants and ivory have been admirable.

'The fire of the ivory trade seems to be dying. The last thing we need is a sudden blast of oxygen from a misguided policy change.'

Conservation group The Elephant Project Tweeted its condemnation of the lifting of the ban saying: 'Reprehensible behaviour by the Trump Admin. 100 elephants a day are already killed. This will lead to more poaching.'

At the start of the 20th Century, there were estimated to be as many as four to five million African elephants and 100,000 Asian elephants in the wild.

But their population has quickly quickly declined, especially in Africa.

According to the 2016 Great Elephant Census, the population plummeted by roughly 30 percent, or 144,000 from 2007 to 2014, dropping 6 per cent in Zimbabwe alone.

There are now 350,000 elephants remaining on the African Savanna. In Asia, there are an estimated 35,000 left.

The slaughter is relentless: at least 100 killed by poachers every single day.

Elephants are believed to be among the smartest animals on Earth, with the biggest brains of any animal.

An elephant graveyard in Zimbabwe, where the population has fell by 6 per cent between 2007 and 2014

Their cerebral process enables them to comprehend emotions like grief, joy and anger, and makes them quick learners who never forget a face.

The rule change applies to elephants shot in Zimbabwe on or after January 21, 2016, and to those legally permitted to be hunted before the end of next year.

A similar rule has been put into place for Zambia, where the Great Elephant Census estimates the animal's numbers have declined from 200,000 in 1972 to a little more than 21,000 last year.

In Zimbabwe, there are 83,000 elephants, dropping ten per cent from 2005. Most of the elephants still in the country live along the Zambezi River and in Hwange National Park.

The Nonhuman Rights Project, a U.S. based civil rights organization that advocates for legal rights of animals, has condemned The rule change.

The Nonhuman Rights Project is appalled by the latest actions of the Trump administration to lift the ban on importing elephant trophies from Africa,' the organization said in a statement.

'His actions will lead to a surge in wildlife trafficking and the slaughter of countless elephants. It is ironic that this announcement came on the same week we filed the first-ever lawsuit on behalf of captive elephants seeking recognition of their right to bodily liberty here in the US.'

'We have always been committed to the well-being of members of this extraordinarily complex (and endangered) species, and we hope this latest travesty against the most vulnerable from the Trump administration shows the courts why it is imperative to recognize our elephant clients as legal persons with fundamental rights,' the statement continued.

Countries where it is still legal to hunt elephants South Africa

Zimbabwe

Zambia

Mozambique

Namibia

Tanzania

Cameroon

Gabon Advertisement

But Chris Cox, Executive Director of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action welcomed the decision, saying it was long overdue.

'By lifting the import ban on lion trophies in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Trump Administration underscored the importance of sound scientific wildlife management and regulated hunting to the survival and enhancement of game species in this country and worldwide,' he said.

'This is a significant step forward in having hunting receive the recognition it deserves as a tool of wildlife management, which had been all but buried in the previous administration.'

The Safari Club International, which advocates 'sustainable use hunting', also welcomed the FWS decision.

'These positive findings for Zimbabwe and Zambia demonstrate that the Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes that hunting is beneficial to wildlife and that these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations,' President Paul Babaz said in a statement.

'We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife.'

Two years ago, Minnesota dentist Dr Walter Palmer (right) paid $50,000 to hunt and kill Cecil the Lion (left) in Zimbabwe; it prompted a global outcry at the time

The ban lift came after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke created the International Wildlife Conservation Council.

The council is working to increase public awareness of the 'economic benefits that result from US citizens traveling abroad to hunt'.

In a story that caused international outcry in 2015, a lion called Cecil was killed by Minnesota dentist Dr Walter Palmer, who paid $50,000 to hunt in Zimbabwe.

The country said it would not charge him because he had obtained legal authority to conduct the hunt.

Cecil's son, Xanda, was been legally killed in the same area earlier this year, bringing fresh scrutiny on the "trophy" hunting of a species whose numbers in the African wild have plummeted.

Some conservation groups denounced six-year-old Xanda's killing, saying commercial hunting bans and robust wildlife tourism in countries such as Kenya and Botswana are among the best ways to protect threatened species.

The hunting industry, meanwhile, counters that it has a conservation role if it is well-regulated, channeling revenue back into wildlife areas that otherwise could end up neglected or turned into livestock farms.

Many researchers agree that Africa's lions face greater threats, including human encroachment on habitats and the poaching of animals for food, which deprives lions of prey.
Salim Mehajer has said in court his separation with estranged wife Aysha was nothing but a ruse to help her escape media attention

Salim Mehajer has claimed in court that he and his estranged wife Aysha Learmonth are still together - and their separation was nothing but a ruse.

Appearing in Sydney's Central Local Court on Thursday to appeal his bail conditions, Mehajer was under cross-examination, and therefore under oath, when he made the claim, The Daily Telegraph reported.

'She wants to get out of the media and she acts like she is not with me but she is with me,' he said.

'We are not [separated] - we are still together, we are talking.'

Mehajer and Aysha's marriage is believed to have imploded less than a year after their August 2015 'wedding of the century' that shut down a Sydney street.

Mehajer tied the knot with Aysha Learmonth (pictured on wedding day together) in August 2015, in a so-called 'wedding of the century'

Mehajer told a Sydney court the pair are still married and still in contact. An AVO prohibits him from contacting Ms Learmonth

Mrs Mehajer reportedly packed her bags and left their mansion in Lidcombe, western Sydney, to stay with family in the NSW Illawarra region.

The disgraced deputy mayor of Auburn faced Sutherland Court in August for an AVO filed by police on behalf of Aysha, which was extended this month.

The order was the second he had faced, after first facing court for an AVO hearing in July 2016, when police prevented him from contacting or approaching his estranged wife following a confrontation at her sister's Wollongong home.

As a result of the court orders, Mehajer is not allowed to contact Ms Learmonth.

The property developer said in court though that he is 'not too familiar with the AVOs'.

The marriage between Salim Mehajer and Aysha Learmonth is believed to have imploded after less than a year

Mehajer told the court he was 'not too familiar with the AVOs' before claiming the pair were still together

'All I know is that we do talk and we are still married,' he said.

Last year, Mehajer threatened to rape the parents of estranged wife Aysha in a vicious and expletive-ridden video message.

The shocking video obtained by Channel Nine's A Current Affair shows the embattled property developer screaming into the camera.

'Aysha you've got five minutes to give me a call,' Mr Mehajer says.

'I'm going to rape your mum. Your mum and your f****** dad'.

The videos were reportedly sent after the former beauty therapist moved out of the estranged couple's marital home earlier this year and refused to talk to him.

Mehajer was under cross-examination as he tried to appeal his bail conditions when he made the eyebrow-raising claim

'I hope you die you f****** sl**,' he screams, his voice cracking from the exertion.

Mr Mehajer also switches briefly to Arabic in the short clip.

'I swear on the Koran, I swear to God, I'm not leaving today,' he says.

On Sunday, the 31-year-old shared a photograph of what appears to be another woman to his Instagram account.

The woman's face was blocked by a monkey sticker, and a marking on her wrist was blurred out.

Underneath the image, he posted a line of red love hearts.

When Ms Learmonth was asked by Daily Mail Australia in March to clarify if she and Mehajer were still together, Ms Learmonth replied: 'No confusion, thanks.'

She was seen at the time celebrating her birthday with family in Sydney. Mr Mehajer was not present.

On Sunday, Mehajer shared a picture of a woman with her face covered and a mark on her wrist blurred out (pictured)
Four more women have come forward to claim they were the victim of Roy Moore's sexual misconduct when they were in their teens and 20s.

Tina Johnson, from the embattled Senate candidates's hometown of Gadsden, Alabama, said he groped her behind during a visit to his law office in 1991.

Two other women, Gena Richardson and Becky Gray, say Moore made unwanted advances when they were working as department store clerks in the 1980s.

A fourth woman, Kelly Harrison Thorp, said she was asked on a date by Moore when she was just 17 years old. She said he told her that he goes out 'with girls your age all the time'.

A total of nine women have now come forward to accuse Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct that dates back decades

The allegations are the latest in a series of explosive claims made against 70-year-old Moore, a conservative former Alabama Supreme Court judge.

Moore, who is the Republican nominee in a special Alabama election December 12 to fill the seat of now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has denied any wrongdoing.

A total of nine women have now come forward to accuse Moore of sexual misconduct that dates back decades.

Johnson was the first of the latest three women to allege sexual misconduct at the hands of Moore.

She claims that in 1991, when she was 28 years old, she was at Moore's Third Street law office in Gadsden with her mother when he started commenting on her looks.

Moore had been hired by Johnson's mother for a custody matter.

Johnson claims that as she was walking out of the office, Moore grabbed her buttocks.

'He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it,' Johnson told AL.com. 'I want people know that it's OK to finally say something. I guess I'm ashamed I didn't say nothing, didn't turn around and slap him.'

Johnson's allegation is the first public accusation of physical contact that happened after Moore married his now wife, Kayla Moore.

Two women, Gena Richardson (pictured above) and Becky Gray, say Moore made unwanted advances when they were working as department store clerks in the 1980s

The fifth accuser, Beverly Young Nelson, held an emotional press conference on Monday alleging that Moore sexually assaulted her in his car in 1977

Another woman, Kelly Harrison Thorp, claimed that Moore asked to date her in 1982, when she was just 17 and he was in his mid-30s. She claims Moore told her he went out 'with girls your age all the time'.

A third accuser, Gena Richardson, said that Moore asked her out when she was a high school senior working at Sears.

She declined to give him her phone number, so Moore decided to call her school.

'I said "Hello?"' Richardson told The Washington Post. 'And the male on the other line said, "Gena, this is Roy Moore.' I was like, 'What?!' He said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'I'm in trig class.'

Moore asked her out again on the call, and later returned to Sears and asked her out a third time.

Richardson finally said yes and their date ended with Moore giving what she says was an unwanted, 'forceful' kiss that left her scared.

'I never wanted to see him again,' she told The Post.

A fourth woman, Becky Gray, claimed she rejected Moore's advances when she was 22 years old and working in the men's section of Pizitz, a regional department store.

'I'd always say no, I'm dating someone, no, I'm in a relationship,' says Gray, now 62, said. 'I thought he was old at that time. Anyone over 22 was just old.'

More than a dozen sources, including political figures and police officers told The New Yorker earlier this week that they had heard over the years that Moore had been banned from the mall in the early eighties for 'repeatedly badgered teen-age girls'.

Moore was reportedly a regular visitor to the mall and according to the Post, several other women who used to work there remembered he would frequent the shopping mall 'usually alone' and 'well-dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt'.

Debbie Wesson Gibson says she was 17 when Moore allegedly kissed her once in his bedroom and once at a local country club pool

Wendy Miller (left) says she was just 14 and dressed as an Elf who was a 'Santa's helper' at the mall when Moore allegedly asked her out. Kelly Harrison Thorp (right) said she was asked on a date by Moore when she was just 17 years old

Roy Moore's lawyer Phillip Jauregui spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon and called into question the authenticity of a signature found in a sex assault accuser's yearbook, tying the Alabama Senate hopeful to the victim

The allegations against Moore first surfaced on November 9 when four women spoke to the Washington Post, including one who claimed she had a sexual encounter with him when she was a 14-year-old girl and he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney.

According to Leigh Corfman's account, Moore, who was then a local prosecutor, met her when she accompanied her mother to a custody hearing at the county courthouse in Gadsden.

She says Moore took an interest in her and got her phone number. Later, he called and picked her up at her home, taking the then-14 year old Coffman to his house in the woods.

'I remember the further I got from my house, the more nervous I got,' Corfman said. By her account, Moore kissed her on a first date. At a subsequent meeting, also at his home, he touched her over her bra and underwear, then removed his clothes and had her touch him over his 'tight white' underwear.

Moore called the allegations 'completely false' and vigorously denied them.

The Post tracked down other women who say Moore hit on them when they were young girls.

Gloria Thacker Deason says she met Moore at the Gadsden mall when she was 18, and that they saw each other for several months, in a relationship that never got beyond kissing and hugging. The college cheerleader would change out of her uniform when they went on dates.

Wendy Miller says she was just 14 and dressed as an Elf who was a 'Santa's helper' at the mall. She met Moore again when she was 16 and at a jewelry counter in 1979.

Miller says she was 'flattered by the attention' but now that she is older, 'the idea that a grown man would want to take out a teenager, that's disgusting to me.' She said her mother wouldn't let her date Moore.

Debbie Wesson Gibson says she was 17 when Moore spoke to her high school class, when he was assistant district attorney, and when he would have been 34, or twice her age.

She said Moore kissed her once in his bedroom and once at a local country club pool.

'Looking back, I'm glad nothing bad happened,' Gibson told the paper. 'As a mother of daughters, I realize that our age difference at that time made our dating inappropriate.'

The fifth woman, Beverly Young Nelson, held a press conference on Monday saying she first met Moore when he was district attorney and she was a high school student who was waiting tables at the Olde Hickory House.

She accused him of groping her breasts in his car after he offered the then 16-year-old a ride home after work.

'Mr Moore reached over and began groping me, putting his hands on my breasts,' she said, reading from a prepared statement alongside celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred, who has represented women who accused Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.

'I tried fighting him off, while yelling at him to stop, but instead of stopping, he began squeezing my neck, attempting to force my head onto his crotch,' she said.

'I was terrified. He was also trying to pull my shirt off. I thought that he was going to rape me. I was twisting and struggling and begging him to stop. I had tears running down my face,' Nelson said.

Roy Moore's lawyer called into question this signature found in accuser Beverly Young Nelson's 1977 yearbook. Moore's attorney floated a theory of how it could be a fraud

He alleged that Moore gave up and drove off, leaving her behind 'on the cold concrete in the dark.'

She said in her statement on Monday that she just happened to have her yearbook with her on the day the alleged attack occurred, and revealed a signature appearing to be Moore's on a page of the book.

Appearing before media in Alabama on Wednesday, Moore's lawyer Phillip Jauregui denied Nelson's allegations from 1977.

Nelson had showed reporters her yearbook that Moore apparently signed, as evidence that they knew one another. Jauregui said the campaign wants the yearbook released so that a handwriting expert can determine, 'is it genuine or is it a fraud?'

Gloria Allred, Nelson's attorney, later said her client would allow the yearbook to be examined only if Moore is questioned under oath by a Senate committee.

Mainstream Republicans in Washington have made it clear they want Moore to exit the race.

President Donald Trump has appeared to equivocate on the matter, saying last week that Moore should step aside if the claims proved true, while adding that a mere allegation should not destroy the Alabama politician's life.

On Wednesday Moore tweeted that 'we will not quit.'

He also offered fighting words in a tweet addressed to the top Senate Republican: 'Dear Mitch McConnell, Bring. It. On.'

It's too late to remove Moore's name from the ballot, so fielding a Republican write-in at this point would almost certainly hand the election to the Democrats unless he should withdraw and persuade his supporters to vote for that substitute.

According to internal polling conducted by the Senate GOP campaign arm and reviewed by The Associated Press, Moore trails Democrat Jones by 12 points - 39 per cent to 51 per cent - in the survey conducted on Sunday and Monday.

Moore led by 9 points the week before in the National Republican Senatorial Committee's internal numbers.
Missing British explorer Benedict Allen may have gotten lost in the Papua New Guinean jungle because he was forced to flee 'an outbreak of tribal infighting', a close friend said today.

The 57-year-old was been found 'alive and well' near an airstrip 20 miles northwest of Porgera, Enga Province, four days after he was reported missing.

After hearing word that the father-of-three had been spotted, his wife Lenka, 35, told the Mail: It is such a relief. Im so happy, its amazing. It is very exciting.

Mr Allen sparked panic earlier this week when he failed to return from the jungle following a solo expedition to meet the remote Yaifo tribe.

He never made his flight to Hong Kong on Sunday, where he was scheduled to give a speech.

Found: British explorer Benedict Allen has reportedly been located in Papua New Guinea after going missing on Sunday

The adventurer's friend, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardener, who previously travelled to the southwestern Pacific island with him, wrote today: 'This is exactly the sort of challenge he thrives on.

'But as well as having to contend with almost impossibly steep and forested terrain, it seems his plans have been disrupted by an outbreak of tribal infighting which often happens in remote areas.

'Although foreigners are rarely the target of this violence outside the towns, there is always a risk of being associated with one tribe that is at war with another.'

Meanwhile, Mr Allen's brother-in-law said today he will be met by a 'severe ticking off' from his wife and close relatives once he is back in Europe - but they are all thrilled and relieved that he is safe.

Paul Pestille added that Mr Allen's wife, Lenka, 35, has been able to wake their three children up with the good news that their father is fine and will soon be on his way home.

Reports: The BBC's Frank Gardner, pictured with Mr Allen, said tribal chiefs in the area where he had gone missing has found the explorer near an airstrip

Located: The 57-year-old was found near an airstrip 20 miles northwest of Porgera, Enga Province, and a rescue operation is now in motion

THE LOST TRIBE: WHO ARE THE YAIFO? The Yaifo is thought to be one of the last people on Earth to have no contact with the outside world. Mr Allen was the first outsider to ever make contact with the indigenous tribe, who live in the mountains high above sea level, during a trip to Papua New Guinea 30 years ago. Large areas of New Guinea are still unexplored due to extensive forestation and mountainous terrain, and there are several known tribes with very limited contact with the modern world - the Yaifo is one of them. Very little is known about the tribe, but Mr Allen's agent has indicated that they are 'headhunters' and keep the heads of their enemies as trophies. In a blog post before his departure, Mr Allen wrote: 'No outsider has made the journey to visit them since the rather perilous journey I made as a young man three decades ago. This would make them the remotest people in Papua New Guinea, and one of the last people on the entire planet who are out-of-contact with our interconnected world. 'Last time, the Yaifo greeted me with a terrifying show of strength, an energetic dance featuring their bows and arrows. 'On this occasion who knows if the Yaifo will do the same.' Advertisement

Mr Pestille, 63, who is married to Mr Allen's sister, Katie, 61, said: 'There will be a family fracas when he gets back. His ethos of going without modern technology is a cause for concern.

'We are all just thrilled and excited he's been found. He is a resourceful chap and has done this sort of thing before.

'We were fairly certain he would turn up either with a broken leg or dysentery. But you can be sure my wife will be giving him a severe ticking off.'

Mr Allen's agent Jo Sarsby said: 'At 5pm local time Keith Copley, the coordinating director for New Tribe Mission in Papua New Guinea confirmed in writing that Benedict Allen was safe, well and healthy.

'He is presently located at a remote airstrip 20 miles northwest of Porgera, Enga Province.

'Confirmation on exact location coordinates are now being confirmed in order to arrange evacuation as soon as possible.'

Speaking to The Sun, Mr Copley said it will take 'at least a couple of days' for Mr Allen to get to a point where he can be rescued.

'The problem we have is that communication is really bad so I can't physically speak to him, so the locals he is with are trekking two hours to make calls to me.

'For the moment he is in the best place possible, I know the area where he is very well and I know the hut where he is staying. He will be fine and they have enough rations.'

Good news: The Czech-born wife of missing explorer Benedict Allen, Lenka, with their children, Natalya, ten, Freddie, seven, and Beatrice, two

Last message: Mr Allen posted this image on Twitter on Saturday, the day before he was meant to have boarded a plane home

Speaking to the Daily Mail yesterday before the explorer was found, Lenka Allen, a former nurse, said she had told their children, Natalya, ten, Freddie, seven, and Beatrice, two, that 'Daddy's lost'.

She added: 'The little one, Beatrice, is always saying 'Daddy' and she's trying to telephone him on my mobile, looking at his photo on the screen. They all sense the tension in the flat and they are worried, deep down.

The couple recently moved from their home in Richmond, south-west London, to spend a year living in Prague, where Mrs Allen has been anxiously awaiting news of her husband from the other side of the world.

Mrs Allen explained that while her husband has got lost several times in previous expeditions, he has not done anything 'reckless' since settling down and having children.

'He has been so careful since I married him. He hasn't done anything this scary and slightly reckless  it's the first time that he has gone on his own,' she said.

'He hasn't really shared his plans with me either, or with anyone else, so we don't really know the route he was taking on the way back. It's really scary, that he's done this.

Lenka with the couple's two eldest children, ten-year-old Natalya and seven-year-old Freddie

'I suppose I should have asked for more details but he just made it sound like it's all safe before he went off. He doesn't take modern technology because he thinks it spoils the experience and he can't rely on his knowledge of nature and his abilities because he could always just telephone for a helicopter which is too easy.

'To an extent it makes sense, but it is a dangerous way of exploring.'

Relief: Mr Allen with his wife Lenka

Mrs Pestille said: 'Lenka is being very brave but we are both very cross with him. It is typical of him to go off without GPS  if he had that, people would know where to find him.

'Unfortunately that is not Benedict's style, he likes to do things the hard way.

In a blog post on his website in September, Mr Allen described the Yaifo as 'one of the last people on the entire planet who are out of contact with our interconnected world'.

'In October I'm hiring a helicopter to drop me off at the abandoned mission station, Bisorio - a forlorn place,' he wrote.

'Last time the Yaifo greeted me with a terrifying show of strength, an energetic dance featuring their bows and arrows.

'On this occasion who knows if the Yaifo will do the same, or run off, or be wearing jeans and T-shirts traded eons ago from the old mission station.'

He said he did not have an obvious means of returning home and either had to paddle down river for a week or so, or enlist the help of the Yaifo.

'Just like the good old days, I won't be taking a sat phone, GPS or companion. Or anything else much,' he wrote.

'Because this is how I do my journeys of exploration. I grow older but no wiser, it seems.'
A young mother who gave birth while she was in a coma after being struck down with flu has woken up after three months.

Sarah Hawthorn, 33, is in a stable condition at Alfred Hospital, Victoria, after not having held her baby boy who was born August 28.

'After three months in intensive care, Sarah's condition has improved and she is now stable,' Ms Hawthorn's family said in a statement to The Herald Sun on Thursday.

Sarah Hawthorn (pictured) was fighting for her life after being struck down by the flu in August

Sarah and Robert Hawthorn's (pictured) son was born through emergency six weeks early to give Mrs Hawthorn a fighting chance to survive

Ms Hawthorn is now stable after being in intensive care in a coma for three months after giving birth to her son late August (son not pictured)

'Her son is fit and healthy.

'We've been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community and all the kind wishes we have received.'

Ms Hawthorn had to fight for her life after she was struck down with the flu, while her newborn son spent the first few months of his life without a cuddle from his mother.

Sarah and Rob Hawthorn's son was delivered six weeks early to give Mrs Hawthorn a fighting chance to survive.

The 33-year-old (right) was in a critical condition at Alfred Hospital, Victoria, and hadn't cuddled her baby boy who is now three months old

The Cobram mother, north of Victoria, caught the flu in her later stages of pregnancy, which has lead to other serious medical conditions.

A go-fund-me page was started with more than $30,000 raised which will help the family with travel, accommodation, living and ongoing medical expenses.

Mrs Hawthorn's sister-in-law Rachel Holt told The Border Mail a few months ago the new mother was fit and healthy with 'a cold some would say'.

'She took every vitamin under the sun and did everything by the book during her pregnancy,' Ms Holt said.

'As the week progressed Sarah attended the doctors multiple times only to be sent home.'

The newborn baby was nicknamed 'Bomber Hawk' until his mother wakes up to name him.

Mr Hawthorn has reportedly set up a bedside vigil for his wife (right) in ICU, almost 300 kilometres away from their home

Mr Hawthorn has reportedly set up a bedside vigil for his wife in ICU, almost 300 kilometres away from their home.

'I am in awe of his strength, his courage and his outlook, despite the situation he is facing,' Ms Holt told Herald Sun.

As a prominent member of Cobram Campdraft Club, the club shared their support for Mrs Hawthorn saying she is an 'amazing girl' who is 'very highly valued'.

'She always puts a smile on people's faces with her beautiful personality,' one friend wrote on social media.

Influenza related deaths in Australia 2017 NSW: 218 VICTORIA: 95 TASMANIA: 32 SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 26 Total number of confirmed flu cases in Australia: 170,000 Advertisement

This year's influenza outbreak had more than 2.5 cases compared to last year.

According to ABC's 7.30, NSW was the hardest hit in the country with 218 flu related deaths, followed by Victoria with 95 recorded deaths and Tasmania with 32 recorded flu related deaths.

South Australia had 26 recorded flu related deaths, bringing the nation-wide total to more than 370 deaths with flu-related death figures not available in other states or territories.

There have been more than 170,000 confirmed cases of influenza in the country this year with August the peak month.
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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his wife have been ridiculed online and compared to Bond villains after posing with a sheet of new $1 bills.

Twitter users poked fun at the pair's expensive tastes, with one joking they were shopping for 'bathroom mats' and another calling the sheet of bills, 'their new line of luxury toilet paper.'

The mockery comes just months after Louise Linton was slammed for a gushing Instagram photo taken next to a taxpayer-funded jet.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, right, and his wife Louise Linton, hold up a sheet of new $1 bills,(top) the first currency notes bearing his and U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza's signatures, in a video that received widespread mockery(below)

Mnuchin and US Treasurer Jovita Carranza took a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on Wednesday to see firsthand the production of new $1 bills, the first currency that will bear their signatures.

But Scottish actress Linton stole the show, donning dramatic black leather gloves and a $2,250 long leather skirt on the indoor tour.

She posed behind her husband during a photo shoot for the new bills, laying one gloved hand on the freshly-printed sheet - quickly drawing comparisons to a movie villain.

Tom Nichols wrote: 'Look carefully, Mr. Bond. Flawless. Just like my plan. A pity you won't be here to see it.'

Christina Wilkie asked: 'Why do Treasury Sec Mnuchin and his wife insist on posing for photos that make them look like Bond villains?'

Andrew Weinstein, chair of the Democrats Lawyers Council tweeted: 'I'm starting to get the feeling that Louise Linton may not have married Steven Mnuchin because of his charm, wit, or rugged good looks.'

@iamjoonlee said Linton's leather coat made her look like a Star Wars character, asking: 'Why is louise linton dressed like kylo ren'

And @iamjoonlee said Linton's leather coat made her look like a Star Wars character, asking: 'Why is louise linton dressed like kylo ren.'

Others poked fun at the pair's famously expensive tastes, with John DeVore writing: 'When the 1% shops for bathroom mats.'

Mobute said: 'Sherwin Williams customers were surprised to find Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and wife Elizabeth Bathory shopping for wallpaper.

JordanUhl added: 'Steve Mnuchin and his wife show off their new line of luxury toilet paper.'

And several other users used the image to mock the Republican tax plan, which critics say would mostly benefit high earners and corporations.

@Vagabondium wrote: 'nothing like a friendly reminder of who controls the money - and @stevenmnuchin1 doesn't share well with others #poorstaypoor #hespendsyourtaxdollars #toliveinluxury #noclass.'

Another Twitter user wrote: 'Beautiful photo of Louise Linton with the love of her life and also Steven Mnuchin'

One of the last time Linton accompanied her husband to work her clothes again proved a distraction

In August Linton posted an Instagram picture of herself and new hubby Mnuchin stepping out of a taxpayer-funded plane during his official visit to Fort Knox.

That wouldn't have been a problem, of course, except for Linton's questionable decision to segue from the standard cheerful hashtags to a systematic namedrop of all of the brands in her outfit.

'Great #daytrip to #Kentucky!' she wrote, according to New York Magazine journalist Yashar Ali. '#nicest #people #beautiful #countryside #rolandmouret pants #tomford sunnies #hermesscarf #valentinorockstudheels #valentino'.

She concluded with a perfunctory-looking '#usa'.

That didn't sit well with Instagram user and mother-of-three jennimiller29, who commented: 'Glad we could pay for your little getaway. #deplorable'

And things went downhill from there.

'Cute! [kissing face emoji] Aw!!! Did you think this was a personal trip?!' asked Linton, who had just concluded a Europe-trotting honeymoon with Mnuchin.

'Adorable! Do you think the US Govt paid for our honeymoon or personal travel?'

'Lololol. Have you given more to the economy than me and my husband?' continued the minor TV and movie actress whose husband's net worth was estimated by Forbes to be more than $500 million.

Linton came under fire after tagging up her designer wardrobe on Instagram following a private jet trip with her husband to Fort Knox on the day of the eclipse

The newlyweds held hands as they walked around, through her gloved hand

She accessorized her leather ensemble with a pair of large diamond stud earrings and a side ponytail

'Either as an individual earner in taxes OR in self sacrifice to your country?'

'I'm pretty sure we paid more taxes toward our day 'trip' than you did,' she added - the quote marks around 'trip' being hers, despite the fact that she had hashtagged #daytrip in her initial comment.

'Pretty sure that the amount we sacrifice per year is a lot more than you'd be willing to sacrifice if the choice was yours. [arm flex emoji, kissing face emoji]' she continued.

Linton, who grew up in a castle in Scotland, then told the mother-of-three: 'You're adorably out of touch.'

She then used a heart-eyes emoji before writing, with no apparent irony, 'Thanks for the passive-aggressive nasty comment.'

Afterwards she offered a contrite apology and briefly set her Instagram to private.

The fracas hasn't put a damper on her accompanying her husband to work.

As for the new bills, Mnuchin's signature is decidedly more legible than that of his predecessor Jacob Lew. Lew had handwriting that was so sloppy that former President Barack Obama once joked that unless he made his signature more legible, it might debase the currency.

The new Mnuchin-Carranza notes, which are a new series of 2017, 50-subject $1 notes, will be sent to the Federal Reserve to issue into circulation. Mnuchin's signature is not cursive, in a change

But she didn't Instagram it: She accessorized her left wrist with some outer glove bracelet and the skirt is Michael Kors, retailing for a whopping $2,250. The $450 belt is sold separately

Mrs Mnuchin kept her lips pursed as she held her husband's right hand under hers while they lifted the sheet of uncut $1 bills

Some things change: While her husband is now in Trump's cabinet, in 2007 Linton was pictured (at right) at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton held at Brett Ratner's house

Carranza and Mnuchin examined sheets of the $1 bills at the bureau's Washington printing plant. The currency will be shipped to Federal Reserve regional banks around the country, and the new bills are expected to go into circulation in December.

Both Treasury officials provided 10 sample signatures, from which one was chosen for government engravers.

Signatures of Treasury secretaries have been appearing on U.S. currency since 1914.

During his appearance to examine the new currency, Mnuchin did not address the issue of whether the Trump administration will reverse a decision made by the Obama administration to replace Andrew Jackson, who currently appears on the $20, with Harriet Tubman, the 19th century African-American abolitionist.

During last year's presidential campaign, President Donald Trump criticized the move as 'pure political correctness,' while praising Jackson, the nation's seventh president.

Asked about the possibility of reversing the decision to put Tubman on the $20, Mnuchin in September had said that the major focus was on improving security features to thwart counterfeiters and that the final designs were 'very far in the future.'

The next bill scheduled for re-design is the $10. It will not be released until 2026.

Previously Linton was accused of lying in her 2016 memoir about a volunteering trip to Zambia. She wrote how her 'dream gap year' turned into a 'nightmare' when she had to flee armed rebels from the nearby Democratic Republic of the Congo. But angry Zambians claimed her story is untrue and there are no records of any such invasions.
Theresa May's former chief of staff has warned it is impossible to push through Brexit without shedding 'blood' in the Tory party.

Nick Timothy, who resigned in the wake of the disastrous election campaign, said he believed that rebels threatening to derail the EU Withdrawal Bill would eventually fall into line rather than collapse the government.

But he voiced fears that the consequences for the Conservatives would last way beyond the crucial votes.

Theresa Ma (pictured at PMQs yesterday) played down an increasingly angry row inside and outside the Tory party about the Bill, which has seen rebels labelled 'collaborators'

Rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve (pictured in the Commons yesterday) is demanding changes to proposed powers for ministers to tweak EU laws

MPs tonight rejected a series of amendments to the Brexit legislation last night but the Government majority was slashed to just 12 (pictured is one of the votes being declared)

'The recriminations will not end with the vote. With Europe, Tory wounds are too deep,' Mr Timothy wrote in his Telegraph column.

'There will still, in the end, be blood.'

The warning came after ministers survived a second late night of Commons votes on the key legislation , beating back five more attempts to re-write crucial new laws.

But Tory rebels today vowed to keep up their battle to change the flagship legislation, which aims deliver a smooth Brexit in March 2019.

The Government must still find a way to navigate six more days of parliamentary trench warfare over of its Repeal Bill with defeats looming on at least three issues.

A hard core of Tory rebels is prepared to inflict humiliating defeats on Theresa May on her plan to write the Brexit Day into law, so-called Henry VIII powers for ministers and keeping the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights after Brexit.

BREXIT BILL: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT MPs have started debating on crucial Brexit laws called the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. There are another six days still to schedule - all eights hours each - as MPs look at the laws line by line. Ministers hope to finish all six by Christmas. Each day includes dangerous votes the Government could lose. The most hazardous issues facing ministers are on fixing Brexit Day in law, operation of so-called 'Henry VIII powers' and leaving behind the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The legislation will then be back in the Commons in January for further scrutiny. The whole marathon process must then be repeated in the House of Lords. The Bill must be finished by March 29, 2019. Advertisement

The Government majority was slashed to just 12 last night in the latest series of votes. Tory MPs fought back changes on workers' rights and environmental protection.

Rebel ringleaders Dominic Grieve and Ken Clarke could defeat the Government at will if ministers refuse to make concessions during the remaining line-by-line scrutiny of the laws.

At least 15 Tories, including ex-ministers Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry, have said they are prepared to oppose the Government on crucial issues - enough to consign Mrs May to humiliating defeat.

The group of rebels had an angry showdown with Tory chief whip Julian Smith earlier this week and there are enough of them to inflict a series of humiliating defeats on Theresa May if they are joined by all opposition MPs.

Mr Grieve's group - which also includes former ministers Ken Clarke, Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry - have signalled they will also oppose Mrs May's bid to write the Brexit date onto the face of the new laws.

Ministers insist the EU Withdrawal Bill is necessary to ensure the UK statute book works properly on the first day of Brexit in March 2019 but could be forced to back down to avert defeat in the Commons in the coming weeks.

The most hazardous issues facing ministers are on fixing Brexit Day in law, operation of so-called 'Henry VIII powers' and leaving behind the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Mrs May yesterday played down the increasingly angry row inside and outside the Tory party about the Bill, which has seen rebels labelled 'collaborators' and 'mutineers'.

Former chancellor Ken Clarke (pictured in the Commons yesterday) is among the group of Tory Brexit Bill rebels. The PM's former chief of staff Nick Timothy has warned that 'blood' will be shed in the party over Brexit
Sajid Javid, (pictured) who is in charge of housing policy, attacked the over-60s for resisting change

Baby boomers living mortgage-free stand accused of 'not facing up to the reality' of how the housing crisis affects the young.

Sajid Javid, who is in charge of housing policy, attacked the over-60s for resisting changes needed to kick-start house building.

The Communities Secretary claimed older people had 'no understanding' of the problems and were 'living in a different world'.

But critics said his remarks were 'patronising' and 'divisive'. Speaking in Bristol, the minister piled pressure on Chancellor Philip Hammond to release billions for housing in next week's Budget.

Mr Javid, a frequent critic of so-called Nimbys, said it was time to deliver 'moral justice' for the young  and warned older people they would not be permitted to stand in the way of a massive house building drive.

Figures released yesterday showed a total of 217,350 homes were built last year  the highest level since the financial crisis. But Mr Javid said more were needed, adding: 'What we need now is a giant leap  I still hear from those who say that there isn't a problem with housing  that affordability is only a problem for millennials that spend too much on nights out and smashed avocados.

'It's nonsense. The people who tell me this  usually baby boomers who have long-since paid off their own mortgage  they are living in a different world.

'They're not facing up to the reality of modern daily life and have no understanding of the modern market.'

His intervention was part of a move with Theresa May designed to pressure Mr Hammond into including radical plans for house building in the Budget.

In a separate speech, the Prime Minister vowed to 'fix the broken housing market', saying she had 'made it my mission to build the homes the country needs'.

Home ownership has fallen to a 30-year low, and Mr Javid said the average age of a first-time buyer has risen to 32.

Philip Hammond has been pushing Theresa May (pictured in north London on Thursday) to agree the relaxation of planning rules for the Green Belt

But the Chancellor is still refusing to release the purse strings. In an interview on Wednesday he acknowledged the need to increase house building, but warned there was 'no silver bullet' to achieve it.

Government sources said the Chancellor had rejected Mr Javid's demand for a 50billion cash injection to fund a massive building drive. He is expected to fund more modest measures, including a stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers.

He has warned he cannot tear up his plans for tackling the public finances  meaning any major programme would have to be funded through tax rises.

In an apparent bid to force Mr Hammond to act, Mr Javid said: 'In next week's Budget you'll see just how seriously we take this challenge, just how hard we're willing to fight to get Britain building.'

Mrs May burst out in laughter while visiting Val Lay on her visit to a new housing development in north London on Thursday

He also put 15 councils 'on notice' that they faced direct intervention from the Government unless they come forward with plans for significant house building.

Lib Dem housing spokesman Wera Hobhouse last night criticised Mr Javid for his attack on baby boomers. She said: 'This kind of language is divisive and unnecessarily sets one generation against another. It is patronising to tell those who have worked hard all their lives to buy a home and raise their children that they don't understand the housing market.

Most new homes since 2008 crash The number of new homes in England rose by nearly 220,000 last year, the highest level since the financial crisis. Official figures yesterday showed the total was 217,350 in 2016-17. House builders hailed huge progress, but it is short of the Governments 250,000 target, which experts say is needed just to keep up with demand. The figures showed the biggest chunk of new homes, 40,000, was in London. About 37,000 were in the South East and the fewest, about 10,500, were in the North East. The overall figures were the best since 2008, when the total stood at 223,530. That was followed by a halving of output as many small builders went bust and bigger providers cut back. Stewart Baseley of the Home Builders Federation said the data shows huge progress and the rapid rate at which builders have responded to positive measures from government. But Oxford University professor Danny Dorling said: These homes will not solve the problems  one extra home for every 250 people. Advertisement

'Instead of blaming baby boomers, Sajid Javid should take responsibility for sorting out the housing crisis.' Many Tories believe a massive house building boost is needed if the party is to have any hope of reconnecting with younger voters.

Ex-minister Robert Halfon said: 'Sajid is right in the sense that we desperately need new housing  we desperately need to ensure young people can afford those homes. The problem is that some don't necessarily understand the difficulties younger people have.'

Mr Javid said a generation of young people was 'crying out for help with housing'. He said Britain was in danger of creating a 'rootless generation', who would 'reach retirement with no property to call their own and pension pots that have not been filled because so much of their income has gone on rent'.

He added: 'If, like me, you believe in the importance of a strong, stable family unit  then you must also accept that homes should be made available.'

Mr Hammond has been pushing Mrs May to agree the relaxation of planning rules for the Green Belt. But she vetoed the idea following Tory warnings it would cause a public backlash in key seats.

The latest edition of the English Housing Survey in March shows there were 22.8million households in England. Among the 14.3million owner-occupiers, 7.7million owned their property outright, while 6.6million still had a mortgage.

The Chancellor was handed a 70billion boost as debt held by housing associations was wiped off the Government's books. The associations will be reclassified as private instead of public, meaning they do not have to be included in government accounting. It potentially gives him more wriggle room for Budget giveaways.

Mrs May (pictured with Executive Director of Development for Peabody Dick Mortimer, left, and resident Rita Bowden) said she was 'pleased' by the improved figures
This is the dramatic moment a police car finally rammed burglars off the road after they slammed into their vehicle during a high-speed car chase.

The footage was released after the convictions of Marcus Cameron and Liam Harbour.

The dashcam shows the crooks' getaway car, a dark green Ford Mondeo, reaching speeds of 60mph as it weaves through residential streets and crosses roundabouts in Bury, Greater Manchester.

The dashcam shows the crooks' getaway car, a dark green Ford Mondeo, reaching speeds of 60mph as it weaves through residential streets and crosses roundabouts in Bury, Greater Manchester

The footage shows the police vehicle being rammed a number of times as it headed towards Tottington in Bury.

At one stage, the GMP vehicle rips off the Mondeo's door as the vehicles collide.

A fire extinguisher was set off inside to deter the officers in pursuit and a claw hammer was also thrown at the GMP car.

The footage also captures the moment a stinger device was deployed by police, shredding the Ford's tyres.

At one stage, the GMP vehicle rips off the Mondeo's door as the vehicles collide

The footage also captures the moment a stinger device was deployed by police, shredding the Ford's tyres

It ploughs into a hedgerow as police also used 'tactical contact' to end the pursuit.

Front seat passenger Harbour, wearing gloves and a red hoodie tied up over his face, is shown surrendering with his hands in the air.

Cameron, 28, and Harbour, 31, had burgled the Maze Convenience Store on Brandlesholme Road, Bury, in the early hours of October 17, causing damage worth 5,000.

The patrolling officers were alerted to the shop's alarm and saw the pair running off with cigarettes and cash as they arrived.

Police said the liveried car suffered damage to the tune of 14,000. One officer was also injured.

Harbour, from Breightmet, Bolton, was arrested at the scene. Cameron, of Tonge Moor, Bolton, tried to flee but was tracked by a police helicopter and arrested.

Cameron pleaded guilty to burglary, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

At Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court he was jailed for two years and eight months today (Wednesday, November 15). Harbour admitted burglary and was locked up for 16 months.

The sentencing judge singled out PC Ian Bruce for his diligent work, GMP said.

Chief Inspector Mark Dexter, from GMP's Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, said: 'These men did everything they could to try and evade being arrested, going as far as throwing a hammer out of a window and driving at breakneck speeds. They were prepared to put the lives of others at risk all for cigarettes stolen in a burglary.

'Their actions were reckless, dangerous and could have had devastating consequences.'
The Prime Minster of Lebanon, who is allegedly being 'detained' by Saudi Arabia, has accepted an invitation to meet the French President in Paris, and is expected to leave Riyad 'within 48 hours'.

Saad al-Hariri, 47, suddenly announced his resignation in a statement read from Saudi Arabia earlier this month, a move which saw Beirut accuse Riyad of keeping him under house arrest.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has today said it was Hariri's decision to resign and it will be his decision to decide when to return to Lebanon.

Off to France: 'Resigned' Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri met the French Foreign Minister and has accepted an invitation to come to Paris to meet President Emmanuel Macron

Adel al-Jubeir said Thursday, that although Hariri will go back to Lebanon, he will not do so before he has 'studied the security situation' in the country.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun, who has refused to accept Harari's resignation, said he hopes an official visit to France would put an end to the country's political crisis.

'We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri's acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution,' Aoun said on the official presidential Twitter account.

'I am awaiting the return of Prime Minister Hariri from Paris for us to decide the next step with regards to the government.'

Hariri, 47, met French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Riyadh and was invited to come to Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron.

Hitting back: Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has insisted that he is free to leave Saudi Arabia whenever he likes, and is now set to leave for France within the next 48 hours

'He will come to France and the prince has been informed,' Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks late on Wednesday.

Asked about the date of the visit, Le Drian replied: 'Mr. Hariri's schedule is a matter for Mr. Hariri,' but a source said he is expected to leave Riyadh for France within the next 48 hours.

Yesterday, President Aoun said as there was no reason for Hariri to still be in Saudi Arabia, he therefore considered him 'held and detained' by Riyad,

'Nothing justifies the failure of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to return for 12 days, therefore we consider him to be held and detained, contrary to the Vienna Convention,' Aoun said in a tweet on the official Lebanese presidency account yesterday.

However, Hariri soon used the same medium to respond: 'I want to repeat and affirm that I am perfectly fine and I will return, god willing, to dear Lebanon as I promised you, you'll see,' he wrote on Twitter.

Firm friends: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 11

Hariri resigned as prime minister in a shock declaration read from Saudi Arabia, pitching Lebanon into deep political crisis and pushing the country back to the forefront of a regional struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

At the time, Hariri accused Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of taking over his country and destabilising the broader region.

It led to speculation that he had been coerced to leave his post by Riyad and that he was under de-facto house arrest.

Hariri refuted this in an interview Sunday, saying 'I am free here. If I want to travel tomorrow, I will,' Hariri said.

'I will return to Lebanon very soon,' Hariri said, adding later that he would land in Beirut 'in two or three days' - a promise which he has not kept.

In the interview with his party's own TV channel, Hariri, repeated accusations that that Iran and Hezbollah are interfering in Lebanon.

'We cannot continue in Lebanon in a situation where Iran interferes in all Arab countries, and that there's a political faction that interferes alongside it.

'Maybe there's a regional conflict between Arab countries and Iran. We're a small country. Why put ourselves in the middle?'

Explaining himself: Lebanese watch an interview with resigned prime minister Saad Hariri at a coffee shop in Beirut

A poster of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, hangs beside a roundabout in the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli

Hariri, who also holds Saudi citizenship and whose father made his fortune in Saudi Arabia, said that he wrote his resignation himself and wanted to submit it in Lebanon, 'but there was danger'.

He also appeared to lay down an exit strategy, saying he would be willing to 'rescind the resignation' if intervention in regional conflicts stopped.

'We need to respect the disassociation policy,' Hariri said, referring to an agreement among Lebanese political factions that they would not interfere in Syria's six-year war.

He appeared to be alluding to Hezbollah's military intervention on behalf of the Syrian government, to which Hariri is opposed.

Hariri, a two-time premier, cited fears for his life when he resigned from his post, less than a year after his unity government was formed with Hezbollah.

The Arab League said it would hold an extraordinary meeting on Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss 'violations' by Iran in the region.
A mother-of-four was brutally murdered by her husband after she continued to see a friend he forbade her from visiting, a court has heard.

Sinead Wooding, 26, was found dead in woodland in Leeds earlier this year. Her husband, Akshar Ali, is on trial for her murder.

A court heard this week how Ms Wooding had converted to the Muslim faith before meeting Ali, who she married in an Islamic ceremony in February 2015.

But the couple had a 'volatile' relationship and Ali ordered her not to visit family members and a female friend, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Ali, 27, and his friend Yasmin Ahmed are on trial for murdering Ms Wooding in a knife and hammer attack. The victim's mother-in-law and brother-in-law are accused of helping to dispose of her body.

Sinead Wooding's was found dead with horrific injuries in woodland after she defied her husband's demands, a court heard

Her body was found on Sunday in woods near Alwoodley Crags car park in Leeds in May

The court heard Ms Wooding had started to convert to the Islamic faith and changed her name to Zakirah before she met Ali, who worked on a food stall at Leeds indoor market.

The court heard the couple signed a marriage contract after an Islamic Nikah ceremony in February 2015.

Prosecutor Nicholas Campbell QC: 'It was a volatile and sometimes violent relationship.'

The court heard Ms Wooding and Ali, of Potternewton, Leeds, had argued after drinking during a party on Thursday May 11.

Police searched a number of properties in Leeds after Ms Wooding's body was found

A court heard Sinead's DNA was found on a cellar floor of one the defendant's homes

Her burnt body was then discovered in woodland in the Adel area of Leeds on Sunday May 14.

She had been stabbed several times and struck repeatedly about the head.

A Home Office pathologist concluded several skull fractures were caused by at least one claw hammer.

It is thought that before taking her body into the woods to set it ablaze it was kept for two days in Ahmed's cellar, the court heard.

Prosecutor Mr Campbell said a blood stain on the cellar floor along with numerous blood spots on walls matched Sinead's DNA.

A neighbour spotted two people loading the body of a mother-of-four wrapped in a carpet into a car, a jury was told.

Police teams look in drains during the search for evidence into the mother-of-four's killing

Student Lydia Gunning saw a man and a woman believed to be Ali and his friend Ahmed, dumping the body into the boot of a Volkswagen Golf, the court heard.

Ahmed was then seen driving away from Reginald Mount in Leeds, with Ali in the passenger's seat, the prosecutor said.

Ali and Ahmed both deny murder.

Ali's 45-year-old mother Aktahr Bi, of Leeds, denies assisting an offender by making arrangements to dispose of Sinead Wooding's corpse.

Ali's 21-year-old brother Asim Ali, Leeds, denies assisting an offender by procuring a vehicle and assisting in the disposal and burning of her body.

Yasmin Ahmed's friend Vicky Briggs aged 25, of Leeds, denies assisting an offender by helping clean up and burn material after the murder.

The case continues.
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She is the free-spending First Lady of Zimbabwe who splashed 3million on her daughter's wedding, owns luxury homes around the world and recently paid 300,000 for a Rolls-Royce.

Dubbed 'Gucci' Grace for her love of spending, the wife of deposed dictator Robert Mugabe is renowned for her extravagant purchases and eye-watering shopping trips around the world.

The 52-year-old 'First Lady of Shopping', currently under house arrest with her husband, 93, at their 25-bedroom Blue Roof mansion in Harare following a military coup, has lavished millions on bling, including 200,000 on a diamond-studded headboard.

She is widely loathed in Zimbabwe, where seven in ten are stuck in poverty. The population has been incensed by reports of a lavish lifestyle that once saw her spend 120,000 on one shopping spree in Paris.

The couple's children appear to have acquired their parents' taste for luxury. Their youngest son Chatunga posted a video on Snapchat showing himself pouring 200-a-bottle Armand de Brignac Champagne over a 45,000 watch on a night out in South Africa. He bragged that he owned the timepiece because 'daddy runs the whole country'.

Extravagant: Dubbed 'Gucci' Grace for her love of spending, the wife of deposed dictator Robert Mugabe is renowned for her extravagant purchases and eye-watering shopping trips around the world. She is pictured outside a boutique in Paris in 2003. She is is reported to have once spent 120,000 on one shopping spree in the French city

The 52-year-old 'First Lady of Shopping', currently under house arrest with her husband, 93, at their 25-bedroom Blue Roof mansion in Harare following a military coup, has lavished millions on bling, including 200,000 on a diamond-studded headboard. She is pictured (with red headwear) after leaving a shoe shop in Rome in 2008

Life of luxury: A guffawing Robert Mugabe and his free-spending wife are pictured visiting a hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2008

Flash: Grace Mugabe shows off her jewellery (left) as she arrives for the opening of Parliament in Harare last month. She is pictured, right, with husband Robert in Vietnam in 2001

Her son by her first marriage, Russell Goreraza, took delivery of two Rolls-Royce limousines in September.

Grace, a former chicken seller, began an affair with Robert Mugabe while working as one of his typists and while his first wife, Sally, was terminally ill.

Mugabe's marriage to Grace in 1996, dubbed the 'Wedding of the Century' in Zimbabwe, was an extravagant Catholic affair. And each decade of the old dictator's life was marked with ever more expensive partying  his 90th year being marked by a celebration costing 600,000.

During one bout of retail therapy in Paris in 2002, the First Lady - known in her homeland as the First Shopper - spent more than 120,000 in department stores.

And by 2014 her spending on luxury goods was running at 2 million a year. That year's shopping list included 12 diamond rings, 62 pairs of Ferragamo shoes, 33 pairs made by Gucci and an 80,000 Rolex watch.

After one trip to London, where she stayed in a suite at Claridge's, Mrs Mugabe was asked how she could justify spending so much on designer shoes.

During one bout of retail therapy in Paris in 2002, the First Lady - known in her homeland as the First Shopper - spent more than 120,000 in department stores. She is pictured (in red headwear) leaving a shoe shop in Rome, Italy in 2008

Lavish: The Mugabes were banned from Europe in 2002, depriving Grace of favourite haunts such as Harrods, but she continued to spend in China and the Middle East. She is pictured showing off matching ring and airings at a summit in South Africa

'I have very narrow feet, so I can only wear Ferragamo,' came the reply.

The Mugabes were banned from Europe in 2002, depriving Grace of favourite haunts such as Harrods, but she continued to spend in China and the Middle East.

A diamond ring purchased to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary cost her 900,000, although she later sued the dealer in question for failure to deliver.

In a further act of retaliation, the First Lady threatened to seize the businessman's properties in Zimbabwe  hardly a new tactic for a woman who has managed to 'purchase' no fewer than five dairy farms with funds that simply appeared out of nowhere.

No expense was spared when Mugabe's only daughter, Bona, married in 2014.

Grace Mugabe showed off her luxury clothing as she appeared at the Fashion 4 Development's 7th Annual First Ladies Luncheon at The Pierre Hotel in New York City in September. She is pictured, right, with the First Lady of Turkey Emine Erdogan

There are claims that the money funding this lifestyle came from the country's diamonds. Like other members of the ruling clique in Zimbabwe, the Mugabes take their share of proceeds from the Marange diamond fields near the Mozambique border

Red carpet: Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace arrive at the Palais de l'Elysee in Paris, before an official dinner in February 2003 (left). Right: The couple looks at his birthday cake during a party at his official residence in Harare in 2007

Mugabe's marriage to Grace in 1996, dubbed the 'Wedding of the Century' in Zimbabwe, was an extravagant Catholic affair. And each decade of the old dictator's life was marked with ever more expensive partying  his 90th year being marked by a celebration costing 600,000

It is estimated that some 3 million was spent on the ceremony, including 500,000 to upgrade the road leading to the venue, a country club. Some 4,000 guests attended.

There are claims that the money funding this lifestyle came from the country's diamonds. Like other members of the ruling clique in Zimbabwe, the Mugabes take their share of proceeds from the Marange diamond fields near the Mozambique border.

The mining operation there is run in co-operation with the Chinese and heavily guarded. But the estimated 800 billion worth of stones in Marange have so far failed to benefit ordinary Zimbabweans.

The couple's children appear to have acquired their parents' taste for luxury. Their youngest son Chatunga posted a video on Snapchat showing himself pouring 200-a-bottle Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Champagne (right) over a 45,000 watch (left) on a night out in South Africa

The eldest son of Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe is said to have imported two Rolls Royce limousines into the bankrupt country. Russell Goreraza, 33, offloaded the two luxury cars at Harare International Airport from a plane in September

Robert Mugabe's son Chatunga Bellarmine filmed himself pouring hundreds of pounds worth of champagne over his diamond-encrusted wristwatch

The footage, filmed in a nightclub, shows Chatunga (right) enjoying a life of unimaginable wealth while almost three quarters of the country lives below the poverty line
Britain's powerful Intelligence and Security Committee is facing calls to probe claims Russia interfered in the EU referendum today.

The intelligence watchdog is due to finally be set up this afternoon after months on hiatus around the snap election.

And MPs today said its first task should be to examine allegations Russian 'troll factories' bombarded UK voters with anti-EU propaganda in the run up to the referendum last year.

Prime Minister Theresa May used a major speech on Monday night to warn the Kremlin Britain was aware of its activities abroad.

Labour MP Mary Creagh (file image left)used Prime Minister's Questions to demand Theresa May (pictured right during weekly contest yesterday) the committee get up and running

Prime Minister Theresa May used a major speech on Monday night to warn the Vladimir Putin (pictured yesterday in Istra) that Britain was aware of Russian activities abroad.

Labour MP Mary Creagh used Prime Minister's Questions to demand the committee get up and running.

She said: 'The Foreign Secretary told this House that he has seen no evidence of Russian interference in UK elections or the referendum.

'Yet on Monday the Prime Minister warned Russia not to meddle in western democracies, and today there are reports that fake Russian Twitter accounts churned out thousands of messages in an attempt to influence the EU referendum result.

'Has the Foreign Secretary been kept in the dark on the intelligence? Has he not read it, or is he wilfully blind?'

Addressing Mrs May directly, she said: 'Will you now stop dragging her feet and set up the Intelligence and Security Committee to look urgently into the Kremlin's attempts to undermine our democracy?'

Mrs May replied that the committee was due to be established later that day - but insisted her warning on Monday night had not been about interference in Britain.

Earlier this week, Labour's Ben Bradshaw called on ministers to 'come clean' about what they know and launch a fully independent inquiry.

He told the Mirror: 'In the face of mounting evidence of Kremlin interference in the Referendum we now have several investigations - but none have the power to get to the truth fast.'

Dominic Grieve, the former Tory Attorney General, is expected to be re-appointed as chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee

Dominic Grieve, the former Tory Attorney General, is expected to be re-appointed as chairman of the committee if a Commons motion is passed tonight.

He will be joined by Labour MPs Caroline Flint, Kevan Jones and David Hanson, Tories Keith Simpson and Richard Benyon and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.

All of the committee members are security vetted to ensure they can be given access to secret documents.

In a parallel inquiry, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee is investigating the role of Russian-funded advertising on social media platforms such as Facebook.

Committee chair Damian Collins last month wrote to Facebook for evidence 'on the role of foreign actors abusing platforms such as yours to interfere in the political discourse of other nations'.
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Britain's first property website specialising in selling ex-council houses has been created to meet the rising demand for 'Cinderella' homes.

While former local authority homes were once shunned by prospective buyers they are now growing in popularity.

Now the portal Ex-Council.com has been launched to put buyers in contact with estate agents which have former council houses on their books.

The most expensive on the website is a three-bedroom end of terrace in Hampstead, north London, which is valued at 950,000, while the cheapest is a two-bedroom first floor flat in Girvan, south Ayrshire for just 35,000.

The website's research shows there are 2.7 million ex-council properties in the UK - equating to more than one in ten homes.

The cheapest property available on Ex-Council.com is a two-bedroom first floor flat Girvan, south Ayrshire, yours to buy for just 35,000

The home lives up to its price tag when you venture inside, with cheap furniture and a filthy mattress among the decor found within the master bedroom

The home's budget bathroom is low on features, with no bath available and limited shelving. An asking price of just 35,000 makes it more than twice as cheap as the average deposit needed to buy a house in London

The site's research found that ex-council properties houses are better priced than other properties with many selling for up to 15 per cent cheaper

The website's research shows there are 2.7 million ex-council properties in the UK - equating to more than one in ten homes

The company's research has also shown that Harlow in Essex is the ex-council house heartland, with 29 per cent of available former local authority property in its stock.

Meanwhile, Crawley in West Sussex has a total of 5,296 ex-council homes - the highest number in the country.

Mal McCallion, business development manager of Ex-Council.com, said they got the idea of the portal after they realised the ex-council house sector was being ignored.

Keen to tap into this market, the team spent 12 months building up information and contacts which have now come together.

Mr McCallion said: 'Former local authority homes have spent years being unloved and under-valued. From our point of view however, ex-council housing is actually the "Cinderella Sector" of the property market.

'There is something for everyone from our 1million houses to are very cheapest ones. We sell three and four bed houses and we sell small apartments.

'About a year ago we looked at what types of properties were not getting the attention they deserved and were pretty shocked at how much ex-council properties were slipping under the radar.

'Since then we've been really kind to utilise that and have been stealth mode really. We've got a tight team and we've been working really hard doing our research on the sector.

At a cost price close to 1million, there is no doubt that this home in Hampstead is among the most luxurious former council properties on the UK market

This three-bedroom, end of terrace home in leafy Hampstead, north London,has been valued at 950,000 -making it the most expensive former council-owned property available on Ex-Council.com

It will come at no surprise that this home is on the market for nearly 1million, considering its large garden that has been landscaped to include generous decking area and pristine hedges

Inside the 950,000 home there is laminate flooring and large French doors connecting the sitting and dining area with the property's generously-sized garden

The stunning house's kitchen comes with lots of surface space for preparing meals, with views out onto the garden's decking area, which would allow any potential owner to indulge in some al-fresco dining

'We've been focusing our research down to really localised levels so we can even know how prevalent these properties are in specific postcode areas.

'We've had a lot of interest from estate agents who are interested in getting involved and that is because it is a really wide market.

The site's research found that ex-council properties houses are better priced than other properties with many selling for up to 15 per cent cheaper.

Mr McCallion said: 'Prices vary depending on where in the country you are but if you're buying a two or three bed family home the savings could be huge.

'The homes are usually larger than their non-council counterparts because they were built in the 1960s and 1970s when land wasn't the priority it is today and investors like them because they return high-yields.

'They can sell for between 10 per cent and 15 per cent less than other homes - which means that they are an affordable alternative for first-time buyers, and for some people, their only way into a desirable area.'

The portal Ex-Council.com has been launched to put buyers in contact with estate agents with former council houses on their books
A hero father who rushed into the flames of a raging fire to save his young children has spoken of the horrific ordeal after one of the boys died from his injuries.

Nathan Perry, 34, was asleep at his home in the Queensland town of Weranga on Tuesday night before he woke to find his house filled with smoke and his sons' bedroom on fire.

As Jeremy, three, and four-year-old Blade became engulfed in flames, Mr Perry ran through the blaze to pull his children to safety.

'I knew it was a fire straight away I guess I made a mistake by opening the door and letting the air in and that's when it went berserk,' Mr Perry told Nine News.

'I had to run through the flames and drag the children out. I did what I could. I feel like I failed with Blade because he didn't make it.

As Jeremy (left), three, and four-year-old Blade (right) became engulfed in flames, their father Nathan Perry ran through the blaze to save his children. Blade tragically later died

Mr Perry, 34, was asleep at his home in the Queensland town of Weranga on Tuesday before he woke to find his house full of smoke and his sons' bedroom ablaze

'It was the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life. I don't even want to think about it. It's going to haunt me forever.'

All three were rushed to hospital before Mr Perry, who suffered horrific burns to his arms, legs and face, was released to be with his sons.

On Wednesday, the heartbreaking decision was made to turn off Blade's life-support. He died soon after.

'My little mate, he was my best friend - he was everything to me. I'm heartbroken... the world is never going to be the same again,' Mr Perry said.

The two brothers (pictured) were airlifted from the home in Wangera to Lady Cilento Hospital

The boys' grieving mother Tamika Frid (pictured) described the tragedy as 'the worst day of her life'

On Wednesday, the heartbreaking decision was made to turn off Blade's life-support. He died soon after. The brothers are pictured resting together

The boys' grieving mother Tamika Frid described the tragedy as 'the worst day of her life'.

'I wish everything was just a dream and we can we just wake up and everything will just be better again,' she said.

'Always tell you kids you love them and give them as many hugs as you can because you don't know what will happen the next day.'

Jeremy is fighting for his life in hospital and is in an induced coma with burns to 90 per cent of his body.

Investigations are continuing to determine what caused the blaze.

'My little mate, he was my best friend - he was everything to me. I'm heartbroken,' Mr Perry said

Jeremy (pictured) remains in hospital in an induced coma with burns to 90 per cent of his body

Investigations are continuing to determine what caused the blaze which killed Blade and left Jeremy fighting for life




A junior Catholic priest from Kenya has been forced to surrender his passport after being charged with stealing more than $1000 from a charity.

Father Alexander Mutua Munyao is accused of stealing from the Lismore Diocese in northern New South Wales.

He has been charged with stealing $270 between November and June this year, and another $870 in July - with both amounts adding up to $1140.

Father Alexander Mutua Munyao is accused of stealing $1140 between November and July

The 35-year-old priest, who was charged on September 19, appeared in Ballina Local Court on Thursday morning before magistrate Robyn Denes for a first mention, The Northern Star reported.

Munyao remains on bail and has been ordered to surrender his passport.

His conditions also require him to observe a curfew and remain at the St Francis Xavier presbytery in Ballina.

Police bail papers noted he had 'few community ties and no family ties in Australia'.

His case was adjoured until November 30.
The long-lost Leonardo da Vinci painting 'Salvator Mundi', which sold for a record-smashing $450.3 million (342million) on Wednesday might not be authentic, art critics have said.

The painting, which once sold for just $60 (45) at auction because experts thought it was by one of his students, fetched more than four times over the Christie's pre-sale estimate of about $100million (76million) Wednesday night.

But New York magazine art critic Jerry Saltz and others have expressed 'big doubts' over the painting's authenticity.

Salvator Mundi, an ethereal portrait of Jesus Christ by Leonardo da Vinci which dates to about 1500, has sold for a record-smashing $450.3 million (342million)

New York magazine art critic Jerry Saltz (pictured) and others have expressed 'big doubts' over the painting's authenticity

'The painting is absolutely dead,' he wrote in a column, while admitting he isn't an 'art historian or any kind of expert in old masters'.

He added: 'Its surface is inert, varnished, lurid, scrubbed over, and repainted so many times that it looks simultaneously new and old.'

Saltz said that the painting had been painted over so many times, that hardly any of the work that can be seen belonged to the original artist.

He wrote: 'Not only does it look like a dreamed-up version of a missing da Vinci, various X-ray techniques show scratches and gouges in the work, paint missing, a warping board, a beard here and gone, and other parts of the painting obviously brushed up and corrected to make this probable copy look more like an original.'

The art critic noted that there are only 15 to 20 known and existing da Vinci paintings in the world - none of which are forward facing.

'Not a single one of them pictures a person straight on like this one,' he said. 'There is also not a single painting picturing an individual Jesus either. All of his paintings, even single portraits, depict figures in far more complex poses.'

Art adviser Todd Levin said in a now-deleted Instagram post called the 500-year-old painting a 'sham' and a 'mockery'.

The oil on wood panel painting, Salvator Mundi, depicts Christ with his right hand raised in blessing and his left hand holding a globe.

Christie's auctioneer Jussi Pylkannen, taps the gavel as he ends bidding at $400 million for the painting at Christie's, Wednesday

Commissioned by Louis XII of France in 1506, it later ended up in possession of Charles I of England and following his execution it went to Charles II and it remained in London for 400 years.

It eventually ended up in the collection of Sir Francis Cook and in 1958 it was sold by Sotheby's for just $60 after it was wrongly attributed to a student of Da Vinci called Giovanni Boltraffio.

Robert Simon Fine Art in New York, along with a consortium of art dealers, are thought to have acquired the painting at a clearance sale in 2004 for $10,000.

Simon and his partners flew in an international panel of art experts who assessed the work, which had been heavily overpainted, and gone dark and gloomy during years of neglect.

After it was cleaned up, the experts agreed it had not been done by the pupil, but the master himself, da Vinci, and went on display to the public at the National Gallery in London in 2011.

Paris-based dealer, Yves Bouvier purchased the work at a Sotheby's private sale for $77 million in 2013.

The dealer once represented Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, 50, who has accused him of cheating him out of $1 billion by misrepresenting sale prices on some 38 artworks - including the sale of the da Vinci when Rybolovlev acquired it for $127 million.

The oligarch's sale on Wednesday marks his biggest ever.

Members of Christie's staff admire the work - the last privately owned Leonardo da Vinci painting

Author Philip Hook, who is Sotheby's senior international specialist in Impressionist and Modern art, said while a lot of re-painting had taken place, 'passages of it' are Da Vinci.

He said there's 'quite a lot of painting by Leonardo, but, over time, it has had to be restored, and now quite a lot of it is later restorers' paint, so it's not in an absolutely pristine state. There are passages of it by Leonardo; enough passages for it to be sold as a Leonardo'.

Experts in the art field, however, have been more diplomatic about their claims, arguing that while it has been repainted several times, the original work was likely a Da Vinci.

Restoration expert Jennifer L Mass told ArtNet that it's 'not unusual' for old pieces to have been re-painted.

'In general, when you walk through a collection, about 80 percent of what you see is the work of the artists and 20 percent is the hand of the restorers and the conservators who have worked on the paintings over the years,' she said.

She added: 'It's not unusual for paintings to have some degree of very appropriate in-painting and that is simply something that you would expect for a work of art that's several hundred years old.'

'Salvator Mundi' - Italian for 'Savior of the World' - was purchased by an unidentified buyer bidding via telephone after a protracted bidding war that stretched to nearly 20 minutes at New York's Christie's auction house on Wednesday.

It was more than twice the old auction record set by Pablo Picasso's painting 'Women of Algiers (Version O)' ('Les Femmes D'Alger) which sold for $179.4 million in May 2015, also at Christie's in New York.

Bidding representatives react after Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi' sold for $400 million at Christie's

The highest known sale price for any artwork had been $300 million for Willem de Kooning's painting 'Interchange,' which was sold privately in September 2015 by the David Geffen Foundation to hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin.

During Wednesday's auction, a backer of the 'Salvator Mundi' auction had guaranteed a bid of at least $100 million, the opening bid of the auction, which ran for 19 minutes. The price hit $300 million about halfway through the bidding.

The history of Salvator Mundi Da Vinci painted the picture 500 years ago following a commission from Louis XII of France in 1506 and he finished it seven years later. The image of Christ giving his blessing to the world was a popular subject in French and Flemish art and the half-length pose is typical of the Renaissance era. During its long history the painting also ended up in the possession of Charles I of England and following his execution it went to Charles II and it remained in London for 400 years. It eventually ended up in the collection of Sir Francis Cook and in 1958 it was sold by Sotheby's for just 45 and attributed to a student of Da Vinci called Giovanni Boltraffio. Robert Simon Fine Art in New York are thought to have acquired the painting at a clearance sale in 2004. Paris-based dealer, Yves Bouvier - purchased the work at a Sotheby's private sale for $77 million in 2013. Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, later acquired it from Bouvier for $127 million. It was sold at auction in New York for a record breaking $450.3 million. Advertisement

People in the auction house gallery applauded and cheered when the bidding reached $300 million and when the hammer came down on the final bid, $400 million. The record sale price of $450 million includes the buyer's premium, a fee paid by the winner to the auction house.

The 26-inch-tall Leonardo painting dates from around 1500 and shows Christ dressed in Renaissance-style robes, his right hand raised in blessing as his left hand holds a crystal sphere.

Its path from Leonardo's workshop to the auction block at Christie's was not smooth. Once owned by King Charles I of England, it disappeared from view until 1900, when it resurfaced and was acquired by a British collector. At that time it was attributed to a Leonardo disciple, rather than to the master himself.

The painting was sold again in 1958 and then was acquired in 2005, badly damaged and partly painted-over, by a consortium of art dealers who paid less than $10,000 (8,445 euros). The art dealers restored the painting and documented its authenticity as a work by Leonardo.

The painting was sold Wednesday by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who bought it in 2013 for $127.5 million (108 million euros) in a private sale that became the subject of a continuing lawsuit.

Christie's said most scholars agree that the painting is by Leonardo, though some critics have questioned the attribution and some say the extensive restoration muddies the work's authorship.

Christie's capitalized on the public's interest in Leonardo, considered one of the greatest artists of all time, with a media campaign that labeled the painting 'The Last Da Vinci.' The work was exhibited in Hong Kong, San Francisco, London and New York before the sale.

In New York, where no museum owns a Leonardo, art lovers lined up outside Christie's Rockefeller Center headquarters on Tuesday to view 'Salvator Mundi.'

Svetla Nikolova, who is from Bulgaria but lives in New York, called the painting 'spectacular.'

'It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience,' she said. 'It should be seen. It's wonderful it's in New York. I'm so lucky to be in New York at this time.'
A man infatuated with a girl in India has burnt her to death after she refused his proposal, leaving her mother and sister battling for their lives in hospital.

Victim Induja Mugam, 22, a promising engineering student from Chennai in southern India, had been stalked by former classmate Akash, 22, for over a month.

On Monday night at 8.45pm, Induja was at home with her mother Renuka Mugam, 44, and sister Nivedha Mugam, 21, when the the doorbell rang.

As it was late Induja didn't open the door but called out. Akash stood outside and insisted he wanted to talk.

Victim Induja Mugam (pictured), 22, a promising engineering student from Chennai in southern India, had been stalked by former classmate Akash, 22, for over a month

Initially Induja refused to open the door but eventually she agreed to talk. But as soon as she opened the door Akash (pictured) poured petrol over her and lit a lighter before she became engulfed in flames

Induja's father, Shan Mugam, 45, who works in Canada, was informed of the incident over the phone and immediately got on a flight. He landed in India yesterday to perform the burial rituals for his daughter. His mother, Renuka Mugam (right), is in a critical condition after the attack. Left: The house after the attack, with burned shoes in the foreground

Initially Induja refused to open the door but eventually she agreed to talk. But as soon as she opened the door Akash poured petrol over her and lit a lighter before she became engulfed in flames.

Renuka and Nivedha rushed to help her. Neighbours heard the screams and also rushed over but Akash quickly fled.

All three were rushed to Kilpauk Medical Hospital, but Induja was declared dead on arrival.

Both Renuka and Nivedha were rushed into intensive care with 49 per cent and 23 per cent burns respectively.

Dr Ashiq, duty medical officer at Kilpauk Medical Hospital, said: 'Mother and daughter were in a bad way on arrival. Mother was critical.

'Since they were admitted both have been moved to a different hospital and [are] currently being treated there. They're battling for their lives.'

Induja's father, Shan Mugam, 45, who works in Canada, was informed of the incident over the phone and immediately got on a flight. He landed in India yesterday to perform the burial rituals for his daughter.

Family friend Arul Nagrajan, 43, said: 'We are still in shock by the incident. Shan is devastated. We have lost a daughter. Her mother is still critical and is battling for her life. And her sister is scarred forever.

'We were looking for a groom for Induja but she wasn't interested in him. She made it clear. He has left everyone in shock and pain. Akash should be given the strictest punishment; he has ruined our family. He needs to be hanged.'

Dr Ashiq, duty medical officer at Kilpauk Medical Hospital, said: 'Mother and daughter were in a bad way on arrival. Mother was critical'. Pictured: The house of the victims

A special team was deployed to find Akash, who was eventually arrested on Tuesday morning as he waited for a bus at Adambakkam bus stand.

Inspector S Murli, of Adambakkam Police Station, said: 'The family has alleged that Akash was in love with Induja and had harassed her for a long time. He had allegedly proposed which she refused.

'The victim's father works abroad and was not at home when the incident happened so Akash grabbed the opportunity to attack the women in the house. He has been arrested and has confessed to the crime.'

Akash has been arrested under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and will remain in police custody until a date is set for the trial.
A man from south-east China reportedly had a padlock stuck in his bladder after inserting it into his penis.

The small lock was said to have travelled down the man's urethra, the passageway between the bladder and the external part of the body.

Doctors are set to cut an opening on the patient's bladder to have the object removed in days to come.

The man, 31, was taken to the hospital after his family found out he had stuck a lock in his penis

According to Pear Video, the man inserted the lock into his body at his home in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, on November 14.

The man, whose name has not been revealed, apparently told the doctor that he had a habit of 'playing with his sexual organ'.

An X-ray photo shows a complete padlock stuck inside his the bladder.

An X-ray photo clearly shows a complete padlock stuck inside the man's bladder

Doctor said surgeons will make an incision at the man's bladder in order to remove the lock

A neurosurgeon told Pear Video that the patient would require a surgical operation to have the padlock removed.

The operation is scheduled to take place in days to come.

'Basic check-ups are completed,' said the doctor.

He then added: 'We will make an incision at his bladder and take the padlock out from his body.'
Respected surgeon Hugh Cox, 61, took his own life after being anxious about his retirement, an inquest heard

An expert surgeon regarded as a 'consummate professional' by his colleagues took his own life over anxiety about his impending retirement.

Hugh Cox, 61, described as an intelligent gentleman who 'always went the extra mile for all those he cared for', worked as an ear, nose and throat consultant and was a skilled head and neck surgeon at Poole Hospital, Dorset.

His wife said he had made the 'difficult' decision to retire and was feeling worried about his future shortly before his death, an inquest heard.

On June 20 this year he drove to Ringstead Bay, near Weymouth, and injected himself with 'excessive levels' of morphine and codeine and took paracetamol.

He then walked into the sea and drowned himself.

The day before he had spent time with his family and Mr Cox seemed calm. He kept himself busy in the evening but was unable to relax, the inquest heard.

Concerns for Mr Cox's well-being when he failed to turn up for work on June 20.

Once the alarm had been raised his wife, Lynne Cox, discovered a note he had left detailing his suicidal intentions.

His car was found at Ringstead Bay with keys, a mobile phone and syringe discovered on the front tyre.

His body was found and recovered several days later by a fishing vessel off the Isle of Wight.

A post-mortem examination confirmed Mr Cox died from drowning and had 'excessive levels' of morphine, codeine and paracetamol in his system.

Mr Cox injected himself with 'excessive levels' of morphine and codeine and took paracetamol and then walked into the sea at Ringstead Bay, Dorset (pictured)

Mr Cox trained at the Westminster Hospital in London, with surgical training including the Royal Marsden.

His first consultant post was in the Royal Navy, including honorary consultancies at Portsmouth and Southampton University Hospitals.

He first came to Dorset in 1999 and joined Poole Hospital to develop his head and neck interest in 2001.

Work colleagues described him as a 'consummate professional'.

But the Bournemouth inquest heard Mr Cox had previously suffered with anxiety in November 2011 and had also visited his GP complaining of a recurrence shortly before his death.

Mr Cox's colleagues at Poole Hospital in Dorset, regarded him as an as an 'exceptional surgeon, colleague, mentor and friend'

A coroner heard that the doctor had spoken for some time of his worry regarding his retirement and his wife also said her husband's decision to retire had been a difficult one.

Colleague Dr Emma King, also of Poole Hospital, described him as an 'exceptional surgeon, colleague, mentor and friend'.

Mrs King said: 'He as a consummate professional, and held in such high regard by so many of us, colleagues and patients alike.

'Hugh was a team player, and both sought and valued other team members' opinion.

He was a consummate professional, and held in such high regard by so many of us, colleagues and patients alike Dr Emma King

'He was a great teacher, happy to spend time encouraging and teaching in a kind and thoughtful way.

'As a registrar I once phoned him to let him know that a slightly challenging patient, who was known to enjoy a tipple or two, had absconded from the ward following major surgery.

'There was a brief pause, as there often was when I spoke to Hugh, then he told me not to worry, the patient would be back soon as it was almost closing time.'

The Dorset coroner, Rachael Griffin, described Mr Cox as an intelligent gentleman, who 'always went the extra mile for all those he cared for.'

She recorded a verdict of suicide.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
Labour would not spend a penny preparing for a no deal Brexit, shadow chancellor John McDonnell claimed today.

The comments will leave Labour open to the charge it could be blackmailed by Europe if it were running the Brexit negotiations.

Theresa May has insisted Britain must be ready to walk away from the talks without a deal or there is no incentive for Brussels to compromise.

Mr McDonnell's remarks also came as he called for the Chancellor to push up government spending on public services by 17billion a year.

Labour would not spend a penny preparing for a no deal Brexit, shadow chancellor John McDonnell (pictued making a pre-Budget speech today) has claimed

The Treasury has already spent 250million on no deal contingency plans and is prepared to spend hundreds of millions more if necessary.

But Mr McDonnell insisted today it would 'waste resources' because Labour would not countenance failure to secure a good Brexit deal.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'What we have said all the way along is that we think we can get a good deal.

'That means we don't have to waste resources on preparing for a no deal.'

Asked whether that meant that Labour would not set money aside for the task if the party was in power, he replied: 'We don't think we need to set money aside because we can get a good deal which will maintain tariff free access, allow our economy to grow and work in a new collaborative relationship with our European Union partners, our European partners.

'The reason that the Government is having to set money aside no matter what the sums are is because a number of them in that Cabinet are planning for a no deal.

'Some of them want us to be a tax haven off the edge of continental Europe and are willing to sacrifice our manufacturing base. We are not willing to tolerate that.'

Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street yesterday) has insisted Britain must be ready to walk away from the talks without a deal or there is no incentive for Brussels to compromise.

McDonnell also said a Labour government would spent an additional 17billion a year as he called for an 'emergency budget' to alleviate the crisis in public services.

He said the money should go on the NHS, education and local government, and ending the public sector pay cap.

'Now is the time to borrow while interest rates are so low,' he said.

Chief Secretary Liz Truss claimed Mr McDonnell's plans would put the economy at risk

However the Govenrment warned that Labour's plans would meaner higher taxes putting the economy at risk.

Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss said: 'The shadow chancellor has today admitted Labour would borrow billions more and hike up taxes to record levels.

'The costs would rack up and up, putting economic growth at risk and hitting ordinary working people in the pocket.'

Mr McDonnell said Labour would put an end to tax giveaways to wealthy corporations while raising 6.5 billion through clamping down on tax avoidance.

'This is a wealthy country, one of the richest in the world. But that wealth is held in too few hands, and spent for too little purpose,' he said.

'Even as they have been cutting public services to the bone, they have been offering huge giveaways to the mega-rich and giant corporations.

'Tax cuts introduced for both since 2010, including corporation tax and capital gains tax, will cost us over 70 billion over the next five years. Every single penny lost in these tax cuts means less money for our public services.'

Mr McDonnell's dismissal of spending on 'no deal' prompted fury among Tory Brexiteers, many of who believe a no deal Brexit is looking increasingly likely.

Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough and prominent Leave campaigner, told the Telegraph: 'Anyone looking objectively would see that there probably isn't going to be a deal and I think it is highly unlikely.

'We have to prepare for a no deal situation and some of us think that no deal is far preferable to anything that we have heard from the EU so far.

'The idea that Her Majesty's Opposition is not preparing for something that is a significant possibility is totally irresponsible.'
A fundamentalist Muslim preacher from western Sydney says Australia's acceptance of homosexuality is encouraging sex with animals, paedophilia and incest.

Hardline Sunni teacher Nassim Abdi delivered his rant about gay people, on the same day the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a 61.6 per cent national Yes vote for redefining marriage.

The Sharia law advocate also described homosexuality as a worse kind of sin than extramarital adultery because it was 'unnatural'.

Sunni fundamentalist Nassim Abdi linked the acceptance of homosexuality with bestiality, incest and paedophilia

'If you get to a level where you accept homosexuality, what is there not to accept?,' he said on Wednesday.

The Islamic morals campaigner from the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association equated homosexuality with humans having sexual relations with animals.

'Why it is wrong if a man can come to a man than a man can't go to an animal?,' he asked.

'You see the spread of this in societies when bestiality and a human being committing fornication with animals is on the rise and in some countries legal.'

The preacher, who adheres to an extreme Salafist version of Islam derived from Saudi Arabia, also linked society's acceptance of homosexuality with paedophilia.

'The homosexual says this is my natural inclination because I was born like this,' he said.

The Salafist preacher said men who shaved their beards were sinful and would turn gay

'The paedophile says I was born like this. I like young children.

'Their values have gone. Why? Because they accept homosexuality.

'You see the increase in paedophilia where men or even women will go to young children because there's no barrier any more.

'Why can't I be attracted to the young boy or the young girl?'

The Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association hosts this preacher who links gays with incest

Mr Abdi's fundamentalist Sunni organisation has a mosque at Auburn.

This suburb falls within the federal safe Labor electorate of Blaxland, which delivered a 74 per cent No vote to gay marriage, the highest in Australia.

Auburn, a suburb where 43 per cent of its residents are Muslim, is now considered to be one of the most socially conservative districts in Australia.

As part of his 52-minute rant, he linked society's acceptance of homosexuality with incest.

'What is there to stop a person  committing incest?,' he asked.

'Mother and son, brother and sister and unfortunately this is also on the rise.

'Before it was always hidden.

'Never acceptable for a person to say, "I sleep with my sister" or "I sleep with my mother".

The fundamentalist, who has previously chastised women for showing their ears in public or plucking their eyebrows, said homosexuality was a worse sin than heterosexual adultery.

'Homosexuality is worse. As for a man and a man or a woman and a woman this is an unnatural act,' he said. 'And things which are not natural have far worse of a sin.

'No one committed the filth like them.'

Mr Abdi said he remembered a time before homosexuality was accepted in Australia.

'He wasn't even allowed to have feminine tendencies,' he said.

'Even when I was a little bit younger, that a person, a non-Muslim, was to wear an earring in the right ear, then this was a sign that he was a homosexual and this person would be beaten.'
Pope Francis has rebuked those who deny the science behind global warming, warning world leaders against listening to to such 'perverse attitudes'.

Francis issued a message to the climate change meeting in Bonn, Germany, and called climate change 'one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing.'

He urged negotiators to take action free of political or economic pressures, and to accelerate efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Stern words: Pope Francis called denying global warming a 'perverse attitude' in a message to leaders gathered in Bonn

The gathering in Bonn is working to implement the 2015 Paris accord aimed at capping global emissions.

Francis didn't cite any countries by name, but the United States has announced it is withdrawing from the Paris accord.

President Donald Trump has also nominated several people in his administration who question scientists' conclusions that human activity is behind the global rise in temperatures.

At the same time, the U.S. administration has promoted the use of fossil fuels like coal for U.S. energy needs.

No need for names: While Francis didn't cite any countries by name, Donald Trump has announced the United States is withdrawing from the Paris accord

In his landmark 2015 environmental encyclical, Francis said global warming is 'mainly' due to human activity and he called for fossil fuels to be progressively phased out without delay.

In his message, the Argentine pope denounced that efforts to combat climate change are often frustrated by those who deny the science behind it or are indifferent to it, those who are resigned to it or think it can be solved by technical solutions, which he termed 'inadequate.'

'We must avoid falling into these four perverse attitudes, which certainly don't help honest research and sincere, productive dialogue,' he said.
Fouzia Khatun (pictured), 23, hoped to work at The English Playgroup in the Muslim-majority Gulf state - where she felt she would be 'more accepted' than in the UK

A British Muslim who applied for a job as a nursery teacher in Kuwait was told she would have to remove her hijab because it is 'an English school'.

Fouzia Khatun, 23, hoped to work at The English Playgroup in the Muslim-majority Gulf state - where she felt she would be 'more accepted' than in the UK.

But after applying for the job, she got an email from the school's HR staff reading: 'Parents don't want their children taught by covered teachers. It is an English school'.

It added that Fouzia would not be allowed to wear her headscarf on the premises if she wanted the job at the fee-paying school - and that this was 'non negotiable'.

The English Playgroup Educational Company has since claimed the comments were 'by a new employee' and said it 'proudly employs' hijab-wearing staff.

The school's website said children are 'taught by the very best trained English specialist teachers' using the 'English National Curriculum'.

Fouzia, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who currently works as a teaching assistant, said the email was 'offensive'.

She said: 'When I received that via email I couldn't believe what I was reading.

British-born Fouzia (centre), from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who currently works as a teaching assistant, said the email was 'offensive'. She added: 'It has made me feel very blessed to have grown up in England, where we are clearly so much more accepting'

'It might sound unusual, but to me being asked to leave the house without my hijab is like being asked to go out without a top on.

'It doesn't represent my religion - it is part of me.

'I am a loud, bubbly, chatty, normal British girl and my hijab is part of that same identity.

'To have them suggest that British parents or an English school wouldn't want me to wear it is very offensive.

'I was born in England and I am English.

'I have never experienced any Islamophobia in my life, living in England, so it is bizarre to experience it for the first time - in the context of a country which is 99 per cent Muslim.

'I thought if anything I would be more accepted there.

'It has made me feel very blessed to have grown up in England, where we are clearly so much more accepting.'

After applying for the job, she got an email from the school's HR staff reading: 'Parents don't want their children taught by covered teachers. It is an English school'

After she applied for the job at the firm - which has more than 20 schools and playgroups - she received an email from a recruitment worker which said she had gained an interview.

But she was told she'd need to removed her Hijab, she claims.

The worker wrote: 'I do need to ask you if it would be possible to remove your hijab whilst teaching in the Early Years Nursery school as our Kuwaiti parents like British Teachers but not wearing hijab.

'I know this is a delicate area and hope you do not feel offended in any way.

'Please have a think about it and let me know if you would like to proceed to interview.'

After she applied for the job at the firm - which has more than 20 schools and playgroups - she received an email from a recruitment worker which said she had gained an interview. But she was told she'd need to removed her Hijab, she claims

Fouziua asked for clarification about whether her success hinged on the removal.

The reply said she could wear the scarf for her first interview - but 'probably' not for the second interview or for a photo taken for 'management purposes'.

It added: 'Just for your reference, in the Early Years Schools, there are only female staff.'

Fouzia replied to say she was 'confused' because Kuwait was a Muslim-majority country.

The reply from the school said: 'The customer (the parents) do not want their children taught by covered teachers. It is an English School.

'You can wear the hijab whilst not on the school premises but not in the school.

'If this isn't acceptable to you I wish you every success.

'This is non negotiable.'

Fouzia posted the screenshots of the email exchange online, where it was liked by 1,800 people.

She said: 'There is enough discrimination against female Muslims from non-Muslim countries so it's extremely sad to see a school in a Muslim country like Kuwait also demonstrate this kind of discrimination.'

The English Playgroup blamed the emails on a 'new' employee and said allegations of discrimination were 'untrue'.

Bosses did not respond to a request for comment, but in a statement posted on Instagram, the firm said: 'The English Playgroup and Primary Schools employ qualified teachers from all nationalities, religions and backgrounds who serve students as excellent and caring teachers.

'Allegations of discrimination against hijab-wearing staff are untrue. Our schools proudly employ many hijab wearing teachers and administrators across our schools.

The English Playgroup blamed the emails on a 'new' employee and said allegations of discrimination were 'untrue'

'The allegations against the school have been disseminated by an unsuccessful overseas job applicant who was refused employment because of inappropriate behavior as illustrated on her social media platform.

'The opinions expressed by a new employee in the HR department are against company policy and necessary disciplinary action has been taken.

'The celebration of Islamic values is a cornerstone of the English Playgroup and Primary School's mission and the school reserves the right to pursue legal action against slanderous third parties.'

The English Playgroup then released several images on their Instagram of teachers wearing a hijab as they taught.
An Asian man was verbally abused and slapped across the face by a racist passenger on board a San Francisco commuter train service.

The incident, which was filmed by a fellow passenger, shows the racist shouting abuse at his victim.

At the start of the video, the Asian man is sitting beside a white passenger who moves away as soon as the confrontation begins.

These are the shocking scenes as an Asian man is racially abused by a passenger on a train

The incident happened on a commuter rail service on Monday night in San Francisco

An eyewitness said the man began abusing the Asian passenger after he complained about the use of racist language on board the train.

During the shocking video, the racist shouted: 'You f***, I'll punch your d***.

'Yeah, I'll punch your dick. Oh, I know I will.

'Oh, I'll beat you down, you Chinese f***.

'I'll punch you down.

'Yeah, Chinese n*****.

'I hate you f****** Chinese f****.'

After more than a minute, having been slapped across the face, the victim stands up and tells his attacker: 'You put your hands on me one more time, motherf*****.'

The attacker quickly backed away as a female passenger intervenes to stop the Asian man from retaliating.

Bay Area Rapid Transport Police are investigating the incident which happened on Monday night on a train heading to Warm Springs.

Police are investigating the incident which was filmed and shared online

The video, which was filmed by Wiseley Wu has been widely shared on Facebook and YouTube.

Police boarded the train after the attacker had fled the scene at an earlier stop.

According to BART Police, they have interviewed the victim who said he does not wish to press charges against the suspect.

However, the police have issued officers with photographs of the suspect to keep an eye out for him in future.

A BART police spokesman said: ' BART Police dispatchers received three calls from riders onboard a Warm Springs-bound Monday at around 10:10pm.

'We responded and boarded the train at Union City Station but none of the patrons on board the train were able or willing to point out the suspect. Initial reports indicate the suspect got off the train at the Union City Station.

'The video captures an unfortunate, ugly scene. However, several things went right despite the belligerent and bigoted actions of one individual.

'Number one, passengers on board the train suggested contacting BART police. Contacting police is always the best course of action.

'Number two, the subject of the attack was deliberate in his response and reasonable in his actions.

'Number three, fellow passengers voiced their support for the victim without actually physically intervening.

'Number four, one of the passengers moved away from the attacker. This is always a good option  physically remove yourself from the threat until police arrive.'

Police said 420,000 people a day ride on the BART and the crime rate is approximately 3.15 per million passengers.'
A 55-year-old carer died after calling 999 to report an intruder in his home as police launched a murder investigation.

The homeowner contacted police to report an intruder in his Braintree property before fleeing just after 1am yesterday morning.

After fleeing his home he was found by officers who took him to Braintree Police Station while they searched for the suspect.

While at the station the homeowner collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Both officers and paramedics tried to save him but he died a short time later.

The victim was not injured in the alleged break-in and a post-mortem examination proved inconclusive, police said.

Police have launched a murder investigation after a homeowner collapsed and died after calling police to report an intruder before fleeing the property

Police who were scrambled to the scene located the suspect.

The 35-year-old man, named as Anthony Lines, was taken into custody where he is being quizzed on suspicion of murder.

He has been charged with violence to secure entry to a property and criminal damage and has been remanded in custody to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today.

Lines was also arrested on suspicion of murder and has been released on bail pending further inquiries until December 8.

The ivy-covered home was still taped off today as a police officer stood guard.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a Braintree man's death after break in at his home

Neighbours said the victim was a carer they only knew as 'Eddie', who had lived there for nearly decade.

A friend, who did not want to be named, said: 'He kept himself to himself and worked locally in a care home.

'He was a Scotsman and we got on very well and he always looked after his house.

'He worked long hours in the care home. Eddie was a quiet man who was very reliable.'

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 1.43am to reports of a man who had collapsed.

'We sent an ambulance crew to the scene.

'Sadly he was in cardiac arrest. Despite the best efforts of everyone there he died at the scene.'

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: 'A man has died following an incident in Braintree.

'The victim, a man in his 50s, contacted police shortly after 1am and reported a man had forced entry to his room at an address in Courtauld Road.

'He fled the scene and was located by officers, who took him to safety at Braintree Police Station, while a search for the suspect was carried out.

'He was taken ill while at the police station and sadly died a short time later, despite the efforts of officers and paramedics. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

'A 35-year-old man of no fixed address was located in Courtauld Road and arrested on suspicion of murder.

'He is currently in custody for questioning.'
Ronald Plummer's (pictured) mother, 69, died after cleaning up the mess of his fatal overdose last week

A 69-year-old grandmother died last week after absorbing toxic drugs into her system while cleaning up paraphernalia left behind from her son's fatal overdose.

Theresa Plummer found her son Ronald, 45, unresponsive in the bathroom of his Portage, Pennsylvania home on November 5.

The next day, Theresa left her son's bedside to go back to the home and clean up the mess.

Shortly after, she started experiencing shortness of breath and was rushed to the same hospital herself where she died.

Her son died the following day, November 7.

Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees believes that Mrs Plummer likely absorbed some of the drugs into her system while cleaning the bathroom where the overdose occurred.

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Theresa Plummer found her 45-year-old son passed out in the bathroom of his Portage, Pennsylvania home. She died after returning to the home to clean up the drug paraphernalia

Autopsies have been conducted but the official cause of death won't be released until toxicology tests come back, which could take six to eight weeks.

'This is a caution for safety for anyone coming into contact with any type of powder substance,' Lees said. 'You should use extreme caution and notify the proper authorities.

'My strong advice to any family that may have this happen to them is to call law enforcement to have them or EMS services come back and remove the substance or material that may have been left behind.'

Mrs Plummer 'enjoyed rescuing animals and spending time with her family and grandchildren,' her obituary read. Her son 'enjoyed the outdoors and sports'.

The mother and son are survived by Theresa's husband and three of her other children, along with their children.
A stowaway sparked terror fears on an easyJet flight after he was able to sneak aboard the jet and lock himself in a toilet without being stopped.

The Swiss man missed an earlier plane from Gatwick and was so desperate to get to Geneva that he boarded a later flight to the same destination.

When confronted by cabin crew, the 25-year-old refused to come out of the toilet, forcing staff to call police to the runway.

Some passengers, fearing the incident could be terror-related, wanted to leave the aircraft and were only placated when officers arrived to search the A320.

The incident has sparked concern over security arrangements as the passenger was able to board the jet using a boarding pass from a different flight.

The 25-year-old Swiss man missed his flight from Gatwick and was so desperate to get to Geneva that he refused to come out of the loo when discovered (stock)

Easyjet said they were investigating the apparent security breach, which was foiled after staff spotted the 'in use' toilet light was on despite all passengers being seated.

A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said the man had been let into the departure lounge earlier in the day after presenting a valid boarding pass.

They added: 'He's subsequently missed the flight for whatever reason and stayed in the departure area or nearby and then managed to get on the next flight.'

The man refused to come out of the toilet for around 40 minutes but was eventually persuaded to leave the jet.

He was arrested but released without charge and the passengers eventually arrived at their destination six hours late.

One passenger, Sophie Martin, said: 'It soon became clear that something was wrong.

'The air hostesses made an announcement asking anyone who was not on our flight to come forward. Cue the look of confusion on everyone's faces.

'There seemed to be a lot of commotion at the front and back of the plane and the air hostesses started going through the overhead compartments.

Passenger Ayala Sela took to Twitter to share her concerns, lambasting easyJet for allowing customers to 'panic about terrorism'

'Suddenly a man walked up the aisle, escorted by an air hostess and left the plane.

She added: 'An announcement was then made by the pilot. Many passengers wanted to disembark the aircraft because they were concerned about safety issues.

'It soon became clear that the man they escorted off the plane had a "suspicious" ticket, so naturally all passengers were incredibly concerned.

Ms Martin said officers showed up 20 minutes later and went up and down the aisles checking.

She added: 'How on earth did easyJet allow this man to get on board the plane?

'It really makes you question the levels of security you have at the gate if someone can get past your system with an incorrect ticket.

'In this instance it was just a man who was desperate to get to Geneva, but what if it had been something more sinister?'

A spokesman for the budget airline told MailOnline: 'easyJet can confirm that on 12 November a flight from London Gatwick to Geneva was met by the police due to a passenger who incorrectly boarded the aircraft.

'The crew correctly identified the passenger should not be on board and immediately reported it to the police. We have taken this up with our ground staff and an investigation has been launched.

'easyJet works hard to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and staff. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is always easyJets number one priority.'
The grandson of a man who sold Leonardo da Vinci's 340million masterpiece Salvator Mundi for just 45 says he would love it hanging on his dining room wall.

Sir Francis Cook sold the Italian master's painting of Jesus for a fraction of its value in 1958 when it was dismissed as the work of one of da Vinci's students.

But yesterday that decision came back to haunt to family when it became the most expensive art work ever sold after a furious 20-minute telephone bidding war in New York.

Today Sir Francis' grandson Richard Cook, 58, was philosophical about 340million slipping through his family's fingers.

He told MailOnline: 'I think it's absolutely wonderful news. Old masters have been undervalued for a very long time. I am an art historian myself and used to work for Christie's New York.

'I really hope that the new buyers exhibit it in a museum like I would.'

Materpiece: Salvator Mundi, a portrait of Christ by Leonardo da Vinci which dates to about 1500, has sold for a record price of 340million

Richard Cook, 58, (pictured with his sister Priscilla) was philosophical about 340million slipping through his family's fingers

He went on: 'I haven't let anything slip through my fingers, it was Leonardo's painting!

'We can all wonder if something is real or not, but I trust the historians and curators that this is real.

'The painting would look great over the dining room wall.

'I haven't had a chance to speak with my family yet about it all, I certainly will.'

The painting, Italian for 'Savior of the World', was purchased by an unidentified buyer at the auction house.

Its price was double the previous record set by Pablo Picasso's painting 'Women of Algiers (Version O)' ('Les Femmes D'Alger) which sold for $179.4 million in May 2015.

Christie's auctioneer Jussi Pylkannen, taps the gavel as he ends bidding at $400 million for the painting at Christie's, Wednesday

The highest known sale price for any artwork had been 230million for Willem de Kooning's painting 'Interchange,' which was sold privately in September 2015 by the David Geffen Foundation to hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin.

The oil on wood panel painting, Salvator Mundi, depicts Christ with his right hand raised in blessing and his left hand holding a globe.

Commissioned by Louis XII of France in 1506, it later ended up in possession of Charles I of England and following his execution it went to Charles II and it remained in London for 400 years.

It eventually ended up in Sir Francis Cook's collection - but was sold for 45 in 1958 by Sotheby's after it was incorrectly attributed to Italian painter Giovanni Boltraffio.

A consortium of US art dealers, Robert Simon Fine Art in New York bought the painting in 2004 for 10,000.

An international panel of art experts assessed the work, which had been heavily overpainted, and gone dark and gloomy during years of neglect.

After being cleaned, experts found it had not been painted by Boltraffio - but by the master, da Vinci, himself, and went on display to the public at the National Gallery in London in 2011.

Members of Christie's staff admire the work - the last privately owned Leonardo da Vinci painting

Bidding representatives react after Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi' sold for $400 million at Christie's

Paris-based dealer, Yves Bouvier purchased the work at a Sotheby's private sale for 53 million in 2013.

The dealer once represented Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, 50, who has accused him of cheating him out of $1 billion by misrepresenting sale prices on some 38 artworks - including the sale of the da Vinci when Rybolovlev acquired it for 100 million.

The oligarch's sale on Wednesday marks his biggest ever.

The history of Salvator Mundi Da Vinci painted the picture 500 years ago following a commission from Louis XII of France in 1506 and he finished it seven years later. The image of Christ giving his blessing to the world was a popular subject in French and Flemish art and the half-length pose is typical of the Renaissance era. During its long history the painting also ended up in the possession of Charles I of England and following his execution it went to Charles II and it remained in London for 400 years. It eventually ended up in the collection of Sir Francis Cook and in 1958 it was sold by Sotheby's for just 45 and attributed to a student of Da Vinci called Giovanni Boltraffio. Robert Simon Fine Art in New York are thought to have acquired the painting at a clearance sale in 2004. Paris-based dealer, Yves Bouvier - purchased the work at a Sotheby's private sale for $77 million in 2013. Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, later acquired it from Bouvier for $127 million. It was sold at auction in New York for a record breaking $450.3 million. Advertisement

During Wednesday's auction, a backer of the 'Salvator Mundi' auction had guaranteed a bid of at least 75million, the opening bid of the auction, which ran for 19 minutes. The price hit 220 million about halfway through the bidding.

People in the auction house gallery applauded and cheered when the bidding reached 227million and when the hammer came down on the final bid, 303million. The record sale price of 342million includes the buyer's premium, a fee paid by the winner to the auction house.

The 26-inch-tall Leonardo painting dates from around 1500 and shows Christ dressed in Renaissance-style robes, his right hand raised in blessing as his left hand holds a crystal sphere.

Its path from Leonardo's workshop to the auction block at Christie's was not smooth. Once owned by King Charles I of England, it disappeared from view until 1900, when it resurfaced and was acquired by a British collector. At that time it was attributed to a Leonardo disciple, rather than to the master himself.

The painting was sold again in 1958 and then was acquired in 2005, badly damaged and partly painted-over, by a consortium of art dealers who paid less than $10,000 (8,445 euros). The art dealers restored the painting and documented its authenticity as a work by Leonardo.

The painting was sold Wednesday by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who bought it in 2013 for $127.5 million (108 million euros) in a private sale that became the subject of a continuing lawsuit.

Christie's said most scholars agree that the painting is by Leonardo, though some critics have questioned the attribution and some say the extensive restoration muddies the work's authorship.

One bidder even turned up with a mask of da Vinci's Salvator Mundi for the Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Sale at Christie's

Christie's capitalized on the public's interest in Leonardo, considered one of the greatest artists of all time, with a media campaign that labeled the painting 'The Last Da Vinci.'

The work was exhibited in Hong Kong, San Francisco, London and New York before the sale.

In New York, where no museum owns a Leonardo, art lovers lined up outside Christie's Rockefeller Center headquarters on Tuesday to view 'Salvator Mundi.'

Svetla Nikolova, who is from Bulgaria but lives in New York, called the painting 'spectacular.'

'It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience,' she said. 'It should be seen. It's wonderful it's in New York. I'm so lucky to be in New York at this time.'
Britain must not pay back a 450million debt to Iran in order to free a British mother from jail as its risks being seen as a 'blackmail ransom' MPs have today warned.

Boris Johnson has vowed to leave 'no stone upturned' as he scrambles to try to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who is locked in a Tehran jail.

Diplomats are reportedly trying to find a way to get around UN sanctions which have stopped the UK paying the country the cash which dates back to a 1970s arms deal.

But politicians said linking the money with her release could 'open a Pandora's Box' if other regimes used it as an excuse to set ransoms for other British inmates.

Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that it would look more like a ransom if the UK repaid the money now.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured with their daughter Gabriella, and her husband, is desperate to be released from jail. Diplomats are said to be looking at repaying a 450m debt to try to secure her release

Boris Johnson, pictured meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in London today, is scrambling to secure the release of British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after he mistakenly told MPs she was arrested after travelling to Iran to train journalists in a gaffe which could double her sentence

Mr Johnson, pictured in London today with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, has vowed to leave no stone unturned in his bid to secure he release

Mr Rees-Mogg, who has been supportive of Mr Johnson during the row, told MailOnline he believed Britain probably did owe the debt.

But he said: I think it is important as a principle of public policy that we do not, and do not appear to be, paying ransoms...

I dont think it can be in relation to any particular case.

They (the government) must make sure they do not break the principle of paying ransoms.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for North west Leicestershire, told Mail Online: If we owe any other country money we should always pay it, just as we would expect them to pay any debt to us.

But this payment must be in anyway linked to the release of a British citizen otherwise it would be seen as a ransom and that opens a Pandoras Box and puts UK citizens in danger around the world if countries believe the UK will pay blackmail ransoms.

Tory MPs Andrew Bridgen (pictured left) and Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured right) have warned that linking the repayment to her release would look like a ransom payment - which Britain does not pay

Boris Johnson, pictured on Wednesday meeting Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of jailed British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Britain's ambassador to Iran hit out at Iranian TV for misrepresenting what Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing in the country

The MP added: As they could have paid back the money at any point since 1979, choosing to do it while there is a hostage does make it look more like a ransom.

The debt dates back to the late 1970s when the Shah of Iran paid Britain 650million for 1,750 Chieftain tanks but only 185 had been delivered when he was toppled in 1979 and the new government cancelled the order.

Britain was told to pay back 450million by the International Chamber of Commerce in a 2009 ruling but sanctions on military equipment prevent the payment going straight to Tehran.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard, who yesterday met Mr Johnson, told the Sun: 'It is important that the UK honours its international legal obligations, so that Iran can honour its legal obligations.

'They are separate things, but it is good for the atmosphere if they are all served.'

King Hussein of Jordan drives a Chieftain tank at Bovington, Dorset in 1966. The debt relates to the sale of the tanks to The Shah's regime - which stopped when he was toppled in 1979

A diplomatic source told The Telegraph: 'Building a strong relationship and trust is the key to securing her safe return.'

Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South told the Mail Online that dual nationals held in Iran are by their very nature bargaining chips at the mercy of the Iranian regime.

Mr Murray, who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: There are huge concerns about linking those kind of things together, but we dont know if thats the case.

But if it is the case then obviously everybody should be hugely concerned that these people are being used as bargaining chips.

But of course people who are detained are by their very nature bargaining chips.

Mr Ratcliffe wants the Foreign Secretary to take him to Iran and guarantee him 'safe passage' so he can see his wife and daughter Gabriella for the first time in 19 months

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was visiting her parents in Iran with her young daughter Gabriella when she was arrested by the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran Airport

He added: Anybody detained in such circumstances end up being used as bargaining chips, it is up to the Foreign Office to use their diplomatic expertise to get the release of UK nationals.

You would be very concerned if people are linking the lives of mothers and wives detained to monies which may be owed  but it would be good to get her home.'

The government has officially insisted the debt repayment and the release of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe are not connected.

Meanwhile, Britain's ambassador in Iran Nicholas Hopton hit out at Iranian media for not saying Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was in the country for a holiday.

He wrote on Twitter: 'Disappointed by the incorrect and unbalanced reporting in last night's IRIB "20:30" which failed to acknowledge that the UK government has made clear that the only reason Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was in Iran was to visit her family on holiday.'

A government spokeswoman said: 'This is a long standing case and relates to contracts signed over 40 years ago with the pre-revolution Iranian regime.

'Funding to settle the debt was paid to the high court by the Treasury in 2002. Iran's Ministry of Defence remains subject to EU sanctions.

'It is wrong to link a completely separate debt issue with any other aspect of our bilateral relationship with Iran.'
President Donald Trump this morning lauded China's deployment of a special envoy to North Korea.

'A big move, we'll see what happens!' the United States president said a cautiously optimistic tweet.

China on Wednesday said it would send a high-level diplomat to North Korea on Friday, a week to the day after Trump's cogent visit to Beijing. It's the first time in two years that Chinese representation will be in Pyongyang.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday, in response to a question posed by DailyMail.com, that Trump was favorable to the visit but wouldn't disclose whether it came up in last week's talks.

'The President certainly favors China taking a greater role in putting maximum pressure on North Korea. This is one of the things that he and President Xi spoke extensively about over the course of our visit,' she said.

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President Donald Trump this morning lauded China's deployment of a special envoy to North Korea. He's seen above with foreign counterpart Xi Jinping last Friday

China on Wednesday said it would send a high-level diplomat to North Korea on Friday, a week to the day after Trump's cogent visit to Beijing

'And certainly any effort in order to denuclearize the Peninsula there in North Korea, then China participating in that, the President certainly supports those efforts.'

Xi hinted last week during a joint press statement with Trump that Beijing's diplomats were still in contact with North Korea behind the scenes when he said that China will 'fully and strictly implement UN Security Council resolutions' on Kim Jong-un's regime while continuing 'dialogue and negotiation.'

Song Tao (L), head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, will travel to North Korea on Friday

Beijing announced yesterday that Song Tao, a senior diplomat with the Communist Party of China, would visit North Korea on Friday.

The official purpose of Song's travel is to provide an overview of the 19th Party Congress, according to state-owned news service Xinhua.

Song may also be on a mission to open a dialogue with Pyongyang about the nation's nuclear aggression.

Liu Yunshan is the last Chinese diplomat to have met with Kim, the Associated Press reported. That was in 2015, before North Korea's hydrogen bomb tests.

Trump said Wednesday, in unexpected remarks from the White House, that Chinese President Xi Jinping 'recognizes that a nuclear North Korea is a grave threat to China.'

'We agreed that we would not accept a so-called "freeze for freeze" agreement, like those that have consistently failed in the past,' Trump said. 'We made that time is running out, and we made it clear. And all options remain on the table.'

The president said last week, during a Friday flight from Beijing to Da Nang, Vietnam, that he had a long talk with Xi during his visit, in which he told the foreign leader he'd like to him him 'ratchet it up' on North Korea. 'I think he's doing that,' Trump added.

'We were together for hours. And we get along very well,' Trump told journalists. 'And we talked a lot about North Korea. We talked about a lot of things. We talked a lot about North Korea.'

Trump said Wednesday, in unexpected remarks from the White House, that Chinese President Xi Jinping 'recognizes that a nuclear North Korea is a grave threat to China'

In his speech Wednesday, the president brought up China in the context of trade and said, 'We can no longer tolerate unfair trading practices that steal American jobs, wealth and intellectual property. The days of the United States being taken advantage of are over.'

Asked Thursday by DailyMail.com whether Trump still believes that China is 'raping' the U.S. economy, as he once said, Sanders claimed that Trump had been 'clear' about his position.

'The President knows that there hasn't been fair and reciprocal trade with China. He doesn't think that we've had great ideals in place with China,' she said. 'And he's been very clear, and he was very clear directly with President Xi -- which he'll continue to be -- that we want to make sure that Americans, and American workers in particular, are getting the best deal and the best pieces possible.'

In tweets on Wednesday after the announcement that Song was going to North Korea, Trump insisted he has a 'great relationship' with Xi as he furiously refuted coverage that was critical of his trip to Asia.

He mentioned trade specifically in an apparent reference to the scrutiny he has received for his empty-handed return from China.

Trump lit into the New York Times after it published a piece boiling down his accomplishments, in his own words, to the 'relationship' he now has with Pacific Rim leaders, like Xi and Vladimir Putin.

'They should realize that these relationships are a good thing, not a bad thing. The U.S. is being respected again. Watch Trade!' Trump tweeted.

Trump lit into the New York Times after it published a piece boiling down his accomplishments, in his own words, to the 'relationship' he now has with Pacific Rim leaders, like Xi and Vladimir Putin

Trump mentioned trade in an apparent reference to the scrutiny he has received for his empty-handed return from China

Shortly before the tirade, China said it would deploy a special envoy to North Korea a week to the day after the visit to Beijing that Trumps is calling a bonanza. It's the first time in two years that Chinese representation will be in Pyongyang

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a grand ceremony to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China

Trump said Friday during a flight from Beijing to Da Nang, Vietnam, that he had a long talk with Xi in which he told the foreign leader he'd like to him him 'ratchet it up' on North Korea. 'I think he's doing that,' the U.S. president said

Hours after he arrived in Beijing, Trump was raving about the grandiose welcome ceremony and the exclusive tour of the Forbidden City that Xi put on for him

Trump secured $250 billion in tentative agreements for U.S. companies - but the contracts were paper thin. Assertions that South Korea and Vietnam are on the verge of purchasing massive amounts of U.S. military equipment were also yet to materialize.

Hours after he arrived in Beijing, Trump was raving about the grandiose welcome ceremony and the exclusive tour of the Forbidden City that Xi put on for him.

He told business leaders during a signing ceremony that he does not blame China - a country he once accused of 'raping' the U.S. economy - for taking advantage of past administrations' incompetency.

'We have an amazing feeling toward each other. And he's for China; I'm for USA. You know, it's one of those things. But we have a great feeling,' he said of Xi as he traveled from Beijing to Vietnam.

Trump said he spoke to Xi about China's intellectual property theft, which the president acknowledged has a price tag of about about $300 billion a year.

'We talked about it. But I said, we're friends, but this is a different administration than you've had for the last 30 years,' he said, bringing South Korea and Japan's trade deficits into the discussion. 'And I don't blame any of those countries. I blame the people that we had representing us who didn't know what they were doing. Because they should have never let it happen.'

He said Xi committed 'to stopping the nuclearization of North Korea' - a declaration Trump cast as under reported.

'That's a big statement. He made that statement, and a lot of people didn't -- they didn't pick that up,' Trump assessed. 'I said, wow, that's a big statement.'

Continuing, Trump said, 'He's the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Some people say more powerful than Mao. With that being said, I really believe he's a good person, he's a good man, he wants to do right, he's representing his people. He's strong, he's very strong. But you know, you look at some of what you saw was very impressive. It was very impressive.'

He told reporters on the flight back to Washington that he'd had a 'great trip' and he'd 'done a really fantastic job.'

'It's also been really good, in terms of North Korea and getting everybody together. I think their acts are all together. China has been excellent,' Trump said.

In Beijing, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insisted 'there's no space' between the United States' and China's 'objectives' in North Korea.

'President Trump, our President, has been very clear with President Xi that he takes the view that you are a very powerful neighbor of theirs; you account for 90-plus percent of their economic activity; you're a strong man -- you can, I'm sure, solve this for me,' Tillerson said. 'And so he was very clear with him and said he believes it can be solved.'
James Cooper, 23, admitted beating his girlfriend's dog to death but was spared jail by a judge who said prison 'would destroy his life'

A vicious thug who beat his girlfriend's dog to death and severely injuring another has been spared jail by a judge - because 'prison would destroy his life'.

James Cooper walked free from court after admitting two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to two whippets.

A post-mortem examination found Millie had emphysema and bruising - much of which was inflicted just 24 hours before she died.

Cooper, 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty at Swindon Magistrates' Court in Wiltshire.

He admitted beating six-year-old Millie to death - just months after he attacked another whippet called Tinkerbelle, leaving her with 'human bite wounds' and injuries 'akin to torture'.

Cooper was handed a 12-week consecutive prison sentence for each offence suspended for two years.

Judge Cooper said: 'I have come to the decision that an immediate prison sentence would utterly destroy you.

'What you did was vicious and savage but little would be achieved in the long run by sending you into custody.'

He agreed with the RSPCA, which brought the case, that Cooper's actions were 'difficult and disturbing' and said the defendant had struggled to accept responsibility for the brutal assault.

'It has been an agonising and hard decision to come to,' he added.

Cooper beat one whippet to death just months after viciously attacking whippet Tinkerbelle, pictured

The thug left the dog with injuries 'akin to torture' with the animal sustaining bruising

'The most difficult decision of today is not to send this young man into immediate prison but it is one, in my long experience, that would completely destroy his life.

'Tinkerbelle made at least five visits to the vet for treatment while in your care and from that, examinations revealed that she had been severely beaten, suffering fractured ribs and a human bite wound and the effect on her was akin, in my judgement, to torture. Nonetheless she recovered, even if she had to have her tail amputated.

'Millie was taken back on the third examination while she had been in your care and you had been under investigation. They found her covered with wounds to the mouth and multiple fractured ribs which ultimately led to her death.

'I agree with the RSPCA that it is a difficult and disturbing case. You gave a variety of explanations for these offences but, in fact, you finally accepted your responsibility.

'This case has rumbled on for nine months due to your inability to accept your responsibility.'

Cooper, of Greenmeadow, Swindon, was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and slapped with a lifetime ban from owning animals.

He must pay the RSPCA's court costs of 1,000 as well as 115 towards victim services.

Tinkerbelle also had injuries close to her eye, left, and her body, right

The court heard the dog, pictured, had even been subjected to 'human bites'

Matthew Knight, prosecuting, told the court: 'The defendant still hasn't provided an explanation of what happened or why these offences occurred.

'In regard to Millie, the defendant said she had jumped over a six-foot fence and fell on some brambles, which is how she sustained the injury.'

Cooper had also told vets Millie had run into a patio door.

Mr Knight continued: 'Millie suffered multiple fractured ribs and was killed by the defendant.

'However when asked he said the further injuries were caused by the fact he gave CPR.

'She suffered a number of blunt force trauma injuries and I am in no doubt that she was killed by the defendant.

Cooper claimed the dead dog had 'run into a patio door' but the judge said he

'Her injuries were extensive, widespread and severe. In my opinion they were sustained on more than one occasion.

'There are striking similarities in the way both Millie and Tinkerbelle were assaulted front on, sustained multiple fractured ribs and swelling to the left side of her face.'

At an earlier court date Cooper admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the two female dogs while in his care between August and September last year, and in May this year.

The same charges against his girlfriend, Katie Gardiner, were dropped.

Richard Williams, defending, said Cooper suffers from depression and 'various issues' in his background.

'In relation to the offences, there is not much I can add to make them any less distasteful,' said Mr Williams.

'James Cooper has struggled in articulating and expressing exactly what happened.

'There is quite a lot that can shed some light on what has happened in James Cooper's life.

'He had moved in with Katie Gardiner last year and it was his first serious relationship and the first time he moved away from home.

'He struggled and he accepts he lashed out at the dogs.

'He has dabbled in drink and drugs and has since abstained from those substances.'
Former Geelong Cats AFL player Gary Ablett Snr has been accused of a sex offence dating back to the 1970s.

His alleged female victim, now aged 55, spoke to police twice last month, The Herald Sun reported.

She told the paper the incident occurred as the pair were waiting outside the home of a mutual friend, and will visit Warragul with police to recreate the alleged assault and show officers the location.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Ablett Snr is guilty, only that the allegations against him are being investigated by police.

Gary Ablett Snr (second from left) is the subject of an historical sex offence allegation

The alleged victim told The Herald Sun she had spoken to police in an attempt to move on with her life, noting the alleged offence had a lasting effect on her.

'Every time I see him, I lose the plot,' she said. 'It has come to a head and I have had enough.'

The woman said she had spoken with psychologists about the alleged offence.

A spokeswoman for Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia: 'Detectives from the Central Gippsland Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team are investigating a sexual offence dating back to the 1970s'.

The 56-year-old formerly played AFL for the Geelong Cats (pictured in 1995)

'As the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further,' she said.

In 2002, Ablett Snr, was convicted of drugs charges and fined $1500 after pleading guilty to four charges of possession and use of ecstasy and heroin.

The charges relate to the death of 19-year-old Alisha Horan, who died in the 56-year-old's hotel room after the pair inhaled heroin through a rolled-up bank note and each took six ecstasy pills.

A coroner later found the teenager may not have died if Ablett Snr had not been as drug-affected at the time.
When it comes to lurking critters Australia is infamous for snakes and spiders, but perhaps surprisingly neither one is the most likely to put you in hospital.

Bee stings have been revealed to be behind twice as many hospital admissions and cause nearly as many deaths as snake bites, a study has shown, according to The Age.

The inaugural look into venomous bites and stings uncovered bees were behind 25 deaths in Australia over the past 13 years, second to snake bites, which caused 27 across the same time frame.

Australia is infamous for snakes and spiders neither one is the most likely animal to put you in hospital (stock photo)

Reasons for higher quantity of bee stings may be because awareness is low

Bee stings put twice as many people in hospital and kill almost as many as snakes

An additional two deaths from hornet and wasp stings also occurred.

The University of Melbourne research showed 42,000 people required hospital care as a result of venomous bites and stings over the same time period, with one third due to bees.

More than 12,350 people were admitted with bee, wasp and hornet stings, compared with 11,994 for spider bites and 6123 for snake bites.

Reasons for the higher quantity of bee stings could be put down to a lack of awareness around the allergies and their common presence being accepted.

The study's lead researcher Ronelle Welton believes more people need to be wary of the humble bee.

The venomous critter is most likely to put you in hospital and can even cause death

'Perhaps it's because bees are so innocuous that most people don't really fear them in the same way they fear snakes,' she said.

Dr Welton said people might not know they could have allergic reactions to bee venom as sometimes it is only when it is too late that it is realised.

'The bee venom itself is very limited, but it's our body's reaction to it that's the key thing.'

'If they feel they're under attack they send out pheromones to incite other bees to come and help attack and defend,' Dr Welton said.
Mark Schwahn has been suspended as showrunner from E! drama The Royals following allegations of sexual misconduct stemming from his old show.

Cast and crew members from One Tree Hill, including Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush, came forward Monday to accuse Schwahn of sexual harassment.

A letter, which was signed by 18 women on the show, was sent to Variety to accuse him of harassment after Audrey Wauchope, a former writer on the series, took to Twitter on Saturday to speak about her experiences with the showrunner.

On Thursday E! announced Schwahn would be indefinitely suspended from the show as the investigation into his actions continues.

Mark Schwahn has been suspended from his job producing E! drama The Royals due to allegations of sexual misconduct by cast members from his old show

Schwahn hasn't responded to the allegations, and his representatives did not respond to a request for comment by Variety. The Royals was created by Schwahn, and its fourth season is set to premiere in March

The decision comes after cast members from the Warner Bros TV Drama One Tree Hill, including Hilarie Burton (left) and Sophia Bush (right), came forward Monday to accuse Schwahn of sexual harassment

A letter, which was signed by 18 women on the show, was sent to Variety to accuse him of harassment after Audrey Wauchope, a former writer on the series, took to Twitter on Saturday to speak about her experiences with the showrunner

'E! Universal Cable Productions and Lionsgate Television take sexual allegations very seriously, investigate them thoroughly and independently, and take appropriate action,' the studio told Variety in a statement.

'Lionsgate has suspended Mark Schwahn from "The Royals" as we continue our investigation.'

Schwahn hasn't responded to the allegations, and his representatives did not respond to a request for comment by Variety.

The show, which was created by Schwahn, finished production on its fourth season in September. It is set to premiere in March, and tells the soap-opera fictionalized version of the story of the British royal family.

In the letter accusing the 51-year-old of harassment, 18 female actors, writers and crew members on the hit show that ran from 2003-2012 wrote they were harassed in some manner during their time working with Schwahn on the show.

In Monday's letter, Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz said they stood behind Wachope's allegations about the 51-year-old.

'Many of us were, to varying degrees, manipulated psychologically and emotionally,' the letter reads.

'More than one of us is still in treatment for post-traumatic stress. Many of us were put in uncomfortable positions and had to swiftly learn to fight back, sometimes physically, because it was made clear to us that the supervisors in the room were not the protectors they were supposed to be.

'Many of us were spoken to in ways that ran the spectrum from deeply upsetting, to traumatizing, to downright illegal. And a few of us were put in positions where we felt physically unsafe.'

On Thursday E! announced that Schwahn would be indefinitely suspended from the show as the investigation into his actions continues

Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz, as well as others from the show, wrote that they 'have chosen this forum to stand together in support of Audrey Wauchope (pictured right) and one another' following Wauchope's statements made on Twitter

In a series of tweets, Wauchope said she and other women who worked on One Tree Hill, were often times subject to unwanted touching

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Wauchope said she and other women who worked on One Tree Hill, were often times subject to unwanted touching.

'To say we left that job demoralized and confused is also an understatement. One of the 1st things we were told was that the showrunner hired female writers on the basis of their looks. That's why you're here - he wants to f**k you,' she tweeted.

She also talked about how Schwahn would allegedly show naked pictures of actresses he'd slept with to male staffers without the actress' knowledge.

'Men on staff were shown naked photos of on an actress he was having an affair with. Naked photos she didn't know were being passed around.

'Naked photos they didn't want to see. This is such a violation, both to the actress and to the men forced to look and participate,' she wrote.

The cast and crew members who wrote the letter supporting Wauchope said they are all 'deeply grateful for Audrey's courage'. Pictured cast members (l-r) Burton, Murray, Bush, Lafferty and Lenz

One Tree Hill aired from 2003-2012 and followed the lives of a group of young men and women growing up in North Carolina. Schwahn wrote and directed the series and worked as the showrunner for its eight-season run.

The cast and crew members who wrote the letter supporting Wauchope said they are all 'deeply grateful for Audrey's courage'.

'For one another. And for every male cast mate and crew member who has reached out to our group of women to offer their support these last few days. They echo the greater rallying cry that must lead us to change: Believe Women. We are all in this together.

Cast members Bush, Burton, Lenz, Danneel Harris, Michaela McManus, Kate Voegele, Daphne Zuniga, India DeBeaufort, Bevin Prince, Jana Kramer, Shantel Van Santen, and Allison Munn all signed the letter. Crew members, Audrey Wauchope, Rachel Specter, Jane Beck, Tarin Squillante, Cristy Koebley and JoJo Stephens also signed the letter.
An Australian diplomat who plunged to his death from his New York apartment rooftop had been playing a drunken 'trust game' with his brother-in-law, it has been revealed.

Julian Simpson, 30, died after falling from the seventh floor of the Lower East Side building in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

He had suggested playing the game with his long-time friend and brother-in-law, James Waugh, who was said to be upset that Mr Simpson had earlier swung his wife around on the rooftop.

Julian Simpson (pictured with wife Lauren Waugh) is said to have angered his brother-in-law James before trying to reassure him in a drunken 'trust game' when he plunged to his death

Simpson, 30, died after falling from the seventh floor of this Lower East Side building in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Mr Simpson was married to Mr Waugh's sister Lauren, according to the Daily Telegraph.

'I will prove that you can trust me. Let's play the trust game,' Mr Simpson told his brother-in-law as he leaned over his balcony ledge, according to police sources.

Facing the apartment, Mr Simpson is believed to have sat on the rooftop railing before falling backwards.

Mr Waugh told police he held out his arm to catch the Australian diplomat but lost his grip.

Mr Simpson landed on a second-storey terrace at about 1.30am and was pronounced dead at the scene in what police are describing as a tragic accident.

'He's described as somebody who liked to play games and had sat on the balcony railing and accidentally lost his balance,' NYPD spokesman Martin Brown said.

Everyone who was interviewed by police admitted to consuming alcohol on the night, according to the New York Post.

Mr Simpson (pictured) is believed to have sat on his balcony railing before falling backwards

Mr Waugh (pictured), the brother of Mr Simpson's wife Lauren, reportedly told police he held out his arm to catch the Australian diplomat, but lost his grip

A small candle vigil was set up Wednesday night (above) on the terrace where Mr Simpson fell

Mr Simpson had earlier been out with his wife and their friends before they all returned to his apartment to admire the view of the Empire State Building.

The iconic landmark had been lit up in rainbow colours to celebrate Australia's gay marriage vote.

Police sources said Mr Simpson had climbed onto a higher part of the roof with his Mr Waugh's wife and started twirling her around.

Mr Waugh then supposedly confronted Mr Simpson but he maintained he wasn't trying to harm or scare her.

That is when Mr Simpson suggested playing the 'trust game', according to sources.

Mr Simpson had been out with his wife and friends before they returned home to admire the view of the Empire State Building, which was lit up in rainbow colours

Mr Simpson fell from the seventh floor of his apartment building in the Lower East Side (above)

Mr Simpson, the second secretary to the United Nations for Australia, worked alongside Labor senator Lisa Singh while she was on secondment at the UN for three months in 2016.

Mr Simpson (pictured), was a second secretary to the United Nations for Australia

'Julian was my minder, my staffer. He was a person who certainly looked after me for those three months, and did an exceptional job at that,' Senator Singh said.

'He was a very fine young man, a very fine young diplomat. It's very sad to hear that he has passed away.'

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also received support from Mr Simpson while abroad.

'Julian was a diligent, professional and highly skilled diplomat, whose support I valued, particularly during UN Leaders' Week,' Ms Bishop said in a statement.

'He will be remembered as someone dedicated to the service of our nation as a member of Australia's foreign service.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described Mr Simpson's death as a 'shocking tragedy'.

Mr was months away from finishing his three-year posting in New York.
Actress Rose McGowan was arraigned on Thursday on drug charges in Virginia just days after suggesting that the cocaine police found in her wallet after she left it on a plane was planted.

McGowan had been expected to appear in a courtroom for her arraignment, but a judge agreed to waive her appearance at the request of her lawyer.

The judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for January 23. McGowan has previously said that she 'will clearly plead not guilty.'

Her lawyer, James Hundley, declined to comment as he left the courthouse.

McGowan reasserted her innocence today when she tweeted: 'None of the monsters have been cuffed. Guess who has? #ROSEARMY'

Prosecutors say cocaine was found among McGowan's belongings that were left on a January 20 flight to Washington Dulles International Airport.

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Rose McGowan (above in her Tuesday mugshot) was arraigned on cocaine charges on Thursday days after alleging the drugs were planted to discredit her. She reasserted her innocence after the arraignment when she tweeted: 'None of the monsters have been cuffed. Guess who has?'

Police claim that when it was discovered by cleaning staff after the flight had landed, there were two small bags of cocaine inside. McGowan believes she was set-up and says she did not put the drugs there.

McGowan said she reported the lost wallet to the airline after landing. She told the magazine that it must have been taken from her backpack while she was traveling, possibly when she left it on her airline seat while using the restroom.

On Wednesday, after posting $5,000 bond, she explained why it has taken her months to answer the warrant, claiming that she did not know if it was genuine when it was filed on February 1.

'I was going to but then things started to get really weird. I knew I was being followed and that I wasn't safe. I even hired a private investigator to investigate whether the warrant was real,' she told The New Yorker's Ronan Farrow.

McGowan is among several actresses who've said movie mogul Harvey Weinstein forced them into unwanted sex.

In September, Weinstein allegedly met with his investigators to discuss leaking information about the warrant to The New York Post. A Post reporter called McGowan around the same time to ask her about it and she, after receiving the call, revealed details of the arrest warrant for the first time on Twitter.

DailyMail.com previously revealed that Weinstein hired a network of spies in October 2016.

Their mission was named 'Operation Parachute' and involved them snooping on actresses, designers including Kenneth Cole and amfAR to try to prove that he was the victim of a smear campaign.

In July 2017, he signed another contract with Black Cube, the aim of which was to discredit his sexual assault accusers.

In May 2017, one of the Black Cube agents posed as a women's activist to meet with McGowan and her agent and persuaded the actress to give her a copy of her memoirs.

The unpublished book, which is titled Brave, references Weinstein. It is expected to be released in January 2018.

McGowan (above last month) has since told how she felt she was being followed for months before, during and after the women's march

On February 1, a felony warrant was issued for her arrest. It remained secret until October 31 when she tweeted about it.

In a memo to the court, her lawyer said: 'Depending on when and where the wallet was lost, individuals other than Ms. McGowan had access to the wallet for somewhere between approximately 5 hours 40 minutes and more than 11 hours.'

McGowan claims she never took the wallet out of her backpack on the plane and that she left the bag unattended just once.

'I had it in the side pocket of my backpack, and I left it on my seat as I went to the bathroom,' she said on Wednesday.

McGowan has alleged that the cocaine may have been planted in an attempt to discredit her. It was previously revealed that Harvey Weinstein - who she accuses of raping her in 1997 - hired an army of agents to follow her and others who were plotting to expose his sexual misconduct. The pair are pictured in 2007

In an attempt to plead her case, she said cocaine would not have been her drug of choice for the historic march.

'I own stock in a marijuana company, so thats my jam.

'Imagining Im going into sisterly solidarity, I can think of nothing more opposed to that, energetically, that I would want in my body at that moment,' she said.



In 1997, McGowan accepted a $100,000 cash settlement from Weinstein after accusing him of raping her at the Sundance Film Festival that year.

McGowan's rape claim gained new context in October when it was revealed she accepted a $100,000 settlement from Weinstein in 1997 to settle accusations of sexual assault.

She claims he raped her at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997 and that she was unaware their contract did not include a non-disclosure agreement until this year.

Weinstein is still hiding in Arizona after fleeing New York City in early October as the first sexual assault and misconduct claims against him emerged in a New York Times article.

Since then, more than 50 women including countless famous actresses have come forward to accuse the 65-year-old of shocking misconduct and, in some cases, rape.

Law enforcement officials in New York, Los Angeles, London and Paris are investigating whether the mountainous claims against Weinstein to determine whether or not he should face charges.
Actor Danny Masterson has been spotted out for the first time since a woman who accused him of rape blasted Netflix for renewing and promoting his show 'The Ranch.'

The 41-year-old actor was sat outside of a restaurant in Los Angeles for a late night dinner with an unidentified woman.

His appearance comes as Chrissie Carnell Bixler blasted the actor online and accused him of raping her in the early 200s.

Bixler is among at least four women who have claimed they were sexually assaulted by the father-of-one. Despite the allegations against him, Netflix announced it would continue 'The Ranch', which Masterson stars in alongside Ashton Kutcher.

On Wednesday she tweeted: 'Ummm....@Netflix wow! So as long as you're a s***ty sitcom actor/scientologist then 'c'mon down to #netflix and y'all can rape anyone your little rapist heart desires.' F**K YOU NETFLIX #dannymasterson.'

Bixler told The Daily Beast: 'I was sick when I read Netflix's statement on continuing with 'The Ranch' and continuing their working relationship with a man who has violently raped and abused so many women.'

Masterson, who is a Scientologist most widely known for his role on 'That '70s Show', has previously denied the claims and said they are motivated in part by actress Leah Remini's show about Scientology.

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Actor Danny Masterson has been spotted out for the first time since a woman who accused him of rape blasted Netflix for renewing and promoting his show 'The Ranch.' He enjoyed a late night dinner with an unidentified woman in Los Angeles on Wednesday night

Chrissie Carnell Bixler (left), a woman who accused Masterson (right) of rape, is slamming Netflix for renewing and promoting his show 'The Ranch.' Bixler is among at least four women who have claimed that the 41-year-old actor raped them in the early 2000s

Despite the claims against him, Netflix announced it would continue 'The Ranch', which Masterson stars in alongside Ashton Kutcher (right)

On Wednesday she tweeted: 'Ummm....@Netflix wow! So as long as you're a s***ty sitcom actor/scientologist then 'c'mon down to #netflix and y'all can rape anyone your little rapist heart desires.' F**K YOU NETFLIX #dannymasterson.'

Bixler has claimed that alongside Netflix, the Church of Scientology has also not taken her accusations against Masterson seriously.

'For me, what Netflix has done, feels like a continuation of how the Church of Scientology made me feel when I reported my rape to them, as well as how Danny Masterson made me feel when I would beg him for an apology, an explanation, anything,' she told The Daily Beast.

'I was made to feel unimportant. I was made to feel like I didn't matter. Like what Danny Masterson did to me didn't matter.

'My body doesn't matter, because it doesn't belong to me. The trauma and emotional pain doesn't matter, because I just don't matter. 'Danny Masterson is a celebrity. He flourishes and prospers in life. You protect that and reward that.' -direct quote from the Church of Scientology.

Bixler told The Daily Beast : 'I was sick when I read Netflix's statement on continuing with 'The Ranch' and continuing their working relationship with a man who has violently raped and abused so many women.'

'I don't matter. The other women don't matter. Our pain means nothing, and we should be good little girls and shut our mouths.'

She added: 'No! I'm going to be an amazing woman who will NOT shut my mouth when I find out my rapist raped countless other women.

'I will NOT shut my mouth when Netflix tries to make us feel like we don't matter. We DO matter. We ARE important.'

Bixler said that the women who have accused Masterson 'will see justice for what was done' to them.

She also said, 'Victims are taking back the power that was stolen from us, and things are going to change. Netflix should write that down.'

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that it was investigating Masterson for sexual assault earlier this year, but Netflix still announced that new episodes of 'The Ranch' would be released.

But the popular streaming service used a different approach after actor Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct - suspending production of 'House of Cards' and cutting ties with the award-winning actor.

Masterson, who is a Scientologist most widely known for his role on 'That '70s Show' (center above), has previously denied the claims and said they are motivated in part by actress Leah Remini's show about Scientology

Plus, comedian Louis C.K. was fired from Netflix after he confirmed the rumors of the numerous sexual misconduct claims lodged against him by several women.

Masterson has not recently commented on Bixler's accusations.

But back in March, a representative for Masterson casted the rape allegations against him in doubt and said that the women who came forward only did so after coming into contact with Remini, LAist reported.

'We are aware of Chrissie Carnell's 16-year-old allegations,' the statement reads.

'It was only after Chrissie Carnell was in contact with Leah Remini that she made allegations of sexual assault by Mr. Masterson. The alleged incident occurred in the middle of their 6-year relationship, after which she continued to be his longtime girlfriend.

'Significantly, during their long relationship she made numerous inconsistent claims that she was previously raped by at least 3 other famous actors and musicians.'

The Church of Scientology sent a statement from a law firm to The Daily Beast that read in part: 'It is per se defamatory to accuse the Church of engaging in, fostering, or covering up criminal behavior. ...

'The Church will not stand by idly and be accused, directly or by implication, of committing a crime.'

Master is married to Bijou Phillips, who issued a heartfelt apology earlier this week to her former costar Daniel Franzese over claims she bullied, body-shammed and taunted him over his sexuality.

In a lengthy Facebook post Sunday, Franzese said Phillips made his life a misery while they were filming 2001 movie Bully, and had even physically assaulted him; kicking him in the head and twisting his nipple.

Phillips responded to those claims on Monday, saying she is 'mortified' at her behavior.

'I want to write to address what Daniel has said,' she said in a statement to TMZ. 'I don't remember that time well, those years are a blur. I was a teenager and reckless in my behavior. I know Daniel to be a trustworthy and honest person, and to find out through social media that I was not the friend I thought I was to him made me so sad,' said Phillips.

'I am so mortified by this behavior and have contacted Daniel and apologized to him privately. I am not and never have been homophobic. I have nothing but love for the LGBTQ community and Daniel.'
A little girl in China has been knocked down and trapped under a car in the split second her mother took a sip of her drink feet away from her.

The three-year-old got hit by a black SUV at the entrance of a car park earlier this week in Zhejiang Province.

Onlookers rushed over and joined forces to free the child from under the car. She only suffered minor scratches.

The mother and daughter are at the entrance of a car park when a black SUV is driving

The incident, which occurred in the morning of November 14, was captured by a surveillance camera in the car park in Yuhuan, Taizhou.

Ms Han, can be seen waiting for her daughter to cross in front of the gate while carrying the breakfast and drinks in her hands.

Her three-year-old daughter then crossed the road as a black SUV was turning into the car park.

Ms Han can be seen having a drink and looking away when her daughter is crossing

CCTV footage shows the three-year-old gets hit and trapped under the black SUV

The car mowed down the child while the parent was finishing up her drink. The mother then walked towards a bin without realising her daughter had been hit.

Ms Han turned back and was shocked to see her daughter trapped under the car.

A security guard of the car park, Qin Daode, yelled for help and more than 10 onlookers rushed over to lift up the SUV.

The car weighed almost two tonnes, according to Qianjiang Evening News.

The driver, Mr Wang, got off the car and joined the rescue.

The mother is shocked when she turns back and sees her daughter trapped under the wheels

Onlookers rush to lift up the two-tonne vehicle and rescue the girl out of danger

Seconds later, the toddler girl was freed and taken to the Yuhuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Dr Ying Jian, told the reporter that the girl suffered minor scratches on her forehead and fingertips.

The girl is staying in the hospital for further check-ups.

Yuhuan traffic policemen has kept Mr Wang's car for investigation purpose.
A yoga and dance instructor at a Montessori school in Missouri has been accused of repeatedly groping and fondling a six-year-old male student.

Christian Hammond, 22, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with one count second-degree child molestation.

During his interview with police, Hammond confessed to grabbing and squeezing the buttocks, and touching the genitals of a child who was attending classes at Parkville Children's Cottage on several occasions.

Teacher charged: Christian Hammond, 22, a children's yoga teacher from Missouri, has been charged with molesting a six-year-old student

Hammond had taught yoga and dance at Parkville Children's Cottage - a Montessori school serving kids ages six weeks to nine years old (pictured)

But the 22-year-old yoga teacher claimed that he only touched the six-year-old over his pants and denied ever having any skin-to-skin contact with him, according to court documents cited by Fox 4 KC.

Hammond also admitted that he had pulled the boy's pants away from his stomach and looked down his pants.

The 22-year-old educator estimated that he touched the boy more than four times, but fewer than 10.

Police began investigating the young teacher after receiving a report on November 9 alleging molestation at the Montessori school, which serves children between ages of six weeks to nine years old.

Detectives interviewed the six-year-old victim and his mother, and the little boy told them that on November 7, his yoga teacher at the school, Hammond, gave him a hug.

Confession: Hammond (left and right) admitted to police that he touched the six-year-old over his pants and looked down his pants at the child's genitals

The boy further said that on several occasions, Hammond had reached down the front of his pants and touched him, and that the man also grabbed his buttocks multiple times after class.

Following his arrest on Tuesday, investigators asked Hammond why he targeted the six-year-old boy. The teacher was quoted as replying: 'I don't know. He is a cute child.'

Hammond was ordered held in jail on $100,000 cash-only bond, reported the station KSHB.

Police said they believe there could be additional victims out there.
Fake premium Australian Penfolds wine has been sold in China for as little as $40, with 14,000 bottles seized by police.

The counterfeit products were sold on the Chinese online shopping site Taobao and at karaoke bars.

They were sold for as little as $40 when they normally retail for the equivalent of $120 to $595.

Police in Shanghai have seized 14,000 bottles of fake premium Australian Penfolds wine (media conference display pictured)

Australian wine giant Treasury Wine Estates, the company behind premium brands Penfolds and Grange, called Taobao's Chinese parent company Alibaba to make a complaint, sparking a three-month police investigation.

Shanghai police confirmed on Wednesday they had arrested and detained 13 suspects, including a man charged with selling fake Penfolds for $40 a bottle, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

This wine dealer was found with 2000 bottles of wine in a Shanghai warehouse.

Another 10,000 bottles with fake labels were found two weeks later at two warehouses in the southeastern China port city of Xiamen, which was run by his supplier.

Shanghai police shown bottles with Rawson's Retreat and Bin 128 labelling, however many other labels were blocked out.

The haul may have included the ultra-expensive Grange variety, Fairfax Media reported.

Shanghai police arrested and detained 13 suspects accused of selling counterfeit Penfolds
President Donald Trump is refusing to take a stance on allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

Other top Republicans, and the president's daughter, condemned Moore this week over accusations that he made sexual advances on teenage girls when he was in his 30s.

All the while Trump, the highest ranking elected official in the Republican Party, continued to dodge questions about Moore since his return two days ago to Washington.

'The president believes that these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously, and he thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said from the podium, declining to 'litigate' the charges against Moore.

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President Donald Trump is refusing to take a stance on allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore

Moore accused The Washington Post of lodging 'scurrilous, false charges' against him, 'which I have emphatically denied time and time again. They're not only untrue, but they have no evidence to support them,' he said.

'The president believes that these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously, and he thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a news conference just after

Huckabee Sanders told reporters Thursday afternoon, during her first press briefing since Trump's extensive foreign trip, that the president's position is the same as it when she delivered a statement to press last Friday on his behalf.

'If the allegations are true, then that Roy Moore should step aside. He still firmly believes that,' the White House spokeswoman said.

President Trump hasn't commented on the scandal since his return to the U.S. from Asia on Tuesday evening.

Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Thursday morning that the president 'will make a statement when he wants to make a statement.'

'This is an important topic, but in terms of, in terms of this particular issue and this particular Senate race, I will not get ahead of the president and anything he wishes to add,' Conway said during an appearance on Fox & Friends.

The senior Trump aide said that she was the first administration official to come out against Moore's conduct, 'as it was described,' and made note of her attempt to put a spotlight on sexual harassment in politics a year ago, when she was at the helm of Trump's presidential campaign.

She did not call on Moore to drop out of the race, though, and would not ascribe a position to the president.

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway (left) appeared on Fox & Friends Thursday morning where the hosts asked her if President Trump planned to address the sex abuse accusations being hurled at GOP Alabama Senate hopeful Roy Moore

The president ducked questions about Moore on Thursday as he dashed across town for a caucus meeting on Capitol Hill.

Alabama Senate hopeful Roy Moore has been accused by at least eight women of inappropriate behavior with them when they were teenagers, including one woman who said Moore attempted to rape her

He left a speech Thursday, a rehash of his trip to Asia, without taking questions, as well.

Trump also declined to comment on the controversy while he was overseas, claiming ignorance.

'I've been with you folks, so I haven't gotten to see too much,' Trump said. 'So I have not seen very much about him, about it. And, you know, I put out a statement yesterday that he'll do the right thing.'

Huckabee Sanders told reporters a day prior in a statement Trump referenced that 'the President believes that we cannot allow a mere allegation -- in this case, one from many years ago -- to destroy a person's life.'

She said Trump 'also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside,' putting off further comment on the matter until the conclusion of the five-nation trip.

The most stinging rebuke from the White House has come from senior adviser and first daughter, Ivanka Trump.

'Theres a special place in hell for people who prey on children,' the first daughter said in an interview with the Associated Press.

'Ive yet to see a valid explanation [from Moore] and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts,' she said.

At a news conference Thursday, just before the White House's press briefing, Moore accused The Washington Post of lodging 'scurrilous, false charges' against him, 'which I have emphatically denied time and time again.'

'They're not only untrue, but they have no evidence to support them,' he said. 'The Washington Post is certainly not evidence.'

Huckabee Sanders would not pull Trump's endorsement of Moore from the podium.

But she also said, for the first time, that Trump 'supported the decision by the RNC to withdraw resources from this race.'

Aside from commenting that problems like sexual harassment are pervasive, Conway did not take a direct shot at Moore, who's been accused by at least eight women of inappropriate sexual behavior directed toward them as teens, in her Fox & Friends appearance on Thursday, either.

'I'm so glad women on the left, particularly on Capitol Hill, are now coming forward and want to have hearings and are swearing under oath and getting people to come forward, that's great,' Conway said today.

'I tried to do it 13 months ago, nobody wanted to listen to me because of the campaign I was managing,' she added.

President Trump hasn't addressed the Roy Moore scandal since returning home from his 12-day trip to Asia, though Conway and his daughter Ivanka Trump have chimed in

Those comments came in the aftermath of the release of Trump's infamous Access Hollywood tape, as a number of women stepped out and accused candidate Trump of sexual harassment and assault.

'I tried to make this an issue over a year ago, on October 9, 2016 when I talked about, maybe, when I was younger and prettier folks on Capitol Hill behaving in such a way,' Conway said.

The allegations against Moore go beyond harassment.

One of Moore's accusers, Beverly Young Nelson, claims the politician attempted to rape her at the age of 16.

Over on Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell  who did not support Moore in the GOP primary  has discussed a number of ways to prevent Moore from being seated, should be prevail in the January 12 special election against Democrat Doug Jones.

The latest poll from the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows Moore trailing Jones, in the deep red state of Alabama, by 12 points.

Politico reported that McConnell and his top advisers might ask Sen. Luther Strange, the Alabama Republican who holds the seat now, to resign, triggering a new special election and allowing the GOP to field a fresh candidate.

So has the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Chris Hansen, who noted that Roy Moore's rallying cry of 'Bring. It. On' was the title of a high school cheerleading movie, not a good look for someone accused of preying on teen girls

Even if Moore dropped out of the race, his name will still appear on the ballot.

Moore, however, has signaled he has no intentions to do such a thing.

On Twitter Wednesday, Moore offered fighting words in a tweet addressed to the top Senate Republican.

'Dear Mitch McConnell,' Moore wrote. 'Bring. It. On.'

Chris Hansen, the executive director of the national GOP's Senate campaign committee, which already dropped Moore, fired back on Twitter last night.

'Bring It On is a movie about high school cheerleaders,' he wrote.

When the Daily Beast reported Wednesday that Steve Bannon  who campaigned for Moore in the primary against Trump's pick, Strange  was getting cold feet, people near to the ex-White House chief strategist pushed back.

A source close to Bannon told DailyMail.com that the allegations were coming from 'locusts in the fake news media,' adding that they are 'fake attacks from New York City and Washington, D.C., by the swamp that Roy Moore intends to drain when he wins the election.'

Moore's lawyer went to bat for his client, too. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon he cast doubt on a claim that a signature in an accuser's high school yearbook that's said to be Moore's was real.

The lawyer, Phillip Jauregui, floated an unproven theory that the signature in Nelson's 1977 yearbook was counterfeited from a divorce proceeding document he signed of the accuser's in 1999.

Nelson's high-profile lawyer, Gloria Allred, said he client would testify before oath and turn the yearbook over for inspection if a Senate committee held a hearing regarding the accusations  which is unlikely.

Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity, who had given Moore 24 hours to clean up any 'inconsistencies' with his story, said Wednesday night that voters in Alabama should be the ones who decide.

Moore had written an open letter to Hannity, also pointing to the yearbook and charging, 'I believe tampering has occurred.'

'It shouldn't be decided by me,' Hannity told his viewers. 'In my opinion, the people of Alabama, they need to know the truth.'

'Whatever it means to get to the truth,' Hannity added. 'The Alabama people deserve that.'
Advertisement

Sixty-two years ago, American photographer Sam Shaw took one of the most timeless photographs: a mesmerising Marilyn Monroe having her white dress blown up above her knees.

Over the years, the actress's iconic 'flying skirt' image has inspired many shows, stars and artworks; and now it's become a new tourist attraction in a Chinese city.

The Central Avenue shopping centre in north-eastern China has installed a gigantic, 26-foot-tall statue to capture the Hollywood star in her most glamorous yet infamous moment.

Standing tall: A new shopping mall in north-east has installed an enormous Marilyn Monroe statue standing 26 feet in height

Glamorous: The sculpture captures Monroe's iconic flying-skirt moment seen in her 1955 film The Seven Year Itch (right)

The statue in China, made of aluminum and stainless steel, is an authorised copy of the famous Forever Marilyn sculpture.

Forever Marilyn was created by American artist Seward Johnson in 2011 to pay homage to Monroe's classic scene in her 1955 film, The Seven Year Itch.

The original artwork, weighing a whopping 34,000 pounds, was first installed in Chicago in July, 2011, before being moved to exhibit in various cities from 2012.

Commenting on the actress who passed away in 1962 aged 36, Artist Seward Johnson said: 'Marilyn Monroe was an icon of beauty and a complex personality.

'I think that we all maintain a curiosity about her that hasn't waned over the years.'

New attraction: The statue in the Central Avenue in Dalian is an official copy of a statue created by Seward Johnson

The glitzy Chinese shopping mall, situated in cosmopolitan Dalian city, opened to the public on October 1. The super-size sculpture immediately became a crowd-pleasing feature.

The Seward Johnson Atelier, the organisation that looks after Mr Johnson's sculpture, said the shopping mall in Dalian purchased the Monroe statue from them.

A spokesperson said: 'Our professional team installed the sculpture over three days at the center.'

It's believe that the enormous attraction was installed in the shopping mall as early as June, 2015, when the complex was still being built.

Behind the scene: The glitzy Chinese shopping mall, situated in cosmopolitan Dalian city, opened to the public on October 1

Original piece: The original Forever Marilyn statue was created by American artist Seward Johnson in 2011 to pay homage to Monroe's classic scene in 1955 film, The Seven Year Itch. It was unveiled in Chicago and has been displayed in various cities

Moving beauty: The 26-foot-tall Forever Marilyn is on display in Palm Springs, California, on September 29 2013

It's not the first time gigantic statues of Marilyn Monroe have been found in China.

In 2013, a replica of Forever Marilyn was installed in Guigang, Guangxi Province, when the city unveiled a new shopping centre, called Monroe Plaza.

However, the figure, which artists spent two years producing, was removed six months later and left in a dump site. The management of Monroe Plaza said they took away the statue after they decided to re-brand the mall.
Police are hunting for the person responsible for killing a pedestrian in a hit-and-run in New York City.

Video shows the moment that the driver of a 2016 Jeep Renegade hit 34-year-old Manhattan chef Adrian Blanc early Tuesday morning, while making an illegal turn onto a one-way street in Union Square.

The driver briefly stops after hitting Blanc, but never gets out of his car and eventually speeds away without getting help.

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Police in New York City are hunting for the driver responsible for killing a 34-year-old in a hit and run early Tuesday morning

On Wednesday, the NYPD released shocking video of the hit and run incident that claimed Adrian Blanc's life

The driver of the 2016 Jeep Renegade briefly stopped after the accident, but never got out of his car to aide Blanc

Blanc had just finished up his shift at Murray Hill restaurant Hill and Bay, and walked down to Union Square to catch the subway back to his home in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Blanc (pictured) died the next day at the hospital

The executive chef died at Bellevue Hospital the following day, tragically just a month before he was set to wed.

His fiancee was in Venezuela at the time, finalizing plans for their destination wedding.

Those plans will now be scrapped for a funeral.

On Wednesday, police released footage of the hit and run in hopes of tracking down the person responsible for Blanc's death.

They have discovered that the SUV used in the accident is a Zipcar. Zipcar is a company that charges members a monthly fee to use their fleet of cars to run errands.

It's popular in large cities like New York City where many don't own cars.

Members book cars online and gain access to them using their smartphones or a special key card.

After the fatal accident, police found the car in a parking garage in Flatbush, near the Kings County Hospital.

Blanc's brother Agner spoke with the media after his death, saying that he was the 'captain of the ship' of their family

Police say they still don't know who the driver is, and have been dusting the vehicle for fingerprints in hopes of identifying them that way.

It's unclear if the person who used the Zipcar had done so legally.

Blanc's brother Agner spoke to the media after his death and said he was the head of their family.

'He was the oldest brother, and like I said, he was the captain of this ship, he was the captain, he was the glue, so this is a really hard time for us to have to go through this,' Agner said.

His death is all the more tragic because he was planning on starting a family soon, like he had always dreamed of.

'He wanted kids. He loved my kids so much. I was actually with him on Sunday and he was playing with my son and, it's just, I'm at a loss for words,' Agner said.

The family is calling on the public to help track down Blanc's killer.

'We would like for him to receive the justice that is due,' he said.

Anyone with information on the incident is being asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. Spanish speakers can call 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are confidential.

Blanc was just a month away from getting married. His brother said he looked forward to starting a family
A Canadian University has found itself in the middle of a human rights complaint after a male student came to school with disturbing child fetishes including wearing diapers and having the stories of Beatrix Potter read to him by an English professor.

Katrin Roth, Vancouver Island University's former director of human rights and workplace safety ended up filing the complaint alleging the Nanaimo university failed to adequately support and protect professors, staff and students.

In 105-page complaint to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, several women became so disturbed by the man, they had to change their daily routines to avoid him.

Vancouver Island University, has found itself in the middle of a human rights complaint after a male student came to school with disturbing child fetishes and wearing diapers

One woman had her husband accompany her to a night class while another became frightened when she realized the man was watching her come and go from the university, according to The Times Colonist.

Roth says she learned that the student harassed several women, complimenting them on their clothing while leering at their chests, repeatedly asking staff members to go on dates, and following female staff members.

She says more should have been done to protect university employees.

'There were a number of opportunities where the university could have prevented more women being sexually exploited in this manner,' she said.

Janis Ledwell-Hunt, a professor of English women's studies at VIU complained to the university about the man's behavior after he brought children's books into class

'He will not stop unless we make him,' said Roth. 'I truly believe that he needs to be medically assessed as to whether he's a risk to the community,' she said to CBC.

The complaint reveals how in 2015, the man submitted a photo of himself partially nude alongside a dirty diaper as part of an English essay.

Janis Ledwell-Hunt, a professor of English women's studies at VIU, says she noticed the student's odd behavior when she was his professor at the Cowichan campus in 2015.

'He started to bring children's books into class and asked that I read them aloud,' she said to CTV News.

'On the day he included a photo of himself wearing nothing but a diaper. My heart went to my throat because it was then that I recognized that in his interactions with me all along, he had been manipulating me into this form of role play,' she said.

Ledwell-Hunt alleges that when she alerted VIU administration that the student was sexually harassing her, the university failed to take action. Instead, they asked her instead to continue teaching the student. She refused.

Those with the fetish, which is recognized by psychiatrists, become sexually aroused by such activities as wearing diapers, eating baby food, and having their diapers changed (stock / file photo)

On two occasions the man is alleged to have asked the university's nurse to change his dirty diapers, although she refused the second time.

In fact, it was only after that nurse spoke with other VIU colleagues that she learned about his inappropriate manner with other employees.

Even in emails, he communicated in childish, baby talk opening a message 'Hewoh'.

He wrote about how he had enjoyed the day's stories, 'especially the pee pee part!' and then went onto reveal how he 'sometimes call people poo poo heads.'

It's not clear whether the man is still a student at Vancouver Island University.

Shelley Legin, the university's chief financial officer and vice-president of administration has said the university is confident it took appropriate actions to maintain safety for everyone on campus.

'We will follow our procedures and policies, our risk-mitigation protocols and risk assessment protocols to make sure we continue to make VIU a great place to learn,' she said.

'We believe the adult male needs professional psychological help,' Roth wrote in an email.

'The case is about his behavior, the imposition of his fetish on non-consenting women at the university and the inadequacy of the university's response to the concerns of those women.'

In the event of any more complaints, the university says it will review its policies and procedures and make any necessary changes.

Roth says she was fired from working at the university in January, for what she believes is retaliation for her investigative work into the harassment complaints.

The Human Rights Tribunal is currently reviewing the complaint.
Thomas Riffenburg, 31, confessed to killing his girlfriend and her son who mysteriously went missing in 2009

A man convicted in the murder of a fellow inmate has confessed to killing his girlfriend and her 16-month-old son who vanished eight years ago.

Thomas Riffenburg, 31, revealed in a recent letter to a special agent at the Oregon Department of Justice he received a 'smack on the head from God' leading him to reveal the truth about the disappearance of Jennifer Walsh, 23, and baby Alexander.

'I told the authorities on 6-20-17 that I killed both of them, and I told them where to find the bodies,' Riffenburg wrote in the shocking letter to Jodi Shimanek dated back in June.

'I don't expect any of you to forgive me, I wouldn't, and don't,' he said, while admitting how 'wrong' the cruel crimes he committed were.

Walsh and her baby boy were reported missing on January 11, 2009 by the victim's mother, Joanne Fern, according to CNN, who also obtained the court documents.

Walsh's mother told authorities an alleged account from Riffenburg of the incidents that took place at an unemployment office prior to their disappearance.

'Walsh had been caught with a bag of marijuana inside the office. Fearing the drug possession could lead authorities to take her child, she hurried out to her boyfriend, who was waiting in her van, and told him to drive away with the boy,' according to CNN.

After several days had passed, the mother had not heard from or seen her daughter or grandson and went to file a missing persons report.

Jennifer Walsh, 23, (left) and baby Alexander are shown. Riffenburg admitted to killing Walsh and baby Alexander by suffocation in a letter to a special agent dated back in June

When she returned home that same day, she found several of her expensive belongings had been stolen from her safe.

Riffenburg reportedly left a letter behind for Fern - which stated that 'he and Jennifer were leaving for a better life.'

In a follow-up interview on the missing persons report in 2009, Riffenburg admitted to stealing the jewelry and money from his girlfriend's mother, and alleged the couple moved to a new area in California at the time.

However, he did not release details of where - citing he 'did not want her parents involved in her life again.'

It had been revealed Riffenburg, the girlfriend and baby Alexander (pictured) were living with another one of Fern's daughters briefly before the victims were killed

Alexander was only 16-months-old at the time he was murdered. The convicted killer told a special agent he couldn't keep Jennifer and Alexander 'in the picture' anymore

Riffenburg then later told authorities Walsh and baby Alexander died in a traffic accident, but no evidence of the missing persons were found or clues as to what had happened, according to CNN.

After their disappearance, Riffenburg lived a continuous life of crime.

While he was serving time for other offenses, Riffenburg severely beat his prison mate to death in a stomping attack.

An autopsy revealed the man died by blunt-force trauma to the head.

In 2015, Riffenburg pleaded guilty to his murder and was sentenced to life behind bars.

Walsh and her baby boy were reported missing on January 11, 2009 by the victim's mother, Joanne Fern (pictured above in a Facebook image)

Fern told authorities about the alleged story from Riffenburg following her daughter and grandson's disappearance

Now, the convicted killer has revealed to Shimanek that he couldn't keep Jennifer and Alexander in the picture.

He said he had made some sort of 'promise to people he'd previously done time behind bars with' who he considered to be his new 'family'.

Riffenburg also vaguely alleged in the letter something had happened to him in prison that caused him to kill his fellow inmate.

'When I go to court for this, I will simply tell them that I am guilty, and offer no excuses,' he said in the letter.

'I'm sorry, for what I did to them, and what I did [to] you ... If you want the full story, I will tell you, just let me know.'

Riffenburg and Alexander lived with Walsh at her sister's home temporarily before the mother and son disappeared.

Fern told CNN that authorities recently recovered the bodies of the woman in the sister's backyard and the child in hers.

Investigators are currently awaiting DNA results to confirm the identities.

In a written exchange to Riffenburg, Fern told the murderer she did not want him to receive the death penalty for one reason - and one reason only.

'You will live your life with this burden until the end days when God will see that it is your time to go meet him and he will decide your fate,' Fern wrote.
Elephants are magnificent creatures.

Theyre the largest land mammals, for one.

They also up there with chimpanzees as the smartest, possessing the biggest brains of any animal and three times as many neurons as humans.

This cerebral power enables them to comprehend emotions like grief, joy and anger, and it makes them quick learners, fiercely loyal, resourceful, playful and possessed of great memories. Scientists have established elephants never forget a face.

Unfortunately, they also have giant tusks made of ivory, one of the worlds most coveted materials.

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International wildlife organisations have reacted with fury to the Trump administration's decision to let big game hunters bring elephants trophies back to the U.S. Donald Trump Jr is pictured with the tail of an elephant on one of his hunting trips to Zimbabwe in 2011

The decision comes after a campaign by the NRA on behalf of big game hunters. The president's sons Donald Jr (left) and Eric Trump (right) have previously been on big game hunting trips to Africa (pictured)

This makes elephants the No1 target for poachers keen to cash in on the massive market, particularly in Asia, for illegal ivory trade.

The effects of this market are drastic and horrifying.

At the turn of the 20th Century, there were estimated to be as many as 4-5 million African elephants in the wild, and over 100,000 Asian elephants.

Today, those numbers are down to around 400,000 and 35,000.

The slaughter is relentless: at least 100 killed by poachers every single day.

Two years ago, Minnesota dentist Dr Walter Palmer (right) paid $50,000 to hunt and kill Cecil the Lion (left) in Zimbabwe; it prompted a global outcry but President Trump has made it clear he wants more, not fewer Dr Palmers

They are also killed by trophy-hunters, mostly rich American businessmen who pay small fortunes to fly over to the African bush to hunt and kill big game like elephants, lions and rhinos.

Then they fly their trophies home in the form of the animals heads, horns, tusks or skins - to mount on their walls as proud momentos of their sickening holidays.

Ive never understood trophy hunting, nor the delight those who partake in it feel about what they do.

To gleefully celebrate slaying such wonderful animals in their natural habitat, knowing they are all facing possible extinction, seems so unutterably snivelling and cowardly.

Three years ago, Barack Obama tackled the trophy-hunters head on by announcing a ban on US citizens bringing home remains of elephants legally hunted in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

It was a move celebrated by most respected conservationists, who have long believed trophy hunting simply encourages more slaughter and more poaching.

Yet Donald Trump has now inexplicably decided to reverse the ban.

Yesterday, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced it had determined trophy hunters could actually help endangered animals like elephants 'by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation.

It provided no hard evidence to support this assertion.

This move comes just days after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke established an International Wildlife Conservation Council to advise him on how to increase Americans public awareness of conservation and the economic benefits that result from US citizens traveling abroad to hunt.

Ah yes, those fabled economic benefits.

There is a horrible irony in President Trumps decision coming on the same day Zimbabwes corrupt dictator Robert Mugabe was finally deposed in a military coup

That was the argument made by supporters of Minnesota dentist Dr Walter Palmer after he was exposed two years ago for paying $50,000 to hunt and kill a lion called Cecil in Zimbabwe.

The fact that Cecil was a deeply beloved star tourist attraction at Hwange national park didnt matter to Palmer.

Nothing was going to stop him getting his moneys worth, which meant luring Cecil out of the park, shooting him with a bow-and-arrow, then stalking the poor wounded beast for 40 hours before shooting him dead with a gun.

Palmer and his cohorts then beheaded Cecil, and skinned him, before leaving his rotting carcass lying outside the park.

It prompted a global outcry but President Trump has today made it clear he wants more, not fewer Dr Palmers.

The reason may be as simple as pleasing his family.

In 2012, photos were leaked to the media of Donald Trumps sons Donald Jr. and Eric taken during a big game hunting safari in Zimbabwe. In one of the pictures, Donald Jr. is seen posing next to a dead elephant hed just shot to death. He is clutching a large knife, the elephants severed tail and a proud smile.

Other snaps showed them beaming broadly next to the freshly slain carcasses of leopards and crocodiles.

Ive known both men for over a decade and I like them.

The lifting of the ban on elephant trophies has been greeted with outrage by conservation groups

The international ivory network links Africa with Asia, where most of the demand comes from

But I loathe their love of trophy hunting and found these images repulsive.

There is a horrible irony in President Trumps decision coming on the same day Zimbabwes corrupt dictator Robert Mugabe was finally deposed in a military coup.

This appalling decision doesnt make America great again; it makes America cruel again

Mugabe was infamous for encouraging the poaching and illegal export of ivory tusks. He even celebrated his birthday last year by feasting on an elephant.

Under his evil 37-year regime, Zimbabwes elephant population has declined dramatically and poaching has actually increased in areas where trophy hunting is permitted  nailing the lie that it helps not harms animal conservation.

In Zambia, the situation is even worse, with the elephant population falling from 200,000 in 1972 to just 21,000 now.

If trophy hunting conserves elephants, then how does anyone explain these numbers?

The truth is that much of the revenue from trophy-hunting is woefully and often deliberately mismanaged, meaning just a small fraction of it ever trickles down to the communities.

The revenue from animal tourism is massively higher, far more sustainable, and infinitely more likely to help conserve the wild beasts it promotes.

The reality is that trophy-hunting does nothing but sate the repellent blood-lust of corpulent American businessmen, substantially raise the value of the animals they hunt, and encourage poachers to strive even harder for a piece of the action.

Theres also another, even more sinister side to elephant hunting.

A 2015 film, Warlords of Ivory, proved in graphic detail how ivory trafficking now funds the activities of terrorists groups operating in Africa, including psychopath Joseph Konys Lords Resistance Army, Al Shabaab and even ISIS.

Countries where it is still legal to hunt elephants South Africa

Zimbabwe

Zambia

Mozambique

Namibia

Tanzania

Cameroon

Gabon Advertisement

The documentary showed how elephants are mass-slaughtered in places like the Congo by poachers firing guns from helicopters. Their tusks are then removed by chainsaws and taken to the terror groups where the ivory is sold on in exchange for money or weapons.

Terrorists would have no interest in killing elephants for ivory if it wasnt so valuable. So the ivory trade is thus directly supporting the very terror Donald Trump claims he wants to eradicate.

Of course, there will always be a market for illegal ivory. But the way to reduce its value is to make the wider public realise just how vile this trade is, just how damaging it is to the elephant population, and just how it is directly funding terrorists.

The National Rifle Association was quick off the mark to praise Trumps trophy hunting green light.

By lifting the import ban on trophies in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Trump administration underscored the importance of sound scientific wildlife management and regulated hunting to the survival of game species in this country and worldwide, said Chris Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action.

As so often, the NRAs twisted logic is utterly nonsensical.

Just as you dont stop mass shootings by flooding the civilian population with more guns, so you dont stop the illicit murder of elephants by flooding the African bush with American trophy hunters wanting a nice big tusk to adorn their office wall.

This appalling decision doesnt make America great again; it makes America cruel again.

It also makes America less safe.

Shame on you, Mr President.
The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor.

Federal prosecutors say they will 'carefully consider next steps' over whether to re-try Menendez and a wealthy friend.

Menendez blasted prosecutors and says the way the case was investigated and the way prosecutors brought charges and tried the case was wrong, according to NJ.com.

'The way this case started was wrong. The way it was investigated was wrong. The way it was prosecuted was wrong. And the way it was tried was wrong as well,' Menendez said.

He thanked the jury 'who saw through the government's false claim and used their Jersey common sense to reject it,' NBC News reported.

Senator Bob Menendez fights tears as he speaks to reporters outside Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse after US District Judge William Walls declared a mistrial in Menendez's federal corruption trial on Thursday in Newark

Fighting tears, he thanked his attorneys and his supporters, including fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Senator Lindsey Graham.

Menendez said that the FBI and the Justice Department 'certainly cannot understand that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County can grow up to be a United States senator and be honest.'

'To those who left me, who abandoned me in my darkest moments, I forgive you. To those who embraced me in my darkest moments, I love you,' Menendez said.

'To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I won't forget you.'

Menedez said he plans to return to the Senate as soon as possible.

'I have served with honesty and integrity, and have given it my all every day,' Menendez said.

'I look forward to going back to Washington and fighting for the people of New Jersey.'

Before getting in his car, he told reporters: 'I leave here today in the same way that I walked in, innocent.'

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department said that it appreciates the service of the jury, which told a judge it was deadlocked Thursday before he declared a mistrial.

Juror Edward Norris says that 10 of the 12 jurors wanted to acquit Menendez, while two were holding out for a conviction.

The inconclusive end to the 2-month trial could leave the charges hanging over Menendez as he gears up for an expected run for re-election next year to the Senate

The jury Thursday they reviewed the evidence 'slowly and thoroughly and in great detail' but remained deadlocked.

Menendez said Thursday that the way the case was investigated and the way prosecutors brought charges and tried the case was wrong.

He also thanked those that helped him raise millions for his legal defense fund.

US District Judge William Walls declared the mistrial after more than six full days of deliberations that had to be re-started midway through when a juror was replaced.

The inconclusive end to the 2-month trial could leave the charges hanging over Menendez as he gears up for an expected run for re-election next year to the Senate, where the Republicans hold a slim edge and the Democrats need every vote they can get.

Menendez, 63, is accused of using his political influence to help Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for luxury vacations in the Caribbean and Paris, flights on Melgen's private jet and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to organizations that supported the senator directly or indirectly.

Prosecutors said Menendez pressured government officials on Melgen's behalf over an $8.9million Medicare billing dispute and a stalled contract to provide port screening equipment in the Dominican Republic, and also helped obtain US visas for the doctor's girlfriends.

The defense argued that the gifts were not bribes but tokens of friendship between two men who were 'like brothers.'

In Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell's closing argument, he used the words 'friend,' ''friends' or 'friendship' more than 80 times.

Menendez (center) stands with his daughter, Alicia (left), as his lawyer Abbe Lowell (right) speaks to reporters outside the courthouse

Menendez's lawyers contended also that the government failed to establish a direct connection between Melgen's gifts and specific actions taken by the senator.

Prosecutors said that didn't matter.

Melgen, they said, essentially put Menendez on the payroll and made the politician his 'personal senator,' available as needed.

The two men faced about a dozen counts each, including bribery, conspiracy and honest services fraud.

The most serious charge against Menendez, honest services fraud, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The jury deliberated most of last week, then restarted on Monday with an alternate after a member was excused because of a long-planned vacation.

Melgen is already facing the possibility of a long prison sentence after being convicted in April of bilking Medicare out of as much as $105million by performing unneeded tests and treatments.

Menendez, who has been under indictment for 2 years, raised $2.58million for his Senate campaign from January through September, according to federal campaign finance filings.

The Republicans have a 52-48 edge in the Senate as they try to push through President Donald Trump's agenda.

The last sitting senator convicted of a crime was Ted Stevens of Alaska, a Republican found guilty in 2008 of concealing more than $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts.

His conviction was later thrown out because of prosecutorial misconduct, and he died in a 2010 plane crash.

The Menendez case was the first major federal bribery trial since the US Supreme Court in 2016 threw out the conviction of Republican former Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and narrowed the definition of bribery.

In recent months, the McDonnell ruling led judges to overturn the convictions of at least three other public officials, including a former Louisiana congressman.

Menendez's lawyers had likewise hoped to get the case against the senator dismissed, but the judge refused.

Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants, served in the House from 1993 until he was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in 2006.

He has chaired the Foreign Relations Committee and was a major player in the unsuccessful bipartisan 'Gang of Eight' effort to overhaul the nation's immigration laws in 2013.

More recently, he drew the ire of some fellow Democrats when he opposed President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran and efforts to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Disturbing footage seized by police shows bloodied birds being trained by a cockfighting gang in east London.

In the video, which was seized by police during a raid in Ilford, east London, one gang member is seen training and breeding cockerels to fight and even referred to one of his hens as a producer of 'champions'.

Cockerels armed with sharpened spurs were pitched against one another in an outbuilding where the group had specifically designed a ring compete with seats around the edge and fake grass in the centre.

In the video, which was seized by police during a raid in Ilford, east London, one gang member is seen training and breeding cockerels to fight and even referred to one of his hens as a producer of 'champions'

When cops raided the fighting pit they found fresh cockerel blood splattered across white walls and found several distressed birds flapping around inside.

A blood-stained towel was also found and the cockerels were found to have wounds including one deep cut to the neck which someone had attempted to stitch up.

A total of ten cockerels and two hens were seized by police and animal welfare officers during the raid in January.

Mohammed Arif, 44, Akhtar Hussain, 47, Mehtab Ahmed, 41, Mohammed Asab, 51, Altaf Hussain, 54, and a 16-year-old boy were found guilty of animal welfare offences at Barkingside Magistrates court.

A blood stained towel was also found and the cockerels were found to have wounds including one deep cut to the neck which someone had attempted to stitch up

RSPCA inspector Cliff Harrison, who led the investigation, said: 'The RSPCA and police received reports of a cockfight taking place in an outbuilding in Ilford on 2 January this year.

When officers attended, seven men were found in the outbuilding and a bird was spotted flapping around inside.

'Officers also saw someone put something into a cat carrier and, when later searched, an injured cockerel was found inside.

'An artificial grass square was being used as the cock fighting pit and seats had been arranged around the edge like a viewing area. Fresh blood was splashed across the fake grass and there was blood splattered up the white walls behind. That blood was tested and found to be from a cockerel.'

When cops asked Asab how the bird with the neck wound came to be injured he lied and claimed it had been attacked by a fox.

During the raid police seized mobile phones and uncovered dozens of pictures and videos of Aseel cockerels, which originate from India and Pakistan.

A seventh suspect believed to have been attending the cockfighting matches could not be traced by police.

Inspector Harrison added: 'Training muffs - used to cover the bird's spurs while training - were found alongside a stooge training bird.

'Subsequent tests of two of Asab's birds found that they attacked the training aid without prompting and one of the birds had sharpened spurs - a common cockfighting tactic.

Training muffs - used to cover the bird's spurs while training - were found in the den

'Three of the birds seized from the property had injuries consistent with cockfighting, and one of the cocks have a large open wound on his neck with signs of previous attempts to stitch it up. When asked how the bird came to be injured, Asab told us he had been attacked by a fox.

'We discovered vital evidence on one of the mobile phones which included videos of cocks fighting a stooge bird, a presentation of a 'champion' trophy at a meet as well as introductions to some of the breeding hens.

'This footage was so important as it showed not only was Asab training cocks to fight but he was also breeding birds for fighting, saying one of his hens produced 'champions'.'

At Romford Magistrates Court the youth was handed an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay 180 in costs and a 20 victim surcharge.

Asab and his co-defendants Arif, both of Ilford east London, Hussain, Greenhill Grove, east London, Ahmed, of Woodford Green, east London and Hussain, of Coventry, West Midlands, were bailed to appear back at court in December for sentencing.

Cockfighting was banned in England in 1835 but still goes on in various circles with successful prosecutions in Brighton in 2012 and Bournemouth in 2014.
Indio police have released harrowing bodycam footage showing the moment a gas explosion inside a California home nearly killed two officers.

Officer Nathan Quintana and Officer Israel Campoa were dispatched to a call regarding the smell of gas coming from a home in August.

Footage from both officers' bodycams shows the moment an ignition source inside the house caused an explosion.

Footage from Officer Campoa's bodycam shows the terrifying moment a ball of flames engulfs another police officer

Officer Quintana was standing directly next to the site of the blast. He sustained second degree burns on his right arm

Campoa was standing further away from the blast and the bodycam captured a large ball of flames.

Quintana was directly next to the home and was in the middle of the blast. He suffered second degree burns on his right arm.

Despite his injury, Quintana continued assisting nearby residents in evacuation efforts. He has since returned to full duty.

The resident of the home, 61-year-old David Lee Ellis, died the next morning from injuries he sustained in the explosion.
The Government could abandon its attempt to write the date of Brexit into law in the face of Tory rebellion, a senior Cabinet minister hinted today.

Justice Secretary David Lidington said the Government was listening closely to the concerns of colleagues as it fights to the crucial Repeal Bill through the Commons.

And he said the amendment only ever sought to clarify 'beyond doubt' something that is already a fact of EU law.

Theresa May unveiled a controversial plan to write a Brexit date of 11pm March 29, 2019, onto the face of the new laws last week.

But it is bitterly opposed by a hard core of Tory rebels who warn it needlessly adds pressure to the Brexit negotiations by ruling out even a short extension to get a deal.

Despite Mrs May's personal presentation of the plan last week, No 10 today made little effort to dampen speculation triggered by Mr Lidington's remarks.

Justice Secretary David Lidington said the Government was listening closely to the concerns of colleagues as it fights to the crucial Repeal Bill through the Commons

Mrs May's move was widely seen as a concession to Brexit hardliners but with Labour and the SNP also opposed the idea faces defeat in the Commons next month.

At a Westminster lunch today, Mr Lidington was asked if the Government would press ahead with the amendment if it looked likely to lose.

He replied: 'There are suggestions that have been made during the committee phase about how the Bill might be improved.

'We will listen to ideas from colleagues across the House during the Bill's progress in both Commons and Lords.

BREXIT BILL: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT MPs have launched the second day of committee stage debate on crucial Brexit laws called the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. There are another six days still to schedule - all eights hours each - as MPs look at the laws line by line. Ministers hope to finish all six by Christmas. Each day includes dangerous votes the Government could lose. The most hazardous issues facing ministers are on fixing Brexit Day in law, operation of so-called 'Henry VIII powers' and leaving behind the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The legislation will then be back in the Commons in January for further scrutiny. The whole marathon process must then be repeated in the House of Lords. The Bill must be finished by March 29, 2019. Advertisement

'All that clause was designed to do was clarify beyond doubt what is already inherent in the wording of Article 50.

'Article 50 says that two years after notification, unless there is a withdrawal agreement that comes into effect earlier, the treaties cease to apply that is leaving. That is written into European law.'

No 10 made little effort to defend the amendment, insisting the Government would 'listen to the views' of critics.

Mrs May's spokesman said: 'We put forward the amendment. That amendment remains.'

The question of the Brexit debate is one of three issues where a hard core of around 15 Remain-supporting Tory rebels potentially have the numbers to defeat the Government.

As soon as next Tuesday, clashes over the Charter of Fundamental Rights could consign Mrs May to embarrassing defeat while losses are also possible on powers for ministers to tweak EU laws as they are copied into UK law.

After winning 10 votes this week, the Government must still find a way to navigate six more days of parliamentary trench warfare over of its Repeal Bill.

In other remarks today, Mr Lidington denied there was 'bad blood' around the Cabinet table and drew a positive contrast to when the Tories tore themselves apart over Europe in the 1990s.

He said: 'Sometimes I read the reports in the papers about Cabinet discussions that took place the day before and I think I must have either been asleep or at a different meeting.

Theresa May unveiled a controversial plan to write a Brexit date of 11pm March 29, 2019, onto the face of the new laws last week

'We had the discussions just before the Florence Speech. I read what had been said by who at the meeting and I just didn't recognise it.

'Around that table there are people who campaigned very actively for both sides in the referendum. Even among Remainers and Leavers people have different views as individuals.

'The point about Cabinet is people come, they have a discussion, we make suggestions and then we agree on the Government position.'

Mr Lidington said claims in the press this week that Tory rebels were 'mutineers' or 'collaborators' had helped bind the party together.

He said: 'I was here from 1992-97. While there are some similarities in terms of parliamentary arithmetic, what is very different is the culture in the Conservative Party.

'There is not the bad blood as at that time, two years after the over throw of Margaret Thatcher.

'What we saw yesterday was deep and sincere differences between different Conservatives but both sides respected the integrity of the other.'

Rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve (pictured in the Commons today) has threatened to vote down controversial plans to write the Brexit date into law

In remarks likely to irritate Brexiteers, Mr Lidington said his views on Brexit had not changed since he campaigned for Remain.

The former Europe Minister, who spent six years stumping for Britain in European capitals, said he had promised his constituents to deliver the result even if he disagreed.

He said: 'It was not the most enjoyable gig in politics to get on a plane at about 8am on the Friday the day after the referendum to go to Luxembourg and explain to the Council of Ministers what had happened.

'Clearly for me it was deeply disappointing. I haven't changed my view about the stance I took in the referendum but I also said... we were putting this decision to the people and the people would have the final say.

'You have to honour that.'

Signalling the rebels' resolution on Monday night ex Attorney General Dominic Grieve warned there were 'no ifs, no buts' in his commitment to continue to oppose the Government on writing the Brexit date into law.

After winning 10 votes this week, the Government must still find a way to navigate six more days of parliamentary trench warfare over of its Repeal Bill (pictured is one of the votes being declared last night)

The group of rebels had an angry showdown with Tory chief whip Julian Smith earlier this week and there are enough of them to inflict a series of humiliating defeats on Theresa May if they are joined by all opposition MPs.

Mrs May today played down an increasingly angry row inside and outside the Tory party about the Bill, which has seen rebels labelled 'collaborators' and 'mutineers'.

Rebel Anna Soubry today revealed she had received death threats after being featured on the front page of national papers.

At PMQs, Mrs May said: 'There is a lively debate going on in this place and that is right and proper, and that's important.

'There are strong views held on different sides of this argument about the EU, on both sides of this House.

'What we are doing as a Government is... Listening carefully to those who wish to improve the Bill.'

Ministers insist the laws under debate today are necessary to ensure the UK statute book works properly on the first day of Brexit in March 2019 but could be forced to back down to avert defeat in the Commons in the coming weeks.
Ahmad Zeidan, from Reading in Berkshire, was put behind bars in 2014 after 0.04g of cocaine was found in a car in which he was a passenger

A British student has been freed from prison in the United Arab Emirates after a three-year battle for his release.

Ahmad Zeidan, from Reading in Berkshire, was given a nine year prison sentence in 2014 after 0.04g of cocaine, with a street value of 5 in the UK, was found in a car in which he was a passenger.

The 23-year-old, who has always protested his innocence, was finally freed after a 4,000 fine was paid to the Dubai authorities.

His father, Manal, told the BBC: 'We are overjoyed... he is finally free and still can't believe it's real.'

Mr Zeidan now wants to restart his education and recover from his ordeal.

The aviation student was studying in Dubai when he was arrested in December 2013 in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah.

In a dramatic phone call from his cell two days after his trial in Dubai, he said he only signed the confession, in Arabic, because he was hooded, repeatedly beaten, stripped naked and threatened with sexual assault.

'I didn't know what I was signing. I can't read Arabic,' he said. 'But I wanted the torture to stop.'

Mr Zeidan said he had gone for a drive with two acquaintances one evening when the car, being driven by a man he barely knew, was stopped by police.

The drugs were found in a bag in the glove compartment.

The 23-year-old, who has always protested his innocence, was finally freed at a 4,000 fine was paid to the Dubai authorities

The two other men, both locals, received much shorter sentences of four and six years before being given pardons.

Mr Zeidan said his was longer because he faced a charge of 'inciting' the others to use the drug  on the basis of the disputed confession.

'I had no idea there were drugs in the car. I only signed the papers after hours and hours of torture that went on for days,' he said.

'Every time the guards' shift changed, they would beat me. They stripped me and said they would have me raped.'

Another prisoner, who was facing trial on rape charges, was moved into his cell and threatened to sexually assault him. When he complained, he was beaten again, then put in solitary confinement.

He added: 'For eight days I just disappeared. My family had no idea where I was, and they [the authorities] wouldn't let me call the British Embassy.

'A lot of the time I was hooded. They were the worst days of my life.'

When Mr Zeidan was finally allowed to meet consular staff, UK officials raised his claims with the Sharjah authorities.

Mr Zeidan studied in Dubai (pictured) in the UAE, where human rights lawyers have alleged 20 torture cases

They were told he was being punished for making 'false allegations' about the rape threat. UAE authorities denied ever torturing the student.

Mr Zeidan's family sought the help of human rights charity Reprieve, which led to a meeting between the British Foreign Office and the UAE governments in March 2016.

This came to nothing so the student went on a three-day hunger strike, before unsuccessfully appealing for a royal pardon.

His sentence was reduced from nine years to seven after a court appeal in October, before this was reduced again to five and Mr Zeidan's freedom granted after his family paid the fine.

The Foreign Office said: 'Our staff assisted a British man and his family during his detention and subsequent release in the UAE.'

The International Campaign for Freedom in the UAE said: 'Whilst we welcome the release of Ahmad Zeidan, we urgently call upon the Emirati authorities to institute a judicial system that is in line with internationally recognised legal standards.

'It is imperative that Zeidan's case be understood within a wider climate of repression inside the country, where in recent years there have been numerous cases of both Emirati's and non-Emirati's being subjected to all manner of mistreatment, including torture, by the UAE authorities.'
A Colombian teacher forced high-school students to have sex with her in order to get good grades.

Yokasta M, 40, groomed teenage boys at at an undisclosed school in Medellin, Colombia, and would threaten to fail them if they did not sleep with her.

The married teacher was caught after a student told his parents, and in addition to a divorce, she is now facing 40 years in jail.

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Predator: Yokasta M. would approach teenage boys in class at a school and ask for their phone number to 'help them with their studies'

The incidents took place between January and April 2016, Canal 4 reports.

The teacher approached her students aged 16 and 17 on social media or asked for their phone numbers in class to 'help with their studies'.

She allegedly used WhatsApp messenger to send explicit images and proposals to her students.

Dozens of photos sent to the teenagers show Yokasta M. posing in underwear or a bikini, and sometimes only covering her modesty with her hands or fluffy toys.

Grooming: If the students did not comply and sleep with her, she would threaten to fail them. Yokasta M was not caught for months, and neither parents nor school knew of her abuse until a father found images on his son's mobile phone

Crime spree: The incidents took place in Medellin, Colombia between January and April 2016

She reportedly invited the teenage boys to her flat where she made them engage in sex acts by telling them that she would fail them if they refused.

The married 40-year-old's cover was finally blown by a father of one of her victims, who checked his son's mobile phone.

She is now facing a substantial jail sentence and her husband has filed for divorce.

Once she was arrested, one of her students posed some of the images she had sent them online.

The trove of images were captioned: 'This is the teacher Yokasta, who tells us that she disapproves of us if we do not have relations with her. '

As a result, the story went viral across South America, with reactions varying from outrage to jokes that the teenagers were 'probably not complaining'.




Bad teacher: Special education teacher Monica Snee, 51, has been arrested in Maryland on a slew of drug possession and distribution charges

A special education teacher in a Maryland high school has been charged with selling drugs and opioid prescription pills on school property.

Monica Snee, 51, of Salisbury, was arrested on Tuesday on seven criminal counts, among them possession of heroin; distribution of heroin; distribution of heroin on school property; possession and distribution of oxycodone and distribution of suboxone on school property.

Donna Hanlin, the superintendent of Wicomico County public schools, says the alleged drug sales took place in a parking lot behind Parkside High School, where Snee worked as a special education teacher.

Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis says the investigation started in October when a recovering addict came forward to reveal his previous drug source, who was identified as Snee.

Just before 3pm on Tuesday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Snee as she drove off school grounds.

Sheriff's deputies in Wicomico County pulled over Snee's vehicle (pictured) on Tuesday after getting a tip from a recovering addict who named her as his former drug source

Stash: A search of Snee's SUV yielded more than 100 capsules of heroin, hundreds of oxycodone pills, strips of suboxone, $3,000 in cash and empty plastic baggies

When they searched her SUV, deputies recovered more than 100 capsules of heroin, hundreds of oxycodone pills and a small amount of suboxone strips.

Snee did not have a prescription of either the oxycodone or the suboxone nor were they in a proper prescription container, according to a press release from the Wicomico County Sheriffs Office.

Side job: Snee is accused of dealing drugs at the high school where she worked

The 51-year-old teacher was also found to be in possession of almost $3,000.00 in cash and a supply of empty plastic baggies commonly used in the distribution of illegal narcotics.

During Snee initial court appearance on Wednesday, a judge set her bond at $50,000.

Administrators at Parkside High School placed Snee on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, reported DelmarvaNow.com.

Parkside Principal Kim Pinhey contacted students' parents by phone on Tuesday to deliver the news of Snee's arrest, according to a press release put out by the county schools superintendent.

'Every day, you trust your children to our care, and our number one priority is the safety of our students,' Pinhey was quoted as saying on the call. 'It is a responsibility that we do not take lightly. Please be assured I will always take immediate action anytime there appears to have been a violation of the trust between students and educators.'

As of Thursday morning, Snee's name has been scrubbed from the Parkside High School's website.
A pervert who travelled more than 150 miles to meet an underage boy has been jailed for more than a year after he was snared by vigilantes.

Kevin Bingham, 52, began chatting to a 14-year-old boy called Thomas over dating site Grindr in October last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Bingham, who already had a police caution for kissing an underage boy, started sending illicit images of himself to the account 'within hours' and also sent a video of an adult man masturbating.

Kevin Bingham thought he had been chatting to a 14-year-old called Thomas over dating site Grindr in October last year

He was duped by Guardians of the North - an organisation with members who pose as children online to snare adults looking for underage sex

Within days Bingham had booked a seaside hotel at Whitley Bay in North Tyneside and travelled over 150 miles to meet the boy at a McDonald's in Sunderland.

When he arrived at the meeting point, Bingham was confronted by Guardians of the North, a group of 'paedophile hunters' who had set up the account and posed as a young boy to snare Bingham.

The court heard when his mobile phone was examined, police found 199 indecent images and movies of children.

The court heard when his mobile phone was examined, police found 199 indecent images and movies of children

Bingham, of no fixed address, admitted attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to meet a child following grooming.

He also pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced him to 16 months behind bars with lifelong sex offender registration and sexual harm prevention order.

The judge told him: 'Images were being sent within hours of contact. A hotel had been booked and you were travelling within days.

Bingham, of no fixed address, admitted attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to meet a child following grooming

He also pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children. Above is a conversation between 'Thomas' and Bingham

'Your position is aggravated by the previous caution.'

The court heard Bingham, who was married with children when he 'came out to friends as family as gay' in his 40s, lost his marriage and people close to him due to the revelation.

Jamie Adams, defending, said Bingham was at a 'low ebb' when he committed the offences but has numerous references to his ordinarily positive character.
A mystery artist emulating Banksy is giving away his work for free by scrawling his pieces on shopping bags.

To feast your eyes on Banksy's iconic work you can travel to London, New Orleans and even Bethlehem.

But to spot Bagsy illustrations, art-lovers will have to search the supermarkets of the Rhondda Valley, in South Wales.

Bagsy's sketches include portraits of his local MP Leanne Wood (left) and a 19th Century mine-owner called Archibald Hood (right)

One of Bagsy's illustrations include this piece of a speeding train on a Co-op carrier bag

His sketches include portraits of his local MP Leanne Wood and a 19th Century mine-owner called Archibald Hood.

Bagsy said the graffiti is 'an alternative tourism campaign for the Rhondda Valley.'

'Bags for life will be dropped at supermarkets around the Rhondda area, bags will be specific to that supermarket and thus offering a suitable camouflage, he said.

Left, a miner feeds a pit pony in one illustration and right, a sheep on a Co-Op bag

Two boys race each other on go karts in one illustration while a young girl carries a lamb in another

'Anyone that finds a bag, may need to repurchase in order to obtain but they also may be found in the supermarket grounds and would then be free to all.

'Scenes are inspired by the Rhondda valleys and are selected purely for their recognisability. I want to promote the area as graffiti shouldn't create an eyesore.

A rail tunnel is scrawled on a Lidl bag in one of Bagsy's pieces with a couple holding hands on the other

Some of the artist's illustrations depict scenes from years past, like left, a woman holding a basket and right, a pair of cottages

'We accept these bags for life and the supermarkets which adorn the locations of coal mines of days gone by. Let's just make them a little more personal.

'Bagsy will continue as long as people keep liking. There is room for expansion to other areas but, at the moment, there is no place like home.

'I hope people will love them as much as Bagsy enjoys making them.'
When Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead by police in Charlotte last September, it was the latest in a string of high-profile shootings that rocked the nation - and shook the small Southern city to its core. Braxton Winston was among those angry and horrified at yet another unnecessary loss of life - and decided to take part in the protest outside of Scott's apartment that night.

That decision would change his life forever, leading to him become a representation of civil unrest  and a year later, an unlikely champion of political change in the city.

Winston was thrust into the public eye during the tumultuous days that rocked the relatively quiet city after Scotts death when a photo of him shirtless with a fist raised in front of armed riot police was circulated nationwide.

Hes now in the public eye again  after being elected last week as the next at-large city council member in Charlotte after running on a platform of civil rights and social change.

After last September I really just had to figure out what I could do, what my role was and what my purpose was, he told DailyMail.com.

I experienced, on the streets, a brand of leadership and experience that Id never experienced before. I wanted what I was experiencing to change.

Braxton Winston was pushed into the public eye last September when a photo of him in front of riot police protesting the police killing of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte went viral

Winston was later arrested, left, for possessing a gas mask at a protest which disobeyed an emergency ordinance in Charlotte. When he was released he felt called to make a positive change on his city

Winston won a at-large city council seat in Charlotte last week after running on a platform of civil rights and social justice

Winston, a 34-year-old married father-of-three, has had a life-long interest in humanity. The Brooklyn, New York native previously graduated from Davidson College near Charlotte with a degree in Anthropology.

I look at things in terms of  how we do what we do, he said.

However, when Keith Scott, also an African-American father, was shot and killed by police on September 20, 2016  any explanation escaped Winston, and the other residents of Charlotte. Scotts death was later found to be justifiable under the law, and no charges were filed against the police officer who shot him.

In the days that ensued, the city would descend into chaos. Dozens of protesters and police officers were wounded, and another man, Justin Carr, was shot and killed just feet from Winston.

It was jarring. It was painful, Winston said.

I remember experiencing it  and we were all just looking at eachother like: is this real? Are we in a movie or something like that?

Winston, right, was on the streets throughout the entirety of the protests that ravaged Charlotte for more than a week

Dozens of protesters and police officers were wounded, and another black man, Justin Carr, was shot and killed just feet from Winston

Five days after Scotts death, Winston participated in a protest during the Charlotte Panthers versus Minnesota Vikings game at the Bank of America stadium.

Dressed in all black, he was arrested by riot police for carrying a gas mask, which disobeyed the emergency ordinance that was put in place in the city limiting curfews and public displays.

Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was shot and killed by a Charlotte police officer last September. His death was later deemed justifiable by law

When he was released  he got to work. Despite his challenges to the law  Winston maintains that he has always respected the role of government. He saw his lawsuit against the city as an expression of his rights  and an opportunity for local lawmakers to reconsider the treatment of its residents.

I dont think when you express your rights there should be any positive or negative appeal to that. As Americans and Charlotteans and North Carolinians we need to know our rights. We need to be able to participate, Winston said.

Were given these inalienable rights that allow us to be Americans and to have these difficult conversations. Were a culture of laws and policies, so Ive always thought that the leadership in government was very important. And as were going around having these conversations, it became clear that I could play a role, he continued.

Despite his challenges to the law  Winston maintains that he has always respected the role of government

As Winstons political aspirations mounted, he decided to meet with the Charlotte Chief of Police, Kerr Putney, who was called by many to resign from his position after the Scott protests.

Their conversation was mutually beneficial, Winston said, and that both furthered their understanding of eachothers perspectives.

His hope is that upon taking his city council seat in December, he can drive a narrative that can improve police/community relationships. Last year, tensions between law enforcement and the citizens of Charlotte were at a breaking point. Winston says that its crucial to look critically at what those circumstances can teach us.

Its a very difficult job  being a police officerWe have to look at the conditions that we put our police officers under  its all hands on deck. We have to get it right. We all deserve to live in safe and secure communities. Thats really square one.

During his campaign Winston garnered a number of powerful supporters including Hugh McColl, right, the founder and former CEO of Bank of America

Although the protests following Keith Scotts death were violent and emotional  Winston said it was a moment of reckoning for the city, and what came from it was a greater love for one another.

It was beautiful  a lot of the broken glass gets shown on repeat but in terms of the person hours, and the fellowshipping and the conversating and the praying, the beautiful first amendment celebrations that were happening out here in the streets over that time - it was incredible, he said.

Winston created his platform in Charlotte by establishing relationships with important people in the community, and his genuine desire to make the city a better place inspired some unlikely supporters.

After announced his candidacy in June, he ran his campaign with his family by his side  with wife Sheena, his 10-year-old son and two younger daughters. They took their mission out where it began  on the streets.

Winston said his wife Sheena and his three children have stood by his side throughout his campaign

Winston said his oldest daughter, right, helped him knock on doors while campaigning

My wife and kids  theyre strong. My daughter was helping me knock on a lot of doors on the trail, he said.

The heart of Charlotte is its long-standing foundation in the banking community, and perhaps the largest figure in that realm is Hugh McColl  the founder and former CEO of Bank of America, who also endorsed Winston for the role and helped him connect with powerful donors.

The support continued to pour in  he was quickly endorsed by the local newspaper, the Charlotte Post, the Human Rights Campaign, and various LGBTQ groups.

He took his mission to the streets, with his family by his side, and attending all city council, county commission, and school board meetings he could. While there, he would live stream his discussions with city officials on social media.

Every time Id go [live] even if it was a couple dozen couple hundred or a thousand or more, those are more people that are involved. And able to weigh in and ask questions  or go to a website or call or anything, inform somebody else. Well look for ways to do that, he continued.

When Election Day came on November 7, the polls were flooded. Winstons months of hard work had paid off  voters by the thousands were turning up to support him. It was the highest turnout for a municipal election ever, Winston said.

When the results returned and news broke that he had won the city council seat, prominent figures such as rapper Common and Chelsea Clinton spoke out in his favor. Clinton wrote: Mr. President, @BraxtonWinston is a superb example of an actual very fine person.

Since winning the city council seat, prominent figures such as Chelsea Clinton and rapper Common have spoken out in support of him

Upon taking his city council seat in December, Winston says he hopes to address further the issues of social justice in Charlotte - specifically economic mobility

The number one issue that he feels needs addressing in Charlotte is that of civil rights. A statistic he frequently references is that the city is ranked the worst in the nation for economic mobility  meaning the ability of an individual or family to escape poverty.

We look at how we end up in a place where we are 50 out of 50 in upward economic mobility, in one of the most resource-rich cities in the nation, which leads up to situations that allow for last September, he said.

According to Winston, children born into poverty only have an eight per cent chance of breaking that cycle  regardless of how hard their families work or strive to achieve education.

In working with his fellow city Councillors, Winston hopes that this gap can be bridged, and initiatives can be undertaken to make sure everyone in Charlotte has the equal opportunity for success.

Were dedicated to having a great Charlotte. I have three children - thats who I do it for. I stayed out there for them  and the city I can leave them to inherit, he said.

Winston knows that this will be no easy feat, and the road ahead will be long and arduous. But hes not afraid of the challenge.

We have to remember that  in the end we are trying to do things that weve never done before, he said.
A former supermarket worker who joined ISIS was outed as a specialist sniper after a defector from the terrorist organisation handed his details to Sky News, a court heard.

Mohammed Abdallah, 26, from Moss Side in Manchester, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of being a member of ISIS, possessing a firearm for terrorist purposes and possessing 2,000 for terrorist purposes.

He denies all the charges.

The court heard how he travelled to Syria with the help of his wheelchair-bound brother, Abdalraouf, who set up a 'central hub' of communications at his home in Manchester.

Mohammed Abdallah is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of being a member of ISIS, possessing a firearm for terrorist purposes and possessing 2,000 for terrorist purposes

This document showed how Mohammed had also fought in Libya against Gaddafi - it also revealed how he had specialised as a 'sniper'

Abdalraouf had been left paralysed from the waist down when he was shot fighting Colonel Gaddafi's regime in Libya in 2011, jurors were told.

Mohammed allegedly went to the war-torn country intending to meet up with three fellow jihadis, including Stephen Gray, 34, a former RAF pilot who converted to Islam after a tour of duty in Iraq.

While three of them managed to cross into Syria in July 2014, Gray was refused entry to Turkey and returned home to Manchester, the Old Bailey heard.

Abdallah, who has dual Libyan nationality, allegedly went on to receive 2,000 in cash, source an AK47 assault rifle, and sign up with ISIS, with the assistance of his 24-year-old sibling based in Manchester.

Mohammed Abdallah, 26, from Moss Side, who was allegedly sent 2,000 in order to pay his way into ISIS

While in Libya, Abdallah allegedly picked up experience as a sniper and handling heavy Russian-made machine guns, according to ISIS documents leaked in 2016.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told jurors how the ISIS file detailing his previous fighting knowledge fell into the hands of a Sky News journalist.

He said: 'In March 2016, Stuart Ramsay, chief correspondent with Sky News travelled to Sanliurfa on Turkey's border with Syria, to meet with ISIS defectors facilitated by contacts in the Free Syrian Army.

'One, known only to Mr Ramsay as Abu Hamed, said that he had been a registrar or an assistant in the bureaucracy of ISIS in Syria.'

He handed over a USB stick containing ISIS records which were passed on to Scotland Yard's counter terrorism officers, jurors heard.

Pictured: Disabled Abdalraouf Abdallah (left), who helped his brother travel to Syria to fight for IS and meet former RAF serviceman turned Muslim convert Stephen Gray (right), 32

One of the formal records, which had the ISIS flag in the top right-hand corner, was allegedly a file on the defendant.

In an entry entitled 'any previous Jihadi experience' it stated he fought in Libya against Gadaffi.

He was listed as a 'fighter' specialising in use of 'Dushka' - a Russian heavy machine gun - and as a 'sniper', the court was told.

Mr Heywood told jurors that Abdallah's nickname, date of birth, nationality and previous experience all matched.

The document was 'very important', given the specific biographical detail it contained, he said.

'His specialisation, in other words how he might sell himself as useful to Islamic State, includes that he has experience of using a 'dushka'.

'This is a Russian made heavy machine gun.

'You will see that not only is it true that the defendant had then got that previous experience but that recorded images exist of his doing so together with his brother previously.'

Abdalraouf Abdallah's phone number was also listed as his next of kin contact, jurors heard.

Mohammed was arrested when he returned to the UK via Tunisia in September last year.

He is the first person to be prosecuted after returning from Syria for two years.

Abdalraouf Abdallah and Gray were both arrested in Manchester in November 2014.

Gray went on to admit three terrorism offences, including his attempts to travel to Syria.

In May 2016, Abdulraouf Abdallah was convicted by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court of assisting others in committing acts of terrorism, and terror funding.

Jurors were told that Raymond Matimba, one of the defendant's group, was last known to be with ISIS in Raqqah.

The trial continues.
A South Carolina mayor said on Thursday that he plans to introduce a new law to ban bump stocks and trigger cranks.

Democratic mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia said he is planning on introducing the city ordinance on weapons like what were used in the Las Vegas massacre last month.

'I believe in responsible gun ownership, and I believe in common sense,' Benjamin said Wednesday announcing the ordinance, according to ABC News.

'That's why I've decided to do what our federal and statement governments are either unable or unwilling to do.'

Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia said he is planning on introducing the city ordinance on weapons like what were used in the Las Vegas massacre last month

Benjamin didn't say when the ordinance will go into place, but is planning on holding a conference to further explain his plan on Thursday afternoon. He made the announcement just six weeks after Stephen Paddock murdered 58 people in Las Vegas. Bump stocks allowed his weapons to function like fully automatic rifles

He continued: 'The simple fact is that automatic weapons have been illegal in this country for more than 30 years, and the only purpose these devices serve is to circumvent that law multiplying firing rates tenfold to approximately 400-800 rounds per minute and turning a semi-automatic firearm into a mass murder machine.'

Benjamin didn't say when the ordinance will go into place, but is planning on holding a conference to further explain his plan on Thursday afternoon.

He made the announcement just six weeks after Stephen Paddock murdered 58 people in Las Vegas.

On October 1 he opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay hotel and casino during the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival.

The 64-year-old used bump stocks to modify some of the weapons he used in the attack, allowing his semi-automatic rifles to mimic fully automatic weapons.

Bump stocks, also called replacement stocks, work by allowing AR or AK rifles to fire at up to 800 rounds per minute by pulling the trigger repeatedly each time the gun recoils.

Similarly, trigger cranks or 'gat cranks' bolt onto the trigger guard of a semi-automatic rifle and allow the shooter to rotate the crank, depressing the trigger roughly three times per rotation.

Those modifications meant he could fire up to nine rounds per second; the attack lasted roughly 10 minutes. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives he had 12 bump stocks attached to rifles in the hotel room.

Earlier this month three South Carolina representatives also announced that they drafted a bill to ban bump stocks for the legislature to consider when it comes back from recess in January. This bill was also introduced in response to the Las Vegas shooting (pictured)

Trigger cranks or 'gat cranks' bolt onto the trigger guard of a semi-automatic rifle and allow the shooter to rotate the crank, depressing the trigger roughly three times per rotation

Bump stocks, also called replacement stocks, work by allowing AR or AK rifles to fire at up to 800 rounds per minute by pulling the trigger repeatedly each time the gun recoils

The shooting prompted renewed support for legislation to ban bump fire stocks, but so far no Congressional action has been taken.

Earlier this month three South Carolina representatives also announced that they drafted a bill to ban bump stocks for the legislature to consider when it comes back from recess in January.

Those representatives include two republicans, Michael Sottile and Gary Clary, and one democrat Leon Stavrinakis.

'Simply put, the use of bump stocks is a loophole that allows firearms to replicate illegal ones,' Stavrikakis explained when he announced the bill.

'As we have so unfortunately now learned, in the wrong hands, bump stocks can be a tool for mass murder.

'These devices can turn our community into a killing field where neither civilians nor law enforcement has a chance in the line of fire.'

On November 6 Massachusetts passed a law banning the sale, possession or use of bump stocks - the first state to do so.
Britain's biggest and most powerful warship will 'strike fear into the hearts of our enemies' Russia and North Korea, the Defence Secretary today said.

Gavin Williamson made the declaration after he touched down by helicopter aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, the new 280-metre 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier.

The newly-appointed defence chief toured the 3billion carrier as it completed its latest round latest round of sea trials off the south coast.

Mr Williamson used his first official visit aboard a Royal Navy vessel to fire a warning shot to Russia - saying the carrier is the most powerful in the world.

It comes after Theresa May used a speech earlier this week to launch her strongest ever attack on Moscow over its use of cyber espionage and warn them 'we are watching you'.

Gavin Williamson touched down by helicopter to tour HMS Queen Elizabeth for his first official visit of a Royal Navy vessel since he became Defence Secretary

Mr Williamson said the carrier will strike fear ito the hearts of Britain's enemies like North Korea and Russia as he was given the guided tour by Captain Jerry Kyd

Gavin Williamson, pictured with captain Jerry Kyd aboard the vessel, was making his first visit to a Royal Navy ship since he was given the top job two weeks ago

Speaking aboard the Queen Elizabeth he said the carrier will give Britain an 'amazing capability'.

He said: 'Let's not underestimate the growing threat from Russia and North Korea. These are countries that want to damage Britain, these are countries that want to undermine Britain.

'When Russia sees this aircraft carrier - they have nothing like it in the world. This is the finest aircraft carrier in the world - it is leagues ahead of any other nation.

'We should take a great amount of pride in that, and we can use this to strike fear into the hearts of all our enemies and that is what it is designed to do, and I am sure that is what it will do.'

Embarking on to the four-acre flight deck on Thursday, Mr Williamson was met by commanding officer Captain Jerry Kyd, before enthusiastically touring the ship and speaking to the crew.

Whilst on board he announced the Queen would formally commission the ship into the Royal Navy on December 7 in a statement to the world about Britain's ambition.

Mr Williamson, pictured aboard the Queen Elizabeth, said the carrier will give Britain an 'amazing capability'

Gavin Williamson spoke to Navy personnel aboard the carrier, which was completing maneuvers off the south coast

Crew members onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth lined up to be inspected by the new defence chief, who was promoted to the top job after Sir Michael Fallon quit following allegations of sex harassment

Mr Williamson, pictured aboard the carrier today, said Britain can take 'great pride' in the mighty vessel, which will help beef up our security

He said: 'This is very much about how Britain can project its influence and its power right across the world.

'It is how we can say to the rest of the world, we are not a nation in retreat, we are a nation that wishes to play a significant part in world affairs.'

During her working life the ship can be pressed into action for various tasks such as high intensity war fighting or providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

She will also serve as a floating military base for the F-35B stealth fighter jets that will launch from the deck to undertake missions.

The UK currently has 13 F-35s in the United States being tested ahead of flight trials off the ship next year, with one more plane being delivered by the end of 2017.

Mr Williamson, pictured aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, was promoted from chief whip to Defence Secretary a fortnight ago. His dramatic promotion sparked criticism from within the Tory ranks and among some in the Armed Forces

Mr Williamson was given a tour of the control room during his visit to the mighty carrier. During the trip he said the carrier is the most powerful in the world

Capt Kyd said he and the ship's company were delighted to host the Defence Secretary and give him the 'full exposure of the best the Royal Navy has to offer.

'Clearly he is a new pair of eyes and he's been intrigued to meet a lot of the ship's company and get a sense of the culture and the philosophy of the ship - and to see what the nation has bought.'

In her speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet earlier this week Mrs May accused Russia of spreading fake news and interfering in European elections.

She said President Vladimir Putins regime was trying to sow discord in the West.

In a direct message to the Kremlin, the Prime Minister warned: We know what you are doing. And you will not succeed.

She said Russia was waging a campaign of cyber espionage and disruption, including hacking the German parliament and the Danish defence ministry.
A 17-year-old Utah girl has pleaded guilty to killing two people by deliberately crashing her car into another vehicle at 100mph while fleeing police in an attempted suicide.

Marilee Patricia Gardner copped to two counts of attempted murder on Wednesday as part of a deal - even though prosecutors initially wanted to charge her with first-degree murder.

As part of the punishment for one of the charges, she will remain in a juvenile facility until she turns 21 years of age, after which she will be sentenced again.

Gardner faces between three years and life in prison for the second guilty plea, according to Deseret News.

On June 30, 2016, a police officer tried to stop Gardner, who was 16 years old at the time, as she was on her way to carry out a suicide pact with her friend.

During the police pursuit, she intentionally rammed her car into another vehicle at 100mph, killing two victims before she ran off, according to authorities.

Marilee Patricia Gardner (above), 17, entered a guilty plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors who tried her for killing two people by deliberately crashing her car into another vehicle while fleeing police in an attempt at suicide

Gardner copped to two counts of attempted murder on Wednesday - even though prosecutors initially wanted to charge her with first-degree murder

When a Utah police officer tried to pull her over because she was dragging a plastic garbage can along, she 'purposely crashed' her car into another vehicle on June 30, 2016

Maddison Haan, 20, (left) was killed instantaneously, while Tyler Christianson, 19 (right) later died at McKay-Dee Hospital

Gardner was charged as an adult facing two counts of murder for the deaths of Maddison Haan, 20, and Tyler Christianson, 19, after she crashed into their vehicle in Roy, Utah.

Haan was killed instantaneously, while Christianson later died at McKay-Dee Hospital after family members decided to take him off life support.

Gardner was on her way to pick up an unnamed 17-year-old so they could buy drugs, take them and crash her mother's car with both of them inside, according to charging documents.

She also faced additional charges for not stopping at the command of an officer and failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving death.

Gardner was on her way to pick up an unnamed 17-year-old so they could buy drugs, take them and crash her mother's car with both of them inside, according to charging documents

When the officer tried to pull her over, Gardner accelerated and tried to commit suicide by crashing into the back of a Hyundai (above) with Haan and Christianson inside, according to the documents

Gardner (pictured) tried to flee on foot and told her dad that she 'might have hurt someone' over the phone, according to the charging documents. She was eventually found and taken into custody

Gardner 'attempted to disable her parents' home alarm, escaped their home and stole their vehicle with the intent of killing herself and a friend in a suicide pact,' the charging document states.

Cops started tailing her when they noticed she was dragging a plastic garbage can under the Chevrolet Tahoe.

When the officer tried to pull her over, Gardner accelerated and tried to commit suicide by crashing into the back of a Hyundai with Haan and Christianson inside, according to the documents.

Investigators believe Gardner was traveling at 98mph, and Haan died on the scene.

Christianson, who was Haan's friend and former co-worker at the Lagoon Amusement Park, was taken off life support less than three hours later.

Gardner kept driving for another 100 yards after she crashed into the victims, and slammed into another vehicle, fence and trailer before she ended up in a field.

She then tried to flee on foot and told her dad that she 'might have hurt someone' over the phone, according to the charging documents.

She was eventually found and taken into custody.

Gardner had run away several times, and had a history of being suicidal, documents state.

In the courtroom in Ogden, Christianson's family watched the proceedings with a heavy heart.

Heather Morrison, his mother, was thinking instead about her son.

'We all miss Tyler,' Heather Morrison, Tyler's mother, said after the hearing.

The families of the victims have had difficulty accepting the plea agreement, though Christianson's mother said: 'We're glad we can all start healing from now'

'We're glad we can all start healing from now.'

When asked to describe her son, tears came to Morrison's eyes as she remembered him as 'a goofball.'

'I don't think that boy had a serious bone in his body,' Morrison said.

His stepfather, Ken Farley, said that Christianson 'lived up to his initials, TLC.'

While the families have had difficulty accepting the plea agreement, Morrison said that she supports it because 'at least now (Gardner) has access to the help that she needs.'

Christianson's aunt, Liz Wilder, said the family now hopes that Gardner will take advantage of the chance she has been given.

'We come from love and forgiveness,' Wilder said.

'We're grateful she has that choice. She's the only one left with a choice.'
Spanish teacher Ann Maguire uttered the chilling final words 'I am dying' as she bled to death in a pool of blood after being stabbed by one of her students.

Ann Maguire, 61, was fatally knifed by then 15-year-old Will Cornick on April 28, 2014 after he thrust a 34cm blade into her seven times - one blow slicing her jugular vein.

A statement from Susan Francis, head of modern foreign languages at Corpus Christi school in Leeds, West Yorkshire, was read to the court as medical evidence suggested the trauma of the incident still affected her too much to give live evidence.

In a read statement, she said: 'I had gone up to my work room on the modern foreign languages floor.

'Suddenly there was all this screaming so I flew out into the corridor.

Ann Maguire (left), 61, was fatally knifed by then 15-year-old Will Cornick (right) on April 28 2014

'I saw all these Year 11s screaming and being horrified.

'Ann came out and she was holding the back of her neck, I thought there had been a swarm of wasps at first.

'She kept repeating, 'He has stabbed me in the neck'.

'I put her in the office and shut the door and put my foot against it. Will was stood at the other side of the door motionless.

'I looked at him and screamed at my colleague Stuart.

'She kept saying, 'he has stabbed me in the neck he has stabbed me in the neck'.

'I just remember his face having no emotion on it, none at all.

'It was like a mask on his face, no emotion.

'I opened the door to check and there was a massive knife on the floor outside the room.

'I could see cuts in her jumper and there was lots of blood coming from her neck.

'She said to me, 'I can't breathe, I'm dying, he has stabbed me in the lung, I can't breathe I am dying'.

'The ambulance people arrived. Their faces looked like they had walked into some Armageddon.

The scene outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after teacher Anne Maguire was stabbed to death

'She knew she was dying, she just kept saying she was dying.'

Ms Francis said Mrs Maguire could understand 'all kinds of personalities' and would 'stay up all night' to ensure all of her work was on time.

Also giving evidence today paramedic Craig Sagar has described the stab wound inflicted on Mrs Maguire as the worst he had ever seen in his career.

In a read statement to the jury Mr Sagar said: 'In all of my career as a paramedic the stab wound inflicted on Ann Maguire was the worst I had ever seen.

'I had certainly never seen one that had pierced from back to front.'

A police officer who had attended the stabbing, in a written statement read to the jury, told how Will showed no emotion immediately after the murder.

The statement read: 'Cornick said, 'have you got any ice for my hand?'

'At 12.10pm the same day I told him he was under arrest for murder and cautioned him, he made no reply.

'Cornick then asked me 'what is your favourite movie?'

'What is your favourite adrenaline sport because I love adrenaline sports?'

'Cornick then smiled showing no remorse for what he had done.'

Disturbing statements from friend's and fellow pupils of Cornick were read to the court which described how he 'wanted to kill his family' and wouldn't care if 'his dad died in a car crash.'

The jury was told Cornick loved zombie movies, especially Zombieland, and would listen to heavy metal music.

Students said in statements how Cornick 'resented' Ann for keeping him behind after class.

One statement said: 'It was about 11.50am and everyone was screaming.

'He told us that he had stabbed her, Mrs Maguire.

'We thought he was joking because he had always gone on about 'wouldn't it be funny if a train came through the window and hit her or a sniper shot her there and then.'

More mourners outside the school at the time, with a tie hung around the perimeter fence as a mark of respect

'He would say 'Wouldn't it be funny if she fell out of the windows' and stuff like that.

He said 'One day I am gonna, I am just gonna kill her.'

Cornick's friend said he threatened to 'stab anybody' who told a teacher he had brought a knife into school.

In a read statement, the student named as CB to protect their identity, said: 'He was talking about how he had got a knife in his bag.

'He said he was going to do something to Mrs Maguire.

'We said, 'you are joking and doing it for attention, nobody would do something like that'.

'We never thought anybody would get to the point they would do something that sick.

'I thought he was lying because he had vengeance against teachers.

'Then I said [a friend] said he was going to tell a teacher.

'He said, 'If you tell anybody I will do it anyway and stab that person who told the teacher as well'.

'He said, 'If you tell anybody I will do the same and also stab you in the process'.

'He said he would stab anybody who rats on him.'

Cornick was jailed for 20 years at Leeds Crown Court, West Yorkshire, on November 3, 2014.

Three months later he had an appeal against his sentence dropped.

Mrs Maguire had given all four decades of her working life at the school.

The inquest has taken place 43 months since Ann's death and is expected to last for two weeks.

The hearing at Wakefield Coroner's Court continues.
Mrs Justice Russell (pictured) made a Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order

A Muslim mother has been banned from travelling to Egypt with her baby daughter for fear that she will be subjected to female genital mutilation.

The British mother, in her 20s, embraced Islam after meeting her husband while working in an Egyptian hotel, London's High Court heard.

Her one-year-old daughter was born in England but her mother planned to take her to the north African country regularly to visit her father and his family.

But her plans have been stymied after Mrs Justice Russell made a Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order and ruled that the woman cannot travel outside the UK with her daughter until she turns 16.

The judge found there was a real risk that she would suffer FGM if she ever again sets foot in Egypt.

The father and his family insisted they had no intention of subjecting her to the procedure, which is a criminal offence in Britain.

More than 90 per cent of Egyptian women are subjected to FGM, but the paternal family were 'largely dismissive' of it being a problem in Egypt.

And the judge said the father viewed FGM as part of 'Egyptian culture and tradition' and believed it should be legalised and carried out in hospital.

He was 'frankly disinterested' in whether his sisters had undergone FGM and was 'surprised' the mother had not had it done herself.

His relationship with the mother was disapproved of by his family and he thought that 'every girl' had undergone FGM.

London's High Court (pictured) heard the British mother embraced Islam after meeting her husband in Egypt

The case was brought to court by Hertfordshire County Council after a health visitor grew concerned about the little girl's welfare.

She said the woman lived in England and girl's father lived in Egypt.

Mrs Justice Russell ordered that the child's passport be retained by the court to prevent her travelling to Egypt until 2032, when she will be 16.

Her mother was also banned from taking her daughter anywhere outside the UK 'to prevent onward travel to Egypt'.

The judge concluded: 'It is not intended that the girl should not be able to see her father or members of the paternal family and the court would encourage the father and his family to visit her in England.'
A devastated family say they turned up at a funeral home to view their dead uncle's body, only to find that someone else was in his casket wearing his suit.

Benjamin Brown Jr. died last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee due to complications with his lengthy battle with diabetes.

His family visited the John P. Franklin Funeral Home on Wednesday for the visitation when they were confronted with the wrong body.

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Benjamin Brown Jr. (pictured above) died last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee due to complications with his lengthy battle with diabetes

Brown's nephew, Dominique Brown, told ABC News 4 that the funeral home had dressed the wrong person in his uncle's suit before placing them in the casket they had picked out.

'They had to take the clothes off the other guy and put them on my uncle,' he said.

An outraged Dominique said the funeral home should have realized their mistake given his uncle had both his legs amputated as a result of his diabetes.

He said his family knew right away there had been a mix up when the casket was opened and they saw 'legs and nice slacks.'

His family visited the John P. Franklin Funeral Home (above) on Wednesday for the visitation when they were confronted with the wrong body

Brown's family said the elderly man had both his legs amputated due to complicattions with his diabetes, but the body inside his coffin still had both limbs

'We feel real disrespected. There's nothing they can do to fix this problem,' Dominique said.

The funeral home apologized in a statement for the grief caused to the Brown family.

'We have been in communication with the members of the family who are directly responsible for the arrangements, and we are committed to resolve any issues they may have,' it read.

'As this time, we are looking into the matter... will continue to work with the family to address all issues of concern.'
Police in New York City are on the hunt for two muggers who were captured on surveillance video stealing nearly 200,000 from an aspiring businessman from Africa.

According to information released by the NYPD, the attack took place shortly after 11am on November 7 in the Morrisania section of The Bronx.

Investigators say the 46-year-old man, later identified by ABC 7 New York as Abul Deh, was making his way out of a building, located in the vicinity of Prospect Avenue and East 169 Street, when he was attacked by two men.

Wanted: NYPD is looking for these two men who are accused of mugging a man in The Bronx on November 7 and getting away with $190,000 in cash

Ambushed: The 46-year-old victim was making his way out of a building in the Morrisania section when he was attacked by the duo

Police say one man ran off with the victim's book bag while the other suspect kept him in a headlock.

Authorities initially said Deh was carrying $190,400 in cash he meant to bring to his son, but when he was interviewed by the news station this week, the victim revealed that he was planning to use the money to open a restaurant in Manhattan.

Deh said he had just moved to The Bronx from West Africa and has yet to open a bank account. He also said that he did know his attackers - one of which dropped a cellphone at the scene.

Surveillance video from inside the building, which was released by the NYPD on Thursday, shows the moment one suspect grabs the victim around his neck and drags him down the stairs, while his accomplice snatches the mans backpack, before fleeing on foot with the plunder.

Violent: One man ran off with the victim's book bag while the other suspect kept him in a headlock

The victim, Abul Deh, told a local media outlet he had just moved to New York from West Africa and was planning to use the money to open a restaurant in Manhattan

Despite the violence of the struggle seen in the video, Deh was not seriously hurt

Investigators aren't sure if the suspects knew Deh had a large sum of cash in his possession when they pounced on him. The 46-year-old was not seriously hurt in the attack.

Police described one suspect as a black male who was last seen wearing a black Adidas jacket. The other mugger was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information on the suspects whereabouts is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
A 20-stone decorator caught a serial mugger by rugby tackling him and sitting on him until police arrived.

Nick Martin, 34, pounced on Claudiu Rosu outside an arcade in Chilwell, Nottingham when he recognised the Romanian from a police appeal.

He wrapped his legs around the 24-year-old and held him in a choke lock in front of shocked bystanders before police arrived and took the thief away.

Mr Martin said: 'Instinct completely took over. I ran up to him, punched him on the chin and rugby tackled him to the floor.

Hero: Nick Martin, 34, pounced on Claudiu Rosu outside an arcade in Chilwell, Nottingham when he recognised the Romanian from a police appeal

'I think he must have thought that I was mugging him, because he started fishing around in his pocket for his wallet.

'He smelt absolutely horrendous, it was one of the worst things I'd ever smelt'

'The more he struggled, the more he grabbed, and eventually I had to grab hold of him and get him in a choke lock to stop him getting away.

'I ended up lying alongside him, and I had to wrap my legs around him to stop him from moving around.

'Thankfully I'm quite a big guy at 20 stone, and if I wasn't so big then there's a chance he might have overpowered me.

'A few people started phoning the police, because they thought that I was attacking him, until my mum came out of the post office and explained what the situation was. The police arrived and took him away.'

Claudiu Rosu was found guilty of mugging four people

Rosu was yesterday he jailed for four years for mugging four people, including an 82-year-old woman he attacked outside Mr Martin's mother's home in September.

Rosu will be deported to Romania when released from jail.

Mr Martin said: 'I saw him walking out of an amusement arcade and it just made my blood absolutely boil.

'I had heard about how he'd attacked the 82-year-old and stolen from others, and had been looking for him for days.

'Mr brother Carl and I had heard her screaming through an open window, because the alleyway where it happened was about 20 metres away from my mum's house, where we were staying with the kids that night.

'I didn't think much of it at the time, but about half-an-hour later my mum showed me her phone and it was a page off social media saying that an 82-year-old woman had been attacked in an alleyway just outside the house.

'We knew the area pretty well, and we went out on foot. We didn't know who we were looking for, but we just kind of had a walk round to see if we could anything or anything suspicious or anything dodgy.

'We know the wronguns well in this area, and thought we'd be able to get hold of the person responsible before they got to someone else.'

Mr Martin even bumped into Rosu before he realised he was wanted by police for the robberies.

He said: 'At about 11.30pm we got on a tram from Bramcote Lane, and I spoke to a foreign bloke.

'He just looked completely normal. I said 'hi' to him, and he said 'hello' back in a very foreign accent. I was so upset when I heard that that guy was the burglar.

Mr Martin (pictured) said: 'When I saw him walking out of an amusement arcade, and it just made my blood absolutely boil.

Mr Martin added: 'The next day the police released a CCTV image, and the day after that what was when I saw him walking nonchalantly out of the arcade, after obviously spending the money he'd stolen.

'The fact that he is being deported and won't be able to step foot in this country is fantastic.

'I felt very relieved that this guy is off the streets and won't be troubling people any more.'

'I think any decent person would have done the same as me, it was just completely natural.'

Jailing Rosu at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Nigel Godsmark, QC, said: 'I have a report which says you appear to consider yourself entitled to attack and rob others.

'You say you have no choice but to commit crime because you are homeless and have no income. You appear to have no regard for others and you are only interested in yourself.

'I expect you to be promptly and automatically deported.'
This weekend a bizarre collection of former sportsmen, fading soap stars and glamour girls will find themselves dumped in a tropical rainforest on the borders of New South Wales and Queensland.

Dennis Wise, Jack Maynard, Jamie Lomas and Georgia Toffolo - I'm sure you've not heard of most of them, but that won't be a turn off.

Our appetite for the toe-curling campfire romances, disgusting food trials (kangaroo testicles anyone?), and ritual humiliation that makes ITV's I'm a Celebrity compulsive viewing shows no signs of diminishing. 12 million of us watched the last series, and it's the show ITV rely on to hold their share price steady.

I'm a Celebrity has become part of British culture, replacing the advent calendar and cheery carol singing as an essential part of the build up to Christmas.

Stanley Johnson (left) and Amir Khan (right) are heading for the Jungle and will take part in this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Mr Johnson, former Chelsea footballer Dennis Wise, comedian Shappi Khorsandi, boxer Amir Khan and actress Jennie McAlpine will be heading to Australia

In the New Year, when the credit card bills come in and the days remain short, Celebrity Big Brother takes over as a mindless low-cost way of passing time.

The casting of these reality shows- from Bake Off to Strictly - is a highly technical exercise in box-ticking.

There has to be one mouthy old bat (I've been asked to do most of them), one washed up sportsperson or soap star, someone who's struggled with drink, drugs or depression (preferably fresh out of rehab), and - a relatively recent ingredient in the mix - a politician or 'intellectual' who wants to relaunch their brand and connect with the great unwashed, irritating their fellow competitors by using long words whilst displaying zero knowledge about the story lines of popular soap operas.

Ann Widdecombe, Ed Balls, Edwina Currie and Nadine Dorries have all taken the money and made fools of themselves, some with greater success than others.

The prize-winner in this category must be the former Respect MP George Galloway, who appeared on Big Brother dressed as a cat.

During their attempts at TV stardom, both Mr Galloway and Ms Dorries were meant to be sitting in the House of Commons representing their constituents, but they argued that appearing on television 'connected' them to the public.

In a reality show, though, you're cut off from the outside world, like the sex-obsessed MPs getting totally blathered in the subsidised bars of the Houses of Parliament, hitting on interns.

Saturdays singer Vanessa White, WAG Rebekah Vardy, vlogger Jack Maynard, Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo and soap actor Jamie Lomas complete the line up

When I did the show in 2004, my fellow campers included Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell, who ripped the sleeves from his shirt, and sang Broadway hits, whilst revealing he used blotting paper and a soda syphon to soak up Corgi wee on the priceless carpets at Sandringham.

A few years later, Mr Burrell reached for the closet door handle, divorced his long-suffering wife, and married his male partner in a lavish ceremony.

I found the antics of my fellow camp-mates mind-numbing, but at least they were harmless.

This season, the show's producers have played a blinder by casting as camp's 'intellectual' the patriarch of the most irritating family on the planet.

Stanley Johnson, 77, father of Foreign Secretary Boris, author and journalist Rachel and government Minister Jo. Theo, his other son, is a management consultant - so this is a high achieving family.

Boris, Stanley and Rachel love the limelight, being centre stage, holding forth at full volume.

They are clever (both father and son won scholarships and attended Oxford) - but somehow the Johnson family really wind me up.

I'm a Celebrity has become part of British culture, writes Janet Street-Porter

Is it my common accent and working class background? I admit, the Johnson clan are my Achilles heel, effortlessly posh, sure they are always right, convinced we're interested in every bit of piffle they spout.

Boris was elected Mayor of London because he was a cartoon character, someone that even Labour voting taxi drivers thought was a 'real geezer'.

His progress has been unstoppable to the point that I now wonder how on earth has Britain ended up with a mouthy clown as Foreign Secretary?

The man who said that drunken fans were partly responsible for the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 people died, who claimed that Liverpudlians were 'wallowing' in 'their victim status'.

He's racist too - in 2002, Boris claimed the Queen loved visiting parts of the Commonwealth, being greeted by 'crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies'.

In 2016 he managed to compare the EU attempts to unify Europe with those of Hitler.

He can be casually sexist - once describing Hilary Clinton as looking like 'a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital'.

Boris is said to have inherited his foot in mouth tendencies from Stanley, who also cheated on his first wife.

He's fiercely competitive - participating in a spot of street rugby in Tokyo in 2015, he managed to flatten a schoolboy, all for the benefit of the cameras.

A couple of years ago, Boris spoke at a charity dinner I attended - shambling and inarticulate, saying nothing of any merit, treating the audience as if they were dolts, happy to bask in the glow of superiority emanating from his bulky frame.

Stanley has gone in the jungle because he's being upstaged by his son.

Janet Street-Porter was on the show with Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell (pictured together) back in 2004

A Member of the European Parliament for five years, he's out of politics - having failed to get elected as an MP in 2005.

Stanley has written dozens of books, he's a raconteur and an adventurer who has climbed Kilimanjero twice, a keen environmentalist.

Like that other enviro-bore Bear Grylls, he wants to save the planet.

Above everything else, Stanley is a relentless self-promoter, just like his son.

One of the least attractive aspects of Boris is refusing to admit when he's wrong and exhibit genuine humility.

Not good in the restrained world of international diplomacy.

Recently, Boris wrongly described a British woman jailed on spying charges in Iran as someone who had been 'training journalists'- when she had been on holiday. Sloppy speech that could have tragic consequences - her husband said she was 'close to a nervous breakdown' and worried the authorities would increase her five year sentence.

It took days, and an intensive grilling by MP's for Boris to grudgingly admit he 'could have been clearer' and finally apologise.

Spare a thought for the motley crew sitting around the I'm a Celebrity campfire this weekend - they've got hours and hours of self-obsessed Stanley Johnson to listen to.

Perhaps Amir Khan could land a killer punch and knock him out - that would make my year complete.
Anthony Nicholls died in hospital days after a firework was posted through his letterbox

A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was was killed by a 200-shot firework in his home.

Anthony Nicholls, aged 56, died in hospital following a blaze at his home in Birmingham on Thursday, November 2.

The fire started after an industrial-sized firework was set off by a group of men who burst into Mr Nicholls home at around 11.20pm as he and his girlfriend enjoyed a Chinese takeaway.

His partner, a 50-year-old woman, escaped with fractures to her lower limbs after jumping from a first floor window at the property. She has been released from hospital, but suffered life changing injuries.

Mr Nicholls died as a result of the blaze.

Yesterday West Midlands Police arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to murder using fireworks.

Shocking pictures show the devastation inside a gutted house where Mr Nicholls was killed after a commercial firework was posted through his letterbox.

Neighbours claim Mr Nicholls desperately tried to smash windows so that he and his partner Marie, 50, could escape the flames which left the walls blackened and a TV melted.

The former hardware store worker was rushed to hospital with 60 per cent burns and placed in an induced coma after the blaze ravaged his property

This picture of a blackened staircase inside the property shows the devastation caused by the commercial firework

The 56-year-old was rescued by firefighters who raced to the property after receiving a 999 call at 11pm last Thursday.

The former hardware store worker was rushed to hospital with 60 per cent burns and placed in an induced coma after the blaze ravaged his property.

But West Midlands Police said Mr Nicholls never regained consciousness and detectives had now launched a murder inquiry.

His partner Marie is still being treated for fractures to her legs after jumping from a first floor window.

Mr Nicholls' have described him as a 'fun-loving, funny man' who 'worked hard all his life'.

Neighbours reported hearing Mr Nicholls screaming for help and trying to break the windows in a desperate bid to escape.

A blue forensic tent could be seen outside the 150,000 semi-detached property on Saturday, which has been left badly damaged by the fire.

Neighbours living on the quiet residential street described seeing paramedics frantically working on Mr Nicholls.

One elderly woman, who did not want to be named, said: 'It's really shocking because this is usually a nice quiet area.

'I've been told somebody put lit fireworks through their letterbox. They were both in bed asleep and Marie jumped from the window.

'People were saying they could hear fireworks going off in the night and that they sounded very close.

'Its despicable that somebody could do such a thing. He used to work at the hardware shop over the road but gave up because of his health.'

Mr Nicholls' friend Janet Mahoney, 73, said: 'He was a nice chap - anyone who spoke to him would say the same thing. I knew him from the shop he worked in. It really is shocking and I'm so so sad for Tony - I spoke to him only three days before the fire.'

Mr Nicholls' partner, named as Marie, is believed to have broken both legs jumping from the bedroom window after they were awoken by the blaze last Thursday night

Detective Inspector Paul Joyce of West Midlands Police said last week: 'The impact would have been terrifying for the occupants and I would urge anyone who sold or is missing a firework of this size to get in touch.

'This would have been a large heavy firework that would have been difficult to carry some distance, so I would ask anyone who saw someone carrying a large box in the area last Thursday night to contact us.

'Any information no matter how insignificant if may seem to you could help our investigation.

'Sadly one of the victims of this fire has died and our thoughts are with his family and partner at their time of loss.

'His death means that we are now treating this as a murder enquiry and I would like to re-emphasise the need for anyone with information to call us.

'We are following up several active lines of enquiry and are focusing on CCTV from the local community. If you have any home CCTV that we have not yet seen please call us.'

Officers believe the firework, which gutted the home's interior, would have taken two minutes to fully discharge and are asking for help in tracing where it came from.
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough is releasing a Christmas album that pokes fun at President Donald Trump.

The Morning Joe host's EP - 'A Very Drumpf Christmas' - will be released on Friday and contains a trio of Trump-inspired festive songs.

The album artwork features Trump looking like the Grinch from Dr Seuss's classic The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

The Morning Joe host's EP - 'A Very Drumpf Christmas' - will be released on Friday and contains a trio of Trump-inspired festive songs

It features three songs, including Christmastime, The Drumpf and This Christmas It's You & Me.

A Very Drumpf Christmas tracks: Christmastime The Drumpf This ChristmasIt's You & Me Advertisement

According to Business Insider, lyrics on one of the tracks includes the line: 'Oh you can save our Christmas from going kerplumf, from that orange creep that children call the Drumpf?'

It is in reference to the President's immigrant grandfather Friedrich who changed his surname from Drumpf to Trump after coming from Germany to the US.

The songs also mention ousted White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.

The Morning Joe host has recorded three tracks including Christmastime, The Drumpf and This Christmas It's You & Me

It comes after Scarborough released an EP in June titled Mystified that mocked Trump and showed his disdain for the current commander-in-chief.

In a music video for the title song, the 50-year-old showed images of a world in decline from war, drug use, guns and racism with video clips of President Trump scattered throughout.

The video features Scarborough and co-host Mika Brzezinski, who stare desensitized at the images in front of them, including one of a mushroom cloud after the detonation of a nuclear bomb.
A pensioner with dementia was left lying in a pool of his own blood by himself for more than 30 minutes by a callous carer who stayed in her office 'doing paperwork'.

Frail Edward Highfield, 79, ended up with blood pouring down his face after he fell out of bed and cracked his head open at a care home.

The great-grandfather was found by a member of staff at Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home in West Bromwich, West Midlands, and an ambulance was called.

But rather than stay with the OAP and trying to make him more comfortable, the carer left him alone in his bedroom.

Edward Highfield, 79, was left on the floor for more than half an hour while he waited for an ambulance

Edward Highfield, pictured in his younger days right, suffered a bad injury to his head (left)

Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home in West Bromwich, West Midlands, where the fall happened

Edward Highfield with his granddaughter Michaela Highfield aged 16. This picture was taken when he first moved into Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home in West Bromwich

Mr Highfield's family said they arrived at the care home to find the father-of-four lying alone, helpless and distressed in a pool of blood.

His daughter Lisa Geddes, 44, said: 'We arrived and there were only two carers around. Dad was on the floor by himself.

'There was blood coming out of his head, but no-one had put a compress on, or even put a pillow under his head.

'Dad is on Warfarin, which thins the blood, so he was losing a lot of blood.

'I was devastated when I saw him. I rang the ambulance again to see where they were, and they were shocked when I told them that he had been left on his own.'

According to Mrs Geddes, a nurse who was working on another floor of the home was about to take her break when she heard the commotion and rushed to help her father.

But the carer on duty, a Polish nurse, remained in the care home's office 'doing paperwork'.

Mrs Geddes added: 'The attitude of the carer was disgusting. My dad can be a handful, but she looked at him like he was a piece of dirt.

'While he was bleeding on the floor she was in the office "getting his paperwork ready".

'There's only two members of staff on that floor. They said it is enough but it clearly isn't.'

Mr Highfield's family said they arrived at the care home, pictured, to find the father-of-four lying alone, helpless and distressed in a pool of blood

Frail Edward Highfield (left), 79, ended up with blood pouring down his face after he fell out of bed and cracked his head open at a care home. The aftermath can be seen right

The great-grandfather was found by a member of staff at Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home in West Bromwich, West Midlands, and an ambulance was called

Paramedics later arrived at the scene and took Mr Highfield, a former foundry worker, to Sandwell Hospital.

Mrs Geddes said: 'My dad has the late stages of vascular dementia. Luckily he was OK, but if he had fallen differently he could have died.

'He could have had a brain bleed or a stroke, or bled to death right there in the room.

'She was supposed to be a carer, but didn't sit there with him to calm him down or to give him basic first aid.

'He's frail but he's robust because he always did manual jobs all his life. If it was a frail old lady then she might have died.'

Mr Highfield's family went back to the home the next day to make a formal complaint about his treatment.

Janet Rayfield, operations manager, said staff were 'extremely saddened' by the way Mr Highfield (pictured) was treated during the incident on September 26

His daughter said: 'He's had a couple of falls before. He can stand up but he's not steady on his feet

'The home had told us they were going to take some safety measures, including getting a sensor pad for his bed.

'They fitted one and it didn't work, so it was thrown on top of a wardrobe.'

The family have now moved the pensioner to a different care home, which offers more specialised dementia care.

Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home confirmed the member of staff had been disciplined and is no longer employed at the home.

Janet Rayfield, operations manager, said staff were 'extremely saddened' by the way Mr Highfield was treated during the incident on September 26.

She said: 'The health and wellbeing of residents is always our priority at Hilltop Lodge and we liaise closely with both them and their families to do all that we can to provide good care.

'We were extremely saddened that in the moments following this accident a member of staff did not meet the very high standards of care we set ourselves.

'As a result, disciplinary steps were taken immediately against the individual involved, and she is no longer in our employment.

'As a team, we have revisited our policies and procedures and are committed to making sure that our quality of care is never compromised again.'
An 83-year-old retired Marine kept a promise he made to a fellow officer while they were hunkered down in a bunker during the Vietnam War.

Retired Marine Master Sgt. William H. Cox and Retired Marine First Sgt. James 'Hollie' Hollingsworth were shielding themselves from rockets and mortars in 1968 as they were fighting in the Marble Mountains during the war on New Year's Eve.

The two men, who were strangers to each other, had decided if they made it out of the bunker and survived the war, they would contact each other every New Year's Eve.

For the next five decades they kept that promise - every New Year's Eve they would catch up.

Earlier this year, Cox traveled from Piedmont, South Carolina, to see Hollingsworth, 80, in Hephzibah, Georgia.

The 83-year-old made the trip so that he could say goodbye to his dear friend who was dying.

Honor: Retired Marine Master Sgt. William H. Cox (left) kept his promise to stand guard at his friend's funeral, Retired Marine First Sgt. James 'Hollie' Hollingsworth on October 24

For decades, Cox (left) spoke to Hollingsworth (right) on New Year's Eve after they became close friends when they survived a 1968 NYE attack during the war. In July (above), Hollingsworth asked Cox to give the eulogy and stand guard at his funeral

The two men flew over 200 combat missions together, which resulted in Cox (left) to consider Hollingsworth (right) to be a 'brother'. The two men served in the Marine helicopter squadron VMO-2. Obviously, Cox agreed to honor his dear friend

While visiting, Hollingsworth asked his buddy to make him one last promise.

He asked him to stand guard over his casket and deliver the eulogy at his funeral, to which Cox accepted.

'I said, "Boy, that's a rough mission you're assigning me to there,"' Cox told Greenvilleonline.com.

A photo shared to Facebook by Hollingsworth's son shows the two men catching up like old times in deep conversation back in July.

'Two great Marines were reunited once again. These two flew over 200 missions on the same Huey in Vietnam,' his son wrote alongside the image.

'I have always been proud of my father and his service to our Country. Love hearing the stories from his closest friend.'

His son said the last thing Cox told Hollingsworth was a phrase they often exchanged when they closed their conversations - 'Hollie, you keep 'em flying, and I'll keep 'em firing.'

Cox, who served in the Marine helicopter squadron VMO-2 with Hollingsworth, made sure to keep his final promise when the time came months later.

The 83-year-old put on his dress blues and stood guard over his friend's casket during his funeral service on October 20.

He also delivered a heartfelt eulogy for Hollingsworth - whom he flew over 200 combat missions with during their time in the Marines.

When he closed the eulogy at his funeral last month, Cox (above in 2011) repeated a phrase he would tell his friend during their missions and when he would say goodbye to him on the phone: 'Hollie, you keep 'em flying, and I'll keep 'em firing.'

Closing the emotional eulogy, Cox repeated: 'Hollie, you keep 'em flying, and I'll keep 'em firing.'

A photo taken of Cox standing next to Hollingsworth casket was shared to Facebook by his son, Bill Cox.

'My 83 year old father, Master Sergeant William H.Cox, USMC, Retired, honoring one of his Vietnam brothers, First Sergeant James J. Hollingsworth (Hollie),' he captioned it.

'They made a pact to stay in touch, if they survived their tour, and they did. Both were door gunners, and dad was the only enlisted man in VMO-2 to be awarded the DFC in Vietnam.

'He has to use a cane most of the time now, but he insisted on not using it during his vigil at the casket and at the funeral.'

Since sharing the photo on November 5, the emotional photo has been shared thousands of times with many fellow Marines saluting the pair for their service.

Cox said that his bond with Hollingsworth as a Marine was 'different from any other branch of service' and that he considered him to be 'a brother.'
Det.Sean Suiter, 43, died on Thursday, less than a day after he was shot in the head while working in the Harlem Park neighborhood of Baltimore

A 43-year-old police detective who was shot in the head in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday has died.

Det. Sean Suiter, an 18-year veteran of the force, died just after noon on Thursday at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, the The Baltimore Sun reports.

He was shot Wednesday afternoon, at around 4:30pm, after approaching a suspicious man in the Harlem Park neighborhood.

Police continue to search for the man responsible for killing one of their own.

Suiter leaves behind a wife and two children.

The detective spent the last two years working in the Baltimore PD's homicide unit.

Before that, he investigated non-fatal shootings in the city.

Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said Wednesday that Suiter 'was just doing his job on behalf of this city' when he was shot.

'And thats what hes been doing for 18 years,' Davis added.

An 18-year veteran of the force, Suiter leaves behind a wife and two children

Rick Willard, a former co-worker on the force, described Suiter as a 'good cop' who 'was smart and smiled a lot'.

'Everyone that worked with him loved him. Even when you were down he would smile what his mischievous smile and make everyone happy and feel at ease.

'He is one of the best officers I ever worked with, and it breaks my heart,' he said.

Suiter was shot in the head after approaching a 'suspicious' person in the Harlem Park neighborhood

Police cordoned off streets in the West Baltimore area and a tactical unit combed alleyways as they searched for a shooter Wednesday night.

Numerous cruisers responded and a police helicopter buzzed overhead, illuminating streets below with a searchlight.

The neighborhood where the officer was shot has a number of vacant row houses and has been the scene of numerous shootings over the years.

Mayor Catherine Pugh, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and other officials visited the hospital last night while doctors were fighting to save the detective's life. They did not speak to reporters.

Wednesday's shooting of the police officer comes amid a particularly violent period in Baltimore.

So far this year, the city of less than 620,000 inhabitants has seen over 300 homicides.

The neighborhood where the officer was shot has a number of vacant row houses and has been the scene of numerous shootings over the years
A lawyer has offered his services pro-bono to a Christian couple who pledged to divorce if same-sex marriage became legal.

Nick and Sarah Jensen, of Canberra, sparked controversy in 2015 when Mr Jensen announced they would end their decade-long legal union if gay marriage is legalised in Australia.

'My wife and I, as a matter of conscience, refuse to recognise the government's regulation of marriage if its definition includes the solemnisation of same sex couples,' he wrote in Canberra's City News in June 2015.

'My wife is the only woman I have ever loved, the mother of our children, my perfect match, So, the decision to divorce is not one that we've taken lightly.'

Nick and Sarah Jensen, of Canberra, sparked controversy in 2015 when Mr Jensen announced they would end their decade-long legal union if gay marriage is legalised in Australia

However, he added that their divorce won't be a tradition one.

'You see, after out divorce, we'll continue to live together, hopefully for another 50 years. And God willing, we'll have more children.

'We'll also continue to refer to each other as 'husband' and 'wife' and consider ourselves married by the Church and before God.'

And since the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed on Wednesday that 61.6 per cent of Australians had voted 'yes' in the same-sex marriage survey, paving for the way for it to become law, it appears divorce is on the horizon for the Jensens.

There is a silver lining for them, however  Michael Tiyce, from family law firm Tiyce & Lawyers in Sydney, has offered to help the couple keep their promise to the country.

Michael Tiyce, from family law firm Tiyce & Lawyers in Sydney, has offered to help the couple keep their promise to the country - although says it will be a challenge

The Jensens vowed to end their legal union, but say they'll still consider themselves 'married by the Church and before God'

He's offering his legal services at no charge to the Jensens because 'quite simply, they are going to need it,' he told news.com.au.

That's because divorce the Jensens' reasons to end their legal union don't comply with the Family Law Act's grounds for divorce, which require evidence that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, he said.

They would also need to be separated for a year before filing for divorce.

'As I understand the position taken by Nick and Sarah, they intend to divorce, but still remain together and have more children,' Mr Tiyce told news.com.au.

'That makes things a bit tricky as they will be unable to establish the consortium vitae has ended.

'Continuing to present as husband and wife to the world would, in my opinion, make it impossible for them to establish their relationship was at an end.'

Mr Jensen said the couple are planning to wait to see what changes are made to marriage law before publicly announcing their plans

Mr Tiyce noted that their situation is known in legal circles as 'wedlock'  a problem usually faced by same-sex couples who have married overseas and can't always divorce in Australia because their marriage isn't recognised.

He added that although that fact might be 'uncomfortable' for the couple and that's why he's offering to 'help them out of the institution they support keeping closed to gays.'

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia ahead of the results this week, Mr Jensen said the couple are planning to wait to see what changes are made to marriage law before publicly announcing their plans.

'We just need to see the legislation and if it all goes that way,' he said.

'Then we know what situation we're in and what we're going to do.'

The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed on Wednesday that 61.6 per cent of Australians had voted 'yes' in the same-sex marriage survey

He was coy about specifics and laughed when asked if he was feeling nervous about the vote.

Despite his fame, Mr Jensen - who previously worked for the Australian Christian Lobby  wasn't on the front lines of the No campaign.

'Our situation is a bit of a unique one from the rest of the No campaigners,' he said.

'In part, we're affected if there is a bit of a change in law - I haven't been out there on the front line campaigning.'

Mr Jensen's 2015 column sparked such a reaction that more than 100,000 people signed up to attend a Facebook event called 'Celebrating Nick and Sarah Jensen's divorce'.

But it quickly led to questions about whether the couple could legally divorce without separating for 12 months - as is required by federal law.

However, the couple haven't made any announcement signalling they had changed their minds since it was published.

Australian Bureau of Statistics boss David Kalish announced the result of the voluntary postal survey at 10am on Wednesday.

The Jensen's home state of the Australian Capital Territory yielded the highest vote in favour of same-sex marriage - 74 per cent.
Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who is facing multiple sex abuse allegations, cracked jokes about his current predicament saying he had united Democrats and Republicans  'in fighting against me.'

'One thing I would like to see happen in our country is unity. I said I wanted to see unity,' Moore told a Birmingham, Alabama crowd Thursday afternoon. 'I would never dream I would succeed before I got elected,' he laughed.

Despite numerous women accusing him of preying on them as teens, Moore has stood his ground.

'As you know, The Washington Post has brought some scurrilous, false charges  not charges, allegations  which I have emphatically denied time and time again,' Moore said. 'They're not only untrue, but they have no evidence to support them.'

Moore characterized the onslaught as just another way for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a fellow Republican, to take him down.

'Many of you have recognized that this is an effort by Mitch McConnell and his cronies to steal this election from the people of Alabama and they will not stand for it,' Moore said.

Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore beat back sex abuse allegations Thursday by joking about it - saying he had finally brought Democrats and Republicans together about something

Embattled Senate candidate Roy Moore had a number of supporters and faith leaders speak before him at an event Thursday, acting as character witnesses

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that the allegations with Moore are 'extremely troubling' though added that it's up to Alabama voters to decide if they want Roy Moore representing them in the Senate

The fifth accuser, Beverly Young Nelson, held an emotional press conference on Monday alleging that Moore sexually assaulted her in his car in 1977

Wendy Miller (left) says she was just 14 and dressed as an Elf who was a 'Santa's helper' at the mall when Moore allegedly asked her out. Kelly Harrison Thorp (right) said she was asked on a date by Moore when she was just 17 years old

Debbie Wesson Gibson says she was 17 when Moore allegedly kissed her once in his bedroom and once at a local country club pool

'Well, I want to tell you who needs to step down: that's Mitch McConnell,' Moore added.

Preceding Moore in the rally line-up were a number of surrogates for the wannabe senator, playing the role of character witnesses.

When Moore got onstage, he started his speech by delivering an even odder joke.

'When I first got into politics, they said in the court system, they said three things you have to have to be a good candidate: that's honesty, dedication and experience,' he said.

But when speaking to a 'seasoned old judge,' Moore explained, he was told that's not actually correct.

'You don't need honesty, dedication and experience. What you need to do is have eyeglasses,' the old judge said. 'Because that shows people that you study a lot and read a lot.'

Moore pointed out that he had glasses now and 'graying hair or thinning hair,' which was the judge's second characteristic. And a third too, which was that 'you have to be studied and be of an age proper.'

'And then he said you have to have  one other thing,' Moore said the old judge said.

'What's that, judge?' Moore, as a younger person said. 'He said, "You have to have hemorrhoids."'

Moore said he responded back that he didn't understand  and that he didn't have hemorrhoids.

'I said why? He said, "Well, it gives you a concerned look,"' Moore said, gleefully shooting off his zinger.

Moore then moved to the topic at hand: defending himself.

'There's been comments about me "taking the stand." Yes, I have taken the stand in the past,' he said. 'I'll take the stand in the future, and I'll quit standing when they lay me in that box and put me in the ground.'

In short, Moore wasn't dropping out of the Senate race.

Thanks to the scandal, the ex-judge has lost most of his backing on Capitol Hill, though White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders left the door open Thursday for Moore to have Trump's support.

While calling the allegations 'extremely troubling' President Trump's spokeswoman said it was up to Alabama voters to decide.

She added a caveat, however, that if the stories are true, Moore should step aside.

Before the press briefing today, the president dodged questions Wednesday about Moore as he delivered a rehash of his trip to Asia.

Trump also declined to comment on the controversy while he was overseas, claiming ignorance.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Friday that 'the President believes that we cannot allow a mere allegation  in this case, one from many years ago  to destroy a person's life.'

She said Trump 'also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside,' putting off further comment on the matter until the conclusion of the five-nation trip.

The most stinging rebuke from the White House has come from senior adviser and first daughter, Ivanka Trump.

'Theres a special place in hell for people who prey on children,' the first daughter said in an interview with the Associated Press.

'Ive yet to see a valid explanation [from Moore] and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts,' she said.

President Trump hasn't addressed the Roy Moore scandal since returning home from his 12-day trip to Asia, though Conway and his daughter Ivanka Trump have chimed in

Aside from commenting that problems like sexual harassment are pervasive, Conway did not take a direct shot at Moore, who's been accused by at least eight women of inappropriate sexual behavior directed toward them as teens, in her Fox & Friends appearance on Thursday.

'I'm so glad women on the left, particularly on Capitol Hill, are now coming forward and want to have hearings and are swearing under oath and getting people to come forward, that's great,' Conway said today.

'I tried to do it 13 months ago, nobody wanted to listen to me because of the campaign I was managing,' she added.

Those comments came in the aftermath of the release of Trump's infamous Access Hollywood tape, as a number of women stepped out and accused candidate Trump of sexual harassment and assault.

'I tried to make this an issue over a year ago, on October 9, 2016 when I talked about, maybe, when I was younger and prettier folks on Capitol Hill behaving in such a way,' Conway said.

The allegations against Moore go beyond harassment.

One of Moore's accusers, Beverly Young Nelson, claims the politician attempted to rape her at the age of 16.

Over on Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell  who did not support Moore in the GOP primary  has discussed a number of ways to prevent Moore from being seated, should be prevail in the January 12 special election against Democrat Doug Jones.

The latest poll from the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows Moore trailing Jones, in the deep red state of Alabama, by 12 points.

Politico reported that McConnell and his top advisers might ask Sen. Luther Strange, the Alabama Republican who holds the seat now, to resign, triggering a new special election and allowing the GOP to field a fresh candidate.

So has the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Chris Hansen, who noted that Roy Moore's rallying cry of 'Bring. It. On' was the title of a high school cheerleading movie, not a good look for someone accused of preying on teen girls

Even if Moore dropped out of the race, his name will still appear on the ballot.

Moore, however, has signaled he has no intentions to do such a thing.

On Twitter Wednesday, Moore offered fighting words in a tweet addressed to the top Senate Republican.

'Dear Mitch McConnell,' Moore wrote. 'Bring. It. On.'

Chris Hansen, the executive director of the national GOP's Senate campaign committee, which already dropped Moore, fired back on Twitter last night.

'Bring It On is a movie about high school cheerleaders,' he wrote.

When the Daily Beast reported Wednesday that Steve Bannon  who campaigned for Moore in the primary against Trump's pick, Strange  was getting cold feet, people near to the ex-White House chief strategist pushed back.

A source close to Bannon told DailyMail.com that the allegations were coming from 'locusts in the fake news media,' adding that they are 'fake attacks from New York City and Washington, D.C., by the swamp that Roy Moore intends to drain when he wins the election.'

Moore's lawyer went to bat for his client, too. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon he cast doubt on a claim that a signature in an accuser's high school yearbook that's said to be Moore's was real.

The lawyer, Phillip Jauregui, floated an unproven theory that the signature in Nelson's 1977 yearbook was counterfeited from a divorce proceeding document he signed of the accuser's in 1999.

Nelson's high-profile lawyer, Gloria Allred, said he client would testify before oath and turn the yearbook over for inspection if a Senate committee held a hearing regarding the accusations  which is unlikely.

Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity, who had given Moore 24 hours to clean up any 'inconsistencies' with his story, said Wednesday night that voters in Alabama should be the ones who decide.

Moore had written an open letter to Hannity, also pointing to the yearbook and charging, 'I believe tampering has occurred.'

'It shouldn't be decided by me,' Hannity told his viewers. 'In my opinion, the people of Alabama, they need to know the truth.'

'Whatever it means to get to the truth,' Hannity added. 'The Alabama people deserve that.'
Actor Michael Imperioli (pictured above) will star as Governor Andrew Cuomo in a Showtime series

New York-born actor Michael Imperioli will star as Governor Cuomo in an upcoming Showtime crime series.

The film, 'Escape at Dannemora', will reenact the summer 2015 incident from the Clinton Correctional Facility involving two convicted killers who escaped with the assistance of a married female prison worker they were each having an affair with.

'The Sopranos' star will work alongside actor Benicio Del Toro, who will play inmate Richard Matt, as well as Paul Dano, who will star as David Sweat, according to a Variety report released Thursday.

Actress Patricia Arquette will portray female prison guard, Joyce Mitchell, who became sexually involved with the men and helped execute the infamous prison break that took 23 days complete.

Mitchell allegedly smuggled power tools packed inside frozen meat which the prisoners used to break out with.

Cuomo previously said of the 2015 prison break: 'If you were writing a movie plot, they would say that this was overdone'

Michael Imperio is shown filming a scene in American drama series, 'The Sopranos'. The actor will star in the upcoming show 'Escape at Dannemora' directed by Ben Stiller

The highly-anticipated film will be under direction of Ben Stiller. An official release date has yet to be announced.

Matt was first shot and killed by a SWAT team in June 2015 near the Canadian border when he was found armed with a 20-gauge shotgun.

Authorities later tracked down Sweat - who was shot by a state trooper then taken into custody, according to The New York Times.

An investigation into the prison break of David Sweat (left) and his former cohort Richard Matt (right) concluded that they seduced a married prion worker into almost daily sex before she assisted in their escape

Gov. Cuomo called the ongoing manhunt for Richard Matt and David Sweat to be a 'nightmare'

Sweat, who is already serving a life sentence without parole for the 2002 murder of a police officer, received an additional sentence for the crimes in Clinton County Court last February.

'The nightmare is finally over,' Gov. Cuomo said during a news conference at the time.

'These were really dangerous, dangerous men,' he told New York State Police Superintendent, Joseph A. D'Amico.

'If you were writing a movie plot, they would say that this was overdone.'
A supercomputer programmed to think like the notorious Zodiac killer could help solve one of the most difficult cases in US law enforcement history.

A new artificial intelligence software designed to understand human language may be able to decipher secret messages left by the notorious serial killer who has evaded justice for decades.

The computer was commanded to think like the Zodiac and produced some creepy poetry when fed all the known writings of the elusive criminal, it was learned Thursday.

A University of Southern California professor created an artificial intelligence software that was designed to help crack the code of the Z340, the Zodiac killers famous cipher.

The ciphers, which were sent with letters to the police and newspapers in Northern California during the 1960s and 70s, contain letters and symbols that may hide clues as to the killers identity.

A supercomputer programmed to think like the notorious Zodiac killer (seen left) in a police sketch) produced some creepy poetry when fed all the known writings of the elusive serial killer. The computer was developed by USC Professor Kevin Knight (right)

Now the computer will be activated in hopes it can break the Zodiacs code

The supercomputer has been programmed to think like the notorious Zodiac killer

The professor, Kevin Knight, invented CARMEL, a supercomputer that has been trained to understand and create human language using natural-language processing.

In 2011, CARMEL and Knight succeeded in decoding the Copiale Cipher, a hand-lettered 105-page manuscript from the late 18th century which was found to contain hidden messages about German secret society.

Now the computer will be activated in hopes it can break the Zodiacs code, according to The History Channel.

Part of Knights research includes giving the supercomputer tasks like writing poetry with the mind of the Zodiac.

The results were downright frightening.

The computer has produced some creepy poetry when fed all the known writings of the elusive serial killer

One poem reads: At the age of love, a love deranged,

A beauty from romantic interest,

The thought of love, and love became estranged.

Then the words of love became obsessed.

Surrounded by the troubled, by the thieving,

Confused and bruised and poisoned by the master,

Confused and blinded by the helpful scheming,

Confused and blinded by the dreadful slander

Another poem read: Another party started getting heavy.

And never had a little bit of Bobby,

Or something going by the name of Eddie,

And got a finger on the trigger sloppy.

Another poem entitled Bipolar Depression reads: Existence enters your entire nation.

A twisted mind reveals becoming manic,

An endless modern ending medication,

Another rotten soul becomes dynamic.

Or under pressure on genetic tests.

Surrounded by controlling my depression,

And only human torture never rests,

Or maybe you expect an easy lesson

A University of Southern California professor created an artificial intelligence software that was designed to help crack the code of the Z340, the Zodiac killers famous cipher (above)

The ciphers, which were sent with letters to the police and newspapers in Northern California during the 1960s and 70s, contain letters and symbols that may hide clues as to the killers identity. A 1969 edition of The San Francisco Chronicle receives a note from the Zodiac

In 1970, the San Francisco Bay Area was reeling from the attacks of a media-hungry serial killer dubbed the Zodiac.

He shot and stabbed seven people, five fatally, in a 10-month period, between December 1968 and October 1969.

The killings were random and did not conform to a neat pattern. A teenage couple was shot in a secluded lovers lane; a 29-year-old taxi driver was killed in a posh, densely-populated corner of San Francisco.

And the Zodiac, as he called himself, sent threatening letters to local media taunting the police department.

Many of his hand-written notes came with the proviso that if they werent front-page news, then more attacks would follow.

In one letter from 1974, the killer claimed to have murdered 37 people across California.

Unsolved cases linked to him include two teenagers killed on a beach near Santa Barbara and a nurse who disappeared near Lake Tahoe.

To this day, the Zodiac has not been unmasked and the case remains open in the San Francisco Police Department.
The white supremacist who stabbed three men, killing two, on an Oregon train as they protected a Muslim teenager from him appeared in court on Thursday to protest his innocence and send a message to one of his survivors.

Jeremy Christian held a 'don't tread on me sticker' up in the direction of Micah Fletcher, who was stabbed by him but survived the attack on May 26, during the hearing.

Fletcher, who was sitting in a section of the gallery marked out for 'victims', sought comfort in the arms of the person next to him.

Christian is facing murder and assault charges for killing Rick Best and Taliesin Namkai-Meche.

Jeremy Christian held up a 'don't tread on me' sticker which featured an illustration of a rattle snake at a bail hearing in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday

The two men, along with Fletcher, jumped in to protect two teenage girls, one of whom was black and the other Muslim, from Christian who had launched into a racist tirade.

In previous hearings, he has called the killings an act of 'patriotism' and not one of terror.

Christian has pleaded not guilty to murder. On Thursday, his lawyers claimed Meche and Best were the aggressors and that they aggravated him into stabbing them.

They also appeared to suggest that his mental health is deteriorating and was precarious when he lashed out with the knife in May.

They presented an 11-page psychologist's report for the judge to consider. Its contents were not shared. Christian lashed out at the two young girls on May 26 on the busy MAX train.

They were terrified in their seats as he spit racist slurs in their direction. Best, Fletcher and Meche, protected them from him.

The train was grinding to a halt at the time.

Christian, 35, denies the murder charges but admits stabbing the men. His lawyers suggested on Thursday that he may not be mentally fit to stand trial. They entered a psychiatric evaluation that was recently performed

Micah Fletcher, the only survivor of his attack, sought comfort in the arms of the woman next to him at the hearing on Thursday

Fletcher suffered a large wound to the neck but miraculously survived the attack

Rick Best (left) and Taliesin Namkai-Meche (right) were both murdered in the stabbing frenzy

After stabbing the three men in a frenzied attack, Christian disembarked and begged police officers to shoot him.

Thursday's hearing was to determine whether he should be granted bail while he awaits trial.

Prosecutors argued passionately that he should not and pointed to the murder and assault he carried out on the day in question.

THE CHARGES Aggravated murder x 2 Attempted aggravated murder x 1 First degree assault x 1 Second degree assault x 1 Unlawful use of a weapon x 5 Second degree intimidation x 3 Menacing x 2 Advertisement

'Eleven stabs in 11 seconds,' Portland police Detective Michele Michaels said as he testified for the prosecution.

The judge did not make a decision and said she needed more time to review surveillance video from the train and the psychological report.

Fletcher, whose long neck scar was visible above his collar, was joined in the gallery by Best and Meche's families.

Some of them cried and hugged during the emotional two-hour hearing.

One of the two teenagers spoke out earlier this year to share her gratitude for the men who saved her life. Her name is Destinee Magnum.

The other has not been identified.

In previous court appearances, Christian has been prone to loud outbursts where he protested his innocence.

He refrained on Thursday from any such declarations.

In a video taken near the scene of the stabbing, Christian is seen brandishing a knife and begging police to shoot him
Mr Justice Keehan (pictured) made an appeal for help to find the three children on Tuesday

Two little girls and a 12-year-boy who vanished after social workers raised welfare concerns have been taken out of Britain by a relative despite ports being put on alert, a High Court judge was told.

On Tuesday Mr Justice Keehan made an urgent appeal for help to find baby Rose Paduraru, seven-year-old Oliwia Ilksa and 12-year-old Krzysztof Ilksa.

The judge, who is analysing the case at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court, said he was 'very seriously concerned', particularly about eight-month-old Rose.

He said they had been living with their Polish mother Joanna Ilksa in Hillingdon, west London, and had recently disappeared shortly after another family court judge decided that they should go into the care of social services bosses Hillingdon Council.

Lawyers on Thursday told the judge that the children from flown from Stansted Airport to Poland on Monday with their mother's mother Barbara Wyrzykowska.

Barrister Ann Courtney, who represents Hillingdon Council, said: 'Despite the ports alert being served, grandmother managed to remove all three children from the jurisdiction via Stansted airport.

'All three children are now in Poland at the grandmother's address.'

She said Polish police had made a 'welfare check' and had not raised any concerns.

Mr Justice Keehan was analysing details of the case at the Family Division of the High Court (pictured)

The judge said he wanted the children returned to London.

Rose's mother and Romanian father, Nelu Paduraru, who are both in their 20s, had been arrested after lawyers representing Hillingdon Council suggested they might have breached a judge's orders by not revealing all they know about the children's whereabouts and could be in contempt of court.

Mr Justice Keehan has ruled that both can be released. Lawyers said both wanted the children returned to England.
UFC fighter Fabricio Werdum has been charged with assault after police say he threw a boomerang at fellow UFC fighter Colby Covington's head during an argument outside a Sydney Hotel.

Video footage captured the ugly incident, which Werdum , 40, claims began when Covington, 29, allegedly made racist comments about Brazilians and kicked him in the leg, according to Fox News.

The video, which was filmed by New Zealand UFC fighter Dan Hooker, shows the pair having a heated argument in front of the Hilton before Werdum appears to throw a plastic bag containing a boomerang, allegedly hitting Covington in the neck.

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UFC fighter Fabricio Werdum has been charged with assault after police say he threw a boomerang at fellow UFC fighter Colby Covington's head during an argument outside a Sydney Hotel (pictured)

'We were at the lobby, and I've never seen this guy before. When I walked past him, he looked at me and said "filthy Brazilians",' the 40-year-old told a Brazilian publication.

'He kicked my leg, but I managed to defend it, so the guys got in the middle and nothing else happened. But he kicked me, he's insolent. He could have hurt me.'

After the altercation, Covington posted a now deleted video on his Instagram, during which he allegedly made racist comments and accused Werdum of punching him in the face.

'F*** Brazil. F*** Fabricio Werdum. Little b**** ass. F*** Brazil. Bunch of filthy animals. And they wonder why they get talked to like that because they're a bunch of animals,' the American said, according to Fox News.

'How f***ing funny dude. Dude punched me in the face.'

Video footage captured the ugly incident, which Werdum (pictured), 40, claims began when Covington, 29, allegedly made racist comments about Brazilians and kicked him in the leg

After the altercation, Covington (pictured) posted a now deleted video on his Instagram, during which he allegedly made racist comments and accused Werdum of punching him in the face

Werdum has been charged with common assault and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on December 13.

He and Covington are in Sydney for a mixed martial arts event and the 40-year-old is scheduled to fight Marcin Tybura at the Qudos Bank on Sunday.

The UFC is investigating the incident.
A car which was being chased by police has run down and injured a female pedestrian.

Officers began pursuing the suspect driver at 5pm in Camden, north London.

The vehicle was being followed up Camden High Street when it crashed into the woman, who is believed to be in her 50s, near the junction with Greenland Road.

A car which was being chased by police has run down and injured a female pedestrian

She was left with injuries to her leg and head and was treated by the London Ambulance Service.

Several men then fled from the crashed car, with officers managing to capture and arrest one, according to the force.

The other suspects remain on the run. Police have advised motorists to avoid the area.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'Police in an unmarked car began an authorised pursuit of a suspect vehicle at approximately 17:09hrs on Thursday, 16 November in the Camden area.

'The suspect vehicle was involved in a road traffic collision in Camden High Street hitting a bollard at the junction with Greenland Road. A female pedestrian, believed to be aged in her 50s, was injured as a result of the collision.

'She was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service for a leg injury and has now been taken to hospital for treatment. Her condition is stable.

'A number of males are believed to have got out and ran off from the suspect vehicle after the collision. One male (no further details) has been arrested. Attempts to locate the other occupants are ongoing. Road closures are in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The Mets Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed as a matter of course.'
A couple of writers have come forward to say that they came up with the character for Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow.

A. Lee Alfred II and Ezequiel Martinez Jr. are now suing the Walt Disney Company for allegedly looting the idea for its billion-dollar Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

The duo claim that they created the first 'funny' pirate and then Disney stole their original screenplay to create Pirates.

Pirates in film, while handsome or good-looking, have not been depicted as having a sense of humor, until 'Captain Jack Sparrow' in the Pirates franchise,' writes attorney Elizabeth M. Thomas in the complaint filed Tuesday in Colorado federal court.

'This 'new' pirate, who is funny, not feared, and repeatedly referred to as a 'good man' has not only created a new pirate character, but created a Pirates franchise that has been wholly centered on this new pirate character.'

Alfred and Martinez say the silly swashbuckler portrayed by Johnny Depp is a direct ripoff of their conception of Davy Jones in a screenplay called Pirates of the Caribbean.

According to Deadline.com The pair say that the screenplay was submitted to Disney by their producer Tova Laiter in 2000.

Disney passed on the project they didn't get their screenplay returned to them for more than two years - well after Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was already in production.

The writers say the film copies themes, settings, plot, characters and dialogue from their original script and maintain the similarities have continued throughout the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

However, the plaintiffs, having just registered 'their original works of authorship with the US Copyright Office on October 3rd,' do not offer any explanation as to why it took them nearly two decades to recognize a copyright infringement.

A Disney spokesman issued this statement in response to the suit: 'This complaint is entirely without merit, and we look forward to vigorously defending against it in court.'
The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Judiciary say Jared Kushner neglected to turn over an email about a 'Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite' when responding to their document requests.

The president's son-in-law also 'overlooked' an email communication about WikiLeaks, Republican Senator Charles Grassley and Democrat Dianne Feinstein wrote Kushner.

They know about the emails because 'other parties' turned them over.

The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., this week put out his own text communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during the campaign.

Investigators are interested in WikiLeaks because it published a trove of Democratic National Committee emails during the campaign which the intelligence community believes were hacked by Russia.

HAVE YOU TRIED YOUR BRIEFCASE? The lawmakers say Kushner may have 'overlooked' documents about WikiLeaks and a Russian 'backdoor overture'

The White House declined to comment but said Kushner's lawyer would be putting out a statement Thursday.

Kushner is represented by Abbe Lowell on Russia matters.

'There are several documents that are known to exist but were not included in your production,' the senators wrote.

'For example, other parties have produced September 2016 email communications to Mr. Kushner concerning WikiLeaks, which r. Kushner then forwarded to another campaign official. Such documents should have been produced in response to the third request but were not.'

'Likewise, other parties have produced documents concerning  "Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite" which Mr. Kushner also forwarded. And still others have produced communications with Sergei Millian, copied to Mr. Kushner.'

GET ME ABBE LOWELL: Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, 36, talks over the phone as he leaves his Washington D.C. home on Thursday morning, November 16, 2017, a day Judiciary Committee leaders asked him for additional documents

'Again, these do not appear in Mr. Kushner's production despite being responsive to the second request. You also have not produced any phone records that we presume exist and would relate to Mr. Kushner's communications regarding several requests,' they write.

The senators also pressed Kushner to do a better search of his emails.

'It appears that your search may have overlooked several documents,' the Senators wrote. They say he searched for key individuals in the 'to' and 'from' boxes, but not within the body of emails.

Senators Charles Grassley and Dianne Feinstein have written Jared Kushner seeking additional documents

Senators Charles Grassley and Dianne Feinstein have written Jared Kushner seeking additional documents

The Senators are seeking correspondence Kushner had about WikiLeaks that they learned of from other sources

'For example, you limited your production in response to our second request in  manner that eliminates communications about the individuals identified in that request. If, as you suggest, Mr. Kushner was unaware of, for example, any attempts at Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, then presumaly there would  few communications concerning many of the persons identified in our second request, and the corresponding burden of searching would  small.

The letter indicates Kushner has avoided some requests by citing the president's Executive Privelege.

'You also raised concerns that certain documents might implicate the President' s Executive Privilege and declined to produce those documents. We ask that you work with White House counsel to resolve any questions of privilege so that you can produce the documents that have been requested or provide  privilege log that describes the documents over which the President is asserting executive privilege,' they wrote.

The Judiciary panel is probing compliance with foreign lobbying disclosure and other election-related activities. They asked Kushner for transcripts, saying the Senate Intelligence and House Intelligence panel didn't turn them over.

The senators also interviewed Russian-American lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin, who along with Kushner attended an infamous Trump Tower meeting in 2016 that included Trump Jr. as well as a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer.
More than 250 suspected members of the dangerous international MS-13 gang were arrested in a six-month crackdown by the U.S. government.

'Operation Raging Bull' was carried out in two parts. The first phase started in September and resulted in the arrests of 53 suspected MS-13 members in El Salvador, where most of its members come from.

The second phase took place between October 8 and November 11, in the U.S., during which an additional 214 suspected gang members were arrested, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday.

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The U.S. government has arrested 267 suspected MS-13 members since September. A heat map above show where the arrests were made

Most of the MS-13 members were arrested were from El Salvador, where the group has ethnic ties

MS-13, which is short for Mara Salvatrucha, was originally set up in Los Angeles in the 1980s to protect Salvadorean immigrants in the city. But it quickly spread to metro areas across the country and delved into the criminal underworld - engaging in drug trafficking, child prostitution, human smuggling and racketing, among other things.

The gang has set a dark cloud over the New York City suburbs on Long island, where several teens have been found murdered in suspected confrontations with gang members.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has described MS-13 as 'one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the United States today'.

A suspected MS-13 members is arrested in Dallas on November 15

MS-13 gang members are known for their tattooed bodies. Above, a suspected gang member being arrested in Dallas on November 2

Of the 214 arrested in the U.S., 198 were foreign nationals and only five of those foreigners had a legal right to be in the U.S. Above, a suspected gang member being taken into custody in Southern California on November 9

Law enforcement agents in Dallas, Texas fingerprint a potential suspect on November 15

Attorney General Jeff Sessions says President Trump has made it a priority to crackdown on the group. Above, a suspect is fingerprinted on Long Island, New York on Halloween

A confiscated Salvadorean flag is seen after being confiscated in the six-week crackdown

Sixteen of the gang members arrested in the U.S. were American citizens. Above, a suspect being arrested in Southern California on November 9

MS-13 members are known for carrying our brutal murders. Above, a suspect is taken into custody on Long Island on Halloween

Tackling MS-13 has been a top priority for President Trump, Sessions said in a press released about the operation.

'These 267 arrests are the next step toward making this country safer by taking MS-13 off of our streets for good,' Sessions said.

Of the 214 suspected gang members that were arrested in the U.S., 93 face charges for crimes ranging from forgery to murder.

The remaining 121 were arrested for violating U.S. immigration laws, meaning they will likely be deported back to their native countries.

Also shocking is how many of the arrested gang members weren't even allowed to be in the country in the first place.

Sixteen of the U.S. arrests were American citizens. The remaining 198 were foreign nationals, of which only five were legally allowed to be in the U.S. Sixty-four of them illegally crossed the border as unaccompanied alien children, the press release claimed.

While Operation Raging Bull is being heralded as a victory, there are still many dangerous MS-13 members that the government is still targeting. They have since added six individuals to a list of their most wanted individuals. One is wanted for homicide in Texas, the other five are wanted for killing Salvadorean police officers.

The operation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, with the help from federal, state, local and international law enforcement partners.
Federal cabinet minister Christopher Pyne has denied 'liking' a hardcore gay porn video at 2am on Thursday in an awkward television interview.

Appearing on the Today show on Friday morning, Mr Pyne repeated his claims he was hacked, and shrugged the incident off as 'annoying'.

The defence industry minister said there were no implications for national security after Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi called for an investigation.

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Federal cabinet minister Christopher Pyne has denied 'liking' a hardcore gay porn video (pictured) at 2am on Thursday in an awkward television interview

Appearing on the Today show on Friday morning, Mr Pyne (pictured) repeated his claims he was hacked, and shrugged the incident off as 'annoying'

The defence industry minister said there were no implications for national security after Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi called for an investigation (pictured is Mr Pyne's tweet about the hack)

'It's very annoying that my Twitter account was hacked at 2am on Thursday morning,' Mr Pyne told the Today show.

'As I said I was very fast asleep at 2am on Thursday morning, and we've taken the necessary steps you would take in this situation.'

'It's a good reminder to us all, quite frankly. We need to keep changing our passwords and being aware of not anybody out there wishes us goodwill, unfortunately.'

Mr Pyne said hackers also tried to hack his Facebook page on Wednesday and that he was a target of a 'campaign'.

Mr Pyne (pictured) said hackers also tried to hack his Facebook page on Wednesday and that he was a target of a 'campaign'

Mr Bernardi (pictured) called for an investigation on Thursday, saying it was a matter of national security

Mr Bernardi called for an investigation on Thursday, saying it was a matter of national security.

'Deeply concerned about national security implications of hacking of Pyne's social media account,' Mr Bernardi wrote on Twitter.

'Need full investigation and report in case is foreign agent trying to influence elections.'

Mr Bernardi also retweeted another user who wrote: 'Don't you hate when your account gets hacked and they only like one tweet'.

Mr Pyne and Mr Bernardi have clashed in the past, with Mr Bernardi expressing his dislike of the defence minister after leaving the Liberal Party.

'Deeply concerned about national security implications of hacking of Pyne's social media account,' Mr Bernardi wrote on Twitter (pictured)

Mr Pyne and Mr Bernardi have clashed in the past, with Mr Bernardi expressing his dislike of the defence minister after leaving the Liberal Party (pictured above are Mr Bernardi's tweets)

Mr Bernardi called Mr Pyne 'the most untrustworthy person' he has met in politics, and said he was 'not a person of good character', Sky News reported in June.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said there was no need for an investigation after talking to Opposition leader Bill Shorten.

'We are satisfied that this is a public Twitter account, there is no connection between the Twitter account and Christopher's defence portfolio,' he said.

The incident came in the wake of the announcement of the majority 'yes' vote on same-sex marriage, and Mr Pyne was an outspoken advocate for the winning campaign.

US Republican senator Ted Cruz was embarrassed by a similar incident in September, blaming a Twitter like of a gay porn video clip on a staffer.
The Trump administration has reversed a ban on importing trophies from lions hunted for sport that was brought in after Cecil the lion was killed.

The Fish and Wildlife Service began accepting applications for permits to import African lion trophies last month, ABC reports.

Big cats trophies collected Zambia and Zimbabwe - where dentist Walter Palmer killed Cecil - will all be permitted, while some trophies will be permitted from South Africa, according to new regulations on the FWS website.

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The Trump administration has also reversed a ban on importing trophies from lions killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia after making the move for elephants. Two years ago, Minnesota dentist Dr Walter Palmer (right) paid $50,000 to hunt and kill popular Cecil the Lion (left) in Zimbabwe

His tragic death caused a global outcry as it was determined to be unethical and not classified as a hunt since Cecil was lured into a kill zone from his protected area. The move for both lions and elephants overturns the ban put in place by the Obama administration in 2014

International wildlife organizations reacted earlier on Thursday with fury to the Trump administration's decision. Above Donald Trump Jr is pictured with the tail of an elephant on one of his hunting trips to Zimbabwe in 2011

It comes after the Trump administration also reversed a ban on importing trophies collected from hunted African elephants.

When Cecil was killed in July 2015 the importing of lion trophies was 'generally prohibited', but allowed in cases where the hunting activity could be proven to contribute to conservation efforts.

That gave way to a total ban on importing lion trophies in January last year when the FWS listed lions as endangered, according to a blog post by Humane Society US president Wayne Pacelle.

Now new guidelines have not only dropped the ban, but are retroactively lifting it for lion trophies collected during the time the ban was in place.

Mr Pacelle added: 'African elephants and African lions drive billions of dollars of economic activity in Africa. But they drive that activity only when they are alive.

'Killing them deducts from their populations, diminishes wildlife-watching experiences for others, and robs the countries of Africa of its greatest resources.

'The folly that the killing helps lions and elephants is just that  pure folly. Well see the agency in court.'

The move comes after Mr Trump's sons, Donald Jr and Eric Trump, were heavily criticized in 2012 after being photographed with a leopard and other big game kills including an elephant.

Though elephants are listed as endangered species, the hunting and killing of them is legal in parts of Africa and the Trump administration argues it helps manage their population numbers.

But wildlife organisations argue that corrupt officials - especially in Zimbabwe where dictator Robert Mugabe was deposed in a coup this week - cannot be trusted to protect elephants.

The US Fishing and Wildlife Service said as it announced the decision that new information from officials in Zimbabwe and Zambia supports reversing the ban to allow trophy hunting permits in those countries.

In a statement it said: 'Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation.'

However, wildlife organisation across the globe have condemned the decision and argue that it will only encourage illegal poaching of elephants.

The Humane Society of the United States said banning trophies from Zimbabwe should continue because it is 'one of the most corrupt countries on Earth'.

The country's leader Robert Mugabe celebrated his birthday by dining on an elephant, said the society.

The above is an updated chart released from The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showing the countries approved for lions to be hunted

That decision came after a campaign by the NRA on behalf of big game hunters. The president's sons Donald Jr (left) and Eric Trump (right) have previously been on big game hunting trips to Africa (pictured)

Donald Jr seen here with a 40' Cape Buffalo Bull, which his tour guide said he shot with 'the precision of a true marksman. The Trump administration said managed hunting can benefit the conservation of some species

Eric Trump its atop one of their kills. In his responses to critics on Twitter, Donald Jr said that the animals were used as meat for hungry villagers who do not often eat the animals

Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive, said: 'It's a venal and nefarious pay-to-slay arrangement that Zimbabwe has set up with the trophy hunting industry.

'What kind of message does it send to say to the world that poor Africans who are struggling to survive cannot kill elephants in order to use or sell their parts to make a living, but that it's just fine for rich Americans to slay the beasts for their tusks to keep as trophies?'

Charlie Mayhew, chief executive of UK charity Tusk, said: 'Tusk views this announcement as a regressive step which sends all the wrong signals to the international community that has been making great strides recently in the campaign to halt the illegal wildlife trade.

'Tusk continues to have major misgivings in the way trophy hunting is not properly regulated, and has been open to corrupt abuse of quota systems and unethical practices. This is a setback in the fight to ban all illegal wildlife trade.'

Kenya - based organisation Save the Elephants also condemned the move.

'How someone could want to shoot such an intelligent, empathetic animal as an elephant is beyond me,' said chief executive Frank Pope.

'But what is most concerning for elephants is that renewed imports of trophy ivory into the US might undermine the all-important ivory trade bans put in place by America and China.

The lifting of the ban on elephant trophies has been greeted with outrage by conservation groups

'China continues to show strong leadership and will close all ivory trade within her borders by the end of the year. Up to now American actions on elephants and ivory have been admirable.

'The fire of the ivory trade seems to be dying. The last thing we need is a sudden blast of oxygen from a misguided policy change.'

Conservation group The Elephant Project Tweeted its condemnation of the lifting of the ban saying: 'Reprehensible behaviour by the Trump Admin. 100 elephants a day are already killed. This will lead to more poaching.'

At the start of the 20th Century, there were estimated to be as many as four to five million African elephants and 100,000 Asian elephants in the wild.

But their population has quickly quickly declined, especially in Africa.

According to the 2016 Great Elephant Census, the population plummeted by roughly 30 percent, or 144,000 from 2007 to 2014, dropping 6 per cent in Zimbabwe alone.

There are now 350,000 elephants remaining on the African Savanna. In Asia, there are an estimated 35,000 left.

The slaughter is relentless: at least 100 killed by poachers every single day.

Elephants are believed to be among the smartest animals on Earth, with the biggest brains of any animal.

Their cerebral process enables them to comprehend emotions like grief, joy and anger, and makes them quick learners who never forget a face.

The rule change applies to elephants shot in Zimbabwe on or after January 21, 2016, and to those legally permitted to be hunted before the end of next year.

The international ivory network links Africa with Asia, where most of the demand comes from

A similar rule has been put into place for Zambia, where the Great Elephant Census estimates the animal's numbers have declined from 200,000 in 1972 to a little more than 21,000 last year.

In Zimbabwe, there are 83,000 elephants, dropping ten per cent from 2005. Most of the elephants still in the country live along the Zambezi River and in Hwange National Park.

The Nonhuman Rights Project, a U.S. based civil rights organization that advocates for legal rights of animals, has condemned The rule change.

The Nonhuman Rights Project is appalled by the latest actions of the Trump administration to lift the ban on importing elephant trophies from Africa,' the organization said in a statement.

'His actions will lead to a surge in wildlife trafficking and the slaughter of countless elephants. It is ironic that this announcement came on the same week we filed the first-ever lawsuit on behalf of captive elephants seeking recognition of their right to bodily liberty here in the US.'

'We have always been committed to the well-being of members of this extraordinarily complex (and endangered) species, and we hope this latest travesty against the most vulnerable from the Trump administration shows the courts why it is imperative to recognize our elephant clients as 'legal persons' with fundamental rights,' the statement continued.

But Chris Cox, Executive Director of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action welcomed the decision, saying it was long overdue.

An elephant graveyard in Zimbabwe, where the population has fell by 6 per cent between 2007 and 2014

'By lifting the import ban on lion trophies in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Trump Administration underscored the importance of sound scientific wildlife management and regulated hunting to the survival and enhancement of game species in this country and worldwide,' he said.

'This is a significant step forward in having hunting receive the recognition it deserves as a tool of wildlife management, which had been all but buried in the previous administration.'

The Safari Club International, which advocates 'sustainable use hunting', also welcomed the FWS decision.

'These positive findings for Zimbabwe and Zambia demonstrate that the Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes that hunting is beneficial to wildlife and that these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations,' President Paul Babaz said in a statement.

'We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife.'

Countries where it is still legal to hunt elephants South Africa

Zimbabwe

Zambia

Mozambique

Namibia

Tanzania

Cameroon

Gabon Advertisement

The ban lift came after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke created the International Wildlife Conservation Council.

The council is working to increase public awareness of the 'economic benefits that result from US citizens traveling abroad to hunt'.

In a story that caused international outcry in 2015, a lion called Cecil was killed by Minnesota dentist Dr Walter Palmer, who paid $50,000 to hunt in Zimbabwe.

The country said it would not charge him because he had obtained legal authority to conduct the hunt.

Cecil's son, Xanda, was been legally killed in the same area earlier this year, bringing fresh scrutiny on the 'trophy' hunting of a species whose numbers in the African wild have plummeted.

Some conservation groups denounced six-year-old Xanda's killing, saying commercial hunting bans and robust wildlife tourism in countries such as Kenya and Botswana are among the best ways to protect threatened species.

The hunting industry, meanwhile, counters that it has a conservation role if it is well-regulated, channeling revenue back into wildlife areas that otherwise could end up neglected or turned into livestock farms.

Many researchers agree that Africa's lions face greater threats, including human encroachment on habitats and the poaching of animals for food, which deprives lions of prey.
The Keystone oil pipeline was shut down Thursday after 210,000 gallons of oil leaked in South Dakota.

TransCanada Corp confirmed it had closed part of the pipeline after the leak was discovered in Amhersta - just four days before Nebraska was due to make the controversial decision whether to allow the firm to expand the channel into the state.

Around 5,000 barrels of oil leaked out before the pipeline was shut from Hardisty, Alberta, to Cushing, Oklahoma, and to Wood River and Patoka in Illinois, while the southern leg of the system to the Gulf Coast remains operational, the company said.

The Keystone oil pipeline was shut down Thursday after 210,000 gallons of oil leaked in South Dakota (pictured is the Keystone Steele City pumping station, into which the planned Keystone XL pipeline is to connect)

TransCanada has not given a reason for the incident and is now working with state regulators and the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to manage the damage.

The leak was discovered after systems detected a drop in pressure in the early hours of the morning.

Western Canada Select heavy blend crude for December delivery was trading at $14.50 below the West Texas Intermediate benchmark at late afternoon on Thursday, down slightly from $14.20 the day before.

The disaster occurred days before the Nebraska Public Service Commission was due to announce a decision on Keystone XL, a 830,000-barrel expansion through the state.

The proposed 1,179-mile pipeline would link Canadas Alberta oil sands to U.S. refineries.

It has long been a lightning rod of controversy for environmental groups and worried about spills and global warming, and former President Barack Obama rejected it.

Today's news was met by anger and dismay among environmental groups who have been fighting against plans to expand the pipeline for years.

'Enough is enough. Pipelines leak  it's not a question of 'if', but 'when.' The pending permit for TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline should be flatly rejected by Nebraska's Public Service Commission,' Scott Parkin, Organizing Director at Rainforest Action Network, told DailyMail.com.

'We need to stop all expansion of extreme fossil fuels such as tar sands oil  and we need the finance community to stop funding these preventable climate disasters  disasters for the climate, the environment and Indigenous rights.'

Environmental protesters have made opposing the Keystone XL a major cause, including this 2015 demonstration in front of the White House

Environmental groups have been fighting the proposals with petitions, political pressure and mass protests.

They warn that a leak in Nebraska or South Dakota would not only be a disaster for the environment, it would catastrophic for residents and Native Americans.

This is partly because of the Ogallala Aquifer, a natural water table which sits beneath the Great Plains and provides fresh drinking water for 2.3 million people and irrigation for 30% of the farmland in the US. The aquifer was formed millions of years ago and many opponents of Keystone XL say an oil leak could make the water undrinkable for decades.

Among those who rely on the aquifer are Oglala Lakota Nation, a Native American tribe who live on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

The Oglala Lakota - better known in days gone by as the Sioux - were once proud warriors. Crazy Horse, who defeated Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, was an Oglala Lakota.

Tom Poor Bear, tribal vice president of the Oglala Lakota Nation, described the proposed pipeline as being like a 'black snake crawling across America to bring destruction and death'.

'There has already been breaks in the pipeline in Canada where it has poisoned the water and killed animals and plants.'

Mr Poor Bear says the pipeline will not bring jobs to his people and he says the only people to benefit will be the big oil corporations and the infamous Koch brothers, who not only drill for oil in Alberta but also refine much of it. The Koch brothers have donated millions of dollars to the Republican Party.

President Donald Trump officially gave TransCanada his permission to build the Keystone XL pipeline in March

But President Donald Trump backs it as part of his broad energy strategy, and says it will lower fuel prices, shore up national security and bring jobs.

In March, he officially gave TransCanada his permission to build the Keystone XL pipeline, overturning his predecessor's decision to block it.

The pipeline linking Canadian oil sands to U.S. refiners had been rejected for a permit by former President Barack Obama, who said the pipeline would do nothing to reduce fuel prices for U.S. motorists and would contribute emissions linked to global warming

'It's going to be an incredible pipeline, greatest technology known to man - or woman,' Trump bragged from the Oval Office.

With TransCanada's president, Russ Girling, at his side, Trump said the oil transportation was the first of many energy and infrastructure projects that his administration would be greenlighting, a couple of which he said are 'very, very big ones.'

This latest leak will only fuel fears the pipeline is a threat to the environment.

Volunteers for Bold Alliance, an activist group that has been fighting the project since it was proposed nearly a decade ago, warned the pipeline could have dire affects on 'property rights and clean water.'

TransCanada has said the pipeline will create jobs and public revenues, and can be operated safely.

The public service commission said it will announce its decision on the route on November 20. It is charged with weighing whether the project is in the public interest of Nebraskans, but is barred from considering environmental issues because the pipeline already has an environmental permit.

A depot used to store pipes for TransCanada Corp's planned Keystone XL oil pipeline is seen in Gascoyne, North Dakota, January, as the company awaits a decision from Nebraska

Miles of unused pipe prepared for the pipeline have been sitting idle outside Gascoyne, North Dakota

A farm is seen near the land where the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would pass, south of Pierre, South Dakota

During hearings on the line in August, opponents argued that there was little commercial interest in the line, given the surge in U.S. drilling over the past decade that has created a supply glut and driven down crude oil prices.

Led by 90 landowners whose farms lie along the proposed route, opponents said tax revenue from the project will be short-lived, jobs will be temporary, and a foreign company should not be allowed to use eminent domain to seize American farmland.

TransCanada has said it has received adequate support to make the pipeline viable. But the company has yet to announce results of its Keystone XL open season to gauge interest among shippers, which closed at the end of October.

'They have put out positive messaging around it so there's some level of optimism,' said Wood Mackenzie analyst Mark Oberstoetter.

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce says Keystone XL will generate an estimated $150 million in new property tax revenue for Nebraska, and expand Nebraskans personal incomes by more than $300 million during construction.

The Obama administration considered the line for years before rejecting it in 2015 on environmental grounds. Trump reversed that decision swiftly after taking office, which placed the final permitting decision in the hands of Nebraska. It will be the last of three states to make a decision on the pipeline's proposed route.

Lawyer Brian Jorde, who represents landowners who oppose the line, said regardless of what Nebraska regulators decide, the pipeline will not be built soon: a decision can be appealed up to 30 days after the vote in the district court, and subsequent legal challenges can take up to two years, he said.
A man is suing Virgin Australia for $517,000 after he slipped down the stairs and hurt his ankle while getting off a plane.

Gold Coast man Harry Hatzikalimnios claims he was knocked by another passenger and tripped down the stairs while disembarking a flight in Coolangatta, Queensland, on January 15, 2016.

Mr Hatzikalimnios claims he suffered injuries to his left ankle and foot, aggravated pre-existing degenerative osteoarthritis in his left hip and suffered ongoing psychological symptoms from the fall.

Gold Coast man Harry Hatzikalimnios claims he was knocked by another passenger and tripped down the stairs while disembarking a flight in Coolangatta, Queensland, on January 15, 2016 (stock)

The Gold Coast man was booked to fly from Coolangatta to Sydney on flight VA0528 at 4.05pm on January 15, but arrived at the airport early, The Courier Mail reported.

When he asked the airline if it could put him on an earlier flight, he was given a boarding pass for the 2.05pm flight, according to his District Court claim.

Mr Hatzikalimnios had already boarded the plane and found his seat when a Virgin staff member told him he needed to disembark because the passenger originally allocated that seat had arrived at the airport.

He was ordered to disembark the plane and return to the terminal to wait for his original flight.

Mr Hatzikalimnios grabbed his cabin luggage and was led by staff to the back of the plane and down the rear stairs.

When Mr Hatzikalimnios asked the airline if it could put him on an earlier flight, he was given a boarding pass for the 2.05pm flight, according to his District Court claim (stock)

He was ordered to disembark the plane and return to the terminal to wait for his original flight (stock)

As Mr Hatzikalimnios walked down the stairs, embarking passengers were walking in the opposite direction.

Mr Hatzikalimnios claimed another passenger collided with him, causing him to trip and injure himself.

According to his District Court claim Mr Hatzikalimnios suffered chronic pain and lost the ability to live independently.

He has sued Virgin Australia for $517,440 in damages.

Section 28 of the Civil Aviation Act makes an airline liable for any injury suffered as a result of an accident on board an aircraft, or while embarking or disembarking  as Mr Hatzikalimnios was.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Virgin Australia for comment.
A teenage girl who was knocked unconscious before being raped in a park woke up alone in the dark under a tree.

Her underwear had been thrown into a playground nearby by a 38-year-old serial rapist, Ipswich District Court heard.

The man punched her in the stomach, and then raped the teenager while she lay on the ground unconscious, knocked out after hitting her head when she fell.

A teenage girl who was knocked unconscious before being raped in a park woke up alone in the dark under a tree (pictured is a stock image)

The 15-year-old was one of three girls sexually assaulted by the man in late 2014, and one of seven he admitted sexually penetrating or dealing with indecently.

He raped some of his victims - aged between 12 and 22 - in public parks and his home after plying them with alcohol, The Sunshine Coast Daily reported.

The man targeted girls he knew or who were introduced to him by mutual friends, including the 15-year-old babysitter who took care of his partner's child.

When another girl, also 15, said she didn't want to be with him he told her friend to 'bash her' before chasing the girls and raping the 15-year-old in a park.

Her underwear had been thrown into a playground nearby by a 38-year-old serial rapist, Ipswich District Court (pictured, stock image) heard

Crown prosecutor Noel Needham said the man - who cannot be named in order to protect the victims - had 'limited emotional capacity to deal with rejection'.

Mr Needham said although DNA evidence proved the man raped the 15-year-old in the park, it could not confirm what body part was used.

Defence lawyer Stephen Kissick said the man's actions were an overreaction to rejection, and he has a 'degree of callousness in his nature.'

'He has in some ways engaged in a predatory nature but in my submission it is opportunistic,' said Mr Kissick.

The man pleaded guilty to 16 offences including assault, indecent treatment of a child under 16, sexual assault and rape.

A sentencing decision was expected to be handed down by Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren on Thursday afternoon.
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Nearly 60 years ago, a fine collection of Old Masters was put on sale in London by the auction house Sothebys.

The works were from the Cook Collection, assembled by the forebears of the aristocratic seller, Sir Francis Cook, a baronet and himself an accomplished painter.

The 136 works went under the hammer for a total of 64,668  worth some 1.4 million today. The star of the show was a painting by Dutch artist Caspar Netscher, which sold for the modern equivalent of around 120,000.

One work that did not stir any excitement that Wednesday in June 1958 was lot 40  a small portrait of Christ called Salvator Mundi, or Saviour of the World.

Painted in oil on a wooden board measuring 18 by 26 inches, the portrait shows its subject gazing dreamily at the viewer, his right hand raised in benediction, while his left clutches a crystal orb.

Sothebys said the artist was Italian painter Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, who worked in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

It sold for a paltry 45  the equivalent today of 925. The buyer was a man called Kuntz, of whom little is known, and the painting appears to have made its way across the Atlantic.

On Wednesday night in New York, it was auctioned again, this time by Sothebys rivals, Christies.

It sold for a lot more than 45. In fact, with fees, the painting went for a staggering $450.3 million, or 341 million, which means its value has multiplied by over 7.5 million times since 1958. It was secured by an unknown buyer, via phone, at Christies auction room in Manhattan in a tense bidding contest that lasted 19 minutes.

As a result, the Salvator Mundi now has the honour of being the most expensive painting ever sold. This single rectangle of wood and paint is worth about the same as the personal fortune of the Queen.

The reason for that extraordinary price  which outstrips the previous record holder, by expressionist Willem de Kooning, by over $150 million (114 million)  is simple. The painting is no longer thought to be by the relatively obscure Boltraffio. It is now considered to be by a man seen as the greatest artist of all time  Leonardo da Vinci.

While the cleaners at Christies sweep up the champagne corks, many in the art world are asking questions about a painting worth almost $1 million per square inch.

Sold for 341m, the Salvator Mundi now has the honour of being the most expensive painting ever sold. This single rectangle of wood and paint is worth about the same as the personal fortune of the Queen

Who has bought the picture? How can he or she be sure theyve bought a genuine Leonardo? What about the paintings history? And what does the sale tell us about the balance of power in the art market?

We can be sure the Salvator Mundi has not been acquired by a gallery  few, if any, can afford to spend the best part of half a billion dollars on a single work. So it remains the only Leonardo in private hands.

The likelihood is that it has gone to an individual  perhaps a Russian, Chinese or Arab billionaire looking for the ultimate decorative bauble to hang in a stateroom, or on a superyacht.

One likely candidate who we know has not bought the painting is Liu Yiqian, a Chinese former cabbie turned billionaire investor, who paid $170.4 million with fees for a Modigliani painting in 2015. Judging by a posting he made on social media, it looks as if he may have been an under-bidder.

There is a lack of contemporary evidence that Leonardo (above) was responsible for Salvator Mundi

If the buyer is a mystery, so, too, are the precise origins of the painting, which, disturbingly, some believe not to be a Leonardo, or at best, only partly by him.

Dr Carmen Bambach, a specialist in Italian Renaissance art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, wrote in 2012: Having studied and followed the picture during its conservation treatment, and seeing it in context in [the London National Gallerys 2011 Leonardo] exhibition, much of the original surface may be by Boltraffio, but with passages done by Leonardo himself.

Im not a believer that this is a real Leonardo, says Professor Charles Hope, an expert on renaissance painting. I think its exceptionally boring, and when you see it hanging next to some real Leonardos, it doesnt look good.

I wouldnt want to hang it on my wall! Frankly, I think the claim that its a Leonardo is ridiculous. Nobody in their right mind would think it was. The world is filled with near-Leonardos.

More troubling still, there is a lack of contemporary evidence that Leonardo was responsible for Salvator Mundi.

There is no record Leonardo ever painted it, says artist Michael Daley, of ArtWatch UK, which campaigns to protect the integrity of works of art. You have to remember he was very famous, and there are lots of records of what he did. There is nothing on this painting.

Despite such doubts, experts at Christies are adamant the painting is the real thing. Among them is Martin Kemp, emeritus professor of the history of art at Oxford University, who strongly defends its authenticity.

He told Radio 4s Today programme yesterday: There have been a few self-publicising critics who have jumped on the bandwagon and said, It cant be Leonardo, but almost all of the major Leonardo scholars  to whom it was shown systematically before it was shown in the National Gallery [in 2011]  accept that it is a Leonardo.

When asked whether he was sure the painting was a Leonardo, Professor Kemp replied: It speaks of Leonardo throughout . . . its got that extraordinary presence that Leonardo has.

The artwork sold in 1958 for a paltry 45  the equivalent today of 925. The buyer was a man called Kuntz, of whom little is known, and the painting appears to have made its way across the Atlantic. On Wednesday night in New York, it was auctioned again, this time by Sothebys rivals, Christies (pictured, as the bidding for it ended)

So how did the painting turn from being thought of as a Boltraffio in the Fifties to a Leonardo today? The transformation took place shortly after 2005, when New York art dealer Alexander Parish bought it for $10,000 at an American estate sale.

It was heavily cracked and badly over-painted, but Parish and a consortium paid for its restoration and had it authenticated as a Leonardo by a number of experts.

Two years later, Parish and his colleagues sold the Salvator Mundi to Swiss businessman and art dealer Yves Bouvier for a reported $75-80 million. Just a few months later, Bouvier sold it for $127.5 million to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who made much of his fortune out of potash production.

In 2014, Mr Rybolovlev was ordered by a court to pay $4.5 billion to his ex-wife, which was thought to be the most expensive divorce settlement in history. That may be why Mr Rybolovlev sold the painting on Wednesday night. He picked the right auction house: Christies exhibited the work in Hong Kong, San Francisco, London and New York to tempt buyers.

This was a thumping, epic triumph of branding and desire over connoisseurship and reality, Todd Levin, a New York art adviser, told the New York Times. In a sense, whether the painting is a Leonardo or not may not matter.

The art world is now so aggressively commercial that paintings are bought and sold merely as speculative gambles by billionaires. The fact that Pariss venerable Louvre museum is opening a sibling gallery in Abu Dhabi indicates the way European culture is being appropriated and repackaged. The chances are the mystery buyer only cares about the Salvator Mundi if it can turn a profit.

So long as the likes of Christies are happy to tout the painting as a Leonardo, they can sleep easy knowing that they should be able to sell those 468 square inches in a few years for a handsome profit.

Who knows? Perhaps the Saviour of the World will be the worlds first billion-dollar painting.
A 260,000-year-old skull from China could rewrite the history of human evolution.

A new analysis has found the skull is remarkably similar to the earliest known fossil of our species,found 6,200 miles (10,000 km) away in Morocco in June.

This suggests modern humans aren't solely descended from Africans as scientists previously thought.

Instead, small groups of early human ancestors first migrated to Eurasia sometime before 200,000 years ago, where they evolved modern traits in east Asia.

From here, some of the Asian early humans moved back to Africa, where they mingled with native populations.

Homo sapiens evolved from these interbred groups and spread around the world, meaning modern human DNA came from both African and Asian ancestors.

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A 260,000-year-old skull from China (right) is remarkably similar to modern human remains in Morocco (left). The find has sparked a new theory (in purple) which suggests our DNA did not come solely from Africa ancestors, as researchers have previously suggested (green)

WAS THE ORIGIN OF MAN MULTI-REGIONAL? One theory on the origin of man suggests that modern humans developed in multiple regions around the world. The theory claims that groups of a pre-human ancestors made their way out of Africa and spread across parts of Europe and the Middle East. From here the species developed into modern humans in several places at once. According to the multi-regional theory, different races arose in different regions as a result of natural selection as these populations evolved into modern humans. The argument is supported by fossil evidence of early and pre-human ancestors found across Europe and the Middle East over the past 100 years. It is also supported by a new analysis of a 260,000-year-old skull found in Dali County in China's Shaanxi Province. The skull suggests that early humans migrated to Asia, where they evolved modern human traits and then moved back to Africa. Advertisement

Most experts believe that our species arose in Africa around 200,000 years ago based on fossil evidence from the continent.

DNA analysis of modern humans suggests we are all descended from a single group that left Africa within the last 120,000 years ago and migrated across the globe.

This means all of our genes come from early humans from Africa, except for a few gained by interbreeding with human-like ancestors such as Neanderthals.

But a 260,000-year-old skull found in Dali County in China's Shaanxi Province may rewrite this long-held theory.

The 'Dali skull', uncovered in 1978, is remarkably complete, with its face and brain case still in tact.

Researchers describing the skull in 1979 thought it belonged to the early human species Homo erectus.

But a new analysis, from experts at Texas A&M University in College Station and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, finds it shares many characteristics with modern humans.

The team say the remains are remarkably similar to Homo sapiens skulls found in the 1960s at the Jebel Irhoud cave in Morocco.

They believe the Dali skull had a Homo sapiens-like face but with a more primitive brain case.

Study coauthor Professor Sheela Athreya, from Texas A&M, told MailOnline: 'This was surprising because we expected Dali to exhibit similarities only to other Chinese specimens, particularly the ones that came before it (Homo erectus) and after it (Homo sapiens).

'But it ended up being more similar to these fossils from North Africa and the Levant, all of which are classified as early Homo sapiens.

'This further points to a complex process that involved much of Eurasia in the evolution of our species, rather than a single event, single point of origin, and single process.'

The 'Dali skull' (pictured), uncovered in 1978, is remarkably complete, with its face and brain case still in tact. Researchers describing the skull in 1979 thought it belonged to the early human species Homo erectus

A new analysis finds the Dali skull (pictured) shares many characteristics with modern humans. Researchers suggest that early humans migrated from Africa to Asia, where they evolved Homo sapiens-like faces before moving back to Africa

THE MOROCCAN REMAINS In June, archaeologists discovered the world's oldest Homo sapiens fossils, alongside stone tools and animal bones, at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco. The fossils date back to 300,000 years ago, and are 100,000 years older than any other Homo sapiens fossil discovered. The findings push back the origins of our species, and show that by about 300,000 years ago, important changes in our biology and behaviour had taken place across most of Africa. Previously, the oldest Homo sapiens fossils were known from the site of Omo Kibish in Ethiopia, dated to 195,000 years ago. In June, archaeologists discovered the world's oldest Homo sapiens fossils (pictured), alongside stone tools and animal bones, at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco. The fossils date back to 300,000 years ago, and are 100,000 years older than any other Homo sapiens fossil An international research team, led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany and the National Institute for Archaeology and Heritage in Rabat, Morocco uncovered the bones. Professor Jean-Jacques Hublin, who led the study, said: 'We used to think that there was a cradle of mankind 200,000 years ago in east Africa, but our new data reveal that Homo sapiens spread across the entire African continent around 300,000 years ago. 'Long before the out-of-Africa dispersal of Homo sapiens, there was dispersal within Africa.' Advertisement

The Moroccan bones, thought to be around 300,000 years old, are the earliest modern human remains ever found.

The Moroccan skulls fit the commonly accepted theory that modern humans evolved solely from African ancestors.

But the new Dali skull research challenges this idea.

It's possible that early humans in Africa that evolved into Homo sapiens weren't isolated from other early ancestors in Eurasia, Professor Athreya said.

A new analysis of a 260,000-year-old skull from China skull has found it is very similar to the earliest known fossil of our species, found 6,200 miles (10,000 km) away in Morocco. Pictured is an artist's impression of what the first Homo sapiens in Africa looked like

The earliest Homo sapiens fossils are found across the entire African continent: Jebel Irhoud, Morocco (300,000 years), Florisbad, South Africa (260,000 years), and Omo Kibish, Ethiopia (195,000 years)

THE DALI SKULL A 260,000-year-old skull found in Dali County in China's Shaanxi Province may rewrite human history. The 'Dali skull', uncovered in 1978, is remarkably complete, with its face and brain case still in tact. Researchers describing the skull in 1979 thought it belonged to the early human species Homo erectus. But a new analysis, from experts at Texas A&M University in College Station and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, finds it could be a modern human. The team say the remains share many common features with modern human, or Homo sapiens, skulls found in the 1960s at the Jebel Irhoud cave in Morocco. The researchers suggest that some modern Homo sapiens traits evolved in Eurasia. Small groups then migrated to Africa and mingled with native early humans. Modern humans arose from these interbreeding groups, meaning not all of our DNA came from African ancestors. Advertisement

Small groups from each continental population migrated between the two and interbred, meaning modern human DNA is part-Eurasian.

The new theory could explain why the Dali skull shares remarkable similarities with the bones found in Morocco.

It illustrates how genetic features that appeared in Africa 300,000 years ago could also crop up in individuals living in China 40,000 years later, Professor Athreya said.

The anthropologist thinks the flow of early human DNA from Africa went back the other way, too.

Homo erectus (skull pictured left, reconstruction pictured right) is thought to have been a key early human ancestor in our own evolution. The Chinese skull was originally thought to be from Homo erectus, but a new analysis shows it is remarkably similar to Homo sapiens

DID MAN ORIGINATE IN MOROCCO? The earliest Homo sapiens fossils are found across the entire African continent: Jebel Irhoud, Morocco (300,000 years), Florisbad, South Africa (260,000 years), and Omo Kibish, Ethiopia (195,000 years). This indicates a complex evolutionary history of our species, possibly involving the whole African continent. It's possible there's a centre of origin of our species somewhere on the continent, but to date, experts don't have a way to find where this is. It is unlikely Homo sapiens arose in one place in Africa and instead appeared in several locations across the continent. Advertisement

'I think gene flow could have been multidirectional, so some of the traits seen in Europe or Africa could have originated in Asia,' Professor Athreya told New Scientist.

This means the Homo sapien features seen in the Dali skull could have evolved in Asia after early humans migrated there.

These traits were carried back to Africa by migrating groups, who interbred with native populations.

Alternative theories suggest that Homo sapiens left Africa over 100,000 years earlier than first thought, reaching China by 260,000 years ago, though genetic evidence does not support this.

Other theories say the Dali skull was in fact from an 'Asian Homo erectus' as first reported, and that these populations may have separately evolved some modern human traits.

Pictured are the sites where the oldest human remains have been found across the world. Modern humans (Homo erectus) probably arose around 1 million years ago

Professor Chris Stringer, an expert at the Natural History Museum in London, told New Scientist that while the Moroccan and Chinese finds are similar, he doubts Professor Athreya's claims.

'When it comes to the vast amount of genetic data, it becomes very difficult to give China a significant role in modern human origins,' he said.

'I'm open to Asian-African connections at this time, but western Asia-Africa, not further afield.'
Archaeologists have discovered an 'exceptional' treasure trove of precious objects at the Abbey of Cluny, a former Benedictine monastery in France's Saone-et-Loire

More than 2,000 objects have been found, including silver deniers - or pennies - Islamic gold coins, a signet ring and several gold items.

The discovery is the first time that gold coins from the Arab lands, silver French deniers and a signet ring have ever been found together in a single, enclosed complex.

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Archaeologists have discovered a huge treasure trove of precious objects at the Abbey of Cluny in the French department of Saone-et-Loire. Over 2,000 objects have been found, including silver deniers, Islamic gold dinars (pictured), a signet ring and several gold items

THE TREASURE TROVE The researchers discovered over 2,000 objects, including: - 2,200 silver deniers and oboles - mostly minted by the Abbey of Cluny and probably dating to the first half of the 12th century - in a cloth bag - A tanned hide bundle containing 21 Islamic gold dinars struck between 1121 and 1131 in Spain and Morocco - A gold signet ring with a red intaglio depicting the bust of a god and an inscription possibly dating the ring back to the first half of the 12th century - A folded sheet of gold foil weighing 24 g and stored in a case - A small circular object made of gold Advertisement

Researchers from the Universite Lumiere Lyon discovered the items as part of an archaeological dig at the Abbey of Cluny, which started in 2015.

The team discovered 2,200 silver deniers and oboles - a silver-alloy coin of France issued during the Middle Ages - in a cloth bag.

They were mostly minted by the Abbey of Cluny and probably dated to the first half of the 12th century.

These were found alongside a tanned hide bundle containing 21 Islamic gold dinar coins dated between 1121 and 1131 from Spain and Morocco, under the reign of Ali ibn Yusuf (1106-1143).

A gold signet ring with a red intaglio depicting the bust of a god and an inscription possibly dating the ring back to the first half of the 12th century was also found at the site.

Other finds include a folded sheet of gold foil weighing 24 g and stored in a case, and a small circular object made of gold.

A gold signet ring with a red intaglio depicting the bust of a god and an inscription possibly dating the ring back to the first half of the 12th century was also found at the site

The team discovered 2,200 silver deniers and oboles - mostly minted by the Abbey of Cluny and probably dating to the first half of the 12th century - in a cloth bag (pictured on and off site)

Mr Vincent Borrel, a student at the Archaeology and Philology of East and West research unit is currently studying the treasure in more detail to identify and date the various pieces with greater precision.

A release describing the find said: 'This is an exceptional find for a monastic setting and especially that of Cluny, which was one of the largest abbeys of Western Europe during the Middle Ages.

Amongst the finds were a tanned hide bundle containing 21 Islamic gold dinars struck between 1121 and 1131 in Spain and Morocco, under the reign of Ali ibn Yusuf (1106-1143)

The enormous haul of precious objects was discovered at the Abbey of Cluny in the French department of Saone-et-Loire

'The treasure was buried in fill where it seems to have stayed for 850 years.

'It includes items of remarkable value: 21 gold dinars and a signet ring, a very expensive piece of jewellery that few could own during the Middle Ages.

'At that time, Western currency was mostly dominated by the silver denier. Gold coins were reserved for rare transactions.

The fact that Arab currency (pictured), silver deniers, and a signet ring were enclosed together makes this discovery all the more interesting, according to the researchers

The treasure was discovered at the Abbey of Cluny, a former Benedictine monastery in France's Saone-et-Loire

'The 2,200 or so silver deniers, struck at Cluny or nearby, would have been for everyday purchases. This is the largest stash of such coins ever found.'

The fact that Arab currency, silver deniers, and a signet ring were enclosed together makes this discovery all the more interesting, according to the researchers.

The team now hopes to answer several questions about the haul, including who owned the treasure, why it was buried at the Abbey, and what building lay above the treasure when it was hidden.
Alien life could be found within the next few decades, according to NASA scientists leading the exhaustive search.

In recent years, capabilities have snowballed; the discovery of Pluto in 1930 was once thought a once-in-a-lifetime feat, yet not even 100 years later, over 3,500 exoplanets from thousands of star systems have since been located.

Experts say the search is heavily guided by characteristics of our own planet, helping scientists to weed out inhospitable worlds from those that may have promise for life, such as the icy moons Enceladus and Europa.

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The detection of water completely changed scientists' opinions on the two icy moons, explains research scientist Morgan Cable. 'We thought Enceladus was just boring and cold until the Cassini mission discovered a liquid water subsurface ocean,' said Cable.

GOLDILOCKS ZONE In astronomy and astrobiology, the habitable zone is the range of orbits around a star in which a planet can support liquid water. This habitable zone is also known as the Goldilocks zone, taken from the childrens fairy tale. The temperature from the star needs to be 'just right' so that liquid water can exist on the surface. The boundaries of the habitable zone are critical. If a planet is too close to its star, it will experience a runaway greenhouse gas effect, like Venus. But if it's too far, any water will freeze, as is seen on Mars. Since the concept was first presented in 1953, many stars have been shown to have a Goldilocks area, and some of them have one or several planets in this zone, like 'Kepler-186f', discovered in 2014. Advertisement

'Before we go looking for life, we're trying to figure out what kinds of planets could have a climate that's conducive to life,' said Tony del Genio of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

'We're using the same climate models that we use to project 21st century climate change on Earth to do simulations of specific exoplanets that have been discovered, and hypothetical ones.'

There are many factors that contribute to a planet's potential habitability, including proximity to its star.

This dictates whether the planet has the right conditions to sustain liquid water; if it's too close, or too far, the surface could be dry and barren, or completely frozen.

And, from what's known about life on Earth, water is key.

'Everywhere we look, whether it's a desert or Antarctica or the deepest parts of the ocean or the deepest parts of Earth's crust that we've explored, as long as there's a tiny speck of liquid water, there's life,' NASA explains in a new video, How to Find a Living Planet.

'And because of that, it's been central to NASA's search for habitable environments elsewhere.

'It's why scientists get excited about water spewing up from the icy moons of Europa and Enceladus in our outer solar system.

'Not only could they have water, they could have global oceans like the ones we have here on Earth.'

The detection of water completely changed scientists' opinions on the two icy moons, explains research scientist Morgan Cable of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

'We thought Enceladus was just boring and cold until the Cassini mission discovered a liquid water subsurface ocean,' said Cable.

Characteristics of our own planet help scientists weed out inhospitable worlds from those that may have promise for life, such as the icy moons Enceladus and Europa (shown)

The researchers are also looking for certain atmospheric gases, NASA explains.

In particular, they're looking for environments that contain both oxygen and methane.

When these two gases are found in the same atmosphere, 'you've got something special,' the space agency says.

'There are ways to build up oxygen and methane in a planetary atmosphere, but the only way you could have both in the same atmosphere at the same time is if you produce them both super rapidly,' said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

NEWLY FOUND PLANET JUST 11-LIGHT YEARS AWAY COULD BE THE CLOSEST KNOWN HOME FOR LIFE Astronomers working with the European Southern Observatory's High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) at the La Silla Observatory in Chile found that the red dwarf star Ross 128 is orbited by a low-mass 'exoplanet' every 9.9 days. The star was named after the Californian astronomer Frank Elmore Ross who discovered it. The Earth-sized world is expected to be temperate, with a surface temperature that may also be close to that of the Earth. Ross 128 is the 'quietest' nearby star to host such a temperate exoplanet. A planet the same size of Earth and with a similar surface temperature may be 'the closest known comfortable abode for possible life'. The newly discovered world, named Ross 128b, was found orbiting a red dwarf star 11 light-years away from Earth (artist's impression pictured) With the data from HARPS, the team found that Ross 128b orbits 20 times closer than the Earth orbits the sun. But, despite the proximity, Ross 128b receives only 1.38 times more irradiation than the Earth. As a result, Ross 128 b's equilibrium temperature is estimated to lie between -60 and 20C, thanks to the cool and faint nature of its small red dwarf host star, which has just over half the surface temperature of the sun. While the scientists involved in the discovery consider Ross 128b to be a temperate planet, uncertainty remains as to whether the planet lies inside, outside, or on the cusp of the habitable zone, where liquid water may exist on a planet's surface. Advertisement

'And the only way we know how to do that is through life.'

In the search for alien life, it's also important to identify false possible, the experts explain.

When studying a potential habitable planet, 'life has to be the hypothesis of last resort,' Cable said.

'You must eliminate all other explanations.'

It's hoped that efforts with advanced instruments will help to uncover more details about exoplanets that appear just a group of pixels in the images.

By collapsing images from NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging camera on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), for example, one researcher is looking to simulate interference that might be seen in an exoplanet mission.

By collapsing images from NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging camera on the DSCOVR craft, for example, one researcher is looking to simulate interference that might be seen in an exoplanet mission

'I think that in 20 years we will have found one candidate that might be it,' says del Genio.

In a nod to his assumptions as a young scientist that planetary discoveries would be rare, the researcher also added, 'But my track record for predicting the future is not so good.'

Many have their sights on Enceladus and Europa.

'It's been 20 years away for the last 50 years. I do think it's on the scale of decades,' said research scientist Andrew Rushby, of NASA Ames Research Center.

'If I were a betting man, which I'm not, I'd go for Europa or Enceladus.'
Twitter will start taking away the verification 'tick' badges from users who break its rules, the firm has revealed.

It said the move is designed to dispel claims that verified users are 'endorsed' by the social network.

The firm is believed to have already stripped the verification badges from prominent white nationalists Richard Spencer, Jason Kessler and English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson.

It follows several high profile cases, including the removal of the tick from right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, a week before banning him completely.

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Twitter said the move is designed to dispel claims that verified users are 'endorsed' by the social network, and said it's developing a replacement - but has given no details on the project

'Verification has long been perceived as an endorsement,' the company said in a tweet.

'We gave verified accounts visual prominence on the service which deepened this perception.

'We should have addressed this earlier but did not prioritize the work as we should have.'

Twitter's stripped the verification badges off of prominent white nationalists Richard Spencer and Jason Kessler pic.twitter.com/Hy5CPl7z25  Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) November 15, 2017

Twitter said the problem worsened after is decision, in July 2016, to let anyone request a verified account.

'This perception became worse when we opened up verification for public submissions and verified people who we in no way endorse,' Twitter said.

The company is now working on 'a new authentication and verification program,' although has not provided any details on it.

In the interim, it is not verifying any accounts.

Earlier this year Twitter took away the tick from right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, a week before banning him completely

'We are conducting an initial review of verified accounts and will remove verification from accounts whose behavior does not fall within these new guidelines,' it said

'We will continue to review and take action as we work towards a new program we are proud of. '

Earlier this month Twitter unveiled its updated policy on how it defines harassment and threats, and its policy toward adult content.

Twitter also said it will now send an email explaining which policy has been violated when it suspends an account - just hours after a disgruntled employee deavtivated Donald Trump's account on his last day.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey promised more transparency and aggressive policies last month after the firm came under fire after actress Rose McGowan's account was temporarily blocked for violating Twitter polices.

Twitter also said it will now send an email explaining which policy has been violated when it suspends an account following a backlash after it suspended actress Rose McGowan.

Twitter later said the action was taken because she posted someone's phone number - a policy violation, despite many users thinking t was for her comments on Harvey Weinstein.

'Online behavior continues to evolve and change, and at Twitter, we have to ensure those changes are reflected in our rules in a way that's easy to adhere to and understand,' the social network said.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey promised more transparency and aggressive policies last month after the firm came under fire after actress Rose McGowan's account was temporarily blocked for violating Twitter polices.

'While the fundamentals of our policies and our approach have not changed, this updated version presents our rules with more details and examples.'

The firm said it was 'making it clear that context  including if the behavior is targeted, if a report has been filed and by whom, and if the Tweet itself is newsworthy and in the legitimate public interest  is crucial when evaluating abusive behavior and determining appropriate enforcement actions.'

The policy changes are specifically aimed at protecting women who unknowingly or unwillingly have nude pictures of themselves distributed online or were subject to unwanted sexual advances.

They also aim to shield groups subject to hateful imagery, symbols and threats of violence.

TWITTER'S NEW RULES IN FULL Abusive behavior We are making it clear that context  including if the behavior is targeted, if a report has been filed and by whom, and if the Tweet itself is newsworthy and in the legitimate public interest  is crucial when evaluating abusive behavior and determining appropriate enforcement actions. Expect more detail on how we review and enforce all of our policies and the range of enforcement options in a separate update on November 14. Self-harm We've always shared resources with people experiencing suicidal or self-harming thoughts when we learn of such behavior, and removed any Tweets that encourage or promote suicide games. Our updated policy on suicide and self-harm clarifies how strictly we enforce this policy, and how we communicate with anyone promoting or encouraging this type of behavior. Spam and related behaviors We are more clearly defining spam, how it behaves on Twitter, and sharing the factors we consider when reviewing accounts that may be spam. As part of this update, we're also clarifying that when we review accounts that demonstrate spam-like behavior, we focus on behavioral signals, not the factual accuracy of the information they share. Graphic violence and adult content We're providing more specific detail around the types of content we consider to be 'graphic violence' or 'adult content.' We're also updating our media policy Help Center page so it includes examples that help set expectations around the types of content covered by this policy. Please note that the media policy will be updated again on November 22, to account for hateful imagery. Advertisement

It comes just hours after an embarrassing gaffe when an employee at Twitter who was leaving their customer service job at the company deliberately deleted the profile of the most powerful man on the planet in a mischievous act on their last day of work.

President Donald Trump's Twitter account disappeared for 11 minutes on Thursday evening after the rogue employee at the social networking company removed the entire profile.

THE ROSE MCGOWAN ROW Rose McGowan was suspended from Twitter earlier this month after several days of hitting out against the likes of Harvey Weinstein, his brother Bob Weinstein and Ben Affleck. McGowan, who was allegedly assaulted by Weinstein in 1997 had been crusading against silence over Weinstein's grim past on Twitter. However she took to Instagram to share the news her account had been shutdown. Rose McGowan took to Instagram to say her Twitter account had been suspended Wednesday night 'Twitter has suspended me. There are powerful forces at work. Be my voice.' She also shared a screen grab of Twitter's suspended account notification, which says 'We've determined that this account violated the Twitter Rules.' The message also suggests she 'Delete the Tweets that violate our rules.' She tweeted telling Affleck to 'F*** off,' and called him a liar after he denounced Weinstein on Tuesday. She also tweeted 'Now I am allowed to say rapist,' without mentioning Weinstein specifically. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey promised more transparency and aggressive policies last month after the firm came under fire after McGowan's account was temporarily blocked for violating Twitter polices. Twitter later said the action was taken because she posted someone's phone number - a policy violation, despite many users thinking t was for her comments on Harvey Weinstein. Advertisement

The sabotage took place shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday when social media reports surfaced that the president's personal account @realdonaldtrump was unavailable, providing the error message that the user 'does not exist.'

The President's Twitter account vanished for a short time on Thursday evening

After a brief investigation Twitter owned up and took responsibility for the outage.

In a tweeted statement, the company said Trump's account was 'inadvertently deactivated due to human error' by one of its employees.

'We are continuing to investigate and are taking steps to prevent this from happening again,' the statement continued.

But in a second statement, Twitter confirmed it was an employee on their last day.

'Through our investigation we have learned that this was done by a Twitter customer support employee who did this on the employee's last day. We are conducting a full internal review.'

Just before 7 p.m. EDT, visitors to the 45th President's Twitter profile were greeted with both a frustrating and confusing message: 'Sorry, that page doesn't exist! You can search Twitter using the search box below or return to the homepage.'

Twitter users were confused as to what could have caused the brief account shutdown with some correctly speculating it was deleted by Twitter and others wondering if the President did it himself. Others simply rejoiced:

Just before 7am, the president reacted to the news that his Twitter account had temporarily been suspended

'Donald Trump doesn't exist according to Twitter,' wrote one, 'I was there for the great vanishing of Donald Trump's Twitter account,' chimed another.

'Feel like I need to re-evaluate my life choices after reflecting on my reaction to Trump's Twitter,' joked one correspondant.

'The greatest trick Donald Trump's twitter account ever pulled was making us all hope that it didn't exist' tweeted one.

Memes and gifs quickly sprung up praising the employees mischievous act on their last day

A short time later, the account page reappeared and seemed to be functioning as normal. His government account remained active throughout.

About half an hour earlier, Mr Trump had tweeted a video about his nomination of Jerome Powell to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Hundreds of Twitter users posted witty comments and memes on the social network enjoying the brief respite from the President's feed.

Twitter explained two hours later that it was one of its own employees that caused the outage and followed up their initial tweet explaining it was an employee on their last day

'@RealDonaldTrump finally became president... for those brief few minutes when his personal Twitter account was down,' joked one user.

'We'll all remember where we were during the 10 minutes of peace while Donald Trump's Twitter account was down,' said another.

'If Trump's Twitter account did in fact get deleted, that would be the first bit of good news we've gotten in a while,' another quipped.

The President's account, which has almost 42 million followers has proved to be a vital tool in the way Mr Trump communicates to the outside work, it being the main channel of communication he uses to disseminate statements and attack his critics.

Trump has credited the social platform for helping him win the White House, but some close to the president reportedly worry that his prolific and often controversial tweeting could have dire consequences.

Mr Trump has been active on Twitter since March 2009 when he sent his very first tweet promoting an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Since that time, he has tweeted more than 36,000 times - an average of 12 times a day.

The White House had no immediate comment on the profile's brief disappearance.
Female praying mantises are notorious for their predatory skills; theyre bigger and stronger than males, and often devour their counterparts during sex.

But, scientists have discovered that not even decapitation is enough to stand in the way of a male mantis looking to mate.

A jaw-dropping new video shows how males can continue the act even after their head has been chewed off, turning into a zombie mating machine that both fertilizes the eggs, and provides the mother with necessary fuel.

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Scientists have discovered that not even decapitation is enough to stand in the way of a male mantis looking to mate. In the shocking footage, a decapitated male can even be seen walking around and mounting the female, before successfully depositing his sperm packet

THE PRAYING MANTIS' INCREDIBLE SPEED In a recent study, researchers from the universities of Cambridge and Bristol recorded 58 young mantises jumping towards a thin black rod. Slow-mo footage of the experiments revealed the extraordinary skill and precision of these predators. The scientists found that the insects jump, lasts less than a tenth of a second from take-off to landing- faster than the blink of a human eye. During the jumps, the insects rotated their legs and abdomen simultaneously yet in varying directions  shifting clockwise and anti-clockwise rotations between these body parts in mid-air  to control the angular momentum, or 'spin'. This allowed them to shift their body in the air to align precisely with the target on which they chose to land. Advertisement

The Deep Look video created by KQED follows the bizarre mating behaviour of bordered mantises in Californias Eastern Sierra.

And, as noted by behavioural ecologist and zoologist Mike Maxwell, it goes far beyond the typical sexual cannibalism seen among praying mantises.

In the video, the massive female mantises can be seen ambushing smaller males who approach them to mate.

The males have little chance at survival; theyre simply outclassed when it comes to strength and deadliness, the video explains.

Stunning  and somewhat unsettling  close-up footage shows how the females gobble down their catch, sometimes chewing the head straight off the body and leaving the rest intact.

And, after this happens, the headless male can then go on mating.

In the shocking footage, a decapitated male can even be seen walking around and mounting the female, before successfully depositing his sperm packet.

This is possible because of nerves in the mantiss abdomen, which continue to control the movement of the body so it can get the job done, the video explains.

Essentially, the decapitated male mantis becomes a zombie mating machine.

While it may seem counterintuitive to kill one of their own in the mating process, experts say this behaviour serves a purpose.

And, some suspect that those who get eaten but still manage to successfully mate may end up fathering more eggs.

The Deep Look video follows the bizarre mating behaviour of bordered mantises in Californias Eastern Sierra. And, as discovered by behavioural ecologist and zoologist Mike Maxwell, it goes far beyond the typical sexual cannibalism seen among praying mantises. Stock image

It takes a ton of energy for females to produce their eggs  about a hundred of them, developing inside her, the video explains.

Shell lay them in a foamy cluster, called an ootheca. So, that male is fuelling the survival of his species, nutritionally speaking.

When they hatch in the spring, there will be plenty more mantises to replace this one. And these bordered mantises werent going to live much longer anyway.

They cant survive the cold autumn night. So males might as well take a shot.
China is developing aircraft capable of reaching US shores with nuclear warheads in just 14 minutes, reports suggest.

The craft will be capable of hypersonic flight speeds of up to 27,000 miles per hour (43,200 kmh) - 35 times the speed of sound.

They will be tested in China's newest military-grade wind tunnel, set to be the world's fastest hypersonic facility when construction is complete 'by 2020', experts claim.

Currently, the world's most powerful wind tunnel is the US LENX-X facility in Buffalo, New York, which operates at speeds of 22,000 miles per hour (36,000 km/h).

The tunnels are being used to develop hypersonic aircraft - those capable reaching five times the speed of sound or more.

The vehicles could be used to deliver missiles, including nuclear weapons, to distant targets around the world within minutes of launch.

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China is developing aircraft capable of reaching the US west coast in just 14 minutes, reports suggest. The vehicles will be tested in China's newest military-grade wind tunnel, which will be up and running by 2020. Pictured is the JF-12 hypersonic wind tunnel in Beijing

HYPERSONIC CRAFT The tunnels are being used to develop hypersonic aircraft - those capable of a hitting speeds five times the speed of sound or more. The vehicles could be used to deliver missiles, including nuclear weapons, to distant targets around the world in just minutes. Since 2013, China has conducted seven successful test flights of its hypersonic glider DF-ZF. The vehicle will be capable of speeds of between Mach 5 and Mach 10, or five to 10 times the speed of sound. US officials tested tested HTV-2 in 2011, an unmanned aircraft capable of Mach 20, but the hypersonic flight lasted just a few minutes before the vehicle crashed. Hypersonic vehicles travel so rapidly and unpredictably they could provide an almost-immediate threat to nations across the globe. The craft fly at such speeds that the gap between identifying a military threat and launching an attack on it will drop from hours to minutes, even at long distances. Advertisement

Dr Zhao Wei, a senior scientist working on China's secretive new tunnel, told the South China Morning Post that it will be up and running by 2020.

He said the tunnel will help meet the pressing demand of China's hypersonic weapons development programme.

Because planes can't fly during laboratory experiments, researchers need a wind tunnel that can generate gusts as fast as the desired speed of the aircraft to simulate a flying environment.

'[The new tunnel] will boost the engineering application of hypersonic technology, mostly in military sectors, by duplicating the environment of extreme hypersonic flights, so problems can be discovered and solved on the ground,' said Dr Wei, a deputy director of the State Key Laboratory of High Temperature Gas Dynamics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

These ground tests will help researchers iron out issues with the craft before test flights begin.

Since 2013, China has conducted seven successful test flights of its hypersonic glider DF-ZF.

The vehicle will be capable of speeds of between Mach 5 and Mach 10, or five to 10 times the speed of sound.

US officials tested HTV-2 in 2011, an unmanned aircraft capable of Mach 20, but the hypersonic flight lasted just a few minutes before the vehicle crashed.

'China and the US have started a hypersonic race,' Professor Wu Dafang, a researcher at Beihang University in Beijing who specialises in hypersonic heat shields, told the SCMP.

A number of state-of-the-art wind tunnels in mainland China have helped its military successfully test hypersonic craft in recent years.

One of these facilities, Beijing's JF-12 tunnel, was completed in May 2012 but remains shrouded in mystery.

Since 2013, China has conducted seven successful test flights of its hypersonic glider DF-ZF (model pictured in a State-TV documentary). The vehicle will be capable of speeds of up to Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound

To generate a the high-speed air flow needed to test hypersonic craft in the new tunnel, researchers will detonate tubes of explosive gases. The resulting shockwaves will be channeled via a metallic tunnel (pictured in China's JF-12 tunnel) into the test chamber

THE NEW TUNNEL Because planes can't fly during laboratory experiments, researchers need a wind tunnel that can generate gusts as fast as the desired speed of the aircraft to simulate a flying environment. These ground tests help researchers iron out issues with the craft before test flights begin. The new tunnel will include a test chamber for large craft with wingspans of up to three metres (10 ft). To generate the high-speed air flow needed to test hypersonic craft, the researchers will detonate several tubes containing a mixture of oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen gases to create a series of explosions. The blasts will generate shock waves that give off one gigawatt of wind power within a split second, according to Dr Wei. A metallic tunnel will channel these shock waves into a test chamber, where the blast will envelope the prototype vehicle and increase its body temperature to 7,727C (7,727F), hotter than the surface of the sun, Dr Wei said. The craft must be covered by special materials with state-of-the-art cooling systems inside its frame to dissipate the heat. Without this heat shield the vehicle would warp and could veer off course or disintegrate on a long-distance flight. Advertisement

The new tunnel will be 'one of the most powerful and advanced ground test facilities for hypersonic vehicles in the world', Professor Wu said.

The new tunnel will include a test chamber for large craft with wingspans of up to three metres (10 ft).

To generate the high-speed air flow needed to test hypersonic craft, the researchers will detonate several tubes containing a mixture of oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen gases to create a series of explosions.

The blasts will generate shock waves that give off one gigawatt of wind power within a split second, according to Dr Wei.

Pictured is an official artist's impression of China's DF-ZF hypersonic craft. Hypersonic vehicles travel so rapidly and unpredictably they could provide an almost-immediate threat to nations across the globe

A metallic tunnel will channel these shock waves into a test chamber, where the blast will envelope the prototype vehicle and increase its body temperature to 7,727C (7,727F), hotter than the surface of the sun, Dr Wei said.

The craft must be covered by special materials with state-of-the-art cooling systems inside its frame to dissipate the heat.

Without this heat shield the vehicle would warp and could veer off course or disintegrate on a long-distance flight.
An ex-Google engineer who has registered the first church of AI says he is 'raising a god' that will that charge of humans.

The robot god will head a religion called Way Of The Future (WOTF), which will eventually have a gospel called 'The Manual', rituals and even a physical place of worship,

Anthony Levandowski first filed papers with the Internal Revenue Service inMay, and named himself as 'dean' of WOTF, giving him complete control until his death or resignation.

Levandowski his robot god will take charge of its human subjects as we relinquish our power to a creation with far more intelligence than our own.

He claims the good will be a 'billion times smarter than humans'.

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Anthony Levandowski (right) who has registered the first church of AI says he is 'raising a god' that will treat humans as esteemed elders. He is pictured with Uber founder and ex-CEO Travis Kalanick. Levandowski is also currently at the heart of a legal fight between Google and Uber

WAY OF THE FUTURE Called the Way Of The Future (WOTF), the new religion will eventually have a gospel called 'The Manual', rituals and even a physical place of worship. The filed documents for WOTF give its purpose is to 'develop and promote the realisation of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence'. The filings say workshops and educational programs are starting in the San Francisco area. It was granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service in August. At some point, Levandowski claims if his followers were persecuted they might even need to have their own country. Anthony Levandowski says everything in the church would be open source and members of the church would have special social media accounts. He has appointed four other people to the Council of Advisers and the listing says each week they will spend a few hours organising workshops and meetings. In 2017, the Internal Revenue Service listed the religion as having received $20,000 (15,000) in gifts, $1,500 (1,100) in membership fees and $20,000 (15,000) in other revenue. WOTF has $7,500 (5,700) put aside for wages, although Levandowski, who earned $120 million (91 million) from Google, says he will not receive any money. Advertisement

The filed documents for WOTF give its purpose is to 'develop and promote the realisation of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence'.

They say it aims to 'through understanding and worship of the Godhead, contribute to the betterment of society'.

Levandowski's allegiance to singularity - the belief that artificial intelligence will one day grow to such efficiency that it surpasses and overpowers humans - is the basis of this new religion.

'In the future, if something is much, much smarter, there's going to be a transition as to who is actually in charge', Levandowski told Wired during a three-hour interview.

'What we want is the peaceful, serene transition of control of the planet from humans to whatever. And to ensure that the 'whatever' knows who helped it get along'.

The church also includes funding to help create a divine AI and will seek to build relationships with AI industry leaders.

The filings say workshops and educational programs are starting in the San Francisco area this year.

The religion was granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service in August.

'The idea needs to spread before the technology,' said Levandowski, who lives in Berkeley and helped create Street View, Waymo and Uber's self-driving cars.

'The church is how we spread the word, the gospel. If you believe [in it], start a conversation with someone else and help them understand the same things.'

He claims followers of his new religion 'will be able to talk to God, literally, and know that it's listening.'

Levandowski is one of the Silicon Valley titans who believes artificial intelligence will transform human existence and even dictate whether our species survives or not.

'If you had a child you knew was going to be gifted, how would you want to raise it?' he asks. 'We're in the process of raising a god.

'So let's make sure we think through the right way to do that. It's a tremendous opportunity.'

Human brains are biologically limited due to their size and the amount of energy we can devote to them, but AI systems have no such restrictions, meaning they could become better and faster at solving problems than their creators.

'I would love for the machine to see us as its beloved elders that it respects and takes care of', he said.

We would want this intelligence to say, 'Humans should still have rights, even though I'm in charge.'

The filings say workshops and educational programs are starting in the San Francisco area. The AI religion was granted tax-exempt status in August (stock image)

At some point, Levandowski claims if his followers were persecuted they might even need to have their own country.

Everything in the church would be open source and members would have special social media accounts, he claims.

He has appointed four people to the Council of Advisers - two of whom also worked at Uber - and the listing says each week they will spend a few hours organising workshops and meetings.

In 2017, the Internal Revenue Service listed the religion as having received $20,000 (15,000) in gifts, $1,500 (1,100) in membership fees and $20,000 (15,000) in other revenue.

Levandowski is currently at the heart of a legal fight between Google's parent company Alphabet and Uber.

WHO IS ANTHONY LEVANDOWSKI? Anthony Levandowski is best known for helping create Google Street View and engineering Waymo and Uber's self-driving cars. Levandowski is currently at the heart of a legal fight between Google's parent company Alphabet and Uber. Waymo, the self-driving car subsidiary which Alphabet owns, is suing Uber, claiming it stole trade secrets to make their own self-driving cars. The engineer they say is responsible for the theft is Levandowski who they allege downloaded 14,000 secret files before leaving Google in 2016 after nine years at the company. A month after his departure, he founded Otto, a company which specialised in self-driving trucks. Seven months later, Uber acquired Otto and Levandowski began working on the ride-sharing company's self-driving cars. In February this year, Alphabet filed a multi-billion lawsuit against Uber and Otto accusing it of stealing trade secrets. Levandowski was called to give evidence in March but he pleaded the Fifth Amendment throughout, refusing to answer questions on the grounds that his answers may incriminate him. Advertisement

Waymo, the self-driving car subsidiary which Alphabet owns, is suing Uber, claiming it stole trade secrets to make their own self-driving cars.

WOTF has $7,500 (5,700) put aside for wages, although Levandowski, who earned $120 million (91 million) from Google, says he will not receive any money.

'I personally think it will happen sooner than people expect,' he said.

'Not next week or next year; everyone can relax. But it's going to happen before we go to Mars.'

Author and religious studies scholar Dr Candi Cann from Baylor University said this spiritual initiative is not that dissimilar to other religions people currently worship.

She suggests AI is a new paradigm out of which new religious practices could emerge.

'It strikes me that Levandowski's idea reads like a quintessential American religion,' Dr Cann told Seeker.

'LDS [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] and Scientology are both distinctly American traditions that focus on very forward thinking religious viewpoints', she said.

However, others have been more sceptical about these ambitious plans.

In October Elon Musk spoke out against Levandowski's proposals by tweeting that he should be 'on the list of people who should absolutely *not* be allowed to develop digital superintelligence'.

Earlier this year he warned that regulation of artificial intelligence is needed because it's a 'fundamental risk to the existence of human civilisation.'

The billionaire said regulations will stop humanity from being outsmarted by computers, or 'deep intelligence in the network', that can start wars by manipulating information.




The future of open online communication is under threat, according to web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee who believes 'the system is failing' when it comes to the internet.

When he first dreamt up his information sharing model, the British computer scientist envisioned it as a free platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

Almost forty years later that dream threatens to become a nightmare, thanks to the erosion of net neutrality, the rise of fake news and manipulation of the public.

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The future of the open internet is under threat from dark forces, warns web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, thanks to the erosion of net neutrality, the rise of fake news and manipulation of the public

WHAT IS NET NEUTRALITY? Net neutrality is the principle that all internet traffic should be be treated equally. Whether you're trying to buy a necklace on Etsy, stream a series on Netflix, or upload a photo to Facebook, your internet service provider has to load all of those websites equally quickly. If net neutrality is lost, internet service providers (ISPs) could create special 'fast lanes' for content providers willing to pay more. Customers of streaming services like Netflix could see their subscription fees rise if the company chooses to pay more. Giving powerful gatekeepers the ability to select who has priority access to the internet threatens to stifle innovation and free speech, Berners Lee believes. He feels that ISPs should be treated more like utilities companies. Advertisement

In an in-depth interview with The Guardian, Berners-Lee explained that he feels his creation is being used to spread misinformation and to polarise debate.

Advertising platforms and AI algorithms used by big firms like Facebook and Google can be used by third parties with ulterior motives to spread propaganda, for political or financial gain.

High profile cases have included attempts by Russian operatives to influence the outcome of elections in the US, and a group of Macedonian teenagers who spread political clickbait fake news on Facebook to cash in on Google's AdSense revenues.

Speaking to The Guardian, he said: 'The system is failing. The way ad revenue works with clickbait is not fulfilling the goal of helping humanity promote truth and democracy, so I am concerned.

'People are being distorted by very finely trained AIs that figure out how to distract them.

'We are so used to these systems being manipulated that people just think that's how the internet works. We need to think about what it should be like.'

Also under fire are attempts to remove net neutrality protections.

Net neutrality is the principle that all internet traffic should be be treated equally.

Whether you're trying to buy a necklace on Etsy, stream a series on Netflix, or upload a photo to Facebook, your internet service provider has to load all of those websites equally quickly.

If net neutrality is lost, internet service providers (ISPs) could create special 'fast lanes' for content providers willing to pay more.

Advertising platforms and AI algorithms used by big firms like Facebook and Google can be used by third parties with ulterior motives to spread propaganda, for political or financial gain (stock image)

Customers of streaming services like Netflix could see their subscription fees rise if the company chooses to pay more.

More than 170 internet giants including Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Google and PornHub, have protested against plans by US officials to remove rules protecting net neutrality.

The US communications regulator, the FCC, earlier this year voted to remove a 2015 ruling that put net neutrality into law by preventing the 'throttling' of data by ISPs.

Giving powerful gatekeepers the ability to select who has priority access to the internet threatens to stifle innovation and free speech, Berners Lee believes.

He feels that ISPs should be treated more like utilities companies.

'Gas is a utility, so is clean water, and connectivity should be too,' he added. 'It's part of life and shouldn't have an attitude about what you use it for  just like water.'
A teenage boy who found a massive fossil on a British beach has discovered it's a 6,000-year-old auroch horn - after initially thinking it was just a piece of driftwood.

After realising it was a fossil, Archie Wood, 13, who made the discovery while metal detecting thought it might be a mammoth tusk.

But experts have now revealed the fossil, dug up in Bexhill beach, East Sussex, probably belonged to an ancient cow called an auroch which roamed forests during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age.

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Archie Wood, 13, (pictured) thought he'd found a mammoth tusk when he made the discovery while metal detecting but it turns out it is a horn from an ancient cow called an auroch

WHEN DID AUROCHS DIE OUT? Aurochs lived for more than 250,000 years across Europe. They were an impressive animal and an icon of ancient Europe, being recorded in the cave paintings of ancient man in Lascaux, France, for example. Later, in an ancient Greek myth, the god Zeus seduced the virgin Europa in the form of an auroch. But they died out in 1627 because of habitat loss and overhunting. Humans converted vast swathes of wild grassland to farmland and the last population was forced into a Polish forest. The herd was protected by the royal family until the last one died and for more than a century, they tried to save the species, by paying locals to feed them, for example. However, this wildlife conservation effort was thwarted by political instability and cattle diseases. Advertisement

Archie's grandfather Neil Wood said: 'He was so excited, he couldn't believe what he was digging up.

'He saw it sticking out the sand. He pulled out this enormous tusk.'

He said the family sought help from experts on the Isle of Wight after initially guessing it was a mammoth tusk.

Mr Wood added: 'They are big into fossils there.

'When we went into the museum we saw identical fossils in a skull in a display cabinet and we thought 'that's it'.

'Then we went to Jurassic Jim, he looked at the photo and said 'that's definitely a Bos bison'.'

Museum experts believe more specifically it is an auroch, a giant wild cow or bison which roamed Europe for more than 250,000 years.

Julian Porter, of Bexhill Museum told MailOnline: 'We're absolutely delighted with Archie's find'.

The museum has got in touch with the Natural History Museum about it and are awaiting confirmation of the find.

The new find is part of a string of discoveries linked to a prehistoric forest ecosystem which once existed on the south east coast of Britain.

'It would have been a late Neolithic and early Bronze Age forest that certainly would have had auroch charging around it', said Mr Porter.

In low water you can see tree stumps and branches from this ancient woodland that would have been around between 4,000-6,000 years ago.

His family called in experts who have now revealed the fossil (pictured), dug up in Bexhill beach, East Sussex, probably belonged to an auroch

Museum experts believe it is part of a string of discoveries linked to a prehistoric forest ecosystem which once existed on the south east coast of Britain

'It's the sort of thing that we assumed living in the forest but we didn't have hard evidence', he said.

'We had found domestic horse remains, cattle bones, wolf bones and indeed human bones as well, which are quite tame in comparison to Archie's find', he said.

The horn is worth about 120-140 ($158-$185), but after a lot of deliberation Archie decided to donate it to the museum.

Auroch are the ancestors of modern cattle and European bison (pictured). The horn is worth about 120-140 ($158-$185), but after a lot of deliberation Archie decided to donate it to the museum

The new find is part of a string of discoveries linked to a prehistoric forest ecosystem which once existed on the south east coast of Britain near Bexhill (pictured)

'We made contact with Bexhill Museum, and now it's on display with his name next to it. They are over the moon', said Mr Wood.

'It would have been an impressive animal. I suspect that, because of the size of the horn, it would have been a male, but I could be wrong', said Mr Porter.

'At the moment we think Archie's find could be from the Bronze Age, but somebody might tell us different.

'It really was so good of him to report it and bring it in so everyone can enjoy it. Hopefully the love of history he has will stay with him', he said.
In the hope of making contact with aliens, scientists have beamed a message towards two planets that may be capable of supporting life.

The message was directed towards GJ 273  a red dwarf star, also known as Luyten's star, that lies 12.36 light years away from Earth, although it is expected to take up to 12 years to reach it.

If a reply is sent back by any aliens, it is expected to be heard during the northern hemisphere's summer solstice in 2042.

But not everyone is convinced by the plan, with experts including Professor Stephen Hawking, warning that if aliens discovered us, it could 'end life on Earth'.

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In the hope of making contact with aliens, scientists have beamed a message towards two planets that may be capable of supporting life (stock image)

THE MESSAGE The message was sent from the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association radio antenna in Troms, Norway on October 16, 17 and 18. The data was encoded in binary code  a coding system made up of the digits 0 and 1  and sent on two frequencies, with a pulse in one frequency standing for '1' and the other for '0'. The message itself included a scientific and mathematical 'tutorial', including a count from one to five, addition and multiplication, simple trigonometry and a description of electromagnetic waves. An element of art was also included, in the form of 33 10-second musical excerpts created by musicians from Sonar music festival in Barcelona. Advertisement

Scientists from Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) International beamed the message to Luyten's Star last month.

Speaking to Space.com, Mr Douglas Vakoch, president of METI, explained: 'It is a prototype for what I think we would most likely need to do 100 times, or 1,000 times, or 1 million times.

'To me, the big success of the project will come if, 25 years from now, there's someone who remembers to look [for a response].

'If we could accomplish that, that would be a radical shift of perspective.'

The message itself included a scientific and mathematical 'tutorial' as well as 33 short musical excerpts created by artists from Sonar music festival.

It was beamed out in binary code at two different radio frequencies on October 16, 17 and 18, using the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association radio antenna in Troms, Norway.

If any reply is sent back from aliens, it is expected to be heard during the northern hemisphere's summer solstice in 2042.

Mr Vakoch accepted that METI was likely to receive some backlash for its tactics.

The message was directed towards GJ 273  a red dwarf star, also known as Luyten's star, that lies 12.36 light years away from Earth, although it is expected to take up to 12 years to reach it (artist's impression pictured)

SHOULD WE BE WARY OF ALIENS? If there are any intelligent alien life forms out there, Stephen Hawking thinks we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. The physicist believes if aliens discovered Earth, they are likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet. 'If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans,' he said in an interview. But co-founder and former director of the Seti Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn't think this will be the case. She argues any aliens who have managed to travel across the universe will be sophisticated enough to be friendly and peaceful. 'The idea of a civilisation which has managed to survive far longer than we have...and the fact that that technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn't make sense,' she said. Advertisement

Some critics, including Professor Stephen Hawking, have warned that actively sending messages into space is risky when we don't know how friendly aliens will be.

The famous physicist believes that if aliens discovered Earth, they would be likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet.

'If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans,' he said in an interview.

But despite this, Mr Vakoch maintains that beaming a message to Luyten's star isn't a risk.

He said: 'It's really hard to imagine a scenario in which a civilisation around Luyten's star could have the capacity to come to Earth and threaten us, and yet they're not able to pick up our leakage radiation.'

The researchers chose Luyten's star as a target due to the fact that it isn't too far from Earth, and is known to host two potentially habitable planets.

The team plans to send a second round of messages to Luyten's star in April 2018 at different radio frequencies, in the hopes of making contact with aliens.
Hackers who attacked the now defunct website of second hand goods store Cash Converters may have access to the account details of thousands of customers.

Usernames, passwords, delivery addresses and potentially partial credit card numbers are among the data believed to have been stolen.

The culprits are said to be holding the information to ransom while the firm works with law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident.

It is not known exactly how many customers were impacted in the hack or when it happened.

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Hackers who attacked the now defunct website of pawnbroker Cash Converters may have access to the account details of thousands of customers. Usernames, passwords, delivery addresses and potentially partial credit card numbers are among the data stolen (stock image)

RANSOM THREAT Cash Converts reportedly received an email from hackers who claiming to have gained access to the data. They threatened to release the data if they were not paid, which means anyone who used the old site before September 22 could be at risk. Customers have been to advised to change their passwords and has forced a reset for all UK webshop users. Advertisement

Cash Converters operates high street stores where customers can trade items like jewellery and electronics for money.

The affected website, which was put out of action in September 2017 and replaced with an updated version, lets people purchase these products online.

As well as cash trade ins, the company offers small financial loans to its customers.

The data breech is only believed to affect customers of the Perth-founded firm who are based in the UK.

In a breach notification email sent to customers, a Cash Converters spokesman said: 'Please be reassured that, alongside the relevant authorities, we are investigating this as a matter of urgency and priority.

'We are also actively implementing measures to ensure that this cannot happen again.

'Although some details relating to the cybersecurity breach remain confidential while Cash Converters works with the relevant authorities, we will continue to provide as much detail as possible as it becomes available.

'The current webshop site was independently and thoroughly security tested as part of its development process.

'We have no reason to believe it has any vulnerability, however additional testing is being completed to get assurance of this.

'Our customers truly are at the heart of everything we do and we are both disappointed and saddened that you have been affected.

'We apologise for this situation.'

Cash Converts reportedly received an email from hackers who claiming to have gained access to the data.

The culprits are said to be holding the information to ransom while the firm works with law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident. Cash Converts reportedly received an email from hackers who claiming to have gained access to the data (stock image)

They threatened to release the data if they were not paid, which means anyone who used the old site before September 22 could be at risk.

Customers have been to advised to change their passwords and the firm has forced a reset for all UK webshop users.

Speaking about the breach, Jon Topper, CEO of UK tech firm The Scale Factory, said: 'When migrating away from old solutions it's important to bear in mind that old digital assets will still be running and available online until such time as they are fully decommissioned.

'As a result they should still be treated as 'live'' which means maintaining a good security posture around them, keeping up with patching and so forth.

'In their customer notification, Cash Converters were quick to point out that the old site was operated by a third party, possibly intending to deflect responsibility for this breach.

'This definitely won't fly under General Data Protection Regulation regulations coming into force next year.

'Companies running server infrastructure that handles customer data should be engaging with experts to review their security posture ahead of that, in order to avoid being slapped with a large fine.'
OnePlus has today revealed its latest premium flagship device  the OnePlus 5T.

The 'all-screen' smartphone features facial recognition technology alongside a rear fingerprint sensor, as well as super-fast charging that produces a day's power in just 30 minutes.

Despite having many of the same features as Apple's iPhone X, the OnePlus 5T comes with a much lower price tag, and costs just 499 ($499/499).

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OnePlus has today revealed its latest premium flagship device  the OnePlus 5T. The smartphone features facial recognition technology alongside a rear fingerprint sensor, as well as super-fast charging that produces a day's power in just 30 minutes

THE ONEPLUS 5T - 6 inch Full Optic AMOLED display - Rear fingerprint sensor - Secondary rear camera upgraded to f/1.7 aperature - Portrait Mode improved to reduce noise - Facial recognition technology - Dash Charge provides a day's power in 30 minutes - 64GB and 128GB version - Available in Slate Grey and Midnight Black - Prices start at 499/$499/499 Advertisement

The OnePlus 5T is the follow-up to the OnePlus 5, which was revealed in June this year.

Pete Lau, Founder and CEO of OnePlus, said: 'We love nothing more than offering our community the latest and greatest technology and a user experience to beat expectations.

'Once again, we've worked hard to refine every last detail.'

The OnePlus 5T features a larger Full Optic AMOLED display than its predecessor at 6-inches, delivering a more immersive viewing experience.

It also features a new Sunlight Display, which uses a built-in algorithm to adapt the screen brightness automatically in response to harsh light.

The fingerprint sensor, which unlocks the phone in under 0.2 seconds, has been move to the back of the device, creating a more seamless front design.

The device features a new Sunlight Display, which uses a built-in algorithm to adapt the screen brightness automatically in response to harsh light

One of the key new features in the OnePlus 5T is facial recognition, known as Face Unlock, which has been added to the OxygenOS operating system

The camera has seen some key improvements, designed to enhance performance in low-light situations.

While the main camera is the same as the OnePlus 5, the secondary rear has been upgraded to a f/1.7 aperature, improving low light photography.

Portrait Mode, which can be used to blur the background of photos, has also been improved using multi-frame algorithms to reduce noise.

ONEPLUS 5T VERSUS IPHONE X OnePlus 5T iPhone X Dimensions 156.1x75.7.3mm 143.6x70.9x7.7mm Weight 162g 174g Screen size 6.01 inches 5.8 inches Cameras Dual rear camera with 16MP and 20MP cameras16MP front camera Dual rear camera with two 12MP cameras7MP front camera Facial Recognition Yes Yes Fingerprint sensor Rear No Battery 3,300 mAh 2,716 mAh Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 A11 bionic processor RAM 6/8 GB 3 GB Storage 64/128 GB 64/256 GB Operating System OxygenOS based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat iOS 11 Colours Slate Grey and Midnight Black Black and Silver Cost 449 ($449)/499 ($499) 999 ($999)/1,149 ($1,149)

Portrait Mode, which can be used to blur the background of photos, has also been improved using multi-frame algorithms to reduce noise

Dash Charge  a feature first introduced in the OnePlus 3  also features in the 5T, allowing the device to gain a day's power in just 30 minutes of charging, even while using GPS of games

One of the key new features in the OnePlus 5T is facial recognition, known as Face Unlock, which has been added to the OxygenOS operating system.

Dash Charge  a feature first introduced in the OnePlus 3  also features in the 5T, allowing the device to gain a day's power in just 30 minutes of charging, even while using GPS or games.

The OnePlus 5T is available in both Slate Grey and Midnight Black, with 64GB and 128GB versions.

It will be available in the US and in Europe from November 21, with prices starting from 499/$499/499.

The OnePlus 5T is available in both Slate Grey and Midnight Black, with 64GB and 128GB versions. It will be available in the US and in Europe from November 21, with prices starting from 499/$499/499
Elon Musk has shared a sneak peek at the all-electric semi-truck he promises will 'blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension.'

The Tesla boss teased the sleek prototype in a short clip on Instagram, ahead of the official unveiling set to take place tonight.

The event is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST (11:00 EST), offering the first look at the radical Tesla Semi big-rig after its launch was delayed amid Model 3 'production hell' and efforts to assist Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

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It has been hailed by Elon Musk as 'unreal', and Tesla's electric truck is set to finally be unveiled. The Tesla boss teased the sleek prototype in a short clip on Instagram, ahead of the official unveiling set to take place tonight

THE ALL-ELECTRIC SEMI-TRUCK The entrepreneur has teased the trucking industry with the prospect of a battery-powered heavy-duty vehicle. Tesla hopes that such a vehicle could compete with conventional diesels, which can travel up to 1,000 miles on a single tank of fuel. Tesla's electric big-rig truck could have a working range of 200 to 300 miles to compete with more conventional diesels. Advertisement

Musk has never held back when it comes to boasting about his technology, whether it be an electric vehicle, a reusable rocket, or a tunnel-boring machine.

And, perhaps poking fun at his own increasingly bold claims, he tweeted yesterday that the new semi-truck 'can transform into a robot, fight aliens, and make one hell of a latte.'

Musk has described electric trucks as Tesla's next effort to move the economy away from fossil fuels through projects including electric cars, solar roofs and power storage.

The move will throw the company into a new market even as it struggles to roll out an affordable sedan which is central to the company's future.

But some analysts fear the truck, named Tesla Semi, will be an expensive distraction for Tesla, which is burning cash, has never posted an annual profit, and is in self-described 'manufacturing hell' starting up production of the $35,000 Model 3 sedan.

The young market for electric cargo trucks is mostly focused on medium duty, rather than the heavy big rig market Tesla is after.

The power capacity, weight and cost of batteries all limit a truck's ability, analysts say.

Reuters in August reported that Tesla was working on self-driving technology for the truck.

Several Silicon Valley companies see long-haul trucking as a prime early market for the self-driving technology, citing the relatively consistent speeds and little cross-traffic trucks face on interstate highways and the benefits of allowing drivers to rest while trucks travel.

The unveiling event is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST (11:00 EST), offering the first look at the radical Tesla Semi big-rig after its launch was delayed amid efforts to assist Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and Model 3 'production hell'

Last month, Musk boasted that the truck has 'better specs than anything that was suggested in the media to date'

The truck would have a working range of 200 to 300 miles (320 to 480 km), at the low end of what is considered 'long-haul' trucking, Reuters reported.

Diesel trucks are capable of traveling up to 1,000 miles (1,600 km) on a single tank of fuel.

Musk, who has pushed back the debut twice, tweeted this week that the truck would 'blow your mind clear out of your skull' when it is introduced in a webcast on Thursday at 8 p.m. PST (0400 GMT Friday).

'Just need to find my portal gun...' he added.

'Semi specs are better than anything I've seen reported so far. Semi eng/design team work is aces, but other needs are greater right now,' Musk tweeted in October, announcing the second delay.

He has forecast large-scale production within a couple of years.

The image was posted to Reddit by someone who claimed it shows the truck being delivered to 'an undisclosed place in California where they test Tesla vehicles.'

A Tesla truck with a range of 300 to 450 miles would be able to address less than half of the total semi-truck market, estimated Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi in a note on Monday.

'It is somewhat unclear why the company needs another major initiative ... on its already full plate,' wrote Sacconaghi.

It was originally due to have been launched was pushed back to help with restoring power to Puerto Rico and to iron out 'production hell' with the firm's Model 3 car.

Now, invites for the launch have finally been sent out - and reveal a new silhouette of the vehicle.

Some users claim the vehicle was accidentally been revealed on the back of a trailer last month - although Elon Musk disputes this.

The entrepreneur has repeatedly teased the trucking industry with the prospect of a battery-powered heavy-duty vehicle.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, first said that the firm will unveil its all-electric semi truck on October 26. But, this was pushed back to November 16

Tesla hopes that such its vehicle could compete with conventional diesels, which can travel up to 1,000 miles on a single tank of fuel

The firm hopes that such a vehicle could compete with conventional diesels, which can travel up to 1,000 miles on a single tank of fuel.

The image was posted to Reddit by someone who claimed it shows the truck being delivered to 'an undisclosed place in California where they test Tesla vehicles' - although they later deleted the image.

The truck's shape resembles the shadowy rendering Tesla previously teased.

The truck is expected to be a battery-powered heavy-duty vehicle that can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge.

Tesla's plans for new electric vehicles including a commercial truck called the Tesla Semi were announced last year.

And in April, Musk said the release of the semi-truck was set for September.

Tesla has been making strides in self-driving technology and implementing it in an electric truck could potentially move it forward in a highly competitive area of commercial transport, also being pursued by Uber and Waymo.

In August, it was discovered that Tesla was developing a long-haul, electric semi-truck that could drive itself and move in 'platoons' that followed a lead vehicle, according to an email discussion of potential road tests between the car company and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.
Almost 90 per cent of 'air quality zones' in Britain breach safety limits for pollution caused by diesel fumes.

It will take almost a decade for the UK to reach safe levels of nitrogen dioxide, with our roads to blame for the majority of the dangerous pollution.

The warning comes in a report by the National Audit Office before Parliament hears evidence on air pollution next week.

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The NAO's Air Quality Report states that 37 of Britain's 43 air quality zones did not meet EU nitrogen dioxide limits last year. These include roads in Bristol, Leicester, the Reading area, Liverpool and Cardiff

KEY FINDINGS The NAO's Air Quality Report states that 37 of Britain's 43 air quality zones did not meet EU nitrogen dioxide limits last year. These include roads in Bristol, Leicester, the Reading area, Liverpool and Cardiff. All of the air quality zones, which parcel up the UK based on population density, should have fallen within safe limits by 2010. But that deadline has been missed, with the Government estimating it will take until 2026 instead. The statistics are likely to build pressure on the Government to tackle diesel cars, which produce more nitrogen dioxide than those with petrol engines. Advertisement

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to be called before MPs along with legal and health experts, following more than 150 written responses to a call for evidence.

These include the National Union of Teachers accusing the Government of 'timidity' over air quality, as more than 2,000 schools and nurseries are located within around 160 yards of an illegally polluted road.

The British Lung Foundation has warned of the 'silent killer' which 'could be increasing the risk of getting lung cancer, cutting people's lives short and making existing lung conditions worse'.

In its key facts, the NAO's Air Quality Report states that 37 of Britain's 43 air quality zones did not meet EU nitrogen dioxide limits last year. These include roads in Bristol, Leicester, the Reading area, Liverpool and Cardiff.

All of the air quality zones, which parcel up the UK based on population density, should have fallen within safe limits by 2010.

But that deadline has been missed, with the Government estimating it will take until 2026 instead.

The statistics are likely to build pressure on the Government to tackle diesel cars, which produce more nitrogen dioxide than those with petrol engines.

Although nitrogen dioxide, which inflames the airways when we breathe it in, also comes from wood-burning stoves and agriculture, more than 80 per cent is caused by road transport in areas which exceed legal limits.

All of the air quality zones, which parcel up the UK based on population density, should have fallen within safe limits by 2010. But that deadline has been missed, with the Government estimating it will take until 2026 instead (stock image)

TOXIC AIR PARTICLES Research shows that every area of London exceeds the WHO's air quality guidelines for microscopic particles known as PM2.5. Short and long term exposure to the particles increase the likelihood of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Children exposed to the pollutants are more likely to grow up with reduced lung function and to develop asthma. While the UK legal limit for PM2.5 is an annual average concentration of 25 micrograms per metre cubed, WHO guideline limits are lower at 10 micrograms. There is thought to be no safe threshold below which there are no adverse effects. Advertisement

Four separate House of Commons committees have sought evidence on what can be done to tackle the problem.

Lillian Greenwood, chair of the Transport Select Committee, said: 'It's clear that action on air quality is needed now.

'Waiting for almost another decade for all parts of the UK to reach acceptable levels of air quality is a deeply disappointing prospect, and simply not good enough.'

Mary Creagh, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, added: 'The Government published its third air quality plan in July after its last two were ruled illegal by the courts.

'The Government now faces its third legal challenge and unprecedented scrutiny from this super inquiry. They must use every tool in the box to clean up Britain's polluted air.'

The British Lung Foundation warned in its evidence that the majority of face masks worn by people in cities do not protect them from pollution, while the Royal College of Physicians said no level of exposure to air pollution is safe.

The National Centre for Atmospheric Science warned particle filters for diesel engines, which cut pollution particulates, can increase nitrogen dioxide and called for taxi, lorry and bus fumes to be tackled too.

A Defra spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Air pollution has improved significantly since 2010, but we recognise there is more to do which is why we have put in place a GBP3 billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions.

'We will also end the sale of conventional new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040, and next year we will publish a comprehensive clean air strategy which will set out further steps to tackle air pollution.'

'We now have an opportunity to deliver a Green Brexit and improve environmental standards as we leave the EU.'
A new Facebook Messenger study has revealed that the rise of messaging apps has actually increased our communication with others rather than isolating us.

80 per cent of adults aged 19-64 and 91 per cent of teens aged 13-18 across the world message every day, and 66 per cent of people who message say they have more authentic conversations.

The study also found that 71 per cent of people have 'sidebar' conversations - secret chats we have on our phones while in meetings, at dinners or watching TV.

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A Facebook study found that 80% of adults and 91% of teens across the world message every day, and 66% of people who message say they have more authentic conversations.

And baby boomers aren't left out either - 77 per cent of people over the age of 55 use emoji to communicate while more than half (53 per cent) use GIFs.

December 3, 2017, marks the 25th anniversary of the first SMS text message ever sent by software engineer Neil Papworth.

Texting and messaging has come a long way since then as technology has changed, and now the art of conversation over text has evolved.

To learn more about how messaging has evolved and to understand if some commonly believed myths about messaging are true, Facebook Messenger - which has over 1.3 billion users - conducted a survey with people around the world and asked them for their opinions.

'Technology has opened up multiple pathways of dialogue, bridging divides of age, culture, and profession,' the survey explains.

This means that people can connect in ways that suit their lifestyle, despite challenges associated with time and geographical location.

EMOJI: A NEW VISUAL LANGUAGE According to a study by Facebook, the human brain connects images images to emotional experiences 60,000 times faster than we interpret a line of text. And human history has shown that images have been used to communicate: cavemen talked to spirits using burned stick to draw images on rock, and the Egyptians developed a language consisting of symbols with over 1,000 characters called hieroglyphs. And now, with the rise of scree-based communication, new vocabulary consisting of emoji, GIFs, and camera-based messaging has changed the way people communicate. Different countries have different preferences when it comes to visual messages Pressured by hurried schedules, we're looking for new creative outlets for unique connection, and inventing a new kind of cave art. The use of these visuals allows us to create a unique language that our friends will recognize and quickly translate into more complex conversations of subtext and shared experiences. And different countries have different preferences when it comes to visual messages, for example: Americans send more humorous GIFs than all other countries combined.

Germans send both the most 'angry' and the most 'bored' emoji

Brazilians are the most likely to use photos and GIFs as expressions of love Advertisement

I am more open in conversations than I was in the past. I like to be honest in my opinions, even if they're not ones people want to hear - Female, 25, Charlotte, North Carolina

'I much prefer to text, message or email instead of staying in touch on the phone' said a female survey respondent from Charleston, South Carolina.

'I wouldn't be in touch with people nearly as much if I didn't have text, email or messaging options.'

One of the findings was that there's been an increase in the amount of communication over the past two years over various channels.

There's been an increase in the amount of communication over the past two years over various channels, with the top five being messaging (67 per cent), social media (48 per cent), email (47 per cent), video chat (47 per cent) and face-to-face (38 per cent) communication

A new Facebook study has revealed that the diverse toolkit of communication channels has improved and deepened the way people connect with others. 80 per cent of adults aged 19-64 and 91 per cent of teens aged 13-18 across the world message every day

With the top five being messaging (67 per cent), social media (48 per cent), email (47 per cent), video chat (47 per cent) and face-to-face (38 per cent) communication.

Another key finding related to sidebar conversations - 62 per cent of those that sidebar message say that it makes them feel closer to friends, and 53 per cent who do say conversations are more intimate.

We wanted to tell each other that we loved each other the first time I met his parents during a family dinner, so we messaged each other - survey respondent from France

Commenting on a sidebar conversation she had, a survey responded from France said: 'We wanted to tell each other that we loved each other the first time I met his parents during a family dinner, so we messaged each other.'

These sidebar conversations occur mostly as social events and family gatherings, and millennials (82 per cent) and teens (79 per cent) are most likely to sidebar.

THE EVOLUTION OF MESSAGING: KEY FINDINGS Messaging is a core part of everyday life : 80 per cent of adults aged 19-64 and 91 per cent of teens aged 13-18 across the world message every day.

: 80 per cent of adults aged 19-64 and 91 per cent of teens aged 13-18 across the world message every day. Sidebar conversations strengthen relationships: 62 per cent of those that do sidebar message say that it makes them feel closer to friends

Emoji and GIFs are ageless and lead to 'great' conversations : 77 per cent of people over the age of 55 use emoji to communicate while more than half (53 per cent) use GIFs and people who frequently communicate with visuals have more 'great conversations.'

: 77 per cent of people over the age of 55 use emoji to communicate while more than half (53 per cent) use GIFs and people who frequently communicate with visuals have more 'great conversations.' Messaging replaces other communication channels Half of people surveyed say messaging has replaced other forms of communication.

Half of people surveyed say messaging has replaced other forms of communication. Face-to-Face conversations and increasing all over the world : People who message more are 52 per cent more likely to be also talking face-to-face more, as compared to someone who is not messaging more.

: People who message more are 52 per cent more likely to be also talking face-to-face more, as compared to someone who is not messaging more. Those that message have more authentic conversations : 66 per cent of people who message say they have more authentic conversations. Face-to-face conversations are increasing all over the world - but Brazil, France, Germany and the US have seen the highers increases Advertisement

Visual messaging is also increasing in prevalence - most people (57 per cent) have responded to a message with a GIF, while 56 per cent have sent a message using only emoji.

'Any deep conversations where words can be misconstrued,' said a male respondent from Detroit, Michigan.

People who frequently communicate with visuals have more 'great conversations' compared tho those who don't as often

'You need to see a visual, or things can get lost in translation.'

While a popular myth about increased smartphone communication is that they make us connect less with others, Facebook says that there may be a correlation between more messaging and greater in-person connections.

'The frequency of use of digital media completely changed my communication; surprisingly it greatly improved the quality of direct in person communication,' said a respondent from Brazil.

'The situations became clearer and improved the understanding of my relationships, including those at work.'

People who message more are 52 per cent more likely to also be talking face-to-face more, and face-to-face conversations are increasing all over the world, with Brazil, France, Germany and the US having seen the highest increases.

The study found that messaging removes filters, and people tend to be bolder, more impulsive and more honest when they communicate. 66 per cent of people say they have more authentic conversations, 61 per cent have more authentic relationships

Finally, the study found that messaging removes filters, and people tend to be bolder, more impulsive and more honest when they communicate.

66 per cent of people say they have more authentic conversations, 61 per cent have more authentic relationships.

And when it comes to dating apps, 34 per cent of people who started a conversation on a dating app continued their conversation through messaging, compared to a quarter of people (26 per cent) who continue conversations in person.
A newly discovered object from another star system that's passing through ours is shaped like a giant pink fire extinguisher, astronomers have revealed.

Astronomers who have been observing this first-ever confirmed interstellar visitor have named it Oumuamua, which in Hawaiian means a messenger from afar arriving first.

Scientists are certain this 600-foot-long, pale pink asteroid or comet originated outside our solar system.

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The comet, called C/2017 U1 was spotted by a telescope in Hawaii on 18 October, and was then seen 34 separate times in the week after. Its path is illustrated in NASA's animation, above

WHERE DID IT COME FROM? Most comets follow ellipse-shaped orbits around the sun. But this comet appears to orbit at an angle, and doesn't circle the sun. Its orbital path suggests it entered our solar system from the direction of the constellation Lyra, looped around the sun, and will never return. But others have suggested that the comet did come from Earth, but interacted with Jupiter or another planet, which changed its orbit. Advertisement

'I'm surprised by the elongated shape - nobody expected that,' said astronomer David Jewitt of the University of California, Los Angeles, who led the observation team that reported on the characteristics.

Scientists are certain this asteroid or comet originated outside our solar system.

First spotted last month by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, it will stick around for another few years before departing our sun's neighborhood.

Jewitt and his international team observed the object for five nights in late October using the Nordic Optical Telescope in the Canary Islands and the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.

At approximately 100 feet by 100 feet by 600 feet (30 meters buy 30 meters by 180 meters), the object has proportions roughly similar to a fire extinguisher  though not nearly as red, Jewitt said Thursday.

The slightly red hue  specifically pale pink  and varying brightness are remarkably similar to asteroids in our own solar system, he noted.

Astronomer Jayadev Rajagopal said in an email that it was exciting to point the Arizona telescope at such a tiny object 'which, for all we know, has been traveling through the vast emptiness of space for millions of years.'

'And then by luck passes close enough for me to be able to see it that night!'

The object is so faint and so fast  it's zooming through the solar system at 40,000 mph (64,000 kph)  it's unlikely amateur astronomers will see it.

In a paper to the Astrophysical Journal Letters, the scientists report that our solar system could be packed with 10,000 such interstellar travelers at any given time. It takes 10 years to cross our solar system, providing plenty of future viewing opportunities, the scientists said.

Trillions of objects from other star systems could have passed our way over the eons, according to Jewitt.

It suggests our solar system ejected its own share of asteroids and comets as the large outer planets  Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune  formed.

Why did it take so long to nail the first interstellar wanderer?

'Space is big and our eyes are weak,' Jewitt explained via email.

First spotted last month, it will stick around for another few years before departing our sun's neighborhood.

The International Astronomical Union, meanwhile, has approved a new designation for cosmic interlopers like this one.

They get an 'I' for interstellar in their string of letters and numbers.

The group has also approved a name for this object: Oumuamua, which in Hawaiian means a messenger from afar arriving first.

The comet, called C/2017 U1 was spotted by a telescope in Hawaii on 18 October, and was then seen 34 separate times in the week after.

While most comets follow ellipse-shaped orbits around the sun, this comet appears to orbit at an angle, and doesn't circle the sun.

Its orbital path suggests it entered our solar system from the direction of the constellation Lyra, looped around the sun, and will never return.

Rob Weryk, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy (IfA), was first to identify the moving object and submit it to the Minor Planet Center.

Weryk subsequently searched the Pan-STARRS image archive and found it also was in images taken the previous night, but was not initially identified by the moving object processing.

Weryk immediately realized this was an unusual object. 'Its motion could not be explained using either a normal solar system asteroid or comet orbit,' he said.

Previously known as C/2017 U1 (PANSTARRS) and A/2017 U1, approaching from above, it was closest to the Sun on 9 September. Traveling at 44 kilometres per second, the comet is headed away from the Earth and Sun on its way out of the solar system.

Weryk contacted IfA graduate Marco Micheli, who had the same realization using his own follow-up images taken at the European Space Agency's telescope on Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

But with the combined data, everything made sense. Said Weryk, 'This object came from outside our solar system.'

'This is the most extreme orbit I have ever seen,' said Davide Farnocchia, a scientist at NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

'It is going extremely fast and on such a trajectory that we can say with confidence that this object is on its way out of the solar system and not coming back.'

While comets regularly fly through our solar system, scientists believe they may have spotted a comet from another solar system passing by our planet for the first time (artist's impression)

The CNEOS team plotted the object's current trajectory and even looked into its future.

A/2017 U1 came from the direction of the constellation Lyra, cruising through interstellar space at a brisk clip of 15.8 miles (25.5 kilometers) per second.

Observations published by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Centre (MPC) suggest the comet likely escaped the orbit of another star.

The MPC said: 'Unless there are serious problems with much of the astrometry listed below, strongly hyperbolic orbits are the only viable solutions.

'If further observations confirm the unusual nature of this orbit, this object may be the first clear case of an interstellar comet.'

But not everyone is convinced that the comet comes from another solar system.

Dr Maria Womack, a planetary scientist at the University of South Florida said: 'It could have interacted with Jupiter or another planet in such a way that changed its orbit.

'When you think of photos of comets, they're a fuzzy blob. People have to make determinations of where they think the centre is.

'Someone who is at the telescope has to make a call.'

Astronomers now hope to continue tracking the comet to learn more about its origin.
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An unusual pond at the base of the Transantarctic Mountains could reveal what water looks like on Mars.

Don Juan Pond is said to be one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth, with a syrupy brine made up of calcium chloride.

While scientists have previously hypothesized that it is fed by moisture trickling down from the surrounding valley slopes, a new study suggests it may instead be fueled by a groundwater system deep beneath the surface.

As features similar to those observed above Don Juan Pond have been observed on Mars steep slopes, the experts say the red planet may also be home to a groundwater system.

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While scientists have previously hypothesized that it is fed by moisture trickling down from the surrounding valley slopes, a new study suggests it may instead be fueled by a groundwater system deep beneath the surface

MARTIAN BRINE Martian soil is damp with liquid brine due to the presence of perchlorate solutions, that significantly lower the freezing point of water. Measurements from the Mars Curiosity rover taken at the Gale crater show during winter nights until just after sunrise, temperatures and humidity levels are just right for liquid brine to form. When mixed with it water, this brine can exist down to around -70C (-94F), and the salt also soaks up water vapour from the atmosphere. The research team used both lab tests and computer modelling to refine and analyse the structure of their 'Martian water' brine substitute. Observations showed charged hydrogen ions become partially segregated in the salty solution. It is likely that this is what stops the water from freezing. Advertisement

The salty water of Don Juan Pond can remain liquid up to -50 degrees Celsius, as the briny mixture lowers its freezing point, the researchers say.

It measures roughly 100 by 300 meters, and is about 10 centimetres (4 inches) deep on average.

Don Juan Pond is probably one of the most interesting ponds on Earth, said lead author Jonathan Toner, a University of Washington research assistant professor in Earth and Space sciences.

After 60 years of extensive study, we still dont really know exactly where its coming from. What drives the fact that its visible on the surface, and how its changing.

In the new study, the researcher created a model to show how the salty water changes across different conditions, including evaporation, freezing, and with different levels water and salt inputs.

He then simulated two situations.

In one, the water was coming from beneath, while the other relied on water trickling down from near-surface seeps.

And, this revealed the unusual chemistry seen at Don Juan Pond could only be possible if the source is deep underground.

You couldnt get Don Juan Pond from these shallow groundwater, Toner said.

Its definitely coming from the deep groundwater.

Don Juan Pond is probably one of the most interesting ponds on Earth, said lead author Jonathan Toner, a University of Washington research assistant professor in Earth and Space sciences. It can be seen in the image above, slightly to the left of center

According to the team, the conditions in this area are the closest analogue to the Martian environment on Earth.

Antarcticas McMurdo Dry Valleys are among the coldest and driest places on Earth.

With a salinity level over 40 percent, Don Juan is significantly saltier than most of the other hypersaline lakes around the world.

The Dead Sea has a salinity of 34 percent; the Great Salt Lake varies between 5 and 27 percent. Earths oceans have an average salinity of 3.5 percent.

Researchers will explore the Antarctic pond and the surrounding areas in December, as part of a mission sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation

The salty water of Don Juan Pond can remain liquid up to -50 degrees Celsius, as the briny mixture lowers its freezing point, the researchers say. It measures roughly 100 by 300 meters, and is about 10 centimetres (4 inches) deep on average

This means understanding the Don Juan Ponds hydrology could provide key insight to water on Mars.

If there is water on Mars, its probably going to look a lot like this pond, Toner said.

Understanding how it formed has large implications for where you would expect to find similar environment on Mars.

Researchers will explore the Antarctic pond and the surrounding areas in December, as part of a mission sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

As features similar to those observed above Don Juan Pond have been observed on Mars steep slopes, the experts say the red planet may also be home to a groundwater system. An image fro Curiosity rover's mastcam is pictured

MARS: A WET PLANET Evidence of water on Mars dates back to the Mariner 9 mission, which arrived in 1971. It revealed clues of water erosion in river beds and canyons as well as weather fronts and fogs. Viking orbiters that followed caused a revolution in our ideas about water on Mars by showing how floods broke through dams and carved deep valleys. Mars is currently in the middle of an ice age, and scientists previously believed liquid water could not exist on its surface. Nasa recently confirmed it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars by studying marks lefts in gullies on the planet. The marks, or seasonal flows, were spotted in 2011 in Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter images and were later found to lengthen and darken on rocky slopes from late spring to early autumn (as seen in this animation) MY 29 and MY 30 stand for Mars year 29 and 30 and refer to 2008 until April 2011 In June 2013, Curiosity found powerful evidence that water good enough to drink once flowed on Mars. In September of the same year, the first scoop of soil analysed by Curiosity revealed that fine materials on the surface of the planet contain two per cent water by weight. Last month, scientists provided the best estimates for water on Mars, claiming it once had more liquid H2O than the Arctic Ocean, and the planet kept these oceans for more than 1.5 billion years. The findings suggest there was ample time and water for life on Mars to thrive, but over the last 3.7 billion years the red planet has lost 87 per cent of its water, leaving it barren and dry. An image from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveals a glimpse at the red planets watery past. The photo released by NASA this week shows a view of the Holden Crater in southern Margaritifer Terra, with finely layered deposits sweeping across the floor in strips of white and purple Advertisement

The team will camp nearby for six weeks, and measure the chemicals of the lake and the moisture seeps.

If we accept that the deep groundwater theory is true, then what were seeing could be part of a bigger process that involves quite an extensive aquifer, Toner said.

When thinking about the implications for a similar environment on Mars, thats much more exciting than just a localized surface phenomenon.
As our boat made its leisurely progress up the Rhine, I was on deck, reading a book that recounts many of the legends surrounding the 765-mile river.

Entering the spectacular Rhine Gorge, which is dotted with fairytale castles (24 overlook the river), I read the tale of Lorelei, a beautiful maiden who drowned for love and became a mermaid.

Folklore says her seductive songs lure boatmen to their deaths. As we sailed past her statue, I heard the strains of a far-off lullaby. Was it Lorelei enticing our love-struck captain, and his 170 passengers, to a watery grave? No  it was a group of middle-aged Australian women singing loudly in the bar below.

A floating home from home: Andrew sailed on the comfortable Travelmarvel Diamond

We were a few days into our week-long cruise on the Travelmarvel Diamond river cruiser  part of the Australian-owned APT Travel Group  which began on the Rhine in Amsterdam and would end on the River Main in Nuremberg.

On day four, we disembarked at Rudesheim, in the heart of the Rheingau wine-growing region, having sampled its signature Riesling  hence the raucous singing of Waltzing Matilda from below.

I took a chairlift ride high over the vineyards to see the Niederwald Monument, built in the 1870s to mark Germany's (first) unification. The views were spectacular. Below, Rudesheim's cobbled streets bustled with tourists, its all-year Christmas shops packed to the rafters.

As freight trains hurtled past us in Rudesheim, I noticed turrets at the mouths of tunnels. They were built to confuse the Allied bombers who'd agreed to avoid destroying heritage sites.

Idyllic: The hilly town of Bamberg has one of Germany's best-preserved medieval centres

In Cologne, some 90 per cent of the centre was destroyed, but the magnificent gothic Roman Catholic cathedral escaped virtually intact.

It has a huge shrine to the Three Wise Men, or the Magi, who visited the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, and is said to contain their bones. Pilgrims visit from all over the world. I'd never considered Germany for a holiday before.

But the castles, countryside, rivers and wine make it astonishingly pleasing. Everyone speaks English, it's easy to get to and, if you like Lederhosen, it's paradise.

One of my favourite outings was to the hilly town of Bamberg. It is one of Germany's best-preserved medieval centres, dominated by Michaelsberg Abbey and Altenburg castle. Aircraft designer Willy Messerschmitt persuaded the Nazis not to turn the town he grew up in into a fortress  to spare it from being bombed.

There are also nine breweries for beer fans. I managed six.

Lunch and dinner can be testing. I think a couple asked to be moved when they saw me heading their way. I'm sure they didn't like me when they learnt I voted for Brexit.

The trip ended in Nuremberg with a tour of the remains of the auditorium where Hitler addressed the party faithful in the Thirties. It was chilling and fascinating in equal measure.

This was my second river cruise. I like the idea of a floating home for a week, waking each day in a new place, but with no suitcases to move.

There are other advantages, too - I've learnt the words to Waltzing Matilda, courtesy of those noisy Australian ladies.
My Montenegro guide was animated. 'You should have been here when this was part of Yugoslavia. It was a fine country and tourists loved it,' he said.

There's a word for those who share his view.

They are 'Yugonostalgics', and they remember Josip Broz Tito as a great leader, who ruled the country with a benevolent air and a successful public relations campaign.

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Truly delightful: Montenegro enchants the camera on the calm waters of Kotor Bay

'I, too, remember Yugoslavia,' I told him, without elaborating.

My memories of pre-1980 Yugoslavia run more along the lines of cheap and nasty, concrete-clad, mass-market hotels aimed at Eastern Bloc tourists, unimaginative food and undrinkable wine.

There was bog-standard nightlife and exotic foreign luxuries, such as fiery slivovitz plum brandy, which gave you the mother of all hangovers; and Yugo cars for taxis, which made East Germany's Trabants seem like Ferraris.

It's different now, as each of the former Yugoslav states strive to come up with new and inventive ways to attract tourists.

Montenegro is right up there, with a curious mix of flashy superyacht marinas and glitzy hotels, combined with cheap-as-chips seaside resorts.

The marina complex of Portonovi, on a 60-acre site on Boka Bay between Dubrovnik, in Croatia, and the Montenegrin coastal town of Tivat, might just be the glitziest of them all when it opens next year.

Look out for luxurious apartments, available for both sale and rent, as well as a yacht club, spa and a new One&Only resort hotel, the first in Europe.

An emblem of luxury: The gilded Sveti Stefan resort sits on a small promontory of its own

At the other end of the scale is Ribarsko Selo, a rustic fish restaurant with just a handful of guest rooms, tucked away on the Lustica Peninsula between Miriste and Zanjice beach, where a bottle of the local Savina white wine costs 15 (13).

Those in the know book the restaurant's solitary harbourside apartment, with its own small pool, said to be a favourite with visiting oligarchs in need of privacy. At just 150 (133) a night for two, it's a bargain.

But there is also much in between these extremes in Montenegro, which borders Bosnia and Herzegovina to the north-west, Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south-east.

Its 620,000 people are fiercely proud of the independence they gained following the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992, when the country became Serbia and Montenegro.

After a referendum in 2006, Montenegro declared itself independent. The town of Budva, for example, once with a whiff of mass-market Spanish Costas about it, is now filled with atmospheric bars and restaurants in the shadow of the ramparts, and there's a superb crescent-shaped beach, too.

Even more spectacular is Kotor, with its high city walls, tiny alleys, churches and Italianate mansions, all a reminder of Montenegro's Venetian heritage.

Visit in the early evening, after the cruise ships have rounded up their passengers, order a glass of something at an outside cafe, and bask in its beauty.

For real luxury, try the island of Sveti Stefan, once home to fishermen, whose atmospheric houses now serve as guest rooms for the Aman Sveti Stefan hotel, reached by a pedestrian causeway.

Away from the world: Some sections of the coast, like the village of Lepetane, have a quiet feel

Following local advice, I check out the resort of Herceg Novi, just along the coast, where the modern beach-side Palmon Bay Hotel and Spa provides a good base from which to explore the coast and the black mountains.

Service is slickly efficient  not always the case in this part of the world  and rooms are excellent, if a touch clinical.

Heaven knows where Montenegro is heading. I sense that it doesn't know the answer to that itself. For the rest of us, there's a lot to be said for visiting a place that's in such dramatic transition.
Reese Witherspoon was spotted indulging herself at the Cupcake ATM outside Sprinkles Ice Cream in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, but it was all for the cameras.

The 41-year-old Oscar winner was reportedly just filming an advertisement for her good friend Candace Nelson, who opened the bakery with husband Charles back in 2005.

Five years ago, the investment banker couple debuted the world's first cupcake ATM at the Beverly Hills location, which dispenses freshly baked goodies 24/7.

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Action! Reese Witherspoon was spotted indulging herself at the Cupcake ATM outside Sprinkles Ice Cream in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, but it was all for the cameras

The Draper James founder - who relies on stylist Leslie Fremar - was wearing a cabernet-colored blouse as she flaunted her figure into black skinny jeans and matching booties.

43-year-old Candace even included a recipe for Witherspoon's Grandma Draper Praline Cake in The Sprinkles Baking Book, which was published a year ago.

'What's better than a Sprinkles cupcake? Ummm...nothing!' the Home Again actress endorsed on the back of the pastry chef's book.

'Those yummy treats have been a celebratory tradition in my family for many years.'

Sugar fix: The 41-year-old Oscar winner showed off her curves in a pair of skinny jeans and a buttoned-up blouse as she excitedly snapped up a cupcake

Instant gratification: Five years ago, the investment banker couple debuted the world's first cupcake ATM at the Beverly Hills location, which dispenses freshly baked goodies 24/7

Casual: The Draper James founder - who relies on stylist Leslie Fremar - was wearing a cabernet-colored blouse tucked into black skinny jeans and matching booties

Gal pals: 43-year-old Candace (L) even included a recipe for Witherspoon's Grandma Draper Praline Cake in The Sprinkles Baking Book, which was published a year ago

On Tuesday, Reese announced she'll produce A White Lie, Monica Beletsky's big-screen adaptation of Karin Tanabe's 2016 novel The Gilded Years about Anita Hemmings (played by Zandaya).

'You are both incredible forces and I'm so honored to be working with y'all!' the Louisiana-born blonde - who boasts 14.1M social media followers - tweeted.

According to Deadline, the psychological thriller centers on the the first African-American woman (passing as white) to graduate Vassar College in 1897.

As for the second season of Big Little Lies, Nicole Kidman told Yahoo on Friday that 'fingers crossed' they'll be back 'in production the beginning of next year.'

'So honored to be working with y'all!' On Tuesday, Reese announced she'll produce A White Lie, Monica Beletsky's (R) big-screen adaptation of Karin Tanabe's 2016 novel The Gilded Years about Anita Hemmings (played by Zandaya, L)

Next gig: According to Deadline, the psychological thriller centers on the the first African-American woman (passing as white) to graduate Vassar College in 1897

The Sing star - who plays Madeline Martha Mackenzie - took home Emmy gold for executive-producing the HBO hit, which scored eight total trophies including outstanding limited series.

Witherspoon will also join Jennifer Aniston in producing and starring in a 2018 Apple series based on Brian Stelter's 2013 book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.

Reese is the proud parent of daughter Ava, 18; and son Deacon, 14 (with first husband Ryan Phillippe); as well as son Tennessee, 5 (with second husband Jim Toth).

Curiously, the 43-year-old Cruel Intentions alum was spotted doing the 'walk of shame' out of 25-year-old pop star Demi Lovato's home last Halloween night.

More Celeste! As for Big Little Lies season two, Nicole Kidman told Yahoo on Friday that 'fingers crossed' they'll be back 'in production the beginning of next year' (pictured Monday)
It's one of the most haunting true crime stories of the last 25 years - and it's coming to the small screen.

Edgar Ramirez on Wednesday was snapped on the Miami Beach, Florida set of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, all made up as the felled fashion designer.

Makeup artists on the set of Ryan Murphy's upcoming FX miniseries, outside of Versace's mansion, transformed the San Cristobal, Venezuela native, 40, into a doppelganger of the designer.

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Recreating tragedy: Edgar Ramirez, 40, (L) and Darren Criss, 30, (R) were snapped filming The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story in Miami on Wednesday

Ramirez had wavy white locks slicked back with a black T-shirt tucked into white shorts with a black belt and sandals outside of the sprawling waterfront property.

Versace was fatally shot in front of the mansion - which has since been converted into a luxury hotel called The Villa Casa Casuarina - on July 15, 1997.

He was murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, who's played by Darren Criss in the highly-anticipated mini-series. Criss, 30, was snapped in one sequence brandishing a gun in a presumed recreation of the slaughter.

Criss wore an ash grey T-shirt, denim blue cargo shorts with striped socks and grey and white sneakers. The actor rounded things out with a blush ball-cap with eyeglasses.

Tense: Criss aimed a gun as cameras rolled on the set of the FX mini-series

Under pressure: Edgar conveyed a sense of stress as he played the famed designer

In-between takes: Makeup artists primped Ramirez to resemble the designer

He's been transformed by makeup artists on the set into Cunanan, who murdered five men in a three-month span, with the FBI listing him as one of their Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.

After killing Versace, Cunanan used the same weapon to commit suicide eight days later as he was on the lam in a nearby house boat.

Criss took to Twitter on Tuesday with a preview of the miniseries, writing: 'It's been a crazy 8 months. To celebrate our final week of shooting, I give you the first trailer for #ACSVersace.'

Wrapping up: Criss shared a preview of the mini-series via Twitter on Tuesday

Change of pace: Criss plays serial killer Andrew Cunanan in the upcoming mini-series

In the thick of things: The performers prepped for a key scene in the production

In a chilling voice-over in the sneak peek, Criss says as Cunanan, 'This world is wasted on me. Yet this world also made you, Versace, into a star. Youre not better than me; were the same. The only difference is that you got lucky.'

The series, which is based on Maureen Orth's 1999 book Vulgar Favors, also features Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace, Ricky Martin as the designer's partner Antonio DAmico.

True crime: The Versace murder mini-series comes more than a year after Ryan Murphy scored critical acclaim with The People v. O.J. Simpson

Stressful: The strain was evident on Edgar's face in the filming of the scene
Angelina Jolie gave an impassioned keynote speech on Wednesday at the United Nations Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial conference in Vancouver, in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

The 42-year-old - who is a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - spoke about preventing sexual violence in armed conflict at the event.

In her powerful speech, the activist for the rights of women and refugees touched up current conflicts around the world, while also indirectly addressing the recent stream of sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood.

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Powerful: Angelina Jolie gave an impassioned Keynote speech on Wednesday at the United Nations Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial conference in Vancouver , in the Canadian province of British Columbia

She shared from the podium: 'We have to ask, how is it, after all these years, all these laws and resolutions and all the horrors endured, women still have to ask for this most basic of all entitlements: the right to a life free from violence?

'Sexual violence is everywhere  in the industry where I work, in business, in universities, in politics, in the military, and across the world. It affects men as well as women.

Adding: 'However it is recognized by the UN one of the prime reasons why women remain in a subordinate position in relation to men in most parts of the world, and as a critical obstacle to achieving women's equality and our full human rights.'

The philanthropist recently opened up to the New York Times about her experience with disgraced US producer Harvey Weinstein and described the encounter as a 'bad experience' which left her refusing to work with him.

In good company: The 42-year-old - who is a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - spoke about preventing sexual violence in armed conflict at the event (Pictured with Canadian Defense Minister Sajjan, the first Sikh to hold the post)

Passionate: In her powerful speech, the activist for the rights of women and refugees touched up current conflicts around the world, while also indirectly addressing the recent stream of sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood

Reference: The philanthropist recently opened up to the New York Times about her experience with disgraced US producer Harvey Weinstein and described the encounter as a 'bad experience' which left her refusing to work with him

Appearing to reference her past with the discredited movie mogul, Angelina explained that unfortunately crimes of sexual violence against women are often 'laughed off'.

'The first myth is that this behavior is sexual,' she said. 'All too often these kinds of crimes against women are laughed off, depicted as a minor offense by someone who cannot control themselves, as an illness, or as some kind of exaggerated sexual need.

'But a man who mistreats women is not oversexed. He is abusive.'

Arriving to the summit, the beautiful brunette looked elegant in a cream dress with a deep cowl neckline and pencil skirt that she teamed with cream high heels.

Standing together: Angeiina joined some 80 delegates at the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial conference in Vancouver

In conversation: She chatted with Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, 47, in front of a UN poster

The Maleficent actress styled her long, thick brunette tresses to cascade over her shoulders and frame her perfectly made-up face.

Angelina chatted with Canada's Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, 47, the first Sikh to hold the post.

Then they joined the representatives of 80 countries at the conference for a group photo.

Angelina was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador at the body's headquarters in Geneva, switzerland, on August 27, 2001.

United: The pair shook hands on their ahead of the summit

Sophisticated style: The beautiful brunette looked elegant in a cream dress with a deep cowl neckline

Strong: Angelina gave an impassioned speech

On April 17, 2012, after more than a decade of service, she was was promoted to the rank of Special Envoy to the High Commissioner.

Brad Pitt's estranged wife has made dozens of trips to areas in need in Africa, both as an actress and as a Special Envoy.

They adopted three of their six children from the continent: Maddox, 16, from Cambodia; Pax, 13, from Vietnam; and Zahara, 12, from Ethiopia.

They also have three of their own children, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
She famously played scheming Cindy Beale in EastEnders, with her soap character being embroiled in an affair and an attempted murder enquiry, after plotting to kill her husband Ian.

And experiencing her own blast from the past on Wednesday night, Michelle Collins reunited with her former EastEnders co-star Adam Woodyatt, as she launched her new skin care company, Pellum Vero at Champneys Tring in Hertfordshire.

The actress, 58, was seen putting on a playful display with soap stalwart Adam, most famously known for his role as Ian Beale on EastEnders, proving that the dispute between their onscreen characters, which led to her plotting to kill him, over 10 years ago has been well and truly forgotten.

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All been forgiven? Michelle Collins and Adam Woodyatt enjoyed a reunion as she launched her new skin care company, Pellum Vero at Champneys Tring in Hertfordshire on Wednesday

Michelle's character Cindy had joined the BBC soap in 1988 and viewers saw her tumultuous relationship with Ian, plagued by infidelity, play out on screen.

Things came to a head when Cindy hired a hitman to kill Ian in October 1996, after he vowed to take her to court to gain custody of their children having uncovered her affair with David Wicks.

Despite Cindy changing her mind, she was too late and Ian, having been shot, collapsed in front of her in a pool of blood. She had fled Albert Square, fearful that she would be arrested for attempted murder, but soon found herself charged with the crime on her return to Walford, after Ian persuaded the hitman to come clean to the police about Cindy's involvement.

Blast from the past: Michelle had played Adam's ex-wife Cindy Beale on EastEnders in the '90s and had plotted to kill Ian in 1996, after he vowed to take her to court to gain custody of their children

Water under the bridge: Despite their onscreen disputes and tension, the actors proved that they were nothing but close away from the cameras as they enjoyed a reunion

But while their relationship onscreen was less than amicable, Michelle and Adam proved that the tensions between their soap characters is a far cry from the close bond they share as friends off camera.

Michelle had joined Albert Square as Cindy and found herself in a number of major storylines, including her affair with Simon Wicks and lying to Ian about being the father of her son Steven, when he was actually Simon's child.

News of Steven's biological father finally came to light sparking a feud between Ian and Simon, leading to Ian attempting to commit suicide and Cindy leaving Walford with Simon and their son.

She later returned to Walford and reconciled her relationship with Ian, before falling pregnant with his twin children Lucy and Peter Beale. Married life, however, took its toll on Cindy and she went on to have two affairs, including one with David Wicks who she was seeing for a year behind Ian's back.

Drama: Michelle had joined Albert Square as Cindy and found herself in a number of major storylines, including her affair with Simon Wicks and lying to Ian about being the father of her son Steven

Trouble: Steven was actually Simon's child and when news of his biological father finally came to light it sparked a feud between Ian and Simon, leading to Ian attempting to commit suicide

Uncovering their affair, Ian vowed to take Cindy to court to win custody of their children but she retaliated by plotting his murder. Initially avoiding questioning by the police, she fled Walford with her sons and without her daughter Lucy, before being hunted down by Ian and Phil and Grant Mitchell.

She had followed Ian back to Walford and took him to court, winning her case for custody of their children, but found herself ending up in prison, as she finally got her comeuppance for attempting to kill Ian. She had been pregnant with her new boyfriend Nick's baby, but later died in childbirth while in prison.

Meanwhile, showing his support for Michelle, Adam had joined her at her skin care launch and the duo happily cuddled up for photographers inside the bash, as they enjoyed a reunion.

Volatile: Reconciling with Ian, Cindy went on to have two affairs, with Ian uncovering her affair with David Wicks - he vowed to take Cindy to court to win custody of their children and she retaliated by hiring a hitman to kill him

Michelle showed off her incredible figure in a clingy black gown with an asymmetric neckline. A subtle thigh-high split made the most of Michelle's legs and she set off her look with a simple black pair of heels.

Michelle's one shoulder dress was cinched in at the waist with a studded belt, making the most of her slender figure.

Clad in a white shirt and tweed waistcoat, Adam, meanwhile, cut a dapper figure as he larked about with Michelle. The pair put on a playful display together, joking around together as they posed for snaps with one another.

New venture: Michelle Collins couldn't hide her delight as she hosted the launch for her new skin care company, Pellum Vero

Leggy lady: Michelle showed off her slender legs in a thigh-split gown

Joking: The pair put on a playful display together, joking around together at the event

Partying in style: Michelle and Adam were in great spirits as they joked around

Michelle recently hit the headlines for speaking out against 'silver spoon' stars.

The acting talent, who was born to a working class family, believes they are in danger of usurping roles from 'ordinary' youngsters, without the same connections and education to help them get ahead.

Earlier this year, the star warned MPs as part of a Commons inquiry that the landscape of British drama could be forever changed unless action is taken.

The Sun reports that Michelle said: 'It seems to be getting increasingly hard for people who have no ins or friends or family in the TV world.

Former flames: The duo's EastEnders alter-egos had a tumultuous romance

Posing in style: Michelle draped herself over a piano, showcasing her incredible figure

Strike a pose: A subtle thigh-high split made the most of Michelle's legs and she set off her look with a simple black pair of heels

'If you are connected in some way you will get an internship, traineeship or something similar but if you are just a working class kid from an ordinary background really what chance have you got?'

'How do you even know how or where to apply if no one helps you. We need to help young people from less well-off backgrounds and give them more opportunities otherwise we will only have one type in the TV world  privileged , silver spoon types or ex Eton posh boys or girls.'

Michelle - who did not point the finger at any actor in particular - was no doubt referencing the abundance of Eton-educated talent like Eddie Redmanyne, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston.

Glamorous: Michelle's one shoulder dress was cinched in at the waist with a studded belt, making the most of her slender figure

Group shot: Mike Davison and Beverley Sharp also showed their support

A far cry from Walford: Adam was dressed to impress in a tweed waistcoat

The TV personality trained at the Royal Court Activists and Cockpit Youth Theatre from the age of 14, before heading on to Kingsway Princeton College to study drama at O/A level.

She appeared in a number of small TV roles before securing her big break on EastEnders in 1988, landing the part of show regular Cindy.

Michelle went on to play Rovers Return landlady Stella Price in rival soap Coronation Street from 2011 to 2014.
David Campbell has hit out at American comedian and TV star Jimmy Fallon.

In a spirited message, David unleashed on Jimmy after he slammed his father Jimmy Barnes' new track with Kirin J. Callinan, called Big Enough, on The Tonight Show.

The song also features Alex Cameron and Molly Lewis, while Jimmy Barnes can be heard unleashing his trademark scream on the track, which Fallon said is firmly on his 'Do Not Play' list.

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'He's a national icon': David Campbell (pictured left) demands Jimmy Fallon apologise to his father Jimmy Barnes after the comedian slammed his new track

'Hey Jimmy Fallon, big fan here,' David began as he hosted Today Extra.

'I just want to clear up that that scream, was my old man, his name is Jimmy Barnes, he's a national icon.'

'I mean, you may as well have gone after the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or lamingtons, or Ferry McFerryface. Do you know how many babies have been made to my dad screaming over a loudspeaker? Three quarters of the entire population of Brisbane, my yanky friend.'

Not a fan: In a spirited message, David unleashed on Jimmy Fallon (pictured) after the comedian slammed his father Jimmy Barne' new track with Kirin J Callinan

Using his voice: Jimmy Barnes is pictured singing in the film clip for Kirin J. Callinan's new song

He then said he wants Fallon to apologise to his father - and to Australia.

'So I think you owe us, the Australian people, my father, Barnesy, a heartfelt apology. And before you think you're better of us here in Australia. We didn't elect a Trump. To you, Fallon!'

He added: 'He's taken on an icon, you can't do that.'

Jimmy Barnes, 61, is known for tracks including Working Class Man and Stone Cold, as well as fronting Cold Chisel.

Kirin also shared a scathing statement aimed at Fallon.

'Show some dog gamn (sic) respect,' he wrote on Instagram.

Defending him: David said he wants Fallon to apologise to his father - and to Australia

'Whilst it might be fun to sit on your TV throne in the land o (sic) make believe n (sic) believe u (sic) can blittle (sic) the little fella; truth is youve less made a mockery of me, more shown your inexcusable ignorance and in the process, insulted a nation.'

He added: 'This wont be the last you hear from the unrelenting blizzard that is the ice cold wrath o (sic) the land Down Under,' he said.

Jimmy Barnes meanwhile added on Twitter: 'I'm with you Kirin. I think you are a very talented young man. Tell Jimmy if hes not careful we will move next door to him.'
She's been struggling in recent months, splitting from boyfriend Pete Wicks and quitting The Only Way Is Essex.

And Megan McKenna was cheering herself up with a swanky dinner at Nobu Berkeley in London on Wednesday night, dressing to impress in a stylish red jacket.

The former TOWIE star showed off her long legs in a pair of suede thigh-high boots and a glamorous minidress.

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Red hot: Megan McKenna was cheering herself up with a swanky dinner at Nobu Berkeley in London on Wednesday night, dressing to impress in a stylish red jacket

Megan added a fashionable twist to her attire with a smart baker boy cap and toted a matching clutch bag.

The Essex girl wore her long brunette locks swept to one side, tied in a loose ponytail.

The reality star recently shared a playful video of herself being 'chomped on' by a horse - before she embarked on a vitamin B12 injection, in a bid to feel 'fit and healthy' once again.

Scarlet siren: Megan added a fashionable twist to her attire with a smart baker boy cap and toted a matching clutch bag

Glamorous: The Essex girl wore her long brunette locks swept to one side, tied in a loose ponytail

Looking good: The former TOWIE star showed off her long legs in a pair of suede thigh-high boots and a glamorous minidress

Bad to worse: Megan McKenna documented her day of misfortune on Instagram on Wednesday - first sharing a funny video of herself being 'chomped on' by a horse

Megan first shared a clip from her country-themed 2018 calendar shoot, which saw her smoulder for cameras as she posed in a field, beside a white horse.

However, the shot soon went slightly awry for Megan when the steed began to nuzzle and bite on her shoulder - disturbing the shot, and causing the brunette to jump.

With her day only going from bad to worse however, Megan then revealed to Instagram followers she was feeling under the weather by embarking on a vitamin IV injection.

Boost: The reality star, 25, then embarked on a vitamin B12 injection, in a bid to feel 'fit and healthy' once again

The brunette, clad in a casual T-shirt and cap, showed off her trademark Essex bronzed tan as she received a dose of vitamin B12 through an IV drip.

She captioned the shot: 'Pre tour making sure Im fit and healthy! In for my 2nd B12.... 2 down another 2 to go @natashalucyclinics'

It is not the first time Megan has undergone the treatment, having documented her first injection on social media last week.

Stop horsing around! Megan first shared a clip from her 2018 calendar shoot - which soon went awry when the horse she was shooting with began to bite on her shoulder

B12 injections are commonly used to treat exhaustion and boost energy levels - with the vitamin aiding health of the heart and digestive systems, as well as aiding weight loss.

Megan has endured a turbulent time in her personal life recently - having split from her boyfriend Pete Wicks, resulting in a subsequent feud with ex TOWIE co-star Chloe Sims.

The pair first began to feud due to Chloe's close friendship with Pete and tendency to offer advice to the hunk about their relationship.

However, after Megan and Pete's split earlier this year, Chloe was quick to slam her rival in her weekly Star magazine column.

At war: Megan recently became embroiled in a feud with TOWIE's Chloe Sims (R) - who claimed the singer had 'no friends left' after leaving the reality show

She wrote last month: 'Megan has left TOWIE to focus on her singing, but she burnt a lot of bridges after splitting up with Pete and wasnt left with many friends on the cast.

'Its a cowardly thing to do because she should have seen the series out and tried to make amends so she could leave on a more positive note.'

She finished the post by adding brutally: 'Its safe to say she wont be missed.'

Pete and Megan had only reconciled in July after splitting for the first time at the beginning of the year.

However, since ending things with Pete, Megan has been spotted leaving her Essex home with rumoured new beau Harry Eden.
She announced her footwear collaboration with Aquazzura in September.

And Claudia Schiffer, 47, looked in good spirits as she attended the launch of her line in London's Mayfair on Wednesday.

The German supermodel, made the most of her youthful looks, slipping on a studded LBD for the occasion.

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Turning heads! Claudia Schiffer, 47, looked in good spirits as she attended the launch of her line in London's Mayfair on Wednesday

Making the most of her endless legs, Claudia opted for the thigh-skimming textured frock, embellished with studs, making the most of her slender midriff.

Shielding her pins against the frosty climate, she added a pair of woolly tights and boots to the ensemble, accessorising with coral nails and a golden clutch.

And the star proved her model statistics, showing off her incredibly flawless complexion under minimal make-up, her blue eyes framed with lashings of mascara.

She appeared in good spirits as she arrived at her bash, keen to celebrate her new range.

Ageless! The German supermodel, made the most of her youthful looks, slipping on a studded LBD for the occasion

Leggy! Making the most of her endless legs, Claudia opted for the thigh-skimming textured frock, embellished with studs, making the most of her slender midriff

In September Claudia first spoke out about Aquazzura, the label she's working with on a new line of footwear.

The supermodel, who rocketed to fame in the 1990s, recently described to the outlet her recent runway walk alongside catwalk colleagues Carla Bruni, 49, Naomi Campbell, 47, Cindy Crawford, 51, and Helena Christensen, 48, last week during the Versace show in the City of Lights.

Speaking to Footwear News, she said: 'It was such an emotional moment because we all worked closely with Gianni Versace,' she said of the late designer, who was murdered just more than 20 years ago.

Wrapping up! Shielding her pins against the frosty climate, she added a pair of woolly tights and boots to the ensemble, accessorising with coral nails and a golden clutch

'We lived through such interesting times together and there was a camaraderie that was created.'

She credited the late designer for revolutionizing the industry by welcoming celebrities into the shows.

'Before Gianni, all the fashion shows used to be just journalists and retailers,' she told the outlet. 'Gianni was one of the first people who changed that.

'Suddenly, you were walking down the runway and it was a spectacle. You walked down on to an Elton John song, and he would be sitting in the front row.'
Flatliners' Nina Dobrev showed a lot of leg for Tuesday night's party at the Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan's Meatpacking District.

The 28-year-old actress donned a black Versace FW/17 top and skirt featuring floral patch accents, colorful Louboutin stilettos, and Yael Sonia jewelry selected by stylist Ilaria Urbinati.

Toting a blue Edie Parker clutch, the Reebok brand ambassador - who served on Whitney's benefit committee - had her newly-chopped bob and bangs coiffed by hairstylist Jennifer Yepez.

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Pin parade: Flatliners' Nina Dobrev showed a lot of leg for Tuesday night's party at the Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan's Meatpacking District

Nina (born Nikolina Dobreva) also rocked a red pout and eyeliner applied by make-up artist Daniel Martin for the bash where tickets ranged $200-$850.

'I can't wait to come back and bring my Mom [Michaela] who is also an artist and incredible painter,' Dobrev - who boasts 26.5M social media followers - later wrote on Instagram.

'My whole life, from a very young age (think baby wrapped as a burrito) she dragged me to museums. I say dragged because it isn't until adulthood that I was able to truly appreciate visiting museums and finally understand their rich history the way I have in recent years.

'Well, the tables have turned Mama, you used to bring me, and now I'm excited to get to bring you to this amazing place which has inspired me.'

Chic: The 28-year-old actress donned a black Versace FW/17 top and skirt featuring floral patch accents and colorful Louboutin stilettos selected by stylist Ilaria Urbinati

Served on Whitney's benefit committee: Toting a blue Edie Parker clutch, the Reebok brand ambassador had her newly-chopped bob and bangs coiffed by hairstylist Jennifer Yepez

Crimson lips: Nina (born Nikolina Dobreva) also rocked a red pout and eyeliner applied by make-up artist Daniel Martin for the bash where tickets ranged $200-$850

Dobrev - sporting Yael Sonia jewelry - later wrote on Instagram: 'I can't wait to come back and bring my mom [Michaela] who is also an artist and incredible painter'

Earlier on Tuesday, the Bulgarian-born, Toronto-raised beauty shared a behind-the-scenes boomerang from the seaside set of her next film Dog Days with co-star Tone Bell.

Perhaps the Vampire Diaries alum's dog Maverick will make a cameo on Ken Marino's 2018 dog park flick also starring Eva Longoria, Finn Wolfhard, and Vanessa Hudgens.

Nina originally cut her brunette mane on September 28 for her role as Chloe, a Parisian artist in Roger Avary's thriller Lucky Day, which she wrapped on November 4.

Doing the robot: Earlier, the Bulgarian-born, Toronto-raised beauty shared a behind-the-scenes boomerang from the seaside set of her next film Dog Days with co-star Tone Bell (R)

Nina plays Elizabeth: Perhaps the Vampire Diaries alum's dog Maverick will make a cameo on Ken Marino's 2018 dog park flick also starring Eva Longoria and Finn Wolfhard
It was claimed earlier this week by Woman's Day magazine that Robert Irwin had fallen for fellow wildlife enthusiast, Tess Poyner.

But a representative for the 13-year-old wildlife conservationist has denied that Robert is in a relationship, telling Daily Mail Australia that the report is 'false'.

According to Woman's Day, the pair met at the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year awards held in Adelaide in August.

'It's definitely not real': Australia Zoo denies that Robert Irwin is dating photographer Tess Poyner after magazine claims she 'has stolen the 13-year old's heart'

The publication further claimed that zoo insiders revealed the pair are well on their way to becoming an item.

In September, Robert invited the Narooma High School student to stay with him for a week at Australia Zoo.

On September 25th, Robert uploaded a picture of himself with Tess to his Instagram account and captioned the post:

'Heaps of fun wrangling lace monitors with one of the best lizard catchers on the planet at Australia Zoo. Helped this gorgeous goanna that was having trouble getting through a fence!'

A day later, Tess uploaded an image of them photographing together along with a gushing post:

'Photographing at the most magical place in Australia. Here at Australia Zoo, I was super lucky to meet just about every animal up close and personally.

Together: On September 25th, Robert uploaded a picture of himself with Tess to his Instagram account

'From koala cuddles, giraffe kisses to jumping and rolling through bushes to catch water dragons.

'I had so much fun with the best photographer, herper and buggie driver on the planet! Thank-you so much for such an amazing week.'

Fans were equally enthused about the pairing saying the duo are 'very sweet' and are a 'cute couple'.

In their report, Woman's Day also claimed that Bindi is 'over the moon Bob's taken the first step to finding his soulmate.

'She couldn't be happier for her little brother,' they added.
She was honoured with an MBE by the Queen during the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

And for Erin O'Connor, it was time to celebrate her achievement with a glamorous bash at London's Claridge's Hotel in London on Wednesday night.

The 39-year-old supermodel flattered her slender frame in a figure-hugging floral dress, which she teamed with a pair of chic gloves.

Celebrations: For Erin O'Connor, it was time to celebrate her MBE with a glamorous bash at London's Claridge's Hotel in London on Wednesday night

Erin proved why she was hailed as one of the country's top models in her hey day, as she posed up a storm for the event.

Her sensational metallic and red garment plunged down the middle and also boasted a saucy split, which showed off her endless pins.

Adding more character to the ensemble, she boosted her 6 ft frame in a pair of matching printed pointed heels.

A pair of striking white gloves were also donned by Erin, adding more sophistication to the overall look.

Striking: The supermodel, 39, flattered her slender frame in a figure-hugging floral dress, which she teamed with a pair of chic gloves

Erin proved why she was hailed as one of the country's top models in her hey day, as she posed up a storm for the event

Erin opted for a bronzed make-up look and a slick of red lipstick, while her brunette locks were scraped off her shoulders.

The catwalk queen was clearly in high spirits as she posed with her slew of stylish pals - including Matty Bovan and Christopher Kane.

The day before Erin was awarded with an MBE by the Queen and speaking of the moment she revealed: 'Her Majesty is someone I greatly admire, and I am still shocked that I got to meet her in this lifetime, so that feels really special.

Standing tall: Adding more character to the ensemble, she boosted her 6 ft frame in a pair of matching printed pointed heels

Beauty: Erin opted for a bronzed make-up look and a slick of red lipstick, while her brunette locks were scraped off her shoulders

Fun: The catwalk queen was clearly in high spirits as she posed with her slew of stylish pals - including Roksanda Ilincic and Christopher Kane

'This has probably been the ultimate experience of my life,' she continued.

She looked fantastic for the event - donning an all black ensemble, with a matching fascinator.

Speaking of her look, she revealed: 'It was fun putting it all together, but of course for the first time in my adult life I have had something specifically made for me and not to wear on behalf of anyone else.'

'That is the nature of my job, but it was actually very special to wear this for me, and it fits to the centimetre, I assure you,' she revealed.

Special moment: She was honoured with an MBE by the Queen during the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday
Peaky Blinders (BBC2)

Rating:

The Secret Life Of The Zoo (Channel 4)

Rating:

Goodbye Wyatt Earp, hello Al Capone. The gipsy clan of Peaky Blinders (BBC2) have shaken off the dust of the Wild West and embraced the world of the hoodlum.

Italian-American gangsters from the New York Mafia were on their heels as this outrageously stylish Twenties drama returned  leaping from behind bales of hay to open up with Tommy-guns.

This was the St Valentines Day Massacre, refought in the sleepy lanes of rural England.

Peaky Blinders, which seemed such a mismatched hybrid when it launched four years ago, has carved out its own genre.

Peaky Blinders protagonist Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, returned to TV screens on Tuesday for the show's fourth series

We now believe in its Romany molls, its High Street gunfights, its UK prohibition and race wars and crime lords . . . all in swaggering slow-motion, set to a spinechilling soundtrack of blues-rock.

What began as an incongruous hotchpotch has become the richest, darkest confection on television. It relishes gore: the climactic scene, in the kitchens of kingpin Tommy Shelbys stately home, was steeped in it.

A terrified chef dripping with goose entrails backed away from the bosss embrace, pleading that he had blood on his hands.

UNDEAD SITCOM OF THE NIGHT Long before Sherlock and Inside No9, Messrs Gatiss, Sheersmith and Pemberton were The League of Gentlemen (BBC4). Their macabre comedy is to be revived for Christmas - relish the creepy repeats now. Advertisement

So have I, smiled Tommy (Cillian Murphy). That encounter ended with a man slumped across a butchers table  a billhook in his neck and a bullet in his head. By now Tommy looked like hed been swimming in offal.

Drenches of intense colour are the trademark of this series. At first, it was eruptions of flame from the workshops of Birmingham, billowing like bomb blasts onto the streets where men rode on horses and harlots flashed their petticoats.

Later, as Tommy and his family moved among the corrupt aristocracy, the flames were replaced by the dazzle of diamonds. But now, too rich and notorious even for the highest society, the Shelbys are living in isolation  estranged from each other and hiding from the world.

That gave us some marvellous vignettes. Tommys psychotic younger brother, John (Joe Cole), went hunting pheasants on Christmas Eve with a six-shooter. Aunt Polly (Helen McCrory), fuelled by whisky and phials of cocaine, talked to the ghosts of children.

Only Tommy seemed to live in the open, running his sweatshop factories and lounging around the boardroom in a pair of wire-rimmed specs that gave him the look of Heinrich Himmler.

A female union convenor (Charlie Murphy) dared confront him, glowing with indignation like a feminist from the future when Tommy called her sweetheart. Lets see how long her principles withstand his brutal charms . . .assuming any of the Shelbys survive those mobsters with machine guns.

A killer just as callous and deadly was at large in The Secret Life Of The Zoo (C4). Ripley the jewel wasp was hunting for a place to lay her single egg, and she was a fussy mother.

Tommy's brother John, played by Joe Cole, pictured with Aunt Polly, played by Helen McCrory

Finally she settled on a juicy cockroach, dubbed Karl by the keepers. Paralysing him with a couple of jabs of venom, she chopped off his antennae and guzzled his blood before inserting her egg into his abdomen.

Karl was still alive, but he was helpless as Ripley dragged him into her burrow and walled him in. Ripley, of course, is the heroine in the Alien movies.

When her baby munched her way out of Karls body, it wasnt hard to see why the keepers chose that name.

Cuter moments were provided with the birth of a baby black rhino. But this series wisely refuses to be too cuddly.

There are plenty of adorable animal shows: Secret Life retains a bit of bite.
She's been referred to as Australia's Kylie Jenner.

But Belle Lucia proved she was beyond comparison after stripping down for a bikini photo shoot at Bronte Beach on Wednesday.

The half-German, half-Portuguese model's scorching display in a series of bikinis showcased her incredible physique.

Nice coconuts! Australian glamour model Belle Lucia brings Bronte Beach to a standstill as she exposes her assets in VERY raunchy G-String bikini shoot

Belle made jaw-dropping return to the spotlight on Wednesday, having not been spotted since turning heads at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in May.

All-in-all, the shoot saw Belle slipping into a total of seven barely-there bikinis from designer Black Swallow, with her strappy canary yellow number a standout.

The beauty was seen flaunting her bronzed frame and plump lips in the shallows, pouting and resting her arms on her slender waist.

Making waves: Half-German, half-Portugese stunner Belle Lucia wowed Bronte beach on Wednesday, flaunting her assets in a total of seven raunchy G-string bikinis

Bright spark: Belle's strappy canary yellow number was the best of a brilliant bunch

If you've got it! The beauty was seen flaunting her bronzed frame and cleavage in the shallows, pouting and splashing in the water

Upon returning to the sand, she showcased the daring high-rise design of her G-string briefs as she turned away from camera.

In one suggestive snap, Belle carried two coconuts in a rope-sack slung over her shoulder.

High-rise! Upon returning to the sand, she showcased the daring high-rise design of her G-string briefs as she turned away from camera

Next, she opted for a slight change of scenery, this time clad in an all-white number, the model was pictured resting her pert posterior on some rocks by the water.

Standing on her tip-toes, she stretched her long arms out beside her and pouted her plump lips.

Bit of all white! Next, she opted for a slight change of scenery, this time clad in an all-white number, the model was pictured resting her pert posterior on some rocks by the water

Rock your world! Belle certainly wasn't shy as she showcased her gym-honed frame

Over in the wet sand, Belle kept her eyes closed and flaunted her flexibility in a blue bikini.

She continued the fruity theme that began with her coconuts in a magenta number, this time getting down on all fours in the sand and taking a bite out of a pineapple.

Feeling blue! Over in the wet sand, Belle kept her eyes closed and flaunted her flexibility in a blue bikini

Don't look now! She kept her eyes closed and extended her slender thighs

Feeling fruity! She continued the fruity theme that began with her coconuts in a magenta number, this time getting down on all fours in the sand and taking a bite out of a pineapple

Top it all off: The beauty remained on the sand for the shoot's stunning culmination, which saw her contorting her body for a variety of seductive poses

Seeing green! With her eyes closed, Belle propped herself up on her knees, resting one hand on her thigh and pulling her olive green briefs up with the other

The beauty remained on the sand for the shoot's stunning culmination, which saw her contorting her body for a variety of seductive poses.

With her eyes closed, Belle propped herself up on her knees, resting one hand on her thigh and pulling her olive green briefs up with the other.

Naughty nurse! Now a registered nurse, Belle is making waves, with TMZ even calling her the 'new improved Carmen Electra'

Now a registered nurse, Belle is making waves, with TMZ even calling her the 'new improved Carmen Electra'.

Last year, GQ magazine voted the beauty as their Instagram Woman of the Week.

Woman of the week! Last year, GQ magazine voted the beauty as their Instagram Woman of the Week

Big debut! Belle turned heads at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in May
She won Tim Robards' heart in the first season of The Bachelor in 2013.

But Anna Heinrich, 31, has revealed that she almost backed out of being on the reality show the first day in.

'My mum dropped me off  and I rang her and was like, "Oh my god Mum, I can't do this, they're all models, I'm so out of my league",' she revealed to PopSugar.

'They're all models, I'm so out of my league!' Anna Heinrich has reflected on her first day on the set of The Bachelor in the lead up to her highly anticipated wedding to Tim Robards

'It was just so daunting because everyone looked like models to me,' she added.

At the time, she was up against the likes of runner up Rochelle Emanuel-Smith, Ali Oetjen and Danielle Sanby on the show.

The part-time criminal lawyer, who also appears in a stunning shoot for the publication, said it was only through the encouragement of a girlfriend that she applied for the show.

Anna explained she didn't want to jeopardise her flourishing legal career or embarrass her family and friends.

True love! The 31-year-old won the hunky chiropractor's heart in the first season of The Bachelor in 2013, beating out the likes of runner up Rochelle Emanuel-Smith, Ali Oetjen and Danielle Sanby on the show

'I just felt there was something that was drawing me towards the show  now I know it was Tim,' the now bride-to-be said.

Since embarking on their romance, Anna said she developed a thick skin to block out negative media attention, and credited her man for his support.

'I have the support of Tim who understands it and we understand each other  we are in similar situations and it makes it easier when you have someone who supports you,' Anna added.

Spring stunner: The part-time criminal lawyer, who modelled the latest spring outfits for the publication, explained she didn't want to jeopardise her flourishing legal career or embarrass her family and friends, but applied for it after a girlfriend encouraged her

Blooming beauty! Since embarking on their romance, Anna said she developed a thick skin to block out negative media attention, and credited Tim for his support. 'We are in similar situations and it makes it easier when you have someone who supports you,' Anna added

In May this year, Tim popped the question to Anna during a romantic getaway to the Kimberly in Western Australia.

He presented the blonde stunner with a beautiful four carat diamond reported to be worth upwards of $173,000.

She marked their milestone moment with an Instagram post of herself flaunting her engagement ring and her fiance.
Sophie Monk's The Bachelorette season was a ratings juggernaut.

But Channel Ten CEO Paul Anderson has hinted that drastic changes are in-store for the entire franchise - including next year's Bachelor in Paradise.

Speaking at the Screen Forever conference on Thursday, Paul insisted all of the network's shows must be suitable for his 14-year-old daughter, Millie.

No more of this? Despite Sophie Monk's Bachelorette achieving huge ratings, Ten CEO Paul Anderson, has signalled drastic changes in-store for the entire franchise

'I have what I call "The Millie Test"... I have to be able to sit down and watch all of our shows with her,' he said.

Paul claimed that he could clearly do that with MasterChef and Survivor, and appeared to imply The Bachelor franchise toed the line considerably more.

He stopped short of denouncing it however, instead praising Head of Programming Beverley McGarvey for her efforts to make the show family friendly.

His main issue seemed to be with casting, insisting: 'Sophie Monk I think was a good lesson for all of us.'

Too raunchy for TV? Speaking at Screen Producers Australias Screen Forever conference on Thursday, Paul insisted all programs must be suitable for his 14-year-old daughter, Millie

Paul said the star's success proved that having someone: 'real, if not, slightly unusual (like Sophie)' was the way to go.

'And I think without getting in too much trouble from my programming team, there needs to be some real colour and variation in the shows,' he continued.

In what may come across as a dig at Matty J, he concluded: 'Picking the nice Bachelor, the ex head-boy is not going to sort of drive those shows into the future.'

'The Millie test': 'I have what I call "The Millie Test"... I have to be able to sit down and watch all of our shows with her,' he said

The ratings for Matty's season certainly didn't set the world on fire, with only the finale cracking the magic million in terms of viewership.

It remains unclear how Paul's requirement for all programs to be suitable for his daughter may effect the upcoming Bachelor in Paradise series.

Toeing the line: Paul claimed that he could clearly do that with MasterChef and Survivor and appeared to imply The Bachelor franchise toed the line considerably more

Typically considered the most scandalous of the US creation's formats, it features rejects from the show's previous seasons.

Unlike The Bachelor, it allows all contestants to mingle with one another freely, making casual flings - and the inevitable consequences - far more common.

Trouble in paradise? It remains unclear how Paul's requirement for all programs to be suitable for his daughter may effect the upcoming Bachelor in Paradise series

The past season of The Bachelor drew many adults-only controversies, including the leak of illicit images exposing two contestants as former topless waitresses.

In August, further images surfaced, showing contestant Leah Costa laying face down, topless and with two men putting white lines of powder on her bottom.

The Bachelorette fared better, although in October, NSW police confirmed they were investigating contestant Blake Colman over revenge porn allegations.

Controversy: The past season of The Bachelor drew many adults-only controversies, including the leak of illicit images exposing two contestants as former topless waitresses (pictured Simone Ormesher)

Allegations: The Bachelorette fared better, although in October, NSW police confirmed they were investigating contestant Blake Colman over revenge porn allegations
She recently showcased an elegant ensemble at the Baby2Baby Gala.

But Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) changed it up in a far more casual look while shopping in Los Angeles, on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old was spotted making her way back to her car with a bag from Samy's Camera photo store.

On Wednesdays we wear activewear! Lara Bingle shows off her slender figure in tight black leggings while shopping in Los Angeles

She looked relaxed in a pair of black leggings and a loose-fitting, vintage Bob Dylan T-shirt.

The cosmetics entrepreneur teamed the look with a pair of black and white slide slippers, a cross body bag and a FitBit excersise watch.

Lara appeared to be in high spirits as she animatedly chatted to someone on the phone.

Vintage vibes: The 30-year-old was spotted making her way back to her car with a bag from Samy's Camera photo store, lookingrelaxed in a pair of black leggings and a loose-fitting, vintage-style Bob Dylan European Tour shirt

Laid back and relaxed: Lara appeared to be in high spirits as she animatedly chatted to someone on the phone, likely her two young children Rocket, two, and Racer, one

Her laid back, mid-week outfit comes after she stepped out in a glamorous gown for the Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday with her husband, Australian actor Sam Worthington.

The blonde beauty turned heads on the red carpet in a one shouldered frock that hugged her slender figure, and flared down to the floor.

She kept accessories to a minimum with statement Jade earrings, while her vampy red lips created contrast against the rest of the outfit.

Simply chic: Her laidback, mid-week outfit comes after she stepped out in a glamorous gown for the Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday with her husband, Australian actor Sam Worthington (right)

This comes after an eagle-eyed fan recently noticed Lara may have inadvertently revealed she is expecting another child.

She recently posted a video of herself on her Instagram assembling a baby cot, however it is likely she was building her bed for her youngest tot Racer who will soon transition to sleeping in a bed rather than a cot for newborns.

'Does that mean you're expecting another baby considering that was a cot you put together?' a fan slyly asked in a comment.
She has only been in Hollywood for a few days.

But Lisa Wilkinson is already fitting right in.

The former Today show host looked right at home rubbing shoulders with the A-list while co-hosting a gala dinner for The Fred Hollows Foundation on Wednesday night.

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Lady in red! Lisa Wilkinson gets a Hollywood makeover and shows off her slender figure in a slinky scarlet dress as she co-hosts star-studded gala in LA with Joel Edgerton

The 57-year-old was simply stunning, slipping her slender figure into a slinky red gown for the event.

She let the scarlet frock do the talking by wearing minimal accessories and her brunette locks out and styled in a natural wave.

Meanwhile, Joel looked dapper a slim-fitting black suit teamed with a white shirt and black skinny tie.

Sexy and slinky: The 57-year-old was simply stunning, slipping her slender figure into a slinky red gown for the event

Natural beauty: She let the scarlet frock do the talking by wearing minimal accessories and her brunette locks out and styled in a natural wave

Star power was on show at Hollywood's Dream Hotel when Joel staged the inaugural fundraising gala for the foundation named after the Australian ophthalmologist whose trailblazing work has restored eyesight to more than a million people.

Lara Bingle also stunned in a pink figure-hugging dress as she stepped out with husband Sam Worthington.

Sam couldn't keep his hands off his wife as they put on an affectionate display, hugging as they posed for photographs.

Lara had her blonde locks slicked back off her face and wore makeup including a soft pink lip and a smokey eye.

Friends in high places: Sam and Lara Worthington also attended the event

Red hot: Camilla Belle also opted for a red number - a scorching strapless frock teamed with strappy sandals

Camilla Belle stunned in a figure-hugging red dress, with her hair slicked down behind her shoulders.

Paris Hilton meanwhile, turned heads in a glittering rainbow frock.

'I'm not good at asking people for favours and it's really the first time in the 15 years I've been in LA that, outside of movies, I've asked people to put themselves on the line,' Joel, who just finished directing Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe in the drama Boy Erased in Atlanta, told AAP ahead of the event.

'So when I asked, people were happy to help.'

Joel is a long-time ambassador for the foundation, which works in more than 25 countries and supports teams of surgeons, nurses and screening staff to reach patients in what are some of the most difficult conditions.

That's hot! Paris Hilton was also in attendance with her boyfriend Chris Zylka

Rainbow bright: The 36-year-old showed off her figure in a glittering multi-coloured gown

Joel said Hollywood's elite were more than willing to help when they were showed how a 10-minute surgery that costs just $25 could completely change the life of someone who has been blind for years.

'We are focusing the event around the work the foundation does in Africa, especially Ethiopia,' said Joel, explaining the LA gala.

'Dr Wondu (Alemayehu) is joining us from Ethiopia and he's going to explain the desperate situation there with trachoma, which is an infectious and blinding disease.'

Lisa set tongues wagging earlier this week after she shared a mysterious photo from Los Angeles.

She touched down in the American city over the weekend, and made sure to document her journey on social media.

'Sometimes life takes you places you weren't expecting...but you're so glad it did. Like here. #LosAngeles,' she wrote.

It was originally thought that the veteran journalist may be meeting with high-powered CBS bosses who recently bought Channel Ten following its entry into voluntary administration earlier in the year.

Mingling with Hollywood's A-list! Lisa and Joel attended a dinner the night before together to discuss their hosting duties

Good gig! Lisa is in Los Angeles to MC a star-studded event launching the Fred Hollows Foundation

Hours before sharing her sunset snap to Instagram, Lisa was seen indulging in retail therapy on Rodeo Drive.

Perhaps spending some of her eye-watering new salary, reported to be in the $2 million range, Lisa ducked into designer house Celine.

The journalist emerged with a small bag from the expensive label, and also made use of a complimentary facial.

'Sometimes life takes you places you weren't expecting...but you're so glad it did': Lisa was feeling philosophical in Los Angeles on Monday night, taking to Instagram to share a snap

The trip comes after it was reported that Lisa will reap the rewards of her daring move from Channel Nine to Ten by becoming 'Network Ten's Oprah', when she starts at the network in January 2018.

Lisa is set to host her own Sunday night current affairs program during prime time, according to an insider, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

She will front the program that will go in to battle with Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, and Seven's Sunday Night, while also hosting The Project two nights a week.
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As Hollywood's awards season gets underway, the stars are ramping up the glamour as they step out at a host of celebratory galas.

And Wednesday night was no exception as Nina Dobrev, Mandy Moore and Olivia Culpo stepped out in stunning style for the star-studded Golden Globe Ambassador reveal party in Beverly Hills.

The stars turned heads as they attended the gathering which saw Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's daughter Simone Garcia Johnson officially handed the title for the 75th annual ceremony, which is set to take place in January.

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Ready to party: Mandy Moore paired tight black leather pants with an off-the-shoulder black asymmetrical dress for a pre-awards season Hollywood bash on Wednesday night

Actress Mandy, 33, arrived in style, opting to pair tight black leather pants with an off-the-shoulder black asymmetrical dress for the party.

The This Is Us star made the mix and match outfit work showing off her slim figure and flawless skin.

Mandy added a pair of black sandal heels that were embellished with netting and she accessorized with a silver gray clutch and dangly earrings.

Headliner: The This Is Us star, 33, added a pair of black sandal heels that were embellished with netting and she accessorized with a silver gray clutch and dangly earrings

Turning heads: The pair turned heads as they mingled with a host of famous faces and well-heeled guests at the bash

Her brunette hair was worn with a center parting in a tousled style and she added black mascara and bright red lip color.

The event brought out a number of celebrities hoping to curry favor with the Hollywood Foreign Press Assocation, the body which organizes the Golden Globes.

Former Vampires Diaries star Nina Dobrev also opted for a dramatic look, wearing a strapless Ralph Lauren Collection red gown with a full-length black panel down the front.

Belle of the ball: Nina was the belle of the ball as she arrived in her Ralph Lauren Collection red-and-black gown and posed up a storm on the carpet

Style star: The backless number had thin spaghetti straps and a low scoop neckline, while she wore her glossy brunette tresses in a wavy bob with sharp bangs

The backless number had thin spaghetti straps and a low scoop neckline.

The actress, 28, rocked a short dark bob with feathered fringe and carried a black clutch.

Salma Hayek, 51, looked gorgeous in an black dress with flounce bodice and asymmetrical hem.

She added black nail polish and open-toe black sandal platform heels.

Former beauty queen: Olivia Culpo, 25, wore a semi-sheer black gown and appeared to be bra-less under the see-through number that had ruffles at the neck and fell to the ankles

Pumps: She stood tall on the carpet as she added pointed toe embellished pumps to her look

Lady in red: The beauty added a smudge of bold red lipstick to her immaculate makeup palette

Former beauty queen Olivia Culpo, 25, wore a semi-sheer black gown that left little to the imagination when it came to her bust.

The brunette appeared to be bra-less under the see-through number that had ruffles at the neck and fell to the ankles.

She added pointed toe embellished pumps and splashed scarlet red color across her lips.

Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland showed off her slim frame in a sleeveless gold patterned dress.

Flawless fashion: Salma Hayek, 51, looked gorgeous in an black dress with flounce bodice and asymmetrical hem. She added black nail polish and open-toe black sandal platform heels

Golden girl: Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland showed off her slim frame in a sleeveless gold patterned dress

She wore shiny gold sandal heels with her hair pulled back from her face in a ponytail and rocked black mascara and dark red lipstick.

Hidden Figures star Octavia Spencer stood out from the crowd in a stunning cold shoulder red chiffon dress.

The Oscar winner showed off her cleavage in the low-cut number that she paired with matching sandal heels with bows at the ankle.

She carried a red purse and wore contrasting white polish on her fingernails.

Glorious: Hidden Figures star Octavia Spencer showed off her cleavage in a stunning cold shoulder red chiffon dress that she paired with matching sandal heels with bows at the ankle

Interesting choice: British actress Alice Eve, 35, opted for a full length four-color gown that pooled around her feet as she posed for photos

On a hit show: This Is Us actress Chrissy Metz, 37, paired a long-sleeved black sparkly top with a multi-colored leaf-patterned skirt and black flats for her night out

Chrissy Metz paired a long-sleeved black sparkly top with a multi-colored leaf-patterned skirt and black flats for her night out.

Lea Michele, 31, stepped out in a black mini dress with high shoulders and long sleeves.

It had a zipper down the front and a dusting of diamantes around the cuffs, hem and waist.

Stylish: Lea Michele, 31, stepped out in a black mini dress with high shoulders and long sleeves

Suits her: Felicity Huffman opted for a halter neck full-length black dress and carried a shiny gold clutch purse

Striking: Orange Is The New Black star Jackie Cruz, left, bucked the trend with a wide-legged blue and black patterned jumpsuit, while Jaime King looked lovely in a figure-hugging dress with floral motifs

Hunk: Jake Gyllenhaal, 36, was suave in a dark two-piece suit with matching shirt and shiny shoes

Celebrity offspring: Sylvester Stallone's daughters Sistine, Sophia and Scarlet also attended the event each wearing a black ensemble

Out on the town: Recording artist Mary J. Bige also chose a black outfit which had feathered sleeves and a red satin sash

On trend: Former Mad Men star Alison Brie wore a funky patterned number and towering black heels

In the army now: Nolan Gould, who is on Modern Family, wore skinny jeans with black leather boots and a military style leather jacket

A bit of all white: Angela Sarafyan, 34, who has appeared on Westworld, put her best foot forward in a white gown slit to the thigh and white stiletto heels
Nicki Minaj won't be collaborating on an album with Beyonce any time soon.

The 34-year-old chatted with Paper magazine abouta female version of Jay Z and Kanye West's collaboration Watch The Throne.

And Nicki could only think of one artist of her 'caliber' she would even consider doing something like that with - Beyonce.

'MINAJ A TROIS': The new cover of Paper magazine, which debuted on Instagram this Tuesday, featured a trio of Nicki Minajs photographed by Ellen Von Unworth

'The only person that I've seen a lot of people speak on, when talking about an album of that caliber, is Beyonce,' she explained, ''cause we did ***Flawless [remix] and Feeling Myself and we've actually performed together.'

She continued: 'I always see a lot of people saying, "Oh my gosh, a joint album with you guys would be really dope," but, you know, those are the kinds of things that are just wishful thinking from fans...They're far-fetched because usually artists are in such different places in their personal lives and career lives that it's hard to make that work.'

Meanwhile, the new cover of Paper magazine, which debuted on Instagram this Tuesday, featured a trio of Nickis photographed by Ellen Von Unworth.

Nicki herself posted a social media video montage that day in which she licked her own breasts and passionately kissed someone whose face remained unseen.

On the cover, one Nicki sat proudly on a chair, wearing nothing but sparkling boots, pasties, a gleaming choker, bracelets and high-waisted pale pink underpants.

This first Nicki sat legs akimbo, setting each hand on the corresponding knee, and aimed a smoldering stare straight out at the camera.

Meanwhile, a second Nicki modeled a shining black bodysuit and matching stiletto boots, kneeling and positioning her head between the first Nicki's legs.

Love for herself! Nicki, 34, herself posted a social media video montage that day in which she licked her own breasts

Turning away from the first Nicki, the second Nicki stuck her tongue out at viewers.

Still one more NIcki was of course on the cover, wearing a seemingly airtight pink mini-dress with tears at the sides of her derriere and midriff.

Balancing on ankle-strap stilettos and sporting hoop earrings, this third Nicki posed standing, wrapping her arms round the first Nicki.

Modeling up a storm! The video Nicki's posted to Instagram began with a view of her cleavage as displayed by her tight black bodysuit

Such glitz! Suddenly, the footage was bathed in dim green light as Nicki - who could be heard emitting staccato squeaks - showed off various bits of jewelry

One of the third Nicki's hands reached down over the first Nicki's right breast.

'MINAJ A TROIS,' reads a splash of white text on the cover, above: 'BREAK THE INTERNET.'

Back in 2014, Paper magazine did a now-famous 'BREAK THE INTERNET' issue featuring Kim Kardashian on its cover.

Relaxation! Nicki was also seen wearing a luxurious choker as she lounged about in a bathtub, at times sprayed by the attendant shower

Her photographs for the magazine included one in which she bared her rear, as well as another in which she balanced a champagne glass on it.

The video Nicki's posted to Instagram began with a view of her cleavage as displayed by her tight black bodysuit.

It's possible this was the black bodysuit featured on the Paper magazine cover.

Seeing herself! At one point, she modeled a camouflage one-piece swimsuit as she filmed herself in an elaborately-framed mirror, her hair swept into an updo

Show of affection! A wider view of this same image showed that in front of the mirror, another Nicki was smooching somebody nearby

Suddenly, the footage was bathed in dim green light as Nicki - who could be heard emitting staccato squeaks - showed off various bits of jewelry.

Nicki was also seen wearing a luxurious choker as she lounged about in a bathtub, at times sprayed by the attendant shower.

At one point, she modeled a camouflage one-piece swimsuit as she filmed herself in an elaborately-framed mirror, her hair swept into an updo.

There she is! Nicki also posed in this mirror wearing the bodysuit, though this time the front of it had been apparently zipped up

A wider view of this same image showed that in front of the mirror, another Nicki was smooching somebody nearby.

Nicki also posed in this mirror wearing the bodysuit, though this time the front of it had been apparently zipped up.

Included as well in this video was a glimpse at her wearing what looked rather like a Gucci tank top.
She's the curvaceous WAG who is currently enjoying an idyllic vacation in the Maldives.

And Nadia Bartel took to Instagram on Tuesday to flaunt her enviable form as she lived it up in the tropical locale.

Nadia showcased her assets as she posed for a selfie, wearing a simple, white two piece Seafolly bikini that flaunted her trim torso and a generous amount of cleavage.

Curvy: Nadia Bartel took to Instagram on Tuesday to flaunt her enviable form as she lived it upon an idyllic Maldives vacation

Her brunette locks were ties back in a floral-themed kerchief from Zimmerman as she posed in an outdoor bathroom at the luxurious Soneva Fushi resort.

In captioning the photo, Nadia lamented the lack of vacation sun while not letting the inclement weather get her down.

'Not much sun out today so I couldn't tan but that didn't stop me putting my bikinis on in hopes (and how cool is our outdoor bathroom,' she wrote.

Stunner: Nadia showcased her assets as she posed for a selfie, wearing a simple, white two piece Seafolly bikini that flaunted her trim torso and a generous amount of cleavage

Beach babe: In keeping with the idyllic theme, Nadia took to the social media platform on Monday to again flaunt her curves, but this time in an orange bikini

Her fans were quick to gush over the holiday snap, with one fan lamenting their food choice while viewing the enviable photo.

'Looking hot! regretting the ice cream covered in ice magic,' the fan wrote.

Others were more succinct in their praise with the likes of: 'absolute hottie,' 'such a babe' and 'abs goals'

In keeping with the idyllic theme, Nadia took to the social media platform on Monday to again flaunt her curves, but this time in an orange bikini.

'Rose all day everyday,' she wrote alongside a photo of herself sipping wine, while in another bikini shot, she added: 'love our private beach'.

Nadia shares son Ashton James, two, with former AFL star Jimmy Bartel.
She's featured in campaigns for Just Jeans and Levi's, and recently became an ambassador for Swisse Wellness.

And Ashley Hart was all smiles during a beach photo shoot in Cancun Mexico, on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old pulled a number of playful poses on the sand, and offered a glimpse of her cleavage in a skimpy bikini top.

Beaming beauty! Ashley Hart, 29, was all smiles and showed off her cleavage in a skimpy bikini top, for a beach photo shoot in Cancun Mexico on Wednesday

Ashley looked every inch the beach babe, sporting a beige low-cut bikini top that showed off her cleavage and lithe arms.

Crouched on the sand, the younger sister of Jessica Hart covered her left shoulder and her lower half in a billowing pink silk frock.

Accessorising with a gold crucifix necklace and anklet, Ashley allowed her blonde locks to fall in tousled waves, framing a minimally made-up complexion.

Picture-perfect: Highlighting her trim figure in a pastel-hued ensemble, the Melbourne-born cover girl stood upright and outstretched her slender arms

Carefree: Keeping with the playful theme, Ashley was later seen bouncing along the shore, this time donning a white plunging maxi dress and holding a straw hat in her right hand

Another photo saw the Melbourne-born cover girl appear carefree and relaxed, standing upright and outstretching her slender arms.

As the wind blew against her pastel-hued frock, attention was drawn to Ashley's toned legs.

Tilting her head backwards, the blonde bombshell let out a wide grin.

Keeping with the playful theme, Ashley was later seen bouncing along the shore, this time donning a white plunging maxi dress and holding a straw hat in her right hand.

'For many years I tried to be skinnier': Despite having one of the most enviable figures in the business, the brand ambassador admitted to Conscious Collection last month, that she previously struggled with body image

Content: However Ashley insisted that she's now the happiest she's ever been: 'I'm finally at a place where I'm loving life. It's beautiful to get to a place where we can have a beautiful relationship with ourselves and love who we are'

Despite having one of the most enviable figures in the business, the brand ambassador admitted to Conscious Collection last month, that she previously struggled with body image.

She said: 'For many years I tried to be skinnier. If I could've been taller I would have. I was always trying to fit into the role of what I thought people wanted me to be.'

However Ashley insisted that she's now the happiest she's ever been.

'I'm finally at a place where I'm loving life. It's beautiful to get to a place where we can have a beautiful relationship with ourselves and love who we are.'

Shock split: Ashley came to headlines in January when she announced her split from husband of two years, Buck Palmer

Ashley came to headlines in January when she announced her split from husband of two years, Buck Palmer.

The yogi told the Herald Sun at the time: 'Our happiness evolved into a deep friendship that we will always have, but we have come to the conclusion that the path forward for both of us is best travelled as separate journeys.

'There is sadness in dreams unrealised however we continue to deeply love and respect each other and wish each other nothing but love and kindness,' she added.
He's the latest incarnation of the crime-fighting Spidey, and she's a former Jakku scavenger.

But Spider-Man star Tom Holland and Star Wars' Daisy Ridley are taking a break from their respective action franchises to shoot the new Robert Zemeckis sci-fi Chaos Walking.

The pair were caught behind-the-scenes, shooting a sequence in front of a green screen on location in Montreal.

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Spider-Man meets Rey! Tom Holland and newly-blonde Daisy Ridley flex their action star skills as they shoot scenes for sci-fi movie Chaos Walking in front of a green screen in Montreal

Sci far stars: the pair are taking a break from their respective action franchises to shoot the new Robert Zemeckis sci-fi Chaos Walking

The pair appeared to be filming in a junk yard, or somewhere industrial, as they were surrounded by rusty metallic fencing and steel poles.

Leaning on a fence, the pair listened to direction carefully, wrapped up warm attire for the scene.

Daisy sported newly-dyed locks and wore a plaid shirt and what seemed to be an orange backpack.

She appeared to sport violent-looking scratches across her face, still red with blood.

Action scene: The pair were caught behind-the-scenes, shooting a sequence in front of a green screen on location in Montreal

Talking it through: The pair appeared to be filming in a junk yard, or somewhere industrial, as they were surrounded by rusty metallic fencing and steel poles

A new franchise: Spider-Man star Tom Holland and Star Wars' Daisy Ridley look to be taking on a new series of films together

Tom wore a black puffer jacket and wandered across the set to join his co-star.

The plot of the movie is taken from the original book series by Patrick Ness, and based on the first novel in the Chaos Wlking trilogy, The Knife of Never Letting Go.

The slightly off-the-wall synopsis explains that Tom plays Todd, who 'has been brought up to believe that the Spackle released a germ that killed all the women and unleashed Noise on the remaining men. One day he comes upon a patch of silence and soon discovers the source of the silence: a girl, named Viola', played by Daisy.

Busy lady: This appears right up Daisy's street, as she is currenly the star of the new Star Wars trilogy, the second of which is released next month, The Last Jedi

Summer smash: Tom Holland attends the 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' press conference at Conrad Seoul Hotel in Seoul, South Korea this summer

This plot alludes to the fact that the story is set on the distant planet of New World.

This appears right up Daisy's street, as she is currenly the star of the new Star Wars trilogy, the second of which is released next month, The Last Jedi.

Chaos Walking is scheduled to be released on March 1, 2019 by Lionsgate.
Former Bachelor and personal trainer Sam Wood is known for sharing his passion for fitness with fiancee Snezana Markoski.

And with the loved-up couple recently becoming parents to daughter Willow last month, it was only a matter of time before the newborn visited their gym.

Sam and Snezana exercised with their five-week-old bub in Melbourne's The Woodshed this week, but one photo by the fit father prompted public backlash.

Dont mess with THIS dad! Sam Wood hits back at troll who criticised his parenting as he takes newborn daughter Willow to the gym this week

The doting dad had shared an image on Tuesday holding the tot in his arms within the gym, writing: 'Little Willows first @thewoodshed_ visit today. The girl can lift.'

Continuing on with his joke about the newborn's impressive fitness abilities, Sam shared an image of Willow lying unassisted on a bench press on Thursday.

He captioned the post of the sweet girl lying on the equipment in a grey outfit: 'What do you bench?'

'The girl can lift': Sam joked his five-week-old bub joke had impressive fitness abilities, by sharing an image of Willow lying unassisted on a bench press

IMAGE___ 'This is so dangerous': One social media user expressed his distaste with the snap, as Sam and Snezana's dedicated fans rushed to defend the couple in the comments

'This is so dangerous': One social media user expressed his distaste with the snap, as Sam and Snezana's dedicated fans rushed to defend the couple in the comments

While most of the former reality star's followers gushed over the cute picture, one user expressed his distaste with the snap.

'This is so dangerous,' the man wrote, as Sam and Snezana's dedicated fans rushed to defend the couple.

Fans wrote: 'How is this dangerous? You are aware newborns dont move much right? Im pretty sure she wasnt left there all day. Its a cute photo, leave it be' and 'Pretty sure they didnt take this photo from 3 metres away. Everyone loves their children more than anything Im pretty sure no parent would go out of their way to be dangerous... so just let it be.'

Sam quickly shut down the negative conversation with a simple, yet comedic response: 'Dont worry she warmed up properly.'

That's cheeky! Sam quickly shut down the negative conversation with a simple, yet comedic response: 'Dont worry she warmed up properly'

Fit mama! During Willow's first trip to the duo's workout base, mother Snezana also pushed her in a pram while performing lunges

During Willow's first trip to the duo's workout base, mother Snezana also pushed her in a pram while performing lunges.

Mumma and Willow moving nicely for todays 28 minutes workout,' Sam captioned the post.

It was Snezana's first time returning to the gym after giving birth to her second child five weeks ago on October 8.

Sam also shared an Instagram Story of Snezana doing bench presses, captioning it: 'Strongest woman I know.'

'Strongest woman I know': It was Snezana's first time returning to the gym after giving birth to her second child five weeks ago on October 8

The couple fell in love on the 2015 season of The Bachelor.

Willow is the first child shared by Sam and Snezana, but Snezana is also mother to daughter Eve, 11, from a previous relationship.

Sam and Snezana are currently engaged, with Sam popping the questions to his lady love in Tasmania in December 2015.

Fairytale beginnings: The couple fell in love on the 2015 season of The Bachelor
She found fame thanks to her stint on The Bachelor in 2015, when she vied for Sam Wood's love.

But on Thursday night, former topless model Zilda Williams appeared to have long since forgotten the personal trainer as she cosied up to new beau Keith Frazer.

At the Maxim event held on the Gold Coast, the 34-year-old also flaunted her famous E-cup assets in a very low-cut number.

Busty display! At the Maxim 100 event on the Gold Coast on Thursday, Zilda Williams (pictured) flaunted her famous curves in a low-cut dress and cosied up to boyfriend Keith Frazer

The blush pink dress clung to Zilda's curves in all the right places and gave a glimpse of her tanned and toned pins with its racy front split.

Zilda, who was sporting a lighter shade for her hair, accessorised the look with pale pink heels and stuck to the colour scheme when it came to her makeup with light pink eyeshadow and lipstick.

Her younger partner Keith, 27, seemed enamoured with the reality star, donning a collared white shirt tucked into beige pants as he embraced Zilda.

The look of love! The busty Bachelor beauty was joined by Keith for the event and embraced one another as they posed for photos

Fellow Bachelor alum Heather Maltman also made an appearance at the Maxim 100 party.

She opted to show a hint of cleavage in a figure-hugging red dress which accentuated her svelte physique.

The brunette beauty teamed the ensemble with a multi-layered chain necklace and added a black clutch.

Making a statement! Fellow Bachelor alum Heather Maltman also attended the Maxim event

Killer body: Heather opted to show a hint of cleavage in a figure-hugging red dress which accentuated her svelte physique

Another lady in red was Faith Williams who took part in the Richie Strahan season of The Bachelor in 2016.

The stunning star wasn't afraid to flash some skin in the striking strapless number.

A daring thigh-split provided a glimpse of what was underneath while her shoulders were left bare aside from her long blonde locks which gently cascaded over her body.

Colour of the night! Another lady in red was Faith Williams (pictured) who took part in the Richie Strahan season of The Bachelor in 2016
She got her first big break on Channel 4 show Skins - and now Kaya Scodelario, 25, is taking Hollywood by storm.

The British actress looked incredible wearing a short blue halterneck dress with a pink and green flowered design at the Golden Globe 75th anniversary event in LA on Wednesday, held at Catch.

The leggy brunette wore her silky brunette tresses in a long bob style with graduated layers complementing her pretty heart-shaped face.

Flower power: British actress Kaya Scodelario looked incredible in her short floral dress at the InStyle 75th Anniversary of The Golden Globes Award Season held at Catch in Hollywood on Wednesday night

The mother-of-one finished off the flower look with velvet black dolly shoes and a matching little black clutch bag.

The siren was not accompanied by her handsome husband Benjamin Walker, 35, who welcomed their first child together - a son - last December.

Kaya got her first big break in Skins which is a British teen drama that follows the lives of a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England.

Floral girl: British actress looked cute in a short blue halterneck dress with a pink and green flowered design. Kara accessorized with black velvet dolly shoes and a matching bag

Big break: Kara got her first big break in Channel 4 show Skins (pictured). The beauty played Effie alongside Nicholas Hoult and Luke Pasqualino

The beauty played Effie alongside Nicholas Hoult and Luke Pasqualino.

The talented star has gone from strength to strength ever since, picking up the parts of Teresa in the Maze Runner franchise and more recently, Carina Smyth in Pirates Of The Caribbean.

Kaya now lives in New York with American actor Benjamin.

The event was full of celebs including Simone Johnson, the 16-year-old daughter of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, will be the 2018 Golden Globe Ambassador.

American actress Kate Bosworth was also there in pretty pink alongside her director husband Michael Polish.

And Australian actress and rapper Abbie Cornish attended the bash in an elegant monochrome ensemble in West Hollywood.
He has revealed that he is head over heels with his mystery girlfriend.

And Colin Farrell certainly looks content in all aspects of his private life, as he enjoyed some quality time with his son, Henry.

The actor, 41, headed to a local park in Los Angeles to help teach his youngest son how to ride a bike.

Wheel-y good time: Colin Farrell certainly looked content in all aspects of his private life, as he enjoyed some quality time with his son, Henry

The proud dad looked ecstatic as he helped his eight-year-old son to balance on two wheels before he whizzed off along the grass by himself.

Henry is Colin's son with Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus. The pair split in 2010.

He is also father to James, 14, his chi,d with Kim Bordenave.

Speaking about his son, he explained: 'We share in the smallest victories; the first words at age six or seven, being able to feed oneself and getting the seizures under control. When James took his first steps at age four, I nearly broke in half!'

Doting dad: The actor, 41, headed to a local park in Los Angeles to help teach his youngest son how to ride a bike

On the right track: The proud dad looked ecstatic as he helped his eight-year-old son to balance on two wheels before he whizzed off along the grass by himself

The outing comes after Colin opened up his love life on Ellen.

'My girlfriend she travels a lot as well with work so often times we're two ships passing in the night but we make sure to find a port that we can, you know, rendezvous at,' he began.

When asked by Degeneres if she was in the business, the star said that she is not.

'She travels a lot in her work and she works very hard. But yeah, It's been quite awhile now.'

He later said that he 'adored her.'

According to W magazine, the couple have been dating for two years.

In the past, Colin has reportedly been with such high-profile celebrities as Britney Spears, Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan and Angelina Jolie.

Opening up: While on Ellen on Tuesday, Colin Farrell, 41, discussed his romantic life, and spoke highly of his mystery girlfriend

Fawning over her: The star says that he 'adores' his mystery love, who is not in the entertainment business
She's the convicted international drug smuggler who's been busy adjusting to life back in Australia.

Since returning home earlier this year, Schapelle Corby has become something of a social media aficionado.

And in her latest Instagram snap, posted on Thursday, the 40-year-old took the opportunity to flaunt her beach-ready body in a revealing green bikini.

Beach ready! On Thursday, Schapelle Corby (pictured) took to Instagram to share a picturesque photo of herself donning a green bikini that flaunted her assets

The photo showed Schapelle gazing off into the distance while her auburn locks covered one side of her body, leaving the other half exposed.

A picturesque view featuring a lush mountain and glistening blue water made for a stunning backdrop.

The high-profile figure had also tagged the image with the Instagram accounts of several tourism bodies, including Travel Queensland and Discover Beaches.

Behind bars: Schapelle spent nine years in Bali's Kerobokan Prison after being caught with 4.2 kilograms of cannabis in 2004

Schapelle was thrust into the public eye after being caught with 4.2 kilograms of cannabis in a body board bag in Bali in 2004.

She spent nine years in Bali's Kerobokan Prison before being released in 2014 and was deported back to Australia in May this year.

Since arriving back in the country, Schapelle has become somewhat of a social media maven, amassing nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram.

Social media star: Since arriving back in Australia in May this year, Schapelle has amassed almost 200,000 followers on Instagram

Documenting her freedom: Despite being media shy, Schapelle regularly shares snippets of her life on her Instagram account

While famously media shy, Schapelle regularly shares snippets of her life on her social media platforms.

Earlier this month she announced she had started her own Snapchat account.

In her first video on the image messaging app, the beautician could be seen using its famous bunny ear filter as she pulled faces for the camera.
His songs spanning four decades, usually focus on the themes of love, loss and heartbreak.

However rocker Chris Isaak has gone down a very different route for his Christmas song, which was inspired by dogs.

The track titled Dogs Love Christmas Too, had the 61-year-old admitting in Friday's The Daily Telegraph: '(It's) really dumb.'

Gone barking mad? Rocker Chris Isaak, 61, admitted in Friday's The Daily Telegraph, that his latest track centred on dogs is 'really dumb'

'I started writing this really dumb song but I loved it. People are probably going to think I'm a dummy for writing it.'

The Somebody's Crying hitmaker went on to say: 'The lyrics are: 'Dogs love Christmas too, just like me and you. They don't go shopping or hang up stockings, but there is lots of things they do.'

'I didn't know I had this part of my personality that I am such a sucker for Christmas songs and I love dogs.'

All about the canines: 'I started writing this really dumb song but I loved it. People are probably going to think I'm a dummy for writing it,' the rocker told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential

Furry friends: 'I didn't know I had this part of my personality that I am such a sucker for Christmas songs and I love dogs,' Chris went on to say

The song is a far cry from his usual trajectory, often detailing past relationships and heartbreak.

Chris told the Sydney Morning Herald in February 2015: 'Love is a big thing. Why would you set your sights on something lower when you write songs?'

Once a judge on the 2015 season of The X Factor Australia, Chris went on to explain that none of his albuma sound the same.

Trademark: The song is a far cry to Chris' usual trajectory, often detailing past relationships and heartbreak. Pictured in March 1994

'I always just make records the way I want them to sound. I know that limits the market sometimes, but it works in a way because I'm still making records.

'I've been doing it for a long time and I still have concerts and people show up, and I think it's because people like to hear music that's a little different,' he added.

Chris is currently in Australia promoting his upcoming Christmas album, that also includes classics such as Silent Night.
She's long been known as the queen of covering the Melbourne Cup carnival.

And racing presenter Francesca Cumani is saddling up for a bigger role.

According to the Friday edition of The Daily Telegraph, the Channel Seven identity is set to kick off her role as ambassador for the network's expanded Magic Millions coverage.

New gig: According to Friday's Daily Telegraph, racing presenter Francesca Cumani (pictured) is set to kick off an expanded role working on Channel Seven's Magic Millions coverage

The publication reported Francesca is set to join colleagues Hamish McLachlan and Amanda Abate for a VIP launch on Friday for a big announcement.

Seven Media Group's bigwigs Kerry and Ryan Stokes as well as Tim Worner are also anticipated to attend the exclusive launch at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

At the event, they are expected to announce details of a deal between the network and Magic Millions.

VIP attendees: Hamish McLachlan (left) and Amanda Abate (right) will join Francesca for an exclusive launch at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Friday

Francesca recently made headlines at this year's Derby Day when she was spotted wearing the same dress as Jennifer Hawkins.

The stylish British commentator began presenting from Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse in a Jonathan Simkhai cocktail frock, before deciding to put on a black jacket after the model arrived.

Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Myer ambassador flaunted her figure in the same extravagant monochrome dress in the Birdcage.

Seeing double: Francesca recently hit the headlines at this year's Derby Day when she was spotted wearing the same dress as Jennifer Hawkins (left)

Jennifer told Daily Mail Australia she couldn't have cared less about the debacle.

'No biggie! It's never happened to me before. Francesca looked so gorgeous!' she said.

Reportedly, Francesca had to wear a brand stocked by Myer as part of an arrangement with Channel Seven.
They have been notoriously tight-lipped about their romance woes, amid split and cheating rumours.

But Danny Dyer seemed to be back in his comfort zone as he enjoyed a day on the EastEnders set this week.

The actor - who plays Mick Carter on the soap - was spotted filming outside scenes for the show, and cut quite the quirky figure in a pair of novelty bulldog slippers.

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Back in the comfort zone: Danny Dyer seemed to be back in his comfort zone as he enjoyed a day on the EastEnders set this week in a pair of novelty slippers

The fan favourite, 40, confidently strolled around the lot, before changing into a high-vis jacket and hard hat.

According to sources, the actor was shooting an energy scam plotline alongside co-star

And Danny Dyer seemed to send a clear message about the state of his marriage to childhood sweetheart Joanne Mas, as he wore his wedding ring.

The star seemed to be in good spirits amid claims they are planning to move back in together by Christmas.

Danny kept his look casual for the relaxed outing - wearing a tan suede biker jacket teamed with a grey sweater and blue jeans.

Slipping back into things: The actor - who plays Mick Carter on the soap - was spotted filming outside scenes for the show, and cut quite the quirky figure in a pair of bulldog slippers

Casual dude: The actor looked in high spirits as he shot his scenes for an upcoming plotline

Hard to miss: The fan favourite, 40, confidently strolled around the lot, before changing into a high-vis jacket and hard hat

Back to work: The actor was filming scenes alongside Danny Walter, who plays Kieran Taylor

Playful: The stars enjoyed some banter on the set

His outing comes amid claims he has reconciled with Joanne, who is the mother of Danny's three children Dani, Sunnie and Arty.

Insiders claimed Danny is set to leave the pad and is ready to 'behave himself' and make things work with Joanne.

A source told the Daily Star: 'They thought that they couldn't live with each other, but they can't live without each other either.

'Danny got a flat because it was close to the EastEnders studio and he wanted to focus on his work.

Barney! The pair came to blows as they filmed an energy scam scene

Oi oi! Danny looked scared as his co-star lashed out in front of the cameras

Have it! The star put his hands up as Danny's character swung a traffic sign at him

Tale of two Dannys: Walter recently joined the soap as part of the troublesome Taylor family

'Danny has been given the boot once and he knows that if he doesn't behave himself then Joanne won't hesitate to give him the heave-ho again.'

'Things between them are going really well, they're definitely back on track. Danny couldn't be with Jo on her birthday but they've a celebration planned,' another source told The Sun.

It comes after Joanne, who has been dating Danny for 20 years, was also seen flashing her wedding ring whilst out shopping earlier this week.

A source told The Mirror: 'Jo and Danny have both told friends they are not getting a divorce, far from it.

'Last weekend they celebrated their anniversary with walks around London and a lavish dinner on Saturday.

'Danny has wooed Jo back and promised his indiscretions are in the past. He can't live without Jo, and now she is calling the shots.'

MailOnline has contacted reps for Danny Dyer for comment.

Back on? His outing comes amid claims he has reconciled with Joanne, who is the mother of Danny's three children Dani, Sunnie and Arty

Long-term lovers: The pair, who met when Joanne was 14, got married in 2016

Over the summer it was reported that their marriage was on the rocks amid claims he moved out of their home into an apartment.

Danny had a prolonged absence from EastEnders over the summer due to private issues that involve alleged bouts of anger on-set and an alleged affair with former Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding.

The reported fling was said to have happened after they worked together on the 2012 film Run for Your Wife. The revelation came just days after it emerged he was living in a hotel after Joanne 'sent him packing' from their home.

Flying under the radar: Keen to go incognito, he also wore a black trilby and completed his look with a pair of white Converse trainers

Rumour has it: His outing comes amid claims he has reconciled with Joanne, who is the mother of Danny's three children Dani, Sunnie and Arty

Moving in? Insiders claimed Danny is set to leave the pad and is ready to 'behave himself' and make things work with Joanne

But there was light at the end of the tunnel last month as the Daily Mirror reported that Danny had made significant headway in his attempts to save his troubled marriage, with Joanne agreeing to take him back  on one condition.

A source said: 'Danny is still living in the new flat but relations with Jo have improved a lot. They both came together for their daughter Dani's 21st birthday and had a great time. They are working things out.

'But Jo has given Danny a list of conditions and one is that while they patch things up, she won't do his washing.'

Claims: A source told the Daily Star : 'They thought that they couldn't live with each other, but they can't live without each other either'
She is the Bachelor-reject-turned-radio-star who shocked fans by coming out as bisexual in the wake of Australia's same-sex marriage vote this week.

And Heather Maltman continued to wow her followers at Thursday night's Maxim Hot 100 event on the Gold Coast.

The 31-year-old turned heads in a figure-hugging red frock which highlighted her enviable curves and trim pins.

Red hot! Former Bachelor star Heather Maltman sizzles at the Maxim Hot 100 party on the Gold Coast on Thursday after coming out as bisexual and admitting to past reationship with a woman

Appearing in high spirits, she happily posed on the red carpet in the tight dress.

Heather flashes a glimpse of her assets and decolletage in the v-cut design.

She accessorised the frock with a silver body chain necklace and a black clutch.

Peek-a-boob: Heather was all smiles as she flashes a glimpse of her assets and decolletage in the stylish v-cut design dress

The reality star beauty wore her brunette locks out in a natural straight style and had a slick of a shiny lipstick across her pout.

The rest of her makeup appeared minimally applied for the star-studded outing.

Despite keeping a low profile since her ill-fated hosting gig on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! last year, she made headlines this week when she announced she was bisexual.

'It's hard being bi as so many people judge it or make fun,' she told Confidential on Thursday.

Sizzling! She turned heads in a figure-hugging red frock which highlighted her enviable curves and trim pins

'It's hard being bi': Heather Maltman, 31, has returned to the spotlight by coming out as bisexual in light of Australia saying yes to same-sex marriage this week

'To me, I see people I am attracted to and wonderful souls, not a gender.'

Heather also spilled on her previous lesbian relationship with TV scriptwriter Renee Broome- a romance to which she had alluded in an Instagram post earlier in the week.

'Together we became inseparable. Without knowing. I had fallen completely in love with her. I was over the hills for her,' she said, adding that the pair have remained good friends since calling it quits on their relationship.

'I had fallen completely in love with her': Heather also spilled on her previous lesbian relationship with TV scriptwriter Renee Broome- a romance to which she had alluded in an Instagram post earlier in the week

'I was such a lesbian for you': On Wednesday, Heather made headlines when she revealed she had dated a woman

On Wednesday, Heather made headlines when she revealed she had dated a woman.

Taking to her page, the aspiring actress uploaded a throwback photo of herself and Renee as fresh-faced teenagers.

'This lady was my first, and to this day only girlfriend I've ever had,' she wrote in the caption.

Former flame: The pair appear to have enjoyed a fruitful working relationship over the years, having collaborated on a short film titled The Blow Job in 2015

'If I had ever married a woman. It would have and always would have been. This legend. Finally the government is catching up @reneebroome  #marriageequality I was such a lesbian for you. Hahahahhahaha,' she added.

The post shows a fresh-faced 21-year-old Heather slinging her arm across the shoulders of her fiery-haired ladylove.

Heather clarified the timing of her lesbian romance in a comment underneath the post, writing to a pal: 'Mate I was 21. And it was 100% young love.'

Another shot at love: It was this year that Heather made her debut on Channel 10's The Bachelor, vying against a gaggle of other romance hopefuls for a chance at winning personal trainer Sam Wood's heart

The pair also appear to have enjoyed a fruitful working relationship over the years, having collaborated on a short film titled The Blow Job in 2015.

It was this year that Heather made her debut on Channel 10's The Bachelor, vying against a gaggle of other romance hopefuls for a chance at winning personal trainer Sam Wood's heart.

After being evicted from the show, Heather enjoyed a brief romance with fellow aspiring actor Andrew Steel.

Her most recent flame is blond hunk Matt Baker, to whom she has previously referred as 'Derick' in a bid to conceal his identity.
She rose to fame as a newsreader, before increasing her fanbase as she waltzed her way to victory in the inaugural season of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004.

And Natasha Kaplinsky was seen celebrating another significant milestone on Thursday, when she was was made an OBE by Prince Charles, during an investiture ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace.

The 45-year-old ITV News presenter beamed as she made her way to the Royal residence to collect the coveted honour, which was awarded for her services to Holocaust commemoration.

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Honours: Natasha Kaplinsky received an OBE from Charles, Princes of Wales at London's Buckingham Palace on Thursday

And she looked typically chic for the occasion, stepping out in a tailored black dress, which was given a sparkling touch with the addition of glittering embellishments along her collar and on the lining of her pockets.

Standing tall in a pair of gleaming silver heels, she arrived wearing a black fascinator perched atop her chestnut brown mane, while a fitted cream coat kept her warm.

Natasha, who was born to a Jewish father of Polish descent, sits on the United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation advisory board, and spent a year interviewing more than 100 of Britain's last remaining Holocaust survivors.

Services: The ITV News presenter was awarded for her services to Holocaust commemoration

Proud: The 45-year-old beamed with pride as she posed outside the Palace after the ceremony

The Oxford graduate's interviews will be exhibited in an educational centre alongside a new Holocaust memorial set to be built in London, as well as being used as teaching material across the UK.

Brighton-born Natasha discovered during a 2007 appearance on Who Do You Think You Are? that many of her Polish relatives were killed in the Holocaust.

She told the Daily Express in June: 'Taking part in the testimony project and recording one of humanitys darkest hours has been a very painful experience for everyone involved.

'At the outset of this project the Chief Rabbi said recording survivors stories was a sacred task and that kept me going. The survivors put themselves forward because the vast majority had never spoken before, not even to their families.'

Dame: Also on hand on the big day was veteran actress June Whitfield, who was made a dame

Legend: The 92-year-old Absolutely Fabulous star's career to date has spanned seven decades

She added: 'If we didnt record these testimonies these memories, these stories and lessons would have been lost for ever. I was struck by their enormous strength their unbelievable dignity, the inspiration they offer to all of us and in many cases their enormous ability to forgive what they had been through.'

Also receiving honours at Wednesday's investiture ceremony was veteran actress June Whitfield, who was officially made a dame.

The 92-year-old Absolutely Fabulous star, whose career to date has spanned seven decades, told the Press Association: 'Its absolutely remarkable. One feels so honoured and proud. It takes a lot of getting used to.'

When asked about any future career plans she said: 'It just depends, I think Im now more suitable for a role that takes place in bed or in a wheelchair or something so theres not too much walking about.'

Pretty in pink: The star looked chic in a patterned pink-and-black ensemble with a fascinator
She opened the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2016. And now Elsa Hosk is back and ready to join the rest of the Victoria's Secret models in Shanghai, China, for the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The lingerie model - who just turned 29 last week - took a quick snap of her toned abs, before heading to her final workout before the big show.

The show is next week and airs on November 28 on CBS.

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Ab-tastic: Elsa Hosk is back and ready to join the rest of the Victoria's Secret models in Shanghai, China, for the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

The Swedish model wrote alongside her photo: 'Today is the day. one last workout before the [plane emoji] #vsfashionshow17'

This will be Elsa's seventh fashion show appearance for the lingerie company, and her second year as a brand Angel.

The 29-year-old will also be wearing the Swarovski Crystal Anniversary bra which will feature 275,000 multicolored crystals.

Elsa will be following the footsteps of Josephine Skriver who wore the statement piece in 2016.

Made it! Elsa wasn't the only model to show off her excitement for the upcoming lingerie show; Romee Strijd and Jasmine Tookes both shared a photo as soon as they touched down in China

Angelic: Romee was even seen wearing a Victoria's Secret gray T-shirt that read 'angel' and wheeling a pink Herschel Supply suitcase to prepare for the fashion show festivities

Toasty: She also kept warm in a fluffy pink cropped coat

What trip? Her blonde locks were parted in the middle and fell down past her shoulders, while light blush and rose lipstick made the model glow

Fresh as a daisy: The beauty was greeted in Shanghai with a bundle of flowers

The Stockholm-born beauty told WWD: 'When I found out I was wearing the Swarovski look I was so excited as Ive always wanted to wear it. I cant wait to walk down the runway in it.'

Elsa wasn't the only model to show off her excitement for the upcoming lingerie show; Romee Strijd and Jasmine Tookes both shared a photo as soon as they touched down in China.

Both models sported millennial pink wardrobe pieces while posing in front of all their suitcases, with Romee even matching her pretty Herschel Supply to her ensemble.

Models on the move! Megan Williams, 23, and Nadine Leopold, 23, were spotted apparently on their way to the airport in New York

Keeping it comfortable: Megan (left) mixed sweats with a long black and white plaid overcoat, while Nadine opted for burgundy Cotton Citizen 'Melbourne' top and 'Milan' pants

Romee was even seen wearing a Victoria's Secret gray T-shirt that read 'angel' to prepare for the fashion show festivities.

She also kept warm in a fluffy pink cropped coat, and some grey sweatpants. Simple white sneakers rounded out her traveling ensemble.

Her blonde locks were parted in the middle and fell down past her shoulders, while light blush and rose lipstick made the model glow.

Megan Williams, 23, and Nadine Leopold, 23, were spotted apparently on their way to the airport in New York.

Megan mixed sweats with a long black and white plaid overcoat, while Nadine opted for a burgundy track suit.

Match up! Josephine was spotted wearing a red Victoria's Secret pull-over sweatshirt which also read 'Angel', just like the one Romee was seen wearing

Tea time! Candice on the other hand skipped the alcoholic beverages for a warm tea while kicking her feet back and relaxing before the fashion show mayhem

Kicking back: Angels such as Candice Swanepoel, 29, and Josephine Skriver, 24, shared their excitement while on their flight to Shanghai

Angels such as Candice Swanepoel, 29, and Josephine Skriver, 24, shared their excitement while on their flight to Shanghai.

Josephine was spotted wearing a red Victoria's Secret pull-over sweatshirt which also read 'Angel', just like the one Romee was seen wearing.

The 24-year-old seemed to be celebrating the fashion show a bit early as she was seen sipping on a glass of champagne during her flight.

Candice on the other hand skipped the alcoholic beverages for a warm tea while kicking her feet back and relaxing before the fashion show mayhem.

The legendary Alessandra Ambrosio, 36, was also wearing a grey 'Angel' sweatshirt, as she traveled with her daughter Anja.

Family flight! The legendary Alessandra Ambrosio, 36, was also wearing a grey 'Angel' sweatshirt, as she traveled with her daughter Anja

Upon arrival: Sara Sampaio shared a snap of herself with some fans waiting for her outside of the airport

Cute! The Portuguese model looked all smiles as she captioned her snap :'Hi guys.'

Taylor recorded herself in her Shanghai hotel room, and gave her followers a quick look of her amazing city skyline view

Sara Sampaio shared a snap of herself with some fans waiting for her outside of the airport.

The Portuguese model looked all smiles as she captioned her snap :'Hi guys.'

The 21-year-old model Taylor Hill also shared her excitement with multiple Instagram stories.

Taylor recorded herself in her Shanghai hotel room, and gave her followers a quick look of her amazing city skyline view.

Another model who was excited about traveling to Shanghai was Karlie Kloss.

The 25-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel-who took two years off from the brand- wished her long-time friend Lily Aldridge a happy birthday.

Karlie wrote: 'Wishing a very happy birthday to this angel @lilyaldridge. Love you with all my heart...and cant wait to celebrate in Shanghai!'

It seems like Lily will be having an eventful 32nd birthday, as she will be celebrating with all her model friends.

Flying away! Another model who was excited about traveling to Shanghai was Karlie Kloss

Karlie wrote: 'Wishing a very happy birthday to this angel @lilyaldridge. Love you with all my heart...and cant wait to celebrate in Shanghai!'

Adorable: The 25-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel-who took two years off from the brand- wished her long-time friend Lily Aldridge a happy birthday

Other models such as sisters; Gigi and Bella Hadid will be stepping out on the Shanghai runway for a second time together.

As of now, press coverage for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show has been hard due to China's government's strict guidelines.

Bloggers who were invited to the show are cancelling flights due to not being able to receive a visa.

A source told Page Six: 'Its just a nightmare for all the media trying to cover [the show].These TV companies are spending a fortune on it, and they dont even know what they can shoot when they get there.'

The show will be taped for the first time in November and will air November 28 on CBS.
She's stayed out of the spotlight for months.

And Kylie Jenner intends to remain private as she gets used to her reported pregnancy, according to PEOPLE magazine.

The 20-year-old makeup maven is allegedly 'very self-conscious' about her changing body ahead of the anticipated February birth of her first child.

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Keeping quiet: Kylie Jenner intends to remain private about her reported pregnancy, according to PEOPLE magazine; seen in February 2015

'Her body is changing and shes very self-conscious about it,' a source said. 'Shes always been insecure that shes not as curvy or pretty as her sisters.'

She's largely hid from the outside world during the last few months and has kept her inner-circle tighter than ever.

'Kylie is only trusting her closest friends and her sisters right now,' the source said. 'She wants to reveal things on her own terms but shes of course having fun teasing everyone.

Growing up: The 20-year-old makeup maven is allegedly 'very self-conscious' about her changing body ahead of the anticipated February birth of her first child; seen in 2016

'She knows all the attention is on her and her baby bump, but she won't share until she wants to.'

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians starlet has been relying on boyfriend and baby daddy Travis Scott for love and support ahead of the birth of their daughter.

'Travis is so excited about the baby,' the source said. 'Theyre both trying to enjoy this time for themselves and keep it private as long as they can.

Quiet: She's largely hid from the outside world during the last few months and has kept her inner-circle tighter than ever; seen on Instagram last week

'They know its going to be a frenzy when they do come out.'

While Kylie and Travis have only been reportedly dating since April, the rapper is positively keen on his girlfriend.

'Travis is crazy about Kylie and he feels so lucky to have her and the baby,' the insider added. 'The family has been welcoming  they know how important it is to Kylie that everyone gets along.'

Cheer up: The young mom-to-be was reportedly miserable at her pink-themed baby shower over the weekend, according to The Sun; seen on Instagram

The young mom-to-be was reportedly miserable at her pink-themed baby shower over the weekend, according to The Sun.

A source said she was unhappy with her outfit and that her beau Scott could not come because he was on tour, so that put her in a funk.

A pink themed shower was thrown at her Hidden Hills, California mansion with Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian in attendance.

Hoping to brighten up her spirits, Top Shop recently announced that Jenner's cosmetics collection will be available in stores this holiday season.
He was embraced as one of Britain's most beloved entertainers in a career that spanned decades.

But Bruce Forsyth sadly passed away in August, aged 89, and three months following his death, his wife Wilnelia has been spotted returning to the London home she had shared with the late star.

The former Miss World star was joined outside the property by a friend and the duo were seen loading her bags into the boot of Bruce's personalised Jaguar.

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Fond memories: The late Sir Bruce's wife Wilnelia has been spotted returning to the London home she had shared with him - he passed away in August aged 89

Wilnelia cut a casual figure in the capital, as she sported a black velour tracksuit that paired together a zipped hooded sweatshirt and matching trousers. She paired her attire with leather boots and toted her essentials in gold chained handbag, she slung over one shoulder.

The brunette beauty pinned her dark locks back into a ponytail and appeared to showcase her youthful looks with subtle make-up.

It's believed Wilnelia had spent the weekend at the property with her mother, before returning to her country home in Surrey.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Wilnelia.

Bruce had passed away peacefully three months ago, surrounded by his wife and children. His death was confirmed in a statement on August 18 that read: 'It is with great sadness that the Forsyth family announce that Sir Bruce passed away this afternoon, peacefully surrounded by his wife Wilnelia and all his children.

Low-key: The former Miss World was joined outside the property by a friend and the duo were seen loading her bags into the boot of Bruce's personalised Jaguar

Casually glam: Wilnelia cut a casual figure in the capital, as she sported a black velour tracksuit that paired together a zipped hooded sweatshirt and matching trousers

'A couple of weeks ago, a friend visited him and asked him what he had been doing these last eighteen months. With a twinkle in his eye, he responded, "I've been very, very busy... being ill!"

'Unfortunately, not long after this, his health deteriorated and he contracted bronchial pneumonia.

'The family would like to express their thanks to the many people who have sent cards and letters to Bruce wishing him well over his long illness and know that they will share in part, the great, great loss they feel.'

Sir Bruce is loved around the country for his 75-year TV career presenting shows including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and Strictly.

Sad: Bruce had passed away peacefully three months ago, surrounded by his wife and children - his death was confirmed with 'great sadness' in a statement on August 18

Legend: Sir Bruce (pictured above with wife Wilnelia in 2012) is loved around the country for his 75-year TV career presenting shows including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and Strictly

It comes after a series of health scares for the TV star, who was rushed to hospital with a severe chest infection earlier this year.

Sir Bruce was forced to undergo keyhole surgery following a fall at his home in October 2015 after two aortic aneurysms were discovered.

Although he was expected to take two months to recover, the process took longer than initially hoped. Sir Bruce was rushed to hospital in February 2016 for life-saving surgery after his health drastically deteriorated since a serious fall in October 2015.

Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens a month after Bruce's death and made sure to honour their much-loved host to celebrate his legacy.

Concerning: His death came after a series of health scares - Sir Bruce was rushed to hospital in February 2016 for life-saving surgery after his health drastically deteriorated since a serious fall in October 2015

Moving: Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens a month after Bruce's passing and made sure to honour their much-loved host to celebrate his legacy

The entire cast of professional dancers took part in a touching tribute to the late TV personality and performed a routine to Frank Sinatra's classic Fly Me To The Moon, as the likes of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman watched on from the side - with Tess clearly overcome with emotion.

'What a routine,' remarked a moved Tess, who noted of Sir Bruce: 'He would have loved that... Our thoughts are with his dear wife, Winnie. His children, his grandchildren and his great-children.'

She had co-hosted the BBC hit alongside the star from its 2004 inception until he bowed out in 2013.

Choking back tears, she added: 'And everyone - and I mean everyone - at Strictly is thinking of you.'

Lovely: The entire cast of professional dancers took part in a touching tribute to the late TV personality and performed a routine to Frank Sinatra's classic Fly Me To The Moon

'He was a legend to so many people,' Claudia then said. 'But to us at Strictly, he was just Brucie whose hard work, dedication and professionalism helped make this show what it is today.'

Tess concluded: 'And to put it in his own words, didn't he do well,' prompting raucous cheers and applause from the live studio audience. Fighting back tears, she said: 'Bruce, partner, we'll miss you.'

She later added in the opening episode: 'We were all devastated when we heard that news that Sir Bruce Forsyth had passed away,' before introducing a montage of some of the star's most memorable moments on Strictly.

Sharing fond memories of when she first started working with the broadcasting legend, Tess said: 'I'll never forget the first Strictly. It was back in 2004 and I was so nervous... He said, "Just walk out, darling and it'll be alright. I'll give you a twirl."'
She's known for documenting her gruelling workout regimes on social media.

And Lucy Mecklenburgh, 26, showcased the fruits of her hard gym labour on Thursday in a sizzling Instagram photo which flaunted her enviable figure in a racy bikini, captioning the snap 'Never want to leaveeeeee!!!!'

The reality star highlighted her perky posterior as she slipped on a vibrant red bikini by PrettyLittleThing while holidaying in Melbourne, Australia - where her boyfriend Ryan Thomas is filming for Neighbours.

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Bikini babe: Lucy Mecklenburgh, 26, showcased the fruits of her hard gym labour on Thursday in a sizzling Instagram photo which flaunted her enviable figure in a racy bikini... while hinting she would miss her boyfriend Ryan Thomas

Lucy's choice of bikini featured a long-sleeved bardot style top which highlighted her slender shoulders with its frill detail while the skimpy piece also flashed her gym-honed midriff.

She teamed the stomach-flashing garment with matching red high-waisted bikini bottoms that exhibited her slender hourglass curves and teased at her toned thighs.

Beaming Lucy looked over her shoulder while she shielded her eyes with a pair of statement shades that boasted gold accents and clutched onto a beverage.

Seemingly hinting at not wanting to be part from her boyfriend Ryan, the snap was captioned: 'Never want to leaveeeeee!!!! Wearing @prettylittlething #melbourne #melbournelife #plt #penthouse #travel #holiday'.

Eat up: She enjoyed the Melbourne Night Noodle Market with her beau Ryan Thomas

Sun soaked: The fitness fanatic is often documenting her own grueling exercise routines with her 1.2m followers on Instagram. And the pretty star has also been posting her own snaps online of herself soaking up the sun in Australia

The fitness fanatic is often documenting her own grueling exercise routines with her 1.2m followers on Instagram.

And the pretty star has also been posting her own snaps online of herself soaking up the sun in Australia.

Lucy's holiday posts have been fueling speculation that the beauty is about to enter the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! show.

Lucy has flown out to rumoured beau Ryan, while he settles into his new role on the Australian soap.

Flying high: Lucy has flown out to visit Ryan, while he settles into his new role on the Australian soap, and has been documenting her stay in Melbourne on her own social media channels - but has noticeably chosen to keep her reunion with Ryan private

However, the fashion darling has been documenting her stay in Melbourne on her own social media channels - but has noticeably chosen to keep her reunion with Ryan private.

Known for wanting to keep their relationship out of the limelight, she has made sure not to discuss the swirling claims, but did admit it can be 'confusing' when her social media posts are taken out of context in an interview with MailOnline.

'I am used to it, you can never please anyone no matter what you post. It's very, very odd. I've learnt to deal with it,' she claimed.

'I've been in the public eye since I was 19, I'm 26 now. It's confusing sometimes, but you have to let it go ahead over your head.'
She's spent her time in London partying with the likes of Lottie Moss.

But it was back to business for Sofia Richie on Thursday as she attended a photoshoot with Hera clothing in Shoreditch.

Looking in good spirits as she left the shoot, the 19-year-old model looked effortlessly chic as she braved the chilly climes.

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Back to her best: It was back to business for Sofia Richie on Thursday as she posed for a photoshoot with Hera clothing in Shoreditch, London

Sheathing her incredible figure, the pretty blonde donned a vibrant yellow hoodie that she wore beneath an oversized charcoal coat by FRAME, which was cinched in at her slender waist.

She teamed the garment with black leggings, and opted to swap her typically vertiginous heels for a pair of sensible yet stylish trainers.

Accessorising with a small Prada handbag nestled in the crook of her arm, the girlfriend of Scott Disick, 34, finished off the look with a pair of oversized sunglasses.

Chic: Looking in good spirits as she left the shoot, the 19-year-old model looked effortlessly chic as she braved the chilly climes

Despite her young age, it seems the model made quite the impression on set, with Hera owner Ashley White telling DailyMail.com that she was a 'pleasure to work with'.

'Sofia was extremely professional and willing to work with zero complaints!' the businesswoman explained.

'Were really excited for the launch of our SS18 Campaign and hope to work with her again in the future.'

That's a wrap: Sheathing her incredible figure, the pretty blonde donned a vibrant yellow hoodie that she wore beneath a large charcoal FRAME coat that was cinched in at her waist

Leggy lady! Sofia teamed the coat with black leggings, and opted to swap her typically vertiginous heels for a pair of sensible yet stylish trainers

Last week TMZ reported that Sofia has had a calming influence on her boyfriend Scott as he has ditched his party ways for her.

And the site added that her father Lionel Richie is now OK with her seeing the star, who has three children (Mason, Penelope and Reign) with Kourtney Kardashian.

According to TMZ he has been telling friends Sofia has been 'good for him', and since their relationship began over the summer he has chosen staying in with her over going out with pals.

Chic: Accessorising with a small Prada handbag nestled in the crook of her arm, the girlfriend of Scott Disick, 34, finished off the look with a pair of oversized sunglasses

Blonde bombshell: Sofia wore her glossy golden locks in loose waves styled in a side parting

The duo have been pictured on an array of holidays over recent months, including breaks to Mexico and Miami, but reportedly chose restaurants over clubs- with Sofia being under the legal age limit to drink.

Meanwhile Sofia's Hello hitmaker father originally said he was 'scared to death' at the thought of his 19-year-old daughter dating the 34-year-old reality star.

Sofia has now insisted her father is 'cool' with the situation.

Turning heads: All eyes were on Sofia as she made her way out of the photoshoot

Model moment: Sofia flaunted her incredible figure in Hera underwear for the shoot, with the Hera owner calling the teenage model a 'pleasure to work with'

Speaking to E! News, Sofia said: 'He's good. He's been very nice. He's been very cool. He's very supportive, whatever that means.'

However while she gushed about her her dad's support, Lionel was seen jokingly making a gun gesture to his head, before being told off by his daughter.

Sofia's comments come after Lionel previously expressed is concern at the 15 year age gap between his daughter and the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star.

Relaxing: Last week it was reported that Sofia has had a calming influence on her boyfriend Scott Disick, 34, as he has ditched his party ways for her

He said: 'Have I been in shock?! I'm the dad, come on. I'm scared to death, are you kidding me?'

Scott split from Kourtney Kardashian in October 2015 after nine years together. They continue to co-parent sons Mason, seven, and Reign, two, and daughter Penelope, five.

Kourtney has since moved on with Younes Bendjima, 24.
Jenna Elfman is going back to TV.

The blonde actress, best known for Dharma & Greg, has been cast in the fourth season of the hit series Fear The Walking Dead, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It is not yet known what her character will be on the AMC zombie drama.

New role: Jenna Elfman is going back to TV. The blonde actress, best known for Dharma & Greg, has been cast in the fourth season of the hit series Fear The Walking Dead, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Seen in May

Her new show: It is not yet known what her character will be on the AMC zombie drama

In the third season Cliff Curtis' male lead Travis Manawa as well as Mercedes Mason's Ofelia Salazar were killed off.

Other characters may also be dead after a big explosion, though it's clear star Kim Dickens' Madison Clark is all right.

Fear The Walking Dead is told through the lens of high school guidance counselor Clark.

Her love: The star with longtime husband Bodhi arriving at Larry King's 60th Broadcasting Anniversary Event at HYDE in LA

The widowed mother is raising two children single-handedly and as she remains close to English teacher Travis Manawa.

Their lives become filled with chaos as they try to survive.

Elfman's last show was CBS' Courting Alex.

She was also in Accidentally on Purpose, NBC's 1600 Penn and Growing up Fisher, and ABC's Imaginary Mary.

Changes: In the third season Cliff Curtis' male lead Travis Manawa as well as Mercedes Mason's Ofelia Salazar were killed off. Other characters may also be dead after that big explosion, though it's clear star Kim Dickens' Madison Clark is all right

Accord to the HR, the show is going through a 'sea change.'

Fear the Walking Dead is moving its filming location to Texas, according to sources. This was set up the finale as a new villain (Ray McKinnon) left fort 'what's left of Houston.'

He was joined by Alicia (co-star Alycia Debnam-Carey).

It was also speculated that Michael Cudlitz could reprise his role as Abraham. He would still be living in Houston with his wife, son and daughter during Fear's timeline.

Also, Walking Dead superfan Garret Dillahunt has also joined the cast of season four.

And original showrunner Dave Erickson has left the show. Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg (Once Upon a Time) have taken his place.
She played Eve Moneypenny in the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre.

And Naomie Harris, 41, looked every inch the Bond girl as she attended the Swarovski Star event in New York City.

The star rose to the top of the city's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on Thursday, and ensured all eyes would be on her with her glamorous ensemble.

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Beaming in blue: She played Eve Moneypenny in the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. And Naomie Harris, 41, looked every inch the Bond girl as she attended the Swarovski Star event in New York City on Thursday

The stunning actress showcased her slender figure in the fitted rich blue frock, paired with a multicoloured statement Atelier Swarovski by Jason Wu necklace and earrings, as well as an Atelier Swarovski ring.

Looking radiant in her chic attire, Naomie teamed her striking outfit with simple black pumps.

Her glowing complexion was matched with dark plum eyeshadow, rose on the amples of her cheeks, and a slick of nude lipstick.

Her hands were adorned with a flashy jewellery piece, paired with dangle diamond earrings, perfect for the crystal jewellery event.

Elegant: The 41-year-old showcased her slender figure in the fitted rich blue frock, paired with a multicoloured statement necklace

Industry pals: She was pictured chatting with Canadian fashion designer Jason Wu, before heading outside to watch workers secure the star to the top of the world-famous Rockefeller Christmas tree

Blinged-out! Her hands were adorned with a flashy jewellery piece, paired with dangle diamond earrings, perfect for the crystal jewellery event

Svelte frame: Looking radiant in her chic attire, Naomie paired her striking outfit with simple black pumps that boosted her modelesque frame

Stand out! Her glowing complexion was matched with dark plum eyeshadow, rose on the amples of her cheeks, and a slick of nude lipstick

She was pictured chatting with Canadian fashion designer Jason Wu, before heading outside to watch workers secure the star to the top of the world-famous Rockefeller Christmas tree.

In celebration of the festive season, this event came ahead of the 85th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, set to take place on November 29.

The elaborate star is comprised of 25,000 crystals with one million facets and will sit atop the 94-foot-high (28.6m) tree.

Christmas is on its way! In celebration of the festive season, this event came ahead of the 85th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, set to take place on November 29

Heavily embellished piece: The elaborate star is comprised of 25,000 crystals with one million facets and will sit atop the 94-foot-high (28.6m) tree

Excited! Viewers took out their smartphones to take pictures of the crystallised star, which rose to the top of the city's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on Thursday

Naomie landed an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nomination for her latest role as a crack addict in award-winning film Moonlight, released late last year.

However, the British actress admitted she was hesitant to undertake the role as she they are enough 'negative portrayals' of 'black women' in film.

In February, she told The Telegraph: 'I didn't want to play a crack addict. I feel that there are enough negative portrayals of women in general, and black women in particular.

'I grew up with this really strong mother - really intelligent, powerful, independent - and I've always admired her.

'She was part of a group of strong, powerful women as well. I very rarely saw those women represented them. So I initially said no to the role.'
The showrunner on Fear The Walking Dead has been caught lying.

According to Forbes, he fibbed about the show not moving to Houston for its big crossover.

But now sources have told THR that the move to Texas is intended to be for an 'upcoming crossover with the flagship drama.' This was set up the finale as a new villain (Ray McKinnon) left for 'what's left of Houston. '

It was also speculated that Michael Cudlitz could reprise his role as Abraham. He would still be living in Houston with his wife, son and daughter during Fear's timeline.

No crossover: The outgoing showrunner of AMC hit Fear The Walking Dead 'lied about not moving to Houston for its big crossover' according to Forbes

In an interview with Deadline, the horror hit's co-creator Dave Erickson claimed that the show moving its location to Houston, Texas was just 'a happy coincidence'.

Erickson said it had nothing to do with a favorite on the original Walking Dead series having mentioned that's where he was when the zombie apocalypse began and that 'nothing more was planned there'.

In other casting news, Jenna Elfman will be joining the horror spinoff as a series regular.

Nothing to see here: In an interview with Deadline , the horror hit's co-creator Dave Erickson claimed that the show moving its location to Houston, Texas was just 'a happy coincidence'

The blonde actress, best known for Dharma & Greg, has been cast in the fourth season of the hit series Fear The Walking Dead, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It is not yet known what her character will be on the AMC zombie drama.

In the third season Cliff Curtis' male lead Travis Manawa as well as Mercedes Mason's Ofelia Salazar were killed off.

New face: In other casting news, Jenna Elfman will be joining the horror spinoff as a series regular

Other characters may also be dead after a big explosion, though it's clear star Kim Dickens' Madison Clark is all right.

Fear The Walking Dead is told through the lens of high school guidance counselor Clark.

The widowed mother is raising two children single-handedly and as she remains close to English teacher Travis Manawa.

Bloody good show: Fear The Walking Dead is told through the lens of high school guidance counselor Clark

Their lives become filled with chaos as they try to survive.

Elfman's last show was CBS' Courting Alex.

She was also in Accidentally on Purpose, NBC's 1600 Penn and Growing up Fisher, and ABC's Imaginary Mary.

Accord to the HR, the show is going through a 'sea change.'
They recently enjoyed a romantic getaway to Milan, where they took on sight seeing and visited the city's finest shops.

And Arnold Schwarzenegger, 70, and Heather Milligan, 43, left Italy's capital as they wowed at the Bambi Awards in Berlin on Thursday.

The Terminator star put on a charming display as he looked sophisticated in dapper suit, while his girlfriend looked sensational in a elegant floor-length dress, embellished with glittery chains.

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Knockouts! Arnold Schwarzenegger, 70, and Heather Milligan, 43, wowed at the Bambi Awards in Berlin on Thursday

Giving the cameras his classic thumbs up pose, the 70-year-old flashed his square-framed ring in the process, as he paired his suave outfit with leather footwear.

His stunning partner cracked a Hollywood smile as she stood next to her man, showcasing her slender physique.

Her blonde tresses were dressed into an elaborate quiff, as her platinum locks fell down her back.

Heather brought out her glowing complexion with golden toned bronzer, lashings of mascara and a sizzling nude lip.

Finishing her look, she wore small diamond hoops as her shoes were hidden under her dress.

Cute couple:Giving the cameras his classic thumbs up pose, the 70-year-old flashed his square-framed ring in the process, as he paired his suave outfit with leather footwear

Glitz and glam: Heather cracked a Hollywood smile as she stood next to her man, showcasing her slender physique

Accredited awards: As Arnold was awarded with a Bambi gong in 1996, the annual event recognizes excellence in global media and television

As Arnold was awarded with a Bambi gong in 1996, the annual event recognizes excellence in global media and television.

The pair visited a restaurant in Milan earlier on in the day, before jetting to Milan's Linate airport for their red carpet appearance in Germany.

Despite their 27 year age difference the couple certainly seems to be happy as they have been seen together since July 2015.

However, it was recently claimed that Arnold has been dragging his feet in finalizing his divorce with Maria Shriver, who is ready to move forward.

Ready to go! This pair visited a restaurant in Milan earlier on in the day, before jetting to Milan's Linate airport for their red carpet appearance

Out and about: Fans followed the Austrian-American star as he left Milan, dressed in a midnight blue blazer, crisp white shirt and denim jeans

Casual chic: Heather wore a leather jacket with fur collars as she hid behind her sunglasses on her way to Milan's Linate airport

Sources tell the site, 'Maria would like the divorce to become final, but Arnold is not taking the necessary steps to end the marriage.'

She had filed in July 2011 after his affair with the maid had been made public. Through that secret relationship he had fathered a love child named Joseph Baena.

Maria and Arnold have four children together: Katherine, 27, Christina, 26, Patrick, 24, and Christopher, 20.

Since Maria filed, she has seemed to be on good terms with Arnold.

Romantic: The pair were making the most of their trip abroad as they soaked up the sights of Milan on Wednesday
She secretly wed British film director Tom Ackerley in her native Australia last year.

But Margot Robbie, 27, very rarely shares information on their relationship or photographs of the pair together.

On Thursday the actress shared a photograph of the couple taking a stroll around the American desert and captioned it: 'Dreamland.'

Dreamland! Margot Robbie shares rare photograph of her husband Tom Ackerley as the pair stroll around the desert in America

The two are seen with their black dog Boo Radley, who they adopted in February.

Seemingly named for the To Kill A Mockingbird character, the fluffy canine was a rescue dog.

Margot leads the walk with her British beau of four years, Tom, trailing paces behind her.

The Wolf of Wall Street actress is dressed in a casual ensemble of blue denim jeans and a black T-shirt.

Under wraps: Margot secretly wed British film director Tom Ackerley last year

Carrying an empty bottle of Coca Cola in one hand, she wears what appears to be a pair of R M Williams Chelsea boots.

Meanwhile, Her handsome assistant director husband matched his wife's casual display in a maroon-coloured Zeus sweatshirt and jeans.

The couple wed in Byron Bay, Australia, last year and will celebrate their first wedding anniversary next month.

I do: Margot and Tom wed in Byron Bay, Australia, last year and will celebrate their first wedding anniversary in December

Last month Margot revealed that her life with Tom hasn't changed much since they tied the knot.

'My husband and I were roommates before we were even dating, so I'm kind of living with my roommate and it's awesome,' she told Us Weekly.

'We lived with a bunch of people and now we're just living [as] the two of us, so we feel very grown up now.'

The couple, began dating after meeting on the set of Suite Francaise in 2013.
She has been no stranger to controversy during her tenure in the limelight.

And Lara Worthington (nee Bingle), 30, suffered yet another bungle this week when she shared a poorly-worded quote in support of same-sex marriage.

In light of Australia saying yes to marriage equality, Lara took to Instagram on Wednesday to reflect upon the exciting news, sharing an image with the words: 'The world has bigger problems than boys who kiss boys and girls who kiss girls.'

'The world has bigger problems than boys who kiss boys and girls who kiss girls': Lara Worthington (nee Bingle), 30, suffered yet another bungle this week when she shared a poorly-worded quote in support of same-sex marriage on Wednesday

Controversy queen! She has been no stranger to controversy during her tenure in the limelight

'About time Australia!' the mother-of-two wrote in the caption.

While Lara may did not to intend to offend anyone with the well-meaning post, some fans questioned the sentiment behind its wording.

'Kinda makes it sound like being gay is a problem. I don't think that's what you meant, it's just poorly phrased,' one fan reflected in a comment.

Missing the mark? 'Kinda makes it sound like being gay is a problem. I don't think that's what you meant, it's just poorly phrased,' one fan reflected in a comment

'The word has problems. Full stop': Another fan took issue with the term 'problem' being used to describe same-sex relationships

Hitting back: 'Minorities aren't a problem, prejudice is the problem', another wrote

'The word has problems. Full stop. Boys who kiss boys and girls who kiss girls are not now, have never been nor will ever be a problem,' another follower clarified.

Another concurred: 'Minorities aren't a problem, prejudice is the problem'.

Lara's Instagram gaffe comes after she raised eyebrows when she shared an post decrying gun violence in America.

Another bungle! Lara's Instagram gaffe comes after she raised eyebrows when she shared an post decrying gun violence in America, weeks after appeared in a video wielding a large rifle at a Californian shooting range

The post, which featured the quote, 'Books, not guns. Culture, not violence', came just weeks after Lara had shared a video of herself wielding a large rifle at a Californian shooting range.

Lara rose to prominence back in 2006 after she appeared in the famously controversial Australian tourism campaign 'So Where The Bloody Hell Are You?'

Now, more than a decade later, Lara spends her time balancing young motherhood with her duties as the owner of cosmetics brand The Base.
She's one of the most outspoken actresses to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse and has spent the past few weeks waging a Twitter war against Hollywood.

And in a new interview with Flaunt magazine Rose McGowan pulls no punches, demanding action from both men and women in an effort to change the world.

McGowan made her message clear as she explained the importance of being fearless: 'Being scared keeps us exactly where were at. Youre scared? So what. Im scared all the time but Im still brave.

Feminist: Rose McGowan talks about the importance of being fearless in a new cover feature for Flaunt Magazine

'Free your mind. Dont be part of the machine. Even the people that already think theyre different, go even harder in that direction.

'People, especially women, are scared of being disliked. Im here to tell you: it doesnt kill you. Ive been disliked by many people, judged by millions, harassed by even more. Im still here.'

The 44-year-old Scream star covers almost every inch of flesh in the accompanying photoshoot, wearing long sleeved and high-neck ensembles in muted tones.

During the interview, McGowan said she believes change will be hard because men generally have a very comfortable existence.

'People, especially women, are scared of being disliked': The actress demands people be fearless in an effort to stop the mistreatment of women in Hollywood

Modest: The 44-year-old Scream star covers almost every inch of flesh in the accompanying photoshoot, wearing long sleeved and high-neck ensembles in muted tones

She said: 'I was on NPR last year and the male host was like, in his soft NPR voice, "What if what youre saying makes men uncomfortable?"

'I just said, "What if me walking down the street at night makes you think youre going to rape and kill me? Doesnt that make you uncomfortable?"'

The actress, who left formally left acting three years ago, recalled a time in recent years when she got a taste of the male-dominated culture in Hollywood.

'I was at this dinner with all these disgusting Hollywood guys about a year and a half ago and they were all going around the table telling the hardest thing that had ever happened to them in their lives.

'Free your mind. Dont be part of the machine. Even the people that already think theyre different, go even harder in that direction' McGowan told Flaunt

'And every single one of these dips**** told the story of how they were late bloomers and girls didnt like them. So they start by resenting women because theyre not giving them what they want, because this rape culture tells them if youre attracted to them, they owe it to you.'

The Charmed described her relationship with Hollywood now as 'the ultimate insider-outsider'.

'I dont want them and they dont want me. But I worked in it so I saw everything and I know who does what and why people cover it up, which is just weakness and greed and avarice and lack of morality.'

Meanwhile McGowan was arraigned Thursday on a felony cocaine charge, days after she alleged in The New Yorker that the drugs may been planted to discredit her.

Sparkle and fade: The actress said of her departure from Hollywood 'I dont want them and they dont want me'

McGowan told the magazine that she's been so fearful of the movie mogul that she hired her own private investigator to make sure the drug warrant against her was real.

Weinstein has denied the allegations.

The actress is accused by prosecutors of possessing cocaine that was found in a wallet recovered by an airline crew after her Jan. 20 flight to Washington Dulles International Airport, where she had flown to join the Women's March in the nation's capital.

McGowan is one of the most outspoken actresses to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse and has spent the past few weeks waging a Twitter war against Hollywood

McGowan said she reported the lost wallet to the airline after landing. She told the magazine that it must have been taken from her backpack while she was traveling, possibly when she left it on her airline seat while using the restroom.

The Charmed star had been expected to appear in a courtroom for her arraignment, but a judge agreed to waive her appearance at the request of her lawyer.

The judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for January 23 and McGowan told the magazine that she 'will clearly plead not guilty.'

McGowan's lawyer, James Hundley, declined to comment as he left the courthouse.
Two more women have reportedly accused conservative US Senate candidate Roy Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge, of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior

Two more women have accused embattled US Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually inappropriate conduct, media reported Wednesday, but the Alabama politician gave no sign of dropping out of the race as his campaign denied assault allegations.

The website AL.com reported that a woman from Moore's hometown of Gadsden, Alabama said Moore groped her behind when she visited his law office in 1991.

The media outlet also said another woman claimed that Moore asked to date her in 1982, when she was just 17 and he was in his mid-30s, and that Moore told her he went out "with girls your age all the time."

The allegations are the latest in a series of explosive claims against Moore, a conservative former Alabama Supreme Court judge. Five women have previously come forward to accuse Moore, including a woman who claimed he initiated a sexual encounter with her decades ago when she was 14.

Moore, now 70, is the Republican nominee in a special Alabama election December 12 to fill the seat of now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Appearing before media in Alabama, Moore's lawyer Phillip Jauregui denied the allegation of one accuser, Beverly Young Nelson, who this week said Moore sexually assaulted her in his car in 1977, when she was 16.

Nelson showed reporters her yearbook that Moore apparently signed, as evidence that they knew one another.

Jauregui said the campaign wants the yearbook released so that a handwriting expert can determine, "is it genuine or is it a fraud?"

In the new sexual harassment allegation detailed in AL.com, which includes the Birmingham News and Huntsville Times newspapers, Tina Johnson said Moore made her feel uncomfortable during a meeting in his office, when he "kept commenting on my looks."

Johnson was then 28 and in a strained marriage, and was visiting with her mother who had hired Moore to handle a custody petition involving Johnson's son.

As the women left Moore's office, Johnson said, he groped her buttocks.

"He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," she said.

The second woman, Kelly Harrison Thorp, said she he was just 17 when Moore asked her out. She declined.

Mainstream Republicans in Washington have made it clear they want Moore to exit the race.

President Donald Trump has appeared to equivocate on the matter, saying last week that Moore should step aside if the claims proved true, while adding that a mere allegation should not destroy the Alabama politician's life.

On Wednesday Moore tweeted that "we will not quit."
police have also been accused of arresting people en masse, even if they were protesting peacefully or were uninvolved bystanders

A judge Wednesday ordered a US city's police department to change how it responds to street protests, after numerous reports of abusive tactics.

Now, among other changes, police in St Louis are barred from using chemicals like pepper spray against peaceful protesters.

Reporters, protesters and witnesses in St Louis have accused police of using excessive force, including the unjustified use of pepper spray.

The midwestern city's police have also been accused of arresting people en masse, even if they were protesting peacefully or were uninvolved bystanders.

The charges have led the city's mayor and police chief to call for an investigation of alleged abuses.

Both peaceful and violent protests were sparked by the September 15 acquittal of former officer Jason Stockley, who is white, in the 2011 fatal shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, a black man.

Within days, accusations emerged of questionable police tactics in response to the protests.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued on behalf of several protesters, asking a judge to issue a preliminary injunction against police.

Federal judge Catherine Perry agreed Wednesday with the ACLU, barring city law enforcement from using chemical agents such as pepper spray against peaceful protesters who are not threatening any violence.

The judge, finding that the lawsuit was likely to prevail, also barred the city's police from declaring a peaceful demonstration as "unlawful," which then triggers arrests.

Perry criticized the police department's current policy, which she said "permits officers to arbitrarily declare 'there's no more assembling'."

The city mayor's office released a statement in late September calling allegations of police abuse "troubling," but issued no public response to the judge's preliminary injunction ruling.

A mayoral spokesman told the St Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper that the city would comply with the order.

The ACLU applauded the decision, saying the order required police to adopt "common-sense solutions."

The same judge in 2014 issued a preliminary injunction against police responding to violent unrest and protests in nearby Ferguson, Missouri, after another racially-tinged police shooting.

Groups advocating for press freedoms last month also accused St Louis police of mistreating journalists covering the demonstrations.

Two filmmakers have filed a separate lawsuit, claiming they were abused by officers and retaliated against for documenting the protests and the police response.
Hundreds of migrants have flocked to Calais, desperate to reach Britain

When the squalid Jungle camp near Calais was demolished last year, France hoped it was the last time migrants trying to reach Britain would be sleeping in tents and makeshift shacks outside the port city.

But just over a year later, as another winter sets in, there are still hundreds of migrants bracing for the cold, desperate to cross the Channel and to make a fresh start in Britain.

This time, however, they do not have a camp or even tents to sleep in, and a pledge by authorities to provide shelter will kick in only when daytime temperatures fall below minus five Celsius (23 Fahrenheit) and minus 10 (14 Fahrenheit) at night.

"My birthday is in a few days, but I don't think I'll be celebrating," said Mohammad, a 23-year-old from Syria, as he and several other migrants gathered at a community kitchen run by the Auberge des Migrants NGO.

Even though the harshest winter weather has not yet hit, most are already exhausted as they battle the cold and the lack of sleep.

Having been here just four days, Mohammad tries to look on the bright side as he warms his hands over a portable heater.

"It's tough, it's really cold. But me? I've no problems with clothing and I've got a sleeping bag," he says.

Another Syrian, who is also named Mohammad and is seven years older, doesn't have it so good.

"I need some better shoes," he says, pointing to the holes in the ones he is wearing.

"I ask every day" if local associations might have some -- but so far in vain.

- Shoe confiscations -

NGOs working in Calais say police often confiscate the belongings -- sometimes even the shoes -- of migrants hoping to cross the Channel to Britain

Proper footwear is a major issue for many of the migrants. Some associations blame the local authorities for confiscating the meagre possessions that the asylum seekers do possess -- sometimes even their shoes.

"Belongings are confiscated and destroyed systematically, from sleeping bags to tents, shoes and personal items," says Franck Esnee, regional coordinator from the NGO Medecins du Monde.

"We have to distribute every week, or even more often," says Sylvain Marty of the Auberge des Migrants, pointing to shelves of sleeping bags in storage.

"The refugees don't understand why one guy brings them blankets and then another takes them away the next day," he says.

Hundreds of migrants are camping out in the cold near Calais

Contacted by AFP, a spokeswoman at the local prefect's office, which represents the French state in the Calais area, confirmed that "dismantling operations have taken place."

But she added that "migrants are always invited to keep their personal effects" -- assuming they are present.

But those who are not -- who may have gone to a food distribution point, for instance -- will see their belongings taken away.

- Cold '24 hours a day' -

"I've been here for four months, I sleep in the street," says Girmoy, a 42-year-old Eritrean, as he heads for the food queue.

"I'm alone, I'm cold 24 hours a day."

About 40 police officers arrived at the start of the week, swelling the ranks of a 1,130-member force in the region, of whom 440 are charged with what the authorities call the "migration problem".

Local associations provide food and basic essentials as well as a chance for refugees to charge their mobile phones

"The state must understand the solution is not to act as if the migrants are invisible," Esnee said, calling the authorities' plans to deal with the problem "not good enough".

Esnee adds that migrants who fill the 300 spaces available at four reception centres the government has opened across the region leave after just a night or two, with most having no intention of claiming asylum in France.

Given the extreme conditions they face, some take to drinking to blot out the cold.

Natacha Bouchart, the conservative mayor of Calais, last month denounced migrants who she said "drink a lot, down litres of vodka and get into fights".

Calais' mayor Natacha Bouchart, of the conservative Les Republicains, last month accused some migrants of getting drunk and getting into fights

The alleged rape of a local woman by a 22-year-old Eritrean some days later added to the tensions.

Marty of the Auberge des Migrants said he had helped to organise meetings with some of the migrants "to tell them to go easy on the alcohol, which they have done."

But the cold and alcohol are both proving hazardous, sometimes jointly.

"One morning I picked up someone suffering from hypothermia. He couldn't wake up after drinking the previous day and had to spend two days in hospital."
A picture taken on April 4, 2017 shows destruction at a hospital room in Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in the northwestern Syrian Idlib province, following a suspected toxic gas attack

The UN Security Council was expected to vote, probably on Friday, on a 30-day extension of a UN-led investigation of chemical weapons attacks in Syria to allow for negotiations after Russia vetoed a renewal of the probe.

Japan on Thursday presented a draft resolution that would give the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) another 30 days as the United States and Russia work to reach a compromise on the future of the panel.

Russia earlier cast its 10th veto on Syria at the council, blocking the one-year extension of the JIM as proposed in a US-drafted resolution that won 11 votes.

A Russian-drafted resolution fell short of the nine votes required for adoption, garnering just four votes in favour.

The joint UN-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel was set up by Russia and the United States in 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the council, which renewed its mandate last year.

The expert team is tasked with determining who is responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Russia has sharply criticized the JIM after its latest report blamed the Syrian air force for a sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead.

The attack on April 4 triggered global outrage as images of dying children were shown worldwide, prompting the United States to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base a few days later.

Syria has denied using chemical weapons, with strong backing from its main ally Russia.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley assailed the veto as a "deep blow", saying: "Russia has killed the investigative mechanism which has overwhelming support of this council."

"By eliminating our ability to identify the attackers, Russia has undermined our ability to deter future attacks."

The Japanese move however revived hope that the JIM could be salvaged.

The draft text obtained by AFP would renew the JIM mandate for 30 days and task UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with submitting to the council in 20 days "proposals for the structure and methodology" of the panel.

Japan requested a vote for Thursday, but diplomats said it was more likely that the council would consider the measure on Friday.

A resolution requires nine votes to be adopted at the council, but five countries -- Russia, Britain, China, France and the United States -- can block adoption with their veto power.

- Flawed probe -

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the investigation of the Khan Sheikhun attack suffered from "fundamental flaws" and that the US-drafted resolution was "geared toward entrenching the inherent flaws of the JIM."

In its draft, Russia had insisted the panel's findings on Khan Sheikhun be put aside to allow for another "full-scale and high-quality investigation" by the JIM.

The Russian veto came as the United Nations was preparing to convene in Geneva on November 28 a new round of talks to end the six-year war and underscored deep divisions over Syria.

Eleven of the council's 15 members voted in favor of the US-drafted resolution, while Egypt and China abstained. Bolivia joined Russia in voting against the measure.

Russia, China, Bolivia and Kazakhstan voted in favour of the Russian draft, while seven countries opposed it. Four countries abstained: Ethiopia, Senegal, Egypt and Japan.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the Russian veto was a blow to international efforts to curb the use of chemical weapons.

"Let there be no doubt: we have unleashed a monster here," said Delattre.

Previous reports by the JIM have found that Syrian government forces were responsible for chlorine attacks on three villages in 2014 and 2015, and that the Islamic State group used mustard gas in 2015.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, Nnamdi Kanu, on bail and facing treason charges, has not been seen in public since September and his family say he is in military custody

Voters in Anambra state, southeast Nigeria, go the polls to elect a new governor this weekend, with security tight after a call from a pro-Biafran group for people to boycott the polls.

The result of Saturday's election is unlikely to change anything politically at national level but proceedings are being watched closely because of what analysts have said are "unprecedented" measures to stop unrest.

Nigeria's federal police said it is sending 26,000 extra police officers, including counter-terrorism and bomb disposal specialists, sniffer and attack dogs.

Three surveillance helicopters will monitor proceedings from the air, while there will be 10 gunboats on the river Niger, plus 15 armoured personnel carriers and 303 patrol vehicles.

Police said the measures were "to ensure adequate security and safety of lives and properties before, during and after the elections".

"Police personnel deployed for the election are under strict instructions to be polite and civil but firm in the discharge of their duties and other responsibilities," it added.

But the tactics are being seen as heavy handed.

"This is an unprecedented deployment. It's an aberration. It's like we are in a war situation. For God's sake, this is an election," security consultant Don Okereke told AFP.

"It will be counter-productive as there will be voter apathy, which will lead to low turnout of voters and the election of unpopular candidates."

- 'Civil disobedience' -

Some 37 parties are fielding candidates in Anambra to try to wrest power from governor Willie Obiano, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who is seeking a second term.

The leading contenders are Oseloka Obaze, of the main national opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Tony Nwoye of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

But Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is the most well-known name as the polls prepare to open.

In September, long-running tensions between his supporters and the military boiled over after soldiers were sent in large numbers to the neighbouring state of Abia.

The military maintained the deployment was part of a scheduled operation against violent crime but IPOB claimed it was clearly aimed at cracking down on their activities.

Kanu, who is on bail and facing treason charges, has not been seen since September 14. His family maintain he is in military custody, which top brass deny.

IPOB has held repeated protests calling for a separate state for the Igbo people who dominate southeast Nigeria, reviving secessionist sentiment that led to a civil war 50 years ago.

Then, more than one million people died from the effects of war, starvation and disease. Resentment towards the federal government has persisted across generations.

Kanu told AFP in May that his aim was "civil disobedience until we get a referendum" on self-determination and said it was "the only way forward".

- Militarisation -

On May 30, IPOB's call for a shut-down of shops, schools and businesses to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafran independence was widely observed including in Anambra.

It said a boycott of this weekend's polls was made to prevent bloodshed.

"This is markedly different from stopping the election, which involves physically coming out to disrupt the voting process... violently," it said in a statement.

It condemned what it said was the "militarisation" of Anambra and claimed that with the reinforcements there would be "one polling station to 11 heavily armed security personnel".

"This militarisation is the more reason why Biafrans have decided unanimously to stay at home and boycott the election and avoid being shot and killed," it added.

The police meanwhile have urged voters to ignore the IPOB boycott and vote, warning the group that it would "not hesitate to use all legal means" to prevent any disruption.

Dapo Thomas, a history and politics lecturer at Lagos state university, said the government had responded appropriately because IPOB's call for a boycott was a "threat".

"The government does not want to take chances. That's why it has sent special forces, not only to protect those willing to vote but also to flex its muscles," he added.

The government of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has designated Kanu's Indigenous People of Biafra as a terrorist organisation

Political analyst Chris Ngwodo said a show of force was to be expected because of President Muhammadu Buhari's military background and his government's designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

But he said the situation could become "very combustible" if there is a push-back between the parties against electoral irregularities on either side with IPOB in the mix.
Yacoub Odeh, a 77-year-old Palestinian, sits by old houses in the ghost village of Lifta, whose Palestinian inhabitants fled during fighting in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel

Near the stone ruins of the home where he says he lived as a boy, Yacoub Odeh laments that his native village on Jerusalem's hillside may soon be transformed forever.

"I want to come back to my home, to my house, to my village, to my land," the 77-year-old said.

Lifta, an abandoned former Palestinian village in a bucolic spot at the entrance to Jerusalem, is at the centre of a preservation fight over an Israeli plan to build villas there.

It is a rare example of a village that still exists after its Palestinian inhabitants fled in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel, though its history extends much farther back in time.

The village, in mainly Jewish west Jerusalem, is on a tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the World Monuments Fund organisation has put it on its list of sites under threat.

No one lives there anymore, but the remains of stone homes with arched entryways still stand, along with idle olive presses and the ruins of a village mosque.

A natural pool in the village's centre continues to be used for swimming during the sweltering Jerusalem summer, while almond, fig and olive trees dot the surrounding hillsides.

In the face of plans to develop villas, commercial space and a hotel there, a coalition of Israelis and Palestinians have come together to try to preserve it -- sometimes for differing reasons.

Palestinians like Odeh who were chased from their homes in 1948 hope to one day have their land back.

Others also want the village to stand as testimony of what happened to Palestinians in 1948 -- what they call the Nakba, or catastrophe.

- 212 villas -

Lifta, a reportedly centuries-old village on the outskirts of Jerusalem, is at the centre of a preservation fight over an Israeli plan to build villas there

For Israelis involved in the Save Lifta Coalition, including at least one man who lived there after the Palestinians fled, the village must be preserved as a unique, historic site.

"It's the most beautiful place in the world," said Yoni Yochanan, a 57-year-old who was among the last to leave a few months ago.

Yochanan, who said his parents moved to Lifta in 1951 after arriving from Kurdistan, is not against development, but says the village's history must be kept intact.

Israeli authorities have long sought to develop it, with those in favour saying investment is needed to keep it from deteriorating further.

A Jerusalem planning committee in August delayed the plans after concerns were raised over the village's preservation, and a new version is expected.

But plans so far have involved 212 villas with commercial space and a hotel, according to Shmuel Groag, an architect specialising in conservation involved in the Save Lifta Coalition.

Zeev Hacohen of Israel's Nature and Parks Authority said any development must respect rules set out by the country's antiquities authority, which has carried out a survey of the site but reportedly delayed its release at the request of Israeli authorities.

A spokeswoman for the Israel Lands Administration said it expects to market the site in the coming months.

"A construction plan was drafted which allows for development while paying strict regard to the issue of conservation," Ortal Tzabar said in an emailed response to questions.

"To leave the site as it is would lead to neglect and the gradual disintegration of the existing buildings."

Due to the preservation required, the price tag could be especially high for a developer, but the location could still be a draw.

It is only around 10 minutes from Jerusalem's Old City yet hidden away, with striking views of surrounding hills.

- 'Frozen evidence' -

Yacoub Odeh, a 77-year-old Palestinian, says he lived in Lifta as a boy

The coalition says the plan for the villas would essentially destroy the village's rich heritage.

Its history is thought to date back to at least the 13th century BC, said Dafna Golan of the Save Lifta Coalition. Some connect it to the biblical Jewish village of Mei Neftoach.

It has been built over repeatedly throughout history, and 55 stone homes remain from the Palestinian village that existed before 1948.

"I would say it's frozen evidence of the issue of the destroyed villages," said Groag, the architect involved in preservation efforts.

"That's why it annoys the Israeli land authority, because they don't want it turned into a sort of non-official monument for the destroyed villages."

Some 750,000 Palestinians -- including Lifta's residents -- were either forced from their homes or fled during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.

Shortly afterwards, Lifta was given a new lease on life when Jews from areas such as Kurdistan and Yemen emigrating to Israel were told to live there by the government, according to Yochanan.

Over the years, they relocated, and the last 13 families received compensation and moved elsewhere in recent months as Israel sought to widen a nearby highway.

On a recent day in the village, Odeh, the Palestinian whose family fled, pointed out old stone ovens and said he remembered his mother using them to bake bread.

He followed a trail leading from where he said his family's home was located through the stone ruins. A bridge for a future high-speed train stood in the distance.

"I'm happy to come and see my home... to smell the land," he said.

"But at the same time, I am sad that I can't remain here."
Environmentalists demonstrate against fossil fuels such as coal prior to another session of the UN conference on climate change on November 15, 2017 in Bonn, western Germany

Countries launched a coal phase-out initiative Thursday at UN climate talks in Bonn, offering an antidote to the defence of Earth-warming fossil fuels by US President Donald Trump's administration.

Spearheaded by Canada and Britain, the "Powering Past Coal Alliance" commits more than 20 nations, cities, and regions to weaning themselves off a commodity that produces 40 percent of the world's electricity -- a major contributor to global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

The list includes Angola, Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, the Marshall Islands, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, and Mexico, the regions of Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta, and the city of Vancouver.

The state of Washington is the sole American signatory.

"This is another positive signal of the global momentum away from coal, benefiting the health of the climate, the public and the economy," said Jens Mattias Clausen of Greenpeace.

"But it also puts on notice the governments who lag behind on ending coal, or those who promote it, that the worlds dirtiest fossil fuel has no future."

The Trump administration insisted Thursday it was "committed" to limiting greenhouse gas emissions, as long as this does not threaten energy security or the economy.

"Our guiding principles are universal access to affordable and reliable energy, and open, competitive markets that promote efficiency and energy security, not only for the United States but around the globe," US acting assistant secretary of state Judith Garber told the conference.

To this end, it would "support the cleanest, most efficient power generation, regardless of the source," she said.

Garber was the most senior US administration representative at the "high-level segment" of the annual UN climate huddle. Most other countries were represented by heads of state or ministers.

On Monday, White House officials drew the ire of observers and delegates in Bonn by hosting a sideline event defending the continued use of fossil fuels at a forum whose very purpose is the drawdown of carbon emissions.

- Protecting US interests -

Trump announced in June that the United States will withdraw from the climate-rescue Paris Agreement championed by his predecessor Barack Obama and endorsed by the world's nations to cheers and champagne in 2015. The rules determine that no country can exit the pact before November 2020.

Garber said Washington still intends to withdraw "at the earliest opportunity", but remained "open to the possibility of rejoining at a later date under terms more favourable to the American people."

An Obama-era official who helped deliver the agreement -- a feat that took more than two decades of tough negotiations -- lashed out Thursday at Trump's "wrongheaded" decision.

"Climate change is a huge challenge, we all know that," Todd Stern, who was Obama's special envoy for climate change, told AFP on the sidelines of the conference he attended as an observer. He left government in 2016.

"We are in a... race against time to transform the economy faster than the bad stuff of climate change. Trying to say it's a hoax, or it doesn't mean anything, or it's a terrible agreement and the rest of the world is laughing at us, is just so.. ridiculous," he said -- citing some of Trump's stated reasons.

The United States is the world's biggest historical greenhouse gas polluter, and second only to China for current-day emissions.

The US presence at the Bonn talks has not been universally welcomed, especially as it has taken a tough line on a demand from developing countries for a firmer commitment to climate finance.

Trump has also renounced an Obama-era promise to deliver $2.5 billion dollars into the Green Climate Fund.

Many question why the US is at Bonn at all, given its rejection of the Paris Agreement.

The State Department explained Washington wished to "ensure a level playing field that benefits and protects US interests."

- Three degrees -

The Paris Agreement commits countries to limiting average global warming to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over Industrial Revolution levels, and 1.5 C if possible, to avert calamitous climate change-induced storms, drought and sea-level rises.

Nations submitted voluntary emissions-cutting commitments to bolster the deal, but scientists say the pledges placed the world on course for warming of 3 C or more.

Since Monday last week, bureaucrats have haggled over a Paris Agreement "rule book", which must be finished next year and will specify how countries calculate and report their emissions cuts.

Energy and environment ministers descended on Bonn Wednesday for the final three days, tasked with resolving tough issues above the pay grade of rank-and-file negotiators.

"The Paris Agreement is a global pledge to hand over a healthy planet to future generations, and now the time has come to show that we will honour this pledge," European Union climate change commissioner Miguel Canete told delegates on Thursday.
In Ethiopia, so-called girls' clubs in schools are helping break the taboo of talking about menstruation

There's one room at the Sheno primary school in rural Ethiopia that's different from all the others, starting with the sign over the door reading: "Menstruation is a gift from God."

Inside this converted classroom, boys and girls gather in what some pupils call the "girls' club" to break one of the country's most enduring taboos: talking about periods.

In Ethiopia, adolescent girls are generally left to muddle through puberty on their own without guidance or the means to buy sanitary pads.

Only 54 percent of Ethiopian girls finish primary school, according to the United Nations children's fund, UNICEF, and many abandon it because of cramps or embarrassing mishaps during their periods.

With child marriage prevalent in rural areas, local beliefs link menstruation to sexual activity, and so an accidental blood stain could see girls relentlessly teased by their classmates.

When 14-year-old Yordanos Tesfaye first got her period, she was "shocked and frightened".

"I went home and told my father but he couldn't afford to buy me a pad. Then I told my friend and she suggested I use a rag. However, I didn't know how to use it and dropped it on the street and I was very embarrassed," she told AFP.

Like many teenage girls, she was tempted to drop out of school, but support from the girls' club convinced her to stay.

Only 54 percent of Ethiopian girls finish primary school, according to UNICEF, and many abandon it because of cramps or embarrassing mishaps during their periods

The clubs -- officially called "menstrual hygiene management" clubs and open to pupils aged 11 and older -- began as a collaboration between local health officials and UNICEF, based on the idea that adolescent girls won't stay in school if they can't effectively manage their transition to womanhood.

"That (time) of the girls' lives is absolutely critical to manage well in order to improve the sort of academic performance and reduce the dropouts in school," said Samuel Godfrey, UNICEF's sanitation chief in Ethiopia.

The programme has been implemented in 65 schools and UNICEF is planning to expand it further.

- 'Not a disease' -

Children attend primary school in Ethiopia from the age of seven to 14 but many stay longer if they were late to enroll or have repeated a class.

At Sheno school, which has more than 760 pupils and lies some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, sanitary pads are given out for free and boys and girls work together to demystify the female menstrual cycle.

Since the girls' club opened three years ago, Sheno's rate of dropouts due to period woes has been reduced to zero. The year before it opened, 20 girls left, according to the school.

Clad in a white coat, biology teacher Tafesech Balemi guides girls through the changes their bodies are experiencing, while also educating the boys.

She hands out reusable sanitary pads to girls who can't afford to buy them and also offers a shower and a mattress where they can lie down if they don't feel well.

Biology teacher Tafesech Balemi guides girls through their body changes and educates boys to demystify the female menstrual cycle

"We teach students in this club that menstruation is a gift from God. We teach them that it is not a disease but rather it is natural and biological," she explains.

Tafesech also tracks girls who don't come to school and will meet with their families if she believes their absenteeism has something to do with menstruation.

At another school in the same region, Hiwot Werka, 14, was mortified when she got her period while in class, staining her uniform.

"I used to hide... the whole day until nobody was around."

Adding to her shame, her mother accused her of being sexually active and forbade her from leaving the house, beating her when she tried to go to school.

Local health officials went to speak to her family, to explain to them that what Hiwot was going through was normal and not linked to sex.

"After a time, my mother came to realise that menstruation is normal," said Hiwot, who was allowed to return to school.

- Key role for boys -

Despite the name of the clubs, boys are an integral part of it because they help fight some of the most vicious side-effects of the menstruation taboo.

An Ethiopin initiative hands out reusable sanitary pads, like those being made here, for free

Yonas Nigussie, 14, remembers teasing girls who had a mishap during that time of the month, yelling out: "You know you have blood on your behind!"

He credits the club with changing his attitude completely, and now tells friends who taunt girls to knock it off.

"I remember when my sister got her first period. I was the one who brought her pads," Yonas said.

Ethiopia is among several countries in Africa that have implemented ways to accommodate women during their periods.

In 2015, Zambia enacted a law allowing women to be absent from work without notice to help them deal with menstrual pain.

And earlier this year, Kenya mandated that all schools provide sanitary pads to girls, free of charge.
Senegal is suffering the effects of climate change

The echo of Koranic verse from a religious school in Senegal's Saint-Louis is familiar, but just metres down the beach classes have fallen silent in another building abandoned to the ravages of climate change.

Listed in 2000 as a UNESCO world heritage site, Saint Louis has fallen into disrepair, and without urgent intervention more than 300 years of colonial history could be lost.

Beautifully coloured buildings with colonial facades line the streets of the city, once known as "Africa's Venice", but on closer inspection many are crumbling. Others that look on to the beach succumb to Atlantic waves.

And at the cathedral, large sections of plaster peel from the walls and float to the earth.

"It's dramatic and it could become extremely serious," said French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on a visit Tuesday to what was once the Senegalese capital, and where the first French chartered company set up shop in 1659.

On a thin, sandy strip separating the Senegal River from the ocean, the effects of rising sea levels driven by climate change are clear.

Abdoulaye Mben Khali School was forced to relocate eight year groups to another establishment, Cheikh Ndar, itself just 50 metres away on the seafront and also under threat from the waves, explained Saint Louis governor Mariama Traore.

Meanwhile more than 150 families have lost their homes in recent years, several during the height of the storms of Senegal's rainy season in September.

They are now living in tents near the city's tiny airport.

- Fightback -

Senegalese President Macky Sall left the capital, Dakar, on Tuesday to attend a UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, where developing nations will repeat longstanding calls for the world's biggest economies to respect agreements on lowering greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels.

This week, Syria became the 196th country to formally adopt the hard-fought Paris Agreement, signed in 2016, leaving the United States as the only nation in the UN climate convention to reject it.

The Paris Agreement commits countries to limiting average global warming to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over Industrial Revolution levels, and 1.5 C if possible, to avert calamitous climate change-induced storms, drought and sea-level rises.

Away from the corridors of international diplomacy, the World Bank is conducting a study on the city and its battle against climate change at the behest of the Senegalese authorities.

"I hope the conclusion will come through quickly because we must draw up an action plan," France's Le Drian noted as he toured the city's winding alleys.

Meanwhile work is due to begin imminently on a 3.6-kilometre (2.2-mile) long dyke to protect the city's most heavily populated neighbourhoods.

Other symbols of France's colonial past in Senegal, which ended with independence in 1960, have created serious debate.

When a bronze statue of Louis Faidherbe, governor of Senegal between 1854-1861 and then 1863-1865, fell from its pedestal in the town square during September's storms, some said good riddance.

But the Senegalese authorities ultimately decided the statue counted as heritage nonetheless and was therefore to be protected, against the cries of pandering to the preservation of colonialism.

The square where Faidherbe was resurrected was supposed to be renovated to the tune of 24.5 million euros ($29 million) by France's development agency, but despite approval in 2011 work has yet to begin.
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 recently launched G5 Sahel force must ensure human rights are respected as it combats jihadists and criminals in this troubled swathe of Africa, officials say, to avoid further radicalisation of the population.

The five-nation counterterrorism force has completed its first operation in a zone covering the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all of which face an Islamist insurgency that has tacit support in areas where a state presence is near absent.

Andrew Gilmour, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, said abuses under the guise of counter-terror "create more terrorists than there were before".

The viability of the force rested on its ability to gain the trust of local populations and maintain the support of the international community, he said while visiting Mali to meet force commander Didier Dacko.

The precedents set in recent years sit uneasily with these ideals, however.

Peacekeepers serving with the UN mission in Mali, present since 2013, have been accused of excessive force and the world body has admitted instances of torture and sexual abuse by staff, as well as one instance of causing the death of a detainee.

The Malian army has also faced abuse allegations, in particular in the troubled northern and central regions where ethnic minorities are more strongly represented.

"In central Mali, terrorist armed groups are often firmly entrenched within the population and in some cases have taken on state functions," noted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a report released a month ago.

Military operations that have no benchmarks for rights "not only adversely harm civilians and result in human rights violations, but may also risk contributing to further destabilisation, including fuelling youth radicalisation," Guterres added.

- Urging legitimacy -

The vast Sahel region, stretching from Senegal to Sudan, has turned into a hotbed of lawlessness since chaos engulfed Libya in 2011, Islamists overran northern Mali in 2012 and Boko Haram rose up in northern Nigeria.

Priority number one for the G5 force is to re-establish authority in the Burkina-Mali-Niger border region, according to General Dacko, speaking at the force's headquarters in Sevare.

However, its biggest logistical headache currently is a funding gap, to be discussed at a summit on the Sahel in Brussels in mid-December.

Estimates for its 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 totalling 108 million euros, comprising 50 million euros from the European Union, 50 million euros from the five countries themselves and 8 million euros from France, plus $60 million promised by the United States.

With that in mind, donors should be aware that financial backing came with its own responsibilities, said the International Red Cross's Deputy Regional Director for Africa Patrick Youssef, speaking at a security forum held in Dakar, Senegal this week.

"Supporting troops with money and arms comes with an obligation to respect the Geneva Convention and make it respected," he said.

The UN is not the only foreign military presence deployed in the Sahel. France has a 4,000-strong force known as "Barkhane" deployed across the region, which is supporting the nascent G5 initiative.

"We cannot allow ourselves to have a force which renders itself illegitimate by abuses," Colonel Arnaud Cervera of Barkhane told AFP.

The French have included human rights law during conflict into programmes for Malian soldiers, he said, and emphasis was put on the need to prove military legitimacy on joint missions.
Pakistan is ranked third in the world for the number of deaths caused by pollution

The toxic smog that has covered parts of Pakistan for weeks has exposed official torpor over rampant pollution that has killed thousands more people than have died in years of militancy.

The polluted air that has lingered in Islamabad in recent days was finally dispelled by rain this week, bringing the surrounding Margalla Hills into view once again.

In Lahore, where the situation was most critical, the level of PM2.5 -- microscopic particles that lodge deep in the lungs -- had dropped to 159 Wednesday from more than 1,000 during the pollution spike, according to PakistanAirQuality, a citizen-driven monitoring initiative.

But what looks good for Pakistan is still very bad: 159 is six times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) safe limit.

"Question is, can a change from #Hazardous to Very #Unhealthy be called an improvement?" tweeted PakistanAirQuality.

Pakistan is already ranked third in the world -- behind China and India -- for the number of deaths caused by pollution, with 125,000 people killed annually, according to one measure by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a research institute founded by the Gates Foundation.

The figure is well beyond the estimated 60,000 people who have died in the militancy-wracked country's years-long battle against extremism.

"I don't want to downplay the risk of militant extremism, but we must understand that our citizens are more vulnerable to diseases in the air than to armed terrorists on the ground," wrote opposition senator Sherry Rehman in the Express Tribune newspaper this week.

Hospitals struggled to cope with thousands of patients suffering respiratory problems

"We must act. And we must act now."

Yet the Pakistani government provides almost no reliable data on pollution, making it difficult to say with any certainty why the smog has become so pervasive, particularly in the last two years, much less tackle its causes.

Obvious suspects include unchecked industrial emissions, millions of poorly maintained vehicles, and a complete lack of waste management, with tonnes of rubbish often burned in the streets.

These factors are aggravated by the annual post-harvest burning of crop stubble, blamed for fuelling the recent pollution crisis across South Asia.

- Environment 'bottom of the list' -

As the smog peaked in recent weeks, roughly 1,000 new patients were treated each day for respiratory issues in Punjab's nine public hospitals, health ministry officials have said.

But even as under-resourced medical centres struggle to cope, Pakistan's official reaction is lethargy.

"It is a matter of emergency but the officials concerned did nothing except taking tea in their offices," said Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, chief justice of the Lahore High Court.

He spoke Monday during an emergency hearing in which an opposition party accused the provincial government in Punjab, of which Lahore is the capital, of failing to control the smog.

The Pakistani government provides almost no reliable data on pollution

Provincial officials had delayed school start times and shut down some of the worst polluting companies, and said they had also ordered a temporary halt to crop burning.

But Shah said in court it was not enough, adding: "Why didn't you issue a red alert on smog since you know it's injurious to the health of pregnant women, elderly people and heart patients especially?"

Accusing environment officials of lying to the court, he ordered them to make pollution data available to the public.

Unlike Beijing, which is cracking down on pollution, and New Delhi, which at least monitors its air and issues warnings to its citizens, Pakistani authorities "haven't woken up yet", said Abid Omar, the entrepreneur behind PakistanAirQuality.

"Environment happens to be at the bottom of the list," he said.

Yet "Pakistan is extremely environmentally vulnerable," warned environment lawyer and activist Ahmad Rafay Alam.

He called on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to consider declaring Pakistan an "emergency" and setting up an office in Lahore.

The WHO representative for Pakistan, Mohammad Assai, said he hoped the situation would start to improve as "more awareness" spreads.

Yet even as citizens breathed a little easier Wednesday, residents of Punjab complained that the province's infamous brick kilns were belching smoke into the atmosphere once more.

"Many are still running," one farmer told AFP.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony, making a defiant first public appearance since the military takeover that appeared to signal the end of his 37-year reign

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe appeared publicly Friday for the first time since the military takeover in a defiant gesture, but faces pressure to step down from his party ahead of weekend protests.

Leaders of eight of ten regional branches of the 93-year-old's ruling ZANU-PF party took to state television in an apparently coordinated push to call for him to go.

"The province resolved unanimously to recall the president... from being the president of the party and the government," said Cornelius Mupereri, a spokesman for the party's Midlands region.

Mupereri was one of several branch officials to appear on ZBC's nightly news to read almost identical statements calling on the liberation hero turned autocrat to resign for the good of the nation.

As well as increasingly vocal opposition from within his own party, Mugabe will face street protests on Saturday organised by veterans of the country's independence war and supported by long-standing opponents of the president.

- 'Now we've got a future' -

The dramatic intervention by the regional leaders of Mugabe's party caps a week of unprecedented turmoil in which generals seized power and put the veteran ruler under house arrest.

Ahead of his public appearance at a graduation ceremony in Harare on Friday, Mugabe had been confined to house arrest after the military takeover -- a stunning turnaround for the president who has ruled since 1980.

He attended the event in Harare dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat, before listening to speeches with his eyes closed and applauding occasionally, an AFP correspondent reported.

Mugabe did not comment on the take-over by the generals who seized power late Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked and Mugabe's wife Grace emerged as the frontrunner to succeed him as president.

Mnangagwa, who had fled abroad after his firing, returned to the country on Thursday and seems poised to play a central role in shaping developments.

Citizens were stunned by the military's actions, which were sparked by the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa.

"I'm happy with what the army has done, at least now we've got a future for our kids," Teslin Khumbula, the owner of a security company, told AFP.

"We don't want Mugabe anymore... Please -- everyone go to the streets."

- 'Finish the job' -

Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks on Thursday to resolve the crisis, but no official update was given on the status of negotiations that could see him relinquish power.

Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the independence war veterans' association which is seen as supporting Mnangagwa, said Friday that "the game is up" for Mugabe and called for protests against the president.

"We want to restore our pride and tomorrow is the day... we can finish the job which the army started."

Veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war were loyal supporters of Mugabe, but they turned against him as friction grew between the president and the military.

Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe

Mnangagwa, 75, fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing rebuke of Mugabe's leadership and Grace's presidential ambitions.

The military said Friday they had detained some "criminals" in Mugabe's government in a reference to supporters of Grace's presidential hopes.

Grace has not been seen since the takeover by the military, which has not overtly called for President Mugabe's resignation.

Morgan Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and long-time opponent of Mugabe, has said the president must resign "in the interest of the people", adding that "a transitional mechanism" would be needed to ensure peace.

Robert Mugabe took power in Zimbabwe after its independence from Britain in 1980

Harare's residents have largely ignored the few soldiers still on the streets with shops, businesses and offices operating as usual.

The international community has been watching the crisis closely.

The United States has called for the army to quickly relinquish power following the takeover.

"We all should work together for a quick return to a civilian rule," said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday ahead of talks with African foreign ministers.

In Paris, the head of the African Union, Guinea's President Alpha Conde, warned on Thursday that the continent "will never accept the military coup d'etat".

Britain, Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler, said elections scheduled for 2018 should go ahead.
In August, police said the French navy intercepted a yacht bound for Australia with 1.46 tonnes of cocaine aboard. The boat was seized in the Pacific after setting sail from South America

A huge cocaine haul hidden in the hull of a yacht has been seized off the east coast of Australia, police said Thursday.

Some 700 kilos (1,543 pounds) of the drug with an estimated street value of Aus$245 million (US$186 million) were intercepted Wednesday about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Sydney, they said.

Three men, alleged to have ties with Tahiti and Thailand, were arrested.

Australian police worked with authorities in Tahiti, where the vessel passed through before entering Australian waters.

"It is no surprise that criminal syndicates undertake sophisticated attempts that go to great lengths -- even crossing oceans in relatively small craft -- to import narcotics," Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Neil Gaughan said in a statement.

"This is nothing more than an attempt to flood our streets with dangerous narcotics to make a profit, with police, health professionals and the community picking up the bill for all the peripheral damage they will cause," he said.

Further arrest warrants have been issued in Thailand, he added.

With its high street prices, Australia is an attractive destination for drug smugglers.

In August, police said the French navy intercepted a yacht bound for Australia with 1.46 tonnes of cocaine aboard. The boat was seized in the Pacific after setting sail from South America.
US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan meets with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour in the capital Khartoum on November 16, 2017

The United States is prepared to hold talks on removing Sudan from its blacklist of "state sponsors of terrorism," a senior US official said in Khartoum on Thursday.

Sudan meanwhile said it was ready to cut ties with North Korea, in a sign of goodwill towards Washington.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said that given the "positive" steps taken by Sudan since last year, Washington was prepared to discuss removing Sudan from the blacklist, which also includes Iran and Syria.

"We are prepared to continue discussions with the government of Sudan on this issue ... and to engage with them on all that would be required to have them removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism," Sullivan told foreign media journalists based in Khartoum.

Sullivan is the highest ranking official from US President Donald Trump's administration to visit Khartoum since Washington lifted its 20-year-old trade embargo on October 12.

He is on a two-day visit aimed also at discussing human rights and religious freedoms in the African country.

Sullivan held talks with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour and said Washington was looking forward to "expanding" ties with Khartoum.

Ghandour said lifting the sanctions was a "crucial step" to improving ties with Washington and, assured Sullivan that Sudan would break ties with North Korea.

"We are also committed to having no trade or military relations with North Korea and hope that the Korean Peninsula remains free of nuclear weapons," he told Sullivan.

Khartoum, the foreign minister stressed, was committed to respecting all resolutions passed by the UN Security Council against North Korea.

Sullivan said addressing Washington's concerns over ties between Khartoum and Pyongyang had been a key purpose of his visit to Sudan.

- Human rights concerns -

"We were gratified to hear today from senior government leaders that I met with that the government of Sudan will cut all of its ties with the DPRK," Sullivan said.

"That's an important step in the relationship between the United States and Sudan."

Sudan and North Korea have had no diplomatic relations for years, but rights groups allege that the two have engaged in military ties.

Sullivan said Khartoum's record of human rights and religious freedom was also a concern to Washington.

"We have ... impressed on the government how important it is for the United States for there to be substantial progress on those human rights," he said.

Rights groups have accused Sudan's security forces of arbitrarily detaining journalists, opposition politicians and human rights defenders.

Sudan's powerful National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) often confiscate entire print-runs of newspapers without giving a reason, particularly when they publish articles opposing government policies.

"Ever since the significantly Christian South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011, the Sudanese government has focused greater attention on reducing the number of churches and their activities in Sudan," John Prendergast of the Washington-based campaign group Enough Project wrote days before the lifting of the sanctions.

Khartoum insists that Sudan upholds human rights and religious freedom, which it says is exemplified by several churches existing next to mosques.

Sullivan said Washington was keen for "expanding" its ties with Khartoum even as some concerns still remained about Sudan's alleged links with militant groups like Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Washington had imposed financial sanctions on Khartoum in 1997 for its alleged support for Islamist militant groups.

Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden used to live in Sudan between 1992 and 1996.

After decades of strained diplomatic relations, ties between Washington and Khartoum improved under the presidency of Barack Obama, later resulting in the lifting of sanctions by Trump, his successor.

Washington and Khartoum is a "relation in transition," said Sullivan.

"Our ultimate goal is to work with the government here to create a peaceful, stable, prosperous Sudan that would benefit the entire region."
A poster at a Beirut road junction carries a photograph of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri whose announcement from Saudi Arabia on November 4 that he was stepping down shocked the country

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to travel to Paris after Beirut accused Riyadh of detaining him following his shock resignation, the French foreign minister said Thursday.

"He will come to France and the prince has been informed," Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks late on Wednesday.

Asked about the date of the visit for talks with President Emmanuel Macron, Le Drian replied: "Mr. Hariri's schedule is a matter for Mr. Hariri."

Speculation has swirled around the fate of Hariri, who is a dual Saudi citizen.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has accused Saudi Arabia of "detaining" him and has refused to accept his resignation from abroad.

In his first media appearance since he announced his resignation on November 4, Hariri said on Sunday that he had freedom of movement and would return to Lebanon in the coming days.

Hariri has left open the possibility that he may withdraw his resignation if certain conditions are met -- in particular and end to the involvement of Lebanon's powerful Shiite militant group Hezbollah in regional conflicts.

The French president's office said on Wednesday that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile.

Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person.
Rights groups had urged the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a strong stand on the crisis in its summit in Manila this week

Southeast Asian leaders kept silent over accusations of ethnic cleansing carried out by Myanmar's army in a statement Thursday, instead expressing support for the country's efforts to bring peace and harmony to northern Rakhine state.

More than 600,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled mainly Buddhist Myanmar since a military crackdown was launched in Rakhine in August, which the United Nations and watchdogs have said amounts to ethnic cleansing.

Rights groups had urged the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a strong stand on the crisis in its summit in Manila this week.

But a statement released by the bloc after the meeting failed to condemn the atrocities and merely said an unspecified number of leaders backed Myanmar's humanitarian relief programme in Rakhine.

"They expressed support to the Myanmar Government in its efforts to bring peace, stability, rule of law and to promote harmony and reconciliation between the various communities," it said.

Myanmar authorities insist the military campaign was aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who attacked police posts on August 25.

But the UN and rights groups have documented civilian accounts of murder, rape and arson at the hands of the army.

The ASEAN statement was issued hours after watchdogs released reports on "widespread and systematic attacks" on Rohingya civilians including troops gang-raping women and girls.

Myanmar's de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi attended the ASEAN summit where the UN chief and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with her on the Rohingya crisis.

The bloc has a principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of members despite criticism over the years that it is little more than a talking shop.

Ironically Suu Kyi was one of those who once criticised ASEAN for its quiescence on regional rights abuses, when she was peacefully confronting years of junta rule.

The ASEAN statement was issued hours after watchdogs released reports on 'widespread and systematic attacks' on Rohingya civilians including troops gang-raping women and girls

In a July 1999 article for Thai daily The Nation, Suu Kyi called on ASEAN to harden its stance towards the junta in Yangon, saying the group did not have a "clear conscience" over human rights.

"This policy of non-interference is just an excuse for not helping. In this day and age you cannot avoid interference in the matters of other countries," she wrote.

ASEAN groups Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam as well as Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia, where there have been protests on the treatment of the Rohingya.

Thursday's ASEAN statement stressed the importance of increasing humanitarian access to Rakhine and helping affected communities.

The leaders also urged Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan to scrap restrictions on movement and citizenship for the Rohingya.

The statement did not use the word "Rohingya" to refer to the persecuted Muslim minority, an incendiary term for Buddhist nationalists who label the group "Bengalis".

Amnesty International has said the bloc's response to the Rohingya crisis has been "toothless at best".
Soldiers under the command of Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing are accused of commiting widespread atrocities against the Rohingya

Rohingya refugees cannot return to Rakhine state until "real Myanmar citizens" are ready to accept them, the country's army chief said Thursday, casting doubt over government pledges to begin repatriating the persecuted Muslim minority.

More than 600,000 Rohingya are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in late August.

The UN says the scorched-earth operation, which has left hundreds of villages burned to ash in northern Rakhine state, amounts to ethnic cleansing of the stateless minority.

But Myanmar's hardline army chief Min Aung Hlaing has steadfastly denied all allegations of abuse, insisting troops only targeted Rohingya insurgents.

He has also taken to Facebook throughout the crisis to fan anti-Rohingya sentiment among the Buddhist public, branding the Muslims as foreign interlopers from Bangladesh despite many having lived in Rakhine for generations.

On Thursday he signalled repatriation of the Rohingya was a long way off, saying their return must first be accepted by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists -- many of whom loathe the Muslim minority and are accused of aiding soldiers in torching their homes.

"Emphasis must be placed on wish of local Rakhine ethnic people who are real Myanmar citizens. Only when local Rakhine ethnic people accept it, will all the people satisfy it (sic)," the statement, written in English, said on his Facebook page.

The army commander also said Myanmar would not allow the return of all Rohingya in Bangladesh, a country that was already hosting hundreds of thousands of the minority from previous waves of persecution.

"It is impossible to accept the number of persons proposed by Bangladesh," the army statement said, after branding the refugees as "terrorists" who fled with their families.

The general's comments came a day after he met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who on Wednesday called on the army to support efforts to return "all refugees", adding that the reports of widespread atrocities by Myanmar's soldiers were "credible".

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed in principle to begin repatriation but are still tussling over the details.

Questions are mounting over how many Rohingya will be allowed to return, where they will live after they homes have been burned down and how they will coexist peacefully among ethnic Rakhine neighbours.

Tensions between the two groups have simmered for years, erupting into bouts of bloodshed in 2012 that pushed more than 100,000 Rohingya into grim displacement camps.

The Muslim minority has for years suffered under discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship and severely restricts their access to work, healthcare and education.
Japan and North Korea have tense relations, but the Japanese coastguard occasionally rescues North Korean fishermen in maritime accidents in regional waters

Japan's coastguard said Thursday it was searching for 12 North Korean fishermen missing after their boat capsized in high seas.

Three of the crew have already been rescued and returned to North Korea in line with their wishes, the coastguard said.

The troubled boat was spotted on Wednesday by a Japanese Self Defense Force jet patrolling the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

The coastguard launched a patrol boat and aircraft and found the fishing vessel at around 3:40 pm (0640 GMT) Wednesday in waters 360 kilometres (225 miles) northwest of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture.

The coastguard rescued three men clinging to the hull of the upturned boat.

These men reported that they were part of a crew of 15, prompting Japanese authorities to start a search operation for the missing people.

A coastguard spokesman told AFP that five patrol vessels and one plane had been deployed to search for the missing fishermen.

"They have told investigators that they were on their way home after working," the spokesman said of the rescued men, without giving further details.

Japan and North Korea have tense relations, with Pyongyang routinely issuing verbal threats as well as firing missiles near or above Japan.

But the Japanese coastguard occasionally rescues North Korean fishermen in maritime accidents in regional waters.
Singapore has suspended trade ties with North Korea

Singapore has suspended trade ties with North Korea in the latest move by a country to implement UN sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme, a customs document showed Thursday.

A circular by Singapore Customs on its website banned "all commercially traded goods... from or to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), regardless of whether they are imported, exported, transhipped or brought in transit through Singapore" with effect from November 8.

DPRK is North Korea's formal name.

The United States is leading a drive at the UN Security Council to impose two recent sets of sanctions on North Korea to punish Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile tests.

Singapore Customs sent the notice to traders and agents on Tuesday.

It warned violators they can be fined up to Sg$100,000 ($74,000) or three times the value of the goods traded, or suffer a jail term of up to two years, or suffer both penalties, for the first offence.

Repeat violators will be subject to stiffer penalties.

The North carried out its sixth nuclear test -- and most powerful to date -- on September 3, sparking international outrage and a fresh round of sanctions.

International powers hope that economic sanctions will deprive the North of the resources it needs to pursue its nuclear programme and pressure it into negotiating.

"I think it is a matter of time when most Southeast Asian countries would do the same, so it is especially appropriate that Singapore as the region's major trading power takes the lead," Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told AFP.

He said that on top of Pyongyang's repeated nuclear tests, the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's half brother, in Malaysia last February also "stiffened the resolve of the Southeast Asian countries to sever substantial ties with North Korea".

Kim Jong-Nam, who was estranged from the leader, was about to board a plane from Kuala Lumpur's international airport when assassins poisoned him with the banned nerve agent VX, according to Malaysian officials. He died minutes later.

The murder sparked a furious row between North Korea and Malaysia, with the South blaming Pyongyang for ordering the killing. North Korea has denied the allegation.

Singapore has a standing advisory on citizens against non-essential travel to North Korea. With effect from October last year, Singapore also required North Koreans to have visas before travelling to the city-state.

North Korea has an embassy in Singapore but the latter has no representation in Pyongyang.
Scores of riot police were deployed outside the Phnom Penh court as the hearing began, though there were no signs of protest

Cambodia's Supreme Court dissolved the country's main opposition party on Thursday and banned more than 100 of its politicians, in a ruling blasted by a rights groups as the "death" of the nation's democracy.

The verdict was widely expected from a justice system heavily warped by the influence of long-standing premier Hun Sen, who is accused of ruthlessly targeting rivals in the run-up to 2018 polls.

But it nevertheless delivered a crushing blow to what remained of the embattled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the only party with a fighting chance to break the authoritarian leader's 32-year grip on power.

Judge Dith Munty, himself a member of Hun Sen's ruling CPP party, said the court had also banned 118 CNRP politicians from office for five years, in what rights groups blasted as a mockery of judicial independence that turned Cambodia into a de facto one party state.

The judge said the CNRP, by boycotting the trial, had effectively confessed to the government-levied accusation of conspiring with the United States and other foreign actors to plot a revolution.

The CNRP and Washington have rejected those charges as bogus.

In a statement the CNRP said it "still considers itself to be a legitimate party with a mandate from half of the Cambodian population", describing the court case as "politically motivated and made under pressure to follow the wish of the ruling party that is trying to rid CNRP from the political field".

In a televised address Thursday evening, Hun Sen called for calm and said 2018 elections would be held as scheduled.

"The government supports the decision of the Supreme Court and its ruling will ensure peace," said the premier, who has staked his reputation on bringing stability and growth to Cambodia after decades of civil war.

- 'Death of democracy' -

Yet rights groups warned the verdict stripped stripped next year's election of any credibility and gravely imperiled the country's democratic aspirations.

"This is the death of democracy in Cambodia," said Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch, calling on foreign partners to suspend any assistance for the 2018 poll.

The International Commission of Jurists said Cambodia had crossed a "red line," with CNRP's dissolution stripping millions of voters of a chance to freely choose their representatives.

The CNRP's parliament seats and local posts will now be redistributed to other parties after the government amended laws last month to allow the reallocation.

The verdict is the culmination of a methodical strangling of dissent in Cambodia that began after the CNRP nearly unseated Hun Sen in the last national election in 2013, rattling the premier.

A man walks past the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) headquarters in Phnom Penh

The crackdown accelerated dramatically after the party faired well in local elections this July, despite weathering a series of legal attacks against its leadership.

Several months later CNRP president Kem Sokha was suddenly thrown into jail and charged with treason over the same accusations of plotting a revolution.

In a tweet responding to the ruling, his daughter Monovithya Kem called on Cambodia's western donors to stop backing next year's polls.

"Time for EU, Japan, Australia and the US to declare withdrawal from elections assistance, or they become accomplice to the death of Cambodia democracy," she wrote.

Kem Sokha's arrest, and the threat of a 30 year prison sentence, sent more than half of the party's 55 lawmakers fleeing into exile out of fear.

Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who defected, has a long history of undercutting his rivals through well-timed crackdowns and dubious court cases.

But observers say the current climate of repression is harsher and longer-lasting than previous clampdowns, with Hun Sen foregoing even the pretense of respecting human rights and a free press.

In addition to assaults against the CNRP, his government has in recent months shut down a series of outspoken NGOs and independent news outlets -- including the respected Cambodia Daily.

Analysts say the premier has been emboldened by financial backing from Beijing, which has lavished the poor country with investment that has made it less dependent on aid from Western democracies.
Indonesian Muslim groups march last month to commemorate the coup that sparked the country's anti-communist purges

A new set of mass graves from Indonesia's anti-communist purges has been discovered, a victim right's group said Thursday, after recently declassified US documents showed Washington had full knowledge of the extent of the brutal massacres.

Some 16 new grave sites containing about 5,000 suspected victims of the Cold War killings were pinpointed on the country's main island Java, according to the organisation.

Historians say up to 500,000 alleged Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) supporters were killed between 1965-1966 by soldiers and civilian militias around the time General Suharto became president.

He blamed the Indonesian Communist Party for a failed coup and rose to power on the back of the bloodshed, going on to lead the world's most populous Muslim nation with an iron fist for three decades.

Witnesses of the massacres led investigators to the latest grave sites, with more than 100 others scattered across the island nation.

"One of the witnesses said his grandfather's job was to wash the dead bodies," said Bedjo Untung, head of the 1965 Victims Group.

"He would follow his grandfather and saw him clean about 50 bodies a day," he added.

Untung -- who was imprisoned as a member of the Communist party in the mid 1960s -- urged Indonesia's human rights commission to investigate and protect the graves as well as members of his group.

A presidential spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Although they were among some of the worst massacres of the Cold War era, the purges have long remained taboo in Indonesia, which had the world's third-biggest communist party after China and the Soviet Union before the killings.

Last month, declassified US documents showed how American officials across the archipelago knew of the massacres, including the complicity of prominent Muslim civil society groups in the killings. But diplomats offered little public protest, keen to take advantage of the communist party's destruction at the height of the Cold War.

The 39 US embassy documents cover the period from 1964-1968 and uncovered new details about one of the most tumultuous periods in modern Indonesian history.

Jakarta reopened the painful history last year for the first time by backing a series of public discussions after President Joko Widodo ordered a senior minister to launch an investigation.

But no concrete action to delve into the country dark's history or bring perpetrators to account has so far been taken.
The deadly attack, claimed by the Islamic State group in a brief message via its Amaq propaganda agency, was the latest to hit the Afghan capital, where insurgents have been stepping up assaults in a devastating show of force

A suicide attacker blew himself up outside a political gathering in Kabul killing at least 14 people, officials said Thursday, highlighting the deepening divisions in the war-torn country.

The deadly attack, claimed by the Islamic State group in a brief message via its Amaq propaganda agency, was the latest to hit the Afghan capital, where insurgents have been stepping up assaults in a devastating show of force.

Supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, the powerful governor of the northern province of Balkh and a vocal critic of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, had been holding an event inside a wedding hall at the time of the blast.

Noor was not at the gathering, one of his aides told AFP. Ghani issued a statement condemning the attack as a "criminal act".

The bomber tried to enter the building but was stopped at the security checkpoint where he detonated his device, Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid told AFP.

Political and ethnic rivalries have been intensifying ahead of next year's long-delayed district and parliamentary elections, which would pave the way for the 2019 presidential ballot

"A number of our police personnel are among the casualties," Mujahid said.

"As a result of today's suicide attack eight police and six civilians have been killed while a further 18 have been wounded."

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish had earlier put the death toll at nine, including seven policemen and two civilians.

"The bomber detonated himself after he was identified by the police at the entrance gate," Danish said.

- 'Chaos and panic' -

"After lunch as we were exiting the hall a huge explosion shook the hall, shattering glass and causing chaos and panic," Harun Mutaref, who was at the gathering, told AFP.

"I saw many bodies including police and civilians lying in blood."

Mohammad Farhad Azimi, a member of parliament and supporter of Noor, said he saw "many casualties".

"Some of my bodyguards have been injured," he added.

Supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, the powerful governor of the northern province of Balkh and a vocal critic of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, had been holding an event inside a wedding hall at the time of the blast

An AFP photographer said the windows of the wedding hall had been shattered by the force of the blast and a vehicle parked outside was on fire.

Dozens of police and intelligence officers have swarmed the area and blocked access to the public.

Photos posted on Twitter purportedly from the attack showed multiple bodies of men lying on top of each other in a muddy street and in a drain, and people dragging away the wounded.

Noor, a senior leader of the Tajik-dominated Jamiat-e Islami party, has been an outspoken critic of Ghani and the National Unity Government.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Noor blamed an "evil circle" inside the government for the attack.

"Our fight against terrorists and terrorism and for justice will continue and such actions, the perpetrators of which are known, will not deter us," he said.

It is not the first time that top officials in the Jamiat political group have been targeted by attackers.

Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, who heads Jamiat, survived an attack at a funeral in Kabul in June where suicide bombers tore through a row of mourners. Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also escaped unharmed.

Political and ethnic rivalries have been intensifying ahead of next year's long-delayed district and parliamentary elections, which would pave the way for the 2019 presidential ballot.

Noor has previously hinted that he may run for the country's highest office.

On Wednesday Ghani -- who is a Pashtun, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan -- sacked the Independent Election Commission chief Najibullah Ahmadzai after technical and political bungling, fuelling speculation the vote will not go ahead.

That came after the recent firing of Education Minister Asadullah Hanafi Balkhi, who was considered a close ally of Noor, and one of Ghani's advisers Ahmadullah Alizai.

Noor has recently called for the return of Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum, a powerful ethnic Uzbek warlord who fled to Turkey in May after he was accused of raping and torturing a political rival in 2016.

Earlier this year Noor met with Deputy Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq, a senior figure in the mainly Shiite Hazara ethnic community, and Dostum in Turkey to form the "Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan".
China and Panama will sign some 20 cooperative agreements after Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela

Panama opened its first embassy in China on Thursday five months after cutting ties with Taiwan, which has seen its allies dwindle against the mainland's growing influence.

In a speech heralding the embassy's "historic" establishment, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela said his "commitment to the One China principle" was made with the benefits for Panamanian people in mind -- alluding to Beijing's position that Taiwan is a part of Chinese territory and will be brought back into the fold at some point.

Mainland China and Taiwan split after a civil war in 1949 and while Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign nation, it has never formally declared independence.

There now remain only 20 nations worldwide with official ties to Taiwan, as others have chosen to form diplomatic relations with China instead.

'This is the correct decision,' Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said at the embassy's opening ceremony

"This is the correct decision," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said at the embassy's opening ceremony, noting that the Panamanian president had expressed a wish to become "the best of friends" with China during a visit to the country one decade ago.

Varela said he looked forward to the two countries participating in exchanges related to culture, trade and tourism.

After the United States, China is the second-most frequent user of the Panama Canal.

China and Panama will sign some 20 cooperative agreements after Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Varela Friday.

"From today onwards, Panama's national flag will fly in the heart of China, its capital, Beijing," Varela said.

At the end of the ceremony, Varela and Wang pulled down a curtain to reveal the embassy lettering and clinked glasses of champagne.
The Syrian army deploys artillery near Albu Kamal, the last town in the country still held by the Islamic State group, on November 10, 2017

The Syrian army on Thursday entered Albu Kamal, the last town in the country held by the Islamic State group, several days after the jihadists recaptured it, a monitor said.

The town in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the border with Iraq was initially captured by the army and allied forces a month ago but IS retook it in a counterattack.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the new offensive had successfully penetrated the town, with troops backed by Russian air strikes advancing from the west, east and south.

"Fighting is ongoing inside the town, there is artillery fire and there are Russian air strikes," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

The first assault on Albu Kamal was spearheaded by Syrian government allies, including Iraqi and Lebanese Shiite fighters, and advisers from Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the Observatory said.

"This time, the military operation is being led directly by regime forces," Abdel Rahman said, adding that troops had taken the town's eastern, southern and western suburbs.

The battle for Deir Ezzor province

IS still holds around 25 percent of the countryside of Deir Ezzor province but are under attack not only by government forces but also by US-backed Kurdish-led fighters.

The jihadists once controlled a territory the size of Britain, proclaiming a "caliphate" in 2014 that spanned Syria and Iraq.

But they have successively lost all their key strongholds, including Raqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.
A poster of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is seen hanging at a street junction in the capital Beirut on November 15, 2017

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri will travel to France this weekend from Saudi Arabia, Paris said Thursday, after the kingdom rejected accusations he was detained in Riyadh following his shock resignation.

The French presidency said Hariri would meet President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace after arriving on Saturday, two weeks to the day since he announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia.

Hariri has been in Riyadh since giving a statement on television that he was stepping down because he feared for his life while also accusing Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of destabilising Lebanon.

His trip to Paris could help to defuse regional tensions and end speculation that Hariri, a dual Saudi national, was being held against his own will.

The latest developments came after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met Hariri in Riyadh and said the Lebanese premier had accepted an invitation to go to Paris.

Saad Hariri

Hariri said he would travel to France "very soon" from Saudi Arabia, without saying when.

Earlier Le Drian held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir who told reporters that Hariri, whose family is a longtime ally of the Sunni-ruled kingdom, was free to leave "when he pleases".

Hariri is living in the kingdom "of his own free will," said Jubeir, the highest-ranking Saudi official to comment on Hariri's status since his surprise resignation.

"These are false allegations. The accusation that Saudi Arabia is detaining a prime minister, and particularly a political figure who is an ally... is untrue," he added.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who had accused Saudi authorities of "detaining" Hariri and refused to accept his resignation from abroad, welcomed the news about the trip.

"We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri's acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution," he said on the official presidential Twitter account.

- France visit 'not exile' -

"If Mr. Hariri speaks from France, I would consider that he speaks freely, but his resignation must be presented in Lebanon, and he will have to remain there until the formation of the new government," Aoun said later in a statement issued by his office.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) meets Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Riyadh on November 16, 2017

Le Drian's visit is the latest in a string of European efforts to defuse the rising tension over Lebanon, which has long been riven by disagreements between Hariri's bloc and that of his chief rival, Hezbollah.

"He (Hariri) will come to France and the prince has been informed," Le Drian told reporters, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks Wednesday.

The French president's office on Wednesday had confirmed that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile.

Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person.

- Common stance on Iran -

Hariri's resignation came against the backdrop of mounting tensions between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which back opposing sides in regional conflicts in countries including Syria and Yemen.

Many observers saw his stepping down as a power play between Riyadh and Tehran.

Speaking at the news conference, Jubeir denounced Hezbollah as "a tool of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards" and "a first-class terrorist organisation used by Iran to destabilise Lebanon and the region".

Le Drian said he was also concerned over Iranian "intervention in regional crises" and "hegemonic" intentions.

"I'm thinking specifically about Iran's ballistic programme," Le Drian added.

France has however sought to maintain a nuanced position in the region.

Macron, on his first state visit to the Middle East last week, called for vigilance towards Tehran over its ballistic missile programme and regional activities.

But the French president also cautioned against creating a "new front" in a region already fraught with conflicts, including the war in Yemen.

The Arab League is to hold an extraordinary meeting next Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss alleged "violations" committed by Iran in the region.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe may be reviled in the West as a tyrant who wrecked his country, but he retains clout in southern Africa for his role in the continent's last major struggle against colonial rule

Zimbabwe was plunged into one of the worst crises in its post-independence history when the army took control of the country on Wednesday.

Here are the key players in the developing situation:

- Robert Mugabe -

Most Zimbabweans have only known life under President Robert Mugabe, 93, who is reviled as a cruel despot in the West but lauded as a liberation hero in parts of Africa.

He fought against British colonial rule in the 1970s and has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

Shrewd and ruthless, he appeared untouchable until this week when the army took power and placed him under house arrest.

Nothing has been heard from the authoritarian leader since the military intervention.

His lengthy rule has been marked by brutal repression of dissent, mass emigration, vote-rigging and economic collapse since land reforms in 2000.

- Grace Mugabe -

Grace Mugabe, seen here at a rally of the ruling party's youth wing on November 4, is seen by many as the cause of Mugabe's demise

Mugabe's wife Grace is 41 years his junior and met the leader when she was a typist in the president's office, marrying him in 1996.

She was initially dismissed by analysts as a vapid shopaholic -- her nickname is "Gucci Grace."

But she has assumed a greater role in public life in recent years, taking a key position at the head of the ruling ZANU-PF party's women's league.

Grace, 52, was seen as the driving force behind the removal of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa as well as his predecessor Joice Mujuru.

She has done little to hide her own political ambitions, drawing the ire of the military and those who fought in Zimbabwe's independence struggle.

Analysts believe that her presidential ambitions led to the takeover by the military.

- Emmerson Mnangagwa -

Dubbed "The Crocodile," former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa has a reputation for toughness. His sacking by Mugabe last week became the trigger for intervention by the military establishment, with which he has close ties

Mnangagwa, nicknamed "Ngwena" (The Crocodile), has been at the heart of the crisis engulfing Zimbabwean politics, despite not being in the country at the time of the army takeover and remaining silent since.

Mugabe's sacking of Mnangagwa as vice president last week was the catalyst that caused the army to intervene as his dismissal enraged his supporters in the security and defence establishment -- known as "Team Lacoste".

Mnangagwa, 75, was a decades-long loyalist of Mugabe and a former defence minister with a career reputation as a hardliner who built close links to the army -- which may well install him as the next president.

His public image is badly tainted by his role as the architect of the bloody 1980s crackdown on opposition supporters that claimed thousands of lives in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

- General Constantino Chiwenga -

Armed forces chief General Constantino Chiwenga set the scene for the military takeover, bluntly warning Mugabe over the sacking of vice president and ally Emmerson Mnangagwa

Chiwenga was little known outside of Zimbabwe until his shock press conference in which he delivered an ultimatum to Mugabe on Monday which propelled him into the headlines.

A veteran of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, he was also a key power broker during 2008's political crisis when Mugabe was beaten in the first round of presidential polls and the second round of voting was marred by violence, voter intimidation and allegations of rigging.

Chiwenga is seen as a backer of Mnangagwa owing to their defence and security backgrounds, and is thought to have been irked by the prospect of Grace becoming vice president -- or even head of state.

- Joice Mujuru -

Joice Mujuru, a former guerrilla fighter, was once Mugabe's vice president until the two fell out

Mujuru, 62, was Mugabe's vice president from 2004 until he abruptly fired her in 2014 and later expelled her from ZANU-PF.

She was a teenage guerilla fighter with the nom de guerre "spill blood" during Zimbabwe's war of independence. She was married to a leading general until he died in suspicious circumstances.

Mujuru has previously been at odds with some factions within ZANU-PF -- including Mnangagwa -- which could weaken her chances of staging a political comeback.

She has nonetheless been manoeuvering to influence the direction of the country since the military takeover and she could play a role in any transitional government.

burs-gw/bgs/ri
US President Donald Trump on Thursday headed to Congress to rally the House to back a tax reform bill being pushed by House speaker Paul Ryan

President Donald Trump was headed to the US Capitol Thursday to rally skeptical lawmakers behind his effort to overhaul America's tax code, as he seeks to lock down a first major legislative win by year's end.

The House of Representatives votes on its version of tax reform later in the day, and the Republicans who control Congress are confident that the bill, which aims to reduce taxes for corporations and American workers, has enough support to pass.

"The day has finally come," House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Twitter. "Let's get it done."

The bill is expected to pass despite concerns by some Republicans in high-tax states like New York and New Jersey that their constituents could end up paying more to Uncle Sam.

It is a dicier proposition in the Senate, where Republicans hold a two-seat majority, 52-48, over Democrats.

Ron Johnson on Wednesday became the first Senate Republican to publicly oppose the measure, warning that it hands major tax breaks to corporations while smaller, "pass-through" businesses in which owners are taxed individually are treated differently.

"If they can pass it without me, let them," Johnson told the Wall Street Journal, adding that the plan unfairly benefits corporations more than other types of businesses.

"I'm not going to vote for this tax package."

With lawmakers expected to vote along party lines, Republicans can afford only two defectors. If three vote no, the bill fails.

Trump lashed out at Democrats, saying on Twitter that the opposition party was "fighting massive tax cuts for the middle class and business" for one reason: "Obstruction and Delay!"

Adding a new twist to the ambitious legislation, Senate Republicans have bowed to Trump pressure and included a repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate in their tax overhaul.

Republicans are keen to take yet another stab at crippling the 2010 health care law, something they have failed to achieve despite multiple attempts this year.

By sliding the repeal of the rule that requires individuals to have health insurance or pay a fine into a successful tax bill, Republicans could claim a major double victory.

Repealing the mandate would save some $338 billion, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projected, money that could help pay for the cuts.

But CBO also projected the repeal would raise health insurance costs by 10 percent, and lead to 13 million fewer people with coverage over the next decade.

- 'If we fail...' -

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said such a cost increase could "more than wipe out" the tax cuts seen by middle-class families.

"If they do this, every problem in health care will be on their backs," he said of Republicans.

All eyes are a handful of Senate Republicans who could make or break the legislation.

They include John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who together sank Trump's Obamacare repeal effort this summer, and Bob Corker, who has said he will oppose the measure if it raises the deficit.

Senator Lindsey Graham sounded a dire political warning.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned of a curshing defeat in the 2018 mid-terms if Congress fails to pass tax reforms

"Whatever is wrong with this bill, we've got to make it better," he told Fox News. "If we fail, we are dead.... That's the end of the Republican majority."

Time is not on Trump's side. Congress is off next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, and when they return there will be little room for delay.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to hold a vote right after Thanksgiving.

Then come the negotiations to synchronize the House and Senate versions, and the fusion could be tricky.

While the House version permanently cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, effective in 2018, the Senate's would delay that cut by a year.

The House version also maintains the nation's top tax bracket for the wealthiest individuals at 39.6 percent, while the Senate lowers the top tier to 38.5 percent.
The Moscow headquarters of Kaspersky Lab, which the US has alleged has links to Russian intelligence

Embattled computer security firm Kaspersky Lab said Thursday that malware-infected Microsoft Office software and not its own was to blame for the hacking theft of top-secret US intelligence materials.

Adding tantalizing new details to the cyber-espionage mystery that has rocked the US intelligence community, Kaspersky also said there was a China link to the hack.

The Moscow-based anti-virus software maker, which is now banned on US government computers because of alleged links to Russian intelligence, confirmed that someone did apparently steal valuable National Security Agency programs from an NSA worker's home computer, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal on October 5.

According to the Journal, the person had top secret files and programs from the NSA hacking unit called the Equation Group on his computer, which was also using Kaspersky software protection.

They believe that Russian spies used the Kaspersky program as a back door to discover and siphon off the files, reportedly causing deep damage to the NSA's own cyber-espionage operations.

US allegations that Kaspersky, which sold more than $600 million of anti-virus software globally in 2015, knowingly or unknowingly helped Russian intelligence in the theft have effectively killed its US business and hurt its worldwide reputation.

- Kaspersky software 'disabled' -

Using its own forensic analysis, Kaspersky said the breach of the NSA worker's computer took place between September and November 2014, rather than 2015 as the Journal reported.

Kaspersky said what was stolen included essential source code for some Equation Group malware, as well as classified documents. Based on the materials, it said the computer appeared to belong to someone involved in creating malware for the Equation Group.

The company claimed, however, that the computer was infected by other malware, including a Russian-made "backdoor tool" hidden in Microsoft Office.

Kaspersky said that the malware was controlled from a computer server base in Hunan, China, and would have opened a path into the computer for anyone targeting an NSA worker.

"Given that system owner's potential clearance level, the user could have been a prime target of nation-states," it said.

Kaspersky's own software would have detected that malware, the company said, except that its software had been turned off.

"To install and run this malware, the user must have disabled Kaspersky Lab products on his machine," it claimed.

pmh/jh
Syrians prepare merchandise for sale during a celebration in Aleppo's historic souk as it reopens on November 16, 2017

Under the centuries-old archways in an alley in Syria's famed Aleppo Old City, a small glimpse of the once-bustling market reemerged on Thursday, despite the ravages of war.

Restoration work has brought a small part of the famed Old City's market back to life, and the restored arches glowed in purple lighting as traders once again plied wares including the city's famous olive oil soap.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Old City of Aleppo has been devastated by the war that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

For four years, the Old City was a front line in the battle between rebels and government forces, who recaptured the city in full in December 2016.

Much of the famed Old City and its souk remain badly scarred, but on Thursday in the Souk al-Jumruk, local officials reopened a part of the market that has been restored.

The stone archways bore no signs of the years of artillery and gunfire that rang through the narrow alleys, and a large poster of President Bashar al-Assad hung from one of them, looking down on decorated Christmas trees.

Syria's Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Minister Abdullah al-Gharbi cuts the ribbon with Aleppo governor Hussein Diab as they reopen Aleppo's historic souk on November 16, 2017

The metal shopfronts were still down, with many owners yet to begin renovating and reopening their stores.

But for the occasion of the area's reopening, a four-day street market was set up, with traders selling handicrafts, traditional carpets and even the famed Aleppo soap on stalls along the alleyway.

- 'Commercial nerve centre' -

The covered market of Old Aleppo, with its multiple alleyways selling everything from homeware to artisanal products, was the largest in the world, with some 4,000 shops and 40 caravanserais.

In the Khan al-Jumruk caravanserai, the area where caravans of travelling artisans or traders once stopped, partial restorations have been completed and several fabric and carpet sellers have reopened their shops.

Among them was Suhaib Karbuj, who abandoned his shop years earlier when the neighbourhood was held by rebels.

A picture taken on November 16, 2017 shows a poster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hanging among decorations in the historic souk of Aleppo as preparations are made to celebrate its reopening

"Before, we used to export our merchandise to Iraq, Libya and Algeria," he said, showing up his curtains decorated with embroidery.

"We have returned to the Khan al-Jumruk to revive its businesses, because Aleppo is the industrial and commercial nerve centre of the country," he said.

But outside the area, much of the Old City remains in ruins, with facades ripped apart by fighting, and piles of rubble strewn across routes.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began, and over half the country's population has been displaced internally or abroad.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe refused to resign during a meeting on November 16, 2017 with military generals who pushed him from power and seized control of the country

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 93, has a long history of making colourful or controversial remarks during a reign that has spanned nearly four decades.

Among them:

- On staying in office -

"Some are saying 'Mr Mugabe is old, so he should step down'... No! When my time comes, I will tell you." 2014

"Only God who appointed me will remove me -- not the MDC (opposition), not the British." 2008

- On coming to power -

Mugabe's speech when Zimbabwe won independence was more conciliatory.

"It could never be a correct justification that because the whites oppressed us yesterday when they had power, the blacks must oppress them today." 1980

- On seizing farms -

"You are now our enemies because you really have behaved as enemies of Zimbabwe. We are full of anger. Our entire community is angry and that is why we now have the war veterans seizing land." 2000

- On Britain, former colonial ruler -

"The British were brought up as a violent people, liars, scoundrels and crooks... I am told that (former British PM Tony) Blair was a troublesome little boy at school." 2001

- On gay people -

"Worse than pigs and dogs... Those who do it, we will say, they are wayward. It is just madness, insanity." 2010

- On gay marriage -

"(President Barack) Obama came to Africa saying Africa must allow gay marriages... God destroyed the Earth because of these sins. Weddings are for a man and a woman." 2013

- On Nelson Mandela -

"Mandela has gone a bit too far in doing good to the non-black communities, really in some cases at the expense of (blacks)... That's being too saintly, too good." 2013

- On Hitler -

"I am still the Hitler of the time. This Hitler has only one objective, justice for his own people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people.

"If that is Hitler, then let me be a Hitler tenfold." 2003

- On his affair -

Before his first wife died in 1992, Mugabe started a relationship with Grace, whom he married in 1996.

"I wanted children and this is how I thought I could get them. I knew what I was doing and my wife knew." 1998

- On colonialism -

"African resources belong to Africa. Others may come to assist as our friends and allies, but no longer as colonisers or oppressors, no longer as racists." 2015

- On death -

False reports of Mugabe dying were a feature of his old age.

"I have died many times. That's where I have beaten Christ. Christ died once and resurrected once. I have died and resurrected and I don't know how many times I will die and resurrect." 2012
US President Donald Trump is keen to sign a massive tax overhaul into law by year's end, but it might be a struggle to get the bill passed in the Senate

House Republicans delivered a first-step victory Thursday to President Donald Trump by passing a landmark tax overhaul, but the debate now shifts to the Senate, where a narrower path to success awaits.

Trump had rallied his party footsoldiers barely an hour earlier in the US Capitol, leaning on them to advance the sweeping tax cuts for corporations and individuals as he seeks to lock down a first major legislative win by year's end.

The House of Representatives voted 227 to 205 to pass the legislation, after Trump addressed Republican members in person and urged them to get the measure over the finish line.

Trump, in a tweet, congratulated the House for taking "a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic TAX CUTS for the American people by the end of the year."

The bill's success also marked a key victory for House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has struggled to get Trump's agenda through Congress.

Ryan reiterated his assertion that in the first year the cuts will save $1,182 for a typical family of four earning $59,000.

The overhaul is "about tax relief, it's about fairness, it's about simplicity, it's about easing the stress and anxiety in this country," Ryan said.

It was also clearly about checking a key box that had been a prominent campaign pledge, after Trump and his Republicans failed on several attempts to repeal president Barack Obama's health care law.

House Republican Don Bacon told reporters that Trump saw Thursday's vote as a "do-or-die" effort.

"Hey, you got a chance to be mediocre or to be great. Today's your chance to get it right," Trump told the Republicans, according to Bacon.

Several lawmakers burst into applause on the House floor when the bill passed, despite concerns by some Republicans in high-tax states like New Jersey that their constituents could end up paying more to Uncle Sam.

Thirteen Republicans voted against the legislation. No Democrats supported it.

With the first major hurdle cleared, conservative congressman Dave Brat said Trump's role will be as messenger in chief.

"We just want him to sell it to America," Brat said.

The overhaul is a dicier proposition in the Senate, where Republicans hold a two-seat majority, 52-48.

Ron Johnson became the first Senate Republican to publicly oppose the measure, warning that it hands major tax breaks to corporations while treating other businesses differently.

"I'm not going to vote for this tax package," Johnson told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

With senators expected to vote along party lines, Republicans can afford only two defectors. If three vote no, the bill fails.

Adding a new twist to the ambitious legislation, Senate Republicans have bowed to Trump pressure and included a repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate in their tax overhaul.

Republicans are keen to take another stab at crippling the 2010 health care law.

Repealing the rule that requires individuals to have health insurance or pay a fine would save $338 billion, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projected, money that could help pay for tax reform.

But the CBO also projected it would raise health insurance costs by 10 percent, and lead to 13 million fewer people with coverage over the next decade.

- 'If we fail...' -

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said such cost increases could "more than wipe out" the tax cuts seen by middle-class families.

Other Democrats warned that tax burdens will actually go up for millions of working-class and middle-class families.

A handful of Senate Republicans could make or break the legislation.

They include John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who together sank Trump's Obamacare repeal effort this summer.

Senator Lindsey Graham sounded a dire political warning.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned of a curshing defeat in the 2018 mid-terms if Congress fails to pass tax reforms

"Whatever is wrong with this bill, we've got to make it better," he told Fox News. "If we fail, we are dead.... That's the end of the Republican majority."

Congress is off next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, and when they return there will be little room for delay.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to hold a vote right after Thanksgiving.

Then come negotiations to synchronize the House and Senate versions.

"We'll come to a common point and we'll get this to his desk at Christmas," House Republican Tom Cole said.

But the fusion could be tricky.

While the House version permanently cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, effective in 2018, the Senate's would delay that cut by a year.

The House also maintains the nation's top bracket for the wealthiest individuals at 39.6 percent, while the Senate lowers the top tier to 38.5 percent.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) poses for a photo with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Saudi capital Riyadh

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's decision to accept an invitation to Paris is the "start of a solution" to the crisis sparked by his resignation in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon's president said Thursday.

Hariri has been in Riyadh since announcing his shock resignation from there on November 4, and Lebanon's President Michel Aoun on Wednesday accused Saudi authorities of "detaining" the premier.

"We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri's acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution," Aoun said on the official presidential Twitter account.

"I am awaiting the return of Prime Minister Hariri from Paris for us to decide the next step with regards to the government," Aoun added.

Hariri has not returned to Lebanon since he announced he was standing down, and Aoun has yet to accept the resignation, saying he was waiting for the premier to return to Lebanon.

In his sharply worded resignation statement, Hariri, 47, accused Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of destabilising his country and the broader region.

Speculation has swirled around the fate of Hariri, who is a dual Saudi citizen.

On Wednesday, Aoun accused Saudi Arabia of "detaining" Hariri after what he said was his failure to return to the country for 12 days.

"We consider him to be held and detained, contrary to the Vienna Convention," he said.

On Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said during a visit to the kingdom that Hariri would travel to France.

"He will come to France and the prince has been informed," Le Drian told reporters, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks the previous evening.

The French president's office said on Wednesday that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile.

Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person.

On Wednesday night, Okab Sakr, a close adviser of Hariri's, told the Lebanese television station MTV that the premier "will leave in 48 hours for France with his family".

He added that Hariri would return to Lebanon, but without specifying when.
The United States remains "committed to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions," said Acting Assistant Secretary of State Judith Garber

The Trump administration is "committed" to limiting greenhouse gas emissions, but in ways that do not threaten energy security or market competitiveness, a US official told a UN climate conference in Bonn Thursday.

The United States remains "committed to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions," said Acting Assistant Secretary of State Judith Garber.

"Our guiding principles are universal access to affordable and reliable energy, and open, competitive markets that promote efficiency and energy security, not only for the United States but around the globe," Garber said.

She said President Donald Trump still intends to withdraw from the Paris climate pact as soon as possible, but "we remain open to the possibility of rejoining at a later date under terms more favourable to the American people."

Quitting the historic, 196-nation treaty -- which will take four years -- does not mean the United States will not seek to curb the fossil fuel emissions that drive global warming, she said.

"Irrespective of our views on the Paris Agreement, the United States will continue to be a leader in clean energy and innovation," Garber told ministers and heads of state at the 12-day negotiations, which end on Friday.

Earlier in the week, Washington went against the grain of the Bonn talks by hosting a "side event" in which White House officials and US energy executives promoted the role of "cleaner fossil fuels" in curbing climate change.

"It's in the global interest to make sure that when fossil fuels are used, that it's as clean and efficient as possible," George David Banks, a special energy and environment assistant to Trump, told the event marked by protests.

US officials point to projections that major developing economies such as China and India will depend on coal and natural gas to power growth for decades to come.

At the same time, a growing body of research suggests reaching the Paris Agreement goal of capping global warming at "well under" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) depends on sharply curbing the use of fossil fuels, the main source of greenhouse gases.

In abandoning the Paris Agreement, Trump reneged on pledges made under the previous Obama administration to cut US carbon emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

He also said he would cut US funding to help poor countries prepare for climate change and cope with its impacts, leaving some $2.5 billion dollars pledged to the Green Climate Fund unpaid.

UN envoys are tasked with writing a "rulebook" in Bonn for the Paris Agreement, which goes into effect in 2020.
A vehicle sits smoldering in flames inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012 after an attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Prosecutors in the trial of the alleged Libyan mastermind of the 2012 attack in Benghazi that killed a US ambassador argued Thursday that he was equally responsible even if he did not personally take part.

Wrapping up final arguments in the trial of Ahmed Abu Khattala over the 2012 Benghazi attack, US government lawyers said he was guilty of conspiracy and murder in the deaths of US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

"'I will kill all the Americans, each and everyone of them...': This is what the defendant Abu Khattala said and this is exactly what he did," prosecutor Michael DiLorenzo told a jury in the trial in Washington federal court.

"On September 11, he took action," DiLorenzo said, highlighting that the attack in the eastern Libyan city took place on the anniversary of the 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks.

Khattala, in his 40s with a long white beard, sat passively in his chair in the courtroom, where his trial opened seven weeks earlier.

DiLorenzo summed up his argument that Khattala was an Islamic extremist who hated Western culture and believed the US operated a cell of spies in Benghazi.

Prosecutors allege that he directed the attack by some 20 men armed with grenades and heavy weapons on the US consulate and a second annex building where agents of the CIA worked.

The attack set fire to the consulate, where Stevens and a second State Department official, Sean Smith, died of asphyxiation.

Later that night two former Navy Seals who were contracted to the consulate operation, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, were killed by mortar fire on the annex.

The attack shocked the United States. Stevens was the first American ambassador killed in the field since 1979.

Republicans in Congress launched an intense investigation that accused president Barack Obama and then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton of mismanagement, neglect and covering up the truth of the incident.

- Murder and terror charges -

Khattala is facing 18 separate charges including murder and material support for terrorists.

US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens was the first American ambassador to be killed in the field since 1979 when he died in an attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012

The 12-person jury is to begin weighing a verdict after final arguments in the case wind up on Thursday.

Khattala's lawyers argue that although he is a conservative Muslim, he did not hate the West. To the contrary, they said he was a "Libyan patriot" who says he worked with Americans to bring down the Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, who was killed in 2011.

The photographs and videos that show him at the site during the attack do not prove he was part of it, his lawyers say. He was only a bystander who came to watch.

But the US government argues he commanded the Islamist militia Ansar al-Sharia behind the attack.

Even if he did not physically participate, DiLorenzo argued, in a conspiracy "the defendant is equally liable."

- Test case -

Khattala's trial is a test case for foreign suspects forcibly brought to the United States for trial.

He was captured in 2014 when US special forces carried out a raid based on intelligence provided by a Libyan man who ultimately received a $7 million reward from the US government.

On November 4 a second Libyan accused of involvement in the Benghazi attack, Mustafa al-Imam, was put on trial in the same Washington court, days after being captured and brought to the United States.

Al-Imam was called one of the men who attacked the consulate.
A wounded Syrian is carried by a member of the Syrian Civil Defence, known as the white helmets, to a hospital in the rebel-controlled town of Hamouria, in the eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on November 16, 2017, following shellling by government forces

At least six people were killed and 45 others were wounded in rocket and mortar fire on several parts of Syria's capital Damascus on Thursday, state media said.

State news agency SANA said the attacks originated from the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital, and called it a "breach" of a truce deal in the area.

They hit several parts of the capital, including the well-known Sabaa Bahrat and Abassiyeen squares.

One attack witnessed by AFP journalists sent huge clouds of dust into the air, temporarily obscuring the view from the surrounding buildings.

Debris from the attack landed several floors up, and emergency workers rushed to the scene to tend to the injured and remove the body of one dead person.

Eastern Ghouta is one of four areas in Syria where so-called "de-escalation zones" are in place, as part of a deal agreed in May by regime allies Russia and Iran, and rebel backer Turkey.

The zones have reduced violence, but in recent days there has been heavy fighting between government forces and rebels in Eastern Ghouta, with warplanes carrying out regular strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

The Britain-based war monitor said Thursday that 26 civilians, including five children, had been killed in strikes and shelling in the past 48 hours.

Another 37 regime soldiers and allied fighters were also killed in the clashes, the monitor said, adding it did not have a toll for rebels killed in the violence.

Eastern Ghouta is one of the last rebel strongholds in Syria, and has been devastated by fighting and a tight government siege.

More than 330,000 people have been killed since Syria's war began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
A displaced Yemeni family are pictured next to their makeshift shelter on a street in the Yemeni coastal city of Hodeidah on November 16, 2017

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "very much disappointed" that the Saudi-led coalition is refusing to lift its blockade of Yemen and has written directly to Riyadh's representative, his spokesman said Thursday.

The coalition shut down Yemen's sea and air ports as well as borders on November 6 in response to a missile attack by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels near Riyadh.

After repeated appeals by UN officials were ignored, Guterres wrote to the Saudi ambassador on Thursday to ask for an end to the blockade which he said "is already reversing the impact of humanitarian efforts."

"The secretary-general is very much disappointed that we have not seen a lifting of the blockade," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres and his top aid officials are "heartbroken at the scenes we are seeing from Yemen and the risk of continued suffering of the Yemeni people," Dujarric added.

"This is a man-made crisis," continued the UN spokesman, adding that Guterres had called it a "stupid war."

The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with 17 million people in need of food, seven million of whom are at risk of famine.

Yemen is also battling one of the world's worst outbreaks of cholera, that has left nearly one million people ill and killed 2,200 people.

In the letter to Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi, Guterres called on the coalition to allow UN flights to Sanaa and Aden, and to reopen the key ports of Hodeida and Saleef in rebel-held territory.

The direct appeal to Saudi Arabia's ambassador from the UN chief highlighted growing frustration and alarm over Yemen's humanitarian crisis and the coalition's refusal to open up access to aid.

In the letter, Guterres offered to send a UN team to Riyadh for talks on tightening up inspections at Hodeida port, once the aid shipments have resumed.

The coalition argues that ships docking at Hodeida port are used for arms smuggling to the Huthi rebels.

Earlier, the heads of three UN agencies warned that without deliveries of vital supplies such as food and medicine "untold thousands of innocent victims, among them many children, will die."

The joint appeal came from the World Health Organization, the UN children's agency UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

The coalition has partially eased some restrictions on ports controlled by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, but the United Nations is insisting on access to Hodeida and Saleef ports.
Kenyan Chief Judge David Maraga was thrust into the spotlight after annulling the original August 8, 2017 vote, a decision hailed worldwide as a chance to deepen Kenya's democracy

Kenya's Supreme Court said Thursday that it would issue its ruling Monday on challenges to the validity of the October 26 presidential re-run election won by incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta.

Chief Justice David Maraga said the six-judge bench would hand down its decision by Monday, the constitutional deadline, having finished hearing two days of oral arguments.

"We want to thank you for your courtesy to each other and the court except for a few remarks here and there and we want to encourage this kind of conduct to be continued," Maraga said.

Maraga was thrust into the spotlight after annulling the original August 8 vote, a decision hailed worldwide as a chance to deepen Kenya's democracy and set an example for other African nations.

But the decision led instead to unrest and acrimony that has left the nation bruised and deeply divided, though Kenyatta has said he will abide by the final ruling "no matter its outcomes".

Former lawmaker and businessman John Harun Mwau submitted one petition challenging the vote, while another was filed jointly by Njonjo Mue, a human rights and judicial expert, and Khelef Khalifa, director of Muslims for Human Rights.

Lawyers for Mwau have argued that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should have conducted fresh nominations ahead of the October 26 vote.

Mue and Khalifa's counsel has argued that violence and intimidation and a lack of independence for the IEBC -- whose own chairman Wafula Chebukati claimed he could not guarantee a free and fair election -- meant the re-run vote was not in line with the constitution.

Chebukati later changed his mind and said the election could go ahead.

If the judges validate Kenyatta's win, he will be invested on November 28. Otherwise a third election will have to be organised within 60 days.

Although he obtained 98 percent of votes cast last month, participation was only 38.8 percent, compared with 79 percent in August, after the opposition, led by Raila Odinga, boycotted the new election.

The opposition has also called for demonstrations, economic boycotts of certain companies and a campaign of civil disobedience.

Before the second vote, the Supreme Court had found by a majority vote of four judges to two that the initial election was marred by widespread illegalities and irregularities.
Chairman Ajit Pai of the Federal Communications Commission led the effort to relax US media ownership regulations, a change likely to mean more consolidation

US regulators voted Thursday to end a decades-old rule which barred ownership of newspapers and television stations in the same market, opening the door to more consolidation in the media sector.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted the changes in a hotly contested 3-2 vote, eliminating restrictions dating back to 1975. The vote also clears the way for a single company to own multiple broadcasters in the same market.

"For too long, the commission has failed to acknowledge the pace of change in the media marketplace by maintaining analog broadcast ownership rules that do not reflect today's digital age," an FCC statement said.

"By modernizing these outdated rules, broadcast stations and local newspapers will be able to more easily invest in local news and content and improve service to their local communities for the benefit of consumers."

FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel voted against the plan.

"Today @FCC gives the green light for more media consolidation," Rosenworcel said in a tweet. "We set on fire the values of diversity, localism, and competition that have informed media policy for decades. I dissent."

Some critics of the plan said the revisions were designed to clear a path for Sinclair Broadcast Group -- which is seen as closely allied with President Donald Trump -- and its planned $3.9 billion takeover of Tribune Media, which would give it more than 200 local TV stations reaching 72 percent of the US population.

"Chairman Pai and his Republican colleagues want us to ignore the nightmarish impact of media consolidation on local communities and once-thriving newsrooms," said Craig Aaron of the activist group Free Press.

"Today's vote will lead to more mergers, more layoffs and more communities that have no news outlets in place to cover important stories and hold officials accountable."

Democratic Representative Frank Pallone said the FCC action represented "major handouts to Sinclair, putting corporate bottom lines above the public interest."

But Joe Kane of the free-market policy group R Street said the old rules are outdated.

"With the rise of cable news and the internet, these cross-ownership bans no longer make any sense," Kane said in a blog this week.

"Jeff Bezos (Amazon CEO and world's richest man) was allowed to buy the Washington Post, and Facebook or Google legally could try to buy The New York Times. But a local broadcaster buying a struggling newspaper is strictly forbidden."
An Afghan boy, who was held as a child sex slave, at a restaurant in a unidentified location in Afghanistan

US troops who served in Afghanistan were previously told that "nothing could be done" about child sex abuse at the hands of Afghan security forces, according to a government report released Thursday.

The Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General began reviewing Pentagon guidance for troops deploying to Afghanistan following a series of news stories in 2015 about widespread pedophilia by Afghan police and soldiers.

Primarily at issue is Afghanistan's entrenched custom of "bacha bazi", or the sexual abuse of boys, who are forced to dress in girls' clothes, dance and have sex with older men.

The Inspector General spoke to several US troops who said their commanders had shrugged their shoulders when they reported concerns about possible abuse.

"Personnel we interviewed explained that they, or someone whom they knew, were told informally that nothing could be done about child sexual abuse because of Afghanistan's status as a sovereign nation, that it was not a priority issue for the command, or that it was best to let the local police handle it," the report states.

One person who was interviewed said he or she had been aware of an Afghan commander keeping little boys "for pleasure."

"The interviewee reported to the chain of command and had been told, 'There's nothing we can do about it,' 'It was out of our control,' 'This is Afghanistan,' or 'It's their country," the report states.

Investigators identified 16 allegations of child sex abuse involving Afghan government officials between 2010 and 2016, though a lack of reporting guidance makes it impossible to know if this was the totality of cases.

The Inspector General found that while the Pentagon had no policy expressly discouraging personnel from reporting incidents of child sexual abuse, cultural-awareness training identified child sexual abuse as a "culturally accepted practice" in Afghanistan.

In September 2015, the New York Times reported that US troops in Afghanistan had been instructed by their superiors to overlook cases of Afghan police or commanders sexually abusing teenage boys, even if it took place on military bases.

At the end of 2015, troops began to receive PowerPoint presentations titled "Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Human Rights Abuses."

AFP last year reported how the Taliban exploit bacha bazi to infiltrate security ranks.

The AFP story detailed how Taliban insurgents are using children to mount crippling insider attacks that have killed hundreds of police in southern Afghanistan over the previous two years.

When asked about the Inspector General report, Pentagon press secretary Dana White said troops are all obligated to report abuse allegations.

"There's a very concrete system in which they do that," she said.
"I would like to thank investors and donors who revealed their confidence in us today," Guinean President Alpha Conde said

Guinea on Thursday won pledges in aid worth $20 billion to fund a five-year development plan at a meeting in Paris with banks, private players and governments.

The mineral-rich West African nation is slowly emerging from the Ebola crisis and low commodity price shocks that adversely affected its economy in 2014 and 2015.

"I would like to thank investors and donors who revealed their confidence in us today," Guinean President Alpha Conde said at the start of the two-day meeting in the French capital.

"We want to show that there is a new Guinea," he said.

The country's GDP growth stood at 6.6 percent last year and is projected at 6.7 percent this year, Makhtar Diop, the vice president of the African Development Bank told the meeting.

The growth was driven by an increase in the production of bauxite and gold and a resurgent agriculture sector.

Guinea also has large reserves of diamonds but more than half its population lives in abject poverty of less than a dollar a day.

Diop said the African Development Bank would extend $1.6 billion (1.3 billion euros) financing. The Islamic Development Bank and the Arab Coordination Group pledged $1.4 billion while private investors promised more than seven billion dollars.

Other pledges came from the European Union, France, China, Russia and India.

The development plan aims at improving Guinea's abysmal infrastructure which includes poor roads, a huge elecricity shortfall and diversifying the economy to make it less dependent on minerals.

"The future of Guinea is not in the mines which do not generate a lot of jobs but in agriculture," Conde said.

Nearly 80 percent of the arable land in the country is not used for farming despite being well irrigated and fertile.
Chicago has a history of abusive police tactics going back decades

Prosecutors in Chicago on Thursday exonerated 15 convicts who claimed corrupt cops framed them, marking the third day of overturned convictions in America's third largest city due to alleged police misconduct.

A judge vacated all 15 men's convictions at once, in what is believed to be the first mass exoneration in the midwestern city -- which has previously acknowledged police abuse in civil settlements.

They were all arrested and accused of drug crimes by a now-disgraced former police sergeant and his team of officers between 2003 and 2008.

Prosecutors said they could no longer be confident that the men received fair trials, since their convictions were based on police testimony.

Former sergeant Ronald Watts, now a convicted criminal, was accused of running a payoff scheme in which those who did not cooperate were arrested on false drug charges.

The 19-year police veteran was sentenced in 2013 to 22 months in federal prison for stealing money from a drug courier. He was caught in an FBI undercover sting.

Several of the officers who worked with Watts, also accused of wrongdoing, remain on the force, according to the exonerated men's attorney.

"I personally believe that those officers have no credibility, and I believe they're criminals," said attorney Joshua Tepfer, adding that hundreds of other convictions need to be reviewed.

Chicago has a history of abusive police tactics going back decades. The city paid out $5.5 million in reparations to 57 people tortured for confessions over a span of two decades by notorious former police detective Jon Burge.

The prosecutor's office said a team is reviewing past cases in a new effort to uncover injustice in the legal system.

Chicago's mayor and police chief released a joint statement claiming "zero tolerance for abuse, misconduct or any unlawful actions by those who are sworn to uphold our laws."

"The actions of Ronald Watts must be condemned by all of us, and we will continue our work to ensure the abuses of the past are never repeated in the future," the statement said.

The 15 exonerated men have served their sentences, which ranged from probation to nine years in prison.

The exonerations marked the third consecutive day of criminal cases falling apart due to alleged Chicago police misconduct.

Jose Maysonet, imprisoned for murder since 1990, walked free on Wednesday, when five police officers refused to testify during his retrial, citing their right to avoid self-incrimination.

Arthur Brown was freed Tuesday after 29 years behind bars for murder. Prosecutors, in recently reviewing Brown's case, said they had concerns about the fairness of his conviction.
More than half of the MS-13 gang members picked up in a sweep led by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency were arrested on immigration violation

US authorities announced Thursday that 214 members of the notorious MS-13 gang had been arrested in a one-month sweep around the country.

More than half of those picked up in the action which was led by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, were arrested on immigration violations. But 93 were dealt federal criminal charges including murder, robbery, drugs and racketeering.

The largest part of the group, 135, were from El Salvador, followed by Honduras and Mexico.

The sweep was part of a joint action together with El Salvador, the base for MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha. In September Salvadoran authorities announced the arrest of 53 MS-13 members.

The gang, which is spread across the United States as well as Central America, has become a focus of President Donald trump's crackdown on crime, which he claims has surged as a result of borders easily crossed by gang members.

"With more than 10,000 members across 40 states, MS-13 is one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the United States today," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

"That's why I have ordered our drug trafficking task forces to use every law available to arrest, prosecute, convict, and defund MS-13. And we are getting results."
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 authorizes $12.3 billion for the Missile Defense Agency to bolster homeland, regional, and space missile defenses

The US Congress on Thursday overwhelmingly authorized $700 billion in national defense spending for next year, a substantial increase over Donald Trump's request, and sent the measure to the president for his signature.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 is a negotiated compromise between the two chambers of Congress. The Senate passed it Thursday on a unanimous voice vote, two days after it cleared the House on a vote of 356 to 70.

The bill is some $26 billion above Trump's initial military budget requests, and about 15 percent higher than the authorization in 2016, the last full year of Barack Obama's presidency.

It provides for $626 billion in base budget requirements, $66 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations, or warfighting, and an additional $8 billion for other defense activities.

Increased spending is allocated for new F-35 fighter jets, ships and M1 Abrams tanks, military pay is raised by 2.4 percent and $4.9 billion is reserved for Afghanistan security forces, including a program integrating women into the country's national defense.

It also authorizes $12.3 billion for the Missile Defense Agency to bolster homeland, regional, and space missile defenses, including the expansion of ground-based interceptors and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which has been recently deployed in South Korea.

The figure is substantially more than Trump's baseline missile defense request, at a time of heightened tensions with North Korea over its testing of nuclear devices and ballistic missiles.

Lawmakers including Senator John McCain, a defense hawk who routinely berates administrations for not spending enough to improve defense readiness, praised the bill's passage as a sign Congress was eager to rebuild military strength.

McCain said he hoped Trump would sign the measure and "acknowledge that this is the level of defense spending necessary to meet current threats, prepare for the challenges of an increasingly dangerous world, and keep faith with our men and women in uniform."
There are mounting press reports in the United States that Reza Zarrab, pictured in 2013, may now be cooperating with US authorities in search of a plea bargain deal

Speculation is mounting over the whereabouts of a Turkish-Iranian gold mogul and whether he will stand trial as scheduled in New York on charges of defying US sanctions on Iran.

Neither Reza Zarrab, 34, nor his lawyer attended a court hearing in Manhattan on Thursday to discuss the case ahead of the trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday next week and opening statements on November 27.

In his absence, there are mounting press reports in the United States that Zarrab may now be cooperating with US authorities in search of a plea bargain deal.

Previously held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the Bureau of Prisons database lists him has having been released on November 8.

He was "still in federal custody," a spokesman for the US prosecutors office told AFP.

"Keep your eyes on the docket," District Judge Richard Berman replied when the lawyer co-defendant Mehmet Akan Attila asked whether Zarrab would be at the trial.

The businessman's lawyer Ben Brafman, one of the most prominent defense attorneys in the United States, also declined to comment.

Zarrab's name surfaced last week in US media reports about US President Donald Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Flynn, already a key person of interest in an investigation into Russian meddling in the US election, is also reportedly being investigated for alleged talks with Turkey on deporting Zarrab and a dissident Turkish cleric, in exchange for money.

Special prosecutor Robert Mueller is examining a meeting between Flynn and senior Turkish officials weeks after Trump won the presidential election, NBC News and the Wall Street Journal reported.

The meeting allegedly involved discussion of paying up to $15 million if Flynn could engineer the deportation to Turkey of Fethullah Gulen, a political rival to the Turkish president, as well as help free Zarrab from prison.

Turkey and Flynn's lawyers have denied any such negotiations.

Ankara accuses Gulen of being behind a failed 2016 coup aimed at unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, charges the cleric denies.

The Turkish foreign ministry said Wednesday it had asked the United States for information about Zarrab's whereabouts, and was waiting a response.

Zarrab's arrest by US authorities in March 2016, after flying with his pop star wife and daughter to Miami on holiday, angered Erdogan and has been a source of Turkish-US friction.
NEW YORK (AP) - Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity ultimately said Wednesday he couldn't be the judge of Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

It was an odd conclusion to a televised ultimatum. Hannity, whose words carry weight among conservatives because of his large nightly audience, had given Moore 24 hours to explain "inconsistencies" in his response to allegations of child molestation or quit the Alabama race.

Hannity read a letter from Moore, who said he never dated "underage girls." Moore questioned whether a 1977 yearbook inscription written by him to a girl who accused him of sexual assault was a forgery.

FILE - In this March 4, 2016 file photo, Sean Hannity of Fox News appears at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md. Hannity has put Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore on notice: explain "inconsistencies" in his response to allegations of child molestation or exit the Alabama race. Hannity, on his show Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, gave Moore 24 hours. "We deserve answers _ consistent answers _ and truth," he said. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

The Fox host didn't say whether he found those answers convincing.

"The people of Alabama deserve to have a fair choice," he said. "I'm very confident that when everything comes out, they will make the best decision for their state. It shouldn't be decided by me, by people on television, by Mitch McConnell."

It was an anticlimactic ending to a self-generated television drama. Hannity played out the string, waiting until the end of his one-hour show to discuss Moore's response.

Hannity is generally among the most reliable and consistent media supporters of President Donald Trump and the conservative cause, and his ratings - he had the most-watched show on cable television news last month - speak to his influence. After last week's Washington Post story about Moore's involvement with teenage girls when he was in his 30s, the candidate gave his only detailed interview about the matter on Hannity's radio show.

Two panelists on Hannity's Fox News show Monday, Jeanine Pirro and Geraldo Rivera, both said they could no longer support Moore.

Also Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal editorial page, another conservative bellwether, wrote that "a famous country song aptly summed up where the Republicans are with Senate candidate Roy Moore in Alabama: You've got to know when to fold 'em."

"Mr. Moore's credibility has fallen below the level of survivability," the Journal wrote.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The Latest on a ruling from the National Indian Gaming Commission that approves a plan to build a casino near Omaha (all times local):

4:15 p.m.

Ponca Tribal Chairman Larry Wright Jr. says he is confident his tribe will be able to build a casino in Carter Lake, Iowa, now that the National Indian Gaming Commission has approved it.

This week's ruling is the second time the commission has approved the plan. The casino proposal has been tied up in court battles for the past decade.

Wright says he's excited about the prospects for the casino because of what it would mean for his tribe.

Wright says the tribe would use the money to help its members and build new businesses.

___

2:05 p.m.

The attorneys who fought against a proposed casino in Carter Lake, Iowa, say they haven't decided whether to appeal this week's ruling from the National Indian Gaming Commission.

The Nebraska and Iowa Attorneys General both are still reviewing the ruling.

Officials in the city of Council Bluffs, Iowa, said they are also reviewing the decision before deciding how to proceed.

___

10:45 a.m.

The National Indian Gaming Commission has again approved the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska's plan to build a casino near Omaha, but after a decade of court hearings, the project's future remains uncertain.

The Commission ruling this week came nearly 10 years after it first approved the proposed casino in Carter Lake, Iowa.

Ponca Tribal Chairman Larry Wright Jr. celebrated the latest decision because building the casino would give the tribe significant new resources to help its members.

The tribe wants to build a casino with 2,000 slot machines, 50 table games and a 150-room hotel.

Iowa Attorney General spokesman Geoff Greenwood says the office is still reviewing the decision and deciding whether to appeal.

The Nebraska Attorney General's office didn't immediately respond to a message Wednesday.
HOUSTON (AP) - A Houston-area sheriff says he's concerned the driver of a truck displaying an expletive filled message against President Donald Trump and those who voted for him is creating a situation that could lead to confrontations with people offended by the sign.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said Wednesday he's hoping to have "meaningful dialogue" with the driver about the expletives and the confrontational tone of the message.

In a Facebook post earlier Wednesday, Nehls had brought up the idea of a possible disorderly conduct charge against the driver.

But the sheriff seemed to back down from that idea later in the day, saying he supports freedom of speech.

Legal experts say the driver has a constitutionally protected right to express the message on the truck.
BALTIMORE (AP) - A member of the Baltimore police force was shot Wednesday in a troubled area of the city's western district.

Baltimore police said in a tweet that one of their own was shot Wednesday evening and urged people to "please say an extra prayer for the officer and the officer's family." The department did not immediately disclose the officer's name or any other specifics.

Police cordoned off streets in the West Baltimore area and a tactical unit combed alleyways as they searched for a shooter. Numerous cruisers responded and a police helicopter buzzed overhead, illuminating streets below with a searchlight.

The neighborhood where the officer was shot has a number of vacant row houses and has been the scene of numerous shootings over the years.

Mayor Catherine Pugh, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and other officials gathered at the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center where the officer was apparently being treated. They did not talk with reporters.

Wednesday's shooting of the police officer comes amid a particularly violent period in Baltimore: So far this year, the city of less than 620,000 inhabitants has seen over 300 homicides.
TOKYO (AP) - With all the verbal barbs flying between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump these days, China's decision to send its most senior official to North Korea in more than two years could be a welcome opportunity to defuse the growing tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.

But the way things are going, it could just as well turn out to be little more than a diplomatic courtesy.

Song Tao, the head of China's ruling Communist Party's international department, will travel to Pyongyang on Friday to report on the party's national congress held last month, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Song, as president and party leader Xi Jinping's special envoy, will reportedly also carry out a "visit" in addition to delivering the briefing.

In this Oct. 18, 2017 photo, Song Tao, right, the head of China's ruling Communist Party's International Liaison Department, talks with a fellow attendee before the start of the opening session of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Following U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, China said Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 that it is sending Song to North Korea amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbors over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The announcement of the visit Wednesday seems especially timely because it comes a day after Trump wrapped up his extended tour of Asia. The tour took him to three major players in the regional effort to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions - Japan, South Korea and China. China is the linchpin of any such effort, and in Beijing Trump said it can fix the North Korea problem "easily and quickly." He urged Xi to "work on it very hard."

It's quite possible Xi wants to explore new relations with North Korea as he starts his second term in office.

Beijing does not want to invite chaos on its border by pushing Pyongyang into a crisis, and the focus on North Korea has worked to China's benefit in so far as it has deflected Washington's attention away from Beijing's moves to exert more control over the South and East China seas.

But Chinese officials share Washington's opposition to Pyongyang's development of its nuclear arsenal and long-range missile programs.

Some North Korea watchers suggest China, which while agreeing to sanctions has consistently stressed the need for engagement and dialogue, might be mulling the possibility of a summit with Kim, who has yet to travel overseas or meet a foreign head of state since assuming power in late 2011.

Song's visit, however, will more likely be about small steps than big successes.

It's customary for China to send an official to Pyongyang after significant events such as party congresses, which are only held once every five years. So the briefing aspect is largely a formality.

While Song would be the first ministerial-level Chinese official to visit North Korea since October 2015, he is not directly connected to China's efforts to convince Pyongyang to cease its nuclear weapons program and return to talks. So flashy breakthroughs on that front aren't likely.

China is an essential trading partner and source of fuel for North Korea, but few experts share Trump's assessment that pressure from Beijing could offer the kind of quick or easy fix that the United States is looking for.

North Korea has time and again said it has no intention of backing away from its nuclear program. It sees the program as a justified and necessary means of national self-defense in the face of an enemy that is not only the world's most advanced nuclear power but also the only country to have ever used nuclear weapons in combat.

Pyongyang has also been increasingly critical of what it sees as China's willingness to deal with Trump, despite Chinese-North Korean economic ties and history as comrades in arms during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Meanwhile, Trump's tough talk - including his recent barbed tweet saying he would never call Kim short and fat, for example - hasn't paved the way for conciliatory measures from Pyongyang, at least not in public.

Just before posting its article announcing Song's visit, KCNA, the North's official news agency, called Trump "an old lunatic, mean trickster and human reject." A commentary Wednesday by the ruling party's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Trump is "an old slave of money."

"He should know that he is just a hideous criminal sentenced to death by the Korean people," it added.

What Song returns with may hinge on how he can negotiate that minefield of tough talk.

___

Talmadge has been the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief since 2013. Follow him on Twitter at EricTalmadge and on Instagram @erictalmadge

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Following Trump's visit to Beijing, China says it's sending a high-level special envoy to North Korea amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbors over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs. The official Xinhua News Agency said Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, that director of the ruling Communist Party's International Liaison Department, Song Tao, would travel to Pyongyang on Friday to report on the party's national congress held in October. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2017, file photo, a man watches a TV screen showing U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, during a news program at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea. With all the verbal barbs flying between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump these days, China's decision to send its most senior official to North Korea in more than two years could be a welcome opportunity to defuse the growing tensions between Washington and Pyongyang. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - With barely an hour's notice, the Roy Moore campaign announced it would hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

There was intense speculation about what the embattled Republican Senate candidate would say as he faced the media for the first time since allegations of sexual conduct transformed what was supposed to be an easy win for his party on Dec. 12 into a national GOP nightmare. In the end, Moore didn't show. His attorney, Phillip L. Jauregui, did most of the talking in an appearance with Moore's campaign chairman that spanned less than eight minutes.

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

Phillip L. Jauregui,, the attorney for former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Like a courtroom attorney before a judge, Jauregui focused on two key points in an attempt to undermine the credibility of Moore's latest accuser. On Monday, a tearful Beverly Young Nelson said Moore aggressively groped her in a locked car when she was 16 years old. Jauregui seized on one detail in Nelson's account: that she hadn't had any contact with Moore since the alleged incident. It turns out, the lawyer said, that Moore was the judge assigned to her divorce case more than 20 years after the alleged assault. Jauregui handed out copies of a court filing from the divorce proceeding signed by Moore, but they do not reflect whether Moore ever saw the woman in court during the proceeding. "There was contact," Jauregui insisted.

Moore's attorney was more aggressive on his second point. The only evidence Nelson had against Moore, Jauregui noted, was a high school yearbook with the inscription, "To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say 'Merry Christmas,'" that appeared to be signed by Moore, who was in his 30s at the time. The campaign had a handwriting expert examine the signature, but Jauregui said it was too difficult to verify its authenticity from photos.

The campaign is sending a letter to the alleged victim's attorney, Gloria Allred, "demanding" that the yearbook be released. "We need to have our handwriting expert draw some conclusions," Jauregui said. "I'm not going to draw them today. I'm not going to make any allegations without an expert."

WHAT DIDN'T THEY SAY?

A lot. To start, Moore himself didn't say anything. He's had a limited public schedule in recent days and, save for one radio interview, he hasn't addressed the media at all since allegations of sexual misconduct first surfaced last week. Those speaking for him had little to say beyond two specific points designed to undercut Moore's latest accuser. They didn't answer any questions. The event was billed as a press conference, but both men retreated to the state GOP headquarters immediately after making brief remarks. They ignored several questions as reporters followed them to the door.

Their comments also ignored Moore's other accusers. At least three other women beyond Nelson have made accusations against Moore. One told The Washington Post on the record that Moore touched her over her bra and underwear when she was 14. Moore's team skipped over that accusation, along with those of two other women who said Moore pursued them as a 30-something district attorney when they were teenagers.

Finally, Moore's team did not speak directly to the wave of Republican leaders - including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a former Alabama senator - who have said the allegations against Moore are credible. Many have called for him to quit the race, while some have threatened to expel him from the Senate even if he wins. On Wednesday at least, Moore had nothing to say to them.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - A gay-marriage opponent has urged the Australian Senate to protect religious, speech and parental rights when legislating for gay marriage.

The Senate began debating legislation Thursday that is expected to deliver marriage equality in Australia by next month.

The leader of the minor Australian Conservatives party was the first same-sex marriage opponent to debate legislation in the Senate. Cory Bernardi told the Senate there were "unforeseen consequences" in legalizing gay marriage.

Members of the gay community and their supporters celebrate the result of a postal survey calling for gay marriage right in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Australians supported gay marriage in a postal survey that ensures Parliament will consider legalizing same-sex weddings this year. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

A bill introduced by government senator Dean Smith would limit who could legally refuse to take part in same-sex marriage to churches, religious ministers and a new class of religious celebrants.

Smith in the debate warned against winding back LGBT rights. Eight senators have spoken in support of Smith's bill.

Australian government senator Dean Smith, flanked by lawmakers who support marriage equality, speaks to journalists at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Smith has drafted the prime minister's referred bill that could legalize same-sex marriage this year. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)

Members of the gay community and their supporters celebrate the result of a postal survey calling for gay marriage right in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Australians supported gay marriage in a postal survey that ensures Parliament will consider legalizing same-sex weddings this year. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Members of the gay community and their supporters celebrate the result of a postal survey calling for gay marriage right in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Australians supported gay marriage in a postal survey that ensures Parliament will consider legalizing same-sex weddings this year. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Officials say U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has spent the night in Romania, on his way back from his trip to Asia.

An official from Romania's foreign ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press, said Thursday that Tillerson was met late Wednesday at Bucharest's Henri Coanda Airport by his Romanian counterpart, Teodor Melescanu.

The U.S. Embassy in Romania confirmed Tillerson's stay, saying there was no official schedule for the visit.

Earlier Wednesday, Tillerson made a one-day visit to Myanmar, where he met with leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
PARIS (AP) - The Latest on developments regarding resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (all times local):

1:40 p.m.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says it is up to resigned Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to decide when to return to Lebanon.

Adel al-Jubeir says Thursday it was Hariri's decision to resign and it will be his decision to decide when to return to Lebanon. He said Hariri will also study the security situation in Lebanon before returning.

France has invited Hariri and his family to visit, a decision hailed by the Lebanese president as a way to end the crisis.

Lebanon has plunged into a crisis following Hariri's resignation from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago. He cited concerns over meddling from Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in regional affairs as reason for his resignation. He also said he feared for his life.

Al-Jubeir said allegations that Saudi Arabia is detaining Hariri are "rejected and baseless."

Al-Jubeir said Hezbollah should respect Lebanon's sovereignty, accuses it of supporting Shiite rebels in Yemen

___

12:25 p.m.

Lebanon's President says he hopes the crisis over the surprise resignation of the country's prime minister from Saudi Arabia is "over" now that Saad Hariri accepted an invite to go to France.

President Michel Aoun said Thursday he hoped the French invitation opens the door for a resolution to the crisis that plunged the country into turmoil.

Aoun said: "I wait for President (of the council of ministers) Hariri 's return to decide the next move regarding the government." Aoun had refused to accept Hariri's resignation and accused Riyadh of holding him against his will.

Hariri resigned from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago, citing concerns over the meddling of Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in regional affairs. Saudi Arabia is locked in a feud with Iran over regional influence. Both countries support different groups in Lebanon. Hariri's resignation was seen as Riyadh's attempt to challenge Iran's influence in Lebanon.

___

9:45 a.m.

The French president's office says that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to come to France after his surprise resignation from Saudi Arabia.

An official in President Emmanuel Macron's office said Thursday that Hariri is expected in France in the coming days. The official was not authorized to be publicly named.

Hariri, citing Iran and Hezbollah's meddling in the region, announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia. He has not returned to Lebanon since, and the Lebanese president has refused to accept his resignation before he returns.

The announcement came as French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is in Saudi Arabia where he is meeting with Hariri, the Saudi crown prince and the Saudi king.

Macron on Wednesday invited Hariri and his family to come to France amid allegations that Saudi Arabia is holding him prisoner.
BONN, Germany (AP) - The Latest on the climate talks in Bonn, Germany (all times local):

12:15 p.m.

Pope Francis is denouncing those who deny global warming and is urging negotiators at climate talks in Germany to avoid falling prey to such "perverse attitudes" and instead accelerate efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2017 file photo traffic crowds a road in Moscow, Russia after a sunset as smoke billows from a power plant in background. The COP 23 Fiji UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, is scheduled to end Friday, Nov. 17 and aims at producing draft rules for implementing the Paris accord. . (AP Photo/Pavel Glolovkin, file)

Francis issued a message Thursday to the Bonn meeting, which is working to implement the 2015 Paris accord aimed at capping global emissions.

In the message, Francis called climate change "one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing," and urged negotiators to ignore special interests and political or economic pressures and instead engage in an honest dialogue about the future of the planet.

He denounced that such efforts are often frustrated by those who deny climate change, are indifferent to it, or think it can only be solved by technical solutions.

___

10:45 a.m.

Britain and Canada are launching a new alliance aimed at encouraging countries to phase out the use of coal as part of efforts to curb climate change.

The Global Alliance to Power Past Coal is being unveiled Thursday at an international climate meeting in Bonn, Germany.

While coal-fuelled power stations are considered one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide that's heating up the Earth's atmosphere, countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and the United States are planning to expand its use in the coming years.

Even Germany and Poland, hosts of climate talks this year and next, are holding onto coal for the foreseeable future.

The new anti-coal alliance is expected to include Finland, France, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand and several U.S. states committed to the Paris climate accord.

___

8:25 a.m.

A Norwegian investment fund that manages assets worth over $80 billion is pulling investments from ten companies over their involvement in the coal sector.

Storebrand, Norway's biggest private pension provider, says it divested from companies including German energy company RWE, Poland's PGE and Eskom Holdings of South Africa.

Its chief executive, Jan Erik Saugestad, said Thursday the decision is meant as a warning to utility companies to "clean up" their energy sources "or lose customers and investors."

Storebrand said it hopes the much larger Norwegian Sovereign Wealth fund, which holds $1 trillion generated from the country's sale of oil, will follow its divestment decision.

The move comes as over half a dozen countries attending global climate talks in Bonn, Germany, announce an alliance on phasing out the use of coal.
LONDON (AP) - Moscow-based cybersecurity firm Kasperksy Lab is releasing new details about how its software uploaded classified U.S. documents several years ago. The incident is at the center of a controversy over whether the company's popular anti-virus really works as described.

Previous reports alleged that Kaspersky had uploaded National Security Agency files from an intelligence worker's home computer in 2015. Founder Eugene Kaspersky confirmed the incident in a recent interview with The Associated Press, although he said that it occurred in September 2014, that the upload was accidental and that the files were quickly deleted.

A 13-page report published Thursday elaborates on that interview - and carries awkward claims for the NSA worker in question.

Under the heading "An Interesting Twist," Kaspersky says the worker's home computer was compromised by other hackers.
KOLKATA, India (AP) - India struggled with rain, bad light and Sri Lanka's bowlers as it went to stumps at 17-3 Thursday on Day 1 of the first test.

Only 11.5 overs were bowled in Kolkata in just 60 minutes of play overall.

Suranga Lakmal (0-3) bowled an exceptional six-over spell - all maidens. The pacer took all three wickets as India's top-order collapsed on a green, moisture-laden pitch after Sri Lanka won the toss.

India's captain Virat Kohli reacts as he leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the first day of their first test cricket match against Sri Lanka in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Cheteshwar Pujara (8 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (0 not out) were the unbeaten batsmen at the close of play. Lahiru Gamage has 0-16.

After an early tea was taken, India tried to rebuild its innings from 17-2. But Lakmal trapped Virat Kohli (0) lbw on the eighth ball after the interval. The batsman was ruled out despite DRS review.

Earlier, Lokesh Rahul (0) was caught behind off the very first ball, becoming the sixth Indian batsman to be dismissed off the first ball of a test. Shikhar Dhawan (8) played on and was bowled off Lakmal in the 7th over.

There was only 17 minutes play in the final session. The umpires waited for light to improve, before calling off the day's play more than an hour before the scheduled time.

Play had been reduced to 55 overs after rain prevented play in the morning session. The weather finally relented to allow the toss to take place four hours behind schedule. Another small interruption then reduced it to 52 overs.

Sri Lanka's captain Dinesh Chandimal, left, and teammate Rangana Herath leave the field after rain stopped play on the first day of first test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's captain Virat Kohli watches the stumps just before he was given Leg Before Wicket (LBW) during the first day of their first test cricket match against Sri Lanka in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Sri Lanka's Suranga Lakmal, center without cap, celebrates with teammates the dismissal of India's Lokesh Rahul, left, during the first day of their first test cricket match in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Groundsmen cover the outfield at Eden Gardens ground with plastic sheets as rain delayed the start of the first day of first test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Indian cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara, left, Lokesh Rahul, center and Ravichandran Ashwin wait outside their dressing room as rain delayed the start of the first day of first test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India's captain Virat Kohli looks skywards as rain delayed the start of the first day of first test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Sri Lanka's Suranga Lakmal bowls a delivery during the first day of their first test cricket match against India in Kolkata, India, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Eight years ago, Hobby Lobby president Steve Green found a new way to express his Christian faith. His family's $4 billion arts and craft chain was already known for closing stores on Sundays, waging a Supreme Court fight over birth control and donating tens of millions of dollars to religious groups.

Now, Green would begin collecting biblical artifacts that he hoped could become the starting point for a museum.

On Friday, that vision will be realized when the 430,000-square-foot (39,948-square-meter) Museum of the Bible three blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The $500 million museum includes pieces from the family's collection from the Dead Sea Scrolls, towering bronze gates inscribed with text from the Gutenberg Bible and a soundscape of the 10 plagues, enhanced by smog and a glowing red light to symbolize the Nile turned to blood.

A door opens to the "Exodus" section at the end of the "Passover" presentation inside the Museum of the Bible, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The project is largely funded by the conservative Christian owners of the Hobby Lobby crafts chain. Hobby Lobby president Steve Green says the aim is to educate not evangelize. But skeptics call the project a Christian ministry disguised as a museum. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

It is an ambitious attempt to appeal simultaneously to people of deep faith and no faith, and to stand out amid the impressive constellation of museums in Washington. The Bible exhibits are so extensive that administrators say it would take days to see everything.

Green says the institution he largely funded is meant to educate, not evangelize, though critics are dubious. Museum administrators have taken pains to hire a broad group of scholars as advisers. Lawrence Schiffman, a New York University Jewish studies professor and Dead Sea Scrolls expert, called the museum a "monument" to interfaith cooperation. Exhibits are planned from the Vatican Museum and the Israel Antiquities Authority.

"There's just a basic need for people to read the book," Green said. "This book has had an impact on our world and we just think people ought to know it and hopefully they'll be inspired to engage with it after they come here."

The last major splash the Greens made in Washington was over their religious objections to birth control. In 2014, Hobby Lobby persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to exempt for-profit companies like theirs from the contraception coverage requirement in President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. That culture war victory has in part colored reactions to the museum even before it opens.

The Oklahoma company also had to pay a $3 million fine and return artifacts after federal prosecutors said they got caught up in an antiquities smuggling scheme. Steve Green said the company had been naive in doing business with the dealers. Items at the center of the fines were never destined for the museum, administrators say. Of the 1,100 items the museum owns, 300 come from the Greens' personal collection.

But skepticism surrounding the intent of the project has focused more on the Greens' record of putting their fortune and influence behind spreading their particular religious beliefs. The museum will be the centerpiece of several of the family's efforts, including sponsoring research on the Bible and promoting a Bible curriculum they hope will be used in U.S. public schools. An initial attempt in an Oklahoma school district was withdrawn following complaints the lessons weren't neutral.

"The museum is a massive advertisement for the curriculum," said Mark Chancey, a religious studies professor at Southern Methodist University, who has critically analyzed content of the Bible lesson plans.

A new book written by Green and his wife, Jackie, about how they developed the museum seems to send mixed signals about their goals.

In "This Dangerous Book, How the Bible Has Shaped Our World and Why It Still Matters Today," the Greens write of the museum: "We're not creating a place to proselytize." They also write, "We believe there are multiple applications for Scripture, but only one interpretation," and "Time and time again, evidence has shown the Bible to be accurate."

Still, the museum avoids debates over interpreting the Bible and over contentious issues such as evolution and marriage.

Separately, critics have seized on a changing mission statement of the museum from its earliest days, when founders said they aimed to prove the authority of the Bible, to a new, more neutral goal of inviting people to learn more about the Bible. Museum president Cary Summers described the change as a natural progression as the project moved ahead.

But John Fea, a historian at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, points to the family's goal of helping people "engage with" the Bible as a telling indication about what the Greens hope to achieve. He said the "Bible engagement" concept was popularized by the American Bible Society in the 1990s amid concern that people who owned copies of the Scriptures weren't necessarily reading them.

Fea said advocates for this strategy ultimately hope the Bible will inspire a desire to learn more and maybe accept Christ.

"There's a public face to this Bible engagement rhetoric, and then there's a private aspect of what it really means," Fea said. "It debunks the whole notion that this is just a history museum."

Green's response to such arguments: Visit the museum and decide for yourself.

Located near the National Mall, the building alone has been designed to inspire a sense of wonder. The Gutenberg gates flank the entrance. A 140-foot LED display runs the length of the entrance hall ceiling, bathing the lobby in a changing array of color. The floors are a mix of shimmering marble from Denmark and Tunisia, complemented by columns of Jerusalem stone. From two high stories, a glass atrium curves from ceiling to floor, echoing the shape of a scroll and providing a clear view of the Capitol dome and the Washington Monument.

A section dedicated to the Bible's modern-day influence includes a replica of the Liberty Bell, inscribed with a verse from Leviticus, and exhibits touching on slavery, abolition and the civil rights movement. A motion simulator called Washington Revelations creates the sensation of flying over the nation's capital to see Bible inscriptions and references in buildings and monuments throughout the city.

Festivities surrounding the opening include a gala fundraiser for the museum at the Trump International Hotel, a dedication ceremony at the museum with Roman Catholic, Jewish and Protestant religious leaders, and a gala in the museum ballroom.

The Greens invited House and Senate leaders to join the events, along with Vice President Mike Pence and members of Trump's Cabinet. Pence said through a spokesman he would not participate. Some Cabinet members are expected to attend the fundraiser, a museum spokeswoman said.

Cary Summers, president of the Museum of the Bible, walks through an exhibit at the museum, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The museum was built by the owners of Hobby Lobby, cost $500 million to build, covers 430,000 square feet and is a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

An exhibit discussing slavery in the United States is displayed inside the Museum of the Bible, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The project is largely funded by the conservative Christian owners of the Hobby Lobby crafts chain. Hobby Lobby president Steve Green says the aim is to educate not evangelize. But skeptics call the project a Christian ministry disguised as a museum. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Steve Green, the owner of Hobby Lobby and a founder and major backer of the Museum of the Bible, poses for a portrait at the museum, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The museum cost $500 million to build, covers 430,000 square feet and is a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Steve Green, the owner of Hobby Lobby and a founder and major backer of the Museum of the Bible, poses for a portrait at the museum, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The museum cost $500 million to build, covers 430,000 square feet and is a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

People preview the exhibit "The World of Jesus of Nazareth" at the Museum of the Bible, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The museum was built by the owners of Hobby Lobby, cost $500 million to build, covers 430,000 square feet and is a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Exhibits are readied inside the Museum of the Bible, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The project is largely funded by the conservative Christian owners of the Hobby Lobby crafts chain. Hobby Lobby president Steve Green says the aim is to educate not evangelize. But skeptics call the project a Christian ministry disguised as a museum. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Security workers stand inside a large open stairwell area at the Museum of the Bible, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Washington. The museum was built by the owners of Hobby Lobby, cost $500 million to build, covers 430,000 square feet, and is a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran and Britain are discussing the possible release of some 400 million pounds held by London since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, an Iranian official acknowledged Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi denied any link between the possible money transfer and the detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who is serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling with her young daughter.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson faces tremendous criticism at home over his handling of Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case. Iranian media have speculated that Johnson may visit Iran soon.

FILE - In this Wednesday Nov. 15, 2017 file photo, Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, right, sits opposite Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was arrested and detained in Iran last year, during a meeting at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London. An Iranian official has acknowledged Tehran and Britain are talking about the possible release of some 400 million pounds held by London since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Telegraph newspaper of London reported Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, that the money might be part of a bargain to free detained Iranian-British national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. However, Foreign Ministry spokesman says the matters "are two separate issues and there is no link between them." (Stefan Rousseau/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Ghasemi was quoted by the semi-official ISNA news agency as saying that the 400 million pounds held by London is a payment Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi made for Chieftain tanks that were never delivered. The shah abandoned the throne in 1979 and the Islamic Revolution soon installed the clerically overseen system that endures today.

Sanctions between the countries have stopped the money being returned.

Ghasemi said Tehran has pursued the refund of the money through long and broad talks with Britain for some time. He denied any connection between the payment and Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case.

"The case of Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe and paying debt are two separate issues and there is no link between them," Ghasemi said. He added that she received prison sentence following the "necessary legal procedure."

The Daily Telegraph newspaper of London reported earlier Thursday that the money might be part of a bargain to free Zaghari-Ratcliffe. It described the payment as a "goodwill" gesture between Britain and Iran and said authorities in London continued to consult with experts over whether the payment could be made under current U.S. and U.N. sanctions.

The Foreign Office declined to immediately comment. Johnson has faced withering criticism over the case after he told a parliamentary committee that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "teaching people journalism" when she was arrested last year. Her family and her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, long have said she was on vacation taking her toddler daughter to meet relatives in Iran.

Johnson later apologized for his comment, but Iran's state broadcaster said it was an implicit admission of her guilt. Her husband recently warned that Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces new charges that could add 16 years to her sentence.

Analysts and family members of dual nationals and others detained in Iran have suggested that hard-liners in the Islamic Republic's security agencies use the prisoners as bargaining chips for money or influence. A U.N. panel in September described "an emerging pattern involving the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of dual nationals" in Iran, which Tehran denies.

A prisoner exchange in January 2016 that freed Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-Americans also saw the U.S. make a $400 million cash delivery to Iran the same day. That money too involved undelivered military equipment from the shah's era, though some U.S. politicians have criticized the delivery as a ransom payment.

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, so those detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government.

Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly "infiltrating" the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, a member of Iran's 2015 nuclear negotiating team, is believed to be serving a five-year prison sentence on espionage charges.

Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah, are both serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage.

Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail last year after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for "collaboration with a hostile government." Shahini is believed to still be in Iran.

Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who advocates for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. He was sentenced to 10 years last year on espionage-related charges.

Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well. Iran says Levinson is not in the country and that it has no further information about him, though his family holds Tehran responsible for his disappearance.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap. His work can be found at http://apne.ws/2galNpz.
BANGKOK (AP) - The man who led Malaysia through the final two decades of the 20th century and has waded back into its politics in recent months said Thursday the country's current government is deeply problematic and "must go."

"We are facing a lot of difficulties with a government that ignores the rule of law," Mahathir Mohamad told an audience in Thailand at a forum about Southeast Asia.

"These kinds of people must go," he said of current Prime Minister Najib Razak's government, which has held onto power through a huge corruption scandal.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks at the ASEAN@50 in Retrospect, a regional Southeast Asia forum, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Bangkok, Thailand. Mahathir, who led Malaysia through the final two decades of the 20th century and has waded back into its politics in recent months said Thursday the country's current government is deeply problematic and "must go." (AP Photo/Ted Anthony)

Mahathir, now 92, was Malaysia's prime minister from 1991 until 2003. Today, he has emerged as an unlikely rallying point for an opposition coalition stocked with people who once despised him. He has recently taken a strong stance against Najib's government, saying his one-time protege is corrupt and has elbowed Malaysia backward instead of propelling it forward.

"I'm working with the very people who used to call me 'dictator' and other nasty things," Mahathir said. He has insisted he does not want to become prime minister again and is said to be considering running for a parliamentary seat.

The opposition coalition tried to go after Najib over an international financial scandal that involved a state fund he created when he came to power in 2009. The so-called 1MDB fund is being investigated in the United States and several other countries. The U.S. Justice Department has said at least $4.5 billion is believed to have been misappropriated from the fund.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing. The coalition has targeted him in a number of ways, trying to engineer a no-confidence vote, asking for the intervention of the country's king and trying to get police involved. Each effort fell short.

"Now we have to wait for elections," Mahathir said. "We hope the elections will be fair and just, but we have worries about it."

General elections in Malaysia must be held by August 2018.

In recent days, two Malaysian newspapers linked to the government have run stories about Mahathir's granddaughter, Meera Alyana Mukhriz, and chronicled what they call her lavish lifestyle. The coverage is widely perceived as a shot at the former premier.

Asked about it, he seemed unfazed.

"You can publish the picture of my granddaughter on a yacht," he said, then quipped, "It was a small yacht anyway."

Mahathir was in Bangkok speaking at a forum called "ASEAN@50: In Retrospect," which looked back on the past half century of the Southeast Asian economic and security alliance. The forum was sponsored by The Bangkok Post.

In remarks to the forum, Mahathir reflected on ASEAN's history and its penchant for helping Southeast Asian nations develop economically but, more importantly, avoid conflict with each other. He attributed that ability to a diplomatic politesse rooted in the group's leaders, who he said know how to deal with contentious issues without being too pointed.

"You couch your words in a way that doesn't raise the hackles of another leader. You place constraints on yourself by being polite," he said. "Developing an almost club-like atmosphere is very important."

But he lamented the loss of a tradition - that longtime regional leaders really got to understand each other. Heads of state and government now pass across the stage so fast, he said, that it's hard to build relationships as he did with fellow Southeast Asian leaders like Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew and Indonesia's Suharto.

"We knew each other very well. We were friends," Mahathir said. "Now, every time you have a meeting of ASEAN, you see different faces. . One term is not enough to develop good friendships."

___

Ted Anthony is the director of Asia-Pacific news for The Associated Press. Follow him on Twitter at @anthonyted
PARIS (AP) - Two of France's biggest workers' unions are staging nationwide protests against President Emmanuel Macron and his economic reforms.

Thursday's 170 organized demonstrations mark the fourth day since September that union-backed protesters have taken to the streets to express discontent over Macron's policies. The size of the protests has gradually decreased, however.

Police in Nantes fired tear gas to disperse crowds.

The new measures, some of which are already being pushed through by executive order, aim to make it easier for French firms to hire and fire employees and reduce the power of national collective bargaining.

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said during a demonstration in Marseille that "the battle isn't over."

A major student union is also taking part, with some students angry over proposed reforms to the university admissions process.
BOSTON (AP) - A Massachusetts man authorities dubbed the "spelling bee bandit" because the notes he passed to tellers during multiple bank robberies in the Boston area contained the same spelling error has pleaded guilty.

Federal prosecutors say 34-year-old Jason Englen pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of bank robbery.

Authorities say the Chelsea man entered an Arlington bank on Oct. 31, 2016, approached a teller and handed over a note written on a deposit slip indicating a robbery was in progress, except robbery was spelled with just one "B."

Over the next few weeks, he robbed banks in Reading, Burlington and Peabody using notes with the same misspelling. He was arrested last December.

He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for Feb. 28.
BEIJING (AP) - The Latest on China's responses to tensions over North Korea's nuclear program (all times local):

4 p.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump will announce his decision on whether to name North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism "in the first part of next week."

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is declining to preview the announcement, which has been anticipated for weeks. White House officials had previously said the decision would come by the end of Trump's recent trip to Asia.

North Korea was previously designated as a sponsor of terror, but was removed from the list in 2008. Trump has faced pressure from congressional lawmakers to re-list the country amid its advancing nuclear missile program, though some fear it could increase already heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula.

___

8:30 p.m.

U.S. President Donald Trump is calling China's plans to send an envoy to North Korea a "big move."

Trump weighed in on Twitter on Thursday. He says: "China is sending an Envoy and Delegation to North Korea - A big move, we'll see what happens!" He did not elaborate.

Following Trump's visit to Beijing, China said Wednesday that it would send a high-level special envoy to North Korea amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbors.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the director of the ruling Communist Party's International Liaison Department, Song Tao, would travel to Pyongyang on Friday to report on the party's national congress held last month. Song would be the first ministerial-level Chinese official to visit North Korea since October 2015.

___

5 p.m.

China is reiterating its call for an agreement between North Korea and the U.S. under which the North would gain concessions if it freezes its nuclear weapons program.

The statement from foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang Thursday appeared to contradict President Donald Trump's remarks Wednesday that the U.S. and China agreed that North Korea cannot just freeze its nuclear weapons program in exchange for benefits. Trump said the North must eliminate its arsenal.

Trump was restating a long-standing U.S. position, but also suggesting that China now concurred with Washington that a "freeze-for-freeze" agreement was unacceptable.

Geng said at a regular briefing that China's position has not changed. He said the "freeze-for-freeze" initiative, under which the U.S. and South Korea would suspend large-scale military exercises in return, remained a "first step."
BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian government shelling and airstrikes have killed nearly two dozen civilians in three days of fighting in the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, where rebels are trying to take over a military installation, activists and a monitoring group said Thursday.

The fighting in the opposition-held Eastern Ghouta outside Damascus is the latest in now regular breaches of a local truce brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran, that came into force in August.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 22 civilians have been killed, and more than 100 wounded. Syrian state media, meanwhile, said rebel shelling from the area killed one person and wounded 13 in the government-held capital.

This photo provided on Nov. 16, 2016 by the Syrian anti-government activist group Ghouta Media Center, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows an injured man receiving treatment at a hospital after Syrian government airstrikes hit in Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian activists and a monitoring group say almost two dozen civilians have been killed in the last three days of fighting in the suburb of the capital, Damascus, along with dozens of government forces and rebels. (Ghouta Media Center via AP)

Fighters from the rebel Ahrar al-Sham faction on Wednesday penetrated a military compound outside Harasta, a town in Eastern Ghouta, according to the activist-run Ghouta Media center. Fighting over the facility was still underway Thursday, according to the Observatory's director, Rami Abdurrahman.

Pro-government forces lost 37 fighters, including nine officers, in the clashes; scores of rebels were also killed or wounded, the Observatory said.

Ahrar al-Sham's media arm published a photo purporting to show a munitions cache it uncovered inside the compound.

Activists believe the worsening humanitarian situation sparked the fighting. Eastern Ghouta has largely been cut off by a tight blockade by pro-government forces, despite the August "de-escalation" agreement that was supposed to allow humanitarian aid in. The government has authorized only a limited number of relief convoys into the area. The U.N. estimates there are 350,000 people trapped by the blockade.

In October, residents stormed a food warehouse amid reports of starvation among children. The Observatory said two children died from malnutrition during the last two months.

"My children are here and they are hungry," said activist Ahmad Khansour. "I'm ready to do something about it."

This photo provided on Nov. 16, 2017 by the Syrian anti-government activist group Ghouta Media Center, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows smoke and debris rising after Syrian government airstrikes hit in Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian activists and a monitoring group say almost two dozen civilians have been killed in the last three days of fighting in the suburb of the capital, Damascus, along with dozens of government forces and rebels. (Ghouta Media Center via AP)

This photo provided on Nov. 16, 2017 by the Syrian anti-government activist group Ghouta Media Center, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows people inspecting damage from airstrikes hit in Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian activists and a monitoring group say almost two dozen civilians have been killed in the last three days of fighting in the suburb of the capital, Damascus, along with dozens of government forces and rebels. (Ghouta Media Center via AP)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - The jailed leader of the main grassroots group pushing for Catalonia to secede from Spain resigned his post Thursday to run as a candidate in the election the Spanish government called for next month to stop the region's push toward independence.

The Catalan National Assembly said Jordi Sanchez would be a candidate on the slate headed by Catalonia's former president, Carles Puigdemont, who is in Belgium facing extradition back to Spain along with four members of his ousted cabinet.

Sanchez and another separatist activist were jailed on Oct. 16 while being investigated for sedition for their alleged roles in a secession-related protest that trashed police vehicles in September.

A protester shouts slogans during a demonstration in front of the Palau Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Demonstrators fill Sant Jaume Square in front of the seat of the Catalan presidency, to mark one month of imprisonment for leaders of the two separatist civil platforms, ANC and Omnium. Eight ex-Catalan cabinet members have also been jailed provisionally. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Under Spanish law, he and any other pro-independence Catalan officials or activists can run in the Dec. 21 election unless they are convicted. Puigdemont plans to be his party's top candidate while campaigning as a fugitive in Belgium.

Another eight former members of Catalonia's regional government have been similarly jailed in another case probing a rebellion plot.

Sanchez, 53, has led the Catalan National Assembly since 2015. The group organized rallies that attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters of having Catalonia break away from Spain. Sanchez also formed part of an informal leadership council that advised Puigdemont on achieving the region's secession.

Spain called the December election after seizing control of Catalonia. The unprecedented action followed a vote in Catalonia's Parliament to declare the region as a separate republic on Oct. 27 in violation of Spain's Constitution, which deems the nation "indivisible." Spain's government hopes that parties opposed to secession will take back control of the chamber.

Polls indicate that Catalonia's 7.5 million residents are evenly split over secession.

Hours after Sanchez launched his political bid, a few thousand Catalans in favor of breaking from Spain gathered in a central square in Barcelona to mark the one-month anniversary of his and the other separatist leader's imprisonment.

Many of the protestors held up signs reading "Freedom for Political Prisoners" and some carried pro-independence flags. The crowd formed the shape of a ribbon that many secessionists wear as a symbol of their solidarity with the jailed leaders.

"Their imprisonment is a punishment for the entire country," Agusti Alcoberro, the new leader of the National Catalan Assembly, told the crowd.

Demonstrators holding glow sticks form the shape of an awareness ribbon as they gather in front of the Palau Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Demonstrators protested Thursday in Sant Jaume Square, in front of the seat of the Catalan presidency, to mark one month of imprisonment for some of the Catalan separatist leaders. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

A woman holds a placard reading in catalan "freedom for political prisoners", during a demonstration in front of the Palau Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Demonstrators fill Sant Jaume Square in front of the seat of the Catalan presidency, to mark one month of imprisonment for leaders of the two separatist civil platforms, ANC and Omnium. Eight ex-Catalan cabinet members have also been jailed provisionally. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Protesters hold placards reading in catalan "freedom for political prisoners", during a demonstration in front of the Palau Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Demonstrators protested Thursday in Sant Jaume Square, in front of the seat of the Catalan presidency, to mark one month of imprisonment for some of the Catalan separatist leaders. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on the Sen. Bob Menendez bribery trial (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

A bi-partisan group of senators say they plan to resume an ethics inquiry into Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez becomes emotional as he speaks to reporters in front of the courthouse in Newark, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The federal bribery trial of Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Democrat and Republican members of the ethics committee said Thursday after a mistrial was declared in Menendez's criminal trial that it will resume a preliminary inquiry into alleged misconduct.

The inquiry was started in 2012, but was deferred in 2013 after the criminal investigation began.

Menendez's chief of staff, Fred Turner, says there's no merit to further pursuing the matter and the committee will "come to no different conclusion" than the jury.

The jury said Thursday it reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts against Menendez and a friend.

One of the charges was that Menendez failed to report gifts on his Senate financial disclosure forms.

___

5 p.m.

New Jersey's most influential Democratic officials are standing up for Sen. Bob Menendez and say they'd back him if he runs for re-election next year.

Democratic Gov.-elect Phil Murphy says Menendez would have his "full support" if he runs. Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney said "absolutely" he'll back Menendez in 2018.

Their comments came even though there is a prospect federal prosecutors will re-try Menendez on the bribery charges.

Menendez's six-year term is up in 2018.

His political adviser says that "all things indicate" he will run for re-election next year and an announcement is likely in the "coming weeks."

The judge declared a mistrial Thursday.

___

2:30 p.m.

The top Republican in the Senate is calling for the ethics committee to investigate Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez after his federal bribery trial ended in a mistrial.

Sen. Mitch McConnell said in a statement Thursday that Menendez had been indicted on numerous federal felonies and his trial shed light on serious accusations of "violating the public's trust as trust as an elected official, as well as potential violations of the Senate's Code of Conduct."

The Kentucky Republican said that because of the seriousness of the charges, he was calling on the Ethics panel to immediately investigate the senator's actions that led to the indictment.

Menendez says he's looking forward to getting back to work in Washington.

He is up for re-election next year.

___

2:05 p.m.

Federal prosecutors say they will "carefully consider next steps" over whether to re-try Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy friend.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department said that it appreciates the service of the jury, which told a judge it was deadlocked Thursday before he declared a mistrial.

Menendez blasted prosecutors and says the way the case was investigated and the way prosecutors brought charges and tried the case was wrong.

Juror Edward Norris says that 10 of the 12 jurors wanted to acquit Menendez, while two were holding out for a conviction.

The jury Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme.

Menendez is up for re-election next year.

___

2 p.m.

One of the jurors in Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial says that the jury finished with 10 people who wanted to acquit the Democrat, but two holding out for a conviction.

Juror Edward Norris said Thursday after a judge declared a mistrial that he wanted Menendez to be acquitted.

The jury said they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts in the indictment against the New Jersey Democrat and a wealthy friend. They said Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

The trial was in its 11th week. Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme between 2006 and 2013.

Prosecutors have the option of retrying the men.

___

1:50 p.m.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez is blasting federal investigators for bringing a bribery case against him after a judge declared a mistrial.

Menendez said Thursday that the way the case was investigated and the way prosecutors brought charges and tried the case was wrong.

He also thanked those that helped him raise millions for his legal defense fund.

The jury said they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts in the indictment against Menendez and a wealthy friend. They said Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

The trial was in its 11th week. Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme between 2006 and 2013.

Prosecutors have the option of retrying the men.

___

1:35 p.m.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez's political adviser says that "all things indicate" he will run for re-election next year and an announcement is likely in the "coming weeks."

Mike Soliman pointed to Menendez's "active schedule fighting on behalf of all New Jerseyans" during the 11 week trial.

The judge in the New Jersey Democrats' federal bribery trial declared a mistrial Thursday. Prosecutors can still decide to re-try him.

New Jersey's Democratic Senate president, Steve Sweeney, says he will "absolutely" support Menendez's re-election effort. He says too many people tried to convict him without his day in court.

Menendez first joined the Senate when he was appointed in 2006, winning election later that year.

Menendez has already raised more than $2.5 million for re-election this year.

___

1:05 p.m.

Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial has ended in a mistrial after the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on the charges against the Democrat and his co-defendant.

Judge William Walls declared the mistrial Thursday.

The jury first told him on Monday they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts in the indictment against Menendez and a wealthy friend. They said Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

The trial was in its 11th week. Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme between 2006 and 2013 in which Menendez traded his political influence for luxury vacations and flights on the doctor's private plane.

Prosecutors have the option of retrying the men.

___

12:10 p.m.

The judge and lawyers in Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial are interviewing jurors as the jury says it remained deadlocked.

Menendez's defense lawyer on Thursday asked Judge William Walls to declare a mistrial. An attorney for co-defendant Salomon Melgen asked Walls to poll the jury individually to confirm they are deadlocked.

Federal prosecutors have asked Walls to give the jury more time to deliberate and to give them partial verdict instructions, but Walls says he won't do that.

Deliberations began Nov. 6. On Monday the jury told the judge they were deadlocked, but he told them to keep going. They deliberated Tuesday, Wednesday and some of Thursday morning without reaching a unanimous verdict against the New Jersey Democrat and the Florida eye doctor.

___

11:45 a.m.

The jury in Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial has told a judge that it remains deadlocked.

Menendez's defense lawyer on Thursday asked Judge William Walls to declare a mistrial. An attorney for co-defendant Salomon Melgen is asking Walls to poll the jury individually to confirm they are deadlocked.

Federal prosecutors have asked Walls to give the jury more time to deliberate and to give them partial verdict instructions, but Walls says he won't do that.

Deliberations began Nov. 6. On Monday the jury told the judge they were deadlocked, but he told them to keep going. They deliberated Tuesday, Wednesday and some of Thursday morning without reaching a unanimous verdict against the New Jersey Democrat and the Florida eye doctor.

___

10:20 a.m.

Jurors have begun a seventh full day of deliberations in the bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez.

The panel reconvened Thursday morning in Newark, New Jersey.

Deliberations began Nov. 6. On Monday the jury told the judge they were deadlocked, but he told them to keep going. They deliberated Tuesday and Wednesday without reaching a unanimous verdict against the New Jersey Democrat and his longtime friend, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn).

If they don't reach a verdict Thursday, deliberations might resume Monday. The trial hasn't sat on Fridays since it began in early September.

The New Jersey Democrat is charged with accepting gifts from Melgen in exchange for using his political influence. Both men deny the allegations.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, center, and his children, Robert and Alicia, leave the federal courthouse in Newark, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The federal bribery trial of Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez waves at reporters before entering the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for his federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. Jury deliberations continued on Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez answers a question from a reporter before entering the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for his federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. Jury deliberations continued on Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Prosecutors on Thursday urged jurors to convict the "on-scene commander" of the 2012 attacks on U.S. compounds in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.

In closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. DiLorenzo described Ahmed Abu Khattala as a terrorist bent on killing as many Americans as he could.

"He viewed the United States, which promoted freedom, as the cause of all the world's problems," DiLorenzo said.

Khattala is charged with crimes including murder of an internationally protected person, providing material support to terrorists and destroying U.S. property while causing death. The case became political fodder, with Republicans accusing President Barack Obama's administration of intentionally misleading the public and stonewalling congressional investigators, though officials denied any wrongdoing. Some in Congress were particularly critical of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's handling of the conflict.

But the trial, which began Oct. 2, has been mostly free of political intrigue.

Khattala's attorneys have tried to depict him as a "Libyan patriot" who believed there was a protest at the compound and wanted to see what was happening.

But DiLorenzo, who showed footage of Khattala strolling around with an assault rifle, called him the "on-scene commander" of the carnage who had been planning the Sept. 11, 2012, attack for at least a year.
NEW YORK (AP) - It came as little surprise to producers, but Showtime's about-to-conclude documentary series on mass shooting incidents was itself disrupted by mass shootings.

Showtime cut back on reruns of the series following the Oct. 1 attack at a country music concert in Las Vegas that killed 58 people and injured hundreds. An episode for later in October on the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting that killed 49 had to be changed because the claim that it was the nation's most deadly such event ever was out of date.

Las Vegas and the Texas church shooting proved the series was relevant. But when television news is filled with coverage of fresh horror, a pay cable series examining similar events is the polar opposite of escapist television.

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2017 file photo, a woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip, in Las Vegas. It came as little surprise to producers, but Showtime's documentary series this fall on mass shooting incidents was itself disrupted by mass shootings. The network cut back on reruns of the series following the Oct. 1 attack at a country music concert in Las Vegas that killed 58 people and injured hundreds. An episode that identified the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting as the nation's most deadly event had to be changed because Las Vegas made that fact outdated.(AP Photo/John Locher, File)

"Probably these events were unhelpful from a viewership standpoint," said Aaron Saidman, one of three executive producers of "Active Shooter: America Under Fire." ''People who participated in the series reached out to us and said it was really hard to watch in light of what happened."

The series' eighth and final episode, about the 1999 attack on Columbine High School in Colorado, premieres Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Simply by the odds, producers figured there was likely to be a shooting at some point during the series' run. Real life was even worse than they feared. Showtime gave no serious consideration to postponing the documentaries, said Vinnie Molhotra, the network's senior vice president for unscripted series.

"I feel like it really solidified our reason for doing the series in the first place," he said.

The idea came from a meeting producers had with the Santa Monica, California, police chief, who told them about a 911 dispatcher who had to be reassigned because of an emotional response to taking calls during a shooting. They decided to look at eight separate events with different perspectives, such as through the eyes of first responders or hospital workers overwhelmed by victims.

Columbine, where 12 students and a teacher were killed, in many ways set the stage for incidents to follow. Filmmakers showed how it led to a change in how police handle such cases; in Columbine authorities were seen as too methodical and it led police in later shootings to be more aggressive upon arriving on a scene.

The episode notes that Columbine led to some 80 copycat incidents. Makers of the series talked to experts about how the documentaries themselves could avoid inspiring attackers, said executive producer Eli Holzman, partner with Saidman and Star Price. The series discusses the movement to persuade journalists to avoid repeating the names of people responsible for the crimes.

"We don't glorify the violence," Holzman said. "We don't glorify the shooter. We try to really emphasize the people who are working to solve the problem and show the humanity of the people dealing with the consequences. This is not a group that anyone would want to join or be part of."

The Columbine episode relies heavily on Dave Cullen, who wrote a book about it that proves wrong much of what was believed to have motivated the killers. He portrays attackers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris as bumblers whose plans for greater destruction didn't pan out.

The Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut was the most notable event producers avoided this fall. Since parents of children killed there have been involved in other recent projects, there was no stomach for making them relive that time again.

Filmmakers didn't preach about how society should deal with the problem. But they gave survivors and rescuers they interviewed the chance to offer opinions.

Holzman said his own feelings had changed through working on the series. He's a gun owner.

"I would be willing to own less of them and go through a lot more in order to acquire them," he said. "I would be willing to make the compromise so that my fellow citizens would be less likely to be harmed."

Saidman said he's disgusted that mass shootings keep repeating with little serious discussion of how to stop them.

"We've tacitly accepted this level or carnage as a normal part of American life," he said. "I have grown to find that completely abhorrent and morally objectionable."
BONN, Germany (AP) - The United States is committed to reducing greenhouse gas even though the Trump administration still plans to pull out of the Paris accord on fighting global warming, the top U.S. representative at international climate talks told other delegates Thursday.

Britain and Canada, meanwhile, announced a new alliance aimed at encouraging countries to phase out the use of coal to curb climate change. Among others, the Global Alliance to Power Past Coal also includes Finland, France, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand and several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

In closing remarks to the conference working out the technical details of the Paris climate accord, which aims to keep global warming significantly below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F), the U.S. State Department's Judith Garber said "we remain open to the possibility of rejoining (the Paris climate deal) at a later date under terms more favorable to the American people."

Participants sit on the floor in front of a poster during a break at the UN Climate Conference COP23 in Bonn, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (Oliver Berg/dpa via AP)

Despite U.S. skepticism over the Paris accord, "the United States will continue to be a leader in clean energy and innovation, and we understand the need for transforming energy systems," said Garber, the acting assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs.

"We remain collectively committed to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through, among other things, increased innovation on sustainable energy and energy efficiency, and working toward low greenhouse gas emissions energy systems," she said.

Although Garber's comments weren't unexpected, her tone appeared more conciliatory. The United States was largely isolated in its rejection of the Paris accord at the talks in Bonn, Germany, which are expected to end Friday.

Earlier in the week, a panel discussion hosted by the U.S. delegation that promoted the idea that fossil fuels such as coal could be made 'clean' drew vocal protests from environmental activists.

While coal-fueled power stations are considered one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide that's heating up the Earth's atmosphere, countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and the United States are planning to expand their use of coal in the coming years. Even Germany and Poland, hosts of climate talks this year and next, are holding onto coal for the foreseeable future.

Garber did not mention the use of coal, but said as countries strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, each "will need to determine the appropriate energy mix based on its particular circumstances, taking into account the need for energy security, promotion of economic growth and environmental protection."

"In that context, we want to support the cleanest, most efficient power generation, regardless of source," she added.

In a private initiative announced Thursday, Storebrand, a Norwegian investment fund that manages assets worth over $80 billion, said it would pull investments from ten companies over their involvement in the coal sector.

The companies affected include German energy company RWE, Poland's PGE and Eskom Holdings of South Africa.

Storebrand said it hopes the much larger Norwegian Sovereign Wealth fund, which holds $1 trillion generated from the country's sale of oil, will follow its divestment decision.

____

David Rising contributed from Berlin.

FILE - In this July 21, 2017 fiel photo a polar bear walks over sea ice floating in the Victoria Strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The COP 23 Fiji UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, is scheduled to end Friday, Nov. 17 and aims at producing draft rules for implementing the Paris accord. (AP Photo/David Goldman, file)

FILE - In this April 30, 2009 file photo fishes swim near coral reefs in Komodo waters, Indonesia. The COP 23 Fiji UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, is scheduled to end Friday, Nov. 17 and aims at producing draft rules for implementing the Paris accord. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, file)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez ended Thursday with the jury hopelessly deadlocked on all charges, a partial victory for him that could nevertheless leave the case hanging over his head as he gears up for re-election to a sharply divided Senate.

U.S. District Judge William Walls declared a mistrial after more than six full days of deliberations failed to produce a verdict on any of the 18 counts against the New Jersey politician or his co-defendant, a wealthy Florida eye doctor accused of buying Menendez's influence by plying him with luxury vacations and campaign contributions.

Prosecutors would not say whether they plan to retry Menendez. But on the political front, forces were already mobilizing against him, with GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell immediately calling for an ethics investigation of him. The ethics committee said Thursday it would resume an inquiry into Menendez that started in 2012 and was deferred a year later because of the criminal investigation.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez becomes emotional as he speaks to reporters in front of the courthouse in Newark, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The federal bribery trial of Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Outside the courthouse, a choked-up Menendez fought back tears as he blasted federal authorities for bringing the case and thanked the jurors in the 2-month trial "who saw through the government's false claims and used their Jersey common sense to reject it."

"Certain elements of the FBI and of our state cannot stand, or even worse, accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County could grow up to be a United States senator and be honest," said the 63-year-old son of Cuban immigrants who is up for re-election next year.

Jury member Edward Norris said 10 jurors wanted to acquit Menendez on all charges, while two held out for conviction.

Norris said that after the prosecution rested, "in my gut I was like, 'That's it? That's all they had?'"

Menendez was accused of selling his political influence to Dr. Salomon Melgen for vacations in the Caribbean and Paris, flights on Melgen's jet and hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to campaign organizations that supported the senator directly or indirectly.

In return, prosecutors said, Menendez pressured government officials on Melgen's behalf over an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute and a stalled contract to provide port screening equipment in the Dominican Republic, and also helped obtain U.S. visas for the 63-year-old doctor's girlfriends.

According to prosecutors, Melgen essentially put Menendez on the payroll and made the politician his "personal senator," available as needed.

The defense argued that the gifts were not bribes but tokens of friendship between two men who have known each other for more than 20 years and were "like brothers."

The jurors were instructed that they could find the men guilty even if they felt the prosecution didn't match specific gifts to specific acts by Menendez.

Jurors needed more, according to Norris.

"I just wish there was stronger evidence right out of the gate," the juror said. "It was a victimless crime, I think, and it was an email trial. I just didn't see a smoking gun."

The charges against the men included bribery, conspiracy and honest services fraud, which was the most serious count, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The senator was also charged with making false statements in failing to report gifts from Melgen on his financial disclosure form. That is likely to be part of the ethics committee's review.

Fred Turner, Menendez's chief of staff, said there was "no merit to further pursuing this matter."

"The Ethics Committee will come to no different conclusion than this jury," Turner said.

In a statement, the U.S. Justice Department said it will consider its next step.

Menendez is expected to run for re-election next year and warned outside the courthouse: "To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I won't forget you."

The Republicans have a thin, 52-48 edge in the Senate as they try to push through President Donald Trump's agenda.

The jury deliberated most of last week, then restarted midway through with an alternate after a juror was excused for a long-planned vacation. The jurors first reported on Monday that they couldn't agree on a verdict, but the judge asked them to keep trying.

This time, the jurors said in a note that that had reviewed all of the evidence in great detail and "tried to look at this case from different viewpoints," but they were "not willing to move away from our strong convictions."

Melgen is already facing the possibility of a long prison sentence after being convicted in April of bilking Medicare out of as much as $105 million by performing unneeded tests and treatments.

The last sitting senator convicted of a crime was Ted Stevens of Alaska, a Republican found guilty in 2008 of concealing more than $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts. His conviction was later overturned because of prosecutorial misconduct, and he died in a 2010 plane crash.

The Menendez case was the first major federal bribery trial since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 threw out the conviction of Republican former Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and narrowed the definition of bribery.

In recent months, the McDonnell ruling led judges to overturn the convictions of at least three other public officials, including a former Louisiana congressman. Menendez's lawyers had likewise hoped to get the case against the senator dismissed, but the judge refused.

Menendez served in the House from 1993 until he was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in 2006. He has chaired the Foreign Relations Committee and was a major player in the unsuccessful bipartisan "Gang of Eight" effort to overhaul the nation's immigration laws in 2013.

More recently, he drew the ire of some fellow Democrats when he opposed President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran and efforts to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.

___

Contact Porter at https://www.twitter.com/DavidPorter_AP

___

Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Newark contributed to this story.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez pauses to compose himself before speaking to reporters in front of the courthouse in Newark, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The federal bribery trial of Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez becomes emotional as he speaks to reporters in front of the courthouse in Newark, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The federal bribery trial of Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez fights tears as he speaks to reporters outside Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse after U.S. District Judge William Walls declared a mistrial in Menendez's federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, center, walks with his son, Rob, right, and his daughter, Alicia, while leaving Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse after U.S. District Judge William H. Walls declared a mistrial in Menendez's federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, center, stands with his daughter, Alicia, as his lawyer Abbe Lowell, right, speaks to reporters outside Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse after U.S. District Judge William H. Walls declared a mistrial in Menendez' federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez leaves Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse after stopping by for his federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. Jury deliberations continued on Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez answers a question from a reporter before entering the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for his federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. Jury deliberations continued on Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez waves at reporters before entering the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for his federal corruption trial, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Newark, N.J. Jury deliberations continued on Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's Kurdish lawmakers are returning to Baghdad this week in an apparent end to their boycott of the national parliament, a senior Kurdish official said Thursday.

The move is a concession to Baghdad after a military and political standoff that followed the controversial Kurdish independence vote in September.

Kurdish lawmakers had announced they would return to parliament, but an Iraqi lawmaker, Josef Slewa, told The Associated Press that Kurdish legislators from Masoud Barzani's Kurdish Democratic Party did not attend Thursday's session. The KDP members had boycotted the parliament since it declared the Kurdish referendum unconstitutional just before the Sept. 25 independence vote.

Renas Jano, a KDP lawmaker, said the lawmakers are returning to Baghdad in hopes that their presence in the Iraqi capital will bring the prime minister to the negotiating table.

"We want to start dialogue with the central government," he said, adding that attempts to do so from Irbil, the Kurdish regional capital, have failed.

Iraqi lawmaker Razzaq Moheibis said the return of the Kurdish lawmakers was still under discussion and that they had violated the constitution when they campaigned and voted in for the referendum.

Earlier this week, the self-ruled Kurdish regional government accepted an earlier federal court ruling that Iraq must remain unified. A statement Tuesday from the regional government said the court's ruling should "become a basis for starting an inclusive national dialogue."

"It is a catalyst toward removing the impact of the unconstitutional referendum the region held," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's spokesman Saad al-Hadithi told the AP, referring to the statement.

He added that the sides are now discussing technical issues and "when that dialogue achieves its goals it will be a prelude to starting a political dialogue."

Iraqi forces led by Baghdad and the Kurdish peshmerga fighters have engaged in a military standoff since Baghdad retook the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and several other disputed territories from peshmerga's control last month.

A senior U.S. official present at negotiations between Irbil and Baghdad warned that post-referendum, any Irbil-Baghdad dialogue is more difficult.

"The referendum has made it much, much harder for Baghdad to conduct ... anything that sounds like negotiations in the near term," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

With Iraqi national elections due in May 2018, al-Abadi will be under pressure to maintain a hard line with the Kurdish region to appeal to his Shiite-majority base, the official added.

The United Nations and the United States repeatedly warmed the Kurds against holding the referendum, saying that it challenged the unity of Iraq.

After the vote, al-Abadi closed the Kurdish region's airports to international flights, retook disputed territory and threatened to bring international border crossings under federal control.

In his weekly press conference on Tuesday night, he warned the Kurds to hand over border crossings and airports to federal authorities. Baghdad "will not wait forever and will take measures," he added, without elaborating.

___

Associated Press writer Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad contributed to this report.
ROME (AP) - Italy's justice minister has given special permission to the family of a Mafia boss who is in a coma to visit his bedside.

Justice Minister Andrea Orlando on Thursday authorized relatives of Salvatore "Toto" Riina to go see him at a hospital in the northern city of Parma.

Ministry officials say Riina, who turned 87 on Thursday, is in a medically induced coma. Italian media have reported that his health has deteriorated following two recent surgeries.

FILE - In this April 29, 1993 file photo, Mafia "boss of bosses" Salvatore "Toto" Riina, is seen behind bars, during a trial in Rome. Italy's justice minister has given special permission for family bedside visits to the comatose top Mafia boss. Italian media said Riina's health deteriorated recently after undergoing two recent surgeries. (AP Photo/Giulio Broglio)

Riina is serving 26 life sentences for murder convictions as a powerful Cosa Nostra boss. He was captured in Palermo, Sicily, his powerbase, in 1993 after more than 20 years as a fugitive.

He has been imprisoned under a law that requires strict security measures for top mobsters, including limits on family visits.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Documents possibly outlining legal justifications for President Donald Trump to shrink national monuments don't have to be provided to an Idaho environmental law firm because they're protected communications, federal officials say.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from Advocates for the West seeking the information.

The environmental law firm filed a public records request for documents on the national monuments earlier this year, and the Justice Department released more than 60 pages in May.

FILE - This May 8, 2017, file photo shows an aerial view of Arch Canyon within Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. Federal officials say they don't have to provide an Idaho environmental law firm with documents possibly outlining legal justifications for President Donald Trump to shrink national monuments because they're protected communications. (Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, File)

The agency withheld 12 pages, however, contending they are protected by attorney-client privilege and intra-agency communication rules, making them exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests.

"The FOIA request that is the subject of this lawsuit implicates certain information that is protected from disclosure by one or more statutory exemptions," the Justice Department wrote in the court document. "Disclosure of such information is not required."

Advocates for the West filed the lawsuit in Idaho's U.S. District Court last month, asking a judge to force the government to turn over the information that the group suspects makes a legal argument for shrinking national monuments.

"We believe there may well have been a new Department of Justice interpretation in order to provide them with cover, and that's what we're trying to get at," said Laird Lucas of Advocates of the West. "The top lawyers in the county advising the president on what the law says should be information that all of us get to review."

The monuments have been created under the Antiquities Act, a 1906 law that allows presidents to protect sites considered historic or geographically or culturally important.

National monuments that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended that Trump shrink include Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, Nevada's Gold Butte and Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou. Zinke has also recommended that Trump shrink two marine monuments in the Pacific Ocean.

"We have never seen an event like this in the history of the Antiquities Act," said John Freemuth, a Boise State University environmental policy professor and public lands expert. "I don't think the normal rules apply anymore."

Freemuth said the interpretation of language within the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act, which deals with lands administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, would likely play a role in potential legal battles if Trump decides to shrink some monuments.

Whatever happens will likely be precedent setting for national monuments, Freemuth said.

The U.S. has more than 120, ranging from the Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York to many others scattered across the U.S. West, including Bears Ears that covers 1.3 million acres (5,300 square kilometers).

Trump is expected to offer more details about his plans for that and other monuments when he visits Utah in early December.

If he announces a significant reduction in the size of a national monument, said Lucas, "I can assure you there will be one or more cases filed very quickly."

Those lawsuits could result in the Justice Department making public the documents Advocates for the West is seeking, he said.
Deontay Wilder can't wait to get Anthony Joshua into the ring.

He's just not sure when it's going to happen.

"I just want to prove who is the best, that's all I want to do," Wilder said Thursday. "I want people to see a great fight and witness the two best heavyweights compete with each other one night in the ring."

Deontay Wilder paces the ring before a boxing bout against Bermane Stiverne for the WBC heavyweight title Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in New York. Wilder knocked out Stiverne in the first round. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)

Wilder, who is coming off an impressive first-round knockout of Bermane Stiverne, said his representatives have been in contact with Joshua's camp, and the sides are exploring ways to stage the heavyweight unification fight.

It could happen sometime next year, Wilder said, if Joshua's handlers aren't too protective of the British fighter.

"I think they're hesitant for a reason," Wilder said in a phone call with The Associated Press. "They've got a great thing going. He can fight literally a guy who doesn't even have a name and can make millions and millions of dollars off him. Why would they risk taking a chance with the most dangerous heavyweight in the division?"

There are other obstacles to the fight, as well, including whether to hold it in England or in the U.S. and on what pay-per-view network. Joshua's camp has indicated their fighter would have to get more money than Joshua, too, because he has proven his ability to sell huge amounts of tickets in England.

There's also the feeling that both fighters should fight once more - perhaps on the same night - to build up more anticipation for the bout.

"They want a warmup fight," Wilder said. "Joshua's last performance was OK, but it wasn't his best. They want to redeem that and they want to make at least one more good payday before fighting me."

Joshua fought last month, stopping Carlos Takam in the 10th round of a sloppy fight in Wales. A week later, Wilder destroyed Stiverne in Brooklyn to keep his share of the heavyweight crown.

Stiverne, who lost his title to Joshua in their first fight, was criticized for being out of shape and didn't land a punch. But Wilder showed his brute power in stopping him in the first round.

"It was a devastating knockout," Wilder said. "Being able to put on a spectacular performance like I did put the icing on the cake."

Joshua is massively popular in England - his fight earlier this year with Wladimir Klitschko drew 90,000 to Wembley Stadium - but not as well known in the U.S. Wilder also is trying to grow his fan base outside his home state of Alabama and there have been questions about the quality of his opponents.

But both fighters are undefeated with impressive knockout records. When they do meet it could be the biggest heavyweight fight since the days Mike Tyson was destroying everyone in front of him.

"The heavyweight division was once in a dark place but now it is coming into the light," Wilder said. "It's exciting and I can't wait to make it even more exciting."
HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaiian Airlines said Thursday that longtime CEO Mark Dunkerley will retire in March and be replaced by the airline's chief commercial officer, Peter Ingram.

Ingram, 51, joined Hawaiian as chief financial officer in December 2005, six months after the airline emerged from bankruptcy reorganization. Since 2011, he has overseen marketing and sales, network planning and other functions.

Among Ingram's challenges will be new competition. Southwest Airlines, the biggest domestic carrier, plans to begin flying from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii in late 2018 or early 2019, and it is considering adding flights between islands, a market dominated by Hawaiian.

Dunkerley, 54, joined Hawaiian in late 2002 and has been CEO since 2005 - among the longest-tenured CEOs in the airline industry. He had been an executive at British Airways and an aviation consultant before that.

When Dunkerley arrived, Hawaiian depended almost entirely on traffic from the U.S. mainland and among Hawaii's islands. As CEO, he tried to grab a bigger share of Asian tourists to Hawaii by adding flights from new destinations in Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. International travel now accounts for about one-fourth of the airline's revenue.

Like other airlines, Hawaiian has benefited recently from strong demand for travel and relatively lower fuel prices. After losing money as recently as 2011, Hawaiian's net income has risen each of the last three years. It was $235 million in 2016, and analysts expect close to $300 million this year, according to a FactSet survey.

Hawaiian's stock price increased six-fold from the beginning of 2014 through 2016. But it has been one of the worst airline stocks this year, with shares falling 32 percent so far in 2017.

Shares of Hawaiian Holdings Inc. had a banner day Thursday, however, leading a broad rally in airline stocks by jumping $1.77, or 4.8 percent, to close at $38.85. That was before the news of Dunkerley's retirement. They were up 5 cents more in late trading.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky is getting back into the private prison business because state officials say they have nowhere else to house their surging inmate population.

Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary John Tilley signed a contract Thursday with CoreCivic, the Tennessee-based private corrections company formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America. The state plans to move about 800 inmates from the 80-year-old Kentucky State Reformatory to the Lee Adjustment Center in Beattyville over the next four months.

Kentucky had inmates in three private CoreCivic prisons as recently as 2008. But the state let those contracts expire after years of problems including allegations of sexual abuse and a prison riot in 2004. The state closed the last of its private prisons in 2013, when its inmate population dipped below 20,000 following legislation designed to put nonviolent drug offenders into treatment instead of behind bars.

But since then, Kentucky has faced a wave of opioid addiction that led to a record number of overdose deaths. The state legislature has responded by toughening penalties against drug dealers and others. That helped boost the state's prison population to an all-time high of more than 24,600 inmates earlier this year. All of Kentucky's prisons are full, and so are the 70 county jails that house state inmates.

"This was the only option," Tilley said.

Private prisons have been controversial nationwide in recent years. The Obama administration had directed U.S. officials to phase out the use of private federal prisons following a harshly critical government audit. But under the Trump administration, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions last February signaled his strong support for the federal government's continued use of private prisons.

Kentucky has had problems with CoreCivic in the past. The state recommended a $10,000 fine against the company following a 2004 riot at the Lee Adjustment Center where inmates set fire to an administration building and ripped up sinks and toilets. And in 2010, former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear removed all female inmates from the Otter Creek Correctional Correctional Center following allegations of sexual abuse of prisoners and a sex scandal involving guards.

More recently, an audit of CoreCivic's prisons in Tennessee found the company was operating some prisons without enough officers and withheld many of its staffing records from state auditors.

"The notion that they would go back to this company really is an indication that they have learned nothing from their past experiences," said Alex Friedmann, associate director of Human Rights Defense Center and a former inmate at a CoreCivic prison in Tennessee.

Tilley said questions about the state's past problems with CoreCivic are fair, but said "that's why we worked so hard to ensure this agreement is as tight as it can be." He praised the company for agreeing "to every demand we placed on them."

Tilley said CoreCivic must follow all of the state's policies, including hiring the same number of officers used at other prisons in the state and using the same training, safety and security protocol. The state will get final say on the people CoreCivic hires, and will run background checks on all applicants. If the company violates any of those terms, the state could fine them $5,000 per day, per inmate, per offense. The state could also withhold payments as punishment.

CoreCivic spokesman Jonathan Burns said the company is committed to reducing recidivism. And in addition to Kentucky's accountability standards, Burns noted the company is also scrutinized by the American Correctional Association, which he says "thoroughly audits our buildings, staff and services."

"We play a critical role for systems like Kentucky's that are overcrowded, which can create dangerous conditions for staff, inmates and communities," Burns said.

The contract will cost about $16.8 million per year, or $57.68 per inmate per day. It costs the state $64.09 per inmate per day at a comparable facility.

Tilley called the contract a "short term fix." He said he still plans to lobby the legislature to reform its criminal code so it will send fewer people to prison. For example, he said it's a felony in Kentucky to steal something worth $500 or more. In most other states, that felony threshold is much higher, up to $2,500. But if the legislature opts not to make changes, Tilley noted the state has two other private prisons it could open if needed.

"If something doesn't change, there is no question we will have to open those two private prisons," he said. "And those will not be revenue neutral. That will be additional expense."
AMHERST, S.D. (AP) - The Latest on a pipeline leak in South Dakota (all times local):

5:10 p.m.

The Sierra Club is urging Nebraska regulators to reject the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline after TransCanada Corp.'s existing Keystone pipeline leaked an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota.

Sierra Club Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign director Kelly Martin said Thursday that the only way to protect Nebraska communities is to "to say no to Keystone XL."

The commission will announce its ruling on Monday after spending months evaluating arguments for and against the long-delayed project.

President Donald Trump issued a federal permit for the project in March.

TransCanada said that crews shut down the Keystone pipeline Thursday morning after a drop in pressure was detected resulting from an oil leak that's under investigation in South Dakota.

TransCanada says the safety of the public and environment are the company's top priorities.

___

3:30 p.m.

TransCanada Corp. says its Keystone pipeline has leaked an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota.

The company said that crews shut down the pipeline Thursday morning after a drop in pressure was detected resulting from an oil leak that's under investigation.

The section of pipe in Marshall County, South Dakota, has been isolated and the company says emergency response procedures were activated.

Brian Walsh, an environmental scientist manager at the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, says officials don't believe the leak has affected any surface water bodies or threatened any drinking water systems.

TransCanada says that expects the pipeline to remain shut down as the company responds to the leak.

The Keystone pipeline is part of a 2,687-mile system that also is to include the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
PHOENIX (AP) - A Phoenix man was sentenced to death Thursday in the 2011 death of a 10-year-old girl who was locked in a storage box in sweltering summer heat.

Jurors in Maricopa County Superior Court deliberated for only a few hours before deciding that John Allen should get the death penalty.

The jury previously determined that Ame Deal's death was especially cruel or heinous.

Allen, 29, was convicted of first-degree murder and child abuse on Nov. 8.

His 28-year-old wife, Sammantha Allen, was a cousin of Deal's and was convicted of murder in the girl's death in June. She's now the third woman on Arizona's death row.

Prosecutors said the couple forced Ame into the small, plastic box as punishment for stealing ice pops. They went to sleep and the girl was found dead the next morning.

Defense attorney Robert Reinhardt had argued that John Allen, a father of four young children, did not intend for the girl to die and that the other adults in the home created the abusive environment.

But County Attorney Bill Montgomery said Thursday that the Allens "received the only proportionate penalty that could rightly be imposed for the torture and pain they put Ame through. Ame deserved so much more from the adults responsible for her care."

Ame's death was the culmination of a shocking history of abuse at the hands of relatives who were charged with caring for her.

Authorities said the girl was forced to eat dog feces, crush aluminum cans barefoot, consume hot sauce and get in the storage box on other occasions.

She also was kicked in the face, beaten with a wooden paddle and forcibly dunked after being thrown in a cold swimming pool, according to police investigators.

Adults at the home originally claimed Ame hid during a late-night game of hide-and-seek and wasn't found until hours later.

Three other relatives are in prison serving sentences for abusing Ame.

David Deal, who is listed as the girl's father on her birth certificate, is serving a 14-year sentence after pleading guilty to attempted child abuse.

Ame's legal guardian at the time of her death was her aunt, Cynthia Stoltzmann, who is serving a 24-year prison sentence for a child abuse conviction. Ame's grandmother, Judith Deal, is serving 10 years for child abuse.

Authorities said Ame's mother left the family years earlier after suffering abuse from relatives and moved to Kansas without her daughter.
NEW YORK (AP) - In just four days, Taylor Swift's new album has sold more traditional albums than any other release this year.

Billboard reports the album, "reputation," sold 1.05 million copies in the first four days after its Nov. 10 release.

Before Swift released her album, Ed Sheeran's "Divide" was the year's best-selling album, with 919,000 units sold. Kendrick Lamar's "Damn" has sold 842,000 units.

FILE - In this April 3, 2016 file photo, Taylor Swift arrives at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Inglewood, Calif. In just four days, Swift's new album has sold more traditional albums than any other release this year. Billboard reports that "reputation" has sold 1.05 million copies in the first four days of its release. The album came out on Nov. 10. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Since Billboard changed how it views albums sales - incorporating single track sales (10 song sales = 1 album sale) and streaming (1,500 streams = 1 album sale) - Sheeran's album has sold 2.3 million units overall. Lamar's has moved 2.5 million units.

Swift's "reputation" is not available on streaming services, pushing fans to buy it or wait until it appears on Spotify or Apple Music. It's Swift's fourth album to sell more than 1 million units in its first week of release.

Swift became the first artist to have three albums sell more than 1 million copies in their first week when "1989" reached the feat in 2014. Her albums "Speak Now" and "Red" also sold more than 1 million units in their debut weeks.
More than 400 fake Twitter accounts believed to be run from Russia have reportedly published posts about Brexit.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh examined 2,752 accounts suspended by Twitter in the US.

They identified 419 accounts operating from the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) and attempting to influence UK politics, The Guardian reported.

General view of a Twitter page

The Guardian front page, Wednesday 15.11.17: Russia backed Brexit in fake Twitter posts pic.twitter.com/4Dm7C3uOUh  The Guardian (@guardian) November 14, 2017

Professor Laura Cram, director of neuropolitics research at the University of Edinburgh, told the newspaper that at least 419 of those accounts tweeted about Brexit a total of 3,468 times  mostly after the referendum had taken place.

Commenting on the Brexit tweets, she told The Guardian the content overall was quite chaotic and it seems to be aimed at wider disruption. Theres not an absolutely clear thrust. We pick up a lot on refugees and immigration.

A Twitter spokesman told the newspaper the company recognises that the integrity of the election process itself is integral to the health of a democracy. As such, we will continue to support formal investigations by government authorities into election interference as required.

Meanwhile almost 45,000 messages about Brexit were posted from Russian Twitter accounts in 48 hours during last years referendum, according to a report in The Times.

Tomorrow's front page: Russia used web posts to disrupt Brexit vote #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/qjs2KSg5fR  The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) November 14, 2017

Data scientists at Swansea University and the University of California, Berkeley, found that more than 150,000 accounts based in Russia switched their focus to Brexit during that period, the newspaper reported.

It appears that many of the messages came from bots, automated accounts which are set up to post tweets, or from cyborg accounts which have some human involvement but are automated.

The Times reported that many of the tweets encouraged people to vote to leave the EU, though some favoured Remain.
A landmark victory has been claimed for postal workers who objected to moving from weekly to monthly pay.

The Communication Workers Union won a test case at an employment tribunal on behalf of two workers, after complaining that the Post Office was intending to switch employees on to a new salary schedule, without their consent.

CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: When the Post Office first made their announcement, the union responded that if the employer wanted to make such a change then it needed to obtain agreement and to pay compensation to employees who were prepared to make that accommodation.

The Communication Workers Union won a test case at an employment tribunal (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Instead, the Post Office just went ahead and tried to impose the change. We offered to take the issue to Acas for resolution, but the Post Office dismissed the offer out of hand.

The union said it was prepared to discuss any proposal to move from weekly to monthly pay for members in the Crown Offices and supply chain, but on the condition that they are properly compensated for the disruption that the change will cause.

A Post Office spokesman said: We continue to reflect on the judgment and are considering our next steps.

The vast majority of people working for Post Office have been paid on a monthly basis for many years. This change was required to ensure all employees are served by a robust and efficient payroll system which also supports meeting our pension automatic enrolment obligations which were introduced in May 2017.

Post Office went to great lengths to ensure that no employee was adversely affected financially, through providing an interest free salary advance of four weeks pay with a variety of repayment options, which included repayment of the loan on the employee leaving the business, payment of any bank charges or penalties incurred and the provision of financial planning advice.

It was accepted that the two claimants have not financially lost out because of the change from weekly to monthly pay.
A fifth of GPs in England are from overseas, new research suggests.

Overseas family doctors typically account for 21.1% of the English GP workforce, according to a University of Manchester study.

Researchers said that doctors who did their medical training outside of the UK tended to work in the countrys most deprived communities.

Doctors who trained abroad typically worked longer hours (PA)

These medics played a critical role in the delivery of NHS GP services, the authors added.

Doctors who trained abroad typically worked longer hours, treated more patients, but were paid less than their UK qualified counterparts, researchers said.

Their study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, found that 4.1% of GPs working in England trained in the EU.

The study, based on data from nine in every 10 of the nations GP surgeries, found that a further 17% trained outside Europe.

Regions found to be most heavily dependent on non-UK qualified GPs included the Greater London area, the East of England, the North West and North East.

Compared to UK qualified doctors, doctors who qualified in the European Economic Area (EEA) were found to work longer hours, while doctors who qualified outside both the EEA and the UK worked longer hours still.

Meanwhile average pay per patient was 133, 132 and 129 for UK, EEA and elsewhere-qualified GPs respectively.

Lead author Professor Aneez Esmail, from The University of Manchester, said: Overseas doctors have always been part of the solution and have provided a valuable remedy to the shortage of GPs in England, this needs to be acknowledged by policy-makers and our politicians.

Rather than tightening immigration policy, the Department of Health should do more to support and harness international talent in alleviating the growing GP crisis.

Meanwhile a separate survey of 1,845 doctors from across the UK found that only a third would recommend medicine as a career to their children.

We surveyed over 1,800 doctors: results show a crisis of confidence in medicine as a future career. Full infographic: https://t.co/5WbDmrDoRi #TogetherForDoctors pic.twitter.com/8EjuNtKRnd  The RMBF (@TheRMBF) November 16, 2017

The survey from the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund found that 67% of British doctors would not recommend that their children follow in their footsteps and pursue a career in medicine.

The UK charity for doctors, medical students and their families has launched a new campaign to encourage doctors in difficulty to reach out.

It said that each year it supports hundreds of doctors and their families who are struggling with financial concerns, ill health or addiction.

A Department of Health spokesman said: We are determined to ensure we have the right numbers of GPs in every area of the country - from next year trainees will be offered 20,000 to work in hard-to-recruit-to areas and NHS England is recruiting 2,000 GPs from overseas.

Last year we recruited the highest ever number of GP trainees as we expand medical training places by 25% and were backing the profession with an extra 2.4 billion in funding.
The prosecution in the trial of two women accused of killing the half brother of North Koreas leader is not expected to end until the second quarter of 2018.

On Thursday, prosecutors in Malaysia wrapped up another week in the trial that started in early October.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam pleaded not guilty to murdering Kim Jong Nam with VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur Airport. They would face the death penalty if convicted.

Siti Aisyah is escorted by police as she arrives for a court hearing

The trial will resume on November 28 for four days and then continue over several dates in January, February and March.

Defence lawyer Salim Bashir said that once the prosecution case ends, the judge could take a month or more to decide whether to free the women or call their defence.

Prosecutors have said four North Koreans conspired with the two women to plot the murder and fled the country the day of the attack.

The hearing has been postponed several times this month after police investigating officer Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz forgot to bring his investigation notes and defence lawyers had to wait for him to supply documents.

Defence lawyers have described Mr Wan Azirul as the most important witness.

Doan Thi Huong

Gooi Soon Seng, Aisyahs lawyer, this week told the court he can only resume his cross-examination of Mr Wan Azirul after studying the latest documents supplied by the police officer  more than 70,000 pages of content in the Korean language found in mobile phones belonging to North Korean chemist Ri Jong Chol.

Ri was detained shortly after the murder but released due to lack of evidence and deported.

Mr Gooi said Ri, who had used a North Korean embassy car since 2015, was a key suspect as his house could have been a clandestine lab to make the nerve agent.

This case hinges on circumstantial evidence. Apart from the (airport video) footage, there is no direct witness in the case. We want to show that the police officer is lopsided in his investigations, that he didnt bother to probe the motive in the murder, Mr Gooi said.

Four men have escaped and they are putting the blame on the girls to make it look like a simple murder. But if you put all the circumstances together, its a political murder in which the girls have no interest. We have to show how they are used as scapegoats and they dont know what they are doing.

So far, 18 witnesses have given evidence and prosecutors said they have about 20 more minor witnesses.
Former Labour health minister Susan Deacon has been appointed as the new chair of Scotlands police oversight body.

Ms Deacon replaces Andrew Flanagan in the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) role, and will be in post for four years.

Mr Flanagan announced his intention to resign in June amid ongoing controversy over his conduct and wider issues surrounding transparency and governance at the organisation.

Susan Deacon, pictured receiving her CBE in 2017, has been appionted as the new chair of the Scottish Police Authority (Jane Barlow/PA)

Pleased to appoint Susan Deacon as the new chair of the SPA https://t.co/1jAtDwR7pu  Michael Matheson MSP (@MathesonMichael) November 16, 2017

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: I am delighted to appoint Susan Deacon to the important and high profile role of chair of the SPA.

As a former parliamentarian and minister with considerable experience in high profile board posts, she will bring a fresh perspective to the governance of Scottish policing.

Ms Deacon served as an MSP from 1999 to 2007, and was Scotlands first health minister following devolution.

Since leaving Holyrood she has held a range of board positions, and has contributed to governance and policy reviews in key areas of public life.

She is currently assistant principal external relations at the University of Edinburgh, chair of the Institute of Directors in Scotland, chair of the Edinburgh Festivals Forum and a non-executive director of Lothian Buses.

Welcome the appointment of Professor Susan Deacon as the new Chair of @ScotPolAuth & very much look forward to working with her & @HoggKenneth in strengthening the governance of #policing in Scotland. https://t.co/HRc7QSa4oT  Derek Penman (@DRPenman) November 16, 2017

Ms Deacon, who will take up her new post on December 4, said: It is a privilege to be appointed as chair of the Scottish Police Authority.

The issues facing the SPA have been well documented and there is much to be learned from what has gone before, but my focus now is on the future.

Her appointment follows cross-party criticism of the SPA, with MSPs calling for an overhaul of its leadership earlier this year.

Two Holyrood committees investigated governance at the organisation after a board member quit in a row over meetings being held behind closed doors, and Mr Flanagans failure to circulate critical correspondence.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: The SPA has faced a deluge of bad news over the past 12 months, from accusations of a culture of secrecy to a breakdown of managerial relationships.

It is essential that the new chair works with the incoming chief executive to get to grips with these challenges so that public confidence can be restored going forward.

Scottish Labours Justice spokeswoman Claire Baker said: This must be the start of the SPA regaining the publics confidence following a series of blunders and controversies.

With a new chair in place we must now look forward to ensuring the SPA is equipped in holding Police Scotland to account.

I also welcome that this appointment was the first with, albeit limited, parliament involvement in the process.

This however must only be the start. With a new, and hopefully long term appointment, in place, we must now look at changing legislation so that Parliament has a full role to play in any future appointments.

Jackie Baillie, acting convener of the Public Audit Committee, said: We hope the culture of secrecy at the SPA will be in the past now that there is a new chair at the helm.

This is desperately needed in order to restore public confidence in how policing is run in Scotland.
Television star Noel Edmonds is set to take legal action against Lloyds Banking Group in an effort to secure as much as 300 million in compensation after mediation with the lender broke down.

Mr Edmonds and his legal team attended a mediation hearing last Friday, but his lawyer, Jonathan Coad, said they walked out amid concerns that the bank was not going to stick to pledges that HBOS fraud victims would be compensated swiftly, fairly and appropriately.

The former Deal Or No Deal presenter is seeking financial redress from Lloyds Banking Group after falling victim to fraud at the hands of former staff at HBOS Reading, which the banking group rescued at the height of the financial crisis.

Mr Coad said Mr Edmonds is now set to pursue his claim to recover those losses though the courts, in the belief that the banks arguments will not hold up at trial.

One reason for our confidence is that, back in 2008, when the bank sued Noel on its personal guarantee, such was the adverse legal advice it was getting from its then lawyers that it bribed Noels business partner to the tune of around 1 million to stop him supporting Noels defence.

Since then the banks primary witness has been jailed, which greatly weakens its position.

The former Deal Or No Deal presenter is seeking financial redress (PA)

Corrupt financiers from the HBOS Reading branch were jailed earlier this year for the 245 million loans scam which destroyed several businesses, before they squandered the profits on high-end prostitutes and luxury holidays.

Lloyds has set aside 100 million for victims of the fraud at the hands of HBOS Reading staff between 2003 and 2007.

A spokeswoman for Lloyds said the bank rejects the basis of Mr Edmonds claim.

Despite Lloyds Banking Groups determined efforts to reach a consensual resolution with Mr Edmonds through mediation, this has not been possible. As a result, a formal litigation process has begun.

We recognise Mr Edmonds suffered personal distress and inconvenience as a result of him interacting almost a decade ago with an ex-HBOS employee convicted earlier this year in relation to criminal conduct at HBOS Reading Impaired Assets office.

However, we strongly refute that this caused his business to collapse.

The bank has so far put forward 40 offers to companies affected by the fraud, representing 60% of the customers in the review. Thirty-one have accepted the offers, representing payouts of around 27 million.

That review is still ongoing.

Mr Edmonds team plan to serve notice to Lloyds over the launch of legal action by the end of November.

In September, the TV star lashed out at the Lloyds boss during a panel organised by the SME Alliance in London, which was aimed at small business owners who claim they were mistreated or financially ruined by the likes of banks including HBOS and Lloyds.

He suggested that chief executive Antonio Horta Osorio must have known about the misdeeds of staff at HBOS, saying he was either a shit banker or a liar in relation to his knowledge of the fraud scandal.

Commenting on the recently failed mediation, Mr Edmonds said he was disappointed but not surprised by the outcome.

I am going to have to seek an order from a court to force the bank to return the goods it stole from me. Regrettably, I suspect that many other fraud victims will have to do likewise

Over the last few months I have learned a great deal about the culture of dishonesty and concealment at Lloyds, which goes right to the top, and very much look forward to that being laid bare at the trial of my claim.
Scotlands international reputation has been damaged by Alex Salmonds decision to host a talk show on state-funded Russian television, Willie Rennie has claimed.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader said the former first ministers choice of RT as a platform for his latest venture should turn our stomach.

Mr Rennie called on the Scottish Government to distance itself from Mr Salmond during First Ministers Questions at Holyrood.

Small countries, particularly along the Russian border are deeply concerned. What diplomatic effort has the Government planned to actively distance themselves from Alex Salmonds decision? #FMQs https://t.co/vKIKFgFuMq  Willie Rennie (@willie_rennie) November 16, 2017

But Deputy First Minister John Swinney, standing in for Nicola Sturgeon, accused opposition parties of hypocrisy.

The exchange followed comments by Tiina Intelmann, the Estonian ambassador to the UK, at the parliaments Europe Committee describing RT as a Kremlin arm of propaganda.

Mr Rennie questioned whether Mr Salmond, who is seeking to become chairman of the newspaper group Johnston Press, was a fit and proper person to own newspapers.

He said: Newspaper regulation is devolved so its reasonable to ask whether Alex Salmond would be a fit and proper person to own the Scotsman when he is being paid by President Putins propaganda channel.

Estonian ambassador tells Holyrood committee that Russia Today is Kremlin backed propaganda.  Tavish Scott (@tavishscott) November 16, 2017

We should remember, this is the TV channel that seeks to undermine western democracy and ignore human rights abuses at home.

It should turn our stomach that a former first minister of this country is giving it credibility and legitimacy by launching this show this very day.

Scotlands reputation abroad has been damaged. Countries, small countries, particularly along the Russian border, will be deeply concerned by this decision. Alex Salmond does not speak for Scotland on this.

So what is this government doing to actively distance themselves from Alex Salmond?

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (Jane Barlow/PA)

Mr Swinney highlighted that Ms Sturgeon had made clear RT would not have been her channel of choice.

Guests on the first broadcast of The Alex Salmond Show on Thursday included deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, Tory MP Crispin Blunt and Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy.

He said: I understand, although Ive not seen it myself, that on the programme that has been broadcast today Mr Salmond had guests from both the Labour party and the Conservative party on his programme. So I suspect that reflects the plurality of choice that will be in his guests.

Pointing out that UK Lib Dem leader Vince Cable had also appeared on RT in 2015, he added: This is an issue that Alex Salmond, who is not currently an elected politician, is free to take forward as he wishes.

But I think what is also fair for me to say in all of this is that the whole debate has been struck by a stinking reek of hypocrisy from every other political party.

Alex Salmond during the launch of his RT chat show (Chris Radburn/PA)

Mr Salmond recorded an interview with Mr Puigdemont at an undisclosed location in Belgium, where the Catalan leader fled when Spanish authorities decided to press charges against him after the independence referendum in Catalonia.

The Madrid government  which opposed the referendum taking place  dissolved the regional Catalan parliament after it voted in favour of a unilateral declaration of independence, and called snap elections for December.

During the interview, Mr Puidgemont said there was an an intellectual incapacity on the part of the Spanish government to admit the possibility, the real possibility, that Spain could be different in future.

He said: The message is to be confident, passionate and resilient because we will win. We will succeed. Finally, democracy will prevail.
Luke Donald has withdrawn from his final event of the year after seeking medical advice for chest pains he experienced in Sea Island, Georgia.

The 39-year-old former world number one was originally in the field at the RSM Classic but, as pain in his chest grew worse across Thursday, he forfeited and sought treatment at a local hospital.

Englands Donald posted on his official Instagram page: Well that wasnt quite the finish to my year I had in mind!! Had some chest pain last night and into this morning & it kept getting worse.

Luke Donald's season is over

After some medical advice, I had to withdraw & was shipped off to the hospital to get my heart looked at. After 7 hours of tests all looks good with my heart thankfully.

A big thank you to the staff at the South East Georgia Brunswick hospital for taking good care of me. Time to put my feet up for a few weeks, recharge, regroup and get ready for a big 2018.

Donald, whose last win on the PGA Tour came in 2012, had been partnered with Brandt Snedeker and Sea Island resident Matt Kuchar for the first two rounds. Chris Kirk was the early leader.
By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The European Commission on Wednesday voiced fresh concerns over Poland's plans to reform its courts and EU lawmakers accused Warsaw of promoting intolerance, reflecting deep fears for the rule of law in the country.

Poland's nationalist, socially conservative ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), in power since late 2015, is at loggerheads with the EU over its push to bring the courts and state media under more direct government control, as well as over migration and the logging of a primeval forest.

PiS says the court reforms are needed for Poland's moral renewal and accuses the EU of heavy-handed meddling in the country's affairs. Critics say the changes threaten judicial independence and spell an erosion of democratic standards.

PiS-allied President Andrzej Duda unexpectedly vetoed two of the government's judicial reforms in July and presented his own version of these draft laws, infuriating PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and precipitating a power struggle in the ruling camp.

The European Commission's deputy head, Frans Timmermans, told the European Parliament on Wednesday that even the draft laws proposed by Duda - which would row back somewhat from the options for direct government interference in the judiciary envisaged in the original PiS bills - were not acceptable.

"At this preliminary stage of our assessment, the Commission already notes that certain issues in these draft laws could raise serious concerns," Timmermans told EU lawmakers in their fifth debate on concerns about the rule of law in Poland.

Timmermans urged Warsaw to align the drafts with EU democratic on judicial independence.

EU concerns about developments in Poland escalated after a nationalist rally in Warsaw at the weekend that saw participants, their faces covered, waving banners bearing anti-Semitic, racist and xenophobic slogans such as "pure blood, clear mind" and "Europe will be white or uninhabited".

Both Duda and Kaczynski condemned the racist banners but the government defended the march itself, held to mark the 99th anniversary of Polish independence.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said the march, an annual occurrence since 2010, was valuable and important for stirring patriotism and love for Polish history.

"There were incidents, it is true, there were banners and slogans that should not be there (...). The incidents are of course, reprehensible," Waszczykowski told reporters.

But, he added, the reaction of some politicians and some global media had been "manipulated" and "extremely" exaggerated.

"It is not based on facts, it is based on fake news. I did not see any banners condemning the Jews, for example (...) There were references to migrants or refugees, but I did not hear of any anti-Semitic behaviour."

Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, who ordered no detentions or arrests of nationalists who displayed white supremacy slogans, though some counterprotesters were detained, said he "didn't see" any racist banners and thought the Independence Day rally had passed in "a very good atmosphere".

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo told the conservative wpolityce.pl news portal on Wednesday that Poland is "free" of anti-Semitism and racism. "Marginal incidents should not be identified with the whole nation," she said.

But the International Auschwitz Council, an advisory body to Szydlo's office, said it was alarmed about the resurgence of racist and anti-Semitic attitudes and public hate speech.

"Knowing the tragic history of Auschwitz-Birkenau, there is no doubt where it can lead," it said in a statement. "We therefore appeal to European governments for a strong response and effective countermeasures."

"XENOPHOBIC RHETORIC"

Many members of the European Parliament on Wednesday joined Jewish and human rights groups in expressing alarm at the attitudes on display during the Nov. 11 rally.

"This was happening in Warsaw, in Poland, at less than 350 kilometres from Auschwitz and Birkenau," said Guy Verhofstadt, head of the EU parliament's liberal group, referring to the Nazi death camp set up in occupied Poland where more than a million people, mostly Jews, were killed during World War Two.

"Poland could still be a leader in Europe, but has degraded itself... by politicising the constitutional court, curtailing civil society, muzzling the free media," he said.

Amnesty International echoed that criticism.

"The Polish government is... increasingly restricting the freedom of assembly and expression, while pedalling dangerously xenophobic rhetoric," AI researcher Barbora Cernusakova said.

EU lawmakers voted by 438 to 152 against to demand that the 28 member states punish Warsaw by triggering Article 7 of the EU treaty, a procedure that could lead to Warsaw losing its voting rights in the bloc.

Such a move is highly unlikely as it requires unanimity and Poland's ally Hungary, whose right-wing government is also under fire from Brussels, has promised to block any sanctions.

A more likely punishment would be reducing the generous development funds Poland receives from the EU.

The Polish foreign ministry rejected the criticism from Timmermans and the European Parliament, accusing them of stigmatising an EU member state.

"There is nothing happening in Poland that would demand a debate by 700 members of the European Parliament," Waszczykowski told reporters. (Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Warsaw; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council will vote on Thursday on a U.S. bid to renew an international inquiry into who is to blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria, diplomats said, a move that could trigger Russia's 10th veto to block action on Syria.

The mandate for the joint inquiry by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which found the Syrian government used the banned nerve agent sarin in an April 4 attack, expires at midnight Thursday.

While Russia agreed to the 2015 creation of the inquiry, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), it has consistently questioned its findings, which also concluded that the Syrian government used chlorine as a weapon several times.

Moscow vetoed an initial U.S. bid on Oct. 24 to renew the inquiry, saying it wanted to wait for the release two days later of the latest JIM report that blamed a sarin gas attack on the Syrian government. Russia has since proposed a rival draft resolution to renew the JIM and correct its "systemic errors."

A spokesman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations said on Monday that Russia has refused to engage in negotiations on the U.S. draft resolution. Diplomats said the United States had amended its draft in a bid to win Russian support.

It was not immediately clear how Russia would vote on the U.S. draft and if Moscow would put its own draft text to a vote. Diplomats said the Russian draft resolution had little support among the 15-member council.

British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft warned on Wednesday that if the inquiry ended: "The only victors would be people who want to use chemical weapons in Syria, which is the (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad regime plus Daesh (Islamic State)."

"Everyone in the Security Council would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we allowed that to happen," he said.

The Russian mission to the United Nations was not immediately available for comment on the impending council vote.

If the inquiry is not renewed, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday: "It may send a bad signal, but the way the investigation has been conducted sends an even worse signal."

A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. Russia has vetoed nine resolutions on Syria since the conflict started in 2011, backed by China on six occasions.

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by James Dalgleish)
By Jonathan Barrett

TOWNSVILLE, Australia, Nov. 16 (Reuters) - It was early morning last Thursday when Pauline Hanson's rented "battler" bus started hissing so loudly the election campaign was halted at a petrol station on a stretch of desolate highway near a remote edge of Australia. Unable to get to the rural Queensland state voters she is relying on to deliver her anti-immigration One Nation party its best result in two decades, her supporters came to her.

Stranded near the gemstone-mine town of Marlborough, with a population of just a few hundred, Hanson was approached by truckers and travellers, most seeking to get a picture taken with her.

"I was actually stopping to get something to eat, and as I was looking across I went, 'Oh there's the 'battler' bus, I'll have to go say hello to Pauline,'" said truck driver Shane Williams, who came over to look at the engine.

"I think immigration is a big thing for everybody. I think it's going to be a good thing if Pauline gets some say in parliament - keep the bastards honest."

Hanson is not a candidate in the Queensland state election on Nov. 25, having last year re-entered the federal parliament on a wave of popular support after a near two-decade absence.

But her face is on almost every One Nation party billboard and flyer in Queensland's coal-rich and sugar cane-growing heartland, turning the vote into a test of whether Hanson's resurgence continues, or is pushed back to the fringes.

To Australia's most prominent right-wing nationalist it's not about joining a global populist push; it's that the rest of the world is finally catching up.

"I was espousing a lot of this 20 years ago," Hanson told Reuters in the sunny tropical town of Townsville, a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef marine park.

U.S. President Donald Trump's election victory a year ago, however, "is resonating across the world," she added. "This is definitely the start. People are starting to wake up. You see people had no one else really to vote for."

COAL AND CANE

With its blown turbo hose fixed, Hanson's bus rolled down the road, three hours behind schedule, stopping at several towns before arriving at a town hall-style event that evening more than 400 kilometres (249 miles) away.

Hanson's town halls are a mix of stump speech and off-the-cuff observations, usually involving 'battler' stories she's heard from locals on the campaign trail: Claims that foreigners are buying up agricultural land and immigrants are not paying taxes; complaints about crippling energy prices and government handouts to Aboriginals; support for a ban on Muslim migrants.

Hanson's rhetoric can be blunt, and draws almost instant condemnation in the cities, where she's often viewed as extreme. But in her rural heartland, where one town can be in drought while another gets hit by cyclonic floods, she is the mainstream.

"She's the only one trying to save our country really," said 20-year-old Jack Roach in Proserpine, a sugar-cane town of 3,500 in Queensland.

Polls suggest One Nation might take around 20 percent of the popular vote in Queensland, Australia's third-most populous state, and situated in the northeast. That would mark its biggest electoral success since the 1990s. It's unclear, however, whether that will translate into more than a handful of seats among the 93 parliamentary seats at stake in the election.

On the hustings, support appears very strong in towns beyond the black stump - a colloquial term in Australia to describe remote areas - as well as coal-producing areas and sugar cane fields. More vigorous opposition to Hanson's policies comes from more tourist-dependent coastal areas.

To her supporters, Hanson is the plain-speaking, anti-politician who can shake up the Liberal-National and Labor political establishment in Australia.

"She speaks like us," said 24-year-old carpenter Brodie Tophan, who works south of the coastal town of Bowen and approached Hanson for a "selfie".

"People call us racist, but we are just telling it like it is."

FISH AND CHIPS

Australia's modern far right movement was born in 1996 in the city of Ipswich, an inland river port and former coal mining centre in Queensland, where Hanson made an unlikely but successful run for political office while managing a fish and chip shop.

After using her maiden speech in parliament to warn the country would be "swamped by Asians", she co-founded the One Nation party. It enjoyed early electoral success, before imploding over infighting.

The party power struggle and Hanson's 11-week imprisonment for electoral fraud in 2003 - eventually quashed - halted her momentum, and she spent years struggling to regain her once formidable connection to voters.

Labor parliamentarian Jennifer Howard, who is contesting the seat of Ipswich, said the mainly white area that fostered Hanson's rise in the 1990s has given way to a more diverse population that will hinder One Nation's success.

Howard said she used to take her children to Hanson's shop in the late 1980s. "My daughter used to say to me, 'Why is that lady always so angry?'"

Hanson's rage against her political foes looks likely to continue until a better advocate of her nationalist policies emerges. That is yet to happen, with past changes to the party leadership proving unsuccessful, and newer right-wing parties unable to attract anywhere near Hanson's popular support.

Moreover, an overtly anti-immigration party is swimming against the demographic tide: Census data shows one-in-three Australians today were born overseas, compared to one-in-five 20 years ago.

That's evident even at Hanson's old fish and chip shop, now run by Vietnamese immigrant Thanh Huynh, who described her as "interesting" without disclosing who she would vote for.

The shop's menu offers most of the same items Hanson used to make, including dagwood dogs - or corn dogs - but has some imported ideas, including Vietnamese spring rolls. (Reporting by Jonathan Barrett in TOWNSVILLE, Australia; Editing by Bill Tarrant)
By Saad Sayeed

RABWAH, Pakistan, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Crammed into buses and mini-vans, more than 10,000 Pakistanis travelled to a mosque on the outskirts of the small Punjabi town of Rabwah, for the sole purpose of denouncing followers of the minority sect based here as "infidels and enemies of the state".

For members of the long persecuted Ahmadi community, who are forbidden to call themselves Muslims and face discrimination and violence over accusations their faith insults Islam, the open vitriol on display at the Oct. 20 rally was not new.

But this year, they say, anti-Ahmadi rhetoric has also re-entered mainstream Pakistani politics, as politicians seek to shore up support among religiously conservative voters after surprise gains by two new Islamist parties.

"We are an easy community to scapegoat for political opponents to target each other," said Usman Ahmad, who moved to Pakistan from Britain to work as a community activist.

With a general election due in 2018, politicians from both the religious fringe and established parties have had the Ahmadis in their sights.

In the past six weeks, a row over proposed changes to the election law that would have eased some of the barriers on Ahmadis participating in elections has seen the group denounced on the floor of Pakistan's parliament, while one of the new Islamist parties has held street protests.

The government has since taken out ads in major newspapers reaffirming a religious oath requiring elected officials to vow that they do not follow anyone claiming to be a prophet after Mohammad and "nor do I belong to the Qadiani group", using a common derogatory term for Ahmadis.

The Ahmadis consider themselves to be Muslims, but their recognition of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who founded the sect in British-ruled India in 1889, as a "subordinate prophet" is viewed by many of the Sunni majority as a breach of the Islamic tenet that the Prophet Mohammad was God's last direct messenger.

A WIDENING SECTARIAN DIVIDE

The Ahmadi sect has 10-20 million followers worldwide who face discrimination in a number of Muslim-majority nations such as Indonesia and Algeria, as well as being ostracised by large parts of the Muslim community in Britain.

There are about half a million Ahmadis in Pakistan, local leaders say, though other estimates have put the number at 2-4 million.

Ahmadis are some of the most common defendants in criminal charges of blasphemy, which in Pakistan can carry the death penalty.

By law they cannot call their place of worship mosques or distribute religious literature, recite the Koran or use traditional Islamic greetings, measures that they say criminalise their daily lives.

The legal restrictions began in 1974, when the then-Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto passed a constitutional amendment declaring Ahmadis non-Muslim. A decade later military dictator General Zia ul Haq barred Ahmadis from identifying themselves as Muslim.

Community leaders say these moves laid the groundwork for a sectarian divide that has since seen many violent attacks on Ahmadis and birthed multiple militant organizations, including many that are now linked to Islamic State.

In the past four years, the Punjab government has also targeted Ahmadis under the country's anti-terrorism laws, filing at least eight cases against Ahmadis on charges of producing hate literature, including the sect's own holy texts.

The offices of an Ahmadi magazine in Rabwah were raided in December 2016 by police, who arrested seven people and confiscated papers and hard drives.

"They stormed the office, it felt like a group of terrorists had come in," said Amir Fahim, who worked at the magazine and was held for 65 days.

"They said the religious language you use belongs to us and the things you write offend the sensibilities of Muslims."

Community leaders say the use of anti-terrorism laws marks a new phase in the targeting of Ahmadis.

"Here, to be an Ahmadi, through state laws, is a crime," Pakistan's Ahmadi community spokesman Salimuddin said. "There are restrictions on our annual gatherings, our annual games ... If the state did not persecute us, we would not be persecuted."

Punjab government spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said the authorities were not using the anti-terrorism laws to target any particular minority group.

"The Punjab Government arrested thousands on charges of hate speech during the last three years," he told Reuters. "Anti-Ahmadi groups were also included in them."

POLITICAL STORM

Many Ahmadis in Pakistan say they only truly feel safe in Rabwah, a town of more than 60,000 in eastern Punjab that is 95 percent Ahmadi. Most of the town's infrastructure is maintained on contributions made by the community, including free hostels and food for visitors and a community organised garbage clean-up.

But on the edge of Rabwah lies a small settlement and a mosque run by a right-wing Islamist organisation that openly professes hatred for Ahmadis.

The organisation, Khatm-e-Nubuwwat (Finality of the Prophet), built the mosque on land the Punjab government ordered confiscated from Ahmadis in 1975 for low-income housing.

Khatm-e-Nubuwwat has been at the forefront of initiating blasphemy allegations against Ahmadis. Every year for 36 years, the group has held an anti-Ahmadi rally at the mosque.

"Qadianis are the enemies of the prophet," said Aziz ur Rehman, an organiser of the Rabwah conference, adding: "A country that was made in the name of the prophet cannot accept Qadianis."

Always volatile, political atmosphere in Pakistan has been especially tense since the Supreme Court removed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office in July over corruption allegations, which he denies.

The calculations of the mainstream parties have been complicated by the formation of two new Islamist political groups that garnered more than 10 percent in two recent by-elections and could become spoilers in a close election.

One of the new parties, Tehreek-e-Labaik, launched a political furore last month after lawmakers from Sharif's party, which still holds a parliamentary majority, approved apparently small changes to the country's election law.

The changes eliminated a requirement for Ahmadi voters to declare they are not Muslim and turned a religious oath for elected officials declaring belief in the Finality of the Prophet and affirming they are not Ahmadi into a simple declaration of belief.

Tehreek-e-Labaik quickly termed any concessions to Ahmadis to be blasphemy and threatened mass protests.

The government, still controlled by Sharif's party, quickly retreated and reversed the changes.

A week later, speaking before Pakistan's National Assembly, Sharif's son-in-law, lawmaker Muhammad Safdar Awan called for Ahmadis to be barred from employment in the government, judiciary, and military. Sharif himself later distanced himself from Safdar's statement.

The climbdown did not appease Tehreek-e-Labaik, which last week launched street protests blockading roads into Islamabad and demanding the law minister be sacked. The protests are ongoing and have paralysed traffic in the capital.

Saadia Toor, author of State of Islam said it's likely that anti-Ahmadi rhetoric will continue up to next year's elections, due by the end of August.

"Anti-Ahmedi sentiment is widely held across the Pakistani Muslim mainstream, even among moderate Sunnis," she said. "So using them as scapegoats for political purposes is easy." (Additional reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Alex Richardson)
QUITO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean state-owned oil firm Petroamazonas will sign an agreement this month to settle $300 million in unpaid bills from oil services company Schlumberger, an arrangement that includes a five-year financing deal, the Oil Ministry said on Wednesday.

The smallest member of OPEC earlier this year reported a debt of $850 million with Schlumberger that it had promised to pay down in separate disbursements.

Petroamazonas said it had paid down $550 million since July, and that the deal to be signed in late November would clear its debt with Schlumberger.

"At the end of November, an agreement will be signed to complete a $300 million payment, which will complete 100 percent of the value owed," the ministry said in the statement.

It will make one payment of $100 million in cash by the end of the month and $200 million over five years, the ministry said in response to an email from Reuters.

Schlumberger did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ecuador has faced cash-flow problems since the collapse of crude oil prices in 2014, and has used different sources of financing mechanisms to cover arrears with local and foreign suppliers.

Schlumberger has said that the debt with Ecuador was causing "considerable financial strain" and has shown willingness to reach a payment deal.

Petroamazonas this month reported a payment of $300 million to Schlumberger through a bond issue.

Ecuador and Schlumberger reached an agreement in July to lower the prices for oilfield services. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia, Writing by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Peter Cooney)
BRATISLAVA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 1 hour) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview ============================NEWS================================ BUDGET DEFICIT: Slovakia's government needs to take additional consolidation measures to meet its balanced budget goal in 2020 and risks overshooting goals in future years, the country's fiscal watchdog said on Wednesday. Story: Related stories: ARMY MODERNISATION: Slovakia's government approved plans on Wednesday to build armoured vehicles with the Finnish defence company Patria, which will replace its military's outdated personnel carriers, the Slovakian defence minister said. Story: Related stories: For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka +420 224 190 476 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
By Abdourahim Arteh

DJIBOUTI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - China's POLY-GCL Petroleum Group Holdings Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to invest $4 billion in a natural gas project in the tiny Horn of African nation of Djibouti.

The project includes a natural gas pipeline, a liquefaction plant and an export terminal to be located in Damerjog, near the country's border with Somalia.

Djibouti, with a population of less than one million, has long punched above its weight due to its strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping routes connecting Europe to Asia and the Middle East. The country hosts large U.S. and French naval bases and China is also building a naval base.

Energy minister Yonis Ali Guedi told Reuters after the signing of the MoU on Monday that further negotiations over concession agreements for the project would happen within the next six months and construction would begin next year. He said the project would "generate substantial income for the state."

POLY-GCL, a joint venture between state-owned China POLY Group Corporation and privately owned Hong Kong-based Golden Concord Group, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The gas pipeline will transport 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from Ethiopia to Djibouti, according to the MoU. Last year, POLY-GCL finished drilling appraisal wells for gas deposits in Ethiopia's southeast, a project linked to the export terminal plans in neighbouring Djibouti.

The liquefaction plant has a target capacity of 10 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas (LNG), though production is targeted to begin in 2020 at just 3 million tonnes per year, a representative of the Chinese company said at the MoU signing.

In January, the government launched the construction of a project billed as Africa's largest free trade zone, to be built by China's largest port operator. The free trade zone is seen as part of Chinas bid to expand trade routes, a series of infrastructure initiatives stretching across 60 countries that the Chinese have dubbed "One Belt, One Road". (Additional reporting by Chen Aizhu in Beijing; Editing by Maggie Fick and Mark Potter)
By Prak Chan Thul and Amy Sawitta Lefevre

PHNOM PENH, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Cambodia's highest court dissolved the main opposition party on Thursday, leaving authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen clear to extend more than three decades of power in next year's election as rights groups decried the death of democracy.

The government had asked the Supreme Court to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was accused of plotting to take power with the help of the United States after the arrest of party leader Kem Sokha on Sept. 3.

The court ruling also ordered a five-year political ban for 118 members of the opposition party, which had posed a major election threat for Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who is the world's longest-serving prime minister.

In a televised address, Hun Sen told Cambodians the election would go ahead "as normal."

The CNRP rejected the accusations against it as politically motivated. It did not send lawyers for the court ruling.

"Democracy was brought to trial and it lost," said Mu Sochua, a deputy to Kem Sokha who fled Cambodia fearing arrest.

"The international community must fulfill its commitments to democracy, human rights and freedoms. Sanctions are the best leverage for negotiation for free, fair and inclusive elections."

Western donors, who sponsored elections overseen by the United Nations in 1993 in the hope of founding an enduring democracy, had called for Kem Sokha's release.

But they have shown no appetite for sanctions against Cambodia's government, which is now closely allied to China.

The United States and European Union missions in Cambodia declined immediate comment on the court ruling.

Senator John McCain, a leading U.S. Republican, said the dissolution of the CNRP meant there was "no way the elections scheduled for 2018 can proceed in a manner that is free or fair," and the Trump administration should impose sanctions.

"The Trump administration should move quickly to sanction all senior Cambodian government officials responsible for violating human rights and subverting freedom in Cambodia," he said in a statement.

U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said it was up to the government to provide a free environment without fear for fair elections.

Despite ramping up anti-U.S. rhetoric and linking the United States to the alleged plot against him, Hun Sen lauded U.S. President Donald Trump at a regional summit at the weekend and said he welcomed his policy of non-interference.

Dozens of police manned barriers outside the gold ornamented court in the centre of Phnom Penh on Thursday. There was no sign of protests.

'PEOPLE ARE SCARED'

Few people on the streets wanted to talk about the ruling, the latest chapter in decades of manoeuvring that have kept Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in power across all levels in the country of 16 million.

"People are scared to talk amongst themselves," said Seang Menly, 39, a driver of one of the rickety tuk-tuks that ply the streets of Phnom Penh. "In my neighbourhood, people who used to give money and food to the CNRP no longer dare to."

Hun Sen and his defenders say only he can ensure peace.

During his rule since 1985, Cambodia has been transformed from a failed state in the wake of Khmer Rouge purges and genocide to a lower middle-income country with growth of about 7 percent a year. Life expectancy has risen from 50 to 70.

"The Supreme Court's decision today is not to end democracy but to deter extremists in order to protect the people and the nation from destruction," said Huy Vannak, undersecretary of state at the interior ministry.

Rights groups condemned the decision by the court, which is headed by a judge who is a member of the ruling party's permanent committee. They said it left Cambodia as a de facto one-party state and rendered next year's election meaningless.

"This is the death of democracy in Cambodia," said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch.

More than half the CNRP's members of parliament had already fled Cambodia, fearing detention in a crackdown on Hun Sen's critics, civil rights groups and independent media that began last year.

"We dont know who is next," an editor at the Voice of Democracy radio station in Phnom Penh said. It was taken off the air in August, but has continued broadcasting through Facebook.

The CNRP's parliamentary seats will be redistributed to other government-aligned parties after its dissolution.

The party will also lose control of the councils that it won in local elections in June, when its strong showing in winning more than 40 percent of them made clear the threat it posed to the ruling party next year.

Hun Sen appealed to CNRP members to join the CPP, saying: "You cannot even save your party. How will you save yourself?"

Evidence presented against the party included a video from 2013 in which Kem Sokha said he had help from unidentified Americans to win power. He said he was talking about a democratic election strategy, not a coup. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and David Brunnstrom and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Matthew Tostevin, Robert Birsel, Mark Heinrich and Bernadette Baum)
By Nita Bhalla

LONDON, Nov 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Buddhist nuns swapped their maroon robes for black belts on Thursday, performing somersaults, high kicks, splits and punches to demonstrate how they are using Kung Fu to empower women in the conservative Himalayas.

The two nuns - from an age-old Buddhist sect based mainly in India and Nepal - are not only raising eyebrows due to their martial arts expertise, but are also teaching women in India self defence amid rising reports of sex crimes.

"Some people make comments. They say we should just sit and pray and meditate," said Jigme Wangchuk Lhamo, 19, who demonstrated her skills on stage at the Thomson Reuters Foundation's Trust Conference.

"But a nun's duty is more than that. We have to better society and do good for others."

There were 34,651 rapes reported in India in 2015 - four every hour - up 43 percent from 2011, government data shows. Activists say the figures are gross underestimate.

"Girls face problems when they go out and especially in the evening they don't want to go out alone," said Wangchuk.

"Kung Fu can help them ... Kung Fu makes you confident."

About 700 nuns globally belong to the Drukpa lineage, which is the only female order in the patriarchal Buddhist monastic system where nuns have equal status to monks.

Traditionally, nuns are expected to cook and clean and are not permitted to engage in sports. But this changed a decade ago when the leader of the 1,000-year-old sect, His Holiness The Gyalwang Drukpa, encouraged the nuns to learn Kung Fu.

He also gave the nuns leadership roles, supported them to study beyond Buddhist teachings and become electricians and plumbers, and to take a more active role in their communities.

They treat sick animals, organise eye care camps and have trekked and cycled through the Himalayas to raise awareness on issues from pollution to human trafficking.

In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in Nepal in 2015, the nuns trekked to remote villages to remove rubble, clear pathways and distribute food and medicines to survivors.

They also heard that girls and women were being trafficked across the border to India.

"It was terrible. People were selling their sisters, daughters and even mothers just to have money to rebuild their homes," Wangchuk told delegates at the conference, which focuses on modern day slavery and women's empowerment.

"Some men just see girls as a bunch of money ... but we need to change this and help promote equality. His Holiness likes to encourage girls. He says there can be no world peace unless we are all equal." (Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, 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)
By Sonja D'cruze

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Access to education is key to ending child labor but many countries are not investing enough to rescue some 150 million children globally from often hazardous work, experts said.

When schools offer meals, transport and occupational training, children can often stop working, experts said on Thursday at the fourth annual Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour.

"We need to work hand in hand with the government so the facilities are there when we get a child out of work and back into education," said Hillary Yuba of the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe.

Ending child labor by 2025 is one of 17 ambitious global goals that the United Nations (U.N.) adopted in 2015, aimed at ending poverty and inequality.

Nearly one in 10 children around the world work, the leading U.N. anti-slavery group says. Half of them do hazardous work and more than a third do not go to school.

"The future is going to be a world free of forced labor and child labor," said Guy Ryder, director-general of the U.N. labor agency, the International Labour Organization (ILO).

"There's no excuse ... We know what those choices are."

Many countries are failing to meet commitments made in international treaties against child labor, experts said.

"This is the challenge of our century," said Mohamed Ben Omar, minister of labor in Niger, where a population boom means the number of school-age children is growing.

"The investment just isn't there."

An injection of $39 billion could provide quality pre-primary, primary and secondary education to all children by 2030, said children's activist Kailash Satyarthi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

Many countries have abolished fees that keep poor children out of school but there are often hidden costs like uniforms and transport, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

He has been campaigning to encourage legislators to return to their schools and engage with children.

"The youth are my hope," he said.

Paraguay has invested heavily in education, providing transport and occupational training, in an effort to eliminate child labor, said labor minister Guillermo Sosa Flores.

"We also introduced lunch and afternoon tea," he said, adding that schools in Paraguay also teach skills such as having self-esteem and positive attitudes toward learning and work. (Reporting by Sonja D'cruze, Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and 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)
Johnnie Sweeten and Bob Mattson of Great Falls cruised along in four-wheel-drive, glancing up brushy draws and checking dark spots across the grassy hillsides.

Im seeing new country Ive never seen before, that I didnt realize was back here, Mattson said Tuesday. When you get a deer, thats a bonus.

Mattson accompanied his friend and fellow Vietnam veteran Sweeten on the inaugural Purple Heart deer hunt at Fort Harrison. Earlier this year the fort decided to open up about 3,000 acres to five Purple Heart recipients, with Sweeten the first to sign up.

I heard about it through the president of Project Healing Waters, were real good friends and hes the one that got ahold of it, and my wife called it in for me, he said in a southern accent, reflecting his native state of Arkansas. I guess Im the first one to do it, to get to come down.

The day at Fort Harrison started promising with a herd of nine mule deer spotted, but they quickly vacated the area before the hunters could put on a stalk. Because the fort lies within a weapons restricted area, Sweeten carried along a shotgun rather than the 300 Winchester rifle he typically uses to hunt.

Sweeten and Mattson met through the VA in Great Falls and are members of a support group of veterans that get together weekly to shoot the breeze and help each other out as needed. As they drove through the hills, the friends told hunting stories and talked about the war, returning home and the memories that have stuck with them decades later.

Sweeten recalled the injury that earned him a Purple Heart when he was hit by shrapnel, and being knocked unconscious in a helicopter crash.

We had our good days and we had our bad days, he said. That was April 16, 5 p.m. in the afternoon, 1968. Certain dates you remember.

The VA and organizations focused on helping veterans have been a major source of support through the years, they said, both touting initiatives to get veterans outdoors.

The VA in the state of Montana with all its different programs, just like this hunt and everything like Project Healing Waters, I cant give them enough praise, Mattson said. This is a perfect deal for Johnnie if we can find some deer because theres not a whole lot of walking.

With the afternoon waning to evening, a mule deer buck emerged from a depression of cattails and briars to feed along a hillside. Sweeten found his rest and took aim with the shotgun, making the 60-yard shot that put the buck down.

I always enjoy it when I get a deer, but what really makes it worth it is having great friends along, he said, admiring the 3X3 antlers.

Range Management Authority Maj. Robert McCrum came to greet the hunters and offer congratulations. This years hunt is a bit of a test case for opening up the fort to Purple Heart recipients, he said, and understanding how to improve the experience in the future.

Although the military trains with all manner of weapons on the site, state restrictions limit hunting to shotgun, archery and muzzleloader. That makes it tough in the open terrain and McCrum said he hopes to approach Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks about allowing rifle hunting on the property.

Its a slow time for us historically and I think the plan for us moving forward is to offer the hunt the week immediately after Veterans Day, and help facilitate a hunt for these guys, he said. If we work with FWP, hopefully we can expand this for the hunters.

With Friday being the final day the fort is planning to hold the hunt, McCrum asked any interested Purple Heart recipient to call him at 324-3694.
VIENNA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The OSCE's media watchdog said on Thursday moves by the United States and Russia to force some foreign media to register as "foreign agents" were unacceptable and dangerous.

Russia's lower house of parliament this week approved a law allowing Moscow to force foreign media to describe news they provide to Russians as the work of "foreign agents" and to disclose their funding sources.

Earlier on Thursday Russia named nine U.S. government-sponsored news outlets likely to be labelled "foreign agents".

U.S. intelligence officials accuse the Kremlin of using Russian media organisations it finances to influence U.S. voters. Washington has required Russian state broadcaster RT to register a U.S.-based affiliate company as a "foreign agent".

"Branding media entities as 'foreign agents' is a dangerous practice, as it can narrow the space for freedom of the media," said Harlem Desir, media freedom chief of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The OSCE, which also oversees election monitoring, is one of the few security forums which brings Russia and the United States to the same table. It has a 700-strong observer mission monitoring the conflict in Ukraine.

"I call on both the Unites States and the Russian Federation to reconsider and refrain from requiring media entities to register as 'foreign agents'", Desir said in a statement, labelling both countries' moves as "not acceptable".

The Kremlin denies meddling in the U.S. election and has said the restrictions on Russian broadcasters in the United States amount to an attack on free speech. The new media law in Russia is retaliation, it says. (Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; editing by Andrew Roche)
BERLIN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A German court ruled on Thursday that Kuwait Airways had the right to refuse to carry an Israeli passenger due to his nationality, a verdict that Jewish groups said condoned anti-Semitism.

The Frankfurt state court said the airline was merely respecting the laws of Kuwait, a country that does not recognise the state of Israel, and said it was not up to a German court to rule on Kuwaiti law.

Germany's anti-discrimination law applies only in cases of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnic background or religion, not citizenship, it said.

The lawyer for the plaintiff, who was denied boarding on a flight to Bangkok, said he would appeal.

"This is a shameful verdict for democracy and for Germany in general. This verdict cannot stand," Nathan Gelbart said.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany said the Kuwaiti law was reminiscent of Nazi policies. Similar cases in Switzerland and the United States were decided in the favour of the plaintiffs, it said.

"It is unacceptable that a foreign company operating on the basis of deeply anti-Semitic national laws should be allowed to do business in Germany," the Jewish group said.

"We urge the federal government to examine all legal avenues to prevent such cases of discrimination in the future," the group said, calling on the government to take action against the airline.

Frankfurt Mayor Uwe Becker also criticised the decision.

"An airline that practices discrimination and anti-Semitism by refusing to fly Israeli passengers should not be allowed to take off or land in Frankfurt," he said.

Kuwait Airways could not immediately be reached for comment. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
By Lee Mannion

LONDON, Nov 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - More security is needed on the streets of Cairo to protect women but both men and women need to push for this to happen and authorities need to prosecute those responsible, campaigners said on Thursday.

Iman Bibars, regional director for the social enterprise Ashoka Arab World, which promotes social change, called for men to step up to support women's rights in Egypt and ensure police and courts can prosecute anyone found to be harassing women.

The calls come after a Thomson Reuters Foundation survey of experts in women's issues last month ranked Cairo as the world's most dangerous megacity for women followed by Karachi and Kinshasa while London came out as best

Bibars said the situation for women in the Egyptian capital had deteriorated since the 2011 Arab Spring, with a weakened economy and high unemployment since the uprising eroding economic opportunities for women.

"We need more security in the streets," Bibars, who lives in Cairo, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation's annual Trust Conference, which focuses on slavery and women's empowerment.

"But I don't think it's just the role of government. I think it is the role of everyone."

Data on violence against women in Cairo is hard to find but 99 percent of women in Egypt interviewed by the United Nations in 2013 reported sexual harassment and 47 percent of divorced or separated women reported domestic abuse.

Bibars said she had escorted 29 women to police stations last year to complain of sexual harassment but no charges were brought in any of these cases because no witnesses could be found to testify against the men.

"It takes a village to protect and empower women. Without the mindset of the community, we cannot do anything," she said.

Yostina Boules, founder and managing director of Taqa Solutions, a social enterprise that wants to make sustainable energy accessible for all Egyptian poultry farmers, said laws to protect women needed to be enforced.

"I would like to see the Egyptian president enforcing the law, making the streets more safe for girls and not just saying that men should hold their hands behind their back when talking to a girl," she told the conference.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation survey asked experts on women's issues in 19 megacities how well women were protected from sexual violence, harmful cultural practices, and about their access to healthcare and finance. (Reporting by Lee Mannion @leemannion, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Russia on Thursday cast its 10th veto of United Nations Security Council action on Syria since the war began in 2011, blocking a U.S.-drafted resolution to renew an international inquiry into who is to blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

The mandate for the joint inquiry by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which found the Syrian government used the banned nerve agent sarin in an April 4 attack, expires on Friday.

A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. The U.S. draft text received 11 votes in favor, while Russia and Bolivia voted against it and China and Egypt abstained.

The vote sparked a war of words between Russia and the United States in the council, just hours after White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said President Donald Trump believed he could work with Russian President Vladimir Putin on issues like Syria.

The April 4 sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed dozens of people prompted the United States to launch missiles on a Syrian air base. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned after the council vote on Thursday: "We will do it again if we must."

Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the U.S. draft resolution was not balanced.

"We need a robust, professional mechanism that will help to prevent the proliferation of the threat of chemical terrorism in the region and you need a puppet-like structure to manipulate public opinion," Nebenzia said.

RUSSIAN BID FAILS

Syrian ally Russia withdrew its own rival draft resolution to renew the inquiry, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), after unsuccessfully pushing for its proposal to be considered second and not first, as council rules required.

However, following the vote on the U.S. draft, Bolivia then requested a vote on the Russian text. It failed, receiving only four votes in favor, seven against and four abstentions.

Nebenzia said he was "deeply disappointed" and that those who voted against the Russian draft "bear the full brunt of responsibility for the cessation of operation of the JIM."

After the meeting ended Japan circulated a draft resolution to roll over the mandate for the inquiry for one month, diplomats said. It was not immediately clear when the council could vote.

Ahead of the council votes on Thursday, Trump urged the Security Council in a Twitter post to renew the inquiry, saying it was needed to prevent Assad from using chemical weapons.

While Russia agreed to the 2015 creation of the JIM, it has consistently questioned its findings, which also concluded that the Syrian government used chlorine as a weapon several times.

Russia has now vetoed 10 resolutions on Syria, including blocking an initial U.S. bid on Oct. 24 to renew the JIM, saying it wanted to wait for the release two days later of the inquiry's report that said the Syrian government used sarin.

"Russia has killed the Joint Investigative Mechanism," Haley said. "In effect Russia accepts the use of chemical weapons in Syria. How then can we trust Russia's support for supposed peace in Syria?"

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States.

"We condemn the use of chemical weapons by anyone," Nebenzia said. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by James Dalgleish)
By Antonio De la Jara and Mitra Taj

SANTIAGO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Chile's presidential hopefuls wrapped up campaigning on Thursday in a race that has pitted billionaire Sebastian Pinera's promise for change against center-left candidate Alejandro Guillier's defense of a recent raft of progressive reforms.

With their six rivals trailing far behind, Pinera and Guillier are widely expected to place first and second, respectively, in Sunday's election, allowing them to move on to an eventual Dec. 17 run-off.

Pinera, a 67-year-old former president, has portrayed himself as the best bet for reviving growth that has slowed in recent years in the world's No.1 copper producer. He has vowed to cut the corporate tax rate and scale back outgoing President Michelle Bachelet's tax, labor and education reforms that Guillier has vowed to deepen.

Bachelet cannot run for office again because of term limits.

"Chileans face an important decision. They're going to have to choose between change or continuity," Pinera told journalists on Thursday on the last day for campaigning before the election.

Guillier, a bearded former journalist-turned-Senator, has tapped concerns that Pinera would mark a setback for gains made in Bachelet's government for students, women and workers - from lowered university fees to laws that have empowered unions.

"This is an election to define the two Chiles," Guillier said. "Support for education, health care and rights, or a return to the market."

Neither candidate marks a sharp departure from the historically moderate leaders that have governed Chile since the country's transition to democracy from dictatorship in 1990. But if Pinera wins as expected, this year's election would mark another rightward shift in South America following the rise of conservative leaders in Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

Pinera's and Guillier's rivals passed out leaflets and chatted up voters in a final bid to shore up support, or at least help their parties win seats in the next Congress.

Analyst group Tresquintos said leftist candidate Beatriz Sanchez, a distant third in opinion polls, has zero chance of catching up to Guillier. The probability of Pinera securing at least 50 percent of votes needed to avoid a runoff election was only slightly better at 0.001 percent, it added in an email.

Still, riding high with more than double Guillier's support in recent polls, Pinera urged Chileans to "make it short" and vote for him on Sunday to give him an outright win.

(Reporting By Antonio de la Jara and Mitra Taj; Editing by David Gregorio)
This is an abridged version of an address delivered at the 1st International Disaster Convention (Colombo, November 16-18, 2015) pioneered by Training & Consultancy Firm MDF in concert with UNDP and the Disaster Management Centre. Subsequently published as A Hub for Disaster Relief in the Indian Ocean. The Case for Sri Lanka (MDF Asia, Colombo 2015) by Dr. Sinha Raja Tammita-Delgoda and Isuri Kathriarachchi.

Sri Lanka lies at the very epi-centre of the Indian Ocean. She is perfectly positioned to be a hub for disaster relief across the region

Many Sri Lankan companies are now fully aware of the link between Early Warning and Early Action

The statistics are simple. The logic is obvious. The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) covers about one seventh of the earths surface. It also occupies about 20% of the total ocean area. There are nearly 50 states in and around the IOR. These states and regions contain about 2.6 billion people, 39% of the global population.



Sometimes called the Worlds Hazard belt, the Indian Ocean Region is deeply vulnerable to floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, tidal surges, landslides and Tsunamis.



According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (1995), nearly 50% of the worlds natural disasters occur in this region. What happens here affects nearly half the world.

Sometimes called the Worlds Hazard belt, the Indian Ocean Region is deeply vulnerable to floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, tidal surges, landslides and Tsunamis.



Sri Lanka lies at the very epi-centre of the Indian Ocean. She is perfectly positioned to be a hub for disaster relief across the region. It is a role for which she is well equipped. In her hotel sector, her insurance companies, her media and her armed forces, Sri Lanka has shown that she possesses a wealth of expertise and experience.

Hubs are not all about trade, they denote cooperation, sharing and mutual benefit. They are about being centres, centres of activity and centres of information. Disaster Relief and Management are all about cooperation and working together with every country towards a common human need.



Now that they have been told so by others, Sri Lankans themselves are now starting to talk about an Indian Ocean future, one which opens up many horizons, far beyond the confines of South Asia. Sri Lanka has the chance to position herself at the very heart of this initiative, to be the central part of a wheel around which everything revolves. As an initiative, it is a country opportunity; one which fulfils a strategic need and serves a national interest.



In 2009 journalist, writer, and strategic analyst, Robert Kaplan predicted that the Indian Ocean will form the centre of gravity in the coming century, centre stage for the challenges of the 21st century. This idea became the foundation of a best selling and deeply influential book, Monsoon: the Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power.

Geologically and tectonically, the Indian Ocean Region is one of the most unstable regions on earth. The African, Indian and Antarctic Plates all converge in the IOR. When they converge these areas experience great earthquakes of huge magnitudes and very often these trigger great tsunamis or marine surges. Tropical cyclones very often ravage the coastal parts of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sumatra, Eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In 2007-2008 and 2009 three mega cyclones occurred in the northern Bay of Bengal causing great loss of life and massive destruction in Bangladesh, Myanmar and India. Recurring floods and cyclonic coastal surges are also common phenomena all along the coastal states. On land tornadoes and landslides are also very common and devastating.

Natural disasters do not follow political boundaries. Therefore early and successful dissemination of information and scientific data among the vulnerable areas can make an immense contribution to the safety of the whole region



The World Index of Vulnerability to Natural Disasters identifies several categories, very high, high and medium. All these countries lie in and around the Indian Ocean.

The 2014 Climate Change Vulnerability Index identifies Bangladesh, Ethiopia. Cambodia, the Phillipines, nearly all Indian Ocean countries. It also identifies some of the worlds most vulnerable cities. Dhaka Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, Manila, Bangkok, Jakarta. As Global Warming continues, the frequency, magnitude and severity of these natural disasters are increasing alarmingly and will increase. It is a fact of the future.



The maps reflecting global risk underline that the highest peril is to developing countries. The states along the rim land areas of the countries in Eastern Africa, Southern Asia and South Asia are mostly poor and developing nations. Maplecrofts Climate Change and Environmental Risk Atlas reveals that 31% of global economic output will be based in such countries facing high or extreme risks from climate change by 2025.



Apart from its environmental importance, the IOR has tremendous economic significance. Half of the worlds container traffic passes through Indian Ocean and 70% of the Worlds Crude and Oil travel along its sea lanes. Nearly 30% of world trade is handled in the ports of the Indian Ocean. The security and safety of the Indian Ocean region is not just a regional issue, it is now a global concern. A natural disaster in the Indian Ocean will affect the global economy



Natural disasters do not follow political boundaries. Therefore early and successful dissemination of information and scientific data among the vulnerable areas can make an immense contribution to the safety of the whole region. There is currently a very serious gap in the data and information relating to international disaster management in this region. To fill this gap we need a research institute which will concentrate on the challenges of climatic change and associated disasters throughout the Indian Ocean. An International Centre of this kind can easily be established here in Sri Lanka. Geography suggests that this is the most convenient and the most logical place. Fitting in with the countrys ambition to become a hub, it is also a way of involving everyone.

Over the last few years Sri Lanka has built up a wealth of knowledge, resources and skills about how to prepare and cope with disaster. This represents a country opportunity. Not only does resilience have massive cost benefits, it also helps generate new business and wealth. For individuals, corporations and for the country, it is also a commercial and marketing opportunity.



Many Sri Lankan companies are now fully aware of the link between Early Warning and Early Action. Although there were several hours between the earthquake and the tsunami, almost all of the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami were taken by surprise because there were no early detection or early warning systems in place. A warning delivered 90 seconds in advance of the impact would have saved many lives. In Sri Lanka estimates indicate that around 85% of lives lost could have been saved if such a system had been in place in 2004. It was in response to this that Sri Lankas leading mobile network, Dialog developed Dewn - Dialogs Disaster And Emergency Warning Network. Launched in 2014 the DEWN system connects mobile subscribers, emergency responders, community leaders and the general public to a national emergency monitoring centre at the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC). As a commercial and an economic driver, it has tremendous international potential.

Apart from foreign aid, one of the levers which drive recovery after a disaster is insurance. Since the Tsunami of 2004 many proactive developments have taken place in this area and Sri Lanka now has a highly developed insurance system. Companies such as Janashakthi have pioneered special insurance policies for all kinds of natural disasters. However, only 12.6% of Sri Lankans are covered by a life insurance policy; even fewer have a comprehensive policy. Other parts of the Indian Ocean Region which are just as vulnerable to natural disaster have even less insurance cover. There is surely an opportunity here.



In the event of disaster, an effective and experienced military is one of the most important resources a government can call on. The armed forces must have the expertise and the experience to organize, act quickly and reach remote places with life saving supplies and skills. Over the last few years Sri Lankas armed forces have proved themselves very effective in disaster recovery operations. In the floods and landslides of 2014 the three services carried out a variety of roles, rescuing those in danger, evacuating people in high risk areas and providing alternative accommodation, cooked meals and health facilities for thousands of people at a time.



The Army is also an instrument of national policy and prestige. What it does at home, it can do just as well abroad. When the earthquake struck Nepal, Sri Lanka was among the first countries to send rescue teams. On April 26 2015, within less than 24 hours army personnel and civil medical consultants had left for Nepal on-board on a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) plane.



Launched in coordination with the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo, the rapid response and relief operations in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal was the first of its kind undertaken overseas by Sri Lanka. The success of this mission underlines a new role for Sri Lanka in the region. As the Indian Ocean Region becomes ever more important, so will the Sri Lanka Navy. At present the worlds largest and busiest logistics hub for humanitarian aid is the International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai. Established in 2003, the IHCs capabilities and strategic location  within eight hours by air to two-thirds of the worlds population  have helped deliver assistance in some of the worst humanitarian crises of the past decade. It is now the centre of a multi-billion dollar global humanitarian logistics industry which coordinates the acquisition and delivery of services and supplies to crisis-stricken areas.



Part of the appeal of Dubai lies in its strategic location. It is at the centre of a communications and transport hub with an airport and a port. Sri Lanka too, has a very strategic location. It is on the circum-equatorial route, the shortest route to circumnavigate the world. Hambantota is only 10 nautical miles off the worlds busiest shipping lane, at the very pivot of the world sea lane connecting east and west. It is here that the shipping routes to Africa connect with those to the Far East. Hambantota is also closer to the vulnerable areas in the eastern sector of the Indian Ocean. Right next door to the port is Mattala Airport. In Dubai 85 per cent of the office space is occupied while 95 per cent of its warehouse space is taken. At Hambantota there is plenty of space for offices and warehouses and plenty of space for expansion. This is its advantage.



Sri Lanka is the perfect stepping stone to Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal and India. If there is another massive humanitarian disaster in Bangladesh or Philippines, flying in and out of Hambantota rather than out of Dubai will represent a massive saving in time, money and fuel. There is also a massive cost advantage.



The MDF forum was the first step towards creating a multilateral dialogue around disaster resilience. The objective was to help promote Sri Lanka a hub for disaster relief, knowledge and management in the Indian Ocean. Involving will help us take a centre stage. Sri Lanka can use this opportunity to take the lead, to be the pivot of an integrated response in the cause of humanity. In this context everyone has to work together. In a multi lateral effort no one nation can predominate. This is one way of bringing everyone here. It is the very definition of a hub.



A Hub for Disaster Relief in the Indian Ocean? Is there a case for Sri Lanka? The statistics are simple, the geography is compelling, the logic is obvious. It is in the National Interest; there is also a Strategic Need.
Hamdi Nizam of Amana Takafuls insurance team won a Front Liner Bronze Award in the Life Insurers category.

Amana Takaful Life PLC (ATL Life) was recognized for their sales professionalism at the recently concluded SLIM-NASCO 2017 awards. Hamdi Nizam of Amana Takafuls insurance team won a Front Liner Bronze Award in the highly-competitive Life Insurers category.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) hosts the National Sales Congress annually, where the NASCO Awards are a sough-after recognition within the sales and marketing sectors in Sri Lanka. The SLIM-NASCO Awards are a recognition of the highest standards of sales professionalism, including customer service and care. The Front Liner awards are given to sales personnel who are in the field and who engage with customers on a daily basis.

We are delighted to see a member of our sales team receive a SLIM-NASCO award, said Gehan Rajapakse, CEO, Amana TakafulLife PLC. Hamdis award win is recognition of both his personal achievements in sales and also a reflection of the standards of excellence we strive for each day in the Amana Takaful insurance team. The Takaful philosophy is driven by the need to care for and nurture community, and our focus is on the care and protection of our customers, which comes through in every insurance product we have and also through each member of our team.

The SLIM-NASCO Awards seek to bring national recognition to sales professionals who are excelling in performance and raising the bar within their sectors  those whom experts within the marketing industry consider Sales Champions. Held for the ninth consecutive year, the SLIM-NASCO Awards are awarded in 15 selected business sectors and is the only national-level event to recognize and reward the countrys sales professionals.

ATL continues to be in the forefront of the insurance industry in Sri Lanka and caters to all segments of customers. The Takaful way of insurance operates on the concept of bringing people together to be part of a system that gives them the opportunity to help each other. Since its inception over 18 years ago, Amana Takaful PLC been successful in establishing a strong position for the concept of Takaful amidst stiff competition from established conventional players. One of the few ISO-certified insurance providers in Sri Lanka, ATL operates with 27 branches and is set to expand further to better serve customers across the country. ATL continuously reaches out to customers from all segments of society and offers innovative and state-of-the-art insurance products that are convenient, affordable and reliable. As part of its commitment to remain open to all, ATL serves all communities and employs a multi-ethnic team across its network.
On January 1 last year, this column drew attention to what was then a subtle move to formalise a new geopolitical region dominated by an alliance between India and the United States. The backdrop was a nascent cold war between the US and China.

Till 2015, the term Indo-Pacific was largely a biogeographic term. The term has now assumed geo-political connotations. During Donald Trumps recent 12-day Asia tour, the use of the term Indo-Pacific in statements was so profuse that one could not resist the assumption that there are hurried moves to win recognition for the new region. That the term is also being liberally used in political discourses in Japan is no coincidence.

The institutionalisation of the new geopolitical region, on the one hand, underlines a rising India, and on the other, exposes Washingtons eroding power in world affairs and its willingness to work with New Delhi to top up the power deficiency vis-a-vis China: May be it is a readjustment of the US policy giving India an upgraded role.



In recent decades, successive US administrations have been using India as a lynchpin to check China. India, which views China as a frenemy, apparently feels flattered, though it is not unaware that Washington is manipulating it against China.

Indias relations with China have been sticky since the 1962 Sino-India border war. Unresolved border disputes, Chinas military assistance to Pakistan, its opposition to Indias full membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and China-controlled Maritime Silk Road sea ports in Indias neighbourhood prevent normalisation of ties though trade relations have been growing at a healthy rate.



The formalisation of the Indo-Pacific region also reveals that the United States Pivot-to-Asia policy, which had originally been devised for the Asia Pacific region, now includes the Indian Ocean region.



Given Chinas ambition to extend its Maritime Silk Road all the way to Africas western coast and beyond, the term Indo-Pacific may incorporate the Western Pacific Ocean and the entirety of the Indian Ocean, the third largest ocean after the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.



More than 80 percent of the worlds seaborne trade in oil transits takes place through Indian Ocean choke points, with 40 percent passing through the Strait of Hormuz, 35 percent through the Strait of Malacca and 8 percent through the Bab el-Mandab Strait. Chinas energy security hinges on the stability of Indian Ocean sea lanes, with some 75 percent of its oil imports coming from West Asia and Africa. All China-bound cargo ships from Indian Ocean enter the South China Sea where Beijing is embroiled in territorial disputes with several littoral nations.



Thus, the Maritime Silk Road with a series of Chinese-managed ports in littoral states has a military dimension. It is quite natural for the US and India to entertain serious apprehensions about Chinas entry into the waters they have been dominating for decades.



In yet another move to reinforce the Indo-Pacific concept, on the sidelines of last weeks ASEAN plus summit, officials of the United States, India, Japan and Australia held a meeting to revive the quadrilateral military alliance.



Downplaying the Indo-Pacific concept, Chinas foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the region remained important and had great potential, regardless of whatever concept or term is employed.



However, Chinas official English language mouthpiece, the Global Times, saw the development as worthy of an editorial topic.



Indo-Pacific countries have been strengthening trade and cultural ties with China with the facilitation of the China-led Belt and Road initiative, the editorial said adding that the US and Japan had little leverage to play geopolitical games in the region, and few countries were willing to fall into the orbit of Washington and Tokyo.



Commenting on Indias new role, the Global Times said, India has its own trick to play. In the past, the mainstream media in India was obsessed with competing with China on GDP growth and international status. Now they are keen to compare their country to Australia or Japan to see which can curry more favor from the US. After the US began using the term Indo-Pacific, some Indian media outlets were ecstatic that their country had become an important pillar of this new US strategy.



If we leave aside military aspects, the new region, in an economic sense, is a gold mine of trade opportunities. This is why states like Sri Lanka are advised to stay clear of power games the big nations play and try through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy to promote the region not only as a mega economic zone, but also as a peace zone.

In this context, an Asian economic union sans power politics is quite in order. China has openly called for an Asia for Asians and made this week, yet another effort to bring to fruition the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In what is seen as a victory for China, leaders of 16 countriesten ASEAN nations plus China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- discussed the RCEP at a meeting in Manila on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.



The China-led trade deal was once seen as a rival to US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a project floated by the then US President Barak Obama who declared that the laws of the global economy should be written by the United States and not by the likes of China. Some of those countries which took part in the RCEP talks in Manila this week are TPP members. They were left high and dry when President Trump withdrew the US from the TPP.



With Trump trumpeting about his America First policy and subscribing to the view that the TPP would be more beneficial to others than the US, trade ministers of the remaining 11 TPP nations held a meeting, on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Vietnam last week, to give new life to the grouping with or without the US. It is interesting to note that while Trump at the APEC summit was sending mixed signals to Asian nations, Chinas President Xi Jinping was wooing them with economic assistance and a willingness to give leadership to the globalization process.



The US is losing its leeway in the region. With a beleaguered president in the White House, the process will be faster.



The way forward for the states in the Indo-Pacific region should not be one of conflicts. What the region needs is economic prosperity which can come only through peaceful co-existence in keeping with the hallowed Pancha Sheela principles which the countries in the region hold in high esteem. The quadrilateral alliance formation is certainly not a confidence-building measure to keep the Indo-Pacific region as a region of peace. India, Japan and China should give leadership to an Asian economic union  a win-win situation for all -- through mechanisms such as the RCEP to bring peace and prosperity to the region.
One month since its inception, Ath Pavura, the first ever TV reality show for social entrepreneurs and impact investors hosted on nations premier TV channel is creating a unique platform to flow equity capital to micro, small and medium level entrepreneurs.



It is Sri Lankas first reality to show to promote entrepreneurship and impact investment aired on ITN.

Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) Chairman and veteran banker Chandula Abeywickrema is the Co-Founder of Ath Pavura, with more than 30 years of experience in the banking sector and having been a leading figure in initiating many programmes to uplift and strengthen micro, small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Along with Social Enterprise Lanka Founder Eranda Ginige, Chandula pioneered and Co-Founded this timely initiative for Sri Lanka.



Ath Pavura is designed to create access to equity capital for Lankan social entrepreneurs at micro, small and medium levels to propel their businesses impact on the society and the environment through their products and services on television and to pitch their new social business ideas.



But in our case it is all about debt capital. Corporate level debt is priced between nine percent to 16 percent, retail is between 14 percent to 23 percent and micro is between 20 percent to 45 percent, so how can an entrepreneur start a business because the maximum that any start-up entrepreneurs could give back as the return on investment is between three percent to 10 percent. For me and the founder of Social Enterprise Lanka Eranda Ginige, it took three years to go on this journey towards creating this unique platform; Ath Pavura and it wasnt an easy journey as there were many obstacles and challenges. This idea came at a time where we could see many entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium levels being entrapped in debt. Ath Pavura is a platform that will create awareness in the country about what social entrepreneurship is, and who the true impact investors are, whilst creating the access to private equity capital as investment not as a debt to support the micro, medium and small scale entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka, he noted.



We have lined up 30 impact investors who would be part of the LIIN and we have nine of them committed with the Ath Pavura programme as the pioneering impact investors as Tuskers of Ath Pavura TV reality show. It just completed seven successful programmes aired on ITN. The show is aired every Sunday from 9:30p.m. to 10:30p.m..



The nine investors including Abeywickrema started with one million Rupees each, and now it has been increased to Rs.12 million within three months since starting the programme.



Our goal is to build a community and network of over 1000 passionate impact investors across Sri Lanka within the next two years whilst targeting 10,000 social entrepreneurs. These impact investors who have been very successful entrepreneurs by themselves have created wealth from the society and the environment which they anchor their successful business to, and they now want to give back to the fabric of society and environment which they are an integral part of, not only to their kith and kin, Abeywickrema added.



Ath Pavura co-partnered and co-hosted by LIIN, Selanka and ITN is that dynamic platform now here to stay and here to do that. Ath Pavura is powered by the partnership HNB, Dialog, Horizon Campus and Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.
First programme called the Small Scale Industries (SSI) Credit Scheme was implemented almost 40 years ago

In the absence of a National Education Policy, these on the run changes allow discrimination of rural youth

Proposal to establish three new medical faculties in three State universities is another big fake

Much has been said and more talked about Mangalas maiden budget, the 72nd budget in Independent Ceylon and now Sri Lanka. Yet theres enough left that can be said and should be said about his budget for year 2018.



Leaving out all controversies over beer and moonshine, pollution-free urban travel and then wild beasts and safari in Yala National Park among many others, Mangalas preamble to the budget stressed the common and the popular statement that, since the day of independence, instead of collectively working towards building the nation, we were fighting with each other on the basis of political ideologies, ethnicity, religion, and even on the basis of caste. His budget proposals should, therefore be, read with that as the context and the objective of this 2018 budget.



Reading begins with the performance of this government. A year ago his predecessor Ravi Karunanayake proposed giving free Tabs to school children. PM Wickramasinghe in November 2016 addressing the Asia Pacific Conference in Hong Kong said, Tabs will be given to university students on a concessionary price. Where it is now, is not known. So is the major food security project that was allocated Rs. 8 billion. It is now said that, most major proposals for 2017 had simply gone missing from the balance sheets of the Finance Ministry/Treasury. Though a Task master, Mangalas budget proposals have to be seen with such miserably inefficient performance of his government.



For youth, he does propose many changes and additions to formal education stressing 13 years of schooling irrespective of GCE O/L exam results. He proposes changes to A/L subject combinations, to examination and assessment methodology, proposes introduction of Genomics, Coding, Robotics and Nano science to school curricula, development of e-Text books and allocates funds for the already-launched Smart class rooms in selected schools. PM in an observation trip to Sri Jayawardnepura MV, said it would take a decade to go islandwide. In the absence of a National Education Policy, these on the run changes allow discrimination of rural youth who will be left a decade, or even more years behind the privileged urban youth.

We need to develop AMPs, PHIs, Midwives and Sanitary Inspectors with better and modern training to establish a preventive community health system



This country has not been able to train enough teachers capable of teaching English in all schools, even after Kannangara Reforms; 73 years ago. And in this country, out of 2,635 schools with classes up to GCE A/L, have only 698 schools with A/L science subjects. Students in schools with only Arts/Commerce subjects have thus been deprived of studying science. The much hyped free education system does not provide equal opportunities to all school children with equal quality. A sorry case where governments and the State continue violating Child Rights and the Budget contributes in increasing violations.



As such, there is an undisputed necessity in identifying social needs across districts and across different social segments in relation to education. It demands serious social discussion that includes teachers, parents, academics and educationists. In the absence of such social dialogue in developing a policy framework for national education respecting provincial rule, ad hoc changes decided upon by a few in Colombo and brought in as budgetary proposals will not remedy the crisis in education. They will not provide even worthy employment to rural youth in their own areas. All that is being proposed from Smart class rooms to Robotics and Nanoscience are for urbanised economic activities. That by itself restricts these proposals reaching the larger rural population.



Proposal to establish three new medical faculties in three State universities is another big fake. We need to develop AMPs, PHIs, Midwives and Sanitary Inspectors with better and modern training to establish a preventive community health system, that would reduce numbers seeking hospital beds for curative treatment. We dont then have to keep packing the health service with medical doctors and waste tax payers money to build hospitals to accommodate more patients. Also, we seriously lack qualified and competent academic staff in the country to even staff the existing medical faculties like Rajarata, Eastern and Ruhuna. Adding three more would thus be chaotic and would further devalue the quality of medical doctors produced. The question therefore is, what purpose does this proposal serve or seek to achieve?

Inclusivity in society that Mangala stressed in his preamble, also go the same crooked way. Reconciliation is not just about allocating funds as decided in Colombo for housing, infrastructure and livelihood programmes. It is about allowing the people in war affected North-East to have their fair share in deciding what they need for their own future



Reconciliation for an inclusive society has to go with economic growth. The SME sector must be the backbone of our economy. he therefore concludes.However, the lack of capital or the difficulty in accessing capital due to both the cost of capital and the requirement for collateral have been main impediments in the development of start-ups and SMEs is his diagnosis. It is said the government initiated eight credit schemes for SMEs this year. It is proposed to disburse Rs.15,000 million through these schemes next year and all such schemes to be fused into a single Enterprise Lanka Credit Scheme.



There is nothing new in this. First major programme called the Small Scale Industries (SSI) Credit Scheme was implemented almost 40 years ago in 1978 through the PB and the BoC in collaboration with the IDB. In 1979, the 2nd programme funded by the World Bank and the ADB, with the NDB overseeing, was implemented through five local banks exclusively for SMEs. They were all, subsidised concessionary loan schemes and continued till 1996. Thereafter, there had been many credit schemes, like SMILE, SMAP, Sahanaya and Saubhagya. By 2010, according to WB data on SME credit facilities, four out of seven commercial banks that covered SME lending, HNB, Commercial, DFCC and Wayamba Development Bank, had SME portfolios of 49.4%, 30.2%, 41.3% and 10.5% respectively, out of their total portfolios.



During these same periods, foreign donor-funded NGOs also pumped in big money into this sector as programmatic aid. The ILO and the GIZ (then GTZ) had their own business training programmes like SIYB and CeFE for specialised training on business planning, management skills, market linkages etc. Local NGOs also ran their own soft loan and credit facility programmes. Thus if SMEs over the past decades have not grown to Mangalas expectations, then the problem is not about accessing capital. The problem is elsewhere in this free market economy. That needs thorough research before pumping in more money at the expense of the tax payer.



Inclusivity in society that Mangala stressed in his preamble, also go the same crooked way. Reconciliation is not just about allocating funds as decided in Colombo for housing, infrastructure and livelihood programmes. It is about allowing the people in war affected North-East to have their fair share in deciding what they need for their own future. It is a fact of life, people need dignity in life, not just material comforts, that too as decided by the Colombo government.But that is what this budgetary proposals are all about. Contrary to his preamble, Mangala is proposing further centralised planning and implementation, completely ignoring PCs and the promise for more power to provinces in a new Constitution. From tourism, fisheries - both freshwater and marine, eco-friendly parks in all LG body areas, to the Carbon tax to be imposed on vehicles, everything has been taken over by the Colombo government from planning, deciding numbers, fixing locations and even the revenue that may be possible if projects are run efficiently.



As far as the Tamil politics and reconciliation are concerned, the budget proposal to strengthen the Police along with the new e-NIC is far more serious than all other proposals on centralising governance, though the TNA leadership in parliament supports this government and its budget. We have in a different context during the past 30 years and more, turned the Police into an auxiliary force in national security. It is in such a context, the police department is allowed to have its own TID. The whole society has lost sight of the fact, the Police Department has to be a civil department. Establishment of the National Police Commission (NPC) has failed in re-establishing it as a civil department.

Mangalas proposal to establish a university for the police including developing competency in special IT skills, wrapped in very timid and innocent lingo goes without question in a Southern society still revelling in war victory. One need to note the marked difference in upgrading competencies of a regular civil department and that of a very corrupt and heavily politicised agency resorting to excesses in law and enjoys impunity. Worst is when Heads of State and Government continue stressing the importance of National Security. In all countries National Security is nothing butsurveillance and intelligence. In our geo-political region it is mostly about excesses and arbitrary rule.

With that, the authorities given unrestricted access to private and personal information in trespassing privacy with the new e-NIC would regularise a repressive police regime. The collected personal bio data and biometrics turned into a centralised and digitized data base would allow intelligence and surveillance agencies to track the location of any individual at any given time. (Read my DM article eNIC threatens Sovereignty of People of September 8, 2017). That apart, there is also discussion of establishing a GPS tracking system of all vehicles, explained as a necessity to control and track down crimes.Using new technology to heavily centralise surveillance and intelligence under the Colombo government narrows down all possibilities of reconciliation in a democratic civil society.It is with such development, Managalas budgetary proposal on a Police University and IT skills development should be assessed.



The major, politically relevant proposals in this budget thus leads to controversies and contradictions on what Mangala said would be his and his governments objective in driving this economy for growth. Economics that contradict his politics.
Saturday, my friend, Chris Morton, and I journeyed to his duck blind in southern Montana. We had been waiting for the weather to change to a more wintry mode, and that had certainly happened the previous weekend.

I recalled seeing large skeins of snow geese and Canada geese heading south as I hunted pheasants in the Bighorn Basin. I thought, Boy, if the geese are heading south, the mallards, gadwalls and widgeon should be following suit.

When we arrived at the blind, there were plenty of mallards in the general vicinity. We had also noted some teal on the water a couple of miles away along with a gadwall or two. Mallards were prevalent all along our drive so we knew that we should have some action if the ducks were moving about. A forecast for rain and wind seemed to guarantee that.

I quickly helped Chris set up his blind and then placed a couple dozen decoys above and below it. I left a gap in the middle for ducks to land in. There were a half dozen blue-winged teal decoys downstream as well as eight magnum mallard decoys. I put a couple of wood duck decoys upstream as well as eight mallards. Chris hunkered down in his blind with his trusty old lab, Skoshie.

I set up a blind under a juniper tree 100 yards or so upstream from Chris and tossed out a dozen decoys and settled in with my chocolate lab, Chip, to await any arrivals.

Though it was cloudy and threatening, it didn't rain or snow and there was only a light breeze blowing so there wasn't any incentive for ducks to be moving. Chip fidgeted about and wanted attention. After I scratched his ears for a couple of minutes, he decided he wanted to be on my lap. I explained to him that an 85-pound dog is not a lap dog, but he tried to convince me otherwise.

Finally, he settled down and sat quietly at my side. We scanned the horizon for ducks but about the only birds we saw flying were magpies. It looked like it was going to another boring morning in the blind when a dozen or so teal came zinging by, swooped low over the decoys and kept on trucking.

Oh well, that woke me up anyway and gave me hope that more birds would be on the way. Another half hour dragged by with no action. Chip cocked his head to the right and stared intently. I finally spotted what he was fixed on, a pair of small ducks were swimming downstream heading for the decoys.

The ducks got within fifteen feet of the decoys and paused. I jumped up and hollered at them and they took off heading back upstream. How I missed the first shot, I don't know; but I did connect on the second shot and folded the duck. It plopped onto the water. Chip ran up the bank a bit, leaped into water and swam rapidly to the flopping duck.

The duck eluded him for about five seconds, but Chip managed to figure out where the bird had dived and grabbed it when it came up. He swam back to the blind and delivered the duck.

I saw blue on the shoulder of the duck and thought, blue-winged teal; then I noticed a green speculum and began to realize that I had a different critter. When I noticed a rather broad bill that was more of a spoon shape, I realized that I had bagged a northern shoveler. It was the first that I had bagged in years.

Chip and I settled in and waited for some more action but after a half hour of inaction, I decided to walk a half mile or more upstream to see if I could jump some ducks and send them on down to Chris.

When I had completed the hike upstream, I peeked out to see if there were any ducks on the water and didn't see a one. I walked back away from the bank in a shaded area where snow remained. I saw pheasant tracks and thought that maybe I could connect on one as I had in years past.

Chip didn't pick up any scent so we continued on. I made a mistake on my sneak and came out too far away from a large flock of mallards. They circled around me and headed upstream.

I walked about five yards from the river in a two-foot-deep depression. The river was fairly wide open and I didn't hold much hope of jumping any ducks within range when I noticed some ducks that were tight to the bank partially obscured by high grass on my side and just thirty yards away.

Chip heeled well enough and I managed to pop out on the flock. They leapt up and headed east. I swung on one, pulled and dumped it and swung on another and dumped it. Wow, a double, something I hadn't done in three or four years.

Chip swam to the first duck, but it dove just as he got there. He searched valiantly for a minute or two and then I directed him downstream to the second duck that was drifting lifelessly. After some shouting and hollering, Chip finally lined out on the duck and retrieved it to hand  a green-winged teal.

We searched for 20 minutes or more for the other duck, but couldn't locate it despite dismantling a log jam that Chip wouldn't quit.

Chip and got out on the east side of the river and walked toward our blind. Chip picked up some scent and started hunting in the rocks and grass above the river. I thought maybe he had picked up the scent of the teal and was trailing it, but I was mistaken. Two minutes later he flushed a covey of Hungarian partridge that flew toward the west bank. I swung on a single and pulled, no luck. The second barrel connected and I dropped a partridge into the river.

Chip made a decent retrieve, and I realized that I had had one of the most unusual mixed bags of my hunting career. I also was tickled that Chip had finally come of age and had become a fairly dependable, hard-working dog.
De Rigueur Collection

Hameedia, Sri Lankas leading menswear specialist recently concluded the fifth edition of its highly anticipated, fashion showcase - Concept 2018. Governed by the theme of CurioCity, the show was a resounding success and was attended by Colombos fashion elite, several VIPs, and leaders of the business and fashion communities. Also present at this years event was Jack EyersMr. England 2017/2018 who is also the Brand Ambassador of Envoy London, along with the first and second runners-up of the international competition Jack Hesslewood and Zac Oldershaw. The senior management as well as staff from Hameedia were also present at the showcase.

This year, the showcase featured an exclusive range of ready-to-wear and tailor-made collections for modern and stylish urban men. CurioCity, the theme of the event, drew on the latest fashion trends and included sophisticated and chic collections filled with staples and essentials as well as accessories made from the finest materials, that all featured an array of designs and prints. A total of seven exclusive clothing segments were presented including Down to Earth, Art in Loom, Contemporary, De Rigueur, GENZ, Prince of Wales and Celebrate Life and each collection will be made available throughout the course of next year at all Hameedia outlets.

These exclusive clothing collections comprised shirts, trousers, jackets, kurthas, printed shirts, smart casual must-haves, pieces for power dressing, as well as an array of formal attire that encapsulated the very essence of confidence and refinement.

Prince of Wales Collection  Power Dressing

Hameedias linen collection titled Down to Earth featured a mix of staples such as trousers, shirts and sarongs, as well as accessories such as ties, bows and pocket squares designed to keep the tropical heat of Sri Lanka at bay whilst helping men to look fresh, even after a long and tiring day in the island heat. The Art in Loom collectionconsisting mostly of vibrant printed shirts, trousers and smart casual pieces and much more was a melange of contemporary styles that featured bespoke bold and iconic prints which are deemed a must-have in every wardrobe. The Contemporary collection, the third segment, included an exquisite range of chic day and evening wear which were designed to enable men to stay aligned with the latest fashion trends in the world. This collection featured an exclusive line of trendy smart casuals that could be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

De Rigueur, the fourth segment of the show offered a more laid-back look and included trendy styles of clothing that were tailor-made for men seeking a more relaxed and casual look. The Genz collection allowed men to colour coordinate different garments to create an array of preferred looks. The collection highlighted how appropriate hues of colour can complete the overall look of a mans outfit, by adding a much-needed splash of colour or a bold accent. The sixth segment of the event was called Prince of Wales,and was a collection that was much anticipated by the business community. Designed to convey a strong self-image and create defining looks that are a must-have for men in the corporate world and business arena, Prince of Wales was a timeless collection that kept the fashion needs of business tycoons and professionals in mind. Renowned as the foremost provider of festive clothing, the final segment of the show titled Celebrate Life featured a range of tailor-made pieces in line with the requirement of the Sri Lankan man at celebratory occasions.

Celebrating Life  Ceremonial Collection

Commenting on the success of the show, Fouzul Hameed  Managing Director, Hameedia Group said: We are delighted to have presented the fifth edition of the Concept show this year and we were truly honoured that we received so much positive feedback from all of our guests and partners. We are also pleased that Mr England, Jack Eyers and his colleagues were able to be a part of this years showcase and see Concept 2018 in action. Each year, the Concept show has been taken to greater heights, and has gradually become the countrys most iconic menswear fashion showcase. Our team is extremely proud to be able to conduct this event, in accordance with the highest global standards of excellence and we look forward to its continued success and evolution in the years ahead. I would also like to extend my thanks to our partners and sponsors, who helped us create a truly memorable showcase. We are also pleased that we were able to give back to society by collaborating with the My Friend project.

Also commenting on the event, Jack Eyers  Mr. England 2017/2018also the Brand Ambassador of Envoy London, said: Im truly impressed by the overall production of the Concept show. Every aspect of the event was exceptional, and each collection featured carefully designed pieces that could inject versatility, finesse, style and sophistication into to the wardrobes of modern gentlemen. This years collections were well geared to meet the needs of contemporary and fashion conscious urban men, who seek a mix of everyday staples and more striking pieces to complete their wardrobes. Each collection featured an array of items with varying fabrics, colours, cuts, designs and embellishments, all of which were thoughtfully combined to create a variety of memorable looks and outfits. This years showcase was reminiscent of the high-end runway shows that one can expect to see in the top fashion capitals of the world, and it is clear that the Concept show is a truly iconic fashion event in the country, that is filling an important void in the menswear category.

Celebrating Life  Ceremonial Collection

Being true to the core values of the Hameedia Group, the Concept 2018  CurioCity show presented several fundraising initiatives that supported the My Friend project, an initiative that helps to educate children in underprivileged schools who are in need across the country by providing educational support and school supplies. An array of retail and lifestyle brands also stepped forward and supported the event, including Dialog as the official telecommunications partner, Vision Care as the official eye care partner, adidas  the official sportswear partner, Real Men  the official fragrance partner, PRO - the official shoe care partner, Leo Burnett Sri Lanka/MSL Sri Lanka  Official PR partner, and The Kingsbury Hotel  the events official hospitality partner.

Launch for the Online

Art in Loom

Prince of Wales Collection  Power Dressing

De Rigueur
Freelance journalist, Marlon Widanapathirana, who contributes to Sunday Lankadeepa, Tharunaya and GO magazine, published his maiden collection of poems titled Akuru. A cinematographer, a journalist and now a poet, Marlon began exploring the world of poets with Akuru. Following are excerpts of an interview done with Widanapathirana.

QYou have published your maiden book on poetry. Why did you use the title Akuru?



I was thinking of using Akuru as the title of my first poetry book. Theres a story about my handwriting. I had the ugliest handwriting in my class. On the first day of the English class I attended in grade 9, the teacher asked me to bring a double rule book to practise writing. Therefore, I wanted to name my first collection of poems AKURU.



QWere you planning for a long time to write this book or is it just the right time? And what are your interests in poetry?



The ones for this collection were selected from among numerous poems I wrote from time to time. There are 25 poems written on various themes, mostly focusing on matters less evident to the society. No preface nor afterword has been used in the book.



QWho are the individuals who have made a huge influence on your poetry?



The biggest influence on mehas been made by poets like Manjula Wediwardana and Monica Ruwanpathirana. I learned a great deal from them.



QWhen was the book launch?



The launching of Akuru was a light event held at Sripali Mandapaya, in the Colombo University. It was also a special occasion because a few days later I had to attend the graduation ceremony of the special degree in Cinematography, which I followed at University of Kelaniya.

Marlon Widanapathirana



QAkuru isnt merely a book on poetry and you have translated these Sinhala poems into English. How do you feel about doing so?



I think this is the first ever bilingual book on poetry published in the Sri Lankan university history in both Sinhala and English languages simultaneously.



My younger brother Akash, who works as a journalist at Sunday Times, translated the book from Sinhala to English.



The cover of the book was designed by Diman Darshana Hettiarachchi.

Akash Widanapathirana



QWhat are you currently working on? Will there be a second poetry book as well?



I am getting ready to co-direct a childrens movie in which the script was also written by me.

Marlon's and Akashs parentspix by Kithsiri de mel
The words of this famous hymn should be absorbed and the words instilled into the minds of defeated politicians, and others screaming their heads off, like El Desperados with lie after lie, to instill fear and incite people about things which do not exist. I vow to thee my country, all earthly things above, entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love.The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

Minister Mangala Samaraweera talks about the nitty-gritties of Budget 2018 with his secretary before it was presented in Parliament

Those defeated rulers seem to have selective amnesia about their conduct

Genetic inheritance is always a powerful force

The President and the Prime Minister have both stated that there would be discussions with all sectors

Those defeated, sacked from parties and scribes living in comfort in other countries, to which they fled long ago, are included too. Why dont they write about the countries they are domiciled in? They use fabricated statements planted by those wanting to create problems in the Government and stir trouble. Some of them would do well to turn the searchlight within and take a look at their own lives. Those defeated rulers seem to have selective amnesia, about their conduct while at the helm of power, like those promoting them have as well. The consort of a previous ruler spent state funds on a trip to Paris, in a style which the Queen of England rejected, perhaps her dream was that she was a reincarnation of Marie Antoinette! Im sure her time in Paris is crystallized in time, locked in her memory, like a rare jewel in a vault! Their siblings and spoiled brats were no better, state resources were extravagantly used in a way, that this country never had the misfortune to ever witness earlier. Genetic inheritance is always a powerful force, which was obvious in the behaviour patterns of the former ruler and his family. All known for brawn rather than being mental heavyweights, except perhaps when it comes to ill-gotten gains, making innocent people pawns in their game and letting them face the music. Today, both the President and the Prime Minister lead simple lives, although the latter was born with a silver spoon in mouth, he doesnt flaunt his lineage or wealth nor does he take or use what belongs to the state to boost his power, his image or exist in the reflected glory of the largesse of his ancestors.. His siblings never go to Temple Trees without an appointment and dont throw their weight about in any of his offices or abodes.

One must clean ones stable

Others shouting their heads off, starting new parties, pointing fingers, should point them at themselves. Have they brought up their children to observe the laws and rules of the land, including never driving vehicles for which they dont have licences for, or never driving after consuming alcohol? Were their children punished for this offence if they were guilty or for anyone being killed as a result, as others without influence during that time were punished? One must clean ones own stables, before venturing to preach to others and trying to lead political parties. One must learn to follow before one leads, walk before one tries to run or march! Others too, hailing from prominent UNP families have stated that they are joining other parties. As they have never contributed to the UNP or the country in any constructive way, I think the UNPs gain will prove to be a loss to whatever party they join. They preferred to snatch greedily the juicy morsels thrown to them by the former ruler and acted as if the sun shone out of the rear end of their benefactor! All these persons must ask themselves if they were good sons to their fathers,or good brothers to their siblings? Where are their values which have earned them the right to point fingers at others and thrust themselves into politics, riding piggyback on the revered names of past Leaders? Why has his thinking changed?



Another who had to leave the Government recently, and campaigned for the Presidential elections and at the Parliamentary elections at which a new constitution was one of the election promises, now asks why is there a need for a new constitution. Why has his thinking changed? Why didnt he state his reservations before the elections? He seems to be asking for more punches to be aimed at the shattered remains of his political life. He is now being seen openly with the former ruler, although his secret meetings with him abroad, while being in the cabinet, are now well-known. Other jokers in the pack, trying hard to hug the spotlight are that famed wizard of Maths, the one who threatened to bomb Parliament, which would have been treason if it happened in the UK, and a former academic often seen hosting young journos to lunch at expensive restaurants, the favour being returned no doubt,with publicity for his cause.



Desperate tactic

The new constitution is only in the draft stage. The President and the Prime Minister have both stated that there will be discussions with all sectors, before a final decision is arrived at. The people voted for a new Constitution. The Government has to honour its promises. The recent debacle of a previous ruler arriving at Parliament on a bicycle accompanied by several security vehicles, which consumed large amounts of petrol and leaving Parliament in a luxurious limousine, was yet another desperate tactic, typical of his limited brain power. One can perhaps understand their suffering, it must be difficult to revert to life without state funds, to fund their every whim and fancy. But one cant fool all the people all of the time. The recent meeting in Anuradhapura, to which people were transported saw groups engaging in fisticuffs and being hospitalized. This is the type of politics practiced by them.



Those who didnt dare to talk during all the atrocities, corruption, abductions, murders of journalists, during the previous regime are now making good use of the freedom of speech to hurl false brickbats at the Government. Some of these people laughed when Mangala Samaraweera was appointed as the Minister of Finance. They should eat their words now as his Budget has been hailed far and wide, as being an excellent one. They were silent when a war hero, one who actually fought and led the forces on the war front, was thrown into jail and treated in an inhuman manner. Those who took the credit for the victory have never fought on the frontlines or faced anything stronger than face powder! The previous regime thrust this country into a black hole of despair, and billions in debt from which recovery seems remote. This Government has had to deal with all that to keep the economy afloat. But in our President and Prime Minister, we have two rocks of competence, decency, endeavor and integrity. We no longer have aggressive parvenus steering the ship of state, who climbed and clung to a greasy pole, convinced that their failings were unseen, invisible and unrecognized. Therein lies hope at last, of a distant dawn for the country and its people. But the Government on its part, must speed up the process, to make sure that those who robbed the country dry are severely dealt with. This is what most right thinking people are awaiting.



From all that terror, lies of tongue and pen, easy speeches that comfort cruel men, we have learned lessons. Deliver us, Good Lord
Malaysian security and enforcement personnel will undergo sea combat training in Sri Lanka to strengthen and upgrade their skills in maritime security control, the New Straits Times reported.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the training would be conducted next year with Sri Lankas security forces.

Dubbed Sea Combat Course, the training is aimed at equipping the Esscom team with added skills.

The expertises of the Sri Lankans in safeguarding their waters are recognised worldwide, he told reporters at the Esscom monthly gathering @ the police marine base here, today.

Hazani said about 20 personnel from three agencies  police, armed forces, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency - would participate in the intensive training.

On another development, he said Esscom would establish a control post on Pulau Ligitan off Tawau in an effort to intensify security in the area, adding that the post would be managed by three security agencies.

The island is located at the border of Malaysian waters hence it is exposed to neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines. The waters are usually used as a route by immigrants to enter the state.

The post will also be able to prevent elements that can jeopardise the security of the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone from slipping into the country, he stressed.

During the monthly gathering, 140 security personnel led by Hazani took the corruption-free pledge while witnessed by Lahad Datu Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Wan Kamal Noor Izwan Wan Kamaruddin.
At a time when the world seems to be struggling mightily to put human rights at the forefront of a global discourse burdened by conflict, fear of terrorism and radicalisation, and real or perceived security threats of various kinds, mechanisms like the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Right Council gain an added importance.

We have consulted and listened to the people on how to go about addressing the needs resulting from the decades of conflict and suffering

An office is to be established to address reparations to the victims of the conflict

In 2016, a total of 11,253 houses (Rs. 8,963 million) were handed over to Internally Displaced Persons

The UPR was enacted in 2006 by the General Assembly of the UN as a process in which the human rights record of every member state is scrutinized by fellow member states and its adherence to obligations in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments is tested.



Sri Lanka is reporting under the UPR mechanism for the third time this week in Geneva, with previous reports occurring in 2008 and 2012. Following more than three decades of conflict and a subsequent government which had a dubious record on human rights, I am happy to represent a government which has made vindication of human rights central to its policies. Considering the difficult legacy, it was always to be expected that the process was never going to be easy. However, there are many signs of progress on the front of human rights we were proud to present in Geneva.



National Human Rights Action Plan



On 1 November, the government launched Sri Lankas National Human Rights Action Plan 2017-2021, which outlines our vision for human rights during the next five years. The plan, informed by wide consultations, contains feasible, actionable and relevant action points pertaining to ten thematic areas - Civil and Political Rights, Prevention of Torture, Rights of Women, Rights of Internally Displaced Persons and Returning Refugees, Rights of Migrant Workers, Rights of Persons With Disabilities, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Rights of Children, Labour Rights and Environmental Rights. The goals set out in the plan are clear, and they will strengthen the existing national mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights through substantial constitutional, legislative, policy and administrative frameworks. The recently enacted budget clearly shows we are serious about seeing this plan through, and have created effective ways of monitoring and evaluating its implementation.



The National Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) has been further strengthened with the appointment of independent commissioners by the Constitutional Council. The HRCSL has the authority to entertain complaints and conduct investigations regarding infringements or imminent infringements of fundamental rights, and to provide for resolution by conciliation and mediation. It also monitors the welfare of persons in detention. The government has progressively increased resources allocated to the commission as one of the key human rights institutions and will continue to support and safeguard its independence.



We have consulted and listened to the people on how to go about addressing the needs resulting from the decades of conflict and suffering. These extensive consultations carried out by the Consultation Task Force comprising an 11-member all-civil society group inform our approaches to reconciliation and dealing with the past. We have also adopted the National Policy on Reconciliation based on the feedback we received from communities and multiple other stakeholders.



Missing persons



As one of the key measures aimed at addressing the suffering of the families of the missing persons, the Government enacted legislation for establishing the independent and permanent Office on Missing Persons (OMP), and it came into operation on the 15th September 2017. On 20th October 2017, the Constitutional Council advertised, in all three languages, calling for applications to fill the seven posts of Commissioners. This Office is mandated to take all necessary measures to provide for a mechanism to address the issues and concerns related to missing persons. We cannot claim to be a society where the rights of all citizens are equally respected if we are blind to the suffering of mothers still searching for their children. In the budget for 2018, we have proposed setting aside 1.4 billion Rupees for the operation of the OMP for next year.

An office is to be established to address reparations to the victims of the conflict, and the draft legislation prepared by experts in this regard is currently under discussion. Meanwhile, the Government has already paid Rs. 574 million and Rs. 605 million in 2017 and 2016 respectively, as compensation for victims, through the Rehabilitation of Persons, Property and Industries Authority (Sri Lanka)  REPPIA. A draft law for a TRCis also under consideration. The government remains firmly committed to developing a domestic mechanism to address justice and accountability on alleged human rights and humanitarian law violations. The architecture of the mechanism will be devised taking cognizance of our commitment to fight impunity, as well as of all relevant factors that shape Sri Lankas constitutional and political context.



Lands occupied by the military



The security forces have continued to progressively vacate lands in the Northern and Eastern Provinces that had been occupied for military use and strategic security reasons and appropriate compensation will be provided where release is not feasible due to security reasons. At the end of the conflict the security forces were using approximately 88571acres of state lands and 30, 337 acres of private lands. Of this, as at 31st October 2017, the armed forces had vacated 57,278 acres of state lands and 24,675 acres of private lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces. 604 more acres of state lands and 294 acres of private lands have been earmarked for release by the end of this year. Appropriate compensation in consultation with the persons concerned, will be made in connection with private land that cannot be released for securityor strategic purposes such as land around the Palaly airport in the North.



In 2016, a total of 11,253 houses (Rs. 8,963 million) were handed over to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and an additional allocation of Rs. 4,785 million has been made in the 2017 budget for the construction of 5,732 houses. In the next years budget, we have proposed an allocation to support the construction of 50,000 brick and mortar houses in the North and East. It is clear for all to see that our commitment to redressing those affected by the conflict in all areas of our country is rooted in action, not only words.



Positive developments

Amongst many other positive developments, the government endorsed the Declaration of the Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict on 12th January 2016, including by ending impunity for such crimes. To address the specific issues faced by Women Headed Households (WHH) who have been identified as a vulnerable social group, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a National Action Plan on WHHs in October 2016 which focuses on health and psycho-social support, livelihood development, protection, social security,support services systems, as well as national level policy formulation and awareness building.



Regulations and measures have been put in place to eradicate child labour to ensure the full enjoyment of the rights of the child. Variousinitiatives are underway on this front, including the concept of Child Labour Free Zone initially piloted in the district of Ratnapura, successfully eradicating child labour in that district. The success of this project has now been replicated in all the 25 districts in the country.



And there is much more to point to in illustrating the progress we have made in the past two years as there is much to be proud of. At the same time, we must not be blind to the significant challenges we are facing as we continue on this journey.



While the government has released over 12,000 ex combatants, and it has taken a policy decision to reduce the number of detainees held without charge under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), we are aware of the need to reform this act and previous emergency regulations. To this effect, a draft policy and legal framework for a proposed counter-terrorism law to repeal the current PTA was formulated by a committee of experts and a draft bill is being finalized.



The government maintains a zero tolerance policy on torture and is cognizant of the continued challenges encountered with respect to combating torture, illustrated in the recent reports by some media and international NGOs. We will ensure that such allegations of torture committed in the country are investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.We cant claim progress on human rights if we allow for such despicable practices to continue. On 14th November, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Sri Lankas accession to the Optional Protocol on the Conventional against Torture and the appointment of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka as the National Preventive Mechanism under the Protocol. Our government is determined to take all possible steps to eliminate the practice of torture in our country. We urge everyone in the country to unite in this effort. No human being should ever face the horrors of torture in our country.



Our commitment to human rights is firm, and we will continue to illustrate this through action, policy and legislation. It is a journey we embarked upon in 2015 with a mandate from the people who were tired of conflict, tired of corruption and tired of abuse. It is a journey towards the full respect for the rule of law, towards reconciliation and sustainable peace, towards upholding and protecting human rights of all our citizens.

We are aware that similar processes in some countries which faced similar legacies of conflict as Sri Lanka took decades, we are aware of the difficulties and challenges.

However, our human rights agenda is much more ambitious and we dont intend to measure our progress in decades, as it can clearly be seen from the record presented in Sri Lankas UPR report.



We stand firm in our commitment to the struggle for human rights and to seeing our journey through to the benefit of all Sri Lankans. We are proud of the progress we have achieved in less than three years, progress which all citizens and the international community can clearly see. Well be prouder still when we finish the ambitious job we started.
Two articles in Daily Mirror on tea (Nov 9 by M.J. Fernando Nov. 10 by Tea Exporters Association (TEA) highlight the controversy on importation of tea. As Mr Fernando has said importing tea, and blending it with local Ceylon Tea will bring down the quality of Ceylon Tea and may cause prices to decrease. TEA appears to be of the opinion that the growth of the tea sector is restricted by non-availability of adequate quantities of tea and hence, TEA has proposed to liberalize tea imports to address the declining trend in the countrys tea export share.



According to the Central Bank reports around 200,000 ha are under tea. As indicated in the table the total production of tea has continued to decrease from 340 million kg in 2013 to 292 million kg in 2016 although TEA says that the tea production has stagnated around 330 million kg. The amount of tea exports too has decreased during the last few years. In 2014 we exported 327 million kg but this value has decreased to 289 million kg in 2016 . As indicated in the table, foreign exchange earnings from tea have continued to decrease in spite of some tea being imported for re-exports. As indicated in the article by TEA, Sri Lankas share in the world tea market has come down from 10.5 % in 2000 to 6% in 2016 and this is likely to go down further and the country will not achieve the expected foreign exchange targets. All these data indicate that there is something wrong in our tea sector.



According to TEA in the article of Nov. 10 there is no accepted plan to increase tea production and hence propose to increase liberalization of tea imports to address the declining tea exports. In such a situation it is better to formulate an effective plan to increase tea production in the country rather than importing lower quality tea and blending it with Ceylon Tea. Importing tea to be blended with Ceylon Tea will be detrimental to the tea sector as what happened to some other sectors such as Pepper in the recent past. TEA suggests that there should be a tea hub in Sri Lanka. When our tea production is going down and also when there is a strong tea hub in a central place such as Dubai, a proposal to have a tea hub is unrealistic. In the rubber sector too a unrealistic master plan involving US $ 500 million has been developed and is going to be implemented.



Almost 90% of the tea produced in the country is exported. Hence, the opinion of TEA that the growth of the tea sector is restricted by non-availability of adequate quantities of tea is not correct. There may be a number of factors which caused our share in the world tea market to come down during the last few years. One of these is possibly high costs. It is necessary that a detail study is made to determine what factors cause our share in the world tea market to come down.



An analysis of tea production levels in tea producing countries indicate that Sri Lanka has lagged behind. According to FAO statistics our average tea YPH in 2014 which stood at 1522 kg/ha is well below the average tea YPH of 25 countries such as Iran, Japan, Kenya, Vietnam . The success of the Kenyan tea industry has been ascribed to appropriate research and development (R&D) by the Kenya Tea Research Institute. The decline in the tea sector in Sri Lanka can be attributed to a number of factors. Among these are land degradation, shortage of water, old age crop etc.



Land Degradation

Productivity of large extents under tea has decreased mainly due to soil erosion, soil compaction, and nutrition depletion etc, . Land degradation would cause yields to decline and have a negative impact on our efforts to increase production. A substantial extent of tea lands are eroded and there is hardy any soil for the tea plants grow. According to various reports around 40 t/ha of soil in tea estates are lost annually due to soil erosion. The participants of the first national symposium on Land Degradation, held a few years ago, who were representing many land-related institutions in the country, were of the view that urgent action such as implementation of proper land use planning and the soil conservation and environment act etc. need to be taken by the relevant organizations to control land degradation.

Age of tea plants

A considerable extent of the tea crop is mature and old. For example, 40% of the tea extent is under seedling tea and about 90% of the seedling teas are over 60 years old and need replanting. Around 30% of the VP tea are more than 30 years old and these also need replanting. Replanting had been neglected in the 1960s and 1970s partly because of low tea prices and high export duties and low profit margins . The area replanted does not show any substantial increase during the last few years. In fact, it has decreased from 2013.



Water shortage

VP plants being having a fibrous system are unable to stand dry conditions. As a result production of tea goes down during the dry periods. This situation is worsened by soil erosion. It is possible to overcome this situation by activities such as increasing organic matter levels of the surface soils by mulching, reducing run-off, better water management etc. which would increase water holding capacity of the soil. Implementing appropriate rain-water harvesting programmes would reduce the undesirable effects of drought.

Labour shortage

It is a common knowledge that at present there is a dearth of labour in the tea sectors as in many other crop sectors. According to a labour force survey in 2000, 36 % of the labour force was working in the agriculture sector. In 2008 this value has dropped to 33% and in 2014 it has further dropped down to 29%. As a result of labour shortage weed control and other cultural practices and tea plucking are affected.

What should be done

There are tea lands in which the annual production is very low. For example, the average YPH of some estates owned by the state is as low as 358 kg. A survey need to be done to identify these unproductive tea lands, and these need to be diversified. Such lands may be put under pasture and have cattle . This will reduce our expenditure on milk imports, and also degradation of the lands will be reduced resulting in less silting of the reservoirs and reduce incidence of floods. There are many other crops such as spice crops etc. , energy yielding crops such as glyricida and fruit crops which could be cultivated on the unproductive tea lands. These crops would give better returns to the cultivators. An in-depth study need to be carried out to determine appropriate land use in the unproductive holdings/estates giving due consideration to factors such as climate, topography, availability of labour etc.



Those tea lands which are not going to be diversified need to be managed better. In this regard, infilling, cultivation of better tea cultivars and their effective management including better fertilizer and pest management practices, , increased rate of replanting, reducing soil degradation and conservation practices are essential. The demand for tea bags appears to be increasing. In countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan the tea bag share has increased over and above the loose tea market. Hence, it is obvious that we need to promote production of tea bags.



It is better to implement activities to increase the productivity of the tea sector rather than importing low quality tea thereby diluting the quality of our tea.
Somewhere in the late eighties, with the collapse of communism, the world that had hitherto been split into two camps shifted into an Us versus Them dichotomy of a different sort, this time between the multilateralists and the unilateralists. As Prof. Nalin de Silva so eloquently put it, the world didnt become multi-polar, which means, obviously enough, that history didnt end. Fukuyama was wrong, Huntington wasnt. Superpowers had been built on the assumption that there was an enemy to be fought, somewhere, and it could include entire continents and cultures and civilizations. We were promised that life would get simpler. It didnt. The truth is, it couldnt.

Vijaya Kumaratunga

Today the multilateralists have, for all intents and purposes, sided with the unilateralists. Vast wars are embarked on, vast sums of money are spent on weapons, and what was described by Eisenhower as the military-industrial complex has expanded so exponentially that no number of leaked documents can do justice to its scope. Life couldnt get simpler because the idea of two superpowers fighting against each other, or keeping the peace with each other, insured the rest of the world against one country, one empire, gaining a monopoly over everyone else. Once that was out, things could only get more complicated. Sadly, for better or for worse, that is what has transpired today.

It was a dangerous time

Right after the end of the Second World War, when the Soviet Union began to be demonised and considered as the Enemy, down to the eighties and nineties, when the promise of a world free of bloodshed and conflict was aborted, despite the collapse of communism, by the commencement of the Gulf War, aggression was largely based on rhetoric, because both sides of the global polity knew, at least to an extent, that fighting against one another would mean suicide as far as they, and the world in general, were concerned. That is why we look back at the sixties and seventies as the era of James Bond fighting unseen global elites who want to flare up war between the Communists and the Free World so as to appropriate power for their members. As far as history, literature, and propaganda went, it was a dangerous time to live in, but it was also a nostalgic time, the time of spy novels, irresistible conspiracy theories, and the Profumo Affair.

Obviously, the tactics, the strategies, and even the philosophy guiding the movement against the Global Left changed during the eighties. The West has, for whatever reason, been shy

about calling out its opponent in clear-cut, cohesive terms



Obviously, the tactics, the strategies, and even the philosophy guiding the movement against the Global Left changed during the eighties. The West has, for whatever reason, been shy about calling out its opponent in clear-cut, cohesive terms, which is why it tends to smother those opponents with politically correct slogans; the Evil Empire, Drugs, and of course Terror. As historians have pointed out, after all, even the American Civil War has been smothered with such feel-good slogans and labels (the best of them, and in fact the most mythical of them, being the War against Slavery) that people dont know the real intentions behind Lincolns campaign against the slaveholders. There was and is nothing different in the way the West, the Free World that is, sought to endear itself to nations that were springing out of communism and socialism. One way of suffocating the Global Left in this regard, therefore, was the empowerment of a Global Anti-Left. That came about in turn with the rise and institutionalisation of the NGO intelligentsia.

The New Left

This was the fatal contradiction at the heart of the Old Left; its susceptibility to the machinations of outside parties that had no interest, much less enthusiasm, about prolonging the leftist ideals it stood for. That contradiction was by and by the outcome of the discrepancy it reflected within itself between, as I mentioned last week, the stated aims of an equal society and the largely bourgeois ethic of the leadership it helped prop up. In Sri Lanka radicalism was, until the emergence of the New Left, limited to the saadukin pelena wun rhetoric of the Communists and Trotskyites, whose lasting achievements to the political sphere of this country cant be discounted (they were, after all, behind the drive this country tried to move with towards an industrialised society, something the colonial bourgeoisie could not attempt, much less achieve). Unfortunately with the dissolution of the Old Lefts credibility courtesy of the 1971 insurrection, it felt rather abandoned. It needed to make a comeback. That comeback came about when we substituted an ethnocentric project for a class-oriented one within the Left Movement.

Vijaya was the Southern politician that the North had been looking for, and he was the perfect foil to the then ascendant New Left, which as I observed last week was doing a pretty good job of being cultural nationalists and fervent Marxists



Hidden beneath the sloganeering of that movement was one key concept that the NGO intelligentsia was able to, inadvertently, pick up; the withering of the State. In Marxism that refers to the means by which a society of equals could be attained. It indicated an absence of not just class barriers, but also class consciousness, and it had to be preceded by a society that privileged the State as a necessary evil. What this meant, clearly enough, was that the State was always an instrument, and never an agent that could act on its own. When the intelligentsia intruded on the Left Movement in this country, it made use of this concept, or theory, and helped propel a private sphere that would remain independent of the State while making the State its primary instrument. The main channel through which this contortion could be realised was the Old Left, and the main method through which the Old Left could be made to yield to the contortion was the substitution of ethnicity for class. After 1956, after 1971, the single most significant political phenomenon in this country, for me therefore, is the emergence of the federalist-devolutionist discourse.

Vijaya Kumaratunga

The man chosen to head this movement was Vijaya Kumaratunga. There were several advantages to be gained by having Vijaya. Firstly, he was popular. He courted voters in both the South and the North, and at a time when Sinhala politicians were considered as parvenus by the top rung of the LTTE, he was amenable even to the likes of Prabhakaran. (The fact that his funeral was attended by members of the LTTE attests to this.) As I have pointed out elsewhere, he was adamant in considering the war against the Tamil Tigers a chauvinist government-led project against the Tamil people. For the supporters of the conflict, it was the only way through which centuries of inter-ethnic disparities could be corrected (this is true of the Sinhalese and the Tamil equally), but for the likes of Vijaya, it was nothing more than a jaathivadi yuddhayak, a term he used during a television interview. Vijaya was the Southern politician that the North had been looking for, and he was the perfect foil to the then ascendant New Left, which as I observed last week was doing a pretty good job of being cultural nationalists and fervent Marxists.



Liyanage Amarakeerthi in an otherwise critical piece on Gunadasa Amarasekara and the politics of the Jathika Chinthanaya contended that the problem with our political parties and the NGO sphere was their inability to produce engaging, original thinkers. With respect to the latter I think the problem goes deeper; the truth is that our NGO sphere has been unable thus far to produce an sincere enough thinker who can go beyond the monolingual elite and capture the hearts and minds of the monolingual masses and/or the bilingual middle class. They have failed to do so even today. A careful perusal of Susantha Goonetilakes book Recolonisation shows clearly that these intellectuals were well equipped with the language of the coloniser. But they couldnt acquaint themselves properly with the cultures they were involved with, Sinhala or Tamil.

Amarakeerthi himself noted this: Writing mainly in English, they could not really reach out. This explains, to a considerable degree, the cynicism with which we regard those self-styled leftists academics, who write one piece after another justifying the policies of this Government and any Government that has supported their fundamentally flawed views on majoritarian hegemonies and chauvinism. I call them flawed not because they dont merit scrutiny  no one can deny that a hegemony based on Sinhala Buddhism does exist in Sri Lanka  but because they dont go beyond lambasting it by trying to find out reasons for the hegemony and its wide appeal among the people of this country.

In Sri Lanka radicalism was, until the emergence of the New Left, limited to the saadukin pelena wun rhetoric of the Communists and Trotskyites, whose lasting achievements to the political sphere of this country cant be discounted

What happened after the bheeshanaya is interesting to reflect on. The Vijaya Kumaratunga Front (the United Socialist Alliance) collapsed almost immediately after the mans tragic murder at the hands of a New Left operative. The party that he and his wife had created congealed into an influential political movement, one that immediately forced the Old Left it had been associated with to be its vassal. Chandrika Kumaratunga, in what was seen as a landslide victory, swept into power promising change (based on the federalist-devolutionist discourse that the USA was premised on). Its a testament to her foresight, her vision, and her policies that not even two presidential terms by her then most serious contender from the SLFP, and a potential third (which didnt materialise), could erode her ideological sway. What we see today therefore is a return to that political discourse, though minus the Old Left, which has bifurcated between her (the Jayampathy Faction) and her erstwhile contender, Mahinda Rajapaksa (the Vasudeva Faction).



Where this has led us to, and what it means for the New Left, I will explore next week.
DAILY MAIL, 15th NOVEMBER, 2017

President Donald Trump told a fanciful little tale Tuesday about Air Force One being denied landing rights in the Philippines during a trip by his predecessor because bilateral relations were so bad. That didnt happen.



Before boarding the plane in Manila to come home, Trump bragged to the press that hes pushed relations with the Philippines to new heights.



And as you know, we were having a lot of problems with the Philippines, he said. The relationship with the past administration was horrible, to use a nice word. I would say horrible is putting it mildly. You know what happened. Many of you were there, and you never got to land. The plane came close but it didnt land.



That prompted a lot of head-scratching.

President Barack Obama last visited the Philippines in November 2015, arriving in Manila after an overnight flight from Turkey. There were no problems with landing the plane. `Obama used the visit to announce the United States was transferring two ships to the Philippine Navy.



Perhaps Trump was referring erroneously to Obamas aborted meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte? In September 2016, Obama abruptly canceled a meeting with the new Philippines leader in Laos after Duterte called him an obscene name. Duterte was warning Obama not to speak with him about the brutality of his crackdown on the illegal drug trade.
However, Wigneswaran was not in favour of breaking up of the main Tamil coalition

EPRLF was one of the original parties that had formed the TNA in 2001 at the instance of the LTTE

The differences between Sampanthan and Wigneswaran are not clear though they were in two factions in the TNA

Policy issues came to the fore later with EPRLF taking a relatively extreme line in order to attract the people

After a long-running wrangling between its main constituent party and the other relatively smaller parties, the main Tamil coalition - the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - seems to have finally split clearly. Suresh Premachandran, the leader of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), one of the constituent parties of the TNA announced on Sunday that his party along with the Tamil National Peoples Front (TNPF) would form a new political front in the north to contest the forthcoming elections under a new symbol.



The TNPF led by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam which was also a party associated with the TNA sometimes ago had broken away from the coalition earlier and both Premachandran and Ponnambalam teamed up with Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran two years ago to form the Tamil Peoples Council (TPC) which Wigneswaran describes as a Tamil National movement and not a political party.



Both factions of the TNA had held two separate meetings on Sunday in Jaffna and Vavuniya. A much publicized meeting of the TPC was held in Jaffna public library under the leadership of Wigneswaran, one of the co-leaders of the TPC where contrasting views were expressed on the current Constitutional reform process in general and the interim report of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly in particular apart from the plans for the forthcoming local government elections scheduled to be held in January next year.



The Central Committee of the Ilangai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the TNA, meanwhile met at the Vanni Inn Hotel in Vavuniya presided over by the party leader and Parliamentarian Mavai Senadhirajah with the participation of TNA leader R.Sampanthan. Interestingly, the same two issues - the Constitutional reforms and the forthcoming local government elections- were discussed for about eight hours, according to Tamil media.



At the TPC meeting held in Jaffna,Wigneswaran had taken a conciliatory stance towards the TNA/ITAK leadership while calling the Tamil leaders who were over 60 years to step aside and allow the younger generation to take up politics. He argued that the older leaders guide what he described as the great Tamil political machinery from behind the scene as the iconic Tamil Nadu leader Kamarajar did. Though leaders of most Tamil political parties are over 60 years, he seems to have addressed the TNA/ITAK leaders, considering the bickering between his faction and the Sampanthan faction of the TNA.



Explaining his TPCs performance during the past two years the former Supreme Court judge boasted that the TPC had changed the mindset of some political parties from, we will accept what we are given to we will demand what our people want.It was vividly clear he was referring to the TNA/ ITAK leaders as they had been accused by the hard liners in the north such as Premachandran and Ponnambalam that they were too lenient towards the government in presenting the demands of the Tamil people.



His wordings remind us of a corresponding statement made by TNA leader Sampanthan during a recent interaction with a selected group of journalists at the Opposition Leaders office in Colombo. Explaining the Constitutional reforms process Sampanthan said we will press for the fulfillment of the demands of our people, but we do not know whether we would be successful.

On the announcement by Premachandran and Ponnambalam after the ITAK Central Committee meeting, Sampanthan said that no such decision had been communicated either to the ITAK or to the TNA



However, Wigneswaran was not in favour of breaking up of the main Tamil coalition. He might have explained his organisations performance to say that the TNA leadership has reformed and there was no need for any constituent party to leave. Another co-leader of the TPC T. Wasantharajah also subscribed to this point. Tracing back the failures on the part of the Tamil leaders such as the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact of 1957 and the Dudley-Chelvanayakam Pact of 1965, he had argued that there may be weaknesses in leaders, but it didnt justify the historic blunder of discarding of the Tamils traditional political party (the ITAK) or the alliance it had formed (the TNA).

Premachandran and Ponnambalam were not convinced. They went ahead with their plan to sever ties with the TNA/ITAK which they announced during the meeting as well as after it speaking to the media. It had to be expected as the EPRLF leader had already stated a few weeks ago that his party would break away from the TNA. EPRLF was one of the original parties that had formed the TNA in 2001 at the instance of the LTTE.



Wigneswaran was not happy about the announcement by Premachandran and Ponnambalam. He told the media that it wouldnt be prudent on the part of any constituent party to leave the TNA. But after a discussion with them he too seems to have fallen in line or softened his stance towards them. He had later told the media that it was because of the TNA that had gone back against its own pledges to the people that a split had occurred in the party. Uthayan, the Jaffna-based news paper with a wide circulation in the north editorially criticized him for vacillating without taking a firm stance on the unity of the TNA.



The TNA has cautiously evaded the controversy. Responding to a question by the media on the announcement by Premachandran and Ponnambalam after the ITAK Central Committee meeting, Sampanthan said that no such decision had been communicated either to the ITAK or to the TNA. Earlier during the CC meeting also while explaining the current progress of the Constitutional reform process he had pressed for the unity among Tamils at a time which he described as crucial in the process of finding a lasting solution to the ethnic problem. At the same time the TNA/ITAK also seem to be not worried about the decision of the EPRLF as TNA spokesman M.A.Sumanthiran MP who is a close associate of Sampanthan had said that the forthcoming election would be a referendum that would decide whether TNA was correct in handling the Constitutional reforms issue.



The differences between Sampanthan and Wigneswaran are not clear though they were in two factions in the TNA. Contrary to the call by the latter for the Tamil leaders over 60 years to step aside on Sunday, he had rejected a suggestion by the dissidents of the TNA to find an alternative leadership for Tamils a few weeks ago. As if reciprocating to that goodwill gesture Sampanthan at the aforementioned media meet at the Opposition Leaders office said that Tamils would not find a Chief Minister of Wigneswarns calibre.

After the TPC meeting in Jaffna on Sunday Wigneswaran told media let the government give the Tamils what it wished, but the TNA leadership must tell the government that we wouldnt deviate from our basic policy. And Sampanthan says we will press for the fulfilment of the demands of our people, but we do not know whether we would be successful.



However, the differences between ITAK and the EPRLF are much deeper. They originated with the demand by the smaller parties in the TNA to register the alliance as separate political party with the Election Commission. The TNA which had agreed to the demand earlier had later started to drag its feet. Policy issues came to the fore later with EPRLF taking a relatively extreme line in order to attract the people. Wigneswaran who was embarrassed by the former regime by rejecting even his simple requests such as appointing a civilian governor and transferring a provincial chief secretary compelled him to team up with the more extreme group.



However, now the situation has come to a head and the EPRLF has left the coalition after about sixteen years. Yet, it is too early to decide whether the severance of links with the TNA by the EPRLF would affect electoral fortunes of the alliance, going by the performances of northern small parties at the past elections.
A body found Wednesday evening on private property on the West End in Billings has been identified as a man, according to the Billings Police Department.

No person of interest had been identified by early Thursday night, BPD Capt. Jeremy House said.

The man's death is being investigated by BPD detectives as a homicide.

Speaking shortly before 4 p.m., Yellowstone County Deputy Coroner Cliff Mahoney said he had just recovered the body and that an autopsy is scheduled to begin Friday.

Police began investigating Wednesday night after two people walking on a dirt trail near the canal west of Billings Collision Repair found a body covered with debris and possibly a blanket near an abandoned transient camp, House said.

A Thursday press release, written by BPD Lt. Neil Lawrence, states that the body was found at around 5:06 p.m. and lists the general area as South 32nd Street West and Gabel Road.

The body was initially reported to be headless and wrapped in carpet. House said Wednesday night he had not gotten close enough to the body to confirm that information. The body did appear to be partially covered in debris, including leaves and what might have been a blanket, House said.

Details about the body's condition upon discovery might not be released until after an autopsy and investigation have concluded, House said Wednesday night.

On Thursday House declined to comment on the condition of the body. Detectives were expected to finish processing the scene Thursday night, House said.
Wyoming has made $60 million from oil and gas lease sales on state lands this year, exceeding a revenue goal by 500 percent, according to the Office of State Lands and Investments.

The most recent sale, a one-week online bidding war that closed in early November, drew 80 bidders and netted nearly $17 million.

Land parcels covering about 95,000 acres across 16 of the states 23 counties were nominated for the lease sale by interested parties in the oil and gas industry.

The majority of the money from this years sales, some $53 million, goes to K-12 education. Day-to-day funding for Wyomings public schools is facing a $430 million deficit over the next two years, thanks to a multi-year downturn in the states key revenue drivers: oil, gas and coal.

We hope these results are an indication that the oil and gas industry in Wyoming is stabilizing, said Bridget Hill, state lands and investments director in a statement Wednesday.

Online lease sales have increased participation according to both state and federal land managers in Wyoming and driven up the price per acre in some areas.

The Bureau of Land Management, which oversees 17.5 million acres of federal land in Wyoming largely used for recreation, ranching and industry development, has also had a good year for lease sales.

Its February auction brought in $129 million for leases in the High Plains District, which includes the Powder River Basin. About half of that federal revenue goes to the state.
The North Dakota Attorney Generals office has launched an investigation of a local stem cell clinic.

The state Consumer Protection Division initiated a formal investigation of West 2 North Medical Solutions after receiving consumer complaints, a move clinic leadership characterized as unfounded and unfair.

West 2 North has been offering stem cell injections at its Bismarck-based clinic for about a week and a half. Parrell Grossman of the Consumer Protection Division said his office is reserving any judgment until the conclusion of the investigation but encourages anyone considering the treatment to consult a physician first.

While we await the results of our final investigation, we are initially very alarmed about the information we have learned to date, Grossman said.

The investigation was started as a result of six consumer calls and two consumer complaints fielded by the attorney generals office, as well as calls received by the North Dakota Board of Medicine, North Dakota State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the North Dakota Board of Nursing, Grossman said. The clinics owners say they were initially contacted by Consumer Protection Division before seeing a single patient.

Its early in our investigation, Grossman reiterated.

There are concerns over alleged misrepresentations and questions over whether all available information is being given to potential patients. Grossman said his office doesn't want to discourage patients from seeking medical treatments but does want to ensure people are properly informed.

For example, Grossman said his office has received reports that one of the people involved, Dean Jones, is representing himself as a doctor. Jones is a chiropractor but is not licensed to practice chiropractic work in the state.

There are two nurse practitioners, who are licensed in the state, involved in the clinic.

Jones studied to be a chiropractor in California and said he got into stem cell treatment as a way to help people in a manner that allows chiropractors, physical therapists and medical doctors to work together in one setting.

Multidisciplinary practices are the future of medicine. Bismarck must not have a lot of clinics that do that," said Jones, who has has stem cell regeneration clinics in three states, including California, Colorado and North Dakota.

Grossman said hes also received reports that, during seminars about the treatments given in Bismarck and Minot, attendees were told the treatment could help with any ailment, that the injections work better than surgery and would never hurt someone.

These are claims that should be determined by medical experts, according to Grossman, who said the treatment does not appear to be one of the stem cell treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and this was not fully disclosed by presenters at the seminars. The clinic has advertised the seminars in the Tribune.

Jones denies the disclosure allegations and said he makes no actual medical claims during his presentation. Though he says he does feel comfortable sharing the positive results he has seen in patients at his other clinics and from clinical trials.

Jones said there is a lack of information because no other clinics are offering this type of service in the area and the seminars are held for those who want to learn about regenerative medicine.

The clinic does have literature from the Stem Cell Institute of America, based in Canton, Ga., said Grossman, adding it contains some telling disclosures" that have raised concerns. For example, the end user is responsible for determining the appropriate application and usage of the injections and there is no claim the treatment is a cure for any condition, disease or injury.

One complaint the Consumer Protection Division received was from a woman on behalf of her 90-year-old father, whom she described as not having the capacity to make such decisions. She says her father was charged around $6,000 for the injection, which isn't covered by insurance, though Grossman said the clinic did tell its office it could potentially issue a refund.

A phone complaint received by the Consumer Protection Division described a high-pressure sales situation, with multiple calls to a home to get residents to attend the seminar.

At the seminar, consumers are told the cost for the procedure would be from $4,000 to $6,000. But one woman said, when she arrived at the clinic, she was then told it would be $10,000 for her back treatment. When she started to walk out, the price was dropped to $8,000, which she paid despite her concerns.

During her treatment, the woman also said she was given an X-ray, which was then reviewed and commented on by non-medical personnel, an action Grossmans office indicated is inappropriate. The clinic then attempted to sell her a special chair and back brace.

Jones said, in his presentations, two price points are given and the woman must have missed the information about the higher price for back and spinal treatments. He said the clinic has not been contacted by any of the consumers with complaints and most of the feedback and results he has heard from clinic staff have been positive so far.

Grossman said his office has concerns over the vulnerability of consumers and the fact that they're agreeing so quickly to the treatments, often sitting in the seminar Thursday and receiving treatment the following Monday.

"Often times when someone is experiencing pain and nothing is helping, they go looking for other solutions," he said.

According to the FDA, there are a limited number of stem cell therapies approved by the agency, including ones involving bone marrow, for bone marrow transplants in cancer care, and cord blood for specific blood-related disorders. There are no approved stem cell treatments for other diseases.

Grossman said stem cell treatments appear to be a "burgeoning area" that his counterparts in attorneys general offices across the country are "just starting to explore."

But Jones said he is passionate about this field and providing an option to people in Bismarck that didnt previously exist.

Its disappointing to know I have to go through this just to want to help people, he said.
For as long as I can remember, party hunting has never been legal in North g Dakota. Which means each individual hunter must take only his or her own daily limit, or fill his or her own deer tag.

The same concept also applies to fishing. There is no legal distinction between shooting someone elses deer, and catching an extra fish to help your buddy fill out. Once a hunter or angler has reached the limit, he or she cannot legally shoot or catch anything that helps a partner reach a daily limit.

This issue, particularly as it relates to deer, generates periodic interest, but the state Legislature has voted down every recent opportunity to allow party hunting.

At advisory board meetings and other public forums, North Dakota Game and Fish officials are routinely asked why North Dakota doesnt allow party hunting.

In states, such as North Dakota, where a limited and specific number of deer licenses are issued by unit, party hunting could, in the long run, reduce a persons chances for obtaining high-demand licenses, such as for whitetail and mule deer bucks.

Under one scenario party hunting could lead to a higher hunter success rate, which might influence Game and Fish to reduce the overall number of licenses, especially buck licenses, to counter that increased hunter success. This would mean fewer hunters would get buck licenses.

Under another scenario, if party hunting were allowed, then a person could find, say, three other people who are not that interested in buck hunting (the spouse, kids, neighbors), but would go along anyway. Then the one real deer hunter could legally shoot four bucks. The result could be that three serious and dedicated hunters would go without a buck license that year.

Either scenario would eventually increase the level of dissatisfaction over license availability, which is already a common concern among hunters.

Lets not forget that not everyone party hunts. While the rule may be difficult to enforce, most people are honest and stay within the law. Plus, many hunters understand that group limits associated with party hunting are counterproductive to keeping young hunters interested.

One of the worst possible feelings for a young hunter would be having to put his or her tag on a deer someone else shot. The party philosophy, whether its deer, birds or fish and whether its legal or not, reduces opportunity for beginning hunters or anglers because they are usually not the most skilled.

Instead, the group should make it a priority to give young hunters and anglers as many chances as possible, and if they dont get a limit ... then they dont get a limit.

North Dakota isnt alone in its approach to party hunting. Some nearby states have limitations on party hunting and fishing, and federal regulations prevent any state from allowing party hunting for migratory birds.

Hunters who have filled out in North Dakota can continue beating the brush to help scare up deer or pheasants, so the day doesnt have to end when youve filled your tag or limit.
One of two planned redevelopment projects in the 200 block of West Water Street hit a snag this week when the Charlottesville Planning Commission unanimously agreed not to recommend a special-use permit for an eight-story building that largely would be filled by luxury apartments.

With the redevelopment of the Main Street Arena currently in review by city planning officials, the new owner of the property that used to house the Clock Shop of Virginia is concurrently working on his own redevelopment project near the arena.

The citys Board of Architectural Review already has approved a demolition permit for the one-story structure at 201 W. Water St. following a $450,000 purchase of the property last year. Developer Hunter Craig has ties to Black Bear Properties LLC, which now owns the site.

Project architect Jim Griggs design for the site features seven luxury apartments on all but one of the eight floors and a small commercial office space on the second floor. The developer is seeking a special-use permit to build an additional two floors over the 70-foot building height thats allowed by right.

At a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the City Council on Tuesday, several commissioners told Grigg they were not willing to provide a special-use permit for the project because it didnt appear to be a true mixed-use development, and because of its lack of street-level retail or office activity in the mixed-use zoning district downtown.

I have a similar concern expressed by Commissioner [Corey] Clayborne. There really is no specific percentage required for mixed-use? That seems very strange, said Councilor Kathy Galvin.

Replying to Galvin, Commissioner Genevieve Keller said it is an issue that has been encountered before. Thats something weve been struggling with, Keller said. And you can flip it the same way for a mixed-use development with just one residential unit.

The commissioners also brought up concerns about the plan for garage access fronting Second Street Southwest, saying that it could be an impediment to pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic near the Downtown Mall crossover down the block. The developer is not required to provide parking spaces in this case, but Grigg said they intend to provide it for the buildings residents.

***

A public hearing for the special-use permit application was delayed last month after protesters shut down a Planning Commission meeting after an arrest warrant was issued for DeAndre Harris, a 20-year-old from Suffolk who was badly beaten during the Unite the Right rally Aug. 12. Harris was charged with felony unlawful wounding after a man associated with the neo-Confederate League of the South made a complaint alleging Harris attacked him immediately before Harris was assaulted.

Though Harris was a primary subject of the protest last month, activist group Solidarity Charlottesville issued a statement that included criticism of the project at 201 W. Water St.

This is one egregious example of how white supremacy manifests itself in this city, said the statement, which also claimed that affordable housing for extremely low-income households in the city is disappearing. It is unthinkable that the City Council would entertain these greedy developers while ignoring the needs of our most marginalized community members.

No one spoke out against the project during Tuesdays public hearing on the special-use permit application.

After the hearing, commission Chairwoman Lisa Green and Keller questioned whether a special-use permit should be awarded for a project that wont help meet the demand for affordable housing.

I cant imagine  in the time we are in with the numerous meetings weve had relating to the affordable housing crisis  entertaining $7 million condos on one of our most vibrant streets with no [economic] activity on the street,  Green said.

Often, when were giving special-use permits, theres some affordable housing contribution, Keller said. Not that I want to discount the value of economic development and tax revenues generated, but thats not really our purview. Our purview is land-use. 

Keller added: I think something can be built there, but maybe not in this configuration with the parking on the ground  thats really the deal breaker for me.

Commissioner John Santoski agreed that the plan for the garage is not ideal, but disagreed with the suggestion that the commission should be making decisions based on the wealth of potential clients or residents.

I have trouble supporting it because of what happens on that first floor  not because its a multimillion-dollar apartment building, he said. If I thought that the mixed-use would happen on the first floor, I probably wouldnt have much problem with it.

***

The Clock Tower development project at 201 W. Water St. is not the only downtown project to hit a roadblock recently.

Last month, representatives for developer Keith Woodard announced construction of the West2nd development, a proposed mixed-use tower at the original site of the City Market on Water Street, has been delayed due to financial constraints.

With plans to add more residential condominiums, the developer is seeking a special-use permit to increase residential density at the site. The Board of Architectural Review will consider the permit application at its meeting Nov. 21.

The BAR also is scheduled to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Main Street Arena. According to city planner Brian Haluska, developers for that project submitted preliminary site plans last month.

The architectural review board is responsible for reviewing proposed developments in architectural control districts, such as the downtown area.

The redevelopment project will replace the ice rink arena, the Ante Room venue and the Escafe restaurant with the Charlottesville Technology Center, a mixed-use retail and office space oriented for technology companies and startup businesses.

Last month, representatives for the developer, investment fund manager Jaffray Woodriff, announced that the management company for the project also had acquired 218-220 W. Main St.

Haluska said that property, which currently houses Carytown Tobacco and the Cville Escape Room, is part of the redevelopment project, but will not be demolished.

Construction of the Charlottesville Technology Center and West2nd is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
The secret to getting a career at NASA, according to retired mathematician, data analyst and aeronautical engineer Christine Darden, is to follow her secret P^4 formula.

The ability to perceive, to plan, to prepare and to persist, Darden said in a talk at Piedmont Virginia Community College on Wednesday, is what took her from high school geometry class in a segregated high school to one of the celebrated human computers and engineers featured in the 2016 book Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race, which was made into a movie the same year.

Darden joined NASA in 1967 as a data analyst at Langley Research Center in Hampton, about a decade after Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.

To even get that far, she said, she studied math in her free time in college, even once taking two classes in the same one-hour block. A research position at Virginia State University enabled her to earn a masters and get the credentials for a human computing position at Langley.

Still, though, most of the women who were human computers at NASA were stuck: they frequently got passed over for promotions or were fired, while men with comparable experience got to write research papers, head projects and climb the career ladder. For the women, getting promoted took grit and daring.

I said, Id like to know why men and women coming in with the same backgrounds are assigned to such different jobs? Darden recalled asking her supervisor. He said, Well, no ones ever asked that question before. I said, Im asking it now.

That conversation landed her a promotion that put her on a team working to reduce the amount of sonic boom created by supersonic flight. Darden created designs, tested models in wind tunnels and eventually organized successful tests of modified Air Force jets over the Mojave Desert.

I was not in the room that day, but a friend of mine called me and you could hear cheering, like in the movie when John Glenn called back from the moon, she said of a test flight. This was a successful flight.

About two decades of work paid off, she said, because NASA just received funding to build and test a low-boom supersonic plane, which was designed under Dardens leadership in 2002.

Darden also served as technical consultant on a number of government and private projects, and wrote more than 50 publications on high lift wing design in supersonic flow, flap design, sonic boom prediction and sonic boom minimization.

Her success led to her becoming the first African-American woman at Langley to be promoted into the Senior Executive Service, the top rank in the federal civil service.

People always ask me about mentors, she told the dozens of PVCC students gathered for Wednesdays talk. But youve got supervisors or teachers right here, and every time they talk to you, theyre giving you advice. Theyre mentoring you whether you know it or not.

She wouldnt classify her biggest challenge as being a woman or being black in a segregated, male-dominated environment, but rather said that she was just bound and determined to catch up in math.

The main time she thought about quitting, she said, was after the birth of her last child. Her mother encouraged her to go back to work for NASA, saying it was too good of a job to give up.

Students today should research their dream job, she said, then draw up a plan and make it happen. Sometimes, for students facing additional barriers, reaching career goals takes some additional daring and ingenuity.

Do your homework, she said. If youre applying for a job, learn about the company and find out about it. Thats what all of those women [in Hidden Figures] did  they did their homework, and they did their work well.

The event was part of PVCCs One Book Program, a college-wide project to encourage students, faculty and staff to read a common book and participate in discussions and programs throughout the academic year.
Two men arrested Thursday by the West Dakota SWAT team in Bismarck now face their respective charges.

Hugo Alfonso Mendoza, 31, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., landed felony counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Israel Farias Segura, 31, was arrested on a federal warrant for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and money laundering conspiracy.

His charges are related to a meth ring that allegedly operated in California, Minnesota, North Dakota and elsewhere since 2015.

Segura is held at the Burleigh-Morton County Detention Center for U.S. Marshals.

He also faces drug charges in Cass County from earlier this year.

Mendoza and Segura were arrested after Bismarck Police executed a search warrant Thursday evening at a residence on the 2700 block of Boundary Road.

Court documents say officers found drug paraphernalia, an assault rifle, ammunition, 2 grams of cocaine and 1 gram of meth.

Segura reportedly refused orders to come out until he was arrested four hours later. Officers were unsure if he had a weapon at the time, according to Bismarck Police Sgt. Mark Gaddis.
Three Affiliated Tribes community members will hold a candlelight vigil tonight in support of a woman missing for three weeks.

People will gather from 5 to 7 p.m. at the north parking lot of the MHA & TERO Energy Complex near the Four Bears Casino at New Town.

Lone Bear was last seen the evening of Oct. 24 leaving Sportsman's Bar in New Town. She was wearing a white camouflage jacket with black sleeve stripes and light blue jeans.

She was also driving a teal 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with an extended cab and silver toolbox with North Dakota license plate 839 BRC.

Law enforcement and volunteer searchers have combed the Fort Berthold Reservation, now taking to Lake Sakakawea with help from sheriff's departments of Mercer and Williams counties.

The Mercer County Sheriff's Department is aiding search efforts with its air boat.

Other resources have included K-9s, Civil Air Patrol, a scuba team, drones and searchers on foot.

Agencies involved in various parts of the search have included surrounding sheriffs' departments, Three Affiliated Tribes Police, North Dakota Highway Patrol and fire departments from Belcourt, Beulah and New Town. The FBI has assisted with some interviews.

Lone Bear, 32, is Native American, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, has brown hair, brown eyes, several tattoos and pierced ears.

Anyone with information related to her disappearance may call 701-627-3617 or 701-627-6141.
Oil companies flared 17 percent of natural gas produced in September, exceeding the states flaring targets for the first time since they were adopted three years ago.

Director of Mineral Resources Lynn Helms said the flaring of 323 million cubic feet per day was caused by unanticipated maintenance problems with pipelines, natural gas processing plants and compressor stations.

Under guidelines adopted by the North Dakota Industrial Commission, oil companies are supposed to capture 85 percent of natural gas or limit flaring to no more than 15 percent.

Flaring increased from 14 percent in August to 17 percent in September, an increase of 54 million cubic feet per day.

Helms said the vast majority of the increased flaring was caused by unforeseeable circumstances and likely wont lead to regulators requiring companies to restrict oil and natural gas production.

Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, said he does not expect the higher-than-average flaring to continue into October and November.

However, additional natural gas processing plants and other infrastructure will be needed to stay on track with the states gas capture goals, which will increase to 88 percent on Nov. 1, 2018, Helms said.

Were rapidly approaching the capacity for what we have out there for infrastructure," he said.

North Dakota oil production increased 1.6 percent in September to an average of 1.1 million barrels per day, according to preliminary figures.

Its the first time the states production has exceeded 1.1 million barrels per day since March 2016, Helms said.

Its very encouraging, he said.

Natural gas production saw a slight decrease of less than half a percent to an average of 1.9 billion cubic feet per day. Its the first time in three years that North Dakota gas production has decreased while oil production increased.

Helms attributes that shift to a greater number of wells being developed outside of the core Bakken area, where wells tend to produce more natural gas.

The number of wells that have been drilled but are waiting on hydraulic fracturing crews was 853 at the end of September, a decrease of 10. The number of inactive wells decreased by 54 to 1,444 in September.

North Dakota had 14,190 producing oil and gas wells in September, a new all-time high. The state had 55 drilling rigs operating in the state on Wednesday, a level that has held steady over the past few months.

Seventy-six percent of oil was transported by pipeline in September, while 11 percent was transported by rail, Kringstad said.
AMHERST, S.D. (AP)  TransCanada Corp. says its Keystone pipeline has leaked an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota.

The company said that crews shut down the pipeline Thursday morning after a drop in pressure was detected resulting from an oil leak that's under investigation.

The section of pipe near the Ludden pump station in Marshall County, South Dakota, has been isolated and the company says emergency response procedures were activated.

Brian Walsh, an environmental scientist manager at the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, says officials don't believe the leak has affected any surface water bodies or threatened any drinking water systems.

TransCanada says it expects the pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to Cushing, Oklahoma, and to Wood River/Patoka, Illinois, to stay shut down as the company responds to the leak.

"Just days before the Nebraska Public Service Commissions decides on whether to approve Keystone XL we get a painful reminder of why no one wants a pipeline over their water supply," said Greenpeace campaigner Mike Hudema.

Opponents of Keystone XL say the pipeline would pass through the Sandhills, an ecologically fragile region of grass-covered sand dunes, and would cross the land of farmers and ranchers who don't want it.

The Sierra Club also was quick to condemn the spill, urging the commission not to vote for the project.

"We've always said it's not a question of whether a pipeline will spill, but when, and today TransCanada is making our case for us," said campaign director Kelly Martin.

The pipeline would transport oil from Alberta through Montana and South Dakota to Nebraska, where it would connect with existing pipelines that feed Texas Gulf Coast refineries.

CNN reported that Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the state's Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said this is the largest Keystone oil spill to date in South Dakota.

In April 2016, there was a 400-barrel release  or 16,800 gallons  with the majority of the oil cleanup completed in two months, Walsh said.
Mumbai: Its been a case of will he, wont he for a long time now. In fact, even when Salman was aggressively promoting his film Tubelight, he was repeatedly asked if brother Arbaaz Khan will take on the mantle of directing Dabangg 3. According to several reports, buzz was that the Khan brothers approached a couple of directors for the Dabangg franchise.

Now, we have an official confirmation from Arbaaz on the directorial responsibilities for the flick. Arbaaz says, Prabhudeva is directing Dabangg 3. We did meet last week, but all three of us (Khan brothers) are busy with our own careers. Salman is shooting for Race 3 and will have two films around the same time. We are likely to start shooting in April 2018, and need some time to work on the script as well as the pre-production of the project.

The actor also adds that there is a lot of planning and discussion going on at the moment. While Dabangg was directed by Abhinav Kashyap and produced by Arbaaz, he also became a director with the sequel Dabangg 2. But Arbaaz maintains that he is more than happy to suggest ideas. He explains, We are still ideating. Just because I am the producer of the film, it doesnt mean that I wont creatively contribute to the venture. Prabhudeva and I are on the same page. He is someone who is open to suggestions.

While Arbaaz was promoting Tera Intezaar with Sunny Leone, he went on record to say that he may cast Sunny in the film. However, now, he says, It will be great to have her, but nothing is decided as yet, says Arbaaz. Meanwhile, Sonakshi Sinha has been confirmed as one of the actresses of the film.
Iulia, who returned with another work visa to India, will just have to be content looking for work for now, since Salman Khan has gotten busy with the shooting of Race 3. And these days, the actor also spends the remainder of his time with the post production of Yash Raj Films Tiger Zinda Hai, which releases next month.

Despite being back, Iulia finds herself not with Salman. A source informs, Iulia is here on a work visa. She is now collaborating with several music directors. Salman is also busy with Race 3, Tiger Zinda Hai and on the weekends, he has resumed his anchoring duties on Bigg Boss. The two can meet when Salman is heading for Bigg Boss, because then he stays back at his Panvel farmhouse. Otherwise, Salmans family is always around to take care of Iulia and be with her.
Kota (Rajasthan)/Lucknow: The controversy over Bollywood film Padmavati took an ugly turn on Thursday with a senior functionary of the protesting Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatening actor Deepika Padukone with physical harm if she incited public sentiments.

Referring to the nose chopping of Surpanakha in the epic Ramayana, Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana said that while Kshatriyas respected women, if the film was not banned and Ms Padukone does not stop inciting sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.

Rajputs would not lag behind in pursuing the way Lakshmana acted in the Ramayana, he said hinting at the Surpanakha episode. In the light of this threat, the Mumbai police on Thursday beefed up the security of Ms Padukone.

The Karni Sena activist said that when a movie like Baahubali can earn crores showing the valour of kshatriyas, then why people want to cash-in on films presenting wrong facts.

Meanwhile, in Lucknow, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the chief convener of the Rajput Karni Sena, has said that films like Padmavati were a form of cultural terrorism and has demanded a ban on its release.

In an exclusive interview to this newspaper here on Thursday, Mr Kalvi said that it had become a fashion to demean women and history through such films.

We will not allow these cultural goondas to have their way, he said. Mr Kalvi alleged that Padmavati had been funded by Dawood in Dubai and said that this explains why and how the major portions of the film were shot during the period when the country was facing the impact of demonetisation.

When asked if there is still any room for an understanding on the issue, Mr Kalvi said, The time for negotiations is over. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a habitual offender when it comes to misrepresenting facts. He did it in Bajirao Mastani also. He did not speak to even a single member of the royal family in Rajasthan when he started the film. I am the 37th descendent of Rani Padmini. Do I not have the right to defend the honour of my ancestors? he asked.

Ajmer Dargah opposes film

Ajmer Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Thursday joined the chorus of voices against upcoming film Padmavati and urged PM Narendra Modi to ban the film, saying it hurt religious sentiments.

Comparing the films director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with controversial writers Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen and Tareq Fatah, the spiritual leader said Muslims should oppose the film.
Most women who experience a miscarriage want to know if they can prevent another miscarriage and may ask their health care providers how long they should wait before trying to conceive again. (Photo: Pexels)

One miscarriage doesnt necessarily increase the risk of another, and counseling women to delay conception after a pregnancy loss may not be warranted, a recent study suggests.

Researchers in US found that women participating in a larger long-term study who conceived within three months of a pregnancy loss had the lowest likelihood of another miscarriage compared to women who waited 6 to 18 months.

We observed that the advice doctors give to women about when to start trying to get pregnant after experiencing a miscarriage varies significantly, senior study author Digna Velez Edwards told Reuters Health in an email.

Using the Right from the Start prospective pregnancy cohort we wanted to further examine this and see if the time between pregnancies (interpregnancy interval) after a miscarriage influenced a womans chance of having a miscarriage in her next pregnancy, said Velez Edwards, a researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

About 17% of clinically recognized pregnancies end in loss, the study team writes online November 3 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Most women who experience a miscarriage want to know if they can prevent another miscarriage and may ask their health care providers how long they should wait before trying to conceive again.

The Right from the Start study included almost 6,000 women in North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas who were pregnant or planning a pregnancy between 2000 and 2012.

Participants filled out health interviews when they entered the study and again at the end of their first trimester. All the women underwent ultrasounds to confirm their pregnancies.

A total of 514 women said miscarriage was the outcome of their most recent pregnancy before entering the study. Of those women, about 16% had a subsequent miscarriage.

When the study team compared interpregnancy intervals, they found that women with intervals of less than three months had about a 7% risk of repeat miscarriage, compared with a 22% risk for women who waited 6 to 18 months weeks after the miscarriage to get pregnant again.

Neither race, nor the number of children a woman already had, made a difference in these results.

Limitations of the study include its size, and the fact that researchers could not assess whether the higher chances of successful pregnancy after a shorter interval might be explained by factors other than the length of the interval, such as the womens overall high reproductive fitness.

Although our study demonstrated that getting pregnant within three months of a previous miscarriage was associated with the lowest risk of a subsequent miscarriage, when to start trying is specific to each woman and depends on when she is ready to start trying again, Velez Edwards said.

The World Health Organization currently recommends waiting at least 6 months before attempting another pregnancy, the study team notes. That advice is based on a single study, Velez Edwards said, and the new results are consistent with more recent studies supporting shorter intervals.

Women who are emotionally and physically ready to try to get pregnant after a miscarriage may not have to delay getting pregnant to reduce the risk of miscarriage, said Velez Edwards.

If (women) want to try to get pregnant, theres no need to wait unless they personally want to, said Dr. Thomas Price, an infertility specialist with Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina, who wasnt involved in the study.

Price noted that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists puts out bulletins with recommendations. If you read the ACOG recommendation in their bulletins, they do not recommend any wait time after a miscarriage, he said.
Fired abruptly and inexplicably at a city council meeting last month, Rolla's former chief of police has now been given rationale for his termination. Meanwhile, his interim successor has quit after serving for nine days.

The turmoil and loss of personnel has left the Rolla Police stressed, according to Rolla City Councilor Pat Hemmy, who chairs the police committee for the city of about 1,300 in far northern North Dakota.

Rolla Mayor Scott Mitchell said the department has three remaining officers, including temporary Chief Nathan Gustafson, temporary Sgt. Cory Poitra, a newly hired patrolman and a part-time employee.

In a 4-1 vote at an Oct. 18 meeting, the city council dismissed Joe Boehm as chief of police with little rationale beyond "we need to go in a different direction, Mitchell said. Boehm is at least one of five heads of police departments from communities in North Dakota this year who have resigned or been fired from their posts amid tumultuous circumstances.

Following the Oct. 18 meeting, a Nov. 6 letter sent to Boehm from Rolla City Attorney Michelle Gibbens said 47 incidents and concerns in the police chief's file contributed to his termination, including uncompleted paperwork, personal use of police vehicles and unapproved police purchases.

Officially, he was fired for misconduct, inefficiency and other just cause.

Boehm, who has moved on to be the chief deputy at the Rolette County Sheriff's Office, said the 47 issues Gibbens cited don't match with what he knew to be in his personnel file  namely, Mitchell's letter of reprimand for allowing a police car to participate in a wedding procession and his yearly reviews.

My position is initially, one month ago, there were no specific charges or supporting documentation or justification for removal. Then 30 days later, almost to the day, they come up with 47 charges. That dont seem right to me," said Hemmy, who had cast the lone dissenting vote against Boehms firing and had suggested a performance improvement plan or probation, instead.

Boehm, who had been Rolla's police chief since March 2015, alleges he was fired because he announced his intention to investigate Rolla Police Sgt. Chris Wrights $800 overage on a police cell phone.

The mayor and Chris have had close connections for many years, so it doesnt take a rocket scientist to put two and two together, he said.

Mitchell said thats not accurate.

I dont think thats true at all because the city council brought up that phone bill, and there was no discussion, no questions. Everyone on the council knew what had happened and approved payment without discussion, so that was done before he was asked to resign, the mayor said.

Wright, who was with Rolla Police for three years, resigned effective Nov. 2 after nine days as acting chief, citing a change of scheduling in his oilfield job.
Bidding opened on The Raj Pink at 9.9 million Swiss francs ($10.02 million) and climbed to 14 million Swiss francs before stalling. (Photo: Representational Image/ Pixabay)

Geneva: The Raj Pink, the largest known diamond graded fancy intense pink for its rare color, was among several major jewels stranded on the auction block on Wednesday at Sothebys sale in Geneva.

The cushion-shaped stone, weighing 37.30 carats and mounted on a ring, was billed as the star lot at Sothebys semi-annual jewelry sale in the Swiss city. The pre-sale estimate for the diamond, found in South Africa in 2015, was $20 million to $30 million.

Bidding opened on The Raj Pink at 9.9 million Swiss francs ($10.02 million) and climbed to 14 million Swiss francs before stalling.

It was not sold, David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sothebys international jewellery division who conducted the auction, told the crowded sale room.

Other major lots were left on the block, failing to meet the secret reserve price set by their sellers.

They included a blue diamond ring by Moussaieff, where the last bid was 12.4 million Swiss francs, and a pair of yellow diamonds that formerly belonged to the German princely family of Von Donnersmarck, which reached 7.8 million Swiss francs but failed to find a new owner.

Only 303 of the 349 lots found new owners, according to Sothebys figures. In all, the sale netted 77.9 million francs.

A Harry Winston light pink diamond ring, described as an absolutely sensationally beautiful stone by Bennett, brought the strongest price of the night.

It sold for 12.6 million Swiss francs to a telephone bidder who purchased it from a European noble family which owned it since the piece was made by the New York jeweler around 1970, Sothebys said.

Pieces must be exceptional to sell today at the same level as two years ago, Eric Valdieu, a Geneva-based jewelery dealer formerly of Christies, told Reuters after the auction.

The Raj Pink was not an easy stone to sell, he said, adding: It was a modern, recent stone and not a 10 out of 10 in terms of its color and form. It had no history, Valdieu said.

Another prominent dealer told Reuters: Its a big disappointment. The timing was not good.

Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77Diamonds.com, Europes largest online diamond jeweler, said in a statement: Im worried for the top end of the diamond market.

At rival Christies on Tuesday night, an emerald and diamond necklace set with the largest flawless white diamond ever to come to auction sold for a world record 33.5 million Swiss francs ($34 million), the star lot at its Geneva sale.
Earlier this month, Ivanka Trumps speech on womens empowerment in Japan wasnt such a hit as the auditorium was mostly empty. Public interest in the First Daughter and her views appeared dismal. The Daily Mail ran a story with images of Ivanka talking to many empty rows.

But here in Hyderabad, the situation is going to be very different when Ivanka lands in the city for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Businessmen from all over India are doing everything in their power to secure an invite, be seen and get a selfie with her!

Why are we this keen to attend events like this? Apart from being the daughter of the President of the United States of America, Ivanka also looks like a supermodel. Naturally, who doesnt want to be seen in powerful and beautiful company?

Anu Acharya, CEO, Mapmygenome

Anu Acharya, CEO of Mapmygenome, has been invited to be a speaker on the panel discussion on From the lab to the market: Connecting science to the Entrepreneurship World. When asked her reasons for wanting to meet Ivanka, she says, GES is not just about Ivanka, but I would love to meet her as a fellow entrepreneur and daughter of the US President. She adds, This brings together entrepreneurs from 170 countries. Healthcare and women are focus areas for me, so this makes it very relevant for Mapmygenome.

Mahima Datla, MD, Biological E

Mahima Datla, MD of Biological E, is another entrepreneur who has been invited by NITI Aayog. When asked why the Ivanka factor is such a huge attraction in India, she says, This is the best opportunity one is going to get to showcase India to her and to encourage stronger India-US ties.

Yet another businessman who doesnt want to be named says he, too, is going for the event.But this has nothing to do with talking business. Ivanka has the glam factor, she is like a movie star that everyone wants to be seen with. More than business, peoples main agenda is to somehow befriend her, he says.

Kiran Raju, President, Entrepreneurs Organisation

Kiran Raju, President of the Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO), is attending the GES as he thinks its a great platform for business minds to connect. But he agreed that you cant ignore the Ivanka factor. Someone called me and asked if there is anyway I can help their child meet Ivanka and get a picture with her, reveals Kiran.

He also adds that many adults, too, were trying hard to get themselves invited to the summit as its the coolest event to be seen at this winter.

Deepti Reddy

Meanwhile, Deepti Reddy, director, Avasa Hotels says, This years theme is Women first, Prosperity for all, and it will focus on supporting women entrepreneurs. Being one myself, I thought it would be inspiring to attend.
In May 22: 60 kg of Kerala ganja seized at Waikkal while being transported to Jaffna from Negombo.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is hitting the headlines in Sri Lanka quite often for the wrong reason-- ganja smuggling.

Even as the excise officials in Kerala maintain that no mass ganja cultivation is taking place in any part of the state these days, a series of seizures of 'Kerala ganja' has been reported in Sri Lanka over the last few years. In the last couple of months alone, the Sri Lankan police and navy reportedly seized over 300 kilogram of ganja, labelled as Kerala ganja, from various parts of that country.

Meanwhile, excise commissioner Rishi Raj Singh told DC that the chances of 'Kerala ganja' being seized in Sri Lanka were very remote as no mass ganja cultivation was taking place in any part of the state these days, even in Idukki. "Odisha, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh are the major places of mass ganja cultivation these days and mostly Naxals or ex-Naxals are involved in it. From there, it is being smuggled to Kerala through Tamil Nadu," he said.

Ganja from Kerala, especially Idukki, was in much demand in the international market. Hence, the chances of faking ganja from other parts of the country as Kerala ganja could not be ruled out, he added.

Customs sources said that the chances of smuggling through the western coast were very remote now, especially owing to the thick population. Hence, smuggling activities to Colombo might be taking place from the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu.
Padmavati, the period drama, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has been facing protests from various groups for allegedly tampering with historical facts. (Photo: File)

Kota: A member of the Rajput Karni Sena on Thursday approved the Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi's remark on actress Deepika Padukone for allegedly portraying a demeaning image of Rajputi women in the film 'Padmavati'

He said, if need be, action will be taken against the actress.

Rajput Karni Sena is fighting to protect the image of women being portrayed in the films. We never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha for violating the rules and culture of India," a member of the Sena, Mahipal Singh Makrana said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Sena chief said that they would gather in lakhs and call for a nation-wide shutdown on December 1.

"Our ancestors wrote history with blood, hence, we will not let anyone blacken it," the Sena chief added.

Meanwhile, Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha members protested against the film in Jaipur and filed signatures with blood to be sent to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi also warned of dire consequences if the release of 'Padmavati' was not stalled.

The period drama, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has been facing protests from various groups for allegedly tampering with historical facts.

The Karni Sena had earlier demolished the sets of the movie in Jaipur and also thrashed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

They have amped up the act by staging protests in various parts of the country, covering Bangalore in the South as well.

The protests have turned even more violent, as acts of vandalism in Rajasthan's Kota were reported on Tuesday.
Belagavi: Having reduced AIADMK leader, V Sasikala to an ordinary prisoner by scrapping all the additional facilities she was enjoying at the Parapanna Agrahara prison in Bengaluru, the state government now reportedly plans to order an inquiry into allegations that she paid Rs 2 crore in bribes to the top brass of the police in the prisons department to make her life comfortable in jail.

While the government has received the report of a committee headed by former IAS officer, Vinaykumar, it has only looked into the special privileges enjoyed by Sasikala and other 'influential' inmates and has reportedly found no material evidence to prove that bribes were given to jail officials. The government could therefore take a call on ordering another inquiry specifically into the bribing allegations following the Belagavi session of the state legislature, according to highly placed sources.

With all privileges enjoyed by the AIADMK leader and her friend, Ilavarasi withdrawn, the two are now lodged in separate cells and are expected to wear the cotton white sari worn by other women prisoners and eat jail food, they reveal. Until now they were able to get food of their choice prepared in a separate kitchen allegedly with the connivance of jail staff.

"In future no inmate, including Ms Sasikala will get VVIP treatment. She will remain an ordinary jailbird till she completes her sentence and a cap has been put on the number of visitors she can receive," sources added.

The Tamil Nadu politician is said to have been shifted to the first floor of the central jail from the second and her movements within the barracks, restricted.

"The Home department has decided not to allow film shooting inside the Parappana Agrahara prison for security reasons and brakes have been put on all illegal activities like smuggling of drugs, beedis and cigarettes into the jail. The government is ready to implement recommendations of the Vinaykumar Committee report in toto," sources said.
More than 22,000 doctors in Bengaluru alone, were protesting against the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2017 that prescribes fixed prices for the treatments and also holds them accountable in case of medical negligence. (Photo: PTI)

Bengaluru: After a complete shutdown by the private doctors in Karnataka left the state in a health crisis on Thursday, the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association withdrew their protest in the evening. The stir will, however, continue in Belagavi, ANI reported.

Over 22,000 doctors in Bengaluru alone, were protesting against the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2017 that prescribes fixed prices for the treatments and also holds them accountable in case of medical negligence.

The proposed amendments were based on recommendations of former Supreme Court judge Vikramajit Sen.

Calling the act draconian and detrimental to the medical profession, the doctors alleged that the state government was implementing the Sen committee report selectively.

While only out-patient services were to be stalled, reports suggest that hospitals also refused to take up emergency cases.

A 24-year-old passed away at a private hospital in Dharwad district allegedly due to delay in getting treatment. In other reports of casualties, students of a school at Ramanagar, who were injured in an accidental collision between their van and a government bus, reportedly faced difficulties as a private hospital purportedly refused treatment and referred them to Bengaluru, PTI reported.

Looking at the crippling health system in the state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting with the state Health Minister Ramesh Kumar. Responding to the opposition BJP which raked the issue in Assembly, Ramesh Kumar said the government was ready to talk about the bill and that they could try to find a solution to the issue.

BJP meanwhile, accused Kumar of taking it as a prestige issue, instead of amicably resolving the problem. The party had also staged a walk-out demanding immediate solution even as they claimed that the delay may cause more deaths of patients.

Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka High Court had also asked the doctors to immediately withdraw their strike.

The division bench comprising acting Chief Justice HG Ramesh and Justice PS Dinesh Kumar observed that the doctors should call off their protest as the government has an open mind on the issue, and asked them to participate in the talks convened by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The bench also added that there was no strong case for the doctors to protest as the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007 amendment bill has not yet been tabled in the Assembly.

Private Hospitals And Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) president C Jayanna had rejected that the doctors were holding the state to ransom. PHANA secretary R Raveendra alleged that state Health Minister Ramesh Kumar was adamant on passing the proposed amendments.
The latest advertisement uses the word 'yuvraj' (prince) to target the Congress leader. (Photo: PTI | File)

Ahmedabad: The BJP on Wednesday released a video which makes a reference to "yuvraj" to apparently target Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, after the Election Commission barred the party from using the word "Pappu" in an electronic advertisement for the upcoming polls in the state.

The latest advertisement, released on Wednesday on the Facebook page of the Gujarat BJP, after getting a clearance from the Election Commission (EC), uses the word "yuvraj" (prince) to target the Congress leader.

While "Pappu" is perceived as a social media slur coined to target Gandhi, BJP leaders frequently taunt the Congress scion with words like "yuvraj" or "shahzada".

In the 49-second video which is set at a grocery store, a voice says "Sir, Sir...", followed by the response from the shop owner's assistant who says, "Yuvraj has come".

Read: EC bars Gujarat BJP from using 'Pappu' in electronic advertisement

In his reply to the "yuvraj", who is not seen in the clip, the shopkeeper says he will give him any grocery item but he won't get their votes as the shop was burnt down in riots during the past rule of the Congress.

In the video, the shop owner's wife says they will vote only for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP and opposition Congress have been targeting each other's leaders by putting up mocking advertisements on social media with a growing frequency.

Gujarat is going to polls on December 9 and December 14.

Earlier, the BJP was barred by the EC from using the word "Pappu" in an electronic advertisement, calling it "derogatory".

The BJP had said the script of that advertisement did not link the word to any individual.

The media committee under the Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) objected to the word mentioned in the script of the advertisement which was submitted by the party for approval last month.

"Before making any election-related advertisement, we have to submit a script to the committee to get a certificate. However, they raised objection to the word 'Pappu', saying it is derogatory. They asked us to remove or replace it," a senior BJP leader had said yesterdau.

He said the party will replace the word and submit a new script for the EC's approval.

When asked if the advertisement released today is the same wherein the EC had barred the BJP from using the word "Pappu", BJP spokesperson Harshad Patel said, "I am not aware whether the advertisement released today was the same one or not.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaks in the Legislative Council during the winter session of the state legislature in Belagavi on Thursday.

Belagavi: With private hospitals and doctors stepping up their agitation against the government's move to regulate their services and charges, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday accused the BJP of instigating them to prolong their stir against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (amendment) Bill.

Replying to an adjournment motion moved by leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, K S Eshwarappa, he recalled that he had, on Monday, clarified to representatives of private doctors led by Dr M N Ravindra, who met him, that the government had no intention to punish them with jail terms and so on and had promised to discuss their concerns with Health and Family Welfare Minister, K R Ramesh Kumar.

"Although, Dr Ravindra and others left the meeting in a positive frame of mind, they surprisingly decided to shut down hospitals and suspend all facilities (except the emergency services) from Thursday as a mark of protest. It's unfortunate that they are holding a dharna since Monday despite the assurance given to address their concerns," Mr Siddaramaiah told the House.

Making it clear that the government had no intention of controlling private hospitals, the Chief Minister said the purpose of amending the existing Act was to help poor and needy patients.

" I personally feel there was no need for the doctors to go on an indefinite strike, suspending OPD services, shutting hospitals and postponing surgeries. The stir has caused a lot of problems for the poor across the state," he observed, also wondering why private doctors had gone on strike when the Bill was yet to be tabled in the state legislature.

Earlier there was pandemonium in the House when Mr Eshwarappa held the government and Health Minister responsible for the deaths of around 25 innocent people calling them "murderers'.
Hyderabad: While the high-profile security teams comprising men from the US Homeland Security, Special Protection Group (SPG) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are piecing together security arrangements for the top leaders for the Global Entrepreneurship summit, the local polices say that they are being pestered with unacceptable demands from high-ranking Secret Services officials.

The US security agencies are reportedly making unacceptable demands when it comes to the security of Ms Ivanka Trump. They do not want any weapon to be carried by any Indian security agency near Ms Trump. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Ms. Trump during the summit. We cannot take a risk with the PM, a police official said.

The proximity cover to Ms Trump will be provided by the US Secret Service agents, while the Indian side of the security is looked after by the SPG, State Intelligence Security Wing (ISW) and the City Security Wing (CSW).

For Mr Modi, the SPG will form the close proximity cover and the second ring will be formed by the ISW and CSW. The local police will throw another three layer security ring.

Next week, we will be holding a meeting with the advanced security team from the White House to finalise the security arrangements. We have our concerns and cannot be looked down, in several high profile visits we had made successful security arrangements, said another police official.

Reacting to the US demands, another senior police official said that it is up to the host country to decide on the diktats of a foreign country.

500 CCTVs at Falaknuma

About 500 CCTV cameras will be installed in and around Taj Falaknuma where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner in honour of Ivanka Trump and other delegates on November 28.

The police has asked the information technology and communications department to install CCTVs in this thickly populated area.

A temporary control room will be set up to monitor the footages on real-time basis, said a senior police official.

The police will block the roads at Bandlaguda, Chandrayangutta and Falaknuma. The roads will be closed for traffic for three hours on November 28.

With the help of elders we will check the credentials of all new persons in the neighbourhood. There is no specific threat and these are precautionary measures, the police officer told this newspaper.

The Chandrayangutta flyover will also be closed for the traffic for a couple of hours when the delegates start arriving to Taj Falaknuma.
Madurai: Criticising the Tamil Nadu government for its lack of concern over appointment of law officers in the districts courts in the state, Justice R Mahadevan doubted the functioning of the government in this matter.

When it comes to a question over the appointment of public prosecutors, we are doubtful whether the government is functioning or not, the Judge observed while hearing a petition which alleged violation of regulations by the state government in the law officers appointments in Kanyakumari district down south.

Ashok Padmaraj, an advocate from Kanyakumari in his petition field before the court stated that as per the provision of section 24 (4) of CRPC, the district collector (The District Magistrate) in consultation with the sessions judge would prepare a panel of names of persons who were in his/her opinion fit to be appointed as public prosecutors or additional public prosecutors.

As per sub-section five of CRPC, the government should select the advocates for the appointments only from that list. In the case of Kanyakumari, the district collector in consultation with the sessions judge had short-listed advocates including the petitioner for the posts and recommended it to the government few months back, he said.

However, the government did not select the advocates from the list submitted by the district collector (The District Magistrate) and the sessions judge. The petitioner claimed his name was rejected because he did not have any political backing. Hence, the advocate sought the court to pass appropriate orders to stay the appointment of law officers.

After hearing the petitioner, the Justice Mahadevan observed that while the High court lacks sufficient public prosecutors to deal with the cases, the law officers, who are presently in the job, lack commitment. For instance, the law officers appointed for TN housing board and municipal corporations do not even appear in the cases, said the judge and added that the government also does not give extensions to talented public prosecutors.

After making this observation, the judge directed the advocate general of Tamil Nadu government to appear in person on November 22 before the Madurai bench.
Birmingham, Ala. - November 15, 2017 - The Brian Kelleher Real Estate Team is hosting a Coat Drive to benefit the Firehouse and First Light shelters. The event is planned for Thursday, November 16, from 5 pm to 7:30 pm at Crestwood Coffee Company on Crestwood Blvd.

Those unable to attend can bring donations to Crestwood Coffee prior to November 16th, or take them to a number of drop-off locations. The drop-off locations are Lucy's Coffee and Tea, 2007 University Blvd.; Keller Williams Vestavia, 3595 Grandview Pkwy, Suite 250; and Iberia Bank at 2340 Woodcrest Place.

"In addition to coats, we are accepting any type of cold weather clothing, hats, scarves, socks and gloves," said Brian Kelleher of Keller Williams. "We are collecting coats and clothing for men, women and children."

"Last year there was a lot of last minute requests for supplies for the homeless here in Birmingham," said Kelleher. "So we decided to be proactive this year and get a head start helping those in need in our community."

"Since December 1983, Firehouse Ministries has been operating as a men's homeless shelter. In our early years our primary goal was to meet the food, shelter and clothing needs of the homeless men in the Birmingham metro area. Over the past decade we have greatly expanded this original mission. Today, we offer affordable housing (at 15 different sites) to over 215 people every night and serve at least 300 men each day in some capacity (e.g. meals, clothing, addiction recovery, transportation to mental health professionals, job interviews, art therapy, the YMCA and by offering math and literacy tutoring)." - Firehouse Shelter

"Our mission is to work with homeless women and their children to create hospitality in a safe and nurturing community, to encourage them to maintain dignity, to find hope, to seek opportunity, and to grow spiritually, thereby achieving their full potential." - First Light Shelter

Crestwood Coffee Company, located at 5512 Crestwood Blvd. serves coffees, teas, breakfast, lunch and dinner and a selection of wine and beer. The shop also offers catering for any size event.

Brian Kelleher is an Associate Broker and Realtor with Keller Williams Vestavia.
New Delhi: The Congress and the BJP continued to exchange barbs over the Rafale aircraft deal on Thursday with Rahul Gandhi accusing the Prime Minister of allegedly changing the entire deal to benefit a businessman, a charge debunked by the ruling party.

The Congress vice-president also asked why no questions were put to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on BJP president Amit Shahs son Jay, whose company his party alleged has witnessed a quantum jump in turnover since the Modi government came to power.

You ask me so many questions and I answer all of them. I want to ask you, why dont you question Prime Minister Modi on the Rafale deal. Why don't you ask about Amit Shah's son? Why dont you question the prime minister who changed the entire Rafale deal to help a businessman? he asked.

Mr Gandhi said the Prime Minister should explain the Reliance on someone with nil experience in aerospace for the Rafale deal. Self Reliance is obviously a critical aspect of Make in India, Gandhi added in a series of tweets on the Reliance Rafale deal.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday held that filmmakers and writers should be allowed to enjoy freedom of speech and expression and there cant be restrictions on the artistes right to express his views.

A three-judge bench gave this ruling while rejecting a petition seeking to block the release of film An Insignificant Man based on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday.
Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the CPI decision to stay away from Cabinet was immature. At a press conference here, Kodiyeri said the decision was unprecedented and should not have happened. It is for the CPI leadership to think whether such a stand was required in a coalition set up, he said. He said the LDF constituents may have differences on many issues but they have always worked united. Serious differences are sorted out through bilateral talks. When Chandy issue came up, the LDF state committee entrusted the Chief Minister to take a decision. The CPI boycott of Cabinet came when CM was in the process of implementing LDF decision. After the High Court rejected Chandy's petition on November 14, the chief minister intervened and asked the NCP state president and minister to meet him. Since they were in Ernakulam, the meeting was scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Chandy who planned to go to Delhi cancelled his trip and came to Thiruvananthapuram. At the Cliff House meeting, the CM told them that resignation was the only option left. The NCP leaders sought time to discuss with national leadership and come back at 10.30 am. After almost ensuring that the resignation would happen very soon, the Cabinet meeting began at 9 am. At that time CPI send a note to chief minister saying that if Chandy attended the meeting they would keep off Cabinet," Kodiyeri recollected. He said had the CPI conveyed this stand directly to the Chief Minister or the front leadership, it would have given an opportunity to take a political decision. However, they took an immature decision of boycotting the Cabinet and shutting all doors on political decision or discussion.

"If someone suspects that CPI kept away from Cabinet to claim credit as it knew that the resignation would happen soon, then you cannot blame them. This is against coalition dharma. As part of the government, there will be applause and criticism. Taking a stand that you will have applause and others should bear all criticism was against the idea of coalition setup. Kodiyeri said the allegations against Chandy pertained to issues that happened much before he became minister. The LDF stand was to examine all the legal aspects of the allegations before taking any action. The revenue department had also entrusted the collector to examine the area and file a report.

Since collector's report had raised certain legal issues, the Chief Minister had sought legal opinion from AG. While the CM was in the process of examining the legal opinion the other developments took place. Since there were contradictions in the reports filed by the former collector in 2014 and the incumbent collector on October 20, 2017 on the allegations against Chandy and his resort, there was a need to examine the issue in depth. The time taken by AG for examining the issue was only normal. Even in Solar Commission report which was received by the government in September, the government order came only in November after detailed legal scrutiny.

Kodiyeri said the LDF was constituted in 1980 and till today it has faced many challenges. "The opposition is trying to weaken the front in the name of present developments. The LDF should guard against such attempts," he said. The CPM state secretary said the CPI leadership or Kanam had not conveyed their decision to stay out of Cabinet if Chandy attended the meeting on Tuesday.

No, we were not: CPI

CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said it was with full knowledge that the decision was unprecedented that the party decided to keep its four ministers out of Cabinet meeting. He said the unprecedented circumstances had forced the CPI to take the unparalleled decision. However, the decision took the issue to its logical conclusion. Kanam said the HC verdict and the adverse remarks had put a big question mark over Chandys continuation in Cabinet. The court had even stated that the petition filed against the government and chief secretary was unconstitutional and immature.

One does not have to wait till courts final verdict to realise that the petition filed by the minister against the government was a challenge to the collective responsibility of the Cabinet, he said. The LDF had gained wider acceptability among people because it was against previous UDF governments corruption, nepotism, misuse of power and loss of values. Under these circumstances it was quite natural for them to expect propriety in public and political life from LDF leaders, transparency and vigilance against social evils, the CPI leader said. He said though the revenue minister could have taken further action against Chandy based on collectors report, he didnt resort to any action which could have destroyed collective responsibility of Cabinet

CPI waited patiently for AGs legal opinion and petition filed by Thomas Chandy in high court and all other legal possibilities in the case. The party maintained highest form of coalition dharma in the face of grave challenge posed in public and even baseless allegations against party general secretary Sudhakar Reddy.

CPI assistant secretary K Prakash Babu dealt a riposte to CPM State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Thursday, saying Chief Minister Pinarayi never took Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan into confidence on the Advocate-Generals opinion about contradictions in reports submitted by Alappuzha Collectors in 2014 and 2017 on alleged violations by Mr Thomas Chandy.

He was talking to reporters after CPM State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnans press conference at which he accused the CPI of many things, especially weakening the LDF and strengthening the Opposition UDF. The CPI came know from Mr Balakrishnans press conference that the CM referred for legal opinion the contradictory reports. But the Revenue Minister had taken the CM into confidence on Collectors (T V Anupama) report and also expressed his opinion. Shouldnt the CM have informed the Revenue Minister the opinion he had received from the AG, asked Mr Babu.

He said his party did not want to take the credit for Mr Thomas Chandys resignation, rather anyone could take that. He was reacting to Mr Balakrishnans charge that the CPI ministers had kept off the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to claim credit for Mr Chandys exit. The CPI only wanted Mr Chandy, who had encroached on the lake, to go. Nobody had informed the CPI leadership or the legislature party leaders that Mr Chandy would resign on Wednesday. The CPI position was that its ministers could not attend the Cabinet along with Mr Chandy, who had breached the Constitution and sued the ministry of which he was a member.

Mr Chandrasekharan informed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in writing that the CPI ministers would not attend the Cabinet after Mr Chandy sounded a challenge after talks with the CM and turned up for the Cabinet. Nobody had informed the party of the outcome of the talks between the CM and NCP even at the late hour. Only from Mr Balakrishnans disclosure to the media did the CPI realise the ministers resignation had been planned for Wednesday morning, he said.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit should instruct Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to prove his majority on the floor of the House instead of holding review meetings with officials which would neither help the Centre-State relations nor smooth functioning of the administration, Opposition leader M.K. Stalin said on Wednesday.

Leading the Opposition charge in criticising the Governors review meeting with officials of the Coimbatore district on Tuesday, Stalin termed Purohits action as the next course of action of the BJP government to snatch the rights of elected state governments, while rebel leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran said the review only confirmed that there was no Jayalalithaa dispensation in Tamil Nadu.

As the meeting stoked a political controversy, Stalin and Dhinakaran  bitter political rivals  were on the same page when they saw the action as a clear interference by the Union Government in state administration.

Governor Banwarilal Purohits review meeting with officials in Coimbatore is against the law and is the next course of action of the BJP governments move to snatch rights of elected state governments. BJPs plans to administer the state and the puppet government through the governor has come to the public domain through this action, Stalin said in a statement.

The DMK working president also quoted Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and author of Indias Constitution B.R. Ambedkar who had said only the elected government is powerful and that the Governor would function only as a ceremonial figure. The governor will only be an representative of the central government The DMK has always believed that a governors post is like a goats beard, which is not required, Stalin said.

In a series of tweets on his official Twitter page, Dhinakaran warned Tamil Nadu could be the next state to suffer due to constant interference from Governor after administration in union territories like Delhi and Puducherry have come to a standstill due to intervention by Lt Governors.

Governors review meeting is a clear interference in the functioning of the state government. Everyone wants the anti-people Edappadi Palaniswami government to go and I can only see this development from that angle. The review meeting has reinforced once again that there was no Amma (Jayalalithaa) Government in the state. Amma would have never allowed such review meetings and the AIADMK has always stood for strengthening state autonomy, Dhinakaran said.

Stalin also noted that a governor in Tamil Nadu does not have powers as that of a lieutenant governor in a union territory like Puducherry. The Centre is hoping to rule Tamil Nadu through the governor as the present AIADMK government is weak, he said.
Alappuzha: Mr Thomas Chandy aka Kuwait Chandy is primarily a multi-millionaire businessman who has strayed into politics with his money power. He has muddied the placid waters of Kuttanad with his luxury resort and is now caught up in the states swift political cross-currents.

Mr Chandy, 69, is a three-time legislator from Kuttanad who began his political career along with the late Congress leader K. Karunakaran when he formed the DIC (K). He has won the electoral battles as DIC (K) and NCP candidate with thumping margins from 2006 onwards.

Mr Chandy owns four schools, restaurants and bakeries in Kuwait, besides the Rs 20-crore resort in Alappuzha. He had courted a controversy during last dispensation by claiming Rs 1.91 crore of taxpayers money for advanced medical treatment.

He has a dubious business record in Kuwait and faced allegations of fraud. Commenting on that he once said: I am no party at all in that case. I had leased out a building to another school in Kuwait and collected 35,000 Kuwaiti dinars. When the Kuwait court asked me to return the money, I did it immediately. This is no case at all.

About the land grab issue in Kuttanad, Mr Chandy said: I have invested several crores of rupees for the development of the backward district Alappuzha. I have made no encroachment. I toiled hard in the Middle East for several years and with that money I opened the Lake Palace Resort. I have invested Rs 150 crore and am providing employment to hundreds of people. I am incurring a loss of several lakhs of rupees every year.

Mr Chandy who always had ministerial ambitions realised his dream in March when Mr A. K. Saseendran had to bow out as transport minister after being caught in a honey trap case.

Alappuzha then had four ministers- PWD Minister G. Sudhakaran, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac and Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman, besides Mr Chandy.

However, Mr Chandys luck as minister did not last long. Following reports about the encroachments made by the Lake Palace Resort, Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan sought a report from the then district collector Veena N. Madhavan who found no irregularities, but said detailed investigations were needed.

The new collector T.V. Anupama submitted a report confirming violation of land laws. The company on October 24 approached the High Court asking for a stay on the collectors report. It again approached the court on November 9 to annul the report. But the court dashed the hopes of Mr Chandy by rejecting the petition.
Former chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy (centre) flanked by his brother Kishore (right) who announced he would be joining the TD and Santosh, a businessman in Bengaluru.

Hyderabad: Mr Kishore Kumar Reddy, the younger brother of former Congress Chief Minister of undivided AP Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, announced on Thursday that he was joining the ruling Telugu Desam in AP, which has hitherto been the arch rival of the Nallari family in the politics of their home district, Chittoor.

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy had met AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi a few months ago in Delhi and had been given certain assurances, but this was not enough to prevent his brother from joining hands with the TD. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy had tried to convince his brother to wait for some time before both of them could together join a national party.

Mr Kishore Reddy said that he was under pressure from people in his constituency to join the TD.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Kishore Kumar Reddy said he had spoken to Mr Chandrababu Naidu and conveyed the message that he was joining the Telugu Desam. A formal meeting will be organised in Pileru with all my supporters and we will all join."

Referring to his elder brother's advice to wait a little longer, Mr Kishore Kumar Reddy said, National politics may suit my brother as he was the Chief Minister, but when I toured the Pileru constituency recently, 85 per cent of my supporters asked me to join the Telugu Desam.

We have to safeguard our political existence in the constituency which our family has served for 50 years. I will contest again as an independent next time if the YSRC takes advantage of the triangular contest, so I have decided to join TD to take on YSRC here. It is for my brother to decide his political future, he told this newspaper.

Mr Kishore Reddy lost the last election which he contested from the Pileru Assembly segment from the Jai Samaikyandhra Party floated by his brother. The Vayalpadu and Pileru Assembly segments were merged after delimitation in 2009 into Pileru.

Chittoor politics was once dominated by Nallari Amarnath Reddy, father of Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy and Mr Kishore Kumar Reddy, and his main political rival was Mr Naidu.

According to APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy, Mr Gandhi had assured Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy that he would be treated well keeping in mind that he was Chief Minister for three and a half years. It seems he has still not made up his mind to rejoin the Congress, Mr Raghuveera Reddy said.
In another two days, the nation will commemorate Indira Gandhis birth centenary. Her lingering image is conflictingly portrayed, depending on ones political orientation or affiliation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his supporters repeatedly stated over the past year that he opted for demonetisation because she did not. Given the current nature of our political discourse, Indias only woman Prime Minister is more vilified than eulogised. However, it will be wrong, especially on an occasion like this, to depict Indira either as a paragon of virtue or the reason for all contemporary troubles. The truth is somewhere in between, and despite her fallibilities, Indira made some lasting contributions to nation-building. Indira is targeted mainly for being an authoritarian and autocratic leader who destroyed the democratic character of the Congress party, ensuring that the era of politically significant satraps counterbalancing the central leadership was put to an end. Indira is accused of either being party president herself or installing rubber stamps. She furthered dynasticism in the party and even after Sanjay Gandhis death in a plane crash, inducted a clearly reluctant Rajiv Gandhi into the party. Other accusations include putting Punjab on the boil to get even with the Akalis for their opposition during the Emergency. This misadventure was the reason for two great tragedies  one perpetrated by her and the other on her. Indira is also indicted for her paranoia and raising the bogey of the foreign hand every now and then.

Let us examine the charge that she foisted dynasticism on the Congress. Those who level the accusation forget two significant leadership changes in 1929 and 1959. In the first instance, the baton of Congress president passed from father to son for the first time in the partys history when Motilal Nehru stepped down for Jawaharlal. Three years after Independence, Nehru assumed charge of the party presidency while simultaneously being Prime Minister. He took over the Congress presidency in not very savoury circumstances as Purushottam Das Tandon stepped down when the government and ruling party leadership led by Tandon held conflicting positions. Finding the situation untenable, Nehru resigned from the CWC and took the matter to the AICC delegates. Tandon realised he was in a minority and resigned, making way for Nehru. For four years Nehru held both positions and the onset of the organisational leaderships subservi-ence to those in government can be traced to this period. Thereafter, in 1959, Nehru allowed Indira to become Congress president. Though he did not propose her name, if Nehru did not wish the principle of dynasty to be applied, he could have ensured that she turned down the offer. Indira in fact was not keen but picked up the challenge after a campaign began within the party that she was not cut out for the job. Indira inherited a fragmented Congress where one faction was constantly in attempts to topple the rivals applecart.

But she proved detractors wrong and showed no feminine grace that they expected but presided over the edifice with an iron fist. She did not continue as president beyond a year of her own volition not because of any qualms that Nehru was gripped with or due to opposition to her leadership. Given the circumstances under which Indira became president of the Congress and the past elevation of Nehru, she cannot be accused of introducing dynasticism in her party. What she can be charged with is introducing a greater extent of centralism, and this too was precipitated by attempts by party veterans who thought while she could remain the charismatic front of the party, with the real control remaining in their hands. This obviously was not to her liking, and Indira wasted no time to bite the bullet and split the party when she got a chance in the form of the untimely death of President Zakir Hussain, that forced a presidential election wh-ich was not scheduled.

Indiras golden years were 1970-71 when she could do no wrong. The party had been split, banks had been nationalised and though the legislation abolishing the privy purses of former princes had been decaled untenable in the Supreme Court, she converted this into one of the major electoral issues in the first snap poll in the country. Her victory in 1970 put the Congress back into its dominating position and established that the breakaway group did not have much support among the people. Events in what was then East Pakistan moved at lightning speed and provided Indira with an opportunity to carve a niche as a national icon by handing a humiliating defeat to Pakistan, breaking up that country and engineering the birth of Bangladesh. It is a misconception that Atal Behari Vajpayee likened her to Goddess Durga  that was the handiwork of a junior Jan Sangh leader  but the moot point is that for at least one year after the 1971 war, Indira could do no wrong.

Every leader has to mark the spot that is later termed her or his peak by historians of the future. In 1971, the future beckoned Indira yet she faltered, allowed hubris to sow seeds of her eventual fall. By late 1973, nothing was rolling her way and the agitation in Gujarat snowballed into a major crisis. Even as it was posing a major threat, the students agitation spread to other parts of India and in panic she imposed the Emergency. Her defeat and eventual comeback are like a fairytale. But her second term, though marked by certain innovations on the economic front, was a disappointment on other domestic issues, most importantly on the handling of the Punjab crisis. Call her a strong-willed leader or authoritarian, the tragedy was not just the manner of her death but the fact that she fell short of her own potential. Her peak can be marked almost a-decade -and-half before her career and life ended. In that there could be a lesson worth remembering for contemporary leaders.
Keralas Left and Democratic Front government led by CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan hasnt covered itself in glory over the resignation of transport minister Thomas Chandy, a nominee of the Nationalist Congress Party, after Mr Chandys petition against the Kerala government was dismissed. Mr Chandy was accused by the collector of Alappuzha district of having encroached upon paddy lands and filling up the famous backwaters for extension of his tourism and hotel businesses. Mr Chandy challenged this in the Kerala High Court, which threw out his petition with strong words. This should have been enough for the minister to resign his Cabinet position. In the event he did not, chief minister Vijayan should have asked for his resignation. But neither of these things happened. In fact, quite brazenly, Mr Chandy attended a meeting of the Cabinet after the high court order, and the CM allowed him to do so.

What eventually forced Mr Chandys departure was the decision by four CPI Cabinet ministers to stop attending its meetings until the resignation of the transport minister was secured. The CPI is the largest group in the LDF coalition after the CPI(M). Mr Chandy is the third minister of the Vijayan government to resign since it was formed in May 2016. All the three have had to go on unsavoury grounds, including corruption and sleaze. This is a sorry state of affairs when the leadership is in the hands of the Communists, who have traditionally provided largely corruption-free governments, whatever their other faults. The Chandy case has been in the public domain for three months but the CM doggedly stuck by his minister, throwing calls of propriety to the winds. A democratic order does not run only on the basis of rules and regulations being operated by the political majority. It needs a strong sense of ethics and propriety in the ruling establishment in the absence of which it begins to resemble a tyrannical autocracy, in which the rights and privileges of ordinary citizens are disregarded.

Mr Vijayan was expected to be proactive on the count of ethics as he himself had been a subject of investigation when his senior party leader Kodieyari Balakrishnan, who has an impeccable record for probity in a long and distinguished public life, was Chief Minister. But he has not risen to the occasion. With three ministers having to resign within a year and a half, the record hardly looks nice. Perhaps the CPMs top leadership should consider the question if its time to rethink the Kerala leadership question if it is to be on a good wicket in the next Assembly election.
While back home a resurgent Rahul Gandhi continues to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of unleashing two torpedoes  GST and demonetisation  and destroying SMEs and taking away the jobs of millions of Indians in unorganised sectors, the Indian PM loomed large at the 31st Asean summit in Manila this week. Addressing the Asean Business Forum, he told the leaders with his usual gusto how his government had done away with 1,200 outdated laws and improved the environment for doing business which has resulted in India jumping 30 places on the World Banks Ease of Doing Business Index, the highest for any country last year. Stressing that the task of transforming India is proceeding at an unprecedented scale, Mr Modi did a hardsell on all the transformative initiatives his government had undertaken in the past three years and tried to create a buzz about India, inviting investment from the Asean region. He became the first Indian PM to visit the Philippines in 36 years and the only one to have visited all Asean members in three years of his tenure, giving teeth to his Act-East policy. In his speech to the Indian diaspora, he referred to Lord Buddha, the Ramayan, Mahatma Gandhi and Indias peacekeeping role, and underlined Indias centuries-old historical and cultural links with the Asean region. Surprisingly, US President Donald Trump, much maligned and much misunderstood at home and abroad, whom he was meeting for the third time on the margins of the Asean summit in Manila, seems to have become his big admirer. Though there wasnt another jadu ki jhappi, their firm handshake, big smiles and positive body language said it all.

Mr Modi has refrained from calling him by his first name Donald so far, but it seems the NaMo-Potus (President of the United States) romance is deepening! At a similar summit in Myanmar in 2015, the then US President, Barack Obama, had called Mr Modi a man of action. This time, heaping fulsome praise on Mr Modi, Mr Trump said: He has become a friend of ours. He is doing a great job. A lot of things were solved, and we will continue to work together. Mr Modi thanked Mr Trump for speaking highly about India whereever he went. He also claimed that India-US ties are becoming broader and deeper and that India and the US can work together beyond the interests of India, for the future of Asia and for the welfare of humanity. He also promised that India would try to live up to the expectations of the US and the world. A very ambitious vision and high hopes indeed! Only time will tell what it will actually entail, and how far will India really go to fulfil such expectations! The US President seems to have hit on a simple idea for balancing US trade and creating jobs in America  he unhesitatingly asks Amer-ican allies and friends to buy more American weapons systems. He has done that during his visits to Saudi Arabia and Japan. A statement read out at the White house after the Modi-Trump meet in Manila suggests the same. Besides referring to the pledge to enhance defence cooperation as major defence partners, it also mentions the resolve that two of worlds great democracies should have the worlds greatest armies. It was the clearest American support yet for Indias global role as an economic and military power.

Obviously, the hesitations of the past are now history. In the 45-minute bilateral meeting, regional and international issues were discussed. Notwithstanding the Modi-Trump bonhomie, the rough sailing which commerce minister Suresh Prabhu encountered in his discussions in Washington last month indicate that serious differences persist in the approaches of the two countries on several issues related to trade, business and investment. We have different perceptions on terrorism, Pakistan and Afghanistan as well. The references to strategic partnership and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region are similar to the US-India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region announced during President Obamas visit in January 2015. However, Mr Trumps preference to refer to the region as Indo-Pacific suggests an American keenness to make India an integral part of the regional dialogue. An official-level meeting of the representatives of the United States, Japan, India and Australia on the sidelines of the Asean summit, ostensibly to discuss Chinas growing economic and military clout in the region and its increasing assertiveness vis-a-vis its neighbours has been hyped up by the media as the relaunch of the Quadrilateral. China had protested against the Quad in 2007 and has reacted promptly to the Manila parleys of Quad officials, hoping that it wont be directed against any third country. Some commentators have gone to the extent of saying the Quad will help secure the Indo-Pacific region. Such an assessment might be premature. A reality check will reveal that none of the Quad members can afford to take an overtly anti-Chinese posture nor can they do so as a group. In 2016, the US imported Chinese goods worth $416 billion; China enjoyed a surplus of $346 billion.

Without the relatively cheaper Chinese goods, Walmart will have to close down, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs! China holds more than a trillion dollars in treasury bonds in the US. No sane US President will precipitate a crisis in Americas relations with China. Even at the height of tension between China and Japan on the Senkaku islands, the US hadnt taken a pro-Japanese stand. During his recent visit, Mr Trump lavished Chinese President Xi Jinping with ample praise and Mr Xi too gave him royal treatment. Mr Trumps visit resulted in MoUs for deals worth $250 billion  this is bigger than the total of all pledges he has received from all countries since he became President! When the chips are down, Mr Trump may embrace Mr Xis idea that the Indo-Pacific was big enough for both China and the United States. Remember, during his first visit to China, Mr Obama too had floated the idea of a G-2; the idea hasnt died; it still remains a distant possibility. Notwithstanding their territorial dispute, the Sino-Japanese annual trade has hovered around $400 billion, heavily in Japans favour. China has been Australias biggest trading partner for the last eight years; it is the largest importer of Austr-alian wines, besides iron ore and milk. China-Asean trade is around $400 billion; imports from China amount to 17.5 per cent of total Asean imports. The Asean- China Free Trade Area, with a combined population of over two billion, is the worlds largest free trade zone. Chinas investment in Asean is expected to rise to $150 billion by 2020. The Quad can, at best, act as a pressure group to encourage Chinas adherence to a rules-based regime in the Indo-Pacific region; it cannot and should not challenge Chinas rise.
The Dream Chaser, a space-craft designed and developed by the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), on Saturday successfully completed a free flight test by landing at Californias Edwards Air Force Base.

The un-crewed spacecraft was dropped out of a helicopter flying at an altitude of 12,324 feet over the Mojave Desert. The Dream Chaser descended for 60 seconds, reaching speeds of 330 miles per hour, before touching down on the runway to come to a controlled stop.

Around 30 feet (nine meters) in length, the space plane looks like a miniature version of NASAs retired Space Shuttles, and follows the same basic spaceflight logic. To get to space, the vehicle will be attached to a heavy-lift rocket and launched vertically, but on its return trip to Earth, it will land horizontally on a runway, ideally intact and ready to be reused on future missions.

The Dream Chaser was selected by NASA for its second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS2) program in 2016. These initiatives allow private aerospace companies to compete for NASA contracts for spacecraft that can deliver food, experiments, and other essentials to the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceXs Dragon spacecraft and Orbital ATKs Cygnus capsule, which have been ferrying goods to the station for years, have demonstrated the efficacy of this public-private approach.

The Dream Chaser is on track to join these established corporate cargo ships within the next three years, which would make it the first space plane in the CRS fleet. SNC has also resolved to work with the United Nations to provide orbital access to nations that normally are omitted from spaceflight. The company has plans to develop a crewed version of the Dream Chaser in the future, as well.

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 Academic Study: Reuters Publishing Pro-Palestinian Propaganda | Main | Raymond Ibrahim Testifies Before Congress 

December 09, 2011

Blumenthal Defends a Distorted Quote with Another Misquote

A couple of days ago, we pointed out that radical activist Max Blumenthal, who has a rich history of distorting quotes, is at it again. After he quoted Karen Greenberg of Fordham School of Law's Center on National Security purportedly blaming Israel for American torture practices, his Greenberg quickly explained, "I never made such a statement."

Blumenthal, however, is standing by his story. And in defense of his apparent hoax quote he's resorting to another tool of trickery, which could be called the Link-and-Lie.

In a post attacking those concerned by the misquote claim, he writes:

Greenberg's statement to me did not come out of the blue: A book she co-authored with Joshua Dratel, "The Road to Abu Ghraib," contains a lengthy section on Israeli court rulings authorizing torture and torture techniques refined by the Shin Bet.

The link in the above block quote appears in Blumenthal's post. Unfortunately for him, Elder of Ziyon actually bothered to click on it, only to discover that the section of the book Blumenthal links to asserts the very opposite of what he claims:

For additional guidance in answering these questions, we looked to the experiences of Northern Ireland and Israel, other places where the struggle between fighting terrorism and upholding the rule of law has been waged. Both the European Court of Human Rights and the Israeli Supreme Court have confronted the contradictory demands of national security and human rights against the backdrop of terrorism. ... These courts have ruled that there are no exceptions to the prohibition against torture and [Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading] treatment. Their rulings express the conviction that the torture and CID treatment of detainees  even when those detainees are suspected terrorists  cannot be justified. And, Turning to the specific interrogation methods before it, the Court concluded that shaking, the frog crouch,? the shabach? position, cuffing causing pain, hooding, the consecutive playing of powerfully loud music and the intentional deprivation of sleep for a prolonged period of time are all prohibited interrogation techniques. All these methods do not fall within the sphere of a fair? interrogation. They are not reasonable. They impinge upon the suspects dignity, his bodily integrity and his basic rights in an excessive manner (or beyond what is necessary). They are not to be deemed as included within the general power to conduct investigations.?



Posted by GI at December 9, 2011 11:18 AM

It appears after being pressured by Jeff Goldberg and others that Karen Greenberg in fact said what she said, and lied about it afterwards. She is no friend of Israel, and tried to cover her tracks. There are many Democratic Party functionaries now who are anti-Israel. Why is that so hard to believe?

Posted by: Caren Shulman at December 10, 2011 07:23 PM

Caren: It would seem that if that is this were indeed the case--that Greenberg is the liar and Blumenthal is the truth-sayer, there would have been no need for Blumenthal to distort what Greenberg actually wrote in her book-- there in black and white for all to see. Instead, he goes further out on a limb to distort those words and reverse their meaning? It is obvious that the case against Blumenthal is far stronger than the case against Greenberg. And just to remind you, this is not the first time Blumenthal has twisted or otherwise distorted facts to support his agenda. How many other "journalists" -- and I use that term loosely -- have such an established record of lying?

Posted by: toni at December 10, 2011 07:42 PM

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They could also be settling for the USB Type-C port in the same way Google adopted it for their second generation Pixel smartphones. (Representative Image)

Samsungs flagship smartphones are always touted to be the next big thing and the upcoming Galaxy S9 is no exception. The Galaxy S series smartphones represent the best in the world of Android and next years Galaxy S9 has to lock horns with the iPhone X. Therefore, it has to have the latest technologies, which could even mean dropping the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Yes, a Weibo user, who claims to have sources inside Samsung, has stated that Samsungs next-generation flagship smartphone will be shipped with Bluetooth earphones. These wireless earbuds will be tuned by AKG in the same way as they have been tuned for the Galaxy S8 and Note 8. While that may certainly be good news for the techno-savvy crowd, it raises one critical question related the Galaxy S9  is the 3.5mm jack doomed on Samsungs flagship?

As for this tipster, he says that prototype units of the S9 are still rocking the headphone jack. However, Samsung might ditch it in the 11th hour if their Bluetooth headset turns out to meet the Samsungs satisfaction. They could also be settling for the USB Type-C port in the same way Google adopted it for their second generation Pixel smartphones. Is this good news or bad news?

Well, if you have an arsenal of a good pair of headphones and pricey AUX cables, then you will be left with no choice rather than to depend completely on that pesky ' Type-C to 3.5mm converters. If you have already made the transition to the wireless camp, then its a no-brainer. However, take this leak with a pinch of salt as this is still a rumour. The 3.5mm jack has been one of Samsungs USP amongst other old-school features and could even stay alive on Samsung flagships for the next few years.

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Harare's residents have largely ignored the military presence on the streets and continued commuting, socialising and working much as normal, while analysts speculated that Mugabe and the army could be negotiating a transition. (Photo: File)

Harare: Zimbabweans were weighing an uncertain future without President Robert Mugabe after the army took power and placed the 93-year-old veteran, once seen as a liberation hero, under house arrest.

Most people in the country have not known a time without Mugabe, who has been at the epicentre of public life since coming to power in 1980 on the country's independence from Britain.

The nation was left to his residence stunned after the ailing leader was confined late Tuesday as soldiers took up positions at strategic points across Harare and senior officers commandeered state television.

The Southern African Development Community bloc, currently chaired by Zimbabwe's powerhouse neighbour South Africa, was to meet in Botswana later Thursday to discuss the dramatic situation.

And though nothing has been heard from Mugabe or his wife Grace directly since the start of the army operation, many Zimbabweans are hopeful that the crisis will mark the beginning of a more prosperous future.

"Our economic situation has deteriorated every day - no employment, no jobs," Tafadzwa Masango, a 35-year-old unemployed man, said.

"We hope for a better Zimbabwe after the Mugabe era. We feel very happy. It is now his time to go."

Harare's residents have largely ignored the military presence on the streets and continued commuting, socialising and working much as normal, while analysts speculated that Mugabe and the army could be negotiating a transition.

'The demise of Robert'

Derek Matyszak, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said he expects Mugabe and the military are thrashing out a handover to a new head of state.

"I think Mugabe can still stay in the country. I think they would like to present him as a liberation icon and accord him due respect.

"The difficulty, and this has always been the difficulty for the Mugabe family, is guaranteeing Grace Mugabe's safety... on the demise of Robert."

The international community will also be watching the next phase of the crisis closely.

On Wednesday the African Union issued an unusually terse statement that said the situation on the ground "seems like a coup" and called on the military to pull back and respect the constitution.

Britain, Zimbabwe's colonial ruler until independence, called for calm and warned against handing power to an unelected leader.

"Nobody wants simply to see the transition from one unelected tyrant to the next," said British foreign minister Boris Johnson.

Zimbabwe's army was set on a collision course with Mugabe last week when he abruptly fired his vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa - a lynchpin of the defence and security establishment.

Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe's most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.

But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing five-page rebuke of Mugabe's leadership and Grace's political ambition.

Army chief General Constantino Chiwenga gave an unprecedented press conference on Monday, flanked by dozens of officers, and warned Mugabe that he would intervene if the president continued to purge the ruling ZANU-PF party.

Mnangagwa has been embroiled in a long-running feud with Mugabe's wife Grace, 52.

Both were seen as leading contenders to replace Mugabe but Mnangagwa had the tacit support of the armed forces, which viewed Grace - a political novice - with derision.

In a sign that the military was purging the first lady's backers, a Grace loyalist widely reported to have been detained by the army appeared on state TV late Wednesday.

Kudzai Chipanga, leader of the ZANU-PF's youth league, apologised for criticising Chiwenga following the general's threat to intervene against Mugabe.

"I kindly request General Chiwenga to please accept my apologies on behalf of the youth league and myself. We are still young people, we are still growing up. We learn from our mistakes," said Chipanga, who shifted uneasily as he read the statement.
Originally from Punjab, Jasser was a student of accounting and had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa. (Photo: File/Representational)

Washington: A 21-year-old Indian student has been shot dead allegedly by four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, at a grocery store in the US state of California, according to a media report.

Dharampreet Singh Jasser was on duty at a grocery store next to a gas station in Fresno city in California on Tuesday night when four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, barged in to loot the store, local daily Fresnobee reported.

Jasser reportedly hid behind the cash counter but was shot by one of the four robbers while they were leaving the service station after looting cash and goods, the report said.

The incident was reported to the police Wednesday when a customer who had stopped by to buy some goods, discovered Jassers body on the floor.

Originally from Punjab, Jasser was a student of accounting and had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

Police has arrested 22-year-old Athwal, an Indian-origin man, who is believed to be one of the four suspects who looted the gas station and fired multiple shots one of which hit Jasser.

Police said a Fresno County Sheriffs deputy saw media coverage of the incident on Tuesday and recognised some similarities between the suspects from the incident and Athwal, the Madera County Sheriffs Office said.

Madera Sheriffs detectives were contacted and determined Athwal is the likely suspect in the shooting.

A warrant has been obtained for the suspect and he will be transferred to the Madera Department of Corrections, the report said.

Athwal has been charged with murder and robbery.

Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery, Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said

Detectives continue to search for other suspects and any further information related to this case, the Sheriffs Office said.
The US-based rights group said in a report that the sexual violence, along with other atrocities committed by Myanmar security forces, amount to crimes against humanity. (Photo: AP)

United Nations: Myanmar troops gang raped countless Rohingya women and girls during a military campaign that sent hundreds of thousands fleeing across the border to Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch said Thursday.

The US-based rights group said in a report that the sexual violence, along with other atrocities committed by Myanmar security forces, amount to crimes against humanity.

Based on interviews with rape survivors, aid organizations and Bangladeshi health officials, the report details cases of what it called mass rape where Rohingya women were rounded up and sexually assaulted by soldiers.

Rape has been a prominent and devastating feature of the Burmese militarys campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya, said Skye Wheeler, a researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report.

The Burmese militarys barbaric acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatized.

Read: Rohingyas can return when real citizens accept: Myanmar Army Chief

Of the 29 rape survivors interviewed, all but one were gang raped by two or more perpetrators. In eight cases, women and girls reported being raped by five or more soldiers.

Women described witnessing the murders of their young children, spouses, and parents before being raped. Many rape survivors said they endured days of agony walking with swollen and torn genitals to reach Bangladesh.

Human Rights Watch documented six cases of mass rape during which soldiers gathered women in groups before beating and gang-raping them.

The report quoted 33-year-old Mamtaz Yunis as saying soldiers trapped her and about 20 other women on the side of a hill after they fled their village and raped women in front of them.

The rights group interviewed 52 Rohingya women and girls, including 29 rape survivors, three of them girls under 18, who came from 19 villages in northern Rakhine state.

More than 600,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled the mainly Buddhist country since the military operation was launched in Rakhine in late August.

Myanmar authorities insist the campaign was aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who attacked police posts on August 25 but the United Nations has said the violence amounted to ethnic cleansing.
Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019. (Photo: AP)

Kabul: A suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital on Thursday near a gathering of supporters of an influential regional leader killed at least nine people and wounded many, the interior ministry said.

It was not clear if the politician, Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party, was at the meeting at the time of the attack.

Islamic State claimed responsibility, according to Amaq, its official news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.

We are proud to be martyred because of our country and our rights. This gathering was for the sake of our country to raise our voice, said witness Jan Mohammad.

The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence that has killed and wounded thousands of civilians in Afghanistan in 2017.

Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said the bomber approached the hotel hosting the gathering in the Khair Khana district of Kabul, on foot. The dead included seven policemen and two civilians.

Media showed photographs, apparently from witnesses, which appeared to show about a dozen bodies. Reuters was unable to verify the photos.

The northern-based Jamiat-i-Islami was for years the main opponent of the Taliban, who draw their support largely from the southern-based ethnic Pashtun community.

In June, a suicide bomber attacked a meeting of Jamiat-i-Islami leaders, including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Abdullah, who is backed by Noor, and other ethnic minority leaders, formed a coalition government with President Ashraf Ghani after a disputed 2014 presidential election.

Ghani on Wednesday sacked the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, raising doubts over whether parliamentary and council ballots scheduled for next year will take place as planned.
Pakistan decided to take the dam project off the table just days before the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee meeting with China, which is scheduled for November 21 in Islamabad. (Photo: File/Representational)

Islamabad: Pakistan has withdrawn its bid to include the USD 14 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam in PoK in the CPEC framework after China placed strict conditions, including ownership of the mega project, according to senior officials.

Pakistan has been struggling to raise money from international institutions like the World Bank in the face of Indian opposition to the project on the Indus River in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of Chinese President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), runs through PoK and India has raised objection to the project.

Neither the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) nor China would finance the dam, therefore, the government decided to construct the reservoir from its own resources, the Express Tribune Thursday quoted Water Resources Secretary Shumail Khawaja as saying.

Pakistan decided to take the dam project off the table just days before the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting with China, which is scheduled for November 21 in Islamabad, it said.

The JCC is the highest decision-making body of the CPEC.

Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain said Wednesday while briefing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the status of the mega water and power project.

He said the Chinese conditions were about taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project by pledging another operational dam.

These conditions were unacceptable, therefore, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved a report to finance the dam from the countrys own resources, he said.

A flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, the CPEC is a trade network of highways, railways, pipelines and optical cables which are currently under construction throughout Pakistan.

India skipped the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns over the CPEC.

The issue of excluding the Diamer-Bhasha Dam from the CPEC framework also featured in the Cabinet Committee on CPEC which met last week, the paper said.

Read: Xi Jinpings pet project one belt, one road running into problems

The Wapda chairman and the water resources secretary informed the premier that the only way out was to fund the much-delayed project from domestic resources, it said.

There were hopes that Pakistan may finally complete the project after including it in the CPEC framework, the report said.

Interestingly, ground-breaking of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam has been performed five times in the past 15 years, it said.

The Wapda chairman blamed the ADB for the delay, saying the bank first destroyed the project and later declined to provide loan. The ADB was of the view that the project was located in a disputed territory, Hussain said.

The project will have the capacity to generate 4,500MW of electricity in addition to the storage capacity for six million acre feet of water, which the country desperately needs due to shrinking storages.

The Wapda chairman said the project cost would hover around USD 14 billion and the prime minister had agreed to split the scheme into dam storage and power generation.

According to the new financing plan, he said, the federal government would provide Rs 30 billion per annum over the next nine years from the Public Sector Development Programme, taking total federal contribution to Rs 270 billion.

Hussain said Wapda would generate 20 per cent of equity from its own resources whereas financing for constructing power plants would be arranged from commercial sources.

Construction work on the dam site would begin next year and the government would complete it in nine years, he said. Work on the power generation site will begin two and a half years after the start of work on the dam.
A group of the world's leading philanthropists, including Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani today, announced the formation of 'Co-Impact', a new global model for collaborative philanthropy and social change at scale.



It will invest USD 500 million in three critical areas health, education, and economic opportunity to improve the lives of underserved populations across the developing world, according to a statement released by Co-Impact.

The EkStep Foundation, co-founded by Rohini Nilekani and Nandan Nilekani, will serve as Co-Impact's technical partner by supporting a number of its programmes with their open knowledge and societal platform assets as well as capacity building, the statement said.

"At EkStep Foundation, we are investing in creating open digital public goods. Our intent is for it to benefit an ecosystem of innovators who can create contextual solutions for the development sector through the Societal Platforms approach. We support Co-Impact's visionary efforts of driving large-scale systemic development and are glad to be their Technical Partner in this endeavour," Rohini and Nandan Nilekani said in a statement.

Co-Impact's initial core partners are Richard Chandler, Bill and Melinda Gates, Jeff Skoll, Dr Romesh and Kathy Wadhwani, and The Rockefeller Foundation, the statement said.

In addition to its role as a core partner, The Rockefeller Foundation has incubated Co-Impact and will provide staff, significant operating funds, and ongoing strategic support, it said.

Olivia Leland, Managing Director at The Rockefeller Foundation and founding director of the Giving Pledge, is the founder of Co-Impact and will be Co-Impact's CEO, the statement said.

"We believe that collaboration is critical to solving some of the world's most daunting social challenges," said Leland. "Our goal is to build a community where philanthropists can work and learn together along with successful social change leaders to drive extraordinary results. Our hope is that over time more philanthropists will come together to pool resources and expertise to support great social change approaches and drive results at scale."

Co-Impact expects to add additional core partners as well as co-investors interested in specific initiatives or geographic areas, the statement said.

"In addition, a Co-Impact network will provide a broader group of philanthropists from around the world with an opportunity to contribute, exchange, and learn from Co- Impact's model," it added.

Co-Impact's goal is to improve the lives of millions by advancing education, improving people's health, and providing economic opportunity so that all families, no matter where they live, have a more hopeful future, the statement said.

Co-Impact will make its first system change grants in the first half of 2018, it said.

"These grants will be informed by more than a year's worth of due diligence and field research. Systems change grants will be up to US $50 million, flexibly structured, and will go to initiatives with proven leadership and results that are poised to scale even further. Co-Impact will also seek to unlock additional participation by governments and the private sector," the statement said.
Ganga Kumari (24), is all set to become Rajasthan's first transgender police constable.



Ganga's two years of struggle ended as the Rajasthan High Court directed police department to appoint her as a constable.

A resident of Raniwara, a small village in Jalore district of Rajasthan, Ganga was selected in the police recruitment examination in 2013, but her appointment was held up following a medical examination.

She was denied a post in 2015 owing to her gender, following which she was forced to take up a legal battle.

On November 14, the Rajasthan High Court gave relief to Ganga, by calling it a case of "gender bias".

Justice Dinesh Mehta asked the police department to appoint Ganga within six weeks of the date of order. It also ordered that notional benefits from 2015 be provided to her.

The youngest among seven siblings, Ganga was disappointed when her appointment was stalled based on her gender. "I never faced any kind of discrimination in my school or house. But I was disheartened when my appointment was stalled in 2015. That's when I thought of approaching the court," she said.

"It is the victory of the entire transgender community. It's time people stop discriminating against us. After a two-year-long legal battle, I am happy and relieved," she added

The high court's decision has not only assured Ganga a job, but also fulfiled her dream.

"It was my dream to serve the nation, which is why i opted for the job of constable in 2013. When i cleared the exam i was so happy and ready to serve the nation. But the last two years have been stressful for me. However now I am confident that i can overcome the problems," a beaming Ganga told DH.

A few months ago, 25-year-old K Prithika Yashini became the first transgender to join as a sub-inspector in the Tamil Nadu Police after the Madras High Court declared her candidature valid.
Health Minister KR Ramesh Kumar assured the Legislative Assembly on Thursday that the government will arrive at a final decision by today evening on the controversial Karnataka Private Establishments (KPME) Bill, which doctors across the state are vehemently protesting.



"I'm meeting the Chief Minister this evening to find a solution," Kumar said, in response to the Opposition BJP highlighting deaths of patients across the state due to the shut down of outpatient services in the wake of the doctors' strike. The BJP accused the government of being lax, holding Kumar responsible for the deaths of patients.

Kumar strongly defended the Bill and maintained it was in the interest of patients, especially the poor. "We are not against doctors, the medical profession or medical institutions," Kumar said. "No one is highlighting the death of patients when they can't afford treatment. But deaths of patients due to doctors' protest is all over the news," he rued.

The minister rejected the BJP's accusation that it was a matter of prestige for him to get the Bill passed. "The government has an open mind as far as the demands of the doctors are concerned," he said. He also denied reports that he would resign if the Bill was not passed.
 Anti-Israel NGO Admits: Palestinian Children Commit Terror for Status | Main | Wheres the Coverage? Israel Offered to Help Iranian and Iraqi Earthquake Victims 

November 16, 2017

Tucker Carlson Allows Max Blumenthals Anti-Israel Comments to Slide



This past Tuesday, on his Fox News television show Tucker Carlson Tonight, host Tucker Carlson interviewed Max Blumenthal about the Russian government-funded cable network RT and the Trump administrations attempt to have that station register as a foreign agent. For those familiar with Blumenthal and his anti-Israel vitriol, there was nothing surprising in what he said. What was surprising, though, was that Carlson let Blumenthals false and toxic allegations go unchallenged.

Responding to Carlsons question about why some journalists seem unconcerned about the administrations request, Blumenthal asserted that he enjoys his appearances on RT because they let me talk about, for example, what the real sources of foreign influence are in this town, including the Israel lobby, and organizations like AIPAC, which have been promoting a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza strip, war on Lebanon, war on Iran, and which is not required for some reason to register as a foreign agent, and I don't know why that is.?

Of course, AIPAC does not promote any of these things, and the reason it is not required to register as a foreign agent is that its leadership and members are U.S. citizens, and it doesnt take money or direction from foreign governments. Similar claims about an all-powerful Israel lobby? have been debunked many times over. Carlson, however, did not challenge any of these assertions. After a few more softball questions, he simply replied, Max, thank you, appreciate that analysis.?

This was not the first time that Max Blumenthal (who is the son of Clinton confidante Sidney Blumenthal) has appeared on Carlsons show. After Blumenthals July appearance, several conservative commentators criticized Carlsons decision to host him. Yet, this week, Carlson brought Blumenthal back.

Carlson might not have been so appreciative of Blumenthals comments if he were more familiar with his guests shaky track record. CAMERA has documented Blumenthals falsehoods going back years. As weve written before, Max Blumenthal has demonstrated a willingness to spread fabricated, distorted, and disavowed quotes.? The Simon Wiesenthal Center included his book Goliath in its list of Top Ten 2013 Anti-Semitic, Anti-Israel Slurs.? One German newspaper even referred to Blumenthal and compatriot David Sheen as lunatic Israel-haters? after they pursued a German politician into a bathroom.

Carlson frequently brings guests of various political persuasions to his program. He is known, however, for challenging them when he disagrees. In this case, Carlson invited onto his show a guest who is known for slandering Israel, but he was unprepared to dispute him and instead allowed his baseless comments to stand.



Posted by kabe at November 16, 2017 01:19 PM

The truth is that Carlson agrees with Blumenthal. Tucker Carlson is not a conservative hes a Paleocon in the tradition of Pat Buchanan. Fox News Is becoming the media outlet of the alt right.

Posted by: Joel at November 17, 2017 06:23 PM

Max Blumenthal tells lies about #Israel  a continuing series

https://ukmediawatch.org/2015/09/29/max-blumenthal-tells-lies-about-israel-a-continuing-series/

Posted by: Barry Meridian at November 19, 2017 12:24 PM

I agree with Joel. Recently, Carlson challenged Max Boot for being critical of Iranian policy by stating "when was the last time Iran killed any Americans?"

Posted by: Elliot at November 23, 2017 07:46 PM

Today, May 22, 2018, Tucker Carlson whined that Pres. Trump was leding us to war with Iran. Tucker Carlson also said that Iran is not the biggest state sponsor of terror we have (he didn't say who is). I wonder if Tucker Carlson is ?an Iran firster a la Pat Buchanan and the mis named "American"? I don't trust Tucker.Conservative"

Posted by: Underzog at May 22, 2018 10:06 PM

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Australian lawmakers on Thursday vowed to push through laws legalising same-sex marriage by early December, after a national survey found the majority of Australians favoured the move.



Both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Liberal-National coalition government and the main Opposition Labor Party said they were aiming to pass the law through parliament by December 7.

That timeline was even earlier than the Christmas deadline named by Turnbull on Wednesday after the country's statistics agency reported that 61.6% of voters surveyed favoured marriage equality, with 38.4% against.

Legislation was rushed into the national parliament's upper house Senate late on Wednesday, even as colourful celebrations in the major cities continued and congratulations rolled in from international supporters.

If the legislation passes as expected, Australia will become the 26th nation to legalise same-sex marriage, a watershed for a country where it was still illegal in some states to engage in homosexual activity until 1997.

The legislation faces some opposition from conservative lawmakers in the coalition, who have pledged to introduce amendments to protect religious freedom that would allow discrimination against same-sex couples.

Attorney-General George Brandis moved two amendments on Wednesday, seeking to extend protection to civil celebrants to refuse to officiate same-sex weddings.

"They'll move amendments and some of them will be accepted," Turnbull told a radio station on Thursday. "We're cracking (getting) on with it."

A rival bill proposed by the conservative faction that would have included widespread protections for religious objectors, including florists, bakers and musicians, to refuse service to same-sex couples was withdrawn after being widely condemned.

Full debate on the bill, which was introduced by Senator Dean Smith, a member of the coalition and the country's first openly gay lawmaker, is scheduled to begin on November 27.

Almost 80% of the country's eligible voters took part in the voluntary public survey - a higher voter turnout than Britain's Brexit vote and Ireland's same-sex marriage referendum.
Stepping up pressure over the Rafale fighter procurement, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday on accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of changing the deal to help one businessman.



"Can you explain 'Reliance' on someone with nil experience in aerospace for Rafale deal," Rahul asked on Twitter.

On Tuesday, the Congress had accused Modi of helping Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Limited to get a contract to produce Rafale fighter aircraft as part of the offset obligation, at the cost of state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

"Self 'Reliance' is obviously a critical aspect of 'Make in India," Rahul said, making a tongue-in-cheek reference to Dassault's agreement with Reliance as part of the offset clause of the deal to buy 36 fighter jets in a fly-away condition for the air force.

In a brief interaction with reporters, Rahul wondered why no questions were posed to the prime minister on the Rafale deal or BJP president Amit Shah on his son's businesses.

"You ask me so many questions & I answer you properly, why don't you ask the prime minister about Rafale deal," Rahul asked.

"Why don't you ask questions about Amit Shah's son? These are the questions I wanted to ask you," Rahul said in reference to Jay Shah's business dealings.

In the run-up to the Gujarat Assembly elections, the Congress is trying to restrict the campaign narrative to economic issues and also trying to raise allegations of corruption against the Modi government.

The Congress has also claimed that the aircraft was being purchased at much higher rates than what was decided after the completion of the tender process by the previous UPA government.

It also accused the NDA government of doing away with the transfer of technology clause that was negotiated during the UPA regime.

The BJP has rubbished the allegations, claiming it was intended to "divert attention" from the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal in which senior Congress leaders were facing allegations.

French officials have dismissed the allegations levelled by the Congress saying that it was a "domestic political matter". The official asserted that the India decided to purchase Rafale after a fully transparent and competitive process.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said his government will not table the revised version of Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Bill, 2017, in the legislature without taking the private medical doctors into confidence.



Replying on the issue in the Legislative Council, he said he will hold a meeting with ministers, including Health Minister K R Ramesh, today evening and finalise the government's stand on various issues raised by the doctors. The decision on tabling the revised Bill will be taken only after consulting the doctors, he added.

The doctors are staging protest against the Bill despite the government's assurance that it will not take unilateral decision in this regard. "There was no need for them (doctors) to stage protest. The Bill (revised version) has not been finalised, let alone tabling it in the legislature. I wonder why the doctors are protestinga I believe they are assuming a lot of things," he stated, urging them to withdraw the protest.

He, however, maintained that the Bill is in the interest of the poor.
Three persons died after consuming spurious liquor, while another was taken ill in Vaishali district of Bihar, where the state government has implemented total prohibition since last year.

In an another incident in Samastipur district, six people were arrested and a truck in which they were carrying more than 4,000 litres of liquor has been seized, police said today.

The death due to consumption of spurious liquor occurred at Basauli village under Baradi sahai police station of the Vaishali district on Wednesday night.

Local people, including the local village head (mukhiya,) claimed that the deaths were caused by spurious liquor, while Superintendent of Police (SP) Rakesh Kumar said that the exact reason behind the death could be known only after an investigation and post-mortem.

The deceased have been identified as Arun Patel (50), Devendra Paswan (45) and Lalbabu Paswan (46), Sadar police station SHO Chitaranjan Thakur said, adding that the person, who was taken ill after consuming liquor, has been admitted a nearby private hospital.

Last month, four people had died after consuming spurious liquor in Rohtas district after which the state government had place eight police personnel under suspension.

About the Samastipur incident, in-charge of Hathodi police station Suresh Prasad Yadav said, "We received information last night (Wednesday) that a truck with a Punjab number plate was passing through Punmadhampur village falling under Hathodi police station. We chased the vehicle and arrested all the six people inside."

"The truck was laden with bottles full of foreign liquor and the estimated quantity is more than 4,000 litres. The six arrested people include the driver of the truck and his helper - both of them from Punjab - while the remaining occupants of the vehicle are locals apparently involved in the illicit liquor business", Yadav said.

"Prima facie, they were planning to supply the liquor in Darbhanga district. Further investigations are on", he added.

Sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar was banned by the Nitish Kumar government since April last year.
At least fourteen people were killed and many wounded in a suicide bomb blast that in the Afghan capital on Thursday near a gathering of supporters of regional leader Atta Mohammad Noor, according to the interior ministry.



Noor is the governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party.

The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence in Afghanistan that has killed and wounded thousands of civilians this year.

Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said the suicide bomber approached a hotel hosting the gathering in the Khair Khana district of Kabul, on foot. The dead included five policemen and two civilians, and many more were wounded.

President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday sacked the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, raising doubts over whether parliamentary and council ballots scheduled for next year will take place as planned.
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Thursday said that the state government will not ban Sanjay Leela Bhansali's flick Padmavati in the state.

Replying to BJP members Lahar Singh in the Legislative Council, he said granting permission to the film comes under the purview of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film will be screened in the state if the CBFC gives permission. The government will take all measures to ensure law and order in the state, he added.

Earlier, Lahar Singh said, "Rani Padmavati and Rajput community stand as a symbol of bravery and patriotism. The wrong portrayal of Rani Padmavati in the movie has hurt the sentiments of the community. Protests are being staged across the state, including Bengaluru, opposing release of the film. Hence, the state government should not allow screening of the film."

Reddy, however, said he was not aware of the contents of the film and that it is responsibility of the CBFC to look into these aspects.
Amid a row over film 'Padmavati', former Union minister Shashi Tharoor claimed today that the "so-called valourous maharajas" had scurried to accommodate themselves when the British "trampled" over their honour and were now after a filmmaker claiming prestige was at stake.



At an event here Tharoor was asked why his book, 'An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India', had a "whiff of victimhood" when he holds that Indians had connived with the English.

"It is (our fault) and I say so. I actually don't take the mantle of victimhood. In about half a dozen places in the book, I am harsh enough on us... Some British reviewers said 'Why doesn't he explain why the British conquered?' And it's a fair question...," Tharoor said.

"In fact, every single one of these so-called valorous maharajas, who today are after a Mumbai filmmaker because their honour is at stake, they were less concerned about their honour when the British were trampling all over it. They scurried to accommodate themselves. So let's face it, there is no question, that we were complicit," he said.

The Congress leader's comments come at a time when Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie 'Padmavati' has been in the eye of a storm as the Shri Rajput Karni Sena and some other outfits have accused the filmmaker of distorting history and hurting Hindu sentiments.

Tharoor, meanwhile, said that his book was "not a plea that 'Oh! We are poor victims, forgive us". It very much points out that the British empire is not what many made people believe it to be, the former minister said.

Tharoor said Mahatma Gandhi showed a mirror to the British to made them realise about their acts.

"Mahatma Gandhi triumphed by shaming the British through their own brutalisation. He showed them a mirror and said, 'look at you, you are shaming yourselves, are these the value you stand for'? Fortunately the British were capable of being ashamed," Tharoor added.

He was in conversation with professor Peter Frankopan during a session at the opening ceremony of the eighth edition of the Tata Literature Live.
The numerical strength of all the political parties and alliances in Maharashtra will be put to test on December 7, if veteran leader Narayan Rane chooses to contest the elections to the upper House.



In that case, the fissures and political faultlines would stand exposed in the state - where the BJP and Shiv Sena, the two ruling alliance partners, are at war-of-words on a daily basis.

On 21 September, Rane, a former chief minister, resigned as an MLC and from the Congress, necessiating the elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

A six-time MLA, Rane, who lost two elections in recent times - during the 2014 Assembly polls and later the bypoll from Bandra in Mumbai - was later made an MLC.

But, he was sulking in the Congress and choose to resign and later floated the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha and subsequently joined the BJP-led NDA.

Given the fact that Rane remains the bete noire of Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, it is hardly a guess whether they would support him in case the BJP backs the former Shiv Sainik.

As far as the tally in the 288-member Assembly is concerned, the BJP leads the tally with 122 followed by the Shiv Sena (63), the Congress (42) and the NCP (41).

They are followed by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (1), the Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (3), the All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (2), the Peasants and Workers Party (3), the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (1), theBharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (1), the CPM (1), Samajwadi Party (1) and others/Independents (7). The magic figure is 145.

None of the parties have clarified its stand. However, the NCP has said that since the seat belonged to the Congress, the latter should contest it.
The JD(S) state executive committee meeting held here on Thursday sought the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the inter-state dispute over Mahadayi water sharing, to resolve the row through talks, to get drinking water for the region, pending the final verdict of the Mahadayi tribunal.

The meeting also resolved that railway projects sanctioned when JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowad was the prime minister, including Hubballi-Ankola and Munirabad-Mehaboobnagar lines and doubling and electrification of Belagavi-Bengaluru line, should be implemented fast. It also resolved that both Union and State governments should come for the help of farmers who are in distress.

Earlier, JD(S) National President H D Deve Gowda, and State JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy recalled that drinking water supply to Bengaluru from Cauvery river was arranged when Mr Deve Gowda was the prime minister, though the water sharing dispute was before the tribunal. Mr Modi can do that now in Mahadayi issue, but he is not responding, they lamented.

Deve Gowda asked the JD(S) leaders to show the progress to get the party ticket to contest in next Assembly elections.

Kumaraswamy noted that getting JD(S) ticket would not be easy this time, and ticket aspirants have to win the confidence of people, and should work hard to bring the party to power with a clear majority. He asked the candidates not to have 'match fixing' with other party leaders.

He also charged that neither Congress nor BJP have shown the concern to solve problems of farmers and others in the State.

State JD(S) Working President Basavaraj Horatti stated that the first list of candidates of the party would be released shortly. JD(S) National Working President P G R Sindhya noted that H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy would finalise the list of candidate, after collecting others' opinion, and the party would field hard working, winnable and pro-people candidates in the polls.
Amid reports of Pakistan's move to withdraw its bid to include Diamer-Bhasha Dam in PoK from the CPEC framework, China today said it was not aware of Islamabad's decision but the project to connect Xinjiang and Gwadar port is "progressing smoothly for the time being."



Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain was yesterday quoted by the Pakistan media as saying that "Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests."

"I am not aware of the information mentioned by you," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media here when asked about Pakistan's decision to take the dam project off the table contending that the conditions proposed by Beijing are "not doable" and goes against its interest.

"I can tell you that China and Pakistan cooperation is extensive and profound," Geng said. "As far as I know CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."

Briefing the Public Accounts Committee on the status of the mega water and power project, Hussain had said the Chinese conditions were about taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project by pledging another operational dam.

These conditions were unacceptable, therefore, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved a report to finance the dam from the country's own resources, Hussain said.

Pakistan's decision to publicise Chinese conditions came as a surprise, considering it shares close and "all weather" ties with China.

The announcement by the Pakistan government came days before the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting with China, which is scheduled for November 21 in Islamabad.

The JCC is the highest decision-making body of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through which China is infusing over USD 50 billion cash into Pakistan financing a host of energy projects. The CPEC passes through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Defending the connectivity project, Geng said "as for the CPEC we follow the principle of extensive consultation and jointly shared benefits to promote the building of the CPEC. It is conducive to promote connectivity of the two countries and connectivity of the whole region. As far as I know, CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."

Pakistan has been struggling to raise money from international institutions like the World Bank in the face of Indian opposition to the project on the Indus River in PoK.

Neither the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) nor China would finance the dam, therefore, the government decided to construct the reservoir from its own resources, Pakistans Express Tribune daily yesterday quoted Water Resources Secretary Shumail Khawaja as saying.
Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar charged that the prestige, irresponsibility and negligence of the State Government is responsible of death of several patients who could not get timely emergency care in private hospitals.

He told media persons here on Thursday that patients are suffering due to the prestige of the government which wants to bring amendments to the KPME Act at any cost, and the strike by private doctors.

Only 20% of hospitals in the State are government hospitals, and no proper alternative arrangements are also made in the background of private doctors' strike. This bill alone could not improve everything. The problem would have been solved if the government had given just a statement withholding the bill for the time being, he said.

Some private hospitals exploit people, but the entire doctors' community should not be blamed for that. Only those doctors who commit mistakes should be punished. Government hospitals should also be improved first. The government should hold talks with agitating doctors, and should put an end to this problem, Mr Shettar added.

Siddaramaiah government is the example for irresponsible government, while Health Minister Ramesh Kumar is an example for irresponsible minister, he charged.

Deve Gowda opposes bill

Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda also opposed the proposed amendments to the KPME Act, saying that it would trouble the doctors.

The government should not have brought this bill in such a hurry. The JD(S) would oppose it if it is tabled on the floor of the Legislature, he told media persons here on Thursday.
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday jumped into the row over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati.

The chief minister said there must not be any attempt to distort history in films.

Karni Sena, a Rajasthan-based outfit, has been protesting against the Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone starrer based on the life of Rani Padmini, a Rajput queen, claiming that it shows her in poor light.

Adityanath also sought deferment of the release saying that it could lead to the breakdown of law and order at a time when there were local body polls in the state.

The state government has written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking the deferment of the film's release on similar grounds.

Meanwhile, protests against the movie erupted in Uttar Pradesh with members of the All India Khastriya Mahasabha squatting on the railway track at the Allahabad station.

In capital Lucknow, office-bearers of a little-known outfit, Rajputana Shaurya Foundation, warned of dire consequences if the film was released in the state.

The foundation president Lokendra Singh also demanded a probe into the source of funds for the movie.

Singh, however, said that he did not support a Karni Sena leader's threat to chop off Deepika Padukone's nose if the film was released.




A day-long protest that witnessed the closure of out-patient services across the state is called off following a request by high court. Acting chief justice (H G Ramesh) has given us in writing, a letter asking us to call off the protest. We will be talking to chief minister (Siddaramaiah) and health minister (Ramesh Kumar ) on Friday to discuss the KPME Bill, said Dr R Ravindra, secretary, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association.





Dr Ravindra added that, doctors fraternity honours the request by the court and that is the reason for calling of the strike.





Around 22,000 doctors in the city started the protest against the controversial Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Bill. Doctors had decided for an indefinite protest starting from Thursday will closure of out-patient services.

Protesting private medical doctors have called off their strike in Bengaluru on Thursday evening following an intervention by the High Court of Karnataka.
A few more deaths were reported due to non-availability of treatment at private hospitals in North Karnataka.



A 65-year-old man from Kudligi in Ballari district died on Thursday as he could not get timely treatment at the Shamanur Shivashankarappa Hospital in Davangere.



The deceased, Ismail, was taken to the hospital on Wednesday as he was suffering from fever and showed symptoms of stroke.



He was brought back to Kudligi on Thursday afternoon as he could not get treatment due to the doctors' strike. But he breathed his last soon after.



Champakka Vasappa Mugamuru, 35, of Kanakapur village in Haveri taluk died of a heart attack at the district hospital in Haveri. Initially, when Champakka complained of chest pain on Wednesday night, no private hospital was open in Haveri. She received treatment from a local doctor, who said the condition was due to acidity.



But as she complained of chest pain again early Thursday morning, she was brought to the district hospital where she died.



A 58-year-old woman from Banahatti in Bagalkot district who had suffered a heart attack died on the way to the Jamakhandi government hospital. The woman received first aid at the Banahatti government hospital after she complained of chest pain early in the morning, as no private hospital in the town was open.



Prema Mahadeva Koshti, 45, of Banahatti, who was suffering from an illness was taken to the government hospital. But as her condition worsened, she was taken to the BLDE Hospital in Vijayapura, but she died on the way.



Sundaravva Badigera, 4, of Anagavadi in Bilagi taluk in Bagalkot district, was suffering from fever on Wednesday day. As none of the private clinics were open, she was taken to the Bilagi government hospital, but she died on the way.
Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that all farmers in the district must enrol in the 'Farmer Crop Survey Mobile App' and must upload the details of their agricultural crops to update their RTCs. The information fed through the application will help farmers in availing government benefits such as compensation.



Speaking during a workshop organised by the district administration and the department of agriculture at the DC's office in Mangaluru on Thursday, the DC said that Karnataka is the first state to experiment with the mobile phone-based crop survey.

From last month, details of the crop survey are being collected through the Android-based application 'Farmer Crop Survey Mobile App' by crop surveyors in all 422 villages in the district. The survey is 50% done. The government wants farmers to directly take part in the survey and hence has directed the district administration to ask farmers to enter the crop details through the app. The farmers have to download the mobile application and enter the details of the crop. The details are to be uploaded through the app every year.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar said that there are 10 lakh RTC plots and the crop survey of five lakh plots are done. The lands converted from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes, government lands and the lands acquired by the government for public purposes are excluded from the survey.

Android phones needed

The farmers registering with the app should have bank accounts. The usage of the app requires mobile phones enabled with Android 4.5 and above versions. If the farmers do not have such phones, they can use others' phone to upload the information.

The farmers have to download the mobile phone application, register themselves by providing Aadhaar number and other details before entering the details. Every crop is provided with a code and there are about 1,500 crop codes made available in the app. The crop details will be integrated with the e-platform Bhoomi and will be updated in column 12 of the RTC showing crop details.

No internet connection is required to enter the details. However, internet connection is needed to upload the crop details. The software is designed in such a way that the filled in details are automatically uploaded when the internet data is on. This is done keeping in mind the limited availability of internet connection in rural areas and interior regions.

Assistant Commissioner Renukaprasad and Agriculture department Joint Director Kempegowda were present among others.
The Karnataka State Road Safety Authority Bill, 2017, which seeks to curb accidents by making roads safer was passed in the Council on Thursday.

The Bill proposes setting up of the Karnataka State Road Safety Authority headed by the chief secretary to formulate policies, prescribe and enforce standards, implement road safety awareness programmes among others. To advise this panel, the Bill proposes a Karnataka State Road Safety Council headed by the transport minister.

"The Authority will get nearly Rs 180 crore drawn from transport cess, smart card fees and fines to implement road safety measures," Transport Minister H M Revanna said after tabling the Bill. "Karnataka stands fourth in India in the number of accidents, so it's important to take steps towards road safety."

The BJP and the JD(S) members suggested several changes to the Bill such as removing the chief secretary as the head of the Authority and inclusion of civil society groups. BJP member Tara Anuradha even suggested installation of mobile phone jammers on highways "so that drivers don't use phones while driving."

One-time cess

A one-time cess of up to Rs 1,000 will be levied during registration of new vehicles, according to the Bill. Different rates will be levied for different classes of motor vehicles. The cess collected will go to the Karnataka Road Safety Fund, which will be used by the Road Safety Authority.
The Bengaluru-based Synergia Foundation is organising its biennial flagship event -- The Synergia Conclave from November 17-19.

Themed 'Security 360', the fifth Synergia Conclave, is focusing on reimagining security and business in the digitised assymetric world. The conference aims to bring together strategic security practitioners, policymakers, media and business enterprises on a single platform to obtain a 360 degree perspective on cyber and national security.

The conclave, conducted in collaboration with IT/BT Ministry of Government of Karnataka at Hotel Taj West End, will be focusing on the role of techniques like offensive tactical response, proactive intelligence to develop counter narratives.

"The objective of the Synergia Conclave is to help both governments and industry to re-imagine security and business in a digitised world and does security mean active defense or can it mean furthering relationships, confronting inequalities and recognising each other's humanity" Tobby Simon-Founder and President of Synergia Foundation said.

Among others, the speakers at the conference include Michael Chertoff a Former US Home Land Security Chief, Michael Hayden a Former NSA and Director of the CIA , Krishnan Srinivasan a Former Foreign Secretary, M K NarayananaFormer NSA and Director of IB.

The conference expects to have the entire Prime Ministers National Advisory board,

many members of the National Security Council, Ministers of the Central and State Government, more than 40 CEO and Presidents of companies.
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Ingalls Shipbuilding celebrated two more shipbuilding milestones this week, authenticating the keel of one ship and turning the keys to another over to the Navy.

Tuesday, the Pascagoula shipyard hosted a keel authentication ceremony for the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Lenah H. Sutcliffe (DDG 123) -- named in honor of the first woman to earn the Navy Cross, the U.S. Navy's highest honor.

In earlier days, shipbuilders would host a "keel laying" ceremony, but advances in shipbuilding technology have turned the tradition into a "keel authentication" ceremony in which the authenticators verify the keel has been laid "true."

"Today marks the true start of this ship's construction," said Cmdr. Scott Williams, program manager representative for Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast. "With 29 Ingalls-built Arleigh Burke-class destroyers currently in active service and four of her sister ships also in production here at Ingalls, the mere continuity of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer over the past 25 years shows their importance to our naval forces.

"To the men and women of Huntington Ingalls Industries who will bring DDG 123 to life, thank you. Thank you to the shipfitters, pipefitters, electricians, welders, testers and engineers who will toil in this historic shipbuilding journey that will carry a pioneer's name."

DDG 123 will be the second ship named in honor of Higbee, a native of Canada who served as a United States Navy chief nurse, and later as the second Superintendent of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps during World War I. The first USS Higbee was a destroyer commissioned in 1945 that was the first U.S. Navy surface warship named for a female member of the Navy.

"It is always exciting to celebrate the keel authentication of another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer," said Ingalls president Brian Cuccias. "The keel authentication is an important milestone in a ship's life, as we lay the foundation upon which this great ship will be built. Like her namesake, DDG 123 will be strong and capable. Our men and women in the Navy--and Mrs. Higbee's legacy--deserve nothing less."

Louisa Dixon, Virginia Munford and Pickett Wilson are the ship's sponsors. The three women played an important role during former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus' term as governor of Mississippi.

Ingalls structural welder C.C. Tanner welded the three sponsors' initials onto a steel plate, signifying the keel of DDG 123 as being "truly and fairly laid." The plate will remain affixed to the ship throughout its lifetime.

"We want to thank Ingalls Shipbuilding, its employees and its suppliers for the high standards of design and construction and the strong and important support they give their employees and the state of Mississippi," Dixon said. "We are thrilled and look forward to seeing everyone again at a christening in the very near future."

Ingalls Shipbuilding delivered the guided missile destroyer Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) to the U.S. Navy Wednesday. Signing the DD 250 document are (left to right) Cmdr. Jason P. Patterson, the ship's prospective commanding officer; Cmdr. Scott Williams, program manager representative for Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast; and Freddie Joe O'Brien, Ingalls' DDG 114 ship program manager.

A day later, on Wednesday morning, Ingalls held a ceremony to officially deliver the destroyer Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) to the Navy.

"Today's delivery is a culmination of the hard work and dedication of thousands of shipbuilders, industry partners, the Navy and our Gulf Coast shipmates," said George Nungesser, Ingalls' DDG program manager. "It is a pleasure for our Ingalls team to observe a well-trained crew take ownership of the ship. The shipbuilders of Ingalls will always be watching where you go and celebrating your successes."

Ingalls and Navy representatives signed the DD 250 document t, which officially transfers ownership of the ship from Huntington Ingalls Industries -- the shipyard's parent company -- to the Navy.

"This marks an important milestone in this ship's life with the formal completion of construction," said Cmdr. Jason P. Patterson, the ship's prospective commanding officer. "I want to thank the shipbuilders for constructing this great ship named after a great man. The crew can sail with confidence that this ship will bring the fight to the enemy and take care of her team just like Ralph did."

DDG 114 is named in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Ralph Henry Johnson, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner for his actions during the Vietnam War. Johnson threw himself on an explosive device, saving the life of one fellow marine and preventing the enemy from penetrating his sector.

Johnson was killed instantly, having only been "in country" for about two months. He was 19.

Ingalls has now delivered 30 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls include Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123).

The Johnson is expected to depart Ingalls in February and scheduled to be commissioned into the fleet on March 24 in Charleston, S.C.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) today said that there was "no overpricing" in the Rafale purchase as the government had "negotiated a very good" deal for the French fighter aircraft.



"It is not overpricing... We have negotiated for 36 French fighter aircraft Rafale (at a price) lower than that in the contract. The government has negotiated a very good deal," Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said.

Stressing that it was a "government-to-government contract", he told the media at the Adampur Air Force station near here that the IAF was getting 36 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) at a greatly "negotiated price".

"It is definitely a better deal. It is lower than what was there in the MRMCA contract," he said without going into specifics.

The Rafale deal has been the focus of debate with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing the Prime Minister of changing the "entire deal" to benefit a businessman, a charge debunked by the ruling BJP.

The Congress also claims technology is not being transferred to India under the deal.

Dhanoa said two aircraft had been purchased in a fly-away condition as an emergency measure.

"We are getting 50 percent offset," he said, without elaborating.

On technology transfer, he said, "Technology may not be going to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) but it is coming to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and then to a lot of Indians".

The IAF chief said a plan was in place to deal with the "drop-down" -- or dip -- in IAF squadrons.

He said the government had ordered two squadrons of Su 30.

"The drop-down will be made up by two Rafale, two Su 30, two LCA squadrons and 80 more aircraft which will give four more squadrons," he said.

The government has authorised 42 squadrons to the IAF and at present, there are 33.

He, however, added that the drop-down did not affect the performance of the force.

"It does not mean that we cannot carry out operations. We can do restricted operations. For carrying out full-spectrum operations the IAF needs a certain amount of force," he said.

"There was an order of 272 aircraft and once again we were 35 short by March 2017," he said.

Dhanoa said a contract was signed in March 2006 for 20 Tejas aircraft to be delivered between April 2009 and December 2010.

"Out of these 20 aircraft, only five were received ... Again a contract was signed in December 2010 for 20 more aircraft to be delivered between June 2014 and December 2016. So we have already committed to 40 aircraft in addition to 83 more Tejas," he said.

He said the IAF would induct Mark 2 fighters with higher thrust engines and new weapons by 2027.

Shortcomings in LCA Mark 1 will be removed in the LCA Mark 1A aircraft and then Mark 2 will be manufactured, he said.

"Gradually we will make advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, moving from low medium to high technology aircraft," he said.
Out-patient services across the city were affected on Thursday as the private medical establishments decided to continue their protest.



Around 22,000 doctors have assembled near Indian Medical Association, Bengaluru to protest against the controversial Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Bill.

Hospitals, Nursing Homes and clinics that are otherwise busy were seen vacant with empty chairs and hardly any paramedic or junior doctors to attend to emergency services.

"The pain is extremely bad. I have been calling the doctors to get an appointment for the past three days, " said A M R Ramesh, a film director, who has been suffering from a post-surgery lower back pain.

Ramesh was in Sri Lanka for three days and returned to the city due to his medical condition. At the Sagar Hospital, in spite of difficult to talk due to the pain, he said,"I have been sitting here for some time now. I am unable to sit due to the pain. But I will have to wait for the senior consultant to come. There are only junior doctors here at present."

While he was waiting at the emergency ward, the receptionist said that the out-patient services are closed indefinitely.

"I have been going to all the clinics and hospitals nearby as I am suffering from fever for the last three days. The clinics are closed and there are no doctors in hospitals too," said Vijaya, 38 who visited Rajashekhar hospital at JP Nagar.

The shutters of most of the clinics in the city are closed with a notice apologising for the inconvenience and informing that the service will not be provided.

Dr George D'Souza, dean, St John's Medical Hospital said that the hospital receives around 1,500-2,000 out-patients in a day and it was unfortunate that the OPD was closed today. "We receive as many patients as the government hospitals do and our patients come from different states, as far as from West Bengal. We had informed the patients about the closure, however, the hospital did receive few patients in the morning who had to return. Emergency cases were however looked into," he added.

Toufiq, 27, who is a construction worker had come to Apollo for an operation for his uncle, Hunar. They were asked to call on Sunday for an appointment and were unable to meet a doctor.

"The whole team of doctors from Sakra World Hospital are at the protest," said Dr Swaroop Gopal, senior consultant, neuro-surgery, Sakra World Hospital.

He said that a senior police officer from north Karnataka visited the hospital with a brain tumour as the hospitals refused to admit him. He added that even after asking him to approach government hospitals, he insisted on visiting a private hospital.

Private hospitals across the state are protesting against the government's decision to implement the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPMC) Bill in its current form. Representatives from the private medical associations had suggested to the joint select committee of the state legislature to modify the Bill, while the government has gone ahead to pass the bill in its original form.

Doctors of various private medical associations within the city staged a protest at Indian Medical Association, Bengaluru.

Dr Jayanna, president-elect, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes association said that the protest will continue until the demands of the doctors are considered.

"We have had several discussions with the government about the changes we have demanded in the amendments. This is not yet addressed. The protest will go on until it is addressed.

DH News Service
Days after shutting down its shuttle service, Ola seems to be in spot yet again with the BMTC complaining against the cab aggregator's Share Express feature that offers journeys between fixed points in the city.



An official from Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) told DH the complaint was written to the Transport Department early November. "We have explained how Ola's feature violates the permit conditions and requested the officials to take necessary action," she said.

When contacted, BMTC managing director Ponnuraj confirmed the complaint and said the cab aggregator should abide by the law.

"The Transport Commissioner has been intimated on the cab service offered on the lines of a stage carriage," he said. About possible losses caused by Ola, Ponnuraj said the corporation was looking at the issue more from the legal perspective. "More than losses, it is the violation of rules," he said.

After crackdowns by RTO inspectors and a notice, Ola shut down its shuttle feature that offered ridesharing through maxicabs and vehicles with 10+2 seating capacity. The Share Express provides the similar option but with cars.

According to its website, Ola has 23 sets of fixed destinations, most of them in IT corridors for "quicker share rides". Uber allows ridesharing without any fixed routes, the major contention of the complaint.

The BMTC also cites the BTS Area Scheme which permits only the city bus corporation to provide transport service between pre-designated pickup/drop points. Ola refused to comment on the issue. The complaint comes after senior BMTC officials submitted that ridership on buses in some corridors in the eastern part of the city has taken a hit due to Share Express.

Asked about possible action against Ola, Additional Transport Commissioner H G Kumar said there is no clarity in the rule on Share Express as well as Share features by cab aggregators.

"The definition of motorcab allows collection of separate fares. But there is legal ambiguity as to allowing operation of ridesharing in nationalised route. We have sought clarification form the Centre five months ago. We are waiting for their response before taking action," he added.
Carmel Valleys Steve DeNato is hoping to bring local men together to make a difference in their community with his social and charitable group Men on a Mission.

The group meets twice a year and members commit to writing two $100 checks for local charities of the groups choice at each gathering  a commitment of $400 a year. At the meeting, members share informally about their charities of choice and the men pick who the contributions will be made to.

The meetings are also an opportunity to socialize and hear from interesting guest speakers such as former San Diego Charger center Nick Hardwick and former San Diego Padres pitcher Randy Jones.

Its a really good group of guys and a really good cause, DeNato.

The second meeting for the year will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at New English Brewing Company in Sorrento Valley. The guest speaker will be a member of the military.

DeNato started the group with some of his friends in 2015.

When I first started to think about giving back, there were so many charities, it was overwhelming, DeNato said.

After hearing about how some of his Michigan high school friends had joined together to create a similar Men on a Mission group, he thought it was a great idea to start locally.

Through the power of numbers, we combine our donations to make a positive impact on our local community and have fun doing it, DeNato said.

At the groups last gathering in May, the 40 men were able to make donations to Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, which helps transforms the lives of children suffering from physical deformities through reconstructive surgeries, and Hardwicks selected charity ARTS  A Reason To Survive, which helps San Diego youth realize their full potential through the arts.

While the first meetup in 2015 was held in Encinitas, since then they have mainly gathered at Crust Pizzeria in Torrey Hills. Novembers meetup will be the first one held at the brewery, in New Englishs recently-opened large event space.

While word has spread grassroots-style through his friends and little league and school connections, DeNato is looking to recruit new members.

The goal is to get to 100 members so were sending $10,000 checks to two separate charities, DeNato said.

New English Brewing is located at 11545 Sorrento Valley Road, suite 305. For more information, email sdmenonamission@gmail.com or call Steve at (858) 794-7308 or visit sdmenonamission.com.
At Conscious Meal Time, otherwise known as lunch, students at the School of Universal Learning (SOUL) gather in a circle to socialize and eat quietly, all together as a group. No cliques, no bullying, no isolation of students.

Afterwards, the children have time before afternoon classes to play in a large central game room, over watchful eyes of adults to ensure the sense of inclusiveness carries over.

In its spacious location at the Solana Beach Boys & Girls Club, SOUL opened in September for students in seventh and ninth grades.

The Boys & Girls Club is a great facility and location, said co-founder Michael Grimes. Theyve been great to work with.

We dont feel facility needs is a concern any more, he said, speaking of their biggest obstacle after being authorized in January by the San Diego County Board of Education.

Thats not to say SOUL wont be applying for space from the San Dieguito Union High School District for next year, as is its right under Proposition 39.

Depending upon enrollment and rent costs, the new charter school has the option to take offered space from SDUHSD, stay at the Boys & Girls Club, or find a new location.

Ironically, at its present location, SOUL would be the only San Dieguito school with a pool on-site. Grimes said they hope to find a time for weekly day use of the pool for physical education.

Even though SDUHSD voted not to authorize SOUL, which forced the charter school to appeal to the county for authorization, SOULs charter application is based within the boundaries of San Dieguito. That makes San Dieguito responsible for providing facility space (at fair market value), if SOUL can prove it has at least 80 students residing within SDUHSD boundaries who are committed to attending SOUL, according to co-founder and Grimes partner Marisa Bruyneel Fogelman.

Fogelman said they have more than enough students for that, with more than 50 so far on the waitlist who have signed the Intent to Enroll form. Plus, she said the school has students transferring in every week.

Enrollment currently stands at 32 in seventh grade and 15 in ninth grade. Students reside primarily within the SDUHSD boundaries, particularly Encinitas, but also come from Carlsbad, Poway, La Jolla and other surrounding communities.

An exciting development, Fogelman said, is that the county allowed the school to open an eighth grade class this year for the second quarter, which began Nov. 6. Seven students in eighth grade are enrolled so far.

The program

All academic lessons follow state standards and a-g requirements, and assessment testing occurs three times a year. The founders are confident they can show growth over time.

In addition to academic assessments, SOUL applies holistic assessments, as part of its philosophy is to inspire emotional confidence, internal stability, and personal and collective responsibility.

SOUL operates on a quarterly basis, with four quarters each school year. Each quarter ends with an Exhibition Night when students present their work from the preceding quarter to the school, family and public. The first quarter ended Nov. 1, with an Exhibition Night held Nov. 2.

Its everything theyve been working on for the past nine weeks, Fogelman said.

The school covers state standards through rigorous project-based learning. Hands-on learning, the founders say, enhances deeper-level thinking skills. The goal is to prepare students for college and the workforce.

After-school tutoring is offered as well.

Electives include Entrepreneurship (which is designed to give students the opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset), art, martial arts, and Odyssey of the Mind (an international creative problem-solving competition).

Every other Wed. the girls and boys are separated for lessons that help them develop their own sense of purpose and also work to break down gender role stereotypes.

Fogelman called it creating sacred space for the girls to foster a sense of sisterhood, and Grimes said discussions with the boys often center around how to openly talk about emotions.

The schools five teachers, all fully credentialed educators, are referred to as guides, because rather than teaching our students information, we see their role as guiding students toward discovering more of who they are, Fogelman said.

A key part of preparation for adult life is instilling a sense of personal satisfaction and respect for oneself and others. The schools Integra program seeks to meet those objectives.

Each day includes 90 minutes of Integra  20 minutes at the start and end of the day, and a 50-minute class mid-day. Integra is Latin for entire/complete/whole, and the classes are designed to address the needs of the whole being.

Integra focuses on five areas, one each day of the week: mental power, emotional intelligence, social skills, physical well-being and personal development.

In a ninth-grade Integra class on the day focused on physical well-being, teacher/guide Justin Moodie, a Torrey Pines High School graduate and now a credentialed teacher, asked his students what they can do to stay happy, as it relates to physical well-being.

Answers were varied, and there was respect for the different paths individuals take to happiness.

One student said she was happy when she makes a good decision, like choosing to eat carrots instead of chips.

Let my emotions out; dont keep them in, said another.

Stay hydrated.

Stay social.

Find ways to be proud of yourself.

Grimes and Fogelman are pleased with the execution and implementation of their curriculum. Weve essentially put theory into practice, Fogelman said.

The students

The belief that charter schools pre-select their students for success is a myth, Fogelman said, noting that SOUL students are a diverse group.

Student enrollment includes 25 percent special education students, and 25 percent of students qualify for free and/or reduced lunch (a gauge of poverty).

All the kids are here because theyve chosen an alternative school, Fogelman said.

Reasons vary. Its often because they do not feel safe or respected at their previous school, or that theyre not thriving emotionally or academically. Emotional issues and bullying can interfere with learning in profound and lasting ways.

Although she said the kids say that everyone at SOUL is kind and accepting, there are disciplinary issues.

Like any other school, we do have problems and conflicts, Fogelman said. We bring kids into the office whenever this happens, and we have the kids talk about how to work through their dynamics.

SOUL uses restorative justice techniques which are not punitive, and teachers also serve as counselors and work with students one-on-one. So far this has been a successful strategy, she said.

A seventh-grade student from Leucadia described the school as friendly and fun. Theres always a good vibe, he said. It makes me want to come back each day.

He said he enjoys the projects and learning from others in the group. In history, for example, he said they are creating their own country, with laws, a government and system of justice.

This is a great school, with dedicated teachers, interesting and meaningful projects, and at the core their Integra program, said parent Lili Sanders. The directors and staff are amazing, and whats more my son is really heard as a student and as an individual.

Sanders, who lives in the north county coastal San Dieguito district, has a seventh-grader at SOUL who was previously home-schooled.

What I really love about this school is that they celebrate differences, said parent Julie Anderson. We all have talents. We all have something different to give.

Speaking of the founders, she said, Not only is it everything [they] presented, but its more. Its just night and day. I almost cant put it into words. We all have children whove had a struggle or just werent being accepted for whatever reason. SOUL is a very special school.

Tiffany Rose, president of SOULs Parent Organization, said her son moved to SOUL from Torrey Pines High School.

The traditional school system did not work for my son, she said. He could not thrive. The teachers have so many students, they tend to live more in a structured box without seeing the beauty of the kids who live outside the lines.

Since her son has been at SOUL, shes seen growth, more responsibility, leadership opportunities, great friendships, pride in his work, and self-confidence.

I see him thriving, she said. It gives him a glimpse of whats possible for him in the future. He feels seen and heard.

She said the extended family makes him feel encouraged, supported and loved  even if its tough love.

With small class sizes and a small community, nothing falls through the cracks, she said.

Rose said there is an expectation of greatness and a celebration of what the students achieve.

SOUL lives outside the box, giving these students a vision, an attitude, that they may not ever see inside the current traditional school system, she said. SOUL is magical.

The future

A charter school is a public school that operates independently. There is no cost to families to attend. Charters are paid by the state per student based on Average Daily Attendance, just as other public schools are funded.

California state standards are applied, and academic measures and progress reports are part of a charter schools renewal process.

Critics say its unfair for charter schools to open and take away money from traditional public schools.

Proponents, however, say more public school options are needed for kids who dont thrive in the traditional comprehensive high school, no matter how well it scores on national rankings.

Because the county only authorized SOUL for two years, the founders must apply by January 2019 for reauthorization.

We will go before the county around this time next year to begin the renewal process, Grimes said. We have been meeting with the county and feel good about this process.

Said Rick Shea, president of the San Diego County Board of Education, As the authorizer for SOUL, it is our responsibility to both support and monitor the school.

Shea has visited the school a few times since its September opening and said, I have observed passionate and committed parents who find the school to be beneficial for their students. At my most recent visit I interacted directly and in-depth with parents, school staff, and with students who explained their projects to me in detail.

He said the county office of education is always looking for innovative approaches to education that benefit children and comply with the law.

The biggest challenge now for SOUL, a non-profit, is fundraising, Grimes said, adding that they are actively seeking grants.

SOUL founders had hoped to open this year with 100 students in seventh and ninth grades but fell short primarily due to the uncertainty of a location until just a few months before the start of school.

Permission to open an eighth-grade class this quarter is good news for the school.

Eighth-grade enrollment  might positively impact low enrollment which remains a concern for both SOUL and the county board, Shea said.

Next year the school will add 10th grade. Doubling of the grades next year will help, Grimes said.

Central to SOULs guiding principles is the belief that traditional schools often overlook the full range of what todays children need.

All students deserve educational options, said Fogelman. We are redefining what need is.

For more information, see www.soulcharterschool.org.

Opinion columnist and Sr. Education Writer Marsha Sutton can be reached at suttonmarsha@gmail.com.
The San Diego City Council elected to postpone its vote on amending the parks and recreation fee schedule amid concerns about a lack of public input and too many unanswered questions. At the Oct. 31 meeting, the council heard from 26 speakers in opposition, many of them longtime recreation council volunteers in communities from Adams Avenue to Ocean Beach and Carmel Valley, concerned about the elimination of their revenue source and loss of local control.

Rather than take the vote, the council instead referred the item to the Dec. 6 Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods committee meeting to allow more details to be vetted.

District 1 Councilmember Barbara Bry said like the recreation council volunteers, she felt blindsided by the proposed change and that more time was needed to resolve the many unanswered questions.

I understand there may be a need for the city to control the money but I want to make sure each rec council has the ability to choose their own programming, to set their own fees, Bry said. You all know your customers the best. We can never know that at City Hall, thats why youre so important.

We want to continue to work with rec councils, we want their input, said Herman Parker, director of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department. Its imperative we have recreation councils input on programs and services.

Currently, the Carmel Valley Recreation Council has about $417,000 in its account and is one of the top performing councils in the city. The council uses those funds to keep its recreation center open longer, enhance park maintenance, fund special events and activities, and provide quality programming tailored to the communitys needs.

Recreation councils across the city generate approximately $4 million in revenue from fee surcharges, permits and donations, managed in private accounts. A special use permit gives them the authority to collect those funds.

On Sept. 8, City Attorney Mara Elliott sent a memo stating that all funds collected by recreation councils are city funds and subject to charter and code requirements. To achieve compliance, City Council would be required to revise the fee schedule and all funds would be deposited into a special revenue fund, giving authority back to City Council and restricting the use of recreation council spending.

The rec councils currently control these funds without city oversight, Elliott said. There are no checks and balances to ensure public dollars are spent fairly, appropriately and in compliance with state and local laws.

Recreation councils would continue in their advisory roles, Elliott said, the only change is that they wont take physical possession of the funds.

This is one of those issues thats bothered me since I first arrived at council, said Councilmember Scott Sherman. Why do we have private citizens in charge of city money?

Sherman said 90 percent of volunteers care deeply about the community and make sure money is accounted for in the right way but he believes having unelected people in charge of city funds violates the charter.

As painful as it is, I think its the right thing to do, Sherman said.

Elliott said she would not sign an extension of the recreation councils special use permits which are set to expire on Dec. 31 this year, a concern to all that programs would be interrupted and communities would suffer.

The proposed change came about quickly after the September memo as Parker said: It became apparent to us that we were violating city codes and charters and we felt it appropriate to change the flow of those funds as quickly as we could.

Marilee Pacelli, chair of the Carmel Valley Recreation Council, said she is frustrated in the way the issue has been handled and that there was no collaboration with the citys 52 local recreation councils.

An opinion is not a directive but it is being treated as such by parks and rec, Pacelli said.

The feeling of being blindsided, and the urgency in which the change was being moved forward created suspicion and distrust, speakers said.

Those volunteer recreation council members speaking in opposition said the proposed changes were unfair and were like a slap in the face to volunteers, saying We dont trust you.

I no longer feel like a partner, said Pat Warren, who considers herself the oldest living volunteer in Ocean Beach. This is just adding another layer of mayonnaise to the bureaucracy.

John Horst, of the Mira Mesa Recreation Council, said it was objectively false that there are no checks and balances. He said if the special use permit does not adequately comply with the law, the committee should work to figure out how to make those checks and balances lawful. He said that confiscating over $4 million from recreation councils initially looked to him like a bureaucratic power grab but now he is concerned there is an attempt to shove aside community groups like rec councils and planning groups and to stick the politics of it on the city attorney.

In response to Shermans comments, Councilmember David Alvarez noted that groups of private citizens do manage city funds, including maintenance assessment districts, business improvement districts and tourism marketing districts. He said he would not support the motion for the proposed change but instead wanted to find a legal way for the recreation councils to continue to work with the city in a partnership, with checks and balances and audit and transparency requirements.

City Council members said that they were in a very difficult position and up against a very aggressive timeline, with Elliott stating she would not sign off on any special use permits.

Councilmember Mark Kersey initially reluctantly supported the motion to approve the changes.

Im supporting this but not because I want to but because I dont want programs at our rec centers to collapse when special use permits arent renewed, Kersey said, after making an amendment to the motion to ensure that donations and fundraising stay local.

As the council prepared to vote, Kersey withdrew his second and instead urged for the continuance.

As for the timeline, Elliott said that this was not a new issue and that these same concerns had been raised by her predecessor. She said she has been working on this issue since she took office and delayed issuing an opinion because Parks and Recreation had assured her they were working to resolve all of the issues raised.

We took them at their word and its very apparent that did not occur, Elliott said. Im very disappointed and we all should not make that mistake of trusting our department to communicate again.
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- In February, Ocean Springs aldermen voted to approve the necessary funds to hire an additional police officer, one who would be dedicated to patrolling the city's downtown area.

Into the post stepped Van Garrard, a former Ocean Springs Police Department officer who came back strictly for the downtown position.

Garrard was perfect for the role. Young, energetic and personable, he quickly established relationships with virtually all of the business owners in the downtown area.

But the honeymoon ended quickly. Garrard said he was only on patrol downtown for about 5 weeks when personnel shortages within the OSPD resulted in Garrard being pulled from his downtown patrol and into regular patrol shifts throughout the city, leaving the downtown area without the dedicated patrolman the board of aldermen had originally intended.

"Really, I only worked downtown the first four and a half weeks, then I got pulled back to regular patrol," said Garrard, who resigned from the OSPD last week to move into the private sector. "They changed my schedule five times."

Alderman Rob Blackman said he and other aldermen are not happy the downtown area has been left without a dedicated patrolman, but he understands the situation.

"They were shorthanded on two shifts and had to start pulling Van to work those shifts," Blackman said. "We weren't happy about that because that position was created to patrol downtown. But they were in a pinch and had to cover those shifts."

Police Chief Mark Dunston said a slew of resignations in a short period of time forced him to pull Garrard from the downtown patrol. He declined to say exactly how many police personnel left, but did note none of them left for another police department paying more -- a rare occurrence for the OSPD.

"It's cyclical," Dunston said of the departures. "It happens like that. We'll go awhile and then suddenly a handful will leave."

Dunston said he intends to replace the downtown patrol position "as soon as I'm up to speed." He also said he hopes to expand the downtown patrol.

"We've applied for a grant to get two more officers downtown," he said. "We're still waiting to hear on that."

Blackman said the downtown patrol is a high priority for the City.

"Whoever is hired for that spot will be back downtown," he said. "We still have every intention of having a patrol officer dedicated to the downtown area. The PD just got three people out of the (police) academy, so there should be enough now to cover the (regular) shifts."

Blackman added that Garrard's departure is a loss to the city.

"We all hated to see him go. I can tell you that," Blackman said. "What a good presence he had and great rapport with the people downtown. We're really going to miss him."
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By JOHN SCHROYER

Marijuana Business Daily

LAS VEGAS  New Jersey recreational marijuana legalization may be a highlight of 2018; it's possible but unlikely the Trump administration will crack down on the U.S. cannabis industry; and major mainstream corporations are not going to miss out on the business opportunities presented by the burgeoning marijuana trade.

Those are just a few of the highlights from four keynote speakers on the opening day of the sixth MJBizCon, which began Wednesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.





. . .
Mercedes-Benz expanding here

Dosenbach

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America now has about 20 engineers in its Western Avenue office near the waterfront, but the company said that number will soon grow to around 150. The R&D lab will be headed by veteran local software engineer Mike Dosenbach, formerly of Amazon and Okta, who said in a statement, We believe Seattle is the right spot to attract the best cloud talent for us. As the first OEM with a lab for cloud development in Seattle, we commit to this area and see the new office as a long-term investment. The company didn't disclose whether it would expand at its present location or move.




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SEATTLE  A commercial portion of the Lumen condominium, at 500 Mercer St., has sold for $17.75 million, according to King County records.

The seller was 500 Mercer Partners LLC, which is associated with Lumen's original developers, including general contractor Exxel Pacific.





. . .
UK SC upholds Scotland's price hike on cheap booze

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland can set a minimum price for alcohol, rejecting a challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). It is expected to become the first country in the world to set a minimum price for alcohol after the court rejected a last-ditch appeal against the move.

The ruling has reignited calls for the policy to be applied across the UK.

After the Supreme Court verdict, ministers are expected to make Scotland the first country in the world to establish a minimum price per unit of alcohol, possibly early next year.

Legislation was approved by the Scottish Parliament five years ago but has been tied up in court challenges.

In a unanimous judgment, seven Supreme Court judges said the legislation did not breach European Union law. The judges ruled the measure was a "proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim" - which is to reduce the amount that problem drinkers consume simply by raising the price of the strongest, cheapest alcohol.

The move is not a tax or duty increase. It is a price hike for the cheapest drink, with any extra cash going to the retailer.

Ministers said a 50p-per-unit minimum would help tackle Scotland's "unhealthy relationship with drink" by raising the price of cheap, high-strength alcohol.

The whisky association had claimed the move was a "restriction on trade" and there were more effective ways of tackling alcohol misuse.

A small number of countries, including Canada and Russia, have some form of minimum price structure, according to the Institute for Alcohol Studies.

Many others have rules aimed at restricting cheap alcohol sales.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted, "Absolutely delighted that minimum pricing has been upheld by the Supreme Court. This has been a long road - and no doubt the policy will continue to have its critics - but it is a bold and necessary move to improve public health."

The Scotch Whisky Association said it accepted the Supreme Court's ruling.

The Scottish government believes cracking down on cheap alcohol will help tackle the country's binge-drinking culture. Last year, Alcohol Focus Scotland claimed the maximum recommended weekly intake of alcohol (14 units) could be bought for just 2.52, the BBC reports.

It said super-strength cider and own-brand vodka and whisky could be purchased for as little as 18p per unit of alcohol.

The 50p-per-unit minimum outlined by the legislation would raise the price of the cheapest bottle of red wine (9.4 units of alcohol) to 4.69, a four-pack of 500ml cans of 4 per cent lager (8 units) would cost at least 4 and a 70cl bottle of whisky (28 units of alcohol) could not be sold for less than 14.

Normal strength cider (5 per cent ABV) would cost at least 2.50 a litre while a super-strength version (7.5 per cent ABV) would have to cost a minimum of 3.75 for a litre.

Minimum pricing will not raise the prices of all alcoholic drinks because many are already above the threshold.

Pubs and bars are unlikely to be affected as they usually charge much more than 50p per unit.

The aim is to hit consumption of strong alcohol which is sold at low prices.

The new laws would be "experimental" and expire after six years unless renewed.

Supporters of minimum pricing believe the move is necessary to tackle the country's binge drinking culture, with Scots buying 20 per cent more alcohol on average than people in England or Wales.

The judges at the Supreme Court rejected the Scotch Whisky Association's claim that an excise duty or tax would be an equally effective way of achieving the government's objectives.

The judges said a tax would increase prices "across the board" and not just the cheap, strong alcohol which is the focus of the legislation.

Their judgment said minimum pricing targeted "the health hazards of cheap alcohol and the groups most affected in a way that an increase in excise or VAT does not".

They also agreed that minimum pricing was "easier to understand and simpler to enforce".

Minimum pricing would not allow retailers to "absorb" the cost in the way a duty rise would, they said.

The Scottish government said it would move as quickly as possible to implement the legislation.

Scotland's health minister Shona Robison said, "This is a historic and far-reaching judgment and a landmark moment in our ambition to turn around Scotland's troubled relationship with alcohol.

"In a ruling of global significance, the UK Supreme Court has unanimously backed our pioneering and life-saving alcohol pricing policy."

The Supreme Court ruling was the final stage of a five-year legal battle, with the cases already passing through courts in Edinburgh and Luxembourg. After an initial challenge at the Court of Session failed in 2013, the SWA appealed to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The European court said the legislation might break EU law if other tax options would prove as effective, but said it was "ultimately for the national court to determine" whether they did.

The Scottish court subsequently backed the measures for a second time, ruling that tax measures "would be less effective than minimum pricing".

However, in December 2016 the Court of Session judges then allowed the SWA to go to the Supreme Court to challenge their ruling.
Mark Saliba traded in his mayors gavel for a teachers chalkboard Wednesday at Faine Elementary School.

Saliba spoke to a group of fourth and fifth grade boys who are part of the schools Distinguished Young Men organization. The organization provides mentoring and motivation to young male students at the school. Organization events include hearing from speakers like Saliba and trips to the state capital and other locations.

Saliba talked to the students about adversity and his own struggles with dyslexia when he was an elementary school student.

Not a single person I know has not had some sort of struggle, he said.

Saliba advised students to find good mentors and to make good decisions to overcome their own struggles.

Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it, he said.

Faine has one of the highest rates of poverty in the Dothan City School system. Jeffrey Brown, a P.E. educator at Faine, started the program because he felt many of the boys at the school needed more positive male influences.

I want them to believe in themselves and to believe that they are somebody in the community, he said.

Matthew Mills, a student at Faine, said he enjoyed the mayors speech and that it encouraged him to work hard in school.

Im definitely going to try to stay on top of things, he said.
A DUNDALK company which installs gas and oil boilers has said it's had a spike in calls from concerned customers following a fatal explosion in Louth yesterday (Wednesday, November 15).

Hugh O'Hagan from Hagim Gas told The Dundalk Democrat that the phones have been ringing off the hook after a man died when the back boiler in the living room of a house blew up.

It's very important for a boiler to be installed to the right specifications. They are lethally dangerous if they're not installed properly, he said.

Plumbers need to be trained to the right standards to make sure they know how to correctly install solid fuel boilers.

Mr O'Hagan added: There are more solid fuel boilers out there that pose a risk. There is some lethal stuff out there. It's a common problem all over the country.

I don't think people realise how dangerous a solid fuel stove and back boiler can be if it's not been installed properly.

A 28-year-old man died following the explosion at The Cottages in the Beaulieu area on the Termonfeckin Road where gardai subsequently discovered a "very elaborate" cannabis growhouse.

The man's wife, who is her 20s, and another man, in his 50s, were injured when the back boiler exploded. All three were from Lithuania.
UP to 120 schoolchildren from across Co Louth have attended a Health and Safety Authority Keep Safe event at Parish Hall in Ardee.

Pupils from Scoil Mhuire Na Trocaire, Monastery National School, Ballapousta National School and Ardee Educate Together attended the event.

Nine state agencies and regional organisations with a safety remit delivered an interactive safety programme directed at fifth and sixth class pupils.

The Keep Safe' programme aims to promote safety and community awareness through involving the children in a series of fun and interactive scenarios with an underlying safety theme.

The Keep Safe safety programme teaches children about a lot of different dangers and situations, from safety around water, electricity to farm safety," said Health and Safety Authority Senior Inspector Marie McCarthy.

All of the activities are designed to be fun, interactive and informative. I would like to thank everyone who attended and participated in the event today."

She added: The enthusiasm of the students and their teachers along with the agencies make this a really worthwhile event.

The aim of the one day Keep Safe event is to help children to become aware of personal and home safety, learn how to react to dangerous situations, foster good citizenship, learn how to recognise hazards and manage risks, and learn how to stay safe within the context of road safety, fire safety and building site safety.

The agencies involved were the Health and Safety Authority, ESB Networks, An Garda Siochana, Louth Fire Services, Irish Water Safety, Teagasc, Green Schools, Irish Farmers Association, and the Irish Coastguard.
A witness in a double murder trial has said the deceased were planning to sell a car to the accused on the night they were found shot dead in a Louth forest.

Richie Cullinan had first refused to give evidence, when called by the State today, telling the judge: It was all lies I told on him.

However, he later testified in the Central Criminal Court trial of a 34-year-old Dubliner, charged with murdering two car thieves five and a half years ago.

Jason ODriscoll, with an address at Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 31-year-old Anthony Burnett and 25-year-old Joseph Redmond in Co Louth on March 7th, 2012.

The trial has heard that firefighters were called to a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park shortly before 11 o'clock that night. The bodies of the two Dubliners were discovered inside, with gunshot wounds to their heads.

Alexander Owens SC, prosecuting, called Richie Cullinan as his first witness this morning.

However, when he was asked to stand to take the oath, he refused.

It was all lies I told on him, he said.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy asked him if he was refusing to take the oath or affirmation, and he said he was.

The judge told him that, if he refused to give evidence, it would be a contempt of court and that he could punish him.

So, Im ordering you to take the oath, he said.

It was all lies, replied Mr Cullinan.

So, youre refusing to do it for whatever reason? asked the judge again.

Yeah, he confirmed.

The judge asked the jury to excuse them. When the jury returned, the State moved on to other technical evidence.

Mr Cullinan was later recalled and told Mr Owens that the two deceased had arrived at his home that evening. He said they were collecting a car that Anthony Burnett had dropped into his carpark that morning and were going up the north to sell it.

Asked if they had said to whom they were going to sell the car, he replied: no.

He said they had left around 9pm, and that he had tried to phone both of them around 11pm. However, he said he couldnt get through, that their phones were off.

He was cross examined by Sean Guerin SC, defending.

You did in fact know that they were travelling north to sell the car to Jason ODriscoll, didnt you? asked the barrister.

Thats what they said, he agreed.

He also agreed that he was arrested on suspicion of this murder himself, and had spent seven days in custody being interviewed about it.

When the questions were finished, he asked the judge if he was free to go.

Yes replied the judge.

Custody, the whole lot? he asked.

Yes, confirmed the judge, and Mr Cullinan left.

He was the second witness in the trial to refuse to take the oath and give evidence. Crystal Jackson yesterday refused to swear.

I dont stand by my statement, your honour, she said.

Alexander Owens submitted that she was in clear contempt of the court and should be imprisoned until she purges her contempt.

The judge asked the jurors to excuse them on that occasion too. They heard evidence from other witnesses on their return.

The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
Africa is the continent that keeps giving. From its bountiful natural resources to its beautiful game and nature reserves, and now its lovely island getaways. Africa has some of the best island getaways in the world, which are great for relaxing and having a good time by yourself or with loved ones.



Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar is an island in Tanzania that boasts of some of the most beautiful beaches in Africa and even the world. It is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site called 'Stone Town'. Zanzibar is open for guests to explore the island's beautiful winding alleys and admire its impressive Arab houses and intricate doors. It is popularly called the 'Spice Island' because it abounds with delicious fruits, spices and rare plants. It's white sand beaches are stunning and glistening all year round, and are indeed a sight to admire.



Sal, Cape Verde

Cape Verde is one of the most popular African island getaways, and Sal is Cape Verde's most visited island. This is largely because Sal has been dubbed archipelago's 10 most beautiful islands and, compared to the other islands, it is the most easily accessible with beautiful and stunning sandy beaches. Santa Maria is the main town of the stunning island of Sal in Cape Verde, and it's mostly where visitors can go to find a range of bars, restaurants, live music shows and nightlife.



Djerba, Tunisia

It is right off the coast of Southern Tunisia and is the most important North African island in size. Djerba is very popular among tourists and offers beautiful, glistening sandy beaches as well as a range of water sport activities and great dining options. A short distance away from the island's exciting beach resorts, guests can find and enjoy a silent and more peaceful countryside. Djerba really does offer the best of both worlds. The residents of Djerba are keen on preserving their culture and traditions and as a result, it is one of the only places in Tunisia where people still speak the Berber language.



Sao Tome Island, Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome is the largest island in the central african country called Sao Tome and Principe. It's an island that offers peace, quiet and tranquility because it does not see as much 'tourism traffic' as some of the other islands. It's a great place for relaxation and reflection. Visitors to the island can enjoy snorkeling and diving experiences in its uncharted waters, and can also peacefully wander about the island's 'sleepy fishing villages'. An impressive chocolate factory is one of the stunning attractions to admire when on the island, and indulging in the island's delicious coffee, which is considered some of the best in the world, is just some of the other activities to look forward to enjoying when in Sao Tome.


We have lost a true lesbian pioneer in the passing of Leslie Cohen. Whether opening the first upscale lesbian club Sahara in NYC in 1976 ...
Senate education committee Democrats used the confirmation hearing of two top U.S. Department of Education nominees to make their case against the Trump administrations favorite K-12 policy: School choice.

Both contenders have long records in pushing for charters, vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, and other types of school choice programs. Mick Zais, who has been tapped for deputy secretary of education, the No. 2 post at the agency, helped create a tax-credit scholarship for students in special education when he was the state chief in South Carolina.

And Jim Blew, who has been tapped as assistant secretary for planning, evaluation, and policy analysis, spent nearly a decade as the Walton Family Foundations director of K-12 reform, advising the foundation on how to broaden schooling options for low-income communities.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel, kicked off the hearing by saying that she finds it troubling that Zais shares Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos views on privatization. And she told Blew that his record of promoting school vouchers gives me pause that you will not stand up for students and public schools.

Senator after senator on the Democratic side of the dais echoed those concerns.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., for instance, asked Zais if he was aware that the research on the efficacy of school choice is abysmal. Zais said, in his experience, broadening educational options improves student outcomes. But he agreed with Franken that the evidence for that is anecdotal.

Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., asked Blew if he thought students in special education should have to give up their rights to take advantage of a voucher program, as she said that students in Florida who use McKay scholarships must. Blew said that any school that takes federal funds has to follow the law, including protections for students in special education.



And later Murray asked Blew if she thought that the charter sector in DeVos home state of Michigan, which has been criticized for its lack of accountability, is a model for the nation. Blew cited a Stanford University study that he says shows students in Detroit perform better than their peers in public schools. Murray countered that thats not what she has seen in the research. (The evidence is indeed mixed. We wrote about Michigans charter sector here .)

Zais took heat, too, for his record in South Carolina. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., asked him about a 2015 bill in the South Carolina legislature calling for the National Rifle Association to develop a curriculum for K-12 students. Murphy asked Zais if political organizations should be allowed to design curriculum for K-12 schools.

Zais told him no, they shouldnt. And he said he didnt remember supporting that bill, even though he is in favor of students learning about the Second Amendment.

Several Democrats grilled Zais on his comments to the South Carolina press that it didnt make sense to spend money on five-year-olds because they cant learn.

I do not recall having said that, Zais said, and talked about the learning his young grandchildren experienced before age five. He said he is in favor of early-childhood education, but sees it as a state issue.

The hearing also touched on a number of controversial issues and some of the Trump education departments missteps. For instance:

ESSA: Alexander asked Zais if hes aware of the prohibitions against the Education Department in the Every Student Succeeds Act. He noted, for instance, that the Education Department cant tell a state that its student achievement goals arent ambitious enough, as DeVos department initially told Delaware.

Zais said he wasnt familiar with Delawares particular situation, but seemed to agree with Alexander that the federal role should be limited.

Civil Rights: Murray also asked Zais if he agreed with Acting Assistant Secretary for civil rights Candice Jacksons comments to the New York Times that 90 percent of sexual assaults involve alcohol and breakups. Zais said he wasnt familiar with those comments, but seemed to agree that sexually assault should be taken seriously. (Jackson is slated to be replaced by Kenneth Marcus , the president of the Jewish Center for Human Rights. He would permanently fill the position.)

So will these folks get confirmed? Probably. Overall, the hearing was relatively fireworks-free, and nothing unexpected came up.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
St. Louis

Jason Botel, the U.S. departments acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, told a room full of state schools chiefs Wednesday that he wants states to be innovative in working to close the nations yawning achievement gap, but also wants them to make sure they comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act in doing so.

Botels office is in the thick of evaluating 34 state ESSA plans and doing so with limited resources and plenty of political pressure, he said during a frank and abbreviated speech at the Council of Chief State School officers annual policy conference.

Were trying to strike a balance of encouraging innovation and assuring compliance with the letter of the law, said Botel. This is a collaborative, iterative process. This is not a gotcha process.

Botel said that in two weeks, hell publish some initial feedback letters to several states plans on how they intend to use billions of federal dollars to improve the educational outcomes of the nations growing poor and minority student population.

State chiefs have spent the past two years designing new school accountability plans under ESSA, a politically contentious process that led to several of their resignations.

The state chiefs congregated here in the shadows of St. Louis Gateway Arch to discuss how, with limited resources , theyre going to implement their ESSA plans once theyre approved by the U.S. Department of Education. States will start implementing those plans starting in the 2018-19 school year.

Botel, who was the founder of a KIPP charter middle school in Baltimore, faced a host of criticism when he first took office for his initial hard-line feedback on states plans which critiqued, among other things, states goals and how they defined ineffective teachers .

On Wednesday, Botel said the office of elementary and secondary education must upend the entire way the education department monitors states since ESSA is such a sharp break from its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act.

Before ESSA, the federal government dictated how states should identify and intervene in schools where just a handful of poor students and students of color met math and reading proficiency goals. But state chiefs now have more discretion in how they construct their accountability systems and intervene in low-performing schools.

ESSA is very different, and that brings several new challenges for us, Botel said.

Echoing the message of his boss , U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Botel said hes encouraged that states are pushing the boundaries of the law on things such as how they incorporate science test scores into their accountability systems and identify and support different student subgroups. Such state decisions have been especially controversial. Botel said he must assure that states abide by ESSA.

We trust you and what you say your state needs, but we want to make sure it fits within the confines of the law, Botel said.

State leaders in at least five states have urged DeVos to reject their chiefs plans for a variety of reasons, and civil rights groups and other advocacy organizations have pointed out a number of areas where they believe states are breaking with parts of the law.



Florida, for example, said in its accountability plan that it doesnt want to include English-language learners proficiency test scores in its accountability system, provide those students with tests in their native languages, or identify schools with large achievement gaps between minority and poor students and other students, all things the law appears to require.

Botel met with several of those states leaders, including Floridas commissioner, before his speech Wednesday morning.

His office has so far approved 15 state plans that were turned in earlier this year. Two of the plans submitted in the spring, Michigans and Colorados, have not been approved.

In September, 34 more states turned in their plans. Botel said that he had expected for his staff to be doubled in order to handle the extra load. That did not happen.

We are not complaining, but this is a large volume of plans, he said.

He did say that CCSSO has provided helpful critiques on the feedback process and that an added conference call between the department and states before official feedback letters are published has helped the department clarify some of the more confusing parts of states plans. Critics, however, have said the conference calls are an underhanded and opaque way to provide states feedback.

Botel urges that, once states plans are approved, they should think of them as living documents that canand shouldbe amended as states learn what does and does not work.

You have a lot of work to do after these plans are approved, Botel said. We expect a constant back and forth in the future.

Meanwhile, state chiefs fretted out loud at the conference about their departments ability to roll out new accountability systems, collect the data associated with those systems and relay to the public on redesigned report cards how schools stack up academically.

State chiefs are currently under political scrutiny for stagnant test scores and controversial federal, state and local approaches to boosting those test scores. The average chief lasts in the job for a little more than two years.

State legislatures also have slashed away at departments budgets in recent years leading to massive layoffs that make even more difficult states ability to collect more student outcome data that must now be relayed to the public.

We are thin, and our capacity has been greatly reduced, Missouris Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven said during a session about school turnaround.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
CORRECTED

Two Michigan-based foundations are teaming up to improve early-childhood education in Detroit.

The W.K. Kellogg and Kresge Foundations recently released a 10-year plan called the Hope Starts Here Community Framework , which is designed to put young children and their families at the forefront of the citys public policy and business decisions.

The two foundations are also each donating $25 million to the effort and hoping to raise additional funds from other sources, including the state and the mayors office.

Increasing access to early-childhood education and improving the quality of these programs is a big part of the framework.

When you give a child that great positioning going from preschool into kindergarten its less likely that they will fall behind and struggle, and we know the remedial costs if they do are much more expensive than those early investments, said La June Montgomery Tabron, the president and CEO of the Kellogg Foundation.

The framework was developed through a year-long process that brought together more than 18,000 people across Detroit to brainstorm on the problems facing young children and families in the city and how to solve them. That group included parents, early-childhood educators, health-care providers, and representatives from local and state government as well as leaders from the business community and philanthropic organizations.

The need in the city is great. The framework lays out many of the challenges facing young children in Detroit:



More than 60 percent of children 5 and younger live in poverty.

More than 13 out of every 1,000 babies born in Detroit die before their first birthday.

87 percent of Detroits 3rd graders are not reading at grade level.

It also lists imperatives and strategies to achieve the goal of putting young children and families first by 2027 including finding new ways to fund early-childhood education, establishing a comprehensive health and developmental screening system, and better compensating those who work in child care.

There are some real tangible outcomes that we can achieve that are not far-reaching but very realistic if we all concentrate on making sure that all children have access and we all agree what quality early-childhood education looks like, said Tabron. Ten years down the line I would hope that there isnt a conversation in Detroit about the lack of quality or access for children. I also would like to see 10 years from now kindergarten readiness is extremely high in Detroit.

An earlier version of this blog post incorrectly cited a percentage for Detroits infant mortality rate. The rate is 13.5 per 1,000 births.

Photo: A young student works on an art project at the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute Early Childhood Center at Wayne State University in Detroit. Credit Kresge Foundation
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(Photo: The Herald)Robert and Grace Mugabe on their way out after military takeover in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations have told the country's military which seized power in the country on Nov. 15 to ensure that human rights and dignity are respected and called for them to allow a government of national unity.

The church leaders are a powerful group representing the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe.

They issued a powerful and detailed statement in which they admitted the role of the churches in the complicity of what many people have dubbed to descent of "African bread basket" to "African basket case.".

Their statement came the day after the Zimbabwe Defense Forces seized the State broadcaster ZBC-TV and told the nation their action was targeted at "criminals" surrounding 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe who has ruled since 1980.

ZDF spokesman Major General Sibusiso Moyo, said what had happened in the Zimbabwe capital Harare with armored personnel carriers taking over the streets was not "a military takeover of government."

He said Mugabe, who was strongly supported by the military in extending his decades of dictatorial rule, was safe.

"We are aware that the Zimbabwe Defense Forces is currently managing the situation. But we want to make it clear to them that it is their responsibility to ensure that human dignity and rights are respected.

"Human life is God-given and is therefore sacred. All human beings, no-matter the wrongs they will have done, have rights. This is not a time to allow for lawlessness and vindictive and selective application of the law," said the heads of the churches.

The armed forces' takeover appeared to resolve a bitter battle to succeed Mugabe, which pitted his wife Grace against the former vice-president, 75-year-old Emmerson Mnangagwa.

A veteran of the struggle for independence from white minority rule like Mugabe, Mnangagwa was reported to have returned to Zimbabwe on Tuesday evening from South Africa.

STRUGGLE VETERAN

He fled the previous week after being stripped of his office by Mugabe in an apparent attempt to clear the path of South African-born Grace Mugabe to power.

"The Zimbabwe defense forces have stressed that theirs is not a military coup, but an effort to manage the current situation," said the church heads.

"In the light of this position, we are calling for the formalization of a transitional government of national unity that will oversee the smooth transition to a free and fair election."

That is a road the country had been down once before when Mugabe refused to admit he had lost an election in 2008 and agreed to such a government, only to wrest power back again later.

"The current situation is not only the doing of the ruling party and government," said the church leaders.

"It is also the result of the connivance of the different arms of the state and complicity of the church and civil society.

"All of us at some point failed to play our roles adequately. The church has lost its prophetic urge driven by personality cults and superstitious approaches to socio-economic and political challenges.

"Civil society over time has become focused on survival and competition and lost the bigger picture of the total emancipation of the population."

Mugabe was born on a Catholic mission near Harare, and was educated by Jesuit priests. He studied at South Africa's University of Fort Hare, where Nelson Mandela also graduated.
The news this week of an active shooter who reportedly sought to gain access to a Northern California elementary school, only to be thwarted from a larger disaster because school officials locked down the campus, is a testment to the generation of the active shooter.

As it happens, a documentary series on the Showtime pay-TV channel about infamous mass shootings airs its only K-12 school-related episode this Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific (check local listings).

Active Shooter: America Under Fire has focused on such now infamous incidents as Charleston, S.C., (the 2015 church shooting); Oak Creek, Wis., (the 2012 Sikh temple shooting); Orlando, Fla., (the 2016 Pulse nightclub attack); and Santa Monica, Calif., (the 2013 shootings that ended on a community college campus).

I didnt watch all the episodes, but I wondered just how sensitive and useful they were for drawing lessons. I did screen this weeks episode about the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in the Jefferson County school district, which left 12 students and one teacher dead, in addition to the perpetrators.

Just since the Showtime series premiered in late September, weve had Las Vegas, the Texas church shooting, and this weeks Northern California incident that touched a school.

So these lessons are always useful. There have been other documentary reports about Columbine, from Michael Moores Bowling for Columbine to the 2016 ABC News Nightline interview with Sue Klebold, the mother of shooter Dylan Klebold.

The Columbine episode of Active Shooter is so well done, I recommend it for school personnel, law enforcement, journalists, and others. (The series left out the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre and the 2012 shooting of young students and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.)

This was the start of something, journalist Dave Cullen, the author of a Columbine book, says in reference to that event. It wasnt the first school shooting, but its what ratcheted it up to something horrible, and which inspired the others.

One of Cullens main points is that the storyline in the aftermath of the event that Klebold and Eric Harris were depressed outcasts and Trenchcoat Mafia members who targeted jocks and minority group members was largely not true.

There is a concise tick-tock of what went down inside Columbine High. Then-Columbine High Principal Frank DeAngelis participates, as does Kate Battan, the lead investigator for the Jefferson County Sheriffis Department, who brings an authoritative voice to the story.

And, appropriately, there is a focus on some of the victims: Teacher Dave Sanders, who bled to death after being shot and waiting hours for medical attention; Daniel Mauser, one of the students shot dead in the high school library; Patrick Ireland, a student who was shot in the brain, but survived; and Sean Graves, who was shot in the legs early on but survived. Graves was able to get out of his wheelchair and walk across the stage to get his diploma when he graduated.

Another touching moment involves Tom Mauser, the father of Daniel, who eventually got his sons personal effects, most of which he didnt want (bloody clothing). But he found that he fit his sons shoes perfectly, and he wears them when he speaks about Columbine.

The one-hour documentary does not explore every legal and tactical question that arose in the wake of Columbine (that would take hours), but is on the mark for what it does present.

The filmmakers (theres a long list of executive producers and producers) visit a contemporary classroom, where the Jefferson County Schools security chief asks an assembly of students how many have had lockdown drills. Nearly every hand goes up.

You cant say it cant happen here, because cant happen here is happening somewhere in the country every week, John McDonald, the security chief says.


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16 November 2017, Cairo, Egypt  WHO has airlifted trauma kits and medical supplies to the Islamic Republic of Iran to support the treatment of thousands people injured as a result of the recent earthquake in the Islamic Republic of Iran-Iraq border region.

The supplies, enough to provide surgical care for up to 4000 trauma patients, were transported from WHOs emergency logistical centre in Dubai to Kermanshah province in western Islamic Republic of Iran on 16 November at 10.30am local time. They were immediately delivered to hospitals and other health facilities receiving the injured.

Additional trauma kits are available in WHOs emergency logistical centre in Dubai and will be delivered as needed to health facilities reporting shortages. Special emphasis will also be given to identifying specific health needs as a result of current colder temperatures in affected areas, said Dr Michel Thieren, WHO Regional Emergency Director. While there is no direct link between earthquakes and disease outbreaks, close monitoring for cases of infectious diseases, especially waterborne diseases, is also required.

Almost 9400 people in the Islamic Republic of Iran were injured as a result of the earthquake, including more than 1000 people hospitalized in Kermanshah province with serious injuries, and 340 more who were transferred to hospitals in neighbouring provinces, including Tehran.

The two cities of Sar Pol Zahab and Ghasr Shirin in Kermanshah province, with a total population of almost 115 000 people, are reported to have suffered considerable damage, with almost 80% of infrastructure destroyed. One main hospital in the province was forced to close, and 49 more health facilities were damaged, but remain open.

In Iraq, the earthquake was felt in the major cities of Sulaimaniyah, Halabja, Erbil and Duhok, with a total of 8 fatalities and 525 people injured. Darbandikhan in northern Sulaimaniyah was most affected, with damages to Darbandikhan hospital and Sharazoor maternity hospital.

Immediately following the earthquake, WHOs office in Iraq deployed a medical team and three ambulances, and delivered 4 tents and emergency lifesaving supplies sufficient for 200 surgical operations, to hospitals in Sulaimaniyah governorate receiving critical cases.

WHO continues to work closely with national health authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq to monitor the health impact of the earthquake and respond to urgent needs.
Are Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston on the verge of a reunion following his split from Angelina Jolie last year?

According to a new report, Pitt and his ex-wife are back in touch, and when it comes to their chemistry, an insider claims it hasn't died.

Brads conversations with Jen have helped him negotiate his new life as hes getting divorced, the source revealed to In Touch Weekly magazine on Nov. 15. He feels a deep connection with her.

Although Pitt would never come in between Aniston and her husband, Justin Theroux, who got married in August 2015, he would certainly jump at a chance to get back with her if she and Theroux were to divorce.

While Aniston and Theroux have not yet spoken of any problems in their marriage, the insider said that they have secretly dealt with relationship issues in recent years. In fact, they haven't been seen together much at all because he prefers to spend time in New York City and she would rather be in Los Angeles. Last month, they were seen together just once and since September, Theroux has been hitting the red carpet for events and premieres by himself.

Jen has a way of calming and encouraging Brad, the insider continued, and hes in touch with emotions and his true self like never before. Hes come to realize that leaving Jen for Angelina was one of the biggest mistakes of his life. And while hes not in love with Jen, he realizes how much he does love her. Brad keeps telling friends that hes seeing everything more clearly.

They have reached a level of closeness and understanding that they never had when they were married, the source added, noting that Pitt believes Aniston is the love of his life.

As fans of the actor will recall, Pitt infamously left Aniston for Jolie in 2005 after reportedly falling in love with Jolie as they filmed Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Then, just one year later, Jolie gave birth to their first child, daughter Shiloh.

Pitt and Jolie share six children with one another, including 16-year-old Maddox who they adopted from Cambodia, 13-year-old Pax from Vietnam, 12-year-old Zahara from Ethiopia, and their three biological children, 11-year-old Shiloh and 9-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. They were married for just two years.
Morocco has taken firm action against human traffickers thanks to a pro-active security strategy that helped dismantle 80 criminal networks and preventing 50,000 illegal immigration attempts so far this year. Director of immigration at Moroccos interior ministry, Khaled Zerouali, commented that this brought the number of busted cells to 3,000 since 2004. He also added that the security measures taken by Morocco to crack down on the criminal networks is part of an all-encompassing immigration strategy that is underpinned by a humanitarian approach with an emphasis put on the immigrant rights.

Mr. Zerouali also warned of the convergence of human trafficking organizations and terrorist groups across the Sahel, saying that a few terrorist groups such as Al Qaida use human trafficking as a profitable activity to finance their operations. He further added that extremist organizations earn as much as $175 million from human trafficking activities each year, emphasizing that the threats posed by the trafficking networks necessitate transnational cooperation. While reminding that Moroccos southern border remains insulated from any incursion and that the Sahara is the only region in the Sahel that remains almost free from terrorism, he admitted that the border with Algeria is a concern.

The Moroccan official further emphasized the leading experience undertaken by his country to legalize the stay of illegal migrants in its territory. The legalization campaign has so far given legal stay rights to more than 23,000 people, he said. Morocco also encourages the voluntary return of migrants to their home countries under the condition that their rights are protected and their integration prospects are kept as well. Mr. Zerouali said that 22,000 people have so far returned from Morocco voluntarily, mostly back to sub-Saharan Africa.
Frankfurt and Paris are poised to get the most jobs from Goldman Sachs as the global bank is transferring its staff from London following the Brexit. The two European capitals have been trying to attract global financial companies since the June 2016 Brexit referendum. The President of the Ile-de-France region that includes Paris, Valerie Pecresse, has pledged to bring 2,500 jobs to the French capital after the UKs divorce from the EU.

German financial hub Frankfurt has already claimed major victories having attracted American companies such as Citi Group, Morgan Stanley and Japanese giants Mitsui Financial Group, Daiwa Securities and Nomura. US banks JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have opted for Dublin as their new post-Brexit EU headquarters, while moving some other jobs to Paris.

Goldman Sachs, which employs 6,000 people in Britain, has not been willing to comment on the specifics of its post-Brexit structure but said that it was planning to transfer hundreds of jobs to the continent. Despite these shifts, Goldman Sachs is going to keep a large presence in London. The banks CEO Lloyd Blankfein recently visited Paris and praised the capital on Twitter saying that he was struck by the positive energy here in Paris. Strong govt and biz leaders are committed to economic reform and are well thru the first steps. And the foods good too!

Mr. Blankfein had previously visited Frankfurt, praising the German financial capital for many attributes and great weather. Good because Ill be spending a lot more time there. #Brexit he tweeted then about the city. His recent visits have triggered some uncertainty in London where the British Prime Minister Theresa Mays government is facing a hard time trying to work out the Brexit on advantageous terms for the country.
NUREMBERG, Germany, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

-- France leaps to second place for first time, while UK regains ground to remain third and Japan enters top five

-- USA is only country showing overall decline in 2017

-- Germany major gains in Governance, People, and Culture

In the wake of a substantial drop in global perception of the USA, Germany retakes the top ranking in the latest Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index[SM] (NBI[SM]) study, while France climbs to second place. The UK has regained the ground it lost last year after the Brexit vote to hold onto third place, while Japan jumps into the top five for the first time since 2011, standing equal with Canada.

Score change Nation 2017 rank 2016 rank 2016 vs. 2017 Germany 1 2 +0.99 France 2 5 +1.56 United Kingdom 3 3 +1.27 Canada 4 4 +0.96 Japan 4 7 +2.12 United States 6 1 -0.63 Italy 7 6 +0.74 Switzerland 8 8 +1.34 Australia 9 9 +0.76 Sweden 10 10 +1.30 NBI[SM] score changes: minor change +/-0.26-0.50; medium +/-0.51-1.00; large > +/-1.00

USA loses ground in global perception of its Governance

Of the 50 countries measured in the study, only the USA saw its overall NBI score drop this year. However, it still ranks among the top five nations for three of NBI's six categories: namely, Culture (where the USA is ranked second), Exports (also second), and Immigration-Investment (fifth). But it fell from 19th place to 23rd for Governance, a notably poor score for one of the world's leading countries.

Professor Simon Anholt, who created the NBI study in 2005, comments, "The USA's fall in the 'Governance' category suggests that we are witnessing a 'Trump effect', following President Trump's focused political message of 'America First'. However, Americans' assessment of their own country is notably more positive this year than last. A similar fall in global perception of the USA was seen following the re-election of George W. Bush, when the USA fell to seventh place. Previously, America has never stayed outside the top ranking for more than a year at a time: it will be interesting to see whether this holds true in the 2018 ranking."

Germany gains in Governance, People, and Culture

Germany, by contrast to the USA, enjoys a very balanced image across all six categories of the index, with notable improvements in global perception of its Culture (+1.07), Governance (+1.28), and People (+1.34). It ranks in the top five countries for all but one of the Index categories - that one being Tourism, where it is gaining ground, if not yet in the top five.

Germany's overall score increases are boosted by significantly improved perceptions among Egyptians (+5.92), as well as among Russians (+2.26), Chinese (+2.17) and Italians (+2.06). Americans stand alone in ranking Germany outside the top-ten overall nation brands, placing it eleventh.

UK regains the ground lost in 2016

Global perception of the UK has recovered following the significant decline seen in 2016 immediately after the Brexit vote. Its overall Index score is back to very nearly its 2015 level, with improvement across all six categories. This puts it into the top five countries for Exports, Culture, Tourism and Immigration-Investment. The UK's largest gains are for Governance (nearly two points) and People, suggesting that most countries have come to terms with the UK's vote last year to leave the EU, and their perception has re-settled following that shock.

France and Japan leap ahead in global perception of their national brands

Both France and Japan benefitted from score gains in their own right, as well as from the USA decline, allowing them to leap ahead in the overall ranking.

France now stands in second place for the first time since the NBI began, up from fifth last year, with gains across all six categories. This is seen especially for Governance, where France's improved score stands at double the average amount, and Immigration-Investment. It ranks first of all countries for global perception of its Culture, second for Tourism, and fifth for Exports.

2017 has also been a banner year for Japan. It now stands in fourth place, equal with Canada, having gained its highest overall score in nearly a decade. Japan is perceived most highly for Exports, where it comes ahead of all other countries, and also shows significant gains compared to the average for Immigration-Investment, Culture, and Governance.

Vadim Volos, GfK's senior vice president of public affairs and consulting, comments, "The Nation Brands Index allows our clients to understand where - and why - their nation stands in terms of their current image, momentum and potential. Changing global perception of a national brand is challenging and slow - but countries can influence biased or outdated perceptions by understanding the negative views and actively communicating actions and changes that address those."

For more information about the Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index, please visit nation-brands.gfk.com [http://nation-brands.gfk.com ]

CONTACT: Amanda Martin, Global PR, +44-7919-624-688, press@gfk.com
Ah the filipino gf and the rich foriegn guy syndrome !

Been there done that, the first filipina i met online lives in Caloocan.

All very nice and friendly for the first couple of weeks, she was aged 40yrs seperated.

Then she sent the pics ! Showing what could be mine ! Then she began asking for money for various things

Inc clothes so she could try and find a job, which i declined, then it was money for new glasses and a watch !

I had already decided i would not send money and when i told her that she vanished !

Then i met the love of my life online ! And what a difference . Not once did she ask for money ! She was a Gov employee and was a manager with over 30yrs of service never married no children, and it was 2 of her younger

Office mates who got her to go online !

I was no way rich ! I was only earning just over 1300 a month before tax etc and living in a 1 bedroom rented flat

And i used a credit card to fly to the philippines to marry her !

I was there for 3 weeks after our wedding, and being a Gov employee there was much paperwork to be done

For her to offically retire and live with me in the UK, but she was advised not to start things in case i never turned

Up to marry her ! We married in April 2002 and she arrived in the UK in August !

She even borrowed the airfare money from a brother and would not let me pay for it !

Yes we sent money back to the Philippines , but the wife got a job in the nhs and ended up earning more than me !

We paid to put one of the nephews through college, and we sent money for her army brothers medical bills sadly he died and we sent money for the funeral etc.

And we sent money to the elderly mother .

Now we are retired here in the philippines none of the family ask us for money as most all have good jobs.

My wife is my life and her words to me, no foriegn man should send money to any GF in the Philippines

Until he has actually met her and her family and see how they live, as one thing you see a lot of is young woman

In branches of Western Union collecting money !

You could always make a surprise visit !
mardle - you need to give more details about what you mean by 'move'!



By that I assume you mean you want to come here to live. And yet you say that you don't know the country and have never lived abroad before - am I correct? Have you come here on holiday before?



I would STRONGLY advise you to come and stay here on a double-entry tourist visa (extendable to 90 days) before you make any decisions about moving here. There are all sorts of issues about remaining here for any length of time, for starters - without either a resident's permit, or an extended visa from an education establishment, or a job and associated work permit, (or marry a Thai woman) the government won't let you remain here for long.



And then there is the huge culture shock - you need to come here for the first time to even begin to understand what this means.



Thailand's immigration policy isn't kind when it comes to anyone who is not a tourist, even an extended tourist. The best thing to do is to stay here for 90 days on an extended tourist visa and talk to people living here about what it all entails.
Marvin Pfeiffer /San Antonio Express-News

Forbes magazine has named San Antonio tech entrepreneur Alberto Altamirano to its prestigious 30 under 30 list of rising stars in 20 different industries.

Altamirano is CEO and founder of Cityflag Inc., a mobile phone app that allows citizens to upload photos of municipal problems such as a pothole or graffiti. Hes the citys first tech entrepreneur to make the list of 600, which includes entrepreneurs, innovators, philanthropists and others under 30 years of age. Altamirano was named as a social entrepreneur for leveraging business to save the world, according to a press release.
The city of San Antonio is looking to the local tech community for help solving some of the communitys toughest challenges.

The citys Office of Innovation has partnered with tech co-working space Geekdom to launch CivTechSA, the two announced.

The program will pair local companies with city agencies for a 16-week residency program, where they will embed within and work alongside City department staff to address a challenge such as transportation, the city and Geekdom announced Tuesday.

Jose De La Cruz, chief innovation officer for San Antonio, said they are hoping to draw the areas best and brightest.

From the citys perspective, were opening up the door and saying, We would like to partner with you to help solve some of our pressing challenges that we have, he said.

Funding for the program was included in the citys 2018 budget, De La Cruz said, with Geekdom getting the money instead of the companies.

From the startups perspective it works more like an incubator, and so well incubate their ideas, he said. They wont necessarily be paid for the startup residency, but if at the end of the residency, they provide a product, the city could choose to purchase that product.

The city was inspired by San Franciscos Startup in Residence program and saw the benefit of having companies embed with city employees, said Kate Mason, city of San Antonio innovation manager.

They found that theyve gotten a really great response from startups that to be able to collocate and to see the challenge firsthand  that is kind of the money, that is the spot that they need to be in, she said.

So many things are being built right now without firsthand knowledge of how the process or challenge really works, and so  they can build businesses off of that.

The partnership is still working on which challenges the startups will tackle during the residency, but the list is diverse, with everything from stuff with animal care services, to considerations around how people use the public library and services inside of there, as well as some mass transportation issues, said Dax Moreno, director of programs and ecosystem development at Geekdom.

Improving mass transportation, Moreno said, caught his attention since people in the tech and entrepreneur community have spoken about it.

Im actually super excited for our community of the tech and entrepreneur folks to see mass transportation as a challenge, and then know intrinsically that their thought and their concern and their feedback over this has been heard by the city, Moreno said.

City departments were asked to send three challenges that are pain points for their residents, and the city is in the process of scoring them to decide which ones this first selection of startups will tackle, Mason said.

The city is also considering whether the startups can resell their solutions elsewhere, she said.

The city and Geekdom also want to launch partnerships with universities and high schools that focus on STEM fields  science, technology, engineering and math, according to the release.

In addition to helping the city solve its challenges, Moreno said they are viewing this program as a workforce funnel.

What we want to do is introduce that six- through 12th-grade student group to the opportunities inside of San Antonio, Moreno said. We want to show them the cool stuff thats going on, SAWS, CPS, the city itself and the technology that they use, as well as this really vibrant and growing and thriving tech and entrepreneurship community thats created some really killer stuff.

The city also wants Geekdom to host a code-a-thon, an intense, sprint-like event, typically between 48 to 72 hours, that brings together entrepreneurs and computer programmers to build software solutions that addresses a community challenge, according to the news release.

As they vet the list of challenges, the city and Geekdom are looking at the best fit for them  the residency program or during a code-a-thon, Moreno said.

They are shooting to release in early 2018 requests for proposals for the residency program, Moreno said.

The city, now more than ever, is so open to new ideas and embracing how to face the challenges as a community, Moreno said. Its absolutely floored me.

sehlinger@express-news.net |

Twitter: @samehlinger
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SUTHERLAND SPRINGS  When the memorial to the 26 victims of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs shootings was unveiled Sunday, many were surprised that a scene of such carnage could so quickly and thoroughly be converted into a serene space for mourning, contemplation and remembrance.

Some said the stark all-white sanctuary, with 26 white chairs each carrying the name of a victim and one rose, was a heavenly vision. Others said it looked like an art installation carrying an ethereal yet powerful message honoring the dead.

Many wondered who was behind the transformation that started on the Tuesday after the shootings and took only a few days to complete in time for the unveiling one week later.

This is the story of how it happened.

Nov. 7

Pastor Mark Collins had never had a vision from God. But then, two days after a gunman opened fire on the church, he woke up at 4 a.m.

When the vision came, it felt like I was drinking from a fire hose, said Collins, who served as Sutherland Springs associate pastor for eight years before becoming senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Yorktown, a town south of Sutherland Springs. I knew what we had to do.

Later that day, he explained his idea to friend and colleague Frank Pomeroy, the pastor at Sutherland Springs whose 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, was among those killed.

What do you think? Collins asked when hed finished talking.

Youre the creative one, Mark, Collins remembers Pomeroy saying. Lets do it.

Also that day, Brad Beldon, CEO of San Antonio-based Beldon construction company, had decided he wanted to do something to help. So he and company President Danny Mendez drove down to a feed store near the church to make a donation. The store credit card reader wasnt working, so he drove over to the church and started handing out business cards to law enforcement officials.

Id tell them, Let us know what we can do to help, he said, hoping one of the cards would make its way to whomever was in charge.

That night, he got a call from Collins, who explained his concept for the memorial chairs and flowers.

Consider it done, Beldon responded.

Nov. 8

Jeremy Willingham of J&K Painting in New Braunfels had never met or done business with Dallas-based C4 General Contractor. But when C4s Mark A. Westbrook called, apparently after doing a web search for a painting company near Sutherland Springs, and asked if hed be willing to help construct the memorial, Willingham said, We have a lot going on, but Ill drop everything to help them rebuild.

Meanwhile, Beldon was finding that getting the proper chairs was easier said than done.

We didnt have any guidelines, other than they wanted something simple, he recalled. So we went from store to store looking and looking, but we couldnt find anything we liked that fit that bill.

Finally, Armando Romero, a Beldon employee, drove to the Ikea in Round Rock and purchased 26 white Terje folding chairs.

We saw the chair online and knew it would be perfect for what we needed, Beldon said.

Later that evening, San Antonio calligrapher Tracy Bellion received a call from a woman who identified herself as Emily Kustoff. Without offering any details, Kustoff asked if Bellion would be able to paint 26 names on 26 chairs.

I knew immediately what she was talking about, said Bellion. It was Sutherland Springs.

According to Collins vision, each white chair would carry the name of one of the shooting victims on the front and a red cross on the back. His idea was that, viewed from the main doors at the back of the church and against the planned white backdrop of the building interior, the crosses would look like they were floating in air.

Bellion agreed to do the painting, adding that, to finish them in time, shed need to have the chairs first thing Thursday.

The next morning they didnt show up, she said with a laugh.

Nov. 9

Willingham; his father, Kevin; and another worker, Anidal Bernal, arrived at the church early, ready to work, shortly before Texas law enforcement officials retreated from the church. The crime scene became a construction site.

According to those who were there, the wood-shingled building was riddled with hundreds of bullet holes, many of which had pierced the walls completely.

Although the bodies had been removed, the inside was still horrific, according to Willingham. The pews, carpeting and walls were bullet-ridden and stained with blood. The front doors to the church were so shot up theyd eventually have to be replaced.

My first thought was how did this man shoot so many bullets? Willingham said.

Some, including Collins, saw signs of hope in the fact that a large wooden cross that stood to the side of the altar and a family Bible once owned by Dr. John Sutherland Jr., who originally settled the area, were both unscathed during what officials estimate was an 11-minute shooting spree.

While a biohazard firm cleaned the sanctuary, the workers put their collective heads together to make a plan.

The first thing we realized we needed to do was to patch the holes, Willingham said. We didnt want the community to see that.

They used a joint compound mix to fill the holes in the outside wall and put a new coat of white paint on the entire building. Inside, workers removed the carpeting, changed out damaged ceiling tiles and replaced broken colored window panes with translucent vinyl tiles made to replicate those that were unscathed.

At its largest, the construction crew at the site numbered about 30, according to Collins, with the Red Cross on hand serving them food and drinks.

Back in San Antonio, the Ikea chairs were finally delivered to Bellions home at about 9 that evening. With help from her daughter-in-law Tiffany Johnson, who painted the red crosses on the chairs, Bellion began painting a victims name on each one. She didnt finish until about 4:30 the next morning.

It was the most emotional, the most meaningful, project Ive ever done, she said. If I never paint another project in my life Ill be fulfilled.

Bellion was so moved by what she was doing, she searched each name online to learn as much as she could about the person before painting their name. She also kept the family groups together, finishing chairs for all members of the Holcombe family who died by gunfire, for example, before moving on to the next person.

While Bellion praised Collins beautiful vision for the memorial, she did make a minor change. Collins initially suggested the names be painted in an off-white color.

But on the white chairs that wouldnt show up very well, she said. Instead, she painted the names in a pale gold so theyd subtly pop.

Nov. 10

After finishing the painting of the outside of the building the day before, Willingham and his team turned their attention to the inside. The bottom half of the inside walls was covered with wood paneling that was so bullet-riddled, they decided to rip it out and replace it.

They also painted the walls and floor a stark glossy white.

Weve had a lot of people tell us it looks the way they imagine heaven looks like, Collins said.

Nov. 11

Once the painted names and crosses had dried, the memorial chairs were delivered to the church. But because the floor was still drying, they were stored overnight elsewhere on the church campus.

Collins brought John Holcombe to see the church, showing him the newly painted sanctuary and several of the chairs.

Does this honor God and the people who died, John? he asked. Is there anything you think needs to be changed?

According to Collins, Holcombe simply shook his head no.

Nov. 12

Willingham, his team and others came by one last time Sunday morning before the memorial was unveiled to do some final painting touch-ups. With information supplied by law enforcement, they also placed each chair in the location where the victim had been sitting when the gunman opened fire.

One red rose supplied by San Antonio-based Uptown Flowers also was placed on each chair, with a pink one for the unborn child of John Holcombe and his wife, Crystal, who died in the shooting. The couple had planned to name the baby Carlin Brite, according to a Facebook post from John Holcombe.

The memorial is open to the public from 10 a.m. to about 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, depending on crowds, according to Collins, although its occasionally been closed to accommodate special groups.

There have been times when the line has trickled down, and Ill go into the (Sutherland Springs church) office, he said. And then when I come out again, therell be 100 people in the line.

There will be plenty of decisions to be made by the congregation in the coming weeks, according to Collins.

Some may want the church building to be torn down because the memory is too painful, he said. For others, its a memorial to those who died that they believe should remain.

Thats something theyll have to figure out down the road, he said.

For now, there are no plans to close the memorial to the public, he added. Whatever happens, those who worked on the project agree its an experience theyll never forget.

I had an overwhelming feeling inside the church that a catastrophe had happened there, Willingham said. The only other time I felt that was was when I was deployed in Baghdad. But these (church members) were civilians who lost their lives.

In addition, Beldon decided to launch a Go Fund Me campaign to raise $2.5 million to either rebuild or repair the church building. He budgeted for an 8,000-square-foot church costing $300 per square foot.

Itll be up to the church members to decide how theyre going to use the money, but I can build a really nice church for them at that price, he said.

As of Wednesday evening, the campaign had raised $1.13 million.

rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini
Of the 130 cases that a former San Antonio Police Department detective is accused of mishandling, one involved a woman who believed someone living in her home was drugging and raping her while she slept, according to records released Wednesday by the department.

Another case the detective allegedly mishandled involved a woman who was homeless and woke up to a man sexually assaulting her.

Both cases were assigned to Detective Kenneth Valdez, a 17-year department veteran most recently with the Special Victims Unit who was fired last month. The unit deals with sex and family crimes, and Valdez was generally assigned cases about child sex abuse and injury to a child.

The details of the cases were outlined in public records requested by the San Antonio Express-News after department officials specifically mentioned 15 cases that Valdez allegedly mishandled.

Eleven of those involved crimes against minors and could not be made public under state law. The remaining four were criminal allegations reported by adults.

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE. See the police report descriptions of the sexual assaults.

The earliest report, which dates to Aug. 25, 2016, concerns a 30-year-old woman who was homeless and alleged she was raped in the 600 block of Soledad Street. The woman said she woke up to the man assaulting her and then reported the attack to police.

Valdez allegedly had information from the Bexar County Crime Lab regarding a possible suspect in the case but failed to act on the information and concealed it from his supervisor by closing the case without reporting the information or placing the information into the investigative file.

He reportedly did the same thing with another case from Sept. 5, 2016, in which a 21-year-old woman reported she had been raped near the 1100 block of North Frio Street. The responding officer, not Valdez, said he found the victim passed out on a park bench and that she smelled of synthetic marijuana.

The report says the woman had previously been run out of the park where she was found because of curfew but later returned to the park screaming that someone had tried to sexually assault her and had hit her. She was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

In the two other cases, Valdez was directed to perform additional tasks before the cases could be closed, but he refused to do so, according to case files. Those records dont state what Valdez was expected to do.

In one of the cases, a woman told a doctor on Feb. 18 she believed a person with whom she was living had been drugging her, then raping her. When police came to interview her, she refused to provide more information and did not want the case prosecuted, police said.

The final case concerned an 18-year-old man who told police he had taken Xanax at a party on March 16 and woke up the next day in his bed naked. The man confronted a suspect and asked him if they had had sex the night before. The suspect said they had, authorities said.

The victim told police a similar incident had happened before and he didn't press charges. Because it had happened again, the victim decided to report the suspect to police.

According to previously released documents, Valdez failed to submit evidence to a crime lab for a year, from Aug. 15, 2016, to Aug. 15, 2017. Investigators discovered that evidence from 27 cases was not submitted for testing and 17 of those required forensic analysis.

Authorities also found unlabeled cellphones, buccal swabs in random envelopes and uncategorized DVDs and CDs in Valdezs office, records show.

There simply is no excuse for such improper behavior, and Detective Valdez is not representative of the thousands of men and women in our Police Department who are passionately committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us, City Manager Sheryl Sculley said in a statement last month announcing Valdez was fired.

Police Chief William McManus said at the time that some of the cases mishandled by Valdez may be past the statute of limitations, meaning prosecutions would not be possible.

SAPDs responsibility to investigate reported crimes and assist victims is one of our core missions, McManus said then. This investigation will continue until we are certain that all cases have been properly investigated.

Staff Writers Emilie Eaton and Kelsey Bradshaw contributed to this report.
Immigration authorities on Wednesday said they have revoked deferred action of a 20-year-old man who is being detained for deportation, but isnt receiving treatment for a leg that was amputated when he was a child, according to activists.

Border Patrol officials arrested Felipe Abonza Lopez, a Mexico native who lives in San Marcos, as part of a human-smuggling investigation. Immigration activists say the government is trying to tar Abonza as a criminal without any proof he was involved in smuggling.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said Wednesday that Abonza lost his work permit under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program on Oct. 13, the day after he was arrested by Border Patrol agents near Uvalde.

Known as DACA, the deferred action program was created under then-President Barack Obama to provide some young immigrants who are in the country illegally with two-year renewable work permits. President Donald Trump has said hes winding down the program.

Border Patrol officials said they believe Abonza was involved in human smuggling when they arrested him and four others who were in the country illegally after getting a call from Uvalde County sheriffs deputies.

Upon arrival, Border Patrol agents determined the situation was consistent with a human-smuggling attempt: three passengers in the rear seat were extremely dirty, common characteristics for subjects walking through the brush for several days. Abonza-Lopez, a passenger in the front seat, along with the driver, were arrested for suspected human smuggling, the agency said in a statement.

Two of the men in the back seat were deported and the other was charged with illegal entry, according to the Border Patrol. Abonza and the driver were put into deportation proceedings.

Abonza is being held in an immigration detention center in Pearsall, where he said he has to sleep with his prosthetic leg in bed because hes afraid of having it stolen and a guard mocked his missing limb, suggesting he replace it with a broom.

His lawyer, Bertha Zuniga, said Abonza and a cousin had gone to Uvalde to pick up men who were in the country illegally, but they werent part of a smuggling operation and they werent getting paid.

The men were relatives of Abonzas cousin, Zuniga said, who had crossed the Rio Grande illegally several days earlier and gotten lost in the South Texas brush. A rancher offered them food and water in exchange for two days work, she said, and they called Abonzas cousin, who lives in Austin, from the ranch, she said. Abonza agreed to accompany his cousin on the ride to and from Uvalde.

It is not a human-smuggling operation. Border Patrol interrogated him ad nauseum for two days until they were satisfied he was not the smuggler. These were his relatives. The driver was not charged with any illegal activity, Zuniga said. Once it was determined that there was no illegal activity on the part of Felipe, he should have been released by the Border Patrol. Instead, the government has tried to file documents to deport him from the United States when he has a valid document.

Zuniga said shell argue for his release in a hearing Tuesday.

A Border Patrol spokesman said the case was referred to the U.S. Attorneys Office, but no one was charged with smuggling.

While Abonza-Lopez was not criminally charged, CBP maintains he was actively involved in human smuggling and stands by the decision to process him for deportation, based on the circumstances of his apprehension, the agency said in its statement.

Abonzas detention, and the treatment he described in a letter from the Pearsall holding facility, drew condemnation from immigration advocacy groups.

Felipe Abonza Lopezs case is just the latest reminder that the same Trump administration that ended DACA is now actively targeting Dreamers, ignoring DACA status, and set to detain and deport anyone they come across, Lynn Tramonte, deputy director of Americas Voice, said in a statement.

The term Dreamers is a reference to immigrants without legal status who came to the U.S. when they were very young. Its up to members of Congress to stand up for a more just and decent vision of America and to counter these outrageous actions by the Trump administration, Tramonte added.

jbuch@express-news.net | Twitter: @jlbuch
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FLORESVILLE  Ten days ago, John Holcombe was a member of a close, extended family that attended Sunday services together.

On Wednesday, he stood before more than a thousand mourners at the Floresville Event Center as he said goodbye to nine members of the Holcombe and Hill clan, lost in the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5. At noon, hundreds stood in a line that doubled back on itself in the event centers hot parking lot to attend the services.

The family accounted for more than a third of the 26 worshippers killed on that day. Among those who died were Holcombes wife, Crystal; their unborn child; both of Holcombes parents; his brother; and his niece.

Tara McNulty, a close family friend who was killed, was also eulogized.

During the afternoon services, mourners silently dabbed their eyes under the auditoriums bright lights as they heard Holcombe describe his lost loved ones.

She could take sick plants and heal them, Holcombe, his voice hoarse with grief, said of Crystal. Like how she took a broken man and made him whole again.

Holcombe explained the name of his unborn child, Carlin Brite Billy Bob Holcombe: Carlin, which means small champion, because it was like Karla, Johns mother. Brite, because it was the last name of Crystals grandparents. And Billy Bob because thats how his stepchildren had excitedly referred to their mothers growing belly.

Carlin would have been John and Crystal Holcombes first child. Crystal, who was a widow with five children when she married John, was expecting to give birth in April.

The mourners learned that 11-year-old Emily Hill liked to perform magic tricks for her family. Then there was 13-year-old Greg Hill and 9-year-old Megan Hill  known as Megacute, joked Holcombe, because if there was one word you had to use to describe Megan, it was cute.

Various friends and family members said that Marc Daniel Danny Holcombe, Johns brother, was a tinkerer, always working on some kind of project. His daughter Noah Grace Holcombe, not even 2 years old, was the light of their life, according to a family friend who spoke on stage.

Holcombes father, Associate Pastor Bryan Holcombe, 60, was leading the service in place of Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who was out of town. Bryan Holcombe died with his wife, Karla, 58.

Sarah Slavin, John Holcombes sister, said she could tell mourners about what great people her parents were, but her parents wouldnt want that. She said they would want her to talk about how they came to be so kind, what drove their fun, weird, quirky adventures. And that, she said, was their faith in God.

John Holcombe was with his family during the massacre. He was injured and a stepdaughter was grazed by a bullet; a stepson was not in church that day.

The loss of our family members has left a huge hole in our hearts, said Crystals sister Bobbi Lynn Holland, her voice faltering through the sentence.

Hollands husband stood behind her while she spoke, gripping her hand the whole time, their son beside them. When she left the podium, the three embraced on stage, shoulders shaking.

Hollands last public status update on Facebook was at 2:02 p.m. Nov. 5 and reads: If anyone hears from Crystal Holcombe and/or John Holcombe please let me know if they are okay!!

She would soon learn of the loss of her sister Crystal and her children.

Pastor Frank Pomeroy of the First Baptist Church, where the tragedy occurred and where he, too, lost his daughter Annabelle, assured mourners that good would eventually come of such evil and that a faith in God will persevere despite it all.

At the end of the services, everyone stood as the nine caskets in hues of red, blue, purple and black were lifted from the center and carried into hearses outside.

Congregants swayed and hummed and sang along as a bagpipe band played Amazing Grace. The hymn also had been performed Sunday at the First Baptist Churchs first services since the massacre and at the Floresville High School football game on Friday.

On their way out, mourners hugged and squeezed hands. They wiped tears from each others eyes and made plans to see each other again. Grief was in plain view at the funeral, but so, too, was love.

sfosterfrau@express-news.net
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It was San Antonians chance to talk and for national leaders to listen. University students, educators, business people and everyday folks voiced their opinion Tuesday night on how NAACP should address the hot-button topics of the day.

Businessman Joe Linson was among the first to address the panel of NAACP leaders in the auditorium of the Ella Austin Community Center, 1023 N. Pine St. He was concerned about people that have felony records and cant vote.

Were suffering as a result of that, Linson said. Push that program. Once youve done your time, youve done your time.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar listened as William B. Johnson said that as a black father, he was concerned about recent issues between law enforcement and the African-American community.

We need to focus on what we can possibly do to stop being shot down, he said. Its getting to the point that were fighting for our lives every time we get in that situation.

The NAACP president said the fact that the sheriff was in attendance showed that he wanted to be part of the solution and not the problem. Earlier that day, Salazar had met with Johnson to discuss some of the same issues brought up at the gathering.

After the meeting, the sheriff said he wanted to hear the communitys needs and wants.

Its my community, too, he said. The way that we keep those issues from developing here is to keep the lines of communication open and work together constantly.

Linson and Butler were among more than 70 people who attended the forum, hosted by the NAACP, the nations oldest civil-rights organization. The audience members brought up a range of issues that included gerrymandering, education, illiteracy and voter mobilization.

NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson and Hazel N. Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference, visited San Antonio on the multicity listening tour, NAACP Forward: Today, Tomorrow & Always. The goal was listening to the local chapter and residents talk about how the association can help combat threats in the 21st century.

The tour started in Detroit and is scheduled to make its final stop in Washington in December. NAACP leadership has visited several other cities, including Detroit, Los Angeles and Nashville.

The visit comes several months before the civil rights group will host its first annual convention in San Antonio, which is expected to draw 10,0000 attendees.

Prior to the meeting, Johnson said the membership-based organization holds a strategic planning process every five to seven years to chart the direction of the association. They decided to kick off the process on a countrywide tour to ensure their direction was consistent with interests of their members and community partners.

It is an opportunity for us to hear from the San Antonio community for some of the things that we should do as an association to support and strengthen the local branch in San Antonio, Johnson said. We appreciate the leadership and thought it was appropriate to have our convention in San Antonio to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the branch.

For his part, NAACP San Antonio branch President Oliver Hill also brought up using education to counter voter apathy. He said he had helped a man who had been in prison vote for the first time in more than 30 years.

We have to be sure that we tell folks: Here in Texas, if you have been incarcerated and you dont have any more obligations to the state, you can get a voter registration and go out and vote.

Many Texans still arent aware that state law changed and that felons who serve their time, including parole and probation periods, can once again register to vote.

Jamie Butler, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., said theres a need to educate youth about workforce development and financial empowerment. Rebecca Robinson, a teacher at a Harlandale alternative school, said that everyone has to take responsibility for change in their community.

I know the NAACP is an important entity in our community, she said, but what are we doing that maybe we could turn around and help the NAACP to grow and develop what we need in the community?

vtdavis@express-news.net
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It was a moment that brought Texans to their feet, shook the statehouse and carried a filibuster across midnights finish line.

At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over the male colleagues in the room? former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte asked during then-Sen. Wendy Davis 11-hour filibuster of an abortion bill in June 2013. Although the legislation would later pass, her question spurred Texans in the gallery to stand up and scream and whoop in support while holding two fingers in the air.

The senators question went viral  making the rounds online and appearing on bumper stickers and T-shirts. That November, she launched a campaign for lieutenant governor.

But in Let Her Speak, an upcoming movie based on Davis filibuster and starring Sandra Bullock, Van de Puttes famous line is set to be delivered by Davis, according to a copy of the script obtained by the Austin American-Statesman.

Texans have been miffed about the inaccurate detail.

I would like to see history portrayed accurately, if only for the fact that there are very few times when history portrays Latinos as the ones who speak out and set something in motion, Van de Putte said in an interview. It was a Latina senator who said that, and it should try and be accurate.

Davis texted her sweet sister this week after hearing people were upset and assured Van de Putte the movie would get it right. After speaking with Mario Carrea, the movies writer, the script will be reworked for accuracy, Davis said.

Please keep in mind that this is a very early draft and there will be more improvements to come, Davis said.

After the filibuster, Davis and Van de Putte ran for governor and lieutenant governor, ultimately losing to Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick.

Van de Putte said the night was an emotional one for her  she raced to Austin hours after burying her father in San Antonio to be on the Senate floor as Davis stood in protest of Senate Bill 5, which effectively closed most of the states abortion clinics. Weeks before, the family had buried her grandson who had died unexpectedly.

Thousands were watching a livestream while hundreds of others had filled the floors of the state Capitol as the filibuster went late into the night.

We knew that we would eventually lose in another session, but for that one night, people found their voice, Van de Putte said.

kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5
As more harassed men and women speak out across the country, exposing sexual predators from Hollywood to Capitol Hill, the state Legislature is finally having its own overdue #MeToo moment  and the reckoning has snared at least one local lawmaker.

On Tuesday, both Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for a review of sexual harassment policies at the state Capitol. The move followed a report by the Texas Tribune that found pervasive and unchecked sexual harassment under the Pink Dome, as well as a report last week in the Daily Beast that revealed the existence of an anonymous, crowdsourced spreadsheet that has circulated among women at the state Capitol for the past year and warns of alleged transgressions by male lawmakers, campaign workers and legislative staffers.

The document, titled Burn Book of Bad Men in progressive spaces, includes two entries on embattled Democratic state Sen. Carlos Uresti  not the first time the San Antonio lawmaker has been accused of sexual misdeeds.

Last year, Urestis opponent in the Democratic primary ran a TV ad that included undercover video shot in Austin by the American Phoenix Foundation, a right-wing nonprofit. The video shows a young woman nuzzling Uresti, who is married, at a hotel bar, and, in a separate sequence, a different woman leaving a public restroom, followed minutes later by Uresti.

The senators reputation took another hit in May, when he was indicted on 13 counts of fraud, money laundering and bribery in two separate cases.

In June, the U.S. attorneys office in San Antonio alleged that Uresti had exploited a client by persuading her to invest in a Ponzi scheme. Denise Cantu had retained Urestis legal services after a tire blew out on her Ford Explorer, causing a crash that killed two of her children and two friends in 2010.

Cantu won a large settlement and later invested $900,000  the bulk of it  with FourWinds, a now-defunct oil field services company for which Uresti provided legal services. The senator received a $27,000 commission on her investment. Cantu lost $800,000 when the company went bankrupt in 2015.

Cantus attorney has claimed that an affair between the senator and his client began after Cantu won the settlement but before she invested with FourWinds. Uresti has denied the allegations.

He did not return a call for comment on Wednesday.

Ethics rules dont prohibit Texas lawyers from having sex with clients. The Texas House and Senate, however, have policies stating that sexual harassment will not be tolerated.

In the House, employees are supposed to direct complaints to the chair of the House Administration Committee, a position currently held by Republican state Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth. Few victims, of course, would expect a member-led committee to police fellow lawmakers objectively  likely the reason Geren has received no complaints.

It also explains why women at the state Capitol would need to rely on a whisper network to warn each other of bad men.

On Tuesday, state Rep. Diana Arevalo, D-San Antonio, released a lengthy statement offering her offices as a safe zone for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

I am concerned, but not surprised, at the recent news of a Burn Book of members of the Texas Legislature, Arevalo said. Our duty as elected members is to serve our constituency. I am angered that some members abuse their positions of power, and create a culture that tolerates sexual harassment.

Our State Capitol should not be an escape for sexual predators who hide behind their elected position, she added. These allegations should be a concern to everyone. Lets call these members for what they are, aggressors.

Arevalo added that her staff is available for anyone coming out of the shadows and would offer help in filing a complaint with Gerens committee, making a police report or obtaining support services, including counseling.

bchasnoff@express-news.net
In the brutally hard decade on the Texas frontier after the Civil War, Indian raiders sweeping north across the Rio Grande made life even more daunting for ranchers and settlers along the Southern border.

Eventually, the U.S. Army, which had been forced out of Texas by Confederate sympathizers in 1861, returned in force. With troops assigned to the forts and native scouts to guide them, the Army took the offensive against the marauding Comanche, Apache and Kickapoo.

John L. Bullis, a Union soldier from New York who had been taken prisoner at the Battle of Gettysburg, was among those sent to Texas. Arriving in 1871, he spent a decade as an Indian fighter and leader of the Seminole Indian scouts. Bullis and his scouts played a critical role in the Remolina Raid of 1873, the Armys most audacious strike against hostile Indians who operated with impunity from villages deep in Mexico. The dramatic raid did much to curb the cross-border incursions.

Although the raid 40 miles south of the border was in flagrant violation of international law, and thus bitterly resented by the Mexican government, it apparently had the unofficial approval of top U.S. military officials.

Col. Ranald MacKenzie, described by Ulysses S. Grant as the most promising young officer of the Army, was entrusted with leading the covert mission. MacKenzie would prove to be the nemesis of the Apache, Comanche, Crow and other tribes resisting the incursions of the whites across the West. Preparations for the secret mission were made at Fort Clark, at present-day Brackettville, and on the evening of May 17, 1873, MacKenzie and nearly 400 men headed south. Among them were Bullis and his 20 Seminole Negro scouts.

The troops crossed into Mexico below present-day Eagle Pass and rode undetected through the night. At dawn they swept into a large Indian village, taking the inhabitants by surprise. Spies had earlier reported that most of the warriors were away on a raiding party, and there was little resistance. Two dozen Indians were killed, the village at Remolina and two others nearby were burned, and about 40 people, mostly women and children, and a Lipan chief, were taken prisoner. Then the troops quickly turned northward, fearful of a counterattack, and by dawn the exhausted men had again crossed the Rio Grande.

In his report on the raid, MacKenzie singled out Bullis and his men for special praise.

I wish also to mention Lieutenant Bullis, with the Seminole Scouts, who behaved under the command of that gallant officer very well, wrote MacKenzie, according to an article by Edward S. Wallace published in the July 1951 edition of the Southwestern Historical Review. Between 1873 and 1881, Bullis led his scouts on 25 forays against hostile Indians, many into Mexico, with some operations lasting a month or more. Bullis Gap and Bullis Crossing are sites on the border that still bear his name.

One mission, trailing Indians who had left the Fort Stanton reservation, covered more than 1,200 miles and lasted more than 80 days.

On another raid deep into Mexico, Bullis and his men had to flee a large force of Mexican soldiers, and were only saved by 300 reinforcements from the U.S. side.

The scouts, the descendents of slaves and Seminole Indians who had been forced by the whites to flee from Florida to Mexico, thought a great deal of their young commander, according to Wallaces article.

A scout named Joseph Phillips, whose story was told in the book Seminole Indian Scouts on the Border, praised Bullis for being a good man and a fighter who looked after his men.

But not every mission ended in victory for the blue coats and their allies.

On May 12, 1875, Bullis and three scouts left Fort Clark and began following a fresh trail made by about 75 horses going northwest toward the Pecos River. Eventually, he wrote, they came upon a group of Indians trying to cross the river.

After tying up their horses, Bullis and his men crept through the brush and opened fire. But after a 45-minute gunbattle in which three Indians were killed, he ordered a hasty retreat.

We were at last compelled to give way, as they were about to get around us, and cut us off from our horses. I regret to say that I lost mine with saddle and bridle complete, and just saved my hair by jumping on my sergeants horse back of him, he wrote in his report.

The truth is, there were some twenty-five or thirty Indians in all, and mostly armed with Winchester guns, and they were too much for us, he added.

In 1881, when Bullis ended his service on the frontier, he was presented with a sword by the grateful people of West Texas. The inscription read: He protected our homes, our homes are open to him.

The following year, the Texas Legislature honored him with a resolution that praised him for the gallant and efficient services rendered by him and his command on behalf of the people of the frontier of this state, in repelling the depredations of Indians and other enemies of the frontier of Texas.

In 1882, Bullis moved to Arizona to become an Indian agent on the Apache Reservation. In 1897, he returned to San Antonio to be the paymaster at Fort Sam Houston. During the Spanish-American War, he served in Cuba and the Philippines. In 1904, he retired in San Antonio with a rank of brigadier general. He died May 26, 1911, in San Antonio.

Sadly, the Seminole Scouts he led did not fare as well. Despite Bullis being an advocate for them, the U.S. government reneged on a promise to provide land to the scouts who had served heroically during the Indian Wars.

Bullis developed strong ties to the Alamo City. In 1872, he married Alice Rodriguez of San Antonio. Four years after her death in 1887, he married another San Antonio woman, Josephine Withers, and they had three daughters. The Bullis House Inn, a bed and breakfast, and a registered Texas State Historic Landmark, was built for Bullis and his family early in the 20th century by noted architect Harvey Page.

He also left a lasting impression in West Texas where Bullis Gap and Bullis Crossing are familiar border landmarks.

Jack Skiles, 84, who grew up in Langtry, an hour west of Del Rio, recalls his father and others talking favorably about Bullis.

He had quite a name and was highly respected by everyone, at least west of the Pecos. I remember people talking about him doing a good job of cleaning out the Indians, said Skiles.

In 1917, six years after Bullis death, a new military base being established near Leon Springs northwest of San Antonio was given his name. Camp Bullis, which eventually grew to encompass 28,000 acres, served as an important training facility during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1941, the camp was also the site of a mysterious outbreak soon named Bullis Fever. More than 1,000 soldiers fell ill, and one died. Repeated efforts over the next half-century to identify the source of the epidemic were unsuccessful.

In recent decades, as urban growth has begun to crowd Camp Bullis, fears that it might close prompted San Antonio city leaders to take decisive action. In 2010, after a major review called the Camp Bullis Joint Land Use Study, the city adopted many of its recommendations, including a requirement for builders to use dark sky lighting near the base, added protections for endangered species, and steps to reduce conflicts with homeowners over noise coming from the base.

Paul Dvorak, the civilian director, said since then, the cooperation between the military in general in San Antonio, and the city, county and state, and even the private developers has increased exponentially. Dvorak said about 180,000 Army and Air Force personnel make use of Camp Bullis annually, with the majority being Army medical teams. It is also used by military police and military intelligence specialists.

Were not a Fort Hood-type training base for armored and infantry divisions, like they did back in WWI and WWII, he said.

Camp Bullis future looks quite secure, he said.

San Antonio is unique in that it offers the combination of a military installation, Fort Sam Houston, plus a training range which is Camp Bullis, and urban hospitals that these personnel can work in. No else can offer that, and I think the senior Army leadership understands that, he said.
For strawberries, WA has a clear seasonal advantage as the United States is the only competitor during this time of the year. She said the report provided market intelligence available from desktop research so that potential exporters from WA could make informed decisions.
We use numbers to get the Capello down to about a tonne of biomass before we take them off, then we let it bulk up again.
In a CTF system, you will get a period of residual benefit from deep ripping  especially in heavier soils, or if you have mouldboarded and ripped in typical sandplain country  but eventually hardpans will start to re-form at levels as shallow as 17 to 20cm (7-8in).
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Entertainment / Music

by Agencies

Mutare born and raised jazz artist, Tazz Machekano (29) has just released a song coincidentally on the eve of a military takeover in Harare, Zimbabwe.In the song, Tazz Machekano reminisces of the past, when Zimbabwe was still the bread basket of Africa. Tazz goes on to ask,"Where are you my beloved Zimbabwe"Growing up in Mutare, Tazz attended Chancellor Primary School and proceeded to Mutare Boys High for his secondary education. Raised in a religious family, Tazz mentions that his brothers played a huge role in moulding him into an artist he is today."I started doing music at a very tender age in church. Whenever I would sing, people would stand up and applaud. My brothers would come and lift me up and pat me on the back. They would encourage me to sing more. Every Sunday was an inspirational Sunday for me, I was given a mic at a very young age, to sing in church, the rest is history." said TazzWhen the pastor asked Tazz to sing in church, it made an impact in church andhe says that is when he realized he could do so much with music. Tazz writes his own music. He writes, composes and produces his own music.In 2015 Tazz released his first 6 track album called "Four Days Pagore". All the songs on his debut album touched on social and socio-economic issues. Although the album did not gain enough airplay, it marked the arrival of a promising and talented Jazz artist now known as Tazz Machekano.The artiste has shared the stage with the likes of Zimbabwe's Prudence Katomeni and Cythia Mare. Tazz has done a couple of performances in South Africa and he continues to grow as an artist and brand.Tazz says he would like to collaborate with the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi, Jah Prayzah and Lucky Dube (If he was still alive).
The UK Serious Fraud Office said Thursday it charged two men in connection with its investigation of Unaoil.

Ziad Akle and Basil Al Jarah were both accused of conspiracy to pay bribes to help Unaoils client SBM Offshore NV win contracts in Iraq.

Netherlands-based SBM provides floating production systems for the oil and gas industry.

The alleged bribery happened between June 2005 and August 2011, the SFO said.

Akle, 42, was Unaoils territory manager for Iraq. He lives in London

Al Jarah, 68, was Unaoils Iraq partner, the SFO said. He lives in Hull (England).

Both are scheduled to appear in the Westminster Magistrates Court (London) on December 7.

A third man, Saman Ahsani, is subject to an extradition request to Monaco on related charges, the SFO said. Ahsani, 43, was Unaoils commercial director. He lives in Monaco.

In the United States last week, two former executives of SBM Offshore pleaded guilty to bribing officials at Brazils Petrobras and two state-owned energy firms in Africa.

In a company release this month, SBM Offshore said it reserved $238 million for a possible FCPA settlement with the DOJ. The release said the DOJ investigation involves Monaco-based Unaoil and legacy issues.

A report in March 2016 by Fairfax Media and the Huffington Post said Unaoil paid bribes on behalf of large companies in the oil and gas sector.

HuffPo said its story was based on leaked internal Unaoil documents.

Unaoil has denied the allegations.

Police in Monaco raided Unaoils offices after the Fairfax Media / Huffington Post report appeared. The report named about a dozen companies as beneficiaries of Unaoils network in the Middle East.

The leaked Unaoil documents, according to HuffPo, mentioned SBM Offshore, Rolls-Royce, and Petrofac, among others.

In May, UK-based Petrofac suspended its chief operating officer during the corruption investigation.

On November 7 this year, the DOJ unsealed FCPA charges against three Rolls-Royce executives and two agents. They were charged for a bribery plot to win an equipment contract on a gas pipeline from Kazakhstan to China. The three company executives and one of the agents pleaded guilty. The other agent is a fugitive.

In January this year, Rolls Royce plc paid about $800 million in a global resolution of corruption allegations. The settlement involved the DOJ, the SFO, and Brazil prosecutors.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.


Since my initial post for the FCPA Blog on the Paradise Papers, I have read a lot of arguments against requiring increased transparency of anonymous companies, including a recent post on this blog, so I thought it would be useful to address some of these arguments and present another perspective.

It is true that there are legitimate uses for shell companies. One often cited example is that of a multinational corporation looking to buy property. The corporation may be concerned that a seller may increase the price due to brand recognition, and therefore may incorporate a shell company to conduct the transaction.

While there are legitimate uses of shell companies, the issue is that the secrecy offered by these offshore structures makes them a favorite tool for just about any criminal from tax evaders and money launderers to drug traffickers and kleptocrats. As Max Heywood of Transparency International so eloquently said,

Even if some or even most secret shell companies were being used for legitimate purposes, the direct benefits of these uses mostly go to private individuals and single corporations. However, the costs of the misuse of secret shell companies, in terms of large-scale tax evasion, corruption and crime, are borne by society as a whole and mostly affect developing countries.

How much do ordinary folk in BVI and the Cayman Islands benefit from these secret offshore structures when the main beneficiaries are a wealthy minority, often expats? What about the ordinary folk in places like Congo, Angola and Kazakhstan, who see the revenues from natural resources disappear into complex offshore structures rather than going into the public coffers, where they could fund schools, hospitals, and roads? The ability to conceal illicitly obtained funds fuels corruption, breeds instability and diverts resources from those who should benefit.

Another argument against making beneficial ownership information publicly available is the right to privacy. No right is absolute and a right to privacy must be balanced against the cost to society from crimes facilitated by anonymous companies. Additionally, as Alison Taylors recent excellent post for the FCPA Blog pointed out, it is important to not falsely equate the confidentiality of financial information with disclosure of ownership.

Second, it is important to understand the difference between what a registry would collect and what would be public. For example, the UKs registry of beneficial ownership collects for each beneficial owner the full name, birth date, place of residence, and nationality, as well as a description of how the ownership/control is exercised. However, the owners entire birth date is not disclosed. Also, if there are legitimate security concerns like the protection of identity in dangerous hot spots throughout the world, a tightly worded exemption could address such concerns. In fact, the UK register addresses this concern on a case by case basis. And no register contemplates the public display of any document such as a passport that can be used to verify identity.

In reality, registers have to be consistently updated and information needs to be verified to maintain accuracy. Verification is something that takes time, money, and trained personnel. Opening the register would increase the chances that errors, omissions, and deceptions would be spotted by interested journalists and civil society.

Open registers would also level the playing field for businesses. I constantly hear about the challenges businesses face in terms of managing their supply chain and conducting adequate due diligence. Company ownership transparency would aid in risk management and corporate due diligence efforts. Several business leaders agree and have already lent their support to beneficial ownership transparency, including the CEO of Unilever, the CEO of Dow Chemical Company, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, and Celtel founder Mo Ibrahim.

I agree that no register of beneficial ownership will be the answer to all concerns. Just as any good internal control system has multiple checks and balances, we need many reforms to truly stem the flow of illicit money. Beneficial ownership registers and requiring financial institutions to collect and verify beneficial ownership information of their legal entity customers are key, but additional reforms are needed.

For example, law firms and other intermediaries who set up offshore companies and trusts should conduct due diligence and screening of their clients and report suspicious activities to authorities. When these actors fail to meet their obligations, authorities should hold them accountable and impose appropriate sanctions.

The real estate industry, which is well positioned to detect schemes that use real estate to conceal the true source, ownership, location or control of funds generated illegally, should be required to conduct due diligence on buyers identities and the sources of their funds.

Finally, for those who think that the Paradise Papers are all about tax avoidance, our friends at Transparency International have helpfully posted a summary of stories with red flags of corruption. There is a difference between tax evasion and avoidance; several stories in the Paradise Papers relate to avoidance and not outright evasion. But in practice, it can be highly challenging to determine the boundary between tax evasion and tax avoidance and the line is becoming more blurred. As the Economist magazine has noted, It is not correct to say, as many do, that tax evasion is illegal but tax avoidance is legal. The lawyers and accountants who manage avoidance schemes  which often exploit loopholes to gain a tax advantage that legislators never intended  work in a legal grey area.

The Panama Papers have already resulted in several reforms which we have detailed before. For example, the BVI commitments on beneficial ownership information exchange with the UK government happened in the run-up to the London Anti-Corruption Summit, and just a couple of days after the Panama Papers broke. As a result of the Panama Papers leaks, investigations or inquiries have been launched into the activities of 6,520 companies and individuals in 79 countries.

We do not need another leak to close the loopholes identified. We already know that anonymous companies facilitate corruption because every large corruption story in recent times, including IMDB, Petrobras, FIFA, and VimpelCom has featured anonymous companies. It is time to take a bold step toward transparency rather than timid measures with limited impact.

____

Shruti Shah, pictured above, is a contributing editor of the FCPA Blog. Shes the Vice President of Programs and Operations at Coalition for Integrity (formerly Transparency International-USA). She can be contacted here.
Along with the trusty ol text message, Twitter, Tumblr, and other forms of social media have completely overhauled the way we communicate with one another over the past decade plus. Theyve essentially allowed for more nuanced expression, adding layers to language with things like emojis and the ability to manipulate tone via our punctuation choices. Heres a quick rundown of some of the prevailing ways the internet has changed the English language.

A World Without Whom

In certain contexts, use of the full stop can have negative connotations. As plenty of millennials can confirm, punctuating texts, direct messages, or other one-liners with a full stop may convey a harsh or aggressive tone. Of course we need periods in storiesfrom news briefs to novels and everything in betweento indicate where one sentence ends and another begins, and the idea that theyre a dying punctuation mark is moot, but in texts, chats, and quick emails, we are forced to confront the new reality that they arent truly necessary, thanks to the line break. The use of the period is, these days, open to interpretation in brief exchanges, and context should be considered. The period at the end of a text from a friend who never uses periods in their messages is a highly distressing one; the one at the end of a text from the friend who always properly punctuates and capitalizes their messages is no cause for alarm.

Were also punctuating. Things. Like. This. The addition of full stops in between the last few words of a sentenceor all the words in a shorter sentenceis a more recent punctuation trend that seems to have been birthed on the internet as well. (See? Told you theyre not dying!) The full stops direct the reader to read a sentence more slowly and emphatically, and effectively convey a sense of drama or passion for the subject at hand.

Were consulting the dictionary less frequently to determine whether or not a word is real. While dictionaries are one of the worlds greatest resources, the reality is that they cant keep up with the pace of language change in real time. Im often asked by my colleagues, of certain funny or strange words, Is this a real word? Of course it isyou just used it. It was crafted using characters that create a sound we both recognize and a meaning we both understand. As American lexicographer Erin McKean said in her TEDYouth TED Talk, My job is not to decide what a word is; that is your job. Everybody who speaks English decides together whats a word and whats not a word. Every language is just a group of people who are trying to understand each other... Words in English are like Lego: If you use enough force, you can put any two of them together.

Tildes are being used just as often as common emphatic conventions like boldface or italics are. The tilde is wondrous because it does something we didnt realize we needed punctuation for. It has the capacity to express things we were previously unaware a punctuation mark or boldface or italic font could express, functioning in myriad ways an adorable asterisk pair could never: for ~whimsical~, self-deprecating, sarcastic, or ironic emphasis.

Emojis! Emojis lend a layer of mood to otherwise mood-less phrasing, as a punctuation mark 2.0. They are, in a sense, the most evolved form of punctuation we have at our disposal. Consider the sentence Cant believe I did that, for instance. While there isnt much context as to what that is referring to in this statement, the intended tone communicated by the sender can be swiftly revealed with the addition of an emoji or two: a crying or grimacing face may indicate sadness or guilt, but accompanied by a sunglasses-wearing face and a trophy, the sentence would appear to take on a proud and celebratory tone.

New slang is being created at a seemingly accelerated rate. While every generation has had their lot of slang terms and phrases of the moment, the internet is a breeding ground for phrasings born out of memes and viral content like YouTube videos (eyebrows on fleek, anyone?). Slang rooted in internet features themselves is byproduct of thislike Dont @ me as another way of saying, I stand behind this and dont want to hear otherwise from you.

Were developing a more relaxed approach to profanity. In a world where things much worse than a straggling F-word are accessible to children, weve seen a shift in attitudes toward casual-use profanity for comedic or dramatic effectsee, for example, BuzzFeed quiz How Fucking British Are You? It would be in all of our best interests to worry about things that are truly offensive, like disrespectful or derogatory language.

That said, were also more attuned to inclusive, respectful language. Thanks to the myriad resources available onlinefrom the GLAAD Media Reference Guide to Conscious Style Guide, the Diversity Style Guide, and the National Center on Disability and Journalisms Disability Language Style Guidetheres no longer an excuse to say, Oh, I didnt know that wasnt the right way to talk about that when writing about marginalized groups or people whose cultures or experiences you are unfamiliar with. We can consult a style guide to learn how to refer to indigenous peoples of various regions just as easily as we can ensure were writing respectfully about people living with disabilities.

Phrases once circulated primarily within a particular community or group often find themselves gliding rapidly into mainstream usage. And they shape-shift in the process. In this age of the omnipresent hashtag, spotting an unfamiliar word traipsing around the internet and misappropriating it by assigning it the characteristics you think it reflectsor applying it in a manner that is most familiar to youis one way this happens (as weve seen, for instance, with basic as a slang term, which has roots in hip-hop culture and originally signified something along the lines of uncouth, but quickly became synonymous with a disparaging way to describe conformity).

We have essentially reduced lol to punctuation. Lol is but an empty shell of an abbreviation, a sad silhouette of what once indicated sincere enjoyment of a hilarious joke. A sparkling diamond reduced to cubic zirconia status, lol now finds itself with the daunting responsibility of serving as a marker of acknowledgment for anything from a mildly amusing idea to a genuinely comical statement to a pleasant observation to a downright crappy situation. Before our very eyes, in just two decades, lol devolved from an expression of one of the most joyous, pure experiences of human existencethe all-consuming urge to laugh out loud after reading profoundly hilarious words on a screento a measly filler word.
J.E. DEste Clark is a lover of all things Greek; the art, the culture, the myths and legends. For the last ten years she has been campaigning for the return of the Parthenon marbles, currently housed in the British museum, to Greece. Her passion for the campaign inspired her to write her debut romantic saga Plunder with Intent. The novel celebrates many courageous and wondrous women, and here J.E DEste Clark shares her favourite Greek heroines from fiction.

Plunder With Intent

Plunder with Intent is available on Amazon now.

The Goddess Athena

The Goddess Athena is the ultimate feminine role model. Courageous, fierce and wise, Athena is the Goddess of reason, arts and literature, symbolised, in many tales, as a majestic owl. A marble and gold sculpture of Athena, known as the Athena Parthenos, was created for the Parthenon and yet it has now been lost to history. Athena is the central muse of Plunder with Intent, the spirit of her goodness permeates the pages like a solemn melody.

The Goddess Iris

Iris, Goddess of the sea and sky, is another Greek heroine who deserves to be better known. Iris, with her delicate beauty and gossamer golden wings, was a spirited messenger for the gods. Her name comes from the Greek word iris (meaning the rainbow) and eiris (the messenger) and it was said that she travelled on a rainbow to deliver her godly messages to the mortals below. You can find a sculpture of Iris (or whats left of it) in the Parthenon Gallery in the British Museum.

Antigone

The next is Antigone, a sharp-tongued, vicious tomboy, who defies the state for the sake of her principles and ideals. In Sophocles play, Antigone, the rebellious daughter of Oedipus disobeys the King of Creon in order to give her brother, Polynices, an honourable burial. Antigone is a spoilt, arrogant, headstrong young girl yet her characteristic transgressions make her even more admirable as a feminist before her time. She refuses to be a weak, simpering woman and isnt afraid to be difficult!

Penelope

Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, is a strong, loving matriarch who waits over twenty years for her husband to return from his travels. Her loyalty to her husband and her faith in their love are not servile qualities; quite the opposite. In the story of Odysseus, Penelope is inundated with suitors desperate to secure the kingship while her husband is missing. Cunning Penelope sets the men a task with Odysseus bow, knowing that only her true love can pass it.

Medea

Medea is the feme fatale of Greek tragedy. Dangerously beautiful, fiercely intelligent and cripplingly jealous, the sorceress Medea falls in love with the dashing Jason and helps him escape from her own father (along with his favourite sheepskin rug). However, once they return to Corinth, married life becomes wearisome to Jason and he soon leaves Medea for a younger model. Medea is not the kind of woman to take things lying down a poisoned dress is just one of the goodies she has in store for Jason and his bimbo bride. Just a warning to squeamish parents, Euripides play, Medea, can get a little dicey

Meg

Moving into the Disneyland of the Greek myths now, Megara (or Meg) Hercules sassy love interest is an important heroine to spotlight. Megs sarcastic, dry wit and general disgust with the world of men, makes her an unusual Disney heroine  but a significant one because of it. Controversially, the Megara from Greek mythology is the oldest daughter of Creon, King of Thebes, and was given to Hercules as a gift for defending the city. I doubt Meg would have approved of that!

Medusa

A thoroughly misunderstood villainess up next. Medusa  or the Gorgon  was a creature, more monster than woman, who had living snakes in place of her hair. All who looked upon her were turned into stone. Although not technically a heroine, Medusa is on this list to remind us that women can be monsters, there is not purity in simply being female. Medusa lived a Caliban-like existence on a lonely island, without the company of other being or even her own reflection, which must have been a pretty difficult existence.

Toula Portokalos

Now here is a more modern Greek heroine; Toula Portokalos the heroine from the 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Toula is an inspiring character, she has always been smart, kind and funny but just needed a boost of confidence to get her life back on track. The confidence comes in the form of a flyer for a university degree in computing. Some see the film as a love story, which it is, but mostly its about one woman taking control of her life and creating her own happiness. Inspiringly, the actress who plays her, Nia Vardalos, also wrote the screenplay for the film.

Helen of Troy

Is this the face that launched a thousand ships, says Faustus as he gazes upon Mephistopheles reincarnation of the most beautiful woman in history, Helen of Troy. In actual fact, Helen wasnt just a pretty face. The daughter of Zeus and Leda, Helen was married off to the King of Laconia as a young girl. Far from a meek, obedient wife, Helen turned out to be a bit of a wild child. Her forbidden love with the handsome Paris, and their subsequent elopement, triggered the bloody battle of Troy.

Queen Gorgo

Some may know Queen Gorgo as the steely power-woman played by Lena Headey in the 2006 film 300. Although her true story is foggy with history, Queen Gorgo was a member of the Sparta family, who claimed they were descendants of Hercules. Gorgo was a precocious child who, according to some historians, exercised her powers of persuasion and diplomacy at the age of eight, when she convinced her father to avoid an unsavoury political alliance with the conniving Aristagoras of Miletus. Clearly a girl whod done her homework!

Plunder with Intent by J.E. DEste Clark is out now. Available on Amazon.
I love nothing better than cosying up under blankets with a hot chocolate, a tin of Celebrations and something winteresque on the TV. But for my PERFECT Christmas it would just have to contain a little bit of Greek!

One Christmas Kiss In Notting Hill

I am very lucky to have a house on the gorgeous Greek island of Corfu and I spent my very first big, fat, Greek Easter there this year but I would love to share winter celebrations too.

There are many Greek traditions that are similar to our own here in the UK. Children go carol singing, often accompanied by a triangle, to their neighbours houses where they will receive a small amount of money. There are sparkling lights, often on boats instead of trees  as Saint Nicholas is also the protector of sailors  and there is a celebratory atmosphere from December 6th until the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th).

In many parts of Greece a pomegranate is hung above the door and once the fruit has dried, at the beginning of the New Year, it is dropped and broken. Greeks then step into their house on the right foot to bring good luck into the house for the next year.

Corfu has weather seasons just like the UK and last year it had quite a considerable snowfall with many of my friends posting videos of crisp white roads and flurries all over rooftops! I find it hard to imagine how my scorching summer escape can be so different in December!

My perfect Greek Christmas would be wrapping up warm and heading to the beach for long, winter walks by the sea or taking to the olive groves to meander through the tracks under a cool blue sky. Of course Christmas would always involve lots of friends and family and that all important celebration feast! Theres nothing better than stuffing yourself with turkey and all the trimmings before indulging in mulled wine and figgy pudding. But a touch of Greek cuisine wouldnt go amiss a bit of feta cheese on the Jacobs crackers or some sweet baklava for pudding.

This year I will be in the UK for Christmas visiting family for time together and those all-important board games  our favourites are Trivial Pursuit, Dobble and Taboo! Just like Isla and Hannah in One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill!

School productions, music concerts and parties will fill the run up to the big day and then its time to relax, re-charge and look forward to 2018! Heres to a fantastic Christmas season for everyone, full of good times and happy memory-making!

One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill by Mandy Baggot is published by Ebury Press, available to buy now, 6.99
Prince William has warned of the dangers of social media as part of a campaign to tackle cyberbullying.

Prince William

The 35-year-old British royal will today [16.11.17] announce a so-called green cross code for the 21st century, with the intention of informing young people how they should respond to being bullied over the web.

Prince William - who has joined forces with the likes of Apple, Facebook, Google, Snapchat and Twitter, among others, for the project - said: "I think it's worth reminding everyone what the human tragedy of what we are talking about here isn't just about companies and about online stuff.

"It's actually real lives that get affected.

"And the consequences - that's the big thing, the consequences - of what happens if things are not kept in check in terms of what we say and what we do, and we are still responsible for our own actions online. This anonymity is really, really dangerous."

Prince William also stressed that there is marked difference between being bullied in the school playground and being teased over the internet.

The Prince - who heard the story of Lucy Alexander, whose 17-year-old son Felix took his own life after being bullied online - reflected: "It's one thing when it happens in the playground and it's visible there, and parents and teachers and other children can see it.

"Online you're the only one who can see it so it's personal. isn't it? It goes straight to your room."

Meanwhile, Carolyn Bunting, the CEO of Internet Matters, has echoed the Prince's sentiment.

She said: "Children are born into a digital world; they are learning, communicating and growing up online.

"But the online world can pose certain risks, such as cyberbullying.

"Parents need to ensure they've had early conversations with their children about the importance of staying safe online and help build their digital resilience."
aijohn784/iStock/Thinkstock(RALEIGH-DURHAM, N.C.) -- The sister of the suspected gunman who went on a shooting rampage at several northern California locations Tuesday said his mental health had been deteriorating for years.



In an emotional interview, North Carolina resident Sheridan Orr told ABC Raleigh-Durham station WTVD that her brother, Kevin Neal, suffered from paranoia.



"It was always something," Orr said. "His mental health had slipped."



She added: "He clearly had no business with firearms and refused to get any help. He wouldn't even go to government clinics when we would arrange it because he was afraid of the government getting his numbers. It was full-on paranoia and delusion."



Neal was shot and killed by police Tuesday after allegedly initiating multiple shootings that morning that killed four people and injured several more. Authorities later determined that Neal's wife had also been killed -- likely the night before -- which may have sparked the rampage.



In the past, the family had received calls from Neal allegedly threatening to hurt himself "all the time," Orr said. He would say worrying phrases such as "I just can't take it anymore," and "I'm just going to run into the woods," Orr said.



Orr said she never thought her brother would do anything like what happened this week, however.



Neal grew up in Cary, North Carolina, and attended East Carolina University, WTVD reported. He moved to California 12 years ago, but his mother and sister remained in North Carolina.



At the time of the shooting, Neal was out on bail for a January arrest, in which he was charged with assault of a deadly weapon, authorities said. His mother had posted his bond and spent $10,000 in lawyer fees from that incident, WTVD reported.



Police believe that Neal was looking to kill people during the string of shootings, which included him firing about 30 rounds into an elementary school in Corning, California, about 130 miles north of Sacramento.



WTVD spoke with Orr just an hour after a California sheriff notified the family of Neal's death in the driveway to her home, where she apologized to the loved ones of the victims of the shootings.



"We're so sorry, and we can't imagine what they're dealing with," she said. "... I just don't know what to say other than our hearts break."





Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
News / National

by Reuters

Britain does not want to see one tyrant take over from another in Zimbabwe after the military seized power in Harare, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Wednesday."Nobody wants simply to see the transition from one unelected tyrant to a next. Noone wants to see that. We want to see proper, free and fair elections," Johnson told the British parliament.
This World Vegan Month (November)  and smack bang in the middle of promoting the band's latest album, Pinewood Smile  The Darkness' frontman and vocal vegan proponent, Justin Hawkins, sat down with PETA US at Los Angeles' iconic Fonda Theatre for an exclusive video interview about animal-free eating: "It's good for your voice, good for your body, good for your circulation, good for your skin, good for your eyes, good for your nails, good for your teeth, good for your hair. It's probably good for your nose. It's good for everything," he says.

Justin Hawkins

Hawkins credits his wife with informing him about the cruelty inflicted on animals in today's meat, egg, and dairy industries  and he proudly reveals that his entire family has gone vegan. "There's a lot of substitutes that do simulate meat, but there's also some brilliant vegetables that mother nature has invented, so I don't think there's any excuses, really," he says.

PETA  whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat"  notes that in addition to sparing roughly 100 animals a year prolonged suffering and a terrifying death, each person who goes vegan also reduces his or her risk of suffering from diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer. Also, a United Nations report revealed that a global transition towards vegan eating is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

Hawkins is part of a long list of musicians  including Morrissey, Travis Barker, Davey Havok, Paul McCartney, and RZA  who have teamed up with PETA or one of its affiliates to promote healthy and humane vegan meals.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.
Sitting in her home in Fethiye with her family around her, Safsaf could not look any happier.

She welcomes you with open arms and a huge smile, serves an endless supply of Syrian tea or coffee, along with delicious food and chats to you with enthusiasm.

Life in this modest Fethiye home seems happy and content.

Safsafs story

Safsaf lived in Damascus, Syria, with her husband, Morhaf, and small daughter, Leen. She had just discovered that she was expecting a second child. She was a primary school teacher and Morhaf a painter and decorator. They had just bought a new house and were working hard to make it a home where they could bring up their young family.

From everyday life to fear

The civil war brought an end to all of that. The lives of Syrians had gone from everyday life to revolving around fear.

Things became so bad that in 2014, after Morhaf had been kidnapped and his brother killed by a bomb, Safsaf and Leen fled Syria to seek refuge in Turkey.

Safsaf gathered what possessions she could carry and, with one year old, Leen, walked and took the occasional bus from Damascus to Aleppo. From there she crossed the border to Osmaniye in Turkey.

All I had was two bags with a few possessions and the equivalent of 600TL in cash. There were bombs going off at the border crossing and a soldier pointed a gun at my head and they took Leen. I was screaming as I didnt think I would see her again

Turkey

In Osmaniye, Safsaf officially registered as a refugee to be able to benefit from health care and schooling.

Morhaf was fortunate enough to be released by his captors and joined Safsaf and Leen in Osmaniye, where they were staying with a friend.

Although they felt safer in Turkey, Morhaf needed to find work to support his family so he set off walking and thumbing lifts (where he could), to Fethiye, a journey that took him one month.

Morhaf found casual work and a home in Fethiye and sent for Safsaf and Leen to join him.

Safsaf was able to speak some English when she arrived but didnt understand Turkish. The family were alone in a strange country with no friends or extended family, and very little furniture or possessions.

Two years and five months later

Today, Safsaf speaks almost fluent English and is learning Turkish. Five months after her arrival in Fethiye, her Mum, Dad and youngest sister made the 20 hour journey by boat, via Beirut, to join them. Zain was born five months after her journey from Syria began.

With the help of people living locally, Safsaf has made a life here for herself and her family, along with many friends.

She is now active in helping other families in the relatively small Syrian community that has settled in the area over the past couple of years.

T.C. Safsaf Kadri

There are over 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. The Turkish government made a decision to give Turkish Citizenship to 1000 of these refugees and Safsaf was chosen to apply.

The best day in my life

On 22 August 2017, Safsaf and her family received their Turkish Citizenship (Kimlik). They were the first of the 1000 to receive it.

That is my best day in my life new start thank you my god, thank you State of Turkey, thanks to all the friends who supported me here. Thank you ladies. I love you so much I will not forget this day. Thank you Turkey  Safsaf Kadri

The heartache behind the smile

Although Safsaf and her family now have a new life and a safe place to stay, she is still haunted by memories of the death and devastation she witnessed in Syria and desperately worried about the members of her family who are still there.
Fushun Cambo Fashion Company Limited will invest $2.45 million to set up a garment manufacturing factory in Bante Kol village, in southwestern Bati district of Takeo province in Cambodia. The project, which on commencement will employ more than 1,000 people, has received green signal from the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).

The CDC is a government body that approves large scale investment projects in Cambodia. Last month, the CDC approved four separate garment and footwear projects with a combined investment capital of nearly $10 million, according to Cambodian media reports.

In the first nine months of 2017, garment and footwear exports from Cambodia fetched more than $5 billion, as per the data from the ministry of commerce. While apparel exports were valued at $4.9 billion, footwear exports earned $636 million during January-September 2017.

Despite a surge in minimum wages during the past few years, the increase in value of Cambodian garment and footwear exports can be attributed to the preference enjoyed by the Kingdom under Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status. Both GSP and MFN give duty-free access and/or lower tariffs for Cambodian goods.

European Union continues to be the biggest market for Cambodian products, followed by the US and Japan. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
As workforce diversity increases in the textile and fashion industries in the United States, universities and employers need to reach out to young adults from all backgrounds, including African Americans, to fill new jobs, says Kaye Crippen, professor of the department of merchandising, textiles and design at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB).She said this while speaking on the importance of education in textile and material sciences at the 2017 North American Materials Education Symposium at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, recently.

As workforce diversity increases in the textile and fashion industries in the United States, universities and employers need to reach out to young adults from all backgrounds, including African Americans, to fill new jobs, says Kaye Crippen, professor of the department of merchandising, textiles and design at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB).#

Crippen presented a paper there on teaching textile sciences to diverse student populations, including students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority service institutions. She co-authored the paper with Patricia M. Mulready, a former professor at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.Crippen mentioned about UAPBs community outreach efforts in introducing local children and youth to concepts of textile sciences and apparel design through collaboration with the Arts and Science Centre for Southeast Arkansas, according to an UAPB press release.She said it is important to involve students in activities such as creating new product concepts. When they feel responsible for coming up with a product or solution and are able to use their imagination, students are engaged in a deeper and more meaningful way than they might be during a traditional lecture, she added. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
LONDON and SHANGHAI, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Metamako, the leading provider of ultra-low latency, FPGA-enabled network platforms, today announced the completion and award of its China Compulsory Certification (CCC). This marks a significant milestone for fast-growing Metamako, as it now allows the company to deliver on its aggressive strategy of expansion in Asia.

The CCC is a requirement for technology companies to sell their hardware in China and the certification now gives Metamako fully-regulated access to the enormous Chinese market. Metamako's first products to be certified include the MetaConnect 48 low-latency layer 1+ switch and the MetaMux 48 series of switches, which are FPGA-enabled devices.

Kevin Covington, CEO of Metamako, said: "Metamako is having an amazing year and the certification just kicks things up a gear, to a whole new level, by opening the market in China to us. This is part of our expansion in Asia, which started in earnest last year, with the opening of an office in Tokyo."

The Chinese certification will allow Metamako to sell its world-leading low-latency and FPGA-enabled devices and applications into one of the world's largest markets to clients such as domestic brokers, market makers and exchanges as well as FPGA developers who want to leverage Metamako's superior capabilities in programmability and configurability. Metamako also expects to expand into other verticals and use cases including analytics, IT security and broadcast media in the short to medium terms.

Covington adds: "We have been working very successfully with local resellers since the beginning of this year and have sold our solutions to clients in Hong Kong. However, until now it has not been possible to sell our technology in mainland China. This is the first step in getting all our products certified for sale in China, a market which offers enormous potential."

MetaConnect 48 is a high-speed layer 1+ switch, designed for latency-sensitive businesses,offeringdata flow in just 4 nanoseconds, while the MetaMux 48 series of devices allows firms to run Metamako's high-performance applications, such as high-precision timestamping, muxing and filtering as well as companies' own and/or third-party FPGA applications directly on the switching devices.

Metamako has had its latency figures and timestamping precision verified by STAC on multiple occasions, providing the world's fastest network devices. Its new clients in China will be quick to benefit from a host of features its devices offer. Of particular interest to the Chinese market are Metamako's ability to provide devices which are deterministic, withvirtually undetectablejitter,and to offer comprehensive packet statistics, invaluable for network monitoring and diagnostics. Sophisticated muxing and precision timestamping are equally high on the agenda for Chinese customers.

About Metamako

Metamako is a leading provider of high-performance, low-latency network devices. Its network platform of switching hardware, FPGA-enabled devices and network applications is built for high-speed, superior performance and programmability to provide clients with the ability to simplify their network stack and support computing at the edge. Its super-fastdevices with latency of just 4 nanoseconds have been independently tested by the STAC Benchmark Council.

Metamako's solutions have built-in intelligence and are rich in features, using state-of-the-art technology to keep latency to an absolute minimum.

Metamako, founded in 2013, is based in Sydney, Australia, with offices in New York, London and Tokyo. For more information visithttp://www.metamako.com

Contacts

Alla Lapidus / Piers Grassmann

Moonlight Media

Email: metamako@moonlightmedia.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7250 4770

https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamako

https://www.twitter.com/metamakolp
Mazda6 sedan exterior (North American specifications)

Mazda6 sedan interior (North American specifications)





Corporate Communications Division Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan +81-3-3508-5056 [Tokyo] +81-82-282-5253 [Hiroshima] mailto: media@mazda.co.jp

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Nov 16, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation announced today it will unveil a thoroughly re-engineered and refined Mazda6 sedan (known as Mazda Atenza in Japan) at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The company will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. (local time) on Nov. 29, the first of two press days. The show is open to the public from December 1-10.The Mazda6 is the flagship of Mazda's passenger car lineup. The development team's goal for this round of updates, the third since the model was fully redesigned in 2012, was to enhance the daily lives of people who love cars, incorporating premium details and new engineering concepts and technologies based on Mazda's human-centered design philosophy.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Mazda6SedanExterior111617.jpgMazda6 sedan exterior (North American specifications)http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Mazda6SedanInterior111617.jpgMazda6 sedan interior (North American specifications)The powertrain lineup adopts new technologies, including a cylinder deactivation system for the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine, to offer superior fuel efficiency and a performance feel crafted to match human sensibilities. In addition, the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T direct-injection turbocharged gasoline engine that debuted in the Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV has been added to the engine lineup in North America and some other markets. Producing torque on par with 4-liter V8, this engine offers an effortless performance feel that is equal parts composure and excitement.The concept behind the styling improvements is "Mature Elegance," and the design team worked to raise the quality feel of both the interior and exterior, resulting in a look of greater maturity and composure. A new high-grade interior features Japanese Sen Wood, often used in traditional Japanese instruments and furniture, and other exclusive trim elements for an enhanced premium feel that is authentic to the brand. Overall the design is more distinctive, premium, beautiful and dignified, as befits the flagship of Mazda's passenger car lineup.The updated Mazda6 offers a wider range of advanced i-ACTIVSENSE safety technologies which help the driver identify potential risks and reduce the likelihood of damage or injury. Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) can now bring the car to a standing stop and take off again when the car in front moves away, and the model also adopts Mazda's latest 360 degrees View Monitor. In combination with previously introduced safety features, these technologies allow drivers to enjoy superior safety and worry-free driving under an even wider variety of conditions.The highly acclaimed VISION COUPE design concept, which the company recently unveiled at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, and the updated Mazda CX-5, which adopts the same SKYACTIV-G 2.5 with cylinder deactivation as the new Mazda6, will both make their North American debut at the L.A. Auto Show.In line with its "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030" long-term vision for technology development, Mazda aims to use the fundamental appeal of the automobile - driving pleasure - to inspire people, enrich society and help bring about a beautiful earth. By offering an experience of car ownership that celebrates driving, the company hopes to enrich lives and build a strong bond with customers.To follow the livestream unveiling of the new Mazda6, please visit: https://insidemazda.mazdausa.com/new-mazda6 (Online from November 29 (PST))List of exhibits at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Showhttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_2017LosAngelesAutoShow.jpgAbout MazdaMazda Motor Corporation (TSE: 7261) started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.comSource: MazdaContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
ABU DHABI, U.A.E, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Jereh Group (SZ:002353), a global player in oil and gas, power and environment industry, is demonstrating the integrated solutions that cover the industry chain from exploration, production, storage and transportation to distribution at the 20th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), starting from November 13 to November 16.A strategic cooperation agreement with Asawer Oil & Gas Co.wassigned at Jereh booth on November 14.

With the growth of global energy demands, the oil and gas industry is undergoing profound changes and organizations are investing to ensurethe sustainable andlong-term growth. Integrated and efficient solutions covering investment and financing, turnkey engineering, technical services as well as equipment while reducing costs is an urgent need under the theme "Forging Ties, Driving Growth".

The solutions Jereh demonstrated in ADIPEC cover well exploration and production, natural gas treatment, refinery, LNG, gas-fired power generation, as well as oilfield sludge treatment and waste water treatment. Jereh showed how it delivers the difference for the Middle East customers. For example, in Saudi Arabia,we innovatively combined the function of cementing and batch mixing, considering the water shortage and high temperature in desert environment,helping companies improve their productivity. For the engineering projects, Jereh can provide investment and financing, design, procurement, in-house manufacturing, and commissioning services in the form of complete packages or individual services for the industry of oil and gas, power and environmental management.

The reliable quality control, manufacturing capabilityand customized design have earned Jereh a good reputation in Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia. "We combine local facilities, manpower, and partners to deliver excellence to more than 60 countries across six continents. We aresure that the path to success lies in adopting a collaborative business model. The cooperation with Asawer Oil & Gas Co., is an example. Jereh will support the development of Sudan with integrated solutions in the field of Oil & Gas EPCC, gas processing, pipelines & storage facilities, petrochemical, power plants, and infrastructure in Upstream, Midstream and Downstream," said Weibin Li, SVP of Jereh Group.

"With years of experience around the world, we know well what customers need. We are confident about market opportunities and will help maximize the output of investment with our integrated solutions," Weibin said.

About Jereh

Jereh is a global group specializing in oil & gas, power, and environmental management. Leveraging the resources and capabilities of equipment manufacturing, technology services, turn-key engineering as well as investment and operation, we offer integrated solutions in a flexible, efficient way to help resolve the issues and challenges that they face.

For more information,please visitwww.jereh.com.

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/604996/Jereh_cooperation_with_Asawer_Oil_and_Gas.jpg


Figure 1: Searching and visualization of technical documents using Zinrai

Figure 2: Anomaly detection in production lines using Zinrai



Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-6252-2176 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/

TOKYO, Nov 16, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced that it has categorized specific artificial intelligence usage scenarios and introduced 17 offerings that indicate the optimal technology and solutions as well as the implementing effects of Fujitsu Human Centric AI Zinrai, in order to promote its use in a wide range of industries and businesses.These offerings show cases of how AI can resolve issues, and propose Zinrai technology, products and services that would support such uses, based on a categorization of the various issues facing customers through the approximately 600 business deals relating to AI usage at Fujitsu. Moreover, these offerings predict the impact of deploying these products and services while estimating costs, enabling customers to more concretely envision the use of AI in their business and deploy solutions quickly and easily.Fujitsu will expand the lineup of Zinrai technologies, products, as well as solutions going forward, and search for new usage scenarios across an even broader range of industries and businesses, supporting the customers' digital transformations with the new offerings.Details of these offerings will be introduced at Fujitsu Insight 2017 in Belle Salle Nihonbashi (Tokyo) on November 17.BackgroundIn November 2015, Fujitsu systematized its set of AI-related technologies, products, and services as Fujitsu Human Centric AI Zinrai, and since April 2017, has been offering products and services such as the Fujitsu Cloud Service K5 Zinrai Platform Service and the Fujitsu AI Solution Zinrai Deep Learning System. At the same time, Fujitsu has worked with customers in co-creation efforts and field trials due to numerous demands in utilizing AI.Through these activities, Fujitsu received many questions from customers in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, and finance, asking what they could achieve with AI, or whether their issues could be resolved with AI, or how much it would cost, in both time and money, to apply AI to a problem. This led the company to realize that customers had not specified scenarios in which they could utilize AI.About the 17 OfferingsOver the course of approximately 600 business deals relating to the use of AI, Fujitsu has categorized the usage scenarios with particularly high demand, creating an initial total of 17 AI usage scenarios spread across seven different usage areas, including knowledge utilization and call centers. Moreover, Fujitsu will introduce Zinrai technologies, products, and services that will deliver on these scenarios while laying out the expected impact and estimated costs, thereby supporting the entire process from deployment to installation and operations with optimal AI usage for customers.Table1: Major offerings for the use of AI in businesshttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuAI111617Table1.jpg1. Usage Scenario 1: Finding and collating related materials in research and developmentThe API function (that search for meaning by area of specialization) of Zinrai automatically comb through large volumes of various documents to organize information, in order to efficiently search through large volumes of documents related to technical information without missing anything. As a result, for example, if a researcher or developer were to search for information using the name of a technology or a related keyword, the results will be displayed in the order of their relevance. In addition, by displaying results including similar research topics and related examples of failure, this solution can visualize the relationships between documents.This system enables efficient and complete collection and organization of information, as compared to existing document search methods, which can lead to improved research and development output.(Cost estimate) Initial expenses: 10 million yen+ (from deployment to verification)http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuAI111617Fig1.jpgFigure 1: Searching and visualization of technical documents using Zinrai2. Usage Scenario 2: Recognizing product defects with deep learningCustomers primarily involved in manufacturing can use image recognition technology through the Fujitsu Cloud Service K5 Zinrai Platform Service Zinrai Deep Learning to standardize and increase the efficiency of the detection of anomalous products in production lines, as the system will be trained on images of normal products only and automatically detect defective products. In addition, by using the same, trained deep learning model in all factories, it becomes easy to ensure that the standard for anomaly detection is consistent, while the trained model can be continually improved through additional training on a variety of image data collected at each factory.With this service, customers can achieve more consistent and improved product quality across all production lines, without spending time and money from manual labor.(Cost estimate) Pre-deployment evaluation: 2 million yen+, full scale production deployment: by individual estimatehttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuAI111617Fig2.jpgFigure 2: Anomaly detection in production lines using ZinraiAbout Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 155,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$40 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former Zimbabwe finance minister Tendai Biti said on Thursday he would be happy to work in any national unity government that emerges from this week's coup, but only if opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was also on board."If Morgan says he's in, I'm in," Biti, who earned international respect during his time as finance minister in a 2009-2013 unity government, told Reuters."The country needs a solid pair of hands so one might not have a choice."
Shenzhen wins Safe City Award, Yanbu wins Data and Technology Award

BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Four Huawei customers were recognized for their outstanding Smart City achievements and have won or were finalists for esteemed awards at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2017 (SCEWC). Shenzhen in China won the Safe City Award with its Smart Transportation project, and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia won the Data and Technology Award with its Smart City project. In addition, Weifang in China was one of the finalists for the City Award with its Smart City 3.0 project, while Cameroon was nominated for the Innovation Idea Award with its solar energy project. These cities have all leveraged Huawei's Smart City solutions customized to meet city management needs across different regions and at different levels of development. The solutions drive digital transformation to improve city administration, create sustainable economies and enable efficient public services.

With 309 entries from 58 countries for this year's World Smart City Awards, the competition is greater than ever, reflecting the diversity and innovation of Smart City development across the world.

Yan Lida, President of Huawei Enterprise Business Group, said: "The ultimate goals of a Smart City are to enable good governance, promote industry development and deliver benefits for the people. Together with our customers and partners, we are moving towards achieving these goals by improving city governance and service capabilities, helping to develop the local economy and stimulate innovation, and making cities more livable. Drawing from the world's best Smart City practices, we have found that success is driven by Smart City development being a priority for the government, having a strong and capable Smart City project team, long-term and stable investment, and working with a leading digital partner that helps design top-level plans to address governmental needs and has an open and robust ecosystem. We are honored that Huawei has gained the trust of our customers and become their preferred partner for Smart City development. Leveraging leading new ICT such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence to build a unified IoT platform, communications platform, cloud data center and smart command center, Huawei creates a nervous system for a Smart City, which enables the Smart City to become a living organism that grows sustainably and constantly evolves. We would like to congratulate Shenzhen and Saudi Arabia on receiving World Smart City Awards 2017, and we look forward to working with more cities to help them realize their Smart City dreams."

Safe City Award winner: Shenzhen Traffic Police - Global-First All-Scenario Intelligent Transportation Solutions Helps Building "Traffic Brain" for Cities

Shenzhen Traffic Police worked with Huawei to create the city's traffic system and ensure the safety of the city. Huawei helped Shenzhen Traffic Police by creating a top-level design and a comprehensive plan designed to improve the city's transportation capacity, reduce traffic accidents and guarantee drivers' safety.

The Traffic Police leveraged a Big Data platform that comprises a data resource pool and a deep learning system to build the city's "traffic brain", which has improved city traffic flow visibility and adaptive control of traffic lights, enhancing road capacity by 8%. The unified Big Data platform centrally processes traffic data to enhance data usage by 200%, and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) application assists law enforcement, raising the image recognition rate 10-fold to increase traffic violation processing. This greatly eases traffic congestion in the city, enhancing drivers' travel experience.

Data and Technology Award winner: Royal Comission Smart City Project

In 2016, Saudi Arabia launched Vision 2030 strategy, which is built around three themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. Especially making the city sustainable development is one of the key goals. In support of Yanbu's digital transformation into the nation's first Smart City under this Vision, Huawei deployed a comprehensive optical network to cover all residential communities, enterprise campuses, and the key public areas in the city. In addition, Huawei works with its partners to offer Yanbu many smart applications, such as smart parking, smart weighing, smart rubbish bins, smart energy management, smart streetlight, stadium crowd analysis, and smart manhole cover. These applications significantly increased the city's management efficiency, for example, reducing road maintenance costs by 20%, cutting down public lighting costs by 30%, and raising trash disposal efficiency by 30%. Additionally, the Royal Commission for Yanbu worked with Huawei to build an Integrated Communication Platform (ICP), the city's management system. This system consists of an IoT data platform, Big Data platform, information integration platform, and converged command center. The ICP assists Yanbu in intelligent public infrastructure management, emergency response, and smart policing, optimizing city administration.

City Award finalist: Innovative Smart Weifang Improves Social Wellbeing

Based on the principle of "Centering on Humans and Driven by Innovation," Weifang City has leveraged Big Data, cloud computing, mobile Internet, and other new technologies to launch the Smart Weifang 3.0 project. This project builds "eyes" to sense the real-time status of city operations, and a "brain" for smart dispatch. A number of innovations, such as "WeiV" app, VPai city pass, and smart city operation center, deliver real-time, refined, and intelligent public services and city management functions. Weifang worked with Huawei to build an IoT city awareness network based on NB-IoT technology. The network uses the "One Network, One Platform, and N Applications" development model to enable unified IoT terminal access, device management, and data collection. Weifang leverages this network to provide various innovative services for its residents and enterprises, such as smart nursing, smart streetlight, smart parking, and smart agriculture. These applications effectively converge the latest, high-value IoT data from across the city in real time, serving as the city's important sources of Big Data.

Innovation Idea Award finalist: Microgrid Solar Plant Help Cameroon To Improve the Livelihood and Boost the Economic Development

Cameroon adopted Huawei's innovative Microgrid Solar Plant solution to replace traditional power supply solutions that involve the development of mid- and high-voltage power grids and hydropower stations. The new power plant solution supports fast deployment, requires low investment costs, and helps the local government achieve rural electrification. The project drove the development of multiple local industries, such as education, medical treatment, communications, and manufacturing. To date, the project has greatly improved the development of the local society, by bringing electricity to 166 rural villages serving 120,000 residents, increasing local children's school enrollment rate, and creating more than 1,000 job opportunities. Huawei's off-grid power metering system also helped power operators solve the problem of how to collect electrical fees, achieving sustainable operations.

As the industry's only ICT solution provider that can offer end-to-end cloud-pipe-device solutions, Huawei is committed to connecting the physical and digital worlds in cities and building Smart City nervous systems. Huawei actively participates in building open platforms and ecosystems to drive innovation, continuously grows together with partners and customers, provides customers with top-level Smart City designs, and helps its customers implement Smart City solutions. At present, Huawei's Smart City solutions are serving more than 40 cities in over 120 countries around the globe.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/605800/Safe_City_Award_winner.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/605801/Data_and_Technology_Award_winner.jpg
NUREMBERG, Germany, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- France leaps to second place for first time, while UK regains ground to remain third and Japan enters top five

- USA is only country showing overall decline in 2017

- Germany major gains in Governance, People, and Culture

In the wake of a substantial drop in global perception of the USA, Germany retakes the top ranking in the latest Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index[SM] (NBI[SM]) study, while France climbs to second place. The UK has regained the ground it lost last year after the Brexit vote to hold onto third place, while Japan jumps into the top five for the first time since 2011, standing equal with Canada.

Score change Nation 2017 rank 2016 rank 2016 vs. 2017 Germany 1 2 +0.99 France 2 5 +1.56 United Kingdom 3 3 +1.27 Canada 4 4 +0.96 Japan 4 7 +2.12 United States 6 1 -0.63 Italy 7 6 +0.74 Switzerland 8 8 +1.34 Australia 9 9 +0.76 Sweden 10 10 +1.30 NBI[SM] score changes: minor change +/-0.26-0.50; medium +/-0.51-1.00; large > +/-1.00

Of the 50 countries measured in the study, only the USA saw its overall NBI score drop this year. However, it still ranks among the top five nations for three of NBI's six categories: namely, Culture (where the USA is ranked second), Exports (also second), and Immigration-Investment (fifth). But it fell from 19th place to 23rd for Governance, a notably poor score for one of the world's leading countries.

Professor Simon Anholt, who created the NBI study in 2005, comments, "The USA's fall in the 'Governance' category suggests that we are witnessing a 'Trump effect', following President Trump's focused political message of 'America First'. However, Americans' assessment of their own country is notably more positive this year than last. A similar fall in global perception of the USA was seen following the re-election of George W. Bush, when the USA fell to seventh place. Previously, America has never stayed outside the top ranking for more than a year at a time: it will be interesting to see whether this holds true in the 2018 ranking."

Germany gains in Governance, People, and Culture

Germany, by contrast to the USA, enjoys a very balanced image across all six categories of the index, with notable improvements in global perception of its Culture (+1.07), Governance (+1.28), and People (+1.34). It ranks in the top five countries for all but one of the Index categories - that one being Tourism, where it is gaining ground, if not yet in the top five.

Germany's overall score increases are boosted by significantly improved perceptions among Egyptians (+5.92), as well as among Russians (+2.26), Chinese (+2.17) and Italians (+2.06). Americans stand alone in ranking Germany outside the top-ten overall nation brands, placing it eleventh.

UK regains the ground lost in 2016

Global perception of the UK has recovered following the significant decline seen in 2016 immediately after the Brexit vote. Its overall Index score is back to very nearly its 2015 level, with improvement across all six categories. This puts it into the top five countries for Exports, Culture, Tourism and Immigration-Investment. The UK's largest gains are for Governance (nearly two points) and People, suggesting that most countries have come to terms with the UK's vote last year to leave the EU, and their perception has re-settled following that shock.

France and Japan leap ahead in global perception of their national brands

Both France and Japan benefitted from score gains in their own right, as well as from the USA decline, allowing them to leap ahead in the overall ranking.

France now stands in second place for the first time since the NBI began, up from fifth last year, with gains across all six categories. This is seen especially for Governance, where France's improved score stands at double the average amount, and Immigration-Investment. It ranks first of all countries for global perception of its Culture, second for Tourism, and fifth for Exports.

2017 has also been a banner year for Japan. It now stands in fourth place, equal with Canada, having gained its highest overall score in nearly a decade. Japan is perceived most highly for Exports, where it comes ahead of all other countries, and also shows significant gains compared to the average for Immigration-Investment, Culture, and Governance.

Vadim Volos, GfK's senior vice president of public affairs and consulting, comments, "The Nation Brands Index allows our clients to understand where - and why - their nation stands in terms of their current image, momentum and potential. Changing global perception of a national brand is challenging and slow - but countries can influence biased or outdated perceptions by understanding the negative views and actively communicating actions and changes that address those."

For more information about the Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index, please visit nation-brands.gfk.com
DNIPRO, UKRAINE / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Armor Ceramics Blockchain Project Aims to Create a Self-Sufficient Market in Ukraine to Eliminate the Need for Imports.

Subsidiary of Savex Minerals Enterprise, Armor Ceramics has set out with a goal to build a self-sustainable refractory market inside of Ukraine to eliminate the need for foreign import. Combined with their blockchain system 'SupChain', Armor Ceramics will be the first Ukrainian company to provide a transparent system for quality control. The company is currently in a fundraising phase pre-ICO sale of its tokens, until November 30, 2017, allowing early contributors up to 35% bonus options.

Refractories are a high-demand product for Ukraine, with estimates revealing that over 500,000 tons of refractory products are sold within the country each year. Until now, the only way to satisfy this demand has been through foreign import; a process that often means high costs and long delivery times. With its domestic production plants, Armor Ceramics aims to replace one-third of all imports by reducing delivery times and cutting the cost of production by 15-20%.

SupChain Technology

Armor Ceramics will be the first in their industry to implement a blockchain solution for refractories data. SupChain, built on Ethereum, will be the first system to allow transparent access to production data and technical indicators in the refractories industry. Users will be able to give real-time feedback with regards to supplied materials and offer their suggestions for improvement. This open process cuts out expensive and time-consuming third-party audits. It will also provide a direct way for suppliers to interact with their customers. The end result is a seamless and reliable quality control process.

ICO Details

Armor Ceramics is seeking the necessary funding to build new domestic production systems. The pre-ICO will be launched to determine the hardcap for the ICO. If successful, the enterprise has the potential to bring in $250,000 of profit each month. Armor Ceramics' token (ACR) will grant ICO participants with a proportional share of the company's profits. All holders of ACR will be able to collect dividends in accordance with their shares. However, ACR tokens do not allow participants to maintain a vote in the management of the company.

40 million of tokens will be issued at the initial price of $1, with all unsold tokens destroyed after the initial offering period. The amount of tokens sold will be equal to 50% of the company's profit. Payments are expected to begin 22 months after the company is cash flow positive. Once payments have begun, profits will be distributed monthly amongst all token holders.

Learn more about Armor Ceramics at http://www.armorceramics.co.

Media Contact

Contact Name: Dmitry

Contact Email: dmitry@armorceramics.co

Location: Dnipro, Ukraine

About Armor Ceramics

Armor Ceramics is a subsidiary of Savex Minerals - a long-standing supplier to metallurgical and ore-dressing plants. The company is run by a team of Savex Minerals executives with key experience in material production. Armor Ceramics is working diligently to organize their production systems, and to expand their work on SupChain technology.

Armor Ceramics is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.

SOURCE: Armor Ceramics
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Power Metals Corp. ("Power Metals Corp." or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: PWM)(FRANKFURT: OAA1)(OTC: AOUFF) is pleased to announce the nearing completion of our successful 5000 metre drill program. We are currently drilling hole #44 (PWM-17-44) and have 5 more shallow holes planned for a total of 49 holes (See Figure 2 below).

The Company's recently drilled hole #40 (PWM-17-40) intersected 37.7 m of continuous pegmatite of which the spodumene zone is from 20.0 to 35.83 m (interval of 15.83 m long) with up to 30% spodumene in the quartz core (see Figure 1). Assays will be released as soon as they are available. Assays are pending for the majority of the holes, but examination of the drill core indicates that the spodumene mineralization is rich, thick and close to surface. For example, in hole #35 (PWM-17-35), the North Dyke is 6.7 m wide with 10-15% spodumene overall and the Main Dyke Zone is 29.4 m wide and is composed of multiple pegmatite dykes (Power Metals press release dated Nov. 2, 2017).

Some highlights of the drill program so far include:

-- PWM-17-08: 1.94 % Li2O and 323.75 ppm Ta over 26.0 m -- PWM-17-09: 1.23 % Li2O and 148.0 ppm Ta over 16.0 m -- PWM-17-10: 1.74 % Li2O and 245.96 ppm Ta over 15.06 m -- extended the Main Dyke spodumene pegmatite zone 250 m to the west of the historic drill holes

To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1104890_fig1.jpg

Power Metals prospecting program successfully discovered spodumene mineralization in the East Dyke (press release dated Oct. 10, 2017) and Northeast Dyke (press release dated Nov. 13, 2017). Two grab samples of spodumene-muscovite-K-feldspar-quartz pegmatite from the East Dyke were analyzed with up to 2.56 % Li2O and up to 181 ppm Ta (Table 1). This preliminary prospecting and assays on the East Dyke indicate that high grade spodumene similar to that on the Main Dyke exists on the East Dyke.

Table 1 Grab sample assays from East Dyke (NAD 83, Zone 17).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Waypoint Sample No Easting (m) Northing (m) Li2O (%) Ta (ppm) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- JK-17-21 529451 578595 5431395 1.03 181 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- JK-17-35 529457 578593 5431399 2.56 41.5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Power Metals is planning a 2000 metre drill program on the Northeast Dyke in January 2018. The Company is also in the final steps of contracting an industry leading metallurgist experienced in working with spodumene pegmatites. Upon receipt of final assay results, an analysis of the initial characterization of the spodumene in the Main Dyke will be undertaken as well as other metallurgical testing. The Company will issue a press release once the contract has been finalized in the near future.

Dr. Selway, VP of Exploration stated "I am pleased that our drill program on the North and Main Dykes successfully intersected thick high-grade intervals of spodumene pegmatite and I look forward to receiving the assay results from the Main Dyke drill holes and planning the upcoming drill program on the Northeast Dyke."

To view Figure 2, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1104890_fig2.jpg

Quality Control

The grab samples were delivered to Actlabs preparation lab in Timmins by Power Metals' geologists. The core was crushed and pulverized in Timmins and then shipped to Actlabs analytical lab in Ancaster which has ISO 17025 certification. The ore grade Li2O% was prepared by sodium peroxide fusion with analysis by ICP-OES with a detection limit of 0.01 % Li2O.

Case Lake

Case Lake Property is located in Steele and Case townships, 80 km east of Cochrane, NE Ontario close to the Ontario-Quebec border. The Case Lake pegmatite swarm consists of five dykes: North, Main, South, East and Northeast Dykes. The Northeast Dyke contains very coarse-grained spodumene. Power Metals has an 80% interest with its 20% working interest partner MGX Minerals Corp. (CSE: XMG).

Qualified Person

Julie Selway, Ph.D., P.Geo. supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. Dr. Selway is the VP of Exploration for Power Metals and the Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Selway is supervising the exploration program at Case Lake. Dr. Selway completed a Ph.D. on granitic pegmatites in 1999 and worked for 3 years as a pegmatite geoscientist for the Ontario Geological Survey. Dr. Selway also has twenty-three scientific journal articles on pegmatites. A National Instrument 43-101 report has been prepared on Case Lake Property and filed on July 18, 2017.

About Power Metals Corp.

Power Metals Corp. is a diversified Canadian mining company with a mandate to explore, develop and acquire high quality mining projects. We are committed to building an arsenal of projects in both lithium and high-growth specialty metals and minerals. We see an unprecedented opportunity to supply the tremendous growth of the lithium battery and clean-technology industries. Learn more at www.powermetalscorp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Johnathan More, Chairman & Director

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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of Power Metals. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and Power Metals' plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including other factors beyond Power Metals' control. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, Power Metals assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

Contacts:

Power Metals Corp.

Johnathan More

646-661-0409

info@powermetalscorp.com




BEIJING, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IDC released an IDC MarketScape evaluation report on Chinese e-Government cloud market and vendors. Huawei Cloud e-Government Solution lands in the Leaders quadrant with dominating strength. Specifically, this product is recognized for its advantageous comprehensive strength and a future-proof strategic layout. According to the report, Huawei Cloud e-Government Solution claims the top spot in three major dimensions: current capabilities, strategies, and market performance. The result shows the industry's recognition of Huawei Cloud.

Huawei Cloud consists of private clouds and public clouds and supports flexible deployment in the form of hybrid clouds. These cloud solutions are mainly for IaaS layer, but in some projects, extend to the PaaS and Big Data for government services. The solution provides a selection of multiple business models for government customers, including self-building, lease, and pay-per-use, helping customers accelerate their digital transformation processes.

Catering to the urgent needs of government customers for intensive infrastructure construction, data interoperability, and intelligent applications, Huawei Cloud e-Government Solution focuses on service scenarios such as: e-Government service network, public resource transaction platform, geographic information system (GIS) cloud enablement, economic operation monitoring, government data sharing and exchange platform, two-level e-Government cloud, e-Government cloud data center, and e-Government Big Data.

At present, Huawei is providing e-Government cloud solutions for 16 ministry-level, 15 province-level (such as in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Jiangxi), and over 200 municipal or district/county-level (such as in Guangzhou and Shenzhen) government customers. Outside China, Huawei is also serving over 100 government customers from more than 80 countries. In addition, Huawei has deployed many OpenLabs around the world, helping to support the joint innovation in cloud and Big Data technologies with customers and more than 300 ecosystem partners. As the only platinum member and board member of OpenStack in Asia, Huawei has become a major contributor in open source projects, improving relations with partners and boosting Huawei's credentials on an international scale.
DAUPHIN, MANITOBA, CANADA / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / The Canadian pharmaceutical industry is the tenth largest in the world. It also is one of the country's most innovative sectors, spending $918 million on research and development (R&D) in 2016. Drug-related R&D is but one driver of transformation as the industry faces changing healthcare trends across North America. For example, PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that industry innovation in the United States will generate US$160 billion by 2025, including US$11 billion for data firms alone. Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy recognizes that new technologies can facilitate convenient, high-quality healthcare for patients and consumers, but warns that careful system design and pharmaceutical expertise is still key to understanding where innovations have the maximum impact on well-being.

Advances in technology allow pharmacy operations to adapt their clinical and financial models to emerging patient needs and preferences. The transition to electronic systems reduces human error, increasing patient safety against risks such as medication mix-ups or wrong dosage labels. If done with good system design, the automation of administrative tasks allows pharmacists to decrease the amount of time spent managing patient records or inventories, and increase the working hours devoted to patient care. According to Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy, this would result in more personalized patient assessments and customized monitoring during treatment. There is evidence that pharmaceutical professionals want to be more engaged in primary care. A 2015 survey by PwC found that 61% of pharmacists surveyed believed they should be able to refer patients to specialists, and 77% believed they should be able to initiate, adjust and discontinue medication.

The proliferation of mobile devices brings virtual services straight into the homes of patients, providing access to health records, scheduling appointments and assisting with medication adherence. Social media platforms disseminate health-related data instantaneously, expanding the reach of medical knowledge on illness and treatment. Pharmacies leverage these networks to post information, educating surrounding communities through drug-specific discussions online, while offering real-time health advice.

Aside from patient care, technology can also improve a pharmacy's bottom line by increasing operational efficiencies. Industry Canada reported that total drug sales across the country reached $24.6 billion in 2015, of which 87.5% sold to retail drug stores. The use of predictive models to manage medication inventories reduces overall costs, as pharmacies avoid bearing the expense of expired or unused drugs. A data-driven, coordinated approach to central fill, where prescriptions from one or more pharmacies are all dispensed from a single location, can also decrease labour and capital costs.

The Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy is the largest supplier of prescription and over-the-counter medicines in the Parkland region. An expert team of pharmacists, technicians, and staff provide exceptional service to customers and patients. The unit is led by Myles Haverluck, its most experienced practitioner. With forty years of industry experience, Mr. Haverluck is also a Certified Orthotic Fitter and a Certified Asthma Educator. In addition to providing medication, the pharmacy offers health programs and information on common diseases, herbal products, and alternative therapies. As a business, it is a proud supporter of the community, promoting and supporting events in the city of Dauphin.

Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy - Most Innovative Pharmacy in the Parkland region of Manitoba: http://www.dauphinclinicpharmacynews.com

Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy - Home - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicpharmacy/

Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dauphin-clinic-pharmacy

Contact Information:

DauphinClinicPharmacyNews.com

contact@dauphinclinicpharmacynews.com

http://www.dauphinclinicpharmacynews.com

SOURCE: Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy




Nuremberg, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -- France leaps to second place for first time, while UK regains ground to remain third and Japan enters top five- USA is only country showing overall decline in 2017- Germany major gains in Governance, People, and CultureIn the wake of a substantial drop in global perception of the USA, Germany retakes the top ranking in the latest Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index[SM] (NBI[SM]) study, while France climbs to second place. The UK has regained the ground it lost last year after the Brexit vote to hold onto third place, while Japan jumps into the top five for the first time since 2011, standing equal with Canada.Score change Nation 2017 rank 2016 rank 2016 vs. 2017 Germany 1 2 +0.99 France 2 5 +1.56 United Kingdom 3 3 +1.27 Canada 4 4 +0.96 Japan 4 7 +2.12 United States 6 1 -0.63 Italy 7 6 +0.74 Switzerland 8 8 +1.34 Australia 9 9 +0.76 Sweden 10 10 +1.30 NBI[SM] score changes: minor change +/-0.26-0.50; medium +/-0.51-1.00; large > +/-1.00Of the 50 countries measured in the study, only the USA saw its overall NBI score drop this year. However, it still ranks among the top five nations for three of NBI's six categories: namely, Culture (where the USA is ranked second), Exports (also second), and Immigration-Investment (fifth). But it fell from 19th place to 23rd for Governance, a notably poor score for one of the world's leading countries.Professor Simon Anholt, who created the NBI study in 2005, comments, "The USA's fall in the 'Governance' category suggests that we are witnessing a 'Trump effect', following President Trump's focused political message of 'America First'. However, Americans' assessment of their own country is notably more positive this year than last. A similar fall in global perception of the USA was seen following the re-election of George W. Bush, when the USA fell to seventh place. Previously, America has never stayed outside the top ranking for more than a year at a time: it will be interesting to see whether this holds true in the 2018 ranking."Germany gains in Governance, People, and CultureGermany, by contrast to the USA, enjoys a very balanced image across all six categories of the index, with notable improvements in global perception of its Culture (+1.07), Governance (+1.28), and People (+1.34). It ranks in the top five countries for all but one of the Index categories - that one being Tourism, where it is gaining ground, if not yet in the top five.Germany's overall score increases are boosted by significantly improved perceptions among Egyptians (+5.92), as well as among Russians (+2.26), Chinese (+2.17) and Italians (+2.06). Americans stand alone in ranking Germany outside the top-ten overall nation brands, placing it eleventh.UK regains the ground lost in 2016Global perception of the UK has recovered following the significant decline seen in 2016 immediately after the Brexit vote. Its overall Index score is back to very nearly its 2015 level, with improvement across all six categories. This puts it into the top five countries for Exports, Culture, Tourism and Immigration-Investment. The UK's largest gains are for Governance (nearly two points) and People, suggesting that most countries have come to terms with the UK's vote last year to leave the EU, and their perception has re-settled following that shock.France and Japan leap ahead in global perception of their national brandsBoth France and Japan benefitted from score gains in their own right, as well as from the USA decline, allowing them to leap ahead in the overall ranking.France now stands in second place for the first time since the NBI began, up from fifth last year, with gains across all six categories. This is seen especially for Governance, where France's improved score stands at double the average amount, and Immigration-Investment. It ranks first of all countries for global perception of its Culture, second for Tourism, and fifth for Exports.2017 has also been a banner year for Japan. It now stands in fourth place, equal with Canada, having gained its highest overall score in nearly a decade. Japan is perceived most highly for Exports, where it comes ahead of all other countries, and also shows significant gains compared to the average for Immigration-Investment, Culture, and Governance.Vadim Volos, GfK's senior vice president of public affairs and consulting, comments, "The Nation Brands Index allows our clients to understand where - and why - their nation stands in terms of their current image, momentum and potential. Changing global perception of a national brand is challenging and slow - but countries can influence biased or outdated perceptions by understanding the negative views and actively communicating actions and changes that address those."For more information about the Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index, please visit nation-brands.gfk.com (http://nation-brands.gfk.com/)ots Originaltext: GfK SE Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.deContact: Amanda Martin Global PR +44-7919-624-688 press@gfk.com
PARIS and TEL AVIV, Israel, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Bringg provides Cdiscount customers with full visibility across their deliveries, enabling them to track their deliveries in real time

Bringg announced today that Cdiscount, the leading e-commerce retailer in France, is rolling out its platform across their delivery operations.

The technology will be initially used to improve the delivery process for large household items, enabling customers to track deliveries in real time, communicate with drivers to make special arrangements, and provide feedback on their deliveries.

Bringg's platform was successfully piloted at Cdiscount earlier this year, showing high levels of customer satisfaction on their delivery experience thanks to the ability to follow drivers and engage with them in real-time. Based on these results, Cdiscount is rolling out Bringg's customer-centric technology for customers in Bordeaux, Lyon, and Paris; followed by nationwide deployment in 2018.

Raanan Cohen, CEO of Bringg said: "I'm delighted to be working with Cdiscount, a forward-thinking company renowned for their e-commerce and logisticsinnovation. Their pioneering ethos provides them with a strong competitive edge, so I'm glad they've chosen Bringg's platform as the basis for creating the most advanced and satisfying delivery experience for their entire customer base."

Pierre-Yves Escarpit, Operations Director at Cdiscount added: "Delivery is key to our business and to our clients. By partnering with innovative startups like Bringg we strive to offer the best delivery service to our client: fast, accurate and convenient."

About Bringg:

Bringg is the leading customer-centric logistics solution for enterprises, with customers in over 50 countries including some of the world's best-known brands. Our technology platform helps companies in logistics, retail, food, CPG, and services industries streamline every aspect of their delivery ecosystems - from the headquarters and the dispatchers, through warehouse managers and drivers, and all the way to the end-customer - by enabling to create the perfect delivery experience while improving efficiency and visibility, all in real-time. For more information visit Bringg.com

About Cdiscount:

Cdiscount, a subsidiary company of the Casino Group, is a major online retailer in France. It has reported outstanding growth and generated business of nearly 3 billion in 2016 supported by a constantly growing Marketplace, with products sold by more than 9,000 partner merchants. Focusing on its core values, proximity and audacity, Cdiscount's teams strive to make everyday products and services affordable to everyone, while working hard to better understand and serve our customers' needs. For more information visit Cdiscount.com
LONDON, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Back in August, Grant Whisky's search for a new Global Brand Ambassador set pulses racing in more than 100 countries.

The brand invited three final candidates to travel the world with a suitcase full of whisky on an epic 10-day journey as part of The Greatest Job Interview in the World. Their journeys echoed the legendary trip undertaken in 1909 by Charles Grant Gordon, son-in-law of company founder William Grant.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8224851-grants-whisky-greatest-job-result/

If this is the interview, imagine what the job is like.

The opportunity captured imaginations all over the world, generating almost 5,000 applications from candidates in 103 countries. Hopefuls were initially narrowed down to 20 who were flown from 13 countries to attend 'The Mixer' event in Dufftown, Scotland, the brand's spiritual home. After a series of challenges, three finalists - Amy, a PE teacher living in Madrid; Danny, a whisky barman from Edinburgh and Linda, a radio presenter from Johannesburg - were then each sent to three different worldwide destinations to 'live the job' for ten days.

Between them, the finalists covered more than 51,000 miles, visiting 15 cities in nine countries across five continents, undertaking 20 international flights. They segwayed around Tel Aviv, tuk-tuk'd across Mumbai, rickshawed across Taipei and soared by seaplane over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Amy mixed cocktails in Krakow while Daniel led tastings in Taipei and Linda DJ'd in Colombia. Their ultimate goal was to bring to life the brand's motto, Stand Together.

Check out the highlights video - who you think deserves to be named Grant's Global Brand Ambassador?

The successful candidate will travel to many more countries in 2018 to spearhead a series of special events.

Oliver Dickson, Associate Brand Director, reflects: "The response to the campaign has been simply remarkable. When we started this process who would have thought we'd attract such a talented and diverse array of candidates?

"We've certainly tested their stamina, skills and resourcefulness, but most importantly we've been able to see how their passion translates across different cultures. All three of our finalists embodied the 'Stand Together' spirit of the Grant's brand which makes the final decision all the more difficult."

The new Grant's GBA will be revealed on 30th November 2017 on Grant's official Instagram and Facebook channels.

For more info see @GrantsWhisky on Instagram or search Grant's Whisky on Facebook.

Oliver Dickson, Associate Brand Director, William Grant & Sonsoliver.dickson@wgrant.com



(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/605048/William_Grant_and_Sons.jpg )



Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8224851-grants-whisky-greatest-job-result/
PARIS and NEW YORK, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ADYOULIKE, the leading in-feed native ad platform, and ADventori announce a partnership to allow for complete customization of Native Advertising formats in real-time, depending on specific profiles of individual users. Through the natural integration of creative features into the editorial environment and respectful of the user's experience, native ads can now offer even more relevant messaging that fit closer to the needs and objectives of the advertisers. By combining Dynamic Creative Optimization (DCO) with native, read-only formats, ADYOULIKE and ADventori are improving campaign performance by giving users, advertisers and publishers the most optimal viewing experience possible.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160901/403517LOGO )



A complete technological fusion, for a personalized native diffusion

ADventori's ad server and Data-Driven Creative technology are now integrated into the ADYOULIKE SSP, in compliance with the Open RTB standards defined by the IAB.

Through this partnership, the two companies are providing advertisers with a complete solution to offer comprehensive personalization strategies: DCO makes it possible to engage in 1:1 conversations with users, within native ads that - by their formats and locations - fit seamlessly into editorial content. Inspired by different data-driven scenarios, the content of the banners adapts to the real-time situation of each exposed user. Native advertisements are now more relevant, more useful and less intrusive.

DCO at the heart of native strategies



Thanks to this collaboration between ADYOULIKE and ADventori, the native is enriched and banner ads are customized in real-time according to segmentation and scenarios defined in advance. Different sources of data are available for the revitalization of native campaigns, and can adapt the visuals, text, and specific offer presented in the banners. For example:

Situational data relating to the environment and moment in which the user visualizes an advertisement (ie. geolocation being present at nearby retail outlets, and a date and time in which the advertisement is broadcast) will be used to offer countdowns for special promotions or offers. Another example is real-time or predictive weather, which can be used to show various offers to the user based on weather patterns.

Live advertiser information on offers (images, prices, products, stock availability), in addition to data from its customer knowledge. Advertising can be customized according to the segments identified by the advertiser's DMP or CRM, and offer a one-to-one communication with the user.

3rd party user data, which makes it possible for brands to display different messages to the user, depending on their socio-demographic category or previous intention to buy.

Each image, CTA, and tag can be tested throughout campaigns, allowing for continual improvement of the best performing ads. Regardless of the advertiser's strategy - acquisition, retargeting or web-to-store - customization of native campaigns will optimize efficiencies for brands.

"The goal of ADventori's ad server is to personalize all digital touchpoints, of which Native Advertising plays a big part." said Pierre-Antoine Durgeat, CEO and founder of ADventori. "It's imperative that advertisers and agencies broaden their performance spectrum by capitalizing on the integration of data into creative formats. This partnership with ADYOULIKE is part of our approach of compatibility and opening on the market."

"The very nature of native advertising is personalized content that improves the user experience," said Julien Verdier, CEO and co-founder of ADYOULIKE. "We are very pleased with this partnership with ADventori, which allows us to guarantee a native state of mind by optimizing the personalization of the brand message. "

About ADYOULIKE:

ADYOULIKE is a pioneer in native advertising technology offering programmatic solutions that enable brands to scale campaigns across premium and niche properties while ensuring publishers maximize the value of their inventory. The company's innovative solutions, developed by a team of experts and engineers in s "Native Lab," have earned honors including BPI France Excellence, Pass French Tech, The Everline Future 50, The BIMA Hot 100, the Inc. 5000 Europe, the FT 1000 the Deloitte Technology Fast 500' EMEA, and most recently, Native Advertising Platform of the Year with the Native Ad Institute. Since inception in 2011, the company has grown to operate in over 18 countries worldwide. A member of the IAB in the UK, US and Europe, ADYOULIKE is funded by Banexi Ventures, BNP Paribas and Kima Venture. For additional information, visit http://www.ADYOULIKE.com.

About ADventori

ADventori is an independent data-driven creative ad server whose mission is to personalize, measure and optimize advertising creation. Advertisers, creative agencies, media and DSP rely on our platform to improve the efficiency of digital devices (banners, mobile, video, landing page, native ads, DOOH) by integrating real-time data flows from the Internet, advertiser, user, or publisher sites. Our ads adapt to targeting, deploying both a relevant message to the user and a higher level of campaign performance for the advertiser. Our references: Renault, SFR, E. Leclerc, SNCF, Voyages-SNCF, Pierre & Vacances, Orange, Groupama, Foodora, BMW Group, Carrefour, French Games or Decathlon. For more visit http://www.adventori.com/fr
News / National

by Staf reporter

VIDEO



The police details immediately realised that they were outmatched in numbers & firepower & took into hiding & ran away after the gun onslaught ended.



Mugabe muchamufunga after these animals take power.#KasukuwereRaid pic.twitter.com/N9Dgi69GB3  Sye (@RoyalMavin) November 16, 2017

Video from #KasukuwereRaid were 25 soldiers fired thousands of rounds into the house were Kasukuwere and Moyo were hiding with their families.



Contrary to reports they did not attest Moyo and Kasukuwere but left them for dead. pic.twitter.com/bOIB2ZyQd3  Sye (@RoyalMavin) November 16, 2017

Be advised that this is Unconfirmed: However, #KasukuwereRaid seems to detail events that took place at under-siege Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere's residence. We don't wish to gatekeep information but we also do not wish to spread falsehoods. Please use your discretion.The twitter account alleges that during the #KasukuwereRaid , there were 25 soldiers fired thousands of rounds into the house were Kasukuwere and Moyo were hiding with their families. Contrary to reports they did not attest Moyo and Kasukuwere but left them for dead.The twitter account alleges that 25 soldiers fired semi-automatic weapons for 10 unabated minutes.
Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB, identification code 304151376, registered office placed at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the Company). The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 894 630 333; ISIN code LT0000130023. The Company informs that the pilot project launched in 2016 of smart electricity metering for private customers has been finalised. According to the results of the pilot project "Ernst & Young Baltic" performed a cost-benefit analysis of the mass roll-out of smart electricity and gas metering in Lithuania which revealed that preliminary the most beneficious scenario for 4 years (period of 2019-2022) would require approx. 219 million euro investment. Taking into account the potential financial and social long-term benefits for Lithuania, the total economic benefit of the project would be 88 million Euro. The Company continues coordinating the project with the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices. The final decision on the investment is intended to be taken after the decision of the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices. The mass roll-out of smart metering in Lithuania is included in the National Strategy of Energy. It is noted that no specific decisions are taken. The Company will inform about any further decisions in accordance with the procedure established by law. Representative for Public Relations Akvile Adomaityte, akvile.adomaityte@eso.lt, tel. +370 684 12130.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 16, 2017) - Dan Blondal, CEO of Nano One Materials, (TSXV: NNO) (FSE: LBMB) (OTC Pink: NNOMF) today announced that Nano One has successfully piloted nickel rich cathode materials for high density energy storage applications such as next generation lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles.

"These pilot tests were conducted at approximately 100 times normal lab scale," explained Mr. Blondal, "and the results provide added confidence that these nickel rich materials can be manufactured at commercial scale. Electrochemical testing of battery cells made with these pilot materials is showing initial capacity measurements in excess of that achieved in the laboratory."

"We've shown now that our process, when scaled, can make nickel rich cathode materials using lithium carbonate in place of more costly lithium hydroxide. We are currently preparing preliminary engineering packages for commercial scale production facilities and quantities of high energy cathode materials for third party evaluation. With these results, our pilot program is achieving development milestones ahead of schedule."

"Additionally, we have material test agreements in place with potential partners and cathode evaluations will be proceeding with various industrial interests in Europe, the Americas and Asia."

Increased energy density at a lower cost are key drivers for electric vehicle batteries and to achieve this the automotive sector is trending towards higher ratios of nickel and lower ratios of cobalt in cathode materials.

In summary, Nano One has now successfully piloted NCM111 and NCM622 with nickel content at 33% and 60%, respectively. NCM refers to ratios of nickel, cobalt and manganese. Nano One is also developing other important cathode materials at the laboratory scale in preparation for piloting that include NCM811, NCA (nickel rich cobalt aluminate), LMNO (high voltage cobalt free spinel), LFP (lithium iron phosphate), LMO (lithium manganese oxide), and NCM325 (lithium manganese rich).

Nano One Materials Corp.

Dan Blondal, CEO

For information with respect to Nano One or the contents of this news release, please contact John Lando (President) at (604) 669-2701 or visit the website at www.nanoone.ca.

About Nano One:

Nano One Materials Corp ("Nano One" or "the Company") is developing patented technology for the low-cost production of high performance battery materials used in electric vehicles, energy storage, consumer electronics and next generation batteries. The processing technology addresses fundamental supply chain constraints by enabling wider raw materials specifications for use in lithium ion batteries. The process can be configured for a range of different nanostructured materials and has the flexibility to shift with emerging and future battery market trends and a diverse range of other growth opportunities. The novel three-stage process uses equipment common to industry and Nano One has built a pilot plant to demonstrate high volume production and to optimize its technology across a range of materials. This pilot plant program is being funded with the assistance and support of the Government of Canada through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program (ASIP) a program of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Nano One also receives financial support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Nano One's mission is to establish its patented technology as a leading platform for the global production of a new generation of nanostructured composite materials. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the actual receipt of the grant monies, the execution of the Company's plans which are contingent on the receipt of such monies and the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they 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 or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, 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 NEWS RELEASE
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- Awarded for EcoCash Diaspora service powered by mobiquityMoney

- Wins second consecutive AfricaCom Award for its mobile financial solutions

Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobility solutions, and Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe's largest mobile operator has jointly won the AfricaCom Award in the 'Fintech Innovation Award' category. This award is for EcoCash Diaspora services. EcoCash, which was also recognized as the best mobile payment service in the world earlier this year (GSMA GLOMO Awards 2017) is managed by Cassava Fintech (Cassava) on behalf of Econet Wireless Operations. The award was presented on November 8th at the Cape Town International Convention Center, South Africa. This is Mahindra Comviva's second consecutive AfricaCom Award and third in the past five years.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130626/625127 )



The Zimbabwean diaspora sends billions of dollars in remittances every year. Sending money through formal channels remains expensive for most Zimbabwean migrants abroad, leading to a parallel industry of sending remittances through informal channels such as acquaintances and bus drivers. However, relying upon informal remittance channels is risky as well as time consuming.

To overcome these challenges, EcoCash Diaspora service was launched, to provide a quick, secure, cost-effective and convenient way for Zimbabweans to remit money. Through partnerships structured and managed by Cassava, Econet Wireless has partnered with multiple money transfer operators and mobile money providers enabling Zimbabweans in over 200 countries and territories to send money directly to EcoCash customers in Zimbabwe. The remittance is received in EcoCash mobile wallet of consumers in Zimbabwe. This money can be cashed-out at any of the 30,000 EcoCash agents or used for P2P payments, merchant and bill payments, furthering Zimbabwe's cashless society initiative.

Manoranjan Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Comviva, said, "We are very excited to win at this year's AfricaCom Awards in the 'Fintech Innovation' category. We are in a period of profound transformation, where the very nature of money is changing with every technology leap. We are glad that we are playing a part in this transformation, which is providing peace and convenience to so many millions of Zimbabweans through safe and secure remittance services, anytime and anywhere."

Darlington Mandivenga, Group CEO, Cassava Fintech, said, "As a pan-African business with roots on the continent, we focus on addressing real African challenges by driving financial inclusion and providing digital financial power to millions of people - basically the 'unsung heroes' who strive everyday for a living, and whose daily jobs, though characterized by 'meager earnings', are responsible for sustaining entire families. Many of these still live on less than a few dollars a day, and unfortunately remain financially excluded. International remittances therefore provide an important source of livelihood for millions of these people."

"Through our intimate understanding of the different customer needs, our tailored solutions are designed to be relevant, convenient and above all impactful - while we humbly receive this award, our deepest satisfaction and the biggest award for us comes from seeing the impact we are having in the lives of millions of ordinary people across the continent, by providing financial solutions that change lives forever," Darlington further added.

Media Contact:

Sundeep Mehta

pr@mahindracomviva.com

+91-9910030732


Margaret Fong, Executive Director, HKTDC (L), and Kim Jaehong, President and CEO, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, sign a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the two organisations, to promote economic cooperation and trade between Hong Kong and Korea.



HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Beatrice Lam Tel: +852 2584 4049 Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

HONG KONG, Nov 16, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its counterpart in Korea, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), to promote economic cooperation and trade between Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea.The signing took place yesterday, ahead of the official opening of the HKTDC's Seoul office on 21 November.The MoU was signed in Hong Kong by Margaret Fong, Executive Director, HKTDC, and Kim Jaehong, President and CEO, KOTRA.- Enhanced cooperationThe MOU aims to strengthen the two parties' cooperation in promoting economic partnership and trade between Hong Kong and Korea. The sectors covered include creative industries, services industries, start-ups, technology, lifestyle products, food, toys, gifts and housewares.Under the MoU, the HKTDC and KOTRA will exchange information on economic cooperation, trade facilitation, industry development and new business opportunities in both markets. The two parties will also help promote each other's trade fairs.- Strong business tiesKorea is Hong Kong's sixth-largest trading partner and fifth-largest source of imports. In the first nine months of 2017, bilateral trade surged 26 per cent year-on-year to US$28.2 billion, while Hong Kong imports from Korea grew 32.3 per cent to US$22.9 billion. During the same period, the city's total exports to the country increased 4.5 per cent to US$5.3 billion, making Korea the city's 10th-largest export market. Major imports and exports between the two economies include semiconductors, electronic valves and tubes, as well as telecom equipment and parts.In June 2017, 148 Korean companies operated regional headquarters, regional or local offices in Hong Kong, up nearly 10 per cent from a year ago. Korean companies in Hong Kong are involved in financial services, logistics, transportation and cosmetics, among other sectors.Korea's cumulative foreign direct investment in Hong Kong amounted to US$3.3 billion as of the end of 2015.Hong Kong and Korea signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement in 1997, and a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in 2014.In the last financial year ending March 2017, more than 16,000 buyers and over 840 exhibitors from Korea took part in HKTDC product and services fairs.Photo Download: http://bit.ly/2zHbr9KAbout HKTDCEstablished in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo supplies some 60 percent of the world's cobalt -- a desperately sought after metal that is the driver of our electric vehicle (EV) boom and the fodder of battery giga-factories popping up all over the world.

But this claim to fame is obscured by a much darker side of the DRC -- namely that it's in the middle of a violent uprising and it's been using inhumane child labor to mine the precious metal. DRC's cobalt is the 'blood diamond' of this decade.

Buyers are under growing pressure to give up conflict cobalt and find new sources, but the timing is tough. Major automakers and battery manufacturers are scrambling to secure supplies of cobalt. Prices are soaring, and demand can only move in one direction -- up.

Here's why...

Cobalt demand could surge 700% by 2020 ... and 14,900% by 2030. And smart investors are getting into position now for the North American cobalt rush.

North America has an answer to this, and there is a 'cobalt rush' ensuing in a place whose name says it all: Cobalt, Ontario, the site of a silver rush over a century ago.

Back then, just when Cobalt, Ontario, was in its silver prime, the doors of African mining opened up wide, and Cobalt was forgotten. A century later, with political instability, war and working conditions that have everyone using conflict cobalt under major scrutiny, miners are coming back to this North American venue in droves.

One little-known company, Quantum Cobalt Corp. (CSE: QBOT) (FRANKFURT: 23B) has three projects in the heart of this 'cobalt rush' venue. It's moving fast on exploration, with impressive past-producing mineralizations, and it's poised to earn its place with a new type of cobalt that is safe, ethical and politically stable.

Here are five reasons why you may want to keep a close eye on Quantum Cobalt (CSE:QBOT) at a crucial moment when cobalt prices seem to be going in only one direction:

#1 The New Cobalt: It's North American

Canada is already the world's second or third biggest producer of cobalt, but it's only been producing about 6 percent of supply, along with China. Both have been sidelined by the lure of African cobalt. But African cobalt is becoming increasingly shaky, and it's a supply line that is no longer reliable.

Canada is now ramping up exploration and development, and much of this is happening in Cobalt, Ontario.

Only two years ago, according to one local geologist speaking to Canadian media, "If you had a cobalt property, you couldn't give it away. All of a sudden, within six months, everything changed."

What's changed is that we are using so much cobalt that it's forced a look at the origins, and that scrutiny is leading consumers away from the DRC.

Even with conflict cobalt, we're still looking at a potential 20 percent gap in supply by 2025.

So the market is betting big on new cobalt suppliers, and there's no better place to be than Ontario's "Cobalt Belt," where Quantum Cobalt has three projects with promising exploration upside.

Fortunes were made here in silver more than a century ago. Now fortunes are about to be made in cobalt.

#2 Quantum Cobalt Plays, Made in North America

Right in the heart of Ontario's cobalt belt, Quantum Cobalt (CSE:QBOT) has the Nipissing Lorrain Cobalt Project, which has in the past produced over 16,500 tons of the critical metal.

According to the company, the cobalt mineralization here is striking. Past production of 5 tons of material was reported to be an unusually high grade of 22 percent cobalt. That's impressive when you consider that most projects are deemed valuable with as little as 0.05 percent cobalt, says CEO Greg Burns.

And that's just one project in this massive cobalt belt. The company has already launched exploration to identify targets in two other projects in the heart of this cobalt belt: Rabbit and Kahuna.

The Rabbit project is just 55 kilometers north of Ontario's prolific Cobalt district, with historic work returning an assay of 8.76 percent cobalt.

The Kahuna Cobalt-Silver property, covering 77 claims over 1,200 hectares, has also seen mineralization of cobalt discovered in past work.

The company has mobilized field crews to carry out first-pass exploration on both of these properties, and we expect rapid news flow on prospecting, geologic mapping, geochemical mapping, geochemical surveying and sampling to locate and delineate mineralized structures.

Nearby, First Cobalt Corp. -- which pulled out of the DRC to expand in safer Canada, has past-producing assets and a market capitalization of CAD$39 million, which is expected to reach CAD$156 million pending an acquisition transaction. It all suggests that 27 Quantum, with its three cobalt projects at ground zero -- may be undervalued.

The past production on these properties suggests that 27 Quantum has significant exploration and development potential, and it's coming into this game right at the edge of the cobalt cliff. And it's got the team to back it up.

#3 Big Institutional Backing for Veteran Explorers and Value-Creators

Jerry Huang, a Quantum Cobalt director, is an instrumental player in Energold Drilling Corp., a leading drilling solutions company servicing the mining and energy sectors in the America's, Africa and Asia. Internationally recognized for a social and environmental approach to drilling and operating 270 rigs in 24 countries worldwide, Huang brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in exploration and drilling.

CEO Greg Burns, Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Capital Investment Partners -- a multibillion-dollar fund out of Australia -- has led multiple large-scale deals, including the development of Coalspur Mines into a billion-dollar market cap company at one point.

Quantum Cobalt is also backed by big institutional money, most notably that of Hayward, arguably the most respected institution in Canada. Haywood will be advising on financing and mergers and acquisitions, and it's already a cleaning house for four Canadian dealers with more than CAD$5.5 billion in assets under administration.

#4 Supply and Demand: Gotta Love the Math

Cobalt makes up some 35 percent of the lithium-ion battery mix. And with 2 million EVs already produced, and numbers rising fast, this critical element is in short supply.

At a price of about $60,000 per metric ton right now -- cobalt is the most expensive of all battery metals. And the scramble is on for manufacturers to secure their own cobalt pipeline.

Tesla leads the way, planning to pump out 500,000 EVs a year, and every other major car maker has announced a definitive shift to electric.

General Motors will launch 20 EV models by 2023.

Renault will double its EV offerings in the next five years.

Germany's Volkswagen plans to invest more than $24 billion in zero-emissions cars by 2030, producing 3 million EVS a year by 2025.

VW Group (Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche) plans to invest a whopping $84 billion in EV development (over half going to battery production).

Ford will release 13 new EV models by 2023.

Daimler (which owns Mercedes-Benz) is planning 50 models by 2022.

Volvo is going all electric by 2019 and anticipates selling one million EVs by 2025.

Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, collaboratively, plan to have 12 EVs by 2022.

And battery "giga" factories to support these ambitious production targets are popping up all over the world.

The global lithium-ion battery market -- of which cobalt is a critical element -- will reach $77.42 billion by 2024.

China will render supply even tighter.

Right now, China is the largest consumer of cobalt in the world. China is by far the largest market for plug-ins, and it's also the largest producer.

Last year alone, 507,000 EVs and PHEVs were sold in China -- a 53 percent increase from 2015, and almost double the number sold in Europe and triple the number sold in the U.S.

In 2016, Chinese cobalt consumption rose by 5.3 percent year-on-year, hitting 45,900 tons -- equal to over 44 percent of all global consumption. From this year to 2021, China is expected to see a 12 percent increase in cobalt consumption, on the back of EV and battery growth.

#5 Ontario Loves the Supply Squeeze

The shift is comprehensive. It's complete. The only thing missing? Cobalt. And investors expect what CNBC calls "inexorable" growth in the EV industry to generate a major supply squeeze for cobalt.

Everyone is scrambling to secure supply, and Cobalt, Ontario, is poised to emerge as a key player.

Volkswagen has just moved to secure long-term supplies of this vital battery component, seeking a 10-year secured pipeline beginning in 2019, according to Reuters.

Volkswagen alone, Reuters estimates, will need more than 150 gigawatt hours of battery capacity every year by 2025 to support its EV plans. It's enough cobalt for just one carmaker to be labeled one of the largest procurement projects in history. In fact, the total order volume is over $58.7 billion at today's soaring cobalt prices.

Cobalt spot prices have seen a 150 percent price surge this year.

According to Wood Mackenzie, demand for cobalt in EV batteries alone is expected to grow fourfold by 2020 and 11-fold by 2025. By 2021 already, the supply gap is expected to reach 12,000 tons, according to Research and Markets.

So, with cobalt demand set to surge 700% by 2020 ... and 14,900% by 2030 ... The biggest beneficiaries in this wild market will be smaller, new entrants developing ethical supplies. Right now, that means North America and Ontario's Cobalt Belt.

Sitting in the heart of this cobalt belt and surrounded by other fast-moving cobalt miners, Quantum Cobalt (CSE:QBOT) appears to be undervalued in relation to its peers, and it's got fast-moving exploration boots on the ground.

Honorable mentions:

Global X Lithium ETF has been around for 7 years, but it's not a stunning stock story like Tesla. What it is, however, is a safer bet on lithium. There's not as much to lose here. Year-to-date, LIT is up over 25%, and it remains steady.

This fund has more than $262 million in assets, and it tracks the Solactive Global Lithium Index of companies that engage in lithium mining, refining and battery production. And it gives you exposure to Tesla, as well as to miners like FMC Corp.

General Motors is a household name. GM was born at the turn of the 20th century and has been a leading innovator in the automotive industry ever since. Even though it's been surpassed in market cap by Tesla (of all companies), it is still the furthest ahead of the Big 3 car makers from Detroit in terms of EVs and self-driving cars.

Recently, GM acquired Cruise Automation -- a self-driving car company, and it seems determined to forge ahead even faster to play catch-up with the future. Additionally, GM is a leader in the booming electric vehicle market. As countries across the world begin to pass regulations on combustion engines, GM stands to gain significantly as an early adopter in the EV game.

Fortune Minerals is another player in the cobalt space. Operating in Canada's Northwest Territories, Fortune is eyeing status as a major Canadian producer of battery-grade cobalt chemicals -- but it's also got copper and gold bismuth upside. And it's getting a boost from the government in terms of mining infrastructure.

Fortune's modest market cap and low buy in make it a great stock for investors looking to get a piece of the electric vehicle revolution. The company's value has increased significantly over the past year but it hasn't yet reached its peak.

Ballard Power Systems: Ballard develops and produces hydrogen fuel cell products for markets such as heavy-duty motive, portable power, material handling and transportation.

Ballard's stock price jumped a whopping 27 percent in September as the company announced a new way to manufacture fuel cell batteries, reducing the need for platinum in its production process by some 80 percent.

Ballard expects to start producing the new fuel cells at the end of this year.

While Ballard looks a bit expensive compared to its peers, the stock should be on investors' radars as this is one of the most exciting fuel cell stocks.

Turquoise Hill Resources is a mid-cap Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its focus is on the Pacific Rim where it is in the process of developing several large mines.

The company mines a diversified set of metals/minerals including coal, gold, copper, molybdenum, silver, rhenium, uranium, lead and zinc. One of the fortes of Turquoise Hill is its good relationship with mining giant Rio Tinto.

Going forward, Turquoise's success at the giant Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia will be crucial to boost its lagging share price.

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SAN FRANCISCO, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The globaltelecom MMW technology market is projected to reach USD 4.23 billion by 2025, according to the new report conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. Millimeter waves efficiently transmit a large amount of data and operate in the electromagnetic spectrum of 30 GHz to 300 GHz. This property has increased the popularity of MMW technology in the telecommunication sector. They are also known as Extremely High-Frequency (EHF) waves, owing to their operating frequency spectrum.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160524/371361LOGO )

Fiber-optic cables are the most preferred transmission medium used for data transmission across the telecom industry. However, the fiber optics technology is costly, and the installation of the network is complicated. Thus, the millimeter wave technology is gaining traction as an alternative to fiber-optics medium.

The major application areas of the technology include telecommunication, military & defense, security services, and medical & healthcare. The recent developments and continuous research and progress in the telecom industry are likely to lead to the evolution of the 5G technology.

Millimeter waves are anticipated to play a vital role in the development of fifth-generation technology, owing to the need for higher-bandwidth. The 5G technology is predicted to emerge in the coming years and the market is likely to witness its adoption significantly. Eventually, the demand for MMW technology is expected to boost, in turn, propelling the overall MMW technology market, particularly across the telecom industry.

Increased government funding and initiatives, coupled with R&D activities carried out by the public and private sectors, are driving the market. E-band frequencies have extensive applications in the telecommunication sector and the segment is anticipated to generate the highest revenue over the forecast period, on account of its growing applications in the sector. Therefore, the overall telecom millimeter wave technology market is poised to witness a significant growth over the forecast period.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Telecom Millimeter Wave (MMW) Technology Market Analysis By Frequency Band (V-Band, E-Band, Other Frequency Bands), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, RoW), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/telecom-millimeter-wave-mmw-technology-market

Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest:

North America accounted for the largest market share in 2016, owing to the early adoption of the technology in the region

accounted for the largest market share in 2016, owing to the early adoption of the technology in the region U.S. generated the highest revenue in 2016 in the North America regional market

regional market The E-band frequency segment is anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast duration, owing to its extensive adoption in telecom applications

The E-band frequency segment is likely to witness significant demand in the telecom industry of the Asia Pacific region

region The growing urbanization in the Asia Pacific region and competitive rivalry amongst the telecom service providers, for offering superior quality internet and other related services to increase customer base, are expected to drive the regional telecom MMW technology market

region and competitive rivalry amongst the telecom service providers, for offering superior quality internet and other related services to increase customer base, are expected to drive the regional telecom MMW technology market Online streaming of high-quality videos and online gaming, which require high bandwidth and consume large amounts of data, are likely to fuel the overall demand for MMW technology in the telecom sector

The prominent industry players operating in the global Millimeter Wave technology market are Siklu Communication Ltd., Bridgewave Communications, Inc., NEC Corporation, Keysight Technologies, Sage Millimeter, Inc., Lightpointe Communications, Inc., and others.

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Digital Photography Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/digital-photography-market

Pervasive Computing Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/pervasive-computing-matrket

Mobile Application Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/mobile-application-market

Electronic Warfare Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/electronic-warfare-market

Grand View Research has segmented the telecom MMW technology market based on frequency bands and regions:

Telecom MMW Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) V-Band E-Band Other Frequency Bands

Telecom MMW Technology Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Asia Pacific China Japan India South America and the Middle East & Africa (MEA)



Read Our Blog By Grand View Research: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/blogs/technology

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. Thecompany provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: +1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com



Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com
PUNE, India, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The report"Auto Dimming Mirror Marketby Fuel Type (BEV, ICE, Hybrid), Application (IRVM and ORVM), Functionality (Connected and Non-Connected), Vehicle Type (PC and LCV), and Region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and RoW) - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets', the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.20% during the forecast period, to reach a market size of USD 2.11 Billion by 2025. The market is primarily driven by the increasing awareness about vehicle and passenger safety and trend of integrating additional features with a rear-view mirror.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )

Browse70 Market Data Tables and46 Figures spread through135Pages and in-depth TOC on"Auto Dimming Mirror Market - Global Forecast to 2025"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/auto-dimming-mirror-market-216986602.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report

Interior mirror is projected to be the largest segment of the Auto Dimming Mirror Market

The interior mirror segment is projected to dominate the Auto Dimming Mirror Market, in terms of value, during the forecast period. The use of interior dimming mirrors is imperative in all types of vehicles. Passenger cars and LCVs commonly have one interior dimming mirror comprising features such as blind spot detection and park assist camera.

Download PDF Brochure: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=216986602

The market for connected dimming mirror is estimated to witness the highest growth

Connected auto dimming mirrors stand for dimming mirrors integrated with various other features to provide safety and convenience to drivers while driving. Some of the features which come integrated with dimming mirrors are temperature display, Bluetooth and hands-free connectivity, and navigation. Due to the increasing adoption of connected dimming mirrors, the market for auto dimming mirrors is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific expected to be the largest market for Auto Dimming Mirror Market

Asia-Pacific is estimated to dominate the Auto Dimming Mirror Market during the forecast period. The region represents countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and India with the world's highest vehicle production. The demand for the automotive mirror is directly linked to the vehicle production in this region. According to the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA) publication, these countries together contributed approximately 48% to the global vehicle production in 2016. The increasing purchasing power of people is also one of the key factors for the growth in the Asia Pacific region.

Make an Inquiry: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=216986602

The Auto Dimming Mirror Market is dominated by a few global players and comprises several regional players. Some of the key manufacturers operating in the market are Magna (Canada), Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec (Germany), Ficosa (Spain), Gentex (US), and Murakami (Japan).

Browse Related Reports

Rear-View Mirror Market for Automotive by Product (Conventional and Smart), Feature (Auto dimming, BSD, Power Control, Automatic Foldable, Heated, Indicator), Type, Mounting Location, Vehicle Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/automotive-rear-view-mirror-market-259996962.html

Multi Camera System Market for Automotive by Function (Parking, and ADAS), Display Type (2D, and 3D), Level of Autonomous Driving (Level1, Level 2 & 3, and Level 4), Vehicle Type (Passenger, and Commercial Vehicle), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/automotive-multi-camera-system-market-48423657.html

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q3 Earnings Call to be held on November 16, 2017 at 8:30 AM Eastern Time.

To listen to the event live or access a replay of the call - visit https://www.investornetwork.com/company/2173.

To receive updates for this company you can register by emailing info@investornetwork.com or by clicking get investment info from the company's profile.

About Investor Network

Investor Network (IN) is a financial content community, serving millions of unique investors market information, earnings, commentary and news on the what's trending. Dedicated to both the professional and the average traders, IN offers timely, trusted and relevant financial information for virtually every investor. IN is an Issuer Direct brand, to learn more or for the latest financial news and market information, visit www.investornetwork.com. Follow us on Twitter @investornetwork.

SOURCE: Investor Network
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q4 Earnings Call to be held on November 16, 2017 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time.

To listen to the event live or access a replay of the call - visit https://www.investornetwork.com/company/1769.

To receive updates for this company you can register by emailing info@investornetwork.com or by clicking get investment info from the company's profile.

About Investor Network

Investor Network (IN) is a financial content community, serving millions of unique investors market information, earnings, commentary and news on the what's trending. Dedicated to both the professional and the average traders, IN offers timely, trusted and relevant financial information for virtually every investor. IN is an Issuer Direct brand, to learn more or for the latest financial news and market information, visit www.investornetwork.com. Follow us on Twitter @investornetwork.

SOURCE: Investor Network


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - An opinion poll conducted after five women accused Roy Moore of making sexual advances towards them shows a dramatic turn against him in the run-up to the Alabama Senate Special election.



According to the results of a poll from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Moore was trailing Democrat candidate Doug Jones by 12 percentage points.



Jones leads Moore 51 percent to 39 percent in the survey, which was taken on November 12 and November 13. This is a sharp turn around from the results of an NRSC poll in early October, which gave him 16 points' lead.



A separate poll last week saw Jones leading by 4 points.



The NRSC withdrew its support for Moore after the Washington Post published the first allegations against him last week. Four women had accused the Republican Senate candidate of making romantic or sexual advances on them when they were teenagers.



The group's chairman, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) said the 70-year old former state Supreme Court chief justice should be expelled from the Senate if he wins the election, which is scheduled for December 12.



On Monday, a fresh allegation of sexual assault surfaced against him. Beverly Young Nelson said Moore tried to rape her after offering a ride home from her job as a waitress when she was 16.



Moore denied the allegations, and his attorney said there are holes in the story. He called for handwriting analysis of a signature purportedly put by Moore on a yearbook Nelson claims he presented to her in 1977.



Moore has been leading until the sex scandal surfaced, and with barely a month for the election, the tide is clearly turning in favor of the Democrat candidate in what is typically considered a safe Republican seat, reports say.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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News / National

by Staff reporter

More pictures from military assault on Jonathan Moyo's house. pic.twitter.com/lZj3pksXzr  Sye (@RoyalMavin) November 16, 2017

Be advised that this is Unconfirmed: However, #JonathanMoyoRaid seems to detail events that took place at Jonathan Moyo's residence. We don't wish to gatekeep information but we also do not wish to spread falsehoods. Please use your discretion. Below are pictures of army assault on Jonathan Moyo's house.Jonathan Moyo's driver is alleged to have been severely assaulted after soldiers failed to find the ministers house. Currently he is reported to be in a coma.
Richmond, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 16, 2017) - Stina Resources Ltd. (CSE: SQA) (OTCQB: STNUF) (FSE: 01X) ("Stina" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the definitive agreement for the acquisition of Pure Vanadium Corp. ("Pure"). This acquisition supports Stina's long-term objective of becoming North America's first vertically integrated producer of vanadium electrolyte for the energy storage industry.

In July 2017, Stina announced a Letter of Intent with Pure Vanadium Corp., and following a thorough review of the company's technology and other relevant matters a definitive agreement has now been finalized.

"The development of battery technology is progressing rapidly throughout the world with vanadium redox flow batteries being one of the main new technologies for grid-scale energy storage. The combination of our vanadium resources in Nevada and new applications for vanadium in battery technology will progress Stina towards its goal of being a leading vertically integrated producer of vanadium electrolyte," said Brian Stecyk, President & CEO, Stina Resources Ltd.

Pure is a technology company involved in development of vanadium electrolyte for vanadium redox flow batteries used in grid-scale energy storage. Pure holds a portfolio of licenses for the production and sales of vanadium electrolytes. Pure's licenses were granted by the Battelle Memorial Institute ("Battelle"), operator of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ("PNNL"), a US Department of Energy National Laboratory," located in the State of Washington, says Dusty McKinnon of Pure Vanadium.

The finalization of the definitive agreement and its execution will result in Pure becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stina Resources Ltd., and the Company will assume all the assets and obligations owing in connection with Pure's research & development (R&D) and business operations.

The terms of the agreement as outlined in the July 2017 News Release are that Stina will acquire all of the outstanding share capital of Pure in consideration for the issuance of 17,000,000 common shares of Stina to the existing shareholders of Pure. Stina will allocate $250,000, for research and development ("R&D") funding for the continued development and testing of Pure's technology.



About Pure Vanadium Corp.

Pure Vanadium Corp. is a private R&D company involved in advancing the clean energy sector. Pure's R&D activities involve the production of vanadium electrolyte formulations for the rapidly expanding vanadium redox flow battery technologies that are employed in grid-scale electrical storage.

About Stina Resources Ltd.

Stina Resources Ltd. is poised to become North America's first vertically integrated producer of vanadium & vanadium electrolyte for the energy storage industry.

Stina has significant vanadium reserves and resources in Nevada. The Bison McKay claims contain a pure vanadium resource. Unlike most other vanadium deposits where vanadium is inter-mingled with other metals such as iron, or uranium, the Bisoni McKay properties contain pure vanadium in carbonaceous shale.

Stina Resources Ltd. is dedicated to increasing shareholder value through exploration and development of their vanadium resources and converting the vanadium into vanadium electrolyte for the energy storage market.

For further information, please contact:

Brian Stecyk, Director, President & CEO

Telephone: 1-800-882-3213

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur; 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. 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. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 16, 2017) - Intelife Income Trust announced earlier today the appointment of Liahona Capital Inc., an Ontario-based Exempt Market Dealer, as an authorized distribution agent effective November 15th, 2017.

"We've grown quite quickly and are fortunate to have the right people, in the right place at the right time," said Intelife President, Marcin Drozdz. "From the front office to the executive team, we are excited about the experience and support the Liahona team offers."

Intelife was established to invest in predictable Recurring Monthly Revenue ("RMR") accounts in the Security & Smart Home Automation industry.

The Smart Home and Automation industry is growing at a tremendous pace as people look to simplify their lives. Revenues in the space are expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2017-2022) of 24.0 % in Canada. [1] Canadian household penetration rate is at 3.7% as of 2017 and is expected to hit 12.1 % by 2022. [2]

"Whether it's for busy parents with children at home, seniors or people with disabilities; technology has made it easier than ever before to secure your home, manage energy consumption and keep an eye on those you love," Drozdz said. "As with smartphones, customers always want the latest and greatest, but rarely want to pay upfront. Our model allows customers to get the Security & Smart Home or Business Automation services they want based on a monthly payment they can afford."

Liahona is an established exempt market dealer that represents a select few private issuers and is actively pursuing growth in the private equity space.

"We are delighted to add this exciting new product to our portfolio of offerings," Aaron Rumley, Liahona CEO said. "Our partnership with Intelife brings new opportunities for our clients to further diversify their investments."

"Intelife's Recurring Monthly Revenue model and long-term nature of the contracts offers attractive returns to investors," Rumley added. "This is a strong offering and one we feel will attract a wide variety of interest."

Intelife Income Trust is available to investors by way of Offering Memorandum through Liahona Capital Inc. For further information, contact Liahona Capital Inc. at info@liahona.ca or visit their website: www.liahona.ca.

For further information on Intelife, please contact:

Marcin Drozdz

President & Trustee

Intelife Income Trust

1.866.466.7324

marcin@intelifecapital.com

www.intelifecapital.com

[1] [2] https://www.statista.com/outlook/279/108/smart-home/Canada

Disclaimer: This presentation is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities. No securities regulatory authority or regulator has assessed the merits of the information herein or reviewed the information contained herein. This presentation is not intended to assist you in making any investment decision regarding the purchase of securities. Rather, the Trust has prepared an Offering Memorandum for delivery to prospective investors that describes certain terms, conditions and risks of the investment and certain rights that you may have. You should review the Offering Memorandum with your professional adviser(s) before making any investment decision. This presentation and the accompanying Offering Memorandum are intended for delivery only to, and participation in the investment is restricted to, investors to whom certain prospectus exemptions apply, as described in the Offering Memorandum.
Germany reclaims top overall "nation brand" ranking

Canada maintains #1 status in People, Governance and Immigration/Investment categories

US slides to sixth place only country showing overall decline in 2017

Canada's global brand remains among the top 4 in the world, tying Japan for fourth place with a strong showing in the latest Anholt-GfK Nation Brands IndexSM (NBISM) study.

Germany retakes the top ranking from the US, which fell to sixth place from first. France climbs to second, with the UK holding onto third place.

Canada remains number one in the world for the second consecutive year in three of six categories measured in the study People, Governance, and Immigration/Investment.

Go to www.gfk.com/en-us for more information

The data shows:

People worldwide say they would want Canadians as close friends; they also feel they would be welcome when visiting the country and would willingly hire a well-qualified person from Canada.

Canada is seen as having a competent and honest government one that has a high respect for citizens' rights and fair treatment. Canada is also highly rated in other aspects of the Governance category, such as behavior in the areas of international peace and security, as well as environmental protection and world poverty reduction.

Canada is thought to have a high quality of life and equal opportunity that strengthens its ability to attract talent and investment capital.

In the other 3 categories, Canada's rankings slipped slightly from 2016 to 2017. In Exports, Canada fell from 5th to 7th. Its Culture ranking dropped from 10th to 12th; and in Tourism, it fell one spot, from 8th to 9th

US loses ground in global perception of its Governance

Of the 50 countries measured in the study, only the USA saw its overall NBI score drop this year. However, it still ranks among the top five nations for three of NBI's six categories: namely, Culture (where the USA is ranked second), Exports (also second), and Immigration-Investment (fifth). But it fell from 19th place to 23rd for Governance, a notably poor score for one of the world's leading countries.

"The USA's fall in the 'Governance' suggests that we are witnessing a 'Trump effect', following President Trump's focused political message of 'America First'," said Professor Simon Anholt, who created the NBI study in 2005.

Vadim Volos, GfK's Senior Vice President of Social Strategic Research, said, "Nations are able to influence global perception of their national brand by promoting positive aspects that drive up areas such as inbound tourism and investment. Our Nations Brand Index allows our clients to understand where and why their nation stands in terms of their current image, momentum and potential. And this in turn, shows them where they need to focus, to build an increasingly stronger nation brand."

For more information about the Anholt-GfK Nations Brand Index, please visit nation-brands.gfk.com.

About the study

GfK conducted 20,185 interviews online in 20 panel countries with adults aged 18 or over. Data are weighted to reflect key demographic characteristics including age, gender and education of the 2017 online population in that country. Additionally, race/ethnicity has been used for sample balancing in the USA, UK, South Africa, India, and Brazil. Fieldwork was conducted from 7 to 25 July 2017.

The 50 nationsmeasured by the survey are as follows, listed by region:

North America: Canada, the U.S.

Western Europe: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Norway*, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK

Central/Eastern Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine*

Asia-Pacific: Australia, China1, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand

Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru

Middle East/Africa: Botswana*,Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates.

1Chinese respondents are asked to rank all nations except their own.

*This indicates nations newly added into the NBISM in 2017. Also, three nations (Cuba, Iran, and Kazakhstan) were measured in 2016 but not in 2017.

About Simon Anholt

Simon Anholt is recognized as the world's leading authority on national image and identity. Professor Anholt was Vice-Chair of the UK Government's Public Diplomacy Board, and works as an independent policy advisor to the Heads of State and Heads of Government of more than 50 other countries. Anholt developed the concept of the Nation Brands IndexSM and the City Brands IndexSM in 2005.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116005474/en/

Contacts:

GfK

David Stanton, +1 908-875-9844

North American PR

David.Stanton@gfk.com

or

PUNCH

Hannah Choat, 647-837-1260

hannah@punchcanada.com
IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTC PINK: CBIS), a U.S. company specializing in the development of cannabinoid-based medicines, is proud to announce that next week the company will release its newest version of the Patient Access Center (PAC), an exclusive online community for social networking and information sharing platform. By bringing together Doctors, Patients, Industry Professionals, Lawyers, Scientists, Civil and Constitutional Rights Activists, Legalization Efforts Groups and many others, we are building a powerful knowledge center of real world data of successful treatment stories, formal clinical study information, to mobilizing large groups for upcoming events, or certain demographics that need help to help effective change for each area of concern or question.

Through 24/7 real-time communications and interaction between its members, this platform will create an information exchange game changer, pushing forward the movement of Cannabis and Hemp education, drug development, and to help fix the ineffective patient treatment and access because of the illegal conflicts of interest between the individual State Governments vs the Federal Government for Cannabis and Hemp cultivation, drug development and distribution laws. Thus making safe access for patients in need confusing, unattainable, and extremely frustrating for people who have seen, believe, and genuinely want to learn about the miraculous healing powers of the plant.

Cannabis Science is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients around the world through cannabinoid science. The development of our newest website will do so by allowing those suffering from ailments to connect with professionals and other patient members gaining instant access to information, knowledge, and data. It will serve as an information center, resource hub, and support group for those seeking alternative cannabinoid treatments for various critical ailments such as Cancer, Arthritis, Parkinson's Disease, Anxiety, Multiple Sclerosis, and more. This new website will provide invaluable information for Cannabis users, shareholders and Cannabis professionals of the Science of Cannabinoids alike.

It will provide opportunities to enlighten medical practitioners on all aspects of cannabinoid therapies and the endocannabinoid system, and allow them to directly help patients in suggestive treatments. Furthermore, this platform will empower patients to educate themselves about the potential benefits of using cannabinoids as a complementary therapy to lessen side effects such as nausea, insomnia, and anxiety. Advocates of medical cannabinoids can also demonstrate their support for legalization by signing up to fight for their rights. This platform will bring together all walks of life such as doctors, patients, lawyers, growers, parents, researchers, journalists, CEOs, Ambassadors, Country leaders, as everyone is affected. With our platform anyone will be able to make a difference, and no one will be alone.

Members will be able to track their personal experiences with cannabinoid treatment through blogs, photos, and videos while it serves as a testimony to others. They will be able to seek out other members based on their interests and profile information. Testimonials of successful Cannabinoid therapy regimes can be shared in an effort to educate others to the many uses and successes of Cannabis therapies. Discussion groups can be created to connect with people of the same interests, potentially allowing patients to schedule consultations with doctors in the future as well as sign up for future clinical trials for novel cannabinoid therapies.

*** Online users can also create their own events for private or public participation or monitoring such as the "2017 Cannabis Science Gala Event" or specific to your cause such as for shareholders to receive updates about the "Loyalty Gift Program." The Company will specifically address these events through the platform as they are separate personal LGP and corporate events such as the Gala. Perfect for those interested in following and reviewing updated event information, sign up, and attend.

The website will also provide overall support information on marijuana classifications, strains, and the science of cannabinoids. Information regarding critical ailments and palliative care will be outlined, with supplementary treatments like pills, creams, and extracts that are available. It will showcase international marijuana laws, including American state-by-state legal information regarding possession, cultivation, and legalization for patients to protect themselves. Along with recent research studies from reputable scientific peer reviewed journals, live feed news outlets will be available for a deeper understanding.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.

Cannabis Science, Inc. takes advantage of its unique understanding of metabolic processes to provide novel treatment approaches to a number of illnesses for which current treatments and understanding remain unsatisfactory. Cannabinoids have an extensive history dating back thousands of years, and currently, there are a growing number of peer-reviewed scientific publications that document the underlying biochemical pathways that cannabinoids modulate. The Company works with leading experts in drug development, medicinal characterization, and clinical research to develop, produce, and commercialize novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment for illnesses caused by infections as well as for age-related illness. Our initial focus is on cancers, HIV/AIDS, and neurological conditions. The Company is proceeding with the research and development of its proprietary drugs as a part of this initial focus: CS-S/BCC-1, CS-TATI-1, and CS-NEURO-1, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing words such as "anticipate," "seek," intend," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a 'safe harbor' for forward-looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts are forward looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involved risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the company is detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT INFORMATION



Cannabis Science, Inc.

Dr. Allen Herman

Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

allen.herman@cannabisscience.com

Tel: 1-888-263-0832



Cannabis Science, Inc.

Mr. Raymond C. Dabney

President & CEO, Co-Founder

raymond.dabney@cannabisscience.com

Tel: 1-888-263-0832




NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- NetworkNewsWire ("NNW"), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company, today announces the publication of an editorial featuring Petroteq Energy, Inc. (TSX VENTURE: PQE)(OTCQX: PQEFF)(FRANKFURT: MW4A), a Canadian-registered, publicly traded company engaged in the development and implementation of proprietary technologies for the environmentally safe extraction of heavy oils from oil sands, oil shale deposits and shallow oil deposits.

The publication, titled, "Blockchain to Enable Frictionless Transactions, Transparency to Ease Complexities of Global Oil & Gas Industry," notes that while the mining industry has always been a breeding ground for innovation, back-office procedures haven't kept pace. The introduction of blockchain technology could be a game changer, Petroteq Energy management says.

To view the full publication, visit: https://www.networknewswire.com/blockchain-enable-frictionless-transactions-transparency-ease-complexities-global-oil-gas-industry/

"For a company like https://petrobloq.com/) is specifically designed to meet the supply chain management needs of the oil and gas sector and the unique complexities and challenges of upstream, midstream and downstream industries.

"As Petroteq and First Bitcoin understand, the supply chain must extend beyond the product that a company produces and into ancillary supply chains required to produce its product. Their Petrobloq solution is designed as an intelligent supply chain that learns market conditions and helps the user adapt to market variables -- a feature that stands to benefit a wide variety of sectors."

About Petroteq Energy Inc.

Petroteq Energy Inc. is a Canadian-registered holding company, publicly trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (PQE) and the OTCQX trading platform (PQEFF). Its offices are located in Toronto, Ontaro, Canada and Los Angeles, California, with its initial plant location in Vernal, Utah. Petroteq is focused on value creation through the development and implementation of proprietary technologies for the environmentally safe extraction of heavy oils from oil sands, oil shale deposits and shallow oil deposits.

For more information about Petroteq Energy Inc. visit: https://petroteq.energy/. For more on Petrobloq visit: https://petrobloq.com/

About NetworkNewsWire

NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) NetworkNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.

For more information please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer

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.

NNW Contact:

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New York, New York

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Email Contact




Seasoned Executive Adds Public Company, Financial and Management Expertise

INCLINE VILLAGE, NV / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTC PINK: ORRP) (the "Company"), through its wholly owned subsidiary LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net), a lithium resource exploration and development company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Doug Cole as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Cole adds public company and management experience and financial expertise, which are required to lead the Company through its next phase of an exploration program and progresses toward development of its primary project.

The Company holds 250+ appropriate and accepted lithium mineral claims, totaling 5,000 acres, called the Western Nevada Basin, situated in Railroad Valley in Nye County, Nevada (the "WNB Claim"). Railroad Valley is approximately 112 miles (180 kilometers) northeast of Clayton Valley. The project can be accessed by paved highway directly from U.S. Route 6. Railroad Valley is one of Nevada's largest trapped basins and is noted to hold all the necessary commercial and engineering prerequisites for a massive lithium brine deposit. The Company's claims have been evaluated by experts and the BLM and targeted for planned on-site exploration expected to begin in the first half of 2018.

Doug Cole is an established executive with extensive experience worldwide in project due diligence, development, strategic planning, marketing, and project financing. Mr. Cole has been a Partner overseeing all ongoing deal activities with Objective Equity LLC since 2005, a boutique investment bank focused on the high technology, data analytics and the mining sector. Mr. Cole currently serves on the Board of Directors of eWellness Healthcare Corporation (EWLL). Since 1977 Mr. Cole has held various executive roles, including Chairman, Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of multiple public corporations. From May 2000 to September 2005, he was also the Director of Lair of the Bear, The University of California Family Camp located in Pinecrest, California. During the period between 1991 and 1996 he was the CEO of HealthSoft and he also founded and operated Great Bear Technology, which acquired Sony Image Soft and Starpress, then went public and eventually sold to Graphix Zone. In 1995 Mr. Cole was honored by NEA, a leading venture capital firm, as CEO of the year. In 1997 Mr. Cole became CEO of NetAmerica until merging in 1999. Since 1982 he has been very active with the University of California, Berkeley mentoring early-stage technology companies. Mr. Cole has extensive experience in global M&A and global distributions. He obtained his BA in Social Sciences from UC Berkeley in 1978.

Oroplata Resources, Inc.

Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTC PINK: ORRP), through is wholly owned subsidiary LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net), is a lithium resource exploration and development company, whose primary focus is the establishment of a low cost, long life proved production base to supply the rapidly growing and currently flourishing lithium-ion battery industry for both mobile devises and laptops, as well as the burgeoning EV (electronic vehicle) industry. Lithortech is focused on becoming a substantial, profitable lithium producer via the timely development of valuable production-grade lithium brine deposits in Nevada.

For more information, please visit: http://lithiumore.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to the expected project economics for Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), including estimates of life of mine, average production, cash costs, AISC, initial CAPEX, sustaining CAPEX, pre-tax IRR, pre-tax NPV, net cash flows and recovery rates, the impact of self-mining versus contract mining, the timing to obtain necessary permits, the submission of the project for final investment approval and the timing of initial gold production after investment approval and full financing, metallurgy and processing expectations, the mineral resource estimate, expectations regarding the ability to expand the mineral resource through future drilling, ongoing work to be conducted at the Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), and the potential results of such efforts, the potential commissioning of a Pre-Feasibility study and the effects on timing of the project, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information, unfavorable exploration results, inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices, final investment approval and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release.

Contact Information

Hayden IR

(917) 658-7878

hart@haydenir.com

SOURCE: Oroplata Resources, Inc.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. (TSX: SEV) ("Spectra7" or the "Company"), a leading provider of high-performance analog semiconductor products for broadband connectivity markets, today announced a new product line optimized for blockchain processing data centers. BCI-2500 is a high-performance, scalable, low-power, and cost-effective product supporting interconnects from 25 to 400Gbps.

"We're extremely excited to bring our technology to this high-value market," said Spectra7 CEO Raouf Halim. "The blockchain processing market is forecasted to grow at a 61.5% CAGR to $2.3 billion by 2021(1). This is a huge opportunity for us to leverage our existing data center active copper cable silicon technology and quickly expand into this strategic market with products set to go into production in 2018."

Data centers focused on blockchain processing are extremely dedicated to network and computational efficiency. Spectra7's BCI-2500 products enable copper cables up to three times the reach of passive copper cables at dramatically lower power levels than alternative solutions.

Spectra7's BCI-2500 product line is the market's first to address the specific needs of data centers running blockchain applications including Bitcoin mining. Bringing its unique signal processing technology to the critical interconnect layer of the data center, Spectra7 offers the following benefits to Blockchain systems:

-- Breakthrough Low Power - Up to 80% less power consumption than competing solutions. -- High Performance - Scalable server and switch line rates from 25Gbps to 400Gbps. -- Low Cost - Typically 50% the cost of competing solutions.

Spectra7 Blockchain and Data Center Market Highlights:

-- Several blockchain leaders in North America and Asia are currently evaluating Spectra7's BCI-2500 and GaugeChanger Plus products for their new data centers. -- The Company received its first prototype orders for GaugeChanger Plus in Q3 2017. -- The Company continues to expect data center revenue to ramp up in 2018.

(1) Reference Markets and Markets, Global Forecast to 2021

ABOUT SPECTRA7 MICROSYSTEMS INC.

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. is a high performance analog semiconductor company delivering unprecedented bandwidth, speed and resolution to enable disruptive industrial design for leading electronics manufacturers in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, data centers and other connectivity markets. Spectra7 is based in San Jose, California with design centers in Markham, Ontario, Cork, Ireland, and Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, please visit www.spectra7.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Company's annual MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2016. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

Sean Peasgood

Investor Relations

416-565-2805

ir@spectra7.com



Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

Darren Ma

Chief Financial Officer

669-284-3170

pr@spectra7.com

www.spectra7.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/15/17 -- Emerita Resources Corp. (the "Company" or "Emerita") (TSX VENTURE: EMO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Michael Timmins as CEO and a Director of the Company. This appointment is an important step in enhancing the Company's interaction with its shareholders and capital markets.

Mr. Timmins is a mining executive with over 20 years of technical and corporate development experience at Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Placer Dome Inc. Most recently, Michael worked for Agnico Eagle as Vice-President, Corporate Development. During his tenure at Agnico Eagle, Mr. Timmins participated in the construction and commissioning of the Kittila Mine in Finland and was an integral part of the corporate development team where he lead several key acquisitions totalling over C$3.0B in value and key investments of approximately C$300M into junior gold companies. Mr. Timmins supported the growth of Agnico Eagle's portfolio from one operating mine to a total of nine by the time of his departure. Mr. Timmins has also developed an extensive network of contacts of investors, investment bankers and advisors over his twelve years at Agnico Eagle. Prior to working at Agnico Eagle, Mr. Timmins worked in various operational capacities in the Red Lake camp for Placer Dome. Mr. Timmins is a graduate of Queens University (MBA), the University of British Columbia (M.Sc. Metallurgy) and Bishops University (B.Sc.).

Joaquin Merino, P.Geo., will continue as President of Emerita as well as the Managing Director of Emerita Resources Espana SL, Emerita's wholly owned Spanish subsidiary, allowing him to focus on the management and advancement of Emerita's projects. Under Mr. Merino's leadership, the technical programs are ramping up with the recent acquisition of advanced zinc projects in Brazil and Spain (see news releases dated October 5, 2017 and October 26, 2017).

David Gower P.Geo., Chairman of Emerita, commented: "We are very fortunate to have Michael Timmins joining the Emerita team. Having someone as accomplished in the mining business as Michael is a real endorsement of the quality of Emerita's assets and team and he brings the business acumen to help us successfully drive our projects towards development. Having Emerita's CEO based in Toronto will improve our outreach to shareholders as we communicate results of our exciting portfolio of zinc assets."

About Emerita Resources Corp.

Emerita is a natural resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties with a primary focus on exploring in Spain and Brazil. The Company's corporate office and technical team are based in Seville, Spain with an administrative office in Toronto, Canada.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding appointment of senior management and impact on the Company, the Company's ability to raise necessary financing, the Company's ability to acquire and develop assets and the Company's future plans. 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". 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 Emerita, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; risks associated with operation in foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate purchased properties or mining rights awarded; foreign operations risks; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Although Emerita has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such 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. Emerita does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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.

Contacts:

Joaquin Merino

+34 (628) 1754 66 (Spain)



Helia Bento

+1 416 309 4293 (Toronto)

info@emeritaresources.com




NANAIMO, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- ATLAS ENGINEERED PRODUCTS LTD. (the "Company" or "Atlas") (TSX VENTURE: AEP), a leading supplier of trusses and engineered wood products, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent with Selkirk Truss (2010) Limited ("Selkirk") whereby the Company has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Selkirk (the "Transaction").

Guy Champagne, President of Atlas, commented, "We are very proud to announce the acquisition of Selkirk as the first step of our acquisition program to broaden our geographic reach. Not only will this transaction result in a 20% growth in annual revenues for the Company, it provides us with access to the Kootenay region."

Terms of Transaction with Selkirk

Under the binding letter of intent, the Company and Selkirk have agreed to negotiate a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") whereby the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Selkirk for $150,000 in common shares of the Company (the "Consideration Shares"). The Consideration Shares will be issued at the Market Price (as defined by the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange) on the date of this news release.

In addition, the shareholder of Selkirk will be entitled to receive up to an additional $600,000 in common shares of the Company (the "Performance Shares") upon Selkirk achieving the following milestones: (1) $200,000 in common shares of the Company if Selkirk's net income exceeds $150,000 in its 2018 fiscal year end; (2) a further $200,000 in common shares of the Company if Selkirk's cumulative net income exceeds $400,000 for fiscal 2018 and 2019, and (3) a further $200,000 in common shares of the Company if Selkirk's cumulative net income exceeds $1,100,000 for fiscal 2018, 2019 and 2020. The pricing of the Performance Shares will be based on the date the shares are issued.

The principal of Selkirk will also enter into a three-year management contract, which will include non-solicitation and non-competition clauses.

The Company will be entitled to carry out due diligence until December 15, 2017. Upon completion of due diligence, the parties will enter into the Definitive Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the Transaction by December 31, 2017. Completion of any transaction with Selkirk is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive agreements in respect of such a transaction and receipt of any required regulatory approvals. A transaction cannot be completed until these conditions are satisfied, and there can be no assurance that a transaction will be completed at all.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has appointed Contact Financial ("Contact") as its investor relations firm. Contact will assist the Company with the development and execution of a comprehensive strategic communications program.

Contact Financial is a Vancouver-based firm specializing in assisting emerging growth companies with media relations, capital markets experience, brand building/awareness and developing strategies to strengthen relations and communications between companies or individuals associated with the firm. Contact Financial will assist Atlas in gaining increased exposure to investors through the dissemination of corporate information to a network of online venues, brokerage firms, financial institutions and private investors.

"Atlas is one of the best performing truss and engineered wood products companies in Western Canada and we are thrilled to present this exciting growth opportunity to our investor ecosystem," stated Kirk Gamley, President and CEO of Contact Financial. "Atlas already has the leadership and technical teams in-place to successfully execute its acquisition strategy and consolidate this highly fragmented, unique industry."

Contact Financial has been appointed for an initial term of six (6) months, which can be extended on a monthly basis at the option of the Company. Contact Financial will be paid for provision of its services a monthly fee of CAD $4,000.00 (plus GST), subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Other than 350,000 common shares held directly and indirectly by Kirk Gamley and Contact Financial, none of the Contact Financial group has any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities, although it may choose to acquire shares in the Company in the future. Contact Financial does not intend to undertake any market making activities.

About Atlas Engineered Products Ltd.

Atlas Engineered Products is one of British Columbia's leading suppliers of trusses and engineered wood products. The company was formed over 18 years ago and operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in Nanaimo to meet the needs of residential and commercial builders. Atlas has expert design and engineering teams, a multiple-shift state-of-the-art truss manufacturing operation, and large inventories of engineered beam and flooring components. Atlas aims to grow its base of business across Canada by pursuing an aggressive acquisition and consolidation strategy, and will continue to bring its construction industry partners unparalleled excellence in service, product, and support.

Forward Looking Information

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company 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 the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company including those to be described in the Filing Statement filed by the Company on www.sedar.com. 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, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

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.

Contacts:

For further information please contact:

Atlas Engineered Products Ltd.

1-250-754-1400

www.atlasengineeredproducts.com



For investor relations please contact:

Contact Financial Corp.

Rob Gamley

1-604-689-7422

rob@contactfinancial.com




Enhancements to Iris AI-Powered Integration Assistant Shorten the Citizen Integrator Learning Curve SAN MATEO, Calif., 2017-11-16 15:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SnapLogic, the leader in self-service application and data integration, today announced its Fall 2017 product release. Enhancements to the SnapLogic Enterprise Integration Cloud include new and updated pre-built intelligent connectors, called Snaps, that allow customers to more quickly and easily integrate a wider range of big data sources and analytics tools, including Amazon DynamoDB, Google BigQuery, and PySpark. The company also added a new Microsoft Dynamics AX Snap Pack to make it easier to integrate Microsoft products across the enterprise. New innovations added to the SnapLogic Integration Assistant will further accelerate user productivity and time-to-integration. As customers increasingly adopt big data platforms and technologies, SnapLogic has added new or enhanced connectors in the Fall 2017 release to advance their success. A new Amazon DynamoDB Query Snap makes it easier for users to retrieve data from the popular NoSQL database. Two new Snaps for Google BigQuery Bulk Load simplify cloud storage and data streaming. A new PySpark Snap supports big data and analytics capabilities. The Fall 2017 release also includes additional connectivity support for Microsoft environments, driven by increased customer demand. A new Microsoft Dynamics AX Snap Pack enables users to easily move data to and from Microsoft's integrated suite of ERP solutions to ensure full visibility and optimization of business operations. This latest addition builds on SnapLogic's previous support for Microsoft Azure Data Lake Store, Microsoft Azure SQL Database, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM. New enhancements to the SnapLogic Integration Assistant, a key innovation in the company's Iris AI initiative, will further help citizen integrators get started with the SnapLogic platform, become productive quickly without IT assistance, and complete integration projects in record time. In the previous version, the AI-powered assistant provided users with Snap recommendations after they identified and selected the first step in an integration project. Now, users faced with uncertainty over where to begin building integration pipelines can use the assistant to suggest the first Snap before continuing through every additional step needed to complete pipelines. The Integration Assistant uses machine learning to make this first-Snap recommendation based on the platform's knowledge of a customer's application landscape and successful pipelines executed by other integrators within the company. With this additional assistance, users will shorten their integration pipeline learning curve, gain greater confidence in their pipeline building skills, and drive more self-service integration projects. To further improve the user experience, SnapLogic has added updates that simplify the user interface. For example, a new Error Pipeline Feature ensures all errors are captured and consolidated off the design canvas and in the platform's monitoring dashboard, simplifying the user interface and making it easier for integrators to visualize their pipelines. A new Dynamic Validation Feature allows users to build expressions and view transformations of pipelines in real-time, improving productivity for users working on complex expressions. "Application and data integration has long been a complex, time-consuming practice. Evolving cloud platforms, increasing data sources, and talent shortages are just a few factors exacerbating this challenge," said Matt Aslett, Research Director, Data Platforms and Analytics, 451 Research. "We increasingly see enterprises turning to self-service technologies to empower both technical and non-technical users as a means of overcoming these obstacles and improving time to insight." "IT professionals and line of business experts alike are demanding self-service technologies that will allow any user to bypass the roadblocks that often stand in the way of successful integrations," said Vaikom Krishnan, Senior Vice President of Engineering at SnapLogic. "By focusing on enhancements that improve our platform's ease of use and continuing to expand our Snap support, we are providing our customers with the most efficient way to connect a wide array of enterprise applications, APIs, databases, data warehouses, analytics tools, IoT devices, and more." Availability All customers have been updated to the Fall 2017 release of the SnapLogic Enterprise Integration Cloud. Visit the SnapLogic blog to learn more about the Fall 2017 release. About SnapLogic SnapLogic is the global leader in self-service integration. The company's Enterprise Integration Cloud makes it fast and easy to connect applications, data, APIs, and things. Hundreds of Global 2000 customers - including Adobe, AstraZeneca, Box, GameStop, Verizon, and Wendy's - rely on SnapLogic to automate business processes, accelerate analytics, and drive digital transformation. SnapLogic was founded by data industry veteran Gaurav Dhillon and is backed by blue-chip investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Capital One, Ignition Partners, Microsoft, Triangle Peak Partners, and Vitruvian Partners. Learn more at www.snaplogic.com. -- Follow SnapLogic on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SnapLogic -- Like SnapLogic on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SnapLogic -- Connect with SnapLogic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/snaplogic/ Press Contacts: Scott Behles SnapLogic scott.behles@snaplogic.com +1 415-571-4462 Leigh Ann Benicewicz Bateman for SnapLogic snaplogic@bateman-group.com +1 415-315-9301
News / National

by Staff reporter

The generals refused to meet him at his home since its not official residence hence the move to meet at the state house. @ZimMediaReview @martingeissler pic.twitter.com/CGa0uFyf7y  Hopewell Chin'ono (@daddyhope) November 16, 2017

The military are reported to have today refused to meet President Robert Mugabe at his Blue Roof house in Borrowdale Harare saying it is not his official residence hence his (Mugabe) motorcade was seen driving towards the state house.Sources from the capital said Mugabe and the Sadc delegation had intended to have the meeting with the generals at his house but the military refused prompting his motorcade to be seen driving towards State house today."Military choppers just landed at the state house, The Generals refused to meet Robert Mugabe at his blue roof residence as it is not the official residence. This is why the motorcade is being seen.We expect developments in the next hours," said the source.
NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Estee Lauder, a global leader in prestige beauty, announces today its collaboration with Google to offer consumers unique, in-home beauty experiences for the Google Assistant on Google Home. This is the first collaboration of its kind for the Estee Lauder brand, offering personalized skincare solutions and beauty techniques through voice-activation across Google. The first initiative is the "Estee Lauder Nighttime Expert" app. Future experiences will be available through the Google Assistant on mobile, in ad units on the Google Display Network and on esteelauder.com. Supporting Media will include YouTube, Programmatic and Search.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Google to be at the forefront of creating personalized consumer beauty experiences via the emerging world of voice activation," said Stephane de La Faverie, Global Brand President, Estee Lauder. "Combining our beauty expertise with Google's technology allows us to build on our digital evolution and offer the latest innovation to further enhance our consumer experience."

Launching first this December, the brand will roll out the "Estee Lauder Nighttime Expert" app, accessible via the Google Assistant on Google Home. To try it out, users can say "Ok Google, can I talk to the Estee Lauder Nighttime Expert" to their Assistant on Google Home. The chat experience will offer consumers personalized nighttime skincare routines through a series of questions and answers. The personalized recommendation will be enhanced by asking users if they would like to learn skincare application techniques. Once complete, the "Estee Lauder Nighttime Expert" will refer users to a free service featuring the brand's hero serum, Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, at an Estee Lauder counter.

"Adding voice experiences will unlock the next level of personalization and help us reach a new generation of consumers," said Tricia Nichols, Vice President, Global Consumer Engagement, Estee Lauder. "Through our collaboration with Google, we are expanding our Omnichannel efforts to go beyond stores and online to in-home, at the moment."

The "Estee Lauder Nighttime Expert" will be available for the Google Assistant on Google Home this December, just in time for new device purchases this season. Estee Lauder plans to launch new activations beyond the Estee Lauder Nighttime Expert globally in early 2018.

To learn more about Estee Lauder's brand and products, visit Esteelauder.com

About Estee Lauder:

Estee Lauder is the flagship brand of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Founded by Estee Lauder, one of the world's first female entrepreneurs, the brand today continues her legacy of creating the most innovative, sophisticated, high-performance skincare and makeup products and iconic fragrances -- all infused with a deep understanding of women's needs and desires. Today, Estee Lauder engages with women in over 150 countries around the world and at dozens of touch points -- from in-store to digital. And each of these relationships consistently reflects Estee's powerful and authentic woman-to-woman point of view.

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Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3181322



CONTACT



Regan Austin

Email Contact




PharmaCyte Issues Corporate Overview and History

PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: PMCB), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes using its signature live-cell encapsulation technology, Cell-in-a-Box, today announced that it is providing a summary overview, corporate history and status report to address a regulatory compliance request from the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) which, as of November 10, 2017, revoked the cease trade order involving PharmaCyte's securities.

In 2011, the BCSC ordered that all trading in the securities of Nuvilex, Inc. (now PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.) cease in British Columbia until PharmaCyte filed the required records that would allow the BCSC to revoke the cease trade order. PharmaCyte recently applied to the BCSC to revoke the cease trade order. That order has now been revoked, allowing securities of PharmaCyte to once again be traded in British Columbia.

As required by the BCSC, PharmaCyte provides a corporate overview and a summary of its corporate history below.

Corporate Overview

PharmaCyte is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology known as "Cell-in-a-Box." The Cell-in-a-Box technology is intended to be used as a platform upon which therapies for several types of cancer, including advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, and diabetes will be developed.

PharmaCyte is developing therapies for pancreas and other solid cancerous tumors involving the encapsulation of live cells placed in the body to enable the delivery of cancer-killing drugs at the source of the cancer. PharmaCyte is also developing a therapy for Type 1 diabetes and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes based upon the encapsulation of a human cell line genetically engineered to produce, store and secrete insulin at levels in proportion to the levels of blood sugar in the human body using the Company's Cell-in-a-Box technology. In addition, the Company is examining ways to exploit the benefits of the Cell-in-a-Box technology to develop therapies for cancer based upon the constituents of the Cannabis plant, known as "cannabinoids."

Corporate History

PharmaCyte is a Nevada corporation incorporated in 1996. In 2013, PharmaCyte restructured its operations in an effort to focus on biotechnology, having been a nutraceutical products company before then. The restructuring resulted in PharmaCyte focusing all of its efforts upon the development of a unique, effective and safe way to treat cancer and diabetes. On January 6, 2015, the company changed its name from Nuvilex, Inc. to PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. to better reflect the nature of its business.

As discussed above, presently, the company is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize therapies for cancer and diabetes using its proprietary cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology known as Cell-in-a-Box. This resulted from entering into several important agreements.

On May 26, 2011, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement ("SG Austria APA") with SG Austria to purchase 100% of the assets and liabilities of SG Austria. As a result, Austrianova and Bio Blue Bird AG ("Bio Blue Bird"), then wholly owned subsidiaries of SG Austria, were to become wholly owned subsidiaries of PharmaCyte on the condition that PharmaCyte pay SG Austria US$2.5 million and 100,000,000 shares of PharmaCyte's common stock. PharmaCyte was to receive 100,000 shares of common stock of Austrianova and nine bearer shares of Bio Blue Bird representing 100% of the ownership of Bio Blue Bird.

Through two addenda to the SG Austria APA, the closing date of the SG Austria APA was extended twice by agreement between the parties.

In June 2013, PharmaCyte and SG Austria entered into a Third Addendum to the SG Austria APA ("Third Addendum"). The Third Addendum materially changed the transaction contemplated by the SG Austria APA. Under the Third Addendum, PharmaCyte acquired 100% of the equity interests in Bio Blue Bird and received a 14.5% equity interest in SG Austria. In addition, PharmaCyte received nine bearer shares of Bio Blue Bird to reflect its 100% ownership of Bio Blue Bird. PharmaCyte paid: (i) US$500,000 to retire all outstanding debt of Bio Blue Bird; and (ii) US$1.0 million to SG Austria. PharmaCyte also paid SG Austria US$1,572,193 in exchange for the 14.5% equity interest of SG Austria. The transaction required SG Austria to return to PharmaCyte the 100,000,000 shares of common stock held by SG Austria and for PharmaCyte to return to SG Austria the 100,000 shares of common stock of Austrianova then-held by PharmaCyte.

Effective as of the same date PharmaCyte entered into the Third Addendum, PharmaCyte and SG Austria entered into a Clarification Agreement to the Third Addendum ("Clarification Agreement") to clarify and include certain language that was inadvertently left out of the Third Addendum. Among other things, the Clarification Agreement confirmed that the Third Addendum granted PharmaCyte an exclusive, worldwide license to use, with a right to sublicense, the Cell-in-a-Box technology for the development of treatments for cancer and use of Austrianova's Cell-in-a-Box trademark and its associated technology.

Bio Blue Bird licensed certain types of genetically modified human cells ("Cells") from Bavarian Nordic A/S ("Bavarian Nordic") and GSF-Forschungszentrum fur Umwelt u. Gesundheit GmbH (collectively, "Bavarian Nordic/GSF") pursuant to a License Agreement ("Bavarian Nordic/GSF License Agreement") to develop a therapy for cancer using encapsulated Cells. The licensed rights to the Cells pertain to the countries in which Bavarian Nordic/GSF obtained patent protection. Hence, facilitated by the acquisition of Bio Blue Bird, the Third Addendum provides PharmaCyte with an exclusive, worldwide license to use the Cell-in-a-Box technology and trademark for the development of a therapy for cancer using the Cells.

In June 2013, PharmaCyte entered into the Diabetes License Agreement. PharmaCyte paid Austrianova US$2.0 million to secure this license.

In October 2014, PharmaCyte entered into the Melligen Cell License Agreement. PharmaCyte is in the process of developing a therapy for diabetes by encapsulating the Melligen cells using the Cell-in-a-Box technology.

In December 2014, PharmaCyte entered into the Cannabis Licensing Agreement. PharmaCyte paid Austrianova US$2.0 million to secure this license. PharmaCyte is in the process of developing therapies for cancer and its symptoms through genetically engineered cells designed to activate cannabinoid molecules that have been encapsulated using the Cell-in-a-Box technology.

In July 2016, PharmaCyte entered into a Binding Memorandum of Understanding with Austrianova ("Austrianova MOU"). Pursuant to the Austrianova MOU, Austrianova will actively work to seek an investment partner or partners who will finance clinical trials and further develop products for the therapies for cancer, in exchange for which PharmaCyte, Austrianova and any future investment partner or partners will each receive a share of the net revenue of applicable products.

In October 2016, the parties amended the Bavarian Nordic/GSF License Agreement to include the right to import, reflect ownership and notification of improvements, clarify which provisions survive expiration or termination of the Bavarian Nordic/GSF License Agreement, to provide rights to Bio Blue Bird to the clinical data after expiration of the licensed patent rights and to change the notice address and recipients of Bio Blue Bird.

In August 2017, PharmaCyte entered into a Binding Term Sheet with SG Austria and Austrianova pursuant to which the parties reached an agreement to amend certain provisions in the APA, the Diabetes Licensing Agreement and the Cannabis Licensing Agreement.

For more detailed information regarding PharmaCyte, readers are encouraged to read its disclosure filings made with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission available online at: (https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html), including its most recent Form 10-K annual report filed on July 27, 2017, and Form 10-Q quarterly report filed on September 13, 2017.

About PharmaCyte Biotech

PharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology known as "Cell-in-a-Box." This technology will be used as a platform upon which therapies for several types of cancer and diabetes are being developed.

PharmaCyte's therapy for cancer involves encapsulating genetically engineered human cells that convert an inactive chemotherapy drug into its active or "cancer-killing" form. For pancreatic cancer, these encapsulated cells are implanted in the blood supply to the patient's tumor as close as possible to the site of the tumor. Once implanted, a chemotherapy drug that is normally activated in the liver (ifosfamide) is given intravenously at one-third the normal dose. The ifosfamide is carried by the circulatory system to where the encapsulated cells have been implanted. When the ifosfamide flows through pores in the capsules, the live cells inside act as a "bio-artificial liver" and activate the chemotherapy drug at the site of the cancer. This "targeted chemotherapy" has proven effective and safe to use in past clinical trials and results in no treatment related side effects.

PharmaCyte's therapy for Type 1 diabetes and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes involves encapsulating a human cell line that has been genetically engineered to produce, store and release insulin in response to the levels of blood sugar in the human body. The encapsulation will be done using the Cell-in-a-Box technology. Once the encapsulated cells are implanted in a diabetic patient, they will function as a "bio-artificial pancreas" for purposes of insulin production.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are generally statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "will," "outlook" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement because of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements due to the impact of numerous risk factors, many of which are discussed in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be found at www.PharmaCyte.com. Information may also be obtained by contacting PharmaCyte's Investor Relations Department.

On behalf of

PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.

/s/ Dr. Gerald W. Crabtree

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116005374/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.

Dr. Gerald W. Crabtree

Investor Relations Department

917.595.2856

Info@PharmaCyte.com
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - November 16, 2017) - Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: SKVI) ("Skinvisible"), a research and development company with a patented drug delivery system called Invisicare, today announces the formation of its Ovation Science, Inc. subsidiary, and the company's definitive license agreement with Lighthouse Strategies, LLC ("Lighthouse"). Per the agreement via Ovation, Lighthouse has exclusive use of Ovation's patented topical and transdermal formulations for select USA markets.

Through the technology division of Lighthouse, and in participation with the Advocacy Research Center "ARC", a San Diego based research center, founded to further the research and development of treatments in the areas of; Parkinson's, Oncology, Pain Management, PTSD, Sleep Disorders and Seizure Management; Lighthouse will introduce Ovation's topical and transdermal products formulated with its patented drug delivery system and in doing so drive the development of safe, healthy, lifestyle-integrated treatments with the added benefit of accurate time released dosing.

National distribution of products and brands will be conducted through Cannabiniers, an established technology and brand management company and subsidiary of Lighthouse. Cannabiniers is revolutionizing the cannabis industry with its patented technologies and will leverage its expertise in the local, regional and national cannabis markets to distribute treatments that incorporate Ovation's topical products in the United States. Their flagship product Brewbudz is already launched in Nevada with aggressive expansion plans slated for California, Colorado, Washington State, Oregon, and Arizona.

"We are excited to have Cannabiniers as a partner in the U.S. cannabis market. They are branding experts and have the vision and infrastructure to take Ovation's cannabis products across the United States," says Skinvisible President Terry Howlett. "Leveraging Cannabiniers branding strategies, we have the ability to enter these markets and provide consumers with an exceptional variety of topical and transdermal products backed by science and formulated with patented technology."

"Our goal is to normalize consumption and use cannabis so that it integrates within the daily lives of patients and consumers. We have achieved that with our current brands and our goal is to do the same with the topical products from Ovation," said Timothy Walters, President of Cannabiniers. "We are excited to be working with Ovation as we seek to provide patients and consumers with the best products made with patented technology, essentially game changers within the cannabis market."

Skinvisible also announces the formation of its Canadian subsidiary Ovation Science Inc. Ovation Science was created to better serve the needs of its licensees and to focus on specific product development for the cannabis market. The subsidiary has been granted exclusive worldwide rights to all products formulated using Skinvisible's patented Invisicare technology with cannabis and hemp seed oil.

In September, Skinvisible signed a licensing agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation, the world's largest cannabis company, for the exclusive rights for Canada and right of first refusal on other countries outside of Canada and the U.S. where cannabis is government approved. The Canopy license agreement has been assigned to Ovation.

About Cannabiniers

Cannabiniers, located in San Diego, California, is a foodservice, technology and brand management company focusing on products that are healthy for the consumer and that positively impact the environment. Cannabiniers is revolutionizing the cannabis industry with patented, safe and natural flower-based extraction technology and products that will continue to the mission of normalizing cannabis use.

About Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc. & Ovation Science Inc.

Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals is a research and development company that licenses its proprietary formulations made with Invisicare, its patented polymer delivery system that offers life-cycle management and unique enhancements for topically delivered products. Invisicare holds active ingredients on the skin for extended periods of time, allowing for the controlled release of actives. Ovation Science Inc. is a Canadian subsidiary of Skinvisible and holds all rights to Skinvisible's cannabis products. For more information, visit www.Skinvisible.com or www.Invisicare.com

About Lighthouse Strategies, LLC.

Lighthouse Strategies, located in San Diego, California, is a finance, research & technology, real estate, & portfolio management company, with in excess of 100,000 square feet of real estate under management, supporting national & international intellectual property management, and maintaining ten (10) subsidiaries, ranging from foodservices, beverage services, breweries and distilleries (future). For more information, visit www.lighthousestrategies.co

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains 'forward looking' statements within the meaning of Section 21A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties associated with an emerging company. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors discussed in Skinvisible, Inc. reports on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including, but not limited to, a report on Form 10Q for the period ending September 30, 2017).

###

Contact:

Skinvisible, Inc.

Doreen McMorran

www.Skinvisible.com

702.433.7154 Office

Info@Skinvisible.com

Communications Contact:

NetworkNewsWire (NNW)

New York, New York

www.NetworkNewsWire.com

212.418.1217 Office

Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 16, 2017) - Gunpowder Capital Corp. (CSE: GPC) (CSE: GPC.PR.A) (OTCQB: GNPWF) (FSE: YS6N) ("Gunpowder" or the "Corporation") announced today that its fully owned subsidiary GP Realty Inc., has finalized and has entered into a mortgage for its fully tenanted residential rental property located at 935 Albert Street in Windsor, Ontario. The property is now financed via a $105,000 first mortgage with a credit union. The mortgage has a term of 5 years and bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.55%.

As previously stated in the Corporation's press release dated September 5th, 2017, the Corporation originally purchased the property in full for the amount of One Hundred & Fifty Thousand Dollars ("$150,000.00") CDN. At the time of the September 5th press release, Gunpowder was in the process of arranging a first mortgage financing on the property which it has now obtained. Estimated cash on cash return generated by this property upon completion of this financing is estimated at 25% per annum.

The Corporation continues to source additional strong revenue generating real estate assets.

About Gunpowder Capital Corp.

Gunpowder Capital Corp., is a merchant bank and advisory services firm based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Gunpowder invests in both publicly traded and private businesses that have successful management teams and attractive economic models. Gunpowder partners with these businesses to support their growth initiatives with its proven methodology of appropriate financing and structured exits. Gunpowder offers debt financing, including mezzanine and bridge loans, equity financing and advisory services. Gunpowder is also building a portfolio of companies in which it takes a long term position and view. For more information please visit www.gunpowdercapitalcorp.com.

For further information please contact:

Mr. Frank Kordy

CEO & Director

Gunpowder Capital Corp.

T: (647) 466-4037

E: frank.kordy@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com

Mr. Paul Haber

CFO

Gunpowder Capital Corp.

T: (416) 363-3833

E: paul.haber@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

- 30 -
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - November 16, 2017) - Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: AQS) (OTCQB: AQSZF) ("Aequus" or the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, advancing and promoting differentiated products, announced today that the European Patent Office has issued an intention to grant a European patent for AQS1301, Aequus' once-weekly transdermal patch containing aripiprazole. AQS1301 is in development for the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders and is intended to provide patients with a long-acting dosing alternative that is a comfortable, convenient and easy-to-use in an effort to promote medication adherence.

This is the eighth regional patent issued or granted for AQS1301, following US, Russia, Mexico, Japan, China, Canada and Australia.

"With this patent, Aequus has now achieved intellectual property that spans across all major pharmaceutical markets for its once-weekly transdermal aripiprazole program," said Anne Stevens, COO and Director of Aequus Pharmaceuticals. "This patent grant coincides nicely with our accelerated business development efforts, as we look to further develop this program in collaboration with regional partners."

This patent covers 37 nations across Europe and provides intellectual property protection in the second largest antipsychotic market globally, a market where peak sales of Abilify (branded oral aripiprazole) reached approximately $750 million USD in 2013 before patent expiry, according to IMS data. Although Abilify is a market leader, Aequus believes it has limitations due to its daily dosing regimen which is associated with a high rate of non-adherence and associated likelihood of relapse due to non-adherence. Aequus' proposed transdermal, once-weekly aripiprazole patch is designed to consistently deliver aripiprazole over a seven-day period at levels comparable to currently marketed once-daily formulations.

Aequus owns worldwide rights to the formulation described in the patent.

About AQS1301

Aripiprazole is an atypical anti-psychotic sold as a once daily, oral tablet under the brand name Abilify . Originally approved and marketed in 2002 for schizophrenia, Abilify is currently sold in over 65 countries and regions. Since its initial approval, aripiprazole has seen a label expansion in the United States to include acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I, adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder, irritability associated with autistic disorder, and treatment of Tourette's disorder.

Aequus successfully completed an initial Proof of Concept clinical study for AQS1301 in December 2015, demonstrating that sustained, seven-day delivery of therapeutic doses may be possible with the current formulation. A follow-on Proof of Concept clinical study in healthy volunteers was completed in February 2017, demonstrating that steady state plasma concentrations were achieved by week three with relative concentrations of aripiprazole and its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, comparable to oral dosing of Abilify .

About Aequus Pharmaceuticals

Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: AQS) (OTCQB: AQSZF) is a growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing high quality, differentiated products. Aequus' development stage pipeline includes several products in neurology and psychiatry with a goal of addressing the need for improved medication adherence through enhanced delivery systems. With a focus in neurology and other specialty areas, our most recent addition to the development pipeline was a long-acting form of medical cannabis, where there is a high need for a consistent, predictable and pharmaceutical-grade delivery of products for patients. Aequus intends to commercialize its internal programs in Canada alongside its current portfolio of marketed established medicines and will look to form strategic partnerships that would maximize the reach of its product candidates worldwide. Aequus plans to build on its Canadian commercial platform through the launch of additional products that are either created internally or brought in through an acquisition or license; remaining focused on highly specialized therapeutic areas. For further information, please visit www.aequuspharma.ca

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as the factors we believe are appropriate. Forward-looking statements in this release include but are not limited to statements relating to the expected benefits of AQS1301 and transdermal delivery, the ability of the Company to add significant shareholder value in the near term, the Company's intention to commercialize its internal programs in Canada, ability to form strategic partnerships in other markets, and the advancement of its technologies, products and product candidates. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Aequus, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making the forward-looking statements included in this release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including, but not limited to the market for Aequus' common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, subscription receipts, units and warrants; obtaining positive results of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully out-license or sell its current products and in-license and develop new products; the assumption that the Company's current good relationships with its manufacturer and other third parties will be maintained; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company's competitors; and the Company's ability to protect patents and proprietary rights. In evaluating forward-looking statements, current and prospective shareholders should specifically consider various factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated May 3, 2017, a copy of which is available on Aequus' profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, and as otherwise disclosed from time to time on Aequus' SEDAR profile. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties, or a risk that is not currently known to us materialize, or should assumptions underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Abilify is a registered trademark of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Contact Information:



Aequus Investor Relations

Email: investors@aequuspharma.ca

Phone: 604-336-7906
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE: MVT) (FRA: M1N) (OTC PINK: MTEHF) ("Maxtech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has begun extensive due diligence on Mn exploration permits in Morocco.

Morocco is the third largest producer of phosphate containing about 75% of the world's combined estimated reserves. Foreign investors have found the investment climate, infrastructure, fiscal situation, and political stability very favourable to the mining business.

In conjunction with Maxtech's strategic development partners, the Company is currently preparing applications for permits to explore potential high grade manganese deposits in Morocco. The Company is actively evaluating several advanced stage manganese assets in Morocco with an emphasis on fully permitted mining concessions with established histories of manganese production. In addition, Maxtech is seeking further global off-take partners to complete a vertical manganese operation platform in the region.

Peter Wilson, CEO of Maxtech, states, "These permit applications are the next step in accelerating both our short and long term goals to expand our search for worldwide Manganese assets. Morocco is again a safe and emerging mining jurisdiction where we are able to acquire potential manganese deposits on a district scale level, just across the sea from massive European demand which will be an excellent near term benefit for all shareholders and stakeholders."

In support of this new venture, Maxtech has engaged Westmount Capital based in Geneva, Switzerland, to assist the group in developing a European capital markets strategy, www.westmountcapital.com. The purpose of their mandate is to provide access to European strategic partners and generate interest for the proposed development of the Moroccan manganese operations. Maxtech appoints Westmount as a non-exclusive agent for its placement, and the success fees will be equivalent to 8%, 4% in cash and 4% in shares of the investments gross amounts received by Maxtech. Under the terms of theagreement Maxtech will compensate Westmount approximately $30,000 Canadian dollars total remuneration for an initial term of 6 months by issuing to Westmount common shares upon consideration being received by Maxtech from Westmount. The shares will be payable in two tranches in arrears in common shares at an issue price to be based on the closing price of the shares on the day the agreement was signed.

About Maxtech Ventures Inc.

Maxtech Ventures Inc. is a Canadian based diversified industries corporation with gold and manganese mineral properties. Its focus is on mining and the products that are derived therefrom.

For additional information, see the Company's website at http://www.maxtech-ventures.com.

Email to info@maxtech-ventures.com.

Phone: 604-484-8989

Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," "anticipates," and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. This release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

SOURCE: Maxtech Ventures Inc.
Espoo, Finland, 2017-11-16 16:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SRV GROUP PLC PRESS RELEASE 16 NOVEMBER 2017, AT 17.00 REDI is Construction Site of the Year 2017 The REDI construction site, implemented by SRV at Kalasatama, Helsinki, has been awarded first prize in Rakennuslehti magazine's Construction Site of the Year 2017 competition. In assessing the site, attention was given to, for example, the scope of the project, site management and thereby ensuring good cooperation, information management, occupational health and safety, quality assurance, risk management and utilisation of data modelling. It is the fourth time that the prize has been won by the duo leading the construction site, namely Site Manager Jukka Nikkola and Project Director Markku Muhonen, who retired from his position in October. "REDI is an exceptionally large urban site, but in construction the basic issues are always the same. In addition to professional skills, strong willpower and belief in what you are doing are required," says Nikkola, SRV's Site Manager on the REDI project. The Construction Site of the Year award principally commends the shopping centre site, but in addition to the shopping and experience centre comprising 64,000 square metres of commercial premises, Finland's tallest residential buildings will also be built at the REDI complex. The elevator shafts and stairwells of the residential towers have been built to the roof level of the shopping centre simultaneously with the shopping centre's framework. Construction began in August 2011 with preparatory earth construction and excavation work. In August 2013, two major contracts were completed at the site: a waste station and the relocation of a metro bridge. Other construction work was halted in summer 2012 due to a city planning appeal. Construction work resumed in April 2015 with a significant earth construction phase, the excavation of a three-hectare pit, which lasted just over a year. During that time, a total of 900,000 cubic metres of material was removed from the site. During the entire excavation period, the metro operated normally, and blasting work was timed taking the busy metro timetable into account. Before excavation began in the area, a significant bridge relocation task was completed, when a new section of bridge was built for the metro to replace track previously supported by bedrock. A new bridge deck was constructed so that bedrock could be excavated from underneath it. The general public became aware of the REDI site in a concrete way when traffic on the Itavayla highway was shifted at REDI onto a detour built to the south side of the route. This was done to enable bedrock beneath the Itavayla highway to be excavated and removed. The Itavayla highway was restored to its former location in September 2017, when the new roadway and bridge built to replace the excavated material were completed. The first concreting works, namely the casting of foundations, elevator shaft bases, electrical substations and driveways, began at the REDI site in autumn 2015. REDI is Finland's largest urban construction project and is also Finland's largest 3D data modelling project. In a project of REDI's size, the amount of planning and design material is huge. The data model includes plans for the shopping centre, eight residential towers and a parking facility as well as for the streets of area, public utility services, the metro station, underground support structures and bridges. The 3D model facilitates, for example, more detailed lists of materials and quantities, schedule preparation and higher quality construction site plans. "Quality is the number one issue nowadays. The production of good quality is based on planning and on ensuring that everything on the site is done according to plan," explains Nikkola. Creating a good atmosphere is an important part of site management. On the REDI site are working long-standing SRV professionals who have been involved in major construction projects before. One of them is Purchasing Manager Kirsi Weinreich, a member of the team that has won the Construction Site of the Year award for the fourth time. "A good atmosphere is very important. The good atmosphere and team spirit on the REDI site encourages very one of us to give 100% in our work and to believe in our common goal," says Weinreich. Building at a major transport intersection has presented particular challenges for site logistics. Everything has to take place precisely on schedule to ensure that loads are received in the correct order without disrupting the traffic passing around the site. There are also no storage areas on the site, so materials must be installed quickly. The REDI construction site spreads out on both sides of the metro track. The passing of the metro across the site has also posed its own challenges for construction. No lifting could be done over the metro track, and some of the work stages, such as building a roof over the metro track, had to be scheduled for night time, when the metro does not operate. The interior completion phase is now under way at the site. The REDI shopping centre will open its doors in autumn 2018. https://www.srv.fi/en/site/redi REDI, implemented by SRV at Kalasatama, Helsinki, will comprise the inner city's largest shopping and experience centre as well as eight tower buildings. Below the centre will be a 2,000-space parking facility, usable by both the towers' residents and the shopping centre's customers. Construction work at REDI, Finland's largest urban construction project, was launched in spring 2015 and is expected to continue until 2023. The REDI shopping centre as a whole will open in autumn 2018 and Majakka, the first of the tower buildings to be completed, will receive its first residents in spring 2019. The remaining tower buildings will be completed in stages by 2023. www.redi.fi/en/ For further information, please contact: Heli Pulkkinen, Communications Specialist, REDI by SRV, tel. +358 50 411 0787, heli.pulkkinen@srv.fi www.srv.fi/en www.redi.fi/en/ You can also find us on the social media: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram SRV - Building for life
THE WOODLANDS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. (OTC PINK: OCSY) announces today that it has completed its initial engagement to perform a Cyber Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) on a hospital facility in Texas.

The CVA identified over 9,000 vulnerabilities and 225 cyber breaches per bed within the 40-bed facility.

"We are very excited to see just how well our proprietary methodology worked in a complex environment," commented Doug Binenti, CTO of Optimum Cyber Systems. "The results of our first client CVA exceeded even our expectations and we are now setting new industry standards for critical cyber analysis."

It was discovered during the CVA that a patient's clinical information was deleted from the hospital's Electron Health Record systems and replaced with incorrect information by an outside source. The overseeng physicians were not aware that a breach had occurred and that the patient's records had been changed, resulting in a misdiagnosis with the patient being sent home. The patient was soon readmitted with Sepsis shock requiring surgery costing in excess of $50,000.

"Conducting a CVA is critical for every medical institution," stated Mark R. Anderson, a member of the Optium Cyber System's Advisory Board. "Cyber-criminals are looking for any means to gain access to patient data. The results from this initial engagement prove that the CVA developed by Optium Cyber Systems has the ability to detect and identify weaknesses in an institutions network environment allowing IT staff to address any vulnerabilities. In just this test alone, OCSI was able to detect over 9,000 vulnerabilities and 225 potential cyber breaches per bed. The risk to patients is tremendous and so is the potential financial damage to the targeted hospital," continued Mr. Anderson.

Not only are hospital and medical facilities facing the potential of financial ruin as a result of a major cyber breach, but executives and board member are now potentially liable. Directors & Officers Liability Insurance traditionally does not cover damages due to a cyber breach without a detailed CVA study.

"Hospital executives and board members cannot bury their heads in the sand," commented Michael Rutherford, CEO, Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. "They must be aware of the potential losses a cyber breach represents and take the necessary steps to protect their institution and their patients. They must be proactive and address the threat of a cyber infiltration. The first step in this process is to identify the vulnerabilities in their IT environment by running a CVA," continued Mr. Rutherford.

"This is an exciting day," exclaimed Mark Anderson. "For years we have had HIPAA studies, but now we have a comprehensive Healthcare Cyber Vulnerability Assessment specifically designed to help protect hospitals from Cyber criminals. Executives and decision makers of these facilities should sit up and take notice," continued Mr. Anderson.

About Mark R. Anderson, CPHIMS, FHIMSS

Mark Anderson is a former Chief Information Officer for 5 Healthcare Integrated Delivery Networks, an interim CFO and CEO of Rural Hospitals, is one of the nation's premier healthcare futurists and is one of the leading national speakers on healthcare who has spoken at over 1,000 conferences and meetings since 2000. Mr. Anderson has spent the last 43+ years focusing on healthcare -- not just technology questions, but strategic, policy, and organizational considerations. Mr. Anderson has extensive experience in health care redesign and organizational restructuring along with a comprehensive background in start-up and replacement of multi-facility health information platforms, including financial, clinical, managed care and decision support systems. He tracks industry trends, conducts member surveys, publishes case studies, assesses best practices, and performs benchmarking studies, and evaluates over 70 product categories within healthcare that are offered by more than 500 software, RCM, and Value Based Reimbursement (VBR) vendors that are in the care Coordination and Population Health Marketplace. Mr. Anderson specializes in the evaluation, selection, and ranking of vendors in the VBR, RCM, HIE, and PMS/EHR hospital and physician healthcare marketplace. Annually he publishes a detailed report on VBR, HIE, and PMS/HER software product functional, usability, and company viability. This evaluation decision tool has been used by more than 25,000 physicians, more than 20 ACOs/IPAs, and over 200 Hospitals since 2002. Additionally, Mr. Anderson has conducted more than 400 PMS/EHR searches, selections, and contract negotiations for small physician offices to large IPA since 2003. More than 500 healthcare organizations worldwide have approached their most critical IT challenges with the help of trusted advisors like Mr. Anderson. For his healthcare physician clients, he provides independent advisory and consultative services designed to assist physicians and hospitals in evaluating and selecting technology to enable the creation of the "The Digital Medical Office of the Future". For his Hospital clients, Mr. Anderson conducts operational reviews, technology selections, and assists in development of long range plans. Mr. Anderson has also been an "Expert Witness" on more than 10 legal cases since 2010. These legal cases involve Hospitals and Physicians suing software vendors for Fraud, Malpractice cases affected by healthcare software, and legal cases between healthcare related vendors. Besides serving at the CEO of AC Group, Mr. Anderson served as the Interim CEO/CFO of Doctors Diagnostic Hospital, interim CIO for the Taconic IPA, VP of healthcare for META Group, Inc., the Chief Information Officer (CIO) with West Tennessee Healthcare, the Corporate CIO for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Health System, the Corporate Internal IT Consultant with the Sisters of Providence (SOP) Hospitals, and the Executive Director for Management Services for Denver Health and Hospitals and Harris County Hospital District. His experience includes 15+ years as a Hospital CIO, 20+ years working with physician offices, 7 years in the development of physician-based MSOs and IPAs, 17 years with multi-facility Health Care organizations, 15 years Administrative Executive Team experience, 6 years as a member of the Corporate Executive Team, and 9 years in healthcare turnaround consulting. Mr. Anderson received his BS in Business, is completing his MBA in Health Care Administration, and is a Fellow with HIMSS.

"The credibility of a hospital system is dependent on how well they protect patients and patient data from cybersecurity intrusions," stated Mark Anderson, member of the newly created Board of Advisory for Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. "It is imperative for a medical facility's executive team to understand what the risks are and how to protect patients and patient data. Based on my evaluation and experience working with over 250 hospitals, Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. is the one program every hospital needs," added Mr. Anderson.

About Optium Cyber Systems, Inc.

Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. (OCSI) has developed a proprietary process to analyze, identify and address cyber security vulnerabilities in an organization's critical IT infrastructure which is scalable to any size organization in any industry. OCSI has recently launched in the health care sector, focusing on protecting health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes and doctor's offices from cyberthreats such as the manipulation of medical devices or theft of patient records. OCSI is a publicly traded company having its common shares quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol "OCSY".

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Optium Cyber Systems, Inc.'s filings with OTC Markets which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Relations

Ten Associates LLC

11529 N. 120th St.

Scottsdale, Arizona

85259 USA

Telephone: 480-326-8577

Contact: Thomas E. Nelson

Email: tenassociates33@gmail.com



Optium Cyber Systems, Inc.

8350 Ashlane Way, Suite 104

The Woodlands, Texas

77382 USA

Telephone: 936-559-7407

Web: www.optiumcyber.com

Email: info@optiumcyber.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OCSI4INVESTOR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCSI4INVESTOR




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.
CINCINNATI, OH / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Callitas Health Inc. (CSE: LILY, OTCQB: MPHMF, FWB: T3F2), (the "Company" or "Callitas") a clinical-stage company developing innovative technologies for weight management and female health and wellness, today announced that it has received confirmation from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) of the pending patenting status for recently submitted technology for the bioavailability of cannabinoids branded as CannaMint Strips by Callitas.

The latest Callitas technology formally titled as "Orally Dissolving Mucoadhesive Films Utilizing Menthol And L-Arginine To Enhance The Bioavailability of Cannabinoids" provides a unique opportunity for cannabis/CBD distributers looking to in-license our technology to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

"Our Callitas patented and patent pending combination of Menthol and L-Arginine has provided a unique foundation to advance the delivery of cannabis technology," said James Thompson, Callitas COO and co-inventor for this patent technology. "The direct distribution of cannabinoids does not fit into our Callitas business model, but licensing this technology to manufacturers and distributors in North America advances our goal of improving health and wellness," added Mr. Thompson.

Callitas Therapeutics Technology

Callitas Therapeutics Inc. is the global owner of patented and patent pending technology related to the use of compositions that include menthol and L-arginine; US Patent Nos. 6,989,163, 6,702,733 and 6,322,493 and corresponding international patents. Recently the Company's work and research has developed an orally dissolving mucoadhesive copolymer matrix of menthol, l-arginine, and one or more cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD, for the enhanced pharmacokinetic bioavailability of the cannabinoids. The orally dissolving menthol and l-arginine functions to provide enhanced cannabinoid bioavailability, while avoiding first pass liver breakdown of inhaled or ingested cannabinoids.

The orally dissolving thin-strips have menthol and l-arginine formulated into their matrix, and will include a microporous, porous, or even honeycomb design to absorb cannabinoids; CBD cannabinoid oil (non-psychoactive) applied for medicinal use, and THC cannabinoid oil (psychoactive) applied for medical or recreational use (where applicable). The legal intrastate recreational use of THC cannabinoid oil with increased bioavailability could compete with illegal oral and injectable opioids without the risk of respiratory depression and drug overdose deaths.

About Callitas Health

Formed in early 2015, Callitas Health Inc. is a clinical-stage company developing innovative technologies for obesity, weight management and female health & wellness. In addition to its recent acquisitions of C-103, a reformulation of Orlistat, Extrinsa and assets from 40J's LLC, the Company successfully launched ToConceive in North America as a clinically proven option for couples struggling with the inability to conceive. www.toconceive.com.

Callitas Health Inc. trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the ticker symbol "LILY" as well as on the OTCQB as "MPHMF" and FWB (Frankfurt Stock Exchange) as "T3F2."

For more information contact:

Gary Thompson, CEO, or

Callitas Investor Relations

Phone: +1 (859) 868-3131

www.callitas.com

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. This news release includes forward-looking statements with respect to the regulatory approval and the commercialization of the rights to the Company's biomedical & drug technologies. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and the Company's filings to the CSE at www.cnsx.ca. Such risk factors may cause the inability of the Company to successfully commercialize any of its biomedical technologies.

Notice regarding investigational devices: CannaMint Strips, C-103 and Extrinsa are investigational drugs or devices and are not currently available outside of approved clinical trials. Claims regarding the safety and efficacy of these devices have not been evaluated by Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or any other international regulatory body.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Callitas Health Inc.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Progressive Democrats Zimbabwe President Barbra Nyagomo has hailed the Sadc intervantion on Zimbabwe political situation as the military seek to force President Robert Mugabe to step down and allow transition to take place in the country."We welcome Sadc ongoing intervention for Zimbabwe current soft Coup d'Etat by the army, but they shouldn't deprive Zimbabwean people their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN charter," said Nyagomo."We are hoping that they will choose the best scenario, which is to leave Zimbabweans to solve their current crisis according to Zimbabwe Constitution. Sadc can discuss more regarding the safety of Zimbabwean migrants in the Sadc region during this tough time of the history of our country and pledge their support in approaching this current crisis from a Human Rights perspective.She said this should not be Sadc business as usual."They should use the approach used by ECOWAS to solve the Gambian crisis earlier this year," she said.
WESTWOOD, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Heritage Financial Services, a personal wealth management firm with 20+ years of experience, announced today that Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. has honored it with the 2017 Best-in-Business IMPACT Award. Schwab bestows the award annually to a single firm that has been in business for at least 10 years, has a track record of growth and excellence, and uses technology solutions to help expand market reach, responsiveness, and operational efficiencies.

Selected from among applicants all across the nation, Heritage was recognized for its:

Remarkable growth: In the past five years, Assets Under Management (AUM) have grown by 80 percent to more than $1.3 billion;

High client retention rate of 99 percent;

Innovative use of technology, including mobile-friendly tools for clients; and

Comprehensive wealth management offerings, spanning investment management, cash flow and financial planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, philanthropy and estate planning.

Heritage CEO and Founder Chuck Bean and his leadership team accepted the award on the main stage at Schwab IMPACT 2017, the nation's largest and longest running annual gathering of independent advisors.

"We are very excited and proud to have been recognized by Schwab for this honor," said Bean. "For more than 20 years, we've worked extremely hard to build a comprehensive wealth management firm that's the best place for clients who are serious about managing their money. We're known for our meticulous planning approach, expert investment management, and our independence. We are not beholden to a bank or other financial services company so we can put our clients' interests first and act as a true fiduciary."

"I'd like to sincerely thank our outstanding staff -- we employ some of the best in the business," Bean continued. "And of course, most importantly, we have our wonderful clients to thank, many of whom have been with Heritage since the firm's founding in 1995."

The Schwab IMPACT Awards are given each year to independent advisor firms that have demonstrated excellence through leadership, innovative business practices, client dedication, and fresh thinking. Schwab works with more than 7,500 Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) in the U.S.

As part of the award, Schwab will make a donation of $15,000 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an organization that Bean holds close to his heart. He is a member of the board of trustees of its New England chapter and co-chairs the Boston Muckfest MS, an annual fund-raising event.

About Heritage Financial Services

Based in the Boston area, Heritage Financial is a personal wealth management firm with 20+ years of experience and $1.3 billion in assets under management. Heritage is the best choice for people who are serious about their finances -- its team provides detailed financial planning and helps clients build smart, cost-effective portfolios. The firm's client retention rate is 99 percent. Services include investment management, cash flow and financial planning, tax planning, retirement planning, philanthropy and estate planning. Visit www.heritagefinancial.net.

About IMPACT Awards

The Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.'s IMPACT Awards program recognizes excellence in the business of independent financial advice. Nominees are evaluated and selected by a panel of prominent leaders from both the business world and the financial services industry.

For more information on the IMPACT Awards program, visit http://impact.schwab.com/awards/.

Disclaimer

Heritage Financial Services, LLC ("Heritage") and its employees are independent of and are not employees or agents of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. ("Schwab"). Schwab does not prepare, verify or endorse information distributed by Heritage. The Best in Business IMPACT Award, part of Schwab's IMPACT Awards program, is not a referral to, endorsement or recommendation of, or testimonial for the advisor with respect to its investment advisory or other services.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3181391



Press contact:

Michelle Faulkner

+1 617-510-6998

Email Contact




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation (TSX: TNX)(NYSE American: TRX)(NYSE MKT: TRX) hereinafter (the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the excellent international relations between the Company and the United Republic of Tanzania, together with an update on the outstanding progress on the Buckreef Project mine layout.

"Our relationship with Tanzania is excellent. The dedicated commitment of the Company and the nation of Tanzania have resulted in great progress in our moving forward toward commercial gold production. We are very pleased to have moved beyond any issues of the past and into an amicable, productive and emerging prosperous relationship with Tanzania and for our shareholders. It is very gratifying that we are moving forward with the support of the Tanzanian government and its people," said Jeffrey R. Duval, Acting Chief Executive Officer.

Acting CEO Duval returned this week from travel to Tanzania. The travel and work included the assessment and inspection of the progress achieved in the mine layout at the Buckreef Project, together with numerous business meetings, and a reception for Tanzanian national dignitaries, renowned local leaders and members of the public. The reception was held at the Buckreef Project Mine, where the Hon. Minister Angellah Kairuki and the Hon. Deputy Minister Stanslaus Nyongo attended together with a large government delegation, including the Chairman of STAMICO, Amb. Alexander A. Muganda. The Buckreef Project was explained by Peter Zizhou, General Manager for the Company, and a tour of the mine followed. The reception revealed the success of the international relations efforts on the part of Tanzania and the Company.

"The dedication of our management and the commitment of Tanzania through its officials and its agent, STAMICO have made our exceptional relationship possible. Where other industrial operations have had issues, we have made significant strides. Where some in our industry have had some struggles with reaching detente, our Company has achieved a formidable and valuable working relationship with the nation of Tanzania and its people which is not only solid, but friendly. We are very excited by our progress in our international relations, but also our progress on the ground with the Buckreef Project mine layout," stated James E. Sinclair, Executive Chairman.

The Company donated one hundred and five school desks to the local school district in honour of the occasion.

Chief Operating Officer Giancarlo Volo arranged for an aerial video of the site and the reception. The video is available at the links below, on the Company web page, and on YouTube.

Links:

www.tanzanianroyalty.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0O_s08v5NQ&t=29s

"The video shows the substantial progress we have made in the Buckreef mine layout in preparation for the next phase of development. The aerial views provide a look at the transformation of the site from all sides and shows our hard work and readiness for continued mining operations. We are preparing for the final stage of development and very pleased with our progress," said Mr. Volo. Operational Updates are found on the Company's website in the Blog section, and have been updated throughout 2017.

Our technical executives and Project Manager Peter Zizhou showed a detailed power point to the prestigious gathering and all questions were answered.

The Company is pleased to provide this information for your consideration and review. Thank you for your time and attention.

For more information and updates, please see the Company website at: www.tanzanianroyalty.com

Respectfully Submitted,

James E. Sinclair, Executive Chairman

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

Certain of the statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified using words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof 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. Forward-looking statements or information herein include, but are not limited to the Positive Feasibility Study on Buckreef.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information and even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: gold price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; mining operational and development risk; litigation risks; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; risks of sovereign investment; currency fluctuations; speculative nature of gold exploration; global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; and defective title to mineral claims or property, as well as those factors discussed in the sections entitled "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 20-F Annual Report dated November 25, 2016.

There can be no assurance that 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. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the U.S.

Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources

The terms "Mineral Reserve", "Proven Mineral Reserve" and "Probable Mineral Reserve" used in this release are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects under the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on August 20, 2000 as may be amended from time to time by the CIM. These definitions differ from the definitions in the United States Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") Guide 7. In the United States, a mineral reserve is defined as a part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time the mineral reserve determination is made.

The terms "Mineral Resource", "Measured Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource", "Inferred Mineral Resource" used in this release are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with National Instruction 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects under the guidelines set out in the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

For a detailed discussion of Buckreef resource and reserve estimates and related matters see the Company's reports, including the Form 20-F Annual Report dated November 25, 2016 and technical reports filed under the Company's name at our website at: www.TanzanianRoyaltyExploration.com.

Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources

Note to U.S. Investors. While the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource," "indicated mineral resource", and "inferred mineral resource" are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they are not defined terms under standards in the United States and normally are not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. As such, information contained in this report concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S companies in SEC filings. With respect to "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" there is a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and a great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.

There can be no assurance that 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. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the U.S.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

1-844-364-1830

investors@tanzanianroyalty.com

www.tanzanianroyalty.com




Company recognized for excellent customer service and innovation in the software asset management industry

Today, SoftwareONE announced it was named the ITAM Partner of the Year 2017. ITAM Review recently announced the winners at the third annual ITAM Review Excellence Awards at a Charity Gala Dinner at Lillibrooke Manor, Maidenhead, UK.

SAM (Software Asset Management) plays a pivotal role in modern IT departments addressing risk, efficient spend and business intelligence to make faster, more informed decisions. The ITAM Review Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of the true pioneers in ITAM (IT Asset Management). Judged by an independent industry panel, the awards recognize ITAM professionals, service providers, technology vendors and specialists who advance the industry and lead the field. There were nearly 600 public votes for 'Tool Provider of the Year' and 'Partner of the Year.'

"Congratulations to the SoftwareONE team for winning The ITAM Review 2017 Partner of the Year," said Martin Thomas, ITAM Review owner and founder. "This award recognizes excellent service providers, resellers or partners across the ITAM industry. This year, the final decision was made by ITAM Review readers in a public vote and SoftwareONE stood out head and shoulders above other nominations in terms of positive feedback from their customers."

Submissions were judged based on:

Innovation (pioneering technology, techniques or approaches)

Demonstrable ROI/value delivered

Customer satisfaction

Delivering lasting improvement/increased ITAM maturity

"SoftwareONE is honored and humbled to be awarded the Partner of the Year 2017," said Darryl Sackett, global director of service business management, SoftwareONE. "It's a reflection of the value and return on investment we realize for our customers, and the tireless work to constantly improve. It's great to be recognized as the leader in this field and we look forward to an extremely productive year ahead with our customers, partners and colleagues."

Earlier this year, SoftwareONE was recognized as Emerging Partner of the Year in North America and Europe, Middle East Africa (EMEA) by Flexera Software and a Customer Success Partner of the Year in the UK by Snow Software.

About SoftwareONE

SoftwareONE, a global leader in software and cloud portfolio management, is modernizing the way organizations budget and optimize their global IT spend from on-premises to the cloud. The PyraCloud platform, applying machine learning, delivers the visibility, insight, automation and control customers demand to maximize their software investments. In tandem, our Software Portfolio Management (SPM) and Software Asset Management (SAM) services provide the methodology and framework to optimize the underlying IT infrastructure, accelerate cloud adoption and minimize compliance risk. Privately owned since 1985, with over 3,000 technology experts located across 80+ countries, SoftwareONE is one of the fastest growing technology solution providers in the world with elite partnerships with Microsoft, AWS, Adobe, IBM, VMware, Oracle, Citrix, Symantec, McAfee, and many more. To learn more about SoftwareONE, visit http://www.softwareone.com and connect with the company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116006091/en/

Contacts:

InkHouse for SoftwareONE

Jackie D'Andrea, 781-966-4143

SoftwareONE@inkhouse.com
BERLIN, HAMBURG and KIEL, Germany, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Maribus gGmbH, the Consortium of German Marine Research and the Cluster of Excellence Future Ocean are taking on the crucial habitat of the coast in the new World Ocean Review 5 which covers a large range of topics from the fight against natural threats to coastal protection and concepts for conservative use.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/605994/World_Ocean_Review.jpg )



Since time immemorial, the coastal habitat has been one of the most valuable areas on earth: A great part of fishery takes place in coastal waters. Wind energy, natural gas and oil production benefit from offshore infrastructure, and sand as a resource for the construction industry is obtained on the coast. Without harbors, global trade would be unthinkable and, last but not least, the coasts are among the most popular recreational and tourist destinations in the world. To this day, the attractiveness of the coasts for humans remains unbroken - in economic as well as cultural terms.

Coasts - A Vital Habitat Under Pressure is the theme of the fifth volume of the publication World Ocean Review (WOR). Published by the non-profit maribus gGmbH with support from the magazine mare, the International Ocean Institute (IOI) and coastal researchers from the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM) and the Kiel Cluster of Excellence Future Ocean, the new issue of the marine science publication is dedicated to this particular part of the earth with in-depth information on the development, use and future scenarios for responsible use.

The still booming habitat harbours both boon and bane, says Nikolaus Gelpke, editor of World Ocean Review, founder of the magazine mare and board member of the International Ocean Institute (IOI). I am certain that with this issue we will contribute to a topic of increasing importance, the coasts of our earth. The population on the coasts is growing disproportionately worldwide. 13 of the 20 megacities with more than 10 million people are located in the immediate vicinity of the coast. The United Nations estimates that around 2.8 billion people are now living at a distance of no more than 100 kilometers from the coast - half of them in areas up to only ten meters above sea level.

The coastal habitat is booming, but use and protection are out of balance in many regions. For example, areas where sand is mined resemble inhospitable lunar landscapes. Chemicals, pesticides, plastic particles or fertilizers reach the ocean unfiltered. The natural protective function of coasts is being replaced by concrete infrastructure, and climate change will raise sea levels in the near future to the extent that today, entire areas can only be preserved with comprehensive protection measures.

Protection and use need a new orientation, as demanded by the Agenda 2030 Sustainability Goals, especially the Ocean Goal. The increasing interest in the ocean and the coasts in political dialogues and associated protection demands is a hopeful sign, says Prof. Martin Visbeck, Speaker of the Kiel Cluster of Excellence Future Ocean and head of the Research Unit Physical Oceanography at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

But how did coasts even come about? How do coasts differ worldwide? How do we maintain their natural functions and how do we achieve sustainable use - not only in the developed world? What strategies are useful to counter the threat of sea-level rise? And which political and legal options can be implemented to be able to act internationally? The fifth edition of the World Ocean Review examines the history of the development and evolution of the world's coasts, their service for nature and people, and the impact of climate change on the coasts. The WOR 5 ranges from the fight against natural hazards and sea-level rise to coastal protection and concepts for more conservative use.

The study of coastal seas has a long tradition in Germany and a wide range of different branches of science is exploring coastal seas worldwide. This edition of the World Ocean Review presents current knowledge on various facets of the theme of the coast in compact form, says Prof. Ulrich Bathmann, Chairman of the Consortium for German Marine Research (KDM). The contributing experts are pooling their information to meet the challenges of future changes in coastal seas.

The World Ocean Review 5 was presented on 16th November 2017 at the Schleswig-Holstein's Permanent Mission in Berlin as part of an evening event with guests from politics, business, science, media and education.

Images will be available for download starting on 17th November (following the event) online at http://www.worldoceanreview.com

Links:

http://www.worldoceanreview.com

http://www.mare.de

http://www.deutsche-meeresforschung.de/en/index

http://www.futureocean.org

Background

maribus gGmbH was founded in 2008 by mare publisher Nikolaus Gelpke. It serves as a non-profit organisation for the purpose of sensitising the public to marine science and contributing to more effective marine conservation. The first maribus publication, the World Ocean Review 1 (WOR 1), was a comprehensive and unique report, which showed the state of the oceans and the connections between the ocean and ecological, economic and socio-political relations. Following this, more detailed topic-specific publications were published: the World Ocean Review 2 - The Future of Fish - The Fisheries of the Future, the World Ocean Review 3 - Marine Resources - Opportunities and Risks and the World Ocean Review 4 - Sustainable Use of Our Oceans - Making Ideas Work. To date, about 120,000 printed copies of the WOR in German and English have been ordered and distributed worldwide, in addition to countless online downloads.

In the fifth maribus publication Coasts - A Vital Habitat Under Pressure, the cooperation with the partners of the WOR was continued and even further expanded to include the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM). The partners stand for years of commitment to the oceans and the highest level of science:

The International Ocean Institute (IOI), founded in 1972 by Elisabeth Mann-Borgese .

. The German Marine Research Consortium (KDM) bundles the expertise of German marine research. Its members comprise all research institutions active in marine, polar and coastal research. One of KDM's main concerns is to share the interests of marine research with national policymakers and the EU, as well as with the public.

The Kiel Cluster of Excellence Future Ocean, a network of more than 200 scientists from different disciplines, supported by Kiel University, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the Institute for the World Economy (IfW) and the Muthesius University of Fine Arts, and funded by the German Federal Government and the Lander within the Excellence Initiative of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

mare - the magazine of the oceans

The World Ocean Review 5 is being published in a total circulation of 24,000 copies. The publication is not sold, but given away for free. There is no profit-making intent. It is available at http://www.worldoceanreview.com. At the same time as the printed edition, the entire publication will also be published online. In addition to the German version, an English-language edition will be available shortly.

Coasts - A Vital Habitat Under Pressure, ed. maribus gGmbH, Hamburg 2017, 208 pages, with numerous graphics and photographs, paperback.

Contact and example copies:

maribus gGmbH

Bettina Wittich

Press Relations

Telephone: +49-40-368076-22

E-Mail: wittich@maribus.com



Cluster of Excellence Future Ocean, Kiel University

Friederike Balzereit

Public Outreach

Telephone: +49-431-880-3032

E-Mail: fbalzereit@uv.uni-kiel.de




The global onshore oil and gas pipeline marketis expected to grow at a CAGR of close to 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/20171116005595/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global onshore oil and gas pipeline market from 2017-2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

In this market research report, Technaviocovers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global onshore oil and gas pipeline market for 2017-2021. The market is further categorized into two application segments comprising of gas pipelines and oil pipelines. The gas pipelines segment dominated the market with close to 56% of the overall market share in 2016.

"Transporting oil through rail, road, or ships is expensive and requires frequent trips. However, with pipelines, the transportation of oil and gas can run continuously and can be ramped up or shut down at any time. Pipelines are the most preferred mode of transporting oil and gas. Increasing global consumption of oil and gas is expected to drive the global onshore oil and gas pipeline market during the forecast period," says Thanikachalam Chandrasekaran, a lead oil and gas research expert from Technavio

Technavio's research analysts segment the global onshore oil and gas pipeline market into the following regions:

Americas

APAC

EMEA

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 market size and forecast

The Americas holds the largest share of the global existing oil and gas pipeline length. The US possesses 89.37% of all the existing oil and gas pipeline infrastructure in the Americas as of 2016. The country has a vast history of oil and gas exploration and refining, dating back to more than a century. Fueled by the shale gas and shale oil boom, it possesses approximately two-thirds of the pipeline infrastructure in the world.

Many new pipelines are coming up in the Americas during the forecast period. These are TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline and Energy East pipeline, Atlantic Coast Pipeline in the US, and automation of Los Ramones pipeline in Mexico. Moreover, new oil and gas field discoveries in Latin American countries of Argentina and Brazil will attract heavy investments to develop these oil and gas fields.

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.

APAC market size and forecast

APAC is experiencing high demand for oil owing to rising consumption in countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. The growing demand has put pressure on these countries to meet the high demand in the future. This has led to a need to increase exploration activities in the region, which is expected to drive the onshore oil and gas pipeline market during the forecast period.

"The growth momentum is accelerating in APAC. Rising oil and gas consumption in the region will result in increased upstream activities in countries such as India, China, Indonesia. New explorations will require laying of the crude oil and natural gas pipeline network for easy transportation of the produced material, which will provide a major boost to the onshore oil and gas pipeline market during the forecast period," says Thanikachalam.

EMEA market size and forecast

The onshore oil and gas pipeline market in EMEA is expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period. As of 2016, oil and gas pipelines under the construction phase in EMEA will increase the existing length of oil and gas pipelines by around 40%. These include cross-border pipelines to supply natural gas from Russia to demand locations in Europe.

EMEA is marked with major crude oil and natural gas exporters. The rising oil and gas demand in APAC countries of China and India will drive the crude oil exporters to further explore their oil and gas reserves. This will result in increased construction of onshore oil and gas pipelines to transfer the produced oil and gas to refineries.

The top vendors in the global onshore oil and gas pipeline market as highlighted in this market research analysis are:

BP

Gulf Interstate Engineering

Mott MacDonald

Saipem

TechnipFMC

Browse Related Reports:

Global Floating Production Storage and Offloading Market 2017-2021

Global Well Intervention Services Market 2017-2021

Global Oilfield Services 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 media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116005595/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

www.technavio.com
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. ("Viridium" or the "Company") (TSXV: VIR) (OTC PINK: MRRBF) announces that it has completed the non-brokered private placement announced on October 10, 2017 was closed on November 14, 2017 raising gross proceeds of $591,666.60 (the "Private Placement"). A total of 986,111 Viridium Units were issued. Each Unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (the "Unit") (each common share purchase warrant hereinafter referred to as the "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.80 expiring on June 27, 2018. The common shares and the Warrants are subject to a four month hold period and may not be traded until March 15, 2018.

The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to proceed with the business of Viridium including the planned erection of the approximate 40,000 square-foot greenhouse canopy.

Including the securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement the outstanding securities of the Company are as follows:

Securities Description Number of Common Shares Common Shares 45,580,369 Warrants(1) 5,015,018 Agent Option(2) to Units 533,505 Restricted Share Units(3) 2,771,375 Stock Options(3) 1,374,975 Total (fully diluted) 55,275,242

Notes:

Each Warrant being exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.80 expiring on June 27, 2018. Agent Options granted pursuant to a prior private placement and which expire on June 27, 2018 and include one common share and one-half Warrant. A total of 355,670 common shares may be acquired and a total of 177,835 common shares may be acquired pursuant to the Agent's Warrants. Restricted Share Units (RSU) and Stock Options (Options) issued in accordance with Company's Employee Stock Option Plan and Restricted Share Unit Plan.

The Company further announces that John Zang has resigned as Corporate Secretary and as a Director of the Company.

In order to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Zang's resignation, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, Viridium has appointed Jarrett Malnarick as a Director of the Company. Mr. Malnarick is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Viridium.

Mr. Malnarick is currently the COO of Viridium Pacific and has executive and director experience with various public companies. His experience includes funding and commissioning start ups, mergers and acquisitions, product development, design costing, organizational budgets, new facility process planning, quality engineering and product regulatory compliance to Health Canada and international standards through the design and implementing operational systems. Over the last four years, he has helped various LP's within Canada through the application and implementation period as well as project managed multiple cannabis greenhouse projects in California and Washington as well as, extraction facilities in Washington and Oregon.

About Viridium

Viridium Pacific is headquartered in the Fraser Valley Region of British Columbia, Canada, and operates businesses involved in agricultural production and wholesale distribution, property acquisition and development, as well as financial services with an emphasis on medical insurance products and services. Viridium Pacific is well positioned to develop and to expand these highly profitable, emerging growth businesses in 2018. Viridium Pacific is the parent company of several operating subsidiaries, including Experion Biotechnologies Inc., a Health Canada licensed producer.

More information about Viridium can be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Experion

Experion Biotechnologies Inc. is a science led company that aims to be an industry leader in cannabis testing & quality control, low cost production & distribution, and strain research & development. The Company is a licensed producer under Canada's ACMPR and plans to operate across three core lines of business, including: (i) plant propagation and tissue culturing, (ii) production of whole plant "starter material" for wholesale to licensed growers, and (iii) production of dried flower and derivative products for wholesale distribution to medical patients.

Disclosure

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, forecast, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities; recent market volatility; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Filing Statement dated September 25, 2017 and/or the most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

For further information:

VIRIDIUM PACIFIC GROUP LTD.

Damian Wojcichowsky

Finance Consultant

Telephone: 647 464 3596

Email: Damian@viridiumpacific.com

SOURCE: Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.
BONN, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Canada's unions are applauding the federal government for showing international leadership on climate change by announcing plans to tie Canada's phase-out of coal-fired electricity with a just transition for affected workers and communities.

"Canada has seized an opportunity to set an international example by proving that ambitious economic restructuring policy to save our planet can be drafted with people at the its centre," said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.

Against the backdrop of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn, Germany, Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna today pledged federal support for the Government of Alberta's just transition plan for coal workers, including flexibility on Employment Insurance and working with Western Economic Diversification Canada to support the communities affected by the phasing out of coal power.

"Workers who have dedicated their lives to keeping the lights on can't be expected to shoulder the burden of meeting Canada's emission reduction targets," said Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan, who was a part of the Canadian labour delegation to this year's UN Climate Conference.

"The Alberta government took the lead by promising income support, retraining, and local economic development, but workers needed assurance that Ottawa was equally committed to their livelihoods and their communities. We now have that commitment," he added.

Minister McKenna also announced her government's intention to work directly with the Canadian Labour Congress to launch a task force that will develop a national framework on Just Transition for workers affected by the coal phase-out. The work of this task force is slated to begin early in the new year.

"Unions are committed to working in partnership with the governments of Canada and Alberta to meet Canada's international climate change targets while making sure that no one is left behind," said Yussuff.

Contacts:

Chantal St-Denis

National Representative, Media Relations

CLC Communications

613-355-1962

cstdenis@clc-ctc.ca




SANTA ANA, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Judicate West, one of California's leading providers of private dispute resolution services, welcomes experienced mediator Edward Fernandez to its roster of neutrals.

"Ed has a proven track record -- both as a litigator and as a mediator, and he has a reputation for amazing talent in successfully resolving even the thorniest issues," said Rosemarie Chiusano, Executive Vice President of Business Development with Judicate West. "We are excited to work with Ed, and we anticipate that his addition to our roster will be a benefit for Judicate West clients in our offices throughout the state."

As a full-time neutral for the past six years, Fernandez has mediated approximately 2,000 cases in areas including all types of personal injury, real estate, and business disputes. He also has specific experience working with governmental and public agencies. Accepting cases statewide, he draws on more than 30 years of legal experience, including his general civil litigation practice with the firm he co-founded, Fernandez & Lauby in Riverside, for nearly two decades.

When asked why he joined Judicate West, Fernandez said, "Working as a litigator for many years, I attended many mediation sessions with all of the major ADR providers. I found that all of the Judicate West neutrals consistently provided the best mediation services for my clients, and the staff really stood out as being knowledgeable ADR professionals who go the extra mile. In fact, a number of the Judicate West mediators inspired me to pursue my own goal of becoming a mediator."

A member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), the American Institute of Mediation and the Southern California Mediation Association, among many other resolution-focused groups, Fernandez is also a member of both the Riverside County and Los Angeles County bar associations. He earned both his J.D. (1982) and B.A. (1979) from the University of California, San Diego.

About Judicate West

Judicate West is one of California's leading providers of private dispute resolution services with a distinguished roster of proven neutrals, including retired state and federal court judges and attorney mediators and arbitrators from a variety of practice areas. Founded in 1993, the firm prides itself on maintaining the utmost integrity in delivering innovative solutions to all types of civil cases. The firm's successful formula involves top-tier neutrals and an experienced staff who is dedicated to being the gold standard in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Judicate West has offices in Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco.

Contact:

Traci Stuart / Michael Panelli

Blattel Communications

415.413.4522 / 415.413.4527

traci@blattel.com / mpanelli@blattel.com




CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- Cosmos Holdings, Inc. ("the Company") (OTCQB: COSM), an international pharmaceutical company, announced that it has entered into a $3 million securities purchase agreement with two institutional investors.

"We are excited to announce the addition of two institutional investors," said Grigorios Siokas, President and CEO of Cosmos Holdings. "This agreement will provide us with capital to continue to grow our operations and expand our business."

The securities sold have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release is not used for the purpose of conditioning the market in the United States for any of the securities offered.

About Cosmos Holdings, Inc.

Cosmos Holdings Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, acquiring, developing, and commercializing medicines to improve patients' lives and outcomes. The Company has a trans-European network of over 110 clients and vendors expands to 16 countries including: Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Italy, France, Singapore, Spain, Lebanon, Skopje, Jordan, Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, and AN or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events or for any changes or modifications made to this press release or the information contained herein by any third-parties, including, but not limited to, any wire or internet services.

A more complete and detailed description of the Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement is set forth Form 8-K filed November 16, 2017 with the SEC.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information, this news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve unknown risks, and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Important factors that might cause such differences are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, if new information becomes available in the future.

For More Information, Contact:

Steve Carr

Managing Director

Dresner Corporate Services

(312)780-7211

scarr@dresnerco.com



Integra Consulting Group LLC

Jeremy Roe

Managing Partner

+1 925 262 8305

jeremy@integracg.net




VALCOURT, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/16/17 -- In order to fuel its growth, global powersports leader BRP (TSX: DOO) will establish a headquarters for its North American market in Plano, in the Dallas, Texas area, early next year.

"We are transforming our business model to get closer and better connected to our largest market," says Sandy Scullion, BRP's senior vice-president and general manager, Global Retail and Services. "BRP and its brands are performing very well in the market right now and we're eager to build on this important growth catalyst."

The new headquarters for North America will play a key role in several functions for BRP, including Sales, Marketing, Dealer Services, Finance, and Human Resources. "We will bring together management and staff from different departments in Texas to create multidisciplinary teams. We are significantly changing our go-to market operating model and creating a fully dedicated North American business unit that will allow BRP to better support its dealers and customers," added Scullion.

Texas was an excellent choice for BRP's North American headquarters: it is centrally located in the United States and is part of a wider region that represents a key market for the company. BRP already has a strong U.S. footprint with its Evinrude outboard manufacturing site in Wisconsin.

Canadian dealers will also benefit from the new structure through improved service while maintaining their relationship with BRP representatives based in Canada, where BRP's global headquarters is located.

About BRP

BRP (TSX: DOO) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of powersports vehicles and propulsion systems. Its portfolio includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by- side vehicles, Can-Am Spyder three-wheel vehicles, Evinrude and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts, motorcycles and recreational aircraft. BRP supports its line of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and clothing business. With annual sales of over CA$4.2 billion from over 100 countries, the Company employs approximately 8,700 people worldwide.

www.brp.com

@BRPnews

Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Evinrude, Rotax, Can-Am, Spyder, and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Sylvain Larocque

Senior Advisor, Media Relations

BRP

514-207-0033

sylvain.larocque@brp.com

www.brp.com




News / National

by Staff reporter

PICTURES: Mugabe meets coup leader at State HouseMeeting with Mugabe today at State House: SA Defence Min Mapisa-Nqakula, State Security Minister Bongani Bongo (seated right), Zim Defence Min Sekeramayi, Security Min Mohadi, Gen Chiwenga and Father Mukonori.
KENDALL PARK, New Jersey, Nov.16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Binary Tree announced two recent releases of Power365, which helps organizations migrate workloads across tenants of Office 365. As a cloud-based transformation solution, all new features to Power365 are available immediately.

"Our extensive experience with enterprise-scale Office 365 migration and management gives us a unique insight into the complex challenges of multi-tenant environments," said Nick Wilkinson, CEO for Binary Tree. "Building upon our established market-leading position, we will continue to extend Power365 to meet these challenges with additional secure and scalable capabilities."

The new releases let organizations migrate between any combination of on-premises or hosted and Office 365 Exchange environments:

Between on-premises or hosted and Office 365

From one on-premises or hosted environment to another

Between tenants of Office 365

In addition, with Power365's new features, customers can automatically move a domain between Office 365 tenants, which covers all the tasks that they previously had to do manually, including de-provisioning the domain from a source tenant, adding the new domain to the target tenant, migrating the email addresses associated with the domain and providing an SMTP relay to ensure mail delivery throughout the process.

Power365 now solves these challenges:

Support now available for the German Region Cloud of Office 365, with a local instance of Power365 - meeting data sovereignty requirements.

Users can now log in to the Power365 portal using a non-Office 365 account.

OneDrive and SharePoint migrations, from source-to-target tenant with minimal to no disruption to end users.

About Power365'

Binary Tree's Power365 allows easy integration and migration between tenants of Office 365. It helps corporations unify their email domains, create global address lists, enable unified calendar lookups and perform high-velocity mail migrations, all while keeping focus on a premium user experience with uninterrupted productivity.

About Binary Tree

Binary Tree is a Microsoft Gold Partner for messaging, cloud productivity and application development and is dedicated to and focused on enterprise transformations to Microsoft platforms. Since 1993, Binary Tree has transformed more than 7,000 global clients and 40 million users, including 7 million users to Office 365. The company is a globally preferred vendor for Office 365. Its headquarters are located outside of New York City with global offices in France, Germany, Singapore, Sweden and the U.K. Its award-winning software and services help companies modernize email, directories and applications by moving and integrating them to the Microsoft cloud. The company's business-first approach helps plan, move and manage the transformation process from end to end so that clients can stay focused on their core businesses. Binary Tree's experts deliver low-risk, successful IT transformations. Visit www.binarytree.com for more information.

News Contact:

Katie Boyles

Axia Public Relations for Binary Tree

904-303-2628
Regulatory News:

Veolia (Paris:VIE) has issued a 500 million 3-year EUR bond (maturity November 2020) with a negative yield of -0.026 %, which is a first for a BBB issuer.

The transaction was very positively welcomed by the investors, which led to an oversubscription ratio over 4. Thanks to this strong demand, Veolia managed to issue the bond with a spread against swap rate of 5 basis points, which is the tightest spread ever achieved for a 3-year fixed-rate EUR Corporate bond.

The high level of oversubscription, the quality of the investor base and the outstanding conditions that were achieved are signals of the significant appreciation of Veolia's credit quality.

The proceeds of this issuance will be used for General Corporate Purposes.

The distribution of this press release in certain jurisdictions may be subject to specific regulations or may be restricted by regulations or laws. In particular, this press release shall not be released, published or distributed in the United States, its territories and possessions, in Australia, in Canada or in Japan.

This announcement does not constitute an offer or solicitation in the United States, its territories and possessions, or in any other jurisdiction.

Veolia group 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 Environnement (listed on Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of 24.39 billion in 2016. www.veolia.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116006357/en/

Contacts:

Group Press Relations

Laurent Obadia Sandrine Guendoul

Stephane Galfre Marie Bouvet

Tel.+ 33 1 85 57 42 16

sandrine.guendoul@veolia.com

or

Investors & Analyst Relations

Ronald Wasylec Ariane de Lamaze

Tel. + 33 1 85 57 84 76 84 80

Terri Anne Powers (USA)

Tel. +1 630 218 1627
PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwired - November 16, 2017) - Today, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce named Stellar Solutions a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest honor for performance excellence and sustainability. Stellar Solutions is a woman-owned small business in the aerospace engineering services field with a vision of satisfying customer critical needs while realizing dream jobs. Founded in 1995 by Celeste Ford, Stellar Solutions has been providing innovative solutions and high impact for its customers (government and commercial, national and international) for over 20 years. Receiving the Baldrige Award is an incredible honor that recognizes Stellar's sustainability through visionary leadership, organizational alignment, and systemic improvement and innovation.

"We at Stellar Solutions are honored and humbled by the National Baldrige Award recognition. It is especially important for me as the Founder to have created an exciting business that is "built to last", and to have the efforts of our Stellar team recognized," said CEO and Founder of Stellar, Celeste Ford. "We work hard each and every day to have high impact and to live our vision of 'satisfying our customers' critical needs while realizing our dream jobs', and the Baldrige framework has been an important element in making our business successful and sustainable."

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program is managed by the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). An independent board of examiners evaluated 24 applications this year on their processes around leadership, strategy, customers, measurement & analysis, workforce, and operations, as well as their results related to each of these categories. Stellar is one among five award recipients who will be presented the award in April 2018 during the Quest for Excellence Conference (the Baldrige community's national meeting) in Baltimore, MD. Only 110 organizations have received the award (out of over 1,600 applicants) since 1987 when the Baldrige program began.

About Stellar Solutions, Inc.

Stellar Solutions, Inc. is an aerospace engineering services company that provides top tier engineering and technical management talent in support of significant national and international aerospace programs. Stellar is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, with offices in Colorado and Virginia, as well as international sister companies in the UK and France. The Company has distinguished itself by satisfying customers' critical needs and crossing the boundaries on diverse projects including defense-related intelligence projects, international telecommunications satellites, commercial imagery satellites, and NASA's earth science and planetary missions. Stellar is also committed to helping every employee find their dream job, and has been recognized as one of Fortune magazine's Best Places to Work for four years running.

Stellar Solutions areas of expertise include systems engineering, systems integration, mission operations and engineering, continuity of operations and resiliency, program management and strategic planning. Stellar also operates a Humanitarian R&D sector, QuakeFinder, whose goal is to save lives by forecasting earthquakes by developing the technology and methods for detection and analysis of electromagnetic earthquake precursors. Stellar and QuakeFinder launched the first commercial triple-cubesat in 2003, and currently operate an extensive network of sensors monitoring electromagnetic activity in earthquake-prone regions, including California, Peru, Taiwan, Greece, Chile, and Indonesia.

For more information, contact

Craig Fairlee

VP Business Operations

(650) 838-0946

cfairlee@stellarsolutions.com
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (NA:PSH) today announces that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's ordinary shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Date of purchase: 16 November 2017 Number of Shares purchased: 5,216 Shares Highest price paid per Share: 1,013 pence 13.36 USD Lowest price paid per Share: 1,010 pence 13.32 USD Average price paid per Share: 1,010.74 pence 13.33 USD

Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Date of purchase: 16 November 2017 Number of Shares purchased: 45,888 Shares Highest price paid per Share: 13.38 USD Lowest price paid per Share: 13.29 USD Average price paid per Share: 13.32 USD

PSH intends to cancel these Shares. The net asset value per Share related to this Share buyback is USD 17.38 GBP 13.20 which was calculated as of 14 November 2017. After giving effect to the above Share buyback, PSH has outstanding 236,747,257 Shares. The prices per share in USD were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the 1 special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) has not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116006411/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Maitland

James Devas, +44 20 7379 5151

Media-pershingsquareholdings1@maitland.co.uk
(MACP) The United States and Morocco officially launched the "Initiative to Address Homegrown Terrorism" yesterday in Malta, convening over 70 government officials, law enforcement officers, and non-governmental representatives from 25 countries to "discuss trends and issues associated with homegrown terrorism, and highlight available tools and programs to address this threat."

Announced in September as part of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and in partnership with the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), the initiative will work to "[address] the growing threat posed by ISIL/Da'esh-inspired and linked Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs), exploring ways for stakeholders to tackle these issues in a coordinated manner."

Participants at the launch "reviewed ways to improve information sharing, both within and among governments, and examined prevention and intervention programs," kicking off the process to develop "non-binding good practices for policymakers and practitioners that will highlight comprehensive and integrated approaches to preventing and detecting homegrown terrorists."

Morocco is committed to promoting regional security and cooperates closely on counterterrorism and other security efforts with the US and countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. In addition to serving as Co-Chair of the GCTF, Morocco participates in the State Department Antiterrorism Assistance Program, cooperates with US Customs and Border Protection and DHS to address watch-listed travelers, and has a framework agreement with the US to develop "mutual expertise in the areas of crisis management, border security, and terrorism investigations to strengthen regional counterterrorism capability and to deny space to terrorism and terrorist networks."

Morocco is also at the forefront of efforts to counter the appeal of violent extremism within its own borders and in the broader region. One of Morocco's key programs to provide religious training by the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines, and Morchidates, which aims to prepare the next generation of Muslim religious leaders from across the region to counter extremist interpretations of Islam continues to be in high demand, and in 2018 will welcome a record 1,240 foreign Islamic preacher trainees from Mali, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Chad, Nigeria, and France.

"As ISIS fighters return from losses in Syria, countries throughout the region are becoming more diligent in their counterterrorism efforts," said former US Ambassador to Morocco, Edward M. Gabriel. "Morocco's multi-dimensional strategies have long made it as a global leader in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism and a key ally for the US in addressing these issues."

For more on Morocco's approach to countering violent extremism, see our factsheet

The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a US-based independent non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform and educate opinion makers, government officials, and interested publics in the United States about the US-Morocco bilateral relationship.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116006428/en/

Contacts:

Moroccan American Center for Policy

Caitlin Dearing Scott, 202-587-0855

info@moroccanamericancenter.com
Para Also Adds Depth to Management Team

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 16, 2017) - Para Resources, Inc. (TSXV: PBR) (WKN: A14YF1) (OTC Pink: PRSRF) (the "Company" or "Para") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Perfotec S.A.S. of Medellin, Colombia to commence a drilling program on the El Limon project to twin 3 historic diamond drilling holes completed 1997 and 1998 and to drill four other off set holes in the same formation.

The drilling program will be completed in two phases as follows:

Phase 1 5 holes along a centerline every 50m Estimated drilling depth 700m total 3 holes twinning historical drill logs with identified collars

3 holes to end of alteration zone + 10m into bedrock,

2 holes through upper and lower El Limon veins + 10m

Total cost (estimated): US $103,000 k (drilling + lab)

Phase 2 - (with positive results in Phase 1) 5 additional holes 50m west of phase 1 to establish resource calculation Basic metallurgical test work Total cost (estimated): US $101,00



Perfotec has confirmed that the drill rig will be on site this coming weekend. Para's Vice-President of Exploration, Paulo Andrade P. Geo will be on site to supervise the program as a Qualified Person to ensure QA and QC and compliance with National Instrument 43-101 standards.

Geoff Hampson, Para's CEO states, "We are excited at the possibility of replicating the results attained in the 1997-98 drilling program and to determine the width and breadth of the formations encountered there. We continue to believe that there are many different systems at play on the Company's El Limon and Otu properties. Hampson further states, "The Company's goal is to prove out the presence of a resource at depth along the Otu fault as evidenced by artisanal miners working the system at surface."

Drilling results are expected before year end.

The Company also announces that effective January 1, 2018, Mr. Timothy Lallas, CPA, CMA will join Para as Chief Financial Officer of Para. Mr. Lallas has previously been VP Finance for Granada Gold Mines, Castle Silver Resources and Champagne Resources. He was also the Deputy Finance Manager for ArcelorMittal for the $1.5 Billion Mont Wright Expansion Project. Mr. Lallas also served as VP Finance for Calvista Gold Corporation Inc, as CFO for Bell Copper Corporation, as CFO of Greystar Resources Ltd and as the Director of Risk for both Thompson Creek Metals Company and Goldcorp, Inc. Mr Lallas is fluent in Spanish and has extensive experience in South America.

Para CEO Geoff Hampson, states, "Tim Lallas brings a lot of industry finance experience to the Para management team and will be a welcome addition. He will also assist in securing the appropriate long-term financing to ensure we can maximize the returns at both El Limon in Colombia and Gold Road in Arizona."

The Company takes this opportunity to thank departing CFO, James Taylor. Mr. Taylor has been instrumental in guiding Para through its early stage and will now return to his other role as CFO of the Hampson Group of Companies.

ABOUT PARA RESOURCES:

Para is a junior producing gold mining company. Para owns approximately 80% of the El Limon project, in Colombia, which in addition to its current underground operation is purchasing mineralized rock mined by small artisanal miners working on the Company's property. The El Limon and Otu properties also have exploration and development upside. The Company also owns 88% of the Gold Road Mine in the Oatman District of Arizona. The Company has hired RPM Global as consulting engineers in order to produce a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Technical Report which it expects will establish a current Mineral Resource estimate and anticipates that it will publish a NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment thereafter. Para will continue to take advantage of current market conditions to acquire and develop additional highly economic, near-term production assets that have strong exploration and development upside.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"C. Geoffrey Hampson"

C. Geoffrey Hampson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director

For further information, please contact Andrea Laird, telephone: +1-604-259-0302

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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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 laws. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties; success of exploration, development and mill processing activities; and the anticipated results to be achieved from operation of the El Limon and Gold Road Mines. The Company also cautions that there is no assurance that past production at El Limon or Gold Road or production at nearby mines is indicative that the Company will achieve similar results. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. 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. 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.
Pacific Drilling S.A. (OTCPink: PACDQ) ("Pacific Drilling" or the "Company") today announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has granted the relief requested by the Company in certain first day motions related to ordinary course business activities, subject to certain modifications at the request of the Court, the United States Trustee and stakeholders. The approved motions give us the authority to, among other things, continue to pay employee wages and benefits without interruption, to utilize our current cash management system, and to pay certain foreign and critical vendors for goods and services provided prior to the petition date. All vendors will be paid in full and in cash on normal payment terms for all goods and services provided on or after the petition date.

Paul Reese, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Drilling, said, "With these approvals, the Company will continue normal operations as we implement a comprehensive financial restructuring under the protection of Chapter 11. Importantly, I would like to thank our employees, customers and vendors for working constructively with us during this important period for the Company."

Additional details can be found on the Company's website, www.pacificdrilling.com/restructuring or via the Company's restructuring information line at: +1 866-396-3566 (Toll Free) or +1 646-795-6175 (International Number).

About Pacific Drilling

With its best-in-class drillships and highly experienced team, Pacific Drilling is committed to becoming the industry's preferred high-specification, floating-rig drilling contractor. Pacific Drilling's fleet of seven drillships represents one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the world. For more information about Pacific Drilling, including our current Fleet Status, please visit our website at www.pacificdrilling.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "ability to," "plan," "potential," "projected," "target," "would," or other similar words, which are generally not historical in nature.

Forward-looking statements express current expectations or forecasts of possible future results or events, including future financial and operational performance; revenue efficiency levels; market outlook; forecasts of trends; future client contract opportunities; contract dayrates; our business strategies and plans and objectives of management; estimated duration of client contracts; backlog; expected capital expenditures; projected costs and savings; the potential impact of our Chapter 11 proceedings on our future operations and ability to finance our business; and our ability to emerge from our Chapter 11 proceedings and continue as a going concern.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable and made in good faith, these statements are not guarantees and actual future results may differ materially due to a variety of factors. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include: the global oil and gas market and its impact on demand for our services; the offshore drilling market, including reduced capital expenditures by our clients; changes in worldwide oil and gas supply and demand; rig availability and supply and demand for high-specification drillships and other drilling rigs competing with our fleet; costs related to stacking of rigs; our ability to enter into and negotiate favorable terms for new drilling contracts or extensions; our substantial level of indebtedness; possible cancellation, renegotiation, termination or suspension of drilling contracts as a result of mechanical difficulties, performance, market changes or other reasons; our ability to continue as a going concern in the long term, including our ability to confirm a plan of reorganization that restructures our debt obligations to address our liquidity issues and allows emergence from our Chapter 11 proceedings; our ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions or other requests made to the Bankruptcy Court in our Chapter 11 proceedings, including maintaining strategic control as debtor-in-possession; our ability to negotiate, develop, confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization; the effects of our Chapter 11 proceedings on our operations and agreements, including our relationships with employees, regulatory authorities, customers, suppliers, banks and other financing sources, insurance companies and other third parties; the effects of our Chapter 11 proceedings on our Company and on the interests of various constituents, including holders of our common shares and debt instruments; Bankruptcy Court rulings in our Chapter 11 proceedings as well as the outcome of all other pending litigation and arbitration and the outcome of our Chapter 11 proceedings in general; the length of time that we will operate under Chapter 11 protection and the continued availability of operating capital during the pendency of the proceedings; risks associated with third-party motions in our Chapter 11 proceedings, which may interfere with our ability to confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization and restructuring generally; increased advisory costs to execute a plan of reorganization; our ability to access adequate debtor-in-possession financing or use cash collateral; the potential adverse effects of our Chapter 11 proceedings on our liquidity, results of operations, or business prospects; increased administrative and legal costs related to our Chapter 11 proceedings and other litigation and the inherent risks involved in a bankruptcy process; the cost, availability and access to capital and financial markets, including the ability to secure new financing after emerging from our Chapter 11 proceedings; and the other risk factors described in our 2016 Annual Report and our Current Reports on Form 6-K. These documents are available through our website at www.pacificdrilling.com or through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116006496/en/

Contacts:

Investors:

Pacific Drilling S.A.

Johannes (John) P. Boots, +352 26845781

Investor@pacificdrilling.com

or

Media:

Pacific Drilling S.A.

Amy L. Roddy, +1 713-334-6662

Media@pacificdrilling.com
Luxoft Holding, Inc (NYSE:LXFT), a global IT service provider, today announced results for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Second Quarter FY2018 Highlights

Revenue of $228.0 million, up 16.1% year-over-year and up 9.0% sequentially

Adjusted EBITDA of $38.6 million and adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.9%, compared to $37.4 million and 19.1% in the year-ago quarter

GAAP net income of $18.4 million, up 13.2% year-over-year and up 191.9% sequentially

Non-GAAP net income of $28.0 million, up 0.7% from $27.8 million in the year-ago quarter and up 63.8% from $17.1 million last quarter

Diluted GAAP EPS of $0.54, compared to $0.48 in the year-ago quarter

Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.82, compared to $0.83 in the year-ago quarter

As of September 30, 2017, total number of employees was 13,090; Annual revenue per billable engineer was $82,800, up 4.9% year-over-year and up 9.0% sequentially

Note: Reconciliations of non-GAAP to GAAP measures are included at the end of the release.

"Second quarter results were largely in line with our expectations as execution of our strategic transformation drove strong growth in several verticals and offset moderating demand patterns among our top two accounts," said Dmitry Loschinin, Luxoft's CEO and President "Key highlights of our progress include year-over-year revenue growth of 75.6% in Automotive, 43.2% in Financial Services excluding the top two accounts, and 26.0% in Telecom. Overall, we generated 37.5% revenue growth year-over-year outside our top two accounts, which demonstrates the steady progress we are making in transforming our business through new vertical growth, strengthened key platform-architecture expertise and expanded delivery-center scale. Importantly, we also further increased our High Performance Accounts (HPAs) which reached nearly 36.6% of revenue."

During the quarter, the Company continued to expand its global sales and delivery, including opening a new office in Bangalore, India and increasing its presence in Asia Pacific (APAC) through the acquisition of derivIT. In addition to diversifying across attractive new verticals, emphasis was placed on generating balanced growth across key global markets. Progress here includes Q2 year-over-year revenue growth of 54.9% in APAC, 21.2% in Europe and 17.1% in North America.

The Company continued to decrease client concentration of its top two accounts while driving improved operating and financial performance. The top two accounts in the second quarter amounted to 35.4% of revenue, representing a 10.1% point decrease year-over-year. On the same basis, the top five accounts amounted to 46.7% of revenue, representing an 11.4% point decrease and the top ten accounts amounted to 57.5% of revenue, a decrease of 11.1% points.

Mr. Loschinin concluded, "We continue to place strategic emphasis on accelerating our shift to digital innovation as demand for complex digital and cloud-based deployments remain strong. Looking ahead, we are confident that our overall strategy is aligned with the long-term trends across each of our verticals as we look to become an increasingly critical strategic partner for our customers. The entire management team is focused on driving stronger execution, building momentum across our verticals and further driving our business transformation. We believe we are taking the right steps to best position Luxoft for long-term sustainable growth and value creation for our shareholders."

Outlook for the Financial Year Ending March 31, 2018

The Company is reiterating its full-year outlook which includes:

Revenue is expected to be at least $920 million, which represents an increase of at least 17.1% year over year

Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be in the range of 15.5% 16.5%

Diluted EPS on GAAP basis is expected to be at least $1.53, and diluted EPS on a non-GAAP basis at least $2.85

EPS is based on an estimated weighted average of 34.4 million diluted shares

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call to review the results on Friday, November 17, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. ET. To participate, please dial 877-407-8293 or 201-689-8349 (outside the U.S.) or access the live webcast here.

A replay will be available two hours after the call at http://investor.luxoft.com or by dialing 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415 (outside the U.S.) and entering the conference ID 13672381. The replay will be available until December 1, 2017.

About Luxoft

Luxoft (NYSE:LXFT) is a global IT service provider of innovative technology solutions that delivers measurable business outcomes to multinational companies. Its offerings encompass strategic consulting, custom software development services, and digital solution engineering. Luxoft enables companies to compete by leveraging its multi-industry expertise in the financial services, automotive, communications, and healthcare life sciences sectors. Its managed delivery model is underpinned by a highly-educated workforce, allowing the Company to continuously innovate upwards on the technology stack to meet evolving digital challenges.

Luxoft has more than 13,000 employees across 42 offices in 21 countries within five continents, with its operating headquarters office in Zug, Switzerland. For more information, please visit the website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our financial results presented in accordance with US GAAP, this press release includes the following measures defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission as non-GAAP financial measures: earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); adjusted EBITDA; non-GAAP net income; non-GAAP diluted Earnings per share (EPS) and Free Cash Flow (FCF). EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, where interest includes unwinding of the discount rate for contingent liabilities. Prior year amounts were amended accordingly. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS exclude stock-based compensation expense, amortization of fair value adjustments to intangible assets and impairment thereof and other acquisitions related costs that may include changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities. Non-GAAP diluted EPS are calculated as non-GAAP net income divided by weighted average number of diluted shares. Free Cash Flow is calculated as operating cash flow less capital expenditure which consists of purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as defined in the cash flow statement.

We adjust our non-GAAP financial measures to exclude stock based compensation, because it is a non-cash expense. We also adjust our non-GAAP financial measures to exclude the change in fair value of contingent consideration, because we believe these expenses are not indicative of what we consider to be normal course of operations. Our non-GAAP financial measures are adjusted to exclude amortization of purchased intangible assets in order to allow management and investors to evaluate our results from operating activities as if these assets have been developed internally rather than acquired in a business combination. Finally, we adjust our non-GAAP financial measures to exclude acquisition-related costs, which comprise payments to consulting firms as well as fees paid upon successful completion of acquisition; as well as certain incentive payments for members of management of the acquired companies as provided for in the acquisition agreements. These payments are based on performance of the acquired businesses and are classified as part of management compensation rather than part of purchase consideration. These costs vary with the size and complexity of each acquisition and are generally inconsistent in amount and frequency, and therefore, we believe that they may not be indicative of the size and volume of future acquisition-related costs.

We provide these non-GAAP financial measures because we believe that they present a better measure of our core business and management uses them internally to evaluate our ongoing performance. Accordingly, we believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in enhancing and understanding of our operating performance. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, comparable US GAAP measures. The non-GAAP results and a full reconciliation between US GAAP and non-GAAP results are provided in the accompanying tables at the end of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business and financial condition, as well as the results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the persistence and intensification of competition in the IT industry; the future growth of spending in IT services outsourcing generally and in each of our industry verticals, application outsourcing and custom application development and offshore research and development services; the level of growth of demand for our services from our clients; the level of increase in revenues from our new clients; seasonal trends and the budget and work cycles of our clients; general economic and business conditions in our locations, including geopolitical instability and social, economic or political uncertainties, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, and any potential sanctions, restrictions or responses to such conditions imposed by some of the locations in which we operate; the levels of our concentration of revenues by vertical, geography, by client and by type of contract in the future; the expected timing of the increase in our corporate tax rate, or actual increases to our effective tax rate which we may experience from time to time; our expectations with respect to the proportion of our fixed price contracts; our expectation that we will be able to integrate and manage the companies we acquire and that our acquisitions will yield the benefits we envision; the demands we expect our rapid growth to place on our management and infrastructure; the sufficiency of our current cash, cash flow from operations, and lines of credit to meet our anticipated cash needs; the high proportion of our cost of services comprised of personnel salaries; our plans to introduce new products for commercial resale and licensing in addition to providing services; our anticipated joint venture with one of our clients; and our continued financial relationship with IBS Group Holding limited and its subsidiaries including expectations for the provision and purchase of services and purchase and lease of equipment; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2017 and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands of US dollars, except share amounts) September 30, As of March 31, 2017 2017 (Unaudited) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 56,102 109,558 Restricted cash, current 3,946 4,000 Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of

$1,217 at September 30, 2017 and $435 at March 31, 2017 182,526 144,862 Unbilled revenue 37,727 14,454 Work-in-progress 2,073 2,805 Due from related parties 952 1,084 VAT and other taxes receivable 2,579 1,732 Advances issued 3,415 2,740 Other current assets 6,829 5,224 Total current assets 296,149 286,459 Non-current assets Restricted cash, non-current 2,917 1,399 Deferred tax assets 4,925 3,423 Property and equipment, net 48,076 49,571 Intangible assets, net 126,818 120,430 Goodwill 93,378 76,918 Other non-current assets 6,894 9,007 Total non-current assets 283,008 260,748 Total assets 579,157 547,207 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities Short-term borrowings 1,504 633 Accounts payable 19,663 24,402 Accrued liabilities 44,554 38,513 Deferred revenue 6,433 3,815 Due to related parties 562 460 Taxes payable 23,613 21,283 Payable under foreign exchange contracts 1,283 295 Payable for acquisitions, current 15,265 17,221 Other current liabilities 1,817 2,025 Total current liabilities 114,694 108,647 Deferred tax liability, non-current 13,815 16,907 Payable for acquisitions, non-current 19,605 32,206 Other non-current liabilities 4,609 2,629 Total liabilities 152,723 160,389 Shareholders' equity Share capital (80,000,000 shares authorized; 33,697,103 issued and

outstanding with no par value as at September 30, 2017, and 80,000,000

shares authorized; 33,540,034 issued and outstanding with no par value

as at March 31, 2017) Additional paid-in capital 149,291 133,192 Common stock held in treasury, at cost (124,664 shares as of September

30, 2017; 93,813 shares as of March 31, 2017) (7,980) (6,028) Retained earnings 288,265 263,508 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,174) (3,886) Total shareholders' equity attributable to the Group 426,402 386,786 Non-controlling interest 32 32 Total equity 426,434 386,818 Total liabilities and equity 579,157 547,207

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands of US dollars, except share and per share amounts) For the three months For the six months ended ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Unaudited Unaudited Sales of services 228,030 196,457 437,272 374,506 Operating expenses Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 139,305 114,908 274,904 220,660 Selling, general and administrative expenses 58,199 54,315 116,262 103,239 Depreciation and amortization 9,915 7,990 20,645 15,225 Gain from revaluation of contingent liability (870) (44) (2,090) (444) Operating income 21,481 19,288 27,551 35,826 Other income and expenses Interest income/(expense), net 42 (28) 59 4 Unwinding of discount rate for contingent liability 103 (388) (698) (505) Other gains/(losses), net 457 327 946 734 Gain/(Loss) from derivative financial instruments (3) (30) 89 361 Net foreign exchange (loss)/ gain (356) 21 1,124 (646) Income before income taxes 21,724 19,190 29,071 35,774 Income tax expense (3,284) (2,899) (4,314) (5,403) Net income 18,440 16,291 24,757 30,371 Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest Net income attributable to the Group 18,440 16,291 24,757 30,371 Basic EPS per Class A and Class B ordinary share Net income attributable to the Group per ordinary share 0.55 0.49 0.74 0.91 Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding 33,570,633 33,208,472 33,537,185 33,202,121 Diluted EPS per Class A and Class B ordinary share Diluted net income attributable to the Group per ordinary share 0.54 0.48 0.72 0.90 Diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding 34,116,417 33,739,017 34,206,683 33,855,169

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In thousands of US dollars) For the three months For the six months ended ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Unaudited Unaudited Net income 18,440 16,291 24,757 30,371 Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax Gains on derivative financial instruments, net of tax effect of $(21) and $54; $72 and $166 80 (253) (653) 610 Translation adjustments with no tax effects 695 (740) 1,365 (1,645) Total other comprehensive (loss) income 775 (993) 712 (1,035) Comprehensive income 19,215 15,298 25,469 29,336 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest Comprehensive income attributable to the Group 19,215 15,298 25,469 29,336

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW (In thousands of US dollars) For the six months ended ended September 30, 2017 2016 (unaudited) Operating activities Income from operations 24,757 30,371 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 20,645 15,225 Deferred tax benefit (1,711) (781) Income from derivative financial instruments (89) (361) (Income)/ Loss on foreign exchange (1,124) 646 Provision for doubtful accounts 622 60 Gain from revaluation of contingent liability (2,090) (444) Unwinding of discount rate for contingent liability, loss 698 505 Share-based compensation 14,237 13,889 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Trade accounts receivable and unbilled revenue (45,423) (14,150) Work-in-progress 732 (2,026) Due to and from related parties 234 396 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (4,114) 2,903 Deferred revenue 2,605 (813) Changes in other assets and liabilities (793) 2,772 Net cash provided by operating activities 9,186 48,192 Investing activities Purchases of property and equipment (11,332) (8,354) Purchases of intangible assets (2,127) (1,907) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (34,155) (54,464) Restricted cash 125 Net cash used in investing activities (47,489) (64,725) Financing activities Net repayment of short-term borrowings (138) (6,028) Acquisition of business, deferred consideration (12,707) (4,534) Repurchases of common stock (2,017) (930) Repayment of capital lease obligations (69) (60) Net cash used in financing activities (14,931) (11,552) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (222) (271) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (53,456) (28,356) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 109,558 108,545 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 56,102 80,189

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Comparable GAAP Measures (Unaudited) (In thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts and percentages) Three Months Ended September 30, Six Months Ended September 30, 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP Operating income 21,481 10,715 (a) 32,196 27,551 22,619 (a) 50,170 Operating margin 9.4 4.7 14.1 6.3 5.2 11.5 Net income 18,440 9,596 (b) 28,036 24,757 20,399 (b) 45,156 Diluted earnings per share 0.54 0.82 0.72 1.32 Three Months Ended September 30, Six Months Ended September 30, 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP Operating income 19,288 12,286 (a) 31,574 35,826 20,103 (a) 55,929 Operating margin 9.8 6.3 16.1 9.6 5.4 14.9 Net income 16,291 11,555 (b) 27,846 30,371 18,497 (b) 48,868 Diluted earnings per share 0.48 0.83 0.90 1.44

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Comparable GAAP Measures (Unaudited) (In thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts and percentages) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended September 30, September 30, (a) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Adjustments to GAAP operating income Stock-based compensation expense 6,185 9,029 14,237 13,889 Amortization of purchased Intangible assets 3,657 2,446 8,030 4,553 Gain from revaluation of contingent liability (870) (44) (2,090) (444) Acquisition related costs 1,743 855 2,442 2,105 Total Adjustments to GAAP income from operations 10,715 12,286 22,619 20,103 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended September 30, September 30, (b) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Adjustments to GAAP net income Stock-based compensation expense 6,185 9,029 14,237 13,889 Amortization of purchased Intangible assets 3,657 2,446 8,030 4,553 (Gain)/ Loss from revaluation of contingent liability and

unwinding of discount rate for contingent liability (973) 344 (1,392) 61 Acquisition related costs 1,743 855 2,442 2,105 Tax effect of the adjustments (1,016) (1,119) (2,918) (2,111) Total Adjustments to GAAP net income 9,596 11,555 20,399 18,497 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net income 18,440 16,291 24,757 30,371 Adjusted for: Interest (Income)/ Expense (42) 28 (59) (4) Unwinding of discount rate for contingent liability, (gain)/ loss (103) 388 698 505 Income tax 3,284 2,899 4,314 5,403 Depreciation and Amortization 9,915 7,990 20,645 15,225 EBITDA 31,494 27,596 50,355 51,500 Adjusted for Stock based compensation 6,185 9,029 14,237 13,889 Gain from revaluation of contingent liability (870) (44) (2,090) (444) Acquisition related costs 1,743 855 2,442 2,105 Adjusted EBITDA 38,552 37,436 64,944 67,050

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. Schedule of supplemental information (Unaudited) (In thousands; except percentages) Revenue for the three Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 Client location Amount % of sales Amount % of sales North America 78,835 34.6 67,345 34.3 Europe (excl. U.K.) 68,033 29.8 56,116 28.6 U.K. 52,164 22.9 57,221 29.1 Russia 17,872 7.8 8,055 4.1 APAC 10,002 4.4 6,456 3.3 Other 1,124 0.5 1,264 0.6 Total 228,030 100.0 196,457 100.0 Revenue for the six Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 Client location Amount % of sales Amount % of sales North America 158,661 36.3 115,341 30.8 Europe (excl. U.K.) 133,534 30.5 109,181 29.2 U.K. 100,293 22.9 118,341 31.6 Russia 25,434 5.8 15,000 4.0 APAC 17,027 3.9 14,305 3.8 Other 2,323 0.6 2,338 0.6 Total 437,272 100.0 374,506 100.0 Revenue for the three Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 Industry vertical Amount % of sales Amount % of sales Financial Services 129,174 56.6 123,137 62.7 Automotive and transport 40,778 17.9 23,227 11.8 Digital 26,067 11.4 22,071 11.2 Telecom 24,023 10.5 19,059 9.7 Healthcare 7,684 3.4 8,570 4.4 Other 304 0.2 393 0.2 Total 228,030 100.0 196,457 100.0 Revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2017 2016 Industry vertical Amount % of sales Amount % of sales Financial Services 242,644 55.5 245,504 65.6 Automotive and transport 75,912 17.4 48,679 13.0 Digital 51,898 11.9 41,943 11.2 Telecom 49,566 11.3 28,993 7.7 Healthcare 16,417 3.8 8,570 2.3 Other 835 0.1 817 0.2 Total 437,272 100.0 374,506 100.0

LUXOFT HOLDING, INC. Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Forward-looking Financial Measures to Comparable GAAP Forward-looking Measures (Unaudited) (In thousands of US dollars, except share, per share amounts and percentages) Year Ended

March 31, 2018 Revenue 920,000 Net income 53,695 Adjusted for: Interest Expense (236) Income tax 9,476 Depreciation and Amortization 45,368 EBITDA 108,303 Adjusted for: Stock based compensation 29,501 Loss from revaluation of contingent liability (350) Acquisition related costs 5,185 Adjusted EBITDA 142,639 Adjusted EBITDA margin 15.5 Net income 53,695 Adjusted for: Stock-based compensation expense 29,501 Amortization of purchased Intangible assets 17,437 Loss from revaluation of contingent liability (350) Acquisition related costs 5,185 Tax effect of the adjustments (6,960) Total adjustments to Net Income 44,813 Adjusted Net Income 98,508 Diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding 34,397,900 Adjusted EPS 2.86

Year Ended March 31, 2018 GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP Net income 53,695 44,813 98,508 Diluted earnings per share 1.56 2.86

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116006519/en/

Contacts:

Luxoft Holding, Inc

Investor Inquires

Tracy Krumme, 212-964-9900 ext. 2460

Vice President, Investor Relations

IR@luxoft.com

or

Media Inquiries

Patrick R. Corcoran, 212-964-9900 ext. 2453

Global Director, External Relations

Press@luxoft.com

Twitter: @Luxoft
RDD Pharma, a New York and Tel Aviv, Israel-based developer of treatments for lower gastro-intestinal disorders, raised $9.5M in Series B funding.

Backers included new investors Pharmascience and an international life science fund, as well as existing investors OrbiMed and Capital Point.

The company intends to use the funds to advance programs globally in anal fissure, fecal incontinence, radiation colitis/proctitis and pruritus ani.

Led by CEO Jason Laufer, RDD Pharma is a specialty pharma company focused on fast-track development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for anorectal diseases and lower-gastrointestinal tract disorders. The company has two clinical stage products which serve significant unmet needs: RDD-1219 for chronic anal fissure, currently enrolling patients in a multicenter European Phase 3 study, with 300 patients already enrolled and RDD-0315 for fecal incontinence, an indication for which there are no approved Rx products. Two pre-clinical assets are also in development for pruritis ani and radiation colitis/proctitis.

FinSMEs

16/11/2017
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Unconfirmed demotivating information for the rest of Zimbabweans who are eagerly hoping for a change at last is that negotiations being made in Harare for President Robert Mugabe to step down is that they have agreed that he stays until December while his wife Grace leaves politics.Information circulating is that the Final Deal is that Mugabe stays and Grace to leave politics.The other point highlighted is that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo get prosecuted."Mugabe to step down at December congress," reads part of the unconfirmed report.
Just take a moment to think of the most powerful, the most awesome supercar on the planet that you can think of. Revel in the glory that is the cars powertrain, the massive engine that probably pushes that car to speeds well in excess of 200 mph. Whether youre thinking of a Ferrari, Lamborghini or even a Pagani, know that those cars are mere playthings in front of what we have for you here.

Meet the Devel Sixteen, an American-engined, Italian-designed hypercar that first debuted at the Dubai Motor Show in 2013. The original car was an early prototype that some dismissed as a flight of the imagination. At this years Dubai Motor Show, however, Devel unveiled the second, production-ready prototype of that monster.

Monster, thats the perfect word to describe this beast of a vehicle. Why? Lets put it this way, the toned-down, road legal version of the car, when its ready, is expected to churn out twice the power of 1,000 hp supercars like the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and Koenigsegg Agera R. The more powerful road-legal version, and yes, it exists, churns out 3,000 hp.

As ridiculous as those numbers might seem, youve seen nothing yet. The track-ready version of this beast pumps out, wait for it, 5,007 hp of power. Yes, 5,007. And no, thats not a typo. Torque is expected to 3,757 lbft or about 5,100 Nm. For reference, your average hatchback produces around 100 hp of power and 130 Nm of torque. The Koenigsegg Agera R produces 940 hp of power and 1,100 Nm of torque.

The engineering miracles that led to such a car are beyond the realm of understanding of mere mortals like us. What we can tell you is that the car, if we can even use such a term for the Devel Sixteen, is powered by a quad-turbo 12.3 litre V16 engine that is eventually expected to hit 500 kph (around 310 mph). The entry-level 2,000 hp model and the more powerful 3,000 hp model will both come with a V8 engine.

The production-ready prototype is much more rounded and refined than the original. The massive rear spoiler is gone, replaced by a retractable one. Grooves have been added to the roof, and we suspect that these are for lateral stability when cruising along at speeds that would get a jetliner airborne. A massive front splitter helps with the downforce. The jet-engine style exhausts of the original have been replaced by cavernous cavities that you can probably stick your head into.

What anyone would do with that much power is beyond us, but one things for sure, this car, if and when it finally enters production, will be the most ridiculous hypercar that has graced our roads yet.

Oh, and you get scissor doors.
A vastly informative article in Firstpost (read it here) brings out vividly how FASTags work and do not work in India, the latter due to technical glitches and conceptual deficiencies. In the United States (US) that boasts of a countrywide network of motorable roads on some of which planes can land in an emergency thanks to their silken smoothness, turnpikes are a rage though a few states that taxes their residents heavily with the pincer of both county and state income tax see wisdom in allowing free passage on roads. Where tolls are charged, lanes are neatly divided into cash and FASTag lanes, with lights flashing from a distance so that you enter the lane you want to in terms of the preferred mode of payment.

There seems to be quite a few apparent shortcomings in our extant FASTag system which was lapped up during the harrowing days of demonetisation when cash became a scarce commodity and people woke up to the immense potential of digital payments in their humdrum lives. First, why should it be linked to a bank account in the manner of a debit card with the payment gateway being operated by ICICI Bank? There should be made available prepaid cards sold across counters in departmental stores and petrol stations like the orange card in Florida, USA. These cards work well thanks to their simplicity with the car registration number linked to the car making for simple and easy identification. A card linked to a bank account runs the risk of failing while whizzing past the toll gate if the bank server develops glitches or is crowded at the crucial moment. The driver unnecessarily invites chastisement and penalty for no fault of his in such situations especially if the nearby police patrol vehicle rounds him up in full public view.

Union transport minister Nitin Gadkiri, always ready to adopt international best practices on road, has hinted at cameras also being used as an alternative. In the US, tags on windscreens are not the only mode of unobtrusive electronic payment. Battery of overhead cameras capture your registration number on entry and also on exit and flash the relevant info to the state transport department which sends you a monthly bill. This can be tried on a pilot basis on select expressways in India before it is rolled out on a pan India basis. The advantage of a pilot project is one can learn from the mistakes and glitches in it. GST could not be so implemented because in matters of taxation there cannot be any selectivity.

One hopes cameras can be so programmed that even if one fails to capture, the others succeed thanks to their overhead vantage perch. Of course the program should also ensure that there is no duplicate billing.

One understands FASTags in India were entitled to 10 percent cashback in the exciting if harrowing days of demonetisation that was subsequently rolled back to 7.5 percent. Such incentives should continue in order to wean drivers away from cash that sometimes brings traffic to a screeching halt besides throwing up change problems. A problem of getting change arises when people are not able to cough up coins and notes for the requisite amount. And for camera triggered payments too there must be an incentive for prompt payment digitally.

One wonders why new vehicles registered with effect from 1 December, 2017 must compulsorily have FASTags given the fact that such tags are not original equipments (OE). They are just an appendage to the windscreen that is capable of being fixed and removed at will unless the mandate to the car manufacturers is to make a groove on the windscreen to allow firm fixation of the tags that can neither be swept off by winds nor defy reading by scanners on the toll booth the vehicle whizzes past.

The point is FASTags or cameras should be secular and universal. In fact cameras are truly secular because they wink and make passes at every vehicle that passes them by irrespective of their age or pedigree.
Consumers who availed of LPG subsidy and had Airtel Payments Bank accounts were not getting their share of subsidy amounts, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

A government statement said that a large number of LPG consumers had complained about non-credit of the LPG subsidy amounts in to their bank accounts during the past few weeks.

On verification, it is found that these complaints mainly pertain to those LPG consumers who are Airtel customers and have opened account in Airtel payment bank. Airtel is a telecom service provider which has also ventured into the Payment bank services in recent months, the statement said.

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas clarified that the LPG subsidy of the Airtel costumers was already credited to their newly opened Airtel payment bank account seeded with Aadhaar.
09:31 (ist)

Mumbai police beef up Deepika Padukone's security in the city ahead of film's release

The Mumbai Police on Thursday beefed up the security of actor Deepika Padukone after Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) warned of physical harm incase she did not refrain from 'inciting public sentiments', a senior official said.



Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana today invoked the nose chopping of 'Surpanakha' in the epic Ramayana and said if the Bollywood film "Padmavati" was not banned and Padukone does not refrain from fanning sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.



"The Mumbai Police have increased actor Deepika Padukone's security after the outfit issued the nose chopping threat," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told PTI.



We are providing her adequate security after the threat, he said. The police will also provide security at the actress's residence as well as office in Mumbai.



They have already provided protection to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali after the Rajput community outfit protested outside his office in suburban Juhu last Saturday while accusing him of distorting historical facts in the history drama.



Police have beefed up security at Bhansali's residence in Versova in the city.



Organisations like the SRKS have been protesting against the release of the film, claiming that it distorts history and hurts sentiments.



The SRKS has called for a country-wide bandh on December 1, the day the film is slated to be released.



In January this year, the SRKS had attacked the sets of the movie in Jaipur and even slapped Bhansali.



Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil told PTI the government was assessing Padukone's security in the wake of the threats.



"We have already provided security to Sanjay Leela Bhansali as he was found to be at risk. Now a security assessment of Deepika Padukone is being done. If she is found to be at risk, adequate steps will be taken. However, nobody's threat can be taken at the face value until the government assesses it," he said.



Padukone had on Tuesday hit out against those protesting the release of 'Padmavati' and reportedly said that "we've regressed as a nation".
When The New York Times broke the story on Harvey Weinsteins long history of sexual assault and triggered a watershed moment in the history of Hollywood, leading to an unprecedented number of high profile sexual predators being exposed in the ensuing weeks, Hollwyoods favourite enfant terrible  Quentin Tarantino was forced to reexamine his own relationship with Weinstein.

Initially, he simple communicated an evasive tweet via his friend and co-actor Amber Tamblyn that quoted him, For the last week I've been stunned and heartbroken about the revelations that have come to light about my friend for 25 years, Harvey Weinstein. I need a few more days to process my pain, emotions, anger and memory and then I will speak publicly about it," said Tarantino.

In a way, Tarantino owes his career as an independent filmmaker to Weinsteins clout, and support of his cinema throughout Tarantinos career, beginning with Reservoir Dogs in 1992 to The Hateful Eight in 2015  Weinstein has produced every single Tarantino film.

In fact, Weinstein was the man who produced his first feature and turned him from a video store clerk to an internationally renowned filmmaker. When Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob left Miramax to start their own company in 2005, Tarantino was one of the first filmmakers to publically accompany them as a sign of support. Weinstein had also thrown Tarantino his engagement party in 2015.

But Tarantino eventually came out with one of the strongest admissions and condemnation of his father-son like relationship with Weinstein after some serious soul searching. He stunned the industry with his tell-all interview to The New York Times when he said, I knew enough to do more than I did. I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard. If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him.

He went on to admit, What I did was marginalize the incidents. Anything I say now will sound like a crappy excuse. We allowed it to exist because thats the way it was. He urged the fraternity to speak out now and said, Im calling on the other guys who knew more to not be scared. Dont just give out statements. Acknowledge that there was something rotten in Denmark. Vow to do better by our sisters.

With Quentin now a free agent, and shopping for a new studio to produce his next film starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, he certainly seems to be putting his past behind and starting afresh, especially since The Weinstein Company is nearing bankruptcy.
By Nisha Susan

Cant a girl get some sleep around here? No? Because every time I get a little shut-eye I hear that metallic grind of you lot sharpening something. And then I know its not my nose, but there is some womans nose you are after.

This time, I hear its Deepika Padukones nose. Because she is in that movie about Padmavati, a long-dead woman who a long-dead man may have seen in a mirror. Over the millennia Ive seen lots of gents running around cutting womens noses. As you know. For stupid reasons. As also you know. I mean, you got worked up when Padukone said she is appalled that you brothers did things like destroy shops and vandalise a cinema hall in Kota. Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha, said Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana.

Having lived as long as I have, I can never crank up feelings to properly appalled. But attacking that rangoli artist in Surat was quite random, if you dont mind my saying so. Abhi kya hai ki, I dont mind if you mind also. The beauty of my post naak-katva scene is that men in battle formation or sulk formation cease to bother you. Now, if only I didnt wake up each time I hear that grinding Id be truly zen. But there is that Phantom Nose Syndrome, what to do.

As noses go Padukones is a nice nose, dont you think? Not that it matters to you, youd cut off any womans nose and then promptly get to writing that she looked kakka anyway, what loss her nose? I wasnt bad-looking, you know. I looked a lot like my mother Kaikesi. But you men were in some post-truth funk, prepared to swear up and down that since I made a move first, I must be desperate with my ugly face, pot-belly and those sharp nails of mine.

My friends called me Meenakshi, if you really want to know. I did have eyes like a fish and I needed those sharp nails in my life. First they married me to someone literally called Dushtabuddhi (I mean, literally) and then Ravana was like: Surprise, sis! Hes no good, I will just kill him. So there I was, a widow, not what you call conventionally beautiful, and stuck in the court of an extra ambitious, too many brains brother.

Back in that moment when I was making my famously #fail move on one brother and the other, I kept wondering which way to go. Soft sell or hard sell. Little bit smoochie and then ask them whether theyd teach my brother a lesson, or pick one of the above. Anyway, it all fell apart and instantly appeared you boys ki famous proclivity. Either you are saying ki you didnt fight your kidnapper hard enough, naak katva di. Or it is that you came on too hard so I will kaato your naak for you. Basically roaming around grinding your knife ready to cut a nose, any ladys nose.

Now you gents are after Deepika Padukones. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has sworn up and down the country that there is no dream sequence in which Alauddin Khilji and Padmavati will be in the same frame and that its all a rumour, but you are like no, no, no. Because you have dreamed that there is a dream, is that it? Over hundreds and hundreds of years, ever since the 13th century, the frisson of the Muslim man glimpsing the Rajput queen is still giving you the shivers, is it? (Achha chalo, I dont blame you on this front. The Other is Hot, this is the universal truth. Hence my misadventures in the forest and hence, also, that incredible Muharram scene in Raees. Whip me.)

Maybe what you are really afraid of is that this new movie will somehow remind people how daft our textbooks are to continuously claim that Khilji attacked Chittor for Padmavati. That people will start wondering why Chittor collapsed, queen or not. Books written by men, I notice, are not so hot on facts and are really hot on blame.

Now I have lots of books I could quarrel about, especially one written by a man whose name starts with a V and ends with an I, but Im too old for this. Places to go, things to do, yknow. But Im going to make an exception for Padmavati, seeing as she is my fellow countrywoman from Sri Lanka, at least in that poet dude Malik Muhamed Jayasis version. According to Jayasi, a talking parrot told Chittors king Ratan Sen about Padmavati and so he brought her away from her nice, leafy island happiness to be among folk who were constantly worried about noses. And then Khilji, the mirror, the war, and the end. Now, Jayas probably dreamt up a fictional heroine for whom a hardened invader would change his plans to make the story more relatable, or he just liked writing about beautiful women whose lives end badly, or he liked the adolescent pathos of the it-was-all-for nothing-feeling when Khilji walks into an empty fortress after everyone dies. Who knows.

I just want to tell you that back in Lanka, no poet would write about women jumping into fire to kill themselves just in case the men lost a battle. We girls from Lanka like to ensure we dont lose battles (and if you are murmuring something about Hanuman and fire right now, please dont, thats another story). Poor Padmavati, so much peer pressure, she must have been wishing that parrot dead and all mirrors shattered. Instead, into the centuries the parrot talked and the mirror gleamed and she became that simpering inflammable miss.

So no, Padmavati wasnt real but does it matter? And Jodha Bai of Jodhaa Akbar was not really Akbars wife, and that doesnt matter also. I mean, my nose isnt real and it doesnt matter and the dream sequence you brothers are burning things in several states for apparently isnt real and that doesnt matter either.

Here you are again, fellows, prepared to go to war for a film you havent watched. I hear you are saying that Sanjay Leela Bhansali cant be trusted because you feel he gave haath last time with his Ram-Leela screening, showing you one version and releasing another. Betrayal makes your knife hand itch and everything your mother told you about filmi types is coming back, isnt it?

I understand the sab kuch jala do feeling (or to quote you precisely, Jauhar ki jwala hai, bahut kuch jalega. Rok sako to rok lo), so I wont give you a laundry list of shattered promises that you might want to be angry about instead. Rationality is so overrated. Instead, Karni Sena brothers, I give you one of those strange English sayings: Dont cut off your nose to spite your face. Why not meditate on that? Breathe in. Breathe out.

The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine
In the wake of a controversy over the movie Padmavati, the Congress on 15 November said if there are scenes that hurt the sentiments of a particular community the same need to be reviewed.

"I have not watched the movie as yet, but definitely the Central Board of Film Certification formulated and formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has seen it and passed it without cuts.

"But any movie that hurts the sentiments of any community... a film is not made to hurt any community," said Congress Spokesperson R.P.N. Singh.

Singh said that scenes, if any, that hurt the sentiments of any community need to be reviewed.

The Shri Rajput Karni Sena on Wednesday called for a 'Bharat Bandh' (shutdown) on 1 December, if Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie Padmavati releases on that date.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta too has come out in support of his contemporary Sanjay Leela Bhansali, saying he is pained at how the film is embroiled in a controversy even before its release.

Mehta, who has courted controversies himself with critically-acclaimed films such as Shahid and Aligarh, said he sympathises with Bhansali and can understand what he must be going through right now.

When asked that the decision of the makers to organise a special screening for the disgruntled groups was surrendering to such elements, the director told PTI, "There is a lot of pressure and a lot of investment riding on you as a director. The director would want his film's release to be as smooth as possible. I feel sorry for him. My heart goes out to him. My heart also bleeds as I know all these superb torchbearers of culture are actually the most ignorant people on earth."
Deepika Padukone has been a regular on reality show Bigg Boss almost every year whenever she had a film to promote. This year will not be an exception either.

Padukone, along with Shahid Kapoor, will be seen promoting Padmavati on Bigg Boss 11 during a Weekend Ka Vaar episode soon.

DNA reports Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor will enter the house to interact with the contestants. The same report states that the house will be turned into a palace before the Padmavati team's arrival and the contestants will be given some fun tasks during the interaction.

The same report states that the Bigg Boss house will be converted into a palace and will be called Shahi Darbar. Deepika has always said she likes the show and has appeared every time she had a film to promote.

While Deepika, who plays the titular role in the film, will be seen with Shahid who plays Maharawal Ratan Singh, Ranveer Singh will promote the film on the sets of Dance Champions, as per the same report. Ranveer is currently on a vacation in California and will start on the promotion works as soon as he is back in the country.

There were reports earlier that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ambitious project Pamavati's promotions will mainly be anchored by Deepika. And even Shahid Kapoor will no be attending the Bigg Boss promotions and it will only be the actress on the reality show. During an event in Mumbai, Shahid was asked about the film's promotion plans where he reportedly said, "Why should I tell? Ask Deepika Padukone!" News18 quoted him as saying.

(Also read  Padmavati: Shri Rajput Karni Sena reportedly threatens to chop Deepika's nose)
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday apprised the Centre that the release of Bollywood film "Padmavati" on 1 December will pose a law and order problem for the state.

In a letter written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, UP Principal Secretary (Home), Arvind Kumar said the Censor board should be apprised about the public resentment over the alleged distortion of facts in the movie.

"The Censor Board members should take a decision after taking into account people's views. They should be apprised about it. It has come to the notice through intelligence reports that the film's producers have presented the movie for Censor Board clearance. After the release of the trailer of the movie on 9 October, various social and other organisations opposed the film," the letter said.

Kumar said such strong protests has created law and order problems in the state.

The letter further stated that "in view of the civic polls, polling for which is scheduled on 22 November, 26 November and 29 November and the counting on 1 December, and also the 'Barawafat' procession by Muslims on 2 December, the film's release can pose serious security issues".

Taking precautionary measures ahead of the scheduled release of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed movie, Uttar Pradesh DGP Sulkhan Singh had earlier asked the force to remain extra vigilant. "Keeping in view the protests against the movie by some organisations, the force should remain alert, especially at all malls and cinema halls with anti-riot equipment," Singh said in his directives to all district police chiefs. Enough police force should be kept in reserve so that it can be deployed when needed. Local intelligence units should also be alerted to keep an eye of unscrupulous elements so that effective timely action is taken," he said.

All the SHOs and senor police officers should do patrolling and keep an eye on the situation to avoid any untoward incident. "In view of the (possible) dharna, agitation, traffic jam, arsoning - all measures should be taken in advance and strict legal action initiated against those involved in such acts," he said.

Bhansali is facing the ire of various groups, who allege improper "depiction" of legendary queen Rani Padmavati in the movie. Padmavati stars Deepika Padukone in the titular role. Shahid Kapoor essays the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh plays Alauddin Khilji.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson Ministerial Meeting noted with great concern the unfolding situation in the Republic of ZimbabweThe meeting reaffirmed SADC's commitment to the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act and the SADC's Democratic Principles, as they relate to the unconstitutional removal of democratically elected Governments.The Troika further reaffirmed the need for the SADC Member States to remain guided by their Constitutions. It called upon all stakeholders in Zimbabwe to settle the political challenges through peaceful means.The Organ Troika recommended the convening of an urgent Extra-Ordinary SADC Summit and committed to remain seized with the situation in Zimbabwe.
Cop stories in Tamil cinema have majorly featured larger-than-life, moustache-twirling protagonists for a long time.

Weaving a story based on a realistic tale in the cop space has always been a rare proposition for Kollywood filmmakers. Young director Vinoth, who made a confident and competent debut with the con drama Sathuranga Vettai, has tried to approach the cop genre with a fresh perspective in his second film Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru, which is gearing up for release tomorrow and is based on several real-life incidents.

"Theeran Adhigaram Ondru is not the usual cop story where the hero single-handedly bridles all the societal problems or challenges and wins over a heinous villain. Instead, it portrays the life of an upright cop who uses pragmatic tactics to solve an elusive case which once shocked the people of Tamil Nadu. Theeran will surely be not your regular, formulaic cop film," says Vinoth in this exclusive chat with FirstPost.

When Vinoth started writing the script of Theeran as an action thriller based on a crime story he read in a newspaper, he happened to meet a police officer through his friend Saravanan. "With no significant research, I had some presumptions and conceived the story in a way. Initially, I thought it's going to be a road movie with action elements. But when I met the real police officers who worked on the case later, it was completely different from what I conceived. Intrigued by the facts, and the related events, I did some more research and was terrified by the magnitude of the investigations conducted," recalls Vinoth about the genesis of the film.

The film travels from Chennai to North India, the team had roped in various artists from the north to bring authenticity to the story.

"Many Marathi and Bhojpuri artists have acted in the film. We had shot in the scorching deserts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and did not expect such extreme climatic conditions. When we shot in the dry winds of the desert, our noses started to bleed, but the crew was completely cooperative. The fact that Karthi didn't make any qualms about the weather and worked relentlessly made others in the team act enthusiastically without any fuss," he says.

Since the story is set in 1995, for some major portions the entire team had to encounter challenging circumstances to find such underdeveloped, nondescript locations to shoot. "In our storyboard, we had nearly 150 sites, so practically it's not possible to erect sets for that many locations. So our hunt for places without the minute traces of globalisation took a long time. We have even shot few sequences in the locations where the real incidents happened," says Vinoth.

Asked about Vinoth's fascination for real-life stories, since his debut directorial Sathuranga Vettai was also based on various con accounts reported in newspapers, he responds,"I feel it is easy to establish a connection between the film and the audience when we take up films inspired from real-life tales. Though we have come across certain events in real or read in a newspaper, our perception towards it tends to change when we know the complete narrative. I always wish to tell a story with a happening backdrop. We have always passed the buck on the system, our police and politicians and it's become very convenient for us. When there's a police officer or a politician in our family, how will our perception be? Theeran will definitely change the way we see our cops today."

Although Rakul Preet's previous outing Spyder directed by AR Murugadoss didn't fetch her good response from both critics and the public, Vinoth says she has a sweet role as a traditional Tamizh ponnu in Theeran. "Rakul plays a loving, homely rural girl. She's a very professional artist. Though she's busy in Tollywood, she has a desire to work in Tamil. When we had a small talk on the sets, she told that she now has a good sense of the scripts and considers Theeran as her first Tamil film. Many good scripts are coming her way now, and she's careful about choosing the right ones."

Produced by SR Prabhu's Dream Warrior Pictures, Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru is also releasing in Telugu as Khakhe tomorrow. Ghibran has composed the music for the film, which features Bose Venkat, Abhimanyu Singh, and Rohit Pathak in pivotal roles.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump went on television on Wednesday to recap his just-completed trip abroad, but it was his pause to refresh that ended up making news. U.S. President Donald Trump takes a drink of water as he speaks about his recent trip to Asia in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsThe day after returning from a 12-day journey to Asia, Trump delivered a more than 20-minute live address to tout his accomplishments on the trip. Dry mouth got in the way. Partway through his remarks, the president, who was speaking loudly to the assembled press, paused as cameras rolled to have a drink. Foiled at first when he could not locate any water on his podium, reporters pointed out there was a bottle on a table to his right. He reached for the bottle of water and sipped. Trumps drink of water lit up social media, evoking comparisons with a televised address given by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio in 2013 during which he grabbed awkwardly for a water bottle. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about his recent trip to Asia in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsTrump mocked Rubio during a campaign event last year for his water drinking on live television, calling him a total choke artist. Rubio, who ran against Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, had some tongue-in-cheek advice for the president in return. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about his recent trip to Asia in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsSimilar, but needs work on his form, Rubio wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. Has to be done in one single motion & eyes should never leave the camera. But not bad for his 1st time. Others on social media noted the irony of Trumps choice of an imported refreshment - Fiji Water - during a speech in which one of the main themes was a pledge to reduce U.S. trade deficits with foreign nations. Trump took another sip from the water bottle before ending his speech. He left, slightly more hydrated, without taking questions from reporters. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the social media reaction to his water drinking.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
OSLO (Reuters) - Norways trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund is proposing to drop oil and gas companies from its benchmark index, which would mean cutting its investments in those companies, the deputy central bank chief supervising the fund told Reuters, sending energy stocks lower. FILE PHOTO: Oil and gas company Statoil gas processing and CO2 removal platform Sleipner T is pictured in the offshore near the Stavanger, Norway, February 11, 2016. REUTERS/Nerijus Adomaitis/File PhotoIf adopted by parliament, the fund would over time divest billions of dollars from oil and gas stocks, which now represent 6 percent - or around $37 billion - of the funds benchmark equity index. The aim is to make the Norwegian governments wealth less vulnerable to a permanent drop in oil prices, at a time when the fund is increasing its exposure to equities to 70 percent of the funds value from 60 percent earlier. Europes index of oil and gas shares hit its lowest level since mid-October on the news and was trading down 0.39 percent at 16.41 GMT . The proposal came in a letter sent by the central bank to the finance ministry and signed by its governor, Oeystein Olsen, and the chief executive of the fund, Yngve Slyngstad, Deputy Central Bank Governor Egil Matsen said in an interview. Our advice is to simply remove the oil and gas sector, as it is defined in the FTSE reference index, from the funds reference index, Matsen said. That would mean all companies that the FTSE has classified with the sector, should be removed from our reference index. The fund is the worlds largest sovereign wealth fund. It invests Norways revenues from oil and gas production for future generations in stocks, bonds and real estate abroad. It is among the largest investors in a wide range of oil companies, holding stakes at the end of 2016 of 2.3 percent in Royal Dutch Shell, 1.7 percent of BP, 0.9 percent of Chevron and 0.8 percent of Exxon Mobil. The risk for the oil sector is how many investment funds will downsize their exposure to extractive industries, said Jason Kenney, oil analyst at bank Santander. The fund also held 1.7 percent of Italys Eni, 1.6 percent of Frances Total and 0.9 percent of Swedens Lundin Petroleum, among others. At the end of the third quarter, Royal Dutch Shell was the funds third-biggest equity investment overall, worth around $5.34 billion and exceeded only by its ownership in Apple and Nestle. This news will be scrutinised very closely by funds around the world who are already looking closely at the climate risks in their portfolios and which sectors and companies will fare best in the low-carbon transition, said Stephanie Pfeifer, head of the Institutional Investors Group of Climate Change, which groups 140 investors that work on global warming and represent assets of more than 20 trillion euros. Investors will look even more carefully at which companies are aligning their business strategies to the transition to a low-carbon energy system and which ones are not. Investors then have a range of options for managing the risks they perceive, she told Reuters. Others were less sanguine. My guess is that after the initial market adjustment  which would have been difficult to anticipate  the move may not damage the sectors long-term performance significantly, Kevin Gardiner, global investment strategist at Rothschild Wealth Management, told Reuters. BP and Shell declined to comment. PROTECTING NORWAYS WEALTH Deputy governor of the Norwegian central bank Egil Matsen poses for a picture at the bank's headquarters in Oslo, Norway, January 28, 2016. Picture taken January 28, 2016. REUTERS/Gwladys Fouche/File PhotoThe aim of the proposal is to make Norways wealth less vulnerable to a permanent drop in oil prices, especially at a time when the fund is increasing the proportion of its portfolio it invests in equities to 70 percent from 60 percent previously. That would mean buying more stocks in the oil and gas sector, said Matsen. The fund has grown so large that even though the Norwegian state is taking less than 3 percent of the funds value every year for its fiscal budget in recent years, oil spending now accounts for one in five crowns spent by the state. In addition to its holdings via the fund, Norway has its own exposure to oil and gas through untapped offshore hydrocarbon reserves, as well as its 67 percent stake in the national oil company, Statoil. Oil price exposure of the governments wealth position can be reduced by not having the fund invested in oil and gas stocks, said Matsen. The fund could still invest in the sector if other parts of the funds mandate are fulfilled by having some investments in some of the companies, he said. Norwegian sovereign wealth fund (SWF) CEO Yngve Slyngstad listens during an interview in Oslo, Norway, June 2, 2017. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File PhotoBut clearly the direction is that ... if the ministry and the politicians think it is good advice and they say yes to it, clearly the investments in the oil and gas sector will decrease over time, he added. Initial reactions from Norwegian politicians were positive, with two key centrist opposition parties backing the proposal. Green campaigners also welcomed the news. Bravo Norway, and lets hope it gets through because the future of fossil fuel investment is looking shaky indeed, said Rachel Kennerley, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth. This is astonishing  as astonishing as the moment when the Rockefellers divested the worlds oldest oil fortune, said Bill McKibben, founder of the 350.org campaign group. This is the biggest pile of money on the planet, most of it derived from oil  but that hasnt blinded its owners to the realities of the world we now inhabit. COAL FIRST, OIL AND GAS NEXT Since 2015, the fund no longer invests in companies that derive more than 30 percent of their revenues or activities from coal - one of an early group of investors to do so, which has made the coal sector less attractive to some investors. Oil and gas stocks would be replaced by investments in other companies, Matsen said. The straight answer is that all other sectors would be weighted up in proportion ... (under) our current mandate, he said. At the end of 2016, the funds equity investments were split between investments in the financial sector (23.3 percent), industrial companies (14.1 percent), consumer goods (13.7 percent), consumer services (10.3 percent), healthcare (10.2 percent), technology (9,5 percent), oil and gas (6.4 percent), basic materials (5.6 percent), telecoms (3.2 percent) and utilities (3.1 percent). The proposal has to be reviewed by the Finance Ministry, which in turn needs to decide whether to propose it to parliament. The Finance Ministry said it would conclude with its own view in the autumn of 2018. If it backs the central banks proposal, Parliament could vote on it in June 2019 at the earliest. Its great to have that luxury, isnt it? Peter Fitzgerald, Aviva Investors head of multi-assets, told Reuters. You make all your money from one asset class and then you sell your holdings. ($1 = 8.2016 Norwegian crowns)

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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexicos economy minister said on Thursday he did not agree with statements made by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross that it would be devastating for Mexico if the United States pulls out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). FILE PHOTO: Trucks wait in the queue for border customs control to cross into U.S. at the World Trade Bridge in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, November 2, 2016. Picture taken November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File PhotoNo, I dont think so, Ildefonso Guajardo said in a television interview when asked if he agreed with Ross. Without a doubt, Mexico could face a short-term impact because the market is very sensitive to marketing, branding ... Our ability to adjust, and the manner in which we do it, is what will allow us to resist any potential change. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal CEO Council on Tuesday, Ross said that it would be devastating to the Mexican economy if the United States were to pull out of NAFTA. Guajardo said that if NAFTA talks, which are currently in their fifth round in Mexico City, do end up stretching into March, the United States must ask itself if it wants the trade talks to influence Mexicos July 2018 election. The fifth round of NAFTA talks entered their second day on Thursday, proceeding under the shadow of tough U.S. demands and without the presence of trade ministers who agreed to sit out the discussions. On Wednesday, Guajardo said that Mexican negotiators will propose that NAFTA be rigorously reviewed every five years to counter a U.S. sunset clause proposal that would kill the deal if it is not renegotiated after five years, an idea widely criticized as undermining long-term investments. The economy minister described the proposal as a more rigorous evaluation mechanism than currently exists. Under current rules, each country has the right to leave the deal when it wants. Guajardo emphasized that the counterproposal would not let the trade agreement automatically expire and said he thought it is unlikely that U.S. President Donald Trump would trigger the existing deals termination clause later this year. But the minister, who served as part of Mexicos NAFTA negotiating team in the early 1990s, added he could not rule out the possibility that Trump would decide to trigger a U.S. withdrawal from the 23-year-old accord in the first quarter of 2018.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday put searching questions to the Chhattisgarh government on the purchase of a Agusta helicopter for VIP use in 2006-2007 and directed it to place the original files related to the deal. The apex court asked the state government why a global tender was issued only for purchase of an Agusta chopper and how the recommendation of then state chief secretary to invite tenders from all the companies was "overturned".

The court was hearing a plea seeking investigation into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of the helicopter and also foreign bank accounts purportedly linked to the son of Chief Minister Raman Singh.

A bench comprising justices AK Goel and UU Lalit made it clear that it was not going into the technicalities but just wanted to see whether there was "any fraud or hanky panky" in the deal.

"You (state) produce the files. We will see them," the bench said, adding, "We only want to see whether there was any fraud or hanky panky. That is why we want to see the files. If you wish to file affidavit, keep it ready and keep the files also ready."

The bench asked senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who was appearing for Chhattisgarh, as to why the notice inviting tender (NIT) was concentrating only on Agusta.

"The civil aviation secretary says Agusta. The chief secretary says not only Agusta, go beyond Agusta. Why chief secretary's note was overshadowed later?" it asked.

"When was the decision taken that rather than going for NIT for all, the tender would be for Agusta only? We want to know this," the bench said.

Jethmalani told the court that he would seek instructions on certain issues and would file a short affidavit. The bench, while making it clear that state's decision to purchase a helicopter was not questioned, asked the government to produce the files before it and posted the matter for hearing on 23 November.

At the outset, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, told the bench that a global tender was issued only for Agusta for purchase of a helicopter and bids of others, like Bell and Eurocopter, were not considered at all.

He alleged that illegal gratification was given in the deal and the chief minister's son had opened a foreign bankaccount during that time.

"It appears that in this, commission of over one million dollars was given and it was illegal gratification," Bhushan said.

When he claimed that the chopper was purchased at a price of over five million US dollars, the bench asked Bhushan, "Have you got any information that this price is inflated and cheaper helicopters were available in the market?"

Responding to this, the counsel claimed that Jharkhand had purchased helicopter at a cheaper rate.

He also said the CBI was already probing the case related to alleged irregularities in purchase of AgustaWestland choppers by the Centre.

Bhushan said that the petition has also sought a probe into the purchase of a helicopter by the Jammu and Kashmir government as it was done allegedly in a non-transparent manner.

Jethmalani told the court that the chopper purchased by the Jammu and Kashmir government was different from the one bought by Chhattisgarh and it had got the "best price" for it at that time.

The plea has alleged that so far no genuine attempt has been made to investigate this deal.
New Delhi: A class nine student of a government school was stabbed to death by his classmate outside the school premises in northeast Delhi on Wednesday, the police said.

They said that the incident happened around 5:30 pm in New Usmanpur area after an argument between two groups of class nine students.

The victim was witness to the argument when a classmate accused him of inciting a fight between the two groups, the police said.

Another classmate stabbed him with a pocket knife. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police said.

A juvenile has been apprehended in connection with the case, they said.
While the National Capital Region continues to battle smog, an RTI query has revealed that the Delhi government utilised only Rs 93 lakh out of the Rs 787 crore it had collected as environment cess.

According to a report on CNN-News18, the RTI petition filed by Sanjeev Jain revealed that the Delhi government had received over Rs 50 crore as environment cess in 2015. However, there was a massive increase in collection in 2016 and 2017, when the AAP government collected Rs 386 crore and Rs 787 crore respectively.

Of this, Rs 93 lakh was paid to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation for payment towards pre-tendering incidental cost related to preparation of RFID documents, said a copy in India Today.

According to News18, the Supreme Court had asked the Delhi government to utilise the fund for improving public transport system, saying it may help reduce vehicular pollution.

However, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj defended the government, saying that while the government has the funds for buying additional buses, it does not have enough parking spaces.

"We can buy buses but there are no parking spaces available. Centre will not allot space for the government. We cannot accept that the Centre will not give us land in the long run. The Centre has been delaying our projects and they keep sitting on our proposals seeking parking spaces for the buses," Bharadwaj said.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the Delhi government chalked out a short-term plan to procure 500 electric buses (e-buses). As per the one-year plan, 500 low-floor, air-conditioned e-buses would be procured, a senior Delhi government official told PTI, adding that the transport minister had met the Delhi Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) officials in this regard on Tuesday.

Bus transport is a major issue in Delhi, with the Supreme Court in July 1998 reminding the Delhi government to increase its fleet from 5,000 to 10,000.

On Monday, the Delhi High Court noted that 19 years after the order was passed, the Delhi government hasn't yet achieved the target set by the top court.

According to The Times of India, the DTC fleet has shrunk from 5,121 buses in 2010 to 3,944 in 2017. The report added that the government has not procured a single bus since 2010.

The RTI reply came amid a meeting between Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they resolved to put in "sustained efforts" to check pollution and discussed measures to ensure smog does not envelop the national capital in the winter of 2018.

Kejriwal held a nearly 90-minute meeting at Khattar's residence in Chandigarh about air pollution and stubble burning that is a major contributory factor to smog, which has engulfed the national capital and parts of Haryana and Punjab over the past nearly two weeks.

The joint statement released after the meeting said that during the discussions, the two sides agreed that "serious health risks to which such episodes of smog expose one and all require concrete and quick action on a number of fronts".

"In today's meeting we covered crop residue burning and vehicular pollution issues. We resolve to put in sustained efforts in pursuance of the jointly identified action points in the coming days, weeks and months. We look forward to covering other sources of air and water pollution in our future discussions," the joint statement said.

Meanwhile, air quality remained outside the 'severe plus' category on Wednesday and if the trend prevails till Thursday, emergency measures such a ban on construction and entry of trucks may be lifted.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, a Supreme Court-appointed panel, said it may withdraw all the measures enforced under the 'severe plus' or emergency category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) if pollution remains under control.

The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was 361, which falls in the "very poor" category, showing a marginal dip as compared to Tuesday when it was 308, the best in a week.

With inputs from agencies
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More than 20 flights delayed due to intense smog at Indira Gandhi International airport

As Delhi and the National Capital Region saw a sharp decline in air quality levels and recorded 'very poor' air quality, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) declared the city in a public health emergency state and urged schools to stop all outdoor activities to keep children out of hazardous air pollution levels. Read more here.

IMA also suggests schools should be shut and people must avoid stepping out

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said high moisture level in the air has trapped emissions from local sources and hanging low over the city in the absence of wind. Dipankar Saha, CPCB's air lab chief, told PTI that air from neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, where paddy stubble burning is in full swing, is not entering the city as of now. Read more here.

CPCB says high moisture level in the air has trapped emissions

NGT pulls up Delhi, UP and Haryana govt over smog situation

Calling the city a 'gas chamber' , Kejriwal said that every year at this time of the year the same situation was faced. He added that they needed to find a solution to the problem of crop burning practised in the neighbouring states.

33 inbound trains delayed by three hours or more as smog affects visibility

Meanwhile, stubble burning in Punjab reduced by 30 percent, says Punjab Pollution Control Board

Sources at the Indira Gandhi International Airport said that due to low visibility on the shorter runway 9/27, they could only use runway 10/28 in the morning. The official added that the second runway was opened after visibility improved. According to officials of the India Meteorological Department, runway visibility between 7 am and 8 am was less than 200 metres and improved around 11 am. Read more here.

Measures are being taken; advised water sprinkling at construction sites: MoS Environment M Sharma

Environment body EPCA recommends vehicle parking fee to be hiked four times to curb air pollution

Biomass burning in Punjab making its effect here, says MoS Environment Mahesh Sharma

EPCA also instructs Delhi Metro to lower fares during off-peak hours for at least 10 days

The average AQI in Delhi-NCR combined was recorded 412 -- considered 'severe', while PM2.5 volume was 400 units as reported by CPCB at 1 pm.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 3 p.m. was 446  with major pollutant PM2.5, or particles with diameter less than 2.5mm recorded at 418 units. This is worse than a day-after Diwali  October 20, 2017 when the AQI was recorded at 403, while the effluents on Tuesday were just few a notches below the index value recorded a day after Diwali-2016 (October 31) which was 443.

Delhi HC asks Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan to inform about action taken against stubble burning

Delhi HC says stubble burning visible villain but there are other contributory factors

Delhi HC observes "situation is grave in wake of advisories issued against sending children to school and discouraging morning walks by people"

Sisodia, who is also Delhi's education minister, has directed the environment department to submit a report on the city's pollution level by this evening. He said that the Delhi government would take a final decision on the closure of schools and introduction of the odd-even car rationing scheme after examining the report.- PTI

EPCA directs immediate hike of parking fee by four times

The Delhi government should start preparing for imposing conditions if pollution conditions aggravate, said EPCA. Conditions include-stopping entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except essential commodities), introduction of odd-even scheme for private vehicles based on license plate numbers with minimal exceptions.Delhi, Haryana,UP and Rajasthan must start preparations as soon as possible, EPCA added.

Delhi govt should start preparing for imposing conditions if pollution conditions aggravate, says EPCA

8,000 masks distributed to CISF personnel involved in Metro security, 5,000 to those in Airport security

"Dear parents, please note that due to high pollution levels/unfavourable weather conditions in Delhi, morning sports practice has been suspended for a few days," read a message by Sanskriti School. PTI

As a choking blanket of smog enveloped the national capital on Tuesday, a number of schools in Delhi suspended outdoor activities and advised parents to ensure their children wear masks.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the AAP government, three municipal corporations and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to sit together and select at least one market to implement the ban.

Dissatisfied over improper implementation of its plastic ban order, the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the Delhi government and the civic bodies to pick and choose a particular market to make it plastic-free.

Manish Sisodia says schools to remain closed tomorrow; odd-even may be applied if condition worsens

A government official said the chief minister wanted to discuss with the Union minister the possible emergency measures required to bring down high pollution level.

As Delhi recorded a sharp dip in its air quality on Tuesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought an appointment with Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, which was denied as the latter was in Germany to attend a climate change summit.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said in an official release that these orders will be applicable with immediate effect.- PTI

In view of the dense smog that has engulfed the state during the past few days, the Haryana government has decided that the timings of all government aided and unaided private schools will be from 9 a to 3.30 pm till 30 November.

PCA member Sunita Narain told PTI that the orders are legally mandated. The decisions have been conveyed to the chief secretaries of the states who will in turn ensure their implementation, she said. PTI

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it was yet to take a decision on slashing fares temporarily, while municipal bodies argued their standing committees will have to clear the decision on enhancing parking fees first.

The EPCA's directions to "immediately" slash metro fares and hike parking fees today put authorities in Delhi in a spot, but the law is clear that the Supreme Court-appointed body's orders are binding.

On Tuesday, the air quality index in Delhi fell to its worst this year, 448 on a scale of 500, reported The Indian Express . Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the government was ready to bring back the odd-and-even transport scheme and restrict trucks if there is an emergency (AQI above 500).

Delhi's AAP government tweeted a list of the five steps it has taken to combat air pollution

So far, authorities have failed in preventing stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana in winters, which increases air pollution in the region, reported Livemint . CPCB data says that air quality at majority of monitoring stations was at "severe" levels on Tuesday.

The Times of India quoted experts as saying that the next few days are likely to be just as bad, as pollutants were accumulating due to calm wind conditions and high humidity, The sudden drop in air quality is a result of crop-burning pollutants coming in from Punjab and Haryana, and moisture coming in from Uttar Pradesh.

Next few days likely to be just as bad

Adjoining areas affected too: Visual from Sector 44 Noida at 7.15 am on Wednesday

"The chief minister has sought time from Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. However, his (Vardhan) office replied that he is not available and is out (of country). A meeting would be possible only on 9 November," the official said.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought an appointment with Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan, which was denied as the latter was in Germany to attend a climate change summit. A government official said the chief minister wanted to discuss with the Union minister the possible emergency measures required to bring down high pollution level.

Hindustan Times quotes the Indian Medical Association (IMA) as describing New Delhi as a "public health emergency state" as suspended particulate matter in air stays at "hazardous" level on Tuesday across all monitoring stations.

The Graded Action Plan kicked in after air quality hit "severe" levels, reported The Times of India . Some of the measures in place now include: Closure of brick kilns, hot-mix plants; shutting down of all stone crushers; more buses on roads; greater frequency of metro, lower fares in off-peak hours etc.

The Guardian noted that a public health emergency has been declared by doctors in Delhi after the air quality plunged to levels likened to smoking at least 50 cigarettes in a single day.

Business Standard reported that air quality went beyond maximum levels in some parts of Delhi. According to the US Embassy's real-time air quality index, RK Puram faced AQI of 999 which is the highest possible rating.

Air Quality goes beyond maximum levels in some areas

Ghaziabad schools will be closed due to declining air quality in the NCR region, according to The Indian Express . District Magistrate Ritu Maheshwari also said that construction activities in the region will be suspended for at least a week.

Dr KK Aggarwal, National President of IMA, on what precautions should be taken against the pollution in Delhi

The Firstpost reporter received a call from his son's school informing him that his son has been shifted to the school's hospital. This was due to the exposure to air pollution on the way to school.

Middle and high-school children are still going to schools as no emergency holiday has been announced for them. Some were wearing masks but a large number were without masks. Almost everyone is complaining about their eyes burning.

Middle and high-school children suffer while going to school

Ashutosh Dixit, a functionary of URJA, a joint platform of Resident Welfare Associations told Firstpost that in order to control pollution the Delhi government should stop entry of trucks into the city. He added that stopping of construction work is also to be considered.

Residents ask for ban on entry of trucks into the city

Most areas show pollution levels much above even 'severe' limits. The live air quality in Delhi can be checked here .

Despite the Delhi government's order to shut down primary schools on Wednesday, many private schools remained open. SK Bhattacharya, Principal of Bal Bharti School said that the private schools were only advised to keep primary schools shut. He added that there was no binding order to shut schools. Ashok Agarwal of the Indian Parents Association expressed surprise at how the government could show such negligence to the students of private schools. He said that there are more than 5,000 private schools in Delhi catering to 23 lakhs students.

School administrations say there was no binding order to shut schools

Smog-like conditions have blocked the Sun since Tuesday and have resulted in low temperatures as the mercury plummeted to 14 degree Celsius, over two degrees lower than Tuesday, reports Hindustan Times .

Namit Arora, member of the Air Pollution Task Force (2016-17), Dialogue and Development Commission, Delhi, called air pollution a "serious public health issue" across India. "While Delhi can do a lot more to tackle air pollution, a more coordinated regional plan is necessary to truly address this menace. Sadly, the central government has utterly failed to deliver leadership and effective action on the air pollution front. What will it take to get our state and central governments to work together to tackle big ticket items like emission control, public transportation, waste management, dust reduction, crop burning, and biomass burning for cooking and warmth?" he asked. "That said, however," he added, "Its also important to note that citizens too need to do their part to help reduce air pollution through their daily actions: Drive less, recycle, avoid diesel, dont burn stuff, get involved to agitate and educate."

Dr KK Aggarwal, president of the Indian Medical Association, was quoted as saying by India TV that all citizens have been advised to remain indoors. "PM10 is still at a dangerous level, but it's lesser than yesterday. People have been recommended to take precautions for the next two days  stay indoors, don't go out for exercises or walks."

Delhi citizens urged to stay indoors for two more days

Ashok Agarwal of the Indian Parents' Association expressed surprise about how the government could display such negligence. He said that there are more than 5,000 private schools in Delhi and 23 lakh student go to them.

Despite the Delhi government's order to shut primary schools on Wednesday, many private schools remained open. SK Bhattacharya, principal of Bal Bharti School, said that private schools were only "advised" to be shut on Wednesday, and there was no order necessitating this.

As air quality levels dip across Delhi, residents are demanding that all school and college students in the capital be provided with masks at subsidised rates by the state government.

Doordarshan has reported that out of 21 reporting stations in the capital, 20 have reported "severe" air quality on Wednesday. Pollution levels have risen to "dangerous" levels, the broadcaster has said.

Union minister Dr Harsh Vardhan requests all state governments in Delhi-NCR to take effective steps to mitigate pollution

Even the vast expanse of trees in Sanjay Van can't counter the air pollution in Delhi

Air pollution is responsible for 3,000 premature deaths in Delhi every year, according to The Hindu . That works out to eight deaths a day. Further, one in three Delhi kids has reduced lung function and high propensity for increased pulmonary haemorrhage.

She added, "Delhi-NCR generally has a high baseline PM2.5 reading post October but firecrackers and crop burning lead to extreme spikes like the ones we have seen in the past two days. Farmers have been burning their crops several times over the last few weeks and for the last few weeks. Delhi-NCR missed spikes on Tuesday because of the wind direction. The wind direction changed over the last few days and this has lead to the hazardous P2.5 readings. The wind could be the reason why Panchkula has a lower reading than Delhi-NCR on Wednesday. The farmers need to be given better alternatives to crop burning and this is where the Government and rice producers need to come in."

Firstpost talked to Nita Soans, CEO, Kaiterra, maker of Laser Egg, an Air Quality Monitor who said, "the farmers are only given 15 days to sow the next plant (wheat), and market and thresh the first one. Multiple harvesting leaves them with no other option but to burn the spike. If this was the prime cause of smog, wouldn't Chandigarh, the capital of Haryana and Punjab, have also been affected by smog? Panchkula is 177 PM 2.5 (Unhealthy) right now and ITO in central Delhi is 661 (Hazardous)."

If stubble burning was the reason, wouldn't Chandigarh be affected too?

The visibility was recorded at 300 meters both at 5.30 am and 8.30 am, reports PTI. The minimum temperature settled at 14 degrees Celsius, even as humidity levels were high. The humidity was recorded at 98 per cent at 8.30 am. The Met office has forecast clear skies for the rest of the day.

NGT seeks explanation from state pollution control boards and CPCB on action taken to curb the menace of air pollution

Delhi-based scientist Amol Bahl told Firstpost that apart from particulate matter Delhi air also contains formaldehyde and volatile organic compound which are equally dangerous. They are caused due to smog which can cause respiratory distress and disorders, intestinal disharmony, skin infection, vision impairment etc. He says that measures aimed at reducing particulate matter in the air are not going to be enough. He adds that Delhi needs a solution to this problem too.

Apart from particulate matter, Delhi air also has formaldehyde and volatile organic compound which are equally dangerous

All schools in the city will be shut till Sunday in view of high levels of pollution, announces Delhi government

Writing for Business Standard , Siddharth Singh argues that the government knows the causes and the solutions. However the histrionics which will put this crisis on the top of the policy agenda are as yet missing. He concludes by saying, "We need an all of the above approach, and we need it starting yesterday."

Government aware of steps that it needs to take to fix this problem, but has not worked on fixing this public health emergency

Speaking to Outlook , AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria said, "Masks are not very helpful as a lot of air can get inside from the sides. Also children and elderly find them very uncomfortable to use."

Masks might not be the solution

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall arrive in Delhi amidst heavy smog

ANI reported that the air quality of Delhi's Lodhi Road area showed prominent pollutants PM 10 & PM 2.5 in 'severe' category

There was no respite for Delhi as thick smog continued to envelope the National Capital

The EPCA has suggested a number of pollution control norms to reduce smog in the capital, including quadrupling of parking fees in Delhi-NCR; slashing Metro fares during off-peak hours; and a complete closure of brick kilns. However, these measures are likely to face speed breakers and hurdles on the implementation stage.

Delhis Punjabi Bagh at 799, Dwarka 388, Shadipur 362,Anand Vihar 515 in Air Quality Index. All fall in the Hazardous category

Reports said that 41 trains coming in and going out of Delhi will arrive late due to worsening smog situation in the national capital. ANI reports that nine trains have been rescheduled and ten others have been cancelled

Singh also said that the smog situation is serious but "Punjab is helpless" as problem is widespread and state has no money "to compensate farmers for stubble management."

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday reached out to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the latter's concern over stubble management in the neighbouring states. In a series of tweets addressed to Kejriwal, Singh said, "Share your concern over stubble burning and pollution @ArvindKejriwal, Centre alone can solve the problem given its national implications."

Amarinder Singh tweets to Kejriwal: Says Punjab has no money to compensate farmers for stubble management

After the death of 10 people in a road accident in Bathinda, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered issuance of strict guidelines for bus drivers in view of widespread smog in the state.

Even as smog condition worsens in New Delhi, latest visuals from Haryana's Rohtak shows that stubble burning continued in the state. Reports said that the pollution levels are rising in the region and neighbouring states.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday sent a letter to chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana and urged them to work jointly to resolve the air pollution issue.

Kejriwal writes to CMs of Punjab and Haryana over air pollution issue

The state government is also expected to arrive at a decision on odd-even scheme today.

The Supreme Court constituted body, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) announced the severe plus category, according to its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). A series of emergency measures laid out in GRAP, will have to be immediately enforced by the Delhi government, the municipal corporation and all other authorities, which include, barring trucks, except those carrying essential commodities.

Delhi officially hit the severe plus, or emergency category of air pollution, as the smog refused to abate, and the air quality index (AQI) stood at 493. Delhi NCRs AQI read 480, according to the 7pm readings, News18 reports.

Quoting Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, reports said that two-wheelers will be exempted if odd-even scheme comes into effect in Delhi.

In Punjab, all government and private schools will remain closed from 9 November to 11 November, reports said.

It's difficult to breathe while practicing, say sport enthusiasts in Ludhiana

It's difficult to breathe while practicing, say sport enthusiasts in Ludhiana

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responded to his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh's tweet and agreed that the Centre should intervene in the worsening air pollution issue in Delhi. "I agree sir that Centre shud take lead. But pl grant me time to discuss if together we can present a plan to centre. Del is choking sir."

The government issued a health advisory for high-risk people, including children, the elderly and those suffering from asthma and heart ailments. We appeal to the people of Delhi to avoid morning and evening walks, Manish Sisodia said.

Delhi govt tells high-risk group not to go for morning and evening walks

Air pollution in the region has officially hit the severe plus or emergency, category of air pollution, as the smog refused to abate, and the air quality index stood at 493. Authorities will decide whether the odd-even rule needs to be re-introduced to control vehicular pollution.

The odd-even road rationing scheme may return to New Delhi as NCR continues to reel under severe levels of air pollution.

In view of the ongoing weather scenario, the Delhi Metro has decided to run extra train trips across the metro network from Friday, Financial Express reported.

Due to the smog that descended on most parts of the state, as many as 17 people have been killed in road accidents across the state in the last 24 hours, police said.

Meanwhile, reports said that the Air Quality Index in Noida has been noted as the worst in the state in the past 24-hours. IANS reported that the air quality in the state capital is worst in Lalbagh where the average AQI is 463, which was very close to that in Noida in the last 24-hours.

Hazardous weather conditions have hit Uttar Pradesh too with various cities recording dangerously poor air quality, officials said on Thursday.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted saying that the EPCA should effectively implement identified steps in a practical manner so that the visible improvement is seen on ground. "I would like to assure people that the central government shall do everything possible to bring about improvement in air quality in Delhi and NCR."

Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) President Rocky Tuseed on Wednesday demanded that Delhi University should keep the colleges closed till Sunday in the wake of alarming pollution level.

"If any time you are feeling breathlessness or palpitation, immediately go to nearest medical facility. Do not smoke, as it harms not only you but others also," the advisory said.

Treatment is absolutely free in all the government health facilities. "Keep the environment healthy, not only by words, but also by your actions. If you feel irritation in the throat and nose, take steam and do salt water gargles. Drink plenty of warm water and maintain good hydration.

Delhi government issued a health advisory on Wednesday urging Delhiites to use carpooling and public transport, stay indoors, and not to smoke. It also urged people to avoid going for early morning walks and late evening walks, and not to burn dry leaves, crops residues, wood, coal, etc. It advised people to go to the nearest medical facility, if they feel breathlessness or palpitation.

Delhi govt health advisory tells people to drink plenty of water and not to smoke

The advisory states that polluted air of the capital is taking a heavy toll on the health, and the national capital has been witnessing smoggy mornings due to high moisture content, particulate matter, pollution, and lack of winds.

It called for extra precautions for high risk groups such as children, elderly, pregnant women, asthma patients, and those with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases), heart disease and stroke, diabetics, and with low immunity and suggested usage of N95 masks while going outdoor during peak pollution hours.

The advisory advised schools to avoid outdoor assembly, sports activities and other physical activities in the early morning hours.

"You have made a mess of Delhi. You have done what you had to, now we will decide what you have to do. Why didnt you issue any direction for shutting down polluting industries and construction. You did it yesterday as we told you to do so. Go to the hospital see number of patients that are being admitted," NGT tells Delhi government.

NGT also slammed neighboring states of Delhi and raised the question on their seriousness on the grievous situation

The National Green Tribunal observed: "Even construction work taking place openly isnt being stopped, and when such a situation has ensued now action is being promised.

The Indian capital was ranked at 552 (Hazardous) in deep red letters. The level of Particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) was especially alarming as it soared up to 999 during the day.

Last year this report in Firstpost quoted real time coverage data given out by aqicn.org , a website that tracks air quality in major cities across the world, New Delhi preceeded Beijing when it came to poor air quality. While aqicn.org ranked Beijing at 25 (Good) in its Air Quality Index, Delhi's map was awash in deep red, and purple flags.

Smog-ridden Beijing, often dubbed 'Greyjing' for its sickly air quality and thick blanket of smog, is arguably one of the world's most polluted city. However Delhi and Beijing remained neck and neck as last year's data said it's an equally bad place to breathe.

What made matters worse was the fact that particulate matter is considered one of the most dangerous pollutants as it lodges deep inside the lungs  much further than larger pollution particles  seriously increasing the prevalence of respiratory diseases and the risk of lung cancer.

Last year, Reuters had reported that Delhi's air pollution index had breached the "hazardous" upper level limit of 500, at which it stops measuring levels of PM2.5. The index had rocketted to 1,126.

Last year same time, Delhi breached the hazardous upper level limit of 500

However, Outlook has reported that the video was, in fact, shot in 2016. The confusion might have been caused due to the fact that a similar accident did take place on the Yamuna Expressway on Monday morning. Hindustan Times reported that six people were injured when 13 vehicles piled up on the Expressway in Greater Noida's Dankaur area due to low visibility on Wednesday morning.

In the midst of all this a video went viral on social media sites and WhatsApp groups showing a major pile-up of cars on the Yamuna Expressway due to low visibility caused by smog. Many major publications carried it as a portrayal of the current situation on the ground.

The air quality index of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had a score of 487 on a scale of 500, indicating 'severe' levels of pollution.

NGT said, CPCBs report has shown the extent of danger lurking in the air in Delhi NCR. "Yesterday PM 10 levels, supposed to be 100, had touched 986, while the PM 2.5 levels, supposed to be 60, had reached 420. This has been the situation since the past week."

During the hearing, NGT asked Delhi government on the steps taken to curtail pollution, the number of challans issued to violators and the number of construction sites where work has been stopped. NGT asked, why rain isnt artificially being triggered using helicopters?

The National Green Tribunal pulled up Delhi Government, Municipal Corporations and neighbouring states and asked them to see the pitiable condition of people in hospitals and the way their lives are being played with.

What steps are you taking to curtail pollution, NGT asks Delhi govt

NGT says vehicles which are more than 10 years old (in case of diesel) and 15 years old (in case of petrol), should be prohibited to enter Delhi. The Tribunal also says ban trucks carrying construction materials in Delhi-NCR.

Old diesel and petrol vehicles should be prohibited from entering Delhi: NGT

According to media reports, nine people, including eight students, waiting by the side of a road to catch a bus after their vehicle met with an accident, were mowed down by a speeding truck near Bathinda-Chandigarh road on Thursday.

Nine, including 8 students, mowed down by truck near Bathinda-Chandigarh road

"I have sought meeting with the chief ministers of the neighbouring states. The Centre and the states need to work out a solution to this issue. Fining the farmer, isnt the solution. Farmers are already under trouble. If everyone  central government, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana government, come together and put aside politics a solution can be found," Arvind Kejriwal says

Centre and states need to work together for a solution: Kejriwal

Delhi High Court directs emergency meeting be called by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change secretary with Chief Secretaries of NCR states and pollution control agencies within three days on pollution.

Reacting to the constantly deteriorating smog situation in Delhi-NCR area, MoS Environment Mahesh Sharma says, "This matter shouldnt be politicised, it is the time for everyone to come together and fight this problem."

The National Human Rights Commission on Thursday said it was alarmed over the life threatening high level pollution in Delhi-NCR area. The body issued notices to the Centre and governments of Punjab and Haryana "on their action plan to tackle it."

"For a month (from mid October to mid November) the whole northern India becomes a gas chamber, not just Delhi."

"The high increase in PM levels in Delhi is not just due to local reasons, people and government of Delhi are ready to take all steps but these steps will not be enough until solution to crop burning is found."

Kejriwal added that decision on odd-even formula "will be taken by today or tomorrow (Friday), if need arises."

"If everyone  central government, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana governments  come together and put aside politics, a solution can be found. Until state governments find economically viable solutions to crop burning, it (smog situation) will not stop."

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday reiterated the need for all neighbouring state governments to pitch in and put aside their politics so that "a solution can be found" to the existing, deteriorating smog situation in Delhi.

Companies like Xiaomi, Eureka Forbes, Blue Air, Panasonic India, Honeywell and Sharp said they have witnessed multi-fold jump in demand for air purifiers in the last couple of days.

Financial Express reports that air purifiers manufacturers witnessed a spike in sales as consumers resort to panic buying with air pollution in Delhi-NCR breaching critical limit in New Delhi and adjoining areas.

ANI quoted Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan as saying, "Already in touch with states in NCR region, asked them to implement graded action plan. Constantly monitoring situation. There should be no reason to panic, take precautions try to stay indoors & don't expose children to polluted air."

Odd-even policy will be implemented in Delhi from 13-17 November: Sources tell ANI

In fact, apart from Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and West Bengal's Howrah have a worse AQI than Delhi.

On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad touched 500, which is the highest the scale can measure, News18 reported. On the same day, Delhi had an AQI of 478.

Air quality in UP's Moradabad is even worse than in Delhi

As a January 2016 analysis by Indiaspend points out, the last time the Delhi government had implemented the odd-even scheme, air-pollution levels in Delhi rose 15 percent during the 15-day period (1 to 15 January, 2016) of the state governments odd-even measure over the previous 15 days (17 to 31 December, 2015), according to an analysis of PM (particulate matter) 2.5 data, generated by IndiaSpends #Breathe air-quality monitoring devices.

The Delhi transport minister further added: "I am appealing to all residents that they cooperate in this hour of crisis. I am also appealing police and agencies that they cooperate at best."

"The real condition is not because of Delhi but the crop burning in adjoining states," K Gahlot said.

Speaking on the exemption of school buses from odd-even, Gehlot said: "At the moment, we haven't taken decision of school students using transport because schools are closed till Sunday."

He added that arrangements were being made to hire 500 extra buses for public transport.

"The CNG stickers for cars will be available from 2pm on Friday in two IGL stations of every district, In case of confusion, citizens can call the transport helpline," Delhi transport minister Kailash Gehlot said.

He added that odd-even was being implemented only for 5 days, saying, "It is an emergency situation that why we are taking these steps. Odd even will be enforced between 8am and 8pm."

"I am requesting the prime minister that he must convene meeting with the chief minister of all the affected states," Kailash Gehlot said at a press conference.

"The minister ... has said that directions have been issued to project directors, contractors and field level officials working on highways projects around Delhi NCR to take stringent steps to check pollution arising out of the construction work," the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.

Gadkari on Thursday stressed for a thorough research into reasons behind pollution levels.

Concerned over hazardous smog engulfing Delhi, Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday directed officials of all highway projects to take stringent steps to check pollution.

Nitin Gadkari asks officials to take stringent steps to check pollution in road projects

The scheme will be in place from 8 am to 8 pm and there will exemptions for women drivers and two-wheelers.

he odd-even car rationing scheme will be rolled out in Delhi for five days from 13 November as part of a graded response plan to tackle the alarming pollution situation in the city, the state government announced on Thursday.

We are working to hire 500 additional buses as directed by the transport minister. In view of short-time period, it is a tough task, but bus operators have promised to arrange buses for odd-even," said a senior official, who did not wish to be named.

The odd-even scheme will be rolled out in Delhi for five days from 13 November to 17 November. The scheme will be in place from 8 am to 8 pm and there will exemptions for women drivers and two-wheelers.

With nearly 13 lakh private cars expected to keep off the road per day after the odd-even scheme kicks in from Monday, the government is looking to hire 500 buses to ensure smooth commute for the public.

With odd-even 3.0, Delhi govt expects to keep 13 lakh cars off road

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari took to Twitter on Friday and slammed the Delhi government and the residents of National Capital for shirking 'civic responsibilities.'

Understand economic logic of stubble burning but it must stop ASAP, says Congress' Manish Tewari

The Delhi Traffic Police has said all borders entry points from where heavy and medium goods vehicles enter into the National Capital shall be sealed by the Delhi Police with effect from 11 pm of 9 November to 11 pm of 12 November which can be further extended depending upon air quality in coming days.

Border entry points into Delhi to be sealed from 11 pm of 9 Nov to 11 pm of 12 Nov: Delhi Traffic Police

Mandir Marg: 515; Punjabi Bagh: 802; Anand Vihar: 571; Dwarka: 420 in Air Quality Index. All fall under the 'Hazardous' category.

Transport minister Kailash Gahlot has called a meeting with representatives of Ola and Uber on Friday to discuss the issue of surge pricing during the odd-even policy starting from Monday onwards.

The Union Territory's air quality was its poorest on Wednesday, reported The Indian Express . As per latest data from the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) on Thursday, the 24-hour Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) in Chandigarh's industrial area on WEdnesday was 375, its worst ever. AAQ is measured by the pollutants and gases in the air.

Sunil Dahiya, campaigner, Greenpeace India, said that bringing back odd-even is a good idea but there needs to be awareness about other factors that contribute in increasing pollution levels in the city.

"As per TERI estimates, it led to reduction of four to seven per cent last year. We recommend its use for limited period only during air quality emergency conditions. Exemptions given in the scheme could further reduce its effectiveness," he said.

In a statement, Sumit Sharma, associate director, TERI, said odd-even has limited potential for reducing pollution in Delhi.

While The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) said that the exemptions could reduce its effectiveness, Greenpeace India said that other factors like construction, thermal power plants that contribute to pollution should also be tackled.

Green bodies on Thursday gave mixed reactions to the odd-even road-rationing scheme that will be rolled out in Delhi from 13 November, saying it might not be a long-term solution to curb pollution in the city.

An analysis of the Central Pollution Control Boards AQI bulletin archives has shown that air quality has become worse across the northern-Gangetic region in places such as Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Muzzafarpur, reported The Indian Express . NASA's Aqua satellite on 7 November mapped the smog and air pollution in the plain. It showed a "natural-colour image of haze and fog" blanketing the region. The report also states the sensor showed an "aerosol optical depth" which points to "skies thick with aerosol pollution".

It's not just Delhi; air quality has been worsening across northern-Gangetic plain

Tripathi's team help analyse the NASA data. He further said that crop burning was to blame for the increase in particulate matter in Delhi-NCR and surrounding regions.

It takes about three to four days for the particulate matter to reach a city like Delhi from Punjab, Sachchida Nand Tripathi, a professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, told the Hindustan Times.

NASA data shows that a rise in crop burning on 27, 29 and 31 October in Punjab led to adverse air quality in the Indo-Gangetic belt to dangerously high levels this week, said experts according to the Hindustan Times .

Lal said the announcement was made without any consultation with EPCA. "The government needs at least 2,000 (more) buses to start the third round of Odd-Even. The announcement was done without any consultation with ECPA. It will create unnecessary panic among the public at large," Lal said.

"The government does not have enough number of buses to start the scheme, and with exemptions on two-wheelers, it will not have much effect," he reportedly said.

Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) chairman Bhure Lal told DNA there will hardly be any difference when odd and even numbered private vehicles will ply on roads on alternate days.

The revised rates for cars are Rs 80 per hour and Rs 400 for 24 hours, according to the SDMC order. "For two-wheelers, it would be Rs 40 per hour and Rs 200 hours," it said. For the NDMC and EDMC, the revised fees for parking of cars would range from Rs 80 to Rs 800, the civic official said.

Id like to assure people that the central government shall do everything possible to bring about improvement in air quality in Delhi and the Nation Capital Region, central environment minister Harsh Vardhan said as authorities faced criticism for failing to take steps to fight a problem that erupts every year.

Waking up with a headache, breathlessness & throat irritation every day, Bhavani Giddu wrote on Twitter. Reuters reported many people stayed home and restaurants in some of the citys most crowded parts were deserted.

SAD-BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, too, had distributed masks yesterday at the Connaught Place. He was accompanied by Delhi BJP leader Arvinder Singh Lovely and AAP MLA Kapil Mishra.

Political parties and organisations are distributing masks among people in view of deteriorating air quality in the national capital even as doctors express doubts over their efficacy. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari along with Abhiyan Delhi, an NGO, distributed masks at Connaught Place. He asked Delhiites to be cautious and use masks while going out, especially in the early hours, a Delhi BJP statement said.

The number of registered vehicles in the national capital has crossed the 1-crore mark and of this, 31,72,842 are cars registered in the city. The official said that as per rough estimates, about 13 lakh cars will go off the roads every day during the operation of the odd-even scheme.

The Delhi Transport Corporation has a bus fleet of around 4,000 buses while there are over 1,600 cluster buses that form the backbone of the public transport along with metro. According to the official data, DTC buses carry around 35 lakh passengers every day. Since the AAP came to power, the DTC has not been able to purchase any new bus.

With nearly 13 lakh private cars expected to keep off the road per day after the odd-even scheme kicks in from Monday, the government is looking to hire 500 buses to ensure smooth commute for the public.

NGT also directed the Delhi government to produce details of ambient air quality during earlier odd-even schemes.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is set to examine at 2 PM today Delhi government's decision to implement odd-even scheme from 13 November.

It is exactly this kind of surrender that makes the political class get away with its failures. This disinterest among people ends up giving clean chits to governments and politicians guilty of criminal neglect of Delhi's air. And, the result of this apathy is that the city gets the government and the air it deserves.

Delhi's silent capitulation to fate is a painful indictment of its inability to stand up for its own rights. It is a reminder of the zombie-like existence of a city that doesn't stop even once to introspect about its own fate. It is a resounding counterpoint to what was once said about Delhi, that it was dilwalon ki. Because, Delhi has lost the heart and stomach for a fight for its own existence. Its blood has turned into water.

Where exactly is the anger and concern among citizens about the hazard to their health? Are the people of Delhi really worried about the cancer-causing pollutants they are inhaling? If yes, what are they doing to demand the right to clean air, and thus, the right to life? Do we see any dharnas, candle-light marches or protests? Do we see in people of Delhi the desire to make the government do something about the gas chamber they live in?

Why is Delhi not demanding the right to breathe?

The National Green Tribunal asked the Delhi govt what was being done in terms of keeping a check on violations made during construction activity,"How many builders have you caught? What is being done to stop construction activity?" the tribunal put forth for the Delhi govt to answer. The NGT said that the govt should to impose 1 lakh fine on builders found violating directions, as construction work has been halted in view of smog & air pollution.

News18 reports that the National Green Tribunal will hear the Delhi government's reports on what policies have been implemented to counter Delhi pollution and will receive its verdict on the odd-even scheme. "Keeping in mind the environmental emergency and the odd-even, a special NGT bench will sit tomorrow, and Delhi govt will have to answer them why is Odd-Even necessary to be implemented now," Gaurav Bansal, lawyer in odd-even implementation matter in NGT, told ANI.

NGT meeting to be held with Delhi govt tomorrow at 11 am

However, CNG vehicles, emergency services such as ambulance and fire are exempted from odd-even scheme, they added.

Delhi government is free to implement odd-even car rationing scheme but they are subject to conditions, says NGT. The green tribunal added that no exemption should be given to anyone, including two-wheeler riders, in odd-even scheme.

The National Green Tribunal also asked AAP government if odd-even car rationing scheme is being implemented with consent of both L-G and Delhi government. The tribunal also asked why didn't the Delhi government introduce odd-even scheme earlier when air quality was worse.

NGT also slams AAP government for logic behind the rule

National Green Tribunal said that the measures like enhanced parking fees, as suggested by EPCA, to decrease pollution are absurd. The panel also asked AAP to reconsider the decision.

"Implement odd-even scheme when PM10 level is above 500 micrograms per cubic metre and PM2.5 above 300 g/m3," NGT asks the AAP government.

NGT wants odd-even to go beyond five days

The tribunal is hearing a plea for immediate action against the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, stating that it was an "environmental emergency" which was affecting children and senior citizens the most.

A Delhi resident's view on women not being exempted from odd-even rules

The car-rationing scheme, which was enforced twice in the national capital in 2016, will be in place between 13 and 17 November from 8 am to 8 pm. Under the policy, private vehicles are allowed to run based on the last number of their licence plates. Odd-numbered cars are allowed to run on odd dates while even-numbered cars can only run on even dates.

The bench also issued notices to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) to show cause why exemplary cost should not be imposed on them for violation of its order putting a ban on construction activities.

After NGT's order urged the AAP government to rework the odd-even scheme, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for an emergency meeting at his residence at 3 pm on Saturday, CNN News18 reported. He is ecpected to meet all stakeholders in the issue in order to take the next step.

According to ANI, the National Green Tribunal also asked the Uttar Pradesh Government over the number of violators, who were issued challan in Noida and Greater Noida.

How many issued challan in UP?: NGT

This came in wake of National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order on Thursday directing the government to track down all the hot spots with the PM10 more than 600 and spray water from helicopters or aircraft to tackle dust pollution across the city.

T he Delhi government on Friday said that it was in talks with state-owned helicopter service company Pawan Hans to aerially sprinkle water over the city to settle pollutants.

During odd-even the exemption will apply only to emergency services such as ambulance, police vehicles and fire trucks. CNG and hybrid vehicles will also be expected.

Karanatak home minister Ram Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday said that the state will introduce the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme in Bengaluru if it proves to be a success in tackling air pollution in Delhi, reported Deccan Herald

Bengaluru to also follow odd-even if it proves to be a success in Delhi

Is there any merit in BJP opposing every move of AAP Government?, asks Saurabh Bharadwaj

According to CNN, United Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to Delhi on Friday over air quality concerns in the capital city. "We are monitoring advisories as the region remains under a public health emergency, and are coordinating with respective government agencies," CNN quoted a representative for the airline as saying.

Sources in the Delhi government have told CNN-News18 that they do not approve of women drivers being included in the odd-even policy. "It is incomprehensible to compromise on women safety. Delhi government cannot compromise on women safety," said the source.

According to News18, after the meeting, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and Environment Minister Imran Hussain will address the press.

"If 30 lakh two-wheelers are off the road, Delhi's public transport system cannot accommodate the surge," claims Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot as he announces that the odd-even scheme has been called off.

While explaining the reasons behind the AAP government's decision to call off odd-even plan, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said,"Pollution levels going down are important but women's safety is paramount."

"The situation in the capital is improving. I appeal to Delhi residents to not panic. Dust is not entering from other states and stubble burning has also come to an end. We have taken all people concerned on board, which includes chief ministers of neighbouring states. We (the Centre) can only help, Delhi government has to implement the reforms on the ground. I do not think that the odd-even plan is necessary. There are basic things in the Graded Rapid Action Plan (GRAP) that should be implemented first," CNN News18 quoted Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan as saying.

Situation improving, no need to panic, says Harsh Vardhan

On asked about what can happen on Monday, Vaddakan said, "Monday is yet another day but if pollution reduces then there is no relevance of the odd-even policy. The Delhi government as well as the state government need to agree on alternative mode of transport."

Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan slammed the AAP government for calling off the odd-even scheme. " AAP had implemented the programme without looking at cost-benefit factor. Now after the NGT has given this verdict, they realise the riders that they cannot tackle the problem and are withdrawing it now.

Arunodoy Prakash, media advisor of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodiya, said that the Delhi Government would approach NGT on Monday with a review petition. He also said that more than 32 lakh people would be left with no means of transport if exemptions are not given.

Delhi government would drop the implementation of odd-even policy for one day. The government was about to implement the scheme from 13 November. However, NGT ordered the government to implement odd even without any exemption except those provided to health emergency. After the order, the Delhi government decided not to start implementation of odd even from 13 November.

Odd-even policy may be delayed by one day

"The minimum temperature was recorded at 12.6 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal," an official of the department said. Visibility was recorded at 800 metres at 5.30 am, which dropped further to 500 metres by 8.30 am.

According to the MeT department, humidity levels in the national capital shot up to 91 percent this morning.

The weather office had predicting light rainfall later in the day, which may clear the smog enveloping the national capital.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), cities across North India continue to be 'severe' on air quality index. According to the pollution control board, Varanasi is top of the list at 491. Haryana's Gurugram comes second at 480, Delhi is at the third position at 468, while Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow and Kanpur are at 462 and 461 respectively.

Varanasi is the most polluted city right now

Unless strong measures are not taken, doctors warn that India will witness a rising graph of respiratory, heat, cancer and other diseases. Already, neurological disorders have shown a sharp spike in the NCR from early October this year. We have crossed the tipping point in terms of air pollution. Drastic measures need to be implemented to prevent us from facing a health calamity of tremendous proportions.

Arunodoy Prakash, media advisor of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodiya said that on Monday the Delhi government would approach NGT with a petition to review it's order. He also said that if exemptions are not given more than 32 lakh people would be left with no means of transport. So, as of now, the government has decided not to implement it from Monday which is 13 November

Delhi Government would drop implementation of odd-even for one day. It was about to implement it from 13 November. NGT on Saturday ordered it to implement odd even without any exemption except those provided to health emergency. After the order the Delhi government decided not to start implementation of odd even from 13 November.

He said that the government decided that the safety and security of women cannot be compromised because of odd-even. "Since the NGT was not allowing exemption of women from odd-even, the government had to decide against going ahead with odd-even," he added.

In a live video on Facebook, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the Delhi government brief the NGT on Saturday on why odd-even was being implemented from Monday. "After NGT refused to allow earlier exemptions, the ministers had a meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," he said.

Safety of women cannot be compromised for odd-even: AAP

"There is no likelihood of last week's repeat as there is no fresh influx of pollutants from external sources such as stubble burning or dust storm in the larger region. But recovery will get delayed by at least one more day," Beig said.

Centre-run air monitoring agency SAFAR's project director Gufran Beig said that the sharp drop of the boundary layer where pollutants remained trapped for being unable to escape into the upper layer of the atmosphere.

The dramatic reversal in the situation, hours after the government announced that levels of ultrafine particulates PM2.5 and PM10 had seen a reduction, caught people and weather scientists unaware.

Delhi's air quality went south and once again entered the 'emergency' category on Saturday evening, dashing hopes of recovery generated during the morning hours when level of pollutants showed a steady drop.

The tribunal rapped the DTC chairman-cum-managing director for not taking note of an NGT order on maintenance of buses and carrying out a rationalisation study so that the vehicles can be used more effectively.

"Your buses create so much noise on the road. They are a great nuisance. Most of parts of your buses are either hanging in air or broken. Why don't you take proper steps for their maintenance. Either your buses run empty or they are over-loaded," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar observed.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) flayed the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) on Saturday for not maintaining its buses properly and running them without passengers for a major part of the day.

Based on pollution levels till 5 pm, the CPCB's air quality index for Saturday had a score of 403, against Friday's 468.

The hourly graph of the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management run by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) captured the sudden change in circumstances.

"Otherwise our monitors recorded steady improvement over the last one day. The air had turned very poor from severe. In fact, the measures implemented under the Graded Response Action Plan yielded good results. Pollution levels came down by 15-20 per cent due to these measures alone," he said.

SAFAR's project director Gufran Beig said the drop in both the minimum and maximum temperatures led to the coming down of the boundary layer from around 1600 metres from the surface at 11 am to 50 metres at 5 pm.

The concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 hovered around 490 and 290 micrograms per cubic metre during the morning hours of Saturday, marginally below the emergency limit of 500 and 300. But by 6 pm the readings had changed to 522 and 332. In fact, the gains made started diminishing from around 2 pm itself.

This is the result of "development with Indian characteristics".

The real-time pollution levels in major cities of the country prove that living in much of India can actually be hazardous to your health. Satellite imagery shows conclusively that almost all of western India is blanketed by "atmospheric brown cloud" which are layers of pollution containing soot, dust or other particles. In other words, when vacationing in Nainital/Mussoorie/wherever the Himalayas are, you are actually breathing in great lungfuls of poisoned air.

For sheer hypocrisy, it's difficult to beat our politicians. Consider this: As of today, Delhi is very nearly the deadliest city on earth. The only other city rivaling us is a city in Mexico, which with an index of 825 particulate matter at the same level as Patna which is at 824.

It is tough to breathe, says Delhi residents

AAP MLA, Anil Bajpai told Firstpost in this regard, We cannot compromise on the issue of womens safety. If odd-even is allowed without any exemption, then womens safety might be at risk.

One reason why the AAP government exempted women drivers had to do with the concerns regarding safety of women in Delhi.

AAP government calls off odd-even as NGT refuses to exempt women from the scheme

Punjabi Bagh is the worst affected area in Delhi, AQI levels much above danger

On Saturday, the NGT said that in future, the odd-even scheme should automatically come into force if the PM2.5 and PM10, particles in air with diameter less than 2.5 and 10 mm respectively, levels go above the 300 and 500 mark respectively for 48 hours.

Doctors at the government-run Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute say patient numbers have more than tripled since pollution levels spiked amid a change in weather conditions and the annual post-harvest burning of crop stubble in surrounding areas.

Higher levels of PM 2.5, which are the fine pollution particles, are linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease. PM 2.5 regularly topped 500 this week, at one point going over 1,000, reports AFP.

Continuing smog across the National Capital Region has led to the cancellation of eight trains, while 34 will be arriving late and 21 others have been rescheduled, reports ANI.

People who moved NGT against the odd-even scheme say the exemptions are nothing but the politics of the AAP-led government. "The class of people who ride two-wheelers is the vote bank of AAP. If this class is not exempted than they fear that it might turn against the party," alleges Gaurav Kumar Bansal, the advocate of appellant Mahendra Pandey.

At Delhi University, the PM 10 level shot up to 614, while PM 2.5 was 571. The area near the Indira Gandhi International airport saw PM 10 at 526 and PM 2.5 at 494. At Pusa, PM1 0 levels touched 489 and PM 2.5 was 469, according to SAFAR.

The first phase of the odd-even rule was implemented by the Delhi government from 1 to 15 January and the second phase from 15 to 30 April last year.

"Peoples awareness in preserving the environment is the only solution. No court order can save us from pollution if it is not implemented as ordered," he said.

After the NGT passed the order to implement the odd-even scheme without any exemption, Vardhaman Kaushik, another appellant in the case told Firstpost that only the will of the people can solve the problem of air pollution in the national capital.

Stopping trucks from entering Delhi is nearly impossible for the government as there is no alternative for these heavy vehicles to pass by without entering the capital city. The Centre rolled out a scheme to construct an Eastern Peripheral Highway to allow the trucks go to Punjab and Uttar Pradesh without entering the capital. The road is still being constructed and is unlikely to be completed before March 2018, which is its latest deadline.

As our politicians pass the buck with manful indiscrimination, not a single meaningful policy decision has been taken to tackle the basic issues involved, which include unbridled development of cities, lack of clean energy, and the abundant use of plastic, which includes not only plastic bags but thermocol as well. It is often used in temples when they dish out the free food. Then theres the packaging industry. The list seems endless.

The smog situation in the National Capital Region may adversely affect tourism industry, an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) report has suggested. The toxic smog, according to Outlook , is likely to affect the economy in sectors like tourism, transport, automobile and real estate.

Mexico City faced the same problem in the early 90s and in 1992, it was dubbed the most polluted capital in the world. The Mexican government decided to put its act together and prepared a detailed contingency plan which included the compulsory use of catalytic converts in every car, major improvement in public transportation, and the preparation of an 'Atmospheric Environmental Contingency Plan which also includes the restriction of vehicular traffic that comes into operation every time PM 10 levels reach 221.

After Mexico, it was Beijing's turn to enjoy the dubious distinction of being the most polluted capital city in the world. Once the Chinese government set their mind on executing an action plan, they did not digress from their objectives. They came up with a tough plan where no new car licenses were given to Beijing citizens who were given the choice of car-pooling and the use of public transportation with no exceptions granted. The Chinese are switching over to renewable energy in a big way and are reducing their dependency on coal power plants.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), under the prodding of the Supreme Court, had come up with a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control severe pollution in the NCR. The notification for the implementation of GRAP was done by the Ministry of Environment on 12 January this year.

Speaking to CNN News18, Sunita Narain of the Centre for Science and Environment blamed both the Centre as well as the state governments of Delhi and Punjab for the present crisis. Narain said that the biggest contributor to pollution is the use of pet coke by several industries. However, she added that India is the biggest importer of pet coke from US. Narain said that even China and US do not encourage the use of pet coke owing to pollution issues.

Both Centre and state responsible for the crisis, says Sunita Narain

The measure to stop construction activities is also to be implemented along with the co-operation of the Centre. The construction of roads is a turnaround scheme of the present regime at the Centre and many such construction projects going on in the capital are carried out by the National Highway Authority of India.

The air quality in the National Capital Region too is not better than most parts of Delhi. While Gurugram's AQI is at 412, while Faridabad's PM2.5 levels currently stands at 444. All figures are as of 1 pm on Sunday.

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government and the municipal corporations to ensure availability of appropriate parking facilities for cars and discourage road-side parking. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar slammed authorities for not complying with its earlier orders to decongest traffic and asked them to take steps in a holistic manner.

Media conglomerate Zee Entertainment enterprises has provided an anti-pollution mask to each employee and is allowing 'Work from Home' for employees who are suffering from severe respiratory problems. The organisation has also implemented the 'Flexi Working Hours' policy and has taken on board services of a doctor at its Noida office for 10 working days starting 9 November.

The smog situation is also affecting the talent landscape of Delhi and NCR. Many professionals are being hesitant to take up career opportunities in and around Delhi and those who are working in Delhi are looking for career opportunities outside the state and opting for western or southern states of the country.

The environmental concern raised by hazardous air quality in Delhi has become an annual feature now. People indulge in the intense discussion at the turn of every winter, only to forget the smog worries when the air becomes slightly breathable. But desperate and revolutionary measures should be adopted to tackle the menace, said experts.

Delhi air quality levels reached severe levels on two occasions. Between 20 and 22 October, the AQI reached nearly 750, while it rose to nearly 1000 between 7 and 10 November.

"I am not, in principle, opposed to odd-even scheme as and when it is required but Delhi's public transport is in shambles. Our national capital not even has 3,000 buses as against a requirement of 10,000. The government has not yet been able to make provisions for last mile connectivity even after making promises in its election manifesto. There has been no policy measure to promote non-motorised transport in the capital," said its Delhi unit chief Anupam.

The Swaraj India party on Saturday hit out at Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party government's knee-jerk reactions to tackle the pollution menace instead of taking long term institutional measures.

We direct the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to ensure that vehicles which are violating the above directions of the tribunal should be seized and compliance report be submitted to the tribunal on the next date of hearing, the bench said.

The counsel appearing for NCT Delhi has informed that the site has already been provided for keeping the vehicles which are impounded/seized by the police being 10 years old vehicles in the case of diesel and 15 years old in the case of petrol.

It also directed the AAP government and the traffic police to challan and seize 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles to curb air pollution in the city.

Gurugram, where pollution levels were around 460 in the Air Quality Index on Saturday, recorded a siginificant drop in pollution levels. As per the 3 pm update, the pollution level in Gurugram stood at 300 in the Air Quality Index.

"Schools will reopen tomorrow and the break is not being further extended," a Delhi government official told PTI.

All schools in the national capital will reopen on Monday after a five-day break announced by the Delhi government in view of the alarming air pollution levels, an official said on Sunday.

PTI reported that Haryana government has announced that schools in Gurugram, in the National Capital Region region, will remain closed on Monday.

According to latest AQI figures, Delhi's Mandir Marg is at 523, Anand Vihar is at 510, Shadipur is at 420 and Punjabi Bagh is at 743. All four places fall in the 'Hazardous' category in the Air Quality Index.

As per the 8 am update, the air quality in RK Puram locality in Delhi is still 'hazardous'. However, the latest figure is well below Sunday's 999 in AQI.

According to Verisk Maplecroft, a risk consultancy firm, India had the worst air quality out of a list of 198 countries it measures, and that New Delhi ranked among the worlds top 10 most polluted cities, The Indian Express reported.

"UA Flight 82 has resumed operations, but we will continue to monitor conditions over the next few days, a spokesman told Reuters.

US-based carrier United Airlines has resumed flights between Newark, New Jersey and New Delhi after it was halted due to poor air quality, The Indian Express reported.

After being elected in February 2015, the Aam Aadmi Partys Delhi government resolved to increase green cover of Delhi from the present 20 percent to 25 percent in the next five years, aided by tree plantation, census and audit. An overarching community-centric plan to improve the environment was also envisioned.

"Even as the capitals sky darkened with smog over the last week, smoke spiralling up from heaps of burning trash could be spotted in different parts of the city. This must stop," the editorial read.

In its editorial, Economic Times criticised the odd-even plan and added that the AAP government must mobilise voluntary squads, which will educate people to not burn trash.

The "odd-even is a road-rationing scheme wherein for a specified period of time (15 days), vehicles, with the last digit of their number plates as odd or even, plied alternately on odd and even days.

According to Nikhil Pahwa, the founder of Medianama, there are several solutions to alleviate the pollution problem. According to Pahwa, the authorities must stop trucks from plying within Delhi city limits between 6 am and midnight. He added that trucks and buses mixing kerosene and diesel should be impounded, and fined. Pahwa opined that buses from other states should be allowed to enter Delhi only if they meet certain pollution norms.

The pollutants were transported to Delhi and other parts of northwest India by strong-velocity high-altitude winds coming from West Asia. These, along with pollutants from stubble burning regions of Punjab and Haryana, pushed up the pollution levels in Delhi, said Gufran Beig, project director of the System of Air Quality And Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.

According to the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), no flights were delayed or cancelled. Nevertheless, US-based United Airlines had suspended flights from Newark to New Delhi due to the smog situation.

The Rejandra Nagar Terminal-New Delhi Sampoorna Kranti Express was delayed by over 24 hours while the Sitamarhi-Anand Vihar Lichavi Express was delayed by over 25 hours.

According to CNN-News18, the Supreme Court of India will hear a PIL on the Delhi smog crisis. According to News18, the CJI is believed to have said that the issue cannot be ignored anymore. The PIL, which is expected to be heard in the afternoon, may also deal with the stubble burning issue in Punjab and Haryana.

Despite indicating that it will be filing a review petition in the NGT over the odd-even issue, the AAP government failed to do so on Monday. According to CNN News18, the government was expected to file a petition at 10.30 am, yet there was no representation. Sources told the channel that the Supreme Court hearing may have been a reason for the AAP government not filing a review plea in the NGT.

According to D Saha of the CPCB, there is no relief for NCR region for at least for a few more days. "The concentration of pollution particles is still higher. However, the problem is expected to alleviate by Wednesday as rains are set to hit city," CNN News18 quoted Saha said.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud considered the submission of lawyer RK Kapoor that rise in dust particles on roads, stubble burning in Delhi's neighbouring states Haryana and Punjab have led to an alarming rise in pollution levels in the NCR and its adjoining areas.

The PIL filed by lawyer RK Kapoor seeks Supreme Court's intervention in curbing stubble burning and dust arising from construction. It also seeks effective implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme.

During the odd-even scheme, the roads no longer choked with bumper-to-bumper traffic; public transport buses (DTC) increased their operational efficiency to 1.5 times; the scheme reduced the problem of vehicle engine idling, reducing harmful emissions; ambulances didnt get stuck in traffic leading to lesser deaths in hospital trauma centres; lesser traffic meant lesser emissions and the PM 2.5 & 10 levels came down drastically over a sustained period of time.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar will be meeting Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday to discuss issues relating to pollution. According to ANI, the latest development came after Kejriwal wrote to Khattar seeking help. The Haryana chief minister then wrote back on Friday, saying that he would be in Delhi between 13 and 14 November.

ITO is currently the least polluted area in Delhi

Meanwhile, RK Puram is still the most polluted locality in Delhi

Long-term interventions and schemes to be coordinated or executed by the Environment Department and the MCDs included green crematoriums, 150-point city-wide real-time air pollution monitoring, PUC revamp, landfill bioventing, construction and demolition activity management, incentivising LPG, the idea of mohalla rasois, designs to end tandoor pollution, brick kiln redesign, market night cleaning, replanning of bus routes, congestion pricing, electric bus promotion, stringent parking policy and BRT redesign.

When asked whether the AAP government would file a review petition with the NGT, Naginder Sharma  who is the media advisor to the Delhi chief minister  said there is still time to file the review petition with the green body. "We said we will file the plea today. Does today mean 9 am only?"

Does today mean 9 am only? asks AAP govt over NGT review plea

Social media is abuzz with 'Quit Delhi' movement, as many Delhi residents have apparently made up their minds to leave the city.

"Force Ola/Uber to do a certain number of pool rides, to allow them to ply in the city. Forces them to incentivise pooling. Might make regular rides more expensive, so let them subsidise car-pooling. No carpooling allowed right now from airport," writes Nikhil Pahwa, founder of Medianama.

On filing a review petition in the NGT, Rai said, "We will also file another review petition in the NGT. Our lawyers are inside the NGT court. Slamming Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Rai added, "I don't know if AAP is playing politics or Khattar. There is more pollution in Haryana and Punjab but they are running away from responsibility. We are doing more than what our capacity is," AAP leader Gopal Rai told reporters on Monday

"The Delhi government is in touch with the environment ministry. In the last 48 hours, we have got information about the smog situation through state and centre monitoring centres. We have taken the report made by scientists and presented it in our cabinet. The report said that pollution has been declining since last 48 hours. However, the situation is still fluctuating. The government is keeping a close eye on it. In the evening, we are meeting Pawan Hans for water sprinkling efforts," Gopal Rai, AAP leader said.

Closely monitoring the situation, doing more than what our capacity is, says AAP

We will re-file review petition in NGT, says AAP

Will move 'Right to clean air' Bill in Parliament, says Deepender Singh Hooda

According to V Faye McNeill, associate professor of Chemical Engineering in the institute, the impact of the odd- even scheme fizzles out eventually as drivers find ways around the restrictions. "Controlling emissions from transportation is very important, but in the long term I don't think that the odd- even scheme is going to be the answer," she told PTI in an email interview.

Odd-even restrictions have to apply to two-wheelers and three-wheelers for the scheme to succeed, says a researcher at the New York-based Columbia University, doubting its efficacy in the long run.

ITO continues to be the least polluted area in Delhi

The fresh plea has sought directions to the Centre and the states concerned to take measures on curbing road dust and stubble burning. It has also sought effective implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme.

The plea filed by lawyer R K Kapoor has claimed that rise in dust particles on roads, stubble burning in Delhi's neighbouring states like Haryana and Punjab have led to an alarming rise in pollution levels in the NCR and its adjoining areas.

The apex court issued notice to the Centre and the state governments concerned on the plea which also sought a direction to promote solar energy and electric vehicles to check pollution.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said that there won't be any stay on matters pertaining to pollution which are going on before any other court.

The Supreme Court issues notice to the Center, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi government on a petition on stubble burning and dust pollution, reports ANI. The apex court observed that it was an "emergency-like situation" and sought expeditious action.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain and Environment Department Secretary Keshav Chandra are also accompanying the Delhi chief minister to the meeting with Haryana chief minister ML Khattar.

The Delhi chief minister had earlier blamed stubble burning by farmers in Punjab and Haryana for the thick smog that has descended over Delhi. He had also written to the Chief Ministers of both states and requested for a joint meeting to "find solution" to the problem that has led to widespread health concerns in the National Capital Region.

On Tuesday, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh rejected Kejriwal's request to meet and instead asked him to refrain from "trying to politicise a serious issue".

According to CNN News18, the Haryana government has come out with a diktat ahead of ML Khattar's meeting with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. A notification said that journalists need to keep an one-hand-distance from Khattar.

According to India Today, SAD and Congress workers are demanding expulsion of Sukhpal Singh Khaira from the Aam Aadmi Party. The protesters allege AAP defamed Punjab by raking up the issue of drugs and now the party's own leader is reportedly involved in a case of drug smuggling.

The Environment Pollution Control Board said that not only has the ban on construction work been lifted but also the curbs on entry of trucks been lifted. The EPCA said that the decision has been taken as the smog situation is now under control.

The EPCA has also withdrawn the four-fold hike in parking fees in Delhi, ANI reported.

The SMDC and the other two municipal corporations  the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation  had effected a four-time hike in the fees from 9 November, following the order by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal in view of the high-level of pollution in the city.

While the parking fees in areas falling under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which were quadrupled a week ago, were to be restored to the previous rates from Thursday onwards, the NDMC and EDMC corporations were to continue with the revised rates. But with the EPCA's latest decision, all corporations now need to go back to the original rates.

Speaking to CNN-News18, environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said," Environment is custodian of environment and not the economy. Ecology is important for the city. But if the EPCA does not show concern about ecology then I do not know who will do so? First, they implement these rules but just two days, all measures are withdrawn. This is nothing but a knee-jerk reaction from EPCA. I am disappointed."

Of this, Rs 93 lakh was paid to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation for payment towards pre-tendering incidental cost related to preparation of RFID documents, said a copy in India Today.

According to a report on CNN-News18, the RTI petition filed by Sanjeev Jain revealed that the Delhi government had received over Rs 50 crore as environment cess in 2015. However, there was a massive increase in collection in 2016 and 2017, when the AAP government collected Rs 386 crore and Rs 787 crore respectively.

While the National Capital Region continues to battle smog, an RTI query has revealed that the Delhi government utilised only Rs 93 lakh out of the Rs 787 crore it had collected as environment cess.

Six trains were cancelled and 26 were running late due to shallow fog in northern India, according to railway spokesperson. It was a misty Thursday morning in the national capital with the minimum temperature recorded at 13 degrees Celsius, which is a notch below the season's average.

The NGT, which had separately issued an order banning entry of trucks (except those carrying essential commodities), has posted the matter for hearing tomorrow.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority lifted the ban on construction activities as well but Lt Governor Anil Baijal kept it in abeyance as the matter was pending with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Delhi breathed relatively easy as air quality remained outside the 'severe plus' category for the third day straight, prompting authorities to withdraw the ban on entry of trucks and restore parking fees to usual rates.

The air quality index (AQI), at 363, was in the 'very poor' zone. The volume (24-hour rolling average) of ultrafine particulates PM2.5 and PM10 were 184 and 299 micrograms per cubic metre respectively.

SAFAR (System of Air Quality And Weather Forecasting And Research) has forecast that air quality may dip over the weekend due to incursion of moisture and fall in inversion layer which will keep pollutants trapped near the surface.

SAFAR predicts air quality might take hit over the weekend

Officials in UP's Lucknow are also battling heavy pollution in the city. ANI reports that fire brigade services sprinkled water in Mall Avenue, Vikramaditya Marg, Kalidas Marg, Dilkusha areas and near Raj Bhavan in Lucknow in the light of an increase in the pollution in the city.

Nothing more is likely to happen this year, said one of them. Were now praying. Only God can save us," Reuters quoted officials as saying.

An estimated $600 million is needed to provide farmers with alternatives, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition parties in power in New Delhi and nearby Punjab states are squabbling over who will pay, said three federal government officials who have been briefed on the situation.

A major source of the smog at this time of year across northern India, including New Delhi, is farmers burning the stubble of the previous crop to prepare for new plantings in November.

Respiratory diseases killed about 10 people a day in the year to March 2017 in the national capital region, according to the health ministry. The World Bank estimates pollution cost the country as much as 7.7 percent of the GDP in 2013.

The upper limit for healthy air is 50, the government has said.

Its not just the crop burning  a combination of industrial smog, vehicle exhaust and dust envelop the region every year as winter approaches and wind speeds drop. Its been particularly bad this year with levels of PM 2.5, tiny particulate matter that reaches deep into the lungs, climbing to over 600 last week, according to a US Embassy measure.

World Bank estimates pollution cost the country as much as 7.7 percent of the GDP in 2013

Delhi High Court allows Half Marathon in Delhi to proceed as planned, after the organisers submitted that they have put in a refund policy for those runners who want to opt out and there are measures in place to deal with medical emergencies, The Indian Express reports.

The RTI reply assumes importance as Delhi gasps for some clear air. The Kejriwal government has received a lot of flak for not boosting public transport in the city. Delhi needs more buses powered by the clean fuel CNG as the national capital and the surrounding region are swallowed by thick smog that developed due to a host of factors, including automobile emissions, the Delhi High Court told the Kejriwal government on Tuesday .

A damning RTI reply indicts Delhi the government. While AAP has been pinning the blame on Center for allegedly taking away the land meant to build a bus depot, an RTI reply has revealed that Delhi govt rented bus depots to private operators as parking lots.

Another $100 million is needed to reward local bodies for adopting best practices and funding awareness campaigns, the official said.

NITI Aayog, the governments economic planning think-tank , has estimated farmers would need handouts worth about $500 million a year to switch to alternative ways of disposing farm stubble, said an official who was involved in the preparation of the report.

Farmers will need handouts worth $500 million a year to switch to alternative ways of disposing farm stubble

In a personal blog post , she said: "This past weeks the levels of pollution in Delhi reached impossible numbers. The consequences of breathing this air i had no idea- until i reached Bangalore and my system collapsed. My clean Costa rican lungs know nothing about air quality forecast, particles of PM10 and its monitoring, the same as we know nothing about extreme changes in temperature. Im used to living in paradise and suddenly India has become a threat to my health and the health of my friends and colleagues."

Ambassador of Costa Roca to India Mariela Cruz Alvarez appealed to the people, saying the "blue planet is crying" due to pollution.

High level of air pollution in Delhi has affected the health of the Costa Rican envoy in New Delhi, prompting her to retreat to Bengaluru.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday allowed construction activities in the National Capital Region (NCR) while directing that preventive measures to control air pollution be taken. Other prohibitory orders concerning industries, stubble burning etc. will remain in place.

NGT permits trucks to enter Delhi on Friday and directed neighbouring states to submit action plan on steps to curb pollution within two weeks.

NGT allows trucks to enter Delhi; asks states to submit report in two weeks

"Rest was made up of emissions from local sources such vehicular combustion. If external sources did not have any role, levels of PM2.5 during this period could have been around 200 g/m3," the report stated.

That was the day pollution levels peaked with PM2.5 concentration reaching 640 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3), according to the SAFAR scientific assessment report of the week-long pollution crisis accessed by PTI.

On 8 November, the contribution of the dust storm was 40 percent, eclipsing the role of emissions from stubble burning, which stood at 25 percent, the Pune-based System of Air Quality And Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said.

As Delhi and its neighbours spar over stubble burning, a Centre-run monitoring agency has identified a West Asian dust storm as the chief trigger behind the recent smog episode in the region.

Meanwhile, Mahatma Gandhi's statue being protected from the smog

A policeman removes the anti-pollution mask from the Gandhi Statue at Gyarah Murti which was put by rebel AAP MLA Kapil Misra and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa during their protest against smog and air-pollution, in New Delhi on Thursday.

NGT permits trucks to enter Delhi on Friday and directed neighbouring states to submit action plan on steps to curb pollution within two weeks.

NGT allows trucks to enter Delhi; asks states to submit report in two weeks

"Rest was made up of emissions from local sources such vehicular combustion. If external sources did not have any role, levels of PM2.5 during this period could have been around 200 g/m3," the report stated.

That was the day pollution levels peaked with PM2.5 concentration reaching 640 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3), according to the SAFAR scientific assessment report of the week-long pollution crisis accessed by PTI.

On 8 November, the contribution of the dust storm was 40 percent, eclipsing the role of emissions from stubble burning, which stood at 25 percent, the Pune-based System of Air Quality And Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said.

As Delhi and its neighbours spar over stubble burning, a Centre-run monitoring agency has identified a West Asian dust storm as the chief trigger behind the recent smog episode in the region.

He alleged that the Delhi government did not spend a "single penny" of the environment compensation charge (ECC) to address the problem caused by rising air pollution. "Also they did not apprise the Supreme Court of the same and kept the people in dark," Gupta alleged.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta on Thursday alleged that the AAP government not only "failed" to spend the environment cess fund but also did not furnish quarterly details of expenditure from it to the Supreme Court and the EPCA as mandated by the court.

I am participating in the Car Free Challenge to help fight #pollution . Join me and show your support by registering here: https://t.co/ccRwNiPZx4 #DelhiSmog #Gurgaon

A group of professionals from Gurugram are taking part in the #TheCarFreeChallenge from 20-26 November to combat air pollution. The effort is to "maximise the use of sustainable transport like bus, metro, etc."

Gurugram professionals to take part in 'Car Free Challenge' from 20-26 November

The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon will go ahead as usual on 19 November despite requests from medical associations, activists to cancel the event, according to NDTV . Runners exerting themselves in the smoggy air face the risk of lung damage and heart attacks, said KK Aggarwal, president of the Indian Medical Association, by phone, citing similar deaths in Beijing.

Delhi half marathon to take place despite smog crisis in city

The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 25.5 degrees Celsius, which is two notches below the season's average.

The humidity at 8.30 am. was 91 percent and visibility stood at 1,000 metres. There was no rain expected for a week, an IMD official said.

Dean of Diplomatic Corps Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos to meet Ministry of External Affairs today over poor air quality in Delhi. #DelhiPollution

Air quality remained outside the 'severe plus' category today and if the trend prevails till tomorrow, emergency measures such ban on construction and entry of trucks may be lifted.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, a Supreme Court-appointed panel, said it may withdraw all the measures enforced under the 'severe plus' or emergency category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) if pollution remains under control.

The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was 361, which falls in the 'very poor' category, showing a marginal dip as compared to yesterday when it was 308, the best in a week.

In a major development, the Centre announced that it has preponed the introduction of ultra-clean Euro-VI grade petrol and diesel in the national capital by two years to April 2018 to help fight air pollution.

Even as air quality remained out of emergency category, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Haryana

counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar met in Chandigarh and resolved to put in "sustained efforts" to prevent a repeat of the recent smog episode in 2018.

The hourly-graph of the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management, which tracks the levels of PM2.5 and PM10, also captured the declining trend. PM2.5 and PM10 concentration was recorded as 198 and 307 microgrammes per cubic metre at 7 PM.

The corresponding 24-hour safe standards are 60 and 100. Pollution is considered severe plus or emergency when these readings are above 300 and 500 respectively.

According to the Centre-run monitoring agency SAFAR (System of Air Quality And Weather Forecasting And Research), air quality is improving as strong surface winds is aiding pumping out accumulated pollutants.

However, it said there might be a dip in quality and the AQI may settle in the upper side of 'very poor' from November 17 due to meteorological conditions including a fall in temperature and entry of moisture.

"But as the speed of wind in the upper layer of the atmosphere is low, possibility of incursion of pollutants from external sources such as stubble burning is very less," a SAFAR scientist said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Fire Services carried out water sprinkling from the 22-storey high Vikas Minar at ITO in the afernoon for about an hour.

"Before and after the water sprinkling, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee measured the pollution levels. A report in this regard will be submitted to the National Green Tribunal tomorrow," a Delhi Fire Services official said.

The process was carried out using a hose pipe that was connected to an overhead tank.

The Delhi government's petition to the NGT on odd-even, seeking a review of its order withdrawing the exemptions given to two-wheelers and three-wheelers, will also come up before the tribunal tomorrow.

The fresh petition has also sought a direction from a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar that the neighbouring states should also be asked to implement the scheme.

The emergency measures continue to be in place.

However, the parking fees in areas falling under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which were quadrupled a week ago, will now be restored to the previous rates from tomorrow.

The North and East Delhi corporations, however, said, they will continue with the revised rates.
Chennai: A Doha-bound Indigo flight suffered a bird hit on Thursday morning just after take-off and had to return to Chennai airport, officials said. All 134 passengers onboard were unhurt.

The flight landed back within 30 minutes after taking off from Anna International Airport in Chennai at 1.47 am. The plane returned at 2.20 am.

"Indigo Flight 6E-1707 from Chennai to Doha had a bird hit (on 16, as the aircraft was climbing after take-off," the airline said in a statement.

"Due to precautionary reasons, the pilot decided to return to Chennai for aircraft inspection," it said.

The airline also said the action was in line with the "recommended procedure by the manufacturer".

"During the process, crew informed all passengers and IndiGo arranged for an alternate aircraft to avoid inconvenience to passengers. At no point, safety of the passengers was compromised," it added.
New Delhi: After officials of India, the US, Japan and Australia held the first-ever quadrilateral meeting in Manila on the security architecture and development of the Indo-Pacific region, French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said on Wednesday that his country is forging a security partnership with India over this region.

"We have got key cooperation with India on things such as counter-terrorism, defence industry, nuclear energy," Ziegler said while briefing the media here ahead of the visit of French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian starting on Thursday.

"We have a growing cooperation on the Indian Ocean where India occupies a very central position and France as well, and we are in the process of forging a strong defence and security partnership on the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean," he said.

Ziegler's comments come after Sunday's India-US-Japan-Australia meeting in the Philippines capital where the officials agreed that "a free, open, prosperous and inclusive" Indo-Pacific served long-term global interests, giving impetus to an emerging quad of democracies amid China's rising military and economic power.

It was the first dialogue of the quadrilateral formation of the democracies in which anti-terrorism cooperation was also discussed.

Japanese Foreign Minister Tara Kono said in October that Tokyo was for a top-level quadrilateral dialogue that would also include Australia. Kono said the idea was for the leaders of the four countries to promote free trade and defence cooperation across a stretch of ocean from the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and all the way to Africa.

Stating that France and India also shared a strong space cooperation as well, Ziegler said all these issues would be addressed when Le Drian would hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday. Le Drian's visit is aimed at laying the groundwork for the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron in early 2018 for launching the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Though the French President was originally scheduled to visit India in December 2017 for the launch ceremony, it has now been rescheduled and now the visit will take place in early 2018, dates for which are being worked out.

According to French diplomatic sources, France's partnership with India on the Indo-Pacific island will primarily focus on the Indian Ocean part where the European nation has overseas territories in the form of around 10 islands. While Reunion Island with a population of one million is the largest one, many of the other islands are uninhabited.

Apart from the Indo-Pacific cooperation, other issues likely to come up for discussion are France's participation in India's flagship projects and the Jaitapur nuclear power plant. The sources said the decision to increase the number of reactors to six in the Jaitapur plant served as a gamechanger and both Indian and French governments are extending support to what is going to be the world's largest nuclear power plant.

France is also participating in the Make in India campaign after New Delhi decided to acquire the Rafale fighter jets because of their "outstanding performance and competitive pricing". In the Smart Cities programme, France will be participating in the development of the cities of Chandigarh, Nagpur and Pondicherry.

According to the sources, talks are being held with Indian Railways for a semi high-speed railway pilot project between Delhi and Chandigarh. Projects of semi high-speed trains that reach speeds of up to 200 kmph can be constructed at five times less the cost than high speed trains that can move at 300 kmph

Apart from Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Minister Le Drian will also meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Human Reources Minister Prakash Javadekar.

The visiting dignitary will inaugurate Bonjour India, the France festival in India in Jaipur on Saturday.
Kolkata/Bhubaneswar: A day after West Bengal went ga ga claiming to have received the official recognition that the spongy, syrupy rosogolla originated in its territory, the Geographical Indication (GI) registry on Wednesday made it clear that the tag was given only for "Banglar rasgulla".

A GI official made it clear that no such tag can be given for the sweet as a whole as it was only a generic term, and Odisha could also make an application for such a tag.

"Bengal had applied for GI tag for "Banglar Rasgulla". After a thorough examination it was granted. The GI tag has been given for the rasogolla that is made in Bengal," senior examiner, GI, Prashanth Kumar told IANS over phone.

As per the GI Registry website, the Geographical Indication number 533 was registered on 14 November in the name of West Bengal State Food Processing and Horticulture Development Corporation Limited with respect to "Banglar rasgulla". The WBSFPHDCL had filed the relevant application to the GI registry on 18 September, 2015.

Kumar categorically stated that the tag was not and could not be given for the sweet as a whole.

"Rasgulla is a generic term. People can add prefix and suffix to it to get the GI tag. But there can be no GI tag for rosogolla, the sweet as a whole. Because there can be Nagpur rasgulla, or Bikaner rasgulla. It depends on the process, the composition, etc and etc" .

"You can take the case of Ikat for instance. The Odisha Ikat silk was given the GI tag (in 2007). But there can be other varieties of Ikat in other geographical locations that can get the tag if they apply with proper documentation," said Kumar.

On Tuesday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that the state has got the GI tag for rasgulla.

Sweet news for us all. We are very happy and proud that #Bengal has been granted GI ( Geographical Indication) status for Rosogolla  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 14, 2017

Soon after, the state's ministers, bureaucrats, celebrities and sweetmakers went into celebratory mode, saying Bengal has won over Odisha in the battle for the rights over the ball-shaped sweet made of cottage cheese.

However, Kumar made it clear that Odisha was well within its right to make an application for GI tag for the rosogolla produced within its domain.

"If they apply, that will be considered and a decision will be take n on the authenticity of the claim by examining the documentation provided by them," he said.

The Odisha government during the day held a high level meeting and said it would apply for the GI Tag for Odishara Rasugulla' soon

The Naveen Patnaik government has come for sharp criticism from various quarters for not applying before the GI Registry even though a report substantiating the origin of the sweet has been prepared by historians and submitted before it.

"It has been decided to file an application for Odishara Rasagola w ith the GI Registry. It is rooted to Jagannath culture," said MSME secretary LN Gupta.

"Registration of GI for Banglar Rasgulla in no way affects the cl aim for GI registration of Odishar Rasgulla. The Bengal and Odisha variants are different in colour, texture, taste, juice content and method of manufacturing," said Gupta.

The Odishara Rasagola is softer and light brown in colour whereas, Bangalar Rasogolla is white and cream in colour. The syrup used in both the variants is also different.

The dispute began in 2015 when Odisha claimed that rosogolla originated in the state 600 years ago and was first served at the 12th-century Lord Jagannath temple in Puri.

The Odisha government set up three committees to look into the evidence regarding the origin of rosogolla in the state and claimed that more than once oanel had pointed to "conclusive evidence" that the sw eet was first made in Pahelgram close to Bhubaneswar.

Countering Odisha's claim, the Bengal government applied for GI tag from the GI registry in Chennai, asserting there was "ample" documentary evidence to prove the sweet belongs to Bengal and was invented by famous sweetmeat maker Nabin Chandra Das in 1868.
AAP announced in a 'historic' decision that home delivery of 40 public services would be available at a nominal cost, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said on Thursday. The scheme will be rolled out in three to four months and will include services like getting caste certificates done and applying for driving licences.

The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The project, titled Doorstep delivery of public services through mobile CSC, was ideated by Kejriwal and is awaiting the Cabinet's approval.The deputy chief minister said that initially 40 public services will be started, and subsequently, 30 services will be added every month.

This is "home delivery of governance", which is being done for the first time in the country, Sisodia claimed while announcing the Cabinet's decision. He said that the government would hire a private agency to implement the scheme.

"Mobile Sayak (facilitators) will be hired through the agency that would set up call centres...Various certificates such as caste, new water connection, income, driving licence, ration card, domicile, marriage registration, duplicate RC and change of address in RC, will be covered under the scheme in the first phase," Sisodia told reporters.

Giving an example, the deputy chief minister said that if a person wants to apply for a driving licence, he or she will have to call a designated call centre and register their details. "The Mobile Sahyak will be equipped with all necessary machines such as biometric devices and a camera," Sisodia said.

According to NDTV, Kejriwal on Tuesday asked officials to work towards delivery of ration at people's doorstep through Public Distribution System (PDS). He made the observation during a review meeting of PDS in the city, along with Sisodia, Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, Environment Minister Imran Hussain, and Chief Secretary MM Kutty.

Under the new mobile system, beneficiaries will get their quota of ration delivered at their doorstep.

On 25 September, the Delhi government had first announced its plans to deploy specialised representatives who would apply on your behalf, collect the required documents and deliver the approved certificate to your house, Hindustan Times had reported.

With inputs from PTI
After the Vasundhara Raje government came to power, labour cards became a pre-requisite to access rations under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

The village of Nausar Ghatti, located on the Ajmer- Pushkar road, offers an example of the difficulties this can lead to.

The village comprises of 250 families who work primarily in the construction sector. The women there were at a complete loss as to how to go about getting these cards. A local tout contacted them and collected Rs 300 from each of them but did not show his face again. Ten of the more enterprising women went to the District Supply Officer in the Food and Civil Supply Department and complained to the DSO about how they were not getting their rations.

On their third trip to the DSO office, the officer realised the gravity of their situation and put them in touch with Manbhar, an office-bearer of the Mahila Arogya Samiti who was co-ordinating with the Sahaya Single Window (SSW). The SSW has been launched by Centre for Advocacy and Research in 60 urban settlements in Ajmer.

The rationale behind starting the SSW was that although the Vasundhara Raje government has started over 400 welfare schemes for the urban poor and marginalised sections, the people were not able to access any of them. For one, most of the people in these areas have minimal literacy skills. All these schemes are digitalised and possessing both the Bhamashah and Aadhaar cards are pre-requisites to join up in the NFSA, the health initiatives and even to access the money being distributed to build toilets under the Swachh Bharat initiative.

A group of volunteers from SSW started the facilitation process with the womenfolk. It was an uphill task, given that even getting a Bhamashah card required some minimal documentation, which many of the settlement dwellers did not possess.

Ameena, a resident of Nausar Ghatti who was helping ensure that all the paperwork was in order, said, "One of the residents, Koya needed to get a widows pension but she did not have the requisite death certificate of her husband. Koya is old and walks with a limp. Her walking disability was a further disincentive for her to catch a bus and go to Ajmer. The team of volunteers working with the SSW helped her make three trips to Ajmer where she was finally able to get the document. Now, she gets a pension of nearly Rs 1,000 per month.

"On Womens Day this year, 35 labour cards were distributed amongst these jubilant women. All in all, 52 labour cards and another 30 Bhamashah cards have been distributed this year, said Anand Singh Motish , project manager of SSW in Ajmer.

The benefit of getting these cards made was that it not only entitled them to subsidised grain at the rate of Rs two per kilo (five kilos per family member per month), but it also entitled them to receive Rs 8,000 to build a toilet in their homes.

Koya is also a beneficiary of the Swachh Bharat initiative, "Anand Sir and his volunteers have come to our village repeatedly and helped us fill out the forms so that we could be entitled to build individual household latrines. I never dreamed that I would live to see the day where I would have my own toilet. But thanks to their efforts, our village has become open defecation free."

Ameena added, "Our village is located ten kilometres from Ajmer. The nearest ration shop is a good five kilometres away. We are now trying hard to have our own ration shop because we have to make several trips there before we manage to collect our rations.

For a lot of women, being involved with the SSW has given a new purpose.

Middle-aged Krishna lost both her legs in a train accident. If that was not bad enough, she subsequently lost her husband and is presently bringing up her two sons as a single mother. Despite her limitations, she goes around her basti in her wheel chair collecting information about her neighbours, taking them to the SSW office so that they too can become part of this new digital initiative, which is a pre-requisite to access governmental entitlements.

These cards also help the basti dwellers become members of samoohs working under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM). Pankaj Tilwani, who works with the NULM pointed out, "We have created samoohs of ten women and already, we have 350 samoohs working in Ajmer. They are now entitled to get loans of up to Rs 50,000 and we help them make artificial jewellery, chappals, topis and other handicraft items.

Most of these groups also work closely with local ASHA workers. Nisha, an ASHA worker, said, "One of the main areas in which we are working is to help curb the present dengue menace. We interact closely with people in these settlements to ensure they keep their areas clean and also to ensure there is no stagnant water in their areas.

Rakhee Badhwar, also with SSW, emphasised the importance of this intervention. "Most of the basti dwellers are daily wagers. The government has come out with a plethora of schemes but these are not reaching them. The SSW has now set up a small office within the Ajmer collectorate to assist those coming there with the paper work.

Akhila Shivdas, who heads CFAR, said, "SSW presently covers 40 governmental schemes. Every household is entitled to multiple entitlements, but the main issue is how to empower them so that they can access these programs. The SSW is being simultaneously implemented in Bengaluru, Pune and Bhubaneshwar. While in Ajmer, we have managed to get 6,071 cards made against 6,952 applications, in Pune we have got 6,475 sanctions against 7,096 applications. In Bengaluru, the numbers of clearances are 4,023 against 5,705 applications while in Bhubaneshwar, we have had 5,933 sanctions against 6,795 submissions. Most of the time, submissions are rejected for the lack of adequate documents. This process takes a lot of time because we have to interact with multiple agencies."

Single Window initiatives have already been implemented in the towns of Anantpur, East Godavari, Belagavi, Salem and Solapur and have helped several thousand beneficaries.

Dr Abhishek Gupta, the Social Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Ajmer concedes that giving entitlements on the basis of Aadhaar, Bhimashah and other ID cards is proving a logistical nightmare especially for young children, the disabled and the elderly.

"Many parents have no birth certificates and tend to provide dates of the birth of their kids on a random basis. The old have no documents while the disabled find it extremely difficult to reach the Collectorate," Gupta added.

Sultana Begum, a volunteer with SSW, feels that the state government needs to pay special attention to the needs of sex workers. "After UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) withdrew its funding, all HIV testing has stopped and no condoms are available for sex workers. Getting Aadhaar cards made for them is proving a nightmare. The state government needs to be more sympathetic to the needs of special categories of people," pointed out Sultana Begum who maintains leaving them out of the social security schemes will see a revival of diseases such as HIV-AIDS.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is considering scrapping or reducing a 30 percent export tax on medium-grade iron ore after building up a stubbornly high surplus of the commodity, according to a document seen by Reuters. An excavator operator waits for trucks to be loaded with iron ore at the Bedara Bhommanahalli (BBH) iron ore mines at Chitradurga in Karnataka November 9, 2012. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/File PhotoIndias mining industry has lobbied for months for a cut in the duty after the countrys stockpile rose over the last five years to reach 149 million tonnes at the end of the financial year in March 2017. It has stayed around that level, a senior mines ministry official said on Thursday, without wishing to be identified. The duty is applied to ore with more than 58 percent iron, or Fe content. The mines ministry favours either cutting or scrapping the tax but the steel ministry wants to maintain the levy at 30 percent. The major share of the stocks lying idle is ... below 58 percent Fe grade iron ore fines and iron ore fines with Fe content of 60 percent to below 62 percent, which is a huge cause of concern for the miners as well as the ministry, the mines ministry said in the document, which proposes a review of the export tax. The main objective of the committee is to assess whether a reduction/abolition in export duty in iron ore is required in the current economic scenario and if required, its impact on production, consumption, price elasticity of iron as well as its domino effect, it said. The ministry has circulated its document to the steel, finance and commerce ministries for discussion. The steel ministry, however, has opposed cutting the duty amid concerns in the steel industry that a lower export duty could lead to a domestic shortage of iron ore, two steel ministry officials, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said. Freight trains are loaded with iron ore at a railway station at Chitradurga in Karnataka in this November 9, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/Files We should look at value-addition such as pelletisation of the ore to generate demand from the stockpile, one of the officials said. Pellets are mostly used for the production of sponge iron in gas-based plants. There is one more meeting to be held soon, where we are likely to take a decision and send it to the minister of mines for his comments, the mines ministry official said on condition of anonymity, as the discussions have not yet been made public. The commerce ministry will make a final decision on the matter. The government may decide to cut the duty in its 2018/19 budget statement, likely in February, the mines ministry official said. If the decision is too close to the budget, it might be announced then, the official said. The ministries of finance, steel, mines and commerce did not immediately respond to Reuters emails seeking comment. Local media recently reported that the government of Goa had sought a separate exemption from export duty for the low quality iron ore found in the state. There is no buyer below 63 percent Fe, as (local) steel companies dont buy, said R.K. Sharma, secretary-general of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries in New Delhi, which supports abolishing the export duty. To some extent, Indian iron ore will become competitive if the export duty is removed, Sharma said.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Three terrorists have been arrested in an anti-militancy operation, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Munir Khan on Thursday.

Anti-militancy operation Kund has been continuing since 14th November. Three terrorists arrested alive in this operation: IGP #Kashmir zone, Munir Khan pic.twitter.com/1JPjIJW8Nq  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

Khan told news agency ANI that one of the three terrorists arrested is injured and is undergoing treatment in a hospital. The IGP claimed that Pakistan has started a relentless social media campaign to lure youths to join militancy.

On Wednesday, the Centre decided to intensify anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir, with security forces being instructed to eliminate those who continue to indulge in violence in the Valley, The Tribune reported.

The report added that a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of a security core group, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

According to news agency UNI, home ministry sources said the dialogue process to find a peaceful solution to the problem in Kashmir would continue on its track while security forces would also continue their operations alongside against those indulging in violence.

In October, security forces had unearthed a militant module with the arrest of three ultras from Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. Three militants - two from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one from the Hizbul Mujahideen - were arrested from south Kashmir.

Khan had appealed militants to surrender saying, "They should lay down their arms and we will provide all support in rehabilitating them."

"Always said that if the local terrorists surrender, we'll accept. We want them to get back to the mainstream. They are our own people," Khan was quoted as saying by the ANI news agency.

With inputs from PTI
Srinagar: Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Kashmir) Muneer Khan on Thursday said that security forces would take all steps to help "local militants" in Kashmir return to a normal life, even if they surrender during an encounter.

The statement of the official comes as the Jammu and Kashmir police prepares its recommendations for a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for surrendering militants.

"We stand by our commitment to local militants that they can surrender at any time, even during an encounter, and return to lead a normal life after facing the law," the IGP told reporters.

Khan was addressing a press conference in which two of the three militants arrested on Wednesday in Kulgam district were presented before the media.

The third militant, who was injured in the gun battle with security forces in Kulgam's Kund area, is in hospital, the official said.

"Ata Mohammad (a local militant) was injured during the encounter at Kund on 14 November, and he was on the verge of dying...But our jawans, who had lost a colleague during the operation, rescued him and took him to a hospital. His rescue shows our commitment to the offer of surrender," Khan said.

The IGP claimed that the police had brought back many youths, who were on their way to join militants, into mainstream. Several of them arrested from Kupwara while on their way to get arms training, he said.

Responding to a question, Khan claimed that not more than 17 youth have joined militancy recently. "I do not agree with the reported figure of 42, but there is no doubt that youths have gone and joined militants," he said.

Replying to a question, he said it is a point of discussion on what was the driving force or lure behind youths joining militants. "Most of them, you will find, are college or school dropouts. There is a relentless social media campaign by Pakistan to lure the youth also," Khan said.

The officer said that the youth in the age group of 15 years to 25 years were vulnerable to be exploited as they find it hard to differentiate between right and wrong.

In response to a question, the IGP said that he would not divulge the details of surrendered militants as "we have to ensure their safety and security".

Khan said that the police is compiling its recommendation to be submitted to the government on steps to be taken for rehabilitation of those militants who surrender.

"We are compiling the steps to be taken for rehabilitating militantsboth who have gone across and those who are here. We will send our recommendations on how to rehabilitate them to the government. In the near future, we shall have a comprehensive policy," he said.

Khan said that a search operation in Kund area was still on as there were intelligence reports about two militants there. "The operation at Kund was jointly launched by the police, Army and CRPF. This operation was started on 14 November based on specific information about a big group of terrorists, a joint group of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen," he said. He said a militant and a jawan were killed in the encounter.

"The Kund operation is still ongoing, a specific area is still cordoned. We have information that a foreign militant and a local militant are still in the area. We are looking for them. Hopefully we should get them," he said.

Khan said this operation was an example of excellent coordination between various security agencies.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Thursday took up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the issue of alleged firing on two fishermen by the Indian Coast Guard and sought his intervention to avoid recurrence of such incidents.

He said six fishermen from Rameswaram had ventured out for fishing in a mechanised boat on 13 November.

"It is reported that while fishing within our territorial waters, about four nautical miles from the shore near Olakkuda around 3.15 pm, an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Rani Abaka asked the fishermen to stop their boat for inspection and fired at the fishing vessel," he said in his letter to Modi, a copy of which was released to the media.

While one fisherman, Pitchai, was injured in his left hand, another man Johnson was injured in his left shoulder, he said.

The chief minister said they were admitted in the General Hospital at Rameswaram and were undergoing treatment. "A bullet was found in the fishing vessel and was handed over later to the Mandapam Marine police station," he said.

The fishermen had also alleged that the Coast Guard personnel got into their vessel, manhandled them and hit them with sticks and iron rods, he said. "

Tamil Nadu IT minister M Manikandan had told PTI that the matter would be taken up with the Centre to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

Alleging that the two men were shot in the Indian waters by the ICG personnel, fishermens association here had sought police action against those who fired at them.

The Coast Guard while denying any firing by its personnel had said that the fishing crew in question was involved in "unauthorised" paired trawling. A Coast Guard vessel on patrol off International Maritime Boundary Line in Palk Bay "was routinely" investigating fishing boat Jehovah Jireh, its statement had said.

The vessel was investigating the boat "for paired trawling on 13 November, 2017, at about 1440 hrs," it said.
A section of doctors protesting against an amendment bill in Karnataka including Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) have called off the strike on Thursday. However, the hunger strike in Belagavi will continue, ANI reported. On 13 November, some 50,000 private doctors went on strike in protest against an amendment bill that is intended to regulate their functioning.

Private Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) calls off strike.The hunger strike in Belagavi will continue #Karnataka  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

A health crisis lurked in Karnataka as doctors across the state on Thursday shut out-patient departments indefinitely, escalating their stir against proposed amendments to an Act to make hospitals accountable for medical negligence. Doctors are opposing the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, which among others propose six months to three years of jail term and a hefty penalty for medical negligence on the part of medical practitioners.

"If the government sets up a law this way, doctors are going to be extremely wary of taking up risky cases, as the bill even proposes imprisoning the doctors for up to three years and imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh," the President of the Karnataka chapter of the Indian Medical Association DrHN Ravindra told IANS in Bengaluru.

Amid reports that the strike had caused several deaths across the state with the serious patients being unattended to, more than 22,000 doctors went on an indefinite strike in Bengaluru alone, which manifested in the unmanageable rush at government hospitals.

Government-run Victoria Hospital, KC General Hospital and Bowring Hospital, the three prominent hospitals of Bengaluru, saw a sudden rush of patients.

In a casualty of the strike, students of a school at Ramanagar, who were injured after their van collided with a government bus reportedly faced difficulties after a nearby private hospital allegedly refused to accept the case and referred it to Bengaluru, the police said.

With inputs from agencies.
For the past few days, doctors representing private hospitals in Karnataka have been staging a protest in Belgaum.

Due to the reluctance of the ruling government to even listen to the objections, various doctor bodies in Karnataka have called for an indefinite shut down of Out Patient Department services and elective surgeries in all private hospitals.

Only emergency and essential services such as dialysis and chemotherapy will be functioning from 16 November, 2017.

Not paying heed to the doctors protest, the Karnataka government is all set to table and pass the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act (KPMEA), 2017 in the Winter Session of the Legislative Assembly.

The West Bengal government has already tabled and passed the West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2017. Both these new laws seek to cap price of private healthcare.

It appears to be a foolish move by state governments to take the attention away from the abysmal public healthcare infrastructure and delivery. Private hospitals are being victimised for giving good quality care despite the government rather than because of it.

Before you are outraged and bring morality, corruption and greed into the discussion and get emotional, let us put forth some logical arguments why the capping of fees is not a good idea.

Private hospitals need to

Buy/ lease/ rent real estate

Build hospital infrastructure and buy high-priced equipment.

Pay salaries of doctors, nurses, technicians, paramedics staff, administrative and clerical staff

Pay electricity/ water bills at commercial rates, AMC maintenance of medical equipment, insurance premiums,

Regulatory expenditures to maintain standards and get accreditations like NABH, NABL, JCI, etc

Buy consumables like sutures, surgical instruments, implants, drugs, medical supplies to be in inventory when the patients walk in.

Pay taxes just like any legitimate business.

To remain cutting edge, they need to invest in technology, research and hire people who are up to date with the latest in medical science and skill.

All these need to be paid for by the revenue generated in the hospital and the promoters of the hospital need to make profit to sustain, expand service width and to continue maintaining quality. If profit doesnt materialise, the promoters or hospital owners are not going to run the hospital and will end up selling it off or pulling out their investments.

Government hospitals also need to do the same, but they are funded by taxpayers. So they dont need to make a profit to continue. Even though they need to maintain certain standards, most government hospitals fall short.

So what happens when there is a capping of fees in private hospitals?

Ill present four hypothetical scenarios just to drive the point home:

Scenario 1: Emergency

You become a victim of a road accident. You are rushed to the nearest government hospital where emergency care is given and you are stabilised.

However, knowing the quality of care available in government hospitals, you get yourself shifted to a private hospital. Youre injured pretty badly and you need complex surgery which requires a lot of implants and cutting-edge technology. There are brilliant and skilled doctors in the hospital and all the technology is available.

However here is the catch: The government has fixed the price of your surgery at Rs 20,000.

This has been decided without taking into account the various types of complex cases that come to the hospitals after road accidents. The hospital says it cannot afford to put all their best doctors on your case. They had to let some go due to the capping of surgical fees. They would also be forced to use sub-standard implants and equipment since they cannot afford to pay for cutting-edge technology.

They do not really want to do the surgery either. They'd prefer if you return to the government hospital for surgery because they're worried that you will file a malpractice suit against them for not solving your problem. That only means more expenses.

How would you feel?

Scenario 2: Health insurance and government schemes

Your mother needs cataract surgery. It is a very common surgery in any eye hospital. Some of the most excellent cataract surgeons in the world are in India. You want the best for your mother, so, once again, you visit a private eye hospital. Your mother is a good candidate for the high-end surgery: Phacoemulsification with a multifocal foldable intraocular lens. Your father underwent the same procedure last year before the price cap of Rs 50,000 was fixed.

To your chagrin, the doctor tells you that you have only one option: Small Incision Cataract surgery with a one of the cheapest available lens. This is because the government fixed the price of cataract surgery at Rs 6,000 based on how much government schemes have fixed prices.

The eye hospital had to sell off its phacoemulsification machines. The multifocal IOL costs Rs 30,000 and due to the price cap, the vendor has taken the high-cost IOLs off the shelves because it is not profitable to sell them.

You tell the doctor money is no issue. It's your mother. You're ready to pay the difference. The doctor says you can't because the price cap means he can't charge you a higher rate than others. Also, he cant do the phacoemulsification surgery because he sold the machine.

In effect, the surgery that is available to your mother is no different than those done to very poor patients (who cannot afford to go to private hospitals) in camp surgery or government hospitals. You protest. Your mothers surgery is covered by insurance. Which ought to solve the problem.

He tells you that he has stopped taking in government schemes and insurance payments as he is already losing money and cannot bear any further losses from government schemes who make payments every couple of years.

He is also unable to provide quality assurances demanded by the insurance companies under this new regime. He also informs you that he has fired half his medical and non-medical staff since he cannot afford to pay their salaries.

How would you feel if you have the money required but cannot get your mother the best quality surgery available in the world?

Scenario 3: Primary care

Your child has fever. You go to your neighbourhood doctor. When you reach the clinic, you see 50 people waiting to see the doctor. You wait for four hours before you are seen. You try to tell her that your child has fever, but she isnt listening. She has already started writing a prescription for antibiotics and paracetamol.

She hands you the prescription telling you to google any queries. She doesnt have to time to examine your child because the government has capped her consultation charge at Rs 50 and she needs to see 100 patients a day to break even. She says if the child doesn't get better, you can go to a government hospital.

Doesn't it sound swell?

Scenario 4: Super-specialisation surgery

Your uncle needs a liver transplant. Corporate hospitals which were earlier handling these procedures have stopped because the government capped the price at Rs 5 lakh. Corporate hospitals cannot sustain their transplant program. Your uncle has no option but to go to another state or country. The surgery may or may not be feasible in a different state or country depending on the rules governing transplantation in those states or countries.

You can guess what the trend will be.

Honest doctors and well-intentioned hospitals will reduce services to the minimum sustainable. They will refuse to do any surgery that costs more than the government allows them to charge or ones too risky to attempt.

The unscrupulous elements among medical professionals and hospitals will stop maintaining standards because that costs money. They will use the cheapest equipment, cheapest implants, low-quality manpower and sometimes provide incomplete or no treatment as long as they eventually make profit. This will go unchecked because the unscrupulous have an absolute monopoly and government hospitals are no better.

Private hospitals will eventually stop performing surgery under government schemes. Many smaller hospitals and practices will shut down as it will become unsustainable. Larger hospitals and corporate hospitals will refuse government schemes since they will lose money on those surgeries and other revenue sources have dried up. Eventually, the poor will be left at the mercy of government hospitals.

Many doctors and medical professionals will either migrate out of stateor leave the countryor take up a job in another industry where the government does not cap the prices of the services or product.

None of the latest technology would reach India as foreign companies will have no market for their latest but expensive machines and implants. Not many doctors would be left in the state with expertise in using new technology as they would have moved to greener pastures.

The medical tourism industry implodes because quality has dropped so much that no one cares about it anymore. The health indices of the state and country plummet drastically, mirroring some country in West Africa.

The public, of course, will be very happy that there are no private hospitals or doctors making any money and that the quality of care available in the government hospitals is almost comparable to the private ones (or the few that would be left).

The above account may read like something out of a dystopian nightmare but that's exactly what will happen if the government caps fees in private hospitals in India and if it is taken to its logical conclusion.

This whole public support around capping fees for medical services in Karnataka and West Bengal is based on the false premise that somehow doctors and private hospitals are responsible for providing affordable healthcare. They are not. They cannot!

Despite this, private healthcare services nearly 70 to 80 percent of the healthcare needs of the country. The fees charged for the high level of care provided is among the lowest in the world.

Private healthcare is what is bringing the latest in the medical world to India at the lowest prices. Hospitals use volumes (in a large country like India) to drive down running costs and expenditures thus helping reduce prices.

The responsibility to provide affordable healthcare lies with the government. The buck stops with them. They should improve government hospitals to put them on par with the best private hospitals through money and manpower. They should make strong insurance laws and create more state-funded insurance schemes which will prevent private insurance companies from cheating the public.

They can cap basic implants and tents or even offer those free of cost. They can even set prices for government-funded schemes after discussions committees which comprise hospital or doctor bodies who have a legitimate stake.

The point remains: If the quality of healthcare in government hospitals was reasonable, why would anyone have to visit a private hospital?

To cap all prices in private healthcare is irresponsible and shows the callous attitude of the Karnataka and West Bengal governments.

It will have disastrous consequences. To hide their failure to uplift the standard of public healthcare, they are demonising private healthcare and doing it for the sake of votes.

Failing to understand the economics of medicine leads to every stakeholder in the healthcare pyramid suffering in the aftermath of a poor healthcare policy.

The author is a consultant, Orbit, Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery and Ocular Oncology practicing in Bangalore. The piece first appeared on quora.com
News / National

by SADC

SADC ORGAN TROIKA PLUS COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON MINISTERIAL MEETING ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE.1. The SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson Ministerial Meeting was held at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, the Republic of Botswana on 16' November 2017, comprising of the Republic of South Africa (Chairperson of Council of Ministers). Republic of Angola (Chairperson of Organ), Republic of Zambia (Incoming Chairperson of Organ) and United Republic of Tanzania (Outgoing Chairperson of Organ).2. The objective of the meeting was to consider the unfolding situation in the Republic of Zimbabwe.3. SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson Ministerial Meeting noted with great concern the unfolding situation in the Republic of Zimbabwe4. SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson Ministerial Meeting reaffirmed SADC's commitment to the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act and the SADC's Democratic Principles, as they relate to the unconstitutional removal of democratically elected Governments.5 SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson Ministerial Meeting further reaffirmed the need for the SADC Member States to remain guided by their Constitutions.6. SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson Ministerial Meeting called upon all stakeholders in Zimbabwe to settle the political challenges through peaceful means.7. Having considered the unfolding situation in the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Organ Troika recommended the convening of an urgent Extra-Ordinary SADC Summit and committed to remain seized with the situation in the Republic of Zimbabwe.Done at Gaborone, Republic of Botswana, 16th November, 2017
Chennai: A petition seeking direction to the police to register an FIR against actor Kamal Haasan for his alleged comments on "Hindu terrorism" in a Tamil magazine has been filed in the Madras High Court.

When the plea came up for hearing on Thursday, Justice MS Ramesh directed the public prosecutor to get instructions from the police authority concerned and adjourned the petition by a week.

According to the petitioner G Devarajan, a registered advocate clerk in the high court, Kamal Haasan said in an article published in a Tamil magazine that the presence of "Hindu terrorism" in the country cannot be ruled out.

"By making such statements Kamal Haasan is trying to brand Hindus as terrorists. He should understand that no religion preaches violence but only peace. The actor with vested interests is trying to divide the Tamil community on basis of religion," the petitioner said.

He added that he had approached the Chennai police commissioner on 4 November and Teynampet police on 6 November with his complaint against the actor.

Since no action was taken on the complaints, he approached the high court.

The petitioner also wanted the court to direct the police to take action against the editor of the Tamil magazine for publishing the article.
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday reserved its order on a contempt plea by the DMK against the Tamil Nadu state election commissioner and poll body secretary for not complying with a court order on holding local body polls and excused the officials from personal appearance.

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, excused SEC M Malik Ferozh Khan and secretary S Rajasekar on an undertaking that they would appear in court whenever required.

Their counsel said there was a doubt whether to follow the census of 1991 or 2011 and when there were two reasonable interpretations, then there was no contempt.

Hence, the government brought out an ordinance, repealing certain provisions of the Acts in force in corporations for the purpose of carrying out delimitation, he said.

Citing the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, the counsel said that by virtue of repealing section 28A, 28AA and 28AAA, section 26 comes into play, as per which delimitation has to be done based on the 2011 census.

He said the delimitation process was being carried out by the Delimitation Commission, headed by the SEC.

Notwithstanding the ordinance, if the court gave a direction to follow the 1991 census, SEC would do so, he said.

Stating that SEC has tendered an unconditional apology, counsel prayed that the court discharge him and requested the court to take a lenient view in the matter.

Senior counsel P Wilson, appearing on behalf of DMK, submitted that if there was confusion, the SEC could have asked the government to issue a notification under section 28 of the Act, dividing the areas.

If the argument was that they could not implement the order because of the ordinance, then the government has to answer why they brought in the Ordinance and did not comply with the court order, he said.

Pointing out that the High Court has said it would not go into delimitation, Wilson sought to know where then was the question of doing delimitation based on 2011 census.

Irrespective of delimitation not being done, the election has to be conducted, he said.

The matter relates to the contempt petition filed by the DMK, represented by its organisation secretary RS Bharathi, seeking to punish the officials for not complying with the orders of the High Court which had earlier directed that the polls be completed by 17 November.

In its 4 September order, the court had directed SEC to issue the notification for the polls on 18 September and complete the entire process by 17 November.

However, citing repeal of certain sections of the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994 by the state government through an ordinance on 3 September, the SEC had later moved the court, saying there was legal disability in conducting the polls as directed and sought to keep in abeyance the order.

DMK had questioned the urgency to issue the ordinance, and claimed that it showed "sheer abuse of power".

The local body polls were originally slated to be held in October last year, but were cancelled by Justice N Kirubakaran on a petition by the DMK, seeking among others, appropriate reservation as per latest census and rotation of seats according to the norms.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican negotiators will propose that the North American Free Trade Agreement be rigorously reviewed every five years rather than the U.S. idea of automatic expiration, an official said on Wednesday as the fifth round of talks between the United States, Canada and Mexico to update the pact got under way. FILE PHOTO: People cross a pedestrian bridge at the international border port in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, January 28, 2017. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File PhotoThe latest round of talks in the Mexican capital are proceeding under the shadow of tough U.S. demands and without the presence of trade ministers. Mexicos top trade official, however, proposed a five-year review to counter a U.S. proposal to include a sunset clause that would kill the deal if it is not renegotiated after five years, an idea widely criticized as undermining long-term investments. We are going to make a proposal... a compromise so that every five years we evaluate what is happening and what effects its having, and based on those results each country will decide, said Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo. He described the proposal as a more rigorous evaluation mechanism than currently exists. Under current rules, each country has the right to leave the deal when it wants. Guajardo emphasized that the counterproposal would not let the trade agreement automatically expire and said he thought it is unlikely that the U.S. President Donald Trump would trigger the existing deals termination clause later this year. But the minister, who served as part of Mexicos NAFTA negotiating team in the early 1990s, added he could not rule out the possibility that Trump would decide to trigger a U.S. withdrawal from the 23-year-old accord in the first quarter of 2018. At the sprawling hotel hosting the negotiations in the capitals posh Polanco district, lower level officials were taking part in the talks, which in the first two days were set to focus on textiles, services, labour and intellectual property, according to two officials familiar with plans. In statements released on Wednesday, the United States, Mexico and Canada said their respective ministers would not attend, meaning these would be the first such negotiations without ministerial representation. Ministers agreed not to attend the fifth round so negotiators can continue to make important progress on key chapters, the statements said. The NAFTA talks were launched this year after the new U.S. president took office, promising that Washington would withdraw from the 1994 pact if it were not revamped to better serve U.S. interests. A Canadian source with knowledge of the talks said that too much should not be read into ministers absence, since they just met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in the Vietnamese resort of Danang. The source said the last minute decision for ministers not to attend was taken on Tuesday. A Mexican official close to the talks agreed, saying that the three sides would take stock of negotiations at the end of the round as planned. Two officials at the talks, one Mexican, one American, said the absence of the ministers would relieve pressure on negotiators and allow the three sides to focus on substance. Trumps threat to withdraw from NAFTA if he cannot rework it to the benefit of the United States has spooked investors. The peso sunk to an eight-month low on Wednesday. Other members of Trumps administration have been more optimistic. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said he is confident the pact will be successfully renegotiated.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Students of the National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal ended their week-long protest after a meeting with Chief Justice Hemant Gupta of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday. They had petitioned the Chief Justice on 13 November.

In what could be termed a victory for the students, Chief Justice Gupta issued a directive to the university administration to expedite the process of appointing a new director and designated additional district and sessions judge Giribala Singh as the law universitys registrar with effect from 16 November.

Director SS Singh, whose removal was the protesting students primary demand, was sent on leave, with around 10 months left in his second tenure at NLIU.

Chief Justice Gupta met 14 representatives of the protesting students in the presence of Justice JK Maheshwari, Advocate General Purushendra Kaurav, senior advocate Vivek Krishna Tankha and principal secretary, law and legislative affairs department, AM Saxena. He also ordered a committee comprising of the additional secretary of the higher education department and principal secretary of the law and legislative affairs department to hold a fact-finding enquiry into the allegations made by the students and address their grievances to improve the administration at the institute. The committee will submit its report by 25 December.

An instance of alleged favouritism in the evaluation of 10th-trimester answer sheets sparked this row. Students say marks were liberally bestowed upon a student who would have otherwise failed. When the administration was informed of this alleged bias, the students were asked to pay Rs 1,000 for revaluation of their papers, they said. Apart from the directors ouster, students other demands included an extension of library and hostel timings, changes in attendance guidelines and relaxation on humanitarian and medical grounds and transparency in the examination process.

Firstpost ran a story about this on 14 November.

The students' petition to Chief Justice Gupta had accused the college administration of many irregularities, including multiple instances of corruption, lack of financial transparency and accountability, casteism, the absence of a medical leave policy and denial of leave on genuine grounds and non-conformity with the Student Entitlement Guidelines, 2013.

When questioned on the fifth day of protest, Singh had said: The students now just have one agenda of protest, to remove the director. And my resignation will come only when I am asked by the Chief Justice to resign. The allegation of passing the student with extra marks is false. I have myself checked the papers.

Student Bar Association of Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Student Bar Council of National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam; and the Student Welfare Committee at Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow, had acknowledged the protest of NLIU students in a joint statement and had suggested that the only feasible solution to avoid such mismanagement is to centralise these institutions under the aegis of the Parliament itself.

Now that the protest has been called off, regular classes commenced from Thursday, while the general council assured the protesting students that their attendance will be taken care of.

The author is a Bhopal-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.
Mahendra Pandey, an enivironmental activist and former scientist with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has been a long-time critic of the odd-even rule in Delhi, repeatedly arguing against it as a measure of curbing pollution. After the Delhi government reintroduced the rule this week following the crippling air pollution levels in the city, Pandey was among the petitioners who filed a case in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the move.

He spoke to Firstpost about the capital's pollution problem and ways of tackling it.

You have long been advocating that odd-even is not a solution to Delhi's air pollution. Can you explain the reasons for this stance?

The CPCB conducted a study on Delhi's air quality last year after odd-even was enforced for the first time. It said odd-even had no impact on Delhi's air quality. In fact, the air quality actually deteriorated in the first few days after odd even was introduced. In its second phase, Ozone concentration in Delhi's air went high.

I think we are concentrating on vehicular pollution too much, but this hasn't yielded any positive results. To contain vehicular emissions, more city buses were introduced, CNG vehicles were started, old vehicles and diesel vehicles were done away with, but air pollution still didn't go down. Rather, it increased manifold. Enforcing odd-even is like aiming at the wrong target.

You have long been claiming that vehicular pollution is not a major cause of Delhi's air pollution. What makes you think so?

I have not said that vehicular pollution is not a major cause of Delhi's air pollution. What I argued is that it is not the biggest cause. There are bigger causes which are needed to be addressed first. And this has not been done. CPCB's study clearly mentions that the overall contribution of vehicular pollution to ambient air in Delhi during the winter is estimated to be around 20-25 percent in respect of PM10 and PM2.5.

The same has been mentioned in a study conducted by IIT Kanpur, which says the total PM10 emission load in the city is estimated to be 143 t/d and the top four contributors to PM10 emissions are road dust (56 percent), concrete batching (10 percent), industrial point sources (10 percent) and vehicles (9 percent). This IIT study also showed that PM2.5 emission load in the city is estimated to be 59 t/d. The top four contributors to PM2.5 emissions are road dust (38 percent), vehicles (20 percent), domestic fuel burning (12 percent) and industrial point sources (11 percent).

But why is industrial emission not being given as much importance as vehicular emission? Industries come under the purview of the Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control Committee. If the harm done to Delhi's environment by industrial pollution is focussed on, it will reveal the failures of these two authorities in containing the menace. So, they have been trying to divert people's attention and have them focussing on vehicular emission in order to save their skin. Vehicles come under the transport department and not these two.

Odd-even is a measure mandated under the 'Graded Response Action Plan' to tackle Delhi's air pollution. Are you saying it was included without a scientific study on its effectiveness?

It's a laughable proposition as the CPCB itself had said that odd-even had no impact on air pollution. I think it was included in 'GRAP' to fool people.

To what level has stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana contributed to Delhi's air pollution? How can it be controlled?

There hasn't been a study about the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's air pollution. During winters, the wind blows from Punjab and Haryana towards Delhi, which could bring in pollutants caused by stubble burning there. We need to know how much of the pollution is on account of stubble burning. There are various types of technologies available, which can convert unusable stubble into fuel or fertilizers. These can be used instead of burning the stubble.

What preventive measures could have been taken before Delhi's air quality reached these hazardous levels?

Soon after pollution levels reached 'severe' level, measures were taken to shut more than a hundred industries. What this measure proves is that the contribution of these industries to Delhi's air pollution is higher than the permitted level and no steps were taken to check this until the air quality became hazardous. But why was no action taken against them earlier? Why were they asked to close down only when pollution caused by them reached dangerous levels?

Had the CPCB and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee performed their duties honestly, we would have required no preventive measure to control Delhi's air pollution. But monitoring of the emission levels of these industries is not at all satisfactory.

For example, at construction and infrastructure projects, where permissions are given under the condition that the party obtaining a 'No Objection Certificate' would be in charge of curbing pollution caused by such projects. But this condition is not being followed at many of these projects. The bodies receiving a 'No Objection Certificate' are also required to submit compliance report after following the environmental norms, every six months. Had these norms been complied with, Delhi's ambient air quality would not have reached severe levels.

Garbage burning is another similar problem. It's illegal to burn garbage, but we see it being done every day in the landfills. Why is no penalty being imposed on the people or authorities responsible for such illegal action?

Can efficient public transportation solve the problem?

Unlike in Mumbai, people in Delhi are not used to public transport. They would rather use private vehicles than buses and metros. There is also a gap in our public transportation system; many places are connected by Metro rail, but there isn't a feeder bus service beyond this. If seamless public transportation is provided, it may decrease vehicular emission to an extent, but that has to be accompanied by changes in work shifts as well, to actually decrease congestion and emissions.
Bhubaneswar: The IMD on Thursday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall along Odisha's coastal regions in the next 24 hours, even as farmers struggled to safeguard their kharif crop from the unseasonal downpour.

The state has been experiencing rainfall since November 13, due to a low pressure formation, which later intensified into a depression over the Bay of Bengal.

The India Meteorological Department, in its latest bulletin, said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places over the coastal regions during the next 24 hours.

Heavy rainfall at one or two places over interior parts of the state is also expected during the period, it said.

The depression now lay centred at about 210 km from south-southwest direction of Gopalpur, the IMD said. It is moving in north-northeast direction at 14 km per hour, and will weaken after 24 hours.

Under the depression's impact, Odisha is likely to experience winds at the rate of 40-50 km per hour.

The weather office also cautioned fishermen not to venture into the sea as the condition will remain rough.

Sources in the IMD said Puri district has received the maximum rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, farmers across the state were worried as their paddy fields have been submerged in many coastal districts.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had yesterday asked officials of the agriculture, and revenue and disaster management department to send field staff to places receiving heavy rainfall.
A survey conducted to assess the harms of high pollution levels in New Delhi between 6 and 11 November has concluded that over half of the national capital's college students are suffering from respiratory problems.

According to India Today, the survey found that around 53 percent of students were facing respiratory health issues while 51 percent had aggravated symptoms during the five days over which the survey was conducted.

Around 42 percent students also had lung function impairment and 11 percent were already on inhalers. A total of 1,044 students in the age group 18 to 24 years participated in the survey conducted by Fortis Healthcare, the report said.

There was a need to involve the youth in such a study because it makes them aware of how pollution can deter their growth. It makes them more involved in the fight against air pollution, The Asian Age quoted Dr Vikas Maurya, senior consultant and head of respiratory medicine and interventional pulmonology department at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, as saying.

The national capital has been experiencing dense smog for about a week, forcing authorities to enforce emergency measures such as banning construction activities and brick kilns in the National Capital Region.

The government on Saturday had scrapped its plan to implement the odd-even scheme after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had said that there would be no exemption for women, two-wheelers and government servants.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday resolved to put in "sustained efforts" to check pollution and discussed measures to ensure smog does not envelop the national capital in the winter of 2018.

Kejriwal held a nearly 90-minute meeting at Khattar's residence in Chandigarh and was primarily centred around air pollution and stubble burning that is a major contributory factor to smog, which has engulfed the national capital and parts of Haryana and Punjab over the past nearly two weeks.

A joint statement was issued after the meeting, in which their environment ministers and other top officials also participated.

"We the chief ministers of Delhi and Haryana are happy to have had a very fruitful meeting at Chandigarh today. We recognised our deep and shared concern over the recent episode of heavy smog in our National Capital Region. We agreed upon the need for action on many measures aimed at preventing its re-occurrence in the winter of 2018," according to the statement.

It said that during the discussions, the two sides agreed that "serious health risks to which such episodes of smog expose one and all require concrete and quick action on a number of fronts".

With inputs from PTI
Islamabad: Pakistan has offered to resume dialogue with India on Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and other pending issues and was awaiting a response, Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said on Thursday.

The border between Pakistan and India has been the scene of bloody clashes between the armies of the two countries in the recent years. The current year has been the worst in terms of ceasefire violations as well as civilian casualties.

"Pakistan is committed to its policy of peaceful neighbourhood but India's posture including its claims of surgical strikes and unprecedented escalation on Line of Control and Working Boundary are threat to peace," Faisal said at the weekly press briefing.

"As a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan believes in peace but at the same time our armed forces are fully prepared and competent to defend the country against all threats," he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.

His remarks came days after media reports said the US is quietly nudging Pakistan and India to re-engage as the Trump administration seeks to defuse tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

The relations between India and Pakistan nosedived after the 2 January, 2016, terror attack in the Pathankot air base in which seven security personnel were killed.

The terrorist attack on an army station in Uri, the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army on terror infrastructures in PoK and the regular violation of ceasefire by Pakistani forces have further deteriorated bilateral ties.

The statement of Pakistani leadership eulogising Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani after his killing in Jammu and Kashmir in July 2016 further soured the relations between the neighbouring countries.

The spokesman also expressed concern over recent cruise missile tests conducted by India, complaining that Pakistan should have been informed prior to the tests.

He termed them a potential threat to peace in the region.
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked prime minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale fighter aircraft agreement and asked the media why it did not question him for allegedly changing the "entire deal" to benefit a businessman.

He also asked why no questions were posed to the prime minister on Amit Shah's son Jay, whose company the Congress has alleged has witnessed a quantum jump in turnover since the Modi government came to power. "I answer all your questions, whatever you ask me. Why don't you question prime minister Modi on the Rafale deal, on Amit Shah's son.

Why don't you question the prime minister who changed the entire Rafale deal to help a businessman?" he asked.

He was speaking to reporters after the meeting of the newly formed All India Unorganised Workers Congress (AIUWC). He expressed satisfaction over the formation of AIUWC and said he felt good interacting with them.

Earlier this week, the Congress accused the government of compromising national interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer. The BJP rubbished the allegation, claiming it was intended to "divert attention" as the party bigwigs faced the prospect of being questioned in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal.

The Congress' communications department head Randeep Surjewala alleged that the government neglected the interests of public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of Rafale aircraft, refused to transfer technology to it and instead entered into an agreement with Reliance Defence. He also alleged that the aircraft was being purchased at much higher rates than what was decided after the completion of the tender process under the previous UPA government.
Chandigarh: Haryana's Public Works Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Wednesday denied that he had opposed a CBI probe into the murder of seven-year-old Pradhuman Thakur of Ryan International School in Gurugram.

A state government recommends a CBI probe only after getting initial investigation done by the state police at its own level and this was done in Praduman's case, he told the media.

Singh said that he along with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited Pradhuman's parents to express condolences after the 8 September murder.

"Following the demand made by Pradhuman's family, it was recommended to get the case investigated by the CBI. It depends on the CBI which matter it decides to give priority", he said, adding that opposition leaders were deliberately trying to politicize the matter.

"How can any investigation be assigned to the CBI soon after an incident occurrs? It could be done only after the Haryana Police had investigated the matter", he said, questioning the allegations against him by opposition parties.

Defending the probe by the Gurugram Police in the murder, Khattar said last week that Haryana Police investigations were in progress when the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

With the CBI claiming that a Class 11 student was behind the gruesome murder of Pradhuman, the findings of the Haryana Police, which had claimed that a bus conductor had committed the murder, fell flat.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

As much as the safety of the President Robert Mugabe and his family should be ensured in the negotiations for him to step down, the Army Commander General Constintino Chiwenga has been urged to be careful.If he gives Mugabe a small chance to be at the helm again after briefly usurping his powers, this could lead the president to have Chiwenga sentenced to death for treason.This come in the wake of a video of Mugabe which is circulating with the remarks Mugabe made concerning any one who seek to overthrow an elected authority.Mugabe said in the video anyone who seek to overthrow a democratically elected government he will not allow him to stay in the country or live.This means if Mugabe stands by his words if he were to retain power after what the soldiers did to him on Chiwenga's orders, he would execute the general or force him out of the country."What the military started is not a game that one starts and retreat. They must go ahead and see to it that Mugabe never retains the power that he had because if he is given that chance they are in danger of being constitutionally and legal executed or forced into exile," said Dumisani Ndlovu.Another social commentator said if Mugabe respected friendship, he would not have fired former Vice President Emmerson Mnanagwa and Didymas Mutasa who had been with him. Therefore, Chiwenga must not be cheated through Mugabe's dog smile during negotiations.
Lucknow: Ahead of his visit to Ayodhya in Thursday, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Wednesday, officials said.

It was a "courtesy meeting" that lasted about 15-20 minutes and went off well, a senior state government official told PTI. "As far as the Ayodhya issue is concerned, Adityanath's stand is very clear. The state government is not a party. We welcome any settlement and will honour the decision of the court," he said.

Shankar had said in Delhi earlier this week that he was involved as a mediator in the Ram Temple dispute of his own will and would visit Ayodhya on 16 November to meet all stakeholders. He said he did not have an agenda and would listen to everybody.

On Tuesday, Adityanath started the campaign for urban local bodies polls from Ayodhya.

He said "Ayodhya" means a place where there is no possibility of a "yudh" (fight). "I am starting the campaign in Ayodhya with the aim that the results in all the local bodies are in favour of the BJP, so that development that was obstructed during the SP and BSP governments can be carried out in the state."
The latest in the efforts to finding medium ground to the complex Ayodhya dispute is Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravishankar, who was in town on Thursday, trying to speak to various stakeholders in the 68-year-old litigation.

However, his attempt to act as a mediator between the two communities, if anything, has just pitched the babble of voices. Whether or not, this could lead to an out of court settlement is quite another matter.

Here is a breakdown of who said what in view of Sri Sri's visit and what has been their role in the issue.

The Allahabad High Court, in 2010, had ruled a three-way division of the disputed 2.77-acre area at Ayodhya among Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Lord Ram Lalla.

Sri Sri Ravishankar: Won't quit even if I fail 100 times, dialogue only way possible

The modern, rather liberal voice amid Hindu gurus, Sri Sri is the latest entrant in the ring. In March 2017, the former Chief Justice of India JS Khehar suggested an out-of-court rapprochement among rival parties in the 68-year-old dispute, stating that such "sensitive issues involving religious sentiments" should adopt a "give and take approach" to arrive at a consensus, The Hindu reported.

Sometime in October, the AoL chief offered to make a fresh start in the dialogue process and is willing to talk to all stakeholders to find a middle ground.

There were efforts is 2003-04 also but environment more positive now. Doing this in my own capacity, it is non-political: Sri Sri #RamTemple pic.twitter.com/cYZqw7ChKl  ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2017

Taking this forward, Sri Sri was in Ayodhya on Thursday to act upon his plans. He exuded confidence that a positive environment existed, however, he denied a comment on the possible path taken by him as a starting point, saying it was all too early to comment.

Environment is positive, people want to come out of this conflict. I know it is not easy, let me talk to everyone, it is too early to reach a conclusion: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar #RamTemple pic.twitter.com/1n5A6J2WzY  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 16, 2017

He said, "I have not come with an agenda, but I know that people want to get out of this conflict", adding that dialogue was the only possible solution.

"If court gives a verdict, one community is bound to feel left out. Even if court gives a solution this issue will reemerge after 100- 200 years. For a long-standing peaceful solution, it is better if the spiritual and religious leaders can come to a solution on their own," Sri Sri Ravishankar said.

However, there have been many from both communities, who have questioned his intervention. While former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti alleged that Sri Sri intervened in the issue to avoid being probed for his amassed wealth, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said that Sri Sri was talking to jokers hungry for publicity and was trying to mislead the entire country.

Nirmohi Akhara: Welcome Sri Sri's intervention; ready to pay money for Muslims to take back claim

The Nirmohi Akhara, one of the three prime litigants in the case, has welcomed the dialogue route and Sri Sri's intervention.

Speaking to India Today, a member of the Nirmohi Akhara said that with his intervention and a positive approach from both communities, they will find an amicable solution to the long-standing dispute.

However, controversy has surrounded the dialogue process after India Today reported that the chief mahant of the Nirmohi Akhara, Dinendra Das has said that an amount between Rs 1 crore to Rs 20 crore is being offered to the Sunni Central Waqf board. He also said that Muslims will be given land elsewhere to build a masjid.

The compromise would be only this that they take money and vacate the land. We have land lying near Vidya Kund, we can give them that and Rs 1, 10, 20 crore, whatever makes them happy can be paid. We can also pay back the expenditure on litigation, Das was heard saying in India Today's report. The Muslim body has refuted such allegations.

Such controversial allegation may overshadow the AoL founder's visit to the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Sunni Waqf Board and All India Muslim Personal Law Board: No talks, let the court settle

Despite the AoL chief's efforts, two key Muslim bodies have not strike a very conciliatory note yet. According to Times Now, key leaders from the groups rebuffed the mediation efforts. The Muslim bodies stated that Sri Sri had no legal standing on the matter and hence there was no point in holding any talks with him.

They said that it has been made clear umpteen number of times that the Muslims will not back off from their traditional stand, if Sri Sri has any other formula, he may first convince the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu groups and then come to us.

It is being said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of the All India Muslims Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) which is leading the Muslim side, AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani told PTI. He also claimed, About 12 years ago, Sri Sri had made a similar move and had concluded that the disputed site be handed over to Hinduswhat new formula he has found this time should be disclosed, The Indian Express reported.

Though the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is not a party to the case, being the apex Islamic body on religious and personal matters, it wields considerable influence among the community.

Hindu Mahasabha: Hopeful all objection to temple construction will wither away

The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Saturday expressed the hope that all obstacles to building a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya would "wither away" and people would witness its construction very soon. Members of the Hindu Mahasabha and Nirmohi Akhara had met Ravi Shankar at his Bengaluru ashram.

The Hindu Mahasabha has rejected other contrasting voices from other Hindu groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

"There are three main parties  Nirmohi Akhara, Hindu Mahasabha and Sunni Waqf Board. These three parties have been recognised by the Allahabad High Court and they all have agreed for construction of Ram Temple. Other stakeholders or parties have come after 1949," he said.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad: Talks are futile

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has voiced its doubts over Sri Sri's efforts, stating that several attempts of finding a solution through dialogue have failed before him and they don't think he would succeed in his mission.

VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said, "This is not for the first time that Sri Sri has taken this initiative. In 2001, he made attempts but failed. The reaction to his efforts was the same as today. Somebody is calling him an agent of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi while another is dubbing him a VHP agent. In fact, he is being insulted."

"A way out cannot be found through talks. We doubt his (Sri Sri's) efforts will succeed," he added.

The Nirmohi Akahada has, however, rejected VHPs statement saying they do not exist in the debate.

Hindu Mahasabha has also rejected Sri Sri's efforts stating that he has no right to intervene in the issue, reported India Today.

Ram Janma Bhumi Nyas: Welcome dialogue attempts by Sri Sri

Mahant Nrityagopal Das, chief of Ram Janambhumi Nyas, after meeting Sri Sri said the people and saints of Ayodhya welcome Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on his arrival.

"We wish good luck to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his initiative to resolve such a trivial issue by making a consensus between all the parties. Even we want that the issue be resolved in a peaceful manner," he said, according to News18.

The Nyas is an organised trust formed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to promote and oversee the construction of a temple in Ayodhya.

Shia Waqf Board: Will back temple for communal harmony

Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi met spiritual guru and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at Bengaluru on Tuesday. Rizvi also said that the Shia community was ready to back the construction of a temple on the disputed site for communal harmony.

"I met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and apprised him of the (Shia) Board's stand that a Ram temple should be constructed at the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. I have met all seers and mahants contesting the case for the construction of a temple in court. All of them are ready for talks," Rizvi told PTI over the phone.

"The Shia Central Waqf Board does not want any mosque to be constructed at Ram's birthplace. Instead, it should be constructed elsewhere in a Muslim populated area," he said.

Sunni Waqf Board has rejected such statements stating that Shias did not have any locus standi and were not the litigants in the case.

Rizvi has, however, said that said that the Shia community had all rights in the matter as the disputed Babri structure was initially a 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, Rizvi said.

Iqbal Ansari, son of original petitioner: Talk to all those who reach out, but dialogue won't help

Sri Sri is also scheduled to meet litigant in Babri case Iqbal Ansari. He has welcomed the spiritual leader in Ayodhya but has said that he doesn't feel he can achieve much through mediation.

I will meet Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and try to understand the formula first. However, the chances of any kind of negotiations are very low, he told News 18.

Iqbal Ansari is the son of Hashim Ansari, the original plaintiff from the Muslim side in the 60-year-old Ayodhya title suits.

Haji Mehboob, petitioner in case: No back-channel talks about money; can't build temple exactly where mosque existed

Haji Mehboob, one of the petitioners in the case, has refuted allegations of bribe by the Nirmohi Akhada chief mahant Dinendra Das. He said that the Muslims will never relinquish there claims to the disputed structure, he told India Today. He, however, added that if someone comes to talk to him, he will treat with courtesy.

Mehboob has maintained that Ayodhya is the city of Ram but to build the temple, exactly where the mosque was is wrong. "The land of the mosque should be vacated. All the land there belongs to the Muslims. For the sake of peace and brotherhood, we are amenable to the construction of a temple. But to make it exactly where the mosque used to be is not acceptable," Mehboob had told Livemint in an earlier interview.

With inputs from agencies
Bengaluru: A teenage girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by four persons for ten days at a lodge in Bengaluru, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police rescued the girl on 4 November and arrested the four men, a senior official said.

"We have arrested all the four accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for kidnapping and gang-raping the teenaged girl for ten days," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whiefield) Abdul Ahad told PTI.

Three of the accused, in the age group of 22 to 25 years, are friends. The fourth accused is the 55-year-old lodge operator, he said.

The prime accused, who runs a tea shop at Whitefield, had befriended the girl and took her to the lodge on 26 October and committed the crime, Ahad said.

The girl's father had on 30 October lodged a missing complaint with KR Puram police.
The Telangana Open School Society, Hyderabad (TOSS) has declared results of the TOSS SSC October exams and TOSS intermediate exams 2017, media reports said.

The candidates can access their results from TOSS' official website, telanganaopenschool.org.

According to a report on NDTV. the results could also be accessed on Manabadi.co.in, a third party website which hosts examination results from the state.

To check their result, eligible candidates may follow the following steps:

Visit the official website: telanganaopenschool.org Click on Results of Inter (TOSS) Public Examinations, October-2017 to check results of intermediate exams Click on Results of SSC (TOSS) Public Examinations, October-2017 to check results of SSC exams Enter your hall ticket number and click "submit"

According to The Indian Express, about 51,848 students appeared for the SSC exams, while there were 45,306 students who gave the Plus 2 inter exams. The report added that the pass percentage for SSC this year is 22.61 with 11,725 students passing. The pass percentage for Plus 2 inter exams is 31.13 percent with 14,104 students passing.
Toxic smog continued to envelop Delhi on Wednesday, even as the Centre and Delhi governments scrambled to adopt a slew of desperate measures to mitigate the pollution, which has been spiraling out of control since the past two weeks.

Smoggy conditions prevailed over the national capital restricting the visibility to 1,000 metres at around 8.30 am as Delhiites braved another smoggy day.

Kejriwal holds 'cordial meet' with Khattar but will that help?

As Delhi chocked on filthy air, Kejriwal could finally hold his much-touted discussions with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar after a brief twitter squabble over scheduling the meeting. Punjab, the third state whose actions have an effect on Delhi's air quality has so far ignored Kejriwal's requests to meet.

Kejriwal held a nearly 90-minute meeting at Khattar's residence in Chandigarh and it primarily centred around air pollution and stubble burning that is a major contributory factor to smog. A joint statement was issued after the meeting, in which their environment ministers and other top officials also participated.

"We the chief ministers of Delhi and Haryana are happy to have had a very fruitful meeting at Chandigarh today. We recognised our deep and shared concern over the recent episode of heavy smog in our National Capital Region. We agreed upon the need for action on many measures aimed at preventing its re-occurrence in the winter of 2018," according to the statement.

However, until and unless long-term holistic measures aren't planned to curb the issue, it is unlikely that the two chief ministers' meeting will change much on ground. The meeting was more of an attempt to appear to be doing something as the Haryana and Delhi chief ministers were seen squabbling on twitter. As this article in DNA points out, without Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Centre's participation in the dialogue process  along with serious measures to curb pollutants all around the year in all three states  nothing but perhaps perception will change.

Weather at a glance

The air quality of the city again dipped on Wednesday, after Tuesday's slight improvement, even though it remained outside the previously recorded 'severe plus' category.

The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was 361, which still falls in the 'very poor' category with real-time monitors indicating the maximum levels of PM2.5 touched 450 as compared to Tuesday when it was 308, the best in a week. To give a sense of just how bad is "very poor", the "safe levels" of the hazardous PM2.5 is 60 and anything beyond is labelled hazardous.

The meteorological department said that the minimum temperature settled at 13.2 degree Celsius, while the humidity oscillated between 95 and 45 percent. The maximum temperature was recorded at 27.7 degrees Celsius. The Met office has forecast clear skies for Thursday along with mist in the morning.

The visibility was recorded at 1,500 metres at 5.30 am, which dropped to 1,000 meters at 8.30 am leading to cancellation of seven trains and rescheduling of nine. According to the Indian Railways, 26 trains were delayed, nine rescheduled and seven cancelled.

Update on the pollution control measures

Since the air quality remained outside the 'severe plus' category, emergency measures such ban on construction and entry of trucks may be lifted on Thursday if the trends prevail. However, there might be a dip in quality and the Air Quality Index may settle in the upper side of 'very poor' from 17 November due to meteorological conditions including a fall in temperature and entry of moisture.

The Delhi Fire Services carried out water sprinkling from the 22-storey high Vikas Minar at ITO in the afernoon for about an hour.

The Delhi government's petition to the NGT on odd-even, seeking a review of its order withdrawing the exemptions given to two-wheelers and three-wheelers, will also come up before the tribunal on Thursday. The fresh petition has also sought a direction from the NGT that the neighbouring states should also be asked to implement the scheme.

The parking fees in areas falling under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which were quadrupled a week ago, will now be restored to the previous rates from Thursday.

The North and East Delhi corporations, however, said, they will continue with the revised rates.

Centre prepones roll-out of BS-VI fuel; auto industry says difficult to keep deadline

Desperate times, desperate measures. Battling a depleting air quality in the national capital, the Central government has decided to prepone the introduction of BS-VI grade fuel to 1 April 2018 instead of the earlier deadline of 1 April 2020.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is also mulling to introduce the BS-VI auto fuels in the whole of National Capital Region, which includes Gurugram and Noida, by 1 April 2019.

However, the auto industry said that it is not in a position to launch vehicles complying with the strict emission norm before April 2020.

Although, the government hasn't changed the deadline for launch of BS-VI engine vehicles  which is on 1 April 2020  automobile manufacturers fear that they may be later forced by either a quasi-judicial body like the National Green Tribunal or the government to either prepone the roll-out of the vehicles or halt sales of old vehicles altogether.

No manufacturer has BS-VI-ready vehicles for launch in India across any segments. There is no way any manufacturer will be able to sell BS-VI vehicles next year. Every manufacturer is bending its back to meet the (April 1) 2020 deadline, an official from a Delhi-based manufacturer, told Moneycontrol.

RTI reveals crores of fund collected as environmental cess lying unused

Authorities in Delhi have over Rs 1,500 crore, collected as green fund to combat air pollution, lying largely unused, even as the national capital struggles to ward off the toxic haze.

The lion's share of the amount  Rs 1,003 crore (till 10 November)  comes from an Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) imposed by the Supreme Court in 2015 on trucks entering Delhi while the rest is made up of cess on every litre of diesel sold, in effect since 2008. When contacted by PTI, a senior transport department official of the Delhi government said that a decision to use the fund to subsidise the procurement of electric buses has been taken only on Tuesday.

However, it could not be immediately confirmed as to how many electric buses the government is planning to buy and the amount required to do so.

Meanwhile, AAP has blamed the BJP-led central government for the unused funds. AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said the party never said the Delhi government had a shortage of funds.

"Though the government wanted to purchase buses, the central government did not allot land for bus depots," he said. He said the government had approached the central government for permission for aerial sprinkling of water to control pollution and was even ready to spend on it.

Study reveals air pollution second largest cause for health loss in India

According to a Lancet Journal report, outdoor air pollution was responsible for six percent of the total disease burden in India in 2016. Disease burden due to air pollution remained high in India between 1990 and 2016, as it caused non-communicable and infectious diseases like cardiovascular, respiratory diseases and infections, it said.

Besides this, another study published in the Journal of Indian Pediatrics said that children growing up in polluted environments of the national capital have reduced lung growth compared to the children in developed countries like the US.

While both Indian and US children have nearly the same size till the age of about eight years when the lungs complete their normal physical growth, subsequent growth show progressive difference between the two countries.

With inputs from agencies
Kolkata: Rasogolla sales in West Bengal have shot up by around 25 percent after the state secured a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for "Banglar Rasogolla", a body of sweetmeats makers said on Wednesday.

"The GI tag recognised the industry's efforts and customers' passion for the sweet. The development has caused euphoria among sweets-lovers and the industry as a whole has been witnessing a 20-25 per cent rise in rasogolla sales," Paschimbanga Mistanna Byabasayee Samity's General Secretary RK Paul said.

As per the GI Registry website, the Geographical Indication number 533 was registered on 14 November in the name of West Bengal State Food Processing and Horticulture Development Corporation Limited with respect to Banglar rasogolla.

The corporation had filed the application to the GI Registry on September 18, 2015.

According to Paul, the sweets' manufacturing in Bengal was estimated to be worth about Rs 20,000 crore annually though this figure was computed about 15 years back.

"Now, the industry size would be well above Rs 20,000 crore and rasogolla, as a core item, contributes a substantial amount to our sales. The GI tag for Banglar Rasogolla will help the industry to develop further," Paul said.

He said two lakh manufacturers, employing 7.5 lakh workers, were involved in the sweetmeats industry in the state.

According to industry estimates, rasogolla contributes about 20 per cent of daily sales at a sweetmeats shop but it varies across locations and depends on the number of items on offer.
Ahmedabad: The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are yet to declare their candidates for the first phase of the Gujarat assembly election, nominations for which opened on 14 November.

One of the main reasons for delay is that both the parties are waiting for the other side to come out with its nominees, sources said. The last date of filing nominations for the first phase of the polls  when 89 seats will see voting on 9 December  is 21 November.

A meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) was held in New Delhi on Wednesday to finalise candidates. After the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP said though the party has finalised candidates for many seats, it will declare the list at an "appropriate time".

The Congress was to hold a meeting of its screening committee on Thursday in New Delhi to decide on candidates, but it was postponed for Friday, party spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

Election will be held in 93 assembly constituencies in the second phase on December 14. Counting of votes in Gujarat, which has a 182-member assembly, will take place on 18 December.

The socio-political situation in Gujarat is fluid in the backdrop of agitations launched by the the Patels, OBCs and Dalits to achieve their respective goals, they said. The other reason is to avoid a possible rebellion by ticket hopefuls if they do not make it to the final list, the sources added.
New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday declared the names of its six candidates for Karnataka legislative council polls, which are due shortly.

The names were finalised in the party's central election committee chaired by BJP chief Amit Shah and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The party has fielded Ayanur Manjunath as its candidate from south-west graduates constituency, Ganesh Karnik from south-west teachers constituency and B Niranjan Murthy from south teachers constituency.

KB Shrinivas will be the party's candidate from north-east graduates constituency, Haalanur S Lepakshi from south-east teachers constituency and A Devegowda from Bengaluru graduates constituency.

The Karnataka legislative council comprises of 75 members, out of which 25 are elected by the state legislative, 25 by local authorities, 7 by graduates and 7 by teachers.

The Karnataka governor nominates 11 members to the state legislative council.
Ahmedabad: Congress Gujarat unit president Bharatsinh Solanki on Thursday accused the BJP of planning to smuggle in liquor in large quantities into poll-bound Gujarat and urged the EC to appoint special observers in border areas of the dry state.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti, Solanki called for sealing of border areas in Gujarat to prevent breach of the prohibition in place in the state, where polling will be held on 9 and 14 December.

"... a very disturbing development has come to our notice from reliable sources, that the Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to get into Gujarat a large quantity of liquor from neighbouring BJP-ruled states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh etc," Solanki said in the letter.

"This is a grievous crime, especially in the wake of impending elections and law and order situation it can entail, plus the obvious health hazards," he added.

Solanki said: "We understand that you are taking care of everything to ensure free and fair elections and thus we thought of bringing this to your notice."

"Please appoint special observers in all border areas with the neighbouring states, to seal them against any such breach of prohibition policy for undue favours. It will be a big support to the cause of democracy and the people of Gujarat," the Congress leader said.

The results of the elections for the 182-member Gujarat assembly and 68-member Himachal Pradesh assemblyfor which polling was held on 9 Novemberwill be declared on 18 December.
New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not paying adequate attention to pollution in Delhi and said he should have called a meeting of chief ministers concerned and placed an action plan before them.

"Delhi has been coping with the problem of severe pollution for two-three years but the prime minister has no time," Congress spokesperson RPN Singh told media persons in New Delhi.

"Modi should have called a meeting of chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab and placed an action plan before them," Singh said, adding that chief ministers of three states adjoining Delhi belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He said the central government has crores of rupees to tackle pollution but there was lack of a concerted action plan.

Singh alleged that the government was putting responsibility of tackling pollution on farmers, who have no alternative at present to stubble-burning.

He said other pollution contributing factors such as dust were not being addressed adequately and public transport not ramped up adequately.

Delhi has been coping with acute pollution for over a week with levels of air toxicity varying from "severe plus" to "severe" to "very poor".
Preparing teens for their futures with soft skills Businesses of every size and industry continue to identify labor shortages as a top challenge  across the country and...

Where to find non-partisan ballot information Thank you for your non-biased bullet points explaining the three state ballot proposals in "A look at the three state...
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power in Gujarat for 22 years, winning five successive elections.

Despite the long list of victories, however, the party is still not sure about its best candidates.

With polling for Assembly elections in the western state less than a month away, the BJP has yet to declare its candidate list.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah met in New Delhi to discuss the list of candidates, and Union minister JP Nadda later said that the list "would be announced at an appropriate time". This despite a preliminary list already being prepared by the party's state unit.

The party's decision to not name its candidate list has several hopefuls feeling anxious, with sitting MLAs the most worried, many of whom are unsure if the party will give them another ticket, reported The Indian Express on Thursday.

With the party keen on ensuring anti-incumbency doesn't impact its chances of clinching a sixth straight victory in Gujarat, some sitting MLAs are likely to be dropped from the BJP's candidate list, a party leader was quoted as saying in the report.

Ahead of the 2007 Assembly elections in Gujarat, Modi, who was then the chief minister, had denied tickets to 47 sitting MLAs. In 2012, he denied tickets to 30 sitting MLAs.

Among the theories doing the rounds is that BJP doesn't want to declare its candidate list before the Congress. Neither party has firmed up their lists yet, and seem to currently be engaged in a game of 'who blinks first'.

A report in The Hindu said BJP leaders have come up with three probable candidates for every seat. Party insiders told the publication that a panel for each seat was prepared to be forwarded to the national parliamentary board for a final decision.

Similarly, even the Congress party isn't ready with its candidate list. Party leaders are meeting on Thursday to finalise and release names. "We have a meeting on 16 November to give a final shape to the candidate list," said Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki.

Results to Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections will be announced simultaneously on 18 December, although polling in the hill state has already taken place. But even in Himachal, and despite the state having a small 68-member Assembly, the BJP was unable to release its candidate list until very late.

A report on Hindustan Times said answering questions of who should lead the party's electoral campaign was holding back the announcement. It said "several rounds" of consultations were held but issues regarding chief ministerial candidates were necessitating the delay.

Successful strategy

The trend of delaying its candidate list isn't new for the BJP. The party has always chosen to wait until the last minute before announcing a list of candidates. It did so earlier this year in Uttar Pradesh. Assembly elections for 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh took place in February, and the party waited until end of January to announce its final list.

A report in The Times of India said that there was a big rush for tickets and that forced the party to delay its announcement. A large number of powerful regional leaders were also pushing for tickets for their kin and the lobbying forced Amit Shah to hold detailed deliberations with Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra, party leaders from the state.

Another report on Hindustan Times said the party was facing a "problem of plenty", with many influential local leaders expressing a desire to join the party given its successful track record and the improved chances of victory.

Especially with various caste equations playing a key role, the party wanted to ensure it can keep various sections happy.

The strategy worked for the BJP, with the party clinching an unprecedented 325 out of 403 seats, with a 40 percent vote share. Given that it's been less than a year since it used this strategy to record a victory in Uttar Pradesh, the party is likely to do the same in Gujarat.
Rajkot: Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Wednesday that there was a feeling among common people that the BJP-led NDA government has failed to deliver on its promises.

The former Union minister said that although the Narendra Modi government took steps such as demonetisation and the "half-cooked" GST, it did not pay heed to the people's problems caused by the note ban.

"It's easy to give speeches, declare manifesto and publish advertisement, but this government is facing difficulties and there is a feeling among common people that they have failed to deliver (on their promises)," Pilot, who was here to campaign for Gujarat polls, told reporters.

He was here to take part in "Yuva Samvad" programme near Saurashtra University.

"What I have seen is that the people of the state are disappointed with the central government's performance and I felt an undercurrent that will help Congress register a massive win in the Gujarat elections," he said.

"The undercurrent occurs because the government had given so many promises, including that of bringing back black money, creating jobs for the youth and several others," he said.

Targeting the Centre over demonetisation and the GST, Pilot said, "This government took steps like note ban and half-cooked GST. But what they did not pay heed to was that the people's problems caused due to note ban."

"At the same time, Congress kept away from negative politics and tried to convince the Union government to bring changes in GST," he said.

When asked about Farooq Abdullah's recent statement on Jammu and Kashmir, Pilot said, "It was his personal view and Congress has already clear its stand".

"I can say only about my party, he (Farooq) is from a different party and I am from Congress. But our party has already cleared the stand. It was his personal view."

Pilot further said that Gandhi will soon take over as the president of the party.

"Very soon Congress will have Rahul Gandhi as its national president, as many state units has passed their resolutions and the party will complete the formalities for the post very soon", he added without specifying any date.
New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's elevation as party president is likely to take place after the Gujarat Assembly polls in December, as many in the party feel that election to the post amid poll campaigning could dilute its focus.

Earlier, there were speculations that Gandhi's elevation would take place after Diwali on 19 October and before the elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. Elections in Himachal were held on 9 November.

Some party leaders believe his elevation in the middle of the election campaign in Gujarat may divert the attention of party workers in the western state.

Earlier, Congress leader Ajay Maken had said the party has time till 31 December to complete the organisational election process and report it to the Election Commission.

"We have time till 31 December. By that time, the process will be over," Maken had said.

The Congress had earlier set a deadline to complete the organisational elections by October-end.

The Assembly polls in Gujarat will be held on 9 and 14 December.

The results of the elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly and 68-member Himachal Assembly will be declared on 18 December.
Mumbai: A Shiv Sena MLA on Wednesday claimed that a senior BJP minister in Maharashtra had offered him Rs 5 crore to join the saffron party.

The BJP, however, termed the claim as "baseless".

"When I met BJP minister Chandrakant Patil at his official residence near Mantralaya late last month, he made me the offer," Harshwardhan Jadhav, Sena MLA from Kannad Assembly constituency, told a Marathi news channel.

"Patil told me that the BJP was frustrated with the Shiv Sena due to their bickerings and was looking at getting rid of that party by increasing the number of BJP MLAs," Jadhav alleged.

"Patil told me: we are trying to give every Sena MLA Rs 5 crore to quit that party and contest the bypoll as BJP nominee," he said.

"The Rs 5 crore offer was for election expenditure," he added.

"The minister made the same offer to me...I feel he gave this offer to all Sena MLAs," Jadhav said.

"Patil told me that if I do not get elected, I will be fielded (by the BJP) for the legislative council polls," he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Sena MLA of indulging in a farce.

"All these are baseless charges. BJP does not need to do such things...Compared to Jadhav, Patil enjoys the trust of people of Maharashtra," state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said.

"What Jadhav has claimed is a nautanki (farce)," he said.

Asked if defamation proceedings will be initiated against Jadhav, the BJP spkesperson said, "Definitely. We will consider this."
11:29 (ist)

Nirmohi Akhara chief Mahant Dinendra Das says between Rs 1-20 crore being offered to the Sunni Central Wakf Board to relinquish claim

Reports have emerged claiming that Sri Sri Ravishankar, who has taken up the role of a mediator in the Ayodhya Babri Masjid dispute, could be offering money to the Sunni Waqf board to strike a deal.

India Today reported that the chief Mahant of the Nirmohi Akhara, Dinendra Das has said that an amount between Rs 1 crore to 20 crore is being offered to the Sunni Central Waqf board. He also said that Muslims will be given land elsewhere to build a masjid.

"We'll try our best to strike a deal. All the cost behind the court case. Are we winning?" Das asked. "The court has said that please find a settlement outside the court, and we are doing that," he added.
Reuters

Apple Inc has agreed to give limited help to the Indian government to develop an anti-spam mobile application for its iOS platform, after refusing to do so based on privacy concerns, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters.

The US tech giant has been locked in a tussle with Indias telecoms regulator for more than a year. Officials complained Apple dragged its feet on advising the government how to develop an app that would allow iPhone users to report unsolicited marketing texts or calls as spam.

The government app was launched on Googles Android platform last year, but an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said Apple pushed back on requests for an iOS version due to concerns that a government app with access to call and text logs could compromise its customers privacy.

Facing public criticism from the regulator, Apple executives flew to New Delhi last month and told officials the company would help develop the app, but only with limited capabilities, according to a government official aware of the matter.

Apples executives have told India that its current iOS platform might not allow for some of the governments requests, such as making call logs available within the app that would allow users to report them as spam, the official said.

They (Apple) will help develop an app which, to an extent, can solve the requirements, said the official.

An Apple spokesman confirmed that the new iOS features to combat spam text messages would help the government build the app, but did not comment on the apps potential inability to access call logs for reporting spam, as the Android version does.

The spokesman said Apple had not changed its stance on privacy.

Apples stand-off with the regulator comes at a time when it is seeking greater access in India, the worlds third-largest smartphone market. The company has been lobbying the government for tax breaks to expand its phone assembly operations in the country, where it reported doubling its revenue versus the previous year for the quarter ending 30 Sept.

Balancing growth and market share with protecting customer privacy has become a defining challenge for global tech companies such as Apple, which regularly clash with governments over allowing access to content on their devices, especially for law enforcement needs.

This has now become more of an ego tussle between Apple and the regulator, said Neil Shah of Hong Kong-based technology research firm Counterpoint Research. He added that Apple was unlikely to agree to any requests specific to India because of the precedent that would set.

The chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) RS Sharma said he was unhappy with Apple for not responding swiftly to the governments requests.

Weve told them they are harming their consumers, Sharma told Reuters in an interview. I hope good sense prevails upon them.

Apple did not comment on TRAIs criticism, but said that it had taken time to develop a privacy-friendly solution.

App tussle, Privacy woes

Pesky marketing calls and unsolicited commercial text messages have become a big problem in India.

Despite mobile users having the option to register themselves under a so-called do not disturb service to block marketers, businesses have gamed the system by using multiple phone numbers for promotions.

TRAIs anti-spam mobile application, also called Do Not Disturb, has been downloaded more than 100,000 times from the Google Android app section.

Before the app launches, it asks the user to allow it access to contacts and view text messages. Users can then start reporting numbers as spam.

A spokesman for Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, did not directly comment on the app, but said, We believe in openness and in the ability of users to make purchasing and downloading choices without top-down enforcement or censorship. Users are prompted with requests for permissions that they can choose to accept or decline.

Apple, however, has been worried.

The app can peep into logs, Apple had conveyed that their (privacy) policy does not allow this, said the industry source familiar with the matter.

TRAI said the app does not raise any privacy concerns.

Meetings, Emails

Apple has flown in several overseas-based executives to resolve the dispute with the Indian regulator, including its senior director for global privacy, and former Google executive, Jane Horvath.

At least seven meetings have been held between the two sides and dozens of emails exchanged since last year, according to government officials and documents reviewed by Reuters.

In August this year, months after the talks began, Apple wrote to TRAI saying that a technical meeting would help them establish what is possible and not possible.

The TRAI pushed back.

The whole exercise in organising the proposed meeting would be a waste of resources ... please share concrete solutions that have a likelihood of addressing the issues we have been discussing over the past one year, the regulator wrote in September.

Later that month, Apple again approached the TRAI saying it had identified potential solutions but they would require additional discussions with the regulators technical staff.

Horvath and other Apple executives met TRAI officials in October and conveyed they would help them develop the first version of the app with limited features.

They (Apple) are adopting dilatory tactics, said Sharma, the TRAI chief. Theyve had meetings, meetings and meetings.
IANS

In a first, astronomers have spotted close encounter between two hyperluminous starburst galaxies  astoundingly bright and spectacularly massive galaxies - in the early universe. "Finding just one hyper-luminous starburst galaxy is remarkable in itself. Finding two of these rare galaxies in such close proximity is truly astounding," said Dominik Riechers, an astronomer at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Astronomers captured these two interacting galaxies, collectively known as ADFS-27, as they began the gradual process of merging into a single, massive elliptical galaxy. The ADFS-27 system has approximately 50 times the amount of star-forming gas as the Milky Way, said the study published in the Astrophysical Journal. "Much of this gas will be converted into new stars very quickly," Riechers said.

"Our current observations indicate that these two galaxies are indeed producing stars at a breakneck pace, about one thousand times faster than our home galaxy," Riechers said. The ADFS-27 galaxy pair is located approximately 12.7 billion light-years from Earth in the direction of the Dorado constellation. At this distance, astronomers viewed this system as it appeared when the universe was only about one billion years old.

"Considering their extreme distance from Earth and the frenetic star-forming activity inside each, it's possible we may be witnessing the most intense galaxy merger known to date," Riechers said. Astronomers speculate that this merger may eventually form the core of an entire galaxy cluster. Galaxy clusters are among the most massive structures in the universe. The researchers first detected this system with the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory. It appeared as a single red dot in the telescope's survey of the southern sky.

These initial observations suggested that the apparently faint object was in fact both extremely bright and extremely distant. Follow-up observations with the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) telescope confirmed these initial interpretations and paved the way for the more detailed observations. With its higher resolution and greater sensitivity, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory in Chile precisely measured the distance to this object and revealed that it was in fact two distinct galaxies.

The pairing of otherwise phenomenally rare galaxies suggests that they reside within a particularly dense region of the universe at that period in its history, the astronomers said.
PTI

Mobile chipset firm Spreadtrum Communications expects 20 percent growth in India business by end of this year on account of increase in demand for smartphones.

"We have been growing in India in double digits since 2012-13. It is now second largest mobile phone market. We are expecting 20 percent business growth by end of this year compared to last year," Spreadtrum chairman, CEO and president Leo Li told PTI in an interview.

The company recently came into limelight for supplying chipsets for Jio Phone. In India, the company sells mobile chipsets to Lava, Karbonn, Micromax, Celkon, Samsung etc.

Li said that India contributes 15-20 percent to Spreadtrum's overall business.

"Some of the Samsung handsets sold in India also use Spreadtrum chipsets but we don't count bill raised to them in India business. We have 55 percent market share in India of which around 25 percent is for smartphones and rest for feature phones," Spreadtrum Communications country head Neeraj Sharma claimed.

The company claims to be shipping 130 million chipsets in India.

"Most of the printed circuit board (PCB) are imported in India. We sell most of the chipsets to companies in China who ship their PCBs (motherboard) to India and hence that part of the business is not included in India revenue. Once PCB manufacturing picks up in India, the revenue from India will be much more," Sharma said.

Li said that Spreatrum will start "Design in India" programme where it will encourage companies and entrepreneurs to design mobile phones in India.

He said that company is also looking to expand business in Internet of Things, digital TVs and industrial control systems as well.

"We are working on high-end chipsets with features that can reconstruct the face of users and same can be printed using 3D printers. We will charge $30-35 extra for these chipsets from smartphone companies. It will be launched in China in January-February and expect its shipments in India in the second quarter of 2018," Li said.

The company sells chipsets for smartphones in the range of $10-15 a unit and $1-2 a unit for feature phones.
IANS

NASA is about to start testing a key energy source that could "empower" human crews on the Mars surface, energising habitats and running on-the-spot processing equipment to transform the Red Planet resources into oxygen, water and fuel. Testing of the Kilopower project is due to start in November and go through early next year, with NASA partnering with the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Nevada National Security Site to appraise fission power technologies, NASA said on Tuesday.

"The Kilopower test programme will give us confidence that this technology is ready for space flight development," said Lee Mason from NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. "We'll be checking analytical models along the way for verification of how well the hardware is working," Mason said. The pioneering Kilopower reactor represents a small and simple approach for long-duration, Sun-independent electric power for space or extraterrestrial surfaces.

Offering prolonged life and reliability, such technology could produce from one to 10 kilowatts of electrical power, continuously for 10 years or more, Mason pointed out. The prototype power system uses a solid, cast uranium-235 reactor core, about the size of a paper towel roll. Reactor heat is transferred via passive sodium heat pipes, with that heat then converted to electricity by high-efficiency Stirling engines.

A Stirling engine uses heat to create pressure forces that move a piston, which is coupled to an alternator to produce electricity, similar in some respects to an automobile engine. Having a space-rated fission power unit for Mars explorers would be a game changer, Mason added. "A space nuclear reactor could provide a high energy density power source with the ability to operate independent of solar energy or orientation, and the ability to operate in extremely harsh environments, such as the Martian surface," Patrick McClure, project lead on the Kilopower work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, said.

Moving the power system from ground-testing into a space system is an achievable objective, said Kilopower Project Manager Don Palac. Looking into the future, Mason suggests that the technology would be ideal for furthering lunar exploration objectives too. "The technology doesn't care. Moon and or Mars, this power system is agnostic to those environments," Mason said.
tech2 News Staff

OnePlus latest flagship phone is all set to launch at an event in New York at around 9.30 pm IST today. The new phone, dubbed the OnePlus 5T, is a successor to the rather controversial OnePlus 5 and is expected to be priced in the same range as its predecessor.

For more details on the phone, head here.

If youre a OnePlus fan or simply curious about what the Chinese company is up to and are not in New York attending the launch, you have several options for viewing the event.

Livestream

By far the easiest option is to simply head to the OnePlus YouTube channel at 9.30 pm tonight (11.00 am ET on 16 November, for those in other time zones), where the event will be streamed for all. The event is expected to run for at least an hour. Weve embedded the video below as well.

A theatre experience

Yet another option, and a rather unusual one at that is to book a ticket at a PVR theatre in one of five cities in India. These include Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune.

The tickets will cost Rs 99 and can be booked on BookMyShow. If youre looking to book them now, though, you might already be too late.

Liveblog and Twitter

For those whore looking for a low-bandwidth option or simply dont want to bother streaming the event, you can drop by our site at around 9.30 pm, at which point we will be running a live blog of the launch. Expect to find up-to-the-minute updates on the launch, as well as some insights into the device from our reviewers.

You can also follow our Twitter handle @tech2eets for some live tweeting action.

Post-event coverage

Once the event is done and dusted, head over to our Facebook page and YouTube channels where we will unbox the device and give you our first impressions. Check our launch event live blog at 9.30 pm for more details on when this will happen.

A more detailed look

For more detailed impressions of the device, drop by for our weekly #TechTalk on our Facebook page at 4 pm tomorrow (Friday, 17 November) where we will show you the device and discuss our impressions of the new smartphone.
IANS

Proposals to counter the effects of global warming by imitating volcanic eruptions could lead to natural disasters in different parts of the world, warn scientists. Geoengineering - the intentional manipulation of the climate to counter the effect of global warming by injecting aerosols artificially into the atmosphere - has been mooted as a potential way to deal with climate change. But such measures could have a devastating effect on regions prone to either tumultuous storms or prolonged drought, according to the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

Targeting geoengineering in one hemisphere could have a severely detrimental impact for the other, the study said. "Our results confirm that regional solar geoengineering is a highly risky strategy which could simultaneously benefit one region to the detriment of another," said study lead author Anthony Jones from University of Exeter in Britain. "It is vital that policymakers take solar geoengineering seriously and act swiftly to install effective regulation," Jones said.

While injections of aerosols in the northern hemisphere would reduce tropical cyclone activity - responsible for such recent phenomena including Hurricane Katrina - it would at the same time lead to increased likelihood for drought in the Sahel, the area of sub-Saharan Africa just south of the Sahara desert, the study said. The findings suggest that policymakers worldwide must strictly regulate any large scale unilateral geoengineering programmes in the future to prevent inducing natural disasters in different parts of the world.

The research centred on the impact solar geoengineering methods may have on the frequency of tropical cyclones. The controversial approach, known as stratospheric aerosol injection, is designed to effectively cool the Earth's surface by reflecting some sunlight before it reaches the surface. The proposals mimic the aftermath of volcanic eruptions, when aerosols are naturally injected into the atmosphere.

In the study, the researchers used sophisticated simulations to investigate the effect of hemispheric stratospheric aerosol injection on North Atlantic tropical cyclone frequency. They found that injections of aerosols in the northern hemisphere would decrease North Atlantic tropical cyclone frequency, while injections contained to the southern hemisphere may potentially enhance it. "Our results are likely to be generally applicable owing to the large body of evidence that if a climate model is forced by cooling one hemisphere, the ITCZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) and associated precipitation will migrate towards the opposite hemisphere," the study said.

"This is because the cross-equatorial energy transport adjusts to transport energy away from the warmer hemisphere while the transport of moisture at lower levels in the atmosphere acts in the opposite direction," it added.
Reuters

Microsoft's online communication service Skype lost an appeal in Belgium after it failed to comply with a court request to share data from messages and calls.

The case bears similarities to the privacy dispute between the US Justice Department and Microsoft over whether prosecutors should get access to emails stored on company servers overseas, which is now before the US Supreme Court.

The Belgian judge at the Antwerp-based appeals court had asked Skype to share data on a suspect in an organised crime investigation on the basis that telecoms operators in the country are subject to such a requirement.

Skype said it was not a telecoms operator and did not have the technical capability to comply with the request.

Wednesday's judgment, which confirmed the ruling of a lower court, said that Skype was "indisputably" a telecoms operator and that references in Belgian law to "telecommunication" included "electronic communication".

The court also upheld the 30,000 Euro ($36,000) fine and dismissed Skype's argument that Luxembourg, where Skype and its servers are based, could block such co-operation, as the data the court was looking for originated in Belgium.

A spokesman for Microsoft said the company was considering further legal options.

The European Commission, the EU executive, is looking into rules for sharing digital evidence across borders, with a legislative proposal expected early next year.
Boston: A Massachusetts man authorities dubbed the "spelling bee bandit" because the notes he passed to tellers during multiple bank robberies in the Boston area contained the same spelling error has pleaded guilty.

Federal prosecutors say 34-year-old Jason Englen pleaded guilty yesterday to four counts of bank robbery.

Authorities say the Chelsea man entered an Arlington bank on 31 October 2016, approached a teller and handed over a note written on a deposit slip indicating a robbery was in

progress, except robbery was spelled with just one "B."

Over the next few weeks, he robbed banks in Reading, Burlington and Peabody using notes with the same misspelling.

He was arrested last December. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for 28 February.
A major explosion was reported outside a restaurant in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Thursday afternoon, killing two and wounding eight others, according to media reports.

The blast occurred in Lab-e-Jar square in Kabul's PD4 area, where a number of Jamiat-e-Islami party members had gathered including Zia Massoud, former advisor to President Ashraf Ghani, TOLO news reported.

Three cars were destroyed, prompting security forces to cordon off the area, the report added.

The country has seen an increase in terror attacks in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Taliban fighters stormed some 15 security posts in three different districts in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province overnight, killing at least 27 policemen. The attacks took place in the Maywand and Zhari districts and some gun battles lasted for hours. According to Matiullah Helal, acting provincial police spokesman, 45 Taliban militants were killed and 35 others wounded.

In a separate incident, Taliban fighters also attacked police security posts in Western Farah province in the Pusht Road district killing eight police officers

A week ago, a heavy explosion was reported at a police station in Afghanistan's Helmand province killing one policeman and wounding five others.

In October, the Taliban had unleashed a series of attacks targeting police compounds and government facilities with suicide bombers in the country's south, east and west, killing at least 74 people.

These repeated attacks promoted NATO to boost its training mission in Afghanistan by 3,000 troops. This will increase the number of troops from 13,000 to 16,000.

The Taliban vowed to turn Afghanistan into a "graveyard" for foreign forces after US president Donald Trump made an open-ended commitment earlier this year to keep American boots on the ground.

With inputs from agencies
Manila: Southeast Asian nations on Thursday avoided mention of China's construction of islands in the South China Sea and a UN-linked arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's claims in the disputed waters in the latest show of China's regional clout.

President Rodrigo Duterte, speaking on behalf of fellow heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also expectedly skirted any expression of alarm over serious human rights concerns in the region, including the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and his deadly anti-drug campaign in a statement following their annual summit Monday in Manila.

Such statements have been made public shortly after the annual gatherings of leaders of the 10-nation bloc but there was no immediate explanation for the three-day delay, which drew the attention of some Manila-based diplomats.

The few instances of delays in the past were caused by differences over wording on long-thorny issues, like the territorial rifts.

China, which wields considerable influence on ASEAN, has steadfastly opposed criticism of its artificial islands, where it has reportedly installed a missile defense system despite widespread concern, including by the United States, Japan and Australia.

Duterte, who took office last year and assumed ASEAN's rotational chairmanship this year, has openly tried to court China's friendship, trade, investment and infrastructure financing. He has toned down sharp rebuke of China's assertive actions in the strategic waterway, one of the world's busiest, and refused to immediately seek Chinese compliance with an arbitration ruling last year that invalidated its vast claims in the South China Sea on historical grounds.

His rapprochement turned the Philippines from being one of Beijing's sharpest critics in the disputed sea.

In the ASEAN statement, Duterte repeated previous calls for a peaceful resolution of the disputes, adherence to the rule of law and welcomed the approval of a framework or outline of a proposed "code of conduct" aimed at preventing confrontation in the contested waters. Deadly clashes have erupted in the past between Chinese and Vietnamese forces.

With an agreed outline, first proposed 15 years ago, negotiations could now start for the regional code, according to a joint statement by ASEAN and China whose leaders met Monday. Both sides agreed to start the negotiations early next year and conclude the talks as soon as possible, with Duterte taking a position that the code should be legally binding, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

"We further reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states ... that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea," the statement said.

While ASEAN's decision to adopt a non-confrontational approach promotes friendly relations with China, it may not foster the rule of law, said Malcolm Cook, a senior fellow with the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

"It is bad because it clearly places the political expediency of good relations with China over holding China to fulfilling its commitments under international law," Cook said. "Short term expediency trumps long-term principle."

On human rights, ASEAN "welcomed the commitment by Myanmar authorities to ensure the safety of civilians, take immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, restore normal socio-economic conditions, and address the refugee problem through verification process" in language devoid of the alarm expressed by some governments amid deadly conditions threatening the Rohingya.

"They expressed support to the Myanmar government in its efforts to bring peace, stability, rule of law and to promote harmony and reconciliation between the various communities, as well as sustainable and equitable development in Rakhine State," ASEAN said.

There was no mention of concerns expressed by European Union, US and UN officials over Duterte's bloody crackdown against illegal drugs, which has left thousands of suspects dead and has been marked by allegations of extrajudicial killings.
Bangkok: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday backed Myanmar's humanitarian relief programme in the Rakhine state.

Around 615,000 members of the Muslim minority Rohingya community have fled to Bangladesh from Rakhine following a military offensive by the Myanmar Army since late August.

"A number of leaders expressed support to Myanmar's humanitarian relief programme... They underscored the importance of increased humanitarian access to the affected areas and that assistance be given to all affected communities," according to the ASEAN statement.

The statement, which does not specifically mention the Rohingyas, comes three days after a meeting, in which topics such as the South China Sea dispute and restrictions on palm oil in the European Union were also discussed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Asean, comprising Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, also urged the Myanmar government to continue to work towards restoring peace and stability in Rakhine, ensure safety of civilians and ensure peace and harmony among different communities.

During the summit, Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi had confirmed her commitment to begin the process of repatriation of the refugees in Bangladesh after a due verification process.

The statement also announced an agreement with Beijing to start negotiations for a code of conduct to prevent escalation of violence over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

China disputes the sovereignty of a majority of the islands and shoals in the South China Sea with countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The statement also expressed "the deep concern of some ASEAN member states on issues relating to restricting market access for palm oil in the European market" which, it said, has adverse implications for the palm oil producing countries in ASEAN.
Beijing: Amid reports of Pakistan's move to withdraw its bid to include Diamer-Bhasha Dam in PoK from the CPEC framework, China on Thursday said it was not aware of Islamabad's decision but the project to connect Xinjiang and Gwadar port is "progressing smoothly for the time being."

Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain was on Wednesday quoted by the Pakistan media as saying that "Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests."

"I am not aware of the information mentioned by you," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media here when asked about Pakistan's decision to take the dam project off the table contending that the conditions proposed by Beijing is "not doable" and goes against its interest.

"I can tell you that China and Pakistan cooperation is extensive and profound," Geng said. "As far as I know CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."

Briefing the Public Accounts Committee on the status of the mega water and power project, Hussain had said the Chinese conditions were about taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project by pledging another operational dam.

These conditions were unacceptable, therefore, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved a report to finance the dam from the country's own resources, Hussain said.

Pakistan's decision to publicise Chinese conditions came as a surprise, considering it shares close and "all weather" ties with China.

The announcement by the Pakistan government came days before the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting with China, which is scheduled for November 21 in Islamabad.

The JCC is the highest decision-making body of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through which China is infusing over USD 50 billion cash into Pakistan financing a host of energy projects. The CPEC passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Defending the connectivity project, Geng said "as for the CPEC we follow the principle of extensive consultation and joint shared benefits to promote the building of the CPEC. It is conducive to promote connectivity of the two countries and connectivity of the whole region. As far as I know, CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."

Pakistan has been struggling to raise money from international institutions like the World Bank in the face of Indian opposition to the project on the Indus River in PoK.

Neither the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) nor China would finance the dam, therefore, the government decided to construct the reservoir from its own resources, Pakistans Express Tribune daily yesterday quoted Water Resources Secretary Shumail Khawaja as saying.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Greens want the next coalition government to push for the removal of all nuclear warheads stationed in Germany, a document seen by Reuters showed on Wednesday. The discussion paper on defence and foreign policy did not mention the United States, which is believed to have 20 nuclear warheads at a military base in Buechel in western Germany, according to unofficial estimates. Chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to secure a fourth term through an unlikely coalition with the ecologist Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) after her conservative bloc lost support to the far-right in an election in September. NATO member Germany is not a nuclear power and in 2011 a Merkel-led government announced plans to shut all nuclear reactors by 2022 after the Fukushima disaster in Japan. Within NATO, we want to ensure that the remaining nuclear weapons in Germany are withdrawn and we want to suspend the modernization programme, read a section in the document stating the Greens position. Before leaving office former U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to modernize nuclear bombs, delivery systems and laboratories. His successor, Donald Trump, has said he wants to strengthen and expand his countrys nuclear capability. The conservatives, Greens and FDP are hoping to end exploratory discussions on Thursday and move on to proper negotiations on forming a government. They remain divided on several key issues, including immigration, reforming the euro zone and climate policy. (This version of the story corrects to show nuclear warheads withdrawal is only Greens demand in 1st, 5th paragraphs)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: US president Donald Trump has said that he met prime ministers of India, Japan and Australia during his Asia trip to discuss their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In a televised live address to the nation, a day after he returned from a nearly two-week Asia trip with stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines, Trump said momentum from the trip will launch the US on its continued effort to accomplish the three core objectives.

"Unite the world against North Korean nuclear threat, to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and to advance fair and reciprocal economic relations with our trading partners and allies in the region," Trump said in the 25-minute address.

"We have established a new framework for trade that will ensure reciprocity through enforcement actions, reform of international organisations and new fair-trade deals that benefit the US and our partners," he said.

"This journey took us to five nations, to meet with dozens of foreign leaders, participate in three formal state visits and attend three key regional summits," he said, adding that, it was the longest visit to the region by an American president in more than a quarter of a century.

Trump met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Philippines on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit. This was the second bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

The US president also met Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, which assumes significance in view of the launch of quadrilateral dialogue between the US, Australia, Japan and India.

"At ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, we made it clear that no one owns the ocean. Freedom of navigation and overflight are critical to the security and prosperity of all nations," he said.

"I also met with the Prime Ministers of India, Australia, and Japan to discuss our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Trump said.

At the East Asia Summit, he said, the US negotiated and signed four important leader statements on the use of chemical weapons, money laundering, poverty alleviation and countering terrorist propaganda and financing.

Before Philippines, Trump travelled to Vietnam where he attended the APEC Summit meeting.

"Crucially, at both summits and throughout the trip, we asked all nations to support our campaign of maximum pressure for North Korean denuclearisation," he said.

"And they are responding by cutting trade with North Korea, restricting financial ties to the regime and expelling North Korean diplomats and workers. Over the last two weeks, we have made historic strides in reasserting American leadership, restoring American security and reawakening American confidence," he said.

Trump said, everywhere he went, the hosts greeted the American delegation with incredible warmth, hospitality and, most importantly, respect.

"And this great respect showed very well our country is further evidence that America's renewed confidence and standing in the world has never been stronger than it is right now," he said.

"When we are confident in ourselves, our strength, our flag, our history, our values, other nations are confident in us. And when we treat our citizens with the respect they deserve, other countries treat America with the respect that our country so richly deserves. During our travel, this is exactly what the world saw  a strong, proud and confident America," he asserted.

In Asia, Trump said his message was clear and well-received: America is here to compete, to do business and to defend its values and security.

Addressing the APEC Summit in Vietnam, he said that he reminded the world of America's historic role in the Pacific as a force for freedom and for peace.

"Standing on this proud history, I offered our vision for robust trading relationships in which Indo-Pacific nations can all prosper and grow together. I announced that the US is ready to make bilateral trade deals, with any nation in the region that wants to be our partner in fair and reciprocal trade," he said.

"We will never again turn a blind eye to trading abuses, to cheating, economic aggression, or anything else from countries that profess a belief in open trade, but do not follow the rules or live by its principles themselves. No international trading organisation can function if members are allowed to exploit the openness of others for unfair economic gain," Trump said.

Trade abuses harm the US and its workers, but no more, he asserted.

"We will take every trade action necessary to achieve the fair and reciprocal treatment that the US has offered to the rest of the world for decades. My message has resonated," he said.

"The 21 APEC leaders, for the first time ever, recognise the importance of fair and reciprocal trade. Recognise the need to address unfair trade practices, and acknowledge that the WTO is in strong need of reform," he told Americans.

These leaders also noted that countries must do a better job following the rules to which they agree, he said.

"I also made very clear that the US will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, in which nations enjoy the independence and respect they deserve," he said.
Athens: Flash floods caused by heavy rain have killed at least 15 people and caused destruction in Greece.

The industrial towns of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, west of the capital Athens, were the most affected, BBC reported on Wednesday.

Many of the dead were elderly people whose bodies were found inside their homes, reports say. Fast-flowing torrents of red mud flooded roads.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared a period of national mourning in the wake of the tragedy.

"Everything is lost. The disaster is biblical", Mandra Mayor Yianna Krikouki told state broadcaster ERT.

At least 37 people have been taken to hospital, the broadcaster said, and some are still missing.

Bad weather has hit parts of Greece for about a week, but particularly heavy rain overnight caused the sudden flooding, for which locals said they were unprepared.

The force of the water moved vehicles, damaged walls and roofing, and left many homeless as their homes flooded to a life-threatening level.

By Wednesday afternoon, Greece's fire service said it had received over 600 calls for help and dispatched almost 200 firefighters in 55 vehicles to the towns, which have a combined population in the tens of thousands.

"The water came down the mountain, millions of tonnes," Stavros Fotiou, the deputy mayor of Nea Peramos, said.

"Our roads are completely destroyed 1,000 homes have been flooded, that's a third of the town," he added.

The region's deputy governor, Yiannis Vassileiou, told the broadcaster that emergency services had been prepared for poor weather, but then "the Niagara Falls came down and could not be stopped".

Prime Minister Tsipras said that declaring a period of national mourning was "the least we can do".

He also vowed to provide aid to the victims and ensure they were housed safely.
Washington: The latest hate crime statistics released by the FBI shows that violence has become "a fact of life" for South Asian communities, a top South Asian organisation has said.

"The FBI's hate crimes statistics underline that violence has become a fact of life for our communities," said Suman Raghunathan, executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

According to the FBI's 2016 hate crimes statistics released this week, since 2015, anti-Muslim hate crimes increased by 19 percent, anti-Hindu hate crimes increased by 100 percent, and anti-Sikh hate crimes increased by 17 percent.

"These surges are on top of the historic spike in hate crimes reported in the FBI's 2015 data, now marking the highest levels of violence aimed at our communities since the year after 9/11. Tragically, hate has become the new normal for our communities," SAALT said.

"These incidents are just a fraction of the violence our communities experience on a daily basis. According to FBI's own estimates, for every one hate crime reported, five hate crimes go unreported. Enough is enough  the violence must stop," Raghunathan said.

SAALT alleged that Trump, as a candidate and now as President, has encouraged and emboldened hate violence against our communities through his administration's anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies.
Washington: A small group of House Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump.

The train of injuries to our Constitution must be brought to an end. I was proud to stand with @RepGutierrez @RepAlGreen & @RepEspaillat to introduce articles of #impeachment against Donald Trump, whose actions have become dangerous for democracy. #ImpeachTrump #Resist #Impeach45 pic.twitter.com/fdySowx0H9  Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) November 15, 2017

Representative Steve Cohen told a press conference on Wednesday that five other Democrats have signed his resolution to introduce five articles of impeachment against the president, Xinhua news agency reported. They charged that Trump obstructed justice when firing former FBI Director James Comey; that he has violated the Constitution's emoluments clause; and that he has undermined the independence of the federal judiciary and freedom of the press.

.@RepCohen: "We believe that President Trump has violated the Constitution, and we've introduced five articles of impeachment." pic.twitter.com/nC7bdnhYqR  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 15, 2017

"The time has come to make clear to the American people and to this president that his train of injuries to our Constitution must be brought to an end through impeachment," Cohen told reporters.

"We're calling upon the House to begin impeachment hearings," the Tennessee Democrat said. "It's not a call for a vote. It's a call for hearings."

Cohen, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee's Constitution subcommittee, admitted that the Democratic proposal has little chance of success both  the House and the Senate  are controlled by the Republicans.

But he pledged to hold briefings in lieu of hearings to highlight what he said were "Trump's impeachable offences".

In response, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that time spent calling for the President's impeachment "would be better spent focusing on tax relief for American families and businesses".

"It's disappointing that extremists in Congress still refuse to accept the President's decisive victory in last year's election," she said.

Michael Ahrens, a spokesman for Republican National Committee, labelled the push for impeachment as "a baseless radical effort".

This is not the first time that Democrats have pushed for Trump's impeachment.

Earlier in November, representative Pramila Jayapal claimed the President had committed impeachable constitutional violations and urged other Democrats to act.
New Delhi: Saudi ambassador to India Saud Al-Sati has said that his country has "credible evidence" that Iran was behind the missile attack on Saudi capital Riyadh by Yemen-based Houthi rebels earlier this month even as Tehran has denied any role in this.

"We have credible evidence which proves that Iran is behind manufacturing of missiles used by terror groups and smuggling them into Yemen," Al-Sati told IANS in an exclusive interview.

"Measures have been taken to address vulnerabilities in the current inspection procedures that led to the supply of weapons and missiles to Houthi militias," he stated.

The Houthi rebels fired a long-range missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on the night of 4 November, according to Houthi-controlled Saba news agency.

Saudi Arabia immediately blamed the Houthis' allies, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and regional rival Iran.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, experts in military technology, after thorough examination of the debris, have confirmed the role of Iran in manufacturing missiles and smuggling these to the Houthi militias in Yemen for the purpose of attacking the Gulf kingdom.

Yemen has been in a state of political crisis since 2011 ending with the Houthis taking over the capital Sanaa and then, after ousting President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in a coup d'etat, declaring control over the country. This resulted in the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen making a military intervention to prevent the collapse of Hadi's government.

"The Houthi terrorist groups backed, funded and armed by Iran are continuing their crimes against the people of Yemen and its legitimate institutions," Al-Sati said.

"In fact, the UNSC 2216 resolution had asked them to refrain from any provocation or threats to neighboring states, including acquiring surface-to-surface missiles, and stockpiling weapons in any border territory of a neighboring states; and to end the recruitment and use of children in their violent activities. None of this has stopped."

Asked how the international community has reacted to the latest development, the Ambassador said that "Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns through its proxies (Houthis and Hezbollah) and expect us not to take steps to counteract the threat under the UN article 51" and added that many countries, including India, have condemned the attack.

India, in statement, while "strongly condemning" the attack, expressed deep concern "at any escalation of violence that threatens the safety and security of innocent people". "We also reiterate our commitment to fight against all forms of terrorism and violence," the Indian external affairs ministry statement said.

As for the escalating humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Al-Sati said that Saudi Arabia has shown "utmost concern" for this.

"We have been sending aid to all Yemeni provinces, including areas controlled by the Houthi rebels, through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre's programmes," he said.

"Overall, the kingdom has committed to provide more than $8.2 billion in humanitarian and developmental assistance to Yemen since April 2015. Despite hostilities, the Saudi-led coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen has not interrupted the entry and exit of humanitarian supplies and crews to Yemen."

Though the coalition ordered all transport in and out of Yemen to prevent arms smuggling, the Saudi mission in the UN said on Monday that the Aden, Mocha and Mukalla ports were resuming operations as also Aden and Seyoun airports so that humanitarian food aid can come in for the affected civilian population.

With over three million expatriate Indians living in Saudi Arabia, the ambassador said that his country appreciated India's concern, but added: "As of now, we do not see any possible impact on the Indians working in our country due to these acts of terror perpetrated by Iran's proxies. It is our duty to protect everyone within our borders including the Indians living there."

Asked what role he expected the UN to play in the current scenario, he said that the the UN Security Council and its sanctions committee should take all necessary legal measures to hold Iran accountable for supplying the Houthi militias that it commands with missiles as it is a blatant violation of the UNSC Resolution 2216,. which prohibits nations from arming militias.

"This aggression also signals to the fact that the threat of such terrorist groups has become increasingly cross border and cross regional, which requires a united stand from the international community to fight and eradicate this threat caused by the Houthi terrorist group and its supporter," Al-Sati said.
MILAN (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi need no longer pay his ex-wife 1.4 million euros ($1.7 million) a month, an Italian court said on Thursday, ruling the former prime minister had been unfairly treated in a divorce settlement. FILE PHOTO: Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his wife Veronica Lario pose at Villa Madama in Rome, Italy June 4, 2004. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File PhotoThe Milan appeals court also told Veronica Lario, a former actress, to hand back to Berlusconi alimony payments totalling some 60 million euros, saying she had no right to the money. The good news for the tycoon politician comes as his political career - considered dead and buried only a year ago - is also back on the rise. The Milan case follows a landmark ruling by Italys top appeals court in May that said divorce settlements need not guarantee spouses their previous standard of living but rather ensure they were financially independent. Berlusconi, Italys seventh richest man, according to Forbes, with a wealth estimated at about 7 billion euros, was married to Lario for more than 22 years. They split in 2009, with the normally reserved Lario writing to Italys national news agency to denounce her husbands interest in other women. Their divorce was formalised in 2014. Following their separation, Berlusconi was embroiled in scandals over his bunga bunga parties and convicted of paying to have sex with a 17-year-old minor. The verdict was later overturned when an appeals court said it could not be proved he knew she was underage. Berlusconis partner of the last five years is Francesca Pascale, a former television show girl 49 years his junior. A court in 2012 initially awarded Lario alimony of three million euros a month. This was subsequently cut to 1.4 million, but Berlusconi complained it was still too high. A legal source said the Milan judges took into consideration the May Supreme Court ruling and decided that Lario, who has cash deposits of some 16 million euros as well as jewels and a real estate business, did not need additional monthly income. There was no immediate comment from Lario or her lawyers. ($1 = 0.8490 euros)

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BEIRUT/PARIS (Reuters) - Lebanons president said on Thursday he hoped the crisis over Saad al-Hariris resignation as prime minister and stay in Saudi Arabia would soon end with Hariri visiting France. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2017. Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS On Wednesday France invited Hariri and his family to Paris, providing what French diplomats have described as a way-out for him to leave Saudi Arabia without any side losing face. Lebanese President Michel Aoun said earlier this week that Hariri, who abruptly announced his resignation while in Saudi Arabia on Nov. 4, was being held hostage by Riyadh. The crisis has embroiled Lebanon in the Middle Easts bitter rivalry that pits Saudi Arabia and its allies against a bloc led by Iran that includes the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group. We hope the crisis is over and the door of solution is opened by PM Hariris acceptance of the invitation to visit France, Aoun said in a tweet on Thursday. The problem of Hariris being held in Saudi Arabia is on its way to being solved, presidential sources also quoted Aoun as saying. After meeting Hariri in Riyadh on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Hariri would soon come to Paris. Asked when he would go to France, Hariri told reporters very soon, according to an official present at the meeting. Saudi Arabia last week accused Lebanon of declaring war on it, citing Hezbollahs role in other Arab countries. The group has fought alongside Iran in Syria against Saudi-backed rebels. Riyadh also accuses it of helping the Houthi group in Yemen fight a Saudi-led coalition. Western states have taken a markedly softer tone than Riyadh, stressing their support for both Hariri and the Beirut government even though they see Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Lebanons army is a significant recipient of U.S. military aid. On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia was consulting with its allies about what leverage to use against Hezbollah. We will make the decision when the time comes, he told Reuters in an interview. Hariri has long been allied to Saudi Arabia. He travelled there on Nov. 3 and suddenly resigned the following day. He has since left Riyadh only for an hours-long visit to Saudi Arabias Gulf ally the UAE on Nov. 7. His resignation while abroad, alleging a plot against his life and railing against Iran and Hezbollah, led to speculation in Beirut about Saudi Arabias role in the decision. DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE Top Lebanese officials and senior politicians close to Hariri say he was forced to quit and was being held by the Saudis. Politicians from all sides in Lebanon have called for his return to Beirut. Saudi Arabia has denied forcing him to resign or detaining him. Hariri has said he is free to leave and would return soon to formally submit his resignation, which Aoun has said he will accept only in person. Aoun said in a statement that once Hariri returned to Lebanon he would have to stay until a new government was formed. In an interview on Sunday, his first public comments since resigning, Hariri warned of possible Saudi action against Lebanon, including the risk of Arab sanctions and threats to the livelihood of Lebanese workers in the Gulf. Lebanon hosts 1.5 million Syrian refugees and its stability is seen internationally as important to prevent further Middle East chaos. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil had toured European capitals seeking diplomatic help to end the crisis. On Thursday he was in Germany and is scheduled to visit Turkey. On Friday he will visit Russia. Frances foreign minister, Le Drian, said Paris was working to normalise the situation in Lebanon. After meeting Le Drian, Jubeir described Hezbollah as an arm of Irans Revolutionary Guards and said it must disarm and become a purely political party for Lebanon to be stable. Whenever we see a problem, we see Hezbollah act as an arm or agent of Iran and this has to come to an end, he said. France is closely allied to both Saudi Arabia and to Lebanon, which it controlled between the world wars last century. Hariri has a home in Paris and lived there for years.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday there could be an opportunity for talks between North Korea and the United States if Pyongyang stopped testing and developing its nuclear and missile programs. U.S. Secretary for Defense, Jim Mattis, sits opposite Britain's Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin Williamson, before a meeting at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in central London, Britain November 10, 2017. REUTERS/Simon DawsonSo long as they stop testing, stop developing, they dont export their weapons, there would be opportunity for talks, Mattis told reporters on a military plane. While Washington has said that all options, including military, are on the table in dealing with North Korea, it has stressed its preference is for a diplomatic solution. Visiting Seoul last week, U.S. President Donald Trump warned North Korea he was prepared to use the full range of American military power to stop any attack, but also urged Pyongyang to make a deal. Trump, who had previously called negotiations with North Korea a waste of time, has offered no clear path to talks. Pyongyang has made clear it has little interest in negotiations, at least until it has developed a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. The last North Korean missile test was carried out almost two months ago, but U.S. officials say they have seen no signs that Pyongyang has stopped development. Mattis said the U.S. military was closely watching why there had been no missile launches recently, but declined to give potential reasons for it. There are concerns in South Korea that any potential U.S. strikes against North Koreas nuclear and missile programs could provoke devastating North Korean retaliation against South Korea. Earlier this week, a senior South Korean official said Trump should under no circumstances take military action against North Korea without the consent of the government in Seoul. In Colorado, Mattis will visit the U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which are responsible for homeland defense, including tracking and potentially intercepting North Korean missiles.

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Bonn: With German Chancellor Angela Merkel skirting the crucial coal issue at the high-level opening of the UN Climate Change conference, a coalition of nations comprising Britain, Canada and France and even a US state on Thursday announced commitments to move away from the fossil fuel, a major source of air pollution.

Canada and Britain jointly launched at the COP23 climate summit in Bonn, the Powering Past Coal Alliance with more than 20 partners, including Mexico, Finland, New Zealand, Italy and Angola as well as US states and Canadian provinces.

A climate expert told IANS that this a first-of-its-kind attempt to phase out the traditional coal power on such a massive scale after the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement that aims to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius by cutting greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

Phasing out coal is a necessary first step for many climate action strategies, including the decarbonisation of transportation and the electrification of industrial activities, which will depend on access to growing amounts of electricity generated from non-emitting renewable sources, the expert said.

"The energy transition we need to meet the ambition of the Paris Agreement is already underway, but we need to move with greater speed and scale. Moving away from coal, the most polluting of traditional energy sources, has to be a priority in the energy plans of those who have joined the Paris Agreement," Rachel Kyte, CEO of advocacy group Sustainable Energy for All, said.

"In this way we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on time."

With 40 percent of the world's electricity still generated from coal, phasing this out is one of the most important steps countries can take to meet their Paris Agreement commitments.

The partners in the Powering Past Coal Alliance are working together to accelerate clean growth and climate protection through the rapid phase-out of traditional coal power, the Canadian government said in a statement.

Along with other partners, Canada will work to grow the alliance to at least 50 partners by next fall's United Nations Climate Change conference.

"Coal is literally choking our cities, with close to a million people dying every year from coal pollution. I'm thrilled to see so much global momentum for the transition to clean energy and this is only the beginning," an official statement quoted Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna as saying.

Describing the global alliance as an important step toward building a coal-free future, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, leader of WWF's global climate and energy programme, said: "Phasing out coal is as much about stronger climate action as it is about ushering in better public health and well-being for the people."

British charity Christian Aid's International Climate Lead Mohamed Adow said: "It is powerful to see not just rich countries such as the UK and Canada but also Angola, Chile and Mexico making the promise that coal has no future in their countries."

Saying this global alliance a rebuke to US President Donald Trump, he said: "People were worried that this summit would see Trump assaulting the Paris Agreement with his coal lobbyists."

"But his actions have actually galvanised other nations into action, with a new alliance making it clear that coal's climate change threat must be taken seriously," he added.

Meanwhile, anti-coal demonstrators are protesting at the UN Climate Change conference venue and at a nearby mining site, asking Merkel to "stop dirty mining in Germany".

"The biggest coal mine in Europe is located just outside Bonn, visible from the UN tower. Germany could shut down the lignite mine immediately as much of the coal electricity gets exported and storage is still hardly used," a leaflet said.

A giant black mark on Germany's environmental record is scarred on the land an hour's drive from the venue of the Bonn talks, The Guardian said.

Stretching across 85 sq km and around 370 metres deep, the opencast coalmine near Hambach forest is the biggest hole in Europe and one of the biggest single sources of carbon on the continent.

It also a frontline for a growing band of environmental defenders who  believing it is better to break the law than the climate  are engaged in direct action campaigns against the fossil fuel industry, the newpaper noted.
Rohingya refugees cannot return to Rakhine state until "real Myanmar citizens" are ready to accept them, the country's army chief said Thursday, casting doubt over government pledges to begin repatriating the persecuted Muslim minority.

More than 6,00,000 Rohingya are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar Army campaign launched in late August.

The UN says the scorched-earth operation, which has left hundreds of villages burned to ash in northern Rakhine state, amounts to ethnic cleansing of the stateless minority.

But Myanmar's hardline army chief Min Aung Hlaing has steadfastly denied all allegations of abuse, insisting troops only targeted Rohingya insurgents.

He has also taken to Facebook throughout the crisis to fan anti-Rohingya sentiment among the Buddhist public, branding the Muslims as foreign interlopers from Bangladesh despite many having lived in Rakhine for generations.

On Thursday he signalled repatriation of the Rohingya was a long way off, saying their return must first be accepted by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists  many of whom loathe the Muslim minority and are accused of aiding soldiers in torching their homes.

"Emphasis must be placed on wish of local Rakhine ethnic people who are real Myanmar citizens. Only when local Rakhine ethnic people accept it, will all the people satisfy it (sic)," the statement, written in English, said on his Facebook page.

The army commander also said Myanmar would not allow the return of all Rohingya in Bangladesh, a country that was already hosting hundreds of thousands of the minority from previous waves of persecution.

"It is impossible to accept the number of persons proposed by Bangladesh," the army statement said, after branding the refugees as "terrorists" who fled with their families.

The general's comments came a day after he met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who on Wednesday called on the army to support efforts to return "all refugees", adding that the reports of widespread atrocities by Myanmar's soldiers were "credible".

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed in principle to begin repatriation but are still tussling over the details.

Questions are mounting over how many Rohingya will be allowed to return, where they will live after they homes have been burned down and how they will coexist peacefully among ethnic Rakhine neighbours.

Tensions between the two groups have simmered for years, erupting into bouts of bloodshed in 2012 that pushed more than 100,000 Rohingya into grim displacement camps.

The Muslim minority has for years suffered under discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship and severely restricts their access to work, healthcare and education.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia cast its 10th veto on Thursday of United Nations Security Council action on Syria since the war there began in 2011, blocking a U.S.-drafted resolution to renew an international inquiry into who is to blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Representatives of Russia and Bolivia vote in the United Nations (UN) Security Council on a bid to renew an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria during a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas JacksonThe mandate for the joint inquiry by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which found the Syrian government used the banned nerve agent sarin in an April 4 attack, expires at midnight Thursday. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. The U.S. draft text received 11 votes in favor, while Russia and Bolivia voted against it and China and Egypt abstained. The April 4 sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed dozens of people prompted the United States to launch missiles on a Syrian air base. Haley warned after the council vote on Thursday: We will do it again if we must. The Assad regime should be on clear notice - the United States does not accept Syrias use of chemical weapons, she told the council, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian ally Russia withdrew its own rival draft resolution to renew the inquiry, formally known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), after losing a rare procedural vote for its text to be considered after the council voted on the U.S. draft. Members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council vote on a U.S. bid to renew an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria during a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas JacksonDiplomats said the Russian draft text had little support among the 15-member council. After the council voted on the U.S. draft, Bolivia then requested that the body vote on the Russian draft resolution. It was not immediately clear how soon that vote might take place. Russia has killed the Joint Investigative Mechanism ... Russia has undermined our ability to deter future attacks, Haley said, accusing Moscow of playing games with the councils attempt to renew the chemical weapons investigation. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Vasily Nebenzya (L) and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speak before a meeting of the UN Security Council to vote on a bid to renew an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria during a meeting at UN headquarters in New York, U.S., November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas JacksonIn effect Russia accepts the use of chemical weapons in Syria. How then can we trust Russias support for supposed peace in Syria? she said. Ahead of the council vote, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday urged the U.N. Security Council to renew the inquiry, saying it was needed to prevent Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from using chemical weapons. While Russia agreed to the 2015 creation of the JIM, it has consistently questioned its findings, which also concluded that the Syrian government used chlorine as a weapon several times. Russia has now vetoed 10 resolutions on Syria, including blocking an initial U.S. bid on Oct. 24 to renew the JIM, saying it wanted to wait for the release two days later of the inquirys report that blamed the sarin attack on the Syrian government. Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States.

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The State Department, US diplomats, the Pentagon and the CIA are all looking on with "growing alarm" as Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammad bin Salman continues his mass purge of elite figures in the kingdom, reported The New York Times on Tuesday. Quoting a State Department official speaking on the condition of anonymity, the report said that the prince "is behaving recklessly without sufficient consideration to the likely consequences of his behaviour, and that has the potential to damage US interests."

These new remarks come on the heels of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement last week when he admitted that the purge was raising "a few concerns".

The unprecedented roundup has seen more than 200 princes, ministers and businessmen detained over what Riyadh alleges is $100 billion in embezzlement, but what is also widely viewed as a move by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate power ahead of his accession to the throne. The upheaval comes as Riyadh is locked in an intensifying proxy war with regional rival Tehran and enforces a crippling aid blockade of Yemen, which the United Nations has warned could trigger the world's worst famine in decades.

Tillerson, accompanying President Donald Trump on an Asian tour, said he believed the mass arrests ordered by a new anti-corruption commission headed by Prince Mohammed were "well intended". But he cautioned that the lightning roundup "raises a few concerns until we see more clearly how these particular individuals are dealt with".

US steps back from the whole-hearted support offered earlier by Trump

The top US diplomat's comments marked a step back from the fulsome support offered earlier this week by Donald Trump, who said he had "great confidence" in what the crown prince and his father King Salman were doing.

I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

Saudi authorities have frozen the bank accounts of those accused and warned that assets related to the alleged corruption cases would be seized as state property. The crackdown comes as the young crown prince moves to accelerate his Vision 2030 programme to modernise the conservative kingdom, but also as Riyadh takes a more aggressive stance toward Iran.

Saudi blockade, Yemen 'setback'

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that a Saudi-led blockade of Yemen was threatening to undo efforts to rein in a cholera epidemic already affecting nearly one million people in the war-ravaged country. Almost 2,200 people have so far died from the waterborne disease, which has propagated rapidly due to deteriorating hygiene and sanitation conditions.

WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib warned that the Saudi-led coalition's decision to seal off Yemen's borders threatened progress made in fighting the epidemic. "We will suffer a major setback if we don't have full access to all affected areas," she told reporters in Geneva.

The coalition imposed a blockade on all aid deliveries to rebel-held territory in the wake of a failed missile attack against Riyadh airport one week ago by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Iran vehemently denied a Saudi charge that it supplied missiles to the Huthis but said they were justified in responding after years of bombardment.

Warning of new coalition

Lebanon has also become increasingly embroiled in the regional rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran, prompting Tillerson to step in and urge all parties not to use the country to settle their differences. "The United States cautions against any party, within or outside Lebanon, using Lebanon as a venue for proxy conflicts or in any manner contributing to instability in that country," Tillerson said.

International concern over Lebanon also sparked a warning from the UN chief that a new regional conflict must be averted.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "very worried" a conflict could break out in Lebanon and that he was engaged in intense contacts with all players to urge de-escalation. "It is essential that no new conflict erupt in the region," Guterres told reporters. "It would have devastating consequences."

Lebanon's prime minister Saad Hariri resigned in a shock move from the Saudi capital last week, citing Iran's "grip" on his country and threats to his life. But the head of Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement on Friday accused Saudi Arabia of holding Hariri hostage against his will. "The head of the Lebanese government is detained in Saudi Arabia, he is banned from returning to Lebanon until now," Nasrallah said in a televised address.

Foreign policy experts advise caution

Lori Plotkin Boghardt, an expert in Gulf Arab politics and US-Saudi relations at The Washington Institute, says the need for an anti-corruption drive "should not be dismissed." Nevertheless, she adds: "The scale and scope of the arrests... is unprecedented in recent Saudi history, especially of this type of elite elements. So this is a politically risky move."

The crown prince's power grab at home is mirrored in his "risky  some would say brave, some would say rash  policies in the region."

"He's essentially attempting to wipe out opponents," Boghardt said.

Simon Henderson, another Washington Institute fellow who has worked as a consultant for Arab governments, is also concerned. "The events are unprecedented and we don't know where they're going to end up and, frankly, I don't think the Saudis know where they're going to end up as well," he said.

Prince Mohammed, Henderson suspects, believes his power play will strengthen his own position and encourage foreign investment. "I think he may be wrong on both counts," he warns.

With inputs from AFP
AMMAN (Reuters) - A senior commander defected to Turkey on Wednesday from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a leading combatant in the fight against Islamic State, Syrian rebel officials said, in the first such departure from its higher ranks. They said Brigadier General Talal Silo handed himself in at dawn to the Free Syrian Army (FSA), an adversary of the SDF, near Jarablus city in northern Syria where he was then escorted to Turkey, which backs some FSA groups in that area. The officials gave no reason for move by Silo, who was the SDF spokesman, but it follows months of growing discontent by some Arab tribes with the SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces that is dominated by the Kurdish YPG. Many local Arab tribes in areas controlled by the SDF complain they are marginalized in decision making and blame the YPG for discrimination against them, including the forced conscription of their youths. The YPG denies these allegation. Silo was secretly coordinating with commanders from the FSA and when he entered areas under their control he then crossed into Turkish territory, said Ibrahim al-Idlibi, an FSA spokesman. Kurdish fighters, alongside Arab allies, U.S. advisers and coalition jets, have driven Islamic State from swathes of territory including its former Syrian headquarters in Raqqa city. The Kurdish YPG militia and its political allies have carved out autonomous cantons in the north, and now control nearly a quarter of Syria. Their influence angers neighbour Turkey, which considers the YPG an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party that has fought a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. The U.S.-led coalition said it was aware of reports of Talal Silos apparent departure from the SDF, but have no further details on his current status at this time. Reuters could not immediately reach the SDF for comment. U.S.-backed militias and the Syrian army have been advancing in separate offensives against Islamic State in eastern Syria, piling pressure on a small stretch of remaining territory the group still holds in oil-rich areas near the Iraqi border.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump should under no circumstances take military action against North Korea without the consent of the government in Seoul, the chairwoman of South Koreas ruling party, Choo Mi-ae, said on Wednesday. South Korea's president-elect Moon Jae-in and Choo Mi-ae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, thank supporters at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, May 9, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon - RC15323D3430President Trump often emphasizes that he put all options on the table, Choo told a Washington think-tank. We want to make sure that this option of another war is not placed on the table. Under no circumstances should the U.S. go ahead and use a military option without the consent of South Korea. We must seek a peaceful resolution of the matter in any manner that is available to us. The remarks by Choo, who is expected to meet Trump administration officials in Washington, underscored South Korean concerns that any U.S. strikes against North Koreas nuclear and missile programs could provoke devastating North Korean retaliation against South Korea. Visiting Seoul last week, Trump warned North Korea he was prepared to use the full range of U.S. military power to stop any attack, but also urged Pyongyang to make a deal. Trump, who had previously called negotiations with North Korea a waste of time, has offered no clear path to talks and has sent mixed signals about his interest in negotiations. Speaking on his return from Asia, Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had rejected a freeze for freeze agreement. China and Russia have previously advocated such a plan, where the United States and South Korea stop major military exercises in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programs. It was not clear if this was what Trump meant. We agreed that we would not accept a so-called freeze for freeze agreement like those that have consistently failed in the past, Trump said. There was no immediate comment from Chinas embassy in Washington. Pyongyang has shown little interest in negotiations, at least until it has developed a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. Choo, whose president and fellow Democratic Party leader Moon Jae-in has advocated dialogue with North Korea, said Seoul backed Trumps policy of maximum pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions and there should be no talks for the sake of talks. However, she said blocking opportunities for dialogue could prompt North Korean miscalculation. She declined to say whether she was satisfied with the Trump administrations limited efforts to talk to Pyongyang to resolve the crisis stemming from North Koreas efforts to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital on Thursday near a gathering of supporters of an influential regional leader killed at least nine people and wounded many, the interior ministry said. Smoke billows above a building affected by explosion after a suicide bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, November 16, 2017, in this still image from a social media video. Mahboob Atiqi via REUTERS It was not clear if the politician, Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party, was at the meeting at the time of the attack. Islamic State claimed responsibility, according to Amaq, its official news agency. The Taliban denied involvement. We are proud to be martyred because of our country and our rights. This gathering was for the sake of our country to raise our voice, said witness Jan Mohammad. The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence that has killed and wounded thousands of civilians in Afghanistan this year. Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019. People in the street stand outside a building affected by explosion after a suicide bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, November 16, 2017, in this still image from a social media video. Mahboob Atiqi via REUTERSA spokesman for the interior ministry said the bomber approached the hotel hosting the gathering in the Khair Khana district of Kabul, on foot. The dead included seven policemen and two civilians. Media showed photographs, apparently from witnesses, which appeared to show about a dozen bodies. Reuters was unable to verify the photos. People escape through the back of a building after a suicide bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, November 16, 2017, in this still image from a social media video. Mahboob Atiqi via REUTERS The northern-based Jamiat-i-Islami was for years the main opponent of the Taliban, who draw their support largely from the southern-based ethnic Pashtun community. In June, a suicide bomber attacked a meeting of Jamiat-i-Islami leaders, including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Abdullah, who is backed by Noor, and other ethnic minority leaders, formed a coalition government with President Ashraf Ghani after a disputed 2014 presidential election. Ghani on Wednesday sacked the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, raising doubts over whether parliamentary and council ballots scheduled for next year will take place as planned.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian Kurdish leaders voiced support on Wednesday for a longer-term role for U.S. forces in Syria once Islamic State is defeated, after the United States signalled it would not pull out before there was progress towards a political solution. Syrian residents watch as smoke rises from Harasta area, as seen from Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria November 14, 2017. REUTERS/Bassam KhabiehComments by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday have drawn heavy criticism from the Iran-backed Syrian government, which says Washington is making up a new excuse for keeping its illegal occupation forces in Syria. Limiting Iranian influence in Syria and Iraq is a key U.S. aim. Syrian Kurdish groups have emerged as the main partner on the ground for the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State in northern and eastern Syria, areas which the Syrian state and Iran have vowed to take back. Kurdish fighters, with Arab allies, U.S. advisers and coalition jets, have driven Islamic State from swathes of territory including their former headquarters in Raqqa city. The Kurdish YPG militia and its political allies have carved out autonomous cantons in the north, and now control nearly a quarter of Syria. Their influence angers neighbour Turkey, which considers the YPG an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party that has fought a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. The main Syrian Kurdish political party, the PYD, welcomed a longer-term U.S. role in Syria. The U.S. presence should continue until there was a political solution to the Syrian crisis which erupted in 2011, it said. In a written message to Reuters, the PYDs co-chief, Shahoz Hasan, agreed this would be beneficial. Without achieving a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and with the continuation of the Turkish and Iranian intervention in Syria, and with the continued presence of al Qaeda groups in Syria, the continued operation of the coalition is better, Hasan said. Senior Syrian Kurdish politician Fawza Youssef said a U.S. role would be very important for the future. The United States and the coalition forces played a major role in fighting Daesh, and to reach a fair political settlement, we see a need for international guarantees, said Youssef, a senior member of the Kurdish-led authority running the cantons in northern Syria. She pointed to an increase in humanitarian aid to northern Syria by Washington and the coalition since the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured Raqqa - a sign of a widening U.S. role. SYRIA GETTING MORE COMPLICATED Turkey said on Monday the United States had 13 bases in Syria and Russia had five. As all sides in Syria battled Islamic State, the U.S.-backed forces have mostly avoided direct confrontation with the Syrian government, backed by Iran and Russia. But Iranian and Syrian officials are now signalling their intention to take back areas captured from IS by the SDF. Syrias main Kurdish groups say they want a federal system for the whole country, and hope for negotiations with Damascus to shore up their autonomous rule. Their territorial grip has expanded since joining forces with the United States to fight IS, though Washington opposes their autonomy plans. Mattis described this week a role for American troops long after Islamic State militants lose control of all the territory they hold. Mattis said the U.S. militarys longer-term objective would be to prevent the return of an ISIS 2.0. But he also suggested that U.S. forces aimed to help set the conditions for a diplomatic solution in Syria. Were not just going to walk away right now before the Geneva process has traction, he said, a reference to U.N.-backed peace talks. The U.S.-led coalition has repeatedly said it does not seek to fight Syrian President Bashar al-Assads military. In response to the Mattis comments, the Syrian government said on Tuesday that Washington was presenting a new excuse to keep its forces in Syria by linking this presence to a political settlement, having previously said its goal was to fight IS. Foreign ministry comments affirmed the governments position that the presence of U.S. and other forces in Syria without government approval was an act of aggression.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Africa has been left riveted by the events unfolding in Zimbabwe which left President Robert Mugabe in military custody.

Zimbabwe's military has assumed control of the nation's capital Harare and the state broadcaster.

Mugabe and his wife have been placed under house arrest in what appeared to be a coup against Mugabe.

However, the military insisted that it had not staged a military takeover, but was instead starting a process to restore Zimbabwe's democracy.

Many across the continent have known no other leader of the once-prosperous African nation but the 93-year-old Mugabe, the world's oldest head of State.

Mugabe's three decades in power:

Mugabe led the Zimbabwe since its independence from white minority rule in 1980.

Despite signs of increasing frailty that include dozing off in meetings, stumbling and extended trips overseas for medical treatment, Mugabe has withstood multiple election challenges and years of US sanctions.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe was born on 21 February, 1924 at a Catholic mission village near Southern Rhodesia's capital city, Salisbury.

According to The New Zealand Herald, Mugabe's father, Gabriel Matibiri, was a carpenter and his mother, Bona, was a religious teacher. Mugabe was instilled with an austere sense of self-discipline from the beginning of his life, added the report.

Mugabe, according to Daily Mail, was known as a bit of a loner and a bookworm.

He was educated at Kutama Mission School and Fort Hare University and worked as a teacher at various schools in Zimbabwe and in neighbouring countries, according to a report in The Telegraph.

Mugabe took the plunge into politics in the early 1960s, demanding equal rights, says a Public Radio International report.

He helped form a party called the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).

Mugabe was thrown into jail in 1964, where he languished for 10 years.

He later became Zimbabwe's first black prime minister in 1980.

Mugabe's rule over Zimbabwe was dominated by murder, bloodshed, torture, persecution of political opponents, intimidation and vote-rigging on a grand scale, according to The Telegraph report.

Power struggle with Emmerson Mnangagwa

Mugabe appears to have stumbled badly with his firing last week of former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, a longtime ally who had the support of the military.

The sacking led many in Zimbabwe to think that first lady Grace Mugabe was being positioned to succeed.

Mugabe had accused his former protege Mnangagwa of showing impatience to succeed him. Addressing supporters on 8 November at the headquarters of his ZANU-PF party in Harare, Mugabe accused Mnangagwa of consulting witch doctors and prophets as part of a campaign to secure the presidency.

Mnangagwa has been embroiled in a long-running feud with Mugabe's wife Grace, 52.

Both were seen as leading contenders to replace Mugabe but Mnangagwa has the tacit support of the armed forces, which viewed Gracea political novicewith derision.

Other possible successors:

1. First lady Grace Mugabe

The 52-year-old met the president years ago as a secretary in his office. She had an affair with Mugabe that produced his first children and married the president after his first wife passed away.

Her political profile has soared in the past few years and she has openly indicated her interest in the presidency, even publicly challenging her husband earlier this year to name a successor.

She also has been a fierce defender of her ailing husband, declaring that he could run as a "corpse" in next year's election and remain in power.

2. Army commander Constantino Chiwenga

Monday's unprecedented comments by the army commander warning against a purge of Mnangagwa supporters and other senior war veterans sparked the crisis. The statement by the 61-year-old Chiwenga also opened the first public rift between Mugabe and the military and set the country on edge.

Mugabe called off India trip last year

In March 2016, Mugabe pulled out of the the Art of Living foundation's culture festival event due to security and protocol issues.

Mugabe was scheduled to be the guest of honour at the world culture festival.

The three-day World Culture Festival organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's foundation was mired in controversy.

Mugabe has visited India on seven state visits, the most recent being in 2015 for the India Africa Summit.

With inputs from agencies
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Suzanne Somers recounted her interaction with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein during an appearance on FOX Businesss Mornings with Maria on Thursday.

I remember one night I was standing next to him at the Vanity Fair Oscar party waiting for our limos, Somers told Maria Bartiromo. I didnt know who he was and I said to Alan [Hamel] man that guy had a dark vibe.

Even though the Threes Company actress did not experience a lot of sexual harassment over the course of her career, she details a personal experience with assault in her new book, Twos Company.

When youre really young in this business and need money, you find yourself in precarious situations, she said.

Somers described the terrifying situation early in her career.

There was a modeling trip that I was on, I probably was 21 years old and my son had a lot of doctor bills so I took this job and it was the most unsafe I ever felt with four men I didnt know, a rickety airplane, a creepy guy who was at the house, who when the men left, Im left alone with a creepy guy and I chronicled that was one of the scariest nights of my life. But nobody dangled jobs for me, you do this and youll get a job, she said.

Somers said she also had to share her room with a male photographer.

And when we get there, I go in my room and its two twin beds and the photographer walks in and goes were bunking together, I said, are you kidding? he said, dont worry I shoot for Playboy I see women naked, she said. When youre 20, you dont think you have any power, so it was sort of like, oh, ok, Somers added.

Somers said the story serves as an important lesson for young women who dont think they can push back and say no.
North Carolina's two Republican senators said Wednesday they oppose President Donald Trump's pick to oversee chemical safety at the Environmental Protection Agency, putting his nomination at serious risk.

Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis issued statements saying they will vote against Michael L. Dourson to serve as head of EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

Environmentalists and Senate Democrats have vehemently opposed Dourson, a toxicologist with close ties to the chemical industry. That means only one more Republican "no" vote would likely be needed to torpedo his nomination.

The White House and EPA did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday evening. Despite his lack of Senate confirmation, Dourson has already been working at the agency as a senior adviser to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

The Associated Press reported in September that Dourson has for years accepted payments for criticizing studies that raised concerns about the safety of his clients' products, according to a review of financial records and his published work.

Past corporate clients of Dourson and of a research group he ran include Dow Chemical Co., Koch Industries Inc. and Chevron Corp. His research has also been underwritten by industry trade and lobbying groups representing the makers of plastics, pesticides, processed foods and cigarettes.

Burr and Tillis, both of whom are considered reliably pro-business conservatives, cited Dourson's past work and worries among their home-state constituents about tainted drinking water in opposing his nomination.

"Over the last several weeks, Senator Tillis has done his due diligence in reviewing Mr. Dourson's body of work," said statement said. "Senator Tillis still has serious concerns about his record and cannot support his nomination."

Marine veterans and their families blame decades-old contamination of wells at a North Carolina base with solvents and dry-cleaning chemicals for infant deaths and serious health problems that include cancer.

More recently, concerns have been raised about undisclosed discharges of chemicals used to manufacture Teflon and GoreTex into the Cape Fear River, a source of municipal drinking water for Wilmington and other southeastern North Carolina communities.

Dourson worked at the EPA for more than a decade, leaving in 1994 as the manager at a lab that assessed the health risks of exposure to chemicals. The following year, he founded Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment, a private toxicity evaluation nonprofit organization that tests chemicals and produces reports on which chemicals are hazardous in what quantities.

Dourson's views toward industry are consistent with others Trump has selected as top federal regulators. Among them is EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who in March overruled the findings of his agency's own scientists to reverse an effort to ban chlorpyrifos, one of the nation's most widely used pesticides.

Court records show Dourson and his work have often been called on when his corporate clients are seeking to fend off lawsuits.

DuPont was accused of polluting a West Virginia town with Perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, a chemical that the company's internal tests had long ago concluded were toxic. Corporate officials discussed hiring Dourson as part of a strategy to defend themselves.

Dourson led a team that found in 2002 that PFOA levels up to 150 parts per billion were safe, a level higher than was found in testing of 188 private wells and springs.

That was also well above the 1 part per billion Dupont's own scientists had concluded could be considered safe years before. The EPA now says that only 70 parts per trillion of PFOA are acceptable  or only 0.05 percent of what Dourson's team said was safe.

DuPont and a former subsidiary, Chemours Co., later paid $761 million to settle 3,550 lawsuits stemming from its use of the chemical.

Chemours is the company whose spills of a chemical called GenX, a replacement for PFOA, are now at issue in North Carolina's Cape Fear River.

"I will not be supporting the nomination of Michael Dourson," said Burr, the state's senior senator. "With his record and our state's history of contamination at Camp Lejeune as well as the current GenX water issues in Wilmington, I am not confident he is the best choice for our country."

The stand was quickly praised by environmental advocacy groups that rarely find common ground with the two Tarheel Republicans.

"No one who has spent decades arguing on behalf of the chemical industry for weaker safety standards should be charged with reviewing chemicals for the EPA," said Scott Faber, a senior vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group. "It would be like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department."

___

Follow Associated Press environmental reporter Michael Biesecker at http://twitter.com/mbieseck
With the S&P 500 surging nearly 90% higher in the past five years, and 20% in the past year alone, it's undoubtedly more difficult to find a good deal in the stock market these days. But good investments are certainly still out there -- especially if you plan on holding them a Foolishly long time.

One stock I have my eyes on is famed investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B). Not only has it pulled back a few percentage points since it reported its third-quarter earnings earlier this month, making it slightly more attractive, but it also represents a good way for investors to buy one of the world's most rock-solid corporations at a reasonable price -- a rarity in this market.

The raw numbers

If you've followed Berkshire recently, you've probably seen the bearish headlines surfacing after the company's third-quarter earnings release. Berkshire's insurance segment posted a massive underwriting loss of $1.4 billion, weighing significantly on operating income and ultimately leading to a 29% year-over-year decline in the key metric. The culprit? Three major hurricanes -- Harvey, Irma, and Maria -- and an earthquake in Mexico.

But these underwriting losses only masked what remains a grade-A business. Indeed, a closer look at the quarter's results highlights the very core strength of Berkshire: It's a collection of wonderful businesses, giving investors sustainable lucrative operating income -- even when disasters hit. Berkshire's insurance-investment income rose from $850 million in the year-ago quarter to over $1 billion. Railroad, utilities, and energy operating income increased from $1.95 billion to over $2 billion. And Berkshire's "other businesses" segment was flat year over year, but notably contributed a significant $2 billion of operating income for the quarter.

And even these stats don't totally highlight the strength of Berkshire's business. Consider the growth in Berkshire's book value per share. As an insurer that carries float, and as a conglomerate in the business of making acquisitions and maintaining a significant portfolio of securities, the trajectory of Berkshire's book value matters more than it might at companies whose value is more closely tied to their ability to generate earnings. Berkshire's book value in Q3 was $187 billion, up from $164 billion in the year-ago quarter.

And we still haven't got to the best part...

About that war chest

Here's where things really get interesting -- from both an opportunity and a risk standpoint. Thanks to Berkshire's impressive ability to produce substantial operating cash flow, the Oracle of Omaha has built up a substantial cash hoard of $109 billion, up 28% from the $85 billion of cash and cash equivalents Berkshire had in the year-ago quarter.

If Berkshire can deploy its war chest effectively -- something it has done time and time again over the years -- shareholders could suddenly have some new, valuable assets under their belts. On the other hand, until Buffett can put this cash to work, what could be a massive opportunity to increase per-share intrinsic value is ultimately a risk; the longer Berkshire has to wait to find valuable assets for this cash, the more growth potential Berkshire misses out on.

But investors should rest assured that Buffett isn't sitting on his laurels with this cash. "I hate cash," Buffett recently told CNBC. He went on to say that he wants to "buy a big business," but that the price needs to be right.

Of course, there are other ways Berkshire can deploy its cash beyond making large acquisitions, including paying a dividend, raising Berkshire's share repurchase threshold from 1.2 times book value to 1.5 times book value, or building significant equity positions in large publicly traded companies (the way Berkshire recently opportunistically did with Apple).

Investment thesis

My bet is that Berkshire will find a way to deploy this cash that builds surprising shareholder value. This is what Buffett and his fellow partner Charlie Munger have done for decades, and I'm confident they can do it again. As Buffett has admitted, it could be said that he is "wired for capital allocation." He certainly has both the track record and the experience.

Combining the growing value of Berkshire's collection of enduring businesses with its record $109 billion war chest, I think the market is undervaluing Berkshire's potential at 1.5 times book value. Indeed, considering Berkshire's excellent assets, its deeply ingrained culture of long-term thinking, and a number of talented potential successors already working within the company, Berkshire looks poised to thrive well beyond the life of its CEO and chairman.

10 stocks we like better than Berkshire HathawayWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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Daniel Sparks owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Mexico said Wednesday it is open to a thorough evaluation of the North American Free Trade Agreement every five years, but not the kind of "sunset clause" the United States is reportedly seeking.

The comment came as delegations from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada were in Mexico City engaging in the fifth round of talks on renegotiating NAFTA.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly proposed allowing the treaty to lapse after five years until all countries decided to renew it. But Mexico's economy secretary, Ildefonso Guajardo, says his country opposes any "sudden death" clause.

"We are going with a counter-proposal: Let's put more force into evaluations, but let's not establish an automatic phase-out mechanism," Guajardo said. "Let's establish a commitment that every five years we will evaluate what is happening, an analysis, what effects the agreement is having. And based on those results, each country can decide what to do in the future."

None of the three countries' trade representatives or economy secretaries will directly participate in the latest talks. The round is to formally open Friday and run through Tuesday, but the U.S Trade Representative's office said Wednesday that 30 groups of lower-level negotiators already have been meeting in Mexico City this week.

Talks involving upper-level officials were held this month at the Asia-Pacific APEC meetings in Vietnam.

The negotiations have stalled over tough American demands, including changes to the dispute-resolution process and higher U.S. content for automobiles.

Guajardo said it would be very hard to meet the U.S. demand that North American content for automobiles be raised from the current 62.5 percent to 85 percent.

"That is very rigid for an automotive industry that has to compete globally," Guajardo said of the 85-percent proposal. "It is illogical to say that in three years you are going to go from whatever the percentage is today to what you want it to be tomorrow. This transition has to be technically logical."

Guajardo also suggested the Trump administration should think about the possible effects of the NAFTA talks on Mexico's presidential election next July 1, for which leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is ahead in the polls.

"There certainly has to be a reflection on the possible effects of any change (in NAFTA) on our elections," Guajardo said, according to a transcript of an interview provided by his office.
Perhaps the only thing more masochistic than reading income statements from offshore oil rig companies is having money invested in offshore oil drillers. The past three years have been brutal as oil and gas producers have scaled back spending or shifted spending to quicker, easier development projects like shale. For Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE), this past quarter was more of the same: modest declines in revenue and earnings.

However, its management thinks that we are about to see a shift in the offshore market, and it's making one subtle change to its fleet to prepare for an upswing. Here's a look at the most recent results and what Noble's doing to prepare for a market upturn.

By the numbers

Noble's results don't look good, but they don't indicate the company is in deep distress, either. Revenue declined slightly from three jackup rigs completing contracts in the quarter. Fortunately, though, Noble was able to get two of those rigs new contracts that will start in December and February, respectively. Ultimately, Noble held serve in the quarter as it was able to replace most of its expiring revenue with new contracts.

The more promising news out of these results is that Noble is still bringing in plenty of cash from operations even though earnings have dipped into the red. So far this year, the company has been able to cover all its capital spending and reduce its debt load by $300 million and still have $600 million in cash on hand at the end of the quarter. Management plans to pay back all $250 million in senior notes due in 2018 with cash on hand and will likely do the same with other debts due between now and 2022.

These results stack up rather well compared to Noble's offshore rig peers so far. While some have been more successful than others at winning new contracts for rigs, all of the major offshore drillers have reported flat to declining revenue yet again in the third quarter.

The best news the company received this past quarter was a three-year contract award for one of its ultra-deepwater drillships. The contract with ExxonMobil will begin at the end of November and will do work in both the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Guyana on Exxon's Liza discovery. Liza is one of Exxon's most promising projects that is moving at lightning speed.

The result of these new contracts or contract extensions means that Noble has been able to keep its revenue backlog flat at $3.2 billion compared to the beginning of the year.

What management had to say

Offshore rig company executives have been hot and cold about the near-term prospects of the business. Based on CEO David Williams statements, it appears that Noble falls on the slightly optimistic side of things.

Noble's management is also backing these statements up with some corporate actions as well. Unlike many of its peers that have cold stacked their idle rigs -- shutting down all operations and do preservative maintenance -- Noble has now warm stacked -- maintain basic operations and regularly check running engines and equipment -- its drillships. Warm-stacked rigs cost more to keep going, but it means that they are ready to deploy at a moment's notice. This suggests that Noble foresees that its rigs will get work sooner rather than later.

What a Fool believes

Noble isn't winning much additional work, but it's winning contracts to keep its running fleet still on the water and generating revenue. With demand for offshore rigs still stuck in the mud, this is all investors can ask for.

The fact that management has elected to keep its drillships warm stacked is a promising sign. It should make it easier for Noble to market its rigs to potential customers compared to peers with cold-stacked rigs. Based on its current contracts, it should be in relatively decent shape for a couple of quarters. Any chance of success beyond that will involve winning new contracts with those warm-stacked rigs.

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Tyler Crowe owns shares of ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Department of Energy on Thursday awarded a key permit for a transmission project that would carry hydropower from Canada to more than a million homes in southern New England.

The granting of what is called the Presidential permit allows for the $1.6 billion project to take hydropower across an international border and connect to the United States grid. First conceived in 2010, the Northern Pass project calls for building a 192-mile electricity transmission line from Pittsburg to Deerfield in New Hampshire, carrying enough Hydro-Quebec energy to power about a 1.1 million homes.

The permit approval is the latest sign of progress for a project that has sparked angry protests and heated debates at scores of hearings. It has pitted supporters who argue it will create jobs and cut energy costs against those who fear the transmission lines will destroy scenic views, reduce property values and hurt tourism.

"We are pleased to see the DOE permitting process for Northern Pass draw to a close, and appreciate the years of diligent work done by the federal agencies in reaching this critical project milestone," Bill Quinlan, president of the utility Eversource New Hampshire, said in a statement.

"With the New Hampshire and Canadian permitting processes also nearing completion, and considering we have all major contractor, equipment and labor agreements in place, Northern Pass is on track to begin construction by mid-2018," he said. Quinlan added the progress is "good news" for customers and other interested parties "who support this project for the many benefits it will bring to the state and the region."

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who has long favored the project, said it would be a "home-run for small businesses, rate-payers, and clean energy advocates."

"Today, New Hampshire is one step closer to lowering energy rates across the Granite State," he said in a statement.

Opponents said they were not surprised by the decision and are putting their hopes on a state group that also must weigh in on the transmission project. The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee, or SEC, is expected to announce its final written decision on the project by March 31, 2018.

Along with the state approval, the project also is awaiting a permit from the U.S. Forest Service allowing the project to pass through parts of the White Mountain National Forest and a wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is expected by the end of the year.

"They have a permit to cross the international border but they don't have a permit to site the project on 192 miles of New Hampshire landscape. That is what the SEC will determine," said Will Abbott, the vice president for policy with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which opposes the project.

"Their exuberance may be a bit premature," he said. "We believe the evidence makes a clear argument why the permit should be denied. We feel very confident that there is a very compelling argument for the SEC to get a decision not to issue a permit."
A pharmaceutical company founder accused of leading a conspiracy to bribe doctors to prescribe a powerful opioid pain medication will fight the charges against him and believes he will be vindicated, his attorney said Thursday.

John Kapoor, of Insys Therapeutics Inc., pleaded not guilty in Boston's federal courthouse, and his lawyer urged the judge to allow him to remove an electronic monitoring bracelet while he awaits trial. Attorney Brian Kelly said Kapoor isn't a flight risk and wants to clear his name in court.

"He's not going to desert the USA because of this case," Kelly told the judge. "He doesn't believe it's a strong case. He wants to fight this case."

The case centers on a highly addictive fentanyl spray that's made by Insys Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceutical company whose corporate offices are in Chandler, Arizona.

Kapoor, 74, and other Insys executives and managers are charged with offering kickbacks to doctors to write large numbers of prescriptions for the potent opioid that's meant for cancer patients called Subsys. Former CEO Michael L. Babich and others are set to go to trial next year and have pleaded not guilty.

The charges against Kapoor of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison upon conviction. Conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback laws calls for up to five years in prison.

Kapoor, who appeared in court on Thursday in a suit and tie, has been free on $1 million bail since he was arrested by a dozen armed agents in his home state of Arizona last month, according to his attorney. He emigrated from India decades ago, is now a U.S. citizen and handed over his passport to authorities after his arrest.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Yeager said prosecutors fear he will flee the country, adding that they believe he has access to at least $2 billion.

The judge didn't immediately issue a ruling Thursday on whether to remove Kapoor's GPS monitoring requirement.

___

Follow Alanna Durkin Richer at http://twitter.com/aedurkinricher. Read more of her work at http://bit.ly/2hIhzDb
Two of France's biggest workers' unions are staging nationwide protests against President Emmanuel Macron and his economic reforms.

Thursday's 170 organized demonstrations mark the fourth day since September that union-backed protesters have taken to the streets to express discontent over Macron's policies. The size of the protests has gradually decreased, however.

Police in Nantes fired tear gas to disperse crowds.

The new measures, some of which are already being pushed through by executive order, aim to make it easier for French firms to hire and fire employees and reduce the power of national collective bargaining.

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said during a demonstration in Marseille that "the battle isn't over."

A major student union is also taking part, with some students angry over proposed reforms to the university admissions process.
The House passed a nearly $1.5 trillion tax bill that differs from legislation approved by the Senate Finance Committee. A comparison of the Republican-written measures:

Personal income tax rates: House bill condenses current seven brackets to four: 12, 25, 35 and 39.6 percent. Senate measure retains seven brackets but changes them to 10, 12, 22, 24, 32, 35 and 38.5 percent. Under current law, top bracket is 39.6 percent. The Senate bill ends the reductions in 2026; they're permanent in the House version.

Standard deduction: Used by about 70 percent of U.S. taxpayers, currently $6,350 for individuals and $12,700 for married couples. House, Senate bills both double those levels to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for couples.

Personal exemption: Both bills eliminate the current $4,050 personal exemption.

Tax credits: House raises per-child tax credit from $1,000 to $1,600, extends it to families earning up to $230,000. Creates a $300 tax credit for each adult in a family, which expires in 2023. Senate doubles per-child credit to $2,000. Both bills preserve the adoption tax credit, which House measure initially eliminated.

Home mortgage interest deduction: House limits the deduction to interest paid on the first $500,000 of the loan, for new home purchases. Senate retains the current $1 million ceiling.

Other deductions: House eliminates medical expense deductions; Senate preserves them. Senate bill ends deductions for moving expenses and tax preparation.

State and local taxes: House ends deductions for state and local income and sales taxes, allows it for up to $10,000 in property taxes. Senate eliminates entire deduction.

Alternative minimum tax: House, Senate both repeal the tax aimed at ensuring that higher-earning people pay at least some tax.

Inheritance tax: Currently, when someone dies the estate owes taxes on the value of assets transferred to heirs above $5.5 million for individuals, $11 million for couples. House bill initially doubles those limits and then repeals the entire tax after 2023. Senate doubles the limits but does not repeal the tax.

Individual insurance mandate: Senate bill repeals the requirement in President Barack Obama's health care law that people pay a tax penalty if they don't purchase health insurance. House bill does not.

Corporate taxes: House, Senate both cut current 35 percent rate to 20 percent, but Senate has one-year delay in dropping the rate.

Pass-through businesses: Millions of U.S. businesses "pass through" their income to individuals, who then pay personal income tax on those earnings, not corporate tax. House bill taxes many of them at 25 percent, plus creates a 9 percent rate for the first $75,000 in earnings for some smaller pass-throughs. Senate bill lets people deduct some of the earnings and then pay at their personal income tax rate on the remainder.

Businesses: House, Senate both expand write-offs allowed for companies that buy equipment.

Multinational corporations: House levies 10 percent tax on profits for overseas subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, and seeks to eliminate tax incentives that encourage some U.S. companies to move overseas. Senate ends tax advantages for firms moving overseas.
The Latest on a pipeline leak in South Dakota (all times local):

5:10 p.m.

The Sierra Club is urging Nebraska regulators to reject the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline after TransCanada Corp.'s existing Keystone pipeline leaked an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota.

Sierra Club Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign director Kelly Martin said Thursday that the only way to protect Nebraska communities is to "to say no to Keystone XL."

The commission will announce its ruling on Monday after spending months evaluating arguments for and against the long-delayed project.

President Donald Trump issued a federal permit for the project in March.

TransCanada said that crews shut down the Keystone pipeline Thursday morning after a drop in pressure was detected resulting from an oil leak that's under investigation in South Dakota.

TransCanada says the safety of the public and environment are the company's top priorities.

___

3:30 p.m.

TransCanada Corp. says its Keystone pipeline has leaked an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota.

The company said that crews shut down the pipeline Thursday morning after a drop in pressure was detected resulting from an oil leak that's under investigation.

The section of pipe in Marshall County, South Dakota, has been isolated and the company says emergency response procedures were activated.

Brian Walsh, an environmental scientist manager at the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, says officials don't believe the leak has affected any surface water bodies or threatened any drinking water systems.

TransCanada says that expects the pipeline to remain shut down as the company responds to the leak.

The Keystone pipeline is part of a 2,687-mile system that also is to include the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
A mayor in northeastern Lithuania has invited U2 frontman Bono to visit the shopping mall in Lithuania that he allegedly owns part of due to low-tax Malta investments whose documents were recently leaked.

Utena mayor Alvydas Katinas says he has written to the Irish rocker to see the Ausra shopping center, which sits 95 kilometers (59 miles) north of Vilnius, the capital.

Katinas said Thursday that Bono, who has never visited Lithuania before, also could help make the Lithuanian town better known to the world.

He said he also wanted to congratulate Bono for winning the Global Icon Award that U2 received Sunday at the MTV Europe Music Awards in London.

The so-called Paradise Papers leaks have detailed widespread tax dodging by multinationals and wealthy individuals.
State and federal emergency management officials went into the field Thursday to verify damage from a powerful wind storm to give Republican Gov. Paul LePage the data he needs to decide whether to make a formal request for federal aid.

One of the biggest expenses is chopping up and hauling away the thousands of trees that were toppled by winds that hit 69 mph at the Portland International Jetport. There also was roof damage and damage to buildings, roads and bridges, officials said.

Local officials already made estimates that will be reviewed before final numbers are forwarded to the governor, who will decide whether to ask President Donald Trump for a disaster declaration. The state threshold is $1.9 million in damage to public infrastructure.

"We are taking a harder look at the numbers," said Susan Faloon of the Maine Emergency Management Agency. "This is really verifying those initial estimates."

The storm that struck on the day before Halloween caused more power outages in Maine than the infamous ice storm of 1998. Nearly 500,000 utility customers in lost power at one point, meaning more than half of the state's residents were in the dark.

No deaths or serious injuries were reported.

Cumberland and Penobscot counties were among the hardest hit. In Cumberland, there was roof damage to public buildings, trees were toppled in parks, and a public pier was damaged in Falmouth, said Jim Budway, county emergency management agency director.

The winds also knocked trees and limbs onto homes and cars and fences. That damage is typically covered by insurance, but residents still should report the damage to the state, officials said. There could be a second disaster request for individuals later.

Officials said the storm's impact on people would've been greater if it had struck in the dead of winter, but temperatures were relatively mild, he said.

People went about their business for the most part.

"Mainers are very resilient. They generally live in their own homes. They have fireplaces. They have generators," he said. "People here roll with the punches."
Oil prices ended lower again on Thursday on increased concerns about growth in U.S. production and inventories, despite expectations that major world producers will extend a supply-cut deal later this month.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 settled 51 cents, or 0.8 percent, lower at $61.36 per barrel, running its streak of losses to five straight days. U.S. light crude CLc1 fell for a fourth consecutive session, ending down 19 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $55.14 a barrel.

Oil prices have slipped from the two-year highs hit last week by both crude benchmarks on signs that U.S. supply is rising and could potentially undermine OPECs efforts to tighten the market.

The market has been bolstered of late by funds extending long positions on a bullish outlook for the commodity due to tightening supply worldwide.

Expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will agree to extend their supply-cut pact with other major world producers in Vienna on Nov. 30 has offset some of the recent pressure on prices. Now, some analysts believe there wont be clarity on the markets direction until after OPEC meets on November 30.

Certainly U.S. oil production is not slowing down. If crude imports remain elevated and exports dont rebound, then the bullish underlying tone begins to fade, said Kyle Cooper, analyst at IAF Advisors in Houston.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday showed domestic crude inventories C-STK-T-EIA rising for a second week, building by 1.9 million barrels in the week to Nov. 10. Stockpiles of gasoline also surprisingly rose.

The United States is expected to account for more than 80 percent of the growth in world crude supply in the next decade, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, and weekly data shows ongoing boosts in production.

U.S. crude oil production C-OUT-T-EIA hit a record of 9.65 million barrels per day, meaning output has risen by almost 15 percent since its mid-2016 low.

By contrast, RBC commodity strategist Michael Tran noted on Thursday that most of the rest of the worlds inventories are in line with historic averages.

It is no coincidence that the recent price rally has occurred concurrently with several weeks of record setting surges in exports, he wrote.

OPEC and non-OPEC exporters including Russia agreed a year ago to cut crude output by 1.8 million bpd between January this year and March 2018 to bolster prices. Oil ministers have signaled that they are likely to extend the agreement, possibly until the end of next year.
A photo of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his wife posing with a sheet of new $1 bills  the first notes bearing his signature  is prompting people to poke fun at them online.

The Associated Press photo shows Mnuchin holding the sheet of money as his wife Louise Linton stands behind him, her gloved hands touching a corner.

Some remarked that the pair resembled villains from the James Bond movie franchise. Others used the image to mock the Republican tax plan, which critics say would mostly benefit high earners and corporations.

The pair prompted a public outcry this summer after revelations he requested a military jet to fly them to their European honeymoon. It never happened, but the department launched a review of Mnuchin's use of government aircraft.
Mendoza said her son Sgt. Brandon Mendoza, who died in May 2014, died as a direct result of an immigrant who was three times the legal limit drunk and high on meth

Trump made the border wall a lynchpin of his 2016 presidential campaign, and while Congress has yet to appropriate the correct funds, the Department of Homeland Security approved a bill that provides $10 billion for a border wall. Senate Democrats have vowed to block attempts to provide funding for it. Currently, wall prototypes are getting ready to be tested.

Hundreds of thousands of their fellow Americans are affected by illegal crime on a yearly basis. If one of their family members were affected like some of ours have been -- killed, assaulted, what not -- I think they would understand the issue a little better, she said.
While Congressional Republicans have touted their tax reform bills as a way to stimulate economic growth and job creation by reducing taxes on the middle class and corporations, others have criticized the GOP plans for what they say is largely a boon for businesses.

This is an economic dud, it is a political landmine and it is an ideological imposter parading as a Reaganesque supply-chain tax cut when its nothing like that, David Stockman, former economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan told FOX Business Neil Cavuto. Its a wish list of businesses and Wall Street.

Since the party failed to deliver on its seven-year promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the race has been on for Republicans to pass some type of comprehensive tax overhaul.

And amid a controversial Alabama U.S. Senate run-off  in which Republican candidate Judge Roy Moore has refused to step aside, despite several allegations of sexual assault made against him  that could jeopardize an already precarious GOP Senate majority, Republicans are pushing even more fervently to pass tax cuts.

The House Ways and Means Committee, which unfurled its tax plan nearly two weeks ago, laid out an immediate reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%, as well as a simplification of the number of income brackets from seven to four.

It differs in several significant areas from the watered-down Senate Finance Committees plan, which stipulates that the same corporate rate decrease would not go into effect until 2019. The Senate also maintained the number of tax income brackets, though it fiddled with the levels just slightly.

If either plan passes, Stockman warned that it could contribute nearly $1.5 trillion to the national deficit. Republicans have tried to sidestep that argument by pointing to the corporate tax rate reduction, which they say will incentivize business owners to increase employees wages, and thereby increase spending.

But history shows that when given tax breaks, shareholders and owners will probably invest that money in buybacks and dividends and other returns to capital.

Thats why Wall Street is foaming at the mouth for this, he said. If the White House economist, whos nuts, who says its going to be $4,000 per family in higher wages, if he were correct, Wall Street would be booing day and night. If youre going to have lower tax costs and higher wage costs, theres going to be no change in profits per share and none of this excitement.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for fair and reciprocal trade to strengthen the United States economic relationships and end unfair trade practices.

These two words, fairness and reciprocity, are an open invitation into every country that seeks to do business with the United States, and there are firm warnings to every country that cheats, breaks the rules and engages economic aggression, Trump told reporters at the White House.

The announcement follows the presidents 12-day trip to Asia, during which he visited foreign leaders, including Chinas President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to promote American interests.

America is here to compete, to do business and to defend our values and our security, Trump said during the press conference.

Trump said the administration has established a new framework for trade to reduce Americas estimated $800 billion trade deficit and boost economic growth that has been hampered by international trade abuses.

We can no longer tolerate unfair trading practices that steal American jobs, wealth and intellectual property. The days of the United States being taken advantage of are over, he said.

The president said the United States will never again turn a blind eye on trade abuses and take the necessary trade action to ensure fair and open global trade.
A famed explorer who went missing while attempting to film a documentary about a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea has been spotted near an airstrip, his agent told The BBC on Thursday.

Jo Sarsby stated an evacuation was being planned to rescue Benedict Allen, 57, who set out alone in the jungle three weeks ago to make a documentary with neither a satellite phone nor a GPS in an effort to find a tribe of headhunting indigenous people hed discovered roughly 30 years ago.

"Confirmation on exact location coordinates are now being confirmed in order to arrange evacuation as soon as possible," she said.

She said Allen was "safe, well and healthy," and she'd recieved an update through Keith Copley, the coordinating director for New Tribe Mission in Papua New Guinea. Copley informed Sarsby Allen was seen 20 miles north west of Porgera.

The explorers family was fearing the worst after he missed his pick up out of the jungle, and he missed a flight to Hong Kong to deliver a speech at the Royal Geographical Society on Tuesday.

He never caught the plane and that is very out of character for him really because he has it all organised, his older sister, Katie Pestille told The Daily Mail. He was going with a local guide to a remote part of Papua New Guinea to try to track down this tribe that he had been with 20 or 30 years ago to reconnect with them. I have not heard from him in about three weeks and I was expecting something from him on Sunday or Monday and then I got an email from my sister-in-law yesterday saying he had not got on his flight.

According to the Telegraph, Allen, a father of three, was attempting to track down the Yaifo tribe, one of the few left on Earth not to have regular contact with the outside world.

"Last time, the Yaifo 'greeted' me with a terrifying show of strength, an energetic dance featuring their bows and arrows," he said in a September blog post outlining his plans. "On this occasion who knows if the Yaifo will do the same, or run off, or be wearing jeans and T shirts traded eons ago from the old mission station.

Before setting off on his journey, Allen tweeted a message to the world suggesting they not worry about his whereabouts.

Marching off to Heathrow. I may be some time (dont try to rescue me, please - where Im going in PNG you wont ever find me you know)"

This isnt the first time that Allen went missing in the wild. The explorer, whose career spans six TV series for the BBC, was previously out of communication for three months. At one point, he even had to eat his own dog in order to survive.
A Georgia family is under fire for allowing a seventh grader to wear a T-shirt that mocked liberal news network CNN on a school field trip to CNNs Atlanta headquarters -- but the boy's parents think the school violated the First Amendment by making their son take it off.

Nancy and Stan Jester, of Dekalb, are both local elected officials, she a county commissioner and he is a member of the local school board. Their son, seventh-grader Jaxon, wore a shirt mocking the CNN logo as FNN with the caption, Fake News Network.

A teacher asked him to remove it before the tour, but the school has since apologized to the Jesters. However, the parents want an apology for Jaxon because, they say, the whole thing was his idea and he has the right to free speech.

This year when the CNN tour was announced, my 7th grade son Jaxon asked me if he could purchase an FNN-Fake News Network shirt to wear for his field trip, Stan Jester wrote in a blog post. As an advocate for the First Amendment, I agreed to his request.

This year when the CNN tour was announced, my 7th grade son Jaxon asked me if he could purchase an FNN-Fake News Network shirt to wear for his field trip As an advocate for the First Amendment, I agreed to his request.  Stan Jester

Jester continued: His mother cautioned him that he might cause a controversy and needed to be prepared for that. He was fully aware of the implications of his decision and made the affirmative choice to wear his shirt.

The boys father wrote that he is disappointed by the hypocrisy of the decision to make his son change his shirt.

Some students are celebrated when they make a controversial display during the National Anthem. My student was forced to remove his shirt because someone didnt like it. I defend speech and expression, even if I disagree, or it makes me uncomfortable, he wrote.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitutions Maureen Downey wrote a column asking, Was a Dekalb board member wrong to allow son to wear insulting T-shirt to CNN tour?

At the end of her column, Downey declared that, As a parent who has chaperoned a lot of field trips, I would avoid sending my child off with an attitude or attire that could create problems not only for teachers, but parent chaperones, most of whom take off work to give their time.

CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker has seemingly implemented an anti-President Trump programming strategy at the network that was once known for Ted Turner's bare bones "just-the-facts" approach to journalism. As a result, Trump refers to CNN as fake news on a regular basis and mocked the network on Twitter as recently as Wednesday.

While in the Philippines I was forced to watch @CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is, Trump tweeted. Loser!

CNN Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta has emerged as one of the faces of anti-Trump liberal media, regularly interrupting press briefings with grandstanding and providing personal opinions about the administration on a consistent basis. The networks primetime programming is littered with large panel discussions, often featuring numerous liberal analysts against a single quasi-Trump supporter. CNNs morning show, New Day, has made news because erratic co-host Chris Cuomo seems to enjoy sparring with Kellyanne Conway.

CNN did not respond to request for comment.
Sylvester Stallone is denying a report that claimed he had inappropriate sexual contact with a woman in 1986 in a Las Vegas hotel room when she was 16.

The "Rocky" actor has spoke out against the story, which was based on a decades-old police report obtained and published by The Daily Mail.

This is a ridiculous, categorically false story. No one was ever aware of this story until it was published today, including Mr. Stallone. At no time was Mr. Stallone ever contacted by authorities or anyone else regarding this matter, a representative for Stallone told Fox News.

The alleged incident occured in Las Vegas while the action star was filming the movie "Over the Top," according to the report.

The unnamed accuser said Stallone, who was 40 at the time, and his bodyguard, Mike De Luca, who was 27, had inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old and threatened her safety when she was staying in the city with family friends.

The Daily Mail posted a police report in which the woman detailed the alleged encounter she said occurred in a room at the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas.



The woman told police she met Stallone earlier in the day and DeLuca, who died in 2013, handed her keys to the star's hotel room. She claimed that she met Stallone and DeLuca in the hallway and entered the room, the report said.

She claimed that she began having sex with Stallone while DeLuca stayed in the bathroom, the report said. At one point during intercourse, she claimed to police Stallone asked her if she ever had a threesome.

At that point, she stated DeLuca walked in and the two assaulted her, the report said. She later told police that sex with Stallone was consensual but she reportedly said DeLuca's presence made her feel uncomfortable.

She alleges that Stallone told her to keep quiet or they would have to beat her head in. She said she felt humiliated and intimidated by the event and decided ultimately not to press any charges.

As TMZ notes, it's not unusual for police to investigate claims of sexual assault against a minor, but Las Vegas police told the outlet they did not feel they had sufficient evidence to move forward.
A restaurant in Northeast Washington is being lauded for its brave staff after four employees fought off a robber.

Tuesday, November 7, was a day like any other at Tonys Breakfast. In a video of the incident, that has since gone viral, two women behind the counter are seen cashing out customers as usual.

Everything changes when moments later a man lunges across the counter and grabs for the open cash register.

Manager Justine Choe, who had just opened the cash drawer to make change for a customer, is seen holding onto the drawer as tight as she can.

Another employee, Sandra Andino, comes to her aid by hitting the man and trying to push him away. The customer who Choe had opened the drawer to make change for can be seen slowly backing away  he does not try to intervene or call police during the entire altercation.

IHOP WAITER STOPS ROBBER WITH MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS

Two other employees, Choes sister Kay Aimes, and Kelly Shar Khuu, later jumped in, helping Choe in the tug-of-war battle for the cash register.

It was like the mother bear in me coming out, Aimes said to the Washington Post.

Khuu decided to grab something to help beat back the robber instead of just using her hands.

All the ladies were hitting him, Khuu said. I got the aluminum foil.

The robber, a tall and robust man, was trying to yank the drawer free from the four petite women who held on with everything they had.

Were not passive women, Choe, whose parents own the restaurant, said.

The struggle for the cash continued on for a little while longer with the four women slapping, hitting, and pulling, until the man gave up and ran out of the store with about $30 in bills he had managed to grab.

When the cops arrived -- one of the women called 911 after the robber left -- the crime scene technicians were surprised to hear what happened.

One of the technicians said, Way to go, girl! You guys are crazy, Aimes said.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

He did get a beating on his head, Choe said.

The police told Choe she should close the restaurant as it was now a crime scene, but Choe felt the customers  who had started forming a line outside  deserved to be fed.

After washing the blood off her hands from the cuts she had sustained, Choe said she went outside to take orders and resume business as normal.

Though the women seemed to have taken the event in stride, Choe did feel fortunate the robber was not armed.

If he pulled out a gun and said, Give me your money, wed be like Okay,  Choe said. Were not stupid.

As of Wednesday evening, police had not made an arrest.
A woman was caught on surveillance video climbing through the drive-thru window of a Maryland McDonalds at around 1 a.m. last Sunday.

In the video, the unidentified woman is first seen leaning through the window and stealing a soda cup, which she then fills at the machine.

Once she notices no one is around, the brazen robber climbs through the window and into the store, where she is seen stealing a large box of food, as well as a purse and drink.

FOUR WOMEN FIGHT OFF A MAN TRYING TO ROB THEIR RESTAURANT

According to the timestamp on the surveillance footage, the woman appeared to have spent about a half an hour inside the empty McDonalds.

The suspect did not cover her face until much later, allowing police to get a clear shot of what she looked like when she first broke into the restaurant.

The woman did not crawl back out through the window, but instead fled through a different door.

An arm is later seen  presumably belonging to the suspect or a possible accomplice  grabbing onto the stolen box of food and then shutting the drive-thru window behind them.

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Police have not verified how much food or money was stolen, or if anyone else was involved.

It is not clear whether the restaurant was open at the time of the incident.

An arrest has not been made. Police are asking the Columbia, Maryland community to call 410-313-STOP if they recognize the woman in the video.
That Ree Drummond is just full of surprises.

According to the annual Land Report 100, the celebrity chefs family is currently the 23rd-largest land-owner in the entire United States, with over 433,000 acres to their name.

The report itself isnt anything new  it was actually released in late 2016  but details of the Drummonds expansive acreage in Oklahoma and Kansas is only now making headlines.

REE DRUMMOND NAMES THE ONE FOOD YOU'LL NEVER FIND IN HER KITCHEN

According to the report, the Drummonds were already one of the most successful ranching families in Oklahoma before Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond (nee Smith) entered the picture. The familys bio on the Land Reports website further explains that her husband, Ladd, is a descendent of Scottish immigrant Frederick Drummond, whose sons built the Drummond Land & Cattle Co.

The family helped write ranching history in Oklahoma, reads their short bio. Clan patriarch Frederick Drummond (18641913) emigrated from Scotland and married Kansas native Addie Gentner. All three of their sons became successful cattle ranchers, and their descendants oversee hundreds of thousands of acres in Oklahoma and Kansas.

'THE PIONEER WOMAN' NOW HAS A BEDDING LINE AT WALMART

Furthermore, the Daily Mail has obtained records from the Bureau of Land Management that reveal how the U.S. government has actually paid the Drummonds just under $24 million in rent over the past decade to housing animals  specifically horses and donkeys  on their massive plots of land. Contract details obtained by Bloomberg further show that the company's land acts as a "long term holding facility" and provides "conservation services" for the federal government.

The Mail adds that the Drummond Land & Cattle Co. takes in about $2.5 million per year, when all is said and done.

Ree herself is no slouch, though. According to a Thrillist article published in October, her Mercantile restaurant is the second-largest employer in Pawhuska, Okla. Ree also once revealed that her restaurant serves about 6,000 customers a day  and sometimes up to 15,000  even though the town itself only boasts a population of around 3,600. She's also planning to open up a hotel next-door, to accommodate visitors from far away.

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Geez, and we through her extreme hatred of bananas was shocking.
Lee University alumni Cliff Duren and Phil Nitz have received a Gospel Music Association Dove award for musical/choral collection of the year for their work on For The Sake Of Love.

For the Sake of Love is a short Easter musical written by Lee Black and published by Daywind Records. In addition to Mr. Duren and Mr. Nitz, Camp Kirkland and Steve Mauldin contributed to the project.

I still cant believe I get to do this for a living, much less get an award for it, said Mr. Duren. I love going to the Dove Awards because of the unity I see across the roomChristian artists of all genres celebrating our great God together. Winning a Dove was completely unexpected!

Mr. Duren and Mr. Nitz arranged songs so they could be performed by choirs and orchestras. They used recordings of Mr. Black playing and singing his original songs to create the structure of each song, write the choral arrangement, and orchestrate that arrangement.

Mr. Duren received a masters degree in church music from Lee in 2004 and is currently the worship pastor at The Church at Station Hill in Spring Hill, Tn., a regional campus of Brentwood Baptist Church. This year, he wrote his first film score for the faith-based film Champion and orchestrated on the Michael English and Larnelle Harris 2017 album releases.

Mr. Nitz contributed Did The Angels Shout? to the project, which is the final song of the album. He was commissioned by Daywind to arrange the song for choir, rhythm band, and orchestra, and he oversaw its production in the studio.

According to Mr. Nitz, the song is written as a commentary of the possible feelings and thoughts of angels during Jesus trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

The award was a total surprise to me, said Mr. Nitz. As far as I knew at the time of the projects conception, I was just doing my job. I attended the awards ceremony simply because I was invited. I really had no expectation of winning. Of course, I am thrilled and honored beyond words to have been nominated and win this award.

A freelance arranger, orchestrator, and vocalist, Mr. Nitz graduated from Lee in 2011 with a bachelors degree in music business, then returned to Lee to earn a masters degree in church music. He is currently the staff arranger and worship leader at Christ Church Nashville. Additionally, Mr. Nitz recently contributed arrangements for the upcoming Voices of Lee Christmas record.

According to Mr. Duren, he had not orchestrated before coming to Lee, and he regards his studies as a defining time in his career and ministry. Similarly, Mr. Nitz attributes his accomplishments in the music business to the education he received at Lee.

My time at Lee most definitely influenced any success Ive had, said Mr. Nitz. I dont expect to gain any further accolades or work from the award, but rather its just an affirmation that Im doing what God has called me to do.

Since 1970, the GMA Dove Awards has celebrated rich musical diversity and honored excellence in Christian Music. Awards are presented to individuals representing genres spanning styles of modern rock to contemporary pop to southern gospel.

For more information about the GMA Dove Awards, visit doveawards.com.
Colorado law enforcement agents across the state were outfitted with 4,000 kits of Narcan on Wednesday amid an uptick in the amount of K-9 units exposed to dangerous opioids while on the job. The move follows similar programs implemented by officers in Wisconsin and other states.

Criminals out there transporting narcotics are getting creative, Sgt. Keith Sanders, a K-9 handler with the Montrose County Sheriffs Office, told FOX 31 Denver. Theyre coming up with different ways to throw the dogs off, poison the dogs.

The attorney generals office was on-hand to dole out the kits to 60 K-9 units Wednesday, with plans to provide more to each department. Members of the Colorado Police Canine Association received training on how to administer the antidote in the event of an accidental overdose, FOX 31 Denver reported.

FDA CLEARS NERVE STIMULATOR FOR OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Our K-9 officers and our K-9s are often the first to come on scene when theres an overdose and they need to be protected as well, Leora Joseph, chief of staff for the attorney generals office, told FOX 31 Denver.

Sanders noted that in the past, many police dogs died because they couldnt receive treatment in time after an overdose. Their wet nose provides easy access for the dangerous substances to enter directly into the bloodstream.

It happens a lot more often nowadays, he told the news outlet. It takes just a minute, little bit and they can OD on it pretty quick. We put in a lot of time with these dogs. We live with them. Theyre part of the family and just the mere chance of losing one to a little bit of narcotics is very scary.
Two poison control doctors who listed an 11-month-old boys cause of death as damage to his heart muscle claim that it was brought on by ingesting marijuana. Doctors Thomas Nappe and Christopher Hoyte, who published their report in the journal Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine, said that the only thing they could find in the boys system at the time of his 2015 death was marijuana.

His official cause of death was listed as myocarditis, which is a rare occurrence in children. Hoyte and Nappe, both of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, said that they ruled out all other known causes of the condition, which includes bacteria, Coxsackievirus, fungi and parasites, the Reno Gazette Journal reported.

The only thing that we found was marijuana, Hoyte told the news outlet. High concentrations of marijuana in his blood. And thats the only thing we found. The kid never really got better. And just one thing led to another and the kid ended up with a heart stopped. And the kid stopped breathing and died.

COLORADO ARMS K-9 UNITS WITH LIFE-SAVING OPIOID OVERDOSE

The report was published in March and did not identify where the boys death occurred, nor reveal his identity. The doctors concluded that the case was the first reported pediatric death associated with cannabis exposure. However, others in the field question their findings, including a 2016 paper that said marijuana could not be determined as the cause of myocarditis, the news outlet reported.

That statement is too much, Dr. Noah Kaufman, an emergency medicine specialist in Northern Colorado, told the Reno Gazette Journal. Because that is staying confidently that this is the first case. Weve got one! And I still disagree with that.

But the two contend that they explored every other potential avenue before drawing their conclusion, although they admitted that there are some causes of myocarditis that cannot be tested for.

The child didnt leave the house between being normal and being sick, Hoyte told the Reno Gazette Journal. The child had THC in the blood and in the urine and there were marijuana products in the house. I feel very comfortable with the workup that we did and how much we ruled out in this particular case.

FDA CLEARS NERVE STIMULATOR FOR OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Kaufman also questions what kind of product the THC was contained in, and how the boy ingested it, suggesting that he may have been allergic to another substance that triggered the myocarditis. He told the news outlet that despite his doubts about marijuana causing the boys death, the case is an important reminder for parents to keep substances away from children.

Even if Im not convinced that it could kill your kid, you need to be really careful because it could make them really sick, he told the Reno Gazette Journal. It needs to be locked up away in a medicine chest because it can cause seizures. It can cause real big problems in kids that can lead to other problems.
The 52-year-old president of the American Heart Association was recovering this week after suffering what was described as a "minor" heart attack during a health conference in California.

John Warner, a cardiologist who is also vice president and chief executive of UT Southwestern University Hospitals in Dallas, was in stable condition after doctors inserted a stent to open an artery, the association told the Washington Post in a statement.

The heart attack occurred Monday, one day after Warner delivered a speech about his familys longstanding battle with heart disease, at the organizations annual five-day Scientific Sessions conference in Anaheim, Calif., the Dallas Morning News reported.

As a cardiologist, Warner routinely performs the same procedure that he underwent himself as a patient following his heart attack, the organization said.

After his heart attack, Warner said he wanted to reiterate the message he delivered in his speech -- about the ongoing fight for cardiovascular health.

"After my son was born and we were introducing him to his extended family, I realized something very disturbing: There were no old men on either side of my family. None. All the branches of our family tree cut short by cardiovascular disease," Warner said in his speech, the Dallas Morning News reported.

John wanted to reinforce that this incident underscores the important message that he left us with in his presidential address yesterday  that much progress has been made, but much remains to be done, Nancy Brown, the heart associations CEO, said in a statement, the Washington Post reported.

Warner is serving a voluntary one-year term as the organizations president since accepting the position in July, the Post reported.
A 6-year-old boy in Georgia is celebrating Christmas with strangers from around the world after a plea on social media for holiday ornaments went viral. Brantley Dobbs, who is receiving hospice care after doctors diagnosed him with an inoperable tumor on his brain stem, is hoping to live long enough to celebrate his favorite holiday.

Most kids live nine to 12 months, Jamie Dobbs, the boys mother, told Fox 5 Atlanta. Very rarely do they live longer than that, and were on like month 20.

Dobbs said her son's wish started with a simple post from a friend, which blossomed into 200 comments in under an hour. From there, the Facebook page Brantleys Christmas Cheer took off, and now boasts nearly 3,000 members from all over the world. Hes received ornaments from Germany, Vietnam and even the Pentagon.

MOM IN VIRAL BEE MATERNITY SHOOT SHARES HEARTBREAKING UPDATE

Hes having people from all over the globe kind of light this path that can be scary and uncertain and dark at times, so knowing that people are coming around this family and him I think is really going to truly enhance his life now, and the life of the family in years to come, Lanis Shortell, a nurse with Childrens Program of Hospice of Atlanta, told Fox 5 Atlanta.

Brantley, who has a 5-year-old younger sister, especially loves a superhero-themed Christmas tree placed near his bed.

Christmas literally blew up in our house the day after Halloween, Brandon Dobbs, the boys father, told 11 Alive.

According to the report, packages can be sent to Brantley at Hospice Atlanta located at 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta, Ga., 30319.
On a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest, I had the pleasure of meeting Benjamin Olson, who is compensated by Medicaid for the home health care that he and his wife provide to their son, who has cerebral palsy.

The dedication of the Olsons to their son is both heartwarming and inspirational. They can afford to keep their son at home because of the Medicaid funds they receive.

The state-run program paid for by Medicaid to fund home health-care is a win-win for patients, their families and the taxpayer. The program keeps patients at home, where they are more comfortable and surrounded by loved ones, rather than putting them in nursing homes or other expensive institutions that would cost Medicaid far more.

But unfortunately, some states are diverting millions of these Medicaid dollars from home health-care to labor unions.

The most recent data from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as reported by Truven Health Analytics, shows that Medicaid expenditures for the home health-care program totaled $45 billion in 2015 and covered over 1.6 million people in 2014.

With union membership and the amount of dues collected at historic lows, this makes the home health-care program a tempting target for union organizers.

But unions are unable to represent people who care for members of their own families at home the way they represent state government employees, because the state is not the employer of the home caregivers.

While the state pays the home caregivers salary, the patient is the official employer  in the Olsons case, their son. So each employer-patient essentially has one caregiver-employee. This makes it impossible for unions to collectively bargain with the state over workplace disputes or grievances

In addition, the employee is likely a close family member and the workplace is his or her home. The very notion of a parent going on strike against a disabled child is absurd.

As a result, unions dont really represent home health-care givers in the normal sense. Their representation is limited to participating in negotiations to determine how the state will divvy up half of its Medicaid disbursements (the other half is determined at the federal level).

Given this limited role, only 11 states classify these home health-care givers as government employees for collective bargaining purposes. Prior to the Supreme Courts 2014 decision in Harris v. Quinn, these states automatically deducted union dues (for members) or representation fees (for non-union members) from these caregivers Medicaid-funded paychecks.

The Supreme Court put an end to a portion of this scheme. It held that home health-care givers were, at most, partial government employees. As a result, it held that states compelling non-union members to pay union representation fees violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and association.

Consequently, states can no longer compel non-union member home health-care givers to pay representation fees. But states can still automatically deduct union dues from caregivers paychecks if they are union members.

Until quite recently, the Olsons were union members, and such enthusiastic union advocates that Ben volunteered to help persuade others to join. That changed when a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local included Ben on a bus trip to lobby Washington state lawmakers on behalf of the SEIUs far-left political agenda.

Ben Olson was struck by how little of that agenda had anything to do with the issues he and Tammy faced as caregivers.

With the help of the Freedom Foundation, a West Coast-based, nonpartisan think tank, the Olsons resigned from the union and began urging fellow caregivers to get the SEIUs hand out of their pockets.

Following the Supreme Courts Harris decision, this required that caregivers exercise their right to opt-out by instructing the state to stop deducting union dues from their paychecks. But caregivers who work in their homes for loved ones have little contact with co-workers and are often unaware of their rights or even the fact that the state is withholding union dues.

In the Olsons home state of Washington, The Freedom Foundation found that the SEIU not only attempted to withhold dues without the caregivers consent  it failed to inform them of their rights under Supreme Court rulings and attempted to prevent others from informing them.

In Oregon, the SEIU limits the ability of union members to resign to a 15-day period each year that differs by employee. In March, two Minnesota caregivers alleged that the SEIU forged their signatures so it could automatically deduct dues from their Medicaid checks. For months, they didnt even realize this deduction was occurring.

Caregivers have every right to knowingly join a union. However, automatically deducting dues from caregivers paychecks creates the potential for abuse and makes the state complicit in the unions scheme to increase their revenue from Medicaid dollars.

Medicaids intent is clear. Patients, not third parties, are to receive the benefit of the taxpayer dollars allocated for their care. The federal statute establishing Medicaids home caregiver program provides that, with limited exceptions, no payment is to be made to anyone other than the individual who provides such care or service.

To receive Medicaid funds, a state must file a plan describing how it will administer its Medicaid programs. The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is empowered to require that such plans reflect the qualities he deems appropriate to ensure that the patients dignity and respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint.

Administrative guidance instructing states to pay caregivers directly and prohibiting third-party deductions would go a long way toward ensuring that millions of dollars  earmarked for the most vulnerable members of our society  are not improperly diverted to fund union activities.
The Department of Justice will soon commence an investigation to determine whether there should be an investigation (you read that nonsense correctly) of a scandal involving the Clinton Foundation and a company called Uranium One. It appears that FBI decisions made during the time that Hillary Clinton was being investigated for espionage will also be investigated to see whether there should be an investigation to determine whether she was properly investigated. (Again, you read that nonsense correctly.)

Only the government can relate nonsense with a straight face. Here is the back story.

When President Donald Trump fired FBI Director Jim Comey last spring, the attorney generals stated purpose for recommending the firing was Comeys dropping the ball in the investigation of Clinton's email when she was secretary of state. After a year of investigating her use of her own computer servers to transmit and store classified materials instead of using a government server to do so -- and notwithstanding a mountain of evidence of her grossly negligent exposure of secret and top-secret materials, which constitutes the crime of espionage -- the FBI director decided that because no reasonable prosecutor would take the case, it should be dropped. Weeks later, the DOJ ratified Comeys decision.

At the same time that Clinton was failing to safeguard state secrets, she was granting official State Department favors to donors to her familys charitable foundation. There are dozens of examples of this so-called pay to play, the most egregious of which is the Uranium One case. This involved a Canadian businessman and friend of former President Bill Clinton's, Frank Giustra, who bundled donations from various sources that totaled $148 million, all of which Giustra gave to the Clinton Foundation.

At the same time that Giustra made this extraordinary donation, he was representing a client that needed federal permission to purchase a 51 percent stake in Uranium One, which then controlled about 20 percent of America's licensed uranium mining capacity. Secretary Clinton freely gave Giustras client the State Departments approval, and it soon acquired the remaining approvals to make the purchase. Giustras client is a Russian corporation controlled by the Kremlin.

When the FBI got wind of the Giustra donation and Secretary Clintons approval and the Kremlin involvement, it commenced an investigation of whether Clinton had been bribed. At some point during former President Barack Obamas second term, that investigation was terminated. We do not know whether the investigating FBI agents learned that the Clinton Foundation was not even registered as a charity by the states in which it was doing business or authorized by them to receive tax-free donations.

At the same time that the FBI was looking into Uranium One, American and British intelligence agents were surveilling Donald Trump. The belated stated purpose of that surveillance was to ascertain whether the future president or his colleagues were engaged in any unlawful activity by accepting campaign favors from foreign nationals or were improperly assisting foreign intelligence agents to interfere with the presidential election.

One of the foreign nationals whose communications were captured during that surveillance was Sergey Kislyak, then the Russian ambassador to the United States. He spoke with Michael Flynn, then the national security adviser to President-elect Trump. Mysteriously, portions of a transcript of those intercepted communications were published in The Washington Post.

Another foreign national who caught the FBIs attention is a former British intelligence agent named Christopher Steele. Steele had compiled a dossier about, among other things, alleged inappropriate behavior by Trump in a Moscow hotel room years earlier. After offering Steele $50,000 to corroborate his dossier, the FBI backed down.

After being confronted by irate Republican members of the House and Senate judiciary committees, who demanded to know why the investigations of these matters had been terminated, Attorney General Jeff Sessions revealed that he has asked career DOJ lawyers to commence an investigation of all of the above to determine whether an independent counsel should be appointed to investigate all of the above.

This is the investigation to determine whether there should be an investigation. This is also the DOJ's reluctance to do its job.

Can the government investigate itself? The short answer is yes, and it has done so in the past. But it hardly needs an investigation to determine whether there should be an investigation. The job of the DOJ is to investigate probable violations of federal law. Sessions should not shy away from this and should not push it off to another independent counsel.

We have one independent counsel already because his target -- lets be candid -- is the president of the United States. That is a potato too hot for the DOJ. But Hillary and Bill Clinton, the FBI's tampering with the political process, and the use of intelligence-captured communications for political purposes are not. It is profoundly the duty of the DOJ -- using its investigatory arm, the FBI -- to investigate all this.

Whatever Comeys motive for not prosecuting Hillary Clinton and the DOJs ratification of it, the current DOJ is not bound by these erroneous decisions.

The evidence in the public domain of Clintons espionage and bribery is more than enough to be presented to a grand jury. The same cannot be said about FBI involvements with the Steele dossier or the use of intelligence data for political purposes, because we dont yet know who did it, so we need aggressive investigation.

But none of this presents the type of conflict that exists when the president is a target, and none of this requires an independent counsel. All of this simply requires the DOJ to get to work.

That is, unless the lawyers in the leadership of this DOJ are fearful of investigating their predecessors for fear that their successors might investigate them. Whoever harbors those fears has no place in government.
As the House and Senate each consider their plans to cut taxes and grow jobs this week, the Left and their friends in the media will try to provoke division by narrowing in on differences between the two chambers bills.

However, Americans (including members of Congress) should remember both the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act share many of the same attributes, all of which will grow the economy, create jobs, and help Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.

For starters, both the House and Senate bills will nearly double the standard deduction. Both plans increase the standard deduction for individuals from $6,350 to $12,000 and from $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples. This represents a significant tax cut for lower- and middle-income earners, as well as a widespread simplification, as many people will save time and money by taking the larger standard deduction rather than itemizing their taxes.

Both plans also increase the Child Tax Credit. The House bill calls for boosting the credit from $1,000 to $1,600 per child under 17, while the Senate plan increases the credit to $1,650 and makes it available for eligible taxpayers with children under 18. Although these two provisions are not identical  they still represent a significant dollar-for-dollar tax credit for families with children who are struggling to make ends meet.

The news media is going to try to amplify every difference, however small, between the two bills in an attempt to foment a fight between Republicans in the House and Senate, but Republicans must not get distracted or lose their focus.

Small businesses, which represent 99.7 percent of our countrys employers, also benefit from a tax reduction under both plans  though the bills go about it in slightly different ways.

Under the House plan, small business owners who earn less than $150,000 in business income will receive a 9 percent tax rate on their first $75,000. (For unmarried small business owners, the thresholds are $75,000 and $37,500, respectively.)

For those small business owners earning a higher income, the House bill places a 25 percent tax rate cap on 30 percent of their business income. A larger share of their income can be eligible for the 25 percent rate depending on how much they choose to invest in their businesses.

In comparison, under the Senate plan, small business owners are allowed to deduct 17.4 percent of their income. As the two chambers work to combine their bills, we will likely hear more about the benefits and reasoning behind both proposed methods.

However, regardless of approach, the important point is that both bills seek to grant historic tax relief to the men and women who help make our economy run. This will give them more money to invest in their businesses, creating more jobs, and raising wages for workers.

Both chambers plans also seek to spur our already growing economy by reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. While its true the House would implement the new rate immediately and the Senate would delay the tax cut until 2019, the intention behind these provisions is the same  to grow the economy, create jobs, and attract more businesses to the United States so that our nation is able to more effectively compete with other developed countries.

In the same vein, the House and Senate bills also seek to help make the United States more competitive by changing the way we tax income that American companies earn overseas.

As it is now, multinational corporations based in America owe taxes both in the foreign country in which they are doing business, and also in the U.S. when their profits are repatriated. However, businesses do not have to pay taxes twice if they reinvest their foreign earnings in foreign countries, rather than bring their earnings back to the U.S.

This is a terrible system that provides financial incentives for businesses to keep jobs and profits outside of the United States.

Both the House and Senate bills put in place a territorial tax system that puts an end to the current system and instead encourages U.S. businesses to invest foreign earnings here at home, rather than overseas.

These are just a few of the similarities the bills share, but there are many others, including protecting important deductions for mortgage interest and charitable giving, eliminating the alternative minimum tax, and providing relief from or abolishing the so-called death tax.

The news media is going to try to amplify every difference, however small, between the two bills in an attempt to foment a fight between Republicans in the House and Senate, but Republicans must not get distracted or lose their focus.

No policy disagreement is more important than growing the economy, creating jobs, and helping hardworking Americans keep more of their money.

Thats the common ground.
With allegations of sexual misconduct now swirling around U.S. Senate candidate Judge Roy Moore, the left and the liberal media are finally starting to take stock of their long-running defense of their favorite accused rapist and serial philanderer, Bill Clinton.

Consider the liberal publication The Atlantic, which has published a story with this headline and introduction: Bill Clinton: A Reckoning. Feminists saved the 42nd president of the United States in the 1990s. They were on the wrong side of history; is it finally time to make things right?"

An Op-Ed from The New York Times ran under the headline, "I believe Juanita." MSNBCs Chris Hayes tweeted that Democrats and the center left are overdue for a real reckoning with the allegations against him."

The accusers of Bill Clinton back in the '90s were never given the credence and treated with the same respect that [Moores accusers] are being treated, CNNs Jake Tapper said. And I think that there is something to be said about how society has evolved since then but, in addition, it's hard not to look back at that period and think: you know what, the media treated those women poorly.

Members of the mainstream media are actually starting to realize that what Bill Clinton did was beyond disgraceful. From sodomizing an intern to groping women to the alleged rape of Juanita Broaddrick, the allegations against Clinton have been known for years. Those of us who objected at the time were told by these same media outlets that all of this was his personal business. It did not rise to the level of impeachment.

The women were raked over the coals for coming forward. Some were even threatened by mysterious thugs.

Two decades later, the biased left-wing media outlets are coming to terms with what they said and did and how they covered it all up. Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers, Kathleen Willey and several more women have all told how they were dismissed, smeared and left by the side of the road by the Clinton machine and the mainstream media.

To be sure, there was a reckoning in court. In 1998, Bill Clinton ended up paying Paula Jones $850,000 in an out-of-court settlement for her to drop her sexual harassment charges against him. And in a related case, Bill Clinton actually lost his license to practice law in Arkansas for five years. And we know Clinton was impeached.

But to the media, he remained a darling and a lovable rogue. What has changed? Well, maybe the media, like so many in the Democratic Party, is finally done with the Clintons. Maybe they want to look consistent when they go after Roy Moore, whose alleged transgressions pale in comparison.

Or maybe they finally realize how wrong they were to protect a predator, even at the expense of his powerless victims.

Nah, that cant be it.

Adapted from Sean Hannity's monologue on "Hannity," Nov. 15, 2017
A group of prominent U.S. senators is coming to the defense of a highly-decorated Air Force colonel who could be booted out of the military over his religious views on same-sex marriage.

Col. Leland Bohannon, an experienced combat pilot, was suspended from command and orders were handed down recommending he not be promoted after he refused to publicly affirm the same-sex spouse of a retiring subordinate.

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Bohannon, who was on the verge of being promoted to a one-star general, was punished after the subordinate filed a formal Equal Opportunity complaint which was later substantiated by investigators.

His career is likely over and he will likely have to retire as a colonel instead of as a general, First Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry said on the Todd Starnes Show.

First Liberty Institute, one of the nations most prominent religious liberty law firms, is representing the distinguished military officer.

The military is no longer a place of diversity and inclusion if you are a person who holds to a traditional belief in marriage, Berry said.

At least eight U.S. senators, including Sens. Roy Blunt, James Inhofe, John Kennedy, James Lankford, Mike Lee, Marco Rubio, Roger Wicker and Ted Cruz, wrote a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson urging her to intervene and save the colonels career.

Col. Bohannon has suffered severely on account of the EO investigators mishandling of his religious liberty rights, the senators wrote. The Air Force owes it to him to see that justice is restored, along with his good name.

Last May the colonel declined to sign a certificate of spouse appreciation for a retiring master sergeants same-sex spouse. Instead, he asked a higher ranking military leader to sign the customary document.

Col. Bohannon recognized the moral and legal dilemma this situation presented, and to his credit, sought to carve out a solution that would affirm the contribution made by the retiring officers same-sex partner while at the same time allowing the colonel to abide by his religious convictions, the senators wrote.

However, the retiring service member took offense and subsequently filed a discrimination complaint. The EO investigator determined the colonel had indeed discriminated and went on to say that even had the accommodation been granted, Col. Bohannon would nonetheless be guilty of unlawful discrimination.

The senators said the EOs decision raises disturbing questions.

The Air Forces refusal to accept this compromise and its refusal to grant an accommodation  when doing so would cause no discernable harm  raises the question as to which circumstances, if any, would move the U.S. Air Force to defend the free exercise rights of its soldiers, they wrote.

The senators are calling for the Air Force to reverse the EOs decision and remove any unfavorable notes from the colonels service record.
For all the bipartisan hysteria in Washington about Russian attempts to influence the U.S. elections last year, what if the biggest loser is ... Vladimir Putin?

That's the counter-intuitive question raised at a one-day, conference called "Understanding Russian Deception," sponsored by the Washington-based Center for the Public Interest.

"The Russian government uses deception," says Paul Saunders, the center's executive director. "There no question about that. The questions are 'Is it deliberate behavior?' and 'Who is the audience for which the deception is carried out?'"

Both Saunders and Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at Rand Corp., think Russian denials that the Kremlin tried to meddle in our elections are part of that country's need to demonstrate its important role in the world. "In Russia's view," says Charap, "great powers can and do break the rules."

But the Russian shenanigans of a year ago may actually have backfired. "The lies have destroyed Putin's international diplomatic credibility," says Charap. Saunders agrees. "I think Putin expected he could affect the U.S. elections and not incur a strong American retaliation. Instead, we have a Congress that is much more willing to impose new sanctions on Russia and insist that President Trump enforce the sanctions that are already on the books."

The Russian capacity for lying, says Saunders, was demonstrated during a meeting he had with a top Kremlin diplomat in 2014, just after Russian troops wearing unmarked uniforms crossed their country's border with Ukraine and set the stage for the annexation of Crimea. When Saunders and others asked why the Russians could not admit what they had done, the exasperated diplomat fired back, "Would you prefer that we admit it? Would help resolve this situation?"

Adds Charap, "Should we expect them to 'fess up about their role in our elections? No way. It's not in their DNA."

That is a truth that every Russian leader since Lenin has understood, and that no American president so far has been able to comprehend. Donald Trump may be the exception. Saunders thinks the president's low-key response to Putin's brazen lies is anything but approval. "Trump is a businessman," he says. "He wants something from Putin, whether it's his help with North Korea or to put pressure on China. So he's not going to intentionally insult Putin in public. He's working on a deal."

As the saying goes, "Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue." It's not pretty. But in this case, it may be necessary.
Lee Universitys Opera Theatre will present its fall Musical Revue, comprising various scenes from well-known and lesser known musicals, on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall.

The program will include scenes from Fiddler on the Roof, Little Women, Company, Into the Woods, The Color Purple, Guys and Dolls, and more. The scenes will be presented in a workshop environment with minimal set pieces and costumes.

What I really like about the scenes program is that it is a good opportunity for the students to use their imagination to come up with their own staging, costumes, and set pieces for their individual scenes, said James Frost, artistic director of the program and associate professor of voice. To see these young students grow as solo performers is very exciting.

Opera Theatre, directed by Frost, began in the spring of 1998 as a workshop and has grown into a production organization performing a musical revue in the fall semester, a fully-staged opera from both standard and less traditional repertoire in February, and an opera scenes program in the spring semester.

The performance is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public.

For more information about the Revue or Lees Opera Theatre, contact Mr. Frost at jfrost@leeuniversity.edu.


One hundred members of Congress have signed a letter urging the U.S. Army not to award Private Bowe Bergdahl a possible $300,000 in back pay after he was given a dishonorable discharge and demoted for deserting his base in Afghanistan in 2009.

We are writing to encourage the United States Army not to award Private Bowe Bergdahl any back pay prior to or subsequent to separation from the United States Army, read the letter obtained by Fox News.

The initiative was spearheaded by Republican Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford and signed by 99 other members of Congress. As Members of Congress committed to our servicemen, servicewomen, and veterans, we understand the incredible sacrifice that is required of those in uniform ... With that said, it is our firm belief Private Bergdahl should not be awarded back pay.

Bergdahl could reportedly be entitled to as much as $300,000 in compensation for the time he spent in Taliban captivity after he deserted his post in 2009 and was captured. All captive servicemen are entitled to receive a compensation worth around $150,000 in addition to the basic pay they were supposed to receive while in captivity.

Despite being given a dishonorable discharge and demotion from sergeant to private, he remains eligible for significant back pay, the letter added.

It remains up to the military officials to ultimately decide whether the deserter should receive the pay. Bergdahl's admission of guilt in court complicated the issue, with a military official telling the Army Times that In order to figure out what hes owed, youre basically going to have to start from that point of captivity.

The military could determine that since he deserted the post, he might not be entitled at all  and could possibly even owe money to the army, if he is found to have been overpaid since his return.

Bergdahl narrowly avoided jail time after the judge spared him a prison sentence earlier this month. President Trump called the ruling a complete and total disgrace.
The Air Force said Tuesday it will not use President Trumps recent executive order to involuntarily recall retired pilots back into the military to fill a shortage that has now reached roughly 2,000.

Trumps Oct. 20 order changes U.S. law to increase the number of pilots that can return for three-year duty to 1,000 from 25.

"We will take advantage of the presidents authorities to bring retired pilots back for up to three years," Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward Thomas told Fox News. "We simply are not calling them back into the military."

The Air Force wants to bring back retired pilots to fill staff jobs, which would free up younger pilots to return to flying jobs.

We appreciate the flexibility, but we want pilots with more than just a three-year commitment.  Air Force spokesman

But the Air Force indicated theyre also looking for a longer-term commitment, from those younger pilots returning to the skies.

We appreciate the flexibility, but we want pilots with more than just a three-year commitment, an Air Force spokesman said.

The spokesman said the Air Force ideally wants a 10- to 20-year flying commitment, while acknowledging the challenges of losing pilots to better paying, commercial jobs.

Ann Stefanek, the chief of Air Force media operations, said shortly after Trumps executive order was announced that the military branch didnt "currently intend to recall retired pilots. However, a full explanation was not immediately available.

The spokesman said Wednesday that the Air Force intends to close the pilot shortage through a three-part process that focuses on the retention of pilots, improvement of the training process and a review of the branchs policies to find the most efficient ways to use pilots.

The executive order amends an emergency declaration signed by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Last week, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said the service was short by approximately 2,000 pilots of its requirements.

Over the summer, Wilson announced the Air Force was increasing incentive pay to officers and enlisted crew members for the first time in 18 years.

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Navy pilot, this summer said the pilot shortage has reached crisis stage. His Capitol Hill office on Wednesday did not immediately return a call seeking comment of the Air Forces explanation.

Fox News' Joseph Weber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Army's top officer said Wednesday that the service had "rescinded" a controversial memo permitting people with a history of severe mental illness to seek waivers allowing them to join up.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters the memo was "unauthorized" and its author did not have the authority to change the Army's recruitment policy.

"It was rescinded last night," Milley said of the memo, which was dated Sept. 7 of this year and initially reported by USA Today on Sunday.

"There wasnt a change in policy," Milley added. "There cannot be a change in policy by someone who doesnt have the authority to change policy. I know it sounds circular."

According to the memo, potential recruits with a history of self-mutilation, bipolar disorder, and drug and alcohol abuse would be eligible to obtain waivers to join the Army.

"For all waivers," the memo specified, "the burden of proof is on the applicant to provide a clear and meritorious case for why a waiver should be considered."

Milley said the Army had done a "terrible" job explaining the waiver policy. He explained that in August, the Army delegated decisions on accepting recruits to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Snow, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). Snow has the ultimate authority over waivers.

"Theres a whole series of prohibitions from coming into the military," Gen. Milley said. "We havent changed any of those."
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, has multiple times brought articles to impeach President Trump to the House floor.

Each effort to impeach the president has failed, and he hasnt garnered support from some top lawmakers in his party, including House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. But Green said he isnt giving up, contending that Trump is the quintessential person that impeachment was designed for.

The House overwhelmingly rejected Greens impeachment resolutions in December and January.

What does impeachment mean?

Congress has the ability to remove a sitting president from office before his term is finished  an authority granted by the Constitution.

Along with the president and vice president, all civil officers in the U.S. can be removed from office if they are impeached and convicted of bribery, treason or other high crimes and misdemeanors, according to the Constitution.

How does impeachment work?

Article One of the Constitution grants the House of Representatives the sole power of impeachment; the Senate has the sole authority to try all impeachments. If the president is being tried, the Chief Justice should preside over the trial.

The House must vote, requiring a simple majority, to adopt the articles of impeachment. Before a vote, the House Judiciary Committee  or another special committee  may investigate the articles.

The House is able to vote to impeach even if the committee does not recommend doing so.

Should that vote be reached, then the House will appoint members  called managers  to act as prosecutors as the proceedings then go to trial in the Senate. The president is able to have defense attorneys.

The Senate would need a two-thirds majority in order to find the president guilty. Should that happen, the president would be removed from office and the vice president would take the president's place.

Have other presidents been impeached?

Only two U.S. presidents have been impeached  and neither were removed from office.

Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.

While the proceeding began against former President Richard Nixon, he was not actually impeached. Nixon was the only president to resign from office.

Fox News' Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., announced his opposition Wednesday to the GOP's tax bill, the first Republican senator to do so.

In a statement, Johnson said both the House and Senate versions of the legislation unfairly benefited corporations over so-called "pass-through entities" -- such as partnerships and limited liability corporations -- whose owners do not pay taxes at corporate rates.

Johnson's opposition was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

"If they can pass it without me, let them," Johnson told the paper. "Im not going to vote for this tax package."

In his statement, Johnson said pass-through entities "truly are the engines of innovation and job creation throughout our economy, and they should not be left behind." He added that, "I do ... look forward to working with my colleagues to address the disparity so I can support the final version."

Republicans are hoping to push the legislation through Congress by Christmas, but Johnson's opposition could signal potential obstacles for that plan.

Republicans have a 52-48 majority in the full Senate and can afford to lose just two GOP senators and still prevail. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the tie-breaking vote.

In addition to Johnson, GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee have expressed concerns about the bill but have not signaled which way they would vote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New twists and turns emerged in the Alabama Senate race Wednesday as an attorney for Roy Moore questioned the motives of one accuser, the state Republican Party huddled to discuss its support of Moore and three more females surfaced to allege past sexual misconduct.

Speaking to reporters in Birmingham on Wednesday, attorney Phillip L. Jauregui demanded that a handwriting expert be allowed to review the yearbook that accuser Beverly Young Nelson held up as evidence that Moore sought a sexual relationship with her when she was 16.

Release the yearbook so that we can determine is it genuine, or is it a fraud, Jauregui said outside the Alabama Republican Party headquarters.

Meanwhile, three more women acccused Moore of inappropriate behavior. Tina Johnson of Gadsden claimed in a story published Wednesday afternoon by an Alabama news outlet that Moore groped her buttocks in 1991.

"He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," Johnson told AL.com, the website for the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times and the Mobile Press-Register.

Late Wednesday, the Washington Post published accounts by two more women who claimed Moore accosted them in the late-1970s, when Moore was an assistant district attorney in his early 30s.

One of the women, Gena Richardson, told the Post that when she refused to give Moore her phone number, he called her high school to ask her out on a date. She eventually agreed to go out with Moore and said he ended the date by giving her a "forceful" kiss.

The other woman, then-22-year-old Becky Gray, said that Moore repeatedly asked her out and lingered near her in a way that made her uncomfortable. When she complained to her manager, she was told it was "not the first time he had a complaint about [Moore] hanging out at the mall."

Also Wednesday night, the Alabama Republican Partys steering committee held a meeting to discuss its next steps amid the growing scandal.

One Alabama Republican source said it was likely the committee would issue a statement of support for Moore and would not abandon his candidacy, even as senior Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby said he would not vote for Moore anymore.

The Moore campaign didnt immediately comment on the latest allegation. But the candidate has adamantly denied the other accusations, calling them a desperate political attack.

During Wednesdays press conference, Moores attorney suggested Nelson may have an ax to grind with Moore. The campaign distributed documents to reporters indicating Moore was the judge in her 1999 divorce case in Etowah County.

Nelson, appearing with celebrity attorney Gloria Allred during a Monday press conference, accused Moore of sexual misconduct while she was 16 and working at a restaurant in the 1970s.

Last week, the Washington Post reported that he pursued relationships with four teenage women dating back to the 1970s when he was in his early thirties and single. One woman told the paper she was 14 when the 32-year-old Moore asked her out and made sexual advances.

When these allegations came out within the last week it was incredibly, incredibly, painful for him, his wife, his mom, his daughter, his grandchildren, Jauregui said.

An avalanche of national Republicans have called on Moore to drop out of the race in recent days.

Republicans, like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have explored options for removing Moore as the Republican nominee.

But after a speech on his recent trip to Asia, President Trump didnt respond to shouted questions Wednesday from a reporter about whether he thinks Moore should step down.

REPUBLICANS READY FOR THE PRESIDENT TO INTERVENE IN ROY MOORE CONTROVERSY

Also Wednesday, Fox News' Sean Hannity did not ask Moore to quit the race after giving the Republican 24 hours to sufficiently explain himself at the close of Tuesday's broadcast.

"The people of Alabama deserve to have a fair choice, especially in light of the new allegations tonight," Hannity said. "I am very confident that when everything comes out, they will make the best decision for their state. It shouldn't be decided by me, by people on television, by Mitch McConnell, Washington, talk show hosts [or] newspeople."

In response to Hannity's ultimatum, Moore had released an open letter to the Fox News host.

"Are we at a stage in American politics in which false allegations can overcome a public record of 40 years, stampede the media and politicians to condemn an innocent man, and potentially impact the outcome of an election of national importance?" he wrote.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told Fox News' Shannon Bream on "Fox News @ Night" on Monday that the Alabama Republican Partys steering committee could vote to disassociate themselves from Judge Moore and his candidacy and indicate that he is no longer their nominee.

That has to be done in a formal way, Merrill said Monday. It would also indicate to us at that point in time that he would no longer be their representative, even though his name would still be on the ballot.

A new statewide poll in Alabama, commissioned by Fox10 in Mobile, shows that despite the controversy, Moore still leads Democratic nominee Doug Jones 49 percent to 43 percent with 8 percent undecided.

But a poll conducted and released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows Moore trailing his Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, by 12 points. The NRSC has pulled its support from the race and its chairman has called on Moore to drop out of the contest.

Some Republicans have been attempting to nudge Attorney General Jeff Sessions back into his old Senate seat. McConnell, who has also called for Moore to withdraw from the race, said Tuesday it appears as if the only option would be a write-in.

Floating Sessions, McConnell said the name most often discussed may not be available, but the Alabamian who would fit that standard would be the attorney general, who is totally well-known and extremely popular in Alabama.

But a source close to Sessions told Fox News this week the attorney general is not interested in leaving the Department of Justice to return to his old seat.

On Tuesday, the Republican National Committee dropped out of a joint fundraising agreement with Moore's campaign and pulled its field staffers out of the race.

The special election is set for Dec. 12.

Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain contributed to this report.
A California man has proposed a ballot measure to exempt residents who dont have kids in state public schools from paying the taxes to fund them.

The California Education Tax Relief Act, proposed by Lee Olson of Huntington Beach, would allow California residents with no children in the public school system to avoid paying taxes and fees designated for state school funding, KTVU reports.

Last week, the state Attorney Generals Office gave approval for circulation of the initiative, allowing proponents to start collecting the signatures necessary to get a spot on the November 2018 ballot.

The proposal is one of several initiatives that Olson, who lists himself as chairman of the Committee to End Slavery, proposed earlier this year. In 2009, he proposed a measure with the same title, but it failed to qualify for the ballot.

Its unclear whether the measure might stand a chance of even getting on the ballot this time. If it did, it could meet stiff opposition from parents and others worried such a massive exemption would result in higher taxes elsewhere.

The states Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance says the measure could reduce revenue from state and local taxes and fees by tens of billions of dollars a year -- but could lead to increases in other taxes and fees in order for state and local governments to balance their budgets.

In order to qualify for the November 2018 ballot, the school tax initiative needs 585,407 signatures by May 8, 2018, KTVU reports.

Fox News' Sarah Smith contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton on Wednesday slammed what she described as the politicization of the Justice Department after reports that the Trump administration was considering a special counsel to probe the Uranium One deal and alleged conflicts with the Clinton Foundation.

President Trump has criticized the uranium deal and suggested that Clinton, who served as U.S. secretary of state in the Obama administration, may be implicated in wrongdoing.

But in an interview with Mother Jones, Clinton claimed that the Uranium One story has been debunked a number of times and that the Trump administration was merely using the story as a distraction.

And if they send a signal that were going to be like some dictatorship, some authoritarian regime where political opponents are going to be unfairly, fraudulently investigated -- that rips at the fabric of the contract we have that we can trust our justice system, she said.

Trump and his supporters have accused Clinton of overseeing the sale of 20 percent of America's uranium supply to Russia. They see her alleged role as a scandal, particularly amid charges the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 presidential election.

Allegations also have been made that the approval of the sale of Uranium One benefited major donors to the Clinton Foundation, raising conflict-of-interest questions.

Fox News reported exclusively Tuesday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed senior federal prosecutors to evaluate certain issues requested by congressional Republicans, involving the sale of Uranium One and alleged unlawful dealings related to the Clinton Foundation, leaving the door open for an appointment of another special counsel.

The alleged relationship between the approval of the sale and the Clinton Foundation was first raised in 2015 by conservative author Peter Schweizer. He and others have pointed to some of the investors in the deal and their ties to former President Bill Clinton and his foundation.

In April 2015, The New York Times published an article echoing much of the Schweizer book, including one sensational contention that not long after the Russians said they wanted to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Bill Clinton received $500,000 for a speech in Moscow. The speech was paid for by a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin as it promoted Uranium One stock.

Canadian financier Frank Giustra, a top Clinton Foundation donor, sold his company, UrAsia, to Uranium One, which was chaired by Ian Telfer, also a Clinton Foundation donor. Giustra has said he sold his stake in the deal in 2007, while Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were vying for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

PolitiFact found that the majority of the donations from individuals related to Uranium One and UrAsia were made before and during Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign  but before she became secretary of state in 2009.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Alabama voters want a candidate who will represent their state with honor -- and they think Doug Jones has strong moral character and Roy Moore doesnt. That gives the Democrat the lead in the U.S. Senate race.

Jones is up by eight points over Moore among Alabama likely voters, 50 percent vs. 42 percent, in a Fox News Poll conducted Monday through Wednesday evenings. His lead is outside the polls margin of sampling error (3.5 percentage points). Nine percent are undecided or plan to vote for someone else.

READ THE FULL POLL RESULTS.

Alabama voters decide who will fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a December 12 special election. Allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore broke November 9. He denies the accusations.

Support from women is the key to the Democrats advantage in this red state, as Jones is their choice by 26 points (58-32 percent). The gap grows to 49 points among women under age 45 (69-20 percent), and hes up by 11 among women ages 45 and over (51-40 percent). Jones even receives 19 percent support from Republican women (to Moores 68 percent).

Moore is preferred among white evangelical Christians by 53 points (73-20 percent), whites by 19 points (56-37 percent), and men by 12 (53-41 percent).

Theres more party loyalty among Democrats, as 91 percent back Jones compared to Moores 78 percent among Republicans.

Some 30 percent of Moores backers say they have some reservations about their candidate, while 19 percent of Joness supporters say the same.

The poll, released Thursday, finds a 15-point gap between the number of Alabama voters who think Jones has strong moral character (56 percent) and those who feel that way about Moore (41 percent). Plus, 85 percent among Democrats think Jones has strong moral character, while just 65 percent of Republicans say the same of Moore.

When asked which candidate qualities are important to their vote decision, 33 percent say they want someone who will represent Alabama with honor, 26 percent are looking for someone who shares their values, 26 percent want a candidate who will bring needed change, and 8 percent prioritize their partys candidate.

Alabama voters want a senator who represents them with honor -- and many, especially women, have decided Moore is not that person, says Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Republican Daron Shaw.

Jones is preferred among those who want a candidate who will represent the state with honor by 22 points and by 35 points among voters focused on change. Moore is the choice, by 22 points, among those prioritizing someone who shares their values.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday he believes the women who have accused Moore of misconduct are telling the truth.

But do Alabama voters believe the allegations? Thirty-eight percent think they are true, while 37 percent dont. One in four is unsure (25 percent).

Most of those saying the allegations are true back Jones (85 percent).

Roughly the same number of men (36 percent) and women (39 percent) believe them, and parents (38 percent) and non-parents (38 percent) are equally likely to believe the accusations, which allege Moore engaged in sexual contact with teenage girls while in his thirties.

Overall, by a 54-38 percent margin, voters think Moore should stay in the race.

It takes some unique circumstances for a Democrat to defeat a Republican in Alabama, says Shaw. But a sizable minority of Republican women has turned away from Moore, and he has to worry about additional defections on Election Day.

Among Republicans, 13 percent believe the allegations against Moore are true and 19 percent think he should drop out.

Voters rate Jones positively by 20 points (53 percent favorable vs. 33 percent unfavorable), while they give Moore a net negative rating by 7 (43-50 percent). For comparison, Jeff Sessions is in positive territory (51-40 percent), while incumbent Sen. Luther Strange is viewed negatively (37-54 percent).

Donald Trump won Alabama by 28 points in 2016. Now voters there split over the presidents job performance: 52 percent approve vs. 47 percent disapprove. Ratings for McConnell are far more negative, as just 27 percent approve, while 57 percent disapprove. Moreover, Republicans are three times as likely to approve of Trump (91 percent) as McConnell (29 percent).

By a 50-29 percent margin, voters say how they feel about GOP control of the U.S. Senate will be more important to their vote decision than how they feel about President Trump. Still, the race is more about these individual candidates than national politics, as the vote splits among those who are deciding based on Trump (Jones +4 points) as well as those who prioritize GOP control of the Senate (Moore +1).

The Strange factor

Sen. Strange, who lost to Moore by nine points in a September primary runoff, says it is doubtful he will run as a write-in candidate.

If he did, the poll finds that he would fare about the same as Moore -- or worse. About the same number of voters thinks Strange (40 percent) has strong moral character as say the same of Moore (41 percent), while fewer have a favorable opinion of Strange (37 percent) than Moore (43 percent).

In a hypothetical matchup, Strange trails Jones by 10 points.

Meanwhile, only 39 percent of Republicans say it is likely they would cast a write-in vote for Strange if he runs, while 59 percent say unlikely.

The Fox News Poll is conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). The poll was conducted November 13-15, 2017, by telephone (landline and cellphone) with live interviewers among a sample of 649 voters selected from a statewide voter file in Alabama. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for the full sample of likely voters.
The House on Thursday passed a sweeping tax bill largely along party lines that makes good on a Republican campaign promise to reform the countrys tax code.

The bill passed 227-205. Thirteen Republicans voted against it.

House Speaker Paul Ryan celebrated the passage, calling it nothing short of extraordinary.

This country has not rewritten its tax code since 1986, Ryan said on Capitol Hill, surrounded by Republican lawmakers. The powers of status quo in this town are so strong, yet 227 men and women of this Congress broke through that today.

The White House in a statement called the bills passage a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic tax cuts for the American people by the end of the year.

But the future of the Senate version, which includes a repeal of ObamaCare's individual mandate, is still very much up in the air. Several senators have wavered on support for the legislation, which the chamber is still negotiating in committee.

The House Tax Cut and Jobs Act was pitched as a plan to help middle-income Americans, by raising the standard deduction and simplifying the code, including collapsing tax brackets to four from seven. Republicans aggressively marketed their plan as something that would benefit everyone but critics said much of the financial gains would go to the wealthiest Americans and big corporations.

The final version scaled back some popular deductions while cutting the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent.

New York Rep. Peter King, one of the most ardent opponents of the proposal, called the House bill an unforced error, and suggested it could come back to bite Republicans in next years midterm elections.

King was part of a small group of House Republicans from New York and New Jersey who rebelled because the House plan would erase tax deductions for state and local income and sales taxes and limit property tax deductions to $10,000.

HERES HOW YOUR TAXES COULD CHANGE AS LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR REFORM

Ahead of the vote, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi slammed it as a tax hike on 36 million middle class familiar that is dead on arrival in the Senate.

The Senate version, which is working its way through the Finance Committee this week, is facing a lot of obstacles, including pushback from GOP senators.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., announced his opposition Wednesday to the GOP's tax bill. GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee have expressed concerns about the bill but have not signaled which way they would vote.

Through regular order and an open and transparent amendment process, the members of the Senates tax writing committee are also making real progress on a bill thats been years in the making to fulfil our promise to the American people, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the House vote.

Earlier Thursday, President Trump visited Capitol Hill to meet with House Republicans ahead of the vote.

"He told us that we have this once-in-a lifetime opportunity to do something really bold, and he reminded us that is why we seek these offices," Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., said of Trump's closed-door pep rally. "And here we are on the cusp of getting something really important done."

Some House Republicans spoke warily of what might happen to the tax bill in the Senate.

"Political survival depends on us doing this," said Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. "Frankly, one of the things that scares me a little bit is that they're going to screw up the bill to the point we can't pass it."

The House measure would collapse today's seven personal income-tax rates into four: 12, 25, 35 and 39.6 percent. The Senate would have seven rates: 10, 12, 23, 24, 32, 35 and 38.5 percent.

Both bills would nearly double the standard deduction to around $12,000 for individuals and about $24,000 for married couples and dramatically boost the current $1,000 per-child tax credit.

Each plan would erase the current $4,050 personal exemption and annul or reduce other tax breaks. The House would limit interest deductions to $500,000 in the value of future home mortgages, down from today's $1 million, while the Senate would end deductions for moving expenses and tax preparation.

Each measure would repeal the alternative minimum tax paid by higher-earning people. The House measure would reduce and ultimately repeal the tax paid on the largest inheritances, while the Senate would limit that levy to fewer estates.

Fox News Barnini Chakraborty and Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lee Universitys Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences named Marc Morris its Alumnus of the Year during the annual department breakfast at Homecoming 2017.

Dr. Morris, who graduated from Lee in 1984 with a bachelors in psychology, is a leader in international missions and benevolence administration.

With his years of ministry to orphan children in the Philippines, Dr. Marc Morris epitomizes our department motto of Doing Unto Others, said Dr. Robert Fisher, professor of psychology. He is a wonderful example to our students of how they can lead a life of service.

Dr. Morris currently serves as the regional superintendent for the Church of God in Austral Asia, where he oversees the COG in Australia, Fiji, Japan, Korea, New Zeland, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and the South Pacific nations.

He is a member of the COG World Missions Board, as well as chairman of the board for the Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries.

Dr. Morris began his journey in the 1980s as a short-term mission volunteer during his time at Lee. He traveled to Asia, Europe, and Africa. After graduating from Lee, Dr. Morris took a position at the World Evangelism Action Center.

In 1998, Dr. Morris and his wife, Maria Elena, founded a social welfare agency in the Philippines called Samaritans Inc.

At Samaritans Place, the flagship program of Samaritans Inc., orphan children are being provided beautiful homes and being cared for by loving Christian parents. As an accredited and licensed institution, Samaritans also provides international adoption liaison services to help with the placement process of Filipino orphans.

Dr. Morris completed a master of divinity from the Church of God School of Theology and is an ordained bishop in the COG. He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from the ASCM.

Dr. Morris and his wife have two grown children, Christopher and Michelle, both of whom are Lee alumni.
Sen. Bob Menendez will not face a new bribery and corruption trial after all, federal prosecutors said last month.

The Department of Justice had announced earlier this year that it intended to retry the New Jersey Democrat after a federal judge declared a mistrial in the case in November, but ultimately walked away from the pursuit.

Menendez was accused of accepting a plethora of donations and gifts from a wealthy friend in exchange for political influence. Both Menendez and the doctor, Salomon Melgen, maintained their innocence.

From the very beginning, I never wavered in my innocence and my belief that justice would prevail. I am grateful that the Department of Justice has taken the time to reevaluate its case and come to the appropriate conclusion, Menendez said on social media following the announcement.

Menendez is up for re-election this year. He was selected to replace former Gov. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., in the Senate in 2005. He rejoined the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee as its ranking member on Feb. 6, after stepping down from the post when he was indicted in 2015.

Read on for a look at what Menendez was accused of and what happened in the trial.

What was Menendez accused of?

Menendez, 64, accepted an abundance of campaign donations, gifts and vacations from Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, prosecutors alleged when Menendez faced trial in 2017. In return, prosecutors claimed, he used his position to lobby on behalf of Melgens business interests.

Melgen allegedly directed more than $750,000 in campaign contributions to entities that supported Menendez, according to the indictment, which prosecutors said were inducements to get Menendez to use his influence on Melgen's behalf. Prosecutors have also accused Menendez of trying to hide the gifts.

Melgen paid for Menendez and his girlfriend to stay for three nights at a Parisian hotel where rooms typically cost about $1,500 per night and allowed the senator the use of his private jet, according to prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors said that Menendez sold his office for a lifestyle that he couldnt afford.

The indictment also alleged that Menendez pressured State Department officials to give visas to three young women described as Melgen's girlfriends.

What was the senators defense?

Both Menendez and Melgen pleaded not guilty  and Menendez has vehemently denied the accusations against him.

Throughout the original trial, defense attorneys sought to prove that Menendez and Melgen have been friends since before the former became a senator, and the trips were nothing more than friends traveling together.

Is there anything else to know about Salomon Melgen?

Melgen, 63, was convicted of 67 counts of health care fraud in April 2017 in what the Palm Beach Post called one of the biggest Medicare fraud cases in the U.S.

Melgen was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Feb. 22 for Medicare fraud, as he persuaded patients to undergo treatments they did not necessarily need.

Aside from Menendez, Melgen has given significant amounts of money to a variety of Democratic lawmakers, according to public records.

How did the trial end?

After the jury again informed the judge they could not reach a decision, U.S. District Court Judge William H. Walls declared a mistrial, saying he found no alternative.

The mistrial was declared on Nov. 16.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial in the high-profile bribery case of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, after jurors twice reported they were hopelessly deadlocked.

Theres no alternative to declaring a mistrial, U.S. District Court Judge William Walls said.

The mistrial is a major victory for Menendez and a blow to the Justice Department whose efforts to go after politicians in recent years have not been successful.

Outside the courthouse, an emotional Menendez made clear hes out for political vengeance.

To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I wont forget you, he said after the verdict.

Menendez also took a swipe at federal prosecutors and the FBI for pursuing the case against him in the first place.

'To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I wont forget you.'  Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

"Certain elements of the FBI and of our state cannot stand, or even worse, accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County could grow up to be a United States senator and be honest," said the 63-year-old son of Cuban immigrants.

Juror Edward Norris, a 49-year-old equipment operator, told reporters he didnt think the government proved anything.

Norris told reporters that 10 people on the jury wanted to acquit Menendez of all charges while two held out for conviction.

Thursdays mistrial brings an inconclusive end to the two-and-a-half month trial. Prosecutors could decide to retry Menendez though its unlikely, David Weinstein, former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, told Fox News.

The other thing to consider is that this case was brought by a different attorney general and a different Department of Justice, he said. Politics has no place in the justice process  however, it does factor into it.

Weinstein added that Walls made a wise decision by allowing both prosecutors and the defense lawyers to sit in with him as he spoke to jurors. What they learned during those sessions will also likely color the DOJs decision to retry the case.

But until a final decision is made, the case against Menendez will continue to hang over his head as he gears up for an expected run for re-election next year to the Senate.

On Capitol Hill, the top Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, called on the Ethics Committee to immediately investigate Menendez for possible violations of the public trust and the Senate code of conduct.

The case against Menendez marked the first time in almost a decade that a sitting U.S. senator faced a federal bribery charge.

According to the criminal complaint, Menendez greased the wheels for Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist.

Among other things, Menendez was accused of helping obtain visas for several of Melgens girlfriends as well as lobby the State Department on his behalf regarding a $500 million port security contract in the Dominican Republic.

Melgen, in turn, paid for private jets, hotel rooms and forked over nearly $75,000 in campaign contributions to Menendez.

The defense argued that the gifts were not bribes but tokens of friendship between two men who were "like brothers."

In Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell's closing argument, he used the words "friend," "friends" or "friendship" more than 80 times.

The Menendez case was the first major federal bribery trial since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 threw out the conviction of Republican former Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and narrowed the definition of bribery.

In recent months, the McDonnell ruling led judges to overturn the convictions of at least three other public officials, including a former Louisiana congressman. Menendez's lawyers had likewise hoped to get the case against the senator dismissed, but the judge refused.

Menendez served in the House from 1993 until he was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in 2006. He has chaired the Foreign Relations Committee and was a major player in the unsuccessful bipartisan "Gang of Eight" effort to overhaul the nation's immigration laws in 2013.

More recently, he drew the ire of some fellow Democrats when he opposed former President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran and efforts to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Meanwhile Melgen, 63, was convicted of 67 counts of health care fraud in April, in what The Palm Beach Post called one of the biggest Medicare fraud cases in the U.S.

The lengthy case against Menendez took several frustrating turns.

Jurors were told repeatedly not to read reports about the case.

But four jurors and three alternates told Walls this week they had heard or read something about the trial over the weekend. He questioned them individually in his chambers.

And last week, Walls dismissed juror Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby so she could go on vacation with her family. That prompted Walls to tell the new jury  made up of seven women and five men  to begin fresh deliberations.

Panelists also asked Walls for the definition of a senator. The federal judge refused to answer.

He also declined a jurors request last Monday for a transcript of the closing argument by Lowell, Menendezs attorney.

Walls told jurors they would need to rely on their memories.

Fox News' Tara Prindiville and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Roy Moore is going on offense against the national Republicans who have demanded he drop out of the Alabama Senate race as the state GOP announced Thursday it wont abandon Moore as their nominee amid accusations of past sexual misconduct.

Many of you have recognized that this is an effort by Mitch McConnell and his cronies to steal this election from the people of Alabama, Moore said in Birmingham of the Senate majority leader, who has called for him to leave the race.

I want to tell you who needs to step down. That's Mitch McConnell."  Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore

Speaking at campaign event Thursday afternoon, Moore said, I want to tell you who needs to step down. That's Mitch McConnell.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party announced that the committee will not ditch Moore as the partys nominee for the Senate, even as influential Republicans, including the states other Sen. Richard Shelby, said they wont support Moore in light of the allegations.

Chairman Terry Lathan said in a statement that the Alabama Republican Party Steering Committee met Wednesday evening to discuss the situation. The committee, she said, supports Moore as our nominee and trusts the voters as they make the ultimate decision in this crucial race."

ROY MOORE SEIZES ON AL FRANKEN GROPING ALLEGATIONS

There has been great interest in the steering committee meeting as McConnell and other Republicans explored options for replacing Moore with another Republican or supporting a write-in candidate.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told Fox News' Shannon Bream on Monday that it was possible the committee could vote to disassociate themselves from Judge Moore and his candidacy and indicate that he is no longer their nominee.

But the party decided against any such action.

"Alabamians will be the ultimate jury in this election - not the media or those from afar," Lathan said.

That indicates that national party leaders are running out of plausible options to stop Moore, even as polling indicates Democratic nominee Doug Jones is surging. A Fox News poll released Thursday shows Jones leading Moore by 8 points.

"Zero chance he's not nominee on Election Day," an Alabama Republican political operative said of Moore.

FOX NEWS POLL: JONES LEADS MOORE BY 8 POINTS IN ALABAMA SENATE RACE

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders suggested Thursday the President Trump will not join McConnell to force Moore out of the race.

The president believes these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously, Sanders said. He thinks the people of Alabama should decide who the senator should be.

Another option that had been publicly floated to stop Moore involved outgoing Sen. Luther Strange, who lost to Moore in the primary, resigning before next months election so Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey could appoint someone else to the seat. Under that theory, Ivey could then cancel or postpone the special election she ordered for the seat once occupied by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

But in an interview with a local news outlet, Ivey suggested she wouldnt play along.

The election date is set for Dec. 12, Ivey told AL.com. Were he to resign, I would simply appoint somebody to fill the remaining time until we have the election on Dec. 12.

Some Republicans have been attempting to nudge Sessions back into his old Senate seat.

Floating Sessions, McConnell said the name most often discussed may not be available, but the Alabamian who would fit that standard would be the attorney general, who is totally well-known and extremely popular in Alabama.

But a source close to Sessions told Fox News this week the attorney general is not interested in leaving the Department of Justice to return to his old seat.

In a series of tweets Thursday, Moore attacked McConnell for working against him.

Moore reacted to the groping allegations made against Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken on Thursday by attacking McConnell over his differing responses.

Moore tweeted: Al Franken admits guilt after photographic evidence of his abuse surfaces. Mitch: Let's investigate. In Alabama, ZERO evidence, allegations 100% rejected. Mitch: Moore must quit immediately or be expelled.

In another tweet, Moore, who was removed twice from his position as chief justice of Alabamas Supreme Court, suggested he will not be stepping down.

I've taken a stand in the past, I'll take a stand in the future and I'll quit standing when they lay me in that box and put me in the ground, he said.

Moore has been denying the accusations and refusing to step down after the Washington Post reported a week ago that he pursued relationships with four teenage women dating back to the 1970s when he was in his early thirties and single. One woman told the paper she was 14 when the 32-year-old Moore allegedly asked her out and made sexual advances.

Another woman, appearing with celebrity attorney Gloria Allred during a Monday press conference, accused Moore of sexual misconduct while she was 16 and working at a restaurant in the 1970s.

And on Wednesday, three more women accused Moore of inappropriate behavior when Moore was an assistant district attorney in his early 30s.

He has dismissed all the allegations and said he never behaved inappropriately.

Fox News Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore reacted to the groping allegations made against Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken on Thursday by arguing a double standard is at play.

In a tweet, Moore, who is facing calls to drop of the Senate race after multiple women have accused him of sexual misconduct in the past, attacked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over his differing responses.

Moore tweeted: Al Franken admits guilt after photographic evidence of his abuse surfaces. Mitch: Let's investigate. In Alabama, ZERO evidence, allegations 100% rejected. Mitch: Moore must quit immediately or be expelled.

McConnell, the Republican leader, on Thursday called on the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate Franken.

As with all credible allegations of sexual harassment or assault, I believe the Ethics Committee should review the matter, McConnell said. I hope the Democratic leader will join me on this. Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptablein the workplace or anywhere else.

McConnell has called on Moore to withdraw from the Alabama race and has explored options for backing an alternative Republican to run for the seat.
Many national Republican leaders pulled their support for Roy Moore, the Alabama Senate candidate, in the wake of allegations claiming he had inappropriate sexual contact with teenage girls.

The Washington Post reported that four women accused Moore of initiating sexual contact with them in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when he was an assistant district attorney in his early 30s. One of the women, Leigh Corfman, told the newspaper that Moore had sexual contact with her when she was 14. The age of consent in Alabama is 16.

Several additional women have since come forward to accuse Moore of sexually inappropriate behavior.

Moore denied the allegations, saying in a statement obtained by Fox News that the allegations are "based on a lie supported by innuendo."

"It seems that in the political arena, to say that something is not true is simply not good enough. So let me be clear. I have never provided alcohol to minors, and I have never engaged in sexual misconduct," he said.

Multiple Republican lawmakers called on Moore to step aside from the Dec. 12 special election. However, President Trump offered his endorsement for the embattled politician, and the Republican National Committee began supporting Moore after having previously cut its fundraising ties to him.

The White House

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president had no plans for an in-person appearance on Moore's behalf.

In addition, the president previously signed off on a decision by the Republican National Committee to cut off support for Moore's campaign.

But publicly, Trump unleashed his criticism on Democratic candidate Doug Jones instead of Moore.

The last thing we need in Alabama and the U.S. Senate is a Schumer/Pelosi puppet who is weak on crime, weak on the border, bad for our military and our great vets, bad for our 2nd Amendment, and wants to [raise] taxes to the sky. Jones would be a disaster, Trump tweeted on Nov. 26.

And just over one week before the election, Trump said he needed Moores vote in the Senate when it comes to certain issues, such as immigration, gun rights and judicial appointments.

Trump also encouraged his Twitter followers to vote for Moore on the morning of the election as he contended that Moore "will always vote with us."

Vice President Mike Pence found the allegations in the story disturbing and believes, if true, this would disqualify anyone from serving in office, his press secretary, Alyssa Farah, has told reporters.

Sen. Mitch McConnell

While speaking to reporters, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he believes the women quoted in the Washington Post story. He urged Moore to step aside in light of the allegations.

Previously, McConnell said Moore should step aside if "these allegations are true."

Sen. Cory Gardner

Cory Gardner, the National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman, said he believes the women who have alleged Moore's misconduct. In a statement, he encouraged the Senate to "vote to expel" Moore should he win the election next month.

"He does not meet the ethical and moral requirements of the United States Senate," Gardner, R-Colo., said.

Sen. Mike Lee

A former backer of Moore, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, pulled his endorsement from Moore after the allegations came to light.

"Having read the detailed description of the incidents, as well as the response from Judge Moore and his campaign, I can no longer endorse his candidacy for the US Senate," Lee said in a tweet.

He had also requested that Moore's campaign no longer use his image.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Im horrified and if its true, he should step down immediately, Murkowski told reporters.

She reportedly also urged Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed to fill Jeff Sessions seat when he was tapped to become attorney general, to launch a write-in campaign. The deadline to take Moore off the ballot has passed.

Sen. Mike Rounds

If they are true, then he should seriously think about stepping aside," Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said.

Sen. John Cornyn

I find it deeply distrusting and troubling. Its up to the governor and the folks of Alabama to make that decision as far as what the next steps are," Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. He later withdrew his endorsement of Moore.

Sen. Tim Scott

If theyre accurate, he absolutely should [step aside]," Tim Scott, of South Carolina, said.

Sen. Susan Collins

In a tweet, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, called for Moore to "withdraw from the Senate race in Alabama."

Collins wrote that she listened to Moore deny the allegations in a recent radio interview, but "did not find his denials to be convincing."

Collins' most recent statement comes after she previously tweeted: "If there is any truth at all to these horrific allegations, Roy Moore should immediately step aside as Senate candidate."



Sen. Steve Daines

"I am pulling my endorsement and support for Roy Moore for U.S. Senate," said Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.

Sen. John McCain

"The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying. He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of," Arizona Sen. John McCain said.

Sen. Richard Shelby

Its a devastating nasty story, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby told reporters. If its true, I dont believe thered be a place for him in the U.S. Senate.

He said that he did not vote for Moore when he sent in his absentee ballot but voted instead for a "distinguished Republican write-in."

Sen. Jeff Flake

Like other Republicans, Flake called on Moore to step aside from the election.

"Just to be clear. If the choice is between Roy Moore and a Democrat, I would run to the polling place to vote for the Democrat," Flake tweeted.

Hes said that Republicans to support Roy Moore over Doug Jones is political tribalism at its worst.

Flake also tweeted a photo of a check made out to Jones for $100 with "Country over Party" written in the memo line.

Sen. Luther Strange

Alabama Sen. Luther Strange, who lost the special election primary to Roy Moore, called the allegations disturbing.

It is too late to take Moore off the ballot, but Strange has been encouraged to launch a write-in campaign.

Sen. Rob Portman

I think if what we read is true, and people are on the record so I assume it is, then he should step aside, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said.

Sen. Ben Sasse

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., called the Washington Posts story "heartbreaking."

Sasse also slammed the Republican National Committee for providing funds to Moores race.

This is a bad decision and very sad day. I believe the women  and the RNC previously did too. Whats changed? Or is the party just indifferent? Sasse said on Twitter. This sends a terrible message to victims its not that the party wont believe you if you come forward. It might. But just doesnt care.

The senator than warned that if the National Republican Senatorial Committee decided to contribute to Moore, he would no longer be a donor to or fund-raiser for it.

Sen. Ted Cruz

"These are serious and troubling allegations," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who previously endorsed Moore, said in a statement. "If they are true, Judge Moore should immediately withdraw. However, we need to know the truth, and Judge Moore has the right to respond to these accusations."

Sen. Bill Cassidy

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., officially withdrew his support from the candidate.

"Based on the allegations against Roy Moore, his response and what is known, I withdraw support," he said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch

"I stand with the Majority Leader on this. These are serious and disturbing accusations, and while the decision is now in the hands of the people of Alabama, I believe Luther Strange is an excellent alternative," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, tweeted.

But a week before the election, Hatch said Trump didnt have another choice but to endorse Moore, Bloomberg reported. He also said that many of the things he allegedly did are decades ago. So its hard to  thats a decision that has to be made by the people in that state.

If they make that decision, who are we to question them? Hatch said.

Sen. Pat Toomey

We'll probably never know for sure exactly what happened," Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"But  I think the accusations have more credibility than the denial. I think it would be best if Roy would just step aside.

Sen. Lindsey Graham

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham took to Twitter to say Moore should step aside in the Alabama Senate race.

"In light of the most recent allegations and the cumulative effect of others, I believe [Moore] would be doing himself, the state, the GOP, and the country a service by stepping aside," Graham said. "If he continues this will not end well for Mr. Moore."

He has also bemoaned Trumps attempt to throw a lifeline to Moore.

Rep. Paul Ryan

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said if the allegations are true, they would disqualify Moore from the special election.

These allegations are disqualifying if true. Anyone who would do this to a child has no place in public office, let alone the United States Senate, Ryan said in a statement.

Rep. Peter King

"I would say unless he can prove his innocence, the burden is now on him within the next day or so, I believe he has to step down. He owes it to himself, he owes it to the state and and he owes it to the U.S. Senate," New York Rep. Peter King said after the allegations came out.

Rep. Lee Zeldin

In a tweet, Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., called for that "creepy Roy Moore dude" to step aside from the campaign.

"It's about that time for that creepy Roy Moore dude to exit stage left. He should step aside & let someone take his spot on the ballot who doesn't prey upon young teenage girls as a grown man," he said.

Gov. John Kasich

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said on Twitter that hes long opposed Moore and called on him to step aside from the race as well.

Ive long opposed Roy Moore [and] his divisive viewpoints. The actions described make him unfit for office. The GOP must not support him. He should step aside, Kasich said.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, slammed Moore on Twitter.

Innocent until proven guilty is for criminal convictions, not elections. I believe Leigh Corfman, the former governor said. Her account is too serous to ignore. Moore is unfit for office and should step aside.

"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," Romney said in another tweet on Dec. 4.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush

Former Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Moore should step down in light of the allegations.

"This is not a question of innocence or guilt like in a criminal proceeding; this is a question of whats right and whats wrong. Acknowledging that youre dating teenagers when youre 32 years old as assistant state attorney is wrong. Its just plain wrong," he told CNBC, adding that he agreed with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said earlier Monday that Moore should "step aside."

"We need to stand for basic principles, and decency has to be one of those," Bush added. "In the really poisonous political environment we have right now, one of the rules I think has to apply is that when you attack somebody on the other party, and the other team for doing something wrong, when it happens on your team, you have an obligation I think to speak out as well."

Ivanka Trump

The president's daughter had some harsh words for Moore.



"There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children. I've yet to see a valid explanation, and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts," Ivanka Trump told the Associated Press.

Condoleezza Rice

While she didnt name Moore, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice  who is from Alabama  encouraged voters to take a stand for our core principles and for what is right.

These critical times require us to come together to reject bigotry, sexism and intolerance, Rice said in a statement to AL.com.

"It is imperative for Americans to remain focused on our priorities and not give way to side shows and antics. I know that Alabamans need an independent voice in Washington. But we must also insist that our representatives are dignified, decent, and respectful of the values we hold dear, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Russian lawmakers approved legislation Wednesday that would allow authorities to force any foreign media organization to register as a foreign agent -- signaling an increasingly hostile relationship between the U.S. and Russia.

The bill passed the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, unanimously in retaliation of the U.S. government pressuring Russian state-funded TV channel RT  formerly Russia Today  to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent, the Washington Post reported.

RT will now have to disclose the sources of its funding and activities intended to influence a lawmaker or other government official, the New York Times reported. It remained unclear what the designation will mean for RT's journalists.

U.S. authorities grew uneasy with RT's presence following the 2016 presidential election -- and allegations that RT tried to discredit Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton while allegedly giving a pass to Republican Donald Trump.

Russian lawmakers didnt say which specific media organizations would be asked to sign up for foreign agent status, saying that would be determined by Russias Ministry of Justice.

Media companies designated as foreign agents will have to file a quarterly report on their funding sources and activities to the Russian Justice Ministry. Their produced work will have to say that they are foreign agents in the country, the Times reported.

State-funded U.S. outlets operating in Russia such as Voice of America or Radio Free Europe are among the likely media organizations to be pressured, but the new possible law also covers private media companies, the Post reported.

In fact, the new rule could affect all foreign media outlets operating in Russia in a veiled attempt to crack down on negative coverage of President Vladimir Putin's regime.

Numerous independent media in the country get foreign funding, Tanya Lokshina, the Russia program director at Human Rights Watch, told the Times. The foreign funding could become a pretext to crack down on them. It is just shockingly disproportionate and broad. The way it is written now, it appears it could be used for many different purposes.

The lawmakers, however, were reluctant to pass the bill, saying they were forced after U.S. officials pressured RT.

We didnt want to pass this law, Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy speaker of Parliament, told the Times. This is a law that might not have existed. In Russia, we never took measures limiting freedom of speech in any of its forms.

"In Russia, we never took measures limiting freedom of speech in any of its forms."  Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy speaker of the Russian Parliament

Dmitri S. Peskov, Putins press secretary, said that any encroachment on the freedom of Russian media abroad is not and wont be left without a strong condemnation, according to the Times.

The measure now awaits to be approved by the Russian Senate and signed by Putin. The Russian leader reportedly expressed some concerns about the bill and its extensive scope.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday called for an ethics probe of Sen. Al Franken in the wake of allegations that he groped and kissed a Los Angeles TV host without her consent, as fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill condemned the Minnesota senator.

Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated, Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement Thursday. I hope and expect that the Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident as they should with any credible allegation of sexual harassment.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., first called for the ethics probe, and encouraged Schumer to do the same.

As with all credible allegations of sexual harassment or assault, I believe the Ethics Committee should review the matter, McConnell said on Thursday. I hope the Democratic Leader will join me on this. Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptable in the workplace or anywhere else.

Other Democrats joined Schumer in condemning Franken, D-Minn.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called for the Ethics Committee to review the Franken allegations as well.

There is never an excuse for this behaviorever, Durbin said in a statement, adding that what Franken did was wrong.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., supported calls for an investigation, and said any "credible allegation" should be subject to an ethics probe.

"We are at a watershed moment and now is the time for Congress to overhaul how it deals with the issue of sexual harassment," Pelosi told Fox News.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said the allegations were deeply concerning.

I expect to hear more from Sen. Franken, Gillibrand said Thursday.

Im shocked and concerned, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said. The behavior described is completely unacceptable. Comedy is no excuse for inappropriate conduct, and I believe there should be an ethics investigation.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Frankens fellow Democrat from Minnesota said she strongly condemn[s] Frankens behavior and called for an ethics probe.

This is another example of why we need to change work environments and reporting practices across the nation, including in Congress, Klobuchar said in a statement.

Another Democrat from Minnesota, Rep. Betty McCollum, joined calls for an ethics probe and described the account and photo released as completely inappropriate.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., also called for an investigation.

"Women across America should be able to feel safe in their workplace, and they deserve our support when coming forward with allegations of misconduct.

Also Thursday, the National Republican Congressional Committee said Democrats who received donations from Franken should return them.

"These allegations are disgusting and Democrats who took Senator Franken's campaign money need to take action," NRCC Communications Director Matt Gorman said. "Return his donations and do it immediately."

Franken apologized Thursday and said he welcomed an ethics investigation and would "gladly cooperate."

I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate," Franken said in a lengthy statement. And the truth is, what people think of me in light of this is far less important than what people think of women who continue to come forward to tell their stories. They deserve to be heard, and believed. And they deserve to know that I am their ally and supporter. I have let them down and am committed to making it up to them.

The allegations facing Franken come in the wake of several others hitting the political world this week.

Alabama Republican Senate hopeful Roy Moore is accused of sexually assaulting and making unwanted advances toward teenage girls when he was in his 30s. Senate Republicans have rallied together and called for Moore to end his Senate campaign, though Moore denies the claims.

Franken's accuser, Leeann Tweeden, said Thursday she accepted Franken's apology, and was not calling for the senator to step down.
A group of prominent U.S. senators is coming to the defense of a highly decorated Air Force colonel who could be booted out of the military over his religious views on same-sex marriage.

Col. Leland Bohannon, an experienced combat pilot, was suspended from command and orders were handed down recommending he not be promoted after he refused to publicly affirm the same-sex spouse of a retiring subordinate.

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Bohannon, who was on the verge of being promoted to a one-star general, was punished after the subordinate filed a formal Equal Opportunity complaint which was later substantiated by investigators.

His career is likely over and he will likely have to retire as a colonel instead of as a general, First Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry said on the Todd Starnes Show.

First Liberty Institute, one of the nations most prominent religious liberty law firms, is representing the distinguished military officer.

The military is no longer a place of diversity and inclusion if you are a person who holds to a traditional belief in marriage, Berry said.

At least eight Republican U.S. senators  including Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, John Kennedy of Louisiana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Mike Lee of Utah, Marco Rubio of Florida, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Ted Cruz of Texas  wrote a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson urging her to intervene and save the colonels career.

Col. Bohannon has suffered severely on account of the EO investigators mishandling of his religious liberty rights, the senators wrote. The Air Force owes it to him to see that justice is restored, along with his good name.

Last May, the colonel declined to sign a certificate of spouse appreciation for a retiring master sergeants same-sex spouse. Instead, he asked a higher ranking military leader to sign the customary document.

Col. Bohannon recognized the moral and legal dilemma this situation presented, and to his credit, sought to carve out a solution that would affirm the contribution made by the retiring officers same-sex partner while at the same time allowing the colonel to abide by his religious convictions, the senators wrote.

However, the retiring service member took offense and subsequently filed a discrimination complaint. The EO investigator determined the colonel had indeed discriminated and went on to say that even had the accommodation been granted, Col. Bohannon would nonetheless be guilty of unlawful discrimination.

The senators said the EOs decision raises disturbing questions.

The Air Forces refusal to accept this compromise and its refusal to grant an accommodation  when doing so would cause no discernable harm  raises the question as to which circumstances, if any, would move the U.S. Air Force to defend the free exercise rights of its soldiers, they wrote.

The senators are calling for the Air Force to reverse the EOs decision and remove any unfavorable notes from the colonels service record.
Dr. Evaline Echols was named the 2017 School of Business Distinguished Alumnus of the Year at the annual department breakfast at Lee Universitys Homecoming.

It is upon these shoulders [Echols] that we, the current School of Business, stand, said Dr. DeWayne Thompson, dean of Lees School of Business. This is her legacy and the reason she is the 2017 School of Business Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.

Dr. Echols has served at Lee for the past 60 years in a variety of ways. She originally worked in the presidents office from 1957-1984, then served as the business department chair until 2004, and as a full time professor until 2016. She currently is a senior adjunct professor in business.

According to Dr. Thompson, Dr. Echols received this award due to her commitment to Lee, the students, to her colleagues, and the administration.

Along with Dr. Thompson, Chad Carter, a School of Business alum, addressed Dr. Echols saying more than anything, I personally appreciate how you loved each one of us with sincerity of heart as you taught us. Congratulations on 60 years of serving Christ and motivating young lives like mine.

She was also awarded the Excellence in Scholarship Award by the university in 1991.



Dr. Echols is a frequent speaker at seminars and professional meetings. She has also published four books with Pathway Press: Sitting at His Feet, Basketful of Blessings, Climb Up Through Your Valleys, and Mount Up With Wings.

She received her doctorate from Louisiana State University, her masters from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and her bachelors from Lee College.

Dr. Echols was unable to attend the breakfast, but her daughter, Sharon Priest, was there to accept the award on her behalf.
The media tide is turning against Roy Moore as even some prominent voices on the right are urging him to drop out of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama.

The mounting allegations against the former judge have already undermined his attempts to paint himself as the victim of runaway reporting by the Washington Post. And whoever set up a robocall in Alabama from fictional Post scribe named "Bernie Bernstein," offering money for dirt on Moore, is a moron.

The real Post, meanwhile, reports on two more accusers describing unwanted overtures by Moore when they worked at the local mall. One, a high school senior, said Moore pursued her at Sears, called her while she was in trig class, and eventually got "a date that ended with Moore driving her to her car in a dark parking lot behind Sears and giving her what she called an unwanted, 'forceful' kiss that left her scared."

Alabama Media Group quotes another woman as saying that in 1991, when Moore was a married attorney, he grabbed her buttocks when she went there with her mother as part of a custody case. "He didnt pinch it; he grabbed it," the woman said.

Ivanka Trump, meanwhile, told the AP: "There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children. I've yet to see a valid explanation and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts."

All this is unfolding as there is a pronounced shift on the right. The Wall Street Journals conservative editorial page, no fan of the Republican establishment, says Moore should drop out:

"Mr. Moore's credibility has fallen below the level of survivability ... The sensible move would be for Mr. Moore to step away from the campaign and allow Alabamas Republicans to put forth a more credible candidate to run as a write-in against Democrat Doug Jones."

And if he doesn't, and President Trump doesn't try to force him out, says the Journal, "then the GOP will be better off if Mr. Moore loses ... Democrats and the media will make Mr. Moore the running mate of every Republican in 2018."

Sean Hannity, who had withheld judgment on Mooreand conducted the only interview with him on his radio showsounds ready to jump ship.

"For me, the judge has 24 hours," Hannity told Fox viewers Tuesday night. "He must immediately and fully come up with a satisfactory explanation for your inconsistency ... You must remove any doubt. If you cant do this, then Judge Moore needs to get out of this race."

Hannity noted that when he asked Moore whether he had dated teenage girls, he said "not generally."

But the tipping point may have been the presser held by Beverly Young Nelson, who said Moore locked her in a car and sexually assaulted her when she was 16. For one thing, we saw a woman on television choking back tears as she recounted what happened. But perhaps more important, Moore said he had never met Youngand yet he had signed her yearbook, at a time when he was 30: "To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say Merry Christmas. Christmas 1977. Love, Roy Moore, D.A."

For Alabama Media Group, publisher of the Birmingham News and two other papers in the state, this is a tipping point.

"Roy Moore simply cannot be a U.S. senator," an editorial declares. "Even if his party and many of its adherents still think it possible, it is unthinkable--for his state, and his country.

"Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a consideration for the courtroom, not the ballot box. When choosing our representative before the rest of the world, character matters."

So what does it mean that Moore has lost most of the media, the RNC, and Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan?

No one can force Moore out of the race. He's on the ballot for the Dec. 12 special election. He owes nothing to Beltway Republicans who opposed him in the primary in favor of the appointed senator, Luther Strange. He's still popular in Alabama and the latest poll has him a few points ahead of Democrat Doug Jones.

But does there come a point where so much of the media and political universe is aligned against you that it makes no sense to soldier on? Especially when McConnell is saying the Senate might refuse to seat him?

At a public appearance the other day, Moore asked: "Why do you think I'm being harassed from media and by people pushing forward allegations of the last 28 days of this election?"

The answer is that there are inconsistencies in his account. And Moore is losing even media figures who ordinarily would be staunchly behind him.
The Trump administration on Wednesday announced that it will issue permits for elephant trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe, reversing a 2014 ban under President Obama.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official told ABC News that the agency received new information from the countries that the move would benefit conservation in the area.

Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation, the FWS statement said.

The same department, under Obama, determined in 2015 that importing the trophies would not benefit the species in the area.

The National Rifle Association praised the FWS decision Wednesday, the New York Post reported. The paper reported that elephants  valued for their tusks  have been on the threatened species list since 1978.

By lifting the import ban on lion trophies in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Trump administration underscored the importance of sound scientific wildlife management and regulated hunting to the survival and enhancement of game species in this country and worldwide, said Chris Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Associations Institute for Legislative Action.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Human Society of the United States, called the Trump administrations decision jarring, the Post reported.

Remember, it was Zimbabwe where Walter Palmer shot Cecil, one of the most beloved and well-studied African lions, who was lured out of a national park for the killing. Palmer paid a big fee even though it did irreparable damage to the nations reputation.

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have been known to hunt for big game. Several years ago, Trump Jr. was criticized for posting a photo of himself with a dead elephants severed tail.

Reprehensible behavior by the Trump Admin, tweeted the Elephant Project.

100 elephants a day are already killed, the group said. This will lead to more poaching.
Democrats lashed out at Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., Thursday after Los Angeles TV and radio host Leeann Tweeden accused him of kissing and groping her during a USO tour in 2006, with at least two female lawmakers pledging to return campaign funds raised for them by Franken's political action committee.

Leaders of both parties in the Senate called for an ethics investigation of Franken, a request echoed by the senator himself, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

"The allegations brought forth are extremely disturbing," Perez said in a statement. "Sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault are never acceptable, no matter ones party or politics. The Senate should immediately begin an ethics investigation into Senator Franken's conduct."

Pelosi said any "credible allegation" should be subject to an ethics probe, telling Fox News "We are at a watershed moment and now is the time for Congress to overhaul how it deals with the issue of sexual harassment."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., went a step further, tweeting that she had donated $30,000 in campaign contributions from Franken's Midwest Values PAC to food banks in her home state.

McCaskill said she was "shocked and concerned" by Tweeden's allegations against Franken, who was elected to the Senate in 2008.

"Comedy is no excuse for inappropriate conduct," McCaskill's statement added.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., announced that she planned to donate $20,000 raised by Franken's PAC to a group working on behalf of female veterans in the state.

"This type of behavior isn't acceptable whether it's from a Democrat or a Republican or an independent," Baldwin, who is up for re-election next year, told MSNBC in an interview.

Another prominent Democratic woman, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, reportedly planned to donate $12,500 in campaign funds to Protect our Defenders, a nonprofit group dedicated to combating sexual assault in the military.

"The allegations against Sen. Franken are deeply concerning," Gillibrand posted on Twitter. "This kind of behavior is unacceptable and should not be tolerated anywhere in our society. There is nothing funny about it and there is no excuse for it."

Franken's fellow Minnesota Democrat, Amy Klobuchar, said, "This should not have happened to Leeann Tweeden. I strongly condemn this behavior, and the Senate Ethics Committee must open an investigation."

A spokeswoman for Klobuchar, who has received at least $15,000 from Midwest Values PAC, did not immediately respond to queries from Fox News about the senator's plans for the money.

In a series of statements, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), singled out eleven Democratic senators and called on them to return their donations from Midwest Values PAC.

"If [senator's last name] wont immediately denounce Franken and return his donations, it will be clear [he or she] puts partisan politics over basic decency," each statement read.

The senators named by the NRSC were McCaskill; Baldwin; Joe Manchin of West Virginia; Jon Tester of Montana; Tim Kaine of Virginia; Joe Donnelly of Indiana, to whom the NRSC referred as "Mexico Joe"; Debbie Stabenow of Michigan; Bob Casey of Pennsylvania; Bill Nelson of Florida; Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Sherrod Brown of Ohio.

Of the eleven, only McCaskill and Baldwin had announced plans to return the money Thursday evening.

Fox News' Brooke Singman and Barnini Chakraborty contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
Declawing cats is now prohibited in Denver. A bill banning the practice passed unanimously at a Denver City Council meeting Monday, KUSA reports. The procedure, formally known as an onychectomy, surgically removes all or most of the last bone on each of a cat's 10 front toes, severing tendons, nerves, and ligaments that are necessary for normal paw function.

Activists say it's similar to cutting off a human's fingers at the last knuckle, is painful, and can lead to behavioral issues. "When you declaw a cat, they're more prone to have some of those behaviors, like urinating inappropriately [or] biting things, that will lead people to relinquish them into the shelters," says a vet tech who fought for the new ban, which takes effect immediately.

The Denver Channel notes that declawing will still be allowed if it's deemed medically necessary. Denver is the only city outside California, where a number of cities have banned declawing, to institute such a ban in the US, but New York and New Jersey are considering similar bills.

In Israel, the penalties for declawing are pretty massive.

This article originally appeared on Newser: Denver Residents Can No Longer Declaw Their Cats
A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou, my Neolithic darling.

Archaeologists working in the Republic of Georgia have uncovered evidence that human beings have been savoring the fruit of the vine for almost 1,000 years longer than previously thought.

The scientists, participants in the Gadachrili Gora Regional Archaeological Project Expedition (GRAPE), a joint undertaking between the University of Toronto and the Georgian National Museum, discovered fragments of 8,000-year-old ceramic jars whose residue contained tartaric acid, the fingerprint compound for wine and grapes, according to Eurekalert.

HUNDREDS OF SKELETONS REPORTEDLY FOUND ON 'MURDER ISLAND'

The pottery was discovered in Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveris Gora, Early Ceramic Neolithic sites about 31 miles from Georgias capital, Tbilisi. They are nearly 1,000 years older than the fragments of wine containers found in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, which previously provided the first evidence of winemaking.

"We believe this is the oldest example of the domestication of a wild-growing Eurasian grapevine solely for the production of wine," said Stephen Batiuk, a senior research associate in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations and the Archaeology Center at the University of Toronto. "Our research suggests that one of the primary adaptations of the Neolithic way of life as it spread to Caucasia was viniculture."

The Neolithic period began around 15,200 B.C. in parts of the Middle East and ended between 4500 and 2000 B.C. in other parts of the world. It was during this period that humans began farming, domesticating animals, crafting polished stone tools and developing crafts that included pottery and weaving.

And now we can add another accomplishment  winemaking.

"Pottery, which was ideal for processing, serving and storing fermented beverages, was invented in this period together with many advances in art, technology and cuisine," said Batiuk, who described a civilization in which wine influenced nearly everything, from the practice of medicine to special celebrations to daily meals.

"The domestication of the grape apparently led eventually  to the emergence of a wine culture in the region," he said. "As a medicine, social lubricant, mind-altering substance and highly valued commodity, wine became the focus of religious cults, pharmacopeias, cuisines, economics and society throughout the ancient Near East.

"The infinite range of flavors and aromas of today's 8,000-10,000 grape varieties are the end result of the domesticated Eurasian grapevine being transplanted and crossed with wild grapevines elsewhere over and over again. The Eurasian grapevine that now accounts for 99.9 percent of wine made in the world today has its roots in Caucasia." GRAPEs findings were reported this week in a research study, Early Neolithic wine of Georgia in the South Caucasus, in Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
A fisherman in North Wales got a big surprise in his catch recently  a giant lobster claw larger than a human hand.

The Sun reports that Shaun Krijnen found the 8-inch long claw while pulling in oyster bags from the waters off the Welsh island of Anglesey.

MYSTERY DEEPENS OVER WHETHER AMELIA EARHART WAS EATEN BY THREE-FOOT CRABS WITH CLAWS LIKE LION JAWS

"My initial thought was 'wow that looks big,' quickly followed by 'is the rest of the lobster attached to it?'," Krijnen told Fox News, via email.

The huge pincer would be powerful enough to crush a tin can or break a persons wrist, according to The Sun.

Given the unusual size of the claw, experts think that it likely belonged to a monster lobster over three feet in length, over 50 years old and weighing more than 17 lbs.

MAN BEATS ODDS OF CATCHING BLUE LOBSTER, DONATES TO SCIENCE

Krijnen also found the lobsters large carapace, the shell that covers the creatures body, which measured over 7 inches. Lobsters shed their shells or moult as they grow

The strange catch has prompted speculation that the giant lobster is lurking somewhere in the Menai Strait, a narrow stretch of water that separates Anglesey from the Welsh mainland.

'GHOST' LOBSTER HAULED FROM OCEAN OFF MAINE

"I started Menai Oysters 23 years ago and I've found big lobster claws before but never anything like this, said Krijnen, according to The Sun. "I've showed it to the lads who work with me and they said they don't want to put their hands under the bags anymore knowing that might be there."

"It'll definitely be king of the roost in the Menai Strait, any other lobster would just get eaten, he added.

UNUSUAL BLUE CRAB CAUGHT IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

Last year, a lobster weighing almost 17 lbs. was caught off the coast of Southern England, according to the The Telegraph. The crustacean, it reported, was the heaviest common lobster found in U.K. waters since 1931 when a giant weighing almost 20 lbs. was caught off Cornwall.

Other unusual lobsters have been making headlines recently. Earlier this year, for example, a New Hampshire lobsterman caught a rare blue lobster, which he donated to the Seacoast Science Center in Rye.

In August, a lobsterman in Maine hauled up an unusual translucent crustacean. Photos of the so-called ghost lobster went viral on social media.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
A Russian zookeeper recounted the horrifying moment when a Siberian tiger sneaked up and sank his teeth into her flesh as her life flashed before her eyes in the 10 minutes that felt like an eternity.

Nadezhda Srivastava, 44, was bringing food to the 16-year-old tiger named Taifun, or Typhoon, when the animal pounced on her at Kaliningrad Zoo in Russia. Srivastava recalled to The Mirror how she attempted to talk to the tiger in an attempt to stop the attack.

"In a few moments I saw the tiger, standing half of meter from me," she said. "He approached very quietly, I did not expect this and had no time to react, let alone run away.

"At first I tried to speak to him -- like, 'Go away', or 'Let me go, she added. "I hoped that he would retreat."

The zookeeper said she felt like she was in a dream as Typhoon continued to maul her, pushing her to the ground. She added that she placed her elbow and hands in his jaws to prevent him from harming her face and head.

"I tried to turn or crawl away, but he again fell on top of me with all his weight. I don't know if he was playing or not. It was agonizing, Srivastava recalled. "When I turned unsuccessfully -- he sank his teeth into my back."

Srivastava said she just wanted the torture to end and it took all her strength to get up and run to the inner room when the tiger retreated.

If it were not for the visitors of the zoo, I would no longer be alive, she said.

The zookeeper was then rushed to hospital. The patient was delivered to the hospital with multiple wounds to the body and limbs, said a local health ministry spokesman, according to the Sun. Srivastava told The Mirror the tiger shattered her wrist and broke her fingers, but her nerves are still intact.

Typhoon was born on July 1, 2001, in the Chelyabinsk Zoo in Russia. He arrived at the zoo in the Russian Kaliningrad region, a pocket of land located between Poland and Lithuania, on Feb. 4, 2002.

Fox News James Rogers contributed to this report.
If the "truth is out there," scientists are determined to find it  so much so that they've spent a message into space trying to contact aliens.

But a response could take 25 years  if it comes at all.

Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) International sent an encoded message into space using radio waves known as "Sonar Calling GJ273b," which the organization's president and founder Doug Vakoch, believes could be received by intelligent life.

NEWLY DISCOVERED PLANET COULD BE HOME TO ALIEN LIFE

"[The message is] distinctive because it's designed with extraterrestrial SETI scientists in mind. We sent the sort of signal we'd want to receive here on Earth," he said in an interview with CNET.

METI's purpose, along with the well-known Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), has a number of missions, including understanding and communicating "the societal implications and relevance of searching for life beyond Earth, even before detection of extraterrestrial life."

It also conducts programs to "foster increased awareness of the challenges facing our civilizations longevity" among other directives.

The San Francisco-based METI sent its message toward the red dwarf star GJ 273 (also known as Luyten's Star), 12 light-years away from Earth. The message was sent in October from the Eiscat transmitter in Troms, Norway and included details such as basic math and science, as well as information on mankind's understanding of time.

In a statement obtained by CNET, METI said it wanted to know if intelligent life understood the message and then go from there.

"In a reply message, I would first want to know that the extraterrestrials understood what we said in our first message," METI said in the statement. "The easiest way to do this is to repeat our message, but in expanded form. We tell them that '1 + 1 = 2.' They could let us know that they understand that '10 + 10 = 20.'"

Pressing ahead despite concerns

While some luminaries, such as Stephen Hawking, have warned against trying to contact extraterrestrials, Vakoch said contact is already being endorsed by many people.

"Everyone engaged in SETI is already endorsing transmissions to extraterrestrials through their actions," Vakoch said in an interview with Newsweek. "If we detect a signal from aliens through a SETI program, theres no way to prevent a cacophony of responses from Earth."

Vakoch added that once news of the initial contact has appeared, it would become almost impossible to stop anyone from trying to contact them on their own. "Once the news gets out that weve detected extraterrestrials, anyone with a transmitter can say whatever they want."

MYSTERIOUS OBJECT 13 TIMES THE SIZE OF JUPITER FOUND

When can we expect a possible response?

Any response probably would be forthcoming in at least 25 years due to the distance the message has to travel between Earth and GJ273b.

The exoplanet was chosen because of its visibility from Earth's northern hemisphere, even if it is not the closest potentially inhabited exoplanet to Earth. That distinction belongs to Proxima b, which is just 4 light-years away.

Earlier this week, scientists discovered a new exoplanet, Ross 128 b, that is 11 light-years away from Earth. It orbits a very quiet red-dwarf star, meaning it does not have to deal with issues such as deadly ultraviolet or X-ray radiation and could also be home to life.

One light-year is approximately 5.88 trillion miles.

Sonar calling GJ273b is not the first message sent to space. The first was the Arecibo message, sent in 1974. The Arecibo message is expected to take 25,000 light-years to reach its target of the M13 star cluster.

While hopeful of receiving a response, Vakoch says we may never hear anything from another intelligent civilization.

"Practically speaking, if we get a signal from Luyten's Star, it will mean the Milky Way is teeming with life. It's certainly possible," Vakoch said. "It seems more likely that we'll need to target not just one star, but hundreds, thousands, or even millions before we get a reply back."
The US government is warning that North Korean state-sponsored hackers have been targeting the aerospace, telecommunications, and finance sectors since 2016 with malware that can secretly take over a computer.

The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI issued a joint alert Tuesday, which includes technical details about Fallchill, a Remote Administration Tool (RAT) that can give a hacker full control over a victim's computer, allowing them to search, read, write and move files, modify file timestamps, and delete any trace of an infection.

North Korean hackers spread Fallchill in two ways: delivery through other malware or hacking a website and using it to serving malicious code to unsuspecting visitors. Tuesday's alert includes the IP addresses of infected Fallchill systems; if Fallchill is found on a computer, users should flag it and report the incident to the DHS or FBI.

In recent years, North Korea has been accused of orchestrating several major cyberattacks, including the 2014 Sony Pictures Hack and a breach that accessed South Korean warship plans.

Also this week, the US also issued a technical alert for another piece of North Korean-linked malware called Volgmer. According to the alert, the hackers have been using the Trojan since 2013 to attack the government, as well as the automotive and media industries. It too can steal files from a victim's computer, and usually comes from a spear phishing email attack.

Both technical alerts have more details on how companies can protect themselves from the threats. Running up-to-date software, restricting installs of unwanted software, and telling employees to never visit unsolicited links in emails, are among the suggestions.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
Assemblers Incorporated will celebrate moving to 3916 Volunteer Dr. with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Assemblers, Inc. is a Chattanooga-based professional assembly company that is dedicated to "adding value to the lives of our clients and customers." Assemblers, Inc. was established in Chattanooga in 1998 when two coworkers from a home improvement store saw an opportunity to improve the retail product assembly service. Being on the retail side of the industry gave them the chance to see pain points and improve them.

The assembly industry began in the early 80s with bike assembly and expanded to mass product assembly in the early 90s. Retail stores hired assembly companies to come in once a week, not always meeting demands. Having a passion for the business, Mike Giaccone, president and CEO of Assemblers, Inc., wanted to improve this service and had a vision to make it better and in 1998 Assembly Unlimited was born.

With 30-years of leadership inside big box home improvement stores, Mr. Giaccone and his partner knew what needs had to be met and what it would take to meet them. He and his partner started out with one goal, to change the way retailers thought about product assembly companies by treating them as partners. In 2004 Assembly Unlimited made a few structural changes and became what is now known as Assemblers, Inc.

A vision that started in 1998 with two guys and one store as a client, is now a company that employs over 1,000 technicians and services thousands of clients, both commercial and residential. With each success came opportunities to give back to the local community. Mr. Giaccone and the team at Assemblers, Inc. are dedicated to building partnerships with organizations like The Ronald McDonald House, The Chattanooga Autism Center, and a growing list of other organizations within the community. When Mr. Giaccone found his home in Chattanooga he had no idea that the company would reach nearly 20-years of service, out-grow several office locations, leading to the new location being celebrating today. From 5,000

square feet to 16,000, officials are "ecstatic to share this moment with our clients and community partners."

We are a partner, not just a service provider," said Mr. Giaccone. "A lot of our success comes from our reputation and relationships. Treating customers like family is a crucial part of the business.
How much is a stolen identity worth?

For people with high credit scores, a Social Security number, birth date, and full name can sell for $60 to $80 on the digital black market. It may not sound like much, but for hackers, a good credit score can fetch a nice premium. Some stolen identity information can go for as little as $1 per person, or even $0.10 when bought in bulk, according to a new report from security firm Flashpoint.

The findings won't put anyone at ease. Over 145 million US citizens may have had their identity information stolen, thanks to the massive breach at credit reporting agency Equifax. The lifted data included Social Security numbers and birth dates, which hackers can use to commit identity theft, though it has not yet hit the digital black market, said Olivia Rowley, a Flashpoint intelligence analyst.

Nevertheless, there's still plenty of other identity information up for sale; millions of individual victims based on chatter on the forums, according to Rowley.

Flashpoint surveyed the prices in English-language dark web markets, accessible through Tor, a browser designed for anonymous web surfing. Basic stolen identity information on a US citizen, which only includes the Social Security number, full name and birth date, can range from $1 to $8 per person. But in some cases, hackers will package the offering with the victim's stolen credit card information, and charge from $20 to $75.

Rowley said black market dealers have also offered credit scores, driver's license numbers, and a tax returns. "You can really do a lot of damage on someone," she said, like opening credit cards, getting a major loan in the victim's name, and spending the money without having to pay it back.

Where the black market dealers are sourcing this stolen data isn't always clear, but it usually comes from computer hacking, Rowley said. Cybercriminals like to target hospitals or schools because they collect lots of identity information.

There is some good news. After US and European authorities shut down two of the leading dark web markets, AlphaBay and Hansa Market, in July, it's been harder for black market buyers and sellers to make deals, Rowley pointed out. Some dealers are also worried that authorities have compromised another network, Dream Market. The instability hasn't affected pricing, Rowley said, but it has made the cybercriminals hesitant to engage.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
This is a rush transcript from "Your World," November 16, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

NEIL CAVUTO, "YOUR WORLD" HOST: Let's go right now to the man who is at the center of all of this, the guy who orchestrated all this, long before it was cool to do so, long before we even had a candidate Donald Trump.

Of course, I'm talking about the House Ways and Means Committee chairman, Kevin Brady. This is his first chat since that vote.

And we're honored to have you, sir. Thank you very, very much.

REP. KEVIN BRADY, R-TEXAS: Thanks, Neil. Love to start off with you.

CAVUTO: I appreciate that.

I was noticing the 13 Republican no votes, and, not surprisingly, most came from these high-tax states. So even with the $10,000 allowance for mortgage interest that those in those states could write off, they were still no.

What would it take to make them yes? Because, in the Senate, they won't even have that provision.

BRADY: Yes, so, we want them to be yes. We want tax relief even in high- tax states.

So, we're continuing to work with them. They continue to bring us ideas. So, look, we just want tax relief, regardless of where you live. But I think the important thing was 227 votes on a hugely complex and politically tough issue.

But, look, this is why Republicans came to Congress. And I also tell you what. Speaker Paul Ryan and his leadership, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise in the Ways and Means Committee, they really did an amazing job.

CAVUTO: You know, Chairman, were you surprised it was only 13 no votes? Obviously, if you added up all the congressmen from all the high-tax states, you would really get it up to 73. We were told that there could have been up to 30 would-be no votes. How did it get down to the 13 who voted no?

BRADY: Yes, here's why.

Some people are looking at one provision in the tax code and deciding it's not good for them. But if you look at everything we're doing, from standard deductions, to lowering the rates, to this big new family tax credit, to eliminating AMT, and lowering where those bracket points are, a lot of the high-tax states look at it and say, wait a minute, this is awfully good for the vastly majority of our taxpayers, and they know that they are continuing to work with me to see how we can do even better.

And I'm pretty confident we can.

CAVUTO: Were you getting any sort of direction when the president came up to Capitol Hill today to meet with all of you guys, the House Republicans? Did he tip his hand as to whether he favored your measure, whether he liked a lot of the components within the Senate measure still being marked up? What?

BRADY: Yes, the answer is no.

He's really encouraging us. He's really proud of the work that has been done. And, look, I credit him from the standpoint of, we decided. The White House, President Trump, the House and Senate tax writers have come together. We spent, I guess, three months working towards one tax reform plan.

If you look closely, both the House and the Senate are shooting right at that target. There may be some differences in how we do, but I think the president's engagement, he calling me on the phone at 3:00 in the morning from Asia during that trip engaged on tax reform. He just wanted to be here for a pretty historic day.

CAVUTO: Were you surprised in the Senate when Ron Johnson, out of nowhere, seemed out of nowhere, to me at least, sir, came out as a no vote on this, and not for any of the reasons you would typically expect, but on the treatment of smaller, medium-sized businesses vs. larger businesses? They're the ones that benefit, he said. The smaller guys do not.

Does that telegraph trouble to you?

BRADY: No, because, one, I believe he is misinformed. In fact, no tax reform has ever put as much toward our small, medium-size businesses who aren't corporations as we do.

That's why the National Federation of Independent Business has embraced this. I have met several times with Senator Johnson on his bill and by phone, I don't know, two weeks ago as well. Look, he's -- it's got good merits. Everyone should make their case, in this case in the Senate.

And then, whether it's adopted or not, to move forward, because I don't know how anyone defends the current tax code, because we're just falling behind the rest of the world.

CAVUTO: Do you like the idea that that panel is kicking around, Chairman, to get rid of the individual mandate, the requirement that individuals purchase health insurance?

It would free up a lot of money, so we know the impetus behind that. But it's already got the likes of Susan Collins, we're told, indirectly Bob Corker, concerned, and others saying you're revisiting that third rail that at least in the Senate they have gotten electrocuted on?

BRADY: Yes, so this is one of those issues Senate Finance as a committee has decided to put it in. They have still got to work that bill through the floor here in about a week-and-a-half. And so we're going to let them do their work.

Obviously...

CAVUTO: Well, do you like the idea, Chairman? Do you...

BRADY: Well, I will tell you this. In the House, there's an awful lot of support.

We have repeatedly repealed the individual mandate, and mainly because -- well, for two reasons. One, it's a tax hike on a lot of modest and middle- income families who don't want that health care. They can't afford it.

And, secondly, you know, our tax code is about the freedom to use your money how you choose. That's about the freedom to buy health care if you want it or not.

CAVUTO: Yes.

BRADY: And so, look, we're going to let the Senate do their work. We're going to prepare. We're pivoting right now towards the work that we are going to need to do with the Senate.

CAVUTO: All right.

Now, you're far apart on a couple of other issues, too, the number of rates, brackets. They have seven. They also lower that top rate another percent. They also delay the corporate tax cut until the year after next, assuming it's passed this year. How do you feel about both?

BRADY: Yes, so a lot of common ground. And I think we're going to find more common ground in the conference committee.

But, look, we want to see growth happen immediately. We want to see those paychecks and those companies competing. So, we will push hard for immediate tax cuts, whether you're a family, a Main Street business or a corporation competing around the world.

As for the brackets, look, there's several different ways to hit this target. We want strong relief at every income level. We do that in the House. But, look, we're going to sit down, sort of pick the best of both plans as we work this out.

CAVUTO: Do you have any concerns, though, in the meantime, Chairman, that this is going to be a problem, because the way it's being sold and the numbers crunched, we hear in excess of 32 million Americans who could pay more taxes?

Now, to be fair, a lot of that seems to be based on credits and special allowances that expire in the next few years. How do you fight that, this counter that, wait a minute, this is not a tax cut for everybody, millions are going to pay more?

What do you say?

BRADY: Well, what I say is, one, make sure you understand this tax reform bill, because you see -- you will see there's tax relief at every income level, and for the vast, vast, vast majority of Americans.

And we can make it even better. And that's one of the things I'm excited about doing. It's a challenge in some of the high-tax states. But, boy, we have already driven tax relief really high into those families.

CAVUTO: But is that how they're figuring, those who pay higher, sir, real quickly, that it's the expiration of those credits, some of them five years out, that if you were to look at it 10 years, that's how they are coming up with that number, that these people pay that?

BRADY: That is part of it.

The other part of it is, there's a real debate about what happens when the economy grows, what happens when corporations can compete and win.

CAVUTO: Right.

BRADY: We believe that accrues to the paychecks and to tax relief. Some don't.

And so, look, I think, at the end of the day, measure us on the final product. Look, we stripped the tax code down to kind of the bare bones. We're building it up based on what America and our economy needs. And so, look, judge it at the end, because I think you're going to like what you see.

CAVUTO: All right.

Roy Moore, that election, he's still running in the Senate. But do you think everyone gets this done before the December 12 election to make that a moot point, at least for Republicans on this tax cut?

BRADY: Yes, so my -- again, my focus has always been get it to the president's desk by the end of the year.

We will let those other issues sort of...

CAVUTO: All right.

BRADY: We have never gotten distracted, and we're not going to now.

CAVUTO: All right, Chairman, thank you very much. Very good seeing you.

BRADY: Thanks, Neil.

CAVUTO: The man who runs the House Ways and Means Committee, of course, a very big victory for him and Republicans in the House.

They did approve their measure. Now, it's up to the Senate, in the middle of marking up its own, not as easy a fight, how they do with theirs.

END

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Two young backpackers were found dead in a Cambodia hostel after reportedly taking medication for an upset stomach from a local pharmacy.

22-year-old Natalie Seymour from England and her Canadian friend, 27-year-old Abbey Gail Amisola, were staying at the Monkey Republic Hostel in Kampot when they became ill from suspected food poisoning, according to The Daily Mail. The two are believed to have died from an accidental overdose from the over-the-counter medicine they took for their symptoms.

OHIO TROOPERS SAVE BOY FROM CHOKING AT CHICK-FIL-A

A spokesperson for the hostel told the BBC Seymour and Amisola had been feeling sick and visited the pharmacy to get medication. Seymours mother, Wendy Bowler, confirmed to the Daily Mail that her daughter had sent a text saying she wasn't well and might go and get something to make her feel better.

After later being discovered by staff, the two women were rushed to the local hospital, but were unable to be revived, according to the Daily Mail.

The Cambodian Immigration Department posted news of the womens death, along with photos of their passport IDs, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. Bowler told the Daily Mail police informed her of her daughters passing early Tuesday morning.

The hostel released a statement to the BBC following the womens death: "The staff at Monkey Republic are devastated by the tragic deaths of the two young women on Monday morning. The local police are investigating possible causes, and we're respecting the privacy of the women's families, who are in contact with the British and Canadian embassies."

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Seymour traveled to Cambodia last week with a one-way ticket to meet up with Amisola, whom she met last year in Bali. Bowler told the Daily Mail her daughter was passionate about travel.

They were doing all these sight-seeing things, she loved all that sort of stuff  She told us every day where she was going to be going and what she was going to be doing, she always really wanted to travel and just wanted a break from work," said Bowler.

In her last post on Instagram, Seymour shared pictures of herself on a boat near Koh Thonsay island off the Cambodian coast.

A GoFundMe campaign set up for Amisola to bring her body back to Canada for a proper funeral has already reached more than $11,000.
Commuters usually groan about delays and canceled trains, but a Japanese rail company is apologizing on Tuesday for departing early  20 seconds to be exact.

The Tsukuba Express line between Tokyo and the city of Tsukuba in Japan was scheduled to leave 9:44:40 local time, but instead left at 9:44:20, robbing riders the 20 seconds to sprint to the train before the doors close. The train was departing from the Minami Nagareyama Station, located north of Tokyo.

TRAIN PASSENGER'S BEER-OPENING HACK GOES VIRAL

The companys management issued an apology on its website, saying it was sincerely sorry.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to you by our customers, the statement read.

The company blamed the crew for failing to sufficiently check the departure time and perform the departure operation. It added that no complaints have been filed about the early departure.

We taught the crew so that the basic actions to prevent recurrence are thoroughly carried out, the statement read. That's all.

Some people on social media were flabbergasted the company apologized, with some even recalling their bad moments with different trains.

Tokyo train companys apology for 20-second-early departure is one of the best things about Japan, one person tweeted.

Another person wrote, I once had an Israeli bus driver laugh at me after he closed the door on my hips and drove off with my legs hanging out of the bus. I am so envious of Japan right now.

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The apology could stem from the precise nature of the trains in Japan. The country boasts one of the most reliable railways in the world, where trains usually follow the schedule to the T, the BBC reported. The Tsukuba Express line takes Japanese commuters from Tokyo to Tsukuba, about 37 miles away, in roughly 45 minutes.
A Spirit Airlines employee at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has been accused of stabbing a co-worker with a scissors in the heat of an argument.

Vonda Gardner, 38, was charged with felonious assault after allegedly jabbing a fellow Spirit employee in the stomach and also injuring his hand at around 7 p.m. on Nov. 12, Cleveland.com reports.

SOUTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDANT GIVES HILARIOUS 'SEXY' SAFETY DEMONSTRATION

According to police reports obtained by Cleveland.com, the victim  a 25-year-old male  had taken a seat on the luggage belt behind the Spirit ticket counter. A separate employee then told him he would need to move, and informed him that Gardner had taken photos of him sitting where he wasnt supposed to.

The man approached Gardner, who was reportedly typing an email to their manager. He suggested that they arrange a meeting with the manager to discuss what happened, but Gardner told him, Dont worry about it, I got it taken care of, according to the police report.

Fox 47 also reported that Gardner swore at the man, and denied taking photographs of him on the conveyor belt.

BIRD CRASHES INTO PLANE, GETS EMBEDDED IN NOSE

The man then began trying to read Gardners email over her shoulder, at which point she shut off her computer monitor. When he reached over and attempted to turn it back on, Gardner allegedly stabbed him in the stomach with a pair of scissors, per the police report. He then grabbed the scissors, injuring his hand, and ran off to inform security, Fox 47 reports.

It is unclear if the man sought treatment at a hospital.

Cleveland.com reports that Gardner posted $25,000 bail after her arraignment on Tuesday. Shes due back in court on Nov. 22.

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A representative for Spirit Airlines was not immediately available to comment.
For Americans, the idea of visiting Asia can be daunting. Theres so much possibility, and it is, after all, literally the other side of the world. But an excellent introduction can be made with a visit to Japans capital city of Tokyo.

The upcoming 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo offer enough reason to get a sneak peek at this dynamic city and incredible country, but there's also a ton of cheap flights right now from the States, with American Airlines, ANA, Delta, and Japan Airlines fares going for as little as $450.

They call Tokyo the electric city, and for good reason  imagine Times Square times 100, and youve got a good idea of this bustling and exciting town.

JAPANESE TRAIN LINE APOLOGIZES FOR LEAVING SECONDS TOO EARLY

Stefan Krasowski is a travel consultant and founder of the blog Rapid Travel Chai. He's lived in Asia for several years, and says Japan is both ultra-traditional and ultra-modern, like travelling through a poem one moment and a video game the next.

Oddly enough, the 2003 movie Lost in Translation inspires many to make the journey. It follows an aging American movie star in Tokyo to shoot a commercial, and his budding friendship with a newly married American woman left alone in her room at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. The movie takes off as the pair (Bill Murray and Scarlet Johannsen) explore the sights and sounds of the city.

The other star of the movie is the hotel itself  one of the most famous in Tokyo, and considered the height of luxury with views of the whole city. Its not cheap, but worth a splurge for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan.

Mark de Leeuwerk, the hotel's executive assistant manager, told Fox News that Tokyo is a great city to visit for a number of reasons. Tokyo is guaranteed to be the culinary highlight of any trip you will ever make  the side streets are where you find the hidden gems of restaurants and bars that make for an authentic experience in Tokyo," he stated.

"Shinjuku and Shibuya are the prime locations in which to explore these side streets, guaranteed to boast a street perfectly tailored for any visitor with a particular interest and taste," he added.

JAPANESE 'CAT HEAVEN ISLAND' WANTS ED SHEERAN TO COME BY FOR A VISIT

Herve Mazella, the Park Hyatt's general manager, agrees that the city offers something for everyone, regardless of budget or interest.

Tokyo is both fascinating and unexpected," says Mazella. "There are many layers to discover from casual local places to the most sophisticated experiences in food, service, art and design. The attention to detail, presentation and display, the passion and dedication that people put into what they do can be witnessed at every corner of every street in Tokyo.

Another great place to start exploring is at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, where visitors can soak up an overview of Tokyo's rich history. Yuji Tanaka, the museum's curator, pointed out Tokyo has been destroyed many times, during great fires and earthquakes over the centuries, and most recently during WWII when it was destroyed by U.S. bombers in air raids.

After the war, Tokyo drastically changed economically and socially due to rapid economic growth through the 1970s, says Tanaka. You can see the 400 years of history of Tokyo with perspective views at the museum." (Just be aware that the Edo-Tokyo Museum is closed until early 2018 for a remodel.

Other favorite must-see spots in Tokyo are visiting the shrine at Senso-ji, the insane streets of Shibuya (where you can cross the streets with thousands of other pedestrians, and visiting the beautiful Ueno Park in Tokyo's Taito city.

JAPANESE RESTAURANT CAUGHT ADDING EXCESSIVE WASABI TO FOREIGNERS' ORDERS

That might sound like a lot  especially since it's all within city limits  but Krasowski further suggests making Tokyo your temporary "home base," and then hopping over to see other parts of the islands.

Rail passes make it a breeze to see much of Japan," says Krasowski. "Spend time in an onsen [a resort town specializing in hot springs) such as Hakone near Tokyo, or further afield like Beppu and Kinosaki.

He also said all Americans should consider a trip to see the atomic bomb memorials at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Avid sightseers might also want to venture to Kamakura to view the giant Buddah at Kotoku-in  just dont try to see all the shrines in one day.

After all, you'll want to set aside some time to explore Mt. Fuji on a Gray Line bus tour, complete with a ticket back to Tokyo on a famous bullet train, or "Shinkansen." Just don't be late  Japan's rail system keeps to a very rigid schedule.

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In any case, see Tokyo before the Olympics crowds come  and time your visit just right to see the awe-inspiring cherry blossoms. You won't regret it.
A Baltimore homicide detective was pronounced dead Thursday as cops continued a dragnet for his cold, callous killer.

The slain officer, identified as homicide Detective Sean Suiter, was an 18-year veteran of the Baltimore police force, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said in a news conference. He was also a former naval officer.

The detective and his partner were in the area Wednesday investigating a 2016 murder when they observed a man engaging in what they believed to be "suspicious behavior," Davis said.

Dressed in a full suit and tie with his badge displayed, Suiter, 43, approached the suspect and a confrontation occurred.

The detective was shot once in the head and his partner, who was nearby, called for police and medics on the radio, Davis said. The shooting happened in a troubled area of Baltimore that is grappling with high crime rates.

Police said Suiter was brought to the shock trauma center where doctors did what they could to save him.

Davis said the detective had a wife and five children. Federal agencies are offering a $69,000 reward for information leading to the gunmans arrest but Davis said "it shouldn't take 69 cents," for people to provide information.

He also added that there is evidence to suggest that the suspect may have been injured during the incident and likely encountered individuals as he made his escape. Davis implored anyone with information "to do some soul searching and pick up the phone and give us a call."

"We remain dedicated and committed to finding the person who ended such a beautiful life, such a wonderful detective, husband, father and friend," Davis said. "We will find the person responsible for this ridiculous, absurd, unnecessary loss of life."

"The shooter knows what he did and he knows who he did it to - a Baltimore police detective," Davis said. He urged the suspect to "turn yourself in."

Davis said the officer was just doing his job when he was ambushed and vowed to have the shooter captured.

"This is a dangerous profession. This is a dangerous job. Police officers know that at any given time they could confront someone who wants to do them harm, and that's exactly what happened tonight," Davis said. With this community, were going to identify him, were going to arrest him, and were going to ensure justice is done.

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh spoke to the press following the police commissioner. She spoke of how respected Suiter was in the Baltimore community and that he will be "very sorely missed." She asked for prayers for his wife, children and the city.

"I also ask this city to pray for our police officers, because I said this earlier today, that when they leave their homes, the family's hearts go out the door with them," Pugh said.

The FBI in Baltimore also tweeted their condolences for Suiter's family and the Balitmore police department.

Police, meantime, have cordoned off streets in the West Baltimore area and a tactical unit combed alleyways as they searched for a gunman. Numerous cruisers responded and a police helicopter buzzed overhead, illuminating streets below with a searchlight.

The incident took place in an abandoned lot in between two row houses, police said. The area has been the scene of numerous shootings over the years.

Wednesday's shooting comes amid a particularly violent period in Baltimore: So far this year, the city of less than 620,000 inhabitants has seen more than 300 homicides. Pugh called for an end to the gun violence at an earlier news conference, saying enough is enough.

"We are praying for peace in our streets. And I can say to you all again and again: Enough is enough. Crime has to come to an end in this city. This kind of violence cannot be tolerated," she said.

Anyone with a tip can call the department at 410-396-2100 or text 443-902-4824.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A fight over controversial street signs in Hollywood, Florida has come to a close.

City commissioners voted Wednesday 6-0 to replace the names of three streets named after Confederate generals and a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Liberty, Hope and Freedom will now replace street names Lee, Hood and Forrest, which were named after Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee, John Bell Hood and Nathan Bedford Forrest, the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

Commissioners voted unanimously on the decision, and all commissioners were present except one.

Residents were divided over the recent decision.

Robert E. Lee  was a great man, said one protester at the commission meeting, according to WSVN.

But many, however, were in favor of the changes.

They were out to destroy the government of the United States. Why should they be heroes? said one man.

WSVN reported that the city will put up new street signs once maps have been changed and the county is informed. The old signs with Confederate names reportedly will most likely be sold for scrap metal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Legal action stemming from the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert is picking up with lawsuits filed on behalf of 14 concertgoers.

The 14 civil complaints were filed together Wednesday in state court in Las Vegas. Several plaintiffs are from the Chicago area, and a Chicago law firm helped prepared the filings.

They follow at least three other lawsuits filed since Stephen Paddock opened fire Oct. 1 from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, killing 58 people at a festival his suite overlooked. He injured hundreds of others.

The newest filings name the Las Vegas concert organizers, the hotel and the makers and sellers of a bump stock gun accessory that enabled Paddock to fire rapidly. The filings argue they all share blame.
First Tennessee Bank, the regional bank of First Horizon National Corp., is adding a new set of resources to more comprehensively serve their business owner clients by partnering with Red Rock Advisors, an advisory firm specializing in business transition planning.

"Weve worked with the Red Rock Advisors team for a number of years and have a high level of confidence in the expertise they will bring in assisting our business owner clients, said Rhomes Aur, CEO of FTB Advisors. This partnership with Red Rock positions First Tennessee to be an integral advisor in helping our clients achieve their personal and business goals.

Red Rock Advisors acts as a guide for business owners to help them to navigate the questions that must be addressed to enhance the value in their businesses today with an eye toward securing a sound and positive transition or exit down the road.

The Red Rock Advisors team will work in concert with First Tennessees commercial and wealth team members to provide an integrated end to end advisory solution set for business owners.

"First Tennessee understands that owners of privately held businesses have complex needs that require a dedicated team professionals to address, said Matt Johnston, CEO of Red Rock Advisors. The commitment that First Tennessee makes to their clients long term success is unparalleled and we are thrilled to be a part of the team.

First Tennessee customers can take advantage of this partnership by contacting their private client relationship manager or commercial banker to discover opportunities that are available to them.
A teacher in Maryland was arrested by authorities Tuesday after reportedly getting caught in possession of drugs and selling them on school property.

Monica Snee, 51, who taught special education at Parkside High School, was arrested after authorities found 100 capsules of heroin, hundreds of oxycodone pills, suboxone strips and about $3,000 in her car, WJLA reported.

Investigators said the suspect had been on their radar since October when they discovered that she was selling drugs on school grounds and in the nearby area, Fox 32 Chicago said.

WOMAN DIES AFTER CLEANING UP SONS FATAL DRUG OVERDOSE, CORONER SAYS

Officials with the Wicomico County Public Schools said they had no prior knowledge of the accusations against Snee, nor did they know of any students potentially involved in the drug deals, Fox 32 Chicago said. The alleged deals reportedly happened in a parking lot behind the school.

The principal of the high school called the parents of students and informed them of the ongoing situation, WJLA said.

Ms. Snee was placed on administrative leave effective immediately and is not teaching, pending the outcome of the judicial process as well as the school system's administrative investigation," the principal said in the call, according to a transcript from WJLA.

Snee was charged with possession of heroin and presciption medications as well as the intent to distribute on school property, Fox 32 said.
Its going to take a miracle for her to get her Uber rating back up.

Texas prosecutor Jody Warner, 32, launched a weepy, remorseful tour Tuesday after she was fired as an assistant district attorney with Dallas County when her Uber driver released a recording of her hurling insults and accusations at him.

The driver, Shaun Platt, 26, alleged that she slapped his shoulder and repeatedly berated him as he was taking her home, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Platt was driving Warner home from a bar in East Dallas on Friday night when he said she became increasingly irate towards him and insisted that he use a different route to her destination.

"She kept saying she's an assistant DA and said, 'Who are they going to believe, you or me?' and I said, 'You know what? You're kind of right,' so I took out my phone and I recorded it," he told ABC News.

On the recording, Warner can be heard cursing at and insulting the driver, calling him an idiot and a legitimate retard.

Platt decided to pull over after he heard Warner say, I think this might be a kidnapping. He then ended the ride on his Uber app and asked Warner to get out of his vehicle. The attorney refused and told Platt, Im an assistant district attorney and "You're so stupid. I want the cops to come so that they can f--- you up."

With no recourse, the driver called the cops. Once they arrived, he declined to press charges.

"I'm very sorry for the language I used. I'm not proud of it," Warner tearfully said at a press conference on Tuesday. "I appreciate being given the opportunity to give my side. I'm not trying to make any accusations against that driver. I don't know what's in his heart. I can tell you that not everything he said was true. I never touched him."

"I'm not ever going to justify anything that I said, she added. There's just a little bit more to it, and I was wrong."

The mea culpa came a day after she was ousted from her position by Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson.

"After careful consideration and a thorough investigation, I have decided to terminate Ms. Warner. Although criminal charges have not been filed, her behavior is contrary to this office's core principle of integrity, and it will not be tolerated," Johnson said in a released statement. "As public servants, we represent the people of Dallas County and are examples of justice, professionalism and ethical behavior both inside and outside of the courtroom. I will not waver on my expectation of the highest integrity for myself or my staff. I will continue to run this office with transparency and respect for the justice system and the community we serve.

Warner responded in a statement of her own.

"I cringe whenever I hear or think about the things that I said that night. It was unacceptable, and no one deserves to be called names, she said.

"That being said, the audio doesn't tell you that I was in a situation that made me feel very uncomfortable, and I became defensive and eventually angry.

Platt said to ABC that he was sorry that the incident led to Warner being fired.

That was not my intent, but you don't treat people that way."
An Arizona man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the home invasion and abduction of a 94-year-old woman who was bound with zip ties and duct tape and tossed in the trunk of her own car for several hours, officials said.

Ian Michael Nielsen, 25, was taken into custody "without incident" and charged with attempted murder in the second degree, aggravated assault, kidnapping and robbery, The Scottsdale Police Department said in a news release.

The incident took place early on the morning of Nov. 7, when Nielson made his way into the 94-year-old's home and went through her belongings, taking "several hundred dollars in cash," according to police.

The 25-year-old then forced the woman into the backseat of her car and drove her around for a bit before bounding her hands and feet with duct tape and zip ties, placing her in the truck of the vehicle.

Nielson then parked the car around 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, an upscale shopping center in downtown Scottsdale, before leaving the area.

Around 5 hours later, the 94-year-old was able to free herself from the trunk and was discovered by a man who called 911.

"She has duct tape around her neck and its in a zip tie on her arm, and shes sitting here in the trunk of her car," the man told the dispatcher in a recording of the call released Wednesday by police.

The victim sustained several injuries during the harrowing ordeal, including a broken sternum, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Scottsdale Police told FOX10 Phoenix they're thankful the weather conditions on the day of the abduction were not more severe, otherwise the woman may not have survived.

"If this was a mid-summer day, her condition would have been much worse," Sgt. Ben Hoster told FOX10. "Luckily, it's overcast and much cooler, so she was able to survive this incident."

Nielsen appeared in court on Wednesday, where a judge set bail at $1 million. He's due back in court Nov. 21.
Detective Sean Suiter, an 18-year veteran of the Baltimore police department, died at the hospital Thursday after an unknown gunman shot him in the head on Wednesday.

The manhunt for the cold, callous killer is still underway.

Today, FBI Baltimore joins the Baltimore Police Department in mourning the loss of Detective Sean Suiter," SAC Gordon B. Johnson of the Baltimore Field Office said in a statement. "We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Detective Suiter, Baltimore Police commissioner Kevin Davis, and the entire Baltimore Police Department. Our thoughts and prayers are with Detective Suiter, his family, friends, and colleagues."

The city of Baltimore, Maryland has had roughly 308 homicides in the last year, according to data from the Baltimore Sun. Suiters death adds to that number, meaning that Baltimore continues to have one of the highest homicide rates in the United States.

Heres a look at some of the numbers over the last ten years:

2007 - 282 homicides

2008 - 234 homicides

2009 - 240 homicides

2010 - 224 homicides

2011 - 197 homicides

2012 - 217 homicides

2013 - 235 homicides

2014 - 211 homicides

2015 - 344 homicides

2016 - 318 homicides

2017 - 308 homicides, which doesnt appear to include Suiters death.

As a result, the Baltimore Police Department has had trouble retaining officers. One report even found that in 2017, the city was operating with fewer officers than at any time during the past ten years.

In relation to Suiters death, the FBI's Baltimore field office and the DEA's Baltimore district office are offering up to $60,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the unknown gunman.

Anyone with a tip should call the department at 410-396-2100 or text 443-902-4824.
For 7-year-old Gage, the shooting spree on Tuesday by a gunman in Northern California that left five people dead was yet another tragedy in his young life.

When he was just 22-months-old, his mother Cher was killed in an accident. When Kevin Janson Neal, 44, began what authorities described as a "murderous rampage" in a neighborhood in Tehama County about 130 miles north of Sacramento, his father, his fathers girlfriend and her mother were among the victims.

His surviving grandmother, Sissy Feitelberg, has now started a GoFundMe fundraising account to raise money to raise her grandson, now an orphan.

"My husband and I live on Social Security, and a small retirement. I am going to have many, many expenses where Gage is concerned," she wrote. "First off being the legal issue of getting custody of Gage, which should be no problem, I am hoping. But that is going to cost money."

The 7-year-old now has to readjust his life and move to his grandmother's home, and also need extensive counseling, according to Feitelberg.

"Gage is going to have to attend a new school, make new friends which he has already told me, he does not want to do," she wrote.

The 7-year-old was at the Rancho Tehama Elementary School on Tuesday when the gunfire broke out and teachers told students to hide under their desks. Randy Morehouse, the district's maintenance and operations head, said Neal "tried and tried and tried and tried to get into the kindergarten door," where Gage was, but it was locked.

In an interview with KCRA-TV, the 7-year-old believes Neal targeted his school to try to find him. His grandmother said the gunman had an ongoing dispute with Gage's family, but was unclear of the details.

CALIFORNIA GUNMAN'S WIFE FOUND DEAD IN HOME, AUTHORITIES SAY

Earlier this year, Neal was arrested and charged with stabbing Gage's fathers girlfriend, Hailey Suzanne Poland, and attacking her mother during a Jan. 31 encounter in their rural neighborhood, according to court records.

Poland filed for a civil restraining order a week later protecting herself and her mother-and father-in-law, ages 68 and 74, as well as Gabe and his dad, Danny Elliott, 38, according to the records obtained the by the Los Angeles Times.

Poland wrote in the plea to a judge that Neal "is very unpredictable and unstable ... has anger issues" and threatened the household with a gun. She also said her and her family lived in fear of him because he was violent and unpredictable, firing off guns at all hours and threatening her with "all kinds of perverted things."

Without naming her, sheriff's officials said Wednesday that the woman seeking the protective order was killed by Neal.

A sheriff's deputy on April 1 handed Neal a court order to stay away from Poland and her family, and barred him from possessing guns.

Records show Neal certified that he surrendered his weapons in February, but Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said Wednesday authorities had recovered two illegal homemade assault rifles and two handguns registered to someone else.

At Wednesday's news conference, Johnston initially said Neal "was not prohibited from owning firearms" but later acknowledged the protective order against him.

After being pressed by reporters on why police did not act when Neal was in clear violation of his court order, Johnston replied: "The law is only for people who obey it."

The gunman's sister, Sheridan Orr, said her brother had struggled with mental illness throughout his life and at times had a violent temper, adding that he had "no business" owning firearms.

Several other neighbors had repeatedly reported that Neal was firing hundreds of rounds at his property every night.

Neighbor Jessie Sanders told FOX 40 he heard gunshots "every night."

"The guy was a bad guy. I mean really. Just a bad person. Some people are just bad," he said.

When asked by FOX 40 if the rampage was a shock, Sanders said he told them "this was coming." When asked further what he meant, Sanders said Neal told them "we would all pay, that we would be the ones to pay in the end."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A man shot last week by Texas police officers who thought he was trying to break into a truck, had the charges against him dismissed Tuesday when officials determined the truck actually belonged to the man.

Lyndo Jones, 31, had been charged with evading arrest after he ran from police officers last Wednesday. A person called police around 7 p.m. reporting a vehicle break-in and authorities found Jones by the truck with the vehicle's alarm going off, but officers said later they were unaware he owned the truck. Jones allegedly got into a scuffle with Officer Derick Wiley and was shot twice.

Three additional officers arrived and handcuffed the man.

Mesquite police department spokesman Lt. Brian Parrish said the misdemeanor charge was dropped against Jones on Tuesday afternoon because it may be inhibiting his treatment and access to his family, according to Dallas Morning News.

"The decision was made to dismiss the misdemeanor charge, which will hopefully assist in his medical recovery, Parrish said, adding police may revisit the charge at a later date.

Wiley was placed on paid leave during an investigation into the case.

Jones' attorneys, Lee Merritt and Justin Moore, said the shooting wasnt justified and their clients constitutional rights were violated. They claimed Jones had accidentally set of the cars alarm and was trying to explain the situation when things escalated, the Dallas Morning News reported. The officers also attempted to perform an anal cavity search, according to the attorneys.

Jones also said Wednesday he was hospitalized for nearly a week and handcuffed to the hospital bed. He added his arms were up during the incident, FOX4 Dallas reported.

I looked at the ground. He said, what? He had this look on his face with his gun in his hand looking at me, Jones said. And he shot me. Boom! He shot me. He spit after. He said, what? He shot me. Boom. Then, he spit.

He added: Im handcuffed, and he was fumbling with my behind. I said, What is you doing? Call an ambulance! Thats what Im telling him.

Parrish said no evidence points to Jones' accusations.

"None of the evidence that I've seen in this case indicates that there was any truth to it whatsoever," Parrish told the Dallas Morning News.
A prosecutor says Pennsylvania state troopers were justified in using deadly force in a roadside confrontation in which a trooper was shot.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli announced Thursday that the troopers were justified in shooting at 22-year-old Daniel Clary during the Nov. 7 struggle in Plainfield Township following a traffic stop.

Morganelli says video shows Clary breaking away from the troopers and reaching into his car. The prosecutor says he then "comes out shooting" at the troopers, whom he called "sitting ducks."

Morganelli says the troopers followed their training, but used restraint during the violent encounter. Cpl. Seth Kelly was shot. The 13-year veteran is in stable condition.

Clary was treated at a hospital and is jailed on attempted murder charges.
The Hawaii psychiatric hospital from which a patient escaped Sunday, before his apprehension in Caliifornia on Wednesday, has seen nearly 20 patients escape over the past eight years.

Most of the 17 escapes between 2010 and this year resulted from patients not returning to the Hawaii State Hospital after being granted a temporary leave, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities identified Randall Saito, 59, as the most recent patient to escape. After fleeing from the hospital Sunday, Saito managed to hop into a taxi, snag a seat on a charter flight to Maui and slip aboard a jet to California, authorities said.

Saito was arrested Wednesday in Stockton, Calif., after authorities received a tip from a taxi driver. Saito had been acquitted in a 1979 murder trial by reason of insanity.

Law enforcement wasnt notified until eight hours after the escape, the AP reported. Afterward, seven hospital employees were placed on unpaid leave after an internal inquiry suggested workers inadvertently or intentionally neglected to supervise Saito or inform supervisors he was missing, said Dr. Virginia Pressler, director of the Hawaii Department of Health.

The investigation is continuing, authorities said.

Meanwhile, documents obtained by the AP show that in 2015, a patient who had a history of "threatening/assaultive behavior" didnt return after going unescorted to the cafeteria, before ultimately being captured. And in 2010, a patient attempted to escape by climbing over a perimeter fence -- using a bedsheet as a rope.

Hawaiis Gov. David Ige said the public and authorities should have been made aware of the incident sooner, and said the state has started a review of the hospital's practices. There will also be more random patient counts and additional fencing on hospital property, he said.

Authorities havent disclosed how Saito was able to board two planes, with the second taking him to California.

The 202-bed facility, located northeast of Honolulu, is the state's only publicly funded state psychiatric facility.

Although most escapees are found within a few days, one patient in 2009 was able to elude authorities for nearly three years, said Janice Okubo, a spokeswoman for the Hawaii State Department of Health.

Fox News' Katherine Lam and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A homeless man posed for photos with his dead wife, along with their newborn and toddler, before dismembering her body in a Missouri hotel room, according to court records released Wednesday.

Justin Rey, 35, who was arrested last month after being found with the remains at a Kansas storage unit, was charged in Missouri Wednesday with abandonment of a corpse and child endangerment, FOX4 Kansas City reported.

Court records obtained by FOX4 say Rey told police his wife, Jessica Monteiro Rey, died after giving birth Oct. 20 in a Kansas City hotel, and that he dismembered her body in a bathtub two days later -- with the children present.

After his wife died, Rey said he placed her in the bed, and then took pictures with his wife and kids together, the records state. He then put some of her body parts in a large cooler, and disposed of the remains that didn't fit.

According to a search warrant, hotel management said Rey tried to disguise his voice as a woman's when he called the front desk to check out Oct. 23.

The warrant says surveillance video footage shows him pulling a red cooler with a black bag on top through the hotel, while pushing a stroller with a toddler walking beside him.

The remains were discovered Oct. 24 inside a cooler and tote at a U-Haul Moving and Storage facility in nearby Lenexa, Kan. after Rey slept there with the children. Officials at the facility contacted police. who said Rey was acting suspiciously and talking about his wife dying while giving birth to their newborn.

"The suspect spontaneously informed the officers his wife was inside the cooler and looked to the direction of a red and white Igloo style cooler with wheels," according to the probable cause statement.

Emergency responders checked on the children, who were later taken to a hospital. The affidavit says the baby wasn't wearing adequate clothing and had an eye infection.

After Rey was arrested and put in a police vehicle, he was asked about his wife's whereabouts. He responded she had died several days earlier and was in the cooler and one of the totes, which he had been trying to remove from the storage unit, the detective wrote.

Missouri and Kansas court records don't say how she died, and Rey provided conflicting information. In one statement to police, Rey said his wife committed suicide after giving birth. In other statements he just said that she died without giving a cause.

Rey's attorney in the Kansas case, Courtney Henderson, has not returned a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment early Thursday. Rey doesn't yet have an attorney in the Missouri case.

During a court appearance earlier this month, Rey was removed after a screaming rant against authorities, where he yelled that he was not mentally unstable, according to FOX4.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Latest on deadly shootings in Northern California (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Residents in a remote Northern California community who were terrorized by a mass shooting this week say they want increased sheriff's patrols.

People living in Rancho Tehama Reserve say they're angry and frustrated at often seemingly being left to fend for themselves in what several called a "Wild West" atmosphere.

The homeowners' association board plans to meet Thursday to continue talks. It comes two days after 44-year-old Kevin Neal killed his wife and four others before he died in a gun battle with deputies. Neal targeted an elementary school in the sprawling rural subdivision about 130 miles (209 kilometers) north of Sacramento.

Board member Richard Gutierrez says residents were already complaining about the lack of law enforcement and frequent gunfire.

___

8:50 a.m.

One of the people killed by a gunman who went on a shooting rampage after killing his wife was a woman who was heading to a store with her husband.

Relatives of Michelle and Troy McFadyen tell the Record Searchlight that the couple was forced off the road and into a ditch by a vehicle coming at them head-on.

They say the gunman, identified by authorities as Kevin Neal, then parked the vehicle, walked toward them and fired into their car.

Mike McFadyen says his brother told him they ran but the gunman followed them until they fell to the ground.

He says Troy, bleeding profusely, pleaded with the gunman to not waste his rounds because he was dying and that Neal walked away.

Michelle McFadyen died at the scene.

___

12:40 a.m.

One of the first victims of a Northern California gunman told a judge earlier this year that she and her family lived in fear of him.

Hailey Suzanne Poland said in a request for a restraining order that her neighbor Kevin Janson Neal was violent and unpredictable, firing off guns at all hours and threatening her.

A sheriff's deputy in April handed Neal a court order to keep away from Poland and her family and to not possess any guns.

But on Tuesday, Neal shot Poland to death before embarking on what authorities called a "murderous rampage"

Sheriff's officials said they could not have been expected to predict the rampage, and that he eluded law enforcement in their attempts to contact him.
Newcomb Spring Corporation, one of North Americas largest custom spring, wire form and metal stamping manufacturers, announced Wednesday the appointment of Jason Bingham as general manager of its Ooltewah plant.



"Mr. Bingham began his career at Newcomb Spring in 2000 as a quality technician and has consistently demonstrated excellence in all he does. He was promoted a year later to quality manager, and then to his most recent position as operations manager in 2008.

"During this time, he has gained the respect of Newcomb Spring Tennessee employees, as well as customers, through his technical understanding of metal form design, manufacturability and application considerations," officials said.



Mr. Bingham is a native of Ooltewah and earned his B.S. in engineering from Virginia Tech while working full-time and raising a family. Mr. Bingham is a father of three and grandfather of four, an avid runner and a home chef.



"His appointment follows the retirement of Keith Porter, Sr. from the GM post at the Ooltewah plant after decades of dedicated service," officials said.


A 24-year-old woman who disappeared after leaving her bartending job in Joliet, Ill. has been found dead, authorities said Thursday.

The Will County Sheriff's Office said that the body of Kaitlyn Kearns was found in a rural area of neighboring Kankakee County. She had been shot once in the head.

"Detectives believe that there is no threat to the community and that Kaitlyn was the intended target of this homicide," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Kearns was least seen leaving the bar where she worked at around 1:30 a.m. Monday and driving east in her 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The sheriff's office said her father reported her missing at approximately 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The sheriff's office did not give the exact location where Kearns' body was found.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Will County sheriff's investigation division at (815) 727-8574 or the sheriff's dispatch center at (815) 727-8575.
Who purchased the Leonardo da Vinci painting depicting Jesus Christ for an astonishing $450.3 million at Christie's action house in New York Wednesday night?

The buyer's identity, which is a mystery, has intrigued the world, becoming a source of intense speculation among international art dealers and on social media about who holds the painting by the Italian Renaissance master.

A Russian oligarch, a Saudi prince or a Japanese billionaire? No one knows.

"I think the buyer is unlikely to be an institution. I think its an individual," said Warren Adelson, who was part of a consortium of art dealers who found and restored the painting in Louisiana in 2005.

"When we had the picture, it was my burning desire to sell it to an American museum because I wanted to keep it in this country," Adelson told Fox News Thursday. "I felt very strongly about that."

"I offered it to a number of institutions in the U.S. and Europe and the money was just too much," he said. "Its a fact of life that museums dont have that kind of stretch to spend that money for a work of art."

London-based art dealer Charles Beddington said he believes the identity of the buyer will almost certainly be revealed.

"Its quite unusual that something on this level is bought by someone who remains invisible," Beddington said Thursday from his office in London.

The painting, called "Salvator Mundi," Italian for "Savior of the World," could have been purchased by a private or public museum, according to Beddington. Or it could be in the hands of an individual wealthy enough to buy a small country.

"I think its most likely to be an Arab or Chinese buyer," Beddington said. "It's more difficult to see a European or an American paying that money for this painting. I dont think

it was a traditional type of old master buyer."

The painting is one of fewer than 20 paintings by Leonardo known to exist.

The highest price paid for a work of art at auction had been $179 million, for Pablo Picasso's painting "Women of Algiers (Version O)" in May 2015, also at Christie's in New York. The highest known sale price for any artwork had been $300 million, for Willem de Kooning's painting "Interchange," sold privately in September 2015 by the David Geffen Foundation to hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin.

A backer of the "Salvator Mundi" auction had guaranteed a bid of at least $100 million. The bidding opened at $75 million and ran for 19 minutes. The price hit $300 million about halfway through the bidding.

People in the auction house gallery applauded and cheered when the bidding reached $300 million and when the hammer came down on the final bid, $400 million. The record sale price of $450 million includes the buyer's premium, a fee paid by the winner to the auction house.

The 26-inch-tall Leonardo painting dates from around 1500 and shows Christ dressed in Renaissance-style robes, his right hand raised in blessing as his left hand holds a crystal sphere.

Its path from Leonardo's workshop to the auction block at Christie's was not smooth. Once owned by King Charles I of England, it disappeared from view until 1900, when it resurfaced and was acquired by a British collector. At that time it was attributed to a Leonardo disciple, rather than to the master himself.

The painting was sold again in 1958 and then was acquired in 2005, badly damaged and partly painted over, by a consortium of art dealers who paid less than $10,000. The art dealers who found and purchased it restored the painting and documented its authenticity as a work by Leonardo.

In 2013, the consortium of dealers -- including Robert Simon, Alexander Parish and Adelson -- sold the painting for $80 million to a company owned by a Swiss businessman and art dealer Yves Bouvier.

Bouvier quickly sold the painting to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for $127.5 million  at an increase of almost $50 million -- which has become the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. The masterpiece was then sold Wednesday by Rybolovlev at Christie's.

"I hope one day it does go to an institution because its a picture people should see," Adelson told Fox News. "I'm intimately familiar with it and I can say that it is in fine condition," he said. "It's a very, very special work of art."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An Ohio man threatened to kill his wife and carry out mass shootings at a church and a Las Vegas casino that would go down in history, the FBI said Thursday after allegedly uncovering a series of text messages.

Wei Li, 38, was taken into federal custody on Thursday after his estranged wife contacted authorities saying she feared for her life when she received the hostile texts, the FBI said. Li allegedly began texting the woman Nov. 6 and threatened to shoot up the Las Vegas hotel and casino where she worked. The FBI did not specify which hotel Li was planning to target.

Li indicated in the text messaging that the killing he planned to commit would go down in history and that he would blame his wife for all the deaths, the FBI said in a news release.

Li also allegedly vowed to carry out a mass shooting at a church he attended with at least 1,000 people in it, reportedly writing in a text: "I will make the biggest [mass shooting] in history," according to Cleveland.com. His wife responded to the texts with, "You are too cruel" and "Are you sick?" court records stated.

Li also allegedly said he would kill his wife if he didnt get his green card. Li then sent photos of himself with a rifle, knives and a list of casinos in Las Vegas, Cleveland.com reported. He also reportedly told her he had an automatic rifle.

Court records showed Li went to the casino his wife worked at before the Nov. 6 texts and he later told her he was able to roam the building freely.

"No one checked me," he said.

Cuyahoga Falls police and the FBI approached Li on Nov. 10 and interviewed him. When asked to unlock his phone, Li obliged but then deleted the string of text messages. He initially lied about erasing them, but ultimately admitted to the act and said he believed the messages were bad, according to court records. He also claimed he wasnt serious about the threats.

Court records stated Li had a rifle stolen from him in 2014.

Li was charged with interstate threatening communications and destruction of evidence. He is expected to make a court appearance on Thursday.

The arrest comes after two mass shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas. A gunman opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, killing 59 people and injuring hundreds more. Twenty-six people were killed when a shooter fired inside a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5. The pair of incidents were two of the most deadly mass shootings in modern U.S. history.
Parents at a rural Oregon high school have filed a federal lawsuit over the school district's policy to allow a transgender male student to use the boys' locker room and bathroom, mirroring a similar civil action in Illinois that did not survive a legal challenge.

The lawsuit filed this week in Portland challenges a decision by the Dallas School District to allow Elliot Yoder, now 16, to use boys' facilities. The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and Basic Rights held a news conference Thursday decrying the lawsuit and the ACLU said it would likely intervene in the Oregon case as it did in Illinois.

"The case targets transgender youth for simply existing and seeking an education," said Mat dos Santos, legal director for ACLU Oregon. "This lawsuit is senseless and cruel but it is not a meaningful threat to the right of transgender students in Oregon."

Herb Grey, an attorney for the parents of three current and former Dallas students, disagreed and said the district's policy to allow Yoder into such private spaces violated the civil rights of the majority of the students who do not identify as transgender. Boys using the locker room and bathroom feel embarrassed and ashamed to have to disrobe in the presence of another student who was biologically female, he said.

"The key to this whole thing is not just the privacy and the rights of just one student. It's the rights of all the students and their parents and you can't interpret federal law and state law and impose it on everyone else and say you're accommodating everyone  because you're not accommodating everyone," said Grey, the plaintiffs' attorney.

The school has a gender neutral bathroom that Yoder initially used for changing before gym class, but he asked to use the boys' facilities because the bathroom was two floors away from the locker room and other students noticed when he left to change.

The Dallas School District did not immediately return a call for comment.

The lawsuit names the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown because of guidelines issued by the state last year outlining what districts should do to accommodate transgender students. The guidelines are not the law but are based on numerous court opinions on transgender rights that have interpreted Title IX protections as extending to transgender students.

The lawsuit also names the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, although the Trump administration rolled back an Obama-era directive on transgender inclusion earlier this year.

Dallas, a town in a rural agricultural area 60 miles (96.56 kilometers) south of Portland, has a population of about 15,000 people.

The high school there first grabbed headlines in 2015 when the district sent a letter to parents saying it was accommodating one transgender male student by allowing him to use the boys' locker rooms and bathrooms. The letter generated an uproar and parents packed into a school board meeting.

Yoder, then 14, attended the meeting and publicly identified himself as the transgender student in the letter during remarks before the board. Even with the school policy in place, he's had trouble getting up the courage to use the boys' bathroom and often waits to make sure it's empty before going in, he said.

"What's really troubling and what really scares me is this lawsuit," he said. "When a transgender student is using the facilities that match their gender identity, the only person's privacy that is being interrupted is their own because of everyone else's concerns about it."

Two years later after coming out, Yoder is living with an adoptive family that supports his identity and has a girlfriend.

A federal magistrate in Illinois last year sided against parents in Palatine, Illinois, who had sued under similar circumstances.

A Pennsylvania school district earlier this year settled a lawsuit brought by three transgender students who had been barred from using bathrooms that corresponded to their gender identity.

____

Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus
An important legal showdown is looming for an obscure, United Nations-related research agency that is claiming that the active ingredient in the worlds most popular herbicide, marketed in the U.S. by Monsanto as Roundup, is probably carcinogenic to humans. It is the same agency that once claimed that coffee was a possible carcinogen.

The claims about the chemical known as glyphosate, originally asserted in March, 2015, have raised concerns about selective suppression of documents that counter the public conclusions of the French-based agency known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC, which is affiliated with the U.N. World Health Organization, and charges of conflicts of interest among the agencys selected experts in the herbicide case.

A torrent of lawsuits is currently underway, seeking undoubtedly huge damages from Monsanto almost entirely based on the agencys probable links between Roundup and non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) and associated forms of leukemia.

A large number of those legal claims face an important legal hearing in a U.S. District Court as early as December, to decide the actual scientific merits of the case.

As the court date nears, however, the legal and scientific landscape has begun to shiftnot necessarily in favor of IARC or the phalanx of plaintiff attorneys.

A long-unpublished update of a study by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, deemed the most thorough-going examination ever done of the herbicides medical effects, appeared in the Institutes Journal earlier this month: it found that the active ingredient known as glyphosate was not statistically significantly associated with cancer, including NHL.

(According to Monsanto officials, Roundup makes up about 40 percent of the global market share for the herbicide generically known as glyphosate. Monsanto is currently enmeshed in a $63.5 billion merger with European chemical giant Bayer, which is currently being reviewed by the Justice Department and the European Commission.)

The long-term study, known as the Agricultural Health Study, or Ag Study, due to its emphasis on farm workers exposed to pesticides, essentially repeated conclusions it had originally reached in 2001, based on new analysis that had essentially been completed by 2014.

Repeated congressional queries, including one last August by Trey Gowdy, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, have tried to plumb the reasons why the updated Ag Study had not featured in IARC analysisespecially since a National Cancer Institute official who worked on the study subsequently chaired the IARC review of glysophate.

The same official has testified in a deposition that the Ag Study information was not considered by IARC because it had not yet been published. Otherwise, he indicated, it might have affected the IARC outcome.

Its about time this study was published, declared Scott Partridge, Monsantos vice-president of global strategy. It took investigations by Congress to do it.

Press reports on IARCs draft findings on glyphosate, which allegedly deleted non-carcinogenic findings, have been publicly dismissed by the U.N. agency as misrepresenting its deliberative process, which was conducted by a specially-designated Working Group that made the ultimate decision.

Deliberative drafts, IARC declared in a statement in late October, are not made public, in order to protect the Working Group from interference by vested interests. It also declared that the Working Group does not have to take account prior national regulatory assessments in making its own, independent evaluation.

CLICK HERE FOR THE IARC REJOINDER

IARCs declaration of independence was clearly aimed at countering a glaring fact about its cancer declaration: It is based on a survey of prevailing scientific literature, while U.S., European, Canadian and Australia safety regulators, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the European Food Safety Authority, and the European Chemicals Agency have found no cancer-causing link with the herbicide.

That has not prevented a number of European governments, many influenced by powerful environmentalist groups or Green political parties, from ignoring their own European Commission authority and balking, via an elaborate consensual process, at a five-year renewal of official government registrations of the chemical.

Their non-decision to proceed with a renewed five-year registration will be taken up by an appeals panel at the end of November.

Nor has the regulatory view of glyphosate prevented pushback from a variety of researchers against the European Union decisions to differ from IACR. In some cases, they have been led by a former invited specialist in the IARC review of glyphosate: Christopher Portier, described as an Environmental Health Consultant based in Switzerland.

In another open letter to the EUs Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Portier led a group of signatories in declaring themselves independent academic and government scientists from around the world who have dedicated our professional lives to understanding the role of environmental hazards on cancer risks and human health.

They urged the Commissioner and the European Commission general to reject the flawed EFSA finding, and to call for a transparent, open and credible review of the scientific literature.

Portier was previously, according to his biography, a director of the environmental toxicology program at the U.S. National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, a branch of the National Institutes of Health.

He is also listed on the website of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), as a senior contributing scientist, where his cited expertise focuses on the collection, analysis and interpretation of air quality data, along with work on efforts to address lead in drinking water and communicate the health impacts of natural gas operations on surrounding communities.

According to a spokesperson for EDF, Portier does not and has never worked for EDF on pesticides. Indeed, EDF does not work on pesticides. We dont track his unrelated outside activities and have no comment on them.

In a deposition collected in advance of the December 11 legal hearing on the scientific credibility of the anti-Monsanto lawsuits, Portier says that shortly after IARC issued its controversial herbicide decision, he became a paid consultant for two of the leading plaintiff law firms in the lawsuit avalanche now directed at Monsanto.

Among other things, according to the deposition, he agreed that he would work for the firms on an exclusive basis when it came to Roundup and/or glyphosate-related litigation.

Through May, 2017, according to the deposition, Portier had received around $150,000 from the law firms for his consulting role.

CLICK HERE FOR THE DEPOSITION

In response to questions from Fox News, Portier declared that he had fully disclosed his law firm connections in letters he wrote concerning the scientific quality of the reviews of glyphosate by EPA, the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency, and in his other statements.

Those comments, he added, were not done at the behest of the law firm and have been done on my own time, using my own resources, and written by myself or in collaboration with my co-authors.

As to the contractual agreement I have with a U.S. law firm, in 2015 and 2016, I did approximately 30 hours of work in total for the firm, he said. That translates to less than 1.5 hours per month.

His expert work at IARC pre-dated any work done by me for the law firm.

The money mentioned in the legal disposition, he said, was almost entirely earned since March of this year when I was asked to be an expert witness in a U.S. court case on glyphosate. That task took more than two months of me working full time.

Monsantos Partridge said the IARC opinion is nothing more than fraud.

And the evidence speaks for itself, Partridge said. IARCs opinion has no credibility.

The definitive judgment on that assertion will not come until after trial attorneys and Monsantos lawyers face-off in front of U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria over the scientific validity of their evidence. (The timing of that hearing is still in flux.)

Any maybe not even then: a number of American states, led by Missouri, apply a different standard for admitting scientific testimony than the federal benchmark named after a 1993 Supreme Court case and known as the Daubert standard. But the San Francisco judgment, when it comes, is sure to leave an indelible mark on IARC, one way or another.

Meantime, by apparent coincidence, the U.N. agency quietly is undergoing an executive overhaul.

Two days before the Ag Study made its public appearance, a help-wanted advertisement on IARC letterhead announced a search for a new director for the agency, with an application deadline of mid-February, 2018.

The choice will be made in May by IARCs 25 member-statesthe U.S. is not a memberplus the director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus.

The current director, Christopher Wild, who took office in 2009 in the first of two consecutive five-year terms, has been a vocal exponent of IARCs glyphosate-cancer decision. Wilds term of office would normally end in December, 2018.

A spokesperson for IARC told Fox News that the timing of the selection of Wilds replacement is routine, and in keeping with normal IARC procedures.
The trail is getting hotter for a possible serial killer. New surveillance video released by Tampa Police Department shows a man now declared as a suspect in the random killings of four people in the citys Seminole Heights neighborhood.

The four victims, none of whom knew each other, all shot and killed in the dark night or early morning hours during the past four weeks.

"Some crazy person, some crazy person, that is all you can explain, some crazy person, because, why? They are just targeting innocent people and shooting them. Who in their right mind would do such a thing? said one neighborhood resident, echoing the worried thoughts of many.

Thursday at 4:51 a.m., as 60-year-old Ronnie Felton walked to a local church where he worked at a food kitchen to feed the poor, he was ambushed, according to police. He was shot five times and left to die in the street.

Not long before that, security cameras in the neighborhood captured the suspect walking alone, in video that looks very similar to surveillance footage of a man walking through the same neighborhood Oct. 9, right before 22-year-old college student Benjamin Mitchel was shot and killed.

The suspects description: Black male, tall, thin build, wearing a dark hoodie or rain jacket. He has a steady gait and a way of flipping his cellphone when he pulls it out of his pocket to look at it.

Tampas police chief believes this suspect lives in Seminole Heights and is urging all residents to watch the videos.

I want people to look at that video and look at how that person walks, says Chief Brian Dugan. Its clear to me that this person is able to flip a switch and go off and murder someone.

The chief is hesitant to call this the case of a serial killer, saying his detectives are still not 100 percent confident all four killings are connected. But they are treating it as if they are hunting for a serial killer, who just may strike again.

The reward is now totaled at $91,000, Dugan said. Lets hope this motivates someone with the strength and fortitude to step forward and tell us who is doing this.

Police and the FBI have been canvassing the neighborhood for days, knocking on every door, searching houses and looking for anyone who looks similar to the man in the videos.

Theyre also digging into every person recently released from prison, from jail and from a hospital after being Baker Acted, which is when a violent person is held in a hospital for a time, until doctors determine that person is no longer a danger to themselves.

Police are also urging every Seminole Heights resident in this working class neighborhood on the north side of the city to leave their front porch light on every night, from 6 p.m. to 6 am.

And everyone just hopes this suspect is caught, before what everyone fears will happens: A fifth victim.
A U.S. Army combat medic was arrested Wednesday and charged in connection with the rape and murder of one of his 9-month-old twin daughters, authorities said.

Police removed the other infant from the home, the Clarksville (Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle reported.

The service member was identified as Christopher Paul Conway, 22, stationed at Fort Campbell, along the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

"We discovered the child had been sexually assaulted, and a cord had been placed around the child's neck and the child died from those injuries," Clarksville, Tenn., police department spokesman Jim Knoll told Nashville's Fox 17.

Police responded to a 911 call Tuesday morning to find someone performing CPR on the infant, before she was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead, Nashville's WKRN-TV reported.

An investigation led to the arrest of Conway, who later admitted to the crime, WKRN reported.

Army officials confirmed to Fox 17 that Conway was a U.S. combat medic specialist at Fort Campbell.

Conway was booked Wednesday in the Montgomery County, Tenn., jail and was being held on a $100,000 bond, WKRN reported.
A veteran and his fellow Marine made a pact while serving together in Vietnam -- and kept it for nearly five decades.

Master Sgt. William H. Cox said he and fellow Marine First Sgt. James T. Hollingsworth made a promise to one another in a bunker in the Marble Mountains of Vietnam in 1969, Greenville News reported.

If we survived this attack, or survived Vietnam, we would contact each other every year on New Years, Cox told Greenville News.

HUNT TO REUNITE MARINE WITH CAMERA FULL OF PHOTOS FROM IRAQ

The two did survive and they kept their promise.

Cox, who resided in Piedmont, Texas, said he also kept another promise to Hollingsworth - to deliver the eulogy at his funeral.

Cox visited Hollingsworth, nicknamed Hollie, when he heard he was terminally ill and the fellow soldier asked him for this last favor.

I said, Boy, thats a rough mission youre assigning me to there, Cox said.

Earlier this year, Cox made good on his vow.

A MARINE AND HIS DOGS UNCONVENTIONAL JOURNEY FROM AFGHANISTAN TO STUBBORN POSITIVITY

Theres a bond between Marines thats different from any other branch of service. Were like brothers, Cox said.

After their service, Hollingsworth settled down in Georgia and Cox spent another 20 years in the Marine Corps. Later, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his years in the service.

Cox, a door gunner and ordnance chief, and Hollingsworth, a mechanic, would have a saying for one another when doing missions together.

Hollie, you keep em flying, and Ill keep em firing, Cox said at his friends eulogy.
United States District Judge William Walls declared a mistrial in the Sen. Bob Menendez bribery and corruption trial on Thursday.

The court proceedings and jury deliberations lasted for more than 30 days.

"I find that you are unable to reach a verdict and that further deliberations would be futile. And theres no alternative to declaring a mistrial," Walls said to jurors while announcing his decision.

Deliberations had continued into Thursday, days after the jury informed Walls that they were deadlocked, again, and could not reach a verdict.

While Walls requested that the jury continue with deliberations, Menendezs attorney, Raymond Brown, argued on Monday that Walls should declare an immediate mistrial. Prosecutors then argued that the jury needed more time to deliberate.

In light of the decision, here's what you need to know about mistrials.

What is a mistrial?

A mistrial, according to the American Bar Association (ABA), is a trial that is not successfully completed -- meaning that its terminated and declared void before the jury returns a verdict or the judge renders his or her decision in a nonjury trial, according to the ABA.

A mistrial is declared for a variety of reasons, such as the death of a juror or attorney, juror misconduct (if the jury considers evidence that wasnt presented in the case, for example), a juror discusses the case with the media, or a juror is found to be prejudiced, among other reasons, according to the ABA. A very common reason a mistrial is declared, however, is because the jury is deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict, Adam Winkler, a professor of law at the University of California Los Angeles, told Fox News.

Either side -- the prosecution or the defense -- can make a motion to the judge requesting a mistrial. The judge then either grants or denies that motion. If the motion is denied, the trial continues.

What happens if the motion is granted?

If a mistrial is declared, one of three things typically happens, according to Winkler: the prosecutor dismisses the charges, a plea bargain or agreement is made, or another criminal trial is scheduled on the same charges.

Going through another trial has advantages and disadvantages for both sides. But a mistrial for the defendant is always great news, Winkler said, because the state could choose not to retry the case -- meaning that the charges against the defendant are dismissed. Additionally, the prosecution usually avoids spending the time and money on a second trial if its argument is not strong enough to win, he said.

Most disputes initially end in settlements because trials are so expensive -- especially in corruption cases, he said. That's why going to trial more than once is a "daunting task," he added.

If the state does elect to retry the case, however, defense attorneys have specific advantages.

The defense has already seen the other sides strategy, Winkler said, adding that the prosecution is also at a disadvantage because they already disclosed most or all of their evidence during the initial trial.

However, a retrial does give the prosecution an opportunity to come up with a better strategy that could ultimately end in a conviction, Winkler said.

Retrials usually occur in high-profile or political corruption cases, Winkler said -- meaning its "very possible" that Menendez could soon see another day in court, Winkler said.

It really depends on facts and circumstances of the case, but if theres political pressure to prosecute then there will most likely be another prosecution.

It doesnt hurt that he is a Democrat in a Republican administration -- especially one that has talked about going after its political opponents, he added.

What are some famous mistrials?

Bill Cosby

Actor and comedian Bill Cosbys sexual assault trial ended in a mistrial on June 17. The jury deliberated for more than 52 hours over six days. Prosecutors will retry Cosby, and the new trial is expected to begin in 2018.

Phil Spector

Record producer and musician Phil Spector was accused of murdering Lana Clarkson, an actress, in 2007. The first trial resulted in a mistrial after jurors deliberated for about 44 hours over 12 days. However, Spector was retried and found guilty of murder in the second degree in 2008.

Shannon Kepler

Tulsa, Okla. police officer Shannon Kepler was accused of killing his daughter's black boyfriend in 2014 while he was off-duty. After three mistrials, Kepler was convicted of first-degree manslaughter during his fourth murder trial in October. He is slated to be sentenced later in November.

Bandidos biker gang

In 2015, the Bandidos biker gang encountered rival biker club, the Cossacks, at a Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco, Texas. A brawl and gunfight was sparked and nine bikers were left dead. Christopher "Jake" Carrizal, the president of the Bandidos' Dallas chapter, testified in court that the Cossacks started the brawl. On Nov. 10, the judge in the case declared a mistrial after jurors deliberated for 14 hours. A retrial for Cossacks was not immediately scheduled.

Michael Slager

Walter Scott died in 2015 after a white police officer named Michael Slager shot him. A bystander captured the incident on video. Scott was unarmed. After the jury in the case could not reach a unanimous vote, the judge declared a mistrial. But in May, Slager pleaded guilty as a result of a plea agreement with prosecutors. As a result, the state dropped its murder charges against him.
A Wisconsin College Democrats leader -- who had interned on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign -- resigned Tuesday after tweeting I f---ing hate white men.

Sarah Semrad, a student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse resigned from her state-wide College Democrat leadership position, Campus Reform reported.

Semrad also came under fire for a tweet criticizing pro-life literature on campus.

My new bit is tearing down all the pro life Christian pregnancy resource center fliers that they put up around campus to try & trick people, Semrad wrote.

She apologized for the tweets in a statement to the La Crosse Tribune. When contacted by Fox News, Semrad referred a reporter to her Tribune apology.

In a moment of impulsivity and immaturity, I posted the tweet about white males as an expression of frustration towards my male friend who wouldnt ask for directions, she wrote regarding the "white men" tweet. My tweet about posters described my actions after I saw and removed one poster that was hanging on campus that had not received proper university approval for on-campus posting.

She added: I recognize that my words were neither humorous nor harmless, and sincerely apologize to all who have been hurt, offended or embarrassed by them. My commitment to social justice remains steadfast and will not be deterred by these events, and I vow to use the maturity and sensitivity that would reflect that going forward.

Semrad is no longer on the College Democrats of Wisconsins website, where she had been listed as the Vice Chair.

It's not hard to imagine why Sarah had to step down, seeing as the College Democrats board is riddled with white men, Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans Chairman Jake Lubenow told Fox News. More troubling to the College Republicans, is not the ridiculous hatred of white men, but rather that someone who has demonized those who disagree with her has been allowed to serve in such a capacity for so long.

Lubenow added: Her disdain for the pro-life movement to the point where she enjoys taking down Christian pregnancy centers signs because of their refusal to perform abortions shows just how much the College Democrats really care about women."

CONTROVERSIAL DREXEL PROFESSOR BLAMES WHITENESS FOR TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTING

Earlier this year, Semrad spoke to local media about her work with the Wisconsin College Democrats, where she coordinated with regional directors and organized the annual state convention.

My number-one passion in politics is making sure that constituents feel represented and cared for, Semrad told the Journal Times. Im also very passionate about seeing more women and people of color in positions of power.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse didn't immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.




The City of East Ridge will hold its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 18. Line-up begins at 4 p.m. on Germantown Road from Ringgold Road north toward I-24, with the parade stepping off at 6:30 p.m.Ringgold Road will shut down at 6 p.m. from Donaldson Road to Moore Road. Germantown Road will be closed to all southbound traffic (except vehicles in the parade) beginning at 4 p.m. Only one northbound lane of Germantown will be open to traffic.Please obey all traffic rules and officials in this area.East Ridge Police will be at each intersection to direct traffic on the north-bound lane.
A former Missouri yoga instructor accused of molesting one of his 6-year-old students allegedly told police he touched the boy because he is a cute child.

Christian A. Hammond, 22, was arrested Tuesday in Parkville and charged with child molestation.

The boy told police Hammond reached down his pants multiple times and grabbed his buttocks after classes at Parkville Childrens Cottage, FOX4 KC reported, citing court records.

Hammond allegedly told police he grabbed the childs buttocks and genitals, but said he never made skin-to-skin contact.

When he was asked by cops why, Hammond said I dont know. He is a cute child.

Click for more from FOX4 KC.
Japan says three crew members rescued from a capsized boat off the northern coast are North Koreans, and Tokyo is arranging their return home.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters the Japanese coast guard rescued the three men who were floating on the small wooden vessel Wednesday in the open sea off the Noto peninsula.

Coast guard officials are searching for about a dozen of their fellow crew members believed to be missing.

Suga says Japan is arranging to accommodate the men's wish to return home. He did not elaborate.

The area is a rich fishing ground where poachers from North Korea and China have been spotted.

Three North Korean boats with 10 bodies inside washed up on the peninsula in 2015.
Indonesia's anti-graft commission said Thursday it will declare the speaker of parliament a fugitive if he doesn't turn himself in after being accused of involvement in the theft of $170 million of public funds.

Local TV reported that Corruption Eradication Commission officials and paramilitary police went to Setya Novanto's home late Wednesday night in a failed bid to arrest him and were met instead by his wife and lawyer.

Commission spokesman Febri Diansyah said its law enforcement team is still searching for Novanto, who was once hailed by President Donald Trump as one of Indonesia's most powerful men.

"We urge him to surrender," Diansyah said in a text message to The Associated Press. "We'll consider declaring him a fugitive if he is uncooperative."

Anti-corruption police allege that a network of about 80 people, mostly officials and legislators, and several companies used the introduction of a $440 million electronic identity card system in 2011 and 2012 to steal more than a third of the funds.

Novanto, also chairman of the Golkar party, which is part of Indonesia's governing coalition, has denied any wrongdoing.

A Trump admirer, Novanto made an unexpected appearance at a Trump news conference at Trump Tower in New York in September 2015 along with another Indonesian lawmaker, Fadli Zon. Novanto was introduced by Trump as one of Indonesia's most powerful men who would do great things for the U.S.
A European Union mission that monitors Kosovo's justice says a British judge who served with the initiative is under investigation for unspecified "serious allegations against him."

The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, or EULEX, said in a statement Thursday that a team overseen by the EU's highest court is investigating Malcolm Simmons, who has been a judge with the mission since 2008 and its chief judge since 2014.

The nature of the probe wasn't included in the statement, which said: "The EU and EULEX operate a zero-tolerance policy toward inappropriate behavior and wrongdoing."

Simmons has also lodged complaints against EULEX. He told France's Le Monde newspaper on Thursday that he has resigned because neither Britain nor the EU supported calls to investigate corruption in the Kosovo program.
An American woman from Hawaii -- who's been dubbed a loopy lady by Taiwanese media -- is not telling the truth about her interactions with a fishing boat from the country, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, pouring even more cold water over her tale of survival in the Pacific.

Jennifer Appel told NBC last week the Taiwanese sailors who towed her and Tasha Fuiava to safety after the pair drifted in the ocean for months were initially trying to kill them.

"We are not certain why they made such ungrounded accusations," spokesman Andrew Lee told reporters during a press conference Tuesday, according to the Focus Taiwan News Channel.

Appel, who said she intended to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti, also said the Taiwanese vessel was purposely ramming them, although she didn't explain why.

"The Taiwanese fishing vessel was not planning to rescue us," Appel said. "They tried to kill us during the night."

Lee, citing data from Taiwan's National Rescue Command Center and the Fisheries Agency, said the speeds and positioning of the boat, called the Feng Chun No. 66, prove it never rammed Appels sailboat.

He said the allegation was groundless and deviates from the truth, the Focus Taiwan News Channel reported.

The Taiwanese ship discovered the two women and their dogs on Oct. 24, around 900 miles southeast of Japan, before they were towed to the USS Ashland, the Navy has said.

Lee said the Taiwanese boat immediately rescued the two Americans and let them use its onboard satellite phone, the Focus Taiwan News Channel reported.

The legitimacy of the womens claims have been cast into doubt several times during the past few weeks by numerous sailing experts and scientists.

The Taiwan News website said Appels claim of being under attack by the fishing boat is one item on a long list of tall tales from her curious voyage that has become fishier by the day.

The article's headline referred to Appel as a loopy lady.

Appel and Fuiava, meanwhile, have been doubling down on their story.

Appel has defended a supposed mass attack by 30-foot tiger sharks that experts immediately questioned, and the pair has issued conflicting statements over whether they believed they were in life or death situations during the journey.

They have also insisted they were caught in a serious storm in the days after they set sail, despite weather data strongly suggesting otherwise.
The Pentagon announced in a statement Thursday there are now "more than" 500 US troops on the ground in Somalia.

A significant increase from early 2014 when roughly two dozen troops arrived for the first time since 1993 and the Black Hawk Down incident.

US Africa Command says there have been 28 airstrikes this year, mostly from drones against al-Shabaab, long considered the greatest terror threat in Africa.

At a press conference Thursday at the Pentagon, a top defense official denied any ramp-up.

"I do not believe necessarily there's a ramp-up," said Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., director of the Pentagon's Joint Staff when asked about the spike in airstrikes in Somalia. "It's the density of targets is such that now there's some of opportunities to do those strikes."

The US military recently conducted six straight days of airstrikes in Somalia from last Thursday to Tuesday.

Last month, al-Shabaab was blamed for a truck bombing in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu which killed over 300 people.

The head of the Pentagon's joint staff said there's no link between the fall of the ISIS capital Raqqa last month, and the first airstrikes against ISIS in Yemen and Somalia.

US DRONE STRIKE IN SOMALIA KILLS 'SEVERAL AL-SHABAAB MILITANTS, MILITARY SAYS

Earlier this month, the US conducted the first airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia.

McKenzie also denied the increase of hundreds of additional troops in Somalia as a "build up," but just a "flow of forces in and out" of the country.

In May, a Navy SEAL was killed fighting al-Shabaab, the first combat death in Somalia since 1993.

In addition to Somalia, the US military has conducted over 100 airstrikes against Al Qaeda in Yemen, including the first strikes against ISIS in Yemen last month.
Pope Francis blasted global warming skeptics on Thursday as having "perverse attitudes."

The pontiff, during remarks made to negotiators at climate talks in Germany, called climate change "one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing." He added efforts to combat climate change are held back by those who deny the science behind it, are indifferent or resigned to it, or think it can be solved by technical solutions.

"We must avoid falling into these four perverse attitudes, which certainly don't help honest research and sincere, productive dialogue," he said.

He urged negotiators at the Bonn meeting to take action free of special interests and political or economic pressures, and to instead engage in an honest dialogue about the future of the planet.

Negotiators at the Bonn meeting are working to implement the 2015 Paris Climate Accord aimed at capping global emissions.

The pope did not cite any countries by name, but President Trump previously announced the United States is withdrawing from the Paris accord.

In 2016, Francis said global warming is "mainly" due to human activity and he called for fossil fuels to be progressively phased out without delay.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Philippine president lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, saying he felt insulted by his recent remarks about the nations war on drugs.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte then told Trudeau to mind his own business and leave Filipinos alone.

I only answer to the Filipino. I will not answer to any other b---s---, especially foreigners. Lay off, Duterte continued, Reuters reported.

Dutertes remarks came after Trudeau told reporters he raised concerns about human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings in the Philippine leader's anti-drug campaign when he met with him recently. The meeting came ahead of Canadas summit in the Philippines with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"I also mentioned human rights, the rule of law and specifically extrajudicial killings as being an issue that Canada is concerned with," Trudeau said at a news conference. "I impressed on him the need for respect for the rule of law, and as always offered Canada's support and help as a friend to move forward on what is a real challenge."

Trudeau said his conversation with Duterte was cordial and positive.

However, Duterte has a different story. When asked about Trudeaus remarks, the Philippine president told reporters he refused to give the Canadian prime minister an explanation for the killings.

PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE: I STABBED SOMEONE TO DEATH, OBAMA IS SO BLACK AND ARROGANT

"I said I will not explain. It is a personal and official insult," Duterte said. "It angers me when you are a foreigner, you do not know what exactly is happening in this country. You don't even investigate."

Duterte did not mention Trudeau by name in his comments to the press.

This is not the first time Duterte has openly criticized a world leader. Last year, Duterte called former President Barack Obama a son of a bitch after the State Department publicly expressed concern over the Philippine anti-drug campaign.

Earlier this month, Duterte reportedly called Obama so black and arrogant for criticizing the Philippine drug war.

These white people, those from [the European Union], the ignorant Americans, pretending to be, this Obama, Duterte said, according to The Philippine Star. You are so black and arrogant. [He] reprimanded me. Why you reprimand me? Im the president of a country.

ACTIVISTS PRAISE TRUDEAUS COMMENTS ABOUT DUTERTE CRACKDOWN

President Trump who also attended the conference did not say if he raised human rights concerns in a meeting with Duterte. The White House later said Trump and Duterte discussed the Islamic State, illegal drugs and trade during their meeting.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders said human rights came up briefly in the meeting.

However, Harry Roque, Dutertes spokesman, said there was no mention of human rights or extralegal killings during the meeting with Trump, but there was a lengthy discussion on the Philippines war on drugs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The United Nations is rebuilding the devastated city of east Aleppo under the direction of the dictatorial Assad regime that destroyed it, according to U.N. planning documents examined by Fox News.

The plans, coordinated by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Syrian Government's Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, underline the extent of control the regime continues to exercise over the ostensibly neutral humanitarian program in the country.

They also stoke fears that the rebuilding program, part of the next phase of a multibillion-dollar humanitarian response plan for Syria, will entrench the displacement of tens of thousands of Syrians who fled Aleppo before it fell to Assads forces in December 2016.

An official working on the Syria response, who asked to remain anonymous, said the plans are not practical and don't take into account the refugees from eastern Aleppo. The official added the plan had the potential to cause social problems due to its inequitable planning priorities.

East Aleppo made headlines last year, as a months-long siege and savage military and air campaign by the Syrian Army, backed by Russian warplanes and Iranian-trained militias, led to a forced evacuation of the last supporters of the armed opposition.

The attacks included air assaults and poison gas attacks on hospitals, schools and food markets, as well as forced deportations.

The U.N.s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic stated that from July to December 2016, parties to the conflict committed serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes.

That was only the crescendo of disaster for East Aleppo, which was bombed into ruins for the two previous years, and saw a huge drop in its population as a result.

In planning to rebuild and repopulate the city, two parallel processes are now taking place: an internationally-supported humanitarian plan to deal with the needs of Syrians living in, and returning to, east Aleppo; and a much narrower development plan focused on reconstructing the historic Old City at the center of town.

A document outlining the broader, multi-agency humanitarian response, examined by Fox News, specifies suburbs that the Assad government and the local municipality have earmarked as priorities for returnees.

According to the internal document, the process for deciding on how to rebuild east Aleppo started with the government outlining 15 priority areas in the city for population returns. These were mapped over 10 U.N.-designated Shelter Cluster priority areas, chosen after the humanitarians assessed the security, practicality of allowing refugees to return, and needs, in each of the areas in the city. The mapping exercise then compared the lists and identified eight areas that appeared on both lists as the focus of rehabilitation resources.

A multi-sector pilot project is then identified within three of these neighborhoods, as a further initial target for rebuilding resources.

Matching up the planning documents with U.N. press releases issued throughout 2017 reveals that such projects as school refurbishment, health center repairs and new community centers in Aleppo fall almost exclusively within the priority areas of the city outlined by the government.

In fact, even though 52 east Aleppo neighborhoods were returned to government control by the time east Aleppo fell, some of the eight identified neighborhoods defined as priority areas by the regime and included in the U.N.s own plans are not in eastern Aleppo at all. They fall instead in the west and center of the city in neighborhoods that were not part of the months-long siege and military campaign in 2016.

A leaked draft of the U.N.s Humanitarian Response Plan for 2018 outlines that risks within the shelter cluster include the potential for aid diversion, corruption and empowerment of parties to the conflict, which should be addressed by all partners through their intervention design, management and monitoring systems.

The draft goes on to say that rehabilitation plans must include an understanding of context-specific Housing, Land and Property issues. These risk assessments and mitigations, intended to ensure U.N. plans do not contribute to the possibility of displaced persons being permanently forced out of their homes, do not appear to have been factored into Aleppo plans.

The document examined by Fox News does not address expansive areas of improvised and unofficial housing further east in the devastated city, which tens of thousands of refugees fled to escape the violence inflicted on the area. In other words, those people may now face the very real prospect of permanent displacement.

During the conflict, more than 30,000 of Aleppos property records were destroyed, the majority of which related to properties in the east, and in the Old City. Without property records, residents may be unable to prove ownership of their home, or even access compensatory payments or services.

Aleppos historic Old City has been separated from the broader humanitarian planning process, and is under the supervision of a so-called National Higher Steering Committee for the Restoration of the Old City of Aleppo. The most recent meeting of that committee, publicized on Nov. 2 by the Syria Trust for Development, a non-government organization associated with Syria's first lady, Asma Assad, was hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Asma Assad, and the charity she founded, are longtime partners of the U.N. in Syria. They are undertaking a large amount of relief and development work throughout the country using U.N. funds.

The Old City reconstruction plan is led by the Syrian Government's Ministry of Culture, and works closely with the Ministry for Public Works and Housing, and the Ministry for Tourism, as well as UNESCO and the UNDP, along with other government bodies and NGOs.

The Old Aleppo program is similar in design to that used in the rehabilitation of the Old City portions of Homs, a city south of Aleppo, which began in 2015 and continues today. There, too, the neighborhoods chosen for rebuilding appeared to prioritize the government's plans for the city, rather than any form of neutrality.

The Syria Institute and PAX for Peace, advocacy organizations that have worked together to monitor sieges and forcible displacements in Syria, heavily criticized the U.N.s interventions in Homs. Their report, titled No Return to Homs, detailed a series of interventions by the U.N. and the Assad government which, the report charged, would prevent refugees from Homs who fled the city, and others forcibly displaced from the Old City in 2014, from returning -- in effect, a political form of social engineering.

According to No Return to Homs, the process to establish priorities for Homs rehabilitation, and to decide which properties could be restored vs. which would require demolition, has been opaque, and has not included any persons not currently in the city itself. None of the displaced participants reached for this study had been contacted by any organizations or agencies regarding the property they left behind, the report noted.

Rather than acknowledge those failings, the Aleppo planning process uses Homs as an example of how best to proceed with assessing damage and reach out to the beneficiaries of rebuilding relief. And it states that the terms of reference for the Aleppo plan are endorsed by Homs Governorate.

The executive director of the Washington-based Syria Institute, Valerie Szybala, charges that the U.N. agencies engaging in reconstruction work in areas like eastern Aleppo are -- at least publicly -- maintaining a willful ignorance, putting on blinders to the fact that the Syrian regime is taking very real steps to prevent many civilians from returning to their homes," she says.

A new class of war profiteers are the new power network Damascus is using to dominate Aleppo today, and the regime intends to use this network in ruling post-conflict Syria.  Kheder Khaddour, Friederich Ebert Foundation

UNHCR declined to answer questions from Fox News about the decision to put at the top of the list the Syrian government's priorities in Aleppo. But that hasnt stopped them undertaking a heavily criticized social media campaign aimed at fundraising for their work in the city.

UNHCR also has press releases about its work in east Aleppo stating that For those that have chosen to return to Aleppo since the fighting stopped, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners are providing assistance to help people get back on their feet. They have backed this up with a supplementary funding request to donors for $156 million for the last quarter of 2017

In an October report on Aleppos new political and social order sponsored by Germanys Friederich Ebert Foundation, Kheder Khaddour, a non-resident fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, observed that many east Aleppo neighborhoods were previously populated by poorer new migrants from the countryside who continued to identify with their home villages or other parts of the country while working for factory owners, often independent of the regime, who lived in the wealthier western portions of the city.

Those communities have now been savagely disrupted, including their entrepreneurs and, as Khaddour puts it, the conflict has reshaped the balance of power between Aleppo and the regime in Damascus. A new class of war profiteers are the new power network Damascus is using to dominate Aleppo today, and the regime intends to use this network in ruling post-conflict Syria, he says.

If rehabilitation is truly intended to offer hope and recovery to the displaced populations who now face this social divide, Khaddour says, reconstruction aid should be provided only on the condition that no security restrictions will be placed upon the return of refugees and IDPs, and that independent Syrian technocrats should be involved in the reconstruction process in an oversight function to its spending and management.
The U.S. government urged the Zimbabwe military for an "expedient transition to democratic, civilian order" on Thursday amid ongoing political uncertainty that marks the likely end of President Mugabe's decades-long rule.

The U.S. Embassy in the capital city of Harare said in a statement that the U.S. government is deeply concerned by the actions taken by Zimbabwean military Wednesday that included putting Mugabe into military custody, reportedly with his wife Grace.

Mugabe was shown meeting Thursday with the army commander who put him under house arrest, as negotiations with a South African delegation and a Catholic priest at the state house pushed for a resolution to the political turmoil.

The state-run Zimbabwe Herald newspaper published what it called new photos of the meeting Thursday afternoon. It said details were to come.

We call on the Zimbabwean military leaders to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, uphold the constitutionally-protected rights of all citizens, and to quickly return the country to normalcy, the U.S. Embassy's statement said.

The United States encourages all Zimbabweans to resolve differences calmly and peacefully through democratic, transparent and constitutional processes, with proper respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression through any media, in order to move part this current crisis and towards a more stable future.

The political turmoil plaguing in the southern African country as it combats nearly 90 percent unemployment came to a head last week when Mugabe fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of plotting to take power, including through witchcraft.

Mnangagwa was seen as Mugabe's likely successor. His whereabouts are unknown after he fled the country last week, saying he feared for his safety and that of his family.

In an unprecedented move, the leader of the Zimbabwe army threatened to step in and take control if the purges against senior ruling ZANU-PF party officials continued.

Now in a political limbo, a range of voices have urged Mugabe to step aside so that country can transition into free and fair elections.

Southern African regional officials were meeting on the crisis in neighboring Botswana, and South African ministers had arrived in Harare for talks with the military and Mugabe.

However, the 93-year-old leader, whose ruled since its liberation from a white minority rule in 1980, reportedly remains defiant and insists he is the countrys only legitimate ruler, Reuters reported.

Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori is acting as a mediator between Mugabe and the militarys generals who seized power on Wednesday.

According to Sky News, Mugabe is reportedly resistant to the idea of making a graceful exit and insists on serving out his full term.

A joint statement by more than 100 civil society groups urged Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state, to peacefully step aside and asked the military to quickly restore order and respect the constitution. A joint statement by churches also appealed for calm.

Soldiers manning the few checkpoints on roads leading into downtown Harare greeted motorists with a smile, searching cars without hostilities and wishing motorists a safe journey.

Street vendors who endured police raids after Mugabe ordered their removal were working without hassles. Trade unions urged workers to go about their business.

"The situation is quite OK because they are now returning to their jobs," said one Harare resident, Clinton Mandioper.

The Human Rights Foundation also urged the new government to show restraint.

Zimbabwe has not had free and fair elections for decades, said HRF president Thor Halvorssen in a statement on Wednesday. Today, Zimbabwes de facto rulers have the opportunity to be on the right side of history. They can choose to go down a violent path and enthrone themselves as new dictators, or they can choose to facilitate a transition to democracy by refraining from violence, creating a broad interim governing coalition, and calling for free and fair elections in the short term.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Middle Valley Church of God announced that Pastor Mitch McClure will speak on the topic, "Thankful For The Love Of God" in theservice on

Each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School classes are available for all age groupings.
The United States plans to vote at the United Nations against a yearly resolution condemning the glorification of Nazism, State Department officials said Wednesday, adding an odd complication to a seeming point of international agreement.

Although it may seem strange -- condemning Nazis is typically a political no-brainer -- U.S. officials said free speech protections and other problems with the resolution makes it imprudent for America to support the document.

Introduced by Russia, the resolution calls on all U.N. nations to ban pro-Nazi speech and organizations, and to implement other restrictions on speech and assembly. That's a non-starter in the U.S., where First Amendment protections guarantee all the right to utter almost anything they want  even praise for Adolf Hitler and his ideology.

LONGTIME NEO-NAZI REVEALS HE'S GAY, HAS JEWISH HERITAGE

The U.S., along with just a handful of other countries, votes against the resolution every year, while the European Union nations and some others typically abstain. The resolution always passes overwhelmingly.

But this year, the "no" vote from the U.S. is likely to create more of a stir, given it's the first vote since President Trump took office. Trump's critics have said he's insufficiently critical of neo-Nazis.

So U.S. officials are working overtime this year to try to explain that "no" vote: America doesn't support pro-Nazi speech  but can't vote for a resolution that calls for outlawing it, either. The vote is scheduled for Thursday.

All resolutions in the General Assembly committees are non-binding and none impose any legal requirements on member nations. But American support for resolutions that contradict domestic law could end up being used as arguments in U.S. federal court, and officials worry about undermining national law enforcement efforts.

A similar drama bedeviled the Trump administration last month when the U.S. voted against a resolution at the U.N. Human Rights Council condemning the use of the death penalty to punish homosexuality  another apparent no-brainer. The U.S. couldn't vote for that because of the resolution's broader condemnation of the death penalty, even though the U.S. adamantly opposes capital punishment for homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery and apostasy, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at the time.

'SIMPSONS' COMPARES KELLYANNE CONWAY TO NAZI PROPAGANDA MINISTER

The United States clearly has the death penalty, both at the state and at the federal level, Nauert said. That is why we voted against this.

In addition, the U.S. has long expressed concerns that Russia uses the annual resolution to mount political attacks against its neighbors. That's because Moscow has for decades sought to portray the Baltic states and others that sought independence from Soviet domination as either pro-fascist or pro-Nazi, U.S. officials said.

In the past, Israel has voted for the resolution. But Washington has been pushing the Jewish state to vote no this year, or at a minimum to abstain. But it's unclear how Israel will vote. A spokesman for Israel's mission to the U.N. didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Emmerson Mnangagwa took over as president of Zimbabwe Friday after the extraordinary exit of Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa served as Mugabes vice president until he was fired and fled the African nation for his safety. Mugabe resigned earlier this week as the countrys Parliament moved to impeach him.

We must work together. You, me, all of us who make up this nation, Mnangagwa said at his inauguration in front of 60,000 people. He urged Zimbabweans who fled the country in recent years to come back.

Military officials in Zimbabwe took control of the capital earlier this month. According to critics, that move put Mugabe in a position to promote his wife, Grace Mugabe, to succeed him.

Read on for a look at the key players in the Zimbabwe leadership change.

Robert Mugabe

Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe since the countrys independence from Britain in 1980.

Mugabe was born in Rhodesia, which is now called Zimbabwe. After graduating from college in 1945, Mugabe taught in Rhodesia and Ghana for 15 years, according to History.com.

In 1960, Mugabe entered Zimbabwe politics when he joined the pro-independence National Democratic Party and became its publicity secretary. Mugabe later left the National Democratic Party, which was re-formed as the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union in 1961, for the Zimbabwe African National Union (now known as Zanu-PF). He is still with Zanu-PF today, according to History.com.

Mugabe was imprisoned in 1964 when he opposed white colonial rulers. He was freed 10 years later, according to History.com. He then fought in Rhodesia's war for independence. In 1980, he became prime minister of the newly independent country. In 1987, Mugabe became president of Zimbabwe.

Mugabe, 93, led the country under authoritarian rule since 1980. Critics argue that he became increasingly authoritarian over time, while supporters say he represents Zimbabwes poor. According to the BBC, Mugabe is arguably best known for his land reform program in the 1990s that redistributed white-owned farms to black peasants.

The country has experienced considerable political and economic turmoil during his rule.

Mugabe recently sacked his Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in favor of his wife. Mugabe married Grace, his second wife, in 1996.

Mugabe finally resigned as Zimbabwes president this week as the Parliament was moving to formally impeach him.

Grace Mugabe

Grace Mugabe, who was born in South Africa in 1965, was the first lady of Zimbabwe. She is 41 years younger than her husband.

The couple has three children together, according to the BBC: Bona, Robert and Chatunga.

Critics have called her Gucci Grace -- a reference to her lavish shopping habits, according to the BBC.

She did charity work before becoming more active in the Zanu-PF party. A polarizing figure, Grace was named the head of Zanu-PF women's league in 2014.

Grace Mugabe spearheaded the ousting of former Zimbabwe Vice President Joice Mujuru in 2014, according to the BBC. Mnangagwa, whom Grace once called loyal and disciplined, later replaced Mujuru. But Grace recently called on her husband to replace him, claiming that Mnangagwas supporters were planning a coup.

Prior to the military maneuvers, it was thought that Grace would become the country's vice president in December, according to the BBC.

Emmerson Mnangagwa

Until recently, Emmerson Mnangagwa, 71, was Mugabes vice president.

He received military training in Egypt and China, but later returned to then-Rhodesia to help lead the country in its fight for independence. Like Mugabe, Mnangagwa was arrested and imprisoned for nearly 10 years. He was allegedly tortured during his time in jail.

He is also one of the founders of the Zanu-PF party, and has been in government ever since the country gained independence, according to the BBC.

Known in the country as crocodile, Mnangagwa is said to be politically cunning. He served as the countrys minister for national security before becoming vice president in 2013, according to the BBC.

Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe, citing threats to his life, after Mugabe fired him. He returned on Wednesday and was sworn in as the country's new leader Friday morning.

General Constantino Chiwenga

Gen. Constantino Chiwenga, 61, has led the countrys national army since the early 1990s, according to the BBC. Chiwenga, a close ally of Mnangagwa, joined the war for independence in the 1970s. He trained with Zimbabwe's African National Liberation Army in Mozambique.

He was sanctioned by the European Union, U.S. and New Zealand in 2002 before being promoted to commander general of Zimbabwe's combined armed forces in 2003, according to the BBC.

On Nov. 13, he warned that the military would step in if its historical political allies continued to be removed or targeted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The City of Chattanooga Parks Division is seeking volunteers for this Saturdays Family Volunteer Day at Sterchi Farm Park and Trailhead. "This is an opportunity to have fun, meet new people, develop new skills and learn about stewardship, while protecting and enhancing Chattanoogas special places," officials said.



For this Saturdays event, Chattanooga is joining a national initiative from the Walt Disney Company, which has organized a national Family Volunteer Day on the Saturday before Thanksgiving for 22 years. "The day helps kick off the holiday season by giving service and presents an exciting opportunity for kids and families around the world to make a difference in their community," officials said.



In Chattanooga, Family Volunteer Day also provides an opportunity to connect volunteers in the community with the City of Chattanoogas Meet Me at the Park project. Chattanooga won funding for the project through a grant from the National Recreation and Park Association. The NRPA is also collaborating with The Walt Disney Company on Meet Me at the Park, which is their joint program aimed at improving access to outdoor play  including trails, mobile play, play spaces and sports.



The grant Chattanooga received will fund the Sterchi Farm Adventure Trail at Sterchi Farm Park. Chattanooga is one of only 25 grant recipients nationwide to be selected through the program.

Families - and individuals - in Chattanooga are encouraged to join the Family Volunteer Day to help spruce up Sterchi Farm Park. For this Saturday, projects will include:

 Landscaping, such as invasive plant removal;

 Litter pick up;

 Graffiti removal; and

 Fence staining



Volunteer activities will take place from 9 a.m. to around noon. After volunteering, everyone is invited to stay for lunch and to learn more about the Sterchi Farm Adventure Trail and these partners: Chattanooga Park Stewards, Trust for Public Land, WildOnes, GreenSteps, GreenTrips and the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance.



Info and registration is available here.



For more information on City of Chattanooga parks volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.chattanooga.gov/parkvols.
Capt. Isaac Willis of Culpeper County must have been surprised when an order hed placed with his agent in England arrived.

Instead of the fine cloak hed asked for, the agent apparently misread Willis handwriting and sent a handsome tall-case, or grandfather, clock instead. The former Farmers Bank at 900 Princess Anne St. purchased the English-made piece in 1836, and it kept time there for years, probably due in part to the diligence of a house slave named John Washington.

The clock and a mannequin of Washington as a dejected-looking lad sitting next to it will be among the items of Heirlooms & Relics: Portrait of a Community, a new exhibit opening Sunday at the Fredericksburg Area Museum.

Washington spent most of his youth living above the bank and tending the needs of his owner, Catherine Ware Taliaferro, whose father owned and operated the bank. We know from what the jobs of house slaves were, one would have been to wind the clocks, said Sara Poore, the Fredericksburg Area Museums executive director.

The young slave would eventually flee across the Rappahannock River to freedom during the Civil War, and pen the story of his life. In his Memorys of the Past, he wrote that he was never permitted to leave the property, and wistfully remembered looking out from the window where he could see many rolicking fun loving companions playing in full sight of the house on bright Sunday morning in the months of May or June, with a beautiful surrounding country spread out for miles . . .

The clock, the mannequin and other objects in the exhibit will help to illuminate the nature and fabric of 18th- and 19th-century Fredericksburg through fine arts while also highlighting the artisans and laborers who made such finery possible.

It really shows that we are all knit together, said Poore.

Heirlooms & Relics will include beautifully crafted pieces of furniture, such as an 1800 sideboard that had belonged to Fredericksburg Mayor Richard Johnston, for example, as well as spoons made by Henry White, who was a silversmith in Fredericksburg from 1772 to 1827. Nearby will be a sturdy walnut workbench made in the 1700s and a wood stove forged at the Marlbro Furnace in Winchester in 1768. The stove was found in the Mary Washington House attic and gifted to the museum.

The exhibit will also include an elaborate wooden Noahs Ark with dozens of pairs of animals and birds that had belonged to Annie Myer, the daughter of German immigrants, as well as her handwritten cookbook. Myers father, John Myer, opened a bakery and candy shop on William Street in the 1850s, and purchased a flour mill north of town after the Civil War. Descendants still live in the city.

Given pride of place in the exhibit will be a 1724 Hebron pulpit Bible written in German that was recently conserved. Its beautifully illuminated front pages will be on view for the first week of the exhibit, and then will be flipped to help preserve them.

Heirlooms & Relics: Portrait of a Community will be one of two permanent exhibitions on display at the museum. The other is The PNC Legacy Collection, which PNC gave to the museum in 2016 after its branch bank at the old Farmers Bank location closed. It features a number of objects with Fredericksburg connections, including Willis clock that will be on display in Heirlooms & Relics.

Poore said that the core of Heirlooms & Relics will remain in the museums Quarles Gallery, but some pieces will be switched out periodically with others in the museums collection.
Lynn Barbini had spent the better part of her Monday scrambling to make a payment on a Dominion Energy bill she thought was three months overdue.

That, she hoped, would head off a threat to cut the power at her house in Providence Forge, which a man on the phone who claimed to be a utility employee said was imminent.

"They were on route to my house, that's how he termed it," she said.

Lacking a debit card, Barbini, owner of a trail-riding business, was coaxed into making an $800 payment via a prepaid card purchased at a drug store, enough she thought to stave off a disconnection that would make it impossible to water her 23 horses and create an embarrassing inconvenience for a group of riders coming to spend the night.

But another man, who said he was a Dominion manager, then demanded she pay what he said was the full balance owed of $1,200, so Barbini headed to her bank to figure out why the automatic payments she thought she had set up months ago weren't working.

The teller showed Barbini an webpage about a scam involving Dominion customers. The teller started asking the scammer questions and he hung up. The 800 number Barbini had been calling most of the day immediately stopped working.

"I was sick to my stomach," she said. "It all flooded, like this big huge heat wave, over me that I had just been had."

As of Nov. 3, Dominion says 2,678 of its nearly 2.5 million Virginia customers reported that they had received a fraudulent phone call attempting to collect a debt, a string of calls that has succeeded in scamming $120,425 from unsuspecting residents and businesses. That's an increase of 49 percent over 2016, said Janell M. Hancock, a Dominion spokeswoman.

On Monday alone, Dominion received 100 reports of scam calls, she added. In a news release Wednesday, Dominion, Virginia's largest utility, warned its customers about the surge in rip-off attempts.

"We never threaten customers with immediate disconnection when they are behind on their bills," said Charlene Whitfield, Dominion's vice-president of customer service. "We contact customers by phone or in writing multiple times to work out a payment plan before disconnection occurs. The payment plan never requires payment within an hour or less."

Some victimized customers say their caller IDs have read "Dominion" when called by the scammers. Barbini added that when she called back after the first call from a man claiming be "Kevin Reese" from Dominion dropped, she heard what sounded like an exact recording of Dominion's automated answer and dial-by-number phone tree.

"We lose power a lot during storms so I have to call them a lot," Barbini said. "There was not one thing that made me suspicious."

A few other factors made it easier for Barbini to believe that something was wrong with her account. She had recently moved and maintains home and business accounts. Barbini also had set up automated payments about three months ago, the same amount of time the scammers claimed that her bill had been delinquent, so enough pieces clicked into place that she thought the call was legitimate until it was too late.

Now, though, she's embarrassed that she was taken in, given all the signs that were there: the pressure to get a prepaid card, the callers' foreign accents, and the looming threat of a service disconnection.

Particularly stinging is the one of the scammer's remarks as he took the prepaid card number:

"'Slow down and read the number. I want to make sure I get it. I don't want your day to get any worse,'" Barbini recalls. "He knew exactly how bad my day was going to get."

Though it's not easy to admit publicly that she was defrauded, Barbini said she wants to help ensure it doesn't happen to someone else.

"Nobody can afford to throw $800 out the window. I've got 23 horses to feed," she said. "It was a blow. But luckily it's not going to crush me. But there are people out there who will not recover if it happens to them. ... What if that was your parents, what if that was your mother or the poor person down the street who can't put food on the table for her kids?"

Dominion says it is working with local and federal law enforcement as well as other energy companies to monitor scams.

The utility reminds customers to call (866) 366-4357 to confirm whether a payment is due and collect information from scammers to help law enforcement. Customers should never use a prepaid card to avoid a shutoff and can pay in person at designated Dominion payment centers.
Two officials in the Virginia Department of Transportation took nearly a half-million dollars in cash bribes from snowplow companies in exchange for valuable winter contracts.

Kenneth D. Adams, 42, and Anthony Willie, 55, pleaded guilty in Alexandria federal court this week to a fraud conspiracy, as did three contractors who paid the bribes.

Until their arrests this year, the two were in charge of VDOT's office in Burke and had the power to decide which contractors were used to plow roads during snowstorms. For at least the past six years, in exchange for those contracts, the two men took a cut of the profits, according to court documents.

Sometimes snow-removal-company owners paid them cash outside fast-food restaurants and supermarkets in the area. Other times, they steered money toward a landscaping company owned by Adams.

Adams also admitted to selling cocaine to his VDOT co-workers; his supplier was the relative of another employee.

The contractors who pleaded guilty are Rolando Alfonso Pineda Moran, 46, Elmer Antonio Mejia, 50, and John Lee Williamson, 51.

Lawyers for the defendants did not immediately reply to requests for comment. All five will be sentenced in February.

Shaheen Sariri, a fourth contractor, has a trial date in January and plans to argue that he was extorted into paying the VDOT employees, according to court filings.

Lawyers for Sariri wrote in a court filing that he had contacted law enforcement about "unfair practices and essentially insider trading" at VDOT. Adams and Willie "had a chokehold over the snow-removal business" in the area, lawyers Peter Greenspun and Mikhail Lopez wrote.

Prosecutors countered in their court filing that Sariri could have avoided paying bribes by working with one of the other 17 VDOT offices in the area.
Republican leaders are fighting a Democratic House of Delegates candidates federal lawsuit over 55 unopened absentee ballots in Stafford County, writing that the stakes  could not be higher.

The campaign of Democrat Joshua Cole, who lost the 28th District House election last Tuesday to Republican Bob Thomas by 82 votes, requested an emergency court order requiring those 55 ballots to be counted in a race that could determine control of the chamber. But attorneys for Thomas wrote late Wednesday in a motion to intervene that the ballots cannot be counted under state law because they arrived after the Election Day deadline.

The Democrats request seeks to replace an easy-to-understand, bright-line rule with a standard by which any ballot returned late may or may not be counted based on the whim of a local official, attorneys with Washington-based Baker & Hostetler wrote.

Such a scenario would rapidly devolve into chaos, leading to voter confusion and paralyzing the Commonwealths ability to administer its elections promptly and with certainty and confidence.

The attorneys said the Cole campaign offered no proof, only speculation, that the ballots had been delivered late because of an apparent error by the U.S. Postal Service.

The motion to intervene lists Thomas and Stafford Republican Committee Chairwoman Danielle Davis as the applicants. An attorney for Staffords registrar and electoral board also submitted court papers Thursday opposing Coles suit, writing that the ballots were indisputably received after the statutory deadline.

A hearing has been scheduled for Friday morning in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, and Republicans will be able to participate if the court signs off on their request to intervene. The race is likely headed for a state-funded recount regardless of the outcome in court.

The lawsuits defendants include state and local elections officials, none of whom adequately represent Thomas interests, attorneys wrote. Davis, the Stafford GOP chair, also wants to protect her vote from being diluted and/or  undermined by the Cole campaigns request, court papers state.

Thomas is the chosen Delegate of the voters of House District 28, and he has a substantial [interest] in ensuring that he remains the lawful delegate-elect, the attorneys wrote. The 28th District seat being vacated by Republican House Speaker Bill Howell includes parts of Fredericksburg and Stafford.

The ballots also could impact the Stafford Board of Supervisors race between Democratic incumbent Laura Sellers and Republican Mark Dudenhefer. Dudenhefer won by 12 votes, though Sellers said she will ask for a recount out of principle.

Staffords three-member electoral board voted 21 Tuesday to disqualify the 55 absentee ballots because the registrar received them the day after polls closed.

Stafford Registrar Greg Riddlemoser expressed frustration over the late ballots in an email to state elections officials. He wrote that the U.S. Postal Service delivered 10 absentee ballots at 3:30 p.m. on Election Day and said repeatedly the rest of the day that they had no more mail for us.

The next morning, he received the 55 absentee ballots at issue, his email states. There is no possible way in my military mind that these ballots should not have been available to us on Election Day before close-of-polls, wrote Riddlemoser, who is retired from the Air Force. How can there be zero, zero, zero  all afternoon and evening and then suddenly 55?

Coles lawsuit states that an apparent error by the Postal Service is to blame for the late ballots.

The ballots also could impact the Stafford Board of Supervisors race between Democratic incumbent Laura Sellers and Republican Mark Dudenhefer.
LIKE ITS earlier prohibition on alcohol, the federal governments decades-long War on Drugs, including opioids, has proven to be an abysmal failure. An estimated 59,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses in 2016, including at least 1,420 residents of Virginia. Last month, President Trump declared opioid addiction a public health emergencya major change from the criminalization model that has proven so ineffective in the past.

Faced with surrender or a change in battle tactics, the latter seems to be the best way going forward in the losing War on Drugs. But it inevitably leads to an uncomfortable discussion about why so many Americans need to self-medicate with dangerous drugs to reduce their psychic as well as physical pain.

Overdoses are a large part of what Princeton professors Anne Case and Angus Deaton characterize as deaths of despair that also include alcohol abuse and suicide.

Despair can be quantified. American males between the ages of 25 and 39 have the highest fatal opioid overdose rates. Native Americans and whites, and those with only a high school diploma or GED who are single, never married or divorced, are also most likely to overdose, according to a new report by Utah Sen. Mike Lees Social Capital Project, which concluded: One thing is clear. We are many years into this national public health emergency, and we are not winning the battle.

The Social Capital Project found that three out of four heroin addicts were first hooked on opioids by the legal pain medication they were prescribed by their physicians.

In June, the New England Journal of Medicine confessed that a one-paragraph letter it published in 1980 that falsely informed physicians that the risk of addiction was low when opioids were prescribed for chronic pain  even though no evidence was provided by the correspondents, helped create the current crisis, in addition to aggressive and misleading marketing by pharmaceutical companies.

In 2007, the president, a top lawyer and the former medical director of Purdue Pharmathe manufacturer of the opioid narcotic OxyContinpleaded guilty in Roanoke to federal criminal charges that they misled government officials and health care professionals about the drugs addictive potential. The company agreed to pay $600 million in fines.

But overuse of narcotic painkillers continues. Nearly 215 million prescriptions for opioids were filled in the U.S. last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Its not a coincidence that in 2016, overdoses also overtook auto accidents, HIV, and gun-related fatalities as the leading cause of accidental death for Americans under age 50.

In the Fredericksburg region, opioid prescribing rates in 2016 ranged from 166.3 prescriptions per 100 residents in the city of Fredericksburg to 66.4 in Spotsylvania County, 54.6 in King George County and 49.1 in Stafford County, according to the Social Capital report.

After getting addicted to prescription painkillers, its a short trip to moving on to street narcotics like heroin and fentanyl.

According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of fentanyl seizures in 2014 were concentrated in 10 states on the East Coast. Virginia was seventh on that list. Virginia Department of Health statistics show that last year, heroin overdoses killed 229 Virginians. But fentanyl overdoses, which doubled last year, were not far behind at 224 deaths.

Another 151 deaths in Virginia last year were caused by a combination of heroin and fentanyl, including Gray Deathan often lethal concoction containing heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil (an elephant tranquilizer) and the synthetic opioid U-47700, which is dangerous to touch or accidentally inhale, let alone ingest.

Gray Death is so potent that technicians at state toxicology labs in Virginia have to work in pairs and have the antidote naxolone available while analyzing samples in case one of them is accidentally contaminated.

Last month, four people from Fredericksburg and Ruther Glen were arrested in Caroline County for possession of $10,000 worth of Gray Death found during an undercover raid. Dealers have been peddling this poison all over the commonwealth, from Northern Virginia to Richmond and Hampton Roads as well.

Changing battle tactics does not mean a halt to prosecuting dealers who prey on vulnerable peoples despair. It does mean acknowledging that opioid addicts need hope and a stake in their own futures, and finding the public-policy prescriptions that will address and help alleviate their pain.
A book and a collection of photos by a Chinese writer showing the life of the Panamanian people were released Wednesday.

Yu Xi paid a 15-day visit to Panama in 2016, and interviewed local residents, including native peoples. Yu took more than 20,000 pictures, which were compiled into a photo collection called "iHola, Panama!" He also wrote about Panamanian society as well as his insights in the book "Have a Date with Panama."

Zhao Qizheng, former director of the State Council Information Office, wrote the prefaces for both the book and photo album. Zhao said that they offer a new guide for Chinese readers interested in getting to know Panama.

Yu is an established writer, photographer and painter. For more than 20 years, he has conducted cultural exchanges with people from more than 60 countries and regions in various forms, such as photography, literature, and public speeches.
What market price can UK prime lamb producers cope with? This is the question prominent farmers and industry stakeholders are debating amid Brexit trade negotiations.

In this weeks Trade Talk, auctioneer Chris Clapham of Stags considers the issue following meetings with his local member of parliament.

See also: How one sheep farmer is switching breeds to increase returns

More than a year ago, Defra said leaving the EU would be a major threat to the UK sheep industry. Each year the UK exports 40% of sheep and lamb meat production, of which about 97% goes to Europe, according to AHDB figures.

Mr Clapham of South Molton Market, Tavistock Livestock Centre and Honiton Market writes: Last Friday I was asked to attend a meeting with North Devon MP Peter Heaton-Jones, along with four other prominent sheep farmers, three of whom have positions in the AHDB, NFU and NSA.

It was an MPs surgery, so we only had 30 minutes to get our main concerns across to him in the hope he would take them to Westminster as Brexit talks continue.

My main concern is the viability of producing prime lamb, as I am frequently told by my vendors that 70 is the break-even point to produce a prime lamb.

In the worst-case scenario under Brexit, the introduction of a World Trade Organization tariff would add more than 50% to the cost of exporting our lamb, and New Zealand imports would still be able to access our market free of any tariff.

This being the case, it is estimated that the price of our prime lambs would fall to the 50 a head mark, way below the cost of production.

I was struck by the knowledge and clear thought of my four colleagues in the meeting, and amazed at the amount of meetings they are attending and speaking to at this important time.

Our industry needs strong voices and we need to ensure that those people who are elected to represent us are not shrinking violets, but strong communicators putting the producers best interests first.
Scottish farm leaders have urged farmers to view Brexit as a wake-up call for their businesses  and called on politicians to help secure a long-term future for the sector.

Speaking at the AgriScot farm business event, NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said growers and livestock producers needed certainty to plan their businesses.

Farmers also needed continued access to the European market and seasonal workers from overseas, Mr McCornick said at the Ingliston showground, Edinburgh.

See also: Wage hike could eliminate Scottish farm profits

Scotlands farmers and crofters work in scales of production that are measured in years, so we need to move away from short-term fixes, he said.

A long-term view of policy and support was essential to allow all parts of industry to make decisions, Mr McCornick said on Wednesday (15 November).

He added: We are the cornerstone of a food and drink sector looking to double in size by 2030  that ambition will only be realised if we grow our agricultural output.

Farm support

Mr McCornick called on politicians in the Westminster and Holyrood parliaments to put aside short-term fixes and focus on a long-term view of policy and support for agriculture.

All politicians in all parliaments need to show genuine commitment to work together to secure the future for our industry, our environment and our rural economy, he said.

The measure of success will be judged in farmers and crofters incomes.

Many Scottish farmers and crofters have faced a challenging year. As well as one of the wettest summers on record, they have also faced delays in support payments.

Rural economy

Incomes needed to be improved to allow farmers to invest in their businesses and deliver food, landscapes, jobs, environmental benefits and a thriving rural economy, said Mr McCornick.

Leaving the European Union was an opportunity to do things better  for farmers as well as politicians, he added.

Brexit is the wake-up call and the opportunity to change and do better.

In recent months, NFU Scotland has successfully lobbied the Scottish government for the timely delivery of support scheme loans for farmers.

Scottish rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said the government had paid 300m to 12,700 farmers and crofters  with 73% of loan offers taken up.
The 42nd Kuwait International Book Fair kicked off Wednesday in Kuwait City, which has become a hallmark of the Kuwaiti cultural landscape.

Kuwaiti Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Information, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah, said at the opening ceremony of the fair that the Kuwait Book Fair is "a hallmark of the Kuwaiti cultural landscape."

He added that about 500 publishers from 30 countries participated in the fair, which dates back to 1975, has become one of the most important Arab exhibitions.

The director of the exhibition Saad Al-Enezi said this year's book fair would be special because Kuwait is being celebrated as the 2017 Arab youth capital.

As usual, extracurricular cultural events will be held on the sideline of the book fair to enhance the overall quality of the event, he added.
A Pinch of Salt: The election is over, I think, so what now?
Oregon State University officials are touting a planned marine studies building in Newport as a model of safety for construction in tsunami zones, but detractors insist the idea is misguided.

The design was unveiled Wednesday at a community meeting at OSUs Hatfield Marine Science Center, where the university is planning a $50 million, 72,000-square-foot classroom and laboratory building to support its Marine Studies Initiative.

A three-story core building will be connected to a two-story structure that will include community space, an auditorium, an innovation lab and other facilities, the university announced in a press release Wednesday afternoon.

A ramp will lead from ground level to the top of the auditorium and from there to the roof of the main three-story structure. At a height of 47 feet, the buildings roof is designed to serve as a vertical evacuation site for more than 900 people if a tsunami strikes the area.

Critics of OSUs plans have assailed the idea of siting a new classroom and research facility at the Hatfield center, which sits on a manmade sandspit in Newports Yaquina Bay. The low-lying location would be inundated in the event of a tsunami triggered by a major subduction zone earthquake off the Oregon coast, a possibility considered increasingly likely by experts.

But university administrators counter that the oceanfront location is an ideal setting for OSUs expanding marine studies programs and argue that the new buildings design will make it a refuge for people threatened by a massive ocean wave.

This new building will not only meet our programming goals for the Marine Studies Initiative, coastal and oceanic research and public outreach, but it will include added safety options for the Hatfield campus through its vertical evacuation, Hatfield Marine Science Center director Bob Cowen said in the news release.

Opponents of the decision remain unconvinced.

The basic problem is that there is no compelling reason to put this building in the tsunami zone. Ships and port facilities need to be on the water, school buildings and auditoriums do not, OSU marine geology professor Chris Goldfinger told the Gazette-Times.

Vertical evacuation is fine, and is done where other options don't exist. Here, the obvious option is simply don't build in the tsunami zone.

Building outside the zone would also be cheaper since you don't have to mitigate for a 30-foot tsunami hitting the building at about 30 mph, Goldfinger argued.

Also, when the tsunami comes, even if everyone does survive, you will lose the building, he added. It won't be usable again, so it and all its research capability and content are then disposable.

The Portland architectural firm of Yost Grube Hall designed the new building. Andersen Construction, also of Portland, will serve as general contractor on the project.

Oregon State officials said they hope to break ground in the spring, with a target completion date of fall 2019 for the structures academic and research core.

The university has also purchased a 5-acre site nearby where it plans to build a dormitory for up to 360 students. That property, located south of the Hatfield center near the campus of Oregon Coast Community College, is outside the inundation zone.

The new dorm, which is also expected to open in the fall of 2019, was designed by Hacker, a Portland architectural firm. Gerding Builders of Corvallis will be the general contractor for that project.

By 2025, OSU hopes to have as many as 500 students annually taking classes or doing research at the Hatfield Marine Science Center as part of the Marine Studies Initiative.
Lang Lang [file photo/Chinanews.com]

Chinese pianist Wang Yujia will replace Lang Lang for Berliner Philharmoniker's concerts, entitled "Borgward Music Night," in Shanghai on November 16 and 17 due to a hand injury.

Wang will collaborate with Berliner Philharmoniker at Shanghai Oriental Art Center in Bartok's "Piano Concerto No. 2," known as a difficult piece to play.

"It is a pity that we will not have Lang Lang for the concert, but we are lucky to have Wang Yujia instead. Both are top Chinese pianists with excellent skills, albeit in different styles," said Sir Simon Rattle, artistic director and chief conductor of Berliner Philharmoniker. "Wang has more of a Russian and French style  she is definitely the best choice we can have (to replace Lang)."

This is the third time the orchestra, led by Sir Rattle, will perform in Shanghai since their first visit in 2005. The concerts will also be part of Rattle's last season with the orchestra as artistic director.

Sir Rattle has deliberately picked some pieces from his "bucket list" to perform before his departure.

"Rachmaninov's 'Symphony No. 3' is definitely one of the must-play before my leaving," he said.

The list also includes Stravinsky's "Petrouchka" and some short pieces commissioned by the orchestra in the last two years that Sir Rattle described "great dim sum" for the concerts.
Inasmuch as I am a direct descendant of Joseph Conant Avery (hereafter referred to as J.C., the name affectionately used by family members in my lifetime), I feel some pushback is fitting regarding the Oregon State University report on J.C. Avery and his times. The Oct. 13 Gazette-Times article on the report was headlined Historic Report Connects Corvallis Founder to Pro-Slavery Newspaper.

I have repeatedly read the subject report and would suggest that perhaps a more appropriate newspaper headline would have been Historical Report Concludes No Direct Evidence of J.C. Avery being Pro-Slavery, A White Supremacist, Nor the Owner/Publisher of The Occidental Messenger. Without themselves taking the time to read the full report impressionable students, and others, will most likely conclude just the opposite from viewing the headline used. The subject report did a decent job of exonerating the negative accusations currently being tossed about by many in their attempt to defame J.C. Avery. With regards to the ownership of the proverbial printing press: As a successful businessman there are other reasons J.C. may have owned that particular press and die set. Does anyone really know? Doubtful: after all, the events in question took place some 160 years ago.

I herein compliment the writers of the subject report for the detail of J.C.s political life. Admittedly I knew nothing about the Salem Clique before the discussion in the report. Coincidentally, or maybe not, the OSU Press released a new publication this past summer titled "The Salem Clique," by Barbara S Mahoney. I am looking forward to getting my own copy and reading about the political machine that J.C. was up against. After having read the book's preamble it is safe to say that J.C. was not dealing with a group of choir boys. The political stakes were enormous! Can you imagine: If only J.C. had prevailed, Oregon would have entered statehood with the city of Corvallis being its state capital. Give that some thought.

I am critical of the subject report's discussion pertaining to the Corvallis School Board's naming of a new middle school after J.C. and Martha Avery 13 years ago. Board members elected to take the easy way out and they caved from the weight of anecdotal evidence and outright lies presented to them. Simply put, they were hoodwinked.

I am further critical as to how the summary and conclusion paragraph in the report is written. Why such a disconnect from the facts stated in the previous 15 pages? Was the summary and conclusion statement a consensus of the five team members involved or was it driven by one member only? By means of a brief background check on each of the five research team appointees I was able to determine that because of career agendas, one or more of those team members should have considered recusal. Being impartial is paramount here.

For the curious, here is my lineage by surname, and a couple of other Avery tidbits: Joseph Conant J.C. Avery (1817-1876); Punderson Avery (1843-1912); Grover C. Avery (1883-1971); Punderson Avery (1912-1992); Gary G. Avery (born in 1940), the writer of this letter.

When researching Corvallis history, you are apt to become confused when coming across the name Punderson Avery. Yes, there were two, my father and my great-grandfather. Also confusing is the fact that neither one of them was given a middle name. Within our branch of the family tree there was a grandmother whose maiden name was Hannah Punderson. On more than one occasion, Avery family elders told me that the Punderson Avery born in 1843, a successful Corvallis businessman and banker, did more for the advancement of the university than his father J.C.
In this age of politically driven, disinformation, fact-checking is essential for making rational decisions as consumers and voters. The immensely adverse impact of the 2016 election provides ample evidence that rational decision-making by a majority of citizens is essential to replacing the current U.S. corporatocracy with democracy. Reading the book, Nudge by Thaler (2017 Nobel Prize in economics), is recommended as a starter for becoming a rational decision-maker.

The choice between fossil-fueled and electric vehicles is dependent on your source of electricity and concern about the health and physical security of all children and adults, everywhere. As a retired automotive engineer, I recommend that you drive an electric vehicle only if you can charge its battery primarily with solar-, wind-, hydro- or geothermally-generated electricity. A University of Minnesota study, published in the National Academy of Sciences Journal, reports that about twice as many premature deaths are caused by electric vehicles driven on coal-fired electricity, than are caused by gasoline-fueled vehicles over their respective life cycles. Annually, there are over 200,000 premature U.S. deaths, caused by toxic exhaust gases from U.S. coal fired power plants. On the other hand, gasoline-fueled vehicles cause about twice as many deaths as electric vehicles, driven on clean energy.
We have now another ignorant administration who this time turns a blind eye to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction here at home. Led by a belligerent bully belittling any one disagreeing with him, administration officials dismiss the mass shootings as aberrations of unhinged individuals. Sadly, any sensible attempts at controlling the unregulated sales of these weapons of mass destruction are shot down by the gun lobby, its stooge in the White House and a compliant GOP in the House and Senate.
Construction works postponed until December : Bad Godesberg tunnel to be closed at night

BAD GODESBERG The City Council is switching to digital radio in Godesberg - to do necessary changes. Some construction work and installation is necessary, which make road closures necessary. The scheduled works were postponed to December.

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The City Council is switching to digital radio in Godesberg - to do necessary changes. Some construction work and installation is needed, which make road closures necessary. The works were scheduled for next week but have been postponed to December due to illness. No exact dates have been given yet.

Motorists have to factor diversions and traffic jams into their commute in early December. More information on the schedule will follow as soon as possible. The Bad Godesberg tunnel will be closed during the nights, between 9pm and 5am. During that time, the radio inside the tunnel will be switched to digital as the antennas have to be installed. This also means that the analog system will be switched off by Tuesday. Because we cannot guarantee full safety in the tunnel during the switch-over times, it has to be closed for traffic, said the director of the coil engineering office Peter Esch.

The diversions from the South are signposted with dynamic signs. The recommended route: From the train bridge Mainzer Strae via Am Erdbeerfeld towards Rungsdorf and Plittersdorf (Konstantin-, Ubier-, Mittelstrae). The route through the Bad Godesberg center is also open: Koblenzer-, Friedrich-Ebert-, Moltke- and Bonner Strae. Coming from Bonn, there will be no dynamic signposts, because the decision has not been made in regard to the definitive sign-posting at the Trajet roundabout (B9). The routes towards the right, to Oscar-Romero-Allee (parallel to the train tracks) or on the left, past the Post Tower and the Rheinaue, and then via Mittel-, Ubier and Konstantinstrae are both open.

This will work out without major disruptions, said Esch, looking back at the closures in October. Then, maintenance work and a fire brigade exercise led to closures as well. Next year will see another safety upgrade: That will indeed lead to some disruption, Esch predicts. Each tube needs to be closed for half a year then. The start of the construction work is preliminarily scheduled for the summer holidays. To keep problems to a minimum, the open tube will be open to two-way traffic. Roads will be changed, and crossroads and traffic lights reconstructed.

The works will also cut garage-door-sized openings into the tunnel ceilings, through which smoke can be extracted. The old vents are too weak for the new ventilation concept. All in all: The safety is guaranteed at all times, said Esch, who points to later safety checks by the German Car Club ADAC. By the way, it is possible to listen to the radio in the tunnel - which means the fire brigade can broadcast emergency announcements too.

Original text: Richard Bongartz
A Scottish lady leaves Bonn : Independent Bonn International School: Principal Irene Bolik retires

Bonn She is the schools heart and soul, and the driving force behind the Independent Bonn International School. For 36 years she worked for the primary school at the Heiderhof and significantly sharpened the schools profile. At the end of the year Irene Bolik retires.

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She is the schools heart and soul, and the driving force behind the Independent Bonn International School. For 36 years she worked for the primary school at the Heiderhof and significantly sharpened the schools profile. At the end of the year, Irene Bolik retires. The 64-year-old will return to her home country, Scotland. With Ebba Hagenberg-Miliu, she spoke about her Bonn years.

You are now leaving the IBIS after 36 years. Mixed feelings?

Bollik: After so many years, it is of course difficult to say goodbye. I have invested a lot of my life energy into this school. But everything has its time and now I am looking forward to a new, quiet chapter of my life in Scotland.

How did you experience this school during the times when Bonn was capital?

Bolik: When I started in 1981, we had pupils from more than 40 countries. We had a lot of dealings with the embassies. The international flair was very noticeable.

You were there during the visit of Prince Charles and Lady Di, werent you? You came into the German Class of your colleague Marlene Kluge, together with her, is that right?

Bolik: When Lady Di and Prince Charles visited our school, it was a special honour for me to accompany Lady Di and introduce her to our children. Lady Di was as pretty as she looked in photos, and extremely shy. That visit was arranged by the British Embassy and it provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate the new extension to the school building.

How is the working atmosphere and life at the international school today?

Bolik: The international spirit at our school is still very even. Through the United Nations and large international companies, many pupils from all over the world go into our classes.

From what kinds of families are your pupils?

Bolik: Beside the children of international families, children from the regional area come to our school. You are the school principal since 2002.

What were your biggest challenges?

Bolik: When the embassies moved to Berlin our pupil numbers dropped. One of the biggest challenges was definitely to get those numbers back up. Today, 235 children go to the IBIS. The school works according to the Bristish Education System.

What are the differences to the German system?

Bolik: We got the status of state-approved private school in 2001 and had to adjust the school systems of England and Germany. The lessons are mainly in German. But we put great emphasis on teaching the German language too. We are an all day school. The learning contents are very similar to the German contents.

Are the IBIS degrees accepted in Germany?

Bolik: Yes. As an approved private primary school, our children get a certificate that entitles them to go to any secondary school - to a German, an International or a British school.

Do the children who are German native speakers get on well in the English-language IBIS?

Bolik: We are happy that so many German children went to to this school and continued their educational career in grammar schools and universities. In general, the children get on well.

And what about the extension plans of the IBIS programme? The school has shown interest in plans to expand onto a secondary level.

Bolik: This matter will be dealt with by the new principal. I am convinced that Philip Wharton will lead the IBIS in its development into a good and successful future.
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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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Seven people stood trial for suspected telecommunications fraud that led to the death of a student, authorities in south China's Guangdong Province said Wednesday.

Five of the defendants sent 780,000 fraudulent text messages, swindling more than 1.1 million yuan (166,200 U.S. dollars) from the public, including 9,800 yuan of tuition fees and living expenses from the victim, surnamed Cai, according to the Intermediate People's Court of Jieyang City.

Cai later committed suicide by drowning herself in the sea.

The other two defendants are suspected of hiding the illegal activities and the benefits from the fraud, according to the court.

The court will announce a verdict at a later date.
The person in charge of a Shanghai day care center where staff were caught on camera allegedly abusing toddlers has been detained, police said Wednesday.

The suspect, surnamed Zheng, was detained on Monday, after three staff from the third-party center management were detained last week, according to Shanghai police.

Leading travel agency Ctrip established the center, run by a third-party organization, in 2016, to help employees solve babysitting problems for children under three years old, the minimum age for public kindergartens.

Video footage showing staff abusing children at the center went viral last week, leading to intense public outcry.

One clip showed a female staff member throwing a little girl's schoolbag on the floor and pushing her violently, causing her to fall and hit her head on the corner of a table.

In another video, a child cried after being forced to eat something that his parents later claimed to be wasabi.

On Wednesday, authorities with the Shanghai Municipal Working Committee on Children and Women announced the result of a preliminary investigation into the case, saying it is a "severe case of child abuse" that had a "terrible impact" on society.

Meanwhile, the Women's Federation of Shanghai apologized to the public for a "lack of supervision and management" of Modern Family, a magazine that is affiliated to the federation.

In early 2016, the magazine's reader service department signed a contract with Ctrip to run the day care center. It later subcontracted the center to the third-party organization. But it controlled financial affairs of the center.

Ctrip is seeking new management for the center and will allow employees to see surveillance video of classrooms on their mobile phones in the future.
felicilin at 16-11-2017 03:44 PM (5 years ago) (f)

A teacher of Colombian origin was arrested last year for sending suggestive photos to her students and threatening to make them fail if they refused to have sex with her.

A teacher of Colombian origin was arrested last year for sending suggestive photos to her students and threatening to make them fail if they refused to have sex with her. The woman, identified simply as Yokasta M. was arrested after a father of one of the students saw photos of the teacher on his sons phone and reported to the relevant authorities.

This was in 2016. Soon after she was exposed, her husband filed for divorce.

The case was highly sensational last year and made news headlines. It was reported that the teacher selected the boys, all less than 17 years of age, based on their appearance.

An investigation has been ongoing since and a recent report from Channel 4 of Nicaragua says she has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. A lot of people are questioning the sentence, saying 40 years is too long a time for the crime she committed.







The woman, identified simply as Yokasta M. was arrested after a father of one of the students saw photos of the teacher on his sons phone and reported to the relevant authorities.This was in 2016. Soon after she was exposed, her husband filed for divorce.The case was highly sensational last year and made news headlines. It was reported that the teacher selected the boys, all less than 17 years of age, based on their appearance.An investigation has been ongoing since and a recent report from Channel 4 of Nicaragua says she has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. A lot of people are questioning the sentence, saying 40 years is too long a time for the crime she committed.

Post Reply Posted: at 16-11-2017 03:44 PM (5 years ago) | Hero
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES

Bergen, 16 November 2017

Reference is made to the announcement on the Oslo Stock Exchange dated 23 October 2017 regarding the completion of a private placement of approximately NOK 175 million in Monobank ASA (the "Company") targeting certain existing shareholders of the Company and several new investors (the "Private Placement") and to the announcement on the Oslo Stock Exchange dated 8 November 2017 with the minutes from the extraordinary general meeting of the Company approving, amongst other things, the Private Placement and authorising the Board of Directors to carry out a subsequent repair offering.

The subsequent repair offering (the "Repair Offering") comprises up to 12,162,162 offer shares (the "Offer Shares") at a subscription price of NOK 3.70 per Offer Share aimed at shareholders of the Company as at 17 October 2017 as registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depositary (the "VPS") on 19 October 2017 (the "Record Date") with the exception of shareholders that (i) were offered to subscribe for shares in the pre-sounding of the Private Placement; (ii) were allocated shares in the Private Placement; or (iii) are resident in a jurisdiction outside Norway where such offering would be unlawful, or would require a full prospectus, registration or similar action (the "Eligible Shareholders"). Shareholders in the U.S, Japan, Australia and Canada are excluded from participating in the Repair Offering.

The Company has prepared a national prospectus dated 16 November 2017 (the "Prospectus") which has been filed for registration with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises (Foretaksregisteret). The Prospectus contains detailed information about the Repair Offering.

Each Eligible Shareholder will be granted 0.120808 non-transferrable subscription rights (the "Subscription Rights") for each existing share registered as held by such Eligible Shareholder as at the Record Date. The number of Subscription Rights granted to each Eligible Shareholder will be rounded down to the nearest whole Subscription Right. Each Subscription Right gives the right to subscribe for, and be allocated, one Offer Share in the Repair Offering. Eligible Shareholders with Subscription Rights are allowed to over-subscribe. Subscription without Subscription Rights will not be permitted.

The Subscription Rights will be registered in the VPS with ISIN NO 0010752231 and be distributed in the VPS-accounts of Eligible Shareholders on or about today, 16 November 2017. Please note that the non-transferable Subscription Rights must be used during the subscription period set out below. After the expiry of the subscription period, the Subscription Rights will have no value and will be deleted from their registration in the VPS.

The subscription period for the Repair Offering will commence at 09.00 hours (CET) today, 16 November 2016 and close at 16.30 hours (CET) on 30 November 2017.

ABG Sundal Collier ASA and Pareto Securities AS are Joint Bookrunners for the Repair Offering. Advokatfirmaet Schjdt AS is legal advisor to the Company.

The Prospectus including the Subscription Form is available at www.abgsc.no and www.paretosec.com.

Contact:

Bent H. Gjendem, CEO, +47 996 11 996

Lene Sjbakk, CFO, +47 940 19 896

****

About Monobank:

The Company was granted its banking license and a final approval from the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority, on 11 November 2015. It commenced regular banking operations on 19 November 2015.

The Company offers unsecured lending to qualified private individuals in Norway and Finland. The Company also offers attractive deposit rates on its savings accounts to private individuals in Norway. Deposits of up to NOK 2 million are guaranteed by the Norwegian Central Bank's Guarantee fund, of which Monobank is a member.

In addition, the Company offers optional payment insurance on loans in Norway in cases of unemployment, illness, death etc.

The Company is headquartered in Bergen and currently has 31 full-time employees.

The Company has been listed on Oslo Stock Exchange's Merkur Market since 16 February 2017 with the ticker symbol "MONO-ME".

Important information:

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in Australia, Canada, Japan or the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia).

This release is an announcement issued pursuant to legal disclosure of information obligations. It is issued for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The securities mentioned herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company does not intend to register any portion of the offering of the securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of the securities in United States. Copies of this announcement are not being made in, and may not be distributed or sent to, Australia, Canada, Japan or the United States. The subscription or purchase of shares of the Company is subject to specific legal and regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Neither the Company, ABG Sundal Collier nor Pareto Securities assume any responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions.

The distribution of this release may in certain jurisdictions be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this release comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. ABG Sundal Collier and Pareto Securities are acting for the Company and no one else in connection with the Subsequent Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice in relation to any other matter referred to in this announcement.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wealth Minerals Ltd. (the Company or Wealth) - (TSX-V:WML) (OTCQB:WMLLF) (SSE:WMLCL) (Frankfurt:EJZN) announces that it has received positive results from its previously announced process test work undertaken by Tenova Advanced Technologies (TAT) on samples from the Laguna Verde project (Laguna Verde or the Project). According to TATs results, the laboratory test work demonstrates that the LiP and LiSX processes for lithium extraction (Figure 1) can be applied successfully to the Laguna Verde surface brine.



The surface brines at Laguna Verde represent a potential target for lithium production and these results will be important as we continue to evaluate production options, stated Henk van Alphen, Wealths CEO. With a known surface brine and considerable potential for additional subsurface brines, the Laguna Verde project is unique. While we continue to evaluate options for processing surface brines, we also plan to drill subsurface brine targets generated from recently completed geophysical surveys.

Objectives and Results

Wealth retained TAT to conduct laboratory test work on a 50-liter surface brine sample from the Laguna Verde project. The Laguna Verde brine was analyzed at approximately 220 mg/l of lithium, with calcium and magnesium being the major contaminants. Pretreatment is required in order to remove calcium and magnesium and to increase the pH of the solution.

Stage I (a) Pretreatment : The objective of this stage was to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing the membrane based LiP process, as a pretreatment stage, to eliminate calcium and magnesium from the Laguna Verde brine solution.

The test work demonstrated that TATs LiP process could be successfully applied to Laguna Verde surface brines. Approximately 88% of the calcium and 97% of the magnesium from the brine solution were removed in a two-pass system.

Stage I (b) Lithium Recovery : The objective of this stage was to evaluate the feasibility of recovering lithium as LiSO from a pretreated feed solution using a solvent extraction (SX) process and to estimate the purity and the recovery yield of the product. The target purity of the LiSX was set at 99.5% or higher.

The test work demonstrated that TATs LiSX process for extraction of lithium from its aqueous solutions can be applied successfully to the Laguna Verde surface brine. The process succeeded in producing a LiSO solution with purity greater than 99.9% and lithium recovery of approximately 100% is assumed since lithium in the waste stream was below the 3mg/l detection limit.

Stage II Cost Estimates : TAT has also been retained to complete an order of magnitude cost estimate study which will evaluate the capital expenditure and operating expenses for producing 20,000 tons per annum lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) of LiOHHO from Laguna Verde. Following positive results from Stage I, the Stage II order of magnitude study is expected to be initiated and results from same will be reported in due course.

A figure accompanying this announcement is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2869f610-d9dd-4b6d-9961-ebe871d6a0b0

Qualified Persons



Mr. Keith Henderson, PGeo, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Henderson has reviewed the scientific and technical information relating to exploration at Laguna Verde contained in this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Henderson is not independent of the Company as he is a shareholder and holds incentive stock options.

Mr. John Hiner, a licensed geologist in the state of Washington and SME registered member, is an independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Hiner has reviewed the scientific and technical information relating to the TAT processing results contained within this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.

About TAT, TAKRAF and Tenova

TAT, which has been recently integrated into TAKRAF, offers differentiated, project-specific process technologies based on decades of research, equipment design and project execution. Advanced solutions include solvent extraction (SX) for hydrometallurgical and bio processing, electrowinning (EW), membrane circuits, in-house state-of-the-art R&D facilities, expertise in minerals beneficiation and in phosphate processing from ore to purified phosphoric acid and salts.

TAT has developed processing solutions for the lithium industry and works closely with producing and project development companies. Of relevance to Laguna Verde, TAT has developed;

a process for physical removal of alkaline earth elements (such as calcium and magnesium) from the brine using membranes ( LiP )

) a comprehensive liquid-liquid solvent extraction process for the recovery and production of lithium sulphate solution (LiSO) ( LiSX )

) an electrolysis process (LiEL) followed by crystallization and drying for the production of highly pure Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LiOHHO).

TAKRAF is a leading global mining, bulk material handling, minerals processing and beneficiation specialist and is a Tenova Group company. Further information can be found at www.takraf.tenova.com.

Tenova S.p.A., a Techint Group company, is a worldwide partner for innovative, reliable and sustainable solutions in metals and mining. Leveraging a workforce of over three thousand forward-thinking professionals located in 22 countries across 5 continents, Tenova designs technologies and develops services that help companies reduce costs, save energy, limit environmental impact and improve working conditions. Further information can be found at www.tenova.com.

About Laguna Verde

Laguna Verde is comprised of 23 exploration mining concessions covering an area of approximately 2,438 hectares. The Company has also acquired the option to additional mining exploration concessions surrounding the Project area, which together with the Laguna Verde concessions amounts to a sizeable land position of approximately 8,700 hectares. The Project has two lithium brine targets. Surface lake brines are contained within Laguna Verde itself, which has been the subject of the current TAT processing test work.

The surrounding property covers a larger basin varying between 400m and 1,000m in depth. Conductivity variations within the interpreted basin suggest the presence at depth of saline groundwater (potential brine) in lateral proximity to the surface body of water at an interpreted depth of 200 to 300m, with the strongest response at the western end of the lake. A zone of low resistivity is also observed at depth to the northeast of the lake, representing perhaps a (partially) separated volume of saline groundwater. Initial results suggest up to three shallow drill targets in close proximity to Laguna Verde (200 to 300m from surface) and an additional drill target to test the interpreted deeper brine to the northeast (>400m from surface).

About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Mexico, Peru and Chile. The Companys main focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America. To date, the Company has positioned itself to develop the Aguas Calientes Norte, Pujsa and Quisquiro Salars in Chile (the Trinity project), as well as to work alongside existing producers in the prolific Atacama Salar, in addition to Laguna Verde. The Company has also positioned itself to play a role in asset consolidation in Chile with the Five Salars project.

The Company continues to pursue new acquisitions in the region, the latest of which is the Seven Salars project and is moving to bring its projects forward into production. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this expected future mismatch in supply and demand. The Company also maintains and continues to evaluate a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration-stage projects.

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Companys website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

Hendrik van Alphen

Hendrik van Alphen

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact: Marla Ritchie

Phone: 604-331-0096 Ext. 3886 or 604-638-3886

E-mail: info@wealthminerals.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 news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding 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, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration and development programs in respect of Laguna Verde and otherwise, anticipated results from the exploration activities, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves on the Project, the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company and the Companys expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to develop its existing projects and to acquire interests in additional mineral properties, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, issues raised during Stage II of TATs magnitude cost estimate study and any further exploration work conducted on the Laguna Verde, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium and precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSX-V acceptance of any current or future property acquisitions or financings and other planned activities, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Companys latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Companys Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Companys mineral properties.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.




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China has published its first land cover atlas, Land Cover Atlas of the People's Republic of China (1:1,000,000), according to the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Wednesday.

China has published its first land cover atlas, Land Cover Atlas of the People's Republic of China (1:1,000,000). [Photo/people.cn]

The atlas, in both Chinese and English, provides a comprehensive look at land-surface conditions across China, and records its land cover changes in 1990, 2000, and 2010, a period witnessing rapid economic growth, said the RADI.

Land cover refers to the observable natural and artificial objects on the surface of the Earth.

Land cover changes over time can be regarded as indicators of the natural environment, ecosystem, economic development, and people's livelihoods, said the RADI.

From data production in 2011 to publication in 2017, over 240 scientists and technicians from the CAS, government offices, and other research organizations worked on the atlas compilation.
GREENSBORO, N.C.  Local shoppers are about to get a closer look at what put the jeans in Jeansboro.

Greensboro-based Wrangler, the worldwide jeans brand, will open a pop-up store downtown, at 314 S. Elm St., just in time for the holidays, to showcase its newest collections as well as some of its more iconic products.

Wrangler jeans are available in almost every kind of retail store in the world, but the company operates only two flagship stores dedicated to its brands, in Dallas and Denver.

Consider this 2-month operation the companys third.

Opening Dec. 1, this store will be a laboratory of sorts to show off everything from the far-out styles of artist Peter Max to the boot-cut jeans worn by no-nonsense cowboys and country music fans alike. Wrangler officials say they expect a good crowd for opening day, which coincides with the citys Festival of Lights.

Vice President of Marketing Craig Errington said Wednesday the company has been talking about this store for a while but made the final decision about two weeks ago, when the details fell into place to lease the old Miller Furniture building in the heart of downtowns busiest district.

Nonprofit Downtown Greensboro Inc. helped put the deal together by working with Charles Quinn Miller, whose family has owned that building for nearly a century. The Miller Building has been vacant for 10 years, DGI President Zack Matheny said, but now will become a high-profile spot for Triad shoppers because of its 60 feet of storefront.

Errington said shoppers will find their favorite Wrangler jeans in the 2,500 square feet of space, but they also will find the psychedelic styles of 1960s designer Max, a line of jeans created in 1970 and brought back to life with the help of Max. Wrangler sells those special designs only in its dedicated stores in Dallas and Denver.

This new store also will feature the brands 70th-anniversary collection, styles sold only in Europe and another that will have a special bittersweet significance for Greensboro.

The 27406 Collection, named after the Greensboro zip code, where theyre made, come from selvedge denim made on vintage looms that Greensboro-based Cone Denim has owned for a century.

Those jeans, which will be cut and sewn locally by Wrangler employees, will be made with one of the last runs of Cone denim from the White Oak plant. Cone, which is owned by International Textile Group, announced earlier this year that it will close the factory by the end of December and end production of Cones material in Greensboro.

Errington said the store will be open through January and will emphasize weekend hours.

Its staff comes with a twist: marketing and research executives from the company will work shifts at the store to learn directly from customers how they buy Wrangler brands, what kinds of shopping they prefer and how they like various designs.

We want to make sure we get some of our best and newest products in front of consumers, he said and take what the company learns right back to its corporate headquarters at 400 N. Elm St. a few blocks away.

Wrangler, a $1 billion brand owned by Greensboro-based VF Corp., employs about 800 people in Greensboro, which officials suggest might be a good foundation for promoting the store by word of mouth.

There are lots of Wrangler employees and lots of VF employees who have lots of neighbors and friends, Errington said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGX Minerals Inc. (MGX or the Company) (CSE:XMG) (FKT:1MG) (OTCQB:MGXMF) is pleased to report that joint venture partner Power Metals Corp. (Power Metals) is nearing completion of the 5,000 metre drill program at Case Lake Lithium. Forty-four holes have been completed to date. The program has been extended and five more shallow holes are planned for a total of 49 drill holes (See Figure 2 below).



PWM-17-40 continuous pegmatite dyke from 8.23 to 45.93 m. Note the presence of high grade pale green spodumene in quartz core in boxes 5 to 8



Case Lake Lithium Pegmatite Dykes Drill Program





Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07608401-fab7-4b26-b0c4-1ff567e84a7d

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffa13107-ab28-427c-af2d-520d299faa97



MGX lithium assets now include control over 2 million acres of lithium brine property in North America, 100,000 acres of oil and gas leases covering its Utah Petrolithium Project, patented and proprietary commercial scale rapid lithium brine extraction technology and a joint venture with Power Metals covering Case Lake and four other Ontario lithium hard rock projects.

Recent completion of drill hole #40 (PWM-17-40) at Case Lake Lithium intersected 37.7 m of continuous pegmatite, intersecting the spodumene zone from 20.0 to 35.83 m (interval of 15.83 m) with up to 30% spodumene in the quartz core (see Figure 1). Assays are pending for the majority of holes, but examination of the drill core by Power Metals indicates that spodumene mineralization in the dykes is thick and close to surface.

Highlights of the drill program and assays to date include:

PWM-17-08: 1.94% Li 2 O and 323.75 ppm Ta over 26.0 m

O and 323.75 ppm Ta over 26.0 m PWM-17-09: 1.23% Li 2 O and 148.0 ppm Ta over 16.0 m

O and 148.0 ppm Ta over 16.0 m PWM-17-10: 1.74% Li 2 O and 245.96 ppm Ta over 15.06 m

O and 245.96 ppm Ta over 15.06 m Main Dyke spodumene pegmatite zone extended 250 m to the West

The Power Metals prospecting program successfully discovered spodumene mineralization in the East Dyke and Northeast Dyke. Two grab samples of spodumene-muscovite-K-feldspar-quartz pegmatite from the East Dyke were analyzed with up to 2.56% Li 2 O and up to 181 ppm Ta (Table 1). This preliminary prospecting and assays on the East Dyke indicate that high grade spodumene similar to that on the Main Dyke exists on the East Dyke.



Table 1. Grab sample assays from East Dyke (NAD 83, Zone 17).

Waypoint Sample No Easting (m) Northing (m) Li 2 O (%) Ta (ppm) JK-17-21 529451 578595 5431395 1.03 181 JK-17-35 529457 578593 5431399 2.56 41.5

MGX and Power Metals are planning a 2,000 metre drill program on the Northeast Dyke in January 2018 and are in the final steps of contracting an industry leading metallurgist who is experienced in working with spodumene pegmatites. Upon receipt of final assay results, an analysis of the initial characterization of the spodumene in the Main Dyke will be undertaken along with other metallurgical testing.

Dr. Selway, Power Metals VP of Exploration stated, I am pleased that our drill program on the North and Main Dykes successfully intersected thick high-grade intervals of spodumene pegmatite and I look forward to receiving the assay results from the Main Dyke drill holes and planning the upcoming drill program on the Northeast Dyke.

Quality Control

The grab samples were delivered to Actlabs preparation lab in Timmins by Power Metals geologists. The core was crushed and pulverized in Timmins and then shipped to Actlabs analytical lab in Ancaster which has ISO 17025 certification. The ore grade Li 2 O% was prepared by sodium peroxide fusion with analysis by ICP-OES with a detection limit of 0.01% Li 2 O.



Case Lake

Case Lake Property is located in Steele and Case townships, 80 km east of Cochrane, NE Ontario close to the Ontario-Quebec border. The Case Lake pegmatite swarm consists of five dykes: North, Main, South, East and Northeast Dykes. The Northeast Dyke contains very coarse-grained spodumene. MGX currently has a 20% working interest in Case Lake with the right to acquire an additional 15%. The Company holds an option to acquire 10,000,000 shares of Power Metals at $0.65 (see press release dated August 2, 2017).



Board Resignation

MGX announces it has received and accepted the resignation of Mr. H. David Read from the Board of Directors due to health reasons. The resignation will take effect immediately.



MGX President and CEO Jared Lazerson stated, The Board of Directors and management would like to thank Mr. Read for his long standing service having joined the Board in 2014 at IPO. Mr. Read has made many contributions to the growth of MGX. His experience and advice has benefited MGX and we wish him the very best in the future. A new director search has begun.

Qualified Person

Julie Selway, Ph.D., P.Geo. supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. Dr. Selway is the VP of Exploration for Power Metals and the Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Selway is supervising the exploration program at Case Lake. Dr. Selway completed a Ph.D. on granitic pegmatites in 1999 and worked for 3 years as a pegmatite geoscientist for the Ontario Geological Survey. Dr. Selway also has twenty-three scientific journal articles on pegmatites. A National Instrument 43-101 report has been prepared on Case Lake Property and filed on July 18, 2017. This press release was reviewed by MGX Qualified Person and VP of Exploration Andris Kikauka (P.Geo).



About MGX Minerals

MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource company with interests in lithium, magnesium and silicon assets throughout North America. Learn more at www.mgxminerals.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.



Contact Information



Jared Lazerson

President and CEO

Telephone: 1.604.681.7735

Web: www.mgxminerals.com


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A video released by Beijing News, which records a face-to-face meeting between the mother of a Chinese student murdered in Japan and the victim's former roommate, has sparked an uproar online.

Screenshot of the Beijing News' video, which records a face-to-face meeting between the mother Jiang Ge and the victim's former roommate Liu Xin. [Screenshot/Beijing News]

The meeting took place in August, 294 days after the death of Jiang Ge, a 24-year-old from Qingdao, Shandong province.

Jiang was stabbed to death by her roommate's ex-boyfriend in the corridor of her apartment in Tokyo, in the early hours of November 3, 2016.

Details of the incident have not been revealed by Japanese police.

However, media reports have provided the public a sketch about what had happened.

A review of Jiang Ge's death

Jiang Ge, 24, a former postgraduate at Hosei University, was sharing her apartment with Liu Xin when the murder happened.

Liu Xin, born in 1992, the victim's roommate and close friend, moved in Jiang's home last September, two months after she broke up with her boyfriend Chen Shifeng.

Jiang Ge, 24, a former postgraduate at Hosei University.

Chen Shifeng, Liu's ex-boyfriend, born in 1991, went to Jiang's apartment to look for Liu in the afternoon on November 2, 2016.

Liu was reportedly alone at home at that time, and she sent Jiang a text asking for Jiang to come back and help her.

After receiving messages from Liu, Jiang came back to confront Chen.

Jiang was intended to call the police for help, but was stopped by Liu, according to a Wechat record in Jiang's phone provided by the victim's mother.

The three reportedly had a quarrel and left the apartment afterwards, but Liu has been tailed after by Chen all the way to her workplace.

That same night, Liu sent another message to Jiang after work in the hope of going back home together.

Jiang picked Liu up at a nearby railway station in the evening, the two walked back to their apartment.

Liu said that she went into the apartment first to change her pants, and she heard Jiang screaming outside a few minutes later.

She tried to open the door, but found it was blocked.

She then called the police and remained indoors until the police arrived and spotted Jiang lying on the corridor floor, barely alive.

Jiang was dead at the hospital due to excessive blood loss, the 24-year-old has over ten knife wounds on her body.

The murder has been proven to be Liu's ex-boyfriend, Chen Shifeng. He was arrested on November 7, 2016
Jeff Bezos, regarding what customers and business owners can do to help themselves during this economic decline that could stumble into a recession. Amazon is planning to lay off approximately 10,000 employees this week. (The Hill  Nov. 15, 2022)
Chicago could land the new U.S. headquarters for Mars Wrigley Confectionery, but Newark, N.J. might have the sweeter offer after officials in that state approved more than $30 million in tax credits Tuesday.The candy company, a unit of privately held Mars, is considering both Illinois and New Jersey for its U.S. headquarters.Hundreds of jobs are at stake in the decision. If Mars Wrigley selects New Jersey, Chicago -- already home to the company's global headquarters and other operations -- could lose some 200 jobs that would be shifted to Newark and another site in New Jersey, according to a New Jersey Economic Development Authority board document summarizing the project.If Mars Wrigley chooses Chicago instead, it would move some 370 jobs from New Jersey to a new 92,300-square-foot headquarters in Chicago, according to the document.Chicago officials believe the city's still in the running."Mars is a major contributor to Chicago's thriving food industry ecosystem and we are working closely with the company, across its many business lines, to continue to increase its presence in Chicago," Grant Klinzman, spokesman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office, said in an email.Klinzman declined to provide any additional details, such as where the Chicago office would be located or how much the city offered in subsidies.Jacquelyn Reineke, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which manages the Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax incentive program, said she couldn't comment on pending applications for EDGE incentives.A Mars Wrigley spokeswoman declined to comment Wednesday.In an email to the Tribune on Monday, spokeswoman Alicia Buksar wrote: "If the state of New Jersey approves our recent incentives application we hope to create offices in both Hackettstown, N.J., and Newark, N.J., in 2020."Last year, Mars announced it would combine its chocolate business, known for brands like Snickers, M&M's and Twix, with its Wrigley candy business, thus forming Mars Wrigley Confectionery.Mars already has more than 2,400 employees, five factories and five Chicago offices in Illinois -- including the North American headquarters for Mars Food, which recently moved from Los Angeles to Chicago.If Mars Wrigley Confectionery chooses Newark, it would locate a total of 483 jobs at the new site -- 370 from an existing facility in Hackettstown, N.J. and 113 from Chicago -- and make an estimated $42 million capital investment, according to the New Jersey board document summarizing the plan.It would also move 92 jobs from Chicago to Hackettstown, where it's considering an additional $52 million upgrade at the existing facility there.Mars Wrigley concluded that New Jersey was the more expensive option and that therefore the tax credits are a "material factor" in the decision, according to the document.The New Jersey incentives approved comprised about $31 million for the Newark site and another $1.1 million for the Hackettstown site over a 10-year period.The board approved the incentives in a 11-0 vote Tuesday with one recusal, according to Erin Gold, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
Last Tuesday night was a good one for Democrats , who won several hotly contested races and increased their numbers in several states. But it was also a good night for young candidates, who ran in hundredsof races as both Democrats and Republicans.Young Democrats, in particular, had a strong showing. (Millennials strongly lean toward the Democratic party by a margin of 57 percent to 36 percent .) At the state level, Vin Gopal (age 32) won a New Jersey state Senate seat, while Jennifer Carroll Foy (36), Chris Hurst (30), Danica Roem (33), Schuyler Van Valkenburg (32) and Jerrauld Jones (28) all won seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. Emily Brewer and Will Morefield, both 33-year-old Republicans, also got elected to the Virginia House.Thats not counting the hundreds of local races across the country where young people from both parties were serious contenders, like Derek Dobosz, 21, and Joel McAuliffe, 25, who both earned spots on the city council in Chicopee, Mass.Though hard numbers are difficult to come by, political scientists and nonprofiteers across the country say young people's interest in running for office has surged, on both sides of the aisle, and Donald Trump's presidency appears to be a big reason why.Emerge America, a training and recruitment organization that focuses on Democratic women, saw an 87 percent increase in signups for their workshops this year compared to last. Among women that were 35 or younger, there was a 60 percent increase, according to Allison Abney, a spokesperson for the organization.Matthew Oberly, press secretary for the Young Republican National Federation, says that he's noticed increased excitement and willingness from young Republicans to run for office -- a trend that he pins partially on the success of Trump's campaign last year."Trump has enabled young Republicans to feel an energy that pushes them forward in wanting to run and wanting to make a difference," he says. "The energy behind a candidate has not been so high in a long time."The enthusiasm doesn't seem to be slowing, either.Run for Something, an organization that helps recruit and train progressive millennials to run in down-ballot races, launched on Inauguration Day this year with the expectation that it would recruit and train about 100 millennial candidates in its first year. Instead, it got 1,000 recruits in its first month and 12,000 over the course of the year so far, says co-founder Amanda Litman. Since Election Day last week, the organization has seen an average of 100 new signups per day -- 10 times its normal rate.[Young] people are angry. Theyre pissed that government isnt running for them, that governments are putting other interests first, says Litman. And they feel like, if Trump can win a race, then so can I.In last week's election, Run for Something officially endorsed 72 candidates -- 32 of whom won their races, according to Litman.But the trend toward younger candidates isn't exclusively motivated by Trump or a desire to push progressive policies.She Should Run, a nonpartisan organization that encourages women to run, has seen an influx of thousands of women interested in running for office as both Democrats and Republicans. Its CEO, Erin Loos Cutraro, recently told CityLab , "I reject the theory that this is about progressive women. I think its about women."Plus, it's inevitable that the political landscape will start to see more and more millennials as members of that generation enter their 30s.When millennials do run, there's evidence that they prefer state and local races because it allows them to avoid the acrimony and gridlock that have stalled Congress and brought its approval to historic lows,says Shauna Shames, an assistant professor at Rutgers University and author ofThe young people I talked to [for the book] are more interested in running at the local level, and then the state level, before they would ever think about anything federal, she says. They feel like [locally] they would be able to see the changes theyre making, and they also talked about connection to their constituents. They feel that at the national level theyre too far away from the people they serve.The millennial winners of last weeks races appear to agree with Shames.Im really trying to emphasize a back-to-basics governing philosophy. There isnt a Republican or Democratic way to build a bridge or lay down water pipes, says Danica Roem, who is also the first openly transgender person to serve on a state legislature.She defeated Republican incumbent Bob Marshall, who authored a transgender bathroom bill in Virginia and who has called himself the states chief homophobe. Still, she ran her campaign focused almost exclusively on infrastructure issues, particularly easing congestion along Route 28.I remember having to wait until 6 or 7 at night at school for my mom to pick me up [because traffic congestion was so bad], and 25 years later, things are still exactly the same, says Roem. Meanwhile, I saw Delegate Marshall focusing on these divisive social issues. Lets focus on building our infrastructure instead of turning on one another."Dobosz, the newly-elected 21-year-old city councilman in Chicopee, Mass., also says partisanship was drastically less important in his race than one might expect. He ran as a Democrat in a deeply conservative ward, but he says that made almost no difference to people.For a city councilor, people just want to know, is this guy going to respond to our phone calls? he says. If I didnt talk to someone, maybe they would be more likely to vote party line. But if I spoke to them, then its just not their concern.For Emily Brewer, a Republican delegate-elect to the Virginia House, party affiliation was a strong part of her race, but not the whole picture. Her biography as an adoptee, a small business owner and a member of a rural community made up a considerable portion of her platform."I'm from a rural community, and a lot of people I grew up with have left because there just aren't enough opportunities," Brewer says. "That's what really inspired me to run in the first place -- those problems in my own community."Millennials are still drastically underrepresented in government, particularly at the national level, where they hold only five congressional seats. They also hold only about 5 percent of seats in state legislatures. But a confluence of forces -- Trumps election, frustration with the status quo and a renewed belief in the efficacy of state and local government -- could be encouraging greater participation from a generation that now outnumbers the baby boomers I have a sense that there are some people now who understand that democracy only works when good people run for office, says Shames. The catastrophic collapse of good policy at the national level made very clear to a lot of young people that democracy can be dangerous.
A 'wake-up call'

Roy Moore

Vice President Mike Pence, the calm amid the storm that is the Trump administration, came to Austin on Wednesday to lay out for his party's record-tying number of Republican governors what the GOP message will be in 2018 stripped of tweets and tumult and the outsized personality of the man -- his boss -- who dominates American politics virtually every waking hour of every day.After praising the people of Texas for their fortitude and heart through the trials of Hurricane Harvey and the Sutherland Springs shooting, and lauding Gov. Greg Abbott's leadership through challenging times, Pence offered greetings to the annual meeting of the Republican Governors Association from President Donald Trump.Amid Trump's record-low poll numbers for a president a year into his term, and last week's electoral defeats for Republicans -- most notably in the gubernatorial election in Virginia -- the party's best bet to retain its thorough dominance in statehouses and its control of both houses of Congress in next year's midterm elections, might be to lower the volume and focus on tangible evidence that, with continued Republican hegemony, "to borrow a phrase," Pence said, "we are going to make America great again.""Optimism is sweeping America," Pence said to a packed JW Marriott Austin ballroom. "More Americans are working than ever before.""The stock market is setting records," he said. "The economy is growing again.""In a word, we've got real momentum," Pence said.Where others lament an administration with nary a legislative victory, Pence described a Congress that is on the verge of enacting major tax reform that would also achieve the long-promised, perpetually deferred GOP dream of undoing Obamacare."We are going to repeal the individual mandate that is at the heart of Obamacare," Pence promised, declaring the end of the mandate a "middle-class tax cut."The current tax code is thicker than the Bible "with none of the Good News," said Pence, a former Indiana governor, who Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker introduced as having remained "Midwest nice."Pence didn't mention the recent electoral bad news.At a press conference earlier in the day, Walker, the association's chairman, said the stinging loss in Virginia was historically predictable in a state that Hillary Clinton had carried. But the big, 9-point Democratic margin for Ralph Northam was a shocker, particularly since Walker described Republican Ed Gillespie, as an exceptional Republican candidate.Walker said Republicans had to take to heart a surge in Democratic turnout in Virginia, which he hoped will be a "wake-up call" for Republican voters back in states like Wisconsin, where he's up for re-election in 2018.Republicans now serve as governors in 34 states, including Bernie Sanders' Vermont -- tying a record set almost a century ago. Some 25 other Republican gubernatorial candidates for 2018 joined the conference.Republican fortunes, though, might rise or fall on Trump, and former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, also a former Republican National Committee chairman, laid the blame for the controversies that have enveloped the first year of the Trump presidency on a news media that he said is driven by its negative view of Trump -- "and not just on the editorial pages."For example, Barbour said he believes that The Washington Post held publication of its story on Alabama U.S. Senate nominee Roy Moore's unsavory pursuit of girls as young as 14 when he was in his 30s, so that the story would break after it was too late for Alabama Republicans to get Moore's name off the special election ballot as the party nominee.The story's timing, Barbour said, is all about trying to deny Trump Republican control of the Senate.Walker and Florida Gov. Rick Scott did not hesitate for a second when asked about Moore at their press conference."He should get out," Walker said."This is way above partisan politics," Scott said. "This is about doing the right thing. It's pretty clear what's right and what's wrong. This is not about Roy Moore. This is about victims."Walker was asked whether the controversy surrounding Moore might contribute to a blue wave that could adversely affect the party's gubernatorial prospects in 2018."No," Walker said. "No more than the Democrats had to answer for (former U.S. Rep.) Anthony Weiner or (former New York Gov.) Elliot Spitzer or anybody else out there," said Walker, referring to two New York Democrats who disgraced themselves in sex scandals."Voters in our states are smart. I think a lot of people in politics or covering politics assume that people aren't very smart. They are. Whether they vote for us or not, I think voters are smart, and they are going to want you to answer for things you are going to do as governor, not what somebody else does in some other state," Walker said.But, Walker was asked, if Alabama voters, knowing what they know, elect Moore to the Senate, should Republicans in the Senate seek to keep him from being seated?"I think they've made it pretty clear. You heard Cory Gardner the other day," said Walker, referring to the Colorado senator, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who said Monday that if Moore is elected, the Senate should move to expel him.Pence made no mention of Moore, and he took no questions during his day in Austin.
A federal judge has blocked the federal government's attempt to withhold law-enforcement money from Philadelphia over its so-called "sanctuary city" status.U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson issued a massive 128-page ruling Wednesday, writing that after applying the appropriate legal standards, which include probability of success on the merits and the public interest, "the court will issue a preliminary injunction in favor of the city.""This is a very, very significant day for the city of Philadelphia," said city solicitor Sozi Pedro Tulante at an afternoon news conference. Still, Mayor Kenney said: "This is not a time for jubilation. I'm very grateful to the court, but I'm angry we have to fight our own federal government when we have problems we could be addressing together that [the Trump administration] refuses to address because it doesn't play to their base."The ruling comes two weeks after Baylson declared from the bench that the city of Philadelphia substantially complied with the Trump administration's conditions.At the heart of the case is a relatively small amount of money -- a $1.5 million federal grant to a city with a $4.4 billion budget -- but a big principle: whether the Trump administration can withhold money unless the city agrees to more actively help federal agents identify and arrest people who immigrated without appropriate documents. The funds make up about 10 percent of the department's non-personnel budget, officials said.City officials touted the ruling as a victory -- and said that Philadelphia could be a model for other cities fighting the Trump administration on its immigration policies. Hours after the ruling was issued, the Department of Justice warned another 29 cities and counties that their "sanctuary" policies could be in violation of federal law -- as it had warned Philadelphia earlier this year.But Baylson, a Reagan appointee, ruled that the city did comply with a federal law banning municipalities from restricting contact with ICE, the first ruling of its kind since cities began challenging the Justice Department's attempts to pull funding. That law, Tulante said, "is arguably the whole ballgame. And today Philadelphia won on that issue."Justice Department spokesman Devin O'Malley said Wednesday that officials were "reviewing the ruling and determining next steps."He highlighted the city's homicide rate and said that "so-called 'sanctuary policies' further undermine public safety and law enforcement."Police Commissioner Richard Ross testified last month that most people who commit crimes in the city are natural-born Philadelphians, not immigrants. And Baylson wrote in his opinion that the government had not proved there was a link between the city's policies and increases in crime."I don't know what [the homicide rate] has to do with immigrants," Kenney said Wednesday. "It has to do with the fact that the Second Amendment has run wild -- if they want to blame someone for homicide in our society, they should look in the mirror, because they won't do anything about guns."The city filed suit against Attorney General Jeff Sessions in August."Both the federal government and the city of Philadelphia have important interests at stake here and the court does not minimize either of their concerns," the judge wrote. "In this case, given Philadelphia's unique approach to meshing the legitimate needs of the federal government to remove criminal aliens with the city's promotion of health and safety, there is no conflict of any significance."Broadly defined, a sanctuary city limits its cooperation with federal authorities who enforce immigration law. Those cities' leaders aim to ease fears of deportation among undocumented residents, believing that members of immigrant communities will then be more willing to report crime."We are really, really supportive of the efforts of the mayor's office to defend our sanctuary city policies," said Cynthia Oka, an organizer with the New Sanctuary Movement, which works to end injustices against immigrants. "We also really look forward, now that they've won, to continue working with the city to expand the sanctuary city policies. For us 'sanctuary city' means protection and fair access for all residents of Philadelphia, for all of the city services as well as to due process of law."President Trump and Sessions have argued that sanctuary city policies allow dangerous criminals to be released to prey on local neighborhoods when instead they should be returned to their homelands. The administration aims to withhold grant money as a means to make cities assist federal agents seeking to deport undocumented immigrants.Philadelphia officials say they reject the title of "sanctuary city," that they simply enforce city policies that provide equal treatment for people who come in contact with the criminal-justice system, regardless of immigration status. Immigrants who commit crimes are arrested and charged, just like anyone else, city officials said.In his decision, the judge summoned tales from Greek mythology, German folklore, and the New Testament to show there was nothing inherently wrong with imposing conditions on the receipt of benefits, in this case a federal grant."The operatic hero Orfeo was allowed to escape Hades with his deceased and beloved Eurydice, conditioned on his not looking at her, but when he does, she dies; Mephistopheles grants Faust eternal knowledge and pleasure on the condition that Faust surrender his soul; and Salome, the title character demands the head of St. John the Baptist as a condition to dance for King Herod," the judge wrote. "However, in real life, the courts, in interpreting the Constitution, and Congress in enacting laws, as detailed at some length in this memorandum, have interposed restrictions on the Executive's ability to impose conditions on the transfer of benefits to local governments."Barring appeals, the ruling would clear the way for the city to receive the federal money for police overtime, training, and other improvements.Anil Kalhan, a Drexel University immigration law professor, said the city's arguments in the case are strong. But, he said, the federal government will almost certainly appeal the decision."It's a preliminary win -- these kinds of conflicts are going to keep re-emerging for a while," he said. "This tees up the question: 'What are the limits of what the executive branch can do on its own?' "City officials testified during two days of hearings last month that they willingly turn over information about undocumented people who have been convicted or who are actively under suspicion of committing a serious crime."Isn't that all you're entitled to?" the judge asked Chad Readler, the Trump administration's acting assistant attorney general for the civil division.If federal agents were willing to accept that without demanding information on every person about whom they inquire, Baylson told Readler,"we wouldn't be here."
After carpenter Alex Salas slipped from a ladder on a construction site about 15 years ago, suffering 10 fractures, he sued the site's scaffolding subcontractor because the ladder did not meet code requirements.A jury in 2006 decided the company was negligent, but did not award Salas any money. Nearly a decade later, after appeals, a new King County jury awarded Salas $2.6 million in the case.The two juries heard the same case -- with a critical difference. The first jury knew he was in the country illegally; the second did not.In 2006, the defense admitted evidence about Salas' immigration status. Years before his injuries, Salas' visa had expired.His lawyers believed that information prejudiced the jury and should not have been included.The state Supreme Court agreed in 2010, saying the danger of unfair prejudice outweighed the evidence's value, calling the lower court's decision to admit the evidence "an abuse of discretion" and giving Salas the new trial that awarded him millions.Last Wednesday, the state Supreme Court took a unique step that proponents believe would have prevented Salas' difficulties receiving a fair trial.The court approved a rule that makes evidence about a person's immigration status "generally inadmissible" in civil and criminal courts statewide unless lawyers establish a compelling reason to raise the issue. The rule will take effect statewide next September.Washington is believed to be the first state in the nation to approve such a rule."It's very, very progressive and somewhat radical in the sense that this is the first of its kind I've seen in this country," said Ann Murphy, a Gonzaga University law professor who teaches evidence law. Murphy supported the change.Proponents say the rule will remove barriers to justice for people without documentation, who might fear bringing a civil suit or testifying in a criminal case because of their immigration status.It will also protect witnesses or litigants from prejudice by a jury, said Joe Morrison, an attorney with Columbia Legal Services, who helped propose the rule to the state Supreme Court."If you have immigration status evidence, that is such a volatile issue, especially today, that it can overtake people's views," Morrison said. Then, juries "end up having people make decisions on an emotional reaction instead of what the court has told them the law and facts are."David Martin, a King County deputy prosecuting attorney, said some victims of domestic violence and other crimes are often reluctant to participate as witnesses in criminal cases because a defense attorney could bring up their immigration status in public court."People are scared. They're scared because of what they hear coming out of the federal government," Martin said, noting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had been seen at Washington courthouses, including in King County."Immigration does come up in criminal cases, and sometimes it's entirely appropriate that the status is examined, but what this rule says is you have to have really good reasons," he said.But defense attorneys expressed concern about the application of the rule in criminal cases."The courts already have the power to preclude testimony that isn't relevant and effective," said Annie Benson, the senior directing attorney for the Washington Defender Association. "What this rule is going to do is put an added burden on defense attorneys."To admit evidence of immigration status in criminal cases, defense lawyers will be required under the rule to write a pretrial motion and argue it during a hearing.Benson said that could add up to extra work, particularly for public defenders working hundreds of cases each year.Immigration status often comes up, defense lawyers said, in cases that involve U visas, which grant crime victims the ability to stay in the United States legally to help investigations or prosecutions. Prosecutors and other law-enforcement officials file paperwork to help victims obtain U visas. King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said his office recommends about 75 U visas a year, mostly for domestic violence and sexual assault cases.Defense attorneys argue the accused shouldn't have to clear a legal hurdle to examine the benefit of a visa."If somebody is being granted a benefit in exchange for their testimony, Supreme Court case law for due process makes very clear that's relevant and admissible for impeachment," said Angus Lee, a Vancouver-area defense attorney who opposed the rule. "You're shifting the burden on the accused."The Superior Court Judges Association also wrote to the state's high court opposing the new rule. In an interview, King County Judge Sean O'Donnell said judges recognize information about immigration status "can be highly charged evidence." But he said careful attorneys would be reticent to bring irrelevant evidence into the case for fear of appeal, and that judges could already restrict "highly prejudicial and irrelevant evidence" under current rules.Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller, a proponent of the rule change, said he hopes it will provide clarity throughout the state.In a 2010 murder case, Miller said, defense attorneys questioned two women who had discovered a stabbing victim about their immigration status during a pretrial interview."You could tell on their faces, they were upset," he said.Miller stepped in to tell the women they did not need to answer, he said. Later, the defense motioned to dismiss the case, alleging that Miller had interfered with a witness.Miller said the judge ultimately dismissed the motion, but the questions -- and ambiguity around whether they should be allowed -- left the witnesses frightened."Having this rule is going to give prosecutors the ability to advise witnesses you don't have to answer these questions," Miller said.
Education

Criminal Justice Reform

Inequality

Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo once famously quipped that "you campaign in poetry; you govern in prose. Those eight words summed up the liberal icon's personal brand of politics. Poetry might win the hearts of voters, but governing was grunt work, involving compromise and protracted fights with lawmakers in Albany.Three decades later, New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio ran for mayor, and his campaign wasnt lacking for poetry. New York, he said, had become a tale of two cities , a Dickensian landscape where the divide between rich and poor was growing.After eight years of Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani followed by 12 years of Republican-turned-Independent Michael Bloomberg, de Blasio entered the ring framed as a dyed-in-the-wool liberal who wasnt afraid to take on the citys wealthy class. He campaigned in 2013 as a hometown Brooklynite, a champion of the poor and a fighter for equality -- and won.De Blasio swept into office promising a laundry list of progressive changes, including making advancements in early childhood education, repairing strained relationships between communities of color and the police, ensuring paid sick leave for all, closing the wage gap and trying to make New York City a more affordable place to live.Four years later, de Blasio's reputation as a liberal icon is seen as mixed by political observers and advocates in New York. There have been some wins, to be sure: implementing universal pre-K, extending paid sick leave, freezing rents and committing the city to closing the Rikers Island jail.As he enters his second term -- he cruised to re-election last week with more than 66 percent of the vote -- de Blasios liberal vision of New York has been somewhat tempered, according to advocates. He is now known as much for his political calculations as he is for his progressive rhetoric. His campaign poetry has transformed into policy prose.De Blasio rode in on a tale of two cities, but unfortunately we got a tale of two mayors, says Glenn E. Martin, founder of JustLeadershipUSA, which advocates for reducing the incarcerated population.Critics contend de Blasio has always been a campaigner who lacked the political chops to move policy. His supporters blame Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other lawmakers in Albany for obstructing the mayor's aspirations.With four years left to govern, de Blasio seemingly has a chance to push his progressive agenda forward. But just how far can he push?Perhaps the biggest single achievement of de Blasio's first term was the city's pre-K program. The promise of universal pre-K was a central tenet of his 2013 campaign, and it was one of the first programs he focused on when he got into office. As of this past September, roughly 70,000 of the citys 4-year-olds were enrolled.Pre-K is a major accomplishment for this mayor; one that he deserves a lot of credit for getting through, says Jeremiah Kittredge, CEO of Families for Excellent Schools, a pro-charter school advocacy group.But it proved to be the first of many clashes between de Blasio and Cuomo.The promised quick rollout of pre-K ran up against a lack of available space for the new students and the lack of enough money to properly fund the program. In 2014, de Blasio sought a tax increase of wealthy New Yorkers to pay for the pre-K expansion.The so-called "millionaires tax" would have required Albany to pass a tax increase in an election year. Cuomo squashed the idea, calling it a political  impossibility. To free up some funds, the city Department of Education shifted money promised for the construction of charter schools to help pay for added capacity for pre-K. That sparked a fight between de Blasio and the charter school sector, which also heightened tensions between the mayor and the governor: Cuomo has been a strong supporter of charter schools.De Blasios predecessor, Bloomberg, had left the mayors office after reshaping the political and physical landscape of public schools in New York. Bloomberg consolidated power over public schools under the auspices of the mayor. He closed some schools and held teachers more accountable for student outcomes.Bloomberg was also a supporter of charter schools, and he led an expansion of them in the city. Often, they were on the same campuses as traditional public schools, in an approach known as co-location.De Blasio, meanwhile, has openly expressed his preference for traditional public schools, and he has reduced funding for charters. "The administration has started to acknowledge that city schools are failing," says Kittredge. But "the issue is his position on charters, which affects poor, black and brown kids.This administration has been hell-bent on denying charters space, Kittredge adds.(De Blasio's office did not respond to interview requests.)Unlike his predecessor, however, de Blasio has allowed some of the local political battles over school locations -- including charters -- to play out independently of his office. In late 2014, for example, de Blasio announced plans to inject more than $150 million into improving 94 struggling schools in the city through his Renewal Schools initiative. Three of those schools in the Bronx were faced with a request to co-locate with a charter school. The battle over space played out in the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) board, an advisory group made up of 13 political appointees -- eight of whom are picked by the mayor -- and the Department of Education chancellor, who is also picked by the mayor.Despite being made up by a majority of de Blasio appointees, the board ultimately approved the co-location plan. De Blasio disagreed with the decision, but he let it stand. (Mayor Bloomberg had on at least one occassion replaced PEP board members who disagreed with his education policy.)Going into his second term, de Blasio is gearing up for another expansion of pre-K. He is looking to expand early childhood education to 3-year-olds through a program known as 3-K. The rollout is slated to being in the fall of 2018 and is targeted at poorer neighborhoods in East Harlem and Queens, and eventually will expand to low-income parts of the Bronx, Staten Island and Brooklyn.We have to lay an even stronger foundation for our children, de Blasio said at his first press conference following his re-election. We need the school system to look entirely different in the coming years."New York City touts itself as the safest large city in the country. For nearly two decades now, its crime trend lines have pointed downward The reduction in crime under Giuliani and Bloomberg accompanied the "broken windows" policing philosophy, a tough-on-crime strategy that often leads to a large number of arrests for low-level infractions. It's closely associated with stop-and-frisk, the controversial practice in which police temporarily detain and question civilians on the street whom they suspect might be carrying weapons or other illegal material.But federal courts in 2013 and 2014 declared that New York's stop-and-frisk tactics were unconstitutional, saying that police disproportionately targeted black and Latino residents. De Blasio vowed to end the use of the practice during his campaign and has since praised its decline.Yet the mayor turned to someone closely tied with Giulianis tough-on-crime tactics of the 1990s to change the police department.Once he took office in January 2014, de Blasio re-hired Bill Bratton, who had previously served as commissioner under Giuliani from 1994 to 1996 and led the NYPD during the early implementation of its broken windows strategy.We live in a country of 300 million people," says Martin, "and de Blasio went back to the guy who created the mess in the first place."The former commissioner, though, is seen as a transformative figure in law enforcement. From 2002 to 2009, he served as the Los Angeles Chief of Police, and he is credited with helping to rein in that department's more aggressive tactics.Bratton stepped down from his post two and a half years later, having overseen the biggest expansion of the New York police department in 20 years . Supporters say he also left the department less combative and antagonistic than he found it, with the NYPD focusing less on summonses and arrests and more on building relationships. For instance, the department now works with community-minded "violence interrupters," many of whom have been involved in street violence themselves, something observers say was unlikely under previous administrations Law enforcement reform advocates are generally pleased with the changes during de Blasio's first four years.I think de Blasio deserves credit for continuing to drive down crime rates, especially as he tries to transform the police force from a department that once was a warrior-type department to one that is committed to more community collaborations, says Nicholas Turner, president and director of the Vera Institute, which advocates for criminal justice reform.Now they are pushing for additional transparency in the department and more public input on policing.What the NYPD under de Blasio needs to do is share more data, share its practices and allow itself to be vulnerable for a while and allow New Yorkers to have a voice in how they are policed, says Martin.Another second-term criminal justice issue for the mayor will be Rikers Island. For reform advocates, the 413-acre jail embodies everything thats wrong with New York Citys penal system. It has long been plagued by overcrowding, violence, insufficient resources and even food poisoning for inmates.Initially, de Blasio planned to spend $1 billion building a new facility on the island. He was open to the idea of reducing the prison's population by one-fourth. But advocates pushed him hard to close the facility altogether. Ultimately, he agreed, laying out a 10-year plan to shutter Rikers for good.In Albany, Cuomo's office has sharply criticized the mayor's plan, saying the notorious jail should be closed sooner. The governor's general counsel said in a statement that de Blasio's protracted timeline was tantamount to saying we have no real plan to close it. Ten years may see three different mayors and three different city councils."Criticism like that, along with the continued drumbeat of bad news from Rikers -- 29 gang members were recently indicted for attacking inmates and corrections officers at the jail -- could prod the mayor to commit to at least beginning the work of decommissioning the island during his second term in office. Doing that would set up potential fights with city councilmembers and residents over spreading smaller jail facilities in neighborhoods across the city.What the challenge has been for him now is that the 'close Rikers' campaign is not enough; we want more, says Turner, who served on the citys Lippman Commission, which was formed to study incarceration reform. It is now not enough to say, Hey crime went down and I dropped incarceration. He is also going to have to say, 'I have made significant movement on getting Rikers closed.'Core to de Blasios message in the first campaign was closing New York Citys income and wealth gap. The mayors tale of two cities narrative was about inequalities in work, income, education and housing.And as in other policy areas, the results have been mixed and political realities have stifled some of his priorities.De Blasio initiated two rent freezes in the city, secured a right to counsel for residents facing eviction, and has added hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units in the city. He implemented a $15 minimum wage for city workers and for employees of companies with city contracts. The mayor also pushed hard on the state hard to raise the minimum wage. That hike will be slowly implemented and wont kick in for all New York City employers until the end of 2019.Progressives say all that is merely a good start.Its progress but, no, its not enough, says Nancy Rankin, vice president for policy, research and advocacy at the Community Services Society of New York. Its substantial progress, but New York is an expensive place to live. We are looking at both sides of the equation.In his second term, de Blasio has already pledged to focus on making public transit more affordable for low-income riders. He is proposing a so-called Fair Fare, a subsidy to trim the cost of Metrocards for poor families who rely on public transportation. He has again proposed paying for that program with a new "millionaires tax," undoubtedly setting up another fight in Albany.But it's a fight the mayor needs to have, says Rankin, if he truly intends to make good on his campaign promises from 2013.If you want to combat the tale of two cities, you have to make it affordable for people to get to work, to school and to doctor appointments.Progressive initiatives like that would also move de Blasio somewhat closer to governing in prose that sounds more like the poetry with which he campaigned.
Description

GIS - 16 November, 2017: The Ambassador designate of the Republic of Benin, Mr Eric Franck Saizonou, with residence in Pretoria conveyed a keen interest to seek Mauritian expertise in the tourism sector owing to the countrys vast experience in this field. The Ambassador designate of the Republic of Benin, Mr Eric Franck Saizonou, with residence in Pretoria conveyed a keen interest to seek Mauritian expertise in the tourism sector owing to the countrys vast experience in this field.

The intent was expressed this afternoon during a courtesy call by the Ambassador designate of the Republic of Benin on the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis.

In his statement, Ambassador Eric Franck Saizonou, spoke of his fruitful meeting with Prime Minister Jugnauth with whom he discussed the way forward and new avenues of collaboration for the mutual interest of both countries.

Mr Eric Franck Saizonou also underscored his determination to deepening the existing bilateral and friendly ties between the two countries as well as reinforcing both bilateral and economic collaboration in the areas of health; economic and cultural cooperation and diplomacy.

The newly appointed Ambassador presented his credential letter earlier today to the President of the Republic, Mrs Ameenah Gurib-Fakim .
Several attendees at Code for Americas (CfA) first Brigade Congress reflected on the experience this week, blogging about the event and the ideas it gave them for moving forward in civic tech.

The Brigade Congress happened last month in Philadelphia , drawing members of Code for America (CfA) brigades from across the globe. Code for America is a nonpartisan and nonprofit group that works on tech projects to make governmental services simpler and easier to use for constituents. Its brigades are a national alliance of organizers, technologists and designers, all of whom volunteer time for civic tech projects that support CfAs mission within their own communities.

Dubbing the three-day event an unconference, organizers from CfA welcomed participants to share stories about projects that have worked and projects that have failed, as well as thoughts on how lessons learned could lead to future wins. Members from brigades in Toronto and San Jose, Calif., reflected this week via posts on medium, as did CfA founder and Executive Director Jennifer Pahlka

Pahlka noted that the event was CfAs first, but not last, Brigade Congress in a lengthy post that elaborated on a presentation she gave. While Pahlkas writing was deep and nuanced, a pair of central questions seemed to guide her thinking: How did CfA get to this point and where does it go from here?The group was established back in 2009 and has remained dynamic, taking evolutionary steps such as aggressively growing its brigades back in 2012 before restructuring last year in the midst of funding challenges. Pahlka goes on to discuss the history of the group, the precision of the language used to describe its core principals, and her desire to continue an ongoing discussion with members of the brigades.

Members of Code for San Jose identified common themes that emerged at the event, such as how to build sustainable leadership, how to improve gender equity in brigades and how to attract and include non-coders.

The San Jose post then ended with a quote from Pahlka: We can save us. Efficiency in government is absolutely a matter of social justice.

NYC Economic Development Corporation to create citys first cybersecurity accelerator

The NYC Economic Development Corporation has released an RFP seeking proposals from academia and the private sector to partner with the city on a range of initiatives  all of which seek to position New York as a leader in cybersecurity jobs and innovation.

Dubbed Cyber NYC, the new effort seeks to foster community and cross-sector collaboration in cybersecurity, grow New Yorks pool of cybersecurity talent and spark related innovations. The most tangible request is for a new cybercenter that would serve as the citys first physical hub for cybersecurity, a space that would host community programs as well as a startup accelerator with a focus on scaling related startups, while at the same time giving entrepreneurs access to potential customers, investors, mentors and other resources.Other priorities within the RFP include strengthening partnerships through an applied learning initiative to compliment the citys upcoming cybersecurity boot camps, and an academic innovation exchange capable of pairing ideas with funding.

Cybersecurity presents both a threat and opportunity to New York City, said James Patchett, the president and CEO of the NYC Economic Development Corporation in a press release. The [Mayor Bill] de Blasio Administration is investing in cybersecurity to both fuel innovation, and to create new, accessible pathways to jobs in the industry. Were looking for big-thinking proposals to help us become the global capital of cybersecurity and to create thousands of good jobs for New Yorkers.

A key goal of this effort is growing New Yorks cybersecurity industry and thereby supporting de Blasios existing New York Works plan, which was announced in June and aspires to create 100,000 good jobs in the city over the next decade.

Startup in Residence Program unveils challenges for first nationwide cohort

The San Francisco-born Startup in Residence Program (STiR), which announced this week that it would be expanding to 12 cities across the country in 2018 , has now opened applications for its next class.

Along with the announcement, program organizers have posted a list of 37 challenges compiled by public servants . As part of the application process, startups will review this list and choose obstacles that their work can help local governments overcome. The challenges cover a wide range of subject matter, from parking management to data security to resident engagement. If a startup is selected to participate, it will then spend 16 weeks collaborating with public servants and building projects that serve the community while at the same time giving the startup a product to potentially sell to agencies in other jurisdictions. The application for next years program, which begins in January, will remain open until Dec. 10.

To help interested startups, program organizers will also be hosting a webinar for prospective applicants on Nov. 30, during which attendees will hear from past participants such as Yeti and Appledore , which will detail how the program helped them break into the gov tech market.

The Startup in Residence program was created in 2014 as a pilot in San Francisco. In 2016, it expanded to three other cities in Northern California: Oakland, San Leandro and West Sacramento. Houston and Washington, D.C., are the most noteworthy of the participants added for this year.

While the size and scope of the program are larger, the focus remains the same: make it easier for tech startups to break into government while helping to solve public problems with private-sector innovation. This type of mutually beneficial cooperation has long been a problem, albeit one that STiR has a growing track record of solving.

Harvards Ash Center restructures flagship award program

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School is restructuring one of its flagship programs, the Innovations in American Government Awards

In a press release, organizers said the award program will now seek applicants that are focused on a single, intractable problem in American society today. In addition, there will now be a streamlined application and evaluation process, and the award will be offered annually. The focus of this years award will be initiatives aimed at improving economic and social mobility. Applications are due by Jan. 12.

Billed by the group as the nations preeminent program devoted to recognizing and promoting excellence in the public sector, the Ash Centers Innovation in American Government Awards offers a $50,000 top prize, and it is open to programs from all levels of government within the United States. The award was created in 1985 and has since fielded more than 27,000 applications and subsequently recognized nearly 500 government initiatives.

Cincinnati launches new reported crime dashboard

CincyInsights, which is Cincinnatis public-facing open data portal, has created a new dashboard dubbed Reported Crime , which visualizes police data by neighborhood, date/time and demographics.

The citys data people collaborated with the police department on the new portal, which draws from the Cincinnati Police Departments records management system, a depository for agencywide data about law enforcement operations. Through this map, users can access information about anything classified as reported crime, a designation that does not include service calls, arrest info, final case determinations, or other broad incident data.

This platform seems likely to draw significant interest from the public, as crime has been identified as the most popular type of open data. This interface allows residents of Cincinnati to search crime records by street, which will no doubt be a popular function. In other words, someone who lives on Oak Street can type in their address and see all reported crimes on Oak Street. Data will be updated daily.

The Reported Crime dashboard joins CincyInsights' other public safety data efforts, which include a police calls service dashboard and another dashboard that visualizes shootings . Cincinnati is one of many major American cities working hard to create tools that make the public more likely to engage with open data. In fact, Chief Data Officer Brandon Crowley spoke about the work taking place in his city at a gathering of municipal CDOs at Harvard University earlier this month.

Philadelphia picks Department of Revenue and Homeless Services as first agencies for design lab

Philadelphias PHL Participatory Design Lab , which uses human-centered design methods to make it easier for the public to interact with municipal agencies, announced this week that officials had selected the first two departments to benefit from its work: the Office of Homeless Services and the Department of Revenue.

The lab plans to use social science and service design techniques to help residents use the homeless services departments intake system and the revenue departments owner-occupied payment agreement, which helps homeowners who are behind on real estate taxes and provides protection from enforcement. Officials noted in a press release that both departments help ease the citys housing crisis.

The design lab was made possible by a $338,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Knight Cities Challenge , which Philadelphia won earlier this year. The money is projected to support an 18-month design lab initiative. Service designer Devika Menon of Baltimore and social scientist Nathaniel Olin of Washington, D.C., have been hired as the labs fellows and are moving to Philadelphia this month, where they will work with other team members and community stakeholders.

The press release announcing the selection of the departments noted that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is broadly committed to using data-driven practices and evidence-based approaches to drive sustainable outcomes  an increasingly common priority in major American cities. Using citizen-centric design and engagement techniques is also something governments at all levels have been more frequently working toward as of late, with many public servants saying citizens now expect a level of functionality and service to rival that of private companies like Amazon.

Tulsa, Okla. seeks data analytics specialists

The data people are coming, infiltrating city governments across the country like a horde of analytical, pragmatic invaders. They are pretty good with numbers and devoted to public service, perhaps even hell-bent on helping municipal agencies make better, data-driven decisions.

The latest jurisdiction to be overrun is Tulsa, Okla., which is now looking to hire a data analytics specialist to work within the city governments office of performance, strategy and innovation. An ideal candidate will be excited to recognize the data requirements of various internal departments and other enterprise units, producing and maintaining data dashboards to distinguish opportunities for improvement and to enhance efficiency, among other tasks.

Earlier this month, the Civic Analytics Network , a group of municipal chief data officers who have already successfully enshrined themselves in city halls from Boston to San Diego, met at Harvard University for a conference to discuss the growing impact of the work they do . Your town could be next, potentially using predictive analytics to identify potholes before they happen  provided, of course, that available data over a sustained time period shows it would benefit from such work after being compared to a control set.
Meeting Demand for High-Quality Data

Balancing good leadership and departmental autonomy

One parent dataset (when possible) with filtered views for ease of use or data sensitivity

Required metadata is filled out

Abides by documented refresh rate

Usable format on or linked out from LA open data site

Includes plain English field names, field descriptions, or a data dictionary

Includes units

Data source is provided

Any doubts about accuracy or limitations are noted in the description

Presents context such as in the description or through a visualization

Enough data to draw patterns and insights

Building an Integrated Network for Citywide Data Management

Inspiring cultural change is always challenging, but with the right leadership, inclusion and innovation can become driving forces for change and opportunity. Under the leadership of Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Data Team created the Citywide Data Collaborative, a group of data liaisons across departments who oversee the collection, cleaning, and quality control of their department data, and manage their datasets on the citys open data portal. Their work and collaboration with the Mayors Data Team has introduced an unprecedented approach to how Los Angeles city government handles, shares, and uses data in all of its operations.In December 2013, during his first year in office, Mayor Garcetti issued Executive Order 3 on Open Data, which required each department to designate a data steward responsible for releasing departmental data to the citys two data portals, the tabular open data portal and the geospatial GeoHub.In the first phase of the open data process, Open Data 1.0, data stewards were tasked with unlocking hundreds of datasets, evaluating their accessibility, publishing them to the open data portals, and developing processes for regular updates. Initially, the review and classification of the public datasets suffered from inconsistencies in definition and practice. With over 1,000 datasets and 45 departments, the Mayors Data Team launched both a formal open data inventory process and the Citywide Data Collaborative to standardize the citys tremendous data library for optimal use. The Collaborative developed the human infrastructure necessary to address open data challenges on a large scale.Open Data 2.0 followed in October 2016, kicking off four months during which departments identified datasets to be added or deleted, or as geospatial data to be shared on the GeoHub. The Data Team developed a set of resource guides for the data stewards to standardize the cleaning process and track their progress. The resources included a metadata guide example datasets , and a detailed inventory tracker that allowed departments to review the public datasets and assign an action to each. Additionally, the Mayors Data Team held regular check-ins with departments to ensure each data liaison was able to meet milestones and complete the inventory tracker with their updates by the end of the inventory in January 2017.Maintaining a high-quality data library is an ongoing responsibility of a city that aims to be inclusive and meet the needs of its residents. While the formal inventory process has ended, members of the Citywide Data Collaborative continue to use the resources to ensure that the citys data remains accessible and up-to-date. The City of Los Angeles also uses an internal Open Data Dashboard to track departmental data and incoming data requests, and to highlight city data champions who are actively contributing to the citys open data library.The success of the Los Angeles city data inventory process is the result of a developed structural plan complemented with departmental autonomy to complete the tasks. In creating the resource guides, the Mayors Data Team intentionally left some room for interpretation so that only the data stewards could determine when to mark their metadata complete. In addition to using the City metadata guide, data stewards were asked to follow a data standards checklist that focused on five key areas:andThe checklist empowered the members of the Citywide Data Collaborative to judge the quality of their own data, rather than waiting for data to be scored or critiqued externally. The resource guides also developed a new framework for data liaisons to use regularly in both open and internal data management.Because we built strong relationships within our departments we were able to leverage our internal connections and subject matter expertise to deliver data improvements more efficiently than if the Mayors office came in and met with data groups individually, noted Patrick Woo, Operations and Statistical Research Analyst at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), and data steward for DWP, the department with the largest open data inventory.According to Woo, the decentralized process had a 1+1=3 effect on [DWPs] open data program. Woo said he found the process challenging and rewarding, and it provided him with the opportunity to review all open datasets published since 2014 and look critically at how the public engages with departmental data. For Woo, the inventory process was the catalyst the department needed to recalibrate and match what is currently captured in information with what the public wants to see. Woos team is actively working on a plan to release geospatial data on the GeoHub to take advantage of its spatial analysis and identify new opportunities to better serve the people of the City of Los Angeles.The Mayors Data Team continues to leverage this citywide data expertise by regularly convening the members of the Citywide Data Collaborative. Aligned with Mayor Garcettis bottom-up approach to spur innovation from within departments, the Collaborative is instrumental in ensuring Los Angeles continues to lead as a digital and data-driven city. Since its launch in July 2016, the Collaborative has met quarterly to foster citywide coordination related to data management and analytics, and to tackle current challenges from open data automation and metadata, to data sharing and cross-departmental collaboration.As the Collaborative develops, it has become a think tank of over 80 departmental data leaders who are evolving citywide standards as they realize Mayor Garcettis vision for a data-driven government. As subject matter experts in this field, the group serves as a data cabinet for the Mayor - instilling leading data management practices across the city while showing the value of using data for city service improvements.Meeting in the format of the Collaborative and doing data discovery process collectively demonstrates how data can bring people together and help them see a shared vision, explains Umi Hsu, Digital Strategist for the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). Hsu values the Collaborative as a place to collect use cases for data as an asset, which Hsu uses to advocate for more data-focused projects at DCA. Even though each department has its own story, there are pain points we all share and solutions that could be applicable beyond the context of one organization.The creation of the Citywide Data Collaborative has built a community of practice and developed the trust necessary for a citywide coordinated open data effort. Only a year since its launch, the Collaborative has already sparked inspiration for cross-departmental projects thanks to the knowledge exchange among peers. Through this initiative, Los Angeles has proven that an inclusive and collaborative city is also an innovative and well-run city.
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China will host the Fourth World Internet Conference from Dec. 3 to 5 in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, according to Ren Xianliang, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Ren told a State Council Information Office press conference that 1,500 guests from around the world, including heads of international organizations, leading figures in the internet area, online celebrities, and academics will attend this year's summit.

The event will focus on the digital economy, openness and sharing, to jointly build an online community of shared future, he said.

The summit will include details of new scientific and technological achievements and exhibitions, Ren said.

China has also invited several international organizations as co-organizers of the event, including the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, according to Ren.

The summit will issue reports on the development of the Internet and see agreements signed between governments, social organizations, and enterprises, he said.
(TNS) - With just a few bills outstanding, figures show Fort Worth paid out a little more than $2.5 million in costs related to Hurricane Harvey shelter operations here and sending police and firefighters to Houston.The city expects to be reimbursed all the money, said City Manager David Cooke. The money was spent in September and October.The reimbursements will come through the state and other agencies. Fort Worth operated a shelter for 22 days. At its peak, 3,650 evacuees, many from Port Arthur, stayed in local hotels and 247 were at the school districts Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in south Fort Worth.Hurricane Harvey slammed in the state's Gulf Coast in the Houston area Aug. 25 and lasted seven days. It caused widespread devastation as it moved across Texas into Louisiana. Estimates for Hurricane Harvey's damage run as high as $180 billion.Several hundred employees across various city departments worked a total of 21,107 hours, earning $978,555. Of that, 15,310 hours were considered overtime and equal to $786,438 in pay.But coupled with benefits costs required to be paid on those dollars, buying supplies and clothing, and leasing equipment, including three large tents to shelter animals, the city paid out $1.3 million, figures show.The employees who worked locally must submit forms detailing their work and work hours as part of the citys disaster response pay policy. Those forms, which are approved by an employees supervisor, will be audited, the city said. Those forms are not required by the city for those employees who were deployed to Houston, the city said.Three police officers logged the most individual hours, each above 220 hours, in Fort Worth, and totaling 680 hours.The Fire Department said it paid out $377,790 sending firefighters to Houston and for those who remained in Fort Worth to back-fill positions, the department said. The department said it has submitted its expenses to the Texas Task Force 1/Texas Engineering Extension Service and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System programs.The Police Department said it paid out $817,915, of which $736,321 was in personnel costs. The department said it sent 134 officers of all ranks to Houston.Sandra Baker: 817-390-7727, @SandraBakerFWST2017 the Fort Worth Star-TelegramVisit the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS) - As Ohio locals the township continues to rebound from a category-2 tornado that thrashed several properties the night of Nov. 5, many residents are getting a helping hand from neighbors theyve never met.Weve got Amish coming in from all over the state that are helping on everybodys property, local township trustee Gary Babb said Wednesday. Several buildings and Amish barns are already back up and theyve got so much help theyre helping their neighbors that are not Amish.This has been the most widespread use of Amish volunteer labor on other properties that Ive ever witnessed in my life, he said.Randy Lupton, owner of Lighthouse Transportation Services, based out of Falconer, New York, parked his school bus near a barn on which several Amish workers were replacing a roof. He and a group of 26 Amish workers from Conewango, New York, arrived in the township at 7 a.m. and were set to work until 4:30 p.m.Theres certainly plenty of work, he said Wednesday.He said he brought a group of 38 Amish last week. In his line of work, transporting large Amish work crews is very common, he said.There have been other crews here, other Amish communities, Lupton said. Theyre very community oriented. Theyre there for each other in times of need  more than the English.According to the county Emergency Management Agency, six township homes were completely destroyed by the tornado  which brought winds in excess of 125 mph  another six were heavily damaged and several more sustained minor damage. No injuries were reported.On Wednesday, Amish could be seen at almost every property along U.S. Route 322  which took the brunt of the storms fury  combing debris from farm fields so they can be worked again, loading trash into a large tub rigged for burning, and tearing off shattered barn roofs or replacing them with metal sheets.Theyre trying to clear the metal and wood from (a residents 15- to 20-acre) field so they can still harvest the corn and so theyll be ready to plow in the spring, Babb said. Those cornfields dont belong to the Amish, but theyre trying to help everybody.Andover Christian Church and the township-based Laker Ruritan Club made sure the traveling groups were fed, he said.At the trustees Monday meeting, they voted to purchase a discounted 40-yard dumpster for residents to dump debris. It was placed Wednesday at the township garage. Babb asked that residents only dump debris headed to the landfill, and place sheet and scrap metal to the side.The township has also temporarily waived its zoning fee for tornado-damaged properties, in light of the ongoing cleanup and extensive repairs. Zoning permits for rebuilding or large repairs must still be obtained, however.Community Care Committee of Andover has organized a concert fundraiser Dec. 2 at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds 4-H Building to benefit all tornado victims, said Mary Brown, president of the nonprofit group. The band Hill-Top Honey volunteered to perform.Doors are set to open at 5 p.m. with a bar serving mixed drinks and beer. Rigatoni and meatballs, salad and Italian bread will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dessert. Hill-Top Honey is set to take the stage at 8 p.m.Tickets are $25 per each person 18 years and older, and can be purchased at the door or by calling Brown at (440) 223-0701. She said all proceeds will be disbursed evenly between all residents affected by the tornado  every penny goes back to the community.Babb said township officials want to put a big thank you out there to everybody  the official volunteers and even the individuals showing up to help.Atlee Shetler, an Amish man living along U.S. Route 322, was replacing wire fencing around his property Wednesday afternoon. He said he has much to be thankful for.It could have been a lot worse, he said.FOLLOW JUSTIN DENNIS on Twitter @justindennis.2017 the Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio)Visit the Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio) at www.starbeacon.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New and refurbished infrastructure  whether its a road, a bridge, a rail line  should be developed with a vision for the future, one that includes multiple layers of smart cities technologies, say public and industry experts.If youre going to rebuild the street, put the right sensors in it so we can make better decisions later. We need to build infrastructure for the future, for the next 50 years, not for the last 20, said Brian Pallasch, managing director of government relations and infrastructure with the American Society of Civil Engineers.Any piece of infrastructure that is going to be incentivized at the local or state level from the feds should include the word smart in it, agreed Bob Bennett, chief innovation officer for Kansas City, Mo., speaking on a panel discussion during the Digitizing Infrastructure: Building a Smart Future symposium in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14.The talk also brought together policymakers like Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, RW.V., and Rep. Stacey Plaskett, DU.S. Virgin Islands, and centered on the state of outdated American infrastructure and how innovation should play a part in what is believed to be a nearly $2 trillion maintenance backlog.Innovation should be top-of-mind not only for the technology itself, but how infrastructure projects are envisioned and designed. That means thinking creatively, and forming public-private partnerships, said Bennett.Given the fact that any investment we make in a city has to live as long as the bond which supports it. Youre not going to do that with digital infrastructure for a 20-year bond. So, we have to do it with a public-private partnership, in order to meet that 18-month, 36-month exchange point, Bennett said.Kansas City is a leader in the nation when it comes to weaving smart technologies throughout the citys fabric. It boasts the smartest 54 blocks in the United States, consisting of an area from about the riverfront to downtowns Union Station. This $20 million project is largely a digital infrastructure project formed through a partnership with Cisco and Sprint.Everything is sensored in that particular space, said Bennett.We do traffic monitoring. We do pedestrian monitoring to influence our development efforts, he explained. And then weve got an analysis platform on top of that, which helps us synchronize city operations.Bennett and others on the panel say the federal government could incentive more innovation projects, in part, by lessening maybe some regulations, said Pallasch.But the reality is the federal government has not come to the table with enough money for about a generation of infrastructure building, said Pallasch, who seemed to echo the collective sentiment when thinking of the hurdles to digital infrastructure.But the federal governments leadership in innovation infrastructure doesnt have to be just money. The government can set standards, which can then be multiplied over in cities across the country.We can all play on the same playing field, in terms of what data were going to collect at the macro-level, so that industry can come to us with sensors or technologies that apply not just to Kansas City, but to also to St. Louis, also to Louisville, also to Birmingham, also to San Diego, Austin and New York, would be incredibly helpful, said Bennett.The other thing they can do is invest in a lot of these technologies that connect us physically, Bennett said, offering examples like taking the time, effort and money to install fiber on a rail line from Chicago to Dallas.Elected officials still need to buy-in to smart cities infrastructure, said Pallasch, offering another sometimes challenge.I think with a lot of this kind of infrastructure, theres a kind of fear factor a little bit, from a local government standpoint, Pallasch added, offering up images of some of the antipathy the public has about sharing their data.Another hurdle may lie in an unwillingness on the part of local governments to partner outside of their own silos.The politicization of innovation is probably the biggest impediment to making progress, said Bennett. When we came up with the public-private partnership, the city was absolutely the minority partner, to these 54 blocks."There were folks at the local level and the state level who didnt want the city to be that far out on the edge, he added. That is something where it takes a mindset change, where the city seems itself as part of the ecosystem, and not defining the ecosystem.And finally, the federal government needs to know when to stay out of the way.Now, the one thing I would ask the federal government not to do is, please dont pre-empt us, said Bennett. We have folks that come and tell us how much to charge vendors to use our (utility) poles  Please, federal government, get out of my city, when it comes to telling us how to run it. We got this.
(TNS)  Banks, businesses and agencies that require people to present picture identification should be aware that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has changed the look of its state-issued licenses and ID cards.The change occurred in Alachua County last week, and the Alachua County Tax Collector's Office, which handles the issuance of state-issued licenses and ID cards in the county, wants people to know the different-looking cards are here."Last week, one of our employees who had the new driver's license went to a bank to do a transaction, and the teller was suspicious of the new look of the driver's license," said John Power, Alachua County tax collector.The Alachua County Tax Collector's Office, like other tax collector offices throughout the state, began issuing driver licenses and IDs in 2013 after being mandated to merge with state division of driver license's offices by the Florida Legislature.The new cards, meant to be more secure, began being issued around the state in August. Last week, new printers to make them were installed in the three tax collector's offices in Alachua County at 12 SE First St., 3837 Windmeadows Blvd. and 5801 NW 34th St., all in Gainesville.The printers are equipped with secure technology that can't be duplicated and prevents criminals from creating fake IDs, Power said.His office handles about 60,000 state-issued license and ID card transactions annually, Power said.According to officials with the department of motor vehicles, the new card design has nearly double the fraud-protection measures compared to the previous design, ultraviolent ink and pictures that can only be seen by tilting the card.State residents are only required to replace their current driver license or ID card if the the cards have reached their expiration date or a change is needed, such as name or address, Power said.The new driver licenses will feature colors denoting the type of license the customer holds, such as a regular license or a learner's permit. Licenses issued to those under 21 will have a red box on the front highlighting the date the person will cease being under 21.The new design also has designations for boaters, the deaf and hard of hearing and developmentally disabled, lifetime boater, hunting, freshwater and saltwater licenses, as well as for organ donors and veterans.Also, the new driver license and ID card will identify sexual predators and offenders with a distinguishing blue mark on the bottom right front. Sexual predators will have "Sexual Predator" spelled out, while sexual offenders will have "943.0435 F.S." on their cards.Florida last updated the design of its driver license and ID cards in 2003, and the new versions will use the latest technology to safeguard personal information, Power said.There is no change in how state-issued ID cards and licenses are obtained. However, the new cards won't be available online at www.gorenew.com until January.The federal government in 2005 passed the REAL ID Act that set new standards for the issuance of driver licenses and ID cards. The law went into effect in 2008 nationwide, and Florida began issuing REAL ID-compliant cards in 2010. They have a star in the upper right hand corner of the card."Security is the main reason behind the new credentials," Power said.
(TNS)  Democrats on a legislative panel Wednesday urged state elections officials to quickly remove Illinois from a controversial interstate voter registration program amid warnings it is unreliable and vulnerable to hacking, threatening to act on their own if they dont.For months now it has been very obvious that millions of Illinoisans personal data is at risk because of our participation in this program, state Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, said at a joint state House and Senate committee hearing on the topic. As soon as possible, the (State Board of Elections) should say the logical thing, which is, We cannot participate in this program because it is putting Illinois at risk. Illinois is among a number of states evaluating participation in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program, conducted through the Kansas secretary of states office that is aimed at flagging duplicate voter registrations across state lines.Crosscheck has drawn heightened political attention due to questions of the security of voters personal information. In addition, some states have been sued for wiping out voter registrations based solely on the systems findings without following procedures spelled out in federal voting rights laws.It has been demonstrated the Crosscheck is being used, even though it may not have originated this way, as a very partisan tool, and I think its irresponsible for the State Board of Elections to explicitly allow the removal of voters in other states with our data, state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, said. We are complicit in the denial of voting rights for people in other states, and its demonstrable.Security concerns involving Illinois voter registration data and participation in Crosscheck was brought to the fore by Indivisible Chicago, a progressive group formed following President Donald Trumps election that found various security lapses. Additionally, the top election official in Crosschecks home state, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, co-chairs a Trump-appointed panel on voter fraud that Democrats contend is aimed at trying to push voter suppression measures and has created its own security concerns.Bernadette Matthews, the assistant executive director of the State Board of Elections, said the board will discuss participation in Crosscheck when it meets Monday, though no vote is on the agenda. Democratic lawmakers said they eventually could consider state legislation to remove Illinois from Crosscheck.Matthews said if there is a need to rely on Crosscheck, its because of the frequent transition of people from Illinois to Indiana. That prompted state Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, to ask if the board should consider an intergovernmental agreement with Indiana to share voter information.Illinois currently participates in two multistate voter registration sharing programs: Crosscheck and the Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC. State elections officials acknowledge the ERIC system provides more reliable information and greater security for personal information than Crosscheck. But they note that of Illinois neighboring states, only Wisconsin is an ERIC participant.Shawn Davis, director of digital forensics for the law firm Edelson PC, detailed a series of security problems with Crosscheck that made voter information, including names, addresses, dates of birth and the last four digits of personal Social Security numbers vulnerable to hackers.Davis said his review revealed security faults, outmoded encryption technology, improperly configured firewalls and breeches of commonly accepted practices in which user names and passwords were routinely emailed to states across the country.Moreover, Davis said through government Freedom of Information Act requests and publicly available information, passwords and other information to be kept confidential between the states were released. States were able to access results of voter registration comparisons by all using the same password.Davis, who also is a faculty member of the Illinois Institute of Technologys Center for Cybersecurity and Forensic Education, said the vulnerabilities were unlikely to have a great effect on voter registration as much as it could lead to widespread ID theft and fraud.
The introduction of computers and digital technologies into the workplace has altered just about every job in some way. A report released by the Brookings Institution today chronicles how digitization has played out across different occupations and regional economies.Using Labor Department data that assesses how much computer skills and knowledge more than 500 occupations require, researchers assigned regions digital scores.Not surprisingly, the larger regions with the highest scores -- San Jose, Calif., and Boston being at the top -- are home to big tech firms or large universities. Meanwhile, regions with the lowest scores tend to employ more workers in retail sales and food service where the need for digital skills is still fairly minimal.Many of the lower-scoring metro areas, though, did see their average digital scores climb significantly between 2002 and 2016, the time period analyzed in the report. Thats largely a function of them starting from lower levels than other places.This plot shows that the biggest overall average changes have come in regions with the lowest 2002 scores.The more troubling finding is that, when only occupations requiring a high level of digital skills are considered, the jobs are becoming increasingly concentrated in a select group of regional economies. These prized jobs come with significantly higher salaries and are thought to be more resilient to industry changes, meaning they could be critical to the long-term health of local economies.Regions with already high numbers of these highly digital jobs in 2002 saw their concentrations increase much more than in other areas.The nature of different technologies is driving toward divergence and the superstar economies, Brookings Mark Muro says. The usual suspects look very good.Consider the San Jose and San Francisco metro areas, which had well-above average shares of high digital skill jobs back in 2002. Growth in concentrations of these jobs in Silicon Valley far outpaced other regions since then.There were a few outliers among smaller metro areas where high-skill digital jobs were once scarce but have since seen huge gains. They include Cedar Rapids, Iowa; College Station-Bryan, Texas; Jackson, Mich.; and Lansing-East Lansing, Mich.Still, the overall trend is a cause for concern.Muro says part of the diverging paths metro areas find themselves on can be explained by what technology and the internet enables companies to accomplish today. With relatively few employees and marginal costs, they can multiply their offerings infinitely and secure huge returns on investment.Not only do regions with more high-skill digital jobs benefit from higher wages, but their workforces may also enjoy greater longevity in the face of automation. The Brookings researchers compared occupations digital scores with separate estimates by the McKinsey Global Institute assessing the extent to which their tasks could be automated. What they found was a negative correlation, suggesting digital jobs in fields like computers, engineering and mathematics are generally less susceptible to automation than other occupations.It may also not be just digital skills that give these workers an edge in the long run. Muro points out that the same employees generally possess other key traits, such as soft skills, increased cognitive abilities and the ability to manage complex problems.One potential strategy for regions on the low end of the tech spectrum is to import talent, particularly young college-educated individuals.The report also emphasized the digital knowledge for middle-skill jobs, or those supporting middle-class families that dont require four-year degrees. Just under half of these jobs required at least a medium level of digital skills in 2002. That share has since increased to 88 percent, a notably bigger jump than other areas of the labor market, according to the analysis.
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 Flash

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday that China hopes Zimbabwe's relevant parties to properly handle the internal affairs.

China closely follows the developments of the situation in Zimbabwe,said Geng Shuang, spokesperson for Chinese Foreign Ministry, at a press briefing when asked to comment on the instability in Zimbabwe.

Geng said that maintaining peace, stability and development in Zimbabwe conforms to the fundamental interests of Zimbabwe and its neighboring regions, and is also the common aspiration of the international community.

Geng also said the visit by commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces to China last week was a normal military exchange.

Reports on Wednesday said that the Zimbabwean military appeared to have taken control of state institutions.

Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party on Tuesday condemned the "treasonous" statement by Zimbabwe Defense Forces chief Constantino Chiwenga, who threatened military intervention in the party's factional fights.

Chiwenga's statement came after President Robert Mugabe fired deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa, on allegations of disloyalty and deceit.
Hyundai said it will showcase its latest gasoline engine, diesel engine, hydrogen fuel cell ( earlier post ) and battery electric technologies in these vehicles. Hyundai currently offers gasoline, diesel, hydrogen and battery-electric vehiclesbut not a dieselin the US.

Hyundai Motor America said it will introduce to eight new or re-engineered crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) in the United States by the year 2020. Beginning with the US launch of the KonaHyundais first global B-segment CUV)in March, this new lineup will encompass models from the A-segment (entry level) size class all the way up to the eight-passenger midsize class.





The 2018 Kona for the US will initially feature a 1.6L turbo 4-cylinder engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT), as well as a 2.0L Atkinson cycle engine coupled with a 6-speed automatic.





The Gamma 1.6T-GDI engine delivers 177PS, a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). The engine delivers maximum torque of 265Nm (195 lb-ft) from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm.

The 2.0-liter MPI Atkinson engine produces 149PS, with a 0-100 km/h time of 10 seconds and a top speed of 194 km/h (121 mph). Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the engine delivers maximum torque of 179 Nm (132 lb-ft) at 4500 rpm.

In addition to the 1.6T-GDI engine, customers in Europe can also opt for Hyundais downsized 1.0 T-GDI turbocharged three-cylinder engine with six-speed manual transmission. Also available will be a 1.6 diesel engine for select markets.

Hyundai Motor is currently the only car manufacturer to make its own steel to produce its vehicles globally. The lightweight body frame has been developed with 51.8% Advanced High Strength Steel to deliver class-leading levels of passive safety.

Hot stamping methods produce lightweight, super-strong structural elements to maximize the cabins central safety zone. The length of structural adhesives used in production extends to 114.5 meters, providing additional torsional rigidity and further reducing weight.

The platform also features an innovative multi-load path structurean advanced energy dispersion technology that boosts impact tolerance by dispersing crash energy across multiple structures to protect passengers in the event of an accident.
Wireless power transfer company WiTricity has collaborated with Texas Instruments (TI) to use automotive-grade semiconductor components in WiTricitys DRIVE 11 wireless charging systems and reference designs.

WiTricitys DRIVE 11 wireless charging system enables drivers to park their electric vehicles (EVs) and be assured of rapid and efficient charging without having to handle charging cables.

WiTricitys TMN Controller utilizing TIs C2000TM real-time control microcontroller (MCU) can enable DRIVE 11-based electric vehicles and charging stations to optimize energy transfer between the source and vehicle automatically in a wide range of real-world operating conditions including parking misalignment, differing vehicle ground clearance and varying battery voltage conditions.

WiTricity has announced licensing agreements with Toyota, Delphi, TDK, IHI, Shindengen, Daihen and BRUSA. WiTricity is also collaborating directly with leading carmakers to drive global standards for wireless charging systems. Standards initiatives the company is involved in include the SAE International, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), STILLE, China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC) China Electricity Council and Chinese Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI).
Jackson Elementary School will close.

Members of the Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees voted 6-1 in favor of the elementary schools closure Tuesday night, after additional data and parents opinions were presented to them.

Board member Steve Core was the only vote against the closure, saying he thinks a school closure should be the last option, not the first. Core thinks the district could tap into its $7 million in revenues to offer an early retirement program, which would result in savings when positions are eliminated. The district will have to achieve $1.46 million in cost reductions to balance its upcoming budget, though Superintendent Donna-Little Kaumo fears the district will have to make deeper cuts after the Wyoming Legislature meets for its budget session in 2018.

While discussing the background information related to her recommendation to close Jackson, Little-Kaumo said the $1.46 million amount comes from reduced student enrollment in the elementary schools, as well as state-mandated reductions in funding for instructional facilitators and a change in how court ordered student placements are funded. As of October, the district has lost 98 students from the same period last year, which will result in a $1.1 million reduction in funding. The instructional facilitator funding was reduced as part of a two-year reduction in funding approved by the legislature earlier this year, and added with the change in court ordered placement funding, amounts to another $330,060.92 in reductions.

The reason why Jackson was suggested to close is due to the school having the lowest enrollment of the elementary schools and the costs associated with upgrading and repairing the building, funds which have not been made available to the district from the Wyoming School Facilities Commission, which dictates where funding for school construction and repairs goes. The building hasnt been recognized by the commission as needing repairs, though issues exist according to Jackson PTO Treasurer Irish Kreis. Kreis said custodians are forced to place buckets throughout the schools cafeteria during storms because of water leaks, claiming multiple buckets are needed to keep the floors clear. She also said an entire hallway was once closed because of the leaking roof. Kreis also mentioned other safety concerns, including difficulties properly draining water around the building. Core, saying he wasnt aware of the maintenance issues at the building said the school has always had problems. The district estimates it would need $770,000 to update and upgrade the building.

Little-Kaumo said she received a number of ideas from parents seeking alternate methods of saving the money. Some of those ideas included closing Expedition Academy, switching the school schedule to a four-day school week.

Cost savings for those alternatives would not add up to the amount the district will need to cut.

Another idea, involving the redrawing of school boundaries, will be voted on during the December school board meeting. Two options, one involving the Jackson boundaries to be rededicated to MIS and the other involving the boundaries redistributed to Harrison Elementary School will be presented to the school board. The district also plans public comment periods for these proposals.

Parents speaking to the board suggested postponing the vote, claiming information presented was not available to them prior to the start of the meeting.

Board member Corina Tynsky said the board had a week to review the information and agreed with comments made by board member John Malone, saying a month would not make a difference in the buildings condition.

She made the motion to close the school, with Malone seconding it. The board then voted.

Its not easy. This is hard, this is really hard, board member Ann Rudoff said.
A school bus driver who is known for her colorful hair and positive demeanor says shes floored by the continual support from her coworkers and the community.

Tiffany Herren was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer May 31. The cancer, despite appearing to be a common form, wasnt fueled by hormones and required 16 rounds of chemotherapy, an unusual amount for a stage two cancer. Herren underwent a double mastectomy Tuesday and awaits a final pathology report to determine what the next course of action will be.

Through it all, Herren continues to remain upbeat, leading one of her friends to call her the most resilient woman she knows. She cares for her two children, a 13-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, though misses being able to drive a school bus and working.

Im a doer and a goer ... I try to get up and do things that arent harmful to me or other people, Herren said.

Herrens coworkers describe her as a positive and uplifting person. Rachel Todd, the safety coordinator and assistant supervisor for the districts transportation department, said Herren spent her own money on positive re-enforcement aids on her bus.

Her hair, sometimes dyed flamboyant colors, was something students and other employees noticed about her.

She is a mermaid on land, Todd said.

The transportation department hosted a raffle in October which resulted in nearly $1,300 raised to help Herren. Internally, a challenge was issued to raise more than $1,000 from the raffle. Surpassing that goal resulted in employees shaving their heads or dying their hair pink in celebration.

The transportation department also donated concession stand proceeds from sales made during Green River High School swim meets and arranged for a Pizza Hut benefit night where a percentage of pizza sold would be donated.

Other businesses have donated to the cause since the start of the school year.

Beyond that, employees have found other ways to support their coworker.

Were all family, were pretty close, Bridget Burreston, a district bus driver who delivers meals to Herren, said. Were all here for her support.

Herren said shes been astounded with the kind of support shes received from both her coworkers and the community.

I cant express how thrown back I am ... I didnt expect it to continue and grow as it has, Herren said.

Herren also said her supervisors at the transportation department, Oscar Barton and Todd, have been extremely supportive of her and her desire to get back to work in whatever capacity she can once medically cleared.

The way theyve been, theyre the best bosses ever, she said.

A spaghetti dinner for Herren is planned for Nov. 18. The dinner is scheduled to take place from 5-9 p.m., at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Green River. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

A blanket is being raffled off as well, with tickets costing $1 each or six for $5. The raffle takes place during the benefit dinner and tickets are available at the school district bus barn on Monroe Avenue. Dinner tickets can also be ordered by calling 872-5590.
 Flash

China and the Philippines on Wednesday signed 14 cooperation deals as leaders of the two countries pledged to strengthen "positive momentum" in bilateral relations.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends a welcome ceremony held by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before their talks in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

After meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the press in the Philippine capital of Manila that the Chinese-Philippine relations have improved and both sides hope to "work together to make up for the time that we might have lost."

Li is the first Chinese premier to pay an official visit to the Philippines in a decade. He came to the Philippines at a time when the bilateral ties are warming up, a development that has continued since Duterte came to office last year.

Li said Duterte's visit to China in October last year was an "ice-breaker" and he has come this time to carry forward the traditional friendship.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of the 14 cooperation agreements on infrastructure financing, bridge construction, bond issuance, drug rehabilitation, climate change, intellectual property protection, industrial capacity cooperation.

The leaders also announced the start of work for two river bridges in Manila and two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, south of the Philippines.

Construction of the bridges will begin in 2018 and takes two and a half years to complete, officials said. The bridges will help ease Manila's severe traffic jams.

The drug centers, on the other hand, will be able to accommodate 300 people in total.

In his talks with Duterte, Li said the economies of China and the Philippines are highly complementary.

China is ready to tap its rich experience in equipment manufacturing and infrastructure development to conduct industrial capacity cooperation and formulate long-term development strategies, Li said.

The Chinese premier singled out several cooperation focal points, including trade investment facilitation, information technology, agriculture, fishery, poverty alleviation and reconstruction of run-down areas.

Looking forward, Li said China commends the Philippines' Ambisyon Natin 2040 development strategy and is happy to be involved in the Philippines' large-scale infrastructure programs.

Cooperation strategies, spanning five to 10 years, in areas like infrastructure can be discussed and formulated to send out a message that the China-Philippines relations will continue to go forward, he said.

Li pledged 150 million yuan (22.7 million U.S. dollars) in grants from the Chinese government to assist the reconstruction of war-torn Marawi in the southern Philippines.

The Philippine government in October declared victory over Islamic State-linked extremists in Marawi, ending nearly five months of fierce fighting that left many parts of the city destroyed.

Li said he believed that under Duterte's leadership, the rebuilding of Marawi will be completed at a very early day and the local people will enjoy an even better life.

For his part, Duterte thanked China for aiding the Philippines in its takeover and rebuilding of Marawi and the assistance given to boost the Philippines' "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure development initiative.

"I am pleased to note the positive turnaround and vigorous momentum of Philippines-China relations," Duterte said. "Practical cooperation in many areas is bringing in an early harvest of tangible benefits."

He said the joint efforts to improve ties have secured peace, stability and development in the region.

In his meeting with Li, Duterte said the Philippines welcomes Chinese investment, and is looking forward to learning from China's development experience and strengthening cooperation in such fields as transportation, telecommunications and agriculture.

Duterte also said the Philippines is willing to play an effective role of a coordinator to boost China-ASEAN relations.
Dear Editor,

Wyoming is a big beautiful state enjoyed by many people driving through from one destination to another. Many times, people stop to enjoy one of the many wonderful sites Wyoming has to offer.

There are a few times though when travel difficulties leave people stranded as they try to make their way across. Travelers Assistance Society of Sweetwater County (TASSC) exists to help those in need when their plans come to an unexpected halt.

Providing proper assistance to those in need is guided by many years of service and Biblical principles. Sometimes people come to try and take advantage of free gas, lodging, or food. Other times the assistance TASSC can provide doesnt feel like enough, but it is always the best that can be done in the moment. There are a few occasions where the timely letter of an assisted traveller arrives in the mail to encourage the good work of TASSC. Most of the work goes unnoticed by those in Sweetwater County, but the impression of Wyomingites on those outside of this county is one of kindness and generosity.

This past summer, Nya, Haya, Beth, and Belinda, were traveling from Washington to Nebraska to attend two funerals of friends who died tragically. These four young women were well on their journey when they had a car accident that left the vehicle totaled. Thats when the local police contacted TASSC seeking to provide assistance for these now stranded women. TASSC was first able to provide the women a night of lodging at a local motel so they could rest while other travel was arranged. Early the next morning, thanks to a series of very fortunate and well timed events involving a Greyhound driver, two willing passengers, and Gods providence, Nya, Haya, Beth, and Belinda, were all able to continue their journey to Nebraska. They were able to call later and thank TASSC for helping them finally attend the funerals with their grieving friends and family. Each week TASSC is able to help be a part of these small miracles in the lives of people just passing through Sweetwater County. Sometime people remember the help they received and call or write to say thanks. TASSC is a local organization supported by the generous donations and gifts from citizens in this county. The assistance that TASSC provides is only made possible by the charitable contributions of people in Sweetwater County and beyond. On behalf of Nya, Haya, Beth, Belinda, and countless others, TASSC would like to say thank you for those who financially support this organization.

For most passing through Wyoming, a passing smile and wave is the only impression they will get of a Wyomingite. For the few that may find themselves stranded and in need of assistance, they will get to experience the kindness of strangers, the generosity of a community, and the helpfulness of an organization, all made possible by your many gifts and donations.

If you are not already a supporter of TASSC and would like to be, please contact TASSC by phone at 1-307-362-8910 or by mail TASSC, P.O. Box 1194, Green River, WY 82935. TASSC can also be found online at http://www.tasscwy.org.

Joel Fauntleroy

Green River
Deer Trail resident Don Warne and Roxanne Beard look to see what Warne received in his goodie bag he was given.

In a packed dining room at the Golden Hour Senior Center, veterans were treated to a free meal and a brief service.

Members of the VFW Post No. 2321, American Legion Posts No. 24 and 28 and American Legion and VFW auxiliaries were on hand to make the event special by making sure the flags were presented. Once the flags were presented, those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."

After a short video was played about the sacrifices veterans made, veterans and their guests were treated to a lunch. GHSC employees then passed out goodie bags to all veterans in attendance.

Don Warne, Dallas Galley and James Peterson were just a few of the veterans from Deer Trail to attend the lunch. These men were happy to be recognized for their service.

"We appreciate it very much. It makes us feel good," Galley said.

VFW Post No. 2321 member Don Munoz said it's important to have and observe Veterans Day so the country will not forget where it has been and what it had to do to get to where it's at today.

Hank Castillon, Brigadier General and former Green River mayor, said the country observed Memorial Day to recognize those who paid the ultimate price for the country and Veterans Day is a way to recognize those who served and continue to serve this country.

"They fought to make democracy what it is today," Castillon said.

He said as the years pass so do more veterans. There used to be many surviving World War II veterans and now there are only a few left. Castillon said even the Vietnam veterans are getting into the 60s and 70s.

"It's an honor to reflect and see what we've all endured over the years," he said.

He said for the families of those who served they went through life without their spouses, while the veterans miss birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings, weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations. Castillon said these are the sacrifices made to have a free country.
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Eleven people were killed on Wednesday when a small plane crashed into the Empakaai Crater, a caved volcanic caldera in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania.

Charles Mkumbo, Arusha regional police commander, confirmed that the 11 people were heading to the Serengeti National Park from Arusha International Airport Wednesday morning.

The airplane, identified as a Cessna Caravan, belongs to the Coastal Aviation, which said in a statement that the plane carried a single pilot and ten passengers.

The cause of the accident is yet to be established and rescue authorities are heading to the crash site.

This is the second time in a month Coastal Aviation is involved in an accident. On Oct. 26, a small plane owned by the company flying from Arusha Airport to Serengeti National Park crashed near Lobo Airport.

Nickson Nyange, an information officer with Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), said that rescue authorities were still scaling the 300-meter-high crater to locate the wreckage of the plane.

According to Nyange, the mountainous area normally experiences long spells of fog and bad weather, and it is feared that the pilot may hit one of the craters before plunging into the caldera.
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The death toll in mass shooting Tuesday near an elementary school in Rancho Tehama, a small rural community of California, rose to 6, local police confirmed Wednesday.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said at a news conference Wednesday that the fatal incident apparently began Monday night with suspect Kevin Janson Neal shooting his wife to death with multiple rounds of bullets and hiding her body under the floor of their home.

Neal, who was called by Johnston as "a madman on the loose," drove out his home Tuesday morning with two semi-automatic guns and started his bloody journey along streets in the community, about 190 km north of California state capital Sacramento.

The massacre left a total of six people dead, including Neal, and eight people injured, seven of them children, Johnston said, adding that Neal just fired randomly at homes and structures before he was killed in an exchange of fires with two policemen.

Johnston revealed that the first call for help came into the sheriff's dispatch center at 7:54 a.m. and that by 8:19 a.m., law enforcement officers had engaged Neal and killed him.

He said police officers heard the shots near the school and immediately went there and locked it down. The shooter found he could not get into the school, then shot 20 to 30 rounds at the school for about six minutes.

"It's monumental that the school went on lockdown," Johnston told reporters, "I really, truly believe that we would have had a horrific bloodbath at that school."

He added that he thought the killer "had a desire to kill as many people as he could."

The Corning Elementary School District, who supervises Rancho Tehama Elementary School, released a statement Tuesday night, saying "this morning prior to the beginning of classes, a gunman crashed his vehicle through the school's locked gate and fired dozens of shots at School."

"The gunman shot out windows and through walls. In addition to injuries from broken glass, a student on campus was wounded by gunfire. We are informed that the student is in stable condition," the statement reads.

It also praised school staff's courageous and professional response to the incident, emphasizing that "the school was able to go on lockdown very quickly and effectively, which prevented any further injury or violence."

"I don't know what his motive was," Johnston said, but he confirmed that authorities believed that Neal, who has a history of domestic violence, killed his wife first.

The Sacramento Bee newspaper reported Wednesday that Tehama County Superior Court records showed Neal was charged with assault, false imprisonment, battery and other charges in late January in connection with an attack on two women. He was released later after his mother paid US$160,000 on bail.

Brian Flint, a young man, told the Redding Record Searchlight earlier that he knew the suspect, who was a known felon and often harassed him and his neighbors. However, Neal's mother, who refused to disclose her name, told local media that Neal was bullied by neighbors who poisoned his dogs.

Local and national politicians responded to the bloody incident at the first time after Tuesday's fatal shooting, including U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

"Saddened to hear of the shooting in N. California, the loss of life & injuries, including innocent children," Pence wrote on Twitter. "We commend the effort of courageous law enforcement. We'll continue to monitor the situation & provide federal support, as we pray for comfort & healing for all impacted."

California Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement Tuesday afternoon on his website that he was "saddened to hear about today's violence in Tehama County, which shockingly involved schoolchildren."

"We offer our condolences to the families who lost loved ones and unite with all Californians in grief," the statement reads.
North Carolina is in the running for a new Toyota-Mazda automotive plant, but Chatham Countys Moncure Megasite is no longer being considered, according to multiple news reports.

Automotive News, an industry newspaper, said the state was one of two finalists for the $1.6 billion vehicle manufacturing plant, but Chatham Council Commission chair Jim Crawford told WRAL Tuesday that megasites near Siler City and Moncure are no longer in the running, according to the report.

Bob Joyce, economic development executive director for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, told The Herald Wednesday that that likely means Chatham has been told as much by a site selector for the Toyota-Mazda partnership or by the states economic development arm.

Many city and county officials have expressed hope that the Moncure Megasite would soon be home to an automotive manufacturer, as that would likely bring multiple suppliers to Lee Countys Central Carolina Enterprise Park. In the last 18 months, the city has worked to extend water and sewer out to the site and the county has invested in marketing funds for the site.

Joyce said that even if Moncure is really out of the running, location at another site south of Greensboro in Randolph County would still be good news for the county. The site is just 35 miles from the CCEP.

We would still be well within the range that the automakers have pretty much told their suppliers, he said, referencing an industry standard 50-mile radius from the main plant to supplier locations. We would certainly be within that window. Im not worried if that speculation is true.

Theres another megasite east of Rocky Mount that could also land the project if it comes to North Carolina, but Joyce said that wouldnt be as favorable to Lee County.

WRAL reported Tuesday that that megasite is also out of the running.

The plant, which is scheduled to open in 2021, would employ about 4,000 people and would lead to more jobs for surrounding suppliers. The companies are reportedly seeking $1 billion in incentives from state and local governments.

2017 The Sanford Herald (Sanford, N.C.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Writer/director Martin McDonagh's latest film, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," is an angry, hot-blooded tale, seething with rage and energy. It's a barn burner, a bracing shot of whiskey downed while spoiling for a fight, a cathartic wail against the zeitgeist of rape culture and state brutality. It's a rallying cry, a right hook to the jaw, and wow, does it ever hurt so good.

Frances McDormand swaggers onscreen to Carter Burwell's guitar-strummed score like a lone gunfighter in the Old West. Her Mildred Hayes isn't slinging bullets, though, just words, but they pierce just the same. Her words, plastered onto three blazing billboards she rents on a deserted country road, are a plaintive wail of grief, a cry for help.

Her daughter, raped and murdered, has been dead for months. No arrests have been made. So Mildred turns to advertising to demand some answers from Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson).

It is effective, inviting the attention and ire of the police, townspeople and news media of Ebbing. Mildred makes some enemies, but she also makes some friends, and finds some extremely unlikely allies. Although she's declared war on Chief Willoughby, in their interactions, we see that they're intellectual equals, with a deep sense of mutual respect.

McDonagh's sweet spot is brutal, dark, foul-mouthed comedy from the mouths of flawed but brilliant characters that you actually care for, as seen in the brilliant "In Bruges," and "Seven Psychopaths." "Three Billboards" masterfully achieves that with an even higher degree of difficulty, tackling sexual assault and police brutality with equal parts satire and humanity. This film feels far weightier than McDonagh's previous crime capers, and witnessing him it pull off feels miraculous.

It's thanks to the generous writing and fearless performances that it looks so easy. McDormand is absolutely riveting, in what will be one of the defining roles of her career, but Sam Rockwell has a much harder task as Jason, a police lackey of Chief Willoughby's who isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. His character is dumb, violent, impulsive and a laughingstock, but somehow, against all odds, we end up rooting for him. These characters aren't all hero or all villain, but somewhere in between, and the tragic, comic Jason beautifully expresses those extremes.

McDonagh writes in Southern American archetypes, but the characters are morally complex, multidimensional, dynamic and smart  except for Jason, and that's kind of why we love him. But McDonagh never dumbs anything down. No character is beyond redemption, and no character is spared life's worst disappointments.

Mildred is a hero that seems to have crawled from the depths of our injured souls. Flawed, human and trying her best, she's mad as hell and not taking it anymore. When justice fails, Mildred, who sells ceramic bunnies at the local gift shop, tosses a Molotov cocktail at justice's front door.

The militant Mildred who comes to the surface captures an elemental collective female anger that's been bubbling for years, boiling over since last fall. We're sad, mad and sick of it, and Mildred is the mythical creature who holds our anger, makes it manifest, hurling off invective and foul-mouthed insults like sonnets. But she's vulnerable, too.

Although "Three Billboards" is an invigorating fable of righteous vengeance, it espouses a trenchant message about the purifying power of forgiveness  and it's hilarious, to boot.
GREENSBORO  A man made a plea deal with prosecutors Thursday in the Oct. 11, 2015, shooting death of a restaurant delivery driver.

Jeremy Alexander Carter, who was originally charged with first-degree murder, took an Alford plea to second-degree murder in the death of Bakri Khidir Mohamed Khidir. An Alford plea means Carter did not admit guilt in Khidirs death but felt it was in his best interest to take a plea deal instead of going to trial.

He also took an Alford plea to robbery with a firearm. He was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Carter, 23, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a Guilford County Superior Court judge.

On the night of the shooting, an order to Olivias Restaurant, for 50 wings, was to be delivered to 4224 Farlow Drive  an address neither Khidir nor his co-workers recognized.

Another driver, a female in her teens, was assigned to make the delivery. Khidir stepped in because co-workers said he feared the neighborhood was unsafe.

Khidirs employer drove to the house an hour later and found his body next to his car. He was 30 years old.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more details.
KERNERSVILLE  Police accuse a man arrested in Florida of multiple child sex crimes in the town from 1991 to 1996.

Michael Todd Pegram, 45, who is in the custody of the Osceola County Sheriffs Department in Florida, faces two charges of first-degree sex offense, nine charges of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of attempted first-degree sex offense.

Kernersville police say an investigation into Pegram began in May and is still in progress.

Pegram appeared in court Wednesday and waived his right to an extradition hearing. He is awaiting his return to Forsyth County.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Kernersville Police Department at 336-996-3177.
Updated at 1:03 p.m.

WASHINGTON  Broadcaster and model Leeann Tweeden said Thursday that Al Franken "forcibly kissed" and groped her during a USO tour in 2006, two years before the Minnesota Democrat's election to the U.S. Senate.

"You knew exactly what you were doing," Tweeden wrote in a blog post for Los Angeles radio station KABC, for which she works as a morning news anchor. "You forcibly kissed me without my consent, grabbed my breasts while I was sleeping and had someone take a photo of you doing it, knowing I would see it later and be ashamed."

The allegations came two days after a stunning hearing in Washington, where lawmakers acknowledged sexual harassment is a pervasive problem on Capitol Hill - and amid mounting sexual misconduct accusations against Alabama Republican Roy Moore, who has brushed off calls from Republican leaders to end his Senate campaign.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., immediately called on the Senate Ethics Committee to review the allegations against Franken, who issued a brief statement of apology.

In her blog post, Tweeden recalled that Franken "had written some skits for the show and brought props and costumes to go along with them. Like many USO shows before and since, the skits were full of sexual innuendo geared toward a young, male audience."

Franken, she said, "had written a moment when his character comes at me for a 'kiss'. I suspected what he was after, but I figured I could turn my head at the last minute or put my hand over his mouth, to get more laughs from the crowd."

But on the day of the show, she wrote, "Franken and I were alone backstage going over our lines one last time. He said to me, "We need to rehearse the kiss." I laughed and ignored him. Then he said it again. I said something like, 'Relax Al, this isn't SNL . . . we don't need to rehearse the kiss.'

He continued to insist, and I was beginning to get uncomfortable.

He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said 'okay' so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.

I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn't be so nice about it the next time.

I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth.

I felt disgusted and violated.

In a statement, Franken said: "I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann.

"As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Tweeden's blog post included an image of Franken looking into a camera, his hands either over or on Tweeden's chest as she slept.

"I've decided it's time to tell my story," she posted online.

"The tour wrapped and on Christmas Eve we began the 36-hour trip home to L.A.," she wrote. "After two weeks of grueling travel and performing, I was exhausted. When our C-17 cargo plane took off from Afghanistan I immediately fell asleep, even though I was still wearing my flak vest and Kevlar helmet."

Upon returning to the United States, Tweeden said, she was "looking through the CD of photos we were given by the photographer" when she came across the image. It was not immediately clear who took the photo.

Franken, a former writer for "Saturday Night Live," was an Air America radio host at the time of the alleged incident.

Leaders of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Franken's home state colleague, also didn't immediately respond to inquiries. She is co-sponsor of a bill unanimously approved by the Senate last week that will mandate sexual harassment training for all senators and their staffs.

President Donald Trump ignored shouted questions about Franken and Moore as he entered a Thursday-morning meeting with House Republicans at the Capitol.

"Sexual harassment and groping are never OK and never funny, and Sen. Franken will have to address the allegations," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a former state attorney general.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told reporters that Franken's initial remarks were insufficient. "I think there should be an investigation," she said.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced that the House will adopt a policy change to make anti-harassment training mandatory for all members and staff.

That announcement followed a congressional hearing during which members publicly came to terms with sexual harassment as a pervasive problem on Capitol Hill. Female lawmakers aired tantalizing details, albeit without naming names, of unwanted sexual comments and advances taking place in their midst.

"This is about a member, who is here [in Congress] now. I don't know who it is, but somebody who I trust told me this situation," Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-Va., said at the hearing Tuesday.

Harassers have propositioned themselves to staff members by asking: "Are you going to be a good girl?" Some have exposed their genitals to victims. Others have grabbed victims by their private parts on the House floor, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said.

"In fact, there are two members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, right now, who serve, who have not been subject to review but have engaged in sexual harassment," said Speier, who has been pushing for years to make anti-harassment training a requirement.

In a Facebook post last month, as sexual assault accusations began to mount against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, Franken applauded the bravery of the women who shared their stories.

"It takes a lot of courage to come forward, and we owe them our thanks," he wrote. "And as we hear more and more about Mr. Weinstein, it's important to remember that while his behavior was appalling, it's far too common."

Lawmakers in recent weeks have come under pressure to improve the workplace culture on the Hill amid reports from multiple news outlets, including The Washington Post, of lewd comments, unwanted sexual advances and other examples of sexual misconduct that have plagued Congress for decades. More than 1,500 former congressional employees have signed a letter urging Congress to require anti-harassment training and to overhaul the reporting process, which advocates say is stacked against the victim and designed to protect the institution.

Last week, the Senate for the first time in its history required members and their aides to receive anti-harassment training. The Office of Compliance and the Office of House Employment Counsel currently provide training upon request.

Tweeden said she finally decided to share her story now "because there may be others."

She wrote:

"I'm still angry at what Al Franken did to me.

"Every time I hear his voice or see his face, I am angry. I am angry that I did his stupid skit for the rest of that tour. I am angry that I didn't call him out in front of everyone when I had the microphone in my hand every night after that. I wanted to. But I didn't want to rock the boat. I was there to entertain the troops and make sure they forgot about where they were for a few hours. Someday, I thought to myself, I would tell my story.

"That day is now."

In 2009, Franken was presented a USO Merit Award to recognize the tours he'd taken overseas to visit troops as well as his visits with wounded soldiers at local military hospitals.

Washington Post News Service (DC)

ST. PAUL, Minn.  Minnesota Sen. Al Franken apologized Thursday after a Los Angeles radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour and of posing for a photo with his hands on her breasts as she slept.

Leeann Tweeden posted the allegations on the website of KABC, a Los Angeles radio station where she now works as a news anchor for a morning radio show. Tweeden joined the then-comedian on one of several trips to entertain troops in December 2006 when Franken told her he wrote a skit for the pair that included a kiss. And despite her protests, she alleges he insisted they practice the kiss during rehearsal.

"We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth," she wrote.

Tweeden also included a photo of her sleeping on board an aircraft later during the trip, in which Franken is shown reaching out as if to grope her breasts.

Franken said in a statement that Tweeden's account of the skit did not match his memory.

"But I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann," Franken wrote. "As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Speaking on her radio show Thursday morning, Tweeden said she didn't come forward with the allegations sooner because she feared her career, including a stint as a swimsuit model, would lead others to discount her story.

"I felt belittled. I was ashamed. I've had to live with this for 11 years," she said on-air. "Somehow it was going to be my fault. It was not going to be worth the fight."

Franken is a longtime comedian and "Saturday Night Live" writer who won a Minnesota seat in the U.S. Senate after a lengthy recount in 2009.

He drew criticism during his first Senate campaign for joking about rape while discussing a sketch idea during his days on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Franken said then that he regretted some of the things he had written, and said he respected women "in both my personal and professional life."

Franken becomes the latest figure swept up in sexual harassment allegations that have mushroomed since Hollywood figure Harvey Weinstein was hit with multiple allegations. Concerns about sexual harassment are widespread in Congress, where House Speaker Paul Ryan has ordered mandatory training.

Tweeden said the surge of people coming forward with their own experiences of sexual harassment or assault encouraged her to go public with her account about Franken.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Tweeden is an anchor, not a host.
 Flash

Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change, speaks at the High-level Forum on South-South Cooperation on Climate Change held at the China Pavilion in Bonn, Germany, on Nov. 15. [Photo by Li Xiaohua / China.org.cn]

China's committed efforts to promote South-South cooperation on climate change have been praised during the ongoing U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany.

China has been an active advocate and practitioner in regard to South-South cooperation on climate change by assisting other developing nations in their efforts to cope, said Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change, speaking during a High-level Forum on South-South Cooperation on Climate Change held at the China Pavilion on Nov. 15.

The forum aims to provide a platform for developing nations to share experiences and explore cooperative opportunities on climate change.

According to Xie, China has signed some 32 Memoranda of Understanding on donating materials to 28 developing countries to help them address climate change since 2011. A total of US$100 million has been allocated for such efforts.

China has donated over 1.2 million energy-saving and solar powered bulbs, more than 10,000 street lamps, over 20,000 sets of energy-saving air-conditioners, more than 13,000 sets of equipment for solar power generation, over 10,000 clean cooking stoves to other developing countries.

Besides, it has donated satellite-monitoring equipment to help developing nations raise their ability to forecast extreme weather, and has trained over 1,000 officials and professionals on climate change from more than 120 countries across the globe since 2011.

COP 23 President and Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama speaks at the High-level Forum on South-South Cooperation on Climate Change held at the China Pavilion in Bonn, Germany, on Nov. 15. [Photo by Li Xiaohua / China.org.cn]

"China's ability to innovate and deliver affordable reusable energy has had a beneficial impact on the world," said Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, president of the 23rd annual Conference of Parties (COP 23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), while attending the forum.

"Let me thank China for its leadership [in combating climate change], we need this collaborative efforts which truly helps us move on further, faster and together," said Martin Frick, senior director for policy and program coordination of the UNFCCC, representing Patricia Espinosa, its executive secretary.

"Ms. Espinosa asked me to make this point very clear, that developed countries need to provide adequate support for developing countries [to tackle climate change]," Frick added.
RALEIGH  The president of the commission that accredits UNC-Chapel Hill said in a letter released Tuesday that it will not look further into statements the university made to the NCAAs infractions committee regarding the legitimacy of classes in the long-running academic scandal.

In a News & Observer story last week, Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, said the association would look into UNCs characterization of the classes as stated in the infractions committees decision. Three passages in the decision referenced UNC officials statements that the classes at the heart of the scandal counted.

The university told the accreditor in 2013 that students who had yet to graduate could not use any confirmed paper classes toward graduation unless they could produce the work they did or take a challenge exam. Failing that, students would have to take another course, which the university would provide free of charge.

After reading the newspaper article, I spent the weekend reading the NCAA report and I have found no issues of non-compliance with our Principles; therefore, there is no reason to reopen the investigation, Wheelan wrote in a letter released by UNC. I do not believe the actions of the NCAA impact the decision previously made by the SACSCOC Board.

Wheelan stressed to UNC Chancellor Carol Folt that Wheelan did not tell an N&O reporter that the investigation was being reopened. The N&O reported that the accreditor was reviewing UNCs statements as relayed by the infractions committee.

It does raise the question of what did you really do? Wheelan told the N&O then. ... and, at worst, we should probably ask that question.

An investigation by former federal prosecutor Kenneth Wainstein found that over an 18-year period, a former secretary, Deborah Crowder, and her boss, African studies department Chairman Julius Nyangoro, had offered classes that had no instruction and provided high grades if students turned in a paper. More than 3,100 students took at least one class, with athletes making up a disproportionate number of the enrollments.

This is the second time that Wheelan has said the accreditor would not look further into the NCAAs report. The infractions committee reported that UNC officials had contended that its description of the classes as academic fraud in 2015 correspondence to the accreditor was a typographical error.

The infractions committee said it had to accept that characterization, and not pursue an academic fraud violation against the university, because a 2014 rule leaves decisions as to whether classes are legitimate up to the member schools.

The committee said it was concerned by UNCs shifting positions on the legitimacy of the classes. Critics call letting schools make the call on academic fraud a loophole that needs to be fixed.

When the infractions committee released its decision on Oct. 13, it said it had sent a copy to the accreditor out of a concern for UNCs differing statements on whether the classes were fraudulent. Three days later, Wheelan said there was no new evidence in the case.

We acted two years ago, she wrote in an email Oct. 16. Nothing new has occurred for us to do anything else.

In 2015, the accreditor put UNC on probation for a year after finding it had not met several standards, including institutional integrity and control of college sports. UNC is up for reaccreditation next month.
WASHINGTON  North Carolina's two Republican senators said Wednesday they oppose President Donald Trump's pick to oversee chemical safety at the Environmental Protection Agency, putting his nomination at serious risk.

Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis issued statements saying they will vote against Michael L. Dourson to serve as head of EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

Environmentalists and Senate Democrats have vehemently opposed Dourson, a toxicologist with close ties to the chemical industry. That means only one more Republican "no" vote would likely be needed to torpedo his nomination.

The White House and EPA did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday evening. Despite his lack of Senate confirmation, Dourson has already been working at the agency as a senior adviser to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

The Associated Press reported in September that Dourson has for years accepted payments for criticizing studies that raised concerns about the safety of his clients' products, according to a review of financial records and his published work.

Past corporate clients of Dourson and of a research group he ran include Dow Chemical Co., Koch Industries Inc. and Chevron Corp. His research has also been underwritten by industry trade and lobbying groups representing the makers of plastics, pesticides, processed foods and cigarettes.

Burr and Tillis, both of whom are considered reliably pro-business conservatives, cited Dourson's past work and worries among their home-state constituents about tainted drinking water in opposing his nomination.

"Over the last several weeks, Senator Tillis has done his due diligence in reviewing Mr. Dourson's body of work," said statement said. "Senator Tillis still has serious concerns about his record and cannot support his nomination."

Marine veterans and their families blame decades-old contamination of wells at a North Carolina base with solvents and dry-cleaning chemicals for infant deaths and serious health problems that include cancer.

More recently, concerns have been raised about undisclosed discharges of chemicals used to manufacture Teflon and GoreTex into the Cape Fear River, a source of municipal drinking water for Wilmington and other southeastern North Carolina communities.

Dourson worked at the EPA for more than a decade, leaving in 1994 as the manager at a lab that assessed the health risks of exposure to chemicals. The following year, he founded Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment, a private toxicity evaluation nonprofit organization that tests chemicals and produces reports on which chemicals are hazardous in what quantities.

Dourson's views toward industry are consistent with others Trump has selected as top federal regulators. Among them is EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who in March overruled the findings of his agency's own scientists to reverse an effort to ban chlorpyrifos, one of the nation's most widely used pesticides.

Court records show Dourson and his work have often been called on when his corporate clients are seeking to fend off lawsuits.

DuPont was accused of polluting a West Virginia town with Perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, a chemical that the company's internal tests had long ago concluded were toxic. Corporate officials discussed hiring Dourson as part of a strategy to defend themselves.

Dourson led a team that found in 2002 that PFOA levels up to 150 parts per billion were safe, a level higher than was found in testing of 188 private wells and springs.

That was also well above the 1 part per billion Dupont's own scientists had concluded could be considered safe years before. The EPA now says that only 70 parts per trillion of PFOA are acceptable  or only 0.05 percent of what Dourson's team said was safe.

DuPont and a former subsidiary, Chemours Co., later paid $761 million to settle 3,550 lawsuits stemming from its use of the chemical.

Chemours is the company whose spills of a chemical called GenX, a replacement for PFOA, are now at issue in North Carolina's Cape Fear River.

"I will not be supporting the nomination of Michael Dourson," said Burr, the state's senior senator. "With his record and our state's history of contamination at Camp Lejeune as well as the current GenX water issues in Wilmington, I am not confident he is the best choice for our country."

The stand was quickly praised by environmental advocacy groups that rarely find common ground with the two Tarheel Republicans.

"No one who has spent decades arguing on behalf of the chemical industry for weaker safety standards should be charged with reviewing chemicals for the EPA," said Scott Faber, a senior vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group. "It would be like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department."
 Flash

China and the Philippines issued a joint statement on Thursday, in which the two sides agreed to advance bilateral relations and press ahead with cooperation in key areas of infrastructure, production capacity, investment, commerce, trade, agriculture, livelihood, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

The joint statement was issued amid Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to the Philippines at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Both sides recognized that the bilateral relations have achieved positive turnaround and momentum through joint efforts, and agreed to advance relations in a sustained and pragmatic manner on the basis of mutual respect, sincerity, equality, and mutual benefit.

The Philippines reaffirms its adherence to the One-China policy, the statement said.

To further advance ties, both sides agreed to enhance high-level exchanges and dovetail development strategies.

China and the Philippines recognized the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippine development plans, and their synergies with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, according to the statement.

The two countries will jointly formulate and implement a Program on China-Philippines Industrial Park Development.

China reiterates its firm support and assistance to the Philippines's fight against terrorism and drug-related crimes, and the quick recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of Marawi City, the statement said.

During Li's visit, a launching ceremony of two river bridges in Manila and two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, south of the Philippines, was held on Wednesday.

The Philippines appreciates the assistance from China in the fight against terrorism in Marawi and in the construction of two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, the statement said.

Both sides also agreed to identify and facilitate the implementation of the second-batch of priority cooperation projects.

According to the statement, China will continue to encourage and support Chinese enterprises to expand investment in the Philippines, import more quality products from the Philippines and upgrade the scale and quality of trade and investment between the two countries.

On the South China Sea issue, the two countries noted that the situation in the South China Sea has become generally more stable as a result of joint cooperative efforts between China, the Philippines, and other ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

Both sides agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation in areas such as marine environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, and possible cooperation in marine scientific research, the statement said.

They further agreed to continue to actively advance consultations and negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and ensure the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety.

Noting that the Philippines takes the rotating presidency of ASEAN in 2017, China congratulated the Philippines on the success of its chairmanship and its successful hosting of a series of meetings.

Both sides welcomed the signing of various agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on infrastructure projects, bridge construction, bond issurance, drug rehabilitation, climate change, intellectual property protection, industrial capacity cooperation and more, according to the statement.
HONOLULU  A dangerous Hawaii psychiatric patient who escaped a state hospital and flew to California before being captured Wednesday has prompted an investigation into why employees appeared to fail to do their jobs.

Dr. Virginia Pressler, director of the Hawaii Department of Health, said an internal inquiry indicated that workers inadvertently or intentionally neglected to supervise Randall Saito and notify their supervisors.

The apparent failures were spread through several shifts of workers, she said.

Seven hospital staff members were being placed on unpaid leave Wednesday for 30 days and more may be identified as the investigation continues, the department said in a statement.

Saito was gone at least eight hours before hospital staff alerted authorities.

Saito on Sunday left the 202-bed Hawaii State Hospital outside Honolulu, where he has been committed for 36 years since being acquitted of murder by reason of insanity. He took a taxi to a chartered plane bound for the island of Maui and then boarded another plane to San Jose, California, authorities said.

It wasn't immediately known how he was able to charter a plane, and police wouldn't provide details about his flight to California. Attorney General Doug Chin said the escape was planned and an investigation would include an examination of whether Saito had any accomplices.

"We were dismayed to learn that Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito used an alias to charter a flight on one of our planes from Honolulu to Maui on Sunday," said a statement Wednesday from luxury charter flight company Royal Pacific Air.

Video footage from inside the taxi that drove Saito to the chartered flight shows him using a cellphone after climbing in with a large backpack. He tells the driver he's in a rush to catch a flight.

During the ride, he made two calls. "I'm on my way," Saito said to someone he called Mickey. "We just made the freeway, so, um, we should be there very shortly."

A few minutes later he made another call: "Is this the captain that's going to fly to Maui today? Hi. Hi, it's me. I'm on my way."

Saito was captured in Stockton on Wednesday morning as the result of a tip from an alert taxi driver, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department said. The agency posted a photo on social media showing Saito surrounded by three deputies at a gas station.

Saito has been charged with felony escape, and the attorney general said the breakout was not planned by someone suffering from a "mental defect."

Hospital workers had called 911 to report Saito's disappearance shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday  two hours after he landed in California, Honolulu police said. An all-points bulletin went out an hour later.

Gov. David Ige said authorities and the public should have been notified much sooner and directed Chin to investigate.

He said the state has started reviewing patient privileges and public visitation policies at the hospital to determine if they are appropriate. It's also boosting the frequency of unannounced patient searches and ordering more fencing.

Saito was sent to the hospital in 1981 after acknowledging he shot Sandra Yamashiro with a pellet gun and then repeatedly stabbed her in her car, which was parked at a shopping mall, according to court records.

"He is a very dangerous individual," said Wayne Tashima, a Honolulu prosecutor who argued in 2015 against Saito receiving passes to leave the hospital grounds without an escort.

Defense attorneys sought to have Saito released in 2000. But Jeff Albert, a deputy city prosecutor, objected, saying Saito "fills all the criteria of a classic serial killer."

In 1993, a court denied Saito's request for conditional release, saying he still suffered from sexual sadism and necrophilia.

Psychiatrists who evaluated him over the years also said he could be personable, charming and had good social skills.

Dr. Gene Altman, who evaluated Saito in 2010, said he had six significant relationships since being committed in 1981. Three of those were reportedly with hospital staff members and the others were with women in the community, including Saito's first and second wives, according to Altman's assessment, filed in court records.

Irving Tam, who has lived near the hospital for about 30 years, said he heard about the escape from a neighbor, not the police, hospital or media, and that patients have gotten out several times in the past.

"When they do escape, especially someone with this kind of a record, there is a high degree of concern, he could be violent and who knows," Tam said Tuesday.

Associated Press writer Caleb Jones in Honolulu contributed to this report.
You are not worried enough.

Granted, that may seem a nonsensical claim. Assuming you dont belong to the tinfoil hat brigades who consider Donald Trump the greatest thing to hit 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. since Abraham Lincoln left for the theater, youve spent the last year worrying as much as you know how.

There has certainly been no shortage of things to worry about: white supremacy, Russian interference and nuclear war, to name a few.

Not to mention that a credibly accused child molester may soon join the U.S. Senate as a Republican  the party of family values.

Of course, the self-confessed sexual predator in the Oval Office thinks the accused child molester should step aside, news that gave irony a stroke and left satire unemployed.

So, yes, chances are youre worried plenty. But youre probably not worried about Brett Talley. Indeed, youve probably never heard of him.

If Trump has his way, though, Talley, 36, will soon be a federal judge. His qualifications for that honorable  and lifetime  position? Theyre pretty well nonexistent.

He graduated from Harvard Law School in 2007, so there is that.

Since then, Talley has worked as a law clerk, a speechwriter, and also as a deputy attorney general and solicitor general in his native Alabama. He writes horror novels. And he blogs and tweets.

The one thing the would-be federal judge has never done is, well ... judge. Or even try a case. In fact, hes only been a lawyer for three years.

The guy Trump thinks fit to oversee a courtroom has never even been in a courtroom as the attorney of record.

What, then, are his qualifications?

The aforementioned blogs and tweets are instructive. In them, Talley emerges as a right-wing culture warrior, loudly decrying Hillary Rotten Clinton, condemning the outrage of calling for gun control after the Newtown massacre, urging his readers to join the National Rifle Association, and otherwise shredding any lingering illusion of judicial impartiality.

Before Trump came to town, the American Bar Association hadnt rated a judicial candidate not qualified since 2006. Counting Talley, it has now given that rating four times since January. Which didnt stop Talley from sailing through the GOP-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee and on to the full Senate, where hes expected to be approved on a party-line vote.

Even if he isnt  news broke this week that Talley failed to disclose his marriage to a White House lawyer, which has raised conflict-of-interest questions  it would provide little solace. Theres more where he came from, including Jeffrey Mateer, who once called transgender children part of Satans plan and disavowed the separation of church and state.

He was also given a pass by the Judiciary Committee. He is also awaiting confirmation.

And it bears repeating: These are lifetime appointments. Your childrens children could end up before one of these men, seeking justice.

Its understandable that we are mesmerized by the frequent, high-profile illustrations of Trumps unfitness. But arguably more frightening and important are the low-profile ways he is institutionalizing Trumpism, imposing changes whose effects will linger long after the stench of him has left the Oval Office.

And he knows it.

As Trump bragged last month, The judge story is an untold story whose consequences will be felt 40 years out.

Hes right about that. So lets start telling it. Because youre not worried enough.

You could stand to be angrier, too.
 Flash

People walk past an armored vehicle on a street in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Nov. 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

An unclear political situation is unfolding in Zimbabwe as its first and incumbent President Robert Mugabe has since early Wednesday been reportedly put under house arrest by the military.

Media reports said several loud explosions were heard early Wednesday in the central area of Zimbabwe's capital Harare, in addition to gunfire near Mugabe's private residence. While pledging to ensure the security of 93-year-old Mugabe and his wife Grace, Zimbabwe's military said on state TV that "this is not a military takeover of government."

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Major General SB Moyo makes an announcement on state broadcaster ZBC, in this still image taken from a Nov. 15, 2017 video. [Photo/VCG]

"We are only targeting criminals around him (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," said army Chief of Staff Sibusiso Moyo, who also said the development was "another level" in the military's response to the political situation in the southern African country since a statement was made by Defense Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga on Monday.

Chiwenga said purges against senior ruling party officials should end "forthwith" in a statement issued after Mugabe last week fired Vice President and deputy chief of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Emmerson Mnangagwa, his political ally for more than 40 years, on allegations of disloyalty and deceit.

While pledging allegiance to Mugabe, Chiwenga also warned at a press conference on Monday that the military would step in if the revolution that brought Zimbabwe independence was under threat.

How the political situation in Zimbabwe would evolve has raised grave concerns in its neighbors and international community. Some political analysts in neighboring South Africa emphasized the Zimbabwean military's continued respect for Mugabe as a crucial factor.

Professor Sipho Seepe, former special advisor to South Africa's defense ministry, said one cannot simply look at the incidents in Zimbabwe while ignoring the complexity of the problem.

"What cannot ever be discounted, even after the military has left the barracks and taken this action, is that there is still tremendous respect for President Mugabe and the role he has played," he said.

"This is clearly seen in the statements that have been made by the military commanders who have made statements in public when they stated that President Mugabe is still the commander in chief of the armed forces," said Seepe.

While this is a difficult situation, there are nevertheless several clear mechanisms for engagement which could lead to an outcome most people would accept, according to Seepe.

In his eyes, the good personal relationship between South African President Jacob Zuma and Mugabe will open a way for mediation towards a peaceful settlement.

A soldier and an armored vehicle patrol on a street in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Nov. 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Most people in the region want a dignified exit for Mugabe, so I think there will now be arrangements to facilitate that," Seepe added.

Political analyst Stan Henkeman noted that "Zimbabwe is currently on a knife-edge," and the military has taken sides.

He said the huge challenge now was "the impact of the events in Zimbabwe on the region, and on the institutions in the continent."

"The issue before us is how this is going to be dealt with in the African Union and in SADC," he noted.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for an urgent foreign ministers meeting to be held on Thursday to discuss the political and security situation in Zimbabwe.

On Zimbabwe's situation, Zuma, who is also the current SADC chairperson, has repeatedly called for calm and restraint, and urged the Zimbabwean military to ensure that peace and stability are not undermined.

Zuma said Wednesday his special envoys -- South Africa's defense and security ministers -- will go to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the military leaders, and will then visit Angola to brief President Joao Lourenco, chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security, on Zimbabwe's situation.

The SADC will continue to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe closely, Zuma said.
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Following a frustrating experience with trying to lease a car two years ago, technology entrepreneur Nathan Hecht decided his next venture would provide a solution.

It was a less-than-pleasant experience, he said of visiting Long Island dealerships to research car-leasing options. It was really hard to squeeze a payment out of the salesman, and I was asking, Why cant I do this online? 

Despite being in the middle of working on another startup called Dstrux Inc. at the time, Hecht immediately called his tech team based in Israel and said they were going to build a car-leasing app.

It sounds cliche, but I went home and called them and said, Drop everything,  Hecht said in a recent interview.

In less than a year, the resulting app named Honcker has grown to include inventories from more than 300 dealerships, which includes some located in southern Connecticut including in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport, Danbury and several in the Bridgeport area. The company is undergoing a large expansion in the state, Hecht said.

A few weeks ago, the Brooklyn-based company announced raising $3.6 million in a seed-funding round led by Evolution Corporate Advisors. By the end of the year, Hecht anticipates there will be at least 500 dealerships listing their inventories on Honcker.

Kia of Stamford has leased almost 20 cars with Honcker since it signed up with the app six months ago, according to dealership sales manager Ernesto DePiano.

Im pretty much in love with the app, he said. Its probably the easiest way to lease a car. I wish I would have come up with the idea. Ive never seen so many customers who are really happy and leaving positive reviews.

Leasing accounts for much of his dealerships business, DePiano said, so hes always looking for new resources to boost sales. He stumbled upon Honcker while searching online for new leasing tools six months ago and liked how the app worked after he downloaded it and signed up as if he were a customer.

Its laid out simply and is transparent, he said. It makes it easy for customers to buy, which makes it easy for us to sell.

Afterward, he reached out to Hecht, who sent a Honcker representative to the Stamford dealership the next day, said DePiano, adding hes not aware of any apps similar to Honcker.

For customers looking to lease, Honcker allows them to scroll through car options along with their lease prices. If they find something they like, Hecht said it takes just a few swipes to close the deal and, depending on customers location, many dealerships will deliver a car and contract the following day.

A year since launching Android and iOS versions of the app, one of Honckers biggest hurdles to growth is keeping up with inquiries from interested dealerships, Hecht said.

As a startup, I have to make scaling decisions as we move forward, Hecht said. Were in the middle of expanding our geographic footprint and will be releasing new versions of the app next week that offers capabilities like co-signing and rolling existing lease payments into a new one: with one button on Honcker, you will be able to get out of your last car and into a new one.

Since Kia of Stamford joined Honckers platform earlier this year, DePiano has noticed more dealerships in the area following suit, he said, adding he believes it will drive the future of car leasing.

You have to get with the way people are buying, he said. So we want to stay with the tech and roll with it. I want to be a part of (Honckers) growth.

Local dealerships leasing cars through Honcker include: Greenwich Infiniti, Greenwich Lexus, Kia of Stamford, Subaru Stamford, Perkins Honda of Westport, Curry Mercedes-Benz Of Danbury, Curry Toyota in Watertown, Perkins Subaru of Milton, Pepe Cadillac and Pepe Infiniti.
The flame decal is on its way out, too.

The writing has been on the wall for years, so its not entirely surprising that Boerum Hill dive Hanks Saloon will, according to owner Julie Ipcar, close at the end of next year. Ipcar shared the news on the bars Facebook page, explaining that the developer who bought the building several years ago is finally ready to proceed with construction. A Brooklyn native, Ipcar calls Hanks one of the last NYC bars of this kind and talks about its former life as Doray Tavern, which was once a hangout for Native-America ironworkers in the 1920s and 30s. Drinks writer Robert Simonson once wrote about the bar for Grub Street, grouping it with other classics like Lucys and the Subway Inn. Its one less dive in a citys that ever shorter on them, but Ipcar has asked anyone with leads on spaces and investors to let her know. So, who knows, it could be resurrected elsewhere.

Heres a portion of the message that Ipcar posted on Facebook:

As someone who grew up around the corner on State Street many years ago, and who used to drink at the Doray Tavern herself, it deeply saddens me that one of the last NYC bars of this kind will no longer exist. These places are extremely special to New York and add genuine heart and soul to the community. The Doray Tavern in particular has earned a place in history for its importance within the Mohawk Indian community, once offering a hang-out for the Native American ironworkers who came during the 20s and 30s to work on our citys bridges and skyscrapers. The Hanks Saloon of today is still a place to gather, to catch up, to always know that there is someone out there to talk about the old days or to wish you a happy birthday when you might not have anyone else around to do it. It is also a place where I have personally watched the music scene grow and thrive in Brooklyn. Ive been humbled by some of the many performances I have seen here throughout the years, featuring some truly outstanding musicians. [] Thank you everyone for all your support over the years. Looking forward to a banging 2018 at Hanks!
Marcus Samuelsson at his new restaurant. Photo: Melissa Hom

Las Vegas, San Francisco  Newark? The New Jersey city is not the first place youd expect one of New Yorks most recognized chefs to eye for expansion. But its exactly where chef and perpetual Harlem booster Marcus Samuelsson will open his next restaurant, Marcus B&P.

At his Manhattan restaurants, Red Rooster and Streetbird, Samuelsson has focused on infusing African-American comfort food with a patina of influences (his Ethiopian background, the barrios Mexican community). The 2,250-square-foot Marcus B+P, which opens tomorrow in Newarks Central Business District, is something of a departure for the chef. The name is a reference to the Swedish concept of back pocket, an accessible and casual place. There are some familiar dishes (menu here) like fried chicken (served with super ripe plantain waffles, Escovitch vegetable, and hot honey) and Marcuss cornbread, but its also the first restaurant where Samuelson will make pastas in-house, for dishes like cannelloni stuffed with the Ethiopian chicken dish dorowat. His kitchen will also serve pizzas, including a white clam pie made with ricotta and Calabrian chili, as well as a very Jersey combination of Taylor ham (a.k.a pork roll) with egg and provolone. (Other Jersey influences include the Ironbound Ocean Temporo with piri-piri aioli, named for the citys famous Portuguese neighborhood.)

So, the big question remains: Why New Jersey? The restaurant is actually a partnership between Samuelsson and developer Ron Moelis, a co-owner of Red Rooster whose company L+M Development Partners renovated the Hahne & Co. building that the restaurant calls home. Business considerations aside, Samuelsson also talks about the restaurant in loftier terms. He admits to being drawn to centers of African-American culture, and points to the many great musicians who are from Newark or nearby (Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Naughty by Nature, among others).

Restaurants (including Red Rooster) necessarily get brought up in conversations about gentrification. Moelis company has been active in affordable housing in the New York, though without not some criticism. The Hahne & Co. building offers luxury rentals, like a 855-square-foot one-bedroom listed for $2,235 a month, but 40 percent of its units are more affordable, like a three bedroom apartment for $1470. Its also located near near the offices of companies like Credential, as well as Rutgers and Seton Hall law school campuses, all places Samuelson hopes to draw in. Its also located near near the offices of companies like Credential, as well as Rutgers and Seton Hall law school campuses, all places Samuelson hopes to draw in.

We dont start maybe how a normal restaurant starts. Im, like, starting a church. Im, like, starting a community organization, the chef explains, adding that his experiences as a person of color working in fine dining necessarily shaped his perspective. We hire people that dont get jobs in other restaurants. Being a black man who was rejected a lot in kitchens, I think it helped me realize there are a lot of people who dont get the looks. How can we work with them?

According to Samuelsson, 80 percent of his staff comes from Newark, and the rest from nearby in New Jersey. The executive chef Leo Marino Leonardo, who worked at Red Rooster, grew up five minutes from the restaurant. The two things I never saw in kitchens coming up were people of color and women, he says, adding his background allowed him to understand the real reasons why this was case. I just knew I wanted to give people a shine, regardless of peoples background. Regardless of whether you stole a bike when you were 16. I dont care. I dont care. You shouldnt be judged for that when youre 27.

The Classic with crushed tomato, garlic, and Sicilian oregano. Photo: Melissa Hom

The Nine Seven-3 with Taylor Ham, provolone, and egg. Photo: Melissa Hom

The White Clam Pie with Riverine Ranch ricotta and Calabrian chili. Photo: Melissa Hom

Spaghetti picadilly with peeky toe crab, roasted peppers, and crab butter. Photo: Melissa Hom

Dinner will be served. Photo: Melissa Hom

Marcus B&P, 56 Halsey St., nr. Bleeker St., Newark
What are the holidays without a Starbucks cup controversy? Photo: Joshua Trujillo/Starbucks

People thwarted in their hunt for something to despise about this years Starbucks holiday cups apparently just needed to look harder. Apparently, its now clear the coffee chain went covert with its liberal agenda this year. Look at the two hand-holders Starbucks placed above the Siren logo on its cup  notice anything unusual about them?

Fine, its that they might be lesbians.

Blame BuzzFeed News, which seems to largely be the instigator here (weird, right?). It ran an article yesterday evening in which the sites deputy business editor, Venessa Wong, posited that the cups are totally gay and, unbeknownst to everyday customers, have a gay agenda because of that pair of hands.

Up until now, the only group upset about the cups was environmental activists (who hate all Starbucks holiday cups, because for the past 20 years, they havent been 100 percent recyclable). But when Starbucks launched them back in October, it posted a video presumably intended to celebrate different people enjoying the holidays together  by, of course, consuming Starbucks beverages out of its new cups. At the end, there are two women holding hands over a cup of coffee.

A few people on Twitter noticed this, but that was as far as the conspiracy went at first:

The new Starbucks cup has lesbian couple on it. Rom 1:26 because of this,God gave them over to shameful lust...  Jimmy H Peralez (@h_peralez) November 2, 2017

This Year's Starbucks Holiday Campaign Features a Lesbian Couple https://t.co/EVxGYnNcNe  Conservative#MAGA (@farriskent) November 8, 2017

New Starbucks campaign features a lesbian couple. I'm equally excited about this and the upcoming conservative tantrums...   Irene Rojas (@irenerojas) November 6, 2017

We're loving @Starbucks' new festive ad with a lesbian couple. Can someone draw us a @LadyGaga cup please? https://t.co/HLjTufRFu8  British LGBT Awards (@BritLGBTAwards) November 6, 2017

Great new #christmas campaign from @Starbucks featuring #lesbian couple on the Holiday Cup. pic.twitter.com/GJ6YGG0fGQ  Rufus Dowling | Gay Bear Videos  (@rufusdowling) November 13, 2017

BuzzFeed seems to have legitimized the theory that the two sets of hands on the cup are both female as well, and therefore belong to lesbians. A gay BuzzFeed staffer even confirms it  I can attest to the lesbianism of The Hands, this person tells Wong.

So, it begins.

lol I talked @venessawwong into writing this story about whether Starbucks' new holiday cup is gay (it is gay) https://t.co/l3sFeNIwSN  Molly Hensley-Clancy (@mollyhc) November 15, 2017

my starbucks holiday cup? gay?  Hollis Johnson (@hollis_photo) November 15, 2017
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Haiti - Justice : Warrant against the former Minister of Justice Camille Edouard Jr.





Clame Ocnam Dameus, the Government Commissioner at the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince issued a warrant against former Minister of Justice Camille Edouard Junior.



In this mandate (to bring him) addressed to Alain Auguste, Departmental Director of the West of the National Police of Haiti the Commissioner Dameus "[...] requires to seek and bring in state to the Prosecutor of Port-au-Prince the named Camille Edouard Junior for embezzlement of public property and attempted embezzlement of public goods for the prisoners food, death threat with order and conditions.



Such facts provided for and punished by articles 2, 147, 252 and following of the penal code and paragraphs 4 and 5 of article 5 of the law of 9 May 2014 on the repression and the prevention of corruption [...]"



For his part, former Minister Edouard Jr. vehemently denounces "threats, acts of intimidation and instrumentalization of justice for personal and political ends" The former Minister of Justice and Public Safety "recalls that he is not and can not be above the law and is prepared to answer, if necessary, the questions of the justice of his country to the extent that the procedures laid down in Articles 42, 185 and 186 of the Constitution are scrupulously respected."



He took the opportunity to encourage "any initiative of Parliament, in accordance with the provisions of Article 118 of the mother law, to investigate the management of the government to which he belonged, and, urges the members of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation to audit its management, to put an end to attempts to discredit its administration and to manipulate public opinion."



In conclusion he reaffirms "his attachment to the ideals of law and justice and recalls that the construction of our democracy must necessarily obey the strict respect of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22633-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22511-haiti-flash-two-former-ministers-under-privert-banned-from-leaving-the-territory.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - PetroCaribe: Former Minister of Tourism, denounces and proves 13 false accusations





In a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Youri Latortue, Stephanie Balmir Villedrouin, the former Minister of Tourism on the Presidency Martelly, denounces and proves 13 false accusations concerning her Ministry in the PetroCaribe report, revealing the unconfessed political intentions of the authors of this report initiated under Privert's transition regime.



 Mr Youri Latortue

President of the Senate

Senate of the Republic

In his offices.



Mr. President,

I read through the press the contents of a report on the management of PetroCaribe funds, and noted with consternation that I was unfairly indexed as former Minister of Tourism.



This relentlessness, which the report shows to me, holder of the sole ministry to have a whole chapter devoted to the management of PetroCaribe funds, while less than 1% has been allocated to it already leaves room for doubt as to the real motivation of this report.



I hereby strongly refute the conclusions related to the Ministry of Tourism and defend my honor unjustly attacked. After a first reading, I note the first 13 serious factual errors that are mentioned below and that prove that this report was built in order to question, all the gains that Haiti has benefited from over the last five years on the touristic plan, for unacknowledged political reasons.



So I go through the errors :



For the contracts identified on pages 487, 502, 506, 510, 513, 514, 515 and 516. The commission makes responsible the Ministry of Tourism because the name of the CSC-CA signatory is not affixed to the contracts. I wish to inform you that the MT received a correspondence from the President of the Superior Court of Audit dated May 16, 2014 (Ref: BP / CSC-CA: Ex 13-14, No. 1412-1521-1520-1413-1219 ), stating that a "Seen and approved by the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation" was sufficient to validate the approval of this court instead of the full name of the signatory.





The Biodiversity Project with CHRAD is reported twice on pages 521 and 497. While there was only one contract, the commission seems to want to insinuate that there would have been two. The commission still claims that the 2% advance payment in favor of the DGI was not collected. This is a falsity because these 2% were taken (see Copy of available checks BRH # 9022, # 10625, # 11444).





The Commission has listed a number of projects on pages 485, 488, 489, 498, for which it seeks supporting documentation for the 2nd and 3rd installments. On this point, I wish to point out that following the PetroCaribe resolution # 5 of July 22, 2015, article 2, # 41, the funds were decommissioned and the funding was discontinued. Therefore, there can be no payments or, consequently, supporting documents.





The commission listed on pages 520 and 496 of the report, a file entitled MARNDR / SEPV, twice. Moreover, it mentions the file as a contract. I have the advantage to inform you that it is a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Tourism, approved by the CSCCA, within the framework of the implementation of the Ile-a-Vache agritourism program whose projects were executed by private firms. I confirm that no amount has been disbursed by the MT in favor of the MARNDR. Thus, the amount of 738,000 gourdes, which is mentioned without reference to the check number, does not exist (see Memorandum of Understanding 2/12/2013 and addendum 12/3/2014).





Page 485, Wastek. The commission still claims that the 2% advance payment in favor of the DGI was not collected. This is a falsity because these 2% have been collected (see Copy of check available BRH # 11770).





Page 492, Mangroves project, Green Foundation. The report accuses the MT of having signed a contract with a firm that has no discharge or license. How could the CSC-CA have authorized the signing of a contract with a service provider without the legal papers? I affirm that this company held at the signing of the contract all its documents, the discharge and the presidential decree recognizing the foundation of public utility. As a result, it did not have to obtain a license.





Page 498, KayKok Drinking Water. As part of this contract, two disbursements were made, check BRH # 0012573 for an amount of 887.655,24 gourdes and check BRH # 0012986 for an amount of 1,183,540.00 gourdes. The report mentions a third disbursement for the sum of 2,071,195.80 (without check reference) and requires supporting documents for the said amount. This third payment could not have been made because a letter was sent by the said company to the MT to claim the final payment. However, I draw your attention to the fact that the amount mentioned in the report is only the sum of the first two installments. Another serious mistake in the report.





Page 490, Social Engineering. The report mentions that there is no documentary evidence for the first payment. I note that the contract, once approved by the CSC-CA, is the legal document required to make the first payment upon signature of the contract.





Page 502, Fisheries Program. The report states that the contract signed for this project is not sealed and that the name of the signatory is not mentioned. I confirm that the contract was duly drafted, and that on the last page of the contract are affixed the seals of the CSC-CA and the Ministry of Tourism. Copy available.





Page 503, Project Development of the baseline with the CNSA. The report mentions that the 2% advance payment has not been taken. It deliberately ignores the fact that it is a contract between two state administrative entities for which the 2% withholding tax is not applicable in the income tax legislation. In addition, it is stipulated in the contract signed by the CNSA, countersigned by its parent ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Tourism, approved by the CSC-CA, ref. Article 3 paragraphs L that the CNSA as a public institution is not subject to payment of tax.





Page 506, Promotion campaign, communication and awareness for the destination of Jacmel, DAGMAR. The report states that the vouchers for the first disbursement are not available. I note that the contract, being well approved by the CSC-CA, is the voucher for the first payment.





Page 511, Joaneson Lacour. The report insinuates that the first installment would have been paid twice by two checks of the same amount. A serious audit could have shown that one of the checks was canceled, as Mr. Lacour received only one check as the first payment. A copy of canceled check # 8906 is available.





Page 519, SONAC, Jacmel Interpretation Center. The report mentions that the date is not indicated on the contract, which would make the transaction and the disbursement inappropriate. However, again, the CSC-CA approved it by letter of transmission on November 4, 2014 (Ref: BP / CSC-CA: Ex 14-15, No. 085-063) and the work was actually done.



What is the credibility of this report when its drafters prepared it in total misalignment with the reality, knowingly ignoring the vouchers that would contradict their preconceived ideas ? What is its reliability, when those who prepared it are animated by ideological prejudices causing them to distort the truth ?



These assessments are therefore out of step with those made by other state institutions, more reliable and more aware of the realities.



Faced with such false accusations, far from confining me to silence, I am determined more than ever to defend my honor. I am convinced that I served my country with all the dynamism of my youth and the feeling that this country needs the skills of all its sons and daughters.



I would appreciate it, Mr. President, to respect the adversarial principle, to share this correspondence with all members of the Assembly. Please accept, Honorable President, my best regards 



To find out all the details, the companies involved, the politicians implicated and the accusations made by the members of the Commission access the full report (656 pages) on : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bLsSASoob5lsRXy6BnsAN2ff-CQnG6Wd/view



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Social : Digicel wins the "International Community Investment of the Year"





Ethical Corporation awarded the "International Community Investment of the Year" Award to the Digicel Foundation, for its contribution to the development of Haiti, mainly for its involvement in the education system, with the construction of 172 schools and training nearly 2,000 teachers and school directors throughout the country.



More than 200 of the world's largest business entities, including Heineken, IBM and United Airlines, participated in this international ceremony, which recognizes and rewards leading sustainable and responsible companies around the world. Only 20 companies and organizations were awarded with prizes for their outstanding projects.



The judges sought to focus particularly on parameters that could demonstrate a truly innovative and forward-looking approach to the integration of socially responsible companies.



Commenting on the award, Sophia Stransky, Director of the Digicel Foundation said, "It is a great honor for Digicel to have been recognized for its work in Haiti through its Foundation. We are very pleased to have made a difference in Haitian communities for almost 10 years and we look forward to continuing to show our commitment in future years."



Recall that the Digicel Foundation had already been awarded in 2015, with the Prize of "Improvement of Education in Haiti" by Ethical Corporation for the construction of 150 schools in the country with an investment of more than 39 million dollars after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Twinning between Les Cayes and 2 Dominican cities





A large delegation met with Dominican businessmen and initialed twinning agreements with two important Dominican cities.



Under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in the Dominican Republic, a large delegation composed of Gabriel Fortune, Mayor of Les Cayes, Mrs. Marie May Guillaume, Head of the Departmental Office South of the Ministry of Tourism and Mr. Pierre Antoine Borgat, Vice-President of the Southern Chamber of Commerce, met with Dominican businessmen and initialed twinning agreements with two important Dominican cities : Mayaguate and San Cristobal.



It should be noted that agreements signed between cities open the way for exchanges based on education, culture, tourism, economy and sport. The signatories of these important development agreements have welcomed this new turning point in relations between the two countries.



In Santiago, at the end of this visit, the Haitian delegation discussed with Haitian students. An debate opened between the two parties where the students asked relevant questions about the integration structures of the new skills in the development of Haiti. Pierre Antoine Borgat, representative of the Southern Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Fortune have invited students to be creative because Haiti offers many opportunities.



Miousemine Celestin, acting Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic took the opportunity to invite the student sector to participate in the activities of the Haitian authorities in DR. Also she invites them to register at the Embassy or Consular Posts of their respective jurisdictions and to join together in association, for the well-being of their community.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Published on 2017/11/16 | Source

Students evacuate amid debris (top) from a building at Handong Global University in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province on Wednesday. /Yonhap

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck the southeastern port city of Pohang on Wednesday.

Advertisement

It was the second-largest quake to hit the Korean Peninsula on record and happened just over a year after a 5.8 magnitude quake rocked Gyeongju.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said the quake was centered in an area around 9 km north of Pohang at a depth of only 8 km underground.

It happened just 43 km away from the tremor that shook Gyeongju and was followed by 30 aftershocks measuring between 2.0 to 4.3 in magnitude occurred until 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

Although the earthquake had only a quarter of the strength of the Gyeongju tremor, it was shallower and resulted in about the same amount of damage.

Locals reported shakes strong enough to move heavy furniture, and tremors were felt as far afield as Seoul.

Handong Global University, which is close to the epicenter, suffered damage to the wall of a building, while staff at Samsung and LG plants in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province were temporarily evacuated.

President Moon Jae-in convened a meeting of senior officials and was briefed on the situation as soon as he returned from a Southeast Asia trip.
Uruguays winemakers target UK 'global shop window'

By Andrew Catchpole

As an Atlantic-cooled nation of just 3.4 million people, Uruguay and its winemakers are keenly aware of the need to differentiate its wine offer from that of the country's major South American rivals, viewing the UK as an unrivalled platform to achieve that aim.

Precisely how to achieve that goal, though, is a matter of debate, as Harpers discovered on a recent trip to the country. However, what most producers do agree is that Uruguay needs to collectively push a premium message, rooted in European-leaning styles and quality-focused, smaller scale wines  and broaden the message beyond Tannat.

With 7,000 ha under vine (a third of which is planted to flagship grape Tannat), the countrys production lags far behind the voluminous output of Argentina and Chile, comprising mainly of 20ha to 30ha family-run wineries, with Brazil and USA the leading export markets, along with a small but growing presence in European markets including the UK.

We need to differentiate between us and Argentina and Chile, said Santiago Deicus of Establecimiento Juanico, one of the leading producers in terms of fine wine volumes.

What works for us is to make the link between New and Old world, he continued, while adding that Uruguay should start with our flagship [Tannat], but let the export markets know about the diversity beyond that, focusing on the patchwork of differing terroirs and varieties that make up a majority of its production.



Export drive

The will for Uruguay to export has been accelerated by a severe decline in domestic consumption, falling from 50Lto 22L per head per annum in the past few decades.

However, during the same period - partially in response to greater exposure to feedback from export markets, along with a generation of winemakers that are better qualified and better travelled  there has been both a trend towards more restrained styles reflective of the Atlantic-influenced climate and also a host of varieties being championed beyond Tannat.

Overseas and domestic-backed investments in vineyards and wineries, ranging from well-established Narbona in Colonia and the more recent Vina Eden near the upmarket resort of Punta del Este, plus the billionaire-backed Bodega Garzon in Maldonado, have helped put new regions on the map and given a welcome boost to export muscle. (Argentine, Chilean and Brazilian investors are making their mark.)

Exports are up, but bulk wine forms a significant portion of that increase, which is something that Uruguays producers are now at pains to overturn, believing that this is an unsustainable area for a country comprised of typically small-scale producers.

Meanwhile, the growing roster of (again, often small production) alternative varieties to Tannat are seen as part of spearheading awareness of Uruguays diversity and quality focus. Varieties as diverse as Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Nero dAvola, Sangiovese, Marsanne, Petit Manseng, Riesling, and many others beside are all producing some very confident  and restrained  styles of wine.

England is awakening to Uruguay right now, said Fabiana Bracco, export manager at Narbona, whose wines are brought in through Hispamerchants in the UK and gaining listings at high-end on-trade outlets such as Caprice Holdings.

Asked whether the countrys exports to the UK and elsewhere had reached a tipping point in terms of recognition, Bracco added: I am worried that Uruguay is not reacting fast enough to [its gains], we need to focus on the top wines and winemakers  after the US, the UK should be a our top market, we need to focus more on our quality and be stronger in that aim.

The arrival of Bodega Garzon may well prove a game changer for Uruguay. Having raised a few eyebrows in the industry as the project took shape, the majority of producers now accept that such a well-financed estate, dedicated to quality production, and with good distribution channels into major export markets around the world, is a serious plus for building the image of Uruguayan wines.

Cristobal Urzua, marketing manager at Garzon, confirmed that exports from the winery had been growing fast in USA, Brazil and Europe, with healthy uptake in the UK on-trade in the year since its official launch in 2016.

Martin Lopez, who represents Uruguayan wines on behalf of government body INAVI, added: The UK remains a very important market for any country that wants to have its wines taken seriously in other markets around the world, especially in Asian countries, and we are committed to showing the diversity of Uruguay through the on-trade and independent merchants, where the styles and qualities of the wines can be best explained.

A fuller report on Uruguays wines and industry will appear in Harpers in the new year.
Small Cognac producers raise the spirit to a new audience

By Barnaby Eales

A new generation of Cognac producers has raised the double-distilled spirit to a new audience in the UK, providing the on-trade and independent wine merchants with a fresh alternative to the handful of big brands that dominate the buoyant global cognac market.

The emergence of the new wave cognacs has already been seized upon by UK distributor and importer High Ball Brands in London, which has this year taken on Fanny Fougerats entire range of Cognacs.

I was not looking for Cognac, but decided to take on Fougerats whole portfolio after tasting them on a visit to Cognac, said Fabrice Limon, owner of High Ball Brands.

It is really exciting as we dont usually see beyond the big four Cognac brands. The dialogue around these small production Cognacs is bringing them to a new audience and much more effectively than just a hip-hop video. It has been a humbling experience due to the great reception these Cognacs have had so far, said Limon.

Since April this year, High Ball Brands has distributed Fougerats Cognacs to cocktail bars in London and Manchester.

Fougerat is one of the new wave terroir-focused producers which does not use cold filtration, colouring, caramel, sugars or fining to produce their Cognacs.

Interest from the UK comes as new alternative artisanal Cognacs, made with low-intervention practices have been taken on by Cognacs new Bar Luciole, owned by UK mixologist and author Toni Conigliaro.

The national Cognac bureau, the BNIC, says growth and support from top bartenders is bringing Cognac back to the heart of UK bars. It expects the upward trend  3.6% growth in the UK in 2016  to continue in light of the growing interest in artisan spirits.

There is now a very exciting scene of young Cognac producers doing things differently and with some great results, said Conigliaro, who insisted Cognac was unfairly represented in the world of mixology.

I am thinking about Bourgoin and JL Pasquet, who makes a great organic Cognac, and Paul Giraud, who makes a very fresh eau de vie.

The new generation of producers also includes Philbert Brothers and Cognac Landin who have highlighted new approaches to cognac production with contemporary labels.

Speciality Drinks Ltd distributes Bourgoins micro-barrique Bourgoin 1994, aged first in old French oak barrels and then finished (like some whiskies) in a 10-litre charred barrel.

Remi Landier has released a Special Pale Cognac; small-batch producer Philbert Brothers, which uses contemporary labels on its bottles, has made a round and complex, Rare Cask Finish Sherry Oloroso Cognac, as well as a Cognac aged in Sauternes barrels.

Rouvre or peduncular oak from the Troncais and Limousin forests is traditional for barrel ageing, but is not compulsory to qualify for Cognac designation.

Its an exciting new scene, which shows that to be innovative you do not have to break with quality and tradition, said Grant Murray, a director at Cru Holdings, which owns five bars and restaurants in Scotland.

The new cognacs unearthed on a recent trip to Cognac were a real eye-opener, he added.

Bars are always looking for something new - Cognac is well produced and it has a great story, Murray said.

" Many of the young Cognac producers have blazed a new trail by developing their own brands, instead of continuing a tradition of solely supplying Cognac and or grapes to the bigger houses including Hennessy, which dominates the Cognac market, selling 7 million cases a year."

And they are now taking new approaches to the production and ageing of Cognac. Bourgoin and Fanny Fougerat, for instance, do not use assemblage in their production of base wines used for the double-distillation of their eaux-de-vie. They are focusing on terroir, to bring a sense of place to their spirits, as well as bringing greater transparency to Cognac production.

The new generation is giving importance to terroir of specific plots within Cognacs six crus, where the wine is made, rather than making Cognac from blends of wines from different parts of the Cognac region, which is what the big Cognac houses do, said Fougerat, adding the low-intervention Cognacs were fresher and showed more precision and werent as heavy or sweet as those made with additives, caramel and sugar.

Fougerat names her Cognacs according to what they actually taste like, rather than using the key traditional classifications of VS (aged for a minimum of two years) VSOP (aged for a minimum of four years) XO (aged for a minimum of six years). This trend was started by Leopold Gourmel as long ago as 1973, but has recently been adopted by the new generation. Many of these new Cognacs show great vitality. Cognac is known for its wide spectrum of flavours and JL Pasquets LOrganic 04 provides an example of how Cognac can break with stereotypes. There is no harsh alcohol on the palate of this golden-lemon Cognac and the fruity nose shows citrus and tropical flavours.

Partly because of grape vine trunk diseases, there are only a few organic producers in Cognac, including organic pioneer Guy Pinard. But Jean Pasquet of JL Pasquet says his adoption of organic production and practices more than 10 years ago has now paid off.

My father, Jean-Luc, said the citrusy flavours that have appeared in our LOrganic 04, were more powerful, about four or five years after using organic methods, he said.

I cant explain exactly whats in our terroir, but I am sure [the aromatic profile] comes from our special terroir. It also may be due to the native yeast we use. I try to not have too much oak extraction for the LOrganic 04, to leave more space to the natural flavours of the Cognac. Its all these factors together which give particular flavours to the Cognac, said Pasquet.

Contemporary artisanal Cognac producers like to distinguish their spirits, by not using boise, a liquid wood extract made from barrels, used by brands to add colour, tannin and oak flavour and to modify the aromatic profile of Cognacs, making them fruiter or more savoury. The use of boise allows Cognacs to be released earlier. But boise masks the true flavour, taking away finesse and adding greater weight in the mouth, according to producers.

Cognac left in old barrels for decades does not always take on any colours; flavours are not necessarily very complex, said one producer. I have tasted a 20-year-old Cognac which tasted like three or four-year-old Cognac, so when a Cognac house buys this kind of Cognac, the only way to improve it is to use boise. It also helps to release the Cognac earlier in the market, because its easier to dose, but it can give too much bitterness and so more sugar is added to balance the taste.

Cognac producers now hope growing interest from bars will lead to interest from independent wine merchants. Some are already showing keen interest, but are realistic about the challenges of selling Cognac.

We are selling plenty of artisan gins, and if the Cognac market were to experience the same kind of boom as weve seen for gin, wed certainly consider doing the same there. We have started to go a little off-piste with negociant style supplier, particularly as they provide us with a point of difference from the larger retailers, said Emily Silva at the Oxford Wine Company.

These would be of interest, in the same way that whisky with funky packaging is of interest, said Toby Peirce from Quaff independent wine merchant in Brighton and Hove.

Meanwhile another UK independent wine merchant said: They could be of interest depending on taste and value for money and most importantly being able to sell at or below the same price as Whiskey exchange or Master of malt. Very important to be competitive, he said.
The vintage before the storm: Rhone 2016 primeur tasting

By Jo Gilbert

Yesterdays Thorman Hunt & Co Ltd Rhone 2016 en primeur vintage tasting made overtures of incomparable quality, promising the likes of which tasters have not seen before.

And indeed there was much quality to enjoy  the sign of a largely untroubled year which wasnt tested in the same grueling way by the weather as 2017.

Wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone were represented from the much talked about vintage.

In the north, which is dominated so by Syrah, winemakers often straddle their vines over several appellations, such is the case with Cave Yves Cuilleron.

A prolific producer of single variety Syrah, this estate grows across Saint Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, Condrieu, and Cote Rotie.

In each appellation, further differentiation is achieved by producing three different wines to show varying degrees of aging potential.

One is made from young vines, to keep the fruit fresh and able to drink young, vineyard manager Yann Menager, said.

The second is more structured, to keep for a little while. The third has deep concentration and more oak and will age very well.

Each is a blend of land parcels, or an assemblage.

Cave Yves Cuilleron is also the producer of the single vineyard range, including Crozes Hermitage Les Chassis (ex-cellar price 16.90 euros), Cornas Les Cotes and Cote Rotie Bonnivieres.

Meanwhile in the much larger Southern Rhone, historic Chateauneuf-du-Pape producer Domaine de la Charbonniere, which owns 17.5 ha of vines in the appellation and four in neighbouring Vacqueyras, has been investing in the future of late.

The renowned Domaine, which is still in the hands of the Maret family 90 years after it was bought by Eugene Maret, has been planting a substantial mixture of red (including Mourvedre and southern France grape Terret) and increasingly, white.

The vines need 10 to 15 years to produce the quality we need, so we are thinking really ahead, winemaker Veronique Maret, daughter of Michel Maret, said.

We dont know what is going to happen in 15 years, so we are investing more in white.

A lot of this white is intended, and is already being used, in reds.

In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, around 5% of plantings are whites grapes, and 2% of that will be used in blends with red grapes, Maret explained.

Next years vintage may prove more difficult.

At Cave Yves Cuilleron, yields were down 25% in Cote Rotie.

Saint Joseph was largely spared, as was Crozes Hermitage, but a large proportion of the Rhone  as indeed was the whole of France - was affected.
Genworth 2017 Annual Cost of Care Survey: Home Health Care Costs Increased in Hawaii; Overall Costs are Up

News Release from Genworth Financial, Inc.

RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 14, 2017 -- The cost to receive long term care services at home with a home health care aide has increased both nationally and in Hawaii, according to Genworth's 14th annual Cost of Care Survey . Home is where most Americans receive long term care1.

Overall, the annual median cost of long term care services in Hawaii increased an average of 5.51 percent from 2016 to 2017.

"Given today's increasing labor costs, strict Medicaid eligibility requirements, and more stringent Medicare regulations, we are seeing a corresponding increase in the cost of long term care services across most states," said David O'Leary, president and CEO of Genworth's U.S. Life Division. "Although home health care is far less expensive than care in a facility, in Hawaii, home health care costs can add up to as much as $59,488 per year. Government programs may not cover all of these costs, if any, which is why it's so important for people to plan ahead for how they will pay for these costs."

"Genworth provides the Cost of Care website and app to help people educate themselves about the cost of care so that they can address any gaps in financing well before they need it," O'Leary said. "It's part of our commitment to help people who need care age on their own terms and live the way they want for as long as they live."

Cost of Care Statistics for Hawaii

Care Category State Costs National Costs Home Health Aide Median Monthly Cost $4,957 $4,099 Change from 2016 2.97% 6.17% Homemaker Services Median Monthly Cost $4,814 $3,994 Change from 2016 5.21% 4.75% Adult Day Health Care Services Median Monthly Cost $1,517 $1,517 Change from 2016 3.70% 2.94% Assisted Living Facility 2 Median Monthly Cost $4,250 $3,750 Change from 2016 3.03% 3.36% Nursing Home Private Room Median Monthly Cost $13,216 $8,121 Change from 2016 12.23% 5.5% Nursing Home Semi-Private Room Median Monthly Cost $11,437 $7,148 Change from 2016 5.92% 4.44%

*For the average annual growth rate over the last five years, click here .

Where Do I Start? Resources to Help Plan Ahead for Long Term Care Costs

Understanding who pays (or doesn't pay) for care and how to bridge any gaps in financing can help ensure that consumers will have the financial resources to receive the quality care they deserve. Here are resources to get started:

Genworth provides tools for people to start the conversation and develop a plan at: Let's Talk: "Conversations that Matter."

Download Genworth's Cost of Care app on the App Store for iOS devices

To explore long term care financing options, please visit genworth.com/longtermcare

Beyond traditional insurance products, an underwritten single premium immediate need annuity can be purchased by older, less healthy Americans or their families to provide a guaranteed lifetime source of income that can be used to pay for care or other expenses. Learn more here: www.genworth.com/products/immediate-need-annuity.html .

About Genworth's 2017 Cost of Care Survey

Genworth's annual Cost of Care Survey is one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, covering more than 47,000 long-term care providers nationwide who complete surveys for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day health facilities and home care providers. The survey includes 440 regions which include all Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined by the 2015 Office of Management and Budget. Genworth annually surveys the cost of long term care across the U.S. to help Americans plan for the potential cost associated with the various types of long term care available in their preferred location and setting. The survey also provides state-specific cost of care data for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and comparison to the national median. CareScout, part of the Genworth Financial family of companies, has conducted the survey since 2004. Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, CareScout has specialized in helping families find long term care providers nationwide since 1997. Genworth's 2017 Cost of Care Survey was conducted during May and June 2017.

About Genworth Financial

Genworth Financial, Inc. is a Fortune 500 insurance holding company committed to helping families achieve the dream of homeownership and address the financial challenges of aging through its leadership positions in mortgage insurance and long term care insurance. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Genworth traces its roots back to 1871 and became a public company in 2004. For more information, visit genworth.com .

From time to time, Genworth releases important information via postings on its corporate website. Accordingly, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information is found under the "Investors" section of genworth.com . From time to time, Genworth's publicly traded subsidiaries, Genworth MI Canada Inc. and Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Limited, separately release financial and other information about their operations. This information can be found at http://genworth.ca and http://www.genworth.com.au .
Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Adaptability and Agility

Collaboration

Build Relationships Quickly

Resilience

Creativity and Innovation

Make Good Decisions with Incomplete Information

Leadership

Displaying Empathy

Magarey added that at the heart of every future workplace is the need for both workers and workplaces to be agile and adaptable.



Businesses need to be flexible in relation to hours, locations where employees can work and leave entitlements too. These initiatives help to increase the talent pool and the employees they can attract, said Magarey.



As our paper outlines, most businesses have the skills they need for the operations now. But from their responses, its clear they are not confident about the future.



Australian businesses were also asked about the education sector, saying the system more often than not fails to prepare employees, and prospective employees, for careers in their workplaces.



The report revealed businesses are turning to on-the-job training, mentoring and on-line courses to fill the gap.



In fact, when asked if the current education system does a good job of preparing people for careers in their organisation, only 42% said yes.



This demonstrates a lack of confidence by organisations in the education sectors ability to equip the future workforce with the skills they will need, said Geraldine Magarey, Leader of Policy and Thought Leadership at CA ANZ.



Only two in five employers believe the education system is doing a good job of preparing people for organisations like their own.



The report added that leading universities in New Zealand and Australia are introducing new courses, curriculums and entry criteria with a view to better preparing students for the workforce of the future.



Magarey said schools also need to broaden their measures of success and drop the inclination to teach to the test.



Whats needed is broader learning, including encouraging skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration and ethical understandings.



These are the skills businesses are indicating they want.










We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here
Are you looking for that special gift for a certain someone? Searching for original handcrafted presents rather than the usual shop-bought items? Love the buzz of Christmas shopping combined with carols, mince pies and mulled wine?

If this sounds good to you then come to South Hill Parks annual Craft and Design Fair (Sat 18 and Sun 19 Nov 2017, 10am-5pm daily).

With more than 40 different stalls located throughout the Mansion and Wilde Theatre foyer, come along and see the handcrafted, high-quality work of talented British artists and craft-makers. From ceramics and jewellery pieces, to wood-turned art and colourful hand-dyed textiles, there is something for everyone. This is the perfect opportunity to take home unique Christmas gifts, and talk to the artists about how each item has been made. Pass on its story and share the magic this Christmas.

Theres more! Our purpose built art studios will also be open for public access, giving visitors the opportunity to watch students at work, talk to the tutors about all the creative magic that our courses have to offer, and be inspired by the workspaces here at South Hill Park. You can even sign up to hear about next terms fantastic range of visual art courses.

The festivities continue as you browse the stalls with the Reading Barbarettes performing on Saturday and the local chamber choir, Thames Voyces entertaining visitors on Sunday. Get Christmas all wrapped up this season. Please note: we do not have a cash machine on site and many stallholders are unable to accept cards. There are cash machines at Sainsburys which is only a 5 minute walk away. For more information, visit our website www.southhillpark.org.uk/craftfair2017 or call 01344 484123.
A SCHOOL in Wargrave is asking parents for a daily donation of 1 to pay for stationery and books.

Robert Piggott, which is in Prime Minister Theresa Mays Maidenhead constituency, made the appeal after "national changes to school funding".

In a letter to parents Caroline Meader, its chair of governors, said: We have been working with parent volunteers, governors and the teaching staff to develop a funding strategy and implementation plan.

One of the elements of this plan was to ask parents and the community to consider making donations to help meet the predicted shortfall in funding.

It had asked for voluntary contributions to help pay for:

. Consumables such as glue, pens, pencils, exercise books, paper, tape and paint

. Curriculum resources like maths text books, reading books, tools, software, science equipment and musical instruments

. Maintaining current levels of teaching support staff, for example teaching assistants

Mrs Meader added: We would like to suggest that parents donate 1 per school day for each child to help the schools through this funding crisis. This equates to 190 per year.

All donations, however large or small, will be gratefully received and will help us to continue to maintain the current provision and excellent standard of education for every child.

For the full story see next weeks Henley Standard.
A Jazz Centenary, National Youth Jazz Orchestra | Kenton Theatre | Friday, November 3

LIVELY cheering, whooping and sustained applause from an enthused full house on Friday evening at the Kenton Theatre marked the end of the encore number  a special arrangement of Georgia.

And the end of a truly remarkable and unique concert in which the National Youth Jazz Orchestra celebrated 100 years of jazz with A Jazz Centenary.

This was NYJOs eighth appearance at the Kenton in as many years, during which period the orchestras visit has come to be regarded as the major annual jazz event in the Henley calendar.

The birth of jazz as a form is generally acknowledged to have come with the recording of Livery Stable Blues by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band under Nick La Roca in New York on February 26, 1917.

Paying homage to that epochal event, the orchestra was led by Mark Armstrong, its artistic and music director who is also Jazz Professor at the Royal College of Music.

Seated behind black, white and red music stands, the 22 musicians filled the stage, immaculate in black  the 19 men in red ties.

Mark opened with a bouncy arrangement of WC Handys St Louis Blues (1914) with tenor sax (Josh Schofield), trumpet and drum solos. He then described the basic musical structure of original jazz, illustrated with a short version of When the Saints Go Marching In, featuring James Davidson with a formidable sousaphone coiled round his body. This was later followed by another treatment of Saints, demonstrating the necessary transition to a swing/dance style.

Mark used three Duke Ellington pieces to span the move into swing, covering the Twenties to the Sixties with Black and Tan Fantasy, Harlem Air Shaft and Half the Fun  all played with beautiful solos, duets and the power of a big band.

Cole Porters upbeat Its De-Lovely was expertly sung by Freddie Benedict with some impressive scat singing punctuated by Marks trumpet. He followed up with a melodic rendering of the Beatles And I Love Her played in a Latin style.

The first half closed with the Eighties fast swing number Carmelos by the Freeway, which featured a two-flute session and clarinet, another Tom Barford tenor solo and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Award winner Alexandra Ridout with a splendidly versatile trumpet solo.

The second half moved into bebop with Never the Twain, arranged by NYJO alumnus Matt Wates and played in a fast bouncy style including a vibraphone solo, a remarkable display by the two alto saxes of Josh Schofield and Tom Smith  first as solos and then in counter-duet  and finally by Joe Hill working miracles on piano.

Then into modern times with Hush, composed by NYJO alumnus Nikki Iles  a big band number featuring subtle rhythm changes, a strong sax chorus and multiple solos including guitar (Oliver Mason), flute (Lizzie Whitehead) and tenor (Tom Barford).

Freddie sang Ive Got You Under My Skin beautifully, very much in the style of Sinatra and accompanied with the famous Nelson Riddle arrangement played impeccably.

Tenor sax player Tom Ridout, who was the runner-up to his sister in the BBC competition, had composed the next number, Is and It  a complex big band piece, melodic and with changing rhythms introduced by a sensitively played French horn solo by Sarah Johnson and building to an emphatic climax embracing trombone, trumpet and sax solos.

A compelling piano entry by Joe Hill introduced Groove Merchant by Thad Jones, a Sixties composition described by Mark as an interesting combination of bebop and blues. Solos included a bass masterpiece by Seth Tackaberry, baritone sax by Lewis Borland and individual contributions from all five trombones. And Mark with an incredible trumpet spot.

Then it was back to the Seventies with Freddie singing a fast and difficult fusion piece with verve  Teenage Kicks by the Undertones  and more scat, with Tom Ridout complementing on tenor.

And so to the finale  a special arrangement by Mark of Tiger Rag. Nobody really knows when it was written but early would best describe it. This number had something for all sections who contributed with great energy and skill in a controlled free-for-all.

This was a unique concert which I suspect will be long-remembered. A place in the NYJO flagship orchestra is fiercely contested  only the very best make it and that showed on the night.

The audience departed on a high and were already asking about next year!

Basil Evans

Throughout the concert Mark gave a most interesting, humorous and informed commentary about style and the progressive structural changes in the evolution of jazz through the 10 decades, verging on a workshop approach and illustrated by relevant numbers. To add to the diversity, this was cleverly addressed by moving across the decades rather than in a strict sequential order.

The skill and precision was exemplary. The unique sound of saxophone, trombone and trumpet choruses together or alone is one of the special sound effects a jazz orchestra can produce and it was used with great skill here.

Mark was inspirational and painted a colourful picture of the evolution of jazz as we know it. His leadership and energy were ever-present.
Thailand's defense technology agency is currently working with China to setup a joint arms factory center to produce and maintain military equipment and arms after their security relationship has been restored after a coup in 2014.

According to the Thai defence ministry spokesman, the Thai Defence Technology Institute will be set up the first commercial joint defense facility with China in July next year in the province of Khon Kaen. The DTI would also handle the assembly, production and maintenance of the Chinese-made land weapon systems used by the Thai army.

In his statement with Reuters, Defense Ministry Spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said that all of the production from the center would be used for domestic use and it can also be used by other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Further details of the plan is still under discussion between the Thai defense ministry and the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), the Chinese company that would be partnering with DTI in the joint plant. NORINCO is known for its production capacity and producing tanks, weapons and heavy equipment.

Kongcheep also said that the Chinese would be assisting in the training and technology transfer in the center. It is still uncertain if the joint center would have Chinese personnel.

The Thai government is also speaking with Ukraine, Russia and South Africa in the establishment of other joint defense manufacturing facilities in the country.
The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee still needs donations to feed families this Thanksgiving.

The organization, based in a warehouse off Interstate 81s Exit 63 in Sullivan County, planned to provide traditional Thanksgiving meals for 6,200 families.

We still have about 600 boxes that need sponsored, Executive Director Rhonda Chafin said Wednesday. Thats about $15,000 needed to meet our goal to feed 6,200 families.

Last Friday, the organization was more than 2,000 meals short of its goal. Chafin reached out to the public for assistance, which resulted in donations, but not enough to fill 6,200 boxes.

[Families] just dont have the resources to have the traditional Thanksgiving meal, and we want to make sure they have that, said Chafin, who added that families receive a turkey and all the side dishes.

Volunteers packed thousands of meal boxes over the weekend at the food bank in preparation for Thanksgiving. Those meals will be distributed through various organizations in the Tri-Cities.

The community can still go online to www.netfoodbank.org to make a donation to Project Thanksgiving.
Tennessee has received the highest score in the nation from an anti-sex trafficking organization while Virginia is near the bottom of the list.

The Protected Innocence Challenge, conducted by Shared Hope International of Vancouver, Washington, grades each state on the strength of its laws addressing child sex trafficking and produces legal analysis for stakeholders. Report cards, which are reported each year, were released Wednesday morning.

Human trafficking report Top grades achieved in Shared Hope International report:  Tennessee: 96.5  Louisiana: 95.5  Washington: 95  Florida: 94  Texas: 93.5  Kansas: 92  Montana: 92  Oklahoma: 90  Wisconsin: 89.5  Minnesota: 89 For more information, visit sharedhope.org.

Tennessee received a score of 96.5 out of 100, an A, which is the best in the nation. Last year, Tennessee came in second place behind Louisiana.

Across the state line, however, Virginia received a 71 out of 100, which is a C. Thats the same score it received last year. Seven states, including South Carolina, Wyoming, New Mexico, Vermont, South Dakota, New York and Maine, received worse grades than Virginia in the latest report.

This morning, Shared Hope International, a leading nonprofit in the fight against human trafficking, confirmed what we already know, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Nashville. Were on the right path to combating human trafficking here and now in Tennessee. Today, the organization named us No. 1 in the country.

The TBI has spearheaded anti-human trafficking efforts in recent years in the state, resulting in new legislation, arrests and victim services.

Tennessee imposes substantial penalties for sex trafficking and provides tools for law enforcement to investigate effectively, but victims may be deterred from pursuing justice due to lack of trial protections and potential bars to victims compensation, Shared Hope stated in the states report card. Tennessee prohibits the criminalization of minors for prostitution, but the lack of specialized protective responses may leave them vulnerable.

Gwyn thanked law enforcement, legislators and the public for assistance in combating human trafficking in Tennessee.

Were proud of all that weve done, but we know we have more to do, Gwyn said. There are more victims who need help and many more buyers and traffickers who need to know we wont stand for this kind of injustice in Tennessee.

In Virginia, the state and federal attorney general offices generally deal with human trafficking issues. In 2015, Shared Hope noted that Virginia was the last state in the country to pass human trafficking legislation.

This is a serious issue facing Virginia, said Wise County Commonwealths Attorney Chuck Slemp. I am hopeful that our General Assembly will consider this report in the upcoming session to ensure that our laws are tough on sex traffickers and also provide real assistance to the victims of these horrible crimes.

Virginia criminalizes child sex trafficking without requiring proof of force, intimidation or deception, but the sex trafficking law does not reach buyers of sex with minors, Shared Hope said in the report.

While defendants convicted of sex trafficking face sex offender registration and asset forfeiture, minor victims still face delinquency and detention for prostitution charges, Shared Hope adds.

Task forces have been created to combat human trafficking in Virginia within the past year.

The reason why Tennessee has always led the nation on this issue is because of the extraordinary collaboration that we have between all the parts that are needed, said Derri Smith, CEO of End Slavery TN.

Gwyn added, We got a good ways to go. Were going to continue to fight every day. As long as there is a demand out there, were going to be on the battlefield.
ABINGDON, Va.---The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission awarded a $190,000 grant to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center at the Power UP SWVA cybersecurity and manufacturing summit on Thursday.

In partnership with Old Dominion University, the Higher Ed Center will use the grant to fund the new Cisco Networking and Cyber Security Academy. The grant will be used to purchase equipment to start the academy.

The academy is expected to open in January.

Read more about the grant and cybersecurity summit in tomorrow's print edition of the Bristol Herald Courier and online at www.heraldcourier.com.
KINGSPORT, Tenn.  With her blinking Christmas light necklace, Santa hat and red Christmas sweater, Angela Mullins was festively dressed for Wednesday nights Santa Train packing party.

Mullins, of Clintwood, said participating in the final preparations for the 75th annual train trek from Kentucky to Kingsport is her latest way of supporting something she first experienced as a young child. Working alongside her husband, Roy, daughter, Alishia Mullins, and her friend, Ashley Rich, they were among about 200 volunteers clustered at the Eastman Road Food City store stuffing snack foods into plastic bags for distribution Saturday for the trains 110-mile run through the region.

I live right across the river from the train, went every year except one year mom wouldnt let us go because we were not so nice, and our church has coffee and hot chocolate for people at the train stop in Clinchco, Angela Mullins said. Somebody told my pastor about this [packing party] and we thought we would come help. And weve come back. We just enjoy it.

That was about five years ago and now its how her family kicks off its holiday season. Mullins guesses shes been coming to the Santa Train for 50 years.

Even after I got married, Id take my son to the train. When he got too big, I went to Fremont and videoed the train going by. Then my daughter came along, and I took her to the train, she said. For me, its the tradition. Its something we looked forward to as kids, and now to go and see the kids enjoying it  if they can for the adults who knock people down sometimes.

Alishia Mullins said she also enjoys going to see the train.

Ever since I was a little kid growing up, going and seeing that, not only do you get something out of it but  when you grow up and think about it  younger kids that might not even get a Christmas can experience some type of a gift, Alishia Mullins said.

The train is a joint effort of CSX Transportation, Food City, the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and new sponsors Appalachian Power and Soles4Souls.

On Wednesday, volunteers carefully packed snack crackers and cookies, chips, candy, gum and other items into clear plastic bags, loaded them into about 400 large plastic tubs and into a waiting trailer, all under the watchful eyes of Tommy Stanley, chairman of Food Citys Santa Train committee and the Eastman Road store manager.

Were packing over 10,000 bags of food. These are donations from different partners, vendors and just people, Stanley said. Weve got a pretty wide variety.

Rather than tossing bags from the train, each will be handed out by volunteers on the ground at each train stop, Stanley said.

Three trucks will supplement the train and its tons of toys, food and clothing items. The trucks will distribute many of those same items at each stop, Stanley said.

This will be Stanleys 17th Santa Train but his first year as chairman.

We work with our partners year-round. We couldnt do it without the partners, the volunteers and our customers that give us the opportunity to do this, Stanley said. Being on the train and seeing all the kids and everybody get so excited when you pull up to each stop. Thats the most enjoyable.

Last-minute items are to be packed on the train this morning before it departs for Kentucky. It will be staged about five miles south of Pikeville for Saturdays run.
China's friendly policy toward Zimbabwe will not change in spite of the current situation in the African country, a Chinese spokesperson said Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang at a daily press briefing on Nov. 16, 2017 [Photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

"We sincerely hope that the situation in Zimbabwe will become stable and the issues will be resolved peacefully and appropriately," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing.

On Wednesday, the Zimbabwean military announced that it has taken control of all government institutions in the southern African country. Zimbabwe's 93-year-old president Robert Mugabe and his wife have reportedly been put under house arrest since early Wednesday.

People walk past an armored vehicle on a street in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Nov. 15, 2017. Armored carriers cordoned off Zimbabwe's Presidential seat of power and Parliament Building in the capital while helicopters circled the city center on a drizzly morning, after the military announced it had taken over control of all government institutions. [Photo: Xinhua/Philimon Bulawayo]

Military leaders said on state television that they were not taking over the government, but "targeting criminals around" Mugabe, and that Mugabe and his family are safe and their security is guaranteed.

When answering a question on Chinese investment in Zimbabwe, Geng said the friendly cooperation between China and Zimbabwe are comprehensive, benefiting the people of both countries.

"China's friendly policy toward Zimbabwe will not change," said the spokesperson.

"We will continue to advance friendly cooperation with Zimbabwe in line with the principle of equality, reciprocity and win-win cooperation," Geng said.
The Chippewa Falls School District could see the creation of a deficit, a bump in expenditures and a slight decline in enrollment by 2023, according to a five-year budget forecast presented to the school board Tuesday.

The forecast projects a $4.43 million growth in expenditures between 2018 and 2023, from $56.99 million to $61.42 million. Likewise, the districts deficit  which is currently $0  is projected to increase to $3.4 million by 2023.

However, with a new state budget in 2019, possible changes to per-pupil aid and a potential April 2018 referendum, those numbers could fluctuate quickly, the districts finance manager Chad Trowbridge told board members.

As we live through the next five years, well have opportunities to make decisions about expenses to avoid deficits, Trowbridge said.

State per-pupil aid is $200 for the 2017-2018 school year, and it will increase to $204 in 2018-2019. The next state budget may change per-pupil aid numbers, but there is no guarantee what that number will be.

If were projecting responsibly and conservatively, we have to project not to have those dollars, district superintendent Dr. Heidi Taylor-Eliopoulos said Tuesday.

School enrollment could see a decrease as well. The five-year forecast suggests a total of 5,121 students in 2023  a 24-student drop from the 5,145 students enrolled through 2018.

Its the first time weve seen this in a while, where enrollment projections arent growing in five years, Trowbridge said.

The district has historically seen fluctuation in enrollment  numbers grew in 2014 and 2017, and dipped in 2015 and 2018, according to data from the five-year forecast.

The board also discussed participating in workshops about a potential April 2018 referendum. The board heard the results of a September-October survey on Oct. 30, where data suggested Chippewa Falls taxpayers may support a $65 million or smaller referendum. Possible dates for referendum workshops included Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Dec. 19 or Jan. 16.

The board must pass and file a resolution by Jan. 22 to get a referendum on the April 2018 ballot.

The boards next monthly meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 19.
On Friday, volunteers at the Chippewa Falls YMCA loaded boxes to send to people serving in the US Military. The boxes contain food, hygiene products, books and personalized cards thanking active duty military personnel for their service. All the items in the packages come from donations dropped off at local YMCA branches, Leinie's Lodge and McDonell Area Catholic Schools.
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Bishop's Stortford police have forcibly closed a flat after they received multiple reports of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

Police shut down the flat in Park View on Monday (November 13) after they they were given a closure order by Stevenage Magistrates' Court following six months of unacceptable behaviour linked to it.

East Hertfordshire safer neighbourhood team (SNT) sergeant Mark Collins said: "The closure was sought following numerous complaints from the address from concerned residents who were affected by the behaviour of the residents and associates.

"We take reports like this very seriously and by working closely with our partner agencies we have now secured this closure order, banning anyone from entering the property and anyone found breaching this order will face further police action.

"Closure orders should be taken very seriously as this is a power that we will use to tackle anti-social behaviour and I would continue to urge members of the community to report any anti-social behaviour to the police."

(Image: @BStortfordPolice)

The order means that the premises are completely sealed and any unauthorised persons who enter the flat will be arrested and could be sent to prison and or fined up to 5,000.

Police worked with the housing association in charge of the block of flats, Paradigm Housing, and East Herts District Council to gather information for the court order.

East Herts SNT inspector Chris Hunt said: "By taking this action to now fully close the address, we hope to provide neighbours with some respite from the on-going issues.

"The Community Safety Partnership have worked extremely hard to gather evidence to support the application."
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A Bishops Stortford resident hoping to set up a lunch club to combat loneliness among the towns elderly has smashed her fundraising goal.

Jo Gill, who works for Age UK and has a history of working and volunteering with the elderly, said she believes we are facing a social crisis, with many older citizens being neglected by wider society.

The 25-year-old philanthropist has now decided to take matters into her own hands, and is pushing forward with plans to set up a monthly Sunday lunch club called The Well Beloved Club.

The club  which will be named after Jos own great-grandmother, Doris Welbeloved, whom she believes would have benefited greatly from a similar scheme before she died aged 94  will be run by a team of volunteers.

One of those volunteers will be Jos mother, who will be taking on the responsibility for preparing the meals.

With plenty of candidates already in mind, Jo plans to raise awareness of the clubs existence by advertising in local churches and GP surgeries, while social and health care professionals will also be able to refer their patients to the service.

The projects JustGiving page, which was set up just 20 days ago, has already gathered enough interest to break Jos target of 1,000, which she admits she initially thought was ambitious.

Jo said: Ive been completely overwhelmed and surprised by the generosity of people.

"Crowdfunding has restored my faith in humanity."

Since beginning her campaign, Jo has been inundated by offers from kind strangers and local businesses, eager to donate both their time and money.

Despite exceeding her initial target, Jo explained that she can never have too much money for this project, as the club will run on continual donations.

She also suggests that additional funds, beyond those required to keep the club going, will be used to help provide transport for prospective members unable to drive themselves, and towards planning special events for the club, including Christmas parties and birthday celebrations.

She is now hopeful that her efforts will help combat Bishops Stortfords loneliness problem, and improve the quality of many peoples lives.

If you would like to donate to the campaign, you can do so here.
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A brazen driver was hit with a 30 for blocking off a pavement in one of the worst examples of reverse parking.

Officers driving through River Meads in Stanstead Abbots spotted the car, which had been squeezed into a parking spot and ended up off the road as much as it was on.

Police around East Herts have been cracking down on drivers leaving their cars illegally on pavements and this was no exception.

East Herts Rural Police tweeted: "We all have different ways of parking...this is not acceptable, 30 penalty notice given."

East Herts PCSO Stephen Blanks said: "The vehicle was blocking a footpath, which meant someone with a pushchair or a mobility scooter user would not have been able to pass by.

"This type of irresponsible parking is not acceptable and motorists who behave in this way will be issued with Fixed Penalty Notices."
MADISON  Whether its the Trump administration order to scrap the federal Clean Power Plan or legislation to jettison renewable energy goals for Wisconsin state agencies, it seems like a grim time for advocates of wind, solar and other clean energy technologies.(tncms-asset)8960a05c-7543-11e6-ae61-00163ec2aa77[0](/tncms-asset)

Less grim is this reality: The energy marketplace has already embraced renewables as part of a balanced portfolio.

Despite President Trumps oft-repeated affinity for coal and a recent spike in U.S. production, energy experts dont expect a long-term surge in coal production for power plants. There are two main reasons: More natural gas plants are coming on line and renewable sources, mainly wind, are filling the energy gap in many parts of the country.

That transition is not only because the Obama-era Clean Power Plan compelled utilities and industry to burn less coal. The shift is mostly because market prices, consumer demand for clean energy and changing technologies have made renewables more attractive  and sped the retirement of less efficient coal-burning plants.

In 2015, according to a state report, wind power made up two-thirds of Wisconsins renewable energy supply. Solar energy, organic matter used as fuel, and hydroelectric power accounted for the other one-third. Coal-fired, nuclear and natural gas plants still supply the bulk of Wisconsins energy needs, but renewables are grabbing more of the market share.

More than two-thirds of Wisconsins wind power is not generated on Wisconsin wind farms. It comes from wind turbines to the west  primarily Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas  over transmission lines that carry electricity from where the wind blows to where power is needed.

Some 345-kilovolt transmission lines are in place, and work continues on completing the system and making the Midwest less reliant on coal and natural gas. One project on the books is the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line, which would span about 125 miles from northeast Iowa to the town of Middleton in Dane County.

Proponents say the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line would improve the overall reliability of the regional and local transmission grid, reduce costs over time and provide a conduit for renewable energy  primarily wind power. Environmental groups such as Wind on the Wires and RENEW Wisconsin support the project mainly because they see wind power as reducing Wisconsins reliance on coal, a heavy contributor to greenhouse gases, while spurring the regional wind industry.

Wind on the Wires estimates the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line will advance 10 wind farms in four states, help avoid 1.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, power more than 400,000 homes and save 757 million gallons of water each year.

RENEW Wisconsin has estimated a $5 billion investment in transmission lines will unlock $50 billion in wind energy investment in the upper Midwest.

The cost of wind has come down about two-thirds in the last decade and some Wisconsin utilities are signing contracts for wind power purely because its the lowest-cost option, said Tyler Huebner, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin. The power grid is changing and its changing in favor of renewables.

Opponents wonder whether more electrical power is needed, based on economic growth and improved conservation strategies. Others question proposed routes for the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line. One proposed route follows existing roads and right-of-way but the other, more controversial route, is largely greenfield in nature.

The need for transmission lines, Wisconsins share of the costs and possible routes are subject to review by the state Public Service Commission.

Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas arent going away anytime soon. However, the share of U.S. electricity generation met by renewables has grown to 15 percent from 8.5 percent a decade ago. Consumer demand and market forces likely have as much to do with that growth as government policies.

The Midwest can continue to wean itself off coal without overpaying for emerging energy sources such as wind. Transmission lines that efficiently tap into regional wind farms is a part of that transition, no matter how hard the White House tries to rescue the coal industry.
HICKORY  Earlier this year, what started as a need to get new humidifiers ended with collaboration between three museums to expand their collections and create some excitement for their visitors.

Starting this Saturday, the Hickory Museum of Art (HMA) will reveal a new painting on loan from the Columbia Museum of Art in South Carolina, while HMAs collection of Jane Peterson paintings will debut in the Mattatuck Museums (Waterbury, Conn.), At Home and Abroad exhibition, a retrospective of Petersons work.

The beginning

Like all accredited art museums, the HMA uses humidifiers to maintain the level of climate control needed to ensure the well being of all the pieces in its collection.

We were reaching the end of the life spans for ours, HMA Associate Director Clarissa Starnes said.

The systems were doing a good job, but with their age, the leadership at the museum realized they needed to get ahead of replacing the humidifiers before there were any issues.

We started seeking funding for those humidifiers, Starnes said. We had received funding for one from the George Foundation, and we had four more to replace.

Around the same time the museum was dealing with this issue, it got a loan request from the Mattatuck Museum to borrow HMAs three masterpiece level Jane Petterson paintings, the Windowseat, the bouquet of yellow roses and the beach scene. They have become some of the most popular items in HMAs collection, Starnes said.

Mattatuck was planning a comprehensive November 2017 Peterson show that would travel to several other museums, including the Columbia Museum of Art in South Carolina.

The request was reviewed by HMA's Acquisitions Committee in February 2017, which included making sure all the participating museums provided satisfactory facility reports and were all American Alliance of Museums accredited. Final approval of the loan was in May.

The idea

At the time these conversations began, Jon Carfagno started as HMAs new executive director. He brought up the point of there being a hole in HMAs collection for the year the three paintings were gone.

The exhibition is a national tour so it starts in Mattatuck, goes to Long Island (N.Y.), Chattanooga, Tenn., and then Columbia, S.C., Carfagno said. When the loan request came in, of course we were excited. It was a great opportunity for the museum to play a role in this dialogue.

Still, Carfagno wanted to see if there was a reciprocal arrangement that would bring something to HMA while the Peterson paintings were on tour. He reached out to Mattatuck Museum's organizing curator, Cynthia Roznoy, with the idea.

I said, Of course we want to support the exhibition. We love this project, but could we have a little fun with it? Carfagno said. I asked if she would consider reaching out to the Columbia Museum of Art and propose they send us something equally crowd pleasing.

The leadership at the Columbia Museum liked the idea as well and agreed to the exchange. It also raised the need to address the aging humidifiers at HMA again.

The funding

Corning stepped up to help fill the financial gap to purchase four new humidifiers with funds from Corning Optical Communications, of Hickory, and from the Corning Foundation.

Corning has been a proud supporter of the HMA for more than 10 years, said John Arwood via email, who is with Corning media relations.

Now were glad to join the community in celebrating the arrival of a distinctive work from the Columbia Museum of Art, and were happy to have played a small part in its debut here, by helping the museum acquire humidity-control units, Arwood said.

Because of this donation HMA knew it could seriously and accurately maintain the temperature and humidification requirements for the loan from Columbia.

The road trip

With the pieces all in place, on Sept. 22, Carfagno and Starnes made the two-and-half-hour drive to the museum in Columbia to pick up the piece of art being loaned to HMA.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The museum more than ever is exploring ways that we can collaborate with our neighboring institutions, Carfagno said. With our 75th anniversary coming up, were also considering bringing in some work from other places and having the infrastructure in place allows us to be very confident.

He thinks this collaboration reflects a shift happening in the industry as a whole.

Art museums no longer want to just be places where we hang stuff on the wall, but rather seek to engage our audiences and creating unique experiences that can become special to them, Carfagno said.

They decided to reveal the painting for the first time Saturday during the Light Up The Block event at the SALT Block in Hickory, including special events in the museum and holiday performances by the Western Piedmont Symphony.

The only hint Starnes offered on the piece was anyone who is a fan of the Jane Peterson paintings will fall in love with the painting from the Columbia Museum. The unveiling will occur at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

Light Up The Block

Along with HMAs big reveal, the Catawba Science Center, SALT Block Foundation and Western Piedmont Symphony will kick off the holiday season Saturday with Light Up the Block.

Hickory Museum of Art

 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: shop HMA will host a holiday open house with 10-15 percent discounts on purchases

 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Childrens Festive Holiday Art Activities

 1 p.m.: Music and storytelling in New Horizons: Self-taught Art in the 21st Century exhibition

 4:45 p.m.: Special painting unveiling ceremony

Western Piedmont Symphony

 3 p.m. and 7: 30 p.m.: Holiday Pops Concerts in the Drendel Auditorium at the SALT Block

Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at wpsymphony.org/tickets (one child is admitted free per adult ticket purchase). For more information, visit hickoryart.org.
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Amendment on Parental Rights Introduced in U.S. House



WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /



"The freedom for parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is an American tradition once established beyond debate," said Rep. Hultgren. "Yet every day, families are broken apart by state actors who presume they are able to make a better decision for a child than a parent can. With recent state laws and court decisions threatening this American value, it is time parental rights are enshrined as fundamental rights and therefore protected under the Constitution."



"We are grateful to Representative Hultgren for taking up this vital issue before Congress," says



The Amendment, which would provide that "[t]he liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right," requires a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress to go to the states for ratification. This means bipartisan support will be necessary for its passage.



"Parental rights affect us all, regardless of race or belief, across every community or demographic," says Detroit-area family law attorney Allison Folmar. "Absolutely, this Amendment should have bipartisan support. In fact, it should have universal support."



The NFL's 2005 MVP Shaun Alexander is also among those supporting the Amendment effort. Alexander is vice president of ParentalRights.org.



"I am still amazed with how much authority the courts have over parents' rights today. With the Parental Rights Amendment now introduced in both houses of Congress, we can begin to push back and win for all parents authority for how to raise their own children. The Parental Rights Amendment will protect the greatest team ever assembledthe family."



Representatives interested in cosponsoring H. J. Res. 121 should contact Doug Thomas in Representative Hultgren's office.



Share Tweet Contact: Michael Ramey, Director of Communications & Research, ParentalRights.org , 540-751-1200, Media@parentalrights.org WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Representative Randy Hultgren (R-IL) introduced legislation in the U.S. House to propose a Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Hultgren's House Joint Resolution 121 had 15 original cosponsors at its introduction on Thursday, November 16. A parallel resolution, SJRes. 48, was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham in August."The freedom for parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is an American tradition once established beyond debate," said Rep. Hultgren. "Yet every day, families are broken apart by state actors who presume they are able to make a better decision for a child than a parent can. With recent state laws and court decisions threatening this American value, it is time parental rights are enshrined as fundamental rights and therefore protected under the Constitution.""We are grateful to Representative Hultgren for taking up this vital issue before Congress," says ParentalRights.org President Jim Mason, a proponent of the resolution. "Parental rights is a crucial battle that too few are talking about. Every other question, whether of politics, religion, values, or ideology, hinges on the right of good parents to raise their children in a way that is true to them."The Amendment, which would provide that "[t]he liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right," requires a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress to go to the states for ratification. This means bipartisan support will be necessary for its passage."Parental rights affect us all, regardless of race or belief, across every community or demographic," says Detroit-area family law attorney Allison Folmar. "Absolutely, this Amendment should have bipartisan support. In fact, it should have universal support."The NFL's 2005 MVP Shaun Alexander is also among those supporting the Amendment effort. Alexander is vice president of ParentalRights.org."I am still amazed with how much authority the courts have over parents' rights today. With the Parental Rights Amendment now introduced in both houses of Congress, we can begin to push back and win for all parents authority for how to raise their own children. The Parental Rights Amendment will protect the greatest team ever assembledthe family."Representatives interested in cosponsoring H. J. Res. 121 should contact Doug Thomas in Representative Hultgren's office.
The World Bank, released the Doing Business (DB) Report, 2018 on October 31, 2017. India ranked 100 among 190 countries assessed by the World Bank, a quantum leap of 30 notches over its rank of 130 last year. For years, India had languished in the 130s range.

The DB report is a useful metric of assessing how businesses, old and new, are finding conditions to do business in the country. However, it does not capture the full picture. The impact of reduced corruption in the country, following demonetisation, and the integration of the country in to a one tax system, namely the GST are fundamental changes to the Indian economic architecture. Ease of business taken together with these bold policy moves, means India is likely to keep the momentum of developing conditions more conducive for doing business. This can be excellent news for job creation, at a time when technology and automation are reducing jobs in the economy. Enabling efficient and easy conditions, particularly for SME businesses, has to be the panacea for Indias un-employment problems, as well as unleashing the potential of our demographic.

The DB Report is an assessment of 190 economies and covers 10 indicators which span the lifecycle of a business. According to the World Bank, New Zealand is the easiest place to do business, followed by Singapore, Denmark, South Korea and Hong Kong. The US and the UK are ranked 6th and 7th on the list.

China, our immediate competitor, on the other hand, has maintained its ranking at 78 from 2017. While the gap between 78 and 100 may seem small, yet is not easy to bridge. For one, the rankings are competitive, which mean that not only does India have to put in efforts in several of the 10 areas that World Bank assesses, but also has to be seen doing better than other countries that are also working to improve their rankings. India has improved its rank in 6 out of 10 indicators and has moved closer to international best practices. Significant improvements have been made in areas such as resolving insolvency, paying taxes, protecting minority investors and getting credit. India stands out this year as one of the 10 economies that improved the most in areas measured.

India however still has to go places in certain areas. India still lags in areas such as starting a business, enforcing contracts and dealing with construction permits. In the category of starting a business, the need for local entrepreneurs to go through 12 procedures to start a business, as opposed to five in high-income countries, worsened Indias ranking in the category to 156 from 155 last year. There was also a major slip in ranking in the category of registering property  from 138 last year to 154 this year  due to increase in time taken, cost and number of procedures for registration. Tackling these challenging reforms will be key to India sustaining the momentum towards a higher ranking. This will require not just new laws and online systems but deepening the ongoing investment in the capacity of States to implement change and transform the framework of incentives and regulation facing the private sector.

While sceptics may argue about the tangible benefits on the ground, what is important to note is the clear intent and capacity of the current administration to reform, perform and transform and we need to understand that most of these improvements in indicators are still works in progress. Global investors and corporations do take note of this very seriously in forming their views about cost of capital of doing business in a particular country. In my view, this improvement in ease of doing business in India should significantly reduce the premium implicitly included in cost of capital of doing business in India and make India a favourable investment destination.

Deep structural changes accompanied with tactical improvements means that India will start to witness the benefits of her tenacious labour. The momentum is now building up and investment and growth will be its natural outcome. The Indian economy is poised to move into the next orbit.

Shaurya Doval is Director India Foundation and Managing Director Gemini Financial Services

The views expressed are personal
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project in September, it was supposed to usher in a boom for Surats diamond traders. The train, which will halve journey time between the two cities, was expected to be a great help for the hundreds of traders in Gujarat who travel regularly between Surat and Mumbai.

But if diamond traders are to be believed, their Rs 1.5 lakh crore business had already been derailed by what they describe as the twin blows of demonetisation and teething issues with the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Many say they are far more concerned about taxes and related problems than the reduced travel time.

We process the diamonds here while trading happens in Mumbai. If we are sending diamonds to Mumbai  even within the company  we have to pay 3% GST. Then there is the tedious process of filing returns. This has become a headache for us, said Dinesh Navadiya, diamond merchant and state chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council.

This discontent has put them on the radar of both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has traditionally been popular among traders, and the Congress, which plans to milk the discontent for electoral success after being out of power for 22 years.

Surats diamond processing industry handles about 90% of the nationwide business in the sector and employs 2.5 million people across the state. The industry is divided between 75-80 major firms on the one hand and small and medium businessmen on the other. Smaller traders say they suffered more than the bigger houses, whose businesses are export-oriented where cash is not a big factor.

Notebandi (demonetisation) did affect small traders like me. Since we were dealing mostly in cash  whether buying rough diamonds or paying our workers  we faced trouble. We were just coming out of it when GST happened, said a trader who runs a small processing unit in Surat and didnt want to be named.

Diamond traders protested, though on a smaller scale than their counterparts in the textile industry.

Many of the 4,500 diamond processing units as well as about 10,000 merchants and brokers in Surats Varachha, Mahidarpura and Katargram shut shops on June 17, objecting to the levying of 3% tax on polished diamond, 5% on labour and 0.25% on rough diamonds.

This discontentment has spread from Surat to adjoining Navasari city as well as Bhavnagar, Palanpur and Amreli  where thousands depend on the trade. About 30% traders are badly affected. The effect is more seen in Saurashtra where it is more like a small scale industry, said Pravin Nanvati, a trader and former president of Surat Diamond Association.

The business has gone down by 18% to 20%, claimed Navadiya. For example, Diwali incentives given out this time were modest compared to the lavish presents such as apartments, cars and scooters that made headlines in previous years.

Congress sensed an opportunity

Party vice president Rahul Gandhi visited diamond traders on November 8  on the first anniversary of note ban  and later wooed them at a public meeting in Varachha, considered a stronghold of Patidars who comprise a majority of traders and can influence the outcome in some 60 of 182 assembly seats.

Not to be outdone, BJP, too, deputed railway minister Piyush Goyal and other top leaders to talk to the textile and diamond traders. Party chief Amit Shah too met them.

While the traders are angry with the BJP, they are wary of shifting their support, trusting it for fostering a friendly business environment.

The BJP government created a secured atmosphere here. There have been no criminal elements troubling the diamond traders, Even the infrastructure in Surat is developed to cater to our needs, said Hitesh Mehta of P.Hitesh and Co, a diamond firm.

Other businessmen say they have been on cordial terms with local BJP leaders for many years, a relationship that paved the way for the diamond industry to flourish in the city. They dont want to risk any disruption.

But resentment with the BJP is still simmering. Navadiya admitted to being a Vishwa Hindu Parishad supporter but found the GST arrangement to be unjust.

For Tatas plant, the Gujarat government spent Rs 35,000 crore and got jobs for 2000. Our diamond industry is giving jobs to 25 lakh people without any government support. Why the government needs to impose GST at 3% in an unjust way on us? he asked.

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On Wednesday evening, the BJP parliamentary board met in New Delhi to decide on tickets for the Gujarat elections.

The discussions happened, but the announcement of the tickets was held up. And in that meeting and delay perhaps lies a story of how extraordinarily important ticket distribution is to the prospects of both the BJP and the Congress in the Gujarat election of 2017.

The BJP is not only deploying its traditional tools and methods to get its own ticket distribution right. It is banking very heavily on Congress getting it wrong, and was, in fact, hoping that the Congress would announce its tickets first so that the party could respond accordingly. That could, party sources hint, explain the partial delay in announcement.

But first the background.

The absence of a single overarching issue across the states multiple regions, the presence of a complicated caste matrix, fissures in social coalitions of both the BJP (whose Patidar supporters are reportedly drifting away) and Congress (whose tribal voters may be shifting loyalties), and narrow margins has made each seat a distinct battle this time around. To be sure, ticket distribution is central to every poll.

Three broad trends in BJPs ticket distribution strategy across states are now clear.

One, party chief Amit Shah is personally involved in the exercise based on consultations with state party president, chief minister, top leaders and organisation general secretary. Feedback on each seat is drawn from multiple channels  local party unit, the Sangh parivar affiliates, independent volunteers and independent survey agencies. A candidate is judged on his appeal in the area, his caste background, his economic strength and ability to raise resources and, thus, on winnability. Given the intimate knowledge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has of each seat, and each leader in Gujarat, expect him to have the final call.

Two, in states and local bodies where the BJP is in power, it is happy to weed out incumbent candidates. This is counter intuitive as a sitting MLA or MP, in conventional politics, often used to have the first right over the ticket. Shah has repeatedly told aides, Anti-incumbency is often against the candidate, not the party. Remove the candidate to neutralise the mood.

This is straight from Modis textbook who often changed many past winners in Gujarat. It was most obvious in the case of MCD elections in Delhi earlier this year, where all corporators were replaced with a new set, giving the party a fresh look. In Gujarat too, the incumbent MLAs are jittery because many past winners are set to be replaced.

And finally, the party has been more open than ever to import candidates. This is particularly true of states and seats where it has traditionally been weak. The philosophy is somewhat simple  where you cannot win, get the candidate who can win. It will not be as widespread in Gujarat as it is in UP, but rebels from the Congress camp will find space.

Two other factors will be important in Gujarat this time around. Through the caste mix of candidates it picks, a party signals to the various social groups the importance they will have if they come to power.

Take Gujarat itself, where to quell rebellion by Patels under Keshubhai Patel, the BJP almost gave a quarter of the seats to Patidar candidates in 2012. In this election too, how it distributes tickets to Patidars and balances it with other caste groups, will be important, particularly in the two vulnerable regions of Saurashtra and North Gujarat.

But what is equally important to the BJP is how the Congress distributes tickets. A key state leader told HT, All this hawa around Congress will collapse the day tickets are announced. Right now, everyone is working in the party. As soon as tickets are declared, only the candidate will work and all other aspirants will go quiet or rebel.

The BJP feels its own relatively disciplined structure will contain rebellion. But Congress has internal candidates, it has sitting MLAs it has promised tickets to and it has to allot a substantial number of seats to loyalists of Hardik Patel, and a few to those of Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani. Many who lose out will, it is assumed, either move towards Shankersinh Vaghelas party  which is desperately looking for candidates  or fight independently. They could then play the role of spoilers.

There are also contradictions  if Congress gives ticket to a Thakor, Patidars may not vote for it and vice versa. BJP hopes to capitalise on this.

As BJP prepares to announce its candidates for the first phase, tentatively on Friday, it hopes that its own tested methods and the Oppositions mistakes will help it gain the edge.

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Standing firmly with Bollywood, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Karnataka and Maharashtra government on Thursday assured security to theatres which screen Padmavati, the upcoming epic period drama by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali that has come under attack from critics.

The first responder in relation to ongoing and potential public order issues are the district administration and state police under the overall guidance of the state government, an MHA spokesperson told news agency ANI. Any request for assistance, as and when received, will receive the fullest consideration of the ministry, he added.

Minister of State for Home (Urban) Ranjit Patil said that in view of the volatile situation, security would be provided to all theatres screening the film which has raked up controversy days before its release.

All measures will be taken. We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis to ensure that no untoward incident happens, Patil told the media.

Besides, he said some groups opposing the film had met government representatives to explain their stand and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was seized of the matter.

The development came a couple of days after Fadnavis provided a precautionary security cover to Bhansali, who is facing death threats from various quarters.

The state governments stand is in contrast to the stand taken by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Mumbai Ram Kadam, also President of the Film Studios Setting and Allied Mazdoor Sangh.

Kadam said that in view of the public sentiments, they had decided to oppose the film tooth and nail and threatened that his union would never work with Bhansali in future.

Bajrang Dal activists protesting against filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film Padmavati in Nagpur. (PTI)

Karnataka home minister Ramalinga Reddy said today that the state government will ensure adequate security to maintain law and order during the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama Padmavati in the state.

He also said that the censor boards decision will be final on the concerns relating to the content of the movie.

Besides Bhansali, even the lead heroine of the film, Deepika Padukone, has been threatened by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, which has called for a nationwide shutdown on December 1 to oppose the film release.

However, the Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Sena has said it would take a stand on the film only after watching it and if anything was found objectionable it would discuss the issue with Bhansali.

We have decided not to oppose it without watching it. We are aware that some groups and individuals are against it, but we shall watch the film first before taking any stand, MNCS President Amey Khopkar said in a statement.

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Fringe organisations have scaled up protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansalis film Padmavati and the street war is getting uglier by the minute. Karni Sena, whose members attacked the director in January this year in Jaipur where he was shooting the film, have now threatened to maim the films lead actor, Deepika Padukone.

The film is based on a 16th century poem and historians have said that there is no record of such a queen in history.

Speaking to ANI, Karni Sena member Mahipal Singh Makrana said, "Rajput Karni Sena is fighting to protect the image of women being portrayed in the films. We never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha for violating the rules and culture of India."

Earlier in the day, Sri Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said the Sena would gather in lakhs and called for a nationwide shutdown on December 1. "Our ancestors wrote history with blood, hence, we will not let anyone blacken it," he added.

Meanwhile, Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha are signing a petition with blood against the film, which will be sent to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Rajput community in Meerut has also announced a bounty of Rs 5 crore on the filmmakers head.

He threatened to burn down any theatre which screens the film and said, Jauhar ki jwala hai, bahut kuch jalega. Rok sako to rok lo. (This is the fire of jauhar, a lot of things will burn. Stop us if you can.)

Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha members protest against #Padmavati in #Jaipur, give signatures with blood to be sent to the Central Board of Film Certification pic.twitter.com/pN9NwB4F9Y  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

We will gather in lakhs, our ancestors wrote history with blood we will not let anyone blacken it; will call for Bharat bandh on 1 December: Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Rajput Karni Sena #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/zYvdHLsAB2  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha: Mahipal Singh Makrana of Rajput Karni Sena in a self-made video #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/82AWKGO7IU  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

The film has been submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and is slated to hit theatres on December 1. The CBFC is yet to watch the film and chairperson Prasoon Joshi told IANS, The speculative reports a few publications are carrying about I having watched Padmavati are absolutely baseless and untrue. I have not watched the film, not expressed any views regarding it. The film will follow the due process at CBFC.

On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh government wrote to the Centre saying the release of the film on December 1 will pose a law and order problem for the state. UP Principal Secretary (Home), Arvind Kumar said the Censor board should be apprised about the public resentment over the alleged distortion of facts in the movie. "The Censer Board members should take a decision after taking into account people's views. They should be apprised about it. It has come to the notice through intelligence reports that the film's producers have presented the movie for Censor Board clearance. After the release of the trailer of the movie on October 9, various social and other organisations opposed the film," the letter said.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Uttar Pradesh has joined the protests against Bollywood film Padmavati that have broken out across several states over the distorted depiction of its main characters and calls for a countrywide shutdown, asking the Centre to defer its release on December 1 citing the public anger.

The Uttar Pradesh government has referred to intelligence reports that say the release of the film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh can lead to a large scale law and order problems in the state.

Its home secretary Arvind Kumar has said in his letter to the Union information and broadcasting ministry that the administration would be busy with counting the civil election votes and Muslim festival Barawafat on the day of the films release and therefore providing security for the movie would be difficult.

The letter comes a day after protests against films director Sanjay Leela Bhansalis movie turned violent in Rajasthan where members of the Karni Sena vandalised a theatre in Kota after it screened a trailer of Padmavati. Six members of the group were arrested.

This is my tribute to the sacrifice, valour and honour of Rani Padmavati!  Sanjay Leela Bhansali @RanveerOfficial @deepikapadukone @shahidkapoor https://t.co/RfxgTzFtch  Padmavati (@FilmPadmavati) November 8, 2017

Both the Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are on the same page and are protesting the movie said to be hurting the sentiments of Rajputs, an influential vote bank in the state. Rajasthan goes to polls in December 2018.

The Rajput community has alleged the film depicts an amorous relationship between Padmavati  portrayed by Padukone  and Alauddin Khilji  played by Singh. Bhansali and his team have, however, dismissed the claims on several occasions.

Historians say Padmavati was a fictional character in Padmawat, an epic poem written by Malik Mohammad Jaisi in the 16th century, and it has no connection with history at all.

Protests in Rajasthan

The movie has been facing trouble since January this year.

The first attack took place at Jaipurs Jaigarh fort when scores of Karni Sena members barged onto the sets and assaulted movie staff, including Bhansali. The incident triggered outrage and drew condemnation from Bollywood but Bhansali soon appeared to reach a compromise with the protesters by agreeing to delete the sequences.

But Bhansali and Rajput Karni Sena reached an agreement on January 30 and Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions had clarified the film has been made keeping Rajput pride in mind.

Senas patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi, who claims to be the 37th descendant of Padminis husband Ratan Singh of Chittorgarh, said the filmmaker did not honour the commitment and released films trailer.

Its members have given a memorandum to district collectors at several places demanding a ban on the film.

Members of former royal families, including Jaipurs Diya Kumari who is a BJP legislator, have also spoken against the film. Even a non-Rajput royal, Vishvendra Singh of Bharatpur who is a Jat and a Congress legislator, raised his voice against the film for distorting history.

Rajput women under Kshatrani Mahasangh in Jaipur and Jauhar Kshatrani Sangh in Chittorgarh have also demanded the screening of the film for community leaders and Rajasthan historians before its commercial release.

Dharohar Bachao Samiti, Shiv Sena, and Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha are some of the non-Rajput organisations protesting the film.

Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said every outfit has the right to protest but sounded a stern warning against people taking the law into their hand.

A few days ago, he announced that a committee will preview the film before its release but later backtracked saying this was an issue to be dealt by the arts and culture department.

On Wednesday, Rajasthan commission for women chief Suman Sharma wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi to clear the confusion and ensure that the film didnt have any content that distorted history or hurt peoples sentiments.

Nagpur: Bajrang Dal activists protesting against Padmavati. (PTI)

Other states

Bhopal, Gwalior, Ratlam and certain other cities in Madhya Pradesh have also witnessed protests in the past few days against Padmavati. The protests are being organised by Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha and Rajput Karni Sena.

Bhansali has distorted our history in the film and trivialised the great character of Rani Padmavati. We will not allow films to be screened, Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabhas Madhya Pradesh president Prahlad Singh told the Hindustan Times.

In Haryana, two cabinet ministers of the BJP-ruled government have joined the bandwagon of protesters seeking a ban on the release of Padmavati.

The state, however, has not witnessed any protests so far.

Bengaluru : Members of Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena shout slogans against fimmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. (PTI)

Haryana health minister Anil Vij has said that Bhansali has not only dented the image and honour of Padmavati in his movie but also violated the Indian law against the satipratha.

The film censor board, an independent agency, should stall the release of Padmavati keeping in view the peoples sentiments, Vij said in a statement issued on Monday, pointing out that Union information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani has already been apprised about peoples sentiments in this regard.

Another minister Vipul Goel has urged Union broadcasting and information minister Smriti Irani to allow the release of the film only after ensuring that it does not show any distortion of historical facts.

There are questions in the minds of the Rajput community and other communities as to whether the film presents a distortion of historical facts, Goel wrote to Irani in his letter.

Like other parts of the country, there is anger among the people of Haryana that rather than highlighting rich Indian past and heritage, the film glorifies tyrants like Alauddin Khilji, the minister said.
Pope Francis Rebukes Climate Change Deniers, Calls for Health Care to be Untied to Finances Timely book looks at Pope Francis' views on the environment and the poor



Contact:

404-788-1276



OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 /



POPE FRANCIS AND THE CARING SOCIETY, a recent book published by the Independent Institute, addresses Pope Francis' comments about climate change in the encyclical Laudato si', and gives context to his ever-present call to aid those most afflicted by poverty.



Robert Whaples, editor of POPE FRANCIS AND THE CARING SOCIETY, writes in the introduction of the book that "Even in [Pope Francis'] environmental encyclical, Laudato si', his focus is as much on the poor as it is on the environment."



The messages of the popular pope usually receive wide audiences and, at times, are taken out of context, or receive little context as to why and how he came to the views he did, which the book addresses specifically in areas of economics and the environment.



According to The Washington Post, Pope Francis called climate change "one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing." He urged negotiators to take action free of special interests and political or economic pressures, and to instead engage in an honest dialogue about the future of the planet.



This dialogue Pope Francis calls for is the premise of the book, which Whaples is available to speak about.



For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview Robert Whaples, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or



Share Tweet Contact: Kevin Wandra 404-788-1276OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Pope Francis today issued a message to a meeting on implementing the Paris accord, calling on the negotiators not to fall for the "perverse attitudes" of those who deny the science behind global warming. He also urged lawmakers at a different meeting of medical associations to untie health care from finances, arguing that the poor are worse off trying to obtain quality health care because they cannot afford it.POPE FRANCIS AND THE CARING SOCIETY, a recent book published by the Independent Institute, addresses Pope Francis' comments about climate change in the encyclical Laudato si', and gives context to his ever-present call to aid those most afflicted by poverty.Robert Whaples, editor of POPE FRANCIS AND THE CARING SOCIETY, writes in the introduction of the book that "Even in [Pope Francis'] environmental encyclical, Laudato si', his focus is as much on the poor as it is on the environment."The messages of the popular pope usually receive wide audiences and, at times, are taken out of context, or receive little context as to why and how he came to the views he did, which the book addresses specifically in areas of economics and the environment.According to The Washington Post, Pope Francis called climate change "one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing." He urged negotiators to take action free of special interests and political or economic pressures, and to instead engage in an honest dialogue about the future of the planet.This dialogue Pope Francis calls for is the premise of the book, which Whaples is available to speak about.For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview Robert Whaples, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.
The government on Thursday did away with restrictions on export of all kinds of pulses to help farmers get better prices for their produce.

Opening of exports of all types of pulses will help the farmers dispose of their products at remunerative prices and encourage them to expand the area of sowing, IT and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, who briefed the media after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

He said the Cabinet approved removal of prohibition on export of all types of pulses to ensure farmers have greater choice in marketing their produce.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also empowered the committee headed by food and public distribution secretary to review the export and import policy on pulses and consider measures such as quantitative restrictions, prior registration and changes in import duties depending on domestic production and demand, local and international prices and global trade volumes, he said.

Export of pulses would provide an alternative market for the surplus production of pulses, he explained, adding that it will also help the country and its exporters regain markets.
The World Bank Group has tied up with HDFC Ltd to create an $800 million fund to finance construction of affordable homes.

Property developers can borrow from this fund if they build houses that qualify as affordable ones under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) for urban India. Through this scheme the Modi government proposes to provide houses to all urban poor by 2022.

This fund will be managed by HDFC and will be available for five years. The loan pricing and choice of developers will be decided on the basis of creditworthiness, track record and ability to develop.

India needs to build 19.6 million affordable homes to provide housing for all. Of this, 11 million are to be in the urban areas and the rest in villages.

Computing five members to a household, those 19.6 million homes will provide a roof over nearly 100 million heads. Thats the population of Spain and Kenya combined.

To create this fund, World Banks arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will put forth $200 million by subscribing to Masala bonds, rupee-denominated instruments, issued by HDFC and to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. HDFC will contribute the remaining $600 million from its own resources.

The affordable housing segment was given a shot in the arm by the government in Budget 2017 where it accorded the sector the status of infrastructure which gives developers tax holidays along with easier access to credit.

Developers also have other financial benefit for operating in an infrastructure sector.

The government also created two new middle-income categories under PMAY for urban areas. One with an annual income between 6 and 12 lakh and the other between 12 and 18 lakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced earlier this year that loans of up to 9 lakh will receive an interest subsidy of 4% and loans of up to 12 lakh will receive a 3% subsidy.

But experts say that lack of credit for developers and low demand from homebuyers are the two issues plaguing the sector.

It has to do with allocation of funds by banks. Financial institutions need a good business model, though few developers are doing a good job in the affordable sector, but the sector is at a stage when it is about to take off. So things will improve from here on, said Subrata Dutta Gupta, South Asia lead for housing in IFC.

Scarce and expensive urban spaces force developers to look at satellite town, making connectivity a big disincentive for buyers. Experts said given the high debt of most developers, financial institutions are reluctant to lend. But after almost four years, the sector is looking up, said developers.

Consumer sentiment for affordable homes have been on a rise from the past three quarters with the benefits of the changes in the real estate sector bearing fruit. The new regulations have added a new positive dimension to the sector. This is a good environment for structured developers to cater to the latent need for housing across the country. Add to this the impetus received from financial institution in the loan disbursement space, said Brotin Banerjee, CEO and MD, Tata Housing.
caption:

Some military personnel attending the event in the House of Commons, including Brigadier David Southall (fifth from left), MP Shailesh Vara (sixth from left), Captain Jay Singh-Sohal (seventh from left), Colonel John Kendall (eighth from left) and Major Sartaaj Singh Gogna (ninth from left).

Lore has it that upon hearing about the brave last stand of the 21 Sikh soldiers who fought till their last breath against 10,000 Afghani tribesmen at Saragarhi post, now in Pakistans North West Frontier Province, in 1897, the British Parliamentarians gave them a standing ovation.

UK-based Capt Jay Singh-Sohal, a military historian and documentary filmmaker, however, found no truth in this claim. It finally came true on November 14, when the British Parliament resounded to a thunderous round of applause in the honour of the Saragarhi martyrs.

They had gathered for a special parliamentary launch and screening of the new docu-drama, Saragarhi: The True Story, hosted by former justice and work and pensions minister and MP Shailesh Vara.

In an unprecedented gesture at a time when gallantry awards were not given posthumously, the 21 Sikh martyrs were awarded the Indian Order of Merit class III, on a par with the Victoria Cross.

Made by Sohal after more than seven years of research, the documentary narrates the fate of the 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of Bengal Infantry (now the 4th Sikh Regiment in the Indian Army), who woke up on September 12, 1897, to find themselves surrounded by 10,000 enemy tribesmen.

Led by Havaldar Ishar Singh, the feisty man who was described by one of the British historians as a nuisance in peace time, he was majestic in war, the 21 men and their helper, Daad, fought despite the odds in a battle that lasted seven hours.

In an unprecedented gesture at a time when gallantry awards were not given posthumously, the 21 martyrs were awarded the Indian Order of Merit class III, on a par with the Victoria Cross.

LESSON IN VALOUR

The documentary, filmed in India, Pakistan and the UK, tells the story through private archives, never-before-seen images, stunning visual graphics, effects and re-enactment.

Vara said, This film rightly records the outstanding courage and bravery of Sikh soldiers fighting against the odds and paying the ultimate price.

Col John Kendall, one of the officers who visited the two Saragarhi memorials in Amritsar and Ferozepur in September this year, was also present at the screening. The battle, he said, resonates with every military man because of the lesson in valour it offers.

Despite being hugely outnumbered, the soldiers did not panic and inflicted the maximum damage upon the enemy with their limited ammunition.

Speaking about the film, Capt Sohal said, This episode of British Indian history inspired many more Indians to serve during the first and second World Wars, shoulder to shoulder with the British and troops from all over the Commonwealth. It continues to inspire the new generation.

The film will now begin its international tour, with a screening at the Sikh Arts and Film Festival in New York City on December 2 and events across India.
Even as the state government is trying to strengthen the status and education system of government schools in Uttarakhand, the teachers are apparently not ready to cooperate.

In a latest, a headmistress of a primary government school in Chamoli handed over the school charge to a 12th pass local while she attended a programme in Karanprayag. The school has 13 children.

Engagement of shadow private persons as teachers in remote districts of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat and others isnt new.

Sources in the school education department said over 25 such cases were reported in the past one decade where private people were conducting duties as government teachers were busy in their personal engagements.

RK Kunwar, director of school education, told Hindustan Times, We generally suspend such teachers and attach them at headquarters.

But, this action isnt enough. Officers claimed during suspension, teachers get the benefit of half salary and continue to work either in state headquarter or with the district office-with fairly no work at all.

The punishment posting, apparently frees them with the responsibilities until enquiry report is handed to the government and appropriate action is taken.

In most of the cases reported earlier, the teachers submitted plea of having gone to see a doctor or attending their sick kids or other personal emergencies owing to which their postings were changed but they were never terminated, a senior officer said requesting anonymity.

While sudden raids in higher reaches is a real concern owing to remote locations of the schools, the education minister recently re-launched a portal to check absenteeism that will register day to day attendance of teachers.

Naresh Kumar Haldiyan, district education officer (DEO), Chamoli, who caught the headmistress red handed, said: The portal may have been re-inaugurated but it hasnt started working yet. The issue is- what if teachers wont mark attendance on the portal?

Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the government started an initiative to report status of Mid Day Meal and attendance of students through short text message (SMS) but only 50% schools register their participation.

Lowest participation is of plain districts of Dehradun, Haridwar and US Nagar. Under such circumstances, expecting regular punching on portal would be quite a task.

There are over 17,000 government schools across state with over 8 lakh students enrolled.

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The life of 7-year-old Lakshmi, who lives on streets of Haldwani in Nainital district, is set to change drastically for good after she picked up a banana skin in full public view at a programme and walked 20-30 metres to put it in a dustbin.

She will now be enrolled in a private school, but the school management is presently pondering over which class to enrol her in as she has never received education in the past.

Laskhmi was present at a cleanliness related programme on the occasion of National Integration Day on November 7 held at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani.

Lakshmi picked up a banana skin that had been thrown on the ground and put it into a dustbin. Her act was noticed by the government officials present at the venue.

They announced her as the co-brand ambassador of Haldwani Municipal Corporation along with actress Urvashi Rautela.

Lakshmi was offered help in education by Hindu spiritual Guru Ram Govind Dass Bhaiji, who heads the Hari Sharnam Jan Religious organization in Haldwani.

He has offered to pay for her education in St Pauls School at Kathgodam area in the city.

Prior to this, Lakshmi used to live on the footpath near the Soban Singh Jeena Hospital in Haldwani along with her parents Jai Ram and Rani Devi. Her father Jai Ram said he wanted to enrol his daughter in a school but failed to do so as he had no money.

The family belongs to Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh and shifted to Haldwani a year ago. Jai Ram works as a labourer and also indulges in begging.

Jai Ram said his hut that was located at Bahjoi in Sambhal was gutted in a fire some years ago after which he moved to other cities for begging.

After her appointment as a brand ambassador, people came forward to help Lakshmis parents, who were taken to a shelter home. Help has also been pouring in from individuals who are giving clothes, money and foodstuffs to the family.

An overwhelmed Lakshmi said she was now dreaming of a better life and education and help for her poor parents.

Narendra Shah, who is the administrator of St Pauls School, said Ram Govind Dass Bhaiji brought the girl to the school on Thursday and took a form.

It has still not been decided as to which class she can be enrolled in as she has no education till now, said shah.

He also pointed out that Lakshmi does not have birth certificate and the formalities would be started after a birth certificate is furnished.

He said for the time being, they can make arrangement for her to sit in any class and observe the proceedings so that she can familiarise herself with the classroom activities.

Shah said Bhaiji wanted to put her in hostel but the school has boarding facilities for girls, who has cleared class 6 exam.
It has been two months since Mahant Mohan Das, a member of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) who helped compile the list of fake babas, went missing, but the police are yet to make any breakthrough in the case.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe into his disappearance and to trace him is still groping in the dark.

Das, the kothari of Bada Udasin Akhada, went missing on September 16 after boarding the Lok Manya Tilak Express from Haridwar for Mumbai, five days after the ABAP released the first list of 14 fake saints.

While ABAP, an umbrella body of Hindu seers, suspects involvement of the fake godmen who figured on the list, investigating officials are also probing into the fact that the missing seer had failed to deposit Rs 2 lakh with the Akahad parishad. He had got the money from a property dealer who had bought am Akhada property. Also, Das had withdrawn Rs 40,000 from an ATM in Haridwar prior to boarding the train.

The case assumed significance after ABAP chief Mahant Narendra Giri threatened to launch an agitation in Haridwar, Ayodhya and Allahabad if the police failed to trace the missing seer by October 2.

That deadline has elapsed. So have been two others --- Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had on September 26 given 15-day ultimatum to police to find the missing saint, and cabinet minister Madan Kaushik had on October 5 assured the ABAP of finding the missing saint within 10 days.

State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj and former chief minister, too during their respective visits to the Bada Udasin Akhada, had promised time bound closure of the case.

The SIT, led by Hardiwar superintendent of police (SP), visited Delhi, Meerut, Bhopal, Mumbai and even Nepal, but failed to trace Das

As per SP, City, Mamta Vohra, Dass last location was traced in Meerut, but after that no breakthrough could be made.

Police officials are also probing if Das could have fled as days before he went missing, a land agreement worth lakhs of rupees had been done and he had the money with him ,which he had not deposited into Akhadas bank account.

Investigating officer, Kankhal police station ,Anuj Singh, who was part of the police teams that went to various locations in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, confirmed they have not found any major clue or link in the case.

Interestingly, an Akhada office bearer has given Dass horoscope to the SIT, telling the probe officials the possible locations where the missing saint could be, all based on astrological predictions.

Yes, we had shown the Mahants horoscope to an astrologer. We had already searched a few probable locations that he hinted. We did it only on the insistence of the Akhada seers, an official involved with the probe, requesting not to be named said.

Giri said that they are continuously monitoring the probe and are getting regular updates from police officials.

CM and Additional Director General of Police (Law-Order) Ashok Kumar has assured us of sincere investigation and we are satisfied with the probe. Soon, we will be calling a meeting to chart out next course of action, Giri said.
An allegation made by former chief minister Harish Rawat that three Uttarakhand ministers and their relatives were involved in the property business has prompted the ruling BJP to challenge Rawat to make the ministers name public.

Rawat had made the allegation during his tour to Kumaon region earlier this week.

Harish Rawat wants to remain in the news and therefore making baseless allegations. Why doesnt he make the names public, BJP state unit president Ajay Bhatt said.

Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has also echoed the similar sentiments. The chief minister said in spite of making statements in the media, Harish Rawat should come up with a written complaint.

The chief minister went on sarcastically saying that it seems there is a need of drone and CCTV cameras to keep an eye on the movement of Harish Rawat.

The opposition Congress took objection on the statement. Harish Rawats spokesperson Surendra Kumar said Congress leaders doesnt need the CCTV surveillance but it would be better if BJP leaders are kept under the eye of closed circuit cameras.

In the last three months, the former chief minister has trained guns on the government and also he has tried to remain active among the party cadres.

On Thursday and Friday, Rawat toured the Garhwal region. The Congress cadres who otherwise had gone into oblivion after the assembly polls have become active.

Meanwhile, leader of opposition Indira Hridayesh has supported the Harish Rawats allegation and demanded government to come clean instead of questioning Rawat.

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Noting that Uttarakhands potential in the field of agri-tourism remains untapped, governor KK Paul on Thursday asked the GB Pant University to work on commercialisation of the under-utilised agri-commodities unique to the state to attract visitors.

Talking about numerous varieties of medicinal and aromatic plants found in the hills of Uttarakhand, Paul suggested that the university could devise methods to increase their commercial viability so that people in the rural areas of the state could take up their cultivation on a large scale.

There is a vast potential for agri-tourism in Uttarakhand. Its hills are known for medicinal and aromatic plants and cultivation of these crops on large scale by a cluster of farmers can turn out to be a boon for them, Paul said while addressing the 31st convocation of the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.

Citing low productivity of crops in the hills as a major concern, he said farmers face problems of storage, supply chain, minimum support price and the lack of farm processing facilities.

The low yield of, agricultural crops, fodder, forest produce, livestock coupled with shortage of feed and fodder, sluggish growth rate are the critical factors of agrarian hill economy adversely affecting household food security. The university must look into these aspects, he said.

The university should work on mapping of fruits, vegetables, flowers and other perishable agri-commodities growing in clusters to enable the processing units to ensure good quality raw material, reduce procurement cost and increase profitability in the long run on a sustainable basis, he said.

Exploration, utilisation and commercialisation of underutilised indigenous fruit, flower and vegetable crops would help greatly, he said.

Congratulating the university graduates who were conferred with their degrees, the governor said G B Pant University had always provided excellent services to the nation and had played an important role in making the country self-dependent in food security.

Having ushered India into an era of Green Revolution, the university now needs to ensure the countrys nutritional security. A food sovereign nation is a free nation in a true sense of the word, the governor said.

Agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal advised the univesrity to set up a centre for research and development where aspects like organic farming, value enhancement of products of farmers in Uttarakhand could be researched.
Minister Arvind Pandey on Thursday sparked a row at Panchayat Mahakumbh here when he told hundreds of panchayat representatives to control their thirst as they wont die without drinking water for two hours.

Panchayat representatives were outraged by his comment, which led to a chaos. Police were called in to control the situation.

You cant tolerate thirst for two hours? How can one expect you to devote major time to the panchayat and people. You wont die if you dont quench your thirst for such a short period, Pandey shouted as hundreds of panchayat members asked for water while attending the Mahakumbh at Har-Ki-Pauri under the scorching sun.

Representatives of three-tier panchayat bodies from across the state had arrived for the Mahakumbh with their supporters.

The Mahakumbh, organised to discuss issues like empowerment of panchayati raj system, cleanliness oath and solid waste management, took political turn as pro-Congress and pro-BJP panchayat representatives came at loggerheads with each other.

Dont act as BJP, Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party or Uttarakhand Kranti Dal members. You all are panchayat representatives, said Pandey amid shouting and sloganeering.

The minister also warned protesters of dire consequences, saying photographs have been taken of them and he will teach them a lesson.

This infuriated the members, who tried to breach the security cordon to claim up the dais, where they had verbal arguments with pro-BJP panchayat representatives.

For more than 20 minutes the ruckus continued, which was controlled only after arrival of additional police force.

Zila Panchayat chairperson Savita Chaudhari expressed displeasure over the whole episode and was seen calming down the protestors assuring of adequate packaged water bottles and lunch after the program.

As the majority of the protesting panchayat representatives left the venue, after their exit then only the meeting carried out smoothly.

Gurmeet Parmar, president of Pradhan Sangathan Uttarakhand, said: We wont tolerate such dictatorship. Representatives from across the state had arrived, their woes should have been addressed.
Puma India on Thursday day apologised for defacing a heritage precinct in old Delhi by spray painting a wall for an advertisement campaign, saying it was unintentional and a result of lack of information.

The company said it had a meeting with heritage body INTACH, civic authorities and the owner of one of the properties, and it was decided that the production company involved in the campaign would restore the wall to its original look.

The precinct falls in the Chawri Bazar area and the graffiti splashed on the wall made of lakhori bricks and limestone plaster had sparked outrage among conservationists and other heritage experts.

We are sorry that we have unintentionally hurt sentiments of people, Puma India, a subsidiary of German sportswear firm Puma, said in a statement.

The company said post discussion, all the stakeholders had also aligned to the fact that there was need to raise awareness among the owners about guidelines to preserve heritage properties.

We are very proud of Indias heritage and would never like to compromise it in any way. Our using this building wall for our campaign shoot has been completely unintentional and clearly due to lack of information, a Puma India spokesperson said.

INTACH Delhi convenor Swapna Liddle, who had highlighted the issue on social media this week, had earlier said she feared the paintings might cause irreversible damage to the 18th-century era structures.

An official spokesperson of Puma India, when contacted by PTI earlier, had said: We believe all the required permissions were obtained to carry out the shoot. However, given the point raised we are investigating the matter.

Dubbed the Suede Gully, the three-minute-long video, shot over a month ago in multiple languages and four cities, is a creative endeavour that captures the grit of Indian streets, the Puma India website said.

It has been brought to our notice that a building wall used in our Suede Gully video shoot is a heritage site. As a part of the shoot, graffiti was done on the wall of the building by a local artist, the company said.

The appointed production house had taken necessary written permissions from the owner of this private property, it said.

Even during the shoot, which happened on September 24, the teams involved did not know about the heritage status of the building, it said.

After the shoot, the production house offered to restore the look of the wall to its original colour, but the owner refused because he felt that the art had made his wall cleaner and livelier, Puma India said.

It said it had advised its creative agency to ask the appointed production house to do whatever it takes to restore the wall to its original look-and-feel.

They are coordinating with the owner of the building with regard to the same, the statement said.

Conservationist AGK Menon had said on Tuesday the issue highlighted the need for more efficient laws.

The case points out that more awareness is needed to help people and big companies understand what constitutes heritage, he had said.
A young couple was found dead at their residence in Delhis Sangam Vihar early on Thursday with their six-month-old son crying in one of the rooms. The police are looking at murder and suicide angles, though no note has been found at the spot.

The victims are identified as Ram Chander, 31, and his wife Neetu, 27. The couple have a two-year-old son who was not at home at the time.

A police officer told Hindustan Times that they had received a PCR call around 5.30 am from Neetus mother Saroopi. Mohar Singh, Chanders relative, said the Saroopi was informed by a neighbour who heard the cries of the infant Raghav.

The neighbour, a woman, had come to use the common toilet when she heard Raghavs cries.

As Neetus mother reached the house and raised an alarm, other relatives gathered and found that the door of their one-room accommodation was not latched.

Singh said Neetus body was lying on the floor while Chander was found hanging from the ceiling fan in the same room. He was hanging from a noose made from electrical cables.

A team from Neb Sarai police station reached the spot. Police said there were ligature marks around Neetus neck which appeared to be from electrical cables. Investigators did not rule out the possibility of Chander strangulating his wife and then hanging himself.

Raghav, the six-month-old younger son of the duo, was in the room crying.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. We can ascertain the cause of death once the report is obtained, an officer said. Prima facie, they ruled out involvement of outsiders.

Since they had not completed seven years of marriage, an inquest has been initiated.

We will wait for the post mortem report and the SDM findings to take further action and decide that a murder case should be registered or not, said Additional DCP, south, Chinmoy Biswal.

Singh said though the couple fought occasionally, the situation was never alarming.

The deaths, he claimed, came as a surprise as on Wednesday night, Chander spent time with his family and his mother-in-law had joined them for dinner. He was not under any debt. We are puzzled, said Chanders uncle.

The couple lived in L Block Sangam Vihar and had been married for the past four years. They had dropped off their elder son at a relatives place in the same neighbourhood on Wednesday, the police said.

Ram Chanders elder brothers Ram Naresh and Ram Kishore would now jointly share the custody of Raghav and his elder brother Ayush.
The government on Thursday asked its largest utility NTPC Ltd to blend crop residue with coal at its power plants, a move that should help reduce pollution in Delhi as well as supplement farm incomes.

Under the plan to fight farm fires, NTPC will buy waste from farmers and use it to make biomass pellets, and fuel at its power plants will be 10% biomass and 90% coal.

On an average a farmer gets around two tonnes of stubble or straw in an acre. NTPC will bring a tender to buy the pellets of this farm residue in next few days at a rate of Rs 5500 per tonne, power minister RK Singh said on Thursday.

As much as 35 million tonnes of farm stubble is burnt in Punjab and Haryana to make room for the winter crop.

Earlier in the day, a raft of emergency measures rolled out to fight pollution in Delhi, including a ban on construction and a four-fold hike in parking fees, was withdrawn after the citys air quality stabilised to very poor.

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Control and Prevention) Authority (EPCA) also rolled back the ban on entry of trucks into Delhi, although pollution levels rose marginally on Thursday and scientists warned air quality could deteriorate over the next three days.

Thursdays Air Quality Index was 363, compared to 486 on November 9 when some of the measures were announced. The severe air quality that day was also the worst for Delhi this season.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the level of particulate matter, which was since November 12, began to shoot back up early Thursday.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal approved the lifting of the weeklong emergency measures, barring the one on construction because the matter is listed for hearing at the National Green Tribunal on Friday. Respective agencies also issues notifications announcing the withdrawal of the emergency steps.

EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal told the chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana that the parking fee hike was being lifted due to lack of enforcement and the absence of an adequate public transport system. He also ordered the lifting of a ban on hot mix plants.

Earlier in the day, the citys pollution woes also resonated in the Delhi High Court which asked the local government, the CPCB and Delhi Pollution Control Committee to clarify how they intended to spend money collected as green cess and other similar funds to mitigate air pollution in the capital.

We want to know what is being done with the funds, said a bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva after senior advocate Kailash Vasudev, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, submitted that over Rs700 crore were collected as green cess from sale of cars of 2000 cc or more engine capacity.

Meanwhile, a report from the government-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said dust storms from Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were the main reason behind the week-long smog in Delhi that started on November 7.

On November 8, when the AQI was an alarming 478, SAFAR said the contribution of dust storms from West Asia and the Gulf region was as much as 40%, whereas that of stubble burning was 25%. The rest was from local factors such as vehicular pollution.
Delhiites will soon be able to get 40 key public services, including caste and domicile/residence certificate, driving licence, at their doorstep as the Delhi government on Thursday approved Doorstep Delivery of Public Services scheme.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Announcing the cabinet decision, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that the government would hire an intermediary agency to execute the scheme and roll it out within two to three months.

People willing to avail this facility will have to make a request to the call centre setup by the government for different services. The specialised representatives will help the client in obtaining the required service at their doorstep at a fixed facilitation fee and at a pre-scheduled date and time.

The specialised representatives will collect any physical documents, if required, for availing the service and deposit the same with the concerned department.

The first phase of the scheme will cover 40 public services from eight department of the Delhi government. Caste certificate, income certificate, driving license, ration card, domicile, marriage registration, duplicate RC, change of address in RC, old age pension, handicap pension, to name a few are the services which will be covered under the scheme.

The government will deploy specialised representatives (Mobile Sahayaks) to extend the services beyond the counter at citizens residence.

Mobile Sahayaks will be equipped with all necessary machines like biometric machines and camera. For home delivery services, applicants would be charged a nominal fee which is yet to be decided, Sisodia said.

The deputy CM said the move would enable the citizens to avail government services at their doorstep just with a call on the call centre number and no one would have to stand in queues to get their job done for the services listed under the scheme.

It is a historic decision. It is for the first time when a government is reaching out to the masses to deliver public services at their doorstep. The services would be provided at your doorstep at your convenient day and time, including holidays. This is home delivery of governance, Sisodia told reporters.

At present, even though e-district services are available, applicants are still required to visit the district office of their locality for verification of documents. Number of users for these services is quite high. In last three years, 25 lakh people applied to these 40 services. In the second phase, 30 more services will be added to the scheme, Sisodia said.
Delhi Police has arrested a 25-year-old man for molesting two women, including a journalist, at ITO Metro station in central Delhi.

The man, who sells tea near the station, allegedly molested the journalist and another woman within a span of 15 minutes. CCTV footage from the station shows the journalist fighting off the accused and chasing him before he runs away.

The incident happened around 9.30pm on Tuesday when the complainant entered the station from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. She told the police that he touched her inappropriately and when she confronted him, he apologised. But he turned and allegedly groped her again and hit her before escaping. She also told the police that he might have been drunk at that time.

CCTV footage shows journalist fighting off a molester at ITO Metro Station @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/1EZY9IrHlJ  Shubhomoy Sikdar (@sshubho) November 17, 2017

Initially, I thought he might have touched me by mistake but then he groped me again. It took me a few seconds to gather myself. There were no security personnel around otherwise I wouldve managed to catch him there, the journalist told ANI.

Another female passenger had also complained around the same time about being molested and the description she gave matched that of the accused, a police official said.

An FIR was registered under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of Indian Penal Code and the accused, Akhilesh, was arrested on Thursday from his tea shop. Pankaj Singh, DCP Metro, said the accused could be seen in the footage from a CCTV camera and five teams were formed to identify and track him down. They reportedly interrogated more than 5,000 people over two days.

The accused is likely to be produced before a court on Friday. The ITO Metro station is 50-metre away from the police headquarters.

(The video has been published with the report keeping in mind that it does not reveal the identity of the complainant.)
A notification by University Grants Commission (UGC) required all colleges and universities to implement choice-based credit system (CBCS) from 2015-16 onwards. However, Panjab University started the system in 13 departments (honours school courses) in 2016-17.

The new academic session 2018-19 is not far but PU is still not fully prepared to implement CBCS across all 78 teaching departments on the campus even though the authorities are desirable to implement the same from next year.

We take a look at how CBCS will benefit undergraduate students and the challenges in implementing the system in the remaining departments of PU and its 192 affiliated colleges from the next academic session.

1. What is the choice-based credit system? How is it different from the present system?

The choice-based credit system (CBCS) allows students to choose interdisciplinary, intradisciplinary courses and skill-oriented papers (even from other disciplines according to learning needs, interests and aptitude). It makes education broad-based and at par with global standards. Credits can be obtained through unique combinations. For example, physics with economics, microbiology with chemistry or environment science.

The new system is mobile as it allows students to study a course at different times and institutions to complete it. Credits can be transferred from one institution to the other.

Students can undertake as many credits as possible without repeating all courses in a particular semester if they fail in one or more courses.

Under this system, there are core courses and elective courses where a student can also opt for an unrelated discipline or subject. Earlier, there was one major course and subsidiaries available that allowed students to study any other subject related to their field but there was no choice.

According to professors, there is not much difference between the two systems as at present, choices available under CBCS are confined and students are not yet allowed to opt for an unrelated subject.

2. How is it beneficial for students and teachers?

The authorities are divided over the issue if CBCS will be beneficial for students and teachers. A professor from the biochemistry department said the system will not really benefit students until they were free to opt for a discipline outside of their own subject. However, dean, university instructions (DUI), Meenakshi Malhotra said the system will be beneficial once the system was in place across the board.

Dean, college development, Parwinder Singh, said, The system has more merits than demerits. It offers a cafeteria approach to where students can opt for a subject of their choice. For example, a science student can opt for social sciences or even commerce.

3. Are there any precedents in the region? Does it affect only undergraduates or even graduates?

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) in Amritsar implemented this system on the campus. But colleges affiliated to GNDU are yet to do the same. In Himachal Pradesh, colleges implemented the system but they are facing technical glitches and sources said they might roll back the system soon.

The system will only affect undergraduates as it was initially started for first-year students. Gradually, concerned departments are preparing the syllabus for the third year, but there are no plans to expand it for postgraduate courses.

4. What steps has PU taken so far?

The university is in its second year of CBCS implementation and 13 departments, including anthropolgy, biochemistry, botany, biophysics, biotechnology, zoology, chemistry, computer science applications, geology, mathematics, physics, statistics and economics, implemented the system in 2016.

These departments are now preparing the syllabus for the third year, but the rest of the departments are still working out the modalities to implement the system. The varsity will start work on prospectuses by February 2018, but there are no plans on expanding CBCS to remaining departments so far. For colleges, several seminars and cluster workshops took place in 2017 to raise awareness on the system.

Malhotra said, We want to implement the system from the new session as I do not see any problems and none of the chairpersons of the departments have come up with any issue so far. The commerce department is still thinking about the implementation.

5. What are the challenges that PU is facing in implementation?

Space constraints, lack of proper infrastructure , ill-equipped laboratories, low manpower, in-depth review of courses and curricula offered are some of the challenges that PU is facing in implementation. According to the professors in the sciences department, where CBCS is already in place, man power and space constraints are among major challenges. The departments following CBCS have complained of workload and space constraint in terms of dividing theory and practical classes into batches.

Professors said more faculty was needed to manage classes and there was a need for more lecture halls so that students did not have to move for different lectures.

A lack of faculty at PU also made it difficult to introduce new courses. Rajesh Gill, PUTA president and head of social sciences department, said, The system needs a faculty that can cater to students who opt for multidisciplinary subjects. The departments need better coordination and more manpower to ensure that the options under CBCS are not limited and can be managed.

Another major challenge is that PU is not clear how this system will work within the semester system. There are inhibitions among the officials and college principals on this issue.

6. Why are colleges unable to implement it so far?

In 2016, city colleges stated that there was no clarity on the uniform academic calendar, relative and absolute grading, time table and identification of courses. According to the college authorities, infrastructure was not an issue, but the lack of faculty.

Dr Bhushan Kumar Sharma, principal of GGDSD College, Sector 32, said, Earlier, the problem was that we were told in March when the prospectuses were finalised and it was impossible to implement the system at such short notice, but now we know well in advance and are gearing up to introduce this system. Once the system will be in place, we shall get to know about the problems. The system , although was to be introduced in 2017-18, couldnt work out as no drafts were submitted by the college committees.

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New Delhi: Schools that dont stop people from smoking on campus and have tobacco vendors in a 100-metre radius risk losing their Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recognition, the Delhi government has said.

The Delhi State Tobacco Control Department has asked CBSE and the Director of Education, Delhi, to withdraw recognition to schools that do not display no smoking signs on campus with the contact details of the nodal officer of the respective institute to call with complaints against people breaking the law.

Records of raids conducted found that around 10% and 15% schools in Delhi failed to adhere to tobacco-control norms.

The law has been in place in Delhi under the Delhi Act for 21 years and under the central Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act for nearly 14 years, and if there are schools that still fail compliance it is a shame, said Dr SK Arora, Delhi state tobacco control officer.

It is the responsibility of the head of the institution and the nodal officer that all the norms are followed, that action is taken against anyone smoking on the premise. If there are shops selling tobacco products near the schools, it is their responsibility to report it to police, the officer said.

The nodal officers are authorised to fine Rs200 for the first smoking violation and Rs500 for subsequent violations. And, if the nodal officer and the head of the institution do not take any action, the tobacco cell is authorised to challan them, the officer added.

Schools play a very important role in ensuring that youth do not start tobacco use and under the Tobacco Free Schools initiative, we encourage all schools to carry out awareness drives at least once a month. The last day of the month we celebrate as dry-day for tobacco, he said.

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Ensuring quality education is impossible without ensuring that the environment is safe and secure for children to learn. The prevailing health emergency due to the smog in Delhi is a wake up call for all stakeholders in the education system in India. They should know its high time they dealt with the consequences and causes of climate change.

Delhi has been declared the worlds most polluted city. Approximately 100 major cities in India are going through a health emergency due to heavy smog. There is ample evidence that air pollution affects a childs cognitive development, which in turn can affect school attendance and performance. The impact is, however, sometimes even more immediate. At least eight students and one teacher died in Punjab last week due to low visibility caused by the smog. It is also not a unique occurrence; Delhi faced a similar situation last year. Admittedly, the government has taken steps to deal with the immediate emergency. Like last year, elementary schools were closed this year too.

However, is this sufficient?

Preparedness remains limited. While many state governments have developed guidelines for schools on safety, none explicitly address pollution based emergencies and did till this year did not include provision of masks or air purifiers in classrooms. It is time policymakers, government, academia, civil society organisations and other stakeholders develop a collective understanding on making education safe and secure for all children, including freeing them from the negative impact of pollution.

As countries meet for the UN Climate Summit in Bonn, the dark pall of smog that hangs over northwest India provides a great teachable moment to ensure stronger attention to climate change education and education for sustainable development more broadly in school curricula. Schools must plan a more active role in building awareness about sustainable development and climate change to ensure that at least the next generation grows up better aware of the consequences of their actions on their own well-being and on the health of their fellow citizens and planet earth. Ensuring that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles is a core component of Indias commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda.

Immediate steps schools need to take

Some concrete additional immediate steps must be taken by schools and education departments in the affected states to deal with the immediate effects of the prevailing health emergency.

1.Ensure all children in school have face masks until smog goes out completely

2.Inform parents about steps needed at home in such circumstances

3.Use any existing school forums to organise discussions with students on climate change, its reasons and preventive measures.

Long-term measures

Some more long-term steps that need to be taken by education departments in Delhi, UP, Punjab and Haryana as the states most affected, and others experiencing significant pollution problems, are:

Minimise childrens exposure. Governments must undertake pollution audits of all schools, Anganwadi Centres and preschools and ensure that they are not located near factories, sites of heavily polluting traffic or other sources of pollution. Child-sensitive urban planning is critical to ensure that polluting sources are kept away from places where children spend time, such as schools.

Take steps to reduce air pollution. While addressing the root causes of pollution are outside the purview of the education ministry, schools may also be encouraged to plant trees or other plants which act as air purifiers in schools and classrooms. This may entail tweaks to the building codes in urban areas where efforts are frequently made to maximise square footage available for classrooms alone. Simultaneously, larger urban schools can do their own bit to reducing pollution by using energy-efficient appliances, reducing wastage of electricity, reducing and discouraging the use of individual cars. Parents can be requested to turn off engines at school gates.

Promote awareness building and climate change education. Government curricula and textbooks must lay greater emphasis on climate change education, education for sustainable development and other context- specific aspects of safety and security. Libraries must be equipped with informative and age appropriate books and reference material on climate change and children encouraged to read them. Teacher education and training of education planners on climate change education for sustainable development and steps to raise awareness about climate change will also be important.

Improve overall health to reduce complications. The pre-existing health of a child greatly affects the extent of pollutions impact. This is critical given the prevailing low levels of child health; Indias under-five mortality (50) is substantially worse than that of its poorer neighbours, such as Nepal (36), Bangladesh (38) and Bhutan (33). Providing all children with access to quality and affordable medical care, exclusive breastfeeding, better nutrition and maternal health care, helps to builds their resilience to negative effects of air pollution. A stronger link with school health services is key in this regard.

While combating climate change and ensuring sustainable development would entail changes in individual life choices, it is the states responsibility to create an enabling environment for this change in the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of its citizens.

The authors work with CARE India. Taneja is director, education and Rajput is technical specialist, education.
Film star Angelina Jolie has condemned sexual violence inflicted on Rohingya women in Myanmars Rakhine State, where a military counter-insurgency operation has sent hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees across the border to Bangladesh.

More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar since late August, driven out by the militarys actions that a top United Nations official has described as a classic case of ethnic cleansing.

Jolie, a special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told a Bangladesh delegation in the Canadian city of Vancouver that she planned to visit the Rohingya victims of sexual violence.

Later she mentioned accordingly in her keynote speech about the sexual violence faced by almost each female Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh and condemned the armed conflict in Myanmar, Bangladeshs foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie gives the keynote address to delegates at the 2017 United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial conference in Vancouver. (AP)

It gave no details of Jolies proposed trip.

On Thursday, New York-based Human Rights Watch accused Myanmar security forces of committing widespread rape against women and girls as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

The allegation echoes an accusation this week by Pramila Patten, the U.N. special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, who said sexual violence was being commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by the Armed Forces of Myanmar.

Myanmars army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces, days after replacing the general in charge of the operation.

In parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh would overcome obstacles to resolve the Rohingya crisis, with the help of the international community.

I strongly believe we will find a peaceful solution to the unprecedented crisis with the help of the international community, despite various obstacles, she said.

There were already about 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh before the most recent exodus.
Three people died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor while another was taken ill in Vaishali district of Bihar where the state government has implemented total prohibition since last year.

In Samastipur district, six persons were arrested and a truck in which they were carrying more than 4,000 litres of liquor has been seized, police said on Thursday.

The deaths due to alleged consumption of spurious liquor occurred at Basauli village under Baradi Sahai police station of Vaishali district in north Bihar on Wednesday night.

Local people, including the local village head (mukhiya), claimed that deaths were caused by spurious liquor while superintendent of police (SP) Rakesh Kumar said that the exact reason could be known only the after investigation and post-mortem in the case.

The deceased have been identified as Arun Patel ,50, Devendra Paswan ,45, and Lalbabu Paswan 46, sadar police station SHO Chitaranjan Thakur said, adding that the person, who was taken ill after consuming liquor, had been admitted in a nearby private hospital.

The mukhiya and other local people are protesting against the incident.

Four persons had died after consuming spurious liquor in Rohtas district of southwest Bihar last month after which the state government had place eight police personnel under suspension.

About Samastipur incident, Hathodi police station in-charge Suresh Prasad Yadav said, We received information on Wednesday night that a truck with a Punjab registration number was passing through Punmadhampur village falling under Hathodi police station. We chased the vehicle and arrested all the six persons inside.

The truck was laden with bottles full of foreign liquor and the estimated quantity is more than 4,000 litres. The six arrested persons include the driver of the truck and his helper both of them from Punjab  while the remaining occupants of the vehicle are locals apparently involved in the illicit liquor business, Yadav said.

Prima facie, they were planning to supply the liquor in Darbhanga district. Further investigations are on, he added.

Sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar was banned by the Nitish Kumar government in April last year.

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Private doctors in Karnataka are protesting against a proposed bill that will define how private hospitals function and how much they can charge for services. More than 20,000 doctors went on a strike and 6,000 private medical establishments were shut, barring emergency services.

The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill (KPME) 2017, is set to be tabled in the states legislative assembly by the Siddaramiah-led Congress government. The bill was delayed due to consistent protests by doctors. On November 3, around 50,000 doctors in private hospitals in Karnataka decided to abstain from duties to protest the bill.

Here is a close look at the proposed bill and the opposition to it:

What are the provisions laid out in the proposed bill?

According to the minutes of a meeting of held in May this year, the amendment adds to and edits certain clauses in the existing KPME bill to give it teeth.

The bill proposes that the cost of health services should be fixed and private hospitals barred from charging any amount in excess of these set prices.

It says all private medical establishments have to conform to set standards of infrastructure and staffing prescribed by the state government. Establishments will be required to display a Patients Charter -- that enumerates rights of patients -- prominently. They will also need to display brochures that detail charges of particular treatments and provide patients clear estimates for treatments not covered under fixed rates before treatment starts.

The bill also makes provision for redressal of patients grievances. Any patient or healthcare provider can approach Local Inspection Committees in their district with a grievance.

It also lays out penalties for doctors and medical establishments which fail to comply with these standards.

Why are doctors objecting to the bill?

Private medical establishments and doctors have banded together to campaign against the bill. The Indian Medical Associations Karnataka unit called the bill draconian, while the Karnataka Private Doctors association called for a strike.

Private doctors say that the bill will affect the quality of healthcare in the state and argue that the government will be better served by raising the standards in state hospitals.

Senior doctors in the state have been vocal against the bill. Devi Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Hrudalaya, called it an attack on the fraternity. The honour and prestige of the medical fraternity will be affected if the Bill is passed, Dr Shetty said. He said there were already about six forums for grievance redressal and another was not necessary.

Who proposed the KPME (Amendment) Bill?

Karnataka health minister Ramesh Kumar is the main mover behind the KPME bill. But the strong opposition from the private doctor lobby has divided opinion within the ruling Congress as well.

Despite the protests, on November 8, Kumar reiterated his commitment to the bill and said in a statement: The proposed Amendment Bill has provisions which seek to balance rights and obligations of patients as well as that of private medical establishments. The medical establishments know a lot while the patients know very little. For addressing this information asymmetry, intervention by the State through appropriate regulations is necessary.

Who has supported the bill?

The bill has found support from public health activists who argue that it will make private healthcare transparent and accountable, and stop them from cheating patients.

Narsimha Murthy from Slum Janandolana Karnataka, welcomed the bill, telling news site Scroll, We need some control mechanism that can take action against those who violate patients rights or medical ethics.
Bangladesh, the so-called friend of India, also poses a security threat to the country besides China and Pakistan, Union minister Hansraj Ahir said on Thursday.

Addressing a conference on homeland security, organised by business chamber ASSOCHAM, he said, Bangladesh was only a so-called friend because evidently it had caused India the most harm through illegal intrusion.

It is not only China or Pakistan but Bangladesh poses an equally bigger challenge to our national security, I know it because I get to see that closely, Ahir was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the ASSOCHAM.

The Union minister of state for home said the government had deployed modern technologies and equipment to keep a check on intrusion in Kashmir and were using the same on other fronts--be it in dealing with Naxalites, growing issues of youth radicalisation in Kerala, security of the railways, airports and other such places.

Referring to the recent incursion bids made by China, he said, China today is not a very close friend of ours, it has always raised problems for the country. And be it China, Myanmar, Bangladesh or terrorists coming into India through Pakistan, we...will promote the usage of various modern technologies to curb intrusion.

Ahir also welcomed the efforts being made to build a consensus to resolve the Ayodhya dispute, the release said.

He said the government would look into the demands and suggestions of the industry but it must come up with indigenously developed smart technologies and the government would help in research and development in this regard.

The minister said the government would work in tandem with the private industry to deal with all homeland security- related threats and challenges faced by the country, the ASSOCHAM release said.
The Bengal government announced a scheme to distribute cows for free to the rural poor, prompting criticism from rivals who called it an attempt to pander to cow politics and to lure voters ahead of next years panchayat elections.

The Trinamool Congress government said this week that 2,000 milch cattle will be distributed by the end of the year to the poor in an effort to help them and the states overall milk output.

The decision comes ahead of panchayat elections set for the middle of 2018.

Bengal animal resource development (ARD) minister Swapan Debnath, however, rubbished opposition criticisms. Speaking to HT, he said the project would begin with the distribution of 2,000 heifers, or young cows.

There are two conditions to be eligible to receive the heifer absolutely free of cost from state government. First, the family should be in below poverty line (BPL) category. Second, beneficiary family should not have any other source of income. The move has nothing to do with the panchayat polls next year. This is a move to encourage accelerated milk production involving the rural poor, he said.

He said the project will begin from Birbhum district and slowly spread to other districts. When pointed out that 2,000 heifers will cater at most just around 350 villages, Debnath said, distribution of 2,000 heifers will be the beginning and this will be an ongoing process,

On procurement, Debnath said two major heifer-breeding firms owned by the state government at Haringhata in Nadia district and Salboni in West Midnapore district will be the main source. Apart from that there are some other small heifer-breeding firms in some other districts and we will procure from them also, he said.

He was unable to specify any budget. It will be an ongoing project and will require funds as per necessity of the time. There will be no dearth of funds, he said.

A state ARD official, on condition of anonymity, pointed out that the price of high-quality heifer ranges between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000.

CPI(M) politburo and Lok Sabha member Md Salim told HT the scheme is a double- ploy to benefit families of Trinamool cadres as well as to fall in line with the nasty cow politics that BJP is pursuing throughout the nation.

Saffron parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party and its Sangh Parivar siblings like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have often made a prominent issue over the protection of cows. Most vigilantes who attack, and at times even kill, people over beef consumption or cattle smuggling pledge allegiance to right-wing Hindu groups.

Instead of encouraging milk production by involving rural poor through promotion of self-help groups (SHGs), state government is playing this narrow poll-politics to benefit their cadres. Secondly, after successfully helping BJP to import cow politics in Bengal, chief minister, Mamata Banerjee is now adopting the same route eyeing narrow political gains, Salim told HT.

BJPs national secretary Rahul Sinha too ridiculed the decision. Chief minister is now feeling the negative pinch of her earlier policy of excessive minority appeasement. So she is now taking up this route to make a balance somewhere before the panchayat polls. Now it is Godaan (cow donation) and I can guarantee that next move will be Gopujan (cow worship), Sinha told HT.

According to Congress legislator and state Congress general secretary, Manoj Chakrabarty, this is move is yet another example of Trinamools divisive and destruction political misadventure.

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Following the Cash in court bribery expose in the Patna district and session court, through a sting operation on Thursday, axe has fallen on 16 officials of the court.. All of them have been put under suspension with immediate effect and departmental proceedings will be started against 12 of them.

Taking cognizance of the issue, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, Justice Rajendra Menon, has also ordered an enquiry into the matter.

In view of the sensitivity of the matter, the district judge has also called a meeting to review the scenario under his jurisdiction.

Patna HC registrar general B B Pathak said that it was a serious matter and all the district courts had been asked to go in for a thorough review to prevent unethical practices. While 16 employees have been suspended, the HC has directed all the district judges to maintain strict vigil against unscrupulous elements, take prompt action and report it to the HC, he added.

Pathak said that further action against the suspended officials would be taken on the basis of the report of the district judge.

The suspended employees were caught by a TV channel on camera allegedly taking bribe to facilitate shifting of prisoners and under-trials to their choice jails and managing dates of hearing or appearance in the court, media reports said on Wednesday.

A court is a temple of justice and we will not tolerate any corruption on the premises of the court. People come here with great expectations for justice and we will not let them down, district and session judge, Patna, Krishnakant Tripathi told media persons.

Those who were suspended were identified as Ramendra Kumar, bench clerk, Santosh Kumar, office clerk, Subodh Kumar, steno, Mukesh Kumar, assistant clerk (all four posted for deal excise act cases), Subodh Kumar, clerk (server room), Sahnaaj Rizvi,clerk in copy department, Mani Devi, clerk in copy department , Sunil Kumar Yadav, bench clerk of additional family court , Vishwamohan Vijay, bench clerk of principal family judge, Kumar Nagendra, bench clerk of ADJ-11, Sanjay Shankar, bench clerk of ADJ-3 , Ashish Dixit, bench Clerk of munshif-3, Pradip Kumar, bench clerk of ADJ-9, Madhu Rai, clerk (copy department), Ram Iqbal, peon in copy department and Alok Kumar, peon of district judge.

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A BSF jawan, deployed along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengals Malda district, has died due to dengue, officials said on Thursday.

Head Constable Abhay Kumar Singh was admitted to a hospital in Malda on November 12 with high fever, Border Security Force (BSF) officials said, adding that the jawan died on Wednesday.

Singh, posted with the 82nd battalion of the BSF in West Bengal, hailed from Gopalganj district of Bihar.

A few days back, another jawan of the force had died due to the vector-borne disease, the officials said.

West Bengal is witnessing heavy rains since Wednesday.

As per the state health department, since January, the state has witnessed around 19 dengue deaths, besides over 20,000 cases being reported mainly from the districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata.
Five people have been killed in the last 48 hours by elephants and two tuskers have died in one week in Jharkhand, officials said on Thursday, pointing to the rising conflict between humans and animals in the state.

Forest department officials said 60-year-old Sambhu Lohra and 67-year-old Maheshwar Mahato were trampled to death by a wild pachyderm in Bundu, around 40 km from state capital Ranchi, on Wednesday.

The rogue elephant, they said, was separated from its herd a week ago and has been attacking villagers since then.

Bundu forest ranger Ranvir Singh said Lohra was returning to his Shyam Nagar village from weekly market, called haat in the local dialect, on his bicycle when the elephant attacked him.

The tusker, who left the Tetla forest around 4pm, accosted Sambhu at Joikya Garha area. The old man could not escape and the elephant crushed him to death, Singh said.

He said the elephant, on his way to West Bengal, reached Birdih area after a couple of hours where it came across Mahato, who was returning to his farm. He tried to escape but the elephant chased and killed him.

The forest officials said that the families of the deceased would be given a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each. For immediate relief, a cheque of Rs 50,000 was handed over to the family, Singh said.

Three deaths were reported on Tuesday in Hazaribagh and Gumla.

In Hazaribaghs Churchu block a herd killed 60-year-old Maha Hansda as he was minding his cattle in a nearby jungle. And two shepherds from Bihar were trampled to death in a tuskers attack in Jharkhands Gumla district.

According to the forest departments estimates, more than 300 people are killed across the country every year by elephants.

Hundreds of elephants have died at the same from poaching, road and train accidents, electrocution and poisoning amid unplanned development and encroachments leading to loss of forests and their habitat.

Elephants are long range animals that require large habitats but newer human habitations have cut off elephant corridors, trapping the giant mammals in smaller areas and forcing them to raid towns and villages.

Two tuskers have died in less than a week and 13 so far this year in the eastern state.

In the forested state of Jharkhand, the rising man-elephant conflict has claimed the lives of 59 people every year in last one decade. The highest casualty was recorded in 2011 when 69 people were killed by tuskers.

State wildlife board member DS Srivastava said that the forest department has failed to check man-elephant conflicts in the state.

Scarcity of selected food for elephants like bamboo, kajhi and khair in Jharkhand forests have led jumbos to intrude villages for food causing man-elephant conflict and crop damage, he said.

India is the worlds stronghold for the Asian elephant and boasts over 70% of the global population of the species. The environment ministry has pegged Indias wild elephant population at 27,312 across 23 states after a population count between March and May this year.
A drone camera to catch people red-handed in the act is the latest strategy of the police in Telanganas Karimnagar district to prevent open defecation on the banks of a local reservoir.

Police say the exercise which began Monday has yielded excellent results within three days.

The number of people indulging in open defecation has come down drastically by Wednesday, Karimnagar commissioner of police VB Kamalasan Reddy told Hindustan Times.

The reservoir of Lower Manair Dam (LMD), located on the outskirts of Karimnagar town on Hyderabad road, has been serving as a drinking water source for the people of the town. It is guarded by a team of police of the LMD police station. Initially, the police introduced the drone camera with a view to keep an eye on people jumping into lake to commit suicide and save them from drowning. The drone also keeps a watch on drunkards assembling on the reservoir banks to help the police take action against them.

But recently, we have been receiving a lot of complaints from local walkers association that some people from the nearby slums and weaker sections colonies go to the banks of the lake to ease themselves early in the morning and they want the help of the police to prevent them. It then struck us that the drone camera can also be used to identify such people, Reddy said.

Ironically, almost all the houses in these colonies have toilets. Yet, people were habituated to come out early in the morning for open defecation, despite the hectic campaign about Swachh Bharat in the last two years. So, we thought we could shame them by exposing them through drone camera, the commissioner said.

When it was first introduced three days ago, people thought it was just a toy hovering over their heads. Later in the day, the police with the help of the local walkers association members went round three colonies, showed them the visuals and counselled them against spoiling the water in the reservoir that supplies drinking water to the town people. They understood and agreed to cooperate with us. In the next two days, the results were excellent, Reddy said.

Karimnagar Walkers Association member Kudali Srinivas said the open defecation had become a big menace for walkers, who include many women. Besides, a number of students from nearly engineering college hostels also come to the lake bank for jogging and also studies. These people defecating in the open were a big embarrassing for them. The drone idea did the trick, he said.

With the help of the association members, the police identified the people indulging in open defecation and garlanded them in public. This was done to bring a sense of shame and also responsibility in them, so that they do not repeat the act, Srinivas said.

Naming and shaming people to stop open defecation is a controversial issue although the police say it is not to insult anybody but only to sensitise them. Offenders were garlanded only on the first day.

The police want to continue the drone surveillance on the banks of the lake after checking the open defecation. We are now focusing on pig-rearers who bring their animals to the reservoir bank and make the waters dirty, the police commissioner added.

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A 45-year-old man was drowned in the Damodar in Jharkhands Ramgarh district after he accepted a challenge to swim across the river  for just Rs 50. And he didnt know how to swim.

Gautam Saw was cremated on the banks of the river on Tuesday, two days after he accompanied fellow villagers to the same spot for cremating a neighbour, family members and police said on Thursday.

As part of local traditions, Saw and got into the river to take a bath when a friend threw the challenge at him on Sunday.

Saws body was fished out of the river on Tuesday, Ramgarh police inspector Rajesh Kumar said.

Saw was the the sole bread-earner of the family of seven -- his wife and five minor daughters. His wife is a tuberculosis patient, said Saws elder brother Suresh.

He didnt know swimming. We forbade him to go into the river but he did not care for our suggestion. He drowned leaving us mute spectators as none of us knew swimming, Suresh told HT.

Suresh said Shyam Bihari, Gautams close friend, threw the challenge and another mutual friend, Ramu, assured he would accompany to the other shore.

However, as they reached the middle of the river, both started drowning. Ramu retreated but Gautam kept moving. By the time he realised the danger, it was too late, Suresh added.
Karnataka Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said on Thursday that the state government was ready to hold talks with agitating doctors opposing a proposed bill aimed at regulating private health care and will try to find a solution to the issue.

He was replying to the opposition BJP, which raised the issue of doctors protest and reported deaths of several patients across the state, in the Assembly even as the medical practitioners intensified their stir in private hospitals and clinics.

Upping their ante, the doctors affiliated to five medical bodies in the city had on Wednesday announced the shutdown of out-patient services till the government dropped its move, which they alleged was detrimental to the medical profession.

The BJP accused Kumar of taking it as a prestige issue, instead of trying to find a solution to the issue amicably, through discussion.

The minister said that it was not a prestige issue for him.

It was doctors who have taken it as a prestige issue, as they have called for a statewide agitation, when the bill is yet to be tabled, he said.

We will try to find solution soon, we are open for discussion with doctors. I will be meeting the chief minister on the issue, Kumar said.

Doctors holding placard while staging demonstration outside Indian Medical Association during strike by private doctors and private medical establishments against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act amendments in Bengaluru, India, on Thursday, November 16, 2017. (Arijit Sen/Hindustan Times)

Unhappy with the ministers response, BJP members walked out of the House demanding immediate resolution even as they claimed that the delay may cause more deaths of patients.

Health services in the state are hit as doctors across the Karnataka have shut down their clinics and outpatient services in private hospitals against the proposed Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2017 that is likely to be tabled during the ongoing winter session.

The proposed amendment bill intends to make private doctors accountable and recommends stringent action for their negligence, and fix the rates for each class of treatment.

The doctors are opposing the proposed amendment bill, saying it is detrimental to the medical profession.

As soon as the House met for the day, BJP MLAs C T Ravi and Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri raised the issue and demanded reply from the government and questioned,how many more deaths do you want?

Speaker K B Koliwad said he will give permission during the Zero Hour.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, opposition leader Jagadish Shettar referred to the shutdown of out- patient services and 25 reported deaths because of lack of health care services due to the strike.

Questioning the government about the precautions being taken to deal with the situation, he said The government has to be serious. Call meeting with Doctors and talk to them and convince them to go to go back hospital...

Asking Kumar not to take the issue as a prestige issue, Shettar said that answering the needs of the people concerning their health was even more important.

BJP leader Ravi asked whether the government can bring back to life those dead. His party colleague Kageri cited reports about Kumar threatening to resign as minister if the Bill was tweaked or not tabled during the session and said the Minister has also put the chief minister in a fix.

Intervening, Speaker Koliwad said reports about deaths due to doctors strike was painful and the issue has to be resolved immediately.

The minister said, deaths are painful...every life is precious...

Noting that the amendment bill was proposed intending for larger public good, he said the bill is yet to be tabled, they (doctors) have taken such a strong stand.... who has taken it as a prestige issue? Im a common man, what kind of prestige will I have in this issue.

Kumar said that doctors have the responsibility, and by shutting medical services they are making the common man suffer.

He stated that the government has no intention to harass doctors or the private medical institutions.

As we empanelled you and we have to pay you tax payers money for services, we have to fix charges for services..., the minister said.

Kumar said he has no plans to resign if the Bill was not tabled during the session as reported by some sections of the media.

The Bill was first tabled in the assembly on June 13, and it was later sent to the joint select committee, following opposition by doctors and medical professionals.

Health services had been hit in Karnataka twice earlier this month as private hospitals and nursing homes failed to function following protests against the proposed amendments.
The decision of around 6,000 private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres to shut their outpatient departments at Bengaluru in protest against a regulatory bill has brought Karnatakas healthcare sector to its knees.

Private doctors oppose the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill-2017 because it seeks to regulate pricing, create a charter for patients rights, and bring about a new grievance redressal mechanism.

Many in the state see this as a desperate move by the government to regulate the private medical sector, which has been burgeoning in the absence of adequate public resources. The state government is trying to make the private sector do its work. It is not working towards increasing public capacity, Dr Sudarshan Ballal, chairman of Manipal Hospital, told HT.

Dr Ballals assertion about the states dependence on the private sector is backed by the National Sample Surveys 2015 report. It found that 81.7% of the states urban residents avail of private healthcare facilities, the highest in the country, while the figure stands at 73.2% for rural areas, the fourth-highest. This is in spite of the state having 49,454 government hospital beds, or eight for every 10,000 people. While the figure is way below the 18 beds-per-10,000 patients ratio mandated by the World Health Organisation, it is better than the national average of about five.

The reason for this situation, experts say, is insufficient public infrastructure due to low governmental expenditure. According to the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI)s National Health Profile 2017, Karnataka spent only 0.7% of its gross state domestic product on healthcare, the third-lowest in the country after Maharashtra and Haryana. The national average comes up to 1.1%.

Karnataka has the third-highest percentage of people who pay for medical expenditure through borrowings. National Sample Survey Office data states that around 42% of the states population paid for their medical expenditure in this manner, after Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Devi Shetty, founder-chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya, said capping prices is a problem because it would affect the ability of hospitals to pay well for talent. We want the brightest kids to become doctors, he said.

Remuneration is a big worry in a state that has the highest number of private medical colleges. According to the CBHI, Karnataka has 40 private medical colleges  way higher than Maharashtras 29 and Tamil Nadus 26.

Akhila Vasan  a healthcare activist with the Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali  believes that the private healthcare sector in the state has become predatory. The government has been brought to its knees because it made no attempt at regulating the sector in the recent past, she said.

E Premdas Pinto, director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Health and Social Justice, said the state was responsible for eroding the capacity of the public health sector and, thereby, aiding the growth of the private sector. This situation has not come up overnight. The health policy in the state, and the country as a whole, has been to prioritise the private sector over the public, he added.

Pinto said that while it was difficult to say how much a state should spend on healthcare, simply maintaining the existing infrastructure would require at least 1.5% of the gross state domestic product. The states failure to even match the national average is the reason for its private healthcare sector turning into a near-invincible monster thats holding it to ransom, he added.

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The opposition Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) in Meghalaya has raised an objection to the alleged ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food items at the Shillong-based North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).

We were getting complaints that such a rule had been imposed and it was causing problems for patients and other people visiting the institute. On inquiry we found the allegations to be true, HSPDPs president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, who is also a member of Meghalaya assembly, told the Hindustan Times.

Basaiawmoit has written to Union health minister JP Nadda against the ban imposed by the biggest post-graduate medical institute in northeast India.

This (the alleged ban) is an attack on the food habits of the indigenous people of the northeast and has not been taken in good taste, Miller wrote to Nadda seeking restoration of the sale of non-vegetarian food at the government-run medical institute.

Copies of the letter sent by HSPDP president to Union health minister JP Nadda. (HT Photo)

Copies of the letter sent to the Meghalaya chief minister, health minister, and director of NEIGRIHMS had an attached page that was signed by the institutes chief on May 26 this year, where several food items and prices are listed.

Authorities at the 30-year-old institute, the first in the region built by the Union health ministry on lines of New Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, have refuted the allegations.

There is no truth in the charges. No such circular banning sale of non-vegetarian food has been issued. The same items which were on the menu for years are still being sold at NEIGRIHMS, Dr DM Thappa, director of the institute told HT.

Issuing a press release on Thursday, NEIGRIHMS stated non-vegetarian food items are served in both the canteens in the institute and admitted patients are also served such items based on advice of doctors.

The authorities admitted they had asked the operators of the coffee shop in the out-patients department (OPD) area, where pre-packed non-vegetarian foods are sold, to keep fresh items for patients and other visitors.

There is no question of any advisory from the authorities to stop non-veg food items in the hospital as these items are necessary as a protein-rich diet for the patients, said the release.

Consumption of non-vegetarian food is widespread in northeastern states, including Meghalaya, unlike some other parts of the country.

There was severe opposition in the Christian-dominated state to the Centres move earlier this year to ban the sale of cattle in animal markets for slaughter and state assembly passed a resolution against it.

With assembly elections due in Meghalaya early next year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is attempting to dislodge the ruling Congress government, was quick to stress that there would be no beef ban in Meghalaya..

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No one can stop India if it wanted to wrest Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from the neighbouring country, Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Ahir said on Thursday, stressing that the territory was a part of India.

Ahir said PoK was under Islamabad because of the mistakes of previous governments.

I say Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is a part of India and due to the mistakes of the previous governments it has been with Pakistan. If we try to get PoK back, no one can stop us because it is our right, PTI quoted Ahir as saying on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi.

He said India would make efforts to get the territory back from Pakistan, PTI reported.

Ahirs comments came a day after National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said Pakistan would not allow India to take that part of Jammu and Kashmir which was under its occupation.

Reacting to Ahirs comments, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah asked what was stopping the government from taking back PoK.

I dont understand the if we try. What is stopping you from getting it back? Prove Dr Abdullah wrong with your actions rather than with hollowed out words, Omar posted on Twitter.

And in previous governments do you include Vajpayee Sbs decision to respect sanctity of LoC during the Kargil War as well? he tweeted, referring to the then BJP-led government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

I dont understand the "if we try". What is stopping you from getting it back? Prove Dr Abdullah wrong with your actions rather than with hollowed out words. https://t.co/doAWc5m7g4  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) 16 November 2017

On Farooq Abdullahs remarks, Ahir told ANI, This is saddening and the language used by him was wrong. PoK is a part of Pakistan because of the mistakes made by the previous governments. It is our right to take it back and no one can stop us from doing it.

Farooq Abdullah, earlier this week, said PoK belonged to Pakistan and the fact would not change no matter how many wars are fought over the issue.

Abdullahs comment kicked up a political storm, drawing sharp criticisms from the BJP and its allies. A court in Bihars West Champaran district of Bihar has ordered an FIR against Farooq Abdullah over his controversial remarks.

The BJP said Farooq Abdullah was doing free advocacy for Pakistan.

Farooq Abdullah is a member of Parliament from Srinagar and he should resign from the post for delivering such statements. Farooq Abdullah is doing free advocacy of Pakistan, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI.

Earlier also, I have said that Pok was, is and will remain an integral part of India. Though it is presently occupied by Pakistan, it is still a part of India, he said.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the national president of the Janata Dal (United), said entire Kashmir, including the areas under Pakistani occupation, is an integral part of India.
Pakistan on Thursday said it was awaiting Indias response on its offer to arrange a meeting between Indian prisoner on death row Kulbhushan Jadhav and his wife on humanitarian grounds.

Pakistan last week said it will allow 46-year-old Jadhav to meet his wife, months after India had requested Islamabad to grant a visa to his mother on humanitarian grounds.

During his weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said Pakistan was awaiting Indias response on the offer.

Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April on charges of espionage and terrorism. The International Court of Justice in May halted his execution on Indias appeal.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied India consular access to Jadhav on the ground that it was not applicable in cases related to spies.

Some media reports have linked Pakistans offer to the quiet efforts by the US.

Pakistan, however, insisted that the offer was made purely on the humanitarian grounds.

Jadhav has filed an appeal with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to seek clemency, which is still pending.

Last month, the Pakistan Army had said it is close to a decision on the mercy petition of Jadhav.

Pakistan claims its security forces arrested him from restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran.

However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

Jadhavs sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India.

After India approached the ICJ, a 10-member bench on May 18 restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.

The ICJ has asked Pakistan to submit its response or memorial by December 13 before the court could start further proceedings in the case.
Ahmedabad:

Calling alleged sex video clips of Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel a blot on the community, former member of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) Chirag Patel on Thursday joined the BJP, ahead of December assembly elections in Gujarat.

The ruling BJP is trying hard to win back support of the agitating Patidar community that can influence results in at least 60 of the states 182 assembly seats.

In the past, the BJP had a strong support base among the Patidars. But it eroded of late as the community started demanding reservation benefits in government jobs and college admissions.

Chirag, a founding member of the PAAS, is the third former aide of the quota-stir spearhead, Hardik Patel to join the BJP. Earlier, Varun Patel and Reshma Patel had switched over to the BJP against which they had begun agitation seeking reservation benefits.

Chirag, however, had parted ways with the PAAS almost a year ago.

Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel welcomed him into the party fold barely two days after six purported sex video clips of Hardik surfaced on social media.

The PAAS, earlier in the day, accused chief minister Vijay Rupani and BJPs Gujarat unit chief Jitu Vaghani of making the morphed video clips to defame the organisation.

Chirag was among six PAAS members, including Hardik, to be charged with sedition in 2015. He, along with other co-accused, were granted bail after they gave an undertaking against Hardik.

In the past two years, the PAAS saw several desertions. Among its founding members, Dinesh Patel and Alpesh Kathiriya, apart from Hardik, are still with the party. Another founding member Ketan Patel also turned approver in a sedition case against Hardik, who spent nine months in jails and six months in exile following his arrest in October 2015.

Vipul Patel, whom the PAAS had accused of preparing fake sex videos at the behest of the top BJP leaders was also once a close aide of Hardik.

``From being a community-oriented movement, the agitation has now turned into a personality oriented. Funds raised to support the agitation has been misused to acquire personal wealth and pleasure, Chirag said during his induction in the BJP.

The Congress has used Patidars as vote bank. It is also not promising the OBC quota, for which agitation was started. So there is no point of continuing agitation or joining hands with the Congress, he added.

The PAAS is reportedly holding negotiations with the Congress for a pre-poll tie-up.

On its part, the BJP government, as per truce formula offered to Patidars, have withdrawn nearly 500 cases of arson and damage caused during violent protests by Patidar youth.

Withdrawal of sedition cases is under consideration, Nitin Patel said.

The PAAS has not yet reacted over the latest desertion.
The Supreme Court asked the Chhattisgarh government on Thursday for original documents related to the purchase of an AgustaWestland helicopter in 2007, which a petition has alleged was done in an unlawful manner.

We want to be sure there was no fraud in purchasing these helicopters, the judges told the lawyer for the Chhattisgarh government.

The top court asked the state to produce within a week the original file and declare on an affidavit the reason why objections from the then civil aviation principal secretary against the purchase were not taken into account.

Was it disregarded or overridden? the judges said, on the bureaucrats opinion that a different helicopter should be bought.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation that sought a special investigation into the purchase of the single helicopter, which was bought for VIP use in 2007-08.

The petition specifically seeks an investigation against chief minister Raman Singh.

It was fraudulent tender and the ruling BJP paid hefty commission for the purchase of one chopper in 2007. The tender rules were seriously bypassed, the petitioners charged as they linked Abhishek, Singhs son, to the Panama Papers, a trove of secret documents that purported to show financial dealings of people in a tax haven.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested DW Negi, former superintendent of police Shimla, for an alleged cover-up in the custodial death of a suspect in the Kotkhai schoolgirls rape and murder case. He was picked up by the CBI team Thursday afternoon.

The former SP was produced in a local court and sent to police remand till November 20.

Negi, who is considered to be close to chief minister Virbhadra Singh, was part of the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to solve the case.

The former police chief was removed from his post and transferred to the state anti-corruption and vigilance bureau, after Suraj, a Nepalese national and a suspect in the Kotkhai rape and murder case, was found dead in custody. The death had sparked violent protests across the district, with a mob even torching the Kotkhai police station.

After the CBI took over the probe on July 22, its officials began looking for clues to solve the mystery behind the death of the Nepalese labourer, who, according to the police, had died following a scuffle with another co-accused, Rajender Singh aka Raju, a pick-up van driver.

The CBI officials scanned call details of more than 100 cellphones and confiscated phones of more than 50 people, including that of Negi.

The officials detected some frequently used numbers after Surajs death on July 19. Sentry Dinesh Kumars confessions proved vital in the arrest of inspector general of police Zahur Zaidi, who headed the SIT probing the rape and murder case.

Dinesh had reportedly recorded a telephonic conversation he had with the police officer before and after Surajs death.

On Wednesday, the CBI had filed an application seeking the courts approval to conduct a voice sample test of eight officers, including of Zaidi, who were arrested for the death.

Others arrested include DSP Manoj Joshi, SI Rajinder Singh, ASI Deep Chand Sharma, and head constables Surat Singh, Mohan Lal, Rafiq Ali and Ranjit Singh on August 29. Their custody was extended for a day.

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Three people, allegedly involved in more than 250 ATM fraud cases across the country, have been arrested by the Pali police on Thursday.

The arrested, identified as Ajay Rathore (22), resident of Haridwar in Uttarakhand and Sachin Rathore (24) and Vijendra Singh Chouhan of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, police said.

A special team was constituted to arrest the gang, which was involved in cases like cyber crime and ATM frauds by changing the ATM cards, said Pali superintendent of police (SP) Deepak Bhargav.

The arrested accused used to hang ATM machines and stole more than  2.5 crore from states across the country, he said.

The accused have admitted that in the last two years, they were involved in 250 cases across India, including Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Nagaur, Ajmer, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Sirohi, Pali and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan, said Bhargav.

The gang also admitted that they were involved in ATM heists in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

On the modus operandi of the gang, Bhargav said the accused used to travel in their vehicle and park it a couple of metres away from the ATM.

One of them used to enter the ATM, when a person was making a transaction and press a button to hang the machine, which stopped the transaction process.

The movement the person left the ATM, the gang used to continue the stalled process and withdraw cash and if one of them failed then the other was ready to enter the ATM and repeat the process.

Similarly, the accused used to distract a card holder in the ATM booth, saying that the machine was not working or the transaction process has timed out and hand over another cloned ATM card instead of the original, the SP said.

During the process, the accused used to note the card owners pin number and then withdraw money from different ATMs.

.
The Vitamin A supplementation among the state children has taken a dip against the state governments claim of doing good work in the area. The coverage of Vitamin A supplement dipped by 4% to 82% in the May-June round from 86% registered during the same period last year, according to the data provided by the integrated child development services (ICDS) department.

Prior to that, in 2015, the Vitamin A supplement coverage in the May-June round was 85% in Rajasthan.

However, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 data shows that only 39.6% children received Vitamin A supplement during 2015-16, which is well below the coverage claimed by the ICDS department.

Even the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report dated March 31, 2016, observed that 5.76% to 10.96% children were not given first dose of Vitamin A, 38.67% to 51.58% children were not given the second dose and 60.40% to 67.14% children were not given the third to fifth doses during 2011-16. The CAG report was based on the test checked districts of Dausa, Jhalawar, Jalore, Nagaur, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand and Sirohi. In November 2016, the state government had also accepted that Vitamin A dose was not administered to the children according to the plan.

When asked about the decline in coverage of Vitamin A supplement in Rajasthan, Dr SM Mittal, the director of Reproductive and Child Health wing of health department, said, As per our department, the coverage is around 86% and 14% children are left out. He said it is difficult to reach children in urban places rather than rural places, for which private hospitals and private schools have been roped in so that the coverage could be increased. Dr Mittal said, We monitor the coverage of administration of Vitamin A dose to children aged nine months to five years through monitors, who conduct sudden check at anganwari centres. These monitors also verify and validate whether the Vitamin A supplement was administered or not.

Dr Mittal said the Vitamin A supplement campaign is being run in Rajasthan for the last 17 years and is administered to the children twice a year at anganwari centres and government health centres in May-June and November-December. Administering Vitamin A supplement to children enhances their resistance to diseases, thus reducing the infant mortality rate by 23%-24%. Besides, it also reduces viral diseases among children by 33% and measles by 50%.

Meanwhile, health minister Kali Charan Saraf on Wednesday launched the 34th round of Vitamin A supplement campaign by administering the dose to a child at an anganwari centre at Malviya Nagar in Jaipur. He said the month-long campaign will continue till December 15. The department, which had administered Vitamin A supplement to 64.07 lakh children in the 33rd round from May to June this year, targets 77.95 lakh children in the 34th round.

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The ongoing row over upcoming Bollywood film Padmavati deepened further with Ajmer Dargah Diwan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan coming out in support of the protesting Rajput community and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban the film, saying it hurt religious sentiments.

In a statement, Abedin compared the films director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with controversial writers Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen and Tareq Fatah, who he said had played with the religious sentiments of Muslims through their statements, while taking benefit of freedom of speech and expression.

Bhansali too has hurt the sentiments of people of Rajasthan who regard Rani Padmini as a motherly figure, he said.

He also said a film, in which historical facts were depicted in a distorted manner, could adversely affect the law-and-order situation if it was allowed to be screened in theatres. Abedin added that the film should be reviewed and it should be ensured that it did not hurt the religious sentiments of any community.

Describing Rajput queen Padmini as a symbol of valour and pride for women, he alleged that Bhansali, for monetary gains, was trying to distort history and character of a woman who has inspired generations in Rajasthan and other parts of the country by her sacrifice. She along with thousands of other Rajput women sacrificed their life to protect their honour and to dilute the significance of such a character for paltry monetary gains should be vehemently opposed, he added.

Abedin said it was surprising that even though there were countrywide protests against Bhansalis film Padmavati, the board put up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Chittorgarh fort stated that Alauddin Khilji saw Rani Padmini through a mirror and reportedly went to the extent of ravaging Chittor in order to possess her.
Protests against filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis controversial film Padmavati continued in Rajasthan on Thursday with Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha holding blood signature campaigns and Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatening actress Deepika Padukone to be cautious.

Padukone plays queen Padmavati in the film, which will release on December 1.

Alleging that the film distorts historical facts, the Mahasabha on Thursday held a blood signature campaign to stop the films release in December. The films director has tampered with historical facts and it will not be tolerated. Padmavati was our countrys pride. To earn profits, filmmakers are adding spice to facts, alleged Suresh Mishra, state president of the Mahasabha.

He added that BJP leaders, ministers and MPs are making statements for Padmavati but despite they are not creating enough pressure on their own government. This shows that there is a difference in what they say and do, he said.

Representatives of Sarva Brahamin Mahasabha sign a petition in blood to be handed over to the chairman, CBFC, demanding ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansalis upcoming film Padmawati, in Jaipur on Thursday. (Himanshu Vyas/HT Photo)

Mishra said that 10,000 people will sign the campaign until November 20 and the next day it will be submitted to the film censor board.

Meanwhile, president of Shri Rajput Karni Sena, Mahipal Singh, on Thursday, referred to Deepika Padukone as Shurpanakha (a character in Ramayana and sister of Ravana) and asked her to be cautious.

Addressing newspersons, Singh alleged that actress Padukone has tried to provoke the Rajput community by stating that Padmavati will be released in the country. In a self-made video, he said, Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha.

Singh, who was in Kota to join Senas agitation outside the office of inspector general of police, Kota range, demanded the cancellation of FIR against six Sena activists, who were arrested on Tuesday for vandalising a multiplex in Kota in protest of running a trailer of Padmavati.

Mahipal Singh and Karni Sena activists later submitted a memorandum to the inspector general of police, Kota Range, to ban Padmavati and cancel the FIR lodged against six Sena activists.

During the shooting of the film earlier this year, a few members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had physically assaulted Bhansali in Jaipur. The party members also set fire to the films set in Maharashtra.

Various organisations, political parties and individuals have stood up for the Rajput community and have opposed the release of Padmavati over apprehensions that it distorts history in telling the tale of Rajput queen Padmavati.
Release of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis controversial period film Padmavati might be deferred if not outrightly banned in Uttar Pradesh.

The Yogi Adityanath government, which was earlier preparing for the month-end release of the film, has now written to the union ministry of information and broadcasting to consider deferring it.

In a two-page missive to the the information and broadcasting secretary NK Sinha, UPs principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar has also suggested that the members of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) be apprised of the extreme sentiments involved among various social and cultural groups in the most populous state.

Its December 1 release may not serve the interest of peace, the state government has argued pointing out that the films release also coincides with declaration of UP civic poll results as well as Barawafat, making it difficult for the state government to make arrangements for the screening.

With this, UP has joined eight other states that are also apprehensive of the films release on the account that it might trigger extreme reactions.

Read More: Amid Padmavati row, SC says cant put curbs on freedom of speech of filmmakers, writers

Though the Supreme Court had shot down a PIL seeking a ban on the films screening, the state governments missive points out that the apex court had suggested that it was for CBFC to take a view on the issue  reason why the UP government has sought the centres push in bringing the issue to the notice of film certification board whose clearance is a must for a films release.

The film is yet to be cleared by CBFC and by requesting the union broadcasting ministry to apprise the CBFC members with the sentiments of the people, the state government has virtually sought a ban on the film  a demand made by Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, the Rajput body which feels that the character of Rajput queen Padmavati has been negatively portrayed in the movie.

Several lawmakers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party  from Aligarh MP Satish Gautam to party MLAs Sanjeev Raja, Thakur Jaiveer Singh, Anil Parashar and Ravindra Pal Singh  have supported the Mahasabha demand and requested chief minister Yogi Adityanaths intervention.

Read More | Padmavati: From Deepika Padukones Ghoomar to Khilji, 8 reasons why protesters are hopping mad

Worried over the mounting criticism, the UPs home department has cited intelligence inputs about anger and threats against movies release as well as the fact that the release date coincides with declaration of UP civic poll results as well as Barawafat to defer the film release.

UP is apprehensive of two other films  Game of Ayodhya set for November 24 release and Muzaffarnagar  The Burning Love, a film set in the backdrop of the worst riots that broke out in west UP in 2013  both due for release ahead of Padmavati.

But its Bhansalis flick that has enraged passions. Its not just a kshatriya issue, its a Hindutva issue. We have grown up hearing stories of the valor of the Rajput queen who performed jauhar with 16000 women to protect Hindu pride. But the film reportedly shows the Ranis character doing the Ghoomar dance and also hinting at an alleged affair with Alauddin Khilji. We wont allow its screening, Apna Dal MP and Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha chief Harivansh Singh told HT. Singh also plans to meet union information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani in Delhi on Thursday to press for the need to ban the film.

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A 24-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping his wifes 16-year-old sister at her residence in Khar (East), where he had come to attend his mother-in-laws funeral.

The girl lives with her father and a younger sister after her mother passed away in a road accident in Bandra-Kurla Complex a few days ago. According to the police, the accused lives in Rajkot, Gujarat and his wife lives at their native place in Uttar Pradesh.

The accused had come to Mumbai to attend her mother-in-laws funeral. on Sunday, when the girl was sleeping beside her younger sister, the accused came and allegedly raped her, said the police. When her younger sister heard her cries, she woke up and tried to stop the accused. But she couldnt as he assaulted her and made her sleep in another room.

The girl later fled the house and narrated the incident to her neighbour. Menawhile, the accused also fled from the house. After the girl approached the Kherwadi police station and registered a case against the accused, a police team was sent to Rajkot and another started looking for him in Mumbai.

The accused was arrested him near Khar railways station on Thursday morning. He has been booked under sections 376 (rape) 323 (assault) 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and relevant sections of POCSO Act, said police inspector Sunil Yadav of the Kherwadi police station.

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With only one day to go for the Bombay high courts deadline to clear religious encroachments on all roads and footpaths, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has demolished all but five shrines across Mumbai by Thursday.

According to the HC directive, the BMC is to raze all structures that have come up between 1962 and 2009 by Friday. Of the 495 shrines slotted for demolition, 28 got a stay order from the court.

Of the five remaining structures, three are crosses in Bandra. The BMC is in talks with local residents to move the crosses amicably, instead of demolishing them.

A Hanuman temple in Malad was left out of demolition, after CM Devendra Fadnavis intervened when trustees of the temple produced a document to show the structure was built before 1962.

Nidhi Choudhary, deputy municipal commissioner and incharge of removal of encroachments, said, The BMC will demolish the remaining five shrines on Friday. Another temple was slotted for demolition on Thursday, but it managed to secure a last-minute stay, after providing papers to prove it was built in 1948. It is eligible to be categorised in C category -- shrines which can be rehabilitated. We demolished two shrines today [on Thursday].

Following the HC order, the BMC identified 739 religious structures in the city, of which 207 belonged to the A category, which could be regularized, and 532 to the B category, which could not be regularised, and needed to be demolished. The civic body invited suggestions and objections to the 532, and upon receiving feedback from citizens, finalised 495 that needed to be demolished.

Dyanamurti Sharma, who spoke to Hindustan Times on behalf on the Malad temple trust, said, The BMC insisted the temple was built before 1960, but we found a paper with BMCs stamp and remark by Jairaj Pathak, who was the municipal commissioner in BMC in 2007, which proved that this temple was built in 1948. The trustees then approached the CM with these documents, who told the BMC not to demolish it, as it is eligible for rehabilitation. The temple trust will rehabilite the temple at its own cost on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, the civic body has forwarded the documents of this temple to a special committee appointed by the state, to approve demolition of temples which have come up between 1947 and 1962.
The Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday restrained the police from taking action against seven Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers, who allegedly thrashed hawkers outside Thane railway station and vandalised their stalls.

A division bench of justice Ranjit More and justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi directed the police not to take action till Monday, when the petition filed by the workers will come up for hearing.

The bench issued the restraint after noticing that sections 110(d) and 110(e) of the Criminal Procedure Code, as invoked by the police, were not applicable to the case. Counsel for the petitioners, advocate Rajendra Shirodkar, submitted apart from unreasonably high bond amounts, the petitioners have challenged the notices for chapter proceeding on grounds that sections invoked by police  110(d) and 110(e) - were not applicable.

Shirodkar pointed out that both the sections can be invoked only against habitual offenders and as only two offences and both in connection with the same incidents have been registered against the petitioners, the sections could not have been invoked against them.

After the Elphinstone Road railway station stampede that claimed 23 lives, MNS workers across the city and suburbs thrashed hawkers on railway station premises, ransacked their stalls and destroyed their goods. The seven petitioners allegedly acted as part of the MNS drive and assaulted hawkers outside Thane railway station on October 21.

On the same day, FIRs were registered against them at Naupada and Thane Nagar police stations in Thane. On the basis of the FIRs, the special executive magistrate issued notices asking Avinash Jadhav to show cause why he should not be asked to submit bond of Rs1 crore. Others were asked to show cause against a bond of Rs25 lakh each for assurance of good conduct.
The walls are painted bright yellow and dark blue, new air-conditioners and ten recliner chairs now sit in the newly renovated Thalassemia day care centre at the state-run St. George Hospital, near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Around 88 children with the congenital blood condition  Thalassemia  will use these new facilities at a place where they routinely undergo blood transfusion, take medicines and are directed to undergo medical investigations. The renovated centre was inaugurated on Wednesday.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder, in which the body produces abnormal form of haemoglobin, which affects the oxygen supply to the tissues. For a child to have thalassemia, both the parents must be carriers of this disease. There are an estimated 2,200 children in the city living with thalassemia, a total of 6,500 children in the state.

Doctors said that the frequency of blood transfusion depends on levels of pre-transfusion haemoglobin, and level to which the liver and spleen are enlarged. Ideally the transfusion is done every three to four weeks, but if the child is not maintaining the haemoglobin level well then the transfusion may need to be done earlier, Priti Mehta, a city-based consultant paediatric haematologist and oncologist.

While bone marrow transplant is a permanent solution for the disease, the lack of matches for a donor and funds, are major reasons why the patients do not undergo bone marrow transplant. 

Lakshmi Chaudary, 35, whose two children have Thalassemia, said her family relocated to Diva, in Thane district, from Madhya Pradesh two decades back to avail treatment for her children. She said that the centre had no facilities, prior to the renovation. There were just four walls. Both my son and daughter have Thalassemia, and we have to come here every ten days, she said.

They would sit on the floor sometimes, till the treatment got over, which got really painful, she added.

Vinay Shetty, from Think Foundation, which has been aiding children with blood disorders, said the idea behind the renovation was to have a hygienic and comfortable environment.

Nurse Manali Gheret, who has been doing the blood transfusion procedure for the patients for the last two years, said that about six children are admitted per day.

Most of these children have weak joints owing to calcium deficiency. They are admitted at 8am and stay back in the hospital until 4pm, she said. They will now be able to rest on the recliner chairs, which can turn into beds, she added.
In March this year, the National Finance Corporation of India announced that an estimated Rs4.46 crore had been moved out of Bank of Maharashtra accounts because of a bug in its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) application.

Criminals sitting in Bhayander and Palghar had identified the bug in the system that allowed funds to be transferred out of accounts even when they did not have the required funds. Cashing in on the technical glitch, cyber criminals had opened 50 to 60 accounts at various banks, mostly in rural Aurangabad, where unsuspecting villagers thought it was a central government initiative to open accounts in rural India. The swindlers lured people with promises of earning commission if they let funds get transferred into their accounts. Later, the money was quickly withdrawn and the criminals disappeared, leaving the villagers to deal with police investigations for a crime they had not committed.

The fraud brought to light, among other things, the easy reach of cyber criminals and the vulnerability of rural India to tech-savvy criminals.

A glance at the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures over the past decade shows that Maharashtra has been on top of the cybercrime chart among states in the country for years.

From a total of 13 cyber offences reported in 2002, the figure shot up to 901 in 2012 and 2,312 in 2015. It witnessed a further increase last year, when a total of 2,417 cases were reported. The trend has continued in the first six months of 2017, with 1,046 cases already registered by June 30.

Experts say improved internet connectivity in the state has been matched by a parallel rise in the number of cyber offences. Rapid proliferation of 3G- and 4G-enabled affordable smartphones and cheap internet data packages have made the situation worse as people browse and download applications recklessly without even being aware of the need to take security precautions, thereby exposing themselves to cyberattacks. Take the case of cybercrimes in Yavatmal, among the most backward districts in the state  it registered 85 such cases in 2014, the highest among districts in rural Maharashtra.

Now, at least one case is reported every hour, and rural centres threaten to surpass cities in the tally.

Sources in the Director General of Polices (DGP) office said the detection rate of cyber offences across the state, however, remains as low as 25 per cent against the over 70 per cent in traditional crimes.

According to senior police officials, low detection rates are primarily because of peoples lack of awareness about cyber hygiene and a lack of focus on cybercrimes in the modernisation programmes. The focus of these programmes is more on finding ways and means to contain traditional crimes and terrorism. Cybercrime receives scant attention, a senior police official said, requesting anonymity.

Realisation of the danger of paying scant attention to cybercrime has dawned with a spurt in such cases in rural areas over the past two to three years, which affected rural economy, rattling the state government and prompting it to announce an ambitious Rs1,000 crore Maharashtra Cyber plan last year. Its objective: to prevent and investigate cybercrimes under the supervision of an Inspector General-rank officer.

As the plan rolled out, by October 2016, 48 cyber labs were set up across the state, of which 44 are attached to dedicated cyber police stations. According to sources in the home department, efforts are also underway to draw up a manual that police stations across Maharashtra have to follow while investigating cyber offences.

Brijesh Singh, inspector general of police, cyber, said the growth of cyber offences in the state is not only an indication of internet penetration, but also a statement on sincerity in the registration of cases. It is true that cyber offences have increased over the years as we have the maximum internet users among all states in India. At the same time, assessment of the crime situation is known because we are prompt in registering offences, he said.

An analysis of cybercrime cases registered across Maharashtra suggests that financial frauds, vishing, cheating, forgery and hacking systems constituted the bulk of the offences, followed by obscene and provocative posts.

As against 714 cases of cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust registered in 2016, 490 such cases have already been registered in the first six months of 2017.

A majority of these cases pertain to vishing, wherein scammers masquerading as bank officials transferred money from unsuspecting accountholders after obtaining their personal and account details over telephone.

Hacking of computer systems also witnessed a sharp rise in 2017, with 264 cases reported till June 30, as against a total of 320 cases reported last year.

Cyber experts attribute the rise in cybercrimes to the lackadaisical approach of authorities towards internet security. While the government is putting emphasis on digital India, little attention is being paid to make the country cyber secure, said internet expert Vijay Mukhi.

Rapid digitisation is bound to see a parallel increase in cybercrimes.

The irony is that even financial institutions are not taking cybercrimes seriously; their main thrust remains on physical security of their premises, he said. Things will move from bad to worse if focus is not put on cyber security in the coming years.

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Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and Central Railway officials will begin surveying CR stations from Wednesday to prepare a plan for crowd management.

The survey will look at commuters movements to determine the path they take to enter and exit the stations and how they assemble at foot overbridges (FoBs).

The MSF, set up by the Maharashtra State Security Corporation to guard state and central government installations, is likely to assist the central and western railway officials with monitoring crowd at the stations and FOBs.

The comes after the Indian Railways had written to the security force, asking for its help.

The CR has asked for 251 security personnel, while WR has asked for 700 more personnel. After the survey, railway officials will train the MSF personnel at Nashik.

They will later be deployed at the suburban railway stations, where they will help manage crowds. The railway police are understaffed. This makes monitoring the stations and foot overbridges extremely difficult. The MSF posted at the stations will help tackle crowds during peak hours, said a railway official.

Days after the Elphinstone Road station stampede on September 29, the Indian Railways had ordered WR and CR to monitor the FoBs and the entry and exit points of Mumbais stations. However, both said they were understaffed.
The public works department in Palghar has said that illegal sand mining is what caused cracks in the bridge over Vaitarna river in Palghar.

The bridge, which was shut down for heavy vehicles in December 2014, had developed cracks in its foundation. It would be open for all vehicles by May 2018. Narendra Patil, a Palghar resident, had observed cracks in the bridges foundation and informed the PWD back in December 2014. Since then they had banned heavy from entering the bridge, which had tilted to one side owing to rampant illegal sand mining, despite the HC banning such activities,said Rahul Vasaikar, executive engineer, PWD, Palghar.

The pillars were strained owing to the uneven river bed, Vasaikar said. The sand mafia from Vasai,Virar, Navi Mumbai and Thane are responsible for the bad condition of the bridge as they used suction pumps to remove sand from the riverbed, he added.

A team of PWD officials from the Mantralaya, and civil engineers from IIT-Bombay had also inspected the bridge to determine the extent of the damage. Cars and other light vehicles are currently being allowed on the bridge, but authorities may bar all traffic if they discover extensive damage,he said.

The bridge was constructed in 1988 to link tribal hamlets in the area. State transport buses alone used to make 25 to 30 trips through the bridge.
The Maharashtra environment department will take punitive action against officers of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for ignoring violations by industries that operate the Taloja common effluent treatment plant (CETP).

The move comes six days after an inspection by state environment minister Ramdas Kadam found that the CETP was not working ,and untreated industrial waste was being dumped directly into the Kasadi River without any treatment. HT reported on Wednesday that CETP operators were booked by the local police station only after the minister asked them to do so.

Officials from the state environment department told HT that citing negligence and dereliction of duty by MPCB officers, the department has asked for a detailed report regarding efforts being taken to control pollution in Taloja industrial area. If MPCB would have taken cognisance regarding the functioning of the CETP beforehand, such a situation would have never happened. We will check the complicity of our own officers because this has been a longstanding issue and a departmental probe is needed in the matter, said Satish Gavai, additional chief secretary, state environment department.

According to MPCB, the area has nearly 1,000 pharmaceutical, food and engineering factories spread across 2,157 acres at the Taloja industrial area in Navi Mumbai. Of these, 347 small and medium-scale industries, mostly comprising chemical, pharmaceutical and food processing, are polluting industries with one CETP treating effluents. The industries employ about 76,000 people and have an annual turnover of Rs60,000 crore.

MPCB officers from the area said they had been conducting weekly (every Monday) surveys to monitor operations at the CETP. We were aware that the CETP was dysfunctional. However, our department was told that it would be handed over to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and owing to this confusion, we didnt know whether or not to flag off these issues immediately, said Jayant Hajare, sub-regional officer, MPCB Navi Mumbai. In spite of these issues, we still filed a case against CETP operators at the Panvel court highlighting high pollution levels at Kasadi River.

Over the past year, HT has consistently reported that pollution levels at Kasadi were 13 times the safe limit. MPCB officers had told HT that sewage treatment had taken a hit due to dilapidated pipelines releasing untreated waste into the creeks. In August, this paper also reported that dogs were mysteriously turning blue as a result of blue dye released into the air and the river water by a private company. Citing reports, the pollution board shut down the private company.

Taloja CETP board of directors might be arrested next week: Police

Officers from the Taloja police station told HT on Wednesday that based on the current investigation; board members will be arrested within seven days for violating environmental norms.

We have collected water samples from the outlet of the CETP and sent them for chemical analysis. Once we receive the results, we will have proof of the violation. The punchnama process has been completed and it is clear that the CETP was shut. The statements and other formalities are pending, and once all of this is complete, we will arrest the members named in the first information report (FIR), said Rajesh Jadhav, investigative officer, Taloja police station.

The FIR was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) such as 277 (fouling water of public spring or reservoir), 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health), 432 (mischief by causing inundation or obstruction to public drainage attended with damage), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) against 10 members that comprise of the board of directors, Taloja.

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Of the major airports in the country, passengers feel most safe at Mumbai airport, revealed a survey conducted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The month-long survey of major airports in India, conducted in October, found that Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport has been rated the most efficient major airport in terms of passenger security and punctuality. The Mumbai airport handles 45 million passengers every year.

While the Kochi airport was rated the best among eight airports, that include Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, Hyderabad and Delhi, it handles five times less passengers than the Mumbai airport, which is nine million every year.

At the Mumbai airport, 4.91 out of 5 passengers said they felt safe, and 4.89 people said they were happy with the thoroughness of security inspection, and courtesy and helpful attitude meted out by CISF officials. A minuscule number of passengers (0.91) passengers said they were unhappy with the services.

OP Singh, director general, CISF said, With an aim to improve our services without compromising on security parameters, we have hired a professional agency who will again analyse the survey and help us improve our services.

With an aim to get passengers feedback on quality of services and asses the performance of the Airport Security Group (ASG), the survey was conducted from October 1 to 30. A total of 3.30 lakh passengers participated in the survey.

Pointing out difficulties while getting the forms filled at the Mumbai airport, KN Tripathy, deputy inspector general of CISF (Mumbai) said staff shortage at the city airport was a challenge. We approached relatively free passengers during peak hours of travel in the respective sectors.
A CCTV camera has recorded three suspects, believed to have coordinated the sensational robbery at a bank in Sanpada, which came to light on Monday. Footage from the camera, installed outside the bank, features the men leaving the grocery store two shops away around 7 am on Saturday.

Sources in the Navi Mumbai police said the discovery has cemented their theory that the heist was planned for Friday night as the bank would be shut for the next two days. They planned it carefully so they had enough time to escape, sources said.

The footage, however, features the men with their backs turned to the camera, which makes it hard to establish their identities. It seems that they knew the exact position of the camera and took care not to turn their faces even once, said sources.

Police also found jute bags with soil near Juinagar railway station, 200m from the bank.

Officers said the soil was the same as that dug out to create the tunnel. The condition of the bags indicates that they have been there since last monsoon. It is obvious that the crime was planned and executed over months, said an investigating officer.

Cops found that the Aadhaar card and other personal documents, which prime suspect Gena Bachchan Prasad submitted to the landlord while finalising the rent agreement, were fake. The names on the cards seem to be tampered with. We suspect his photographs were superimposed on stolen identity documents, sources added.

Prasads mobile phone was last traced to Nashik on Sunday.

The landlord told police that Prasad paid him Rs25,000 a month in cash. This indicates that he wanted to conceal his identity as any wire or cheque transaction would have helped identify him, sources said.

Police said Prasad and the two shop attendants never led the landlord or their neighbours to suspect anything amiss. They always paid the rent on time and kept to themselves, sources said.

The landlord said their behaviour was why he did not object to their proposal to renovate the store three months ago. On the pretext of building a store room, the suspects brought several sheets of plywood and created a partition extending up to the roof. They kept the door locked at all times, sources said.They added that two tiles behind the door were removed so the tunnel could be dug. Police found layers of plywood sheets covering the entry-point of the tunnel.

While police have not yet traced the gang, they suspect they could be from Jharkhand or Rajasthan. A police team allegedly reached Jharkhand on Wednesday.

Specialised gangs from these states, who have expertise in such tunnel heists, usually use such a modus operandi, sources said. We suspect that the accused were security guards who worked in the city, but were not locals, said Nitin Kasaudikar, assistant commissioner of police (crime).

The police are checking if some customers ,who had lockers in the bank, or some employees were hand-in-glove with the culprits. It is impossible for anyone to dig a tunnel and get into the locker room without any prior knowledge of the bank. No one, except for employees or customers, can enter this room said an investigating officer.
The sessions court on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Siddhant Ganore, 21, son of a city police inspector, arrested for murdering his mother Dipali, 42, in May.

Ganores legal team had approached the court earlier this month on the grounds that his mental health was deteriorating. They said Ganore, who was lodged in Aurther Road Jail, was being treated by in-house doctors and a team of JJ hospital doctors for mental depression.

Ganores lawyer Vaibhav Baghade, in a bail application, had said that the mental health of the 21-year-old was not good and there was no evidence to prove that he had killed his mother. On Monday, Baghade argued in court that even before the alleged incident, Ganore had been suffering from depression and stress which is reflected in his academic results.

Ganores mental health report, which the defence had asked for, was submitted in court on Monday. It stated that he is under treatment for depression and insomnia. The report added that there are signs to show that he is fearful of the world, at large, and does not trust anyone. However, the doctors said that the report is not conclusive and it would need complete profiling.

Further, the defense also argued that the chargesheet does not give any evidence to prove that Ganore was in the house when Dipali was killed and his finger print also didnt match with the one collected from the spot.

The prosecution had objected to the bail application saying that there is enough evidence to prove a case against him and that he has been provided with required treatment in the jail.

Dipali was murdered on the afternoon of May 23. Ganores father Dyaneshwar, an inspector at the Khar police station, found his wifes body around midnight. On June 1, Ganore was tracked to Jodhpur and was arrested from a local hotel there. He had confessed to killing his mother to the police.

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Your commute between Mumbai and Pune could come down from three hours to merely 15 minutes.

The Maharashtra governments Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Richard Branson-backed Virgin Hyperloop One inked a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday to identify potential routes and analyse the economic impact and technical viability of hyperloop transportation system.

Hyperloop technology involves boarding passengers or cargo onto a pod-like vehicle which is pushed through near-vacuum filled tubes at around 1,000km an hour. If the study yields positive results, the fast commute may become a reality.

A hyperloop route requires high-density traffic to become viable as means of rapid public transit. Mumbai and Pune, the most and seventh most populous cities in India respectively, have the potential to provide an optimal route with a high density, said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. By reducing travel time to less than 20 minutes, a hyperloop route will help intensify the connectivity between the metropolitan regions of Pune and Mumbai, transforming the two cities into Indias first and largest Megapolis, he said.

In September 2016, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari allowed the company to conduct pilot test of the futuristic high-speed transportation system along the westerly bypass of Pune connected to the Express Highway.

The preliminary study is intended to analyse the applicability and benefits of hyperloop technology, identify high priority routes within the state based on demand analysis and socio-economic benefits, and inform the government of Maharashtra of any decision of progress, a statement from the company said.

Apart from Mumbai-Pune, the Los Angeles-based company would also look at connecting Nagpur with Mumbai to improve its passenger and freight transportation.
The police are examining the call data records of Gena Bachchan Prasad, the main suspect in the Sanpada bank heist, to find out who he was in touch with before the crime.

As many as 30 lockers of Bank of Baroda were looted between Friday night and Monday morning after the robbers dug a 30-feet-long tunnel from a nearby shop. The tunnel started from Prasads shop, which he had taken on rent in May, and opened in the banks locker room.

We recovered the number from the rent agreement of the shop and it was last traced to Nashik on Sunday. It was switched off after that. We are trying to pull out his call records to see who Prasad had contacted before the crime, said an investigating officer.

Another officer said the registration numbers of a few vehicles have also been found and they suspect that those vehicles were used by the culprits at some points. However, they have not been able to connect the dots so far. Tushar Doshi, deputy commissioner police (crime), said, There are some developments in this case. However, since we have not been able to zero in on the accused, I will not be able to share those at this moment.

In the CCTV footage, the police have spotted three accused but their faces are not clear. One footage shows a person carrying a bag of soil from the shop to the other side of the road. Another footage shows a person crossing the road wearing red hoodie to hide his face.

The Navi Mumbai crime branch is doing a parallel investigation with the DCP zone 1 team in this case. The police teams have been sent to different places in the country to find leads in the case.

Another police officer said, The accused used to give the rent to the agent in cash every month. We are trying to get as many details as possible about the accused from the owner and the agent.

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The Bhikha Behram trust wrote to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) on Wednesday, seeking a fresh survey be conducted to ensure that their centuries-old well will not be damaged by the Metro tunnel.

This comes months after construction work for the Colaba-SEEPZ underground Metro damaged the JN Petit Library in Fort. The incident made the Parsi community wary. They said they would take extra precautions to ensure that their religious places were protected.

Metro-3 contractors conducted an initial survey on April 25. They mentioned that a few minor cracks had surfaced on the well. However, the trustees of the well repaired them before they received the report on November 10. The authorities also demanded that a piezometer be installed in the vicinity to check if the wells water levels were maintained. Water from the well  a Grade I heritage structure  is used for religious ceremonies.

In 2015, the authorities assured us that a piezometer would be fixed around the well so it wouldnt run dry owing to the construction work. The well is 292-years-old and plays an important part in our religion, said Viraf Kapadia, well trustee.

A week ago, the community had protested against the approval given by Zoroastrian senior priest Firoze Kotwal for tunnelling work to be carried out under Wadiaji Atash Behram, a fire temple, at Dhobi Talao.

In our community, there is no concept of high priest, only the priest has the right to preside over matters of the agiary he is in charge of, said Perviz Dubash, a member of the community.

However, Kotwal refused to comment on the matter. His secretary said he would prefer to stay out of these things because they had become too messy.

Though the Metro authorities refused to comment on whether they would conduct a fresh survey of the well, the spokesperson said, As a part of our construction protocol, we will certainly be installing instruments such as piezometer to monitor water level when tunnelling reaches closer to that area.
Maharashtras highly polluted rivers require concerted efforts to improve water quality, said environmentalists.

A right-to-information (RTI) response to non-governmental organisation (NGO) Vanashakti by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that pollution levels in three rivers  Mithi in Mumbai, Mula in Pune and Kundalika in Roha, Raigad district  were nine times higher than acceptable limits.

According to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Boards (MPCB)s monthly water quality bulletin, Mithi has recorded BOD (biological oxygen demand) of 250 and above between January and May. High levels of BOD indicate concentrated untreated sewage.

Unpolluted rivers have a BOD below 1 mg/litre while moderately polluted rivers have a BOD between 2 and 8 mg/L. Untreated sewage averages between 200 and 600 mg/L, while treated sewage has levels of 20 mg/L or less.

Along with human activities, various microbiological agents such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa also pollute water and may cause diseases, said Stalin D, director, NGO Vanashakti, who filed a petition in the Supreme Court to ensure that pollution levels at the river reduce and restoration work begins.

There needs to be serious commitment from the state environment department, pollution control bodies and the chief minister to get our rivers back, he said.

In October, HT had reported that Maharashtra has the most polluted rivers in the country, according to a central government report.

A report by the Union environment ministry found at least 3,000 million litres of untreated sewage and industrial effluents are discharged into the states water bodies daily.

It also found that Maharashtra had 49 polluted river stretches, including Mithi, Ulhas, Vaitarna, Godavari, Bhima, Krishna, Tapi, Kundalika, Panchganga, Mula-Mutha, Pelhar and Penganga.

MPCB officers said the CPCBs directives have helped reduce pollution levels at Mula and Kundalika significantly, but efforts are still needed to restore the Mithi.

Along with the Pune Municipal Corporation, local authorities at Roha and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, we can confirm that pollution levels have declined at Mula and Kundalika. They are no longer considered priority 1 polluted rivers, said YB Sontakke, joint director, water quality, MPCB. However, the sheer quantum of sewage generated in Mumbai makes Mithi the most polluted currently and it is imperative to set up more sewage treatment plants (STPs) to improve water quality over the next year, he said.

Mithi, which is around 15-km long, starts from Powai and ends in the Mahim creek after coursing through Kurla, Saki Naka, Kalina and Vakola. The river has been reduced to a nullah, where sewage, garbage and industrial waste is dumped. According to experts, nearly 54% of the original riverbed has been lost to encroachments, roads and development.

According to MPCB, Mumbai generates 2,500 million litres per day (MLD) sewage, of which 600 to 700MLD enters Mithi without treatment. We have developed a detailed project report of the sources of pollution, locations where STPs are required and housing societies where sewage must be treated at the source. Research organisations have helped us prepare the report, which will be shared with BMC to be implemented, said Sontakke.

Mula River rises in the Western Ghats, and after the dam that forms the Mulshi Lake, it flows into Pune, where it merges with the Mutha. Pune generates 700 MLD of sewage, of which 600MLD is being treated and 100MLD is discharged directly into the rivers, said officials.

Following our analysis, we tied up with more than 200 housing societies in Pune to install STPs at the source, so the amount of domestic waste is curtailed. At the same time, common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) were set up to reduce industrial effluents. While a major quantum of sewage is now being treated, the installation of a few more STPs will improve the water quality significantly, said Sontakke.

The Kundalika River originates 150 km south of Mumbai from Bhira and passes through industrial towns such as Roha. Most of its pollution comes from industrial wastes. Less than 100MLD of sewage is generated by small towns along the river. Notices were sent to industries that were not treating waste adequately. While 36 industries were shut for non-compliance, the remaining treated wastewater successfully, said Sontakke.

He added that only 2-3 MLD sewage enters the river without being treated.

Water quality status of most polluted rivers in Maharashtra

River BOD (in mg/l) Mithi 50 Mula 50 Kundalika 50 Bhima 40 Pawana 36 Indrayani 36 Koyna 35.5

SAFE LIMIT: Water bodies having BOD more than 6 milligram per litre (mg/l) are considered as polluted and identified for remedial action

(Source: Central Pollution Control Board)

In India: Sewage generation in urban areas and available treatment capacity

State Sewage generation (in million litres per day MLD) Available treatment capacity (MLD) Maharashtra 8143 5160.36 Uttar Pradesh 7124 2646.84 Tamil Nadu 5599 1799.72 West Bengal 4667 416.9 Delhi 4155 2693.7

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The much-awaited water transport service from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai and even Goa is back on track.

The central environment ministry gave its nod to the construction of a jetty at Nerul for the project. The jetty, which the Cidco proposed last year, is expected to be completed within 30 months.

Three bodies are involved in the project. Cidco will work on the project with Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) and Bombay Port Trust (BPT) to initiate the water transport. BPT will develop the jetties at Bhaucha Dhaka, MMB will develop Mandwa in Raigad and we will develop the Nerul jetty, said Mohan Ninawe, senior public relations officer of CIDCO. We had called for tenders for the Rs111-crore Nerul jetty in November last year. The project was to be completed in two-and-a-half years.We are confident the work will now start soon.

CIDCO had to shift mangroves over 1 acre for the jetty and also acquire land along the road owing to which it had to seek sought sanction from the central forest and environment ministry.

The body has made heavy payments to the government to get the land transferred from the central government to the state government and also to develop alternative mangroves. CIDCO has the permission from CRZ and MCRZ.

Ramesh Giri, superintending engineer, CIDCO, said, CIDCO is ready to execute the project. However, as the project is located next to the creek and mangroves, permission from authorities concerned is mandatory. With permission from the environment ministry, we can proceed with the project.
Several of the University of Mumbais (MUs) third year Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) papers, held between Monday and Wednesday, were leaked on WhatsApp more than an hour before the examination, revealed sources.

While the varsity denied receiving any complaint of the alleged leak, HT has obtained purported leaked digital copies of two of these papers - Logistics and Supply Chain Management, held on Monday and Marketing: Service Marketing, held on Wednesday. The extent of the leak is not clear, but teachers from two colleges in Western suburbs have confirmed that many of their students received the exact replica of the papers in their inbox well before the papers started.

The leaked papers belong to the fifth semester BMS examination which began on Monday. While it is not clear exactly which of the five papers held till Wednesday were compromised, the teachers said that their students received the leaked copies on all the three days of examination. The students told me they received the papers between 9:45am and 10am, said BMS coordinator of a college in Western suburbs. The papers start at 11am.

A teacher from another college claimed that the papers were delivered as early as two hours before the examination. On Wednesday, at least half the students had accessed the papers beforehand, he said.

The university sends the papers to exam centres online through its Digital Exam Paper Delivery System (DEPDS), which was introduced in 2013 in the wake of several paper leak incidents. Colleges receive a password to download the question papers from an MU portal, usually one and half hours before the paper starts. The papers are then printed by the college and distributed among the students.

The two copies of the papers obtained by HT are watermarked with the codes of unidentified colleges. The codes may hold the clue of the place or places of origin of the leak, but a senior official from MUs examination department said that the codes are confidential and are changed every day by the universitys information technology (IT) service provider.

When asked about the leaks, Arjun Ghatule, incharge director, board of examination and evaluation, and Siddheshwar Gadade, in-charge dean, Commerce faculty, have both denied receiving any complaints.

The teachers, on the other hand, expressed concern over the incident. The students are suffering due to constant goof-ups of the university. It seems that the digitisation of examination and evaluation process is not serving any purpose, said a teacher.

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Two people, who were selected to join the Maharashtra police constabulary, may not get the final recruitment order as they made two different people impersonate them and appear for their physical measurement and field tests for them.

Pooja Barkale and Atul Lamkhade are most likely to end up in police custody. The Bombay high court last week rejected their anticipatory bail pleas seeking pre-arrest bail primarily on the grounds that the two and the three others booked with them were students.

Justice AM Badar rejected anticipatory bail pleas of Pooja, Atul and the impersonators  Manisha Ghode and Amol Dongre.The judge also rejected anticipatory bail plea of Santosh Fafatkar, who purportedly morphed their photographs to enable Manisha and Amol impersonate Pooja and Atul in the recruitment examinations held in Mumbai in April this year. According to the police, Manisha appeared for all the physical measurement and field tests for Pooja in the police recruitment process and Amol did the same favour to Atul.

The judge said considering the nature of the crime and the manner in which it is alleged to have been committed by the applicants, no case for anticipatory bail is made out. The offence is in respect of securing entry in the police department, which is entrusted with the work of maintenance of law and order and, therefore, custodial interrogation of all applicants is warranted, said the judge. Further investigation of the crime in question is necessary.

Commenting on the manner in which the crime has been committed, Justice Babar said the crime appeared to be committed in a calculated manner with all necessary precautions by getting photographs mixed and morphed in order to eliminate the chances of detection.
Continuing with its criticism of the Narendra Modi government, the Shiv Sena on Thursday slammed the Centre for terrorist infiltration bids and ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Sena, which is a key constituent of the ruling NDA, questioned if the situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir since the BJP came to power.

In an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana, the party said four years ago, the BJP slammed inaction of the Congress-led UPA government after a ceasefire violation matryred five men from the security forces. The ones who criticised the inaction of the UPA government when the Chinese infiltrated and Pakistan violated the ceasefire are now in power at the Centre and in the state, it read.

Since last year, they have been maintaining that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control. But on Wednesday, the Pakistan Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector. In the past two days, the Jammu and Kashmir Police admitted that almost 150 terrorists have been executed by the Indian Army, making it clear that terror attacks in the state have not reduced, the editorial said.

The incidents of ceasefire violation, which were 228 last year, have already crossed 500 since January, the editorial added.

The Sena said despite repeated warnings by the United States of America to dismantle the terror network and not being soft on terror, Pakistan continues to support terrorist groups. These attacks show that Pakistan is not backing out. Whatever was happening earlier [during UPA government] is still happening. So the question that what has changed in Kashmir can arise in the minds of the people, the Sena warned.

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Nearly 30-40 patients, staff and other employees of a local multi-specialty hospital survived a major fire that broke out on the ground floor pharmacy of the building on Thursday afternoon. The fire departments fast response helped contain the fire confine the flames to ground floor.

The building was promptly evacuated and no one was injured in the blaze that left the entire four-storey building covered in a bubble of thick smoke.

The ground floor pharmacy, located on the outer side of the hospital, caught fire due to a suspected short circuit in electrical wires, the police said. Soon, the medicines stored inside caught fire which was doused by the hospital staff with fire extinguishers, fooling the staff into safety and leading to a bigger blaze.

The staff thought that they had put out the fire fully because there was a lot of smoke, but it spread to other parts of the pharmacy. Soon, we pressed the fire alarm and alerted two other hospitals who sent their ambulances. We rushed critical patients to Yashoda and Sarvodaya hospitals in the ambulances they sent, director of the hospital Dr Archana Sharma said.

The fire remained confined to the pharmacy enclosure but it burnt the entire stock of medicines. Since the medicines caught fire, a thick smoke engulfed the building and also the upper floors, Dr Sharma added.

As the panic gripped the staff and patients, the staff called the fire department for help and three fire tenders were rushed to the spot from Ghanta Ghar Kotwali fire station. The volunteers from the civil defence also rushed to the hospital and helped with the rescue efforts.

In the meanwhile, police and administrative officers also rushed to the spot to look after the evacuation of patients and shifting to the two hospitals.

It seems that the fire started at the pharmacy because of a short circuit. We rushed three fire tenders as a precautionary measure. The hospital staff had shifted the patients outside and all of them were rushed to Yashoda and Sarvodaya hospitals. Since the medicines caught fire, the smoke was thick and pungent. No casualty or injuries were reported during the incident, said Sunil Kumar Singh, chief fire officer, Ghaziabad.

The fire department officials said that all the fire systems at the hospital were functional.
In early November an Indian naval stealth frigate, INS Satpura, was refuelled by a US Navy tanker off the Japanese coast as part of a routine exercise that the Indian Navy was engaged in with Japan and the US. The sub-text of this deployment has significant policy relevance for South Block. It draws attention to the challenges and opportunities for Indias emerging naval diplomacy and politico-military orientation.

The fact that the Indian Navy is able to deploy its front-line platforms in an arc from the east coast of Africa and the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Japan is indicative of the impressive footprint that the navy can establish in the maritime domain that is deemed relevant to India. However the reality is that no navy can operate in distant waters without adequate logistic support. In the present case, recourse was taken to a US tanker since our navy did not have the option of sending its own tanker with its warships.

Sturdy sea legs are an essential ingredient of a credible naval presence in the maritime domain. Over the last fortnight there has been a flurry of naval activity that included the naval commanders conference in Delhi followed by a conclave of 10 Indian Ocean littoral states in Goa. Indias maritime resolve was highlighted both by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the naval chief.

The new contour of the Indian Navys operational philosophy was elucidated by Admiral Sunil Lanba who noted: We have reached a consensus within the navy to have mission based deployment so that our areas of interest can be kept under permanent surveillance. We started off by having a ship deployed permanently in Andaman Sea and approaches to the Malacca straits. Then we have mission based deployments in the North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf; the Northern part of Bay of Bengal and near Sri Lanka. We are also sending ships to the Lombok and Sunda straits. So the ingress and egress routes of Indian Ocean region are being kept under surveillance such that we have better maritime domain awareness.

This is an ambitious agenda and will be challenging given the modest budgetary support that the navy receives in relation to the other two services. It remains the Cinderella service by way of budgetary allocation and hovers around the 15% level of the overall defence budget. The induction of major platforms in a sustained and uninterrupted manner  the critical determinant for sturdy sea legs  remains uneven and uncertain, thereby diluting the operational credibility of the navy.

The navy has an enviable track record of designing and building ships in India though it remains dependent on foreign suppliers for sensors and weapons. Given the lead time in design and ship-building, normative planning would suggest that the navy (and the Coast Guard) would have a continuous, adequately funded, acquisition pipe-line with a mix of ships  big and small to ensure the induction of a major platform every 18 months.

Yet in a very disappointing pattern, year after year, the navy surrenders money to the exchequer from the capital account (meant for acquisitions) as unspent. A quick review of the annual defence budget figures over the last five years reveal that the navy has surrendered over Rs 150 billion, even while its inventory gaps are reaching amber light levels.

The submarine story is illustrative and as the navy prepares for its 50th anniversary in December (the first boat INS Kalveri was commissioned in December 1967), the trajectory of the underwater platform offers valuable policy lessons.

After making costly policy errors, such as impetuously cancelling a German HDW submarine building programme in India during the Rajiv Gandhi years, India is now scrambling to acquire new boats. And the irony is that the decision-making lattice is so short-sighted that India has the curious distinction of acquiring submarines without torpedoes  for the original manufacturer has been blacklisted for financial transgressions.

Sitharaman has acknowledged the critical capability shortfalls that the Indian Navy is facing in ship-borne multi-role helicopters, conventional submarines and mine counter measure vessels. Each of them is vital for the operational credibility of the navy and the mine-sweeper gap is indicative of the impoverishment of the procurement process that plagues the military across the board.

Mine-sweepers are small vessels with special hulls and on-board sensors that allow the entry to a port/channel to be cleared of mines  and this is an essential activity whenever the fleet leaves and enters a harbour. For decades the navy has flagged this requirement but the decision-making process is yet to reach a meaningful closure in the matter, and in the interim the fleet remains vulnerable.

This pattern of decision-making at the highest levels  the buck stops with the cabinet committee on security  is a case of the dog-in-the-manger affliction, wherein the current ecosystem neither enables Make in India, nor swift acquisition from abroad.

Thus while mission based deployment is to be commended, the Indian Navy will be severely stretched by way of deploying its modest resources if this ambitious tasking is not complemented by astute policy review of the current stasis.

C Uday Bhaskar is director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi

The views expressed are personal
If I had a rupee for every time over the past nearing two decades Ive been asked if art is a good investment, Id probably have a capital base that would have facilitated my being the leading underbidder on Salvator Mundi.

The response has perennially been the same: yes, it is stellar as an investable asset but the requisites and guidelines to adhere to are so inflexible and severe, that its potential benefits are appreciated by a privileged few, typically ultra wealthy barons, or the kith and kin of genuine old-time connoisseurs.

To consider, without a doubt the finest instance of how capital can perform on an artwork, we shouldnt look beyond Salvator Mundi. This works history is also smashingly fascinating. As an art world insider, one has encountered over the years incredible stories, replete with providence, deceit, acuity, faith, provenance and many similar embellishments. Despite the reams Ive read, heard, and been narrated, this one stands apart.

Read: Leonardo da Vincis portrait of Christ sells for record $450.3 million

Over the 400 years following its creation in around c. 1500, this small format oil on walnut wood passes through a series of well-manicured hands, all within royal circles and the nobility. The descendants of Sir F. Cook, in 1958 decide to consign it to auction, following which it appears in a Sothebys sale the same year. It is listed not as a work by Leonardo da Vinci, but by Boltraffio, one of the masters apprentices. The work sell for GBP 45.

Forty-seven years later, this work appears in an estate sale in Louisiana from where it is acquired by an NY-based art dealer for $10,000.

What follows over the next eight years is a journey that involves the trials and tribulations of authenticating the work to be a genuine Leonardo - to be presented to a prospective buyer as a once in a lifetime opportunity: the final painting by the master in private ownership.

With the attribution in order, the dealer with a consortium of investors-dealers in 2013, initiate the sale proceedings of the work. Despite being initially offered to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who very evidently wants it for his collection, this prized work slips through and is brokered by Sothebys to Yves Bouvier for $80 million.

Bouvier, known as the Freeport king for managing the worlds largest Freeport art storage facilities, interestingly also happens to be Rybolovlevs art dealer. As with dealers and the inclination of their trade, Bouvier goes on to sell Salvator Mundi to Rybolovlev within a matter of weeks. For $127.5 million.

Bouvier and Rybolovlev would soon find themselves in a bitter courtroom battle, with the collector claiming he had been heavily overcharged by his dealer on the 40 works he purchased from him over a decade for over $2 billion.

Back to our masterpiece. Rybolovlev consigned the work to Christies earlier this year, and the closing bid resulted in a premium included cost of $450.3 million. For his capital investment of $127 million, Rybolovlev recorded a CAGR of 37.2%

Seen through a historical lens, Leonardos little gem on walnut from GBP 45 in 1958 to $450.3 million. Thats a CAGR of 31.4% for 59 years running. Art sure can be an unparalleled investment. On occasion.

(Arvind Vijaymohan is the CEO of Artery India, the worlds largest financial data center focused on Indian art that tracks over 800 artists with a turnover of nearly $1.2 billion)

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Police in north Bihars Vaishali district on Thursday arrested a woman leader of a gang, involved in lifting of vehicles after drugging and killing its drivers.

Maya Madam, as she prefers to be known as, was arrested at Hajipur after weeks of surveillance across Vaishali and Patna districts, Vaishali superintendent of police (SP) Rakesh Kumar and additional SP Ajoy Kumar said.

Her male accomplice Sanjiv Kumar was also arrested, the police officers told reporters at Hajipur, headquarters of Vaishali district, 22 km north of Patna. Three other members of her gang were absconding and raids were on to nab them, the officers added.

Disclosing their modus operandi, the officers said Khatoon alias Maya Madam and Sanjiv Kumar used the simplest of stratagems to rob and kill.

They would hire SUVs and other vehicles from Patna-based agencies for outstation travel, kill the drivers after drugging them and flee after dumping the bodies at an abandoned place, the officers said.

Police had recovered two firearms, four cartridges, two cellphones, a motorcycle, some medicines and a phial of injectable drug from the woman and her accomplice, the SP said.

The SP said the woman did not have any formal educated but carried herself well and was adept at driving all types of vehicles. She spoke Hindi fluently and could converse in broken English, the SP said. Her son is pursuing degree course in a Delhi-based college, he added.

The woman and her accomplice have confessed to their involvement in at least six recent incidents of vehicle lifting on NH-77 that links Hajipur to Sonbarsa near India-Nepal border and at other places, the SP said.

Police said one of the bodies recently recovered near Mahua in the district was that of a driver the gang had allegedly drugged and dumped. We are trying find out if the gang was involved in killing of three other persons whose bodies had been recovered in the district recently, the police added.

The SP said criminal gangs were known to engage woman as decoys. But this was probably the first time that a woman had been found to be the leader of the gang in Vaishali district, he added.
Gaurav Kumar, the accused in the double murder case of senior journalist KJ Singh and his mother Gurcharan Kaur, on Thursday said the police has framed him in the case.

Gaurav , 27, was produced in the case before the court and while interacting with the media persons he said, I was walking out of the Gurudwara Singh Shaeeda, when the police arrested me. The car was parked in Khajeri and one day I stood besides it, but had no clue that it belonged to KJ Singh.

Gaurav was sent to judicial custody for 14 days and will be produced in the court on November 30.

On October 26, the police had arrested Gaurav, who hails from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, who was putting up at Kajheri village, for murdering senior journalist KJ Singh (64), and his bedridden mother Gurcharan Kaur (92), on the night of September 22.

According to the police theory, KJ had slapped Gaurav for sitting in a park next to his house and he came back to exact revenge and murdered him and then his mother.

Gaurav said the police had tortured him and the LCD screen was present in the CIA office when they brought him to the office. The number plate has been forged by the police and the knife was brought from my home, but I never used it, he said.

On October 26, the police control room (PCR) vehicle during the patrol on the YPS-Sohana Road saw the green Ford Ikon with a suspicious number PB-64A-6474. The original number of the car was PB-65A-0164.

When constables Parminder Singh and Ranjit signalled the car to stop, the driver sped away. The patrol staff then informed assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ajay Pathak, who managed to intercept the accused near the Sohana gurdwara on the Airport Road.

Police claimed to have also recovered the kitchen knife used in the crime, besides two mobile phones of KJ Singh, his three ATM cards, a DVD player, an Airtel TV set top box and a watch from Gaurav.
At a time when smog has blanketed large parts of north India and deteriorated air quality to alarming levels, biomass plants in the Malwa region are offering an alternative to farmers in managing paddy stubble.

It has been alleged that stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is the major cause for the worsening air quality.

There are three private biomass plants in the region. In Muktsar district, the Malwa Biomass Plant operates in Gulabewala, while the Universal Biomass Plant at Channu village. Besides these, another biomass plant is operational in Gadda Dob village of Fazilka district.

Dinesh Bhardwaj, assistant manager of the biomass plant in Gulabewala said, We have purchased 1.20 lakh tones of stubble this year and generate electricity by processing it. We are selling it to the power department at Rs 6 per unit. A total of 1.6 lakh units of power are being generated everyday at our power plant.

Balers are used to collect stubble from the fields. The machine takes an hour to make bales out of straw in an acre field. On an average, one acre produces 12-15 quintal of bales, which are then sold to biomass plants between Rs 120 - Rs 130 per quintal.

A baler costs about Rs 13 lakh and the agriculture department is also providing subsidy. However, farmers have said that the relief amount is inadequate to meet the cost.

Since the machines are unaffordable, they are taking them on rent and pay between Rs 700 - Rs 1,000 per acre for it. Until last year, baler owners used to provide the service free of cost.

Meanwhile, biomass plant owners claim that there has been an increase in the quantity of stubble purchased by them this year. In 2014, we purchased 39,000 ton stubble, whereas this year we have purchased 1 lakh ton so far, said Narinder SinghBhullar, general manager of the biomass plant in Channu.

Senior agriculture officer of Fazilka, Beant Singh, said, These plants can play a significant role in solving the problem of stubble burning and the resultant pollution. Farmers should be encouraged to make bales and manage paddy stubble. Besides, if compared with last year, the number of paddy stubble burning incidents was less this year.

Gurnam Singh, a farmer from Sarainaga village said, More biomass plants should be installed in the region for the benefit of farmers and the unemployed youth.

However, Jagdev Singh Kaniawali, president of Muktsar unit of Bharti Kisan Union (Kadiyan), said, The government is not serious about farmers problems. Those who manage paddy stubble without burning it should be provided suitable compensation. Baler owners are charging rent from the farmers. The service should be provided free of cost.
An 18-year-old girl student was allegedly abducted by a Panipat youth and his aide from outside MCM DAV College, Sector 36, after she blocked his mobile number.

The victim is a first-year arts student at the college. The accused later dropped her at the Hallomajra light point.

The duo  Vikrant (20) and Yash (19), who study in a college in Panipat  were arrested from Solan. It was their mobile tower location that did them in.

Police said the victim too hails from Panipat and knew Vikrant. The two had an argument while talking on phone a week ago after which she had stopped taking his calls. The girl even blocked his mobile number after he kept calling her repeatedly, said police.

The victim told the police that she was on her way to her PG accommodation in Sector 23 with her friends when the accused waylaid her near her college in Sector 36 on Tuesday.

She said Vikrant was in a Chevrolet Beat car that was being driven by Yash. According to the complaint, Vikrant pulled her into the car and Yash drove it away.

The accused had to let her go after she kept shouting for help. The victim was found crying at Hallomajra, after which she informed the police.

The accused have been arrested and are on a days police remand, said Sector-36 station house officer Naseeb Singh. Their custodial interrogation was required to recover Vikrants mobile phone and the car in which they kidnapped the girl.

A case has been registered under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 (sexual harassment), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
The preliminary examination of the 17-year-old girls body, which was recovered from bushes opposite Mayo Hospital in Sector 69 here on Tuesday, has found that she was raped before murder.

The girl, whose family hails from Uttar Pradesh and resided in Mataur village, was last seen around 4:30pm on November 9, coming out of a house where she worked as a babysitter in Sector 69.

The type of wounds found on the victims body point to involvement of more than one individual in the crime.  Forensic official

Her mutilated and maggot-infested body was recovered after a boy working at a tea stall nearby noticed it on November 14.

Dr Karamjeet Singh, chairman of the three-member board that conducted the postmortem at the Mohali civil hospital on Wednesday, said: The preliminary examination confirms that the girl was sexually assaulted.

The forensic expert added that presence of maggots on the body show that it had been lying there for around five days, suggesting that the murder took place on the night of November 9.

More than one person involved

The type of wounds found on the victims body point to involvement of more than one individual in the crime, he said. The doctors say at least 10 stab wounds were found on the victims abdomen, stomach and back. They have sent her viscera samples for further examination to laboratories in Patiala and Kharar.

Police said the victims handbag was missing after the incident. Meanwhile, the victims father, who was out of town the day she went missing, said: On that day, my son went to the house where she worked. However, the family didnt cooperate initially.

He filed a missing person compliant at the Phase-8 police station on November 11. My daughter could have been saved if the complaint was filed the same day, he said.
Amid outcry over arrest of UK national Jagtar Singh Johal in the case of targeted killings in the state, the Punjab Police claimed Johal was not only a key conspirator but also a fund-raiser.

Johal not only personally knew hitmen Hardeep Singh Shera and Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian, who killed RSS and other right-wing leaders, but also provided them money to buy weapons to strike at the targets. He was deeply involved in the conspiracy and we have enough evidence to prove that. Even Johal has admitted during his interrogation, a senior official involved in the investigations into the case told Hindustan Times.

As per police sources, the last payment Johal made was of 4000 pounds, which he gave to Jammu resident Jimmy Singh, another UK resident accused in the case, who was arrested by the Punjab Police on November 1 from the Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi, while he was coming back from UK after spending several years.

Jimmy, the sources said, purchased weapons involved in the shooting and gave it to Shera and Ramandeep.

The sources claimed that Johal has confessed that he had collected money through fund-raising for his magazine, based on 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Johal, who used to work as an ideologue to radicalise Sikh youth on Facebook, was also in touch with Pakistan-based Khalistan Zindabad Force militant Harmeet alias Happy Phd. Even he arranged a person from a third country to train Ramandeep and Shera. More details are awaited on this aspect, the investigators told HT.

POLICE RUBBISH TORTURE CLAIMS

Meanwhile, senior officials overseeing the probe refuted claims that Johal was tortured or given electric shocks during his interrogation. They said his medical examination is being done as sought by his counsel in the court.

The outcry over the issue is unfortunate. We are quite sure about Johals role in the case. Now, we have enough evidence to prove that, said a DGP-rank official.

COPS LOOKING INTO BRITISH GOVTS ROLE

He said the police are also looking into the British governments role in the case. We have enough leads with us that the British government was aware about such plots being run on their land and the mingling of ISI sleuths with the Sikh extremists in that country. 

He added, When terror hits their country they do everything in the name of national security. Now, when we have arrested their national for spreading terror in our country, they are defending the accused.

Referring to the 2009 killing of RSS leader Rulda Singh, the police officials claimed that it was also planned in UK but the country never co-operated with the Punjab Police to nab the two accused, who were UK residents and fled to that country after the murder.

HITMAN RAMANDEEP, KLF CHIEFS REMAND EXTENDED

Meanwhile, a Moga court on Wednesday extended the police remand of hitman Ramandeep Singh, an accused in targeted killings, and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief Harminder Singh Mintoo.

The court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate Pushpinder Singh, extended Ramandeeps remand till November 18 and that of Mintoos till November 17.

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Dreamt to become a lawyer, Dharmpreet Singh Jassar, 21, of Khothra village in Banga subdivision who was shot dead in California, had a plan to visit the hometown in January after completing his education there.

His relatives, who are in shock told that Singh was the only son of the family, told that he was also supposed to take reins of the family transport business into his hands but the destiny had its own plans.

Dharmpreet had moved to the USA for pursuing his law degree in February 2015 after the family spent 8 lakh. His family had high hopes that the victim would come back in three years and would help in the family transport business.

He stayed with his paternal grandparents who had settled there some years ago. He worked as a store clerk at a grocery store at a petrol pump in Madera city, his family here said. Dharmpreet was shot by four assistants, who came to loot the store in Madera city, California on Tuesday night, local time.

His parents, twin sisters and the rest of the family came to know about his death on Wednesday morning when his grandfather, Bhag Singh, called up. A pall of gloom descended in the village.

On Thursday, all villagers made a beeline for the victims house and shared grieve with the family.

Jagdeep Singh Jasser, an uncle of the deceased, said that his a Punjabi-origin youth, identified as Armitraj Singh Athwal, has been arrested by the US police for his murder and other three were also identified.

This was a very unfortunate incident. A few days back, we were so excited that we will see our son after three years of gap in January. But destiny had planned something else, said inconsolable Jagdeep.

He said that the postmortem examination will be done Thursday evening, thereafter we will decide about his cremation to be done in the US or if the body shall be brought to India.

MINISTRY EXTENDS HELP TO FAMILY IN US

Following media reports, the state chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh requested the minister external affairs Sushma Swaraj on Twitter stating, Shocked at the gruesome killing of Nawanshahrs Dharampreet Singh in California. @SushmaSwaraj Ji, request to you to take up the issue at highest levels with US authorities to ensure justice for the family.

Jagdeep said that family members informed us that the representative of the external affairs ministry in the USA also approached them to extend required assistance to the family in the case.

Reacting on the case, Swaraj tweeted, I have received a detailed report on the unfortunate death of an Indian student Dharampreet Jassar in California. It was a case of armed robbery of a gas station in which the robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there. The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin. We are following up further investigation by the police and will extend all help to the family of the deceased.

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Around 10 members of a 2,000-strong contingent of Jharkhand police and paramilitary forces had to be taken to hospital over suspected malaria infection, weakening a major anti-Maoist campaign in a thick, forested region said to be the region where the ultras top cadre is holed up.

The operation  jointly by Jharkhand police and the Central Reserve Police Force in Burha Pahar region, around 200 km northwest of capital Ranchi, began mere days ago before the men were taken in ill with fever, according to sources.

Confirming the development, Garhwa superintendent of police, Md. Arshi told Hindustan Times, Around 10 men were referred for treatment at the Sadar hospital, few have also been discharged after treatment.

While Garhwa district civil surgeon Dr. T Hembram refused to give the exact number of personnel who have been admitted at the hospital, he said the personnel are being given the best medical attention.

Few of them have been confirmed PF positive (brain malaria). Medically, nobody is critical but in case of the forces we admit them as a precautionary measure, the civil surgeon said.

Several government and parliamentary panel reports have shown that more personnel have died of medical ailments such as heart attacks, depression and mosquito-borne fever like Malaria over the past few years than being killed in combat with the red ultras.

A top Jharkhand police official described it as a necessary evil which cannot be avoided and the forces take all possible measures to check its side-effects.

Some of the areas in the state are Malaria-prone, especially the forested areas. For example, the Saranda belt was Malaria-prone. During operation in that area, the forces were provided with proactive medicines. Despite that if forces take ill, we provided immediate medical attention, the police official said.

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The teaser of Balas Naachiyaar was released on Wednesday evening and it immediately became a topic of discussion as it features Jyothika in a rough-and-tough role, swearing, breaking windows and torturing people. There was even a debate on social media whether Jyothikas character really needed to swear at the end of the teaser. While some thought it was bold, others felt it appeared forced and not leaving the kind of impact it was intended to have on the viewers.

Amidst all this, some people noticed that the teaser also features actor-composer GV Prakash Kumar and he looked very different. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap felt he looked totally unrecognizable.

Tagging Prakash on Twitter, Kashyap wrote: Hello. What have you been doing little genius? You look so different and so good having done a Bala film. How many new surprises in store, man? He went on to add: This is freaking surprising. I dont even recognize you. We have to meet.

@gvprakash hello .. what have you been doing little genius.. you look so different and so good.. having done a "Bala" film .. how many new surprises in store man  Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) November 15, 2017

@gvprakash this is freaking surprising.. I don't even recognize you.. we have to meet  Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) November 15, 2017

The film, directed by Bala, follows the life of Jyothika, who plays the role of a cop and GV Prakash, who is a resident of north Chennai. Actor GV Prakashs character seems unlike any other that he has portrayed before, but his look does appear to be a mix of Vikram and Suriya in Balas Pithamagan.

Initially, speculations were rife that that the film is inspired from the real life of serial killer Jayaprakash, who murdered his relatives in Valasaravakkam in the 80s. While it doesnt look like GV plays the murderer, Jyothikas look and action in the teaser is convincing enough.

Has Bala got Jyothika to portray a serial killer in the film? We have to wait and watch.

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Akhil Akkinenis film Hello is about searching for your soulmate in the face of adversities. The teaser of the film, which was released by Akhil on Twitter, begins with Nagarjunas voice as the narrator. He says, The luckiest people on earth, meet their soulmates even if they have to face many hurdles. It looks like Akhil plays the role of a romantic as a boy on the streets and as a man who goes the distance.

We see a well-off little girl in a car saying goodbye to a shabby-looking boy. We then watch him grow up to become a strong, agile man. The teaser also highlights Akhils parkour skills as he jumps from one building to another.

The female lead is played by Kalyani Priyadharshan and we see her waiting for the man she loves. We do not see too much of her, or for that matter, the romantic side of the film. Akhil is the star of this teaser which was quite expected as Hello is Akhils second movie and he will be seen on the silver screen after a gap of two years.

Directed by Vikram Kumar, this film also marks director Priyadharshans daughter Kalyanis debut in Telugu film industry. Baahubali actor Ramya Krishnan and Jagpathi Babu also play pivotal roles in the film.

Produced by his father Nagarjuna Akkineni under Annapurna Studios banner, the film is set to release in theaters on December 22.

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Well-known producer Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green on Wednesday at the audio launch of Vijay Antonys Annadurai came down strongly on popular Tamil actors Simbu, Vadivelu and Trisha for their reckless and unprofessional behaviour. Although he didnt take their names, everybody could guess the actors he was talking about. While heaping praise on composer-turned-actor Vijay Antony for his relentless hard work and commitment in shaping his career, Raja quoted the examples of Simbu, Vadivelu and Trisha to emphasize on the other side of the spectrum.

Theres so much we can learn from Vijay Antony. He has shaped his career on his own without being a burden on anyone. When we have such highly committed and magnanimous actor on side, we also have some highly unprofessional actors on the other side. We recently received a complaint about an actor (referring to Simbu), who was responsible for a producers loss of Rs. 18 crore. He shot for 29 days and during this course he would arrive on sets late everyday and shoot for just four hours. He insisted that the film be released with just 30 percent of what they shot. I have never seen such an irresponsible actor in my life. We are planning to take strict action against him. Another popular comedian (Vadivelu) is creating lot of problems for the producer of his latest film, Gnanavel said, raising lot of eyebrows. He also said that when he had recently gone to meet an actor (Trisha) in a five-star hotel with a films producer, they waited for over ten hours but to no avail.

Vadivelus sequel to his highly successful Tamil comedy Imsai Arasan is rumoured to have been shelved following war of words between him and producer Shankar, the director of 2.0. The producer of Saamy 2 wants action to be taken on Trisha as she walked out of the project citing creative differences just when her portion were to be shot.

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Its still raining records for Vijays Mersal. After four weeks of theatrical run, the films teaser has beaten the teaser of Rajinikanths Kabali to become the most viewed Indian film teaser to date.

With over 34.6 million views and counting, its a new record for Mersal which has already set many since its release for Diwali last month. Vijays Mersal continues its successful run at the box-office, taking the worldwide gross earnings to around Rs 230 crore and emerging as the highest grossing Tamil film ever.

Although superstar Rajinikanths Enthiran had grossed over Rs 250 crore at the ticket window, the film had released in three languages unlike Mersal which had just released in two languages.

The Telugu version of Mersal, which had been titled Adhirindi, released last week and did extremely well in Telugu states.

Directed by Atlee, the film featured Vijay in a triple role and it was produced on a lavish budget of Rs 130 crore. Mersal has set new records in many markets. In Malaysia, having earned over Rs 20 crore gross since its release, the film is the third biggest grosser in the country after Dilwale and Kabali.

Outside India, the film has so far grossed over a whopping $15 million and has become the third biggest overseas grosser this year after Baahubali 2 and Raees.

With Mersal, Vijay has expanded his base outside Tamil Nadu with highly impressive numbers. In Chennai, it has become Vijays biggest grosser and continues to play to packed houses in many screens.

Following the phenomenal success of Mersal, amidst several controversies, audiences are keenly looking forward to Vijays next with AR Murugadoss as they team up for the third time after Thuppakki and Kaththi. It has to be seen whether Murugadoss can bounce back from the failure of Spyder with this project. Vijay might also reunite with director Atlee following the runaway success of Mersal. However, this project might only happen in the second half of next year. Atlee, meanwhile, is rumoured to team up with Sivakarthikeyan for a new project.

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Gautham Ramachandrans Richie marks Nivin Paulys straight entry into Tamil filmdom where he already enjoys good fan base thanks to the phenomenal success of Premam and his subsequent Malayalam films. Richie, after months of wait, is finally set to hit the screens on December 8, according to the makers who released a new poster on Wednesday.

The film, a remake of Rakshit Shetty starrer Kannada thriller Ulidavaru Kandanthe, features Nivin Pauly in the role of a gangster and a glimpse of his character from the teaser has already created quite a sensation.

Apparently, the film will features Nivin in a role thats unlike anything audiences have seen so far. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle earlier this year, Gautham said: The character of Richie will be a stark contrast from what the audiences, even in Kerala, have seen Nivin do so far. If they had categorised him in any way, Richie will be diagonally opposite to that, Im sure. Nivin has also dubbed for the first time in his own voice in the film, which also stars cinematographer-actor Natty, Shraddha Srinath, Lakshmi Priyaa and Prakash Raj.

Even though the makers wanted to make the film as a Tamil-Malayalam bilingual; it was Nivin who insisted that the film be made only in Tamil as hes keen on expanding his base. On the career front, Nivin is busy with multiple Malayalam projects and some of them include Hey Jude, Kayamkulam Kochunni and Kairali among others.

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This year has been phenomenal for Sai Pallavi. After making a smashing debut in Telugu with Fidaa and signing Dhanushs Maari 2, she is gearing up for the release of her maiden Tamil film Karu, a woman-centric horror drama thatll touch upon the issue of abortion. The makers have revealed that the trailer of the film will be released by Prabhudheva on November 18, Saturday at 5 pm. The film features Sai Pallavi in the role of a mother of a 4-year-old daughter.

Talking to Deccan Chronicle last month, films director Vijay said: It is an intense subject and focuses on the bond between a mother and her four-year-old daughter. Sai Pallavi essays the mother. The movie touches upon the issue of abortion and I cant reveal anything more at this point of time, he said, adding he was hell bent on working with Pallavi from the beginning. Right from the beginning, I was very confident that Sai would be able to pull it off. I watched Premam as well as Kali. I loved her performance in both. She was very impressive in the latter. She has done a wonderful job in Karu. Pallavi, after impressing Telugu audiences with her own dubbing, will also dub in her own voice for Karu, which will also release in Telugu as Kanam, and co-stars Naga Shourya.

Apparently, Pallavi came forward to dub and Vijay feels itll enhance her roles multiple times. The trailer of the Telugu version will also be released on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pallavi will begin work on Maari 2 early next year. Director Balaji Mohan has assured she will have a very strong role in the film. Dhanush, who will bankroll the project, will return as the dhoti-clad, mustache-twirling local don.

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After cancelling yet another shoot at the last minute, Kapil Sharma has offered an explanation on why he could not make it to The Great Indian Laughter Challenge on Monday. He has said that he apologised to the shows host Akshay Kumar who asked him about his health.

In a statement to Pinkvilla, the actor-comedian revealed that he is exhausted from all the promotional activities for his upcoming film, Firangi. Oh.. thats my show .. from where I started my career..I am definitely going there to meet my loving elder brother Akshay paji n the contestants.. there is nothing to do with promotions.. I can go anytime to meet them.. I have also spoke to akshay paji .. he was concerned about my health.. jus exhausted coz of back to back traveling n work .. rest all well.. just reached Dubai.. n taking a flight back tonight only as we are shooting a special event for firangi on Sony tomorrow [sic], Kapil said.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Kapil didnt turn up on the show citing health issues. Kapil gave a go ahead last night and the shoot was planned for today. The team waited for a while but seeing no trace of Kapil started the acts in the hope that he could join later on. His team later in the afternoon informed that Kapil wasnt keeping well and it wont be possible for him to join the shoot. Though the team has been left disappointed, knowing Kapils health concerns, we wish he recovers soon, the report quoted a source.

Kapil had previously cancelled several shoots for his show The Kapil Sharma Show. He didnt show up for shoots with Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay, Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi and several others. He recently said at the trailer launch of Firangi that he would often take to alcohol in moments of stress. Shah Rukh had to come at 7, and I was on the sets at 2 pm. But at 8, I couldnt think I could do it. I couldnt perform. Same happened with Anil (Kapoor) sir. They were all very supportive. They told me to rest. It was reported that they left angrily, but they returned to check on me. Then I went to Bangalore and I locked myself in a room and started drinking a lot to hurt myself. People would tell me to come out of my office, where I locked myself. To get away from all the negativity, I would drink. In the bargain I cancelled a lot of my shows, he said.

I had started treatment in Bangalore and had even started drinking a lot. I locked myself. I felt everyone hated me. It will take three more months to recover and currently Im feeling a bit happy, Kapil said of an ayurvedic centre where he says he was cured of his excessive drinking in 12 days.

His second film Firangi, which also stars Ishita Dutta, Monica Gill, Edward Sonnenblick and Rajesh, is set to release on November 24.

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A suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital on Thursday near a gathering of supporters of an influential regional leader killed at least nine people and wounded many, the interior ministry said.

It was not clear if the politician, Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party, was at the meeting at the time of the attack.

Islamic State claimed responsibility, according to Amaq, its official news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.

We are proud to be martyred because of our country and our rights. This gathering was for the sake of our country to raise our voice, said witness Jan Mohammad.

Afghan security personnel arrive to the site of a deadly suicide bombing, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2017. (AP)

The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence that has killed and wounded thousands of civilians in Afghanistan this year.

Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said the bomber approached the hotel hosting the gathering in the Khair Khana district of Kabul, on foot. The dead included seven policemen and two civilians.

Media showed photographs, apparently from witnesses, which appeared to show about a dozen bodies. Reuters was unable to verify the photos.

Afghan security personnel gather next to a vehicle which was used in a suicide bombing outside a wedding hall in Kabul on November 16, 2017. (AFP)

The northern-based Jamiat-i-Islami was for years the main opponent of the Taliban, who draw their support largely from the southern-based ethnic Pashtun community.

In June, a suicide bomber attacked a meeting of Jamiat-i-Islami leaders, including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Abdullah, who is backed by Noor, and other ethnic minority leaders, formed a coalition government with President Ashraf Ghani after a disputed 2014 presidential election.

Ghani on Wednesday sacked the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, raising doubts over whether parliamentary and council ballots scheduled for next year will take place as planned.
At 21, a Nigerian migrant named Victory fled from home in search for better life in Europe. He reached Libya, only to be sold as a day labourer multiple times.

If you look at most of the people here, if you check your bodies, you see the marks. They are beaten, mutilated, Victory says. His family, he says, borrowed money to free him from smugglers and he eventually returned to Libya empty handed.

Victors story isnt an anomaly. A CNN investigation revealed that migrants were being sold by smugglers in Libyas capital Tripoli for as little as $400. A video taken secretly in August showed another Nigerian man, possibly in his 20s, being auctioned off as one of the big strong boys for farm work. In the clip, the auctioneer is not visible but his hand can be seen on the migrants shoulder.

Does anybody need a digger? This is a digger, a big strong man, hell dig, the report quotes a man saying during an auction witnessed by journalists. Slaves sold for $500-$650 were then handed over to their new masters.

Chaos-ridden Libya has long been a major transit hub for migrants trying to reach Europe and many of them have fallen prey to serious abuse in the country at the hands of traffickers and others. Many migrants perish on the sea and some who survive, are sold as slave workers.

Italy, a common destination for refugees smuggled into Europe, has been helping the Libyan authorities intercept migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean and return them to prisons in Libya.

These auctions are just a variation of the horror we know, former Italian foreign minister Emma Bonino said, adding: Men, women and children enslaved, raped, beaten, piled on top of one another (in centres). All this has been known for a long time.

In this photo provided by Sea-Watch, migrants from a sinking inflatable dinghy try to board a Libyan coast guard ship during a rescue operation at sea in international waters off the coast of Libya. (AP File Photo)

The situation is dire, Mohammed Abdiker, the director of operation and emergencies for International Organization for Migration (IOM) had said in April in a statement.

Some reports are truly horrifying and the latest reports of slave markets for migrants can be added to a long list of outrages.

CNN says Libyan authorities have promised to act on the evidence as the United Nations on Wednesday criticised the international community for turning a blind eye to the horrors endured by migrants in Libya. The body said the world should not pretend the situation could be remedied by improving detention conditions alone.

The suffering of migrants detained in Libya is an outrage to the conscience of humanity.

(With agency inputs)
The French presidents office said Thursday that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to come to France after his surprise resignation from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago that stunned Lebanon and rattled the region.

An official in President Emmanuel Macrons office said Hariri is expected in France in the coming days. The official was not authorized to be publicly named.

Hariri announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia on Nov.4, citing meddling in the regions affairs by Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah. He has not returned to Lebanon since, and the Lebanese president has refused to accept his resignation before he returns.

In his strongest statements yet about the crisis, President Michel Aoun accused Saudi Arabia of detaining Hariri, saying there was no reason for the prime minister not to return to Lebanon.

France, Lebanons onetime colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate in the crisis. On Wednesday, Macron invited Hariri and his family to come to France, apparently as a way to put an end to allegations that the prime minister is being held against his will.

The resignation of the Saudi-backed Hariri stunned Lebanon, throwing its government into turmoil. It was a reflection of the deepening feud between Saudi Arabia and Iran for influence in the region.

On Wednesday, the front page of the daily Lebanese Al-Akhbar boasted: Saudi loses, hailing the French for their proposal to end the deadlock.

Hariri resigned from Saudi Arabia in a televised speech that blasted Irans role in the region. The decision was seen as engineered by Saudi Arabia and raised concerns that it would drag Lebanon, with its delicate sectarian-based political system, into the battle for regional supremacy.

The announcement that Hariri will head to France came after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met in Saudi Arabia with Hariri, the Saudi crown prince and the Saudi king.
China has asserted that there is no contradiction in its policy to block Indias bid to designate Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, saying the BRICS declaration was against terror groups and not individuals, Pakistani media reported on Thursday.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked Indias move to impose a ban on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.

The latest technical hold by China came on November 2 when it blocked another proposal by the US, France and the UK to list Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN. Beijing had blocked such a move in February this year.

Speaking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors in Beijing this week, Counselor and Asia Division Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chen Feng said vetoing a resolution against Azhar after the BRICS declaration against terror outfits did not reflect a contradiction in Chinas policy as BRICS members have not entered into any such agreement.

The Chinese move was not in contradiction with Chinese policy in the context of BRICS declaration against terrorism, Chen was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

Chen clarified that the BRICS summit discussed only banned organisations and not individuals, Pakistan Today reported.

The BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - at a summit in China in September named, for the first time, Pakistan-based groups like the Lashkar-e- Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani network in a joint declaration condemning terror.

In early November, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said: we raised a technical hold so as to allow more time for the committee and its members to deliberate on this matter. But there is still absence of consensus on this matter.

Defending the repeated technical holds, Hua said Chinas actions are meant to ensure and safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council.

China in the past has also asked India to discuss the issue directly with Pakistan to reach an understanding on Azhars listing.

In the last two years, China has stonewalled efforts by India to declare Azhar as a global terrorist.

The senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official also briefed the Pakistani editors about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an ambitious project that is opposed by India as it is passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Chen said Beijing was trying to convince India that the multibillion dollar project is based on economic cooperation and that its main aim is to promote peace and prosperity in the region.

The CPEC is neither a way to achieve political aims nor to be used in regional conflicts. Basic aim of the economic plan is to expand the mutual relations. China wants to engage other countries in the economic corridor too, Chen said.

He said China had time and again clarified it to India that it had no hegemonic designs in the region.

We rather view CPEC as a way of forming equal relationships with regional countries and to promote friendship and neighbourhood in the region, he added.

Feng clarified that China was not a party in the Kashmir dispute.

Indias accusation of Chinese occupation on any part of Kashmir is baseless. We have denied such claims in the past as well. Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, peaceful solution of which is the only way to regional peace and prosperity, he was quoted as saying.
No one likes to own up to a coup. Its usually nasty business and it can bring frowns and punishment from abroad (even when nations might be rooting for the coup leaders).

So it was this week as Zimbabwes military forces placed President Robert Mugabe and his wife under house arrest and sent armoured personnel carriers into the capital to cement control, all in service of what the armys supporters called a bloodless correction.

A correction, not a coup? It may be too early to tell. But terms of art and squishy euphemisms are the norm in world affairs because words matter on that stage. They can mask the reality on the ground.

To recognize a genocide is to be expected to take consequential action to aid victims and bring perpetrators to justice. Like genocide, a crime against humanity is a crime under international law. The Trump administration has edged up to a determination that Myanmars brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims is ethnic cleansing, but so far stopped short.

The United States uses rhetorical dodges to describe its own doings. It acknowledged using enhanced interrogation, not the forbidden torture even if the difference was not apparent to those who were waterboarded before such tactics were banned.

It made infamous the much-disdained collateral damage label to describe the unintended bombing deaths of civilians.

And it hasnt technically been at war since President Franklin Roosevelt waged it against Japan, Germany and others in the 1940s, which has not stopped the US from sending hundreds of thousands to fight from Korea to Vietnam to Iraq to Afghanistan in extended military engagements, targeted actions or the like.

A vendor picks up a copy of a special edition of the state-owned daily newspaper The Herald in Harare. (Reuters File Photo)

Washington has struggled in addressing military takeovers before. In 2013, when Egypts military ousted the nations popularly elected Islamist president, the Obama administration debated for three weeks on whether to call the event a coup. It devised a novel solution: a decision that saying nothing best served Americas national interests.

Within the State Department on Wednesday, the message about Zimbabwe was caution, with any declaration of a military coup potentially triggering a cutoff of US aid to that country. Given Zimbabwes murkiness, officials within the agency were strongly advised to avoid any talk of a coup or attempted coup until the situation stabilizes and an analysis could be conducted.

Zimbabwes military leaders have not said whether they intend to replace Mugabe with another strongman, restore his presidency under an altered political landscape or transition to democracy. One motive was apparent: preventing Mugabes wife, Grace Mugabe, from succeeding her 93-year-old husband, who has reigned for 37 years.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace chant the party's slogan during a solidarity rally in Harare. (AP File Photo)

Whichever the case, it smells like a coup attempt, according to a widely accepted definition by US scholars Jonathan M Powell (now University of Central Florida) and Clayton L. Thyne (University of Kentucky): Illegal and overt attempts by the military or other elites within the state apparatus to unseat the sitting executive.

If what went down in Harare is acknowledged as a coup, however, Zimbabwe would face African Union sanctions and risk the loss of foreign aid.

A statement read by Major General Sibusiso Moyo asserted that the action was only meant to target criminals around Mugabe. We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover, said the statement, read as troops seized strategic points, the US Embassy in Harare warned Americans in the capital to shelter in place and nothing was clear at all.
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced a man to 60 years in jail for throwing acid on a young woman who refused his marriage proposal.

Judge Sajjad Ahmad of the Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore on Wednesday sentenced Asmatullah to 25 years in jail on two separate counts under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and another 10 years under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

He also imposed a fine of Rs 3.9 million which the accused has to pay the victim as compensation.

Asmatullah, 25, had thrown acid on the 23-year-old womans face two months ago in Lahores Defence area where she worked in a software office.

Police arrested him from his hometown of Bhakkar where he had taken refuge at an outhouse of a local politician.

A case was registered against Asmatullah on terrorism charges in addition to some sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. The convict confessed to his crime in court.

He said he threw acid on the woman for rejecting his proposal. I had sent my parents to her house for marriage proposal but she rejected me, he said.

The girl lost eyesight in both eyes and her face has been disfigured.

The case was sent to the anti-terrorism court to fast-track it.

Civil society groups have hailed the decision and have urged the government to fast track all such cases.
Britains advertising standards watchdog has rapped six universities for making claims of their stature based on criteria and rankings that may not be accurate.

The universities  Leicester, Falmouth, West London, Strathclyde, East Anglia and Teesside  have been told to stop making specific claims by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) amid intense competition for students among varsities facing deep funding cuts. These institutes include those who advertise and recruit students in India.

The University of Leicester was told it could not use the claim in its marketing campaign that it is in the top 1% among universities in the world. The ASA ruled separately for the six universities that their marketing campaigns broke the advertising code.

Falmouth University claimed it is the UKs number one arts and creative university, Teesside University that it is the top university in England for long-term graduate prospects, the University of Strathclyde that its physics department has been ranked as number one in the UK, the University of East Anglia that it is in the top five for student satisfaction, and the University of West London that it had been named as Londons top modern university  and one of the top 10 in the UK.

ASA chief executive Guy Parker said: Our rulings send a clear message to UK universities. If youre making claims about your national or global ranking, student satisfaction or graduate prospects, make sure you practice what you teach: play by the advertising rules, in particular by backing up your claims with good evidence.

Going to university involves a big financial commitment and misleading would-be students is not only unfair, it can also lead them to make choices that arent right for them.

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Top Baloch nationalist leader Mehran Marri, who has been living in self-exile outside Pakistan, was on Thursday detained at Zurich airport in Switzerland and informed by officials that there is a lifetime ban on his entry into the country.

Marri tweeted that he had been detained along with his wife and four children soon after he flew into Zurich. He said in the tweet that he felt he was under arrest by Swiss authorities on the request of the Pakistan Govt.

Friends, I have been detained at Zurich Airport for the last few hours and feel I am under arrest by Swiss authorities on request of the Pakistan Govt.



My wife and children are also with me in detention.



Don't worry, being detained is nothing new for the Baloch... (1/2)  Mehran Marri (@MehranMarri) November 16, 2017

(2/2)... My father spent many years in far worse conditions, but never have up.



The peaceful & legal struggle for an independent #Balochistan free of Pakstani occupation shall continue no matter what the Punjabi generals & babus of that excuse of a country plan. We'll persevere  Mehran Marri (@MehranMarri) November 16, 2017

Pakistans Geo News channel reported, citing its sources, that the ban on Marris entry into Switzerland was placed at the request of the Pakistan government. The report said Pakistan had handed over a dossier to Switzerland detailing Marris alleged links with militant groups in Balochistan.

There was no official word from the Swiss or Pakistani authorities on the development.

I hv now been informed that I have been placed under a lifetime ban on entering Switzerland at the request of Islamabad. So much for the Geneva UNHRC being the world capital of human rights.



I am still in detention at Zurich Airport with my wife and children. Stay tuned 4 more  Mehran Marri (@MehranMarri) November 16, 2017

A number of top Baloch leaders fled Pakistan when former dictator Pervez Musharraf launched a military operation against nationalists and insurgents in Balochistan in 2006. Akbar Bugti, one of the most senior Baloch nationalists, was killed during the operation.

In recent months, Pakistan has stepped up protests through diplomatic channels to European governments after Baloch dissidents and activists launched campaigns highlighting rights abuses in several European cities, including Geneva and London.

Baloch groups put up billboards with slogans such as Free Balochistan in these cities. Pakistan registered a strong protest after Free Balochistan banners appeared on buses and taxis in London over the past few weeks.

Brahamdagh Bugti, the son of slain Baloch leader Akbar Bugti, tweeted that he was really shocked to learn that Marri had been stopped at Zurich airport and barred from entering Switzerland. Bugti is also the brother-in-law of Marri.

Really shocked that Mehran Marri was stopped at Zurich airport and banned to enter Switzerland on Islamabads request. How a neutral country like Switzerland can do that. Looking forward to meeting with Swiss authorities  Brahumdagh Bugti (@BBugti) November 16, 2017

There were reports that Marri and Bugti had planned to hold a conference on Balochistan in Switzerland on November 18 with the aim of uniting top Baloch nationalists and forging a joint strategy for their movement.

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Reversing an Obama-era ban, the Trump administration has decided to issue permits for elephant trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe, which environmental groups say would lead to more poaching.

A US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) official said the agency received new information from Zambia and Zimbabwe that the move would benefit conservation in their countries.

The FWS, under former president Barack Obama, determined in 2015 that importing the trophies would not benefit the species in the two African countries.

The FWS official said the US move will allow the two African countries to include US sport hunting as part of their management plans for the elephants and allow them to put much-needed revenue back into conservation.

Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation, the FWS sokesperson said in a statement.

Critics, however, note the restrictions were created by the Obama administration in 2014 because the African elephant population had dropped. The animals are listed in the US Endangered Species Act, which requires the US government to protect endangered species in other countries.

We cant control what happens in foreign countries, but what we can control is a restriction on imports on parts of the animals, CNN quoted Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society, as saying.

The Elephant Project tweeted:

Reprehensible behaviour by the Trump Admin. 100 elephants a day are already killed. This will lead to more poaching. https://t.co/rld67eM018  The Elephant Project (@theelephantproj) November 16, 2017

100 elephants a day are already killed, the group said, adding that, This will lead to more poaching.

The number of elephants in the wild plummeted 30% overall between 2007 and 2014, despite large scale conservation efforts. In some places it has dropped more than 75% due to ivory poaching.

In 2016, there were just over 350,000 elephants still alive in the wild, down from millions in the early 20th Century.

US President Donald Trumps sons Donald Jr. and Eric are themselves big game hunters, US media reported.

Several years ago, Trump Jr. was criticised for posting a photo of himself with a dead elephants severed tail.

Safari Club International, a worldwide network of hunters, cheered the announcement by the Trump administration.

We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the US Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife, SCI President Paul Babaz said in a statement.
Two more women came forward on Wednesday with allegations of sexual misconduct against Republican US Senate candidate Roy Moore, one accusing him of groping her and the other of forcing a kiss on her when he was 30 and she was about 18.

They are the sixth and seventh women to accuse Moore of sexual improprieties since his race for the Alabama Senate seat began. Most were teenagers at the time. Moore, 70, has denied the accusations and said he is the victim of a witch hunt.

Gena Richardson told the Washington Post that Moore, then a 30-year-old attorney, had repeatedly asked her for a date in 1977 just before or after she turned 18. Richardson said she finally agreed and went to a movie with Moore, the Post said.

In a dark parking lot at a mall in Gadsden, Alabama, Richardson said Moore gave her an unwanted, forceful kiss that scared her, the Post reported.

Another woman, Tina Johnson, told AL.com, an Alabama news site, that Moore groped her while she was in his Alabama law office on legal business in 1991.

Johnson, who was 28 at the time, said she visited Moores office with her mother, who had hired Moore in a custody case involving Johnsons 12-year-old son.

Johnson said Moore grabbed her buttocks as she left. He didnt pinch it, he grabbed it, Johnson told AL.com.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the allegations from either woman, and Moores campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Five other women have accused Moore of sexual misconduct or of dating them when he was in his 30s and they were teenagers.

National Republican Party leaders have responded with demands that he drop out of the Senate race. The Dec. 12 special election will fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he was named US attorney general last spring.

Moore on Wednesday denied the allegations of the first five women to step forward.

We are in the process of investigating these false allegations to determine their origin and motivation, he said in a statement.

Moore also said he believed a message that one of the accusers, Beverly Young Nelson, said he had written in her high school yearbook had been tampered with. Nelson accused Moore of sexually assaulting her when she was 16 and he was in his 30s.

Nelson displayed the yearbook message at a news conference in New York, where she made the allegations on Monday. Moores campaign on Wednesday demanded that Nelson turn over the yearbook to a neutral custodian so a handwriting expert could examine it.

The Alabama state partys leadership met on Wednesday night to discuss their stance and took no action, news media reported.

Republican leaders in Washington have asked Moore to withdraw from the race and said they are exploring write-in options for the election.

US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has spoken to President Donald Trump and others about the situation. Trump appeared at the White House on Wednesday but did not mention Moore.

Under state law, Moore cannot be removed from the ballot. If, however, the state party tells election officials that it wants to withdraw its nominee, or if Moore himself decided to do so, election officials would not certify any votes cast for Moore.

Before the allegations surfaced, Moore, a Christian conservative and former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice, had been heavily favored to defeat Democrat Doug Jones, a former US attorney. But a new poll on Wednesday, released by the Senate Republicans campaign arm, had Jones surging to a 12-point lead since the allegations surfaced.

A Democratic win in Alabama would be a blow to Trumps agenda and shift the political outlook for next years congressional elections, giving Democrats a stronger shot at wiping out the Republicans 52-48 Senate majority.

Moore has suggested that McConnell and other establishment Republicans are working with news media to discredit him.

The Washington Post first disclosed allegations by four women about their relationships with Moore when they were teenagers, ranging in age from 14 to 18. One of the women said he initiated sexual contact with her when she was 14 and Moore was in his 30s.
A committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a legislation for a vote by the larger body proposing rules to toughen the H-1B visa regime that could potentially affect Indian IT companies operating in the United States.

The Bill, moved by Republican lawmaker Darell Issa, proposes a string of measures that strike at the root of the business model followed by Indian IT companies, that are premised on wage differentials between amounts paid to foreigners on H-1B and local Americans.

However, the Bill, which Issa has claimed has the backing of US President Donald Trump, has a long way to go before it becomes the law of the land. It must first pass the House and then go through the same process in the Senate  passed by a committee before it is put to a vote before the full upper chamber. Then it goes to the president for his signature.

The bill seeks to make it more difficult for H-1B dependent companies  defined as companies with more than 15% of employees on H-1B  which practically account for most of Indian IT organisations operating in the US. The bill aims to raise this to 20%.

The Bill also proposes a 50% salary hike from the current base of $60,000 to $90,000, arguing that the minimum rate was fixed decades ago in a different time and context. This would hit the bottomline of Indian IT companies whose profits are premised on wage differentials.

Other clauses of the bill that could hit Indian companies include one that require some H-1B employers to give an undertaking that they will not displace a US worker during their entire employment, and not just 90 days before and after the filing of an H-1B petition. And allow the department of labour to conduct at least five random investigations of H-1B dependent employers annually.

The US allows American companies to hire 65,000 highly skilled foreign workers abroad and 20,000 from among foreign students enrolled in American schools and colleges. A large number of these visas go to Indian IT companies who are accused of using them to replace American workers.

Issas Bill is among several that have been moved in recent months given Trumps avowed commitment to bring back businesses and jobs to the US. The President has given his support to some of them, but its not clear yet how, and in what shape, they will reach his table for his signature.

Highly skilled individuals that come to America through the H-1B visa program add tremendous value to the US economy. We have a responsibility to ensure this important program isnt being abused by employers to undercut American jobs, Issa said in a statement.

Unfortunately, loopholes in the program have allowed a small handful of employers to game the system to displace American workers and crowd out others who legitimately need the limited slots available to recruit individuals with unique skillsets not available here at home.
HOW DOES A GENERAL GET FAMOUS, particularly in a war as saturated by modern media as World War II?

You dont necessarily have to win the war (see Rommel), nor do you have to lead soldiers into combat, saber in hand (Eisenhower never even came close). The most important attribute is probably charisma. You have to make good copy, or reporters wont write about you. Think George S. Patton, a commander who couldnt stay out of the headlines even if he tried (and he never seemed to try very hard). And once youre in the headlines, the history books cant be far behind. Like Patton, you might even get a tank named after you.

But requiring charisma or outrageous behavior is unfortunate, because it excludes some truly fine commanders.

Take General William H. Simpson, a long, tall son of Texasa West Pointer (Class of 1909) who fought on the Philippine island of Mindanao against the Moros and in Mexico against Pancho Villa. He was a staff officer in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1918, held the usual staff and instructor positions in the peacetime army, and commanded a pair of infantry divisions stateside in the early years of World War II. Along the way, he acquired a reputation for quiet, calm confidence; a man who always got the job done with minimal fuss and maximum self-effacement.

For more great stories by Robert M. Citino, click here. Subscribe to World War II here.

Headlines? Not so many, even when he led one of the four American field armies in France. His newly established Ninth Army reduced the fortress of Brest in September 1944, blasted across the Siegfried Line in November, and fought up to the Roer River. The German counterblow in the Ardennes took much of the U.S. Army by surprise, but Simpson recovered more quickly than mostrushing the 7th Armored Division to Saint Vith, where it helped blunt the Wehrmachts momentum. The Rhineland Campaign of January-March 1945 saw the Ninth Army on the extreme left of the Allied battle array, grinding its way up to the mighty Rhine River in some of the wars bitterest fightingmuch of it of the gritty urban variety that reporters and historians usually cannot resist.

But apparently in this case, they could. Even Simpsons greatest hour the lunge across the Rhine and the great wheel to the south that helped encircle a huge German force in the Ruhr in Aprildid little to establish him as a man worthy of a headline.

But perhaps this was his own choice. Simpson liked to let his corps commanders fight the tactical battle. His job was to give them the toolsthe planning, administration, and suppliesthey required. His command style consisted of calm and orderly staff work, expressed in daily morning conferences. And when his corps commanders succeeded, Simpson handed them the spotlight, famously allowing Major General Troy H. Middleton of VIII Corps to accept the surrender of Brest, for example. He even went where few men in the U.S. Army had gone before, serving under Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery as part of the 21st Army Group, an assignment that might well have made General Pattonno fan of his British alliessuffer an aneurism. Naturally, Simpson acquitted himself fully, winning Montys praise for the great skill and energy of Ninth Army operations.

So go ahead, name the great U.S. Army generals of World War II. Line up the usual suspects: Patton, old blood and guts; Bradley, the soldiers general. Just be sure to make room for a guy with the stirring nickname of Bill.

In my fantasy, there is a tank in the U.S. Armynothing flashy, but versatile, reliable, able to handle any mission. Call it the Simpson. 

This column was originally published in the February 2018 issue of World War II magazine. Subscribe here.
Ninth-century Benedictine monks created a beautifully illustrated account of the Jewish revolt of 174 BC.

In the modern imagination, the medieval knight is a glamorous figure. No other warrior in Western history seems so admirable, so devoted to causes beyond the nasty realities of the battlefield. Dressed in shining armor, astride a magnificent horse, he carries his ladys favor and embodies a chivalric ideal that to this day suggests courtesy and high-mindedness. His life, it seems, was surrounded by ritual: colorful tournaments at which he honed his skills, religious ceremonies that endowed his mundane pursuits with an aura of divine justification.

The reality was far less alluring. The discomforts and ordeals of medieval warfare are well documented, and the knight himself, almost always illiterate, has been exposed as rarely chivalrous. Thus the sparing of a fellow knights life was less an act of gallantry than a means of exacting a hefty ransom. It may be, however, that the view of this mounted warrior as the epitome of valor owes more than a little to the image he enjoyed among the artists of his day. For those artists, notably in the Bayeux Tapestry [see The War-Torn History of the Bayeux Tapestry, MHQ, Winter 2010], the knight was a splendid and colorful figure, a vivid instrument for portraying great events. And this was even the case, as we shall see, within the sheltered confines of a monasterys walls.

There are plenty of battle scenes in the manuscripts monks produced, and even some in church stained-glass windows. They reflect the practices of the armies of the dayknights on horseback, foot soldiers, archers, and sieges and on occasion they purport to show contemporary conflicts, such as crusaders besieging Jerusalem. In these instances, however, and in the majority of the images, it is the religious rather than military purpose that holds sway. Indeed, in many examples, the illustrated scene is taken from a story in the Bible. Thus the remarkable Maciejowski Bible, produced in Paris in the mid-13th century, is filled with extraordinarily detailed paintings of military events in the Old Testament. The miniatures show the Israelite army as a medieval force whose knights slice enemies in two, whose foot soldiers besiege walled towns with catapults and ladders, and whose archers rain arrows down on defenders. Since this is a holy book, the artist can idealize warfare as fought in a sacred cause.

Of the many manuscripts that address the topic of war, however, perhaps the most unexpected is one produced 350 years before the Maciejowski Bible: a copy of the First Book of Maccabees illustrated in the great Benedictine Abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland sometime in the 9th and early 10th centuries. Unlike the Maciejowski Bible, which covers many subjects, this manuscript focuses almost exclusively on warfare, andat least in the Westseems to have been the first extended visual treatment of this theme since antiquity.

The first book of the Maccabees, a Hebrew text usually regarded as an Apocryphal book (that is, not part of the official canon) of the Old Testament, was written at the beginning of the first century BC. It tells the story of Judea, home of the Israelites, following the death of Alexander the Great. The Seleucid Empire, centered in Babylonia, was one of the successor states that arose after Alexander died, and it controlled Judea from the late fourth century BC well into the first.

But in the second century its ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, sought to forbid Jewish religious practices. The result was a 40-year revolt, beginning in 174 BC, during which an Israelite state was established in Judea that lasted until the Roman conquest in the next century. Naturally, this came to be seen as a heroic time, and the family that led the revolt, the Maccabees, was celebrated in several accounts, including the First Book of the Maccabees written in Hebrew and others written in Greek, Arabic, and Syriac, a form of Aramaic. To this day, the festival of Hanukkah commemorates these victories.

A monk working in the scriptorium of St. Gall who wanted to depict soldiers in action would have found the Maccabees an ideal subject. Virtually every chapter recounts the events of a drawn-out war, offering far more military scenes to illustrate than another famous manuscript produced in these years at St. Gall, the so-called Golden Psalter, which includes some details of King Davids wars.

That the subject of warfare may have been on the minds of the monks at this time is not surprising. The monastery was a rich and powerful fortress that dominated the surrounding area, and it was a favorite target of the Magyars, a Central Asiatic tribe rampaging through Europe in the 10th century. Ancestors of the modern Hungarians and distant relatives of the Finns, the Magyars operated mainly in central Europe but ranged as far as France in the west and Italy in the south. Between 924 and 933, they repeatedly threatened St. Gall, though they never captured the abbey, whose territory went on to become an independent polity and eventually one of the cantons in the Swiss Confederation.

Still, the Magyar threat was direct, and just before a determined assault in 926, all the manuscripts in the monastery, including the Book of Maccabees, were moved for safekeeping to a Benedictine house on an island in Lake Constance in southern Germany, out of reach of the land-based Magyars. Scholars have suggested that some of the illustrations were not completed until after the transfer, but the consensus seems to be that the work was far advanced by 926. We can never know which monks produced it, but their interpretation of the battle from the shelter of the monastery makes theirs a unique contribution to the many-sided story of artists reactions to war.

Though not longjust more than 900 versesthe book features 30 full-page illustrations. Given its tangential importance to any Christian spiritual mission, one almost has to conclude that it provided an excuse for the depiction of warfare. And in using familiar elements of their environment to portray unknown costumes, weaponry, and architecture in a faraway time and place, the illustrators tell us as much about 10th-century European warfare as they do about the story of the Maccabees: Ten of the miniatures, in particular, offer vivid and dramatic evocations of the combat that swirled around the Abbey of St. Gall.

The first miniature shows two scenes. At the bottom of the page, Antiochus gives the order to march forth, and above him we see the first onslaught of the siege: Archers shoot their elegant arrows, knights with raised shields charge, soldiers with shields man the defenses (probably of Jerusalem), and at the foot of the redoubtable walls lies the first Seleucid casualtywho may be represented as a Magyar. The decorations on the shields, especially the brilliant colors, are a trademark of the artist or artists. On the overleaf, large contingents of the Israelite army, with the decorated domes of Jerusalemprobably modeled on St. Gallbehind them, watch Mattathias, the patriarch of the Maccabee clan, perform two executions: He beheads a captured enemy commander, and he kills one of the Jews who has accepted the Seleucid decree to abandon Jewish practices and holds the unclean epitome of such faithlessnessa strikingly lively pig.

A few folios later, we come to the first open-field battle. We have reached the fourth chapter, and Judah Maccabee, son of Mattathias (who has now died), sets out at the head of an army. As the text notes: So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into the plain. Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued them. And that is what we see on a verso (left-hand page). As the soldiers on the right begin to flee, looking behind them, the knights on the left advance. Casualties, some upside down, fall off horses; other horses rear back, and some collapse. An abandoned shield lies on the ground. A central figure, perhaps Judah himself, accounts for more than one victim.

The scene conveys, in a few strokes, both calamity and victory. Moreover, the story continues on the recto (right-hand page) opposite. On the upper half, the charge and the rout continue; the casualties cascade down the page. And in the lower half, the triumphant Israelites celebrate. It was said that they sang a song of thanksgiving, but in the drawing they also wave long, thin fronds in a kind of victory dance.

Following his victory, Judah re- captured Jerusalem. The Book of Maccabees says merely that the Temple had been defiled and that Judah cleansed it. But the artist clearly knew his Old Testament, and although he himself must have been surrounded by holy statuary, he has Judah perform this task by tearing down small sculptures obviously intended to represent idols. But even this scene occupies only half a page; above it, we are treated once again to knights charging at defended wallspresumably Jerusalem just before it fell.

Several pages later, to change gear, the miniature shows the scene, described in Maccabees chapter 5, when Judah relieved an Israelite city and a siege failed. Now the troops are fleeing the walls and succumbing as knights charge out of the citys gate. And on the facing page we have the scene described a few verses later. Once again we see the advancing and retreating knights, and the casualties among the defeated, but this time a body of water bisects the battlefield. The text has given the artist the chance to show his versatility by incorporating the terrain that is described in the passage.

As he moves into chapter 6, the painter shows another failed siege, this time by Antiochus himself, and again an evocation of city walls and knights charging and retreating. But a few folios later he has the opportunity to try something new, for the book describes the appearance of elephants on the battlefield. Though he can never have seen the animal, the artist rises to the occasion, and in particular depicts the heroism of a soldier named Eleazar, who crept under an elephant and killed it with his spear. The animals collapse, which crushed Eleazar to death, is left to the imagination, but the artists close hewing to the textdespite the exotic intrusion that took him far from 10th-century Switzerlandremains consistent.

And there is a final masterpiece to come. In the only two-page spread meant to be seen as a single illustration, we have another battle. This time the Israelite knights on the left charge with lances at the ready. Below them, casualties already lie on the ground. And on the facing page, above further casualties, is a body of knights in full retreat. Some look backward, and one even holds his lance to the rear. But there can be no doubt that these are two halves of the same picture. The artist has transcended his usual one-page illumination to create a scene of violent action, triumph, and fear. That he should have created such an image of battle from the secluded vantage point of a remote monastery makes his manuscript a unique contribution, not just to the history of warfare but also to the cultivation of the image of the knight.

Originally published in the Fall 2011 issue of Military History Quarterly. To subscribe, click here.
Germanys Plan Z in WWII: More Subs Needed?

I read John M. Taylors Raiders of the High Seas [Summer 2011] with interest, though I disagree with his conclusion that Germany before World War II should have invested more in submarines and less in the surface fleet.

First: The Plan Z was devised by Admiral Erich Raeder for the German fleet based on Hitlers assertion that the war would not begin before 1944. It calls for submarineslots of submarines! It also proposes a surface fleet that would be a grave threat to the Royal Navy.

Second: Look at the materiel realities. The fleet of U-boats that would have been available in 1939 would have been mostly the useless IIb class. The VII and IX models were still new, and the VII C and IX D designs were not yet ready for production.

Third: Try to take Norway with IIb and VII submarines rather than surface ships. You will not take it, and your submarine fleet will be blockaded in Germany even after the army takes France. Then each submarine must run the British antisubmarine gantlet between Norway and Scotland or run the Channel.

Fourth: The Germans building mostly submarines would have freed up the British shipbuilding industry to concentrate on building antisubmarine vessels rather than capital ships. Remember, the men in the Admiralty lived through the U-boats of World War I and knew how dangerous they were.

Fifth: Germany lost almost 800 submarines and 33,000 men in sinking 2,828 enemy ships. That is less than four ships per U-boat at a cost of about 60 men lost per U-boat. This is much less impressive when you look at it this way. Not every commander was an Otto Kretschmer or Gunther Prien.

My conclusion: Submarines had their part to play and did it well, but they could not have done it alone. They would have been much more effective if they had been supported with a proper surface fleet.

Kenneth Briner

Falls Church, Va.

McClellan: No Grand Strategist

Major General George McClellans flawed estimate of troop strength showed his lack of strategic thinking [McClellans War-Winning Strategy, Summer 2011]. He thought somehow 20,000 troops would win the West, but he needed 273,000 to capture Richmond?

Second, Ulysses S. Grants plan is not similar to McClellans; it is extremely similar to Winfield Scotts Anaconda plan.

Finally, McClellan should never have risen above the command of inspector general. He was great at training men, but after that he was too fond of them to risk them in any battle.

A true commander knows that to win a war, you have to risk the thing that you love most, the men of your army. McClellan could not do that.

William McHale

Caledonia, Ill.

British Generals: Fighting Scared?

The Battle of Bunker Hill [Remember Bunker Hill!?, Summer 2011] altered forever the British mindset that their regular army could just chase this rabble from the field. Three of the four principal British commandersJohn Burgoyne, Henry Clinton, and William Howewitnessed the gutting of their battalions, and their future campaigns were colored by indecision, indirect approaches, and inaction. The fourth, Charles Cornwallis, was not there, and he fought a much more aggressive war.

Paul Penrod

Bel Air, Md.

CORRECTIONS

The Summer 2011 story Fooled Again misstated the number of Modocs hanged following the 18721873 clashes with the U.S. Army. The Modoc chief Captain Jack and three others were hanged.

Originally published in the Fall 2011 issue of Military History Quarterly. To subscribe, click here.
Some 150 years ago, Western armies all but abandoned torture. It has returned with a vengeance.

In 1849, pacifists felt history was on their side. A series of idealistic revolutions had shaken autocratic regimes across Europe the previous year, extending universal voting rights in many countries and spurring extensive constitutional reforms in Denmark and the Netherlands. Hundreds of intellectuals, philanthropists, and politicians had gathered in Brussels to discuss how to bring an end to war itself, endorsing arms limitations and a ban on military lending. In August of that year nearly a thousand delegates from Europe and North America convened in Paris to further their plans to bring down the war system and replace it with the rational adjudication of a Congress of Nations.

A day will come when a cannon will be a museum-piece, as instruments of torture are today, French author Victor Hugo told the Paris delegates. And we will be amazed to think that these things once existed!

The pacifists were to be disappointed. The Crimean Wara continental-scale conflict, despite its name broke out four years later, killing 400,000 and foreshadowing the horror of industrialization visited upon the battlefields of the American Civil War, the Franco-Prussian War, and the First World War. The 20th century would see more war deaths than any in history, and the early 21st promised the killing would continue apace.

But Hugo was right about one thing: Torture as a matter of state and military policy had indeed all but vanished from the Western world. Torturethe use of physical coercion to extract information or break down the subjecthad fallen out of favor in Europe for a variety of reasons, including the rise of Enlightenment philosophes, revised attitudes to battlefield treatment of prisoners, and new thinking among doctors. By 1851, every country in Europe had banned torture altogether. A few years later, Union armies went to battle with rules for warfare that explicitly condemned prisoner abuse.

Torture by military forces was thought a thing of the past. Indeed, the American historian John Fiske in 1889 declared it almost as extinct as cannibalism.

Then it came roaring back.

The 20th century saw military forces around the world torturing prisoners as a matter of operational policy, some at a scale that might have shocked Genghis Khan or Vlad the Impaler. Americans tortured and slaughtered prisoners in the Philippines. Japanese raped, tortured, and murdered captives by the tens of thousands in China and dissected Allied prisoners on Pacific islands. German military units were ordered to treat Soviet POWs as subhuman slaves, transferring some to be experimented upon by state-employed medical doctors. In more modern conflicts of every size and typeKorea and Vietnam, the Belgian Congo and Liberia, the Algerian civil war and the bitter Yugoslav split, Soviet-occupied Afghanistan and American-occupied Iraqsoldiers tortured soldiers on the orders of their superiors. It has reached a scale that dwarfs even the darkest Middle Ages, wrote British foreign affairs columnist Jonathan Power in his 1981 history of Amnesty International.

Why did torture, after nearly vanishing as acceptable military practice in the 19th century, return with such a vengeance? Its a question that has challenged 21st-century scholars, particularly since President George W. Bush condoned the use of certain torture techniques on prisoners held by U.S. military forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cubatechniques that allegedly played a role in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Their conclusion: The nature of war has come full circle since the early 17th century, from total war to gentlemanly clashes and, beginning around 1900, back again. Counterinsurgency and civil wars have become the norm, making it far more likely that combatants will be regarded as treasonous criminals rather than defeated soldiers. Both developments have resurrected operational torture, sometimes in forms not seen since ancient times.

Captured soldiers had few rights in antiquity. The Greeks protected citizens from torture, but slavesmany of them captured combatants were fair game. Torturing battlefield captives during interrogations was also considered acceptable. Indeed, when Athenian military leader Nicias was captured at Syracuse during the Peloponnesian War, the treacherous Syracusans killed him, Thucydides tells us, for fear that he might be put to torture by the Syracusans Spartan superiors and bring trouble on them in the hour of their prosperity. Dead Athenians could tell no tales; alive, they might relent under the interrogative regime put forth in Aristophaness play The Frogs: Tie him to a ladder, suspend or whip him. Pile rocks upon him. Put vinegar in his nose. Whip him with bristles.

Rome had a similar policy, though the standard means of torture was the rack. Prisoners of war might also face flogging with barbed whips, burning with red-hot implements, or battle against one another in gladiatorial blood sports. Again, torture of full citizens was generally prohibited, unless they were suspected of treason. According to the New Testament, St. Paul successfully challenged a centurions use of whips in his interrogation by invoking his Roman citizenship. The ancients had started what would prove a lasting tradition: For two millennia, torture has generally been condoned only when applied to noncitizens (such as POWs and conquered civilian populations) or classes of people suspected of plotting against the state (including, at one time or another, rebels, insurgents, terrorists, or members of ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic minorities.)

In Western Europe, medieval armies regularly tortured and killed prisonersexcept when those prisoners were aristocrats. While the abuse of an enemy knight was cause for social censure, attacking peasants was entirely acceptable. For centuries Catholic bishops in France campaigned against the abuse of noncombatants; under their Peace of God movement, those who beat or stole from unarmed peasants or clergy were subject to excommunication. The campaign had little effect. Even captured soldiers could be slaughtered as a matter of military necessity. After Henry V ordered hundreds of unarmed French soldiers executed during the Battle of Agincourt, he was not admonished by either English or French chroniclers because he justly feared his captives would rearm themselves in the midst of a perceived counterattack.

Torture and abuse of any non-Christians was accepted as well, as evidenced time and again during the Crusades to liberate the Holy Land from Fatimid Arab rule. Some of our men (and this was more merciful) cut off the heads of their [captive] enemies; others shot them with arrows [or]tortured them longer by casting them in the flames, one participant in the 1099 sacking of Jerusalem recalled. Piles of heads, hands, and feet were to be seen in the streets of the city [and]in the Temple and porch of Solomon, men rode in blood up to their knees and bridle reins.

Battlefield attitudes toward torture were informed by European judicial practices. Prior to 1215, courts often had defendants in capital cases tortured in trials by ordeal: If God protected them from harm, they were deemed innocent; otherwise, they were found guilty. But after the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, God was no longer called upon to judge serious cases. Rather, prosecutors needed either two witnesses or a confession, usually secured by, yes, torture. The preferred methods were to slowly crush the defendants leg in a vice or to tie his hands behind his back and hang him from a ceiling beamsometimes with weights attachedfor long and increasingly excruciating periods. Thus, throughout the Middle Ages, torture wasnt just legal; it lay at the very heart of jurisprudence.

European perspectives began to change with the Enlightenments assertion of human dignity and reason. Voltaire and others condemned torture as a barbaric vestige of humankinds cruel and primitive past. Increased faith in human judgment had transformed judicial proceedings, allowing judge and jury to convict suspects in the absence of a torture-induced confession.

At the same time, medical practitioners changed their view of pain. Medieval healers had deemed it a valuable path to spiritual growth. But by the 18th century, doctors were seeing it as entirely negative, driving a consensus that torture was spiritually valueless and morally repugnant.

On the battlefield, the early 17th-century works of Hugo Grotius helped transform attitudes on the treatment of prisoners of war. Grotiuss 1625 treatise De Jure Belli Ac Pacis has served as one of the foundation stones of international law. In it, the influential Dutch jurist argued that while POWs were essentially slavesand thus could legally have absolutely anything done to themthey should nonetheless be protected from abuse under humanitarian considerations. POWs were to be seen as fellow humans rather than as enemies and should be neither punished for what their superiors or colleagues had done nor tortured to reveal information.

Grotiuss ideas were tremendously influential in the subsequent conflicts of early modern Europe. Henceforth, European captors would be expected to behave as stewards, not as slaveholders. When the English Civil War broke out in the 1640s, officers on both sides accepted Lawes of Armes and codes of conduct that prohibited the execution, starvation, and torture of prisoners in most circumstances. They shall be free from wounding or beating, shall enjoy warm Cloaths to cover them and keep them warm, Parliamentary commander Sir Thomas Fairfax said of POWs.

This code was often breachedone Captain Smith of Oxford beat, starved, and subjected prisoners to stress positions with their necks roped to their heelsbut prisoner abuse was no longer accepted as the norm. Indeed, those who mistreated prisoners were roundly condemned as behaving like base Egyptians, Turkes, or other peoples considered barbarous.

Similarly, while French, Italian, Russian, Prussian, and Spanish forces all participated in battlefield massacres of prisoners in some cases torturing captives to death and leaving their mutilated bodies on displaytheir behavior was not celebrated. By the middle of the 18th century, Western cultures across the globe came to see torture, abuse, and slaughter of prisoners as heinous acts unbecoming of the professional soldier (except when dealing with alleged savages, Irish and Native Americans counted among them, who werent accorded the same protection).

Admonitions against prisoner abuse became increasingly codified. Prussia and the United States negotiated a 1785 treaty under which prisoners were to be well fed, housed, exercised and not put into irons, nor bound, nor otherwise restrained in the use of their limbs. In 1863 a German-born Columbia University professor, Francis Lieber, created for Abraham Lincolns Union Army the most detailed rules of warfare that had yet been devised.

The modern law of war permits no longer the use of any violence against prisoners in order to extort the desired information, or to punish them for having given false information, Liebers regulationsadopted as General Orders No. 100declared. Military necessity does not admit of crueltynor of maiming or wounding except in fight, nor of torture to extort confessions.

Liebers Code formed the basis for the 1899 Hague Convention, the first international treaty on the rules for land warfare, under which the Great Powers agreed prisoners must be humanely treated and afforded the same quality of food, quarters, and clothing as the troops of the government that captured them. With the start of the new century, torture once widely accepted was considered a violation of international law.

In 1901, American troops found themselves in the midst of a new kind of foreign war: one to occupy and rule a distant overseas territory in the face of a formidable liberation movement. The essential scenario would later be repeated in Indochina and elsewhere: When their rulers empire falls apart, a colonial people rise up in arms and declare their independence, only to find themselves at war with a successor empire.

In this case, U.S. Marines found themselves in an unconventional war against Filipino guerrillas, who had broken free of Spanish rule after the May 1898 U.S. naval victory in the Battle of Manila Bay [see Folly in the Philippines, MHQ, Autumn 2010]. American forces were soon engaged in atrocities that resulted in the deaths of tens and possibly hundreds of thousands of civilians as well as the burning of villages and the widespread use of torture to extract information. Brigadier General Robert Hughes defended the actions before Senate investigators in 1902 on grounds that would be familiar to the ancients: These people, he said, are not civilized.

Officers testified that the standard procedure when interrogating suspected insurgents was to use the water cure, a method that had apparently been favored by Spanish officials. That torture, occupation governor (and future U.S. president) William Howard Taft explained, involves pouring water down the throat so that the man swells and gets the impression that he is going to be suffocated and then tells what he knows.

Soldiers sometimes forced the water out of captives bodies by stamping on their engorged stomachs, and the cure would be repeated. They swell up like toads, a member of the 32nd Volunteer Infantry Regiment reported. Ill tell you it is a terrible torture.

Although the actions clearly violated the Lieber Code, those court-martialed received minimal sentences such as small fines and short suspensions from duty. Only Brigadier General Jacob H. Smith, the commander who had ordered a murderous reprisal by American troops in 1901, was severely punished; he was forced to take an early retirement. The Senate closed its investigations a few months later, and press coverage faded. The incident was soon forgotten, and with it the fact that a Western democracy had reverted to torturing battlefield captives.

Most scholars blame totalitarianism for reintroducing torture to the Western world. Indeed, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet Union made a mockery of 19th-century prohibitions against mistreating captives and noncombatants. All three regimes tortured prisoners as a matter of official policy and with a brutality shocking to contemporaries. Their military units engaged in torture to extract information but more often simply slaughtered captives, in some cases executing tens of thousands in a single incident.

Nazi Germany murdered millions of noncombatants, of course, but its military also systematically murdered enemy POWs. A few days after the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, Lieutenant General Hermann Reinecke, head of the German High Commands POW department, sent out orders declaring that the Bolshevist soldier had lost all claim to treatment as an honorable opponent in accordance with the Geneva Convention and could be subject to ruthless and energetic actionat the slightest indication of insubordination. Soviet POWs were subsequently starved, deprived of medical care, used for biological warfare experiments, or shot. When a German admiral challenged the orders as contrary to the spirit of the Geneva Conventions and military tradition, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel dismissed the objections as having arisen from an outdated military concept of chivalrous warfare. Estimates of the number of Soviets who perished in German POW camps run as high as 2.3 million. Unlike those of Slavic nations, American and British POWs were generally treated properly on account of their supposed racial superiority.

Soviet forces behaved as the Nazis did. After the invasion of Poland in 1939, the Red Army handed some tens of thousands of captured Polish officers over to Stalins secret police, who interrogated them in special camps. More than 14,000half the Polish officer corpswere executed and buried in Katyn Forest, near Smolensk. Some 1.3 million German soldiers are thought to have died in Soviet camps.

Japanese military forces behaved with particular brutality. During the invasion and occupation of China in the 1930s, Japanese armies raped and executed civilians by the tens of thousands in cities like Nanking. Scholars estimate that under the Emperor-sanctioned three alls policykill all, burn all, and loot allbetween two and four million Chinese were killed during the war, most of them civilians.

During the Pacific campaign, Japanese officers subjected Allied prisoners to beatings, live dissection, and execution by bayoneting or dismemberment and beheading with swords. Toward the end of the war, Japanese army and navy personnel took to eating enemy prisoners, even when other food was available. A war crimes tribunal accused Lieutenant General Yoshio Tachibana of ordering the torture, beheading, and consumption of hundreds of prisoners at a POW camp in the Bonin Islands. He had claimed that eating human flesh made his soldiers strong for battle. Captain Hiroshi Iwanami, a medical officer at the Japanese depot at Truk Atoll, was sentenced to death by U.S. war crimes tribunals for experimenting on American POWs with unnecessary tourniquets, the injection of pathogens, and explosives (to blow off their feet); Iwanami tied some captives to posts and had his staff use them for bayonet practice. Several Japanese soldiers were also convicted of war crimes for torturing Allied soldiers with the water cure.

The horror of Axis crimes became widely known after the war, prompting an international movement for additional human rights protections. The result was the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which banned torture, and the 1949 Geneva Convention, which made it illegal to subject civilian noncombatants to violence, cruel treatment, degradation, and torture. But even as the leading powers signed the conventions, their militaries were violating their conditions.

During the Korean War, North Korean forces took few captives, machine-gunning or bayoneting any United Nations troops who fell into their hands. But Chinawhich intervened in late 1950took thousands prisoner and subjected them to a form of coercion that was new to Westerners. Americans held by the Chinese on the Yalu River were tortured not to procure intelligence but to indoctrinate or brainwash them. The Chinese preferred nonviolent coerciona regimen of lectures, ideological debates, and memoir and confession writingbut turned to more abusive methods if that failed to convert captives. Emphasis was on breaking the mind through a rotating regime of sleep deprivation; solitary confinement; prolonged exposure to heat, cold, or filth; or simply being forced to stand for long periods.

It was extremely effective. Twenty-one captives famously refused to be repatriated in 1954, claiming life was better in China. One Marine aviator signed a 6,000-word statement broadcast over state radio that claimed U.S. forces were planning to use biological warfare agents to separate North Korea from China. According to one survey, 70 percent of American POWs collaborated with the Chinese and North Koreans by signing propaganda, writing articles, or making recordings.

Chinese methods were so effective, in fact, that they were studied, scrutinized, and adopted by American forces. In the immediate aftermath of the war, the United States founded the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) program. Aviators, commandos, and other troops likely to wind up behind enemy lines were subjected to Chinese torture methods as training to prepare them for possible capture. The same techniques were adopted by the Central Intelligence Agency, which ultimately used them on captives along with LSD and other drugs. (SERE also passed the Chinese methods on to interrogation training programs, including those used in 2002 and 2003 at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility for battlefield detainees from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters of the so-called War on Terror.)

While effective at breaking a captive, brainwashing was actually an unreliable means of collecting usable intelligence. Air Force sociologist Albert D. Biderman interviewed 235 airmen who had been held by the Chinese, and he concluded the techniques mainly served to extort false confessions. Why the military employed them at Guantanamo decades latercomplete with classroom charts copied from Bidermans studies remains something of a mystery.

In 1953, Westerners could still believe that the revival of torture was a totalitarian or Asiatic aberration. Liberal democracies, with their Enlightenment underpinnings, would never do such things as a matter of policy. Then the truth came out about what the French military had done in Algeria.

Faced with an independence uprising in its African colony, the French Parliament declared a state of emergency and, after a series of rebel shootings and bombings targeting civilians in 1956, gave its military and colonial officials special powers to detain suspectsterroristsat will [see Revolution Unleashed, MHQ, Summer 2011]. Freed from constitutional constraints, Major General Jacques Massu, commander of military forces in Algiers, oversaw what he later described as institutionalized torture. The preferred method was to attach electrodes to genitals and other body parts, because it left no marks afterward. Interrogators also raped women with bottles, sodomized men with pressurized hoses, and employed the water cure. Prisoners who failed to talk were often executed, their bodies dropped into mass graves orwith the help of helicopters the ocean. More than 3,000 detainees disappeared and 55,000 peopleincluding 40 percent of the adult males in the capital of Algiersunderwent interrogation, even though most were innocent. You were basically torturing vast numbers of people, 20 people, 30 people, maybe for one accurate hit, said Darius Rejali, a scholar of torture at Reed College.

The torture regime broke the terrorist network, but the French lost the war, in part because their tactics thoroughly alienated the Algerians and discomforted the French at home. Senior officers resigned over the policies. By 1961, protests in France prompted President Charles de Gaulle to agree to an independence referendum in the colony.

Despite the worldwide exposure of French behavior in Algeria, Western democracies have continued to engage in torture when fighting savage insurgents, to whom the normal laws of war dont seem to apply. In the mid-1960s, the United States found itself in just such a situation in Vietnam, a counterinsurgency war in which torture and extrajudicial killings became the norm. The South Vietnamese army regularly tortured and killed captives. They were dragged behind vehicles, electrocuted with field telephones, sodomized with shovel handles, wrapped in barbed wire, and subjected to water torture. Some had bamboo slivers driven under fingernails and fingers chopped off or were made to watch as a comrade was forced to take the long step out of a helicopter.

Such abuse was well known to the Pentagon. The International Council of the Red Cross notified the United States that it was violating the Geneva Conventions by transferring prisoners to its ARVN allies. And even though both President Lyndon Johnson and General William Westmoreland were aware of the United States responsibility for troops it captured, American troops continued to turn Viet Cong fighters over to the South Vietnamese for several years.

American soldiers also tortured prisoners and civilian detainees. A trove of once classified U.S. documents discovered in 2002 revealed that investigators had found 141 instances of such abuse. Members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade had beaten prisoners and civilian captives, subjecting them to water torture and electrocutions, sometimes just to determine if they were innocent civilians. Those found guilty were sent to joint interrogation centers, where they spent weeks in solitary confinement. Many were then transferred to South Vietnamese facilities, including the French-built Con Son Island prison, with its tiger cages, where prisoners were shackled for weeks at a time, sprinkled with lime, and given little food or water. (North Vietnam had similar facilities where U.S. airmen such as future senator John McCain were tortured.) Most allegations of torture and abuse by U.S. troops were never properly investigated; only 14 resulted in prison time for the perpetrators. It appears that while U.S. top commanders did not condone torture, they failed to prevent and forcefully respond to it.

The debate over torture was rekindled after the September 11 terrorist attacks, when the United States invaded Afghanistan and Iraq and began interrogating captives under conditions widely regarded as incompatible with the Geneva Conventions.

At Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, the military-run prison at Abu Ghraib, Iraq, and the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, enemy detainees were subjected to what the George W. Bush administration termed enhanced interrogation techniques. Many of these were familiar to scholars of torture: the variation of the water cure known as waterboarding, beatings, sleep deprivation, use of stress positions, exposure to heat and cold, and the threat of dog attacks. The Bush administration, reversing longstanding U.S. policy, determined the Geneva Conventions did not apply to captives it regarded as terrorists. I wonder, given the times that we currently live in and given this new enemy and this new kind of conflict, whether all of the provisions continue to make sense, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales queried Congress in 2005, although he had already secretly endorsed a memo authorizing torture techniques. This positionwhich was criticized by Secretary of State Colin Powell and his legal adviser, William H. Taft IVwas condemned and rolled back by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006.

But Bush administration officials also maintained that these interrogation techniques did not constitute either torture or humiliating and degrading treatment under the conventions. The latter term, officials said, was vague and open to interpretation, while supporters of the policies argued that techniques that cause no permanent damage were acceptable. Sleep deprivation or making someone stand in a certain position for a long time isnt torture, argued security consultant and former Marine major Kelly McCann. There are things you can do, such as striking the common peroneal nerve on the leg, that can cause a lot of pain and wont do any damage. That seems perfectly reasonable to me. Critics asserted that under international law, torture is the administration of severe pain or discomfort.

The torture convention does not distinguish between temporary pain and permanent damage, nor should it, said Duke University law school professor Scott Silliman in 2003. All pain, physical or mental, is torture, no matter how long it lasts.

In practice, however, interrogators went beyond the techniques sanctioned by the Bush administration. At Abu Ghraib prison, military police photographed naked prisoners being led around on leashes, piled naked in pyramidal heaps, masturbating at attention, handcuffed naked in stress positions, bruised and bloodied from apparent beatings, and standing hooded atop a box with electrodes attached to their arms and genitals (presumably to shock the captives if they moved from the stress position).

Several detainees died in custody, and some deaths were ruled homicides. As in the Algerian War, revelations of the extent of prisoner abuse led to an international outcry and damaged the moral authority of occupation forces both within the zone of operations and at home. To date, nine enlisted soldiers have been prosecuted, and the military polices commanding officer, Army Reserve Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, was relieved of her post. No high-level officials were charged.

Historically, torture has always happened in democracies, Rejali of Reed College noted in the aftermath of the scandal. The Greeks and Romans, the Renaissance republics, alleven Britain, France, and America were torturing in their colonies well before World War II. Long before the CIA existed, these techniques all happened.

The torture debate flared again after bin Laden was killed earlier this year, with former Bush administration officials claiming that enhanced interrogation of prisoners in 2003 helped show the way to bin Ladens door seven years later. But present and former intelligence and national security officials told the New York Times that torture played, at best, a minor role in identifying the bin Laden courier who led authorities to the terrorists hideout. One al-Qaeda operative, Hassan Ghul, gave a crucial description of the courier in 2004, but apparently had not been waterboarded and may not have been subjected to harsh techniques at all. Two detainees who wereincluding Khalid Sheikh Mohammedgave what later proved to be false information about the courier.

Everyone was deeply concerned [about coercive techniques] and most felt it was un-American and did not work, Glenn L. Carle, a CIA officer who had overseen the torture of a high-level detainee in 2002, told the Times. It didnt provide useful, meaningful, trustworthy information.

Originally published in the Fall 2011 issue of Military History Quarterly. To subscribe, click here.
This month one of Houstons favorite privately-owned brands, Shipley Do-Nuts, turns 80 years old.

Founded in 1936 by Lawrence Shipley, Sr. and Lillie Shipley, the first doughnuts they created were cut by hand and served hot the whole day. Back then they were only a nickel for a dozen.

Imagine if they were that cheap today. Some of us wouldnt be able to fit into our own cars.

TUNA ON RYE: Learn all about the humble beginnings of Texas' own Jason's Deli

Over time the taste of the Shipley familys sweet creations would create lifelong fans out of many Houstonians who couldnt start a day without a hot cup of coffee and a glazed doughnut.

The company is still based in a building that Shipley and his wife Lillie bought more than 70 years ago off North Main.

Our first shop was not the North Main location like most people think. It was actually in a building where Revival Market is now at 550 Heights Boulevard, says company representative Stacey Michel.

Now Playing: Video Courtesy: Houston Police Department Video: FoxM9NJ

He (Shipley) wasnt doing as well as he thought, so he sold the shop in 1942, name and all. He perfected his recipe and re-opened in 1945 at Michaux and Euclid. The North Main store wasnt opened until 1950, says Michel.

The company began life as Shipley Cream Glazed Do-Nuts. The spelling was Shipleys idea, looking to make his business stand out from the pack. Its now just known as Shipley Do-Nuts, though some people still refer to it as Shipleys out of habit.

HOUSTON BABY PHOTOS: See Houston's booming growth in photos

It makes me laugh anytime I see us called Shipley's on social media and another fan will reply back with the correction, says Michel.

Generations of Houstonians probably have a Shipley story, be it getting a carton of chocolate milk and a bag of Shipley doughnut holes on the way to grade school, or looking forward to doughnut Fridays at the office.

Hint, hint to our Chron.com coworkers.

These days Shipley Do-Nuts has over 300 locations in six states, selling some 60 varieties of doughnuts.

By 2020 the company hopes to open its 400th location.

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.
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The future of Baker Hughes is again uncertain as its parent company, the financially struggling General Electric Co., considers unloading its ownership in the energy services giant just four months after acquiring a majority stake in a much-heralded merger.

The disclosure by the new GE chief executive John Flannery that he is seeking a way out of the deal consummated by his predecessor, Jeffrey Immelt, adds to three years of turmoil for the storied Houston firm that traces its roots back to a revolutionary drill bit invented by Howard Hughes Sr. more than a century ago.

Since November 2014, Baker Hughes has been buffeted by an unsuccessful takeover bid by its local rival, Halliburton, and battered by the worst oil bust in a generation before seemingly getting rescued by a merger with GE's oil and gas division, which closed in July.

GE owns 62.5 percent of Baker Hughes, but it's still unclear how it might divest its holdings. GE, headquartered in Boston, could seek a single buyer or unload the stock in smaller sales to investors and financial institutions, analysts said. But either way, Baker Hughes eventually would lose the benefits of GE's deep pockets, industrial reach and digital strengths.

"The new GE leadership is not a fan of businesses that are inherently cyclical, " said Byron Pope, an energy analyst with Houston investment bank Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. "That's oil and gas by its nature."

The possibility of a GE exit from Baker Hughes comes as Flannery seeks a broader transformation of the sprawling industrial conglomerate into a more tightly focused and profitable company to satisfy unhappy investors. GE recently reported that its third quarter earnings fell by 50 percent from a year earlier and said earlier this week that it would slice its dividend in half - only the second time that company has cut the investor payout since the Great Depression.

GE stock continues to slide

GE's stock has plummeted more than 40 percent since the beginning of the year, including about 12 percent this week.

Flannery told analysts Monday that the company plans to focus on health care, aviation and power while putting its transportation business and lighting division up for sale. Selling the lighting division is particularly symbolic since the company was founded by Thomas A. Edison to commercialize the electric light bulb he developed.

Flannery also confirmed that the company was exploring "exit options" for Baker Hughes.

Under the merger agreement, GE is restricted from pulling out of the company until 2019, leaving the future of Baker Hughes in limbo and creating more worries for its 65,000 employees worldwide, including several thousand in Houston. Baker Hughes has been cutting jobs in recent months as it integrate operations of the merged companies, but has declined to disclose the number of layoffs.

The merger with GE's oil and gas division created a new company with a stock market value of $35 billion and vaulted Baker Hughes from a distant third in energy services to the second largest, behind Schlumberger and slightly ahead of Halliburton. The deal was widely viewed as a good fit that combined Baker Hughes' strengths in drilling and equipment with GE's breadth and international scale.

More Information By the numbers 62.5 Percent of Baker Hughes owned by General Electric. 65,000 Number of Baker Hughes employees worldwide. $35 billion Stock market value after the merger of Baker Hughes and GE's oil and gas division. See More Collapse

"BHGE is a strong and differentiated company positioned for growth," said a Baker Hughes spokeswoman, using the acronym for Baker Hughes, a GE company. "GE's review will take some time and these plans have no immediate impact on BHGE's operations or ability to compete. We remain focused on integrating our businesses quickly and seamlessly so we can drive long-term value for our customers and shareholders."

It's impossible to tell how a breakup might unfold, said James West, an energy analyst at the investment bank Evercore in New York. But it would likely wait for further strengthening in the energy industry when GE could sell its stake for more. Baker Hughes stock rose 9 cents Wednesday to $30.60 a share.

Seeking multiple investors

The most likely sale scenario, analysts said, is GE would sell its shares in the market to multiple investors, rather than a single buyer. That's because the list of potential buyers is short, limited to a few large industrial companies such as the German conglomerate Siemens.

If Halliburton or Schlumberger attempted a deal, they would almost certainly run into antitrust problems.

Baker Hughes could survive - and even prosper - without GE, given it has at least two years to integrate operations and technologies and build its markets before it would become an independent company again, said Jim Wicklund, an energy analyst at the financial services company Credit Suisse in Dallas.

"How long do you have to keep living with Mom once you have your own job?" Wicklund said.

Lorenzo Simonelli, who led GE Oil & Gas before becoming Baker Hughes CEO in July, said at an energy conference in Abu Dhabi this week that "the new normal is continuous disruption" in the energy sector, and companies must innovate and adapt.

Simonelli was a finalist in the competition to succeed Immelt, ultimately won by Flannery.
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The strip malls, billboards, churches and chain stores that line Interstate 45 for miles heading north from downtown open into a more natural landscape dominated by pine trees and parkland beyond the bustling neighborhoods in The Woodlands and Conroe.

But as Houston's population expands and some of the city's biggest corporations relocate into far-flung suburbs, housing development is increasingly encroaching on this region's untouched lands.

In the most recent example, a Dallas-based development firm has started construction on what will be a master-planned community of more than 4,500 homes when it's completed perhaps a decade from now.

"I remember this as old deer huntin' country," Conroe Mayor Toby Powell said Wednesday, addressing a small crowd at a groundbreaking ceremony for the project west of I-45 along FM 380. "We're gonna miss the deer out here, but y'all are going to enjoy them now that you'll see them at your doorsteps."

The Woodlands Hills development will be a pared-down version of its much bigger brother, The Woodlands. Homes will sell for less than $300,000, a price that no longer exists in The Woodlands for new construction.

Officials with the developer, Howard Hughes Corp., and two mayors who spoke at Wednesday's event didn't mention Hurricane Harvey or flood prevention in their public comments.

In a statement emailed late Wednesday to clarify the property's exposure to flood risk, the company said: "home sites that builders purchase from us will allow the builders to construct homes at or above the 500-year elevation." The company would not provide further clarification.

The city of Conroe approved development plans for the project in 2016.

Developers are increasingly trying to meet a growing demand for moderately priced housing, analyst David Jarvis said, citing a 45 percent run-up in single-family home prices since 2012.

"All Texas markets are permanently more expensive," said Jarvis, senior vice president with John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

Growth in the area shifted into high gear when Exxon Mobil Corp. announced it was moving some 10,000 people into the area several years ago. Other companies have since followed.

Just south of the Howard Hughes project, Johnson Development Corp. is building is a master-planned community called Grand Central Park on the old Camp Strake Boy Scout property.

Along Interstate 45, at Loop 336, a wide swath has been cleared for what will be a major shopping district for the community.

"For many years Montgomery County was kind of a bedroom community. People lived here and they worked in Houston," said Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal. "Now we're starting to reap the benefits of that commercial and corporate growth which provides job opportunities and to some degree, traffic mitigation because people can live and work in Montgomery County and they don't have to drive into Houston.

"In fact, we have more people driving into The Woodlands than driving into Houston."

Howard Hughes Corp. said about 500 homes near Spring Creek in The Woodlands flooded during Harvey. Otherwise, the company's local properties, which include Bridgeland, generally fared well, the company said in a recent financial filing.

Less than 3 percent of the homes in Montgomery County flooded in Harvey, compared with 5 percent during a major flood in 1994, Doyal said.

"That tells me the growth is in the right areas," he said. "This piece of property will drain very well. There's a lot of topography."

Doyle said the county's drainage standards haven't changed since Harvey.

The new Howard Hughes community is a follow-up to The Woodlands, which is almost out of residential lots.

The 2,000 acres that will make up the community are just a fraction of the size of The Woodlands, where there are more than 45,000 homes, 28,000 acres and a tower-filled commercial district that rivals some cities.

The Woodlands Hills will be mostly residential in nature, with entry-level homes geared toward first-time buyers, millennials and downsizers.

The first phase of construction will include 192 single-family lots, a model home park and an amenity center.

The project is about a mile west of Interstate 45 along FM 830 in the cities of Conroe and Willis. The property extends to FM 1097 on the north and League Line Road to the south.

The developer said its new project will share the same commitment to environmental preservation as its other local communities.

The Woodlands Hills will have 112 acres of open space, 20 neighborhood parks and a 17-acre "Village Park" with a swimming pool, lazy river, fitness center and event space.

It will also have more than 9 miles of hike-and-bike trails, as well as bike lanes along the major thoroughfares.

Builders will be announced before the end of the year and the first model homes are expected to open within the first three months of 2018.
Are you one of the many people who work extensively in Google Docs? You might have found it a little hard to get things done Wednesday.

Google Docs was hit with a widespread outage in North America, leaving some users unable to access their documents stored in the company's cloud service.

Google confirmed the outage on its status dashboard for Google services and gave the all-clear at 4:10 p.m. Central time.

The company had first acknowledged the problem a little over an hour earlier, as user reports poured in.

"We're aware of a problem with Google Docs affecting a significant subset of users," a message posted at 2:48 p.m. Central time said. "The affected users are unable to access Google Docs."

Google did not say how many people had been affected or what caused the outage.

This is the second time Google Docs users have had problems accessing their files in the past couple of months.

In late October, many users trying to access their documents saw an error message that said their files had been removed for violating Google's terms of service.

In a statement, Google later explained that the issue was due to "a code push that incorrectly flagged a small percentage of Google Docs as abusive, which caused those documents to be automatically blocked," and that access had been restored.

The company did not respond to a request for comment on whether the two problems were related.
Harris County Constable Pct. 4

A Harris County deputy constable has been transferred to a rehabilitation center after being shot seven times in the leg Nov. 5 while on patrol.

Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Justin Gay has left the Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute, according to the constable's office, and after an 18-hour surgery last week for gunshot wounds in both legs, he faces a "tough road ahead" in rehab therapy.
On Oct. 25, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett released 15 recommendations for mitigating damages from future flood events. The researchers collaborating through the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium appreciate his willingness to release his priorities for public review and discussion.

The consortium was established by the Houston Endowment, Kinder Foundation and Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation to provide the public and decision-makers with important information so that Harris County and related watersheds can be rebuilt as a stronger, more resilient, more equitable and more livable region.

We found Judge Emmett's list to have many merits. The consortium is thoroughly assessing the implications of the 15 recommendations and plans to share our conclusions soon. In advance of detailed conclusions, we have organized the issues into six broad themes.

Structural projects

Judge Emmett lists a number of major structural projects, such as a third reservoir in western Harris County and four Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) projects along local bayous.

FLOOD BOND: Search the projects in your neighborhood with our interactive tool

There are good data and engineering to support that engineered projects can be valuable. An excellent model is the Sims Bayou project, started in 1990 and completed 25 years later, included property buyouts, a wide, green channel and many detention basins. Stream gauges along Sims show that the bayou remained in its banks through Harvey when every other bayou flooded. The same approaches can work in other watersheds, and many such projects have already been identified and not funded.

Kevin Shanley

A data-driven approach can tell us which structural projects are most valuable. Decision-makers  and the public  should have access to data on how much flood reduction benefit each proposed project has in terms of not only flood plain reduction but also how many homes and businesses would be less likely to flood.

We must ensure that other flood-prone areas are not left out simply because there is not a "shovel-ready" project already on the books. The consortium is comparing flood damage in Harvey to proposed projects. We will be analyzing flooding along all bayous and working to understand all the areas where infrastructure investments can have the most bang for the buck. We're finding that many of the watersheds that saw the most flooding have projects that are being implemented, or that have been defined, but are not funded.

There might also be places where severe flooding occurred with no project currently proposed to address it.

Structural projects should not be limited to major channels. Many homes in greater Houston flooded because the local storm sewers could not handle the water, not because of rising water in our bayous. Local cities and counties need funding to upgrade drainage systems. All these facilities function as one system, so there must be robust coordination between these different entities.

In response, the consortium is working with city and county officials on the funding required and best strategies to strengthen storm sewer and drainage infrastructure.

Green infrastructure

All projects should incorporate large- and small-scale green infrastructure. Over the past three decades, the Harris County Flood Control District has successfully embraced this effort, widening bayous into broad, grassy channels instead of concrete ditches and building large regional detention basins that also provide havens for wildlife and recreation for people. These investments proved themselves in Harvey and should be a model going forward.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: How Willow Waterhole became a model for flood control in Houston

Along these lines, Judge Emmett establishes a bold vision for a third reservoir in northwest Harris County as part of a state or national park focused on the Katy Prairie. This reservoir can be engineered as green infrastructure so that it both mitigates flooding and preserves extraordinary natural ecosystems.

But if it is engineered only as a structural solution, it could destroy those ecosystems. Details, and solid research, matter.

Eric Kayne/For the Chronicle

Similarly, Judge Emmett's major buyout initiative will move residents out of harm's way, but if planned properly and in collaboration with others, such an initiative can further progress in creating a regional park system, restoring critical ecological functions, particularly when coupled with strategic land conservation efforts that preserve beneficial landscapes that store storm water and prevent downstream flooding.

Green infrastructure can also function on a local level. In fully developed watersheds with limited opportunity for large regional detention, smaller localized detention and site strategies could be helpful. Watershed studies should examine such opportunities.

Risk education

Judge Emmett has proposed a state-of-the-art flood warning system and localized evacuation plans, which should be implemented for all counties in the Houston region. He also proposes automatic flood gates or plans for manual barriers at flood-prone underpasses. Successful examples of these are already in place. The Texas Medical Center invested in a successful flood warning system after Tropical Storm Allison, and the City of Houston had underpass systems in place in two dozen locations. This is a case where solutions have already been developed that we know can save lives.

Steve Ueckert/Chronicle

These ideas can be expanded and integrated so that residents and first responders have advanced warning of flooding and can identify safe evacuation routes as the waters rise.

Judge Emmett's proposal that the Harris County Emergency Operations Center be expanded to assist other counties could also be part of this initiative, along with his proposal for localized evacuation plans and defined water rescue efforts linked to agencies and volunteer groups. Our public school districts also could play a role due to their excellent communication links to local families.

In addition, we can provide access to easy-to-understand information about flooding so that as Houstonians purchase homes or open new businesses, they can make informed decisions based on accurate information. This information is available today, and Judge Emmett's call for clear requirements to disclose flood risks to homebuyers, renters and also businesses can be easily and quickly achieved.

Development and buildings

Judge Emmett recommends that FEMA floodplain maps be revised immediately to more accurately manage development and flood risks.

However, we know it will take time to define a new 1 percent rainfall event, model it for all the region's watersheds, draw maps and go through numerous reviews. We also know that this analysis  and the maps that result  do not consider flooding from overloaded storm sewers, the full extent of reservoir pools and the impacts of emergency dam releases.

These hazards can be mapped, and Harris County could, independently of the FEMA process, create "risk maps" that more accurately factor in the full range of flood effects, as well as other natural hazards.

Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle

Judge Emmett also notes that while waiting for new FEMA maps, we can immediately change our development rules, and at least on an interim basis, regulate development in the current 500-year floodplain.

Since we can be reasonably sure that flood map revisions will increase the 100-year floodplain, this can be justified. We know, however, that any defined floodplain is somewhat arbitrary in Houston's flat landscape. It's not unreasonable to say that nearly every tract of land in the region could be in a flood hazard zone, and it could be wise to extend certain flood-resilient development regulations and building codes countywide.

The consortium is currently compiling information on development regulations across the region. Cities have varying regulations and enforcement procedures, both inside city limits and in extraterritorial jurisdictions.

LAND USE: We don't need more houses in floodplains. We need more greenspace.

As Judge Emmett notes, county officials are hamstrung because state law does not allow counties to pass and enforce development ordinances. Watersheds cross city and county lines, and regulations in one jurisdiction affect everyone downstream. We should look at best practices for coordination and consistency of regulation.

It's also important to remember that new development regulations will affect only new structures. Judge Emmett emphasizes the compelling need for major buyouts of homes "hopelessly deep in the floodplain," but even if this is achieved, most of the region's residents and business will continue to be located in buildings that already exist today, and many of those buildings will remain at risk of flooding. We should investigate strategies for retrofitting existing homes to be more flood-resistant.

Planning

Judge Emmett's list places a high value on planning. He calls for comprehensive plans by the Harris County Flood Control District in each watershed. We agree, and we also think these studies need to look at the interrelationship between watersheds. Buffalo Bayou, Cypress Creek, Addicks Reservoir and White Oak Bayou are distinct watersheds, but in major floods water runs overland from Cypress Creek to Addicks Reservoir and then into Buffalo Bayou, and as water rises in Buffalo Bayou, it holds back water from White Oak Bayou where the two bayous meet.

We need to plan regionally, not by each watershed in isolation.

We must also recognize that decisions related to flood mitigation impact the housing market, transportation options and recreational opportunities. So, the HCFCD's planning and buyout programs should occur in conjunction with local housing, transportation and parks stakeholders in order to ensure smarter outcomes based on more than just flooding metrics.

Governance

Judge Emmett correctly identifies the State of Texas as an important partner in flood mitigation efforts, including potentially providing access to the Rainy Day Fund and additional revenues from sources such as consistent sales tax for cities and counties.

A regional organization to address flooding will also require state approval. This organization should fairly represent the community.

Staff photo by Alan Warren

Also, the most fundamental governance issue to be addressed is the unusual unincorporated status of much of Harris County, these thousands of square miles captured in the City of Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction decades ago.

This has created ambiguity and confusion among local officials, and it also has resulted in a reliance on municipal utility and other special districts that serve small areas and have only limited ability to provide basic services.

As Judge Emmett continues his work, the consortium will continue to inform decision-makers and regional residents through objective research and analysis. Harvey is a wake-up call that we have a lot of work to do. Our region must grow smarter. This will require good research and data, and full consideration of all the impacts of flooding, not just in value of property but the impact on human lives.

Together, let us find the vision and courage to rebuild a greater Houston that is a model of resiliency, vitality and equity.

Christof Spieler, PE, LEED AP is an urban planner, vice president at Huitt-Zollars and project manager for the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium.

Bookmark Gray Matters. It is a distinct watershed.
Oyster fishermen in Galveston were awarded $500,000 in legal fees after undergoing a years long battle with a company which tried to lease a large portion of Galveston Bay, according to a news release issued late Wednesday the Feldman & Feldman law office.

"This was an illegal lease from the start," says attorney Cris Feldman of the law firm. "STORM sought to take control of the public resources that belong to all Texans. They threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of Texas fishermen. Today's ruling goes a long way to begin to repair the damage to their businesses."
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Homeowners and real estate agents throughout Montgomery County and across Texas had been enjoying a long run of hot home sales and climbing real estate values -- until Hurricane Harvey hit in late August. Although the local housing market was showing signs of losing some of its steam during the summer, Harvey's arrival and its torrential rains poured cold water on the real estate market, hitting it with what the Houston Association of Realtors terms a "heavy blow."

Until Harvey's arrival, with the local economy booming, it looked like home sales figures across the Houston area were going to break new records for the year. But with August activity stalling, the immediate direction of the housing market is unclear.

Numbers from the Houston Association of Realtors show sales of single-family home sales plunged 25.4 percent in August compared with August 2016. The late summer swoon was the first year-over-year monthly decline in almost a year, hitting all segments of the housing market.

And although Harvey didn't make landfall until the last weekend of the month, the hurricane is being blamed for ending a string of 10 consecutive months of rising home sales.

"Hurricane Harvey dealt a severe blow to the Houston area and Texas Gulf coast and it will probably be several weeks until we can gauge the storm's full impact on our housing market," said HAR Chairwoman Cindy Hamann. "Home sales were humming throughout the first three weeks of August, but the moment Harvey struck the region, everything came to a screeching halt."

Still, on a year-to-date basis, home sales statewide remain 1.8 percent ahead of the 2016 volume. Although the housing inventory grew from a four months supply to 4.4 months, the inventory is expected to shrink as undamaged and repaired homes continue to be snapped up by those in need of housing. The scores of people who lost their homes to floods, of course, need somewhere else to live.

FLOODED OUT HOMEOWNERS CAN'T BUY RIGHT AWAY

But as Realtor Amy Smythe-Harris notes, not everybody who was flooded out by Harvey -- regardless of FEMA assistance or insurance -- is able to immediately buy a new home.

"Right now, people who need immediate housing don't have the money to buy a house right away," said Smythe-Harris, broker/owner of The Woodlands-based Urban Provision Realtors.

Smythe-Harris, who has been selling real estate for 17 years, notes with summer sales traditionally a bit slow anyway, the damage caused by Harvey, and its disruption to the market, hasn't yet sent housing prices in one direction or the other.

"I don't think we'll see an immediate increase in prices," Smythe-Harris said. Adding that she doesn't have a "crystal ball," she thinks it would be five to six months before Harvey's impact on prices is felt.

HAR: HARVEY'S EFFECT COULD TAKE WEEKS TO DETERMINE

Likewise, HAR reports that although the full effects of Harvey may not be realized for weeks as the market rebuilds and recovers, the latest figures available are indicating pricing seems little influenced by Harvey. According to HAR, the single-family home median price for the region rose 3 percent to $231,700, while the average price increased 2.6 percent to $296,418.

As for the pace of home sales, in Montgomery County, even with the August dip, home sales for the year remain ahead of last year.

Through August, HAR reports 6,499 closed sales -- compared to 6,033 for the same time last year -- a 7.7 percent increase. There were also more listings for the year -- 12,049 compared to 10,813 in 2016 -- a jump of 11.4 percent.

And for the month of August, the numbers are showing a big drop in sales, with more homes offered for sale. HAR reports closed sales in the area came in at 792 -- a drop of 15.9 percent compared to the 942 in August 2016, while there were more active listings in the MLS area -- 4,006 to 3,643 -- a jump of 10 percent.

With these apparently contradictory numbers, the chief economist for Stewart Title Guaranty Co. predicts after an immediate drop in home sales, sales would likely rise in a year.

"Housing sales will undoubtedly decline the month of and perhaps the month following such events, as some homes under contract are damaged by the storm," wrote Ted Jones in a Sept. 13 white paper for the title company. "Many homes will need an additional inspection prior to closing to assure the lender of underlying value and livable condition."

Still, despite the damaged and flooded homes taken off the market, there's still plenty of real estate available. According to HAR, through late September there are 1,095 active real estate listings in The Woodlands, with 441 rental listings. In Conroe, HAR showed a combined 1,701 homes for sale or rent.

Indeed, as the future of home sales remains cloudy, the demand for rentals is booming.

"The rental market is through the roof," Smythe-Harris said.

AUGUST MONTHLY MARKET COMPARISON (Houston Association of Realtors)

CATEGORIES AUGUST 2016AUGUST 2017CHANGE

Total property sales 9,335 7,077 -24.2%

Total dollar volume $2,562,458,783 $1,993,970,105 -22.2%

Total active listings 38,086 42,822 12.4%

Single-family home sales 7,927 5,917 -25.4%

Single-family average sales price $288,920 $296,418 2.6%

Single-family median sales price $225,000 $231,700 3.0%

Single-family months inventory* 4.0 4.4 0.4 mos.

Single-family pending sales 6,680 6,295 -4.7%
Police officers, garbage trucks and a team of city workers started early Wednesday and worked most of day on what Mayor Sylvester Turner called a "deep cleansing" of the homeless encampment in Midtown under the Interstate 69 bridge.

People who live in the camp moved their tents, clothes and other belongings out of the way so city workers - some wearing plastic suits and breathing masks - could pick up trash, remove human waste and clean an area the city has declared a public health nuisance twice in the past three months.

Nicholas Hudson, 31, moved his tent and air mattress to the outer edge of the camp, then started helping others pick up their belongings. He's been sleeping at the camp since Harvey rains flooded his northside apartment.

The city comes out twice a week to pick up solid waste, Hudson said - but still, there are "mosquitoes and flies from the human waste, because we don't have (toilet) receptacles. That's the big problem."

Sure enough, flies swarmed by the hundreds, buzzing around a heap of feces that festered just a few feet from where people sleep. A dead mouse lay in the grass nearby.

"It's a ripe breeding ground for communicable diseases, and it must be abated," said Marc Eichenbaum, the mayor's special assistant for homeless initiatives.

Power washers cleaned the columns that support the bridge, which have been treated as bathrooms in the camp. Workers used machines to dig up the dirt in those spots - which the Harris County health department says is contaminated - and take it away.

Houston police and city health department employees went from tent to tent, explaining the cleanup and asking people to separate trash from the belongings they wanted to keep.

Some of the furniture and mattresses were trashed because they might be infested, Eichenbaum said. People could opt to have their smaller personal items taken to a storage facility downtown, where they'll be kept for 90 days at no charge.

"We want to make it nice and clean for you," Eichenbaum told a man who was refusing to move his tent and collection of possessions, which included a treadmill, an office chair and a small cooler. "We can't tell what's trash and what's not trash, so will you tell me what's trash?"

People who live in the camp would be allowed to return when the cleanup is completed, he said.

This is the second major cleanup of the camp in three months; the last "deep clean" was in early August. The camp has been the site of controversy since last spring, when Turner tried to get rid of encampments with a city ordinance. The ACLU of Texas filed an emergency motion to block it, and in August a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that prevents the city from enforcing the anti-encampment ordinance.

Turner said last week he is eager to get a ruling from U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt on whether the temporary injunction will be made permanent. In the meantime, he said, the city will do everything it can "within our parameters" to fix the problem.

Residents of the neighborhood have complained about the camp, which has seen a rash of violent crime in the past several weeks; last week, a man was shot to death in a parking lot. And the city health department last week warned that the human waste that piles up in corners and around columns could help spread disease, including Hepatitis A.

Notices were posted in advance so camp residents would be aware of the cleanup. Still, at least one holdout refused to move from his spot, and a few residents protested loudly as the city workers came through.

Camp resident James Harris, who has lived in Houston since 2009 and spent time at shelters, said the area would stay much cleaner if the encampment could just get a portable toilet set up nearby. "That would help a whole lot," he said, reducing the kind of filth that spreads disease. He has tried to make a makeshift bathroom for everyone using an old tent lying on the ground, but his effort didn't reduce the flies or the smell.

The entire Houston region has about 3,600 homeless people, Eichenbaum said, and two-thirds of them are in shelters on any given night. That leaves about 1,200 people outside of shelters, and only a small percentage stay in the city's two encampments, the one in Midtown and the another on Chartres Street near Minute Maid Park.

The Chartres camp will get a similar deep clean Thursday morning, the mayor's office said.

"Nobody should be living in this," Eichenbaum said. "This is about protecting the health of not only the residents around here, but especially the people who are living here."

Sgt. Steve Wick, who leads the Houston Police Department's Homeless Outreach Team, rode his bike around the camp, which he visits regularly. For most of the people who stay here, he said, this is a more attractive option than a shelter: "It's nasty, but they're still getting their needs met."

Wick has researched and visited emergency shelters that work in other cities, including San Antonio's Haven for Hope and Austin's Mobile Loaves and Fishes. These programs are able to temporarily shelter people without allowing them to live in filth, he said.

"This is not a good thing," he said, nodding at the camp under the bridge. "This is a terrible thing."
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WASHINGTON - The Republican effort to overhaul the tax code suffered serious setbacks Wednesday after a conservative senator unexpectedly said he opposed the Senate plan and a GOP moderate raised major concerns about it. The announcements cast doubt whether Republicans would be able to quickly pass what would be their first significant legislative achievement under President Donald Trump.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he opposed both the Senate and House versions of the tax legislation because they benefited corporations at the expense of other, typically smaller companies. Earlier in the day, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Republicans had erred when they changed their tax bill this week to include a repeal of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, which requires every American to have health insurance or pay a fine.

"This bill is a mixture of some very good provisions and some provisions I consider to be big mistakes," said Collins, one of three Republicans who joined with Democrats this summer to vote down a Senate effort to scrap much of the health-care law.

Without Johnson and Collins, Republicans would need every other member of their caucus to vote for the plan - far from a guaranteed outcome. And neither senator's concern can be easily addressed without changes that could drive other Republicans to oppose the bill.

Adding additional tax breaks for smaller businesses could appease Johnson, but it could force the GOP to raise taxes elsewhere. Leaving the Affordable Care Act alone could make the measure more attractive to Collins and other moderates. But it would run against the wishes of many conservatives and Trump and create other challenges in making the bill comply with Senate rules allowing passage with fewer than 60 votes.

Now Playing: The No. 2 Senate Republican says the GOP is intent on repealing the individual mandate requirement under Obamacare as part of the tax bill. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told reporters on Tuesday: Were going to repeal the tax on poor Americans. Video: Time

The opposition to the $1.5 trillion tax-cut bill threatened what had been growing momentum for the tax overhaul. The House is expected to pass its own tax overhaul Thursday. And the Senate Finance Committee hopes to do the same this week, with the full Senate voting after Thanksgiving.

Senate leaders made last-minute changes to their bill Tuesday to solve several problems, including that it would run afoul of Senate rules known as "reconciliation" that allow legislation to pass with only a simple majority if it doesn't raise the deficit after a decade.

Changes made Tuesday included removing the individual mandate, which would save the government $300 billion over the next decade as it paid out less in insurance subsidies for low- and middle-income Americans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The change would also, according to the CBO, result in 13 million more Americans going without coverage.

Senate leaders also changed their bill to make tax cuts for corporations permanent, but let individual tax cuts sunset at the end of 2025. The expiration would also affect small businesses whose owners use tax law to pay some of their income at the individual rate, a change Johnson said would unfairly penalize small businesses.

Allowing those tax deductions to expire would increase taxes these companies pay by around $45 billion per year in 2026 and 2027, according to a forecast put out by the Joint Committee on Taxation. House Republicans' version of the tax legislation contains more generous, and permanent, tax cuts for these businesses, but Johnson said neither was sufficient in its current form.

"These businesses truly are the engines of innovation and job creation throughout our economy, and they should not be left behind," Johnson said in a statement. "Unfortunately, neither the House nor Senate bill provide fair treatment, so I do not support either in their current versions."

The companies Johnson is referring to are often small businesses, but they can also be companies such as hedge funds, law firms, real estate companies and other large companies.

President Trump called the Wisconsin Republican on Wednesday evening to discuss the concerns. It was not immediately clear whether Trump assuaged any of Johnson's complaints, but the senator said earlier Wednesday that he held out hope of voting for the bill if it was fixed.

Several other critical Senate Republicans who might have reservations about the bill have not said how they will vote. They include Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who has previously expressed concern about the tax bill's potential impact on the deficit and said he would not support a bill whose provisions had an expiration date. Corker said Wednesday he was still reviewing the bill.

Another potential holdout, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., repeatedly declined to say whether he would vote for a tax bill that includes the proposed change to the Affordable Care Act. McCain, who voted against a previous attempt to repeal the ACA, said he wanted to review the tax bill as a whole.

The GOP unrest comes as Senate Democrats exploded over the late-night changes that Republicans made to the bill, saying the new GOP plans would further punish the middle class.

"Why do people think this is a swamp?" Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said. "This is Swamp 101."

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, meeting with lawmakers, said the bill would make business cuts permanent because companies needed long-term assurances of their tax rates for planning purposes.

He also shrugged off concerns that the public would balk at a bill that would provide only temporary tax cuts to individuals. Mnuchin, echoing other Republicans, predicted the individual tax cuts would eventually be extended or made permanent.

"I don't think it's an optics issue," Mnuchin said. "I think people understand that we'll fix the personal side."

The House, meanwhile, cruised toward passage of their own version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which differs significantly from the Senate version.

The House legislation does not touch the ACA, and only a small portion of the individual tax code would phase out. The bill, however, appears to violate Senate budget rules because it would add to the deficit after a decade. If different House and Senate bills pass, they will have to be reconciled in a way that ultimately complies with Senate rules.

Still, House Republicans seemed largely ready to pass the bill and notch a legislative win. As of Wednesday evening, fewer than a dozen GOP members had come out against the bill - most of them from the high-tax states of New York, New Jersey and California, where the bill's partial elimination of a tax deduction for state and local taxes is controversial.

But other members from those states, including Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., John Katko, R-N.Y., Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., and David Valadao, R-Calif., said in recent days they are supporting or leaning toward supporting the bill.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said the vote count was "looking real good" in an interview. "I think most people know how important it is to cut taxes and get the economy moving again, and this bill does that," he said.

Trump is expected to visit Capitol Hill on Thursday morning and deliver a pep talk to House Republicans moments before they go to the House floor to advance the legislation.

Scalise said a conference committee would likely be needed to bridge differences with the Senate. The Senate version of the bill, for instance, eliminates the state and local tax deduction, also known as "SALT."

"We have a lot of good members who are for this bill only because we addressed and fixed the SALT problem," Scalise said. "No knock on their bill, but it's not something they had to focus on, and it will have to be in a final product."

In the upper chamber, the debate over the Republican bill grew heated Wednesday in the Senate Finance Committee.

Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, typically one of the chamber's most collegial members, bristled at attacks from Democrats.

At one point, Hatch said he was sick of Democrats pursuing ways to add government spending while simultaneously lecturing Republicans about adding to the debt.

"I've had enough of that to last me the rest of my life," he said.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., a member of the Finance Committee and the GOP Senate leadership, raised the possibility that Republicans could hold a vote once the bill comes to the Senate floor to waive the budget rules and allow the individual cuts to be permanent. That would require 60 votes, forcing Democrats to decide whether to hold firm in opposition or vote to ensure middle-class tax cuts are kept for the long term.

"All we need is a few Dems to help us," Thune said.

Republican leaders worry that more GOP lawmakers could join Johnson and Collins in raising major objections to the bill.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said Wednesday that he would support the tax bill as currently designed, but that it was unclear if the changes to the ACA would be allowed to remain.

"That's yet to be determined, whether that will be in the final bill," he said.

Alexander said he favored passing the tax-cut bill with the provision that repeals the individual mandate and then hold a vote on a separate, bipartisan measure that he has worked on with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. That provision would resume funding of federal subsidies to help people afford health insurance after the Trump administration halted those payments in October.

Democratic support, however, remains elusive. Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., a key moderate broker, said he has been in touch with White House aides in recent days about supporting the plan, but "I don't see it improving."

"Between the debt and the insensitivity of this doing whatever they can to make sure that people at the top of the food chain are getting the tax breaks and the people who benefit the most are the people who need it the least - it makes no sense," Manchin said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration announced late Wednesday that the remains of elephants legally hunted in Zimbabwe and Zambia can now be imported to the United States as trophies, reversing a ban under former president Barack Obama.

African elephants are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that large sums paid for permits to hunt the animals could actually help them "by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation," according to an agency statement.

Under the Obama administration, elephant hunting trophies were allowed in countries such as South Africa but not in Zimbabwe because Fish and Wildlife decided in 2015 that the nation had failed to prove that its management of elephants enhanced the population. Zimbabwe could not confirm its elephant population in a way that was acceptable to U.S. officials, and did not demonstrate an ability to implement laws to protect it.

The Service's new statement did not specify what had changed in that country - where the African elephant population has declined 6 percent in recent years, according to the Great Elephant Census project - to allow hunting trophies. A spokeswoman said an explanation will be published in the Federal Register on Friday.

The shift in U.S. policy comes just days after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke established an "International Wildlife Conservation Council" to advise him on how to increase Americans' public awareness of conservation, wildlife enforcement and the "economic benefits that result from U.S. citizens traveling abroad to hunt."

"The conservation and long-term health of big game crosses international boundaries," Zinke said in a statement announcing the group's creation. "This council will provide important insight into the ways that American sportsmen and women benefit international conservation from boosting economies and creating hundreds of jobs to enhancing wildlife conservation."

Safari Club International, a hunting advocacy group that has consistently opposed any restrictions on importing trophies from abroad, broke the news of the rule change a day ahead of Fish and Wildlife. Its statement included a detail that the agency omitted: A Fish and Wildlife official made the announcement at a forum the Safari Club co-hosted in Tanzania, from which elephant trophy imports remain banned. An agency spokeswoman declined to confirm that account.

A representative of the group, along with several other hunting activists, joined Zinke in his office on his first day as he signed one secretarial order aimed at expanding hunting and fishing on federal lands and another reversing an Obama-era policy that would have phased out the use of lead ammunition and tackle in national wildlife refuges by 2022.

This week's rule change applies to elephants shot in Zimbabwe on or after Jan. 21, 2016, and to those legally permitted to be hunted before the end of next year. A similar rule has been put into place for Zambia, where the Great Elephant Census estimates the animal's numbers have declined from 200,000 in 1972 to a little more than 21,000 last year.

Zimbabwe is currently in turmoil, with President Robert Mugabe under house arrest as a military coup unfolds. In criticizing the decision, the Humane Society of the United States called the ban on Zimbabwean elephant imports reasonable because Zimbabwe is "one of the most corrupt countries on Earth." The organization noted that Mugabe celebrated his birthday last year by dining on an elephant.

"It's a venal and nefarious pay-to-slay arrangement that Zimbabwe has set up with the trophy hunting industry," said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the Humane Society.

"What kind of message does it send to say to the world that poor Africans who are struggling to survive cannot kill elephants in order to use or sell their parts to make a living, but that it's just fine for rich Americans to slay the beasts for their tusks to keep as trophies?" Pacelle added.

Safari Club International President Paul Babaz said in a statement, "These positive findings for Zimbabwe and Zambia demonstrate that the Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes that hunting is beneficial to wildlife and that these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations.

"We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife," Babaz added.

In another potential policy reversal, Fish and Wildlife has posted an online guide for hunters on how to import lion trophies. In 2016, after listing African lion populations as threatened or endangered depending on their location on the continent, the agency established specific requirements for allowing imports of their trophies. The Service also banned imports of trophies from lion populations kept in fenced enclosures to be hunted.

How to treat animal trophies Americans shoot overseas has been a contentious issue for years. The pelts of nearly four dozen polar bears that U.S. citizens shot in Canada in spring 2008 got stuck there after Fish and Wildlife declared the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
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OAKLAND, Calif. - Scientists for the first time have tried editing a gene inside the body in a bold attempt to permanently change a person's DNA to try to cure a disease.

The experiment was done Monday in California on 44-year-old Brian Madeux. Through an IV, he received billions of copies of a corrective gene and a genetic tool to cut his DNA in a precise spot.

"It's kind of humbling" to be the first to test this, said Madeux, who has a metabolic disease called Hunter syndrome. "I'm willing to take that risk. Hopefully it will help me and other people."

Signs of whether it's working may come in a month; tests will show for sure in three months.

Toying with nature

If it's successful, it could give a major boost to the fledgling field of gene therapy. Scientists have edited people's genes before, altering cells in the lab that are then returned to patients.

But these methods can only be used for a few types of diseases. Some give results that may not last. Some others supply a new gene like a spare part but can't control where it inserts in the DNA

This time, the gene tinkering is happening in a precise way inside the body. It's like sending a mini-surgeon along to place the new gene in exactly the right location.

"We cut your DNA, open it up, insert a gene, stitch it back up. Invisible mending," said Dr. Sandy Macrae, president of Sangamo Therapeutics, the California company testing this for two metabolic diseases and hemophilia. "It becomes part of your DNA and is there for the rest of your life."

That also means there's no going back, no way to erase any mistakes the editing might cause.

"You're really toying with Mother Nature" and the risks can't be fully known, but the studies should move forward because these are incurable diseases, said one independent expert, Dr. Eric Topol of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in San Diego.

Fewer than 10,000 people worldwide have these metabolic diseases, partly because many die very young. Those with Madeux's condition, Hunter syndrome, lack a gene that makes an enzyme that breaks down certain carbohydrates. These build up in cells and cause havoc throughout the body.

Madeux, who now lives near Phoenix, is engaged to a nurse, Marcie Humphrey, who he met 15 years ago in a study that tested this enzyme therapy at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, where the gene editing experiment took place.

He has had 26 operations for hernias, bunions, bones pinching his spinal column, and ear, eye and gall bladder problems. Last year he nearly died from a bronchitis and pneumonia attack.

A gene-editing tool called CRISPR has gotten a lot of recent attention, but this study used a different one called zinc finger nucleases. They're like molecular scissors that seek and cut a specific piece of DNA.

Bulletproof technology?

The therapy has three parts: the new gene and two zinc finger proteins. DNA instructions for each part are placed in a virus that's been altered to not cause infection but to ferry them into cells. Billions of copies of these are given through a vein.

They travel to the liver, where cells use the instructions to make the zinc fingers and prepare the corrective gene. The fingers cut the DNA, allowing the new gene to slip in. The new gene then directs the cell to make the enzyme the patient lacked.

Only 1 percent of liver cells would have to be corrected to successfully treat the disease, said Madeux's physician and study leader, Dr. Paul Harmatz at the Oakland hospital.

"How bulletproof is the technology? We're just learning," but safety tests have been very good, said Dr. Carl June, a University of Pennsylvania scientist who has done other gene therapy work but was not involved in this study.
The proposed federal tax overhaul could affect large university endowments and graduate student tuition costs, leaving higher education groups worried about the potential impact on student costs and university finances.

The measures in both houses of Congress would tax large private university endowments, including those of Rice University and Trinity University in San Antonio. The House plan would also impose a tax on student tuition waivers, potentially burdening graduate students with high fees. The Senate plan does not include those provisions.

A House vote is expected Thursday.

Private university endowments larger than $250,000 per student would have to pay a 1.4-percent excise tax under the Senate plan. These large endowments have often faced criticism from Republicans, who have questioned how universities choose to spend - or save - their funds as college tuition costs grow.

Trump's criticism

On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump gave a full-throated criticism of college spending and endowments.

"They should be using the money on students, for tuition, for student life and for student housing," he said. "That's what it's supposed to be for."

Rice spokesman B.J. Almond said the university is still reviewing the tax plans "and doesn't want to speculate" on their potential impact.

Gary Logan, Trinity's vice president for finance, said Tuesday that the excise tax was one of the provisions that most concerned higher education groups.

"The immediate effect of the excise tax would be the need for the university to offset the loss of that money," Logan said. "The question is, are we going to (have to) pass that tax onto the current students?"

Logan said he understands the need for tax reform but that lawmakers in Washington need to try to cut expenses before creating additional revenue streams.

"It's not helpful," he said. "It pits special interests against each other."

The Association of American Universities, which includes Rice, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, said in a statement this month that it is "troubled" by the proposed excise tax on private university endowments, which support student financial aid, career counseling and medical research.

Both plans place "too much of the burden of fixing our outdated tax system on America's nonprofit universities," the group wrote.

The Association of Public Land Grant Universities, which represents the University of Houston, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin, also criticized portions of both plans.

The Chronicle of Higher Education estimates that the excise tax would affect fewer than 65 universities.The Republican-led proposals come as colleges and universities have faced criticism from right-leaning voters. One recent Pew Research Center survey found that 58 percent of Republican or right-leaning respondents believe higher education has a negative effect on how things are going in the U.S.

Tuition waivers

A separate provision in the House's plan would combine several education tax credits into one program. The House bill would also tax tuition waivers used by graduate students.

This particular proposal attracted the attention of student activists nationwide, who urged lawmakers to reconsider. Many graduate students have adjusted gross incomes of less than $20,000, according to the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

Counting tuition waivers as taxable income would make it difficult for some students to stay in school, said Sydney Gibson, the president of Rice's graduate student association.

"We're already on the brink in terms of paying for housing and other costs associated with living in Houston," she said. "Students may have to drop out completely."

Gibson said the proposals have been on "everyone's radar," from Rice to the Baylor College of Medicine, where she works.

Rice's graduate student association may organize a letter-writing campaign to elected officials once students better understand the bill, she said.

Leaders of UH's graduate student association said in an email Tuesday that they may organize an informational discussion on the proposal.

The group's co-presidents, Hannah Locke and Jesus G. Cruz-Garza, released a statement Wednesday calling for elected officials to "reassess the importance of investing in the financial sustainability of higher education."

"Without extraordinary amounts of external monetary income, the current GOP tax proposal would make obtaining an advanced degree and building knowledge on cancer biology, architecture, social work, educational leadership, or engineering financially impossible," they wrote.

"Without tuition waivers, higher education becomes an educational opportunity only afforded to (the) independently wealthy."
It's a special occasion when the governor, Greg Abbott, gives his opinion.

During his 12 years as attorney general, he was forthcoming enough, with a few notable exceptions. He did not, for example, endorse any candidate in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in 2012, even though one of the options was his onetime solicitor general, Ted Cruz.

Since being sworn into the state's top office, however, Abbott has become increasingly discreet about his perspective on a number of issues. That's one of several reasons his decision to weigh in on the Republican primary in state House District 134, which encompasses West University, Bellaire and the Texas Medical Center, has raised eyebrows around the state.

In a video message released Monday, Abbott endorsed Susanna Dokupil, the CEO of a Houston-based strategic communications firm, in her challenge to Sarah Davis, the Republican incumbent. Davis, an attorney by background, was first elected in 2010 and now serves on Appropriations and Calendars, as well as chairing the House General Investigations and Ethics Committee. That stature, combined with her independent streak, has earned Davis some ire from certain segments of the right. The woman is fiscally conservative but socially temperate. She is in a position to act on her demonstrably moderate beliefs and has a record of doing so. In our era of polarization, that was bound to make her a target.

Dokupil, meanwhile, once worked for Abbott as an assistant solicitor general. And the governor had warned legislators, at the outset of this summer's special session, that he would be keeping a list of those who supported his agenda and willing to support primary challenges to Republicans who did not.

Still, it was weird of Abbott to make such a threat in the first place, much less to single out Davis. She has, as noted, plenty of critics. Last week, it was reported that nine conservative members of the Harris County Republican Party had submitted a resolution calling for Davis to be censured for insufficient fealty to the party line on issues such as abortion, vouchers and vaccines.

Censure effort fails

"I think her record is just not one a Republican should have," explained Scott Bowen, one of the authors of the resolution, when I collared him at the Harris County headquarters Monday evening, just before the start of the quarterly executive meeting.

"Something more Roy Moore-like, perhaps?" I asked.

Bowen was quiet for a few moments, perhaps contemplating the sorrow at hand - that in an era when Republican leaders are openly divided about whether serious accusations of sexual assault should disqualify a candidate for high office, citizens involved with the party have to expect questions like that, and be stoical when asked to field them.

"I understand the need for disagreement within the party," he said. "But at the end of the day, I think there are certain principles that unite all of us."

Still, Davis has plenty of supporters; the resolution was quietly withdrawn, apparently because conservatives realized it would probably not pass. And Abbott's argument against her re-election is unlikely to resonate in her district. "You know, we need leaders in Austin who will join me to build an even better future for Texas," he said, in the video message endorsing Dokupil; he did not explicitly criticize Davis for failing to support his agenda, but the implication was clear enough.

On Tuesday, Davis told me that she thought Abbott's animus against her might date back to 2011, her first session in the Legislature. That year she authored a bill seeking to limit the amount of damages the attorney-general's office could collect from businesses under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Break with governor

The tension became explicit this year, in any case. Davis was among the handful of Republicans who explicitly opposed the bathroom bill, for example, and she did not support his call for legislation pre-empting local tree ordinances during the special session. The latter, she told me, struck her as being in conflict with conservative principles about local control and would have adversely affected "the beautiful canopy" that covers much of her district.

And in July, Davis - along with Lyle Larson, a Republican state representative from San Antonio - called on Abbott to add ethics reform to the call for the special session. The issue is, as it happens, one that Abbott campaigned on in 2014. Still, his office clearly did not appreciate their efforts to bring it up. John Wittman, an Abbott spokesperson, accused Davis and Larson of "showboating over proposals that are not on the governor's call."

"Their constituents deserve better," Wittman added.

After Abbott's endorsement of Dokupil, the Texans that Davis represents might be wondering what he meant by that. HD 134 is, as one conservative source put it to me, "the best district for a moderate Republican in the entire state." Election results bear that out; Davis, a moderate Republican, has consistently outperformed the rest of the ticket. In 2014, for example, Davis was re-elected by a 22-point margin, whereas Abbott carried the district by less than 2 percent. In 2016, Davis was re-elected by a 10-point margin, although Hillary Clinton carried the district by 15, and Harris County overall by 12.

'Normal Republicans'

There is, moreover, little reason to think that Republicans are poised to take Harris County back in next year's midterms, or that Dokupil can help them do it. "It's going to be a huge fight next year, and the Democrats are energized," noted Paul Simpson, chairman of the Harris County GOP, at the Monday night meeting. If Dokupil wins the primary, in fact, Democrats would have a good chance of flipping the district.

Furthermore, Davis posited, her absence in the general election might hurt the party's prospects on the downballot. Republicans can win statewide office, even if they lose in the greater Houston area; Rick Perry did so in 2010. But her district has the highest turnout rate in Harris County, and her presence on the ticket has some upsides for the beleaguered GOP beyond that.

"I help get people to vote Republican," she told me, "by showing people that there are normal Republicans."

That might not matter to Abbott, who does not, as yet, have a serious opponent. But Davis has a point. And although conservatives may disagree with her on certain issues, they should see the value in that.
Austin Police

In a bizarre encounter, a 21-year-old Austin woman was arrested Monday and charged with DWI after police said she crashed into a Japanese restaurant with her car, KXAN reports.

University of Texas police responded to the sound of the crash and arrived at the scene to find a vehicle inside the restaurant with debris everywhere.
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President Donald Trump dodged questions about the turmoil in the Alabama Senate race on Wednesday, declining to join national Republicans who've called for Roy Moore to abandon the race amid allegations of sexual impropriety with teenage girls. Far from surrendering, Moore's camp challenged the credibility of one of the accusers.

Trump, who withstood allegations of sexual assault weeks before his own election, was uncharacteristically silent when faced with questions about the scandal, which has rattled the party.

Another hope was Sean Hannity, the Fox News Channel host and onetime Moore defender. On his Tuesday evening show, Hannity gave Moore 24 hours to explain "inconsistencies" in his response to allegations of child molestation or else exit the Alabama race.

Moore responded in a letter late Wednesday: "I adamantly deny the allegations of Leigh Corfman and Beverly Nelson, did not date underage girls, and have taken steps to begin a civil action for defamation. Because of that, at the direction of counsel, I cannot comment further."

Corfman and Nelson have said Moore molested them in the 1970s when one was 14, the other 16 and he was a local deputy district attorney in Gadsden in his 30s. Three other women have said he pursued relationships with them around the same time.

Moore's campaign chairman and personal attorney tried to undercut the story of one of the women who has accused Moore of sexually accosting her when she was in high school.

The attorney, Phillip Jauregui, demanded that Nelson "release the yearbook" she contends Moore signed. The lawyer questioned the signature and said it should be submitted for handwriting analysis.

The New York Daily News reported that another Alabama woman - the sixth to come forward - claims that Moore "grabbed" her buttocks while they were in his office over two decades ago.

In an extensive interview with AL.com, Gadsden resident Tina Johnson recounted an incident at Moore's law office in the fall of 1991. Moore was married at the time, making Johnson the first woman to allege that Moore's predatory behavior persisted after he met his wife, Kayla.

Johnson, who was then 28, said Moore came up behind her and grabbed her buttocks. "He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," Johnson recalled.

The Washington Post interviewed two other young women, both mall workers, who said they were approached by Moore. One, then a high school senior, went on a date with Moore that ended with "a man kiss."

According to internal polling conducted by the Senate GOP campaign arm and reviewed by the Associated Press, Moore trails Democrat Jones by 12 points - 39 percent to 51 percent - in the survey conducted on Sunday and Monday. Moore led by 9 points the week before.
AUSTIN - As Democrats nationally are cheering recent wins in Virginia and New Jersey and are planning for an all-out assault on Republicans in Washington, Texas Democrats still have no announced flagship candidate to challenge GOP Gov. Greg Abbott in the 2018 election.

The party that hasn't won a statewide office in two decades does have a list of earnest wannabees for down ballot positions, struggling to get attention without much name ID, which is a key to getting elected.

But as the 30-day filing period for candidates opens on Saturday. Democratic party leaders are predicting surprises, lots of them, in the coming weeks and months that they predict will turn Texas more blue when the final ballots are counted in next year's general election.

"Even against all odds, with rigged maps, we're still making progress in Texas," Manny Garcia, deputy executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, said Thursday. "What you're seeing across the country right now, this Democratic rise after Trump's vile politics have infected the Republican Party, you'll be seeing that happen in Texas. There are going to be some surprises."

Will the party field candidates for all statewide elective positions? Yes, he says.

'Solid Republican'

State Republican Party officials acknowledge that while their party faces some challenges in certain districts, Texas will remain perhaps the Red State bastion of conservative GOP politics that it has been for years.

"Texas is solid Republican and it will remain solid Republican after the last ballots are counted, and you can take that to the bank, sir," said Williamson County businessman and longtime GOP activist Charles Jarmon, echoing the sentiments of party officials.

Even so, John Bucy III, the Democratic Party chair in Williamson County, which has long been a Republican stronghold, noted after a recent meet-and-greet in Round Rock with Mike Collier, a Democrat running against GOP incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, that politics in Austin's largest suburb are changing.

Democrats recently have won local races, including a spot on the county commissioner's court.

"We are becoming more blue ," Bucy said.

Democrats in Harris and Fort Bend counties make the same point, as do party activists in San Antonio, Dallas and the Rio Grande Valley.

"There have been a dramatic rise in Democratic candidates ready to file in a lot of these races," Garcia said. "There are going to be a number of competitive races."

Even so, as recently as this week, the party's choice to challenge for Abbott was publicly still up for grabs. Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Garcia confirmed she was considering running, as were others whose names have been bandied about for weeks.

Two other announced Democrats - businessmen Jeffrey Payne of Dallas and Tom Wakely of San Antonio - said they were still in. Andrew White, the son of the late former Gov. Mark White, said he was still seriously considering a run against Abbott, even though he said party leaders had shied away from him because he was pro-life and too conservative.

Davis unlikely to run

Political scientists suggest that the lack of a party flag-bearer to run for governor, as the filing period opens, suggests they have been unable to find someone to run - an assertion that party leaders deny.

Former Fort Worth state Sen. Wendy Davis, who ran an unsuccessful race against Abbott in 2014 and has been rumored to perhaps be up to challenging him again, said she no plans to do so. Instead, she said she is helping the state Democratic party look for a candidate the party's base can support.

"There's only the very remotest of chances that I would do that," she said when asked if she would run. "I'm waiting for someone credible to step forward so I can throw my support behind them."

Asked what it would take for her to change her mind, and challenge Abbott, she responded: "A brainwash, maybe."

Democratic Party activists in Houston, Austin and San Antonio insist that Donald Trump will be Democrats' best friend in the November 2018 election. His controversial decisions that have created disarray in the ranks of Republicans, not only in Washington but in Texas, will fuel defections in congressional, state and legislative races, they predict.

Political observers are not so sure.

Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston, said the recent Democratic wins in Eastern states suggest to him that the "patterns of partisanship are hardening" in midterm elections, rather than a shift in voter sentiment.

"The statistics suggest that blue states are getting bluer and red states are getting redder," he said, meaning that parties are looking to focus on their bases of support. "This could mean that Texas will get even redder."
Like long-quiescent kernels inside the popcorn machine at River Oaks Theater, local politicos are suddenly beginning to feel the heat. For reasons not altogether clear - Donald Trump craziness? A broken system of governance? - elected officials or would-be elected officials are beginning to hop, crackle and pop. Those are signs and sounds of a healthy democracy, a welcome portent of invigorating change.

There's no great mystery about Houston Congressman Gene Green's decision to retire. At 70, he's served in the U.S. House since 1993, preceded by 20 years in the Texas Legislature. His retirement opens the door yet again for a Latino to represent the 29th Congressional District. A district that encompasses east Houston and parts of Pasadena, the 29th was drawn in 1991 to reflect the area's predominantly Hispanic population, but Green has been its sole representative - in large part because he's been an exemplary public servant.

Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia tried to unseat the veteran lawmaker last year in a race that left a residue of hard feelings between the candidates and among their supporters. Garcia, who also lost a bid for Houston mayor, appears ready to try again. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia and state Rep. Armando Walle are running, while state Rep. Carol Alvarado and attorney Beto Cardenas are mulling. One thing we hope will not change, whoever Green's successor turns out to be, is his record of constituent service and his unstinting focus on issues of importance to his working-class district.

There's activity on the Republican side, as well. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe has announced he'll be retiring after his current term. He's one of several Texas Republicans in both Congress and the state Legislature who have decided to "spend more time with the family" or otherwise occupy themselves post-public service. Poe's announcement follows those of U.S Reps. Lamar Smith of San Antonio, Jeb Hensarling of Dallas and Sam Johnson of Richardson, three Republicans who have announced their imminent departure.

Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott apparently has come to the conclusion that there's no room under the Capitol dome for that increasingly rare species of politician known as republicanus moderatus. The governor is targeting state Rep. Sarah Davis, a moderate Republican who represents West University and who has earned the ire of the governor and the local tea party establishment for not voting in lock step with the hard right. (The image that comes to mind for Abbott's lawmaking minions is a line of elbow-swinging, goose-stepping North Korean soldiers on Pyongyang parade.)

Abbott's unseemly intrusion is unlikely to knock off Davis, who, despite being elected in the tea party wave of 2010, is a worthy reflection of her moderate, independent-minded district. She's aware, even if the governor isn't, that her district is more likely to send a Democrat to Austin than a right-winger in the Abbott-Patrick-Paxton mode.

Whatever happens in Davis' House District 134 next year, we're happy for the governor to stir the pot. We'd be happy to see even more election-year turbulence and turnover. One glaring example: Harris County Commissioners Court, where moss tends to grow like a thick felt rug on the backs of incumbents, needs fresh faces. An increasingly urban county needs new ideas as it confronts challenges from Mother Nature and elsewhere.

It's time for a little snap and crackle at the court house. Time for new perspectives and energetic challengers at every level. Time for voters to take notice.
No comparisons

Regarding "Candidate Moore and the 'if it's true' mantra" (Page A11, Tuesday), as a Christian woman I feel the need to condemn in the strongest terms the use of the Bible by Roy Moore's defenders to excuse his actions. It also is ludicrous to compare the abuse of a young girl by a man in power to ancient marital traditions as if they are even remotely the same situation.

The Bible is sacred, and for representatives who hold themselves up as defenders of Christian morals and family values to make use of it in this way is inexcusable. This type of dismissive attitude and callousness also perpetuates the culture that turns a blind eye to sexual abuse.

If the allegations against Roy Moore are true, then I hope that he will do the right thing and step down from his position as a representative of the people. I also hope that representatives of the Republican Party will once again uphold and defend family values instead of shielding and defending the reprehensible behavior of their colleagues.

Lauren Shepley, Tomball

Wait a sec

Regarding "Tax cuts, pedophiles, polar bears, oh my! (Page A11, Monday), if sexual assault victims want to be believable then timing is everything. One cannot wait decades to make those allegations and you certainly can't make them just before an election if you want to be believable.

If the current accusers of Roy Moore are successful in affecting that Senate election then all kinds of allegations will be coming out in 2018 and new dirty-tricks politics will be taken to a higher level.

The Republicans should be supporting Moore until he is proven to be guilty. They can always remove him from the Senate if the accusers' allegations are proven to be true. At the rate we are going, you're guilty until proven innocent.

Robert M. Louie, Houston
Before Hurricane Harvey, inequality was a major challenge for Houston. Now we have a choice: Will we allow inequality to worsen, or will we fight to close the divide?

We know that the people hit hardest by storms such as Harvey are those of color, immigrants, low-income families and low-wage workers. This week, our organizations, along with more than a dozen other community groups, launched Houston Rising, a coalition that will fight for an equitable recovery from Harvey.

Since the storm, we have been knocking on doors across the hardest hit neighborhoods in the city. We see people still living in mold, forced to pay rent even though landlords have not completed basic repairs. We talk to workers laboring in dangerous conditions, too many of whom aren't paid enough to support their families. We watch as homeowners piece together their homes with few resources and limited time.

Harvey didn't create inequality, but it will exacerbate it if we don't act. According to the Brookings Institution, from 2010 to 2015, Houston ranked only 64th among major American cities for economic inclusiveness. Our poverty rate ranks us 96 out of 100 cities. As recovery begins, Houston faces three choices when it comes to fixing inequity.

First, who controls disaster recovery dollars, local or state officials? The Department of Housing and Urban Development will soon announce whether Texas' portion of $7.4 billion passed by Congress in September will go to the state's General Land Office, or directly to the city of Houston and Harris County.

The correct answer is for the money to go directly to Houston, administered by the local officials who had our backs during the storm. This saves money and is more responsive to what people in Houston really need. The GLO made clear in a state Senate hearing in Victoria on Nov.1 that it would skim 5 percent in fees from any HUD funds before the money gets close to Houston.

The GLO has said that in total, it wants $60 billion in HUD funding for Harvey recovery. With 5 percent taken off the top, that's $3 billion lining the state's coffers that could be better spent helping people.

Some advocates argue that the city's outstanding affordable housing violation should disqualify it from receiving recovery dollars directly. We disagree. The need is too dire to delay getting the money to people who need it. The city must move quickly to address civil rights in affordable housing and clear the violation with HUD, while administering disaster recovery.

The second choice is whether or not Houston will finally address the affordable crisis laid bare by the storm. Two months after the storm, renters and homeowners with few resources are still in crisis. There simply aren't enough safe, affordable housing options in Houston, especially in high-opportunity areas.

Much of the recovery money will come from HUD. The purpose of this money is to assist the low- and moderate-income communities disproportionately affected by disasters. But state leaders in both parties already have called for HUD to reduce the requirements that designate recovery dollars for these communities.

And Gov. Greg Abbott and John Sharp's $61 billion infrastructure proposal leans heavily on HUD dollars as a secondary source of funding for infrastructure projects, many of them in higher-income areas.

This is the wrong approach. Infrastructure is a high priority, but it shouldn't come at the expense of affordable housing. Houston has the opportunity to make generational gains in affordable housing that will set us on the path toward smart growth for many years to come, if we use HUD money as it is intended.

Finally, we must choose where to make investments in infrastructure that will prevent future storms from becoming costly disasters. Harvey is a stark reminder of the long-term cost of neglecting to invest in all communities across the city. As John Sharp's commission leads infrastructure planning for the state, he must prioritize investments in historically under-served communities to reduce the cycle of repeated flooding in these areas.

The communities in the Houston Rising coalition remember the costs of Katrina, Rita, Allison, Ike and the Tax Day and Memorial Day floods. We're paying close attention to how decisions about disaster recovery are made. We are pleased to welcome Marvin Odum to our first community hearing on equity in disaster recovery on Nov. 18 at Finnigan Park. Houston has the opportunity to become a model for a modern, equitable city. That begins with the choices we make in disaster recovery.

Caballero is president of the SEIU Texas; Jackson is the Criminal Justice Director for the Texas Organizing Project, and Legette is the Houston Business Liaison for Workers Defense Project. They are founding members of the coalition.
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loyers looking to hire talent from the Philippines may have to wait three weeks as persistent reports of illegal recruitment have prompted the government to suspend the processing of exit permits.Launched this week, the suspension will last until December 1 and may be extended if necessary, according to the Department of Labour and Employment.The stoppage of processing however will not apply to those hired by international organisations, diplomats, seafarers hired by agencies, government hires and those returning from home leave, reported The Straits Times.Workers heading out to all countries are affected by the suspension, according to Ramon Pastrana, labour attache at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.Securing the certificate is the last step before an employee can work overseas. Before this, the contract would have been verified with the embassy and the worker would have attended pre-departure seminars in the Philippines, according to Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) president K. Jayaprema.The order caught some employers and employees by surprise, with several already booking tickets to fly out in anticipation of the approval of the certificates."We have to explain the situation to the employers, and ask them to not send the previous maid back first, make other childcare arrangements, or hire a maid from another country," Low Moon Heng, director of Passion Employment Agency, told The Straits Times.He said he has three maids supposed to fly out this week to Singapore; another four will arrive later this month. Lows agency is springing for the workers boarding in Manila as they await news of the lifting of the suspension.The suspension has also caused maids from the provinces who have travelled to be stranded.Jayapremas group has appealed to the Philippine authorities to at least process applications if all that is left in order to leave is the final permit.There are an estimated 180,000 Filipinos working in Singapore. The suspension affects not just maids but also other workers, such as information technology professionals and nurses.
ood workplace culture will have a positive impact beyond your employees and organisation  it will also benefit the entire Singapore economy, says Second Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo.Speaking at the Great Place to Work Best Workplaces Awards, Teo said positive cultures foster industries that are highly-productive, innovation-driven, internationally-oriented, skills-focussed and inclusive and enabling.Great places to work are more likely to weather the storms and emerge stronger, she said. Given the right environment, employees will feel engaged and would want to stick around.While executives may be more likely to focus on revenue generation and profit realisation, investments in workplace culture can lead to great benefits as well, the second minister added.For these investments to have real, tangible impact, they must exist on every level of the organisation  from the junior employees to the C-suite.Teo also said that every generation of employees comes with different values and goals, so the norms in every organisation must constantly evolve.These norms, for instance, have to do with contract employment, flexible work arrangements and grievance handling  all covered by Tripartite Standards.Each of them, she said, spells out a set of verifiable actions that good employers take.For example, an employer that adopts the Tripartite Standard on FWAs commit to appoint a senior management to champion FWAs at the workplace, and to inform all its staff what FWAs it offers and that it is willing to consider requests for FWA, she explained.Teo said that since the Standards launched at the end of July, almost 500 organisations have adopted them to date. This covers more than 360,000 workers.We hope they help job seekers to differentiate between the so-so places to work and the great places to work, she concluded.
Providing financial reparation to the victim.

Deploying a higher qualified Health, Safety, Quality and Environment Co-Ordinator to oversee implementation of commitments to improvements in health and safety systems.

Providing Incident Cause Analysis Method training for regional managers.

Having 10 operational supervisors accredited with the SiteSafe Supervisor Gold Card.

Having all staff complete and pass the CONSTRUCTSAFE programme and SiteSafe passport.

Engaging services of Massey University and other experts to provide a best practice working guide for laymen.

Providing safe operation documentation for grinding equipment to retail and safety suppliers for distribution to staff.

Making a donation to the Blind Foundation.

Developing and delivering a work and safety programme for local high school students (16 students over two years).

ationwide firm has avoided prosecution following a serious workplace accident after all parties involved agreed enforceable undertaking would provide the best overall outcome.The accident occurred when an employee for Directionz Limited was using a portable angle-grinder to cut bolts off a post  the blade disintegrated and sent fragments into the workers face, penetrating their safety glasses.The employee sustained cuts to their face and was required to have one of their eyes removed.Following its investigation into the incident, WorkSafe alleged that Directionz had failed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health and safety of a worker.However, Directionz  which installs and maintains road signs across the country  proposed an enforceable undertaking which was later accepted by WorkSafe New Zealand.Simon Humphries, manager of technical programs and support at WorkSafe, said the decision would have a positive impact on the workplace, industry and community.The incident has prompted major reform and rectifications in the standard operating procedures and safety protocols of Directionz, said Humphries.The enforceable undertaking will see a more vigilant approach to monitoring changing work conditions, from methodology, the type of equipment used and the personal protection equipment used by workers, he added.Reno Wijnstok, managing director of Directionz, also said important lessons had been learned from the accident.This incident serves as a reminder to remain ever vigilant when assessing equipment and hazards, he said. It also reinforces the use of appropriate personal protection equipment.The victim, who remains unnamed, also supported the undertaking and agreed to assist with the deployment of a Trauma Management System to share their experience and assist others.Under the enforceable undertaking, Directionz Limited committed to initiatives summing at least $229,674 including:
Naif Rahma / Reuters

This week, the UN warned that after three years of bombing and conflict Yemen is on the verge of the 'largest famine the world has seen in decades.' Millions of lives are under threat, but the Saudi-led bombing has intensified, and those that are providing arms and support have continued to look the other way while terrible atrocities and abuses have taken place

The crisis has been exacerbated by the ongoing Saudi-led blockade, which has prevented food and lifesaving medicine from reaching those that need it. Less than 45% of the country's medical facilities are operational, and UNICEF has warned that, unless the ports are re-opened, Yemen will run out of fuel and vaccines by the end of the year.

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In September, the UN finally agreed to set up an independent investigation into human rights abuses that have taken place. The inquiry is definitely to be welcomed, but it will do almost nothing to halt the conflict on the ground, or to stop the bombs that are being dropped from the sky.

Many of those bombs are being made here in the UK. Since the intervention began, the UK government has licensed 4.6 billion worth of fighter jets, bombs and missiles. It is beyond question that these have been used in attacks on civilian infrastructure, with thorough and authoritative reports from Human Rights Watch, Sky News and Amnesty International explicitly linking UK arms to attacks on civilian sites.

That is why UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia were the subject of a High Court review earlier this year, following a landmark case brought by Campaign Against Arms Trade.

Our lawyers argued that the arms sales were illegal under UK arms export law, which says that if there is any 'clear risk' that arms 'might' be used in a serious violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) then a sale should not go ahead. The case included reports and evidence from the UN, as well as some of the most respected NGOs in the world, explicitly accusing Saudi forces of carrying out very serious breaches of IHL.

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Unfortunately, and after four months of deliberation, during which the bombardment continued unabated, the judges sided with the government.

The verdict was very disappointing, and if it is upheld it will be seen as a green light for the UK to continue to arm and support human rights abusers. It would send the message that a dictatorship with an appalling human rights record could inflict one of the worst human rights catastrophes in the world on the poorest country in the world and the UK would still continue to sell it military aircraft and bombs.

Almost as soon as the verdict was declared, we announced that we would appeal it. We are determined not to let it rest, and to keep pushing until we get a result that favours the rights and lives of people in Yemen over arms companies' profits.

We have no doubt that public opinion is on our side. Poll after poll has shown a widespread and growing opposition to the UK's uncritical political and military support for Saudi forces. The most recent poll, carried out by Opinium LLP in September, found that almost 70% of UK adults oppose the arms sales, with only 12% in support.

However, further action could be very expensive. We have already been ordered to pay 40,000 in court fees for the original case, and if our appeal is granted it could considerably increase that cost. With that in mind, we have launched a crowdfunder, which has already seen over 600 people donating to support our case.

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The timing could not be more urgent. Over the last two weeks we have seen purges in Riyadh and a further escalation of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Lebanon threatening to be the next battleground in the wider geopolitical conflict. The potential consequences of such a war do not bear thinking about.

After almost 1000 days of bombardment and pain, a peaceful solution in Yemen is needed more than ever. When governments fail to challenge abuses and atrocities then it forces activists and civil society to take action. Even if it is successful, our appeal will not end the ongoing conflict, but it would end the UK's role in it and set a vital and historic international precedent.

The atrocities have not just been ignored by Whitehall and Downing Street, they have been directly fuelled by them. Theresa May and her colleagues have not been spectators to the bombardment, they have been active participants. It's time for them to end their complicity.
Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Some might call them the 'Brexit Mutineers' and others might call them traitors. But I say all the Conservative MPs who are 'rebelling' against the government's shambolic hard Brexit are simply putting the nation's interests before the interests of their own party.

The Daily Telegraph published a horrific front page on Wednesday's print edition. It can only be described as a bullying campaign, in a similar way to the Mail's attack on the judiciary last year, labelling our judges as 'enemies of the people'

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The Telegraph vying for a place in the gutter alongside the Daily Mail with its 'Brexit mutineers' front page. Mutineers, saboteurs, enemies of the people, traitors - the state of this. I want my country back. pic.twitter.com/Aqk78oNYmH  Joseph Willits (@josephwillits) November 14, 2017

But the 15 MPs photographed on the front page of the Telegraph are far from being enemies of the people, in actual fact, they are the defenders of democracy.

Some of the politicians described in the headline as being 'Brexit Mutineers' include Dominic Grieve, Anna Soubry and Dr Sarah Wollaston - arguably the party's most thoughtful and authoritative MPs.

Would you believe nine out of the fifteen MPs named on the Telegraph's front page are former lawyers? I understand lawyers might not be a popular bunch of people, but they certainly understand the issues at hand.

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Take Dominic Grieve as an example. If we are looking for the most learned and insightful member of the House of Commons, Mr Grieve certainly comes out on top.

From Brexit to our complicated uncodified constitution, if Mr Grieve has something to say on a matter of law, we should take notice.

The former Attorney General has called Theresa May's Brexit plan "thoroughly stupid" and "barmy."

During a debate on Tuesday, he said that the whole process 'makes me question the government's competence.'

Dominic Grieve QC is probably twice as bright as anybody in the current Cabinet. It is an outrage that certain politicians and journalists are describing he and others as being 'traitors'. This couldn't be further from the truth.

The traitors are those who are letting Britain be flushed down the toilet to get their precious Brexit, no matter what the consequences will be.

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Yes, we are leaving the European Union, that we can be certain of! But please, we need to do it in a way that is best for everybody.

The British people voted to leave the EU, but they did not vote to get poorer, to lose their jobs, or to receive a worsening quality of healthcare and education due to EU nationals leaving the country!

If those MPs named on the Telegraph's front page formed part of the Cabinet, we might have a half decent government on our hands.

A number of Tory MPs outraged they've been left off! https://t.co/Bvvp2I4qjm  Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) November 14, 2017

Truth be told, Labour are not much better when it comes to Brexit. It is well known that Jeremy Corbyn is a reluctant remainer, meaning the government will most likely have a comfortable ride when it comes to the official opposition.

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So thank you, Dominic Grieve, Anna Soubry and yes, even Ken Clarke, for putting the country first, and not your party. Thank you for being friends of the people and so far the only representatives of 48.2% of Brits.

You are people with courage and integrity, and may well be the only MPs who come out of this mess positively at the next election for at least trying to make the transition as smooth as possible.
With the future so uncertain for business and markets in the context of Brexit, the past is making a comeback. Not for nothing is Churchill cited time and again by leading politicians, searching for relevant reference points and not for nothing was Dunkirk the blockbuster film of the summer.

Two floors down from where I work in Manchester is the Co-operative Heritage Archive. It's a wonderful resource that has drawn me into a look at earlier eras. There is a long history to co-operation in business, and given how established many co-operatives and mutuals there are today, covering for example one in four insurance premiums around the world, some of the history can be downright surprising.

Do we imagine that the seditious crime of piracy on the high seas in the eighteenth century, may also have been organised in surprisingly co-operative ways? This is the conclusion of one writer, Peter T Leeson. His analysis of pirate ships is that the ever-present risk of mutiny meant that they operated in ways that allowed for both competitive action and democracy. On pirate ships, captains only earned twice the level of the rest of the crew, and could be replaced whenever they displayed cowardly behaviour or they failed to pursue a prize.

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Captain Charles Johnson, for example, writes in his General History of the Pyrates, published around 1726 - 28, as saying "nature, we see, teaches the most Illiterate the necessary Prudence for their Preservation . . . these Men whom we term, and not without Reason, the Scandal of human Nature, who were abandoned to all Vice, and lived by Rapine; when they judged it for their Interest . . . were strictly just . . . among themselves."

Occasionally, pirate ships would form a fleet for collective action where there was a big bounty to win. They had crew members of every colour and race, free men who participated at all levels, from crew to captain. The merchant marine, on the other hand, operated as something of a slave ship in comparison, with six-fold differences in rewards and a punitive approach to any breaches of discipline, above all that of mutiny. Pirate ships could operate with a constitution, to make clear the terms on which people participated, including the distribution of spoils. One constitution, drawn up for the crews of the Welsh pirate, Bartholomew Roberts, who claimed around four hundred prizes in his career, included the following injunctions "every man has a vote in the affairs of the moment" as well as "to keep their piece, pistols, and cutlash clean, and fit for service."

Leeson is a political economist, whose research is rooted in how to align incentives to allow for social co-operation. In his view, pirates solved that challenge with an emphasis on mutuality. As he puts it "pirates could not use government to enforce or otherwise support cooperative arrangements between them. Despite this, they successfully cooperated with hundreds of other rogues. Amidst ubiquitous potential for conflict, they rarely fought, stole from, or deceived one another. In fact, piratical harmony was as common as harmony among their lawful contemporaries who relied on government for social cooperation."

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The business history professors Rodolphe Durand and Jean-Philippe Vergne have examined some of the same evidence and endorse this claim, but they explain levels of co-operation in piracy not simply as a result of economic incentives but also of the more egalitarian ideas that came from being on the fringe. The achievements of piracy, they claim, were that "advances that took modern governments several centuries to institutionalize were established by the pirates of the Caribbean and Madagascar: democratic elections of leaders, separation of powers, equality between members, and an early form of social insurance."

There may always have been deep roots to maritime co-operation, where people are drawn together and dependent on each other in a challenging environment. The man who gave his name to the building that I work in, and that houses the Co-operative Heritage Archive, is George Jacob Holyoake. He concluded in his two volume work, The History of Co-operation, published in 1875 that "Greek sailors in the Levant, American sailors engaged in the whale fishery and China trade, the Chinese traders in Manila... have long been either equal or partial participators in profits."

The United Kingdom has a proud maritime history, and perhaps it is here we could look for the relevant lessons. Brexit is not 1066, 1215 or 1945. In two years, we are likely to leave the European Union. The context is new but the challenge is not. It is to survive the risks our new freedoms entail, by learning again how to co-operate.

A Short History of Co-operation and Mutuality by Ed Mayo is a fresh retelling of the story of co-operation in business across the world, newly published and is free to download here.
In 1911, Robert Scott, British leader of the Terra Nova Expedition, was in touching distance of the South Pole. But a series of catastrophic decisions, including a lack of planning, flexibility and proper consultation, meant that he and his men died, 11 miles short of goal.

Now a less perilous but equally life-changing event - the Brexit negotiations on citizens' rights - is also "within touching distance" according to the UK government. This directly contradicts the views of the European Commission and citizens' rights group the3million.

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The current UK proposal for "settled status" is the culmination of a year of intimidation, hostile bureaucracy and misleading advice.

The Home Office has been discouraging EU citizens from applying for Permanent Residence documents that would provide evidence of their right to live and work in the UK. EU citizens were told that they do not need documents currently, while the UK's official negotiating position is that all EU citizens will have to obtain documents within two years of Britain leaving the EU. In recent communications officials have stated that any documents issued will not be legally binding after Brexit. Which leaves millions of people in limbo. Wondering what will happen when all their rights fall away on Brexit day and staff shortages combined with administrative errors will prevent many from registering within two years.

Instead of listening to EU citizens' feedback and responding to the original EU offer that set the bar high, the current government is driven by the desire to pull over three million people into the draconian UK immigration law. Come forward the "settled status" proposal which was rejected by 96 per cent of over 2,000 respondents in a recent poll by the3million. Why?

As it stands, the UK's proposal would not protect existing EU citizens' rights, which will "fall away" after Brexit. "Settled status" means we will all become illegal at the point of Brexit and have to apply for a grant of status which can easily be refused or revoked.

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The UK proposal puts EU citizens at risk of deportation, frozen bank accounts, loss of driving licences, eviction and losing their job. "Settled status" would bring EU citizens directly into the "hostile environment" created by Theresa May as Home Secretary in 2012. For example, paragraph 15 of the proposal gives often poorly trained Home Office caseworkers discretion to reject applications - the current error rate is around 10%, putting 300,000 people at risk. The proposal also mentions "systematic criminality checks" which are currently illegal under EU law.

"Settled status" means the loss of rights to family reunification, appeal rights, protection from deportation and data protection. It provides no guarantee against future government law changes, possible loss of status at a future date and many other potentially catastrophic consequences for EU citizens living in the UK.

Today, the3million is presenting an alternative proposal to the Home Office and the Department for Exiting the EU. This is a fresh attempt to break the deadlock between the two negotiating parties on citizens' rights.

the3million proposal ensures EU citizens keep all their current rights and can prove them via a simple registration procedure, based on residence and ID proof to provide locally, e.g. via the existing passport return service.

The past year has seen mostly silence from the UK government, punctuated by sporadic assurances that citizens' rights are a priority. These assurances have always come forward a day or so before a major milestone in the negotiations, without giving those concerned any time to react and without going into specifics.

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We were repeatedly promised "nothing would change." The UK's "settled status" proposal is contradicting this promise, last made by Theresa May in Florence. The initial philosophy underpinning the negotiations, "you can keep on living as if nothing has happened" - has proven a lie.

Higher political interests on both the EU and UK side have taken over. They risk making EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the UK true citizens of nowhere, not able to move or marry freely, to carry on with their cross-border jobs and lives.

EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the EU are caught between a rigid legalistic approach from the European Commission on the one side and an immigration-control-by-hostility one from the UK Government on the other side of the Channel. What is constant however, is the casting adrift of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in Europe - the UK wants control over the population whereas the EU wants to retain the integrity of its directives and laws.
Dear Mr. Ben Achour and other members of the UN Human Rights committee,

If Richard Dawkins' tweet linking a woman's immorality to her refusal to selectively abort for Down syndrome (rightly) created a media frenzy in 2014, then why does your statement during a recent session of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) go largely unnoticed?

You said: 'Though it is necessary to help disabled people once they are born, this doesn't mean that we have to accept to allow a fetus suffering with impairment to live.' You added 'We must do everything we can to avoid disabilities.'.

The Chairman of the UNHRC then intervened by reminding all members that the debate is recorded.

The United Nations are founded on the basis of the equal dignity of every human being. The UNHRC has great authority on jurisdictions and law makers around the world. The Committee has the power to judge States parties with regards to their implementation and respect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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I struggle to understand why Richard Dawkins' -biased, but otherwise inconsequential- remarks was immediately followed by media outrage and an apology of some sort, while your statement, sofar, remains without consequence.

Seeing the world through the eyes of possibility

My oldest daughter April is an active, outgoing girl. She's our nature child who binge-watches "Lassie" because she is wildly passionate about anything with four legs. Although April uses few words, she's a master communicator.

Hazel is our princess who will cry when one of us gets hurt. She will then tend to our needs with band-aids, hugs and blankets.

Both my daughters have Down syndrome and their younger brother does not. He owes his large personality, or at least part of it, to the fact he's growing up seeing the world through the eyes of possibility.

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Imagine. As my children bounce through life, I'm conscious they represent a group whose ranks are quickly shrinking because of the widespread push for prenatal screening and abortion. I know that most women of childbearing age who we encounter have judged my daughters and her cohort, and found their lives to be not worth living.

Knowing that individuals look at them this way hurts, but knowing that a representative of the United Nations -founded on the basis of the equal dignity of every human being-, reinforces these prejudices by promoting selection is horrendous.

Down syndrome: a life worth living

I would like to quote self-advocate John Franklin Stephens who -at a United States congressional testimony last week- said: 'I completely understand that people are pushing for a particular 'final solution', saying that people like me should not exist. That view is deeply prejudiced by an outdated idea of life with Down syndrome.'

It is unacceptable that your statements, reflecting the very ideology of eugenic abortion that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights refuses to tolerate, are swept under the human rights carpet.

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I would like to remind the other members of UNHRC that their presence and silence are also on record and that speaks for itself.

Women have the inherent right to give birth, unjudged

People with Down syndrome and other disabilities are a naturally occurring part of our humanity. They have always existed in every race, religion and society on this planet.

My children do not live because I failed to abort them. My children live because they are human beings with equal human dignity. They live because I did not wish to partake in a sorting culture and therefore refused my body and pregnancy to be used for the purpose of eugenic abortion.

Abortion is a medical procedure that kills unborn children and, like all medical procedures, carries risks for women. To refer to selective abortion as a means to 'avoid disability' is demeaning to both my rights and those of my children. As a woman I have the inherent right to give birth to my children, unjudged, no matter what their differences or disability.

In a comparable situation of sex-selective abortion of unborn baby-girls, several UN committees have blamed prenatal selection -an extreme form of inequality-, as the root cause of violence against women.

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The UN should not push disability-selective abortion as, this too threatens the human rights of women.

Do the right thing

To distantiate the Universal Human Rights treaty from the ideology of eugenic abortion, I expect you and other members of the UNHRC to take appropriate action by:

offering an official apology to the millions of people living with a disability around the world.

offering an official apology to women stating their right to give birth, unjudged, to children no matter what their disability or difference will be respected.

stepping down from further engagements with or, on behalf of, the United Nations.

having your place in the committee filled by a person with a disability.

May I suggest to invite one of the many excellent outspoken self-advocates our Down syndrome community has to offer.

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Sincerely,

Renate Lindeman
Lactose intolerance is a gastrointestinal condition, recognised throughout the medical community as loss of function in the enzyme lactase that helps us digest lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in cows' milk.

This condition has an interesting history. Hippocrates, the Greek physician who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine, first described symptoms associated with milk consumption back in around 460 BC.

The symptoms he discussed then are all too familiar to those who struggle to digest milk today - abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and flatulence, to name a few. In fact, 60% of the world's population believe they have a degree of lactose intolerance - that's a huge number of people with bloated tummies after a latte.

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Yet for nearly 2000 years, whilst our knowledge of allergic or immune system-related responses to cows' milk has greatly advanced, our understanding of what induces digestive problems with cows' milk outside of the immune system is often simply put down to 'lactose intolerance'.

With limited time available, I wouldn't be surprised if the diagnosis by a time-restricted doctor would be "if it's not an allergy, then it must be lactose intolerance". Even our best diagnostic assessments, hydrogen breath tests are not infallible and can sometimes provide a false positive result.

Yet the extent of lactose intolerance could well be widely misunderstood according to some new research launched this week.

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In the trial by Mei and colleagues, 600 Chinese participants with self-reported lactose intolerance, were given either A1 beta-casein containing milk (regular cows' milk) or A1 beta-casein free milk (a2 Milk) in a double blind fashion and any symptoms monitored over 12 hours. Lactose intolerance is reportedly very high in China - it is claimed that up to 90% of the population cannot drink cows' milk.

Beta-casein makes up 40% of the protein sub-fraction casein, which itself is 20% of all protein in cows' milk. It is thought that historically, all cows produced A2 beta-casein in their milk and genetic variation in European cattle breeds appears to have given rise to the A1 type of beta-casein over a millennia of cattle breeding. Interestingly, all other mammalian species produce milk that is 'A2-like', such as sheep, goat, buffalo and even camel milk.

Until recently, China was a low cows' milk-consuming nation due to inherent lactose intolerance, yet historically, things could not be more different. Dairy consumption actually seems to have featured considerably in China's history, but it was mostly from A2 species. Interestingly, all these milks contain lactose but are naturally A1 beta-casein free and were drunk seemingly for thousands of years in a 'milk intolerant' nation.

So you're probably wondering - what were the results of the new trial?

Even in those subjects with confirmed lactase deficiency, symptoms were reduced after drinking a2 Milk compared to regular cows' milk - even though both contain the same amount of lactose. This builds on a previous smaller trial from last year that showed very similar results with 45 Chinese participants - much fewer symptoms with a2 Milk.

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Lactose intolerance is not a complete lie - there is genuinely a small proportion of people with alactasia, a congenital lack of the lactase enzyme, for whom no amount of lactose is going to be digested well.

Yet for the rest of us with a rumbling tummy after dairy; could we have wrongly attributed the true extent of lactose intolerance?

So for those who have ditched dairy and rushed to the milk alternatives aisle of the supermarket, perhaps we need to rethink milk; stop thinking ' dairy free' and think 'A1 free' instead.
This time last year, I couldn't think of any reason why I'd be visiting the Isle of Wight in 2017. And yet, this weekend, I'll make my third trip of the year.

It's amazing how much can happen in a year. In a couple of weeks, it'll be exactly a year since a columnist on the Isle of Wight County Press began her weekly column in the paper with: 'Pencils poised on your new diaries, everybody, and get ready for July 15, the undoubted highlight on the Island's 2017 schedule of exciting events'.

She was referring to the very early plans for the Isle of Wight - that island just off the south coast, close to Southampton and Portsmouth - to have its first LGBTI Pride event. The problem was that the rest of her article was bigoted, homophobic, and railed against people having sex with lampposts. Yes, really.

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There was predictable, but reassuring, outrage. Reassuring because we're always told that the Isle of Wight is a retirement home, where even Jacob Rees Mogg might find a home for some of his Victorian views. I blogged for HuffPost UKattacking the columnist, Charlotte Hofton, and her diatribe made the national news. And whilst the editor of the County Press emailed me to say that she was devastated that she might be thought of as a bigot or a homophobe, she quit before her next column was due.

On reflection, that's a shame. I accept that her column was often tongue-in-cheek and a bit, well, edgy. The problem is that the LGBTI community - especially in places like the Isle of Wight - has got sick and tired of that tongue being in that cheek. I would have much preferred her to stay with the paper, offer an apology and move on, including a visit to Isle of Wight Pride itself.

Nevertheless, Hofton's intro was quite right - Isle of Wight Pride was an undoubted highlight on the Island's 2017 schedule of exciting events. I was moved to tears on more than one occasion at Pride, and it was truly incredible to see the Island's community - LGBTI and straight allies - come together in such a show of solidarity and support for love, inclusion and difference. It also came less than two months after the homophobic local MP, Andrew Turner, had quit after telling college students that homosexuality was dangerous to society - and so just less than two months since the Isle of Wight Pride organisers organised a 'Dangerous to Society' club night to celebrate their dangerousness and depravity.

I blogged about the first Isle of Wight Pride for HuffPost UK back in July. Such was the impact of the event that the organisers - who number just a handful of committee members - felt buoyed enough to bid to host UK Pride in 2018. UK Pride is rather like EuroPride and WorldPride - it is awarded to one Pride in the UK each year to highlight and give focus to smaller Prides that would normally struggle to get the attention of the bigger, more established Prides. And at the UK Pride Organisers Network conference in Blackpool last month, they pulled it off, beating impressive competition from Pride Cymru in Wales, Liverpool Pride, and Exeter Pride.

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On the A34 heading back from a mind blowing 4 days which started at @iwightradio#LocalHeroes and ended with #UKPride2018! @UKPrideNetworkpic.twitter.com/32YTu2HZ4H  Isle Of Wight Pride (@IWPride) October 22, 2017

That shows not just the power of Pride as a movement, but also the culture shift that Isle of Wight Pride has created in one small part of the UK. They had the support of the new MP - the eminently more enlightened Bob Seeley - and countless local businesses together with the tourist board, proud to celebrate the fact that theirs is the only Pride in the UK held on a beach. They showed that the Island's LGBTI community, who hitherto had pretty much no outlet for coming together that didn't involve a trip to Portsmouth or Southampton, could celebrate, party, march and stand up for human rights without people having sex with lampposts or the sky falling in.
By Sarah Oh

The debate over whether the Internet is a better tool for democratic empowerment or authoritarian control misconstrues the nature of the democratic challenges of the digital age. The Internet is not a tool, but a complex domain of competing forces and constraints. These forces are comprised of powerful businesses, states, politicians, criminal enterprises, advocacy groups: in short, all of the elements present in any democracy. But in this cyber-democracy, forces compete in part on the shifting ground of the technological and physical infrastructure of the Internet, where some players wield more power than others with an ability to mold the terrain in their favor. Authoritarian states aware of what is at stake in the evolution of the Internet are beginning to engage in long-term and well-resourced efforts to undermine the democratic rights of citizens in this more fundamental way.

In a reference to the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that take down a specific website, these broader efforts represent what some have called a distributed denial-of-democracy (DDoD) attack aimed at reducing the utility of the Internet for genuine democratic discourse. These efforts, which are coordinated and well resourced, are often more insidious, harder to detect, and have the overall effect of undermining civic engagement and overall trust in the media ecosystem. And while the diffuse and fast-changing nature of Internet can at times make it difficult for authoritarian regimes to exert their control, the complex interplay between technology, laws, infrastructure, and socio-political factors shaping the Internet make it equally difficult for democratic actors to counteract these DDoD strategies. As an additional obstacle, the values that underpin Internet freedom can be sidelined in the forums and governing bodies that set Internet standards by the dominance in those spaces of private tech companies concerned primarily with generating profits. Formidable though they may be, these challenges are not insurmountable. Civil society groups from the Global South are leading the charge to advocate for an Internet that remains open, pluralistic, and democratic. The nine case studies highlighted in this report demonstrate various ways groups in different countries have successfully fought for policies and norms that strengthen Internet freedom and digital rights. These strategies include awareness-raising, nonviolent direct action, regional and international coalition-building, and strategic litigation. Each of the following case studies corresponds to one of the nine guiding principles of a Democratic Framework to Interpret Open Internet Principles. This framework was collaboratively developed by a network of civil society groups worldwide to illuminate the ways that an open Internet is essential for the functioning of democratic societies. It was inspired by the norms and standards developed by the Internet Rights and Principles Dynamic Coalition (IRPC) of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. The framework is an important starting point for more effective, coordinated effort to ensure that the Internet remains a welcoming place for democratic life. Its aim is to create a consensus around the values that should shape the future development of the Internet. But moreover, it also provides an avenue for understanding and sharing knowledge on the concrete strategies that can be put into practice in different contexts to make sure that the Internet remains a level playing field. The following nine examples demonstrate how citizen groups can mobilize to enshrine such democratic principles in cyberspace.

The debate over whether the Internet is a better tool for democratic empowerment or authoritarian control misconstrues the nature of the democratic challenges of the digital age.

1. Freedom of Expression

In the Philippines, a cybercrime law introduced in 2012 proposed increasing penalties for libel and giving authorities unchecked power to track information online. Internet freedom activists worried several provisions of the law would infringe on freedom of expression by preventing Filipinos from freely posting content on websites, and participating in online forums and discussions without fear of being blocked or facing serious penalties. In response, pro-democracy organizations from across the political spectrum joined together to challenge the constitutionality of the law. Through protests, roundtables, and capacity building activities, they raised awareness and encouraged advocacy efforts around the dangers the law posted to freedom of expression and privacy. The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), a digital rights organization founded after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship and the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance (PIFA), a broad nationwide coalition of pro-democracy and Internet freedom advocates, were among the organizations in the front lines on the struggle. PIFA was even one of the 20 organizations to file 15 petitions to the Supreme Court about the constitutionality of the law. Public efforts in the courts and actions in the streets contributed to the takedown of three contested provisions of the law, including provision that would allow government to block or restrict access to computer data. The Supreme Court declared these provisions unconstitutional and delayed implementation of the law. Despite public concerns about the surviving provisions, the national campaign against the cybercrime law led to a turning point for Filipino activists; it showed the power of people coming together and fighting for the importance of digital rights in the Philippines. Initially fragmented, the campaign led to a larger movement unified under the goal of protecting human rights and freedom of expression online. Thus, it took the introduction of a flawed law and active public campaigns to initiate a broader dialogue about privacy, surveillance, and digital security. Digital rights communities across Southeast Asia have been inspired by Filipino advocacy efforts, which they have understood to be an example of how to communicate the balance required between anti-cybercrime measures with fundamental rights to a public audience.

2. Freedom of Assembly and Association

Social media is an important organizing tool for journalists and advocacy groups in Uganda. Facebook, WhatsApp, and other messaging applications have been used to share political knowledge, connect leaders with supporters, and organize events  even share information about government abuses. During national Walk to Work protests in 2011, organized to protest living costs after presidential elections, Facebook and Twitter provided a steady stream of updates from protestors, bystanders, and journalists. Using social media, however, can have dangerous consequences for marginalized groups such as the LGBT community. The government of Uganda has been known to collect user information and prosecute individuals based on information shared on social media. Uganda is one of 76 countries where homosexuality is currently criminalized, and LGBT activists fear that their online conversations will be monitored and used against them. By posting information taken from photos and content posted on Facebook, a local tabloid exposed the identity of numerous members of the LGBT community in 2011 and again in 2014. The tabloid stories in 2011 are believed to have contributed to the killing of David Kato, a prominent gay rights activist. Furthermore, the government has repeatedly restricted access for advocacy groups to use the Internet to share political information. In 2016, the countrys media regulator restricted the use of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter to prevent the organizing of protests before presidential elections in February as the government had done before in 2011. In both cases, the electoral commission enforced the social media shut-down. Civil society groups have responded in two ways. First, they have sought to deepen their digital security capacity. To protect against threats to journalists, LGBT organizations, and other groups have learned how to use Facebook and social media applications more securely and to implement other practices that increase their privacy. In the lead up to the 2016 election this included the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to share information. Civil society groups spread information about how to use them through radio broadcasts. The fact that the hashtag #UgandaDecides trended on Twitter shows how they were able to spread their knowledge through local networks and connect with international media. Secondly, civil society groups built coalitions with international organizations to draw attention to abuses taking place in Uganda. In 2016, Access Now supported a coalition of groups to demand that the government stop the Internet shutdown as part of the #KeepitOn campaign.

3. Accessibility

In Nigeria, national broadband plans have overlooked rural communities, leaving them with low bandwidth and high-cost options for Internet access. This means that broadband and mobile data fees are unaffordable to many in Nigeria, especially the poor. Fixed-line broadband subscriptions cost an average of 39 percent of average income, and mobile broadband packages cost 13 percent. Given that approximately 80 percent of Nigerians earn below the poverty line ($2 a day or less), access to the Internet is out of reach and unaffordable for a majority of citizens in Nigeria. The Alliance for Affordable Internet, a global coalition working on Internet affordability, works with Nigerian civil society leaders to raise awareness around this issue through thematic working groups. The consumer advocacy and pricing transparency working group, for instance, works closely with a coalition of Nigerian NGOs that have been leading campaigns to raise awareness about pricing and taxation policies that have been proposed in Nigeria. One proposed policy includes imposing a nine percent tax on voice, data, and SMS services to consumers. This policy would make the Internet dramatically more expensive for Nigerian consumers. Groups say they worry about the consequences of the proposed policy in an environment where farmers are forced to climb trees just to get a stable Internet connection. Civil society leaders who are part of the coalition have worked to build a healthy dialogue between regulators, civil society, and the government. A key strategy, according to activists, has been encouraging groups to find constructive ways to work with government and leveraging the interests of each of these groups to protect and drive down costs for Nigerian consumers. They seek to build relationships with the regulator and to inform them about ways to better communicate with and engage consumer groups, such as sharing their content through social media rather than press releases. Another important learning has been identifying champions within government to work on these issues.

Messaging applications such as Viber and Facebook Messenger, for example, are the de-facto tool for communication for activists and are used to organize political events and activities.

5. Personal Safety and Security

In Pakistan, women face threats of physical, sexual, and psychological harassment online. Leaking explicit photos and threats of blackmail are growing increasingly more common. From 2014 to 2015, more than 3,000 cybercrimes were reported to the Federal Investigation Agency and of those cases, nearly half were targeted to women on social media. Observers estimate far more cases go unreported. In fact, in workshops conducted by the The Digital Rights Foundation, many female college students reported that they did not know cyber harassment was a crime. Online platforms are an important space for political engagement, expression, and mobilization in Pakistan. Thus, online harassment directly impacts the political participation of women, including female journalists and women politicians. In 2016 the Digital Rights Foundation established a Cyber Harassment Helpline that women can reach out to for help when they are harassed on the Internet. One of the main objective of the helpline is to help bridge the trust deficit between survivors and law enforcement agencies. An analysis of more than 400 cases showed that the most common barriers to equal participation are non-consensual use of information, impersonation, account hacking, black mailing, and receiving unsolicited messages; the most targeted groups include women, children, human rights defenders, and minority communities. The Digital Rights Foundation has also been leading efforts to strengthen legal protections for women and responding to survivors by recommendations to law enforcement agencies and the government. Pakistan has a National Response Centre for Cybercrime, but it has faced challenges serving women outside of major cities.

6. Inclusion

In India, the population of people with disabilities is estimated to be as high as 150 million people, and the recorded rates of those who are vision-impaired are among the highest in the world. Indian digital rights advocacy groups, like the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) have worked to ensure that these individuals are able to participate fully online by promoting policies that prioritize accessibility. These include the National Policy on Universal Electronics Accessibility, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and Guidelines for Indian Government Web (GIGW), which all require government information be shared in formats that are accessible. Advocacy groups, however, have successfully shown that policies alone are not enough and have taken action to ensure persons with disabilities have access to critical resources and information online. Mobile phones in particular are a vital portal to access government services, but mobile applications remain largely inaccessible to many people with disabilities, especially those with vision disabilities. For example, CIS observed in 2015 that the MyGov, the Indian Governments mobile citizen engagement platform and the Prime Ministers application was highly inaccessible: screens cannot be navigated by visually impaired users and can also not be read using a screen reader. Based on this, CIS with other advocacy organizations worked on framing accessibility guidelines for mobile applications recommended to the Government of India as a standard. Advocacy groups, such as the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), have also been appealing to the private sector to ensure products designed to serve these needs are affordable and readily available to people with disabilities. They appeal to Indian companies and policymakers by advocating for the universal appeal of assistive technology to ensure disabled communities are not left behind. Sustained advocacy, new legal mandates applied to public and private sectors, and increased research in this domain have helped advance the issue of accessibility of mobile applications. The countrys National Informatics Centre has set up a committee to revise the GIGW to bring them up to speed with international standards.

7. Network Equality

A government-enforced Internet shutdown in Cameroon denied online access to a significant portion of the countrys population for more than three months in early 2017. The shutdown targeted the Anglophone region of the country, an area historically marginalized by the French-speaking majority. In the lead up to the Internet blackout, the Cameroonian government publicly warned Internet users there would be criminal penalties for any actions to spread false news on social media in the Anglophone region. Despite the governments claim that this action would prevent the spread of false information, most observers held that the government aimed to stem recent protests by limiting connections to social media messaging applications and other online communication platforms. Activists believe the government was acutely aware of the critical role the Internet played in organizing protests. Digital rights groups unaffected by the shutdown launched a global social media campaign, #bringbackourInternet, to raise awareness about the shutdown. They sought to lead efforts to apply local, pan-African and international pressure on the government. They also directly engaged Camtel, the countrys national telecommunications company. Finally, startups created an Internet refugee camp, where members brought portable Internet modems for others to use instead of driving to the next largest city, Douala, to use the Internet. Through these efforts, the Cameroonian technology and activist communities raised global awareness about the shutdown, applying pressure on the government.

Using an HTTPS site helps ensure that users connect to the sites they intend to, and that content transferred between the website server and a user's browser is less susceptible to surveillance or interference.

9. Governance

In Nepal, the national chapter of the Internet Society has led efforts to create a national multistakeholder governance structure that includes government, civil society, and the private sector by organizing a national Internet Governance Forum. In so doing, they have sought to ensure decisions about Internet policy include the participation of all the stakeholders affected. In 2009, Shreedeep Rayamajhi and a group of activists launched the Internet Society chapter in Nepal. After attending the global Internet Governance Forums (IGF), a multi-stakeholder policy conference organized under the auspices of the United Nations, the Nepalese digital rights activists decided to plan their own IGF in Nepal. This took place in the context where abuse of citizen rights online mounted and awareness about the lack of specific laws and regulations to protect them grew. There was a growing sense among civil society groups that a new platform needed to be developed to discuss these issues. Through IGF Nepal meeting and the work of the Nepalese Internet Society chapter, these activists are able to provide platforms for people, particularly youth, to discuss their vision and strategies for fostering a more open and safe Internet in Nepal and share these ideas with global policymakers. Importantly, they view it as the beginning of a larger effort to develop a mechanism for engaging the domestic and international policymaking community, which still has a developing level of understanding around how Internet governance issues are understood and implemented in the Global South.

Conclusion

Civil society groups in the Global South are on the front lines of defending and strengthening Internet freedom. At this critical moment in the Internets development, efforts to preserve the openness of the internet and protect it against those seeking to undermine it are critical step to-wards consolidating democracy globally. To this end, activists are building digital rights movements from the ground up, launching national policy dialogues, and fighting to establish new norms and Internet standards. Understanding which of these efforts are successful, and sharing this knowledge, is a vital step to protecting the critical democratic functions of the Internet. These case studies provide a snapshot of promising efforts led by civil society to secure a more democratic future, whether it is promoting citizen awareness about a digital rights issue, advocating for a national policy, or promoting an Internet standard. But they only provide a small window into a much bigger story. We are eager to hear about more efforts to defend and protect democratic dialogue and action online. If you have a story, please write to us. By exchanging strategies and know-how we can improve upon current efforts and build cross-region solidarity. In the long run this will be essential to making sure the Internet remains an open and democratic platform.

Source: https://www.cima.ned.org/publication/advocating-openness-nine-ways-civil-society-groups-mobilized-defend-internet-freedom/
No One Injured in North Adams Head-On Collision

The front end of the van was crumpled but neither driver incurred serious injuries. The Ford was westbound when the driver told police he dropped his coffee. PreviousNext

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  A head-on collision on Thursday closed a section of Massachusetts Avenue for close to an hour.

No one was hurt in the noontime accident but both vehicles had to be towed from scene.

The accident occurred near 1406 Mass Ave., near the Blackinton Honor Roll shortly after noon. A westbound red older model Ford Explorer crossed the center line into the path of an eastbound gray Dodge Caravan, knocking the van up onto the banking on the north side of the road.

Lt. Jason Wood said driver of the Ford told police he had dropped his cup of coffee, distracting him as the van was approaching. The driver was cited for not having a driver's license.

Both vehicles incurred front-end damage on their passenger sides; the van's front end was crumpled. The Ford was removed by Mohawk Auto and the van by Dean's Towing.
The 'Cariddi Mile' will run west of Chenaille Terrace and then loop along the airport runway. The parcel in question runs along the town and city line. PreviousNext

North Adams Council Accepts Land for Bike Path

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The City Council's acceptance of a land donation on Tuesday clears the way for the Mohawk Bike Path to run from Williamstown to Harriman & West Airport.

The city is planning to piggyback the 1-mile section in North Adams informally named for the late state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, a longtime bike path proponent, onto the 2.5-mile route in Williamstown to tap into soon-to-expire federal scenic byway money.

"With the acceptance of this gift of land, we will be able to move this project side-by-side with Williamstown and take advantage of this funded MassDOT project," Mayor Richard Alcombright read from his communication to the council. "This will give the city a bike path destination ... the 'Cariddi Mile' ... from the airport to The Spruces."

The 9.6-acre lot is owned by Bay Colony LLC, former owner of what had been the Spruces Mobile Home Park across Route 2 in Williamstown. The bike path will start at Simonds Road (Route 7) and cross through The Spruces to end near Galvin Road. The $4.9 million project is being funded by the state Department of Transportation through the county's 2017 Transportation Improvement Program.

Both Williamstown and the city had to accept the donation of land that straddles the city line because the path will cross over that line. A special town meeting in Williamstown accepted the town's portion of the lot by voice vote on Tuesday night as well.

"This gift of land is making this whole project possible," said City Councilor Joshua Moran, who has been involved in the project the past year. "We've exhausted efforts along the river, along the railroad ... so currently it's this gift of land we'll be accepting that will allow us to utilize that Williamstown and North Adams funding from MassDOT."

The 25 percent design hearing for the Williamstown section was held on Nov. 1; the mayor anticipated the city's 25 percent design to be reached in January. The project is expected to go out to bid by the end of 2018 and the two-year construction to start sometime in 2019.

"This was kind of the crux and it came together nicely," said Moran. "We're kind of right in step and I think a big piece of this is not to fall behind the Williamstown design."

The bike path has generally sailed through the process in Williamstown, where it will through largely town or Williams College-owned land. In North Adams, however, the bike path has run into significant challenges in weaving through the densely populated West End.

Plans to run the trail from the airport east to Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art -- which constructed a bike tunnel and bridge to bring it through the campus -- were halted when a path forward could not be found through the Greylock neighborhood. Clearances and grades have precluded efforts to run it along the rail line or Hoosic River.

This more recent truncated version will bring one mile into the city with an easily accessible terminus at the airport. But it, too, has been fiercely opposed by homeowners on Chenaille Terrace. The parcel is just west of the quiet cul-de-sac and its residents fear intrusion into their privacy.

"I empathize with that but we're making every single reasonable accommodation," said the mayor, of the road's residents. Engineers have moved the route farther west and south to keep it away from back yards. "MassDOT has given us whole bunch of different options for screening, whether that be fencing, hard screening or landscape like shrubbery or different plantings so I think we're in good shape."

Alcombright said he begun talks with Lynn Fusco, president of Fusco Group, Bay Colony's parent, nearly two years ago.

"The first thing she said was, 'let's see if we can make this happen for the community,'" the mayor said.

He also credited Moran and City Planner Larysa Bernstein for their help with the project along with other city partners.

The land was accepted unanimously with City Councilor Wayne Wilkinson abstaining because of a business conflict of interest.

In other business:

 James Morocco was reappointed to the Mobile Home Rent Control Board with a term to expire Oct. 1, 2022.

 A new compensation and classification plan for firefighters, police and non-union workers in those departments was approved. Both the firefighters and police settled three-year contracts this year. Firefighters will receive a 1 percent cost-of-living raise retroactive to July 1 and 1 percent on Jan. 1 of each of the next years of the contract. They also will get reimbursement for dress uniforms over three years, an adjustment to sick leave buyback and a $500 stipend for hazmat, rescue and emergency medical technician certifications.

Police get a 2 percent COLA, retroactive to July 1, and 2 percent in each succeeding year on Jan. 1; also a stipend for EMT certification and reimbursement for promotional exam costs. The nonunion workers get 1 percent COLA back to July 1 and again on Jan. 1.

 A resolution on becoming a pollinator-friendly community was delayed to Dec. 12.
Voters at Tuesday's special town meeting approved a number of articles including buying property for a police station and a change in zoning bylaws.

Williamstown Town Meeting OKs Police Station Land Purchase, Zoning Bylaws



Planning Board Chairman Chris Kapiloff explains proposed zoning bylaw changes to town meeting on Tuesday. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  School regionalization was not the only issue to sail through Tuesday's special town meeting without debate.

The town approved eight other warrant articles with minimal discussion, advancing a plan to replace the town's police station and authorizing changes to the town's zoning bylaws.

Voters OK'd the $300,000 acquisition of .42 acres on Simonds Road (U.S. Route 7), including the building that used to be the Turner House for veterans.

When the non-profit Turner House announced its plan to suspend operations, the town in October 2016 eyed it as a potential site to replace the crowded and inadequate home for the Williamstown Police Department at Town Hall.

Those plans were announced in the spring of this year, after the town engaged an architect to assess whether the Simonds Road site could meet the needs of the department.

According to information provided to the voters prior to Tuesday's meeting, the town still has about $265,000 available for architectural and design services from the $321,000 previously authorized at town meetings in 2004, 2012 and 2013. And the estimated cost of renovation and expansion to Turner House is in the neighborhood of $5 million.

Town Manager Jason Hoch reported to the town Tuesday that he hopes to have a full building program, including costs, ready for approval in time for May's Annual Town Meeting, with the hope of moving the the police station by fall 2019.

The town also accepted the donation of 9 acres on Main Street (Route 2), hoping part of it one day will serve as the link between a bike trail planned in town and a similar trail in the city of North Adams. The Williamstown portion recently was reviewed at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's 25 percent design hearing but is waiting for signoff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has jurisdiction over the former Spruces Mobile Home Park property.

Article 4 on the agenda was a utility easement for Berkshire Gas, which want to move a regulator station from a subterranean location across the street to a new above ground Church Street location on the northeast corner of the Williamstown Elementary School property.

Planning Board Chairman Chris Kapiloff explained the five zoning changes recommended by his committee. The changes were generally designed to create consistency in the bylaw. One made parking changes for existing residential development similar to the existing requirement for commercial development; another placed the same requirement for hotels on property in the Southern Gateway district that already exists in the town's center.

One of the amendments closes a "doughnut hole" created by the Cable Mills Overlay District. The special district that allowed multi-family housing at Water Street's Cable Mills site created an island of properties on the street, surrounded by the overlay district, that do not enjoy the same rights enjoyed by their neighbor. Tuesday's town meeting action grants the same rights to those properties.

In a move that is in line with the Planning Board's stated goal of increasing housing options, the board sought and received the town's blessing for changes in Williamstown's Planned Business and Limited Business districts. Specifically, it now will be easier for a developer to seek approval for multi-family homes in those districts.

"Currently, it's really hard to build housing in Planned Business or Limited Business," Kapiloff explained. "We'd like to make it easier if someone wanted to build a housing development in someplace zoned for business.

"One thing we've been studying is what young people want for housing, and most young people want to live in the center of town. This will make it easier for them to have housing where they want to live."
The tree was put up Thursday morning with a crane from L.P. Adams. The tree lighting is on Dec. 1. PreviousNext

Pittsfield Places Annual Christmas Tree in Park Square



The spruce was donated to the city by Teena Guenther and Paul Askew. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The city's Christmas tree has arrived.

City workers, with help from L.P. Adams, installed the 35-foot donated tree Thursday morning.

Weighing just about one ton, the tree was donated by Broadway Street residents Teena Guenther and her husband, Paul Askew.

Jim Sullivan owned the home prior and said he had planted the tree 30 years ago.

"I planted that tree around 30 years ago, my daughter brought a blue spruce twig home from school (Capeless Elementary) and I stuck it in the ground in the front yard," Sullivan wrote on iBerkshires' Facebook post about the installation.

The city cut down and loaded the tree onto a flatbed truck Thursday morning, transported it down First Street, and over to Park Square. There L.P. Adams had a crane waiting to lift it and set it down on the tree stand.

The tree will be lit on Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. The Taconic High School chorus will be singing carols and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive to meet with children. There will be free hot chocolate available, donated by Patrick's Pub.

Those planning to attend the ceremony are asked to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Christian Centers food pantry.
"...the scientific use of the imagination." [HOUN]





We interviewed some of the authors to learn a bit about their contribution to this interesting anthology. We asked each of them the same four questions:



Please tell us a little bit about your story without giving too much away. Which Wells story or stories do you connect to your Sherlock Holmes narrative? Why did you choose that story/ those stories? Why did you want to participate in this project? What are your current and upcoming projects?





Katie Magnussen

1. Sherlock Holmes has just come back from pretending to be dead, and is bored. Really bored. So bored that he doesn't hesitate to drag Watson into a travelling freak show while they're out for a walk. They see a bizarre creature in a cage, one whose escape happens to coincide with a string of savage deaths in the area. In order to stop the killings, Holmes has to discover the creature's origins.

2. The idea for the story comes from The Island of Dr. Moreau. I wanted to write something a little different, a little bizarre, and my mind instantly went to Moreau. It's delightfully terrifying, and almost all of the horror comes from the humans rather than the "monsters." The problem with a Moreau-based story was that I was not comfortable using Holmes as a stand-in for the protagonist, or somehow putting Holmes and/or Watson on the island, but I loved the idea of Sherlock Holmes tackling the ideas of that novel, and so instead of putting Holmes on the island, I brought the island to Holmes. I tried to give the same attention to the horrors of mankind as Wells did in his story, but tempered down to a more Doylean attitude, plus a healthy dose of good-old Watson optimism.

3. I've always loved crossover Sherlockiana. Put Holmes in the future, in the past, on another planet, meeting any figure of literature or history you can think of, and I'll read it. That doesn't mean I'll like it, I do have standards, but I'll certainly read it at least once. When presented with the opportunity to participate with a collection of tales combining the greatest detective with one of the fathers of science fiction, how could I say no?

4. I'm currently working on the third book of my sci-fi mystery series "The Adventures of Watts and Sherlock," following the lives of a doctor and a detective solving crimes in a bleak futuristic world. The first two books are available in ebook and print formats on I'm currently working on the third book of my sci-fi mystery series "The Adventures of Watts and Sherlock," following the lives of a doctor and a detective solving crimes in a bleak futuristic world. The first two books are available in ebook and print formats on Amazon , and hopefully the third will join them before Christmas. Anyone interested can visit www.wattsandsherlock.com or facebook.com/WattsandSherlock for updates!









John Linwood Grant



1. If youre a lover of the Holmes canon, then you should recognize Holmess return to Upper Swandam Lane, scene of "The Man with the Twisted Lip." When the moon shines down on the spread of a new and insidious drug throughout central London, Holmes, Watson and Special Branch must identify not only the killers of a respectable Chinese merchant, but the true origin of the "red opium" and make some difficult decisions about what to believe when they encounter a very troubled man.





2. I wanted something as canonical as it could be and yet still be a definite tribute to H.G. Wellss science fiction. So I crossed the Wells/Doyle wires and chose a relatively minor aspect of The First Men in the Moon as my spark. I should pretend to be literary, but have a nasty feeling that I might have been influenced by seeing Lionel Jeffries in the dubious film adaptation of First Men when I was a child.





3. I suppose I simply like the work of both authors, having grown up with them. Also, rather than utterly rework Holmes, in cases like this I do enjoy sliding him just a touch outside of his original zone, enough to open up possibilities but not absolute certainties. This seemed a great opportunity to tease again.





4. Currently Im promoting my recent collection of strange Edwardian-based stories, A Persistence of Geraniums and Other Worrying Tales  murder, madness, and the supernatural  and plotting out a much longer work featuring my recurring character Mr. Dry, the feared Deptford Assassin. Im also editing Occult Detective Quarterly magazine as usual, and will soon be editing a new anthology called Hells Empire which you might consider a demonic version of Wellss War of the Worlds. Rather appropriate, really. Currently Im promoting my recent collection of strange Edwardian-based stories, murder, madness, and the supernatural  and plotting out a much longer work featuring my recurring character Mr. Dry, the feared Deptford Assassin. Im also editingmagazine as usual, and will soon be editing a new anthology calledwhich you might consider a demonic version of Wellss. Rather appropriate, really.





Daniel D. Victor



1. The ambiguous ending to the original version of H.G. Wells story, The Country of the Blind, merely hints at a positive outcome. We never learn whether the protagonist successfully escapes from an isolated land where everyone is blind. Despite his love for a blind woman and his early belief that in the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, his plans to gain power go awry. Once the village elders decide to put out his eyes, those strange growths on his face deemed responsible for his maddening references to something called sight, he concludes its time to flee. My story, An Adventure in Darkness, explains how the protagonist successfully returns to London where, to recreate his previous experience, he marries a beautiful blind woman. When violence threatens the relationship, Holmes and Watson are called in to set matters right.





2. I chose The Country of the Blind as my starting point for two reasons. First, I think its an exquisite story, a fantasy that readers can relate to on a literal level. In a similar situation, wouldnt most sighted people attempt to assert authority over those who cannot see? In fact, the set up seems typical of any situation in which an individualhowever wronglyfeels stronger than everyone else. Second, though a fable of sorts, the story takes place in a believable setting, one that doesnt clash with the realistic world of Sherlock Holmes. Even in todays real world, we occasionally learn of the discovery of an isolated community. Whos not to say that hidden in the mountains of Ecuador, as in Wells' story, or somewhere else there really does live a group of blind people cut off from the rest of humanity?





3. For as long as I can remember, Ive always been a fan of H.G. Wells. In graduate school I wrote a long, analytical paper about him called Of Science Romances and Utopian Dreams. (As a college freshman, I wrote a paper on Sherlock Holmes.) I've gone so far as to feature Wells as a character in my Holmes pastiche, The Baron of Brede Place, which is about Wells friend, writer Stephen Crane; and I have Wells reappear in An Adventure in Darkness.





4. Im currently working on two distinctly different novels. One, a mystery, links Sherlock Holmes to the fiction of Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The other, a more contemporary piece, dramatizes significant events in my forty-six years of public school teaching. Together, the projects comprise two major academic interests of mine, literature and education.













To learn more about Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realms of H.G. Wells, go to the Kickstarter page here . You can back the project until November 18th.





Imagine Sherlock Holmes trying to solve the case of an invisible man attacking London, matching wits with a traveler from out of time, tracking down a human / feline hybrid, or using his deductive skills to help fight Martian and lunar invaders! These are just some of the stories included in the new anthologyThe anthology is currently available at a discount via a Kickstarter campaign.
Imperial Valley News Center

Eighth Anniversary of the Death of Sergey Magnitskiy

Washington, DC - We honor the memory of Sergey Magnitskiy, who died on November 16, 2009, while in custody in a Moscow prison. An investigation by Russia's Presidential Human Rights Council found that Magnitskiy had been severely beaten in prison, and members of the Council said his death resulted from beatings and torture by police officials.

Magnitskiy uncovered a vast tax fraud scheme perpetrated by Russian officials, and was imprisoned by those whose crimes he uncovered. Russian authorities have failed to hold those responsible for his death accountable and instead, in recent months appear to be increasingly propagating conspiracy theories designed to distract attention from the crime.

In honor of Magnitskiys extraordinary courage, we continue to support efforts to hold those responsible for his treatment in prison and subsequent death accountable, including implementation of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012.
Imperial Valley News Center

END Wildlife Trafficking Report Submitted to Congress

Washington, DC - The Department of State has submitted the first annual report to Congress as required by the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016.

Wildlife trafficking remains a serious transnational crime that threatens security, economic prosperity, the rule of law, long-standing conservation efforts, and human health. The U.S. government is combating this illegal trade at home and abroad by targeting three strategic priorities: strengthening enforcement; reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife; and building international cooperation. Wildlife trafficking is one of four areas highlighted in Executive Order 13773, signed by President Trump on February 9, 2017, calling for a comprehensive and decisive approach to dismantle organized crime syndicates.

The Act directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce, to submit to Congress a report that lists Focus Countries and Countries of Concern, as defined in the Act. Each Focus Country is a major source, transit point, or consumer of wildlife trafficking products or their derivatives. Being identified as a Focus Country is neither a positive nor negative designation. Many Focus Countries have taken significant steps to combat wildlife trafficking, including in partnership with the United States. A Country of Concern is one whose government has actively engaged in or knowingly profited from the trafficking of endangered or threatened species. The United States looks forward to continuing dialogue with both Focus Countries and Countries of Concern to identify steps to thwart transnational organized crime engaged in wildlife trafficking.

The 2017 Focus Countries identified are Bangladesh, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. The 2017 Countries of Concern are Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Laos.
U.S.-African Union High Level Dialogue

Washington, DC - On November 16, 2017, the Department of State will host the fifth annual U.S.-African Union High Level Dialogue, continuing our robust partnership across a broad spectrum of issues.

The bilateral discussions will focus on strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, trade, and investment, advancing peace and security, and promoting opportunity and development. The United States looks forward to hosting the African Union delegation for this important event.
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The late Nigerian author Chinua Achebe has been honoured in a Google Doodle, underscoring his status as a towering figure of 20th century literature.

By creating a doodle marking what would have been Achebes 87th birthday, the tech giant is celebrating a writer many consider to be father of modern African literature.

Writing amid a post-colonial movement that saw African nations cast off decades of foreign rule and seek political sovereignty, Mr Achebe lent a voice to a generation of Africans who refused to be defined solely through the lenses of European thought.

Part of that work involved telling distinctly African stories from the perspective of African characters, helping to forge a literature that  like newly created countries  was independent from Europe.

Mr Achebe did so across dozens of novels and books of poetry and essays, leading many to refer to him as the father of modern African literature. He died in March of 2013 at the age of 82, having collected accolades that included the Man Booker International Prize.

His oeuvre stood in deliberate opposition to works of European literature that cast Africa as a setting and its people as bit players in the central affairs of Western characters. He denounced novelist Joseph Conrad as a bloody racist and called Mr Conrads novel Heart of Darkness, in which a European explorer plunges into a threatening and unfathomable Africa, as a totally deplorable book.

In contrast to European works that allowed Africans only minor or one-dimensional roles, Mr Achebe wrote novels that showed Nigerians as complex characters endowed with agency.

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His best-known work, Things Fall Apart, remains a staple of school curricula. It tells the story of Okonkwo, the proud leader of his village.

The novel depicts the complex customs of the Igbo people, one of multiple ethnic groups in Nigeria with a distinct culture and language. The book portrays how Okonkwos world is upended by the appearance of Christian missionaries, and its closing paragraph  written from the perspective of a recently arrived colonial leader  functions as a haunting allusion to how European observers reduce and dismiss complex African cultures:

He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.
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Angelina Jolie has made a powerful, sweeping call to combat sexual violence around the world.

"Sexual violence is everywhere - in the industry where I work, in business, in universities, in politics, in the military, and across the world," she said during her keynote address to the U.N. Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Conference in Vancouver on Wednesday.

The actor is one of many women who came forward with accusations against Harvey Weinstein. She alleged to The New York Times that she had a bad experience with the producer in her youth, during the release of Playing by Heart in the late 1990s. She said Weinstein made unwanted advances on her in a hotel room, which she rejected.

As a result, she "chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did," she said in an e-mail to the Times. "This behaviour towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable."

A representative for Weinstein said in a statement, "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances."

"All too often, these kinds of crimes against women are laughed off, depicted as a minor offence by someone who cannot control themselves, as an illness, or as some kind of exaggerated sexual need," Jolie stated in her keynote speech. "But a man who mistreats women is not oversexed. He is abusive."



Jolie has dedicated herself to the fight to end sexual violence, acting as a Special Envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Her speech called for sexual violence to be recognised around the world as a weapon and "a critical obstacle to achieving women's equality and our full human rights."

"It is cheaper than a bullet, and it has lasting consequences that unfold with sickening predictability that make it so cruelly effective," she continued. "This is rape and assault designed to torture, to terrorize, to force people to flee, and to humiliate them."

Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Show all 42 1 /42 Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein Harry Weinsteins reputation as one of Hollywoods leading executives was long cemented in stone. The acclaimed movie mogul, who produced Oscar-winning films Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, and The Artist, clocked up box office successes and accolades aplenty. But this has quickly changed since a chorus of women have come forward to accuse the Hollywood producer of sexual harassment and assault. Since the New York Times bombshell report disclosed sexual harassment and rape allegations against the film mogul dating back decades, Weinstein has been fired from his namesake company, expelled from the Oscars and has had his wife leave him. Weinstein has apologised for having caused a lot of pain but has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Annabella Sciorra The Sopranos actor alleged Weinstein raped her after shooting The Night We Never Met, a 1993 movie that Weinstein produced. Similar to the stories told by other women, Weinstein drove the actor home, only to reportedly burst into Sciorra's apartment and start unbuttoning his shirt. He shoved me onto the bed, and he got on top of me, Sciorra said. I kicked and I yelled. Weinstein then allegedly locked her arms and forced sexual intercourse on her. After the incident, Sciorra found it increasingly hard to get work, many filmmakers saying 'We heard you were difficult', something the actor claims was because of the 'Weinstein-machine'. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Natassia Malthe The model and actress, who has appeared in around 50 films, said she met Weinstein at a BAFTA after party in 2008 while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG. She told a press conference in New York that she felt pressured into telling Weinstein she was staying at the Sanderson Hotel after being put on the spot. Malthe, now 43, said after her shift on February 10 she went back to her room and went to sleep, but was awoken by "repeated pounding" on her door, from someone yelling: "Open the door Natassia Malthe, it's Harvey Weinstein." Feeling humiliated, she said she opened the door. She alleged Weinstein began implying sex would get her a role in an upcoming film while semi-undressed and then he began to masturbate. "I was sitting on the bed talking to Harvey when he pushed me back and forced himself onto me. It was not consensual. He did not use a condom," she said. AP Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sean Young The actor, best known for her role in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, said that Weinstein exposed himself to her in the early 1990s, when she was starring in the Miramax-produced Love Crimes - a production company that Weinstein headed at the time. "I personally experienced him pulling his you-know-what out of his pants to shock me," she said. "My basic response was, 'You know, Harvey, I really dont think you should be pulling that thing out, its not very pretty.'" Young never worked with Weinstein again after the incident. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lupita Nyong'o In an op-ed for The New York Times, the Oscar-winning actor said she was invited to Weinsteins family home in Connecticut on the premise of watching a film shortly after they met in 2011. But she said shortly after it started he "insisted" in front of his children that she follow him and she was led to his bedroom. The Kenyan-Mexican actress, now 34, said she felt pressured into giving him a massage after he offered her one. "Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants," she wrote."I told him not to do that and informed him that it would make me extremely uncomfortable. He got up anyway to do so and I headed for the door, saying that I was not at all comfortable with that." Over the years that followed, he continued to get in touch, Nyong'o said, and when she declined another proposition she felt her career was threatened. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lena Headey Writing on social media, the Game of Thrones actor claims she first met Weinstein at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 where, after taking her for a walk by the water, he made some suggestive comment and gesture. Headey claims she bumped into Weinstein years later where he kept asking her questions about her love life. She alleges that, when Weinstein invited her to his hotel room to show her a script, the "energy shifted. The actor notes how, after saying she was not interesting in anything but the work, Weinstein was furious, apparently marching her back to a lift, "grabbing and holding tightly to the back of [her] arm." She claims that, after paying for her car, he whispered in her ear: "Don't tell anyone about this, not your manager, not your agent. Headey finished the post, writing: I got in the car and I cried. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Laura Madden Madden, a production assistant who worked at Miramax for a decade, told the Times that Weinstein allegedly prodded her for massages at hotels, a common theme among the sources the Timess reporters spoke with. On one occasion, she claims she locked herself in his hotel bathroom, sobbing Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Judd recounted for the Times how Weinstein allegedly harassed her while she was filming Kiss the Girls in 1996, inviting her to his hotel room and asking her for a massage, then inviting her to watch him shower. Judd first went public with the allegations in a 2015 interview with Variety during which she discussed the experience without naming the producer involved. She described Weinsteins alleged behaviour as coercive bargaining; I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, she told the Times AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rose McGowan McGowan reportedly reached a previously undisclosed $100,000 settlement with Weinstein in 1997, over an incident that occurred in a hotel room Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emily Nestor Nestor had been temping at the Weinstein Company for only one day in 2014 when Weinstein allegedly offered to boost her career in return for sexual favours, according to the Times. She declined and reportedly complained of his behaviour to colleagues, who later passed the information on to senior executives. An internal Weinstein Company document cited by the Times describes Nestors encounter with Weinstein as follows: She said he was very persistent and focused though she kept saying no for over an hour Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ambra Battilana In March 2015, Battilana, an aspiring model and actress, was reportedly summoned to Weinsteins office on a Friday night to discuss her career. According to a police report cited by the Times, Battilana claimed she was assaulted by Weinstein, who grabbed her breasts after asking if they were real and put his hands up her skirt. Weinstein later claimed that Battilana had set him up, according to colleagues of his who were interviewed by the Times. The Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, later declined to press charges, and according to the Times, made a payment to Battilana. On 5 October, the International Business Times reported that after Vance dropped the charges, he received $10,000 from Weinsteins lawyer Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lauren OConnor Lauren OConnor, an employee of the Weinstein Company, penned a memo to executives alleging a toxic environment for women at the company. The memo cited numerous incidents of Weinstein harassing or coercing women who worked for him. She expressed fear that Weinstein was using her and other female employees to facilitate liaisons with vulnerable women who hope he will get them work. That same year, Weinstein allegedly reached a settlement with OConnor Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Kate Beckinsale The actor, who starred in the Weinstein Company films Serendipity and The Aviator, alleges that she was invited to Weinsteins hotel room at the age of just 17. When she approached the door, the producer reportedly greeted her dressed in just a dressing gown. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him, she wrote on Instagram. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Gwyneth Paltrow The actor alleges that after he cast her in the title role of the film Emma when she was 22, he took her to his hotel room, placed his hands on her and suggested massages. I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, Paltrow told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Asia Argento Italian actress Asia Argento has alleged that in 1997 Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her as she repeatedly told him to stop. When I see him, it makes me feel little and stupid and weak, Argento told The New Yorker. After the rape, he won. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Cara Delevigne The British model and actress penning an Instagram post claiming that Weinstein had ordered her to kiss another woman in his hotel room, and tried to kiss her on the lips. AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Ashley Judd said she rebuffed Harvey Weinsteins unwanted sexual advances by offering to consent only after she had won an Oscar. When she was initially invited to a meeting with Weinstein, Judd said, she was surprised to learn the producer was in his hotel room - a tactic that recurs in other womens accounts. Echoing the accounts of other women, Judd said Weinstein suggested she give him a massage and then invited her to watch him shower. After a volley of nos she said she would only after she wins an Oscar, fleeing after making the comments. Reuters/Mike Segar Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Judith Godreche French actress Judith Godreche said when she was 24 Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked to give her a massage. The next thing I know, hes pressing against me and pulling off my sweater, she told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mira Sorvino The Oscar-winning actor said she found herself in a hotel room with Weinstein in 1995 where he started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around. According to an interview in The New Yorker Weinstein subsequently arrived at her apartment late at night and she had to call a friend to come over to pose as her boyfriend in order to get Weinstein out of the house. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Katherine Kendall The actress said Weinstein undressed and chased her around a living room when she was just 23. She subsequently felt that telling others meant Ill never work again and no one is going to care or believe me, she told the New York Times. WireImage Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Tomi-Anne Roberts As an aspiring actress and working in a restaurant in New York, Tomi-Ann Roberts encountered Weinstein who encouraged her to audition for one of his films back in 1984. She subsequently went to meet him and found him naked in the bath and invited her to get naked and get into the bath with him, she told the New York Times. She said she left feeling manipulated. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Myleen Klass It has also been alleged that the disgraced film producer propositioned Myleene Klass with a sex contract at Cannes Film Festival in 2010. One of the singer and television personalitys friends reportedly told The Sun, Klass had told Weinstein to f*** off. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sophie Dix Sophie Dix, best known for her role as Captain Sadie Williams in Soldier Soldier, described her encounter with Weinstein when she was 23 as the single most damaging thing thats happened in my life. She told The Guardian Weinstein had pushed her to her bed and was tugging at her clothes. She rushed to the bathroom to escape, but when she came out she found him standing there masturbating. I quickly closed the door again and locked it, she said. Then when I heard room service come to the door I just ran. Rex Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lea Seydoux The actor and director claims she had to fight off Weinstein after he brought her to his hotel room during what she remembers to be 2012. He suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. Hes big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. I left his room, thoroughly disgusted, she wrote in The Guardian. AFP/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Claire Forlani British actress Claire Forlani wrote on Twitter that she had evaded Weinsteins advances on five occasions at the age of 25. At meetings with the Hollywood a-lister, she says massage was suggested, and that Weinstein had boasted of all the women hed had sex with. Mark Douet Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Florence Darel French actress Florence Darel claimed Weinstein relentlessly pursued her in the mid 1990's and propositioned her while Eve Chilton, his wife at the time, was in the hotel room next door. I was astonished, she told People magazine. When you have someone so physically disgusting in front of you, continuing and continuing as though this was all perfectly normal What happened to me may not be illegal but it was inappropriate. Very inappropriate. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lysette Anthony Lysette Anthony, who starred as Marnie Nightingale in Hollyoaks, has claimed Weinstein raped her in the late 1980's after turning up to her London home in the late 1980s. She described the disgraced film producers alleged attack as pathetic and revolting and said it left her feeling disgusted and embarrassed. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Dawn Dunning Dunning said she met Weinstein in 2003 when she was 24-years-old and the disgraced film producer suggested she have a threesome with him and someone else. She told the New York Times Weinstein got angry when she refused. Youll never make it in this business, she said he told her as she left. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Arquette was already well known for her role in Desperately Seeking Susan, when she said she met Weinstein at his hotel to pick up a script in the early nineties. Weinstein was dressed only in a dressing gown, and tried to put her hand on his erect penis. Speaking to the New York Times, Arquette said as she left she told him: I will never be that girl. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emma de Caunes Caunes, a French actor, claimed Weinstein took her to his hotel room in 2010 supposedly to retrieve a book he was making into a film, but once there he went into the bathroom. De Caunes said he then emerged naked, with an erection and told her to lie on the bed. She fled the room. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Zoe Brock Model Zoe claimed that she had to lock herself in a bathroom at Weinsteins hotel in 1997, after the mogul had sent all of the assistants out of the room, and then appeared naked. I was alone with Weinstein, she told ITVs This Morning programme. He very quickly left the room and came back naked. He chased me naked. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Barth Actress Jessica Barth described an encounter with Weinstein in 2011 in an interview with The New Yorker in which she said Weinstein veered between offering her roles in films and demanding a naked massage. She alleges the producer said to her: So, what would happen if, say, were having some champagne and I take my clothes off and you give me a massage? When she tried to leave, he then promised to give her the number of a female executive at the company. He gave me her number, and I walked out and I started bawling, Barth said. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Romola Garai The actress told The Guardian she felt violated after she went to a meeting with Weinstein at the age of 18 and he met her in his hotel room wearing nothing but a dressing gown. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Heather Graham Graham claimed that during a casting opportunity in the early 2000's Weinstein had told her he had an open relationship with his wife. He could sleep with whomever he wanted when he was out of town. I walked out of the meeting feeling uneasy, Graham told Variety. There was no explicit mention that to star in one of those films I had to sleep with him, but the subtext was there. Graham was never hired to work in a Weinstein film. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Hynes Spaced and W1A star Jessica Hynes tweeted about an encounter with Weinstein earlier this week, but subsequently deleted the tweet. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louisette Geiss The former actress said she met Weinstein to pitch a film script she was working on. During the meeting, Weinstein allegedly went out and reappeared naked and got into a jacuzzi where he masturbated in front of her and said he would make the script into a film if she stayed and watched. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Liza Campbell Liza Campbell, a British writer and artist, alleged that Olympically ugly Weinstein asked her to join him in the bath and began getting undressed at a hotel. In a piece for The Times, Campbell claimed she was forced to sprint to the door to escape. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louise Godbold Writing in a blog post, Louise Godbold, a non-profit director in Los Angeles, said her encounter with Weinstein took the form of an office tour that became an occasion to trap me in an empty meeting room. She said then Weinstein was begging for a massage, his hands on my shoulders as I attempted to beat a retreat.



She criticised global leaders for failing to take decisive action; for seeing sexual violence against women as an inevitable part of conflict, instead of an issue that should be addressed when it comes to peace negotiations and punishments.

"Even if we accept that sexual violence has nothing to do with sex, that it is a crime, and that it is used as a weapon, many people still believe that it is simply not possible to do anything about it," she said. "It is hard, but it is not impossible. We have the laws, the institutions, and the expertise in gathering evidence. We are able to identify perpetrators. What is missing is the political will."

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Brie Larson has been slammed for her role in romantic musical Basmati Blues and accused of perpetuating stereotypes.

The 28-year-old actor, who rose to fame for her role on 2001 sitcom Raising Dad, plays the role of an American scientist who works for a company which produces genetically modified rice.

Larson's boss sends her and her father, played by Scott Bakula, to India to sell the rice to rural farmers but she later learns it will wreak havoc on the very farmers she planned to help.

The trailer has been fiercely criticised on Twitter, with people panning the decision to cast a white actor in the lead role and arguing the plot of having a white person save an Indian village play plays into tropes of the so-called white saviour.

Its 2017 and we are still not past the genre of 'mystical Indian savages get saved by a white person' films #BasmatiBlues, said one critic.

Basmati Blues is a terrible looking film filled with loads of stereotypes about Indians and India. We dont need another movie about white saviours when we did everything in our power to get white people out of our country, said another.

So f****** done with Hollywood films of white people coming to save our souls & rice & lands! Blood Diamond formulaic b*******! Disgusted by @brielarson's choice, what a sellout! F*** the white saviour narrative in films...nothing is further from the truth! (sic), added one more.

Another said: I cannot believe Brie Larson is gonna be in a movie called... wait for it... Basmati Blues, where she plays a white saviour helping out the local Indian population.

Critics also blasted the film, directed by Dan Baron which also stars Donald Sutherland and Tyne Daley, for its portrayal of Indian food as overly spicy.

The furore follows the criticism Disney received in September for creating a whole new role for a white actor in its new Aladdin film.

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Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Greatest Showman Released: 1 January 1 January Director: Michael Gracey Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Darkest Hour Released: 12 January 12 January Director: Joe Wright Cast: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Released: 12 January Director: Martin McDonagh 12 JanuaryMartin McDonagh Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones > Twentieth Century Fox 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Coco Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Lee Unkrich ,p>Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Renee Victor 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Downsizing Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Alexander Payne Cast: Matt Damon, Christopher Waltz, Jong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Early Man Released: 26 January 26 January Director: Nick Park Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Fifty Shades Freed Released: 9 February 9 February Director: James Foley Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Kim Basinger 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Maze Runner: The Death Cure Released: 9 February 9 February Director: Wes Ball Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Shape of Water Released: 16 February 16 February Director: Guillermo del Toro Cast: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Annihilation Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Lee, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Dark River Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Clio Barnard Cast: Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Red Sparrow Released: 2 March 2 March Director: Francis Lawrence Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Tomb Raider Released: 16 March 16 March Director: Roar Uthaug Cast: Alicia Vikander, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Dominic West, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 A Wrinkle in Time Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Ava DuVernay Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Zach Galifianakis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Pacific Rim: Uprising Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Steven S. 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The multinational company was accused of whitewashing after it cast Billy Magnussen as a character called Prince Anders who did not appear in the original animated 1992 film.

The Independent contacted a representative for Larson for comment.
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The hip-hop community is in shock after rising star rapper Lil Peep died aged 21 following a reported drug overdose.

Blending alt-rock with rap, Lil Peep - real name Gustav Ahr - was hailed as "the future of emo" by Pitchfork in January.

He is thought to have overdosed before a show in Tucson, and posted a photo on Instagram hours before his death appearing to show pills or tabs on his tongue.

Update: Peep's team said in a statement: "He was highly intelligent, hugely creative, massively charismatic, gentle and charming. He had huge ambition and his career was flourishing."

"Ive been expecting this call for a year. Mother f**k," his manager Chase Ortega tweeted.

"Peep had so much more to do," producer Diplo wrote, with radio DJ Zane Lowe adding: "So young. So sad."

"Peep was the nicest person," wrote Dutch dance music producer Marshmello. "Hanging out with him, talking to him about music, the song ideas we were going to do together and touring was so amazing. Everyone will miss you man."

Ahr had been due to perform at a show in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday night as he toured to promote his first album, Come Over When You're Sober.

His best-known song was 'Star Shopping', his lyrics referencing depression and drug use, and he had spoken openly about addictions to cocaine, ecstasy and prescription tranquilliser Xanax.

"I am a depressed drug addict and I'm nearing my breaking point," he tweeted in February. "Everything I love is disappearing."

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The day of his death, he wrote on Instagram: "When I die You'll love me."

Sarah Stennett of First Access Entertainment, a company which had been working with Peep, confirmed his death, adding: "I do not believe Peep wanted to die. He had big goals and dreams for the future which he had shared with me, his team, his family and his friends."

If you're struggling with drug use or need advice you can talk to FRANK on 0300 123 6600 (UK). Whatever else you may be going through, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 (UK).
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Rapper Lil Peep has died aged 21 after a reported drug overdose.

The New York musician, real name Gustav Ahr, blended emo with hip-hop on a debut album released in August.

He was seen as a rising star, with music website Pitchfork hailing him as "the future of emo" in January.

Other musicians paid tribute on social media after news of his death emerged, while his manager Chase Ortega tweeted: Ive been expecting this call for a year. Mother f**k."

DJ and producer Diplo said: "Peep had so much more to do man he was constantly inspiring me. I don't feel good man."

"Peep was the nicest person," wrote Dutch dance music producer Marshmello. "Hanging out with him, talking to him about music, the song ideas we were going to do together and touring was so amazing. Everyone will miss you man."

Ahr died hours before he was due to perform in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday night in the penultimate show of a tour to promote his album Come Over When You're Sober.

His lyrics referenced depression and drug use, and he had spoken openly about addictions to cocaine, ecstasy and prescription tranquilliser Xanax.

"I am a depressed drug addict and I'm nearing my breaking point," he tweeted in February. "Everything I love is disappearing."

In the hours before his death he posted a picture on Instagram that appeared to show him taking two pills.

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In a post a previous day, he wrote: "When I die you'll love me."

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and rapper Post Malone were also among musicians who paid tribute to Ahr on social media.

"No. Not lil peep," tweeted Wentz, adding: "We have to talk about mental health in open way."

Post Malone, real name Austin Post, wrote: "In the short time that i knew you, you were a great friend to me and a great person. Your music changed the world and it'll never be the same. I love you bud. Forever."

Im completely heart broken and lost right now, said friend and collaborator Mikey Cortez. I cant even feel its not real. I love you and Ill miss you always. One of the realest. Please someone tell me this isnt real.

If you're struggling with drug use or need advice you can talk to FRANK on 0300 123 6600 (UK). Whatever else you may be going through, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 (UK).
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Set across the music venues of Utrecht over the course of four days  although mainly in the huge cultural centre, the TivoliVredenburg  Le Guess Who? is a rare thing: a truly eclectic festival. Ranging from Arabic psych-pop to minimalist accordion to avant-garde jazz, wherever you found yourself in one of the Tivolis six venues, or in another of the citys nooks and crannies, you were bound to stumble across something out of the ordinary.

Sun-Kil Moon was perhaps the biggest name on the bill on the Thursday evening. Playing in the Grote Zaal, a concert hall and the Tivolis plushest venue, Mark Kozelecks tender musings were interspersed with more combative, political lyrics  Trumps going to build a wall like Im going to fly to the moon  before retreating into something more typical: a song about a dead friend called Butch, sung over wistful, weaving guitars and delicate percussion.

A mixture of classic rock, traditional Tuvan gravelly throat singing and droney fiddle, Yat-Kha a three-piece from Southern Siberia played a rollicking set in one of the Tivolis smaller venues, Pandora. Up a floor in the giant cultural centre  of which the UK has nothing to rival in terms of size  Sudan Archives sang with verve, playing bursts of violin over swaggering house and hip-hop beats.

Mount Eerie sings to an audience captured by his truly sad, human story (Tim van Veen)

The most anticipated performance of the weekend was Mount Eerie (real name Phil Elverin), whose partner had died in July 2016, and who had written an album in the immediate aftermath to make sense of his grief. Wanting to create an atmosphere suited to the solemness of the artists situation and material, the organisers asked all guests to stay for the duration of the performance. They neednt have bothered. Played to 500 silent people in Jacobikerk, one of the citys many grand Protestant churches, Elverins stories of his grief were spell-binding and heartbreaking in equal measure.

Their matter-of-factness made them all the more devastating. Death is real/Someones there and then theyre not when real death enters the house all poetry is dumb, he sings, to an audience captured by his truly sad, human story.I dont want to learn anything from this I love you. The most heartbreaking lines are often reserved for him and his partner Genevieves child: Sweet kid/ What is this world were giving you/ Smouldering and fascist/ With no mother.

Mary Margaret O'Hara accompanied by Peggy Lee, Aidan Closs  and her brother Marcus playing the balloon (Melanie Marsman)

If no less musically interesting, the rest of the weekend was certainly a little lighter. Saturday included a trip to the more DIY fringe festival, Le Mini Who?, the highlight being Manchester band DUDS having to clamber in the back window of a packed tiny coffee shop to deliver a sweaty, furious set of jagged post-punk. Later that evening, avant-garde jazz legend Pharaoh Sanders played to a packed out Grote Zaal, a chair placed at the back of the stage which he would potter back to and rest on in between his sax solos. James Holden, who had part-curated the festival, played alongside band The Animal Spirits in a performance driven by bleeping and whirring arpeggiated synths, blaring horns and clattering percussion. Later that evening, one of Holdens picks Hieroglyphic Being, got everyone partying with his relentless funky mash of rhythms and frequencies.

The Sunday lineup was a wholesome foil to the euphoria of Saturday night. Linton Kwesi Johnson, a legendary anti-racist campaigner and dub poet, charted the history of UK black resistance movements, reciting his revolutionary poems in a soothing Jamaican Patois. Another cult hero Mary Margaret OHara, played perhaps the set of the weekend in the Grote Zaal. Somewhat of an enigma, OHara released album Miss America in 1988 to huge critical acclaim and hasnt released anything since. OHaras singing style is perhaps best described as contorted crooning  her stutters and squeals into the mic were interrupted with moments of soaring beauty. Accompanied by the free and loose playing of cellist Peggy Lee and multi-instrumentalist Aidan Closs, who flitted from drums to guitar to piano, OHara was also joined by her brother Marcus who seated behind her with a micd up a balloon. It was an utterly bizarre set.

Yet it was completely entrancing. Covers of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and "Cry to Me" were twisted and warped till they were almost unrecognisable, to the point of almost nonsense  but it was exhilarating, beautiful and wholly uncontrived. You can tell OHara couldn't do it any other way. A fitting end to a festival full of rich and nourishing music.
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Starbucks coffee is planning to launch in-store artisanal bakeries.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle is the first location to have a Princi bakery, followed by branches in Shanghai opening in December 2017, Milan in late 2018, and New York, Tokyo and Chicago thereafter.

There are currently no plans for Princi bakeries to open at any British Starbucks.

Recommended The secret Starbucks Christmas drinks better than the ones on the menu

However, there is already a standalone Princi in London (on Wardour Street in Soho), alongside the branches in Milan.

The bakeries will bring freshly baked Italian food crafted from Rocco Princis recipes to Starbucks food offerings.

Rocco Princi is an artisan who, at an early age, discovered a love of bread making and through determination as well as an obsession for finding the perfect ingredients, has created an Italian food experience that I think is unparalleled, said Howard Schultz, executive chairman, Starbucks.

His passion for authentic food and respect for Milanese culture come through in everything he does, and I think our customers are going to fall in love with Princi.

The Starbucks with a Princi in Seattle is centred around ovens with food across every part baked fresh onsite.

There will be over 100 new items on the menu, from flaky cornetti to focaccia sandwiches filled with salame Milano and mozzarella di bufala or crostata fragola.

The ingredients will be imported from Italy too, 25 of which are specifically for Princi.

Rosso Princi

Today, I am realising a dream that I have had since I was a young man, and I am grateful to Howard for his vision to bring Princi to the world, said Rocco Princi, founder of Princi.

Having worked side by side with the team that Starbucks has assembled, I have seen firsthand their talent as well as the attention they have given to ensuring that the fresh, authentic, handcrafted ingredients that define the Princi experience are being honoured.

I am excited and humbled that the people of Seattle will now be able to experience our food.
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Twitter has begun removing verifications from far-right figures after facing a backlash for offering blue check marks to an American white supremacist.

Among the people to lose the symbol under new guidelines were white supremacist leader Jason Kessler, white nationalist figure Richard Spencer, Tommy Robinson, founder of the far-right English Defence League and conservative activist Laura Loomer, who was recently banned from Uber and Left for tweets disparaging Muslims. It suspended the account of a prominent troll known as Baked Alaska.

Earlier this month, the social media site confronted an uproar for verifying the account of Mr Kessler, who helped organise a demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia that left a woman dead after a car ploughed into a crowd of counter-protesters.

Recommended Twitter scrambles to respond after verifying white supremacist

Twitter responded to outrage by saying it would overhaul its procedures, noting that its system for granting blue check marks next to the names of prominent users was meant to authenticate identity & voice but had been interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. CEO Jack Dorsey acknowledged that the system is broken and needs to be reconsidered.

After acknowledging on Wednesday that it had verified people who we in no way endorse, Twitter said it had updated its policies to allow it to remove verifications from people who violate its guidelines.

Offences that could merit removal would include inciting or engaging in harassment of others and promoting hate and/or violence against, or directly attacking or threatening other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease, the site said in a blog post.

Soon after the announcement, blue check marks began vanishing from controversial accounts.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Twitter and other social media sites face a delicate balancing act as calls to crack down on hate speech, amplified in the wake of Charlottesville. Multiple tech companies stopped providing services to white supremacists. But the effort to raise vetting has also prompted free speech concerns.

Some users said Twitter was acting arbitrarily in which accounts it chose to de-verify, calling it a crackdown on conservative speech.

Update. This article initially implied that Tommy Robinson was still a member of the English Defence League. In fact, he co-founded the organisation in 2009 but left in 2013. 20/11/17
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Severe emotional stress can prompt a sudden heart condition that poses the same sort of long-term damage as a heart attack, new research has found.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy  or broken heart syndrome - affects at least 3,000 people in the UK and is typically triggered by traumatic life events such as bereavement.

During an attack, the heart muscle weakens to the point where it can no longer function as effectively.

Recommended White men who exercise every day at higher risk of heart disease

While previous research had suggested that the damage caused was temporary, scientists at the University of Aberdeen have now found that the effects can be permanent, like a heart attack.

In the study, which was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the team of doctors examined 37 Takostubo patients for an average period of two years using ultrasound and MRI scans.

They presented their findings at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Anaheim, California and revealed that participants had untreatable damage to the hearts muscle tissue which had reduced elasticity that prevented full contractions with every heartbeat.

According to another study conducted by Harvard Medical School, more than 90 per cent of reported cases of Takostubo are women between the ages of 58 and 75.

"Takotsubo is a devastating disease that can suddenly strike down otherwise healthy people, explained Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at BHF.

We once thought the effects of this life-threatening disease were temporary, but now we can see they can continue to affect people for the rest of their lives.

Pearson added that there is currently no long-term treatment in place for patients because medics had previously thought all sufferers would make a full recovery.

This new research shows there are long-term effects on heart health, and suggests we should be treating patients in a similar way to those who are at risk of heart failure," he concluded.
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Rolls-Royce worries border checks after Britain leaves the European Union will disrupt its global supply chain and is looking at measures to offset the rise in national protectionism that it represents, a member of its executive leadership said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the launch of a new partnership with Indian software firm Tata Consultancy Services, the enginemakers head of strategy and marketing Ben Story laid out a range of concerns over the Brexit process for one of Britains highest profile industrial exporters.

We are worried about border checks and whether that will make our supply chain flow less fluidly, Mr Story, formerly head of Citibanks UK Investment Banking and Broking unit, told Reuters.

We are worried about the talent and making sure that we always get the right talent. We also work very closely with European universities and we worry that may break down and some of the research funding may fall away. We worry about regulations.

Business leaders told Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday that she needs to speed up negotiations with the European Union amid concern that Britain will crash out of the worlds biggest trading bloc in 2019 without a deal.

Slow progress in the talks with Brussels has unsettled businesses and drawn warnings that unless a transition is agreed soon, some may begin activating Brexit contingency plans - which may include moving out of the country.

We built our whole supply chain assuming a kind of a globalising world and an open world, Mr Story said.

What Brexit has made us do is ... step back and think about that a little more. Going forward we need to be thoughtful and careful about where we make investments, where we build capabilities, how to build in redundancy.

Mr Story said the engineering major has a lot of flexibility and choice as it has manufacturing facilities outside Britain, in Germany and Singapore among others.

Reuters
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A third of Londons tech companies have lost out on international hires due to Britains decision to leave the European Union last year, according to a new survey.

Industry body Tech London Advocates said almost two thirds of tech entrepreneurs believe Brexit has already damaged the capitals international reputation as a leading tech hub.

Despite the findings, over half of the 5,400 tech founders surveyed believed London remains the best place in Europe to start a tech company.

The majority of Londons tech community also believes that future investment in the capitals tech sector will come from North America rather than Europe.

Entrepreneurs are defined by their ability to turn challenges into opportunities and the sentiment across Londons tech sector is increasingly one of determination, conviction and ambition, said Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates.

Slowing down access to European talent will make growing a tech company harder, but London is focused on strengthening its relationship with tech hubs across Europe and around the world that are already fuelling our investment pipeline.

Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday that the UK is to double the number of visas available to workers in tech and science after Brexit.

Tech giants including Facebook, Google and Amazon have all announced plans to open London offices since the Brexit vote, but have cited the challenge of attracting top talent.
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The European Commission has backed the UK in its tariff battle with the United States over the export of C-Series Bombardier jets, whose wings are manufactured in Northern Ireland.

The commission submitted a case brief addressed to the US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Tuesday in defence of Britain, which stands accused by America of providing Bombardier with unfair subsidies.

Recommended This is what the Bombardier dispute is all about

This investigation shows significant shortcomings, both regarding the findings as well as concerning the methodologies applied, the commission said in its submission.

The commission also has strong doubts that the methodology applied for the establishment of the [300 per cent] duty level is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules.

But why is Brussels assisting the UK when we are leaving the EU? Is this intervention likely to help? And what bearing does all this have on Brexit?

Why is Brussels helping Britain?

Because we are still  at this moment  a full member of the European Union and entitled to draw on all the resources of the EU, including in relation to trade disputes.

[The UK is a member] until the very day they leave, so, of course, there is absolutely no discrimination or distinction here, says the EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.

The commission is also, technically, not just helping the UK but a major French-headquartered company too.

After the US unveiled its 300 per cent tariffs on C-Series jets in September the Canadian plane maker Bombardier announced it was selling a 50 per cent stake in the C-Series to the European aviation manufacturing giant Airbus.

Another reason why the EU might be keen to be active in this case is the Northern Irish dimension.

Bombardier is a significant private sector employer in Northern Ireland, responsible for 4,200 jobs.

A key element in Brexit Article 50 negotiations is the prevention of the return of a hard land border in Ireland as the UK leaves the customs union. This threatens damaging economic effects on both sides of the border.

By taking the Bombardier case seriously, the commission is indirectly signalling to the UK that it is deadly serious about the economic welfare of Ireland. That might further strengthen the EU side in the Brexit talks.

But will the EU trade intervention actually help?

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that the US is being ripped off by foreigners over trade.

The case brought by Boeing against Bombardier really has little merit and, given the huge effective state subsidies the American company receives, smacks of gross hypocrisy*.

The fact that the US has slapped on these punitive tariffs despite the dubiousness of the case suggests that the Trump administration is actively looking for a trade fight, perhaps for domestic political reasons.

That suggests a case for pessimism about whether this EU intervention will have much effect.

Yet, the EU is a big importer of US goods and manufactures. If the EU ultimately imposes painful tariff counter-measures against Washington  or threatens them  its possible the US might back down.

Does this show the folly of Brexit?

It certainly underlines the advantages of being part of a large, unified, trade bloc.

The EU economy ($17.1 trillion, 12.9 trillion) combined is actually almost as large as that of the US ($18.6 trillion, 15 trillion), giving it more leverage in disputes than individual members (even large ones such as the UK) acting alone.

Large blocs are better able to stand up to bullying and arbitrary behaviour from others.

[The Bombardier dispute] could well turn out to be a lesson for the UK, suggested the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in September.

There may be some lessons about trade deals too.

The EU collectively has negotiated more than 50 commerce treaties with other countries around the world, from South Korea to Mexico, all benefiting the UK.

One of the biggest, and under-reported, challenges of Brexit will be the need for the UK to re-establish all these treaties on a bilateral basis. That will be time consuming and by no means straightforward.

But will it be worth it? Brexiteers argue that the EU has not been active or ambitious enough in negotiating these kind of trade deals and that Britain, acting alone and outside the EU, will do much better in future.

Yet the reality is that large countries and trading blocs tend to prioritise doing deals with other large countries and trading blocs.

When it comes to trade deals, as in disputes, size matters.

* A representative of Boeing responds to defend its case: The laws governing global trade are transparent and well known. These duties are the consequence of a conscious decision by Bombardier to violate trade law and dump their C-Series aircraft to secure a sale. This dumping in our home market was not a situation Boeing could ignore, and were now simply asking for laws already on the books to be enforced. Despite the recent rhetoric regarding these proceedings, this case continues to focus on preserving a level playing field in the aerospace market and adherence to the globally accepted agreements governing free and fair trade.
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has admitted that Uber could be able to operate freely in London for years despite Transport for London refusing to renew the taxi services licence in September.

TfL said at the time that it did not deem Uber to be fit and proper to run a taxi service in the capital, citing a string of safety concerns. Uber appealed against the decision two weeks later.

When asked how long the appeals process could last at Mayors question time on Thursday, Mr Khan said: My understanding is that it could go on for a number of years.

The company can continue to operate until the appeals process is exhausted. The fact that Mr Khan understands that process could go on longer than his own term as Mayor will raise questions over whether the ban was ever intended to be effective. Around 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers use Uber app in London.

When choosing not to renew Ubers operating licence, TfL said that the companys approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications.

TfL said that its concerns relate to Ubers approach to reporting serious criminal offences and to how medical certificates are obtained, among other things.

Uber said it was astounded by the decision. Ubers new chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi met TfL commissioner Mike Brown in October to try to repair the companys relationship with the regulator. Both sides described the talks as constructive.

The privately owned company, founded just over eight years ago, has been under severe fire from a growing army of critics in the UK, claiming that it unfairly skews competition and that it has not done enough to crack down on incidents of violence involving drivers.

A spokesperson for the company said on Thursday: Uber continues to have constructive discussions with TfL in order to try to reach a resolution, even though we have filed our appeal.
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The Conservatives have been accused of economic murder for austerity policies which a new study suggests have caused 120,000 deaths.

The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels.

On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year.

Real terms funding for health and social care fell under the Conservative-led Coalition Government in 2010, and the researchers conclude this may have produced the substantial increase in deaths.

The paper identified that mortality rates in the UK had declined steadily from 2001 to 2010, but this reversed sharply with the death rate growing again after austerity came in.

From this reversal the authors identified that 45,368 extra deaths occurred between 2010 and 2014, than would have been expected, although it stops short of calling them "avoidable".

Based on those trends it predicted the next five years - from 2015 to 2020 - would account for 152,141 deaths - 100 a day - findings which one of the authors likened to economic murder.

The Government began relaxing austerity measures this year announcing the end of its cap on public sector pay rises and announcing an extra 1.3bn for social care in the Spring Budget.

Over three years the additional funding for social care is expected to reach 2bn, which Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said was patching up a small part of the damage wrought by 4.6bn cuts.

In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street London Anti-austerity protesters shout slogans outside Downing Street as the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne left 11 Downing Street In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street London Anti-austerity protesters gather outside Downing Street as the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne left 11 Downing Street in London In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street London Anti-austerity protester spekas outside Downing Street as the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne presents his summer budget to Parliament and is expected to announce 12 billion in welfare cuts In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street London Anti-austerity protesters prepare to throw balls towards Downing Street In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street London Anti-austerity protester outside Downing Street In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street London Police clear up balloons left at the entrance to Downing Street In pictures: Anti-austerity protest outside Downing Street London Anti-austerity protesters throw balls towards Downing Street

The study, published in BMJ Open today, estimated that to return death rates to their pre-2010 levels spending would need to increase by 25.3bn.

The Department of Health said firm conclusions cannot be drawn from this work, and independent academics warned the funding figures were speculative.

However local councils who have been struggling to fund care with slashed budgets urged the Government to consider the research seriously.

Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the Government must match Labour's spending pledges in the Autumn Budget.

Per capita public health spending between 2001 and 2010 increased by 3.8 per cent a year, but in the first four years of the Coalition, increases were just 0.41 per cent, researchers from University College London found.

Labour has called on Theresa May to match 6m pledged by Labour for health (Getty)

In social care the annual budget increase collapsed from 2.20 per cent annually, to a decrease of 1.57 per cent.

The researchers found this coincided with death rates which had decreased by around 0.77 per cent a year to 2010, beginning to increase again by 0.87 per cent a year.

And the majority of those were people reliant on social care, the paper says: This is most likely because social care experienced greater relative spending constraints than healthcare."

It also notes that a drop in nurse numbers may have accounted for 10 per cent of deaths, concluding: "We have found that spending constraints since 2010, especially public expenditure on social care, may have produced a substantial mortality gap in England.

The papers senior author and a researcher at UCL, Dr Ben Maruthappu, said that while the paper cant prove cause and effect it shows an association.

And he added this trend is seen elsewhere. When you look at Portugal and other countries that have gone through austerity measures, they have found that health care provision gets worse and health care outcomes get worse, he told The Independent.

One of his co-authors, Professor Lawrence King of the Applied Health Research Unit at Cambridge University, said it showed the damage caused by austerity

"It is now very clear that austerity does not promote growth or reduce deficits - it is bad economics, but good class politics," he said. "This study shows it is also a public health disaster. It is not an exaggeration to call it economic murder.

The Department of Health stressed that no such conclusion could be drawn. A spokesperson said: As the researchers themselves note, this study cannot be used to draw any firm conclusions about the cause of excess deaths.

The NHS is treating more people than ever before and funding is at record levels with an 8bn increase by 2020-21. Weve also backed adult social care with 2bn investment and have 12,700 more doctors and 10,600 more nurses on our wards since May 2010.

And independent academics added that it is hard to prove cause and effect with this kind of study even if the underlying assumptions may be correct.

Professor Martin Roland Emeritus Professor of Health Services Research, University of Cambridge said: This study suggests that a change happened to cause deaths to stop declining around 2014. This is likely to be a correct finding. However, the link to health and social care spending is speculative as observational studies of this type can never prove cause and effect."

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the Local Government Associations community wellbeing board, said: We would urge government to review the evidence behind this analysis. If correct, it would clearly reinforce the desperate and urgent need to properly fund social care

Mr Ashworth, responding to the study, said: This shocking mortality gap is a damning indictment of the dire impact which sustained Tory cuts to our NHS and social care services have had on health outcomes across the nation.

Ahead of the Budget, this appalling news must serve as an urgent wake up call to the Prime Minister. She must match Labours pledge to deliver an extra 6 billion for our NHS across the next financial year to ensure the best possible quality of care is sustained for years to come.
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San Felipe, in north Bogota, is a low-rise neighbourhood with dangling telephone wires and serious security grilles capping the two-storey homes. Its slightly like the less well-heeled parts of Los Angeles. But on this October day, nosing their way along the cracked concrete pavements, are people who youd recognise from Frieze London: international art nomads in black and asymmetrical garb, along with a smattering of art collectors in gallery-hopping mufti of chinos and trainers.

Maria Wills, standing outside the pistachio-coloured gallery Instituto de Vision, is receiving them with papaya cocktails and an excellent show of Colombian artists. Even in the few years since the gallery began in 2014, Wills has seen Bogota inch further along the track to international art destination.

Since we opened the gallery, the art district has really consolidated, she says. Its now on the map of the new, improved Bogota, with around 14 galleries and a monthly open evening, featuring fearsome coffee, rum, and a nose round Flora Ars and Natur  a kind of ICA of Bogota.

Okay, but why is Bogota and its art scene different from any amount of global cities experiencing a bit of an uplift? Because Colombia and its capital have just emerged from the longest civil war in history, with a peace treaty signed last year that aims to close half of centurys fighting with guerrilla group, the Farc.

A decade or two ago murder, kidnappings and political violence were common in Bogota, and although Colombia has long had big-hitter artists  Miguel Angel Rojas and Doris Salcedo among them  its fierce reputation meant that few would have been foolhardy enough to flit from gallery to gallery.

Despite some sketchy patches, Bogota is now a buzzing international metropolis (Shutterstock)

While theres a widespread scepticism about the peace process  and nor has hit Netflix crime drama Narcos exactly helped public perceptions  theres a huge sense of optimism in the air thats attracting international attention.

Im hopeful that things will change to the point where we can start talking about a post-war period, says Wills, who thinks that art might help provide a healing experience. And a feeding frenzy. Pariss Pompidou Centre in Paris, MoMA in New York and Londons Tate Modern all have eyes and ears in Bogota, which is currently considered a bit of a laboratory and a city to watch.

Around 20 years ago, you would hardly have seen a tourist in Bogota, a local tells me. Now, while the city wont win any prizes for traffic management and sprawl, theres a mood afoot thats been likened to the fall of the Berlin Wall by Felipe Gonzalez, Spains former prime minister.

Crime has been bought down to a three-decade low. President Juan Manuel Santos won a Nobel Peace prize last year for his efforts in sorting the peace deal. The hopey-changey thing is alive in Bogota.

The annual ArtBo art fair, funded by the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, is the key moment in the calendar when curators, critics and collectors descend on the city to peer round an art-filled hanger, with offsite events like walks in San Felipe.

Banco de Bogota and Torre Colpatria are examples of the innovative new architecture (Shutterstock)

It all started 13 years ago, when Colombias city strategists set out, as ArtBo director Maria Paz Gaviria puts it, to activate the city, and to brand it as a place open to culture, business and inward investment.

Now, Bogota is not only attracting those collectors and gallerists from Europe and the US, but also other Latinos, including Venezuelans like artist Lucia Moron, who has been in Bogota for nine years.

It started small, but its become quite a community here, she says. Bogotas increasingly international, adds Fernando Pradilla of the Galeria Fernando Pradilla, opened like so many in the last ten years. Theres now about 80 galleries here  and its growing all the time.

Much of the energy is with younger artists like Maria Clara of El Vitrinazo, a gallery that places art in bakeries, hostels and bars, and at ArtBo one encounters a more raw sensibility than many art fairs. For example, at one stand I saw a woman sing laments in front of old photographs of the Farc conflict, as part of a themed area called Against Forgetting.

As Maria Wills says, For 60 years, many of our artists have been using different media to address our war and violence. Art is a means to try and make sense of the strife.

Flamboyantly dressed in Colombian designer Pepa Pombo, ArtBos director Maria Paz Gaviria testifies to Bogotas new artistic energy.

The peace process has put rocket fuel in the tank. Im against making a role for the arts, but the arts are a place for liberty and visibility. In Colombia weve all become much more visible  not just the fair.

Bogota is now a city to watch for its vibrant art scene (Oliver Bennett)

The galleries range from raw places in rough neighbourhoods to plush palaces with polished-concrete floors, like the 30-year-old La Cometa Gallery, and are concentrated in three main areas: San Felipe, Chapinero and Macarena  perhaps the most picturesque area, pushed up against the Eastern Hills, part of the Andes and Bogotas topographical highlight.

Between these areas are red-brick tower blocks, bicycle paths, parks, seething highways and bizarrely, the occasional fake Tudor house, as if Surrey had landed on the equator. Its a disjointed city, with many areas that are still sketchy. Even so, a result of the peace process is that everyone wants a piece of Colombia.

The Pope came recently, as did One Young World: the global forum for young leaders, addressed here by Bob Geldof. Bogota featured in the 2013 Phaidon Press book, Art Cities of the Future, and wealth is shakily growing: research firm WealthInsight reported that the number of millionaires in Colombia had grown by 39 per cent from 2007-2014.

Theres another factor in Bogotas turnaround; it has become legendary as a city of urban innovation. Much of this is to do with the legendary example of Antanas Mockus, who became mayor in the bullet-proof vest days of 1995, and advocated a playful behaviourist approach to governing the city.

Mockus, who lives in Macarena and runs an influential Bogota-based urban company called Corpovisionaries, is fond of quoting philosophers like Pierre Bourdieu. He recalls his more head-line grabbing initiatives, such as training traffic police to learn mime, so they could ridicule drivers who ran red lights; giving drivers thumbs-up and thumbs down cards to use rather than road rage; and set up a Night Without Men, when men were invited to stay at home while women went out.

His water-saving initiative used the voice of Colombian pop star Shakira saying Thank you for saving water, and Mockus claims that it encouraged people to cut down on their usage. But his key win came when he invited the wealthy to voluntarily give an extra 10 per cent in taxes, which astonishingly, 63,000 households did  part of the reason why his philosophical ideas live on in Bogota. People respond to humour and playfulness from politicians, he says.

At the Abasto restaurant in Bogotas Chapinero district, David Melo, marketing manager for Invest in Bogota, is rhapsodising about Colombian food. Were seeing lots of fusion restaurants, he says, holding up a little bottle of fierce Amazonian spice called Wai Ya. This jungle-to-fork gastronomy is growing fast, he says, partly driven by social programmes that try and shift farmers away from cocaine production; for example, Abastos coffee was made in a conflict zone.

Some are using art to process, and heal from, the decades of conflict (Oliver Bennett)

Bogotas art-driven push has been complemented by other kinds of foreign investment, says Melo. Industries are moving in: life sciences, health services and creative industries like HBO, Disney, Sony. Theres a long-awaited new metro system due to start next year  although Bogotas sceptics will believe it when they see it.

But Melo says that Bogota doesnt want to forget the past. We encourage visitors to talk about the peace process, partly because it shows how far weve moved on. The calamity that was Pablo Escobar and his narco-baron ilk is now more of a problem for Mexico, sadly for that country, and Narcos is seen as a retro show, just as 1970s cop show Kojak would be to a New Yorker.

It would be blithe to suggest that problems dont exist in Bogota and Colombia. This year saw the highest cocaine harvest for years. The Peace Agreement referendum last year  to ratify the peace deal and gauge how far the population supported the peace deal with Farc  saw the No camp win by a whisker, unwilling to make any capitulation to the guerrilla group (which has now re-ordered its acronym and become the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force).

The fallout has been a bit divisive, with family arguments breaking out. This is President Santos final year in office, and as the countrys top Yes voter he wants to leave the country remembered as the architect of a solid peace agreement, like South Africa and Northern Ireland.

But at a rooftop party for ArtBo, held in a shiny property development with rooftop Jaccuzis for Bogotas new rich, few of these fears were on display as a local businessman, Jorge, pressed my hand and said: Welcome to the new Bogota. The old search for El Dorado  the mythical source of gold, so much part of Bogotas history  has taken a new turn.
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Sean Parker, the first president of Facebook, has a disturbing warning about the social network: "God only knows what it's doing to our children's brains."

Speaking to the news website Axios, the entrepreneur and executive talked openly about what he perceives as the dangers of social media and how it exploits human "vulnerability."

"The thought process that went into building these applications, Facebook being the first of them ... was all about: 'How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?'" said Parker, who joined Facebook in 2004, when it was less than a year old.

Mark Zuckerberg (Getty)

"And that means that we need to sort of give you a little dopamine hit every once in a while, because someone liked or commented on a photo or a post or whatever," he told Axios. "And that's going to get you to contribute more content, and that's going to get you ... more likes and comments."

Parker added: "It's a social-validation feedback loop ... exactly the kind of thing that a hacker like myself would come up with, because you're exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology."

"The inventors, creators -- it's me, it's Mark [Zuckerberg], it's Kevin Systrom on Instagram, it's all of these people -- understood this consciously," he said. "And we did it anyway."

Facebook did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Some in tech are growing disillusioned -- and worried

An attendee looks at a new iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Parker isn't the only tech figure to express disillusionment and worry by what they helped create. Tristan Harris, a former Google employee, has been outspoken in his criticism of how tech companies' products hijack users' minds.

"If you're an app, how do you keep people hooked? Turn yourself into a slot machine," he wrote in a widely shared Medium post in 2016.

"We need our smartphones, notifications screens and web browsers to be exoskeletons for our minds and interpersonal relationships that put our values, not our impulses, first," he continued. "People's time is valuable. And we should protect it with the same rigor as privacy and other digital rights."

In a recent feature, The Guardian spoke to tech workers and industry figures who have been critical of Silicon Valley business practices.

Loren Brichter, the designer who created the slot-machine-like pull-down-to-refresh mechanism now widely used on smartphones, said, "I've spent many hours and weeks and months and years thinking about whether anything I've done has made a net positive impact on society or humanity at all."

Brichter added: "Pull-to-refresh is addictive. Twitter is addictive. These are not good things. When I was working on them, it was not something I was mature enough to think about. I'm not saying I'm mature now, but I'm a little bit more mature, and I regret the downsides."

And Roger McNamee, an investor in Facebook and Google, told The Guardian: "The people who run Facebook and Google are good people, whose well-intentioned strategies have led to horrific unintended consequences ... The problem is that there is nothing the companies can do to address the harm unless they abandon their current advertising models."

The comments from Parker and others are further evidence of souring public sentiment about Silicon Valley. Once lauded in utopian terms, companies like Facebook have now come under heavy criticism over their role in the spread of "fake news" and Russian propaganda.

Read more:

 How much the best paid workers in 20 professions earn

 Seven outdated mens style rules that you can now ignore

 16 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2017. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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Aliens living around Luytens star will hear from humans in about 12 years time  if they exist.

Scientists have beamed a message toward the GJ 273 system, 12 light years away, where one of the two planets orbiting the red dwarf sun is thought to be within its habitable zone.

That means it may be capable of hosting life and, if it does, we might hear back in 2042.

The message is part of the 2018 Sonar festival in Spain, and includes 33 short pieces of music.

Festival director Richard Robles said: Sonar Calling GJ273b arises from the innate human need to communicate and connect.

It also attempts to find an answer to a question asked by civilisations throughout history: are we alone in the universe?

Given the largely negative impact of humanity on our planet, perhaps this is the best time to reach out to hopefully superior extraterrestrial intelligence to solicit help and advice.

 Scientists see two stars collide in space, setting off bizarre events

Douglas Vakoch, president of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) which sent the communication, told Space.com: To me, the big success of the project will come if, 25 years from now, theres someone who remembers to look [for a response].

If we could accomplish that, that would be a radical shift of perspective.

METI exists to understand and communicate the societal implications and relevance of searching for life beyond Earth, even before detection of extraterrestrial life, its website said.

Mr Vakoch dismissed suggestions that sending messages to potential alien races could be dangerous for humanity if one turns out to be aggressive.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. 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Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. 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This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

He said: Its really hard to imagine a scenario in which a civilization around Luytens star could have the capacity to come to Earth and threaten us, and yet theyre not able to pick up our leakage radiation.

Radio waves from Earths media networks have been travelling through space for decades.

But the fear of hypothetically hostile species from other stars is real for many scientists, including Stephen Hawking.

He has said that if we were to receive an extraterrestrial communication we should be wary of sending a reply.

Potential rival species could be vastly more powerful than humanity and contact could be like the meeting of Christopher Columbus and the Native Americans, the physicist has said  which didnt turn out so well.

Even if it were benign, an interstellar civilisation could be so state-of-the-art it may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria, he added last year.
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We might just have spotted our new home  or someone else's.

A newly discovered star, known as Ross 128 b, has been held up as our most likely neighbour that could support life. And conditions there look much nicer than the other stars in our neighbourhood.

That has led to excitement across the world amid the possibility that we've found an entirely new one. If we have, it'll not only offer the potential to see what another planet like our own looks like  but potentially to meet the aliens that live there, or to move there ourselves.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

Why are people so excited about Ross 128 b?

Because it looks a lot like us. And if it is like us, then it's likely to be both a decent place for aliens to potentially live, and a possible future home for ourselves.

The obvious things are that the planet is roughly the same size as ours, and might have a similar climate.

But what has got people especially excited is its star, Ross 128. That's a red dwarf  a type of sun that offers hope to scientists looking for exoplanets, but comes with some caveats.

Red dwarfs are good because they are cooler and more comfortable than our own star. That not only means that any life that is supported by them is more likely to flourish on planets that are closer, but it also means that they're easier for us to see, because there's not such a bright sun in the way.

Many of them throw out intense bursts of radiation and solar wind that would fry anything that tried to live on planets supported by them. But what's remarkable about Ross 128 is that it is especially calm and comfortable  it doesn't seem to be given to such outbursts, meaning that the chance of supporting life on the planet is vastly increased.

How does it compare with other exoplanets?

Many of the other candidates for nearby Earth 2s suffer from those problems.

Proxima Centauri b, for instance  which is just four lightyears away  orbits around its own red dwarf. But that star is a lot more temperamental, and throws out radiation that makes the conditions very unlikely to be able to support life, or at least like anything on Earth.

How did we spot it?

Ross 128b was spotted by a highly successful planet-finding instrument attached to the European Southern Observatory's 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla, Chile.

The High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (Harps) looks for tiny wobbles in a star's motion caused by its gravitational interaction with planets orbiting it.

The "tug-of-war" between star and planet is revealed in shifts in the wavelengths of light emitted by the star. From these readings, astronomers can make calculations about a planet's mass and orbit.

What do we do next?

While Ross 128b is considered to be a "temperate" planet, astronomers are still not certain where it lies in relation to its star's habitable zone.

Within the next 10 years, a new generation of ultra-powerful telescopes will start studying the atmospheres of exoplanets looking for signs of life, such as oxygen.

They include the ESO's 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope under construction in Chile which is due to begin operating in 2024.

Haven't I heard of Ross 128 before?

Maybe. This is the plucky star's second time in the spotlight this year.

Earlier this year, scientists said that they had received strange pulses coming from the star. The unusual signals didn't seem to have any sensible explanation, they said, and they committed to do further work.

But that further work suggested that the signals were just interference, and there wasn't anything coming from the star (or aliens living near it) at all. This time around, the news is a little more clear and certain, even if more work is still to be done.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Republicans in the House of Representatives have approved a sweeping $1.5 trillion tax cut - but President Donald Trump's mission to rewrite the US tax code and lower taxes for corporations is far from complete.

While the House, in a 227-205 vote, has met the threshold it needed to pass a tax bill, tax legislation in the Senate faces a more uncertain future.

House Democrats were united in their opposition to the legislation, while only 13 Republicans voted against it.

Recommended Republicans include Obamacare repeal in their tax overhaul

Passing this bill is the single biggest thing we can do to grow the economy, to restore opportunity, to help these middle-class families that are struggling, House Speaker Paul Ryan told members of Congress.

Mr Trump travelled to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue with Vice President Mike Pence to speak to representatives ahead of the vote.

According to Republican Representative Mark Meadows, the President was unbelievably engaging to a point where some Republicans who might not be voting for the tax bill today might have second thoughts, he told reporters.

In a statement, the White House called the passage of the measure a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic tax cuts for the American people by the end of the year.

We are working together to allow hardworking, middle-class families to keep more of their money, and to empower our companies and workers to dominate their global competition, the statement said. A simple, fair, and competitive tax code will be rocket fuel for our economy, and its within our reach. Now is the time to deliver.

Critics of the bill have said it disproportionately benefits corporations and the wealthiest Americans, including Mr Trump himself, while only providing modest gains to middle-income earners.

The measure would be estimated to increase the federal deficit by nearly $1.5 trillion over the next decade, would consolidate individual and family tax brackets to four from seven and lower the corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 20 per cent.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 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It also would scale back or end some popular tax deductions, including one for state and local income taxes.

Some expert analyses have shown that millions of Americans could ultimately end up with higher taxes because of the elimination of popular deductions. Repealing or cutting some deductions is a way to offset the government revenue lost from tax cuts.

It's a shameful piece of legislation, and the Republicans should know better, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi told members of Congress before the vote.

There is an ocean of differences between the Houses bill and the Senates tax proposal that would need to be reconciled before a final measure could head to the Presidents desk to be signed into law.

But there is question if a tax proposal could make it even that far.

Earlier this week, Senate Republicans made the already complicated issue of tax reform even more complex by throwing the political grenade of healthcare into the mix.

After having failed to dismantle Obamacare multiple times, Senate Republicans now intend to include a repeal of the laws requirement that most people have health insurance in their tax rewrite.

Republicans have been desperate to find a way to fund their tax proposal so as not increase the budget deficit by $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

Since party members are using a legislative process known as reconciliation  meaning they can push a bill through Congress without any support from Democrats  they must keep the cost of the bill to to this amount.

Repealing the health laws so-called individual mandate would allow Republicans to save more than $300bn over 10 years. But it would lead to 13m people losing their health insurance over the same time period and a 10 per cent increase in premiums, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Republicans have said they would use the savings  which stem from reduced government spending to subsidise health coverage  to pay for an expansion of the middle-class tax cuts that members of Congress have proposed.

For multinational corporations, their handouts are set in stone, written in ink, locked in place with the key thrown away. But not for the middle class, Mr Wyden said during a hearing on the bill. For middle-class families, premium increases are the same thing as tax increases.

While eliminating the mandate may help get conservative Senate members on board with the tax bill, it may alienate others.

In July, three Republicans killed a proposal that did little more than repeal the requirement that everyone purchase insurance.

Like in his previous efforts to dismantle Obamacare, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can only afford two defections from Republicans on the tax bill. All 48 Democrats in the 100-member Senate are expected to oppose it.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson already said he won't vote for the proposal, saying it unfairly benefits corporations more than other types of businesses.
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A teacher has described how she was absolutely shocked when she found out the teenager who murdered Ann Maguire also talked about stabbing her to kill her unborn baby.

The inquest into Mrs Maguire's death has heard that Will Cornick told a number of pupils at Corpus Christi Catholic College, Leeds, that he was going to kill the Spanish teacher and also planned to attack her colleagues Andrew Kellett and Sinead Miley.

A jury at Wakefield Coroner's Court heard how one boy said Cornick told him he was going to stab Miss Miley in the stomach because she was pregnant and wanted to kill the baby instead.

On Wednesday, Ms Miley told the jury she was 34 weeks pregnant on the day Mrs Maguire was killed.

She said: I was absolutely shocked when I realised what had happened with regard to Ann and what he was planning to do with me as well.

The science teacher, who had also been a pupil at the school, told the court she had taught Cornick in a chemistry lesson in the period immediately before the Spanish lesson in which he stabbed Mrs Maguire on April 28 2014.

Nick Armstrong, representing Mrs Maguire's husband Don and their children, asked Ms Miley about how other pupils in the class had reported conversations with Cornick.

One girl told police he said: I don't want to hurt her, I want to kill her.

The girl said Cornick told a group of five or six children in the class he probably would not be allowed to go to the school prom.

She said that when he was asked why, he replied: You'll probably get it in about two hours.

The girl said: I thought he was joking and I didn't understand the joke.

She said Cornick claimed he had brought a bottle of alcohol with him to celebrate because I would deserve it afterwards.

The girl told police: He was always saying stuff like he would kill her - talking about death and giving people cancer and stuff like that.

According to Mr Armstrong, the girl also said Cornick talked about unpleasant things about what he wanted to do to pregnant women.

Mr Armstrong asked Ms Miley whether she heard any of these exchanges in her class.

The teacher said: I didn't hear it. If I had heard that, I was a pregnant woman, I would have done something about it.

Mr Armstrong asked Ms Miley why she thought none of the students reported to staff what Cornick had said, saying this was the stand-out issue in the inquest.

She replied that she thought the children believed it was just bravado from Cornick.

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death Show all 18 1 /18 In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Steve Mort, head teacher of Corpus Christi Catholic College, reads the hundreds of tributes left in honour of slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Keiran Sykes, the deputy headteacher of Corpus Christi Catholic College, reads the hundreds of tributes left in honour of slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Amanda Gledhill, a former pupil of Corpus Christi Catholic College, grieves next to the hundreds of tributes left in honour of slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A photograph and flowers hang on the fence outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in tribute to slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A candle burns next to a book of condolence for teacher Ann Maguire at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Neville Road in Leeds In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A crucifix and school tie hang on the fence outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in tribute to slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A drawing outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Anne Maguire was stabbed to death in front of her pupils In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Monsignor Paul Fisher conducts a mass for members of the local community attending Corpus Christ Catholic Church to pray and pay their respects to teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds. In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Flowers are left outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death yesterday in front of her pupils. In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A note left outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death yesterday in front of her pupils. In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Flowers are left outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death yesterday in front of her pupils. In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A nun comforts students outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Neville Road, Leeds, where a female teacher was fatally stabbed Getty In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A school football shirt, signed by pupils, hangs on the gate Reuters In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death School head teacher Steve Moat, and the school's head boy and head girl lay flowers in Corpus Christ Catholic Church Getty Images In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Messages and floral tributes including a photograph of Ann Maguire In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A nun comforts people outside Corpus Christi Catholic College PA In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death A pupil looks at floral tributes at Corpus Christi Catholic College Reuters In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death School mourns teacher's death Monsignor Paul Fisher conducts mass for members of the local community PA

Ms Miley said: If these children thought something terrible like that was going to happen they would speak to an adult about it.

She said Mrs Maguire had taught her when she was a girl and described her as absolutely amazing.

PA
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Rolf Harris has had one of 12 indecent assault convictions overturned by the Court of Appeal, as three judges ruled the conviction was unsafe.

But Lord Justice Treacy, Mrs Justice McGowan and the Recorder of Preston, Judge Mark Brown, rejected his applications to challenge the 11 other indecent assault convictions.

The artist and musician was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at Londons Southwark Crown Court in June 2014, one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens, and a catalogue of abuse against his daughters friend over 16 years.

Harris was jailed for five years and nine months, after being convicted of assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986. The Australian-born television presenter has since been released from that sentence.

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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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The prosecution did not seek a retrial on the one count, and the judges agreed that a further trial would not be in the public interest. Harris was not in court for the ruling by the appeal judges.

The quashed conviction related to an allegation that Harris indecently assaulted an eight-year-old girl in 1969, when she attended an event at a leisure centre in Portsmouth.

But the judges refused Harris permission to appeal against the rest of the 2014 convictions.

They ruled that stepping back and looking at the totality of the evidence on those remaining counts: We find nothing that causes us to doubt the safety of those convictions.

Stephen Vullo QC, representing Harris, had presented four grounds of appeal at a recent hearing, which Harris attended.

The quashing centred on new evidence about the credibility of a prosecution witness, David James, who was the only person apart from the complainant herself to give evidence about Harris attending the leisure centre at the relevant time.

Lord Justice Treacy said the late Mr James was an important witness on count one at the trial, and if material now known about him had been obtained and disclosed at the correct time it is very doubtful that Mr James would have been called as a witness.

He added: If he had been called to give evidence, his credibility would have suffered devastating damage.

Lord Justice Treacy said if Mr James was removed from the picture, the complainant is left on her own in asserting an encounter with Mr Harris at the community centre in circumstances where there was a body of evidence to the contrary.

The courts view was that the evidence about Mr James operates to weaken the Crowns case on the important issue of whether Rolf Harris ever attended the community centre in 1969 to the extent that we cannot view the conviction on count one as safe.

In May this year, Harris was formally cleared of unconnected historical sex offences, which he had denied. He was formally found not guilty of four charges of indecent assault against girls as young as 13, after a retrial ended with a hung jury.
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A young soldier was shot dead by a comrade who mistook him for a target during a flawed training exercise, an inquiry has found.

Private Conor McPherson, 24, died of a head wound at the Otterburn Training Area in what the Army described as a terrible tragedy in August last year.

A probe into the incident by the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) identified eight contributory factors that made the accident more likely to happen that night, including a lack of effective supervision of the soldier who fired the deadly gunshot.

Pte McPherson, of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, was part of a live-fire exercise that saw him and a team of four other soldiers taking aim at targets at night.

Describing the hour leading up to his death, the service inquiry report said they had been equipped with thermal imaging sights but that there were no thermal targets or infra-red illumination in use.

Due to the limited light levels and lack of experience of firing at night, the firers kept falling over and struggled to identify the targets, it said.

Some firers were surprised as they had expected illumination to aid in the identification of the targets.

After leaving a ruined building as part of a role-play scenario, the team formed a line and moved forward, shooting the first target and advancing to identify the second.

Otterburn military ranges (Google)

A soldier named only as Firer Two fell behind, the report said, but he was not ordered to stop firing and shortly afterwards Pte McPherson was seen falling to the ground and the exercise was halted.

People on the range ran to help - giving him CPR, tending to the wound and calling the emergency services but the soldier was pronounced dead by a paramedic at 11.45pm, less than an hour after he was shot.

It was confirmed by post-mortem that Pte McPherson received an unsurvivable injury, which was entirely consistent with a gunshot wound, the report stated, adding that there was no indication of foul play.

During interview, Firer Two stated that a target appeared approximately 5m to his front left.

The panel believes that this target was in fact Pte McPherson and Firer Two fired at him in the mistaken belief he was a target.

In an 82-page report, investigators set out eight contributory factors including the lack of effective supervision of Firer Two, difficulty identifying safety angles while wearing night vision gear and the use of ear muffs.

It highlighted the lack of a walk-through of the range, the inexperience of safety supervisors during the night exercise and some soldiers' lack of experience of night firing without illumination.

It set out 13 other factors that played no part in the accident in question but could contribute to a future accident and issued a series of recommendations to be considered by the Army.

Writing in the report, DSA director Lieutenant General Richard Felton said Pte McPherson was killed during what should have been a fairly routine live-firing night exercise.

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The fire team level training he was conducting was early in an infantry unit's training progression and at the lower end of complexity, he added.

This perhaps makes his death even more tragic, but equally serves as a reminder of the unique dangers inherent in conducting realistic military training.

He also questioned why the company had been involved in an 18-hour day, adding: The panel did not identify fatigue as a factor, but I question why such a long and busy day was necessary.

Pte McPherson was assigned to his regiment in February 2015 and had served in Kenya in France, completing all mandatory progression for live-fire tactical training.

Colonel Jim Taylor, a spokesperson for the Army, said it deeply regrets the young soldiers death.

What happened that night in Otterburn on 22 August 2016 was a terrible, terrible tragedy, he added. "Live firing at night is inherently risky but we have to do it to be combat-ready.

We welcome this service inquiry; it has done outstanding work to identify what went wrong.

In particular, their reconstruction of the events that night has been invaluable in helping us identify what caused the accident and the factors which contributed to it. We are now carefully considering its recommendations.

"We care about our soldiers above all else and we do everything we can to reduce the risks to them as they conduct the essential training required to prepare them for combat operations."


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Charles Bronson received an unusual gift after marrying his girlfriend inside a top-security prison - a signed piece of artwork depicting his face.

The wedding present, which appears to be a canvas print of Bronsons face and torso, was signed by his friends and his new wife, Paula Williamson.

Bronson, who has been referred to as Britains most violent prisoner and is now known as Charles Salvador, married Ms Williamson in a ceremony inside HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire on Tuesday.

According to the Mirror, one message on the gift read: God bless Mr and Mrs Salvador.

Another read: Heres to progress my old mate!

The artwork of Charles Bronson (Facebook)

A photo of the artwork was posted to Facebook by Andrew Parkin, a supporter of Bronson, who attended the wedding.

He wrote on social media last night: Back to my room at Charlies and Paula Salvadors wedding Ive been so privileged. Finally been allowed to let people know.

A number of unusual guests were present at the ceremony, including the ex-husband of Katie Price and MMA fighter, Alex Reid, who had contacted Bronson about fight training.

Dave Courtney, a reformer gangster, also attended at the wedding.
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Relatives of those killed in the Grenfell Tower fire say it is time for justice after police announced their final death toll for the disaster.

After months of gruelling forensic work inside the block, investigations have identified 71 men, women and children, including a stillborn baby, who died as a result of the blaze.

But some survivors still fear the death toll is higher, amid calls for increased transparency in the ongoing public inquiry and criminal investigation.

Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle died in the fire, said the number may be right and it may be wrong, but lets be thankful that its less than what we thought it was.

Now we are starting on the long journey for justice to make sure that our friends and families didnt die for nothing, he told The Independent.

We need the culture [that led to the disaster] to be brought to light and make sure people are held to account for what theyve done.

Mr Mussilhys uncle, 57-year-old Hesham Rahman, spoke to him on the phone as the blaze spread through Grenfell Tower in the early hours of 14 June and has been confirmed among the victims.

A silent march for the victims in London earlier this year (PA)

He said coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox and her team had done an amazing job to support bereaved families but that residents felt there had been a lack of empathy from the Government.

Many are waiting to receive status as core participants in the public inquiry being led by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, and want to be more involved in the process.

Mr Mussilhy said a lack of consultation made relatives it feel almost as if the Government want to control it and just want us to be involved when they want, adding: We want to be able to look at the evidence, cross examine it.

We know we wont have an influence on the result but we want to be a part of it.

Recommended Grenfell council leader says borough not responsible for fire safety

A stillborn baby, Logan Gomes, has been recorded among the victims as a separate criminal investigation continues into responsibility for the blaze.

The coroner confirmed the identities of the last two victims on Wednesday and police said they believe all those who died in the disaster have now been recovered and named.

But Judy Bolton, director for Justice for Grenfell campaign, said many members of the local community still believe the death toll is higher and have requested lists of anyone reported missing but unaccounted for.

A lot of families are still in limbo people arent able to grieve or have closure, she told The Independent.

The way authorities handled this really hasnt been sensitive to the community and it hasnt done anything to allay their fears of is this the truth?.

In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Show all 51 1 /51 In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police have released images from inside the tower where at least 58 people have died Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A still from a video shared by polices what appears to be a stationary bicycle sitting among the ashes In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A still from a video shared by police shows the remnants of a burnt-out bathroom In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Picture showing the lifts on an unknown floor Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emergency crews outside the front entrance to the tower Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Fire crews inspecting flats in the burnt out tower London Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Grenfell Tower is seen in the distance PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A drone flies near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire 'Theresa May Stay Away' message written on the messages of support at Latymer Community Church for those affected by the fire Ray Tang/REX In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire An aerial view of the area surrounding Grenfall tower Getty In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Donated shoes sit in the Westway Sports Centre near to the site of the Grenfell Tower fire Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Messages of support for those affected by the massive fire in Grenfell Tower are displayed on a well near the tower in London AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A local resident stands on her balcony by the gutted Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Messages of condolence are left at a relief centre close to the scene of the fire that broke out at Grenfell Tower, EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A police officer stands by a security cordon outside Latimer Road station Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Firemen examine the scorched facade of the Grenfell Tower in London on a huge ladder AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A search dog is led through the rubble of the Grenfell Tower in London as firefighting continue to damp-down the deadly fire AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn comforts a local resident (name not given) at St Clement's Church in west London where volunteers have provided shelter and support for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower David Mirzoeff/PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hugs councillor Mushtaq Lasharie as he arrives at St Clement's Church in Latimer Road, where volunteers have provided shelter and support for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meeting staff and volunteers at St Clementis Church in Latimer Road David Mirzoeff/PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Firefighters with a dog walk around the base of the Grenfell Tower REUTERS/Peter Nicholls In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emotions run high as people attend a candle lit vigil outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near the 24 storey residential Grenfell Tower block in Latimer Road, West London Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Debris hangs from the blackened exterior of Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman speaks to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman holds a missing person posters near the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Sadiq Khan speaking with a resident James Gourley/REX In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Ken Livingstone walks near the scene of the Grenfell Tower fire Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is confronted by Kai Ramos, 7, near Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks to a woman outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers distribute aid near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People attend a vigil at Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People gather to observe a vigil outside St Clement's Church following the blaze at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People light candles as they observe a vigil outside St Clement's Church following the blaze at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People attend a vigil at Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A man distributes food from the back of a van near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A firefighter is cheered near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A T-shirt with a written message from the London Fire Brigade hangs from a fence near The Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A young girl on her way to lay flowers near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire The remains of residential tower block Grenfell Tower are seen from Dixon House a nearby tower block Getty In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers prepare supplies for people affected by the Grenfell Tower block which was destroyed in a fire REUTERS/Neil Hall In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers move a car to make space for a lorry picking up supplies for people affected by the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People distribute boxes of food near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower bloc REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman touches a missing poster for 12-year-old Jessica Urbano on a tribute wall after laying flowers on the side of Latymer Community Church next to the fire-gutted Grenfell Tower AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A man looks at messages written on a wall near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Candles and messages of condolence near where the fire broke out at Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police carry a stretcher towards Grenfell Tower Rick Findler/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emergency services at Grenfell Tower Rick Findler/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police carry out a body from Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Rick Findler/PA Wire

Politicians were among those fearing the death toll to be far higher in the aftermath of the fire, which spread rapidly from a fourth floor flat up combustible cladding.

Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, was heavily criticised for claiming the number of victims will be in triple figures during tensions between local residents, authorities and the emergency services.

Ms Bolton said some people still lacked trust with the Mets latest figure, which was revised down from an initial estimate of 80, and that the announcement had sparked an emotional day.

We walk past that building every day  for weeks after, when the train went past a big dust cloud went up and we were covered in the ashes of our loved ones, she added.

Many people didnt receive remains the general consensus is that we believe there are more victims and they are keeping us in the dark.

Commander Stuart Cundy said Scotland Yards search and identification operation was undertaken in a way that survivors and bereaved families could have complete confidence in.

My thoughts, and those of all my colleagues in the Met Police, are with all those who lost their loved ones, those who survived, the local community and all those who live with this tragedy every day, he said.

Our criminal investigation is continuing, and we are determined to do all we can to find the answers that so many people so desperately want.

Officers have conducted a full fingertip search, examining 15.5 tonnes of debris on each floor supported by forensic anthropologists, archaeologists and odontologists.

Searches inside the tower are not expected to conclude until early December but the Metropolitan Police said it was highly unlikely any unidentified victims remain.

Ms Bolton said residents hope more information will be revealed by the public inquiry, which is looking at events on the night of the fire, how and why the block came to be wrapped in flammable cladding and insulation.

It will also examine the response by Kensington and Chelsea Council and central government, while procedural hearings will take place on 11 and 12 December.

Police are continuing a separate criminal investigation into the fire, which may consider individual as well as corporate manslaughter charges.

Police investigators work to gather evidence inside the burned out shell of Grenfell Tower (AFP/Getty)

We would want this to be done and dusted as quickly as possible, but people are more concerned with the truth and are willing for it to take longer so no stone is left unturned, Ms Bolton said.

Mr Mussilhy also said he wanted police to take as much time as they need for the criminal investigation, adding: We dont want to rush them and we hope they follow all the evidence, wherever it leads.

Gordon Futter, a member of the community, said that residents were still nowhere near closure five months after the disaster.

He told The Independent that some survivors were still living in hotels after declining officers of temporary accommodation, while residents evacuated from blocked surrounding Grenfell over safety fears were being pressured to move back into their flats despite ongoing concerns.

People are constantly living with this uncertainty and its hard for them to recover, Mr Futter said.

Police concluded that 293 people were inside the block when the fire broke out, with some residents away from home and some Muslim occupants who were observing Ramadan awake and able to alert their neighbours.

Detectives used CCTV and police body-worn video to identify everyone captured on film fleeing Grenfell Tower after the fire started just before 1am, showing 223 escaped and survived.

Police handled thousands of calls from people who believed they knew someone trapped in the tower, resulting in an initial list of 400 reported missing.

Some people were reported several times  46 in one case  and others were reported under different names or varied spellings that were separately investigated.

There were also a number of false claims, and eight people have been charged or are under investigation for fraud in connection with the disaster.

Earlier this month, serial conman Anh Nhu Nguyen admitted two counts of fraud after claiming his wife and son died in the blaze in an effort to pocket 12,500 intended to help victims.

There were additional concerns that some people inside the tower were not recorded as residents, either because of informal tenancies or a lack of documentation, sparking the Government to announce an immigration amnesty to encourage people to come forward.
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The number of people killed by the Grenfell fire has been confirmed at 71 after months of forensic investigations inside the tower.

A stillborn baby, Logan Gomes, was recorded among the victims as a separate criminal investigation continues into responsibility for the blaze.

The coroner confirmed the identities of the last two victims  Victoria King, 71, and her daughter Alexandra Atala, 40  on Wednesday and police said they believe all those who died in the disaster have now been recovered and named.

Recommended The victims who died in the Grenfell Tower disaster

Commander Stuart Cundy said: I have been clear from the start that a priority for us was recovering all those who died, and identifying and returning them to their families.

I cannot imagine the agony and uncertainty that some families and loved ones have been through whilst we have carried out our meticulous search, recovery and identification process.

It is vital that our search and identification operation was undertaken in a manner that families and loved ones could have complete confidence in. We continue to provide every support we can to those bereaved.

Some feared the death toll to be far higher in the aftermath of the fire, which spread rapidly from a fourth floor flat up combustible cladding in the early hours of 14 June.

 Theresa May on fire safety: Sprinklers are not the only issue being looked at since Grenfell

Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, was heavily criticised for claiming the number of victims will be in triple figures during tensions between local residents, authorities and the emergency services.

Police handled thousands of calls from people who believed they knew someone who had been trapped in the tower, causing an initial list of 400 people reported missing.

Some people were reported several times  46 in one case  and others were reported under different names or varied spellings that were separately investigated.

There were also a number of false claims, and eight people have been charged or are under investigation for fraud in connection with the disaster.

Earlier this month, Anh Nhu Nguyen admitted two counts of fraud after claiming his wife and son died in the blaze in efforts to pocket 12,500 intended to help victims.

There were additional concerns that some people inside the tower were not recorded as residents, either because of informal tenancies or a lack of documentation, sparking the Government to announce an immigration amnesty to encourage people to come forward.

Detectives also used CCTV and police body-worn video to identify everyone captured on film escaping Grenfell Tower after the fire started just before 1am, showing 223 escaped and survived. Investigations have concluded that 293 people were inside the block when the fire broke out, with a number of residents away from home and some Muslim residents who were observing Ramadan awake and able to alert their neighbours.

In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Show all 51 1 /51 In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police have released images from inside the tower where at least 58 people have died Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A still from a video shared by polices what appears to be a stationary bicycle sitting among the ashes In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A still from a video shared by police shows the remnants of a burnt-out bathroom In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Picture showing the lifts on an unknown floor Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emergency crews outside the front entrance to the tower Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Fire crews inspecting flats in the burnt out tower London Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Grenfell Tower is seen in the distance PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A drone flies near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire 'Theresa May Stay Away' message written on the messages of support at Latymer Community Church for those affected by the fire Ray Tang/REX In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire An aerial view of the area surrounding Grenfall tower Getty In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Donated shoes sit in the Westway Sports Centre near to the site of the Grenfell Tower fire Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Messages of support for those affected by the massive fire in Grenfell Tower are displayed on a well near the tower in London AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A local resident stands on her balcony by the gutted Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Messages of condolence are left at a relief centre close to the scene of the fire that broke out at Grenfell Tower, EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A police officer stands by a security cordon outside Latimer Road station Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Firemen examine the scorched facade of the Grenfell Tower in London on a huge ladder AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A search dog is led through the rubble of the Grenfell Tower in London as firefighting continue to damp-down the deadly fire AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn comforts a local resident (name not given) at St Clement's Church in west London where volunteers have provided shelter and support for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower David Mirzoeff/PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hugs councillor Mushtaq Lasharie as he arrives at St Clement's Church in Latimer Road, where volunteers have provided shelter and support for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meeting staff and volunteers at St Clementis Church in Latimer Road David Mirzoeff/PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Firefighters with a dog walk around the base of the Grenfell Tower REUTERS/Peter Nicholls In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emotions run high as people attend a candle lit vigil outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near the 24 storey residential Grenfell Tower block in Latimer Road, West London Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Debris hangs from the blackened exterior of Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman speaks to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman holds a missing person posters near the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Sadiq Khan speaking with a resident James Gourley/REX In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Ken Livingstone walks near the scene of the Grenfell Tower fire Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is confronted by Kai Ramos, 7, near Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks to a woman outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers distribute aid near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People attend a vigil at Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People gather to observe a vigil outside St Clement's Church following the blaze at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People light candles as they observe a vigil outside St Clement's Church following the blaze at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People attend a vigil at Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A man distributes food from the back of a van near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A firefighter is cheered near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A T-shirt with a written message from the London Fire Brigade hangs from a fence near The Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A young girl on her way to lay flowers near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire The remains of residential tower block Grenfell Tower are seen from Dixon House a nearby tower block Getty In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers prepare supplies for people affected by the Grenfell Tower block which was destroyed in a fire REUTERS/Neil Hall In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers move a car to make space for a lorry picking up supplies for people affected by the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People distribute boxes of food near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower bloc REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman touches a missing poster for 12-year-old Jessica Urbano on a tribute wall after laying flowers on the side of Latymer Community Church next to the fire-gutted Grenfell Tower AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A man looks at messages written on a wall near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Candles and messages of condolence near where the fire broke out at Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police carry a stretcher towards Grenfell Tower Rick Findler/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emergency services at Grenfell Tower Rick Findler/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police carry out a body from Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Rick Findler/PA Wire

Searches inside the tower are not expected to conclude until early December but the Metropolitan Police said it was highly unlikely any unidentified victims remain.

Mr Cundy said specialist teams inside Grenfell Tower and the mortuary had pushed the boundaries of what was scientifically possible to identify victims  a task he feared could be impossible after visiting the scene.

They have done that for every person who lost their life, their families and loved ones, and all those for whom Grenfell Tower was home, he added.

Specially trained officers from the Met, City of London Police and British Transport Police have been thoroughly and meticulously searching every flat and communal area.

Officers conducted a full fingertip search, examining 15.5 tonnes of debris on each floor supported by forensic anthropologists, archaeologists and odontologists.

Dr Fiona Wilcox, senior coroner for Westminster, is due to open and adjourn the final planned inquests on Wednesday.

Relatives of Ms King and her daughter Ms Atala said they died at each others side.

Victoria King died aged 71 alongside her daughter in the Grenfell Tower fire (Metropolitan Police)

Some comfort can come from the knowledge that she and Alexandra were devoted to one another and spent so many mutually supportive years together, a statement said.

They died at each others side and now they can rest together in peace. We will remember them always.

Police are continuing a separate criminal investigation into the fire, which may consider individual as well as corporate manslaughter charges.

A public inquiry, led by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, is looking at events on the night of the fire, how and why the block came to be wrapped in flammable cladding and insulation.

It will also examine the response by Kensington and Chelsea Council and central government, while procedural hearings will take place on 11 and 12 December.

The human cost and terrible reality of what took place at Grenfell Tower affects so many people, Mr Cundy said.

My thoughts, and those of all my colleagues in the Met Police, are with all those who lost their loved ones, those who survived, the local community and all those who live with this tragedy every day.

Our criminal investigation is continuing, and we are determined to do all we can to find the answers that so many people so desperately want.
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The Home Office has been accused of locking migrants up in their rooms for more than 13 hours a day in degrading and insanitary conditions, in breach of their human rights.

Detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre have lodged a High Court challenge to the lock-in regime and living conditions at the centre, which psychologists say is likely to have a highly adverse effect on detainees mental health.

They say all those held at the centre are locked in their rooms every night between 9pm until 8am, and again during two other lock-ins carried out during the day between 12pm and 1pm and again at 5pm and 6pm  amounting to a total of 13 hours.

Asylum seekers and other migrants are sent to Brook House when the Government wishes to establish their identities or facilitate their immigration claims.

Critics point out detainees are not held there because they are suspected of criminal offences and should therefore not be treated like prisoners.

The conditions are exacerbated by the fact that their rooms reportedly contain toilets with no doors or screens, meaning they must use the toilet in the presence of others detained in the room.

Lawyers representing the claimants argue the lock-in regime and cell conditions in Brook House  an immigration centre that was recently subject to an investigation exposing abuse and humiliation of detainees by guards  violate fundamental human rights enshrined in European law.

One of the claimants, a man who shares a room with two other detainees, said he had suffered from recurring chest pains for six months, with regular headaches. During the course of the overnight lock-ins, he allegedly requested painkillers by using a buzzer, but his requests received no response.

In court documents seen by The Independent, the man describes his sense of shame at having to use the toilet in view of another detainee. He said this, along with the smell, was so intolerable that he forced himself to forgo using the toilet for as long as possible during the night.

Asylum seekers and other migrants are sent to Brook House when the Government wishes to establish their identities or facilitate their immigration claims (PA)

As a practising Muslim, the conditions mean the man said he found himself praying in unclean conditions in unacceptable proximity to a toilet.

Research shows that the detention of immigrants can have a highly negative impact on their wellbeing. A study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) earlier this year found that more than half of detainees have some form of mental health condition.

Dr Piyal Sen, from the RCP, told The Independent the act of locking people up in their rooms while in detention would likely place them at even higher risk.

He said: There is a wealth of research showing that any form of detention has a negative effect on peoples mental health. And immigrants are at even higher risk. A lot of them will have experienced some sort of detention before.

They might have been a victim of torture, or subjected to various means of inhuman treatment. A lot of research shows that such people with past trauma of such nature are far more vulnerable to detention.

Being locked up within detention would make this even worse. Evidence shows that locking these people in a confined space can have a highly adverse effect on their mental state.

Responding to the findings, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott told The Independent: The reports and evidence about the regime at Brook House are intolerable. Foul conditions, abusive behaviour and lock-downs should not be tolerated anywhere. But this is a detention centre, not a jail.

Irrespective of the outcome of the case Amber Rudd should act immediately to ensure an end to this inhuman system.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, meanwhile said he had met detainees who are suffering such treatment, and urged the Home Office to clear the systematic failings and human rights breaches in immigration detention.

I have met detainees and heard first hand their stories of being locked up for hours and of the insanitary conditions within cells, he said. Almost every day there is new evidence of abuses and how Britains detention system treats people as less than human. Basic decency and rights should not have to be won in court.

It is time the Home Secretary took some responsibility for the clear systematic failings and human rights breaches at Brook House, and detention centres across the country.

Puja Nandi, public law caseworker at Duncan Lewis, who is representing the claimant, said: The treatment of detainees in Brook House IRC is extremely concerning. Detainees are locked in their rooms for 13.5 hours every single day. They are forced to use toilets, which are unscreened, in front of their roommates.

They are mocked by detention staff, turned away from healthcare and subjected to segregation as well as inhumane cell conditions. This endless list of degradations amounts to a monumental failure by the Home Office to ensure dignity for the detainees at Brook House.

As my client told me, It is like hell in here. All detainees should be treated with humanity and respect and we hope our challenge will compel the Home Office to guarantee such treatment.

Celia Clarke, director of Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), a charity that offers detainees legal advice and representation, said the current situation in Brook House showed there had been a woefully inadequate response from the Government since the Panorama investigation in September.

Following the Panorama programmes undercover footage of abuse and cruel treatment of detainees in Brook House, there has been a woefully inadequate response. It is clear that the situation in Brook House is still completely unacceptable for detainees, she told The Independent.

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We urge the government to condemn this and to take immediate steps to ensure that detainees, if they must be detained at all, are held in humane conditions.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pursuing interim relief in the form of release for all five claimants and a suspension of the lock-in process, with all toilets to be adequately covered. A hearing is set to take place in the High Court on Friday.

If successful, the challenges could fundamentally restructure the manner in which immigration removal centres operate.

The Home Office said it would not comment on ongoing legal proceedings, adding that companies which ran immigration removal centres are contractually obliged to conduct monthly and annual health and safety inspections.
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A crowdfunding campaign has been launching to fund employment training for homeless people to get them back into work.

A recent report by housing charity Shelter found more than 300,000 people are now sleeping rough in Britain.

Beam allows users to sponsor homeless people and contribute towards training courses in London.

It also lets users follow their progress, with regular updates and photos of them receiving training or at work.

 Three teenagers shown on CCTV giving homeless man duvet

Donations can be made monthly or in a lump sum, and donors can choose to either sponsor a specific homeless person or make a general donation to every campaign.

The app has been backed by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and is being launched in partnership with ten homelessness charities including St Mungos, Centrepoint and Thames Reach.

After the charities have recommended a homeless person, staff at Beam will seek a second reference to verify the accuracy of their personal stories, which are posted on the website along with a picture.

They then work together to create an action plan and budget for the campaign.

The money is paid straight to the training provider.

Those who find work through Beam are encouraged to repay their funding by donating to other people's campaigns via small monthly standing orders.

So far, every Beam member has opted to pay forward the full value of their campaign.

The causes of homelessness Show all 7 1 /7 The causes of homelessness The causes of homelessness Family Breakdown Relationship breakdown, usually between young people and their parents or step-parents, is a major cause of youth homelessness. Around six in ten young people who come to Centrepoint say they had to leave home because of arguments, relationship breakdown or being told to leave. Many have experienced long-term problems at home, often involving violence, leaving them without the family support networks that most of us take for granted The causes of homelessness Complex needs Young people who come to Centrepoint face a range of different and complex problems. More than a third have a mental health issue, such as depression and anxiety, another third need to tackle issues with substance misuse. A similar proportion also need to improve their physical health. These problems often overlap, making it more difficult for young people to access help and increasing the chances of them becoming homeless Getty/iStock The causes of homelessness Deprivation Young people's chances of having to leave home are higher in areas of high deprivation and poor prospects for employment and education. Many of those who experience long spells of poverty can get into problem debt, which makes it harder for them to access housing Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Gang Crime Homeless young people are often affected by gang-related problems. In some cases, it becomes too dangerous to stay in their local area meaning they can end up homeless. One in six young people at Centrepoint have been involved in or affected by gang crime Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Exclusion From School Not being in education can make it much more difficult for young people to access help with problems at home or health problems. Missing out on formal education can also make it more difficult for them to move into work Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Leaving Care Almost a quarter of young people at Centrepoint have been in care. They often have little choice but to deal with the challenges and responsibilities of living independently at a young age. Traumas faced in their early lives make care leavers some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities, with higher chances of poor outcomes in education, employment and housing. Their additional needs mean they require a higher level of support to maintain their accommodation Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Refugees Around 13 per cent of young people at Centrepoint are refugees or have leave to remain, meaning it isn't safe to return home. This includes young people who come to the UK as unaccompanied minors, fleeing violence or persecution in their own country. After being granted asylum, young people sometimes find themselves with nowhere to go and can end up homeless Getty Images/iStockphoto

Tony, who was Beam's first member, successfully funded his campaign to train as an electrician within less than month, raising 4,378 from 136 supporters.

When I first heard about Beam, Tony said, I thought, why would anyone want to help me out? I couldnt believe it when the money started coming in.

"Then, when I read the messages from my supporters, I just didnt have words. Thanks to Beam, Im now training to become a fully-qualified electrician.

Alex Stephany, the founder of Beam, said: I believe people want to help but feel powerless.

"Crowdfunding technology makes it safe and easy to help someone out of homelessness for the long-term.
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A hospital has been accused of sexism after praising a father for "manfully" stepping in to take his daughter for an appointment when his wife was ill.

The row erupted over a letter sent to Jo and Billy Martin by a paediatric surgeon who had seen their three-year-old daughter at Royal Preston Hospital.

In the letter, the doctor noted: "Unfortunately, her mum could not be at the clinic visit today as she has not been well and father stepped in manfully."

The couple, from Chorley, Lancashire, claimed the wording of the letter was sexist because it implied "women are there to do the childcare".

Ms Martin, 33, said: "My husband went instead but the consultant did not know that I was the one who was supposed to be taking her.

"As far as he should be concerned fathers and mothers should have equal responsibility for taking their children to hospital appointments."

The freelance typist said she was "shocked" when she read the letter, sent two weeks after the appointment.

"I thought they can't have put that," she added. "It's ridiculous. It is terrible. It's so sexist.

"It's like when people say, 'Dad is babysitting'. No, he's not babysitting if they are his children.

It's assuming that women are there to do the childcare and men will step in when the woman is not available, which is really sexist in my opinion. I don't know what the consultant was thinking.

"We had images of my husband in a superman cape like a hero for taking his daughter to an appointment."

The letter praised Billy Martin for 'manfully' stepping in to take his daughter to hospital (Mercury Press and Media Ltd)

Ms Martin, who has two sons Samuel, six, and George, one, believes if she had taken Jessica herself the letter would not have mentioned her father was not present.

She said: "The consultant is not going to say that I have 'womanfully' taken my daughter to the hospital appointment. There is no chance he would have used that phrase or said that 'mum stepped in'. That would just not be said.

"It made me feel guilty because I hadn't been well and could not attend the appointment and it was like they were pointing it out.

"Then I was thinking, 'Why should I feel guilty?' Her dad has the same amount of responsibility for Jessica as I do."

Web designer Mr Martin, 35, described the wording of the letter as "a bit archaic"

He added: "It was a shock when Jo read it out. It is the strangest of words.

"It's more of a gender stereotypical thought process that went into those words but I don't think it was done on purpose."

Karen Partington, chief executive at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Royal Preston Hospital, said: "We apologise if any offence was taken, that was not the intention.

"Our priority is to provide excellent care with compassion for our patients and make them, and their families, feel as comfortable as possible while they are being treated with us.

"We encourage the family to contact our Customer Care team if they wish to take the matter further."
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Investment fund bosses are trying to stop the deportation of an analyst convicted of stealing millions of pounds worth of computer codes.

Lawyers for Trenchant and Cobiere say Ke Xu, a Chinese national, may offer secret trading algorithms he has memorised to rival foreign firms if allowed to leave England.

Xu, a Cambridge University maths graduate dubbed the billion dollar brain, was employed at Trenchant between 2012 and 2014.

He undertook a sustained and extensive attack on the funds computer systems and reverse-engineered code for 55 investment strategies worth 31 million pounds ($41 million), lawyers said.

He was given a four-year prison term by a judge at Southwark Crown Court in July 2015.

A High Court judge is analysing argument from lawyers representing the two companies plus home secretary Amber Rudd and Xu at a trial in London.

Mr Justice Supperstone said Ms Rudd decided to deport Xu but investment fund bosses said there should be no deportation until August 2018 at the earliest.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader 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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 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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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Xu resigned from Trenchant in August 2014 after he was given a bonus of 400,000 on top of his salary of 85,000, as he believed he was entitled to a bonus upwards of 1m.

Following his resignation, he flew to Hong Kong carrying with him confidential codes and sought to be hired from another financial services firm, but he was arrested and extradited back to the UK in December 2014.
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A British charity is aiming to collect 21,000 coats in a bid to keep rough sleepers living in the UK warm during the cold winter months.

Human Appeal, a Muslim faith-based charity, will donate the clothing to homeless people living on the streets of Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow as part of their Wrap Up Campaign.

Coats will also be donated to rough sleepers in London via the organisation Hands On London, who launched the annual Wrap Up campaigns, starting in London.

The organisation has now partnered with Human Appeal, which also provides coats to charities who help the elderly in crisis, children in poverty and refugees, to launch similar campaigns in other UK cities.

More than 300,000 people in Britain - one in every 200 - are officially recorded as homeless or living in inadequate homes, according to recent figures by the charity Shelter.

Freezing winter temperatures, as well as wind, rain and snow, leave those with nowhere warm to stay in a life-threatening situation, at risk of exposure and hypothermia.

The winter months can be unforgiving for those sleeping rough or unable to afford a winter coat, says Othman Moqbel, Human Appeals chief executive.

The charity is planning to collect more than 20,000 coats across four cities (Human Appeal)

We, in Human Appeal, want to not only offer a hand to those in desperate need of humanitarian aid, but to wrap an arm around those in desperate need of warmth.

We aim to help people in need all across the world regardless of their race, religion, gender or location.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA

Coats are being collected at several Safestore Self Storage sites across London until Friday 24 November: Chiswick, Clapham, Notting Hill and Kings Cross.

Manchester Safestore collection points can be found in Old Trafford, Worsley, Altrincham, Stockport Bryant and Oldham.

People can also donate coats at the Birmingham South and Glasgow Southside Safestore sites.
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Cave rescuers have called off an attempt to save a dog that fell down a hole in a Welsh mountain.

Tilly, a West Highland terrier, fell into a rift near Blaina on Sunday and was located the following day. Specialist cavers were called on Tuesday morning after firefighters tried to save the dog.

But attempts by the team to coax Tilly from her position have failed.

Recommended Harrowing portrait of rescued migrant wins photography award

A caver was sent down into the 8m rift and "got within a few feet" of Tilly, but was "unable to turn or bend" in the tight space, rescuers said.

The South and Mid Wales cave rescue team (SMWCRT) said in a Facebook post: "Tilly was very close by, but for whatever reason was unable to get out onto the rift floor.

"She was encouraged verbally, with dog food and with a hooked pole. After an extended effort of 20 minutes, the tough decision, that there was nothing more we could do, had to be made.

"Many of the team are dog owners and dog lovers and the decision to end the operation was not taken lightly."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters 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

Gary Mitchell, the group's chairman, told The Independent one of his team members spent a total of 40 minutes in the rift.

He described the person "not being able to move in any direction other than the one you have been lowered down in, only being able to move one arm and not even being able to turn your neck or move your head" in the claustrophobic space.

The decision was made on Tuesday to discontinue the rescue attempt.

SMWCRT was founded in 1946 and is based at Penwyllt in the Swansea Valley.
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Britains vote to leave the EU has left many Europeans with doubts about what kind of country we are following last years vote to leave the bloc, the Brexit Secretary says.

Speaking to an audience in Berlin, David Davis insisted that the UK did not want to isolate itself after withdrawal and that the UK was the same country that weve always been  as he spelled out his vision for a bespoke, comprehensive trade deal between Britain and the EU covering services as well as goods.

The minister also insisted that the decision to leave the single market and customs union was not an ideological one and that the UK had decided to quit the economic bloc out of respect for the indivisibility of the EUs four freedoms.

Recommended Theresa May to discuss Brexit with EU Council president Donald Tusk

I recognise that, since the referendum last year, some in the European Union have had their doubts about what kind of country we are, or indeed what we stand for, he said, speaking at the Suddeutsche Zeitung economic conference.

Now if you want to know the mind of a nation all one must do is read its press, so with that in mind I looked through some copies of Suddeutsche Zeitung. I read that Britain wants to isolate itself, that we are short-sighted islanders, or Inselbewohner.

Well Im afraid I have to disagree. We are the same country we have always been, with the same values and same principles we have always had: a country upon which our partners can rely.

The sixth largest economy in the world, and a beacon for free trade across the globe; and when it comes to trade  as we forge a new path for Britain outside the European Union  I believe we can be its boldest advocate.

Turning to the nature of the deal, he said the UK would not pretend that you can have all the benefits of membership of the single market without its obligations.

The minister said continued cooperation between Britain and the EU on issues like the mutual recognition of qualifications and health and safety standards would be crucial for trade to continue.

We will be a third country partner like no other. Much closer than Canada, much bigger than Norway, and uniquely integrated on everything from energy networks to services, he said.

The key pillar of this will be a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement  the scope of which should be beyond any the EU has agreed before.

One that allows for a close economic partnership while holding the UKs rights and obligations in a new and different balance.

 Cornwall appeals to government as crops 'rot in fields' due to shortage in migrant labour after Brexit

It should, amongst other things, cover goods, agriculture and services, including financial services  seeking the greatest possible tariff-free trade, carried out with the least friction possible. And it should be supported by continued close cooperation in highly regulated areas such as transport, energy and data.

Mr Davis delivered his speech as the clock ticked down before the next European Council summit  and the next opportunity for the EU to grant Britain sufficient progress in negotiation to move to trade talks.

Theresa May and European council president Donald Tusk will meet in Sweden on Friday (AFP/Getty Images) (Getty)

Theresa May is due to meet with Donald Tusk on Friday, the president of the European Council, with whom she will discuss Brexit.

Next week the Prime Minister is also expected to continue her charm offensive and meet with officials behind closed doors in the European Parliament, though no date has yet been confirmed for the meeting.

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

A week ago Michel Barnier, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator, spelled out a deadline of two weeks for the UK to make concessions or clarifications on its position before trade talks were postponed by another three to four months.

If no sufficient progress  as defined by the EU  can be made on the three separation issues before the December meeting of the European Council, trade talks will not be able to start until at least March.

Because of the time-limited nature of the Article 50 process, this would throw off the Brexit timetable and leave little time to negotiate a full deal.
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Theresa May has again slammed the brakes on the Brexit bill, as a growing Tory backbench revolt threatens to force her into another embarrassing U-turn.

Crunch votes  including on the Prime Ministers controversial pledge to put the precise date of EU withdrawal in domestic law  could be shelved until after Christmas.

The move prompted a suggestion from the pro-EU campaign group Open Britain that the Government may be preparing further concessions.

MPs across all parties must have the necessary time to amend it and prevent the chaos of a cliff-edge Brexit, said Chris Leslie, a Labour MP and supporter of the group.

And Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman, said: Ministers clearly didnt anticipate how difficult this Bill would be and thought that they could strip Parliament of its power without any opposition.

Line-by-line scrutiny of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill was due to be completed next month, with the clock ticking on legal preparations for departure day in March 2019.

But, asked to guarantee that its committee stage would finish by Christmas, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom told MPs it was difficult to project forward with absolute certainty.

Any fresh delay could be seen as an attempt to avoid any shows of weakness before a make-or-break summit of EU heads of state on 14 December.

The Prime Ministers future could rest on agreement to finally move the Brexit negotiations onto future trade and a transitional period, to avoid a damaging cliff edge for businesses, in 2019.

However, under the original timetable, up to 20 Tory backbenchers were poised to rebel on the issue of the exact Brexit date on the eve of that summit.

They fear putting the date  11pm on 29 March, 2019  on the statute book will make it impossible for Parliament to force a delay, to prevent a no-deal exit, if no agreement can be reached.

The scale of the revolt could force Ms May to drop the plan, announced just six days ago to calm tensions with pro-Brexit Tories.

Significantly, the potential rebels are the same Conservative MPs who forced the Government to agree to separate  amendable  legislation to implement any exit agreement, in Mondays climbdown.

Later, Justice Secretary David Lidington hinted at a U-turn over the Brexit date controversy, telling Westminster journalists: "Obviously we will listen to ideas coming from colleagues across the House during the Bill's progress.

However, further delay would make it impossible for the bill to pass by next spring, the Governments original timetable.

It will also be mauled in the Lords, where peers will demand changes on so-called Henry VIII powers  bypassing Parliament  devolution and the future role of the European Court of Justice.

The bill will be have its third day in committee next Tuesday, Ms Leadsom announced, with a further five to come.

However, she said there was no absolute certainty about the future timetable, adding: We will continue to update the House in the usual way.

On Tuesday, Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative Attorney General, will lead a challenge to the Governments refusal to incorporate the EUs Charter of Fundamental Rights into UK law.

Critics say people will be unable to sue if their rights are infringed  but ministers insist they will be protected in domestic law.

The Prime Minister hinted at further climbdowns on the bill on Wednesday, telling MPs: We are listening carefully to those who wish to improve the bill. I hope we can all come together.
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Theresa May will meet with the president of the European Council on Friday to discuss Brexit ahead of a key make-or-break deadline.

The PM will meet Donald Tusk in Gothenburg, Sweden, while they both attend the European Social Summit on the future of Europes welfare systems. In a statement Mr Tusks spokesperson confirmed that Brexit would be discussed at the meeting.

The UK wants to move EU secession talks onto the subject of trade and Britains future relationship with the bloc, but the EU wants separation issues like the Northern Ireland border, divorce bill, and EU citizens rights settled first.

Recommended UK economy has gone from top of G7 leaderboard to bottom

A week ago Michel Barnier, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator, spelled out a deadline of two weeks for the UK to make concessions or clarifications on its position before trade talks were postponed by another three to four months.

If no sufficient progress  as defined by the EU  can be made on the three separation issues before the December meeting of the European Council trade talks will not be able to start until at least March.

Because of the time-limited nature of the Article 50 process this would throw off the Brexit timetable and leave little time to negotiate a full deal.

Though the UK failed to meet sufficient progress at a similar summit in October, Mr Tusk struck a positive done downplayed suggestions that talks were deadlocked.

He said his role was to be a positive motivator for the next five or six weeks to ensure enough progress could be made.

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

Next week the Prime Minister is also expected to continue her charm offensive and meet with officials behind closed doors in the European Parliament, though no date has yet been confirmed for the meeting.

Tusk @eucopresident meets PM @theresa_may in Goteborg tomorrow to discuss #Brexit, the presidents spokesperson tweeted.
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Official figures show that more than 200,000 new homes were added to the housing stock in England last year  an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year.

The figures will be welcomed by Theresa May, who on Thursday will promise to take personal charge in her mission to tackle Britains housing shortage and provide tens of thousands more homes.

The newly-released figures show that for 2016-17 the number of additional dwellings stood at 217,350.

This is up by 27,700 on the previous year and the highest since the financial crisis (223,530) but still fell short of the 250,000 housing charity Shelter estimates are needed each year to tackle the crisis.

The net additional dwellings figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government include 183,570 new-build homes completed in 2016/17, along with 5,680 conversions and 37,190 changes in use from agricultural, business or storage to residential. The total was reduced by almost 10,000 demolitions.

Speaking ahead of a visit to a housing development in Barnet, North London, on Thursday, Ms May will say: We must get back into the business of building the good quality new homes for people who need them most.

That is why I have made it my mission to build the homes the country needs and take personal charge of the Governments response.

Recommended Theresa May promises to personally solve UK housing crisis

Today I am seeing the work now underway to put this right and in coming weeks and months my Government will be going further to ensure that we build more homes, more quickly.

And speaking at the Temple Meds Quarter in Bristol on Thursday, Sajid Javid, the Communities Secretary, also warned there is a generation crying out for help in the housing market.

He added: Without affordable, secure, safe housing we risk creating a rootless generation, drifting from one short-term tenancy to the next, never staying long enough to play a role in their community.

Our housing white paper in February set out out broad vision. It described the scale of the challenge and the need for action on many fronts. Since them weve been putting it into action, laying the foundations for hundreds of thousands more homes.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters 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

Mr Javid said that housing association debt was being taken off the balance sheet, in an accounting change the Communities Secretary believes will give a stable investment environment to fund new homes.

The Home Builders Federation said the figures showed the industry was well on track to smash the target of building a million new homes.

Executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: The housing crisis built up over several decades and will take many years to fix. Today's statistics illustrate the huge progress being made, and the rapid rate at which builders have responded to positive measures from Government to deliver more and more new homes.

But John Healey, the shadow housing minister, said the figures confirmed that new housebuilding is yet to return to level it was at before the global financial crisis.

Any increase in new housing is welcome but in any other area of public policy this record of failure would be cause for resignation, not celebration, he said.

Recommended Labour plans to stop developers escaping affordable housing promises

Meanwhile genuinely affordable housebuilding has fallen dramatically in the last years, he added. The number of new social rented homes is at the lowest level since records began and the number of new low-cost homes to buy has halved since 2010.

Lindsay Judge, a senior policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said the increase was encouraging but still well short of the promised 250,000 new homes a year - a target that has never been met by the Government over the last decade, she said.

Ms Judge continued: The government will need to do more to get to grips with the housing crisis. The Chancellor must take action to tackle high housing costs across the board in the Budget next week, and in particular show how the government will help the many young people who are stuck in the private rented sector.
The Nebraska Rural Radio Association has announced that Susan Littlefield has been named Network Farm Director.

Littlefield, who lives near Surprise, is a 25-year broadcast veteran who got her start at WXCE in Amery, Wisconsin. She was named NAFBs Farm Broadcaster of the Year in 2016.

Littlefield has also received the NAFBs Presidents Award, the Nebraska Dairy Council Media Person of the Year, the Nebraska AgriBusiness Media Person of the Year and numerous other state and regional awards.

KRVN and the Rural Radio Network have a rich history, Littlefield said. Im proud to be part of this broadcast family. The team of farm broadcasters takes pride in their work; whether it be audio, video, websites or social media platforms. We look forward to continuing the tradition of quality, timely programming and analysis.

Anchored by flagship station KRVN in Lexington, the Rural Radio Network also includes KTIC in West Point, KNEB in Scottsbluff, KAMI in Cozad, and Max Country / KAWL in York. In recent years, the network has expanded to include affiliates in Nebraska City, Chadron, Beatrice, Fairbury, Sidney and Omaha.

We have a tremendous amount of faith in her and our entire farm team as we move forward, said KRVN station manager Tim Marshall. Since joining the Rural Radio Network Susan has demonstrated great proficiency using all the platforms that we now use to deliver great content to our listeners.

The Rural Radio Network recently added a news bureau and production facilities at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln.
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A 450m legal wrangle over a 40-year-old arms deal may play a part in securing Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffes freedom from an Iranian jail, it has been reported.

The claims are being made amid suggestions that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, arrested in April 2016 on supposed security grounds, is in fact being used by Iran as a bargaining chip in a dispute over the 1970s deal to buy Chieftain tanks and armoured repair vehicles from Britain.

The government of the Shah of Iran paid up front for the tanks, but after the 1979 Iranian revolution Britain decided not to deliver the weapons. Instead it kept the cash and even sold some repair vehicles to Irans bitter enemy Iraq, under the control of Saddam Hussein.

This sparked a 38-year legal battle, with Iran demanding its money back.

Britain eventually agreed to pay something, but there still appears to be dispute between the two countries as to the precise amount that should be handed over.

And agreement is further complicated by fears that if Britain simply handed over money direct to Irans defence ministry it would be in breach of international sanctions against the Tehran government.

Now, however, The Sun is reporting that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond have quietly authorised government lawyers to settle the dispute once and for all.

And senior Whitehall sources are said to have told the Telegraph that work has intensified in recent months in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

The reports come after Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes fate acquired huge UK political significance since Mr Johnson erroneously said she had been teaching journalists in Iran when in reality she had been there on holiday. The gaffe led to Iran calling his remarks an accidental confession, prompting UK MPs to demand Mr Johnsons resignation.

The British Government, however, is adamant that any payment in the arms dispute will in no way be directly linked to or conditional on Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes release, although it has been indicated that diplomats are keen to improve relations with Iran.

After meeting Boris Johnson on Wednesday, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband Richard said his wifes case should be settled on the basis of justice rather than quid pro quo bargaining, but admitted: It is important that the UK honours its international legal obligations so that Iran can honour its legal obligations.

They are separate things but it is good for the atmosphere if they are all solved.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters 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

Iran has always insisted that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested on legitimate security grounds, but Mr Ratcliffe, 42, an accountant has long argued that his wife is being held as a bargaining chip.

Writing in The Independent in October, he said: We have known since June 2016 that for Iran, Nazanin is just a bargaining chip in some bigger diplomatic game.

Thats when her interrogators told her: Encourage your husband to tell the British to make the agreement. Let him know that if they make the agreement, his wife will be released without charge.

It is thought that when referring to the agreement, the interrogators could have been referring to a possible settlement of the arms deal dispute.

The legal wrangle has its origins in the Shah of Iran ordering 1,500 Chieftain battle tanks in 1971 and 250 repair vehicles in 1976, at a total cost of 650m which was paid up front.

Britain structured the deal through International Military Services (IMS), a private limited company wholly owned by the UK Government.

It was initially hailed as a masterstroke that secured jobs for British Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF).

But in 1979 the Shah was deposed, with only 185 tanks having been delivered.

David Gibbons, the senior commercial officer of IMS, would later tell Sir Richard Scotts 1996 Arms to Iraq Inquiry: When the Revolution occurred something akin to panic broke out within the MoD/ROF axis.

Margaret Thatchers UK Government did not want to sell weapons to the new Iranian government of Ayatollah Khomeini, but it didnt want job losses in the arms industry either.

It publicly agreed to sell 279 Chieftain tanks to Jordan, and secretly sold 29 Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) to Iraq, shortly before Saddam Hussein attacked Iran to start the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

Iran began legal action against Britain. The directors report in the latest set of IMS accounts, filed at Companies House in August, states that in May 2001 an award of damages plus interest was made against the company.

In December 2002 IMS and the British Treasury paid more than 450m into the UK High Court as security ahead of an appeal over exactly how much money they should give to Iran.

Legal wrangling over exactly how much should be paid appears to have continued ever since, with at least three appeals and counter-appeals going through international courts in The Hague.

Attempts at a negotiated settlement have been ongoing since 2010, but have been further complicated by what the IMS directors report calls a number of additional issues, primarily the settlement of smaller claims not subject to judicial process.

The directors report of IMS, which ceased trading in 2010 but cannot be liquidated until the legal dispute is resolved, states that Iran has applied for an enforcement order in the UK High Court, but hearings on this have been deferred several times by Iran.

A High Court hearing was scheduled to take place in October, but it is believed this too was deferred.

If agreement can be reached  or already has been reached  on how much money Iran should receive, there will still be complications over how it can be given the cash. Iran's Ministry of Defence remains subject to EU sanctions.

Legal sources, however, have suggested to The Independent that it may be possible to find ways to pay the money without breaching sanctions law.

It is understood that the Government is looking into ways to pay Iran, but a spokesman stressed that Britain regards the arms deal dispute and the fate of Ms Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as separate issues.

The Government spokesman said: It is wrong to link a completely separate debt issue with any other aspect of our bilateral relationship with Iran.

Responding to the reports of work on the dispute having intensified and Mr Johnson and Mr Hammond authorising lawyers to settle, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May insisted: The reports are speculation and not anything that I recognise

The Iranian government has previously stated that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained due to her illegal acts and treated at all times according to the due judicial process.

Mr Ratcliffe has repeatedly explained that his wife has never actually taught journalists at any point in her career.

Instead in her first graduate job, eight years ago, when she was an assistant at BBC Media Action, the corporations international development charity, she had just made travel arrangements for tutors on an international journalism course.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes current employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation has also confirmed that she has is not a journalist and has never trained journalists for the charity, which does not even operate in Iran.

Mr Ratcliffe has always said his wife went to Iran to visit her parents and extended family for the countrys Nowruz new year celebration.

It has also been pointed out that this would be an odd time to pick for training journalists, given that most Iranians are spending time off with their families during what is the countrys equivalent of Christmas.
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Sajid Javid has said the Government is poised to directly intervene in the housebuilding plans of 15 local authorities across England in order to tackle the broken housing market.

Putting authorities on notice and warning that a lack of sufficient progress will no longer be tolerated by his department, Mr Javid said they had until the end of January 2018 to put forward their housebuilding plans.

In a written statement to the Commons, the Communities Secretary said that not enough has been done by some local authorities in planning for the homes they need.

Among them is Runnymede, the Conservative-led council, within the Chancellor Philip Hammonds parliamentary constituency.

Up-to-date plans, including local plans, are essential because they provide clarity to communities and developers about where homes should be built and where not, so that development is planned rather than the result of speculative applications, he said. At present too few places have an up-to-date plan.

He said 15 local planning authorities have failed in their duty to cooperate and meet deadlines, including Basildon, Brentwood, Bolsover, Calderdale, Castle Point, Eastleigh, Liverpool, Mansfield, North East Derbyshire, Northumberland, Runnymede, St Albans, Thanet, Wirral and York.

In the written statement he added: I am writing today to give the local authorities the opportunity to put forward any exceptional circumstances, by 31 January 2018, which, in their view, justify their failure to produce a Local Plan under the 2004 Act regime. I will take responses received into account before any final decisions on intervention are taken.

The remaining authorities who are not making progress on their plan-making and fail to publish a plan for consultation, submit a plan to examination or to keep policies in plans up to date are on notice that consistent failure to make sufficient progress will no longer be tolerated. My Department will begin formally considering the case for intervention as deadlines are missed.

But responding to the announcement John Healey, the shadow housing minister, said: Two years ago the Government promised action on local plans by early 2017. Today the Communities Secretary has revealed any Government response will be delayed until January 2018 at the earliest.

He continued: The truth is its ministers chop and change planning policies that are causing these delays in the plan-making process, as their own expert advisers have shown.

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. 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Rather than trying to shift blame on to local councils, ministers should take responsibility for their own record and back Labours plan to tackle the housing crisis.

The intervention came after figures released by Mr Javids department showed that 217,350 homes were built in 2016-17  an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year.

It is the highest number of net additional dwellings built since the financial crash but still fell short of the 250,000 housing charity Shelter claims are needed each year to tackle the shortage in England.

The Prime Minister said she was pleased with the figures but acknowledged theres more we can do as addressed the housing crisis on a visit to Stonegrove and Spur Road estate in north London.

The Government is clear, we want more people to have the security of a roof over their head, their own home for themselves and their family, she said. What I want to see though is, we know there are lots of planning permissions out there, I want to see the houses being built.
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A long-awaited overhaul of adult social care has been delayed until the summer despite growing pressure on the Chancellor to address the looming crisis in next week's Budget.

Ministers were accused of "dragging their feet" on a promised shake-up of social care funding after First Secretary of State Damian Green quietly released a statement deferring the publication of a green paper until summer 2018.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said in his March Budget that details of a social care reform would be published by the end of this year but the pledge was cast into doubt by the snap general election in June.

The Government has now claimed it needs more time to find a long-term solution, as an ageing population and increased demand heaps pressure on the wider health service.

However town hall leaders warned that councils were facing a 2.3bn annual funding gap by 2020 and called on the Chancellor to deliver a much-needed cash boost to the sector in next week's Budget.

Outlining the plans, Mr Green said: An ageing population needs a long-term solution for care, but building a sustainable support system will require some big decisions.

"In developing the green paper, it is right that we take the time needed to debate the many complex issues and listen to the perspectives of experts and care users, to build consensus around reforms which can succeed.

Social care has proved to be a major stumbling block for Theresa May after she was forced to make an embarrassing u-turn on her manifesto pledge to increase the amount people paid towards their care - which was dubbed a 'dementia tax' by critics.

Shadow social care minister Barbara Keeley raised concerns about the delay as winter pressures heap further pressure on the beleaguered social care system.

She said: "This complacent Tory Government is dragging its feet over the long term funding of social care at a time when the system is creaking under winter pressures.

Scandalously, on this trajectory it will have taken a year to publish this Green Paper from the date it was announced and will be even longer before we have a clear policy from the Government."

And Liberal Democrat former care minister Norman Lamb said: "This Government is completely failing to address the social care crisis which has left over a million vulnerable older people without the support they need.

"It is outrageous that they are now kicking the can further down the road, leaving the social care sector in a state of uncertainty."

More than 1.2 million pensioners fail to receive the support they need with day-to-day tasks, according to the charity Age UK.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters 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

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chair of the Local Government Associations Community Wellbeing Board, said there have been "too many failed attempts" to fix the social care crisis and urged the Government to follow warm words with actions.

Fundamental changes to the way we fund adult social care are needed if we are to deliver a long-term sustainable system that works for everyone in society and meets their needs with safe and high-quality services.

Difficult, brave and possibly even controversial decision-making will be required to secure the long-term future of care and support, not just of older people, but adults of all ages, such as those with learning disabilities, and provide support for carers.
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The first pictures have emerged appearing to show Robert Mugabe after he was sequestered by military leaders in Zimbabwe.

The 93-year-old President was pictured by the Zimbabwe Herald alongside army chiefs and South African officials.

Mr Mugabe has been under house arrest since the army moved in on Tuesday and has faced calls to step down after 37 years in power.

Last week he fired his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a move thought to be paving the way for his wife Grace to take over as his successor.

Ms Mugabe has reportedly fled the country and pictures released by the Herald, a state-run paper, did not show her among the group.

Speaking out amid some political leeway, civil society groups and opposition leaders urged Mr Mugabe to step aside and for the country to transition into free and fair elections.

 Zimbabwe's 'military takeover' explained

The paper said Mr Mugabe had met army commander General Constantino Chiwenga, priest Fidelis Mukonori and envoys from South Africa at the State House on Thursday.

Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and state security minister Kembo Mohadi were also pictured.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma, speaking in parliament, said the political situation in Zimbabwe very shortly will be becoming clear.

Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Show all 9 1 /9 Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices An armoured personnel carrier stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare AFP/Getty Images Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices An armed soldier patrols the street as members of the public cross the road AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Soldiers stand on the streets in Harare REUTERS Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices A military tank with armed soldiers on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Armed soldiers search a vehicle AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices A military tank blocks the road leading to President Robert Mugabes office in Harare AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Zimbabwean soldiers regulate civilian traffic in Harare AFP/Getty Images Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices An army tank blocks the main road REUTERS Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare REUTERS

Cabinet ministers from four countries in southern Africa's regional bloc have now called for an emergency summit to discuss the political turmoil in Zimbabwe, according to South Africa's eNCA television station.

The meeting of the heads of state of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community is widely seen as essential to giving Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe a dignified exit from power.

The call for the summit was made by the bloc's special committee on regional politics. The meeting in Botswana was attended by Cabinet ministers from Angola, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa. The ministers did not say when the summit would take place.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Profanity-ridden party game Cards Against Humanity has said it is planning to "save America" with a promotion promising six surprises throughout December.

The first plan of action revealed in advance was aimed at stopping Donald Trump from building a wall along the US-Mexico border. The company said it had bought a piece of vacant land on the boundary and employed a law firm specialising in fighting compulsory land acquisition.

Advertising a holiday promotion that would send a map of the land to people who buy in, the company said it wanted to "make it as time-consuming and expensive as possible for the wall to get built".

Five more surprise measures remain, the company said, refusing to say what they could be. The nature of a surprise is that it surprises you when it occurs, it said.

The promotion campaign began with a video appearing to tie Mr Trumps election with the end of the universe. In the early part of the 21st century, Donald Trump had just been elected president of the United States.

The American Empire was in decline ... The country seemed to be hanging by a thread.

Only after Cards Against Humanity Saves America was the country rescued, the narrator says.

In addition to the US-Mexican border wall, the card game indicated it would tackle the issues of false news stories and, more humorously, "the creeping scourge of homework".

It is not the first time the party game company has attracted attention for its promotion campaigns. In 2014, the company purchased a tiny island in Maine, called it Hawaii 2 and sold one-square-foot plots to those who signed up.

That year, it also ran a promotion charging $6 (4.60) for literal faeces, from an actual bull", to which 30,000 people signed up.

The company behind the popular game has directly attacked Mr Trump, calling him "a preposterous golem who is afraid of Mexicans".

"He is so afraid that he wants to build a twenty-billion dollar wall that everyone knows will accomplish nothing," it said.

Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Show all 14 1 /14 Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Riot police block protesters during a rally near the US embassy AFP/Getty Images Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters shout slogans while displaying portraits of U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte AP Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Activists clash with riot police EPA Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters burn a banner of Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters against Donald Trump's visit AP Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters deface portraits of Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte AP Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters clash with anti-riot police officers as they try to march towards the U.S. embassy REUTERS Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines A mural bearing the image of Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte is burnt REUTERS Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Activists march on a road leading to the US embassy during a protest in Manila EPA Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters scuffle with riot police AFP/Getty Images Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters shout anti-US slogans as they burn a banner featuring the image of US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Activists clash with riot police EPA Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Protesters display placards as they shout anti-US slogans AFP/Getty Images Protest in Manila against Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines Anti-riot police officers block protesters REUTERS

Although Mr Trump's administration has insisted it is moving ahead with the border wall, pointing to the construction of eight prototypes near San Diego, the President has suffered a series of defeats on his major policy ideas.

Repeated attempts to dismantle Barack Obamas healthcare law have collapsed and  despite holding majorities in both houses of Congress  his administration has not yet registered a significant legislative win.
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Fifteen African American men who say they were framed by a corrupt Chicago police officer and his team, have had all the charges against them dropped.

Prosecutors said they were vacating all charges against the men, who were arrested by officers led by former police sergeant Ronald Watts. They said it was the first mass exoneration in the history of Cook County, which covers Chicago and the surrounding area.

The Exoneration Project, a free legal clinic at the University of Chicago Law School which represented the men, said all 15 were convicted of drug crimes from 2003-2008, and have all served their respective sentences.

In September, the men filed a lawsuit seeking to have their convictions overturned, claiming they had been framed by Watts, who was convicted in 2013 of stealing money from a drug courier who had been working as an FBI informant.

Among those whose conviction thrown out was Taurus Smith, who was 17 when he was first arrested and thrown in jail for a year. Speaking to The Independent from Chicago, Mr Smith said it felt great that his innocence had been recognised. He said he was trying to get his life back on track and find a job.

I was in jail for a year. It was really scary. I was just a kid and you hear all these stories about what itll be like, he said. Asked how he got through his time in custody, he said: Family and friends and praying.

The Chicago Police Department has long the target of accusations of abuse and mistreatment of suspects of colour. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice issued a scathing 164-page report that concluded the citys officers were poorly trained and quick to turn to deadly and excessive force.

Lawyer Joshua Tepfer of the Exoneration Project, said it was the first time there had been a mass exoneration of suspects in the city. Its historic. Its never happened before, he said.

The clearing of the 15 men on Thursday marked the third day in succession that prosecutors at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, dropped dropped charges because of alleged police misconduct.

On Wednesday Jose Maysonet, 49, walked free after 27 years behind bars for a conviction for a double murder prosecutors believed they could not longer rely on.

The Chicago Tribune said on Tuesday, 66-year-old Arthur Brown, was set free after serving 29 years for murder. Once again, prosecutors said they had deep concerns about the fairness of his conviction.

Wattts was jailed in 2013 after he and other officer, Kallatt Mohammed, were strongly criticised by the judge who heard their case.

US District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman said the behaviour of Watts, who is himself African-American, was a betrayal of both his community and other officers. She said his actions were particularly shocking because he took advantage of a part of the community already struggling with poverty and crime.

Watts has since been released from jail.

You were a sergeant operating in a community that should hold you up as an example, said the judge. You needed to protect those people, and you didnt.
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A father has admitted beating his four-month-old daughter to death because she was being fussy and would not stop crying.

Joseph Gazzam, 30, from Mt Lebanon in Pennsylvania, originally told police the baby was injured after falling out of the bed in which they were sleeping.

Yet in a second interview, after an autopsy revealed the girl had multiple bruises and fractures, Mr Gazzam admitted he had hit the child several times for being fussy.

He told police the girl would not stop crying and would not fall asleep again which prompted him to repeatedly punch her, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported.

She stopped breathing and her eyes rolled back in her head, a criminal complaint in the case quoted Mr Gazzam as saying.

He then called emergency services and the child was taken to St Clair Hospital, where she was pronounced dead an hour later.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said the child died from injuries to her head and body and ruled the manner of death as homicide.

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. 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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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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

An autopsy revealed the girl had suffered bleeding of the brain, a lacerated heart vessel, a lacerated left kidney, fractured ribs and among further injuries.

Murder detective Anthony Perry said the injuries were not consistent with the girl falling from a mattress two feet above a carpeted floor.

Mr Gazzam is charged with homicide, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child.
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On 20 January, 2017, thousands of people poured into Washington DC to protest Donald Trumps inauguration. Nearly half a million people brandished signs and shouted slogans for the Womens March. Thousands of protesters sparked up joints for a "Trump 420" protest in Dupont Circle. And hundreds marched in an anti-capitalist, anti-fascist rally organized by Disrupt J20.

Only the participants in the latter, however, now face up to 60 years in prison for their actions. Nearly 200 participants in the Disrupt J20 protest have been charged felony rioting. Among them are journalists, nurses, and dozens of others who say they did nothing illegal.

The first seven of the participants  now collectively known as the J20 defendants  stand trial on Wednesday. Read on for everything you need to know about these defendants, and the rest of the case.

In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters

What were the Disrupt J20 protests?

The Disrupt J20 protests consisted of several different activities scheduled for Inauguration Day  a Festival of Resistance, as organisers called it. The activities included a permitted march, an Anticapitalist Bloc march, and protests at various Secret Service security checkpoints.

The goal, organizers wrote on their website, was to give expression to the massive opposition to Trumps right-wing, racist, and misogynist agenda.

Organizers intend to demonstrate that people of conscience are the majority, and take steps towards organizing that sentiment into a force that can have an impact on Trumps ability to claim a mandate, setting a tone of resistance for the coming years, they wrote.

Why were participants arrested?

On the day of the inauguration, hundreds of Disrupt J20 protesters  many of them dressed in black  began marching down 13th Street, toward the inauguration parade route. During this time, some of the protesters broke off from the pack and began breaking windows of businesses nearby.

The protesters arrived at Franklin Square shortly after Mr Trumps swearing-in. According to the Washington Post, some of the protesters threw rocks, bricks, and chunks of concrete as they walked. Other protesters assaulted a limousine driver, destroyed a government vehicle and committed other "violent and destructive acts," according to an indictment.

As the protesters headed north, they were surrounded by Metropolitan Police Department officers, who swept them up in a formation known as a kettle. Four of the protesters have since filed a lawsuit claiming they were held in the kettle for seven to 16 hours, without food, water, or bathroom facilities. The police department said the allegations would be full investigated.

A total of 217 people were arrested in connection with the protests, according to DC Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham. Mr Newsham claimed the protests caused significant damage to a number of blocks in our city. The US Attorney's Office for DC later estimated the damage at more than $100,000.

Police pepper spray at anti-Trump protesters during clashes in Washington, DC, (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

What were participants charged with?

In the month following the protest, more than 200 participants were indicted on felony riot charges. In April, the Superior Court of the DC handed down a superseding indictment, which added even more charges for 212 of the defendants. These charges included felonies such as inciting or urging to riot, rioting, conspiracy to riot, and destruction of property.

A handful of protesters agreed to a plea deal after the additional charges were handed down. They now face fewer than 10 years in prison. Just this week, the government lessened the charges of seven defendants who were set to go on trial in December, reducing their six felony and two misdemeanour charges to only three misdemeanour charges.

The majority of the defendants, however, still face up to 60 years in prison if found guilty.

An anti-Trump protester screams after being hit by a paintball gun fired by Police during clashes in Washington, DC (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Why is the case controversial?

The J20 case has caught the eye of activists, lawyers, and civil rights groups. The ACLU is representing the protesters suing the police department, and has also tried to file an amicus brief in the criminal case against the participants.

Scott Michelman, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of the District of Columbia, told The Independent that the case poses a threat to Americans First Amendment rights.

There is a serious potential that these prosecutions will have a chilling effect on future protestors who will be scared to use their First Amendments rights, Mr Michelman said. Other protestors are going to starting wondering whether they are safe from police and from prosecutors.

Mr Michelin said the core issue in the case is whether one can be punished for simply attending a march in which illegal activity occurred. The question, he said, is whether the people who were simply swept up in the police roundup had an intent to break the law or whether they were simply exercising their First Amendment rights.

He added: Its not a crime to be in the streets and raise your voice. Its not a crime to wear black.

 Alt-right leader Richard Spencer punched in the face during inauguration protest

Who are the defendants?

The first wave of defendants started trial on Wednesday. The seven defendants  Jennifer Armento, Oliver Harris, Britt Lawson, Michelle Miel Macchio, Christina Simmons, Jayram Toraty, and Alexei Wood  all volunteered to make their cases first.

Ms Lawson is a registered nurse from Pittsburgh, who attended the protest to serve as a volunteer medic. She risks losing her nursing license in Pennsylvania if found guilty.

Ms Lawson told ThinkProgress that the process has been stressful, but that she found it pretty inspiring to see the amount of solidarity and the ways in which defendants have come together and stayed fairly strong throughout this.

Mr Woods, meanwhile, is a multimedia journalist who says he was covering the J20 protest as a freelancer. In a livestream video that Mr Woods took at the event, he can be seen identifying himself to police as a member of the press. He was arrested regardless, along with at least nine other journalists.

I think these charges are just f***ing absurd  I feel like I have an utterly strong case just like everybody else, Mr Wood told the San Antonio Current in July. It was indiscriminate arrest. Im ready to fight.
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The assailant who killed four people across a northern California community murdered his wife before embarking on his rampage, an official said.

After suggesting in the shootings aftermath that domestic violence was involved, Assistant Tehama County Sheriff Phil Johnston said officials believe that the shooter  identified as Kevin Janson Neal  had shot and killed his wife and then hidden her body in a hole in the floor of his house.

Were confident he murdered her, shot her at some point Monday, Mr Johnston said, adding that we believe that's probably what started this whole event.

Recommended At least five people killed in California shooting

Mr Johnston has previously referenced an ongoing neighbourhood dispute involving Neal which led to his arrest for assaulting a woman with a deadly weapon. He was out on bail for that offense. The unnamed woman was one of the four people Neal killed on Tuesday before dying in a clash with authorities.

In addition to the four slain adults, Mr Johnston said, the attack injured at least eight people. Seven children sustained injuries, four of them at an elementary school Neal briefly visited before being turned back by locked doors, , barriers that Mr Johnston said averted a horrific bloodbath. One child is in critical condition.

According to Mr Johnston, neighbours described conflict at the shooters household as commonplace and relayed hearing shots emanating from the property.

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I think that was a very common thing with this couple in this neighbourhoodOK, theyre back at it again, he said.

Attempts by authorities to intervene were frequently rebuffed, Mr Johnston said, as Neal was not law enforcement friendly. He would not come to the door. He added that officers put the house under surveillance at least twice.

 Aerial footage of Tehama, California school shooting

Authorities now believe that Neal illegally built his own weapons, Mr Johnston said, adding that Neal was prohibited under a restraining order clause from owning firearms.

The firearms that were used in the incident, were confident were manufactured by him, Mr Johnston said, adding that two semiautomatic rifles seized by authorities were obtained in an illegal manner, not through a legal process. They are not registered.
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It was a normal early morning at Tony's Breakfast in north east Washington on 7 November when, out of nowhere, a man lunged across the counter and grabbed for the cash register.

Manager Justine Choe had just opened the cash drawer to make change for a customer. She quickly realised what was happening and, out of instinct, held on as tight as she could to the register.

Three other employees jumped in to help, and a smacking, slapping tug-of-war ensued between the broad-shouldered robber and the four petite restaurant workers.

"We're not passive women," said Choe, 30, whose parents own the restaurant.

The robber, a tall, muscular, baldheaded man, had a grip on the cash drawer and was yanking it.

Sandra Andino, 21, heard coins dropping on the floor and looked up to see Choe struggling with the robber. Andino grabbed the register with her right hand, and with her left, repeatedly smacked the robber's head with an open palm.

"The cooks asked me after, 'You slapped him with an open hand?' " Andino said. "I said, 'Well, that's the first thing that came to my mind.' "

Kay Aimes, 45, Choe's sister, jumped into the fray, pounding on the man's head with the side of her fist.

"It was like the mother bear in me coming out," Aimes said.

Possibly the final straw was when Kelly Shar Khuu, 56, looked up from cleaning the floor and saw the melee. She grabbed a large roll of aluminum foil and whacked the would-be robber on the head.

"All the ladies were hitting him," Khuu said. "I got the aluminium foil."

The struggle went on for a few more seconds until the robber realized he was outnumbered and outmanoeuvred. He was clutching about $30 in cash when he ran out of the store.

The women hugged and checked in with each other and then called 911. When the police crime scene technicians came, one of them said, "Way to go, girl! You guys are crazy," Aimes said.

While police were inside dusting for fingerprints and looking for other evidence, officers told the women to close the restaurant because they wouldn't be able to get back in for a while. But Choe said she had customers to serve, and they were forming a line outside the restaurant in the 1300 block of H Street NE.

She saw her hands had gotten cut up a little in the struggle, so she washed off the blood, put on gloves and walked outside to take her customers' orders.

Looking back, she said it was fortunate that the robber didn't have a weapon, and she said she felt lucky to be alive. Police haven't made an arrest in the case.

"If he pulled out a gun and said, 'Give me your money,' we'd be like 'Okay,'" Choe said. "We're not stupid."

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. 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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. 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

But she said watching the video after the fact, she can't help but laugh.

"We look back and it's kind of comical," Choe said. "He did get a beating on his head."

Peter Hermann contributed to this report.

The Washington Post
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Rose McGowan, the Harvey Weinstein accuser who is facing a drugs charge, could have had cocaine planted in her luggage, her lawyer has suggested.

The actor said she will deny the charge brought after police alleged the drug was found in her belongings left on a flight into Washington Dulles International Airport.

The 44-year-old handed herself into police in nearby Loudoun County, Virginia, on Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued.

"I will clearly plead not guilty," she told the New Yorker. The magazine reported her lawyer, Jim Hundley, had argued the drugs could have been planted.

"Depending on when and where the wallet was lost, individuals other than Ms McGowan had access to the wallet for somewhere between approximately five hours 40 minutes and more than 11 hours," he wrote to Loudoun County prosecutor Jim Plowman.

McGowan said she had left her bag containing her wallet unattended during the January flight and filed a lost-luggage claim after noticing it was missing while waiting at baggage claim, and also tweeted to United Airlines.

The Planet Terror and Scream star previously suggested the warrant was an attempt to "silence" her after she became one of dozens of women to publicly accuse Mr Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault.

She alleged she had been raped by Mr Weinstein after The New York Times published its bombshell investigation detailing claims of sexual abuse.

Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Show all 42 1 /42 Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein Harry Weinsteins reputation as one of Hollywoods leading executives was long cemented in stone. The acclaimed movie mogul, who produced Oscar-winning films Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, and The Artist, clocked up box office successes and accolades aplenty. But this has quickly changed since a chorus of women have come forward to accuse the Hollywood producer of sexual harassment and assault. Since the New York Times bombshell report disclosed sexual harassment and rape allegations against the film mogul dating back decades, Weinstein has been fired from his namesake company, expelled from the Oscars and has had his wife leave him. Weinstein has apologised for having caused a lot of pain but has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Annabella Sciorra The Sopranos actor alleged Weinstein raped her after shooting The Night We Never Met, a 1993 movie that Weinstein produced. Similar to the stories told by other women, Weinstein drove the actor home, only to reportedly burst into Sciorra's apartment and start unbuttoning his shirt. He shoved me onto the bed, and he got on top of me, Sciorra said. I kicked and I yelled. Weinstein then allegedly locked her arms and forced sexual intercourse on her. After the incident, Sciorra found it increasingly hard to get work, many filmmakers saying 'We heard you were difficult', something the actor claims was because of the 'Weinstein-machine'. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Natassia Malthe The model and actress, who has appeared in around 50 films, said she met Weinstein at a BAFTA after party in 2008 while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG. She told a press conference in New York that she felt pressured into telling Weinstein she was staying at the Sanderson Hotel after being put on the spot. Malthe, now 43, said after her shift on February 10 she went back to her room and went to sleep, but was awoken by "repeated pounding" on her door, from someone yelling: "Open the door Natassia Malthe, it's Harvey Weinstein." Feeling humiliated, she said she opened the door. She alleged Weinstein began implying sex would get her a role in an upcoming film while semi-undressed and then he began to masturbate. "I was sitting on the bed talking to Harvey when he pushed me back and forced himself onto me. It was not consensual. He did not use a condom," she said. AP Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sean Young The actor, best known for her role in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, said that Weinstein exposed himself to her in the early 1990s, when she was starring in the Miramax-produced Love Crimes - a production company that Weinstein headed at the time. "I personally experienced him pulling his you-know-what out of his pants to shock me," she said. "My basic response was, 'You know, Harvey, I really dont think you should be pulling that thing out, its not very pretty.'" Young never worked with Weinstein again after the incident. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lupita Nyong'o In an op-ed for The New York Times, the Oscar-winning actor said she was invited to Weinsteins family home in Connecticut on the premise of watching a film shortly after they met in 2011. But she said shortly after it started he "insisted" in front of his children that she follow him and she was led to his bedroom. The Kenyan-Mexican actress, now 34, said she felt pressured into giving him a massage after he offered her one. "Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants," she wrote."I told him not to do that and informed him that it would make me extremely uncomfortable. He got up anyway to do so and I headed for the door, saying that I was not at all comfortable with that." Over the years that followed, he continued to get in touch, Nyong'o said, and when she declined another proposition she felt her career was threatened. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lena Headey Writing on social media, the Game of Thrones actor claims she first met Weinstein at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 where, after taking her for a walk by the water, he made some suggestive comment and gesture. Headey claims she bumped into Weinstein years later where he kept asking her questions about her love life. She alleges that, when Weinstein invited her to his hotel room to show her a script, the "energy shifted. The actor notes how, after saying she was not interesting in anything but the work, Weinstein was furious, apparently marching her back to a lift, "grabbing and holding tightly to the back of [her] arm." She claims that, after paying for her car, he whispered in her ear: "Don't tell anyone about this, not your manager, not your agent. Headey finished the post, writing: I got in the car and I cried. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Laura Madden Madden, a production assistant who worked at Miramax for a decade, told the Times that Weinstein allegedly prodded her for massages at hotels, a common theme among the sources the Timess reporters spoke with. On one occasion, she claims she locked herself in his hotel bathroom, sobbing Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Judd recounted for the Times how Weinstein allegedly harassed her while she was filming Kiss the Girls in 1996, inviting her to his hotel room and asking her for a massage, then inviting her to watch him shower. Judd first went public with the allegations in a 2015 interview with Variety during which she discussed the experience without naming the producer involved. She described Weinsteins alleged behaviour as coercive bargaining; I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, she told the Times AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rose McGowan McGowan reportedly reached a previously undisclosed $100,000 settlement with Weinstein in 1997, over an incident that occurred in a hotel room Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emily Nestor Nestor had been temping at the Weinstein Company for only one day in 2014 when Weinstein allegedly offered to boost her career in return for sexual favours, according to the Times. She declined and reportedly complained of his behaviour to colleagues, who later passed the information on to senior executives. An internal Weinstein Company document cited by the Times describes Nestors encounter with Weinstein as follows: She said he was very persistent and focused though she kept saying no for over an hour Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ambra Battilana In March 2015, Battilana, an aspiring model and actress, was reportedly summoned to Weinsteins office on a Friday night to discuss her career. According to a police report cited by the Times, Battilana claimed she was assaulted by Weinstein, who grabbed her breasts after asking if they were real and put his hands up her skirt. Weinstein later claimed that Battilana had set him up, according to colleagues of his who were interviewed by the Times. The Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, later declined to press charges, and according to the Times, made a payment to Battilana. On 5 October, the International Business Times reported that after Vance dropped the charges, he received $10,000 from Weinsteins lawyer Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lauren OConnor Lauren OConnor, an employee of the Weinstein Company, penned a memo to executives alleging a toxic environment for women at the company. The memo cited numerous incidents of Weinstein harassing or coercing women who worked for him. She expressed fear that Weinstein was using her and other female employees to facilitate liaisons with vulnerable women who hope he will get them work. That same year, Weinstein allegedly reached a settlement with OConnor Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Kate Beckinsale The actor, who starred in the Weinstein Company films Serendipity and The Aviator, alleges that she was invited to Weinsteins hotel room at the age of just 17. When she approached the door, the producer reportedly greeted her dressed in just a dressing gown. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him, she wrote on Instagram. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Gwyneth Paltrow The actor alleges that after he cast her in the title role of the film Emma when she was 22, he took her to his hotel room, placed his hands on her and suggested massages. I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, Paltrow told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Asia Argento Italian actress Asia Argento has alleged that in 1997 Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her as she repeatedly told him to stop. When I see him, it makes me feel little and stupid and weak, Argento told The New Yorker. After the rape, he won. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Cara Delevigne The British model and actress penning an Instagram post claiming that Weinstein had ordered her to kiss another woman in his hotel room, and tried to kiss her on the lips. AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Ashley Judd said she rebuffed Harvey Weinsteins unwanted sexual advances by offering to consent only after she had won an Oscar. When she was initially invited to a meeting with Weinstein, Judd said, she was surprised to learn the producer was in his hotel room - a tactic that recurs in other womens accounts. Echoing the accounts of other women, Judd said Weinstein suggested she give him a massage and then invited her to watch him shower. After a volley of nos she said she would only after she wins an Oscar, fleeing after making the comments. Reuters/Mike Segar Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Judith Godreche French actress Judith Godreche said when she was 24 Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked to give her a massage. The next thing I know, hes pressing against me and pulling off my sweater, she told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mira Sorvino The Oscar-winning actor said she found herself in a hotel room with Weinstein in 1995 where he started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around. According to an interview in The New Yorker Weinstein subsequently arrived at her apartment late at night and she had to call a friend to come over to pose as her boyfriend in order to get Weinstein out of the house. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Katherine Kendall The actress said Weinstein undressed and chased her around a living room when she was just 23. She subsequently felt that telling others meant Ill never work again and no one is going to care or believe me, she told the New York Times. WireImage Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Tomi-Anne Roberts As an aspiring actress and working in a restaurant in New York, Tomi-Ann Roberts encountered Weinstein who encouraged her to audition for one of his films back in 1984. She subsequently went to meet him and found him naked in the bath and invited her to get naked and get into the bath with him, she told the New York Times. She said she left feeling manipulated. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Myleen Klass It has also been alleged that the disgraced film producer propositioned Myleene Klass with a sex contract at Cannes Film Festival in 2010. One of the singer and television personalitys friends reportedly told The Sun, Klass had told Weinstein to f*** off. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sophie Dix Sophie Dix, best known for her role as Captain Sadie Williams in Soldier Soldier, described her encounter with Weinstein when she was 23 as the single most damaging thing thats happened in my life. She told The Guardian Weinstein had pushed her to her bed and was tugging at her clothes. She rushed to the bathroom to escape, but when she came out she found him standing there masturbating. I quickly closed the door again and locked it, she said. Then when I heard room service come to the door I just ran. Rex Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lea Seydoux The actor and director claims she had to fight off Weinstein after he brought her to his hotel room during what she remembers to be 2012. He suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. Hes big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. I left his room, thoroughly disgusted, she wrote in The Guardian. AFP/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Claire Forlani British actress Claire Forlani wrote on Twitter that she had evaded Weinsteins advances on five occasions at the age of 25. At meetings with the Hollywood a-lister, she says massage was suggested, and that Weinstein had boasted of all the women hed had sex with. Mark Douet Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Florence Darel French actress Florence Darel claimed Weinstein relentlessly pursued her in the mid 1990's and propositioned her while Eve Chilton, his wife at the time, was in the hotel room next door. I was astonished, she told People magazine. When you have someone so physically disgusting in front of you, continuing and continuing as though this was all perfectly normal What happened to me may not be illegal but it was inappropriate. Very inappropriate. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lysette Anthony Lysette Anthony, who starred as Marnie Nightingale in Hollyoaks, has claimed Weinstein raped her in the late 1980's after turning up to her London home in the late 1980s. She described the disgraced film producers alleged attack as pathetic and revolting and said it left her feeling disgusted and embarrassed. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Dawn Dunning Dunning said she met Weinstein in 2003 when she was 24-years-old and the disgraced film producer suggested she have a threesome with him and someone else. She told the New York Times Weinstein got angry when she refused. Youll never make it in this business, she said he told her as she left. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Arquette was already well known for her role in Desperately Seeking Susan, when she said she met Weinstein at his hotel to pick up a script in the early nineties. Weinstein was dressed only in a dressing gown, and tried to put her hand on his erect penis. Speaking to the New York Times, Arquette said as she left she told him: I will never be that girl. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emma de Caunes Caunes, a French actor, claimed Weinstein took her to his hotel room in 2010 supposedly to retrieve a book he was making into a film, but once there he went into the bathroom. De Caunes said he then emerged naked, with an erection and told her to lie on the bed. She fled the room. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Zoe Brock Model Zoe claimed that she had to lock herself in a bathroom at Weinsteins hotel in 1997, after the mogul had sent all of the assistants out of the room, and then appeared naked. I was alone with Weinstein, she told ITVs This Morning programme. He very quickly left the room and came back naked. He chased me naked. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Barth Actress Jessica Barth described an encounter with Weinstein in 2011 in an interview with The New Yorker in which she said Weinstein veered between offering her roles in films and demanding a naked massage. She alleges the producer said to her: So, what would happen if, say, were having some champagne and I take my clothes off and you give me a massage? When she tried to leave, he then promised to give her the number of a female executive at the company. He gave me her number, and I walked out and I started bawling, Barth said. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Romola Garai The actress told The Guardian she felt violated after she went to a meeting with Weinstein at the age of 18 and he met her in his hotel room wearing nothing but a dressing gown. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Heather Graham Graham claimed that during a casting opportunity in the early 2000's Weinstein had told her he had an open relationship with his wife. He could sleep with whomever he wanted when he was out of town. I walked out of the meeting feeling uneasy, Graham told Variety. There was no explicit mention that to star in one of those films I had to sleep with him, but the subtext was there. Graham was never hired to work in a Weinstein film. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Hynes Spaced and W1A star Jessica Hynes tweeted about an encounter with Weinstein earlier this week, but subsequently deleted the tweet. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louisette Geiss The former actress said she met Weinstein to pitch a film script she was working on. During the meeting, Weinstein allegedly went out and reappeared naked and got into a jacuzzi where he masturbated in front of her and said he would make the script into a film if she stayed and watched. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Liza Campbell Liza Campbell, a British writer and artist, alleged that Olympically ugly Weinstein asked her to join him in the bath and began getting undressed at a hotel. In a piece for The Times, Campbell claimed she was forced to sprint to the door to escape. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louise Godbold Writing in a blog post, Louise Godbold, a non-profit director in Los Angeles, said her encounter with Weinstein took the form of an office tour that became an occasion to trap me in an empty meeting room. She said then Weinstein was begging for a massage, his hands on my shoulders as I attempted to beat a retreat.

The newspaper reported that Mr Weinstein paid her a $100,000 (76,000) settlement in 1997 to "avoid litigation and buy peace" over an incident in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival.

The 65-year-old producer has "unequivocally denied" allegations of non-consensual sex.

Police are investigating in Los Angeles, New York and in the UK, where seven women have told officers they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein between the 1980s and 2015.

Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lupita Nyong'o were among the high-profile actresses who came forward to publicly accuse him of sexual harassment.

McGowan was bailed on a 5,000 US dollar (3,800) bond and is due to appear in court on Thursday.

Press Association
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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did what just about anyone would do when presented with a newly minted sheet of American currency bearing their name and signature on Wednesday: he posed for a photo.

Coming in the midst of tax-reform plans by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans that nonpartisan analysts say would disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy individuals, among others, the photo of Mnuchin and wife, Louise Linton, holding up the sheet of new $1 bills became an instant meme and drew wide mockery around the Internet.

The photo was snapped Wednesday as Mnuchin and Linton, along with US Treasurer Jovita Carranza, toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington.

The new $1 bills, with Mnuchin and Carranza's signatures, are expected to go into circulation in December. The signatures of Treasury secretaries have appeared on US currency for more than a century, and Mnuchin's signature is more legible than his predecessor Jacob Lew, the Associated Press noted.

For many, there was something comical about the picture of the couple, no strangers to criticism of flaunting their wealth and privilege. Mnuchin holds the sheet on both sides, a smile on his face. His wife standings behind him, her hand on the sheet's corner.

Only way this could be worse would be if Linton and Mnuchin were lighting cigars with flaming dollar bills, wrote the writer James Surowiecki.

Just a friendly reminder that the GOP wants to raise taxes on the middle class & take health insurance away from millions of Americans so people like Louise Linton and Steven Mnuchin can get a tax cut, wrote another.

 Donald Trump: 'I don't want a poor person in a cabinet role'

Many said that the optics of the photograph lent the two the aura of a pair of Hollywood villains. Perhaps it was Linton's sharp stare and long black gloves. Clad in all black, Linton clasped the sheet of money the way a royal might hold her hand to be kissed.

Why do Treasury Sec Mnuchin and his wife insist on posing for photos that make them look like Bond villains? wrote CNBC reporter Christina Wilkie.

The Fox News website described the images as a big money photo op.

It is not the first photo of Mnuchin, a former banker and Hollywood producer and Linton, an actress, to raise eyebrows. A post Linton made on Instagram over the summer, in which she tagged many of the luxury fashion brands she wore on the trip alongside of photo of her and Mnuchin descending the steps of a government plane, drew harsh criticism. Linton then criticised a commenter who questioned why she had promoted the brands, by boasting about her wealth.

Have you given more to the economy than me and my husband? she wrote on a now-deleted Instagram post.

A memoir that Linton self-published about a six-month stint in living in Zambia in 1999 was widely denounced for being littered with inaccuracies, and being falsified, according to the Zambian High Commission in London.

Mnuchin has also drawn scrutiny for his use of government aircraft to travel.

The Washington Post
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As America grapples with another incident of gun violence, officials have said: it could have been far worse.

Reports that a gunman was attacking an elementary school in the northern California community of Rancho Tehama Reserve immediately conjured the spectre of a mass slaughter of children, reminiscent of the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

But according to sheriffs officials, no children were among the four people killed by the shooter. Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told reporters that was mostly because staff at the elementary school heard gunshots erupting nearby and quickly locked the school down, blocking the gunman from inflicting bloodshed.

This incident, as tragic and bad as it is, could have been so much worse if it wasnt for the quick thinking and staff at our elementary school, Mr Johnston told reporters. They went on an immediate lockdown without having to be told to do so by law enforcement.

The swift response, Mr Johnston said, saved countless lives.

The gunman rammed his car through a fence and a gate to gain access to the school and then proceeded on foot, Mr Johnston said, toting a semiautomatic rifle and clad in a vest embedded with clips of the kind that you sometimes see soldiers wear.

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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. 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

While one or two students were injured after the gunman fired at classrooms, Mr Johnston said, he was discouraged enough that he directed his violence elsewhere.

It appears that because he couldnt make access to any of the rooms, that they were locked, that he gave it up and re-entered the vehicle and then went on his killing spree and took it to the streets of Rancho Tehama, he said. The shooter later died in a gun battle with authorities.

 Aerial footage of Tehama, California school shooting

Authorities are still searching for a motive, and Mr Johnston said it appeared the gunman chose the school as a random target rather than with specific victims in mind. He also began driving by residences and arbitrarily shooting at them, Mr Johnston said.

It has emerged that the gunman was connected to one of his slain victims. In January he was arrested for assaulting her with a deadly weapon, which Mr Johnston referred to as part of an ongoing dispute between he and another lady.
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Police are hunting a man with a huge "F*** Trump" sign on his pick-up truck  after there was reportedly a barrage of phone calls to officers over the offensive display.

Sheriff Troy E. Nehls posted a photo of the white Sierra light-duty vehicle showing the sticker on its back window while it was on a motorway in Fort Bend County in Texas.

In his Facebook post, he sought help in tracking down the owner of the vehicle, saying that a prosecutor informed his office she would accept a "disorderly conduct" charge.

Sheriff Nehls wrote: I have received numerous calls regarding the offensive display on this truck as it is often seen along FM 359. If you know who owns this truck or it is yours, I would like to discuss it with you.

Our Prosecutor has informed us she would accept disorderly conduct charges regarding it, but I feel we could come to an agreement regarding a modification to it.

His post of the truck, photographed on the FM 395 outside Crystal City, drew in 11,000 likes, was shared more than 10,000 times and pulled in more than 20,000 comments.

But rather than help Sheriff Nehls track down the driver, the bulk of the remarks centred on how the owner of the truck enjoyed the right to free speech under the First Amendment.

Joshua Smith wrote: Law enforcement officers such as yourself are a stain on the freedom of individuals.

There is no victim here besides the individual YOU are harassing.

Rin Marie posted: I would never put this on my car, but Id fight to the death to defend this persons right to do so.

And Rich Flores wrote: I support the President and voted for him but who cares if this guy has that on his truck. We still have a Constitution and you can't pick and choose when you want to defend or stand up for it. Just flip the guy off and yell "f*** you" out your window as you pass him. That's the 'Murican way to handle it stop being bitches.

A number of replies also pointed out how the Supreme Court in 1971 overturned a conviction of Robert Cohen, 19, after he wore a jacket in a courthouse that read F*** the draft.

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

That legal decision is often referred to in cases involving free speech in the US.

A spokeswoman at Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office declined to say if it had located the driver of the pick-up truck that displayed the offensive sign.

She told The Independent: "No on has been arrested and the Sheriff will not be commenting any further."
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Democratic Senator Al Franken has been accused of sexual assault as the national discussion about sexual harassment moves to the US capitol.

Leeann Tweeden, a morning news anchor for a Los Angeles radio station, claimed in an article for 790 KABC that Mr Franken kissed her and groped her without her consent during a tour through the Middle East. The Senator has apologised, and asked for an ethics investigation into his own conduct.

In 2006, Ms Tweeden and Mr Franken  who worked as a comedian at the time  embarked with several other performers on a United Service Organizations (USO) Tour to entertain American troops. Ms Tweeden said she only expected to host the show they performed, but that Mr Franken wrote her into one of the skits. The skit, she said, included a kiss between their two characters.

Recommended US Congress at centre of unsettling new sexual harassment claims

On the day of the show, Ms Tweeden alleged, Mr Franken pressured her to rehearse the kiss, despite her protestations. When she finally relented, she said, he put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.

Ms Tweeden said she pushed him away, and warned him not to do it again.

In an initial statement, Mr Franken said: I certainly dont remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann.

Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? Show all 7 1 /7 Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? 33757.bin Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? 33758.bin Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? 33759.bin Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? 33760.bin Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? 33761.bin Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? 33762.bin Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate? 33765.bin

Mr Franken later expanded on his statement, extending his apology to "everyone else who was a part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women".

"I respect women," he continued. "I don't respect men who don't. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed."

The news anchors story did not stop there, however. Ms Tweeden said she avoided Mr Franken throughout the tour, and made sure she was never left alone with him  actions she said he retaliated against with petty insults.

Leeann Tweeden is given an MP armband as she arrives at Baghdad International Airport on 19 June, 2003 (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

It wasnt until after the tour ended, however, that Ms Tweeden said she stumbled upon an upsetting photograph. The photo  which Ms Tweeden has made public  appears to show Mr Franken groping her breasts over her military gear while she sleeps.

I couldnt believe it, Ms Tweeden said of her reaction to the photo. He groped me, without my consent, while I was asleep. I felt violated all over again. Embarrassed. Belittled. Humiliated.

She added: How dare anyone grab my breasts like this and think its funny?

In his second statement, Mr Franken said there was "no excuse" for his actions in the photo.

"I look at [the photo] now and I feel disgusted with myself," he said. "It isn't funny. It's completely inappropriate. It's obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture."

 SNL sketch addresses sexual harassment allegations in US

Several Democratic senators condemned the alleged behaviour, with Senator Claire McCaskill calling it "completely unacceptable". Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called the allegations "disturbing".

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called on the Congressional Ethics Committee to review the allegations  a suggestion Mr Franken welcomed in his statement.

"I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate," the Senator said.

Ms Tweeden said she was inspired to share her story after interviewing Representative Jackie Speier, who has solicited stories of sexual harassment from women working in the Capitol  and also shared her own.

At a Congressional hearing this week, Ms Speier said women had told her of legislators exposing their genitals to co-workers and grabbing their victims private parts on the House floor. She added that she knew of two current Congress members  one Democrat and one Republican  who had sexually harassed staffers.

Ms Tweeden said she wanted to have the same effect on victims of sexual harassment that Ms Speier had on her.

I want them, and all the other victims of sexual assault, to be able to speak out immediately, and not keep their stories  and their anger  locked up inside for years, or decades, she said.

She added: I want the days of silence to be over forever.
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Republican leaders are reportedly considering a desperate plan to try and get rid of controversial Alabama candidate Roy Moore that would suspend the current campaign and trigger a fresh election.

Mr Moore, 70, a social conservative who faces a barrage of accusations of sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour involving girls and young women, has defied calls from senior Republicans to stand aside. Indeed, Mr Moore has continued to insist he is innocent and has said there is a witch hunt against him.

Increasingly concerned about the damage Mr Moores presence in the race is doing to the party, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and his top advisers are said to discussing the possibility of a last-ditch plan to get rid of him.

According to Politico, the plan would involve asking Senator Luther Strange to resign; he was appointed on a temporary basis to fill the seat left vacant when Senator Jeff Sessions joined Mr Trumps cabinet. They believe this could then force a fresh special election.

The report said barely a month before the 12 December election, when Mr Moore is due to go head-to-head with Democrat Doug Jones, the McConnell team in unsure about the legality or possibility of pulling off such a move.

With allegations levelled at Mr Moore from at least six different women, and a poll showing him trailing Mr Jones by up to 12 points, the possible plot shows the desperation among senior Republicans such as Mr McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, as they look ahead to the midterm elections of 2018.

 Fox News host Sean Hannity on Roy Moore: "For me, the judge has 24 hours"

McConnells team had been high on the idea of asking Jeff Sessions, who held the Alabama seat for two decades prior to becoming Attorney General, to run as a write-in candidate, the website said.

Mr Stranges office did not immediately respond to inquiries. However, Mr Strange indicated to the Washington Examiner he was not supportive of the plan.

Im going to serve [my term] out, serve the people of the state, try and get tax reform, and be the best senator I can be, Mr Strange said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Meanwhile, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey also suggested the move was not going to take place.

The election date is set for 12 December, she told local media. Were he to resign, I would simply appoint somebody to fill the remaining time until we have the election on 12 December.

David Popp, a spokesman for Mr McConnell, told The Independent: The Politico piece was all anonymous sourcing, didnt come from us, and we dont have any conversations to read out.

Mr Moore and his team have doubled down on their denial of the allegations that claimed he sexually assaulted one teenage girl, and engaged in inappropriate behaviour with several others, when he was in his thirties and working as a local prosecutor.

Mr Moores lawyer, Phillip Jauregui, has demanded that one of the women who has accused the former judge, Beverly Nelson, release the high school yearbook she claims he signed the same evening he assaulted her.

Judge Moore says there is no way in the world that's his handwriting, said Mr Jauregui.

Ive been with him in probably over 100 different meetings and been around probably an excess of 10,000 different ladies  Not one time have I ever seen him act even remotely inappropriate against any woman.
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A judge has declared a mistrial in the bribery trial against sitting Democratic Senator Bob Menendez.

Jurors deliberated for nearly 15 hours but could not reach the requisite unanimous decision after eleven weeks of testimony, exhibits, and arguments.

In their note to the court the 12 jurors - seven men and five women - wrote: We cannot reach a unanimous decision...Nor are we willing to move away from our strong convictions.

Recommended US Democratic Senator Robert Menendez indicted on corruption charges

US District Court Judge William Walls said: "I find that you are unable to reach a verdict and that further deliberations would be futile and there is no alternative but to declare a mistrial,"

He interviewed each of the jurors individually in his chambers. Out of the two hours spent speaking to jurors, CNN reported Juror #3 was with the judge the longest, for nearly 30 minutes.

Mr Walls determined that none of the jurors would change their minds and thus declared a mistrial.

Within hours of the mistrial, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for an ethics review of Mr Menendez.

He said in a statement that the Democrat "is one of only twelve US Senators to have been indicted in our history. His trial shed light on serious accusations of violating the public's trust as an elected official, as well as potential violations of the Senate's Code of Conduct."

He said the investigation should be begin "immediately."

The Senator was facing 18 counts of corruption - conspiracy, bribery, and honest services fraud - and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Mr Menendez was accused of accepting illegal gifts from his friend of 25 years, ophthalmologist Dr Saloman Melgen, in exchange for lobbying in the interest of Mr Melgen's business interests in the Senate.

Prosecutors said the Senator accepted more than $600,000 in political contributions, hotel stays in Paris, and multiple rides Mr Melgen's private jet in exchange for getting US visas for Mr Melgen's girlfriends, assisting with the doctor's Medicare billing dispute that amounted to $8.9 million, and helping with a port security contract in the Dominican Republic in Mr Melgen's name.

Both those instances - the Medicare billing dispute and the issue between the doctor and the port authority on the island - were resolved in Mr Melgen's favour, argued prosectors.

The Senator's attorneys said he was more concerned that drug companies were unfairly benefiting in the Medicare billing dispute and that port security was a larger area of concern for the New Jersey Democrat.

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 Menendez was also charged with lying on government forms for not declaring the value of any of these as gifts, as required by government officials.

The defence argued that the two men were friends for so long that these were not official gifts and were not given or received with any intent of political favours. They called Senators Cory Booker and Lindsay Graham, a Republican, to the witness stand to vouch for their colleagues' character as well.

One excused juror, according to the Washington Post, said last week that she would have voted for an acquittal of Mr Menendez but said the case would likely end in a hung jury.

Prosecutors had asked Mr Walls to instruct the jury to issue a partial verdict - separating the charges to ensure some sort of conviction or definitive verdict.

However, Mr Walls said that could lead the court down a "slippery slope of coercion" and decided all the charges needed to be taken into account together.

The legal precedent used by Mr Walls to judge this case was established earlier this year in a US Supreme Court case against former Republican Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell, whose conviction was overturned.

That precedent made it difficult for prosecutors as it determined the standard for a crime in these cases was an explicit "quid pro quo" - a gift for a political favour.

US Department of Justice prosecutors in Mr Menendez's case did not have a proverbial 'smoking gun' to meet that standard, according to at least some of the jurors.

Mr Menendez's Democratic seat in the Senate has been critical and if he had stepped down or been convicted before mid-January 2018, outgoing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie - a Republican - could have appointed a Republican to his seat, per state rules.

It remains unclear at this time whether the case will be tried again with a new jury, but the DOJ may face some political pressure to put the Senator in the courtroom again.
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Donald Trump's administration is to allow the remains of endangered elephants legally hunted in two African countries to be imported to the US, reversing a ban introduced by Barack Obama.

The US government has scrapped regulations which forbid elephant trophies being brought into the country from Zimbabwe and Zambia, arguing hunting could help conservation efforts.

The Obama administration banned imports of trophies from Zimbabwe in 2014 after finding the nation's management of legal hunting did not "enhance the survival of the African elephant the wild".

The species is listed as "threatened" under the US Endangered Species Act and importing African elephant ivory to America is banned unless certain conditions are met.

But the US Fish and Wildlife Service, announcing the lifting of the ban in Zimbabwe and Zambia, said money raised through hunting permits could boost conservation efforts. "Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management programme can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation," a spokesman said.

"To support conservation, hunters should choose to hunt only in countries that have strong governance, sound management practices, and healthy wildlife populations."

It did not say what had changed since the ban was imposed in Zimbabwe, where the elephant population had declined six per cent since 2001, according to last year's Great Elephant Census.

Indyplus gallery: Photographs of elephants by David Gulden Show all 4 1 /4 Indyplus gallery: Photographs of elephants by David Gulden Indyplus gallery: Photographs of elephants by David Gulden EA-2.jpg From The Centre Cannot Hold by David Gulden,  2012, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com Indyplus gallery: Photographs of elephants by David Gulden EA-5.jpg From The Centre Cannot Hold by David Gulden,  2012, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com Indyplus gallery: Photographs of elephants by David Gulden EA-3.jpg From The Centre Cannot Hold by David Gulden,  2012, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com Indyplus gallery: Photographs of elephants by David Gulden EA-4.jpg From The Centre Cannot Hold by David Gulden,  2012, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com

The decision to lift the ban was described as "jarring" by the Humane Society. "Evidence shows that poaching has increased in areas where trophy hunting is permitted, said chief executive Wayne Pacelle. Remember, it was Zimbabwe where Walter Palmer shot Cecil, one of the most beloved and well-studied African lions, who was lured out of a national park for the killing. Palmer paid a big fee even though it did irreparable damage to the nations reputation.

Lets be clear: elephants are on the list of threatened species; the global community has rallied to stem the ivory trade; and now, the US government is giving American trophy hunters the green light to kill them.

Its time for the era of the trophy killing of Africas most majestic and endangered animals to come to a final close, and the United States should not be retreating from that commitment.

The Elephant Project conservation group criticised "reprehensible behaviour by the Trump administration", adding: "This will lead to more poaching."

Hunting group Safari Club International praise the lifting of the ban, and said the decision "recognises that hunting is beneficial to wildlife and that these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations".

The US previously allowed ivory to be imported only from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, although sport hunting is banned in the latter county. The President's son, Donald Trump Jr, sparked a wave of condemnation in 2012 when he was pictured holding the severed tail of an African elephant.
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Hillary Clinton has said that US President Donald Trump is making the country like a dictatorship if a legal investigation is launched into her role in a 2010 sale of a uranium company to a Russian agency.

She told Mother Jones that if Attorney General Jeff Sessions were to assign a special prosecutor to look into the matter it would be a signal that we're going to be like some dictatorship, some authoritarian regime where political opponents are going to be unfairly, fraudulently investigated.

Ms Clinton could potentially be investigated for the sale of Uranium One, actually a Canadian company which controlled 20 per cent of American uranium production at the time.

Mr Sessions said during a Congressional hearing that there is "not enough basis" for an investigation, however, Mr Trump has repeatedly called for investigations via his Twitter account.

It was sold to Rosatom, Russias nuclear energy agency in stages - first in 2009 when the Russian agency acquired a minority stake in the company and ending in full control by 2013.

The sale was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), an intergovernmental agency on which the State Department has a seat.

It is one of nine federal government agencies - Defence, Commerce, Treasury, and Homeland Security among them - collectively charged with advising the president on potential national security issues with such transactions. They all signed off on the Rosatom deal.

The DOJ investigation would likely focus on a link between Rosatom owners, many of whom contributed $145 million in total to the Clinton Foundation - the charitable organisation run by former President Bill Clinton at the time.

Mr Trump claimed several times that the donations were a quid pro quo for approving the Rosatom deal.

Politifact said they found that nine people related to the company did at some point donate to the Clinton Foundation, we found that the bulk of the $145 million came from Frank Giustra.

He said he sold his stakes in Rosatom in 2007, 18 months before Ms Clinton began to lead the State Department and three years before Rosatom gained control of Uranium One.

 Jeff Sessions says there is 'not enough basis' for a new federal investigation of Hillary Clinton

There was also the matter of an FBI investigation into kickbacks received by employees of a US subsidiary of Rosatom as far back as 2009.

Ms Clinton did not have veto power over the deal at the time and several sources told The Hill newspaper "they did not know whether the FBI or DOJ ever alerted [CFIUS] members to the criminal activity they uncovered."

The whole matter was also investigated by the US Department of Justice for nearly four years beginning in 2010 - headed by Rod Rosenstein who is now Mr Trump's Deputy Attorney General but had been appointed by Barack Obama at the time.

Fox News, normally staunchly loyal to Mr Trumps point of view, had a segment to clarify details on the potential investigation.

Anchor Shep Smith said: The accusation is predicated on the charge that Secretary Clinton approved the sale. She did not. A committee of nine evaluated the sale, the president approved the sale, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and others had to offer permits, and none of the uranium was exported for use by the US to Russia.

Ms Clinton told Mother Jones that should Mr Sessions proceed with the special prosecutor it will also send a terrible signal to our country and the world that somehow we are giving up on the kind of values we used to live by and that we used to promote worldwide.

She said the agency was being politicised and said taking myself out of itthis is such an abuse of power. And it goes right at the rule of law.
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The Pentagons official Twitter account has retweeted then quickly deleted a post that included a call for President Donald Trump to resign.

The original tweet was posted by a person whose Twitter handle is @ProudResister. It said, The solution is simple. Roy Moore: Step down from the race. Al Franken: Resign from congress. Donald Trump: Resign from the presidency. GOP: Stop making sexual assault a partisan issue. It's a crime as is your hypocrisy.

The official Defense Department account has more than 5.2m followers.

Recommended Comey hits back at Trump with truth and justice tweets

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Rob Manning said in a statement that an authorised operator of the Defense Department's official Twitter site erroneously retweeted content that would not be endorsed by the Department of Defense. The operator caught this error and immediately deleted it.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

The same statement was tweeted by the Pentagon's chief spokesperson Dana White.

Many Twitter profiles contain a disclaimer saying that retweets do not constitute an endorsement, but the Pentagon account, @DeptofDefense, does not.

The @proudresister account also links to a website selling anti-Trump collectibles such as T-shirts.

Donald Trump, who has reshaped the way a president uses social media in the modern era, has made some accidental retweets himself.

In August, he retweeted a photoshopped cartoon of a "Trump train" smashing into a CNN reporter, captioned "Nothing can stop the #TrumpTrain."

The retweet was removed from Mr Trump's feed minutes later, and a White House official said it had been posted inadvertently.

On a smartphone or computer, a retweet requires two clicks or taps in order to post, meaning the President would have had a second chance to be sure he wanted to tweet the cartoon.
Page Content

Conference

Ocean Meets Regions

21 November 2017 09:30  13:30

Room JDE 51

European Committee of the Regions

The Commission for Natural Resources has the pleasure to invite you to a follow-up event of the conference "Our Ocean" (5-6 October, Malta), aiming to involve stakeholders from the regional and local level in the debate on sustainable blue economy and ocean governance.

The high level opening session will touch upon challenges and opportunities for European regions and policy developments on global and regional scale. The participants will be able to exchange views with EU Commissioner for maritime affairs, fisheries and environment Karmenu VELLA, Statoil Vice-President Jannik LINDBK, Ocean Energy Europe CEO Remi GRUET and EIB's Director for Environment and Sustainable Territorial Development Werner SCHMIDT.

In addition, two separate thematic sessions will focus on the regional aspects of the blue economy and ocean governance, with the involvement of policy-makers, researchers and practitioners.

All three sessions will aim at a constructive feedback and discussion on the achievements, the problems, best practices and the way ahead for the European maritime economy and its sustainable development on regional and local level.

Interested parties are invited to register under the following link: REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Important notice : All participants are responsible for organizing and paying their own transportation and accommodation
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President Donald Trump has said his trip to Asia showed that America's standing in the world has never been stronger  even as critics say he is destroying the nation's status as a global superpower by withdrawing from multinational trade agreements and the Paris climate accord.

In an address from the Diplomatic Room of the White House, Mr Trump offered a positive assessment of his five-country Asian tour, declaring that America is back and the future has never looked better.

Meanwhile, the Pew Research Center reports that around the world, the popularity of the US and confidence in its president have declined since the end of former President Barack Obama's administration and the start of Mr Trumps.

Mexico and Canada  both part of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, which Mr Trump has declared as the worst trade deal  have lost confidence in the US President to do the right thing regarding world affairs, according to Pew. The same goes for Japan and South Korea, while Russia and Israel have gained confidence in the US President since the Obama era. Meanwhile, confidence in the US leader in Western European countries has plunged sharply.

Mr Trump's speech on Wednesday was announced with little notice, after the President had posted several tweets in the morning complaining about the media's coverage of him.

The failing @nytimes hates the fact that I have developed a great relationship with World leaders like Xi Jinping, President of China, he wrote. They should realize that these relationships are a good thing, not a bad thing. The U.S. is being respected again. Watch Trade!

During his address, Mr Trump outlined his accomplishments in his several overseas trips this year, arguing that the US was once again playing a leading role in the world.

On each trip I have worked to advance American interests and leadership in the world, the President said.

He asserted that he had inherited several problems when he took office. The one common thread behind all of these problems was the failure to protect the interests of the American people and American workers.

He began his speech by recapping his Asia visit, saying he was met with incredible warmth, hospitality and most important, respect.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

He said the Asia trip had three goals: First to unite the world against the nuclear menace by the North Korean regime, he said. Second, to advance American interests in the Asian region, and third, advance fair and reciprocal trade. Fair and reciprocal trade. So important.

He touted Japan's cooperation with the US on addressing North Korea, evidenced by additional sanctions, he said, more Japanese defence spending, and the nation's purchase of more US military equipment.

Regarding his visit to Beijing, Mr Trump said he spoke with China's President Xi Jinping about reining in North Korea's expanding nuclear weapons programme. Mr Xi pledged to use his great economic influence over the regime to achieve our common goal of a denuclearised Korean Peninsula, Mr Trump stated.

The President said he and the Chinese leader also discussed trade: [The US] can no longer tolerate unfair trading practices that steal American jobs, wealth, and intellectual property.

The days of the United States being taken advantage of are over, he said.

He asserted that this message also resonated with leaders attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Vietnam. As one of his first acts as President, Mr Trump rejected the far-reaching Pacific Rim trade pact known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)  which China is not involved in  disappointing many nations in the region.

The 21 APEC leaders have recognized for the first time the need for fair and reciprocal trade, Mr Trump said. I offered our vision for robust trading relationships in which Indo-Pacific nations can all prosper and grow together.

I announced that the United States is ready to make bilateral trade deals with any nation in the region that wants to be our partner, he added.
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The former British intelligence officer who compiled the infamous dossier that included allegations of collusion between President Donald Trump and the Russian government says that he thinks the dossier is between 70 and 90 per cent accurate, according to a new book on the subject.

In the book, Collusion: How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win, former MI6 agent Chris Steele is quoted telling friends that he thinks the dossier will be vindicated, the Guardian reports. The reports he compiled were based on sources cultivated over a span of three decades working in the intelligence community.

Ive been dealing with this country for thirty years. Why would I invent this stuff, Mr Steel is quoted saying.

That considerable experience is one of the reasons that Mr Steeles dossier  which included explosive allegations that splashed across headlines around the world  was taken seriously in Washington. Mr Steele has authored hundreds of reports on Russia and Ukraine, and some of those were passed among high level officials in the US government including former Secretary of State John Kerry.

The dossier, built on sources used in those reports, included allegations that the Kremlin had personally damaging information on Mr Trump, like sex tapes recorded when Mr Trump was in Moscow in 2013. Other evidence reportedly suggested that Mr Trump had actively colluded with Russian intelligence to turn the 2016 election in his favour.

The episode burnished Steeles reputation inside the US intelligence community and the FBI. Here was a pro, a well-connected Brit, who understood Russian espionage and its subterranean tricks. Steele was regarded as credible, Luke Harding, the author of the book and also a journalist at the Guardian, wrote.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

Mr Steele reportedly told the FBI about the allegations hed uncovered, but that his FBI contacts eventually went quiet as the 2016 election neared. The book says that he had told a friend that it was clear he had given them a radioactive hot potato.
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Venezuelas ousted chief prosecutor has called on the International Criminal Court to capture President Nicolas Maduro and charge him over what she claims are crimes against humanity.

Luisa Ortega, who was fired after breaking with the Maduro government earlier this year, appeared at The Hague where she filed a complaint, based on the 8,290 deaths she says took place between 2015 and 2017 at the hands of officials who received instructions from the government.

[They happened] under the orders of the executive branch, as part of a social cleansing plan carried out by the government, she told reporters.

Nicolas Maduro and his government should pay for these crimes against humanity just as they must also pay for the hunger, misery and hardship theyve inflicted on the Venezuelan people.

She added: We have been forced to turn to an international organisation, because there is no justice in Venezuela.

According to Reuters, her complaint, which included 1,000 pieces of evidence, also accuses a number of top officials, including Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino and intelligence chief Gustavo Gonzalez of being involved in the alleged abuses.

 Donald Trump considers possible military action against Venezuela

Mr Ortega was associated with Mr Maduro, and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, for many years. Yet she broke with him this summer after Mr Maduro pressed ahead with a plan to create powerful legislature called the Constituent Assembly.

The new constitutional assembly can override the traditional National Assembly, which the opposition has controlled since elections in 2015.

The opposition decided to boycott the vote over the assembly, ensuring that it would be filled with allies of Mr Maduro.

In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Show all 22 1 /22 In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A girl scavanges for food in the streets of Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A man scavenges for food next to girls in the streets of Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is resisting opposition efforts to hold a vote on removing him from office. The opposition blames him for an economic crisis that has caused food shortages Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans line up to get the 'Fatherland's Card' at Bolivar Square in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela The mother of Venezuelan Rebecca Leon, who scavenges for food in the streets of Caracas, feeds her grandson at their house in Petare shantytown. Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan Rebecca Leon, who scavenges for food in the streets of Caracas, with her two-year-old son at her house in Petare shantytown Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Members of a pro-government community organisation work in an expropriated bakery in Caracas. Supported by popular militiamen, Venezuelan government inspectors oversee bakeries as bread comes out of the oven, to undermine an alleged plot to induce scarcity of this staple food Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Forensic police stand next to the body of a man outside a supermarket, where he died of a heart attack after waiting in a long line to buy food, in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition activists take part in a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro at the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela National guard throws a tear gas canister during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporter shouts at a police officer during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with national guards during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A boy wearing a t-shirt with the colours of the Venezuelan national flag, during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro's government at Foreign Affairs Ministery, in Buenos Aires, Argentina AP In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Protesters cover themselves from tear gas fired by the Venezuelan National Guard officers during a protest in Caracas AP In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with national guards during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition activists take part in a protest -blocked by the National Guard- against the government of President Nicolas Maduro at the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A Venezuelan national guard reacts to the effect of pepper spray during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters holding a Venezuelan flag protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government during a rally in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with riot police during a protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government during a rally in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuela's Supreme Court abandoned measures to seize power from the opposition-controlled legislature after the moves drew international condemnation and raised pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The president of Venezuela's National Assembly Julio Borges dismissed the court's gesture and told reporters that nothing had changed and the coup continued Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans living in Peru and other protesters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, outside the Venezuela embassy in Lima, Peru Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans living in Peru and other protesters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, outside the Venezuela embassy in Lima, Peru Reuters

Indeed, the new, 545-member assembly voted to fire Ms Ortega on its first day of operation, accusing her of being a traitor. Since then, she has fled the country and has toured different countries denouncing the government she once worked with.

Mr Maduro, who was elected in 2013, pushed ahead with the assembly after claiming it was the only way to empower people and bring about peace. More than 120 people died in clashes this summer between protesters seeking to force Mr Maduro to quit and the security forces.

Mr Maduro has faced widespread international criticism and both the US and the EU have imposed fresh sanctions on the country. In turn, he has accused the US of trying to overthrew his government and his supporters have pointed out that some US officials backed a 2002 coup that briefly dislodged Mr Chavex.

Earlier this summer, CIA chief Mike Pompeo suggested the agency was working with other countries in the region - notably Mexico and Colombia - to bring about a change of government. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has said we have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary.

Mr Maduro has yet to respond to Ms Ortegas allegations.

Venezuela has ratified the Rome Statute which underpins the ICC, which means chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, does have jurisdiction to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity there if she wishes to.
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Authorities in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad are rounding up beggars ahead of a visit by Ivanka Trump for an international conference.

Over the past week, more than 200 beggars have been transported to separate male and female shelter homes located on the grounds of two city prisons. Authorities have been strictly enforcing a begging ban on the city's streets and in other public places.

The crackdown seems to be having the desired effect, with most of Hyderabad's thousands of beggars vanishing from sight.

Trump is a senior adviser to her father, President Donald Trump. Later this month, she is scheduled to be a featured speaker at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, which will also be attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Officials say the drive against begging was launched because two upcoming international events are taking place in the city - the entrepreneurship summit and the World Telugu Conference in December.

Begging is a criminal offence in India and can be punished by as much as 10 years in prison, although the law is rarely enforced.

We will complete the clearing of beggars from the city roads by the end of the month, said V.K. Singh, a top police officer.

The beggars have been rounded up from traffic junctions, bus stations and railway stations and transported by van to the shelters, where they often find themselves separated from their family members.

They are being offered clean clothes, a shower and a bed. But they're also being fingerprinted before they're allowed to leave and told they could face jail time if they are found begging again.

More than 20 percent of India's 1.3 billion people live on less than $2 a day. For many, begging is survival.

Beggars tend to crowd around cars at traffic signals, knocking on windows and asking for food and money. They include children as young as five, who weave through dangerous traffic and often perform small acrobatic acts.

A rights group that runs the two Hyderabad homeless shelters on the grounds of the Chanchalguda and Charalapally jails where the beggars are being taken estimates the city has 13,000 beggars.

About half of them are begging because they are living in poverty while the other half want money for alcohol and drugs, said Gattu Giri, an official with the Amma Nanna Ananda Ashram organisation.

The entrepreneurship summit is an annual event that this year will focus on supporting female entrepreneurs. Running from 28-30 November, the summit is being jointly hosted by the US and India.

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Singh said that next month, after Ivanka Trump has left, police will start offering cash rewards to people who inform them of a beggar's location. Police have set up a control room to receive the information.

This isn't the first time the poor and homeless have been pushed out of sight as India hosts international visitors. Ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, slums were demolished and thousands of beggars pushed to the edge of the city.

AP
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The family of a tourist who vanished after a full moon party in Thailand said his death remained a mystery after an inquest did not offer any conclusive findings.

Relatives of Andrew Apperley, 38, initially feared he had been murdered when he went missing after the notorious gathering on the island of Ko Pha Ngan on 12 February, after sending them a host of cryptic WhatsApp messages.

Shortly before the father-of-one died, he sent messages which said: "OMG had a mad night, all the guys wanting [to] kill me," followed by another which spoke about a "scary guy with the face mask", an inquest heard on Thursday.

His body was found a few days later in the sea after he was reported missing.

Mr Apperley, a property manager from Eastbourne, East Sussex, had planned to return to his hotel by boat the morning after the party and fly back to the UK on 21 February.

Mr Apperley's wife Magdalena said she felt she would never know what truly happened after a coroner recorded an open verdict at the inquest into his death.

She and his mother Linda criticised Thai authorities for the lack of information provided in the investigation after he was believed to have drowned.

Speaking after the hearing at Eastbourne Coroner's Court, Magdalena Apperley said: "We didn't get closure. We will probably never know what happened to Andrew.

"We can't rule out foul play, we can't rule out drugs, or anything else that could have happened.

"The damage is done. We really hope his death can be turned into something positive and serve as a warning to other tourists going to the parties to be careful."

Coroner Alan Craze said there was a lack of evidence from the Thai authorities, who had not carried out a toxicology report.

He said: "There's pretty much no control on the island. Police presence there will have been hit and miss.

"I'm not being rude about the Thai authorities, I have been there many times, I love the country.

"But in terms of my job as a coroner it's hit and miss as to whether I will get useful information or not.

"I'm not getting sufficient or sufficiently reliable information. I think it's down to resources."

Mr Apperley had a history of drug taking, liked to party and regularly visited Thailand, the inquest heard.

Mr Craze said the post-mortem found no signs of a struggle, bruising or trauma, adding: "He led a bohemian lifestyle, he took drugs.

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"I personally think I am not going to find any evidence of foul play."

Mr Apperley's mother, who flew out to investigate his death and see where his body was found, said: "The Thai authorities need to step up their game. They should have carried out a toxicology report."

Magdalena Apperley added: "I'm disappointed more information was not provided."

They called for more to be done by authorities to warn tourists of the dangers at the parties.

Mr Craze said he was sad he could not provide more answers for the relatives but assured them if significant new evidence came to light he would support them in applying for a fresh inquest to be carried out.

Figures released by the British government showed between 2011 and 2012 there were 296 British deaths in Thailand.

Last year there was reportedly a 54 per cent rise in tourist deaths in Thailand.

PA
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Japan is studying plans to cope with an influx of perhaps tens of thousands of North Korean evacuees if a military or other crisis breaks out on the peninsula, including ways to weed out spies and terrorists, a domestic newspaper said.

The Japan Coast Guard would escort boats fleeing North Korea to designated ports, where police would screen them by checking their identity and possible criminal records and expel those deemed a threat, The Yomiuri newspaper said on Thursday.

It did not say where those people would be sent, however.

Evacuees granted temporary entrance would be transferred to emergency detention centres, probably in southern Japan, after completing quarantine and other procedures.

Officials would then decide whether they were eligible to remain in Japan, The Yomiuri said.

Regional tension over Pyongyangs missile and nuclear arms programmes remain high.

A senior Chinese diplomat was to visit the North from Friday as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, just a week after US President Donald Trump met Xi in Beijing and pressed for greater action to rein in Pyongyang.

Junji Ito, an official of the justice ministrys immigration bureau, said the Japanese government was looking at steps to deal with a possible influx of people from North Korea but declined to comment on details.

Outspoken Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso grabbed headlines in September when he touched on the possibility of shooting armed refugees from North Korea.

Will police respond and arrest them on charges of illegal immigration? media quoted him as saying in a speech. If the Self-Defence Forces (military) are dispatched, will they shoot them down?

On Thursday, the Japan Coast Guard said it had rescued three North Korean men on a capsized boat a day earlier and was searching for 12 missing crew. The men said they were fishermen, not defectors, and Japan was arranging to send them home, it added.

Japan has strict requirements for recognising asylum seekers and accepted only three refugees in the first half of 2017 despite a record 8,561 fresh applications.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

In January, Human Rights Watch described Japans record on asylum seekers as abysmal.

The country took in more than 11,000 Indochinese boat people refugees over three decades to 2005 in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, a little-remembered open-door policy.

Reuters
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Zahida Begum doesn't remember her home village, a tiny speck amid the mountains and forests of Burma. She was only 18 months old when her mother smuggled her across the Naf River on a fishing boat, carrying her into Bangladesh, among hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya fleeing persecution in their home country.

Begum has been a refugee ever since. She grew up in Bangladesh's Rohingya refugee camps, and now earns a living working for a string of international aid groups. On quiet days, she's the kind of person who wanders around looking for someone to help.

So when frantic relatives called her in late September to tell her that Burmese soldiers were burning Rohingya villages and tens of thousands of Rohingya were fleeing, the 28-year-old jumped into action.

She made calls to a half-dozen countries. She raised thousands of dollars. She called in favours and arranged for boats and smugglers.

And one day later, some 400 people - including some of Begum's relatives and other people from nearby villages - were safe.

Had Zahida not sent those boats, we would have died in Burma, said 35-year-old Abdul Matlab, one of the people rescued that night.

Matlab now lives in Bangladesh with his extended family in a small shelter of bamboo and plastic tarp where they sleep huddled together on the floor.

He said from his village alone, Begum saved 70 people. But about 400 others from the village were killed by Burmese government forces, he said.

Begum, a smiling, self-confident woman in a long black cloak and headscarf, grew up listening to stories about the persecution of Rohingya in Burma's Rakhine state, just across the Naf River.

Burma's Rohingya have been called one of the world's most persecuted minorities, a community of Muslims in a largely Buddhist country whose government refuses to recognize them as a lawful ethnic minority. Though some Rohingya families have lived in Burma for centuries, they are widely disparaged as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Not long before she heard from her frantic relatives in Burma, Begum had heard about the start of clearance operations by the country's security forces that eventually led to 618,000 Rohingya fleeing their homes and crossing the border into Bangladesh. The United Nations has said Burma's actions appeared to be ethnic cleansing.

Begum knew she had to act quickly. There were mothers and children trying to flee. She remembered her mother's stories of their own journey out of Burma in 1990, when more than 250,000 Rohingya fled to escape forced labour, rape and religious persecution.

Begum told the group she was in contact with that they should make their way toward the Naf River border and wait for more instructions.

I called my brother-in-law, who lives abroad, and told him our brothers and sisters have arrived near the river, and asked him how we can bring them across to Bangladesh, said Begum, who works as a translator and door-to-door health educator for aid and rights organisations including Human Rights Watch.

With the help of relatives in Australia and Malaysia, Begum said she raised more than $4,000 in a matter of hours. The money was wired to her through a shady middleman who charged a hefty fee.

She then contacted a fisherman in the Bangladeshi coastal village of Shamlapur, close to her home in the congested Kutupalong refugee camp, and asked him to hire two boats and set them off toward the Burma border.

Eventually, 70 families were brought out in the two boats, which had travelled more than 60 kilometres (100 miles) from Bangladesh to the pickup point in Burma, travelling through the Bay of Bengal and along the Naf River under the night sky. The smugglers charged more than $4,200.

Rohingya refugees  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young girl and a baby wade through mud after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma on 10 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees walk through a camp in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after arriving from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young Rohingya refugee gathers firewood after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees wait for sacks of rice to be distributed in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees arrive on a boat in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after crossing from Burma on 8 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees react after being re-united with each other after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Getty Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees walk along the remains of a road after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Myanmar Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees stand in the rain after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indian children hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma EPA/Raminder Pal Singh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Supporters of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), an Islamic organisation, listen to their leaders' speeches against Burma's persecution of Rohingya Muslims, during a demonstration in Karachi Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Rohingya refugees  in pictures Hundreds of Iranians take part in a protest against violence in Myanmar after weekly Friday prayers, in Tehran EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indonesian Muslim activists hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya minority in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia EPA/Ali Lutfi Rohingya refugees  in pictures Members of an Islamic organisation shout slogans against the Burma government during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh EPA

Begum waited for the boats in Shamlapur, and first settled the new refugees around her own bamboo-and-tarp home. Eventually, she used what was left of the money, combined with more donations she had received, to give each family $35, then sent them to another refugee camp nearby to build their own shelters.

If they are safe and healthy, I am content, Begum said when asked why she decided to help. Nothing makes me more happy than that.

AP
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Human Rights Watch have accused Burmese security forces of committing widespread rape against women and girls as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing during the past three months against Rohingya Muslims in the country's Rakhine state.

The allegation in a report by the New York-based rights group echoes an accusation by Pramila Patten, the UN special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, earlier this week. Patten said sexual violence was being commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by the Armed Forces of Burma.

Burma's army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces, days after replacing the general in charge of the operation that drove more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

The United Nations has denounced the violence as a classic example of ethnic cleansing. The Burmese government has denied allegations of ethnic cleansing.

Human Rights Watch spoke to 52 Rohingya women and girls who fled to Bangladesh, 29 of whom said they had been raped. All but one of the rapes were gang rapes, Human Rights Watch said.

Rape has been a prominent and devastating feature of the Burmese military's campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya, said Skye Wheeler, women's rights emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report.

The Burmese military's barbaric acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatised, she said in a statement.

Human Rights Watch called on the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Burma and targeted sanctions against military leaders responsible for human rights violations, including sexual violence.

The 15-member council last week urged the Burma government to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state. It asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to report back in 30 days on the situation.

Burma has said the military clearance operation was necessary for national security after Rohingya militants attacked 30 security posts and an army base in Rakhine state on 25 August.

Burma is refusing entry to a UN panel that was tasked with investigating allegations of abuses after a smaller military counteroffensive launched in October 2016.

Rohingya refugees  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young girl and a baby wade through mud after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma on 10 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees walk through a camp in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after arriving from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young Rohingya refugee gathers firewood after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees wait for sacks of rice to be distributed in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees arrive on a boat in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after crossing from Burma on 8 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees react after being re-united with each other after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Getty Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees walk along the remains of a road after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Myanmar Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees stand in the rain after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indian children hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma EPA/Raminder Pal Singh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Supporters of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), an Islamic organisation, listen to their leaders' speeches against Burma's persecution of Rohingya Muslims, during a demonstration in Karachi Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Rohingya refugees  in pictures Hundreds of Iranians take part in a protest against violence in Myanmar after weekly Friday prayers, in Tehran EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indonesian Muslim activists hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya minority in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia EPA/Ali Lutfi Rohingya refugees  in pictures Members of an Islamic organisation shout slogans against the Burma government during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh EPA

Hala Sadak, a 15-year-old from Hathi Para village in Maungdaw Township, told Human Rights Watch that soldiers had stripped her naked and then about 10 men raped her.

She told Human Rights Watch: When my brother and sister came to get me, I was lying there on the ground, they thought I was dead.

Reuters
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Four sperm whales stranded on a beach in Indonesia have died despite a 24 hour rescue attempt, though volunteers managed to save six others.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said the 10 whales beached themselves on Monday off the coast of Aceh, northern Sumatra.

With the help of the navy and locals, seven of the whales were dragged out to deeper water, but one returned and was stranded again, this time fatally.

Dwi Aryo Tjiptohandono, WWF Indonesia's marine and fisheries campaign coordinator, said the organisation was investigating the stranding and autopsies will be carried out on the corpses.

There are fears the remaining six whales could try and come back for the dead members of their pod, and risk being beached again, he added.

According to Whale Stranding Indonesia, there have been at least 41 recorded strandings of animals in the country before this latest incident.

Scientists still do not know why whales beach themselves, though a factor is thought to be the creatures' strong social bonds.

Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Show all 8 1 /8 Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Two dead sperm whales are seen washed up on a beach near Skegness in northeast England. Four sperm whales believed to be from the same pod washed up on beaches in northeast England. Three whales were found on a beach near Skegness and one died on Hunstanton beach AFP Getty Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk Two of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast One of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Photo taken from the Twitter feed of the @RNLIskegness of one of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA

When one or two initially beach, they send out distress signals that can trigger other members of the pod to try to help. This can then set off a chain reaction where more and more become stranded.

In February around 400 pilot whales died in New Zealand after one of the worst beaching events in the countrys history.
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An Australian couple have announced plans to marry after spending five decades together, following the countrys historic vote to legalise same-sex marriage.

Arthur Cheeseman, 85, and John Challis, 89, believed to be the oldest same-sex couple in the country, said they plan to marry next January but not with any fuss.

Just very quietly - very simple. Thats it. I have got a 90th birthday coming up next year.

We might combine it with that, Mr Cheeseman, a retired pharmacist, told ABC radio.

Australians voted overwhelming in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in a poll, with 61.6% of people in support of allowing same-sex couples to wed.

Arthur Cheeseman and John Challis plan to marry in January (Daily Global Mail Limited/screengrab)

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said his government would aim to pass legislation in parliament by Christmas.

Mr Cheeseman said the move was a historic step forward for LGBTQ Australians.

It is not just endorsing gay marriage  it is endorsing gay and lesbian people, he said

It gives us a new dignity, a new status, a new place in society. We are the same as everyone else.

The couple, who live in Sydney, met as they were both leaving an art gallery in 1967 and just happened to smile at each other.

When asked about those who voted against legalising same-sex marriage, Mr Cheeseman said he hoped they get used to us.

They will soon find out that it is not the end of civilisation, he added.

A majority in every state and territory voted in favour of change, with a voter turnout of 79.5%.

The announcement of the vote results was met with cheers, tears and rainbow-coloured celebrations across the country.

There are still some political hurdles following the vote, however, with some MPs in favour of allowing people and businesses who oppose same-sex marriage to refuse to provide services to weddings.

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 current marriage equality bill allows people opposed to same-sex marriage to refuse to offer services to weddings on religious grounds.

Senator Dean Smith, who is gay, introduced the bill to the Australian parliament a day after the vote result.

Yesterday we saw a glimpse of the country we all yearn for, a country that is fair-minded, generous and accepting, he told the Senate on Thursday.

I never believed the day would come when my relationship would be judged by my country to be as meaningful and valued as any other. The Australian people have proven me wrong.
Page Content

Over the past five years, the local administration of Sector 3 in Bucharest has made itself national champion in the energy renovation of blocks of flats. The team led by the mayor, Robert Negoita, has managed to access the bulk of the Structural Funds earmarked for energy renovation: 85% of all European funds assigned to Romania under this heading.

"Since 2012, around 1 200 blocks of flats have been renovated in Bucharest's Sector 3 through access to European funds and the local programme. In five years, Sector 3 has become the country's top urban district in terms of number of blocks of flats which have been made more energy efficient  and this was possible because the local administration responded to what residents really need," said Mr Negoita. In 2012, the Sector 3 team made accessing European funds an absolute priority, particularly as regards energy renovation. Starting from the premise that Romania must use the funds made available by the EU, the Sector 3 administration has worked hard to ensure that European funds are used for the benefit of its local residents. During this period, Mr Negoita held over 500 meetings with local residents to explain just how accessing European financing programmes could help.

Through projects to make the blocks of flats more energy efficient, teams of workers in Sector 3 have worked on both building envelopes and heating systems. Energy renovation of heating systems involves changing the furnace and installing an integrated electronic system which controls the temperature for the entire building. Energy renovation of the building envelope involves insulating the external walls, replacing external woodwork (including in the entrance area), insulating terrace areas, insulating the top-floor ceiling if the building has a frame, closing in balconies using insulated woodwork (including the railings) and insulating the basement ceiling.

As regards the costs involved in making these blocks of flats more energy efficient, 60% of the total cost of a project approved for energy renovation was covered by European funds, with the remaining 40% covered by Sector 3's budget and homeowner associations. Insulation combined with the new electronic temperature control system has reduced the blocks' heating bills by around 40%. Energy renovation has also reduced energy consumption for heating, making flats warmer in winter and cooler in summer. With this project, Sector 3 has become, in just a few years, one of the most modern and attractive districts in Romania's capital city. Energy renovation of blocks of flats is one of the measures undertaken by the mayor, Robert Negoita, to make Sector 3 a "smart city".
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An Australian United Nations diplomat accidentally fell to his death from the roof of his New York City home after playing a risky game of trust, police and local media said.

Julian Simpson, 30, had gone with his wife and friends to the apartment building roof to look at the Empire State Building lights.

The building was lit up in the colours of the rainbow in recognition of Australia's same-sex marriage vote.

Mr Simpson had swung another woman around and her husband had become angry, police said.

The men went on the seventh-floor apartment terrace, and Mr Simpson offered to prove he was trustworthy by playing a "trust game," going to the ledge and leaning back.

Mr Simpson grabbed for the other man's hand but slipped and fell to a second-floor landing, authorities said.

He was taken to the Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was assisting Mr Simpson's relatives, who asked for privacy.

Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister, said the death of Mr Simpson was a "shocking tragedy."

"Hearts go out to his family," Mr Turnbull told Australia's Seven Network television.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.
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A British explorer who sparked fears for his safety after going missing in Papua New Guinea has been found safe and well.

Benedict Allen had said he was going to meet with a mysterious tribe in the country. He was dropped into the jungle from a helicopter three weeks ago, hadn't been heard from since, and missed the flights that were scheduled to bring him back.

Further worries came from a cryptic post on his Twitter account. "Marching off to Heathrow," it read. "I may be some time (don't try to rescue me, please - where I'm going in PNG you won't ever find me you know...)"

But his friend, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, said that he had been found safe and well near a New Guinea airstrip and that he had requested a plane to bring him home.

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 discovery came around a day after his family launched search and rescue teams in an attempt to find him, amid fears for his safety.

The author and TV presenter, who has made six TV series for the BBC, has no mobile phone or GPS device with him and was expected to begin his journey home at the weekend.

Recommended British explorer disappears in remote Papua New Guinea

In a blog post on his website, Mr Allen wrote in September: "The Yaifo are one of the last people on the entire planet who are out of contact with our interconnected world.

"In October I'm hiring a helicopter to drop me off at the abandoned mission station, Bisorio - a forlorn place.

"Last time the Yaifo greeted me with a terrifying show of strength, an energetic dance featuring their bows and arrows.

"On this occasion who knows if the Yaifo will do the same, or run off, or be wearing jeans and T-shirts traded eons ago from the old mission station.

"Nor do I have an obvious means of returning to the outside world, which is somewhat worrying, especially at my advanced age.

"Either I must paddle down river for a week or so - or enlist the help of the Yaifo, as I did last time.

"So, if this website or my Twitter account falls more than usually silent - I'm due back mid-Nov - it's because I am still out there somewhere.

"So, don't bother to call or text. Just like the good old days, I won't be taking a sat phone, GPS or companion. Or anything else much. Because this is how I do my journeys of exploration. I grow older but no wiser, it seems."
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At least 15 countries have joined an alliance against coal use at the ongoing United Nations climate change negotiations taking place in Bonn, Germany.

Called the Powering Past Coal, the alliance was started by the UK, Canada, and the Marshall Islands.

International climate lead at Christian Aid lead, Mohamed Adow, told Reuters that the alliance is a rebuke to President Trump from the UK and Canada, two of Americas closest allies, that his obsession for dirty energy will not spread.

Recommended UN chief says time running out to prevent catastrophic climate change

Current members also include Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Mexico but the goal is to sign up at least 50 countries by the 2018 UN climate summit.

Major coal users like China, the US, Russia, and Germany have not joined. Though China has put forward an ambitious plan for solar energy, as has India.

The alliance appears to be a thinly veiled critical response to the current administration of Mr Trump.

 Climate change might be worse than thought after scientists find major mistake in water temperature readings

The announcement comes on the heels of an event the official US delegation  half the size of what it has been in the two previous Obama administrations  held on Monday. Industry representatives from coal, oil/gas, and nuclear power companies like Peabody Energy, nuclear engineering firm NuScale Power, and Tellurian, a liquefied natural gas exporter, were prominently featured during the event.

The presentation was interrupted for nearly 10 minutes by youth activists chanting and singing. Activists are a common presence at the UN meeting every year, but this time their ire was in full force opposing the USs starkly different message from the rest of the world, several people attending the meeting told The Independent.

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

During the panel Trump international energy issues adviser George D Banks said it was controversial only if we chose to bury our heads in the sand. Without question, fossil fuels will continue to be used, and we would argue that its in the global interest to make sure when fossil fuels are used that they be as clean and efficient as possible, Mr Banks said.

An unofficial US delegation including California Governor Jerry Brown, former Vice President Al Gore, former New York City mayor and UN special envoy on cities and climate change Michael Bloomberg, as well several American mayors and CEOs have been a presence at the meeting as well. They aim to show that sub-national governments and the private sector in the US are committed to meeting the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement under the previous Obama administration.

The purpose of the meeting in Bonn is to hash out details of how to implement the accord, signed by nearly 200 countries in December 2015 in an effort to curb carbon emissions and contain global warming to 2C.

The accord officially goes into effect in 2020.

As part of the agreement, countries have submitted action plans to the UN climate change body outlining planned reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, which often involve weaning their economies off coal use.

In June, Mr Trump announced the US would begin withdrawal procedures from the deal and if uninterrupted the US would be out by 4 November 2020. After previous holdouts Nicaragua and Syria announced they would be joining the accord in recent weeks, the US is the sole country to be in the withdrawal process.
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At least 16 people have been killed and scores left homeless after flash floods hit the area surrounding the Greek capital Athens.

More than 20 people have been injured in the disaster, described as biblical by officials.

Greece has declared a national day of mourning after raging torrents destroyed homes and infrastructure and turned over cars.

Some residents were forced to scale rooftops to flee the rising floodwater, as cars were swept down the street.

Rescue teams are searching homes for residents who may be trapped.

Severe flooding severely damaged parts of the municipality of Madra yesterday (AP)

Twelve of those killed were found in or near the small town of Mandra on the outskirts of the capital, which was hit hardest by the flooding.

Everything is lost. The disaster is biblical, Mandra Mayor Yianna Krikouki told state broadcaster ERT.

This is a very difficult moment for our country. We mourn the deaths of 14 people in what is a great disaster, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a televised address.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters 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 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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 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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

It is the wish of all of us that this number does not increase.

Immediately and without delay support measures will be adopted for households and businesses affected, he said.

More torrential rain is expected on Thursday, risking further damage.
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The European Parliament has backed closer integration between the EU and Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova with a view to those countries joining the customs union and Schengen area, plus gaining increased access to the single market.

A motion passed by the body calls for deepening integration with the three eastern states as they implement more reforms, potentially paving the way for them becoming candidate countries to join the bloc.

A new level of closer cooperation for countries that had implemented reforms to their political systems and economies could eventually lead to joining the customs union, energy union, digital union and Schengen area, further EU internal market access, integration into EU transport networks, industrial partnerships, increased participation in other EU programmes and agencies the motion says.

With an eye on Russia, the resolution also said the countries and EU would maintain collective pressure on Vladimir Putins government to resolve the conflicts in eastern Ukraine, the occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, and Transdniester in Moldova.

The resolution, which comes ahead of a summit in Brussels next week between EU officials the blocs eastern neighbours, was adopted by 519 votes to 114 with 47 abstentions.

The EU has previously been critical of the countries for alleged human rights violations but said of its eastern neighbours those three had progressed best in implementing reforms.

The new tighter integration could bring the countries into an Eastern Partnership Plus (EaP+) model, they said. Possible benefits could include a trust fund to invest in infrastructure in the countries.

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

But the Parliament warned that no further integration would happen if countries did not respect EU values and that strict conditionality was attached to any further progress.

The EU currently has five formal candidate countries for full membership: Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey.
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Greece has declared a day of national mourning after floods on the outskirts of Athens left at least 14 dead, flipping over cars, smashing into homes and cutting off traffic.

The flash floods turned roads into raging torrents of mud and debris inundated houses and businesses. Drivers scrambled out of their vehicles as cars were washed away. Rescue crews searched basement homes for residents who may have been trapped.

More torrential rain is expected on Thursday.

"This is a very difficult moment for our country. We mourn the deaths of 14 people in what is a great disaster. It is the wish of all of us that this number does not increase," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a televised address, announcing a day of national mourning for Thursday.

Twelve of the people killed  four women and eight men  were found in or near Mandra, a small town on the western outskirts of Athens that was hardest-hit by the flood. The coast guard recovered the bodies of two more men believed to have been swept out to sea by the flood.

Floodwater carrying debris charged toward the coast, sinking fishing boats in a small harbour. Several people were being treated in a hospital for various injuries, including hypothermia.

There were fears the death toll could rise further as rescue crews searched flooded homes and streets on the western outskirts of Athens.

The flooding came after a severe overnight storm brought driving rain to the area. Roads turned into muddy rivers that carried away vehicles, tossing them into piles on roadsides and against fences and buildings. Several walls from yards and low buildings collapsed, filling the streets with rubble.

The fire department said it had received more than 600 calls for help pumping water out of buildings and had rescued 86 people trapped in vehicles and homes. It said it had deployed 190 firefighters with 55 vehicles. All fire services across the wider Athens area had been put on alert as more bad weather was forecast.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

A section of the highway between Athens and Corinth was completely knocked out, with cars, trucks and buses trapped in an inundated underpass.

Judicial authorities ordered an immediate investigation into the deaths and material damage. Investigators would be looking into whether factors such as shoddy or illegal construction might have contributed to the severity of the flooding.

Local authorities shut schools in the areas of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, while the fire department appealed to the public to avoid the area unless absolutely necessary in an effort to reduce traffic.

More hazardous weather was predicted for large swaths of Greece lateron Wednesday and in coming days, with storms predicted for western Greece and for parts of the Greek capital.

The deaths came a day after authorities declared a state of emergency on the small Aegean Sea island of Symi due to torrential rainfall there that flooded homes and shops, swept vehicles into the sea and cut power after the local power station was flooded.

AP
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Scientists across Europe have been puzzling about a phenomenon that seemed laden with mystery and menace in somewhat uneven proportions - a concentration of radioactive pollution caused by a nuclide called ruthenium 106.

Official monitors in France and Germany concluded that, based on weather patterns, the contamination detected since late September had emanated from southern Russia or from Kazakhstan.

The most plausible zone of release lies between the Volga and the Urals, the French Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety said on 9 November. Jean-Marc Peres, the institutes director, told Reuters that the geographic area could indicate a spillage in Russia or in Kazakhstan.

On 8 October, the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection said, Russia must be assumed to be the region of origin of radioactive release - a suggestion that was denied by Rosatom, the state company that runs Russias nuclear industry.

According to a statement from Rosatom, None of the enterprises of the Russian nuclear industry has recorded radiation levels that exceed the norm.

One of the countries in the eastern part of the European Union was more likely to be the source, Rosatom added, noting high radiation levels over Italy, Romania and Ukraine.

In matters of nuclear threat, of course, European memories are framed by episodes such as the catastrophic accident in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union; and, 20 years later, the lethal poisoning in London of a former KGB officer, Alexander Litvinenko, with polonium 210, a rare and highly toxic isotope.

With such considerations in mind, the detection of elevated but unexplained levels of ruthenium 106 by monitoring stations in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland raised alarms.

Slowly though, as the levels retreated, the fretting eased.

German and French nuclear security agencies concluded that the pollution had not threatened the health of Europeans or the environment in which they live. These low levels of radioactivity do not pose a health hazard to the population, the German radiation protection office said on 10 November.

The French institute reached similar conclusions, but said the amounts of ruthenium 106 released at the source of the accident were significant. If contamination of this magnitude had occurred in France, it said, the authorities would have ordered protective measures for people living miles around.

The nuclide, which does not occur naturally, is used for a variety of purposes, including as a therapy for cancers and as an energy source in satellites.

According to European scientists, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has investigated whether the pollution could have been caused by a satellite falling back to earth, but concluded that there had been no such event.

Nor, according to the French and German radiation protection agencies, could the pollution have been caused by an accident at a nuclear reactor, because only ruthenium 106 has been detected and such a spillage would have released other nuclides. That left two potential sources, the French agency said, either in nuclear fuel-cycle facilities or radioactive source production.

Jean-Christophe Gariel, a senior official at the French agency, said, Weve done our job with the European data that was available, but we cannot go further for now.

Referring to Russia, he added, Maybe well be able to answer more questions when the country concerned by the issue comes up with more precise information.

He said that when he spoke to his counterparts in Russia last week, they had not been able to explain the origins of the contamination. We showed them a document detailing our scientific approach. They told us that our results were coherent and correct, but that they were not aware of any event that could have caused that.

In a telephone interview, Gariel said French experts thought the two most likely explanations were that the ruthenium 106 originated in a facility treating used fuels, or that it came from a plant producing ruthenium exclusively.

In any event, the French agency said in a statement, ruthenium levels had been decreasing since 6 October and the nuclide was currently no longer detected in Europe.

The New York Times
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European leaders have urged more global action to combat global warming after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 Paris agreement - with both France and Germany promising more funding to make up the shortfall.

France's President Emmanuel Macron said France aimed to close down all coal-fired power plants by 2021 as part of action to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Macron, who will host a summit in Paris on 12 December about climate finance, said France would make up for a shortfall in US funding for the climate science research by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Recommended UN chief says time running out to prevent catastrophic climate change

They will not miss a single euro, he told delegates from nearly 200 nations attending a meeting in Bonn, who applauded. US contributions to the IPCC budget have been about 2m ($2.36m) a year in recent years.

The UK also announced that it would help the IPCC financially, with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announcing a doubling of funding.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the pact was only a start to reining in a rise in global temperatures, blamed for stoking more heat waves, floods and rising sea levels, and needed to be toughened.

Climate change is by far the most significant struggle of our times, Ms Merkel said.

Ms Merkel said Germany needed to reduce its dependence on coal power in order to significantly cut emissions.

Ms Merkel's conservatives are seeking to form a new coalition government that includes the ecologist Greens, who are demanding steep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020.

We know that Germany still uses coal to a large extent and coal, especially brown coal, should make a contribution to meet our (emissions reduction) goals, Merkel said.

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

Mr Trump, who doubts climate change is primarily caused by man-made emissions, said in June that he would pull out of the Paris Agreement and instead promote the coal and fossil fuel industries.

Ms Merkel praised an alliance of US states, cities and companies called America's Pledge to compensate for Mr Trump's decision.

I welcome this as it highlights the importance of climate protection in large parts of the U.S. regardless of the decision by President Trump to leave the Paris accord, she said.

Some environmental groups expressed disappointment that Ms Merkel did not set a date for phasing out coal, saying greenhouse gas emissions were harming vulnerable people around the world.

She needed to come to Bonn and show she had heard the suffering of the people of the Pacific and around the world ... She did not deliver this, said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told delegates in Bonn that governments should put a price on carbon emissions and stop making bad bets on fossil fuels.

Growing carbon markets in Europe and North America, and China's expected announcement of one of the world's largest emissions trading systems, are a good sign, he said.

But to meet the Paris goals we need at least 50 per cent global coverage and a higher price on carbon to drive large-scale climate action, Mr Guterres said.

Reuters
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Violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, as Isis loses its base areas and its bombing attacks are thwarted by informers and double agents. A senior Iraqi security official says that intelligence about potential Isis attacks has improved to the point that government forces can monitor a bomb from construction to detonation, allowing it to explode after evacuating civilians so Isis does not know that its bomb-making networks have been penetrated.

We have people who work with Isis who agree to work with us, said Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji in an interview with The Independent in Baghdad. Isis does not know this and we make sure our informant is not exposed. Sometimes security forces even pay for the car that transports a bomb to Baghdad and allow it blow up in a place which Isis has targeted. We ask people to move and make an official statement with a false number of casualties, he says.

Mr Araji, a long-time leader of the militant Shia Badr Organisation, got his job as Interior Minister last year when his predecessor resigned in the wake of an Isis car bomb that killed over 300 people in the Karada district in central Baghdad. He says that this could happen again, but is much less likely now because Isis no longer holds cities and districts where it can safely organise and equip bombers. The main thing is that the caliphate has been broken, he says. There is only one town  Rawa  and the western desert where Isis still holds out.

Iraqi soldiers from guard a popular market in al-Gomhouria Street in central Baghdad (EPA)

Isis shows signs of demoralisation and defeatism as it loses its last pockets of territory, though it leaders are likely to have recognised that it was going to be defeated in Mosul because of the military superiority of its enemies. It will therefore have prepared sleeper cells along with desert hideouts and arms, ammunition and food dumps to enable its remaining forces to survive and launch occasional attacks to show they are still in business. Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the predecessor of Isis, was able to recover from defeats by successfully lying low between 2007 and 2012, when it re-emerged as circumstances changed in its favour.

Isis will try to do the same again, but cannot succeed if its networks of militants are exposed and eliminated. Mr Araji, speaking in his office in the Green Zone in Baghdad, says, We have cooperation from members of important Isis families to help our security units. He said that the wife of an Isis leader was to make contact later in the day: We give her money and keep her identity secret, but she does it because she wants to protect her sons and stay alive herself.

Mr Araji says that there had been no successful Isis attacks during the Arbaeen commemoration when millions of Shia walk to their holy city of Kerbala from all over Iraq. The vast numbers are difficult to defend and they have traditionally been easy targets for Isis suicide bombers who mingle with the crowds. As evidence of greater security, he reads from a dossier prepared for the Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, showing that there had been just two attempted suicide bombings during Arbaeen and both the bombers had been killed without hurting anybody else.

In the past, Iraqi officials have privately blamed corruption for the ability of suicide bombers or trucks filled with gunmen to make their way unhindered through government checkpoints. In Mosul, local people say they are frightened when they see Isis fighters, whom they had informed against and had been arrested, back on the streets after  they assume  bribing their way to freedom. Mr Araji agreed that such things did happen and said an officer in the interior was about to be charged for helping Isis families escape from Mosul to Baghdad.

Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Show all 20 1 /20 Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia pilgrims praying at the Immam Hussein shrine AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia pilgrims gathering in front of the Immam Hussein shrine AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia pilgrims mourning in front of the Immam Hussein shrine AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia pilgrims praying at the Immam Hussein shrine AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia pilgrims pray at the Imam al-Abbas shrine during the commemoration of Arbaeen in Kerbala REUTERS Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia pilgrim mourning AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia pilgrims pray at the Imam al-Abbas shrine REUTERS Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shiite pilgrims gathering in front of the Immam Hussein shrine AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia faithful pilgrims gather between the holy shrine of Imam Hussein and the holy shrine of Imam Abbas AP Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival A man flashes the V-sign as Muslim pilgrims gather at the Immam Hussein shrine AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather the Immam Abbas ibn Ali shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather during the commemoration of Arbaeen in Kerbala REUTERS Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims ahead of the Arbaeen religious festival, which marks the 40th day after Ashura AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival The holiday marks the end of the forty day mourning period after the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein AP Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather ahead of the Arbaeen religious festival AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia faithful pilgrims march to Karbala AP Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather at the Immam Abbas ibn Ali shrine AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather in Karbala AFP/Getty Images Shia Muslim pilgrims gather for the Arbaeen religious festival Shia Muslim pilgrims gather REUTERS

The overall mood of senior Iraqi government officials has been transformed over the past six months by the defeat of Isis at Mosul after a nine-month siege. This was the biggest military victory ever won by the Iraqi armed forces, though it had been expected. But the peaceful reoccupation of Kirkuk and territories disputed with the Kurdistan Regional Government was, by way of contrast, an unexpected success, coming after Kurdish President Masoud Barzani had unwisely overplayed his hand and isolated himself internationally by holding a referendum on independence. If he had agreed to postpone the referendum, he would have made many gains, says Mr Araji. As a government we were lucky.

Mr Araji revealed that Iraqi Kurdistan is not quite as isolated from the outside world as its people might have feared last month when Turkey and Iran were threatening to close land routes in and out of the land-locked Kurdish enclave, unless they were returned to Iraqi government control.

In the event, Turkey and Iran each worry that if they close their border crossings and the other does not, then the one that stays open will get a monopoly of trade. Almost everything is imported in Iraq, and most of these imports come across the Turkish and Iranian borders. Mr Araji says that Iraqi leaders had met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who supported the Iraqi central government, but did not talk about closing the border crossings".

He explains that the northern border of Iraq, snaking through mountains and deep gorges, is highly permeable. particularly on the Iranian side. This has always been a paradise for smugglers. He says that officially we have four border crossings, three with Iran and one with Turkey, but unofficially there are 17 border crossings, of which 16 are with Iran. When the Iranian government speaks about shutting the border crossings it ignores these unofficial routes. Nevertheless, the Iraqi Kurdish negotiating position is now so weak that they will probably have to cede a measure of control over these frontiers to Baghdad.
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Private land owned by Palestinians in the West Bank can be seized by the state for public use in settlements, Israels attorney general has said.

The unprecedented legal opinion from Avichai Mendelblit, published on Wednesday, found that private land can be expropriated but must comply with standards of reasonableness and proportionality, the Times of Israel reported.

Mr Mendelblits suggestion is a marked change from his usually cautious stance on issues related to settlement building in the West Bank.

 Israel approves spending millions in West Bank settlement security

Earlier this year, he reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would not defend a new law retroactively legalising wildcat settlements built on private Palestinian land because he believed to do so violated both Israeli and international law.

The new law has been frozen by Israels High Court as it is has been petitioned by rights groups and Palestinian landowners.

The attorney generals new findings were released after a recent Supreme Court case built around Haresha, a wildcat settlement built in 1995 without Israeli government approval. Under international law, all Israeli building over the 1967 Green Line is illegal.

Another brick in the wall: Saving schools in the West Bank Show all 2 1 /2 Another brick in the wall: Saving schools in the West Bank Another brick in the wall: Saving schools in the West Bank 8423.bin Another brick in the wall: Saving schools in the West Bank 8424.bin

Residents petitioned to legalise the only road to the settlement - part of which lies along privately owned Palestinian land.

Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran found that the land could be taken from Palestinian owners for the road for the benefit of Israeli settlers because both parties formed the West Banks local population.

The full significance of [the Supreme Court] ruling will be examined by the attorney general in the near future in a [formal] legal opinion, Mr Mendelblit wrote.

He agreed that the decision made it possible for the Haresha road to be legalised - but warned that private land could only be expropriated for similarly specific purposes and for public use.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked welcomed the attorney generals opinion.

The decision is another step toward the realization of the rights of hundreds of thousands of residents in Judea and Samaria, she said, referring to the West Bank by the Biblical names used by many Israelis.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now is expected to appeal the Supreme Court decision.

In a statement, the group said confiscating the land "would constitute a severe violation of international humanitarian law and of the Palestinians right to own property", and that it could lead to "additional confiscations".

"The AG seeks to allow the confiscation of lands owned by Palestinians, who have no voting rights in Israel for the benefit of Israeli settlers with full rights," a spokesperson for Peace Now said. "If the Netanyahu government will continue down this path it will lead us towards a one state reality, based on discrimination and theft.
Page Content

While the creation of the European Pillar of Social Rights is a positive step towards a more social Europe, social and employment policies at national, regional and local level need to be supported with sound EU cohesion funding for all EU regions, President of the European Committee of the Regions Karl-Heinz Lambertz said ahead of the Social Summit for Fair Growth and Jobs in Gothenburg.

The European Pillar of Social Rights is built on 20 principles with the aim of ensuring equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions and social protection and inclusion for its citizens. It is expected to be adopted by EU leaders and Heads of State and Government in Gothenburg on Friday. President Karl-Heinz Lambertz will represent the European Committee of the Regions (CoR)  the EU's assembly of local and regional leaders  at the Summit, which also gathers social partners and other key players for a discussion on how to promote fair jobs and growth in Europe's future.

To make the European Pillar of Social Rights truly effective across Europe, President Lambertz called for an Action Plan involving all levels of government. He voiced concern, however, over possible cuts after 2020 to the EU cohesion policy funds, that is, the part of the EU budget for regional investment, following Brexit and potential changes to the EU's priorities. This would have devastating effects for the EU's social, economic and territorial cohesion.

"The success of Europe lies in ensuring that every citizen in every region, city and town benefits from our Union. We cannot carry on with a tunnel vision over economic success, ignoring social failure. The EU's cohesion policy is just the right instrument for addressing both social and economic challenges by helping to tackle regional disparities, promote social integration and create a fairer and more prosperous Europe. Between 2014-2020 EU cohesion policy will have created 420 000 new jobs, lifted 7.4 million people out of unemployment and supported 8.9 million more people get qualifications. Long-term social investment must be a priority for Europe, which is why we launched the #CohesionAlliance with five major European associations of regions and cities, demanding a strong cohesion policy after 2020 for all EU regions", President Lambertz said.

President Lambertz also highlighted the importance of tackling in-work poverty and social dumping, welcoming the agreement reached by EU employment ministers on the revision of the Posting of Workers directive. This is expected to bring down the maximum time of posting from 24 to 12 months, as the European Committee of the Regions had requested in its relevant report and enshrine the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same place. "The free movement of services must go hand-in-hand with the protection of workers. We need to strike a balance between the economic and social dimension of the European Union", he said.

The CoR adopted its formal position on the Pillar of Social Rights last month. Rapporteur Mauro D'Attis said: "We welcome the decision of the leaders of the EU Member States to address economic and social insecurity as a matter of priority. However, we must not forget that there are significant social inequalities throughout our Union, which exist both within and between the Member States. We cannot afford to disregard the responsibility and powers of local and regional authorities in this area."

Contact:

Lauri Ouvinen

Tel. +32 22822063

lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu
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A suicide bomber killed nine people at a political gathering in the Afghan capital on Thursday in an attack claimed by Isis.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the attacker detonated his payload at the entrance to a wedding hall where the event was being held, killing seven police and two civilians, and wounding another nine people.

Isis claimed the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.

Parliament member Hafiz Mansoor, who attended the meeting but was not harmed, said around 700 supporters of the governor of the northern Balkh province were attending a conference to highlight his work.

Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the Taliban and other insurgents since the U.S. and NATO shifted to a counterterrorism and support role at the end of 2014. The Taliban have seized a number of districts across the country, and both groups have carried out major attacks.

Both the Taliban and the Isis affiliate, which is largely made up of disgruntled former Taliban fighters, are at war with the government. Both groups want to impose a harsh version of Islamic law on Afghanistan, but they are fiercely divided over leadership, tactics and ideology, and have clashed on a number of occasions.

AP
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Emmanuel Macron has vowed to replace every dollar that is withdrawn from the UNs climate change programme by Donald Trump.

The French President told a UN climate summit in Bonn, Germany, that France would step in to cover the cost of US contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that Mr Trump has said he will withdraw.

I can guarantee that, starting in 2018, the IPCC will have all the money it needs and will continue to support our decision-making, he said. It will not miss a single euro.

We need scientific information that is constantly nourished to ensure clear decision making. The IPCC is one of the major components of this work.

Recommended UN chief says time running out to prevent catastrophic climate change

However, it is threatened today by the decision of the US not to guarantee funding for it. Therefore, I propose that the EU replaces the USA, and France will meet that challenge.

The US currently contributes around 2 million (1.8 million) a year to the IPCC.

However, Mr Trump has pledged to pull the US out of the 2015 Paris Agreement and other international climate change initiatives. He also plans to promote coal and other fossil fuel industries.

In his speech, Mr Macron also called for an EU tariff on goods imported from countries or companies that do not share its climate goals, and pledged to work to raise the cost of carbon within the EU to 30 a tonne.

The French President is hosting a conference in Paris next month on the issue of climate 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. 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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

Representatives from almost 200 countries are currently meeting at the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) summit in Bonn, where discussions are focusing on how the Paris Agreement should be implemented.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also addressed the summit, telling delegates: Climate change is by far the most significant struggle of our time.

She praised a group of US states, cities and companies, called Americas Pledge, that have vowed to continue tackling climate change despite Mr Trumps stance.

I welcome this as it highlights the importance of climate protection in large parts of the US regardless of the decision by President Trump to leave the Paris accord, Ms Merkel said.

However, her speech was criticised by some Green MPs in Germany for not going far enough. Ms Merkel is currently in the middle of delicate negotiations with the party about entering into a governing coalition with her Christian Democratic party.
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Many of us seriously believed that we would never see any resolution to the desperately sad plight of Zimbabwe.

Now at long last it looks certain that old Robert Mugabes goose is finally cooked. Hopefully we shall also see his wifes permanent absence, and the rounding up of their cronies for years of plundering the treasury, violence and mismanagement.

In no way do I condone any wanton violence against these individuals, they should be held accountable in a court of law  a pleasure they did not afford their opponents I must say!

The armed forces need to go after the money, ask for assistance from outside, prioritise health and food production and then set out a sensible timescale for elections.

There must not be a fallback to the old chestnut of Africans are not ready for democracy!

This could be the beginning of the end, let us hope it is not out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Robert Boston

Kent

Son of Greggs

Many have been upset by Greggs featuring a sausage roll in the crib scene in their Christmas advert. Perhaps it is a timely reminder that many folk leave Jesus out of their Christmas celebrations, and put something in their lives in place of the son of God.

J Longstaff

E Sussex

Housing crisis

At a stroke of a pen, the Government has reduced the debt burden by 70bn by reclassifying housing associations as private not public bodies. While it seems a sensible idea, I am concerned it will lead to the debt being recovered, with more interest on top.

They get the ability to borrow money, from, er the banks we bailed out. Funny eh!? Not!

Much better to have an infrastructure fund, meaning more gets spent solving the housing crisis, or is that too simple?

Or, why not simply provide money to housing associations and councils to build more homes, as Government said it would? Cost effective and saves on temporary accommodation costs.

Gary Martin

London, E17

Look no further than your driveway

May I tell Simon Calder that, last weekend, I travelled from London to Edinburgh for about 80.

I didnt have to know where to look. I didnt have to book way in advance. I left when it suited me and had a seat throughout my journey. I arrived, relaxed and ready for a pleasant evening and was able to start back the next day with an early start to suit myself.

I went by car.

D Leddy

Surrey
DJ Aktive went from spinning at his hometowns radio station to touring the world with some of hip-hops biggest names, including Kanye West, Nas, Common, John Legend and the Roots. But the master turntablist says his current gig as the official DJ of Janet Jacksons State of the World Tour is his favorite of them all.

We recently spoke with DJ Aktive to learn more about his career and why touring with Jackson has left such an impression.

Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: You have toured the world with some of hip-hops biggest names. How did you get your start?

DJ Aktive: I started in Philadelphia doing DJ battles as a teenager, and I later started doing radio in Philly. The man who is now my manager actually heard me on the radio spinning and asked me to get down with Musiq Soulchild. That was the first tour I did, and it was in the year 2000.

Working with celebrities, Im sure you have seen a lot. What has been the most memorial experience you have had on tour?

The most memorable experience. Wow, there are a lot of them. I mean, currently Im with Janet Jackson, and I never thought Id be spinning for an icon such as herself, so that was a blessing. Also, Im a big fan of Nas, he is like my favorite rapper, so touring with him, that was big for me as well.

I read that Janet has been your favorite artist to work with. Why is that?

Its because of her work ethic. To see her rehearse every day at the age that she is, its just like, wow. She is nonstop, and I hope my work ethic is like that when I get to be her age. Beyond that, she is a nice person and so genuine.

What can people who come out to Janets show expect to take away from the experience?

A lot of excitement, dancing and all of her hits. It is a very exciting show with good music and great energy. It is a lot of nonstop dancing.

Do you have any advice for aspiring DJs who hope to achieve the same type of success you have found?

My advice to kids who want to be DJs is to practice your craft. If you want to be a tour DJ or a club DJ, you have to know all genres of music and have a good attitude. Attitude is key. Practice, learn and have a good attitude, and I think you should be good in the music industry.

Janet Jacksons State of the World Tour will come to Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26. Tickets start at $24 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Like Flint, East Chicago has become a textbook example of governmental apathy and environmental racism. Residents living in the West Calumet housing complex were unaware that, for years, they were living atop a lead Superfund site, which was first flagged as contaminated nearly three decades ago. East Chicagoans were exposed to dangerous levels of lead in their food, water and air for years without their knowledge  resulting in serious illness and long-term disabilities throughout the community. Meanwhile, the EPA and local agencies dragged their feet on remediation efforts for the better part of two decades despite strong internal evidence of dangerous contamination levels.

Sadly, East Chicago is no exception. There is growing evidence of unsafe levels of lead contamination in other cities across Indiana in former industrial areas like Gary and Evansville. Across the nation, there are thousands of regions with unacceptably high levels of lead that are going unnoticed or where the cleanup efforts remain hugely underfunded.

Although the Trump administration inherited rather than caused the lead contamination problem, its hostility toward environmental protections pushes us further away from addressing pollution and its impacts. Nationwide, Scott Pruitts EPA has proposed gutting two major programs that identify and eradicate lead poisoning hazards for children. Within East Chicago, it is unclear why the agency refuses to sue a coke plant despite EPA documentation of hundreds of federal air pollution standards violations.

Such actions betray the Trump administrations lack of seriousness in addressing pollution. But as we strive to hold the federal government accountable, we must ensure that other bad actors arent let off the hook. State and city governments are also at fault; local authorities, in East Chicago and elsewhere, have inadequately regulated industrial pollution and are still refusing to pay attention to these ongoing environmental disasters.

Across Indiana, the situation is so bad that earlier this year two members of Congress introduced a state bill to double the number of Medicaid-eligible children who get tested for potential lead poisoning. The fact that the bill never even received a hearing speaks to the lack of political will to address environmental injustices occurring across the state.

We need our government to treat the protection of our children as a serious matter, especially since lead poisoning has real consequences. In Flint, new research finds that fertility rates since 2014 decreased by 12 percent among women while fetal death rates increased by a shocking 58 percent. Sadly, the well-documented racial disparities in lead poisoning means that too many politicians see this as an issue that concerns neither them nor their white constituents. This political indifference to this dangerous and well-documented public health crisis is inexcusable.

Mixed authority and responsibility of federal, state and local governments leads to poor coordination and unclear lines of communication for community members. Compounding the problem is the fact that authorities all too frequently ignore community concerns when they do take action.

East Chicago is a prime example. Local officials failed to seek input from West Calumet residents or key community institutions to understand residents needs or the best way to proceed. Affected communities were informed only after critical decisions like emergency evacuations were made. As a result, the East Chicago Housing Authority gave West Calumet residents only 90 days to vacate their homes without providing alternative housing  in the middle of a school year. Residents subsequently had no choice but to file a lawsuit after failing to secure housing elsewhere.

Its not surprising, then, that East Chicagoans reported feeling disrespected by the authorities who were supposed to help them and felt there was little transparency regarding future plans. This level of community disenfranchisement propagates environmental and social injustice.

The good news is that even as some governmental authorities refuse to protect their citizens, civil and grassroots organizations have increased their efforts. The Indiana NAACP State Conference, for example, organized a series of training events last month for the next generation of leaders and community members to learn how to test for lead in water, soil and air. Students and community members in East Chicago were given kits this week to collect samples with the aim of using the results to support the call for further testing and remedies. Such initiatives are an important means of grassroots empowerment and are crucial to holding government and industry accountable.

Engaged, empowered, and educated is how the NAACP leaders envision these communities that historically have suffered decades of marginalization and racial discrimination. Im hopeful that such efforts by the NAACP could become a model for other parts of the country and inspire a new generation of leaders emerging from communities of color.

Carlton Waterhouse is a professor of law and deans fellow at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier

"When you shake a veteran's hand today, look them in the eye and give them a heartfelt thank you," said USAF Ret. Col. Jen Fullmer, parade grand marshal, who spoke at the event.
Every day, African-Americans in law enforcement maintain the balance of advocating for justice in their community while promoting the well-being of fellow officers.

Timothy Knight, a retired sergeant with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), realized this when he noticed two sub groups among other African-American officers.

One sub group, he stated, assimilates into the dominant discourse or culture in order to grow and move up in rank and opportunities. The other group remains committed to their community and a sense of rightness, regardless of the cost to their career.

This challenges the very existence of the African-American officer on the police department, said Knight. If you have a strong sense of cultural and historical self-awareness, it does become a challenge.

Ronald E. Hampton, the immediate past president of the National Black Police Association Inc. (NBPA), shares Knights view. He noted that Black officers are often tested in their line of work by being pushed to choose which side they are on  either advocating for equality within their ranks and justice in the community, or giving staunch support to other officers even when they make deadly mistakes.

There were times when my white colleagues and even some of the Black ones would ask, Are you Blue or not? said Hampton, who served as a police officer for 24 years in Washington, D.C., and has spoken about his experiences in forums around the world.

The Code of Silence and The Blue Code are very real, he added. When you step out of line with that, then theres retaliation.

Hampton stated that he received threats against himself and his family when he reported other officers for acts of brutality and misconduct.

Knight believes that the culture in police departments is largely set by groups such as the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), a union for officers that heavily influences police policy. Members enjoy reliable support from the FOP, which ensures that the side of law enforcement is fairly represented in any national discussion of policing.

Knight describes it as one of the most powerful organizations in the country and primarily white.

Members drive the direction by way of vote, he said. So if you have an organization that is composed primarily of white males, then you have a white male worldview dominating the direction of police departments. Instead of protecting and serving all citizens, it co-ops government to create a special interest group for white males.

Although they appreciate the opportunity to serve their community, some Black police officers say that in the 21st century, the environment in police departments is still not equal, despite informal demands for pledges of blue loyalty.

Some police departments have actually had two promotional lists, one for whites and another for minorities, Hampton said.

Sgt. Vincent Burke, a 26-year veteran with IMPD, said some decisions are made without the concerns of minority officers being considered.

Theres been issues with promotions, hiring and firing, Burke said. I just think that sometimes a little more should be put into the process before anybody is hired or promoted.

Knight agrees, adding that there has been inequality in how officers of color are promoted and moved into specialized units, irrespective of their educational background, tenure or relationship with fellow officers.

This places them in a tenuous and oftentimes adversarial position with the very organization that they love, and more importantly, the other officers, as well, he said.

However, Knight stated he did not let any discomfort keep him from being both an advocate for justice and an effective officer during his 23-year career with IMPD, which included time on patrol, with the motorcycle unit and drill team, homicide investigations and nonprofit community work.

I decided not to live a life of contradiction, Knight said.

Preventing deadly police shootings

In recent years, more media coverage has been given to fatal police-action shootings of African-Americans in cities across the country, including the June shooting of unarmed Black motorist Aaron Bailey in Indianapolis.

Many Black police officers carry the same concern about these shootings that other African-Americans in their community have.

Hampton believes IMPD Chief Bryan Roach and other department leaders made the right call by recommending termination of officers Michal Dinnsen and Carlton Howard for not following police protocol that could have prevented Baileys death. He hopes the Civilian Police Merit Board approves the recommendation.

Moving forward, Hampton said he believes one of the best ways to prevent police-action shootings is for citizens to become more involved in setting police policies. He mentioned the example of the Toronto Police Services Board in Canada, a group of civilians that sets policies involving conduct as well as hiring and termination of police. In Indianapolis, the Civilian Police Merit Board is involved in each of those functions. It is a model Hampton believes has worked well in other cities around the world and can help reduce fatal police encounters in the United States.

Police sometimes say citizens dont understand police work, Hampton said. That is not true. Police officers are also civilians; they were not born police officers. They were hired and educated on what the job entails. Citizens can do that, too, and become more involved in the process of public safety.

Knight cited the work of Stanford University psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt, Ph.D., whose research found that officers often tend to pull the trigger more quickly on Black men than on anyone else.

Researchers believe this may come from certain police officers notions of who Black people are, their detachment from Black people and not having associations or relationships with African-American people.

This is scientific, Knight said. If you can dehumanize someone (see them as less than human), even on a subliminal level, then its easier to pull the trigger on that person. However, to keep things in perspective, Knight noted that he has seen both Black and white officers resist pulling the trigger, averting hundreds, if not thousands, of potential police-action shootings.

For him, the best way to stop police-action shootings is a concerted effort to build real working relationships between law enforcement and the African-American community.

Burke and Hampton believe the fastest way to obtain that understanding is for citizens to get to know the officers who patrol their neighborhoods.

Remember that the police are paid by the community and work for the community, Hampton said. One of the things that helped me get along with some of the most radical people in Washington was coming to everyone with a service approach.

Burke and Hampton encourage residents to approach their officers, indicate that they live in the neighborhood, and request the officers name.

If I know the officer in my area, then I can go to that officer if something happens and share information without feeling like somebodys gonna find out, Burke said. That is important, because police officers and detectives are only as good as the information we receive.

Burke also believes stereotypes  the belief among Blacks that many officers are automatically corrupt or racist and the view among whites that African-Americans are content with crime in their neighborhoods  must be overcome. In addition, he says community-policing efforts should be increased, especially among youth.

However, he added, citizens can also help keep encounters with police from escalating by cooperating. If they are stopped by police, for example, motorists are encouraged to cooperate with officers and keep their hands in plain view.

Often, an officer may simply want to tell you something simple like your taillight is out or you were going a little too fast, said Burke. But once you start arguing with the officer, then it becomes a safety issue because the officer has to watch what youre doing even more. We are also human, so if youre fussing and cussing with an officer, then the officer will get upset and the situation can escalate.

If someone disagrees with an officer, Burke advises it is best for the motorist to say they want to see a supervisor, which is every citizens right.

More pros than cons

Despite the challenges that come with being a police officer, Burke, Hampton and Knight would all recommend it as a fulfilling profession.

Youre protecting your own community, Burke said. It is a rewarding career.

Knight noted that police officers not only enjoy positive camaraderie with each other, but also have a unique opportunity to help people in their community.

Being able to defend the weak, to advocate for the poor, to do right by the widows and the fatherless, the ill and the indigent, to prevent their exploitation and victimization by powerful, unjust and unethical people, said Knight, that is the work of law enforcement.

blue
On an unseasonably warm fall day, a woman sporting an elegantly designed black and gold jumpsuit moved about a neatly decorated banquet hall on the citys west side, her hair expertly coiffed into a modern 20s-inspired style. The theme of the evening was G.L.A.M. of Gatsby, and Shanel Poole, founder and CEO of G.L.A.M. Inc., had a lot to celebrate.

G.L.A.M., which was founded in 2008, is dedicated to empowering young women ages 9-18 to grow, learn, lead and live powerful and productive lives by exceeding everyday limitations in order to reach their highest potential. The acronym, which originally stood for Gorgeous Ladies Acting Maturely, now means Guidance Life skills and Mentoring.

Surrounded by a few of the groups participants, known as G.L.A.M. Girls, Poole gave awards to a number of prestigious guests in honor of the organizations 10th anniversary. Beyond the moving speeches and shiny trophies, many hugs and tears were shared as Poole reflected on those whod been instrumental in helping the group last an entire decade.

The attendees, though small in number, were pivotal in their overall impact. Among them were corporate executives, luminaries and some of G.L.A.M.s day ones.

If not for a joke, offered by Poole, on her years spent incarcerated, no one would be able to tell that, in the not-too-distant past, glamour was a far-off concept for her. But despite the tragedy and triumph, Poole and the G.L.A.M. Girls stand poised to take on whatever comes their way with grace and style.

A troubled start

I grew up with a real bad, troubled life. At 21 they was expecting me to be in prison, said Poole. Though she asserts that her parents were the best in the world, Poole is careful to note her childhood was far from a fairy tale. At home, her father struggled with alcoholism, and he and Pooles mother would often get into fights. At school, Poole was relentlessly bullied for her small frame and distinct eye shape. Classmates would call her a dope fiend and compare her to cartoon character Bart Simpson.

Can you imagine being in the sixth grade and going toe-to-toe with your daddy because he put hands on your mama, and then you gotta go to the magnet program in the morning and everyones talking about you?  Eventually that domino effect is gonna affect everybody, she said.

At 15, Poole was labeled truant and a juvenile delinquent. One day, while riding with two male acquaintances, the young teen was arrested on a drug charge when one of the older men put his marijuana in her seat. When she was 17, her father kicked her out of the family home. She lived in her car and would drive around I-465 for hours on end, with all of her belongings in the trunk. Until the age of 18, Poole was in and out of girls school and the Department Of Correction. She tried to seek refuge in the church, but the man who had baptized her when she was 12 propositioned the teen for sex. Feeling like she had nowhere to turn, she wanted to die and give up on life.

I felt like I had disappointed God  and my parents. I had survived rape, two abortions, in and out of the system, she said. I dont got nobody, what is there to live for?

Poole felt punished and abandoned by the systems she once believed would help her. During that dark moment, Poole remembers crying out to God for help. That cry eventually led her to the Christamore House, where she was able to connect with the staff and get on the right track. At 19, Poole earned her GED in 91 days, joined a local Toastmasters group, got a job and was on her way to college at Ivy Tech. Soon before classes began, tragedy struck.

The only thing (my father) asked me to do was go to college, then he died three days before I was supposed to start, said Poole. She suffered a nervous breakdown two months later and lost her job as well as her fathers annuity, financing that wouldve paid for her education until she was 25.

I didnt have a chance to grieve my dad, she said, adding that the weight of grief along with the pressure of living up to the expectations of everyone who had helped her up to that point was an overwhelming pressure.

A second chance came in the form of acceptance to Indiana State University shortly after her 21st birthday. In Terre Haute, she was able to not only turn over a new leaf in a different environment, but also discover her lifes true calling.

I got a call from Christamore House about an essay contest for a brand new car. I wrote an essay saying that I would use the car to drive back and forth to Indianapolis to take care of my mother and to start a nonprofit organization to help young girls like me avoid the pitfalls I experienced, said Poole.

She won the car, and soon after, G.L.A.M. Inc. was born.

The G.L.A.M.orous life

This let me know that not only was God listening, but he had an assignment for me, Poole said.

Poole, who had chosen to study political science and public relations, initially had her sights on law school. She instead decided to redirect her educational focus to benefiting others. In 2008, the capstone project in her PR class served as the foundation for her yet-unformed nonprofit. Enlisting the help of a classmate, Poole created the organizations first event flier and drove back home to Indianapolis one Saturday afternoon to recruit members. Poole reached out to Lexus Killebrew and Killebrews cousin, Coriona Johnson, to help.

When Shanel first called me, I didnt really take it seriously, Killebrew said with a laugh. Shed known Poole most of her life and had adopted her as her godmother. She was involved with other local organizations at the time, and it wasnt until Poole called a second time that Killebrew took it to heart. I reached out to everyone I knew. I hopped on MySpace, Facebook  I ended up recruiting over 50 girls.

Killebrews mother, Cassandra Killebrew, noticed her relationship with her daughter improved greatly as a result of Lexus involvement in the program. She wasnt talking back to me, said Cassandra Killebrew, who was 15 when her daughter was born. G.L.A.M. made our bond closer than what it was. Were best friends now.

Poole credits Lexus Killebrew, Johnson, and Johnsons best friend Makayla Mitchell with helping her lay the foundation for G.L.A.M. Johnson was Pooles right hand throughout the groups humble beginnings, assisting in formulating curriculum, planning activities and acting as a mentor to the other girls.

Thats serious when youre 22 years old and trying to start a nonprofit with just $20 and the faith that God told you to do this, said Poole.

In their sessions each Saturday, no topic was off limits, and Poole worked tirelessly to ensure that their needs  anything from a home-cooked meal, life-skills training, conflict resolution or even cash to buy a new bra  were met.

I wanted to create an organization where people would say, Oh, yeah we wanna get involved and help the girls of G.L.A.M., then when they come in and see that we have anger problems, self-esteem issues, weve been molested, we dont have no parents because its like, yeah, psych your mind. I dont know what you was thinking. This aint no pageant. This is real issues that real girls are dealing with.

Tragedy strikes

Seven years into G.L.A.M., the ladies were dealt a blow they werent expecting when two of their own, Makayla Mitchell and Coriona Johnson, were gunned down on the citys west side. The pair were sitting in Johnsons car at the time, a week after participating with other G.L.A.M girls at the Circle City Classic. Their murders are still unsolved.

The girls of G.L.A.M. are not supposed to be homicide victims; theyre supposed to be (college) graduates, the next doctors, lawyers and accountants, said Poole. (Losing Coriona and Makayla) did something to me. It really made my passion diminish a lot.

I didnt think about G.L.A.M. at the time, to be honest, said Cassandra Killebrew, who is Johnsons aunt. I was thinking about my brother

(Johnsons father, who is in prison). For the last four years, I had been dealing with nothing but death. Cassandra Killebrew had recently lost her

youngest brother, and shortly after Johnsons death, she also lost the father of her children.

Charity Mitchell, Makaylas mother, said looking back, G.L.A.M. was another part of her late daughters village. She needed it, she said, noting that prior to being involved, her daughter had issues connecting with other young women. Life after her passing has been difficult for the entire family. Its like a reflection, you look at what was, what is and what could have been. I know for her siblings, it can be bleak, but I try to keep hope that in anything bad  God can bring something out of it thats better.

Both Cassandra Killebrew and Charity Mitchell shared their gratitude for everything that Poole and G.L.A.M. did for their families after the girls deaths.

Its an honor that they remember them and speak of them, said Charity Mitchell.

Cassandra Killebrew added: They did things they didnt have to do. We appreciate everything G.L.A.M. did for Coriona and Makayla.  Theres a lot of troubled girls out there.  If they were to hear the stories of other girls who went through G.L.A.M. and how theyre doing now, even just to hear Shanels story, would help them to know that there is more to life than wanting to give up, that there are people out here who love and care about them.

Looking toward

the future

Despite such a devastating setback, Poole has forged ahead. When asked about her reflections on the organizations 10-year legacy, she is full of gratitude. I cant do anything but thank God that hes allowed 300 girls lives to be impacted. Poole said many of the young women have gone on to undergrad and graduate school, most of them first-generation. Some have even gone on to start their own businesses.

Taylor Bridgeforth, a graduate of Pooles alma mater Indiana State, got involved with the group as a college student and shared that being mentored by Poole has impacted her positively. Having someone outside family that supports me and is looking after what Im trying to succeed at in life makes it that much easier to continue day by day, no matter how stressful or hard it can get, she said. Bridgeforth completed undergrad in 2015 and now works as a communications assistant at the American Academy of Osteopathy.

Lexus Killewbrew, now 22, credits G.L.A.M. with turning her from a devil to a diva.

And Charmaine Norris, another G.L.A.M. girl, said the group was truly life-changing for her.

G.L.A.M. really made me the person that I am today, Norris said. Miss Shanel taught me that even at my lowest, I can still make a change. She told me that my situation did not determine my destination in life.  Shanel Poole truly is my fairy godmother.

For more on G.L.A.M. Inc., visit glamindy.org.

glam
It once shared a building with a pool hall, and its longest-serving pastor also ran a barbecue restaurant and a plumbing business.

But members say the most important thing about Terre Hautes Bethlehem Temple Church is that it has served God and the community for 100 years.

The Apostolic church marked its centennial last week with a series of special services that Suffragan Bishop Glenn Purnell, the churchs pastor, said would honor its past, present and future.

We are celebrating an appreciation of all of the founding fathers, all of the former pastors, all of the willing workers that have helped over the 100 years, he said ahead of the services. This celebration is covering all of that as well as the current congregation and the future. We have children who will be our future church.

The church has its roots in a tent revival conducted by Bishop G.T. Haywood in 1917. The first building was at 13 1/2 and Dean streets.

A second building was erected in 1921 at 13 1/2 and Putnam and, in 1923, Bethlehem Temple moved to its current location at 1352 S. 13th St. in a building also occupied by a pool hall.

Through prayers and supplications God soon blessed the church to tear down the middle partition and occupy the whole building, says a church history written in 1998.

Most of those people were from the same community as the church, Pauletta Turner, church administrator, said of the pool hall days that predate her and Purnell by decades. No doubt their relatives were on this side praising God and  praying for this person over there that was supposedly in sin. It worked itself out.

Purnell said, Regardless of lifestyle, church is a place for everybody. If theres any chance for them to mend their ways its in the house of God.

Purnell became pastor in 2003 following the death of his father, Bishop Jester Purnell, a legendary figure in the church and the Terre Haute community and well known internationally for his service at revivals. He also served as bishop of the churchs Indiana diocese.

The Terre Haute City Council recently set aside a moratorium on memorial street designations and approved such recognition for Washington Avenue from Third Street to Brown Avenue. The church thus stands at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Bishop Jester Purnell memorial ways.

Generations to come will be able to see that and ask questions about who Jester Purnell was and what he contributed to this community. A lot can be said for his efforts, Glenn Purnell said.

It is such an honor for the city to recognize his contribution, not only to this church but to those that were in need, he said. He reached out to help through the food pantry as well as working with troubled teens in the court system  many times asking that they be released to his church for rehabilitation. His life and legacy represents an outstanding contribution to this community.

Turner calls it exciting that Bethlehem Temple is now at the intersection of two major city thoroughfares recognizing two powerful figures.

Jester Purnell was also known as owner and operator of Purnells Barbecue restaurant and a local plumbing business. He became an entrepreneur to support his large family.

He loved us very much; he did not want to put all of the financial burden on the church, and typically thats true today, Glenn Purnell said. A lot of pastors work while pastoring.

Valerie Craig, whose family moved to Terre Haute when she was 7, grew up attending Bethlehem Temple and said Jester Purnell influenced her to join the NAACP. She served six years as president of the organizations Terre Haute chapter.

His thoughts on that were progressive, said Craig, still an NAACP executive board member. He thought Bethlehem members should definitely be involved in the community. The church has a life membership with the organization. I always thought I was there representing Bethlehem. I still do.

Craig said she learned parliamentary procedure in church because members voted for delegates to conventions.

I learned how to talk to elderly people, which is something you dont see nowadays, she said. You learn groupthink. You learn when to shut up. Students now dont have that experience.

Jester Purnell brought his family to Terre Haute in 1969 after serving as an assistant pastor at a church in Chicago.

Glenn Purnell previously served as assistant pastor and worked nearly 20 years at Sony.

My original goal was to move out of Terre Haute and get another corporate job, but the call of God interrupted, he said.

His father had a profound respect for the word of God, which I think for the most part has been lost today by the younger generation, his son said. He manifested a fear and a reverence for God and his word which was unparalleled.

It takes two things for a church to survive for 100 years, Purnell said.

It takes God to favor the work that has gone on here, and it takes a constant submission to the will of God in man, he said. Its very important for any work being completed to the glory of God, no selfish ambition, just adherence to the word of God as Jesus did.

Bethlehem Temples current building has served the congregation for nearly 65 years, almost two-thirds of the churchs history, and plans are in the works for a new church complex.

We do plan at some point in time to erect a new edifice, multi-purpose room, resurrect our child care ministry, and hopefully build some low-income housing, Glenn Purnell said.
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More than 350 delegates, 25 sponsors and 45 exhibitors participated in first edition of SURIMEP (2014)

We are delighted to announce the dates for the 2nd edition of SURIMEP 2017, which will be held on21  23 November 2017. The event is organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Suriname in partnership with AME Trade Ltd and will take place at the Chamber of Commerce of Paramaribo, Suriname. SURIMEP will feature three days of conference sessions, pre-event training, post event touristic and industry tours, as well as a packed social program.
Home Tolerance as a Prerequisite for Civilization By Lawrence Davidson Americas Standing as a Civilized Nation November 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - There is more to being civilized than being a citizen of some political entity. This is so despite the fact that both the verb civilize and noun citizen are derived from the Latin civitas. To be civilized demands more than just having the language and mannerisms of the 5th century BCE Greeks, or the 2nd century BCE Han Chinese, or the 16th Century CE French. All of these groups believed that being civilized meant living and acting like them. Today the Americans have joined the chorus. They sing to the world that theirs is the home of the brave and land of the free, and claim that they are the real model for civilization. They throw in that rather ill-defined notion of freedom as a modern customizing point. None of these claims are very convincing. After all, each claimant has waged bloody wars of aggression, discriminated against outsiders and their own minorities, and generally sought aggrandizement by stealing other peoples land. Only recently, since the end of World War II, has there grown up an understanding that: (1) language, mannerisms, and race are so varied that they cannot be used as prerequisites for civilized status without breeding mass intolerance toward minorities and others, and (2) aggressive war and the pursuit of conquest actually dehumanizes your nation and destroys ones civilized standing. Postwar international law has been designed to make intolerance on a large scale illegal - a crime against humanity - and the same goes for the waging of wars of aggression . It is questionable how effective such laws have been. Nonetheless, they are undeniably a step in a civilizing direction.

If you dig under the surface of ethnic- or nation-based claims to civilized standing, you often find that they rest on such things as military prowess, technological advancement, and/or a dubious claim to be some gods favorite. Collective cultural expressions of racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia and other such displays of intolerance, as well as the carrying on of a muscular foreign policy, seem not to complicate claims to civilized status for many average citizens. But, of course, they should. In fact, not being or doing any of these things should be a necessary prerequisite for any groups appeal to civilized status.

Based on such a requirement, the claim of the United States to be a civilized society seems in serious trouble. For instance, no one is going to accuse Donald Trump of being a model of tolerance. Indeed, it would seem that his election as president has inaugurated an time of intolerance embracing just those prejudices that erode a nations civilized standing.

Hillarys Greatest Gaffe

It is true that during her run for the presidency Hillary Clinton made many mistakes. She was wedded to a traditional, and very corrupt, version of U.S. politics - a version that put her in the pocket of an array of special interests that, themselves, were not very civilized (for example, the Zionists). And, as Secretary of State under President Obama, she did her part to wage aggressive war. Yet, she was, at least in terms of her rhetoric, ready to take a stand for tolerance when it comes to social and cultural diversity within the United States. Ironically, that willingness to, in this regard, be publicly civil - and call out those who were not - led to her biggest political gaffe of the election.

The campaign faux pas came on 9 September 2016, during a speech to a group of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) supporters. Here is what she said:

 We are living in a volatile political environment . You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic - you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he [Trump] has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people - now 11 million. He tweets and retweets their offensive hateful mean-spirited rhetoric. Now, some of those folks - they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America.

The Trump campaign people jumped on this statement and declared that it was a sign of "her true contempt for everyday Americans. In other words, from the Trump perspective, those folks were the real America. Trumps supporters proceeded to turn the term deplorable into something of a battle cry. I remember driving through the small Pennsylvania town of Red Lion soon after Clintons speech. There was a big sign declaring Welcome to the Home of the Proud Deplorables.

Trump the Decivilizer

Of course, Clinton was correct in her criticism of Trump and some of his supporters. In fact, they were more than just deplorable. They were downright uncivilized. And, she was right that Trump has incited and manipulated them and their prejudices during the campaign. And, he has continued to do so as president. I think this became quite obvious at the 12 August 2017 unite the right protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. That event signaled the fact that Trump, a wealthy, self-righteous, impulsive, one-dimensional man who, in his simplistic ignorance, cannot tell the difference between his own opinion and fact, had let loose a substantial group of racist and reactionary citizens. These people see themselves not as the uncivilized of America, but rather as saviors of an anachronistic pseudo-civilization - one based on white supremacy and mass intolerance. Regardless of how they see themselves, the behavior of both these average Americans and their approving president, is actually tipping America toward being unquestionably adeplorable and uncivilized place.

It must be kept in mind that President Trump did originate all this prejudicial horror. It has always been there in the U.S. However, since the 1960s it has, for the most part, been kept out of the public realm. That is what the Civil Rights Movemen t and President Lyndon Johnsons Great Society programs accomplished - to make it socially unacceptable, and in some cases illegal, to practice these prejudices publicly. This was actually a great step forward in the process of civilizing the United States, and if it had been maintained for say, another five generations, the number of deplorable voters may have shrunk to the point that the election of a decivilizer such as Trump would have been much less likely.

However, as it was, those who harbored simmering prejudices, restless anachronistic traditions, and a fear of losing privileges in an ever more diverse society, almost immediately came together to support Donald Trump when he appeared on the political scene. And the rest of us were caught unawares. The fact is that most people do not think about what it means to be civilized, often assuming that this status is synonymous with having an i-phone and a twitter account. Among those who do think about it, some may identify the term with those who are snobbish and think they are better than others. Or, perhaps they see civilization as a class thing to be identified with wealth. Those who think in these terms may develop resentment toward the concept of civilization. They may come to see it as a threat to their local culture and ways of life.

Finally, who knows how many macho males there are out there who might see too much civilization as a subversive factor - something that would make the nation effete. Too much enlightenment could undermine that muscular foreign policy (perhaps reviving, in the case of the United States, the dreaded Vietnam Syndrome ) that has always been a mark of nationstate greatness.

Of course, this is not just an American problem. The deplorables are to be found in all populations - more in some and less in others - but never absent. In the U.S. Donald Trump is their leader. No doubt he also serves as a symbol of leadership for deplorables worldwide. As such President Trump and his following subvert our future - luring us in the direction of barbarism. Remember Arnold Toynbee observation: civilizations die from suicide and not by murder. Lawrence Davidson is a retired professor of history from West Chester University in West Chester PA. His academic research focused on the history of American foreign relations with the Middle East. He taught courses in Middle East history, the history of science and modern European intellectual history. http://www.tothepointanalyses.com 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.
Home Manipulation: The US State Department's New Program to Take On Media By Daniel McAdams November 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Hypocrisy may be the only consistent guiding principle of US foreign policy. Here's a prime example of the "do as we say, not as we do" that is the core of how Washington does business overseas: In the same week that the the US Justice Department demanded that the Russian-backed RT America network register as a foreign propaganda entity or face arrest, the US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DNL) has announced that it is launching a program to massively interfere in NATO-partner Hungary's internal media.



So the US Justice Department is cracking down on RT America for what it says is manipulation of US domestic affairs while the US State Department announces a new program to manipulate Hungary's domestic affairs.



The State Department's new program would send three-quarters of a million dollars to Washington-selected Hungarian media outlets to "increase citizens access to objective information about domestic and global issues in Hungary." On what authority does the United States pick winners and losers in Hungary's diverse media environment? Since when does one government have the right to determine what news is "objective" in another country? Hungary is not a country to be "regime-changed" -- it is a full democracy where the will of the people is regularly expressed at the ballot box and where the media competes freely in the marketplace of ideas.



Washington's Hungarian media project is clearly meant to interfere in that country's domestic political environment. Here are the stated objectives of the US government's Hungary program: The program should improve the quality of local traditional and online media and increase the publics access to reliable and unbiased information.

...

Projects should aim to have impact that leads to democratic reforms, and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. (emphasis added) The State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor identifies its mission in this call for grantees as "promoting democracy and protecting human rights globally." So what is it doing in Hungary? Hungary has had nearly three decades of democracy since 1989 and hardly needs the United States to tell it what kind of media is allowed (subsidized) and which kind should be suppressed.



In reality this is a US government program to ensure that the Hungarian media follows Washington's policy line. Hungarians are all too familiar with this kind of toxic interference from an outside superpower: it was called the Soviet Union. Does Washington really seek to take on that role?



Stab in the back



This US government intervention in Hungary's internal affairs must feel like a stab in the back to Orban and his government. Orban was an early -- and rare -- supporter of candidate Donald Trump among his European colleagues. Indeed, where Brusssels saw Trump as a gauche loudmouth, Orban openly admired the soon-to-be-president's position on immigration and particularly on the mass immigration of mostly Muslim "refugees" that has proven to be disastrous for so many European countries. Likewise, Viktor Orban's Fidesz party has managed to retain a high level of popularity through two election cycles by embracing and promoting the kind of nationalism that characterized Trump's successful campaign.



Orban's early support for Trump appeared to have paid off. Where Fidesz had struggled to make any headway at all under GW Bush or Obama's State Departments, both of which were openly hostile, one of President-elect Trump's first moves was to invite Orban to the White House. Orban, for his part, hailed Trump on inauguration day, welcoming in an era where national interest takes precedent over multilateralism. Never Miss Another Story Get Our Free Daily Newsletter As recently as last month, President Trump praised Viktor Orban, saying that the "strong and brave" Hungarian Prime Minister is "on my guest list.



Then Trump's State Department launched a program to undermine Hungary's national sovereignty by interfering in the Hungarian media market. It seems national sovereignty is a one-way street for Washington no matter who occupies the Oval Office.



Hypocrisy...or policy consistency?



But perhaps it's inaccurate to accuse the US government of hypocrisy in this case. After all, pressuring RT America with the intent of silencing the news network and spending our tax dollars propping up US-friendly media outlets in the Hungarian countryside are actually two sides of the same coin: the US government will tell you what kind of media you are allowed to consume. If you are a media network in the United States that allows voices who oppose Washington's neocon-dominated foreign policy they will shut you down. If you are a news outlet in the Hungarian countryside that spews the US party line, they will prop you up. Both cases are the same: your media will toe the US government official line or else.



Note to Washington: This is not 1950. Hungary has been a fully free and democratic country with plenty of free elections under its belt. It does not need you to come in and attempt to manipulate its newspapers and broadcast media. What would you do if China sent in a few million dollars to prop up US publications who agreed to push the Beijing line? What about if Tehran sent some money to publications pushing the Ayatollah party line? You cannot even tolerate RT America -- which is largely staffed by Americans but dares to feature prominent Americans who challenge the neocon foreign policy line. Hands off Hungary!



Note to Viktor Orban: You risked arrest -- and worse -- in June, 1989 when you directly confronted the communists who were occupying your country. Now that Hungary's freedom has been won -- in no small way due to your efforts -- do not allow Washington's neocons to take it away from you! If you do not confront this violation of Hungarian sovereignty, the neocons will continue to increase the pressure. The neocons want you out! Just this week, neocon commentator Anne Applebaum wrote that you are a "neo-Bolshevik" who has "little to do with the right that has been part of Western politics since World War II, and...no connection to existing conservative parties." Do a little research and you will notice that Applebaum is a member of the International Advisory Council of the Center for European Policy Analysis -- the organization your own government funded for a big conference this summer! Neocon knives are out for you. You'd be smart to make a better assessment of who are your friends and enemies in the United States...before it's too late. This article was originally published by RonPaul Institute - Copyright  2017 by RonPaul Institute. See Also Hungary accuses US of intervention ahead of elections; Hungarys foreign minister on Wednesday accused the United States of meddling in election campaign 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.
Home By RT November 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Nigel Farage says while Russia is accused of funding Britains Leave campaign, financier George Soros recent $18 billion donation to pro-EU charity Open Society has escaped scrutiny. This is where the real international political collusion is, Farage says. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Farage told fellow MEPs he believes that when it comes to international collusion, we are looking in the wrong place. He says Soros influence in Brussels is truly extraordinary, adding: I fear we could be looking at the biggest level of international, political collusion in history. Farage, the leader of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group, believes Soros has spent billions in the EU to undermine the nation state. When we are talking about offshore money, when we are talking about political subversion, when we are talking about collusion, I wonder if we are looking in the wrong place. And I say that because George Soros recently gave Open Society, which of course campaigns for freedom of movement of people and supranational structures like the European Union, $18 billion. And his influence here and in Brussels is truly extraordinary. George Soros has spent billions in the EU to undermine the nation state. This is where the real international political collusion is. pic.twitter.com/ANXOII7SFY  Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) November 14, 2017 Farage said Open Society boasts it held 42 meetings in 2016 with the European Commission, and has published a book of reliable friends in the European Parliament. There are 226 names on the list, he says. He told those MEPs he would be writing to them to establish whether they had accepted money or help from billionaire investor and liberal campaigner Soros. Never Miss Another Story Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Nigel Farage Calls on EU to Investigate George Soros Funding, Collusion If were going to have a debate, and talk about full, political and financial transparency, well lets do it. So I shall be writing today to all 226 of you, asking some pretty fair questions: Have you ever received funds directly or indirectly from Open Society? How many of their events have you attended? Could you please give us a list of all the representatives including George Soros? He is also calling on the European Parliament to set up a special committee to look into the issue. I say this at a time when the use of money and the implications it may have had on the Brexit result or the Trump election has reached virtual hysteria. Just last week, the Electoral Commission launched an investigation to find out whether the Leave campaign took offshore money or Russian money. This came about as a result of questions asked in the House of Commons by one Ben Bradshaw, someone linked to an organization called Open Society. In October, Soros transferred the bulk of his wealth to Open Society, it confirmed. Writing on his website, the financier said: My success in the financial markets has given me a greater degree of independence than most other people. This allows me to stand on controversial issues: in fact, it obliges me to do so because others cannot. This article was originally published by RT - 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.
Home Russia Accuses US of Providing Cover for the 'Islamic State' Militia



The US-led coalition in Syria tried to "impede" Russian warplanes from bombing "Islamic State" (IS) militia, the Russian Defense Ministry said. It also accused Washington of allowing the jihadists to regroup in Iraq.



By Deutsche Welle November 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - In order to ensure "safe passage for the retreating IS forces" the coalition jets "were trying to interfere with Russian fighter jets which were active in the region" said the Russian Ministry of Defense. "With this goal, coalition fighter jets were entering the 15-kilometer (9 mile) airspace around Abu Kamal in order to impede the activities of the Russian air force," they added. Americans refused to bomb IS Convoys of IS fighters were fleeing the town towards the Iraqi border, according to the footage recorded by Russian military drones last week. The Russian military "has twice approached the central command of the US-led coalition and suggested joint strikes to destroy the retreating IS forces on the east shore of Euphrates." "However, the Americans categorically refused to conduct airstrikes against the IS terrorists, saying that, according to their data, the fighters were 'surrendering' and were protected by the Geneva convention on treatment of war prisoners," the Russian officials said. Iraq and Syria take last major towns from 'Islamic State' The retreating IS fighters were equipped with "military vehicles and heavy weapons," they added. Russian military also reportedly asked the Americans why the jihadists were "regrouping in the zone controlled by the international coalition to conduct new attacks against the Syrian army in Abu Kamal," but received no response. Never Miss Another Story Get Our Free Daily Newsletter IS to advance American interests Moscow also accused the US of a plot to create a "pro-American" region on the Euphrates which would continue to oppose the Syrian government. According to the Defense Ministry, the routed Islamic Fighters would be sent back to reclaim the region themselves, but this time they would be flying the colors of the moderate Syrian Democratic Forces. The plans were dispelled by the rapid advance of the Syrian army, Moscow said. "These facts are conclusive evidence that the United States, while imitating an noncompromising fight against international terrorism for the global community, in fact provides cover for the IS units" in order to use them for advancing "American interests in the Middle East." This article was originally published by Deutsche Welle - 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.
November 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - WASHINGTON  A half-dozen Democrats on Wednesday introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, accusing him of obstruction of justice and other offenses, in a long-shot effort that stands little chance in the Republican-led House.

Indeed, the large majority of Democrats seem intent on having nothing to do with the effort either as lawmakers await the results of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Democratic leaders have argued that the impeachment campaign riles up Trump's GOP base, a critical bloc in next year's midterm elections.

The five articles accused the president of obstruction of justice related to the FBI investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, undermining the independence of the federal judiciary and other offenses.

"We have taken this action because of great concerns for the country and our Constitution and our national security and our democracy," Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., said at a news conference to announce the effort.

Cohen said he understands that Republicans hold the majority in the House and are unlikely to allow hearings on the impeachment articles. He said the group will hold occasional briefings to explain each of the five articles of impeachment and where they believe Trump ran afoul of the law or committed misdeeds that warrant impeachment.

The obstruction of justice allegation stems from Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, which the lawmakers say was designed to delay and impede an investigation.

The articles of impeachment also charge that Trump has accepted without the consent of Congress emoluments from foreign states and from the U.S. government. Finally, the articles of impeachment allege he has undermined the federal judiciary and the freedom of the press.

Cohen and other leaders of the impeachment effort disagreed that their effort could hurt Democrats in next year's congressional elections.

"I think the Democratic base needs to be activated. The Democratic base needs to know there are members of Congress willing to stand up against this president," Cohen said.

Never Miss Another Story Get Our Free Daily Newsletter

Other lawmakers who have signed onto to the resolution are Democratic Reps. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, Al Green of Texas, Marcia Fudge of Ohio, Adriano Espaillat of New York and John Yarmuth of Kentucky.

Gutierrez said he wasn't afraid to support the resolution despite the concerns of some fellow Democrats.

"I see a crime and I have a responsibility to dial 911 immediately. I don't call and try to reach my consensus with all my neighbors and all my friends and those whose opinion I might seek out," Gutierrez said.

A spokesman for the Republican National Committee criticized the effort.

"House Democrats lack a positive message and are completely unwilling to work across the aisle, so instead they've decided to support a baseless radical effort that the vast majority of Americans disagree with," said spokesman Michael Ahrens.
Home Revealed - Saudis Plan To Give Up Palestine - For War On Iran By Moon Of Alabama November 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The tyrants of Saudi Arabia developed a plan that sells away Palestine. They see this as necessary to get U.S. support for their fanatic campaign against their perceived enemy Iran. An internal Saudi memorandum, leaked to the Lebanese paper Al-Akhbar, reveals its major elements. (Note: The genuineness of the memo has not been confirmed. In theory it could be a "plant" by some other party. But Al-Akhbar has so far an excellent record of publishing genuine leaks and I trust its editors' judgement.) According to the memo the Saudis are ready to give up on the Palestinian right of return. They forfeit Palestinian sovereignty over Jerusalem and no longer insist of the status of a full state for the Palestinians. In return they ask for a U.S.-Saudi-Israeli (military) alliance against their perceived enemy on the eastern side of the Persian Gulf. Negotiations on the issue were held between the Saudis and the Zionist under the aegis of the United States. Netanyahu and Trumps "shared personal assistant, wunderkind Jared Kushner", is the point men in these negotiations. He made at least three trips to Saudi Arabia this year, the last one very recently. The Saudi operations over the last month, against the internal opposition to the Salman clan as well as against Hizbullah in Lebanon, have to be seen in the context and as preparation of the larger plan. To recap: Last week the current front-man of the Palestinians, Mahmoud Abbas, was ordered to Riyadh. There he was told to accept whatever will be presented as U.S. peace plan or to resign. He was urged to cut all Palestinian ties with Iran and Hizbullah: Since the warnings, which could threaten the new Palestinian unity agreement signed by Fatah and the Iranian-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian media displayed a rare degree of unity in recent days by coming out against Iran. On November 6 a letter by the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahoo to Israeli embassies was intentionally "leaked". In it Netanyahoo urges his diplomats to press for full support for the Saudi plans in Lebanon, Yemen and beyond. On the same day Trump tweeted: Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump - 3:03 PM - 6 Nov 2017

I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing.... (The tweet was heavily promoted by Saudi Twitter bots.) The Saudi tyrant abducted the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri, and declared war on the country. The purpose of this move is to remove or isolate Hizbullah, the Shia resistance of Lebanon which is allied with Iran and opposes the Saudi plans for Palestine. On November 11 the New York Times reported on the U.S. drafting of a "peace plan" but provided little detail. The chance for such a plan to succeed was described as low. The left-wing Lebanese paper Al-Akhbar has obtained a copy of the plan (Arabic) in form of a memorandum by the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir to the Saudi clown prince Mohammed Bin Salman (English machine translation): The document, which is being unveiled for the first time, proves all that has been leaked since President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia last May on the launch of US efforts to sign a peace treaty between Saudi Arabia and Israel. This was followed by information on the exchange of visits between Riyadh and Tel Aviv, the most important being the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to the Zionist entity. The document reveals the size of concessions that Riyadh intends to present in the context of the liquidation of the Palestinian issue, and its concern to get in return the elements of power against Iran and the resistance, led by Hezbollah. The Saudi foreign ministry memo starts by laying out its strategic perspective: To face Iran by increasing sanctions on ballistic missiles and reconsidering the nuclear deal, the Kingdom has pledged in the strategic partnership agreement with US President Donald Trump that any US-Saudi effort is the key to success.

...

Saudi Arabia's rapprochement with Israel involves a risk to the Muslim peoples of the Kingdom, because the Palestinian cause represents a spiritual and historical and religious heritage. The Kingdom will not take this risk unless it feels the United States' sincere approach to Iran, which is destabilizing the region by sponsoring terrorism, its sectarian policies and interfering in the affairs of others. The Saudi paper describes the issues and process steps towards a deal in five points: First: The Saudis demand a "parity of the relationship" between Israel and Saudi Arabia. On the military level they demand that either Israel gives up on its nuclear weapons or Saudi Arabia is itself allowed to acquire such. Never Miss Another Story Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Second: In exchange Saudi Arabia will use its diplomatic and economic power to push through a 'peace plan' between Israel, the Palestinians and Arab countries along the lines that the U.S. will lay out. Within such a peace plan the Saudis, according to the memo, are willing to make extraordinary concessions: The city of Jerusalem would not become capital of a Palestinian state but be subjected to a special international regime administered by the United Nations.

The right of return for Palestinian refugees, who were violently expelled by the Zionists, would be given up on. The refugees would be integrated as citizens of those countries where they currently reside.

(No demand for full sovereignty of a Palestinian state is mentioned.) Third: After reaching an agreement of the "main principles of the final solution" for Palestine between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. (Israel), a meeting of all foreign ministers of the region would be convened to back these up. Final negotiations would follow. Fourth: In coordination and cooperation with Israel Saudi Arabia would use its economic power to convince the Arab public of the plan. The point correctly notes "At the beginning of normalizing relations with Israel, normalization will not be acceptable to public opinion in the Arab world." The plan is thus to essentially bribe the Arab public into accepting it. Fifth: The Palestinian conflict distracts from the real issue the Saudi rulers have in the region which is Iran: "Therefore, the Saudi and Israeli sides agree on the following: Contribute to counter any activities that serve Iran's aggressive policies in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia's affinity with Israel must be matched by a sincere American approach against Iran. Increase US and international sanctions related to Iranian ballistic missiles. Increase sanctions on Iran's sponsorship of terrorism around the world. Re-examination of the group (five + 1) in the nuclear agreement with Iran to ensure the implementation of its terms literally and strictly. Limiting Iran's access to its frozen assets and exploiting Iran's deteriorating economic situation and marketing it to increase pressure on the Iranian regime from within. Intensive intelligence cooperation in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking supported by Iran and Hezbollah." The memo is signed by Adel al-Jubeir. (But who were the 'advisors' who dictated it to him?) The U.S. plan for peace in Palestine is to press the Palestinians and Arabs into anything Israel demands. The Saudis will agree to that, with minor conditions, if only the U.S. and Israel help them to get rid of their nemesis Iran. But that is impossible. Neither Israel nor the U.S. will agree to a "parity of relationship" for Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia lacks all elements to become a supreme state in the Arab Middle East. Iran can not be defeated. Iran is the at the core of the Shia constituency and at the core of resistance to "western" imperialism. Shia and Sunni aligned populations in the Middle East (ex Egypt) are of roughly equal size. Iran has about four times the number of citizens the Saudis have. It is much older and cultured than Saudi Arabia. It has an educated population and well developed industrial capabilities. Iran is a nation, not a conglomerate of desert tribes like the desert peninsula under al-Saud. Its geographic position and resources make it unconquerable. To defeat Iran the Saudis started proxy-wars in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and now Lebanon. They needed foot soldiers to win these wars. The Saudis hired and sent the only significant infantry they ever had at their disposal. Their hordes of al-Qaeda and ISIS fanatics were defeated. Tens of thousands of them have been killed on the battle fields in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Despite a global mobilization campaign nearly all the potentially available forces have been defeated by the local resistances on the ground. Neither the colonial settler state nor the U.S. are willing to send their soldiers into battle for Saudi supremacy. The grant plan of the Trump administration to achieve peace in the Middle East is high on hopes but lacks all the necessary details. The Saudi's promise to support the U.S. plan if the Trump administration is willing to fight their nemesis Iran. Both leaderships are hapless and impulsive and both of their plans have little chance of final success. They will be pursued anyway and will continue to create an enormous amount of collateral damage. The Zionist entity feels no real pressure to make peace. It is already dragging its feet on these plans and will try to use them to its sole advantage. This article was originally published by Moon Of Alabama - See Also Arab Forum on Confronting Zionist-US Alliance concludes : The statement affirmed that the option of resistance is strategic to liberate Palestine and all occupied Arab territories. 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.
Police officers have been accused by two employees of Home Owners and Residents Association ( HORA ) of 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The workers  Olaniyi Olanrewaju and Peace Itaribor  said they were stripped down to their shorts and thrown into a stinking cell by the policemen, who were attached to the Special Tactical Squad of the Inspector-General of Police.

This is just as the state Acting Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, invited parties involved in the matter on the orders of the IG, Ibrahim Idris.

It had been reported that six policemen stormed HORAs office on November 1 and arrested the Finance Manager, Mrs. Joy Okara; Accounts Clerk, Itaribo; and Olaniyi.

They whisked the workers away to the Bar Beach Police Division before transferring them to the Adeniji-Adele Police Division.

The workers were reportedly detained until the following day when they were shown a petition from a tenant on the estate, Mr. Akinlosi Oyelokun.

Oyelokuns apartment had been disconnected from power supply for reportedly owing a utility bill of N938,998.70.

His wife was said to have visited the secretariat of the association and made a part payment of N400,000.

But it was said that when technicians got to her apartment for the reconnection, a cable was allegedly sighted showing a bypass of her smart meter.

The issue was reported at the HORA secretariat where a formal letter of bypass was reportedly addressed to her apartment, urging her to pay a fine for the offence.

Olanrewaju told PUNCH Metro that some policemen suddenly showed up at their office on November 1 and ordered their arrest .

He said, They took us into their station and asked us to remove our clothes; we were left with only shorts. They took us into a cell and we were on the floor throughout the night.

That is unlawful detention and violation of our rights. You cant just enter an office, arrest and beat up people when they did not commit any crime.

Itaribor said, They were plain-clothes policemen with guns. One of them arrested Mrs. Joy Okara.

Another officer said I was also under arrest. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and dragged me downstairs, threatening to shoot me if I moved.

They drove us to the Bar Beach Police Station and later to the Adeniji Adele Police Station. They allowed us a few minutes to speak with our families after much pleading and switched off the phones. It was horrible. They treated us like criminals. We want justice.

It was learnt that the Lagos CP, Imohimi, had invited the parties for a resolution of the crisis.

Imohimi, in a text message, confirmed the meeting, saying, We are ensuring peace on the estate.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
A 19-year-old hot model claims to have sold her virginity for nearly $3 million to an Abu Dhabi businessman through an escort website, and says the second highest bidder was a Hollywood actor.

A 19-year-old U.S-based hot model who hassuccessfully auctioned her virginity for nearly $3million (2.2million) and says it is a dream come true for her, has revealed why she decided to sell her virginity through the notorious German-based website Cinderella Escorts.

Giselle said she will use the money to pay for her college fees, buy a new house, and go traveling around the world. I am happy to have decided to sell my virginity through Cinderella Escorts.

I would never have dreamt that the bid would rise so high and we would have reached 2.5million Euros. This is a dream come true, the model said.

According to a report by Dailymail , the agency claims the highest bidder was a businessman from Abu Dhabi, with a bid of 2.5m Euros ($2.9m/2.2m), while a Hollywood actor was said to have made the second highest bid of 2.4m Euros ($2.8m/2.1m).

Giselle said she was shocked by the outrage against women selling her virginity, describing it as a form of emancipation.

If I want to spend my first time with someone who is not my first love, thats my decision. The fact that women can do what they want with their bodies and have the courage to live their sexuality free against the critics sets a sign for emancipation.

She added: In retrospect, how many would probably give up their first time if they could have 2.5million Euros instead?

Giselle said she had planned to sell her virginity before finding out about Cinderella Escorts, but decided it was safer to work with an agency.

The agency rose to worldwide fame after the auction in 2016 of Aleexandra Khefren, a 18-year-old Romanian model who sold her virginity for 2.3 million euros (2 million) to an unnamed businessman from Hong Kong.

Twenty percent of each auction goes as a fee to Cinderella Escorts, according to local media.
A 22- year-old woman in Udon Thani, Thailand has been charged with murder after she admitted to stabbing her 62- year- old husband to death.

According to Thaivisa, argument ensued between Nittaya Saengdeuan and Amnuay Wensila after she found a condom in his trouser pocket and thought he was having an affair.

Saengdeuan stabbed Wensila multiple times until he was dead. She then stuffed his still warm corpse into a septic tank behind their garage.

Nittaya initially denied any involvement. But under intense interrogation she broke down and admitted what she had done and was then taken on a reenactment of her crime.

On Wednesday, November 15, the head of the Udon Thani provincial police Peerapong Wongsaman led a team in interrogating the suspect who had been apprehended by Nong Wua Sor officers.

Amnuays curled up body was found in the septic tank at the house in Oup Mung sub-district.

Nittaya told the cops that she had found a condom in her husbands trousers and jealously believed he had a gik or other woman.

An argument developed and she stabbed him. He ran out to the garage and she chased him.

Then she stabbed him a further ten times until he was dead. Then she dragged the corpse and stuffed him down the septic tank.

She has been charged with murder with intent while police may add charges of removing and concealing a corpse to the rap sheet.
Nollywood actress, Hilda Dokubo took to social media to call out Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi over their recent clash in Rivers.

The angry Hilda Dokubo, via Instagram, reminded them that Rivers state is bigger than the two of them and as such, they need to stop the hate and display of arrogance.

This is coming after the security details of the two parties clashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

According to reports, the clash resulted into severe injuries on both sides and caused commotion in the downtown area of Port-harcourt.

See the video below;

-Gistreel
After removing his police aides, the Inspector-General of police has reinstated Governor Obianos security aides ahead of the election.

The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday said that 221 police officers were attached to Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra for his personal and office protection.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) recalls that Obiano had alleged the withdrawal of his Aide- De- Camp (ADC).

A statement by the Force spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, said that the personnel comprised of one ADC, one CSO, one Unit Commander from 45 Police Mobile Force ( PMF), one Administration Officer, to administer the Police Personnel.

Others are: 43 Personnel of PMF, from 29 PMF and 54 PMF,

62 personnel of PMF from 45 PMF, 46 Personnel of Special Protection Unit (SPU) and 66 Personnel of Conventional Police Men.

Moshood said that police personnel attached to Obiano were more than the strength of some Police Area Commands in some States of the Country.

This is done to ensure optimum safety and protection of the Executive Governor of Anambra, he said.

The spokesman said that the ADC or any other police officer attached to Obiano, were not withdrawn.

He explained further that the ADC and Chief Security Officer ( CSO), were called to the command in the state on Nov. 14 to attend a lecture with personnel deployed for the governorship election.

Moshood said that the two security officers returned later after the lecture to their duty posts at the Government house in Awka.

He said that security arrangement currently being implemented by the force for the Nov. 18 governorship election in the state would not be compromised.

The Force will also ensure adequate protection of the electorate, INEC Officials, Election Observers/Monitors, Electoral Materials and the general populace before, during and after the election, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) recalls that the Nigeria Police Force on Monday deployed 26,000 additional policemen for the election.
American search engine company, Google has opened up on why it honoured Nigerian literary icon, Chinua Achebe on its doodle on Thursday, 16th November 2015.

Technology giant, Google, honoured late Nigerian literary icon, Chinua Achebe, on its doodle on Thursday.

Google Doodle is a special logo on Googles homepage that is temporarily alternated and intended to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people.

Surrounded by iconic images of his most famous literary works, Wednesdays Doodle celebrates Achebes legacy.

If he hadnt died in March of 2013, Achebe who is one of Nigerias most popular novelist, poet, professor, and critic, would have clocked 87 today.

Google said on its website on Thursday that Achebe had been honoured to underscore his status as a figure of 20th century literature.

Google said, One man took it upon himself to tell the world the story of Nigeria through the eyes of its own people.Chinua Achebe was the studious son of an evangelical priest. A student of English literature, he started writing in the 1950s, choosing English as his medium but weaving the storytelling tradition of the Igbo people into his books.

His characters were insiders, everyday people such as the village chief (in Things Fall Apart); the priest (in Arrow of God) or the school teacher (in A Man of the People). Through their stories, we witness a Nigeria at the crossroads of civilisation, culture and generations.

The search engine also said that Achebes pen brought to life the land and traditions of the Igbo, the hum of everyday village life; the anticipation and excitement of sacred masquerades.

Google added that Achebes pen brought to life the stories of the elders and the honour of warriors; the joy of family and the grief of loss.

It said that Achebe was considered by many to be the father of modern African literature and was awarded the Man Booker Prize in 2007.

The novelist was born on November 16, 1930. His first novel Things Fall Apart (1958), often considered his best, is one of the most widely read books in modern African literature.
Anyanwu and Ugorji, a married couple have allegedly sold their first child on credit to a man in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.



Prior to the incident, the couple had allegedly stole a child on August 28 from his parents in Umuozu-Uguiri in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Andrew Enwerem, during a parade on Wednesday, said that the couple kidnapped and sold the child (Nwachukwu) for N500,000 to one Ifeanyinwa Duru.

Ifeanyinwa was said to have resold the boy to one Mrs Chidinma Emmanuel, for N700,000.

The police spokesperson, who described the development as worrisome, said the couple, Duru and Emmanuel were nabbed in Aba, Abia State, adding that the child was rescued unhurt.

Enwerem said,

On August 28, 2017, Ifeanyi Anyanwu, 23; and Amarachi Ugorji,18, conspired and kidnapped Ikechukwu Nwachukwu, who is two years and six months old, from his parents in Umuozu- Uguiri in the Isiala Mbano LGA.

The two suspects, after the kidnap, started demanding ransom from the parents of the child. When the parents of the kidnapped child could not provide the money, they opted to sell the child to one Ifeanyinwa Duru, 39, at the cost of N500,000. Duru, in turn, resold the child to one Chidimma Emmanuel, 42, at the cost of N700,000.

The two buyers were arrested in Aba following painstaking investigation, while the child was rescued unhurt and has since been reunited with the legitimate parents by the command.

The suspects have confessed to the crime and investigation has been concluded. The syndicate will soon be charged to court.

The Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, has instructed all heads of the tactical units of the command to go all out against those who trade in human beings, especially children, who have done nothing wrong except that they were born into a society that has lost its values.

Emmanuel said her desperation to have a male child after the death of her husband lured her into the crime.

The couple said that they had earlier sold their first child to an unnamed person in Port Harcourt for N200,000, on credit.

A police source said that operatives of the command were already closing in on the buyer and would soon arrest him and rescue the child.

It was learnt that 18-year-old Ugorji was already pregnant with another child.
The gallant operatives of the Nigerian Police, Ogun State Command has arrested a 24-year-old young man, for impersonating Dr. Mike Adenuga and defrauded a job seeker N1million in online job scam.

A 24-year-old fraudster identified as Ehipboh Lucky, who through the social media platform, Facebook, told unsuspecting members of the public that he could help them secure employment at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has been apprehended by security operatives.

According to a report by PUNCH, a job seeker, Abiola Ogunseye, fell victim to a fraudster who impersonated a Lagos-based telecommunications mogul, Mike Adenuga, after he had reportedly opened a Facebook account, using the name and picture of the businessman.

It was gathered that Ogunseye was said to have shown interest in the NNPC job and initiated discussion with the suspect. Lucky reportedly told Ogunseye to raise N1.5m so he could use it to bribe some top officials of the NNPC to get the employment.

The victim had reportedly paid over N1m to the suspect before it dawned on him that he had been defrauded.

While speaking to a correspondent, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the fraud, said operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism unit of the command were directed to go after the suspect after the case was reported.

He said the efforts of the operatives paid off on November 6, 2017 when the Edo State indigene was tracked down.

He said, The command arrested Lucky for impersonating Dr Mike Adenuga. The suspect was arrested following a complaint by Ogunseye whom the suspect had defrauded up to the tune of N1,028,770. The suspect opened a Facebook account with the name and picture of the business mogul which he has been using to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

One of his victims, Ogunseye, came into contact with him on Facebook where he promised to get employment for him at the Nigeria National Petroleum Company. He asked the victim to pay the sum of N1.5m to settle some members of management board of the cooperation who will influence his appointment.

The sum of N1,028,770 had been paid to the suspect before the victim realised that he is a fraudster. The victim lodged a complaint via a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Iliyasu, and the Officer-in-Charge of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism unit, CSP Opeyemi Kujoore, was directed to go after the suspect. After weeks of investigation, the suspect was apprehended last Monday.

The PPRO stated that one iPhone 6, a Dell laptop, eight different SIM cards, five Automated Teller Machine cards, and one passport were recovered from the suspect, adding that he would be charged to court after investigation.
Cool FM On Air Personality, Daddy Freeze who is currently in Dubai was hosted by Malaysian big boy, Hushpuppi Ray, last night.

The Radio On Air Personality took to his Instagram page to share pictures of them showing off their expensive wristwatches.

He wrote on the caption;

Thanks @hushpuppi for hosting me Stay blessed bro

See more pictures below;
Illbliss Better known as Tobechukwu Ejiofor, has said artistes should raise 50 percent of the money invested in their careers by record labels.

The rapper and music executive has said artistes should start treating the music business as a business. First of all I think the artiste need to take a little bit more control over the music and they need to become partners in the business, Illbliss said.

That era where you are an artiste, is fading. So when you are stepping in and meet a record label, how about raising 50 per cent of the money?

So that when you sit down at the table, it becomes a partnership in its true sense. That is where we should go to now because everybody should become an investor in the cause.

Not the artiste pops up, the label spends a lot of money, then the artiste wakes up one day and says Im leaving and you dont even know if the label has recouped all of its investment.

On the other side the labels need to also spell it out from onset, from day one, make it clear cut, we are looking for partners, we are not looking for people to just sign and help their lives.

Its being unofficial, the record label-artiste relationship has been very unofficial in Nigeria, lets make it official. Kiss Daniel is the latest Nigerian artiste to leave his record label to set up shop on his own.

Source: Naijaloaded
The exit of Robert Mugabe from the country following his unusual ouster by the military is imminent after he met with envoys from South Africa today.

South African envoys held talks with Robert Mugabe on Thursday as regional powers sought to help resolve a stand-off triggered by the militarys takeover of Zimbabwe, according to reports revealed by Financial Times.

Mr Mugabes motorcade was seen leaving his home in a Harare suburb, where he is believed to have been under house arrest since the early hours of Wednesday, heading towards State House.

It has also been revealed that the 93-year-old leader who has been in power for 37 years has been resisting military pressure to publicly resign, said Ibbo Mandaza, a former senior Zanu-PF member. A Catholic priest has reportedly been mediating between Mr Mugabe and army chiefs who seized control of the southern African country on Wednesday.

A military spokesman said on Wednesday the intervention was targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country. Insisting it was not conducting a coup, the army said Mr Mugabe and his family were in a safe and secure place. But the military has not made any statements since a spokesman addressed the nation on state television early on Wednesday.

Members the Southern African Development Community, a regional bloc that has called on the Zimbabwean army to avoid an unconstitutional change in government and urged calm and restraint, met in Botswana on Thursday to respond to the crisis.

The meeting was called by Jacob Zuma, the chair of SADC and president of South Africa, which has long worried about instability in Zimbabwe spilling over into its borders. Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have fled to South Africa during the past two decades as their countrys economy collapsed.

Mr Zuma, who dispatched the envoys to Harare, spoke to Mr Mugabe on Wednesday and said he indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine.

Mr Mugabes apparent refusal to bow to military pressure, combined with SADCs stance against anunconstitutional change, could delay a transition of power by weeks, analysts said.

They want Mugabe to abdicate. If he refuses, what do they do now? Mr Mandaza said.
Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi has come out to reveal his experiences with Nigerian ladies, stated that they complained about his looks, nature.

The controversial actor, via Instagram, recounts how he was turned down by Nigerian ladies before he met his British ex-wife.

He wrote;

I WILL NEVER SAY NIGERIAN WOMEN NOT OK FOR ME TO MARRY.

Marrying Fran 5yrs ago met some criticisms, but truthfully I have never nurse the idea that a Nigerian woman is not good for me in marriage. Jokes apart, they are d best.

Before the particular trip to the UK that linked me with my wife, I was emotionally down, lonely and unhappy cos things couldnt work out between my baby mama and I. Before Fran, most ladies I woed then did not hide disdain, they complain about my stature, some say Im big or ugly, some complain about my nature etc. Nothing they complained about that cant be tolerated or corrected. Unintelligent people complain about peoples nature just like Josephs elder brothers.

From the moment Fran and I saw eye to eye at Manchester Picaddily Train Station, she began to echo admirable encos. She is 9yrs older. She makes me feel complete, showed readiness to support me, gave me strength, shared my pain with regards to my son METOMI MOYINOLUWA FABIYI.

Frans decision to then fly to Nigeria, marry me with NOTION dat as step mum we will travel to South Africa to sort access to my son. Even when I told her I dnt have POLY or UNI education, she accepted me. Meanwhile I assumed everybody know I ve being travelling to d UK, mo tan ra mi(decieved myself). If for papers, it would be MEDIA BLACKOUT but am clean.

My wife and I will always be good friends. Dont mock me oh, Im always proud I sent invitation(2) to an OYINBO to visit Nigeria, bearing in mind they were once our colonial masters. Our agreement was never to live in UK from inception. My career was just gathering shape then and the only lapses.

Marriage btw Nigerians is not just about the couple only, it is between families and that part is unique and I value that. It is malicous for any1 to say I dnt like Nigerians girls, I was just unlucky or unfit for .

More reason I found it laughable wen a strange lady claimed I chased her out of my car 9years ago cos of sex, this was wen I needed a relationship. Shed be more beautiful then oh. Her story never add up, DOUBT SEEING HER before, no memory of ever chasing any1 out of my car. The blackmail is either sponsored or she acted alone.

-YBL
Peace has returned to Muna Gari community of Konduga Local Government Area, Borno State, after Wednesdays multiple suicide bomb attacks.

The police had confirmed 18 persons killed and 29 others wounded after four suicide bombers hit the area.

Police patrol and EOD teams have sanitised the area for residents to resume normal life.

NAN reports that the remains of the deceased were given mass burial at the Maiduguri cemetery.

Also, two more persons died while on admission at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

Dr Bashir Tahir, the UMTHs Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, said that five injured persons were admitted at the hospital.

Tahir disclosed that one of the five patients died on admission at the hospital, adding that the deceased suffered an internal injury.

He added that the patients were responding to treatment.

Abdullahi Danbatta, the Head of Rescue Team, State Emergency Management Agency, said they had evacuated 24 injured persons to the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

Danbatta revealed that one of the patients died at the hospital.

Mr Victor Isuku, the Police Public Relations Officer, said in a statement that the first explosion occurred at a prayer ground while three other explosions occurred at different locations in the community.

A total of 18 persons, including the four suicide bombers died, and 29 others sustained injuries in the multiple explosions, Isuku said.

Source : (NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate reinstatement of the security aides of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President gave the order in Awka on Wednesday.

Adesina said Obiano had, while receiving Buhari on arrival at Awka for the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress, governorship rally, complained to the President about the withdrawal of his security aides.

He said the President subsequently directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Mr. Joshak Habila, to ensure the immediate reinstatement of the governors security aides.

The statement read, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the reinstatement of the security aides of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

While welcoming the President on arriving Wednesday in Awka for the Grand Finale of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Rally, the governor had complained about the withdrawal of his security aides.

Before departing Awka, President Buhari directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Joshak Habila, to ensure the return of the governors security personnel.

Obianos security aides were on Tuesday withdrawn on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

The withdrawal was ahead of the governorship election in the state scheduled for Saturday.

Also, members of the Senate at the plenary on Wednesday took turns to knock Idris for withdrawing security details attached to the governor.

The lawmakers condemned the claim by the police boss that the security men were withdrawn from the governor to allow a level-playing field for all contestants in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.

The Senate unanimously resolved that the IG should reinstate the governors security details immediately.

They also mandated the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to ensure that Obianos security aides were reinstated as demanded and report back to the chamber on Thursday (today).

The Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, earlier raised a point of order to condemn the IG, describing the withdrawal of Obianos security details as a matter of national significance.

Describing the issue as bi-partisan, the lawmaker stated that the parliament was the gatekeeper of Nigeria.

He said, This morning, I was shocked when I listened to an explanation made by the Inspector-General of Police, in respect of the withdrawal of security aides of the governor of Anambra State. The explanation offered went to the extent that because there is the need for a level-playing field for all the candidates in the Anambra election, the sitting governor should lose his security aides. I was in a state of shock when I listened to this explanation.

In 2019, if the President (Muhammadu Buhari) is contesting, then the President will lose all his security aides because we want a level playing field. I am not a member of APGA, but I am a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I know that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. If we dont arrest this matter, the President may be held hostage.

Bwacha cited the example of Zimbabwe where some aides of President Robert Mugabe allegedly sacked the Vice President and Mugabe claimed not to be aware of the sacking.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, however, prevented the lawmakers from debating the matter, reminding them that Bwacha unfortunately came on Order 43 meant for personal explanations, which disallows debates.

But the lawmakers protested.

Raising another point of order, the Deputy Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi, cited Orders 45 and 52, which allows the lawmakers to debate a matter if the majority so desires.

Saraki, however, agreed that the issue should be debated being a matter of national importance.

The lawmakers unanimously granted Olujimis request.

Olujimi, while condemning the IG, warned that the development could threaten Nigerias democracy.

She noted that the same treatment could be meted out to Saraki when he wants to contest in 2019.

It calls to the fact that somebody is not in charge. Every time, people must be able to checkmate the excesses of people in positions of authority. The IGP has messed it up right now and we need to tell him that he has not done well and something must be done immediately. The aides must be returned to the governor immediately. He is a serving governor, she said.

But the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, however, said the action by the police boss should not be linked to Buhari, describing it as a police affair.

The lawmakers at that point raised their voices, challenging Lawan to cite examples.

The Majority Leader continued, We should not allow this to stand in this administration. I agree with the position that the IG should restore the policemen withdrawn from the governor.

Saraki, in his remarks, said the lawmakers did the right thing by accommodating the matter in order to show that there was a plan to cover up the issue.

What is wrong is wrong. It should not be misinterpreted that the action of the IG was a directive of government. This is purely as the Leader said it and the IG has to do the right thing to ensure that he continues to protect this democracy and immediately restore the aides of the governor, he said.
The MASSOB secessionist group has reacted to President Muhammadu Buharis highly publicized visit to the South-Eastern parts of Nigeria.

According to a Punch Metro report, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra on Wednesday said Biafrans were not fooled by President Muhammadu Buharis visit to the South-East.

The President was in Ebonyi State on Tuesday, from where he proceeded to Anambra State on Wednesday.

Reacting to the development, MASSOB said Buharis visit to the South-East was an attempt to discourage the people of the zone from agitating for secession.

MASSOB National Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, who spoke in a statement, said, The Movement For The Actualisation Of The Sovereign State Of Biafra under the leadership of Uchenna Madu, disagrees with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on his speech in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

President Buharis attempt to discourage Ndigbo from supporting secession is laughable.

For Mr. President to describe our agitation as a senseless propaganda shows how uncomfortable Aso Rock is and also his level of understanding.

MASSOB accused Buhari of disliking Igbo.

Edeson said, Its like Mr. President does not understand tolerance and diversity; when Fulani herdsmen were killing, destroying farms and burning houses, Mr. President called them criminals.

The Arewa youths gave notice to quit to Ndigbo, they were addressed as youths, but when we said that we are no longer interested in the political entity called Nigeria, we became terrorists.

Soldiers invaded our land, killing our people and destroying our property. That is what Mr. President called tolerance and acceptance.

He added, His promise to build Enyimba/Nnewi auto parks is nothing but political propaganda just to deceive our people. Why must it be 2018?

MASSOB wants to make it clear that the construction of the second Niger Bridge and reconstruction of all the roads in Igboland cannot change our desire for the restoration of Biafra.
President Robert Mugabe and his family have been kept safe by the countrys military while targeting criminals in the entourage of Mugabe who has ruled the South African nation for 37 years.

A general appeared on state television to announce the takeover as armoured vehicles blocked roads to the main government offices, parliament and the courts in central Harare. The atmosphere in the capital remained calm.

Mugabe was said to have spoken by telephone to the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and told him he was confined to his home but fine.

Reports said it was unclear whether the coup would bring a formal end to the 93-year-old Mugabes rule; the main goal of the generals appeared to be preventing Mugabes wife Grace, 41 years his junior, from succeeding him.

We are only targeting criminals around him (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice, Reuters quoted Major General SB Moyo, Chief of Staff Logistics, as saying on television.

As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy, he added.

Western countries mostly called for calm. We cannot tell how developments in Zimbabwe will play out in the days ahead and we do not know whether this marks the downfall of Mugabe or not, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told parliament.

We will do all we can, with our international partners, to ensure this provides a genuine opportunity for all Zimbabweans to decide their future.

Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, a leading member of the ruling partys G40 faction, led by Grace Mugabe, had been detained by the military, a government source was quoted as saying.

Zimbabwes political crisis reached a boiling point last week with the dismissal of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, clearing the way for Mugabes wife, also a vice president, to succeed him.

Mugabe told supporters he had dismissed Mnangagwa for disloyalty and disrespect, as well as using witchcraft to take power.

The move exacerbated divisions in the ZANU-PF party, where the youth faction is firmly on Grace Mugabes side, while many older veterans of the struggle against white rule look to Mnangagwa. As a former defence minister, Mnangagwa has strong support with the military.

At one point last month, Grace Mugabe even warned that supporters of Mnangagwa were planning their own coup. He later fled to South Africa.

Political commentator Maxwell Saungweme was quoted as saying by phone that the military would probably try to pressure Mugabe to step down in favour of Mnangagwa as acting president.

But this plan may not pan out as Mugabe might resist this. So the whole thing may be messy, he warned.

Source: ( AFP )
I guess we were all waiting for Daddy Freeze reacting on this! The Pope donated a personalized Lamborghini gifted to him by the company to charity.

Daddy Freeze took to his IG page to write;

God bless the Pope, this is true Christianity. Unlike our daddy GOs, the Pope doesnt collect tithe and gifts like these are donated to charity! ~FRZ



#FreeTheSheeple

He continued;
This is what is currently on his Wikipedia page following his house arrest by Zimbabwes military.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe born 21 February 1924) is a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who was President of Zimbabwe from 1987 to 2017.
A chieftain of All Progressives Congress in Niger, Alhaji Ahmed Dogara, on Thursday urged Nigerian politicians to emulate President Muhammadu Buharis style of responsible politics.

According to him, the presidential order for the reinstatement of the security aides of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra portrayed the Nigerian leader as a truly progressive leader.

Dogara said that President Buharis action is the best in a truly democratic governance.

The APC chieftain recalled that in the past, elected political office holders were humiliated by security personnel for political reasons, saying the singular action of President Buhari would discourage political thuggery and violence.

Dogara said that free and fair election would only be possible if the Federal Government provided a level-playing ground for all the contestants in the Anambra governorship poll scheduled for Saturday.

Source : ( NAN)
Updated 11/21/17  The city of Sheboygan is seeing even more self-storage activity this year with the opening of a new Transpo Mini Storage facility at 1331 Wisconsin Ave. The company is opening its new location, which was converted from a former North Woods Chemical Co. building, on Dec. 1. The building currently offers 76 interior storage units, with another 34 under construction. Property features include climate control, access-controlled entry and perimeter fencing.

Transpo operates four other facilities in Sheboygan.

Champion Storage & Rental LLC, which operates 10 self-storage facilities in Wisconsin, has opened the first phase of a new 20-acre property in Sheboygan, Wis. Two of the four buildings under construction at W1750 Playbird Road are now complete, according to the source.

This is the most units we have ever built at one time, and [it] has been a very exciting process for us, said Diane Fletcher, who owns the company with her husband, Jerry.

A third building that will contain large units designed for RV storage will be complete in early December. The final building, expected to open next year, will include an office and climate-controlled storage.

We are happy to fulfill a great need in the area by building multiple buildings simultaneously with a wide variety of sizes, which was the whole reason behind purchasing this property. We are really looking forward to growing along with our community, said Jerry Fletcher.

Established in 1997, Champion Storage is a family-owned company that began with one location containing a single storage building with 42 units. The business now operates eight facilities in Sheboygan, and one each in Oostburg and Sheboygan Falls, Wis. The sites offer climate-controlled units, vehicle parking, warehouse and office space, and trailer and container rentals.
As part of its 90th anniversary celebrations, Gallagher SA has joined hands with a client partner and a thousand volunteers to rise up against hunger.It was through its partnership with chain restaurant Zambrero  tagline Mexican with a Mission  that Gallagher's Enza Pacetta, Deborah Finlay, Paula Chapman, Melanie Strangar, Katie Nicholson, Eva Leslie-Lehmann, and Eileen Jones, got to volunteer 90 hours of their time to support Rise Against Hunger, a charity that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world's most vulnerable.In its blog, Gallagher said its core values are aligned with those of Zambrero.As well as already donating $1 for every meal purchased to third-world countries, once a year they conduct around Australia a meal-packing day called Plate 4 Plate  working together with Rise Against Hunger, Pacetta said.The Gallagher SA's team of seven was among the more than 1,700 volunteers who joined forces to pack meals  which included soy, lentils, and vitamins  during Zambreros meal-packing day. Five other meal-packing events were held across the country, contributing to a record-breaking donation of 460,000 meals.The meals were sent to Analamango, Madagascar for children in school-feeding programs, and to East Timor for children in orphanages and vocational training centers in Dili and medical clinics in Venilale.Its amazing how such a seemingly small effort can have such a big impact in communities like East Timor and Madagascar, Finlay said. It made me want to work harder as I knew it was for a great cause. The more you do, the more they get, and the sense of giving back to people in need was very rewarding.
A former insurance agent based in south-central Idaho has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation.Mark J. Lee, 49, received the sentence earlier this week in 4th District Court, The Associated Press reported. He was also asked to pay $1,800 in restitution.The Idaho Attorney Generals Office began prosecuting the former agent after an investigation by the state Department of Insurance discovered that Lee had misappropriated insurance premiums for his own use.In September, Lee pleaded guilty to misappropriation or diversion of fiduciary funds.According to the Attorney Generals Office, Lees scheme was uncovered when one of his clients filed a complaint when an insurance company told him that his policy was canceled because it went unpaid.
Leadership in the insurance industry has no divine right clause. You cant just step into a C-Suite role and expect to be fluent in executive discourse.So why isnt the insurance industry doing more to address the workforce generation and experience gap? When the leaders of today leave the industry, who is going to replace them?Insurance Business spoke to Justin Gress, director of strategic operations (COO) at XL Catlin Canada & North America Construction about the importance of investing in future generations. XL Catlin has created an extended leadership team to give younger generations in the workforce in-person leadership training, project leading opportunities, and insight into the financial and strategic planning of the company.Millennials want to get as much information as they can in the most efficient way possible. Some of that comes through the classroom, some of it comes through personal study, and some of it comes through experience. At XL Catlin, we have been looking at how to develop the next set of leaders, so weve created an extended leadership team to improve inclusivity and transparency within the business, Gress explained.Before, the big decisions were made in the C-Suite, but now were really trying to involve the extended leadership team more in those discussions so they can learn, grow and prepare for the future . Weve tried to expose the team to decisions on a basic level as well as assigning them opportunities to step up and own a situation.The extended leadership program has been running for about 18 months and it has really transformed, according to Gress. The younger workforce is starting to give feedback to the XL Catlin C-Suite and highlight points of relevance for them, such as workplace culture.Millennials like to have a clear career path and the opportunity to innovate, said Gress. New products and a pioneering workplace culture will help to retain millennial interest and keep them excited to come into work.A good leader is someone who can identify potential in younger generations , he added. They help people working for them or around them to advance, so that one day they can move seamlessly into the top job when that leader is ready to move on. Its really important for young people to be excited about having a long career  and for that they need to understand their career path and what their next move is going to be.
Positive about what lies ahead, Prudential Plc has released its performance update for the first nine months of the year while stressing its outlook for growth in the long term.



One of the worlds leading financial services groups, Prudential reported a 17% rise in life insurance new business profit to 2.47 billion (around US$3.25 billion) for the period, thanks to more favourable economics and higher sales. In terms of asset management, it posted 12.8 billion of combined third-party retail and institutional net inflows from M&G Prudential and Eastspring  a turnaround from last years net outflows of 8 billion.



In addition, Prudentials estimated Group shareholder Solvency II surplus at the end of the first nine months was 12.8 billion, which means a cover ratio of 201%. Citing leading market positions, as well as significant product and distribution capabilities, the firm said it is well placed for long-term growth and the continued delivery of value not only for its customers but also for shareholders.



In Asia, we are meeting the health, protection, and savings needs of a rapidly growing middle class, said Prudential group chief executive Mike Wells. In the US, we are addressing the savings and retirement income requirements of the baby-boom generation, and in the UK and Europe we are focused on the opportunity presented by the converging life assurance and savings markets.



In the UK, in particular, Prudential noted in its report: M&G Prudential, formed by the combination of our UK businesses, will leverage its scale, financial strength, and complementary product and distribution capabilities to enhance the development of capital-light, digitally enabled, customer-focused solutions. The integration of these businesses is progressing according to plan.



Meanwhile in the promising Asian market, Prudential cited a combination of its diversified portfolio of market-leading businesses, fast-growing demand, and a rising population that is increasingly affluent. New business profit saw a 15% jump, with at least double-digit growth in seven countries.



Jackson, provider of retirement products and income strategies targeted at the 75 million baby boomers in the US, posted a 17% increase in new business profit.



While the near-term outlook for industry sales of variable annuities remains uncertain pending clarification of regulatory reforms in the US retirement market, Jacksons market-leading variable annuity product proposition positions the business well for new longer-term growth opportunities in the sizeable fee-based adviser market, said Prudential.



With good news all around, the firm said its strategy remains centred on the clear structural opportunities in each of its three key markets in Asia, the US, and the UK and Europe.




The Hilb Group has announced its acquisition of the majority of the assets of IOA Northeast NY (IOANE), a division of IOA National.The New Jersey-based IOANE provides property and casualty insurance to businesses across the country. Jeff Miner, managing director, will continue to lead the IOANE team, which will continue operations in its current location under the THG name.Jeff and his team have an extensive background in the large commercial property and casualty space that will help further expand our New Jersey operations, said THG CEO Ricky Spiro. We are delighted to welcome Jeff and his team to our company.There is a strong cultural alignment between THG and our colleagues, Miner said. Joining THG will allow us to continue our operations with the philosophy that the client comes first, while providing new opportunities for growth.IOANE is THGs 42nd acquisition since its founding in 2009 and its 12th this year.
An official with the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) said that as the shipping industry becomes more reliant on technology, the need for cyber insurance grows.IUMI secretary-general Lars Lange explained that marine insurers face a threefold challenge when it comes to cyber risks.Initially, the threats and vulnerabilities of the risk must be identified, which can be challenging as cyber risk is constantly evolving and developing. Once these have been identified then the risk exposure must be assessed accordingly to see how it can be insured. Finally, it is vital that the insureds crew, staff and all stakeholders are trained and educated on the potential dangers of cyber risk in order to gain a better understanding of the issue and how to protect themselves from it, Lange told World Maritime News.Although Lange acknowledges that the industry has made some effort in improving cyber security, he believes that the market preparedness to cyber threats is not quite there yet, because of the difficulty in quantifying cyber risks.The market is certainly making progress on cyber security and recommendations such as BIMCOs Guidelines of Cyber Security Onboard Ships are steps in the right direction. But the industry is not ready yet since this is a moving target.Lange also believes there is potential in the autonomous shipping space.Autonomous shipping will certainly impact the insurance sector and at IUMI we are monitoring the developments and working on understanding the potential risks but it is still too early to judge what impact it will have, he said.Nowadays, the majority of claims are due to human error so autonomous shipping is a positive development but it will pose new threats in relation to cyber and technology, of course.Ultimately, Lange offered assurances that regardless of how sophisticated ships become, the marine insurance industry will be there to support the industry.I do not believe that bigger and more technologically advanced ships need to be a cause of concern, as long as we are prepared and understand the risk then we will be a competent partner to the industry by providing knowledge, expertise, recommendations, and assistance with risk assessment and mitigation, he commented.The marine insurance industry is based on risk and we will not shy away from what needs to be done in order to be prepared.
Where does a decade in one of the best-known commercials take you...
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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.

Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea

EV Companies on the Rise: (NASDAQ: MULN) (NASDAQ: TSLA) (NYSE: NIO) (NASDAQ: RIVN)

Vancouver, Kelowna, Delta, BC - November 16, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investor Ideas Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering EV stocks releases a special report on the continued growth within the sector

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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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I know you guys are inundated, but there are hundreds of people out blocking the street, trying to push cars over and trying to run people over. I know you guys are busy, but this is chaos here, said one woman.
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Airbus announced the biggest commercial-plane transaction in its history, securing an order for single-aisle aircraft valued at nearly $50bn (42.6bn) at the Dubai Air Show, outdoing Boeings own $20bn mega-deal.

The deal for 430 A320neo planes with US investor Indigo Partners marked a turnaround for Airbus at the expo, where it had been trailing its rival. Its also a crowning achievement for sales chief John Leahy, who is set to retire after a career in which he has struck deals for more than 16,000 jets and lifted the European aircraft maker into a duopoly position with Boeing.

For Indigo Partners, led by Bill Franke, the Airbus accord provides upgraded narrow-body aircraft to boost the fleets of low-cost carriers from Denver to Budapest. The planes will go to four companies in Indigos investment portfolio: Hungarys Wizz Air, Frontier Airlines, Mexicos Volaris, and Chiles JetSmart, which began operating this year.

The deal features 273 A320neo jets together with 157 of the larger A321neo variant and is worth $49.5bn before customary discounts, Airbus said.

Mr Leahy, 67, called the transaction remarkable, while Mr Franke, 80, who co-founded Indigo in 2002, said it underscores his confidence in the A320 and the bargain fares, no-frills travel model he helped develop.

Boeing recovered some ground with the sale of 175 737 Max planes, the A320s main competitor, to FlyDubai, a deal big enough to have dominated most air shows.

While that order will come as an irritation for Airbus, with the airline having been expected to split it between the two manufacturers, the Toulouse-based company wasnt done at the Dubai event. It went on to announce EgyptAir as the operator of 15 A320neos previously ordered by leasing firm AerCap.

The Indigo deal more than doubles Airbuss previous order book for the year, which stood at about 290 aircraft, pushes the planemakers backlog above 7,000 jets and reverses expectations that orders will trail deliveries in 2017.

The haul will also help Airbus catch up to Boeing in the order tally this year, with the European planemaker having chalked up 343 contracts at the end of last month, compared with 690 for its Chicago-based rival. The order also trumps a 2015 $27bn deal for 250 single-aisle jets by Indian budget carrier IndiGo. The two companies arent related.

The massive A320 win takes the sting out of a possible defeat on the A380 superjumbo, which has so far failed to clinch a follow-up deal with local carrier Emirates at the Dubai show.

The companies have been in talks on a deal for about 36 additional double-deckers valued at $15.7bn, sources said.

The A380 has become all but a fringe product for Airbus, with a total order book of 317  more than 100 short of the A320s that Indigo plans to buy. Emirates itself snubbed Airbus on the first day of the show with a surprise $15bn order for Boeing 787 wide-body jets, after also looking at the European companys A350.

The Indigo purchase provides a boost to Airbus chief executive officer Tom Enders, who has found himself on the defensive amid an investigation into bribery allegations at the company.

Mr Enders has warned employees that the probe is likely to be a drawn-out process that could result in serious consequences and significant penalties.

A German who has run Airbus for five years, Mr Enders orchestrated another coup last month when he struck a deal with Bombardier to take a majority stake in the Canadian companys C Series jet programme.

That helped throw Bombardier a lifeline for its slow-selling aircraft, helping to save thousands of jobs at plants in Belfast.

Airbus makes the A320 family at different sites around the world, including its main factory in Toulouse as well as in Hamburg.

Bloomberg
Update 2.05pm: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has announced Bus Eireann as the preferred bidder for the contract relating to the operation of five city bus routes in Waterford City.

The announcement follows a competitive process involving five bids from Irish and international companies. The NTA will be formally sending the company a detailed Letter of Intent in the coming weeks.

Following the announcement, Anne Graham Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority said, "

This is ultimately about improving bus services for people in Waterford City, and making public transport a more attractive option for members of the travelling public in the city.

A significant benefit is the new fleet of 17 vehicles that we are purchasing for these services. The buses are powered by the latest Euro VI diesel engine, which are much cleaner in use than older diesel engines."

The buses, which are expected to be on Waterford roads in 2018 will have a wheelchair space and a buggy space, plus a motorised ramp at the entrance door to allow wheelchairs to board easily.

USB chargers will be installed at every seat and WIFI will be available throughout. The buses will also be equipped with audio next stop announcements and a visual display of the name of the next stop.

Ms Graham added, Under this arrangement, there will be an immediate overall increase in service level of about 5%. The most significant change in terms of frequency will be seen on Route 604 (Carrickphierish Rd.  The Quay), where the number of daily services is to increase from 15 to 21.

But during the course of the contract, as more people avail of their local bus service, it would be our intention to further increase frequency and improve service levels across the board."

Update 10.06am: The National Transport Authority will reveal later who will operate bus services in Waterford City.

A tender process was announced earlier this year for the routes currently operated by Bus Eireann.

Bus Eireann was entitled to tender for the Waterford routes, but it a private operator wins out, it will face issues relating to surplus staff, buses and depots in the area.

It is part of a Government commitment to open 10% of bus routes to those in the private sector.

Waterford is the first of such tenders for commuter services with another round of tenders expected early next year for commuter services between Dublin and Kildare.
How do they do it? I am not the first to compare the Clintons to Harry Houdini, the great magician and escape artist, but Bill and Hillary make him look like a rank amateur.

No law seems to touch them. No regulation seems to control them. No prosecutor wants to take the risk of holding either Clinton accountable for anything. OK, Bill was impeached by a Republican House, but not convicted in the Senate.

The latest escape for Hillary involves former FBI Director James Comey and the law governing classified materials. The Hill newspapers John Solomon has obtained an early draft of Comeys statement about Hillarys mishandling of classified documents on her email account.

Initially, Comey was going to charge her with being grossly negligent, a violation of the law which subjects one to prison and fines. In his public statement that sounded like an indictment, Comey changed his description of her actions to extremely careless, a distinction without a difference, but which he said was not an indictable offense because she didnt intend to violate the law.

About Comeys rationale for changing the words in his draft memo, the public does not yet know, but Comey testified before a Senate committee that it made him mildly nauseous when he considered the FBIs impact on the election.

Gregg Jarrett, an attorney who frequently offers legal opinions on the Fox News Channel, has been keeping track of Hillary Clintons skirting of the laws and escapes from its penalties.

Here is his account of only a few recent examples of what might be a twist on the song I Fought the Law (And the Law Won). In her case, Hillary fought the law and bested it.

Speaking about a deal that allegedly allowed for the sale of some U.S. uranium to the Russians via a Canadian, who heavily contributed to Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, then receiving $500,000 for a speech in Moscow (a sale some other commentators say didnt occur), Jarrett says, ...its a crime to use a public office to confer a benefit to a foreign government in exchange for money ... it can be prosecuted under a variety of anti-corruption laws passed by Congress, including the federal bribery statute (18 USC 201-b), the federal gratuity statute (18 USC 201-c), the mail fraud statute (18 USC 1341), the wire fraud statute (18 USC 1343), the program bribery statute (18 USC 666) and the Travel Act (18 USC 1952).

As for the anti-Trump Russian dossier, which Democrats, including those associated with the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee paid for, Jarrett says its a violation of federal law to pay foreign nationals to impact a U.S. political campaign (52 USC 30121), and its also a violation to file a false or misleading campaign report (52 USC 30101).

Ive been hearing Democrats say, Oh, those are just civil penalties, says Jarrett. They are not. The government produces a book  its 319 pages  outlining the federal election laws and all those who have been criminally prosecuted and ended up in prison.

How does Hillary Clinton get away with it? Jarrett says: The Clintons are escape artists that would make Houdini proud. Whenever they are caught dangling their feet over the edge of illegality, they usually dummy up.

He pointed out that when Hillary Clinton spoke with FBI investigators about her private email server last year, she said, I cannot recall 39 times.

If the Justice Department refuses to appoint a special counsel to hold Hillary accountable under the laws the rest of us cant escape, and if Robert Mueller wont do it, then Congress should continue with its own investigations.

We often hear no one is above the law. That has never applied to the Clintons.
By Ann O'Loughlin

Ryanair's director of human resources, strategy and operations has rejected claims the airline's pilot representative system for negotiating pay and conditions was a sham.

The "employee representative committee" (ERC) system within the airline involves two to five pilots at each of Ryanair's bases around Europe meeting with HR department representatives and they negotiate five-year collective deals in the same way as is done in most negotiations, Darrell Hughes told the High Court.

"They are certainly not a sham", he told a jury on the fifth day of a Ryanair defamation action.

It is against three founders of the Ryanair Pilot Group (RPG) Evert Van Zwol, John Goss and Ted Murphy, who, the airline says, issued a statement in 2013 falsely saying the company misled investors. The three deny the claims.

On the fifth day of the action before Mr Justice Bernard Barton and a jury, Mr Hughes was replying to questions from Ryanair counsel Thomas Hogan.

Counsel asked him about claims made in RPG correspondence in 2013 to its members that Ryanair management continued to spread misleading information about these local ERC pay agreements. The RPG claimed they were a sham designed to circumvent pilots' bargaining rights.

Mr Hughes said they were not a sham or misleading and were like any negotiation where there are two sides seeking different things and usually meet in the middle.

Earlier, he said the RPG, from its inception in 2012, regularly made statements about industrial relations and there were many disparaging comments about Ryanair management.

However, after some 15 local ERC agreements had been voted through by pilots in April 2013, the RPG's "focus of attack" moved from industrial relations to issues of safety, he said. They sought to get pilots to sign up to a safety incident reporting system.

This then evolved into an attack on financial prudence, he said.

Mr Hughes said it was the case that only directly employed pilots could vote on the ERC agreements because the contracted pilots are sourced through agencies which negotiate directly with Ryanair as to pay and terms and conditions.

In 2013, the breakdown of directly employed to contractors was 70/30 and today it was nearer 50/50, he said.

Those on contracts are paid by flying hours and they are generally younger people who prefer that, because of the difference in tax treatment between the two types means contractors can help pay for the high cost of their pilot training. Contractors are more flexible and agree to be posted at other airports for one in every four "flying blocks".

Directly employed staff are generally people who are more settled and Ryanair's family friendly rosters means they can usually be home in their own beds each night, something not available in other airlines, he said.

The difference in pay between directly employed and contractors "varies from base to base" but in some cases contractors got more than direct employees and in others less.

When it came to negotiating terms and conditions, with the exception perhaps of Premiership footballers, pilots were a "totally mobile" group of workers who do not have the same visa restrictions as the rest of us and can go and work in northwest China at more than 20,000 a month, he said. If Ryanair wants to attract them, it must provide good pay and conditions, he said.

The case continues tomorrow.
Europe is on the verge of a second wave of migration as the situation in refugee camps in Africa and the Middle East worsens, the head of the UN World Food Programme has said.

David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP) also told German newspaper Die Zeit that European nations must accept there is a clear link between hunger and migration.

Mr Beasley, according to a translation of the article in Russia Today, highlighted the fact that conditions in refugee camps in crisis-affected regions deteriorated dramatically before the last European migrant crisis struck in 2015.

We paid a heavy price for this mistake and Im afraid were about to make it once again," he is reported to have said.

The UN food chief goes on to say that while many asylum seekers wanted to stay in their home region the lack of food was driving them towards Europe.

If they dont have enough food, they will leave. And many of them would go to Europe."

Mr Beasley said that while the UN had made progress in fighting world hunger over the last 10 years the number of people suffering hunger worldwide has now dramatically increased.

A WFP report from March claims that some 108m people now face crisis food insecurity or worse as result of conflict, record-high food prices and abnormal weather patterns. The figure stood at 80m in 2015.

The blockades in Yemen must end now! If they dont, hundreds of thousands of children may die soon. https://t.co/e7xCJeTo0f pic.twitter.com/xIldYVHybT  David Beasley (@WFPChief) November 16, 2017

Russia Today go on to report that the number of asylum seekers in the EU during the second quarter of 2017 reached 149,000 according to statistical data from Eurostat. The applications mainly came from Syria, Nigeria and Afghanistan.
A man visiting the US from Africa has had $190,000 stolen after being mugged in New York, according to police.

Officers said the attack happened in November 7 in the Bronx.
Nearly 1,000 students at 41 schools are already lined up to be the first examined in the subject next June, but another 67 schools have expressed interest in teaching it from next September.

Demand appears to have reduced since a call went out to schools two years ago when 115 expressions of interest were received. That is more than the 108 that would be teaching it by next September if those which have declared an interest go on to do so and the 41 first-phase schools retain it as an option for their students.

The subject is intended to develop active citizenship among students, as well as informing them how social and political institutions work at local, national, European and global level. It is organised into four main areas: Power and decision-making, active citizenship, human rights and responsibilities, and globalisation and localisation.

Like a number of senior-cycle subjects, part of the Leaving Certificate marks are awarded for a project completed separately to the final written exam. Politics and society students doing the Leaving Certificate next June will receive up to 20% of the marks for a citizenship project that can include raising awareness of changing Irish identities, creation of  or involvement in  a campaign about sustainable development, or a survey and action around the voice of students in school matters.

The Department of Education said figures supplied by the 41 schools chosen for the first phase of the subjects introduction last year suggest that just under 1,000 students will sit the Leaving Certificate exams in 2018.

All other schools were invited in September to express interest by the end of last month, in order to allow the planning of appropriate training for teachers intending to deliver the course from next autumn. Those who are being lined up to teach the subject need to already be working at the schools, and to have studied politics, sociology, philosophy, anthropology or related areas at third level. They should also have experience of teaching related school subjects like history, economics, or CSPE, or other experience like related transition-year modules or projects.

The slight decline in interest could be linked to the planned introduction of a Leaving Certificate computer science course next year. Around 25 to 40 schools will be selected to begin teaching it next September from among those schools which apply to do so by the end of next week.

Coding skills in maths curriculum

The building blocks of coding are to be introduced in a proposed new maths curriculum for pupils up to second class.

Although the how, where and when decisions about making coding an integral part of primary education are to be part of a wider review of the primary curriculum, it is intended to embed related skills in the earliest teaching of maths.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) said computational thinking, and flexible and creative thinking skills, will form part of the course it has drafted and is now being sent out for public consultation. It said the new curriculum contributes to the foundations of coding by allowing children to develop those skills through playful, collaborative and engaging learning experiences.

Education Minister Richard Bruton asked the NCCA last year to look at how every child could be given a chance to develop such skills. He suggested using the experiences and learning from popular CoderDojo classes being taken by thousands of young people coding outside of school.

The NCCA said its examination of computer science and coding at primary level in 22 countries shows several approaches are being taken. These include offering standalone courses or subjects, integrating these topics into science or maths (or both), or embedding them across the entire primary curriculum. The approach to be taken here will be considered in a wider review of the primary curriculum that is continuing into next year.

This review will determine decisions about the purpose, structure, stages, time allocations, and content of a redeveloped curriculum, says the NCCAs draft maths curriculum for children from junior infants to second class.

It is expected to be delivered from September 2018 and additional support material will be given to teachers of pupils with special educational needs.
The sole issue in the case was whether the death of the 81-year-old was caused by the careless driving.

Glenn Howard, aged 34, of Leesdale, Model Farm Rd, Cork, pleaded not guilty to the charge of careless driving causing the death of Kilkenny man John Dermody, a front seat passenger in another car on the M8 at Ballybeg, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on October 13, 2015.

Alice Fawsitt, defending, said on behalf of the accused: There is no issue about driving, there is no denial that it was careless driving, the issue is whether his careless driving caused the death.

Siobhan Lankford, prosecuting, said the prosecution was grateful for the concession made by the accused man so that certain matters such as the driving of the car and the driving of it without due care and attention had been conceded.

Ms Lankford said Patricia Dermody was driving that day and her late husband, who was 81, was in the front passenger seat.

He was getting a bit hot so Mrs Dermody pulled in to the side of the road to help him take off his jacket. They were on their way to Nenagh for a few days and decided to head to Mitchelstown first as they were in no particular hurry.

The defendants van collided with the back of their car when it stopped.

The deceased was thrown around in the vehicle and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was treated in hospital but his condition deteriorated and 22 days later, on November 4, he died, said Ms Lankford.

Mrs Dermody, in a written statement read to the jury, said the airbags came out in front of them on the impact.

I looked over at John. He had his eyes closed. Thank God he opened his eyes. John asked me, What happened, Pat? I said, We had an accident, John, It all happened so fast. When I got out of the car it was faced in the opposite direction. I dont know what hit us. I only noticed the van when we were sitting in the ambulance.

Mrs Dermody later added to her statement her husband had been wearing his seatbelt as he always did.

Pathologist Margot Bolster said the deceased had been taking warfarin, an anticoagulant prescribed due to a risk of stroke. She said the medication would make an injured party more vulnerable to bleeding.

Dr Bolster said the deceased had some longstanding medical conditions prior to the accident.

Ms Fawsett stated: The issue is whether the injuries in the accident contributed in a real way to his death.

Ms Lankford said: The prosecution says the defendant has to take the person who is injured as he finds him. The people in the silver Kia were not [aged]21/22. You might feel sorry for the accused, that he crashed into a car where the occupants were not in the best of health but that is the reality.

You are not being asked was it the full cause but did it contribute to it in more than a minimal way?

The jury of four women and eight men had Dr Bolsters conclusions summarised by Judge Sean O Donnabhain in his closing address at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, stating the cause of death was pneumonia associated with heart disease complicated by head injury due to road traffic collision.

The jury resume deliberations today.
A teen was hospitalized due to a hunting accident early Wednesday morning in Washington County.

Sheriff Zach Jacobsen said his deputies were called to Washington County Memorial Hospital in reference to the victim of a gunshot incident.

This is the first hunting accident this year and we typically average one a year, said Jacobsen. The Missouri Department of Conservation keeps track of those numbers, much like the highway patrol tracks accidents, and they are assisting with this investigation.

Jacobsen said a father and his 14-year-old son went to a privately-owned piece of land where they hunt near Richwoods.

When they got there they both got out of the vehicle and the father was attempting to load his rifle when a bullet got jammed, said Jacobsen. While attempting to clear the chamber, the rifle discharged. The round traveled through the open cab of the vehicle, exiting the rear passenger door and striking the teen in the upper leg.

Jacobsen said the boy was transported by his father to the hospital.

He was then airlifted to a St. Louis hospital for further treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, said Jacobsen. I am sure his injury will require surgery.

Jacobsen said he believes both dad and son are avid hunters and the dad was very distraught over what happened.

As you can imagine, he is trying to teach his son the technique of hunting and an accident like this happens, said Jacobsen. Its an unfortunate accident and the information leads us to believe it was only an unfortunate situation. Any time something like this happens is just terrible.

The Missouri Department of Conservation was contacted and is assisting with the investigation. Local MDC Agent Jacob Plunkett said he had not heard of any other other hunting-related accidents so far this fall in St. Francois or any of the surrounding counties.
The Irish Film Board ran an office in Los Angeles from late 2006 until 2012, the plan having been announced at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006 by the then arts minister, John ODonoghue.

The one-person office closed in late 2012 amid huge funding cuts to the Irish Film Board, which subsequently reconfigured its personnel, with an inward production manager working alongside chief executive James Hickey in visiting LA a number of times a year pitching Ireland as a location for Hollywood productions.

Recent years have proved fruitful in that regard, spearheaded by the use of Irish locations in the new Star Wars trilogy, the second film of which, The Last Jedi, will open next month.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Hickey said that reopening an office in LA is now being actively considered as a way of further capitalising on Irelands position as a destination of choice for film and TV production.

It is something we would be beginning to consider, given the improvement in our funding over a recent period of time, said Mr Hickey.

He referred to the years of the recession as not an easy time for the world, not just Ireland, with cutbacks impinging on big-budget productions. He also cited a cut in funding to the Irish Film Board in 2011 as a significant factor in the decision to close the LA office in 2012.

Mr Hickey said the improving domestic economy, demand for content from around the world, and improvements to tax incentives on offer made Ireland an attractive option and that having a permanent office in Los Angeles would help maintain and expand contacts that have been built up over a number of years.

Mr Hickey and his team have visited Hollywood twice this year, including just last month. What is important very often is reminding people again of what is there, he said.

The more that can be done to promote Ireland the more the opportunities will be there to grasp if we want to do it. The more promotion that is done, the better.

If people come to us we will talk to them about all the possibilities that are available throughout the island of Ireland.

Last month the Hollywood Reporter referred to The Last Jedi as just one example of the foreign investment that has begun to pour into Irelands film and TV industry.

The Force Awakens ended with dramatic shots captured on Skellig Michael, which will again feature prominently in The Last Jedi. Mr Hickey said the islands use as a possible location was something that came up in discussions with director JJ Abrams and the trilogys producers and that it was tremendous that it was featuring so prominently in the films. However, he said the Irish Film Board was very conscious of the delicate fabric that is Skellig Michael.

He said Brexit presents both challenges and opportunities and that other areas of potential growth include visual effects and animation.
David Buckley, aged 32, of 4 Convent Rd, Doneraile, Co Cork, denied the sexual assaults which he carried out between December 2009 and March 2011 at his then partners home in another area in Co Cork.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain remanded Buckley in custody for sentencing at the February sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The jury delivered 11-1 majority verdicts on five sexual assault counts and a further 10-2 majority verdict on another.

They found him not guilty of a seventh sexual assault and not guilty of a sexual exploitation charge and a count attempting to engage in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 15.

Imelda Kelly, prosecuting, said the victim had no difficulty with the accused being identified but she did not want to be named.

She said he gave her vodka when she was 13 years old and that the sexual assaults started with him French kissing her and then touching her on the behind and on her breast.

Ms Kelly said there was a pattern of behaviour where the alleged sexual assaults increased in seriousness over time.

The accused man testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: Nothing ever happened. I never kissed her. I never done nothing to that girl. That [what she alleged] is a load of lies.

The only time I was ever in the bedroom was when I was painting it, he said.

Dermot Sheehan, defending, asked the accused, Did you give her vodka?

He replied, I wouldnt go near vodka I drink Dutch Gold.

He said that the complainant  his ex-partners daughter  went out drinking with her friends when she was aged 12/13. He was in a relationship with the complainants partner at that time.

Ms Kelly suggested that the dynamic of the relationship between the defendant and his partners daughter blurred and resulted in this sexual activity. He denied this.

Evidence was also given to the jury from a memo of interview the defendant had with the gardai:

You used your tongue and kissed her?

That never happened. My kids were always beside me, he said.

Would you ever flirt with her?

No, she was only a child.

You kissed her in her bedroom and put your fingers in her vagina?

That did not happen. The only time I was ever in her bedroom was to paint it.

You put your hand up her top and squeezed her breast?

No I was never in a room on my own with her [In relation to another allegation] Thats a load of bullshit. If I ever interfered with a child I wouldnt be here today.
Grace, who has an intellectual disability, was placed with a foster family in the South East in 1989. She remained in the home until 2009, despite repeated allegations of physical abuse being made known to health officials as far back as the early 1990s.

Mr Noonan has strongly denied acting in any way on behalf of the foster father following written representations seeking to have Grace remain at the home.

The interim report, presented to Health Ministers Simon Harris and Finian McGrath yesterday, and obtained by the Irish Examiner, has completed all its preparation work into why a decision to remove Grace from the home was overturned.

The commission, chaired by Marjorie Farrelly SC, also says it is at an advanced state of readiness to look into the events in 1996 shortly after Christmas.

As previously revealed by the Irish Examiner, in early 1996, it was initially decided to remove Grace from the foster home. That decision was overturned after the foster father in the family at the centre of the allegations, and another individual, wrote to the then health ministers Michael Noonan and Austin Currie.

This correspondence is being examined by the commission to assertain whether this correspondence had the effect of keeping Grace in the foster home.

The interim report says significant progress has been made on its first module, which deals with how the family with whom Grace was placed came to be used. The commission is due to hear evidence on this shortly, the report states.

Documents and information relating to the care of Grace have been requested of 51 public bodies and individuals by the commission into her sexual abuse in a foster home.

The interim report is to be discussed by Cabinet next Tuesday.

Ms Farrelly, the sole member of the commission, travelled to the South-East in September and met with Grace, the report states.

The commission was of the view that it was important to meet Grace. In September 2017, arrangements were made for the sole member and a legal team member to travel to the South East to meet with Grace at her residence, the report states.

The puropose of the visit was to meet the person behind the voluminous documentation and reports received by the commission pertaining to her care and protection over an extended period, it states. The meeting was successful and provided an opportunity to see Graces current residence and the care being provided to her.

Grace, who is non-verbal, was left to languish in a foster home for 20 years until 2009 despite being the subject of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of the foster family. Several opportunities to remove her from the home following concerns being raised were either overruled or not taken.

In her report, Ms Farrelly says the commission has so far received an enormous volume of documentation.

The commission has received approximately 270,000 pages of documentation between June 13, 2017, and November 14, 2017, with approximately 10,000 pages received in the last week.

She remarked that she and members of her team had to use encryption keys in order to read earlier redacted reports into the scandal but said in most cases there were no decoded versions of the reports available and it was necessary for the commission to read each report using an encryption key.

This was a time consuming but necessary process for the Commission at the commencement of its work, the report states.

Earlier this year, the HSE was heavily criticised by Mr McGrath for its role in the Grace case, and for delaying the setting up of a commission of inquiry into the scandal.
Fine Gael TDs last night warned Minister Eoghan Murphy that the government should steer clear of statistics and reports when addressing homelessness and focus on caring for people.

Dublin Bay South TD Kate O'Connell told her constituency colleague Mr Murphy that the government needed to have a social conscience and that one homeless person was too many.

Ms O'Connell, along with Kildare's Bernard Durkan and Dun Laoghaire's Maria Bailey were among those who took issue, saying the government's message had been wrong.

The criticism comes after the Taoiseach and Mr Murphy both said Ireland had a low rate of homelessness compared to other countries. This has drawn widespread criticism from homeless charities as well as politicians.

The latest figures show that 8,374 people accessed emergency accommodation in September and more than 3,100 of these were children.

Fine Gael TDs told the weekly party meeting that housing was the biggest issue in the Dail and that quicker progress was needed responding to the crisis.

Minister Murphy also agreed at the party meeting to consider a proposal from Louth Fergus O'Dowd. He outlined how Louth had issued a compulsory purchase order for 60 derelict sites to be used for housing and that this was a model that should be used by all councils. Census figures provided at the meeting show that 1,544 boarded up units were recorded last year while another 10,056 were deemed vacant for a long time. The minister agreed to look at advising all local authorities to use CPOs for housing purposes.

Meanwhile, Minister Murphy yesterday also defended recent comments by the Taoiseach where Leo Varadkar said homelessness in Ireland was low by international standards.

He denied a claim by Solidarity TD Mick Barry at a committee that there was a coordinated campaign by ministers to normalise homelessness.

Fianna Fails Micheal Martin also complained about the poor levels of social housing building after new figures revealed three local authorities in Dublin have not built even one unit so far this year. Mr Martin said the construction of social housing was at a snails pace as the details also showed that just 1,000 homes nationwide were constructed since last year. Mr Varadkar said 2,000 were built since last year.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) called for a super surveillance watchdog to oversee all state surveillance activities  to include not just communication data but interception of communications, deployment of surveillance devices, and use of informants.

The organisation, along with the National Union of Journalists, appeared before the Oireachtas justice committee for hearings on the General Scheme of the Communications (Data Retention) Bill 2007.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan published the draft heads of bill in early October along with the Murray report, which reviewed the law in the area.

The report said the current Irish system amounted to mass surveillance and said it may no longer be lawful to compel service providers to retain indiscriminate private communication data.

Communication data does not include content of telephone or digital messages but covers all traffic and location details, including on the sender and receiver, time and frequency of messages, as well as websites visited.

The Murray report called for the replacement of the current system, with no independent authorisation of requests, with prior authorisation from a district court judge (High Court for journalists) or from an independent agency. He also called for an independent monitoring body for the communication companies.

While the Governments bill provides for district court authorisation, it does not include High Court authorisation for journalist data. Neither does it allow for an independent agency to authorise requests, nor a monitoring body for the industry.

In a joint submission with Digital Rights Ireland, the ICCL said the bill failed to bring Irish law into line with European jurisprudence.

Elizabeth Farries, ICCL information rights project manager, said the current bill is invalid according to European Union law, citing two landmark cases known as Tele2 and Digital Rights Ireland.

TJ McIntyre of Digital Rights Ireland previously told the committee that the bill as proposed would end up being tested in the courts.

Ms Farries said the Murray recommendations represented the minimum standard and reflected EU law and must be implemented to bring Irish law into line.

She said the bill allowed for emergency requests for journalists data without judicial approval  again contrary to EU law.

She said that, despite the claims of the Department of Justice, the current oversight system was not working, citing the part-time nature of current High Court reviews, the formulaic one-page reports produced, and the general lack of data.

The ICCL said the bills proposal for district court judges to grant authorisation was not sufficient in that the judges were busy and did not have sufficient resources and competence  including technical knowledge  to exercise full control.

The ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland argued for a resourced, independent agency dedicated to this purpose  and said this agency should examine all surveillance activities.

We recommend that the designated judge be replaced by an independent supervisory authority, with parliamentary accountability, to be chaired by a judge, and supported by a secretariat with sufficient technical expertise and financial resources to provide detailed support including formalised public reports, states their joint submission.

This supervisory authority should also take on the oversight of interception of communications, use of surveillance devices, and the use of covert human intelligence sources.
The boy, aged 15, was charged with assault causing harm in connection with the incident in Tyrrelstown, Dublin, on a date in August last year. The defendant, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was aged 14 at the time.

He appeared at Dublin Childrens Court yesterday when bail was revoked as a result of breaching conditions set down by the judge at an earlier stage.
In early October, shortly after Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter that his company could, given the opportunity, rebuild the islands electrical grid using solar power.

Coming in the midst of so much human suffering, it was a bold claim. But from a technological perspective, the timing was perfect.

By late October, solar panels and high-capacity batteries had been installed at San Juans Hospital del Nino, and additional projects are in the works.

This type of response to a natural disaster  replacing a fossil-fuel-reliant power grid with renewable energy  should be applauded. But no matter how clean and efficient renewable

energy sources may be, they will never fully mitigate the climatic effects that are bringing more hurricanes like Maria ashore.

There is another way to do that, and it is far cheaper than what Musk has proposed.

Puerto Rico is home to one of the most efficient and inexpensive tools available in the fight against climate change: rainforests. On the islands eastern tip, the nearly 29,000-acre

El Yunque National Forest is one of the Caribbeans most important systems for capturing and storing carbon.

Maria destroyed the forest, too. But tech CEOs have not tweeted about restoring that resource, because, at the moment, they see no viable business model for saving trees.

But what if such a model did exist? What if there were ways to make tropical forests worth more alive than dead?

Global leaders have been pondering this question for years. And, at UN climate talks, they have come up with a novel solution: an initiative called Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

The idea is simple: with the right incentives, people, governments, and industries will preserve and restore tropical forests, rather than plow them under. In return, the world gets more carbon sinks to soak up greenhouse gasses.

REDD+, which has been around in various forms for nearly a decade, provides a payment structure for preservation and restoration efforts. By putting an economic value on forests for the role they play in large-scale carbon capture and storage, REDD+ allows standing trees to compete with lucrative land uses  such as logging or agriculture  that result in deforestation.

The first large-scale REDD+ programme, an agreement between Norway and Brazil, was initiated in 2008. Norway agreed to provide $1bn (850m) in performance-based payments to Brazil for successfully protecting its rainforests. The money from Norway was released in installments, as Brazil conserved its forests.

The results were impressive: Brazil reduced the average rate of Amazon deforestation by over 60% over the last decade, absorbing about 3.6bn tons of carbon dioxide, more than any other country.

And Norway was able to help mitigate global carbon dioxide emissions.

But, despite the success of the pilot partnership, the REDD+ programme today is in dire need of capital. In many ways, the solution is similar to Musks solar proposal in Puerto Rico. Only this time, the innovation is not technical, but financial.

Creating a market for REDD+ credits would create investment opportunities in tropical forest preservation for heavily polluting companies and industries. With an adequate policy framework, REDD+ credits could be offered through existing compliance markets  such as the carbon credit markets in California or South Korea  unlocking billions in additional capital for reforestation efforts.

Developing such a framework would also enable REDD+ to become part of future compliance systems, like the one being developed by the global airline industry to cap emissions, or the carbon-permit market that China plans to launch later this year.

Integration into these markets could also tap new funding streams for forest conservation and reforestation, as it would allow financial intermediaries, like the REDD+ Acceleration Fund, to connect REDD+ projects directly with the private sector.

At the moment, most of this is aspirational. REDD+ is merely a set of guidelines, and a forest credit market will require rules and standards to govern how protection and reforestation allowances are allocated to buyers and integrated into current markets.

Global leaders gathering this week for the UN climate change conference in Bonn, Germany, can aid these efforts by continuing to support the development of effective and transparent accounting mechanisms for REDD+ projects.

There is danger in delay. In the two years since the Paris climate agreement was adopted, deforestation increased sharply in Indonesia and parts of the Amazon, where much of the worlds largest and most vital tropical forests stand.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, tropical deforestation is responsible for three billion tons of additional atmospheric CO2 annually  more than the worlds entire transportation sector.

No technology is as effective at storing carbon as tropical forests, and saving and restoring them offers one of the cheapest large-scale forms of emissions abatement or capture, while providing a host of other environmental and social benefits.

To take advantage of this crucial hedge against a warming planet, more trees must remain standing. For those of us who believe that a forest credit market could provide critical means of protecting our planet our Musk moment is here. We must be similarly bold.

Lorenzo Bernasconi is senior associate director of The Rockefeller Foundation Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2017.
Cyberspace, Failing Media, and the Hoax of the Holocaust of Tuam. Cannon, paid by the taxpayer as minister for the diaspora and international development, expressed his deep disappointment that a seat of learning as respected as the University of Notre Dame would host such an event. The primary aim of every professional journalist should be to report truthfully on events and in this context Mr Waters should do a little more research and also reflect on the courageous testimony of so many of Tuams survivors, he scolded.

He had a particular issue with the word hoax, it seems. Waters, by contrast, had a particular issue with the word holocaust. That might be because he is sticking with the facts as a professional journalist, not firing off media-friendly soundbites like a loose Cannon.

The very idea that a newspaper as venerable as The Independent could describe the discovery of an unknown number of babies bodies in a structure with an unknown history in the grounds of Tuam mother and baby home as a holocaust is shocking.

But it was far from alone. Among the media outlets which rushed to inform us the 800 babies had been buried in a septic tank were the Boston Globe, New York Daily News, and ABC Australia, while Irish Central asked, How do you like euthanasia Irish Catholic-style? Even RTEs Cormac O hEadhra asked his Late Debate panel if the convent grounds should be sealed off as a crime scene. When all the while the truth must be clear to anyone who does a tiny bit of research.

The death rate for babies born outside wedlock in Ireland was much higher than for those in married families in Ireland: 193 per 1,000 as against about 74 per 1,000 in 1939, for instance. This was also the case all over Europe but in the UK the problem was less severe, with 90 illegitimate babies dying per 1,000 in 1939 as against 54 legitimate babies.

Clearly poverty was the main reason for this disparity and Irelands figures were worse than those in the UK because Ireland was much poorer and healthcare was much worse: Our unwed mothers werent supported by a national insurance maternity benefit as Britains had been since 1911. From 1948 UK lone mothers benefitted from national assistance.

In both countries, illegitimate babies were in overcrowded institutions because their mothers often had no other means of support except institutional care. In Ireland the standards in the homes were poorer for longer, whether they were run by nuns or not.

I compared the death rate for 1936, a bumper year for infant mortality, in the Protestant

Bethany home and the Tuam mother and baby home. There were 29 deaths at Bethany and 48 at Tuam, 21 of which were accounted for by an outbreak of measles which Bethany escaped that year. Otherwise the causes of death were the same.

The cure for all of this was proper registration and inspection, as is famously evidenced by the testimony of the chief medical officer, James Deeny, who inspected Bessborough home in Cork in 1944. He stripped the babies and found they had an infection of the skin and green diarrhoea which had been carefully covered up. He sacked the matron and closed the place down.

The script of the speech John Waters delivered in Notre Dame on Saturday has not yet been published but I obtained a version of the lecture from someone who attended. What Waters said, apparently, was that presenting this media hysteria as journalism was the hoax. Journalism, he said, used to be associated with truth and facts but had now become a byword for poisonous propaganda. He is absolutely right. But the thing that really gets me about what Ciaran Cannon said is that real facts are staring him in the face about what is happening to single mothers and their children today.

Today  not yesterday  the level of consistent poverty among lone parents and their families is 238 times higher than that of the general population. Two thirds of homeless families are headed by lone parents, usually mothers.

Trinity College Dublin academic Paula Mayock presented research recently which showed women making up 40% of homeless people, as against 20%-33% across Europe. Mayock added that homeless services were poorly equipped to house women and primarily

focused on male homelessness.

At least the nuns acknowledged the threat of homelessness to lone mothers. No ones suggesting the solutions they provided were great. They sure werent. But lets not pretend, either, that in this brave new world a lone parent without family support has nothing to fear.

Ciaran Cannon attempts to consign our concern for unsupported young mothers to that convenient Never Never Land, the past. He rightly praises the work of Catherine Corless in giving us the opportunity to acknowledge Irelands forgotten citizens but makes no mention of the research conducted by Indecon for the Department of Social Protection which finds 52% of lone parents financially worse off because of cuts to the one-parent family payment made by the 2012 Fine Gael-led government, which he supported.

He supported a government which oversaw, between 2012 and 2015, an increase of 50% inconsistent poverty among lone parents. The phrase lone parents hides the fact that we are talking for the most part about young women with young children.

Few, if any, of the babies of todays single mothers will die in infancy of preventable diseases. Ireland has converged with the rest of the developed world and moved on with it.

But many of the babies born into poverty in todays Ireland have the cards stacked heavily against them. Trinity College academic Richard Layte presented research at the recent SPARK conference on lone parents which showed the percentage of low-birth-weight babies to be nearly doubled for the lowest income group as against the

highest income group in Ireland today.

Low birth weight is predictive of many health and developmental problems such as four to five times more chance of personal or social issues, problem-solving issues, fine motor impairment, and gross motor impairment.

In addition to the deficits many poor kids carry from birth, they are more likely to live in stressed households. Levels of maternal warmth plunge with each year a mother is poor.

Am I boring you? I know I go on and on about lone mothers like John Waters used to go on and on about issues like fathers rights. I used to wish hed lighten up and let it go. Maybe he couldnt because the message still wasnt getting through.

Now I know how he felt.
A Belleview man was injured in a crash that occurred at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday on Route C, four-tenths of a mile east of Route P in Washington County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident took place when a westbound 2001 Ford Escort driven by Byron E. Masson, 47, of Belleview, was approached by an eastbound 2005 Ford Mustang GT driven by Heath W. Rhyneer, 16, of Belgrade.

When Masson attempted to make a left turn onto a private driveway, he traveled into the eastbound lane at which time Rhyneer's Mustang struck the right front end of the Escort. Following the impact, both vehicles traveled off the south edge of the road where the front end of Masson's Escort struck a tree and the front end of the Mustang struck the rear of Masson's car.

While Rhyneer  who was reportedly wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident  was uninjured in the accident, Masson was transported by Washington County Ambulance to St. Anthony's Medical Center where he was treated for moderate injuries.

The patrol's report states that it was unknown if Masson was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Incredible as it may seem, work is already underway for the 2018 Relay For Life of St. Francois County and this years event will be bringing several important changes to improve the experience for everyone involved.

This past summer's rally  the 21st held in St. Francois County since 1996  raised about $70,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS) and involved 18 teams who worked tirelessly through the year to raise the funds.

We are going to be meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21 to start planning for our 2018 Relay event, said Shanna Hayes, ACS community development manager. We would love it if everyone who participated in the 2017 event  as well as anyone interested in joining the 2018 committee  could join us for a brainstorming session of new ideas for the new year.

We are looking for new committee members to get involved and we also encourage everyone to invite friends who might be interested in coming to the meeting, so we can grow our efforts. Well be meeting at 6 p.m. in Room FA 105 in the Fine Arts Building on the Mineral Area College campus in Park Hills.

One important change thats already been announced is the date on which the Relay For Life will be taking place.

We have decided to move our event date to a day that will hopefully be more comfortable for our survivors and everyone involved, Hayes said. So, in 2018, we will be holding the relay on Friday, June 8 at MAC in Park Hills.

On a side note, Hayes announced that the ACS is encouraging the community to commit or recommit to healthy, tobacco-free lives by participating in today's Great American Smokeout.

The most important thing smokers can do to improve their health is to quit cigarettes and other forms of combustible tobacco, she said. As leaders in promoting health and wellness, we are showing our support for people who take those first steps toward making a plan to quit.

The ACS wants to help the people in our community to be healthy and happy, said Hayes. During this years Great American Smokeout, we hope everyone will join us  and encourage their friends, family and colleagues to join us  in committing or recommitting to year-around, tobacco-free lives.

The ACS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support as people make their plan to quit. More information is available at cancer.org/smokeout or by calling 1-800-227-2345.
Three local school boards and the Mineral Area College Board of Trustees will hold meetings today.

North County

The North County School Board of Education will meet in regular session today at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building, located at 300 Berry Road in Bonne Terre.

The board will consider a date change for the December board meeting and a retirement incentive.

The board will recognize students and staff, discuss high school jazz band trip itinerary and look at cards and letters. They will also discuss board policy, regulation and form updates.

This meeting is open to the public.

Bismarck

The Bismarck Board of Education meets in regular session at 6 p.m. tonight in the elementary library.

According to the tentative agenda, the board will consider approval of the School Governance and Administration Report; the annual evaluation of district goals; policy, regulation and form updates; a municipal advisory agreement; and the substitute teacher list. Also, Superintendent Jason King will give his monthly report.

The meeting is open to the public.

West County

The West County Board of Education will meet in regular session tonight to receive reports and consider district business.

First, the board will recognize middle and high school students before the meeting in the board recognition room.

During the regular meeting at 6 p.m., the board will receive reports on the following matters: technology, Title I, 21st Century, annual performance and reports from district administrators and Superintendent Stacy Stevens.

In new business, the board will discuss filing dates for the April 2018 board election and will hear the 2016-2017 audit report. The board will also receive updates on MCE and will consider qualifications of substitute teaching applicants.

In old business, the board will consider fundraisers and will receive capital improvement updates. The meeting is open to the public.

MAC

The Mineral Area College Board of Trustees will meet in regular session today at 2 p.m. in the VanHerck Boardroom on the school's Park Hills campus.

According to the tentative agenda, the board will receive the State of Missouri report, as well as updates on the school's 2018 spring semester enrollment stats, Central Methodist University, Classified Staff and the Faculty Forum. There will also be a recognition of Missouri Department of Conservation, MCCA and MOACTE award winners.

In old business, the board will hear an update on construction and the second reading of board policy pertaining to early retirement notification.

In new business, trustees will consider approval of a declaration of vacancy and permission to advertise for Subdistrict 5 trustee; external audited financial statements; a medical and non-medical insurance provider; bank bids; an agreement between the University of Missouri-St. Louis and MAC; and a mid-year salary adjustment.

The meeting is open to the public.
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The St. Francois County Commission took the first the step in putting a county occupancy law on the books when it met in regular session Tuesday morning at the courthouse annex in Farmington.

County Assessor Dan Ward appeared before the commissioners to ask that they consider passage of an occupancy law for residential structures assessed in the county.

Jan. 1 is when we place all real and personal property on the tax rolls, he said. Under a county-enacted occupancy law, when anyone builds a new residence, 30 days after they move in and occupy that home they go onto the tax rolls for that year.

Basically, what an occupancy law allows us to do is bring in more tax dollars to the county sooner than later. We still get the tax dollars even if we pick them up in January, unless the house is built after Jan. 1. Currently, if the house is built and finished on Jan. 15 and the people move in, we dont assess that house until the following January.

Ward went on to explain that an occupancy law would also provide a potential upside for county residents who lose their homes due to fire or a natural disaster.

On the other side of the coin  which is really good for the taxpayers, and were not able to do at this time, and I unfortunately have to adhere to that law  is if a home is destroyed by natural causes where theres a fire; or in the case of Jasper County where the tornado came through Joplin, the occupancy law will allow me to take that home off the tax rolls at the occurrence of that natural disaster instead of waiting.

Because, right now if it burns down in February, it stays on the tax roll and they have to pay the full taxes for that year even though the house is not able to be occupied. Unless they build a new one within a few months and then we add it up as new construction and put it back on the books. In this case under the occupancy law you can take that off the taxes until that new home is built  or if not built, it stays off the tax rolls.

Ward told the commissioners that once the occupancy law is passed, it takes affect the following January.

If you considered passing this before the end of the year, it would take effect January 1, he said. I will be asking one of my current employees to work with the gas companies and electric companies to determine when someone turns on their electric and follow up on it when they do occupy it so we can pick it up the following month.

It is going to be some heavy work on the assessor's office, but I think the amount of money that comes in for the school districts and for the taxing entities in the county will be worth it because well bring in more tax dollars sooner instead of waiting.

Commissioner Gay Wilkinson asked, What action on our part is required?

Ward replied, Theres a form in the file that I gave you that you will sign passing it as an ordinance and that information will be sent to the state tax commission so that they will know."

According to a map provided to Ward by the Missouri State Tax Commission, St. Francois is the only county in southeast Missouri that is not an occupancy county.

The only first-class counties not using the occupancy law are those having over a billion-and-a-half in assessed values and they are so busy, I think its more work for them to try to do that. But the smaller counties and first-class counties like Cape you see on the map do have the occupancy law.

Ward explained that the decision to take on the occupancy law is up to the county commission and not by voters, at which point Commissioner Wilkinson said, Is there any consideration we should have? I mean, this sounds like a good deal for everybody because its both sides.

Ward said, This is one of the issues Ive had in my office. You know, its hard to tell somebody thats lost their home that I cant take it off the tax rolls. Ive had a lot of people come in through the year and ask, Why am I being taxed on a house thats burned down?

Wilkinson said, Its hard to defend.

Ward said, I tell them I have to follow the state statute.

After admitting hed mulled the matter over for several years, Ward encouraged the commission to pass a resolution to create a county occupancy law. With that, Presiding Commissioner Harold Gallaher asked County Clerk Mark Hedrick to write a resolution and have it ready for a vote at the boards Nov. 28 meeting.

In other action, the board opened and approved a bid for the conducting of a county voter canvass; OKd a three-year contract with Team Care to provide county employee health insurance; approved remaining with the same Workers Compensation firm for 2018; OKd the hiring of a part-time IT clerk in 2018; and approved the new position of facility coordinator that will be filled by current county employee Betty Medley.

It was noted that county offices will be closed Nov. 23-24 for the Thanksgiving holiday and there will be no county commission meeting next week because the commissioners will be attending a Missouri Association of Counties conference at Tan-Tar-A where it will be receiving an award. The next commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 28 on the third floor of the courthouse annex.
DEAR ABBY: I have been dating my boyfriend for three years. We have lived together for the last two. We have a great life together, but there is a problem I don't know how to solve. "Jeremy" hates his job.

We met in the education department of our college, and after graduation, we both took jobs in the public school system. I enjoy my career, but he loathes his. He complains constantly without seeming to take action on the issue. I know he's miserable, but he hasn't looked for other jobs or enrolled in a new school program.

I have bad days, too, but I've reached the end of listening to the constant griping. I am usually a positive person, but he is dragging my mood down because of this. He says I need to guide him and give him some direction, but I don't know what to say. I don't think it's my responsibility to tell another adult what he should or shouldn't do with his life. I don't mind helping him talk through his choices, but he wants more from me.

This is the man I want to marry. Is there a way to get past this issue and make it work? -- UNCERTAIN AND LOST

DEAR UNCERTAIN: Until your boyfriend has settled this uncertainty about his work life, any discussion about marriage should be put on hold. I agree you are not qualified to give him career advice. However, you might ask him to tell you what exactly it is that he hates about his job, and what he would rather be doing. His answers may give both of you insight into what he may be better suited for emotionally, and stimulate him to do something positive about his future. Once he has more clarity, there may be places he can go for career counseling that can help him decide what his next steps should be.

DEAR ABBY: We bought our first home seven months ago. We love it, except for one major issue. Our neighbor, who's the same age as I am, is the biggest hypochondriac and laziest person I've ever seen.

She was training to be a police officer, but she had a headache every day, so she got let go last year. Ever since then we have been supporting her (food, Wi-Fi, OTC meds, feminine products). I finally cut her off for about a week until she Facebook-messaged me saying she was starving and hadn't eaten for two days, so I gave in. I gave her a job last week, and she didn't show up the first day.

What should I do? It's causing arguments between my husband and me. I hate to think she's hungry. -- TROUBLED IN THE SOUTH

DEAR TROUBLED: You are a kindhearted person, but you are being taken advantage of. If your neighbor has family that can be located, they should be notified that she's unable to care for herself. If no relative is willing to take responsibility for her, contact social services or direct the woman to the nearest food bank or soup kitchen. I suspect her problems are more extensive than headaches and procrastination.

DEAR ABBY: You have mentioned in the past that you have a booklet on writing letters, including thank-you notes. Where do I send for it? I'll need four because my grandkids are lacking in that area.

It's truly a shame that younger generations haven't been taught about the importance of such notes. A simple "thank you" can not only open doors of opportunity both socially and in employment, but also help grandparents feel appreciated after their heartfelt gift-giving. -- NANCY IN NEVADA

DEAR NANCY: If there is one subject that crops up repeatedly in my mail, it's thank-you notes -- or rather, the lack of them. I print letters about it because of the number of complaints I receive. When a gift or a check isn't acknowledged, the (unwritten) message it sends is that the item wasn't appreciated, which is insulting and hurtful.

Chief among the reasons that thank-you notes are unwritten is that many people don't know what to say. They think the message has to be long and flowery when, in fact, keeping it short and to the point is more effective. My booklet, "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," contains samples of thank-you letters for birthday gifts, shower gifts and wedding gifts, as well as those that arrive around holiday time. It also includes letters of congratulations and ones regarding difficult subjects, such as the loss of a parent, a spouse or a child. It can be ordered by sending your name, mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby Letters Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.) With the holiday season approaching, this is the perfect time to reply with a handwritten letter, note or well-written email.

Because the composition of letters is not always effectively taught in the schools, my booklet can serve as a helpful tutorial, one that is valuable for parents as a way to teach their children to write using proper etiquette.

DEAR ABBY: I have been dating this guy for a year and a half and he's not into making love. He's happy if we only do it once a month and, when he does give in, he will only do the same old position. I, on the other hand, enjoy sex.

My ex (we have been apart eight years) is now in a sexless marriage. We started hooking up six months ago -- just for sex -- and it is awesome. Part of me feels guilty because I'm against cheating, but I need sex. What should I do? -- CHEATING IN THE NORTH

DEAR CHEATING: Because the man you have been dating for a year and a half is a sexual mismatch, you need to end the romance. It would be kinder than continuing to cheat on him.

Your married ex may seem like an oasis in the sexual desert right now, but don't waste more time on him. He isn't your future; he's your past for good reason, I'm sure -- so KEEP him there.

DEAR ABBY: My 8-year-old daughter keeps asking me for a smartphone. I'm at a loss about who she would call besides me and her dad. She points out these different kids her age who have phones. They are the same kids I view as ones who will have no curfew, boyfriends at 12 and parents who aren't as involved as we are. At what age do you feel kids should have smartphones? -- INVOLVED PARENT

DEAR INVOLVED PARENT: I don't think there is a magic number, but your daughter is definitely too young to have one. Smartphones can be dangerous when they are used irresponsibly. A flip phone, perhaps, for her to contact you in case of emergencies, might be appropriate.

Because her friends have smartphones is not a valid reason for her to have one. Before that happens, you must be confident that it will be used responsibly, and that you and her father will be able to review its history.

DEAR ABBY: Could you help all of us guys named Shelby spread the word that Shelby is not just for the female gender? Many boys and men like me have the handle and are proud of it. -- SHELBY FROM TEXAS

DEAR SHELBY: So do some automobiles! I'm glad to relay your message. Today many women have names that were once associated only with the masculine gender -- Cameron, Bailey, Logan, Morgan, to name a few -- and turnabout is fair play. I'm reminded of the song "A Boy Named Sue."

DEAR ABBY: I'm a 17-year-old girl and a junior in high school. I have a crush on a guy who's 14 and a freshman. I know age gaps don't matter as much later on, but the difference between 17 and 14 can be drastic. "Jake" is really sweet, and he's as interested in me as I am in him (unlike the boys in my grade).

I'm friends with Jake's sister "Julie," who's a year older than me and a senior. Julie has made it clear she doesn't like the idea of a romantic relationship between Jake and me because Jake is only 14.

What can I do? Should I ignore this crush? I have judged people who have dated despite age gaps. (For example, a senior boy dating a sophomore girl.) But now I understand it. If the girl is older, does that complicate things?

I don't want to be seen as creepy or gross, but, to be honest, I'm not that experienced romantically or socially myself. (I have never even been to a real party.) Must I forget my feelings and move on, or do I talk to Julie and try to pursue this? -- TEEN CRUSH

DEAR TEEN CRUSH: Julie has already given you her answer. As you have pointed out, there is a bias against dating someone so much younger, and it could cause you problems not only with your peers, but also with the law if your relationship were to become sexual when you turn 18. That's why I'm suggesting you turn your romantic interests elsewhere. When you're BOTH adults, if you're still interested, you can pursue a romantic relationship then.

DEAR ABBY: My fiance and I are being married in a few days. We are expecting our first child a few days after that. The problem is my mother. We decided on a small ceremony, but my mother is opposed to the marriage because she doesn't like the idea of me marrying -- not just my fiance, but anyone. She has always told me a man will leave me destitute, pregnant with too many kids, and I won't be able to take care of myself. She has repeated it since I was about 10.

Because she has threatened to object at the ceremony, we decided not to invite her. We have invited his parents and my father and stepmother. Mom has said she will not allow my child to see her grandfather because "he is a bad person." She may have good intentions, but dictating who can be around my child is not her choice, considering she has had little to no contact with him in 25 years.

I wish she could be at our wedding, but she has now distanced herself from me and my fiance. Should I let her cool off and hope she comes around, or accept that this is the path she has chosen? Please advise, Abby. -- PROBLEM MOTHER IN KENTUCKY

DEAR PROBLEM MOTHER: Your mother may be anti-marriage because hers failed spectacularly. She appears to be a troubled woman. By all means, let her cool off, but do not allow her to dictate your life. If she does, her anger and bitterness could negatively affect your marriage.

DEAR ABBY: The winter months are hard for me. They remind me that another year has gone by without my father and my younger sister.

Dad had been a smoker since his teens and died from pancreatic cancer at 39. I was 13, and my siblings were younger. In those days, we didn't know that smoking was a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

My sister smoked from the time she was 13. She died from lung cancer at 44, leaving behind two young sons.

Neither my father nor my sister got to experience the wonderful family milestones and celebrations we have had. Their grandchildren will never know them. Each year during the holidays, I feel a sadness in my heart.

I urge every smoker to make a vow to quit and carry it through, not only for their own sake but also their family's. Stay determined to quit so you won't cause your loved ones sadness and won't miss out on their futures. With all my heart, I wish smokers the best of luck in quitting. -- MISSING DAD AND SIS IN SACRAMENTO

DEAR MISSING: I'm glad you wrote because the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout will be held on Nov. 16. It's a day when millions of smokers put down their cigarettes -- just for one day -- with the conviction that if they can go 24 hours without one, then they can do it for 48 hours, 72 hours, and stop smoking for good. The idea grew out of a 1970 event in Randolph, Massachusetts, and became a national event in 1977.

Readers, I'm not going to harangue you with death threats. We are all aware of the grim statistics associated with cancer-related deaths caused by tobacco. If you're interested in quitting, this is a perfect opportunity. Call (800) 227-2345 to be connected with counseling services in your community, provided with self-help materials offering information and strategies on quitting for good, and to receive information about medications available to help you quit. This service is free and provided 24/7. Or go online to cancer.org.

DEAR ABBY: I need your help. Over the past few weeks, I have been vacationing at my mother-in-law's home. The other day I was browsing on her computer and accidentally opened her browsing history. It turns out that she regularly looks at and responds to Craigslist personals.

I was shocked when I read some of the perverted requests she has responded to. The language she used would make a sailor blush. Keep in mind, my mother-in-law is a married woman.

I don't know how to react. Should I tell my wife? Keep it to myself? Make a fake Craigslist post and catch her in the act? -- KINKS IN THE FAMILY

DEAR KINKS: If you disclose this to your wife, it could damage her relationship with her mother. If she tells her mother what you found, it will create a breach in the family. If you trap the woman by creating a fake Craigslist post and she realizes she has been made a fool of, it will not -- to put it mildly -- endear you to her. Let it lie.

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
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Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Child Mind Institute(WASHINGTON) -- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke out against news the Trump administration is considering appointing a special counsel to investigate her alleged ties to the Uranium One deal in an interview with Mother Jones on Wednesday.



Clinton called the possibility a "disastrous step into politicizing the Justice Department" and "such an abuse of power."



Attorney General Jeff Sessions authorized senior prosecutors at the Justice Department to evaluate whether allegations regarding the Clinton Foundation and the sale of a uranium company need to be investigated by a special counsel, according to a letter he sent the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, ABC News reports.



President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Clinton should be investigated for the 2010 sale of part of the Canadian mining company Uranium One to a Russian buyer, which had to be approved by the U.S. government. Several government agencies were involved in the approval, including the State Department, which Clinton was in charge of at the time.



Republicans have raised questions because, around the same time, business associates of Uranium One donated millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation.



Clinton said such an investigation would have devastating consequences for the justice system in America, going as far as to say the move signaled moving to a "dictatorship."



"If they send a signal that we're going to be like some dictatorship, like some authoritarian regime, where political opponents are going to be unfairly, fraudulently investigated, that rips at the fabric of the contract we have, that we can trust our justice system," Clinton told Mother Jones.



Sessions had said he would recuse himself from any Clinton-related investigations in the past.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
CONTROLLING light pollution is to be enshrined in Isle of Wight planning policy to protect dark skies.

It is part of a campaign signed up to by the full Isle of Wight Council which agreed to put together a new lighting code and seek recognition from the International Dark Sky Association (IDASA).

It will also look at the current 'cold' intensity of street-lighting installed by Island Roads which some campaigners want replaced with 'warmer' lighting.

Currently Dark Sky Status has been granted to only 64 areas in the world and only a handful in the UK.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Vectis Astronomical Society are all behind the campaign to protect the Island's night skies and make them even darker so people and the Island tourist industry can enjoy the benefits of stargazing.

The CPRE has released a map of the UK showing the Island as one of the least affected areas by Night Blight.

After the council overwhelmingly backed a motion from Cllr John Medland, planning and housing cabinet member Cllr Barry Abraham said: This is all about encouraging the better use of lighting and understanding its impact on the night sky  particularly in our rural areas.

Studies show this approach can also help wildlife and the environment but it will also help increase visitors to the Island in the winter months when the night sky is at its best for astronomers.

But Cllr Reg Barry feared rigid rules could curb economy boosting development.

"I would prefer to see jobs in the light rather than unemployment in the dark."

Astro-physicist Cllr Andrew Garratt urged support: "On the Island you can see light that is 2.5million years old from the Andromeda galaxy."

In a joint statement the IW CPRE, AONB and the astronomical society welcomed the decision.

"An essential part of the criteria for Dark Sky Community Status is the approval of a comprehensive lighting code," it said.

AONB steering committee chairman Jonathan Bacon said: "What is required, are clear rules within the councils planning documentation.

"In due course these could be included in the revised Island Plan."




ISLE of Wight MP Bob Seely has backed plans to deliver a 'Green Brexit'.

The government plans to consult on a new independent body to uphold environmental standards in England after Brexit.

Currently UK environmental decisions are overseen by the European Commission but this will end in 2019 when the UK leaves the European Union.

Mr Seely said groups and campaigners would get a chance to frame a world-leading statutory organisation to give the environment a voice and hold the powerful to account.

"This announcement is good news and will allow us to make the best use of existing EU law and then improve on it," said Mr Seely.

"We now have the chance to set the gold standard for environmental science and become a home to centres of environmental excellence ensuring we deliver a Green Brexit."

The consultation is likely to start by early next year.

Find out more here.
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Local Dems sweep; town rejects pot Every Democrat on the local ballot won their race Tuesday, including Jamestown resident Peter Neronhas re-election as the states top prosecutor, and local voters followed suit with the statewide trend...

Voters rebuff allowing retail pot sales in shops By a margin of 157 votes, the electorate decided Tuesday not to allow local businesses to cultivate, manufacture, test or sell recreational marijuana in Jamestown. The referendum to allow the...

School board agrees to contract with North Kingstown Jamestown students entering high school can continue to choose North Kingstown as their destination for grades 9-12. We are pleased to continue this historic partnership, said Ken Duva, superintendent of...
GREENSBORO  A Greensboro man who received a $95,000 settlement from the city for his mistreatment during a 2016 arrest surprised court officials Wednesday by rejecting a plea agreement on several assault charges and now could face up to 51 years in prison.

Dejuan Yourse, 38, of 2 Mistywood Court in Greensboro is charged with two counts of assault on a female, assault by strangulation, battery of an unborn child, habitual misdemeanor assault and being a habitual felon for separate incidents on March 4, 2016, and Feb. 10.

On Tuesday Yourse had signed a plea transcript that gave court officials the impression he would take a plea deal offered by prosecutors. That deal would have consolidated his charges to two counts of assault on a female, and he would have been sentenced to 7 to 8 years in prison.

I want to go to trial, sir, Yourse told Judge Martin McGee in Guilford County Superior Court.

Guilford County Chief Assistant District Attorney Howard Neumann told McGee he would not offer Yourse another plea deal and would schedule his trial for early December before Judge Stuart Albright. Without the agreement Yourse faces a maximum of 51 years in prison if jurors were to convict him on all charges.

Yourse made headlines after Greensboro police Officer Travis Cole punched Yourse and threw him to the ground on June 17, 2016, during a burglary investigation. Both Yourse and his partner, Officer Charlotte Jackson, resigned following an internal investigation. The incident led to protests by community activists and calls for better police accountability.

The city settled a lawsuit from Yourse for $95,000 on May 4.

But Yourse had pending criminal charges from both before and after the incident involving Cole.

Most recently, Yourse is accused of attacking his girlfriend, who was a month pregnant at the time.

McGee had Neumann read the terms of Yourses rejected plea agreement into the record Wednesday morning.

Yourse has an extensive criminal record that includes past convictions of receiving stolen goods, possession of stolen goods, resisting an officer, assault on a female, assault on an officer, financial card fraud, larceny of a motor vehicle , communicating threats and forgery, among other things.

McGee asked Yourse once more if he understood the amount of prison time he could face by rejecting the plea agreement and whether he was sure.

Yourse, dressed in a striped sweater and blue jeans, stood silent for a minute with his attorney Jason Keith. Yourses head began to shake subtly back and forth before he said: I want to proceed with a trial.

McGee banned Yourse from contacting any prosecuting witnesses before adjourning his case for the day.

Yourse walked out of the courtroom and kept telling his attorney that what happened in the courtroom was bull----.

He and Keith declined comment.
A Forsyth County magistrate and former president of the local chapter of the NAACP pleaded guilty Monday to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fradulent tax return, authorities said.

Shannon DeWayne Wayne Patterson entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Greensboro, said his attorney, David Freedman of Winston-Salem. Patterson couldnt be reached Wednesday night to comment. Patterson works as a magistrate at the Forsyth County Jail.

Freedman said his client is remorseful for his actions and is cooperating with the U.S. attorneys office and the Internal Revenue Service in their investigation.

Between January and May 2015, Patterson co-owned and operated tax-preparation businesses named Fast Tax in Salisbury and Kannapolis, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Patterson employed several people to prepare clients tax returns.

Patterson is accused of instructing his employees to fabricate information on clients tax returns to maximize their refunds, the Justice Department said. Patterson admitted to aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns that sought more than $60,000 in fraudulent tax refunds.

He also admitted to filing false personal tax returns for 2014 and 2015 that underreported his income, the Justice Department said.

Sandra Hairston, an acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, said in Pattersons plea agreement that Patterson will provide books, records and documents to the IRS, so that agency can determine his taxes, interest and penalties for the years 2013 through 2015.

Hairston described Pattersons action as voluntary, knowing, deliberate and willful, according to the plea agreement.

After his plea, Patterson was released from federal custody with a secure bond, Freedman said. Patterson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 12. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution and fines, the Justice Department said.

Under federal law, Patterson faces a maximum fine of $250,000, a federal court document says. Under the plea agreement, he will pay $12,662 in restitution to the IRS.

Patterson is a active member in good standing with the Georgia State Bar, but he is not licensed to practice law in North Carolina. As a lawyer, Patterson specializes in federal civil-rights and immigration cases.

Patterson, 46, ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Winston-Salem City Council in 2009. He also ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic candidate for the N.C. House District 72 seat in 2012.

He served two terms as president of the local chapter of the NAACP.
Winston-Salem police have arrested a man accused of committing several thefts and an armed robbery since Oct. 2, authorities said Wednesday.

Cedric Dion Funderburk, 49, of Cobble Creek Drive in Winston-Salem is charged with one count of common-law robbery and seven counts of misdemeanor larceny, police said.

Funderburk is accused of going into the Speedway gas station at 653 Akron Drive on Oct. 2, demanding and stealing an undisclosed amount of money and then running from the scene, police said.

Funderburk also is accused of stealing beer, cigarettes, leaf blowers, and money from convenience stores and a landscaping business in Winston-Salem from Oct. 31 through Nov. 5, police said.

Funderburk was being held Wednesday in the Forsyth County Jail with his bond set at $25,000, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said.

Anyone with information about the cases is asked to call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700 or Crime Stoppers 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904.
Activist energy group NC WARN asked the North Carolina Supreme Court today to reverse state regulators past rulings against its solar-power deal with a Greensboro church.

The Durham-based nonprofit appealed decisions by the state Utilities Commission and North Carolina Court of Appeals that voided its arrangement with Faith Community Church on Arlington Street.

The North Carolina test case is a challenge to Duke Energys ability to prevent competition from companies that install solar systems on rooftops with little or no up front cost to the consumer, and then sell the power to the customer, NC WARN director Jim Warren said in a news release.

Under terms of their 2015 agreement, Faith Community Church is buying its 5.2-kilowatt, rooftop solar panels from NC WARN by paying for the electricity they produce each month.

But Duke Energy spokesman Randy Wheeless said today that the prior rulings correctly upheld the concept that any group selling power to somebody else is, by definition, a public utility and must adhere to rules set by the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

Wheeless said a new state law allows solar providers to lease rooftop panels to consumers for a monthly fee, essentially accomplishing the same goal as NC WARNs deal with the church but just not tying payments directly to electricity from the panels.

It makes the case a little obsolete, Wheeless said of the new law.

But Warren and Faith Community Church leaders say the central issue they want to settle in their appeal remains important  who controls the sun.

There has never been a more important time to challenge Duke Energys control over the benefits we are all provided by the sun, said the Rev. Nelson Johnson, the churchs pastor.

Johnson criticized Duke Energys constant rate increases to pay for more and more fossil-fuel power plants that are not needed.

Wheeless countered that the utility has aggressively embraced solar energy through its own projects that aim to draw one third of Duke Energys new generation over the next 15 years from renewable energy.

He also cited two recently announced battery-storage systems in western North Carolina that support renewable energy by providing back-up power during times, for example, when the sun is not shining.

In its appeal, NC WARN argues that such third party sales as its Faith Community arrangement are in accord with the N.C. General Assemblys stated aim of encouraging private investment in the development of renewable energy.

The case began last year when the Utilities Commission denied NC WARNs petition seeking approval of its arrangement with the church, instead imposing a $60,000 fine against the Durham nonprofit for acting improperly as a public utility.

NC WARN appealed to the state Court of Appeals, which ruled against it in a 2-1 decision that left the door open for todays filing.

The commissions fine has been put on hold pending the outcome of NC WARNs appeal. The Greensboro church has been getting its solar power at no charge because NC WARN agreed to halt their transaction during the appeal.
In his speech to the South Korean legislature, President Trump had a message for Kim Jong Un: The weapons you are acquiring are not making you safer, Trump told the North Korean tyrant last week. They are putting your regime in grave danger. Every step you take down this dark path increases the peril you face.

The problem is that Kim believes precisely the opposite, and it will take action, not just words, for Trump to disabuse him of that notion. Fortunately, Trump has shown that there is a way to do just that.

After the Syrian regime used chemical weapons on its people in April, Trump launched a military strike that took out the base from which that chemical attack was launched. The message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was clear: Use of chemical weapons will no longer be tolerated. Do it again, and more military action will follow.

If Trump wants to stop North Koreas drive for nuclear missiles capable of striking the U.S. homeland, he should look to the success of his Syrian strike as a model. Specifically, he should announce that North Korean nuclear and missile tests will no longer be tolerated  that, henceforth, North Korea is a ballistic missile no-fly zone and a nuclear weapons no-test zone. Any attempt by North Korea to launch a ballistic missile will be met with a targeted military strike either taking out the missile on the launch pad or blowing it up in the air using missile defense technology. And any attempt to test a nuclear weapon will be met with a targeted strike taking out the test site and other related nuclear facilities.

Trump should make clear that so long as North Korea does not retaliate, he will take no further military action against the regime  just as he did not take further action against Assad. However, if North Korea does retaliate, then the United States reserves the right to, as Trump put it to the U.N. General Assembly, totally destroy North Korea.

The historical record suggests North Korea would opt for regime survival and not retaliate. Now is the time to announce a Trump Doctrine that North Korea shall not be permitted to develop weapons of mass destruction, or the means to deliver them, against the American people.

Trump would have bipartisan support for this doctrine. Preventing such tests would be a justifiable act of self-defense.

Announcing an end to all North Korean nuclear and missile tests would take control of the situation away from Pyongyang. U.S. national security would no longer depend on unreliable assurances from the North Korean regime, but rather on our military deterrent. Today, the Kim regime holds the initiative and can escalate tensions by carrying out nuclear or missile tests without consequences. Removing the regimes ability to do so would give the initiative back to the United States and its allies and stabilize the Korean Peninsula. It could also prevent an accidental war. A test missile that North Korea intended to land in the Sea of Japan could accidentally land in Japan itself. It is safer to take out North Koreas ballistic missiles before launch rather than risking an accidental strike on Tokyo or Seoul.

Such a policy is not without risk. It is possible that North Korea could miscalculate and retaliate for a U.S. strike, thus sparking a full-scale military conflict. But if the Kim regime is so prone to irrational behavior, then it is better to find out now before it possesses the ability to destroy New York or Washington. If we cannot deter Kim from testing a nuclear missile, can we really deter him from using one once he has it?

Trump should simultaneously announce a massive increase in funding for U.S. ballistic missile defenses, including boost-phase defenses that can take out a North Korean missile when it is still over enemy territory and presents a large, slower-moving target. And he should direct the intelligence community to focus its assets on providing early warning of any pending North Korean tests.

With a Trump Doctrine declaring North Korea a no-fly and no-test zone, Trump can accomplish what three American presidents before him could not  an immediate halt to North Koreas efforts to threaten American cities with nuclear missiles.
JURIST Guest Columnist Michael Krauss of the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School discusses the crime fraud exception to attorney-client privilege and how it applies to the recent situation with Paul Manafort and Robert Mueller

The attorney-client privilege is a common law privilege against testifying about the content of confidential communications between clients and their attorneys, made for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal assistance. The privilege has been recognized by the Supreme Court in the Upjohn [1981] and Swidler and Berlin [1998] cases, among others. It is perpetual (surviving the death of the client, or of the lawyer). But it is waivable, and it has one other significant exception.

The privilege may be waived (expressly or impliedly), by the client or by her attorney. Voluntary disclosure will waive the privilege, as will invocation of the otherwise-privileged communication by the client or her lawyer. If the lawyer waives privilege negligently she may be civilly liable to her client and also subject to professional responsibility (for incompetence).

And there is one big exception to the privilege: the so-called crime fraud exception. Privileged information may be waived, but information covered by the crime-fraud exception is non-privileged from the get-go. Clients may reveal past criminal or fraudulent conduct to their attorneys in total confidentiality, but ongoing or intended future crime will not be protected. This is a corollary of the prohibition against assisting a client to commit a crime ( 1.2(d) of the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility).

The Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers provides that the exception applies when a client:

a) consults a lawyer for the purpose, later accomplished, of obtaining assistance to engage in a crime or fraud or aiding a third person to do so, or b) regardless of the clients purpose a the time of consultation, uses the lawyers; advice or other services to engage in or assist a crime or fraud.

Note that the crime-fraud exception does not require that the lawyer be an accomplice to the crime or fraud. The lawyer may be duped, or may be responding to a law book question the answer to which, unbeknownst to the lawyer, will be used by the client to facilitate the commission of the crime or fraud. If the client is trying to go straight or rectify the crime or fraud, however, the communication is privileged.

So a client seeking advice to become or remain a fugitive from justice (an ongoing crime) will be unable to invoke privilege for communications to his lawyer seeking information about loopholes in our extradition treaties with certain other countries. But a client seeking to return stolen property should find her confidential communications with her lawyer to be privileged.

At the request of the Department of Justices special counsel Robert Mueller, Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for Washington, DC ruled on October 2 that the crime-fraud exception applied to communications with Paul Manaforts [Target 1] and Richard Gates [Target 2] attorney, which presumably led that attorney to respond to inquiries about why Manafort and Gates had not filed foreign-agent lobbying registrations in compliance with the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Failure to file is an ongoing crime. [The Chief Judge did not name the attorney, who is called witness throughout the ruling. But I note that CNN reported in August that Mueller was seeking the testimony of Melissa Laurenza, a partner at Akin Gump and an alumna of my law school.] Chief Judge Howell said some facts, which have been redacted from her opinion, establish that Manaforts and Gatess denial of U.S. activity for Ukraines Party of Regions is false, a half-truth, or at least misleading because evidence shows that Target 1 and Target 2 were intimately involved in significant outreach in the United States on behalf of  the Party of Regions and/or the Ukrainian government.

In other words, at this point, the Chief Judge has concluded that the attorney was likely duped by her clients. What they told her to dupe her, and get her to (presumably unwittingly) advance their fraudulent scheme, is therefore non-privileged. [What if she wasnt duped? What if she connived with her clients to perfect their crime? See below.]

The Supreme Court has ruled that an invocation of the crime-fraud exception by a trial judge is not subject to immediate appeal. Witnesss recourse, if she believes the ruling is erroneous, would therefore be to refuse to comply with the ruling, be condemned for contempt, and then appeal the contempt ruling. The appellate court would then decide if the redacted facts do indeed give rise to the crime-fraud exception.

From what is publicly known, the Chief Judges ruling, it seems to me, is correct. So one can ask ones lawyer, in full confidence, if a Sunday-closing law is unconstitutional. One can ask ones lawyer in full confidence what the penalties are for violating the Sunday-closing law. But one cannot, in full confidence, communicate to the lawyer that ones store is currently closed when it is in fact open, whether or not the lawyer knew of this fact. [If the lawyer did know, then of course she is an accomplice to the crime, properly chargeable and also subject to disbarment by Bar authorities. Nothing in the Chief Judges ruling implies that situation obtains as regards the Witness.]

Note, finally, that the Chief Judge allowed Mr. Mueller to ask of the witness only seven of the eight questions he had proposed. She ruled that a question about whether witness made any record of her conversations with Manafort or Gates violated a protection against revelation of mental observations, or opinion work product protection. The thoughts of a lawyer are sacrosanct unless that lawyers thought are part of a criminal conspiracy; and, as stated above, the Chief Judge has, at this point, no reason to infer such a conspiracy existed.

Professor Michael Krauss teaches Torts, Legal Ethics, Products Liability, and Jurisprudence at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. His research on torts and ethics issues is nationally known. He also sits on the Board of Governors of the National Association of Scholars.

Suggested citation: Michael Krauss, Mueller, Manafort and Attorney-Client Privilege, JURIST  Academic Commentary, Nov. 16, 2017, http://jurist.org/forum/2017/11/Michael-Krauss-attorney-client-privilege-Mueller.php
The Cambodia Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) [party website, in Khmer], the nations primary opposition party, on Thursday, effectively opening the door for Prime Minister Hun Sen [BBC profile] to extend his 30-year reign as leader of the nation.

The ruling follows the arrest of CNRPs leader Kem Sokha following accusations that the party was plotting to overthrow the current government with the help of the US government. The court has also imposed a five-year ban on 118 members [Reuters report] of the party, effectively precluding them participating in any political activity. Sokha was viewed as a major threat to Hun Sen in the upcoming elections, and the CNRP has alleged that the accusations against the party and the arrests are politically motivated.

Sokhas daughter Kem Monovithya stated of her fathers arrest: It shows that Hun Sen will never stop if no one is stopping him.  The verdict is expected. Its time for sanctions from the international community. Hun Sen, for his part, assured Cambodian citizens that the elections would proceed as normal, while simultaneously calling on CNRP members who had not been banned to defect to his party.

US and China government officials have presently declined comment on the ruling, although the Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced legislation [JURIST report] two weeks ago proposing restrictions on senior Cambodian government officials. The legislation identifies several ways in which the Cambodian government continues to be undemocratically dominated by the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) [party website, in Khmer] and Prime Minister Hun Sen, including the passage of laws allowing the government to revoke the charters of non-governmental organizations on a political basis, the jailing of Sokha on treason charges, the imposition of severe media restrictions and the 2016 assassination of a frequent Hun Sen critic and activist Kem Ley.

The proposed legislation also calls on the Cambodian government to to end all harassment and intimidation of Cambodias opposition and foster an environment where democracy can thrive and flourish and support electoral reform efforts in Cambodia and free and fair elections in 2018.

Rights groups have condemned the decision of the Court, which is headed by a judge who is a member of the ruling CPP, stating that the ruling has left Cambodia a de facto one-party government rendering next years election meaningless. Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] called the ruling the death of democracy in Cambodia.
Colombias Constitutional Court [official website] on Tuesday ruled [judgment, PDF, in Spanish] that provisions for special justice tribunals outlined in the 2016 peace accord between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were constitutional.

The Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace [text, English translation] is the second recent attempt to obtain peace between Colombias government and rebel forces. Chapter 5 of this modified peace accord, Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparations and Non-Recurrence, sets forth the Special Jurisdiction for Peace which will provide alternative sentences to FARC members convicted of war crimes. Such alternatives [summary, text] will be available only to those who recognize their responsibility in committing the crimes, where those who do not will serve 15 to 20 years in prison. Examples of possible alternatives are set forth in the accord stating:

The FARC-EP are committed to reincorporation into civilian life and taking action as past of the process to help to redress the harm or injury caused. Such action may include, inter alia, participating in infrastructure rebuilding work in the areas most affected by the conflict and in programmes to clear such areas of anti-personnel mines (APM), improvised explosive devices (IED), unexploded ordnance (UXO) or explosive remnants of war (ERW), participating in programmers to substitute crops used for illicit purposes, contributing to the search for, location, identification and dignified return of remains of deceased persons deemed missing in the context of and due to the armed conflict, and participating in programmes to repair environmental damage, e.g. reforestation.

Though the court upheld most of the provisions concerning the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, it also made several modifications. One change opened the possibility that ex-rebels could be extradited for crimes [Reuters report] committed after the peace process ends and that former guerrillas elected to public office could lose their seats if they fail to comply with the tribunal process.
A judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri issued an order [text, PDF] Wednesday placing restrictions on how the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department may interact with protesters.

The order states that the City of St. Louis will not give the police the authority or discretion to declare an unlawful assembly against protesters unless they are posing an imminent, violent threat. They also may not declare an unlawful assembly for the purpose of punishing people simply for exercising their right to protest, nor may they use chemical agents against those people.

The order also prohibits the use of chemical agents without probable cause to arrest the person they are using it against. It further clarifies that chemical agents may only be used after giving clear and unambiguous warnings and giving people enough of a chance to comply with law enforcement commands. Chemical agents may also not be used to disperse groups of protesters without giving warnings and an ample amount of time for groups to leave the area.

This decision is a result of a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed against the city of St. Louis for unconstitutional police conduct. In September people gathered to protest [WP report] the acquittal of a white former police officer who killed a black suspect. During these protests, officers used chemical weapons [ACLU website] against protesters, as well as unlawfully detained them.
Venezuela's former attorney general urged the International Criminal Court on Thursday to launch an investigation into alleged abuses of murder and torture by the leaders of the crisis-hit country.

President "Nicolas Maduro and his government must pay for this, for these crimes against humanity," said Luisa Ortega, after handing over to the tribunal in The Hague a dossier containing 1,000 pieces of evidence.

Ortega, 59, is a fugitive from Venezuela, having fled the South American country in August after a new loyalist assembly established by Maduro threw her out of office.

Standing in the rain outside the world's only permanent war crimes court after handing her dossier to the prosecutor's office, Ortega insisted Maduro and his government "must pay for the hunger, misery and hardship which the people of Venezuela are suffering".

She alleged police and military officials had killed some 1,767 people in 2015. Last year there were 4,677 such deaths, she says, with 1,846 killed up to June this year.

Her dossier included witness testimony, as well as interviews with experts and doctors, detailing allegations of "murder, torture, imprisonment as well as a systematic and generalised attack on the civilian population," she said.

Ortega said she had been collecting evidence of such crimes in her job as attorney general since 2015. She also denounced Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol among other senior officials in her deposition.

There had also been more than "17,000 arbitrary detentions and hundreds of cases of torture," she alleged.

"We have been forced to turn to an international organisation, because there is no justice in Venezuela," she added.

Ortega was a fierce critic of Maduro from within his regime, and has continued to make allegations against him while in exile.

The Venezuelan government has been sharply criticised amid the political and economic crisis engulfing the country with the United States and EU imposing sanctions.

Venezuela has ratified the Rome Statute underpinning the ICC, which means in theory the chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, does have jurisdiction to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity there.

But since the court opened in 2002, the prosecutor's office has received about 10,000 requests from individuals, groups or countries to investigate alleged crimes.

This year alone, activists from Mexico, and the Philippines as well as the Palestinian territories have all sought to secure or broaden ICC probes.

There are currently 10 preliminary ICC examinations and 11 full investigations under way. Most existing probes have so far focused on African nations.
Trump Wants to Upend 230 Years of Constitutional Principle



By John Podesta November 15 at 4:04 PM ByNovember 15 at 4:04 PM

John Podesta, the chair of Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, served as counselor to President Barack Obama and chief of staff to President Bill Clin

ton.Okay, its official. President Trump wants to upend 230 years of constitutional history and principle to run the U.S. justice system like a banana republic, or perhaps more aptly like what now passes for the rule of law in the country he aspires to emulate, the Russian Federation.What the Founding Fathers built with a written Constitution and 85 Federalist Papers, the president is trying to tear down 140 or 280 characters at a time.For months, Trump has been trying to divert attention from the walls closing in on his former campaign chairman, his former national security adviser and his own son Donald Trump Jr., who are caught up in the investigation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Trump has practiced some of the favorite tactics of his role model Vladimir Putin, labeling any damaging revelation as fake news and practicing a refined form of whataboutism.I have been one of the favorite targets of the latter. Whenever Trump gets close to Putin, as he did in Vietnam this weekend, and is asked about Russian efforts to help elect him and damage Hillary Clinton by, among other things, criminally hacking my personal email account, he responds by asking: What about the Clintons? What about John Podesta? The Justice Department should look into them.Whataboutism is reliably useful for triggering breathless speculation by the presidents allies on Fox News, in the alt-right media and among Russian trolls.But what appeared to be a typically Trumpian media damage-control strategy has taken a more lawless and sinister turn. This week, it was reported that Attorney General Jeff Sessions  in an apparent effort to appease Trump  is considering appointing a special counsel to investigate Clintons role in approving the purchase of Uranium One, a company that owned uranium mines in the United States, by Russias nuclear energy agency. This matter was thoroughly and exhaustively examined by the mainstream media during the 2016 campaign, leading to the definitive conclusion that Clinton played no role.That didnt stop Trump from pounding his beleaguered attorney general, as recently as Nov. 3, to demand that the Justice Department open a criminal investigation of his defeated opponent. And now it appears that Sessions, weakened by the constant attacks from the president he serves, could succumb to that pressure.In an almost tragicomic echo of Richard Nixons statement to John Dean, its wrong, thats for sure, Sessions in testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday said the Department of Justice can never be used to retaliate politically against opponents, and that would be wrong. Except that seems to be precisely what is going on.This is what authoritarians and tyrants do. They use the instruments of state power, particularly the wrath of the prosecutor, to rain opprobrium down upon citizens with whom they disagree. It is what Putin did by using the Russian penal system to break the back of Sergei Magnitskys anti-corruption campaign and end his life. Our constitutional system of limited power, checks and balances and individual rights has protected us from such abuses of power. Trump is putting that system to the test.The first line of defense against authoritarianism is an independent Justice Department committed to the rule of law. In 1940, Attorney General (and future Supreme Court Justice) Robert Jackson, in a famous speech to U.S. attorneys in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice warned that when the prosecutor picks some person whom he dislikes or desires to embarrass, or selects some group of unpopular persons and then looks for an offense, that [is where] the greatest danger of abuse of prosecuting power lies. It is here that law enforcement becomes personal, and the real crime becomes that of being unpopular with the predominant or governing group.Sessions would do well to read the Jackson speech, and I would hope that he has the mettle to stand up to our imperious president. But his conduct in office does not give me much reason for hope.As a younger man, when I came to work as a trial attorney at the Justice Department, it was impossible to enter the building without seeing the murals that majestically but plainly reminded us of our traditions and our duty. Justice is a hallowed place, if we keep it that way.But if Sessions yields to pressure from the president and the presidents House Republican allies, it will be a dark day at the department I once proudly served. The rule of law will have been weakened, and our country will be in further peril.
TODAY

TRIAD meeting, noon, Room 211, Memorial Union, 2501 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. Oregon State University Provost and Executive Vice President Ed Feser will speak. The public is welcome to attend free of charge. An optional catered lunch is available for $13. Reservations: Jeannine.cropley@cgrb.oregonstate.edu.

Evolutionary Approaches to Antibiotic Resistance microbiology seminar, 3 p.m., Room 402, Linus Pauling Science Center, 2900 SW Campus Way, Corvallis. Michael Baym of Harvard Medical Center will speak. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health challenge, but is fundamentally a problem of evolution. This talk will address efforts to study resistance evolution in the laboratory, and how these insights might be applied to make a difference in the clinic.

"Hot Topics in Autism Research," 5:30 p.m., Linus Pauling Middle School, 1111 NW Cleveland Ave., Corvallis. Eric Fombonne, professor of psychiatry and director of autism research at Oregon Health & Science University, will share information on autism research, new interventions to support people living with autism, and the SPARK project for autism research. Those attending will hear about new ways to detect autism in the toddler and early childhood years; the epidemiology of autism around the world; what researchers have learned about possible causes of autism, including genetic and environmental links; and challenges adults face when they support children with autism, and ways to help them be successful. Fombonne trained in child and adolescent psychiatry in France. He has held appointments as clinical scientist at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM, France); as senior lecturer and reader at the Institute of Psychiatry and Maudsley Hospital, Kings College, London, United Kingdom; as a professor of psychiatry at McGill University (Canada); and as head of the Division of Child Psychiatry and Canada research chair in child psychiatry.

FRIDAY

Oregon State University Anthropology Lecture Series, noon, Room 201A, Waldo Hall, 2250 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. Melissa Cheyney, associate professor of anthropology at OSU, will present "Does Big Data Have a Role to Play in Physiologic Birth Research? The Case for a Critical, Precision-Midwifery, All-Data Framework." This event is part of the Anthropology Program's "Tan Sack" Lecture Series.

MONDAY

"Global Forum: Women and Leadership in Africa," noon, Involvement Lounge, Student Experience Center, 2251 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. Guest speakers will draw from their individual perspectives to illuminate womens engagements and empowerment in Africa. Lunch provided. RSVP: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehN3z6WellQhkNf.

"Natural Values and Novel Ecosystems: Adapting Nature Conservation," 4 p.m., Autzen House, 811 SW Jefferson Ave., Corvallis. Allen Thompson will explain the concept of novel ecosystems and identify their significant role in adapting received traditions of land management, nature conservation and restoration ecology, especially in North America. Traditional values that underlie and motivate much conservation  those appealing to the intrinsic value of natural ecosystems  are threatened. The rapid and pervasive emergence of novel ecosystems, Thompson argues, has significance for ongoing debates on new conservationism and how we understand natural values as we move into the Anthropocene.

"Gentlemanly Masculinities: Visions of Family Reforms, Colonialism and Gender in Taiwan under Japanese Rule," 4 p.m., Room 115, Hallie Ford Center, 2631 SW Campus Way, Corvallis. Tadashi Ishikawa will explore the formation of Taiwanese masculinities in the blurred boundaries of families and marriages under Japanese rule. Tadashi is a postdoctoral fellow of the Chiu program for Taiwan studies in the School of History, Philosophy and Religion.

TUESDAY

"How Gritty Are You?," noon, Willamette Room, Valley Library, 201 SW Waldo Place, Corvallis. Join the Oregon State University Institutional Representatives of Oregon Women in Higher Education for a brown-bag lunch and discussion following the screening of Angela Duckworths TED Talk "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance."
Movies playing in mid-valley theaters as of Friday. Complete and updated Movie Scene listings can be found online.

NEW

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

3  stars

(Drama, R, 115 minutes, playing at the Darkside Cinema in Corvallis) In a sun-dappled but decidedly dark and severely fractured fairy tale, the children of impoverished millennials get themselves into all sorts of trouble in a garishly painted, barely inhabitable, rundown motel outside Orlando. The film does a masterful job of exploring a world rarely explored in movies. (Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times)

JUSTICE LEAGUE

1  stars

(Action-adventure, PG-13, 121 minutes, playing at the Regal 7 in Albany and the AMC Corvallis 12) DCs biggest heroes  Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg  united to battle a space monster intent on destroying the world. The film had a troubled production, and it shows: The final result is a chaotic, baffling, breathtakingly bad mess. Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Henry Cavill star. (Katie Walsh, Tribune Media Service)

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

3 stars

(Horror, R, 116 minutes, playing at the Darkside in Corvallis). A heart surgeon and father of two (Colin Farrell) befriends a creepy neighborhood teen (Barry Keoghan) who seems to have a hold over him. Nearly everyone speaks in a deadpan manner in this twisted, absurd and disturbing story, which never hedges its bets, never takes its foot off the gas. (Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times)

THE STAR

(Animated, PG, 86 minutes, playing at the AMC Corvallis 12) A small but brave donkey and his animal friends become the heroes of the first Christmas in this new animated flick.

WONDER

3 stars

(Drama, PG, 113 minutes, playing at the Pix and the Regal 7 in Albany and the AMC Corvallis 12) A young boy (Jacob Tremblay) with a facial deformity begins the fifth grade in a mainstream school with the help and support of his mother (Julia Roberts) and father (Owen Wilson). The movie never shies away from making serious points, but never turns preachy. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service)

CONTINUING

DADDYS HOME 2

1 star

(Comedy, PG-13, 95 minutes, playing at the Regal 7 in Albany, the Regal 4 in Corvallis and the AMC Corvallis 12) In this sour, cynical and profoundly unfunny sequel, touchy-feely Brad (Will Ferrell) and gruff Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) celebrate with their dads (John Lithgow and Mel Gibson), each an exaggerated version of his son. Much of the humor is of questionable taste at best, and hardly anybody talks or behaves in ways most of us can empathize with. (Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times)

LOVING VINCENT

3  stars

(Animated, PG-13, 94 minutes, playing at the Darkside in Corvallis) To tell this story about a mystery surrounding the 1890 death of artist Vincent Van Gogh, filmmakers Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman assembled a cast, found costumes and sets, and shot the film. Then every frame  more than 65,000 of them  was hand-painted over in oil paint in the style of Van Gogh. The result is rapturously beautiful. (Moira MacDonald, The Seattle Times)

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

3 stars

(Mystery, PG-13, 114 minutes, playing at the Regal 7 in Albany and the Regal 4 in Corvallis and the AMC Corvallis 12) Kenneth Branagh stars as Agatha Christies famed detective Hercule Poirot, and runs away with this star-studded remake, with lavish production design and an intoxicating and dazzling display of cinematic style. But the movies sad ending seeps away much of its energy. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service)

A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS

1  stars

(Comedy, R, 104 minutes, playing at the Regal 7 in Albany and the AMC Corvallis 12) Three overstressed mothers (Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, and Kathryn Hahn) are alarmed when their own troublemaking moms (Cheryl Hines, Christine Baranski, and Susan Sarandon) visit during the Christmas holiday. Soon, the gal pals once again band together for drinking and general debauchery in order to blow off some steam. Female audiences deserve better than this shoddily made outing, which once again suggests that the enemy of women is other women. (Katie Walsh, Tribune Media Service)

THOR: RAGNANOK

2  stars

(Sci-fi action-comedy, PG-13, 130 minutes, playing at the Regal 7 and the AMC Corvallis 12) After being defeated by his evil half-sister Hela (Cate Blanchett), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned as a gladiator on a distant world run by Jeff Goldblum. Director Taikia Waititi brings a welcome comedic touch, so this is the most fun of the three Thor flicks, but its still a flawed effort with egregious tonal shifts. (Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press)

VICTORIA & ABDUL

2 stars

(Historical drama, PG-13, 111 minutes, playing at the Darkside in Corvallis) An Indian clerk named Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) travels to London to present Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) with a ceremonial coin for her Golden Jubilee. The pair form an unexpected bond upon meeting, but the lifelong friendship that develops is threatened by the disapproval of Victoria's inner circle. Dench is terrific, as always, but the movie isnt able to illuminate Abduls character, leaving a void at its center. (Mark Kennedy, Associated Press)

JIGSAW

(Horror, R, 92 minutes, playing at the Regal 4 in Corvallis) Ten years after the Saw killer supposedly died, police are faced with either a copycat killer or a murderous ghost. With Matt Passmore, Callum Keith Rennie, Cle Bennett, Hannah Emily Anderson, Laura Vandervoort, Mandela Van Peebles. Written by Josh Stolberg & Peter Goldfinger. Directed by the Spierig brothers.

MARSHALL

3 stars

(Biographical drama, PG-13, 118 minutes, playing at the AMC Corvallis 12) Chadwick Boseman plays Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American attorney named to the U.S. Supreme Court. This well-made movie focuses on Marshalls early career; as he works as a lawyer for the NAACP, he takes on the case of a black chauffeur whos accused of sexual assault and attempted murder. Josh Gad and Sterling K. Brown co-star. (Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Inquirer)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

2  stars

(Drama, R, 109 minutes, playing at the Regal 4 in Corvallis) Miles Teller stars in this film, which explores the devastation of PTSD suffered by American soldiers returning home in 2007, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The movie excels when it focus on the soldiers themselves, but a misguided subplot involving a drug dealer is misplaced and some of the supporting cast (Amy Schumer, in particular) is miscast. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service)
Weve all seen the T-shirt that reads, My mom and dad went to (pick a location) and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.

In September, retired Linn County farmer-turned-author Jim Lindsay traveled to the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats in southwest Utah, drove his flat-black race car with a highly modified 1950 Mercury flathead engine 220 mph  and all he brought back was a bright red cap.

Although that cap probably cost only about $15, Lindsay's a happy man, having qualified for the exclusive Bonneville 200 MPH Club.

There are maybe 600 people in the world who have qualified for this since 1949, and about 140 of them are dead, Lindsay said. Believe me, word got around and people were coming up, congratulating me. It isnt just running 200 miles per hour. You have to have set a record in your cars class before you can even begin to qualify, and thats not easy to do.

Lindsay had previously set a record at El Mirage, California.

In Lindsays case, he needed to top 215 mph to join the club. He hit 220-plus. And on his second run the next day, he hit 215.8 for a 218.327 average.

The first shot at it was the most incredible ride of my life, he said. I left the push truck at about 70 mph, driving on the track between orange cones going north directly toward the floating mountain. I was on the gas, the blower was whistling right behind my head and I was shifting gears. In no time I was in third gear and up around 180 miles per hour when things began to change.

"Pushing against the wind, my rear tires were churning in the salt trying to get traction, fishtailing and throwing giant rooster tails into the sky, all the time my foot was planted hard on the throttle and I was trying to keep it straight.

From that point to the finish line, Lindsay was throwing myself through the mileposts that jet by faster and faster." When he opened the parachute used to help stop the car, It burst out behind me and the reverse Gs pulled into my shoulder harness like I was hooked into a plow.

He calls his car the Little Bastards, which is also the title of a book he authored about growing up in the 1950s and '60s, when cruising in home-built hot rods was a fact of life. He graduated from Albany Union High School in 1965 and spent 42 years farming before retiring.

When the 1950 Mercury flathead engine in Lindsays car rolled off the assembly line, it produced less than 100 horsepower. Now, thanks to a number of modifications both on the inside and outside, it produces about 550 horsepower and gulps alcohol, not gasoline.

Lindsay spent many years drag racing  seeing who can cover a straight quarter-mile the fastest  but four years ago he switched gears and set his sights on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The frame of his car was hand-built by Marty Strode of North Plains. The basic body is a fiberglass 1923 Ford Model T roadster replica.

It takes some deciphering to understand the class in which Lindsay competes. His car bears the letters "XXFBFRMR." The "XXF" means his car runs a flathead engine. The "B" means it uses a blower, which forces air into the engine to create more horsepower. The "F" means it operates on a fuel such as alcohol instead of gasoline. The "R" means the engine is located behind the driver, and the "MR" stands for "modified roadster."

Lindsay is not a big man, but its still a tight fit in the cars cockpit while wearing a fireproof racing suit, helmet and other gear. His pit crew includes fellow retirees Jerry Stauffer, All Rosback of the mid-valley and Bob Lick of La Grande.

We have too much fun, Lindsay said. That is until the engine starts, then its all business. There are about 250 volunteers who run Bonneville and they keep things humming like clockwork.

Lindsay enjoys the camaraderie of the drivers and pit crews, who come from all over the world, until it comes time to race.

There are no secrets. Everyone helps each other, he said. Then, they want to go out and beat the pants off you. The other guys in the 200 MPH Club are actually happy that I made it.

He said most days at the event, he completes one pass.

If the car is running well, thats all you need and if it isnt, you need all day to work on it, he said.

Lindsay plans to make more modifications to the cars engine and keep pushing for greater speed.

There is a 300 mile per hour club, but Im not headed there, he said with a broad grin.

His next big racing adventure, in fact, may be down under in Australia, which has a rich racing history. We may ship the car to Adelaide and then drive 200 miles inland where there is a big salt flat, Lindsay said.

Bonneville Salt Flats has hosted racers since 1949. Today, classes range from electrical vehicles to diesel trucks. The site is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Racing occurs about three weeks per year. Some 30,000 acres is managed as a Special Recreation Management Area and an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

The world land speed record of 760.3 miles per hour was set on Oct. 15, 1997, by British Air Force fighter pilot Andy Green at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. His vehicle was powered by two Rolls Royce jet engines.

Deluxe Brewing Company at 635 Water Ave. NE will host a reception for Lindsay and his pit crew from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Admission is free and people are invited to see Lindsays record-setting racecar.

Minors are welcome in the main brewery area and the tasting room will be open for adults 21 and older. Food will be available for purchase from Tacos El Machin.
WASHINGTON  As President Trump ends his Asia trip, he might sum up the 12-day journey with a revision of the remark attributed to Julius Caesar: Veni, vidi, blandivi. I came, I saw, I flattered.

Trump's trip was closer to a pilgrimage than a projection of power. The president rarely explained details of U.S. policy. Instead, he mostly asked other leaders for help, lauded their virtues, and embraced their worldviews.

Along the adulation tour, Trump spoke of his "really extraordinary" relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; his "incredibly warm" feeling for Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he called "a very special man"; his "great relationship" with the "very successful" Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte; and his empathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose nation is "an asset to our country, not a liability."

And the president praised himself at nearly every stop, telling reporters on the way home that the trip had been "tremendously successful" with "incredible" achievements.

Trump's trip may indeed prove to be historic, but probably not in the way he intends. It may signal a U.S. accommodation to rising Chinese power, plus a desire to mend fences with a belligerent Russia  with few evident security gains for America. If the 1945 Yalta summit marked U.S. acceptance of the Soviet Union's hegemony in Eastern Europe, this trip seemed to validate China's arrival as a Pacific power. As Xi put it to Trump, "The Pacific Ocean is big enough to accommodate both China and the United States."

Trump voiced a clear desire for accommodation with an aggressive Russia, too. Much was made of his regurgitation of Putin's denial that he had conducted a covert action against America during last year's presidential campaign. "President Putin really feels  and he feels strongly  that he did not meddle in our election."

Remarked one former senior CIA official: "When the Art of the Deal meets the KGB, the KGB wins."

But far more important than Trump's credulous response to Putin was his eagerness for Moscow's help in bolstering America's global position. Trump has noisily drawn a red line on North Korea, for example, but he evidently needs Russia's help, in addition to China's, to deliver without going to war. To get Moscow's help on North Korea, and Syria, too, Trump seems willing to give Putin a pass.

Here's how Trump put it during a press conference in Hanoi, which may have been the most important statement of the trip: "People don't realize Russia has been very, very heavily sanctioned," Trump said. "It's now time to get back to healing a world that is shattered and broken. ... And I feel that having Russia in a friendly posture, as opposed to always fighting with them, is an asset to the world."

Trump's ingratiating comments come at a time of American strategic disorientation. "We're adrift," said one prominent congressional Republican staffer, expressing a view that's increasingly heard from nonpartisan analysts at the Pentagon, think tanks and universities. At a time when Russia, China and Iran are all rapidly advancing their military capabilities, the Trump administration has declaratory policies of military strength  but hasn't yet made the necessary decisions about how it intends to actually combat these potential adversaries.

A blistering summary of the administration's overdue obligation to make strategic decisions to deter Russia and China, as opposed to glad-handing them, came in a little-noted Oct. 27 letter from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Stricken with cancer, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee holds nothing back these days.

"We now confront the most complex security environment in 70 years," McCain wrote. "Misplaced priorities and acquisition failures have left us without critical defense capabilities to counter increasingly advanced near-peer competitors. ... We no longer enjoy the wide margins of power we once had over competitors and adversaries. We cannot do everything we want everywhere. We must choose. We must prioritize."

McCain suggested what many analysts have been saying quietly for months. The most worrying thing about Trump isn't his impulsive military threats (though there's reason to be concerned there, too). The deeper fear is that in national security, this administration is an empty suit. It doesn't make decisions. It doesn't set priorities.

Trump is a vain man who flatters others so that he will be stroked himself. If there's a strategic concept underlying his approach, it may be realism married to acquiescence. The Asia trip left me feeling that we're watching an American retreat, accompanied by a shiny brass band.
KEARNEY  Falconers from around the world will participate Sunday through Nov. 24 in the North American Falconers Associations annual gathering in Kearney.

Chairman Ralph Rogers of Winifred, Mont., who also has a home in Bartlett, was at the Gateway Farm Expo on the Buffalo County Fairgrounds Wednesday and today to promote the event that is expected to draw about 300 participants and 150 birds  falcons, eagles and hawks  to the Kearney Holiday Inn.

His goal at Gateway was to ask area landowners to register properties where falconers can seek permission to take their birds of prey.

Rogers explained that falcons such as Laguna, the 9-year-old peregrine falcon female he has had since she was 2 months old, need to be in wide-open spaces.

One reason is how fast they fly. Rogers said peregrine falcons can dive at 260 mph or faster.

Hawks and eagles will hunt in less-open places that have scrub and trees.

They cant hurt livestock, and they cant blow holes in granaries, Rogers said about the birds. We need to let people know were out there and we do no harm.

The flier he distributed at Gateway says the birds usually dont hurt what they are chasing.

Mornings and evenings are the best times for handlers to take their birds out to fly.

The public will be welcome to view falcons and hawks next week at the weathering yard  Holiday Inn volleyball courts  where the birds can soak up some sun while convention meetings are in session. Rogers said the best viewing times probably will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

When asked what motivates falconers to keep and train birds and to travel to conferences, Rogers said: Every 12-year-old kid is at a stage where they are fascinated by raptors. I never grew up.

He explained that falconer refers to all raptor handlers.

Every one will tell you they just saw the most amazing thing happen, Rogers said about why falconers never get tired of watching their birds fly.

This is the seventh time the falconers have come to Kearney. It is our favorite venue. Over the 30 years of visits, many of us have made long-term friends in Nebraska, Rogers wrote in his flier.

The international gathering was in Kearney in 2012. Rogers expects to see people from 80 countries when that event returns to Kearney in 2020.

Other information about falconry in his conference flier includes:

n It is a 4,000-year-old hunting art declared by the United Nations as a cultural heritage of mankind.

n Falconers will ask landowners for permission to chase rabbits, grouse, ducks and some other game with their hawks.

n Falconers are courteous sportsmen who leave gates as they find them.

Area landowners willing to have falconers on their properties next week should call Rogers at 406-350-5487.
LINCOLN  Former Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Merlyn Carlson will receive Nebraska Farm Bureaus 2017 Silver Eagle Award Dec. 5 at the organizations annual convention in Kearney.

It is Farm Bureaus highest honor.

The Lodgepole rancher was state ag director from 1999-2005. From 2005-2007, he was undersecretary for the Natural Resources Conservation Service when former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns was U.S. secretary of agriculture.

Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson of Axtell said about Carlson, He left his mark by increasing value-added agricultural opportunities, improving trade relations and dealing with weather concerns. While at the USDA, he focused on conservation efforts, especially related to crafting the 2007 Farm Bill.

Carlson also was on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Board of Governors, chaired the U.S. Meat Export Federation and was a National Cattlemen Association leader. He was Nebraska Beef Council chairman and Nebraska Stock Growers Association president.

Today, he and his wife, Janice, are partially retired and live in Sun City West, Ariz.
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KEARNEY  More than 200 members of the staff at the Platte Valley Medical Group wore their hearts on their sleeves in honor of Veterans Day Friday. They wore special navy blue T-shirts they had designed to thank military veterans for their service.

We just wanted to show our support for the military. We have a lot of older veterans as patients, and we wanted to thank them for their service, said Andrea Eastman, who designed the shirt.

The shirts were the brainchild of PVMGs 10-member Morale Is Our Business board, a group of employees who plan fundraising and special events to keep employees happy, Eastman, an MOB member, said. They came up with the idea shortly before Memorial Day.

The shirts have the PVMC and Kearney Regional Medical Center logo on the front. On the left sleeve is a heart. On the back are the words, To those who served, we honor you. Under that, five stars represent the five branches of the U.S. military.

More than 200 employees ordered the shirts at $12.50 for a crewneck and $16 for a V-neck. The shirts were produced at 24-Hour Tees in Kearney. On Friday, all T-shirt owners wore them to honor veterans.

The MOB has honored veterans in other ways this year. In June, they held a spaghetti feed. MOB members made pasta at home and added donated hamburger and spaghetti sauce in hospital kitchens. Tickets were $5.

They also had a jeans drive, where employees wore jeans to work in exchange for $5 donations. They also received a patriotic pen.

On July 4, the group hung a memorial to veterans in the medical buildings atrium. Staff members who served in the military, and their families, were invited to display pictures and stories of their military service.

These events collectively raised $480, which MOB donated to the Veterans Memorial Wall planned at the Central Nebraska Veterans Home being built in Kearney.

Eastman, the certified medical assistant to Dr. William Vosik at PVMG, said: We wanted to let veterans know how much their military service means to us.
LINCOLN  Nebraskas efforts to combat human trafficking now rank firmly above the national average, seven years after the state earned a failing grade.

Shared Hope International gave Nebraska a score of 86 out of 100 on Wednesday in its 2017 report card of state laws aimed at reducing the sexual exploitation of children. The ranking comes just months after Nebraska lawmakers significantly increased penalties for sex traffickers and those who buy sex while making it easier to prosecute such offenders.

Tennessee earned the highest score in the analysis with a 96.5, while Maine received the lowest score with a 60. Iowa scored an 84, also above the national average of 82.

Last year, Nebraska received a score of 80.5 on the groups scale. In 2011, it earned a 52.5.

The report indicated that Nebraska can still improve policies to protect and assist child victims.

The organization applauded the efforts of state lawmakers to pass Legislative Bill 289, sponsored by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln.

Nebraska has sent a strong message to traffickers and buyers that they will be punished with the full weight of the law for the despicable practice of human trafficking, Pansing Brooks said in a press release.

The new law increased penalties for those who create the supply and demand for human trafficking. A minimum of one year in prison is likely for panderers and solicitors in such transactions. If children are exploited, the pimps and johns could spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Each month in Nebraska, 900 people are sold for sex, often more than once, according to research by the Human Trafficking Initiative, a project of the Womens Fund of Omaha. The group said that almost 400 of those are considered at moderate to high risk of being trafficked.

The Womens Fund report also showed that Nebraskas commercial sex market skews toward children and minorities. One in five people are advertised on websites with phrases indicating that they are young. And African-Americans make up half of all individuals sold for sex in Nebraska, despite representing 5 percent of the population.

The average age when a child is first commercially trafficked and exploited is 13, research shows.

Shared Hope is an international organization focused on prevention and justice for victims of sex trafficking. Founded in 1998, the group started publishing state-by-state rankings in 2011.
HOLDREGE  Jack D. Morse, 68, of Beaver City died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Beaver City with the Rev. Becky Saddler officiating. Inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery near Beaver City with military honors by the American Legion Post of Beaver City and the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard.

There will be no viewing or visitation. Cremation was chosen.

Wenburg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



He was born in Holdrege on March 1, 1949, to Dale W. and Marie Mae (Allen) Morse.

He grew up on the farm northwest of Beaver City, attended Beaver City High School and graduated with the class of 1967. After high school, he attended Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

After receiving his degree, he taught for a few years at Ord High School. He then worked as an appraiser for FHA before moving back to Beaver City and buying his parents farm.

On Nov. 29, 1980, he married Mary OHare. This union was blessed with a daughter, Elizabeth, in October 1984.

Jack enjoyed collecting military memorabilia and focused on World War II. He was an avid hunter who went on many exciting hunting trips all over the United States and Canada. He enjoyed farming and raising cattle for many years and later on added a buffalo herd to the farm.

His family was most important, and he cherished the times he was able to spend with them, especially special time making memories with his grandchildren.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Beaver City where he was known as the honorary candlelighter. He also served on the Rural Fire District Board and was a member of the Charles Roy Bonham American Legion Post 28 of Beaver City and cemetery board.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Morse of Beaver City; daughter, Elizabeth and husband Robert Cooley of Kearney and grandchildren, BreAnna, Aiden and Madelyn; brother, Jim and wife Nancy Morse of Loomis; sister, Mary Lou Mittan of Lincoln; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church and Beaver City Senior Center.

Visit wenburgfuneralhome.com to leave condolences or personal reflections.
What a year we have lived through since Donald Trump came out on stage and pledged to every citizen of our land that I will be a president for all Americans. As journalists who have been around Washington forever and covered politics for decades, we are constantly asked about the Trump presidency: Has there ever been anything like this?

The answer is no. Theres never been a president who endlessly litigated the last election  which he won, by the way. Theres never been a president who had lower approval ratings this early in his term: 37 percent, in the most recent ABC poll. Never has a president called our justice system a joke and a laughingstock. Never has a president left so many State Department positions unfilled, at a time when crises are erupting around the globe.

And never, of course, has a president set policy on Twitter.

All of the chaos surrounding the constantly churning White House is clearly taking its toll, as the elections last week in New Jersey and Virginia made clear. Voters said, by a 2-to-1 margin, that they were showing up in opposition to the Trump presidency.

And there is much in the ABC poll that would send most presidents scrambling to try to set things straight. Majorities say Trumps not delivering on his campaign promises, that hes not trustworthy, that hes not a strong leader, that he hasnt brought needed change and that he doesnt have the right personality or temperament to be president.

As he visited Asia, with North Korea foremost on the agenda, a shocking two-thirds of those polled said they dont trust their president to act responsibly in handling that situation.

Instead of trying to fix whats wrong, Trump rails against the media, the Democrats and the Clintons while proclaiming that he has done more in the time hes been in office than any president in history.

When Fox News Laura Ingraham recently asked the president about the number of vacancies in the State Department, he replied: The one that matters is me. Im the only one that matters because when it comes to it, thats what policy is going to be.

Some Trump voters now seem to understand that the election was all about him, that he is the one that matters, not them. In an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll of Trump counties, only 32 percent say the country is better off than when their candidate was elected, and a majority sees no clear agenda coming out of the White House.

So now what? Where do we go from here? Democrats think this head-scratching year works for them  that by making the next election all about Trump, they can win.

But there are some warning signs. Democrats and Republicans are dead-even in the ABC survey. Those voters also end up tied over which party best represents their values.

Fewer voters overall  27 percent  trust Democrats in Congress to make the right decisions for the country, compared to a pitiful, but still higher, 34 percent who say the same for Trump.

So no, theres never been anything like this.
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A couple of recent news items caught our eye to underline the importance of agriculture and natural resources to the mid-valley's economy.

Now, granted, that's not exactly news  but it does seem as if it's easy sometimes to take agriculture for granted as we size up our economic prospects.

Then an event like the Willamette Valley Ag Expo blows back into town to remind us again of the deep agricultural roots that help sustain us in so many ways. This year's edition, the 17th, runs through today at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center in Albany.

The expo is a place for farmers (and the people who depend on farmers for their livelihoods, such as the sellers of implements and other farm goods) to connect so that they can compare notes on the latest trends and techniques to keep their operations running smoothly and efficiently. (Farmers spend a lot of time thinking about how to operate more efficiently, for this simple reason: A more efficient operation puts more money in their pockets.)

Much of the buzz at this year's expo seemed to be about hazelnuts, which are claiming increasing acreage throughout the mid-valley: Estimates are that the valley added some 9,000 acres of filbert orchards just in the year 2016.

Nimble equipment manufacturers have taken notice of the trend and are responding: One vendor at the expo was showing off his latest creation, a multipurpose orchard truck he believes will create greater efficiency (there's that word again) during harvest.

It's not just vendors who have to be nimble: Successful farmers know they have to be flexible and responsive to changing market conditions. And they also tend to be early adopters of technology that helps increase efficiency  there's that word again  and quality of life. The expo is a good place to check out all those trends, and to be reassured about the continuing and enduring contributions that agriculture makes to the mid-valley.

Which brings us to the second news item we noticed this week: An article in the December issue of The Atlantic magazine discusses the promising future of wooden skyscrapers and focuses on Lever Architecture, the Portland firm that's designing tall buildings made of wood, not concrete or steel.

Lever Architecture is based in Albina Yard, a four-story building that's constructed of Douglas fir. The founder of Lever, Thomas Robinson, is at work designing Framework, a 12-story wooden building intended for Portland's Pearl District.

The Atlantic article, by Amanda Kolson Hurley, reports how buildings such as Framework will use glue-laminated timber for their skeletons and cross-laminated timber for their walls and floors.

If that phrase "cross-laminated timber" sounds familiar, it's because Oregon State University researchers have been leading the way in developing the product. It's a massive structural composite panel product, usually consisting of three to nine layers of dimensional timber arranged perpendicular to each other, much like layers of veneer in plywood. It's strong and flexible and resilient to seismic activity. The cross-laminated timber also proved remarkably resistant to fire in tests that Robinson and his team conducted. (Perhaps needless to add, the buildings also offer environmental advantages in terms of reducing carbon footprints.)

Tall wooden buildings have been constructed recently in Sweden, Finland and the United Kingdom. A Canadian firm has plans for a 35-story tower in Paris. (Hurley notes that U.S. building codes generally bar wooden structures more than 85 feet tall, but adds that the federal government is promoting research into building with wood.)

A boom in building with wood would be good news for Oregon, for this reason: We have lots of trees. It would be great to see people out working in the woods again, providing the raw material for the newest trend in architecture  a trend that harkens back to some of our earliest dwellings. (mm)
Abbey Amisola is shown in the undated photograph provided by a family friend. A Winnipeg woman who loved to travel and was just beginning a teaching career fell sick and died this week while on a year-long backpacking trek through Asia, a long-time friend said Wednesday. Samantha Gilkes says her 27-year-old friend, Abbey Gail Amisola, died in a hostel in Cambodia after getting medicine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
An aerial view of Fort Chipewyan, Alta., is shown on Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. Fort Chipewyan, on the boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park, is home to many members of the Mikisew Cree who echo the concerns of an international group of scientists who say the park is under significant threat from development. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
In this Oct. 12, 2017, photo, Zahida Begum, left, listens to a Rohingya boy who she helped escape to Bangladesh as she visits him in Thangkhali, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Zahida Begum was only 18 months old when her mother, fleeing Muslim Rohingya persecution in Myanmar, smuggled her in a fishing boat into Bangladesh. When frantic relatives called her in late September to tell her that Myanmar soldiers were burning Rohingya villages and tens of thousands of Rohingya were fleeing, she jumped into action, making calls and raising money to arrange boats to bring 400 people to safety. (AP Photo/Salahuddin Ahmed)
A Cypriot student at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has told her compatriots back in Limassol that studying abroad was the best decision she had ever made.

As part of the UK universitys #LoveInternational campaign, DMU visited Limassol to make a presentation to potential students and explore why 230 current Cypriot students have chosen to attend DMU.

After a presentation from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Andy Collop, current student Eleni Papadopolou, from Kakopetria in Cyprus, took part in a question and answer session where she revealed that choosing DMU was a life changing moment for her.

Now in the third year of her Media Production degree, Eleni arrived at DMU in 2015 and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience ever since.

She said: I think students will make a great choice if they come to DMU. It's a very welcoming environment, the lecturers and all the staff are very friendly and they really help you if you need it. They are going to have a really good time if they come to DMU.

Leicester is a really multicultural community, DMU has students from all over the world and it makes you feel more included so it's easy for international students to settle in.

Cyprus has the second highest number of students at DMU of all EU countries, and Professor Collop believes that this is largely down to the diversity and welcoming nature of the university, where the student population is made up of over 130 nationalities.

Professor Collop said: Were a very international community, we have students from over 130 different countries and we have some key initiatives like #DMUglobal which gives our students the opportunity to gain an international experience in a different country. So there are lots of reasons for students to want to come and study at DMU.

The #LoveInternational campaign aims to grow DMUs global outlook, celebrate its diversity and ensure that it remains a welcoming place for international study, despite the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

In the past year the campaign has seen visits to countries including Lithuania, Poland, Germany, USA and Sweden.

Professor Collop told the audience in Limassol that DMU has bucked the national trend to see an increase of 40% of EU students attending the university, largely due to the #LoveInternational campaign.

He said: We've been very well received when we've gone to key international countries such as Cyprus and talked to potential students to reassure them that the UK is still very much open for business and that DMU in particular is open for business, and that's gone down very well with the European community.
A Colorado company specializing in dinosaur displays opens one of its nationwide exhibits on Saturday (Nov. 18) at the Kenosha Public Museum.

Silver Plume Exhibitions Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies runs through Feb. 25 in the upper Touhy Gallery. The free, interactive exhibit allows guests a rare look at the life of dinosaurs through their eggs, nests and young.

The display includes a cast model of an estimated 100-million-year-old dinosaur embryo named Baby Louie. The fossilized remains were discovered in Henan, China, in 1993 and appeared on the cover of National Geographic. They were purchased by the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis and eventually returned to China.

In a recent development, the remains have been identified as a new species of a 2,500-pound oviraptorosaur, the largest roosting animals to ever appear on Earth. The giant bird-like dinosaur was named Beibeilong sinensis (meaning baby dragon).

Baby Louie is kind of the star of the show, Silver Plume Exhibitions curator Alanna Regester said. Hes really incredible. People will be able to explore and find out who Baby Louis is.

From tiny eggs to giant animals

The multimedia exhibit is intended for all ages. It is a re-creation of the original Hatching the Past: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies exhibit that first appeared in Kenosha in 2007.

Dinosaurs started as these tiny little things, Regester said. Theyre not these huge monster eggs. Even though they grew to be these giant animals, they started off quite small.

Silver Plume Exhibitions debuted its Dinosaurs Take Flight exhibit at the Kenosha Public Museum in December of 2015.

We had a great response from that one, said Kristine Camilli, the museums external relations manager. Were excited about (the new exhibit). This one has real fossils kids will be able to touch. Its very interactive. There will be real dinosaur nests and eggs that were found in several locations around the world.

A dinosaur Frost Fest

The museum is anticipating such a positive response to this exhibit that it themed its annual Frost Fest after the show. Baby dinosaurs will take over Frost Fest on Dec. 27-28.

The hands-on learning festival allows visitors to learn about dinosaur nests and egg strength through experimentation; discover the therizinosaurs; and clean real dinosaur bones.

With all of our exhibitions, we develop programming across the board with our educational programs, special events and things that are themed to the exhibits, said Rachel Klees Anderson, curator of exhibits at Kenosha public museums. We work on these programs sometimes two years in advance.
Wielding signs declaring Dignity, Safety and Hope, dozens of religious leaders, local elected officials and community activists decried the dearth of lodging for homeless men and women.

They gathered Wednesday afternoon and called on the city and county to take immediate steps to help solve the problem because winter is coming.

There is a whole segment of the population that falls through the cracks, said the Rev. Matthew Buterbaugh of St. Matthews Episcopal Church.

The downtown event, organized by Congregations United to Serve Humanity, began at Immanuel United Methodist Church and continued to a Kenosha streetcar. Decked in purple, a color that represents the issue of homelessness, participants boarded the trolley to raise awareness.

Were here for those who often are voiceless, said the Rev. Justin Elliott Lowe, an associate pastor at United Methodist Church and member of the CUSH task force on homelessness.

Lowe prayed that God would move the hearts of elected leaders so they may gather the courage that they need to do what is right. To listen to the voices of all and provide shelter for all.

Winters coming fast

State Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Somers, echoed those concerns.

Homeless are my constituents, too. We have to make sure that people dont freeze to death in our community, Wirch said. Clearly, we need action, because winters coming fast.

In previous years, many homeless men and women  often battling drug and alcohol addictions  were clients of First Step Services, a low-barrier respite center and wet shelter. Some men and women facing drug, alcohol and mental health issues are not eligible to enroll at the Shalom Center.

First Step closed in May and, as the temperature drops, the task force is hoping to find some solutions before the severe cold sets in.

We need help now, not later, said Karley Brentley, who described the struggles of being homeless. I was homeless, too. I had to make it the hard way.

Brentley, who said she got clean from drugs, is worried about winter.

Brentley, who used to live in Chicago, said it was common to see homeless men and women under bridges bundled up with 15 blankets in front of makeshift fires.

I had a lot of friends who died and froze to death, she said. Thank God that I finally got myself together and got my own place.

Unfortunately, she said others are not so lucky.

Kenosha School Board member Rebecca Stevens said she doesnt want to wake up and read about people freezing to death in the paper.

We have so many homeless students and families that are trying to make it through, Stevens said. I know the Shalom Center has (a specific) amount of room and theyre full. We need to do something in our community to help.

Veronica King, president of the Kenosha NAACP branch, said Kroger should give the former Brass neighborhood Pick n Save store at 1901 63rd St. to the city. The grocery store closed in May.

Companies and corporations need to step up. No. 1, Kroger. Give us that Kroger building, King said. Let the city and the county provide the funding to renovate it so that it can include those with substance abuse, those who cant go to the Shalom Center.

CUSH proposal

Congregations United to Serve Humanity is calling for an emergency homeless overnight warming shelter program, which would ideally be run by existing human services agencies and volunteers. According to a white paper sent to the Kenosha News, CUSH does not believe nonprofit organizations can create sustainable, efficient or comprehensive solutions.

According to CUSH, the temporary emergency shelter would prohibit alcohol, drugs and weapons. The proposed dates of operation would be Dec. 1 through March 31.
Top three smart city solutions for Vietnam announced

The top three winners of the Global Smart City Innovation Challenge for Vietnam (SCIC) competition, launched by the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI), were announced at the Vietnam Demo Day in Hanoi, on November 13.









The GridComm team wins the first prize





The US$5,000 first prize was awarded to the GridComm team for their solution Smart street lights for cities, which, as released by GridComm Director General Mike Holt, would contribute to remarkably reducing the power consumption in cities.



The establishment of this infrastructure would enable Vietnam to implement other projects in regards to smart cities, such as faster and easier traffic management or urban planning, Holt added.



The second prize, worth US$3,000, went to the XRVision team with their solution Facial recognition software in uncontrolled environments. Guy Ron, Director General of XRVision, used to work for Microsoft and has experience from setting up the security system in Israel.



MimosaTek, a Vietnamese team, claimed the US$2,000 third prize for their high-tech agriculture startup on providing an irrigation solution for crops.



MimosaTek Director Nguyen Khac Minh Tri summarised the profound meaning of a smart city as a place where people could take advantage of technology to enjoy a more convenient and effective lifestyle.



In addition to the cash prizes, the three winning teams will be fast-tracked into the cities acceleration programmes to help localise their solutions.



The SCIC competition is a unique initiative aiming to discover global technology solutions with the potential of handling urban issues in provinces and cities across Vietnam.



The Demo Day in Hanoi, on November 13, took place with 15 innovative urban solutions presented by 15 teams from eight countries, in the presence of the leaders of groups, investors and businessmen, as well as representatives from Vietnams smart city steering committees and local government leaders.



The Demo Day was organised by the MBI, in cooperation with The National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development (NATEC-MOST), the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, the Da Nang Business Incubator (DNES) and the Vietnam Angel Investor Network (iAngel).
Middle Eastern money is still on the hook for a multi-million euro development on the Kilkenny/Waterford border which should cause Dundrum and Blanchardstown to worry.

Members of Piltown Municipal District were given a presentation on the North Quays Strategic Development Zone which will be built on the Ferrybank side of the River Suir in Waterford City.

The plans for the development are currently on public display and local councillors received the presentation at this months MD meeting from the project manager of the North Quays SDZ, Paul Daly.

Cllr Eamon Aylward asked about interested parties and if the Middle Eastern money was still there and Mr Daly said: We were approached by a developer to develop the whole site and they are still there. They are confident they can find tenants.

Mr Daly said irrespective of whether the interested party develops the whole site, the SDZ plan for the North Quays stands on its own and added that should a developer take on the site the area would be controlled and owned by the private developer, members were told.

The plans for the North Quays include a multi-modal transport hub which would require the relocation of the existing train station.

The development would also boast a retail outlet, a hotel and apartments and a pedestrian access bridge across the river to link the development up with the south side.

The members heard the site itself is a flood zone and buildings will have to be lifted above a certain height. The whole area above ground will be pedestrianised and car free with all deliveries and parking designed to be underground with all the vehicular activity taking place at a subterranean level.

Mr Daly said that Waterford has a retail requirement in-excess of 50,000 sq/m with the North Quays SDZ providing a minimum of 20,000 sq/m and a maximum of 30,000 sq/m on the site.

The development will also be made up of food and beverage retail, office spaces, community/tourism centre, resident apartments and a hotel/event centre.

The retail premises will be at the landing point of the pedestrian bridge.

The Council sought Government funding in the region of 63m for works on the site and are hopeful of it being granted but do not expect confirmation on that before December.

The plan is now on public display for six weeks up until November 30 with the end of next summer expected to be the date for the adoption or amendment of the draft.

Councillors were told that any amendments will see the project put back on public display.

Responding to questions on any concerns among existing businesses about the site, Mr Daly said: The region has leakage to Dublin and Cork and it needs more retail to stop that. The only people worried would be Dundrum and Blanchardstown.
The 970 people who died in the Kilkenny Union Workhouse during Irelands Great Famine were remembered at a special ceremony last week, where a new sculpture was unveiled at MacDonagh Junction.

The sculpture, crafted by Ani Mollereau, features the fingerprints, etched in brass, of almost 1,000 people connected to the workhouse, the local community and the diaspora. It was unveiled in conjunction with the official opening of the Kilkenny Famine Experience, a free audiovisual tour set on the site of the former Kilkenny Union Workhouse.

Centre manager Marion Acreman, who spearheaded the project offering new insights into the lives of Irish people in the 1840s, revealed that they had received the fingerprints from all over the world, including from some people who have since passed away.

British Ambassador Robin Barnett and Australian Ambassador Richard Andrews were among those in attendance. MC Sue Nunn got proceedings under way, and welcomed Miss Mackeys third and fourth class students from St Johns Junior School who performed on stage dressed in 19th Century garb.

It was the first time the three had collaborated, under the baton of Muireann Ryan, and the result was excellent  a wonderful rendition of Hard Times Come Again No More.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council David Fitzgerald said that the occasion should not be treated as a purely a historical excerise.

This happened not simply because the potato crop failed, but because the wrong political decisions were made, which led to the Great Irish Famine, he said.

Similarly, British Ambassador Robin Barnett acknowledged that people were failed by those who governed in London at the time.

He said it was wonderful to have something like the Great Famine Experience to remember with respect the suffering of the men, women and children who perished in the most unimaginable circumstances.

I also pay tribute to those who were left with no choice but to flee their beloved homeland, to escape the famine, he said.

Many perished attempting to escape hunge and starvation.

The Kilkenny Famine Experience project grew out of the evidence collected in 2005 by the teams of archaeologists and osteo-archaeologists as they exhumed and analysed the bodies of the hundreds of people buried in the grounds of the former Kilkenny Workhouse.

Those new to the centre had little idea of the wealth of history there. The Cultural Services Team of Kilkenny County Council recognised the project as a priority for funding under Kilkennys Creative Ireland programme in 2017.

We were delighted to provide funding under the County Kilkenny Culture and Creativity Plan 2017 to the Kilkenny Famine Experience Project, says Dearbhala Ledwidge, Heritage Officer, Kilkenny County Council.

By working with artists, heritage professional and communities this excellent project shines a light on the Kilkenny Workhouse, and the lives of Kilkenny people during the famine. It also allows us to honour those that died and never forget this difficult part of our heritage.

The Kilkenny Famine Experience is supported by the Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-Government five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022. The project has also received funding supports from MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Minister Heather Humphreys, Department of Culture, Heritage and The Gaeltacht, The Heritage Council and Kilkenny County Council.

The Kilkenny Famine Experience is free and bookings are now available to the public here.
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Toyota Ireland has launched a new website called dieselscrappage.ie to help Irish customers see just how much they could save by scrapping their diesel vehicle and making the move to a Toyota hybrid car.

The launch of the website coincides with Toyotas upgrade to hybrid for free and trade in, trade up 181 promotions which make it even easier for customers to switch to a hybrid or petrol model.

Toyota is the only brand launching a diesel scrappage scheme exclusive to hybrid where the diesel vehicle will have to be scrapped, delivering real societal benefits as hybrids emit up to 90% less NOx than diesel.

With the widest range of hybrids on offer, Toyota is helping to make life better in Ireland for both drivers and pedestrians.

Viewing the savings on offer couldnt be easier. Firstly, users can see how much their current car is costing them each year by simply entering the registration of a vehicle on the website.

In an instant, they can see how much could be saved by driving a Toyota.

The website, powered by Cartell, uses a range of factors such as depreciation, road tax, NCT costs, fuel economy and servicing when calculating the savings.

Thousands of Irish drivers are already experiencing vast benefits, having made the switch to hybrid.

Michael Gaynor, Marketing Director at Toyota said they see the market at a tipping point where a move out of diesel accelerates as people want to protect the future resale value of their vehicle through buying a Toyota hybrid.

"Its why Toyota Financial Services, our new financial services partner, has revised downwards its Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) on diesel vehicles and increased the GFV on hybrids so the gap is now 6% in favour of hybrids, he added.
The surface of bar-shaped ceria nanoparticles is comparable with the rock formations of Monument Valley  it has a number of edges, corners, and facets. (Photo: Alessandro Trovarelli/University of Udine)

Exhaust gas cleaning of passenger cars, power generation from sunlight, or water splitting: In the future, these and other applications may profit from new findings relating to ceria. At Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), scientists have studied ceria nanoparticles with the help of probe molecules and a complex ultrahigh vacuum-infrared measurement system and obtained partly surprising new insights into their surface structure and chemical activity. Work is reported in three articles published in the journal Angewandte Chemie (applied chemistry).

Cerium oxides, compounds of the rare-earth metal cerium with oxygen, are among the most important oxides for technical applications. Ceria is mainly used in heterogeneous catalysis, examples being exhaust gas catalytic converters of passenger cars, photocatalysis in solar cells, water splitting, or the decomposition of pollutants. Ceria as used in catalytic converters has the form of a powder. It consists of nanoscaled particles (one nanometer corresponds to one billionth of a meter) of highly complex structure. Special arrangement of the metal and oxygen atoms on the surface determines the physical and chemical properties of ceria. So far, however, it has been impossible to exactly analyze the rearrangement and reconstruction processes taking place at the surface of the nanoparticles.

At KIT, scientists of the Institute of Functional Interfaces (IFG) under the direction of Professor Christof Woll established a new method to study chemical properties of oxide surfaces in the past years: They use small molecules, such as carbon monoxide (CO), molecular oxygen (O2), or nitrous oxide (N2O), as probe molecules. These molecules attach to the surface of the oxide nanoparticles. Then, the researchers determine vibration frequencies of the probe molecules. This approach has led to major progress in the understanding of surface properties of ceria nanoparticles, Christof Woll says.

Together with scientists of the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT) of KIT, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, the University of Udine/Italy, and the Polytechnical University of Catalonia in Barcelona/Spain, the IFG researchers studied various aspects of the surface structure and chemical activity of ceria nanoparticles. Their results are now published in three articles in the journal Angewandte Chemie (applied chemistry).

The main reason of the progress achieved is that the researchers succeeded in verifying the vibration frequencies measured for the powders by measurements using exactly defined model substances. For this, they applied a complex ultrahigh vacuum-infrared system that is the only of its kind in the world. Moreover, they used the results of quantum mechanics calculations to allocate the previously unknown vibration bands of the oxide particles. In this way, they gained entirely new, partly unexpected insights into the surface chemistry of ceria nanoparticles.

The scientists proved that the surface of a bar-shaped ceria nanoparticle has a number of defects, such as sawtooth-shaped nanofacets, oxygen vacancies, corners, and edges. These irregularities probably lead to the high catalytic activity of such nanoparticles. In addition, the researchers found that photoreactivity of ceria can be enhanced considerably by the generation of oxygen vacancies, i.e. unoccupied oxygen sites. Another study yielded basic information on the position of oxygen vacancies on various ceria surfaces and their relevance to oxygen activation. Based on our findings, we can now systematically further develop and optimize nanoscaled ceria-based catalytic converters and photocatalysts, Professor Woll says.

Chengwu Yang, Xiaojuan Yu, Stefan Heiler, Alexei Nefedov, Sara Colussi, Jordi Llorca, Alessandro Trovarelli, Yuemin Wang, and Christof Woll: Surface Faceting and Reconstruction of Ceria Nanoparticles. Angewandte Chemie. International Edition. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201609179 (German Edition. DOI: 10.1002/ange.201609179)

Chengwu Yang, Xiaojuan Yu, Philipp N. Pleow, Stefan Heiler, Peter G. Weidler, Alexei Nefedov, Felix Studt, Yuemin Wang, and Christof Woll: Rendering Photoreactivity to Ceria: The Role of Defects. Angewandte Chemie. International Edition. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201707965 (German Edition. DOI: 10.1002/ange.201707965)

Chengwu Yang, Xiaojuan Yu, Stefan Heiler, Peter G. Weidler, Alexei Nefedov, Yuemin Wang, Christof Woll, Thomas Kropp, Joachim Paier, and Joachim Sauer: O2 Activation on Ceria Catalysts  The Importance of Substrate Crystallographic Orientation. Angewandte Chemie. International Edtion. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201709199 (German Edition. DOI: 10.1002/ange.201709199)

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar bounced from near five-month lows on Thursday as a mostly upbeat employment report triggered a round of short-covering, while its New Zealand counterpart extended its recent decline.

The Australian dollar was holding on at $0.7596, after delving as deep as $0.7567 overnight amid a general mood of risk aversion globally.

Dealers reported support around $0.7570 but felt it needed to get back above $0.7640 to avoid a further correction to at least $0.7535.

It won a reprieve from selling pressure when data showed Australia's jobless rate dipped to 5.4 percent in October, its lowest since early 2013. Employment missed estimates with a rise of just 3,700, but that was offset by a 24,300 gain in full-time work.

Yet with plenty of slack left in the labour market and wage growth near all-time lows, investors still saw no chance of a rate hike for months to come.

In contrast, the Federal Reserve seems determined to raise U.S. rates in December and up to three more times next year, which would take the U.S. cash rate above Australia's for the first time since 2000.

"It now looks inevitable at the central bank policy rates level, the real questions being how far along the yield curve rates might cross-over, and the market's take on how long they are likely to remain there," said Ray Attrill, NAB's head of forex strategy.

The gap between Australian and U.S. two-year government yields is already down to just 11 basis points and the spread on five-year debt is only a whisker more at 15 basis points.

That is one reason Attrill expects the Aussie to slip into a new trading range of $0.7000 to $0.7500 next year.

The New Zealand dollar was trading down 0.3 percent at $0.6854 and threatening chart support at $0.6844.

A survey out on Thursday showing consumer confidence slipped in November as a slowing housing market and political uncertainty dampened optimism.

The index was still relatively strong at 123.7, well above the 100 level where pessimists equal optimists. New Zealand government bonds rallied, pushing yields down as much as 5 basis points at the long-end of the curve.

Australian government bond futures paused after notching solid gains on Wednesday. The three-year bond contract eased 2 ticks to 98.030, while the 10-year contract was flat at 97.3950.

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Eric Meijer)
Southwest pilot with loaded gun arrested

ST. LOUIS (AP)  A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested early Wednesday after a loaded handgun was found in his carry-on luggage before his flight left St. Louis for Las Vegas, officials said.

The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement that local law enforcement was alerted around 4:45 a.m. and took possession of the 9 mm Smith & Wesson M&P Shield that was loaded with seven rounds of ammunition.

The 51-year-old pilot, whose name was not released, was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon. Officials at St. Louis Lambert International Airport said charges were pending through St. Louis County.

A spokesman in the prosecutors office said no criminal charges had been filed by early Wednesday afternoon. Individuals who bring firearms to an airport checkpoint can face civil penalties of up to $12,000, the TSA said.

Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Melissa Ford said the pilot was scheduled to work Flight 1106 to Las Vegas as the first officer or co-pilot. The flight was delayed 45 minutes.

Reno art teacher named Nevada teacher of year

RENO (AP)  An art teacher at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno has been Nevadas 2018 Teacher of the Year.

The state Department of Education announced Wednesday that 18-year teaching veteran Pilar Biller is now in the running for national teacher of the year.

Damonte Ranch Principal Darvel Bell says Biller is a passionate art teacher who works incredibly well with children at all levels. Plus, he says the kids love being in her classes.

Other finalists included Katherine Kareck, a math teacher at Reed High in Sparks; Aaron Grossman, a fifth-grade teacher at Renos Gomm Elementary; Mark Leamy, a music teacher at Doral Academy charter school in Las Vegas; and Rachel Leach, a sixth-grade teacher at Silver Stage Middle School in Lyon County.

Pedestrian killed on I-80 east of Fernley

FERNLEY (AP)  The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian on U.S. Interstate 80 in Churchill County about 60 miles east of Reno.

The patrol says the collision between a vehicle and pedestrian was reported just before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday west of the Jessup exit about 30 miles east of Fernley.

Both eastbound lanes of the rural interstate were temporarily closed near Mile Marker 75 but had reopened by Wednesday morning.

No other details have been released. The investigation is continuing.

Officials link Legionnaires disease to hotel

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Las Vegas area health officials have confirmed seven cases of Legionnaires disease with 29 more cases suspected after an outbreak was reported at the Rio Las Vegas Hotel and Casino five months ago.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Southern Nevada Health District officials say testing and monitoring of the hotels water system is continuing, and recent tests show low to no presence of the bacteria.

An investigation began in June after two guests who stayed at the hotel on separate occasions tested positive for the disease that presents as pneumonia. Other reports trickled in as guests left Las Vegas and were diagnosed in their hometowns.

A health district report from last month also identified 56 suspected cases of Pontiac fever, a milder illness caused by the same bacteria.
HOUSTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Libya's National Oil Corp plans to open a U.S. procurement office, its first international facility since a 2011 revolt left the country in disarray, to expand suppliers and convince the Trump administration to support its oil sector.

Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of the state-run energy company, said on Wednesday that NOC and its partners will spend about $20 billion over the next three years to restore output crippled by the nation's political divides. A Houston office will open to begin building its roster of U.S. equipment and services suppliers, he said.

"It is very important to us," Sanalla said in a telephone interview from Washington. The procurement office "will be fully functional in January," he added.

NOC still faces significant hurdles to replace and repair aging and damaged infrastructure. Production partners including Italy's ENI , Spain's Repsol and France's Total SA are financing expansion through oil-sharing contracts, he said. NOC also can borrow to finance the rebuilding.

"We hope to secure new investment. We hope a political solution will be reached," Sanalla said while on a visit to Washington, where he is holding meetings with U.S. officials. He said he hopes to meet on Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to seek U.S. support for the country's oil sector.

There are still hurdles to the energy effort. The United Nations-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli lacks control in eastern areas, and has yet to enact a law governing petroleum production, though a draft is under way.

The OPEC-member country last month produced just under 1 million barrels per day (bpd) and earlier set a target to reach 1.25 million bpd this year, a goal thwarted by port and field blockades.

Sanalla declined to say if that production target remains for the near term, calling the issue new investment. "We will be on a good track to achieve that," he said of expansion agreements.

Libya was producing 1.6 million bpd prior to the revolt that killed strongman Muammar Gaddafi six years ago.

This year, U.S. oilfield services supplier Schlumberger NV returned to the country after a three-year absence. The service arms of Total, ENI and others are working in the country's oilfields, he said.

The new office "puts America's world-class equipment manufacturers and oilfield service providers at the center of our procurement strategy," he said. "Nobody should underestimate what an important strategic choice this is for us."

(Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
MANILA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Philippine Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said on Thursday the government is optimistic it will meet its economic growth target of 6.5-7.5 percent for this year. The Philippine economy, one of the fastest growing in Asia, expanded by a quicker than forecast 6.9 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier. "We are on track to meeting the full-year target range," Pernia told a media briefing.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Writing by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Sam Holmes)

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.
HANOI, Nov 16 (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 0412 GMT.

November 16 USD/VND mid-point 22,449 USD/VND interbank 22,709/22,710 USD/VND unofficial 22,750/22,770 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.36/36.58

Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.8-1.6

1 week 0.8-1.7

1 month 1.7-2.0

3 months 3.9-4.7

NOTES: The State Bank of Vietnam began setting the mid-point rate on daily basis as of Jan. 4, 2016, 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)
ISTANBUL, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Here are news, reports and events that may affect Turkish financial markets on Thursday.

The lira stood at 3.8830 against the U.S. dollar at 0452 GMT, easing from a close of 3.8799 on Wednesday.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was at 12.33 percent in spot trade on Wednesday and rose to 12.34 percent in Thursday-dated trade.

The main BIST 100 share index fell 2.21 percent to 107,716.51 points on Wednesday.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian shares got off to a cautious start on Thursday after Wall Street stumbled despite upbeat U.S. economic news and the Treasury yield curve hit its flattest in a decade as investors priced in more U.S. rate hikes. Concerns over the prospects for a massive U.S. tax cut also showed no sign of abating as two Republican lawmakers on Wednesday criticised the Senate's latest proposal. GOLD TRADER ZARRAB

Turkey has sent a note to U.S. authorities inquiring about the condition of gold trader Reza Zarrab, held in the United States awaiting trial on charges of evading U.S. sanctions on Iran, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said on Wednesday. A spokesman for Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim in Manhattan said on Monday that Zarrab remained in federal custody. ERDOGAN

President Tayyip Erdogan will meet a delegation from a Libyan foreign affairs and international cooperation commission (1000 GMT). He will also meet Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (1430 GMT) and Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil (1700 GMT).

FOREIGN MINISTER

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will meet his Lebanese counterpart.

YILDIRIM

Prime Minister Yildirim will attend a traffic security symposium (0800 GMT) and a foundation-laying ceremony for education premises in Ankara (1000 GMT).

For other related news, double click on:

Turkish politics Turkish equities Turkish money Turkish debt Turkish hot stocks Forex news All emerging market news All Turkish news For real-time quotes, double click on:

Istanbul National-100 stock index , interbank lira trading , lira bond trading (Writing by Daren Butler)
* First-ever FX swap with Canada

* Deal has no cap, no expiration date

(Updates with finance minister's press conference, background)

By Christine Kim

SEOUL, Nov 16 (Reuters) - South Korea and Canada have signed a standing bilateral currency swap agreement that will allow both countries to provide liquidity for the counterparty to support domestic financial stability, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday.

The agreement, effective immediately, will enable the Bank of Canada to provide Canadian dollars to South Korean financial institutions and for the South Korean central bank to provide Korean won to financial institutions in Canada, the BOK statement said.

It is the first currency swap agreement to be signed between the two countries and it has no limit on liquidity provisions and no expiration date.

"It is meaningful we have acquired the strongest ever safety net that can be used in various possible crises," Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon told a media briefing.

South Korea has accumulated a number of currency swap agreements after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis to bolster its financial buffers against possible external shocks, including the latest extension of its pre-existing swap agreement with China. A finance ministry official told Reuters the Canada deal had been negotiated "for months".

Meanwhile, Canada has similar standing swap agreements with six other countries, which include the United States and China.

(Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by James Dalgleish)
* Minimal impact from Typhoon Damrey in Vietnam

* Indonesia premium rises to $60-$70/T from $50 - trader

By Mai Nguyen

HANOI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Output of good quality coffee beans in Vietnam, the world's No. 2 producer, is expected to be strong due to favourable weather conditions, while depleted stocks in rival Indonesia have kept premiums there high, traders said on Thursday.

Typhoon Damrey, Vietnam's deadliest storm so far this year, flooded some areas last week in the country's coffee belt region of Central Highlands, but only had a minimal impact on the 2017/2018 crop, traders and farmers said.

Most traders expect good quality beans from the new Vietnamese coffee crop after the rains, and the current sunny weather should allow farmers to harvest and dry the beans.

Traders said farmers in Daklak were offering coffee beans at 38,800-39,400 dong ($1.71-$1.73) per kg, compared with 39,000-39,500 dong a week earlier.

Vietnam's 5-percent black and broken grade 2 robusta were traded at a discount of $30-$50 per tonne to the ICE January 2018 futures contract , traders said, adding some deals were sealed based on the March contract instead.

Demand has started to pick up as buyers sought to secure contracts amid rising supply at the beginning of the harvest season.

In Indonesia, the grade 4 defect 80 robusta beans traded at a premium of $60-$70 a tonne to the January contract, rising from a $50 premium a week ago amid low stocks, a trader said. ($1 = 22,709 dong)

(Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Additional reporting by Mas Alina Arifin in Bandar Lampung; Editing by Manolo Serapio Jr.)
BRASILIA/SAO PAULO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Brazil may free up around 7 billion reais ($2.1 billion) in government spending in 2017 on the heels of a recent upswing in tax collecting, two government sources told Reuters on Thursday. The final figure is still under discussion and may change before publication, the sources said. ($1 = 3.28 reais)

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres and Patricia Duarte; Writing by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

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.
TORONTO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Canada sold C$500 million of its ultra-long bonds at a 2.251 percent allotment yield, the Bank of Canada said after an auction on Thursday.

The yield was 4 basis points below where the yield on Canada's 30-year benchmark was trading just before the auction. There were C$1.3637 billion of bids, lifting the bid-to-cover ratio to 2.73 from 2.72 at the last reopening of the bonds in August.

After Thursday's auction, C$4.75 billion has been issued of the 2.75 percent bonds, which mature on Dec. 1, 2064. They were first sold in April 2014.

(Reporting by Fergal Smith)
MILAN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The board of Banca Carige has suspended an extraordinary meeting called after the Italian lender failed to secure backing from banks on a vital cash call and will resume it in the evening, a source close to the matter said.

Carige said earlier on Thursday it had been unable to finalise an accord with Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Barclays over a commitment to take on any unsold shares in its 560 million euro stock issue. The source said the goal was now to seek to widen the consortium. The three banks were not immediately available for comment.

Separately, Italy's stock exchange said it had extended the suspension of trading in Carige's shares until markets closed.

(Reporting by Andrea Mandala and Valentina Za, editing by Francesca Landini)
* Profit-taking after euro rally mostly helps CEE currencies

* Budapest leads stock rebound on MOL, upgraded by S&P

* Leu remains under pressure from politics, overheating fears

* Croatia starts marketing 2030-expiry euro bonds

By Sandor Peto

BUDAPEST, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Central European currencies and equities mostly firmed on Thursday on relief that the past week's global stocks sell-off had not continued in Asia overnight, indicating less risk aversion.

Regional currencies were also buoyed by profit-taking on euro buying positions built after Tuesday's upbeat economic output data boosted the euro.

The crown and the zloty firmed 0.3 percent against the euro by 0929 GMT. The forint gained 0.1 percent.

Equities mostly rebounded after Wednesday's plunge.

Budapest's index led, rising 1.1 percent, driven by 2.5 percent rise in oil group MOL after Standard & Poor's upgraded the company's debt rating to 'BBB-' from 'BB+'.

Warsaw's bluechip index rebounded from Wednesday's three-month lows.

"This strengthening is simply because the recent sell-off did not continue in Asia," one Budapest-based currency dealer said. "Also the euro had strengthened a lot, and there is a correction now. Markets are calming down... until the next U.S. economic figures."

Czech central bank (CNB) Governor Jiri Rusnok was quoted on Thursday as saying that the economy was growing faster than potential. The comments underpinned expectations for further CNB rate increases, after two hikes since August.

The region's main economies released robust third-quarter growth figures on Tuesday, with Czech output rising by 5 percent in annual terms. The surge overshadowed concerns over politics in some Central European countries.

The European Commission on Wednesday voiced fresh concerns over Poland's plans to reform its courts. Judicial reform, which critics say threaten the independence of courts, is also a worry in Romania.

Such concerns, coupled with endless corruption allegations against ruling party officials and worries the economy may be overheating after it grew by 8.8 percent in the third quarter, have weighed on the leu currency and Romanian government bonds.

The leu eased a shade to 4.6336 against the euro, near record lows set after the central bank said last week that it would loosen its grip on the currency.

Romanian government bonds took a pause after a surge in yields in the past week to their highest levels since 2014, with shorter maturities rising more.

The leu could stay between 4.6 and 4.7 in the next weeks, Nordea analyst Natalia Kornela Setlak said in a note.

"However, we do not expect a sharp depreciation of the RON, as the strong economic fundamentals should support the currency to strengthen slightly in the medium-term towards the old, well-known range 4.50-4.60 EUR/RON."

The kuna traded slightly off nine-month highs against the euro. Croatia opened books on a 2030-expiry benchmark euro bond on Thursday. CEE MARKETS SNAPSH AT 1029 CET

OT

CURRENCIES

Latest Previo Daily Change

us

bid close change in

2017 Czech crown 25.560 25.632 +0.28 5.66%

0 0 % Hungary 312.00 312.36 +0.12 -1.02% forint 00 00 % Polish zloty 4.2340 4.2469 +0.30 4.01%

% Romanian leu 4.6336 4.6318 -0.04% -2.13% Croatian 7.5610 7.5550 -0.08% -0.08% kuna Serbian 118.41 118.48 +0.06 4.17% dinar 00 00 % Note: daily calculated previo close 1800 change from us at CET

STOCKS

Latest Previo Daily Change

us

close change in

2017 Prague 1060.7 1052.8 +0.75 +15.1

9 8 % 0% Budapest 39031. 38615. +1.08 +21.9

24 11 % 6% Warsaw 2430.7 2418.9 +0.49 +24.7

1 6 % 8% Bucharest 7704.3 7731.5 -0.35% +8.74

5 4 % Ljubljana 785.99 785.12 +0.11 +9.53

% % Zagreb 1848.4 1847.7 +0.04 -7.34%

1 1 % Belgrade 733.58 733.48 +0.01 +2.26

% % Sofia 668.72 669.04 -0.05% +14.0

3%

BONDS

Yield Yield Spread Daily

(bid) change vs change

Bund in Czech spread Republic 2-year 0.497 0.162 +124b +16bp

ps s 5-year 0.956 0.144 +129b +14bp

ps s 10-year 1.733 -0.008 +134b -2bps

ps Poland 2-year 1.593 -0.008 +234b -1bps

ps 5-year 2.625 0.02 +296b +2bps

ps 10-year 3.454 0.016 +307b +1bps

ps

FORWARD RATE AGREEMENT

3x6 6x9 9x12 3M

interb

ank Czech Rep <PR 0.98 1.14 1.26 0

IBOR=> Hungary <BU 0.08 0.09 0.12 0.03

BOR=> Poland <WI 1.7625 1.835 1.935 1.73

BOR=> Note: FRA are for ask quotes prices ********************************************************* ***** (Additional reporting by Luiza Ilie in Bucharest; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces
By Chen Aizhu and Jessica Jaganathan

BEIJING/SINGAPORE, Nov 16 (Reuters) - China's state-run Zhenhua Oil will supply diesel to Iraqi state-oil marketer SOMO through a term contract for the first time, three industry sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

The Chinese firm will supply 600,000 tonnes out of the 2.37 million tonnes, or about 25 percent, of 500 parts per million (ppm) sulphur diesel sought by SOMO in a tender for January-December 2018 delivery, two of the people said.

Zhenhua, a unit of defence conglomerate China North Industries Group Corp (NORINCO), operates 11 oil and gas exploration and production projects globally including Iraq, according to its website. Zhenhua didn't immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

"(Zhenhua) operates an oil field in Iraq so there is already a close relationship there," one of the people with knowledge of the situation said. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak with media.

Zhenhua is expected to purchase cargoes from traders in Asia, including from Singapore, to supply to Iraq as its affiliated Huajin refinery in northeast China does not have export permits, a second person said.

Years of war, militant attacks and under-investment have forced Iraq to rely on imports for its fuel needs, making it one of the biggest buyers of gasoline and diesel in the region. SOMO could not immediately be reached outside its office hours.

Rounding out the tender, oil traders BB Energy, Litasco - the international marketing and trading arm of Russia's Lukoil - and Lima Energy will also supply about 25 percent each of overall diesel volumes to SOMO, the people said.

Litasco and Lima Energy - a joint venture between Litasco and SOMO - could not immediately be reached for comment. BB Energy did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

Premiums for the diesel cargoes will range from $3.97-4.44 a barrel above benchmark Middle East quotes, one of the people said.

(Reporting by Aizhu Chen in BEIJING and Jessica Jaganathan in SINGAPORE; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
BEIJING, Nov 16 (Reuters) - China will tighten regulations on the use of insurance funds to curb "financial chaos", a senior official at the insurance regulator said on Thursday. Ren Chunsheng, director of Insurance Fund Regulation Department at the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, made the remarks at a finance forum in Beijing.

(Reporting by Shu Zhang and Se Young Lee; Writing by Cheng Fang)

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.
FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - European Central Bank governing council member Ewald Nowotny said on Thursday that legislators and central bankers are discussing whether they should intervene to regulate cryptocurrencies, as China already has done.

Were asking ourselves if legislators or central banks should intervene, as happened in China where they banned (the use of cryptocurrencies) because they consider them fraudulent, Bank of Austrias Nowotny said at a conference in Florence.

Chinese authorities in September ordered Beijing-based cryptocurrency exchanges to stop trading, in a move aimed at limiting financial risks surrounding the highly speculative market that has grown rapidly this year.

However, Nowotny played down the possible risks cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin represent for the wider financial system.

This market is not so large, so it cannot create financial instability, he said, adding that investors needed to understand the product.

It is like buying shares on the bourse ... people investing in this product can suffer losses and if that happens, they simply have to accept it, he said.

Underscoring the volatility in the market, Bitcoin lost almost a third of its value in less than four days last week, but has staged a strong recovery this week.

Reporting by Silvia Ognibene; Writing by Steve Scherer; Editing by Crispian Balmer
(Kitco News) - The global silver market will be in a small supply surplus in 2017 after previously posting a deficit for four years in a row, according to the GFMS/Silver Institute interim market review released Wednesday night.

The 2017 surplus was pegged at 32.2 million ounces. In recent years, a supply deficit had narrowed from 136.4 ounces in 2013 to 18.9 million as of 2016.

Johann Wiebe, lead analyst for the GFMS team at Thomson Reuters, presented the report at the annual silver industry dinner hosted in New York City by the Silver Institute. Data for the report is compiled by GFMS.

The silver price averaged $17.13 an ounce for the year through Nov. 10, compared to $17.23 for the same period last year, the consultancy said. For the full year, GFMS predicted an average of $17.13, only a penny less than $17.14 in 2016.

Total silver supply is forecast to be roughly flat in 2017 at 1 billion ounces, as slightly higher scrap supply and a drop in net de-hedging are expected to offset lower mine production, the report said. Global mine output is on pace to reach 869.7 million ounces this year, which would be a year-on-year drop of 2%. This reflects lower production in the first half of the year, with steep declines in Chile and Australia, GFMS said. Still, 2017 global production is forecast to be just 3% below the 2015 record.

After five consecutive years of declines, global scrap supply is forecast to rise 1% this year to 141.6 million ounces, driven largely by higher Asia flows. GFMS attributed this to improved industrial-fabrication demand that generated higher volumes of fabrication waste.

Meanwhile, total physical demand is forecast to drop by 5% in 2017 to 976.1 million ounces, led by a sharp fall in retail investment, although an upturn in silverware demand and a modest recovery in jewelry and industrial fabrication should help to offset some of that decline, the report said.



Industrial fabrication is forecast to rise by 3% this year to 581.4 million ounces, the report said. This follows a modest year-on-year decline in 2016. The improvement this year is the result of gains in demand for silver from the solar industry and modest increases for electronics and brazing alloys and solders, GFMS said.

The demand from the solar industry is forecast to increase by 20% in 2017 to nearly 92 million ounces. Worldwide solar cell production increased to 96,460 megawatts, driven largely by a strong rise in solar cell production in China, up by 27% year-on-year to 71,400 MW, following a 37% year-on-year increase the previous year. Solar-panel installations in China jumped by more than 50% from 2016, boosted by subsidy policies implemented by regional governments, GFMS said.

Demand for silver coins and bars is forecast to drop by a 37% year-on-year to 130.1 million ounces, generally hurt by an appetite for riskier assets as stock markets rose, the report said.

However, jewelry fabrication is expected to recover 1% to 207.1 million ounces. Asian demand has eased, largely due to lower offtake in China, although this has been partly offset by stronger demand in India, the report said. Meanwhile, North American jewelry demand is expected to rebound this year on improving economic sentiment.

Silverware fabrication is seen rising by 10% year-on-year to 57.5 million ounces, the report said. The increase is led by a strong uptick in Indian fabrication demand, which should hit a two-year

high of 38.2 million ounces, helped by a good monsoon in the previous year, GFMS said.

Net inflows into exchange-traded products are expected to reach 14.9 million ounces this year, and there also is likely to be an 18.5 million-ounce drop in the global exchange inventory build on a year-to-date basis, the report said. This should take the net balance to 35.8 million ounces, according to data compiled by GFMS.
(Adds comments, updates prices)

By Peter Hobson

LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Copper prices dipped on Thursday on persistent worries over Chinese demand, while aluminium rose on expectations that a crackdown on polluting industry in China will cut supply.

Weak economic data this week from China, the world's top consumer of metals, was still pressuring metals, said Julius Baer analyst Carsten Menke.

"All these metal-intensive sectors (in China), such as construction, infrastructure and property, seem to be on a slowdown ... This is a reality check for metals," he said.

Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) funds were weighing on the market with more bearish positions, said Alastair Munro at broker Marex Spectron.

"CTA sell-programs are likely to continue in the short term," he said of the largely computer-driven funds.

COPPER: Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange shed 0.1 percent to $6,769 a tonne by 1550 GMT after touching a one-month low of $6,713 on Wednesday.

STOCKS: Copper inventories in LME-registered warehouses fell by 3,900 tonnes to 251,550 tonnes, continuing a steady decline to the lowest since mid-September and supporting prices. CHINA OUTPUT: Zinc and copper output in China in October jumped to its highest in almost three years. Zinc production rose 3.8 percent year on year to 577,000 tonnes and copper was up 6.3 percent at 781,000 tonnes. CHINA ECONOMY: China's economy cooled further last month, with industrial output, fixed-asset investment and retail sales missing expectations. CHINA RISK: China's financial sector faces bubble risks, a government official said, adding that a property tax might be on the cards in the near future. ALUMINIUM: LME aluminium rose 0.6 percent to $2,120 a tonne, bouncing back from Wednesday's three-month low of $2,068.50. Aluminium prices in October rose to their highest since 2012 on expectations of capacity shutdowns in China.

OUTPUT CUTS: China Hongqiao Group said it closed enough smelting pots to comply with output restrictions, but a source said it was looking at moving recently shuttered illegal smelting capacity overseas, mainly to Indonesia. OVERSUPPLY: "Relocating production capacities (from China) would contribute in the longer term to an oversupply of the global aluminium market," Commerzbank analysts said.

STOCKS: Julius Baer's Menke said inventories in China had risen in recent weeks despite capacity closures. "If there is no major drawdown on the inventory side, the market will be fast in pricing in some of the disappointment," he said.

CHINALCO: A unit of Chinese aluminium company Chinalco plans to start producing bauxite in the West African nation of Guinea this year or early 2018, a company executive said. PRICES: LME nickel slid 1.3 percent to $11,535 a tonne, zinc fell 0.2 percent to $3,145, lead dropped 0.6 percent to $2,422 after touching its lowest since Oct. 31 at $2,411 while tin was up 0.6 percent at $19,460.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Top base and precious metals analysis - GFMS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Melanie Burton in Melbourne and Eric Onstad in London; Editing by Edmund Blair and David Goodman)
DUBAI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets may be soft on Thursday after a slide by Saudi Arabia's bourse on Wednesday raised doubts over the extent to which state-linked funds are still willing to support that market.

Since the announcement of the Saudi anti-corruption probe at the end of last week, state-linked funds have been buying stocks towards the close each day to prevent Riyadh's market from falling significantly, asset managers say - until Wednesday, when the funds' activity appeared to decrease and the index finished 1.0 percent lower.

This has raised concern that the market could be vulnerable to continued selling by individual investors alarmed by the probe and its possible impact in slowing the economy.

Qatar hit a new six-year low on Wednesday amid concern about real estate company Ezdan Holding , which Standard & Poor's cut by two notches to junk status earlier this week. Ezdan plunged a further 6.5 percent on Wednesday and has lost 52 percent this year.

In Dubai, Emaar Properties is expected to announce the final pricing of its development unit's initial public offer after order books closed on Wednesday.

A fund manager, who asked not to be named, said bookrunners had increased the lower end of the price range to 6.03 dirhams a share from the original 5.70 dirhams, suggesting strong demand. The original range was 5.70-6.90 dirhams per share.

In international markets, Brent oil futures are 11 U.S. cents higher at $61.98 a barrel while Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan have added 0.6 percent.

(Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar; Reporting by Andrew Torchia)
OSLO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund's proposal to remove oil and gas stocks from its benchmark index is a good idea, two centrist opposition parties said on Thursday.

The Christian Democratic Party said in a statement it gave "full support" to the proposal, while the Liberal Party told Reuters it was "good advice".

Liberal spokesman Terje Breivik added that the party had not formally decided its position on the proposal.

The right-wing government rules in a minority and relies on the Liberals and the Christian Democrats to win majorities for its policies. The government will conclude its own view on the proposal in the autumn of 2018.

(Reporting by Ole Petter Skonnord, writing by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche)
OSLO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The recent large swings in the value of the Norwegian crown currency do not appear to be caused by specific domestic factors, deputy central bank Governor Jon Nicolaisen told Reuters on Thursday.

"It's probably tied to a whole range of other moves that don't necessarily have anything to do with Norwegian factors. Risk pricing, the stock market and all sorts of other things," he said on the sidelines of a business conference.

"It could be temporary, but it doesn't have to be," Nicolaisen added.

The crown hit three-year lows against the euro on Wednesday but have since partly recovered, trading about 1.5 percent stronger.

(Reporting by Joachim Dagenborg, writing by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche)
DUBAI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - There has been no big outflow of money from Saudi Arabia as a result of the sweeping anti-corruption crackdown that was announced two weeks ago, central bank governor Ahmed al-Kholifey told CNN television on Thursday. "We see some increase, but it's not that much," he said, adding that the increase was in the form of corporate transfers of money, and that large amounts of money were not being transferred out of the country by individuals.

(Reporting by Andrew Torchia)

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.
BELGRADE, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Serbia will issue its first savings bonds next week, the Serbian debt agency announced on Thursday, in an effort to bolster the country's domestic debt market.

The tax-free savings bonds will be issued in both dinars and euros, the preferred foreign currency, and will mature in two to 10 years, the agency said in a statement on its Web site. A total of 12 billion dinars and 80 million euros worth of bonds will be issued.

"The savings bonds represent an affordable financial instrument which requires a minimal investment of 2,000 dinars ($19.92) for dinar-denominated bonds or 100 euros ($117.72) for euro-denominated savings bonds," it said.

The dinar bonds are set to yield from 4 to 6.25 percent, the euro bonds from 1 to 4 percent. They will carry coupons of 3 to 5.5 percent for dinars and 0.5 to 2.75 percent for euros, depending on the maturity date.

A single investor will be allowed to purchase, per issue, up to 5,000 dinar-denominated bonds with a total value of 10 million dinars and up to 500 euro-denominated savings bonds worth a total of 50,000 euros.

They will be available for purchase at the state-owned Postanska Stedionica bank between Nov. 20 and Dec. 1. Their release is set for Dec 27.

($1 = 0.8495 euros)

($1 = 100.4100 Serbian dinars)

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Larry King)
LJUBLJANA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The situation in the Slovenian banking system is good, Bank of Slovenia Governor Bostjan Jazbec told an investment conference on Thursday, four years after the country narrowly avoided an international bailout for its banks.

"The situation is good and is still improving which has also been acknowledged by international institutions," said Jazbec, who also sits on the ECB governing council.

He said the amount of bank loans to companies is rising this year after falling in the previous seven years.

He added that rising investment was a key element that would stimulate further economic growth and macroeconomic conditions were favourable for state and private investment.

"The Bank of Slovenia expects high investment growth in both parts of the private sector: among households and companies," Jazbec said, giving no details.

In 2013 the government had to pour more than 3 billion euros into local banks in order to prevent their collapse under a large amount of bad loans.

A year later the country returned to economic growth and the government expects GDP growth of about 4.4 percent this year versus 3.1 percent in 2016, boosted by higher exports and investment.

(Reporting By Marja Novak; Editing by Toby Chopra)
MADRID, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Spain issued 4.7 billion euros ($5.5 billion) of debt at a scheduled auction on Thursday, with solid demand for the longest dated 50-year bond and yields down on shortest dated paper as tensions ease over the political crisis in Catalonia.

The Treasury had aimed to sell between 4 billion and 5 billion euros of the four bonds.

The longest dated bond, due July 30, 2066, sold 1.4 billion euros at an average yield of 3.192 percent after selling for 3.249 percent when it last ran in June. The bid-to-cover was 1.5 after 1.3 previously.

The shortest dated bond on offer, due Jan. 31, 2021, sold 1.0 billion euros at an average yield of -0.022 percent and a bid-to-cover ratio, a measure of demand, of 2.6. That compared to a previous yield of 0.043 percent and a bid-to-cover of 1.4 when it last sold mid-October.

The benchmark 10-year, due Oct. 31, 2027, sold 1.2 billion euros at an average yield of 1.536 percent, after selling for 1.457 percent just two weeks ago, and with demand outstripping supply by 1.5 times compared to 1.4 times previously.

The Oct. 31, 2022 bond, sold 973 million euros for 0.363 percent with demand at 2.3 times supply after selling for 0.336 percent at a bid-to-cover of 1.8 at the beginning of November. ($1 = 0.8494 euros)

(Reporting by Paul Day; Editing by Robert Hetz)
STOCKHOLM, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Sweden's central bank bought 1.375 billion crowns ($163.5 million) worth of government bonds in a reverse auction as part of its quantitative easing programme, it said on Thursday. It bought 750 million crowns of 2022 bonds at an average yield of -0.204 percent and 625 million crowns of 2025 bonds at 0.297 percent. Investors offered to sell the Riksbank 2.950 billion crowns and 2.850 billion crowns in the two bonds respectively. ($1 = 8.4091 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Johan Sennero, editing by Anna Ringstrom)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
ZURICH, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Swiss bank Vontobel said it will start trading Switzerland's first two mini futures to short bitcoin on Friday, giving investors a tool to bet against the value of the volatile cryptocurrency or to hedge bitcoin positions.

The launch of the two mini futures on the Swiss stock exchange by the country's second-biggest provider of structured products comes after CME Group Inc , the world's largest derivatives exchange operator, said it will launch a futures contract for bitcoin later this year. When the value of bitcoin falls by 10 percent, the value of the more conservative of the two mini futures rises by almost 6 percent while the other gains almost 10 percent, according to the termsheets Vontobel published on Thursday.

The value of bitcoin has fluctuated wildly this month, plunging as much as 29 percent last week from its Nov. 8 record high of $7,888 and then recovering more than a third of its value in the last four days.

For the year, it is up more than 600 percent - a meteoric rise that has prompted many to warn that bitcoin has become a bubble that could be set to burst.

Mini futures are derivative instruments combining features of futures and options and tradable for considerably less than regular futures contracts.

The cryptocurrency remains a "speculative" investment that thrives because of its anonymous nature, BlackRock Inc Chief Executive Larry Fink said on Monday. It has drawn scepticism from several senior bankers, including JP Morgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, who called bitcoin a fraud and said he would fire any traders at his bank who touched bitcoin.

However, the CEOs of Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley said the cryptocurrency could be worth considering. ($1 = 0.9915 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Joshua Franklin and Oliver Hirt; Additional reporting by Jemima Kelly in LONDON; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
ZURICH, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks on Thursday:

ZURICH INSURANCE Chief Executive Mario Greco on Wednesday played down the chances that the Swiss insurer will buy rivals to gain new customers and said the company sees "lots of organic opportunities". For more news, click on EFG EFG International said it had brought in net inflows of 0.5 billion Swiss francs ($505.61 million) from July through end-October, the first time the Swiss private bank's overall incoming money turned positive since it bought BSI bank in early 2016. For more news, click on CREDIT SUISSE The bank is closing Anteil Capital Partners, a unit set up to take minority stakes in hedge fund firms, Bloomberg reported. For more news, click on COMPANY STATEMENTS [CPR-CH}

* Kuros Biosciences staid it was promoting Joost de Bruijn to Chief Executive Officer, effective December 4, 2017. * Valiant Holding said it has raised 250 million Swiss francs after placing a triple A-covered bond. * Evolva said it was working with Northumbria University's Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre in the UK for the study of Veri-te resveratrol. * Varia US Properties said it will ask its shareholders to increase its capital by up to 1.8 million new shares in order to expand its portfolio in the United States. ECONOMY * SNB board member Andrea Maechler speaks at an event in Geneva at 1700 GMT

($1 = 0.9894 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Zurich newsroom)

Daily Swiss stock market report in German................ All SMI constituent stocks............................ News on major Swiss stock price moves.................. FTSE Eurotop 300 index................................ DJ STOXX index........................................ Top 10 STOXX sectors............................. Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors........................ Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors....................... Top 25 European pct gainers... , losers... Swiss mid-cap index SMI futures Swiss all-share index Market statistics Swiss market digest Sector overview All Swiss news Swiss research news All equity news INTERNET ADDRESSES: Swiss Exchange / Eurex STOXX Ltd SPEED GUIDES: ))

Keywords: MARKETS SWISS STOCKS/
ISTANBUL, Nov 16 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities told Turkey that Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab, arrested in the United States, was moved to a different location and is in good medical condition, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

Cavusoglu said U.S. authorities had not replied to a first diplomatic note from Turkey, but responded to a second note sent on Wednesday inquiring about Zarrab's condition after the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons website showed that Zarrab had been released last week and his lawyers said they had not heard from their client in five days.

Zarrab is being held in the United States awaiting trial on charges of evading U.S. sanctions on Iran. He has pleaded not guilty.

Cavusoglu also said that he does not believe the Turkish lender Halkbank had violated U.S. sanctions on Iran. Halkbank's former Deputy General Manager Mehmet Hakan Atilla is also detained in the U.S. awaiting trial on the same charges as Zarrab. He has pleaded not guilty.

(Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Jon Boyle)
(Adds more comments by Villeroy.)

AMSTERDAM, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Euro zone countries need to strengthen their fund aimed at preventing state bail-outs of failing banks, the head of the French central bank said on Thursday.

"The case of the Italian banks has illustrated just how complex it is to combine the resolution regime with the state- aid framework", Francois Villeroy de Galhau said in Amsterdam.

Earlier this year, the Italian government used state aid to save ailing bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena and to wind down two regional banks, despite European rules intended to prevent the use of taxpayer money to rescue banks.

The EU has set up a bank-financed rescue fund for failing lenders, the Single Resolution Fund (SRF), but its 17 billion- euro ($20 billion) is considered too small to deal with a large financial crisis.

"Confidence in the Single Resolution Fund and its capacity to intervene has to be bolstered", Villeroy said. A common backstop to increase the firepower of the fund, as proposed by the European Commission is "a promising avenue", he said.

Different authorities responsible for the European banking sector, such as the European Central Bank, the Single Resolution Mechanism and the European Banking Authority, should better coordinate their roles, Villeroy said, to have a clearer "pilot in the plane" in times of crisis.

"At a later stage, we should even consider establishing a single banking authority for our single banking union, acting to bolster the robustness of the European banking sector."

MONETARY POLICY

Villeroy also said the ECB will follow a gradual path to normalisation of monetary policy, decreasing the emphasis on its 2.55 trillion-euro bond-buying programme as it unwinds its crisis-era stimulus, the head of the French central bank said on Thursday.

"We will clearly follow this path of gradual normalisation, with caution but combining the whole range of our instruments - and there shouldn't be excessive focus on the net purchases of assets," the central bank president, a member of the ECB's rate- setting Governing Council, said.

"But monetary policy cannot be the only game in town, and therefore we should not overburden it," he said, just weeks after the ECB agreed to halve its asset purchases from the start of next year in light of improved economic growth.

($1 = 0.8498 euros)

(Reporting by Bart H. Meijer; Writing by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Gareth Jones, Larry King)
* Eurobank reports Q3 net profit of 61 mln euros

* Bank slips to 15 mln loss after discontinued operations

* NPLs are 35.2 pct of book in Q3, from 35.3 in Q2

(Adds details, quote)

ATHENS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Eurobank made a 61 million euro ($71.8 million) net profit in the third quarter, up 64 percent from the previous quarter, as provisions for impaired loans remained broadly flat, Greece's third-largest lender by assets said on Thursday.

But it slipped to a loss of 15 million euros after taking account of one-off expenses related to discontinued operations and restructuring costs from a planned disposal of assets in Romania.

Eurobank said it is in the final stage of negotiations for the sale of its Romanian subsidiary, Bancpost, which is part of a restructuring plan agreed with European Union authorities. The bank, in which Greek rescue fund HFSF has a 2.4 percent stake, said credit loss provisions fell 2.4 percent quarter-on-quarter to 178 million euros.

It said non-performing loans (NPLs) - based on credit where repayments due have not been made for more than 90 days - stood at 35.2 percent of its book at the end of September, a touch lower than the 35.3 percent in the second quarter.

Lenders have agreed with regulators to cut the level of NPLs by 2019. European Central Bank stress tests of Greek banks, expected to be completed next May, are aimed at uncovering any potential shortage of capital before Greece leaves its 86 billion-euro bailout in August.

"Solving the NPLs and liquidity issues, inherited (from) the long-lasting crisis, is the key for our ability to finance the real economy in an effective manner," said Eurobank Chairman Nikolaos Karamouzis.

Eurobank was focusing on that issue and the quarterly results showed its efforts were bearing fruit, he said.

The non-performing exposures (NPEs) ratio - which includes restructured loans as well as NPLs - was 44.7 percent in the third quarter, down from 45.1 in the second quarter.

Eurobank in October sold a portfolio of 1.5 billion euros of NPLs to Sweden's Intrum, which Eurobank CEO Fokion Karavias said has "a corresponding positive effect" in the reduction of NPEs. The bank said it planned a similar sale to an undisclosed buyer in coming months. ($1 = 0.8493 euros)

(Reporting by Athens newsroom; Editing by Adrian Croft)
(Updates throughout after court proceeding)

NEW YORK/ANKARA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. judge presiding over the trial of a Turkish gold trader accused of evading U.S. sanctions against Iran on Thursday refused to say if the wealthy businessman would be on trial with one of his co-defendants later this month.

U.S. prosecutors have charged the trader, Reza Zarrab, and his alleged co-conspirators of handling hundreds of millions of dollars for Iran's government and Iranian entities from 2010 to 2015, in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions.

Nine people have been criminally charged, but only Zarrab and a banker from Turkey's Halkbank , Mehmet Hakan Atilla, are in U.S. custody. Both deny the charges.

The case has complicated relations between the United States and Turkey, both members of the NATO military alliance.

While the two are due to go on trial on Nov.27, Zarrab has not appeared in court or submitted any filings since September, sparking speculation in Turkish media that he has reached an agreement with U.S. authorities.

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman refused to say whether Zarrab would be on trial alongside Atilla when asked by Victor Rocco, one of Atilla's lawyers, at a court hearing on Thursday.

"The one perk that comes with being a judge is you don't have to answer questions as witnesses and lawyers do," Berman said.

Rocco told reporters after the hearing that he expected to know more about Zarrab in the next few days.

U.S. prosecutors have alleged that Zarrab, a dual Turkish and Iranian citizen, sought support from and invoked the name of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to advance his business.

Erdogan has not been accused of wrongdoing. The president has accused U.S. prosecutors of having "ulterior motives" by including references to him and his wife in court papers. U.S. authorities informed Turkey that Zarrab had been moved to a different location and was in good medical condition, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier on Thursday.

They responded after Turkey sent two diplomatic notes to ask about Zarrab's condition after the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons website showed Zarrab had been released last week and his lawyers said they had not heard from their client in five days.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson and Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen and David Dolan; Editing by Jon Boyle)
CARACAS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Venezuela has selected a little-known, Dutch-registered company for a new joint venture at the Junin 10 oil block in its Orinoco Belt region, according to a decree published on Thursday.

Stichting Administratiekantoor Inversiones Petroleras Iberoamericanas will have a 40 percent participation in the project, the official government gazette said, without giving any financial details of the deal.

Majority partner and state oil company PDVSA believes the block has the potential to produce 200,000 barrels per day.

PDVSA in the past has rejected offers by Norway's Statoil and France's Total SA to partner at Junin 10.

The Oil Ministry decree said President Nicolas Maduro's council of ministers had approved the new partner and new joint venture, to be called Petrosur.

Such deals would normally be tendered and formerly required approval by Venezuela's National Assembly.

But since the assembly has been in opposition hands after a December 2015 election, the government has bypassed it.

The pro-Maduro Supreme Court has ruled the government can now choose oil sector partners directly, outraging the opposition, which says the sector is riddled with corruption.

Reuters was unable to contact the Dutch-based company.

The Orinoco Belt in southern Venezuela holds one of the largest oil reserves in the world, mainly extra-heavy crude.

(Reporting by Eyanir Chinea; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

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Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

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Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

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STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

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Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces
Singapore Ambassador H.E. Yip Wei Kiat, second from left, and Korean movie director Kim Han-min, center, pose during the special screening event at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Embassy of the Republic of Singapore



By You Soo-sun



The Singapore Embassy in Seoul hosted a film screening event at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Wednesday.

The event, held jointly with the Seoul/Singapore Open Media Art Festival, was organized to showcase movies and introduce the Singapore art scene to Korean audiences.

Diplomats, educators, cultural critics and Singaporean artists participated in the event, according to the Singapore Embassy.

A collection of short Singaporean films, "7 Letters," was presented, consisting of seven short films made by renowned Singaporean film producers with the support of Singapore's Info-communications Media Development Authority.

The collection was created in 2015 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the country's independence, according to the Singapore Embassy.

Each of the seven films touched upon subjects of love, tradition, culture and identity.

K. Rajagopal's "The Flame" for example, focuses on a historical moment that awakened a sense of national identity in Singapore. Drawing from his own experience, Rajagopal depicts a conflict that arises in a family when one member is offered British citizenship right before the U.K. military withdrawal from Singapore.

"Parting," by Boo Junfeng, was shot inside the Tanjong Pagar train station, which served as the main gateway between Singapore and Malaysia for 90 years. Here, an elderly Malaysian crosses the border into Singapore in search of his first love, illuminating both love and history of the period.
Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Lee Ju-yeol, left, shakes hand with Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz after agreeing to a standing currency swap at the Canadian central bank office in Ottawa, Thursday. Courtesy of BOK



By Park Hyong-ki



Korea is expected to pursue more currency swap deals with advanced economies not only to boost its buffer against crises but also global confidence in the won.



This comes as the Bank of Korea (BOK) sealed a standing swap deal with the Bank of Canada Thursday.



Unlike other deals, this does not have an expiration date and a limit on how much they can provide their respective currencies to one another, whenever should "the need arise," as long as it is for the stability of their financial markets.



Given that Asia's fourth largest economy did not have any swap deals with developed economies until this one with Canada, BOK Deputy Governor Kim Min-ho said more deals with such countries would be "positive."



Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon told reporters that the country has secured a "strong safety net."



The Korean central bank also called this agreement the most notable one since it sealed a swap with the United States in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis, noting that the Canadian dollar is one of the key six global currencies.



Besides Canada, the U.S., the European Union, the U.K., Switzerland and Japan hold the global currency power.



The BOK could try to seek a deal with the European countries.



It was unable to extend swaps with advanced economies such as the U.S. and Japan due to economic and political reasons.



The Canadian dollar-Korean won swap follows the hard-earned extension with the Chinese yuan amid a diplomatic row between Seoul and Beijing.



Korea and China managed to extend the $56 billion swap without fanfare.



Korea also has swaps with Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is currently negotiating with the United Arab Emirates for an extension.



The country has been ratcheting up its foreign exchange reserves and swap deals since the global financial crisis in 2008 to bolster its defense against external shocks and crises.






An aerial view of the hotel/ Courtesy of Le Meridien Seoul



By Kim Se-jeong

Artistic interiors and exteriors define Le Meridien Seoul, a life-style hotel brand under Marriott International's chain of hotels. The hotel has promoted this central feature starting from its constructions.

Le Meridien Seoul's 19-floor building is like a big art gallery that also provides accommodation.

From top: The hotel lobby decorated with "Bloom," a blue paper artwork using "hanji," Korean traditional paper; Installation art "Jip+Jeok" by Yang Min-ha outside the hotel lobby; and Buffet restaurant Chef's Palette

Among the countless paintings decorating the hallways and walls of the hotel rooms and restaurants and sculptures at the lobby 13 contemporary works stand out.

"Bloom," an installation by Kim Hee-kyung using "hanji," or traditional Korean paper, greets guests, while "Moby Dick" series by Frank Stella decorates the corridor that leads to M Contemporary, an art exhibition space on the first floor of the hotel.

M Contemporary current features the works of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, a Hungarian-born architect and artist, and those of Korean artists inspired by him, and later this month, it will hold a new exhibition featuring pop artists including Andy Warhol. The art exhibition space which is open to hotel guests and the general public, aims to raise the hotel's brand value and to entertain and inform the public.

Le Meridien Seoul opened in a renovated building that had hosted the Ritz-Carlton Seoul for decades. The building's exteriors remain largely the same, although the sculptures and installations outside the building, including the main entrance, creates a new lasting impression to the new hotel's guests.

Rooms

The hotel's 336 rooms are simple and refined, with the pallet of green, blue and lavender. Each room is furnished with a bed, bath and shower, TV, business desk, drawer and safety. The suites additionally have a coffee machine and a sofa. Other room amenities include Wi-Fi, toiletries, cable channel service, laundry service and in-room dining service. Guests can use the hotel's fitness center and indoor swimming pool. Breakfast is included in bookings. Check-in is at 3 p.m., and check-out is at noon.

Dining

Chef's Palette is a signature buffet restaurant that serves all-day dining and breakfast for guests.

The dinner buffet features a combination of Western and Asian cuisines, and features steak, sushi, Korean cuisine, a salad bar and a dessert section. The pepper steak, which is offered for dinner, is a favorite among guests for its tender beef.

At Elements and LAB XXIV, guests can enjoy edible art developed by Edward Kwon, a star chef in Korea, who features oriental cuisine and French cuisine. LAB XXIV made its name onto the 2017 Michelin Guide Seoul earlier this year.

Other amenities

Le Meridien's banquet halls also reflect the hotel's artistic spirit: each of the four banquet halls are named after famous painters  Leonardo da Vinci, Paul Cezanne, Marc Chagall and Claude Monet. The banquet halls are outfitted with projectors, screens and other visual equipment. The Da Vinci Room can accommodate up to 500 guests at once.

The hotel's fitness center and indoor swimming pool are open to all both guests and to non-guest members. The hotel's spa services are available to both guests and non-guests at reasonable prices.

Surroundings and location

Le Meridien Seoul is located in the bustling district of southern Seoul. Bongeun Buddhist Temple, which is within walking distance, can be visited by guests who want to get a feel of a Korean Buddhist temple, while COEX Mall, which is also nearby, can be visited by guests who want to experience an upscale shopping mall and enjoy their time.

Guests can also enjoy the views of the nearby Han River and appreciate the artworks at the nearby LG Arts Center and Seoul Arts Center.

The hotel is conveniently located near public transportation, including Shinnonnyun Station on Subway Line No. 9, which is a five-minute walk away, as well as to bus stations.

Buses and shuttles can take guests from the hotel to major airports near Seoul and other major tourist attractions.

For more information and reservations, visit www.lemeridienseoul.com or call (02) 3451-8000.




Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, chairman of the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah Book Authority and director of the Sharja International Book Fair, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times on Nov. 10 at the Expo Center Sharja in the United Arab Emirates. / Korea Times
Written by Choi Eun-young

Following is an excerpt from the translation by Olan Munson and Oh Eun-kyung

We moved back to Germany in January of 1995. Only a year had passed since our return to Korea after having lived in Berlin from 92 to 93. We flew into a place called Plauen, a small city which had been part of East Germany until five years earlier. The abandoned buildings, the bleak park, the men sitting at the tram stop, reeking of alcohol _ it was far from the Germany I had once known.

The day Mr. Ho first invited us to dinner, Mom pulled out and ironed a beautiful two-piece dress that she didn't usually wear and prettied herself with makeup. She undid my hair, which was pulled back into a high ponytail, and fastened it into a tight French braid before taking out the black corduroy dress I wore to weddings. She dressed my two-year-old sister in new clothes, too. It had been a long time since I had seen my mom wearing makeup, and my young self thought she looked gorgeous. Mom checked her reflection several times in the building windows we passed by. It was a happy nervousness, it seemed. This was our first invitation to someone else's home since moving to Plauen three months earlier.

"Xin chao."

Mom used the Vietnamese word for hello' that she had memorized to greet Mrs. Nguyen, who stepped out of the front door to meet us. Mrs. Nguyen laughed warmly when I followed my mom's lead with a "Xin chao" of my own, and she welcomed us in as if we were long-lost old friends. Mr. Ho was in the kitchen. Seeing his ruddy cheeks and his face full of childlike mischief, I liked him right away. Mr. Ho was my dad's co-worker, and once he found out that I had been placed in the same class as his son Thuy, he had invited our family over for dinner.

Mr. Ho's cooking was fresh and comfortable. I don't know if I can exactly call food comfortable,' but I can't quite describe Mr. Ho's food without this word. There was meat stew, slowly simmered with tomatoes, and fragrant white rice, grilled shrimp, sauteed vegetables, fried dumplings which we squeezed lime wedges over. Comfortable' was how it all tasted.

After everyone had finished eating, the adults shared drinks and I followed Thuy over to the bookcase.

"I've been collecting these since I was six." Thuy picked out some books for me, all of them Snoopy comics.

"Wanna read over there?" He pointed at a floor couch. The suede fabric was soft and comfy. I stroked the couch cushion with the back of my hand as I started to read one of the books. Snoopy, fooling around with Woodstock on top of the doghouse, looked just like Thuy. That's how Thuy was at school. He got along with everyone and was always merry. Tall or short, active or introverted _ everyone seemed to like Thuy.

"You look like this guy." Thuy laughed as he pointed at Woodstock. "When I first saw you, I actually thought you were Woodstock!"

For a moment, I thought he was calling me Woodstock because I was short and ugly, but seeing no malice in his ingenuous smile, I couldn't be angry with him.

"I saw you last winter at the weekend flea market," Thuy told me.

"How do you know it was me?"

"I saw you across the street from the park, too. That's where your house is, right??"

"I mean, yeah I guess."

I turned my eyes back to the comic book. I was starting to feel embarrassed about spying at him from the windows of my house. It felt like he somehow knew about how secretly glad I had been when I found out that we were in the same class.

My life in Germany is now hazy, like scenery outside a fogged window. But what I felt during that first visit to Thuy's house, I can recall as clear as day. I remember the way they welcomed us in with open arms, how my mom's face lit up at their gracious hospitality, the warm feeling brought by their acceptance, which had no precondition, the air of two families sharing food in the same space. How the hearts of disparate people can, in this way, join together through goodwill and kindness, I do not know. As an adult who has never managed to properly connect with a single person, I might even consider these past events strange.

Our first summer in Plauen, Mom had some difficulty with the dry weather. Her arms and legs were covered in white, flaky dead skin like a shedding snake, and she said she would wake up several times a night scratching at herself.

"I had the same problem when I first came to Germany. Summers are humid in Korea as well? It's the opposite here, as you know. I used all kinds of lotions, and I still felt dry."

Mrs. Nguyen gave Mom a cream that she had made herself, instructing her to use it every day after she showered, saying it would help with the itchiness. Thanks to Mrs. Nguyen's cream, the rest of the summer went by smoothly for my mom. Mrs. Nguyen always seemed to know what the problem was without us having to say. Even when we needed to call a plumber or discuss some matter with the landlord, she would always come over to take care of things for us. Above all, Mrs. Nguyen provided my mom, shut up at home all day with a two-year-old child stuck to her hip, with company and conversation. Mrs. Nguyen said that Mom reminded her of the days when she had brought up Thuy by herself, that being alone for too long naturally led to being swallowed up in gloomy thoughts, and that Mom could call her whenever she wanted to talk.

We had dinner with Thuy's family at least once a week, alternating between their house and ours. As summer began and the days grew longer, we would meet early Saturday evening and stay together past midnight and into the next Sunday. We ate together, and afterwards, the grown-ups played cards while I did jigsaw puzzles or read comic books with Thuy. I was unaware at the time, but thinking back on it now, it seems that my family and Thuy's didn't have any other close friends apart from each other.

On the days that the adults had a rather lot to drink, they would take turns and sing songs for each other. Mom sang Korean songs, and Mrs. Nguyen and Mr. Ho would sing Vietnamese songs. I remember them bursting into laughter at my mom who would bunglingly try to follow along with a chorus in a language that she couldn't even understand.












By Brother Anthony, Jung Ha-yun, Min Eun-kyung

Brother Anthony, professor emeritus at Sogang University Jung Ha-yun, professor at Ewha Womans University Min Eun-kyung, professor at Seoul National University

First of all, we were very pleasantly surprised by the large number of entries we received this year. The dwindling number of poetry translations in recent years had recently made us fear that fewer people were reading Korean poetry and attempting the difficult task of rendering it into English. This year, however, the number of poetry translations was almost equal to that of fiction translations. We had a bumper crop and this rich harvest is welcome news indeed.

Some years, we find it regrettably easy to weed out the weak translations. The quality of the English language is the usual giveaway: entries showing grammatical mistakes, weak sentence structure, and flat tone make it unfortunately easy for us to set them aside.

This year, though, the standard of English was generally very high. Most of the entries were very readable, evidently prepared by native or near-native writers of English. This meant that we had to compare the translations with the originals very carefully to check their accuracy. We had to listen more attentively to the quality of the voice speaking in the translation. Was the tone right? Did the translation manage to capture the literary style of the original? Was the translation capable of standing on its own right as a literary work? These were the kinds of questions we asked as we read through this year's high-quality translations.

Poetry

Although we ended up spending more time perusing this year's highly competent translations, it was not difficult for us to reach a consensus. In the poetry category, the translations of poems by Hwang In-suk and Ham Min-bok were the most convincing. Whereas many of the poetry translations read prosaically, these translations had found inventive solutions to deal with those elements in the originals that were most recalcitrant to translation.

Korean poetry abounds in syntactic leaps. Indeed, sometimes it is even unclear what the subject of the sentence is. Lines often break off in mid-sentence. Punctuation is sparse. Thus, every translator of such an original needs to offer a strong interpretation. Good translators offer interesting and powerful interpretations of poems.
By Yi Whan-woo



Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for multilateral cooperation on resolving North Korea's nuclear crisis and other global challenges during a security forum in Seoul, Thursday.



"The growing threat of the North Korean nuclear and missile program has become a global security issue that has preoccupied minds near and far," she said in her opening speech during the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Forum 2017 at Grand Hilton Hotel in Hongeun-dong.



"But this is all the more the reason to take a step back and seek a wider and longer-term vision of peace and prosperity in the broader region," she added.



Under the theme, "new challenges and opportunities for multilateral cooperation in Northeast Asia and beyond," the forum was jointly organized by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, which is under the wing of foreign ministry and the Sejong Institute. It will run through Friday.



Kang acknowledged that historical disputes and other conflicts can hamper multilateral cooperation among the Northeast Asian countries. She still said such challenges are the reasons to "explore ways to give new life to multilateralism in the region."



She also said multilateral cooperation is becoming "more relevant and necessary" pointing out that environment, energy security, and cyber space and other transnational issues cannot be resolved unilaterally or bilaterally.



"Against this backdrop, the theme for the forum is truly apt," she added.



Kang said South Korea has been taking three approaches _ holding multilateral discussions on a wide range of subjects, expanding government-to-non government discussions, sustaining link among the discussion participants throughout years online _ to build a platform for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia, South Korea.



"Over the last six months, the new government of Korea has had a very busy agenda on the diplomatic front, and we have undertaken the work with vision, and with a view to generating fresh momentum for multilateral cooperation in this region and beyond," she said.



Kang assessed that President Moon Jae-in's visit to Southeast Asia on the heels of his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump last week was a "clear demonstration" of an endeavor to diversify and deepen Seoul's relations with countries across the regions.




By Rachel Lee



Andong, in North Gyeongsang Province, is showing the way in the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.



And experts in related fields visited the city last week to see what it has done.



Thirty professionals from the public and private sectors in ASEAN countries visited Korean cultural heritage sites in Andong and Seoul as part of the ASEAN-Korea Tourism Development Workshop on Sustainable Tourism for Cultural Heritage Destinations, Nov. 7-9.



Under the theme "Preserving the Past for the Future," the ASEAN-Korea Centre-organized workshop gave them the opportunity to share information on sustainable and cultural heritage tourism with their Korean counterparts. The ASEAN Secretariat and the World Bank co-organized the event.



ASEAN is also one of the regions that has an abundance of unique and diverse cultural assets. But ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Young-sun says there is growing concern over increasing threats to its cultural heritage due to the "lack of appropriate management of cultural properties, natural disasters, climate change, unsustainable tourism use and rapid urbanization."



"Against this backdrop, this workshop aims to provide a useful platform to share ideas and best practices and identify key issues and challenges in preserving cultural heritage sites in ASEAN, thus contributing to sustainable tourism development in the region," Kim said.



The participants, including Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Office, the World Bank and the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, presented their views on sustainable approaches to ASEAN cultural heritage tourism, and transformation of cultural heritage sites into tourist destinations.



Kim and Cambodian Ambassador Long Dimanche were present at the workshop's opening ceremony at the Lotte Hotel Seoul, Nov. 7. There were lectures from experts and country presentations at the workshop.



The visit to Andong, regarded as Korea's successful example of sustainable tourism development, was held on the last day. There the delegates visited Andong Hahoe Folk Village, well known for its traditional houses and home to descendants of the Ryu clan of Pungsan.



ASEAN has also identified sustainable and inclusive tourism as one of its strategic directions under the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025, placing priority on protection and management of heritage sites, the organization said. Contributing to this objective, the ASEAN-Korea Centre has been conducting programs with a focus on sustainable tourism.




Government officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey attend the BTK opening ceremony in Baku, Oct. 30. / Courtesy of Embassy of Azerbaijan





By Rachel Lee

The Embassy of Azerbaijan said the new railway connecting its capital Baku, Georgia's Tbilisi and Turkey's Kars opened on Oct. 30.

The BTK's first train started its service at the New Port of Baku. The presidents of Azerbaijan  Ilham Aliyev  and Turkey  Recep Tayyip Erdogan  with the prime ministers of Georgia, Kazakhstan Uzbekistan and other high-level officials participated at the ceremony and symbolically drove in the final railroad spikes.

"As one of the land routes in the scope of China's One Belt One Road' initiative passes through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, the railway projects being launched in the scope of the Iron Silk Road' have gained significance as they are connecting the regions," the embassy said.

The BTK railway project was initiated in 2005. In 2007, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey met in Tbilisi and signed an agreement to make it a reality.

Ten years later, the 846-kilometer trade route has been commissioned.

The BTK line is expected to make the region an important center on the new Silk Road that begins in the Far East and ends in Western Europe, the embassy said.

"Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan will benefit from a more efficient transit route and other users will profit from a shorter and safer transit route," it said. "Via the BTK, goods will be able to reach Europe heading from South Korea, China and India within 15-20 days at most."

The BTK rail line has capacity for a million passengers and five million tons of cargo a year _ the latter of which is slated to increase to 50 million tons when a parallel track is built soon.

Seventy-nine kilometers of the railway pass through Turkey, 246 kilometers through Georgia and 504 kilometers through Azerbaijan. Financing for the work came from Azerbaijan and Turkey.
By Rachel Lee



Spain is again bringing some of its fine wines to Korea, its third-biggest Asian consumer.



The Spanish Embassy will host a wine tasting under theme "The Landscape of Senses" with 24 selected wineries that have not exported to the local market. It will be held at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Seoul, Nov. 16.



Last year, the embassy introduced produce from some lesser-known regions _ Calatayud, in the south-western corner of Zaragoza Province, and the city of Valencia.



In 2015, Spain exported about 2 million of liters of wine to Korea, valued at $2.35 million, according to the embassy. Imports of wine from Spain to Korea were 8.5 million of liters worth almost $15 million.












By Kim Bo-eun

Students, parents and private academies were taken aback by the education ministry's Wednesday announcement it would delay the college scholastic aptitude test (CSAT) following the 5.4-magnitude quake in the southeastern city of Pohang the same day.

The test had been scheduled for Thursday, but was pushed back a week due to safety reasons.

It is the first time the CSAT has been delayed abruptly due to a natural phenomenon, since the test started being administered in 1993.

"The entire college entrance procedure will be pushed back by a week," Vice Minister of Education Park Chun-ran said in a briefing on follow-up measures at the Sejong Government Complex on Thursday.

The vice minister said the ministry will ensure security of test papers and answer sheets. It will also conduct safety checks of nationwide test sites and find new ones to replace those in Pohang affected by the quake, Park said.

Students _ who had been set to be released from intensive studies for the CSAT _ returned to private academies and libraries to make the most of the remaining week.












By Yi Whan-woo



Controversy is growing over the failure of South Korean soldiers at the Joint Security Area to return fire when North Korean sentinels opened fire at their comrade fleeing to the South, Monday.



This was in line with the authority over the use of force at the JSA, which is jointly overseen by the United Nations Command (UNC) and North Korea.



In 2004, the South Korean Army took over the duty of keeping security at the JSA from the U.S., which is located inside the Demilitarized Zone.



But authority over the use of force still falls under the UNC commander, U.S. Forces Korea chief Gen. Brooks.



South Korean soldiers are not allowed to use military force unless their action is justified under UNC rules of engagement applied to the JSA.



It remains uncertain whether the North Koreans shot at the defector even after he crossed the Military Demarcation Line and entered the South Korean zone.



The South Korean and U.S. soldiers recovered the defector without using any military force only a few minutes after he was shot and fatally wounded.



Against this backdrop, President Moon Jae-in asked to consider revising the rules of engagement at the JSA, Thursday, although he noted UNC's positive assessment on the South's measure over the incident.



"The issues on the rules of engagement at the JSA are something that should be discussed, although it is under the UNC's control," he said during a meeting with presidential secretaries. "It is yet to be determined whether the North Korean sentinels aimed at our soldiers. But even so, the people would generally think of a rule of engagement as something that permits our soldiers to at least fire warning shots if a bullet from the North Korean is fired at us."

A South Korean military official said the military is "seriously considering" measures to apply the country's own rules of engagement at the JSA.



"There is a general consensus that the JSA should be managed under our rules of engagement considering our soldiers are in charge of keeping security there," the official said on condition of anonymity.



"We'll discuss with the UNC that the South Korean officer to assume the authority for the use of military force in a flexible manner so that our soldiers can return fire immediately if the North Koreans fire at us."



The dispute over the rules of engagement was also heated as it was found that the North Koreans shot at the defectors using hand guns and AK-47s.



Some military officials said being armed with an AK-47, a semi-automatic rifle, is in violation of the Korean Armistice Agreement, under which the JSA guards are allowed to be only armed with manual weapons.



But other officials argued AK-47s can be carried at the JSA as long as they are not used in an assault.


By Lee Kyung-min



About 200 men are under investigation for buying or attempting to buy sex, by participating in orgies organized by three men who ran a website where they allegedly distributed footage of their events, police said Thursday.



This is an expanded investigation of an earlier case involving the three website operators who hired nine female prostitutes to bring in 71 male buyers.



Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency said it secured cellphone numbers of the 200 men after reviewing the call logs of the website operators who gathered customers for the event between January last year and September.



The suspects include a resident at a university hospital near Seoul, a high school teacher in his 30s and a soldier in his 30s.



Police detained them in September in a parking lot near a motel where the orgy was about to take place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.



Police said the three organized 29 similar events in motels in Suwon and nearby Anyang.
































A car is damaged by broken walls following an earthquake in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. / Yonhap

A restroom destroyed by the quake at Handong Global University / Yonhap



By Jung Min-ho

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit Korea's southeastern city of Pohang, Wednesday, sending shockwaves throughout the country.





Sauce containers are scattered on the floor of a grocery store in Pohang, following the quake. / Yonhap

The first and most powerful tremor struck the city at 2:29 p.m. and weaker aftershocks continued to shake the area for several minutes, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.

Hundreds of people, including many students, poured out of buildings as they were told to evacuate immediately. Some wore only short-sleeve shirts as they hurried out into the cold.

"Frames hanging on a wall fell to the floor and books fell from shelves," a 40-year-old resident of a Pohang apartment said. "I was shocked as all this happened in an instant."

Seven people were reported to have sustained minor injuries as of 4:32 p.m., according to the North Gyeongsang Province Fire Department. The number may increase as rescue workers continue responding to emergency calls.

Thousands of calls flooded regional fire stations across the country, with people reporting in and asking about the tremors.

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has ordered all related ministries to do all they can to ascertain the full extent of the damage and rescue people.

President Moon Jae-in ordered the convening of a meeting to discuss the situation upon returning from a trip to Southeast Asia.












More than 1,500 residents have been left without homes and dozens are injured, with facility damage piling up after a magnitude 5.4 quake struck South Korea's southeast a day earlier, authorities said Thursday.



The rare earthquake, second-strongest since 1978, hit north of the port city of Pohang on Wednesday afternoon. Tremors were felt as far as Seoul hundreds of kilometers away, with 41 aftershocks of up to magnitude 4.3 following, which continued until early Thursday morning, according to the state weather agency.



The tally of victims displaced from their homes and staying in emergency shelters set up in nearby indoor gyms reached 1,536 as of 6:00 a.m., the authorities said.



Fifty-seven people have sustained injuries, with two in critical condition and a dozen being treated at hospitals. The rest are stable and have returned home.



The authorities received nearly 1,200 calls reporting facility damage in the area. The bulk of them came from residential buildings, while others were from business districts and factories, as well as public infrastructure including schools, roads and railways. Most of them were about fissures, collapses and breakages.



The government will hold an emergency ministerial meeting, presided by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, with related agencies to discuss recovery efforts in the aftermath.



The Ministry of Education will carry out its own plans, including a thorough inspection of schools in the affected areas, and bolster efforts to ensure the rescheduled college entrance exam takes place without further trouble.



The education ministry announced late Wednesday that it put off the date of the state-administered college entrance exam for another week, the first time such a decision was ever made for the test due to a natural disaster. The test was due to be held nationwide Thursday. (Yonhap)




Floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Rep. Woo Won-shik, right, and Bareun Party Chairman Yoo Seong-min shake hands while inspecting an earthquake affected apartment in Pohang, Thursday. / Yonhap



By Choi Ha-young



The leaders of political parties rushed to the southern port city of Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday, one day after a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit the city which was struck by ongoing aftershocks.



Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Woo Won-shik consoled Pohang residents, instead of Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae who is now in Washington D.C. for talks with U.S. policymakers and scholars. "The DPK will look into the situation and talk closely with the government regarding special disaster zone designation," Woo said.



The city can receive special grants once designated as a special disaster zone, which was suggested by Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon on the same day. Woo also touched on seismic design of the buildings and active faults under the area where nuclear power plants are concentrated.



"The ruling camp will push for taxation to support those who will adopt seismic design in privately constructed buildings," Woo said, citing that around 18 percent of private facilities are equipped with seismic design. "The authorities need to quicken the pace in investigating the active faults across the nation."



The DPK Chairwoman sent the following message from the United States: "The government should make full effort to ensure the safety of college entrance exam sites, which was delayed for a week due to the earthquake," Choo said on her Facebook page, Thursday.



Chief of the largest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Hong Joon-pyo vowed to form a special team committed to support the victims. "Ruling and opposition parties agree to support the victims," Hong said.













He dismissed the ruling camp's anxiety over the safety of nuclear power plants. "The liberals are fanning groundless concerns. The power plants are built to bear a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which is very powerful."



In a daily meeting held in Seoul, Thursday, LKP floor leader Chung Woo-taik promised to take care of budgets relevant to earthquakes. Currently, the Assembly is reviewing the budget bill for 2018. "The LKP will look into the bill over seismic design of facilities and shelter for victims," Chung said.



People's Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo echoed the call for special disaster zone designation, also vowing bipartisan cooperation. "The People's Party will make an effort to minimize the damages through bipartisan cooperation," he said.



"In the medium and long term, the nation should enhance seismic designs for factories and nuclear power plants," Ahn said. "Regular training to prepare for disasters are also needed."



Rep. Yoo Seong-min, newly elected leader of the minor conservative Bareun Party, focused on vulnerable groups among the victims gathering in a shelter. "A patient suffering from terminal cancer and a pregnant woman were also staying at a public gymnasium. I told the Pohang city officials to provide better places for the vulnerable," Yoo said.



On the same day, progressive Justice Party Chairwoman Lee Jeong-mi reiterated the party's anti-nuclear power movement. She visited Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, only 45 kilometers away from the epicenter to inspect its safety status.



Cheong Wa Dae dispatched Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon to the affected region. After being briefed about the countermeasures, Lee inspected shelters and affected sites.



All parties commonly lauded the government's decision to postpone the college entrance exam, which otherwise would have taken place Thursday. President Moon Jae-in was briefed about the earthquake during his flight Wednesday and convened an emergency meeting right after arriving Cheong Wa Dae.
Ara Babloyan manages something that the Prime Minister fails to do (video)

Pediator Ara Babloyan managed something that economist Karen Karapetyan failed to do - the doctor could stop the students' strike and send them home. The NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov said: "Ara Babloyan's role is big." Young boys seemed to Eduard Sharmazanov to care about the state and its protection. The NA Vice President is optimistic, he is going to listen to the students at a round-table in order to understand what will be possible to change. However, it is known that Deputy Defense Minister Artak Zakaryan said that the law would not undergo changes." "I respect my lovely brother, friend Artak Zakaryan very much, but there are no strict laws in our county," said Eduard Sharmazanov. Mr. Sharmazanov said that in the adopted law, much was still unclear, they would be clarified in the Government in the form of sub-legislative acts and decisions. For those clarifications, they were ready to start a series of meetings with protesting students starting on November 22. "Maybe 22 is a bit early, but if we appointed it on the 25th or the end of the month, some distrust would rise in them." But the question is why the parliament leadership managed to calm down and send the children home, whereas the Prime Minister, Ministers of Defense and Education could not do anything about it. "I do not know which agenda they were led by, they came to us according to the agenda of discussing the issue at the round-table." During the yesterday's meeting, the negotiating parties did not hear any argument from the parliament for the restoration of the right to deferment. And he will not address the arguments before it. "I do not want to predict now and say something that can complicate our dialogue." Eduard Sharmazanov called a future round-table constructive. He would not say that the students were forced to accept because they were scared by the traffic. "No, but was there traffic?" asked Sharmazanov. The deputy speaker of the parliament said that people should not suddenly consider the students as agents of this or that politician. They were given the opportunity to present the essence of their complaint and have heard them.
By Marcel Fratzscher



BERLIN  German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) may have won a majority in September's federal election, but that does not mean that the country's future is clear. What emerges as Merkel seeks to form a new coalition with the Greens and the Free Democrats will not only shape Germany's economic trajectory over the next four years; it will also determine the fate of the country's transformation into a truly open society.



In less than a generation, Germany, once the sick man of Europe, has emerged as a global economic powerhouse. But the truth is that Germany's current economic success is less the result of good policies than of favorable external conditions, especially in Europe, which ensured strong demand for German exports.



To be sure, important domestic economic reforms enabled Germany to take advantage of external demand. But they were undertaken long before Merkel came to power, and few meaningful economic reforms have been implemented during her 12-year tenure. For example, domestic private investment remains weak, partly owing to overregulated services and heavy bureaucratic burdens.



Moreover, as the German government has preached austerity to its neighbors, it has increased social spending on pensions and transfers, all while allowing net public investment to turn negative. The much-needed overhaul of the tax system once hyped by the CDU has failed to materialize. And, though employment has increased during Merkel's tenure, job creation has not succeeded in reducing the low-income segment of the labor market.



The parties most likely to form the next government  the CDU (and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union), the Greens, and the Free Democrats  are now fighting over how best to use Germany's large fiscal surpluses to serve their respective constituents. Whatever decision they make, Germany's economic performance is likely to remain strong, at least in terms of trade and a balanced budget.



The real test of the so-called Jamaica coalition (named for the parties' colors) lies elsewhere. What Merkel has lacked in economic-policy achievements, she has made up for in bringing about social change. Under her leadership, Germany has become the open society it is today. But it is also an increasingly divided society.



As it stands, some 20% of Germany's population of 82 million has a migrant background, and close to five million are Muslim. This multiculturalism is reflected in changing perspectives on the part of all Germans. Four out of five Germans now consider Islam and homosexuality to be part of German society; three out of four say the same about migrants and refugees. And Germany has one of the most pro-European populations on the continent.



The last three governments, all led by Merkel, have contributed mightily to this transformation. Critics call Merkel the first social democratic chancellor from a conservative party, because she has embraced many progressive policies, while preaching stability and traditional values. Arguably her most important decision  which almost cost her the chancellorship, but might ultimately shape her legacy  was her 2015 decision to accept, despite fierce opposition from many in her own party, almost 1.5 million asylum-seekers and push for their integration into German society.



Germany's Merkel-led governments have also supported early childhood education and children's rights, while overseeing substantial progress on gender equality. Broader, more flexible access to the labor market, expansion of early childhood facilities, and financial incentives have driven an increase in female labor-force participation to more than 70%, one of the highest in the industrialized world. The current German government also implemented a 30% quota for women on supervisory boards of large companies, as well as a wage transparency law aimed at reducing the country's gender pay gap, which is still a whopping 21%.



While Merkel did not spearhead these reforms  not least because she had to avoid alienating those in her party who viewed them negatively  she offered tacit support. Similarly, though Merkel herself voted earlier this year against legalizing gay marriage, which many in her party do not support, she accepted graciously the Bundestag's decision, declaring that she hoped the vote would not only promote "respect between different opinions," but also bring "more social cohesion and peace."



Ultimately, it is Merkel's talent at bridging social and political divides that has made Germany's transformation into an open society possible. And this, not economic policy, might ultimately become the greatest achievement of her chancellorship. In some ways, Germany has already moved beyond the point of no return on its path toward openness, owing to Merkel's 2015 refugee policy.



Yet there are enormous challenges ahead. Beyond the technical and social challenges associated with the successful integration of refugees, there is a need for greater tolerance toward Islam and diversity more generally on the part of all Germans. Further changes to family and gender policies and an overhaul of the education system will also be needed.



As Germany continues to debate what it means to be German, the outcome of the current coalition negotiations will determine whether Merkel's next government confronts these challenges effectively. If it does, Merkel will be remembered as the architect of a new German society.





Marcel Fratzscher is a former senior manager at the European Central Bank. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate.




By James M. Dorsey



The proof will be in the pudding when Prime Minister Saad Hariri returns home in the coming days to a country in which friend and foe have rallied around him and he clarifies whether he intends to follow through on his controversial decision to resign.



Few in Lebanon and beyond believe that Mr. Hariri, a dual Lebanese-Saudi citizen whose family company in the kingdom declared bankruptcy earlier this year in one of the first casualties of Saudi Arabia's fiscal crisis, voluntarily stepped down on November 4 while on a visit to Riyadh.



Mr. Hariri's subsequent interview on his own Lebanese television station did little to erase suspicion that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman forced him to resign in an opening bid to counter Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite militia that constitutes one of Lebanon's most formidable political forces. Mr. Hariri warned that Saudi Arabia and its allies could ride roughshod on Lebanon's economy by imposing sanctions and expelling hundreds of thousands of Lebanese employed in the kingdom.



The fact that Mr. Hariri announced that he would leave his wife and children in the kingdom when he returns to Beirut will reinforce suspicion of Saudi arm twisting should he, once back in the Lebanese capital, move forward with his resignation.



Further calling into question Mr. Hariri's independence, were reports that Khalid al-Tuwaijri, the head of late King Abdullah's court, who was among scores of princes, officials and businessmen arrested earlier this month on corruption charges in a sweeping purge, had illicitly paid the Hariri family company $9 billion.



Rumours that Prince Mohammed's leverage over Mr. Hariri involves the prime minister potentially been sucked into the crown prince's power grab, executed under the mum of an anti-corruption campaign, were reinforced by the fact that the fate of one of Mr. Hariri's closest Saudi business associates, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, remains unclear.



A son of late King Fahd, whose immediate relatives were one target group in this month's selective of purge of members of the ruling family, senior officials and prominent businessmen, Prince Abdul Aziz was first reported to have been put under house arrest during a crackdown in September when scores of Islamic scholars, judges and activists were arrested. It remains unclear whether he is still under house arrest or has been transferred to Riyadh's gilded prison in the Ritz Carlton Hotel.



Lebanon's foremost Sunni politician, Mr. Hariri was widely credited with keeping the government. in which Hezbollah is represented, together, and ensuring that the country remained on the side lines of the Syrian war despite Hezbollah fighting alongside Syrian government forces and more than a million Syrian refugees spilling into the country.



Mr. Hariri announced his resignation a day after meeting in Beirut with Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mr. Hariri's office said the prime minister had urged Iran to halt its support of the Houthis as a first step towards ending the war in Yemen. Mr. Hariri denied Mr. Velayati's assertion that the prime minister had offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran.



In his resignation speech on Saudi television, Mr. Hariri uncharacteristically dropped his effort to maintain a modicum of unity in Lebanon by echoing Saudi allegations that Iran and its surrogate, Hezbollah, were attempting sow unrest and instability in the Arab world.



Mr. Hariri may well have been caught in a Catch-22 with Saudi Arabia and more hard-line Lebanese Sunnis demanding that he take a firmer stand towards Hezbollah and the militia and other Shiite groups insisting that Lebanon normalize relations with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Lebanon minimized contact with Mr. Al-Assad as part of its effort to disassociate itself from the conflict in Syria.



Reporting from the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, one of the country's poorest urban centres that is home to both Sunnis and Shiites, journalist Sunniva Rose described how some hard liners, supporters of former justice minister Ashraf Rifi, who resigned earlier this year in protest against Hezbollah's domination of politics, were putting up posters with portraits of Mr. Rifi and Prince Mohammed.



The risks for the Lebanese is that they will pay the price for Saudi efforts to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East that is being fought on their backs. Saudi Arabia exploited Mr. Hariri's resignation with Gulf affairs minister Thamer al-Sabhan declaring two days later that the Lebanese government would "be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia" because of Hezbollah.



Mr. Al-Sabhan warned that "there are those who will stop (Hezbollah) and make it return to the caves of South Lebanon", the heartland of Lebanon's Shia community. "Lebanese must all know these risks and work to fix matters before they reach the point of no return," Mr. Al-Sabhan went on to say.



Prince Mohammed, in a gesture, towards Lebanese Christians and an effort to project the kingdom's transition to what he described as an undefined form of moderate Islam, received Lebanon's Maronite Christian Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai this week. The patriarch met separately with Mr. Hariri.



Sporting a big cross on his chest in a country that bans expressions of non-Muslim religions, Patriarch Al Rai's visit constituted a rare occasion on which the kingdom welcomed a non-Muslim religious dignitary. He was the first Lebanese public figure to visit Saudi Arabia since Mr. Hariri's resignation.



Lebanon's political elite, including the prime minister's Future Movement and Hezbollah, beyond rallying around Mr. Hariri, has called for calm and sought to ensure that the political crisis does not destabilize the country further, or even worse, constitute a prelude to its descent into renewed sectarian strife.



The elite as well as many ordinary Lebanese fear that their country has become the latest pawn in a Saudi-Iranian proxy war that has primarily been at the expense of others. Saudi efforts to counter Iran's expanding influence in the Middle sparked the kingdom's ill-fated military intervention in Yemen with devastating humanitarian consequences. Iranian and Saudi intervention in Syria alongside many others aggravated the bloodshed in a brutal six-year long civil war.



Mr. Hariri's risky resignation constitutes a Saudi-inspired bid to deprive Iranian influence of the legitimacy conveyed upon it by being part of the Lebanese government.



Speaking in Paris, Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil insisted that "Lebanon would like for its decisions to be taken freely. Lebanon creates its internal and foreign policy with the will of its people and its leaders who are elected by the people. Once Hariri is back in Lebanon he can take any decision he sees as right and possible."





Dr. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies,




Compared to major earthquakes, the magnitude 5.4 quake that struck Pohang, some 370 km southeast of Seoul, Wednesday would hardly make news outside of the country.



However, the seismic tremor shook the entire nation, literally and figuratively, forcing Korea to put off the College Scholastic Ability Test for a week. This is the first delay since the government introduced the state test system for high school seniors 24 years ago.



The earthquake throws into sharp relief two things _ Korea is no longer a country free from concerns about tremors, and, or despite the fact, this country is dismally prepared for it.



What's alarming was the Monday temblors, the second strongest in seismic intensity, came only 14 months after the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that hit another southeastern city Gyeongju. Citizens of the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom reportedly have yet to recover from its aftermath completely.



The Korea Meteorological Administration deserves some praises at it sent text alarms within 19 seconds, quick enough for some people to feel their building tremble only after they received the message.



Unfortunately, we have few goods words to tell about other sectors of the nation's preparedness for major quakes. According to official statistics, less than 40 percent of government buildings and 20 percent of private structures have been designed to withstand seismic events.



Had 80 percent of the schools in Pohang been built quake-proof, as is the case in Japan, educational officials might not have needed to postpone the CSAT, which is a once-in-a-lifetime event for the numerous test-takers.



To the relief of many, the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power announced the nation's 24 nuclear reactors, including the six nearby Pohang, were running without any problems. Officials also said all nuclear power stations have been built to withstand earthquakes of magnitude 6.5, or 7 for more recently built ones.



The safety-related officials can ill afford to remain complacent. Seismic experts do not rule out the possibility of Korea being hit with a quake of magnitude 7 or even higher.



Some even say the latest tremor might just be a precursor of a far stronger quake. No amount of caution would be too much if a major earthquake comes. If such a worst-case scenario becomes a reality, far more than the CSAT will be at stake.




By Donald Kirk

President Trump had to have had a great time during his 12-day journey to East Asian capitals. Everywhere he went he was treated like royalty. No hostile politicos taunting him, at least to his face, no nasty foes hurling epithets close range as he shuttled from one leader's center of power to another, no enemies in high places trying to cost him his job even if they disagreed with him. Oh, there were demonstrators here and there, candlelight vigilantes in Seoul trying to make themselves heard as his motorcade came and went, protesters in Manila battling police to let him know they wanted him to go home. That was about it. The leaders of the two communist countries on his itinerary, China and Vietnam, made certain no rude noises at all would foul the atmosphere.

Not that all was sweetness and light. Nobody wanted to hear him proclaiming the "military option," not even a surgical "preemptive strike" on a North Korean missile launch site. And nobody was too interested in his pleas for relief from trade barriers that he blamed for America's extraordinary trade deficits, mainly with China but also with Japan and South Korea. Unlike his foes at home in Washington DC, however, his interlocutors weren't rude to him. China's President Xi Jinping politely talked up "multilateral" trading arrangements, as if to distract from Trump's insistence on bilateral deal-making. You began to understand why he withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, so beloved by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Why join a club of a dozen nations, not one of which wanted really to concede a thing? Would anyone realistically expect the Japanese to open wide to American rice, and who would believe American cars would be creating traffic jams in Tokyo and Osaka just because of some piece of paper setting forth rules and conditions?

That's a cynical view, admittedly. A lot of people have been pouring out lengthy papers showing why TPP would have been what Americans needed. Why, it might have been even better than KORUS, the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Oh, hang on, hasn't the U.S. deficit with Korea been widening ever since KORUS was signed five years ago? Trump alluded to unfair trading arrangements while standing beside Moon at the Blue House after their summit. Moon didn't mention it. He opposes revising KORUS, a win-win for South Korea for sure, as much as he hates Trump ordering air strikes on North Korea.

Trump, however, was quite circumspect, adjusting his pitches at every stop. He might not get too excited about KORUS in Seoul, but he was blunt when talking about unfair trading practices in Beijing. And he opened up about the South China Sea in Vietnam. His stopover there was one of the trickiest. Americans may not know much about the Korean War, but we haven't fully processed our humiliation in Vietnam. So how did Trump deal with that one? He overlooked it in the one-time enemy capital of Hanoi and in Danang, the central coastal city that was once the headquarters of the Third Marine Amphibious Force, command center for two divisions of marines floundering around the rice paddies and jungles of "South" Vietnam.

Like other journos, I dropped by "Three MAF" when not walking around with marines in South Vietnam's northern provinces. Did Trump mention the U.S. forces who fought and died in vain? Not likely. Instead, when he got to Hanoi to meet the leaders whose predecessors won the war for "North" Vietnam, he paid tribute to the "spirit" of the Vietnamese, offering to assist in demanding rights to the waters that lap up on their eastern shores. And who might be denying the Vietnamese those waters and their hidden wealth of oil and natural gas? That's right, China, where he had just spent a couple of days.

But Trump's conversations were quite gentlemanly. He avoided human rights except when sounding off against the iniquities of North Korea in a rousing address to South Korea's national assembly. He knew perfectly well that nobody in China, Vietnam or the Philippines wanted to hear that expression at all. He found a soul mate in the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, whose police have killed thousands of drug dealers and users.

The meeting with Duterte must have struck a responsive chord in the Trumpster's heart as he flew back to DC, facing the same old problems, the same political foes and New York Times/Washington Post columnists, the same think-tank know-it-alls. It was like, back to work after all the fun and games playing with potentates who behaved nicely even while plotting their next moves against him.





Donald Kirk, www.donaldkirk.com, has been covering war and peace in Asia for decades.
By Lee Min-hyung



Three of the nation's tech and finance giants have joined forces to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) fund to invest in overseas startups in emerging tech areas such as AI, smart mobility and financial technology, they said in a joint statement Thursday.



Under the drive, SK Telecom, Hanwha Asset Management and Hyundai Motor will invest a total of $45 million (50 billion won) in the AI Alliance Fund, which will begin operations no later than the end of the first quarter of next year.



Canadian AI company, Element AI, will work as an investment adviser for the joint fund, according to the statement. The adviser plans to decide fund winners after precise analysis of startups' growth potential, market value and business management capability.



Element AI is renowned for not just developing AI solutions, but providing consultation for the data-driven technology, securing 160 experts from professors to developers. The startup received investment from leading tech giants such as Microsoft, Intel and Nvidia.



The three Korean companies said they aim to generate innovation by combining their ICT, finance and mobility expertise with new technology from potentially selected startups.



Aside from financial support, fund beneficiaries can also take advantage of corporate venture capital management systems from the three conglomerates.



Investment targets include potential-laden startups based in the United States, Israel and Europe.



"The AI Alliance Fund was established to enhance our expertise to secure next-generation technological capabilities by analyzing global tech trends and searching for new information," an SK Telecom official said.



This also came amid growing competition for new developments in every industry. They said a new development is crucial for them to have an edge over their rivals.



SK Telecom has identified AI and the Internet of Things as it next growth engines, developing the nation's first AI speaker, Nugu, last year. The mobile carrier is also seeking to expand its presence in connected vehicles ahead of the fifth-generation network era.



Hanwha Asset Management runs a total asset of 92 trillion won as of the end of last month, and aims to expand its investment expertise in these promising technologies.



Hyundai Motor, the nation's largest automaker, is also focusing on finding new business opportunities in untapped areas for its sustainable growth.



The company said it decided to join the fund as part of its efforts to secure new revenue fields in areas encompassing future mobility, smart city, new energy and robots.


By Lee Kyung-min



The production of semiconductors, which involves equipment highly sensitive to vibrations, remained unaffected after a magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit the southeastern city of Pohang, Wednesday.



The country's top manufacturers Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and LG Display resumed operation after briefly halting their production lines.



Samsung officials are in close contact with workers in factories in Giheung, Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, as well as one in Onyang in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. No major damage was reported.



Officials of SK Hynix are also in close contact with factories in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province.



LG Display had no major disruption to factory operations. Its factories in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province are now in full operation.



"Some of the equipment is designed to automatically halt immediately after a major vibration is detected including an earthquake to prevent any damage. Its operation is designed to resume if no issues are detected," an official said.



"Workers on duty are required to report to headquarters, and there have been no reports."



POSCO, the country's largest steelmaker said its Pohang Iron and Steel plant did not suffer any damage to its facilities.



Hyundai Steel, which has a Pohang plant, said its employees returned to work shortly after being evacuated following the earthquake.



The operation of an industrial crane at Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Shipyard was halted for about one hour, following the earthquake. Such heavy equipment that can carry tons of material can pose a great danger to workers.



Hyundai Motor and SK Innovation, which run plants in Ulsan, also saw no damage.












By Lee Min-hyung





Steven Chu, Nobel physics laureate
Berry Bros. & Rudd wine director Mark Pardoe, second from left, tastes wine with aspiring sommeliers at Conrad Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Home plus



British wine merchant joins hands with Home plus



By Park Jae-hyuk



For Berry Bros. & Rudd, developing their reputation has long been considered unnecessary, because affluent wine enthusiasts all around the world have long recognized the name and ordered wines directly from the London-based wine and spirit merchant.



As the official wine supplier to the British Royal Family, the company has maintained its conservative business strategies.



However, the Korean market has prompted the 320-year-old wine merchant to break with tradition.



Under the brand name of The Wine Merchant's, the company's 12 types of wines from Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom are now available at Home plus, one of Korea's leading discount chains, within the affordable price range of 12,900 won ($11.5) to 49,900 won.



Berry Bros. & Rudd wine director Mark Pardoe, who introduced the wines during his recent visit to Seoul, said his company is regarding the partnership with Home plus as an adventure.



"We've always been very careful of how we use our name, because it's a family business owned by Berry and Rudd," he said during an interview with The Korea Times this week.



However, Pardoe recognized Home plus for its creative and innovative way of thinking about wine, saying his company's high level of expertise will create synergy with the Korean retailer.



"Lending our name to our partner was an absolutely right decision," he said. "The end objective is to get to a situation where reputation and name of Berry Bros. is available wherever we wanted to be. Through this project, we want to allow accessibility to our wines to more people who have ever heard of us."



Pardoe is also one of six masters of wine working for the time-honored wine merchant, which has its Asian offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan as well. The masters, who are regarded as experts with the highest standards of professional knowledge in the wine industry, selected the 12 types of wines which will satisfy their Korean customers' tastes.



Expecting Korea's wine market will soon catch up with the Japanese market, the wine master was confident about the success of The Wine Merchant's in this country.



"I can see a high level of interest and learning about wine. I think it is in the Korean people's psyche," he said. "Wine can be a very complicated subject, but offering our brand as a way to become more familiar with the complicated subject will be a very good proposition for this market in its current maturity."



Among the 12 types, Pardoe especially recommends several wines to Korean customers.



One of them is English sparkling wine which has never been marketed by retailers around the world.



"In quality, English sparkling wine has reached a very interesting level in the last ten years," he said. "It is true that most of the wines in our range are based on French classics, but our role is to always explore and find new stories."



Pardoe recommends the Traditional Claret as well, citing its price-quality ratio. He also said the idea and style of the wine is associated with the history of the U.K.



Founded in London in 1698, Berry Bros. & Rudd has grown into an international business from a small coffee shop. It sells the finest wines, such as en primeur from places such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone and from Italy, as well as wines and spirits under its own-label.



The company also offers services, including wine investment, wine storage, wine tastings, events and educational courses. It has hired six masters of wine, more than any other company in the world.
Vardan Aramyan: Consumption growth means that people live better (video)

Minister of Finance Vardan Aramyan did not agree with the opposition MPs' who claimed that next year we would live in 10% worse conditions: "In 2018, if we succeed in implementing our programs, the GDP, that is $ 3600 per person, will increase by $ 300." Karen Karapetyan's government has recorded a rise in consumption this year in Armenia, which means that people live better now. "One starts consuming more when a) there is a revenue increase at that moment; and b) one has positive expectations for the future." The Minister did not agree with the concerns that Karen Karapetyan's government was closing down many jobs. He announced a sensational number of jobs had been created that year, compared to the second quarter of the previous year. "According to the National Statistical Service, during the second quarter, about 45,000 new jobs have increased compared to the same period of the last year". Based on the same statistics, the Minister said that unemployment had decreased. Vardan Aramyan said that we we had not have to pay back the external debt we would live in better. By the way, the Minister also touched upon the problem of not raising the minimum wage next year. "You might have forgotten that we raised the minimum wage by about 70 percent in 2012." The Minister should be honest with the Armenian people and say that his task was not about not raising salaries and pensions next year because he would not solve the issue with the future by that. Wages and pensions will only rise with stable economic growth. "Now I state that this year we have 4.5% economic growth, we have to stabilize on the medium term."
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

In the 12 years since Beaumonts opened on La Jolla Boulevard in Bird Rock, 17 other restaurants have opened and closed in the area, according to owner (with wife Megan) David Heine. How has their restaurant and live-music venue not only survived but thrived?

We like to offer a little bit of something for everyone, said David Heine. We are constantly evolving our menu, our drink program; even the music changes a little. Were never complacent.

Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and showcasing live music, Beaumonts has established itself as not only a favorite neighborhood hangout, but a destination for customers from outside the area.

The Heines live in the neighborhood themselves, and residing in Bird Rock got them interested in opening a restaurant that catered to a section of La Jolla that was undergoing gentrification at the time.

When we built it, Heine recalled, we were living in the neighborhood and had young kids, so they had a family restaurant in mind. But the vision changed. We found that there were a lot of people living in the area who werent like us, people who wanted a dinner place and a bar. Come five oclock, we were seeing all these people we never knew in the neighborhood.

Three months after Beaumonts opened in 2005, the Heines began offering live music at night. They havent stopped since. Bird Rock has become a destination for music, Heine said with pride.

Were one of the few places in San Diego that will provide a full band, said Heine, and we dont charge a cover. The variety of music leans toward classic rock. Most of our customers are between 30 and 55. Everybody likes to hear songs they know. Many of our bands are cover bands that play some of that great old stuff  the Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers.

But the dining at Beaumonts doesnt take a back seat to the music.

Our food is California Coastal with a little bit of an edge, described Heine. Traditional things that have a nice flair or a coastal influence with a fire grill. We have a couple of pieces of equipment in the kitchen that allow us to do a lot of items that way, all cooked on a fire grill rather than on a flat top or in a sautee pan.

We have almost 100 items (on the menus). The real goal is to appeal to our very diverse neighborhood  from little kids to seniors.

That neighborhood is what gave Beaumonts is name from the very beginning, when the Heines were applying for their business license and had an inspiration. We live on Beaumont Avenue, said Heine. Its a very popular street. Its the heart of the neighborhood.

Beaumonts is at 5665 La Jolla Blvd. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11:30 a.m. to midnight Wednesday; 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. (858) 459-0474. beaumontseatery.com

 Business Spotlight features commercial enterprises that support La Jolla Light.
To start the self-proclaimed new chapter for the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial Association (MSNVMA) is planning three projects to bring the Memorial into a new era.

Were launching and developing a number of initiatives to not only bolster the recognition of the Memorials national status, but to enhance the experience for people who are up there, said Tim Chelling, the Associations executive director.

Three, in particular, are set to go live by the end of the year: a veterans history project, a student veteran docent program and the development of a locator app.

For the veterans history and the student veteran docent programs, the Association will partner with San Diego State University.

There are almost 5,000 plaques up there and just as many stories, Chelling explained. You see stories on the plaques, but theyre really abbreviated. Were going to try and contact (these veterans or their families) and record the history of their stories and make these available to visitors who go up to the memorial.

Because of its large student veteran program, working with SDSU was a natural fit. But were going to tap all major universities in San Diego for student veterans to bolster the docent program we have. These are people whove served overseas and around the world. They have that service as a part of their life experience; its a special kind of perspective, maturity and skillset.

With the locator app (similar to the find a grave apps used in cemeteries), visitors will be able to locate a specific plaque. The app is currently in development, and the oral histories could be available there. The beauty of an app is it can be built out once it goes live. Were going to have a beta test of the app later this year, Chelling said.

The La Jolla community is the key in all this. We always look forward to hearing from people with how theyd like to contribute on any level and to hear their ideas for continuing to make this memorial great.

Those who know a student veteran or someone with a plaque on the Memorial to contribute to the history project, may call the Association at (858) 459-2314 or visit soledadmemorial.com

The Mt. Soledad Memorial was in litigation for almost 30 years with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued that the large, white cross at the top of the memorial should be removed from government-owned property because the symbol appeared to endorse one religion over another. In July 2015, the Department of Defense sold its half-acre parcel to the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, and when the sale was complete, the property became privately-owned, nullifying the dispute.
Exercising during holiday season combats calories, improves mental health The cookies are baked and that glass of milk has been set out for Santa but you find yourself low on energy and need to combat those holiday blues. The...

Winter an ideal time to beef up lawns, plant new additions The recent week-long visit of late-summer warmth may have been a distraction from the seasonal change on the horizon, but the piling up pin oak and maple droppings  combined...
This transcript appears in the November 17, 2017 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

HELGA ZEPP-LAROUCHE WEBCAST

Trum p, X i, an d th e Ne w Opportunity

for Humanity

This is an edited transcript of Helga Zepp-LaRouches webcast of Nov. 9.

[Print version of this transcript]

Harley Schlanger: Hello, Im Harley Schlanger from the Schiller Institute and Id like to welcome you to this weeks webcast, featuring Schiller Institute Chairwoman Helga Zepp-LaRouche.

Obviously, the lead topic for today, is the historic visit of President Donald Trump to China, as part of his extended visit to Asia. Now, if youre looking for reporting on this in the Western media, forget it. Just look at some of the headlinesthe Washington Post had a headline today, How Will China Play Trump? The New York Times featured an Obama Deputy National Security Advisor, Tony Blinkenof Winken, Blinken and Nodand Blinken had a comment, whose title was Trump Ceding Global Leadership to China. And you have the Democratic Senator from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal coming out in a press conference, accusing Trump of colluding with China.

We really need to get a picture of whats happening and its full strategic significance, and for that we turn to Helga Zepp-LaRouche.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche: Hello. I think from what I know know today, which is the second day of what I would call an historic visit of President Trump to ChinaI think it is exactly what I expected would happen: That both sides know perfectly well that the future of mankind depends on the relationship between the United States and China, as the most important two nuclear powers and economic powers in the world. And I think it went very well. The statements by President Xi Jinping characterizing the meeting as a strategic new beginning, a mutually beneficial relationship of historic importance which can solve not only the problems of the two peoples, but of the whole worldI think this is absolutely to the point. And President Trump was very enthusiastic: He praised China and its great President, for whom, according to his Tweet, he has very warm feelingsthis is really good. Because if the two Presidents understand each other and can make it work, then I fully agree, there is no problem in the world which cannot be tackled.

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Xinhua/Rao Aimin

I think this is a gigantic step forward, and I think its also interesting that Trump, who has spoken a lot about the trade gap between the United States and China, said nevertheless that he does not blame China for it, because he understands that President Xi has done everything he could for the maximum benefit of his own country and people. Instead, Trump blamed previous U.S. Administrations for having allowed this trade gap now to have come about. And remember, the Chinese have always wanted to import much more from the United States, but the previous administrations, which pursued a confrontation, containment, and encirclement policy towards China, refused to sell many of the products which China had wanted to buy, with the pretext that they had dual use. They claimed they could be used both for civilian and military purposebut of course, you can use almost anything for either peaceful or not so peaceful purposes, depending on the intent of your policy.

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Xinhua/Li Xueren

I think this is very good. They concluded, I think, somewhere in the range of $250 billion in deals, ranging from infrastructure, transport, and energy, to agricultural exports from the United States to Chinajust a very wide variety of economic deals. They also decided to not only improve and strengthen the relationship between the two Presidents, but to increase the cooperation on all levels, and to strengthen the four permanent dialogues which had been arranged in Florida in April, one of them dealing with economic cooperation. And I think all of the basis has been laid to continue to develop this relationship to the benefit, not only of China and the United States, but really for the whole world.

They agreed fully on the need to solve the North Korea problem, on which they want to work together, and Trump also expressed his confidence that with the help of China, and Russia, as he said earlier, that the problem can be brought to a positive solution.

While I have not seen any direct mention of the United States working with the Belt and Road Initiative as such, I know that that is the mindset of President Xi, and I also think that coming out of the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China, where Xi Jinping has set the goal of building a community of a shared future of mankind by 2050that this trip by President Trump has been a gigantic step in the right direction. And I think the Chinese really know how to make conscious to visitors the 5,000-year history of China, and that Trump was really treated very well. They had a one-day or several hour special tour of the Forbidden City, which was closed to the public, and they performed three Beijing operas, and showed him the restoration of ancient artifacts. So Trump was very, very happy, and he sent a message to Xi Jinping saying that he and Melania will never forget this experience. So I think this is very positive from a human standpoint.

And these journalists should just be ashamed of themselves. They are so cynical that nothing ever moves their hearts and minds, and probably these minds are dried out like old prunes anywayso I wouldnt worry about what theyre writing. I think these two presidents have made a very positive step, moving human history forward.

Schlanger: Its also significant that there is a group of businessmen who are part of the delegation that will be involved in meetings, and I think thats where we may hear later, more of the specifics on the Belt and Road connection with the Chinese.

Before Trump came to China, he was in South Korea and Japan. I wonder if you have some thoughts about those meetings and their significance?

Zepp-LaRouche: I think they were significant, but I think the upcoming meeting in Vietnam is going to be more important. Trump may meet with President Putin tomorrow, and I think that meeting will also be very important. Because President Putin just wrote an article ahead of that APEC summit, where he said that what will be discussed at the APEC meeting, in the context of the already-ongoing integration of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, is the Russian presentation of a major plan for the development of the Far East of Russia. This will be a national priority for the 21st Century, where many infrastructure projects are to be built, but also industrial parks and other investments; and he emphasized the positive cooperation among Russia, China, Japan, and the Koreas.

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White House/Andrea Hanks

I think what is clearly emerging, is more and more an integrated new economic system, where basically it is very clear, that as long as the Europeans, or at least the EU and the German government, remain in their stand-offish attitudeit is as one businessman said recently, if they dont jump onto the train, then they will see the lights of the caboose leaving the station, and theyll be left behind.

The center of strategic importance is clearly moving towards Asia right now. And hopefully this U.S.-Chinese relationship will continue to expand.

Schlanger: And one other thing Id like you to comment on, Im sure its very interesting to you, given the importance that you put on the cultural exchange and the understanding of other cultures, is President Trumps [six-year-old] granddaughter singing Chinese songs to them on video. Did you get a chance to see that, Helga?

Zepp-LaRouche: Yes, yes. I think this was very sweet, and obviously while the little girl was not there, her video was presented, and I think it expressed a spirit of profound appreciation for Mandarin culture, and I think it was very well taken.

Schlanger: Now, when you talk about the journalists with their nonsense in their coverage of this, and attempting to keep the real story out, you are seeing some breaks with the whole Russia-gate story. And of course, weve been covering this very extensively, but in the last couple of days there was the report that Bill Binney, the former NSA technical expert, met with Mike Pompeo of the CIA at Donald Trumps urging; Pompeo talked with him, at Trumps urging, to discuss the fact that there was actually no Russian hacking. What do you make of that?

Russiagate Lies Exposed

Zepp-LaRouche: I think this is very important. It clearly shows that President Trump is fully aware of the revelations of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), of which William Binney is a member, and that means that President Trump is also not afraid of Russia-gate. Because by asking Pompeo, the current head of the CIA, to meet with Binney, that is now on the record, so to speak, and now the investigation which the FBI never did, obviously has to follow. And the key argument which Binney made previously at our event in New York and on other occasions, is that there is forensic evidence that there was no hacking, but rather this material was downloaded on site to a storage device, because the speed with which it occurred is four times higher than you could get from the Internet. And the VIPS presented this documentation at a Schiller Institute event in New York a couple of months ago. That will now be investigated, and they will come to exactly the same conclusion, that there was no hacking, and with that I think the whole Russia spook story will just vanish.

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CSPAN

That will liberate Trump to carry out policy as a President should do. The whole purpose of the Russia-gate, was to prevent him from making a change in the attitude towards Russia and China. I think this is clearly backfiring.

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dd/Tim Pierce

Then, you have all these investigations now, which we mentioned last week, with the Donna Brazile book, saying very clearly that Hillary did steal the election, in a way. In a certain sense, this whole story can turn totally the other way: There are the ongoing investigations in the Senate and in the Congress on the British role [in interfering in the 2016 election], which is now becoming much more prominent in the discussionthat U.S. intelligence services from the Obama period used foreign intelligence against a U.S. Presidential opponentI mean, thats more than opposition research, its potentially something very criminal. And that may all come out now.

Schlanger: Two other footnotes on that: One is that Binney referred to Russia-gate as mindless drivel, and if you think about it, thats what the American people and the people in Western Europe have been fed for a full year nowmindless drivel.

The other thing that I think is interesting, is the interconnection between the Hillary Clinton expose from Donna Brazile and the whole Fusion GPS story, because this story is now coming out of all the interconnection, leading back to London. So, as youve been pointing out, it looks as though this whole thing will come to the forefront soon.

Zepp-LaRouche: There is another interesting thing, which I think people should reflect upon. Because all these accusations against Putin as a dictator, against Xi Jinping as a new Mao, and all of these insinuations that these countries are not democratic and are dictatorshipswell, look at the Democratic Party, and I emphasize Democratic Partyit now is established that the DNC picked their candidate, Hillary Clinton, one year before the national convention, and then manipulated the whole electoral process in such a way that Bernie Sanders, who probably would have won against Trump,or at least there was a good chance that this could have happenedwas sidelined, and obviously betrayed.

What does that say about democracy? I think people should reflect on the fact that this present party system, as it has developed with the very large influence of Wall Street in itgiven the fact that people need $5 million, $10 million in order to run for a Congressional seatthat system clearly is not working. And I think it is time to change a lot of things, to change not only the set of relations among nations internationally, but also to go back to a discussion like that in the Federalist Papers in the United States, for example: Can a people govern itself? I think this is a very important question, and I think this democracy is just a joke. The Democratic Party did their very best to prove exactly that.

Schlanger: Were also learning more and more about how this was an operation to take money from the state parties, and thats one of the reasons the Democrats have been losing every race until recently. Interesting, also, I think, just to make a note of this, is that Donna Brazile referred to three titanic egos, those of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, stripping the core out of the Democratic Party, and I think thats what most people see.

Now, Helga, the other thing I think is really crucial that we need to hear your thoughts on, is whats happening in the Middle East right now. As is typically the case, when there are developments like the Trump-Xi Jinping meeting, the enemy is operating elsewhere to cause serious disruptions. We see the events unfolding in Lebanon, with a possible Saudi-Israeli involvement in a war in Lebanon and the ongoing events in Yemen. You just participated in a conference a couple days ago via video, in Yemen, about the Chinese Silk Road extension to that part of the Arabian Peninsula. Why dont you give us a little bit of a report on that, and what your thoughts are about this very dangerous situation emerging in the Middle East?

Zepp-LaRouche: It is very dangerous because just at the point when the ISIS forces were as good as defeated in Syria and Iraq, you had this operation, obviously run by the young Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, where, when Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon was on a visit in Saudi Arabia, conveniently U.S. intelligenceat least thats what some Israeli reports are sayingprovided Saudi Arabia with the information that there was an assassination plot against Hariri, so he resigned and stayed in Saudi Arabia. And that naturally aggravates the situation in Lebanon, which is very tense anyway, because this country has as many refugees as it has citizens, which means a totally tense situation as it is.

Then there was this strange incident about a missile, shot from Yemen into Saudi Arabianow that is very strange, because what would be the purpose of one single missile? Naturally, the Saudis claim that it was from Iran via Hezbollah, and that is now heating up the whole situation. The worst thing about it, is that the Saudis blockaded all ports and entry points into Yemen. This has dramatically worsened the situation in Yemen, which is already one of absolute danger of starvation of millions of peopleso that even the UN Human Rights Commission and others came out and said there is an immediate danger of seven million people dying of hunger and epidemics, cholera, and similar things in Yemen, and that they demand that all ports and other such routes be opened immediately and the blockade be ended.

I think this is something which must get international attentionbecause this is genocide taking place before the world publicand this absolutely must end.

We should not forget that the dossier which we published about Robert Mueller, which details that the apparatus which went after my husband and his organization in the 80s and 90s, is the same apparatus which is covering up for 9/11, and is the apparatus which is still deploying against President Trump. And these are absolutely forces similar to those behind this operation against Yemen.

All this hangs together, and requires absolute, important investigation. People have to really get mobilized, so this genocide is stopped.

Schlanger: And in spite of the desperate situation in Yemen, it seems from the report I sawthe conference you addressed a couple of days agotheres tremendous spirit. Again, the optimism of the New Silk Road is coming into that country, isnt it?

Zepp-LaRouche: Yes, yes. There is a very delightful reading group. People have been studying the report which we published, The New Silk Road Becomes the World Land-Bridge, for quite some time. That obviously includes the extension of the New Silk Road into Yemen. And people are really taking this as the hope for their future.

I think it would be very good if people in other countries around the world would do likewise, because there is this alternative plan! And the chances are that it will lead to cooperation among Russia, China, and the United States, in rebuilding the region, getting Iran and Saudi Arabia to the table and overcoming this terrible conflict between the Sunnis and the Shiites, which has been played by the British for a very long time; and that we move to a different era of mankind. I think this is the imperative demand of the hour.

Schlanger: And just to come back to the overriding theme of the U.S.-Russia-China relationship, I guess well see that again in action, with the meetings still to come in Vietnam and the Philippines, that President Trump is going to have on his trip.

Zepp-LaRouche: Yes. I think that that will be tomorrow, so people should pay attention to this summit, because I think major things will occur there.

Second Chance for Mankind

Schlanger: I just wanted to bring another thing to the attention of our listeners: This has been a week of anniversaries, and I think its important to get a good, competent historical perspective of whats happened. You had just a couple days ago, the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, which has a lot to do with the British Empires destruction of the Middle East and the ongoing activity there. There was the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution yesterday. And then today, is a very important day in Germany: Its the 28th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and you were very active in that period. In fact, I think its fair to say that the idea of the Silk Road grew out of the effects of the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the potential with the reunification of Germany.

Id like you to say something about that, because you are uniquely situated to put this history together in a way that makes sense for people.

Zepp-LaRouche: Yes, that is absolutely true. My husband, Lyndon LaRouche, had forecast the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1984. He then said that if they stuck to their then-existing policies of the Ogarkov Plan and similar things, and to primitive accumulation against their own economy, they would collapse in five years. And thats exactly what started to happen with the fall of the Wall. Then he forecast in 1988, that the Comecon would collapse soonhe made that prognosis in 88, one year before it happenedand that there would be soon German unification with Berlin as the capital, and that a unified Germany should start to develop the countries of the Comecon, with modern technology and infrastructure. He proposed the first such country should be Poland.

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EIRNS/Dean Andromidas

Therefore, when the Wall came down, it was not really a surprise for us. As a matter of fact, we were the only ones prepared for that occasion, and we developed the idea of a Productive Triangle of Paris-Berlin-Vienna, which was a highly industrialized area of the size in territory of, lets say, Japan. We proposed it should be upgraded through infrastructure, maglev trains, HTR nuclear reactors, the Sanger project for sub-orbital Mach 1-2 planes. We proposed that, and we were ready when the Soviet Union then collapsedas a matter of fact, we had that report ready in January of 1990, about six weeks after the fall of the Wall.

This would have been a peace plan at that point. But as we know, the powers that be, the neo-cons in the United States, Margaret Thatcher, Mitterrand in Francethey all had their own geopolitical reasons to prevent that. But when the Soviet Union collapsed in 91, we just extended the Productive Triangle concept to the Eurasian Land-Bridge, proposing economic transportation development corridors along the Trans-Siberian Railway, and along the old Silk Road. What is happening now with China and the Belt and Road Initiative could have happened in 1991.

It didnt happen. I published documentation about the developments from that time, which is called The Lost Chance of 1989, because that opportunity was not used. People remember that shock therapy was imposed on Russia, in order to turn Russia from a superpower into a Third World, raw materials-exporting country, which was what happened in the Yeltsin period. And so this entire decade of the 90s was one of genocide for Russia, and people have written books about that, including Prof. Sergey Glazyev and others.

When Putin came in, he started to undo that, and that is why he attracted so much hatred from people who had wanted to put Russia into a corner. He is now doing a lot to undo that, and what I said earlier about the development of the Russian Far East, is a very important component of it.

In a certain sense, this is the second chance. This time I think the possibility that it will be used to establish a true peace order for the 21st century, ending the period of geopolitics, is very close. If the relationship which was clearly brought forward in a gigantic way between Xi Jinping and Trump, if that consolidates as the relationship between China, Russia, and hopefully the United States as part of that triangle, then maybe India will change its mind, and maybe even the Europeans will get onboard. We can enter a completely new set of relationships among countries.

And I invite all of you, our viewers, to become an active part of this. The Schiller Institute is a membership think tank. You can become an active member in the Schiller Institute, by contributing research, by doing all kinds of things. You can actually help to bring such a new era of civilization about, by joining us: So I want to invite you do exactly that, to celebrate the moment.

Schlanger:I think you made very clear to people, how devastating losing that opportunity of 1989 has beenwith the 28 years of degeneration in the United States, the wars, the terrorism and so onwe have to take this chance. And this is where the optimism comes from, that there are countries that are already doing that.

Zepp-LaRouche: Yes. It will sink in, that that situation is there, and if the Russia-gate in the United States stops, I think the world can become better. And even in the United States, people can join this hopeful perspective. And I think they need it so badly, because the infrastructure is in terrible shape, the drug epidemic is there; in Europe you have a situation where many youth, especially in the south of Europe, have neither a job nor an education. But with the New Silk Road, people have a future and a perspective to really end poverty, to end the miserable life for so many, and focus on the common aims of mankind. There are so many riches to be discovered, so many discoveries to be made. Its about time that we give mankind an order which is worthy of the character of the human species.

Schlanger: Well, the next few days will be very important, and I think its very important that people join us again next week to get the update on the completion of President Trumps trip and the implications for us in the West.

So Helga, thank you very much for joining us, and for all of you listening, well see you next week.

Zepp-LaRouche: Yes, until next week.
PRESS RELEASE

Calls for Special Prosecutor into Russia Dossier

Nov. 15,2017 (EIRNS)Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), head of the Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives, is the latest Congressman to demand that a Special Prosecutor be named to investigate the role of "Obamas FBI" in the infamous Christopher Steele dossier.

In his call, published by Fox News today, Meadows argues that while no evidence of Russian-Trump campaign collusion has been found in a year-long "aimless and fruitless investigation" into that charge, it has turned up

"legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting then-candidate Donald Trump."

Despite his ideological implication that the dossier produced by Steelewho, he acknowledges, is an "ex-British intelligence officer"is a "Russian dossier," from official Russian intelligence, Meadows puts on the table some pertinent questions to be investigated, among them:

"Why did President Obamas campaign begin paying almost a million dollars to the very same firm the Clinton campaign used to fund the dossier? Why did they begin making payments in the very same month the Clinton campaign began paying for the dossier? "Why did President Obamas FBI attempt to pay Christopher Steele for the Russian Dossier? Why was President Obamas FBI involved in paying for a political project the Clinton campaign was orchestrating?"

Questions, as Rep. Meadows notes, which the FBI has refused to answer.
PRESS RELEASE

NASA Is Getting Ready To Test a Nuclear Reactor for the Moon and Mars

Nov. 15, 2017 (EIRNS)NASA will be performing, sometime this month, the first ground test of a new nuclear reactor that is designed for space missions, the agency announced on Nov. 13. NASAs Kilopower program is tasked with creating a small fission reactor that can provide electricity for use onboard a spacecraft, and on "land," on the Moon, and on Mars. NASAs first space nuclear program, which successfully flew a reactor in the mid-1960s, was cancelled in 1972 when the manned Mars mission was cancelled. But many of the facilities from then are being brought back into this program. The current Kilopower test will be run at the Department of Energys Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). In the 1960s, the reactors for the ROVER and NERVA NASA space nuclear programs were tested in facilities at Jackass Flats, which is in the southwest part of what today is the NNSS.

This first test of the new design with a nuclear reactor, rather than a simulation, will be done using a reactor core about the size of a paper towel roll, NASA explains. Inside will be uranium-235 fuel, and a Sterling piston engine will convert the fission heat to electricity. Development is a step-by-step process. This first test is aimed to produce tens of kilowatts of power. The scientists and engineers explain that the new technology could evolve into hundreds of kilowatts, and eventually, megawatts of electricity.

The researchers stress the benefits of a nuclear reactor for deep space exploration, as compared to solar, considering there are two weeks of night on the Moon without Sun, and dust storms on Mars, without very much Sun. Nuclear technology also can provide much higher potential power levels than solar, or the decay of radioisotopes, which are also used today for planetary missions. In a parallel effort, nuclear manufacturer BWXT was awarded a NASA contract in August to carry out design work on a nuclear thermal propulsion concept, with an efficiency double that of chemical rockets.

The 1960s space nuclear programs were cancelled when there was no vision, and no mission that required them. To power tomorrows missionsthe development of the Moon and the exploration of Marsnuclear technologies, including fusion, are prerequisite.
PRESS RELEASE

Petersburg Dialogue To Meet in Berlin

Nov. 15, 2017 (EIRNS)The German-Russian Petersburg Dialogue will convene in Berlin on Nov. 23, for the first time in four years moving somewhat out from the shadows, because it will be attended by Economic Ministers Brigitte Zypries of Germany and Maxim Oreshkin of Russia. The German refusal as of 2014 to attend with officials at a government level, under the pretext of the Ukraine crisis, had put a big question mark over the entire Dialogue format.

Whether the end of this German boycott signals a new start in bilateral relations, remains to be seen: The German co-chairman of the Dialogue, Merkels former Chancellery Minister, Ronald Pofalla, told Bildzeitung today that the repression against critics like Alexei Navalny showed that nothing has improved inside Russia in the past years; therefore, Germany has no greater expectations for this Berlin meeting, except that the dialogue is taking place.
PRESS RELEASE

Just Where Is Press Censorship Worsening?

Nov. 15, 2017 (EIRNS)The Russian Lower House of Parliament, the Duma, today quickly passedunanimouslya law which would allow the Russian government to require foreign news agencies which receive government funding to register as foreign agents. The bill is expected to pass the upper house equally rapidly.

The new Russian law was motivated explicitly as a response to the U.S. Justice Department requirement that the Russian news agency RT register as a foreign agent, in the midst of a wild drumbeat of anti-Russia hysteria created by the dying Anglo-American Establishment. RT must now file reports twice a year on its funding, finances, and staffing with the U.S. Department of Justice.

That didnt stop British intelligences Amnesty International from issuing a diatribe that the new Russian law means "Russian authorities will tighten their stranglehold on press freedom," because it could impose "onerous obligations to declare full details of their funding, finances and staffing."

The same day, Consortium News founder Robert Parry tore apart the tightening "censorship" being attempted in the United States against any "independent and dissident journalists and news outlets" which report anything deviating from the "mindless groupthink inside Official Washington." These get painted as

"some kind of traitorous Russian mole whose journalism must be purged from responsible media and who should be forced to wear the journalistic equivalent of a yellow star,"

he protests. (He cites, besides the RT action, the recent decision by HuffPost to remove an article by journalist Joe Lauria

"because he dared to point out that Democratic money financed the two initial elements of whats now known as Russia-gate: the forensic examination of computers at the Democratic National Committee and the opposition research on Donald Trump conducted by ex-British spy Christopher Steele.")

Yesterday, Nation editor Katrina van den Heuvel also warned that the RT registration requirement "is a threat to press freedom," a part of the U.S. political establishments "delegitimizing of dissent," and attempts to outlaw anyone and any story which deviates from its line that Russia is "a wholly malevolent actor" which threatens the U.S..

As Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) leader Ray McGovern noted in his denunciation of the press mockery of Trump published in Consortium News today, this witch hunt extends even to the President of the United States, who dared "introduc[e] the idea of a different kind of hack" in the 2016 election: the Brennan, Clapper, Comey kind of hack.
The first day of Kit Reeds advanced fiction class, sitting in the yellow Victorian house I would come to know simply as Lawn Avenue, was my first time for so many things. I had never been taught by a professor in her own home, for example, and I remember I couldnt stop looking at it all. I had never been in a home full of that much art, or with walls painted white or black, or in rooms full of chrome furniture, Lucite lamps, and mirrors there was an offhand glamour to it all that I loved from the start. This was the kind of home you hoped professors at Wesleyan University had, or at least I did, and I sat nervously, excited, aware that I was lucky to be there as she listed off her rules for the class. We had to turn in 20 pages every other weekshe ran the class like a boot campand she told us never to call her before noon, as she was writing and wouldnt answer.

Another first: Id never had a professor tell me I could call at all, and I dont know that any of them ever did tell me, besides her. It never occurred to me to call my professors outside of class. Her willingness to accept a call was an openness to another kind of connection and conversation with us, one that, for many of us, would go on for the rest of the time we knew her. The art in that house was from all over the world, and each piece had a story, either about a trip or a friend or a family member, or all three. I remember praising a painting in the hall by the stairs, and she told me a long story about it as the rest of the class looked on, hesitatingI could see they were wondering whether they had to listen. I didnt care. I was fascinated because she was the first person I knew who knew artists well enough that she could look at each piece of art and think of a friend, or of her husband, the artist and film scholar Joe Reed, a professor of English and American studies, a legend in his own right.



For the record: An earlier version of this story said Kit Reed died Sept. 27; she died Sept. 24.

I wrote an enormous amount, including a story that became part of my first novel, eventually published more than a decade later. She believed you had to get a lot of pages out to get to the good stuff of writing, and that the reason we had to write so much for her was that it was a long paper road to being a writer, and you may as well start. She was not precious in her praise but she praised things if she liked them, and if she thought you should get rid of a particular phrase or piece of writing, she would read it and then make a pistol with her fingers as if she had shot it. She hated to be bored by stories perhaps more than anything.

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She taught me that semester to treat writing like something you did, un-mystically, even when writing about magic, a task to be met regularly in ones office every day, as she did, for her three hours a day. She was reliably on a schedule, writing at the same time, eating at the same time, leaving for New York at the same time, returning to Middletown at the same time. If she saw movies she saw matinees, and she swam, for many decades, just about every day. She and her husband Joe owned many Scotties, dogs they always replaced as soon as one diedI believe there were always two, so one would never be lonely. It was like her to think about these things. The dogs had walks on a schedule too, which meant she and Joe did also. And so if you were passing through Middletown and called to see if you could see her, she could tell you the spots she had open in her schedule, down to the minute. And if this sounds put on, she used the schedule to write 39 works of fiction in the almost 60 years she wrote, while raising three children and teaching, and looking after all of us, her great big family of writers who were once her students.

The secret to the advanced fiction class was that it didnt ever end. Like many, I learned the class was the beginning, not the end, of my education with her.

Like many, I learned the class was the beginning, not the end, of my education with her.

I am ashamed to say I didnt know much about her when I signed up for her class. She was not the first author Id ever met but she was the first to have a full shelf of books with her name on them. Her career was always larger than I imagined, in part because there was so much teaching and writing, and she did more than anyone I knew. When I met her, shed been teaching at Wesleyan for 27 years. She had debuted with the novel Mother Isnt Dead, Shes Only Sleeping in 1961, a year after moving to campus with her husband Joe, who had accepted his job there the year previous. She was hired to teach writing almost immediately, first as a visiting assistant professor, then an adjunct professor, eventually a resident writer in 2008. She wrote and published literary fiction, horror, science fiction, mystery novels, true crimeall before it was cool to cross genresand was what she called trans-genred, a term Gary Wolfe memorialized for her in his introduction to her collected stories, The Story Until Now. Of her work, I will always remember her for Thief of Lives (the short stories collected in 1992), The Baby Merchant (2006), Enclave (2009), and Thinner Than Thou (2004).

She also wrote and published horror under the pseudonym Kit Craig, her maiden name, and had an online life she loved, as a part of a community called StoryMOO, where she also taughtand as near as I can tell from her descriptions, it was a sort of MMORPG for learning to write. She was instrumental in the formation of the creative writing program at Wesleyan, and often took part in the Wesleyan Writers Conference, but preferred a role behind the scenesno work she ever took on was allowed to interfere with her writing, a lesson she tried to drum into my brain like all the others I learned at her house.

Her wit was savage and unrehearsed, and elegant: she spoke in spontaneous paragraphs that were also arias.

Almost all of my major career decisions passed before her before I made them: She approved of me getting a job at Out magazineshe herself had been a reporter at the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times and the New Haven Register early in her career. She disapproved of my applying for an MFA, though she wrote me a recommendation letter anyway; she was happy to see me return to Wesleyan as a visiting writer, and sad when I left at the end of my post. She advised me on my teaching jobs thereafter with her vast store of institutional knowledgethe many ways of academia, and the ways writers survived inside of it.

When I sent the pages of my second novel to my agent for the first time, she wrote to me, in an email with the subject heading, you know the rule, right?

Youre not allowed to work on the early pages again until at least ten days after she gets back to you. So whatever particles have time to settle.This is a rule I SO try (and fail) to follow...lovely to talkxxxx

In addition to the rules, she had axioms, Kit Reed Axioms (they were branded), such as the one she sent me as I was leaving a difficult romantic relationship: MOVEMENT IS NOT ACTION. Leaving him was not enough. There was more to do. Like much of her advice, it applied to writing and life, and often came in all caps, spoken that way alsoin person she was capable of a sudden volume coming up out of her seemingly petite throat, as if inside of her was another dimension, where a larger, louder woman was shouting because the axiom or rule or point was important.

In person, she was a little like a small lion, upright: perfect posture, well-dressed, with a taste for bold color and accessories, always a little lipstick and a little mascara, her always red hair cut short as it had been since before I met her. She could summon a daffy smile and bright eyes that could make you laugh when she was clowning. Her wit was savage and unrehearsed, and elegant: she spoke in spontaneous paragraphs that were also arias, and at some point I realized this was just part of how she thought her way through life.

She wrote right up until the end79 years, having begun writing stories at age 6.

She was ahead of her time, an early adopter. Her young people had to keep up with her. We almost did but it took me decades to get close. She was on the internet before me and urged me to take it seriously for its potential as a tool for writers at a time when everyone else was acting like it was beneath them. My first Gmail to her in 2004 has me offering her a beta invite. She wasnt interested, as she had one already. We read comics together before they were called graphic novels, and exchanged them and emailed about them, and in the 28 years after I left Wesleyan, sat in her living room on my visits and talked about them too.

Whenever I stopped by to give and to hear the gossip, and to give and get advice, I didnt always do what she said but I appreciated that she cared enough to tell me, and that I was always welcome to come back to Lawn Avenue and tell her a good story. She loved to talk shop, and if I had questions she couldnt answer, she sent me to other writers. She did not discriminate by age with her friendswe were an all-ages show, this vast network of we who loved her, who came in and out of her kitchen for the tuna melts on English muffins, or the cookies, and the giant mug of iced tea.

The only times I saw her anywhere else was in New Yorkshe was also the first person I knew to belong to a social club thereand when I moved to the city, she would invite me to the club, and I would try not to break the rules, though my last photo of her was taken there, against the rules.

I had just given her my second novel, The Queen of the Night. Its hard to tell you what it meant to me to give it to her. I had spent 15 years working on it, and she was alternately kind or stern but she never lost faith in my talent, even when I had, and in that way, she was one of those people who held me up when I wasnt sure I could keep going. In the spring of 2015, at her club, when I put the galley in her hands, I think she was perhaps even happier than I was because I had at last proved her right about me. And this was one of the best gifts you could give herproving her right.

She died Sept. 24 in Los Angelesshe preferred us to use the word died instead of passedgoing in her sleep, under the care of her daughter, the writer Kate Maruyama, and her family. She wanted to be remembered as she wasno funeral, no wake. The only reason I can get away with writing this is because I will mention her last bookshed want us to plug her book Mormama, a novel that came out in spring from Tor Books. A last story appeared in Asimovs Science Fiction magazine, Disturbance In the Produce Aisle, the week she died. She wrote right up until the end79 years, having begun writing stories at age 6.

In 2009, she and Joe were honored with a labyrinth on campus at Wesleyan, built for them with funds raised by former students. I dont know that any of us anticipated the day we would go there without them because it is impossible to imagine the place without them. I know the house at Lawn Avenue is empty. I dont know that Ill ever be able to walk by it again. I think shed prefer if I just walk the labyrinthto use it as it was meantand to think of her as she was, as she is in my mind. If theres some better memorial to raise for her, well see, though I think we build it every daythe work we all do, we who studied with her and loved herwhich I suspect is what shed want most. For us to keep proving her right. A lot of being a teacher, she said at least once, is standing at the edge of the nest and going flap your wings like this, and I think this is true. But she often welcomed us back to the nest once we could fly.

From her example, I learned lessons on how to be ambitious enough to try and make history, and to just write regularly and draw boundaries around my work. I learned how to handle myself as a writer, as a teacher, and as a mentor to others. I have my own network of students helping each other out when I dont have answers now, and some of them studied with both of us. And as she got older, she taught lessons even how to do thathow to be married to another artist, how to age with him and both their careersor, nowhow to exit lifes stage with panache, and a last publication.

We love you, Kit. This last lesson: how to get along without you, the hardest one. Thank you, for everything.

Chee, one the Times Critics at Large, is the author of the novels The Queen of the Night and Edinburgh, and is a professor at Dartmouth College.
Its probably safe to assume that most of us have wanted to be a rock star at some point in our lives. The impulse is usually fleeting, however, and instead, we embrace the ritual of vicariously basking in the glory of the genuine article, the sort of glory that borders on rapture. Its been said a gazillion times, but the comparison is apt: Rock concerts really can be full-blown religious experiences, with a different sort of dogma  thousands of strangers worshiping together at the feet of a Christlike deity who howls like a banshee and most likely wears very tight trousers.

Why have we loved them so? They did things you didnt dare do with people you would never meet in places you could never afford to go, David Hepworth writes in Uncommon People: The Rise and Fall of the Rock Stars. Our favorite rock stars werent mere consumer preferences. They were markers of our identity.

Yet even as the author commemorates rock star majesty, he acknowledges an extremely inconvenient truth: Its over. The music has died. The age of the golden god has run its course. Sure, a few proud 70-plus ax-wielding geezers  Paul McCartney, Neil Young  still roam the Earth. And while their shows may be inspiring and sometimes even great, theyre also a painful reminder of a final fade to black. When the remaining septuagenarian gods shuffle into the permanent twilight (joining Lemmy, Prince and Bowie), theyll be taking their era with them, and only their holograms will remain.

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Uncommon People really sings when Hepworth connects rock n rolls evolutionary dots. The British music journalist and former presenter on BBCs Old Grey Whistle Test chronicles rocks most pivotal stars and moments from 1955-95, focusing on make-or-break flashpoints, including Buddy Hollys plane crash, Janis Joplin at Monterey and Live Aid. As the book moves methodically through rocks often sordid history, patterns begin to develop, as the layers of rock star template are unpeeled, revealing both its evolution and eventual de-evolution.

In some cases, there is little insight that can be added. What hasnt already been said about the Beatles, the Stones, Michael Jackson or Madonna? But even the most banal profiles offer valuable context. Little Richard kicked it off, but Jerry Lee Lewis was rocks first official bad boy, marrying his 13-year-old cousin and unapologetically flaunting her on a British tour, a scandal that sent his career into a death spiral from which he could never rise. Lewis, though, shattered behavioral taboos and inspired subsequent deviant deeds among rockers (see: Keith Moon, Axl Rose, Ozzy Osbourne).

Rocks aspirational pull took took hold as early as 1961 on Robert Zimmerman, a Jewish kid from Hibbing, Minn., who reinvented himself as the folkie Bob Dylan. Dylans calculation and self-mythologizing is grist for a dead-on assessment. What the career of Bob Dylan teaches is that if you develop the mystique of a great rock star, then you can ride out the rough patches of your career. Thats because the greatest investment is the myth itself. Once the myth is established, it allows you to perform a striptease act where you never need to take anything off.

If anything, Hepworth repeatedly illustrates that mythmaking is Rock Star 101. Nearly a decade after Dylan, Black Sabbath innovated the genre with a presentation rooted in the dark arts. Rather than entertain, the band sought to freak audiences out. You would stagger away from any live encounter feeling you had been ravaged and would not have had it any other way, he writes.

Even as the author commemorates rock star majesty, he acknowledges an extremely inconvenient truth: Its over.

In the decadent 1970s, where Hepworth finds an extended groove  from the Rolling Stones bacchanalian 1972 tour to the star-making money-hemorrhaging hype bestowed on David Bowie to Don Henley fetching cranberry-colored Lear jets to whisk Stevie Nicks to his side  this wasnt rock n roll. This was a rich guy flaunting his wherewithal to seduce women .

Yet Hepworth painfully explains that those moments on the mountaintop can be fleeting: In 1977, the members of Led Zeppelin were lusted-over deities, but a mere two years later, after the penetration of punk, they were a joke, old men in their 30s on the verge of obsolescence. The desperation was apparent on their last promo photos: Both Robert Plant and Jimmy Page wore skinny ties, an overt concession to the new generation. Their two dates at Knebworth, the last in Britain before drummer John Bonhams very rock star demise (choking on vomit) were a disaster. In the era of the Jam and Stranglers, this looked almost like historical re-enactment.

Social media and mobile phones turned fame into something more egalitarian, demystifying the concept of stardom itself.

Led Zeppelin is pitied, but Lou Reed is savaged. The chapter on Reed focuses on his post-Velvet Underground period when he briefly attempted to return to civilian life. Hepworth deliciously describes Reeds straight girlfriend at the time as someone who would deal with all the aspects of the world that were beneath his dignity, and also on hand to adore him when he was temporarily removed from the sunshine of his admirers acclaim.

Uncommon People winds through the much less interesting 80s and 90s, through the day-glo, commodified eras of MTV- and Live Aid-driven corporate sheen that spawned the likes of Madonna and Duran Duran. Guns N Roses, which had cannibalized rocks past wearing the uniform of hard rock that had been established a generation earlier, had chops, but their presentation screamed louder: Ambition had overtaken attitude.

By the time Kurt Cobains body was found in a pool of blood in 1994, the party was officially over.

Hepworths theories provide no great revelations: It was technology, he writes, that killed the rock n roll star. He points to the decline of physical product as one culprit  super-compressed sound files deflating much of the musics power and devaluing its worth, while killing the ritual of record store shopping.

Social media and mobile phones turned fame into something more egalitarian, demystifying the concept of stardom itself. Anyone with a cellphone can be a YouTube celeb. Besides, stars no longer want to be stars, bending over backward on Twitter and Instagram to seem normal (even if that means hiring someone to seem normal for them).

Now, at a time when the term rock star has been hijacked to describe anyone who isnt a lockstep conformist, someone perceived to describe a successful rebel and rule breaker in almost any field, Uncommon People serves as a loud reminder of the real deal, shining a bright floodlight on a beautifully flamboyant era rich with creativity and characters who deserve to live forever.

Himmelsbach-Weinstein is a Los Angeles writer and television producer. He blogs at valleyboy.net.

Uncommon People: The Rise and Fall of the Rock Stars

David Hepworth

Henry Holt: 320 pp., $30
Jesmyn Ward won her second National Book Award for fiction  for Sing, Unburied, Sing on Wednesday night at a ceremony in New York. She took the stage and looked down at her phone, explaining that she wasnt being rude  my speech is on my phone. She said that she had been rejected by gatekeepers who told her the characters she writes about  poor people, black people, Southerners  were not universal stories. But she thanked those in the room who read them, and who knew they were.

Masha Gessen took the nonfiction award for The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia. Gessen, a Russian American, began by saying, I had never thought a Russia book could be a finalist for the National Book Award, adding, but things have changed. Russia has been in the news since she undertook the project. It ended up being a book, she said, about the nature of a countrys turn away from democracy, about opportunities not taken, and things that didnt happen.

Masha Geesen, author of The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP )

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The prize in young peoples literature went to Robin Benway for Far From the Tree. Benway, a native Southern Californian, teared up as she thanked the judges, her fellow finalists and the authors on the longlist in the category. Far From the Tree is about family, Benway said, and thanked hers, including her brother. When she told him her fear  of she wrote something, what if no one liked it?  he replied, What if someone does?

The award in poetry went to Frank Bidart for Half-Light: Collected Poems, 1965-2016. Bidart, 78, is the eldest of the 20 finalists and spoke of his work as one long project. I thank you for honoring it.

Cynthia Nixon hosting the 68th National Book Awards. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images )

Hosted by actress Cynthia Nixon, the ceremony started with two pre-announced awards, and with a presenter who was recognizable to everybody. But Nixon valiantly introduced him as planned, even as the room took to its feet for a standing ovation. Please sit down while I tell you a little bit about the president, she said, Bill Clinton standing behind her with a grin.

Clinton presented an award to Dick Robinson, the president and CEO of Scholastic, which publishes childrens books that have long been a staple of classrooms. Scholastic has given hundreds of thousands of books to nonprofits that are getting books into the hands of lower-income children. Additionally, Clinton noted he was grateful to Robinson: He sent Hillary and me copies for the Harry Potter books so we didnt have to wait in line at the bookstore.

Robinson recalled with passion and conviction the myriad ways the company has spoke of the importance of reading for all, giving equal opportunity to children of diverse backgrounds across the nation. The future depends on all people having access to reading, literature and education, he said.

Author Annie Proulx was given the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, a lifetime achievement award for her work such as The Shipping News, Barkskins and Brokeback Mountain. She was presented the prize by actress Anne Hathaway, who appeared in the film adaptation of Brokeback Mountain. Hathaway didnt know Proulx personally, she said, but I do know her characters . I am haunted by them.

Annie Proulx at the 68th National Book Awards. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP )

Taking the stage, Proulx, who is 82, noted that she was getting a lifetime achievement award  and hadnt started writing until she was 58. She used the occasion of her speech to address not the world of letters, but the world at large, and humans role in it, lamenting environmental degradation and urging people do what they can on a small scale, close to home. We still hope and believe that we can save ourselves and our damaged earth, an incredibly difficult task, she said. The happy ending still beckons, and it is in the hope of grasping it that we go on.

carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com

@paperhaus
Federal regulators rolled back a series of decades-old regulations Thursday in a move that will make it far easier for media outlets to be bought and sold  potentially leading to more television broadcasters, newspapers and radio stations being owned by a small handful of companies.

A major beneficiary of the deregulatory moves, analysts say, is Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., the conservative broadcasting company seeking to buy Tribune Media Co. for $3.9 billion.

The regulations, eliminated in a 3-2 vote by the Federal Communications Commission, were initially put in place in the 1970s to ensure that a diversity of voices and opinions could be heard on the air and in print. But now those rules represent a threat to small outlets that are struggling to survive in a vastly different media world, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said.

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Few of the FCCs rules are staler than our broadcast ownership regulations, Pai said. By eliminating them, he said, the FCC finally drags its broadcast ownership rules to the digital age.

One long-standing rule repealed Thursday prevented companies from owning both a daily newspaper and a TV station in the same media market. Another rule blocked TV stations in the same market from merging with each other if the combination would leave fewer than eight independently owned stations.

The FCC also took aim at rules restricting the number of TV and radio stations any media company could simultaneously own in a single market.

That helps pave the way for Sinclair to acquire Tribune Media.

Sinclair, which already is the nations largest TV station group owner, has a reputation for injecting conservative commentary in local news.

If the Tribune Media deal goes through, Sinclair would end up with a total of 223 TV stations serving 108 markets, including 39 of the top 50, that cover about 72% of U.S. households. It would gain a presence in the top three TV markets: KTLA in Los Angeles, WPIX in New York and WGN in Chicago.

This has a huge impact, Andrew Schwartzman, an expert on media law at Georgetown University, said of the FCC vote. He said it will reduce or eliminate the need for Sinclair to sell off many stations in order to receive regulatory approval for the deal.

(Tribune Media was formerly Tribune Co., which owned the Los Angeles Times before spinning off its newspapers into a separate company in 2014.)

The FCC vote is the latest to ease regulations for the broadcast industry. It came the same day the agency approved the deployment of Next Gen TV, a new broadcast standard that is ultimately expected to lead to improved audio and video quality on over-the-air television, as well as targeted advertising. And it came a month after the FCC voted to stop requiring broadcasters to operate a physical studio in the markets where they are licensed.

The National Assn. of Broadcasters welcomed Thursdays vote.

These rules are not only irrational in todays media environment, but they have also weakened the newspaper industry, cost journalism jobs and forced local broadcast stations onto unequal footing with our national pay-TV and radio competitors, the trade group said in a statement.

Critics of the FCC repeal effort argue that the decision will lead to the concentration of power in the hands of a dwindling number of media titans.

Instead of engaging in thoughtful reform, Democratic FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said, this agency sets its most basic values on fire. As a result of this decision, wherever you live, the FCC is giving the green light for a single company to own the newspaper and multiple television and radio stations in your community. I am hard pressed to see any commitment to diversity, localism or competition in that result.

This week, Senate Democrats called on the FCCs inspector general to launch an investigation of the agency over concerns that its impartiality with respect to Sinclair had been tainted.

This merger would never have been possible without a series of actions to overturn decades-long, settled legal precedent by Chairman Pai, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and 14 other lawmakers said in a letter. The letter added that Pai has signaled his clear receptiveness to approving the Sinclair-Tribune transaction and in fact paved the way for its consummation.

The FCC didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Sinclair declined to comment.

In his remarks Thursday, Pai said it was utter nonsense that his agencys decisions on media ownership would lead to a company dominating local media markets by buying up newspapers and radio stations.

It will open the door to pro-competitive combinations that will strengthen local voices, he said, and better serve local communities.

Fung writes for the Washington Post. Times staff writer Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about what Sinclair would hold if its acquisition of Tribune Media goes through.

11:45 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details and background.

This article was originally published at 11:15 a.m.
The Pentagon is hiring Richard Branson to launch satellites to orbit.

His Virgin Orbit space company announced Thursday that it had won its first military contract: a demonstration flight that would carry technology demonstration satellites for the Air Force on its LauncherOne rocket by early 2019.

For years, Bransons Virgin Galactic has been focused on preparing to fly tourists to the edge of space, where they would experience a few minutes of weightlessness and glimpse the Earth from a distance for $250,000 a ticket.

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But recently, his space venture has moved in another direction: launching small satellites, a market that could be large and lucrative as satellite technology continues to improve. To meet the demand, Branson founded Virgin Orbit, which would fly commercial satellites that would beam the internet to remote parts of the world. On Thursday, the company announced the formation of a subsidiary, Vox Space, which will be dedicated to launching payloads for the Pentagon and intelligence community.

The contract comes as the military is increasingly looking for inexpensive and rapid access to space. Traditionally, launches of military satellites were a cumbersome and costly endeavor, costing tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. For a decade, there was a sole provider of Pentagon launch services, the United Launch Alliance, until Elon Musks SpaceX fought its way into the market.

But as satellites have gotten smaller, the Pentagon is looking to other companies to develop the technology to fly them quickly and affordably.

Earlier this week, Fred Kennedy, the director of the Tactical Technology Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, said that the military is in dire need of new thinking and innovation, and that our savior would be the growing commercial sector.

In an interview, Virgin Orbit Chief Executive Dan Hart said, We think that this is a real concrete indication of the governments drive to use commercial space, and the agility and affordability that we can provide.

To meet the demand, several small launch companies have taken off in recent years. DARPA is backing a Boeing effort to build a space plane that, if successful, would operate like a commercial airliner, capable of launching daily.

Rocket Lab has also developed a small rocket: Electron, which is scheduled to launch for a second test flight in New Zealand soon. A company called Vector, which was started by SpaceX alumni, also has a small launch vehicle that it says would eventually launch daily.

Earlier this year, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson visited Stratolaunch, the company founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which is building what would be the worlds largest airplane. The plane is so big, it would be able to fly three rockets to altitude, then release them so they could then launch into orbit.

Virgin Orbits LauncherOne rocket would also be air launched from an airplane, a 747 it calls Cosmic Girl.

Virgin Orbit is scheduled to fly satellites for OneWeb, a Branson-backed company that intends to put up a constellation of satellites beaming the internet from space.

Although the Pentagon may not provide as much business as commercial satellite manufacturers, Hart said that theres been a constant, steady message that the [Department of Defense] needs to become more agile, more affordable, drive innovation and pull it from the commercial industry. And we see ourselves perfectly positioned with all those.

Davenport writes for the Washington Post.
Silicon Valley investors love to fund companies that solve problems. But the start-ups that get funded arent always the ones tackling issues that are most pressing to the average American.

Venture capital firm and start-up incubator Kairos wants to change that with a $25-million fund announced Thursday.

Rather than backing companies that build products for the financially comfortable, such as $700 juicers or $1,499 tea infusers, it will fund companies looking to solve problems for the less comfortable: the shrinking middle class, people riddled with student debt, workers who have lost their jobs, and those worried about being able to afford childcare, retirement and healthcare as they get older.

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Bankrolled by Ankur Jain, a partner at Kairos best known for selling his contacts organizing start-up Humin to Tinder last year, the fund is relatively small compared with typical venture capital funds. But it is comparable to other pre-seed and seed funds, in which founders receive checks for only tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to get their businesses off the ground.

Although Kairos has not yet announced the companies that have benefited from its latest fund, Jain said it has been writing checks that range from $250,000 to $1 million to founders. Companies in the firms existing portfolio include those that tackle care for the aged, customer service and childhood nutrition.

Funded start-ups will gain access to an advisory board that includes MetLife Chief Marketing Officer Esther Lee; Michael Dubin, founder of Dollar Shave Club; celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz; Vicente and Marta Fox, the former president and first lady of Mexico; and Bobbi Brown, the founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

Tech is in some ways more powerful than government now, said Jain, who sees the fund as a way for Silicon Valley to solve some of the problems it either helped to create or exacerbate.

A lot of the anger in this last election was about jobs, and people were getting angry about immigrants, Jain said. More jobs have been lost because of technology than immigration.

The fund shares a similar philosophy to a growing number of venture capital firms  such as Kapor Capital in Oakland, Susa Ventures in San Francisco, and Trend Discovery in New York  that invest in companies that they believe can have a positive effect on society while also generating a return on investment.

But it also exists in part as a response to Silicon Valleys penchant to build products that solve problems for the wealthy.

In launching the fund, Jain took a swipe at the now-defunct start-up Juicero, which raised $120 million in venture capital funding to build a $700 juicer. The company went bust this year after a Bloomberg video showed that juice could be extracted just as easily by hand-squeezing Juiceros proprietary juice packets as with the $700 machine.

Some firms that have sought to solve seemingly trivial problems have also gone belly up. Teforia, the maker of the $1,499 tea infuser, went out of business in October after it failed to raise additional funds. The start-up had previously raised $17 million.

Other companies have recently come under fire for tone-deafness and announcing products perceived by the public to be out of touch.

A start-up created by two former Google employees found itself on the receiving end of social media vitriol when it announced in September a vending machine stocked with nonpersishable items that could be placed in gyms and dorms. After social media users lashed out, saying its name  Bodega  and its business model seemed intent on upending the humble corner store, the founders apologized. Still, the company had managed to raise $2.5 million, according to TechCrunch.

Were at an inflection point, said Michael Kocan, a partner at Trend Discovery, which has no relation with Kairos. You still have a lot of pitches [from founders] that are the next web app or mobile app, but were also seeing more pitches that combine hardware and data analytics to reduce problems like food waste.

Part of this change, Kocan said, is being driven by the fact that the low-hanging fruit of the start-up economy has, for the most part, been picked by the Facebooks, Googles, GrubHubs and Snapchats of the world. That means founders and funders are seeing less opportunity in creating another photo-sharing app or food-delivery service amid an increasingly crowded market.

Theres not as much profit to be made by making incremental web and mobile apps as there would have been in the past, Kocan said. But theres a lot of profit to be made solving problems for the middle and working class.

Another reason for the change: As socially conscious millennials decide to start companies or move into venture capital, theyre bringing with them their desire to work on something meaningful, said Seth Berman, a general partner at Susa Ventures.

The reality is that all people love a feel-good story and the satisfaction of working toward something bigger than themselves, Berman said.

Its what drives a lot of us, Kocan said. Theyve seen these challenges in their own lives, and now the tools are available and they want to be the ones to solve it.

tracey.lien@latimes.com

Twitter: @traceylien

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One of the best pieces of criticism Ive read this year appeared a couple of weeks ago on the Awl, the online journal best known for affectless and typically New York-centric takes on contemporary culture. (Co-founded by Choire Sicha, the new major-domo of the New York Times Style section, its now edited by Silvia Killingsworth.) The essay , by Sam Kahn, is largely about playwriting. Its called The Triumph of the Quiet Style.

Kahns argument has two basic threads. First, that the wildly influential Annie Baker and other younger playwrights, in a reaction against the testosterone-fueled approach of figures like Neil LaBute and David Mamet, are producing work that unfolds slowly, without rapid-fire dialogue or bombast  work that is, in a word, quiet. And second, that this sensibility (the dominant, most provocative, most interesting aesthetic of our time) increasingly can be glimpsed in art forms beyond theater, including fiction and film.

Theres no mention of architecture in Kahns essay, but its easy to see some parallels. For the last year or two, Ive been thinking about how best to sum up the most important emerging strain in contemporary architecture. This is an approach that rejects the hyperactive form-making of celebrated architects like Thom Mayne (very much the LaBute of his architectural generation), Daniel Libeskind, the late Zaha Hadid and others in favor of work that is spare, solid and unhurried.

As Ive noted before, theres something archetypal about this architecture. Its forms are basic, totemic: Euclidean shapes dredged from the long memory of the field. It sometimes relies on modules or grids. Its often monochromatic. Its post-digital, which means it rejects the compulsion to push form-making to its absolute limits that overtook architecture at the turn of the century. As a result, it sometimes looks ancient or even primordial. It never looks futuristic.

It is often architecture that has some weight, a palpable sense of mass or layers (as opposed to a highly photogenic skin). Its mostly produced by architects born in the late 1960s, the 70s and the early 80s. Its overriding characteristic is a sort of stillness. It is against virtuosity (at least the showiest kind). Its mostly made of stone, wood or concrete instead of glass and curving metal panels. Something Kahn says about Bakers work is also true of this architecture: It exists at room temperature. It occasionally slips past the spare into the plain or the generic, and from there to the intentionally or ironically banal. Its like some recent movements in fashion in that way.

Christ & Gantenbeins extension to the Swiss National Museum in Zurich, which opened last year. (Walter Mair)

The architects making work of this kind include the Chileans Mauricio Pezo and Sofia von Ellrichshausen, Portugals Aires Mateus and the Swiss firms Christ & Gantenbein and Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen. There are strong hints of the style in the architecture of Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee, who call their Los Angeles firm Johnston Marklee; Productora, a Mexico City firm that recently opened a small office in downtown L.A.; Tokyos Go Hasegawa; and New Yorks MOS and SO-IL, among many others.

Every name Ive just mentioned was included in this years Chicago Architecture Biennial, directed by Johnston and Lee, which made the event something of a coming-out party for the New Euclideans. It would be wrong to say the biennial as a whole was a celebration of knowing restraint  the youngest architects in the show brought a significant dose of color and restlessness  but theres some obvious tonal overlap between Kahns essay and Johnston and Lees show. Lee told me he wanted the biennial to have a a slow cadence.

Does this architecture sound boring? Im realizing that it probably sounds boring. There are certainly many architects (baby boomers and digital die-hards in particular) who feel that way. And critics: Among the most entertaining takes on this years biennial came from David Huber, who wrote in Artforum that the show was dominated by a loose network of architects, San Rocco-reading Europeans in their forties, [who] reject the razzle-dazzle of the digital in favor of an austere yet casual aesthetic of simple geometries. (The San Rocco reference, a perfect detail, is to a precocious architectural journal published in Milan.) In the end, Huber wrote, the biennial was an adventure in disengagement.  Architecture felt small, isolated, gutless, and inconsequential.

A rendering of the Menil Drawing Institute by Los Angeles firm Johnston Marklee, due to open in Houston next year. (Johnston Marklee & Associates)

I for one think architects should embrace the boring charge. As with Baker and other playwrights, the spirit of this new work, its power, comes in part from what its reacting to  the overloud, overwrought, mostly male voices it has already managed to mute. (The emerging style, much of it coming from firms co-founded by women, seems well suited for the post-Weinstein moment.) We had a full generation of pyrotechnic architecture, produced by celebrity designers who sold spectacle to ready audiences and credulous critics. You could make a good case that buildings of that kind dominated architecture even more than manic playwriting dominated theater.

Theres something encouraging about how measured and well-considered the response to that work has been from younger architects. Room temperature is exactly right. This isnt ice-cold minimalism, architecture plunged into a deep freeze after years of running too hot. Its unruffled. The only thing it tries hard to do is not to try hard.

These architects are making a point of working without the cynicism that began a few years ago to color the work of Maynes firm and others. As Kahn puts it, theres something Quakerish in this sensibility. This helps blunt Hubers suggestion of austerity: The new architecture is lean more as a result of finding strength in basic but substantial forms than in defiantly going without. This isnt a hunger strike. Its closer to a calm expression of faith in architecture itself.

How long the unhurried approach will stick around is among the most intriguing questions to ask about architecture at this moment. Is it best understood as a transitional style? (Lee has described the new ethos as momentary, a chance for architecture to get resituated.) If so, how soon might it fade and what might it lead to?

I dont mind waiting a bit for the answers to those questions. If theres one thing linking the quiet style in theater to architectures new reticence, after all, it is not just a tolerance for the sound of ones own thoughts and the audible ticking of an existential clock but an appetite for them.

The Teotitlan del Valle Community Cultural Center in Oaxaca, Mexico, by Prodoctura (Luis Gallardo)

Baker herself put it this way in a recent interview: Silence and stillness are very exciting to me. I feel so over-stimulated and bored by a lot of the theater I see these days because of the breakneck speed at which its performed. Theres this obsession with pace, and I think its because were terrified of boring audiences that are used to looking at the internet while watching TV while talking on their iPhone. Also, when it feels like nothing is taboo anymore  we can have sex and violence onstage and no one blinks an eye  I think the one thing left that really makes people uncomfortable is empty space and quiet.

Replace pace with form and Bakers critique of playwriting could be a critique of architecture over the last two decades. Its a critique that reveals the vainest sort of celebrity architecture as a kind of sitcom, sticking close to well-worn, crowd-pleasing formulas, with those credulous critics (and there were a lot of them, more than enough to fill a studio audience) providing the laugh track. As Nikolaus Pevsner wrote about an earlier impulse in architecture, toward modernism: If the new style is bare, if it goes straight to the point, there are reasons for it.

A boring building in 2017 is a building with something meaningful to say. To think of it merely as a pendulum swinging back toward a more balanced architecture is to underestimate it. It is also a wrecking ball (another solid and monochromatic form, a basic shape, an archetype) taking down a sensibility, a kind of machismo and self-satisfaction, that desperately needed razing  one that was taking up too much space and blocking too much sunlight, that was giving other kinds of architecture very little chance to grow. And it is doing so as wrecking balls do: at a deliberate and tireless pace, making sure the site is cleared, the old building reduced to dust, before it finishes its work.

christopher.hawthorne@latimes.com

Twitter: @HawthorneLAT

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At first, Erin Courtneys play A Map of Virtue presents itself as a quirky love story: Sarah (Megan Branch) and Mark (Sam T. West) stand side by side onstage and deliver alternating accounts of the first time they saw each other, as if answering an unseen interviewers questions.

They speak hesitantly, naturalistically, with wry humor. If love is a matter of shared interests, theyre a perfect match. Both are fascinated by birds and symmetry, obsessions that also run through this experimental drama, which won an Obie Award in New York in 2012 and is being revived here by a new L.A. theater company, Barker Room Rep, at Atwater Village Theatre.

A paranormal event prevented Mark and Sarah from meeting that first day, they explain, but they ran into each other again, and then again, in unexpected places, recognizing each other every time but never quite meeting. Along the way Marks small bird statue, a token of a childhood trauma, found its way into Sarahs pocket. Her ensuing compulsion to create paintings of the bird statue brought her fame and fortune but offended Mark to the point of vandalism. Rather than lovers, they had somehow turned into enemies.

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But Mark and Sarah finally do meet  and, anticlimactically, become friends. Sarah has a husband, Nate (Donald Rizzo), and Mark has a boyfriend, Victor (Ryan Ashton). A scene in which Sarah and Mark make small talk with Nate at a party seems disappointingly mundane. But then the three of them accept an invitation to another party from someone named June (Mary Jane Gibson), who turns out to have a weird boyfriend named Ray (Ian Merrigan), and things get really freaky.

Playwright Courtney and her director, Mark Sitko, both studied at Brooklyn College under the playwright Mac Wellman, whose work rebels against stodgy theatrical conventions like, oh, plot and character, and who has influenced younger writers including Annie Baker, Young Jean Lee and Sarah Ruhl. Sitko founded Barker Room Rep, named after the room at Brooklyn College where Wellman meets with students.

Accordingly, A Map of Virtue chucks familiar storytelling techniques in favor of formal and thematic exploration. Its a kind of staged poetry. Scenes are arranged in a symmetrical pattern, designed to mirror each other on either side of a central event, like a birds wings.

The story is narrated by Marks bird statue, portrayed by actor Michael Rahhal in an arresting, skimpy costume (by Randal Sumabat). The bird statue recites terzanelles, a type of poem with a fixed number of lines and a strict rhyme scheme. (It wouldnt be surprising to learn that the script itself can be read as a terzanelle.) Bird imagery is laced throughout: bird tattoos, bird head masks, interesting facts about birds, even birdcalls. Sound designer Bobby McElver, of the Wooster Group, has weaved an ominous, rumbling soundscape of slowed-down birdsong played through subwoofers, which the audience can feel pulsing through the seats.

Its not always as easy, though, to find an emotional connection to A Map of Virtue. Often the dialogue is quite funny in an offbeat way, as when Nate remarks, toward the end of a harrowing experience, If we hadnt just been kidnapped, this would be a great weekend getaway.

But overall, the clinical rigor of the plays structure, the randomness of its events and the low-key affect of its performers make it more intellectually compelling than entertaining; this is apparently the point. Plays like this are supposed to thwart our expectations and leave us disoriented, stripped of our stifling preconceptions about the purpose of theater. All right: Mission accomplished. Now what?

         

A Map of Virtue

Where: Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday (ends Saturday)

Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Info: www.atwatervillagetheatre.org

Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

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The Los Angeles Philharmonics spring news earlier this year that its longtime president and CEO, Deborah Borda, was departing for New York sent the arts world spinning. Since then, one question has hung  or rung, like a symphonic triangle  in the air: Who would replace her?

The L.A. Phil answered that question Thursday by announcing that Simon Woods will become chief executive.



For the record: An earlier version of this article said Woods title with the L.A. Phil will be president and chief executive officer. His title will be chief executive officer.

Woods comes to Los Angeles from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, where he has served as president and CEO since May 2011. Prior to that, he was chief executive of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

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Borda led the L.A. Phil for 17 years, transforming the orchestra into a financially secure, internationally renowned institution  which was part of the appeal for Woods, he said in an interview.

Everybody in our business has watched over the past 15 or 20 years as the L.A. Phil has gone from strength to strength, Woods said. It has grown into this extraordinary artistic entity thats redefining how orchestras think and behave in their communities. And the prospect of being part of that was an exciting one.

The London native was also drawn to the city of Los Angeles, a place he called more of a global city that it ever has been. L.A. has become one of the great cultural hubs of the world  and the L.A. Phil factors into that.

The orchestras board chair, Jay Rasulo, said Woods was a natural fit for the organization.

We set out to find a new CEO who embodied the values of the Los Angeles Philharmonic: musical excellence, innovation and social outreach. And Simon has demonstrated in his career that he has each of those in spades, Rasulo said. In Seattle, he not only improved the reputation of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra artistically, but he also demonstrated his desire to make it a real civic citizen.

Woods will oversee an organization with an operating budget of $125 million this year and which recently announced a $500-million fundraising campaign in conjunction with its centennial season plans. When asked about his vision for the orchestra, Woods noted the centennial plans.

This is a mature, successful, thriving organization. The depth of talent, the quality of thinking, the clarity of vision  you see all of that in the centennial plans that were just announced, Woods said. My leadership approach is all about empowering people around me, facilitating the organization being successful and building connections around the community. It will come in due course what the vision is.

Woods previously served as president and CEO of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and vice president of artistic planning and operations at the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also worked as a record producer with Londons EMI Classics from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.

Simon has a wonderful reputation, a great knowledge of music, a passion for music education, Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel said in a statement. And [he] understands the intricacies of an organization as complex and unique as the LA Phil. I am very much looking forward to working with him as we head into our second century.

Woods takes his post on Jan. 22.

deborah.vankin@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @debvankin

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Weathering change is one of the biggest tests of any relationship. Often the shift has to do with money or housing or pregnancy. For young couple Fiona and Alice, its even more fundamental; it goes to the very core of their identities.

The news  which launches an absorbing play called Rotterdam  emerges late one night as the pair banter about an email that Alice is agonizing over. Its topic: revealing to her parents that shes a lesbian. When she finally lets Fiona have a look, Fiona is so struck by the emails forthrightness that she feels compelled to share something shes kept private during their half-dozen years together. Grasping for the right words, she stammers out: I think Im meant to be a man.

The 2015 play by Englishman Jon Brittain joins a growing and absolutely essential list of shows about transgender lives. Brittain, a straight, cisgender 30-year-old, approaches the topic with tremendous empathy, envisioning characters who are fallible yet loving, always doing the best that they can as they try to find the way forward.

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Winner of a 2017 Olivier Award in London and buzzed about in a festival appearance in New York this year, Rotterdam arrives in Los Angeles in a pitch-perfect staging at the Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz. Working with a gifted young cast, director Michael A. Shepperd, whose credits include the recent The View UpStairs at the Celebration, mines the plays rich specificity in a production that often feels like a rom-com yet plunges so deeply into the heart of the matter that we respond with whole catalogs of emotion.

The storys central couple, in their late 20s, are different yet complementary. Alice (portrayed by Miranda Wynne) is the sort who has to think things through, then think some more. Fiona (Ashley Romans) seems much more decisive. They are English yet live in Rotterdam, the Netherlands  a place that has become as much a state of mind as anything else. Alice realizes that she should return to England to face her parents and wholly acknowledge her love for women among people who know her, but she resists, hiding away in another country.

Then comes Fionas news. You know this doesnt change anything between us, Fiona says to Alice, hoping for assurance. But so much is changing.

Fiona brings home binders to flatten her chest. Alice helps put one on, which requires almost a hug as she reaches around Fiona to tug at it. Love, longing and loss all play across Alices face. Fiona turns to look in a mirror and stares in wonder at the transformation.

Brittain, whose transgender friends inspired him to write the play, read extensively, interviewed transgender people and became involved with a nonprofit gender diversity group.

Fiona takes the name Adrian and dresses more masculinely. Scared yet increasingly self-assured, he becomes ever more himself.

As Fionas pronoun changes, Alice wrestles with her own identity, with which she was only just beginning to be comfortable. If she loves a man, what does she call herself now?

The couple dont live in a vacuum, of course. With them on the journey is Josh (Ryan Brophy), who has complex ties to both. And theres Lelani (Audrey Cain), Alices flirtatious colleague at work, radiating the boundless confidence of youth.

Jeff McLaughlins set design evokes the Rotterdam cityscape, complete with the cables of the Erasmus Bridge. The buildings, which are the same height as the actors, are cleverly engineered to transform into whatever furnishings are needed, whether in an apartment or a market.

Shepperds staging is so crisp that even the between-scenes set changes have a choreography to them.

The characters strive to celebrate each other, even if it causes them to let go of something.

Its important to remember that this is just one story. As with any community, there are many possible journeys in the transgender community.

But Adrian touches on something universal when he says: I dont want to change the world. I just want people to see me the way I want to be seen. The way I am.

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Rotterdam

Where: Skylight Theatre, 1816 N. Vermont Ave., L.A.

When: 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Mondays; ends Dec. 11

Tickets: $20-$41

Info: (213) 761-7061, skylighttheatrecompany.org

Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

daryl.miller@latimes.com

Twitter: @darylhmiller

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Costume designers understand better than most how clothes make the man  and the woman  in movies. Every item of clothing, accessory or pair of shoes tells the audience something it didnt already know about the characters parading around the screen. But thats not entirely a function of either the actor wearing them or the costume designer who created the look: Its truly a team effort. Here are four teams who are dazzling us this awards season, sharing how they came together to create memorable looks.

Wonderstruck

Julianne Moore (Lillian/Rose)

Sandy Powell, costume designer

The players: Having worked on two previous period films together (Far From Heaven, The End of the Affair), Powell and Moore slipped into gear so the Oscar-winner could play both Rose (circa 1970) and Roses mother, Lillian (circa 1920). Sandy always starts with shape, especially with vintage things to see what works for you and the time period, and then she builds the color in, says Moore. She was actively disappointed because I didnt change [costumes] in this film much!

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Clothing challenge: Among her designs, Powell created a cotton canvas tunic top and cream cigarette pant trousers for the older Rose, but with a subtle reference to a sailor outfit the younger Rose wears elsewhere in the film. The whole process is one of collaboration, she says. Its about working with someone to achieve a goal. Julianne and I worked together to make her characters come to life.

Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders 

Murder on the Orient Express

Kenneth Branagh (Hercule Poirot)

Alexandra Byrne, costume designer

The players: As both director and star, Branagh spoke with Byrne early on about his characters costume, working out those details before moving into the rest of the casts outfits. We intentionally talked about the Poirot costumes early in the process, because once he started on the production he would be swamped, recalls Byrne, who has worked on Branaghs Hamlet and Thor, among other films. Costume forms part of the ritual that helps you assume the character, says Branagh. Its the beginning of playing the part.

Clothing challenge: Poirot is introduced in evening wear, complete with a coat, cape, hat, patent leather shoes and a cane. Theres a crispness to the entire ensemble that marks out the silhouette of this famous character, says Branagh. But Poirot was not a wealthy man, and that meant keeping clothes to his class, which Byrne says was all-important in this 1930s Britain. We wanted him to have a bit of flamboyance and an immaculate quality, without it being too wealthy. Everything had to be pared down  functional, but also with personal style.

Wonder Wheel

Justin Timberlake (Mickey Rubin)

Suzy Benzinger, costume designer

The players: Benzinger says designing for men in movies is often easier than women, and found Timberlake particularly easy to work with. Guys dress for comfort in the movies and in real life. Justin had a natural curiosity about so many things. Meanwhile, Timberlake had nothing but praise for his designer: Shes a master at her craft, and has so many great ideas for my character.

Clothing challenge: Timberlake warned Benzinger that they might have a costume issue. I told her I was going to probably lose 10 to 12 pounds before we started shooting, says Timberlake. A lifeguard back then was a slender, smaller man. So we had to refit all of my pants. And pants were surprisingly important to portray a Greenwich Village-living, Coney Island-working writer/lifeguard, specifically a wide-leg, high-waist pair of chinos. Theyre cut exactly as they were cut then, says Benzinger of Timberlakes clothing. A designer is lucky to have Justin Timberlake wear their clothes. He looks so natural, and so great. That said, there was one particular item of hidden clothing Timberlake suggested really helped keep him in character: We wore vintage underwear from the actual period, he says. Something youd never know!

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Victoria & Abdul

Judi Dench (Queen Victoria)

Consolata Boyle, costume designer

The players: Dench and Boyle had advantages coming to Victoria & Abdul: The actress had played Queen Victoria in 1997s Mrs. Brown, and she and Boyle had worked together on 2013s Philomena. Theres nothing that Consolata doesnt know about modern or period dress, says Dench. Youre able to hit the ground running with [Dench], says Boyle. She knows how to use costume, and shell tell you exactly what she feels.

Clothing challenge: Black-clad Victoria, still in mourning after Prince Alberts death, was made brighter with ribbons and lace that catch the light, says Boyle. But early in the film she attends a state dinner in full regal regalia  including an extremely long train. Its emblematic of so much that was limiting for Victoria at the time, says Boyle. This frail woman, wearing a dress with all these embellishments. What does Dench remember about that outfit? Just her 16-year-old white dog Minnie racing around on the train during fittings.

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Angelina Jolie and Loung Ung are sitting in a conference room in the confines of Netflixs shiny new Hollywood offices. It seems like any other day and, in many ways, for these longtime friends this interview is exactly that, another opportunity to make sure the world doesnt forget the horrors that occurred in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime. Its a mission that wont end for either of them anytime soon.

Not only have the two women known each other for more than a decade, they are bound by their shared collaboration, the epic film First They Killed My Father. The film, released in September, adapted Ungs 2000 fictionalized retelling of her familys experiences. The celebrated work chronicles Ungs childhood under the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1970s. Jolie directed the picture, which is Cambodias official entry for the foreign language Academy Award, and co-wrote the screenplay with Ung.

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Until she helmed the 2011 Bosnian war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey Jolie bluntly admits she never saw herself as a filmmaker. It was after that film, however, that she began to wonder what types of stories she should tackle next. And thats when she remembered her friend Ungs novel and realized it was a story her son Maddox, whom she adopted from Cambodia, needed to experience.

It wasnt like, What would make a cool movie? It was really, What do I feel I want to spend years of my life on? What matters? What has affected me? It was very clear to me it was that book, Jolie says. And as Maddox [was] growing up, I really need him to understand [what happened] and felt the country hadnt been speaking about it. Its not as open and discussed as it should be.

The longer Jolie and Ung converse, the easier it is to understand the friendship between them. The pair first met while they were both stuck in a monsoon while Jolie was on a humanitarian mission in the Cambodian countryside. Years later, Jolie asked Ung if shed be interested in a movie version of her book and if shed want to do a pass with her on the script. According to Ung, figuring out the storyline began over a three-day stint at Jolies home.

One item from the novel Jolie recalls insisting be included in the film was the blue shirt Ungs mother hid for her children so they would never forget her or their lives before the Khmer Rouge took over the country. And, in fact, that shirt still exists today in a fire-proof safe in the Vermont home of Ungs brother.

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The kids overheard it and then they surprised her with a gift of a blue silk shirt, Jolie recalls of her children. They would throw her random birthday parties because she doesnt know her birthday.

Ung had explained to Jolies kids that she doesnt know the date of her birth because records were destroyed, but that her brother wrote it down as April 17.

The day the Khmer Rouge took over the country, Ung clarifies. I never felt that could sound right. When youre turning 16, you want to have a 16th birthday party, but you know around the world people are lighting candles and remembering 2 million lives lost. How do you actually have a cake?

Jolie adds, We give her new [birthday dates] every year. We were talking about it just yesterday, trying to figure out when your next one is.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Jolie and Ungs screenplay is how little exposition there is. Almost the entire story is seen through the eyes of young Loung, played by Sareum Srey Moch.

The tricky thing about this one was you cant know that much more than she knows, and shes a child, Jolie says. You cant know her inner thoughts, which a lot of the book [allowed you to] fill in the politics because you could write what was going on or inner thoughts. You cant use that. We decided no voice-over. We have to just be her and even if theres a whole section where she doesnt understand whats going on and the audience is confused, so is she.

That journey finds the movies depiction of Loung trekking through forests and rice fields where millions of urban Cambodians were sent to work as the authoritarian regime attempted to turn the clock back and remove all Western influence from the nation.

When you have other wars, you have prison camps and they have walls. In Cambodia, the whole country was a prison, Jolie says. There were no walls. Theres nowhere to go to be safe. The entire country became a prisoner.

The heartache of the Khmer Rouge era still brings back painful memories for many, but when it came to film the scenes where Cambodians were ordered to evacuate Phnom Penh, the capital city, Jolie was taken aback by what the survivors wanted to teach their children.

Even with the exodus scenes, the extras, that they came as families as well, Jolie says. They brought their own kids. I was talking to some extras who remember the first evacuation that they did. Now theyre bringing their kids and grandkids, to show them what it was like. That was touching.

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The version of In the Fade that lives today is not the movie writer and director Fatih Akin originally intended to make. He had a screenplay, he had financing, but he knew it just wasnt right. And what he decided to do is almost unheard of.

I was completely financed, and I didnt like what I wrote so I skipped it, Akin says. I gave all the money back. And did two other films in between.

The first incarnation centered on a German man seeking revenge for a terrorist attack inspired by real-life attacks by Neo-Nazi groups against Turks living in Germany, where justice apparently wasnt served in the courts. Akin says friends who read that script always had problems with the heros motivation. That is until he decided to change the lead to a mother who lost her child and husband in a bombing.

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Akin is well aware that the Nazi march in Charlottesville, Va., in August has put the activities of such groups front and center in the United States. He notes, It confirms that it matters. And it confirms certain things, which are said in the screenplay. These were based on research. I did my homework. I know that there is a network of international Neo-Nazis. Theyre bound together.

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Diane Kruger plays the mother and eventual heroine in Fade, and her harrowing performance took home the best actress prize at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. The German-born actress felt it was a relevant film when they were shooting it, but had no idea how timely it would become just a few months after its premiere.

We see lots of films that are about terrible incidents and terrorist attacks, but we really rarely hear about the people that have to live with this terrible incident, that have to stay behind and that are trying to get justice for what happened, Kruger says. I think that its a very emotional film and a very personal film. I really was attracted to the fact that its a very international subject in a way even though its in the German language. And I felt like Fatih was the right director to bring this movie to life and elevate it.

Kruger says playing Katja was the hardest thing shes ever done, but that she knew what she was getting into with Akin at the helm. She notes, Fatih is the kind of director that demanded that I take a long time to prep for this. I really, really jumped off that cliff with him. I prepped for at least six months for this role.

It wasnt just the preparation or the fact the role itself was so taxing. Kruger was so exhausted after production wrapped that it took her five months to even consider taking another project.

There was never a moment where I felt I could release some of the tension, Kruger says of the production. And then you know how life is. While we were filming my stepdad passed away and so I was feeling a lot of personal grief myself. [It was] the darkest time in my adult life that I can remember for many reasons and it just so happened that life and my job collided. I mean I can see it in the movie for sure. I know the moments where I can see the darkness that I was in personally.

Not only does Krugers character have to deal with the death of her son and husband in the films first act, but a very public trial where a smart defense lawyer uses her own actions to try to demonstrate his clients innocence. Kruger displays a raw emotion and utter loss during some of these courtroom scenes that she also saw in the eyes of the many, many people shed met with that had a family member in similar bombing attacks.

There were these unresolved emotions because they never got to say goodbye to their loved ones, Kruger recalls. Especially when [there wasnt] a real body to bury. And I dont know. It was something that over months and months creeped up inside of me.

Akin could see how taxing the role was for Kruger, and shooting the film in chronological order didnt make it any easier.

The scenes where she had to express the most, like the breakdown and all that, [were] in the very beginning, Akin says. And it was very exhausting for her and for me too, because she was so focused. She was so concentrated. I never met such a focused or a concentrated actor in my whole life.

Speaking almost a year from when principal photography commenced, Kruger says she still feels the weight of the empathy she felt for her character and the people she met who went through tragedies similar to the recent Manchester and Las Vegas attacks.

Every time something like this happens, I get this overbearing sense of responsibility and I really understand without it having happened to me personally what those families go through and what it takes to continue living, Kruger says. So I dont know, its a movie that means the world to me.

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In town for both a quick respite and to talk about her lauded, summer-released film, Beatriz at Dinner, actress Salma Hayek is dressed in a chic black pantsuit, an apricot-pink ruffled blouse and killer high black platform shoes (to help offset her height, 5 feet, 2 inches). Mexican-born and married to multibillionaire French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, the multi-homed thespian (she lives in London, with homes in Los Angeles, Paris and an animal-rescuing ranch in Washington State, Yes, Im a gypsy,) clearly enjoys working.

On a bright orange velvet banquette inside Sunset Boulevards Estrella restaurant, Hayek discusses her film, with legs tucked beneath her. The film, written by Mike White, tells the story of a Mexican activist who by happenstance ends up at a dinner party with a group of wealthy, white businessmen, one of whom, a character played by John Lithgow, is a hunter and developer  and perhaps the man who destroyed Beatrizs home village.

Can you tell us how the project started?

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Mike came to me and said, I have an idea for a movie Id like to do. Ok, what is it? Its a dinner. OK. What do I play? Its just a dinner. And no matter what I said, the answer was, Its a dinner. So, I said, Absolutely. He went home and wrote it in a couple weeks time. It was around the time of [the killing of] Cecil the Lion.

 Salma Hayek, John Lithgow and Connie Britton star in Beatriz at Dinner.

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Youve mentioned that for you this film is about spiritual inequality. Can you explain?

I dont remember those exact words, but to me its about the inequality between a commitment to the planet and other people or not. Beatriz has it and John [as businessman Doug Strutt] doesnt. Thats how I see it. Seeking survival as a race and as the caretakers of the planet versus personal survival.

Thats the tension between those two characters and between those two opposing views. They were also the only two people who were not hypocrites. Would you agree?

What I found out through doing the film and which Im grateful for the film teaching me is how both sides of that equation have a very strong place. Theyre both looking and have a nostalgia about a place where things are good and pure and safe. She thinks its her home; going back to being a little girl and nature and home. He looks for it in hunting. Its almost a spiritual thing for him, its so primal. Listen to how he speaks about it.

As disconnected as Strutt was, in a way he understood your character, or at least tried to.

He had a clear point of view about life and was ready to defend it. My character just couldnt find things to respect him by and so I think he was kind of attracted to that because he was used to charming himself into things. Narcissism and self-centeredness is dangerous and a big challenge. As we can currently see.

About the ending, without giving things away, I thought when Beatriz realized she had the killer in her, she needed to cleanse herself in the ocean. Others have a different interpretation. What was your intent as you played it?

That was my intent because we were working off the water as being much more symbolic. But its important for the filmmakers that its left open for everyone. And even if youre disappointed with the end -- some people love it, some people hate it, there are so many interpretations -- we did our job right. If we pretended we know how to fix this separation between the two ideologies that we are living daily in this country that would be pretentious. And not as interesting. What would make me the happiest is if you walk out of the theater wanting to solve it, that it provokes you to think, not just like you always think but maybe now with a consideration for the other part.

Its a thinkers film versus simply an eye candy movie 

And, by the way, I was really happy not to be the eye candy this time. (Laughs)

I was really happy not to be the eye candy this time.  Salma Hayek

And knowing how you like fashion, how did you feel about a film where all the action is in one day and you have only one costume the entire movie?

I loved it. You dont have to worry or think about it, you dont have to go put the makeup on, you dont have to look good. I just became the part very soon and I never thought about it again.

Youve been inside Hollywood for a long time. With all the sexual harassment issues coming out right now, do you have any thoughts on whats going on?

I do, but I dont really know how to answer you because I have so many Ive tried to write something for a month, and its so disturbing I cant even write it. I dont know if I can use words when Im still trying to figure out how to express all the things I think about what is happening. All I can say is its part of a bigger problem, and that is the devaluation of women in the industry and this is why we fight for equality.

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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.
Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund might be making some of the most serious comedies in the world today, movies that combine outrageously funny satire with provocative big ideas. His latest, The Square, forces audiences to consider how they might react to an escalating series of awkward interactions, in spaces both intimate and public, as a self-regarding museum curator (Claes Bang) finds himself swept up in a growing scandal. The film also stars Elisabeth Moss as an American journalist and Dominic West as a well-known artist. Terry Notary appears as a performance artist in the films most talked-about scene, where he disrupts a fancy black-tie gala by acting like a gorilla.

The film is a witty examination of privilege and power that won the prestigious Palme dOr at this years Cannes Film Festival and is now competing as Swedens submission for the foreign-language Academy Award. Ostlunds previous film Force Majeure, which was nominated for a Golden Globe and made Oscars foreign-language shortlist, likewise couched ethical questions within the context of a comedy-tinged drama. Also a professor of film at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, in conversation Ostlund is both playful and thoughtful, just as his movies are.

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Why did you want to have an English-language role in the film? And how did you come to cast Elisabeth Moss?

I didnt want any English language in the film. But then I did a casting session in London with Elisabeth and a lot of other actors. I really didnt want to have an English-speaking actor in the film, but she was so good it ended up if I didnt say yes to her Im doing the wrong thing as a director. And then the story is in the arts and its a little bit international and so you can expect that some people speak English.

The film has an unusual mix of comedy and drama. Were there any specific films that were an influence on the tone?

I would say there are many different films. The Great Beauty, because it was wild. I thought it was very inspiring to see that movie. And Id say [Michael] Haneke at the same time. I would say [Luis] Bunuel, the approach that he has. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, that title is fantastic. So maybe the combination of Haneke and Bunuel and The Great Beauty in order to point out the inspiration. But what I really would love is if I could find a style that people consider Ruben Ostlund style, of course. That is throwing the audience from one moment being entertained and the next moment not knowing if youre allowed to react in this way, being horrified and then suddenly very embarrassed. To really have a big dynamic range of where you can go emotionally in the film and youre never safe, so you dont know, am I allowed to laugh about this? I would love to try to find that style.

Swedish director Ruben Ostlund upon winning the Palme dOr (Golden Palm) award for the movie The Square during the Cannes Film Festival awards in May. (Photo by Sebastien Nogier / EPA-EFE/Shutterstock )

It seems refreshing for a movie this funny to win the Palme dOr.

I think its beautiful. And I think theres actually a movement going on in Europe a little bit. That when you have content you think is important, youre dealing with it in an entertaining way. Yorgos Lanthimos, Maren Ade and I think [my] films also are like an avant-garde when it comes to a new approach to European cinema, where we dont have to be pretentious. We can be wild and crazy and still have content that is important. So I also think its natural that it wins the Palme dOr because [last year] Maren Ade with Toni Erdmann swept the floor and then we started to ask ourselves questions, why didnt this film win the prize? It was like saying prizes should only go to this old idea about what is cinema art. So I really, really hope this is something that will come even more.

There is a way in which your movies are almost sociological experiments, forcing viewers to ask what they themselves might do in certain situations.

Its funny, I met Larry David yesterday. And he is a master of when it comes to What would you do. And I think a lot of my inspiration is quite close to stand-up comedy. You create a dilemma where you have two or more choices, but neither of them are easy. I love using dilemmas, because you cant push the characters behavior and easily judge it, you say, I could end up in that situation and I could also do that.

And all these things affect us and push us in different ways when we are trying to maneuver ourselves through life. A lot of films in the Hollywood system have a simple antagonist/protagonist setup. And stand-up comedy never does that. Its a very humanistic thing, stand-up comedy. Its exposing your failures, exposing your weakness, and in the same way you give people the possibility to understand yourself and others. And thats very generous. Its doesnt matter how cynical the style of the comedian is, its still warm and beautiful.

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The spark igniting the gentle blaze of The Divine Order, Switzerlands submission to the foreign-language Oscar race, is a jaw-dropping historical fact: In 1971, Swiss women were still fighting for the right to vote.

Focusing on the collective awakening of the housewives in an Alpine village, writer-director Petra Volpe fashions a light, crowd-pleasing drama, a genial tale of empowerment thats underpowered in its more predictable stretches. But Marie Leuenberger is an appealing rooting interest as the modest, married-with-kids Nora, whose determination to get a part-time job isnt dampened by the legal requirement for her husbands permission.

During a visit to a larger town, Nora assures a womens suffrage activist that I dont need to be liberated. Still, she accepts the offering of brochures and a copy of The Feminist Mystique, and her communion with the reading material proves life-changing. She stands up to the moralistic leader of the local Anti-Politicization of Women committee  a woman  and joins forces with a feisty widow (Sibylle Brunner) and a spirited Italian divorcee (Marta Zoffoli), whose restaurant becomes HQ for their hamlets homegrown sisterhood movement.

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Within the storys sometimes too-neat outline, Volpe lets most of her characters breathe. She doesnt paint the males with the broad brush of villainy, finding particular nuance in Noras husband (Max Simonischek). He undergoes his own awakening, like almost everyone in Noras truth-seeking orbit. Within the movies optimistic view of benighted but changing times, shes a believable beacon of light.

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The Divine Order

In Swiss German with English subtitles

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 37 minutes

Playing: Laemmle Royal, West L.A.; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena

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Its the end of the world as we know it  once again  in Revolt, a propulsive, no-nonsense sci-fi thriller thats far more watchable than its generic title may imply.

Joe Miale, who co-wrote with Rowan Athale, makes a sturdy feature directing debut with this futuristic tale of an American soldier (Lee Pace) who wakes up in a jail cell outside Nairobi, Kenya, with a seeming case of selective amnesia: He cant remember his name  hes dubbed Bo by prison-mate and sexy, ex-French army medic Nadia (Berenice Marlohe)  yet can later recall how to shoot guns and fix cars. Just go with it.

Bo and Nadia bust out of jail and into the crosshairs of an invasion of giant metallic, giraffe- and crab-like alien killing machines that have apparently wiped out all but this war-torn swath of Africa. (The film was shot in and around Johannesburg).

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Our intrepid leads begin to have eyes for each other as they battle hostile poachers and those pesky, people-swallowing aliens on an obstacle course to the border. Bos identity, if not his name, becomes clearer.

An action-packed third act gives way to a bit of an anti-climactic ending. But it all moves so fast, furiously and unfussily that genre fans should be satisfied.

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Revolt

In English, Swahili and Kikuyu with English subtitles.

Rated: R, for violence including some grisly images

Running time: 1 hour, 27 minutes

Playing: AMC Covina 17; also on VOD

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On its surface, Mr. Roosevelt could simply appear to be a well-made freshman film from an actor-comedian, one of many indie comedies about returning home. However, writer, director and star Noel Wells doesnt just focus on her laugh-out-loud funny performance or insightful script: she displays a real eye for the cinematic with shot-on-film visuals that elevate her movie and lavish attention on its Texas setting.

When a family member falls ill, Emily (Wells) buys a last-minute ticket from Los Angeles to Austin. With no money or place to stay, shes forced to sleep in the Instagram-ready guest room of her old home, now shared by her ex-boyfriend Eric (Nick Thune) and his current, seemingly perfect girlfriend, Celeste (Britt Lower).

Wells film boasts an admirable specificity of place and character. It approaches Austin with the loving eye of a former resident who knows the citys quirks as well as its changing character, and it shares a hilariously intimate knowledge of L.A.s comedy scene. As written and played by Wells, Emily is messy, odd and funny. Shes self-involved, self-destructive and self-deprecating, but we like her and root for her, particularly when Mr. Roosevelt gives her space to believably evolve over the course of a weekend.

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With her debut, Wells demonstrates that shes more than a comedic talent with a wonderfully weird sensibility. As a writer-director, she puts her own stamp on a standard premise, resulting in an unconventional but genuinely enjoyable film.

-------------

Mr. Roosevelt

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Playing: Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood

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In his four-decade-long career, Denzel Washington has played heroes and villains, ministers and miscreants and everything in between. Roman J. Israel, Esq. is not like any of them, not even close.

To call the title character idiosyncratic and eccentric is not the half of it. Overweight, ungainly, awkward with people and immune to compromise, an idealist and a zealot who lives in the past to make a better future, Israel is a self-described activist attorney who has sacrificed everything for his ideals and never regretted it. Until now.

What happens when this man, brought to complete and quixotic life by Washington, faces a crisis of confidence, when he starts to consider living a life without the values that have always guided him, is what Roman J. Israel, Esq. tries, with mixed success, to be all about.

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Dan Gilroy, whose last film, Nightcrawler, was another character study of eccentric behavior with societal implications, wrote and directed here. Gilroy wrote the script with Washington in mind, and you can feel the intense pleasure the actor and director, who, from a year of pre-production to final editing collaborated closely on the part, have taken in their work.

If movie characters can sometimes feel light on making details concrete, Roman J. Israel is rife with them, from the cut of the mans outdated suit to the Jif peanut butter he all but lives on to the thousands and thousands of classic jazz cuts he has on the hard drive of his iPod.

But though the film is completely worth seeing just to experience such a totally realized performance and hear Gilroys always sharp dialogue, the reality and complexity of the character turns out to clash with plotting that is not as convincing.

At his core, as his retro afro hair style and the posters of Bayard Rustin and Angela Davis on his apartment walls testify, Israel is a throwback to the 70s, a believer in bringing moral and ethical concerns to criminal practice.

Israels romantic view of himself is visible in how he unfailingly appends the word esquire to his name, an action he takes because he feels it speaks to the way he sees his position as above a gentleman but below a knight.

Roman J. Israel starts in a rush, with the attorney using a lot of words to basically indict himself for being a hypocrite and turning his back on what hes believed in. Then the film flashes back three weeks to show how this collapse began.

Israel, it turns out, has for 26 years worked for a legendary litigator, the unseen William Henry Jackson, as part of a two-person law firm. Jackson was Mr. Outside, a lion in the courtroom, while Israel, whose encyclopedic memory matches his passion for justice, was Mr. Inside, doing the labor-intensive legal grunt work that buttressed his partners arguments.

Then Jackson has an off-camera heart attack and Israel has to spend an unaccustomed morning in court dealing with the firms cases.

Hes supposed to ask for continuances, but we see at once that hes such an absolutist that any kind of compromise is anathema to him, and he ends up causing trouble for his clients when he means to do good.

Worse is yet to come. Jacksons firm is shuttered without anyone consulting him, and though not having a car and living in a rundown building make his expenses minimal, Israel does need some kind of job. His personality, however, makes the search for one difficult.

The closest he gets to an understanding figure is Maya Alston (a sympathetic Carmen Ejogo), a civil rights activist who tells her disbelieving colleagues, You stand on his shoulders.

Finally, the only job Israel can get is one he wants least: working for slick, ambitious George Pierce (a convincing Colin Farrell), once a student of William Henry Jacksons and now a pillar of a major downtown firm.

Its here that Roman J. Israels string of pulpy plot contrivances start to assert themselves. Though melodramatic events were a factor in Nightcrawler, they are more troublesome in this film, and as unconvincing incidents pile one on the other, they work against the power of Washingtons performance. Its a shame a better film could not have been constructed around his work, but it has not come to pass.

------------

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Rating: PG-13 for language and some violence

Running time: 2 hours, 9 minutes

Playing: In general release

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For almost as long as he can remember, entrepreneur and designer Jerome Dahan has had his finger on the pulse of the denim world  initially as a teenager in Montreal when he fashioned his first pair of jeans, then as a game-changing designer for major labels such as Lucky Brand and Guess in the 80s and 90s.

As the co-founder of Seven for All Mankind, Dahan pioneered premium denim with his signature five-pocket jeans in 1999, before delving deeper into the contemporary market with the launch of Citizens of Humanity four years later, perfecting the super-stretch skinny jean along the way. Yet 40 years on, the Paris-born, L.A.-based Dahan still wakes up with a renewed passion for his industry.

As soon as I get to the office, I start looking at fabrics and call the wash house to work on new washes and new developments, says Dahan, whos channeling that energy into his latest denim-driven line, Jean Atelier, in tandem with longtime collaborator and designer Noam Hanoch. I get excited.

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Featuring elevated denim paired with luxury sportswear pieces, the ready-to-wear label draws from Dahans denim background and Hanochs designer sensibility in equal measure. Priced from $425 to $1,875, the inaugural fall collection includes such diverse looks as silk bombers with delicate lace insets, embroidered denim dresses and jumpsuits, smartly tailored trousers and the highly popular Flip jean  a chic nod to the 80s with a high-rise, turned-down waistband.

Carried by Barneys New York, Moda Operandi, Forward by Elyse Walker and other retailers, Jean Ateliers first collection was quickly snapped up in pre-sale orders.

Its not hard to make a five-pocket jean and work with a factory thats been working with us for the past 20 years  and laundries with good washes, says Dahan, who championed L.A.s denim production facilities in the 1990s, when other major labels moved their manufacturing abroad. To be creative takes much more than that. Thats what Noam and I did with Jean Atelier.

Hanoch and Dahan at their L.A. headquarters. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times )

The two met in 2003 at a trade show in Las Vegas, where Dahan was debuting the first Citizens of Humanity collection and Hanoch was showing his contemporary line, NH Collection, in neighboring booths. My schooling was a lot of draping, which Jerome wanted to marry into denim. He felt that was missing, explains Hanoch, who cut his sartorial teeth as an intern at Geoffrey Beene under Alber Elbaz, and restoring dresses for the Costume Institute at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Dahan offered him a job on the spot as the creative director of his fledgling L.A. denim brand, where Hanoch remained for the next 11 years until 2014, when he launched his namesake, ready-to-wear dress line. I felt like this was my time to do my dresses and the more intricate things I have always had a passion for, Hanoch says.

In 2016, Dahan approached Hanoch once again, this time with a new denim concept, based on his finely tuned observations of the ever-changing industry. The denim market was driven by skinny jeans for the last few years, says Dahan, who saw an opportunity to introduce a new, more fashion-forward spin on the beloved wardrobe staple.

Reunited and working in a studio tucked away in the corner of the Citizens of Humanitys sprawling production facility in Huntington Park, the duo, along with Dahans wife and brand manager, Elsa, envisioned the line.

I have a more feminine instinct, while theres a certain relaxed nature to denim thats very attractive to Jerome, says Hanoch about their design approach.

In terms of price, they positioned Jean Atelier between the contemporary and designer market. Fast fashion, Hanoch says, is not the brands culture.

We feel strongly that there is this person looking for something really compelling and of high quality, he says, gesturing toward a beautifully embroidered denim blouse for the spring 2018 collection. It takes a day to embroider one of these pieces. There is a real space that has been created in this market for something more elevated and special.

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USC names retired aerospace executive Wanda Austin as acting president, announces Nikias departure By Harriet Ryan USC appointed a retired aerospace executive as interim president and laid out a detailed plan for selecting a permanent leader Tuesday, ending speculation about whether outgoing President C.L. Max Nikias might remain in the post. Nikias, embattled over his administrations handling of a campus gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, relinquished his duties after a meeting of USCs board. The trustees tapped one of their own, Wanda Austin, an alumna and former president of the Aerospace Corp., to temporarily run the university. The trustees also approved the formation of a search committee and the hiring of firm Isaacson, Miller to coordinate the selection of a successor. A second search company, Heidrick & Struggles, will also advise trustees. Read More Facebook

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Ex-student sues elite Brentwood School after teacher is charged with sexually abusing him By Richard Winton A former student sued the elite Brentwood School on Monday in the wake of a female teacher being charged with repeatedly having sex with the minor, alleging that other faculty members encouraged the unlawful behavior and failed to report it to authorities. The lawsuit accuses the private school, whose students include the children of many of Hollywoods elite and L.A.s powerful, of acting negligently and allowing Aimee Palmitessa to abuse and batter the teenager sexually. The suit alleges that the student was abused in summer 2017 after one of the schools counselors offered words of encouragement to the then-17-year-old, identified in the suit as only John Doe, to engage in an illegal relationship with the teacher. Read More Facebook

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Civil jury vindicates fired Montebello school executives in whistleblower case By Howard Blume The Montebello school district is in dire straits  at risk of insolvency and under apparent criminal investigation. An outside audit in July found some teachers earning more than $200,000 a year, as well as improper raises, excess paid vacation time and inappropriate overtime, sick leave and car allowances. Fixing the district and pinpointing blame could take time. Read More Facebook

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L.A. schools fall short on safety measures, new report warns By Howard Blume After the mass shooting at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, Los Angeles school officials reassured parents that much had been done to keep local schools safe. California had tougher gun laws, after all, and the school district paid close attention to students mental health. But a new report issued Monday by a panel convened to take a close look offers some cause for concern, flagging inconsistent campus safety measures, thinly spread mental health staff and inadequate coordination between the school district and other public agencies. With the stakes this high, we must strive to do better, said L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer, who assembled the panel. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school district says more are graduating, but rate may not show it By Howard Blume The L.A. Unified School District has hopes of continuing its winning streak this year with another record graduation rate, but the official numbers may not show it. A senior district administrator warned the board Tuesday that graduation rates were likely to decline 2% to 3% across the state, even though L.A. Unified is likely doing better than ever in producing graduates, he said. The issue is that the state will now count high school students who transfer to adult school as dropouts, said Oscar Lafarga, who heads the districts office of data and accountability. Previously, schools treated these students as though they had simply enrolled in another high school, he said. Read More Facebook

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Betsy DeVos to California: Not so fast on that federal education plan By Joy Resmovits In April, Californias top education officials breathed a sigh of relief. After months of debate and back-and-forth with Betsy DeVos staff, they had finalized a plan to satisfy a major education law that aims to make sure all students get a decent education. The state focused on aligning its plan to fulfill the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act with Californias Local Control Funding Formula, which gives extra money to districts to help students who come from low-income families, are in the foster system or are English learners. But this week, DeVos team said not so fast. Jason Botel, the U.S. Department of Educations principal deputy assistant secretary, sent California education officials a letter asking for more information in such areas as measuring student progress, graduation rates and English learners. In an unsigned statement, the California Department of Education declared itself surprised and disappointed because officials thought  after a meeting with federal officials in Washington  that they were on the right track to get approval. Now the Every Student Succeeds Act plan will be up for discussion once again at the July meeting of the State Board of Education. The U.S. Department of Education has already approved most state plans. Every Student Succeeds is the Obama administrations 2015 replacement for the No Child Left Behind Act. Facebook

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L.A. school board sets a new goal: prepare every grad to be eligible to apply for Cal State or UC By Sonali Kohli Last month, Los Angeles school board president proposed a spate of highly ambitious mandates aimed at ensuring that every district graduate be eligible to apply to one of the states public four-year universities by 2023. By the time the L.A. Unified school board unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday, the original language had been watered down. The goal is no longer that in five years 100% of students meet the long list of benchmarks, which include not just college eligibility for graduates but first-grade reading proficiency and English fluency by sixth grade for all students who enter the district in kindergarten or first grade speaking another language. The original college-readiness goal, for example, called for 100% of all high school students to be eligible to apply to one of the states four-year universities. Now the goal seems to offer more wiggle room: Prepare all high school graduates to be eligible to apply to a California four-year university. Read More Facebook

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We have been hurt. More women say they were mistreated by USC gynecologist By Richard Winton USC student Anika Narayanan says she vividly recalls her first appointment with Dr. George Tyndall at the campus health center, alleging that he made several explicit comments during an examination she felt was inappropriate and invasive. When she came back for a second visit in 2016 after a nonconsensual sexual encounter, he allegedly chastised her, she said in a civil lawsuit and at a press conference Tuesday. He asked me if I had forgotten to use a condom again,  said Narayanan, 21. At one point, she said, Tyndall asked if I did a lot of doggy style,  she said. Read More Facebook

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L.A. Unified gives inspector general brief contract extension By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school board on Tuesday extended the contract of Ken Bramlett, its inspector general, by three months, though his job is far from secure and questions remain about the future direction of his watchdog office. Board members also unanimously promoted Vivian Ekchian, who had been the runner-up for the superintendents job, to deputy superintendent  the districts No. 2 position. Both moves had elements of peacemaking between different factions on the board. Read More Facebook

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USCs handling of complaints about campus gynecologist is being investigated by federal government By Harriet Ryan The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into how the University of Southern California handled misconduct complaints against a campus gynecologist, the latest fallout in a scandal that has prompted the resignation of USCs president, two law enforcement investigations and dozens of lawsuits. In revealing the inquiry by the departments Office of Civil Rights, officials rebuked USC for what they alleged was improper withholding of information about Dr. George Tyndall during a previous federal investigation. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who has been criticized for taking a less vigorous approach to examining sexual misconduct than predecessors, called for a systemic examination of USC and urged administrators to fully cooperate. Read More Facebook

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Judge to sentence woman and her boyfriend for the murder of an 8-year-old that led to L.A. child welfare reforms By Marisa Gerber A woman and her boyfriend are expected to be sentenced Thursday for the torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy whose killing in 2013 provoked public outrage, prompted sweeping reform of Los Angeles Countys child welfare system, and led to unprecedented criminal charges against social workers who handled the childs case. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, 34, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the death of her son, Gabriel. A jury decided last year that her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 37, should be executed. When paramedics arrived at the boys Palmdale home in May 2013, Gabriel had slipped out of consciousness. He had a fractured skull, broken ribs, burned skin, missing teeth and BB pellets embedded in his groin. A paramedic would later testify that every inch of the boys small body had been abused. Read More Facebook

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L.A. Unifieds spending out of step with similar school systems, task force says By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school district is out of step with similar school systems, spending more on teachers pay and health benefits and less on activities that could enhance student learning, according to a new report by an outside task force. The L.A. Unified School District Advisory Task Force did not make specific recommendations, but instead posed a series of questions it said the district needs to answer to make sure its funding is aimed at providing a full opportunity for all students to succeed. What were trying to say is: Lets put the data on the table. Lets look at the truth. Lets be transparent and here are the numbers, said task force member Renata Simril. This is not to say that  we should cut teachers salaries. Read More Facebook

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Top USC medical school official feared dean was doing drugs and alerted administration, he testifies By Paul Pringle A former vice dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine testified Tuesday that he feared the schools then-dean, Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito, could be doing drugs and expressed concerns about his general well-being to the universitys No. 2 administrator before Puliafito abruptly left his job in 2016. Dr. Henri Fords testimony at a hearing of the state Medical Board marks the first suggestion that any USC administrator had suspicions about Puliafitos possible drug use before he stepped down. A Times investigation in 2017 found Puliafito led a secret second life of using illegal drugs with a circle of young criminals and addicts. Puliafito testified about his behavior at the hearing Tuesday, saying he took drugs with one young woman on a weekly basis. Ford said that he decided to alert USC Provost Michael Quick after receiving reports in early 2016 that Puliafito was partying in hotels with people of questionable reputation, and that he came to worry about his mental stability. Read More Facebook

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Why L.A. Unified may face financial crisis even with a giant surplus this year By Jessica Calefati With more than half a billion dollars socked away for next school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District hardly seems just two years from financial ruin. Its a scenario that is especially tough to swallow if youre a low-wage worker seeking a raise or a teacher who wants smaller classes. But budget documents show that todays $548-million surplus cannot be sustained  and that even basic services face steep, seemingly unavoidable cuts because of massive problems barreling the districts way. Theres a disconnect between the rosy short-term picture and what we know is coming, said board member Kelly Gonez. Read More Facebook

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We have failed: Top USC officials try to reassure students amid gynecologist scandal By Joy Resmovits Top administrators at USC are reaching out to students in the wake of misconduct allegations against the universitys longtime gynecologist, acknowledging failings and vowing reforms as they try to address growing outrage over the revelations. Several USC deans have sent out messages trying to reassure students and faculty that the university is committed to changing. We have failed, wrote Jack H. Knott, dean of USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy, in a May 24 letter. What happened is antithetical to everything we know is right. Read More Facebook

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Rick Caruso is named chair of USCs trustees, vows swift investigation of gynecologist scandal By Thomas Curwen The University of Southern Californias board of trustees has elected mall magnate Rick Caruso to be the new chair of the board, giving fresh leadership as the university navigates a widening scandal involving a longtime campus gynecologist. The move marks the latest effort by USC to address the case, which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and dozens of civil lawsuits. More than 400 people have contacted a hotline that the university established for patients to make reports about their experience with Dr. George Tyndall. In his first act as chairman, Caruso announced that the white-shoe L.A. law firm OMelveny & Myers would conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the gynecologists conduct and reporting failures at the clinic. He set an ambitious timeline for the review, pledging it would conclude before students return for the fall semester. Read More Facebook

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UC Berkeley students persistence helps win more liberal rules for in-state tuition By Teresa Watanabe Ifechukwu Okeke thought shed be a shoo-in for in-state tuition when she was admitted to UC Berkeley for fall 2016. She had moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2012 to go to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. By the time she got her acceptance to transfer to UC to study molecular and cell biology, she had lived in California four years. She had a California drivers license, bank account and rental records as proof. UC Berkeley, however, ruled she was a nonresident  which meant she would have to pay nearly $27,000 more. Read More Facebook

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State medical board calls former County-USC doctor a sexual predator, suspends his license By Matt Hamilton A UCLA cardiologist has been temporarily stripped of his medical license after state regulators described him as a sexual predator who assaulted three female colleagues when he was working and training at L.A. County-USC Medical Center. Read More Facebook

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Global California 2030 aims to get more students learning more languages By Joy Resmovits Tom Torlakson (Andrew Seng / Associated Press) Outgoing state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on Wednesday announced a new statewide effort to encourage students to learn more languages. Called Global California 2030, its goal is to help more students become fluent in multiple tongues. Torlakson said that by 2030, he wants half of the states 6.2 million K-12 students to participate in classes or programs that lead to proficiency in two or more languages. By 2040, he wants three out of four students to be proficient enough to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. Torlakson announced the initiative at Cahuenga Elementary School, which offers a dual-language immersion program in English and Korean. Californias public school students speak more than 60 languages at home, and 40% come to school with knowledge of a language other than English. Torlakson called his plan a call to action that invites parents, legislators, educators and community members to pool resources to expand language offerings in schools and get more bilingual teachers trained. He said the state already is working with Mexico and Spain to expand a teacher-exchange program. Fluency, the plan argues, can help students succeed economically  and language acquisition can help their overall critical thinking. The initiative builds on Proposition 58, a ballot initiative passed in 2016 that undid an earlier requirement that English learners be taught in English-immersion classes unless their parents signed waivers. Torlakson recently visited Mexico and met with that countrys education secretary. They later signed a pact to increase collaboration, particularly in language education. This [Global California 2030] is great follow-through on Toms part and very important, Patricia Gandara, a UCLA education professor who hosted the Mexico meeting, said in an email. It hands over a plan to move forward in an area in which California has a unique advantage, but must seize the opportunity. Facebook

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Jury convicts man of murder in 2015 slaying of UCLA student found inside her burning apartment By Marisa Gerber A jury on Tuesday convicted a man in the 2015 slaying of a UCLA student found dead inside her burning apartment  a gruesome stabbing case that led to a fierce rebuke of the police response amid concerns that the killing could have been prevented. The panel deliberated for about six hours before finding Alberto Medina, 24, guilty of murder, arson, burglary and animal cruelty. On Sept. 21, 2015, firefighters found the charred body of Andrea DelVesco inside her apartment after responding to the complex a block from campus. The 21-year-old student  an Austin, Texas, native known to her sorority sisters as a fearless giver who befriended others with ease  was stabbed at least 19 times, authorities said. Read More Facebook

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LAPD begins sweeping criminal probe of former USC gynecologist while urging patients to come forward By Adam Elmahrek The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating 52 complaints of misconduct filed by former patients of USCs longtime campus gynecologist as detectives launch a sweeping criminal probe into the scandal that has rocked the university. LAPD detectives also made an appeal for other patients who feel mistreated to come forward, noting that thousands of students were examined by Dr. George Tyndall during his nearly 30-year career at USC. More than 410 people have contacted a university hotline about the physician since The Times revealed the allegations this month. Tyndalls behavior and practices appear to go beyond the norms of the medical profession and gynecological examinations, said Asst. Chief Beatrice Girmala. We sincerely realize that victims may have difficulty recounting such details to investigators. We are empathetic and ready to listen. Read More Facebook

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At L.A.'s only school for the deaf, parents want leaders who speak the same language By Anna M. Phillips Ever since her son was 6 months old, Juliet Hidalgo has been bringing him to the Marlton School, a low-slung building in Baldwin Hills that for generations has been a second home for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Los Angeles. Marlton staff taught Hidalgos brother and sister, both of whom are deaf. The school was where her deaf son learned to make the signs for milk and food. Hidalgo had planned to enroll her daughter, taking advantage of a popular program that allows hearing children to learn American Sign Language alongside their deaf siblings. But after more than a decade of involvement, she and other family members are considering withdrawing their children. They are not alone. Read More Facebook

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Fueled by unlimited donations, independent groups play their biggest role yet in a California primary for governor By Ryan Menezes An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governors race, giving independent groups  unrestricted by contribution limits  a greater say in picking the states chief executive than ever before. The groups have already spent more than $26 million through Thursday, the most ever spent by noncandidate committees in a gubernatorial primary, according to a Times analysis of campaign finance reports. California elections have always been expensive, and the future is even more expensive, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College and a former state Republican leader. The stakes are very real. Read More Facebook

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2 hurt in Indiana middle school shooting; suspect in custody, authorities say By Associated Press Authorities say two victims in a shooting at a suburban Indianapolis school are being taken to a hospital and the lone suspect is in custody. Bryant Orem, a spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release that the victims in Friday mornings attack at Noblesville West Middle School are being taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and their families have been notified. He says no other information is available about the victims. Orem said the suspect is believed to have acted alone and was taken into custody. No additional information about the suspect was made public. Read More Facebook

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For new L.A. schools chief Austin Beutner, some key unions are giving no honeymoon period By Howard Blume In the less than two weeks since Austin Beutner took charge of Los Angeles schools, unions representing teachers and administrators have staged a job action and a protest. Theyve made it clear that they will not give the new superintendent the traditional honeymoon period, and they are bashing him for his wealth and lack of experience running either a school or a school district. Beutner is a billionaire investment banker with zero qualifications, local teachers union President Alex Caputo-Pearl told members in a phone alert urging them to participate in a Thursday afternoon rally in Grand Park. The board is saying that billionaires who made their money blowing institutions up and making money off it know best  not the education professionals who have dedicated our careers to working with students. Read More Facebook

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Pressure grows on Board of Trustees amid USC gynecologist scandal By Paul Pringle USCs large and powerful Board of Trustees is coming under growing pressure to provide a stronger hand as the university faces a crisis over misconduct allegations against the campus longtime gynecologist that has prompted calls for President C.L. Max Nikias to step down. Allegations that Dr. George Tyndall mistreated students during his nearly 30 years at USC have roiled the campus, with about 300 people coming forward to make reports to the university and the Los Angeles Police Department launching a criminal investigation. USC is already beginning to face what is expected to be costly litigation by women who say they were victimized by the physician. So far, the trustees to whom Nikias reports have expressed sympathy for the women who have come forward and launched an independent investigation while also publicly backing the president. Read More Facebook

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UC regents approve leaner budget for Janet Napolitano By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents on Thursday unanimously approved a leaner, more transparent budget for President Janet Napolitano, moving to address political criticism over the systems central office operations. The $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 reflects spending cuts of 2%, including reductions in staffing, travel and such systemwide programs as public service law fellowships, carbon neutrality and food security. Napolitano shifted $30 million to campuses for housing needs and $10 million to UC Riverside to support its five-year-old medical school. She also permanently redirected $8.5 million annually to help enroll more California students, as required by the state. Read More Facebook

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USCs Academic Senate calls on university president to resign after a series of scandals By Matt Hamilton The body that represents USCs faculty called on President C.L. Max Nikias to resign Wednesday in the wake of relevations that the universitys longtime gynecologist faced years of accusations of misconduct by students and colleagues at the campus health clinic. The Academic Senate took the vote late Wednesday afternoon after a fiery town hall meeting attended by more than 100 faculty members, many of whom voiced outrage over Nikias and the Board of Trustees leadership. The vote came a day after the trustees executive committee stood firmly behind Nikias, saying it has full confidence in his leadership, ethics and values. At the town hall meeting, Senate President Paul Rosenbloom said he did not think Nikias or Provost Michael Quick committed wrongdoing but that the university president deserved criticism for a lack of transparency. Read More Facebook

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Californias public universities on the way to getting a big longed-for boost in funding By Teresa Watanabe The University of California and California State University systems are poised to get major funding boosts that will help them enroll thousands of additional state students and eliminate the need for tuition increases in the coming school year. A key Assembly budget panel on Wednesday approved $117.5 million in new funds for the UC. A Senate panel approved a similar sum last week. The same committees recently approved even more funding for the Cal State system. Read More Facebook

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UC regents to scrutinize Janet Napolitanos office budget in a step toward stronger oversight By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents this week plan to scrutinize the budget of President Janet Napolitano, whose office came under political fire last year for questionable spending and murky accounting. Regents will vote on the proposed $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 during their two-day meeting, which starts Wednesday, at UC San Francisco. They also will discuss state funding, financial aid, online education and transfer student policies. Board Chairman George Kieffer said regents are stepping up to exert stronger oversight of the presidents office after a blistering state audit last year found financial problems including an unreported $175 million budget reserve. Read More Facebook

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State legislative panels approve major funding boost for Cal State By Teresa Watanabe After months of intensive lobbying, Cal State University has convinced two key legislative panels to approve funding to enroll nearly 11,000 more students, hire more faculty and expand housing aid to those without shelter this fall. An Assembly budget panel on Tuesday approved $215.7 million more for Cal State, adding to Gov. Jerry Browns proposed $92.1 million general fund increase. A Senate budget panel approved a similar increase last week. The extra funding  which went beyond Cal States own request to the Legislature of $171 million  is still subject to final budget negotiations with Brown. But the actions by the Senate and Assembly panels amount to a demand from Democrats that the governor hike higher education spending. Cal State University is the workhorse undergraduate university serving hundreds of thousands of Californians, said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who heads the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. We need more graduates for the California workforce and higher education is the ticket to the middle class. Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White hailed the actions, but said it was too soon to celebrate. The CSU has a singular focus on helping students earn high-quality degrees sooner, and the entire university community has rallied to reinforce that message to our states lawmakers, he said in a statement. The actions taken thus far by the Assembly and Senate are promising and show that our message is being received, but there is still work to be done. Funding for the University of California was not taken up Tuesday as originally scheduled. McCarty would not comment on sticking points but said he was confident that a resolution would be reached this week. Were looking to provide resources above whats in the governors budget, but negotiations are ongoing, he said in an interview. State per-student funding is not what it once was, leaving both Cal State and the UC in a tough financial squeeze. Both systems raised tuition last year after a six-year freeze on higher costs. For this year, Cal State had asked for funding to enroll an additional 3,621 students, but both the Senate and Assembly panels approved three times that amount. Cal State, the largest public university system in the nation, turned away 32,000 eligible students last year because its campuses werent able to accommodate them. The panels asked that at least $50 million of the extra funding be used to hire more tenure-track faculty to help boost graduation rates. The Assembly panel also approved one-time funding of $5 million to ease hunger on campuses and $14 million for rapid rehousing pilot projects at three campuses, offering needy students rental support and short-term case management. Other items approved include $5 million to support the CSU Long Beach Shark Labs research on sharks and beach safety and $2 million for equal employment opportunity practices. This post has been updated to include comments from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty and Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White. Facebook

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Faculty members call for USC president to step down: He has lost the moral authority to lead By Matt Hamilton Two hundred USC professors on Tuesday demanded the resignation of university President C. L. Max Nikias, saying he had lost the moral authority to lead in the wake of revelations that a campus gynecologist was kept on staff for decades despite repeated complaints of misconduct. Read More Facebook

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Gun battle, negotiations lasted 15 minutes before Texas school shooter was apprehended, sheriff says By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Minutes after a school shooter opened fire in an art class last week, killing 10 people and wounding 13, including a local police officer, fellow officers returned fire in a protracted gun battle before isolating the suspect, the local sheriff said Monday. Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset praised first responders as well as Santa Fe Police Officer John Barnes, who was working as a resource officer at the school the day of the shooting. Their actions, he said, prevented the attack from spreading to other classrooms and potentially claiming additional victims. As officials continue to probe last Fridays shooting at Santa Fe High School, students are worried about returning to the scene of the attack when classes resume next week. Read More Facebook

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6 women sue USC, alleging they were victimized by campus gynecologist By Richard Winton Six women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staff about the doctors behavior. One woman alleged Dr. George Tyndall forced his entire ungloved hand into her vagina during an appointment in 2003 while making vulgar remarks about her genitalia, according to one of the lawsuits. Another woman alleged that Tyndall groped her breasts in a 2008 visit and that later he falsely told her she likely had AIDS. A third woman accused the doctor of grazing his ungloved fingers over her nude body and leering at her during a purported skin exam, the lawsuit states. The wave of litigation comes as USC continues to grapple with the scandal, which legal experts said could prove costly to the university as scores of former patients come forward about their experiences with the gynecologist. Read More Facebook

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Fatalities reported in Texas high school shooting; suspect arrested, officials say By Associated Press Houston-area media citing unnamed law enforcement officials are reporting that there are fatalities following a shooting at a local high school Friday morning. Television station KHOU and the Houston Chronicle are citing unnamed federal, county and police officials following the shooting at Santa Fe High School, which went on lockdown around 8 a.m. The Associated Press has not been able to confirm the reports. The school district has confirmed an unspecified number of injuries but said it wouldnt immediately release further details. Assistant Principal Cris Richardson said a suspect has been arrested and secured. Read More Facebook

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This student followed the new L.A. schools chief on his first-day tour Melissa Barales-Lopez, a senior at Garfield High School followed Supt. Austin Beutner on his first day on the job, as he toured a variety of programs around the Los Angeles Unified School District. Heres what she took from the experience. LAUSD students and staff alike are looking for a personal champion, someone who will address and improve the difficulties afflicting their education.  What LAUSD students need is someone whos willing to listen and learn, someone who can understand the current issues affecting their schools and act to efficiently amend them, someone who can unlock the full potential of LAUSD students and enable them to reach their goals. During the entirety of his first day, superintendent Austin Beutner did indeed demonstrate a willingness to learn. Posing questions to teachers and students, Beutner engaged with the student communities he encountered to gain a better comprehension of the minutiae and nuances that distinguish each school inside an overwhelmingly large district. From inquiries about Grand View Boulevard Elementary Schools dual language program to questions regarding the services of LAUSDs after-school program, Beyond the Bell, Beutner revealed he has a lot to learn about the system. But, Beutner also showcased a willingness to tackle challenges head-on on his first day. Read More Facebook

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USC let a gynecologist continue treating students despite years of misconduct allegations By Matt Hamilton For nearly 30 years, the University of Southern Californias student health clinic had one full-time gynecologist: Dr. George Tyndall. Tall and garrulous with distinctive jet black hair, he treated tens of thousands of female students, many of them teenagers seeing a gynecologist for the first time. Few who lay down on Tyndalls exam table at the Engemann Student Health Center knew that he had been accused repeatedly of misconduct toward young patients. The complaints began in the 1990s, when co-workers alleged he was improperly photographing students genitals. In the years that followed, patients and nursing staff accused him again and again of creepy behavior, including touching women inappropriately during pelvic exams and making sexually suggestive remarks about their bodies. Read More Facebook

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Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook

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On his first day as L.A. schools chief, Beutner plans a day of visits across the district By Howard Blume L.A. Unifieds new superintendent, Austin Beutner, will kick off his first day of work on Tuesday with a choreographed tour of the nations second-largest school district, from the San Fernando Valley to Carson. His day is scheduled to begin at 5:15 a.m. at a school bus depot and end more than 12 hours later at a parent meeting at Garfield High School. Along the way, Beutner is expected to be joined by school district administrators, L.A. Unified board members and the vice president of the union that represents school bus drivers. Though he will be covering a lot of ground, Beutners tour has him skipping Tuesdays school board meeting, when board members are expected to discuss labor negotiations in closed session. Read More Facebook

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Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook

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Why a handful of rich charter school supporters are spending millions to elect Antonio Villaraigosa as governor By Ryan Menezes California voters have seen a barrage of sunny television ads in recent weeks touting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosas record on finances, crime and education, aired by Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018. But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter-school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosas chances in the June 5 primary  at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election. Their efforts are part of a broader proxy war among Democrats between teachers unions  longtime stalwarts of the party  and those who argue that the groups have failed low-income and minority schoolchildren. Read More Facebook

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Talking schools with L.A. Unifieds new superintendent By Anna M. Phillips Austin Beutner, who officially starts Tuesday as the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is taking on a famously difficult job at a particularly difficult time. The school board is divided and did not back him unanimously. The nations second-largest school district has deep-seated problems, including declining enrollment, lagging academic achievement and rising pension and healthcare costs that eat away at its budget. The 58-year-old former investment banker and former L.A. Times publisher has years of experience in the financial world but none as an educator. Earlier this week, he sat down with the Times education team to discuss the challenges facing the district, which has about 60,000 employees and 500,000 students in traditional public schools. He did not talk about his plans  saying repeatedly, stay tuned  but he spoke in broad terms about his mindset in approaching the tough decisions ahead. Read More Facebook

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Suspect detained, authorities search campus after reports of armed man at Palmdale high school By James Queally One person has been detained after a report of an armed man at a Palmdale high school sparked a massive law enforcement response Friday morning. The suspect was spotted at 7:05 a.m. on the campus of Highland High School in Palmdale, according to Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. The person was detained in a nearby parking lot, according to Nishida, who did not know whether that person was an adult or juvenile. Deputies at the scene are clearing the school methodically, and students will be transported home via school buses once the campus is deemed safe, Nishida said. Read More Facebook

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The education of Bertha Perez: How a UC Merced custodians disenchantment led to a political awakening By Robin Abcarian Its the third day of a three-day strike, and UC Merced custodian Bertha Perez is taking a break from a picket line at the universitys unremarkable entrance, an intersection with stop lights. Photos from other UC campuses this week have shown big crowds of striking service workers  members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees  marching and chanting pro-labor slogans as they try to force the University of California back to the negotiating table. But here, at UC Merced, whose handful of big buildings rise from a flat expanse of farmland, the picket line is tiny, maybe two dozen workers and a few students. Its not a big-city-style show of force. Then again, a union sympathizer is banging relentlessly on a snare drum, so its noisier than youd expect. Read More Facebook

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Ref Rodriguez resigns from teacher credentialing commission By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez appears during a court appearance. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez has resigned from the states Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which oversees the integrity and quality of Californias teachers. Rodriguez faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. Separately, his former employer, a charter school organization, has accused him of improperly authorizing checks to a nonprofit under his control. Rodriguez has denied wrongdoing. Rodriguezs resignation from the state body was effective May 4, days after he cast a crucial vote as part of a narrow majority that voted to authorize contract negotiations with Austin Beutner to become superintendent of the L.A. Unified School District. Beutners first official day on the job is Tuesday. Rodriguez remains in his $125,000-a-year position on the Los Angeles Board of Education. The mission of the state body is to ensure integrity, relevance, and high quality in the preparation, certification, and discipline of Californias teachers. Critics had questioned Rodriguezs continued service on the commission, given that teachers can be suspended from work if they face criminal charges. They also can lose their jobs for lapses in personal behavior, such as excessive drinking, with the potential to affect their performance. Police in Pasadena arrested Rodriguez on a Friday afternoon in March for public drunkenness. He was not charged in the incident and has apologized. The state commission reviews teacher discipline cases and can take action to remove a teachers credential to work in a California classroom. The commission has 15 members. Rodriguezs departure was disclosed in a one-sentence announcement on the agencys website. Facebook

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School board members request for restraining order against blogger is rejected By Priscella Vega An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a school board members petition for a permanent restraining order against a Huntington Beach blogger. Attorney Jeffrey W. Shields filed the petition on behalf of Ocean View School District trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin, 46, who alleged in court documents that Charles Keeler Johnson, 56, has threatened her on social media and at school board meetings, causing her to fear for my own safety and for that of my immediate family members. Johnson, who goes by Chuck and publishes HBSledgehammer.com, said the trustee tried to stifle his freedom of speech. He also contended that Clayton-Tarvin took his blog posts and Facebook comments too seriously and out of context, saying anyone who is afraid of metaphors has serious issues. Read More Facebook

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Deal with workers averts one-day strike that could have shut down L.A. schools By Howard Blume Los Angeles school district and union officials announced a contract agreement Tuesday night that averted a one-day strike planned for next week. The pact, which runs through June 2020, removes one labor problem from the desk of incoming Supt. Austin Beutner  whose first day on the job would have coincided with the strike. Plenty of other challenges remain. Read More Facebook

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UC labor strike expands with show of support from more unions By Teresa Watanabe Fong Chuu is a registered nurse who has assisted with countless liver transplants, kidney surgeries and gastric bypasses during 34 years at UCLA. Working with her are scrub technicians who sterilize equipment, hand medical instruments to the surgeon and dress patient wounds. They are a team, Chuu says, which is why she walked off her job Tuesday in support of those technicians and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. The 25,000 member AFSCME local, the University of Californias largest employee union, launched a three-day strike Monday. Read More Facebook

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We are humans too: Voices of UCLAs striking custodians, hospital aides and imaging technicians By Joy Resmovits Demonstrators parade in front of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) This week, thousands of UC employees are staging a three-day strike for better pay and working conditions. On Monday, more than 20,000 custodians, cooks, lab technicians, nurse aides and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 walked off their jobs. By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes. The union and UC reached a bargaining impasse last year. The university has said it wont meet the workers demands. The strikers said they wanted better pay, more equity in the allocation of work, stable healthcare premiums and an end to the universitys use of contract workers. These are their stories. Read More Facebook

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Massive UC workers strike disrupts dining, classes and medical services By Joy Resmovits A massive labor strike across the University of California on Monday forced medical centers to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments, and campuses to cancel some classes and limit dining services. More than 20,000 members of UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, walked off their jobs on the first day of a three-day strike. They include custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Two altercations involving protesters and people driving near the rallies were reported at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, police took a man into custody Monday after he drove his vehicle into a crowd, hitting three staff members. They were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, said Lt. Kevin Kilgore of the UCLA Police Department. Read More Facebook

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Sen. Kamala Harris to skip UC Berkeley commencement in support of striking workers By Teresa Watanabe California Sen. Kamala Harris has canceled plans to deliver UC Berkeleys commencement address this weekend in support of UC workers who are on strike over wages and health benefits. Due to the ongoing labor dispute, Sen. Harris regretfully cannot attend and speak at this years commencement ceremony at UC Berkeley, said a statement from Harris office issued Monday. She wishes the graduates and their families a joyous commencement weekend and success for the future. They are bright young leaders and our country is counting on them. UCs largest employee union, the 25,000-member American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Local 3299, launched a three-day strike Monday and had earlier called for a speakers boycott. The union and university reached a bargaining impasse last year and subsequent mediation efforts have failed to produce an agreement. The union is asking for a multiyear contract with a 6% annual pay increase while the university is offering 3% annual increases over four years. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ will deliver the keynote address instead, the university announced. About 5,800 students are expected to participate in the ceremony Saturday. Facebook

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School mural depicting Trumps bloody, severed head sparks controversy By Gary Warth A Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting. We understand that there was a mural painted at the event this past weekend that does not align with our schools philosophy of non-violence, read the statement from MAAC Community Charter School director Tommy Ramirez. We have been in communication with the artist  who has agreed to modify the artwork  to better align with the schools philosophy. Read More Facebook

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New blackface incident at Cal Poly prompts calls for state investigation By Kim Christensen Cal Poly San Luis Obispo officials have asked the state attorney generals office to investigate after a new photo of a white student in blackface surfaced on a fraternity groups private Snapchat. I am outraged, Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a video address Friday to the campus. These vile and absolutely unacceptable acts cannot continue. We must not allow these acts to define us as an institution. Armstrong said the latest photo was intended to imitate an incident last month in which a white member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was photographed at a party wearing blackface. Read More Facebook

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More than 50,000 UC workers set to strike this week but campuses will remain open By Teresa Watanabe More than 50,000 workers across the University of California are set to strike this week, causing potential disruptions to surgery schedules, food preparation and campus maintenance. The systems 10 campuses and five medical centers are to remain open, with classes scheduled as planned. UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, plans to begin a three-day strike Monday involving 25,000 workers, including custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Read More Facebook

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New L.A. schools chief Beutner pledges to listen, learn and take action By Howard Blume New Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner proved Wednesday that hes a quick learner even without an education background. Like countless public officials before him, he appeared at an important event  his first speech and news conference  with a photogenic background of students. His message  that he would put those students first  seemed heartfelt if hardly original. Nor was it a huge surprise that he pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. As an introduction, Beutner, a former investment banker who made a fortune on Wall Street, offered little flash, but that was partly the point. Read More Facebook

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In a school lockdown, one student takes stock of the stressful scene At the beginning of lunch one day late last month, Duarte High School, Northview Middle School, and California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley were advised by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to go into lockdown mode due to police activity in the immediate area. Phalaen Chang, a junior at the California School of the Arts, wrote a series of notes on her iPhone while she sat in a room with her classmates. By the time the lockdown ended an hour later, she wrote, she knew which of her friends would hold open the door for others, be the ones calming others down, be the ones barricading the doors. She knew that all of them have the potential to be such strong people. Read More Facebook

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Tale as old as time: L.A. Unified superintendent pick follows a historical pattern of outside-the-box choices By Joy Resmovits L.A. Unified has long gone back and forth between picking insiders and outsiders to run the nations second largest school district. The choice of Austin Beutner, announced Tuesday, places the district squarely back in the outsider camp  months after a consummate insider, Supt. Michelle King, announced that she had cancer and would not return to the job. Check out this timeline of former L.A. superintendents to see how the school board members have changed their minds, sometimes favoring leaders who come from the world of education and sometimes executives from elsewhere, recruited to shock the system into change. At one point, the district hired someone from the military  retired Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, who served as superintendent from 2006-2008. In hiring Brewer, board members had opted for a non-educator  largely because they sought a fresh thinker, unwedded to the bureaucracy, unafraid to make bold, even unorthodox moves, reads a 2008 Times story. Facebook

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Austin Beutner named superintendent of Los Angeles schools By Howard Blume Austin Beutner, a philanthropist and former investment banker, on Tuesday was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest school system. His selection was the biggest move yet by a Los Angeles school board majority elected with major support from charter school advocates. The decision came after lengthy public testimony, most of it in support of the other remaining finalist, interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian, who is well known within the school system. Beutner, 58, has no background leading a school or school district. Less than 2 years ago, a school board with a very different balance of power named Michelle King, a former teacher who rose through the district throughout her career, to L.A. Unifieds top job. Read More Facebook

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Hearing delay gives both sides more time in Ref Rodriguezs potential trial By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez and his attorneys will have more time to prepare their defense against charges of political money laundering, a judge ruled Monday. The preliminary hearing in the case had been scheduled to begin May 9, but that date will now be pushed back to July 23 per the ruling from L.A. Superior Court Judge Deborah S. Brazil. Rodriguez, 46, faces three felony charges of conspiracy, perjury and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school board poised to name Beutner as superintendent By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is poised to select philanthropist and former investment banker Austin Beutner to be the next superintendent of the nations second-largest school system. Barring a last-minute development, the only mystery is whether Beutner emerges with four or five votes from the boards seven members. Terms of his contract already have been under discussion, according to sources close to the process who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak. The selection of Beutner, 58, who has no experience managing a school or a school district, would be a signal that the board majority that took control nearly a year ago wants to rely on business management skills instead of insider educational expertise. Read More Facebook

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Teacher walkouts in Arizona and Colorado continue national debate on money for schools By Michael Livingston Following the lead of teachers who walked off the job in other states in recent weeks, thousands of teachers and their supporters took to the streets in Arizona and Colorado for the second day in a row to demand better pay and more funding for education. Read More Facebook

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Three decades before the #MeToo movement, UC San Diego led the way against sexual assault By Teresa Watanabe When Nancy Wahlig first started her fight against sexual assault, one company was marketing a capsule for women to stash in their bras and then smash to release a vile odor. Because of the very nature of society, the only person who can prevent rape is the woman herself, read a 1981 advertisement for the Repulse rape deterrent. Ideas about how to prevent sexual violence have come a long way since then, and Wahlig has helped lead that evolution on college campuses. In 1988, she started UC San Diegos Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC), the first stand-alone program at the University of California. Today, she remains the systems most senior specialist. Read More Facebook

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Andres Alonso withdraws from consideration for L.A. schools job By Howard Blume Andres Alonso, believed to be one of three remaining finalists to lead the Los Angeles school system, has withdrawn from consideration. The remaining known candidates in the confidential search are former investment banker Austin Beutner and interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian. Alonso, 60, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday night, saying he had notified the L.A. Unified School District on Monday. The exit of Alonso, the former Baltimore schools chief, seems to solidify the front-runner status of Beutner, who also was a former L.A. Times publisher and a Los Angeles deputy mayor. He held each of those positions for about a year. Read More Facebook

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Heres why the apparent increase in autism spectrum disorders may be good for U.S. children By Karen Kaplan The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among American children continues to rise, new government data suggest. And that may be a good thing. Among 11 sites across the U.S. where records of 8-year-olds are scrutinized in detail, 1 in 59 kids was deemed to have ASD in 2014. Thats up from 1 in 68 in 2012. Normally, health officials would prefer to see less of a disease, not more of it. But in this case, the higher number is probably a sign that more children of color who are on the autism spectrum are being recognized as such and getting services to help them, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More Facebook

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UC shelves tuition increase for now, in hopes of getting more state funding By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents will not vote on a tuition increase next month, shelving the plan for now in hopes that state lawmakers will come through with more funding. Raising tuition is always a last resort and one we take very seriously, UC President Janet Napolitano said Thursday in a statement. We will continue to advocate with our students who are doing a tremendous job of educating legislators about the necessity of adequately funding the university to ensure UC remains a world-class institution and engine of economic growth for our state. Last week, Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White said the 23-campus system no longer would consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year. But unlike Cal State, UC officials have not taken a tuition increase off the table entirely. Read More Facebook

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A chemical spill, unchecked eyewash stations, poor training: Audit details Cal States lax lab safety By Joy Resmovits In May 2016, two bottles tumbled off a poorly supported shelf and broke, leading to a chemical spill in a Sacramento State University lab. The liquid got onto one students legs and soaked anothers feet. Five employees cleaned up the mess, even though no one knew for sure what it was and whether it was dangerous. They called fellow employee Kim Harrington, their union representative, to let her know what happened. Read More Facebook

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After blackface incident, minority students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo say they dont feel welcome By Hailey Branson-Potts Aaliyah Ramos was walking through the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus last year when a prospective student approached her. Ramos was the only black person, the young woman said, that she and her mother had seen that day. They asked about the quality of education and the diversity of the student body. Ramos, a mechanical engineering student, didnt want to sugarcoat the truth: Cal Poly long has been predominantly white. But she told the young woman  who also was black  that she didnt want to discourage her from applying, because that wouldnt help with diversity at a school where only 0.7% of students are African American  the lowest percentage of any university in the California State system. Read More Facebook

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El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills wins the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon By Carlos Lozano El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills has won the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon, officials said. The winner was announced early Saturday at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas. More than 600 students from the U.S., Canada, China and the United Kingdom gathered there over the last three days to compete in the 37th annual U.S. Academic Decathlon. Congratulations to El Camino Real Charter High School for another impressive victory, said Vivian Ekchian, interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Your academic stamina and competitive spirit to win is remarkable. The entire L.A. Unified family is so proud of you. Read More Facebook

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Anticipation mounts as L.A. school board meets over superintendent selection By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is reconvening in closed session Friday at noon as anticipation mounts about the choice of the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. The presumed front-runner is former investment banker and philanthropist Austin Beutner, but interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian and former Baltimore Supt. Andres Alonso also are in the running. Most district insiders appear to be rooting for Ekchian, who has spent her entire career in education within the school system. After her 10 years as a teacher, her roles have included head of human resources, chief labor negotiator and regional administrator for campuses in the west San Fernando Valley. Shes managed the district since September, when then-Supt. Michelle King went on medical leave and chose Ekchian to fill in for her. King, who is battling cancer, never returned and announced her retirement in January. Numerous influential civic leaders have urged  and pressured  the board to select Beutner. Also lending their weight have been advocates for charter schools, which are independently operated, growing in number and competing for students with district-operated campuses. Four of the seven board members  enough to control the outcome  were elected with major financial support from charter supporters. Beutner has two ongoing connections with the L.A. Unified School District. The first is his leadership of an outside task force that is making recommendations on how to improve the school system. The second is his charity, Vision to Learn, which supplies glasses to low-income students. The charity and the school system are in a dispute at the moment over who is responsible for delays in providing services to students as part of a $6 million contract, half of which is paid for by L.A. Unified. Unlike Ekchian and Buetner, Alonso, who currently teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has no deep-seated local constituency, but the prospect of his selection has generated some excitement. While in Baltimore, Alonso was recognized for pushing for progress at low-performing schools, and for being willing to take strong action. While in Baltimore, he also weathered a test-score cheating scandal and occasionally rocky relations with the teachers union. But by the time he resigned, after six years, he and union leaders seemed to be working together without rancor. Leaders of some community groups have split from the pro-Beutner camp. They worry that Beutners approach to confronting the districts financial problems could shut out their voices or involve severe economic cutbacks that would undermine programs that are helping students. Some prefer Ekchian; some Alonso. Theyve been reluctant to speak out publicly because theyll have to work with whoever is selected, but they have tried to get the ear of board members. On Friday morning, one leader of a community group decided to come out in favor of Alonso. L.A. Unified has the opportunity to bring in an instructional leader of color with a history of success, said Alberto Retana, president and chief executive of Community Coalition, which works on behalf of low-income students and families in South Los Angeles. If we have a shot at that, we should go for it  because its in the best interests of our kids and of our community. Retana said his statement was not meant to criticize Beutner or Ekchian but to alert board members that there also is community support for Alonso. Facebook

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Cal State leader shelves proposed tuition hike: Its the right thing to do, but its not without risk By Joy Resmovits Cal State, the nations largest public university system, will no longer consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year, Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Friday. The decision is a bet that Sacramento will come through in the end. If Cal State loses that bet, it could mean cuts to campus programs. White said in an interview that Californias economy is strong enough that families should not be shouldering the burden of higher college costs. Read More Facebook

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L.A. students to participate in national walkout activities on Friday By Joy Resmovits Students are taking to the streets again Friday to protest gun violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Starting at 10 a.m., students at many schools will spend 13 seconds honoring the 13 people  12 students and one teacher  killed on that day in Littleton, Colo. After that, theyll participate in a host of different activities. Within L.A. Unified, one school is having an open-mic event for students to talk about school violence, and lawmakers are visiting campuses to hear students thoughts. According to a central hub for organizing the protests  written by the students of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut  the walkouts are intended to drive the political change necessary to curb school violence. The day is also a time for students to interact on an elevated platform they have never had before, the site states. It is a day of discourse and thoughtful sharing. Bringing together communities and students to get a national discussion rolling. Organizers have suggested using the event to convey the importance of curbing gun violence to legislators. They are encouraging students to push legislation that would ban assault weapons and tighten up rules around who can buy guns and how. Over 2,500 schools nationwide are expected to participate. In L.A., some students  at campuses including Eagle Rock High School, the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and Bravo Medical Magnet  plan to walk out. Students from various schools expect to join area marches, including those in Santa Monica and Huntington Park. Other schools are hosting career days and voter registration drives. At 1 p.m., students plan to start a rally in front of L.A. Unified headquarters. For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that 12 teachers and one student were killed in the Columbine shooting. The opposite is true: twelve students and one teacher died. Facebook

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Stabbing of popular student devastates South El Monte High School; teen friend suspected in slaying By Sonali Kohli When administrators at South El Monte High School called Jeremy Sanchezs parents to say he never showed up for class Wednesday, his father began to worry. It was unusual for the 17-year-old junior to miss school, so his father filed a missing persons report and assembled two of Jeremys close friends to look for the popular student-athlete. Their search took them to a scenic stretch of the San Gabriel River Trail, where one of the friends  a 16-year-old boy  made a tragic discovery. Among the bushes in the riverbed near Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive was Jeremys body, punctured with stab wounds, according to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Read More Facebook

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Racist fliers spark outrage at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo By Alene Tchekmedyian Soon after Neal MacDougall arrived on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus Tuesday, the professor noticed university police standing outside a restroom near his office. A racial slur against African Americans had been scrawled in red marker on a stall wall. Later, he discovered a series of racist fliers pinned up next to his door. Someone had also slashed posters hed hung outside his office supporting students in the country illegally. The discovery was the latest controversy on the prestigious campus  which the president said is less than 55% white  that MacDougall said demonstrates a culture of racism at the university. Last week, photographs emerged of white fraternity members, including one in blackface, flashing gang signs. Read More Facebook

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The superintendent waiting game, paying for L.A.'s College Promise, Princetons slave history: Whats new in education By Joy Resmovits Acting LAUSD superintendent Vivian Ekchian is a finalist for the permanent job. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In and around Los Angeles: The L.A. Unified school board spent 10 hours interviewing and discussing candidates for superintendent. When they adjourned after 10 p.m., they said they would reconvene on Friday. Who is paying for Mayor Eric Garcettis much-touted College Promise, a program that promises two years of community college for LAUSD grads? In California: The Legislature is considering a proposal that would boost K-12 education funding for black students. When the cost of living is taken into account, California has the highest rate of child poverty. Nationwide: The families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School are suing Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never occurred. Princeton will name two spaces  an arch and a garden  after slaves who lived or worked on the campus. Facebook

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L.A. school board meets privately with finalists and debates choice for school district leader By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education adjourned late Tuesday after spending more than 10 hours interviewing candidates and trying to reach a decision on who would be the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. When the meeting finally recessed at 10:11 p.m., a spokesman announced only that the school board would reconvene Friday at noon. Going into the days meetings, there were apparently four finalists, according to sources who could not be named because they were unauthorized to speak. Read More Facebook

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Two Sandy Hook families sue Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never happened By David Altimari Families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School have filed lawsuits in Texas against controversial radio host Alex Jones for continually claiming the massacre never happened. Neil Heslin, the father of Jesse Lewis, and Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose son Noah Pozner died in the massacre, filed separate lawsuits late Monday in Travis County, Texas. The lawsuits allege that Jones defamed the parents by constantly calling them crisis actors and insisting the shooting was a false flag operation; they also claim Jones accusations have led to death threats against the Sandy Hook families by Jones followers. Read More Facebook

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Beutner emerges as a top pick for L.A. schools superintendent amid last-minute jockeying By Howard Blume Austin Beutner has emerged as a leading contender to run the Los Angeles school district, with backers saying he is smart enough and tough enough to confront its financial and academic struggles. Though he does not have a background in education, the former investment banker has in the last year examined some of the districts intractable problems, serving as co-chair of an outside task force with the support of then-Supt. Michelle King. Sources inside and outside the school district said Beutner appears to have more support on the seven-member board than other finalists, and his name could come up for a vote as early as Tuesday. Read More Facebook

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Challenge at Chicago school construction site: Watch for 38,000 unmarked graves By Nereida Moreno A 15-year effort to build a school in Chicagos Dunning neighborhood is underway with an unusual complication: Construction workers are taking careful steps to avoid disturbing human remains that may lie beneath the soil. The $70-million school is to be built on the grounds of a former Cook County Poor House, where an estimated 38,000 people were buried in unmarked graves. Among the dead are residents who were too poor to afford funeral costs, unclaimed bodies and patients from the countys insane asylum. There can be and there have been bodies found all over the place, said Barry Fleig, a genealogist and cemetery researcher who began investigating the site in 1989. Its a spooky, scary place. Read More Facebook

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Oklahoma teacher walkout winds down despite lawmakers failure to meet demands By Washington Post Oklahomas largest teachers union has announced an end to a walkout that has drawn thousands of educators out of classrooms and to the state Capitol demanding greater investment in the states schools, which have endured the nations steepest funding cuts. The announcement Thursday from the Oklahoma Education Assn. does not necessarily end the protests at the Capitol, as teachers not affiliated with the union vowed to stay longer. Instead of a walkout, the union and school districts across the state have said they plan to send delegations of teachers to Oklahoma City to keep the pressure on lawmakers. Teachers and their supporters have also promised to push education issues to the forefront of November elections, when the state chooses a new governor. As school districts begin to reopen, the protests may lose steam. The Legislature is not in session Friday, and observers are waiting to see what happens Monday, when lawmakers return. Read More Facebook

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Most Californians are worried about school shooting threats and oppose arming teachers, survey finds By Joy Resmovits Hamilton High School student Aiyana Dabriel holds a sign during a March 14 walkout in support of the Parkland shooting victims. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Most Californians are worried that a school shooting like the one that occurred in Parkland, Fla., in February could shed blood closer to home, a new survey found. Some 73% percent of adults and 82% of public school parents said they were very concerned or somewhat concerned about school shootings. The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed 1,704 adults in the state by phone just after the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence. Latino and black respondents were significantly more likely to be concerned about school violence than white or Asian respondents, the institute found. Two-thirds of adults and public school parents said they opposed letting more educators carry weapons in school. The response differed across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents voicing their opposition, while 60% percent of Republicans said they would support a measure to arm educators. The poll, which had a margin of error of 3.2% in either direction, also asked Californians about school funding, educational issues in the governors race and the impact of immigration enforcement on students. You can find the full results here. Facebook

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Californias largest virtual charter school network agrees to contract with its teachers By Anna M. Phillips Nearly four years after teachers at Californias largest online charter school voted to unionize, they have reached a deal to increase pay and create job protections, according to a spokesman for the California Teachers Assn. The contract, which is still tentative and subject to ratification, is a victory for the teachers union. Although charter schools are publicly funded, most are privately managed and their employees arent protected by labor contracts. Under the terms of the contract  the result of years of negotiation and legal wrangling  approximately 500 teachers working for California Virtual Academies will no longer be at-will employees who can be dismissed for almost any reason. Their average salary will rise to just over $45,000, according to union estimates, a figure that remains far below the norm for traditional public school teachers. Still, it is an improvement over the previous average of $38,000. The accord also places a limit on the number of students each teacher is responsible for monitoring in online homeroom classes. Were very satisfied with the gains we made, said teacher Brianna Carroll, president of California Virtual Educators United. I think were going to see some extraordinary changes in our schools. According to Carroll, teachers at California Virtual Academies  better known as CAVA  had grown frustrated with the organizations foot-dragging and were making preparations to go on strike when CAVAs leadership agreed to the deal. CAVA and K12, the Virginia-based for-profit company linked to its schools, did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday asking for comment. The network currently operates nine virtual charter schools across California. In 2016, the charter network agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle claims of false advertising, misleading parents and inadequate instruction. The state attorney generals office had also accused K12 of controlling the charters for its own financial benefit. Neither CAVA nor K12 admitted to wrongdoing in the settlement. A year later, the state imposed a $2-million fine on CAVA after an audit found that it had misspent public funds. The network disputed the findings. Facebook

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School board approves a new formula for funding high-need schools By Sonali Kohli L.A. schools will soon get more money if they are located in neighborhoods with such problems as high levels of gun violence and asthma. The Los Angeles Unified school board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new formula to determine how to dole out some funding to schools, based not only on the characteristics of the student populations but on the traumas that affect the communities around campuses. The new formula will be applied to $25 million in funding next fiscal year and about $263 million annually in future years  a small part of the districts $7.5 billion annual budget. Read More Facebook

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Protesters demand Ref Rodriguez resignation outside school board meeting By Sonali Kohli Students, parents, teachers and UTLA marching outside the board meeting chanting "Ref resign" pic.twitter.com/W0LRWZSIXY  Sonali Kohli  (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 A few dozen parents, students and teachers marched outside the Los Angeles Unified School Board meeting Tuesday, some calling for board member Ref Rodriguez to resign the week after news broke that he was taken into custody on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena bar and restaurant. Rodriguez was not cited or charged in that incident, but was held for more than five and a half hours before being released. The school board member faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. He is accused of getting more than two dozen people people to donate to his campaign for his school board seat with the understanding that he would reimburse them. He stepped down from his post as school board president after he was charged last fall, but he did not give up his seat on the board. He has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May. He cant give his full focus to our students, said Rebecca LaFond, a Highland Park parent whose three children marched with her as she chanted, Ref resign. One daughter marched in front of her, using a drum stick to hit the bottom of a gallon-size empty water jug. Our kids deserve someone who has the utmost ethical standards representing them, LaFond said. The protests continued into the board meeting, where some addressed Rodriguez directly, calling on him to step down during public comment portions of the meeting. Rodriguez, through his chief of staff, declined to comment. Some parents outside the board meeting did not know about the charges against Rodriguez but came out to protest the possibility of sharing their school campuses with charter schools. Protesters also oppose colocation  not all of the parents are here to ask Ref Rodriguez to step down pic.twitter.com/1Co8zQ9zSi  Sonali Kohli  (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 Cynthia Martinez said her son, who goes to Christopher Dena Elementary School in Boyle Heights, has been bullied in the past by students from a charter school sharing the campus. She said she didnt know who Rodriguez was. Some parents and teachers are worried about losing computer labs, robotics rooms and fitness centers if they are required to share their campus with charter schools, said Ilse Escobar, a parent community organizer for United Teachers Los Angeles. The issues of Rodriguez and colocation are related, Escobar said. Rodriguez is part of a majority on the school board elected with financial backing from charter school supporters, and many parents, she said, feel that the school board is compromised if he is a part of it. Staff reporter Howard Blume contributed to this post. Facebook

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Delaine Eastin tries to gain momentum in the California governors race, one voter at a time By Seema Mehta Delaine Eastin was a sophomore in high school when a drama teacher urged her to try out for a part in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She hesitated until he told her: This is a metaphor for your whole life. If you never try out, you will never get the part. Eastin auditioned and won the role. Decades later, the advice sticks with the former state schools chief, this time in her unlikely run for governor. Despite calls for more women in leadership roles in state politics following sexual misconduct allegations in Sacramento, Eastin has been largely overlooked in the race, lagging far behind her Democratic rivals in fundraising and the polls. Read More Facebook

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Arizona high court rejects in-state tuition for DACA recipients By Associated Press Young immigrants granted deferred deportation status under a program started by President Obama are not eligible for lower in-state college tuition, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous ruling will affect at least 2,000 students attending the states largest community college district and hundreds more at other colleges and the states three public universities. The Maricopa County Community Colleges District and state universities said they would begin raising tuition immediately for the coming school year. Read More Facebook

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New York high school students injured when bus strikes overpass By Associated Press A charter bus carrying teenagers returning from a spring break trip Sunday night struck a bridge overpass on Long Island, seriously injuring six passengers and mangling the entire length of the top of the bus. The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview, according to New York State Police. One of the six injured passengers had very serious injuries, said State Police Maj. David Candelaria. Thirty-seven other passengers suffered minor injuries. Read More Facebook

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Some good news for California in national student test scores By Joy Resmovits Every two years, the nations fourth- and eighth-graders are tested in math and reading  and newly released results from last years tests give California at least a little reason to be pleased. The 2017 results  out Monday night  were mostly flat nationwide compared with 2015, though the average score in eighth-grade reading went up. But while that improvement largely came from the increased scores of the highest-performing students, California eighth-graders showed some reading progress from the lowest levels to the highest. Read More Facebook

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Under state control, Inglewood school districts financial picture worsened By Anna M. Phillips When Eugenio Villa agreed to return to the Inglewood schools for a second tour last summer, he knew the district remained one of Californias most troubled. Inglewood Unified had been nearly insolvent when it was taken over by the state Department of Education in 2012. Six years later, its enrollment was still declining. Its school buildings were tired  some edging into decrepitude. Its test scores and graduation rates were still below the state average. And the public was out of patience. Still, Villa, who had signed back on as the districts chief business official, was shocked at what he found when he arrived in June 2017. Two years earlier, he had left the school system on what he thought was firm ground. Read More Facebook

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Charter school group drops two lawsuits against L.A. Unified By Howard Blume A charter schools advocacy group last week announced that it would end two long-running lawsuits in which it was seeking more classroom space and construction money from the Los Angeles school district. The decision, the California Charter Schools Assn. said, reflects better relations between charter schools and the L.A. Unified School District. But the move also suggests that the litigation, which already contributed to significant gains for area charters, was unlikely to produce much more. It takes time, money and effort to litigate, said Ricardo Soto, general counsel for the charter group. Maybe its better to see if we can find the time and opportunity for collaboration. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez is arrested on suspicion of public intoxication By Richard Winton Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez was arrested recently on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena restaurant, the latest trouble for an elected official who faces political money-laundering charges. Pasadena police took Rodriguez into custody on March 16, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. Officers arrested Rodriguez at about 4:30 p.m. at the Yard House restaurant and bar at the Paseo Mall and held him in jail for more than five-and-a-half hours. Rodriguez was ultimately released without being cited or charged, Derderian told The Times. Other details about the arrest were not available, she said. Read More Facebook

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Kentucky teachers rally at Capitol over state budget By Associated Press Thousands of Kentucky teachers filled the streets near the state Capitol in Frankfort on a cold, overcast Monday to rally for education funding. Teachers and other school employees gathered outside the Kentucky Education Assn. a couple of blocks from the Capitol chanting, Stop the war on public education and holding or posting signs that say, Weve Had Enough. Were madder than hornets, and the hornets are swarming today, said Claudette Green, a retired teacher and principal. Read More Facebook

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Authorities confirmed Wednesday that mass murderer Charles Manson is back in a Bakersfield hospital, though the severity of his condition is unclear.

Kern County Sheriffs Lt. Bill Smallwood confirmed that Manson is at a local hospital but could not say more.

Vicky Waters, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, declined to comment, citing federal and state medical privacy laws that preclude the agency from commenting on protected health information for any inmate in our custody.

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Waters did confirm, however, that Manson is alive.

In January, Manson, 83, was rushed to Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield for what authorities at the time would describe only as a serious medical problem.

Related: The Manson Family: Where are they now?

Manson and members of his family of followers were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate and six other people during a bloody rampage in the Los Angeles area in August 1969. Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war he dubbed Helter Skelter, taken from the Beatles song of the same name.

1 / 6 The five victims slain the night of Aug. 9, 1969 at the Benedict Canyon Estate of Roman Polanski. From left, Voityck Frykowski, Sharon Tate, Stephen Parent, Jay Sebring, and Abigail Folger. The next night, it happened again. Rosemary and Leno LaBianca, a wealthy couple who lived across town, were stabbed to death in their home. (Associated Press) 2 / 6 Charles Manson is led back to his cell after court appearance in 1970. (Bill Murphy / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 6 Four young female members of the Charles Manson family kneel outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice on March 29, 1971, with their heads shaved. The women kept a vigil at the building throughout the long trial in which Manson and three others were convicted of murdering actress Sharon Tate and six others. (Wally Fong / Associated Press) 4 / 6 Charles Manson is escorted to court for preliminary hearing in 1969. (Bill Murphy / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 6 Charles Manson receives the news that he was denied parole in 1997, for the ninth time in March, 1997. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) 6 / 6 Charles Mansion in the high security area of the Corcoran State Prison in 1998. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, was 8 1/2 months pregnant when she was killed at her hilltop home in Benedict Canyon on Aug. 9, 1969. Four others were stabbed and shot to death the same night: Jay Sebring, 35; Voytek Frykowski, 32; Abigail Folger, 25, a coffee heiress; and Steven Parent, 18, a friend of Tates caretaker. The word pig was written on the front door in blood.

The next night, Manson rode with his followers to the Los Feliz home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, then left three members to kill the couple.

Manson initially was sentenced to death. But a 1972 ruling by the California Supreme Court found the states death penalty law at the time unconstitutional, and his sentence was changed to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He has been denied parole 12 times.

During his four decades of incarceration, Manson has been anything but a model prisoner. Among other things, he has been cited for assault, repeated possession of a weapon, threatening staff and possessing a cellphone.

Its unclear at which hospital Manson is being treated. But a local television reporter tweeted a photo of a prison department van outside Mercy Hospital. A spokeswoman for the hospital declined to comment.

There were no further updates Friday about Mansons condition from either the hospital or prison system.

Is Charles Manson in Bakersfield?



Corrections Dept. guards are at Mercy Hospital downtown, 1 of 2 locations prisoners can receive treatment. Other location (Adventist Health) confirms hes not there. pic.twitter.com/Y5fYX6EBn8  Hanna Battah (@HannaBattahFox4) November 16, 2017

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

ALSO

Judge denies release of recorded interviews with Manson cult member

Manson follower Leslie Van Houten granted parole in notorious murders; LaBianca family opposes her release

Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkels bid for freedom denied, despite claims he abused her

UPDATES:

Nov. 17 7:30 a.m.: This article was updated with no comments Friday on Manson condition.

11 a.m.: This article was updated with spokeswoman for hospital.

Nov. 16, 7:05 a.m.: This article was updated with a tweet about prison officials at Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield.

Nov. 15, 7:45 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

This article was originally published at 6:50 p.m. Nov. 15.
In March, a Tehama County judge ordered Kevin Janson Neal to stay away from neighbors and turn in his firearms.

But that edict, part of a temporary restraining order sought by his neighbor, did not keep Neal away from his weapons. Residents said that in recent months they heard him shooting off guns at his home with impunity. Some complained to authorities, to no avail.

Then, on Tuesday, he went on a rampage across his rural community of Rancho Tehama, killing 5 people, wounding 10 and shooting up a local elementary school.

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Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said Wednesday that authorities were unaware that Neal had been required to give up his guns.

Since January, Johnston said, his department had responded to multiple calls from Rancho Tehama residents that Neal was shooting, and one woman told the Times she summoned officers a week ago after hearing screaming, followed by gunfire, from the general vicinity of his house.

The order for Neal to turn in his weapons was automatically entered into the states criminal records system to put officers on alert. Proof of service records show a Sheriffs Department employee delivered the court order to the home of Neal, according to the order. Court records show that he turned in one gun in February and claimed he didnt own any more.

The Sheriffs Department had handled a criminal case against Neal involving a neighbor whom he allegedly stabbed in the abdomen in January, and those charges remained pending.

1 / 10 Before Kevin Neals shooting rampage through Rancho Tehama, Calif., authorities often received complaints of gunfire coming from his mobile home, above. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press ) 2 / 10 Randy Morehouse walks past the gate at the Rancho Tehama Elementary School, that gunman Kevin Janson Neal crashed through during his shooting rampage. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) 3 / 10 Law enforcement officers and a crime scene photographer examine a police vehicle that was involved in the shooting in Rancho Tehama, Calif. Five people were killed and nearly a dozen were wounded, including several children. (Elijah Nouvelage / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 10 FBI agents outside Rancho Tehama Elementary School after a shooting rampage that left five dead and at least 10 wounded. (Elijah Nouvelage / AFP/Getty Images) 5 / 10 Law enforcement officers examine a vehicle that was involved in the shooting in Rancho Tehama, Calif. (Elijah Nouvelage / AFP/Getty Images) 6 / 10 Law enforcement officers investigate at one of many crime scenes after a shooting rampage in Rancho Tehama, Calif. (Elijah Nouvelage / AFP/Getty Images) 7 / 10 Two women embrace outside Rancho Tehama Elementary School in Corning, Calif., where a gunman opened fire Tuesday. Officials say that five people, including the shooter, were killed, in Tehama County and several people, including some children, were injured and taken to hospitals. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) 8 / 10 Phil Johnston, center, assistant sheriff for Tehama County, briefs reporters on the shootings near Rancho Tehama Elementary School in Corning, Calif. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) 9 / 10 Officers investigate one of the shooting scenes at Rancho Tehama Elementary School in Corning, Calif. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) 10 / 10 Officers investigate one of the shooting scenes at Rancho Tehama Elementary School in Corning, Calif. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

According to court records, Hailey Suzanne Poland sought a court order protecting herself and her mother- and father-in-law, ages 68 and 74, as well as her boyfriend, identified as Danny Elliott, 38, and a 7-year-old boy.

She alleged that Neal harassed her and guests, and she complained of his use of firearms.

Without naming her, sheriffs officials have confirmed that the woman seeking the protective order was among Neals first victims.

She gave her address as 6955 Bobcat Lane in Rancho Tehama, and Neals as 6970 on the same road.

In her restraining order request, Poland, 33, said he had verbally abused every house member (including child) and has assaulted two house members in face, and stabbed another house member.

She said the harassment occurred on a daily basis.

He attacked me and my mother-in-law stabbing me with a knife and beating her and myself, she wrote. In her handwritten complaint, she said he threatened with a gun and shot gun off, used a knife to stab and hold against will. Shot a gun with intent to scare or harm.

She described being stabbed with a seven-inch knife, also punched in the face, another house member was punched in face, and thrown down to the ground.

Daniel Webster, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, said this weeks rampage underscores the idea that the standards for who can possess guns are only as effective as a jurisdictions commitment to enforcing them.

Authorities said they had tried to make contact with Neal at his door, and at least twice had his house under surveillance. A critical next step, Webster said, would have been to get a search warrant.

If youre in law enforcement, you dont want to be in that sheriffs shoes right now. You dont want to be that sheriff that didnt take the steps, Webster said. The warning signs were very clear.  He was shooting off lots and lots of rounds, so he clearly has a lot of ammo.

Court records show Neal also faced multiple felony charges, including accusations of second-degree robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, negligent firing of a firearm, battery and false imprisonment by violence.

The criminal complaint alleges that on Jan. 31, he stole property from Polands mother-in-law and assaulted Poland with a knife. No details of the incident are in the court file, but it does contain another protective order that also required Neal to surrender any firearms.

Attorney Leo Barone said he was hired by Neal after his arrest in January. Barone said that Neal had an ongoing dispute with a neighbor and that they would often call the authorities on each other. He said he stopped representing Neal a few months back.

Barone said Neal was known to make strange comments but never hinted at violence.

He was making bizarre statements, and I confronted him about it and he didnt like being confronted.

Attorney Alessio Larrabee, who was representing Neal before the shooting rampage, declined to comment Wednesday afternoon.

Times staff writer Ruben Vives contributed to this report.

ALSO

Tehama shooting is deadly evidence that California needs to reform its bail system

Judge ordered gunman to surrender weapons before he killed wife and hid body under their Rancho Tehama home

UPDATES:

6:30 p.m.: This article was updated with an interview with a gun policy expert.

This article was originally published at 4:50 p.m.
A Malibu horse trainer who crashed into two pedestrians in a crosswalk, killing one of them, and later denied to police that she was the driver in the collision was sentenced Thursday to one year in jail.

Nicole Herschel, 36, the driver of the pickup truck in the June 2016 crash, sobbed in a Van Nuys courtroom as she pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter and apologized to Yijing Chen, the daughter of the woman who died.

Im sorry, Herschel said, standing in court and looking at Chen. I think about your mom every day. Im very sorry. I didnt see you guys and I didnt know.

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The sentencing hearing came against the objections of Chen, who was also injured in the crash. Chen, a Pepperdine University graduate student from China, had unsuccessfully petitioned the Los Angeles County district attorneys office to pursue more serious charges against Herschel.

I will never have my mother back, Chen said, as her attorney, Alan Jackson, consoled her. A year from now, shell get out and enjoy the Malibu sunshine and fresh air.

Its an absolute tragedy, said Judge Joseph Brandolino before imposing the maximum penalty for the misdemeanor charge. Prosecutors asked that Herschel be taken to jail immediately, but the judge allowed her to remain free until Jan. 26, when she is expected to surrender to the Sheriffs Department.

Just before 9 p.m. on June 5, 2016, Chen and her mother, Hongfen Shen, 53, were holding hands as they walked toward a Calabasas grocery store along Las Virgenes Road. Shen was visiting her daughter from Hangzhou, in eastern China.

After they stepped into the crosswalk at the 101 Freeway onramp, they were struck by a pickup truck, according to an account detailed in a California Highway Patrol report obtained by The Times.

Chen was thrown to the ground, and the truck ran over her left leg. She saw her mothers torso being run over by the trucks right rear tire, according to the interview she gave to investigators.

The driver  later identified as Herschel by authorities  then got out of the truck, she said.

What happened to you? Why are you guys walking when the light is red? Herschel said, according to records. Chen told investigators the light was green, according to the CHP report, which determined that Herschel failed to yield to the pedestrians.

The driver then dragged Shens body toward the curb, returned to the truck, reversed and parked nearby along Las Virgenes Road, witnesses told the CHP.

After police arrived, Herschel denied that she had struck the women, saying she came upon the scene while driving to the grocery store, the CHP records said. Herschel said at the scene that her dog had jumped on her daughters car seat, and while tending to the dog, she looked and saw the two women in the roadway.

A CHP officer considered her answers evasive and inspected her black pickup, a 2015 Chevy Silverado, according to the collision report. Authorities seized Herschels truck a few days later at a Los Angeles International Airport parking lot, and an officer noticed the truck was recently washed, according to CHP records. The marks along the frame appeared consistent with Chens mothers footwear, the officer wrote.

There were obvious signs of scrubbing/rubbing over and adjacent to the marks, the officer said.

Yijing Chen is comforted by her attorney, Alan Jackson, as she addresses the court during the plea and sentencing hearing for Nicole Herschel. Prosecutors charged Herschel with vehicular manslaughter after fatally crashing into Chens mother. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times )

You didnt help, Chen told Herschel on Thursday in court, in a tearful plea for the judge to impose the maximum penalty. She did nothing. She only tried to help herself by lying about what she did.

After Chen spoke, Herschel stood and said that she didnt know she had hit the women. She said she moved Chens mothers body as a way to help, and only stopped tending to her because another person at the scene urged her not to touch them.

She did not call 911, she said, because she did not have her phone.

I was only trying to help, Herschel said, wiping her cheeks with a tissue as she expressed sympathy for Chens loss. My mom is my best friend too.

The CHP had recommended that prosecutors file a felony hit-and-run charge along with misdemeanor charges of manslaughter and tampering with evidence at the scene, alleging that Herschel had moved her truck from the crash site and lied to police.

Prosecutors balked. This case was filed based on what we could prove beyond a reasonable doubt, said Ricardo Santiago, a spokesman for the district attorneys office.

Chen, who also filed a civil lawsuit against Herschel in 2016, persuaded Jackson, a prominent attorney and former prosecutor, to help pressure the D.A.s office to increase the charges against Herschel. On Thursday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Seo told the court that the office was not seeking additional charges, clearing the way for Herschel to enter her plea.

Herschels defense attorney, Nicholas Bravo, said afterward in an email that his client should not have been sentenced to jail. Prosecutors made no showing or offering of egregiously bad driving at the time of the accident, nor did prosecutors provide evidence of repeated traffic or criminal violations by Herschel, he said.

You should not get a year in jail simply for having a traffic accident, which is all that the charged conduct was, Bravo said.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino listens as Yijing Chen addressed a Van Nuys courtroom about the night she and her mother were struck by a pickup truck. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times )

Brandolino, the judge, said he reviewed the collision report before the hearing and said it was Herschels actions after the crash that factored into the maximum punishment.

This is not a case that involved intent, Brandolino said. This is one of those cases where the criminal conduct of the defendant is so disproportionate to the tragic, tragic results.

He acknowledged that an outpouring of letters from Herschels family and friends  many of whom squeezed into the back two rows of the courtroom  demonstrated her positive character.

Shes a good person, no doubt, Brandolino said of Herschel.

But what befell Chen and her mother was also unfathomable, he said.

I hope, in some way, the resolution of this case will help you move forward and heal, the judge told Chen.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno

UPDATES:

4:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the hearing and comments from Herschels attorney.

This article was originally published at 1:30 p.m.
The retired New York police detective who led the investigation into the 1982 disappearance of Robert Dursts wife testified Wednesday that he quickly grew suspicious of the millionaire and eventually came to believe that he killed her.

It would be hard to believe otherwise, said Michael Struk, who testified in a courtroom in Los Angeles, where Durst is charged in a separate case.

The eccentric real estate magnate stands accused of shooting his best friend, Susan Berman inside her Benedict Canyon home in 2000  a slaying that prosecutors argue was motivated by his desire to silence her for her knowledge of the disappearance of his wife, Kathleen.

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The detective, who was called to testify by the defense, said Tuesday that he was comfortable that authorities had done everything they could to solve the mystery. Kathleen Dursts body was never recovered and criminal charges werent filed against her husband in New York.

But under cross-examination Wednesday, Struk testified that while no arrest was made in New York, he did suspect the millionaire.

Durst, 74, is unlikely to go to trial before 2018. However, a judge has allowed attorneys to videotape early testimony from older witnesses in danger of dying before the case is presented to jurors. While prosecutors have called more than a dozen witnesses to the stand in recent months, Struk is the first witness called by the defense.

The detective said he remembered Durst walking into the New York Police Departments 20th Precinct station in Manhattan to report his wife missing. It was Feb. 5, 1982  five days after Durst said he saw his wife for the last time in Westchester County, N.Y., after putting her on a Manhattan-bound train.

Prosecutors then played a clip of Struk being interviewed in 2011 by producers of The Jinx, a six-part HBO documentary about Durst. During the interview, Struk said Durst showed no emotion while reporting his wifes disappearance.

It was like he was in a deli ordering a hero sandwich, Struk said during the interview. The retired detective also told producers that while reporting his wife missing, Durst had mentioned his father, Seymour, a power broker in New York real estate circles. Struk testified that he believed Durst was trying to impress him with the reference.

Later in the hearing, prosecutors displayed a missing-persons report that Struk wrote after Durst reported Kathleen missing. Durst wasnt initially concerned about his wife, Struk wrote, as she often stayed overnight at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she was enrolled, several days at a time. According to the report, Durst told the detective the couple had few marital difficulties.

But Struk testified that he came to doubt that characterization of the marriage after speaking with a fellow medical student who told him Kathleen spoke of many marital problems, including her husband striking her and mental cruelty.

The prosecutor asked if that had raised his antennae.

Yes, the detective responded.

Although he grew suspicious of Durst, Struk testified that it was a tough case because he believed that Kathleen had been killed outside the city and there was no actual crime scene within the NYPDs jurisdiction. Beyond that, he said, authorities were saddled because they had statements from people saying they had seen Kathleen in Manhattan or spoken to her by phone after Durst reported putting her on the train.

On Tuesday, Struk zealously denied accusations made in a recent lawsuit filed on behalf of Kathleen Dursts family that New York police sought to protect her husband during their investigation.

Until you walk in my shoes, dont spit in my face, Struk said.

When asked by a defense attorney if hed done anything to cover up for Durst in his wifes disappearance, the detective choked up and said, Thats silly.

That testimony could foreshadow an issue lawyers will likely focus on at trial  the thoroughness of the New York investigation in the 1980s and whether Durst evaded arrest for a crime he committed.

Dursts attorney, Dick DeGuerin, argued that Struk did a good job investigating the case, asserting that Durst was never arrested because the evidence didnt point toward his guilt. The defense argument could undermine a motive for Durst to have killed Berman.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. John Lewin sharply disagreed, saying, There was no great investigation.

Struk testified that in retrospect he would have done some things differently. It was a mistake, he conceded, not to ask more questions of a medical school dean who at the time told detectives he got a call from Kathleen on Feb. 1, 1982. Struk said he didnt recall asking the dean how he recognized Kathleens voice or how many times theyd spoken by phone before.

Also, the detective said, it would have been a good thing for authorities to conduct a much more detailed search of the house in South Salem  a hamlet in Westchester County where Durst and his wife sometimes spent weekends.

Durst, who has pleaded not guilty, was arrested at a New Orleans hotel in connection with Bermans slaying on March 14, 2015. Inside his hotel room, police say, they found a .38 revolver, stacks of cash and an old-man mask.

The eccentric millionaire was arrested a day before the finale of The Jinx, in which the real estate scion mumbles, What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.

Some interpreted his comments, which were captured on a hot microphone during a bathroom break, to be a confession to three killings  those of Berman and his wife and the fatal shooting of Morris Black, a neighbor in Texas.

In the Texas case, Durst argued at trial that the gun fired while he was defending himself during a struggle with Black. He admitted to dismembering the body and dumping the parts in Galveston Bay, but jurors acquitted him of murder.

Times staff writer Makeda Easter contributed to this report.

marisa.gerber@latimes.com

For more news from the Los Angeles County courts, follow me on Twitter: @marisagerber
Police are searching for a man who allegedly broke into his estranged wifes home with a shotgun on Tuesday, tried to set three Inland Empire homes on fire on Wednesday, then evaded police in Santa Barbara during a car pursuit Thursday morning, authorities said.

Police said the problems began Tuesday night when Matthew Rice, armed with a shotgun, kicked in the rear sliding glass door at the home of his estranged wife in the 8000 block of Jamestown Circle in Fontana.

Rices wife and a male friend who was with her were able to disarm him in a violent struggle, in which the wife suffered multiple broken bones, Fontana police Sgt. Darren Robbins said.

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The next afternoon, Rice tried to set three homes on fire  his mother- and father-in-laws residence in the 8900 block of Orange Street in Rancho Cucamonga, his estranged wifes home and the home of the wifes friend in the 7900 block of Amanda Street in Fontana, Robbins said.

Rice also stole his wifes car, a white Chevy Cruise with the license plate HGK307, he said.

Sprinklers in the wifes house put out the fire, but there was extensive water damage to the two-story home, Robbins said.

When we got up there there was water coming out of the garage, there was smoke, smell of methane gas, gasoline, he said.

Rice had attempted to light the front door on fire at his wifes friends home, Robbins said.

At the Rancho Cucamonga home, firefighters were able to contain the fire to the garage so there was no extension into the house, said Rancho Cucamonga Fire District spokeswoman Kelley Donaldson.

Rice is described as 37 years old, 5-feet-8 and 160 pounds with a scruffy beard, Robbins said.

He was most recently living in Santa Barbara, and authorities in the county engaged in a car pursuit with him early Thursday morning but he got away, Robbins said.

Police recovered the shotgun from the wifes home, but do not know if Rice is armed, Robbins said.

We are supporting Fontana Police Department in an investigation of a crime that happened in the city of Fontana, said Santa Barbara police spokesman Anthony Wagner.

Reach Sonali Kohli at Sonali.Kohli@latimes.com or on Twitter @Sonali_Kohli.

ALSO

Rancho Tehama gunman targeted wife, neighbor before attacking passersby at random

Police fatally shoot driver after someone opened fire on them from his car

Charles Manson hospitalized in Bakersfield; prison officials say only that he is still alive
Multiple Orange County schools will continue to have an increased police presence this week even after investigators deemed threats on social media of campus shootings to be not credible, authorities said.

Buena Park police were alerted to a second Instagram post Wednesday after Anaheim police arrested a teenager Tuesday who allegedly posted on Instagram about shootings that would happen Friday at four high schools.

The latest post came from a different account that was traced back to a Buena Park resident, said Anaheim police spokeswoman Kristina Hamm. It raised public alarms that Anaheim police had arrested the wrong person.

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But the second post was eventually determined to be a reposting of the first threat.

The 14-year-old boy arrested Tuesday, a Western High School freshman, in connection with the original threat is still in custody, she said, and Anaheim police are convinced they arrested the right person. Hamm emphasized that the threats were found to be false alarms.

We dont believe theres any credible threat right now, we havent found any means or any evidence that would indicate there would be the capacity to pull off this threat, Hamm said. No weapons, no maps, no detailed plots of that nature.

In his original post Sunday, the teen allegedly said there would be shootings on Friday at Magnolia, Western, Cypress and Buena Park high schools.

Buena Park police determined that the second Instagram post was not a credible threat, said Lt. Tamra Banks.

It is not a new threat, it is a reposting of the original threat that Anaheim investigated, Banks said. Its caused a firestorm so we are still investigating to figure out who did the repost.  The comments that were made were not threats.

Magnolia, Western and Cypress high schools will all have increased police presence throughout the week regardless, authorities said.

Buena Park police is not planning to provide additional security to Buena Park High School because that threat has been deemed not credible  theres no need for increased presence at the schools, Banks said.

Reach Sonali Kohli at Sonali.Kohli@latimes.com or on Twitter @Sonali_Kohli.
It was one of the worst-case scenarios for a school shooting: a yard full of children playing with a rampaging gunman just minutes away.

At Rancho Tehama Elementary School, children who were outside were quickly hustled Tuesday morning into locked rooms as Kevin Janson Neal drew closer.

One student was shot, but nobody died. And that, authorities say, is stunning.

I had a student injured badly and Im heartbroken about that, but theres cause for hope, said Corning Union Elementary School District Supt. Richard Fitzpatrick. "Theres cause for hope. If we can lock down and we can eliminate ourselves as an apparent target, our kids can go home at the end.

The difference between 100 kids being around today and dozens being shot or killed

Rancho Tehama Elementary is a small, rural school  just under 100 students, nine employees and four classrooms, Fitzpatrick said in a televised Wednesday press conference in which he recounted the school shooting based on surveillance videos he watched, conversations with school staff and his own recollection. He was on the phone with school staff during the shooting.

Between 7:50 and 7:53 a.m. on Tuesday, the school secretary and some other staff heard a gunshot nearby. Then they heard two more.

The first shot was loud, it was close, Fitzpatrick said. But the second two came in close succession. Pop. Pop.

Thats all the secretary needed to announce a lockdown. Staff quickly went into the yard and began corralling students into their classrooms and ushering parents into the office.

About two-thirds of the lockdown was complete when the shooter rammed a gate at the north end of the campus with a white pickup truck, breaking through the school fence.

The schools head custodian poked his head around the building and made eye contact with the shooter, who fired at him, Fitzpatrick said.

The shooter was struggling with his weapon at this time, Fitzpatrick said. The gun appeared to be jammed, and he was having trouble loading ammunition, Fitzpatrick said.

The superintendent believes that interaction gave staff a few more seconds to get children into classrooms, completing the lockdown.

Surveillance video shows that between eight to 10 seconds after every room was secured, the shooter entered the quad, Fitzpatrick said.

The school secretary recognizing the threat  that quickly made all the difference between 100 kids being around today and dozens being shot or killed, he said. That amount of seconds was critical.

Neal ran into the quad shooting, a horrific look on his face, Fitzpatrick said. He shot at the building to his left, then at the office. His bullets shattered glass and pierced wood walls and bookshelves.

One child, identified by family members as 6-year-old Alejandro Hernandez, was shot in the chest and foot in the K-1 classroom. The teacher and aide immediately started attending to him, applying direct pressure to the wounds, Fitzpatrick said. Alejandro is expected to survive.

In between shooting, the gunman tried to get into classrooms and the main office, but was unable to gain entry. He checked the bathroom, which was open but empty.

Then he walked to the schools field, loaded a magazine and fired outward into a fenced, forested area outside of the school.

It looked as if that was done in frustration, Fitzpatrick said.

About six minutes after he had crashed through the schools gate, the shooter drove away.

You either bring them in or run

There are two options when students are outside during an active shooter situation: You either bring them in or run, said Dennis Lewis, co-founder of the school safety consulting and training company Edu-Safe.

Staff have to make a split-second decision based on what they know, and they often know very little, Lewis said. In this case, it appears a well-trained staff combined with a little bit of luck came together to save these lives, he said.

A small school population combined with the shooters problems with his weapon may also have helped the staff get into classrooms faster, he said.

School staff have practiced drills and executed lockdowns before, so even though theyve never had an active shooter on campus, they knew what to do, Fitzpatrick said.

The lockdown procedure was implemented flawlessly, he said. The reason that we have a situation where I have one student injured on campus and nothing worse happening on campus is because of the heroic actions of all members of my school staff.

At an earlier press conference after the shooting Tuesday, Fitzpatrick said the student who was shot was hiding under a desk.

During an active shooter situation, students should be low to the ground and out of sight, but under their own desks may not be the best hiding place, Lewis said. Without knowing where in the classroom the student was hiding or how the school was configured, though, he said he could not determine whether the students at Rancho Tehama were in the safest spot.

Typically, students should not be spread out and should be in the back corner of a classroom farthest from the entryway, he said.

Regardless, he said, the secretary who called for a lockdown, without waiting for law enforcement direction, saved dozens of lives.

I often say that in these school shootings, seconds matter, Lewis said. Theres an example where seconds mattered.

Los Angeles Times staff writer Javier Panzar contributed to this report.

sonali.kohli@latimes.com

Twitter: @sonali_kohli
Tears for those who were killed or hurt, applause for the schoolteachers who saved lives and loud cheers for the strength of their small rural enclave filled the community hall here Wednesday night.

But some interjected a strong message into the vigil marking Tuesdays shooting spree: Dont ignore the gunshots.

Martha Monroy lives in the neighborhood where gunman Kevin Neal drove through twice on Tuesday, hunting victims. She was among the residents to pick up the microphone and call for less tolerance of backyard gunfire.

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Neal had a history of complaints for firing guns from his home on Bobcat Lane, despite a court order since March banning him from having firearms.

On Tuesday he went on a rampage, killing four residents and wounding at least 10 more, before he died in a shootout with police. Later, officers discovered the body of his wife beneath the floor of their home.

When somebody shoots, please, please report everybody who shoots, Monroy pleaded when it was her turn to speak. Call the police, please. Nobody has the right to shoot nobody.

Hers was a touchy point, even at the vigil. Another speaker picked up the passing microphone to interject: Its not the gun, its the person.

A man who introduced himself as Rob said the shooter and his wife once lived near him in another part of Rancho Tehama.

Kevin and Barb used to be my neighbors, he said, his voice breaking. Authorities have not named Neals wife. I didnt notice anything strange like that. And I feel Barbara was caught up in it, and she got shot.

Rob voiced remorse over the unheeded reports of nightly gunfire at Neals house.

There was shooting every night. There should have been something done, he said, to murmurs of agreement.

There were shots every night, and I never knew it was him, he said, wishing aloud that he had realized it was Neal. I could have stopped him.

At Rancho Tehama vigil, former neighbor of gunman struggles with whether the shooter could have been stopped pic.twitter.com/08Uchkxdgn  Paige St. John (@paigestjohn) November 16, 2017

There were prayers said by the more than 100 community members who crowded in the small hall to capacity, standing shoulder to shoulder. But some still needed to recount their personal brushes with the violence of the day before.

They included a father who had dropped his child off at Tehama Elementary School and found himself barricaded inside when the gunman tried to get in.

When he tried to look out a window, he drew gunfire. He found himself moving children huddled beneath their desks to safer places, including a 6-year-old hit by the gunfire. At the vigil, he met the family of that boy and they hugged, sobbing in gratitude for one another.

Against the back wall sat Anelina Sanchez, quietly struggling to come to terms with her own contact with the shooter. She had stepped out of her house that morning on Fawn Lane, not far from where the gunman had killed his wife and three others. She saw a man in a car who shouted out his window at her in anger.

Hes asking me, Do you know somebody killed over here in the Rancho? And I say, No, who it was?  Sanchez said, and he is taking the gun out and he said, Thats me. And he shot five times.

Sanchez said she dropped to the ground behind her neighbors fence and crawled back into the house. Officers later found the bullets that had missed her. But before then, she said, she had to deal with the sight of a car off Oak Park Road, its windows blown out, the passengers bleeding. And the story her daughter brought home of being fired at in her car as the gunman passed by.

I am so scared. I am so scared of anything, Sanchez said. If somebody said stop, I will go faster, because I am so scared...

Even last night, I couldnt sleep.

paige.stjohn@latimes.com

Twitter: @paigestjohn
Police are expected to maintain a stepped-up presence for the rest of the week at four Orange County schools named in an an online shooting threat, despite the arrest of a student who said the post was only a joke.

A 14-year-old freshman at Western High School was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly making the threat through an Instagram post, according to Kristina Hamm of the Anaheim Police Department. The teen threatened to commit acts of violence through multiple school shootings at his school, Magnolia High School in Anaheim, Cypress High School and Buena Park High School, Hamm said.

Anaheim police spokesman Sgt. Daron Wyatt said Wednesday the arrested student was super remorseful and he had no means to carry [the threat] out.

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It was not a legitimate threat, Wyatt said. He didnt realize the ramifications of it, but the message we like to get out is that its not a joke and we will prosecute pranks like this to the fullest extent of the law.

The online threat said the shootings would be carried out Friday. Despite the students arrest, some parents said Wednesday they were still concerned about the safety of their children  particularly on Friday.
A South Los Angeles man was arrested by federal authorities Wednesday for allegedly making a series of online threats to kill law enforcement personnel and others at the Inglewood courthouse, a nearby school and a private business.

John Patrice Hale, 42, who used the online moniker Frost K Blizzard, made the threats using techniques such as Tor and proxy servers designed to make his internet posts anonymous, according to the U.S. attorneys office.

Hale appeared before a federal judge in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon and pleaded not guilty to charges contained in a 10-count indictment.

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The indictment alleges that Hale sent the online threats over several days in May 2017 to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments court services division website. Although some of the threats invoked the Islamic State group, authorities have not uncovered any evidence linking Hale to international terrorism, federal prosecutors said.

According to the indictment, Hale threatened to set off explosives planted in Sheriffs Department vehicles at the Inglewood courthouse. The threat prompted the evacuation of the courthouse, and both the sheriffs Arson and Explosives Unit and the Threat Interdiction Unit responded.

Two similar threats, sent May 15, promised to take out as many officers that pull out (of) your parking structure and also threatened a nearby school, according to the document, which alleges that one of the threats read, ISIS will have revenge today, using an acronym for Islamic State.

Two threats made a day later warned of explosives planted under a patrol car at the Inglewood sheriffs station, saying the impact would be felt for a half city block, according to the indictment. The threats again prompted a significant response by law enforcement and evacuation of the Inglewood courthouse.

In addition, Hale allegedly sent a threat to a private business through its website on May 23 that read: All praises to Allah. Today, we will detonate an explosive at your La Brea and Arbor Vitae location if our needs arent met by your company. ISIS, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors also contend that on May 25, Hale submitted bogus information to the FBIs Tips and Public Leads web page, despite a warning that submitting a false tip could result in a fine or imprisonment.

Hale claimed on the site that he knew a man who would supply ISIS with explosives even planting them for them and who had received instructions from ISIS to send Inglewood Sheriff Department bomb threats via email, according to the indictment.

The indictment, which was returned by a Los Angeles federal grand jury Nov. 7, charges Hale with five counts of making false and misleading statements concerning terrorism, four counts of making threats to injure in interstate commerce and one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement.

He faces up to five years in federal prison for each of the 10 counts, prosecutors said.

UPDATES:

6:05 p.m.: This article was updated to include Hales not guilty plea.

This article was originally published at 3:35 p.m.
University of California regents are looking at ways to make UC educations more affordable, including handing out grants for summer school and giving students multiyear financial aid commitments.

A recent survey found that the 10-campus UC system awards the most generous freshman financial aid of top public universities nationwide, averaging $19,000 to $22,000 annually. UC campuses also enroll a higher share of low-income students than their peers. About 4 in 10 UC students receive federal Pell grants.

But regents will consider another tuition increase at their next meeting in January, and some of them at their meeting Wednesday said they need to do more to help.

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It seems were not doing our job, said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, an ex-officio regent.

The regents discussed a new UC report on university affordability. For students who are California residents, the report said, the average cost of attending and living on campus this school year is $34,717, including about $13,900 in tuition and fees. About three-quarters of students receive financial aid and more than half pay no tuition.

The report, compiled by a group of regents, administrators, faculty and students, offered eight recommendations  two of which drew particular attention.

One idea was to adopt UC Santa Barbaras groundbreaking Promise Scholars Program, to give talented, low-income students predictable financial support through a multiyear aid commitment rather than the usual year-to-year pledges. The program currently guarantees about 275 undergraduate scholars a minimum of $120,000 over four years, while transfer students get a minimum of $60,000. About 90% of the scholars are the first in their families to attend college and the average family income is about $25,000, said Michael M. Miller, the campus financial aid director.

They are extremely successful  and are on track to graduate, Miller told the regents.

UC Merced plans to launch a similar program next fall.

Regents also discussed a recommendation to seek state Cal Grants for summer sessions, which would help students graduate more quickly. Low-income students graduate at about the same rates as more affluent peers, but are more likely to take more than four years to do so.

Board Chairman George Kieffer suggested that UC immediately push for state legislation to expand Cal Grants to summer sessions.

In other matters, UC administrators presented recommendations for how to avoid the kind of enrollment fiasco that UC Irvine set off last summer when it abruptly withdrew nearly 500 admission offers after discovering that about 850 more students were enrolling than they had expected.

UC Irvine, in its own internal audit released this month, found that the pressures of the over-enrollment had prompted campus administrators to take a harder line than usual  rescinding offers to those who missed deadlines to submit such required materials as senior-year grades. The campus missed its mark in accurately predicting enrollment mainly because of inadequate communication between different offices involved in admissions, the audit found.

UC Chancellor Howard Gillman ultimately reinstated nearly all of the students, apologizing to them and their families for the unacceptable distress caused. The campus plans to increase staff, expand training and improve technology to make sure such problems dont reoccur.

A broader UC report that looked at rescinded offers systemwide recommended that campuses not use academic verification  making sure students send in senior-year grades to prove they have not failed any classes, for instance  as a means of managing enrollment.

On Thursday, regents plan to discuss an independent investigation that found top aides of UC President Janet Napolitano interfered with a state audit in a way that suppressed campus criticism of her offices operations and services.

teresa.watanabe@latimes.com

Twitter: @teresawatanabe
Partially reversing an Obama-era ban, the Trump administration will now allow U.S. hunters to bring home the remains of elephants theyve killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia in southern Africa.

The move, announced earlier this week, was greeted with cheers by hunters and firearms groups and but was derided by animal-rights advocates as the government argued that conditions for elephants in parts of Africa had changed and improved in recent years.

The sides starkly disagree over whether the move helps or hurts elephant conservation efforts in the long run, with one animal advocacy group already threatening to sue the Trump administration over the decision.

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African elephants are a threatened species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which limits American hunters bringing back trophies  body parts  unless the killing of the trophy animal will enhance the survival of the species.

Hunter groups argue that pricey exotic-animal hunting trips help elephants by providing tourism revenue to African nations that bolsters conservation programs. Animal-rights advocates say that encouraging trophy imports only encourages more hunters to kill elephants.

African elephants have lost more than 50% of their range across the African continent since 1979 and have been slaughtered for trophy hunting and their ivory tusks, which are banned from international trade.

African savanna elephants saw their population decline 30% between 2007 and 2014, according to a wildlife survey called the Great Elephant Census.

Under the Obama administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suspended elephant-trophy imports in 2014 from Zimbabwe and Tanzania. The agency singled out Tanzania for questionable management practices, a lack of effective law enforcement and  uncontrolled poaching and catastrophic population declines.

In Zimbabwe, limited data suggested there had been a significant decline in the elephant population, the agency said in its 2014 announcement. (The Obama administration decided to allow trophy exports in Zambia in 2012, but then Zambias government temporary suspended trophy hunting.)

Gun groups protested the Obama administrations decision as hasty. The National Rifle Assn. and the Safari Club International, a hunters advocacy group, tried to block the bans in court, arguing the government failed to gather enough data to make its decision.

But Trumps election in 2016 has brought a friendlier administration into office for the groups, which predominantly support Republicans. (Trumps sons have hunted exotic animals in the past, and Donald Trump Jr. has been photographed holding up the severed tail of an elephant.)

On Tuesday, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced at the African Wildlife Consultative Forum in Tanzania  an event co-hosted by Safari Club International  that the trophy bans on Zimbabwe and Zambia were being lifted, though the ban in Tanzania would remain in place.

The hunters group said it was honored that the wildlife service made the announcement at its event. The groups president, Paul Babaz, added in a statement, We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife.

The Fish and Wildlife Service said that officials in Zimbabwe had strengthened conservation programs in recent years and that newer data showed that more than 80,000 elephants lived in Zimbabwe.

In a statement, the Fish and Wildlife Service said that legal, well-regulated sport hunting can incentivize African communities to conserve those species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation.

But the announcement drew a quick backlash.

Trophy hunting causes immense suffering and fuels the demand for wild animal products, said World Animal Protection, an international animal-rights nonprofit.

One of President Trumps supporters in conservative media, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, marked her skepticism on Twitter: I dont understand how this move by @realDonaldTrump Admin will not INCREASE the gruesome poaching of elephants.

The Center for Biological Diversity, an animal-rights nonprofit, threatened to sue, with senior attorney Tanya Sanerib calling the administrations timing bizarre and shocking due to the ongoing coup detat in Zimbabwe.

With tanks in the streets, whoever is actually running the Zimbabwe government just cant be trusted to protect elephants from slaughter by poachers, Sanerib said in a statement.

The Trump administration plans to start reissuing trophy permits for Zimbabwe on Friday. U.S. hunters can legally bring back only two elephant trophies per year.

matt.pearce@latimes.com

Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce.

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A polygamist who fled to Mexico about 15 years ago with his wives and children while facing child molestation charges in Arizona is now free after the charges were dropped months ago.

Orson William Black Jr. was arrested by Mexican authorities in the northern state of Chihuahua and handed over to U.S. officials in El Paso last week. He was briefly held on an Arizona fugitive warrant before being released because no agency would extradite him, El Paso County sheriffs spokeswoman Chris Acosta said.

The Arizona attorney generals office charged Black in 2003 with molestation over allegations he persuaded two teenagers who later became his wives to impregnate themselves with his sperm. A review prompted by a federal inquiry led to a decision to drop the charges for lack of evidence, office spokeswoman Mia Garcia said.

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The women were of legal age when they were interviewed by authorities in 2003 and said they had impregnated themselves, Garcia said. The women refused to cooperate, and because they had married Black and fled with him, state prosecutors decided in May that they didnt have enough evidence to pursue charges.

We needed the girls to testify or in some way help us with the evidence, Garcia said. Thats really the only evidence.

Former Arizona Atty. Gen. Terry Goddard lamented that Black is apparently not going to face consequences.

If somebody can just skip the country and then avoid what I believe was a very legitimate child molestation rap, thats a very sad development, he said Tuesday.

The prosecutors office in Chihuahua, Mexico, says Black, 56, was captured in an area largely populated by Mennonites and was under investigation for the deaths of three Americans aged 15, 19 and 23 on Sept. 10. But they turned him over to U.S. authorities days later without announcing he had been cleared.

Prosecutors did not say why Black was a suspect in the deaths, but a Mexican official said Tuesday that the case remained under investigation.

Blacks whereabouts are not known. He is not in federal custody, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Mexican authorities also handed over to U.S. officials 26 others, including Blacks wives, said Pennie Petersen, sister of the two women in the molestation case. The family is supposedly on the way to the Arizona-Utah border communities where the polygamous sect is based.

Petersen, who is estranged from her sisters, said the men who were killed were two of Blacks sons and his stepson. She said she was told by members of her extended family that the deaths were a drug cartel hit, possibly because Black either stole money or drugs. He wasnt home and the cartel killed the others instead, she said.

They told the family when they killed those boys, if William doesnt turn himself into us, were going to come back, kill everybody over the age of 6 and were going to take everyone under the age of 6, Petersen said.

Mexican prosecutors didnt immediately respond to questions about Petersens story.

She has started a change.org petition to try to persuade Arizona prosecutors to file charges again.

Garcia, the Arizona prosecutors spokeswoman, said they had not given up on the case.

Weve remained in contact with [Peterson] over the years. We just need more evidence, Garcia said. We fully intend to speak to the victims again.
Every Thursday morning in her small Rust Belt town, my sister, a Presbyterian minister, brings her knitting to McDonalds, orders an egg white sandwich, and places a sign on the melamine-topped table: Free Prayers.

She hears it all  over pancakes doused in syrup poured from plastic pods, over paper cups of coffee with black lids warning, Caution. Im hot. The fear of losing healthcare. The anxiety about jobs and finances. The worry for the future of our country. Though voters in the conservative region favored Republicans in the 2016 election, the practical and emotional concerns they now voice point to the Trump presidency as a spiritual crisis, writ large.

My sister, who was anti-Trump early on, doesnt judge; she merely listens. Then, when the person is fully unburdened, she prays for her. Or with him. She tends to her McMinistry (what else?) in addition to her regular duties overseeing weekly services, the Sunday school and a choir. She views her McDonalds drop-ins as outreach. The Lord sets a large table. The location isnt necessarily specified.

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Theres more than one road in this movement, more than one way back to a place of justice, peace and goodness in America.

We are two sides of the same coin, my sister and I, related by blood and united in faith. We both often dress in head-to-toe black  she by professional dictate, me by choice. In addition to parents and baptism in the Presbyterian Church, we share a deepening dismay at the corruption of the Christian message by conservative evangelical fundamentalists  the kind of people who are still supporting Roy Moore in Alabama and who came out in droves to put Trump in the White House. Each in her own way, we are doing what we can to push back. At the moral center of what you might call our Christian Resistance are the teachings of Jesus: The stranger is welcome, the vulnerable are protected, the marginalized are drawn to center and love is love.

But if our goals are the same, our methods are different. I am a member of the so-called creative class (a.k.a. the chronically underemployed), and so far from ordained Im barely churched. For years, I viewed Christianity as a cultural artifact bound for obsolescence. Then, dogged by depression and the lurking notion that Id ceded the faith to negative forces, I drifted back. I bought myself some church Spanx, put on a Sunday dress like our mom taught us, and went in search of a socially liberal spiritual home. Now my form of outreach is to spend part of each day online, reminding people that the right-wing face of my faith is hardly representative of us all  a one-woman #NotAllChristians campaign.

Where my sister, a visible leader in her community, holds off on partisan pontificating in the interest of congregational unity, I am unfettered. She focuses her messaging on the Scriptures guidance rather than on criticizing the president who draws us so far from its light. I can be in-your-face, offering my Bible-based critique of current events and reminding people that if faith doesnt guide your politics, whatever is it for? Im all for subtle scriptural counsel, but I have the latitude to give voice to what she must not: Trumps hypocrisy and moral malignancy are an ominous threat to America.

My sister and I are pretty weary from fighting the good fight. Me, from the never-ending job of sentry in the true Christianity call-out culture, my sister from holding her political cards close to her vest while doling out kindness and hope. The fear and frustration of the times have wreaked havoc on our nerves and our waistlines  were both besieged by the Trump 20. When she can, she makes the six-hour drive to my house for a Saturday break. I brew a pot of English breakfast and park her on the sofa with her knitting needles for a sisterly stitch-and-bitch. Then we go back to our respective strengths: She models patience and restraint. What I lack in gravitas, I make up for in lip.

Some of us scream from the barricades (or at least fume on Twitter). Others walk a quieter line. Theres more than one road in this movement, more than one way back to a place of justice, peace and goodness in America.

Ill meet you there.

Lily Burana is the author of Grace for Amateurs: Field Notes on a Journey Back to Faith (Thomas Nelson/Harper).

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook.
In addition to being megalomaniac leaders of cult-like movements, the late L. Ron Hubbard and Donald Trump have shared an aversion to paying taxes. The founder of Scientology waged a ruthless battle to win a religious tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service, while the president has boasted about his tax avoidance and refuses to release his returns. How ironic, then, that, according to a recent news report, the Trump administration may revoke Scientologys exemption.

Though Hubbard, ever the entrepreneur, founded Scientology as a for-profit entity in 1952, he quickly realized the pecuniary benefits of the religion angle, as he put it in a letter to one of his acolytes. After the federal government revoked the tax exemption it had awarded Scientology in 1956, Hubbard went to war. The churchs efforts culminated in Operation Snow White, a seven-year long campaign of dirty tricks that resulted in 11 senior church officials (including Hubbards wife) pleading guilty to obstruction of justice, burglary of government offices and theft of documents in 1978. Undeterred, the church later hired private investigators to snoop on IRS employees. Scientology even set up a front group, the National Coalition of IRS Whistle-Blowers, to discredit the agency.

The campaign worked. When Hubbards protege, David Miscavige, strolled unannounced into IRS headquarters 13 years later and offered to drop the roughly 2,500 lawsuits individual Scientologists had filed against the agency in exchange for a tax exemption, the beleaguered IRS agreed.

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There was no legal justification for this decision. Every single time Scientology had challenged its nonexempt status in court, it lost. Indeed, just a year before the IRS reversal, the U.S. Claims Court cited the commercial character of much of Scientology, its virtually incomprehensible financial procedures and scripturally based hostility to taxation as reasons for denying an exemption.

Like big tobacco, Scientology is peddling a dangerous product hazardous to public health. It should be taxed as such.

Today, Americas recognition of Scientology as a religion stands as an anomaly in the Western world, the result not of impartial jurisprudence but of harassment. Four years ago, Frances highest court upheld a fraud conviction against the church, ruling that, Far from being a violation of freedom of religion, as this American organization contends, this decision lifts the veil on the illegal and highly detrimental practices. One such practice: coercing followers into emptying their bank accounts for auditing, the process by which Scientologists release the disembodied remains of ancient space aliens by gripping metal canisters on a contraption called the e-meter.

Moving beyond this funny business, Germanys equivalent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation considers Scientology a threat to its constitutional order and monitors the organization alongside neo-Nazi and jihadist groups.

Those who claim Scientology is a bona fide religion argue that its beliefs concerning 75,000-year-old intergalactic space battles are irrelevant to its legal status. Mormonism, for example, is based on the teachings carved onto golden plates allegedly discovered in the backyard of its founder, Joseph Smith. It was long considered a cult (its adherents the targets of episodic violence) but is now increasingly accepted by mainstream society as just another branch of Christianity.

This argument misses two important distinctions between Scientology and other established faiths. Its true that Scientologys theology is no more objectively bizarre than many of the tales found in the Old and New Testaments. Yet traditional religious movements do not deny whats contained in their scripture. Ask a Christian if he believes Jesus was resurrected, a Jew if Moses parted the Red Sea, or a Muslim if Mohammed ascended to heaven on a winged horse, and youre likely to get one of two responses. Some will affirm the validity of the stories. Others will say they are allegories.

But no priest, rabbi or imam would deny the very existence of the parables, which are, after all, right there on the page for anyone to read. Scientology, by contrast, has fought expensive legal battles to suppress defectors from publicizing what it claims is copyrighted material.

The other difference is that, unlike other organized religious communities that minister to individuals regardless of their ability to tithe, Scientology extracts ever-higher fees from its members on the Bridge to Total Freedom. As the head of Frances cult-monitoring unit stated, Scientologys schemes lead one to no longer act of his own free will, but become completely dependent on this organization that will exploit his weakness to the maximum, in order to attain a fortune.

Finally, there is the churchs routine use of violence to intimidate would-be dissenters. Many former Scientologists have attested to physical abuse, forced labor and human entrapment at the hands of church leaders. No other tax-exempt religion maintains anything remotely resembling Scientologys Office of Special Affairs, which, in the words of high-ranking Scientology defector Marty Rathbun, operates mainly on Cold War era intelligence and propaganda techniques to harass and defame heretics.

The churchs response to this rap sheet is always the same: Ex-Scientologists are disgruntled dissidents motivated by greed. But when so many people tell nearly identical horror stories of exploitation, manipulation and brutality, it warrants something more than harsh media scrutiny. It warrants government action.

Like big tobacco, Scientology is peddling a dangerous product hazardous to public health. It should be taxed as such.

James Kirchick is a correspondent for The Daily Beast and author of The End of Europe: Dictators, Demagogues and the Coming Dark Age.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
Policymakers have enjoyed a free pass in discussions over what to do in response to the sexual harassment allegations taking down Hollywood producers, news media titans and actors. Because the worst of the transgressions already are illegal, lawmakers seem satisfied to call for culprits to be fired or to step down and for corporate and industry leaders to promise that theyll crack down on offenders more quickly in the future.

But legislators can do more to address the problem. They can make workplace bullying illegal. Too many corporate leaders find it expedient to look the other way when bosses  especially ones they deem indispensable  systematically intimidate and humiliate underlings. Bullies who believe that their whims matter more than other peoples dignity often dont see why their sexual impulses shouldnt be just as indulged.

Sweden, France and Belgium, as well as the Canadian province of Quebec, have passed anti-workplace bullying laws. Courts in Spain, Germany and Great Britain consider it a violation of other statutes.

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The U.S. should follow their lead. Workplace bullying is morally repugnant, bad for business and it seems to correlate closely with sexual harassment. Harvey Weinstein and Fox News head Roger Ailes, for example, were famous for their general cruelty long before we knew how badly they treated women.

Harvey Weinstein and Fox News head Roger Ailes were famous for their general cruelty long before we knew how badly they treated women.

Harvey was a bully. Harvey was arrogant, his brother, Bob, told the Hollywood Reporter. That I knew. And I had to clean up for so many of his employee messes. People that came in crying to my office: Your brother said this, that and the other. And Id feel sick about it.

But, he said, he didnt do anything because it didnt rise to a certain level. Instead, he counseled employees to leave, please leave.

Ailes behavior was just as obvious. The real harassment was emotional harassment, CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota  who worked for 16 years at Fox News  said on air in April after Ailes died. I went to my superiors to talk to them about it, and there was certainly a feeling like, This is Roger. What are you going to do? Who are you going to go to?  She added: Hed call people names. And it was that feeling of not wanting to run afoul of him. That was really the chilling effect.

Abused employees would be able to go to court if states or Congress adopted laws like the Healthy Workplace Bill, proposed by Suffolk University Law School professor David Yamada. He found that U.S. courts rarely sided with victims of bullying who sought relief under employment laws that already prohibit intentional infliction of emotional distress. Taking a page from the standards for a hostile work environment established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Healthy Workplace Bill would empower employees to sue companies for actions that a reasonable person would find abusive, based on the severity, nature or frequency of the conduct.

That would patch a hole in discrimination law, says Gary Namie, director of the Workplace Bullying Institute, an advocacy group. Employees need the leverage provided by a spelled-out set of protections because perpetrators often are considered indispensable, even if they are jerks.

And there are a lot of them. In an April online Zogby Analytics survey, about 9% of the respondents said theyd been bullied at work within the last year, and an additional 10% said theyd experienced it too, though not in the last year. That would translate to about 30 million employees. Men in the survey accounted for about 70% of the perpetrators and they targeted women 65% of the time. Female bullies targeted women 67% of the time. Although the survey covered all workplace bullying, the most common and extreme examples involved bosses bullying subordinates.

State and local chambers of commerce and other business groups have effectively fought the Healthy Workplace Bill. It has been defeated in 29 state legislatures. Its opponents say its too vague and too likely to sink small businesses with unfair lawsuits. They worry about undermining hard-driving perfectionists who prove to be business geniuses, such as the late Steve Jobs at Apple.

But all laws that protect workers could be said to weigh most heavily on small businesses, and courts should find it relatively easy to differentiate between frivolous cases and serious systematic abuse. In fact, the Healthy Workplace legislation is written to protect employers who take reasonable care to prevent or correct abuses. It requires plaintiffs to take advantage of in-house remedies. And it only covers repeated offenses, unless the abuse was especially severe and egregious.

The potential problems an anti-bullying law might create for a business would be more than offset by the advantages of replacing bullies with managers who truly have the temperament to lead. Hundreds of experiments, writes Robert Sutton, of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, show that demeaning bosses undermine employees decision-making skills, productivity, creativity and willingness to work harder and help coworkers.

Weinstein, Ailes and others in positions of power who stand accused of sexual harassment are not merely isolated bad apples who couldnt control their libidos. They are bullies, too, who learned they could get away with almost any behavior, as long as their operations generated enough cash.

Bullies affect all industries. Lawmakers can establish that intimidation and humiliation are off-limits in the workplace. They can give employees a better option than taking the abuse or leaving.

David Lieberman, an associate professor at the New School, is the former executive editor of Deadline.com, a media industry news site.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook
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
Roy Moore won a reprieve in his struggle to survive as a U.S. Senate candidate Thursday when the Alabama Republican Party affirmed it would continue backing him despite allegations that he sexually assaulted teenagers.

Judge Moore has vehemently denied the allegations made against him, state GOP Chairwoman Terry Lathan said in a written statement announcing the decision of a party steering committee to stand by Moore. He deserves to be presumed innocent of the accusations unless proven otherwise. He will continue to take his case straight to the people of Alabama.

She framed the election as a contrast between Moore, a conservative who backs President Trump, and a Democrat who would thwart Trumps agenda.

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We trust the Alabama voters in this election to have our beloved state and nations best interest at heart, she said.

Trump, who has faced his own accusations of sexual harassment and assault, declined to join fellow Republicans in urging Moore to drop out of the race.

Look, the president believes that these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously, and he thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a briefing Thursday in Washington.

Asked to explain his distinction between the allegations against Moore and the ones against Trump, she said: I think the president has certainly a lot more insight into what he personally did or didnt do, and he spoke out about that directly during the campaign.

Trump supported the Republican National Committees withdrawal of financial support from Moores campaign, and he believes Moore should step aside if the accusations are true, she added.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the White House on Thursday. (SCALZO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock )

Moores troubles come as a burst of sexual harassment allegations has shaken the worlds of media, business and politics, most recently when a Los Angeles radio anchor said Thursday that Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota groped and forcibly kissed her in 2006. Franken apologized.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey confirmed Thursday that she would not postpone the election, as some Republicans in Washington have suggested.

Moore gathered in Birmingham with leaders of the religious right Thursday to show solidarity in fighting what he called the scurrilous false allegations that started emerging last week in the Washington Post. He blamed Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell for the barrage of accusations.

This is an effort by Mitch McConnell and his cronies to steal this election from the people of Alabama, and they will not stand for it, he said after 90 minutes of testimonials by religious conservatives.

I want to tell you who needs to step down  thats Mitch McConnell, Moore added.

The scandal has imperiled Republicans lock on the Senate seat vacated by Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, giving Democrats a startling opportunity to weaken the GOPs already fragile 52-48 vote majority.

A Moore defeat in the Dec. 12 special election would mark an extraordinary breach in the Deep Souths allegiance to the Republican Party. The scandal has given Democrat Doug Jones a realistic shot at winning the seat.

A Fox News poll released Thursday found Jones leading Moore among likely voters, 50% to 42%.

The allegations have threatened to undercut Moores standing in this strongly conservative state. One woman, Leigh Corfman, says that Moore molested her when she was 14 and he was 32, sexually touching her after the two stripped to their underwear.

Another woman, Beverly Young Nelson, says Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16 and he was 30, grabbing her breasts and bruising her neck when he shoved her face into his crotch. A third woman, Tina Johnson, says Moore grabbed her buttocks when she visited his law office in 1991, when she was 28.

Multiple other women say Moore made unwanted advances when they were teenagers.

Moore, 70, has denied all the allegations. He says he never met Corfman, and he has accused Nelson of producing a forged Moore signature in her high school yearbook to back up her allegation.

Leaders of the Republican Party have withdrawn their support from Moore. However, apart from Sen. Richard Shelby, who suggested Moore should consider stepping aside, Alabamas GOP has stuck by Moore.

A lot of the stuff thats out there is already being disproved, said Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.). As time goes along, youre going to find some other things are going to be disproved.

Nonetheless, K.B. Forbes, a veteran GOP campaign operative who lives in Alabama and used to support Moore, and former Moore supporter, launched a super PAC on Thursday to support Jones.

We are encouraging lifelong Republicans to do the honorable thing: vote against pedophilia and sexual misconduct, Forbes said.



michael.finnegan@latimes.com

Twitter: @finneganLAT

Jarvie, a special correspondent, reported from Birmingham, Finnegan from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report from Washington.

ALSO:

Roy Moore challenges womans claim of sexual assault as a new groping charge surfaces

The Roy Moore controversy is a thorny issue for Alabama Baptists

Trumps environmental rollbacks hit California hard, despite Sacramentos resistance

UPDATES:

3:00 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Rep. Bradley Byrne and results of a Fox News poll.

This article was originally published at 2:25 p.m.
When 50,000 acre-feet of water went gushing out of the Sacramento River last month, it fast became a test of Californias ability to protect its environmental policies from an increasingly hostile Trump administration.

The episode proved humbling.

Heeding the calls of big agriculture interests and area congressional Republicans, the administration pumped federally controlled water to Central Valley farms despite protest from the state that the move imperiled the endangered delta smelt. All California could do was temporarily shut its own pumps, which came at the expense of the states mostly urban water customers.

It was perceived by some in California as the kind of big agriculture water grab that the state had not seen in years. And it flouted a longstanding water-management partnership between California and Washington, D.C.

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This has never happened before, Doug Obegi, an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said of the pumping. It has created a huge mess, and a lot of uncertainty.

The incident was a jolting reminder of Californias limited ability to counteract the environmental retreat in Washington. Even in the state where resistance is the mantra, leaders cant keep up with the pace of Trumps environmental rollbacks.

The risk of exposure to toxic substances escaping from industrial facilities has been heightened by the suspension of federal safety rules. Climate change action is getting undercut by easing of restrictions on heavily polluting vehicles.

Federal waterways protections that state officials were relying on to save sensitive vernal pools and boost fisheries are gone. A dangerous pesticide that field workers expected would be banned remains widely sprayed.

Even the authority of officials at the states national parks to prohibit plastic water bottles has been stripped.

So many rules and regulations have been rolled back that lawmakers can scarcely keep up. I have lost track, said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), who sits on the House Natural Resources Committee. It is dizzying.

The Californian who ran the EPA division encompassing the state and others in the Southwest during the Obama administration is particularly concerned about the states exposure to toxic chemicals. No one knows: Is this being covered? Who is covering it and how? said Jared Blumenfeld, former EPA Region 9 administrator.

While the state has moved aggressively to implement tough restrictions at oil refineries in recent years, there are other categories of facilities where the federal government had been taking the lead. The EPA was imposing new requirements enabling regulators to keep track of what chemicals are stored where, and requiring plant owners to take proactive measures to prevent dangerous releases into the community. But the Trump administration suspended them.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said the move was made in the interest of being responsive to concerns raised by stakeholders regarding regulations so facility owners and operators know what is expected of them.

The rules would have boosted safety provisions at plants such as the South San Francisco salami factory, which in 2009 released a plume of 217 pounds of poisonous ammonia, sending 17 people in the nearby community to the hospital, one of them for four days.

In many cases, Californias backstop is local fire departments. Some have experienced hazardous chemical experts on staff. Others dont.

A tiny volunteer fire department in Humboldt County was in over its head a few years ago when the Chinese owners of a pulp mill abandoned the place, leaving behind thousands of gallons of highly acidic liquids leaching from improperly built tanks susceptible to crumbling in an earthquake.

It looked like Chernobyl, Blumenfeld said of the 70-acre facility on the shore of Humboldt Bay when the EPA arrived on site. Any seismic activity would have led to an unbelievable environmental catastrophe. Trumps plan to cut deep into the EPA budget would diminish the agencys ability to monitor such facilities, and his plan to eliminate the U.S. Chemical Safety Board would deprive California regulators of a crucial partner in bulking up its own protections.

The state leaned heavily on the expertise of the board following the 2012 Chevron refinery explosion that drove 15,000 people in the Bay Area to seek medical treatment for issues such as breathing problems. Nineteen refinery workers narrowly escaped the ignition of a flammable vapor cloud that engulfed the facility. It was board investigators who discovered Chevrons engineers had written a half-dozen reports pinpointing the corrosion that put it at risk for the type of disaster that unfolded.

We never would have known about those reports if it were not for the Chemical Safety Board, said Mike Wilson, director for occupational and environmental health at the Blue Green Alliance, a national coalition of labor and conservation groups.

The state was also looking to Washington to take the lead on protecting farmworkers against the dangers of chlorpyrifos, a widely used pesticide in Californias fields that EPA scientists warned should be banned. Studies find it inhibits childhood brain development.

When the EPAs deadline to decide on a ban came in March, Pruitt declared the science is unsettled. He put off action until 2022.

State regulators are now in the midst of their own proceedings. They are conducting a separate review, which began over the summer and will extend at least into December  prolonging the time California agriculture communities are exposed to the pesticide, even if the state ultimately imposes its own ban.

The fight over the pesticide is another case highlighting the extent to which state regulators rely on a robust EPA to pursue Californias regulatory agenda. The army of scientists, attorneys, data crunchers and other regulatory experts may operate largely in the background, but they are a backbone of environmental protection in California. They are not easily replaced.

A legislative effort championed by state Senate Leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) that would obligate the state to backfill Trump retreats on clean air and clean water has hit roadblocks. Industry groups have so far persuaded a Democrat-dominated Legislature that the lift would be too big and too complicated.

Even without it, Trump is still hitting big barriers imposing his agenda in California. Restrictions on methane releases at oil and gas drilling facilities were preserved by a lawsuit that California and other states filed, and other such legal challenges will likely blunt other air quality, water quality and public lands rollbacks. The states aggressive pursuit of climate action will go a long way in helping the United States meet the obligations under the Paris climate accord on global warming that Trump has spurned.

Where we can, we will do everything in our power to hold this administration accountable, said state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra. Thats exactly what weve been doing, and weve already been successful numerous times. And where we cant, California will continue to lead on its own path as we have done in the past.

Some things, though, can be out of the states reach, even if they are happening in its backyard. A federal plan aimed at protecting endangered sea turtles and whales from drifting sword fishing nets off the West Coast was canceled. More of Californias federal land is being opened to oil and gas drilling, and the administration is signaling it may move to open its waters up, too. The EPA is moving to repeal new restrictions on a type of heavily-polluting truck California was relying on to meet its climate and air quality goals.

After California sued to stop the cancellation of another highway program aimed at tracking greenhouse gas emissions, the administration appeared to back off. Then it moved to cancel the program again.

John McManus is watching it all with dismay from his office in Northern California. The executive director of the Golden Gate Salmon Assn. worries the state has only so much power to stop the federal government from pumping water out of Californias rivers that he says could kill off the fishery.

The federal bureaucrats making these decisions have a new boss, McManus said. We got a glimpse in October of how they might act. If they can do this to the smelt today, they can do it to the salmon tomorrow.

evan.halper@latimes.com

Twitter: @evanhalper

ALSO

Fires, droughts and hurricanes: Whats the link between climate change and natural disasters?

Civil servants charge Trump is sidelining workers with expertise on climate change and environment

Editorial: The climate-change fire alarm from Northern California

Editorial: How President Trump and the EPAs Scott Pruitt are making Americas environment deadly again
Though the House GOP tax bill is expected to pass in a Thursday vote, the count could hinge on a handful of undecided California Republicans.

Eight of the states Republicans plan to vote for the bill and one is leaning toward voting yes. Four others are undecided, and only Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) has said he will oppose the bill. About a dozen Republican lawmakers from across the country have expressed reservations and about a dozen others plan to vote no, meaning the vote could be close.

The bill tightens state, local and mortgage interest tax breaks, which are popular with Californians, and the state delegation has been bombarded with pressure from all sides: Fellow Republicans desperate for a legislative win, constituents, real estate lobbyists, and Democratic officials in California, including Gov. Jerry Brown.

(Los Angeles Times)

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) has been arguing with his colleagues all week, imploring them to consider revisions to the bill. He stood up at a closed meeting of House Republicans and urged them to leave no taxpayer behind.

His concerns drew the attention of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), who spoke with him afterward. But McClintock, who was just added to the list of 10 Republicans that Democrats are targeting in next years midterm election, remained unconvinced.

Im still awaiting a satisfactory assurance that the end product will not do harm to American families, he said Wednesday.

Costa Mesa Rep. Dana Rohrabacher s constituents could take a big financial hit under the House tax bill. While he appeared to be leaning toward voting for the plan early on, he said this week he was still undecided.

"I don't know. I'm looking at all the numbers that are being bandied around, and the numbers as to whether or not a significant number of my constituents are going to be facing a tax increase, and if that is the case, I'm not going to vote for it," Rohrabacher said Tuesday.

But he also said he might vote for it in hopes of a compromise when the House and Senate negotiate a final bill. Rohrabacher, who is considered among the states most vulnerable lawmakers, said he was hoping something in the bill would stand out to help him decide.

"I'm just really intensely looking at it," Rohrabacher said. "This is not a clear-cut decision because there are many different factors at play."

Rep. Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) said he was praying on how to vote.

Were still talking about; thats all. Im just still talking about it. I have to say my prayers and get divine guidance, Cook said. And if Im right, Im going to vote the right way and go to a race track right afterward.

While several California yes votes will come from enthusiastic supporters of the legislation, like House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, some Californians in the House said they planned to vote for the bill Thursday just to move it forward. Similar to Rohrabacher, they expect changes when a final bill is negotiated between the House and Senate.

The current Senate bill contains even deeper cuts to the state and local tax break, but maintains the mortgage interest deduction. It also repeals the Affordable Care Act s individual mandate, a move that could further complicate things for some members.

Rep. Mimi Walters , whose Irvine district is also considered at risk in next year's midterm election, said Wednesday that House leaders had assured her they would address concerns about the mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions in the final bill.

California is a very liberal state. We have very liberal policies, we have very high taxes, we have a very high cost of housing, and we want to make sure that our middle-income Americans have more money in their pocket at the end of the day when this bill is complete and put on the presidents desk, Walters said. They have given us assurance that they will help provide some more relief for Californians.

Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale, who had voiced concerns early on and represents another vulnerable Republican district, said Tuesday he was leaning toward voting yes.

"There's a lot of great things that stand out about the tax bill. We're getting it to a place where if we can just work out a couple of these smaller issues, we know the economy is going to boom with this," Knight said. "We're still talking  we're still chatting."

The only California member who has said hell vote against the plan, Issa, warned his colleagues against getting burned like he did earlier this year, when he voted for the House Affordable Care Act repeal plan in hopes it would improve in the Senate, only to watch it die there. He said using that strategy for the tax bill is the wrong move.

"This is a pretty good bill from a business standpoint and a poorly thought-out bill on the nonbusiness side," Issa said Tuesday. "I know it's not going to change, and I'm just going to have to make a vote of conscience."

Staff writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

sarah.wire@latimes.com

Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter

Read more about the 55 members of California's delegation at latimes.com/politics

ALSO

Some GOP senators raise doubts about revised Republican tax overhaul

California could flip the House, and these 13 races will make the difference

Updates on California politics

UPDATES:

9:01 a.m.: This article was updated with details on the bills expected passage.

This article was originally published at 12:05 a.m.
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
A Costa Mesa lawyer accused of 126 acts of misconduct related to loan modifications has been disbarred and ordered to pay more than $300,000 in restitution to dozens of clients, the State Bar of California announced Wednesday.

Robyn Lynnette Pool was officially disbarred Oct. 5 and ordered to notify her clients and pay restitution to 44 people she represented.

Pool was admitted to the State Bar in 2002. Allegations against her were first lodged in 2015, according to the bar, which manages the admission of lawyers to legal practice, investigates complaints of professional misconduct and prescribes appropriate discipline.

Pool could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

She was accused of collecting fees before completing services for her clients, failing to competently perform legal services and failing to refund unearned money, according to Jonah Lamb, a State Bar spokesman.

Lamb said Pool also was accused of failing to pay thousands of dollars in court-ordered sanctions, not reporting the sanctions to the bar and allowing one of her employees to give legal advice to a client.

Pool did not appear at a January hearing where she could have disputed the allegations, so the State Bar moved forward with disbarring her, according to a bar filing.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
Katrina Foley, a lawyer and Costa Mesa councilwoman, was ordered last week along with one of her clients to pay $4,000 in sanctions to attorneys representing Orange County after a judge ruled that her clients mental health records should be released to the opposing counsel.

Foley, an employment attorney, represents Jeanette Norombaba-Petersen, an Orange County social worker who filed a lawsuit in 2015 against the county alleging that she became ill from a toxic chemical known as perchloroethylene that apparently was found in a county office building.



For the record: 10:45 a.m.: This story has been updated to note that Foley will not be required to report the sanctions to the State Bar of California.

Norombaba-Petersens suit alleges her bosses refused to allow her to transfer to another work site and retaliated against her because of her requests. The county has denied the allegations.

In August, an attorney for the county asked Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig Griffin to require Norombaba-Petersen to undergo an independent mental examination as part of discovery, or evidence collection, in the case. The county alleged in its filing that she has a well-documented, long, preexisting history of anxiety, stress and emotional distress unrelated to the workplace.

The filing also accused Foley of failing to turn over Norombaba-Petersens medical records in a timely fashion, and it asked the judge to issue monetary sanctions against her.

On Nov. 8, Griffin ruled in favor of the county, ordering that Norombaba-Petersens mental health records be released and granting the county $4,000 in sanctions. The sanctions are meant to compensate the countys attorneys for the time they spent seeking the records, according to court documents.

I have a duty to zealously advocate for my clients, and I take that obligation very seriously, Foley said in a statement Wednesday. This discovery dispute arose from an issue of medical privacy, which is a principle worth fighting over. Discovery disputes are common in civil litigation, as are monetary discovery sanctions.

Foley will not be required to report the sanctions to the bar, according to state law.

Foley was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1996 and has no disciplinary record, according to the bar, which manages the admission of lawyers to legal practice, investigates complaints of professional misconduct and prescribes appropriate discipline.

The night before Griffins ruling, Foley was removed from her seat as Costa Mesas mayor after the City Council voted 3-2 to elevate member Sandy Genis to the position and name member Allan Mansoor as mayor pro tem. Councilman John Stephens joined Foley in opposing the changes.

The council appointed Foley as mayor last December. She has been on the council since 2014 and also was elected to the panel in 2004 and 2008.

Councilman Jim Righeimer, a political opponent of Foleys, led the push to replace her and asked the city attorney to investigate her activities as mayor. Righeimer did not specify why he called for the probe.

Foley contends her work as an attorney is entirely separate from her position on the City Council.

I always separate my advocacy for my clients from my obligations to the city of Costa Mesa, she wrote in her statement. The discovery order at issue has nothing to do with my work on the City Council.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
The California Fair Political Practices Commission has rejected a complaint against Newport Beach City Councilman Scott Peotter about his financial filings.

The state agency dismissed the complaint for lack of evidence of a violation, an FPPC spokesman said Tuesday evening.

Newport Beach activist Susan Skinner, a leader in a recall effort underway against Peotter, lodged the complaint in June, suggesting that Peotter did not properly disclose his economic interests during his time as a member of the council, on which he has served since 2014, or as a Newport Beach planning commissioner before that.

She said her chief concern was that income Peotter reported through Capitol Ministries, an organization that spreads gospel to local, state and federal government leaders, may actually have been undisclosed donations to finance a lay ministry.

Peotter said at the time that the income was direct payment from Capitol Ministries for his work to expand its mission to local governments, not money he raised to support his own ministry.

Skinner also questioned why Peotter reported no income from 2006 to 2010, the years he served on the Planning Commission.

Skinner said Wednesday that she respects the FPPCs decision but was let down.

It seems to me, on the face of it, that there is a large conflict of interest and Im disappointed that the FPPC isnt going to pursue it, she said.

Peotter did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The complaint against him was rejected in late July, but Skinner said the commission did not notify her. The Daily Pilot learned of the rejection after asking the FPPC about the status of the case Tuesday.

In general, complaints are reviewed to determine whether they have merit  enough information or evidence to suggest a violation of the state Political Reform Act. The initial review takes a few days to a few weeks.

The FPPCs Enforcement Division  which consists of about 30 lawyers, investigators, auditors and staff members  looks through complaints and will open certain cases for investigation.

Though Skinners complaint was rejected, FPPC Communications Director Jay Wierenga said a 2015 complaint against Peotter related to campaign contributions remains open.

That complaint, filed by Jeff Herdman, who is now a councilman, focused on contributions Peotter received during his 2014 council campaign from Woodys Wharf, a Balboa Peninsula restaurant and bar that had been engaged in litigation with the city for years over the establishments desire for extended hours and dancing.

The restaurants owners made maximum individual contributions of $1,100 each, and Peotter reported an $1,100 contribution from the restaurant as an entity.

After the city clerk advised Peotter that the donation from the restaurant violated the contribution limit because it was attributable to the owners, Peotter produced a copy of a check showing he had returned the restaurants donation.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD
Orange Coast College officials, city leaders and students congregated at the Costa Mesa campus Wednesday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Garrison Honors Center.

David Grant, president of the Coast Community College District board, credited the late Tom Garrison, a marine sciences professor and leader of the honors program for 12 years, for initiating the move to establish a hub for honor students.

The program, centrally located on campus, is intended primarily to help students transfer to a four-year university while providing opportunities for students to distinguish themselves academically, according to the college.

Im grateful to come into a place thats like a second home, said Carmen Chavez, president of academic honor society Alpha Gamma Sigma.

Orange Coast College has 16 honor societies in specific disciplines, in addition to a campus-wide honors program in which students can take challenging courses. There also is an honor student council, said Teresa Scarbrough, office coordinator for the honors program.

Any student is eligible to participate in honors classes and societies.

Grant told how he and Garrison pitched the idea of an honors center to the academic senate in the early 1990s, but senators frowned on promoting elitism among students.

But the pitch succeeded when they went armed with students who listed the potential benefits, Grant said.

Still, work remained to seek out faculty to take on the challenge of modifying their curriculum, he said.

Scarbrough said she met Garrison when she was a student in 1999 and took his life-changing honors marine science class.

At the time, there were only five honor societies throughout the campus, she said, and students knew about them only if they were invited in.

Garrison eventually asked Scarbrough to become the first paid employee of the honors program, and she worked in a tiny office she described as a converted closet with barely any ventilation.

Now we have a real home, she said. Weve moved up from that tiny little office with spiders  back in the day.

In addition to Scarbrough, the honors program has one part-time employee and two part-time federal work study students, with a third coming onboard soon, Scarbrough said.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscella
Old World Village in Huntington Beach will host a free festival Saturday highlighted by a parade of children holding colorful lanterns.

The event, organized by the Newport Beach-based German School, celebrates St. Martin of Tours, patron saint of the poor, soldiers and conscientious objectors.

Martins legend is rooted in a tale of how, as a young Roman soldier, he came upon a beggar shivering in the cold. Martin gave the beggar half his cloak. He soon dreamed of Jesus, whose message helped persuade him to leave the soldiers life, dedicate himself to the poor and become the first known conscientious objector.

Martin, who also served as a bishop, died in 397. He is now celebrated by many Catholic traditions with a parade of children holding lanterns symbolizing St. Martin bringing hope to the poor.

Ursula Schoeneich, founder and principal of the German School  which provides German-language instruction  said that though the festival is rooted in religious traditions, Saturdays will be geared toward families, not religion.

Its really for everybody, she said. We share kindness and reach out to help, especially during the holidays and Thanksgiving. Thats an important message we want to bring.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. with raffle sales  the proceeds of which will benefit the German School  and food and drinks. Traditional pastries shaped like little men, or Weckmannchen, will be sold.

A performance and storytelling about St. Martin will start at 6 p.m.

The lantern parade and singing start around 6:15. Schoeneich said some families are making their own lanterns, though the school will provide some as well.

She said the lanterns will have LED bulbs inside and will be a colorful display of stars, moons and the like.

Old World Village is at 7561 Center Ave.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint
If there is a flurry of police action at UC Irvine on Thursday morning, its likely only a drill.

The university will host a simulation of a multi-discipline, multi-jurisdictional response to an assailant at the Irvine Barclay Theatre and the Anteater Recreation Center from 8 a.m. to noon.

The goal is to assess the UCI Police Department and other participating law enforcement agencies plans, policies, procedures and abilities in such a situation, according to the university.

Other agencies will include the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscella
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to come to France after he stunned his nation and rattled the region by suddenly announcing his resignation nearly two weeks ago while in Saudi Arabia, the French presidents office said Thursday.

An official in President Emmanuel Macrons office said Hariri is expected in France in the coming days. The official was not authorized to be publicly named.

Lebanons President Michel Aoun said Hariri and his family will arrive on Saturday in France, where he will rest for a few days before returning to Beirut to make a decision regarding the resignation. Aouns statement was carried by the state-run National News Agency.

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Earlier Thursday, Aoun welcomed Hariris decision to accept the French invitation, saying he hoped it opened the door for a resolution of the crisis.

I wait for the return of President [of the council of ministers] Hariri to decide the next move regarding the government, Aoun said during a meeting with journalists. The comments were published on his official Twitter account.

Aoun has refused to accept Hariris resignation and accused the Saudis of holding him against his will. In his strongest statements yet about the crisis, Aoun said Wednesday there was no reason for the prime minister not to return to Lebanon.

In Germany, Lebanons Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil, on a European tour over the crisis, told reporters that our concern is that he [Hariri] returns and takes the decision that he wants.

Meanwhile, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said the kingdom rejected allegations that it is holding Hariri against his will.

The accusation that the kingdom would hold a prime minister or a former prime minister is not true, especially a political ally like Hariri, Jubeir said during a news conference with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is visiting Saudi Arabia.

Le Drian later met with Hariri. A Saudi-owned TV station showed them chatting in the Lebanese leaders home in Riyadh without giving details about the meeting. Hariri is a dual Lebanese-Saudi national and has several homes in the kingdom, where his immediate family also lives.

I dont know the source of these accusations. But they are rejected and are baseless and untrue, Jubeir said.

Jubeir said Hariri is in Saudi Arabia according to his own will. He leaves when he wants to, he said.

Hariri announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago, citing concerns over the meddling of Iran and its Lebanese ally, the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, in regional affairs. He also said he fears for his life.

Saudi Arabia is locked in a feud with Iran over regional influence; both countries support different groups in Lebanon.

The resignation of Saudi-aligned Hariri was seen as engineered by Riyadh and raised concerns that it would drag Lebanon, with its delicate sectarian-based political system, into the battle for regional supremacy.

Hezbollah accused the kingdom of seeking to sow chaos in Lebanon.

Jubeir railed against Hezbollah, calling it a first-class terrorist organization that should lay down its arms and respect Lebanons sovereignty. Hezbollah has kidnapped the Lebanese system, he said.

France, Lebanons onetime colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate the crisis.

On Wednesday, Macron invited Hariri and his family to come to France, apparently as a way to put an end to allegations that the prime minister is being held against his will.

The announcement that Hariri will head to France came after Le Drian met with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

On Wednesday, the front page of the daily Lebanese Al-Akhbar boasted: Saudi loses, hailing the French for their proposal to end the deadlock.
Zimbabwe reached a critical impasse Thursday after President Robert Mugabe rebuffed military demands that he step down and a regional negotiation team left the country without an agreement.

The military took control of the country early Wednesday, sending troops to surround the presidents residence, and promised Mugabe immunity, safety for his family and a peaceful retirement.

On Thursday at the presidential office, known as State House, Mugabe met with Zimbabwean military commanders and envoys sent by South African President Jacob Zuma. Also present was a trusted Mugabe confidant, Father Fidelis Mukonori, a Catholic priest who has been acting as an intermediary.

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The military has denied that its actions constitute a coup and says that Mugabe remains commander in chief, an insistence that appeared aimed at appeasing neighboring countries in a region where coups are rare.

As part of an exit deal, the military wanted Mugabe to reinstate the vice president he fired last week, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has the support of the armed forces. That would pave the way for him to become acting president in a transitional government as the country prepared for elections.

Regional leaders do not want to appear to endorse Mugabes removal for fear of encouraging future coups.

But his power is essentially gone, and the regional leadership body, the Southern African Development Community, is unable to offer him meaningful support.

After the meeting, the group announced it would hold an extraordinary summit to discuss the issue.

Mugabe has long been seen as an anomaly in a region where democratic elections are the norm, clinging to power since independence in 1980 through a series of elections beset by violence or otherwise flawed.

The state-run Herald newspaper, which appears to have fallen under the influence of the military generals, published photographs of Mugabe meeting the South African envoys and senior government and military officials. In one image, Mugabe was seen shaking hands with Gen. Constantino Chiwenga, the head of the armed forces, who was smiling.

Another state-owned newspaper, the Bulawayo Chronicle, reported that lawyers said the military intervention was legal.

Should Mugabe refuse to quit, military leaders have limited options. They could forcibly depose him, have him declared medically unfit to govern, or orchestrate a no-confidence vote against him in parliament.

Its tricky because they want to be legitimate, said political analyst Earnest Mudzengi, director of the Media Center, a space for independent journalists to work. They want to give Mugabe a soft landing, and they still have a lot of respect for him.

A prominent opposition figure and former finance minister in a previous government of national unity, Tendai Biti, said that the militarys power grab  which he called a coup  was illegal but that it offered the country an opportunity to move forward after years of incompetent and corrupt government.

Southern African leaders who were terrified by the military takeover, he said, but could play an important role by pushing for a new inclusive transitional government.

Every second that turns into an hour and that turns into a day strengthens the hand of those who are in power, Biti said. Thats why we have to make sure we negotiate a road map back to a transitional government and democracy.

One complicating factor is that the envoys sent by the South African president  the minister for state security and the minister of defense and military veterans  are not viewed as having the stature to help Mugabe and the military reach a compromise.

Biti said that it would require an African elder statesman with clout, such as former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, to convince Mugabe that reinstatement as president is not an option.

Zuma has to up his game, he said. They have to come up with a solution that doesnt encourage other coups in future and ensure that theres a sustainable road map in Zimbabwe.

The Robert Mugabe I know will not resign, Biti said. Mugabe is going to dig in.

At the center of the dramatic impasse is Mugabes luxury mansion in the lush suburbs of Harare, built by the Chinese government and popularly known as the Blue House because of its deeply hued roof of blue Chinese tiles.

Mugabe, his wife, Grace, and a small contingent of his presidential guard have been staying there. He traveled to the official presidential office for Thursdays meeting, then returned to the mansion.

Several key Mugabe loyalists, accused by the military of being criminals, were reportedly being held in cells at the military headquarters.

They included police commissioner Augustine Chihuri, deputy head of the Central Intelligence Organization Albert Ngulube, Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo, political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and head of the ruling party youth league Kudzanai Chipanga.

In a apology to the military that was televised Wednesday, Chipanga begged Chiwenga and other generals to forgive him for an earlier statement attacking them.

On Thursday, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai called on Mugabe to resign immediately and for the establishment of a transitional government that include members of the opposition.

His statement notably avoided criticizing the military seizure of power and instead expressed gratitude to commanders for the commitment to peace and the sanctity of human life by the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, including respect for citizens fundamental rights.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com

@RobynDixon_LAT

UPDATES:

3:05 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with staff reporting on political developments and analysis.

This article was originally published at 7:05 a.m.
For years, Lebanon, often a plaything for foreign powers, had largely avoided becoming a battleground for the regions toxic rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

But a surprise resignation by Prime Minister Saad Hariri this month, seemingly at the behest of the Saudi government, has pushed the country into the center of that struggle for dominance, which risks plunging the region into open conflict  with Israel acting in conjunction with Saudi Arabia.

Heres a glance at the some of the players involved and where they stand on the chessboard.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi King Salman greets Lebanons Saad Hariri in Riyadh on Nov. 6. Hariri has remained in Saudi Arabia since resigning as prime minister. (Bandar al-Jaloud / AFP/Getty Images)

It was less than two months ago that Saudi Arabia captured headlines for finally allowing women to drive, for planning a futuristic desert city with more robots than people, and for lining up the historic initial public offering of a storied oil company.

But that was before Nov. 3, when the kingdoms crown prince, 32-year-old Mohammed bin Salman (nicknamed MbS), began an anti-corruption drive that nabbed top-grade officials and even princes. That same day, the Houthis, Yemeni rebels who Saudi Arabia says are backed by Iran, launched a ballistic missile targeting the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The latter event infuriated Saudi leaders, pushing them to escalate their battle for regional dominance against Iran, with whom they have sparred in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

A Saudi prince is shaking up the Middle East  and may be pushing it toward war 

The Saudi government imposed even tighter restrictions on an already devastating blockade of Yemen, and ordered Hariri to Riyadh, where, many believe at the behest of the Saudis, he resigned from office and pinned the blame on Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported Lebanese Shiite political party and armed faction.

Neutralizing Hezbollah would certainly be a win for Saudi Arabia. The group became the vanguard of forces fighting for Syrian President Bashar Assad in neighboring Syria, and Riyadh is adamant that it has a hand in Yemen and elsewhere.

Yet there is little Saudi Arabia can do to stop the group. Instead, Hezbollah is expected to target Lebanons economy, a threat repeatedly mentioned by Hariri in a televised interview Sunday.

Estimates put the number of Lebanese expatriates in Persian Gulf countries at about 500,000, most of them in Saudi Arabia; they send back some 60% of the $7 billion in remittances received in Lebanon every year.

Iran

Members of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard march in a military parade outside Tehran in 2016. The Saudi-Iranian dispute is at the heart of regional conflicts in the Mideast. (Ebrahim Noroozi / Associated Press)

The latest dispute with Saudi Arabia comes at a time when Iran can boast impressive achievements beyond its borders: The war in Syria, though not finished, is on the wane, with Assad, who benefited from Irans help, still in power. Riyadhs constant focus on Iran has it engaged in a deeply unpopular bombing campaign in Yemen, even though many say the Houthis are hardly the Iranian proxy Saudi Arabia makes them out to be. And Tehran enjoys unprecedented influence in Iraq, where it trains and supports a powerful grouping of irregular forces.

If Saudi Arabia does attack Hezbollah, Iran could leverage its influence to bring, as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech this year, hundreds of thousands of fighters from Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Yet many in Iran would prefer to focus on the economy now. Low oil prices mean Tehran cannot so easily shrug off the effects of sanctions, which were relaxed but not eliminated as part of its nuclear accord. It is now poised to benefit from the reconstruction bonanza in Syria and Iraq  something that wont happen if theres a war in Lebanon.

Israel

Israeli soldiers react as artillery shells are fired into Lebanon during the 2006 war with Hezbollah. (David Guttenfelder / Associated Press)

Israeli military planners and leaders have long said that a rematch with Hezbollah was imminent. The group pummeled the Israeli army into a stalemate in 2006 (considered a relative victory, given the record of Arab-Israeli clashes), and though the Israeli-Lebanese border has been mostly calm since then, both sides have ramped up their defenses, not to mention their rhetoric, over the last few months.

And this time, the Israelis would have the cover of Saudi Arabia, the leading power of the Arab world.

Yet it would also have to contend with an enemy with far greater experience and more capabilities  and arms  than ever before, not to mention the breathing space to operate in neighboring Syria.

And although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has never passed an opportunity to warn about Iran, a war on his northern border may be a bit too close to home.

Hezbollah

Hezbollah members parade during an Ashura celebration in a Beirut suburb in 2016. (Anwar Amro / AFP/Getty Images)

Though Hezbollah is technically a militia, it displays the discipline and organizational prowess that would put several regional armies to shame. And, thanks to the bare-knuckled trials by fire they endured in Syria, its cadres now have experience and the arms to go with it.

True, its involvement in Syria has robbed it of the standing it once enjoyed throughout the Arab world, but it still has plenty of supporters, especially in parts of Lebanon, where its ability to provide services often exceeds that of the government.

In any case, a bombing campaign aimed at Hezbollah would fail to dislodge it and would probably increase its popularity (or at least make the Saudis more unpopular, if Yemen is any measure). And though there is little doubt its ranks have thinned because of the war in Syria, Nasrallah insists the group would withstand a confrontation with Israel.

Lebanon

At the starting line of Beiruts annual marathon on Nov. 12, 2017, supporters of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri rally to call for his return from Saudi Arabia. (Anwar Amro / AFP/Getty Images)

Even if all of Lebanons perpetually squabbling sects agreed to excise Hezbollah (virtually an impossibility), there is little they could do about it. That was a lesson many learned in 2008, when Hezbollah operatives ran street battles in the capital, Beirut, and quickly established the group as the biggest gun in town.

But the issue for the Lebanese is that the specter of conflict has arrived just as the country was rebounding from the economic effects of the war next door.

Even tourism, one of the hardest-hit sectors, was enjoying a resurgence. Fancy cars with Saudi, Kuwaiti and Emirati license plates were once again making an appearance on Beiruts overcrowded thoroughfares.

Still, officials say the economy has already weathered greater challenges. They add that there is little fear of a currency run since most of the estimated $180 billion deposited in Lebanese banks was from residents.

In addition to the economic threat, Saudi Arabias maneuvers could carry a political cost: Politicians of all stripes (even those who came to prominence with support from Riyadh) have already expressed misgivings over the way Hariri is being treated.

And as for Hariri, it would be difficult to see how he could challenge Hezbollah on matters of outside interference after his resignation, which was widely seen as a performance whose script was written in Riyadh.

Syria

Syrians inspect the remains of buildings after an airstrike in the rebel-held Syrian town of Atareb. (Zein al Rifai / AFP/Getty Images)

The government is too busy fighting its own battles against armed opposition rebels to be involved in a war next door. But the prospect of losing Hezbollah, a vital ally that led many of the Syrian armys operations, may spur Damascus to intervene, or at the very least offer the logistical support of the Syrian army should Hezbollah be attacked.

Meanwhile, both Iran and Hezbollah have unprecedented influence in the country, granting them a perfect staging ground to strike across many parts of the region.
High levels of carbon monoxide that prompted the evacuation Tuesday of an Allentown business resulted from a chemical reaction, a city fire official said Wednesday.

The incident was reported about 3:15 p.m. at 460 Business Park Lane, home to PPT Research Inc.'s laboratory and production facility.

Authorities initially responded to the report of smoke in a garage bay, fire Capt. John Christopher said.

Firefighters finding high CO levels evacuated the workers and talked to them about what had been going on on-site.

"It was due to a chemical reaction," Christopher said. "These are products they normally mix together, it's fine, but there must have been an additional chemical in there that caused this. What it did, the hazard it created, was high levels of carbon monoxide."

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. It is produced any time a fossil fuel is burned.

No one was reported injured Tuesday. Initial reports indicated more than one business was evacuated, but it was only the one where the incident occurred, Christopher said.

PPT Research did not respond to a call for comment Wednesday morning.

On its website, the company says it "developed a group of products and technology consisting of advanced suspension carriers used to produce long-term stable abrasive slurries for wire saw production of Solar, Semiconductor and Optical grade wafers; advanced coolants for diamond wire slicing, machining and CNC milling applications."

The fire department handled the call as a hazardous materials incident, Christopher said.

The company brought in an environmental cleanup crew Wednesday night and was having an outside firm investigate what caused the reaction, the fire captain said.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Lehigh University fraternity was forced to dissolve due to a series of significant alcohol-related incidents.

Two students required hospitalization last month after excessive drinking at a Sigma Chi pre-game champagne party, according to a university Greek community blog.

None of the fraternity members called for help despite the severe inebriation of the drinkers, according to the blog. The incident started Oct. 12 and continued past midnight through to Oct. 13 in the house on the Bethlehem campus.

The incident came while the fraternity was already on "disciplinary deferred dissolution" for three previous serious alcohol-related incidents.

The university committee on discipline decided to dissolve the fraternity from Nov. 14, 2017 through May 31, 2020.

"Social events hosted by Sigma Chi over the last two semesters have led to multiple students becoming dangerously intoxicated and even hospitalized. Additionally, the chapter has a history of other alcohol related incidents over the past two years," the discipline committee wrote in its ruling.

"While the panel believes that a re-org could have worked at some point over the past several semesters, we do not believe that this is a solution for what seems to be an extensive problem," the committee added.

Chapter President Tim Wolak said Sigma Chi won't appeal the decision.

Undergraduates living in the fraternity house will be relocated immediately, the Greek blog says. The house will be transitioned into a traditional residence facility.

The Kappa Sigma fraternity was dissolved in July and can't be reinstated until July 2019 due to alcohol-related incidents. About 80 Lehigh students were cited for underage drinking during the first three weeks of school this year.

University spokeswoman Lori Friedman said the statement on the Greek blog serves as the university's statement.

"Fraternity and sorority life has a long-standing and proud history at Lehigh where members live by their respective founding principles that foster leadership, service, scholarship, integrity, and friendship," the statement on the blog says. "Together, we will carry on in our efforts to strengthen the fraternity and sorority experience through positive impact, strong leadership, and culture change. We believe in our community, and our potential is boundless."

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Notre Dame High School students were "never at risk" after two students last week threatened to pull a fire alarm and shoot their classmates as they left the Bethlehem Township building, the Diocese of Allentown reports.

After township police were notified by students, the 17-year-olds were arrested and authorities determined they didn't have access to weapons, police said in a news release.

The ninth- through 12-grade school cooperated with police during the investigation and "we will continue cooperating with law enforcement authorities regarding the concerns involving these two former students," Principal Mario Lucrezi said in a letter to parents that was released Thursday by the diocese.

In addition to being charged in juvenile court with terroristic threats, conspiracy and disorderly conduct, the two teenagers "were subject to our disciplinary code," Lucrezi said.

Police on Wednesday said "neither youth will attend Notre Dame High School in the future."

"We take the safety of our students and staff seriously," Lucrezi wrote.

The school will continue to evaluate its "safety policies and procedures," Lucrezi said.

While saying the school was advised late last week by police of the threats from Nov. 8., the principal made clear that students and staff need to speak up as soon as any danger is apparent.

"It is important for the entire school community to promptly communicate any concerns involving safety to Notre Dame staff and administrators," Lucrezi wrote. "The safety of our students is a primary concern."

The two former students face a later court date. They were initially held at the Northampton County Juvenile Justice Center in Easton but were later released, police said. There names have not been released.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
While there won't be a case in criminal court, John Bazemore Jr., of Palmer Township, wants to see the proof.

John Todd Bazemore III, 25, formerly of Palmer Township. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Before he will believe his son allegedly robbed a Denver bank on Friday prior to being shot dead in a nearby alley, Bazemore, who is known as Chuck, wants to see bank photos, images from street cameras, police body camera shots and video that might be out here, he said Wednesday afternoon.

"With all this stuff going on now about police shooting people" he won't accept the claim that John Todd Bazemore III, 25, robbed the ANB Bank at 1 p.m. on the 16th Street Mall.

Chuck Bazemore is hiring an attorney and will head out to Denver to find out why the "lady fingered him out, saying that's him."

John Bazemore III was "casually" leaving the bank wearing a gray ski mask over his face when two others came out and yelled the place had just been robbed, the Denver Post reported.

A woman saw the Emmaus High School graduate who served a short stint in the Navy and pointed him out to a beat cop who was just starting his shift, Denver police said. The officer followed Bazemore down an alley and when Bazemore didn't respond to commands to stop, fired several shots, fatally wounding him, the Post reported.

Police initially couldn't say if Bazemore pointed a weapon at the officer nor could they reveal what was recovered from the officer's body camera. A gun and money from the bank were found nearby, police said.

"I have to see the bank evidence and the street cameras," Chuck Bazemore said. "Maybe he was wearing a ski mask. I have to see some cameras."

While it was below freezing overnight, it got to 60 degrees by Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service said, making the alleged headgear choice unusual.

As for the officer, Chuck Bazemore said, "I don't know what his scheme was." John Bazemore III couldn't see more than 20 feet without his glasses, so he likely didn't recognize the man yelling at him as an officer, Chuck Bazemore said. "If police told him to turn around, he can't see them."

In 2011, John Bazemore III was charged with stealing nearly $90,000 in cash and jewelry from a safe in his father's Palmer Township home. Chuck Bazamore said his son was using synthetic marijuana that at the time could be bought in gas stations. The young man battles bipolar disorder as well, his father said.

But after time in jail, John Bazemore III grew up, his father said. The young man left his father a letter sometime back explaining that he knows what he did was wrong, that it was stupid, and "I'm a different person now."

Chuck Bazemore said he couldn't talk with his son after the theft, a status that wasn't resolved before Friday's shooting.

John Bazemore III did his time and had been in Florida, Myrtle Beach and North Carolina before finding his way a month ago to Denver, his father said. He was writing a book and the editor was living in the Colorado city, Chuck Bazemore said. The young man is a good artist and liked to write, his father said.

"His mom has a copy of the book," he said.

Once the lawyer's investigation is complete and Chuck Bazemore sees what evidence he feels is necessary, perhaps then he can accept the police version of events, he said.

If it had been six years ago, he said he would have believed it right away. But the young man had straightened out and was making a new life for himself, his father said.

And the 68-year-old said he was charged at 19 with a crime he didn't commit. He had just gotten into town and "ran into a riot." He presented his evidence and eventually was freed, despite being jailed in the "mistaken identity" case, he said.

"I want to see proof," that his son committed this crime, he said.

Robbing a bank in Denver?

"That doesn't sound like my son," he said.

But Chuck Bazemore is prepared for the verdict either way, even though there will never be a court case.

He'll bring his son's ashes home and there will be a memorial service off William Penn Highway, he said.

"I'm not saying anything yet until I know," Chuck Bazemore said. "And if he did it, I can talk about it then."

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
If you've got tickets to see Mariah Carey next week at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center, we've got bad news for you.

The event center on Wednesday night announced that the pop superstar's Monday, Nov. 20 show has been canceled. The center in a news release gave no explanation as to why.

But Carey posted on her Twitter account that she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection after getting the flu last week.

"You know there is nothing I love more than celebrating the holidays with my festive Christmas show, but I have to take my doctor's orders and rest until he says I can sing on stage," she says in the statement she posted on the social medial site.

The Sands release states refunds will be available at the point of ticket purchase.

The stop in Bethlehem on Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" tour was announced last month with ticket prices ranging from $89.50 to $150.

Carey is one of the all-time best selling recording artists. She is the third best-selling female recording artist in the United States, with 64 million certified records sold, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. She is reported to have sold more than 200 million records worldwide.

The last concert she performed was on Oct. 14 in Connecticut, according to setlist.com.

Her Christmas tour was supposed to kick off Friday in Windsor, Ontario, according to billboard.com.

Carey's official website now lists the first date of the tour as Nov. 27 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- A hopelessly deadlocked jury brought an abrupt end to the corruption trial of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez Thursday with the declaration of a mistrial, after a contentious 11-week courtroom drama that concluded without a final act.

The government now must decide whether to retry the Democratic lawmaker from New Jersey and co-defendant Salomon Melgen, a wealthy Florida ophthalmologist, who are accused of swapping lavish gifts for government favors.

In a note sent to out shortly before noon, jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict. While saying they had "reviewed all the evidence slowly, thoroughly and in great detail," they concluded: "We cannot reach a unanimous decision on any of the charges, nor are we willing to move away from our strong convictions."

Prosecutors urged U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, who is presiding over the case in federal court in Newark, to send the panel back to the jury room to see if they could reach at least a partial verdict.

But the judge reluctantly declared a mistrial after individually questioning jurors out of the courtroom with prosecutors and defense attorneys for nearly an hour.

Even without a verdict, the mistrial puts the political career of Menendez in the balance. Up for re-election next year, the senator faces the prospect of running for office as he is defending himself in any retrial.

The courtroom stalemate came after more than a week and a half of deliberations, marking the most recent setback in a high-profile Justice Department prosecution effort that has already spanned nearly five years and involved grand juries in two different states.

On Monday, Walls denied a previous request for a mistrial after the jury of seven women and five men sent out an earlier note indicating it could not reach a verdict. Walls told them to go home for the day and try again in the morning.

The time apparently did not help. On Wednesday afternoon after the seventh day of deliberations, many jurors were seen leaving the fourth-floor courtroom, looking visibly fatigued with their heads down.

Earlier in the week, those same jurors were questioned by the judge over whether they were aware of comments made by a dismissed juror who had been excused from the panel last week because of vacation plans.

In widely-reported remarks, the juror, Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby, 61, of Hillside told reporters that by the end of the jury's first week with the case, the panel was split on whether to convict Menendez of an alleged bribery scheme.

Arroyo-Maultsby also said she had been the only one at the time prepared to acquit Menendez on a separate charge of making false statements on Senate disclosure forms.

Defense attorneys, who had previously called for a mistrial, had unsuccessfully argued that rulings by Walls had prevented them from mounting a proper case at trial.

Government prosecutors sought to show Menendez had traded the power of his office for bribes from Melgen, both 63, and later intentionally concealed those gifts from the Senate.

Defense attorneys looked to convince the jury that Menendez's meetings with government officials were routine legislative activity, rather than corrupt acts performed on Melgen's behalf. Ultimately, neither Menendez nor Melgen elected to take the stand in their own defense.

Prosecutors had alleged Melgen, an ophthalmologist, had provided the senator with six-figure campaign contributions, luxury hotel stays and private plane flights in exchange for Menendez's intervention on the doctor's behalf in an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute, the visa applications of Melgen's foreign girlfriends and a contested port security contract in the Dominican Republic.

In his efforts to resolve Melgen's government problems, prosecutors said, Menendez lobbied officials as senior as William Brownfield -- a former U.S. ambassador who was then an assistant secretary of state -- and former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who helped broker a meeting between Menendez and then-Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over the Medicare dispute.

Menendez was also accused of making false statements on Senate disclosure forms by intentionally concealing Melgen's gifts.

The defense argued that the gifts came out of 20 years of friendship and that Menendez's staff mistakenly believed they were exempt from disclosure requirements. The defense also argued that Melgen's campaign contributions followed years of financial support for political campaigns outside his home state of Florida.

The senator's involvement in Melgen's personal matters stemmed from genuine policy concerns about Medicare's reimbursement rules, national security and immigration, his lawyers said.

While the jury heard from both Brownfield and Sebelius -- in addition to former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa -- Reid ultimately was not called as a witness by either side.

Menendez, a Union City native who rose through the ranks of Hudson County's Democratic political scene, has maintained his innocence since the Justice Department first announced an indictment against him and Melgen on April 1, 2015.

That indictment was the product of a lengthy investigation by prosecutors and agents from the FBI's Newark Division that went back to 2012, when the FBI began looking into Melgen's billing.

At about the same time, investigators launched a separate investigation into since-debunked allegations of prostitution activity at Melgen's home in the Dominican Republic, fueled by anonymous emails to a Washington, D.C. watchdog group and later to the FBI. The tipster called himself "Pete Williams," an apparent reference to Harrison "Pete" Williams, a Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey convicted of bribery in 1981. The individual or group behind the emails were never publicly identified.

The focus of the investigation ultimately turned to Melgen's financial interests and questions over a suspected bribery scheme between the doctor and the senator, using grand juries first in Florida and later in New Jersey to subpoena witnesses ranging from the women identified as Melgen's girlfriends to top members of the senator's staff.

After the charges were announced, Menendez appealed his case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, but the appeals court refused to throw out the indictment. The U.S. Supreme Court later declined to hear the case.

The defense was also unsuccessful with a motion for acquittal on all charges, based on the Supreme Court's ruling overturning the corruption conviction of former Virginia governor Robert McDonnell.

Defense attorneys argued the McDonnell decision -- which has served as a basis for the reversal of two high-profile federal corruption cases in New York -- had narrowed the scope of federal bribery law to exclude Menendez's actions.

Walls ruled the high court's decision did not preclude the prosecution's theory in the New Jersey trial, and allowed the case to go the jury.

Melgen was ultimately convicted in Florida in April of federal health care fraud charges stemming from the Medicare dispute, which involved his practice of extracting multiple doses of Lucentis -- a drug to treat macular degeneration -- from vials intended to provide a single dose.

In addition to billing Medicare the cost of a new vial of Lucentis for each dose he administered, prosecutors in Florida said Melgen had intentionally misdiagnosed and administered medically unnecessary treatments to hundreds of patients.

The doctor, who is being held in federal custody and has been led into court by plainclothed deputy U.S. marshals, is scheduled to be sentenced in the health care fraud case in December.

The jury in the New Jersey case was not permitted to hear of the doctor's prior conviction. Menendez was the first sitting U.S. senator to stand trial on criminal charges since Ted Stevens, a Republican from Alaska who was convicted in 2008 of failing to report gifts from an oil pipeline company.

Stevens was voted out of office shortly after the guilty verdicts, but his conviction -- won by the same Justice Department unit that would later prosecute Menendez -- was later thrown out after a federal judge found prosecutors had concealed evidence from the defense.

Staff writers Karen Yi, Kelly Heyboer, Len Mulisurgo, Luke Lozicka and Ted Sherman contributed to this report.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached by email at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty.
The Chief Superintendent for the Laois-Offaly Garda Division has criticised the practice of posting garda checkpoint locations on social media.

Speaking to Sean O'Rourke on RTE Radio 1 about the Task Force set up to tackle burglary gangs in the wake of an attack on Richie McKelvey in Brosna, Co. Offaly two weeks ago, Chief Superintendent John Scanlon said "the ship has sailed" on such warnings.

"Traditionally drivers flashed their headlights to warn others about checkpoints for road traffic offences, but people need to realise that garda checkpoints are now about stopping serious criminals."

"It's disappointing to see this response to checkpoints - people warning others about them on social media," he added. He described it as a call for a little "social responsibility" in asking people to stop engaging in such online activity.

Scanlon went on to reference the attack on Richie McKelvey, expressing a hope that the case will come to a successful conclusion. "I always hold out hope," he said, going on to say that, "we [the gardai] are out there, gathering as much evidence as we can, with a view to hopefully bringing these people before the courts."

BLOG DON'T LIKE OR SHARE CHECKPOINT POSTS

He said the Task Force of eight gardai who will be working solely on this area of rural crime in Laois-Offaly, was about "laying down a challenge" to these criminals who think they can "maraud around rural Ireland, targeting innocent people."

He said the gardai would do everything they could to "take out the bureaucracy" around CCTV systems to help more community groups establish such defences against crime.

He said CCTV is an important and helpful resource, even in cases where criminals use fake plates. "We can still trace the movements of criminals, while the vehicles they use may have distinctive markings that we can use to piece together information," Chief Superintendent Scanlon said.

He said there are already eight CCTV systems in place in the Laois/Offaly Division and that Gardai will support the implementation of more.

WE NEED THE LOCAL GARDA TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON

When questioned by O'Rourke about the idea of homeowners taking the law into their own hands by arming themselves with shotguns, as was muted in the South Offaly area recently, Chief Superintendent Scanlon advised people against such action.

"I have been to too many very serious incidents where firearms have been used, so that is not the way forward," he commented.

"We must offer reassurances to people that the gardai are there to deal with these criminals and we are out there," he insisted.

No arrests have yet been made in relation to the attack on Richie McKelvey in early November, but investigations are ongoing.

MORE CRIME AND COURTS
The chief author of the plan that could see Portlaoise hospital downgraded is 'disappointed and dismayed' that the document was made public and says she wants to secure the hospital for 'generations to come'.

Dr Susan O'Reilly, Dublin Midlands Hospital Group Chief Executive, has issued a missal to all staff at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise in the wake of the leak. The controversial report sets out a detailed plan to withdraw A&E, maternity, paediatric and other services from Portlaoise hospital.

Under the 'Development of an Action Plan for a New Model of Clinical Service Delivery in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group' plan the Laois hospital would become a Category 2 hospital. Tallaght and Tullamore hospitals will pick up most of the slack while it is claimed Portlaoise would expand in other areas but cease to treat acute illness.

The Chief Executive has declined to comment publicly on the plan but instead has written to staff. The Leinster Express has obtained a copy of the letter. It was not provided by Dr O'Reilly or her team.

"As CEO of the Dublin Midland Hospital Group, I am very disappointed and dismayed that the proposed Action Plan for Portlaoise has been published in the Sunday Business Post Sunday 12th November," she said.

IMPACT TRADE UNION URGES GOVERNMENT TO GRASP NETTLE ON HOSPITAL

Dr O'Reilly repeated a consistent line that she would have shared the plan with staff, the public and other only after it had been agreed by the Department.

"It has been the explicit intention of the HSE and the Hospital Group to share this with all staff, GPs, public representatives, and the wider public once it has been considered and agreed with the Department of Health and the Minister for Health," she writes.

She reminded the doctors, nurses, porters, clerical staff and others that the hospital has been subject to significant reviews. An RTE Primetime Investigates programme, described by Dr O'Reilly as an 'expose', is listed as one of these. Other subsequent reviews mentioned include one by the Chief Medical Officer, a HSE Acute Hospital Division Report, two HIQA reports, and a nationally commissioned review of maternity clinical complaints.

"Subsequently, this has led to the hospital being one of the most considered, debated, discussed and prioritised subjects on the health service agenda. We acknowledge that there has been considerable uncertainty for you and this is to be regretted.

Your hard work and commitment is very much appreciated," she writes.

The CEO informs staff that the Group is committed to a secure future for Portlaoise hospital.

"That is why we have been working together to improve services, governance structures and above all patient safety at the Hospital. You have been central to making these improvements and this has been recognised by HIQA," she writes.

Dr O'Reilly adds that in May 2015, HIQA "mandated" her to develop an Action Plan for the hospital. She was joined in this process by Dr Colm Henry, HSE National Clinical Advisor as Joint Chair and 10 National Clinical Leads .

The leads are are responsible for: acute medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, transportation medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and neonatology, anaesthesia and critical care, national ambulance and acute hospital services.

She reminded staff that an action plan was submitted to the Department of Health in December 2016. She acknowledges that HSE does not have the power to proceed to implementation without political backing.

"Ultimately, the HSE recommend and implement policy. What we do not do is make policy decisions  that is the responsibility of Government. In this instance, we have formulated a proposal and long-term road map for Portlaoise Hospital, thereby fulfilling the HIQA mandate.

"The decision on whether or when to implement recommendations rests with the Minister for Health and his Department," she writes.

YOUNG MAN CREDITS PORTLAIOSE A&E FOR SAVING HIS LIFE

She says that in the context of Sunday Business Post publication, there are some issues which she would like to clarify. Dr O'Reilly outlines these in the following bullet points:

 Portlaoise Hospital is not going to be shut down. Our proposed plan will ensure that it has a secure and vibrant future;

 Patients from the region will continue to have access to high-quality care and treatment;

 There will be no overall reduction in staff numbers and growth is expected over time

 The hospital over the longer-term will benefit from enhanced services, new facilities and increased investment;

 Patients and staff will enjoy better facilities and be treated or work in a safer, more fulfilling working environment;

She admits to staff this action plan, if implemented, will take a number of years and will be dependent on significant investment both at Portlaoise Hospital itself and in services and facilities in hospitals across the Dublin Midlands group.

The plan estimates that it could take four years to implement and up to 100 million to implement in capital investment.

Dr O'Reilly told staff that these investments "must happen" before any changes can take effect to ensure that there is no disruption to patient services and that "patients have continued access to high quality care, in the most appropriate setting".

"However, it has to be stressed in no uncertain terms; the future of Portlaoise Hospital and the implementation of this proposed action plan is a matter for the Minister for Health and Government.

Dr O'Reilly concludes the letter: "We wish to thank you for your patience in this matter, to reassure you that your hard work and dedication is recognised and acknowledged and to confirm that we are eager to work with you to secure and develop your hospital for generations to come."
Best Escort of the Year at this years W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land Festival was Fergus ORourke from Carrigallen. He was the favourite amongst the Queens after they were dazzled by his charm.



Fergus received a weekend stay for two in the Bridge House Hotel and a 300 clothing voucher from Guy Clothing.



The 23 year-old Teagasc Education Officer sealed the deal to become the Best Escort at the festival on the Sunday night at the Gala Banquet along with Emma Birchall from Kilcullen in Kildare who announced as the 53rd WR Shaw Queen of the Land Festival winner for 2017 in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore.



The second runner-up was Melissa Glynn from Cranmore outside Athlone in Roscommon and third runner up was Lucy McClymont from Dumfries in the Dumfries and Galloway region in Scotland.



Emma was presented with the W.R. Shaw Queen of the Land Linda OBrien tiara, the WR Shaw sponsored perpetual trophy, the WR Shaw sponsored 1,000 prize, a specially commissioned piece of Galway Crystal from Cahill Jewellers, a two night break in the Bridge House Hotel and a 200 clothing voucher from Kode Clothing.



Gerard Mahon, Chairperson of the Queen of the Land Festival organising committee, paid tribute to the 31 young women who took part in this year's competition.



He said, We have had another successful Queen of the Land festival, thanks in no small part to our main sponsors WR Shaw, the associate sponsors, committee and the travelling supporters that came from all over the country and beyond to Tullamore for the weekend.



Congratulations to Fergus O'Rourke on his win and well done to Emma Coyle from North Leitrim Macra, who represented Co Leitrim so well in this year's Festival.
At last weeks sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Court James Woods was awarded 65,000 damages plus legal costs after he brought a defamation case against Colm Mulvey, 36 Hillcrest Grove, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim.



Barrister for the plaintiff, Keith OGrady said the case was brought following a publication on the Facebook page Darts in Ireland by the defendant on August 22, 2016.



Giving background to the case Mr OGrady explained, The plaintiff (Mr Woods who is originally from Boyle and now living in Gurteen) is a former National Darts executive member and former Secretary of Roscommon County Darts. At the time of the offence he was the secretary of the Sligo League.



Mr OGrady added, Having become aware of what was said about him, he contacted his solicitor.



Mr OGrady said, Mr Mulvey has not appeared in court this morning for the call over of the list or at any time in court. There was a phone call today explaining his father-in-law was unwell and he couldnt be in court.



The court heard Mr Mulvey accepted he had defamed Mr Woods in October 2016.



Under questioning from Mr OGrady, Mr Woods was asked about the message that was written about him in relation to money that had gone missing in the 1980s and 90s.



The message written by Mr Mulvey stated You should look closer to home in the 80s and 90s when someone from Boyle was the Chairman.



When asked if he knew who that message referred to, Mr Woods replied, No, I was involved from the late 90s.



Mr Woods was then asked about the missing money to which he replied, I dont know a whole pile. I know money had disappeared from an account. I dont know who did it. I went into work and colleagues asked me what was going on. They asked me how much I had stolen. Management were asking me if there was a criminal investigation as I wouldnt be able to work in the hospital. It nearly destroyed me.



Mr Woods added, I relinquished my position in Sligo because people were looking down their nose and saying where is the money gone. I can categorically say I dont know anything.



Mr Woods was asked if he felt having the details of this case published would help him to which he replied, I want to clear my name primarily.



Mr Woods referred to an apology he received explaining, He (Mr Mulvey) sent my solicitor an apology. He was given x amount of days to publish it on that (Facebook) site and he didnt.



The court heard when the time elapsed and Mr Mulvey had not published the apology on Facebook, Mr Woods received the go-ahead from his solicitor to publish the apology himself.



Later in the court, details of the apology were read in which Mr Mulvey said he was totally ashamed, and could only imagine the devastation caused. The apology also saw Mr Mulvey acknowledge he had no personal grievances or gripe, and offered his deepest apologies.



Explaining his reason for wanting the apology to be made public, Mr Woods said, I travel to darts events all over the country. I didnt want people thinking I was responsible for money going missing.



Outlining some of the fundraising events he has been involved in Mr Woods noted, Down the years I have raised a hell of a lot for charity through darts. My dad died in 2015 and I tried to raise as much as I could for the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice. In 2016 I had nearly 100 throwers, after this came out it was down to 48 throwers in 2017.



When asked if he felt the reduction in competitors was as a result of the comments made about him, Mr Woods replied, Very much so.



When asked if there had been a negative impact on his involvement in darts or his social life Mr Woods answered, I dont have a social life or a darts life any more. They ring me when they are very stuck.



Evidence in the case was also given by John Forde, President of the South Sligo Darts League who said he has known Mr Woods for 18-20 years.



When asked about the allegations made about Mr Woods, Mr Forde replied, I saw it on the internet.



He was asked if he was aware of what happened the missing money. Mr Forde answered, I was in England, I dont know.

When asked how he reacted having read the Facebook post Mr Forde replied, I questioned him and he said he had nothing to do with it. People questioned me is it true and I said dont be daft.



When asked if he believed Mr Woods reputation had been damaged Mr Forde replied, It has, Im certain. Id say by the way they were talking a lot of them did believe it. He wouldnt touch a halfpenny.



Having heard the evidence in the case Judge John Aylmer remarked, It is clear from the words published on Facebook in August 2016 that the plaintiff is or was a thief. That the plaintiff had ulterior motives, had committed a criminal offence and is a person that should not be allowed to hold office.



Judge Aylmer referred to the letter of apology and took note of the fact that the plaintiff had to publish the apology himself saying, It is understandable he felt people were talking about him. It is understandable this had a devastating emotional effect on him.



Awarding damages of 65,000 plus legal costs Judge Aylmer added, It was a particularly nasty defamation of Mr Woods with pretty devastating effects for him.
THE Minister for Housing is coming under increased pressure to declare Limerick city a Rent Pressure Zone following confirmation that average rents have increased by almost 11%.

Average rents in Limerick have risen by more than 10% in just 12 months according to the latest Rental Price Report from property website Daft.ie.

According to the report, which analysed trends during July, August and September, the average monthly rent in Limerick city is now 956 (up 10.9%) while a property in County Limerick will set you back 748 (up 10.1%).

Average rents in the city have risen by more than 57% since their lowest point in 2011 while the average monthly costs in the county rose by a third during the same time.

Compiled by Ronan Lyons, Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin, the report states that average advertised monthly rents in the city range from 718 for a single bedroom apartment to 1,074 for a five bed house.

At the end of September, the average monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment in County Limerick was 500 while the cost of a five-bedroom house was 768.

Following the publication of the latest Daft.ie report, the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, is likely to come under increased pressure to declare Limerick city a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ).

Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan has called on him to take immediate action to help hard-pressed renters.

This is a ridiculous situation. How on earth are people looking to rent in Limerick city supposed to afford a 10.9% increase in rent in one year? The latest statistics from the CSO shows average weekly earnings only increasing by 2.2%. This illustrates the chasm that is forming between what people are earning and what they are being forced to pay in rent, he said.

Responding to his party colleague Mary Lou McDonald during Leaders Questions in the Dail, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar did not rule out the inclusion of further areas in the RPZ scheme.

As a result of the introduction of the rent pressure zones, 60% of renters now have rent certainty and rent control and cannot have their rent increased by more than 4% in any one year.

That has given huge relief and security to people who are renting. The scheme has already been extended to Drogheda and parts of County Wicklow and may well be extended again, he said.

According to Daft.ie, the average monthly rent for a room in Limerick city centre is now 345 (up 18.6%) compared to 338 (up 15.8%) in the suburbs.

In a further blow to those seeking to rent, there were just 251 houses available for rent between Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Galway on November 1  compared to 420 on the same day last year.

As it stands, they (the four cities) are starved of rental supply, states Mr Lyons.

Dublin remains the most expensive part of the country to rent while the average monthly rent, nationally, is 1,198.
NEWCASTLE Wests new district superintendent has confirmed that extra garda resources will be laid on to police Rathkeale over Christmas  as the town gears up to accommodate double its population over the next two months.

Supt Eamon ONeill, who recently took over after Supt Tom OConnors retirement, said that the garda response will be proportionate.

There will be extra patrols of gardai, due to a provision in the budget from An Garda Siochana for the policing of Rathkeale.

However, he told the Limerick Leader that there will not be armed gardai patrolling the streets unless they are called to deal with a specific incident.

We will have a traffic corps, and well have whatever other appropriate response is needed for whatever incidents occur.

If required, the armed response unit will be in attendance. We dont want this to be a police event, we want to treat it proportionately. We also want to have the knowledge that if something does happen of a serious nature, we will have the resources to call on if necessary, said Supt ONeill.

The Newcastle West supt, who used to work as an inspector in the district, added that the Limerick divisional units will be available if and when they are needed.

The special detective unit, the drugs unit, the armed response unit and the traffic corps, all of those cover the whole division. We have a commitment that if we require any or all of them at any stage, we can call on them.

At a sub-committee meeting of the Joint Policing Committee, called to discuss the policing of Rathkeale over Christmas, Supt ONeill confirmed that he is committed to making sure everyone in Rathkeale can enjoy Christmas safely and within the law.

Newcastle West Sergeant Niall Flood, who previously worked in Rathkeale and has been described as a huge loss to the town since his move to the district base, is now moving back to Rathkeale garda station on a full-time basis, it was confirmed at the meeting.

Sgt Flood will oversee the operations in Rathkeale for Christmas.

Supt ONeill said that preparations for policing the Christmas period have involved meetings with all stakeholders, including business owners in the area and residents, from both the settled and Traveller communities.

FG Cllr Adam Teskey raised concerns about overtime for the local gardai. Where you have 2,500 people coming into a town at once, we should be treating it like a major festival, he said.

FG Cllr Stephen Keary, the Mayor of Limerick City and County, said that his office in the towns Main Street will be unusable from this week on.

Children will be marauding, he said. Supt ONeill said that gardai will engage with families, but Cllr Keary asked if Tusla could be involved.

FF Cllr Kevin Sheahan suggested that welcoming the visitors with a positive attitude might go a long way towards easing the tension and hostility that is often seen between the camps of permanent residents and visitors.

Its not an invasion, he said. Some of them are hostile, but most of the behaviour is an annoyance and not necessarily a crime.

Cllr Sheahan suggested a community patrol initiative, adding that a lot of people make money out of the visitors.

The current attitude locally only sends out one signal, he said.

There are a lot of people who make a lot of money out of them. Its like the Galway Races! he added.

It happens in other countries where visitors are made to feel welcome. We need assistance from gardai, but local people should be encouraged. It wouldnt hurt rather than the hostility.

These are people who have some connection, even if it goes back a long way, to Rathkeale. Its like English people going to the beach in the summertime, he exclaimed.

Cllr Keary disputed the claim that businesses make money, saying that many of the local residents would not come shopping in the town for two months of the year.

He said that illegal furniture trading during the period is detrimental to a local furniture trader who supports local jobs, and who pays 45,000 in commercial rates to the council every year.

Cllr Kevin Sheahan accused Cllr Keary of having a bee in his bonnet about Travellers!  a statement which Cllr Keary urged him to retract.

SF Cllr Ciara McMahon said: Every year, Christmas in Rathkeale always offers a surprise for us.
ITS EARLY yet, but that Christmas feeling is slowly but very surely starting to creep into the frame.

The mornings are noticeably fresher, and this weekend, Limerick citys Christmas lights will be switched on by Paw Patrol.

But for those in search of a family offering in the county, the Adare Christmas Fest is sure to delight all ages this Sunday.

A collaboration between Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel and the Adare Friday Market committee, the event, from 1-5pm, will culminate in the switching on of the villages giant Christmas tree  a special event every year for Adare natives, who use the opportunity to remember their loved ones.

A Christmas market will celebrate food, craft, and local suppliers, while Woodlands vouchers will be on sale for 10% off their usual price. Food demos are set to take place by some of Adares chefs.

Little ones can also post their letters to Santa in the special Santa Express Letter Box.

Plenty of spot prizes will be on offer on the day, and there will be complimentary sweet treats.

A second Christmas market will take place the following Sunday, November 26.

The events will support local causes Adare Mens Shed, The Butterfly Club and Limerick Animal Welfare.
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th-15th. (Photo: VNA)

The fair, running from November 10th-15th in the northern province of Lao Cai, attracted more than 100,000 visitors, bringing in revenue of about VND40 billion (USD1.76 million).

Speaking at the events closing ceremony, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Truong Giang said the trade fair once again proved Lao Cais important role in the Kunming (China) - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh corridor as well as in bridging Vietnam, ASEAN and southwest China.

This years fair, the biggest of its kind, brought together more than 300 exhibitors from Vietnam, China, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Thailand and Ghana who showcased their agriculture, forestry, fishery, mechanics, electronics, timber, leather, clothing, and handicrafts products at over 800 booths.

On the occasion, some 40 individuals and organisations were honoured by the provincial Peoples Committee for contribution to the fairs success./.
The Trump administration on Wednesday told 29 local and state governments with sanctuary policies, including San Francisco, Berkeley and Contra Costa County, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement or forfeit some federal grants  despite federal court rulings that such demands are unenforceable.

The order by Attorney General Jeff Sessions was the latest round in a running battle between the administration and more than 300 cities and counties nationwide, along with California and several other states, over laws and policies that limit their cooperation with federal immigration agents.

In April, a federal judge in San Francisco barred President Trump from enforcing an order that, on its face, would have withdrawn all federal funds from local and state governments with any type of sanctuary policy.

Sessions then narrowed the order to apply only to a specific federal grant for law enforcement programs, which Congress has approved for recipients that comply with a particular immigration law. That law requires local governments to allow police to inform federal agents of the immigration status of inmates in their custody.

Sessions, however, contends that the law also requires local governments to give immigration agents full access to their jails and to notify them 48 hours before releasing an undocumented immigrant from jail if federal officials have given notice that they want to take that immigrant into custody. He told the state and local governments Wednesday they have until Dec. 8 to demonstrate that their policies comply.

Jurisdictions that adopt so-called sanctuary policies also adopt the view that the protection of criminal aliens is more important than the protection of law-abiding citizens and of the rule of law, Sessions said in a statement.

But a federal judge in Chicago ruled in September that Sessions was trying to expand the law by attaching conditions that Congress had not approved. On Wednesday, a federal judge in Philadelphia reached a similar conclusion in rejecting the Justice Departments attempt to withhold the federal funding from Philadelphia, subject of an earlier order.

Local targets of Wednesdays order include San Francisco, Berkeley, Fremont, and the counties of Contra Costa, Sonoma, Santa Clara and Monterey. San Francisco, which is due to receive $1.45 million from the disputed federal grant in the current fiscal year, and Santa Clara County already have asked a federal judge to declare Sessions proposed conditions unconstitutional.

San Francisco is in full compliance with federal immigration law, City Attorney Dennis Herrera said Wednesday, noting that the citys sanctuary ordinance does not prohibit its employees from sharing immigration information with federal agents.

This letter is yet another Trump administration ploy to try to coerce cities that make their own choices about what makes them safer into doing something that federal law does not require.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@egelko
A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back

By David Hallberg

Touchstone. 424 pp. $28

---

As falls from grace go, David Hallberg's was spectacular. Tall and elegant, with a swoop of blond hair and the haunted air of a Victorian poet, Hallberg was one of the world's greatest ballet stars. Fueled by an obsessive work ethic, he'd risen from a South Dakota boyhood to become the hot property of two elite companies at once: American Ballet Theatre, where he was a principal dancer, and Russia's Bolshoi Ballet, where, in 2011, he made headlines by becoming the first American invited to join its top rank.

A few years later, he vanished.

Ballet fans knew he'd suffered an injury and had moved to Australia, but no one knew when, or if, he'd return to the stage.

It turns out he was adrift in a sea of Carlton Draughts, and about as far from "Swan Lake's" Prince Siegfried as he could get. As Hallberg reveals in his candid and engrossing memoir, "A Body of Work," he effectively went into hiding on the other side of the globe. During more than a year of self-imposed exile in Melbourne, he spent hours on park benches, washing away the pain of a wrecked career with six-packs of beer.

The courtly perfectionist who'd dazzled audiences around the world was now "the stereotypical drunk," Hallberg writes. "The one whom everyone would fear and take pains to avoid."

His may seem an extreme reaction to a foot problem, which was the catalyst for Hallberg's drastic move and the depression that followed. But with a light touch, he leads the reader through his fanatical devotion to dance, how he came to be an adrenaline junkie hooked on performing and "the preparation, the buildup and that exhilarating, inescapable pressure."

Year after year, he jammed his calendar with commitments around the world in a constant quest for artistic challenge. Like many an athlete in his prime, Hallberg figured he was invincible. And he could always sleep on the plane.

So by the time we read about the excruciating mess he's made of his foot, exacerbated by botched surgery, it's easy to see his situation the way he did: The End of Life Itself.

Hallberg is not only a brilliant technician, he is also thoughtful and studious. When I've had occasion to interview him, and when I've watched him pick apart a role in rehearsal, his preference for honesty and clarity over showmanship has always been apparent. This is also true in his writing, which is clear and somewhat restrained, but tinged with feeling. His book is peppered with disclosures, many of them painful: the bullies; his first love; his snotty classmates during a year of study in Paris - and that one intimidating ballerina.

"I understood why Michele felt like a guinea pig," Hallberg writes of his frequent partner early in his career, former ABT principal Michele Wiles. He was still in the corps de ballet at the time, on a steep learning curve as a would-be prince. When it came to rehearsals of the bedroom pas de deux in the bodice-ripping ballet "Manon," ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie stepped in to lead Hallberg and Wiles through "Kissing 101."

Surely, it was just a little bit funny for these two nervous dancers to work out where the noses go, but Hallberg is sparing. "Eventually," he reports, "after weeks of laboriously ironing out the details of the intricate partnering, we were kissing as easily as we were turning and jumping." The hint of obligation there is a signal that perfecting the choreography of passion is one thing, but getting along in the studio is another.

Hallberg's richest account is of his long period of pain, when he vacated social media, shaved his head and devolved into a chain-smoking loner who slept till noon. But "A Body of Work" is not a story of self-sabotage or addiction recovery. It's about love - crazy, confusing love, an artist's obsessive love for his art: "a combination of duty and destiny," he calls it.

That combination carries a poignant undertone of loneliness: as a boy who danced, as a hyper-focused professional with little interest in anyone outside the rehearsal studio and as a guest star around the world. He was forever the outsider, especially in his glamorous new gig at the Bolshoi. Dance was his truest companion.

"Since childhood I have had an insatiable hunger for dance," he writes. "I cannot control it. It controls me." His first inspiration was Fred Astaire. Hallberg copied his tap moves in shoes with nickels taped to the soles. After a stint in "The Nutcracker," he switched to ballet.

If dance class was heaven, bullies made everything else hell. They called him a girl and an anti-gay slur, and a group once cornered him and poured a bottle of perfume on his head. "From that scarring moment on I built a shell around myself," he writes. Hallberg beautifully describes a middle-school romance, but he mentions no other lovers and few friends. Is that discretion, or a consequence of his shell? By the time he attained his goal of joining ABT, it was pretty thick.

"Do you ever get the feeling we are becoming less and less worthy of David Hallberg's time?" an ABT dancer quipped at the company's annual roast. Stung, Hallberg realized "that my drive had gotten in the way of basic human interaction. That was a personal turning point." Yet Hallberg reveals himself to be quite the opposite of his stuck-up reputation. He writes exhaustively about what he strove to improve, and he passes lightly over his successes. He never quotes from reviews - no mention of critical praise or fans or his (very funny) appearance on Stephen Colbert, or any other signifiers of his fame. He doesn't seem to see himself as special, but rather, as a half-decent instrument needing lots of tuning.

In fact, he writes, he was so over being cast as the prince. He'd find himself watching the clock during rehearsals, bored by interpreting the same few classics over and over.

Those doldrums ended with the "life-altering" Bolshoi invitation from Sergei Filin, the Moscow company's director. Just a year later, Filin would fall victim to a vicious acid attack, allegedly orchestrated by one of his dancers, which left him nearly blind. A horrified Hallberg learned of it while home in New York, recuperating from an injury.

That was the beginning of his slide, as the 30-year-old at the peak of his physical powers found it impossible to rest. "My addict self took over," he writes. "I didn't pay attention to anything except my desire to dance." He dove in too soon; within two months he'd flown more than 45,000 miles, and learned and performed four new productions. He wrote in his journal at the time: "My guiding principle has to be: Work hard. And then work f---ing harder."

It's an excellent motto, as long as you don't let it kill you. Hallberg's thoroughly enjoyable book is a splendid reminder of that. It proves the humble little point that a job well done is its own reward. Not that other rewards aren't nice, too. A glance at ABT's performance calendar and casting will tell you how Hallberg's story ends, at least for now. I hope he has many more chapters to come.
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For the readers in your life, books are the perfect gift. Let the editors of Book World make it easy for you with these picks.

"The Best American Comics 2017"

Ben Katchor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

"It's a great time to be an American cartoonist," artist Ben Katchor declares in the introduction of this rich and witty collection of the best comics of the year. The book includes work by such cartoonists as Ed Piskor, Bill Griffith, Laura PallMall and Gabrielle Bell. $16.19

"Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II"

Liza Mundy (Hachette Books)

The once-secret story of the American women whose code-breaking helped win World War II. Mundy skillfully interweaves the history of the war and the evolution of military intelligence with the lives of the women who were racing to decipher enemy messages, while dealing with sexism, romance and heartbreak at home. $16.80

"The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South"

Michael W. Twitty (Amistad)

Twitty, a culinary historian who is partial to dressing in the period attire of antebellum slaves and writes the blog Afroculinaria, chronicles his travels through the South, searching to understand himself through food and his family history. It's part memoir and part history of American slavery. $18.89

"The Essex Serpent"

Sarah Perry (Custom House)

When a wealthy young widow decides to take up paleontology and track down the fabled Flying Serpent of Essex, she excites fears and passions in a quaint English village. Though set in the late 1890s, this is a subtly modern novel about science and belief. $21.44

"Leonardo da Vinci"

Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster)

The Renaissance genius comes to life in this ambitious new study. Isaacson, who has written celebrated biographies of Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin and Steve Jobs, draws a vigorous, insightful portrait of the world's most famous portraitist and concludes with worthy lessons we can all learn from da Vinci. $21

"Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy"

Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant (Knopf)

The Facebook executive's deeply personal self-help book, written with organizational psychologist Adam Grant. illustrates that nothing can inoculate us against grief. But interspersed among devastating scenes about the death of her husband in 2015 are powerful strategies for coping when your world feels as if it's falling apart. $14.99

"The Photo Ark: One Man's Quest to Document the World's Animals"

Joel Sartore (National Geographic)

This stunningly illustrated book shows one man's race against time to record thousands of animal species around the world before environmental destruction snuffs many of them out forever. Sartore's arresting photos are accompanied by the words of wildlife writer Douglas Chadwick and a foreword by Harrison Ford. $23.79

"Saints for All Occasions"

J. Courtney Sullivan (Knopf)

In this quiet masterpiece, we follow the lives of two Irish sisters who arrive in Boston in the 1950s. One starts a family, while the other retreats to a convent, but neither finds what she expected. Sullivan's story draws us into the essential qualities of motherhood and the compensations of faith. $16.13

"The Vietnam War: An Intimate History"

Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns (Knopf)

This companion to Ken Burns' TV documentary captures the war's ambiguities through the varied experiences of ordinary men and women whose lives were shaped by the conflict. The volume includes many classic photos, but it also features hundreds of images likely to be unfamiliar even to experts on the war. $35.90

"We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy"

Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World)

A collection of essays that Coates published during the Obama years, including "Fear of a Black President" and "The Case for Reparations." Interspersed among these essays are personal reflections that provide the story of a writer at work, with all the fears, influences and insights that the craft demands. $16.80

"The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis -- and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance"

Ben Sasse (St. Martin's Press)

A Republican senator from Nebraska warns that American culture is producing a generation of ignorant, passive young adults who don't read, have no grasp of civics and don't embrace hard work because their meek helicopter parents have waited on the little darlings for far too long. $17.67

"Conscience of a Conservative: A Rejection of Destructive Politics and a Return to Principle"

Jeff Flake (Random House)

In a stinging anti-Trump polemic, the Republican senator from Arizona explains how the conservative movement in America has gone awry. As future generations study this tumultuous time, "Conscience of a Conservative" -- in many ways a sequel to Goldwater's 1960 book of the same title -- will be an important data point. $17.51

"What Happened"

Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon and Schuster)

In this candid memoir, Hillary Rodham Clinton opens up about her failed campaign for the presidency, veering between regret and righteous anger. She writes of her disappointment -- with herself and with the media and other players. It's a raw and bracing book, a guide to our political arena. $17.82

"The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"

Jeremi Suri (Basic Books)

Historian Jeremi Suri makes a compelling case that the Oval Office has devolved into something that dooms even talented leaders to failure: The occupants have acquired ever more power, their ambitions have soared to absurd heights -- and the combination has made it impossible to satisfy the electorate. $18
WASHINGTON - The Smithsonian's third Kickstarter campaign to fund an Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap raised $368,841, blowing past its original $250,000 goal.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and the National Museum of African American History and Culture collaborated on the month-long campaign, which launched Oct. 17 and ended Thursday. It hit its all-or-nothing goal Nov 8.

The money will be used to create a 300-page book and nine-CD set chronicling the history of an American art form, its evolution and its influence around the world. The set will be released in December 2018.

In its first Kickstarter, the National Air and Space Museum raised $719,779 from 9,477 backers to restore and display the Apollo spacesuits worn by Neil Armstrong and Alan Shepard. The National Museum of American History collected $349,036 from 6,451 backers through the second attempt.

The third Kickstarter attracted fewer backers than the first two, but its average gift was $131, larger than the average gift of $76 made to the Apollo space suit campaign and the $54 average gift for the preservation of the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz."

More than half of the 2,804 backers contributed at least $100 to receive a copy of the Boxed Set and a special remix, a $151 value, according to the website. Those gifts are not tax deductible since the value of the reward exceeds the donation.

Officials offered the anthology at cost to attract fans to the project early and allow it to go into production, a spokesman said. The sale price has not bee determined, he said.
It has been more than 27 years since 'Home Alone' debuted on Nov. 16, 1990.

The movie, which spawned a few sequels, quickly became a holiday favorite and answered the age-old question of what would you do if you got left, well, home alone.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth from left) at the signing ceremony of ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (Photo VNA)



The PM got involved in nearly 30 bilateral and multilateral activities while attending the summit and relevant events from November 12th-14th. His participation demonstrated Vietnams active and responsible contributions to building an ASEAN of peace, stability and self-reliance and a region open to extra-bloc countries.

On November 14th, PM Phuc and leaders from other ASEAN countries joined the signing of ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

He also engaged in discussions of measures to implement more effectively the ASEAN Community Vision through 2025 and improve the blocs operational efficiency as well as exchanged regional and international issues.

Speaking at meetings, PM Phuc urged ASEAN to pay more attention to the benefits of people and the building of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and development of enterprises through increasing intra-bloc economic links and mutual assistance.

He suggested promoting the central role and position of the bloc in the international arena and striving for regional peace, security and prosperity.

The PM affirmed Vietnams determination and commitment to join hands with other members to build a strong, self-reliant and people-centred community.

He also shared Vietnams stance in regional and international issues of mutual concerns, including the recent developments in the East Sea.

He said documents adopted at this years summit must fully reflect principles and view-points as stipulated in the Joint Communique of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which are ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; addressing disputes via peaceful measures in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS); respecting legal and diplomatic processes; and implementing comprehensively and seriously the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The PM welcomed ASEANs and Chinas adoption of a framework for the Code of Conduct in the East Sea and stressed the need to promote negotiations for a feasible and legally-binding COC.

Vietnam hopes ASEAN partner countries will continue contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea in the spirit of respecting international law, including the UNCLOS 1982, he said.

On the occasion, the PM met with his Cambodian and Lao counterparts, held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and hosted UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and President of the European Council Donald Tusk, to exchange measures to step up bilateral cooperation./.
Ms. Mushifah Jusuf Kalla, spouse of Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla, visited the Vietnamese Embassy's booth (photo: VNA) The bazaar has nearly 60 booths of embassies in Jakarta, and more than 200 booths of Indonesian businesses.

In addition, there are some WIC booths displaying items of members, friends and gifts from sponsors.

For many years, the bazaar has been welcomed by the foreigner community in Jakarta and Indonesian people, because it is an opportunity to find special, unique and interesting gifts for their friends and families.

Embassies' booths all introduce their unique national products such as traditional kimono costume of Japan, kimchi of the Republic of Korea, Batik clothing of Indonesia, cheese products of the Netherlands, and chocolates of Switzerland.

The booth of the Vietnamese Embassy displayed traditional handicraft products such as souvenirs, lacquer paintings, ceramic statues in traditional costumes of Vietnams three regions, and jewelry made of wood and stone.

Especially, Vietnams coffee is bought by many customers at the annual bazaars.

Ms. Mushifah Jusuf Kalla, spouse of Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla, visited the Vietnamese Embassy's booth and enjoyed the variety of beautiful souvenirs.

Besides, many other goods are sold such as clothing, footwear, bags, jewelry, housewares, pottery, picture frames, greeting cards, Christmas decorations, toys and food products.

At the end of the bazaar, 40% of the profits will be used to support social welfare projects in the local community.

This year, the fund will support 15 projects, including supporting schools for poor children, orphans and street children; assisting material facility for centres taking care of the elderly and psychiatric patients.

Usually, WIC members voluntarily teach English and handicrafts for schools. The WIC Scholarship Fund also supports humanitarian projects in Jakarta.

During the bazaar, the visitors enjoyed a special artistic and cultural program introducing the unique culture of Indonesias North Kalimantan and artistic programs of embassies./.

WIC was founded in 1950 in order to help improve the social life in Indonesia, promote the development of education and culture.

The motto of WIC is, through activities, to promote the friendship among women with different nationalities in Indonesia.
University of Houston system schools are evaluating their responses to Hurricane Harvey  and determining how they can better prepare for the next storm.

Nearly 3 feet of floodwater entered the University of Houston-Downtowns police dispatch center during Hurricane Harvey, and administrators now say the centers location must change. The University of Houston  which saw one dormitory flood in the storm  says it needs to better plan for evacuations of campus residence halls.

And the University of Houston-Victoria, who needed to evacuate its campus during Harvey, now says it needs an emergency shelter for students and memorandums of understanding with other schools to share housing during emergencies.

UH regents plan to discuss the four system universities responses to Harvey at a board meeting Thursday. Theyll cover university assessments of what worked and what didnt and evaluate damage to facilities.

UH, for example, says it needs more high-water vehicles, which were used to evacuate Bayou Oaks residence hall as floodwaters rose. But the move to prepare two residence halls for UH-Victoria and evacuated UH residents was successful.

When the time came that the facilities were needed, the document reads, they were ready to receive the students.

UH-Downtown required sheetrock repairs as significant flooding affected their gymnasium floors and utility plant equipment, and UH-Victoria saw major wind and water damage to campus dormitories, which are now back in service. The University of Houston Clear Lake saw minor flooding to a student services building.

UH-Victoria reopened on Sept. 11, while the other three universities reopened Sept. 5.

HoustonChronicle.com: Higher education facing challenges left by Harvey

Communication to faculty, students and staff went smoothly across the four schools, the universities said.

University of Texas System Regents saw a presentation at their board meeting last week on UTs preparations before the storm. Damage was mitigated by storm doors, floodwalls and submarine glass added after past hurricanes and storms, officials said.

UH regents will also discuss a potential medical school, the university's progress toward raising graduation rates and UH's capital campaign.

Lindsay Ellis writes about higher education for the Chronicle. You can follow her on Twitter and send her tips at lindsay.ellis@chron.com.
When you're obsessed, as I have been, with a series of unsolved murders from the 1970s, what you most desire is to find a box of evidence stored somewhere that, against all odds, contains the killer's DNA.

Ultimately, that Don Quixote-esque quest for proof could determine whether a creepy Texas prisoner and convicted killer, Edward Harold Bell, truly did murder 11 girls in the Houston and Galveston area in the 1970s.

Bell, who is in prison for another homicide, has confessed to me in prison interviews and follow-up letters to being the serial killer of the girls he calls "The Eleven who went to Heaven." But is he crazy? Or truly a serial killer?

Now Playing: Edward Harold Bell has confessed to the murder of 11 girls in the Houston region in the '70s. But we need evidence to determine whether he's telling the truth. Video: A&E

Retired homicide detective Fred Paige and I have spent years trying to solve the murders of these girls. The quest for evidence and new witnesses that I have shared with Paige is the focus of a documentary on the unsolved serial killings on A&E, "The Eleven."

WATCH What: Final episode of "The Eleven" When: Thursday on A & E., 9 p.m. CST See More Collapse

Bell's nearly 80 and will likely die in prison. But we are doing this work because we care about the girls  and their families. Paige has focused on trying to find evidence that might still be stored in Galveston somewhere. There could still be bullets, keys, body samples, ropes and other items there or in Harris or in Brazoria Counties, since other agencies worked these cases, too.

THE ELEVEN: In 1974, two Dickinson girls went missing. Why didn't police investigate?

Retired or senior police officers, Bell's former neighbors and co-workers or the girls' former neighbors and friends all might remember something that could lead to a break through. Maybe that's you?

Six of the 11 girls slain in the Houston-Galveston area from 1971 to 1977 were found months or years after they disappeared  when only bones or teeth could be recovered. But intriguing items were found near some bodies, old records show. A few were found very quickly.

Brenda Jones, 14, went missing after visiting her aunt at Jennie Sealy hospital in Galveston Island in July 1971. Her body was found just hours later  floating in the open water just off the Pelican Island bridge.

Water hurts the chances of recovering DNA evidence from a killer. Yet Paige was able to work with a current Galveston police officer to locate and arrange to test laces used to strangle Brenda. Those shoelaces remained stored in Galveston more than 40 years later.

I have hoped that samples taken at another body recovery scene  a rice canal in Brazoria County  might help solve the murder of Kimberly Pitchford, a sophomore at Frank Dobie High School who disappeared in Jan. 1973. Her body was found only days after the 16-year-old Houstonian vanished. Police reports confirm samples were taken.

courtesy

But it's been hard to track down investigators and learn where evidence could still be stored. Kim's missing person and murder case was worked at different times by the Houston police department, Brazoria County sheriff's office, Friendswood police department and the Harris County medical examiner's office.

Kim disappeared after attending the very first session of her driver's ed classes at the original location of Dobie on 11111 Beamer Rd.(now Beverly Hills Intermediate School, ) After class ended, she apparently crossed the street to a convenience store with a payphone to call her mother. (The payphone was located at the site of Pho Binh, now one of the most highly rated pho restaurants.)

The call never came. And Kim disappeared.

Her father, mother and sisters were frantic. Kim's sister, Candace, who still lives in Houston, drove around and searched with her dad that first night.They feared she might have tried to walk home and been hurt. The truth was worse.

"Her driver's ed class was on a Wednesday, and they found her on a Friday," Candace recalled.

Witnesses gave police slightly different accounts of what happened when the class ended. A new class, the kids did not yet know each other. One thought Kim might have taken a ride from someone in a red Volkswagen.

Bell told me he offered Kim a ride near or at a mall  Gulfgate or Almeda  but has provided scant details.

A close friend of Kim's recently confided that she and Kim had been bothered several times before Kim's murder by a flasher. That man had followed them in their Southbelt neighborhood and along the feeder road on southbound I-45.

Do other witnesses remember a stalker in the days or weeks before Kim disappeared in Jan. 1973? Did anyone file police reports? And is there anything left from samples taken by Brazoria County sheriff's investigators or by Harris County medical examiner officials in this case?

And while we're talking about evidence for "The Eleven"  there's a lost grave in Houston we'd also like to find. And we've been searching hard for the travel trailer that Bell bought in Dickinson in 1974 that resembled a railroad caboose. The "caboose" was parked suspiciously near five of the abduction sites and body recovery scenes.

It was last seen on a hunting lease near Brackettville.

Texans with long memories might be able to help determine the answers.

Bookmark Gray Matters. It's on a Don Quixote-esque quest for proof.
LOS ANGELES  Authorities confirmed Wednesday that mass murderer Charles Manson is back in a Bakersfield hospital, though the severity of his condition is unclear.



Kern County Sheriff's Lt. Bill Smallwood confirms that Manson is at a local hospital but could not say more.



In January, Manson, 82, was rushed to Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield for what authorities at the time would describe only as a serious medical problem.



Manson and members of his "family" of followers were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate and six other people during a bloody rampage in the Los Angeles area in August 1969. Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war he dubbed "Helter Skelter," taken from the Beatles song of the same name.





Now Playing: Dianne Lake, the youngest member of the notorious Manson Family, describes her time living with Charles Manson Video: People

Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, was 8-months' pregnant when she was killed at her hilltop home in Benedict Canyon on Aug. 9, 1969. Four others were stabbed and shot to death the same night: Jay Sebring, 35; Voytek Frykowski, 32; Abigail Folger, 25, a coffee heiress; and Steven Parent, 18, a friend of Tate's caretaker. The word "pig" was written on the front door in blood.



The next night, Manson rode with his followers to the Los Feliz home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, then left three members to kill the couple.



Manson was initially sentenced to death. But a 1972 ruling by the California Supreme Court found the state's death penalty law at the time unconstitutional, and his sentenced was changed to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He has been denied parole 12 times.



During his four decades of incarceration, Manson has been anything but a model prisoner. Among other things, Manson has been cited for assault, repeated possession of a weapon, threatening staff and possessing a cellphone, Thornton said this week.



___

(c)2017 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BEIJING - China said on Thursday it will stick by its "freeze-for-freeze" plan to de-escalate tensions in the Korean Peninsula, contradicting a suggestion by President Trump that it had turned against it.

The proposal calls for North Korea to freeze its missile and nuclear tests in return for the United States and South Korea suspending their annual joint military exercises. On Wednesday, Trump suggested Chinese President Xi Jinping had acknowledged to him that the plan was a non-starter.

The apparent Chinese contradiction of Trump's statement also highlights the lack of coherent policy put forward by the United States to actually usher North Korea along the path of denuclearization.

"President Xi recognizes that a nuclear North Korea is a grave threat to China, and we agreed that we would not accept a so-called 'freeze for freeze' agreement like those that have consistently failed in the past," Trump said on Wednesday in a briefing on his just-concluded trip to Asia.

But a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing insisted that dialogue was the only solution, and that its proposal was still on the table.

"Suspension-for-suspension is the most realistic, viable and reasonable solution in the current situation," Geng Shuang told a regular news conference. "I stress that it's only the first step, not the end."

The plan has been rejected by Washington for a number of reasons, experts said: partly because it would undermine South Korea's defenses at a time when the threat is higher than ever, and potentially spook a key ally, partly because a similar idea was tried in the early 1990s and failed, and partly because it implies some kind of moral equivalence between the actions of the United States and those of North Korea.

The proposal also lets China off the hook, and plays into its attempts to portray the issue as solely a problem between headstrong governments in Washington and Pyongyang. Experts say the risks of backtracking are also asymmetrical: the United States might cancel its annual military exercises, but if North Korea reneged on its side of the deal in subsequent weeks or months, those exercises would be very hard to reschedule.

China is the main economic backer of the North Korean regime, accounting for more than 80 percent of its official foreign trade.

It says it is strictly implementing sanctions agreed by the United Nations Security Council, but experts say it is unwilling to go further, because it refuses to take action that might destabilize or bring down the regime, or simply turn a nuclear-armed Pyongyang into an enemy of Beijing.

In his comments on Wednesday, Trump also claimed his Asia trip had forged new unity over the issue of North Korea's denuclearization, and said Xi had agreed "to use his great economic influence over the regime to achieve our common goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula."

James Acton, co-director, nuclear policy program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the Trump administration deserved credit for raising the profile and urgency of the issue, and for pushing China to impose stricter sanctions than in the past.

But he said there was a lack of unity and clarity coming from the U.S. administration itself, over what actions from North Korea might open the door to negotiations, what an acceptable path was to de-escalation, and even whether its ultimate goal was still regime change.

"One question is what would the preconditions be for the U.S. to sit down with North Korea to negotiate," he said. "We've had at least three different answers to that question in the past week or two."

In Seoul, Trump said the path to a better future begins with "a stop to your development of ballistic missiles, and complete, verifiable, and total denuclearization."

In Tokyo, he said that if North Korea returned Japanese citizens who it had abducted, that could be a "tremendous signal" and would be the start of something.

But the U.S. envoy for North Korea, Joseph Yun, is also reported to have proposed at the end of October that if North Korea announced and carried out a halt on its nuclear and missile tests for 60 days, that would be a sign that the United States should restart a dialogue.

Nor does the United States appear to have a proposal to counter China's freeze-for-freeze idea to de-escalate tensions, Acton said. It is unrealistic, he said, to expect agreement on denuclearization in a first round of talks, so interim steps to build confidence are essential.

"If you accept that premise, then what kind of interim outcome are we going to accept where we give North Korea some form of sanctions relief in return for it doing something down that path of denuclearization?" he asked, adding the United States does not appear to have an answer to that question.

"The whole purpose of sanctions is you lift them if the other side does what you want them to do," he added. "The U.S. is very good at imposing sanctions, it's not so good at knowing the circumstances under which it will lift them."

On Wednesday China announced it was sending a special envoy to North Korea to brief Pyongyang on its recently concluded Communist Party Congress, and to talk about other issues of mutual concern, reopening a channel of communication to the isolated regime.

Yanmei Xie, an expert on China and North Korea at Gavekal Dragonomics, said China's diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang "appears to give the lie" to Trump's assertion that he had convinced Xi to use his influence to press Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons.

On his tour of Asia, she said, Trump had toned down his belligerent rhetoric and spoke in more measured tones about North Korea, pledging for example to use "all available tools short of military action."

"With unilateral U.S. military action off the table as too risky, and little or no prospect China will apply severe economic sanctions, the U.S. administration has little option to accept that it will have to live with a nuclear North Korea," she wrote in a client note.

"For Washington that is hardly an ideal outcome, but on the positive side it means the tail risk of a war on the Korean Peninsula is receding."
Rancho Tehama Reserve

The wife of a gunman who went on a shooting rampage in a Northern California town was found dead inside their home, authorities announced Wednesday, raising the death toll from the attack to five.

Investigators discovered the body of Kevin Janson Neal's wife hidden under the floor with several gunshot wounds. They believe her slaying was the start of the rampage, said Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston.

Neal shot and killed four other people and wounded 10 at different locations around the rural community of Rancho Tehama Reserve. Police later shot and killed him.

At the time of the attack, the gunman was out on bail after he was charged with stabbing a neighbor. Court records also show that Neal was barred in February from having guns after the assault.

Neighbors had complained about him firing hundreds of rounds from his house, and the assistant sheriff acknowledged officers had visited the home on several occasions.

"Every time we responded, we would try to make contact with Mr. Neal," Johnston said. "He was not law enforcement friendly. He would not come to the door. His house was arranged in a manner where we couldn't detect him being there.

"We can't anticipate what people are going to do. We don't have a crystal ball," Johnston said.

Yet Neal was free and able to use a semiautomatic rifle and two handguns Tuesday to shoot 14 people, including at an elementary school, before he died in the shootout with police.

Court records show that Neal surrendered his weapons as required by law in February, but Johnston said they recovered two illegally made semiautomatic rifles and two handguns, registered in someone else's name.

At a news conference Wednesday, Johnston said that Neal's rampage lasted 25 minutes, correcting an earlier estimate.

Neal shot two of his neighbors in an act of revenge before he went looking for random victims.

Authorities believe his wife was killed Monday.

"We are confident that he murdered her," Johnston said.

Cristal Caravez and her father live across a ravine from the roadway where the gunman and his first victims lived.

She said they and others heard constant gunfire from the area of the Neal's house, but couldn't say for sure it was him firing.

"You could hear the yelling. He'd go off the hinges," she said. The shooting "would be during the day, during the night, I mean, it didn't matter."

She and her father, who is president of the community's homeowners' association, said neighbors would complain to the sheriff's department, which referred the complaints back to the homeowners' association.

"The sheriff wouldn't do anything about it," Juan Caravez said.

The gunman's sister, Sheridan Orr, said her brother had struggled with mental illness throughout his life and at times had a violent temper.

She said Neal had "no business" owning firearms.

The shooter was facing charges of assaulting one of the feuding neighbors in January and she had a restraining order against him, Johnston said.

Neal's mother said that her son, who was a marijuana grower, was in a dispute with neighbors he believed were cooking methamphetamine.

The mother, who spoke on condition she be named only as Anne because she fears for her safety, lives in Raleigh, N.C., where she raised Neal. She said she posted his $160,000 bail and spent $10,000 on a lawyer after he was arrested in January for stabbing a neighbor. Neal's mother said the neighbor was slightly cut after Neal grabbed a steak knife out of the hand of the neighbor who was threatening him with it.

She wept as she told The Associated Press she spoke to Neal on the phone on Monday.

"Mom it's all over now," she said he told her. "I have done everything I could do and I am fighting against everyone who lives in this area."

She said Neal apologized to her during their conversation, she thought for all the money she had spent on him, saying he was "on a cliff" and the people around him were trying to "execute" him.

"I think the motive of getting even with his neighbors and when it went that far  he just went on a rampage," Johnston said.

Police said surveillance video shows the shooter unsuccessfully trying to enter a nearby elementary school after staff members locked the outside doors.
While the titans of the conservative media are tiptoeing uncomfortably away from Roy Moore's Senate candidacy, Breitbart News is holding fast, sticking with the Alabama Republican even as the allegations against him mount.

Fox News' Sean Hannity - once a staunch Moore supporter - began to head for the exit on the former judge Tuesday night, saying on his program that Moore had 24 hours to reconcile "inconsistencies" in his account of dating teenage girls in the 1970s when Moore was in his 30s. Rush Limbaugh began backing away, too ("Everybody thinks the creep did the deed"), as did the Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial page ("The Roy Moore Mess.")

The Drudge Report put a dagger firmly into Moore on Wednesday; its lead headline referred to him as "Judge Whore."

That left Breitbart as the odd man out, or possibly still in, in its support of Moore's troubled candidacy among the most influential organs of the right.

The website overseen by Stephen K. Bannon, President Donald Trump's former chief strategist, has remained steadfast even as more allegations against Moore have emerged since last Thursday, when The Washington Post first reported that Moore had a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl in the late 1970s and dated three other teenagers. A fifth accuser, Beverly Young Nelson, said on Monday that Moore had assaulted her when she was 16 in late 1977. Moore has denied the accusations.

Bannon and Breitbart have long backed Moore as the anti-establishment Republican candidate, cheering him to victory in the Republican primary over Trump's preferred candidate, Luther Strange. And it has been fierce in its defense of his character; the site went so far as to post a story critical of The Post's story before the newspaper had even published its account last week.

As late as Wednesday afternoon, Breitbart was still keeping up the fight for Moore. A prominent headline on the site read, "Alabama Pastor Rips Republicans for Abandoning Roy Moore - 'What a Bunch of Sissies.' "

"This is just another desperate attempt by [Senate majority leader] Mitch McConnell to keep power, and it's not going to work," Bannon said on his Sirius XM radio program on Monday, according to a transcript by the Daily Beast. "You know, people in Alabama see through this. The good folks of Alabama are going to be able to weigh and measure this. ... This is an orchestrated hit from the Uniparty."

But even Breitbart was showing signs that its enthusiasm is wavering. The site sent two reporters to Alabama and spent several days trying to discredit The Post's reporting, but it hasn't been able to come up with much to blunt the basic narrative.

After articles defending Moore dominated the site for days, Breitbart featured just one headline about him - the item about the Alabama pastor - atop its home page at midday Wednesday.

"Steve is stuck between a rock and a hard place," said Kurt Bardella, a former Breitbart spokesman. "If he stands by him, he'll be completely alone and he'll be known as the guy who stood by a child molester. Going forward, Bannon's endorsement will be about as useful as David Duke's with that kind of stigma attached to it."

Bardella doesn't think Breitbart or Bannon will abandon Moore, but, he said, their loyalty will be costly. Bannon's ambitions for the 2018 midterms were dependent on momentum for Moore and demonstrating that he could find and recruit viable candidates, he said.

"Now," said Bardella, "that rationale has been obliterated. ... Bottom line, this debacle is devastating to Brand Bannon."

Breitbart's editor, Alex Marlow, did not respond to requests for comment.

Hannity's apparent change of heart comes amid an advertiser boycott that picked up some momentum on Monday. On Tuesday - following the departure of such brands as Volvo and Keurig coffeemakers as sponsors of his show - Hannity tempered his comments.

"For me, the judge has 24 hours," he said Tuesday. "He must immediately and fully come up with a satisfactory explanation for your inconsistencies," referring to his answers about dating girls in his 30s. "You must remove any doubt. If he can't do that, then Judge Moore needs to get out of this race."

Hannity is "attempting a rapid pullback" after voicing supporting for Moore in the primary and afterward, said Will Sommer, who tracks conservative media through his newsletter, Right Richter. "I think we're seeing him try to course correct after getting a little over his skis," as he did in promoting discredited theories about the killing of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich in May. (Neither Hannity nor Fox has corrected its reporting of that story, which spurred a short-lived advertiser pullout as well.)

Fox also did not respond to a request for comment.

Sommer pointed out that conservative outlets that have never liked Trump - including the National Review, Weekly Standard and Redstate - weren't supportive of Moore to begin with and can easily distance themselves from him now. They see Moore "as an aberration from their preferred brand of conservatism anyway, so it's not worth the effort to expend their reputations trying to save him," he said.

With the big guns on the right silenced or holding further fire, the most loyal megaphones for Moore have been the fringes of right-wing internet, according to Sommer. Sites such as the conspiratorial Gateway Pundit haven't wavered, and indeed have become repositories of Moore "trutherism," he said.

Among the stories trumpeted by Gateway Pundit: the false claim that The Post was paying people to accuse Moore; a handwriting expert's analysis questioning whether Moore signed Beverly Young Nelson's high school yearbook; and video of a body-language expert disputing the truthfulness of one of Moore's accusers.
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
While the rest of Goose Island State Park remains closed to visitors as it has been since the final days of August, the boat ramp in the popular bayside state park near Rockport will reopen to the public this Saturday for the first time in almost three months.

This follows the recent reopening of the boat ramp at the Birch Creek Unit of Lake Somerville State Park near Brenham.

The gates of Brazos Bend State Park, one of the most visited of Texas' 95 or so state park units and a jewel of the parks system, swung open this past week, too, although some parts of the park along the Brazos River in Fort Bend County remain closed to the public.

The same goes for Village Creek State Park near Beaumont, where visitors recently were cleared to use one of the camping areas but are not allowed to hike or mountain-bike the park's trails, and access to the park's namesake stream for fishing, swimming, launching kayaks or canoes remains prohibited.

Twelve weeks after Hurricane Harvey slammed into the middle Texas coast, then spent the next week careening around the state's middle and upper coast dropping record rains and causing devastation on an unprecedented scale, the damage and costs of the storm to Texas' state park system, other facilities operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the state's outdoor recreation are slowly but persistently being measured and addressed. Those effects still are very much felt, and they will be for a long time.

That was the gist of briefings TPWD staff offered earlier this month to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The briefing laid out some of the impacts the storm had on agency properties, staff and the hunters, anglers, boaters, campers, hikers, birders and other outdoor recreation in the state.

Hardest hit

While more than 40 TPWD facilities were damaged by the storm, 30 sites - 16 state parks, five wildlife management areas, eight coastal fisheries stations and a TPWD regional office - were hardest hit.

Many of those sites were immediately closed to the public. Most have since reopened, but often with limited use and many with areas from which visitors are restricted.

Three state parks - Goose Island, Mustang Island and Stephen F. Austin - remain closed to public use and could remain so for weeks if not months. Updates on the status of all state parks is available on the agency's website, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/

While more than a dozen state parks were closed in the wake of Harvey, dozens remained open. And those parks were opened for use by storm evacuees at no cost to the displaced Texans. Texas state parks housed 8,203 evacuees who spent a total of 9,006 nights in the parks, Carter Smith, TPWD executive director, told the commission. The agency waived $388,606 in park entry and use fees, he said.

Because of damages and unsafe conditions created by the storm, the agency cancelled 11 scheduled public hunts on five wildlife management areas. That affected 530 hunters who had previously drawn permits for the cancelled hunts and cost the agency an estimated $17,000 in revenue.

Adding up the damage

But that lost revenue from public hunt fees, which is plowed back into the agency's wildlife management programs, pales against the tens of millions in other storm-related losses to the agency.

Mike Jensen, director of TPWD's administrative resources division, told the commission the agency is still assessing damages to parks and other agency sites but preliminary estimates place damage to buildings and other infrastructure at $32 million to $48 million. Other losses - lost park revenue, loss of tools, equipment, furniture, etc. - are estimated at $7 million to $9 million.

The agency also has seen a significant lag in revenue generated by sale of hunting and fishing licenses in the wake of the hurricane. That license revenue is crucial to funding the state's wildlife and fisheries programs.

Hurricane Harvey hit at the start of the annual hunting/fishing license year, which begins Sept. 1. Those licenses annually generate about $110 million, with as much as 40-45 percent of those purchases coming in September.

This year, license sales during the first week or so after the storm were down as much as 20 percent from the previous year, Jensen said. License sales recovered somewhat in October and, as of early Novembers, were down "only" about 10 percent.

The as much as $48 million in damage to infrastructure puts "extreme strain" on the agency's budget, Jensen told the commission. TPWD already faces a backlog of tens of millions of dollars in deferred maintenance to state parks and other agency sites, with much of that a result of a series of other natural disasters - wildfires in 2011 and flooding in 2015 and 2016 - that damaged more than a score of parks and wildlife management areas.

While the Texas Legislature has in its past two sessions increased the amount of park funding by dedicating more of state sales tax revenue generated by sale of sporting goods to the park system, that funding falls far short of what is needed to simply catch up to the parks' maintenance backlog, much less fund addressing losses caused by Harvey.

The agency plans to step back and re-prioritize funding as well as take a hard look at how and what the agency builds in flood-prone areas, agency staff said.

TPWD's law enforcement division also took a huge economic hit from the storm. The agency's game wardens played a huge role in search and rescue operations and other public safety duties during and following the storm. A total of 469 Texas game wardens worked during the storm and its aftermath, deploying in motor vehicles, boats and aircraft. Those wardens, Smith said, effected 12,697 water-based rescues.

Early estimates of direct costs of the that emergency response are $13.5 million to $16.1 million, Smith told the commission. Much of that cost is eligible to be reimbursed to the state through federal disaster aid programs.

Getting that reimbursement, like addressing and repairing the considerable damage Harvey did to the state's parks and wildlife management areas, won't happen overnight. But, as seen with the incremental reopening of parks such as Brazos Bend and boat ramps at places such as Goose Island and Lake Somerville, it is happening.

Figuring out how to pay for those repairs and rehabilitation promises to be a longer slog.
As Xi Jinping visited Zimbabwe during a tour of Africa in 2015, Robert Mugabe offered the Chinese president a warm welcome and portrayed the two nations as deep allies. "China is Zimbabwe's all-weather friend," the Zimbabwean president told reporters.

Now, a little less than two years after that visit, the 93-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 40 years, is under house arrest in the capital as his own military patrols the streets and rumors circulate that Beijing may have given coup plotters its blessing.

Less than two weeks before political turmoil hit Harare, Zimbabwean army chief Constantino Chiwenga visited Beijing for a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan. China's Foreign Ministry has said the Nov. 5 meeting was a "normal military exchange as agreed by the two countries," but there is speculation that Chiwenga, now a leading figure in the suspected coup, was seeking China's support for a move against Mugabe.

Some observers say it is unlikely that Beijing would directly support regime change in a foreign nation. Todd Moss, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and former deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, said he could not think of an incident where China had encouraged a change in government in Africa. "That's not the way they operate," Moss said.

But whether they're a typical conspiracy theory or not, the rumors underline an element of Zimbabwe's crisis. This is a situation where Beijing is viewed as a player - and Washington is not.

China's links to Zimbabwe are long-standing. During his war against the white-dominated Rhodesian government, then-rebel leader Mugabe turned to Beijing for support after his attempts to get Soviet backing for his Zimbabwe African National Union militant group failed. Beijing and Harare formally established diplomatic relations on the day of Zimbabwe's independence, April 18, 1980, with Mugabe making a visit to China the next year.

As Mugabe's international isolation grew over the years, it increasingly looked to China for help. In 2003, Zimbabwe launched its "Look East" policy that sought to find new international partners after relations with Europe soured. China soon came to dominate the policy. Between 2010 and 2015, China granted Zimbabwe over $1 billion in low-interest loans, and Zimbabwe reciprocated by making the Chinese yuan an official currency.

In return, Mugabe offered effusive personal praise for Xi. The former anti-colonial crusader stood up for the Chinese leader during the 2015 China-Africa summit in Johannesburg. "He is doing to us what we expected those who colonized us yesterday to do," Mugabe said after criticisms of Chinese investment in Africa. "We will say he is a God-sent person."

The Chinese were portrayed as "potential saviors" in Zimbabwe, Moss said. "There were big promises of how the Chinese were going to turn Zimbabwe's economy around," he said. Ultimately, that didn't happen, and part of the problem may have been Mugabe himself.

Yun Sun, an expert on Chinese funding at the Stimson Center in Washington, said Mugabe's preferences for nationalization and indigenization in his economic policies, plus his domestic political turmoil, had made China's large investment in Zimbabwe look risky and led to "complaints and grievances" in Beijing. China wouldn't actively support a plot to get rid of Mugabe, Sun said, "but if there is a domestic campaign to make him gone, China won't be cheering for him, either."

In official statements, China has offered little support for Mugabe. Speaking on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the relationship between Zimbabwe and China would not change due to the situation in the country, adding that Beijing hoped "that the situation in Zimbabwe will become stable and the issues will be resolved peacefully and appropriately."

Meanwhile, the op-ed in China's state-run Global Times newspaper offered a more positive view of the coup. "We have good reasons to believe that as Zimbabwe enters the post-Mugabe era, China will see an improved environment to cooperate with the country," wrote Wang Hongyi, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Friendly ties will embrace new development opportunities."

The positive comments from Beijing stand in contrast to a muted tone in Washington, perhaps reflecting the fact that State Department's top position for Africa, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, is vacant. "There is no political leader at the State Department on Africa policy who would drive an aggressive response here," Moss said. The United States had generally taken a wait-and-see approach to Mugabe, Moss said, and this is now an opportunity for Washington to push for human rights and democracy in Zimbabwe.

But the man most expected to become its next leader, former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is unlikely to address those issues. Once a close ally of Mugabe, Mnangawa was sanctioned by the United States in 2003 and described as one of several officials "who undermine democratic processes and institutions in Zimbabwe."

Such concerns are unlikely to worry China, however. "China has significant investment in and lending to Zimbabwe," said David Dollar, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who was the U.S. Treasury's economic and financial emissary to China between 2009 and 2013. "Its main interest is economic stability and reform."
Thomas Jefferson had a complicated relationship with the Bible.

By the time he was elected the nation's third president in 1801, the Founding Father had become a champion of separation of church and state. His Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, a precursor to First Amendment safeguards on religious freedom in the Constitution, passed the state's general assembly in January 1786. When campaigning for president, Jefferson was berated by his opponents for being "anti-Christian" and "an infidel." Once in office, Jefferson hosted what is believed to be the White House's first iftar - the sunset meal to break daily fasts during Ramadan - in 1805.

Jefferson kept his own religious views private. But he always wrestled with the veracity of the New Testament. That's when his penknife came in handy.

Jefferson believed that in order to glean the most from the New Testament, Jesus's moral teachings needed to be separated from the miracles in the Gospels that he found suspect. He ordered six volumes - in English, French, Latin and Greek - and took a blade to their thin pages, rearranging Jesus's teachings in chronological order and cutting out what he saw as embellishments that he didn't believe. He felt those core teachings provided "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man."

Jefferson pasted his preserved passages on blank sheets of paper and sent the scrapbook off to a book binder. In 1820, when Jefferson was 77 years old, the small, red volume of roughly 80 pages was complete.

Titled "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth," Jefferson leaned on its lessons in the last years of his life. Harry Rubenstein, a curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, described the book, known as the "Jefferson Bible," as well-worn and riddled with dog-eared pages.

"You have this question of, 'what is the new moral pinning for this republic?' " Rubenstein said. In his last years at Monticello, Jefferson sought to cut and paste an answer together.

Visitors to Washington's new Museum of the Bible, opening Nov. 18, will have to walk over to the American History Museum to see the Jefferson Bible. But the new museum includes an exhibit on the founder's views on religion and the Bible, which has long played in the lives of U.S. presidents. Nearly all have taken their oath of office with their hand on a Bible, and many quote passages from it in their inaugural addresses. Here are a few more notable stories about presidents and the Bible:

- John Quincy Adams, president of the American Bible Society, took the oath of office without one.

Adams was reared in a liberal strand of the Congregational Church. But like his father, President John Adams, he migrated over to a more conservative tradition and toward Unitarianism. Though his views on religion constantly evolved, he wrote of his "veneration" of the Bible. "So strong is my belief, that when duly read and meditated on, it is of all books in the world, that which contributes most to making men good, wise and happy."

While serving as secretary of state, Adams accepted the presidency of the American Bible Society. Yet upon his inauguration in 1825, Adams chose not to take the oath of office on a Bible, instead placing his hand on a U.S. law tome. He wanted to recognize the nation's legal distinction between church and state and show that he placed the law above religion. (Theodore Roosevelt also did not swear on a Bible at his first inauguration in 1901.)

- Abraham Lincoln grappled with his faith over slavery.

A promotional video for the Bible Museum shows a silhouette of Lincoln reading the Bible before the camera pans to a Civil War battle scene. During his years as a struggling Illinois politician, Lincoln had been attacked as a nonbeliever, which Lincoln disputed, saying he couldn't support a politician, "I knew to be an open enemy of, and scoffer at, religion."

At his inauguration in March 1861, Lincoln's family Bible was still en route from Springfield, Illinois, along with the rest of his belongings. So he borrowed a copy provided by a Supreme Court clerk. Upon giving the oath of office, Lincoln spoke of the nation's reliance on God, a theme he would reference again when the United States splintered during the Civil War. In one private writing known as the "Meditation on the Divine Will," Lincoln did not claim that God favored the Union cause but instead "wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end yet."

Just days after the Union victory at Antietam, Lincoln gathered his Cabinet to share that he had been debating with God over the issue of slavery and had made a vow that if the Confederates were driven back, "I would crown the result with the declaration of freedom for the slaves." The Emancipation Proclamation soon followed.

The Lincoln Bible survives as one of the most tangible examples of Lincoln's faith. Used at his first inaugural in 1861, the Lincoln Bible was not used by a president again until Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013. It was also used by President Donald Trump and is housed at the Library of Congress.

- Jimmy Carter, the first born-again president, used the Bible to inform his political agenda.

On his first day in office, Jimmy Carter met with his vice president, Walter Mondale. As Mondale would later tell the story, Carter surprised him by saying that one of his priorities would be to bring peace to the Middle East. The issue had not played a major role in Carter or Mondale's campaign, says Randall Balmer, a professor of religion at Dartmouth and the author of " God in the White House: How Faith Shaped the Presidency From John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush." Carter's reason for doing so, Balmer, said, "was quite clearly to bring peace to a land that was part of the Bible, the Holy Land."

Balmer described Carter as a president who uniquely "fashioned his life in accordance with biblical principles." While other presidents invoked Bible verses in speeches or "used the Bible as a prop," Balmer said, Carter's born-again, evangelical faith fully informed his presidential agenda. The timing of Carter's election was no coincidence either, he says. Rather, in the wake of Watergate and Nixon's resignation, voters urgently looked to their leaders as moral examples and keepers of biblical literacy.

"Before Nixon, those questions were simply not part of the political conversation," Balmer said. "Then we were faced with Nixon, and all of a sudden voters said, we need to have a moral compass, so let's begin asking those questions."
BEIRUT - Lebanon's absent prime minister has accepted an invitation for an official visit to France, French and Lebanese diplomats said Thursday, nearly two weeks after his abrupt resignation stirred rumors that he was being held captive in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met with Saad Hariri on Thursday in Riyadh and said that the prime minister would be traveling to Paris "soon." It was unclear whether Hariri would take his family on the trip.

The announcement added another layer of mystery to the circumstances of Hariri's shocking decision to quit his post earlier this month. His resignation - which he blamed on pressure from Iran and its Lebanese Shiite proxy, Hezbollah - stunned Lebanon and the wider region and raised fears the country would plunge into factional turmoil.

But Lebanese officials have said that Hariri, who is a dual Lebanese-Saudi citizen, had been forced to resign by Saudi authorities and was unable to move or speak freely from Riyadh. Lebanon's president, Michel Aoun, said Wednesday that Hariri was a "hostage," and that his government would not accept such an "attack on Lebanese sovereignty."

Later, Aoun told visiting politicians that he expected Hariri to arrive in Paris on Saturday, Lebanese media reported. The visit appeared aimed at defusing tensions and could pave the way for Hariri to officially submit his resignation in person in Beirut, officials said.

The flurry of diplomacy capped nearly two weeks of political chaos and fevered speculation over Hariri's fate, which threatened to upset the delicate power-sharing agreement on which Lebanon's government is formed. The pact divides political power among Christians and Sunni and Shiite Muslims, and any attempt to sideline one faction could tip the country into sectarian conflict.

Hariri, a Sunni and ally of Saudi Arabia, was appointed prime minister a year ago after months of political deadlock. The Lebanese constitution says that the prime minister must be Sunni and the president must be Christian. It says the speaker of parliament should be a Shiite Muslim.

But as Iran, which is Shiite, and Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, have competed for influence in the region, the threat of upheaval in Lebanon has intensified. Iran has long backed Hezbollah, Lebanon's most powerful political and military movement and which is key to Iran's regional reach.

For its part, the Saudi government has sought to bolster Hariri and his Sunni bloc in Lebanon and have fought what Saudi officials claim are Iranian proxy forces in Yemen. Iran denies having direct links to the Houthi forces in Yemen that drove out the Saudi-backed president in 2015.

Some observers believe Saudi officials wanted to pressure Hezbollah, which is part of the Lebanese government, by staging Hariri's resignation. Riyadh believed that move would strip the coalition government of legitimacy, analysts said, potentially opening the way for military options against Hezbollah.

On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir rejected accusations that his government had abducted Hariri. In a joint news conference with the French foreign minister, Jubeir said that Hariri was in Saudi Arabia of his own free will and that he was free to travel at any time.

French President Emmanuel Macron had extended the invitation Wednesday through Le Drian in Riyadh but stressed that it was not an offer of political exile. Macron stepped in, a former adviser said, amid an American diplomatic vacuum in the region.

"To the Saudis, to the Lebanese and indirectly to the Iranians, [Macron] is saying: 'You are on the brink of catastrophe. You have to de-escalate and the U.S. is not there,' " said Dominique Moisi, a foreign policy adviser to Macron during his presidential campaign.

In Lebanon, an official at the president's office cautioned that the crisis is not yet over.

"He can resign, as long as he is free to do what he wants," the official said. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of Hariri's situation.

But as long as he is still in Saudi Arabia, the official said, "we believe that it is a hostage situation."

- - -

The Washington Post's James McAuley in Paris contributed to this report.
Leonardo da Vinci's painting, "Saviour of the World," sold for $450,312,500 Wednesday at auction, Christie's said. The price, which includes a buyer's premium, makes it "the most expensive painting ever sold at auction," the auction house said in a statement.

The previous record for the most expensive painting sold at auction was $179,364,992 for Picasso's "Les Femmes d'Alger" ("Women of Algiers"), according to Christie's. The highest price previously paid at auction for a da Vinci was in 2001 for his "Horse and Rider," a work on paper, which went for $11,481,865.

The bidding for "Saviour of the World," ("Salvator Mundi"), coordinated out of Christie's New York office, lasted a little less than 20 minutes, with four and then just two final bidders battling it out. The bidding, which was livestreamed, moved rapidly, from the price guaranteed by Christie's of $100 million to about $330 million before long pauses set in, as many bidders dropped out.

"Three thirty is bid and selling," said auctioneer, Jussi Pylkkanen, Christie's Global President.

"Looking for another bid please," he said. Noticing the continued phone chatter of auction representatives with their clients, he stopped briefly.

"The conversation continues. So we will pause."

At about $370 million there appeared to be only two remaining bidders on the other end of the phone lines, each represented Christie's specialists, Francis de Poortere and Alex Rotter.

"Back to Francis' clients at $370 million," said Pylkkanen, as the room grew quiet

Then came $400 million bid.

"Francis is out," said Pylkkanen. "Are you sure Francis?"

He then turned to Rotter.

"It is with Alex Rotter at $400 . . . and the piece is sold," said the auctioneer, to great applause.

With the buyer's premium, an extra fee tacked on by auction houses, the final tally came to $450,312,500.

The identity of the winning bidder was not known.

"It is every auctioneer's ambition to sell a Leonardo and likely the only chance I will ever have," said Pylkkanen. "It's the pinnacle of my career so far."

The price made the other lots sold Wednesday night look paltry: A Warhol for more than $60 million; a Rothko for a mere $32.3 million. But there are plenty of Andy Warhol paintings and plenty of works by Mark Rothko.

"Saviour of the World" is one of some 16 known surviving paintings - including the "Mona Lisa" - by da Vinci, the master of the Italian Renaissance. The others are scattered throughout the world's museums.

Billed by the auction house as "The Last da Vinci," the painting spent centuries in obscurity until it was rediscovered in 2005 and underwent a six-year restoration and verification process. The small piece depicts Jesus raising his right hand in blessing and holding a crystal orb, meant to represent the world, in his left.

Over time, the painting has attracted scrutiny and, inevitably, a lawsuit.

But in the weeks leading up to the auction, some 27,000 people, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Alex Rodriguez, Patti Smith and Jennifer Lopez, flooded into viewing halls in Hong Kong, London, San Francisco and New York for a chance to glimpse the highly anticipated treasure.

Nina Doede was in awe when she saw the painting. "Standing in front of that painting was a spiritual experience. It was breathtaking. It brought tears to my eyes," Doede, 65, told the New York Times.

At auction, the painting was guaranteed to sell for at least $100 million, which meant the auction house would make up the difference if went for less.

Da Vinci painted it in the early 1500s, and it quickly inspired a number of imitations. Over the years, art historians have identified about 20 of these copies, but the original long seemed lost to history.

At one point, it was part of the royal collection of King Charles I of England. It disappeared in 1763 for nearly a century and a half. In 1900, Sir Charles Robinson purchased the painting for the Cook Collection in London. But by then, it was no longer credited to da Vinci but to his follower Bernardino Luini.

In 1958, the collection was auctioned off in pieces, with "Salvator Mundi" going for a mere 45 pounds, which translates to about $125 today, CNN reported.

Then it dropped off the grid for another 50 years until resurfacing in Louisiana in 2005. There, for $10,000, New York-based art collector and da Vinci expert Robert Simon and art dealer Alexander Parish found and purchased it, the New Orleans Advocate reported.

At first glance, Simon thought it was just another copy of the famed painting.

"It was a very interesting painting but it's not something I looked at and thought, 'Oh my god, it must be a Leonardo,'" Simon told CNN. "The whole idea that it might be by him was almost an impossibility; it's kind of a dream."

The piece was thick with overpaints, meaning artists had added paint to the existing image over the years as a means of either modernizing or improving it, likely to cover up chipped areas in the original.

Dianne Dwyer Modestini, a professor of paintings conservation at New York University, set about carefully restoring the portrait - which was still believed to be a copy - in 2007. She started chipping away at the varnish and overpaint obscuring the original, the beginning of a process that would take six years.

A strange feeling overtook her as she removed the first layer. For one thing, Jesus' curly hair looked strikingly familiar.

"I was looking at the curls and St. John the Baptist at the Louvre, who has this huge head of massive ringlets and they are exactly the same," Modestini told CNN.

It began dawning on her. The last da Vinci painting discovered and verified was "Benois Madonna" or "Madonna and Child with Flowers" in 1909.

"My hands were shaking," Modestini told Christie's. "I went home and didn't know if I was crazy."

A series of tests proved she wasn't.

One of the key pieces of evidence was found via X-ray, which revealed what's called a pentimento, a trace of an earlier painting beneath the visible one. It showed that Jesus' right thumb was originally positioned slightly differently. But while working on the piece, da Vinci must have changed his mind and painted over it - the thumb was moved to the position in which it appears today.

"If you're making a copy of a picture, there's no way you'd do that," British art critic Alastair Sooke said in a video for Christie's. "It wouldn't make any sense."

That's especially true when considering that "in all the copies of the painting, [the finger] follows the finished position," as Simon told National Geographic.

There were other clues as well, History.com reported. It was painted on walnut in "many very thin layers of almost translucent paint," like other da Vinci pieces from the era. Infrared light showed that the painter pressed his palm into the wet paint above Jesus' left eye to smudge the colors, a technique da Vinci favored called sfumato blurring.

In 2011, the art community reached a consensus: This was a bona fide da Vinci.

"It's the most unimaginable discovery of the last 50 years," London-based art dealer Charles Beddington told the New York Times. "A painting by Leonardo is one of the rarest things on the planet. You can't imagine it's ever going to happen again."

Or, as Simon told CNN, "This is not a little ripple in a pond, this is like a boulder,"

The painting made its public debut at London's National Gallery in a 2011 exhibit titled, "Leonardo da Vinci: Painter in the Court of Milan," where it "became one of the most talked-about pictures in the world," as the New Yorker wrote.

Not only that, but it was one of the more expensive paintings in the world.

A consortium of dealers including Simon, Parish and Warren Adelson sold the painting in 2013 for $80 million to a company owned by a Swiss businessman and art dealer Yves Bouvier, Bloomberg reported.

Bouvier then flipped the painting the next year, selling it to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev to the tune of $127.5 million - an almost $50 million markup.

Rybolovlev allegedly learned of the price difference from the New York Times, prompting an ongoing legal battle filled with suits and countersuits between Rybolovlev, Bouvier and Sotheby's, which was the intermediary in the original sale to Bouvier.

The ongoing dispute has been dubbed "The Bouvier Affair."

After Wednesday's sale, da Vinci's "Saviour of the World" now joins a rare club of paintings that recently sold for more than $100 million, Artsy reported, including an untitled Jean-Michel Basquiat painting that sold for $110.5 million in May and an Amedeo Modigliani nude that sold for $170 million in 2015.

Not everyone thinks the da Vinci is worth quite that much.

"Even making allowances for its extremely poor state of preservation, it is a curiously unimpressive composition and it is hard to believe that Leonardo himself was responsible for anything so dull," Charles Hope, an emeritus professor at the Warburg Institute at the University of London, wrote of the piece.

The winning bidder did not agree.
BALTIMORE - It was not unusual for Sean Suiter to be roaming through one of the city's most violent neighborhoods as night fell.

The 18-year police veteran spent his early days as an officer patrolling West Baltimore, returning often as a homicide detective seeking closure for those mourning loved ones lost on its streets.

Looking for answers is what Suiter was doing Wednesday while investigating the triple shooting of three young men left to die last December in a boarded-up house.

Suiter was working the case with his partner from the homicide unit and wanted to speak to a suspicious-looking man in a vacant lot between rowhomes. But shortly after Suiter approached, the man pulled a gun and fired.

Now Playing: A Baltimore police detective was gravely injured after being shot in head and remains on life support. Mayor Catherine Pugh is asking the public to keep the detective, his family and the BPD in their thoughts and prayers. Video: WBAL

With a single gunshot to Suiter's head, the gunman transformed a detective charged with solving Baltimore's murders into the city's 309th homicide of the year.

The slaying of the father of five became yet another tragic symbol of violence in this crime-battered city, where the killings continue to soar and the mayor says crime is "out of control."

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Washington Post photo by Peter Hermann Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo handout courtesy of the Baltimore Police Show More Show Less 3 of 3





"I pray for Baltimore," said Dana Bell, the mother of one of the victims in the triple homicide Suiter was investigating. "If people don't respect the law and life, they aren't going to respect anything."

As of Thursday night, law enforcement officials said they were actively searching for the gunman, whom Police Commissioner Kevin Davis called a "heartless, ruthless, soulless killer."

"We remain dedicated and committed to finding the person who ended such a beautiful life of such a wonderful detective, husband, father and friend," Davis said. "We will find the person responsible for this ridiculous, absurd, unnecessary loss of life."

Suiter, 43, was a U.S. Navy veteran who had grown up in Washington, D.C., and lived with his wife and family in Pennsylvania. Suiter's relatives could not immediately be reached.

Suiter was transported Wednesday to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center shortly after the shooting at about 5 p.m., where he remained on life support until he was pronounced dead at noon Thursday.

Police had only a vague description of the suspect, saying he is a black man who wore a black jacket with a white stripe and may be injured. The reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case was increased Thursday to $169,000 after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) had the state boost the amount by $100,000.

Though Davis said, "it shouldn't take 69 cents" for someone to "do the right thing."

After the shooting, tactical units and helicopters fanned out in the area, with the neighborhood still taped off well into Thursday as police cadets went canvassing door-to-door.

It is the second time this month that a police officer has been shot in Baltimore. On Nov. 4, an off-duty D.C. police sergeant was fatally shot while sitting with a woman in a car in Northwest Baltimore. The case also remains under investigation with no publicly named suspect.

Crime has long been entwined with the Baltimore's identity, but the violence took on a renewed urgency when homicide rates reached historic record levels after Freddie Gray died in police custody in April 2015. Residents rioted and protested in the wake of Gray's death, and already fragile relations between police and the community further deteriorated.

Before Wednesday, Baltimore had logged 308 homicides for the year, up 14 percent from 271 this same time in 2016.

In April, the 22-year-old son of a Baltimore police officer who was fatally shot during a 2007 attempted robbery also died by gunfire.

Months later, the brother of Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith was killed in his own apartment.

And weeks after that, a 97-year-old vet was bludgeoned to death in his pajamas during a break-in.

A prominent Baltimore defense attorney, a state delegate and a city councilman also count themselves among the grieving families who've had a relative killed this year.

"I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired of crime in the city of Baltimore," City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young said.

Suiter was shot in one of the most dangerous pockets of Baltimore, which has one of the county's highest per capita murder rates.

Johnny Felder, 41, who lives on Fremont Avenue, said he was at work when his wife called him about the Wednesday shooting two blocks from their home. Mayor Catherine Pugh is right in saying that crime is "out of control," Felder said.

"We hear gunshots all the time down that way," he said, pointing south to Fremont Avenue and Bennett Place, where the detective was shot.

Felder added: "I blame all sides. I blame the youth. I blame the parents. I blame the schools." Felder did not mention the police on his list, and he said that was intentional. "I feel for them. I can't imagine being in their shoes."

Those who knew Suiter described the detective as a dedicated officer, who was respected by both residents and colleagues.

Bell, the mother of one of the triple homicide victims, said she talked to Suiter every week and that he had recently told her he had developed promising leads.

Suiter had told her, she said, that the gunman was targeting someone else and that her son, Antonio Davis, was caught "in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"He was my rock," Bell said of Suiter through sobs, shortly after learning he had died. "He always took my calls. I had no one to help me through this and he was it. He held my hand all the way. He promised me he would find my son's killer. I don't know what I'll do without him."

- - -

Bui and Hedgpeth reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Clarence Williams contributed to this report.
SAN LUIS POTOSI, Mexico - Josue Vidales considers his business a NAFTA success story. The 43-year-old father of five founded his engineering firm on the eve of the world economic crisis to capitalize on the slew of factories being built in this burgeoning industrial city some 250 miles north of Mexico City.

The business stumbled in the beginning, but subsequently blossomed and grew to 25 employees as manufacturers poured into San Luis Potosi and hired his firm to design and install electrical substations.

Now, with NAFTA free trade treaty with the United States and Canada being renegotiated and President Trump threatening to tear it up, Vidales admits to some disquiet. But like many of the new NAFTA-created business owners here, he thinks his business and the town could survive the agreement's possible demise.

"Of course we're concerned. It could impact us hard, especially if tariffs increase or they block access to the U.S. market," Vidales said, sipping a Coca-Cola diluted with mineral water in a popular chain of cafes. "We'll get through this and much more quickly than before because we have much more know-how and much more experience."

Such optimism is common in San Luis Potosi, a colonial city and capital of the state with the same name that still charms with its plazas and ornate churches - and sells itself as a free trade success story where manufacturing replaced mining and farming and young people stay at home to work rather than migrating to America.

As Mexico considers the once unthinkable, life post-NAFTA, places like San Luis Potosi believe they have learned what they needed from the treaty and are ready to take on the world economy without it. But two decades of the treaty affected the country very unevenly and what works for San Luis Potosi may not apply elsewhere.

For instance, in the past five years, the city saw economic growth of 5 percent and attracted $6 billion in foreign investment. Yet overall, during the period of NAFTA from 1994 to 2016 growth across the country has averaged an anemic 1.2 percent as gains in the industrialized north were canceled by stagnation in the rural south.

Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray has said it "won't be the end of the world" if NAFTA ended - a line repeated by many in San Luis Potosi.

"Mexico is bigger than NAFTA and there is life after NAFTA," Videgaray told reporters back in October. "Of course we think this is the best economic situation for the country, with a good renegotiation. But if that's not achieved, we will have to be ready."

Many in Mexico seem reluctant to speculate on a post-NAFTA future - beyond the perpetual chatter of pursuing new markets for Mexican exports and expressing hopes the ongoing negotiations will prove fruitful.

"I want to put myself on the side of being optimistic since the objective of negotiating a trade agreement with any country should always be a win for everyone," said Governor Juan Manuel Carreras Lopez of San Luis Potosi. "I also understand that agreements can be revised and modernized."

The optimism about what Mexico's post-NAFTA future might look like is not unanimous, however. In the short term, the currency would likely depreciate, raising prices locally. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean foresees the Mexican economy contracting 1.9 percent without NAFTA. It's also not clear if Mexico would still be as attractive to investors without the agreement.

In a report on Mexico released Monday, the International Monetary Fund also expressed misgivings for the economy if the treaty, noting that "substantial impediments to bilateral trade could have a significant impact on financial markets, investment and growth."

"Investment flows would slow down quite a bit - it would depend a lot on the sector and region," said Jonathan Heath, former chief economist for Latin America at HSBC. "If you look at private investment, it's basically been flat for the last year and a half. A good explanation for that is uncertainty surrounding NAFTA."

Others wonder aloud if Mexico's business class has the stomach to stick out such uncertainty or if they will pull their money out of the country - as happened previously in times of economic turbulence.

"Within five minutes [of NAFTA ending] they will have transferred all their capital abroad. They will have bet everything against the peso. And they will have put a stop to every investment project for the next two years," said Federico Estevez, political science professor at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico. "The Mexican economy will be emptied of all resources."

San Luis Potosi, along with the outlying Bajio region to the north and west of Mexico City, was once one of the poorest regions in the country, known for little more than peyote, prickly pears and silver mining.

It boomed under NAFTA, leveraging its ideal geography - sitting roughly equidistant between the Mexico City and the Monterrey and offering easy access to both coasts and the U.S. border - existing infrastructure and an abundance of low-cost labor. In the mid-2000s, the auto sector arrived, starting with General Motors plant.

With the Trump and the rumblings over NAFTA, there have been setbacks, including Ford pulling the plug on a planned manufacturing plant in January. That was balanced out, however, by German automaker BMW saying it would continue to build its own San Luis Potosi plant, scheduled to open in 2019.

If the Ford withdrawal offered a glimpse of life after NAFTA, state officials said they're not worried. As Carreras pointed out, this year saw the pull out of Ford and Trump's call to renegotiate the treaty and yet "we've had the best job creation numbers that we've ever had."

This is the model Mexican business executives are hoping for: if U.S. investors and markets recede, other countries will take their place.

With Mexico having signed so many free trade agreements with other countries, analysts say manufacturing in Mexico still makes sense for many automotive companies, even without NAFTA. Potential automotive tariffs would run about 2.5 percent, as outlined under World Trade Organization rules.

"There are currently companies, mostly European and Asian, which are very interested in San Luis Potosi," said Hector Soto, director of the San Luis Potosi Automotive Cluster, an industry promotion organization.

Soto projects the number of suppliers investing in the state to reach 330 by 2020, up from the 230 firms operating today and 40 when GM arrived in 2006. Even U.S. firms are still showing interest, according to Soto, who hosted a delegation from Michigan visiting San Luis Potosi in October.

"Regardless of what happens with NAFTA," Soto said, "supply chains are so integrated that they're difficult to break."

Vidales, the entrepreneur, grew up number 11 out of 16 children in a pious Catholic family. Among other projects, he founded a custom manufacturing business, Evolt de Mexico, with a younger brother, Otoniel.

"We've adopted the best business practices" of the firms investing in San Luis Potosi, Vidales said, looking every bit the businessman-engineer in a charcoal suit with a pen clipped between the buttons of his patterned shirt.

Otoniel, 36, expanded on the sentiment. "It will only be a transition. We're ready now. We know how do things," he said about the possible end of NAFTA. "We're very Americanized."

On the busy Highway 57 - the so called NAFTA Highway connecting Mexico City with the U.S. border - workers admit to mixed opinions about the treaty that changed their lives. At an industrial park near the highway, people say it has brought jobs, but wages remain low.

"The price of everything goes up, but our salaries stay the same," said Oscar Ruiz, 33, a truck driver for a box factory, who earns roughly $85 a week plus overtime. "It's a noticeable change here (since NAFTA was signed) but our personal economic situations continue to be the same. I have to work an extra 40 hours a week to make ends meet."

But there is still worry about what could happen with the end of NAFTA, which is still viewed positively by some 60 percent of the population in Mexico.

Carlos del Pozo, 41, once washed dishes in the Dallas area, but he returned to San Luis Potosi, studied systems engineering and now earns $1,400 per month with an auto parts maker.

"I'm scared of being poor again," he admitted as he tried to sell a tricked out Volkswagen Jetta at a Sunday market for used cars where he moonlights. "It's going to be a crisis."
Republican governors and their donors -- still reeling from GOP losses last week in New Jersey and Virginia -- are trying to distance themselves from their party's problems and plot a 2018 strategy to protect their state-level dominance.

At the annual Republican Governors Association meeting in Austin, Texas, party officeholders downplayed those defeats and dismissed the political fallout of President Donald Trump's historically low approval ratings and lack of legislative accomplishments. They brushed aside questions about the potential long-term consequences from growing sexual misconduct allegations that have engulfed Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore in Alabama.

"I think we'll see Republican governors walking a tightrope in 2018 as they navigate a difficult election year," said Steve Grubbs, an Iowa-based Republican strategist and former state party chairman.

Thirty-six states will hold gubernatorial elections in 2018, with 26 of those now controlled by Republicans. In those races, which often have trickle-down effects on legislative and local elections, Republican candidates will have to decide just how closely to embrace Trump and distance themselves from an unpopular Washington.

"The Trump base is very strong, and alienating that base by pushing Trump away could cost a governor two to five points on election day," Grubbs said. "But there are also suburban voters who are bothered by the positioning of the White House and risk being lost on the other side."

Even if Trump's popularity wasn't an issue, Republicans are likely to face headwinds next year based on past trends. Midterm elections for a new president generally result in losses, sometimes big ones, and Trump currently has the lowest approval ratings of any president at this point in a first term.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the association's chairman, is seeking a third term next November. He downplayed the role Trump will play and said he's encouraging his colleagues to run their "own race."

Walker and Florida Gov. Rick Scott, while meeting with reporters, called for Moore to exit the race before the Dec. 12 special election. Scott called his alleged actions "disgusting," while Walker dismissed suggestions that Moore might hurt the Republican brand.

"No more so than Democrats had to answer for Anthony Weiner or Eliot Spitzer," he said, pointing to other politicians who have had sex scandals.

Vice President Mike Pence, a former Indiana governor, gave his ex-colleagues a pep talk during a Wednesday afternoon appearance at the gathering. He told them they were "a group of extraordinary leaders of extraordinary accomplishment," while calling the governor's association "the most effective political organization in the United States."

Next year's balloting will test whether Democrats can still win in the Midwest, where recent presidential elections have often been decided and where Trump scored some of his most unexpected victories. Democrats are competing for governorships now held by Republicans in Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The stakes are especially high because the 2018 elections will determine who controls state governments for the redistricting procedures that will follow the 2020 Census. The outcome of that process will shape state and congressional boundaries for the next decade.

In last week's elections, Democrats showed strength especially in suburban areas. The Virginia governor's race, this year's most closely watched, showcased how disapproval of Trump is motivating Democrats and independents.

Democrat Ralph Northam beat Republican Ed Gillespie by 9 percentage points, boosted by strong support among women and young voters. Democrats also won races down the ballot in Virginia, where Trump won 45 percent of the vote in 2016.

When the new governors take office in January, the Republican total will drop by one to 33. The current total is tied for the GOP's all-time high, set in 1922.

Even with the challenges ahead, Republicans start from a position of strength, at least at the state level. Besides their dominance of governorships, they also control roughly two-thirds of state House and Senate chambers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The party's sweeping gains in state legislative seats and governor's offices in 2010 and 2014 have been used to cut taxes, restrict abortion and collective-bargaining rights, and implement new voting requirements. They've also redrawn legislative districts to their advantage.

Around the lobby bar and hallway corridors of the Austin convention hotel hosting the three-day meeting, most donors expressed support for Trump.

"People shouldn't confuse style with substance," said Alfred Eckert III, a New Yorker and former Goldman Sachs employee now working as an educational improvement entrepreneur. "He is remaking the Appeals Court and that's probably more important for our country than anything else."

Eckert offered measured praise for Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, whose candidate recruitment and support for Moore has proven to be a headache for Republican congressional leaders.

"I think it's good, when he picks safe Republican seats that are held by RINOs," Eckert said, referencing to the "Republicans in name only" moniker sometimes given to more moderate members of the party.

David Cohn, an Republican Governors Association donor from Maryland, was an exception to the enthusiasm for the president. "Donald Trump is basically wrecking the Republican Party," he said. "Donald Trump isn't a Republican."

Even as the shadow of Moore hangs over the party, several donors expressed concern about condemning him too quickly.

"It's for the people of Alabama to decide because they've had many years of experience with the man," said Amy Craig, an donor from Virginia. "Everyone is innocent until proven guilty."

Longtime Republican megadonor Foster Friess, who is considering a primary challenge of Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming after Bannon encouraged him to think about running, said decisions about what to do about Moore should be left to the GOP.

"I think it's distressing that a lot of people have hung him without all of the all due process taking place," Friess said.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy E. Nehls said he was looking for a truck bearing a profanity-laced anti-Trump sticker - and that authorities in his Texas county were considering charging its owner with disorderly conduct.

But his threat immediately raised the alarm among free speech advocates - and caused the sheriff to walk back his statement and retreat from social media.

Nehls posted a photo of the truck Wednesday on his personal Facebook page after he said he'd received several complaints from unhappy people in the Houston-area county.

A graphic on the rear window of the GMC Sierra reads: "F--- TRUMP AND F--- YOU FOR VOTING FOR HIM." (The profanity is spelled out on the sticker.)

"If you know who owns this truck or it is yours, I would like to discuss it with you," the sheriff wrote. "Our Prosecutor has informed us she would accept Disorderly Conduct charges regarding it, but I feel we could come to an agreement regarding a modification."

But the Facebook post was removed Thursday as a First Amendment controversy swirled around Nehls.

"The objective of the post was to find the owner/driver of the truck and have a conversation with them in order to prevent a potential altercation between the truck driver and those offended by the message," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "Since the owner of the truck has been identified, the Sheriff took down the post. Due to the hate messages he has been receiving towards his wife and children, the Sheriff will not be commenting on the matter further."

The Houston Chronicle reported that the truck's owners have no plans to remove the custom graphic, which they ordered after President Donald Trump's election.

"It's not to cause hate or animosity," Karen Fonseca told the newspaper. "It's just our freedom of speech, and we're exercising it."

The Chronicle reported:

"Fonseca said the truck belongs to her husband but that she often drives it. They had the sticker made and added it to the window after the billionaire real estate magnate and reality TV star was sworn into office.

"The sticker has attracted attention many times before, Fonseca said. People shake their head. They take photos of it. Officers have pulled her over but failed to find a reason for writing a ticket," according to the report.

"It makes people happy. They smile. They stop you," Fonseca told ABC affiliate KTRK. "They want to shake your hand."

The Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union offered to help Fonseca - and provided Nehls with a "Constitutional Law 101" lesson: "You can't ban speech just because it has [f---] in it."

Texas penal code describes disorderly conduct as "intentionally or knowingly [using] abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of peace." Making "an offensive gesture or display in a public place" is also prohibited if "the gesture or display tends to incite an immediate breach of peace."

But the ACLU cited a 1971 Supreme Court decision, Cohen v. California, in which the high court overturned a man's disturbing-the-peace conviction after he'd gone to a courthouse in Los Angeles wearing a jacket that said "F--- the Draft."

At a news conference Wednesday, after his Facebook post went viral, Nehls said he supports freedom of speech, according to The Associated Press.

"We have not threatened anybody with arrest; we have not written any citations," Nehls said. "But I think now it would be a good time to have meaningful dialogue with that person and express the concerns out there regarding the language on the truck."

In Fort Bend County, southwest of Houston, Hillary Clinton won the majority of the vote in last year's presidential election, with 51 percent vs. 45 percent for Trump.

Nehls - a Republican who is considering a congressional bid, according to the Chronicle - has not responded to requests for comment.

It's not uncommon for bumper stickers to bluntly convey political viewpoints, from messages such as "Impeach Clinton" during Bill Clinton's presidency to "Hail to the Thief" after George W. Bush's 2000 election win over Al Gore.

While the First Amendment protects the bulk of offensive speech, there have been several incidents in which law enforcement officials cited drivers for the messages of their bumper stickers.

Typically, those who are cited have bumper stickers with profane language or pictures. A man in Georgia, James Daniel Cunningham, was arrested and fined $200 for his bumper sticker, which read, "S--- happens." The Georgia Supreme Court ruled in 1991 that the state's law banning bumper stickers with offensive messages wrongfully restricted the driver's right to free speech.

A few states still have laws specifically prohibiting offensive bumper stickers. Tennessee law, for example, states: "To avoid distracting other drivers and thereby reduce the likelihood of accidents," displaying obscene or offensive movies, bumper stickers, window signs or other markings on or in a motor vehicle is prohibited, punishable by a fine of up to $50.

In 2011, Tennessee officials said they'd begin ramping up their enforcement of bumper sticker language - although there haven't been many incidents reported.

In March 2017, a man was cited for a bumper sticker depicting stick figures having sex, which read, "making my family." He filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, claiming the sticker does not meet the Constitution's definition of obscenity. Days later, the charges were dropped after police attorneys conceded that the stick-figure display was protected by the First Amendment.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, has been guided through her Senate confirmation process by a private consultant who represents companies seeking millions in DHS contracts, an arrangement that creates conflicts of interest, according to a government-ethics watchdog group as well as current and former national security officials.

The consultant, Thad Bingel, is co-founder of the Command Group, a prominent lobbying and consulting firm that offers "full spectrum solutions related to safety, security and intelligence" to clients "on six continents."

As Nielsen made rounds on Capitol Hill last month ahead of a vote on her nomination by the Senate Homeland Security committee, she was joined by DHS officials as well as Bingel, according to Senate staffers, who said they received no advance notice of his attendance and weren't sure why he was there.

"He was introduced to our staff as Nielsen's aide," said one Senate staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.

During presidential transitions, unpaid consultants often serve as "sherpas" to help steer a nominee through the confirmation process. But it's almost unheard of once an administration has legislative political appointees in place whose job it is to perform that function, current and former DHS officials said.

"It's highly unusual that you would have someone leading confirmation preparations from outside the government, especially after the administration has been in place almost a year," said John Cohen, a longtime security and intelligence official who has served under Republican and Democratic administrations.

Nielsen and Bingel worked together as sherpas for John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, after Trump nominated him to lead DHS. Kelly hired Nielsen to be his chief of staff at DHS, then brought her to the White House as his deputy. Bingel remained at his consulting firm.

In copies of recent emails viewed by The Washington Post, Bingel was included in internal communications between DHS officials and White House staffers working to advance Nielsen's nomination. The messages involved nearly a dozen officials, and Bingel was the only person who wasn't a government staffer.

The exchanges show Bingel, a private contractor, leading briefings to DHS officials. Bingel, whose role in Nielsen's nomination was first reported by Cyberscoop, did not respond to interview requests.

A DHS official referred questions about Bingel to the White House.

"There's nothing inappropriate or new about an individual volunteering their time to help prepare a nominee for the Senate confirmation process," said Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, in a statement.

Cohen, who advised Mitt Romney during his White House bid in 2012, said he could not remember another instance of DHS employees being assigned such tasks by a private consultant, or sharing sensitive communications about a nominee through nongovernment servers.

Bingel was chief of staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under President George W. Bush, then co-founded the Command Group with other former Bush officials in 2009. One of its businesses, CT Strategies, "supports the mission of federal clients, most notably U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other Department of Homeland Security agencies," according to its site.

Federal records show CT Strategies has also secured contracts of its own, including a $6 million award in July to provide "professional, scientific and administrative services" to the government.

The Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group founded by former Federal Election Commissioner and Republican presidential campaign adviser Trevor Potter, filed an ethics complaint against Nielsen this week, citing the possibility of a financial windfall for Bingel. The complaint was sent to the White House, the Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics.

"The consultant has clear financial incentive to assist in the nomination of an agency secretary who would have the power to steer government contracts in his direction," said Larry Noble, the group's general counsel, referring to Bingel.

"Government employees aren't permitted to receive gifts or free services - especially from people with business before their department - because it calls the integrity of government decision-making into question," Noble said. "This unusual arrangement should be investigated because of the clear potential conflict of interest, and the danger that Nielsen can be compromised as DHS Secretary."

The Campaign Legal Center said it has not received a response to its complaint.

With an annual budget of $44 billion, DHS pays thousands of federal contractors to provide goods and services that range from sophisticated technology to basic law enforcement gear. Companies vying for the largest awards often turn to consulting firms who employ former government officials with the contacts and inside knowledge to help them get an edge.

A current administration official said Nielsen is the only recent nominee at DHS who has relied on a private consultant to be their sherpa.

Kevin McAleenan, the nominee to lead U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, had DHS legislative affairs staffers performing that role, the official said. So did David Pekoske, who was sworn in to lead the Transportation Security Administration in August. Same with Claire Grady, the DHS undersecretary for management.

Emilio Gonzalez, the former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a DHS agency, said it's typically an advantage for a nominee to have current government officials steering them toward a successful outcome.

"You want people who are intimately aware of what's going on in the department, who can bring you up to date on whatever is pressing at the time and will run interference by doing intel work on the Hill, such as which senator will be supportive and why," said Gonzalez, who worked under both Bush administrations and now runs Miami's international airport.

Bingel's relationship to Nielsen did not come up during her Nov. 8 confirmation hearing. On Tuesday the panel voted 11 to 4 to advance her nomination, setting the stage for a full Senate vote.

The panel's vote was postponed twice, and a group of Democratic members wanted to bring Nielsen back for additional testimony after The Washington Post described White House attempts to pressure the acting director of DHS, Elaine Duke, over an immigration decision.

The White House is eager for Nielsen to be confirmed before Thanksgiving, according to senate staffers.

Current administration officials said they are concerned Bingel's role in guiding Nielsen could set a precedent for future nominees, with lobbyists usurping the role of federal employees despite the potential conflicts of interests that will create.
In his 12-day trip to Asia, President Donald Trump largely focused on North Korea and trade, all but avoiding the simmering disputes in the South China Sea and steering clear of sharp criticism of Beijing's increasingly aggressive activities there.

With the Trump administration focused elsewhere for now, China is quietly pressing ahead with its agenda in one of the world's most strategic waterways, building more military facilities on man-made islands to buttress its expansionist claims and dramatically expanding its presence at sea at the expense of its smaller neighbors.

Beijing's under-the-radar advances in the South China Sea could be bad news for countries in the region, for United States hopes to maintain influence in the Western Pacific, and for the rules-based international order that for decades has promoted peace and prosperity in Asia.

At the Chinese Communist Party congress last month, President Xi Jinping cited island building in the South China Sea as one of his top achievements so far, and touted the "successful prosecution of maritime rights." Those rights appear at odds with international law: Xi is now assuring nervous neighbors that China will offer "safe passage" through the seas to other countries in the region.

"The South China Sea has fallen victim to a combination of Trump's narrow focus on North Korea and the administration's chaotic and snail-paced policymaking process," said Ely Ratner of the Council on Foreign Relations, who served as an adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden.

China's recent advances in the South China Sea aren't as eye-popping as the overnight creation of artificial atolls in recent years, a massive engineering project dubbed the "great wall of sand" by a top U.S. admiral. That's one reason the disputes got pushed to the back burner on Trump's big trip.

"Because there's no sense of immediate or medium-term crisis (in the South China Sea), they didn't make it a big priority on the trip," said Evan Medeiros of the Eurasia Group, who oversaw Asia strategy in the Obama White House.

But experts say the quiet moves - including expanding military bases, constructing radar and sensor installations, hardened shelters for missiles, and vast logistical warehouses for fuel, water, and ammunition - are threatening to turn China's potential stranglehold on the region into reality.

Much of the activity has centered on three reefs converted into artificial islands through large-scale dredging: Fiery Cross, Mischief Reef, and Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands, about 650 miles from Hainan Island in southern China. Satellite imagery in June revealed a large dome had been erected on Fiery Cross with another under construction, suggesting a substantial communications or radar system, experts say. At Mischief Reef, workers were installing two more domes.

With runways, hangars for fighter jets and communications hardware in place on the artificial islands, China can deploy military aircraft and missiles whenever it wants, solidifying its grip over the area and flouting international maritime law. The three newly built bases in the Spratlys, combined with another on Woody Island, will enable Chinese warplanes to fly over nearly the entire South China Sea, according to Pentagon officials and defense analysts. That could be the precursor to an "air defense identification zone" similar to the one that China slapped onto the East China Sea in 2013.

And the new bases have given China much greater reach at sea. Beijing has deployed more naval ships, Coast Guard vessels, and a flotilla of fishing boats that act as a maritime militia virtually around the clock. The ships can now dock nearby to refuel and resupply, rather than sail home, extending their time on station and their ability to project Chinese power through the area. That is changing the balance of power as fishing ships and coast guard vessels from other claimant countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are elbowed away from disputed features.

This summer, for example, Vietnam hoped to drill for natural gas off its own coast. But China reportedly summoned the Vietnamese ambassador and threatened military action if Hanoi went forward with development in its own exclusive economic zone. Sensing little backing from Washington, Vietnam quietly backed down and stopped drilling.

"The sheer numbers are starting to push the Filipinos, the Vietnamese and the Malaysians out," said Gregory Poling of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

More than nine months into the Trump administration, contrasts with U.S. policy under Barack Obama toward the South China Sea are apparent - as they are with the initial saber-rattling tone of Trump administration officials. The Obama administration put a focus on diplomacy and consistently sought to uphold international law regarding the disputed waterway, though it often shied away from sailing U.S. Navy ships through the waters to send a tough signal to Beijing.

The Trump administration has taken almost the opposite approach: Navy cruises to assert the right of navigation have become commonplace, but there is little sign yet of a concerted U.S. policy to diplomatically push back against Chinese encroachment or offer encouragement to U.S. allies and partners threatened by Beijing's advances, former officials, experts and foreign diplomats said.

"By having no South China Sea policy, Trump ensures that all the initiative lies with Beijing," said Mira Rapp-Hooper, a senior fellow at Yale's Paul Tsai China Center.

Former U.S. officials and congressional aides said the Trump administration appears to be pulling its punches on the South China Sea, as well as trade issues, in hopes of securing Beijing's cooperation to cut off North Korea's access to fuel and cash to fund its nuclear weapons program. So far, China has stopped short of drastic action to squeeze the regime in Pyongyang - and Chinese officials just contradicted Trump's claims that the two countries have found more common ground.

At the end of his Asia trip, Trump did offer to "mediate" between Vietnam and China, but that spooked officials in Hanoi who fear they could be a pawn in a bigger U.S.-China game centered on North Korea.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment on its approach to the South China Sea.

However, some former Obama officials are cautiously optimistic that the Trump administration, hamstrung so far by short staffing at key positions, especially regarding Asia policy, is starting to craft a more coherent policy toward the region, including a sharper focus on China's activities in the South China Sea. Joint communiques in Japan and Vietnam stressed continued U.S. support for the rule of law and an end to coercion in maritime disputes, for example.

Ratner, the former Biden adviser, said he expects the Trump administration to chart a more proactive course as it settles into office.

"They appear to finally be getting their policy feet under them and I'm expecting more focus on South China Sea in the months ahead," he said. "So it's premature to declare it'll remain a low priority going forward."
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Salatheia Bryant-Honors, a journalist who found a second career in pastoral ministry and presided over the renovation of a historic Galveston church, died last week. She was 52.

Skills developed as news reporter and a passion for social justice set the stage for a final assignment that would place lives, souls and institutions under her care. Her sunny personality and positive outlook were demonstrated through her smile and signature introduction "Hey, my friend"  that greeted strangers and loved ones alike.

"She was just amazing. I'm talking about feisty. I'm talking about just being Salatheia," said her husband, the Rev. Reginald Honors. "She was just a totally driven, motivated person. She was just determined to be herself and to keep improving."

Salatheia V. Bryant was born on Feb. 4, 1965 in Tampa, Florida. She was raised by her mother in Florida and by her grandparents in Georgia. After graduating from Auburn University, where she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she began her career at the Lakeland Ledger in Florida and later reported for the now-closed Tampa Tribune. She married Reginald Honors in 1990 and the couple moved to Houston a few years later.

Bryant-Honors worked as a contract writer for the Houston Post before spending more than a decade as a Houston Chronicle reporter. In 1999, during her journalism career, she answered a call to ministry.

"I just think Salatheia wanted to obliterate every stereotype about women ministers," her husband said. "She didn't want women to be intimidated by a male-dominated system."

In addition to serving as pastor of several African Methodist Episcopal churches in southeast Texas, Bryant-Honors earned a master's degree in divinity and a doctorate in ministry from Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology.

Renee C. Lee, a former Chronicle reporter who now lives in Indiana, bonded with Bryant-Honors at work. The woman she knew as "opinionated and direct" took on another dimension when Lee saw her speak at a church women's luncheon.

"She just really turned it on and the women were just standing up clapping  'hallelujah, amen'  and I was like, wow!" Lee said.

Recovery and restoration

In 2006, Bryant-Honors and her husband were appointed co-pastors of Reedy Chapel in Galveston, the state's oldest A.M.E. Church. In addition to increasing the membership and adding ministries, they became the spiritual shepherds of NASA Astronaut Stephanie Wilson. Bryant-Honors witnessed her church member launch into space at Cape Canaveral, Florida in 2007 and wrote about the experience.

At one point, Bryant-Honors also juggled taking care of her family in Houston, pastoring in Galveston and graduate school with frequent commutes to Dallas.

"What impressed me about her is that she was able to balance all of that and never seemed stressed," Lee said.

Bryant-Honors faced one of her greatest challenges in 2008 when Hurricane Ike nearly destroyed Reedy. After the storm surge subsided, the co-pastors found blown-back pews, soaked carpet and shattered stained glass windows.

Bryant-Honors presided over a yearlong renovation that saved the historic edifice built in the late 1880s.

"She used every skill she had," said Honors, an assistant middle school principal in the Fort Bend Independent School District. "Over a $1 million worth of work was done at that church. The guys did it because they just loved her."

Deborah Feaster, who was president of the Reedy board of trustees during the restoration, said she has never met anyone so tenacious.

"She wasn't afraid to get on the phone and ask for what we needed. She was so resourceful," Feaster said. "She would not ask you to do anything that she did not do. She would roll up her sleeves and work right next to you."

Feaster added that Bryant-Honors maintained her humility despite rising through the A.M.E. ranks and earning academic credentials.

"She was instrumental in helping me go through some hard times," Feaster said. "She was very respectful of others, but she was very truthful and some people didn't know how to accept her. That's probably what I liked about her the most  and she had a sense of humor. She could take anything and turn it all around."

A precious spirit

Presiding Elder Emeritus Johnny Jennings, who formerly supervised A.M.E. churches in the South Houston District, said the world has lost a precious spirit.

"She had her own unique way of approaching something," he said. "She wasn't afraid of the higher-ups or the powers. She did it in a positive way that made everybody take notice and give her what she needed or wanted to have."

For the last five years, Bryant-Honors served as senior pastor of Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Houston.

The first cancer diagnosis came in early 2014, just a few months after she became Dr. Salatheia Bryant-Honors. The respected theologian, pastor, preservationist, journalist, wife, mother and friend died Friday during a second bout with the illness.

Bryant-Honors is survived by her husband of 27 years and their children: Bryant "BJ" Honors, 16, and 14-year-old Kennedy Honors. Services are Monday, Nov. 20 at St. Paul AME Church-Greenspoint, 1554 Gears Road, Houston, 77067. The wake and viewing begin at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral at 11 a.m.
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AUSTIN -- During a pair of stops in Texas Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence was handing out reassurances on both disaster recovery efforts and on the prospects of nationwide tax cuts.

In his first stop, Pence toured the Federal Emergency Management Agency's joint field office in north Austin and met with Gov. Greg Abbott. He tried to give Abbott assurances that the federal government is still fully focused on helping Texas rebound from Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall on Aug. 25.

Pence cited the fact that 3,600 federal employees are on the ground in Texas to help the recovery as evidence that the Trump administration is fully engaged and has not forget Texas still needs help.

"We've made progress," Pence said. "We understand that we have a long way to go."

About an hour later, Pence was in downtown Austin making a riskier prediction.

"Before the end of the year," Pence said, there is going to be an across-the-board tax cut for all Americans.

Pence, speaking at the Republican Governors Association meeting in downtown Austin, also declared that the individual mandate under Obamacare will also be eliminated.

And in case anyone missed the prediction, Pence repeated later in his speech that the tax cuts would get done this year, even as other Trump initiatives -- like building a wall with Mexico or repealing Obamacare entirely -- have struggled in Congress.

"Make no mistake about it, President Trump is absolutely committed to passing tax cuts for working family and businesses across America and passing tax cuts this year," Pence said.

Earlier, Pence and Abbott went to great lengths to assure the public they are cooperating on Hurricane Harvey relief. Both took turns heaping praise on each other for the response to Harvey.

"I want to once again applaud the president and the vice president, the entire Cabinet as well as FEMA for working so closely with the state of Texas," Abbott said.

Moments later, Pence returned the favor.

"We believe that the recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey will be recorded in history as one of the best if not the best response to a natural disaster in the long storied history of this country," Pence said.
A loving man raised in large Catholic family, George Marvin Reininger Jr. was always willing to go above and beyond to help others.

After caring for his second wife during her final years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1990s theyd only been married a few years at the time  Reininger then took care of his father for a year until his death in 2002, moving to his home in Blanco to be with him.

Everyone thought he was saintly, said his daughter, Renee Reininger. He would do anything for anyone.

Reininger was also generous with his time and money, supporting Habitat for Humanity, preparing and delivering food for the homeless with the Traveling Loaves and Fishes ministry and working with the wheelchair ministry at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.

More Information George Marvin Reininger Jr. Born: July 9, 1944, San Antonio Died: Nov. 12, 2017, San Antonio Preceded by: Wife Barbara Parks; parents Marvin and Mary Margaret Collins Reininger Survived by: Daughter Renee Reininger and son-in-law David McShane; fiance Mary Williams; a granddaughter; a great-grandson; and seven siblings Services: Visitation at 5 p.m., rosary at 7 p.m. Monday at Porter Loring Mortuaries, 1101 McCullough Ave.; Mass at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1602 Thousand Oaks Drive; graveside service at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road See More Collapse

Reininger, 73, died Sunday.

The oldest boy of eight children raised on a dairy farm near Walzem Road, Reininger was close to his father, the two often working side-by-side.

He loved the outdoors and the outdoor life, his sister Charmaine Williams said.

Introduced to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo by his father at an early age, Reininger continued to support the nonprofit throughout his life, working on various committees and becoming a life member.

Graduating from MacArthur High School in the early 1960s, Reininger enlisted in the Navy in 1965.

I think there was a bunch of them getting ready to get drafted, and they went ahead and enlisted, his brother Tom Reininger said.

Assigned to the USS New, Reininger served almost eight months in Vietnam, including during the Tet Offensive.

Working in the engine room of the ship, Reininger learned the skills that would later enable him to start his career at what is now CPS Energy.

Discharged from the Navy in 1968, Reininger started working at what was then the San Antonio Water Board before being hired at CPS.

He worked his way up at CPS, Tom Reininger said. From control operator, shift supervisor to where he retired from as chief of operations, power plants.

Moving to Marion in the early 1980s, Reininger enjoyed living in the country again.

He was always doing something outside, his daughter recalled.

Moving back into San Antonio after he and his wife divorced in the early 1990s, Reininger continued to meet up regularly with his siblings.

They were all very close, his daughter said.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
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Properties / Interiors & Decor

Austrias krypt.bar in Vienna is housed in an ancient heritage building from the late 18th century and some of the furniture pieces are designed by celebrity fashion designers.

Nov 16, 2017 | By Andrea Sim

Down the lanes of Wasagasse, Vienna, there are empty street front shops and theres an ancient heritage building on the location that existed since the late 18th century, in which the building has just been transformed into a cocktail and underground bar, which is quite an aesthetical gem.

BFA and Buro KLK Architects were tasked to convert the spaces within, playing around with the theme Archeology in a Jazz Club and breathe life into the venue again where visitors to the bar+club can lounge and chill out at ease.

According to the historical investigations, the heritage building was described as a semi-legal establishment in the 50ies and 60ies in an era of Viennas flourishing jazz scene represented by names as Joe Zawinul or Fatty George. To retain the old worlds charm, nothing needs to be reinvented but simply reveal the generic genius loci.

Due to some strict guidelines concerning the conservation of a historic building, the interior design works embraced a few challenges; the static structure, the ventilating pipes and other additional installations were cladded in gold composites, the krypt.bar sprawled over the long structural flooring made of Italian nero marquina marble and each tile had to be manually laid in a herringbone bond. Moreover, the structures within had to be secured with a load-bearing trussing in-line with the engineering requirements.

But as with all such interior spaces, the whole idea is to bring illumination to the space. Distinct furniture and lighting element such as the Platner arm chairs by Knoll and the candle light designed by Ingo Maurer are placed in krypt.bar to exude an impression as if it was directly carried out of a museum of international furniture design.

Leading to the indoor bar lounge, the undecorated brick wall exudes a quiet and deep sense of aura greet the guests upon entering. Theres a mirrored vestibule to a floating staircase which was implemented in a contemporary style throughout the design to suggest a touch of Sunset Boulevard.

To create a nearly surreal venue fallen out of times impression, the interior designers constructed several alcoves, a hidden booth, secret hallways surround the centerpiece along with a small art gallery.

The project was completed in Spring 2017.
In an exclusive interview with LUXUO, Peh talks about how blockchain technology can be used to bridge gaps between luxury merchants and those wealthy with crypto assets. He also shares how security developments are improving the way luxury technology is being made and used.

LUXUO: So what exactly is Aditus?

Aditus is the worlds first luxury access platform for crypto-affluents. Aditus is a platform where crypto-affluents can access Smart Invitations from luxury merchants to enjoy their products, services or establishments.

These Smart Invitations are based on Ethereum smart contracts, which on the Aditus platform allow users to receive offers and information that match both their personal preferences as well as the targeting requirements of luxury merchants. These Smart Invitations also offer reward tokens to users for engaging with the merchant before purchase.

Aditus also offers VIP Memberships, in which crypto-currency users may enjoy a suite of exclusive privileges and rewards previously only found on premium credit cards.

Through a seamless integration of both blockchain technology and a platform that takes into account the needs of both users and merchants, Aditus unlocks the luxury lifestyle of crypto-currency users.

LUXUO: How did the ADITUS project come about and what makes it unique?

We first noticed increasing numbers of crypto-affluents at our luxury events, all desiring better access to the luxury lifestyle they desire.

We quickly discovered that this group of wealthy individuals have distinct needs (e.g. privacy, ease of transactions). We also discovered that our clients within the trillion dollar luxury lifestyle industry were very keen on serving this new group of customers but did not know how to.

Aditus is unique in that it blends both a strong grasp of the technology, strong domain knowledge of and connections within the luxury space, as a track record in platform roll-out.

LUXUO: You coined the term crypto-affluents. Can you define better who they are, and what potential they represent for luxury merchants?

The total market capitalisation of all crypto-currencies have increased from USD 12 billion just 12 months ago, to USD 200 billion today. It is probably the best performing asset class in the last 2 years. This huge increase has minted a significant new group of affluent people who hold a lot of their new wealth in crypto-currencies.

Contrary to popular opinion, not all crypto-affluent are programmers! The space is extremely vibrant and fast-moving and has drawn many new participants from bankers to professionals etc. And there are many different ways in which crypto-affluents created their crypto-wealth, from holding to trading to ICOs.

What is clear is that with the continued influx of capital into crypto-currencies, crypto-currency values and the numbers of crypto-affluents will continue to increase. This is a new community of possible customers luxury merchants simply cannot afford to ignore.

LUXUO: Are luxury merchants sensitive to this new surge of wealth or is it too early in the development cycle?

Luxury merchants definitely recognise the huge growth opportunity in serving crypto-affluents. They do need some hand-holding of course, as well as more solutions that are customised to their needs, and that is the exact role Aditus serves.

In the past ten years we have seen inflection points in luxury marketing brought about by technological shifts, whether it was online advertising, or mobile marketing, or social media.

And at every one of these inflection points, there has been savvy brands who seized the opportunity to seize market share over their competitors by being first to build up their capabilities in the new medium.

With the advent of the crypto-affluents, we are at such a point again today.

LUXUO: What previous experience you have had that is proving useful in you driving the ADITUS project?

I am a lawyer by training but the bulk of my experience has been in tech entrepreneurship, with my first internet startup being back in 1998.

My team and I have been at the forefront of luxury tech since 2005. We were the first to sign luxury brands as online advertisers through our website Luxury-Insider.com, the first to sign luxury brands as mobile marketers through our Luxury Locator series of apps, and a pioneer in retail marketing solutions through our Visa-linked mobile rewards program SERA in China.

Starting from 2008, I was also a luxury consultant for banks and credit card companies, helping them package premium and exclusive rewards for their top end credit cards. The experiences I had was in tech, luxury marketing and premium rewards are all being put together for the betterment and long term development of Aditus.

LUXUO: How do you address the important issue of members privacy which is important to so many crypto-currency users?

In traditional luxury marketing, a centralised third party (bank, online marketing platform etc) constantly tracks user data, and matches them with targeting requirements by luxury merchants.

On Aditus, we are pioneering the twin concept of firstly: User Controlled Data, and secondly, Decentralised Matching.

User data, which is necessary for merchants to make customised offers, is stored and encrypted on the users device, and never leaves the device without the users express permission.

In order that merchants are still able to target-market despite there being no centralised 3rd party, we use Ethereum powered Smart Invitations to carry out decentralised matching on the user device instead.

In this way, user privacy and merchant targeting can both be satisfied.

LUXUO: How key are the Tech components in the development of ADITUS? How are you ensuring maximum security of the ADITUS overall architecture & wallet?

Aditus is at heart, a decentralised lead-generation and marketing platform for luxury merchants, and for users, a privacy-centric access and transaction platform.

To ensure stability and security for both users and merchants, we code and integrate only the most tried and tested components within the platform, from the wallet to the payment gateways.

While as a business Aditus is innovative, our tech will be developed for stability and security in order to give peace of mind for both users and merchants. We are also working with innovative companies in this space like PundiX who have components that add value to our ecosystem.

LUXUO: Tell us about the partnership you have already established for ADITUS and why they are key to the success of your Token and business model?

In any business it is ultimately the number of users (i.e. customers) and the soundness of the business model that determines success. As such, Aditus has a detailed road-map for user and merchant acquisition.

On the user acquisition end, we have signed partnerships with notable blockchain companies like Kyber Networks, Digix in which we create special access to our rewards programs to their token holders. This gives us a effective marketing channel to existing communities of crypto-affluents, while providing unique value for our partners.

On the merchant acquisition side, the founders of Aditus can draw on decades of experience and relationships in the luxury space, so we are quite confident here. We will work with large luxury shows that we own (e.g. The RendezVous series of events) as well as partners shows around the world to roll-out Aditus.

LUXUO: What are the reasons driving your choice to anchor ADITUS in Singapore?

Singapore is a major global hub for blockchain related companies. Indeed it is one of the top 3 jurisdictions for ICOs in the world along with the US and Switzerland. The talent in the blockchain space in Singapore now is vibrant and the interest is rising. From a business perspective, being based in Singapore made complete sense.

Although I have been based in China for the past 8 years, I am a born and bred Singaporean, and my luxury-related business all began in Singapore, and it was my HQ until it was acquired. Thus, basing Aditus out of Singapore was an easy choice from a personal perspective as well.

LUXUO: You having started your career as a lawyer, what are your view on upcoming cryptocurrency regulations? What potential impact on the ADITUS token?

Regulations will inevitably come, and we welcome them. We view this as extremely positive for the community because they weed out bad apples and increase protection for everyone involved. We believe regulations can only be positive for companies with a proper business plan like Aditus.

LUXUO: Why are you confident ADITUS will be a success?

The blockchain and crypto-currency space is still in its early stages and there are a lot of technical innovation and developments happening daily.

Yet the rise in market cap of crypto-currencies, and the accompanying rise in numbers in crypto-affluents, is an almost certainty.

Aditus is first in the market to serve crypto-affluents and is well-placed to ride the rising trend upwards.
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.
As pundits speculate on Robert Kubica's potential return to F1, one man who doesn't believe in the Pole's sensational comeback is former Williams driver Juan-Pablo Montoya.

Kubica has been short-listed by the Grove-based outfit and tested recently alongside Paul di Resta in two separate days of running at Silverstone and in Hungary with a 2014-spec car.

Williams is also likely to provide the 32-year-old with an outing at Abu Dhabi's upcoming end-of-season tyre test before revealing its final decision on its 2018 driver line-up.

Montoya remains unconvinced by Kubica's prospects however.

"Honestly, it's a joke," said the seven-time Grand Prix winner who raced for Williams between 2001 and 2004.

"I'm sure Robert is no longer 100 per cent capable of pushing a Formula 1 car to the limit."

Williams co-founder Patrick Head begged to differ however, and backs Williams' decision to give Kubica a test in a new-spec car.

"Robert was one of the best drivers in F1 of recent years," Haed told Finland's Turun Sanomat.

"Only he knows how ready he is for the challenge. He was seriously injured, and Williams wants to find out what his situation is.

"If he is able to perform from a physical point of view, he is a very good choice," Head added.

While Paul di Resta remains in the running for next season's drive alongside Lance Stroll, a reported EUR 8 million in sponsorship associated with Kubica, and collected in part by co-manager Nico Rosberg, could just be the deal breaker for the Pole.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
MARTINSVILLE  Applications are being taken for next years Startup Martinsville-Henry County program to help small businesses grow and expand, Martinsville City Council learned Tuesday.

The Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce organizes the program, which will be in its third year in 2018. Applications are available on the chambers website, www.martinsville.com.

Startup Martinsville-Henry County is an eight-week, boot camp-style program for entrepreneurs. Patrick Henry Community College President Angeline Godwin, who has experience as an economic developer as well as an educator, teaches participants how to be successful business owners.

The program includes a business plan competition in which participants can receive grants to put toward expenses such as rent and utility fees and business supplies. Last May, the chamber provided seven start-up businesses a total of $61,430 in grants. Yet more than 40 entrepreneurs completed the program.

One of the winners has not yet obtained a business license and basically has until the end of the year to do so, chamber President Lisa Fultz told the council. She did not identify the winner, but she said its grant will not be provided until the license is obtained.

Councilwoman Sharon Brooks Hodge asked what happens to the funding if the winner does not get a license within the required time. Fultz replied that the money will be put into next years pot.

The amount of money to be available then has not yet been determined.

Jan. 23 is the deadline to apply for next years boot camp. Classes will be held on Thursdays from Feb. 8 through April 5. Business plans are to be presented for the competition within two weeks of the end of the boot camp, Fultz said.

The chamber provides the city and county help with small business development. Fultz updated the council on recent activities along that line.

Fultz said information has been placed on the chambers website concerning the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund, a new opportunity for businesses with no more than 50 employees. The state program gives grants to qualifying businesses to offset some of the costs associated with hiring new employees.

Qualifying businesses include manufacturers, distribution centers, corporate headquarters, research and development firms, information technology services providers and inbound call centers.

In August, the chamber contracted with Retail Strategies of Birmingham, Alabama, for assistance in recruiting stores and restaurants to the community. Fultz said the firm represented Martinsville-Henry County at recent International Council of Shopping Centers events in Chicago and Atlanta, where it made contacts with more than a dozen potential retailers, restaurants and developers.

Retail Strategies also is preparing a list of national and regional retailers and restaurants to which it will pitch the community. Fultz said the firm anticipates having more than 70 companies on the list.

The council presented the chamber a proclamation recognizing Nov. 25 as Small Business Saturday in Martinsville. Special activities and sales are being planned by the uptown business district and retailers there to draw people to the district that day.

Tony Davis honored

Also, the council presented a proclamation honoring the late Tony C. Davis to his family. Davis, a 27-year public works department employee, died Sept. 26 as a result an on-the-job accident.

City Manager Leon Towarnicki said Davis was well thought of as a coworker by employees in various city departments.

The city is truly grateful for his many years of service, Mayor Gene Teague said.

Teague added that the city will try to find family members help in dealing with their loss.

Vice Mayor Chad Martin mentioned that Piedmont Community Services provides free care to people suffering grief.

But thats not going to take away their pain necessarily, Martin acknowledged.

The council is continuing to review its proposed legislative agenda and Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2018. It aims to adopt the documents during a future meeting.

Council members publicly expressed their sympathy to city police officer Coretha Gravely, whose husband recently passed away.
We all need to listen

A lot of times we see these big numbers of indictments. The biggest portion of the time theyre only getting a big number of addicts off the streets, when in reality, theyre still not getting the real criminals. You have people of society that you wouldnt believe thats pushing these prescription meds.

Its sad that our society doesnt have the proper knowledge to understand this.

Living in big metro areas like New York City and Detroit while growing up and traveling all around the world in the military I have seen all forms of addictions. I educated myself so Ill know it when I see it. Sometimes I know things and see things and it shocks me, because people sometimes dont believe that its truth and whats in the dark comes to light.

Most of the time these paraphrases weve heard throughout life, there is a meaning to them. We need to try not to do things to make another persons life miserable. Because at the end of the day, youre going to have to pay for it one way the other.

I spend a lot of my time mentoring not only my grandkids about the danger of drug abuse or sale, but other kids also. I talk to a lot of current and former addicts and try to lean what caused them to get in that state.

One of my female friends calls me soft because I listen to peoples stories.

There are so many people in the area reaching out for understanding and a lot of times all theyre looking for is a kind gesture.

Sanford Martin

Martinsville

Be happy and content

In a recent article Social security checks to rise in 2018 on Oct. 15 in the Bulletin made me say what a way to start the year out. The article stated that social security checks are going up two percent which is a substantial raise in years. Think about it, friends, when I say any percentage of increase is better than nothing. That means if a person is drawing $1,000 a month, it turns out to be an extra $20 a month or $240 in a year.

Does everyone that is retired realize you got a raise and did nothing to earn it? We all know when we were working if we did a good job, usually we got an increase in pay at least once a year. Now once retired no energy required and getting free money.

I heard a man say one time his job was so easy that when he got paid he had to back up and get his check because he was so ashamed to face his boss. Oh well, I do like an honest man.

Did you know regardless of how much extra money a person receives, some would never be satisfied? Just recently I heard someone say, Well, Im sure Medicare will go up and take that extra money away. Im thinking, what if you didnt get that raise, and your insurance increased then your monthly check would be smaller. As we all know, life has its ups and downs, so let us be happy and content with what we get knowing something is always better than nothing.

Danny Clifton

Ridgeway
We publish here a collected series of articles on the 1837-1838 Rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada (original available at Fightback). It is important that Marxists understand the place of these important events in the history of the class struggle in Canada and Quebec.

Canadians! It has been said that we are on the verge of a revolution. We are in the midst of one; a bloodless one, I hope, but a revolution to which all those which have been will be counted as mere childs play.

- William Lyon MacKenzie, 1837

Canada has always been portrayed as a country in which the class struggle has been exempt; that the history of the country is that of a people who prefer evolution to revolution, in which law and order has flourished and persevered. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The history of Canada is a history rich in class struggle: rich in struggles for the overthrow of the established order and the establishment of a new one.

The rebellions of 1837-1838 in Upper and Lower Canada constitute one of the most important episodes of this history. It was a classic example of a situation in which the class contradictions reached a point where an open confrontation had to break out.

Le Patriote / Image: Henri Julien

The myth surrounding the rebellions makes one believe that this was simply one of the first manifestations of French-Canadian nationalism, while the insurrection in Upper Canada is hardly worth mentioning.

In this way, the history of this struggle is depicted as purely French-Canadian history, specifically for the liberation of Francophones from Anglophone domination. This allows the Quebecois bourgeoisie and petty-bourgeoisie to justify the struggle for independence today under the banner of the defence of Quebecois culture and the French language.

However, if we look more closely, we see that the movement of the Patriots was not a movement that confined itself only to fighting for the rights of French-Canadians. The leaders of the movement in Lower Canada rejected this idea in numerous speeches. In reality, the rebellions were a class struggle, a struggle to eliminate colonialism. It was a struggle led by the petty-bourgeoisie of the Canadian colonies, supported by the small proletariat and the people against the colonial power which was defended by the merchant bourgeoisie, the colonial administrators and their armed forces, the nobles and the clergy. The Rebellions were the aborted bourgeois revolution in Canada.

An important task is to understand how the rebellions are regarded in Canadian history or even American history. What is the significance of the rebellions? Why did they breakout? What was the cause of the monumental defeat? What was the impact on the history of the rest of the country? Almost 180 years later, these are essential questions for all Marxists who want to understand Canadian history.

A complex colonial heritage

The rebellions broke out in the colonies where the class composition was rather complicated. Canada in 1830 did not fit into any preconceived schema. As Lenin and Trotsky noted, the rapid development of capitalism in some countries, and the subordination of the rest of the world to these nations creates unique situations in colonial and semi-colonial countries.

Canada was not an exception. The class composition was very complicated and was the result of a history with several abrupt changes. This history must be briefly outlined in order to understand how the rebellions developed.

With the English Revolution of 1648 led by Cromwell, the bourgeoisie became one of the dominant classes in England and capitalism rapidly developed. Under Cromwell, colonialism became more and more energetic, and the colonies developed systematically to the benefit of the English with their development occurring essentially on a capitalist basis.

In this way, we can explain the rapid development of a bourgeoisie in the American colonies, a bourgeoisie which became more and more conscious of its own interests and realized that its interests were divergent with those of the British Crown. The American Revolution completely demonstrated this divergence. The nascent American bourgeoisie succeeded in liberating itself from the chains of colonialism through a revolutionary war.

But in the French colonies, particularly in New France, things were very different. When England officially took possession of New France in 1763, which eventually became the Province of Quebec, the colony was under a seigneurial system.

It was the French King who granted the colony to a merchant trading company which re-divided the land between the seigneurs, who then distributed small plots of land to small land holders who became known as habitants. It was these habitants who had to pay taxes and rent  often arbitrarily  to the seigneurs, and the seigneurs had the rights to lumber, water, fishing, hunting, minerals, lime, stone, sand and so on. The real owner of the land however remained the King of France.

There was an important difference between the habitants of New France and the peasants in France: in New France, the habitants were obligated to work on their land but many were able to escape to the nearby forests, where they became trappers or participated in the fur trade. This mobility of the habitants resulted in unstable class relations which were less crystallized than in France.

With the establishment of the regime in New France, there were the seeds of future capitalism. In 1627, a charter granted the company of One Hundred Associates a monopoly on the fur trade. The fur trade helped to enrich the French monarchy but also encouraged the development of a relatively powerful merchant bourgeoisie in New France. On the other hand, this nascent bourgeoisie was not strong enough to oppose the monarchical authority. The merchants made important profits but were also heavily taxed in order to enrich the monarchy.

The ruling class in New France was therefore a complex mixture of feudal, religious and merchant elements. From the start, seigneuries (lordships) were granted to the Kings officials, to different religious orders and merchants. The state in New France was essentially a military regime where the church shared power with military authorities.

Another important difference was that in France, the absolutist regime had hundreds of years to perfect its domination. In New France, the semi-feudal regime was artificially transposed and contained the seeds of commercial capitalist interests; it was a system that was very unstable right from the start.

When England took control of New France in 1763, many questions arose. What was to be done with the seigneurial system? What were the Canadians going to do?

The merchants wanted free trade and representative institutions, but in the end the seigneurial system was maintained. The English military made an alliance with the Catholic Church and the seigneurs, against the aspirations of the rising merchants. Giving representative institutions to the Province of Quebec was refused; the military regime remained. It is obvious that it wasn't in the interest of the Crown to permit representative institutions to the Francophone majority oppressed by a tiny Anglophone minority.

We should also note that the class relations remained essentially the same after the conquest of Quebec. 140 of the 200 seigneurs remained and the others were replaced by the English. Many French merchants were ruined, but Anglophones took their place. The difference is obviously the creation of the national question, with the domination of the English over the Francophones subjects. This question will be discussed in more detail later on.

The American Revolution and the arrival of the loyalists

The American Revolution marks an important qualitative change in world history and in the history of Canada as well. Never before had the bourgeois revolution been conducted on such a scale. For the first time in the history of America, the people broke free from their colonial oppressors; Lenin spoke of this revolution as one of those great, really liberating, really revolutionary wars.

Analyzing the failure to spread the revolution to Quebec and the other Canadian colonies is beyond the scope of this article. But it is important to analyze one of the most important consequences of the revolution for the subject at hand: the arrival of the loyalists in Canada.

During and after the American War of Independence, tens of thousands of Americans settled in the English colonies of Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

Around 7,500 settled in what is now Ontario and this led to the Constitutional Act of 1791, which declared the separation Quebec into two distinct colonies: Upper Canada, which was Anglophone, and Lower Canada, which had a Francophone majority.

At the political level, the Constitutional Act granted Upper and Lower Canada elected legislative assemblies for the first time in history. Yet this was not a question of a simple gift made to Canadian subjects: with the newly republican United States to the south, there was a great risk that Canadians would demand democracy as well. And with the French Revolution breaking out previous to this, the movement for democracy was gaining momentum and was having repercussions all over the world.

Moreover, the secretary of state for the British colonies shortly after the storming of the Bastille in France wrote that it was wise to make concessions at the moment when they will be seen as a favour and we can manage and direct their implementation rather than waiting and having them torn from us by force. Here we see the real intentions of the Crown with this concession that had the appearance of democracy.

The Act of 1791 and the development of the new provinces

In spite of this concession, the elected assemblies in Upper and Lower Canada were not sovereign governments. Effectively, there was a governor general above the assemblies, chosen by London who also personally selected the members of the executive and Legislative Council (the upper house) of each province. All of the bills adopted in the assemblies had to be approved by the non-elected legislative council, followed by the governor.

In other words, the assembly decided nothing at all, while the real power was in the hands of the governor chosen by London and its Legislative Council. Between 1822 and 1836, 234 bills adopted in the assembly were rejected by the unelected Legislative Council in Lower Canada. In Upper Canada, 300 bills were rejected.

Therefore, this semblance of a democratic concession was nothing of the sort. Lord Durham, who was charged with investigating the rebellions of 1837 and 1838, correctly said that the political regime seemed to be established specifically with the purpose of creating anger in the colonies.

On the economic front, the development in Upper and Lower Canada took paths that were a bit different following the division into two provinces.

In Lower Canada, the seigneurial system remained, but there was an important phenomenon that arose: the purchase of seigneuries and non-cultivated land by rich merchant English capitalists. There was therefore a growing interpenetration of interests of merchant capitalists and seigneurial interests. For example, in 1833, the British American Land Company came into the possession of 850,000 acres in the eastern townships.

Assemblee des six comtes / Image: public domain

The alliance between the colonial administrators, the seigneurs and the clergy (who possessed two million acres of the land, compared with six million for the seigneurs), and merchant capitalism was therefore reinforced. They formed what became known as the Chateau Clique, a clique that dominated the economy and the politics of Lower Canada. It was this clique that dominated the unelected legislative council. It should also be noted that this clique was comprised of primarily English and French seigneurs not to mention the tacit alliance with the Francophone clergy.

In the second province of Upper Canada, the seigneurial system did not exist. The Crown granted free land to loyalists in Upper Canada which was developed on the basis of capitalist agriculture. It should however be noted that the loyalists were not a majority of the population of Upper Canada. According to historian Stanley B. Ryerson, they accounted for only one quarter of the population in 1812. The definition a loyalist was precise: anyone who was born in America or who lived there during the revolution, had performed valuable services to the crown and had left the United States during the war or afterwards. In Upper Canada, the desertion deadline from the United States in order to be considered a loyalist was established in 1798. However, these people were not the only ones to leave the United States for Canada: the migration of the loyalists also led to a migration of simple farmers looking for land, and it was only the loyalists who were given special privileges like free land.

In addition, the land was distributed in order to artificially create an aristocracy in the province and a differentiation even inside of the loyalist population. Indeed, for the free plots of land, the Crown granted 200 acres to loyalist soldiers who fought in the American Revolution but 5,000 acres were given to the officers. As well, one seventh of the land was reserved for the Church of England and one seventh for the Crown. The Crown lands were then seized by rich merchants and privileged government functionaries.

The spirit of these measures was to artificially create a military, merchant and clerical aristocracy, dependent on the Crown for its privileges and allied with the King's functionaries, so that Upper Canada could become a bulwark against republican and anti- colonial ideas. This aristocracy became baptized as the Family Compact.

In the end, in both provinces, a tiny clique composed of the Church, the colonial administration, the merchant capitalists and the seigneurs (in Lower Canada) formed a reactionary bloc, a bloc that was not homogenous, but had an interest in defending the interests of the Crown.

In the beginning of the 19th century, the development of capitalist industry began in both provinces, with an emerging proletariat and an industrial bourgeoisie. This ultimately prepared the ground for a conflict between the merchant bourgeoisie and its clique, and the embryo of the industrial bourgeoisie.

The development of capitalist industry in Canada essentially met the needs created by Napoleon's blockade in Europe against the British Empire. The Crown required wood and ships and it was in Upper and Lower Canada in which the necessary resources were located. The lumber industry developed and the number of shipyards multiplied in both provinces. This was the first - albeit relatively small - industrial boom in Canada.

Nonetheless, capitalist industry needs roads, means of communication, transportation and a well-developed division of labour in order to come to full fruition. However, in Upper and Lower Canada, the grip of the Family Compact and the Chateau Clique greatly hindered the development of these requirements.

In Upper Canada, rich land owners would leave their land uninhabited and untouched. Quite often, land owners did not even live there. Many rich landlords were simply holding onto the land for reasons of speculation in order to sell it later for a good price. In this way, there were immense tracts of deserted tracts of land interposed between the inhabited lands.

This complicated communication and transportation in addition to adversely affecting the division of labour. As well, the merchant bourgeoisie preferred to invest in speculation on the land than invest in industry. The fledgling industry was constantly in need of capital.

William Lyon MacKenzie, the main reformist leader in Upper Canada, brilliantly explained in the first issue of the reformist journal the Colonial Advocate, how the economy of the colonies was subordinated to the interests of the British metropolis and its lackeys:

We earnestly desire to see established, throughout Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, efficient societies for the improvement of arts and Manufactures. We would like to see the manufacturer not quite four thousand miles from the farmer. We would like to see less apathy, not only in the government but in the governed, in regard to this important topic. Our foreign commerce, confined and shackled as it is, and as it has been, is entirely in the hands of the British capitalists; our lumber trade is merely encouraged to support British worn-out shipping. We are inundated  glutted with British manufactures.

William Lyon Mackenzie / Image: Archives of Ontario

In Lower Canada, the situation was also difficult due to colonial constraints. Land which was newly purchased by rich English capitalists was also left untouched. The division of land into seigneuries and the monopoly on the land by rich merchants hindered the industrialization of agriculture.

The growing monopoly of the land was a way to squeeze the inhabitants on their territory and prevent them from spreading onto larger plots of land. Therefore, with the growth of the population, space would run out and a sizable part of the population would be forced to move into the cities to find work. Yet in the cities as well, there was a shortage of capital, and the inhabitants as well as the numerous immigrants from England and Ireland were forced to leave for the United States. In the nineteenth century, tens of thousands of Canadian families left for America.

The colonial system, founded on the enrichment of the metropolis, was a hindrance to the development of emerging industrial capitalism. Since 1784, Canadian trade with the West Indies and the United States was severely limited. The Navigation Laws established that all transportation of commodities headed to or from Canada had to be conducted with British ships. The exorbitant prices of British commodities resulted in Canadian farmers becoming more and more indebted.

It is also important to note the impact of the British Corn Laws on Canada. The Corn Laws were such that if the price of wheat fell below a certain level, the wheat could not be imported from the colonies to England. Wheat was a major part of production mainly in Upper Canada. The Corn Laws, in addition to other limitations to trade with countries other than England, were an enormous restriction to trade.

In summary, the colonial interests of the British Empire, defended in the two Canadas by the merchant bourgeoisie, the landlords and seigneurs, the Church and the colonial administration became an immense barrier to the development of the productive forces in the colonies. It was necessary to throw off this colonial structure in order to ensure that the full development of capitalism in Canada which, at the time, was a progressive step forward in the history of the country.

The birth of the movement in the colonies

It is in this context that two parallel movements arose in the early 1800s. The Reform Movement in Upper Canada, and movement around the Parti canadien in Lower Canada, which would later be called the Parti patriote.

These movements were first and foremost movements to reform the government of the provinces in favour of a real democracy. They were inspired by similar movements, especially those of their American neighbours. For example, during the 1831-1832 parliamentary session, Thomas Lee of the Parti patriote, deplored the fact that the Canadians had not made common cause with the Americans in 1775. Louis-Joseph Papineau, one of the most prominent leaders of the Patriotes, declared that it is certain that before too long, all the Americas must be republican. In his book Histoire de lInsurrection, written after the events, Papineau explains: It is not the English statutes which will resolve the immediate future of Canada; this future is written in the declarations of the rights of man and in the political constitutions that our good, wise and happy neighbours, the independent Americans, have been given. The bourgeois-democratic character of the movement is implicit in the struggle against the yoke of the British Empire.

In Upper Canada, the Reformers called for responsible government, that is to say one which is accountable to the people, not the King. In Lower Canada, the Patriotes called for an elected Legislative Council, rather than one appointed by a governor who was himself appointed by the King. It was another way of saying they wanted a government responsible to the people.

Another important demand was control of the budget by elected representatives. In both provinces, the unelected Council could set the budget, even against the will of the elected Assembly. The Patriotes and the Reformers demanded that the budget be controlled by the elected representatives of the people.

In 1830, William Lyon MacKenzie, the main leader of the movement in Upper Canada, put forward a five-point program:

An executive accountable to the province for its conduct; Control of provincial revenues by the legislature; The independence of the judiciary; Reform of the Legislative Council; Equal rights for all religions and complete separation of church and state.

In August 1837, a political meeting in Trafalgar, Upper Canada, adopted a request for freedom of commerce. This was a reflection of the economic problems faced by colonies. That same year, MacKenzie clearly expressed the need to free the country's industry in an article in his newspaper The Constitution:

The question today is not between one reigning family or another, between one people and another, between one form of government or another, but a question between privilege and equal rights, between law sanctioned, law fenced in privilege, age consecrated privilege, and a hitherto unheard of power, a new power just started from the darkness in which it has slumbered since creation day, the Power of Honest Industry .

In Lower Canada, the Patriotes' demands were essentially the same. In 1833, Papineau proposed a convention to discuss a new constitution. The spirit of Papineau's demands was to allow Canada to reform its own constitution. In 1834, the Patriotes presented to the British Crown the famous 92 Resolutions, demanding the supremacy of parliament, the right to amend their constitution, and the right to control public spending. It also called for an end subordination and political exclusion of francophones, who had little to no representation in decision-making bodies of the state.

In Lower Canada the demand for free trade was more confused, but in 1834, the tactic was to boycott British products in favour of domestic products. It was a tactic inspired by that of the Americans before their revolution. This was a way to protest against the high cost of British goods, and against the restrictions on freedom of commerce. The boycott movement would gain momentum in 1837.

The struggle taking shape was the political expression of an emerging capitalist system in revolt against the straitjacket of colonial force imposed upon it. Ultimately, the struggle between the Councils and Assemblies, the struggles for responsible government in Upper Canada and the elected Legislative Council in Lower Canada, reflected this impasse and the need for a revolutionary transformation of social relations of production. The development of capitalism in Canada needed the overthrow of colonial rule.

In hindsight, it is clear that the demands of the movements in the colonies were leading to a logical conclusion: they had to escape the clutches of the British Crown, to become independent. The British Empire had never yielded an inch without fighting fiercely to maintain its power, and it would be no different this time.

Despite this, the movements were not initially for independence as such. For example, the 92 Resolutions of 1834 simply asserted that if the Crown made no concessions to the colony, Lower Canada should look elsewhere remedies for his problems. But the first of these resolutions began by affirming allegiance to the Crown.

It was only much later, in the mid 1830s, that the goal of independence began to take clearer shape in the two provinces. As the struggle developed, it was clear that the British Empire would not give democracy as a gift, and that it would have to be acquired by the separation from the Crown. The radicals within movement, under pressure from the masses, would eventually realize this and openly demand independence.

Class in the Rebellions

As mentioned, the ruling classes united against any development of the colony were the rich capitalist merchants, colonial administrators, the Church, and the seigneurs of Lower Canada. These form a bloc opposed to reforms, and even more so to the independence of the colonies.

It is important to note that within the Church, there was a significant difference between the higher levels and the lower clergy. The higher clergy definitely supported the British Empire, but some francophone priests supported the Patriotes , with some even giving active support to the resistance against British forces in 1837. This is explained by the fact that the higher clergy was entirely dependent on colonial authorities for their power, which meant that they had a vested interest in its continuation. Meanwhile the lower clergy, rooted in local communities, was much closer to the masses, and could see and feel their misery caused by colonial oppression.

As for the seigneurs of Lower Canada, they were all on the side of the Crown, except one: Louis- Joseph Papineau himself! But Papineau was truly the exception; the others were loyal to the Crown, whether anglophone or francophone. The seigneurial system had been maintained after the conquest by the British and was now part of the colonial power. It was obvious to the seigneurs that any movement succeeding in overthrowing colonial rule would effectively lead to a solution to the agrarian question which would have inevitably ended the seigneurial system and land monopolies. This would have meant the end of the power of large landowners, which they were not willing to accept.

The big merchant bourgeoisie of the colonies was of course a counter-revolutionary force. They had no interest in severing ties with the mother country. The merchant bourgeoisie derived their power, wealth and privileges from their position in the colonial trade. They depended on trade restrictions to preserve their wealth and power, and as increasingly important landowners, naturally they insisted that the colonial system and land monopolies remain intact.

The numerically weak middle bourgeoisie however, did support the concerns of the Reformers and the Patriotes to some extent. But the movement would eventually split between the radicals and the moderates, leaving the middle bourgeoisie on the moderate side. This layer saw themselves prevented from developing fully by the colonial system and its obstacles, but it was politically weak, and lacked confidence in its ability to fight against the colonial power or survive without it. Hence the hesitation and divisions on whether to support the movement.

The leadership of the movement for the emancipation of the colonies fell mainly to the petty bourgeoisie, the liberal professionals. The movement's leaders included John Rolph, Thomas Morrison, William Baldwin, Jean-Olivier Chenier, and Wolfred Nelson, who were all doctors, the lawyer Papineau, the journalist MacKenzie, etc. The social weight of the petty bourgeoisie had increased considerably in the 20 years preceding the Rebellions; between 1815 and 1838 they had gone from 331 to 939 individuals in Lower Canada. The professional petty bourgeoisie in this period comprised 74% of the deputies in the Assembly of Lower Canada and was the core of the Parti patriote. It is easy to understand why.

At the time, the basic social infrastructure such as schools were very underdeveloped, and accessible to only a few people. A large portion of peasants and workers were illiterate and the road to parliamentary political involvement was very difficult to navigate. In this context, it was the people who had the most contact with the broader population, whether doctors, lawyers, or journalists, to whom fell the burden of representing their interests.

This petty-bourgeois social layer could see with their own eyes the sufferings of the people and the delayed development of all the normal amenities of a civilized society, schools, hospitals, the justice system, etc. Therefore they naturally tended to take part in the movement for reform. This explains their dominant role.

The peasantry - the habitants as they were called in Lower Canada - were the largest class in the colonies. Historian Allan Greer explains in his book The Patriots and the People how they actively participated in the revolutionary movement in Lower Canada in 1837. However, he noted that their action remained constantly under the supervision of the Patriots leaders, and that they never played independent role. This is typical of the peasant class. The habitants , scattered throughout the territory and even more isolated from each other than French peasants, could not be an independent force capable of leading the revolution. As we said earlier, the habitants enjoyed a certain social mobility which French peasantry did not, which made them an even more heterogeneous class.

What was the specific place and role of the Canadian proletariat in the Rebellions? It is clear that the proletariat was not able to play a leadership role in the movements of Patriotes or the Reformers. It had only been a few years that the unions had appeared on Canadian territory. However, despite a low level of organization and their low numbers, Canadian workers left their stamp on the movement and within political parties struggling against the aristocracy in both provinces. MacKenzie said that the workers were "those on whom we can count."

In 1834, the trade unionists of Montreal gave their support to the 92 Resolutions, while two years later, in Quebec City, the workers signed a declaration of confidence in Louis-Joseph Papineau. The newspaper La Minerve wrote that in Quebec City, as in Montreal, there is the massive participation of workers at Patriotes meetings. It is clear that the working class would support and play an important role in the approaching Canadian revolution.

The conflict between bourgeoisie and proletariat made its way into the pages of the reactionary newspapers: one of them, the Montreal Gazette, urged merchants to force their employees not to vote for the Patriotes !

Increasingly, the Parti patriote and the Reformers of Upper Canada echoed the pressure of the working class and the habitants, and revealed the latent class contradictions in Canadian society. The Vindicator, the radical Patriotes newspaper in Lower Canada, wrote with remarkable clarity:

Traders as a group are a useful class, but they are not the most patriotic.  They attach more importance to financial independence than political independence. They would gladly wear the most ignominious chains if they were gold.  To establish a healthy political society, we must turn to the classes whose work is the real source of wealth.

We have already said that MacKenzie stated that the workers were the ones the movement could rely on. But he went further in his propaganda. In an address to York County published in May 1837, MacKenzie wrote Work is the true source of wealth. Later, he added: How are the services of a bank  required to produce the wealth and prosperity which, as I have shown, are the result of a useful application of labour and industry? In no way whatsoever.

We can see that as time progressed, the movement for the liberation of Canada took on a more clear class character. It is obvious that the working class supported and played an important role in the movement, without being powerful enough to form the leadership. But nature abhors a vacuum; with the bourgeoisie not strong enough politically and the proletariat too small and undeveloped to lead the revolution, the leadership of the colonial liberation movement fell mainly upon the petty bourgeoisie, the liberal professionals - for better or for worse.

Radicalization and splitting of the movement

The patriot movement and the reform movement both passed through a period of radicalization. Confronted with the constant refusals from London to give in to anything, the demands became more insistent and the idea of independence gained ground. However, the radicalization of the movement had its downside: the split between the radicals and the moderates. This is a phenomenon that is unique to all revolutions in history: there is always a wing that looks to simply find a compromise in order to take their place in the sun, while another is pushed down the road towards the revolutionary transformation of society.

During this entire period that preceded 1836-1838, the approach of the reformist leadership of the Patriots was to turn to the Crown for a solution regarding the problems in the colonies. They hoped that the Crown would grant the colonies the right to improve their lot and were seeking a compromise within the limits of the system.

This was the spirit of the 92 Resolutions of 1834 in Lower Canada. The resolutions were not written to be read by the masses: endless sentences, written in a language that seems intentionally complex demonstrates this. The resolutions were not intended to galvanize the people, but to convince London.

Even though the resolutions were not a declaration of independence, it was these resolutions that confirmed the split between the radicals and the moderates. It was John Nelson, owner of a print shop and one of the leaders of the Patriot Party, who formed a right-wing group within the Patriots and ended up distancing himself from the party after the publication of the 92 Resolutions. The moderate wing that Nelson led considered them to be too radical: From the moment we attack the constitution, we unleash popular passions. Within Nelson's group at the time was A. Cuvillier, a member of the administrative council of the Bank of Montreal, who ended up leading a militia against the Patriots in 1837! We see here that even at this time, 60 years after the American Revolution, the embryo of the 'progressive' bourgeoisie in Canada had already given up overthrowing colonial rule and was looking to make a favourable deal with the aristocracy. By the 1830s, fear of a popular movement that was too radical was stronger than their desires to cut ties with Britain amongst a layer of the Patriots.

As soon as the right jumped ship, the radical Patriots radicalized even more and they had the support of the population. In 1834, a petition supporting the 92 Resolutions gathered 80,000 names from a population of approximately 600,000. An election in the same year was basically seen as a referendum on the 92 Resolutions (which formed the Patriot's electoral program), and the Patriot Party gained 77 per cent of the votes. John Neilson, the moderate, lost his seat. In Lower Canada, the 92 Resolutions were approved by a large majority of the population, which included English and Irish people. While the Canadian Party (predecessor of the Patriot Party), had Francophone nationalist tendencies, the Patriots became a party of the masses in the province, including Anglophones and Francophones, and became the vehicle by which new organs of power were created in 1837 in Lower Canada.

In Upper Canada, the movement also passed through a period of radicalization in the 1830s. In 1828, the reformists won the majority in the assembly and passed a vote of no confidence in the Executive Council by a majority of 37 out of 38 votes. By the end of 1834, in Upper Canada the Canadian Alliance Society was formed. This was an organization of Patriots which had the objective to educate the masses and to carry out political propaganda with the goal of entering into close alliances with any similar association Lower Canada or the other colonies. Mackenzie, the main leader of the reformists in Upper Canada, who was himself a radical, was, in 1834, elected as the first mayor in the history of Toronto, one of the most important cities in Upper Canada.

The political evolution of Mackenzie was a completed expression of the process of radicalization of the movement. In 1831, MacKenzie wrote to John Neilson, then Patriot leader:

There is a lot of irritation among the people about the procedures of this House, but the system is so corrupt that ... I do not see the cure right now. The people could petition, but what would that serve? The more I understand the system, the more I hate it, and the more I feel disposed to do my best ... to change things.

MacKenzie was therefore a determined leader, and he did not see how Canadians could reach their aspirations within the existing system. His political experience would lead him to the conclusion that only an armed revolutionary uprising and the independence of Upper Canada could lead to the desired reforms. It was a trip to the United Kingdom, where he saw how Ireland was treated, that convinced him that the system that must be changed. MacKenzie turned from reformer to revolutionary. He was the man at the head of mass meetings across the province in the summer of 1837, and at the head of the revolutionary uprising of December 1837. He saw that Canada was on the verge of a revolution.

When MacKenzie and his supporters became more radical in the 1830s, some of the reformers distanced themselves from him. These were mostly Methodists, a religious group led by Egerton Ryerson. The Methodists wanted certain reforms, in particular to counter the hegemony of the Church of England. They were deprived of the right to celebrate marriages or receive land for the construction of chapels or cemeteries. For those reasons, they opposed the colonial aristocracy. However, the Methodists opposed the idea of independence and the growing radicalism of MacKenzie.

Just as in the other revolutionary movements in history, the living struggle between reformism and revolution was in full swing in Canada.

The crisis of the 1830s

The constant refusal of the Crown to grant bourgeois-democratic reforms would have the effect of radicalizing the movement. This was exacerbated by the economic crisis which first broke out in England in 1825.

It started with a major financial collapse. Many British banks disappeared and thousands of companies went bankrupt. The crisis spread to the United States and France, but British investors were the most affected. There was deflation in several sectors, including cotton, textiles and metals. Of course, as colonies, the Canadian provinces were also hit by the crisis.

The crisis deepened throughout 1836 and 1837, when a financial crisis began in New York, resulting in a cessation of activities by American banks. Canadian banks would also cease operations.

The economic crisis added to the existing difficulties of the Canadian provinces. Agricultural methods were outdated, and land monopolies limited the possibility of improving them. The underdeveloped transport network limited the prospect of exporting agricultural products. Farmers quickly found themselves in deep poverty and a debt cycle exacerbated by the crisis. This meant that they could not find outlets for their surplus.

All this favoured a massive exodus to the United States, but also led to the radicalization of the masses that supported the Patriotes and reformers. In 1837, the situation reached a critical point. On the one hand, the Canadian masses could no longer bear the old state of affairs. On the other hand, the government and the ruling classes were also in deep crisis, with the organization of Patriote and Reformer meetings across the two provinces attracting thousands of people. On both sides, it was no longer possible to live as before.

Nationalist struggle or class struggle?

The Lower Canada Rebellion is often presented as an isolated event, ignoring the Upper Canada Rebellion which occurred at the same time. The Lower Canadian uprising is portrayed as a manifestation of French Canadian nationalism, while the abortive insurrection in Upper Canada is hardly worthy of attention.

There is no denying that the specific oppression of French-speaking Lower Canadians played a role in rallying the masses to the cause. The many prejudices faced by Francophones probably explain the radicalization of the movement in Lower Canada relative to its counterpart in Upper Canada. Moreover, the movements in Upper and Lower Canada clearly lacked coordination, which suggests that they were independent of each other.

However, the Patriotes refuted the idea that it was primarily a Francophone nationalist movement. As the conflict developed, the class character of the Rebellions became clearer and the Francophone nationalist character largely went by the wayside. In addition, evidence of solidarity between the movements in Upper and Lower Canada is plentiful, shattering the idea that the Patriotes  movement was an isolated nationalist event.

The Patriotes newspaper La Minerve wrote:

 The colonial consciousness of Canadians shone not 'against the English' but at the sight of the exploiters: French-Canadians do not tend to have exclusive power; they have no national hatred against the English; and as soon as an inhabitant of the country shows that he is really a citizen, one no longer makes a distinction. But those who regard Canada as an exclusive trading post, a place where one can live off the public purse or enrich oneself in order to return to live elsewhere; those who speculate on the properties of the country; they cannot reasonably be recognized as citizens of a country which they do not recognize as theirs and which they would abandon if necessary by shaking the dust from their feet. 

This could hardly be clearer. The struggle in Lower Canada was not specifically against the oppression of culture and language, but against the unbearable exploitation of colonial lords, merchants and administrators. That is, against those who were callously enriching themselves on the backs of the habitants and workers.

Papineau himself commented on what he thought of the struggle: We pretended to believe that our complaints are the fruit of our differences of origin and of Catholicism, when it is commonplace that the ranks of the liberals count a majority of men of all beliefs and origins. But what can be said in support of this argument when we see Upper Canada, where there are few Catholics, and where almost all the inhabitants are of English origin, denounce the same evils and demand the same reforms.

In 1837, a popular assembly of the county of Deux-Montagnes declared:

 We have never maintained, and on the contrary we have always rejected, the unfortunate national distinctions which our common enemies have wickedly sought and seek to foment among us. ... As for us, whatever the fate of the country, we shall work without fear and without reproach, as in the past, to assure to all the people without any distinction, the same rights, equal justice and common liberty. 

National divisions were the tools of the ruling classes. The Patriotes of Lower Canada fought against division on national or linguistic lines. The struggle was a class struggle against the yoke of the aristocracy, led by the petty bourgeoisie and supported by the workers and the habitants. What a striking contrast to Jacques Parizeau, who advocated independence with only the support of Francophone Quebecers!

It's true that the Parti canadien, ancestor of the Parti patriote , was very nationalist. The motto of its newspaper Le Canadien was unequivocal: Our institutions, our language, our laws. However, the Patriotes would move away from this narrow nationalism over the course of the struggle. We see this in the radical Patriote newspaper Le Liberal , which stated:  The progress of civilization is marked everywhere by a coordinated progression ... in the reform 'of institutions and laws' and we could even say 'the language' of a country and added [the English language] will share with the French its empire over all classes of society. As the movement became more radical, the tendency towards a narrow French-Canadian nationalism was pushed to the sidelines.

The many demonstrations of solidarity from the Reformers of Upper Canada to their comrades in Lower Canada must also be noted. MacKenzie recounted a mass meeting held on August 14, 1837: The meeting is over. I believe there were over 600 people present. Never have I seen such excitement ... Everywhere, we hear 'Hurray for Papineau!'

A statement by the Toronto Reformers on July 31, 1837 stated:

 The Reformers of Upper Canada are invited by all ties of sentiment, interest, and duty to make common cause with the citizens of Lower Canada, whose coercion if it succeeds will no doubt one day be ours.

Such solidarity demonstrations were not uncommon, especially in 1837. They displayed that the movement went much further than the specific oppression of French Canadians. The main lesson of this period is the exact opposite of that which Quebec nationalists draw from it. When the movement was at its inception, it tended to be dominated by nationalist ideas. But as the movement grew and became radicalized, it discarded its nationalist ideas and fought for the unity of all religions, nationalities and linguistic groups against the British Crown and for democratic republican administration. A victory for the revolution in the two Canadas is probably the only time to date that the Quebec national question could have been resolved, either by a voluntary alliance or by a freely agreed-upon separation.

1834 was a year of significant radicalization for the Patriot movement. The 92 Resolutions, while not openly demanding independence, posed its possibility if the Crown did not respond positively to the grievances of Lower Canada. The same year also had the Patriots promoting the boycott of British products in protest. As well, the reaction became more and more brutal. For example, in June 1834, British troops opened fire on a peaceful assembly at the Champ de Mars field in Montreal.

In July, the Patriot Party established a permanent Central Committee composed of representatives of parish and county committees which had been established throughout Lower Canada since 1827. The Patriot movement was thus able to expand throughout the province.

In 1835, the authorities were faced with growing pressure from the masses of Lower Canada, who had overwhelmingly elected Patriots, in addition to a quarter of the adult population signing a petition in favour of the 92 Resolutions. In response, London set up a commission of inquiry headed by Lord Gosford, then lieutenant governor of the province. On September 30, 1836, the Assembly of Lower Canada adjourned its proceedings until a new constitution was granted.

A few months later, the Gosford Commission's findings were revealed, and the 10 Russell Resolutions, based on the report, were introduced in Parliament. Not only did the Crown refuse to grant an elected legislative council and responsible government, stating that this was tantamount to true independence, the governor would also be allowed to spend provincial revenues without consulting the assembly. As if that was not enough, regiments from New Brunswick were sent to Lower Canada. There was no doubt that the authorities were preparing for a showdown.

In response to this provocation by the British government, the London Working Men's Association, a Chartist organization, sent the Patriots a declaration in support of their struggle. This shows the increasingly clear class character of the movement, as well as its international importance. The address stated, among other things, Do not think that the millions of workers in England share the feelings of your oppressors. The Chartist organization also organized a protest meeting against the Russell Resolutions, as reported in the Vindicator newspaper: The workers of London met today to defend the political rights of their Canadian comrades. The powerful link between the struggles for colonial emancipation and the nascent labour struggle in England was thus established.

While the active support of the London workers was of invaluable symptomatic importance, the Patriots response to the Association shows what the Patriot movement really was, a class movement against British tyranny, and not only for French Canadians:

Our people depend almost entirely, for their subsistence, on manual and intellectual labor. ... We despise the idler ... which only consumes what others produce.

Whichever attitude the course of things forces us to adopt, we are not fighting against the English people. We are only responding to the aggression of our tyrannical oppressors, who are also their oppressors.

The Russell Resolutions added fuel to the fire. As early as May 1837, popular assemblies propagated throughout the province. The first, held at Saint-Ours, literally declared the independence of the province: Looking at ourselves bound only by force to the English government ... we regard it as our duty, as our honour to resist, by all means presently in our possession, against a tyrannical power.

In mid-June 1837, Lord Gosford forbade all popular assemblies in Lower Canada. Here, the reaction only provoked the revolution. Three days later, 4,000 people gathered at an assembly in Berthier, and another of the same size was held in Montreal. The assemblies began to propagate once more.

Within Lower Canada, local state institutions were virtually non-existent. There were no full-time representatives of the government in the countryside. There were officials responsible for the administration of everyday business, but only in urban areas. In the autumn of 1837, the Patriots began to establish a local administration, with elected judges and militia officers. A new government was emerging, through the very necessity of events. In addition, a patriotic paramilitary organization was founded, the Sons of Liberty, inspired by the organization of the same name created during the American Revolution.

Organs of a new power were thus established. Patriot power would obviously have to face British power, a situation of dual power being by nature unstable and temporary. The anti-Patriot newspaper Le Populaire was quite right when it said: "The revolution begins!

The culmination of patriotic mobilization was the People's Assembly of the Six Counties of October 23, in which 5,000 people gathered in Saint-Charles. It was on this occasion that Dr. Wolfred Nelson declared that it was time to prepare for the armed resistance, to which Papineau was opposed: Well! I differ in opinion with Monsieur Papineau. I contend that the time has come to melt our dishes and our tin spoons into bullets.

The assembly reiterated what had been adopted in May at St. Ours, and sanctioned the Sons of Liberty. However, the assembly did not appeal to arms or insurrection. The initiative was then passed to the British forces. Joe Colborne, now at the Colonial Military Command, convinced the governor to issue arrest warrants against the Patriot leaders. The Patriots took refuge with their troops in the villages of the Richelieu Valley to defend themselves. The fighting was about to begin, and it was the Patriots who were in a defensive position, facing 6,000 men who had received superior arms and training.

The Patriots were mostly in Saint-Denis and Saint-Charles, and the attack on the British forces began on November 23 at Saint-Denis, at about nine o'clock in the morning. Some 800 Patriots led by Dr. Wolfred Nelson were waiting for the enemy, and only 100 were armed! The Patriots were barricaded in houses, and succeeded for six hours in repelling their adversary, who were trying to take the village. A hundred Patriots arrived from the neighbouring village and struck the English troops to defend Nelson. The colonial troops began to lose ground, and at three o'clock their commander, Colonel Gore, ordered a retreat. The Patriots, who were badly armed in addition to rudimentary preparation, had repulsed the powerful British army!

The news spread rapidly. On November 24th, Girod, a Patriot leader who was in Saint-Eustache, learned that Montreal was in a state of extreme panic and that there were scarcely any troops present. He decided that the time was right to try to seize the city, but the other leaders convinced him to give up this idea and remain on the defensive. Again, the leadership was reluctant to move forward. Girod himself said: For the first time, I repent that I placed my trust in such hesitant people.

The celebration was therefore short lived. Another attack on the British forces began on November 25 in Saint-Charles, not far from Saint-Denis. The commander of the Patriot forces, T. Storrow Brown, fled at the start of the confrontation, leaving his 200 men without leadership in the face of the enemy. The Patriots of Saint-Charles were massacred. Five days later, Colonel Gore returned to Saint-Denis to avenge his defeat, and burned the whole village with the exception of two houses. The victory of Saint-Denis was a thing of the past, and the British forces began the massacre of the Patriots and the complete destruction of Deux-Montagnes county, the bastion of the Patriots.

On December 5, martial law was proclaimed in the district of Montreal, and pillaging, destruction, and massacres began. On December 14, Saint-Eustache was burned to the ground by the British. Approximately sixty Patriots fell in the battle. The next day, it was Saint-Benoit's turn. A prison letter from Girouard described the destruction of the village: Then began scenes of devastation and destruction more atrocious than one has ever seen, murder alone excepted, in a city taken by assault and given up to plunder after a long and painful siege.

In February 1838, a new expedition from the United States was led by Robert Nelson and Dr. Cote. This was also impeded by the powerful British army, but is worth noting because of the Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada written by Nelson. It declared that the province was a republic, that the seigneurial tenures were abolished, that English and French would become the languages of public affairs, that equal rights would be granted to the natives - the savages as the document called them - etc. The document also contained important limitations, such as the fact that women would have been deprived of the right to vote. In any case, this document betrayed the true character of the movement of 1837-38, a bourgeois-democratic movement directed not against the English but against British tyranny.

In the end, the Patriot movement of Lower Canada was annihilated before it even had time to prepare a real insurrection, except for a few adventures in 1838, such as Nelson and Dr. Cote. The Patriots had enormous support among the masses of the province, but were not able to use this support to overthrow the colonial government. The twelve Patriot leaders hanged on February 15, 1839 will remain a symbol - a symbol of the class struggle, the struggle against oppression and exploitation.

Insurrection in Upper Canada

Similar to Lower Canada, the troubles in Upper Canada continued throughout 1838 but the decisive acts of the revolution occurred towards the end of 1837.

In 1836, the demands of the reformers for a responsible government were again refused by the Crown and a new governor general for the province, Sir Francis Bond Head, was in charge of delivering the news.

Bond Head tried to buy peace with the reformers by appointing two of them, Dr. Rolph and Robert Baldwin to the executive council. But they were never consulted and resigned in protest. As tensions raised between Bond Head and the reformers, he decided to dissolve the assembly in May 1836 and call new elections. Bond Head put into play his propaganda machine to intimidate the population to not vote for the disloyal reformers. He made reference to a so-called imminent invasion by the United States in order to justify a vote for the Tories. Drunken bandits were used to intimidate voters. This campaign of fear and propaganda may have worked in the electoral arena, but it only served to radicalize the reform movement.

On July 4th, 1836, the 60th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, MacKenzie and the reformers launched a new paper, The Constitution. This paper was openly radical, referencing the revolution and the overthrow of colonial authority.

In the spring of 1837 the Russell resolutions provoked a backlash among Lower Canadians and the reformers of Upper Canada gave their support to the struggle against the resolutions. On April 17th, 1883, an assembly of the Toronto Alliance Society denounced the resolutions and offered their support for the Patriots.

In July 1837, the Constitution unambiguously posed the question: Will Canadians proclaim independence and take up arms? On July 31st, 1837, a meeting of reformers in Toronto declared their support for Papineau and the Patriots and called for public meetings all over the province, with the election of delegates for a convention to be held in Toronto to make decisions about political conditions in Upper Canada. This statement in essence amounted to a declaration for a revolution. It should be noted that Dr. Rolph, a prominent reformer, did not sign the Toronto declaration.

The reformers, with MacKenzie at their head, began organizing political meetings all over the province, often met with enormous support. In the city of London, a reactionary journal, ironically called The Patriot, directly threatened MacKenzie and suggested that he should not show up there, otherwise he would be prevented for good. MacKenzie, upon arriving in London, was met with such overwhelming support that no incident took place. Between August and November, 200 meetings were held and 1,500 men were enlisted to lead the struggle for independence.

Battle of Montgomery's Tavern / Image: Canadian Military Heritage

In November, the reformers realized that the situation was getting worse in Lower Canada. The leadership of the reformers decided that the time for the insurrection had arrived. On December 7th when British troops were busy pacifying Lower Canada, the reform forces were supposed to: gather in Montgomery, three miles from Toronto and then they were to march on the city; seize the 4,000 weapons left at the Town Hall by Bond Head, arrest him and his councilors; declare the province independent; entrust a convention with the drafting of a new constitution; and declare Dr. Rolph, administrator of the provisional government. Rolph was to be in charge of making contact with Papineau and the Patriots. "The country was ripe for change," stated MacKenzie.

The declaration of independence that was to be distributed on December 7th was printed and remains one of the most daring and revolutionary documents in the country's history.

Brave Canadians! Do you like freedom? I know that you do. Do you hate oppression? Who would dare to deny it? Then strap on your armor and overthrow the bandits who oppress and enslave our country ...

We can not find agreement with England ... they are never going to govern us justly or let us go - we are determined to not rest as long as we have not attained independence

Everything was ready for the assault on Toronto but at the last moment the plans were ruined by Dr. Rolph. Without even warning MacKenzie, Rolph gave orders to march on Toronto on December 4th, three days earlier than expected. The troops led by the reformer Samuel Lount were sent off before MacKenzie had the time to stop the disaster. Very few people had been informed of this and the majority were still preparing for the 7th, so instead of marching on Toronto on the 7th with 4,000, the reformers attacked on the 4th with only 200. The next day 800 reformers arrived, but very few had weapons and reinforcements started leaving when they took note of this situation.

On December 5th, reformer troops met a delegation sent by Bond Head to negotiate. The stance taken by the reformers during the negotiations was that they didn't want a truce but independence. And who was at the head of the delegation sent by the despised lieutenant governor? None other than Dr. Rolph and Robert Baldwin, another eminent reformer. This betrayal of two key leaders had a detrimental effect on the morale of the troops. Later, when the reformers tried obtain information about the attack that was being planned by Rolph, the former reformer had already fled.

On December 6th, forces loyal to Bond Head had arrived: 1,200 men, better armed and more prepared than the 600 poorly armed reformers remaining. In the meantime, the reformers had lost colonel Anthony Anderson, the only experienced military leader. This contributed to the disorganization of the reformers. MacKenzie's troops fought as best as they could but were forced to retreat, faced with an enemy that was too powerful. This was a fatal defeat for the Canadian insurrection and MacKenzie was forced to flee to the United States.

Other attempts were made later on, the most serious of which took place on December 13th on Navy Island, where a provisional government was proclaimed by MacKenzie, with the help of Americans. However this attempt was short lived. 600 men were on the island, half of which were Americans. On December 29th the American steamship Carolina, which was supposed to bring supplies to the revolutionaries, was torched by nearby loyalist forces.

The leadership of the provisional government was paralyzed. Van Ressenllaer, an American 'general' who in reality had very little experience or initiative, did nothing in response to the Carolina incident. MacKenzie meanwhile was only a shadow of the inspiring leader he was a few months earlier, the defeat in Toronto had completely demoralized him. Faced with a crisis of leadership, the revolutionary troops ended up leaving Navy Island on January 13th. Other attempts at an uprising from the United States were attempted in 1838, however most of them remained isolated and as the leadership of the movement was now in the hands of American sympathizers, this greatly aided loyalist propaganda.

The leaders of the movement were decimated, hanged, deported or imprisoned. On April 12th, 1838, Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews, two of the most

prominent leaders of the reformers were hanged in a public square. After the Battle of the Windmill in November 1838, which saw 250 insurgents revolt against British troops, eleven more were hanged. The British wanted to ensure the complete submission of the revolutionary forces and, as in Lower Canada, they used terror. In January 1839, six other revolutionaries were hanged in front of the Windsor courthouse while another was hanged in London. A London Presbyterian minister declared at the time May God take pity on us if we are led by the Tories  these ogres whose thirst for blood must be satisfied.

The Canadian revolutionaries, ill-prepared and with a hesitant leadership, were met with ruthless British forces that were unleashed and enthusiastically drowned the revolution in blood.

Lack of leadership

The Patriots and the reformers had enormous support among the population of the two provinces, particularly in Lower Canada. So how was it that they were unable to carry out their program, as well as the revolution?

It is clear that the balance of forces was unfavorable in the Canadian provinces. The movements in Upper and Lower Canada were faced with a Great Britain that was armed to the teeth, at its height as a world power and therefore capable of concentrating its forces of repression against the provinces. Also, in contrast to the American revolution, which was able to count on aid from France, the Canadian provinces were left completely on their own. But these exterior factors alone cannot explain the defeat.

There is no doubt that the leadership of the movement in the two provinces was severely lacking. In a revolution, good leadership is necessary and quite often can make the difference between victory and defeat. At crucial moments in history, the victory or defeat of a movement can rest on the shoulders of a few, or even one individual.

In Upper Canada, the betrayal of the leadership destroyed the revolution. The fact that Rolph prematurely began the insurrection only to meet the reformers as a representative of Bond Head and then flee is the most fatal example of this. MacKenzie himself stated:

Influential people who promised to join our ranks and even the members of our executive committee who our premature and unfortunate action did not come to meet us and did not even communicate with us. I was incapable of of explaining their conduct which discouraged many and emptied our ranks.

In Lower Canada, the leadership of the Patriots was radicalized over the years, but they never prepared their supporters for an armed conflict with the colonial authority and even when this happened, the Patriot troops were on the defensive, without any preparation. Papineau himself stated two years later that: I challenge the British government to contradict me when I say that none of us had prepared, intended or planned for an armed resistance. The battle at Saint-Denis proved that the Patriots could defeat the British forces. If they had been prepared in advance by a leadership that understood the necessity of an armed uprising, the Patriots could have, without a doubt, installed a new republican government in Lower Canada, like that of their neighbours to the south. The impact on Upper Canada would have been immense: the entire situation would have been completely transformed.

Shooting of Col. Robert Moodie / Image: Toronto Public Library

Lord Durham, the man in charge of investigating the events of 1837-1838 in Lower Canada, said himself of the Rebellions that The movement could have succeeded, even without the help of the United States, if the French-Canadians had been better prepared and if they had better leaders. It must be underlined that the right-wing of the movement contributed to the Patriots being paralyzed.

The British troops, on the other hand, were duly prepared to crush the uprising. Having learned from its defeat at the hands of the Americans 60 years earlier, the Crown knew that it must nip the rebellion in the bud, before the Patriots had time to realize the necessity of an organized revolutionary uprising. Lord Durham himself confirms that the rebellion in Lower Canada had been precipitated by the British, who had an instinctive sense of the danger of allowing more time for Canadians to prepare. Thus, without political and military preparation and faced with a more powerful enemy, the Patriot troops were doomed to defeat. However, it could have been otherwise, had the leadership prepared its innumerable supporters for a real insurrection.

Therefore, the petty-bourgeois leadership of the movement led the movement to defeat. The liberal petty bourgeoisie, ardently sympathetic with the inhabitants and the proletariat, but confused as to the political program and the methods of struggle, rendered the revolutionary movement powerless due to their hesitations. The confusion was evident, particularly in Lower Canada, on the question of the abolition of seigniorial rights, which was not even included in the Patriots program. It was not until the Declaration of Independence in February 1838 that the question would be dealt with adequately, by demanding the abolition of these rights. Until then, the Patriots had an ambiguous position on the issue, which showed that the leadership had a quite narrow vision of the struggle that was taking shape, and basically, that the latter did not wish to profoundly change society.

The weak repercussion of the American revolution

There is no doubt that political leadership was lacking in the Canadian bourgeois revolution, but this explanation of the defeat is insufficient. We must be able to understand why the Canadian revolution was left with a reactionary bourgeoisie and such a frightened petty bourgeoisie, which was unable, or even unwilling, to rouse the people against the Crown. The analysis of European bourgeois revolutions before and after the rebellions will allow us to have a better understanding of the revolutionary process on the continent.

The bourgeois revolutions in England and France, especially the latter, are two classic bourgeois revolutions. As Marx explained in his articles on the Revolution of March 1848 in Prussia:

The revolutions of 1648 and 1789 were not English and French revolutions, they were revolutions in the European fashion. They did not represent the victory of a particular social class over the old political system; they proclaimed the political system of the new European society. The bourgeoisie was victorious in these revolutions, but the victory of the bourgeoisie was at that time the victory of a new social order, the victory of bourgeois ownership over feudal ownership, of nationality over provincialism, of competition over the guild, of partitioning [of the land] over primogeniture, of the rule of the landowner over the domination of the owner by the land, of enlightenment over superstition, of the family over the family name, of industry over heroic idleness, of bourgeois law over medieval privileges. The revolution of 1648 was the victory of the seventeenth century over the sixteenth century; the revolution of 1789 was the victory of the eighteenth century over the seventeenth. These revolutions reflected the needs of the world at that time rather than the needs of those parts of the world where they occurred, that is, England and France.

On the great French Revolution, Trotsky wrote:

In the heroic period of French history we saw a bourgeoisie, enlightened, active, as yet not aware of the contradictions of its own position, upon whom history had imposed the task of leadership in the struggle for a new order, not only against the outworn institutions of France but also against the reactionary forces of the whole of Europe.

What enabled the bourgeoisie to be victorious in the French Revolution? It was precisely the fact that the bourgeoisie was not conscious of the contradictions implied by their position, or rather thatthe antagonism between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat and other oppressed strata of the nation had not developed. Marx says, on the subject of the English and French bourgeois revolutions:

In both revolutions the bourgeoisie was the class that really headed the movement. The proletariat and the non-bourgeois strata of the middle class had either not yet evolved interests which were different from those of the bourgeoisie or they did not yet constitute independent classes or class divisions.

Trotsky elaborated:

The bourgeoisie, consistently, in all its factions, regarded itself as the leader of the nation, rallied the masses to the struggle, gave them slogans and dictated their fighting tactics. Democracy bound the nation together with a political ideology. The people  urban petty-bourgeois, peasants and workers  elected bourgeois as their deputies, and the instructions given these deputies by their constituents were written in the language of a bourgeoisie coming to awareness of its messianic mission.

However, analyzing the revolutions of 1848, Trotsky stated that The year 1848 already differs tremendously from 1789. In comparison with the Great Revolution, the Prussian and Austrian Revolutions surprise one with their insignificant sweep. In one way they took place too early and in another too late. What does this mean?

History shows us that when bourgeois revolutions arise, the antagonism between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat has already reached a certain degree of development and the bourgeoisie become frightened, see democratic concessions as a threat to its power and therefore goes over to the side of the reaction. It is sometimes hostile to monarchies and other remnants of the past, but is even more hostile to the proletariat, which is beginning to establish itself as a class with independent interests.

This is why we see the alliances in several countries between the capitalists and the remnants of feudal, monarchical, colonial or semi-colonial regimes, etc., alliances designed tosubduethe bourgeois revolution. In some cases, the interpenetration of capitalist and feudal interests renders the bourgeois and the feudalists almost inseparable. The bourgeoisie therefore becomes reactionary even before having secured the conditions for its own political domination. That is why we say that they arrivedtoo lateon the scene of history.

Thus the revolution of 1848 came too late in the sense that the antagonism between the bourgeoisie and the proletariathad already developed sufficiently to throw the bourgeoisie into the camp of reaction. In its own revolution, in 1848, the bourgeoisie preferred to maintain the monarchy rather than overthrow it. It preferred to share power with the supporters of the monarchy rather than risk rousing the proletariat and a movement that could go beyond the strictly bourgeois objectives (Republicanism, agrarian reform, etc.).

The bourgeoisie was no longer the leader of the nation, but turned against the nation. The revolution of 1848, on the scale of history, arrived too late to succeed in the manner of 1789.

In this context,the tasks of the bourgeois revolution, namely agrarian reform, the establishment of bourgeois democracy and the creation of a unified nation free from national oppression,are the tasks of the proletariat, which has become the only progressive class under capitalism.

But in this sense, the revolutions of 1848 arrivedtoo early, for the proletariat had not yet had time to form its own organizations, to separate itself completely from the bourgeoisie, and to gain the experience of struggle and cohesion necessary for the overthrow of the established order.

What does this tell us about the revolutionary process in North America?

The classical bourgeois revolution on the continent was the American Revolution of 1776. For the first time in the history of the Americas, a colony liberated itself from its colonial oppressor. The American Revolution changed the course of human history.

The nascent American bourgeoisie was able to unite the nation behind it in order to overthrow the regime of colonial oppression. Like the French Revolution, the American Revolution succeededbecause the antagonism was not sufficiently developed between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat and other oppressed layers. Unsurprisingly, the class contradictions in American society quickly surfaced, notably with Shays Rebellion in 1787 which was brutally crushed by the new regime.

What about 1837-1838? Stanley B. Ryerson, a well-known Canadian Marxist historian, said that the failure of the bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1837-1838 resides in the insufficient development of industrial capitalism in the colony ... and consequently the absence of an organized working class ... Thus, the situation was not yet ripe for a democratic bourgeois revolution.

This analysis is fundamentally flawed. In reality, the conditions described by Ryerson were not present at the time of the English Revolution of 1648, nor the American Revolution of 1776, nor the French Revolution of 1789. The bourgeoisie was able to carry out these revolutions precisely because the development of capitalism was in its early stages and the working class constituted a small minority, a simple embryo without independent class interests. This enabled the bourgeoisie to speak in the name of the nation.

Rather than creating conditions for a victoriousbourgeoisrevolution, the development of an organized working class, as Ryerson described it, is the prelude to a victoriousproletarianrevolution. The more the working class develops, the more reactionary the bourgeoisie becomes, particularly in colonial and semi colonial countries. Therefore, the role of the proletariat becomes more important.

The American Revolution of 1776 was not able to spread to what Canada was at the time. As the Canadian provinces remained under British colonial domination, the contradictions of the colonial regime, as explained above, began to develop and create the conditions for a revolutionary regime change during the 1830s.

But in 1837-1838 the Canadian bourgeoisie was already reactionary. The part of the bourgeoisie that supported the demands of the movements quickly disassociated itself from them when it became clear that a mass movement was needed for the overthrow of the established order. The bourgeoisie already had a greater fear of the revolution than it had contempt for colonial oppression. It preferred to ally with the Crown and share power, rather than overthrow it.

The class contradictions between the bourgeoisie and the small Canadian proletariat and other oppressed strata, farmers,habitantsand others, were sufficiently developed for the bourgeoisie to stand on the side of reaction. However, the proletariat was not sufficiently developed, not organized or sufficiently conscious, to take the lead. Thus the petty bourgeoisie took the lead role.

But the petty bourgeoisie of Canada, due to its intermediary position, vacillated. This behavior is characteristic of this class. The petty-bourgeois revolutionaries in Canada wanted a republic, modeled on America, but were hesitant about the idea of a real revolution. They wanted the result of the class struggle, without the struggle itself. They wanted a baby without going through the painful process of childbirth.

Marx, speaking about the Prussian Revolution of 1848, said that Far from being a European revolution it was merely a weak repercussion of a European revolution in a backward country. Instead of being ahead of its century, it was over half a century behind its time. In Canada, the rebellions were only a weak repercussion, sixty years after the American Revolution. Compared with 1776, the rebellions too, are surprising in their insignificance. The class contradictions of society have developed to the point where the bourgeoisie is comfortable enough in an alliance with the British colonial authorities to turn against the revolution. The Canadian petty bourgeoisie for its part, no longer wanted the colonial system and denounced its abuses, but did not want to carry the revolution to its conclusion.

It can therefore be said that 1848 is to 1789 in Europe, as 1837-1838 is to 1776 in America: the echo of a previous revolution in a country where the bourgeoisie has become reactionary, in a country where national unity has been made impossible due to the development of class contradictions. This is the historical significance of 1837-1838.

The general character of the revolution was that of a late, provincial revolution, led by a petty bourgeoisie, which in general wished nothing more than a place in the sun. This expressed itself in all aspects of the movement. The issue of women is a good example.

It was mentioned earlier that the Declaration of Independence of February 1838 guaranteed the right to vote only to men. This is just one example of latent sexism in Canadian society in general at the time. In 1834, the right to vote had been withdrawn from the women of Lower Canada by the Patriot members the assembly, which was met with general indifference. The strict distinction between male and female roles served as an almost universal principle.

Marx explained that the tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living. Indeed, in Canada the tradition of oppression and exclusion of women from all political activity did weigh heavily on society.

However that cannot explain everything, because tradition has not prevented women from playing a huge role in most of the great revolutions in history. The French Revolution resulted in the exclusion of women from the political process. Despite this, it was the sans-culottes women who played a leading role, pushing the revolution to go all the way, as opposed to the Girondists who wished to reach a compromise with the monarchy. Similarly, it was the workers in Petrograd who triggered the February Revolution, which put an end to the tsarist regime in Russia in 1917. Women, as an an oppressed group, have more to gain from the victory of a revolution, and are therefore doubly inclined to get involved to fight for the victory of the revolution.

What about the Rebellions of 1837-1838, the aborted Canadian bourgeois revolution?

The idea that the revolution in Canada was only the weak echo of the American Revolution also applies here. The leaders of the Patriot and reform movements, incapable of rousing the people with a view to real revolution and probably unwilling to do so, were even less able to mobilize the particularly oppressed strata of society (the Patriots would make a very late appeal to women). All this was the result of the backwardness of the Canadian revolution and the resulting poor leadership.

The American bourgeoisie, after having led the people - including women - into the revolutionary war, had time to turn into a reactionary force, crushing the left wing of the revolution and institutionalizing the oppression of women and blacks, among others. Canada has to a certain extent absorbed the manners of the descending phase of the American Revolution, without having had time to absorb the American revolutionary energy of the past in order to make its own bourgeois revolution. So it should be no surprise that women were not very enthusiastic about the Patriots call, as it was hesitating between reformism and revolution, and insistent that women remain contained in the private sphere.

It was a similar case with indigenous peoples. Unable to rally them in a meaningful way to the struggle, the Patriots faced the mistrust from the Kahnawake Iroquois in November 1837, who refused to help the Patriots, in an atmosphere of confusion and rumors of attack by the Patriots on Kahnawake. A detailed analysis of the relationship between Aboriginals and settlers is beyond the scope of this article, but it seems clear once again that the Patriots made little effort to seek solidarity with Aboriginal peoples' in the struggle against the yoke of the British Empire.

A new revolution must take place

The attempted bourgeois democratic revolution in Upper and Lower Canada failed, but the Rebellions paved the way for changes in the colonies. The first reform, that of the Act of Union of 1841, institutionalized the oppression of the French Canadians. The merger of Lower and Upper Canada and the formation of the United Province of Canada gave as many MPs to Canada West (predominantly English) as to Canada East (mostly French), even though Canada East had a much larger population. The stated goal was the assimilation of French Canadians, another classic example of the "divide and rule" strategy. Rather than letting the two colonies have their respective governments, which would favour a united struggle for democratic demands, the Crown preferred to unite them on the backs of the French Canadians, which would pit them against each other and make it easier to rule over thetwopeoples.

Although Canada is no longer a British colony today, the reforms of the second half of the nineteenth century remained incomplete, so that Canada never became a true democratic republic, and still has the British Queen on its currency today. Like everywhere else in the former colonial or semi-colonial countries, the bourgeoisie solved the democratic questions in a partial, incomplete, truncated way.

Canada has moved from a collection of British colonies, to an imperialist country that is actively involved in the plundering of the world and the defence of the capitalist system in the face of emerging social movements. Today, the task of getting rid of the last rotten relics of the monarchy, both for Quebecers and Canadians, is incumbent upon the working class of the whole country in its wider struggle to overthrow imperialism and the capitalist system it protects.

If the proletariat in 1837-1838, due to its embryonic state and the equally embryonic state of its organizations, was still lagging behind the petty bourgeoisie, the modern proletariat is now certainly in a position to play a dominant, independent political role. The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, the Asbestos Strike of 1949, and the quasi-insurrectional general strike of 1972 in Quebec demonstrated the revolutionary potential of the working class.

The banner of the Patriots must now make way for the banner of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky and Rosa Luxemburg: the banner of communism.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko intends to visit the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas on Thursday, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Rostyslav Pavlenko said.

"Unfortunately, there is war. The president is on a regional trip today. Today also marks the Marine Corps Day, and therefore he considers it his duty to be near fighters at the front," Pavlenko said at the Civil Society Development Forum "Practice of Freedom" in Kyiv on Thursday.

On Thursday, November 16, Ukraine marks the Marine Corps day.

Units of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy are deployed in Mariupol.
A Ludlow landmark for more than 30 years, Tony & Pennies Restaurant represents independent restaurant operation at its best.

Located just off East Street, Tony & Pennies maintains a cozy location in which to enjoy a meal; the space includes a diminutive lounge and an equally compact dining room.

The menu at Tony & Pennies brings together multiple dining traditions. The kitchen is ready to prepare always-popular Italian American dishes such as Linguine Alfredo ($14), Shrimp Scampi ($18), and Veal Parmigiana ($19) as well as a spicy Zuppa de Pesce ($22).

The gastronomic agenda also incorporates classics that range from Oven Roasted Chicken ($14) and Grilled Pork Chops ($17) to Rack of Lamb ($25).

Seafood favorites are available as well, with patrons able to indulge in the likes of Baked Boston Scrod ($18), Grilled Salmon ($19), or Fried Sea Scallops ($22).

Authentic Portuguese dishes -- Bacalhau (salt cod - $22), Bife a Casa (traditionally garnished sirloin steak - $19.50) and red-pepper-spicy Shrimp Mocambique ($21) -- are house specialties at Tony & Pennies.

For starters patrons can opt for Iberian-inspired choices that include Flaming Chourica ($7.50) or Little Necks Pato Style (with garlic and olive oil - $8).

Conventional first course selections such as Mozzarella Sticks ($6), Shrimp Cocktail ($8), and Scallops Wrapped in Bacon ($9) are available as well.

We voted for variety, kicking things off with a Combo Platter ($9) of pasteis de bacalhau (codfish cakes), rissois de camarao (shrimp cakes), and calamari. The platter proved to be an enjoyable preface to our dinner; the small, half-moon-shaped cod and shrimp cakes pleasantly crusted on the exterior while offering subtle seafood flavors inside. Golden fried calamari, clean tasting and grease-free, completed the presentation, while a portion of chunky marinara sauce was provided for dipping purposes.

For our dinners we turned to a pair of signature dishes.

Suggestive of 1960s-style dining out fare, Tony's Mixed Grill Combo ($23) was handsomely crafted.

Two chicken breast filets were joined on the plate by pork tenderloin cutlets that we guessed had been marinated in a "house sauce." A mixture of lemon juice, pepper, garlic, olive oil and spices, house sauce is a kitchen staple that Portuguese cooks rely on to boost flavor in the dishes they prepare.

A tender, perfectly prepared beef filet medallion completed the mixed grill.

Our other main course choice was Tony's Famous Seafood Rice Combo ($23).

A dish named after the restaurant's owner, Antonio Sebastiao, the combo is a variation on mariscada, the Portuguese seafood stew. Prepared in an individual cast iron casserole, the preparation incorporated whole clams, shrimp, scallops, and a half lobster, all of which had been simmered with rice and a mildly spicy red sauce infused with bell pepper, green onion, and tomato.

The result is a fragrant, entirely enjoyable seafood experience.

Entrees at Tony & Pennies come with a choice of soup or salad. The kale soup we sampled was hearty but mild-mannered, incorporating plenty of shredded kale into a potato soup base.

Warm rolls with butter are also provided.

Fully licensed, the restaurant serves cocktails and beer. In addition to offering a small array of red and white vintages primarily of California origin, the bar stocks several Portuguese wines.

For dessert, Tony & Pennies suggests both in-house and made-elsewhere possibilities.

Diners can enjoy simple options, such as Spumoni or Fried Ice Cream (both $5), or instead get fancy with the likes of a Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake ($7.)

We decided to reacquaint ourselves with the kitchen's "Pudim Flan" ($4.50), a dessert we'd enjoyed during previous visits. The flan was as satisfying as we remembered, a delicate egg custard lightly infused with caramelized sugar.

An Amaretto Parfait ($6.50), our other dessert selection, was a delightful throwback to 1960s-style dining. It brought together, sundae-style, vanilla ice cream, a hefty drizzle of almond liqueur, and a crowning rosette of whipped topping.

Dishing up an appealing variety of dining experiences, Tony & Pennies, we agreed, offers skillfully prepared food and friendly, professional service.



Name: Tony & Pennies Restaurant

Address: 18 Canterbury Street, Ludlow

Telephone: (413) 583-6351

Website: tonyandpenny.com

Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.

Entree prices: $12 - $25

Credit cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Handicapped access: Accessible, with rest rooms equipped for wheelchairs

Reservations: Accepted






The Berklee College of Music is addressing the school's transparency practices after numerous sexual misconduct allegations were uncovered in a Boston Globe investigation.

The news investigation has prompted a wave of student response, including a protest outside the Boston college on Monday.

#Berklee students protest in light of sexual harassment allegations at the music school #WBUR pic.twitter.com/oGZanpjNj1  Yasmin Amer (@yasminamer) November 13, 2017

At a Berklee open forum live-streamed by one attendee on Monday, President Roger Brown revealed that 11 faculty members had been removed from Berklee over the past 13 years. In a statement, Brown confirmed the 11 terminated faculty members had been fired for "sexual harassment and/or assault," according to the Washington Post.

"To everyone who has been harassed or abused at Berklee, I am so sorry," Brown told the crowd of students. "I apologize for this institution. It's unacceptable. It breaks my heart."

He promised students that the school would implement changes to ensure sexual misconduct cases were heard and addressed properly. Such changes would include the creation of a working group, with student members, to focus on sexual assault and harassment at the college.

Brown also said Berklee will be more transparent by publicly reporting investigations into sexual misconduct and identifying any student or staff member asked to leave the school.

At the open forum, students lined up at microphones in the school auditorium to share their frustrations about a lack of transparency and accountability with how administrators handle sexual misconduct cases.

Berklee College of Music walkout over school's handling of sexual harassment pic.twitter.com/my7nUo5oL1  Kay Lazar (@GlobeKayLazar) November 13, 2017

Since the Globe's report, three of the four accused faculty members were fired after an investigation by the school.

Part-time faculty member Jeff Galindo, who a female student alleges sexually assaulted her in 2012, was one of those fired by the music college. The anonymous victim told the Globe she was encouraged to keep quiet by Berklee administrators.

Jazz saxaphonist Greg Osby denied allegations of pressuring a female student to have sex in 2012, telling the Globe, "I am not an idiot." On Twitter, Osby ranted the newspaper quoted him out of context and that he has always been a "die hard supporter of women's rights."

See a live-stream of the open forum held at Berklee on Monday here:
The Boston Board of Appeal held a hearing on a medical-marijuana dispensary on Newbury Street on Tuesday.

As first reported by Universal Hub, the board approved of the dispensary for Geoffrey Reillinger's Compassionate Organics, so long as he did not seek to sell recreational marijuana in the future. Reilinger also agreed to pay for police details in the area and secure 10 car parking spots at a nearby garage as to not create roadway congestion.

Throughout the hearing, residents lined up for comments, some voicing their support for the dispensary and others opposition. The board reminded them often to stick to topics related to zoning, which did not stop speakers from getting sidetracked.

One of the most controversial comments came from Commonwealth Avenue resident Oliver Curme, who said the dispensary would bring "undesirable elements into the neighborhood," like those seeking medical marijuana for suffering from post traumatic stress disorder or breast cancer.

"All my friends and I are against this because it'll bring undesirable elements into the neighborhood," Curme said.

"Just so you know what I mean, there are army vets with PTSD. We don't want them in our neighborhood. Just give me a break. They can get over it. The second thing is people with wheelchairs, M.S. or whatever," Curme said, making a mocking gesture with his hands.

"Well the third one is women with breast cancer. They all have that cadaverous look and they wear those ridiculous turbans. Newbury Street is a high-end shopping district. We don't want people like that scaring off our clientele."

The comments did not go unnoticed. A board member cut Curme off saying, "We got your message loud and clear."

Curme told NBC Boston his comments were satire to highlight the real need for medicinal marijuana.

"The point that I was trying to make is a marijuana dispensary will bring in the people who really need this, people who are sick, people who have cancer, and this is the only choice for them," Curme told the news channel.

"If you listen to what I said it was so over the top that I think it's the only way they could have been construed."

Will Luzier, a lawyer who worked with marijuana advocates to pass the recreational marijuana bill in Massachusetts over the last two years, appeared shocked at Curme's comments.

But besides Curme and a few others who opposed the dispensary, many came out to voice support.

A man by the name of Rick Sebastian, who worked as a carpenter for Geoffrey Reillinger, said the use of medical marijuana was "a pivotal point" in his recovery after lacerating his wrist and transitioning off of opiates.

Ann Hochberg, attorney for the family that has owned the Back Bay building where the dispensary would be located, said the space has a rich history. She said the owners bought the building "on the funkier end of Newbury Street" in 1962. Over the years it's served as a hardware store, art supplies store and recording studio where Aerosmith once recorded songs.

"This use is better than having an empty store front because retail is down due to e-commerce and other factors," Hochberg said. On the controversy surrounding the dispensary, she added, "There's been a lot of heat generated and not much light."
A man, dubbed the "Spelling Bee Bandit" due to his consistent spelling errors during bank robberies, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday.

Jason S. Englen, 34, of Chelsea, pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery.

The first robbery occurred on Halloween last year when Englen approached a teller at a TD Bank branch in Arlington and presented a note demanding cash.

In following weeks, three more banks were hit including TD bank branches in Peabody and Reading as well as a branch of Salem Five in Burlington. In all four robberies, a handwritten note presented had "robbery" misspelled.

He was arrested on multiple bank robbery charges in December of last year, about a month after the fourth bank robbery.

Englen is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 28, 2018.
SPRINGFIELD -- Fire officials say an unidentified truck driver is responsible for an estimated 20 to 30 gallons of fuel dumped in an Island Pond Road parking lot Wednesday afternoon.

Dennis Leger, aid to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said the driver apparently mistakenly pumped gasoline into the diesel-powered dump truck. When the truck began to falter near 128 Island Pond Road, the driver pulled into a parking lot, entered a nearby auto parts store and bought a siphon kit. Witnesses said he raised the dump body of the truck and siphoned the fuel mixture from the truck's tank onto the ground.

Employees of a nearby pharmacy called authorities to complain, but the driver left before the Fire Department could make it to area.

Rescue No. 3, the department's hydrocarbon truck, and the Office of Emergency Preparedness responded to the scene. Leger said some 25 bags of absorbent material called Speedy Dry, at 50 pounds each, were poured onto the fuel.

The state Department of Environmental Protection also responded to the scene.

Clean Harbors, a commercial environmental cleanup company, was called in to pick up the fuel-soaked Speedy Dry and dispose of it.

Leger said Springfield police are investigating the incident.
CHICOPEE - The School Committee announced steps to resolve a contract dispute and work on the budget issues which have left the schools struggling to protect programs and jobs, after being faced with protesting educators, parents and teachers for the third meeting in a row.

Mayor Richard J. Kos, who is the Chairman of the School Committee, read a letter before the meeting Wednesday night saying the committee has been negotiating with the Chicopee Education Association in good faith and said as mayor he will file a financial order with the City Council that will ask for $1.2 million be allocated through the upcoming year's tax levy to be used for collective bargaining purposes.

The contracts for the about 1,080 teachers, vice principals, clerks and teaching assistants in the Chicopee Education Association expired on July 1 and members have protested off-and-on since April about stalled negotiations. In the meantime the School Committee has struggled with a budget which increased by less than $1 million while health insurance costs alone have soared by $1.3 million for this fiscal year and members have argued there is no money for increased salaries.

Frustrated with what they are calling a lack of progress in negotiations, the educators began a work-to-rule action Oct. 30, which means they do no more than the contract requires. That means they do not stay after school for tutoring, they do not volunteer for extra school events and they do not buy supplies for the classroom.

The School Committee has commented little about talks with the teachers, saying they do not want to negotiate in public. The letter was the first time the School Committee has spoken in length about the impasse in contract negotiations.

The $1.2 million will be divided in half, with $600,000 earmarked for the school department and $600,000 set aside for collective bargaining with other city employees such as police, firefighters and department of Public Works employees, most of who also are working under an expired contract.

Kos said he also wants to analyze the school budget problems and discuss long-term solutions to handling diminishing state assistance while costs continue to rise.

"I will be establishing a working committee consisting of municipal, school and public representatives to review the school budget and make recommendations as to ways to most effectively utilize the nearly $90 million budget to provide the best education for the students of Chicopee," he said.

The committee will be chaired by John Mruk, who is well-respected in the community. He served as a former Chicopee Education Association president, was a past School Committee member and currently teaches at Elms College, Kos said.

Kos said the committee will be inclusive and he will name students, teachers, public officials and residents to serve. The group will be asked to report back with recommendations at the end of January.

"I am hopeful that with the input from this impartial yet passionate body possible challenges that are blocking improvements will no longer be insurmountable," Kos said.

The money will help, but it is not a panacea. Estimates show it will cost about $700,000 to give school employees a 1 percent raise for one year, Donald Lamothe, a School Committee member who has been involved in negotiations for a number of years.

But leaders of the Chicopee Education Association were upbeat about the announcement.

"It is progress," said Jake Hulsebert, the vice president of the association and a Chicopee High School teacher. "The more transparency about the budget the better."

In his announcement, Kos also asked to clarify some issues that have come up during the protests.

He said the school department will pay $796,000 in raises to the least-experienced employees who receive annual step increases averaging 3.61 percent this fiscal year. Those 417 people are the only ones in the School Department to receive raises, no non-union employees, including the superintendent and other administrators, have seen salary increases, he said.

He also took exception to the back-and-forth disputes between the association and the School Committee about delays in negotiations. At times the Association has said the committee has been slow to meet with them but Kos said some of that is due to the Association's refusal to meet over the summer and its rejections of other meeting dates.

About 250 people attended the meeting, which was moved to Comprehensive High School because it has an auditorium large enough to fit a crowd. While teachers mainly have attended the meetings in the past, this time they were joined by parents and students who asked the School Committee to grant the employees a "fair contract."

Bellamy English Teacher Jennifer Straw broke down the extra hours the average teacher spends working outside the classroom. Between daily planning for lessons, grading students' work and speaking with parents she figured she spends about 15 hours a week on work duties but only has about five hours a week in planning time during the school day.

About 15 people spoke with the majority being parents who told personal stories about how teachers went far above what they are required to do. One said her son's teacher met him on Saturday at the library to tutor him after he fell behind due to illness. Another parent talked about how a teacher handled her daughter's severe math phobia with caring so she was able to learn.

Several Bellamy Middle School students also attended to support their teachers and also complain about the poor condition of their books.

Emma Borkosky, a seventh grader, showed the committee her geography book which is 16 years old, has missing pages and still has to be shared among other students. She said her teacher makes due to ensure the students learn.

"With the work-to-rule our classrooms just aren't the same, our teachers are not the same and we are not the same," she said.
Newton Mayor Setti Warren, who is challenging Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018, is calling for an independent investigation into the State Police scandal involving changes to the arrest report of a judge's daughter.

Two top State Police officials - Col. Richard McKeon and his deputy Francis Hughes - stepped down days after two troopers filed separate lawsuits alleging they were forced to make changes to reports after the arrest of Alli Bibaud, the daughter of Judge Timothy Bibaud.

"The public has a right to know if the state police received orders from the highest levels of government to alter an arrest record for political reasons," Kevin Franck, a spokesman for Setti Warren's campaign for governor, said in a statement.

The new head of the State Police, Kerry Gilpin, is investigating the forced revisions, as well as reviewing policies and regulations for police reports.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is conducting her own investigation.

Baker said McKeon made a "mistake" in ordering the revision.

The governor, who swore in Gilpin as the new superintendent on Wednesday, has said edits to reports do occur and aren't unusual. But the State Police union and former troopers, in interviews with reporters, have said edits are rare.

Baker's office, which completed its own review of the McKeon matter, is not releasing documents from the review. But Baker stressed that Dan Bennett, his public safety chief, was not involved in the revisions and heard about the changes to the police report through the media.

Franck, the spokesman for Setti Warren's campaign, said there should be an independent and impartial review, and the results should be made public.

"Gov. Baker's instinct is to sweep this scandal under the carpet with a couple of resignations and alleged secret investigation," he said.



Franck added: "Every person in the Commonwealth is equal under the law and should be treated equally by law enforcement. The notion that the state police would provide preferential treatment to the daughter of a politically-connected judge is enough to shake the public's confidence in our system."

This post was updated at 6:06 pm to note Attorney General Healey's investigation.
AGAWAM -- Do you recognize the man in this photo?

If so, the Agawam Police Department would like to hear from you. He is suspected of stealing a leaf blower from Rocky's Ace Hardware on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

The suspect appears to be a white man in his 40s with balding brown hair and a tattoo on his right calf, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective John Brodeur at 413-786-4767, ext. 8759.
An unnamed government source says someone in Worcester County District Attorney's Office and embroiled State Police Col. Richard McKeon were in direct communication prior to the removal of embarrassing details from a report on the arrest of a Worcester County judge's daughter.



The tidbit appeared in a Boston Herald report Thursday, alleging coordination between Massachusetts State Police and District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. in the wake of Alli Bibaud's Oct. 16 arrest for drunk driving and heroin possession.



"There was communication between both the Worcester District Attorney's Office and McKeon on the Alli Bibaud case," the official said, according to the Herald.



Early, speaking to Worcester Magazine, adamantly denied asking anyone to alter the report, as did Bibaud's father, Dudley District Court Judge Timothy Bibaud, in a separate interview, also with the magazine.



The blog that broke the story, Turtleboy Sports, has further alleged that both Early and Bibaud intervened directly to see the report was altered.



Lawsuits filed against the state police by two troopers allege they were ordered to participate in covering up statements made by Bibaud during her arrest in processing which appeared in the original report.



Statements in question included comments about who her father was, an offer to exchange sex for leniency and an admission about allegedly having had to perform oral sex for the heroin she had possessed.



Arresting Trooper Ryan Sceviour says he didn't want to edit his original report but was ordered to on the implied threat of potentially being charged with insubordination and being subject to termination.



Sceviour, the plaintiff in one of the suits, and his supervisor, Sgt. Jason Conant, initially received negative "supervisory observation reports" for including the comments in the report, but these have since been removed from their employment files.







The second plaintiff is Trooper Ali Rei, who says she was ordered to shred the original report but refused the order and feared for her job as a result.







The fallout of the altering of the report on the arrest of the 30-year-old daughter of Dudley District Court Judge Timothy Bibaud has so far, in addition to the lawsuits, resulted in the resignation of McKeon and MSP Deputy Superintendent Francis Hughes.








Kerry Gilpin, the new head of the Massachusetts State Police, is opening an investigation into the revisions made to the arrest report of a judge's daughter.

Two state troopers are suing the law enforcement agency, saying their supervisors forced them to scrub portions of Alli Bibaud's arrest report. Bibaud, the daughter of Judge Timothy Bibaud, allegedly told troopers she traded sexual favors for drugs, and those remarks were removed.

After the troopers' individual federal lawsuits against the agency and its leaders, Col. Richard McKeon and his deputy Francis Hughes abruptly retired. McKeon acknowledged he ordered the altering of the report.

"Colonel Gilpin has determined that her office will conduct an investigation into the revisions made to Alli Bibaud's arrest report and a review of applicable policies and regulations," Dave Procopio, director of media relations for the State Police, said in a statement. "This effort will inform the Colonel with regard to actions taken by state police officials."

He continued: "Additionally, the review of policies and regulations will identify whether additional clarification, training, and guidance is necessary in the writing and reviewing of report narratives. The results of this investigation and review will determine whether further action is required."

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker quietly swore in Gilpin as the new head of the State Police on Wednesday.
SPRINGFIELD -- A Palmer man has pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and other charges for his role as a "middle man" between a Pakistani company illegally distributing prescription drugs in this country, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Harry Aliengena, 64, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import controlled substances, two counts of felony introduction of misbranded drugs with intent to defraud or mislead and one count of introduction of misbranded drugs.

The drugs he brokered for American customers included Hydrocodone, Ritalin, Percoset, and Adderall -- all of which are controlled substances and some of which are highly addictive opioids.

The company, identified as "Company A" in court filings, communicated with Aliengena regularly to order drugs, reshipped them to other customers from the U.S. to avoid detection, and received kickbacks and discounts on drugs for his own personal use.

Aleingena faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine at his Feb. 18 sentencing.
A 52-year-old transgender woman incarcerated at MCI-Norfolk on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Correction seeking transfer to a women's correctional facility.



The lawsuit has the potential to change how transgender inmates are classified by Massachusetts prisons and jails -- which currently assign prisoners to facilities based on sexual anatomy alone.



Additionally, the suit details allegations of harassment, assault, mockery and general demeanment faced by the prisoner at the hands of both fellow prisoners and prison staff.



Recounting one typical occurrence, the lawsuit reads, "Jane Doe was forced (by staff) to strip in front of her open cell door, which is on the third floor, thereby exposing her naked body to at least a dozen male prisoners who gawked from outside, yelling taunts like 'You have some big, nice boobies!' and 'I would like to see you spread like that in my room!' Jane Doe was forced to stand, cuffed and naked, for around 30 minutes before she was allowed to get dressed."



Another passage says, "Showering is another source of trauma for Jane Doe. When Jane Doe showers, male prisoners crowd into the bathroom excitedly. Jane Doe is forced to shower in terror of being attacked by these men. She is particularly fearful of men serving life sentences, because she believes they view her as the only woman with whom they will ever have the opportunity to have contact and thus target her."



The lawsuit says correctional staff routinely contribute their own abuse.



"Certain DOC correctional officers make a point of asserting that Jane Doe's anatomy is different than any other woman and repeatedly state that she is still a man -- for no other reason than to harass and upset her," says the suit. "They make comments to Jane Doe and other transgender prisoners, calling them 'chicks with [d****]' and 'wannabe women.'"



A Puerto Rican national convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, "Jane Doe" was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at an early age and has undergone hormone therapy for decades.



"As a result of this gender transition and apart from her mistreatment by DOC, Jane Doe is a woman and, as such, had been able to live fully and consistently with her female identity prior to her DOC incarceration," the lawsuit reads.



Although her Massachusetts Identification Card acknowledges she is a woman, and social contacts understood her to be such and called her by her chosen female name prior to incarceration, the Department of Correction presently assign prisoners to facilities based on anatomy alone.



Medical staff at the Norfolk facility in question have themselves assessed Jane Doe and looked into her entire medical history, confirming the diagnosis and clearing the way for her to receive hormone therapy and other treatment for gender dysphoria while behind bars.



According to The Boston Globe, the woman is a Level 3 sex offender in Massachusetts based on convictions in 1992 and 1995. Her lawyer, Jennifer L. Levi, director of the Transgender Rights Project at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, said both charges stemmed during her client's time as a prostitute. The first involved an undercover police officer and the second was dismissed, Levi said.



The lawsuit would require correctional staff to refer to Jane Doe by her chosen female name, pave the way for her transfer to the women's correction facility MCI-Framingham and end strip searches of her by male employees and put a stop to the now regular exposure of her naked body to male inmates. Failure to transfer her to a women's facility constitutes a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the lawsuit alleges.



The U.S. Department of Justice has found that roughly 30 percent of transgender inmates report being sexually assaulted by inmates or prison employees.








The Atlanta Police Department has arrested a suspect in the murders of two Worcester men who were fatally shot in a Georgia nightclub last Sunday.

Deputy Chief Darryl Tolleson said 23-year-old Jonathan Bautista is currently in custody for the shooting inside the Masquerade Club.

In total, two people were killed and two people suffered non-life threatening injuries after a gunman opened fire into a crowd of 100 people.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports that the two men who were killed, Ewell Ynoa, 21, and Giovan Diaz, 22, were performing at the music venue that night. Both resided in Worcester.

Tolleson said it's too early to determine a motive, but police believe that Bautista was displeased with the performers. However, Bautista did not know the victims, police said.

Additionally, Bautista does not have a record of violence, aside from some minor drug offenses. Police said he is a high school graduate and employed.

"It appears like just a confrontation that went bad," Tolleson said.

Tolleson said the investigation was bolstered by an influx of public tips after Bautista's picture was released to the media. He was arrested Wednesday around noon without incident.

According to police, the Masquerade Club does not screen for weapons and has unarmed security guards watching the door. Bautista allegedly fled past the guards after opening fire in the club.

There were roughly 110 people attending the concert Sunday night, Tolleson said.

The club released a statement a few days after the shooting.

"Our deepest heartfelt condolences go out to the victims of Sunday night's tragic act of violence and their families. There are no words to make sense of this. The police investigation is ongoing and we have been working closely with the Atlanta Police Department," the statement reads. "Security is our number one priority and we are reviewing our protocols to ensure that all of our patrons are safe at all times. Going forward, there will be an increased security presence on site, including heightened uniformed Police presence at all events."

Bautista is currently being charged with two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault. Tolleson said more charges are anticipated, but the investigation is still in its early stages.
By Michael P. Norton

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, NOV. 15, 2017....Fifteen years after voters approved the so-called English immersion law, the Massachusetts Legislature on Wednesday approved a bilingual education reform bill designed to give educators more flexibility in teaching English language learners.

A conference committee report filed Tuesday night by House and Senate negotiators was endorsed by the House 155-1. The Senate approved it unanimously as the branches wrapped up formal sessions for 2017. Informal sessions will continue for the next seven weeks, with formal sessions resuming in January.

Under the bill, school districts can maintain current the immersion programming or choose an alternative that meets federal and state standards, according to bill sponsors, who said the legislation expands the role of parental advisory councils and allows parents the flexibility to choose programs that best meet their child's needs.

"After 10+ years working on this, we have legislation that will guarantee all students learning English will be taught in strong programs tailored to fit their needs," House Ways and Means Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez, one of the bill's longtime proponents, Tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.

The immersion law riled Beacon Hill in 2002 when petitioners insisted on going to the ballot even after the Legislature passed an alternative to their initiative petition. It also divided candidates for governor that year, with Democratic nominee Shannon O'Brien calling for flexibility in instruction and Republican Mitt Romney defending Question 2.

If lawmakers can get Republican Gov. Charlie Baker on board, the bilingual bill could emerge as a major accomplishment in a year where the Legislature has sent only a few major bills to the governor.

Since 2000, the number of English learning (EL) students has doubled to more than 90,204 students, or 9.5 percent of the student population, according to Democratic legislative leaders, who added that while "statewide graduation rates for students have risen over the past ten years, the achievement gap between EL students and their peers persists."

Baker has said that about half of English language learners thrive in the current immersion environment, but he acknowledged that the remainder never shed the ELL tag. "What I don't want to do is start with the proposition that what we're doing now doesn't work for anybody, because clearly it does," Baker said in September after conference negotiations had begun.

The bill also requires better tracking of student performance and reviews of school programming, and directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop additional guidelines and supports for districts.

Students who achieve high-levels of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages would qualify for a new "seal of biliteracy" in participating districts that supporters of the bill described as recognition of the value of bilingualism in the modern economy.

"Allowing parents and local school districts the flexibility to choose the most effective programs to cater to the specific needs of their students is not only good public policy but also what is best for our students to be successful," Senate President Stan Rosenberg said in a statement. "We live in a global community and we must be able to adapt to the changing needs of our communities in a thoughtful and constructive way. This bill achieves that goal."

The emergence of the compromise on the bill gave lawmakers a major policy matter to advance before completing formal sessions for 2017.

Sen. Patrick O'Connor, a Weymouth Republican who served on the conference committee, said the way English is currently taught to non-native speakers leaves some students behind and pushes others to give up, pointing to higher dropout rates for English language learners compared to their peers. "Clearly, this is a broken system," he said.
The Massachusetts House approved a bond bill that would allocate $45 million to build a new police headquarters in Springfield.

"The police station has outlived its useful life in Springfield. It's not safe," said Rep. Angelo Puppolo, D-Springfield.

Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri said the $45 million would cover half the cost, and the city would bond the rest.

If the state money is allocated and the city approves the bond, "I hope within the next three to four years, there will be a new building in place," Barbieri said.

Puppolo, a former Springfield City Council president who worked with Barbieri and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno to get the money included in the bill, said the current police station is too small and is not appropriately configured. For example, someone who is arrested must be taken through the entire police station.

Barbieri said the building has wiring issues, asbestos and stonework that is not conducive to modern fiber optics. There are no rooms for community events. Police units are physically separated, making communication more difficult. Some of the cells are permanently out of use, since parts are broken and the company that made the cells no longer exists.

The city of Springfield recently spent $11 million on a new police annex on East Street to house the evidence room, Youth Assessment Center and police academy. That annex will remain even if a new headquarters is built.

The police worked with the city's facilities department and an outside architect to look at options for renovating the police building, which is nearly 50 years old. "It came back it was more cost effective to build a new police department rather than try to bring this back to serviceable condition," Barbieri said.

The new building would be constructed on the same site as the old one.

Sarno said in a statement that he appreciates Puppolo's leadership to "secure this funding for a new state-of-the-art Police Headquarters for our brave and dedicated men and women in blue, our residents and business community."

Sarno said he will continue to work with the city's financial officials to make the new building a reality.

The money for the Springfield police station was part of a $3.5 billion bond bill, H.4018, for maintenance and repair of public buildings throughout the state. The bill passed by a vote of 144-6 at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Other earmarks for Western Massachusetts projects include $13 million for air conditioning, roof replacement and other projects at the Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield; $7 million for repairs to Springfield Technical Community College; and millions of dollars for repairs to courthouse in Northampton, Pittsfield, Springfield and Holyoke.

The legislative session ended Wednesday for 2017. The Senate does not plan to take the bond bill up until lawmakers return in January.
President Donald Trump praised House Republicans Thursday for advancing a high-priority bill that seeks to overhaul the United States' tax code -- legislation which has drawn vocal criticism from Democrats.

The president, who met with House Republicans on Capitol Hill ahead of the chamber's vote to advance the measure, cast the move as "a big step toward fulfilling (Republicans') promise to deliver historic tax cuts for the American people by the end of the year," according to White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Massachusetts Democrats, however, offered a much different take on the House's passage of the contentious GOP tax plan.

Contending that "now is the time to deliver" on tax reform, Sanders said the bill's passage shows Republicans are "working together to allow hardworking, middle-class families to keep more of their money, and to empower our companies and workers to dominate their global competition."

"A simple, fair, and competitive tax code will be rocket fuel for our economy, and it's within our reach," she added in a statement.

Trump further praised the bill's passage on Twitter.

Congratulations to the House of Representatives for passing the #TaxCutsandJobsAct  a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic TAX CUTS for the American people by the end of the year! https://t.co/8FjefMj6hh  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2017

Michael S. Glassner, executive director of Trump's re-election campaign who also lauded the House's passage of the Republican tax bill, meanwhile, called on the Senate to take action to ensure the legislation reaches the president's desk by the end of the year and avoids the same pitfalls that doomed Affordable Care Act repeal efforts.

"Now the focus will go to the Senate, for whom we have a simple message: the fate of families across America cannot be placed at risk over politics, as we saw with Obamacare repeal and replace legislation," he said in a statement. "Americans need President Trump's tax reform plan passed into law urgently and they deserve nothing less."

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, who led House Democrats' opposition to the bill on the House floor, however, argued that the bill's advancement represents a "missed opportunity."

This is a missed opportunity. Constructing this tax bill could have been a great bipartisan accomplishment but instead it is a #GOPTaxScam https://t.co/cwZgPihJSp  Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) November 16, 2017

"Constructing this tax bill could have been a great bipartisan accomplishment, but instead it is a GOP tax scam," he tweeted shortly after floor vote.

Congresswoman Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, called passage of the Republican plan "a victory for corporations and the very wealthiest Americans that are tightening their grip on Washington."

"Instead of the tax reform that Republicans promised, average Americans were just handed the bill for a $1.5 trillion dollar gift to corporate America," she said in a statement. "Massachusetts families will bear the disproportionate brunt of a tax hike that eliminates tools millions use to continue their education, offset high medical costs and make homeownership affordable."

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, argued that "the American people deserve better than the damaging tax overhaul bill passed by House Republicans today."

"We need a tax reform bill that truly lifts up the middle class and invests in our future, not the misguided and misleading scam rushed forward by House Republicans today," she said.

Congressman Bill Keating, D-Bourne, meanwhile, argued that many Americans are concerned about the bill's potential tax hikes, changes to student loan deductions and cuts to programs like Medicare.

"It's an extraordinary circumstance when a tax cut becomes this unpopular," he said.

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, also raised concerns that the GOP tax plan will hurt working families to pay for a tax cut benefitting corporate America.

"The outrageous tax bill that Speaker Ryan and House Republicans just passed is a slap in the face to Massachusetts families," he said. "Let's be clear about what happened today: Republicans voted to raise taxes for middle class families and students, and cut taxes for billionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas."

McGovern added that "instead of fighting for the people that sent them to Congress, (Republicans) once again made it clear they'd rather stand with their wealthy friends and corporate sponsors than with the American people."

I just left the House floor after voting against the #GOPTaxPlan that raises taxes on the middle class Posted by Congressman Seth Moulton on Thursday, November 16, 2017

Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Salem, contended that the House-passed bill would move the country backwards and pledged to continue fighting back against it.

"Join me in opposing it, and making sure that none of this gets past the Senate," he said in a video posted on Facebook.

The so-called "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," passed the House on a 227 to 205 vote along party lines.

The tax overhaul debate now moves to the Senate, which has offered its own GOP-backed plan.
Should gun silencers be legal in Massachusetts?

Today, Massachusetts is one of eight states that outlaw private ownership of gun silencers. But a bill being considered by the state Legislature would change that and lift the ban.

The bill, S.1317, sponsored by Sen. Don Humason, R-Westfield, generated heated debate at a public hearing Thursday.

"I don't understand that there's any reasonable, rational argument in favor of silencers," said Edward Notis-McConarty, chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. "They will increase violence, increase death."

But Amanda Deveno, a firearms safety instructor and hunter, can provide reasons. "I see them as a tool to continue firearm safety education without having to damage your ears," Deveno said. "It's easier for me as an instructor on the line to communicate properly with my new students."

Silencers, also called suppressors, are devices that muffle the noise of a gunshot.

Advocates for the ban say silencers will endanger public safety by making it harder to track where shots are coming from.

Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, a former prosecutor, called silencers "inherently dangerous devices." Silencers, Linsky said, can confuse police, allow assaults to cause more carnage and help shooters evade arrest. Linsky said survivors of mass shootings generally escape because they are able to hear the gunshots.

"Removing the ban on suppressors can cause more victims," Linsky said.

Pavica Kneedler, of Ipswich, said she and her family members all know how to shoot, but they use ear protection. They do not need silencers to protect their hearing. When they walk in the woods during hunting season, they wear bright clothing and keep their ears attuned for shots.

"If silencers were allowed in Massachusetts, I would not feel as safe walking in the woods for fear of being hurt accidentally," Kneedler said.

John Rosenthal, the founder of Stop Handgun Violence, said legalizing silencers would "let people get away with murder without detection."

"Deregulating silencers or assault weapons by the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security is like the FDA commissioner saying we should deregulate arsenic," Rosenthal said.

But Knox Williams, executive director of the American Suppressor Association, which represents the suppressor industry, said the opposition to silencers is based on misconceptions. Williams said suppressors do not make guns silent, but only reduce the sound. A gun with a silencer is still as loud as a jackhammer. "It's no different than a muffler on a car," Williams said.

He cited statistics from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives showing that silencers are rarely used in crimes. Technology used by the police to detect gunfire is still able to work when a gun is silenced.
Montana author and Big Sky Journal contributor Russell Rowland stirred the writing passions of MAPS https://www.mapsmediainstitute.com students this week..

The author of critically acclaimed books including "Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey," "High and Inside," "The Watershed Years," and "In Open Spaces" talked to students about writing dialog, getting into a characters head, and shaping a story, while exploring ideas and script generation for MAPS film.

Rowland said the key reason he was at MAPS was his friendship with Peter and Susan Rosten, MAPS founders.

MICHELLE MCCONNAHA [email protected]

http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_33e40440-478b-520f-8f9a-c36f6262723b.html#tracking-source=home-featured
Yellowstone County on Tuesday approved a tax break sought by Phillips 66 oil refinery in Billings for a $298 million project to improve crude oil processing and sulfur recovery.

The project qualified for the tax reduction under a county program for qualifying new or expanding businesses.

Two Phillips 66 employees spoke for the tax break; no one opposed it.

Commission Chairman John Ostlund said the county traditionally has honored requests for the tax incentive and noted the large investment by the refinery.

By CLAIR JOHNSON [email protected]

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/yellowstone-county-grants-tax-break-to-phillips-oil-refinery/article_01d66ef9-7294-5709-99bb-126b0fd199cb.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2
As one of the nations leading journalism schools, we train the journalists of tomorrow and serve the broader Montana community by sharing our storytelling expertise. We are building a new laboratory that will discover, teach and implement best practices in storytelling for creators and communities. By leveraging the teaching and technology resources of the School of Journalism, this center will prepare students and organizations across a range of disciplines to succeed in a media-driven world.

We seek a dynamic founding director for this new facility, someone who will help define and launch the program with the aim of establishing a national reputation. The lab will be a stand-alone unit housed within the UM School of Journalism. The director will work closely with Journalism School faculty, with partners across campus, and with industry figures from around the country. The goal of the lab is to establish the UM J School as a leader in media training and innovation.

https://university-montana-hr.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.jobinfo&jobid=1836&company_id=16254&version=1&source=ONLINE&jobOwner=992276&aid=1

***

Wed appreciate it if youd mention that you found this career opportunity on MATR.net Thank you

***

All career opportunities at the University of Montana https://university-montana-hr.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.allpositions&company_id=16254&version=1
Our range includes a flat range from 10-100 yards as well as a 20 target walking course for more realistic simulation of hunting scenarios.
Scientists at Northwestern University have discovered a genetic mutation in an isolated Amish population that helps them live longer and healthier lives, and protects them from diabetes and other age-related illnesses. A drug that mimics those effects is currently being trialled in humans, and shows promise in slowing aging, preventing diabetes and may even counteract baldness.

Michael Irving

https://newatlas.com/amish-genetic-mutation-lifespan-diabetes/52212/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=8f49dbaaec-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-8f49dbaaec-92465361
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) and the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative of the African Development Bank Group have joined forces to drive increased access to finance and markets for women-owned and women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) across Southern, East and West Africa.

The new AfDB funded AWIEF programme Solutions Catalysing Increased Access to Capital for the Success of Women Entrepreneurs aims to accelerate efforts to address gender inequality and drive inclusive economic transformation.

More than 500 growth-oriented WSMEs will be supported for scale, access to markets and investment readiness across 8 African countries: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

The two-year programme will create a profitable pipeline of investable businesses ready to access finance.

Programme Components The programme is organized under 4 components: AWIEF Growth Accelerator (in partnership with Nedbank)  to enhance investment readiness and increase access to finance. eCommerce Capacity Development (in partnership with UNIDO)  for building knowledge, capacity and skills in digital channels to increase participation and success in online business. Digital Skills (in partnership with Amazon Web Services)  to strengthen WSMEs capacity to embrace technology innovation. Mentorship and Advisory  enhancing the visibility and access to role models for WSMEs through a mentorship platform.

Call for Applications for 2022 Cohort

Applications are invited from WSMEs for participation in any one of these programme components: 1) AWIEF Growth Accelerator; 2) eCommerce Capacity Development; 3) Digital Skills.

Selection Criteria

WSMEs registered and operating in: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Priority sectors include: Technology, Agriculture & Agribusiness, Creative Industry, eCommerce, Renewable Energy, Manufacturing, Retail, Construction, Logistics.

To submit your application, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3zOvzW0

The deadline for submission is Monday, 18 July 2022 at 11:59pm Central Africa Time (CAT). Applications will only be accepted through the link above.

Programme Timeline for 2022 Cohort

Applications open: 20 June 2022

Applications close: 18 July 2022

Recruitment of participants: July  August 2022

Training: September  December 2022

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(Xinhua) 07:18, November 16, 2017

Chinese Premier Li Keqiangattends a welcome ceremony held by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before their talks in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

MANILA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and the Philippineson Wednesday signed 14 cooperation deals as leaders of the two countries pledged to strengthen "positive momentum" in bilateral relations.

After meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiangtold the press in the Philippine capital of Manila that the Chinese-Philippine relations have improved and both sides hope to "work together to make up for the time that we might have lost."

Li is the first Chinese premier to pay an official visit to the Philippines in a decade. He came to the Philippines at a time when the bilateral ties are warming up, a development that has continued since Duterte came to office last year.

Li said Duterte's visit to China in October last year was an "ice-breaker" and he has come this time to carry forward the traditional friendship.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of the 14 cooperation agreements on infrastructure financing, bridge construction, bond issuance, drug rehabilitation, climate change, intellectual property protection, industrial capacity cooperation.

The leaders also announced the start of work for two river bridges in Manila and two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, south of the Philippines.

Construction of the bridges will begin in 2018 and takes two and a half years to complete, officials said. The bridges will help ease Manila's severe traffic jams.

The drug centers, on the other hand, will be able to accommodate 300 people in total.

In his talks with Duterte, Li said the economies of China and the Philippines are highly complementary.

China is ready to tap its rich experience in equipment manufacturing and infrastructure development to conduct industrial capacity cooperation and formulate long-term development strategies, Li said.

The Chinese premier singled out several cooperation focal points, including trade investment facilitation, information technology, agriculture, fishery, poverty alleviation and reconstruction of run-down areas.

Looking forward, Li said China commends the Philippines' Ambisyon Natin 2040 development strategy and is happy to be involved in the Philippines' large-scale infrastructure programs.

Cooperation strategies, spanning five to 10 years, in areas like infrastructure can be discussed and formulated to send out a message that the China-Philippines relations will continue to go forward, he said.

Li pledged 150 million yuan (22.7 million U.S. dollars) in grants from the Chinese government to assist the reconstruction of war-torn Marawi in the southern Philippines.

The Philippine government in October declared victory over Islamic State-linked extremists in Marawi, ending nearly five months of fierce fighting that left many parts of the city destroyed.

Li said he believed that under Duterte's leadership, the rebuilding of Marawi will be completed at a very early day and the local people will enjoy an even better life.

For his part, Duterte thanked China for aiding the Philippines in its takeover and rebuilding of Marawi and the assistance given to boost the Philippines' "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure development initiative.

"I am pleased to note the positive turnaround and vigorous momentum of Philippines-China relations," Duterte said. "Practical cooperation in many areas is bringing in an early harvest of tangible benefits."

He said the joint efforts to improve ties have secured peace, stability and development in the region.

In his meeting with Li, Duterte said the Philippines welcomes Chinese investment, and is looking forward to learning from China's development experience and strengthening cooperation in such fields as transportation, telecommunications and agriculture.

Duterte also said the Philippines is willing to play an effective role of a coordinator to boost China-ASEANrelations.
Zimbabwe's military said it had launched an operation to "target criminals" around President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday, but insisted that the 93-year-old president and his family were "safe and sound."

AP reported that although it was not clear where Mugabe and his wife Grace were, an army statement that their "security is guaranteed" indicated they were in the custody of the military.

Other reports suggest Mugabe has been detained and could be replaced by former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man he sacked on November 6.

If confirmed, Mugabe would step down from power after 37 years as Zimbabwe's leader.

Military operation

Arrests are understood to have been made early on Wednesday, while explosions and gunfire were reported in the capital city Harare.

"It is not a military takeover of government," said an army official at a live TV address. "We wish to assure the nation that his excellency the president... and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed."

"We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes... As soon as we have accomplished our mission we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."

The opposition MDC party called for a peaceful and constitutional process to take place.

Finance minister 'arrested'

Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo was one of the individuals detained on Wednesday, a government source told Reuters.

Chombo was a leading member of the "G40" group in the ruling Zanu-PF party, led by Mugabe's wife Grace.

A power struggle between Zanu-PF factions  independence era veterans and the "G40" group  is thought to have destabilized the party.

Gunfire and explosions

Gunfire was reported near Mugabe's private residence in Harare and explosions were heard in the city in the hours before the military's live TV address.

"From the direction of his house, we heard about 30 or 40 shots fired over three or four minutes soon after 2:00 a.m.," AFP quoted witnesses close to Mugabe's compound as saying.

At least three explosions have been reported across Harare.

Military vehicles outside Harare, Zimbabwe on November 14, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Armored vehicles were deployed to the streets of the city, and troops seized control of the state broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

Chinese nationals told to stay indoors

The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe has advised its citizens to remain at home and not to take part in unnecessary outdoor activities.

The US embassy has warned its nationals to "shelter" amid uncertainty and wait for further notice, according to its website.

The UK has issued a warning for its citizens in the country to stay indoors amid reports of "unusual military activity."

Zimbabwe army chief accused of 'treasonable conduct'

Political tensions had risen in the country since November 6, when Mugabe fired Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice president, accusing him of showing "traits of disloyalty" and plotting to take power.

Zimbabwe's Commander of Defense Forces General Constantino Chiwenga said on Monday he was prepared to "step in" to end a purge of supporters of the sacked vice president.

In response on Tuesday, Zimbabwe's ruling party accused the military chief of "treasonable conduct" for challenging its president.
(Xinhua) 07:43, November 16, 2017

MANILA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and the Philippines on Wednesday signed 14 cooperation deals as leaders of the two countries pledged to strengthen "positive momentum" in bilateral relations.

After meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the press in Manila that the Chinese-Philippine relations have improved and both sides hope to "work together to make up for the time that we might have lost."

Li is the first Chinese premier to pay an official visit to the Philippines in a decade. He came to the Philippines at a time the bilateral ties are warming up, a development that has continued since Duterte came to office last year.

Li said Duterte's visit to China in October last year was an "ice-breaker" and he has come this time to carry forward the traditional friendship.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of the 14 cooperation agreements on infrastructure financing, bridge construction, bond issuance, drug rehabilitation, climate change, intellectual property protection, industrial capacity cooperation.

The leaders also announced the start of work for two river bridges in Manila and two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao.

Looking forward, Li said China commends the Philippines' Ambisyon Natin 2040 development strategy and is happy to be involved in the Philippines' large-scale infrastructure programs.

Cooperation strategies, spanning five to 10 years, in areas like infrastructure can be discussed and formulated to send out a message that the China-Philippines relations will continue to go forward, he said.

Li pledged 150 million yuan (22.7 million U.S. dollars) in grants from the Chinese government to assist the reconstruction of war-torn Marawi in the southern Philippines.

The Philippine government in October declared victory over Islamic State (IS)-linked extremists in Marawi, ending nearly five months of fierce fighting that left many parts of the city destroyed.

Li said he believed that with Duterte's leadership the rebuilding of Marawi will be completed at a very early day and local people will enjoy an even better life.

For his part, Duterte thanked China for aiding the Philippines in its takeover and rebuilding of Marawi and the assistance given to boost the Philippines' "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure development initiative.

"I am pleased to note the positive turnaround and vigorous momentum of Philippines-China relations," Duterte said. "Practical cooperation in many areas is bringing in an early harvest of tangible benefits."

He said the joint efforts to improve ties have secured peace, stability, and development in the region.
(Xinhua) 07:45, November 16, 2017

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Aquilino Pimentel, Philippine Senate president, in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

MANILA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called for opening a new chapter for Chinese-Philippine friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment.

Addressing a meeting here with Aquilino Pimentel, Senate president of the Philippines, Li said the exchanges between the two countries have been long-standing and well-established.

Since Sino-Philippine relations were turned around last year, the bilateral ties have seen a positive momentum of improvement and development and bilateral cooperation has been promoted in all sectors, said Li.

Li said his visit is aimed to consolidate the momentum for the bilateral ties and make up the time and opportunities that were once lost.

Noting the parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people communication between the two countries have been more active, Li said this has demonstrated that a friendly bilateral relationship accords with the expectation of the peoples as well as the trend of the times.

He encouraged all walks of life from China and the Philippines to participate in the building of the bilateral relations so as to create conditions for enhancing mutual trust, deepening cooperation, and consolidating the public support for the long-term friendship.

For his part, Pimentel welcomed Li's visit to the Philippines and lauded China's attention to the bilateral ties.

He expressed thanks to China for providing support for the economic and social development and livelihood improvement in the Philippines, stressing that the country stands ready to strengthen the bilateral exchanges between legislative organs and political parties and to promote bilateral ties to a new high.
(Xinhua) 07:46, November 16, 2017

BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Less than a month after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese military has taken measures to become "world-class."

China will basically complete modernization of national defense and armed forces by 2035 and fully build the army into "world-class forces" by the mid-21st century, pledged Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, in his report to the congress held in October.

LOYAL TO PARTY

The Central Military Commission (CMC) issued a guideline on Nov. 5 to affirm the absolute leadership of the Party over the army, requiring that troops be absolutely loyal, honest and reliable to Xi, who is also chairman of the CMC.

The CMC said the armed forces should deeply and comprehensively implement a system in which the chairman of the CMC has overall responsibility for the military. The system was added to the CPC Constitution at the Party congress.

The top priority of maintaining the authority of the leadership core is to safeguard the CMC chairperson responsibility system, Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the CMC, wrote in the People's Daily Tuesday.

"In the face of profound and complex changes at home and abroad, along with fierce ideological struggles, it's a fundamental issue for our military to maintain its original nature, tenet and color," Xu said in the article.

Noting the political environment in the military has improved, Xu ordered troops to strengthen their consciousness in maintaining political integrity, thinking in big-picture terms, following the leadership core and keeping in alignment.

BUILT TO FIGHT

"A military is built to fight. Our military must regard combat capability as the criterion to meet in all its work and focus on how to win when it is called on," Xi said at the CPC National Congress.

During his inspection tour to the CMC joint battle command center on Nov. 3, Xi reiterated the need for the armed forces to improve their combat capability and readiness for war.

"The capability to win is strategically important in safeguarding national security, and strengthening that capability and combat readiness in the new era would provide strategic support to the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation," Xi said, urging progress in joint operation command systems and training conducted under combat conditions.

To sharpen the military's fighting capacity, reforms have been made in the past few years, including the establishment of the PLA Army General Command, PLA Rocket Force and PLA Strategic Support Force.

The four general departments were reorganized into 15 agencies of the CMC, and five theater commands have replaced the seven military area commands.

STRICT MILITARY GOVERNANCE

The CMC released a regulation Monday to standardize the benefits for military officials, including offices, housing, cars and medical services, in its latest move to govern the military with strict discipline.

To curb decadence in the military and make the troops more combat-ready, the CMC issued an alcohol ban in late September, listing 11 occasions on which soldiers and officers are not allowed to drink alcohol.

In the past five years, fighting corruption in the military has been a focus of the sweeping anti-graft crackdown.

Dozens of military officers have been investigated and jailed, including Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, both former top generals and vice chairmen of the CMC. Guo was convicted of accepting bribes and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016, while Xu died of cancer in 2015 before he could face trial.

"The building of work style and the fight against corruption in the military have gained major achievements," Xu Qiliang wrote in the article.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is on a five-day visit to the Philippines for an official visit and series of ASEAN meetings. It would be the first time in 10 years that a Chinese premier visits the country and the first foreign trip of Li since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October.

"The China-Philippines relationship is now seeing a rainbow after the storm and showing a good momentum across the board," Premier Li described in a signed article published in The Philippine Star.

China-Philippines ties have experienced twists and turns since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975, and almost reached a breaking point in July last year over an arbitration ruling of the South China Sea. However, soon after winning the Philippine presidential election last year, President Rodrigo Duterte looked to cool down tensions with China, and signs show that bilateral ties are developing in good momentum.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte salutes with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as they review honor guards upon Li's arrival, Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, the Philippines, November 15, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Frequent exchanges at all levels

China and the Philippines have witnessed closer high-level exchanges and growing interactions at all levels.

Duterte's milestone visit to China in October last year surprised many around the world. The leaders of the two countries held historic meetings and agreed that disputes in the South China Sea were not the sum total of relations, and that the two countries would enhance cooperation in trade, infrastructure and drug control.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before their talks in Beijing, October 20, 2016. /Xinhua Photo

Important consensus was further made by Xi and Duterte in May this year on solidifying and deepening bilateral relations when Duterte visited China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

The two met again in Vietnam's Da Nang on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting last week. During the meeting, Xi said relations between the two countries stand on a new starting point, adding that they should enhance high-level exchanges, so as to ensure the development of bilateral relations on a right track.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Da Nang, Vietnam, November 11, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

"Such common understanding at the top level has charted the course and instilled a strong impetus into our bilateral relations," said Li in the article.

The two countries have also witnessed closer people-to-people exchanges.

In the first seven months of this year, Chinese tourist arrivals in the Philippines reached 450,000, an increase of 33.44 percent from last year.

In August, the Philippines began to issue landing visas to Chinese nationals who wish to join tour groups and business people. In the next few years, China is expected to become the largest source of tourists to the Philippines, said Xinhua News Agency.

Beijing and Manila have also been helping friends for each other in front of natural disasters.

In February, the Philippines was hit by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake, and China immediately offered humanitarian assistance. In June, China's Sichuan Province suffered a devastating landslide, the Philippines also offered aid to assist the victims.

Since the military conflict broke out in the Philippine city of Marawi in May, China has offered weapons, ammunition and humanitarian assistance to support the Philippine's anti-terrorism struggle. Aside from engineering equipment that already arrived in the Philippines, Li announced on Wednesday that China will donate 150 million yuan (22.65 million US dollars) for the rehabilitation of Marawi city in addition to the 11 million yuan (1.66 million dollars) worth of assistance previously donated.

Booming economic ties

Since October last year, the two sides have signed over 20 cooperation documents at the governmental or departmental levels and identified a number of priority infrastructure projects.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (L) and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte jointly attend the China-Philippines Trade and Investment Forum in Beijing, capital of China, October 20, 2016. /Xinhua Photo

The first 10 months of this year saw China become the Philippines biggest trading partner, on the back of a surge in Philippine exports to China. Between October last year and the end of June this year, China imported 420,000 tons of tropical fruits from the Philippines worth over 200 million US dollars, said Li, adding that "Your bananas, durians and avocados are increasingly popular in China."

Since taking office, Duterte proposed the 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and "Build, Build, Build" program. During an interview with Xinhua, Duterte said the Philippine government's infrastructure construction plan is highly compatible with China's Belt and Road Initiative, thus enjoying bright cooperation prospects.

Progress made on the South China Sea issue

This year China has maintained close contact with ASEAN countries in consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, and significant progress has been made.

In May, a COC framework was agreed upon during a senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

The framework was adopted in August by a meeting of ASEAN and Chinese foreign ministers.

An aerial photo of Hainan Maritime Safety Administration taken on September 25, 2015 from a seaplane shows cruise vessel Haixun 1103 heading to the Yacheng 13-1 drilling rig during a patrol in the South China Sea. /Xinhua Phot

Premier Li said at the 20th China-ASEAN leaders' meeting on Monday that China and ASEAN will start consultations on the text of the COC.

"It fully represents the common will of regional countries that they should properly handle differences through dialogues and negotiations, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Li.

"It also shows the confidence, wisdom, and capacity of the regional countries to properly settle the South China Sea issue in order to make it a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation."

Looking to the future

The improvement and growth of the China-Philippines relations have support from the people as it also support and serve their well-being, said the Chinese premier. Looking to the future, Premier Li said Beijing is ready to work with Manila to open a new chapter for China-Philippines relations.

"Looking ahead, we are fully confident about the prospects of our relations," said Li.

"The Chinese people want to be the Philippine peoples sincere friend, close neighbor helping each other through difficulties, steadfast partner forging ahead hand in hand and good brother for generations to come. Lets work together to open a new chapter for China-Philippines relations," he concluded.
Chinese bike-sharing services provider Bluegogo has gone bankrupt, media reports said, while its major supplier has said the company has been struggling with financial difficulties for months.

The company recently announced it will dismiss its employees and will pay their salaries until February 2018, an unnamed employee from Bluegogo said in a post published on social media platforms on Wednesday.

The company has been receiving a large number of complaints from its users concerning deposit refunds, Bluegogo said in a post published on its Weibo account on October 20.

A senior executive from Bluegogo told the Global Times on Wednesday that he has already resigned from the company.

The company's PR representative said he has also left Bluegogo.

Chen Anqiao, a bike supplier for Bluegogo, said the company suspended its orders in April due to financial problems. "They could not raise any funds from investors," he said, noting this dilemma has also caused troubles for bike manufacturers and suppliers.

"We have been entangled in debts, which amounted to over 10 million yuan ($1.51 million)," Chen complained.

In spite of the rapid development of the shared economy, other Chinese bike-sharing firms have also gone bust in 2017. The Beijing-based company 3Vbike closed operations in July after most of its bicycles went missing, presumed stolen, a month after Wukong Bicycle in Chongqing also ended its services.

In August, another bike-sharing firm Dingding ended its services, according to media reports.

Bluegogo had also been actively exploring the overseas market earlier this year. However, after it launched its services in San Francisco in January, it was criticized by local officials for "dumping" tens of thousands of bikes that would clutter public sidewalks and fall into disrepair, according to the Mercury News based in San Jose, California.
Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Friday to attend the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam on Nov. 10-11, and then he will pay state visits to Vietnam and Laos on Nov.12 to 14.

It is Xi's first overseas trip after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October. The trip attracts much attention from the international community and will open up a new vision for diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

APEC is the most influential economic cooperation mechanism with the highest level and widest fields in the Asia-Pacific region.

In his speech at the APEC meeting, Xi will put forward China's solutions on how to adhere to the general trend of opening up and development in the Asia-Pacific region, explore new driving forces in the region, strengthen connectivity and draw a new blueprint of future cooperation, in a bid to map out a new economic cooperation vision with all relevant counterparts and inject Chinese energy into the prosperity and development of the whole Asia-Pacific family.

Vietnam and Laos are China's good neighbors and important partners, which are also socialist countries.

President Xi's visits to Vietnam and Laos reflect Beijing's high regard for promoting China-Vietnamese and China-Lao relations. The visits are expected to write new chapters of and inject positive impetus into bilateral relations as well as the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between China - Southeast Asian countries.

By Zhang Maorong, World Economy Institute of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations; cartoon drawings by Liao Tingting

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )


Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, paid a state visit to Vietnam on Nov. 12-13.

Xi had talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam respectively, working out the road map for the development of Sino-Vietnamese relations in the new period.

It's Xi's first overseas trip on the heels of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October and also marks the mutual visit within a single year by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, which are of great significance to the bilateral relationship.

During the visit, Xi and Vietnamese leaders had in-depth exchanges of views on enhancing strategic communication between the two parties and two countries, stepping up exchanges of experience in the party and state governance, further synergizing the development strategies of the two countries, and deepening and broadening pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual concerns.

The leaders of both sides had reached a consensus on deepening China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership and witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements.

Public opinions say Xi's visit has advanced the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, camaraderie and partners of the two countries to consolidate traditional friendships.

It is expected to boost bilateral cooperation in many fields including the implementation of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, and promote the two countries to learn from each other and seek common development.

The landmark visit of Xi is also expected to open up new prospects for Sino-Vietnamese relations, which can make greater contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

By Zhang Maorong, World Economy Institute of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations; cartoon drawings by Liao Tingting

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )
PORT AUSTIN -- Village of Port Austin officials this week discussed changing sewer and water rates.

At this week's Port Austin Village Council meeting, officials conducted the first reading of the Port Austin Area Sewer and Water Authority (PAASWA) sewer and water rate ordinance.

At the suggestion of PAASWA, the village would like to change its ordinance using higher water and sewer availability fees and a slightly lower usage rate.

"We can do anything we want, but it does make sense," said President Dan Confer regarding the PAASWA suggestion. "It's very consistent with how water and sewer rate and serves are calculated in a lot of municipalities."

To further explain the potential change, council member Fred Kendall gave a PowerPoint presentation at the meeting, outlining the proposed methodology and pricing.

Kendall explained that as a summertime destination, Port Austin sees 69 percent of its water and sewer customer base gone for the winter. He said it is this group, based on the current convoluted rate structure, that is underpaying and putting a burden on those customers who are still around and actually using the services.

"The money's got to come from somewhere, and right now, it's coming from those that are using water," said Kendall. "Somebody has to pay the fixed costs of the plant."

Currently, the base rate for water and sewer hookup is $110.56 per two-month billing cycle. With the proposed ordinance, it would be $128.37.

The village pays Huron Regional Water Authority $5.85 per 1,000 gallons of water, which is distributed by PAASWA. The village currently charges customers $4.15 per 1,000 gallons.

Where things get confusing is with how the water and sewer rates are tied together.

Under the current billing system, with the first 2,000 gallons of use, nothing is paid on sewer. However, if a customer's usage goes up to 3,000 gallons of water, the rate actually becomes $12.13 per 1,000 gallons, because it's tied into the sewer rates.

Under the new plan, the village would charge $3.74 per 1,000 gallons -- but would make up the deficit with the higher base rate.

Kendall explained if a customer were to use around 4,000 gallons of water per two-month billing period, they could expect their bill to be about the same as before. The average customer uses about 6,000 gallons per billing cycle.

"Most people are going to see no change," Kendall said.

Kendall said the village is attempting to be transparent about how a customer's bill is being calculated, as well as equally distributing the large fixed costs of the operation.

"This is everyone's fair share," he said. "Once again, we talked about how expensive the water plant is -- a $15 million water plant that we're running at 20 percent capacity -- and we're talking about a mechanical treatment plant that is one of the most expensive ways to treat waste. So we have to make sure that everybody pays their fair share."

The board has scheduled a public hearing on the matter at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Port Austin Welcome Center. There, Kendall will give his presentation and council will take public input.

The next regular meeting for council is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, where it could potentially pass the ordinance. If passed, officials said the first time customers would see a change would be on their March bill.
BAD AXE -- The last remaining suspect from a meth lab bust over the summer is set to stand trial later this month following a final pretrial earlier this week.

The two-day jury trial in the case against Gregory Delmarter, of Mount Pleasant, is scheduled to begin Nov. 28 in Huron County Circuit Court.

Delmarter, 34, faces seven meth-related charges: Operating a meth lab, possession of meth, operating a meth lab near specified places, controlled substance-meth lab with hazardous waste, and three counts of delivery/manufacturing meth.

He was one of six defendants charged after police seized more than 20 grams of processed meth from a Bad Axe home and also discovered an inactive cooking operation at a barn in Verona Township on May 26.

Delmarter was on parole at the time of the offense, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.

During Monday's lengthy hearing, Judge Gerald M. Prill heard several motions -- most of which were denied -- made by the defendant's attorney, Richard W. Schaaf.

However, some motions won't be ruled until the day of trial -- one of those being a motion to change venue. If the court can't select a fair and unbiased jury, the trial could be moved to another county.

A plea cutoff date has been set for Nov. 22, but Huron County Prosecutor Timothy J. Rutkowski told the Tribune a deal has not been offered to Delmarter.

Related to the case, five of the codefendants have been sentenced -- four to jail, one to prison -- for their involvement with the meth labs. All codefendants must truthfully testify, if needed, at Delmarter's trial as part of plea agreements reached with the prosecutor's office.

As of Thursday, Delmarter remains lodged in the Huron County Jail on a $20,000 cash bond.
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A new report released this week titled Billionaire Bonanza points out the growing divide in the U.S. among the super wealthy and the rest of the country.

The most stark finding: The three wealthiest people in the United States  Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett  now own more wealth than the entire bottom half of the American population combined, roughly 160 million people.

Of course, two of those billionaires  Bezos and Gates  live in the Seattle area. And it is worth noting that Gates and Buffett are the creators of the Giving Pledge, an effort among the super rich to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Bezos remains one of the top five billionaires who has not yet signed the pledge, according to The New York Times.

The findings point to the growing disparity in wealth in the U.S., and the vanishing middle class. And they also come at a time when public sentiment appears to be turning against very large tech companies, and their growing power.

Now Playing: Jeff Bezos is on top of the world. The Amazon CEO just made $6.6 billion overnight as stock was up 8 percent following the company's stellar Q3 earning's report. Bezos now has bypassed Bill Gates to take the title of world's richest man. Bezos's wealth shot up to more than $90 billion, according to CNBC and Bloomberg, moving him past Gates' ($88.5 billion). Video: Brandpoint

The United States is becoming, as the French economist Thomas Piketty warns, a hereditary aristocracy of wealth and power, the authors write in the report.

They conclude:

The elite ranks of our billionaire class continue to pull apart from the rest of us. We have not witnessed such extreme levels of concentrated wealth and power since the first Gilded Age a century ago. Such staggering levels of wealth inequality threaten our democracy, compound racial and class divisions, undermine social cohesion, and destabilize our economy.

And the growing wealth divide is a phenomenon that some in the one-percenter class are pointing out with more regularity. Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer, one of the earliest investors in Amazon and the co-founder of aQuantive, has discussed the issue at length over the years.

The real threat to our republic is an alarming breakdown in social cohesion, and the cause of this breakdown is obvious: radical, rising economic inequality, and the anger and anxiety it engenders, Hanauer wrote in an essay titled, To My Fellow Plutocrats: You Can Cure Trumpism.

MORE FROM GEEKWIRE:

The authors of the Billionaire Bonanza report offer a few solutions to address these challenges, writing that theres a need to implement policies to reduce concentrated wealth, largely through new tax programs.

Interestingly, one of the co-authors of the the Billionaire Bonanza report, Chuck Collins of the Institute for Policy Studies, is the co-author of a book Wealth and Our Commonwealth, which was written with Bill Gates Sr., the father of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Bill Gates Sr. was one of the champions of Initiative 1098, a state income tax in Washington state on the wealthiest individuals that was proposed in 2010. The initiative was soundly defeated, with 64 percent of citizens voting against it.

This story originally appeared on GeekWire.
July 7, 2018, will mark the end of an era -- the final San Antonio stop of the Vans Warped Tour.

Founder Kevin Lyman announced on Wednesday that 2018 tour will be the last "full cross-country run."
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MIDDLETOWN  The retired university professor charged with animal cruelty after the dog he allegedly left in his car on a hot July day died will return to court in a year, court records show.

David Beveridge of Chimney Hill Road, who appeared in Superior Court in Middletown this week, told police he meant to bring his Labradoodle Jennie to a pet care center around noon July 18 before going to work, according to authorities. He said he did not remember until around 2:30 p.m. that the dog was still in the car, and when he ran out to check, she was dead, Beveridge reportedly told officers.

Temperatures that day were in the 90s.

Beveridge, who was 79 at the time of his arrest on a charge of cruelty to animals and is retired from Wesleyan University, is a Joshua Boger University Professor of the Sciences and Mathematics, emeritus, as well as codirector of the Wesleyan Wasch Center for Retired Faculty in Middletown, according to the schools website.

His file was statutorily sealed by the judge until Nov. 12, 2019, making details on the action in his case unavailable.

Police said records at a veterinary hospital show a 4-year-old poodle mix named Charlie died in May 2014 after Beveridge left that dog in a car. However, Beveridge has never been arrested in Middletown, police Lt. Heather Desmond said Wednesday.

A representative of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals appealed to the states attorney in July, urging him to consider an ownership ban for Beveridge. Its not clear if that was considered in the case.

If these allegations are accurate  particularly with regard to an earlier such occurrence  Beveridge has demonstrated a stark unwillingness or inability to meet the basic duties of animal custodianship and should be prohibited from owning or harboring animals if convicted (a common provision in such cases), Allison Fandl of PETAs Cruelty Investigations Department wrote.

According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website, certain case files, or portions of them, can be sealed by statute for several reasons. In many cases, information may not be disclosable at any point in the future.

The reasons, which are not known in this case, include accelerated rehabilitation, a lenient form of probation that can be granted to first-time offenders; information about certain court-approved education programs for offenders, and to protect the identities of certain victims or youthful offenders, among other reasons.

Beveridge is represented by Attorney Melissa S. Harris of Dowley & Associates, Middletown, who didnt return a call for comment.

It is unclear why Beveridges file is inaccessible by the public.

Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day@hearstmediact.com.
WASHINGTON  Eager to deliver major legislation to President Trump, House Republicans on Thursday passed a sweeping tax overhaul bill that numerous analyses show would disproportionately hurt individuals in California and other high-tax states.

The bill passed 227 to 205 with 13 House Republicans, including three from California, voting no and not a single Democrat voting yes. The vote now shifts the focus of tax overhaul to the Senate, which has its own legislative version.

Among the dissenting GOP House members Thursday were Californians Tom McClintock of Elk Grove (Sacramento County), Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa (Orange County) and Darrell Issa of Vista (San Diego County).

All three expressed concern about the bills potential to increase taxes on their constituents, mainly because of the loss of the state and local tax deduction, valued by residents of California, New York, New Jersey and Maryland, all Democratic strongholds.

Although McClintock represents a reliably conservative district, Issa and Rohrabacher face potentially tough re-election races next year.

It would cause tax increases for many of my constituents, Rohrabacher said. Ive always run on the idea that I would not raise peoples taxes.

He said a number of his constituents have told him they would see tax increases of $5,000 to $10,000 if the legislation becomes law. Thats not only because the bill slashes the state and local tax deduction, Rohrabacher said, but also because it would eliminate many other middle-class deductions.

Those proposals, along with a $10,000 cap on property tax deductions, are designed to offset a reduction in business taxes called for in the House bill. While providing a modest tax cut for many middle- and lower-income families, it would deliver enormous tax cuts for the wealthy.

Republicans argued that this distribution of benefits is unavoidable because the wealthy pay the bulk of income taxes.

The House bill also would add $1.5 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade, and much more after that. Deficit hawk groups often allied with Republicans in the past have denounced the legislation.

But most of Californias House Republicans were enthusiastic. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale (Butte County), heading before the vote into a meeting with the House GOP caucus and President Trump, dismissed the criticisms.

California has done more to hurt itself than most other states, LaMalfa said. You have the highest gas prices, highest home prices, and a heck of a lot more poverty inland, away from the coastal elite area, than meets the eye.

LaMalfa said the legislation is actually helping the vast majority (of Americans) quite a bit. I have a hard time hearing, Oh this is going to hurt Californians, because the Legislature is working overtime down there (in Sacramento) to do destructive things to the economy, especially my economy, my constituents.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said Democrats plan to use the bill as a tool in next years congressional elections.

I dont know what it takes to penetrate the brains of House Republicans, she said. She said the bill is a stunning manifesto to wealthy people in this country and corporate America.

Well be sure their constituents know that, she added.

The House action delivers on GOP promises to pass tax legislation before Thanksgiving, clearing the way for the Senate to move forward on its version with a goal of passage by the end of the year.

If, by then, a compromise version of the House and Senate legislation passes both chambers and is signed by Trump, the tax changes would take effect Jan. 1.

Republican lawmakers said their meeting with Trump was upbeat. The president cracked jokes and praised his recent swing through Asia, drawing lots of cheering, they said. A GOP lawmaker heading into the meeting, however, was overheard telling a colleague that members are going to be disappointed if they think the president is going to give us direction.

The Senate bill, still in flux, could pose a bigger challenge for the GOP. Individual tax cuts in that version would expire in 2025, but the business tax cuts would be permanent. That would transform a major chunk of the tax code into temporary policy, complicating the ability of individuals to plan their finances.

The Joint Committee on Taxation, a nonpartisan arm of Congress that analyzes tax bills, released estimates Thursday showing that by 2027, the Senate bill would raise $27 billion for the U.S. Treasury by significantly increasing taxes on individuals earning up to $75,000. Individuals earning over $1 million would see their after-tax incomes rise by 0.6 percent, the largest benefit of any income group. Americans earning $30,000 or less would face tax hikes by 2021.

The analysis showed that more than 100 million households, or 54 percent of taxpayers, would either be worse off or see no benefit from the Senate bill. The legislation would also eliminate the mandate that people buy health insurance, a provision that the Congressional Budget Office projected would raise health insurance premiums and cause 13 million people to lose health coverage.

Like the Senate bill, the House version would slash corporate tax rates from 35 to 20 percent, and offer multinational corporations a tax holiday of an even lower rate on the $2.6 trillion they have stashed abroad as overseas profits.

Going forward, both bills would assess zero tax on overseas corporate earnings. Republicans argue that this would level the playing field with foreign countries and discourage multinationals from parking their earnings abroad to avoid a high U.S. corporate tax rate. Critics contend the provision is an invitation to companies to move operations offshore.

The House bill reduces tax brackets from seven to four  12, 25, 35and 39.6 percent  and nearly doubles the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples. The large standard deduction would lead to far fewer people itemizing deductions and, for many, could offset the elimination of numerous middle-class tax deductions, including those for medical expenses, student-loan interest and mortgages above $500,000.

The White House in a statement called House passage a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic tax cuts for the American people by the end of the year.

Republicans, the statement continued, are working together to allow hardworking, middle-class families to keep more of their money, and to empower our companies and workers to dominate their global competition. A simple, fair, and competitive tax code will be rocket fuel for our economy, and its within our reach. Now is the time to deliver.

California Republicans who supported the bill said they believe it will boost the economy. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley (San Bernardino County) said he voted the way I thought my constituents wanted.

Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullterton (Orange County) said he thinks the bill could boost economic growth in California to 5 percent a year.

I think its going to advantage California in terms of the economic growth were going to see, he said. I think this will drive economic growth at 5 percent per year, and I think also that the number of jobs created is going to create tremendous opportunity not only in California but across the country.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead

How Californias House members voted

All of Californias 39 Democrats voted no.

Republicans voting no

Darrell Issa of Vista (San Diego County)

Tom McClintock of Elk Grove (Sacramento County)

Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa (Orange County)

Republicans voting yes

Ken Calvert of Corona (Riverside County)

Paul Cook of Yucca Valley (San Bernardino County)

Jeff Denham of Turlock (Stanislaus County)

Duncan Hunter of Alpine (San Diego County)

Steve Knight of Palmdale (Los Angeles County)

Doug LaMalfa of Richvale (Butte County)

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of Bakersfield

Devin Nunes of Tulare

Ed Royce of Fullterton (Orange County)

David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County)

Mimi Walters of Irvine
China top supplier of goods to duty-free zone of Panama

Panama President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez will visit China and inaugurate his country's embassy in Beijing five months after diplomatic relations were established.

The visit, which begins on Thursday, will provide business opportunities for the two countries, experts said on Wednesday.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Varela will pay a state visit to China from November 16 to 22, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Varela will arrive on Thursday in Beijing to grace the official opening of Panama's embassy, the first visit of a Panamanian president after the Latin American country cut ties with Taiwan in June.

Panama is the second Central American country to establish diplomatic relations with China, after Costa Rica in 2007.

Panama has promised to firmly abide by the one-China policy and have no official contact with Taiwan.

Panama's embassy was operating in July out of its previous commercial development office in the Tayuan Diplomatic Compound in Beijing's Chaoyang district.

The two countries had set up commercial development offices in 1996.

China officially opened its embassy in Panama in September.

Yang Zhimin, a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher, told the Global Times that the embassies will facilitate people-to-people exchanges. With consular support, tourism and business services will further increase.

Varela will also travel to Shanghai with his 100-plus-person delegation on a bullet train, the South China Morning Post reported.

Investment potential

"President Varela's visit to China will cement the establishment of diplomatic relations and bring new impetus to the Panamanian economy," Wu Baiyi, director of the CASS' Institute of Latin American Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Before the two countries established diplomatic ties, trade was restricted, Wu said. Varela will be seeking new commercial opportunities under President Xi's Belt and Road initiative, such as infrastructure development, Wu said.

At least 15 agreements, covering agriculture, aviation and tourism, are expected to be signed, South China Morning Post reported, citing Panama's new ambassador to Beijing, Francisco Carlo Escobar.

The Latin American country is trying to maintain its important position in canal trading and bring vitality to Panama market by joining China's rapid track of social and economy development, Wu said.

"China's huge foreign investment potential is a timely help to Panama, a country affected by the global economic downturn due to low trading mobility," he said.

China is the second-biggest client of the Panama Canal after the US, and the top supplier of goods to Panama's Colon duty-free zone, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"China could participate in Panama's port, railway and urban construction, and build industrial parks in Colon. A free-trade deal with Panama is also possible in the future," Wu said.

The International Business Daily reported that Panama is China's eighth largest trade partner in Central America, with some 30 Chinese companies operating in the country, such as Bank of China and Huawei.

Closer commercial and political ties with Panama will serve as a model to help China better connect with Latin America and boost regional cooperation, Yang said.
File photo

DURHAM  State police are urging Durham and Middlefield residents to be extra vigilant about locking their car doors and keeping valuable out of sight following a dramatic increase in motor vehicle thefts over the last few weeks.

Since early this year, there have been several vehicles stolen from both towns, some recovered and some not, according to a press release from the Durham state troopers office.
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...
A 22-year-old man suspected of raping and using a cord to kill his 9-month-old daughter was arrested by Tennessee police Wednesday.

Christopher Paul Conway was charged with homicide and aggravated rape in the death of the toddler, the Clarksville Police Department said in a statement.

A cord was wrapped around the girls neck and was the cause of her death, police said.

Authorities originally responded to the childs home on Tuesday after they received a 911 call about CPR being performed on the girl.

The girl was then taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Authorities said an investigation of the death led to the arrest of Conway, who is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $100,000 bond for the rape charge, FOX17 reported.

Online jail records don't indicate whether Conway has an attorney.

Conway's Facebook page indicates he's an Army combat medic from Grand Bay, Ala. and is a married father of twin girls, The Leaf Chronicle reported.

Neighbors told the newspaper the girls were twins, and a vehicle with Alabama plates was in the driveway.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Since 2001, Rep. Walter Jones has been trying to rename the Department of the Navy to include the Marine Corps.

But with the release of the conference version of the National Defense Authorization Act earlier this month absent Jones' provision, one thing is clear: 2017 won't be the year.

Nonetheless, the North Carolina Republican told Military.com this week that he plans to continue fighting for the cause. And he's convinced that one day, he'll get the support he needs to make it law.

Jones, an outspoken lawmaker who has criticized the Iraq war but doggedly supported the causes of military families in his district, says it's important to redesignate the Department of the Navy as "The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps" because it properly acknowledges the service and sacrifice of Marines.

"It's one fighting team," he said.

The Marine Corps is considered a department of the Navy; while the service has its own uniformed leadership and structure, it answers to the secretary of the Navy and relies on the Navy for support elements such as medical providers and chaplains.

Jones said the importance of the name was brought home to him when he attended the 2003 funeral of 31-year-old Marine Sgt. Michael Bitz, who was killed in action in Nasiriyah, Iraq. It was among the first of many military funerals he would attend as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wound on.

The Secretary of the Navy's condolence letter to Bitz's family, like that sent to the families of all fallen Marines, bore the name and seal of the Department of the Navy, but no explicit reference to the Marine Corps, Jones found.

"I've always felt, as a matter of respect, that the name, Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, is proper," he said.

Through the years, Jones has come close. In 2010, his amendment gained some 425 co-sponsors in the House and another 80 in the Senate, thanks to a companion bill authored by Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican.

Jones also touts a positive Congressional Budget Office report that found enacting his amendment would cost less than $500,000, with expenses mainly consisting of stationery redesign and sign updates.

But the primary obstacle to the move is still very much in place: Sen. John McCain, a Navy veteran and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"Sen. McCain has never been in favor of this [effort to] respect the Marine Corps since he says the Navy and Marine Corps is one fighting team," he said.

Jones said he continues to lobby senators despite McCain's opposition, meeting recently with Sens. Dan Sullivan and Todd Young, both Marine veterans.

"Nobody knows what the future holds," Jones said. "At some point in time, [passage of the measure] needs to be done as a matter of respect."

For those who are loathe to challenge established military tradition, Jones likes to bring up a major change from the not-so-distant past: the 1947 effort to rename the United States Army Air Corps to the U.S. Air Force, a move that created a new military service branch.

"There's certain things that do change," Jones said. "Good Lord, well, we'll keep trying."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Capt. T.U. Sisson, commander of the aircraft carrier Leyte off Korea in December 1950, had a decision to make about the heartbroken lieutenant junior grade who had just returned from a desperate, unauthorized mission to save a dying friend.

He could recommend Thomas Hudner for a court-martial or a medal. Sisson chose the latter.

"There's been no finer act of unselfish heroism in military history," he said.

Five months later at the White House, President Harry S Truman awarded the Medal of Honor to Hudner, who died in Massachusetts on Monday at age 93.

Truman told the 26-year-old Hudner, who would attain the rank of captain, "At this moment, I'd much rather have received this medal than be elected the president."

Hudner was the first person to receive the Medal of Honor for combat in Korea.

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer said, "The Navy lost a legendary aviator when retired Capt. Thomas Hudner passed away. Hudner was a hero in the true meaning of the word, receiving the Medal of Honor for his attempt to save fellow pilot Jesse Brown during the Korean War."

Spencer said, "The Navy is better for his service, and his legacy will continue to inspire every sailor who serves on the future [guided missile destroyer] USS Thomas Hudner."

"Few possess the bravery, determination, and character that Capt. Hudner displayed throughout his lifetime,'' Gov. Charlie Baker, R-Massachusetts, said of Hudner, who was a former commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services.

"The people of Massachusetts can be proud that a hero such as Capt. Hudner called the Commonwealth home," Baker said.

'If Anything Goes Wrong, Tell Daisy I Love Her'

Decades after the Korean War, Hudner said, "Not a day goes by that I don't think of that day, and Jesse."

The cliche about Hudner and Ensign Brown would be that they were an "odd couple."

There was Hudner, the New England "preppie," a graduate of the elite Phillips Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy, and Brown, the sharecropper's son from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who was the Navy's first African-American aviator.

In the many interviews he gave before his death, and in the 2015 book by Adam Makos, "Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice," Hudner described his first awkward meeting with Brown.

Two years earlier, Truman had signed Executive Order 9981, desegregating the armed forces against criticism that whites and blacks could not work and sacrifice together in the military.

"I was changing into flight gear, and he came in and nodded, 'Hello,' " Hudner said of their meeting at the naval air station at Quonset Point, Rhode Island.

"I introduced myself, but he made no gesture to shake hands. I think he did not want to embarrass me and have me not shake his hand," Hudner said. "I think I forced my hand into his."

On Dec. 4, 1950, Hudner and Brown were flying Vought F4U Corsairs, known as "Whistling Death" to the Japanese in World War II, on what was called a "Roadrunner" mission.

They were attempting to relieve pressure on the outnumbered Marines and Army troops seeking to break Chinese Red Army encirclement at the "Frozen Chosin" Reservoir.

Although Hudner outranked him, Brown had more flying hours and was the section leader. Hudner described himself as "tail end Charlie."

They made low runs at the enemy. Brown's Corsair was hit by ground fire, and he went down in flames.

Hudner made another low pass over the site and was astonished to see his friend waving from the cockpit and struggling to get out of the smoldering wreckage.

Hudner didn't know it at the time, but his squadron leader had strictly forbidden what he was about to do.

"Apparently, our squadron captain, commander, said, 'Now if anybody goes down, I don't want to have any heroes here trying to crash-land this airplane,' " Hudner said.

"The very thing that I did later on, I didn't know that was a direct violation of orders," he said, but "I was not going to leave Jesse down there for the Chinese."

'We've Got to Figure Out a Way to Get Out of Here'

Hudner tightened his harness, swooped down again and pulled off a wheels-up belly landing in two feet of snow about a hundred yards from Brown's plane.

He found his friend calm but suffering from the bitter cold. Hudner took off his watch cap and placed it on his friend's head. He wrapped a scarf around his numbed hands. He raced around the plane, throwing snow to put out flames.

"We've got to figure out a way to get out of here," Brown told Hudner, but Hudner could not free Brown's leg, which was stuck between the fuselage and the crushed control panel.

"Unsuccessful in this, he returned to his crashed aircraft and radioed other airborne planes, requesting that a helicopter be dispatched with an ax and fire extinguisher," Hudner's medal citation states.

"He then remained on the spot despite the continuing danger from enemy action and, with the assistance of the rescue pilot, renewed a desperate but unavailing battle against time, cold, and flames," the citation reads.

The light was fading, Chinese troops were moving closer, and the rescue helicopter had to leave. Brown told Hudner: "Tell Daisy [his wife] I love her."

By then, Brown was "motionless and slowly dying," Hudner said, but he told him, "We'll come back for you."

Navy commanders ruled out a second rescue attempt. Brown would later be posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Hudner's actions were hailed in what was then called the "Negro" press. The Norfolk Journal and Guide, a leading black weekly, told the story of Brown and Hudner under the headline, "A Lesson In The Brotherhood Of Man."

A letter to the editor said, "I never thought a white man would help out a black man like that."

Through the years, Hudner maintained his friendship with the Brown family. He paid for the college education of Brown's widow, Daisy Brown Thorne, and he joined her in 1973 for the commissioning of the Knox-class frigate USS Jesse Brown.

Hudner said at the commissioning ceremony that Brown "died in the wreckage of his airplane with courage and unfathomable dignity. He willingly gave his life to tear down barriers to freedom for others."

Last April, Fletcher Brown, the 85-year-old brother of Jesse Brown, told the Boston Globe that he had remained close with Hudner.

"For him to have crash-landed his plane deliberately, that took a lot of guts and a lot of determination," Fletcher Brown said. "Tom is a very close friend."

Last Attempt to Bring Jesse Brown Home

Hudner tried one last time to fulfill his promise to bring his friend home. In the summer of 2013, on the 60th anniversary of the 1953 armistice in Korea, Hudner at age 88 went to Pyongyang.

The North Koreans were permitting Americans and Western journalists into the country for the ceremonies, and Hudner had a pledge from the North Koreans that he would be allowed to go to the Chosin Reservoir area to search for Jesse Brown's remains.

Hudner and his family were well aware that his return to North Korea might be used by the Stalinist regime for propaganda purposes.

"Yes, I'm concerned about that, but I think there are enough people in the United States who are for the man [Jesse Brown] and for what he stands for and certainly wouldn't want to stay in the way to find him," Hudner told the Voice of America at the time. "I felt by this time they surely would have found the wreckage."

The North Koreans later canceled his planned visit to the crash site area. They said monsoon rains had flooded the area and roads were inaccessible.

Later in 2013, Jesse Brown's daughter and granddaughter were on hand at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath for a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of the guided-missile destroyer Thomas J. Hudner. The ship is scheduled to be commissioned in 2018.

In 2015, Hudner tried unsuccessfully to have the name of the ship changed to the Jesse Brown.

In a letter to then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Hudner said, "As our nation once again struggles with racial division, we could send a strong message by remembering Jesse in this manner."

"It would show that in our Navy, men and women of all colors are accepted as equal," he wrote, and it would "ensure that Jesse's legacy lives on, long after we, his friends, have left this Earth."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
A 3D graphic fan designed by some young Chinese startup entrepreneurs has become an online frenzy after a video of its avant-garde LED effects was uploaded on social media, with many hi-tech fans hailing its creation as magnificent.

The fan with a strip of LEDs can generate different 3D patterns when turned on. The hi-tech creation can not only cool you down, but also provides a visual feast of lights and colors.

We call it a 3D holographic smart screen. It has four LED fan blades. Turned on, the swirling blades become invisible due to its fast rotation, creating a 3D effect, Zhou Quan, the 25-year-old inventor of the magical product, told Thepaper.cn. Zhou added that his research team has 21 engineers and the product will be upgraded in the future.

Weve been trying to combine more LED fans together to create a larger screen and have already assembled six fans into one piece. We want to create a screen that can play 3D naked-eye movies, as well as 3D holograms, Zhou noted.

The eye-catching Chinese fan has attracted many foreign buyers on social media, with many demanding the product to be sold in their countries.
One of the Navy's elite special operators was killed during a reported spearfishing accident in Africa earlier this month.

Lt. Mark Weiss, a member of Special Boat Team 12, Navy Special Warfare Group 4, out of Coronado, California, died during a "diving-related incident" while off duty in Africa, according to an announcement from Naval Special Warfare Command.

Weiss was in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous island about 30 miles off the coast of Tanzania, on vacation during post-deployment leave, officials said.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Weiss was killed in a spearfishing accident. Officials with NSWC did not immediately respond to a Military.com query.

Another service member, who was not identified, was also injured in the incident, and is being treated, according to the announcement.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to their families during this difficult time," officials said.

Weiss was commissioned in 2011 and promoted to the rank of lieutenant in September 2015, according to information provided by the command.

He had previously served in the SEALs as an enlisted sailor, enlisting in October 2000 and serving in three East Coast-based SEAL units prior to getting his commission through the Seaman-to-Admiral 21 program.

During his career, he earned several prestigious valor awards, including the Bronze Star medal with combat "V" device, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with combat "V."

Weiss' death comes just over a month after another tragic accident in the SEAL community.

Cmdr. Seth Stone, 41, of Houston died Sept. 30 during an off-duty skydiving accident in Perris, California. He was assigned to Special Operations Command Pacific at the time.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
A record number of people hit the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's website over the Veterans Day weekend, officials said, likely thanks to the rollout of a new online veteran shopping benefit.

The benefit, which allows all honorably discharged veterans to shop at the exchange systems' online stores, first began accepting users in April and had its user-wide start date Nov. 11.

Previously, some users who registered via the program's verification system, VetVerify.org, were selected as "beta testers," while others were told to wait until Nov. 11 to shop.

The new benefit brought a 120 percent surge in Veterans Day weekend online sales, AAFES officials said in a release. On Nov. 11, sales tripled year over year; on Nov. 12, sales doubled compared to last year.

Related content:

In the months prior to the launch, more than 24,000 new veteran users spent $5.6 million through the new benefit, officials said.

That spending isn't just a big cash increase for AAFES -- it also means more money for the Defense Department's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. That's because, by law, AAFES and the other exchange services pump 70 percent of earnings into MWR coffers.

To use the new system, veterans must be verified through VetVerify.org. Those who have trouble getting in or whose records are reported as not located should visit the site's frequently asked questions section for help.

The new benefit applies only to online shopping and does not allow veterans access to bases or to shop at commissary stores.

-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com.
Congratulations! You made it to the interview. Now what? The interview is a critical step in the hiring process. How you manage yourself, your responses, and the questions you have for the interviewer often determine what happens next.

Before you get to the interview, you've likely prepared a resume which identifies your skills, experience, and passion for your next career move. That resume piqued the interest of the employer who will interview you to see:

Are your in-person responses consistent with what you represented on your resume and application? Can you articulate your offer of value to the company? Will you fit in to the company culture? Whatever else they can learn about you to help them make a hiring decision.

Preparing for the Interview

Taking control of the interview requires that you be knowledgeable about the company, industry, and business environment the company operates in, the company culture, hiring manager, and the company's competitors.

Be clear on your offer. What do you offer to the company you're meeting with? What is your personal brand, and how do you align with the values of the company? How has your military career prepared you for the experience you are pursuing? This work needs to happen before you even apply for the job, but you should certainly refine your thinking as the interview nears. Research the company online. Look carefully through their website (what the company says about themselves), but also look outside of their content. In Google, put the company name in the search bar and look through all the options  Web, Images, and News  to see what else you can find about them. You might then put words such as "ABC Company competitors" or "ABC Company reviews" to see what else you can find about the company you are interviewing with. Research the hiring manager. Look at their LinkedIn profile  what common interests or experiences do you share? What someone puts on LinkedIn is public information. It's not creepy to look through their profile to find synergies. Know your resume. Be well versed on your background: dates, responsibilities, and positions you've held. If you have recently separated or retired from service, be sure to make it easy for the hiring manager to understand your military experience. If the company is not familiar with military candidates, spend the time "civilianizing" your experience to show how it relates to the position you are applying for. Decide how you will show up. How do people at that company dress? Image is your first impression in an interview, and you need to understand how to present yourself to show you will fit in, but dress one notch above that. Hiring managers want to see that you are like them, but they look for you to dress in a way that shows respectfulness for the interview.

Interview

Taking control of the interview means you are clear about why this company is the right place for you. You understand how your values align with the company's mission; you have researched the opportunities they offer; and you are focused on how your value and experience can benefit them. You feel empowered with information, confidence, and a clear game-plan to get onboard.

Of course, the interviewer has a great deal of power in this situation. They can decide they don't like you, feel you are a good fit, or understand how you will assimilate in their company. We can only control ourselves and certain aspects of situations; we cannot control other people.

Be prepared for small talk. Some interviewers like to chat before the interview starts to calm the candidate down. Use this as a focused time to build rapport and set the tone for the interview. Think about what you will and won't talk about before you arrive at the interview so you don't misunderstand the casualness and say something inappropriate. Consider current events as good icebreakers provided they are not controversial (political and religious). For instance, you might talk about the upcoming holiday season but not the latest incident of gun violence in schools. Focus on what AND why. Don't ignore that the interviewer not only needs to understand your background and how it's relevant to the open position, but they also need to feel something about you. We call this their "emotional need," and it drives purchasing decisions. If the hiring manager feels you are too pushy, standoffish, or rigid, they might not feel you are a good fit. Focus on what this person needs to feel about you in order to see you as a fit for the company and the position. Make your case for why you are the right candidate. Relate your experience as value-add. For each question asked, relate your military experience to show how you are trained and skilled for the position you're applying to. You need to bridge what you have done in the past with what you can do in the future. The interviewer won't have time to make this connection themselves. You can take control by showing patterns of success and results and direct their attention to forward-looking goals. Ask focused questions. Interviewers expect you to ask questions. Take control of the interview by having these questions developed before you even arrive at the meeting. Be prepared to change the questions up if they are answered during the interview. You should have at least five questions prepared around the company's vision and business goals, culture and work environment, veteran hiring initiatives, on-boarding process, and employee successes. This shows you are focused on finding the right fit for yourself, not just fitting your offer into any company that will have you. Pay attention to your body language. During the in-person interview, keep your hands relaxed and in front of you. If you are seated in a chair and facing a desk, hold your notepad or portfolio on your lap. At a conference table? It's permissible to lean on the table and take notes. Relax your shoulders, but remain professional in posture. Make good eye contact. This validates the interviewer by paying attention to their questions and comments. When you get up to leave, extend a confident and assuring handshake. Watch the interviewer. If they are relaxed and casual, then don't sit "at attention." You also can't be too relaxed or it can appear disrespectful. Take your cues from the interviewer, but realize they work there, so they can act how they want. You want to work there; show you will fit in but also be mindful of the formality of the interview process.

After the Interview

After the interview, if there are things you need to follow up on (e.g. a list of references), send that email as soon as possible. Be sure to thank the interviewer for the meeting and confirm your interest in the position. Don't hesitate to include a bullet point list of highlights from the interview that reinforce you are the right candidate for the job.

Then send a handwritten thank-you note to everyone you interviewed with. Be specific about points in the discussion, and reinforce how you are a great fit for the company.

Interviews are only one step in the hiring process, but they are critical. You might have a series of interviews with multiple people at the company before an offer is made. Be prepared to show up consistently and authentically in each case to prove you are the person they believe you to be!

Find the Right Veteran Job

Whether you want to polish your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Sign up for a free Military.com membership to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox.
(File photo)

Chinese train maker CRRC has kicked off a project to tackle key train technologies for the countrys growing courier services, including building bullet trains that can run 250 kilometers per hour, Science and Technology Daily reported.

The trains will be able to transport fresh sea food from coastal cities to Beijing in one day, said Sun Bangcheng, deputy director of CRRCs office for major project development.

Industry insiders say expanding carrying capacity and improving parcel handling are key issues to be tackled. Chinas delivery services are not available on high-speed trains, and trains for parcel transport are currently running at speeds varying from 120 to 160 kilometers per hour, statistics show.

Trains with these speeds cannot satisfy the growing need for fast loading and unloading, Sun said, because high-speed courier trains need to be able to handle containerization.

Containerization will reduce the reliance on manual labor and improve handling efficiency, Sun said. Besides, the new trains will open fully for handling, according to file photos provided by CRRC.

CRRC is developing a virtual server that can automatically allocate vehicles to transport parcels, as well as monitor the status of the handling operations.

The company started research and development on the project in July 2017 and has distributed specific missions to its branches across the country, Sun said.

Chinas burgeoning courier service sector collected 400 billion yuan ($60 billion) of business revenue last year, up 44.6 percent year-on-year, according to the State Post Bureau, indicating an enormous market for express delivery.
John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

By JOHN D. GONZALEZ and AMY SHERMAN | mlive.com

TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- It was so exciting to surprise our winners of the 2017 search for Michigan's Best Italian Restaurant.

We traveled to the Grand Traverse Commons on Wednesday, Nov. 15 to inform Trattoria Stella that we had selected them as "the best" in the state. There's a lot to love about Stella, and you can read all about why we picked them here:

Michigan's Best Italian restaurant is Trattoria Stella in Traverse City

We just wanted to say congrats, again, to all our finalists, whom we visited from late October to early November. Our Michigan's Best Team (that's us, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman) visited 32 restaurants that are making exceptional regional cuisine representing Italy, and in many cases with a Michigan twist.

We picked a Top 10, as well as 2 Top Newcomers, and a special Spirit of Italy award. In addition, we have an additional list of 19 "Best of the Rest" finalists.

That's 32 restaurants!

Enjoy this list. Mangia! Mangia!

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

If you missed our Top 10 reveal, read all the details here:

These are the 10 best Italian restaurants in Michigan

The Top 10 List



1. Trattoria Stella, 1200 W 11th St, Traverse City, MI 49684; 231-929-8989; Facebook

2. Da Francesco's, 49521 Van Dyke, Shelby Charter Township, MI 48317; 586-731-7544; dafrancescos.com



3. Amore Trattoria Italiana, 5080 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321; 616-785-5344; Facebook

4. Paesano Restaurant, 3411 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104; 734-971-0484; Facebook

5. Giovanni's, 330 Oakwood Blvd, Detroit, MI 48217; 313-841-0122; giovannisristorante.com



6. El Barzon, 3710 Junction St, Detroit, MI 48210; 313-894-2070;elbarzonrestaurant.com



7. Osteria Rossa, 16 Monroe Center St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; 616-988-9350; Facebook

8. Cantoro Italian Market, 15550 N Haggerty Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170; 734-420-1100; cantoromarket.com/plymouth/



9. Nino's Family Restaurant, 1705 Columbus Ave, Bay City, MI 48708; 989-893-0691; Facebook



10. Silvio's Organic Ristorante e Pizzeria, 715 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104; 734-214-6666; Facebook

Top Newcomers

*Mazzo Cucina D'Italia, 122 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; 616-773-1687; Facebook

*Cello Italian Restaurant, 209 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843; 517-548-7500; Facebook

Spirit of Italy Award

*Teddy Spaghetti's, 3032 Heights Ravenna Rd, Muskegon, MI 49444; 231-777-8337; Facebook

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Best of the Rest

Here are 19 additional restaurants, all in alphabetical order:

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Barbieres Villa Capri Italian Restaurant

2100 US-41, Marquette, MI 49855

906-225-1153

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

A longtime favorite in Marquette, the Villa Capri is a throwback, especially when you consider the red walls, red checkered tablecloths and bargain prices. It has been owned and operated by the family of Nick and Joyce Barbiere since 1967, and the recipes have been down for generations. Best sellers include the Capri sizzler steak with a side of homemade lasagna, and chicken tetrazzini with its famous garlic bread, which is made daily. We especially loved the tasty marinara sauce and homemade meatballs. Dont forget to check out the Boat Bar at the back of the building with a separate entrance. You can order the full menu at the bar or take your drinks to the main dining room by walking under the awning to the front door. Open daily at 4:30 p.m.

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Claire Abendroth | Mlive.com

Bella Notte Ristorante

137 W Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI 49201

517-782-5727

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Claire Abendroth | Mlive.com

Owners Gregory and Annette Walker bring a touch of Southern Italy to Jackson with an ever-changing menu, extensive wine list and fantastic desserts. Chef Josh Smedley is doing a great job of reinventing some classic Italian dishes with new takes. The recent addition of Rosa Miller, who just moved to the area from Naples, brings an authentic touch to the kitchen. We loved her Penne Boscaiola with sausage, mushrooms and Bechamel. The owners are committed to fresh, locally sourced ingredients and drive to Detroit two to three times a week to buy the best products. They even used produce from their own rooftop garden this fall. All desserts are homemade, as is the pizza dough with an original recipe. Open at 11 a.m. daily; closed Sundays.

See all the photos from our visit to Bella Note Ristorante

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Buon Appetito Italian Cuisine

117 W Lafayette St, Romeo, MI 48065

586-785-3157

buonappetitoitaliancuisine.com/home.html

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

If you have a big appetite you won't go wrong at Buon Appetito, which is a little slice of Italy in Macomb County, located off M-53 about 40 miles north of downtown Detroit. Chef Vito Cangemi, along with his wife Jeannette and family, has been serving up classic old world dishes straight from Sicily, Italy with recipes passed down from his mother and grandmother. "He cooks with his heart and soul," said his wife. It shows. We recommend anything coming out of the tiny kitchen, especially the softball-sized Arancini rice balls stuffed with meat sauce, peas and mozzarella. All the pastas were nearly perfect. We also loved the Hot Banana Peppers, which are sauteed with Italian sausage, onions, potatoes with just the right amount of garlic. Great pastas, wine list, fluffy Tiramisu dessert and service (ask for Salvatore). No pizza, which is just fine with us. Opened since September 2015, it has an intense local following that is growing each day.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Casa Calabria

1106 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI 49855

906-228-5012

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

A touch of old school Italian with local favorites, we just loved everything about Casa Calabria, another popular restaurant in the Upper Peninsula. Owned by brothers Jim and Phil Johnson, the restaurant history dates back to 1948 when their grandfather Felix Barbiere opened his first restaurant in Ishpeming. Today family members own 20-plus restaurants in the Upper Peninsula and Milwaukee, including the Villa Capri in Marquette. You will find some similarities, such as steaks and the signature garlic bread. But Casa Calabria, which opened in 1981 by the Johnsons offers a big menu, quality wine list and desserts, all in a fine dining atmosphere. The biggest seller is the Steak and Lasagna dinner, which accounts for 2/3 of the orders on any given day. The No. 1 complaint: We have a lot of cheese on top! Jim said. The garlic bread, bathed in butter, is the other staple. We also recommend the tenderloin steak tips. Even though theyre not making their own pastas, they make their own sauces and pizza crust. Open daily at 4 p.m.

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Kayla Miller | kmille17@mlive.com

Comensoli's Italian Bistro & Bar

762 W Main St, Kalamazoo, MI 49006

269-345-6755

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Kayla Miller | kmille17@mlive.com

It looks like a tiny restaurant on the outside, but inside you will find big flavors to go along with plenty of dining space, banquet room, bistro and more. It can seat 200 people, with 35 more on the terrace. Best put: Comensolis is a hidden gem among the hidden gems. Owner Peter Comensoli revamped the space more than 12 years ago and has turned into a lovely, casual dining restaurant serving homemade Italian dishes, along with a touch of the Upper Peninsula. (His wife, Nita, is from Ishpeming.) You will find a very tasty Cudighi & Pepper pasta dish on the menu, as well as a Cudighi supreme, thin-crust pizza with homemade sausage. The recipes are from the Northern region of Italy, which means creamy sauces and polenta. We loved the Cream Chicken and Polenta, as well as the Exotic Mushroom pasta dish with red onion, truffle oil, cream, white wine and Fettuccine. Its open daily at 4 p.m. (except for 5 p.m. Mondays).

See all the photos from our visit to Comensoli's

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Cuginos Italian Restaurant

306 S Bridge St, Grand Ledge, MI 48837

517-627-4048

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Co-owners and cousins Pat DeLuca and Mark Naccarato have built a steady business in Grand Ledge with homemade sauces and recipes dating back 100 years from Italy. We just serve classic, basic good home cooking that sticks to your ribs, said Pat, who talked to us after a busy Thursday night working in the kitchen. The Arancini is a newer recipe he just perfected. The melt-in-your mouth lasagna is their top seller, as is the Pasta Roma and Pesto Chicken. All were tasty. We especially liked the larger-than-life breadsticks, which were lightly topped woth garlic butter and a touch of Parmesan cheese. The menu also features sandwiches, subs, burgers, salads, pizzas and their famous calzones. You will also find a complete menu of beer, wines and specialty cocktails. Open daily at 11 a.m.; closed Sundays.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Erbellis Gourmet Pizzeria, Italian Bistro & Pub

6214 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

269-375-0408

Erbellis.com

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

One of our favorite stops whenever were in Kalamazoo, Erbellis is best known for its specialty pizzas and owner Greg Erbs passion for making sure everyone has a memorable experience, and to keep it simple. Were not fancy Italian, its just solid, Greg said. Simple is where its at. Hes not kidding. Along with his award-winning gourmet pizzas, Erbellis offers a full menu of traditional Italian items such as lasagnas, pastas, spaghettis and ravioli. We loved the Vodka Bolognese sauce, Sausage and Portobello Mushroom Lasagna and the savory Picante Pesto Chicken Pasta. Oh, dont forget to add the very yummy Erbbie Bread with cheese. Wash it all down with the popular Iron Maiden IPA, a special beer made exclusively by Mountain Town Brewing Company.

See all the photos from our visit to Erbelli's

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Frankos

106 W Grand River Ave, Webberville, MI 48892

517-984-5000

Fabulousfrankos.com

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Fred Denby owned the building and restaurant at one time, but decided to get out the business. When the owner of C+J Pizzeria decided to pull the plug, Fred found himself back in the business thanks to the urging of his son Brandon Denby and a lot of friends in Lansing, including Michigan Senator Joe Hune, who was at the restaurant the day we stopped. Fred brought back the lasagna, which had been off the menu, as well as ribs, which are served with a very sweet and old fashioned style sauce. The ribs are similar to those of Falsettas Casa Nova in Lansing. I would have voted for them, said Fred, admitting that he tried to recreate their secret rib sauce. Pizza is still the restaurants biggest seller and accounts for 45 percent of sales. Lasagna and ribs are a close No. 1 and 2, and the grinders are worth a trip because of the bread. We loved the old Italian photos of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and other notables on the walls and on tabletops. And the old jukebox was playing Italian songs. This is a great community restaurant. No beer and wine. But Fred is talking about making his own wine down the road. Open at 4 p.m. daily.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Gulinos Pizza & Sons

1406 N Henry St, Bay City, MI 48706

989-890-7585

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

It's a family affair at Gulino's where mom, dad, grandma and brothers crank out great pizzas and Italian fare from a tiny kitchen and wood-fired brick oven. No strangers to the restaurant business, owner Alberto Gulino moved from Texas and now works in the same kitchen where his father (Antonino "Nino") once worked before they moved back to Italy. The restaurant was once Carmona's and then Josephine's. Today Alberto has come full circle. The food is fantastic, especially the stuffed mushrooms and Focaccia bread, which we had has appetizers. But we loved the lasagna, which is a top seller. As for pizzas, we recommend the Saucy Italian, Sicilian sauce, onions, fresh mozzarella, asiago cheese and sausage. Don't forget the pancetta (pumpkin, vanilla and nutella). Opened daily at noon; closed Sundays and Mondays.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Italia Gardens

G-3273 Miller Rd, Flint, MI 48507

810-720-4112

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Considered to be the first Italian restaurant in the city of Flint, Italia Gardens was established in 1931 by Albert and Josephine Barone. Today Italia Gardens is run by Don Haley, his son-in-law, and his wife Enza. It has a long history and has moved multiple times, but built its reputation on spaghetti and later pizza (in the 60s). The red sauce is sweet, accounting for popular items as Spaghetti, Lasagna and Mostaccioli. We especially loved the St. Louis Style Ribs dinners, served with pasta, roasted redskin potatoes and seasonal vegetables, as well as the roasted chicken. If youre a bread fan you will love the fresh loaves that are light and fluffy coming out of the oven. The menu also includes steak and sausage, seafood, pizza and calzones, appetizers and full bar. Other locations in Davison and Oxford. Open for lunch each day.

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Kaytie Boomer | kboomer@mlive.com

La Cantina

139 W Michigan Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49079

269-657-7033

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Kaytie Boomer | kboomer@mlive.com

Its a local mainstay for 30 years that has stood the test of time for good reason: La Cantina offers a little bit of everything, and its all good. We were excited to meet owners Tony Dacoba and Ava Plaszczak, who took time to tell us about the restaurant that has been a part of their lives since childhood. Nearby by was proud mom, Norma Dacoba, in her signature glittery glasses, smiling and happy to still contribute to the restaurant on a daily basis. Whether the Antipasto Plate, the La Cantina Chicken or popular Linguini and Clams, each dish was packed with plenty of flavor and prepared with love. We oohed and ahhed over the Baked Lasagna and found a sweetness to the Rigatoni e. The menu borrows from family recipes from Napples and Calabria, and includes pizzas, more pasta dishes and great desserts, including Tiramisu and cannolis. Open daily at 5 p.m.; closed on Mondays.

See all the photos from our visit to La Cantina

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Latina Restaurant and Pizzeria

1370 W Bristol Rd, Flint, Mi 48507, Flint Township, MI 48507

810-767-8491

http://www.latinarestaurant.com/

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

A Flint tradition since 1967, owner Mike Hawley took over the restaurant with his wife Brigitte in 1995. Since then it has stayed with the signature items that have made it successful such as the lasagna, the No. 1 seller on the menu. The secret is in the meat sauce, Mike said. Pizza and strombolis also do well. We really liked the carbonara pasta topped with bacon, onion and parsley in a light garlic cream sauce, as well as the Latina Best Pizza (pepperoni, ground beef, onions, green peppers, mushrooms and ham). Open daily at 11 a.m.; Sundays at 12 noon.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Mani Osteria & Bar

341 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

734-769-6700

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Obviously we love Mani, having named it some of the best pizza in Michigan on separate searches in 2013 and 2016. We were excited to try some of the other offerings on the menu. And owner Adam Baru and chef Richard Craig III were equally excited to show they can do more than just pizza. They are knocking it out of the park! We loved the perfection of the Charred Spanish Octopus, as well as the Sticky Ribs with a sweet and sour sauce and topped with Calabrian chili for a little heat. The pastas -- all made in house -- were amazing (Pappardelle with Bolognese, Tortellini with king crab and truffled pea, and Ravioli with ricotta). But we absolutely fell in love with the Fire Roasted Branzino, a Mediterranean sea bass prepared in the wood-fired oven. It doesnt get any better than that! Opens at 11:30 a.m. most days; closed Mondays.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Papas Italian Sausage

1219 King Hwy, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269-373-5707

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

When we received a passionate plea from our friend Andy Dominianni of WWMT-TV Channel 3 in Kalamazoo, we had to stop in to see what all the fuss was about at Papas Italian Sausage. We found out Andy knows what he is talking about. In business for 34 years, owner Carl Rizzuto Jr. offers a classic recipe handed down for generations by way of Sicily, Italy. The menu features hot and mild Italian sausages, subs, pastas, pitas, hot dogs, chili and those tasty pan fried and seasoned potatoes called Potato La Roma. Our favorite was the Bella Supreme, Papa's signature sandwich with homemade sausage topped with provolone cheese, Italian beef, sauteed onions and grilled green peppers. Only $6.37. The tiny restaurant with limited seating is mainly open for lunch (hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily). It does offer catering.

See all the photos from Papa's Italian Sausage

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Ralph's Italian Deli

601 Palms Ave, Ishpeming, MI 49849

906-485-4557

http://www.ralphsitaliandeli.com/index.html

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

One our Top 10 picks for Michigans Best Subs, we knew that Ralphs had great meatballs because co-owner Bruno Gervasi brought some out the last time we were in the area. Weve been craving them ever since. On this visit we sampled other items, including the cheese ravioli, antipasto salad, homemade chicken soup and even a pasty. All were fantastic. We also tried the signature thin-crust pizza, which did not disappoint. Other top sellers include the Cudighi sandwich, Italian Hero and Italian Beef. This may be the best deli in the Upper Peninsula. Seating for about 30 people. Opens daily at 9 a.m.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Tosi's Restaurant

4337 Ridge Rd, Stevensville, MI 49127

269-429-3689

http://www.tosis.com/

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

A long time favorite in Southwestern Michigan for more than 75 years, Tosis offers fine dining in a casual setting with a special emphasis on customer service that embodies the spirit of founder Emil Tosi. Carrying the torch is general manager Dan McCrery and his wife, assistant general manager Lori. He was a great person, Dan said of his former boss. He reeked of personality. Those original recipes from the Northern region of Italy are staples on the menu today, including the Malfatti, hand-made spinach rolls layered with its house made Bolognese and Bechamel, as well as mushrooms. All the pastas are house made, and the pizzas prepared in a wood-fired oven. We especially loved the chargrilled beef tenders, which was offered as an antipasti on the night we dined. NOTE: Guests ages 60 or over get a 15% discount off the price of a complete dinner (alcoholic beverages not included) if they are seated by 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Opens at 5:30 p.m. daily; closed Sunday.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Two Tonys Taverna Grille

723 E Savidge St, Spring Lake, MI 49456

616-844-0888

Twotonysspringlake.com

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Located in a strip mall on the very busy stretch of highway that takes you into Grand Haven, it's easy to overlook Two Tonys, which at one time was, indeed, owned by two gentleman named Tony. Today it's owned by former Muskegon County prosecutor Tony Tague, who has since retired, and pastry chef Wendi Archer. Along with talented chef Michel Keeton (who has been with the restaurant since it opened in 2006), the trio has turned it into one of the finest Italian restaurants in the state. From the extensive wine list to creative dishes to casual, but still elegant atmosphere, Two Tonys is worth the trip to Spring Lake. The menu pays homage to both Northern and Southern Italian cuisine, along with a touch of Greek (make sure to try the housemade Feta cheese spread). The meatballs, made with beef, pork and veal, were out of this world good. Equally as tasty was the Tortellini Con Pollo (cheese-stuffed pasta, marinated chicken, mushroom, Roma tomato, artichoke heart and herb cream), Pork Osso Buco (braised pork shank with herbed risotto in a mushroom demi-glace) and the Lasagna (10-layer pasta with an Italian cheese blend and classic meat sauce). If that's not enough to convince you, Two Tonys features Californian and Italian wines, plus some incredible desserts. We loved the vanilla bean panna cotta and classic Tiramisu with Myers's dark rum. Open daily at 11 a.m.; closed Sundays.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Uccello's Ristorante

2630 E Beltline Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

616-954-2002

http://uccellos.com/

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

An entrepreneur who started the Faro pizza chain in the late 70s in West Michigan, Faro Uccello eventually sold it (moving back to Sicily) and then re-acquired it in the 90s. Around this time he moved back to the area to start a new concept, a sports bar theme with lunch buffet and classic Italian meals. It has something for everyone. Today he and his partners in the Uccellos Hospitality Group own 5 locations in the Greater Grand Rapids area, as well as Mazzo Cucina DItalia in downtown Grand Rapids as well as two Herb & Fire pizza locations. We had a great time visiting the original Uccellos location on the East Beltline. Some of our favorites included the Signature Pizza (pepperoni, spicy capicola, ham, Italian sausage and bacon), Seafood Risotto and Stuffed chicken scallopine. Oh, and the homemade Tiramisu.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Vivios

4531 S Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749

231-238-9471

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Known for its hand-tossed, homemade pizzas, Vivios is an institution in the Northern Lower Peninsula for locals and travelers alike. Along with its rustic, log cabin atmosphere where taxidermy is mounted on the walls, we discovered a huge menu of pastas and spaghettis. Owners Kurt and Angie Oswald, who bought the restaurant in 2000, call their menu Americanized Italian, but that pizza dough dates back to when John and Theresa Vivio owned the restaurant back in 1952. We loved the sauteed garlic shrimp Italian style garlic bread, as well as the spaghetti and meat sauce and the Vivios Special pizza (Mozzarella, pepperoni, bacon, fresh mushrooms, green peppers and onions).

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

More Michigan's Best

Detroit's Best Burger: Our Top 10 list revealed

Michigan's Best chicken wing: where we were, wings we ate, who we met

44 of the best French Fries in Michigan

These are 4 of the best chili cheese fries in Michigan

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Michigan's Best Coffee Shop

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Terray Sylvester

Follow all of our adventures.

Amy Sherman on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

John Gonzalez on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - An employee at Huron High School was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 14, and is accused of selling the prescription drug Adderall to students, police confirmed.

Police allege the woman sold the drug on the school's campus, Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Matthew Lige said. Adderall is a prescription amphetamine commonly used to treat ADHD.

The woman hasn't yet been formally charged and police aren't releasing her name.

Lige said the case is currently open and under investigation. No other information is being released.

Ann Arbor Public Schools officials on Thursday confirmed a Huron High School employee was arrested and placed on administrative leave.

"We will continue to work very closely with the authorities regarding this situation," AAPS Superintendent Jeanice Swift said in a statement. "As this is a personnel matter, we will have no further comment."

Lauren Slagter contributed to this report.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Big changes are in the works for some of Ann Arbor's downtown streets, possibly including the addition of the city's first protected bike lanes along three corridors.



That could include what's been described as an east-west "bicycle highway" along William Street from the Old West Side neighborhood through downtown to the University of Michigan campus.



There also could be protected bike lanes running the full length of First and Ashley streets from Kingsley to Madison, providing connections between neighborhoods and downtown commercial areas. Some of that could overlap with the city's plans for a new urban trail called the Treeline, which includes some on-street trail segments that would be physically buffered from automobile traffic.



The Downtown Development Authority this month established an $11.4 million budget for improvements along First, Ashley and William streets starting in spring 2020, including redesigns expected to help implement the Treeline plan.

The specific improvements that will happen are not finalized yet and different options will be analyzed as part of the design phase, but protected bike lanes on the three corridors are a key focus.

The DDA's board voted to approve a $1.3 million contract to hire consultant SmithGroupJJR and sub-consultants Toole Design and Wade Trim as the design and engineering team. SmithGroupJJR has been working with the city to develop the Treeline plan.



The DDA is discussing issuing bonds for the work in fiscal year 2018-19, with construction in 2020 and 2021.



How will Ann Arbor come up with $55M to fund Treeline urban trail?

The DDA plans to begin collecting information this winter about how people are using the streets, surveying existing conditions and counting and observing pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.



Community engagement and outreach is expected to continue next spring and the DDA will begin to shape design alternatives based on analysis and public feedback, said DDA Planner Amber Miller.



Miller said the DDA wants to explore how the two projects -- the William Street project and the First and Ashley project -- can connect and provide downtown bicycle amenities for people of all ages.

Rather than just lines painted on the street, protected bike lanes include actual physical buffers separating bicycles and automobiles.



"Since the project areas and goals overlap, we felt it was most effective to study and design them together," Miller said.



With the First and Ashley project, the DDA is looking at the potential to restore the streets to two-way traffic.



Miller said the First and Ashley corridors were converted to one-way traffic in the 1960s to prepare for a highway bypass through downtown, but the bypass was never completed.



"Our goals are to improve the overall experience by increasing access, safety, the connection to adjacent neighborhoods, and activity," Miller said of the First and Ashley project.



"We would like to see if we can transition these streets from streets that are designed to move people through to streets where people can more comfortably spend time," she said. "In addition, we are interested in implementing some on-street portions of the Treeline trail and streetscape improvements on these streets."



Miller said that also overlaps with the William Street project, where the main focus is looking at creating protected bike lanes.



The areas of focus for the projects include First and Ashley from Kingsley to Madison, and William Street from Third to State.



As it considers how to finance the improvements, the DDA has indicated it intends to combine the work on First, Ashley and William and a separate streetscape project on Huron Street into a single bond.



The latest project budget for the work on Huron Street, from Third to Division, is $5.6 million. That project is now in the design phase and is expected to be implemented in 2019.



Ahead of that is a major streetscape improvement project along Fifth Avenue and Detroit Street near the Farmers Market in 2018.



$7M makeover planned for area around Ann Arbor's farmers market

DDA streetscape improvements in downtown commercial areas typically include elements such as new sidewalks, tree planters, benches, landscaping, lighting, pedestrian-safety enhancements, and in some cases widened sidewalks to better accommodate outdoor dining or cafe seating and foot traffic.



As for the plans to convert First and Ashley to two-way traffic, the DDA earlier this year described the project as a way to restore a traditional street grid to slow traffic movements, increase visibility and access to adjacent businesses, and reinforce access to Main Street.



The DDA says the two-way conversion could help implement the Treeline trail with intersection improvements and improved railroad crossings, while also upsizing water mains and coordinating on a city project to address sanitary sewer backups along a portion of First.



The city has discussed creating a park space on a city-owned lot at First and William as part of the Treeline trail project.



DDA Executive Director Susan Pollay noted the projects the DDA is advancing are part of the DDA's strategic focus on the western portion of the downtown district. The DDA is focusing on improvements in the area west of Main Street as an opportunity to encourage more vibrant commercial activity and new development of vacant lots.



As part of that focus, the DDA is planning to move forward with an expansion of the Ann/Ashley parking deck in 2018.



The City Council and DDA held a joint meeting this week to discuss downtown parking issues, including the fact that four lots that are now used for public parking are expected to be repurposed -- two as part of the Treeline plan and two that are privately owned and expected to be redeveloped at some point in the future. That includes the large parking lot bound by First, Ashley, Huron and Washington.



The DDA board approved a resolution this month formally expressing its support for the city's $55 million Treeline plan, saying numerous studies have demonstrated the link between investment in non-motorized urban trails and increased economic development.



"The Treeline (formerly known as the Allen Creek Greenway) as proposed would reinforce the DDA's current project emphasis on the west side of downtown aimed at encouraging the redevelopment of vacant or underutilized properties with higher, more intensive uses," the DDA's resolution states.



"Dense redevelopment of these vacant and underutilized properties will likewise make it possible for many more people to live or work adjacent to the Treeline, thus providing the necessary 'eyes' on the space to help prevent and counteract challenges that can result from poorly designed and unmanaged urban open space."



DDA officials said the Treeline trail would support active recreation and a connection between downtown and other community recreation areas such as the Huron River, and it would encourage more bicycle ridership and less automobile driving, which they believe could help reduce demand for off-street parking downtown.
ANN ARBOR, MI - The Ann Arbor chapter of Girl Up Michigan is hosting a free screening of "He Named Me Malala" at Rackham Auditorium on Thursday night.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16, at the auditorium at 915 E. Washington St.

Girl Up Michigan is a part of the United Nations Foundation's campaign to support and empower adolescent girls around the world. The screening is part of the local Girl Up Michigan group's continued work toward that mission.

"He Named Me Malala" is a 2015 documentary by Davis Guggenheim that follows the life of Pakistani social-rights activist Malala Yousafzai. Yousafzai was attacked by the Taliban after advocating for women's rights and access to education in the country. The films details the events leading up to the attack and the lasting effects on Yousafzai's life afterwards.

Yousafzai went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She is the youngest person to ever receive the honor.

For more information, click here.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Two University of Michigan students were victim of so-called "sextortion" attempts this week, officials say.

The students received threats on Nov. 12 and 14 that explicit pictures or videos of them would be published online if an amount of money wasn't paid, according to a release from the University of Michigan of Division Public Safety and Security.

Both incidents began with Facebook friend invitations and escalated over the course of a few hours to online chatting and videotaping before the extortion attempt, U-M DPSS spokeswoman Diane Brown said.

The incidents remains under investigation.

Police say anyone who believes also they may be a victim of the extortion attempt should not panic, but contact their local police agency.

"The police will take your case seriously, dealing with it in confidence and without judgement," the release stated.

Possible victims are asked to cut off contact with the alleged extortionists, but not pay anything or delete any correspondence, police said.

Victims should take screenshots of the communications, suspend Facebook accounts - but not delete them - and "use the online reporting process to the sites such as Skype and YouTube to have any video blocked."
ANN ARBOR, MI - Washtenaw County commissioners are opting not to accept a 4 percent pay increase.



The board voted 6-2 Wednesday night, Nov. 15, to remove the raises for themselves from the county's proposed budget, while leaving in place raises for other county officials.



Commissioner Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, made the motion to eliminate the commissioner raises and won support from all colleagues except Chairman Andy LaBarre, D-Ann Arbor, and Alicia Ping, R-Saline. Ruth Ann Jamnick, D-Ypsilanti Township, was absent.



Morgan said he doesn't believe commissioners should be raising their own pay after voters just entrusted them with more of their hard-earned dollars by voting 2-to-1 in support of the county's new mental health and public safety tax.



He said he also doesn't feel comfortable with commissioners increasing their own salaries through the county's budget reauthorization process because he doesn't think it provides enough opportunity for public input.



"With that said, given the workload of serving as commissioner and time it takes to be thorough and responsive to constituents, I believe we are missing out on many great candidates who would run for county commission but don't because they cannot afford to give up the time working in another job or their job does not offer flexible hours, which includes many of our lower-income and younger residents," Morgan said. "We should review commissioner salaries, but the public should be engaged in the process."



The county's nine commissioners each receive base pay equal to $15,911 per year. The three chairpersons -- the chair of the board, chair of the Ways and Means Committee and chair of the Working Session -- also receive an additional $3,000 per year, while the vice chair receives an additional $1,000 per year.



The county's staff provided a comparison of salaries for commissioners in eight other Michigan counties, showing Washtenaw commissioners are paid about 44 percent less on average.



With the $636 pay increase that was rejected, they still would have made about 42 percent less at $16,547 per year.



According to the county's information, commissioners in Genesee, Macomb and Oakland counties make between $31,000 and $35,000, while commissioners in Wayne County make nearly $62,000, and commissioners in Kent County make nearly $22,000. Commissioners in Kalamazoo and Ingham counties make between $11,000 and $13,000, and commissioners in Ottawa County make $17,575.

Washtenaw County's staff provided this comparison of salaries for commissioners in eight other Michigan counties, showing Washtenaw commissioners are paid about 44 percent less on average. Commissioners rejected the staff's proposed 4 percent raise.





LaBarre said there was no connection between the county's Nov. 7 tax proposal passing and the proposed raises.



"This is part of an annual process," he said, adding the county's staff put together the recommendation before the election.



"This is the normal time of year when we do the budget. This is a staff recommendation that they developed on their own."



LaBarre said he was in agreement that commissioners should receive a 4 percent raise, but he understood why it was voted down.



"I didn't think that that 4 percent was bad, but I knew I'd be on the losing end," LaBarre said.



He said he sided with Ping and thought she made good points about the number of residents county commissioners have to represent -- more than 40,000 per district on average. He noted the size of the districts and the number of municipalities within them varies, which means some commissioners have more ground to cover, and Ping represents the largest district geographically.



LaBarre said he expects the county will revisit the issue of commissioner compensation in the future.



Morgan said he intends to work with other commissioners to propose a citizen advisory committee that would have authority to review salaries and provide recommendations to the board.



Though commissioners voted down raises for themselves, they voted in favor of raises for other county elected officials, including 4 percent raises for the prosecutor and sheriff, and 8 percent raises for the clerk, treasurer and water resources commissioner.



That increases salaries to the following levels starting in 2018: $127,888 for the prosecutor, $127,784 for the sheriff, and $113,135 each for the clerk, treasurer and water resources commissioner.



The county board plans to hold a public hearing on the overall budget on Dec. 6 before final approval. See a copy of it here.






CANBERRA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described the death of a diplomat in New York as "a tragedy."

Julian Simpson, the second secretary to the Australian Mission to the United Nations (UN), died on Wednesday night when he fell from a seventh floor balcony at his Manhattan apartment block.

Authorities investigating the death said he had been drinking alcohol with his wife and friends when he sat on the balcony railing and lost his balance.

Media in the U.S. have reported he was playing "a game of trust," but the New York Police Department (NYPD) was not able to confirm those reports.

Turnbull on Thursday said he was shocked to hear of the death of the 30-year-old.

"It is a tragedy, our hearts go out to his family but I can't provide any more details at this stage," he said on Australian breakfast television on Thursday.

"It's a shocking tragedy, a young life lost."

Earlier on Thursday, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it was providing "consular assistance" to Simpson's family who had "requested privacy at this time."

Simpson had worked as an Australian representative to the UN in New York for two years and had recently taken part in a 55-member conference on sustainable development in Ecuador.

Julie Bishop, Australia's Foreign Minister, said she met Simpson on a recent trip to the UN, describing him as a "a bright, engaged, clever young man" with "a bright future ahead of him."

"He will be remembered as someone dedicated to the service of our nation as a member of Australia's foreign service," Bishop said in a statement on Thursday.

"I ask that the media and others respect the privacy of Julian's family at this difficult time."
(File photo)

A kindergarten in Hangzhou, eastern Chinas Zhejiang province, is planning to open philosophy courses for its students in the next year, Qianjiang Evening News reported on Nov. 16.

Philosophy is not as profound as some people think, and children love raising lots of questions on their daily experiences, said Gao Zhenyu, the teacher of the course, and also the director of a children philosophy research institute under Hangzhou Normal University.

For example, they asked whether ants are beneficial insects and wondered if a mother ant would be sad when another ant is stepped on after reading a story about ants, Gao noted.

Behind these questions is childrens thinking on their relations with nature, Gao said, adding that this process is what makes the philosophy course.

Experts on children philosophy believe that the courses can promote the development of childrens core competence, as well as improve their curiosity and exploring spirit.

In addition, it could also alter traditional views that children do not have the ability to think in a wise manner.

An employee of the kindergarten told Qianjiang Evening News that three different courses will be provided respectively for parents, teachers, and children.

In addition to the kindergarten, more and more schools in Hangzhou have started offering philosophy courses.

Philosophy is the most interesting course, because I will be praised no matter how I answer the questions, a student said.
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For the third year running, Dubai Watch Week brings a welcome ray of sunshine to the watch industry in this month of November. The Seddiqi groups vision remains unchanged: to make this non-commercial event a knowledge-sharing platform for the watch community.

The event has grown considerably in just two years, and this autumn sees it take things up a level, with a specially built facility on the attractive terraces of the DIFC (and nothing is done by halves in Dubai...). Some new brands are joining the party, bringing an additional layer of gravitas: A. Lange & Sohne, Dior, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Richard Mille, Vacheron Constantin and Voutilainen, to mention just a few. And, as for every year since 2015, theres also a well-thought out and comprehensive programme of forums, workshops and events.

For 2017, the theme of the 16-20 November forum will be Classic and Contemporary. Were looking forward to hearing more about what millennials are doing for the industry, in a panel discussion featuring Alexis Georgacopoulos, Director of Art & Design at ECAL and Kurt Klaus of IWC, and listening to Fabrizio Buonamassa, director of Bulgaris watch design centre, talk about discoveries and inventions: Paul ONeil (WorldTempus) will also be debating counterfeit culture with Mohammed Seddiqi.

The revival of classical craftsmanship and contemporary techniques will be the focus of the main DWW 2017 exhibition.  Dubai Watch Week

There will be open and wide-ranging discussions on the evergreen themes of customisation, technology, e-commerce and counterfeiting by brand leaders, collectors and media. Laurence Nicolas, who chairs Diors watch department (and who rarely speaks in public) will tackle the issue of design, while Julien Tornare, Zenith CEO, will explain the importance of marketing in plotting a brands rebirth. The outspoken journalist Suzanne Wong and Audemars Piguet CEO Francois Henry Bennahmias will debate the question: Are grand complications a men-only club?

This year the DWW will also provide an opportunity to extend the annual celebration of the GPHG, with timepieces arriving straight from Geneva after the ceremony. Delegates will also have chance to share the excitement of the sale room in an auction workshop led by Christies, dive into a mechanical movement with legendary watchmakers, and to learn the art of engraving, enamelling and miniature painting with master craftsmen. Members of the public will have completely free access to the Classic & Contemporary, GPHG and Telling the Time exhibitions in the DIFC and Dubai Mall throughout the week.

All you need is your plane ticket, and your local guide is sure to show you where to find the best street food.




[November 15, 2017] Bulgaria - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Digital Media - Statistics and Analyses

LONDON, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bulgariaas telecom sector revenue under continuing pressure

Bulgariaas telecoms market continues to be affected by the countryas poor macroeconomic climate and high unemployment. These factors are exacerbated by the consumer trends which have seen the continuing decline in the fixed-line sector as voice is replaced by mobile and VoIP alternatives. In addition, SMS and MMS services are being pressed by the growing use of alternative OTT messaging, so eroding an important revenue stream for mobile network operators.







Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3388801







Further pressure is anticipated in 2017, particularly with international roaming rates having to fall in line with domestic rates.



The telecom sector has nevertheless benefitted from Bulgariaas adoption of EU regulatory measures, which has encouraged investment in the sector from other telcos as well as private equity firms. The incumbent Vivacom has been privatised, and the government no longer holds the 'golden sharea which had enabled it to veto certain key decisions. In August 2016 Viva Telecom (Luxembourg) completed the acquisition of InterV Investment, which indirectly owns Vivacom, for 330 million. Although the liberalised market has attracted new market entrants, Vivacom remains the dominant player.



Bulgaria has a rapidly developing mobile market, with effective competition provided by Telekom Austriaas M-Tel, Telenoras local unit, and the incumbent Vivacom. A new entrant, MAX (Max Telecom), provides additional competition. Mobile penetration is relatively high, the result of a significant trend for fixed-mobile substitution in recent years. Competition among network operators has intensified given the recent implementation of a streamlined mobile number portability process. By the end of 2016 mobile networks accounted for about 85% of ll voice revenue.







Mobile data offerings are focused on mobile broadband, resulting in considerable investment in network upgrades among all players.



The broadband market enjoys excellent cross-platform competition, including DSL, cable, fibre, WiMAX and LAN-based services. While the share of the market held by cable has increased slightly in recent years, the DSL sector is losing market share as a result of customers being migrated to fibre networks. Operators including Vivacom and Cooolbox now provide gigabit services, with Vivacomas fibre infrastructure covering about 1.07 million premises by September 2016 . By late 2015 an estimated two-thirds of subscribers were connected to fibre networks.





The country has undertaken steps to develop an internet society encompassing commerce, health and government services. Cable TV penetration is well above the EU average and the market has undergone considerable consolidation. Digital TV is also widely available via broadband TV and satellite.



This report provides an overview of Bulgariaas fixed-line telecom market, including data on regulatory developments, the strategies and performances of the major operators and an assessment of the evolution of fixed-line networks. The report also reviews the mobile market, offering a variety of statistics and insightful analyses covering the major operators, market developments and services offered. In addition, the report assesses the broadband and digital media markets, including an overview of the technologies, major players and market developments, as well as a variety of statistics and fixed broadband forecasts to 2021.



Key developments:



Regulator to introduce IP interconnection from the beginning of 2017;

Viva Telecom ( Luxembourg ) acquires Vivacom for 330 million;

Regulator signs MoU with Montenegrin telecom regulator to cooperate on reducing cost of telecom services;

MobilTel covers one million households with fixed network;

Cooolbox launches 1Gb/s FttP service;

Telekom Austria Group acquires Blizoo Bulgaria from EQT;

Vivacom re-acquires NURTS DTTV provider;

Consolidation among cable TV players;

Vivacom increases satellite broadband service to 18Mb/s;

Government investment program for broadband in rural areas;

Vivacomas FiberNet offer passes 1.07 million premises;

Regulator awards additional spectrum in the 1800MHz band for LTE use;

MNP takes off under new regulatory measures;

M-Tel extends LTE roll-out;

Report update includes the regulatoras market data to 2015, telcosa financial and operating data to Q3 2016, recent market developments.





Companies mentioned in this report:



Vivacom (BTC), Orbitel, Vestitel, MobilTel, Trans Telecom, Bulgarian Telecom and Television, Blizoo, Telenor Bulgaria.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3388801



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bulgaria---telecoms-mobile-broadband-and-digital-media---statistics-and-analyses-300557048.html SOURCE ReportBuyer

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Its usually my cat or the vibration of my Jawbone activity tracker that gets me up in the morning, but in the case of Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe, its innovation. In the brands latest campaign to promote its more technical side, Mr Stern explains that innovation can open the door to new ways of thinking.



Given the companys prestigious history, as well as the ever-present notion that one is only ever a temporary custodian of its timepieces, its vitally important that research and innovation at the companys headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates is ploughed into technology that will bring lasting benefits. Technical advances are introduced to improve the long-term functional integrity of our watches, stresses Mr Stern. It is because the company is family-owned and independent that Mr Stern can ensure that these innovations are never marketing gimmicks, which is where the title of this campaign comes from.



The short video of the campaign ends with one of the companys most significant innovations of recent times: the Spiromax balance spring. First introduced at Baselworld in 2006 in the Patek Philippe Advanced Research Ref. 5350, the Spiromax balance spring is made of Silinvar, a material that was developed jointly with other partners in the Swiss watch industry. Patek Philippes research and development department combined this new material with the use of a patented Patek Philippe terminal curve, which has a thicker cross-section at its outer edge that ensures concentric breathing of the spring. Furthermore, because the terminal curve is along the same plane as the expansion and contraction of the spring relative to its centre, it also allows the spring to be made three times thinner than springs with Philips or Breguet overcoils, allowing its use in ultra-thin movements.

Spiromax balance spring  Patek Philippe

The Spiromax balance spring is used in conjunction with another Patek Philippe invention: the Gyromax balance wheel. This wheel design replaces the screws protruding around the circumference of variable inertial balance wheels (which can be screwed in or out to adjust the moment of inertia of the balance wheel) with adjustable collets placed on the upper surface of the wheel that have a cut-out section which means that their weight can be displaced by turning the collet to adjust the moment of inertia of the balance. The advantage of this design is that the diameter of the balance wheel itself can be made bigger, allowing for a greater moment of inertia. The design also generates less air resistance. The fact that Swiss patents were granted to Patek Philippe for the Gyromax balance on May 15, 1949 and December 31, 1951, and that the balance was first used in watches in 1952, is the perfect illustration of what Thierry Stern means by no gimmicks, thank you.

Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5650  Patek Philippe Advanced Research  Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe  No Gimmicks, Thank You from Worldtempus.com on Vimeo.
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1st of the year 2017-18, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Member of the Company will be held on Monday, 18th December 2017.

Super Crop Safe is in the Pesticides & Agro Chemicals sector. The current market capitalisation stands at Rs 127.11 crore.

The company management includes Ishwarbhai B Patel - Chairman & M.D & CEO, Ambalal B Patel - Executive Director, Nitinbhai I Patel - Executive Director & CFO, Piyushbhai K Patel - Ind.& Non Exe.Director, N R Krishna - Ind.& Non Exe.Director, Kalpanaben J Pandya - Ind.& Non Exe.Director.

It is listed on the BSE with a BSE Code of 530883.

Its Registered office is at C-1/290, , Ahmedabad,Gujarat - 382330.

Their Registrars are Link Intime India Pvt. Ltd.Source : BSE

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No. 2: Bill Gates | Country: US | Total net worth $89.4B | Industry: Technology (Image: Reuters)

Microsoft founder Bill Gates today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him various welfare initiatives of the American philanthropies in India.

The meeting assumes significance as registration of one of the Indian NGOs, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), which has been working in the field of public health, was cancelled by the home ministry in April.

The Gates Foundation was one of the donors to this NGO.

The home minister met Gates, co-chair and trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, here, an official statement said.

Singh appreciated the various welfare works being undertaken by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India and he requested Gates to initiate health awareness programmes in India.

The home minister also suggested that the foundation should concentrate on developing villages and make them "model villages" so that the local people get inspired, the statement said.

Assuring constructive support to India, Gates also explained about the various technologies being adopted by them in the field of agriculture and sanitation, it said.

Asked whether the issue related to cancellation of licence to the PHFI came up during the discussion, a spokesperson of the Gates Foundation said in reply to a text message that "nothing of that sort was discussed".

In an email statement, the spokesperson said Gates' meeting with the home minister focused on the progress made in the partnership with the government across the foundation's priority focus areas  health, urban sanitation, digital financial inclusion and agricultural development.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is committed to working collaboratively with the government of India in providing global and local technical expertise to advance the country's ambitious development goals, the statement said.

After the cancellation of the FCRA registration in April, the NGO was barred from receiving foreign funds.

As per the government rules, an organisation that intends to receive foreign funds must have registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

The action against the PHFI was taken after the home ministry found that the NGO was allegedly violating provisions of the FCRA by "diverting" foreign funds for purposes other than intended for, another official said.

The PHFI claims it is a non-profit, public-private initiative working in the field of public health in India.

According to the PHFI website, the NGO was launched by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006.

The NGO claimed that the governments of Gujarat, Telangana, Odisha, Meghalaya, Karnataka and Delhi are its supporters, besides Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other such bodies.

According to the PHFI website, they include Infosys Foundation, HT Parekh Foundation, HCL Corporation, Rohini Nilekani, Reliance Industries, GMR Projects Pvt. Ltd.

The PHFI claimed that the chairman of the executive committee of its governing body is Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy.
After a US Congressional committee voted to pass a legislation proposing to increase the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders, the Indian software services body National Association of Software and Services companies (Nasscom) said that the Bill was being driven by myths about the Indian IT sector.

The H-1B work visas, essentially, allow highly skilled foreign workers to travel to the US, and have been at the centre of a storm since US President Donald Trumps presidential campaign last year. His Make America Great Again slogan took off in a big way, and he often mentioned H-1B visa regime as one of the things he would want to change.

The US Congressional committee proposes increasing the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to USD 90,000 from the existing USD 60,000 and imposes a number of restriction on the work visa popular among IT professionals from India, according to a PTI report.

The Bill, called Protect and Grow American Jobs Act (HR 170) - introduced by Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa - was passed by the House Judiciary Committee during a markup hearing this morning.

The Bill now heads to the full House for necessary action, reports PTI.

Unfortunately, this legislation is being driven by myths, not reality, and could harm US businesses, imposing an extraordinary amount of bureaucratic red tape, disrupting the marketplace, threaten US jobs, and stifle US innovation by unfairly and arbitrarily targeting a handful of companies, said Nasscom President R Chandrashekhar.

The over USD 155 billion Indian IT outsourcing industry has been a beneficiary of the H-1B visa programme, the most favoured route to send Indian engineers to the US, and has for long been accused of misusing the current system to send more people to the US. The industry has consistently denied the claim.

US government data show very significant shortages of high skill talent around the country. The data show that the high-skill visa programmes are not a major cause of US unemployment, and IT specialists working on temporary visas are not "cheap labour." Employers who use the H-1B programme are highly regulated and scrutinized already, and NASSCOM member companies abide by all applicable laws and regulations. We continue to support efforts to root out any fraud or abuse in the H-1B system, said Chandrashekhar.

There has also been an issue of India not being able to lobby the US government enough on the issue of H-1B visas, which is still seen as a draconian programme that takes away American jobs.

According to Rajiv Dabhadkar, Founder of the National Organization for Software & Technology Professionals, This is highly Indian employer centric and eliminates fresh-off-the-boat guest workers or fresh-off-campus recent graduates of Indian origin who do not have an active provident fund account in India.

He added that the demand for H-1B is slated to increase, especially keeping in mind the large Science Technology, Engineering and Maths graduates deficit in the US, with 1.1 million STEM demand by 2020.

He also called for Indian governments intervention once the current Bill proposal becomes a law.
Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), the state-owned company responsible for facilitating implementation of energy-efficient products in the country, has extended the deadline for the supply of 500 electric cars to December 30.

The development was reported by CNBC TV18.

EESL had awarded a contract for the supply of 10,000 electric vehicles to Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. Both companies were expected to deliver the first batch of 500 cars by November 30.

Both Tata Motors and M&M have now been given one more month to meet the deadline. While details about Tatas electric car  Tigor  havent emerged in public domain, M&M is reportedly ready to deliver the first slot of vehicles in the EESL contract in the next few days.

On Wednesday, EESL said it would float another tender of around 10,000 electric vehicles during March-April, a couple of months before it expects to complete the current bidding process in June.

We will come up with another tender for similar number of electric vehicles. Basic specifications for those electric vehicles will remain the same, Saurabh Kumar, managing director, EESL, said at a press meet.
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If your valuables have been robbed from a locker bank, beware that the bank is not liable to compensate you for the entire loss. While in the recent Bank of Baroda locker theft where a tunnel was dug to loot the locker contents, an individual may only be eligible for a standard compensation (if any) from the bank.

Puneet Sahni, Head, Product Development, SBI General Insurance said that their home insurance policy will cover the contents of the home including locker contents if they have been declared.

Bankers also take liability policies that cover any potential thefts that may occur in the bank including loss of cash and contents. However, since locker contents are not declared to bank officials by individuals prior to being deposited, it is difficult to fix a liability on the jewellery or precious items kept in the lockers.

In the particular case mentioned above, the bank is said to have a banker's blanket insurance cover that protects against liability of organised thefts or robbery at bank premises including lockers. However, the sub-limit for lockers is not known.

But, several general insurance companies including SBI General, Royal Sundaram, among others, have individual home insurance covers that offer protection for personal contents, though there are sub-limits under the plans. So, the sub-limit on jewellery is Rs 2 lakh; if there is a theft in the bank locker only that much amount is available.

Some like Royal Sundaram under their Gruh Suraksha Plan offer up to Rs 50 lakh limit for jewellery and valuables under their gold plan.

Sanjay Datta, Chief, Underwriting, Claims and Reinsurance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance said that the sub-limits usually range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh and is offered as a part of the home insurance cover.

However, insurers said that unlike cases where individual locker owners allege that their contents are missing where liability is doubtful, if there is a clear case of theft or organised robbery, the bankers' blanket policy does cover the liability. Hence, there could be some standard payouts after an estimation is done by the bank.

Usually, in case of jewellery or loss of valuables, the home insurance covers offer about 10 percent of sum assured. So, if the sum insured for the home is Rs 1 crore, the liability will be Rs 10 lakh for jewellery.
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On Thursday, the information technology sector gained 1.75 percent on the back of a cheaper rupee. Most of the IT stocks that rose were of medium and small size. Infosys was the only large IT player that posted a handsome return, gaining 4 percent.

What gave Infosys the extra thrust was an indirect assurance by Founder NR Narayana Murthy that he will no longer bother the board with his issues on how to run the company.

Murthy declared that all is well with Infosys and that its present Chairman Nandan Nilekani has the skills to simplify lots of complexities in the company.

Murthy has been quoted as saying "Let's leave it to him (Nilekani) and let's all keep quiet so that he can do his job well."

This statement comes from the person who was making all the noise that resulted in a complete revamp of the board and an unhappy ending to the tenure of CEO Vishal Sikka, a man handpicked by Murthy himself.

Less than a month ago, Murthy was peeved because the newly installed board under Nilekani gave a clean chit to Infosys acquisition of Panaya, an Israel-based company at the focal point of allegations of wrongdoing by the founders.

Markets breathed a sigh of relief after Murthys statement, concluding that the board can concentrate on steering the company back onto the growth path with a business plan that promises better numbers ahead.

But is Murthy right in saying that All is well at Infosys? Not really. Just because Nilekani has taken over as the chairman does not change the ground realities. Change in a big company cannot take place overnight. In fact, Infosys is in moving around in circles after Sikka quit.

A series of senior-level exits, mainly of Sikkas international recruits, pose problems for the company. What will be left is the old team that prefers to work in its comfort zone in traditional areas. The out-of-the-box thinking that the company needs and could be provided by bringing in an outsider with international experience will be missing. Media reports say that an insider, either an ex-employee or a current one, will be made the CEO, which indicates that maintaining the status quo is the priority.

Infosys has already shifted its nerve centre from Palo Alto in the United States back to Bengaluru. An office in Silicon Valley would have allowed the company to stay abreast with the latest developments at the global IT hub.

Infosys, like other IT companies in India, has a problem staying abreast of global developments; they continue to feel the pressure in their conventional business as well. As a report by Nomura points out, growth is decelerating in Infosys traditional business segments like BFSI (Banking, financial services, and insurance), retail and manufacturing, apart from the problems in the United States.

Attrition level at 21.4 percent during the September 2017 quarter continues to remain high but the companys recruitment of trainees is at a historical low. This chimes well with Infosys reducing its guidance below consensus levels.

As if these problems were not enough, Infosys has not covered itself in glory with its implementation of the prestigious GST project. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has blamed Infosys for glitches in the GST Network and said that the GST portal has brought much harassment and mental agony to traders by its rocky functioning and has proved a major roadblock in the success of a good taxation system like GST. Earlier, the GST Council headed by Bihars Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi asked Infosys to send more technically qualified people to resolve the GSTN glitches.

The chain of events points to continued trouble at Infosys. As far as the company is concerned, all is not well. Perhaps it was Murthy making peace with himself that prompted that statement. But if the board of Infosys agrees with Murthy that All is well in the company, its time for the shareholders to get worried, especially those who still have shares in hand after the buyback.

For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research Page
Egyptian army spokesman Tamer El-Refaie said in a statement on Thursday that law enforcement forces of the Second Field Army have targeted terrorist hideouts in North Sinai during the recent days, killing 3 high-risk terrorists and arresting 74 others suspected of supporting terrorist elements.

The statement said that the raids came as part of wider Armed Forces efforts to pursue terrorists and criminal elements.

The army spokesman said that five 4x4 vehicles, four IEDs, and two fuel storage facilities were destroyed in the raids.

The Armed Forces will refer the arrested elements to the appropriate legal authorities, said the statement.

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Startups | Paytm | Rs 4,217 crore loss

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Digital payment player Paytm has partnered with ICICI Bank, countrys largest private sector bank, to jointly launch Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid, offering interest-free short-term digital loans up to Rs 20,000 for a maximum of 45 days.

Beyond 45 days, the bank will charge a penalty of about Rs 50 and an interest rate of 3 percent per month. This offer can be availed by common customers of Paytm and ICICI Bank and for now, will not be available to Paytm Payments bank or ICICI banks wallet Pockets customers and other bank or wallet customers as well.

This new offering will enable millions of Paytm customers to get access to instant credit for the first time for everyday use-cases ranging from movies to bill payments to flights to physical goods, the bank said in a statement.

Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid is a digital credit account with instant activation: with no hassles of documentation or branch visit, while activation is fully online. There is no transaction, joining or hidden administration fees either, it added.

Anup Bagchi, Executive Director, ICICI Bank said, "This can be looked at as a private credit card, there are lot of impulse purchases that take place...In general, when people purchase, it is by way of existing money or credit. From the credit they choose, a large of it may get paid but there would be some portfolio, which may get rolled over (delay in repayment) and thats where we make money. Thats the game."

Available on all days at any time with a quick checkout with an Paytm Passcode, the credit will be granted using the Big Data-based algorithm by ICICI Bank for real-time credit assessment of customers.

The algorithm uses a big data intelligent combination of financial and digital behaviour of the customer including credit bureau check, purchase patterns, frequency of purchase to ascertain the credit  worthiness of a customer within a few seconds.

Based on the credit-score of the customer, the bank offers up to 45 days interest-free credit limit. It ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000, extendable up to Rs 20,000 based on the repayment history.

"We will use this data for other loans, or offer cross-selling products. We believe, most of the customers will be new to credit," Bagchi added.

As a start, Paytm-ICICI Bank Postpaid will offer the credit limit to select customers of the bank using the Paytm app. It will shortly be available to non-ICICI Bank customers using the Paytm app.

Once the credit limit is set up for a customer, a consolidated bill is generated on the first day of the next month, which has to be paid by the 15th day of the same month. Customers can use their Paytm Wallet, debit card or internet banking of any bank for an easy repayment of their dues.

Bagchi said, We are now witnessing two distinct new trends: One, many customerswho are new-to-credit and therefore, do not have a credit history-- are looking for short-term credit. Two, millions of young Indians are now buying products online. We have combined these two insights to bring out a novel proposition of giving short-term credit to people, completely online and instantly. In this endeavour, we have leveraged upon Big Data to develop a new algorithm that instantly assesses the credit worthiness of customers using a combination of financial and digital parameters to sanction the credit line instantly.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder & CEO, Paytm said, Its common for us to ask a trusted friend for money for frequent expenses and promise to pay later. These exchanges are based on trust that you will pay back as soon as you have access to money. We believe our customers are sincere with their payments and Paytm Postpaid will play a major role in helping them pay for their daily expenses on time. This will democratize access to credit including those with less disposable income. We are happy to launch credit in a digital way to the masses in the form of Paytm Postpaid with ICICI Bank as our first partner.
Electronics major Samsung has promoted two of its India executives -- Asim Warsi and Dipesh Shah -- to global roles.

Warsi, who is the head of Samsung India's mobile division, has been promoted to Global Vice President, while Dipesh Shah (Samsung R&D Institute Managing Director) has been named Global Senior Vice President.

When contacted, Samsung India Vice President Corporate Communications Partha Ghosh confirmed the development.

Samsung R&D Institute in Bengaluru is the biggest R&D centre for the company outside Korea.

The elevations are in recognition of Samsung India's strong performance during 2017 and the role played by the two key executives, according to company officials.

The move also come at a time when Samsung is facing tough competition from Chinese rival, Xiaomi.

According to IDC, which tracks shipment data, both Samsung and Xiaomi were tied at the top spot with 23.5 per cent share of the Indian smartphone market in the third quarter of 2017.

In a recent interview to PTI, Warsi had said he expected this year's performance by Samsung's mobility business to be better than 2016, which itself was a record year.

The handset business accounts for a major chunk of the revenues of Samsung India that also is a major player in product categories like televisions, refrigerators and washing machines.

According to GfK data, Samsung had 45 per cent market share in terms of value and about 40 per cent share in volume terms of mobile phone sales in the September quarter in India.
Moneycontrol News

India is all set to host the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), one of the worlds largest conferences in the field of cyberspace and related issues, on November 23 and 24 at Aerocity in New Delhi.

The conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj will deliver the keynote address in the valedictory function.

The theme for this years GCCS is Cyber4All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development, which will see international leaders, policymakers, industry experts, think tanks and cyber experts gather to deliberate on issues and challenges for optimally use of cyber space.

The first ever GCCS was held in London in 2011, the second GCCS in 2012 in Budapest with a focus on relationship between internet rights and internet security, the third edition of GCCS was held in 2013 in Seoul with commitment to Open and Secure Cyberspace. The fourth version GCCS 2015 was held on April 16-17, 2015 in The Hague, Netherlands which saw participation from 97 countries.

The overall goals of GCCS 2017 are to promote the importance of inclusiveness and human rights in global cyber policy, to defend the status quo of an open, interoperable and unregimented cyberspace, to create political commitment for capacity building initiatives to address the digital divide and assist countries, and to develop security solutions in a balanced fashion that duly acknowledge the importance of the private sector and technical community.

The GCCS 2017 is certainly in accord with the Honble Prime Ministers vision to transform India into a digitally empowered country, said Minister for Electronics & IT Ravi Shankar Prasad. GCCS 2017 will give the worlds cyber community a unique opportunity to learn from global experience and expert insight, and discover more about the technology led transformation being engineered in India. As India is poised to become a USD 1 trillion digital economy and lead the digital revolution in the world, it is imperative to formulate and put across a robust cyber space, he added.

The ministry said in a statement that 33 ministers from various nations dealing with the subject matter of cyber space (ICT or similar ministries in some countries and Foreign Ministry in others) have already confirmed. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka also is expected to come for the inaugural ceremony.
Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity has risen unabated across the country and people's satisfaction with the economy is at an "all-time high", BJP chief Amit Shah said today, citing a survey by the Pew Research Center.

According to a survey conducted by the American think tank, more than eight-in-10 Indians say economic conditions are good in the country despite Modis decision to abolish high-value bank notes last November.

"The findings of Pew Global research are very significant. After Modi Government came to power, people's trust in Government, Democracy and confidence that the nation is in the right direction has gone up drastically," Shah said in a series of tweets.

Modi remains the most popular national figure in Indian politics tested in the survey. His popularity is relatively unchanged in the north, has risen in the west and the south and is down slightly in the east, according to the survey's findings.

"PM @narendramodi's popularity rises unabated across the length & breadth of the country and across demographic groups. His handling of various issues also receive a thumbs up from people," Shah said.

The survey was conducted among 2,464 respondents in India from February 21 to March 10 this year.

Shah also extended greetings to media professionals on the occasion of National Press Day and applauded their commitment towards their profession.

"I applaud the commitment and efforts of every media person who works tirelessly to uphold the value of the fourth pillar of democracy," he said in a tweet.
The government has exempted businesses from deducting GST on advances received for supplying goods in future, a move which will help unblock working capital of firms.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) last month said that businesses with turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore are exempt from deducting Goods and Services Tax (GST) on advance payment for supply of goods.

The CBEC, through a notification, has now extended this exemption to all businesses, except for those who have opted for composition scheme under the new indirect tax regime. The composition scheme can be availed by businesses with turnover up to Rs 1 crore and they can pay taxes at a lower rate of 1 per cent, while for restaurants the rate is 5 per cent.

"This comes as a huge sigh of relief for businesses both in terms of compliance as well as working capital loss," EY India Tax Partner Abhishek Jain said.

Businesses had lobbied hard with the Finance Ministry to exempt them from deducting GST on advances received for supply of goods as this norm was not there in the erstwhile excise duty or VAT regime.

"In a significant relief to the industry, the government, through a notification, has done away with GST on advance received against supply of goods. This meets the long standing demand of the industry, particularly by FMCG and auto," PwC Leader-Indirect Tax Pratik Jain said. However, service providers will have to continue to deduct GST on any advance received as payment, in line with the provisions under erstwhile service tax laws.

"While the issues in respect of payment of GST on advances for supply of goods, which was leading to significant working capital and other challenges, appears to be resolved for now, similar working capital blockages for service providers continue," Deloitte India Partner GST M S Mani said.

GST, which subsumed over a dozen taxes including excise, service tax and VAT, was rolled out from July 1.
Price tags are seen on the bags of pulses that are kept on display for sale outside a shop at a market in Mumbai, India January 31, 2017. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade - RTX2YYDV

The government today removed export curbs on all varieties of pulses to ensure farmers get remunerative prices as domestic rates have crashed below MSP in view of record production.

India produced a record 22.95 million tonnes of pulses in the 2016-17 crop year (July-June) and the government is targeting to repeat this performance this year.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for removal of prohibition on export of all types of pulses to ensure that farmers have greater choice in marketing their produce and in getting better remuneration for their produce," an official statement said.

In September this year, the government had lifted ban on export of tur, urad and moong dal. However, exports of these varieties of pulses were allowed after taking permission from agriculture export promotion body APEDA. Exports of organic pulses and kabuli chana is permitted in a limited quantity.

Briefing media, IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Opening of exports of all types of pulses will help the farmers dispose of their products at remunerative prices and encourage them to expand the area of sowing".

The CCEA empowered the committee headed by food secretary to review the export and import policy on pulses and consider measures such as quantitative restrictions, prior registration and changes in import duties depending on domestic production and demand, local and international prices and global trade volumes, he said.

Export of pulses will provide an alternative market for the surplus production of pulses, he said, adding that it will also help the country and its exporters regain markets.

"It is expected that pulses production will be sustained in the country and our import dependence on pulses will come down substantially," the statement said.

The decision to remove export curbs will lead to integration with global supply chain, helping farmers adopt good agricultural practices and achieve better productivity.

The government said it has taken a number of steps to sustain high pulses production and procured 20 lakh tonnes of pulses directly from the farmers by ensuring minimum support price or market rates, whichever is higher.

Welcoming the move, India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) Chairman Pravin Dongre said it will correct price distortions, offer support to pulses selling below MSP and revitalise the milling industry.

"We believe this step will improve the returns to farmers and potentially open up greater investments in the sector," he added.

Recently, the government had imposed quantitative restrictions on some of the pulses to check cheaper imports. The country had imported more than 5 million tonnes of lentils last fiscal despite bumper crop.

For the year 2017-18, the government has fixed a target of 22.90 million tonnes of pulses production. The annual demand is 25 million tonnes.
Vaneesa Agrawal

In a significant decision, SEBI has taken a stand that agreement to acquire will not trigger an obligation to make open offer, if the acquisition of shares or voting rights has not happened pursuant to the agreement. This appears to be against SEBIs own regulations and judicial precedents. In terms of SEBIs Takeover Regulations (Regulation 14 of the erstwhile Takeover Regulations, 1997 and Regulation 13(1) of the present Takeover Regulation, 2011), the obligation to make open offer is triggered the moment the acquirer enters into agreement. Therefore, actual acquisition/ownership of shares pursuant to the agreement has no bearing upon the obligation of entities to make open offer.

Factual Matrix

- In May 1995, Griesheim GMbH (Griesheim), a German Company, signed an agreement with Goyal MG Gases Limited (GMG), under which the latter would be invited to participate in any new gas-based business Griesheim undertook in India.

- Two years later, in June 1997, Griesheim purchased 30 percent of Bombay Oxygen Corporation Limited (BOCL) from the promoters of BOCL. This triggered an obligation upon Griesheim to make an open offer to the shareholders of BOCL.

- Thereafter, Griesheim signed another agreement with GMG in November 1997 to jointly acquire management control of BOCL by acquiring more shares (Griesheim was to acquire 25,001 shares and GMG 50,000 shares).

- Meanwhile, an open offer was made by Griesheim in August 1998 pursuant to acquisition of 30 percent from promoters of BOCL and Griesheim acquired another 20 percent stake in BOCL in open offer. Meanwhile, the promoters of BOCL discovered Griesheims double-dealing and a fight broke out.

- It is alleged that this open offer was bad in the eyes of law since the Share Purchase Agreement between Griesheim and GMG dated May 12, 1995 was never disclosed both in the public announcement and open offer document by Griesheim. Griesheim and GMG were persons acting in concert as defined under the Takeover Regulations; however, the same was never disclosed by Griesheim. Moreover, GMG was also under an obligation to make Public Announcement to shareholders of BOCL.

- Interestingly, the courts have also highlighted violation of SEBI Regulations. (Honble Bombay High Court in order dated March 26, 2003 stated that the Share Purchase Agreement entered between Griesheim and GMG was in breach of SEBI Regulations since it failed to disclose the name of GMG (Goyal) which was acting in concert with MGG (Griesheim).

- Thereafter, Griesheim formed a joint venture company, Messer Holdings Limited (MHL) with GMG on January 20, 2000, in British Virgin Islands and on February 17, 2000 Griesheim sold its entire holding of BOCL shares (50 percent stake) to MHL and received payment for them in August 2000. MHL did not give an open offer to shareholders of BOCL while intending to acquire 50 percent shares of BOCL. Incidentally, MHL is a Bearer Share Company and it cannot possibly be an acquirer since it cannot fulfil the obligations related to disclosure and PACs as mandated by Takeover Regulations and other SEBI Regulations/Requirements.

- Later, Griesheim did an about-turn in 2002 and sold its entire holding of 75,001 shares back to promoters of BOCL, sparking a legal battle for ownership of these 75,001 shares between GMG and the promoters of BOCL.

Between September 2000 and December 2000, Jagdish Vora, a minority shareholder of BOCL, filed four complaints with SEBI highlighting Takeover Code violations in relation to the acquisition of shares in BOCL by Griesheim and subsequent attempt to transfer their shareholding to MHL. After firing a few more intervening letters between 2000-2016, Vora sent a legal notice to the regulator in May 2016 and October 2016.

Subsequently, Vora was informed by SEBI that his complaints pertaining to Takeover Code violations had been unilaterally converted into a grievance redress matter under SCORES (SEBI Complaints Redressal System) and sent to BOCL. This was unprecedented, since a violation of Takeover Code cannot be redressed by the Target Company under SCORES and the onus is on SEBI to take action. Vora approached SAT against this order of SEBI.

Vide order dated January 09, 2017, SAT directed Vora to submit a consolidated complaint to SEBI and the regulator was directed to decide it on merit and pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law. Thereafter, Voras complaint was disposed of by SEBI through a letter dated June 09, 2017 by stating that there is a pending legal dispute before Courts regarding ownership of 75,001 shares of BOCL.

In a judgment of Bombay High Court in the matter of BP Amoco vs SEBI vide its order dated August 08, 2001, it was held that From the above it is very clear that even someone who "agrees to acquire shares or voting rights" or "agrees to acquire control over the target company" would come within the definition of acquirer. Therefore, it is explicitly apparent and clear that the word acquirer would not only mean that those who have already acquired shares and also those who agree to acquire shares or agree to acquire control over the target company.

Therefore, the obligation to make a public announcement and open offer is there on the acquirer from the moment the acquirer intends to acquire shares/voting rights in the target company beyond the prescribed threshold limited. Further, it is not necessary that the acquirer should actually acquire shares/voting rights, for acquirer to be liable to make a public announcement and open offer and the mere act of entering into agreement is sufficient to trigger the open offer.

If SEBIs stand is accepted, it will necessarily mean that if ownership of shares is not finally determined, then acquirers obligation to make an open offer pursuant to said agreement will never arise. An open offer is an investor protection measure prescribed by law. By taking this position, SEBI has dealt a severe blow to investor protection in India.

SEBI's view is also at variance with Supreme Court's decision. According to a recent judgement in AR Dahiya vs SEBI [2016] 1 COMP. LJ 200 (SC), the definition of acquisition under regulation 2 (1) (a) clarifies that an acquisition takes place the moment the acquirer decides or agrees to acquire, irrespective of the time when the transfer stands completed in all respects. The definition explicates that the actual transfer need not be contemporaneous with the intended transfer and can be in futuro.

Since the matter is currently pending before the Securities Appellate Tribunal, we will have to wait and watch for the final word from the Honble Tribunal on this important issue.
The market staged smart come back on Thursday after three-day of losses, rallying one percent driven by banks, technology, energy and FMCG stocks. Bargain hunting in bluechips, easing crude oil prices and positive global cues pushed benchmark indices higher.

The 30-share BSE Sensex closed above 33,000-mark, rising 346.38 points or 1.06 percent to 33,106.82 while the 50-share NSE Nifty gained 96.80 points or 0.96 percent at 10,214.80.

After hitting a record high last week, the market turned volatile and that volatility is expected to continue in short term, experts feel.

"The market will see some volatility ahead of Gujarat elections, though it is still in bull run. Stock specific approach will continue," Prakash Diwan of Altamount Capital said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

Nikhil Kamath, Co-Founder and Head of Trading, Zerodha believes that there is further room for volatility at the current juncture. "We continue to maintain a short outlook on the market."

After the end of the domestic earnings season, investors will now turn their focus on to US tax reform bill and other major global cues, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services feels.

On the global front, Asian markets ended higher despite softer lead from Wall Street, with the Japan's Nikkei rising 1.5 percent. European stocks were mildly higher as investors monitored earnings and key data releases. Germany's DAX and France's CAC were up 0.6 percent at the time of writing this article.

Back home, the broader markets also participated in the rally as the Nifty Midcap gained a percent after falling for previous four consecutive sessions. About two shares advanced for every share falling on the BSE.

All the sectoral indices on the National Stock Exchange ended in the green with the PSU Bank topping the list, up 3.2 percent followed by IT (up 1.75 percent). FMCG, Metal and Realty indices gained 1 percent each.

Morgan Stanley remains optimistic on India as the macros are on a solid footing and the economic growth is turning around.

"One-time effect of demonetisation and the GST implementation are largely behind us. And the growth is likely to surprise on the upside over next one year," Ridham Desai of Morgan Stanley said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

Infosys was leading contributor to Sensex' gains, rising nearly 4 percent, may be on hope of good earnings growth from 2018 onwards.

Rapid pace of recapitalisation process has kept the PSU bank stocks buoyant. Bank of India, Union Bank, Indian Bank, Allahabad Bank, OBC, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank rallied 4-6 percent while SBI gained 2.6 percent.

Reliance Industries, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, TCS, Vedanta, Tata Motors and Aurobindo Pharma among others rose 1-3 percent while Bharti Infratel rebounded sharply, rising nearly 2 percent after losing 8 percent in previous two sessions. Adani Ports, BPCL and Coal India were major losers, falling 1-2 percent.

Realty stocks gained strength after the Cabinet has approved hiking carpet area cap for housing interest subvention. Prestige Estates, DLF, Brigade Enterprises, Kolte-Patil, Peninsula Land and Puravankara gained 2-4 percnet. HDIL was up 4.5 percent as it made part debt repayment to Andhra Bank.

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group stocks rebounded sharply today. Reliance Communications was up 19 percent while Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Capital, Reliance Home Finance, Reliance Nippon Life and Reliance Power rallied 1-9 percent.
Morgan Stanley remains optimistic on India as the macro are on a solid footing and the economic growth is turning around.

"One-time effect of demonetisation and the GST implementation are largely behind us. And the growth is likely to surprise on the upside over next one year," Ridham Desai of Morgan Stanley said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

Crude oil poses a risk to India as the problems in Middle East are not over yet, Desai said. "So keep an eye on oil, it may cause problem to India but otherwise macro and growth in India are on solid footing," he said.

The Nifty shed nearly 400 points from its record high of Rs 10,490 hit last week, partly due to rise in crude oil prices, but rebounded sharply today.

Currently bond yields (at 7 percent) are not at same level as they used to trade two years ago. Bond yields as well as equity markets are higher. "Bond metric is slightly above neutral zone but that is not a threat to equity market," he said.

On earnings front, Desai said the number of downgrades hit a 7-year low as earnings revision index almost hit positive territory. "Earnings picture is certainly looking lot healthier. GST roll-out had caused some distortion to revenue but earnings are heading towards 10-quarter high and will show some turnaround."

More importantly, corporate balance sheets have come out of recession and to understand that we have to compare return on capital to cost of debt. It shows that companies can start investing and borrowing, he said.

"Return on capital was below the cost of debt, which means corporates were in saving mode and not spending mode and that is why private capex went down successively. Now, we hit a trough on that. Fresh cash flow for Corporate India is at all-time high level, almost in double digit of sales. Hence, there is a ability to spend and appetite to spend will also come. I think private capex will return in few months," he explained.

Sectors to watch

"We are seeing positive surprises in almost all sectors barring pharma, like consumer discretionary, material, technology etc," Desai said.

For financials sector, recapitalisation of Rs 2.11 lakh crore is a big inflection point and it fact, it very appropriate amount and right way of government to fix NPL problem that hurting PSU banks for past few years.

One can stay with retail banking space as their business model will continue to be robust.

As far as non-banking finance companies space is concerned, he said the long term structure story is favourable for financials.

He feels as economic growth will improve in 2018, loan growth will also pick up.

Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview.

Q: The first question really is the way crude rose and kind of disturbed the Indian macros. Do you think the Indian macros look a little less reassuring than they did say two months back?

A: No, in fact I think the Indian macro is on a very solid footing. I think growth is turning around in India. The one-time effects caused by demonetisation, and then the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) are largely behind us. I believe that growth should be showing a pretty solid upward momentum over the next few months. In fact I think that growth will likely surprise on the upside over the next 12 months.

The point you make on oil is certainly a risk and I keep a keen eye on that. I don't think that episode in the Middle East is over. So it is still presents a risk, especially going into the next 12 months, where it could hurt the governments fiscal flexibility. So keep an eye on oil. If that threatens to go upwards, then it may cause a bit of a problem for India. However, otherwise, on its own, I think Indias macro and growth look on very strong footing.

Q: The crude price spike came with a complex of other issues. So a word more on macros and then I will speak about earnings. We also saw some fears that Indian food inflation is creeping up, the consumer price index (CPI) and wholesale price index (WPI) came in a little north of expectation. More importantly, there were fears that the government will borrow more than what it originally forecast or estimated in the Budget. January and February, the extra market borrowing is expected. Short point is that the yield for the 10-year has gone above the 7 percent mark. Therefore my question again to you is that risk reward between equity and bond, now turning a little adverse or little less attractive for equities.

A: Certainly it is, this is not the same as it was two years ago when equities were looking extremely attractive, when bond yields were in the low sixes, and the equity markets were much lower than today. Now equity markets are much higher and the bond yields are also higher. So, certainly the equation between bonds and equities is not as attractive, but it is not in a territory where you would say that equities look like a sell versus bonds. So, the bond equity metric I think is now in neutral zone or slightly above neutral zone, but nothing to threaten equities as yet.

Q: Let me come to what you began this conversation with saying that you are seeing green shoots of not growth, but earnings growth. How is it at Morgan Stanleys earnings table itself at the end of the second quarter? Were the number of downgrades receding, number of upgrades increasing?

A: The number of downgrades actually have hit a seven-year low. So this is the least number of downgrades we have seen since the down cycle began in 2010. Therefore, earnings revisions index has almost hit positive territory. Now, it has skirted with positive territory on a couple of occasions in the last seven years, but has really not broken out. I think there is a case now for that to happen. So, I do think that earnings revisions breadth will march into positive territory over the next few months.

The earnings picture is certainly looking a lot healthier. Even adjusted for the fact that GST implementation caused some distortion to revenues, I think we are still heading for a 10 quarter high on revenue growth and earnings will also show some improvement. So this is clearly a turnaround in earnings that we are witnessing. In fact I would also actually go to make a point that more importantly corporate balance sheets have come out of recession, and to understand that, you have to compare return on capital with the cost of debt. That difference, is in positive territory. So just to explain that it means now that companies can start investing or it can start borrowing.

For seven years their return on capital was below the cost of debt, so, they were in saving mode, they were not spending, and that is why private capex went down successively and went down below our expectations as well. However, now I think we have hit a trough on that. Free cash flow for corporate India is at all-time high levels and almost double digit of sales consolidated for a bunch of companies. So there is an ability now to spend and I think the appetite to spend will also come back. So, I am actually expecting the private cycle, capex cycle also to return in the next few months.

Q: In which sectors are you seeing capacity now hitting over 70-80 percent and therefore capex returning?

A: Not yet actually; on the aggregate, utilisation rates are probably still in the low 70's, but I think they will pick up meaningfully in the next few months. Companies will tend to spend little ahead of that because you can't wait for utilisation rates to hit your peak. It takes two to three years to build capacity, so, you have to anticipate that. So, I think that is the reason why capex will happen a little ahead of the actual peak in capacity utilisation. However, either, the turn is around the corner because balance sheets have been fixed and earnings are turning around.

Q: Let me come to the sectors where the upgrades have dominated at Morgan Stanley in terms of earnings performance.

A: It is safe for the corporate banks which are still facing some non-performing loans (NPL) reporting. I think in most other places, we have seen some element of positive surprises. Like we have seen that in consumer discretionary, we have seen that in materials, we have seen it to some extent even in technology, I think the other exception is pharmaceuticals where the earnings have disappointed. However, otherwise, it is happening almost across the board. Again it is not that broad, it is still selective, but it is happening.

Q: Since you started with corporate banks, what is your understanding of the financial sector itself? Is it time to move away from the retail banks which are everyone's favourite and latch on to corporate banks? If yes, would you be ownership neutral, also go to PSU banks?

A: I think the recapitalisation is obviously very big inflection point, nobody should underestimate the power of this recapitalisation. It is a very appropriate amount. It is not halfhearted. I think the government has gone the whole way and has decided to fix the capital situation with the state owned enterprise (SOE) banks. Therefore, this does help all the corporate banks, even the private sector corporate banks, to fix the NPL problems that have been hurting them for the past few years. So, I think that we could be entering into a period where corporate banks outperform the traditional favourite space for investors which is retail banks.

Now this has nothing to take away from the fact that retail banks on a secular basis are still the place where you want to be. So, it is all a function of timeframe, if you are in it for the next 6-12 months, then it is possible that corporate banks do well. If you are in it there for the next three or five years, then I think you want to hang on to retail banks because ultimately those business models continue to be very robust and I don't see why some of those really good banks don't deliver 20-25 percent earnings CAGR which is a very powerful thing if you are a long-term shareholder in those banks; so it is a question of timeframe.

Q: Let me come to the other side of the financial space which has actually been spearheading especially the midcap rally and now some of those stocks have even come into Nifty, the non-bank financials. They had the twin advantage of extremely handicap PSU banks and cheaper wholesale money. Both those have now deemed as advantages, will you book out of them?

A: Not necessarily, because I think the long-term structural story is still very favourable for financials over all. While the SOE banks have the capital, they have the capital to fix the problem, they may not necessarily be the engines of growth. I think the engines of growth will still be in the private sector including the non-banks. We are expecting pretty strong loan growth in coming five or ten years led by consumers and micro and small enterprises. These are areas in which non-banks actually specialize. They have better credit risk assessments and they have better ability to service these sectors.

I think they should still be experiencing pretty strong growth in their books. You make a very valid point on wholesale rates, I think that is a more pertinent point in the context and it may put some pressure on the margins on those non-banks which have relied a lot of market borrowings to fund their growth. I do also think that some of them have decided to use the low rates to raise long-term funding and those who have done that opportunistically, will find that their margins will actually sustain. Those who have failed to do that, may experience some margin pressure. So again I think you have to evaluate this on a case by case basis. I don't think we can make a call on non-banks on the basis of rise in wholesale rates, but it is valid point, it is a headwind that has emerged for this sector.

Q: There is still a worry that the haircuts that will come from the bankruptcy court cases may be more than 50 percent, as the NPAs age, there is still more provisioning to do. So, aggressive growth may still be a distance away. Do you see improved returns on equity for public sector banks around the corner or is it a six quarter wait or a five quarter wait?

A: I think that is a macro call. So as growth improves in the economy which I suspect will happen in 2018, loan growth starts recovering in the corporate sector, I think these banks will start experiencing better returns. So it will be cyclical in nature and it is a macro call rather than an idiosyncratic call for the banks.
Markets regulator SEBI will look into the complaints of some individuals allegedly circulating key financial details and other information about listed companies on social media groups before they are made public, an official said.

SEBI will also seek clarification from brokerages and listed firms if such individuals are found to be associated with them, the official said on the condition of anonymity.

The information about the listed companies are mostly being made through SMSes, WhatsApp and various social media platforms, wherein names of some established brokerage houses and exchanges are also being misused.

While the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has already taken action in several such cases so far, it is investigating a number of others involving similar activities, the official said.

Citing an investigation, Reuters reported on Thursday that messages are being circulated on private WhatsApp group disclosing the financial information of the listed companies before making it public.

SEBI has already taken action against several entities for providing investment advice without registration. These included MCX Biz Solutions, Moneyworld Research and Advisory, Global Mount Money Research and Advisory, Orange Rich Financials, GoCapital, CapitalVia Global Research and one Imtiyaz Hanif Khanda and his maternal uncle Vali Mamad Habib Ghaniwala.

Besides tightening its noose on the scamsters, SEBI has enhanced its investor awareness campaign on these issues.

In several latest public notices, the markets regulator cautioned the investors against trading on the basis of unsolicited tips received through SMSes, social media, websites and other public media platforms.

It also asked the public to deal with only SEBI-registered investment advisers and research analysts and warned the unregistered entities of strict action.

In August, the regulator had got the help from telecom regulator Trai to curb fraudulent bulk SMSes that entrap gullible investors with stock tips promising huge financial gains.

Last year, SEBI had floated a consultation paper to ban unauthorised trading tips through SMSes, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms, as also games, competitions and leagues relating to securities market.

It also proposed to curb unsolicited investment advice and promotion of investment products through electronic and broadcasting media platforms and has sought greater checks and balances for online investment advisory services and use of automation or robotic tools. However, the regulator has yet to put in place a final regulation in this regard.
Egypt's Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Thursday said that security forces arrested Mohamed Abdullah Mosmary, a Libyan national who was involved in the Wahat shootout in October, where 16 Egyptian police officers were killed during a raid on a terrorist camp in the Western Desert.

The ministry said that Mosmary, a resident of Libya's Derna born in 1992, is the member of a cell formed in Derna by leading terrorist figure Emad El-Din Mahmoud Abdel-Hamid, who was killed in an airstrike by Egyptian forces on terrorist hideouts in the Western desert.

The members of the cell received training in Libya before sneaking into Egypt to a training camp in El-Wahat, recruiting 29 new members from Giza and Qalioubiya, the statement said.

Investigations also revealed that members of the cell were involved in the May attack on buses carrying Coptic Christians in Upper Egypt's Minya governorate, which killed 28 people.

Eleven police officers, four conscripts and one sergeant were killed in the 20 October shootout while raiding a terrorist training camp in the Bahariya Oasis, about 135 kilometres (83 miles) southwest of Cairo. The Ministry of Interior said that 15 terrorists were killed during the shootout.

Following the shootout, Egyptian military and police forces launched a number of joint operations targeting terrorist hideouts in the Western Desert area, killing a number of terrorists involved in the shootout.

A little known group affiliated with Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the Wahat incident in a statement online, stating that its leader Abdel-Hamid was killed by Egyptian air forces.

The terrorist group Daesh had claimed responsibility for the Minya attack in May.

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Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) may suspend its shale gas exploration plans due to India's depleting resources and attaining 'limited success' during the programme, two ONGC executives told Mint.

The company, which has dug around 22-23 wells, had "limited success" in the exploration programme, the company's Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker had said earlier.

"The results are not very encouraging," Shanker said at a press conference.

The official further said that conditions for shale gas exploration are not conducive in India due to lack of huge water resources. Another issue is that for the exploration, major land acquisition is needed. Acquiring large land tracts for fracking, using water to break rocks, could lead to displacement of people.

Shale gas, in recent times, has become an important energy source for major natural gas sources in North America, especially in the US and Canada.

The gas, drawn from non-porous rocks, has gained attention after it proved to be a competition to oil. Shale countries and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have been in price war due to the rising competition in the energy sources.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier mooted to export energy sources from the North American countries because of the intense price war between crude and shale. The Ministry has also been exploring energy sources within the country and beyond the OPEC exports to deal with rising demand for energy sources.

However, the exploration within the country's borders does not seem to be encouraging.

ONGC's 2016-17 annual report shows that the company has identified 50 blocks under the first phase of the exploration programme. The state-owned firm has begun its shale exploration in four basinsCambay, Krishna Godavari, Cauvery and the Assam-Arakan Basin.

Experts suggest that even if India gives out good results while exploring, availability of land and water will be an issue. It is also possible that it might affect agricultural activities as the use of the water in exploring can contaminate the water. In US, the landowners, who lease their land, are given incentives for allowing the exploration on their lands.
Amit Shah

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah met other party leaders here today to finalise the list of candidates for the Gujarat Assembly polls to be held next month, sources said.

The BJP's central election committee meeting, chaired by Shah, was also attended by state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

A preliminary list prepared by the state unit of the BJP was discussed, the sources said.

Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, BJP state in-charge Bhupender Yadav and state BJP president Jitu Vaghani were also present at the two-hour long meeting.

"Discussions on most of the seats for Gujarat election has been completed. The list of candidates would be announced at an appropriate time," Union minister J P Nadda told reporters after the meet.

Later, talking to reporters the Gujarat BJP chief Vaghani said that the party's state unit has made its presentation before the central leadership and it is confident of winning more than 150 seats.

Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will take place on December 9 and 14. The votes will be counted on December 18, along with those of Himachal Pradesh, where elections were held on November 9.
WhatsApp Messenger It may not surprise many, but the most downloaded Android app globally is WhatsApp Messenger. The Facebook-owned online messaging app has been downloaded more than 1 billion times.

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Three days before Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited announced quarterly results this summer, a message circulated by a private WhatsApp group saying the Indian drugmaker would not post good numbers.

Dr. Reddy's was going to report a loss, according to the message on the "Market Chatter" group, which was posted on July 24 from a mobile phone number that Reuters traced back to Nishant Vass, an auto analyst at ICICI Securities, a leading Indian brokerage. The WhatsApp group had 45 members, mostly traders.

The loss would have been a surprise to many analysts, as consensus forecasts compiled by Thomson Reuters at the time showed expectations of a profit of 3 billion rupees.

The message proved prescient: On July 27, Dr. Reddy's reported a loss of 587 million rupees (9.05 million dollars) under Indian accounting standards.

The chief executive of Dr. Reddy's said quarterly results were "below expectations", sending shares down as much as 4.4 percent.

After the Reuters story was published on Nov. 16, Dr. Reddy's said that it had posted a net profit of 591 million rupees for that first quarter of the fiscal year ending in March 2018 under the global IFRS accounting standard.

The company further reiterated that they "have adequate processes and controls in place in terms of confidentiality and security of information."

The post that circulated in the WhatsApp group three days earlier had predicted a loss of more than 500 million rupees.

A person who identified himself as Vass returned a call from Reuters using the telephone number from which the Dr. Reddy's numbers had been posted on the WhatsApp group. He denied writing or sharing posts in the group, adding later in a separate WhatsApp message from the same number that it was "totally baseless" that he had done so.

Reuters has documented at least 12 cases of prescient messages about major Indian companies, including Dr. Reddy's, being posted in private WhatsApp groups.

Two of the messages appeared in the transcripts of six groups reviewed by Reuters, including the "Market Chatter" group where the Dr. Reddy's numbers appeared. The others were shared on condition of anonymity by two other members of other WhatsApp groups.

The posts with prescient numbers in the WhatsApp groups were circulated hours or days before official company statements.

The messages shared could involve lucky guesses or astute forecasts based on publicly available information, and not all metrics shared among the 12 cases were exactly the same as reported.

Reuters could not determine where the numbers posted on the WhatsApp groups originated or whether any of the market participants who received the messages had traded on the basis of the numbers they had seen.

According to two lawyers who were formerly senior officials at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the country's capital markets regulator, if any numbers being posted on WhatsApp groups were determined by regulators to be "unpublished price-sensitive information", the people circulating them would be breaking the law.

"The mere sharing of information that could be unpublished insider information is outlawed, even if you don't misuse the information to trade on it," said Sandeep Parekh, a lawyer with Finsec Law Advisors who used to head SEBI's enforcement division.

SEBI did not respond to requests for comment. After Reuters published this article, the regulator said that it would investigate the matter.

India significantly toughened insider trading rules in early 2015, expanding what constitutes "unpublished price-sensitive information" to include "any information" that is not "generally available" and that could have a market impact.

The law also expanded the scope of who constitutes an "insider" to include "anyone in possession of or having access to unpublished price-sensitive information" regardless of how they came "in possession of or had access to such information".

"You don't need to have gotten inside information from a company. You could get it from anywhere," said Vaneesa Agrawal, a partner with Suvan Law Advisors who formerly worked in SEBI's legal department. "As soon as you have information that could be insider information you are an insider, and you are not supposed to either pass it on or trade on it."

Circulating "unpublished price-sensitive information" can result in penalties of up to 250 million rupees and a jail term of up to 10 years. The monetary amount can be higher if it can be proven that an individual traded on such information.

ICICI Securities said in a statement that it had "zero tolerance towards any dissemination of unpublished price sensitive information and has an appropriate framework to safeguard confidentiality of information."

Dr. Reddy's said it was "not aware of any information related to its financial results being circulated externally ahead of statutory disclosures that are made officially by the company."

MESSAGING THROUGH WHATSAPP

The messages about the 12 companies with prescient information obtained by Reuters involved mostly what were characterised as being upcoming quarterly results, including specific metrics such as net profits, revenues and operating margins.

They also included messages about upcoming bonus share issues or revenue guidance.

Seven of the companies are part of the benchmark NSE index: Dr. Reddy's, the drug maker Cipla Ltd, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Tata Steel, the IT services company Wipro, and Bajaj Finance.

The other five were Mahindra Holidays and Resorts, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd, the IT services providers Mindtree Ltd and Mastek Ltd, and India Glycols, a petrochemicals company.

Wipro, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Mastek, Crompton Greaves, Cipla and Mahindra Holidays said they were not aware messages referring to their upcoming results or announcements had circulated in WhatsApp, and that the companies adhered to strict standards of guarding sensitive company information.

Axis Bank, Tata Steel, India Glycols, Mindtree did not reply to requests for comment.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, responded to a request for comment by pointing to its terms of service, which state users can use the platform only for "legal, authorized, and acceptable purposes".

HEARD ON THE STREET

Many of the postings in the WhatsApp groups are referred to as "HOS", for "Heard on the Street".

In one typical post on July 25, Fanil Motiwalla, a contractor for a small brokerage, Arcadia Share & Stock Brokers, posted a set of numbers for Axis Bank, India's third-largest private lender. Motiwalla works as a sub-broker, who are typically hired as contractors by securities firms in India to recruit customers.

"This HOS is going around for Axis," Motiwalla said when posting the numbers, which included key metrics such as gross non-performing assets and net interest margins.

Later that day, Axis Bank reported results that closely matched the final numbers in Motiwalla's message.

Arcadia said it had policies in place to prevent employees from passing on "illegal information".

Motiwalla said he just reposted a message that had already been circulating in the market and he did not consider it inside information.

"How do I know if this is coming from inside information? This could come from many sources," he said. "This information comes from different groups, and we just post it."

Arcadia said every sub-broker it hired was given a copy of SEBI's rules, adding, "whatever the alleged message sent by him is not sourced from Arcadia," referring to Motiwalla.
Moneycontrol News

Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One, a startup backed by Virgin Atlantics Richard Branson to create ultra-high-velocity transportation solution on Thursday has signed a MoU with Karnataka government to conduct a feasibility study in Bangalore.

The study will identify potential routes in Karnataka to improve connections between its emerging industrial hubs.

If the project comes to fruition, passengers will be able to travel from Bangalore to Chennai in a matter of just 20 minutes.

Virgin's Hyperloop One is conducting similar studies along with the Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh government.

The introduction of a technology like hyperloop will further add to the pace at which the state wants to grow, said Priyank Kharge, minister for ITBT & Tourism, Government of Karnataka at the Bengaluru Technology Summit.

The company has such tie ups worldwide including Russia, Helsinki-Tallinn, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Los Angeles, USA, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, and United Arab Emirates.

According to Earle, India is among the countries with highest potential for Hyperloop technology, a much better bet than bullet train that the country is currently gearing up to launch.

Hyperloop One's XP-1 vehicle being prepared for testing in Nevada (Photo Courtesy: Hyperloop)

To start with, the Hyperloop system claims to have a capital cost per mile that is 60 percent of what a high-speed train would cost to build and operate.

Hyperloop also takes a much smaller footprint, is less expensive to construct, uses very less electricity and is way faster than the bullet train, Nick Earle, Global Field Operations for Virgin Hyperloop One told Moneycontrol.

According to Earle, Indias push towards Japans bullet train technology will do little for the country because besides the technology advantage, bullet train components are all manufactured in Japan, getting hardly any jobs to India.

Hyperloop, on the other hand, plans to set up a research lab in the city, and licence the technology to local manufacturers, which will create tons of local jobs, Earle said.

The technology will require minimum real-estate commitment and uses less electricity, which is ideal for a country like India that has a huge population base, claimed Earle.

Hyperloop is a new-age transportation system that propels a pod-like vehicle through a near-vacuum tube at speed of nearly 1,100 km per hour or above.

The pod lifts off the track using magnetic levitation and glides at speed of an airtcraft for long distances, owing to ultra-low aerodynamic drag. They can also create their own energy after a certain speed, Earle said.

Hyperloop One has set up a development site in the desert outside of North Las Vegas, Nevada where the company conducted a series of tests.

It first broke ground in 2016, by developing the worlds first full-scale Hyperloop test track.

The team has conducted several tests since then, and successfully tested its prototype passenger pod, reaching a speed of up to 310 km per hour.

Richard Branson and Virgin Group invested into Hyperloop One in October 2017.

Hyperloop One recently opened up the projects to accept proposals from entrants around the world working on Hyperloop systems.

Two Indian teams  AECOM and Hyperloop India  were selected among the 10 shortlisted candidates for the Hyperloop global challenge.

While AECOM is working on the 334 km long Bangalore-Chennai route, Hyperloop India is working on the proposal for a 1,102km Mumbai-Chennai route.
Next time you wish to order a pizza online, your unused Sodexo vouchers may come in handy.

French food services major Sodexo is partnering with payment gateway firm PayU in India to enable customers to use its vouchers for making payments online, a senior executive said on Thursday.

We are integrating with PayU which has the largest number of food outlet merchants. It will happen in the next two weeks," said

"If you will go to a QSR retailer's website, you will soon see Sodexo as an option, once you click on that, you can enter your card number, CVV and make the payment," he added.

Sodexo, a benefits and rewards firm for corporate employees currently claims to have about 45,000 merchants in India.

According to Das, of these, every merchant, who would have an online presence, will be able to accept payments through Sodexo.

Sodexo has been running its operations in India since the last 20 years and partners solely with corporates.

Sodexos digitisation efforts comes at a time when the Indian government too is focussing heavily on digitisation initiatives.

Last year, the government announced a demonetisation drive which benefited mobile wallet firms in a massive way. Companies such as Paytm and Mobikwik report 4x-5x growth in transaction numbers on a year on year basis.

(In pic: Suvodeep Das of Sodexo BRS India)

Talking about any potential threat from the wallet players, Das said, Unlike wallets, the Sodexo consumers get money from their companies every month in the form of vouchers. We don't have to give cash backs to get money into the wallets.

He however added that the company is open to allow customers to reload their Sodexo cards by themselves much like how the wallets function, if they see enough consumer feedback.

Currently these are pre-paid plastic cards that are loaded periodically by the respective companies.

At this point our focus is on migration. In future may be, we haven't decided it yet. Is it possible? Of course it is, Das said.

Once we move all our clients to the card, we will start identifying needs like these. If we see significant number of our consumers stating a need like that then of course we can do this, he added.

Sodexo has also been partnering with a bunch of start-ups including Bangalore-based Goodbox and UrDoorStep.com.

It however has no immediate plans to make a strategic investment in start-ups. In India we are just looking at partnerships for the time being."

The company plans to migrate all its clients to cards by December 31.

According to the company, 3 million customers transact through Sodexo on a daily basis.

priyanka.sahay@nw18.com
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, "The trades are primarily intraday, because the intermediate trend of the market is looking on the downside. It is difficult to carry short positions overnight. I have some buying ideas also. One is Bharat Forge, it has been a favourite up till now, that is a buy."

"Second is Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, apparently a short-term low is in place, dont overstay or welcome just take the trades in the morning and try to exit by the close of the day."

"For Indocount Industries, the charts are remarkably changed. It takes a day to change the chart. That is the beauty of technical, we dont stick with a theme and then even when it goes against it. So that is a buying opportunity. You could actually carry this position forward," he said.

"Two short sells which are easy, Max Financial Services is part of the NBFC group. All NBFCs are in trouble, the decline is continuing and the base is far away."

"Second is Bharat Financial Inclusion, it is breaking from a big rally and large distribution is visible and lower levels are coming. NBFCs are in trouble and the charts are showing that," he added.

"There is a positional short in Bata India. I am not taking it because it is a favourite for me on the long side. The sense is that much lower prices should be coming and that is disappointing because if an outperformer like Bata is showing weakness, what about the other midcaps."

"Reliance Industries is simply showing a mild correction. If the Nifty corrects Reliance will join it but for the day or for today the sense is that Reliance is a buying opportunity for intraday traders."

"Reliance Capital is a short sell, everything else is so poorly priced. You cant actually short Power or Communications but Reliance Capital because it is part of NBFCs and also because of the other reasons, that is short sell. It is a positional short not for the day."

"I am sure Tata Global Beverage will correct. Most stocks correct and Tata Global Beverage is not a runaway stock anyway and it was a buy then not now."

"Today ACC is also a buying opportunity in this fluctuating and volatile market."

: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd
CA Rudramurthy BV at Vachana Investments told CNBC-TV18, "Jain Irrigation Systems looks very strong. Lot of open interest addition has been seen in todays trade. The level of Rs 95 has been a very strong support from where repeated bounce has seen in the stock. Look at targets of Rs 110 in Jain Irrigation future and have a stop loss for this trade at Rs 101."

"I am also bullish on Raymond for a long time now. You had lot of opportunity yesterday, even to accumulate Raymond in future and it is definitely showing strength at levels closer Rs 910-920. So, one can look at buying Raymond in futures. Have a target of Rs 980 with a stop loss of Rs 935."

"A buy call on Bharti Airtel , Rs 480 has been a strong support. So, with a very good risk reward at current level, one can buy Bharti Airtel in future and have a target of Rs 550 with a stop loss of Rs 480," he added.
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "L&T Finance Holdings is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 180 and target of Rs 195."

"United Spirits is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 3,050 and target of Rs 3,200. Maruti Suzuki is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 8,150 and target of Rs 8,400."

"Reliance Industries is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 890 for target of Rs 930. This is a fairly decent 5-7 percent correction on RIL, people should buy. Those who want to hold it for long term."

"Voltas is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 600 for target of Rs 635. Infosys is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 970 and target of Rs 1,010."

"GAIL India is not my favourite gas stock, I think Petronet LNG, Indraprastha Gas, Mahanagar Gas etc. outperform GAIL in that regard. Overall gas seems to be doing well."

"There is lot of volatility in Shriram Transport Finance, so not the best stock to trade. However, since it is in some sort of an uptrend, I think these are levels where you can buy with a stop loss say around Rs 1,150. Maybe Rs 1,500 is a decent target," he said.

: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd
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Dixon Technologies had a stellar listing couple of months ago  a premium of 54 percent to its issue price. The stock, despite having unique moats, has not outperformed markets post listing. While the optically expensive valuation has been a deterrent, every good thing comes at a price. Looking at the recent quarterly earnings report and the positive commentary from the management, we feel that the stock beckons attention, especially if one is looking for a long-term earnings compounding story.

The quarter at a glance

Dixon reported 33 percent growth in after-tax-profit compared to the year-ago quarter on the back of 17 percent growth in topline. The drivers of the same were consumer electronics and lighting products that presently constitutes bulk (74 percent) of the revenue. Marginal improvement in margin was the other highlight of the quarterly numbers.

The sequential improvement in financials was impressive as the previous quarter was marred by GST-led disruptions that took the sheen off the first half performance. We believe the second half of the fiscal to report a better performance.

Directionally the company appears to be in fine fettle:

In the consumer electronics business, the topline growth will be aided by the new LED facility that has commenced in Tirupati. In addition to catering to its usual clientele like Panasonic, Intex, Haier, Vijay sales etc., Dixon has signed a new client in Flipkart for designing, manufacturing and supplying its private label brand Marq.

The lighting business driven by its key client Philips is doing well. Dixon has also added Crompton Greaves, Wipro & Panasonic Anchor as clients in this segment and expects growth on account of further orders coming to Philips from EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Ltd).

The home appliances business of the company has recently signed up a marquee client in Samsung and the production is stabilising and would ramp up in the coming quarters. This should have a positive rub-off on the margins as well.

For mobile phones the rather poor show was on account of client-specific issues (Gionee). However, the outlook is better as the company is the supplier to Karbonn in its tie-up with Airtel. Dixon is also in advanced stages of discussion with a large customers that should close by the end of the fiscal.

Finally, while reverse logistics was a bit of a dampener in the quarter, the companys offerings in this space - repair and refurbishment services of set top boxes, mobile phones and LED TV panels-- is a key differentiator that helps in on-boarding clients for its core OEM (original equipment manufacturers) or ODM (original design manufacturing) businesses. Few EMS (electronic manufacturing service) companies provide end-to-end solution that encompasses repair and refurbishment services.

We feel Dixon has unique moats that will translate into secular earnings going forward

Dixon adopts an asset-light business model. On a total fixed asset base of Rs 139 crore, the company generated a turnover of Rs 2457 crore in FY17. In fact, the new facility that it is setting up in Tirupati has been leased to the company at a very nominal rate and enjoys SGST (state Goods & Service Tax) benefits.

Presently, OEM contributes close to 80 percent of revenue of Dixon and earns margins in low single-digit. ODM (original design manufacturing) contributes 20 percent of the revenue but earns margin which is a high single-digit. Going forward, the company wants to expand its presence as an ODM that should be a key driver of margin.

Dixon has backward integration in major manufacturing processes that improves cost efficiency, reduces dependency on third-party suppliers and gives better control on production time and quality.

It has long and well-established relationship with marquee clients. Most of the client-relationships are long-term and therefore sticky. Globally, big brands focus energy on brand building and distribution, leaving the manufacturing bit to trusted partners.

The government is encouraging indigenisation of electronics manufacturing. In the upcoming Budget imported PCBs of mobile phones are likely to be taxed and in the future a lot of manufacturing will take place out of India. Dixon is putting up a plant in Noida and by virtue of its end-to-end service offering, expects to be a formidable player in the growing market.

The company is continuously looking at expanding in contiguous product categories and we believe its smart execution strategy would result in decent earnings growth.

The stock trades at 27X FY19 projected earnings and deserves an inclusion in the core portfolio of investors for a secular, good quality earnings story.

For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research Page
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Share price of Surya Roshni advanced more than 7 percent intraday Thursday on order win for LED street lights.

The company has obtained orders through competitive e-bidding for LED street lights amounted to Rs 89.77 crore.

The order is for design, manufacture, supply and testing under PAN India SLNP (Street light National Program) for Chandrapur, Bikaner (Rajasthan) and Telangana from Energy Efficiency Services (EESL).

The order includes 2.89 lakh LED street light ranging from 18w to 190 watt.

This is a one-time contract and it is likely to get completed in less than 3 months.

The company's 44th annual general meeting is scheduled to be held on December 29, 2017.

At 11:15 hrs Surya Roshni was quoting at Rs 360, up Rs 18.05, or 5.28 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
Two Turkish soldiers were killed and one was wounded on Thursday in northern Iraq's Avasin Basyan region by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, Turkey's military said.

Separately, four militants were killed in the southeastern Turkish province of Tunceli, Dogan news agency said.

A ceasefire between the Turkish state and PKK militants broke down in July 2015 and southeast Turkey subsequently saw some of the worst violence since the group launched its insurgency in 1984.

More than 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have been killed in the conflict. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


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Shares of Suven Life Sciences added 5.2 percent intraday Thursday as the company has secured 4 product patents in Hong Kong, India and US.

The company has granted 1 product patent from Hong Kong, 2 product patents from India and 1 product patent from USA corresponding to the new chemical entities (NCEs) for the treatment of disorders associated with Neurodegenerative diseases and these patents are valid through 2032, 2030 and 2034 respectively, as per company release.

The granted claims of the patents include the class of selective H3 and 5-HT6 compounds and are being developed as therapeutic agents and are useful in the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimers disease, Attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Huntingtons disease, Parkinson and Schizophrenia.

Venkat Jasti, CEO of Suven said, We are very pleased by the grant of these patents to the company for our pipeline of molecules in CNS arena that are being developed for cognitive disorders with high unmet medical need with huge market potential globally."

At 10:58 hrs Suven Life Sciences was quoting at Rs 197, up Rs 6.25, or 3.28 percent.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
Surat has replaced Kolkata to become the new hub for shell companies. According to the new list of shell companies by the I-T department, a majority of the firms are Surat-based, reports The Business Standard.

Most of the companies were based in Kolkata in the first list by the I-T Department.

Shell companies help in evasion of taxes and laundering of illegal money. The Modi government has launched a fight against black money and the tax department began going after these companies earlier this year.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs recently shared data of 5,800 shell firms that made Rs 17,000 crore of suspicious deposits by privately held companies.

In the new list released by the I-T department, more than 80 percent of the 2,138 shell companies are from Surat. These collectively deposited at least Rs 5,000 crore during the demonetisation period.

In the first list, I-T department had named 16,000 shell firms, which were Kolkata-based from 2011-2015.

The I-T probe revealed that Surat was a safer bet for these shell companies for two reasons - first is Surat's flourishing diamond business and secondly because of the city's exposure to overseas market indirectly.

Surat, which operates a parallel diamond business, is an easy hub where traders can ship large amount of money illegally abroad.

A tax consultant told the newspaper that Surat traders know how to launder money via multiple transactions that involved a large of number of companies. This makes it harder to trace the money, the consultant said.

An I-T official said that since Kolkata is already under its radar, companies stayed away from West Bengal and, hence, found another city to redirect illegal money.
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Bonanza Portfolio Ltd.

The Nifty50 touched the strong support levels of 10,100 on Wednesdays session due to heavy selling pressure but managed to give a quick bounce from the same.

The Nifty closed in red for the seventh consecutive session in a row. We have seen strong profit booking and selling pressure in the index from its strong resistance of 10500 levels.

On the intraday charts, the index has already reached its oversold zone, so we may expect a little pullback in an index but the short-term trend is still negative.

The Nifty bank has not seen much of correction compared to Nifty and took a halt above its previous breakout level of 25200 on Wednesday session.

Investors need to watch these levels carefully and any bounce from these levels will take Nifty Bank towards fresh highs.

On the derivative front, highest open interest shifted to 10500 CE which is previously at 10,000 PE followed by 10400 CE and on downside side 10200 PE have highest open interest followed 10000 PE so will act as support as of now in Nov series.

We have witnessed strong call unwinding and fresh short built up in the index as results index touched 10100 levels.

We recommend investors to keep a more stock specific approach rather than focusing too much on the index.

We recommend investors to use every rise in the market as shorting opportunity until trading below 10230. Strength in the index will be back once it will start sustaining above 10230 levels.

Here is a list of three stocks which can give up to 11% return in short term:

EIH: BUY | Target Rs 169 | Stop Loss Rs 143| Upside 11%

After a strong consolidation breakout recorded in late October, the stock is again trading in a range and maintaining above its breakout levels.

On the monthly chart, the stock has given an inverted Head and Shoulder pattern breakout in late May and after that, we witnessed a Bullish Flag breakout around October-end.

In both the scenarios we have seen very good volume activity which suggest the stock is ready to touch previous high in near term.

Traders can take a position in the counter at current levels to any dip near 147 for the targets of 169 and a stop out levels can be kept below 143 on a closing basis.

Alkem Laboratories: BUY | Target Rs 2150| Stop Loss Rs 1900| Upside 8%

After touching a lifetime high of Rs2400, the stock started correcting and recent chart structure suggests that it is forming rounding bottom which is bullish in nature.

On the daily charts, we have witnessed some consolidation breakouts with strong volumes which suggest a bottom is formed and the stock is all set to move northwards.

On the daily charts, the stock is trading above its all strong DMAs and the momentum indicators such as relative strength index (RSI) is reading currently at 64 which is bullish zone.

Considering technical setup, traders can accumulate the stock at current levels to any dip near 1950 for the target of 2150 and a stop loss below Rs 1900 on a closing basis.

Syngene International: BUY | Target Rs 560| Stop Loss Rs 480| Upside 10%

The stock has broken its double bottom pattern in late September and thereon it was consolidating above the breakout level.

The recent volume and price activity in the stock suggest that it is ready to act technically because failed to go below its breakout zone.

On the weekly chart, the stock has given a falling trend line breakout with good volume but not moved as expected. We expect the stock may move towards Rs 560 zone in near term.

Considering technical structure, traders can initiate buy call on the stock at current levels to any dip near 500 for the target of Rs 560 with a stop loss below Rs 480 on a closing basis.

: The author is Senior Research Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio Ltd. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Representative image.

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The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has issued a warning letter to Lupin for violation of current good manufacturing practice norms at two of its manufacturing facilities in Goa and Indore.

In a letter to Lupin Managing Director Nilesh Gupta, USFDA said inspectors during an inspection from March 27 to April 7, found significant violations of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for finished pharmaceuticals.

"Because your methods, facilities, or controls for manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding do not conform to CGMP, your drug products are adulterated," it noted.

Elaborating on the violations at the Goa plant, USFDA said the company failed to thoroughly investigate any unexplained discrepancy or failure of a batch or any of its components to meet any of its specifications.

"Your firm frequently invalidated initial out-of-specification (OOS) laboratory results without an adequate investigation that addressed potential manufacturing causes," USFDA said.

Besides, the Mumbai-based drug firm failed to establish appropriate time limits for the completion of each phase of production to assure the quality of the drug product, it added.

On Lupin's Pithampur (Indore) plant, the US health regulator said the company invalidated initial OOS laboratory results without adequate investigations.

"Based upon the nature of the violations we identified at your firm, we strongly recommend engaging a consultant qualified to assist your firm in meeting CGMP requirements," USFDA said.

The company should immediately and comprehensively assess its global manufacturing operations to ensure that systems and processes, and ultimately, the products manufactured, conform to FDA requirements at all sites, it added.

Until the company corrects all violations and deviations completely and the USFDA confirms its compliance with CGMP, it may withhold approval of any new applications, it said.

Failure to correct these violations may also result in FDA refusing admission of articles manufactured at Lupin's Goa and Pithampur plants in the United States, it added.

Lupin shares on Thursday ended 0.81 percent up at Rs 829.30 apiece on the BSE.
Representative Image.

Venezuela won easier debt terms from Russia and got a vote of confidence from China on Wednesday, as the oil-rich country said it had starting making interest payments on bonds after a delay that had threatened to trigger a default.

A debt restructuring deal with Russia that allows Caracas to make "minimal" payments to Moscow in the next six years, together with a separate statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry that Venezuela was capable of handing the debt issue "appropriately," underlined the reserve of support its socialist government enjoys from both countries.

Venezuela has borrowed billions of dollars from Russia and China over the years, primarily through oil-for-loan deals that have crimped the country's hard currency revenue by requiring oil shipments to be used to service those loans.

If backed by more debt forgiveness like that offered by Russia on Wednesday, the two countries could provide a lifeline to Venezuela as it seeks to keep its deeply depressed economy solvent, even as U.S. and European sanctions target the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Critics led by the United States have slammed Maduro as a dictator and assailed him for clamping down on the country's opposition, jailing dissenters and nullifying the powers of its democratically-elected National Assembly.

Venezuelan bond prices have been on a roller-coaster over the past 10 days, as Maduro called investors to debt restructuring talks, while pledging to keep honouring the country's obligations. But S&P Global Ratings declared it in selective default on two of its sovereign bonds early this week after it failed to make the coupons within a 30-day grace period.

On Wednesday, the Economy Ministry said it had started transferring $200 million in interest payments on those bonds, which mature in 2019 and 2024.

SPARSELY ATTENDED

The 2019 bonds edged up 0.25 points or about 1 percent, while the 2024 bonds surged 2.25 points, or almost 10 percent, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data.

"Our government keeps complying with its obligations and re-affirms the call to re-negotiate Venezuela's foreign debt," the ministry said.

Separately, state oil company PDVSA said it had made interest payments on its 2027 bond and had "successfully completed" capital payments on its 2020 and 2017N bonds.

Derivatives industry group ISDA will hold a hearing on Thursday to discuss whether Venezuela and PDVSA have entered default due to the late payments, an ISDA spokeswoman said in an email.

Maduro's government has vowed to keep making payments responsibly. Creditors who attended a sparsely attended meeting on Monday in Caracas intended to kick off the debt restructuring talks said the government negotiators had offered no concrete proposals, however.

Under the deal with Russia announced earlier on Wednesday, Venezuela will pay it back a total of $3.15 billion over a 10-year period.

The Russian Finance Ministry said the agreement should free up more funds to allow Venezuela to develop its economy and "will improve the debtor's payment ability, increasing the chances of all creditors getting their loans back."

The ministry did not mention PDVSA debt to Rosneft, last estimated by the Russian oil company at $6 billion.

Asked whether PDVSA debt was part of Wednesday's deal, Venezuelan Economy and Finance Minister Simon Zerpa told a briefing in Moscow that no corporate debt was included.

Venezuela has not requested any help from Russia beyond the agreed deal, a Kremlin spokesman told reporters.

While China did not offer any debt relief, the Foreign Ministry's statement that China's cooperation with Venezuela in all areas was "proceeding normally" amounted to a vote of confidence from a country owed $23 billion by the OPEC member.

Venezuela and PDVSA have around $60 billion in outstanding bonds, according to Thomson Reuters data, while private estimates put total foreign debt between $120 billion and $140 billion.
Steel

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Luxembourg-based multinational steel firm ArcelorMittal and domestic industry major Tata Steel have evinced interest in Bhushan Steel which is undergoing insolvency proceedings.

The development has come at a time when the debt-laden firm, which was referred to NCLT by the RBI under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, has reported narrowing down of its standalone net loss to Rs 467.37 crore during the September quarter from Rs 980.22 crore in the same period a year ago.

During the July-September 2017, total income of Bhushan Steel rose 43 per cent to Rs 4,325.60 crore from Rs 3,025.79 crore during the same period a year ago, the company said in a BSE filing.

"Yes! ArcelorMittal is interested in Bhushan Steel," said a person in the know of the matter and refused to elaborate further.

When contacted, a Tata Steel company official said, "The company keeps on looking at such opportunities."

Last month, Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal had submitted expression of interest (EoI) to acquire debt-laden Essar Steel -- another stressed company undergoing the insolvency proceedings at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

Essar Steel India Ltd, an integrated steel producer with an installed capacity of 10 million tonne per annum (MTPA) is undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the provisions of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

According to the information on Bhushan Steel Ltd website, the company is the 3rd largest secondary steel producer in the country with an existing steel production capacity of 5.6 million ton per annum.

Both Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal see the proceedings as an opportunity as the two companies are looking to expand their operations in the country.
A right-wing organisation held a demonstration in the city today in protest against Bollywood flick "Padmavati" and burnt the effigy of its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The demonstration was held by 'Virat Hindustan Sangam' (VHS), which has been floated by BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subramaniam Swamy.

The VHS activists, led by its , gathered at the Kargil Chowk and burnt the effigy.

The legendary Rajput queen has been "wrongly portrayed" in the film "as part of an international conspiracy to belittle figures held in reverence by the Hindus," the VHS said.

The organisation's state secretary general Ritesh Kumar said "the release of the movie will be strongly opposed across Bihar. Human chains will be formed to gherao all cinema halls screening the film".

'Padvmavati' starring Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone is scheduled for release in December.
The Centre has given its nod for setting up Indias first mega Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Navi Mumbai, according to a report by The Economic Times.

According to the report, as many as 45 companies across various sectors such as telecom, automobile and information technology are expected to bid for around 490 acres of land to set up manufacturing units within the zone.

The Union Cabinet had approved setting up of the 14 CEZs under the National Perspective Plan of the Sagarmala Programme.

What is a Coastal Economic Zone?

The government is planning to develop 14 CEZs in a bid to propel manufacturing, encourage port land development and create jobs.

The rationale behind the project is to reduce logistics costs and time for movement of cargo and improve competitiveness of Indias manufacturing sector at a global level.

According to the plan, a total of Rs 15,000 crore will be invested in the first phase of the project. The phase is expected to create more than 1.5 lakh jobs. Each CEZ would be as large as 2,000 to 3,000 square kilometres.

The CEZs will be economic zones comprising districts on the coast or having a significant linkage to ports.

The government is keen on attracting large export-oriented companies which would in turn create smaller manufacturers around it to meet the need, according to the report.

Clusters and Locations

The proposed CEZs will come up in Kachch, Suryapur and Saurashtra in Gujarat, northern Konkan and southern Konkan in Maharashtra, Dakshin Kanara in Karnataka, Malabar in Kerala, Mannar, southern VisakhapatnamChennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) and Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu, northern and central VCIC in Andhra Pradesh, Kalinga in Odisha and Gaud in West Bengal.

The zones will be further bifurcated in sectoral clusters focusing on manufacturing, petrochemicals, refining, energy, etc.

The countrys first CEZ will be built near Navi Mumbai and will be spread across regions of Nashik, Thane, Raigad, Mumbai and Pune.

However, the states will have to transfer the land to the central government which could be a hurdle for smaller states such as Goa, according to media reports.

Media reports also suggest that the states do not have contiguous land parcels and those large land acquisitions and compensation costs could delay the project.
Top Congress leadership will tomorrow discuss and finalise its possible candidates for the Gujarat Assembly elections at a meeting of its Central Election Committee (CEC).

The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Gujarat after being in the political wilderness for over two decades now.

The discussion will take place at the meeting of the party's CEC convened tomorrow evening.

The CEC is headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and has as its members party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh besides some top party general secretaries.

Sources said the Congress CEC has already discussed some candidates for the first phase of elections for 89 seats in its meeting last week, but has not declared any candidate so far.

All the candidates for the 182 seats will be discussed tomorrow at the CEC, but the party may not declare all of them tomorrow, the sources added.

The process of nomination for the first phase of election for 89 seats in Gujarat has already started with the issue of the notification on November 14. The last date for filing nominations is November 21.

The election process for the second phase of polling on December 14 starts on November 20 with the issue of notification.

The votes will be counted on December 18, along with those of Himachal Pradesh where elections were held on November 9.

The BJP has already discussed its candidates at a meeting of its central election committee held yesterday, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

While the BJP has finalised the list of candidates for the Gujarat Assembly polls to be held next month, sources said the list has not been declared yet.
Answer: Bhakra Dam (Image: Reuters)

Karnataka government on Thursday urged the central government to relax norms and procure 6,00,000 tonnes of maize at the support price and prevent farmers from distressed sale owing to crash in the prices.

The state demanded procurement of groundnut as well because its prices too have fallen below the minimum support price (MSP) on an expectation of higher crop.

The state government also sought to clear last three years' dues of Rs 1,050 crore at the earliest.

In a meeting with Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Karnataka Food Minister U T Khader and Agriculture Minister Byre Gowda explained how fall in maize prices below the minimum support price (MSP) is affecting farmers.

"The Centre has said that the procurement will be allowed with a condition it is utilised for PDS purpose in the state. But, we have asked them to procure and use it for the central pool because there are no takers for maize under PDS," Gowda told reporters after the meeting.

It is the duty of the central government to procure crops when prices fall below the MSP and it cannot put condition and link with the Public Distribution System (PDS), he said.

Moreover, staple foodgrain in the state is rice, ragi, jowar and wheat. Therefore, maize procured under MSP operations cannot be used in PDS, he added.

"We have asked them to relax this norm and start procurement operation at the earliest under the price stabilisation fund (PSF) as maize prices in the state have fallen below the MSP level on expected higher Kharif crop."

Maize prices have declined to Rs 900-1,100 per quintal at present, much lower than the MSP of Rs 1,425 per quintal fixed for the 2017-18 crop year (July-June), he said.

Buoyed by good monsoon, the state is expecting maize production of 28 lakh tonnes this year, of which procurement of 6 lakh tonnes by the central government will help stabilise mandi prices, he added.

The state government has suggested the Centre to procure maize from Karnataka and distribute through a central pool to many of consuming states of north India.

It was in 2013-14, the centre had last procured 5 lakh tonnes of maize from the state at the support price.

Meeting separately with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Gowda sought procurement of groundnut under the Price Support Scheme as mandi prices have fallen sharply on an expectation of better crop.

On pending dues, Gowda said, "Dues to the tune of Rs 1,050 crore for last three years has not been cleared by the Centre. We have procured on behalf of the government from our revolving funds, but that amount has not been paid to us yet".

Karnataka is one of the very few states which has a separate revolving fund of Rs 1,500 crore to undertake market operations.

Now, the amount in the revolving fund has come down to Rs 500 crore. The clearance of dues from the centre will help the state to intervene better, he added.
Lebanon's prime minister Saad al-Hariri will arrive in France on Saturday and meet French President Emmanuel Macron, a source inside the French presidency said.

Macron invited the Lebanese premier and his family to France on Wednesday, hoping to soothe a crisis triggered when Hariri announced his resignation 12 days ago.

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A PIL was on Thursday filed in the Delhi High Court seeking setting up of a committee prior to the release of Bollywood film Padmavati to ensure there is no distortion of history in respect of Rani Padmavati of Chittorgarh.

It said that the committee is necessary because of the film, starring Deepika Padukone in the lead role, portrayed the fictitious character of Rani Padmavati and there is an alleged distortion of historical facts.

The public interest litigation (PIL) has sought a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to constitute a committee comprising members of the Censor Board, a social activist, three history experts from any university and one retired high court judge who shall head the panel.

The Akhand Rashtrawadi Party, which claims to be a political party in its PIL filed through advocate R N Singh and Puneesh Grover, said there is an apprehension of lowering the dignity and pride of icon Rani Padamavati, who immolated herself for her honour and dignity as well as for Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.

The plea claimed a legal notice has been sent to the parties concerned, but no response was received.

It also said no individual or group has a right to play with the sentiments or emotions of any caste or community by distorting the history or a historic icon.

Recently, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a plea seeking a stay on the release of a film, saying the Censor Board was yet to certify the movie.

The top court said there were several guidelines for the CBFC to grant certification to a movie and, in addition, there was the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) to look into the grievances regarding a film.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed 'Padmavati' also stars Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.
Geopolitical issues | There are several geopolitical issues that serve as dormant volcanoes. The situation in Iran and the rest of the Middle East, Korea, are challenges that may persist and have far-reaching consequences for the world economy.

The government is set to digitally map residential and professional addresses of citizens by assigning a six-character alphanumeric digital address to a physical location.

An addition to the digital drive of the government, the eLoc or e-location is a pilot project by the Department of Posts that has been permitted for two postal pin codes in Delhi and one in Noida for now. Depending on the outcome a roadmap would be drawn for national expansion of the scheme, the Times of India reported.

The six-character digital address will be e-enabled and could be used along with existing postal addresses.

The initial concept is to create e-locations for addresses and afterwards aim to link the e-locations with other important information such as property ownership, property tax records, available utilities such as water and electricity connection, and so on.

The project approval letter by the postal department, which is under the Ministry of Communications, said the objective was to determine the efficacy of a digital addressing system, as per the article in TOI.

The postal department will mediate in verification of the information related to the linking of physical address with the digital ones.

Private map developing company MapmyIndia has been given the onus of carrying out the project.

"eLoc will help travellers and commuters search, share and navigate to a destination's exact doorstep far more easily and quickly. It will also reduce time, money, fuel wastage and expenses for businesses in the e-commerce, transportation, logistics and field operations domains," MapmyIndia's Managing Director Rakesh Verma told the newspaper.

In a statement, the mapping company said that it already had an exhaustive database of digital addresses of around 2 crore individuals, corporate entities and government operations.

They also said that the company has collaborated with ISRO for its national satellite imagery service 'Bhuvan' to facilitate accurate map coordinates.
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The New Delhi government is sitting on a total of over Rs 1,500 crore worth of unused green funds even as the city chokes. According to PTI, the amount has been collected till November 10, 2017.

Last week, the city went beyond the permissible limit of the particulate matter 2.5 level  PM 10  and touched an all-time high of PM 500. The authorities declared a public health emergency in the city, as the air had turned hazardous to breathe.

PTI's Rs 1,500 crore includes all the types of green cess - Environment Compensation Charge (ECC), Air Ambience Fund and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The ECC, which has the largest chunk of unused funds  Rs 1,003 crore  is collected by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and is handed over to the state's transport department every Friday.

The state government already had a corpus of Rs 787 crore as on September 30, 2017, according to an RTI query filed by a Delhi resident Sanjeev Jain. Hindustan Times accessed a report which said, Rs 42 crore, in addition to the Rs 787 crore, was lying unspent and only Rs 93 lakh had been spent until the end of September.

The numbers in the PTI report suggest that the funds rose to more than Rs 1,500 crore by November 10. The funds collected are meant to be used for energy efficient public transport services and vehicles and for investing in energy efficient appliances at public spaces and energy sources.

As soon as the information became public, the AAP government said that the funds were being saved for buying electric-buses.
A health crisis lurked in Karnataka as doctors across the state today shut out-patient departments indefinitely, escalating their stir against proposed amendments to an Act to make hospitals accountable for medical negligence.

Health services in private hospitals and nursing homes were crippled twice in the last two weeks by the strike by doctors who alleged that the proposed changes were "draconian" in nature.

Doctors are opposing the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, which among others propose six months to three years of jail term and a hefty penalty for medical negligence on the part of medical practitioners.

The amendments also arm the government with powers to fix the cost of treatment.

The proposed amendments are based on recommendations of former Supreme Court judge Vikramajit Sen.

Amid reports that the strike had caused several deaths across the state with the serious patients being unattended to, more than 22,000 doctors went on an indefinite strike in Bengaluru alone, which manifested in the unmanageable rush at government hospitals.

Government-run Victoria Hospital, KC General Hospital and Bowring Hospital, the three prominent hospitals of Bengaluru, saw a sudden rush of patients.

In a casualty of the strike, students of a school at Ramanagar, who were injured after their van collided with a government bus reportedly faced difficulties after a nearby private hospital allegedly refused to accept the case and referred it to Bengaluru, the police said.

Two children were killed and seven others injured in the accident, they said.

In Jamakhandi Taluk in Bagalkote district, a seriously ill woman was taken to a private hospital, but allegedly there was none to attend her.

She was rushed to the government hospital, but died on the way, her family alleged.

In view of the strike, the health department has directed all Taluk Health Officers and Programme officers of the department to attend to the clinical services till further orders.

The crippling of medical services led to the furore in the Karnataka Assembly, presently in progress in Belagavi.

The government was ready to talk to agitating doctors and would try to find the solution to the issue, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said.

Replying to opposition BJP, the minister said it was not a prestige issue for him. It is doctors who have made it a prestige issue, as they have called for a statewide agitation, when the 'Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2017' is yet to be tabled, he said.

"We will try to find a solution soon, we are open for discussion with doctors," the minister said.

Unhappy with the minister's response, BJP members walked out of the House demanding immediate resolution, saying delay may cause more deaths of patients.

Kumar said doctors have a responsibility and by shutting medical services they are making common man suffer and said that the government has no intention to harass doctors or the private medical institutions.

He said, "As we empanelled you and we have to pay you taxpayers money for services, we have to fix charges for services..."

The minister said he has no plans to resign if the Bill was not tabled during the session as reported by some sections in the media.

The Bill was first tabled in the assembly on June 13, and later sent to the joint select committee following opposition by doctors and medical professionals.
The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are yet to declare their candidates for the first phase of the Gujarat assembly election, nominations for which opened on November 14.

One of the main reasons for delay is that both the parties are waiting for the other side to come out with its nominees, sources said.

The last date of filing nominations for the first phase of the polls - when 89 seats will see voting on December 9 - is November 21.

A meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) was held in New Delhi yesterday to finalise candidates.

After the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP said though the party has finalised candidates for many seats, it will declare the list at an "appropriate time".

The Congress was to hold a meeting of its screening committee today in New Delhi to decide on candidates, but it was postponed for tomorrow, party spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

Election will be held in 93 assembly constituencies in the second phase on December 14. Counting of votes in Gujarat, which has a 182-member assembly, will take place on December 18.

The socio-political situation in Gujarat is fluid in the backdrop of agitations launched by the the Patels, OBCs and Dalits to achieve their respective goals, they said.

The other reason is to avoid a possible rebellion by ticket hopefuls if they do not make it to the final list, the sources added.
(L-R) Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Minoru Kato, and Atsushi Ogata during the launch of all new Grazia

Hondas rate of growth in India in the two-wheeler segment has beaten the growth of its peers. The company just launched an all-new scooter Grazia for the performance-seeking, urban buyer. In an interview to Moneycontrol's Swaraj Baggonkar Minoru Kato, President and Chief Executive of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India gives an insight of Hondas future plans which include the possibility of a brand new factory, a 150cc scooter, and competing with Royal Enfield.

Is Honda planning to enter battery-making technology?

In the case of Japan, Honda has started a new project with Hitachi to develop electric motors mainly for automobiles. Depending on battery innovation we need to wait. From our investigation it will take a long time.

You are operating at 100 percent capacity. You will need more capacity?

We are operating at full capacity presently. Yes, depending on the total market situation we will need more capacity. We just started investigations (discussions) for a new plant.

Would we see a natural progression to 150cc in scooters?

For daily commute the 125cc performance is good enough -- that is our understanding. But in the future a customer not just wants performance but to showcase the capability of his two-wheelers. Yes, we do expect bigger engines, better performance scooters in future. But as of today the balance between performance, price and customer expectation from the scooter is good enough from 125cc.

Do you have bigger capacity scooters overseas where they are used for leisure riding?

Honda has many global products which are sold in different markets. These include a 300cc scooter in Europe, 150cc scooter in Japan and Thailand, 600cc scooter in Japan and Europe. But in India it is very difficult to sell imported models. We need to prepare the production line for each model. In that case we have to consider volumes.

It is easier to get global models to India but it is equally important to develop products locally. Where will Honda strike the balance?

We want to focus on both by utilizing global models for the local [market] and at the same time develop Indian R&D (research and development) too which will focus on Indian market.

The cruiser bike segment is growing very fast where Royal Enfield is the leader. Is Honda ignoring that segment completely?

Of course, we are looking at that segment; I dont want to ignore it. Yes, we have many products lined up in 400cc, 500cc, 600cc in other countries but if you look at the price point that is one of the biggest challenges for us. It is also under investigation. Of course, in the future we want to provide the customer such a bike.

Can the market expect a product in that segment by 2020?

Yes, you can expect that.

Honda has several cruiser products globally. You could bring them to India.

Historically, we have been doing customer surveys to see what the customer wants and then depending on customer demand we prioritize. We want to focus on the cruiser segment in the future. We expect, like other segments, this segment will also increase. It is part of the several on-going projects.

Are you happy with the performance of the Cliq?

Yes, we are happy with the performance of the Cliq. We are doing 10,000 units in sales of the Cliq a month.

The Activa 125 contributes 10 percent of your total scooter sales. With the Grazia coming in do you expect the 125cc share going up?

Yes we do expect it to go up to 15-20 percent with the contribution of the Grazia.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks at the inauguration of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor port in Gwadar, Pakistan November 13, 2016. REUTERS/Caren Firouz - RTX2TGFZ

Amid reports of Pakistan's move to withdraw its bid to include Diamer-Bhasha Dam in PoK from the CPEC framework, China today said it was not aware of Islamabad's decision but the project to connect Xinjiang and Gwadar port is "progressing smoothly for the time being."

Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain was yesterday quoted by the Pakistan media as saying that "Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests."

"I am not aware of the information mentioned by you," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media here when asked about Pakistan's decision to take the dam project off the table contending that the conditions proposed by Beijing is "not doable" and goes against its interest.

"I can tell you that China and Pakistan cooperation is extensive and profound," Geng said. "As far as I know CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."

Briefing the Public Accounts Committee on the status of the mega water and power project, Hussain had said the Chinese conditions were about taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project by pledging another operational dam.

These conditions were unacceptable, therefore, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved a report to finance the dam from the country's own resources, Hussain said.

Pakistan's decision to publicise Chinese conditions came as a surprise, considering it shares close and "all weather" ties with China.

The announcement by the Pakistan government came days before the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting with China, which is scheduled for November 21 in Islamabad.

The JCC is the highest decision-making body of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through which China is infusing over $50 billion cash into Pakistan financing a host of energy projects. The CPEC passes through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Defending the connectivity project, Geng said "as for the CPEC we follow the principle of extensive consultation and joint shared benefits to promote the building of the CPEC. It is conducive to promote connectivity of the two countries and connectivity of the whole region. As far as I know CPEC is progressing smoothly for the time being."

Pakistan has been struggling to raise money from international institutions like the World Bank in the face of Indian opposition to the project on the Indus River in PoK.

Neither the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) nor China would finance the dam, therefore, the government decided to construct the reservoir from its own resources, Pakistans Express Tribune daily yesterday quoted Water Resources Secretary Shumail Khawaja as saying.
State officials announce $2.85M for new police station in Upper Moreland
The UN Security Council will vote Thursday on whether to extend an investigation to determine who is behind chemical weapons attacks in Syria, with Russia expected to cast a veto.

Russia and the United States have put forward rival draft resolutions on renewing for a year the mandate of the UN-led Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), tasked with identifying perpetrators of Syria's toxic gas attacks.

President Donald Trump urged the council to support the panel's continued work, saying on Twitter that this would "ensure" that President Bashar al-Assad's "regime does not commit mass murder with chemical weapons ever again."

Earlier Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave his clearest indication yet that Moscow was prepared to veto the US-drafted measure extending the panel for one year.

"The American resolution has no chance of adoption," Lavrov said during a press conference in Moscow.

He slammed Washington's text as "totally unacceptable," arguing that it would extend the mandate "without changing any of the current activities of the mechanism which are in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention."

UN diplomats said they were expecting a Russian veto of the US text during the council meeting scheduled for 3:00 pm (2000 GMT). The panel's mandate expires at midnight.

It would mark the tenth time that Moscow has used its veto power at the council to block action targeting its ally Syria.

The Russian-drafted resolution was unlikely to garner the nine votes required for adoption, diplomats said.

Russia has sharply criticized the JIM after its latest report blamed the Syrian air force for a sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead.

The attack on April 4 triggered global outrage as images of dying children were shown worldwide, prompting the United States to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base a few days later.

Washington and its allies have blamed Assad's government for the Khan Sheikhun attack, but Syria has denied using chemical weapons, with strong backing from Russia.

A resolution requires nine votes to be adopted at the council, but five countries -- Russia, Britain, China, France and the United States -- can block adoption with their veto power.

In its draft, Russia insisted that the panel's findings on Khan Sheikhun be put aside to allow for another "full-scale and high-quality investigation" by the JIM, which would be extended for a year.

During a council vote in late October, Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution on a one-year extension, arguing that it did not want to decide on the fate of the panel before the Khan Sheikhun report.

The United States, Britain and France have insisted that the JIM should be allowed to continue its work and that dozens of other cases of chemical weapons use in Syria must be investigated.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre urged council members to "please think twice before throwing it away, because this would be a major setback for the fundamentals of our common security."

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said this week that scrapping the chemical weapons probe in Syria "may send a bad signal, but the way the investigation has been conducted sends an even worse signal."

The joint UN-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel was set up by Russia and the United States in 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the council, which renewed its mandate last year.

Previous reports by the JIM have found that Syrian government forces were responsible for chlorine attacks on three villages in 2014 and 2015, and that the Islamic State (IS) militant group used mustard gas in 2015.

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November 16, 2017

Syria Summary: The Idlib Battle Comes Into Sight

There have been few significant movements during the last weeks. The war on Syria slowly grinds towards its end. The political tussle continues as ever. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mattis made a curious announcement of plans he can not fulfill.



General Situation on November 3 - bigger

Our last Syria summary looked at the situation around the last refuge area of the Islamic State near the Syrian-Iraqi border:

The twin-cities of Abu Kamal (al-Bukamal) in Syria and al-Qaim in Iraq are ISIS' last urban refuge. The cities are on the south site of the Euphrates with the important border crossing between them. Coming from the east Iraqi government troops retook the al-Qaim crossing today. They now control the border and are breaking into the city proper. Syrian government forces approach Abu Kamal from the north-west and from south-east.

...

The U.S. proxy forces north of the Euphrates announced that they had taken several oil-fields north of the river and were also progressing towards Abu Kamal. The Syrian government and its allies fear that the U.S. [is trying to take] Abu Kamal itself. It could then claim to have control over the border crossing towards Iraq and severe that important line of communication. A race is on to prevent that.



Situation on November 10 - Abu Kamal is at the bottom right of the map - bigger

For a few days it seemed that Syrian government forces were easily winning the race. Coming through Iraq, troops moved deep into Abu Kamal and found it empty. They prematurely declared victory but had been deceived. ISIS used tunnels to move undetected into well prepared positions and attacked them from the rear. The Syrian forces were badly mauled and had to retreat.

Since then more troops have arrived and are now ready to launch an all out attack. Coming from Russia long range bombers hit ISIS positions. The U.S. is trying to make such support more difficult by claiming an "air corridor" over the city:

Russia on Tuesday accused the United States of providing de-facto cover for Islamic State units in Syria

..

Specifically, the Russian Defence Ministry said the U.S. air force had tried to hinder Russian strikes on Islamic State militants around Albu Kamal.

In October, after the U.S. made a deal with ISIS fighters to evacuate Raqqa, it had escorted foreign ISIS fighters towards Abu Kamal:

He says the convoy went to the countryside of eastern Syria, not far from the border with Iraq.

...

From the cab of his truck, Abu Fawzi watched as a coalition warplane flew overhead, dropping illumination flares, which lit up the convoy and the road ahead.

Abu Kamal is now well defended with the most ferocious ISIS troops inside. They have nowhere to go. It will be difficult to dig them out of their positions. Meanwhile the U.S. SDF proxy forces north of the Euphrates move further towards the area.

But the whole SDF concept is in trouble. The U.S. proxy forces are led by Kurds. They need local Arabs to take the remaining areas north of the Euphrates but the Arabs do not want to fight under Kurdish command. Talal Silo, the SDF spokesperson, just defected to Turkey. With such allies any semi-permanent U.S. position in Syria is further in doubt.

East of Damascus a mix of militant groups, including Al-Qaeda, are still holding the area of East Ghouta. Last month a propaganda campaign (implausibly) claimed that people in the surrounded area were starving. On October 30 a large Red Cross convoy was dispatched from Damascus and delivered supplies to East Ghouta. Twelve days later the militants in East Ghouta launched an attack on the surrounding Syrian army positions. At the same time they fired salvos of missiles and mortars into the capital and killed several civilians there. People there are wondering how the militants managed to acquire fresh ammunition.

The aim of the terrorists (green) is to cut off and capture a Syrian army base (red) that protrudes into the area. A Syrian general was killed during their attack, the militants capture some positions (blue) and vicious fighting is ongoing. It may take a week or two to defeat these attacks and to regain the lost positions.

bigger

The U.S. and Russia agreed on a deconflicting area in the south-west of Syria, next to the Golan heights and the Jordan border. There is a significant ISIS contingent near the Golan height which is protected by Israeli artillery. Israel claimed that the new deconflicting agreement will forbid Iranian led groups or Lebanese Hizbullah forces to come near to the area. Russia denied that any such restrictions are part of the deal. When the right time comes ISIS and other militants in the area will be fought down by whatever group in the Syrian government alliance is available. It does not matter how much Netanyahoo is howling about "Iran". Israel is not in a position to launch any significant attack and will not be allowed to have any say on the issue.

In the north-east of Syria Al-Qaeda and its allies are still holding Idleb governate and Idleb city. As soon as the Syrian army operations at Abu Kamal are finished, Idelb will become the main battlefield. Already troops were put into position for an all out attack. Probing moves on several axes were launched to disperse the al-Qaeda fighters over a wide area. Several towns were liberated in a move towards the Ad Duhur area.

Over the next six month Idelb governate will be at the center of the war. Al-Qaeda, which rules the area, is not willing to give up without a fight. They are Takfiri terrorists. There is nothing to negotiate with them.

The Syrian government position is now better than at any other point of the war. It can concentrate experienced forces and it has the full support of significant allies. Syria's external enemies have mostly given up. It is unlikely that al-Qaeda will have and significant new supplies or support. I expect the fighting for Idleb province to be intense but relatively short.

U.S. Secretary of Defense General Mattis has announced that he wants to stay in Syria:

The U.S. military will fight Islamic State in Syria as long as they want to fight, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday, describing a longer-term role for U.S. troops long after the insurgents lose all of the territory they control.

...

He also stressed the importance of longer-term peace efforts, suggesting U.S. forces aimed to help set the conditions of a diplomatic solution in Syria, now in its seventh year of civil war.

One wonders if Mattis has cleared the issue with his president. It is wishful thinking. Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Russia are against any residual U.S. troops in Syria. The U.S. has absolutely no right to be in the country. That its troops were so far allowed to operated there, was conditioned on the fight against ISIS. When ISIS has lost the last area it still holds, that fight will be over and the U.S. will have to leave. The rest of ISIS will be nothing more than a defeated guerilla movement on the run which the Syria government can easily hold down and eventually destroy.

Preparations have already been made to fight the U.S. troops in Syria should they not move out on their own. Local cells have been prepared in the north-east to attack U.S. forces wherever they move. The U.S. public does not support the hostile occupation of another Arab state. With all surrounding countries against a U.S. stay, Mattis' announcement is clearly of an unsustainable endeavor. Sec Def Mattis will have to climb down from his position. He is another example for the inability of military men to grasp a bigger political situation.

Large parts of Syria and its cities were damaged or destroyed by the war against its sovereignty. But destroyed cities can and will be rebuild. The wounds will heal. This picture of some devastated street in east-Aleppo exemplifies the hope and will of its people. Ahmed is back and reopened his shop. Five years on these streets will again be full of life.

Posted by b on November 16, 2017 at 17:48 UTC | Permalink

Comments
Thanks to Nigel the Nutcracker from The Warehouse, we are granting wishes across the country!
Egypts Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany is set to inaugurate on Wednesday evening the exhibition of Tutankhamuns unseen treasures at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where the golden sheets of Tutankhamun will be on display for the first time ever.

The event will be attended by foreign and Egyptian Egyptologists as well as members of the media and government officials.

The exhibitions date falls on the 115th anniversary of the museums opening as well as the 60th anniversary of the re-opening of the German Archaeological Institute Cairo.

Christian Eckmann, a pioneering German restorer who restored the golden sheets of Tutankhamun, told Ahram Online that the exhibition will put the sheets on display for the first time since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

In 2014, Eckmann said, a joint project of the Egyptian Museum, the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo, the University of Tubingen and the Romisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz in Germany was established to do archaeological, technological, scientific and iconographic analysis of an important but largely ignored collection of artefacts discovered in the tomb.

The project, as well as the current exhibition, was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the German Foreign Office.

Eckmann says that the discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 in the Valley of the Kings revolutionised our understanding of Egypts past, as it was the first time an undisturbed royal Egyptian tomb was ever discovered.

Carter and his team had meticulously documented the position and appearance of approximately 5,400 objects, including furniture, weapons, clothing, vessels, food, chariots, and cultic items. However, he did not have time for a comprehensive analysis of all the discoveries.

"This is especially true for a group of exquisitely ornamented gold-sheet and leather appliques that were found scattered on the floor of the antechamber and the treasury, close to the royal chariots," Eckmann told Ahram Online.

Eckmann said that the location of the appliques suggests that they were associated with chariot and horse trappings, and are parts of quivers, blinkers and chariot coverings.

Due to their delicate condition and relatively poor state of preservation, as noted by Carter, this collection of golden artefacts was kept in storage at the Egyptian Museum for some 95 years. They had neither been restored nor scientifically examined since their arrival in the museum.

After the exhibition is completed by the end of December, the artefacts will be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum to be displayed as part of the Tutankhamun collection.

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CFPB's Cordray Resigns; Agency Future Uncertain

Richard Cordray, first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), will leave the agency at the end of the month. Cordray announced his resignation on Wednesday in a letter to CFPB employees. It has long been rumored that he intends to run for governor of Ohio. Cordray served as acting director for an extended period after the agency was created as Republicans in the Senate announced they would block his confirmation or that of any other nominee to the position. His appointment was only made official after Senate Democrats reversed a long-standing rule allowing a 51-vote majority for confirmation.

Bloomberg News says the White House had already begun a search for Cordray's successor (there had been widespread discussion that the President was looking for a way to remove Cordray before his term expires in July.) Among those who have been discussed are former Texas congressman Randy Neugebauer and Todd Zywicki, a scholar at George Mason's University's Mercatus Center.

Congress has been trying to reign in CFPB almost from its inception, claiming that its enforcement tactics have curtailed lending and objecting to the fact it is not subject to congressional funding. According to Politico, Republicans are floating a handful of agency critics as contenders for the post, including Cordray's biggest foe, House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) who recently announced he would not run for reelection.

Politico says other names that have emerged are Keith Noreika, the outgoing acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Brian Brooks, an executive vice president and general counsel at Fannie Mae who worked with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin at OneWest Bank, and former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

In his letter to colleagues Cordray said, "It has been a joy of my life to have the opportunity to serve our country as the first director of the Consumer Bureau by working alongside all of you here. Together we have made a real and lasting difference that has improved people's lives."

When asked about CFPB's future on MSNBC this morning, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), whose brainchild CFPB was and who brought Cordray to Washington to help her implement it, said she thought the open directorship would provide the President with an opportunity to keep his campaign promise to help "the little people," by appointing a new director who would continue the agency's mission.

David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, released the following statement regarding the resignation of Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):

"I want to congratulate Director Cordray on a successful tenure at the CFPB. He came into the position during a tumultuous time and was successful in solidifying the role the bureau plays in protecting consumers. As we now pivot to the nomination of a new director, it will be imperative that someone is chosen who can provide a balance between the rulemaking process and the need for clarity and consistency in the direction and guidance given to lenders across the country."
Despite earlier reports, it looks like realtor.com isnt pulling its ads from a top-rated Fox News program.Multiple companies have pulled their advertising from the top-rated Hannity in the wake of Sean Hannitys on-air comments about Roy Moore, the Alabama senatorial candidate and former state supreme court chief justice accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls when he was in his 30s.Hannity appeared to defend Moore on his show last week, although he did say that the Republican should drop out of the race if the allegations were true. Several sponsors, most notably coffee-machine manufacturer Keurig, pulled their advertising from Hannity in the wake of the comments. It was reported by several news outlets, including The Hill, that realtor.com was yanking its advertising as well.Thats because realtor.coms official Twitter feed said just that.Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We are adjusting our media buy to no longer include this show placement, realtor.com tweeted Friday in response to criticism of its sponsorship of the show. Shortly after the tweet, realtor.com began showing up on lists of advertisers who were dropping Hannity.That could potentially have been trouble for the site; Keurigs decision to drop Hannity, for instance, resulted in a backlash that included Hannity fans destroying their coffee-makers to express their displeasure with the company.But the tweet was deleted  and its doubtful realtor.com ever intended to pull its ads. A glance at the bottom of its home page reveals a fine-print announcement that the site is operated by Move, Inc., a subsidiary of News Corp. That company, which owns the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and other publications  is chaired by Fox News honcho Rupert Murdoch.Realtor.com put the matter to rest in a short statement on its company blog.We advertise on dozens of television networks and hundreds of shows quarterly as a way to introduce realtor.com to the widest audience possible, the statement said. We will continue to place ads across a broad range of networks, including Fox News and its top shows.
Crude closed at its lowest in almost two weeks as Russia is said to be less than convinced that OPEC should extend output curbs in a meeting this month.

The U.S. benchmark slipped 0.7 percent on Wednesday as Russia believes it's too early to announce a possible extension at OPEC's meeting at the end of the month, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The limits, sealed in a deal between OPEC and other producers in 2016, are scheduled to end in March. Meanwhile, U.S. government data showed that production climbed to a fresh record.

"It sounds like there is some discourse between OPEC and non-OPEC in terms of not committing to something at the end of the month, and maybe kicking the can down the road," said Nick Holmes, an analyst at Tortoise Capital Advisors LLC in Leawood, Kansas, which manages $16 billion in energy-related assets.

Oil rallied above $57 a barrel to a two-year high last week on escalating tensions in the Middle East and amid signals of a potential extension of supply curbs by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies. Since then, futures have slid about 3.5 percent.

OPEC has yet to show it has convinced Russia, one of its partners in the deal, that a decision to prolong output cuts is needed when the group meets in Vienna later this month. Another issue is how long any extension should be, with options including an added three months being considered.

Price Weakness

The Russian government has yet to reach a consensus with the nation's oil companies on extending the deal, according to the people familiar with the discussions.

"We expect prices to remain soft and move related to any rhetoric that comes out prior to those meetings from all of the involved parties," Adam Wise, who oversees an $8 billion energy portfolio at John Hancock Financial Services Inc. in Boston, said by telephone. "You've certainly seen Russia's comments weighing on the market."

West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 37 cents to settle at $55.33 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest close since Nov. 2. Total volume traded was about 11 percent below the 100-day average. December WTI options contracts expire Wednesday.

Brent for January settlement dropped 34 cents to end the session at $61.87 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark was at a premium of $6.35 to January WTI.

American crude stockpiles climbed by 1.85 million barrels last week to 459 million barrels, and production extended gains to an all-time high 9.65 million barrels a day, the Energy Information Administration said Wednesday. The inventories build came in smaller than the 6.51 million-barrel rise that the American Petroleum Institute was said to report Tuesday.

Crude exports rose by 260,000 barrels a day, while inventories at the key Cushing, Oklahoma, pipeline hub fell by 1.5 million barrels, the largest draw since July. Distillate stocks were at the lowest since February 2015.
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The Rev. Roy Smith, pastor of True-Lite Christian Fellowship, and his wife, Carla, will be receiving an award from the Buffalo Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America during a ceremony planned for noon today at the church.

The council will present the Smiths with the Whitney M. Young Service Award, which was established to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact in improving the lives of youth, and whose conduct is in keeping with the values of the Boy Scouts of America, according to a press release. The award was named in honor of Young, a Boy Scouts of America executive and civil rights leader who spearheaded the drive for equality for blacks in America.
If you ask Angie Boivin about a favorite memory of her late husband  Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin  she might offer a picture of him and their grandson walking across the yard.

The sergeant major was in full dress uniform and the boy was admiring his grandfather, a real- life hero and Purple Heart recipient.

But he lost his life on Nov. 15, 2012, when a train collided with a Show of Support parade float and he was one of four wounded veterans who were killed.

Angie was in Midland on Wednesday  the fifth anniversary of the crash that also took the lives of Marine Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gary Stouffer, 37; Army Sgt. Maj. William Lubbers, 43, and Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34. She placed a memorial at the railroad crossing, located at Garfield Street, south of Front Street.

A picture is worth a thousand words, the emotional widow said. He was an amazing father and husband.

If Sgt Maj. Boivin, 47, were alive today, he would not only be the father of two daughters (33 and 35) but the grandfather of five, including three who were born last year. He was working for a defense contractor when he died. The family was living in the military city of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

In the last five years, we have gone through a lot -- graduation from schools, births and babies, Angie said.

And then there are the legal issues. Angie represents one family in a legal battle with Union Pacific. The Boivin, Stouffer and Lubbers families sued, claiming Union Pacific violated federal regulations and that the trains crew was negligent. But a trial court granted summary judgment for the railroad, saying the claims were pre-empted by federal law. The 11th Court of Appeals in Eastland affirmed that decision.

On Wednesday, attorneys announced the families are asking the Texas Supreme Court to review the dismissal of their wrongful death claims.

We want justice, Angie said. We want the people who are responsible to be held responsible.

Angie told the Reporter-Telegram on Wednesday the crossing and the lack of notice it provided is a major public safety issue. There was also the issue, she said, of the negligence by the train crew in operation of tons of metal. She believes the record shows the crew did not have all eyes on the job that afternoon.

She remembers that sunny afternoon five years ago when the tractor-trailer on which she and her late husband were riding with 11 other families was ascending the little hill at the intersection of Garfield Street, between Front Street and Industrial Avenue. She said she didnt notice the train until the gate arm fell behind the cab of the truck. She said her husband pushed her out of harm, and before she hit the ground, the train  travelling at 62 mph  struck the trailer.

When I stood up and looked around, I saw people scattered along the ground, Angie said. I eventually found my husband across the street, covered in an American flag like a blanket. I put my head on his chest as he sighed his last breath.

She also reflected that after the accident, she was never left alone. There was always someone with her to provide support while she waited for family to arrive in Midland. It didnt matter if she was understandably hysterical following the loss of her husband. The women of Show of Support made sure her family made it to Midland and Angie had everything she needed at the hospital and later at the hotel.

They are like my Guardian Angels from Midland, she said. When I think about that five years later, they really didnt have to do that. It was an amazing act of human kindness -- the way the community took care of the ones injured and hurt. There is something to be said for the community to come together for all of us.

Several years of therapy have made it possible for Angie to talk about that day, one that started out with the best of intentions, much like other Show of Support parades before it. Midlanders stood along the parade route, waiting patiently to say thank you to the men who risked their lives to protect the freedoms all Americans enjoy. History has shown something went terribly wrong, robbing four military families of loved ones and causing five years of anxiety for Angie Boivin.

Still, she made it back to Midland and couldnt have been much more gracious about the Midlanders she came to know in the best and worst of circumstances.

Our worst day brought out the best in people, Angie said. I let them know how I felt about the people here and how great they were.
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West Texas is known for its wealth of oil and gas underground, but the U.S. Geological Survey has discovered a new commodity on the surface: uranium.

The USGS this week released preliminary information about the discovery northwest of Big Spring.

Uranium deposits can be found on exposed calcrete in the Buzzard and Sulphur Springs draws, USGS geologist Brad Van Gosen told the Reporter-Telegram on Wednesday. The Buzzard Draw location is near Knott in Howard County, and Sulphur Springs Draw location is near Ackerly in Martin County.

The uranium itself is part of a new mineral called finchite, named after longtime USGS uranium scientist Warren Finch. Van Gosen said he chose the name and that it was a great way to honor someone so important to uranium mineral studies.

Finchite is a unique combination of strontium, uranium, vanadium and water, according to a USGS description.

While the uranium discovery is new to the USGS, knowledge of its existence has been known since the 1970s. Now-defunct uranium mining company Kerr-McGee found the surface deposits, Van Gosen said. They determined it was marginally economic in the early 1980s and walked away.

Nearly 40 years later, USGS geologist Susan Hall discovered, while attending conference, that a Texas company had the Kerr-McGee records, which shared them with USGS.

Hall and Van Gosen co-authored the assessment. They calculated a mean estimate of 40 million pounds of potential uranium resources in parts of West Texas, the Panhandle, Texas, eastern New Mexico and western Oklahoma, known collectively as the Southern High Plains region. The amount is equivalent to about one years worth of the nations uranium needs.

It isnt easy to know just how much uranium is in the Southern High Plains because windblown sand and silt covers many of the deposits, Van Gosen said.

He added that the uranium isnt rich compared to really high-grade deposits of other types found in Canada and Australia. However, the uranium in the Southern High Plains is within 30 feet of the surface, its soft, easy to mine and is easy to process.

The USGS doesnt offer opinions about whether the uranium discovery is safe or not, Van Gosen said. He added that the full study is being prepared for publication and would be released in a few weeks.
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A former Midland bookkeeper was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on Tuesday for stealing more than $2 million from a local businessman, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas.

U.S. District Judge Robert A. Junell also ordered that Kimberley Dale Boyce, 52, pay restitution of $2.04 million and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing her prison term, according to the release.
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After scrubbing Wednesday night's launch so it can have enough preparation time, SpaceX decided to push Thursday night's attempt to launch a Falcon 9 rocket back as well.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 window between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., Friday

ULA has not announced next launch attempt of Delta II rocket

RELATED: SpaceX, ULA plan rocket launches for Wednesday

SEE BELOW: Come and join the LIVE CHAT at 7:30 p.m. 

SpaceX pushed back its planned Wednesday evening launch to allow for more prep time, the company said.

On Thursday night, SpaceX released a statement, saying the company was taking "a closer look at data from recent fairing testing for another customer.

"Though we have preserved the range opportunity for tomorrow, we will take the time we need to complete the data review and will then confirm a new launch date, said spokesman John Taylor.

Which means there's a chance the rocket may not launch Friday, but as of right now SpaceX is operating as if it will happen.

If it happens, the launch window will open at 8 p.m. Friday and will last two hours. The rocket, which will take off from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, will carry the Zuma, a satellite. SpaceX has kept mum on what the Zuma's purpose is.

SpaceX will try to land the first-stage booster at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. SpaceX issued a sonic boom alert for the landing, alerting those in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties that they might hear one or more sonic booms during the landing attempt.

Meanwhile in California, United Launch Alliance is trying to launch a Delta II rocket with a weather and environmental monitoring satellite system from Vandenberg Air Force Base. A first launch attempt on Tuesday was scrubbed because of technical issues and early Wednesday, high upper-level winds scrubbed the second attempt.

ULA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have not announced a third launch time for the mission to deliver the NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System-1.

Be sure to join our live chat online during the launch.

SpaceX Falcon 9 LIVE CHAT

Live Blog LIVE CHAT: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
The Plainview City Council heard a presentation Tuesday night during its work session from City Manager Jeffrey Snyder regarding the possible creation of a tax increment financing district in downtown Plainview.

Snyder said that the citys comprehensive plan identifies several economic development tools to encourage reinvestment including the use of TIFs.

Snyder defined a TIF as a way to encourage reinvestment and a tool that is widely used by communities throughout the U.S. to promote economic development.

A TIF effectively splits tax revenues into a base tax and what is known as incremental taxes. Base taxes would be the amount of taxable value of property currently available. Snyder said that downtown is currently appraised at an $8 million dollar value. This $8 million value would be the base tax rate for purposes of calculating the incremental taxes and the funds available to a TIF district.

Using the redevelopment of the former Hilton Hotel downtown and the recent passage of the Plainview Downtown Streetscape project, Snyder identified the potential incremental taxes as those taxes resulting from the increase in value, not only to the former Hilton property, but also to the values of other properties in the downtown area. Snyder made a point, upon questioning by the city council, to make clear that the incremental increase would not be a new tax or tax increase, but merely an increase in the value of the property and identified that increase as the incremental change outlined in the TIF analysis.

Snyder said that the base funds would continue to be committed to the general fund, but that city officials could determine what percentage of the incremental increase could be placed in the TIF district funds. Snyder recommended that the city commit 100 percent of its incremental tax revenues to the downtown TIF project.

Formation of a TIF district is controlled by Texas Tax Code Chapter 311, according to Snyder.

According to Chapter 311.005, (a) To be designated as a reinvestment zone, an area must:

(1) substantially arrest or impair the sound growth of the municipality or county designating the zone, retard the provision of housing accommodations, or constitute an economic or social liability and be a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use because of the presence of: (A) a substantial number of substandard, slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures.

Snyder focused on this particular definition, although several others under the statute could also apply to downtown Plainview. Snyder said that once the city met the proper requirements for the establishment of a TIF zone there was an 8-step process the city would have to follow in order to establish such a zone. Some of the requirements include that the zone be a contiguous area, that the city prepare a preliminary reinvestment zone financing plan, that a board be appointed to oversee the zone and that public hearings be held regarding the zone allowing property owners in the zone to specifically speak against such zone affecting their property if they so desire.

Snyder said that other taxing entities such as the county could partner with the city on the creation of such a district and that he anticipated making a similar presentation to county officials later this month. Snyder said that the school district, by law, would not be able to participate in the TIF district if one were established.

Snyder said that revenue stream for the possible district probably wouldnt begin until 2019 due to the timing of the completion of the project at the former Hilton hotel and the time to complete the Downtown Streetscape project.

In response to a question about who would manage the TIF district, Snyder said that the city would appoint members to the board, as would the county, if the county agreed to participate in the project.

As the matter was discussed in work session, no vote was taken on the TIF district proposal.
Provided by Union City Police

The Alameda County District Attorneys Office charged John Ashley Gordon, 46, of Union City, with murder, following the death of a man last Thursday.

Union City Police responded to reports of an altercation that morning, and found a 64-year-old man unresponsive. Paramedics were unable to revive him, and he died at the scene. Detectives believe that he died of a medical issue related to a struggle with Gordon, said Union City Police sergeant Steven Mendez, though no official coroners report has been released.
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Travelers entering Houston through Hobby Airport will now receive a digital introduction to the city.

A new 55-inch touchscreen interface, in the former Southwest Airlines luggage office, allows visitors to explore Houston's various neighborhoods, restaurants, arts and cultural attractions, and parks. They can create a "My Houston Bucket List" and email it to themselves.

RELATED: Houston Exponential to harness startup potential

The so-called "Houston Interactive" is a joint project by the Houston Airport System and the Houston First Corp. Staffed by volunteers, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

"'Houston Interactive' encourages visitors to explore our city and create their own Houston experience," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a news release.
Skeeters Mesquite Grill will close its location in The Woodlands at end of business Sunday, after 20 years.

Owner Gary Adair, who opened the first Skeeters with his wife Betsy, announced the company decided not to renew its lease in Cochran's Crossing Shopping Center, 4747 Research Forest Drive.
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U.S. crude oil exports reached record levels in October almost two years after a crude oil export ban was lifted, according to a new report.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported in its November Energy Indicators report that crude oil exports had reached 1.8 million barrels a day in October, an all-time high and a significant increase from 1.3 million barrels a day in September.

The increase in crude exports is making the U.S. an up and comer in the international energy market, said Kunal Patel, a senior research analysts at the Dallas Fed.

Patel pointed to Houston-based Occidental Petroleum Corp.s export terminal near Corpus Christi, the 300,000 barrel-a-day Ingleside Energy Center Terminal, as an example of growing U.S. export capacity. The facility took its first very large crude carrier oil tanker in May, which can hold about 2 million barrels of oil, and marked the first time one of the vessels had entered a U.S. port. The ship channel is currently not deep enough for the ships to leave fully loaded, requiring them to finish loading offshore.

Infrastructure will be developed more over time  but I would say that the U.S. is becoming a significant player in crude oil exports, Patel said.

While oil exports have continued to grow, so has oil production despite oil prices remaining at half the level of three years ago.

Production in Texas different major shale fields has been unevenly affected by the downturn, with the Dallas Fed reporting that the Permian Basin, a massive oil field in West Texas, reportedly grew in October by more than 60,000 barrels a day to 2.6 million barrels of daily production, marking the 13th consecutive monthly increase.

By contrast, production in South Texas Eagle Ford Shale increased by just 8,600 barrels in October to just over 1.2 million barrels a day of production, and has grown by just over 40,000 barrels over the past 12 months.

Thomas Tunstall, a research director at UTSA, said the Permians scale hasnt made the Eagle Ford irrelevant, but invariably it was going to get eclipsed by the Permian.

After crude oil prices peaked in June 2014 at $107 a barrel, U.S. crude oil production peaked in April 2015 at an average of 9.6 million barrels a day before falling to 8.6 million barrels a day in September 2016. Much of the lost production was due to falling prices in the Eagle Ford and the Bakken oil field in North Dakota.

Oil production has since recovered to 9.2 million barrels a day, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

The data shows that the U.S. has further moved into being a main swing producer, according to Bud Weistein of Southern Methodist University.

Were the ones that maintain stability or, shall I say, lessen volatility in the oil markets, said Weinstein, who is the associate director for the Maguire Energy Institute at the Cox School of Business.

Oil prices collapsed from $107 a barrel in June 2014 to $26 a barrel in February 2015. They have since recovered to mid-$50 a barrel, ending Thursday at $55.14 a barrel.

Any time (oil prices) get close to $60  the shale producers are happy to fill in that global production gap and at $60, if youre not profitable as a shale oil producer you probably shouldnt be in the business, Tusntall said.

Of the wild price swings like the drop from 2014 to 2016 Weinstein said those days are gone.

Rye Druzin is an energy reporter for the San Antonio Express-News. Read more of his stories here. | rdruzin@express-news.net | Twitter: @druz_journo
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Anadarko Petroleum Corp. plans to reduce spending in the oil patch next year, focusing on drilling sideways wells in the Delaware Basin in West Texas, the DJ Basin in Colorado and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Woodlands-based oil explorer said Thursday it will spend $4.2 billion to $4.6 billion in capital expenditures in 2018, down slightly from a budget of $4.5 billion to $4.7 billion this year.
As Republicans and the Trump administration continue trying to chip away at the Affordable Care Act, the Internal Revenue Service has begun, for the first time, to enforce one of the laws most polarizing provisions: the employer mandate.

Thousands of businesses  many of them small or midsize  will soon receive a letter saying that they owe the government money because they failed to offer their workers qualifying health insurance. The first round of notices, which the IRS began sending late last month, are being mailed to companies that have at least 100 full-time employees and ran afoul of the law in 2015, the year that the mandate took effect.

Large companies, defined in the law as those with 50 or more workers, are required to offer their employees affordable insurance or pay stiff tax penalties. The IRS held off for years on assessing those fines, saying that it needed more time, and money, to build its compliance systems.

Now, the agency says it is finally ready to go after scofflaws.

As the IRS has publicly stated, the agency is obligated to enforce the Affordable Care Acts employer shared responsibility provision, said Bruce Friedland, an agency spokesman.

Ten months ago, in his first executive order, President Donald Trump directed government agencies to waive, defer or delay carrying out as much of the law as possible. This week, the Treasury Department said that it objected to the employer mandate but was legally compelled to enforce it.

Treasury lawyers see no ground for the secretary to direct the IRS to not collect the tax, the agency said in a written statement. The ACAs employer mandate unfortunately remains the law of the land.

Senate Republicans plan to include a repeal of the laws individual mandate in their tax bill. Eliminating that mandate, which requires people to buy health insurance or pay a penalty, would free up hundreds of billions of dollars that could be redirected to tax cuts. The IRS recently indicated that it would tighten enforcement of that provision as well.

The employer mandate, which would be unaffected by that proposed change, is lucrative for the government. It is expected to bring in penalty payments of $207 billion over the next decade, according to projections by the Congressional Budget Office.

When the health law was passed, lawmakers feared that without an employer mandate, companies would cancel their insurance benefits and send large numbers of employees to the health care laws insurance exchanges, where many people qualify for government subsidies. Employees who are offered health insurance through their jobs are ineligible for the subsidies.

The laws exact rules are complex, but businesses will generally incur fines of around $2,000 per employee (excluding the first 30) if they do not offer qualifying coverage to nearly all of those who work an average of 30 or more hours a week. The penalty is activated if at least one employee then buys insurance on the health laws marketplace and receives a subsidy for it.

The per-employee fine increases each year, and can add up quickly: A company with 100 workers that ignored the law this year would owe a penalty of more than $158,000.

To prove their compliance, businesses are required to send the IRS a report on their employee head count and the health care coverage that they offered. The tax agency began requiring those forms two years ago, but it repeatedly ran into problems processing them.

That delayed efforts to identify, and fine, companies that did not offer their workers adequate insurance. The bottleneck largely came down to money, according to the agency.

For the past four years, the IRS has received almost no funding for implementation of the Affordable Care Act, John A. Koskinen, then the agencys commissioner, told Congress last year. (Koskinens tenure at the agency ended this month, but no change in the enforcement of the mandate is expected.)

A recent audit by the Treasurys inspector general for tax administration found that the IRS had delayed, not initiated, or canceled crucial systems needed to enforce the employer mandate. Other systems did not function as intended, causing confusion both for the agency and for companies trying to comply with its reporting requirements.

Accountants and others familiar with the process say they are bracing for more problems.

Our belief is that very few of these are going to be accurate, Roger Prince, a tax lawyer with the consulting firm BerryDunn in Portland, Maine, said of the penalty notification letters being sent out.

Those letters are based on the reporting forms companies submitted for 2015  the first year that they had to complete the new, and complex, disclosures.

Every single one we looked at for our clients was wrong, Prince said. We always had to send them back corrections.

Large companies are generally taking the process in stride, trade group representatives said. They are accustomed to back-and-forth discussions with the IRS over their tax bills and have teams of experts to handle complicated compliance issues.

But for smaller companies, the ones most likely to owe penalties, the mandates slow and messy enforcement has raised concerns. Nearly all large employers offer their employees insurance, but among companies with 50 to 199 workers, around 8 percent do not, according to the Kaiser Family Foundations annual employer survey.

Its been very obscure and confusing, Kevin Kuhlman, the director of government relations for the National Federation of Independent Business. The lag time is worrisome. Were talking about penalties for 2015, and here we are almost in 2018.

R. Pepper Crutcher Jr., a lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi, who works with midsize employers, said he thought many companies would be blindsided by the notification letters.

Even companies that fully comply with the mandate have struggled to master its complicated reporting rules, Crutcher said. And the IRS has also struggled to correctly analyze the returns, the inspector generals audit found.

The agency said companies that disagree with its penalty notifications must contact it within 30 days to document their dispute.

But simply pleading confusion or financial hardship will not work, the agency has indicated.

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., contacted the agency recently on behalf of an employer in his district that expected to owe a penalty payment. It had not complied for both financial and religious reasons, the employer said.

The IRS said it would still have to pay.

The legislative provisions of the ACA are still in force until changed by the Congress, the agency said in its reply to Huizenga. Taxpayers remain required to follow the law and pay what they may owe.
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New court records reveal some eye-popping details of the marital split between one-time celebrity house-flippers Armando Montelongo and his ex-wife Veronica.

The former couple, who gained fame in 2006 on the A&E show Flip This House, divorced in April 2012 in San Antonio, but the details of their separation agreement have remained confidential until a recent spat over missed alimony payments this summer landed the two back in court last month.

Veronica was trying to collect the final payments of the couples original agreement, which promised her $4,000 a week in alimony plus an additional annual payment of $250,000 for five years, according to the couples Agreement Incident to Divorce. The agreement was referenced in an August court filing with the Bexar County district court.

She said at the time that she still hadnt received all of her spousal maintenance for 2016, specifically that she was shortchanged on her $250,000 annual payment. Armando was given an extension in December to pay his $250,000 installment for 2016 by the end of February. Veronica told the court this summer that he still owed her $147,500, according to court documents filed in August.

Armando denied the allegations, countering that he overpaid his ex by $47,600.

Calls to Armandos spokeswoman and William McCamish, Veronicas lawyer, werent immediately returned.

Now Playing: A divorcecation is the trendiest way to celebrate untying the knot. Video: Travel & Leisure

Armando filed for divorce in June 2011 after almost 14 years of marriage. He used their initials rather than names in the filing to try to keep their breakup secret. The terms of the divorce werent revealed when it was finalized.

In her August court filing, Veronica wanted her former beau locked up in Bexar County Jail if he failed to comply with a court order enforcing the divorce agreement. She also wanted him to pay $1,000 a day until he complied.

It never came to that, however. Court records show the two reached an agreement that was signed by state District Judge Solomon J. Casseb III last week. No details of the agreement were disclosed in the court order, but it indicated that Armando had paid in full all alimony, child support obligations and and all other obligations that have accrued to date.

Armando shot to fame on Flip This House, a show that captured the countrys obsession with the housing boom. The show aired for three years.

In February, he told mySA.com about his new television series, Flipping Nightmares, that he said exposes the real dirty secrets of flipping houses for profit. The first episode appears on FlippingNightmares.com. His current wife, Whittney, appears on the show.

Armando said he wanted his new show to address a constant irritant: skeptics.

When Im out and about, its somewhat common to hear people say house flipping isnt real  your training systems are not for real and youre scamming people, he said.

More than 130 students who attended real estate seminars held by Armando are suing him and three companies in U.S. District Court in San Antonio, alleging they received worthless advice.

pdanner@express-news.net
Last month Bakery Lorraine announced plans to open a new location in The Rim. Apparently, that wasnt quite far north enough for the growing brands ambitions.

Today, owners Anne Ng, Jeremy Mandrell and Charlie Biedenharn have declared Austin their next target. The trio will bring their signature macarons and other confections to the Rock Rose at Domain Northside shopping district in the fall of 2018.
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San Antonio's South Side is boasting a revamped Mayan Palace 14.

The theater, at 1918 S.W. Military Dr., has been under renovation since July.

Since then, Santikos has worked to "breathe new life" into the theater with upgrades like reclined seating, an enhanced lobby and more food and drink options.

RELATED: Take a sneak peek at a new Alamo Heights bubble tea shop before this weekend's opening

"We're really excited about the renovation," Michael Schaub, of Santikos, told mySA.com. "People who are used to going there won't recognize it."

Santikos CEO David Holmes and Schaub said auditoriums and the restrooms were "gutted" in the renovation process.

Each theater now features recliner-style seating -- the same type offered at The Palladium, as well as fresh carpeting, drapery, sound systems and "state-of-the-art" screens.

RELATED: Funny Yelp reviews of San Antonio movie theaters

The new Mayan Palace also features a "high energy bar" serving frozen daiquiris, margaritas and six beers on tap.

The cinema was closed for a period of time, while it underwent renovations, but is back in operation again.

Some auditoriums remain under construction, but will be complete by Thanksgiving. The Mayan Palace will host a grand opening event on Dec. 13.

Click through the slideshow to check out the upgrades.

Madalyn Mendoza is a digital reporter for MySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| mmendoza@mysa.com | Twitter: @MaddySkye
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HARTFORD  Over the past eight years, state winery sales have risen by more than 120 percent while tobacco sales have fallen by nearly 40 percent, according to a new study by the UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.

Speaking Wednesday during the 17th annual meeting of the Working Lands Alliance, Rigoberto A. Lopez, director of the universitys Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy, said the study of agriculture changes between 2007 and 2015 shows strong gains for cattle ranching and farming, vegetable and melon farming, seafood preparation and packing and milk and butter making.

Losers include commercial trapping and hunting, commercial fishing, logging, cheese manufacturing and animal slaughtering.

But total sales in the farming sector have remained nearly the same, at about $551 million in 2007, and $574 million in 2015.

One out of six acres in the state is devoted to agriculture, Lopez told more than 100 people gathered in the Capitol. When we think about agriculture, it is not just dollars, or market value of the products produced in Connecticut lands. It also produces a lot of non-market benefits that are beyond that enhance the value of agriculture in the state. In fact, farmers are the unpaid architects of the Connecticut rural landscape.

The report, focusing on the benefits of agriculture to the state economy, shows that about 14 percent of the states total area  3.2 million acres  is under cultivation of one kind of another.

The agricultural industry in Connecticut appears to be restructuring into new market segments where innovation, diversity and economic viability are key, the 31-page study of economic impacts states. This may be a consequence of external factors such as competition from other regions and countries as well as natural shocks like climate change.

During the same period, aquaculture sales are up nearly 100 percent; horses and horse production is up more than 100 percent as is maple syrup production. Sales of cut Christmas trees are up about 70 percent.

The impact of the agricultural industry in 2015 was between $3.3 billion and $4 billion annually. There are about 21,000 jobs that pay nearly $900 million in wages, as well as social and economic benefits.

The alliances annual meeting was a luncheon catered by UConn Dining Services, with cider provided by The Farmers Cow.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
The Friendswood Police Department advises residents to be on the lookout for con artists this holiday season.

"A little awareness can go a long way in making sure your holidays stay merry and bright," according to a department bulletin.

The first step, the department said, is to use caution when purchasing gifts, booking travel and signing up for seasonal employment opportunities.

"Second, watch closely for the delivery of purchased items as thieves are becoming more and more aggressive targeting delivery trucks and stealing packages left on front porches."

BURGLARY

A gun, assorted tools and two televisions were stolen from a home destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in the 4400 block of Peridot Lane, according to a Nov. 8 police report. The suspect reportedly forced open the garage door.

THEFT

A wallet containing cash and credit cards was stolen during a burglary Nov. 2 in the 800 block of Lexington Drive, according to a Nov. 6 police report. The resident told police a black Kia Spectra followed him home after he made a bank transaction.

Police charged a Pearland woman, 47, with driving while license invalid and theft after a traffic stop for expired registration Nov. 7 in the 200 block of East Parkwood Avenue. Asked for her driver's license, the woman reportedly began recording the officer using a stolen computer tablet, police said.

A woman left her wallet in a cart Nov. 8 at Kroger, 3135 FM 528, police said. She returned to the store to find no one had turned it over to management.

A brown 2003 Ford F-250 truck was stolen Nov. 8 from the parking lot at Whataburger, 214 E. Parkwood Ave., police said.

Houston Police Department officers found the truck later that night, but a welding machine and other tools were missing from the truck bed.

FRAUD

A Friendswood resident contacted police Nov. 7 when she discovered a T-Mobile account had been opened using her identity.

A Friendswood man was scammed out of $12,600 in Walmart gift cards purchased at the direction of a bogus Microsoft representative, according to a Nov. 8 police report. The victim also gave the representative remote access to his computer and provided him with his banking information, police said.

Four fraudulent checks were passed against a Friendswood resident's bank account, according to a Nov. 6 police report. Two were passed at a Kroger store, and two more were passed at Lowe's, police said.

Police charged a Missouri City woman, 46, with fraudulent use or possession of identifying information and possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop Nov. 9 in the 200 block of Sunnyview Avenue. A passenger, she reportedly had a digital scale and methamphetamine residue in her purse. She also had four forms of identification belonging to different people as well as several pawn tickets that did not appear to belong to her, according to the report. She was taken into custody, and an officer found her in possession of cocaine, police said. Bond was set at $120,000.

A Friendswood man contacted police when his wife found a suspicious charge from Forever 21 on their bank card, according to a Nov. 10 police report. A Forever 21 representative reportedly confirmed three attempted online charges: one successful, one declined and one still pending.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

Police found graffiti-"StarlightStrong" in blue along with a star symbol-Nov. 7 at the gazebo behind the Friendswood Lakes Pool, 1644 Mossy Stone Drive. Surveillance video reportedly captured two males with backpacks walking in the area the night of Nov. 4.

NARCOTICS

Police charged a Tomball man, 19, with possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop Nov. 9 in the 17200 block of Blackhawk Boulevard. As he exited the vehicle, the man reportedly grabbed something from the cup holder and wadded it up in his hand. When he opened his hand, he revealed a marijuana bud, police said. A vehicle search yielded marijuana wax, a plastic bag of marijuana, a digital scale, a glass pipe and a metal grinder, according to the report.

A Port Arthur man, 37, was charged with possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop for expired registration Nov. 9 in the 5000 block of Centennial Lane, police said. He reportedly had six local traffic warrants and an invalid driver's license. His passenger, a 33-year-old Baytown man, also had an outstanding Brazoria County warrant and was charged with possession of a controlled substance, according to the report. Both men were taken into custody. The officer reportedly found three methamphetamine pipes, one with meth still inside, during a vehicle inventory.

Police charged a Houston man, 49, with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver after an officer observed a suspicious vehicle parked at a closed gas station Nov. 11 in the 4700 block of FM 2351. The vehicle left the parking lot, stopped at a green light and continued, police said. During a traffic stop, the driver showed the officer his cell phone to prove he was trying to find a destination off Blackhawk Boulevard, according to the report. However, text messages appeared to show arrangements for a drug delivery, police said. The man had warrants in Friendswood and Pasadena and was taken into custody. The officer reportedly found several bags of cocaine during a vehicle search.

A 32-year-old Houston man was charged with marijuana possession after a traffic stop for a license plate check Nov. 12 in the 1200 block of West Parkwood Avenue, police said. The license plate was not registered to the vehicle, and the man had no insurance information, according to the report. When questioned about a marijuana smell, the man reportedly handed the officer a large bag of marijuana. The officer found a jar containing several bags of marijuana during a vehicle search, police said.

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED

Police arrested a Houston man, 27, for DWI after a traffic stop for failing to maintain a single lane Nov. 10 in the 2900 block of West Bay Area Boulevard. He reportedly failed a field sobriety test, police said. The vehicle also had expired registration, according to the report.

ASSAULT

Police arrested a Friendswood man, 25, for reportedly assaulting his boyfriend Nov. 10 in the 900 block of Riverside Court. He also had assault warrants in Brazoria and Galveston counties, police said.

A Friendswood man, 26, was arrested after he reportedly assaulted his wife Nov. 12 in the 3700 block of Laura Leigh Lane, police said.

TRAFFIC

Police investigated a reported hit-and-run collision Nov. 11 in the parking lot of Friendswood High School. A student told police she parked her mother's car at 6:50 a.m. and moved it to the east side of the lot, next to a green truck, at 9:40 a.m. At 5:30 p.m., she reportedly noticed damage to the rear back quarter. Surveillance video will be reviewed, police said.

Blue Santa coming to town

In partnership with citizens, businesses, civic groups and school organizations, the Friendswood Police Officers Association's Blue Santa program works to brighten the holidays for struggling families.

One of the most effective ways to help is by coordinating a toy drive and donating the toys to Blue Santa, according to the association.

Toys should be dropped off at Friendswood Police Department, 1600 Whitaker Drive, by Dec. 20 so volunteers can sort, wrap and distribute them in time for Christmas.

For information, call officer Lisa Price, 281-996-3313.

Course covers women's self-defense

Women can learn realistic self-defense tactics during a 15-hour course at Hope Lutheran Church of Friendswood, 1804 S. Friendswood Drive.

The RAD Systems-or Rape Aggression Defense-program focuses on awareness, prevention and risk reduction and includes the basics of hands-on defense training.

Course times are 6-9:30 p.m. Nov. 16 and Nov. 17; 4-8 p.m. Nov. 18; and 2-6 p.m. Nov. 19. Attendance each day is required.

The class, $25, is open to women 12 and older. For details, contact officer Kevin Crouch, kcrouch@friendswood.com or 281-996-3316.
Pearland officers investigated several shoplifting incidents last week, as business owners filed reports of stolen clothing, hardware and sporting goods.

In one instance, police said, thieves even poached a grill.

THEFT

Police filed a theft report Nov. 6 in the 1100 block of Robert Street after a complainant said he could not find his firearm.

Theft of service was reported Nov. 6 in the 11000 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said.

Police filed a shoplifting report Nov. 6 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 53, for shoplifting Nov. 7 the 1900 block of Main Street.

A female suspect rented equipment and failed to return it between Aug. 3 and Nov. 7, according to a report filed in the 6600 block of Broadway Street.

Police filed a theft report after an attempted scam was reported Nov. 7 in the 4500 block of Arnold Drive.

Shoplifting took place Nov. 6 or Nov. 7 in the 2700 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Shoplifting occurred Nov. 5 at Lowe's, 2741 Broadway St., according to a Nov. 7 police report.

Police arrested a Houston man, 48, for shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia Nov. 8 in the 3200 block of Broadway Street.

Shoplifting was reported Nov. 8 at Academy, 2804 Business Center Drive, police said.

An air pump was stolen from a gas station between Oct. 20 and Nov. 8 in the 1600 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Unknown male suspects stole a grill Nov. 3 in the 2700 block of Pearland Parkway, according to a Nov. 8 police report.

Theft occurred between Nov. 6 and Nov. 8 in the 1700 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A suspect snatched money from a clerk and left the scene when the ruse failed Nov. 9 in the 6100 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A letter jacket was reported stolen and later recovered Nov. 9 in the 2000 block of Cullen Parkway, police said.

Property was stolen from an apartment Nov. 9 in the 2100 block of Kingsley Drive, police said.

An employee shoplifted clothing from an employer Oct. 26 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street, according to a Nov. 9 police report.

Theft occurred Nov. 7 in the 2400 block of Business Center Drive, according to a Nov. 10 police report.

Police arrested a Galveston man, 31, for shoplifting Nov. 11 in the 1900 block of Main Street.

Theft occurred Nov. 10, according to a police report filed Nov. 12 in the 10000 block of Brookshore Lane.

Theft was reported Nov. 12 in the 2100 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A purse containing credit cards was stolen Nov. 12 in the 12600 block of Broadway Street, police said. The credit cards reportedly were used without authorization.

Theft of service was reported Nov. 12 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Shoplifting occurred Nov. 12 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street, police said.

BURGLARY

Officers investigated a motor vehicle burglary Nov. 6 in the 1900 block of Main Street, police said.

Burglary of a habitation occurred Nov. 5 or Nov. 6 in the 1600 block of West Pine Branch Drive, police said.

Motor vehicle burglary was reported Nov. 7 in the 10100 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A handgun was stolen from a vehicle between Oct. 21 and Nov. 4, according to a police report filed Nov. 7 in the 3800 block of Houston Lake Drive.

Five motor vehicle burglaries were reported Nov. 7 in the 10000 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Motor vehicle burglary was reported Nov. 10 in the 2800 block of Business Center Drive, police said.

A bag of tools was stolen Nov. 10 from a truck parked at Macy's in the 11200 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Police filed a motor vehicle burglary report Nov. 11 in the 2800 block of Tranquility Lakes Boulevard.

A Texas City man, 19, was arrested for vehicle burglary Nov. 12 in the 12400 block of Shady Brook Lane, police said. At about the same time, a Galveston woman, 32, and man, 19, were arrested for vehicle burglary nearby in the 11800 and 12400 blocks of South Clear Lake Loop.

Motor vehicle burglary was reported Nov. 12 in the 2800 block of Oak Road, police said.

FORGERY, FRAUD

Forgery was reported Nov. 6 in the 4500 block of Main Street, police said.

An unknown suspect stole a financial aid check and forged the payee's name in order to cash it between Sept. 29 and Nov. 6, according to a police report filed in the 3200 block of Bodine Street.

Debit card abuse was reported Nov. 6 in the 3300 block of Autumn Forest Drive, police said.

A complainant's debit card number was used fraudulently Nov. 5 or Nov. 6 at a gas station in Junction, according to a police report filed Nov. 7 in the 2000 block of Camelia Crest.

A complainant's credit/debit card was used without authorization between Sept. 6 and Oct. 2, according to a police report filed Nov. 8 in the 1700 block of Broadway Street.

Police filed an identity theft report Nov. 9 in the 1000 block of Northwick Drive.

NARCOTICS

A student was found in possession of marijuana Nov. 6 at Pearland High School, 3775 S. Main St., police said.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 18, on drug charges Nov. 6 in the 2500 block of Westminister Road.

Marijuana possession was reported Nov. 6 in the 2500 block of Cullen Parkway, police said.

Police arrested a Houston man, 33, for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia Nov. 9 in the 2000 block of Main Street.

Police arrested an Alvin man, 38, for possession of a controlled substance and driving while license invalid Nov. 10 in the 1300 block of Main Street.

An 18-year-old Houston woman also was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police arrested two Houston women, 22 and 20, for marijuana possession, failure to identify as fugitives and warrants Nov. 10 in the 11100 block of Shadow Creek Parkway.

Police arrested a 21-year-old Pearland man for marijuana possession Nov. 11 in the 2300 block of Main Street.

A Missouri City man, 22, was arrested for marijuana possession after a traffic stop Nov. 11 in the 17700 block of Texas 288, police said. His passenger, a Houston man, 28, was arrested for an outstanding Missouri City warrant.

Police arrested a Houston man, 21, for marijuana possession Nov. 11 in the 3200 block of Broadway Street.

An Humble man, 19, and an Alvin man, 18, were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia Nov. 12 in the 5100 block of Main Street, police said.

ASSAULT

A woman's husband made unwanted physical contact with her Oct. 21, according to a police report filed Nov. 6 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street.

Police cited a Pearland woman, 31, for assault, family violence Nov. 6 in the 7300 block of Valentine Lane.

A Pearland woman, 35, was arrested for assault, family violence Nov. 9 in the 4600 block of North Russett Place, police said.

A male student punched another male student in the face Nov. 9 in the 4700 block of Bailey Road, police said.

Elderly abuse occurred between Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 in the 12000 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said.

Police filed a family violence report Nov. 10 in the 5200 block of Caprock Drive.

Police filed an assault report Nov. 11 in the 1300 block of Broadway Street.

Family violence was reported Nov. 11 in the 3300 block of Harbour Breeze Lane, police said.

Police arrested a Houston man, 31, for assault Nov. 12 in the 1100 block of East Brompton Drive.

Police completed an assault report Nov. 12 in the 900 block of North Elder Grove Drive.

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED

Police arrested a Dickinson man, 60, for DWI Nov. 7 in the 2300 block of Main Street.

A Pearland man, 56, was taken into custody for DWI Nov. 11 in the 2300 block of Main Street, police said.

A Pearland man, 42, was arrested for DWI Nov. 11 in the 13500 block of Sweet Wind Court, police said.

A 62-year-old Missouri City man was arrested for DWI Nov. 12 in the 11300 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said.

Police took a Houston man, 22, into custody for DWI Nov. 12 in the 3500 block of Broadway Street.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

A mailbox was destroyed by fire Nov. 6 or Nov. 7 in the 5900 block of Josephine Street, police said.

INVASIVE VISUAL RECORDING

Police filed an invasive visual recording report Nov. 7 in the 1700 block of Broadway Street.

TRAFFIC

Police arrested a Houston woman, 32, for no driver's license Nov. 8 in the 16600 block of Texas 288.

A Houston woman, 27, was arrested for driving while license invalid and failure to maintain financial responsibility Nov. 9 in the 10700 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A 19-year-old Pearland man was arrested after an accident involving vehicle damage Nov. 11 in the 2100 block of Main Street, police said.

Police took a Pearland woman, 36, into custody for driving while license invalid Nov. 12 in the 2000 block of Cullen Parkway.

HARASSMENT

A male student posted a photo and embarrassing remarks about a female student online Nov. 10 in the 4700 block of Bailey Road, police said.

FIREWORKS

A juvenile male was found in possession of fireworks Nov. 10 in the 6300 block of Old Oaks Boulevard, police said.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

A road rage incident that occurred in Harris County led to disorderly conduct Nov. 10 in the 2100 block of Verona Drive, police said.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

Criminal mischief was reported Nov. 10 in the 3500 block of Business Center Drive, police said.

Police arrested a Fresno man, 23, for criminal mischief Nov. 11 in the 11000 block of Shadow Creek Parkway.

Harassment and criminal mischief were reported Nov. 12 in the 2400 block of Laura Lane, police said.

Police investigated a criminal mischief report Nov. 12 in the 9200 block of Sunshadow Court.

DEADLY CONDUCT

Police arrested a Rosharon woman, 23, for deadly conduct Nov. 10 in the 8300 block of Broadway Street.

CRIMINAL TRESPASS

Unknown suspects attempted to force entry into a vacant apartment Nov. 11 in the 2900 block of Oak Road, police said.

ROBBERY

Aggravated robbery was reported Nov. 11 in the 2300 block of Appian Way, police said.
Property owners in several neighborhoods in The Woodlands Township and Municipal Utilities District 386 that are in Harris County will have their properties reappraised for post-Hurricane Harvey damages and possibly receive refunds.

Jack Barnett, chief communications officer for the Harris County Appraisal District, said reappraisals for property damaged by Hurricane Harvey and the associated rains and flooding were approved by the district after requests were made by The Woodlands Township Board of Directors and officials with MUD 386.

Nearly 300 homes in the Village of Creekside Park, which includes Timarron and Timarron Lakes, that are situated along Spring Creek were damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The homes that were flooded will have two appraisals: from Jan 1, 2017 through Aug. 22, 2017, and then a second appraisal from Aug. 23 through Dec. 31, 2017, Barnett said.

Those properties affected will be re-appraised on Jan. 1 when appraisers visit the area, Barnett added.

Barnett said the two appraisal values will be calculated and property taxes will be adjusted based on possible differences in value. Residents will then receive a new property tax bill, which could include a possible refund.

"It is confusing, it really is. The taxing jurisdictions for that area have to make a request to get a re-appraisal done for all properties damaged," he said. "It has to be in an area that the governor declares a disaster area."

According to Section 23.02 of the state Tax Code, "the governing body of a taxing unit that is located partly or entirely inside an area declared to be a disaster area by the governor may authorize reappraisal of all property damaged in the disaster at its market value immediately after the disaster."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster proclamation for Harris County on Aug. 23 and later amended the proclamation on Aug. 26 declaring a state of disaster for Montgomery County.

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors voted unanimously on Sept. 21 to seek property tax relief for residents in both Harris and Montgomery counties. The Woodlands Township property tax rate is 23 cents per $100 valuation.

The Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386 board unanimously approved a request for property reappraisals on Sept. 27. The MUD 386 tax rate is 46.5 cents per $100 of valuation.

Other taxing entities, including the Conroe Independent School District, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court, the Montgomery County Hospital District and Emergency Services District 8, all had previously approved reappraisals of damaged property in the Montgomery County Appraisal District. However, the Tomball Independent School District has not approved reappraisals.

Barnett said most property owners will have already received their tax bill, which must be paid before Jan. 31, 2018, in order to avoid penalties and late fees.

"We are really urging people to pay their tax bill in full," Barnett said. "The tax assessor-collector would issue a refund or credit if necessary. This might not make much of a difference (in tax bills) depending on the tax rate set."

Mike Lykes, the chief of staff of administration for the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Office, said officials with the department are estimating that amended property tax bills will be mailed to affected residents no later than March.

"We're projecting to hopefully get the new bills out by March," Lykes said. "We recommend residents pay the bill in full. Whatever the difference is, if there is one, will be refunded."

Both Barnett and Lykes said there is no way to predict how a resident's property tax bill may change based on the second, post-Harvey appraisals.

Residents of the Village of Creekside Park, Timarron and Timarron Lakes have formed a group called Stop the Flooding in MUD 386 in an effort to lobby for improved drainage and flood mitigation for the three neighborhoods. The group claims that The Woodlands Development Co. did not plan the developments properly in order to cope with potential flooding.

Stanley Okazaki, a resident of the Timarron neighborhood who is also involved in the Stop the Flooding group, said he is appreciative of the reappraisals approved so far, however he hopes all taxing entities approve reappraisals.

"Every little bit helps. A lot of people were hurt [by Harvey flooding]," Okazaki said. "When I heard 're-appraisals,' I thought it would affect all the [taxing] entities. One can do one thing, while the others can do nothing."

Okazaki said he is particularly disappointed with the inaction from Tomball ISD officials, and he added that members of the Stop the Flooding in MUD 386 group are probing ways to lobby officials with the district to reconsider the issue.

"We're trying to find out who the right people are to approach," he said. "We're going to start a campaign. What is the problem? They are pinching pennies with people who have been hurt so bad by the flooding."

Jim Ross, chief financial officer for the Tomball Independent School District, said the district has no plans to request reappraisals because very little damage was done to the majority of homes in TISD's boundaries.

"We do not plan to discuss [re-appraisals]. We do not have any plans to do re-appraisals," Ross said in a telephone interview with the Villager. The biggest issue for us is, we could literally see the damage was very minor in our jurisdiction. We cannot do [re-appraisals in] smaller areas, we would have to do the whole district."
Black men who commit the same crimes as white men receive federal prison sentences that are, on average, nearly 20 percent longer, according to a new report on sentencing disparities from the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC).

These disparities were observed "after controlling for a wide variety of sentencing factors," including age, education, citizenship, weapon possession and prior criminal history.

The black/white sentencing disparities have been increasing in recent years, the report found, particularly following the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker in 2005. Booker gave federal judges significantly more discretion on sentencing by making it easier to impose harsher or more lenient sentences than the USSC's sentencing guidelines called for.

Before that decision, federal judges were generally required to abide by those sentencing guidelines.

Judges are less likely to voluntarily revise sentences downward for black offenders than for white ones, in other words. And even when judges do reduce black offenders' sentences, they do so by smaller amounts than for white offenders.

That finding suggests that giving judges more discretion in sentencing, as the Booker decision did in 2005, allows more racial bias to seep into the process. But Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project, a group working to reduce bias in the criminal justice system, says there's more to it than that. He says that decisions by federal prosecutors - whether to seek a charge carrying a mandatory minimum sentence, for instance - are also driving the disparities.

"What we see is that the charging decisions of prosecutors are key," he said via email. "Whether done consciously or not, prosecutors are more likely to charge African Americans with such charges than whites."

A 2014 University of Michigan Law School study, for instance, found that all other factors being equal, black offenders were 75 percent more likely to face a charge carrying a mandatory minimum sentence than a white offender who committed the same crime.

"It's possible that if a prosecutor now recognizes that a judge is not constrained by the [pre-Booker] guidelines," Mauer said, "he or she may charge a case as a mandatory sentence to ensure that a certain amount of prison time is imposed, with no possible override by the judge."

The United States currently houses the world's largest prison population, with an incarceration rate of roughly 666 inmates per 100,000 people. Among whites, the rate is 450 inmates per 100,000 people. The incarceration rate for blacks is over five times higher, at 2,306 inmates per 100,000 people.
NORWALK  A Norwalk man assaulted his wife and threatened to attack his son too when the boy tried to call the cops, police said.

Police that the children of 32-year-old Cedrick Paulk awoke early Wednesday to the sounds of an argument outside their bedroom.

When the children, both of whom are under 8 years old, looked outside, they saw Paulk attacking the victim over what police said was the result of a dispute over a phone call.

Police said the children witnessed Paulk repeatedly striking the victim in the arm and in the face. When the victim asked one of the children to call the police, Paulk reportedly told the boy that he would attack him too if he did.

Police said the victim eventually managed to escape Paulk and go to the bathroom. However, Paulk allegedly followed her in there too, where he began to strangle the victim before pushing her to the floor, police said.

The victim was later taken to Norwalk Hospital where she was treated for serious, but non-life threatening injuries, police said. It was there that the victim contacted police.

Though police were unable to locate Paulk during the day, the 32-year-old turned himself in to police on Wednesday evening.

Paulk was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree strangulation, risk of injury to a child, second-degree breach of peace and interference with a 911 call. He was held on a $50,000 bond, and was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday morning.

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.
WASHINGTON - All eyes have been on the Republican Party following the growing sexual misconduct allegations against their Senate candidate in Alabama.

Most Democratic lawmakers who have spoken publicly about the allegations have called for an end to former judge Roy Moore's political career. Capitol Hill has no place for politicians accused of multiple sexual misconduct allegations, they say.

But the scandal has also forced Democrats to re-examine their own history of responding to accusations of sexual assault, especially when new claims surface against one of their own.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., has been accused of unwanted kissing and groping by a former model during a 2006 USO tour. Leann Tweeden recounted the incident in a blog post for the radio station where she works as an anchor and included a photo of Franken's hands over her breasts while she slept.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, N.Y., said he hopes there soon will be an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee, which has the authority to recommend expelling a senator. "Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated," Schumer said in a statement.

But this is not the same approach Democrats took decades ago when President Bill Clinton was facing allegations of sexual assault and harassment, a point Donald Trump and Republicans often made during the 2016 election when Hillary Clinton attempted to draw attention to the allegations against Trump.

More than two decades ago, Democrats did not immediately believe the accusers. James Carville, Clinton's then-strategist, once infamously said: "If you drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you'll find."

In a 1998 New York Times op-ed, feminist Gloria Steinem went as far as to blame the women in a manner that most would consider victim-blaming in 2017.

Some have said, if they could turn back time, they'd approach the allegations against Clinton differently.

With Franken, Democrats now have a chance. And many have responded strongly.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the highest-ranking female Democratic senator, said: "This is unacceptable behavior and extremely disappointing. I am glad that Al came out and apologized, but that doesn't reverse what he's done or end the matter. I support an ethics committee investigation into these accusations and I hope this latest example of the deep problems on this front spurs continued action to address it."

And Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, said: "There is never an excuse for this behavior - ever. What Senator Franken did was wrong, and it should be referred to the Ethics Committee for review."

Franken first issued a brief apology and said he didn't recall the incident the way Tweeden did, but he later issued a longer apology: "There's no excuse" he said. He welcomed the ethics investigation, saying he will "gladly cooperate."

While Franken's acknowledgment of his problematic behavior is a different approach taken by Moore or Trump, Democrats have to ask themselves: Will we respond to our own tribe with the intensity that they did Moore?

While Franken has already agreed to participate in the investigation, only time will tell how his fellow party members will respond to these allegations. History has not consistently been on their side on this matter.

The Atlantic's Caitlin Flanagan wrote:

"The Democratic Party needs to make its own reckoning of the way it protected Bill Clinton. The party needs to come to terms with the fact that it was so enraptured by their brilliant, Big Dog president and his stunning string of progressive accomplishments that it abandoned some of its central principles. The party was on the wrong side of history, and there are consequences for that. Yet expedience is not the only reason to make this public accounting. If it is possible for politics and moral behavior to coexist, then this grave wrong needs to be acknowledged. If Weinstein and Mark Halperin and Louis C. K. and all the rest can be held accountable, so can our former president and so can his party, which so many Americans so desperately need to rise again."

Democrats often campaign on being the party of women. Now is the opportunity to put action and policies behind campaign rhetoric and tweets.
The Japanese government has been examining measures to deal with a large number of North Koreans escaping to Japan in the case of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

To prevent the entry of people who could pose security risks, such as North Korean agents, the main policies include reinforcing patrols by Japan Coast Guard vessels in the Sea of Japan and carefully inspecting the evacuees at ports. People allowed to stay temporarily will receive shelter at a provisional reception facility. Kyushu is the most likely location for the facility, as it is close to the Korean Peninsula.

If the United States launches military strikes on North Korea, the government estimates that "tens of thousands of evacuees from North Korea could reach the Japanese coast by wooden boats and other means," a person connected to the Japanese government said. If North Korean agents or terrorists successfully enter the country disguised as evacuees, it is feared they could target vital facilities such as those of U.S. forces stationed in Japan, the Self-Defense Forces and nuclear power plants.

According to the government policies under consideration, Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels will be concentrated in coastal zones in the Sea of Japan. When the vessels locate evacuees' boats, they will transfer the people aboard to ports designated as operation bases by the government. The government also seeks to block unauthorized entry by calling for cooperation from private fishing boats and residents in coastal areas.

At the ports, police officers and others will conduct background checks and screen for criminal records. Any evacuees the government deems to pose a security risk will be deported. The evacuees allowed a temporary stay will be transferred to the provisional reception facility after going through entry procedures at the Immigration Bureau and quarantine stations.

Sufficient attention will be paid to their human rights, providing them with such items as food and water. The government will decide at a later date whether evacuees can remain beyond the period of their temporary stay.

In addition to the provisional reception facility likely to be set up in Kyushu, another facility would be arranged to receive evacuees from South Korea, as they are also expected to arrive.

The government confidentially compiled a detailed plan to deal with evacuees in 1994, when the U.S. military was studying the possibility of attacking North Korea during a nuclear crisis. Amid the strained circumstances on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea's recent developments of nuclear and missile programs, the government has been reviewing the original 1994 plan.

Under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, foreign nationals who do not possess passports are prohibited from entering the country, in principle. According to the 1994 plan, it was decided that the government would allow evacuees without passports to enter temporarily and conduct strict screenings on them afterward.
Photo by Wes Frazer/Getty Images(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) -- Six women have accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct or impropriety.



He has denied any wrongdoing and points to a political conspiracy as the reason why the allegations are being made public now.



Four of the accusers were named in a Washington Post article, with a fifth accuser telling her story in a news conference Monday and a sixth describing an alleged encounter with Moore in an AL.com story Wednesday.



Here is a summary of the accusations against Moore and what he has said about each case.



Leigh Corfman



Corfman spoke to The Washington Post and accused Moore of making sexual advances toward her.



Corfman told the paper that she met Moore outside a courthouse in 1979 where her mother was attending a child custody hearing. Moore, who was then a 32-year-old assistant district attorney, volunteered to wait with the young teen while her mother went inside for the hearing.



When they were alone together, Corfman told the paper that Moore asked for her phone number. Corfman said he later picked her up for a drive around the corner from her house and drove her to his house, where Moore kissed her. She alleges that Moore removed his clothes during a second visit and touched Corfman over her underwear and also guided her hand to touch him.



On Nov. 10, the day after The Washington Post article was published, Moore spoke to conservative personality Sean Hannity on his radio show and denied the allegations, at times going into specifics about the different allegations.



When asked about Corfman, Moore said, It never happened.



"I don't know Miss Corfman from anybody. I never talked to or never had any contact with her. Allegations of sexual misconduct with her are completely false, Moore told Hannity.



"I never knew this woman. I never met this woman and these charges are politically motivated," he added.



Wendy Miller



Wendy Miller, the second woman named in The Washington Post story said that she first met Moore when she was 14 years old and working as a Santas Helper at the local mall. She said Moore asked her out on dates two years later but they did not go out because her mother forbade it.



During the same interview with Hannity, Moore was asked about both Millers claims and then about Corfmans in the same question, and he pointed to political sabotage as the explanation for all of the allegations.



"I've run five successful campaigns or five campaigns, statewide campaigns, three in the county. This has never been brought up. It has never been even mentioned and all of a sudden, four weeks out, they're bringing out -- they're bringing up -- because it's political. It's a direct attack on this campaign and it involves a 14-year-old girl, which I would have never had any contact with -- nothing with her mother or any courthouse or anywhere else -- would I have done that, he told Hannity.



Debbie Wesson Gibson



Debbie Wesson Gibson told The Washington Post that she was 17 years old when she met Moore after he spoke to her high school civics class. Gibson told the paper that it was then that Moore asked her out on several dates that did not progress beyond kissing."



Moore said that he did recognize the maiden name of this accuser, Debbie Wesson, and a subsequent accuser, but denied the allegations.



"I do not remember speaking to civics class. I don't remember that. I do not remember when we ... I seem to know or remember knowing her parents ... that they were friends. I can't recall the specific dates because that's been 40 years, but I remember her as a good girl. But neither of them have ever stated any inappropriate behavior. She didn't say anything, Moore told Hannity on the same program.



Moore said that he doesnt remember specific dates." Hannity then asked him again, You never dated her ever? Is that what youre saying?



"No, but I don't remember going out on dates. I knew her as a friend. If we did go on dates then we did. But I do not remember that, Moore replied.



Gloria Thacker Deason



Gloria Thacker Deason told The Washington Post that she was an 18-year-old cheerleader when Moore started taking her out on dates. During those dates, they drank bottles of wine, which would have been illegal for Deason at the time because the drinking age in Alabama was 19.



When Moore was asked by Hannity if the dates with Deason happened, and specifically if they included the consumption of alcohol, Moore said: No. Because in this county is a dry county. We would never would have had liquor.



"I never provided alcohol, beer or intoxicating liquor to a minor. That'd be against the law and against anything I would have ever done, Moore said.



In spite of what Moore said, the county was not dry at the time that Deason alleges she went on dates with Moore. According to The Washington Post article, the dates that she alleges happened would have taken place in Etowah County in 1979. Etowah County approved legal alcohol sales in 1972.



Earlier in the interview, Moore acknowledged that he recognized Deason's maiden name.



"I seem to remember her as a good girl or I seem to remember I had some sort of knowledge of her parents, her mother in particular, Moore told Hannity.



Beverly Young Nelson



The fifth accuser came forward on Monday, reading a detailed statement at a news conference in New York alongside attorney Gloria Allred.



Beverly Young Nelson said she met Moore when she was 15 years old while waiting tables at a restaurant in Gadsden, Alabama. The future judge acted in a flirtatious manner and even signed her yearbook Merry Christmas and Love, Roy Moore, D.A, Nelson said.



Nelson said that a short time later, after she turned 16, Moore offered to give her a ride home after work one night.



Instead, she said, he parked his car next to a dumpster behind the restaurant and sexually assaulted her.



"Mr. Moore reached over and began groping me, putting his hands on my breasts," Nelson said in her statement. "I tried to open my car door to leave, but he reached over and locked it so I could not get out. I tried fighting him off while yelling at him to stop, but instead of stopping, he began squeezing my neck, attempting to force my head onto his crotch."



"I continued to struggle. I was determined that I was not going to allow him to force me to have sex with him. I was terrified. He was also trying to pull my shirt off. I thought that he was going to rape me. I was twisting and struggling and begging him to stop. I had tears running down my face," Nelson said in her statement.



"At some point, he gave up. He then looked at me and said, You are a child. I am the district attorney of Etowah County. If you tell anyone about this, no one will believe you,'" Nelson added.



Moore spoke publicly, calling Nelsons accusations of sexual misconduct against him "absolutely false."



Moore denied ever knowing Nelson and said he "never did what she said I did, going on to call the accusations a political maneuver.



Moore also said he is unfamiliar with the restaurant that Nelson worked at, while she claimed he had been a regular customer.



In a press conference Wednesday, Moore's attorney Phillip Jauregui and Moore's campaign chairman Bill Armistead stood by the candidate and challenged Nelson's story further.



"In the cases where it's true, it's horrible for the person making the accusations," Jauregui said, "When the allegations are made and it's not true, it's also horrible for who the allegations are directed against."



Among the challenges to Young's story presented by Jauregui was the assertion that the handwriting in the yearbook Nelson held up at a presser earlier this week with Allred does not match other samples of Moore's handwriting. Jauregui said that Moore's legal team has sent a letter to Allred demanding the original copy of the yearbook be released so that a "neutral custodian" can examine the handwriting.



Jauregui also referenced that in 1999, when Moore was a circuit court judge in Alabama, the candidate's signature appears on documents relating to Nelson's divorce from her husband at the time, Ervine Lee Harris. Moore's signature does appear on documents obtained by ABC News related to Nelson's divorce proceedings from 1999.



In the press conference in which she detailed the alleged misconduct by Moore, Nelson did not reference that Moore had signed an order relating to her divorce case.



In a statement released Wednesday responding to Moore's attorney, Allred said she would release the original yearbook on the condition that the Senate Judiciary Committee and/or the Senate Select Committee on Ethics hold hearings regarding the allegations against Moore, and again said Nelson is willing to testify under oath regarding Moore's misconduct.



"The time has come for Roy Moore to announce whether he is willing to be examined under oath concerning his conduct with regard to the five accusers before the Senate Committees," she said.



Allred also urged the committees to "subpoena Roy Moore to testify under oath about his denials of the accusations made against him."



Moore did not respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Neither Jauregui nor Armistead took questions from the media during Wednesday's press conference.



Tina Johnson



In a story published on AL.com Wednesday, Tina Johnson of Gadsden, Alabama, described being allegedly groped by Moore after meeting with him in 1991 to review a custody petition involving her son and mother.



Johnson, who was 28 at the time, said Moore complimented her looks multiple times and sat within close proximity to her at times during their meeting. As she left his office, Johnson claims Moore grabbed her buttocks. She said she was caught off-guard by the action and did not tell her mother, who was also present.



"He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," Johnson recounted in the story.



Moore has yet to specifically comment on Johnson's story and AL.com noted that a spokesperson for his campaign did not provide a response as of Wednesday afternoon. Reached by phone by ABC News, Johnson confirmed the details in the AL.com story about her alleged encounter with Moore.

Gena Richardson



Gena Richardson told The Washington Post in a story published Wednesday evening that Moore first approached her at the Gadsden Mall in 1977, when she was a high school senior.



Richardson said Moore asked where she went to school and for her phone number. She declined to give it to him, she said.



Days later, she said she received a call at her school from Moore.



I said Hello? she told the Post. And the male on the other line said, Gena, this is Roy Moore. I was like, What?! He said, What are you doing? I said, Im in trig class. 



Richardson said she eventually agreed to go on a date with Moore. The date allegedly ended with him driving her to a parking lot behind Sears, where he gave her a forceful kiss.



I never wanted to see him again, Richardson, now 58, said.



Moores campaign did not address Richardsons allegations in a statement to the Post.



If you are a liberal and hate Judge Moore, apparently he groped you, the statement said. If you are a conservative and love Judge Moore, you know these allegations are a political farce.



Becky Gray



In an interview with The Washington Post, Becky Gray said she was 22 and working at Pizitz when Moore first approached her.



Gray said Moore asked her out repeatedly. Id always say no, Im dating someone, no, Im in a relationship, she said.



Gray told the Post that she found Moores alleged overtures so disturbing that she complained to the manager of Pizitz, who she says told her it was not the first time he had a complaint about [Moore] hanging out at the mall.



Moores campaign did not address Grays allegations in a statement to the Post.



If you are a liberal and hate Judge Moore, apparently he groped you, the statement said. If you are a conservative and love Judge Moore, you know these allegations are a political farce.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON - Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., faced swift condemnation and bipartisan calls for an ethics investigation on Thursday after a Los Angeles radio broadcaster accused him of forcibly kissing and groping her in 2006.

Franken first issued a brief apology, saying his actions were intended to be funny and he didn't recall the incident the way Leeann Tweeden did. He later issued a longer apology: "There's no excuse," he said in a subsequent statement, adding he will "gladly cooperate" with an ethics investigation.

That looks likely to happen. At least half a dozen Senate Democrats urged their chamber's six-member, bipartisan ethics committee to investigate the allegations. Franken could face censureship or even expulsion from the Senate.

"Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., said in a statement.

The Senate has wide latitude to kick out members, said Cornell Law Professor Josh Chafetz, though it hasn't happened since the Civil War. Kicking out a senator would require a two-thirds vote by the full Senate - so all 52 Republicans and 15 Democrats.

Other top Democrats, including Franken's colleague from Minnesota, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Sen. Patty Murray of Washington - the highest-ranking female Senate Democrat - urged their colleagues to investigate Franken.

"This should not have happened to Leeann Tweeden," Klobuchar said in a statement. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has teamed up with Franken on messaging videos, said his behavior was "unacceptable and deeply disappointing."

And Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who just a day earlier said sexual harrassment is a "serious" problem in Congress said of the allegations against Franken: "This kind of behavior is unacceptable and should not be tolerated anywhere in our society."

The allegations against Franken came two days after a House hearing where lawmakers acknowledged that sexual harassment is a pervasive problem on Capitol Hill and proposed legislation to make it easier for victims to report sexual misconduct by lawmakers.

Franken was critical of Hollywood mogul and Democratic megadonor Harvey Weinstein after numerous actresses accused him of sexual assault.

At the time, Franken said that accusers's lackluster responses to their accused leads to a culture of sexual misconduct, and he gave his Weinstein contributions to the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center.

Franken is a prolific fundraiser for the Democratic Party and in the past year has emerged as one of their most effective messengers on health care and taxes. Earlier this week he was sending out a fundraising email through the Democratic's Senate campaign arm joking that he'd get "Women's Senate Network" tattoo to help elect female senators.

Senate Republicans' campaign arm immediately tried to make Franken a liability for Democrats, blasting out emails to reporters demanding that vulnerable Democrats up for reelection next year give back money Franken raised for them. Franken won reelection to a second term in 2014 with 53 percent of the vote. He's up for reelection again in 2020.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is dealing with political fallout from allegations of sexual misconduct against GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, also immediately called on the ethics committee to investigate Franken. McConnell has not ruled out similar investigations into Moore if the defiant Christian conservative wins his special election in Alabama next month.

Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party said it stood with Franken's accuser: "We are incredibly disappointed in Senator Franken," said party chairman Ken Martin in a statement.

Over the past week, many Democrats have been critical of Senate Republicans for originally hesitating to call for Moore's ouster. But very few Democrats gave Franken a similar benefit of the doubt, especially given his accuser shared photographic evidence.

In the photo, Franken is posing with his hands over or on Tweeden's chest as she slept when they were returning from a 2006 USO tour.

Franken would win a hard-fought election to the U.S. Senate two years later.

---

The Washington Post's David Weigel, Ed O'Keefe, Paul Kane, Josh DuLac, Amy Wang and Karoun Demirjian all contributed to this report.

---

Leeann Tweeden's tweet:

https://twitter.com/LeeannTweeden/status/931176738586890241
NASA scientists have captured close-up images of a behemoth iceberg that in July detached from one of the largest floating ice shelves in Antarctica.

The iceberg is one of the largest in recorded history to split off from Antarctica, and is close to the size of Delaware, consisting of almost four times as much ice as the melting ice sheet of Greenland loses in a year.

"I was shocked, because we flew over the iceberg itself and it looks like it's still part of the ice shelf, in terms of how large it is and the surface texture," said Nathan Kurtz, a scientist with the NASA-led initiative Operation Icebridge, which traveled to Antarctica near the end of October to get a closer look at the iceberg.

"To see it fully detached, to see this massive block of ice floating out there, was pretty shocking," he said.

Satellite images in July first showed the 2,200-square-mile iceberg calving and floating away from the Larsen C ice shelf. Scientists had been anticipating that the iceberg, known as A-68, would break from the larger ice shelf, and in recent months watched the progress of a crack extending more than 100 miles long.

Ice shelves are large, thick floating extensions of glaciers that have extended from the land. They have long encircled the Antarctic continent, but are now vulnerable because of warming air temperatures and ocean waters, which can cause them to thin or collapse. When they do, the ice behind them is freed to flow more quickly into the ocean, raising sea levels.

Operation Icebridge scientists will collect data through the end of the month to track changes in Antarctica's ice coverage, so that they can better understand how the ice shelves and the ocean interact and what effect those interactions may have on climate change. For example, Kurtz said scientists are measuring how much ice is melting from the Larsen C ice shelf both above and below the water to try to predict how the iceberg might behave in the future. The instruments scientists are using include radar sounders that measure the thickness and layering of snow and ice and an infrared camera that measures surface temperature.

The iceberg is enormous - one of the most massive ever seen from Antarctica. It's volume is twice that of Lake Erie, scientists said, and it contains so much mass that if all of it were added anew to the ocean, the iceberg would drive almost 3 millimeters of global sea level rise.

But the detachment of the iceberg will not affect global sea level on its own, since the ice that has detached was already afloat in the ocean. Kurtz said the detachment does, however, put the destabilization of the larger Larsen C ice shelf into question.

"If an ice shelf collapses, the consequences would be a faster rate of sea level rise," Kurtz said. "Because the ice shelf is helping to hold the ice on the Antarctic peninsula back, (the ice) is going to flow out faster."

The iceberg's progress will be difficult to predict, Adrian Luckman, the lead MIDAS researcher and an Antarctic scientist at Swansea University, told The Washington Post in July. It could remain in one piece but is more likely to break into fragments. Some of the ice could remain in the area for decades, while other parts may drift north into warmer waters.

The change is large enough that it will trigger a redrawing of the Antarctic coastline, Ted Scambos, senior research scientist with the National Snow and Ice Data Center, told The Post in July. The Larsen C ice shelf, previously the fourth-largest of its kind in Antarctica, is now probably only the fifth- or sixth-largest, he said.

Larger icebergs have broken off Antarctica in the past, however, including an iceberg of over 4,000 square miles in 2000. Almost twice the size of this iceberg, it broke off the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica's largest floating ice body. It was the biggest iceberg ever recorded.

The Larsen C ice shelf lost a bigger piece in 1986, Scambos said, but that occurred under different circumstances. The shelf had grown considerably and extended much farther into he Weddell Sea than it does now. This detachment is different, he said, because the ice shelf is now much smaller.

There is a debate over whether the detachment of the iceberg can be attributed in any way to climate change. Scientists don't have all the data that they would need to show what is happening in the environment of the floating Larsen C ice shelf, which is affected not only by air temperatures above it but also ocean temperatures below it.

Antarctica's ice shelves do calve large pieces regularly. But at the same time, Larsen C is the next ice shelf in line in a southward progression that has previously seen the collapse of the Larsen A and Larsen B ice shelves, making this occurrence at least suspicious.

Eric Rignot, a NASA and University of California-Irvine researcher, told The Post in July that he is convinced of a climate role.

"For me, there is no doubt that this event is not part of a natural cycle," he said by email. "The Larsen C ice shelf will not collapse for another few decades, most likely, but this calving is unique in the history of the ice shelf since first seen by human eyes by the Norwegian explorer Carl Anton Larsen in 1893."
Russia, Turkey and Iran will hold summit talks on Syria next week as Ankara threatens a possible attack on U.S.-allied Kurdish forces and tensions rise between Moscow and Washington over the future of the war-torn state.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Turkish and Iranian counterparts, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani, on Nov. 22 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to discuss Syria and regional developments, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news service said Thursday. The three powers are key players in Syria, where they've spearheaded a cease-fire initiative and are now cooperating on a political settlement.

As the battle to defeat Islamic State nears its end, Russia is stepping up criticism of U.S. military involvement in Syria after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said this week that American forces could stay on to ensure a political transition in the country. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday branded the U.S.-led coalition as "practically occupying forces" because they're operating in Syria without the agreement of the government in Damascus.

Putin, whose military campaign in Syria since 2015 has reversed the course of the civil war and shored up his ally, President Bashar Assad, is at odds with U.S. policy that calls for the Syrian leader to leave power eventually as part of any peace agreement. Iran is also a major supporter of Assad, deploying troops and sending Iranian-backed militias to fight in Syria against opposition forces.

With the end of the campaign against Islamic State, which the U.S. and Russia fought on separate fronts, disagreements over the future of Syria are taking center stage as the Trump administration seeks to hang onto territory as a means of influence, said Elena Suponina, a Middle East expert at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, which advises the Kremlin.

"Moscow believes that the Syrian government should get control over the entire territory of that country and then there should be political reforms," she said by phone. "But it seems that the U.S., even after achieving its goal of smashing Islamic State, isn't planning to leave Syria."

Putin and President Donald Trump agreed in a joint statement at last week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam to support a political reconciliation in Syria with the participation of Assad. The U.S. doesn't see a future for Assad in Syria at the end of the process, a State Department official said.

Turkey, which backed rebels seeking to overthrow Assad, warned this week that it may undertake a military operation against Kurdish forces in the northwestern Syrian town of Afrin, who are allied with the U.S. against Islamic State. 'We've discussed joint steps with Russia," Erdogan said before flying to Sochi on Monday for talks with Putin.

The three leaders are to discuss the efforts to reduce violence and to see what they can do to help the U.N.-led talks on a political transition in Syria, Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said according to Anadolu.

Turkish relations with Russia plunged into crisis after its air force downed a Russian fighter plane on the Syrian border in November 2015. The two countries have since repaired ties and have grown increasingly close, with Putin and Erdogan meeting five times already this year.

"Russia, Turkey and Iran are cooperating very effectively and this summit will demonstrate that they will pursue their cooperation," said Suponina. "The three countries have set out a road-map for Syria."
Martha, the last of her kind, resides in a glass case at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, perched on a thin branch. She's a passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, and in the final years of her life, before her death in 1914 at the Cincinnati Zoo, she achieved fame as the last survivor of a species once so populous that its flocks could darken the noonday sky.

Martha is small and gray, with flecks of blue and green iridescence on the back of her neck. She is looking sharply to the right, as if looking over her shoulder - as if a bit wary. (You're not being paranoid when you're the only one left.)

"Some people find her a little plain looking," said Helen James, the Curator of Birds, who can put her hands on more specimens of passenger pigeons, older and unheralded, stored upstairs in the museum's ornithology collection.

How the passenger pigeon died out is hardly a whodunit. Humans exterminated them through ruthless and efficient hunting in the late 19th century. We've driven plenty of species to extinction, but the case of the passenger pigeon is one of the most perplexing. This had been the most abundant bird in North America and possibly the world. A single flock could contain more than a billion birds. Scientists still wonder: Why didn't some pigeons survive in remote areas?

A new study of the passenger pigeon's genome, published Thursday in the journal Science, dives into the debate over this famous extinction. The paper argues that the passenger pigeon, contrary to what some scientists have said in recent years, did not suffer wild fluctuations in population before humans wiped them out. Rather, the population was stable for thousands of years, even during periods of dramatic climate change, the new paper states.

The new study also bolsters research showing that the passenger pigeon didn't have very much genetic diversity across its vast population. "We have this very large population size but not very large genetic diversity," said Gemma Murray, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California at Santa Cruz and the lead author of the Science paper.

The researchers studied the nuclear DNA of four passenger pigeon specimens, and also looked at the mitochondrial DNA of another 41 specimens. They compared the genetic markers to the extinct bird's relative, the band-tailed pigeon. The study concluded that much of the bird's genetic code shows signs of strong natural selection, and simultaneously a low level of genetic drift or "neutral" mutations - the kind of changes that may not have any obvious adaptive advantage in the short run but could serve as a hedge in the future if the ecosystem changed.

This finding fits a theoretical model that says that in species with large populations, adaptive advantages will quickly spread through the population while deleterious mutations will be weeded out.

The new study does not contend that the low level of genetic diversity led to the demise of the passenger pigeon. That's an extra leap. It may be that even a bird with tremendous genetic diversity, and nimble when ecosystems change suddenly, could not have withstood the onslaught of human predation.

"Our mass murder of them over the course of decades was just too fast for evolution to keep up," said Beth Shapiro, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC-Santa Cruz and another of the paper's co-authors.

"This species was abundant for tens of thousands of years in the face of major environmental changes to forest and climate, and despite all of that this species was resilient," said co-author Ben Novak, an ecologist with Revive and Restore, a nonprofit organization that has explored ways of bringing back the passenger pigeon through genetic engineering.

He added, "It's impossible to adapt to gunfire."

Wen-San Huang, one of the co-authors of a 2014 paper arguing that the pigeon had fluctuating population size, said in an email that the new study relies on "indirect evidence" for its claim that the population was stable. Huang wrote, "[W]e cannot agree with the inference drawn by the authors, claiming that the passenger pigeon has had a stable population size through their demographic history based on the fact that it experienced a possibly stronger selection than its sister species."

The passenger pigeon clearly was adapted to large populations. What's unclear is what the minimum viable population size would be for the species. Could it have survived in small flocks here and there? The researchers said it did, actually, for the last couple of decades of its existence. But the survival strategy of the birds had always been based on numbers - the birds far outnumbered their natural predators. No predator could eat them all. "Predator satiation" as a survival strategy would presumably be less effective in small numbers.

Shapiro said there's a broader lesson in this research: No one should assume that numbers alone are a buffer against extinction. Other species may be numerous and yet more vulnerable than they appear at first glance. "There's more that we should consider when we think about a population being endangered than just population size," Shapiro said.

The passenger pigeon lived in the Great Eastern Forest. John James Audubon, awed by the spectacle of passenger pigeons in Kentucky in the fall of 1813, wrote that "the light of noonday was obscured as by an eclipse; the dung fell in spots, not unlike melting flakes of snow; and the continued buzz of wings had a tendency to lull my senses to repose."

But in the decades that followed, hunters used new technologies to prey on the birds. By telegraph they wired news of the migration of the great flocks and the locations where colonies were roosting. By railroad they sent dead birds stuffed in barrels to major cities for human consumption.

The last wild pigeons were seen soon after the start of the 20th Century. On Sept. 1, 1914, Martha was found dead in the bottom of her cage at the Cincinnati Zoo. Zoo officials packed her in a 300-pound block of ice and shipped her by rail to the Smithsonian, according to James, the curator. Martha can be seen in the Objects of Wonders exhibition, displayed in a case next to the skulls of two mountain gorillas.

"This is a very American story," said Ed Green, a geneticist at UC-Santa Cruz who co-authored the new report. "And it's a terrible American story of extinction."
New York City has plenty to worry about from sea level rise. But according to a new study by NASA researchers, it should worry specifically about two major glacier systems in Greenland's northeast and northwest - but not so much about other parts of the vast northern ice sheet.

The research draws on a curious and counterintuitive insight that sea level researchers have emphasized in recent years: As ocean levels rise around the globe, they will not do so evenly. Rather, because of the enormous scale of the ice masses that are melting and feeding the oceans, there will be gravitational effects and even subtle effects on the crust and rotation of the Earth. This, in turn, will leave behind a particular "fingerprint" of sea level rise, depending on when and precisely which parts of Greenland or Antarctica collapse.

Now, Eric Larour, Erik Ivins and Surendra Adhikari of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have teased out one fascinating implication of this finding: Different cities should fear the collapse of different large glaciers.

"It tells you what is the rate of increase of sea level in that city with respect to the rate of change of ice masses everywhere in the world," Larour said of the new tool his team created.

The research was published in Science Advances, accompanied by an online feature that allows you to choose from among 293 coastal cities and see how certain ice masses could affect them if the ice enters the ocean. The scientists also released a video that captures some of how it works.

The upshot is that New York needs to worry about certain parts of Greenland collapsing, but not so much others. Sydney, however, needs to worry about the loss of particular sectors of Antarctica - the ones farther away from it - and not so much about the ones nearer. And so on.

This is the case because sea level actually decreases near a large ice body that loses mass, because that mass no longer exerts the same gravitational pull on the ocean, which accordingly shifts farther away. This means that from a sea level rise perspective, one of the safest things is to live close to a large ice mass that is melting.

"If you are close enough, then the effect of ice loss will be a sea level drop, not sea level rise," said Adhikari. The effect is immediate across the globe.

Indeed, the research shows that for cities like Oslo and Reykjavik, which are close to Greenland, a collapse of many of the ice sheet's key sectors would lower, not raise, the local sea level. (These places have more to fear from ice loss in Antarctica, even though it is much farther away.)

The risk is mainly from the northern parts of Greenland and especially from the ice sheet's northeast, according to research.

This is revealing because while Greenland has hundreds of glaciers, three in particular are known to pose the greatest sea level risk because of their size and, if they collapse, how they could allow the ocean to reach deep into the remaining ice sheet, continually driving more ice loss. The three most threatening by far are Jakobshavn glacier on Greenland's central western coast, Petermann glacier in its far northwest and Zachariae glacier in the far northeast. Zachariae is partof a massive feature known as the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream, which reaches all the way to the center of the ice sheet and through which fully 12 percent of Greenland's total ice flows.

The new research shows that Petermann, and especially the northeast ice stream, are a far bigger threat to New York than Jakobshavn is.

In a high-end global warming scenario run out for 200 years, the study reported, Petermann glacier would cause 3.23 inches of globally averaged sea level rise, the northeast ice stream would cause 4.17 inches, and Jakobshavn would cause 1.73 inches. Of this total, New York would see two inches of rise from Petermann, 2.83 inches from the Northeast ice stream and just 0.6 inches from Jakobshavn.

This all really matters because in the real world, glaciers are melting at very different rates. Jakobshavn is the biggest ice loser from Greenland and is beating a very rapid retreat at the moment. Zachariae is starting to lose ice and looking increasingly worrisome, but still nothing like Jakobshavn. Petermann is holding up the best, for now, though it has lost large parts of the floating ice shelf that stabilizes it and holds it in place.

You will note that in no case does New York get the full effect of ice loss from any of these parts of Greenland - it's still far too close to the ice sheet. But Miami gets 95 percent of the globe's total sea level rise from the northeast ice stream, while distant Rio de Janeiro gets 124 percent, or over five inches in the scenario above.

The same goes for Antarctica - its melting, too, will have differential effects around the world. And that matters even more because the ice masses that could be lost are considerably larger than in Greenland. Antarctica, like Greenland, is melting at different rates. Substantialice loss is already happening in west Antarctica and in the Antarctic peninsula. Meanwhile, although scientists are watching the far larger eastern Antarctica carefully, so far it's not contributing nearly as much to sea level rise.

Farther away - like, say, New York - Antarctic loss is a big deal. Research has shown that if west Antarctica collapses, the U.S. East Coast would see morethan the average global sea level rise.

The current research does not take into account all aspects of sea level rise. Shifting ocean currents can redistribute the mass of the oceans and change sea level, for instance, and as global warming progresses, it causes seawater to expand, and thus a steady rise in seas.

Overall, though, the new study underscores a common theme of recent climate developments: We are now altering the Earth on such a massive scale that it puts us at the mercy of fundamental laws of physics as they mete out the consequences.
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Twitter removed the blue "verification" check marks from a handful of prominent white nationalists and far-right conservatives and issued new guidelines after the uproar that followed its decision to verify the organizer of the Charlottesville, Virginia, rally that took place in August.

The check marks are a visual cue that the company gives to prominent accounts to help readers ensure they are authentic.

Jason Kessler, the organizer of the August Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville that drew various factions of the new far right - white nationalists and supremacists, armed militias, and a former leader of Klu Klux Klan - before devolving into violence that left one counter-protester dead, was among those who said the blue check mark was taken away from his account Wednesday. Others who said they lost their verified status included the white nationalist Richard Spencer, far-right activists Laura Loomer and James Allsup, and Tommy Robinson, the host of a show on the fringe conservative site the Rebel TV. Tim Gionet, an alt-right figurehead who went by the name Baked Alaska, was suspended from the service.

RELATED VIDEO:

The move marks the latest skirmish in a debate over speech that has exploded over the past couple years in both online forums like Twitter and those in the real world, like college campuses and city squares, as extremist figures with racially motivated views have increasingly moved into public view. And it comes as the publicly traded company faces increased pressure to weed out the hateful speech, images and threats that have blossomed on the service in recent years.

Those who had their authentication removed quickly complained - on Twitter, as they are still free to tweet and use the service regularly - that the move was an act of censorship.

"Being pro free speech isn't selective," wrote Loomer. "It means you support everyone's speech, even if you don't like them."

In a phone interview, Spencer said he was worried the move would lead to people like him being banned from Twitter.

"And it is a kind of depersoning of someone," he said, of being unverified.

The social media site said it was in the process of eliminating the verification status of accounts that do not adhere to a new set of guidelines it issued on Wednesday. These include accounts that use misleading names or identities on Twitter, promote hate or violence against other people based on race, nationality, sexual orientation, religion and gender - or support organizations and individuals that promote these messages - harass others, threaten violence or distribute gruesome imagery.

And they also help promote the accounts, lending them a sort of semi-official imprimatur from the company. But Twitter said that they were never meant to be an endorsement.

"We gave verified accounts visual prominence on the service which deepened this perception," it wrote. "We should have addressed this earlier but did not prioritize the work as we should have."

As a private company Twitter has no legal free speech obligations to those who use its service. It noted in its new guidelines that it "reserves the right to remove verification at any time without notice."

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The decision comes about a week after an uproar that was set off when Twitter gave a verification badge to Kessler. Twitter suspended its verification process after the outcry, said Wednesday it was continuing to draft a new policy.

The company's public image has also suffered by the recent disclosure that Russian operatives used hundreds of fake accounts on the service - some with significant levels of influence and tens of thousands of followers - as part of what officials have described as a campaign to sow division in the United States before the 2016 election by gaming the social media platforms, their users and their algorithms.

Kessler had previously used Twitter to call Heather Heyer, who was killed at the rally by a man described as a Nazi sympathizer, a "fat, disgusting Communist," whose death "was payback time," and he was arrested last month after he allegedly shared the home address of an anti-racist activist online.

Twitter's decision to ban Milo Yiannopoulos, a right-wing writer and speaker who once led a karaoke rendition of "America the beautiful" in front of a crowd of people doing Nazi salutes, in 2016 drew the ire of some conservatives at the time.

Critics on the left have long contended that Twitter's lenience with extremist accounts gives them the prominence and platform to help spread their messages.

Jack Dorsey, the company's chief executive, said last week that it realized it needed to overhaul the verification process "some time ago."

- - -

The Washington Post's Justin Wm. Moyer contributed to this report.
Dear @horsefish57,

You were right, and I was wrong.

No, I don't mean that my newspaper is trying to destroy "culture" through a campaign of "psychological terror," as you wrote on Twitter. Nor do I think, as some other correspondents have complained, that I am a "master of #fakenews" or an exquisite propagandist.

I think if I were any sort of propagandist, even a halfway competent one, there would not be a big, fat correction notice above my recent article about a far-right march in Poland held last weekend. And I would not be writing this mea culpa.

But you and all the others are right about one thing and right to be upset about it. There was no "Pray for an Islamic Holocaust" banner at Saturday's march in Warsaw.

And yet I wrote that there was, in an article seen by hundreds of thousands of people.

That error was, as they say, "fake news." That was my bad.

I write to you, @horsefish57, not to defend myself but merely to explain how a not-so-masterful Post reporter ended up adding to the world's already overflowing supply of false or erroneous reporting.

My hope is to persuade you, if you'll allow me, that I acted not out of malice or in some campaign of "anticulture" propaganda, but that I simply messed up, as did many that day.

Here goes.

Many things about Saturday's march through Warsaw are not in dispute.

As my colleague Rick Noack wrote in what I can only promise you is not an act of psychological warfare, the march is an annual event that has become one of the largest far-right marches in the world.

It draws people from other countries, and intersects with nationalist and anti-refugee sentiment spreading across Europe and the world - including in Poland's government.

An estimated 60,000 people showed up on Saturday - give or take a few thousands, as with all crowd estimates.

Some, including ministers in the Polish government, have defended the march.

Unlike you, @horsefish57, who hopes it will hasten the collapse of liberal democracy, these people say the march was an innocuous parade of patriots and families - perhaps marred by an extreme sign or two.

But then there are the many, many photos of the banners. One said "Death to Enemies of the Homeland." Another equated Islam with terror.

There certainly were dissenting viewpoints, and some in the crowd even protested "fascism." Videos show that what happened to them was not so family-friendly.

Even the president of Poland, breaking with right-leaning lawmakers, condemned displays of "sick nationalism" that marred his country's celebration of its independence. The annual march takes place on Poland's independence day.

So that was the march, more or less.

Now let's talk about the sign.

"Pray For Islamic Holocaust" really did appear on a banner - but it was reported to have been hung from a bridge in the Polish city of Poznan in 2015, not during Saturday's march in Warsaw, miles away.

Reports of the banner were resurrected in 2017 through a chain of compounding mistakes, in which I played no small part.

The Wall Street Journal mentioned the Holocaust banner in an article published Saturday, in a section about Poland's history of far-right politics.

But the Journal erroneously reported that the banner had been hung in Warsaw, not Poznan, and didn't mention in what year it went up.

Perhaps reading the article too quickly, others assumed the banner had been displayed during Saturday's march.

I didn't happen to read the Journal's article before I wrote my own article Sunday.

I did, however, read an article on CNN's website, with this line in it: "Demonstrators carried banners that read 'White Europe, Europe must be white,' and 'Pray for an Islamic Holocaust.' "

I assumed CNN's reporter had witnessed the banner; in turn, I wrote this regrettable passage in The Post:

"Tens of thousands of people came from across Poland and beyond, and reporters documented their signs:

" 'Clean Blood,' as seen by Politico.

" 'Pray for an Islamic Holocaust,' per CNN.

" 'White Europe' streaked across another banner, the Associated Press reported. ..."

And that might have been the extent of my error - one phantasmal banner in a list of real ones - had I not also decided to write a headline around the thing.

That's how we ended up with this erroneous display:

"Analysis | 'Pray for an Islamic Holocaust': Tens of thousands from Europe's far right march in Poland."

And then the internet does what it does.

The Post's Twitter feed filled up with people who were alternately horrified and delighted to believe that Polish marchers had called for a genocide of Muslims.

And the instant news cycle got to work.

My article was plastered across Google News. Another Post article cited my own and was thus infected by the "Islamic Holocaust" banner that hadn't actually been on display in Warsaw.

Where I had cited CNN, other news outlets cited me.

Eventually, "Pray for an Islamic Holocaust" had been replicated across the Atlantic Ocean, from Newsweek to the Independent in a vast web of wrongness.

I even wrote a second headline based around the quote, when I updated my original article on Monday, still not realizing the banner didn't exist.

It took a while for the tangle to start unwinding itself. Too long, in my opinion.

Yet another news cycle passed before I noticed that CNN had issued a correction to its article and removed the line I had quoted in my headline.

The Wall Street Journal also corrected itself and relocated the Holocaust banner back to Poznan; on Tuesday morning I finally wrote my own correction, and other corrections would follow in other stories down the chain. (The Post article that cited my error was also corrected, online and in print.)

And I know, this doesn't fix or excuse anything. Vastly more people read my erroneous article than saw the correction.

The misplaced "Islamic Holocaust" banner is still live on many websites. Like everything on the internet, it will probably live forever, and so will my responsibility and justifiable anger at my role.

This writer, for example, wondered when The Washington Post will apologize to the nation of Poland.

I'm not going to apologize to all of Poland, as I don't think all of Poland by any means stands for "Death to Enemies of the Homeland" or "White Europe" or so many other real signs and slogans in a march that revolted so many people.

But I'll apologize to you, @horsefish57, and to anyone else reading for the "#fakenews" - and my part in a complicated mess.
A San Antonio man who allegedly started a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl over the summer has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child.

Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers first began their investigation on Oct. 28, when they pulled over Willie James Cunningham III, 20, for a traffic violation in Bexar County, according to an arrest affidavit.

As troopers approached, they noticed a girl in the back seat of the car, who tried to hide from them by covering herself with a blanket according to the affidavit.

RELATED: Records reveal details of cases disgraced SAPD sex crimes detective mishandled

Cunningham told the troopers that he and the girl were just friends who have known each other for years. He also told them the girl's grandmother knew she was out with him, authorities said.

Both of those statements were false, according to the affidavit.

Troopers said the teenager's phone's screensaver was a picture of the two kissing and hugging. When they called the girl's grandmother, she had told them she thought the girl was asleep in her room, the affidavit shows.

Troopers let Cunningham go after the traffic stop, but continued their investigation as they took the teenager back to her home.

RELATED: Suspected kidnapper claimed he thought car, 3-year-old child were his, records show

The teenager allegedly told the investigators that she and Cunningham have regularly had sex since June while her grandmother was at work.

Troopers looked through her phone after receiving permission from the grandmother, according to the affidavit, where they found more intimate photos of the couple.

A warrant was issued for Cunningham's arrest after he allegedly refused to speak with investigators about the relationship on multiple occasions.

He was arrested Wednesday on a $50,000 bond, according to Bexar County Jail records.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA
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Police on Thursday arrested a West Side convenience store employee after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child in the back room of the store.

The victim was heading to school around 8 a.m. and stopped in the convenience store in the 1400 block of West Mariposa Drive. The store is a few blocks away from Neal Elementary School though it's unclear where the child is currently enrolled.

Faraz Ahmad allegedly asked the victim to go to a back room of the store with him to look for some keys. Ahmad, who is in his 40s, then sexually assaulted the child in the back room of the store, authorities said.

RELATED: Records reveal details of cases disgraced SAPD sex crimes detective mishandled

Now Playing: Police on Thursday arrested a West Side convenience store employee after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child in the back room of the store. Video: Caleb Downs, mySA

Officer Doug Greene, a spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department, said the child then returned home and told a parent about what had just happened.

Police later arrested Ahmad at the store without incident. He faces a charge of indecent contact with a child, a second-degree felony.

Greene said it's unclear if the 12-year-old is the sole victim of Ahmad or if there are others.

"We don't know if the child has been in this convenience store many times, and maybe they created some kind of rapport with the suspect, if there was some kind of trust there," Greene said.

RELATED: S.A. man arrested after troopers discovered his alleged relationship with 15-year-old girl

Police ask anyone that has been victimized in a similar manner to call the department's SVU detectives at 210-207-2313.

"Sometimes these victims become very scared and are scared to make an outcry," Greene said. "But we want them to know that we are here to help them."

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns
A standoff with New Braunfels police that led to an elementary school lockdown was resolved after police used bean bag rounds, according to a news release from the department.

On Thursday morning, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Wolfeton Way to respond to a disturbance reported between a man and a woman.
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Authorities arrested a man early Thursday after he led Bexar County deputies on a chase and rammed into a San Antonio police officer's squad car.

The chase began around 12:45 a.m. on Loop 410 when a deputy tried to pull over a driver in a grey SUV, officials said. The driver refused to stop, and the deputy gave chase.

The pursuit wove into a residential neighborhood, where a woman either jumped out or was thrown out of the vehicle, according to authorities. She was not injured.

RELATED: 2 killed, 3 injured in South Bexar County house fire

Near Warpath Street and Quiver Drive on the Northwest Side, the suspect rammed into a police officer's squad car. No one was injured in the crash.

Authorities arrested the suspect on several charges, including evading arrest, assaulting a police officer and drunken driving. Authorities said the SUV he was driving might've been stolen as well.

Deputies took the woman who fell out of the SUV to their headquarters for further questioning.

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
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The San Antonio man accused of kidnapping a toddler Monday apparently believed he was in his own car with his own child, according to court records.

Victor Miguel Torres, 31, allegedly hopped into a running Ford Mustang around 7:20 p.m. near the intersection of South Brazos and Jean streets while the driver went inside a cell phone business to pick up her boyfriend from work.

Inside the Mustang sat 3-year-old Josue Gonzalez.

RELATED: Records reveal details of cases disgraced SAPD sex crimes detective mishandled

Law enforcement authorities were notified of the missing child and an Amber Alert was issued shortly after 8 p.m. to aid the search.

"While officers were searching the entire city for the stolen vehicle, [Torres] called a female friend to tell her that he was driving to Houston with his son in his Mustang," his arrest affidavit says.

The woman had just received the Amber Alert and told Torres that he had the wrong car and child, and that he needed to come back and returned the child. He insisted the car and child were his and continued to head east, authorities said.

RELATED: Elderly woman, 6-year-old boy killed in South Bexar County house fire

According to the arrest affidavit, the woman went to the nearest fire station and told officials there where Torres was heading.

Several hours later, he was stopped by Fayette County deputies in La Grange, Texas, and authorities found Gonzalez, who was unharmed.

Torres was taken to the Fayette County Jail and was later brought to the Bexar County Jail on a kidnapping charge, according to online records. He was booked on a $75,000 bond.

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
We might sum up Trumps recently ended 12-day journey to Asia with a revision of the remark attributed to Julius Caesar: Veni, vidi, blandivi. I came, I saw, I flattered.

Trumps trip was closer to a pilgrimage than a projection of power. The president rarely explained details of U.S. policy. Instead, he mostly asked other leaders for help, lauded their virtues, and embraced their worldviews.

Along the adulation tour, Trump spoke of his really extraordinary relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; his incredibly warm feeling for Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he called a very special man; his great relationship with the very successful Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte; and his empathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose nation is an asset to our country, not a liability.

And the president praised himself at nearly every stop, telling reporters on the way home that the trip had been tremendously successful with incredible achievements.

Trumps trip may indeed prove to be historic, but probably not in the way he intends. It may signal a U.S. accommodation to rising Chinese power, plus a desire to mend fences with a belligerent Russia  with few evident security gains for America. This trip seemed to validate Chinas arrival as a Pacific power.

Trump voiced a clear desire for accommodation with an aggressive Russia, too. Much was made of his regurgitation of Putins denial that he had conducted a covert action against America during last years presidential campaign. President Putin really feels  and he feels strongly  that he did not meddle in our election.

Remarked one former senior CIA official: When the Art of the Deal meets the KGB, the KGB wins.

But far more important than Trumps credulous response to Putin was his eagerness for Moscows help in bolstering Americas global position. Trump has noisily drawn a red line on North Korea, for example, but he evidently needs Russias help, in addition to Chinas, to deliver without going to war. To get Moscows help on North Korea, and Syria, too, Trump seems willing to give Putin a pass.

Heres how Trump put it during a press conference in Hanoi, which may have been the most important statement of the trip: People dont realize Russia has been very, very heavily sanctioned, Trump said. Its now time to get back to healing a world that is shattered and broken.  And I feel that having Russia in a friendly posture, as opposed to always fighting with them, is an asset to the world.

Trumps ingratiating comments come at a time of American strategic disorientation. At a time when Russia, China and Iran are all rapidly advancing their military capabilities, the Trump administration has declaratory policies of military strength  but hasnt yet made the necessary decisions about how it intends to actually combat these potential adversaries.

A blistering summary of the administrations overdue obligation to make strategic decisions to deter Russia and China, as opposed to glad-handing them, came in a little-noted Oct. 27 letter from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Stricken with cancer, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee holds nothing back these days.

We now confront the most complex security environment in 70 years, McCain wrote. Misplaced priorities and acquisition failures have left us without critical defense capabilities to counter increasingly advanced near-peer competitors.

McCain suggested what many analysts have been saying quietly for months. The most worrying thing about Trump isnt his impulsive military threats (though theres reason to be concerned there, too). The deeper fear is that in national security, this administration is an empty suit. It doesnt make decisions. It doesnt set priorities.

Trump is a vain man who flatters others so that he will be stroked himself. If theres a strategic concept underlying his approach, it may be realism married to acquiescence. The Asia trip left me feeling that were watching an American retreat, accompanied by a shiny brass band.

davidignatius@washpost.com
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BRIDGEPORT  Gunshots brought a busy intersection, already affected by a major water main break, to a halt Thursday morning with passersby running for cover as a police officer exchanged gunfire with a robbery suspect who is also a person of interest in the recent shooting of a Stratford bartender.

The man, identified as Jachim Brown, 27, was being treated at St. Vincents Medical Center for a serious wound to his side which he claimed was the result of being shot by the officer.

However, Police Capt. Roderick Porter said that doctors have not confirmed that the man is suffering from a gunshot wound.

At this point, we are not sure whether he was shot or the injury was caused when he got caught on a fence while fleeing, the captain said. At this point, he said, there is no reason to call in the state police, who are often notified when an officer shoots a suspect.

Police did not identify the officer involved in the gunfire exchange.

More for you Bartender shot during Stratford armed robbery

Tuesday night, a masked man entered the BAR on Main Street in Stratford and shot the bartender, Regi Woodard, during a robbery, police said. The bartender was shot in the abdomen and so far has been through two surgeries.

Police sources said they believe there is a connection between that shooting and the man arrested Thursday morning.

Porter said Stratford police were to talk to the man but wouldnt comment further.

The captain did confirm that the wounded man is a suspect in a number of other robberies in the city.

Porter said the police officer was working an overtime assignment at the site of Mondays water main break when he spotted the man running from the EbLens footwear store. The officer, apparently becoming aware that the store had been robbed, gave chase and, during the foot pursuit, the suspect and the officer exchanged fire, he said.

Police said they arrested the suspect a short time later on Chestnut Street where he had collapsed. He was taken to the hospital by police officers.

Customers took refuge in the Azteca Market, a Mexican grocery store about 100 feet away.

I saw the guy ran past the door, said an employee of the Azteca Market, who asked that his name not be used. He ran away (then) came back, with an officer behind him who yelled shut the door.

A gun apparently used in the robbery was later found in the grocery stores loading bay, the employee said. Money that appeared to be from the shoe store was on the ground by a dumpster.

It is really terrifying because of all thats happened in the country, seeing a person with a gun, said a female Azteca Market Employee, referencing recent mass shootings in California and Texas.

Geraldine Johnson Elementary and Columbus School were temporarily placed in lock-in lock-out.

At the shopping center where the shoe store sits, one side of the parking lot has been inaccessible since Monday when a water main burst North Avenue and Park Avenue.

The intersection closed and now (the store) is a crime scene so you can imagine it hasnt been a good week, the male employee said.

For the rest of the morning, the Pequonnock Street entrance to the shopping center was blocked off by patrol cars and crime tape.
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San Franciscos Recreation and Park Commission voted 4-2 Thursday to strip Justin Hermans name from the plaza on the Embarcadero thats borne the name of the controversial and once-powerful bureaucrat for more than four decades.

Its the second time in less than a month that the commission has voted on the issue in response to growing criticism of Hermans contentious legacy and calls to rededicate the plaza to a less divisive public figure.

An unusual clerical error at the commissions Oct. 19 meeting forced the second vote. Before departing the commissions October meeting early for another engagement, Commissioner Eric McDonnell stated his clear support for renaming the plaza, but he left before a roll-call vote was taken.

The commissions secretary improperly counted him as voting in favor of changing the plazas name, however, as instructed by commission President Mark Buell. Without McDonnells vote, there was actually a 3-3 tie, meaning no action could be taken. Buell apologized for the confusion around the vote.

Herman served as the influential executive director of the citys Redevelopment Agency from 1959 until he died in 1971. The plaza was dedicated in his honor in 1972.

Hermans vexed history in the city traces back to him spearheading the razing of 60 square blocks of the Western Addition in the 1960s in the name of urban renewal. The program had particularly dire consequences for that neighborhoods African American and Japanese American communities  thousands were displaced as their homes and businesses were leveled.

Board of Supervisors President London Breed, who grew up in the Western Addition and has been a vocal proponent of removing Hermans name from the plaza, said she was glad the commission got it right this time around.

Until a new name is chosen for the space, which could take months, it will be known as Embarcadero Plaza.

Buell and Commissioner Gloria Bonilla voted for a second time against changing the plazas name. Buell, who worked with Herman in the late 1960s and 1970, has said that Herman was being unfairly demonized for a set of admittedly misguided policies for which he was not alone responsible. Bonilla said she found Buells arguments persuasive and that she didnt believe the commission had deliberated sufficiently on this matter.

Commissioner Kat Anderson voted against changing the plazas name in October, but switched her vote Thursday. She said that she had supported renaming the plaza but opposed the placeholder name of Embarcadero Plaza, calling it generic and selected without input from the public.

Commissioners Allan Low and Tom Harrison also voted to remove Hermans name. Commissioner Larry Mazzola was absent.

Calls to scrub Hermans name from the plaza intensified in recent months. In September, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution urging the park commission to rededicate the space.

Efforts to rechristen the plaza have waxed and waned for years. In 2001, then-Supervisor Chris Daly proposed removing Hermans name from the space, but the issue did not come to a vote. In 2015, a citizens campaign to rename the space after poet Maya Angelou failed to gain traction.

Also Thursday, the commission approved $8.9 million in upgrades for McLaren Park, the citys second-largest patch of open space. The funds will be used to build a restroom and multiuse courtyard and for improvements to the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre, among other upgrades. A plan to spend $2 million to close some of the parks trails and widen others to accommodate cyclists was met with strong opposition from some of McLarens most strident supporters.

The park department said the trails need improvements to accommodate more users and to protect the parks natural habitats. Critics are concerned that any tampering with the trails would diminish the parks untamed character. An unofficial online petition opposing the park departments plans for the trails has gathered more than 900 signatures.

Exactly which trails would be closed or widened has yet to be determined by park department staff, which will return to the commission at a later date with more detailed plans.

This is a park in our system that has long been neglected. Its unfortunate that its taken so long to get here, McDonnell said.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer is bumping up his $20 million effort to get President Trump impeached with a new nationwide ad blasting the president and the Republican-led Congress for their proposed tax plan.

They wont tell you that their so-called tax reform plan is really for the wealthy and big corporations while hurting the middle class, Steyer, wearing jeans and a work shirt with the sleeves rolled up, said in the ad shot at his Pescadero ranch. Its up to all of us to stand up to this president, not just for impeachable offenses, but also to demand a country where everyone has a real chance to succeed.

The ad, which began running Thursday, is the second piece calling for Trumps ouster. So far, Steyer has put an estimated $20 million into urging people to endorse an impeachment petition at NeedToImpeach.com. According to Steyer and his aides, about 2.3 million people have signed the online petition.

The new ad is far more personal than the first pro-impeachment spot Steyer began running last month, one that prompted Trump to dub him wacky & totally unhinged Tom Steyer in an Oct. 27 tweet.

In the new piece, Steyer, 60, sits outdoors at his ranch and talks into the camera, recalling the 2008 financial crash.

It turned out that the system that had benefited people like me, who are well off, was in fact stacked against everyone else. Its why I left my investment firm and resolved to use my savings for the public good, he said. But here we are, nine years later, and this president and a Republican Congress are making a bad situation even worse.

In recent years, Steyer has been one of the nations biggest donors to Democratic causes, giving more than $160 million to Democratic campaigns, and liberal and progressive causes, since 2014, according to the nonpartisan Open Secrets website. He put millions into the recent Virginia governors race, helping Democrat Ralph Northam to a surprisingly easy victory.

But his multimillion-dollar leap into the impeachment question may be a step too far for many Democratic leaders.

On ABCs This Week Sunday, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez took pains not to endorse Steyers effort, although he didnt walk away, either.

When asked by ABCs Martha Raddatz whether he supported Steyers call for Trumps impeachment or would prefer that Steyer backed off, Perez walked a narrow and careful line.

Tom Steyer has a right to do whatever he feels he needs to do, Perez said. And Tom Steyer invested a lot of money in Virginia and elsewhere. And I applaud his efforts in investing, in organizing and in helping elect Democrats.

The Republican Partys view was a bit stronger.

At this point, Tom Steyer should just light his money on fire, said Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Ahrens. Even Democrats like Nancy Pelosi are calling his baseless ad campaign a distraction, referring to reports that House Speaker Pelosi has said that privately.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
By Frank Beard

Discussions about online presence often assume that convenience retailers have already taken steps in that direction. But what about those who havent? As I learned firsthand during my recent road trip to the NACS Show, it can become a serious obstacle for potential customers.

Rather than flying to the NACS Show, I drove more than 1,100 miles from New Orleans to Chicago with Gas Station Gourmets Al Hebert. It was a chance to collaborate and visit some of this countrys best convenience retailersand enjoy some delicious food along the way. (You can read more about this journey in the January 2018 issue of NACS Magazine.)

I began by creating a list of stations using a custom Google Maps layer. Most locations were sourced from a combination of online articles, recommendations from industry contacts, and searches on Google and GasBuddy. At first, I worried that I may have over-planned by adding too many stations.

But I was wrong.

Since I didnt want to waste valuable travel time by showing up at stations before or after they began foodservice, I tried to confirm their hours ahead of time. I typically did this either by calling or checking the hours of operation on mobile apps. But many of the stores along the way lacked even the most basic information on Google, GasBuddy, Facebook, and Yelpinformation like phone numbers, when they open and close, and in some cases, an updated address. As a result, I was left to wonder if they were even in business.

In one instance, we tried to inquire about a store near Jackson, Mississippi. I did find a phone number on Google Maps, but nobody answered when I called. I also checked the ratings for an indication of recent activitya review in the past week or month, for example, would indicate that the store is probably in businessbut the few existing reviews were too old to be relevant.

Was this store closed? Was it open? I wasnt sure, but we decided to drive somewhere else.

I grew concerned as this continued to happen, because todays consumers expect this information to be readily available. 77% of Americans own smartphones, according to the Pew Research Center. When they cant find something as simple as the hours of operation, it comes across as confusing and negligentprecisely the wrong way to begin the customer experience.

The lack of online presence also prevents great stores from being discovered by people who might enjoy them. We stumbled upon one store with high-quality, homemade barbecue, but neither of us had ever heard of the store despite our extensive research and planning. I searched for it on my phone after we leftwondering if Id just overlooked itbut I found nothing. The store was invisible. I wondered how many drivers might have pulled off the interstate if they knew it was there.

The NACS Convenience Matters podcast has featured both Frank and Al.

Frank Beard is a regular NACS Daily contributor who has traveled to more than 1,000 convenience stores in 24 states. He raised awareness of the industry's healthful food options with his "30 Days of Gas Station Food" experiment, and he's an analyst/evangelist for convenience store and retail trends at GasBuddy. Follow Frank on Twitter at @FrankBeard.
Clonmel mayor Catherine Carey has confirmed she will seek the nomination to become Sinn Fein's Tipperary constituency candidate in the next general election in the wake of Nenagh based Cllr Seamus Morris' resignation from the party last week due to a bitter dispute with other party members.

Cllr Carey has thrown her hat into the ring after Thurles based Cllr Damien Doran revealed his interest in contesting the next general election for Sinn Fein during an interview on local radio.

Their declarations of interest in running for the Dail follow a week of turmoil in the Tipperary party organisation after their 2016 general election candidate Cllr Morris resigned. He will continue to represent the Nenagh area as an Independent councillor.

Cllr Morris secured the Sinn Fein candidacy for the 2016 general election after defeating both Cllr Carey and Cashel Cllr Martin Browne at the party's candidate selection convention in Halla na Feile in Cashel.

Cllr Martin Browne told The Nationalist he was considering whether to put his name forward again to be chosen as Sinn Fein's next Tipperary general election candidate. He said he would have to consult his family and local party members before making a final decision.

Meanwhile, Cllr Carey said she believed she was the right woman to take on the job of being Sinn Fein's next general election candidate for Tipperary. She said she will be speaking at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis on the issue of child poverty in the RDS in Dublin this weekend.
Three Tipperary pubs are in the running to be named Ireland's cosiest pub with a welcoming fire.

A cosy fire has long been at the centre of an Irish winter. From cold winter nights spent socialising around the fireplace to the great Irish tradition of sharing music and craic around a roaring fire, the Bord na Mona Hearth Sessions are a celebration of those warmer winter moments with friends and family.

This year, Bord na Mona is set to ignite even more of these moments as they invite pubs with the cosiest firesides across the country to compete for the chance to host an intimate acoustic Hearth Session of their own and three pubs in Tipperary have been shortlisted - Gleesons in Clonmel, The White House Bar and Restaurant in Roscrea and OConnors Bar in Carrick-on-Suir.

O'Connors, Carrick on Suir.

Now in its second year, the Hearth Sessions will feature a stellar line up of Irish talent with Little Hours, Stephanie Rainey and Ye Vagabonds playing acoustic sets against the backdrop of a roaring Bord na Mona fire in the first week of December.

Supported by the Vintners Federation of Ireland, pubs across the country were invited to participate, heroing their own hearth, to host one of three, hotly anticipated Hearth Sessions.

Votes can now be cast on the Bord na Mona Fuels Facebook page up to November 20th. You can get behind the Tipperary pubs and vote for your favourite to host a Hearth Session by visiting www.facebook.com/bordnamonafuels page and commenting below your pubs image telling why you think it would be the perfect place for an intimate fireside gig.

The White House, Roscrea.

Once the social media comments have been counted, Bord na Mona will help the winning pubs to celebrate by hosting their very own Hearth Session. The winning pubs will depend solely on social media votes so make sure to get liking and voting to secure a Hearth Session in the cosy surroundings of your local. Check out Bord na Mona Facebook page for more details on how to vote www.facebook.com/bordnamonafuels.
By PTI

KOTA (RAJASTHAN): Six of the eight persons detained on Tuesday night in connection with the vandalising of a cinema hall here were arrested late last night while two of them were released after interrogation, police said.

The six accused were on Wednesday afternoon produced before a court that sent them to judicial custody till November 19.

The police have booked about 30 to 40 others in connection with the case, an official said.

Over 50 activists of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had on Tuesday created ruckus and vandalised a cinema hall in the Aakash Mall near the Aerodrome circle under Gumanpura police station area for allegedly screening a trailer of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed 'Padmavati'.

Police had to use force to disperse the activists from the cinema hall.

Eight persons were detained following the incident yesterday evening, said Anand Yadav, Circle Incharge (CI), Gumanpura police station.

Karni Sena vandalised Aakash Mall in Kota protesting Padmavati's trailer being shown at the Cinema Hall #Rajasthan (NOTE: Strong language) pic.twitter.com/web5T0ewtC  ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2017

Two of the eight detained were released after the preliminary interrogation while six others allegedly involved in violence and causing damage were arrested, he said.

"The six arrested were identified as Pradeep Saini, Hamendra Singh, Digvijay Singh, Kunal Jangid, Ved Prakash and Vijay Pal Singh, who were today evening produced before a local court that sent them to judicial custody till November 19," Yadav said.

At least 16 motorbikes and two four wheelers were also seized, he said.

"At least 30 to 40 others involved in the vandalising and causing damage in the cinema hall in Aakash Mall have also been booked," he added.

Over fifty activists of Karni Sena on Tuesday afternoon around 3. 20 pm reached cinema hall in Aakash Mall and created ruckus and vandalised the counters, booking windows, glass gates and office furniture.

Meanwhile, students unions on Wednesday have also jumped into the ongoing protest against the Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh starrer.

Students of government arts college led by college union president Lekhraj Yogi on Wednesday demonstrated against the release of the movie and burnt an effigy of its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

KOTA (RAJASTHAN): Six of the eight persons detained on Tuesday night in connection with the vandalising of a cinema hall here were arrested late last night while two of them were released after interrogation, police said. The six accused were on Wednesday afternoon produced before a court that sent them to judicial custody till November 19. The police have booked about 30 to 40 others in connection with the case, an official said. Over 50 activists of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had on Tuesday created ruckus and vandalised a cinema hall in the Aakash Mall near the Aerodrome circle under Gumanpura police station area for allegedly screening a trailer of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed 'Padmavati'. Police had to use force to disperse the activists from the cinema hall. Eight persons were detained following the incident yesterday evening, said Anand Yadav, Circle Incharge (CI), Gumanpura police station. Karni Sena vandalised Aakash Mall in Kota protesting Padmavati's trailer being shown at the Cinema Hall #Rajasthan (NOTE: Strong language) pic.twitter.com/web5T0ewtC  ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2017 Two of the eight detained were released after the preliminary interrogation while six others allegedly involved in violence and causing damage were arrested, he said. "The six arrested were identified as Pradeep Saini, Hamendra Singh, Digvijay Singh, Kunal Jangid, Ved Prakash and Vijay Pal Singh, who were today evening produced before a local court that sent them to judicial custody till November 19," Yadav said. At least 16 motorbikes and two four wheelers were also seized, he said. "At least 30 to 40 others involved in the vandalising and causing damage in the cinema hall in Aakash Mall have also been booked," he added. Over fifty activists of Karni Sena on Tuesday afternoon around 3. 20 pm reached cinema hall in Aakash Mall and created ruckus and vandalised the counters, booking windows, glass gates and office furniture. Meanwhile, students unions on Wednesday have also jumped into the ongoing protest against the Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh starrer. Students of government arts college led by college union president Lekhraj Yogi on Wednesday demonstrated against the release of the movie and burnt an effigy of its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
On November 16, 2017, Queen Maxima of The Netherlands attended the FinTech Festival in Singapore. The festival was attended by more than 25,000 participants from 100 countries and is organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as part of the city-state's ambitions to become a global leader in the use of technology to make financial transactions easier. Queen Maximae gave a speech at the launch.
Biden: Deadly missile that hit Poland 'unlikely' to have come from Russia
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Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
You may be the biggest star in the country, but when you are travelling with the Chief Minister of Bengal, you have to settle with the back seat of a humble Hyundai Santro.

Shah Rukh Khan, the brand ambassador of Bengal and owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, was in Kolkata to inaugurate the Kolkata International Film Festival. His host and the Chief Minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, who shares a special bond with Khan, came personally to drop him at the airport, Scroll.in reported.

Khan who enjoys all the luxuries of the world was seated in the backseat of CM's Hyundai Santro as paparazzi captured the moment on film.

Mamata Didi dropping off SRK in her small car  Wonder how long ago @iamsrk travelled in such a vehicle ? @quizderek pic.twitter.com/LbVrkLQY9v  Pratap Bose (@pratap_bose) November 15, 2017

The video captures the special bond between Banerjee and Khan as the CM gets down first, opens Khan's door while Khan goes ahead and touches her feet to seek her blessings. An animated onlooker even goes on to ask the most desi question ever to Khan. "Shah Rukhji, last kab chadha tha itna chhota gadi mein?" When was the last time you rode in such a small car? As the video surfaced on Twitter, social media had some kind words for the two.

No CM in India has been or will be as humble as Mamata Di. Opens door before car stops..The Great movie star realises this is a unique gesture of love and appreciation and not show of power. This is just Wow !  Prakash Jaisingh (@PixyJaisingh) November 16, 2017

true class....mamata di opens her door herself....srk touches her feet.....like wow  vishaal kejriwal (@vishaalkej) November 15, 2017

Its not about the size of the car.. its the size of the heart. A CM dropping off a great movie star to the airport bcoz she thinks he is getting late for the flight . This is superb. Didi is wow !!  Prakash Jaisingh (@PixyJaisingh) November 16, 2017

SRK knows what & whom to value  Neil Bhattacherjee (@NeilBhattacher1) November 16, 2017

Interestingly, the first ever Hyundai product that Shah Rukh advertised for was the Santro hatchback, which turned out to become Hyundai's most successful product in India. Company's current brand ambassador, Khan, who first partnered with the South Korean carmaker in 1998, enjoys one of the longest Carmaker-Brand Ambassador partnerships yet.
It is no secret that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's English is more polished than the most of us. Sassy Tharoor as Buzzfeed India calls him, has enticed us all with his excellent oratory skills.

"Farrago of distortions and misrepresentations," Tharoor's response to Arnab Goswami's Republic TV sent the nation scurrying to find a dictionary.

Tharoor's immense popularity and charm has now earned him a marriage proposal. When the members and supporters of the LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender) groups walked the Delhi's 10th Queer Pride march in New Delhi on Sunday, a photo of a guy, Surya HK, holding a sign that read, "Shashi Tharoor, Marry Me," surfaced on the Internet.

And its not only him  #pride2017 #prideparade #dqp #loveislove #delhiqueerpride #love A post shared by Tarun Bora (@paharimonk) on Nov 12, 2017 at 11:50am PST

A magazine brought the proposal to Tharoor's attention on the microblogging site.

"Mr. Shashi Tharoor you should really see this. You have a huge fan following... #DelhiQueerPride2017"

Mr. Shashi Tharoor you should really see this. You have a huge fan following... #DelhiQueerPride2017 pic.twitter.com/so9O036a9B Gaylaxy (@GaylaxyMagazine) November 12, 2017

And Tharoor had the perfect response.

He wrote, "Haha! Now if they were only registered to vote in Thiruvananthapuram, it would be even better!"

Haha! Now if they were only registered to vote in Thiruvananthapuram, it would be even better! https://t.co/kGzj3T1mf9 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 13, 2017

Talking to MensXP, Surya explained the reason behind his proposal. The reasons are obvious... he is articulate, erudite, charming and speaks up on issues that matter to the country. A true secular, democratic patriot politician in the age of pseudo-secularism and hyper-nationalism, he is a breath of fresh air. Most importantly, he stands up and speaks out in Parliament for the rights and equality of the LGBTQI+ community.

Needless to say, Tharoor's response was lauded on Twitter. Some even want him as the next PM of India.

Be the next PM candidate!!!! We will vote for you!!!!! Please MR Tharoor. We need educated politicians. Be the change Akash(FreakShow) (@ghumakkarladka) November 13, 2017

I wish I was eligible for voting in India... this guy is wowsome Sofia (@_macaryos) November 13, 2017

I reckon you should be the next PM Aditya Mendiratta (@adimendiratta) November 14, 2017

Such a sweet gesture by your fans... Jaishree (@top_gun55) November 13, 2017

Wow !! Awesome ! Saurabh Suchak (@SaurabhSuchak) November 13, 2017

What a lovely & apt reply , so positive proud to know you sir in our lives . Kishander K S (@KishanderIsabel) November 13, 2017

Yes you would make a great Pime MInister.. Vinod Kumar Anand (@viadit123) November 15, 2017

In case you missed it, here are some glorious pictures from Delhi's 10th Queer Pride march.

Photo credits: AP | PTI Photo Vijay Verma
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea seeking stay on the nationwide release of 'An Insignificant Man', based on the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party.

The movie is set to be released on Friday.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud dismissed the petition by Nachiketa Walhekar, who had allegedly thrown ink at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in 2013, saying that freedom of speech and expression is sacrosanct and it should not be ordinarily interfered with.

This comes at a time when Sanjay Leela Bhansali's big budget epic 'Padmavati' has run into similar opposition from Rajput groups who claim the film hurts the community's sentiments.

The Shri Rajput Karni Sena on Wednesday called for a 'Bharat Bandh' (shutdown) on December 1, if Padmavati releases on that date.

The counsel appearing for Walhekar alleged that he has been depicted as a convict in the case despite the fact that the trial in that matter was still pending before a lower court here, PTI reported.

The counsel claimed that the movie has tarnished the image of the petitioner and the court should direct the filmmakers to put a disclaimer that the trial in the ink-throwing case was still pending.

The bench, however, refused to direct the Central Board of Film Certification to stay the release of the movie.

"The courts have to be extremely slow to pass any kind of orders in such situations and should allow a creative man to enjoy in writing a drama, philosophy and book of any kind or project it in on celluloid or theatre," the bench said.

"It's worthy to mention that Freedom of Speech and Expression is sacrosanct and the said right should not be ordinarily interfered with," the apex court said.

(With PTI inputs)
Kolkata: With a production volume of over 2 crore rasogollas everyday and the newly acquired precious GI tag, the West Bengal government doesnt want anything about this quintessential Bengali sweet to fall short. Thus, the government is now looking at forming a panel to monitor quality control of rasogollas made in the state.

The committee will ensure that those who wish to make the branded Banglar Rasogolla, also manage to get the very essential softness, cohesiveness, springiness and chewiness that make rasogollas synonymous with the Bengali identity.

As desired by the Bengal government, the committee will make sure that all rasogollas in the state live up to its catch line: One Is Not Enough.

Days after Banglar Rasogolla was handed the GI (Geographical Indications) tag after a two-year bitter legal battle with neighbours Odisha, the state government moved to ensure that all rasogolla makers abide by the government specifications.

The state government will soon apply for the Banglar Rasogolla brand before the Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

With 2 crore rasogollas being made every day, the state earns a yearly revenue of Rs 3,600 crores from this very simple sweet.

Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks and GI, Chinnaraja G Naidu said, As per our specifications, the Banglar Rasogolla has to be made of pure channa, white flour is just not allowed in the recipe. The concentration of sugar should be between 30-40% and weight of each sweet should be around 10 grams. The syrup should be transparent in texture. There should be no microbes and hygiene standards should be very high.

State secretariat sources said, officials of the West Bengal State Food Processing & Horticulture Development Corporation Limited (WBSFP), Horticulture Development Corporation Limited (HDCL) and West Bengal State Council of Science and Technology (WBSCST) would check the quality.

Those who want to use the Banglar Rasogolla tag will have to meet all these parameters. If found selling inferior quality rasogolla using the GI tag, then on behalf of the association, we will take action against the sellers and also report the matter to the state inspection committee, Ram Chaurasia, President of Paschim Banga Mistanna Byabasayee Samity said.

It was learnt that after rasogolla, the state government is also planning to get GI tags for other delectable sweets from Bengal like Kheer Singara, Pantua, Sarpuria and Jal Bhora.

On November 14, the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry under Ministry of Commerce and Industries announced that the origin of rasogolla was in West Bengal and not Odisha.

The battle over rasogolla had turned worse when Odishas Science and Technology Minister Pradip Kumar Panigrahi set up several committees to trace the origin of rasogolla in 2015 and claimed that it was in Odisha. They also declared July 30 as Rasagolla Dibasa to celebrate its origin.

Then Bengal government too set up a committee in retaliation and decided to fight it legally. Then Mamata Banerjee government, while referring to 19th century origin of rasogolla, established that it was created by Nabin Chandra Das, a famous sweetmeat maker in 1868.
New Delhi: BJP leader Shiv Kumar and his security guard were on Thursday shot dead by bike borne assailants in Greater Noida's Bisrakh area.

According to sources, Kumar owns two schools in Haibatpur village and was returning from one of them when bikers intercepted them and started shooting. He was with a driver and two personal security guards.

Bike-borne assailants overtook Shiv Kumar's SUV and sprayed bullets at the vehicle. (Photo: CNN-News18 grab)

The shooters reportedly kept firing at the car for about half a km. It finally ended after Kumars SUV rammed into the median verge. Kumar died on the spot and a guard was also killed in the firing. The two other occupants of the car were also injured and have been taken to a private hospital.

Police sources said they suspect a property dispute to be the motive behind the murder.
New Delhi: Some embassies are considering whether to call Delhi a hardship posting because of the smog. Another one, the Costa Rican Ambassador has fled to safer environs of Bengaluru. And the envoy from Mexico, whose capital was once the most polluted city in the world, has asked Indians to move beyond politics and fight pollution.

The Mexican Ambassador Melba Pria while speaking to CNN News18 said, Theres no politics when it comes to immunization. Why? Because its about our children. In the same way everyone should come together to fight pollution. Why do cars exported out of India to Mexico have catalytic convertors but the ones used in India dont? she asks.

She further laments, According to the WHO 2.5 million people die in India due to pollution. 10 out of the 25 most polluted cities in the world are in India. Are these medals we want to proudly carry? She would know. Her city, Mexico City was ranked the most polluted city in the world by the WHO in 1992.

But over the years Mexico City has implemented a contingency action plan which kicks into force every time the Air Quality Index crosses 130. In Delhi, that limit is crossed almost every day.

The blog post of the Costa Rican Ambassador to India, Mariela Cruz Alvarez has gone viral after she declared that she had moved out of Delhi to the more environmentally friendly Bangalore. But News18 learns that shes not the only one. Many diplomats have already left or are planning to leave soon because of the extremely high levels of pollution seen in Delhi this season.

The Costa Rican Ambassador wrote in her blog, I am sick with a serious upper respiratory infection due to New Delhis unbreathable air. My tropical lungs couldnt take the toll. It is not funny to see your lungs expelling a dark residue as if I was a smoker  which I am not. ..We need to wake up fast. India I love you and it hurts me to see you drowning in loads of plastic and toxic air. Where is the leadership? Clean air and water are basic human rights.

Thats not all. Most embassies are reporting an increased number of sick leaves among its staff. A few of them have also got rid off non-essential staff. Some foreign missions are also considering whether to ask their governments to declare Delhi as a hardship posting.

Chutintorn Gongsakdi, the Thai ambassador to India, last week sent a letter to Bangkok, asking whether Delhi can be declared as a hardship posting. Many countries pay hardship allowance for its diplomats serving in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Some stations are also tagged non-family postings, which is a notch below a hardship posting. Kabul and Islamabad are both non-family stations. Many fear if Delhi doesnt do something on an urgent basis, then it too, could go the same way as its neighbours to the west.
New Delhi: Five judges decide an issue unanimously. Can this judgment be overruled by a 4:3 majority? Will the unanimous decision of five judges have lesser strength than the four judges on the subsequent bench?

The answer is yes since the latter is a seven-judge bench.

As a matter of practice, the Supreme Court has been of the opinion that views of four judges will prevail over five judges in such a situation.

But decades on, a Supreme Court bench has questioned the rationale of deciding judicial precedents in this manner as it appealed for a review of the convention.

"Has the time come to tear the judicial veil and hold that in reality a view of five learned Judges cannot be overruled by a view of four learned judges speaking for a bench of seven learned judges? This is a question which needs to be addressed and answered," held a bench of justices Rohinton F Nariman and Sanjay K Kaul.

In a recent judgment, the two judges have noted that it is high time that an authoritative principle is laid down on how and when a judgment is to be considered as overruled by a larger bench since numeric strength of judges apparently is the basis of determining precedents.

According to the bench, the time has come to "tear the judicial veil" and examine that views expresses by a certain number of judges should matter and not the strength of the bench that delivers judgment at a later time.

As majority opinion is the law as envisaged under Article 145(5) of the Constitution, the court has now questioned if the majority of only the subsequent benches should be the guiding factor.

Justices Nariman and Kaul have referred the issue to a larger bench, requesting the Chief Justice of India to constitute an appropriate bench. In all likelihood, a Constitution Bench, comprising at least five judges, will now decide.

The question came up before the two-judge bench as it dealt with a batch of taxation cases. The cases involved two lines of judgments by the apex court.

Interestingly, the bench discovered that numerically, the views were divided by 9:6 if one went by the number of judges. But since the view taken by six judges included a larger bench, what the nine judges had held was not the precedent on the point of law.

The two judges said that this conundrum in so far as the doctrine of precedent qua this court is concerned, should be resolved by setting up an appropriate bench so that a more suitable rule of procedure is arrived at by the top court, which is the final word in pronouncing judicial precedents.

This bench referred to similar issues raised by Justice Madan B Lokur in his separately authored judgment in the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) case.

Justice Lokur had then questioned whether only the numbers in a subsequent bench are what really matters. He had also cited the dangers of following this rule by pointing out that if this were to hold the field then unanimous opinion by nine judges in the Third Judges Case (that established primacy of the Chief Justice of India in appointing judges) could be conveniently overruled by only six judges in a 11-judge bench.

Justices Nariman and Kaul referred to this anomalous situation referred to by Justice Lokur in his 2015 judgment and said that the larger bench should now remove all the incongruities and lay down a principle to guide the judges in future.

Interestingly, during a more recent hearing, another Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi also came across a similar situation while hearing a PIL that has sought lifetime ban on convicted legislators.

Justice Gogoi, too, noticed that although a particular view had been adopted by more number of judges, their judgment was treated as overruled by a divided opinion of majority in the larger bench.

Senior advocate V Mohana had then apprised Justice Gogoi that the issue now stood referred to the Constitution Bench by Justice Narimans bench.
Lucknow: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reached Ayodhya on Wednesday and met the chief of Ram Janam Bhumi Nyas, Mahant Nrityagopal Das. Sri Sri said that the issue was an old one, and cannot be resolved quickly.

The issue is an age-old one, and it might take some time to resolve. It will only be solved via dialogue. Right now, I dont have any formula, but yes, everybody will be taken into confidence, only then can anything be worked out. The message of brotherhood is also important today.

After meeting Mahant Nrityagopal Das, Ravi Shankar went to Hanumangarhi and visited Ram Lala amid chants of Jai Shree Ram. The environment today is positive and both the sides want to resolve the issue. I know it will not be easy, but I will try to work out a way after speaking to everyone, he said.

During his visit to Hanumangarhi, Ravi Shankar said, It is not right to say that its solution will come out immediately. Today it is necessary to give a message of harmony. It may take two to three months or even 6 months to resolve it. But both communities have given positive response to solve this dispute through dialogue. We are confident that we will resolve this dispute soon.

I have not come to Ayodhya with any formula, I will be speaking with all the people who are involved. There are different kinds of people involved and resolution can be worked out only when everyone is convinced, stated Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

At the same time, Mahant Nrityagopal Das, Chief of Ram Janambhumi Nyas, after meeting with spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said the people and saints of Ayodhya welcome Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on his arrival. We wish good luck to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his initiative to resolve such a trivial issue by making a consensus between all the parties. Even we want that the issue be resolved in a peaceful manner, he said.

After his meeting with Mahant Nrityagopal Das, Sri Sri was scheduled to meet saints from the Nirmohi Akhada. However, Mahant Dinendra Das and Sant Sitaram said that the Ayodhya dispute can only be solved only when politics was not done on the same.

During his Ayodhya visit, Ravi Shankar will also meet litigants in Babri case Iqbal Ansari and Haji Mehboob. Speaking to media, Iqbal Ansari said that Sri Sri is welcome in Ayodhya. He should come and visit Ram Lala, but the solution in this dispute will only be through court. I will meet Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and try to understand the formula first. However, the chances of any kind of negotiations are very low, said Iqbal Ansari.
New Delhi: India witnessed an 18 per cent surge in terror-related casualties in 2016 as compared to the previous year and has been ranked eighth in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report released Wednesday.

Although 340 deaths from terrorism were recorded in 2016 alone, the figures were still the third-lowest since 2000. The GTI report is released annually by the Sydney-based Institute for Economics & Peace.

The report said that though there has been a palpable dip in terror-related deaths in the last couple of years, the number of terror attacks have actually increased 16 per cent over the last year. A total of 929 terror-related incidents were reported in the country as compared to 800 in 2015.

However, India still has the lowest rate of deaths per attack among the top 10 countries that are most impacted by terror-related violence. India had an average of 0.4 deaths per attack compared to 2.7 deaths per attack for the rest of the other countries that figure in the top 10.

The report elaborated that most of the non-lethal explosions were designed to attract people and the governments attention and aimed at evoking a shock-and-awe effect. In fact, such blasts were intentionally carried out some distance away from crowded places to lessen the impact.

Maoist rebels, operating in the red corridor in central and eastern India, remained the biggest challenge for Indias security apparatus. According to the report, Maoist groups were behind the highest number of blasts and were responsible for over 50% terror-related deaths.

The alarming figures raised questions about union home minister Rajnath Singhs claim that the country would be rid of Maoist insurgency by 2022.

Police and civilians were the predominant target of Maoist rebels as they accounted for over 50 per cent of all attacks and 88 per cent of deaths last year, the report said.

On the issue of Islamist terrorism in the country, the report cited dispute with Pakistan over Jammu & Kashmir as the primary reason behind a spike in violence.

Despite numerous international sanctions - Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT), founded by Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, headed by Syed Salahuddin - remained the two deadliest terror groups.

The report said that LeT, which mainly operates out of Pakistan, was responsible for 30 deaths in as many as 20 attacks last year. Hizbul Mujahideen, on the other hand, was responsible for five deaths.

The report also revealed the role of various ethnic secessionist movements that are causing terror-related deaths in the country. For instance, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the report said, was responsible for 15 deaths, while United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) militants claimed 7 lives last year.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen and Somali are ranked first to seventh, respectively, in the 2017 terror index.
Washington: Cities in north India and Pakistan will continue to experience dangerous level of smog-filled pollution over the next several months and the region is just entering its smog season, a top American atmospheric organisation has said.

"This is just the start to the smog season in northern India and Pakistan, as the monsoon will last for much of the upcoming winter. That means there are plenty of more opportunities for cold, stagnant air to fill with pollution, turning cities into dangerously unhealthy snow globes," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

NOAA released satellite pictures and explained the reasons behind such a polluting atmosphere in major parts of north India and Pakistan.

Widespread smog caused by the combustion of fuels, and the burning of crops and fires made it dangerous to be outside in cities in northern India and Pakistan, it said.

For air to get this polluted, in addition to needing a good amount of human help from the combustion of fuels and burning of crops and garbage, there needs to be specific atmospheric conditions that let the air remain still enough for pollution accumulate, it said.

"This stagnation occurs when there is an inversion layer in the atmosphere," NOAA said.

An inversion layer refers to instances where the air does not cool as one moves up in the atmosphere, it explained. "Instead, warmer air sits on top of denser, colder air near the ground. Since that cold air has no place to go thanks to the warm lid placed atop it, it just sits there gathering pollution like a hazy snow-globe," NOAA said.

So, in late fall across the Indian sub-continent, the Northeast Monsoon is beginning to take hold, it said, adding that, the Northeast monsoon is driven by temperatures differences between the land and surrounding waters.

At this time of year, the large landmass to the north begins to cool down considerably forming a dense, cold air mass known as the Siberia high pressure system.

Meanwhile the waters off of India remain warm. This contrast draws northerly winds across northern India, bringing cold air down off the Tibetan Plateau. The cold air settles into the valleys, creating inversions, NOAA said.

Referring to satellite images, NOAA said the widespread burning of crop fields in northern India contributed to dangerous levels of air pollution in cities across northern India and Pakistan.

At the US Embassy in New Delhi, hourly AQI values for PM2.5 taken on November 7 through 10 exceeded 500 with an astounding recording of 1010 at 4PM local time on November 8.

Hourly readings still peaked in the Hazardous category (301-500 AQI) through November 14. Meanwhile, the highest hourly AQI value in the United States on November 14was around 150 in Hidden Valley, Arizona, it said.
Chennai: His party is not yet launched, but fans and supporters of Kamal Haasan have already started pooling in the money to fund it. The actor, however, has decided to return the funds he has received till now, saying he cannot take the money before the party is formally launched.

In his weekly column for a Tamil news magazine, Haasan said it would be illegal for him to keep the money without the part being formed, or even named. "I am returning the cash people have been sending. It is illegal to keep the money without any infrastructure. The party has to be formed first and we should name the party before collecting funds from the people.

The actor, however, clarified that this should not be seen as a U-turn on his decision to join politics. This does not mean that I am backtracking. This doesn't mean I wont accept money. We need to build a strong foundation so that the movement functions well even after me. It is not a move towards any seat. My wish is that Tamil Nadu should develop first, he said.

Haasans column comes after reports claimed that he had collected Rs 30 crore from fans to fund his proposed party. He later clarified that the money was raised by his fans for welfare activities and not for the launch of his party.

In the column, Haasan also said his Hindu terror remark had been misinterpreted, but he stands by it. "My column on Hindu violence was misinterpreted. The translation gave a different meaning. I never used the word 'terrorism'. But there is no change in what I said, he said.

A case against Haasan over the remark has been registered in Uttar Pradesh. On Thursday, the Madras High Court sought a reply from Tamil Nadu police on a plea seeking a case against the actor in the state.

On November 7, his birthday, Kamal Haasan indicated that he may come up with his political partys name by January and around the same time launched an app to connect with the people.
Kolkata: Ahead of Panchayat Polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has abolished the cap for the construction/acquisition of house or flat as a New Year gift for the state government employees.

The letter issued on November 14, 2017 (Memo No: 1112/2 (300)-FB) signed by Finance Departments Joint Secretary Ujjaini Datta reads, The issue of revision of the cost ceiling limit for construction/acquisition of house/flat has been under active consideration of the state government. After careful consideration of the matter, the Governor is now pleased to decide to abolish the upper-cost ceiling limit with immediate effect.

As per earlier rule under West Bengal Services (ROPA) Rules, 2009, the cost ceiling limit of construction/acquisition of house/flat was Rs 30 Lakh, including all sources. But the amendment abolishing the limit came as a relief for the state government employees as there is no restriction now.

The rule is applicable to all state government employees from Group D to bureaucrats. Now, they can buy flats or house of their choice as there is no limit now, a senior finance department official told News18.

When told that this could lead to corruption at a mass level as it will be easier for a section of government employees to park their ill-gotten money in real estate, he said, It is true, but I am sure that the investigation agencies will keep a close watch on these people.

State BJP termed the move as appeasement politics ahead of Panchayat and Assembly Polls because government employees are angry with Mamata over pending arrears and Dearness Allowance (DA) gap between Central and state government employees. Though Mamata promised to fill the DA gap by 2019, BJP claimed that it's just poll promise and nothing to do with the reality.

Such initiatives are governments strategy to woo the voters. But such move is not going to help the TMC government as people have decided to oust Mamata government, BJPs Sayantan Basu said.

Recently, in September, Mamata announced several new schemes for the state government employees including foreign travel facility mainly to South East Asian countries. Then, she also announced a new pay commission, increase in DA and special remuneration for those who will attend office on the bandh day.

Under the Leave Travel Concession (LTC), they can now travel to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka once in a decade, Mamata had said, addressing a convention of the Trinamool Congress-backed State Government Employees Federation.
New Delhi: Playing loud music till early morning has come with a price for a tony bar in Mumbai.

The owners of 'Drinking Kulture' have been held guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court. They saved themselves from going to jail only after much pleading. Instead, they will now have to cough up Rs 5 lakh fine.

A bench of Justices Rohinton F Nariman and Sanjay K Kaul was convinced only by the argument that the promoters of Wallstreet Hospitality, which runs the Andheri high-rise based club, were young and remorseful of their conduct.

They will all go straight to jail. How could they flout orders of this Court? asked the bench, when it took up a contempt application, pointing out the club remained open every day till 7 am in the morning with gaudy music, leaving the residents of the area sleepless through the night.

Drinking Kulture has been a reason of rage for residents of Evertop Apartments since the lounge bar operates from a commercial premises inside the society building.

According to the RWA, their agreement with the redeveloper was that the shared premises will not be used for any bar, pub or disco, but it was let out for Wallstreet Hospitality and the bar came up in December last year.

The RWA won the first legal battle with the arbitrator deciding in their favour. Drinking Kulture was restrained in June against playing loud music and selling liquor.

Wallstreet Hospitality challenged this ban order in the apex court but in July, the bench headed by Justice Nariman shot down their plea and gave them time till December 31 to vacate the premises. The pubs counsel also undertook before the court that henceforth, Drinking Kulture will shut at 1 am.

But a contempt plea pointed out that the pub owners had been beaching their undertaking with impunity and that it still remained open till 7 am and the jarring music kept them up every night.

The bench was irate over apparent defiance of its directives and the senior counsels undertaking on behalf of the RWA said that promoters of Wallstreet Hospitality should spend some time behind bars to pay for their deeds.

At this, the counsel for the pub owners and promoters made vehement requests to let them off this time and that they were tendering unconditional apology. The lawyer said that they were willing to abide by any condition deemed appropriate by the bench and that the clients should be given one more chance.

The bench then said that in view of the fact that the owners are young and that it was their first mistake, the court would not send them to jail but they must suffer monetary penalty.

We, first and foremost hold that they are in contempt of this Court's order. However, considering the plea of learned counsel and the fact that the contemnors appear to be contrite, we impose a fine of Rs 5 lakh to be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within a period of four weeks from today, held the bench.

Notably, any further instance of non-compliance is bound to land owners and promoters of Drinking Kulture in grave troubles since they have already been held guilty of contempt by the top court.
Gwalior: The district administration on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha for installing a Nathuram Godse idol inside their office in Bhopal.

Additional district magistrate Shivraj Singh Verma sent the notice to the outfits vice-president Jaiveer Bharadwaj. It said that the group had established the statue, performed puja and termed the place a temple without authorisation.

The administration said that the act violated a 2001 law on establishing a temple and sought a reply from Bharadwaj within five days. The ADM said that the structure should be demolished and warned of ex-parte action if he failed to turn up.

A defiant Bharadwaj, however, told News18 that there was no violation of any law as one is free to do anything inside ones property. I am a law abiding citizen and I would furnish the reply shortly, he said.

The Mahasabha had also asked for land from the district administration for a temple dedicated to the Mahatma Gandhis assassin in the city, but their plea was not entertained.

On Congress leader Manak Agrawals statement that after any Godse temple would be demolished by the party once it returned to power in the state, Bharadwaj asked why Godse was not slapped with treason after he killed Mahatma Gandhi and was simply booked for murder.

Meanwhile, in Bhopal, Congress workers stormed into Habibganj police station and demanded a zero FIR against the Hindu Mahasabha workers. Police accepted their application but did not register a case.
Lucknow: Wanting to be a mediator in the Ayodhya dispute, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be visiting the temple town on Thursday, a day after he met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his residence.

The spiritual leader had, however, clarified that he had no proposal yet to discuss with the stakeholders.

On Wednesday, Ravi Shankar had a 40-minute meeting with Adityanath at his official residence where the two were believed to have discussed the Ayodhya dispute.

His offer for mediating in the dispute has received a tepid and skeptical response from key protagonists on both sides, with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) voicing reservations about his role.

In an informal interaction with journalists after meeting Adityanath, he said, "I want unity...I want amity. This is just a beginning. We will talk to all."

When his attention was drawn to comments by some Muslim leaders rejecting his proposal to resolve the dispute, Ravi Shankar said he had no proposal at the moment so any question of rejection does not arise.

"Neither I have given any proposal nor have I got it from anyone," he said.

A top official described the meeting between Ravi Shankar and Adityanath as "good".

"As far as the Ayodhya issue is concerned, the chief minister's stand is very clear. The state government is not a party (to the dispute). We welcome any settlement and will honour the decision of the court," he said.

Ravi Shankar met Suresh Das of Digambar Akhada, Janmejay Sharan of Rasikpeeth and Rajaram Chandra Acharya of Nirmohi Akahada on Wednesday, apparently to explore ways for a reconciliation between the warring parties locked in a protracted legal dispute over the land on which the Babri mosque stood before being pulled down in 1992.

The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court. Speaking on the issue in the national capital, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik said, "This (mediation) kind of effort is being made by those who believe it will help resolve the issue at the earliest. I wish their efforts bear fruit.

But the apex court's final verdict will be binding." Gautam Vig, a representative of the Art of Living founder said Ravi Shankar was listening to both Hindus and Muslims but no formula has been worked out yet.

"The Hindu side is very positive, the Muslim side is very positive," Vig said.

The VHP and AIMPLB have, however, rejected the relevance of mediation efforts by Ravi Shankar.

"It is being said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of All India Muslim Personal Law Board which is leading the Muslim side," AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani said.

He said Ravi Shankar had made a similar move to resolve the dispute some 12 years ago and concluded that the disputed site be handed over to Hindus. "What new formula he has found this time should be told," Rehmani said.

The VHP too appeared dismissive, saying no dialogue on the issue was needed as courts go by evidence and archaeological evidence was in favour of Hindus.

"There is no relevance of the (recent) clamour for agreement over Ram Janmabhoomi after the archaeological evidences in this regard have been found to be in favour of Hindus... the courts go by evidence," regional spokesman for the VHP Sharad Sharma said in a statement.

He said ever since the Supreme Court suggested an out of court settlement of the issue, some people who made no contribution to the temple movement had become active.

A bench headed by the then Chief Justice J S Khehar had said in March this year that such religious issues can be resolved through negotiations and offered to mediate to arrive at an amicable settlement.

"These are issues of religion and sentiments. These are issues where all the parties can sit together and arrive at a consensual decision to end the dispute. All of you may sit together and hold a cordial meeting," the court had said.

The state's Shia Waqf Board, which has impleaded itself in the case, has been siding with the Hindu parties to the case, with its chairman Wasim Rizvi saying no new mosque should be built in either Ayodhya or neighbouring Faizabad as part of the formula mooted by it to resolve the dispute.

He said since the Babri mosque was a Shia shrine, the board will identify a piece of land in a Muslim-dominated area for it and inform the government.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Every time Aditi picks up her phone, the first thing she asks is, Hello, how are you? Even if the call is from a stranger. You can sense the joy in her voice. Her mother Rina says Aditi just loves people.

Twenty-three years ago, when Aditi was born, her parents were devastated to learn that she has Down syndrome. When she was two-and-a-half years old, she was diagnosed with a hole in her heart and had to undergo surgery.

I would keep crying looking at her, wondering if we will be able to give her the kind of life she deserves, Rina says. One day, her husband Amit and she decided to take this up as a challenge. There has been no looking back since then.

Around two years ago, Aditi opened her restaurant in Navi Mumbai, named after her, called Aditis Corner.

From preparing orders, taking client calls to managing accounts, the 23-year-old runs the show at Aditi's Corner. Despite working for eight hours every day, she never misses a chance to greet her customers.

Every day, she receives around 80-100 orders.

In the corner of her cafe located in CBD Belapur, theres a little black board with some words scribbled on them. It reads, Working hard is the key for good life, but no one can work empty stomach. Aditi believes in these words very strongly.

She started cooking when she was barely in her teens.

I would watch YouTube videos and cook for my parents, says Aditi.

While she loves eating and feeding her delicious chicken dishes, her father says that he loves the cakes that she never forgets to bake on their birthdays. She makes sure we have a party on our birthdays. There are games, fancy decorations and always a cake thats baked by her, he says.

Aditi is very meticulous and a perfectionist. If the recipe says half-a-spoon of sugar, she will stick to it. She will make sure not a drop extra is added, says her father.

The cafe in itself is not too fancy. Its got a couple of chairs and tables; packets of chips hanging on one side; a microwave placed on a marble platform and a glass shelf that displays pastries and cupcakes, made by Aditi.

Aditi was born in Haridwar in 1994. After her fathers transfer to Jaipur, she went to a special school in the city where the family stayed till 2001. She went to another special school in Pune till 2005 and finally to Swami Brahmanand Pratishthan, Belapur.

We wanted to make sure shes not treated like a special child. We wanted her to be independent, says Aditis father.

The 23-year-olds mother says she would often scold Aditi for regular things, and then regret being so strict with her. I knew it was difficult for her to understand things, but I had to treat her like any other child. I wanted her to be independent when she grew up, she says.

Aditi hasnt disappointed her parents.

Her 21-year-old brother is in the third year of engineering, while Aditi is winning hearts with her delicious sandwiches, pastries and cakes.

Aditis Corner started as a small snack corner serving tea, coffee, soup, soft drinks along with sandwiches and Maggi in January 2016. Within just three months, she managed to break even.

She has two staff members  Sardar Paramjit Uncle, who helps her with the cooking at the cafe and Ram, the delivery boy, who carries out deliveries to offices in the mall where the restaurant is located.

Aditis dreams are not over yet. She has a lot of things planned. She wants to start a school for special children.

Its my dream to make sure people like me learn life skills, she says. I also want to expand my restaurant and employ people like me.
Rules followed' in excluding film 'S Durga' from IFFI

New Delhi: The decision to exclude Malayalam film S Durga from the Indian Panorama lineup at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa was as per Information and Broadcasting Ministry's rules, official sources said.

The Ministry has the authority to exclude any film on the basis of an assessment that it can adversely affect law and order, the sources added.

They said the decision to replace 'S Durga' with a film waitlisted by the Indian Panorama Feature Film jury for IFFI was taken after taking into account various concerns.

'S Durga', earlier titled 'Sexy Durga', had also been denied permission for screening at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in October as the Ministry had received complaints against its title and was of the view that it hurts religious sentiments.

The sources said the uniform benchmark was applied to the 48th IFFI to be held in Goa this month.

The sources said the Regional Officer at Thiruvananthapuram, who viewed the uncensored version of 'S Durga', had found it in violation of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) guidelines.

They said the CBFC's Thiruvananthapuram regional office gave a U/A certification to the film on October 10 after stipulated modifications were carried out, including in the title.

Referring to Ravi Jadhav's Marathi movie 'Nude', which also was excluded from IFFI, the sources said some post-production work had not been completed in the uncensored version.

The norms stipulate that whenever uncensored films are screened at a festival, permission has to be taken from the Ministry with an exemption certificate.

The sources said the National Democratic Alliance government had amended the Panorama guidelines to allow uncensored films for IFFI, something not done before.

They also said that rules stipulate that once a film is given a certification, no other version can be screened.

They said that an uncensored version of 'S Durga' was presented to the IFFI feature film jury, but the certification came later on October 10.

'S Durga' and 'Nude' were among those recommended by the jury for the Indian Panorama Section of IFFI.

Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh, who led the feature film jury, resigned in protest against its exclusion.
The controversy over Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati has taken an ugly turn with Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi threatening to chop off actor Deepika Padukones nose if the movie release and of launching a Bharat Bandh. He also alleged that Bhansali got funds for the movie from Dubai.

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Surat/Tapi, Gujarat: In November last year, BJP President Amit Shah was in Surat to address a meeting when it was disrupted. The meeting made news because a handful of youth from the Patidar community flung chairs at the venue. What went unnoticed that day was that Shah drove an hour east after that to the town of Vyara in Tapi district. Here, he addressed thousands of BJP workers, most of whom were from Scheduled Tribes. This was significant because it is a shift in Gujarat politics. The BJP now wants to pull tribals away from the Congress, said tribal activist Romel Sutariya.

A BJP leader from South Gujarat, when asked if the ruling party was worried about losing support among the influential Patidars after Hardik Patels agitation, said, It is true that some Patidars will break away from us. They wont desert us completely but it would not be wise to underestimate the agitations effect. We will certainly lose some of the Patel vote but we are confident of making up the deficit.

The reason the BJP is feeling confident, despite the tide of Patidar resentment, is that the saffron party plans to expand its footprint in the tribal belt of South Gujarat. Scheduled Tribes such as Bhils, Vasavas and Gamits make up around 14% of Gujarats population. This is a section of society too large for any political party to ignore.

While Adivasis do not exactly vote as one single bloc, they have traditionally remained in the Congress camp. After all, the states only Adivasi Chief Minister, Amarsinh Chaudhari, was a Congressman. Meanwhile, the BJP has maintained a steady presence in the region but has always trailed the Grand Old Party.

The state has a 182 constituencies in the Vidhan Sabha. In the 2007 Gujarat Assembly polls, there were 20 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Of these, the Congress won 11 seats, the BJP won 8 and the remaining seat was captured by the JD (U).

After delimitation of constituencies in 2008, the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes went up to 26. In the 2012 polls, BJP won 10 seats, Congress won 15 and the JD (U) retained its seat. Among tribals, BJP has always been the laggard, but the party is planning to change that.

On Thursday, Shah was in Bardoli to address around 1,200 party workers from Surat and Tapi districts. Once again, the BJP top boss reached out to Adivasis. Tribals development in true sense happened only after the BJP came to power in Gujarat. Congress has always used Adivasis as their vote bank. But now this has become a thing of the past, he reportedly said.

Ganpat Vasava, the Gujarat Tribal Development Minister, explained why the BJPs influence in the forest is growing. If you go to the villages in the forest and ask Adivasis, they will tell that 15 years ago all they had was a dirt road leading up to the village. Today, even in the remotest corners of Gujarat there are good roads. Even though tribals lived near the river, they had to trek to get water. Today, they have water supply in their villages. They have 24-hour electricity. As Chief Minister, Narendra Modi has transformed the lives of Adivasis, Vasava said.

He added, Since the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was passed in 2006, the Gujarat government has distributed 13 lakh hectares of land to Scheduled Tribes. This benefited over 85,000 tribals in the state. Our Vikas (development) speaks for itself.

While Vasavas claims of basic services reaching forest dwellers is not far from the truth, activists believe there is more to the BJPs push than meets the eye. Romel Sutariya of the Adivasi Kisan Sangharsh Morcha said here has been an aggressive attempt to Hinduise the tribal population over the last few years.

Many right-wing groups have been conducting Ram Kathas in tribal villages, training young Adivasis to sing the Sundar Kand of the Ramayana and even constructing small Hanuman temples in the forest. The BJP is even trying to make inroads among Christian Adivasis. While Catholics may not leave the Congress, the BJP hopes to gain among Methodists, he added.

Elaborating on these temples, he said, Some of the tribes have a custom whereby they place stones in the forest to honor their dead ancestors. A few years earlier, tribals started noticing that some of these stones had four walls coming up around them. A few days later, these walls were painted saffron. Eventually, these became Hullariya Hanuman temples. The idea of Hullariya Hanuman is to invoke the image of Lord Hanuman as connected to tribals. Nobody knows who is constructing these temples.

Meanwhile, the Congress claims that the BJP will not succeed in its attempt to wrest the tribal belt from it. Anandbhai Chaudhari, Congress MLA from the reserved seat of Mandvi, said, BJP has not done nearly enough for Adivasis. The tribals remember that it was the Congress government of Manmohan Singh that had passed the Forest Rights Act. It was the UPA that made sure that tribals would have the first right over the forests. All the BJP had to do was to ensure that the FRA was implemented properly, but they have not done so.

Both Chaudhari and Sutariya claim that resentment has been building up among tribals against the state government. There are 90 lakh Scheduled Tribe persons in Gujarat. However, the state government has only accepted 1.82 lakh forms from Adivasis who wanted to claim land under the FRA. Besides, the BJP government has not accepted any forms after 2009.

In addition to land rights issues, the tribal belt has seen protests over the last few months over the state governments controversial decision to grant Scheduled Tribe IDs to three pastoral communities  Rabrai, Bharwad and Charan  based in the Gir forest. Many tribal outfits, such as the Bhilistan Tiger Sena, have claimed that these three pastoral communities are fake tribals.

Despite this resentment and anti-incumbency, however, the BJP is feeling confident in the tribal pockets. This is because unlike the Patidars, Dalits and OBCs, Adivasis do not have a state-wide leader who can galvanise all these disparate agitations into one single, sustained movement.

Sutariya said the tribals are divided and this will benefit the BJP. They will be able to manage their message of Vikas very effectively on the ground. Besides, the low-key saffronisation happening in the tribal belt will also help them.

He said the Congress has been dominant in the tribal belt and this is their battle to lose. The Congress has been taking the tribal vote for granted. BJP workers have been going from village to village to make contact with tribals. If the Congress doesnt up its game in this belt in the next few days, they will find that it is too late, Sutariya added.
Hyderabad: Around 1,000 government officials will travel to Israel to study farming techniques, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said in the Assembly on Thursday, drawing allegations of public money wastage by the Opposition.

"In Telangana, there are 1,000 agriculture officers. We will send them in batches of 100 to Israel to receive training in various farming techniques that can be replicated in the state. They will study micro-irrigation technique and receive training that will benefit the state and ensure high productivity," the CM said.

Criticising the junket, Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao accused the government of splurging money. "This is yet another case of splurging of public funds by KCR and we oppose this. What is the need of sending 1,000 officers? This will cost Rs 30 crore. Why not invite experts from Israel and have the officials receive training here. The farmers in the state need loan waiver and compensation, which the government has failed in providing.

Telangana Congress spokesperson Krishank said the states exchequer was in surplus when it was formed, but was in deficit now. "The Chief Minister is trying to please officers by sending them on a foreign tour. Why is the government ignoring farmers? Farmers want government support through minimum support price, not in such ways.

A similar tour to Israel was undertaken in April 2015 by a Telangana government delegation which was led by the agriculture minister. Isreal is known to use farming techniques that ensure high agriculture yield with less water.
Lucknow: The husband of a BJP chairman candidate from Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh has threatened Muslim voters to either vote for the couple or prepare themselves for dire consequences.

Shashi Srivastava's husband Ranjeet Bahadur Srivastava, a BJP leader, addressed a gathering on November 13 and said that he had mentioned this before "this is a BJP government and not a Samajwadi government". The speech comes against the backdrop of prospective municipal elections in a state where BJP came out with flying colours in the Assembly elections nine months ago.

Srivastava warned the people that they didn't have the option of going to the Superintendent of Police or District Magistrate who would help them. You (Muslims) do not have anyone to be on your side in Bharatiya Janata Party. If you do not vote for BJP candidates, if you do not vote for my wife, not even Samajwadi Party will be able to save you. That is why I am saying to Muslims, vote for us. If you vote for BJP you will be happy, else you will have to face problems, Srivastava said.

The BJP leader was sharing the stage with Minister of Social Welfare and Minister of SC & ST Welfare Ramapati Shastri and Cabinet Minister Dara Singh Chauhan, who didn't raise any objection to Srivastav's remark.

Srivastava, speaking to ETV later, expounded that he didn't threaten Muslims but tried to persuade them to vote for the BJP. "I was just trying to make them understand that there is a huge difference between Hindu and Muslims and these differences should come to an end," he said.

However, seconds later, Srivastava added that if Muslims didn't understand, it's not the Hindus who would regret but they themselves. "If someone thinks that I am threatening, I am ready to threaten a thousand times more"

Srivastava claimed that BJP was a party of "Mards" -- PM Narendra Modi, CM yogi Adityanath, and he himself. "I won the election last time with 675 Hindu votes, remaining 33% votes didn't matter. I am not begging for their (Muslims) votes."

The Officer on Special Duty of State Election Commission, JP Singh, said, "We have not received any formal complaint in this regard. I have requested a copy of the video, and only after seeing the video, the decision on any punishment will be taken.

When contacted, District Magistrate Barabanki Akhilesh Tiwari said that he hadn't received any complaint in the matter. He also said that appropriate action will be taken if he receives a complaint. Meanwhile, SP Barabanki Anil Kumar Singh said that Election Commission should take note of such things and take proper action.
The Karnataka government today unveiled an ambitious project to install Wi-Fi facility in all gram panchayats across Karnataka, beginning with 2,500-gram panchayats this year. The project would bridge the digital divide and provide an opportunity to each and every entrepreneur from the cities and towns across Karnataka, to benefit from the enabling eco-system, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in his address at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2017 here. "It is with this thought that our government has taken up an ambitious project to install Wi-Fi facility in all the gram panchayats across Karnataka, beginning with 2,500-gram panchayats this year," he said. Karnataka accounts for 44 percent of the total investment intentions in the country in 2017 as per the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, he said.

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Siddaramaiah also said new age incubation network centres have been set up in a few colleges across the state with the aim of encouraging young minds to innovate and invent and become entrepreneurs. "I strongly believe that it is essential for us to strike a fine balance between economic growth and sustainable development as we usher into a highly converged and connected world to not only focus on unbounded economic growth but rather on eco-friendly economic activities and technologies which allow growth and sustainable development to co-exist," he said. Siddaramaiah said Centres of Excellence have already been set up in areas such as aerospace and defence and Internet of Things, which would support other emerging technologies such as Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Robotics, Cyber Security. He said Karnataka continues to strengthen the Information Technology sector by investments in a series of proposed projects such as Hardware Park at Devanahalli, Information Technology Special Economic Zone at Mangaluru, Arya Bhatta Park at Hubballi and several Incubators on a Public-Private Partnership model.

"In a nutshell, a total of 921 acres of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) land is available in the newly developed clusters across these areas," he added. Bengaluru Tech Summit 2017, a three-day mega event organised by the Karnataka government, is the result of the state combining its two flagship events- the 20th edition of Bengaluru ITE.biz and the 17th edition of Bengaluru India Bio under one platform. The two annual events were earlier being held separately. The key events at the summit include CEO Round Table, Thought Leaders Conclave, STPI IT Exports Awards, Biotech Leaders Conclave, Bio Excellence Awards and Exhibition Awards Function, Bio Quiz and Speed Dating Session for Startups. Bringing together over 500 domestic and international tech specialists, enthusiasts and business leaders from across the technology industry, the summit provides an opportunity to facilitate creative collaboration between multi-disciplinary stakeholders and entrepreneurs from around the world, the organisers said.

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NASA is about to start testing a key energy source that could "empower" human crews on the Mars surface, energising habitats and running on-the-spot processing equipment to transform the Red Planet resources into oxygen, water and fuel. Testing of the Kilopower project is due to start in November and go through early next year, with NASA partnering with the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Nevada National Security Site to appraise fission power technologies, NASA said on Tuesday.

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"The Kilopower test programme will give us confidence that this technology is ready for space flight development," said Lee Mason from NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. "We'll be checking analytical models along the way for verification of how well the hardware is working," Mason said. The pioneering Kilopower reactor represents a small and simple approach for long-duration, Sun-independent electric power for space or extraterrestrial surfaces.

Offering prolonged life and reliability, such technology could produce from one to 10 kilowatts of electrical power, continuously for 10 years or more, Mason pointed out. The prototype power system uses a solid, cast uranium-235 reactor core, about the size of a paper towel roll. Reactor heat is transferred via passive sodium heat pipes, with that heat then converted to electricity by high-efficiency Stirling engines.

A Stirling engine uses heat to create pressure forces that move a piston, which is coupled to an alternator to produce electricity, similar in some respects to an automobile engine. Having a space-rated fission power unit for Mars explorers would be a game changer, Mason added. "Space nuclear reactor could provide a high energy density power source with the ability to operate independent of solar energy or orientation, and the ability to operate in extremely harsh environments, such as the Martian surface," Patrick McClure, project lead on the Kilopower work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, said.

Moving the power system from ground-testing into a space system is an achievable objective, said Kilopower Project Manager Don Palac. Looking into the future, Mason suggests that the technology would be ideal for further lunar exploration objectives too. "The technology doesn't care. Moon and or Mars, this power system is agnostic to those environments," Mason said.

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NASA scientists have developed a tool to forecast which cities are vulnerable to flooding due to the melting of ice in a warming climate. It looks at the Earth's spin and gravitational effects to predict how water will be "redistributed" globally, BBC reported. "This provides, for each city, a picture of which glaciers, ice sheets, (and) ice caps are of specific importance," the researchers were quoted as saying.

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The research, detailed in the journal Science Advances, could provide scientists with a way to determine which ice sheets they should be "most worried about". The researchers explained that as land ice is lost to the oceans, both the Earth's gravitational and rotational potentials are perturbed, resulting in strong spatial patterns in sea-level rise (SLR). The pattern of sea-level change has been termed sea-level fingerprints.

"We lack robust forecasting models for future ice changes, which diminishes our ability to use these fingerprints to accurately predict local sea-level (LSL) changes," the researchers said. So they set out to determine the exact gradient of sea-level fingerprints with respect to local variations in the ice thickness of all of the world's ice drainage systems.

"By exhaustively mapping these fingerprint gradients, we form a new diagnosis tool, henceforth referred to as gradient fingerprint mapping (GFM), that readily allows for improved assessments of future coastal inundation or emergency," the study said. The researchers demonstrated that for Antarctica and Greenland, changes in the predictions of inundation at major port cities depend on the location of the drainage system.

For example, in London, local sea-level changes is significantly affected by changes on the western part of the Greenland ice sheet, whereas in New York, such changes are greatly sensitive to changes in the northeastern portions of the ice sheet, the tool showed.

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Information and communication technology (ICT) will ultimately serve to improve livelihoods around the globe, only if digital resources are accessible and the challenge of digital divide addressed, a latest UN report on the ICT has said. According to the Measuring the Information Society Report 2017, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), concurrent advances in the Internet of Things, big data analytics, cloud computing and artificial intelligence will enable tremendous innovations and fundamentally transform business, government and society, Xinhua reported on Wednesday.

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However, the digital divide remains a challenge which needs to be addressed, because the ICT and the digital economy will have the potential to transform the lives of billions only if digital resources are accessible, said ITU Secretary-General Zhao Houlin . The report finds considerable differences between geographic regions in the levels of ICT development, as well as significant variation in the experience of individual countries within each region, which are mainly associated with levels of economic development.

The least developed countries, which have over the years made progress in improving ICT infrastructure and connectivity, still continue to lag behind on key indicators that can influence their position in the digital economy, such as having the lowest numbers among internet users. Globally, more than half of households worldwide now have access to the internet, though the rate of growth appears to have fallen below five percent a year. The report also confirms a significant progress in terms of bridging the gender digital divide across the regions.

To harness the benefits of a digital revolution, countries will need to facilitate the deployment of next-generation network and service infrastructures, and to adopt policies conducive to experimentation and innovation, while mitigating potential risks to information security, privacy, and employment, the report advises. This year, Iceland tops the rankings in the ITU's ICT Development Index, followed by Republic of Korea and Switzerland, while Europe has the highest average score value among world regions.

As the ITU's flagship publication, the annual Measuring the Information Society Report is recognized as the most authoritative repository of data and analysis on the state of global ICT development. It is extensively relied upon by governments, international organizations, development banks and private sector analysts and investors worldwide.

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Manila, Philippines: Southeast Asian nations on Thursday avoided mentioning Chinas construction of islands in the South China Sea and a U.N.-linked arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijings claims in the disputed waters in the latest show of Chinas regional clout.

President Rodrigo Duterte, speaking on behalf of fellow heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also expectedly skirted any expression of alarm over serious human rights concerns in the region, including the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and his deadly anti-drug campaign in a statement following their annual summit Monday in Manila.

Such statements have been made public shortly after the annual gatherings of leaders of the 10-nation bloc but there was no immediate explanation for the three-day delay, which drew the attention of some Manila-based diplomats. The few instances of delays in the past were caused by differences over wording on long-thorny issues, like the territorial rifts.

China, which wields considerable influence on ASEAN, has steadfastly opposed criticism of its artificial islands, where it has reportedly installed a missile defense system despite widespread concern, including by the United States, Japan and Australia.

Duterte, who took office last year and assumed ASEANs rotational chairmanship this year, has openly tried to court Chinas friendship, trade, investment and infrastructure financing. He has toned down sharp rebuke of Chinas assertive actions in the strategic waterway, one of the worlds busiest, and refused to immediately seek Chinese compliance with an arbitration ruling last year that invalidated its vast claims in the South China Sea on historical grounds.

His rapprochement turned the Philippines from being one of Beijings sharpest critics in the disputed sea.

In the ASEAN statement, Duterte repeated previous calls for a peaceful resolution of the disputes, adherence to the rule of law and welcomed the approval of a framework or outline of a proposed code of conduct aimed at preventing confrontation in the contested waters. Deadly clashes have erupted in the past between Chinese and Vietnamese forces.

With an agreed outline, first proposed 15 years ago, negotiations could now start for the regional code, according to a joint statement by ASEAN and China whose leaders met Monday. Both sides agreed to start the negotiations early next year and conclude the talks as soon as possible, with Duterte taking a position that the code should be legally binding, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

We further reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states ... that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea, the statement said.

While ASEANs decision to adopt a non-confrontational approach promotes friendly relations with China, it may not foster the rule of law, said Malcolm Cook, a senior fellow with the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

It is bad because it clearly places the political expediency of good relations with China over holding China to fulfilling its commitments under international law, Cook said. Short term expediency trumps long-term principle.

On human rights, ASEAN welcomed the commitment by Myanmar authorities to ensure the safety of civilians, take immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, restore normal socio-economic conditions, and address the refugee problem through verification process in language devoid of the alarm expressed by some governments amid deadly conditions threatening the Rohingya.

They expressed support to the Myanmar government in its efforts to bring peace, stability, rule of law and to promote harmony and reconciliation between the various communities, as well as sustainable and equitable development in Rakhine State, ASEAN said.

There was no mention of concerns expressed by European Union, U.S. and U.N. officials over Dutertes bloody crackdown against illegal drugs, which has left thousands of suspects dead and has been marked by allegations of extrajudicial killings.
New Delhi: While the obvious, intended target of The Quad maybe China and how to contain it, there are some other stakeholders who have not taken a particular liking to the coming together of India, Japan, US and Australia against an expansionist China. One cannot talk about the Indio-Pacific without mentioning the role of France in the Indian Ocean Region.

The three biggest islands in the IOR, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar were all former French colonies. Even today there are more than two million French citizens in these waters spread over a two million square kilometre area. The largest French naval base outside of France is in Reunion Island which is part of the archipelago islands dotting the western Indian Ocean. There are still 10 islands that are Overseas French Territory.

French diplomatic sources while welcoming the formation of the Quad are also cautious about how far multilateral cooperation can go in these regards.

A top French diplomatic source says, While we welcome the coming together of these four countries, how can we talk about the IOR without mentioning France. We are the largest player in the Western ring of the IOR. We have a Special Economic Zone in this region. There are more than 2 million of our citizens here. In such cases, we believe bilateral co-operation works much better than multi-lateral co-operation.

There has been a fair amount of cooperation between Paris and New Delhi in the Indian Ocean Region. A big agreement on satellite imaging and navigation sharing was signed in Prime Minister Modis first visit to France in 2015. There is also an annual dialogue on maritime cooperation in the IOR.

France is also helping India build a grid of coastal surveillance radars. Hence the surprise, and to some extent, the consternation by senior French diplomatic sources on being left out of the discussions on The Quad.

The French also have major naval bases in Djibouti and the UAE. France having already established a deep presence in this region which would have been a valuable addition to the Quad to take on Chinas ambitious Maritime Silk Route.
United Nations: Human Rights Watch accused Myanmar security forces on Thursday of committing widespread rape against women and girls as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing during the past three months against Rohingya Muslims in the country's Rakhine state.

The allegation in a report by the New York-based rights group echoes an accusation by Pramila Patten, the U.N. special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, earlier this week. Patten said sexual violence was "being commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by the Armed Forces of Myanmar."

Myanmar's army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces, days after replacing the general in charge of the operation that drove more than 6,00,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

The United Nations has denounced the violence as a classic example of ethnic cleansing. The Myanmar government has denied allegations of ethnic cleansing.

Human Rights Watch spoke to 52 Rohingya women and girls who fled to Bangladesh, 29 of whom said they had been raped. All but one of the rapes were gang rapes, Human Rights Watch said.

"Rape has been a prominent and devastating feature of the Burmese military's campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya," said Skye Wheeler, women's rights emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report.

"The Burmese military's barbaric acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatized," she said in a statement.

Human Rights Watch called on the U.N. Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted sanctions against military leaders responsible for human rights violations, including sexual violence.

The 15-member council last week urged the Myanmar government to "ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state." It asked U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to report back in 30 days on the situation.

Myanmar has said the military clearance operation was necessary for national security after Rohingya militants attacked 30 security posts and an army base in Rakhine state on Aug. 25.

Myanmar is refusing entry to a U.N. panel that was tasked with investigating allegations of abuses after a smaller military counteroffensive launched in October 2016.

Hala Sadak, a 15-year-old from Hathi Para village in Maungdaw Township, told Human Rights Watch that soldiers had stripped her naked and then about 10 men raped her.

She told Human Rights Watch: "When my brother and sister came to get me, I was lying there on the ground, they thought I was dead."
Rome: Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi won an appeal against paying his ex-wife alimony on Thursday, as a court told Veronica Lario to repay cheques totalling some 60 million euros ($70 million).

The Milan court decided in favour of the 81-year-old billionaire, who had insisted Lario was wealthy enough to support herself with her portfolio of 16 million euros, family jewels and publishing house, Italian media reported.

The four-time premier had been paying the mother of three of his children 1.4 million euros in alimony as part of a divorce settlement. The payments date back to 2014.

The couple's relationship soured as multiple reports emerged of the media magnate's alleged penchant for partying with young women and hosting "bunga bunga" erotic parties at his Milan villa.

Lario filed for divorce in May 2009, after revelations that Berlusconi had attended the 18th birthday celebrations of Neapolitan model Noemi, describing him as "a dragon to whom young virgins offer themselves".

She also questioned his mental health and said she could not stay with a man "who frequents minors".

In 2011, the former prime minister was also accused of paying 17-year-old exotic dancer Karima El-Mahroug -- known as "Ruby the Heart Stealer" -- for sex.

After being convicted in 2013, Berlusconi was cleared of all charges in 2015.

But Berlusconi, who has hopes of being king-maker in the Italy's general election in May, is on trial accused of witness tampering and pay-offs over the alleged orgies.

He is accused of paying more than 10 million euros between 2011 and 2015, in cash, gifts, cars and housing to guests at his residence to testify in his favour in the so-called "Ruby" affair.
Riyadh: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is free to leave Saudi Arabia "when he pleases", the kingdom said Thursday, rejecting accusations from Beirut that he was being held in Riyadh following his shock resignation.

Hariri has been in the Saudi capital since announcing there on November 4 that he was stepping down. Lebanese President Michel Aoun this week accused Saudi authorities of "detaining" the premier.

Aoun said Thursday that Hariri's decision to accept an invitation to travel to France could be the "start of a solution" to the crisis sparked by his resignation. Speculation has swirled around the fate of Hariri, who is a dual Saudi citizen.

But Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Riyadh that Hariri was free to leave "when he pleases". Jubeir is the highest ranking Saudi official to comment on the situation.

Aoun has refused to accept the prime minister's resignation from abroad.

We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri's acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution," Aoun said on the official presidential Twitter account.

"I am awaiting the return of Prime Minister Hariri from Paris for us to decide the next step with regards to the government," Aoun added.

France visit 'not exile'

The announcement that Hariri had accepted an invitation to travel to France and meet President Emmanuel Macron came from French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday during a visit to Riyadh.

He will come to France and the prince has been informed, Le Drian told reporters, referring to powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks the night before.

Asked about the date of the visit for talks, Le Drian replied: "Mr. Hariri's schedule is a matter for Mr. Hariri."

Hariri in an interview on Sunday had vowed to return to Lebanon in a matter of days.

Hariri also left open the possibility that he may withdraw his resignation if certain conditions are met - in particular an end to the involvement of Lebanon's powerful Shiite militant group Hezbollah in regional conflicts.

The French president's office said on Wednesday that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile.

Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person.

Common stance on Iran

In his resignation statement, Hariri accused Iran and its ally Hezbollah of taking over his country and destabilising the broader region.

Hariri's resignation came against the backdrop of mounting tensions between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which back opposing sides in power struggles in hotspots such as Syria and Yemen.

Many observers saw his stepping down as a power play of Riyadh against Tehran. Le Drian raised concern over Iran's role in the region.

At a press conference with Jubeir on Thursday, he echoed Riyadh's concerns over Iranian "intervention in regional crises" and "hegemonic" intentions.

"I'm thinking specifically about Iran's ballistic programme," Le Drian added.

France has however sought to maintain a nuanced position in the region. Macron, on his first state visit to the Middle East last week, called for vigilance towards Tehran over its ballistic missile programme and regional activities.

But he cautioned against creating a "new front" in a region already fraught with conflicts, including the war in Yemen.

The Arab League is to hold an extraordinary meeting next Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss alleged "violations" committed by Iran in the region.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, residents at the James Crossing and Hillcrest apartments will have some extra food for the holidays thanks to the Lynchburg Police Department, Liberty Universitys Student Community Oriented Policing Experience (SCOPE) Program and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

The Lynchburg Police Departments Community Action Team started delivering 10-pound boxes of food to residents in different Lynchburg communities monthly last November as part of an ongoing partnership with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. The five-member Community Action Team (CAT) was launched in April 2016 as part of LPDs larger community policing initiative.

Now the team visits both James Crossing, off Florida Avenue, and Hillcrest, off Hill Street two of Lynchburgs 12 low-income, affordable housing communities  once per month to deliver boxes filled with highly nutritious food, including items low in sodium and with no added sugar.

James Quiade, branch manager of the food bank, said while LPD got involved last year, the food bank had been distributing food boxes to low-income housing long before that.

Quiade said officers load the boxes from the food bank on 12th Street and deliver them to residents.

I feel its a great move on the police department because it builds that community relationship and helps them to be out in the public, and the community can see they are an active part in not just policing the area but also serving, he said.

Quiade said the contents of the boxes do not change for the holidays and include items such as cheese, fruit and powdered milk.

LPD Officer Luther Rose said there only are about 15 residents at James Crossing who qualify for the food boxes, but at Hillcrest, there are about 70 food boxes delivered.

According to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank website, if the household has one person, they qualify for service if their monthly income is no more than $1,276.

Rose said LPD always is looking for ways to build community and show people officers care about them and are there to protect them.

This is just another way for us to reach out to people and form relationships, he said.

He said he never has had a bad reaction from residents.

Even with some of the people we deal with on a daily basis, we have delivered to, and they are more than receptive to us, he said.

Delivering the boxes for the last 12 months has given him a new perspective on being an officer.

He sometimes takes for granted all he has and realizes through the deliveries the things others dont have and what they need on a day-to-day basis, he said.

SCOPE member and LU senior Kristen Jones said the university effort began in January and partners with LPDs Community Action Team to participate in different events and get firsthand experiences working with officers.

SCOPE member and LU senior Marie Ehui said she delivered boxes to Hillcrest last year.

It was a learning experience, she said. It shows we care about the community. Its important that law enforcement and the community work together as one.

Especially at this time of year, many students go home to their families with tons of food, Jones said, and it puts things into perspective for her.

And these people, they probably dont have a lot of family or they just dont have the money to afford the food they need, let alone luxury food, she said. So this is just a really great experience for us to partner with the police department and really show that we do care.

Rose said there is a common misconception that police are looking for ways to punish residents and catch them doing something wrong.

Police are the community, and the community are the police, he said. At the end of the day, we want the community to help the police. We cant solve cases without their help. At the end of the day, we are just members of the community paid to do a job that most people just dont want to do.
A lot of people are surprised to see so many religiously conservative Alabamians still sticking with Roy Moore, despite the ugly allegations against him. Im not. Im old enough to remember George Wallace, a master of playing the victim as he upheld a system of Jim Crow racial segregation that victimized others.

Wallace is most famous for literally standing in the schoolhouse door to prevent black students from entering the then all-white University of Alabama in June 1963. President John F. Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard, Wallace stepped aside and the universitys first black students enrolled.

But the dramatic standoff launched Wallace into the national spotlight, thanks to television, and a new style of populist made-for-TV political stardom.

I have seen a lot of Wallace in the rise of President Donald Trump, although with an outer-borough New York accent and extraordinary hair. I often see even more of Wallace in Roy Moore, the Republican nominee in the 2017 special election to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions and currently held by Luther Strange.

Moore is the former Alabama state judge who first gained national attention for, among other oddities, being twice elected to the Alabama Supreme Court  and twice removed from it, once for defying a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Moore pulled off his primary victory against the party establishment by appealing to an old reflex that is long-standing in the South, although not, by any means, exclusive to it.

Call it the circle-the-wagons syndrome. When somebody is on the side of your tribe, you stick with them. Attacks by outsiders against them are an attack against you, by this emotionally fueled reasoning. So you stand by them, shoulder-to-shoulder, with a shared sense of embattled victimization against a seemingly hostile world.

Moore has a lot to feel embattled about. Like Wallace, he gained national notoriety by defying federal orders like a neo-Confederate Elmer Gantry in front of news cameras. In 2003, he refused a federal order to remove from the Alabama Supreme Court building a 5,280-pound granite monument of the Ten Commandments that he himself had commissioned.

A star was born: Roy Moore, the Ten Commandments Judge, a national symbol of a religious lawyer who refused to let even the courts or the law get in the way of his interpretation of Gods will.

Whether his supporters believed all that or not, many of them feel  as many also say of the northerner Trump in this Trump-friendly state  that Moore speaks to them and connects with their own sense of being disrespected by the mainstream media, the liberal establishment, etc., etc.

I feel as though I know this emotion, after witnessing it firsthand. When President Bill Clinton touched off the Monica Lewinsky scandal by lying about his affair with a White House intern, I was furious at Clinton for risking his agenda and the fate of the nation on a frivolous affair.

But, as one who agreed with most of his agenda, I also found myself engaging in a dance of rationalizations and justifications to oppose his impeachment for the sake of the larger agenda.

Those are normal reflexes but they also cut both ways. Democrats have been haunted ever since by the whataboutism of President Trump and other conservatives who bring up the women who accuse Bill Clinton of sexual assault whenever liberals raise accusations such as those now being raised against Moore.

Last Thursday, The Washington Post reported that four women claim that, when Moore was an assistant district attorney in his early 30s in Etowah County, Ala., he sexually molested one, who was only 14, and pursued other teen girls.

On Monday, another woman, Beverly Young Nelson, accused Moore of assaulting her when she was 16 years old.

By early Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and some other Republican senators called for Moore to step aside, which I do not expect him to do. Hed rather be forced out, if necessary, so he can claim full martyr status, which he already is using as a fundraising tool.

Thanks to Moore, his Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, has gained ground in the polls to turn the campaign from a shoo-in to a horse race. Jones, who successfully prosecuted two of the men who killed four little black girls in the 1963 bombing of Birminghams 16th Street Baptist Church, offers a narrative far more appealing than Moores.

Thats the big long-range problem with the circle-the-wagons stance. Its self-destructive. The only thing worse than losing Sessions seat to a Democrat, Senate Republicans are beginning to realize, would be losing it to Moore.

Page is a Chicago Tribune columnist. Email him at cpage@chicagotribune.com.




According to reports, the robbery occurred at Westlane Lifestyle Centre in Pioneers Parks Extension 1 and N$336 000 was recovered. Namibian police spokesperson Inspector Pendukeni Haikali said an additional amount of US$4 500 was also confiscated from the suspects. He said G4S security guards were transporting the cash when they were robbed at gunpoint.



It is alleged that three armed suspects robbed the G4S security guards who were transporting cash from Westlane Lifestyle Centre in Pioneers Park and one suspect fired at the security guards. The guards followed them in a vehicle, but lost them along the way, Insp Haikali said. She added that three vehicles belonging to the suspects were also confiscated and one of them was used during the robbery.

She said investigations were continuing and the suspects were still in custody. In July last year, six Zimbabweans were arrested in Namibia on allegations of murdering a 32-year-old man after they robbed him of his wallet and cellphone, as he was walking home from a beer drink at Walvis Bay. Frans Simaneka Matheuss body was discovered by police officers who were on patrol, and a bloodstained brick was found next to his body.

Four Zimbabweans and two South Africans were arrested in Namibia on Monday after security guards were robbed of 500 000 Namibian dollars in broad daylight.According to reports, the robbery occurred at Westlane Lifestyle Centre in Pioneers Parks Extension 1 and N$336 000 was recovered. Namibian police spokesperson Inspector Pendukeni Haikali said an additional amount of US$4 500 was also confiscated from the suspects. He said G4S security guards were transporting the cash when they were robbed at gunpoint.It is alleged that three armed suspects robbed the G4S security guards who were transporting cash from Westlane Lifestyle Centre in Pioneers Park and one suspect fired at the security guards. The guards followed them in a vehicle, but lost them along the way, Insp Haikali said. She added that three vehicles belonging to the suspects were also confiscated and one of them was used during the robbery.She said investigations were continuing and the suspects were still in custody. In July last year, six Zimbabweans were arrested in Namibia on allegations of murdering a 32-year-old man after they robbed him of his wallet and cellphone, as he was walking home from a beer drink at Walvis Bay. Frans Simaneka Matheuss body was discovered by police officers who were on patrol, and a bloodstained brick was found next to his body.
On Monday the commander of the defence forces issued a statement saying the military is bound by the constitution to protect the country and then making a common conflation between State and the ruling Zanu-PF party. He went on to say that when Zanu-PF as a political party was under threat, that places the country under threat and the military has a duty to intervene.
No Charges for Cops

in Killing of Man Who

Was 'Biking While Black'
Declawing cats is now prohibited in Denver. A bill banning the practice passed unanimously at a Denver City Council meeting Monday, KUSA reports. The procedure, formally known as an onychectomy, surgically removes all or most of the last bone on each of a cat's 10 front toes, severing tendons, nerves, and ligaments that are necessary for normal paw function. Activists say it's similar to cutting off a human's fingers at the last knuckle, is painful, and can lead to behavioral issues.

"When you declaw a cat, they're more prone to have some of those behaviors, like urinating inappropriately [or] biting things, that will lead people to relinquish them into the shelters," says a vet tech who fought for the new ban, which takes effect immediately. The Denver Channel notes that declawing will still be allowed if it's deemed medically necessary. Denver is the only city outside California, where a number of cities have banned declawing, to institute such a ban in the US, but New York and New Jersey are considering similar bills. In Israel, the penalties for declawing are pretty massive. (Read more declawing stories.)
Roy Moore is now facing accusations from a sixth woman, who says the Alabama senate candidate groped her while she was in his law office in 1991. AL.com reports Tina Johnson was 28 when she went to Moore's officehe was an attorney at the timeto sign over custody of her 12-year-old son to her mother, who was with her. Johnson says she was uncomfortable during the meeting, with Moore flirting with her, "commenting on my looks," and asking if her two young daughters were as good looking as her. As she and her mother were leaving, Johnson says Moore grabbed her buttocks. "He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," she says. The incident would be the most recent of the accusations against Moore and the only to occur after he was married.

Johnson says she isn't political but is bothered by Moore talking about being a Christian on TV after what he did to her. As for why she came forward now: "I want people to know that it's OK to finally say something." Meanwhile, Moore's attorney, Phillip Jauregui, is demanding a handwriting expert be given access to the high-school yearbook another accuser says Moore signed while pursuing a sexual relationship with her when she was 16. Release the yearbook so that we can determine is it genuine, or is it a fraud, Fox News quotes Jauregui as saying during a press conference Wednesday. CNN reports a different Moore lawyer, Trenton Garmon, was called out Wednesday during an interview on MSNBC when he said host Ali Velshi's "background" would help him understand Moore's behavior when it came to dating younger women. Velshi is from Canada. (Read more Roy Moore stories.)
Upon returning from his 12-day trip around Asia, President Trump announced during a televised speech Wednesday that he had fixed the "mistakes" of past presidents, CNN reports. "I swore that in every decision, every action I would put the best interest of the American people first," Trump said. "That is exactly what I have done." He added: "America is back, and the future has never looked brighter."

However, his speech and the trip itself were short on specific accomplishments on trade or North Korea. In fact, all anyone seemed to want to talk about afterward was Trump stopping mid-speech to get a drink of water, according to Reuters. Social media was awash in comments about Trump's water break, and Sen. Marco Rubiowhose own infamous mid-speech drink Trump mocked during the campaigntweeted, "Needs to work on his form." (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
An Ohio inmate described as "the poster child for the death penalty" turned out to be too unhealthy to execute on Wednesday. The execution of 69-year-old convicted murderer Alva Campbell was halted 30 minutes in after a medical team failed to find viable sites for a lethal injection, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Campbell, who murdered 18-year-old Charles Dials during a 1997 carjacking and served 20 years in prison for a previous killing, was granted a temporary reprieve by Gov. John Kasich. He will return to death row with a new execution date of June 5, 2019, but he suffers from multiple illnesses and doctors are unsure whether he will survive long enough to be executed.

David Stebbins, Campbell's public defender, says the inmate shook hands with members of the medical team after the execution was called off, the AP reports. Stebbins says he has "no idea" whether the inmate will survive until 2019, but the health problems that made it impossible to find a usable vein are not going to go away. According to the AP, this is only the third time in modern US history that an execution in progress has been called off. Ohio inmate Romell Broom is still alive after a botched execution attempt in 2009. In 1946, 16-year-old Louisiana inmate Willie Francis survived after a drunk prison guard improperly set up an electric chair. Francis was executed the following year. (Read more execution stories.)
A 65-year-old Louisiana man arrested at 19 and sentenced to life without parole walked out of prison Wednesday, saying "God is so good" after his rape conviction was overturned. Authorities withheld evidence that could have exonerated Wilbert Jones decades ago, and their case against him was "weak at best," State District Judge Richard Anderson said, per the AP. "Freedom. After more than 45 years and 10 months," Jones said as he hugged relatives outside the gates of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He also thanked his legal team at the Innocence Project New Orleans. Jones was arrested on suspicion of abducting a nurse at gunpoint from a Baton Rouge hospital parking lot and raping her behind a building in October 1971. He was convicted of aggravated rape at a 1974 retrial that "rested entirely" on the nurse's testimony and her "questionable identification" of Jones as her assailant.

Jones' lawyers claim the nurse's description matches a man arrested but never charged in the rapes of two other women, one just 27 days after the nurse's attack. Anderson said the evidence shows cops knew of similarities between that man and the nurse's description of her attacker but failed to give that information to the defense. Jones' attorneys also said a prosecutor who secured his conviction had a track record of withholding evidence favorable to defendants. The husband of the nurse, who died in 2008, "feels that Mr. Jones ... should be able to get out and spend his remaining years with his family," his lawyers wrote. Prosecutors say they don't intend to retry Jones, but they'll ask the state Supreme Court to review the decision. Jones told reporters he holds no resentment. "I forgave. I forgive," he said. "I didn't have control of it. Why should I worry about it? I'm in charge of myself."

(Read more wrongful conviction stories.)
Six Czech tourists who dressed up in skimpy swimsuits made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat character have reportedly been detained by authorities in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana. Sporting lime-green "mankinis" and black wigs, the men had hoped to take a picture in front of the "I Love Astana" sign. But local police took action, detaining them on Friday and fining them $68 each for committing minor hooliganism, per the Kazakh news website informburo.kz.

The swimsuit became popular after Baron Cohen, playing the fictional Kazakh television presenter Borat, sported it in the 2006 movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, per the AP. That film offended many Kazakhs by portraying the country as backward and degenerate.

(Read more Kazakhstan stories.)
An Ohio mom whose photos from her maternity shoot went viral over the summer shared sad news online this weekend: The baby she'd been carrying, a little boy she and her husband named Emersyn Jacob, died in utero, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. Emily Mueller, who runs a honeybee rescue service and has three kids ages 1 to 10, had posed with 20,000 bees swarming around her pregnant belly, prompting alarmed reactions from viewers. But Mueller tells the Times Reporter the bees had nothing to do with her fourth child's death, which she announced on Facebook on Sunday. "It is with the most deepening sadness I share that our sweet Emersyn Jacob was born an angel yesterday," she wrote. In a separate post, Mueller documents how she and her husband, Ryan, had found out about the stillbirth, which she believes may have been caused by a hereditary blood-clotting issue.

She explains that after being distracted by preparations for the baby's arrival, she suddenly realized last weekjust days before her due dateshe hadn't felt much movement lately. She couldn't find the baby's heartbeat with her home fetal heart monitor, so she went to the doctor the next day, where her worst fears were confirmed. "Your baby has passed," the attending doctor told her. She talks about the "unfathomable" pain of that news, as well as having to give birth to her deceased son. But she also thanks the staff who helped her family, and a local nonprofit that assists bereaved parents. The group arranged for keepsake items and a photo session with the baby. "For one day we got to give [Emersyn] all of us and to do important things that mattered," Mueller writes. She posted a photo of her husband holding Emersyn's hand, as well as one showing the baby in a bee-adorned outfit, with the simple caption: "Our little beekeeper." (A stillbirth story that led to help for others.)
A dangerous Hawaii psychiatric patient who escaped a state hospital and flew to California before being captured Wednesday has prompted an investigation into why employees appeared to fail to do their jobs. Dr. Virginia Pressler, director of the Hawaii Department of Health, says an internal inquiry indicated that workers inadvertently or intentionally neglected to supervise Randall Saito and notify their supervisors, the AP reports. The apparent failures were spread through several shifts of workers, she says. Seven hospital staff members were placed on unpaid leave Wednesday for 30 days and more may be identified as the investigation continues, the department said in a statement.

Saito, described by prosecutors as a "very dangerous individual," was gone at least eight hours before hospital staff alerted authorities. On Sunday, Saito left the 202-bed Hawaii State Hospital outside Honolulu, where he has been committed for 36 years since being acquitted of murder by reason of insanity. He took a taxi to a chartered plane bound for the island of Maui and then boarded another plane to San Jose, Calif., authorities say. Attorney General Doug Chin says the escape was planned and an investigation will include an examination of whether Saito had any accomplices. Saito was captured in Stockton on Wednesday morning as the result of a tip from an alert taxi driver, police say.

(Read more Hawaii stories.)
Zimbabweans faced another day of uncertainty Thursday amid quiet talks to resolve the country's turmoil and the likely end of President Robert Mugabe's decades-long rule. Seizing on the political limbo, a range of voices urged Mugabe to step aside and for the country to transition into free and fair elections, the AP reports. Mugabe has been in military custody and there was no sign of the recently fired deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who fled the country last week. Grace Mugabe, the wife whose planned rise to power apparently sparked the crisis, is now believed to be under house arrest along with her husband, despite earlier reports that she had fled to Namibia, the Guardian reports.

The military, which seized power early Wednesday, remained in the streets of the capital, Harare, on Thursday. Southern African regional officials are meeting in neighboring Botswana to discuss the crisis, and South African ministers have arrived in Harare for talks with the military and Mugabe. A joint statement by more than 100 civil society groups urged Mugabeat 93, the world's oldest head of stateto peacefully step aside and asked the military to quickly restore order and respect the constitution. A joint statement by churches also appealed for calm. Analysts believe Mugabe and his wife may seek safe passage to Singapore or Malaysia, where they own property.

(Read more Zimbabwe stories.)
Sean Hannity gave Roy Moore a 24-hour ultimatum Tuesdayand the embattled Senate candidate responded. In an open letter to Hannity, Moore said he never dated "underage girls" and suggested that an inscription in the yearbook of Beverly Young Nelson, who says he sexually assaulted her when she was 16, was a forgery, CNN reports. Moore said he "cannot comment further" on other allegations "at the direction of counsel." At the end of his show Wednesday night, Hannity said Moore had provided the answers he asked for, but he declined to say whether he believed them, the AP reports. "The people of Alabama deserve to have a fair choice," he said. "I'm very confident that when everything comes out, they will make the best decision for their state."

"It shouldn't be decided by me, by people on television, by Mitch McConnell," the Fox host said. A sixth woman came forward Wednesday to accuse Moore of groping her, followed by two more who accused him of harassing them at the Gadsden Mall in his hometown when they were in their teens and he was in his 30s. Gena Richardson tells the Washington Post that she declined to give Moore her number after he approached her while she worked at Sears, but he contacted her through her high school. She says they ended up seeing a movie together, and she was frightened when he suddenly gave her a "forceful" kiss afterward. Her friend Kayla McLaughlin backs up the account and says after the encounter, Richardson hid whenever Moore came to the store. (Locals say Moore was banned from the mall for constantly pestering young women.)
If you happened to shoot an elephant in Zimbabwe on or after Jan. 21, 2016, you'll be able to import its remains into the US, reports the Washington Post. This after confirmation from a Fish and Wildlife Service official that the Trump administration intends to once again allow the import of elephant trophies from that country and from Zambia. A ban on the imports was instituted under former President Obama in 2014. ABC News explains the reasoning: Under the Endangered Species Act, the US can allow for such imports if there is evidence that the hunting actually bolsters the species' survival (elephants are on the endangered list). Officials from those two countries reportedly offered such evidence, though details weren't specified. The rule will cover elephants hunted in both countries through the end of 2018.

The Humane Society shared its displeasure at the news: "This jarring announcement comes on the same day that global news sources report that Mr. Mugabe, Zimbabwes aging dictator, is under house arrest following a military coup. This fact in and of itself highlights the absurdity and illegal nature of the FWS decision to find that Zimbabwe is capable of ensuring that elephant conservation and trophy hunting are properly managed." But ABC News reports the Federal Register notice on the topic that will be posted Friday says Zimbabwe has made strides on that front, such as creating a system that tracks the financial benefit provided by American hunters, who must pay hefty permit fees. The Post notes that under Obama, such trophies could be brought home from other locations, like South Africa. (Read more elephant stories.)
The Tsukuba Express was scheduled to depart Tokyo for Tsukuba at 9:44:40. Instead, it left at 9:44:20. If you're thinking, "the horror!" then you'll be glad to hear that management for the Japanese rail company has formally apologized for the train's 20-seconds-early departure. "The crew did not sufficiently check the departure time and performed the departure operation," it said in an official statement and "sincere" apology that led to bemusement on the internet. "I once had an Israeli bus driver laugh at me after he closed the door on my hips and drove off with my legs hanging out of the bus. I am so envious of Japan right now," one person tweeted. The BBC reports that it's "rare" for trains in Japan to be off-schedule, and another tweet highlights that fact, noting, "Have been on a train in Japan where I heard an apology for the train running one minute late."

The statement notes that there were no official customer complaints lodged about the early departure from a station just north of Tokyo, but apologizes if any customers missed the train by 20 seconds and were forced to wait for the next onefour minutes later, reports Bloomberg. Yahoo News UK notes that Japan's trains are "among the most reliable in the world," offering a mournful comparison to Britain, where "commuters are only too acquainted with the daily frustration of late trains on the way to work." And the New York Daily News notes things aren't much better in that newspaper's fair city, where subway delays collectively add up to 34,900 hours on the average weekday. The Japanese company's apology "is exactly what Japan is about," sums up one Twitter user. (Meanwhile, in NYC's transit department, leaking corpses on the job.)
"Let's play the trust game" and "I will prove that you can trust me," Australia's second secretary to the United Nations reportedly told his friend as he leaned back over a railing, some 70 feet above a Manhattan street. The words were among the last he would speak. As 30-year-old Julian Simpson grabbed the arm of his friend James Waugh, with whom he'd had a minor dispute after a night of drinking, Simpson lost his grip and toppled from the seventh-floor terrace, hitting a second-story landing below, report the New York Post and New York Daily News, citing unnamed police sources. The diplomat was pronounced dead early Wednesday in what Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calls "a shocking tragedy" and what police say was an accident.

Simpson and Waugh were reportedly among a group to venture to the rooftop of Simpson's 19-story apartment building to see the Empire State Building lit in honor of Australia's vote supporting gay marriage legislation. At one point, Simpson twirled Waugh's wife, scaring her, leading Waugh to question Simpson later on the diplomat's seventh-floor terrace, the Daily News reports. Though police would only confirm to Reuters that Simpson "liked to play games and had sat on the balcony railing and accidentally lost his balance," local media report that his death was the result of a trust game gone wrong. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop tells Sky News, via ABC Australia, that she's "deeply saddened" by the incident, calling Simpson a "clever young man" with "a bright future ahead of him." (Read more New York City stories.)
Republican and Democratic senators have joined forces on legislation to strengthen the FBI database of prohibited gun buyers after the Air Force failed to report the criminal history of the gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people at a Texas church. Congress has taken no steps on guns in the weeks after deadly shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas. The bill, which has the backing of the Senate's No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, would ensure that federal agencies, such as the Defense Department, and states accurately report relevant criminal information to the FBI. The bill would penalize federal agencies that fail to properly report required records by prohibiting political appointees from receiving any bonus pay, reports the AP.

It would also reward states that comply by providing them with federal grant preferences and seeks to improve accountability by publicly reporting which agencies and states fail to provide the required records. Cornyn said agencies and state governments have for years failed to forward legally required records without consequences. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a fierce proponent of gun restrictions, said the bill "represents the strongest update to the background checks system in a decade, and provides the foundation for more compromise in the future." The measure's prospects in the Senate are unclear despite Cornyn's backing, and it faces an uncertain future in the GOP-run House. (Read more gun control stories.)
A sheriff in Texas has raised the possibility of criminal charges over a pickup truck bearing a vulgar message about President Trump and his supporters, Time reports. Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls posted a photo of the truck, whose license plate isn't visible and which bears a large sticker reading "F--- Trump and f--- you for voting for him," on his Facebook page Wednesday. The post went viral but has since been removed. "Our Prosecutor has informed us she would accept Disorderly Conduct charges regarding [the sticker], but I feel we could come to an agreement regarding a modification to it," KPRC quotes Nehls as saying in the post. The sheriff, who says he's worried about the sticker causing a confrontation, is looking for the owner of the truck to have a "meaningful dialogue" that he says "could be good for America."

"It's just our freedom of speech and we're exercising it," the truck's owner, 46-year-old Karen Fonseca, tells the Houston Chronicle . She says she has no plans to meet with Nehls, who she used to work for at the county jail. The mother of 12 says kids see worse stuff on TV or in video games, and she's not worried about a confrontation. "I'm not fearful," she tells KPRC. "It makes people smile." Fonseca, who says the sticker has been on her truck for nearly a year, wonders why Nehls, who's mulling a bid for Congress as a Republican, didn't just talk to her directly instead of going public. A legal analyst says the Supreme Court has already ruled that displaying a curse word isn't disturbing the peace, as that word must cause "an immediate breach of the peace." And the district attorney doesn't believe it's a "prosecutable case."

(Read more disturbing the peace stories.)
Competing in a bass fishing tournament two years ago, Todd Steele cast his rod from his 21-foot motorboatunaware that he was being poisoned. A thick, green scum coated western Lake Erie. And Steele, a semipro angler, was sickened by it. Driving home to Port Huron, Michigan, he felt lightheaded, nauseous. By the next morning he was too dizzy to stand, his overheated body covered with painful hives. Hospital tests blamed toxic algae, a rising threat to US waters. "It attacked my immune system and shut down my body's ability to sweat," Steele said. "If I wasn't a healthy 51-year-old and had some type of medical condition, it could have killed me." He recovered, but Lake Erie hasn't. Nor have other waterways choked with algae that's sickening people, killing animals, and hammering the economy.

Algae are essential to food chains, but these tiny plants and bacteria sometimes multiply out of control. Within the past decade, outbreaks have been reported in every state, a trend likely to accelerate as climate change boosts water temperatures. Many monster blooms are triggered by an overload of agricultural fertilizers in warm, calm waters, scientists say. Chemicals and manure intended to nourish crops are washing into lakes, streams, and oceans, providing an endless buffet for algae. Government agencies have spent billions of dollars and produced countless studies on the problem. But an AP investigation found little to show for their efforts; it goes into the reasons why in depth here. One issue: Instead of ordering agriculture to stem the flood of nutrients, regulators seek voluntary cooperation, an approach not afforded to other big polluters.

(Read more algae stories.)
The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. Prosecutors can seek to retry the lawmaker. The most serious charge Menendez faced, honest services fraud, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. US District Judge William Walls declared the mistrial after more than six full days of deliberations that had to be re-started midway through when a juror was replaced. There was no immediate word on which way the jury was leaning. The inconclusive end to the 2.5-month trial could leave the charges hanging over Menendez as he gears up for an expected run for re-election next year to the Senate, where the Republicans hold a slim edge, reports the AP.

Menendez, 63, is accused of using his political influence to help Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for luxury vacations, flights on Melgen's private jet, and campaign contributions to groups that supported the senator directly or indirectly. Prosecutors said Menendez pressured officials on Melgen's behalf over an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute and helped obtain US visas for the doctor's girlfriends. The defense argued the gifts were tokens of friendship between men who were "like brothers." In Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell's closing argument, he used the words "friend," ''friends," or "friendship" more than 80 times. Menendez's lawyers contended the government failed to establish a direct connection between Melgen's gifts and specific actions taken by the senator. Prosecutors said that didn't matter. Melgen, they said, essentially put Menendez on the payroll and made the politician his "personal senator."

(Read more Bob Menendez stories.)
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New Delhi:

Growing instances of sexual harassment in the form of rape, molestation have been a major concern for women in our society.

Such horrific offences are on the rise as many culprits go untouched because most women are still unaware of their rights to protect them against such heinous crimes.

The concept of a Zero FIR originated after many incidents were reported where the female victims were not aware of their right jurisdiction and were told to lodge the FIRs at their respective police stations.

The main purpose of the Zero FIR is to initiate the investigation of any criminal act at the earliest. As per a Supreme Court ruling, under Zero FIR, a rape or molestation victim can register her complaint from any police station irrespective of place of incident/jurisdiction.

The Justice Verma Committee Report in 2013 recommended a provision of Zero FIR in the new Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 after the heinous Nirbhaya case that shook the country in December 2012.

However after lodging an FIR, one must ensure that the police do not transfer the case to the appropriate police station without doing any investigation or taking legal action.

How to file a Zero FIR?

a Like all regular FIRs, a statement of the victim is recorded while registering the Zero FIR.

a The victim records details of the crime (murder, rape, accident, etc) with the police in a written form.

a To make his/her statement official, the victim signs the register.

a The victim has a right to get a copy of his/her complaint.

Zero FIR makes it easy for the victim to register his/her complaint. It also assists the police to investigate the case appropriately.
New Delhi:

Medical services in the capital city of Karnataka were badly hitA on ThursdayA after doctors of private hospitals went on an indefinite strike over the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME), Act 2007.

The proposed amendments in the KPME Act will make hospitals accountable for medical negligence and the doctors were opposing it.

Alleging the proposed KPME Act amendments as adetrimentala to the medical profession, doctors announced complete shutdown of the out-patient services.

aWe are protesting against the proposed amendments to the KPME Act. We are forced to close our OPD services TODAY. However, emergency services will be available,a a notice pasted outside a Bengaluru hospital read.

#Visuals from #Bengaluru: Private hospitals' indefinite strike demanding dropping of at least four contentious proposals in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (amendment) Bill 2017-an amendment to the original Act of 2007; OPDs non-functional pic.twitter.com/17t6nfLD82 a ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiahas at Belagavi on Wendesday had assured the doctors to hear their demands before the KPME Bill is introduced again and appealed them to withdraw the strike.

However, Chief Minister's appeal could not make any impact and the doctors went on an indefinite strike shuting down OPD services.

aI met a group of doctors at Belagavi & assured them that govt will hear them before the KPME Bill is introduced again. I appealed to them to withdraw their strike. Yet, the strike is ongoing & continues to put people to inconvenience,a he tweeted.

I will call them and discuss: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ANI on doctors' strike #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/NwoI8Tim6S a ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

He said, aWhen the Bill is not introduced, when we are willing to talk to stakeholders, I am surprised by the unilateral decision of IMA to continue the strike & disrupt healthcare services.a

aOpposition parties are being opportunistic & encouraging doctors to continue the strike. @BSYBJP has even promised to repeal KPME Act. If he wants to stand against the poor & needy patients, that is his choice. I appeal to the doctors not to fall prey to opportunistic politics, Siddaramaiah said in a series of tweets.
New Delhi:

Puneesh Sharma and Bandgi Kalra's ongoing chemistry on popular reality show Bigg Boss 11 has been the talk the town. The couple, who is often seen indulging in PDA (public display of affection), is not just making the tongues wag but will is getting some negative criticism for Bandgi and Puneesh.



And while the audience is also getting irked with their mushy acts, Bandgi's onscreen proximity with Puneesh is now taking a toll on her family life.



According to the media reports, Bandgi's father is quite upset with the reports of her closeness and flirty behaviour with Puneesh, such that he has been rushed to the hospital due to high blood pressure.



"Bandgi hails from a small town of Punjab called Jalalabad. Belonging to a well-to-do family, her relatives are immensely unhappy with what she has been doing inside the Bigg Boss 11 house. Owing to such rumours and gossip against her reputation, Bandgi's father was recently rushed to the hospital because of high blood pressure issues," a source reportedly told Telly Chakkar.



This is not all. The lady is also facing dire consequences for her behaviour from the society.



Reportedly, Bandgi has been thrown out of her Mumbai house by the landlord stating that she will be a bad influence for the children in the society.



"Her landlord does not want her to stay in his house and has informed her close friend that she should pack her bags and hunt for another house as soon as she's back from Bigg Boss 11. The landlord has no personal issues with her. It is because the society in which she lives, is a very reputed one, and they don't wish that she should continue to reside in their society anymore, especially because of her presence likely to have a bad influence on the children of that area. Hence, he is ready to throw her out as soon as she's out of the Bigg Boss 11 house," the source added.



Well, looks like Bandgi's love affair with Puneesh on Bigg Boss 11 is turning out to be hazardous for her.
New Delhi :

Divyanka Tripathi is one of the most successful actresses on Indian television and has been currently shooting for the show with the cast in Budapest. As Ishi Ma has been giving the country some #mommygoals in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and in a recent mobbing, she outshined as a diva!

The actress was spotted sporting some beautiful gowns during this shoot at various locations with her co-actors Karan Patel & Anita Hassanandani among others.

During play time, the actors have been spotted making merry at the streets and tourist places in the city. So when they decided to do a city tour on a Segway, Divyanka did not give it another thought and simply hopped onto the ride in her character look.

But it was a matter of seconds that her fans spotted her in the middle of a hustle-bustle cheering on the street during her ride. In a moment, there was a growing group of fans and Indian tourists who gathered around her for selfies and autographs.

In most cases, the actors get paranoid and seek help from co-actors and security to get themselves out of the mob. But Divyanka was in to set a special example. She quickly took out her phone and got everyone together to click selfies.

As the crowd struggled into the frame, she managed to allow a young fan to take a ride with her on the Segway, making him happier than ever. She spoke to the crowd and answered their questions as well.
New Delhi:

BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday said that her party is ready to join secular hands to defeat communal parties in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but only if it gets a respectable number of seats to contest the polls.

In a released statement, she stated that party leader Satish Mishra had held talks with senior Congressman Ahmed Patel for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls. But the talks did not yield any outcome, she said.

Mayawati said, Our party is in favour of fighting the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in alliance with any secular party, but only when it gets a respectable number of seats in seat sharing or else it would go alone.

The BSP president who convened a meeting of senior party leaders on Thursday to pass directions for the coming urban local bodies polls, which the party is contesting on its elephant symbol for the first time, said that any partymen entering the fray as independents will be expelled.

Referring to recent efforts at seat sharing, she said that the Congress did not approve sharing 25 seats in Gujarat and 10 in Himachal Pradesh, all which it had lost in the previous polls.

Senior BSP leader S C Mishra held detailed talks with Ahmed Patel of the Congress and dejected over the results he has now stopped advocating contesting elections in alliance, she said.

Mishra is also unhappy with the stance of the Samajwadi Party in this matter...The past experience with the SP has also not been good, the former chief minister said.

She claimed that contesting in alliance had not benefitted her party in the past, therefore it was better that the BSP contests the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls alone for which it will work towards increasing support base among the sarv samaj like in the 2007 UP Assembly polls.

Following the BJP spectacular performance in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and then the state polls, earlier this year, there has been much speculation that BSP may enter into an alliance with parties like the Congress and the SP in the forthcoming polls.

The BSP president also took the opportunity to inform her partymen that her coming birthday on January 15 will be celebrated as Jan Kalyankari Divas like earlier years and valuable gifts will not be accepted.

Instead, partymen need to work hard to strengthen the party and get the master key of power...That will be the most valuable present for me, she said.

Exhorting partymen to foil BJP tactics and the misuse of official machinery in the urban local bodies elections, she alleged that ever since the saffron party had come to power, it had become a bigger jumlebaaz (empty rhetoric) party which is out to tarnish the image of opposition leaders instead of working for the people.

She termed BJPs Sankalp Patra or manifesto for the urban local elections an an eyewash issued by a party that had failed to fulfil its promises. (With PTI Inputs)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

A Doha-bound IndiGo flight suffered a bird hit just after it took off from Chennai airport on Thursday at 2:15 AM. The Chennai-Doha IndiGo flight was carrying 134 passengers and seven crew members.

Soon after the plane was hit by a bird the plane returned to Chennai. It could have caused a major disaster but the pilot was successful in safe landing the flight. Meanwhile, the IndiGo's engineers were assessing the extent of the damage the passengers and cabin crew was shifted to another flight to Doha by 4:30 AM.

Last month, a Delhi-Raipur Air India flight made an emergency landing in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow after a technical issue. However, there was no casualty reported and the passengers & crew members were all safe.

Earlier, aviation regulator DGCA had asked engine maker Pratt & Whitney to fix the snags in its engines powering Airbus 320 neo planes operated by IndiGo and GoAir within a "specified time".

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved a proposal in which the Delhi State Health Mission (DSHM) will manage and set up 1,000 mohalla clinics in the city, the Delhi government on Thursday said.



The chief minister also allowed Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) to hire short-term manpower for hospitals to fill the gaps in health services, the government said.



Speaking on the issue, an official said, "This will help hospitals have adequate number of staff for services as and when required."



A review meeting of the DSHM along with Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Social Welfare Minister Rajendar Pal Gautam and senior officers was held by Kejriwal on Thursday.

ALSO READ: Lt Guv Anil Baijal gives approval to AAP govt's mohalla clinics



The government issued a statement, "In the meeting, the chief minister approved the proposal to entrust the mission with the responsibility of management and setting up of 1,000 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics."



There are around 160 mohalla clinics aimed at providing free primary health care to city residents closer to home. The scheme is a flagship project of the AAP government.



The government has a target of setting up 1,000 such clinics across the national capital.



(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ | Mohalla clinics: AAP MLAs leave LG house; meeting to be held between CM, health minister and LG tomorrow at 5 PM

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New Delhi:

Troubles are mounting for Kamal Haasan with a fresh plea in Madras high court seeking FIR against the South Indian superstar for his alleged Hindu Terrorism remark.

In his plea in the Madras high court, an advocate clerk has sought a direction to the Chennai police to register an FIR against the actor.

Hearing the plea, Justice M S Ramesh directed the public prosecutor to get the directions from concerned police authority. The high court has adjourned the matter by a week.

The petitioner G Devarajan, told the court that Kamal Haasan, in his article published in a Tamil magazine in the first week of November, had allegedly stated that presence of 'Hindu terrorism' in the country cannot be ruled out.

"By making such statements, Kamal Haasan is trying to brand Hindus as terrorists. He should understand that no religion preaches violence but only peace. The actor with vested interest is trying to divide the Tamil community on basis of religion," the petitioner said.

He said, he had approached the Chennai police commissioner and Teynampet police but no action was taken, therefor, he knocked the door of the high court.

The petitioner also demanded action against the editor of the Tamil magazine for publishing Kamal Haasans article demeaning Hindus.

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Bengaluru:

Around 20000 doctors practicing in 6000 private hospitals in Karnatakas Bengaluru on strike to protest against the proposed amendments in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Bill 2007 from Thursday morning have called off their strike.

Members of Private Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) called off strike.They added that their hunger strike in Belagavi will continue.

The strike was supported by more than 20 associations of private doctors are supporting this strike and doctor's have said strike will not be called of till Karnataka government withdraws this bill. Earlier in the day, more hundreds of private doctors gathered at the Indian Medical association (IMA) Bengaluru campus and protested against Karnataka governments proposed bill.

Dr.Devi Shetty, chairman Narayana Health City talking to media had said, "Our prestige and honour is at stake. Already we have six grievance cells and now govt wants one more grievance cell and elected representative will be head of this. We will not be allowed to hire lawyer, even Kasab got lawyer but this government doesn't allow us to hire the lawyer who can represent us in front of this grievance cell.

The Karnataka government has proposed amendments in KPME Bill 2007 to regulate the private hospitals. The bill proposes regulation of costs in private hospitals and setting up of a grievance redressal committee to look into the complaints against private hospitals.

Also read: Karnataka: Private doctors protesting medical bill go on indefinite strike in Bengaluru



Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah requested the doctors to call off the strike since dialogue between doctor's and government is still on. The chief minister assured them that the bill will be tabled only after the consent of doctors.

Siddharamaiah said, I met doctors and told them that the bill has not been tabled yet in the assembly. It will be tabled only after taking consent from the doctors, but still they are protesting which is not right ".

Also read: Rajasthan doctors end 7-day strike after 'successful' talks with government



Karnataka High Court while hearing a PIL regarding doctor's protest had requested the doctors to withdraw the strike and adjourned the hearing for tomorrow.

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Bengaluru:

Over 20,000 doctors of private hospitals, nursing homes and diagnostics centres have gone on indefinite strike in Bengaluru to protest against the proposed amendments in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Bill 2007.



Hundreds of private doctors gathered at Indian Medical Association (IMA) at Bengaluru campus and protested against Karnataka government's proposed bill.



Speaking to News Nation, Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman Narayana Health City said "Our prestige and honour is at stake, already we have six grievance cells and now govt wants one more grievance cell and elected representative will be head of this. We will not be allowed to hire the lawyer, even Kasab got a lawyer but this govt doesn't allow us to hire the lawyer who can represent us in front of this grievance cell."



The Karnataka government has proposed amendments in KPME Bill 2007 to regulate the private hospitals. The bill proposes regulation of costs in private hospitals and setting up of a grievance redressal committee to look into the complaints against private hospitals.

ALSO READ | KPME act row: Bengaluru doctors go on indefinite strike, CM Siddaramaiah ready for talks



While emergency services remained open in all private Medical establishments, people with minor problems had to suffer due to the strike. 40-year-old Manjula had to return back from the private hospital without treatment since OPD was closed. "I didn't know about the strike, I had shoulder pain and wanted to consult doctor but OPD was closed, I am going back now, have no other option but to wait till strike is over," Manjula said.



More than 20 associations of private doctors are supporting this strike and doctors have said strike will not be called off till Karnataka government withdraws this bill. Dr. Sudarshan Balal, Chairman Manipal Group of Hospitals said, "We want assurance from govt that bill will be withdrawn till then we will continue our protest. This is a do-and-die situation for doctors."



On the other side, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah requested private doctors to call off the strike since dialogue between doctors and government is still on and the CM assured them that bill will be tabled only after the consent of doctors. Siddharamaiah said, "I met doctors, I told them bill has not been tabled yet in the assembly and will table only after taking consent from the doctors, but they are still protesting which is not right."



Meanwhile, Karnataka High Court while hearing the PIL regarding the strike has adjourned the hearing for tomorrow and requested the doctors to withdraw the strike.

ALSO READ | Bengaluru: 22,000 doctors of 6,000 private hospitals to go on indefinite strike against KPME amendment bill

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Belagavi, Karnataka:

Clashes broke out between two groups in Karnataka's Belagavi on Wednesday night. The incident took an ugly turn as both groups pelted stones on each other and vandalized public property.

At least five vehicles were torched by the mob. Police immediately swung into action and lathicharged the protestors during which one ACP got injured. The reasons for the clash is yet to be ascertained and an investigation has been launched.

"There was a clash between two groups in Belagavi today. We have dispersed the crowd, however five vehicles were burnt during clashes. We formed teams to investigate the matter and videos are being examined to find out the cause of the clashes", Amarnath Reddy, DCP said in a statement.

Read more: Bengaluru: 17-year-old allegedly gang-raped for 10 days, 4 arrested

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New Delhi:

Seven security personnel have suffered serious injuries in a landmine explosion triggered by banned left wing outfit CPI-Maoist cadres in bordering areas of Jharkhand and Chattisgarh on Thursday evening.

A senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) official not authorised to talk to the media said, Five jawans of CRPF and two jawans of Jharkhand Jaguar have been injured in the landmine blast.

The officer added that the Maoists triggered the landmine as the force was nearing their base camp. The Maoists indefinitely opened fire at the team engaged in the anti-insurgency operation.

A senior officer of Jharkhand Police said, a joint anti-insurgency operation including CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar, specialised anti-insurgency troop, were conducting combing operation in Buda Pahar area.

Police said Buda Pahar is located in bordering areas of Jharkhand Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The Maoist consider it to be a safe haven after Chhattisgarhs Bastar.

According to sources in the police department, joint operations are being conducted in the Buda Pahar from last one week to flush out Maoist rebels from the area.

The seven injured jawans were airlifted to Ranchi for immediate medical attention. Forces in large numbers have been pushed into the area to nab the Maoists.

Till the time report was filed gunbattle was going on between Maoist rebels and joint security forces.

Earlier on November 10, four jawans of CoBRA  elite commando guerrilla warfare troop of CRPF  were injured in an landmine blast triggered by the Naxals in Latehar. The Maoists in 2013 had surgically implanted a can-bomb in CRPF troopers abdomen. More than 50 security personnel have lost their lives in the district fighting Maoists in the last one decade.

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Mumbai:

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Wednesday said without watching the controversial film Padmavati, it would not take a stand on the same whose release is being opposed by certain organisations.

Amey Khopkar, president of MNS Chitrapat Sena, the film wing of the Raj Thackeray-led party, today issued a video to clarify the outfits stand on the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed movie, scheduled to release on December 1.

We are of the opinion of not opposing the movie without watching it. We are not going to do it that way. I am aware of some social organisations and political parties opposing the movie, but we would like to first see it.

If we find some part objectionable, we can hold a meeting with the director (Bhansali), it said.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Mumbai Ram Kadam said the films just released trailer had hurt the sentiments of a section of people.

Addressing a press conference here, he said, Nobody has a right to play with history. The trailer has hurt the sentiments of some people and Bhansali will have to respect their feelings.

The MLA from Ghatkopar (West) assembly segment said he was the chairman of the Film Studios Setting and Allied Mazdoor Sangh, which he said, will not work with Bhansali in his next venture as a mark of protest.

If Bhansali cannot respect peoples sentiments, then he will not be able to shoot for his next film here. My union is very strong and we will not cooperate with him, the BJP MLA warned.

The Rajasthan-based Shri Rajput Karni Sena is spearheading protests against the film, claiming it distorts historic facts.

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New Delhi:

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged aloss to the public exchequer" in Rafale fighter aircraft agreement.

aI answer all your questions, whatever you ask me. Why donat you question Prime Minister Modi on the Rafale deal,a Rahul asked media.

Rahul Gandhi was interacting with media after the the meeting of the newly launched All India Un-organised Workers Congress (AIUWC).

You ask me so many questions & I answer you properly, why don't you ask the PM about Rafale deal? He changed the whole deal for benefit of one businessman. Why don't you ask questions about Amit Shah's son? These are the questions I wanted to ask you: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/p5S3nPMecR a ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

Earleir in the week, the Congress party has alleged Modi government of compromising national interests and security in the new Rafale deal.

The Congressa communications department head Randeep Surjewala alleged that the Rafale aircrafts were being purchased at much higher rates than what was decided under the previous UPA government.

BJP has rubbished the allegations of Congress and said the party is trying to adivert attentiona from the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal in which some of its leaders are being questioned.

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New Delhi:

Heart patients are usually worried that they may suddenly die while having sex, but a new study suggests otherwise. As per the study sexual activity seldom cause cardiac arrest in a person.

The research found out that sex is linked to mere one percent of all the cardiac cases.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute had analysed cardiac arrest cases that took place in Portland, Oregon from the year 2002 to 2015.

The results indicated that only 34 out of the about 4,550 cases of cardiac arrests were actually linked to sexual activity.

It was revealed that sudden cardiac arrests took during sexual intercourse in 18 such cases. Fifteen cardiac arrests cases were reported after the intercourse took place.

As a matter of fact, only two cases involved women. This indicated that men are at higher risk to experience cardiac arrests during a sexual activity.

Overall, the team of researchers found out that sexual activity was associated with less than one percent of the cases of cardiac arrest.

The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

As per Dr. Sumeet Chugh, the research aimed to raise public awareness regarding the importance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a sudden cardiac arrest.
New Delhi :

OnePlus is all set to release its latest flagship smartphone OnePlus 5T in an event in New York. The company will also launch the phone in India at around 9:30 P.M.

Recently, several leaked reports of its features and specs were making round over the internet. It these reports are to be believed, OnePlus 5T will be a bit larger than OnePlus 5.

The company is holding launch events for its fans at several locations across the nation including Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad. The main event is to be held in New Delhi and also streamed at PVR Chanakyapuri.

Talking about its expected features, OnePlus 5T might come with a bezel-less 6-inch FHD display with an aspect ratio of 18:9.

The smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. OnePlus 5T will also have two variants i.e. 6GB RAM with 64 GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM with 128 GB of space.

The main attraction of the smartphone will be its camera which will have dual 16MP + 20MP cameras in the rear and 16MP in the front for perfect selfies.

There may be a little change in the front, fingerprint scanner has been pushed at the back cover.

With the launch of OnePlus 5T, there is a much possibility that its predecessor OnePlus 5 might be wrapped from the market.

Talking about its price, the smartphone will have available exclusively on Amazon at a starting price of Rs. 32,999.
New Delhi:

A 21-year-old Indian student was shot dead allegedly by four armed robbers at a grocery store in United States. According to US police the incident occurred in Fresno city of California on Tuesday.

According to reports the deceased has been identified as 21-year-old Dharampreet Singh Jasser. At the time of the incident he was on duty at a grocery shop next to a gas station.

The police told the local media that the four armed robbers including an Indian-origin man barged in to loot the store. Jasser hid behind a cash counter but was shot dead by one of the robber while they were leaving after the looting spree.

Jasser is a from Punjab and was in United States from the last three years on student visa.

"Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery," Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said.

Police have arrested one 22-year-old boy Amitraj Singh Athwal in connection to the loot and murder. He is believed to be one of the four suspects who looted the gas station and fired multiple shots one of which hit Jasser.

Shocked at the gruesome killing of Nawanshahras Dharampreet Singh in California. @SushmaSwaraj ji, request to you to take up the issue at highest levels with US authorities to ensure justice for the family. a Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 16, 2017

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted, aShocked at the gruesome killing of Nawanshahras Dharampreet Singh in California. @SushmaSwaraj ji, request to you to take up the issue at highest levels with US authorities to ensure justice for the family.

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Harare:

Zimbabwe's army on Wednesday said, it has President Robert Mugabe and his wife in custody and was securing government offices and patrolling the capital's streets following a night of unrest that included a military takeover of the state broadcaster.

The night's action triggered speculation of a coup, but the military's supporters praised it as a "bloodless correction." South Africa's president said he spoke with Mugabe, who was "fine" but confined to his home.

For the first time, this southern African nation is seeing the military oppose the 93-year-old Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state and one of the longest-serving authoritarian rulers.

Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence from white minority rule in 1980.

The whiplash developments followed Mugabe's firing of his deputy, which had appeared to position the first lady, Grace Mugabe, to replace Emmerson Mnangagwa as one of the country's two vice presidents at a party conference next month.

But the first lady has proved unpopular among some Zimbabweans, and Mnangagwa had significant support from the military.

It was not clear today where Mnangagwa was, though he fled the country last week citing threats to him and his family.

Read more: N Korea says Trump deserves 'death penalty' for insulting Kim Jong-un

Armed soldiers in armored personnel carriers stationed themselves at key points in Harare, while Zimbabweans formed long lines at banks in order to draw the limited cash available, a routine chore in the country's ongoing financial crisis.

People looked at their phones to read about the army takeover and others went to work or to shops.

In an address to the nation after taking control of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Major General Sibusiso Moyo said early on Wednesday the military is targeting "criminals" around Mugabe, and sought to reassure the country that order will be restored. Mugabe and his wife appeared to be in the custody of the military. "Their security is guaranteed", Moyo said.

"We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover", he said. "We are only targeting criminals around (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice."

Moyo added "as soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy." The army spokesman called on churches to pray for the nation. He urged other security forces to "cooperate for the good of our country", warning that "any provocation will be met with an appropriate response."

All troops were ordered to return to barracks immediately, with all leave canceled, said Moyo. The broadcast was sent out from the ZBC headquarters in Pocket's Hill near Harare's Borrowdale suburb.

South African President Jacob Zuma said he was sending his ministers of defense and state security to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the military there.

He said he hopes Zimbabwe's army will respect the constitution and that the situation is going to be controlled.

The head of Zimbabwe's influential war veterans association, once a staunch supporter of Mugabe, said they stand with the army and that Mugabe should be recalled as president and ruling party leader.

Victor Matemadanda told reporters that the ruling party should establish a commission of inquiry into Mugabe and why he decided to let his wife insult veterans and the armed forces. The military actions appear to put Zimbabwe's army in control. Army commander Constantino Chiwenga had threatened on Monday to "step in" to calm political tensions. Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party responded by accusing the general of "treasonable conduct."

The army has been praised by the nation's war veterans for carrying out "a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power." The military will return Zimbabwe to "genuine democracy" and make the country a "modern model nation", said Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the war veterans' association, told The Associated Press in Johannesburg.

The US Embassy closed to the public and encouraged citizens to shelter in place, citing "the ongoing political uncertainty through the night."

The British Embassy issued a similar warning, citing "reports of unusual military activity."

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Zimbabwe's longtime president is "confined to his home," South Africa's president said Wednesday, leaving Robert Mugabe's fate uncertain after what increasingly appears to be a military-backed effort to oust him after 37 years in power.

Social media accounts report the mood is tense in Harare, the capital, as some businesses closed early.

Tanks rolled through Harare on Tuesday, a day after the head of Zimbabwe's armed forces, General Constantino Chiwenga, warned he would "step in" unless Mugabe stopped trying to purge the ruling ZANU-PF party of supporters of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa. Dozens have been arrested since Mugabe fired the vice president on Nov. 5.

Zimbabwe's ruling party accused Chiwenga of "treasonable conduct" after that statement. The events of the last few weeks, says analyst Piers Pigou of the International Crisis Group, tipped the balance on an escalating crisis.

"Something obviously had to give, particularly over the last week, in the last few days, when the situation has become a lot more tense," he told VOA. "[Chiwenga] said he will intervene, and I think that a number of people thought that this was a bluff, that he wouldn't intervene, that Mugabe still retained some measure of control of the situation."
It's impossible for Ichiro Kawanabe to order up an Uber in Japan. The ride-hailing company has banned him from having an account.

That's not a problem, though, because he rarely has trouble getting around; Kawanabe runs Nihon Kotsu Co., Tokyo's biggest taxi company.

Visitors to the archipelago know that hailing a cab here is a unique experience. Taxis are easy to find (when it's not raining) and usually offer impeccable service, from automated doors to glove-wearing drivers eager to get passengers to their destination.

Even though fares are among the priciest in the world, stringent regulations and top-notch services have kept Uber Technologies Inc.'s market share at less than 1 percent of monthly rides in Tokyo, according to data from a person with knowledge of Uber's business and figures from the Japan Federation of Hire-Taxi Associations. Now that SoftBank Group Corp. unveiled plans this week to invest in Uber, the dynamics could change, including a more aggressive push by the ride-hailing company.

Before that happens, Kawanabe is aiming to shake up his own 1.72 trillion ($15 billion) industry, with a taxi-hailing app and plans to offer fixed-rate pricing and carpooling. So far, his ambition earned him Uber's wrath and a place on its blacklist.

"We're using Uber as an example of what not to do," Kawanabe said, citing examples of the company's battles with regulators, drivers and string of scandals. Kawanabe said he was unable to create an account under his name, and got no response from Uber when he asked why. "They're making too many enemies. I just don't like that kind of corporate culture."

Kawanabe, 47, is taxi royalty. His grandfather, who founded Nihon Kotsu in 1928, prepared him from an early age, telling him that he would inherit the family business. "He brainwashed me," Kawanabe said. "I never doubted that I would run the company someday."

After getting an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a stint as a McKinsey & Co. consultant, Kawanabe found himself running the enterprise sooner than he anticipated, when his father passed away a decade ago. Young, full of ideas and married to the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, Kawanabe was dubbed the "Prince of Taxis" by local media.

Since delegating day-to-day operations to a hired president, Kawanabe says he now spends 80 percent of his time at Japan Taxi Co. --- the startup he established to build smartphone applications and dream up new services. He's also the chairman of the taxi federation, giving him a platform to push for changes in the staid industry. "I wear jeans to Japan Taxi, and a suit the rest of the time," he said.

If Kawanabe seems relaxed, that's because Uber isn't a serious threat to Nihon Kotsu and other incumbent fleet operators. The San Francisco-based company has fought taxi companies, driver unions and regulators in the U.S. and Europe, but is playing by the rules in Japan.

There are specific regulations for commercial passenger businesses, including on how to set fares and even where to place signage inside and outside a vehicle. Drivers have to obtain a commercial license by passing an exam and a road test. Unlicensed, privately operated vehicles and drivers are forbidden.

Fire up the Uber app in Japan and there are usually a few cars nearby. Leave central Tokyo, or nearby Yokohama, and they're non-existent. In fact, anyone summoning an Uber ride is getting a car or van that's operated by an existing, fully licensed car-hire company. Essentially, Uber in Japan's big cities is a dispatch service for an established fleet operator, not the cheap ride-sharing for which it's best known.
Tokyo-based Showa Women's University (SWU) and Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) have announced a unique campus-sharing agreement that could offer a model to other Japanese schools.

The universities first announced their plan to share SWU's Setagaya campus in June. According to a press release, "This agreement to share a campus is the first of its kind between Japanese and American universities and marks an unprecedented step to promote the globalization of Japanese universities."

By September 2019, TUJ will move to a new six-story building on land that SWU owns just outside its campus gates. SWU will construct and own the building, which TUJ will pay to lease. TUJ, whose current campus is located in an office building in Minato Ward, will gain shared access to SWU facilities such as sport fields, gyms, auditoriums, a pool and cafeteria.

During her opening remarks to the audience at TUJ's 35th Anniversary Symposium held at SWU last month, SWU Chancellor Mariko Bando said, "SWU, through professional education, has been making various efforts to foster global female talent who can survive in the 21st century, and this will be a huge boost."

TUJ Dean Bruce Stronach told the attendees that the partnership isn't just about gaining access to campus facilities,

"We are so happy to be on a campus finally and have our own building and all that is really, really great. But the real thing is the education, and I think that in the end this relationship is just going to be tremendously supportive of the global nature of the education of both SWU students and TUJ students."

In a phone interview, Stronach elaborated on the benefits of the tie-up. The partnership will also see stronger collaborative academic programs. SWU and TUJ students will more easily be able to take and receive credit for courses offered by the other college.

Universities allowing their students to transfer credits for courses taken at another school isn't a new idea in Japan. Since the 1990s, universities in different cities and regions have been members of credit-transfer consortiums. The consortiums became increasingly popular in the 2000s and there are now at least 15 throughout the country, including five organized by Tokyo-based universities.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police are seeking the help of the public in locating a man who molested a woman at an apartment building in Chuo Ward earlier this year, reports TBS News

On September 26 at 12:30 a.m., the man called out to the woman, aged in her 20s, at the entrance of the building as she was returning home. The suspect then pulled her down, jumped on top of her and fondled her chest.

The woman suffered injuries to her arm that required two weeks to heal.

In images taken from security camera footage shot at the building, the suspect is seen wearing a pink shirt and dark cap and carrying a bag. Believed to be in his 30s, he stands up to 180 centimeters tall. His whereabouts are sought on suspicion of indecent assault resulting in injury.

Persons with information on the case are advised to call the Chuo Police Station at 03-5651-0110.

Nov 16 (ANNnewsCH) - azaaaaaaaeaaYcacaaaeaaaaaYa
Kyoto Prefectural Police have arrested a 20-year-old man after footage posted to social media showed him dangerously riding his motorcycle in Yawata City earlier this year, reports TBS News

In September, Tsuyoshi Kuroki, a resident of Uji City, stood on the seat of his motorcycle before standing and raising his arms off the handlebars on a national highway late at night.

Kuroki was subsequently arrested for not having a license to operate the motorcycle after a video emerged on Twitter showing him performing the stunt.

Kuroki, who has been accused of violating the Road Traffic Law, admits to the allegations. "I did indeed not have a license, but I do not recall the day in question," the suspect was quoted by police.
Following the discovery of skeletal remains of a woman at a residence last month, Osaka Prefectural Police on Thursday arrested the former male resident of the unit in her murder around seven years ago, reports TV Asahi

At around 7:00 a.m., police apprehended Tomoaki Komoto, 28, at a restaurant in Abeno in the killing of Ayumi Hiraku, who is believed to have died at the age of 21 or 22.

According to police, Komoto, who is the former boyfriend of Hiraku, has admitted to killing her. "I strangled her to death," the suspect told police. He is believed to have killed her in 2010.

Prior to Thursday, the suspect's whereabouts were not known. On October 26, an employee from a housing guarantee company alerted police about the discovery of the remains wrapped in a cloth on the balcony of the second-floor residence, located in the Showacho area of Abeno.

Three days before the discovery, the representative from the housing guarantee company entered the residence with police after rent had not been paid by Komoto for an extended period.

When the residence was checked during the first visit it was found to be full of garbage. During thta visit, the balcony was not checked.

According to a previous report, the parents of Komoto last spoke to their son on the telephone in March or April. He went missing in May, they said.

Nov 17 (ANNnewsCH) - aeaeaeZaaazaaaaaaaceeaaeaaaaYaaaaeaYaaaescacaaacaaeaaaaYaaeaaaYaaaaasaceaacei28iaaa
The Nagoya District Court on Tuesday handed five women, including four Korean nationals, suspended prison terms for the smuggling of 30 kilograms of gold into the country from Korea last year, reports Nippon News Network

On December 12, Naoko Ishikawa, a 59-year-old resident of Nagasaki Prefecture, Li Bangja, 67, and three other Korean nationals arrived at Chubu Centrair International Airport on a flight from Incheon International Airport with a total of 30 bars of gold, weighing one kilogram each, concealed around their bodies.

Li, who was the ringleader, was handed an 18-month term, while the other four defendants received one-year sentences. All sentences were suspended for three years.

The gold bars, valued at around 130 million yen, were sewn into the women's corsets and underpants. Without claiming the precious metals with Japan Customs, the suspects were evading about 10 million yen in taxes, police said at the time of the arrest of the women.

"The concealing of the gold in undergarments played an indispensable role in the smuggling of the gold," the presiding judge said.

The gold was purchased by a person in Hong Kong and given to the suspects at the airport in Korea, police said. The women are known to have previously arrived at airports in Osaka and Fukuoka in the past, leading police to suspect that they committed the same crime repeatedly.

Missing 20 bars

A woman who has fled to Korea paid the suspects 10,000 yen per bar of gold. On that trip to Japan, each suspect carried 10 bars. Police never located the other 20 bars.

The judge said that the sentences were suspended because the defendants had reflected up on their actions and served as subordinate members of a smuggling ring.
Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have begun a three-day trip to remote islands in southwestern Japan.

The imperial couple arrived on Thursday on Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture on their first stop. They were welcomed by crowds of local residents.

The Emperor and Empress also met people from Kuchino-erabu-jima Island. The island residents were forced to evacuate their homes following a violent volcanic eruption of Mount Shindake in 2015. All of the islanders evacuated to Yakushima Island -- about 12 kilometers away.

A 71-year-old man told the imperial couple that he helped his neighbors flee their island. A 74-year-old woman who raises livestock described how she has lived after returning to her home island.

The Emperor and Empress listened to their stories earnestly as they have been concerned about the evacuees following the eruption.

The imperial couple appreciated the hardships that evacuees had gone through.

The Emperor shared his wishes for their well-being and good health.

The couple also met elementary and junior high school students who held a banner reading that they are doing well despite the eruption.

Then, the Emperor and Empress flew to Okino-erabu-jima island, about 380 kilometers from Yakushima and will stay overnight there.

On Friday, they will travel to Yoronjima, the southernmost island of Kagoshima Prefecture.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told the head of the US Pacific Command that Japan wants to closely work with the United States to enhance deterrence and response capabilities of the bilateral alliance.

Abe met Admiral Harry Harris at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Thursday.

Abe said he believes that the Japan-US alliance has been further strengthened by President Donald Trump's visit to Japan earlier in the month.

With North Korea in mind, Abe said he wants Japan and the US to deepen their cooperation to further beef up the bilateral alliance amid the increasingly severe security situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

In response, Harris referred to a recent joint exercise between Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels and 3 US aircraft carriers in the Sea of Japan.

Harris said the exercise represents the very good relations between Japan and the US. He said President Trump stresses the importance of the bilateral alliance. Harris said he wants to play his role in the alliance.

Nov 17 (ANNnewsCH) - aaccaeaaaaaaaaaaaeaaaaaseaaaeaaa aaYaaaecaeaaaaYeaaaceaaaaYa
Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui sought support for the western Japan prefecture's bid to host the 2025 World Exposition at a general meeting of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris on Wednesday.

In a speech, Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura said that Yumeshima, an artificial island in the western Japan city proposed as the venue, is an ideal place for a world exposition because it guarantees safety and can accommodate the needs of all participating countries.

The Japanese government will take fiscal measures needed to build excellent facilities for the event, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a video message.

"See you in Osaka in 2025," the prime minister also said.

Matsui later told reporters that Japan's presentation highlighted the country's ability to host the event.
Poland's government hit back Wednesday after the European Parliament launched action over concerns that the right-wing government in Warsaw has compromised the independence of the judiciary and risks breaching fundamental European values.

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo described the events in the Parliament  where a bitter debate preceded the vote  as "scandalous." The Foreign Ministry called the resolution a "political instrument of pressure on Poland," describing the document as "one-sided" and saying it was based on political considerations and not on legal analysis.

In a resolution adopted by 438 to 152, with 71 abstentions, the European lawmakers triggered the first stage of a so-called rule-of-law procedure against the Polish government on Wednesday.

The procedure could lead to the suspensions of Poland's EU voting rights.

The assembly's Civil Liberties Committee must now draw up a legal proposal to formally request that the mechanism  known as Article 7  be activated due to a "clear risk of a serious breach" of EU values.

The EU's executive, the Commission, has already launched a procedure of its own amid concerns that new laws in Poland undermine judicial independence and the rule of law.

The vote came after a heated debate that exposed the bitter feelings between European officials trying to keep Poland on a democratic course and Polish officials who argue the ruling party has a democratic mandate to change its own country's court system and that Brussels has no right to interfere in the affairs of sovereign nations.

Ryszard Legutko, a member of Poland's ruling party, accused the EU of waging an illegal "crusade against Poland." He also accused the German media, which have criticized Poland's direction, of holding an "anti-Polish orgy."
Song Tao, the chief of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department, will visit North Korea on Friday as President Xi Jinping's special envoy, Xinhua reported Wednesday.

It is the first time in about two years that a Chinese special envoy has visited Pyongyang. The last was Liu Yunshan, then a member of the Politburo's Standing Committee, who visited to celebrate the North Korean Workers Party's anniversary in 2015.

Song is expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and deliver a personal letter from Xi.

The official purpose of the trip is to brief North Korean comrades on the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party last month, according to Xinhua. It is customary for the party to send special envoys to socialist allies after the congress is finished.

Song has already visited Vietnam and Laos. But in reality he is expected to have substantive talks with North Korean officials on the North Korean nuclear issue.

His trip comes after Xi met U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam.


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STAMFORD  A downtown property that will become home for dozens of senior citizens next year had an early housewarming party Wednesday for public officials and other community members to see the progress on the new building.

Construction started in March on The Residence at Summer Street, a continuing-care complex at the corner of Summer and Second streets that will house 104 apartments with independent, assisted-living and memory-care accommodations. Scheduled to be completed by mid-May, the five-floor facility would represent the first of its kind built in the past 20 years in Stamford, according to its developer, LCB Senior Living.

This is more than a business to us; this is truly a mission, LCB CEO Michael Stoller said at a dedication ceremony attended by several dozen. In order to be in the business of caring for elders, you really have to love what you do.

LCB officials touted The Residences amenities, which will include restaurant-style dining.

It will feel like a five-star hotel; it will not feel like any other assisted living in the area, said Terry Jackson, The Residences executive director. Theres going to be nothing like it, and the seniors in the Stamford area just flat-out deserve it.

The Residence would employ more than 70 people in full- and part-time positions, with a $1.8 million annual payroll. It would generate an estimated $1.3 million in annual area goods and services spending, according to LCB.

With the diversity of people and diversity of types of housing we have, you are a welcome addition, said Stamford Mayor David Martin. We have every age demographic and every age group is growing in this community. And for you to offer another unique choice for our seniors who want to stay in Stamford  and, in some cases, theyre moving to Stamford from other communities  I think thats absolutely terrific.

About 80 to 90 construction personnel are working daily at the site. The brick-and-metal exterior of the 96,000-square-foot structure has fully taken shape after eight months of building work.

LCB officials declined to comment on construction costs.

The Norwood, Mass.-based LCB is steadily expanding its Connecticut presence. In addition to complexes it already runs in Avon and South Windsor, it is building in Darien an approximately 100-apartment campus on a 4-acre parcel. Scheduled to open late next year, it will be known as The Residence at Sellecks Woods because it abuts the public Sellecks Woods Nature Preserve.

In addition, LCB is working through the permitting process for a planned assisted-living facility on Route 1 in Westport, that would be similar in size to the Stamford and Darien properties.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott
Dear Nancy,

We all love you. Your fellow Democrats love you. Even a lot of Republicans love you, though youd never see that on the campaign trail for governor in 2018.

Youve been a great, moderating force at the Capitol for decades in the House of Representatives, as the comptroller who modernized the states health care system and NOW as lieutenant governor in tough times, chairing the nations best Obamacare exchange. Youre a lively campaigner and boy, can you tell a story to a crowd, as I saw just this past Saturday night at the American Legion Lodge 206 gala in Cromwell.

Now its your turn to run for governor. We need a consensus builder like you and the economy needs someone who, like you, understands how to invest in people and cities, not just how to control costs.

But dont do it. Please, dont do it.

We all know the reason: Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Effective as you are, you couldnt shake the stink of his public approval rating at 25 percent, more or less -- a dismal figure thats all the worse because, unlike Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey, Malloy is from the states plurality party and his main problem is unrelated to a scandal.

This is unfair. Youre not Dan Malloy. And for that matter, Dan Malloy is not the Dan Malloy of popular opinion. Republicans and ill-informed citizens have tarred him with taxing and spending lavishly when the reality is hes the only governor in memory who has reduced the size of the state workforce, by at least 10 percent with more to come.

Malloy is guilty of presiding over a state economy that fell because it lacks a magnet city; and because he faced the cost of legacy liabilities that built up over decades - pensions, retiree health care and heavy borrowing. He made mistakes and he - and you - brought on two of the largest tax increases of the last generation.

The point is not to point blame. As I said to you Saturday, and you agreed, history will be kinder to Malloy than current opinion is. Thats history, you said.

The problem is that the stakes are too high for the Democrats to risk this loss to a Republican. Contrary to what most people think, the issue isnt about Democrat spending vs. Republican cutting. Thats baloney. The Malloy budget this year was more or less the same as the Republican budget in taxing and spending, especially if we throw out Republicans fake savings, like a $124 million haircut at UConn in just eight months.

No, the real issue is cities. Democrats understand better than Republicans the need to make cities into places where people want to be, sometimes at state expense - with a few exceptions such as Sen. Len Fasano, the GOP senate leader, who isnt running for governor.

Connecticut desperately needs to continue its investment in Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven because they, along with Stamford, which can take care of itself, are the great hope in this urban century. As you know, the bipartisan budget we now have in force already cuts into that urban strategy.

What a weak field we have now for governor! I know thats why youve spent so long deciding. Its tempting but believe me, some Republican, probably Rep. Themis Klarides, the partys House leader, would step in and blame every woe in the state on Malloy - and you. Youd pay dearly for seven years of loyalty. Malloy and you only won in 2014 because Tom Foley was so clueless.

Ive asked a lot of people in recent days whether you could win. Some said yes but most, including some of your supporters, either said no way or gave a long maybe with squinted eyes. And not one of them had a single bad word to say about you other than that you dont have the campaign apparatus needed to win.

In a cruel irony, Comptroller Kevin Lembo, one of your many political proteges, is viable as a candidate for governor even though youre much less so because of your much looser ties to a sitting governor. But Lembo says he isnt running, so Democrats need to rally behind someone not closely tied to the administration but with heft and a proven record.

Former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz is floating a bid but she still has a lot of enemies in the party. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, a smart, tough reformer, hasnt ruled out running. The rap on him would be that he was Malloys lawyer, and ran for mayor just to become governor - but since when is ambition a dirty word in politics?

You told the crowd Saturday that you love being a grandmother, and joked that you would have had grandkids without having children if you could have. An energetic 71, youre definitely not too old to be governor but your legacy would remain intact and stellar if you stepped away and spent more time with that great family.

But please do stay involved in health care issues.
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Maplewood, a rapidly expanding upscale senior living and medical building brand, got its start in Danbury and now the Hat City is honoring its CEO with the prestigious Cecil J. Previdi award.

Gregory Smith, the founder, chairman and CEO of Maplewood Senior Living, will be honored during the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerces Annual Leaders Luncheon, to be held at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 15, at Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Im humbled by the honor. There are a lot of talented people in Danbury who would have qualified for the honor as well. I feel privileged to be recognized, Smith said. I look at what weve been able to accomplish and our roots are right in Danbury. In a sense, were coming home to be recognized.

Maplewood Senior Living got its start 11 years ago when Smith rehabilitated an old senior living facility at 22 Hospital Ave. and opened a new, upscale facility. Maplewood Senior Living now includes 13 locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Ohio, housing approximately 1,200 residents. Maplewood Senior Living is also building a 23-story facility in New York City.

The brand expanded two years ago with Maplewood Healthcare, which builds medical offices. Earlier this year the company launched Maplewood at Home, an in-home care division.

Maplewood has a strong presence in northern Fairfield County with senior living facilities in Danbury, Newtown and Bethel, as well as Maplewood Healthcare buildings in those same towns. Maplewood at Home is based in Danbury.

Maplewood Senior Living, based in Westport, also has facilities in Norwalk, Darien, Southport and Orange. Maplewood employs about 1,200 people in addition to the construction jobs created in the building of the facilities.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who was on hand in October 2016 when Maplewood celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Danbury facility opening, praised Smith for having a vision and following through to see it to fruition.

Hes done an outstanding job both in developing new properties and rehabilitating old properties to put them back into use, Boughton said. Im happy to have him in the community and hes certainly deserving of the award.

JoAnn Cueva, acting president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, said Smith was chosen as the recipient for the award for what Maplewood brings to the business community in Danbury as well as the community at large.

Greg has brought so much to the senior community by creating upscale and caring environments that foster a healthier and more meaningful lifestyle, she said. In the process, he has created hundreds of local jobs in the construction, support and management services related to Maplewoods facilities.

The company launched the nonprofit Maplewood Senior Living Heart Foundation, which provides financial support to its employees and families during times of hardship. It also bought a 48-acre farm in Easton to grow food locally for its facilities.

You can make a difference, he said. We all have the opportunity to make a profound difference in peoples lives every day. I try to instill that not only in my kids, but also my employees and I think that resonates in what we do both inside of work and outside.

Smith will receive the award at the Dec. 15 event following Boughtons State of the City address. Smith said his speech will stress the importance of giving back to the community.

Ill be putting business aside and talking about what it means to be a community leader, Smith said. We all have it in us to do things for our community. More people need to step up and give back - if not financially then by donating time and volunteering.

The award is named after Cecil J. Previdi, who grew Danbury Printing and Litho into a national printing firm. He, along with five other employees of the business, died when a company plane crashed in Wisconsin in 1987. He was 44.

Visit the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerces website for more information or to register for the Annual Leaders Luncheon.

The writer may be reached at cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
Premier Li Keqiang met with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippine capital, Manila, after attending a series of leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation, and starting his official visit to the country on Nov 15.

The Premier conveyed President Xi Jinpings greetings to Duterte. He said that relations between China and the Philippines have long been established and friendly cooperation has always been their main focus.

Difficulties in bilateral ties have been overcome, Premier Li noted. Sticking to the good neighborly relationship is for the benefit of both sides, the willingness of most people, the development trend of the region and the cornerstone of common development, said the Premier.

He said China is ready to work with the Philippines to pursue the correct direction, consolidate friendship, increase cooperation and make up for lost time and opportunities to promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.

The Chinese and Philippine economies are highly complementary, which offer opportunity and vast market for each other, the Premier said.

China is willing to align its development strategy with the Philippines and enhance cooperation in infrastructure construction and capacity. With long-term steady cooperation between China and the Philippines, confidence in the two markets and the international community can be ensured, he said.

He asked for promoting cooperation in various fields such as investment, trade, information technology, agriculture, poverty alleviation and strategic security.

He said the two countries should continue their cultural exchanges and enhance collaboration under the multi-and regional-cooperation framework.

Premier Li congratulated the Philippines on successfully holding the leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation, saying that China has always prioritized ASEAN in its neighboring diplomacy, and is committed to regional development and cooperation.

As the Philippines will serve as the coordinating country for China-ASEAN relations, China is willing to join hands with the Philippines in promoting the relations, thus injecting momentum into regional peace and stability, he said.

Duterte said that Premier Lis visit is the first by a Chinese premier in a decade, which is of great significance.

Calling China a good friend and sincere partner of the Philippines, he thanked China for its support for infrastructure construction in the Philippines and maintaining its national stability.

Duterte welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in the Philippines. His country looks forward to learning from Chinas development experience, and strengthening cooperation in various sectors such as transportation facilities, telecommunications and agriculture, to further promote the development of bilateral ties, he said.

The Philippines is ready to make full play of its role as the coordinator of China-ASEAN relations to promote their ties to a new high, said Duterte.

Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

After the meeting, Premier Li and Duterte witnessed the signing of over 10 cooperation documents on infrastructure, industrial capacity, economic technologies, finance, people-to-people exchanges and other fields.
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ -- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world's leading luxury hospitality company, today unveils three unique Private Jet itineraries set to take flight in 2019. Newly added is Latin Escape, a 16-day adventure for those looking to explore the most exciting natural and cultural offerings of Central and South America. Just over two weeks in duration, this new journey is shorter than the 24-day around-the-world journeys, and takes travellers to Miami, Costa Rica, Buenos Aires, Bogota and even includes an escape to the Galapagos Islands, all in the care of Four Seasons.

The Four Seasons Private Jet allows travellers to fulfil their most extraordinary travel dreams aboard a custom designed aircraft, while enjoying personalised Four Seasons service every step of the way. Guests can opt into a wide range of experiences in each destination and tailor their trip to their interests, discovering authentic flavours and connecting with local cultures and communities without the added stress of planning. The dedicated team on each Private Jet journey takes care of everything, including all air travel, ground transportation, planned excursions, all meals and beverages and luxurious accommodations at Four Seasons hotels and resorts. While visiting the remote Galapagos Islands during the Latin Escape itinerary, guests will stay at accommodations carefully selected by Four Seasons.

"Each year, we expand our Private Jet offerings, pushing the boundaries of curated travel and bringing together like-minded adventurers with a desire to explore the world. Our new itinerary offering, 'Latin Escape,' was devised in response to increased interest in the Four Seasons Private Jet program by a wide range of travellers, some of whom are looking for a shorter travel experience while still in the comfort and care of Four Seasons. Our tailor-made itineraries highlight the unique character of each destination, creating truly personalised and exclusive experiences alongside the comforts of legendary Four Seasons service," says J. Allen Smith, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Back by popular demand, two of the most coveted Four Seasons itineraries are also featured on the 2019 roster. Timeless Encounters is a 24-day exploration of lively city centres and remote islands, including a day trip to the Taj Mahal. International Intrigue, a journey across nine diverse destinations, celebrates the magic of culturally-rich cities such as Kyoto and St. Petersburg set in dynamic contrast to the untamed paradise of the Serengeti. Both journeys provide insider access like never before in the most captivating destinations and are projected to sell out once again.

2019 Four Seasons Private Jet Itineraries

NEW: Latin Escape (February 9 - 24, 2019)

Miami  Costa Rica  Buenos Aires  Bogota  Galapagos Islands  Miami

Latin Escape kicks off in Miami, with dinner at the Versace Mansion, famed for its secret passages, celebrity guests and gold-plated mosaic tile pool. In Costa Rica, take in the southern sky like never before through a powerful GPS-guided telescope while savouring cocktails and culinary treats infused with real meteorite dust. Feeling brave? Harness up and slide along a series of zip lines suspended above the valleys and treetops of the dense jungle, enjoying breathtaking views while spotting wildlife.

Next, it's off to explore the irresistible blend of European and Latin American cultures that is Buenos Aires. Fly to Iguassu Falls for the day to explore this astounding collection of 275 interlinking waterfalls. Later, enjoy a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Teatro Colon, one of the world's best concert venues, renowned for both its acoustics and architecture. Visit one of the oldest ranches in Argentina to experience the gaucho lifestyle. Witness a display of traditional horse-riding skills and indulge in an authentic barbeque on historic grounds.

Latin Escape continues to Bogota, Colombia's lively capital city. Explore the innovative arts scene with a local artist or take a private salsa lesson with a skilled instructor. Sip cocktails while taking in 50,000 pre-Hispanic indigenous gold artifacts housed at the Museo del Oro, before sitting down to a gala dinner surrounded by rare treasures.

Continue on to the remote archipelago of Galapagos for four nights of legendary Four Seasons service aboard a private ship. Snorkel, swim and paddle through crystal-clear waters abundant with local marine life. Wake up each day at a new site ready to explore landscapes and wildlife found nowhere else on earth. This journey through the Americas ends back where it started in Miami, with time to unwind and toast to the trip of a lifetime over an exquisite meal of Latin-inspired flavors.

Timeless Encounters (September 17 - October 10, 2019)

Kona  Bora Bora  Sydney  Bali  Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai  Taj Mahal  Dubai  Prague  London

Timeless Encounters takes guests on a journey across four continents, beginning in lush Kona, Hawaii, and concluding in London. Activities over the three-week adventure include a visit to Tirta Empul temple for a traditional water purification ritual in Bali; a snorkeling safari with blacktip lagoon sharks in Bora Bora; a day trip to admire the intricate architecture of the Taj Mahal; and a personal welcome from Prince William Lobkowicz into his family's 16th-century ancestral home for a memorable gala dinner in Prague.

International Intrigue (March 25 - April 17, 2019)

Seattle  Kyoto  Hoi An  Maldives  Serengeti  Marrakech  Budapest  St. Petersburg  London

International Intrigue departs from Seattle, taking travellers across Asia and Africa, before reaching Europe and concluding in London. In Kyoto, guests learn how to draw, pose and swing a samurai sword under the instruction of the choreographer of Kill Bill: Vol. 1. In Serengeti, travellers are welcomed aboard a hot air balloon to catch glimpses of the Big Five before enjoying a Champagne breakfast in the bush. In the Maldives, guests can unwind with an award-winning spa ritual underneath the night sky. St. Petersburg offers travellers private access to the world-renowned State Hermitage Museum before flying to London for a final farewell dinner.

Journey Aboard the Four Seasons Private Jet

Timeless Encounters and International Intrigue begin at USD 140,000 per person, based on double occupancy. Latin Escape begins at USD 98,000 per person, also based on double occupancy.

Visit fourseasons.com/privatejet and follow the #FSJet hashtag on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and to continue exploring the Four Seasons Private Jet.

Travel the world in 90 seconds with the Four Seasons Private Jet on YouTube, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2awtfP0KXiE.

About Four Seasons

Four Seasons has long been committed to transforming the way people travel, having launched the hospitality industry's first fully-branded private jet experience with TCS World Travel in 2015.

Founded in 1960, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. Currently operating 106 hotels, resorts and residences in major city centres and resort destinations in 44 countries, and with more than 50 projects under planning or development, Four Seasons consistently ranks among the world's best hotels and most prestigious brands in reader polls, traveller reviews and industry awards. For more information and reservations, visit fourseasons.com. For the latest news, visit press.fourseasons.com and follow @FourSeasonsPR on Twitter.

Press Contact:

Laura Schlecht

[email protected]

646-460-8922

SOURCE Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Infill Drill Holes:

SMDD17-181A: 39.0 metres grading 3.47 g/t Au





SMDD17-185: 57.0 metres grading 2.56 g/t Au

Expansion Drill Holes:

SMDD17-182: 6.0 metres grading 67.39 g/t Au (15.33 g/t Au capped)





SMDD17-196: 28.5 metres grading 3.85 g/t Au





SMDD17-202: 39.0 metres grading 3.06 g/t Au





SMDD17-213: 34.5 metres grading 4.50 g/t Au

(A drill hole plan map is attached to this news release)

Craig MacDougall, Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD, stated: "The ongoing drilling program continues to deliver positive results, not only increasing our confidence in the existing resources, but extending mineralization below the initial resource pit shell which is expected to have a positive impact on future resource estimates. This, coupled with the ongoing engineering studies, is expected to allow us to upgrade the project to a reserve status in 2018 and to target production for 2019."

2017 Exploration Program

Drilling from the current program has confirmed further continuity of mineralization in areas associated with the main mineralized structures within and below the current resource pit shell (see tables 1 A & B) and in secondary structures in the hanging wall (see tables 1 C & D). These results are expected to have a positive impact on future resource updates. Results from initial step out holes to the northwest and southeast along strike (see tables 1 E & F) did not intersect significant mineralization, although encouragingly the main host structure appears to continue. It must be noted that the pinch and swell of mineralized zones within the deposit foot print is typical. Further drilling is required to test for additional mineralized zones along strike.

In addition to the drilling program outlined above, the Rosebel mine team is working to advance the Saramacca deposit towards production. An Environmental and Social Impact Study (ESIA) is underway and preliminary engineering work is advancing on mine design and various infrastructure elements, such as ore transport options, access roads, and waste rock disposal. In addition, field work has commenced to provide geotechnical and hydrogeological information and to complete condemnation work over areas of the proposed site infrastructure. A comprehensive metallurgical testing program will also be undertaken to refine the recovery assumptions and to test the crushing and grinding characteristics of the mineralization.

About the Saramacca Project

The Saramacca project is strategically located approximately 25 kilometres southwest of the Rosebel Gold Mine milling facility. Mineralization is hosted in the Paramaka Formation within the lower part of the Marowijne Greenstone Belt, which is dominated by metamorphosed basalts in the immediate project area. These are traversed by the regional, northwest trending Saramacca shear zone, which is believed to be an important deformation zone for the localization of gold mineralization.

On August 30, 2016, the Company signed a letter of intent with the Government of Suriname to acquire rights to the Saramacca property, with the intent of defining a National Instrument 43-101 mineral resource within 24 months. The terms of the letter included an initial payment of $0.2 million, which enabled immediate access to the property for Rosebel's exploration team to conduct due diligence, as well as access to the data from previous exploration activity at the Saramacca property. On September 30, 2016, having been satisfied with the results of the due diligence, the Company ratified the letter of intent to acquire the Saramacca property and subsequently paid $10 million in cash and agreed to issue 3.125 million IAMGOLD common shares to the Government of Suriname in three approximately equal annual instalments on each successive anniversary of the date the right of exploration was transferred to Rosebel (December 14, 2016). In addition, the agreement provides for a potential upward adjustment to the purchase price based on the contained gold ounces identified by Rosebel in National Instrument 43-101 measured and indicated resource categories, within a certain Whittle shell within the first 24 months, to a maximum of $10 million.

The Saramacca project falls within the "UJV" area as defined in an Agreement with the Government of Suriname announced on April 15, 2013. The Agreement establishes a joint venture growth vehicle under which Rosebel would hold a 70% participating interest and the Government will acquire a 30% participating interest on a fully-paid basis.

On September 5th, 2017, the Company announced the first mineral resource estimate in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards incorporated by reference in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") for the Saramacca deposit, and subsequently filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report available on the Company's website at www.iamgold.com or under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The resource estimate comprises 14.4 million tonnes of indicated resources averaging 2.20 grams of gold per tonne for 1,022,000 ounces and 13.6 million tonnes of inferred resources averaging 1.18 grams of gold per tonne for 518,000 ounces. Approximately 60% of the resources are contained within shallow, softer laterite and saprolite hosted mineralization. The Saramacca deposit is believed to have significant potential for expansion.

Qualified Persons and Technical Information

The drilling results contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The "Qualified Person" responsible for the supervision of the preparation, verification and review of the technical information in this release is Samuelle Gariepy, P. Geo., Senior Exploration Geologist with the regional exploration team at the Rosebel Gold Mine in Suriname. She is considered a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 with respect to the technical information being reported on. The technical information has been included herein with the consent and prior review of the above noted Qualified Person.

The information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Craig MacDougall, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD. Mr. MacDougall is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The sampling of, and assay data from, drill core is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA-QC) program designed to follow industry best practice. Drill core (HQ and NQ size) samples are selected by the IAMGOLD geologists and sawn in half with a diamond saw at the Rosebel mine site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals may vary from half a metre to one and a half metres in length depending on the geological observations.

Samples are transported in sealed bags to FILAB in Paramaribo, Suriname, a representative lab of ALS. FILAB is an ISO 9001 (2008) and ISO/IEC 170250 accredited laboratory. Samples are weighed and coarse crushed to <2.5 mm, and 350-450 grams is pulverized to 85% passing <100 m. Samples are analyzed for gold using standard fire assay technique with a 50 gram charge and an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. IAMGOLD inserts blanks and certified reference standard in the sample sequence for quality control. Samples representative of the various lithologies are collected from each drill hole and measured for bulk density at the site RGM laboratory.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results, potential mineralization, potential mineral resources and mineral reserves) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "believe", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets and other risks disclosed in IAMGOLD's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) is a mid-tier mining company with four operating gold mines on three continents. A solid base of strategic assets in North and South America and West Africa is complemented by development and exploration projects and continued assessment of accretive acquisition opportunities. IAMGOLD is in a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.

Please note:

This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through CNW Group's website at www.newswire.ca. All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov.

Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le http://www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx.

Table 1: Diamond Drill Hole Assay Results

A: Infill drilling along the main mineralized structures (main fault) within resource pit shell HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of

hole (m) Azimuth

() Dip

() From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width (m)3 Au (g/t) Au (g/t)

(capped at 30

g/t Au)2 Easting Northing Elev. SMDD17-181 32833 63386 891 89.2 215 -50 0 10.5 10.5 5.65 0.88 0.88 SMDD17-181A 32832 63384 891 345 215 -50 0 10.5 10.5 5.73 1.07 1.07













228 235.5 7.5 4.09 2.59 2.59













261 300 39 21.28 3.47 3.47 SMDD17-188 32495 63684 866 117 215 -50 24 55.5 31.5 17.19 2.16 2.16













94.5 100.5 6 3.27 6.05 6.05 SMDD17-195 32329 63972 826 186 215 -47 No significant results













248 254 6 3.11 0.55 0.55 SMDD17-216 32688 63268 917 420.5 35 -50 67.8 75 7.2 4.89 2.52 2.52

B: Expansion drilling along the main mineralized structures (main fault) below resource pit shell HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of

hole (m) Azimuth

() Dip

() From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width (m)3 Au (g/t) Au (g/t)

(capped at 30

g/t Au)2 Easting Northing Elev. SMDD17-182 32873 63357 892 402.5 215 -50 309.5 315.5 6 3.27 67.39 15.33













348.5 363.3 14.8 8.07 2.91 2.91 SMDD17-187 32672 62976 912 417 35 -50 297 304 7 4.75 1.27 1.27 SMDD17-190 32436 63863 848 237 215 -50 No significant results SMDD17-192 32406 63909 838 258 215 -50 No significant results SMDD17-193 32729 63499 880 306 215 -50 No significant results SMDD17-194 32710 62963 899 384.5 35 -50 261.5 272 10.5 7.13 1.3 1.3 SMDD17-196 32776 63482 874 345 215 -50 240 268.5 28.5 15.55 3.85 3.85 SMDD17-198 32631 63616 888 275 215 -50 220.5 226 5.5 3 2.08 2.08 SMDD17-199 32456 63794 876 193.5 215 -50 No significant results SMDD17-201 32302 63588 881 321.5 35 -50 279.5 285.5 6 4.07 3.26 3.26 SMDD17-202 32588 63733 862 315.5 215 -51 255.5 294.5 39 20.74 3.06 3.06 SMDD17-204 32144 63798 882 273.5 35 -53 No significant results SMDD17-207 31799 64341 721 225.5 35 -50 No significant results SMDD17-209 31762 64290 730 351.5 35 -55 276.5 290 13.5 8.34 1.04 1.04 SMDD17-211 32860 63425 880 447.5 215 -50 362 393.5 31.5 17.19 1.88 1.88 SMDD17-213 32158 64421 720 432.5 215 -50 0 5.25 5.25 2.86 0.6 0.6













180.5 189.5 9 4.91 0.72 0.72













206 219.5 13.5 7.37 1.02 1.02













329 338 9 4.91 1.19 1.19













360.5 395 34.5 18.82 4.5 4.5













414.5 422 7.5 4.09 1.13 1.13

C: Infill drilling along the secondary mineralized structures within resource pit shell HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of

hole (m) Azimuth

() Dip

() From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width (m)3 Au (g/t) Au (g/t)

(capped at 30

g/t Au)2

Easting Northing Elev.

















SMDD17-185 32795 63592 864 157.5 215 -50 37.5 94.5 57 31.1 2.56 2.56 SMDD17-200 32319 64126 773 297 215 -50 153.4 162 8.6 4.69 5.8 5.8 SMDD17-210 32179 64280 730 309.5 215 -52 120 131.5 11.5 5.96 3.44 3.44













248 254 6 3.93 0.54 0.54

D: Expansion drilling along the secondary mineralized structures below resource pit shell HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of

hole (m) Azimuth

() Dip

() From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width (m)3 Au (g/t) Au (g/t)

(capped at 30

g/t Au)2 Easting Northing Elev. SMDD17-183 32904 63480 859 231 215 -50 0 9 9 4.91 1.16 1.16













196.5 217.5 21 11.46 4.87 4.87 SMDD17-191 32810 63088 883 282 35 -50 No significant results SMDD17-197 32362 64112 779 297 215 -50 204 213 9 4.91 1.43 1.43 SMDD17-203 32272 64152 767 291 215 -50 0 16.5 16.5 9 0.8 0.8













136.5 142.5 6 3.27 2.72 2.72 SMDD17-208 32912 63408 873 183.5 215 -50 0 12 12 6.55 2.33 2.33













139.5 153.5 14 7.64 2.81 2.81













159.5 170 10.5 5.73 0.52 0.52 SMDD17-215 31917 64604 697 243 215 -50 1.5 21 19.5 10.64 1 1













142.5 151.5 9 4.91 3.98 3.98

E: Expansion drilling along strike at the south east end of resource pit shell HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of

hole (m) Azimuth

() Dip

() From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width (m)3 Au (g/t) Au (g/t)

(capped at 30

g/t Au)2 Easting Northing Elev. SMDD17-184 33026 63226 874 243 215 -50 No significant results SMDD17-186 32968 62957 846 234 215 -50 No significant results SMDD17-189 32907 62907 854 165 215 -50 No significant results

F: Expansion drilling along strike at the north west end of resource pit shell HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of

hole (m) Azimuth

() Dip

() From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width (m)3 Au (g/t) Au (g/t)

(capped at 30

g/t Au)2 Easting Northing Elev. SMDD17-212 31723 64675 667 84 215 -50 30 39 9 4.91 0.69 0.69 SMDD17-214 31776 64750 659 225.5 215 -50 No significant results

G: Exploration drilling north of resource pit shell HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of

hole (m) Azimuth

() Dip

() From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) True

Width (m)3 Au (g/t) Au (g/t)

(capped at 30

g/t Au)2 Easting Northing Elev. SMDD17-205 32483 64277 717 156 215 -50 No significant results SMDD17-206 32541 64348 702 180.5 215 -50 No significant results

Notes: 1. Drill hole intercepts are calculated using a 0.50 g/t Au assay cut-off and 5m minimum length 2. During compositing, assays greater than 30 g/t Au are capped at 30 g/t Au 3. True widths are estimated from intersected geometries

Figure 1: Saramacca drill hole plan map and highlighted 2017 assay results.

SOURCE IAMGOLD Corporation

For further information: Ken Chernin, VP Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation, Tel: (416) 360-4743, Mobile: (416) 388-6883; Laura Young, Director, Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation, Tel: (416) 933-4952, Mobile: (416) 670-3815, Toll-free: 1-888-464-9999, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.iamgold.com


THUNDER BAY, ON, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Wolfden Resources Corporation (WLF:TSX-V) ("Wolfden" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of a 100% interest in the Pickett Mountain Property, located in Penobscot County, northern Maine, U.S.A (the "Property") for a cash purchase price of US$8.5 million (the "Acquisition"). The Property comprises 6,871 acres of timberland and all minerals, mining, subsurface and surface rights owned by the seller, and includes the Pickett Mountain base metal deposit (the "Pickett Mountain Project").

To fund the Acquisition, the Company granted a 1.35% gross sales royalty on the Pickett Mountain Project to a subsidiary of Altius Minerals Corporation ("Altius", ALS:TSX) for cash consideration of US$6,000,000 and completed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 20,200,000 subscription receipts ("Subscription Receipts") at a price of C$0.25 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of C$5,050,000, with Altius subscribing for 14,200,000 Subscription Receipts.

The Financing

Immediately prior to the completion of the Acquisition, upon satisfaction of the escrow release conditions in respect of the Subscription Receipts, each holder of Subscription Receipts received, without the payment of additional consideration or further action on the part of the holder, one unit of the Company (each a "Unit"). Each Unit comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at price of C$0.35 for a period of 60 months from the closing date of the Offering.

All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory four-month hold period in accordance with Canadian securities legislation and the TSX Venture Exchange.

In connection with the Offering, the Company has paid an aggregate of $49,775 in cash finder's fees to Medalist Capital Ltd., Sprott Global Resources Investments, Ltd. and Haywood Securities Inc. in connection with purchases of Subscription Receipts made by subscribers introduced by such parties. A further $177,500 in cash finder's fees and, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, a $100,000 advisory fee will be paid by the Corporation to Cormark Securities Inc. in connection with the Offering and the Altius royalty, respectively.

A related party of the Company has participated in the Offering on the same terms as arm's length investors. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the Offering as the details of the Offering, including participation therein by related parties of the Company, had not been confirmed at that time and the Offering was completed taking into account the timeframe of the Acquisition. A copy of the material change report in respect of the matters referenced in this news release will be available on www.sedar.com.

The Royalty Agreement

Pursuant to the royalty agreement between Altius and the Company (the "Royalty Agreement"), Altius has the option to purchase an additional 0.50% gross sales royalty at any time before the first anniversary of commercial production for US$7,500,000. Under the Royalty Agreement, the Corporation has also granted to Altius certain rights to convert the royalty to equity under certain circumstances or to exchange the royalty for a similar royalty on the Corporation's Orvan Brook property.

The Pickett Mountain Project and New Mining Laws in Maine

The Pickett Mountain Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag deposit is known to be one of the highest-grade undeveloped volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits (VMS) in North America. The deposit was discovered by Getty Mines Ltd. in 1979, using a combination of soil surveys ground surveys and diamond drilling and has not been explored since 1989.

Wolfden management believes that the Property has excellent potential to host an economic VMS deposit as evidenced by grades obtained from historic diamond drilling1 that intersected (true widths):

18.66% Zn, 10.27% Pb, 1.63% Cu & 6.72 oz/t Ag over 7.70 metres

14.65% Zn, 6.48% Pb, 2.74% Cu & 3.78 oz/t Ag over 7.68 metres

15.95% Zn, 7.41% Pb, 1.41% Cu & 5.25 oz/t Ag over 7.30 metres

13.71% Zn, 5.25% Pb, 1.07% Cu & 3.57oz/t Ag over 6.30 metres

1 Data documented in an internal report authored by Getty Mines Ltd.

The deposit has been traced over a strike length of close to 900 metres and appears to be open at depth. Wolfden plans to begin drilling in the near future with a mineral resource estimate planned in 2018.

Preliminary metallurgical test work completed on drill core produced 3 floatation concentrates with resulting recoveries of 80% for copper, 78% for lead and 88% for zinc; considered to be excellent recoveries compared to most massive sulphide deposits situated in the North American Appalachians. A number of untested Cu-Pb-Zn soil anomalies situated along strike from the known deposit and distal to the deposit, auger well for the potential to find additional similar mineralization elsewhere on the land tract.

Recently, LD 820 was enacted by the Maine legislature, permitting mining of metallic minerals in Maine in certain prescribed situations. The new legislation took effect on November 1, 2017. Prior to the introduction of proposed new legislation in 2013 and the enactment of LD 820 into law in 2017, there was little mining and mineral exploration in Maine. Interest in the geology and potential for VMS projects like the Pickett Mountain Project has been revived with zinc and copper price appreciation and the opening up of the mine permitting regime under specific prescribed limitations. Wolfden sees significant exploration opportunity in this jurisdiction that it believes is vastly under-explored.

About Wolfden Resources:

Wolfden is a mineral exploration company exploring the Rice Island and Nickel Island properties in Manitoba. Manitoba is ranked #2 in Canada and #2 in the World as the most favourable jurisdiction to conduct mining and exploration (Fraser Institute (2016-2017). The Company also retains a 16,000 hectare land position in the Bathurst Mining Camp in northern New Brunswick.

About Altius

Altius directly and indirectly holds diversified royalties and streams that generate revenue from 15 operating mines. These are located in Canada and Brazil and produce copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron ore, potash and thermal (electrical) and metallurgical coal. The portfolio also includes numerous pre-development stage royalties covering a wide spectrum of mineral commodities and jurisdictions. In addition, Altius holds a large portfolio of exploration stage projects which it has generated for deal making with industry partners that results in newly created royalties and equity and minority interests.

Altius has 43,187,291 shares issued and outstanding that are listed on Canada's Toronto Stock Exchange. It is a member of both the S&P/TSX Small Cap and S&P/TSX Global Mining Indices.

The information in this news release has been prepared and approved by Donald Hoy, M.Sc., P. Geo., President and CEO and a director of the Company. Mr. Hoy is also a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"), including but not limited to information about future drilling activities at the Pickett Mountain Project; the timing and completion of an anticipated mineral resource estimate at the Pickett Mountain Project; and the scope of and the anticipated effect of new mining legislation in Maine. This forward-looking information entails various risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such information. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the global economy; the price of base metals and minerals generally; operational, funding and liquidity risks; the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations; and the ability of Wolfden to fund its substantial capital requirements and operations. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada available at www.sedar.com. Readers are urged to read these materials. Wolfden assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by law.

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.

SOURCE Wolfden Resources Corporation

For further information: please contact Donald Hoy, President and CEO, Wolfden Resources Corporation, Tel: (807) 624-1131, Email: [email protected]
We're searching for the best brewery in Upstate New York and we need your help! Last week, we asked you to nominate your favorite places.

Check out who made the next round and cast your votes! The polls will be open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26. You can select up to two places per poll, but can only vote one time.

Our judges will then visit the top six breweries to taste the best brews they have to offer. At the end of the month, we'll crown two winners -- the judges' favorite and readers' choice. Here are the semifinalists.

Please note: The results below reflect votes submitted from the United States.

Western

Central

Eastern
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Fiat-Chrysler's controversial Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, a rocket disguised as a muscle car, began shipping Monday. A few 2018 models have been promised to SF dealerships, and at least one is expected to make an appearance at the San Francisco Chronicle International Auto Show opening Saturday.

With a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 providing 840 horsepower and zero to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds, the Demon is one of the world's fastest cars, especially over short distances. But its brutal power (pushing 1.8 G-force) has some people worried about more than burnt-rubber trails marking up streets.

The car "is so inherently dangerous to the common safety of motorists that its registration as a road-worthy automobile should be banned," declared an April editorial in the Automotive News. The publication argues that while other more powerful, even faster cars are available from other automakers, the Demon's drag-racing capabilities set it apart.

Now Playing: Its called the most powerful American car ever made. The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is also the quickest car in the world. Its 6.2-liter V8 engine is rated at 808 horsepower, and 840 when its running on race gas. The vehicle is currently in the Video: FoxM9NJ

"Laudably, the entire industry has made great strides toward improved vehicle safety in recent years, even as it dials up performance capabilities," the editorial states. "But with the Demon, Dodge spits on that goal and irresponsibly moves in the opposite direction, knowingly placing motorists in danger in the process."

That did not sit well with the Automotive News' commenters, many of whom blew a gasket.

"When did Automotive News turn into a pack of shrieking little girls?" asked one.

Wrote another: "We are provided no substantiated reason why it should be banned other than 'durr its fast'. And the slightly slower Tesla whatever gets a free pass because it grows polar bears and saves plants rather than burning evil gasoline."

Dodge is marketing the limited-edition Demon as legal for the street yet perfectly happy on the track (with modifications).

In fact, it's so track-oriented, it comes with only one seat  the driver's. Front passenger and rear seats are options, priced at only $1 a piece.

But the Demon's awesome acceleration is doubtlessly its biggest selling point. The National Hot Rod Association has certified it as the world's fastest quarter-mile production vehicle.

Dodge reportedly said a production model pulled a wheelie nearly three feet long.

Only 3,000 of the cars, which start at $85,000 (including the $1,700 gas guzzler tax), will be available in the United States. And only a few SF dealerships will get them.

Two are coming to Stewart Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Colma, according to salesman Michael Keylin, but they've already been spoken for.

Keylin downplayed concerns that the muscle car could present a danger to other drivers because of its blistering speed in the quarter-mile, reportedly 140 mph under 10 seconds.

He noted that General Motors and other carmakers have models with similar-sized engines as the Demon. And even Dodge's own Viper boasts of a considerably bigger (8.4-liter, V-10) engine and has a reputation for especially scary handling on wet roads. Yet nobody's talking about outlawing the Viper.

Keylin said that some dealerships in southern states were marking up the Demon by as much as $50,000, which he said put it in an entirely different class of car.

"The people who bought a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon are performance enthusiasts to the core, and having a custom car with accessories that improve overall performance is critical," Fiat Chrysler North America's passenger car chief Tim Kuniskis told USA Today earlier this year.

Kuniskis does not expect the Demon to be a big moneymaker, but rather a draw to get car shoppers to buy other Dodges, such as the less powerful Challenger Hellcat.

Dodge will be showcasing a Challenger, presumably the Demon, along with the rest of its fleet of 2018 models at the San Francisco Chronicle 60th Annual International Auto Show this Saturday through Nov. 26.
BRIDGEPORT - State education official Stephen Wright is behind bars after being arrested for violating his probation after serving a prison term for four drunken driving arrests in 12 weeks.

Wright, a member of the state Board of Education, was being held in lieu of $250,000 bond pending a hearing in Superior Court here on Dec. 1.

The 62-year-old Wright, a lawyer and former chairman of Trumbulls Board of Education, completed a 120-day prison term on Sept. 8 after he pleaded guilty to four counts of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

Following his release from prison, probation officials said Wright provided them with his home address and telephone number. However, when he failed to report for his first meeting with his probation officer, probation officials said they attempted to contact Wright only to find out that the address he gave them in Monroe was a vacant lot and the telephone number was the hotline number for the state Department of Children and Families.

On Sept. 21, probation officials said they received a call from a concerned citizen that Wright was seen on Sept. 19, at the Stamford Hilton Hotel lobby bar in an inebriated condition. The concerned citizen was concerned Wright was driving.

As a condition of his probation, Wright was ordered to undergo substance abuse evaluation and treatment and could not drive.

A warrant for his arrest was subsequently issued and Wright was arrested by local police. At the time of his arrest he gave an address of Ocean Avenue, West Haven.

Wright was first arrested on Feb. 22 by Norwalk police and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and released on a promise to appear in court, according to court records.

Five days later, he was charged in Shelton with driving under the influence and released after posting a $1,000 bond, records show. On March 17, he was charged by the State Police with drunken driving and failure to drive in the proper lane and released after posting a $500 bond.

He was arrested by Stratford police on April 10 and charged with drunken driving, operating while under suspension and failure to carry registration/insurance and released on a promise to appear in court.
Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale has warned Nigerians over comments concerning his stand on Wizkid not being a superstar.This is in reaction to his earlier statement that he doesnt see anything extraordinary about Wizkid, contrary to the popular notion most of his colleagues have about the artist.Nigerians on social media blasted the rapper following stand, emphasizing that he cant be compared to Wizkid.Here are some comments: @amoapho Wizkids wrote: Sounds from the other side is bigger than Shatta Wales career..The only thing on Shatta thats bigger than Wizkid is his lips..Tell him to sit down!@iammrBoro You are going too far, Wizkids Superstar album is bigger than Shatta Wales past, present and future discography.@lifeofdavido Even our upcoming artistes in Nigeria like @Soundsultan have bigger fan base than shttawale #Spits and works out@whizdom Its actually funny that Ghanaians are comparing shatta wale to Wizkid..smh Somebody thats not even up to lil keshHowever, Shatta Wale in a video has replied Nigerians, emphasizing that Wizkid was nothing.




Robert and Grace Mugabe



Grace Mugabe, the wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is reported to have fled the country for neighboring Namibia, As the Zimbabwean military take control of the government and keep the President, Robert Mugabe under house arrest, the first lady, Grace Mugabe has reportedly fled the country.Grace Mugabe, the wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is reported to have fled the country for neighboring Namibia, The Independent UK reports.

Her husband is thought to be under house arrest in the southern African countrys capital, Harare, after the Zimbabwean military took control of the government.

It is unclear how Ms Mugabe was able to make her escape.

Zimbabwe: #Grace Mugabe wife of Robert Mugabe, flees the country for Namibia November 15, 2017

Eddie Cross, an MP from the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change, said he understood the First Lady was now in Namibia.

A representative for the ruling Zanu-PF party also said he believed she was no longer in Zimbabwe.

It comes after Zimbabwean army generals seized power and detained senior officials, including Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, as part of a round-up of criminals.

Soldiers blocked roads around the main government offices, parliament and courts and took control of the national broadcaster. Gunfire was heard in the area around Mr Mugabes home.

In a statement read live on state television, Major General Sibusiso Moyo said Mr Mugabe, 93, and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed.

The move could be an attempt to install Mr Mugabes former deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as president. Mr Mnangagwa was sacked last week in a move seen as paving the way for Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband as president.

South African president Jacob Zuma said he had spoken to Mr Mugabe by phone and described him as being fine but confined to his home.
Mr Emeka Ojukwu jnr, son of the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has dumped the par...

Mr Emeka Ojukwu jnr, son of the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress.Ojukwu jnr made his declaration on Wednesday in Awka, at the grand finale campaign of the APC candidate for the Anambra 2017 governorship election, Dr Tony Nwoye.President Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, 12 APC governors, National Assembly members in the party, among other party bigwigs, witnessed the event.According to him, his decision to join the party was to protect the interest of the Igbos.Ojukwu jnr, who was adorned in a toga of his new party, said it was time for the people of the South-East region to move from the recession of the periphery to the centre.It is time to leave the shadows for light. Every now and then, they come out with my fathers shadow to confuse the people, he said.According to him, APGA is a means to an end but not an end itself.He said the reason why his father joined the National Party of Nigeria in the Second Republic was to ensure that Igbo people remained in the mainstream of Nigerian politics.Mr President, I am proud to stand here today in support of you and in solidarity with the APC and our candidate, Tony Nwoye, he added.The APC national chairman presented the party symbol to him and described the rally as another historic campaign.Oyegun recalled that Buhari made history when he unseated the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, saying that the same feat would be achieved in Anambra 2017 governorship election.The national chairman urged the people of the state to vote en mass for the party and Nwoye at the Saturday poll.NAN
Voters in Anambra state, southeast Nigeria, go the polls to elect a new governor this weekend, with security tight after a call from a pro-...



Voters in Anambra state, southeast Nigeria, go the polls to elect a new governor this weekend, with security tight after a call from a pro-Biafran group for people to boycott the polls.

The result of Saturdays election is unlikely to change anything politically at national level but proceedings are being watched closely because of what analysts have said are unprecedented measures to stop unrest.Nigerias federal police said it is sending 26,000 extra police officers, including counter-terrorism and bomb disposal specialists, sniffer and attack dogs.





Three surveillance helicopters will monitor proceedings from the air, while there will be 10 gunboats on the river Niger, plus 15 armoured personnel carriers and 303 patrol vehicles. Police said the measures were to ensure adequate security and safety of lives and properties before, during and after the elections.





Police personnel deployed for the election are under strict instructions to be polite and civil but firm in the discharge of their duties and other responsibilities, it added.

But the tactics are being seen as heavy handed.





This is an unprecedented deployment. Its an aberration. Its like we are in a war situation. For Gods sake, this is an election, security consultant Don Okereke told AFP.









 Civil disobedience  It will be counter-productive as there will be voter apathy, which will lead to low turnout of voters and the election of unpopular candidates. Civil disobedience 

Some 37 parties are fielding candidates in Anambra to try to wrest power from governor Willie Obiano, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who is seeking a second term.

The leading contenders are Oseloka Obaze, of the main national opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Tony Nwoye of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

But Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is the most well-known name as the polls prepare to open.





In September, long-running tensions between his supporters and the military boiled over after soldiers were sent in large numbers to the neighbouring state of Abia.





The military maintained the deployment was part of a scheduled operation against violent crime but IPOB claimed it was clearly aimed at cracking down on their activities.





Kanu, who is on bail and facing treason charges, has not been seen since September 14. His family maintain he is in military custody, which top brass deny.





IPOB has held repeated protests calling for a separate state for the Igbo people who dominate southeast Nigeria, reviving secessionist sentiment that led to a civil war 50 years ago.





Then, more than one million people died from the effects of war, starvation and disease. Resentment towards the federal government has persisted across generations.





Kanu told AFP in May that his aim was civil disobedience until we get a referendum on self-determination and said it was the only way forward.





 Militarisation 

On May 30, IPOBs call for a shut-down of shops, schools and businesses to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafran independence was widely observed including in Anambra. It said a boycott of this weekends polls was made to prevent bloodshed.





This is markedly different from stopping the election, which involves physically coming out to disrupt the voting process violently, it said in a statement.





It condemned what it said was the militarisation of Anambra and claimed that with the reinforcements there would be one polling station to 11 heavily armed security personnel.





This militarisation is the more reason why Biafrans have decided unanimously to stay at home and boycott the election and avoid being shot and killed, it added.





The police meanwhile have urged voters to ignore the IPOB boycott and vote, warning the group that it would not hesitate to use all legal means to prevent any disruption.





Dapo Thomas, a history and politics lecturer at Lagos state university, said the government had responded appropriately because IPOBs call for a boycott was a threat.





The government does not want to take chances. Thats why it has sent special forces, not only to protect those willing to vote but also to flex its muscles, he added.





Political analyst Chris Ngwodo said a show of force was to be expected because of President Muhammadu Buharis military background and his governments designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation.




The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, National Chairman, Dr. Victor Oye has said the first son of the late Biafra leader, Dim Chukwuem...

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, National Chairman, Dr. Victor Oye has said the first son of the late Biafra leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Emeka Jnr, is a prodigal son for defecting to the APC.

He also said Emekas defection is inconsequential to the re-election of Governor Willie Obiano.









Chief Oye said this yesterday when he addressed newsmen, adding that Ojukwu Jnr has the right to belong to any party he desires.





He noted that Emeka would still come back to his root where his father and himself started, his root is APGA.





Emeka Jnr had on Wednesday said he joined the APC to protect the interest of the Igbo.





Tthe National Coordinator APGA Media Warriors Forum, Evang Chinedu Obigwe has also described Emeka Ojukwu jnrs defection to APC as a good riddance to bad rubbish.








Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has condemned the earlier withdrawal of Anambra State Governor, Willie Obianos security aides, desc...

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has condemned the earlier withdrawal of Anambra State Governor, Willie Obianos security aides, describing the reinstatement directive by President Muhammadu Buhari as an afterthought.





The governor, who said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, could not have carried out such illegal act aimed at exposing Obiano to danger without the knowledge of the President, noted that; For Nigerians to believe that the President was not aware, he must sanction the IGP for disrespecting his office.





Buhari yesterday directed the restoration of Obianos guards aides after the governor personally complained made a case to him.





Before departing Awka, Buhari directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Joshak Habila to ensure that his directive was immediately effected.





Idris had on Tuesday confirmed that he authorized the withdrawal of the Aide Camp (ADC) to Obiano.





He spoke during Election Stakeholders Forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka.





Idris explained that the development was based on the previous experience the police recorded whereby the military caught an ADC to a governor escorting a vehicle loaded with arms on Election Day.





We do not mean anything bad to Anambra governor on this action; his ADC will be returned to him early Sunday morning after the governorship election on Saturday November 18.





We have equally withdrawn all the policemen attached to political appointees, Local Government Chairmen and others in Anambra till after the election, he said





On Thursday, Fayose through his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, in a statement called on governors in the country to rise in condemnation of the IGPs action saying; because it happened to an APGA governor today, it can be PDP or even APC governor tomorrow.





He said; Governors are not appendages of the President. They are heads of federating units in Nigeria and time has come for this military mentality of this APC government of President Buhari to stop. All governors in this country must jointly demand that the IGP be sanctioned if truly, President Buhari knew nothing about the withdrawal of Governor Obianos security aides.





The governor said it was even more ridiculous that the IGP tried to justify his action, asking; would the IGP have also stripped President Buhari of his security aides if the election coming up on Saturday is a presidential election in which the president is seeking reelection?





To me, President Buhari only ordered the reinstatement of Governor Obianos police aides because the Senate condemned it and directed the IGP to restore them. For Nigerians to believe that the President was not aware, he must sanction the IGP for disrespecting his office, he said.





While calling for the establishment of State police in the country, the governor said; Withdrawal of Governor Obianos police aides has further reinforced the agitation for state police.




There is tension on Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja, residence of Alhaja Sarat Banire, who is the mother of the National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Dr Muiz Banire, as the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, has issued the octogenarian a 48-hour demolition notice.Muiz, who is observing the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia, described the notice as politics of vendetta.The former Commissioner for the Environment said he acquired the two-bedroomed bungalow on lease from the Federal Government and the family only renovated it.He condemned the request of the state government for a building permit on a property he claimed was constructed by the Federal Government.This is coming less a week after the house of a former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuosho, was sealed by police operatives who were alleged to be acting on the directive of the Lagos State Government.Muiz, who issued a statement on the notice to his mother on Wednesday, said the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration was hell bent on persecuting him and his supporters for fighting against the culture of imposition in the ruling party.He said, My siblings and I acquired a lease of the property from the Federal Government to serve as a residence for my aged mother. The lease covered the two-bedroomed bungalow already on the land, together with a boys quarter. I did not have any reason to rebuild the house or do any further construction as the place was fit for the purpose for which it was acquired on lease.I know that since the creation of the lease, my mother has been living in the said two-bedroomed bungalow without adding a block to the property by way of additional construction, development or alteration save minor renovation like painting. The reasons why we could not develop the property to make it more befitting is that we are still awaiting federal consent to the lease created in my mothers favour.Surprisingly, on November 14, the contravention notice purportedly served by government requires that a building permit must be produced for an old building, the existence of which predated the lease by which my mother became the occupier of the premises. The property belongs to the Federal Government of Nigeria who granted a lease to my mother and save for minor renovations to make it habitable, no single efforts at construction or reconstruction has been made by any of us. How on earth could it be heard that a tenant is required to produce a building permit of a property that belongs to her landlord within 24 hours otherwise she risks demolition of the building?I had earlier said that the Lagos State Government, under the governorship of Akinwunmi Ambode, is out on a vendetta and having failed to get me removed as the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, has targeted my supporters for persecution. I had been expecting that since I was the ultimate target having received several messages threatening my family members and me, that very soon my property shall become objects of demolition by the vindictive government that is out to wage war against real and perceived enemies. I am, therefore, not surprised to see that my aged mothers residence is under attack.The legal practitioner said the building, which was not posing a threat to anyone, was a target because it was linked to him.He added that the urgency with which the government demanded the building permit for the house and the 48-hour demolition notice showed the desperation of the state to get at him.The APC chieftain said he was not moved by the governments recent acts of terrorism against his call for internal democracy in the party and resistance to the culture of imposition which he said were out of personal convictions.All necessary reactions to the notice have been escalated to both the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government as I have caused my lawyers to respond to the notice appropriately. I have no doubt that this latest Gestapo tactic is in furtherance of the political victimisation and oppression raging against me and my associates. I am ready for the sacrifice even if I have to, in the process, sleep on the streets of Lagos.Rule of law and institution building remain sacrosanct to me. As far as God continues to protect my life, I will remain resolute on it. As the political repression continues, I urge all my followers and supporters to be calm. If God says that my ailing mother at the age of 90 will die in the hands of Governor Ambode, I give God the glory, he added.However, in a statement by the Commissioner for Physical planning and Urban Development, Anifowoshe Abiola, the Lagos State Government said Muiz was merely whipping up sentiments by alleging that his mother was the target of the demand for the permit and that the property might be demolished in 48 hours.He said neither allegations was a sincere reading of the notice served on the property.He said, The contravention notices that went out on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 were a routine exercise served on properties identified by state agents as operating without due permits. Twenty-seven properties were indeed served on that same day, 13 out of which were located on the same Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja, where Banire (Muiz) admitted his property was located.The 27 properties served across the state are just the first set of an ongoing exercise embarked upon by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to validate the records and permits of properties that have undergone ownership transfer processes.There is no way Lagos State would have had a pre-knowledge of the owners of the properties in question, let alone target the one that Banire has identified to be his own. This is a routine and lawful exercise that ought not to be confusing to a supposedly learned gentleman who has had the privilege of serving in the Lagos State cabinet for many years.The commissioner said according to the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, what a contravention notice demanded was evidence of a planning permit on the existing structure, in order to avoid demolition of what would be deemed a contravention, if such a permit was not produced within the stipulated time as required by law.
The South African President, Jacob Zuma will be in Botswana today (Thursday)  where ministers from four countries are meeting to discuss t...

The South African President, Jacob Zuma will be in Botswana today (Thursday)  where ministers from four countries are meeting to discuss the Zimbabwe army lockdown.

The meeting is also seen as a move to block Grace Mugabes attempt to succeed her husband Robert Mugabe as president.





Mugabe had told President Jacob Zuma by telephone on Wednesday that he was confined to his home but was otherwise fine and the military said it was keeping him and his family, including wife Grace, safe.





In a statement, Zuma said a ministerial meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation will meet today in Gaborone.





The meeting will be attended by Ministers from Angola Zambia Tanzania and South Africa. It will be co-chaired by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa and the Angolan Defence Minister.




The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the hiring of a consultant to conduct a study that will aid the implementation of th...

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the hiring of a consultant to conduct a study that will aid the implementation of the present administrations Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the Council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Udoma put the cost of the approved consultancy job at N458m.He said the consultant would identify relevant stakeholders in both private and public sectors for the implementation of the ERGP.He said the study would be conducted on agriculture, transportation, power, gas and processing, among others.The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, also said the Council approved the contract for the construction of Gombe-Biu Road at the cost of N27bn.
The Imo state President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ezechi Chukwu, said that the gubernatorial election in Anambra state cannot be stopped by a group or an individual.Chukwu spoke in an interview with journalists in Owerri, as part of their decisions reached at the summit held in the state.He disagreed with the call by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to boycott the Anambra election, adding that the people should be allowed to exercise their rights.Chukwu added that, the sole aim of the summit was to showcase their unwavering support for total restructuring of Nigeria.According to the President, The Youthwing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has done a summit, in line with the restructuring of the federal system of Nigeria. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is for restructuring. We subscribe to the restructuring of the present system of Nigeria, for our socioeconomic advancement.Because, it gives us the comparative advantage to operate with what the status quo has offered us. The primacy of the summit is on restructuring and other issues are peripheral.The heartbeat of this summit is to sensitize our people to understand the importance of restructuring and while it is better for Igbo compared to the status quo.On the planned call by the IPOB, that there will be no election in Anambra state, come November 18.He argued that, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is one. As we speak now, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo is of the stand that the people of Anambra should go out and be part and parcel of the November 18, governorship election in the state.To enable them usher in the authentic custodians of their public mandate. Inline with the electorate act and provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, Ohanaeze Ndigbo encourages Anambra people to go ahead in a civic manner to be part of the electoral exercise.
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has condemned Nigerias House of Reps for turning down a motion to honour Ken Sar...

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has condemned Nigerias House of Reps for turning down a motion to honour Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others.





The lawmakers said it would be inappropriate to grant Saro-Wiwa the honour, arguing that his execution was duly considered and endorsed by government.





Rep. Benjamin Wayo (Benue-APC) said, While I agree that the environmental situation in Niger Delta is pitiable, we have to be careful in adopting the prayer in the motion calling for one-minute silence for the late environmentalist.





Section 33 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution says every person has right to life. It is only permissible to be taken through constitutional means, just as it was done in this case.





Therefore, it will be out of order to observe a minutes silence for Saro-Wiwa under this circumstance.





Similarly, Rep. Ali Madaki (Kano-APC) appealed to members to be cautious not to breach procedures regarding governments pronouncements.





Rep. Onyemaechi Mrakpor (Delta-PDP) said that observing one-minute silence for the late environmentalist or not doing so would not change the narrative that the pollution and infrastructure decay in the Niger Delta region have not abated.





He said, The things Ken Saro-Wiwa stood for are still there, as they have not been addressed. There is no clean water to drink in the Niger Delta and environmental pollution is still there.





It is not all about one-minute silence. We should be concerned about enhancing the environment in the Niger Delta region, Mrakpor said.









Reacting, Fegalo Nsuke, MOSOP Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Thursday said the people were shocked at the position taken by the Nigerian lawmakers as it not only misled the public but also placed a big question on members perception of law and justice.





It read, It is indeed pitiable that todays parliamentarians do not remember that SaroWiwa was not only executed, his body was also burnt with acid. To these parliamentarians, could this shame be part of their understanding of duly considered and endorsed?





It is quite contemptuous that these comments are coming from direct beneficiaries of Saro-Wiwas execution. We recall that the Ogoni 9 executions led to Nigerias suspension from the Commonwealth and triggered international pressure forcing Nigeria to return to democratic rule in 1999.





For the avoidance of any ambiguity, MOSOP is less concerned about a minute silence in honor of Saro-Wiwa and the other 8 victims. MOSOP is however concerned about the seeming endorsement of injustice by the Nigerian house of representatives when it noted that the executions were duly considered and endorsed.





It is regrettable that a sham is been considered to have passed due process. A trial in which the conclusion was decided before the trial commenced, a trial in which the victims were denied every right to fair hearing including the right to appeal.





We consider these comments a national embarrassment and on behalf of the Ogoni ethnic nationality profoundly express our indignation of this discrimination and injustice which is been prosecuted against our people.





However, we commend Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP  Rivers) and all other legislators who supported this motion for their good intentions in recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of Ken Saro-Wiwa to the enthronement of democracy and for a free and just Nigerian society.





We want to state unequivocally that the 1995 hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 others is not only a permanent stain on the conscience of our nation and our claims to being a free society, it is a national shame that the Nigerian government would have been curious to erase by addressing the issues that led to its occurrence viz-aviz the complaints of the Ogoni people as contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights.





The 1995 hangings is one of the darkest and most painful history of the Ogoni people. But even in death, we still hold Ken Saro-Wiwa in very high esteem and as a people with very long memory, we cannot so easily forget the circumstances in which the Nigerian authorities killed these innocent 9 on November 10, 1995. The Ogoni people reject every mockery of their sacrifices for the people.





Indeed, we have been severely battered, not only by the 1995 hangings, the scars of a series of state sponsored repression which came with it remain with us till date. We however do not want to be convinced that a civilian parliament that should stand for the people will make us feel,, while we still nurse our injuries, that we are hated, rejected and condemned in our own country.





The House position on the execution of our leaders in 1995 indeed frightens us and re-enforces our fears that Nigeria is not seriously committed to social justice and human rights.
Eminent personalities on Thursday attended President Muhammadu Buharis books public presentation in Abuja.

Eminent personalities on Thursday attended President Muhammadu Buharis books public presentation in Abuja.

The book Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigerias Peace and Prosperity, was presented to the public at the old Banquet Hall of the State House.





It was a mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.





Among those that graced the public presentation of the book, that started few minutes past 12 noon, were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is the keynote speaker at the occasion.





Also at the occasion was the Chairman of the occasion and the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.





State governors at the event were Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aragbesola (Osun), Jigawa, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).





Other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), other top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and traditional rulers also attended.





The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was represented at the occasion.




The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi chapter, has concluded arrangement for successful hosting of the partys National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in Ebonyi on Friday.Mr Eze Nwachukwu, the Acting Chairman of APC in Ebonyi, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki, said party members were in high spirit.According to him, the visit will be used to strengthen the party and further expand its membership ahead of the 2019 general elections.He explained that the party in the state would use the gains of the visit to cement and consolidate on the existing peace and unity in the party.Many members who have been seeing the chairman on television want to see him live, touch him, embrace him and shake hands with him.We will meet him one on one and discuss our challenges and see how he can use his good office to assist us and ensure that all our efforts are strengthened toward taking over power in the state in 2019.Our joy over the visit has no limit because the visit will not only cement and consolidate the existing peace and unity in our great party, it will also expand the membership of the party, ahead of 2019.Abakaliki, the state capital will stand still again for the APC national chairman who is coming with the entire members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.We will demonstrate once again just as we did few days ago during the visits of the Vice President and Mr President, that Ebonyi is indeed APC state, he said.The APC chief said that Oyegun would personally register some of the high profile former members of Ebonyi PDP who decamped to the party, led by the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi.
Former Minister of Education and national chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Tunde Adeniran has advised Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to support his ambition to emerge the partys national chairman in the December 9 convention, saying the South-West geopolitical zone will not produce the presidential candidate of the party in 2019.He also called on the governor to jettison his Presidential aspiration and abide with the zoning arrangement of the party which zoned the Presidency to the North.Fielding questions from journalists shortly after submitting his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms at the national secretariat of the party yesterday, the aspirant said Fayoses 2019 Presidential ambition may have led to his decision not to identify with his (Adeniran) chairmanship aspiration yet.Adeniran said: My governor is interested in contesting the Presidency of this country and I believe that he thought that well, it will be impossible for us to have the President and national chairman from the same place.Now, the more he realizes that the party has taken a decision that our president by the grace of God as for 2019 will come from the North, the more he realizes the reason to stand by the method decided by the party; the more he will realize that the position taken by the party at the convention is a reality and that he will support his brother Adeniran for the chairman.In fact, I expect that he will lead the Ekiti State delegation to support me at the convention, he said.Speaking earlier, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi pledged the commitment of the committee to conduct a free, fair and credible convention.He however warned against the danger of breaching the peace pact signed by the aspirants on Tuesday, and urged the erstwhile Ambassador to Germany to call an unnamed supporter of his to order.He said: I will assure you that as caretaker committee, we will do our best no matter what a few might say. We are determined to be transparent and to conduct a free and very fair convention where the views of PDP members will prevail.Also, he said one of the key elements of the peace accord we discussed yesterday (Tuesday) was the acknowledgement that the only thing the party has zoned in respect of national issues is the Presidency for North and chairmanship for South. And in the peace accord which we have signed, you categorically stated that by the South, you meant all the states in the South and by the North, all the states in the North.According to Makarfi, the NCC wont stop aspirants from taking a common position, saying the allegations against the committee, was unfair.If aspirants come to a conclusion, develop a document and sign, it is very unfair to hear accusations that the caretaker committee has refused to do some things that we have no powers to do. We also did say that wherever there is a political arrangement whether in the North or South to push for consensus, we will acknowledge it.Some statements have come from an individual who claims to support or promote your course. To continue to issue press releases condemning the caretaker committee which is completely contrary to the document you signed; you people should be able to call such a person to order if you mean well for this party.Such individual has done everything possible to make us compromise by going to the media to say that we have compromised with somebody else. Left for such individuals the caretaker committee should not be in place, he lamented.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said one of his greatest wishes on his 57th birthday was to have woken up in the morning to r...





He said he expected the president as the father of the nation to call him as a governor and a leading opposition figure.Fayose spoke to journalists at the Governments House in Ado-Ekiti.My wishes on my 57th birthday as Ayo Fayose are many but one of them which will interest you is that I wish President Buharis congratulatory call would have woken me up today as one of the governors in the country and as a leading opposition figure in the country: a fearless young man who believes that things should be done rightly.I expect the president to show himself as a father of all, preaching that we must extend love to everybody  not only those in his political party.The president would have made a difference if he had extended such gesture to others beyond his political party. Such a congratulatory message should have been conveyed through his Minister of Information (Lai Muhammad). I would have loved to either wake up receiving a congratulatory call from him or read it in the papers. But since it is not coming, it is not a big deal to me and I take no offence on it.Fayose said he deserved commendation from Buhari because he was contributing to the vibrancy of democracy being the opposition figure.I am not Buharis enemy. Opposition is the strength of democracy, it ensures that the electorate get value for their votes. Those who criticise your government are not your enemies, they are catalysts to your growth as a government.The governor stated that he would celebrate his birthday with artisans, Okada riders, market women and men, and people on the streets.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the reinstatement of the security aides of the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the reinstatement of the security aides of the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano.According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President gave the order in Awka on Wednesday.Adesina said Obiano had, while receiving Buhari on arrival at Awka for the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Rally, complained to the President about the withdrawal of his security aides.He said the President subsequently directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Mr. Joshak Habila, to ensure the immediate reinstatement of the governors security aides.The statement read, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the reinstatement of the security aides of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.While welcoming the President on arrival Wednesday in Awka for the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress Governorship rally, the governor had complained about the withdrawal of his security aides.Before departing Awka, President Buhari directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Joshak Habila to ensure the return of the governors security personnel.It will be recalled that Obianos security aides were on Tuesday withdrawn on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.The withdrawal was ahead of the governorship election in the state scheduled for Saturday.
President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a two-day official visit to Ebonyi and Anambra in the South East region.

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a two-day official visit to Ebonyi and Anambra in the South East region.The Presidents visit was the first since the inception of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.Buhari, who commenced the visit on Nov. 14 with a state visit to Ebonyi, assured the people of South-East that his administration would ensure timely execution of roads, power and other projects in the region.He gave the assurance when he addressed Ebonyi State Leaders of Thought and Traditional Rulers at a meeting in Government House, Abakiliki.The President, who was also hosted to a state dinner organised in his honour, commended Ebonyi people for the warm reception accorded him during the state visit.He said that the visit was a clear demonstration of his administrations strong belief in the unity of Nigeria.Buhari inaugurated the 14.5km Abakiliki-Afikpo Federal road constructed by the Ebonyi Government and launched the 700-metre dual flyover over the Trans-Sahara route, running from Enugu to Cameroon, and the Sen. Offia Nwali flyover, all in the state capital.The President also performed the foundation-stone laying ceremonies of Ebonyi City Mall, another flyover and road tunnel named after him.He unveiled the statue of Sir Akanu Ibiam, former Governor of the old Eastern region, whom he described as a great Nigerian, whose notable records of humanitarianism, advocacy of free primary education and rural development would continue to be an inspiration to all.Buhari, who commended Gov. David Umahi for his vision and commitment to the development of the state, also thanked traditional rulers in the state, led by Eze Charles Mkpuna for conferring him with the chieftaincy title of Enyioma 1 of Ebonyi (Trustworthy friend of Ebonyi).At another event with South East traditional rulers led by Eze Eberechi Dick, the President was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ochioha Ndigbo (Leader of Igbo people).He was also in Akwa, capital of Anambra, in continuation of the two-day visit to the South East.While in Awka, Buhari ordered the police to restore security to Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra and called for massive support to Mr Tony Nwoye, APCs governorship candidate.He called on the people of Anambra to vote Nwoye of APC in the Nov. 18 election.The President made the call in a short speech at the grand finale of the governorship rally held for the APC governorship candidate.He said Anambra people would benefit much if they voted for APC.
The head of the African Union said Thursday that the body will never accept the military coup detat in Zimbabwe.We demand respect for the constitution, a return to the constitutional order and we will never accept the military coup detat, Alpha Conde said in an interview with French journalists in Paris.We know there are internal problems. They need to be resolved politically by the ZANU-PF party and not with an intervention by the army, added Conde, who is also Guineas president.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, Deputy Chairman (South) and governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni, has explained why h...

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Deputy Chairman (South) and governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni, has explained why he recently rejected a N52 million Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) gift from Governor Ayo Fayose.

Speaking through the Director-General of his Campaign Organisation (SOCO), Dr. Ife Arowosoge, Oni said his rejection of Fayoses gift was done in the interest of suffering workers and retirees who had not received their pay for many months.





Fayose recently gave out brand new SUVs to all former Ekiti State governors but excluded his immediate predecessor and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.





Fayose explained that the gesture was to show appreciation to the ex-governors for their sacrifices and contributions to the development of the state.





But Oni said giving out brand new SUVs was done at a wrong time, especially when civil servants and pensioners in Ekiti were being owed months of salaries and benefits.





He said: Although Fayose meant well with the gift, but the question is: why does he have to wait till this time before giving out the cars?





The former governors are entitled to it. It is their right and privilege; not only the car but even residential houses, even at the Federal Capital. Why then does he have to wait till when he has less than a year to leave the office before recognising them?




Hours after police collared the fourth and final teenager who broke out of a youth detention facility Wednesday, an official said investigators believe the escape wasn't a spur of the moment decision.

"We do in fact believe it was a planned escape," Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said Thursday.

He also said investigators are still trying to figure out how the teens, some wearing only underwear, were able to travel around South Jersey in the hours after their escape early Wednesday.

Three were found Wednesday in Bridgeton, about 35 miles from the Harborfields Youth Detention Facility in Egg Harbor City. The fourth, Michael Huggins, 18, was found in Atlantic City around 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Huggins, of Bridgeton, charged with murder in the 2016 killing of Davonte Lee, had a handgun when he was discovered in an apartment in the 100 block of North South Carolina Avenue in Atlantic City, Tyner said.

Tyner said at a press conference Thursday at the Atlantic County Superior Courthouse investigators are still trying to determine if Huggins was ever in Bridgeton.

Officials have said that the four youth overpowered a corrections officer at the detention facility, stealing his keys and his car but ultimately crashing the car into a building nearby in the early hours of Wednesday. They then allegedly fled on foot.

Huggins attorney has said he does not believe that his client was a ringleader or even a conspirator in the break out, but simply went along when the opportunity presented itself.

"I wouldn't believe that Michael would have orchestrated this," said James Gerrow Jr., a Burlington County attorney.

He said he was shocked to hear that his client was on the run and he has been in contact with Huggins mother, who was very concerned that her son was being sought by police and could possibly be in danger.

"We're all relieved Michael was taken into custody," he said.

Because the teens fled on foot, the manhunt Wednesday morning focused on Egg Harbor City. However, a tip from a person in the Bridgeton led them to arrest the three juveniles in the area of Pamphylia Avenue, not far from South Woods State Prison.

"We received some information that was very valuable," Tyner said of the tip.

Authorities focused much of their search on that same area of Bridgeton throughout Wednesday and into Thursday, searching around residences and causing several schools to be put on lockdown.

While they were still actively searching in Bridgeton, officials received information Thursday that Huggins was in an apartment in Atlantic City, Tyner said. He declined to say whether anyone else was arrested Thursday besides Huggins.

"The apartment that he was located in, the individuals opened the door and were cooperative," he said. He did not say what connection Huggins had to the residents.

Tyner said authorities don't know for sure where Huggins got the gun, but that it was not taken from any corrections officer. The corrections officers at Harborfields are not armed.

Huggins, who was arrested without incident and is now being held at the Atlantic County Jail, is facing new charges of escape, assault on a law enforcement officer, robbery, conspiracy and unlawful weapons possession.

Gerrow said his client was held in the youth detention facility, though he was 18 and charged with murder, because state regulations suggest that young offenders who are charged as adults should continue to be held in youth facilities until they are 21.

Tyner said the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office tried unsuccessfully to have him transferred to a jail but Gerrow said no motion to that effect was ever made.*

Huggins maintains he did not kill Lee and is heading to trial, Gerrow said.

According to the probable cause statement, police believe Huggins, who was 17 at the time, shot Lee in a parked car outside Huggins home on Oct. 7, 2016.

Lee and a friend went to Huggins home for a "narcotics transaction," according to court papers. Huggins approached the men in the parked car, brandished a gun, demanded money, and shot Lee, police claim.

Gerrow said part of his defense will be that the man who identified Huggins as the shooter has since given a second statement to a private investigator that indicates police strongly suggested to him that he identify Huggins as the shooter.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

*This story was updated to include comments additional comments from Gerrow.
When you search for something online, you usually find what you're looking for.

But searches for the popular -- and now discontinued --Windows Movie Maker software is setting up some would-be video editors for a scam.

Windows put the kibosh the program in January 2017.

But because it was a free program, user demand is still very high.

And that's where the scammers have stepped in.

Banking on the program's popularity, con artists created a website promising a free download of the software, but it's anything but free. And because of the way search engines like Google calculate their web page rankings, the phony site reaches near the top of searches -- giving it a big pool of potential victims.

According to a report by ESET, an IT security firm that specializes in malware and virus detection, the website windows-movie-maker.org comes up as one of the top results when consumers search for the Movie Maker program. It ranks as the No. 1 result in countries with the highest number of internet users, and it pops up first on Bing searches, too, ESET found.

ESET said this download is the third most prevalent threat worldwide.

Here's how to works, according to the folks at ESET.

When you download the software from the website, you actually get a functioning version of Windows Movie Maker. All seems well. But as you use the software, sometime during your video editing process, you'll get a window that says you have to pay to continue.

ESET said the payment prompt tells users they've only downloaded the trial version, and they'll have to upgrade -- and pay -- to get all the program's functions with the full version.

Users will get the payment prompt when they first launch the program and again when they try to save a video. And at this point, they're stuck. They can't save the video they've been working on, and they don't want to lose all that time.

They might be tempted to pay. And some do.

"The price requested for the fake upgrade is set to $29.95, in what is presented as a 25% discount on the payment website used by the crooks," ESET said.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The seriousness of the download is uncertain.

Users who fell for the scam would have lost their $29.95 and ended up with nothing for their money. That's a certainty.

Maybe losing $30 isn't the end of the world, but when you download any malicious program, you never know what could pop up later.

While ESET said it has seen no signs that the program installs malware or viruses onto your computer, it's better to be safe than sorry.

"The page itself is only being used to spread the misused version of Windows Movie Maker," said Ondrej Kubovic, security awareness specialist at ESET. "In the cases we analyzed, there was no other malicious activity observed. However, it is always better to be cautious in case the attackers try to follow up on their previous attempt."

In other words, you never know if an unwelcome surprise could be attached to this fake program.

We found it pretty fascinating that a hoax website could end up so high in search engines, but it's apparently not new.

The scammers use search engine optimization, called SEO for short, to their advantage. This is known as "black hat SEO." Scammers will use a current popular topic to push malicious content to top ranks of a search, Kubovic said.

"The attackers behind pages using black hat SEO usually opt for techniques not allowed by the search engine guidelines, like using hidden text, keyword stuffing, adding unrelated keywords, doorway pages, etc.," he said. "However, the case of Windows Movie Maker was different as the perpetrators used mostly legitimate SEO techniques to achieve the high ranking to spread a scam version of the discontinued software."

It doesn't happen often that attackers using similar techniques go to such lengths and detail to reach their victims, he said.

You can take steps to protect yourself from phony websites that end up high in your searches.

The key is to carefully evaluate a download before you click. Take a look at the source, and be suspicious.

"Always download installers and software from the page of the original developer," Kubovic said. "However, if the user comes across a page that doesn't fit this description or is in some way suspicious, they should not hesitate to contact the official developers to verify if it is safe to use."

If you've already downloaded the phony Movie Maker from windows-movie-maker.org, uninstall it and run a scan using reputable anti-malware programs, ESET says.

And if you desperately want Movie Maker, try the official replacement, called Windows Story Remix.

Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter.
A long line of people stood outside on a brisk and cloudy Thursday to get a glimpse of a new grocery store in Vineland. Lidl, an international discount chain, opened its first location in New Jersey and celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The combination of dancing, music and curiosity about the new store created some excitement about the grand opening.

The store, at 1107 West Landis Ave., has 20,000 square-feet of shopable space and only has six aisles. According to Lidl spokesman William Harwood, the company created the layout of the store with efficiency in mind.

Harwood also added that markets and stores had dropped their prices as much as 30 percent when a Lidl has moved into an area.

Lidl is hoping that the combination of pricing, store layouts and lighting and unique products will rival the offerings that Aldi and other grocery stores offer. A dozen of large Grade-A eggs were 43 cents while a gallon of 2 percent milk went for $1.80

"We feel that we have a truly unique model," said Harwood. "I think if you come in here, see our fresh bakery with the fresh focus, see the natural light and efficiency and specialty products, it's different than what you will find down the street and deliver the top quality at great prices every single day."

Vineland City Council President Paul Spinelli was on hand for the ceremony, serving as the ribbon-cutter for the event.

"It's very exciting anytime we have a new business come to the city of Vineland," Spinelli said. "We wish them the best of luck. It's a beautiful store and it is something that is different than any other store in the Vineland area. I think they are going to be very successful with what they do. We are happy to have them."

Theresa Marroccelli was the first person in line, arriving at the store at 4:45 a.m., almost four hours before the store opened. She usually shops at Aldi, another discount grocery store and she also shops for produce outside of Vineland. She hopes the store can become her one-stop location to serve her needs.

"I wanted to compare prices and see what it is exactly, what they had to offer," Marroccelli said. "I'm hoping to find a place that has good pricing and hope to bring my business back to Vineland. I wish them a lot of luck and hopefully will be a repeat customer."

Also standing outside awaiting the opening were Lou Bickell and Winnie Clark. Clark is not a stranger to Lidl. While visiting her two sons in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Clark went to the local Lidl and enjoyed her experience.

The prices, people and atmosphere down there were phenomenal," said Clark. "People around here need help, especially with the elders and people with low incomes. They need a store like this and I'm excited."

The two are hoping that the addition of Lidl will help other stores lower their prices as well.

"I hope the prices go lower in the area because this is rivalry shopping," Bickell said while looking at the Walmart situated across the street from Lidl.

While the Vineland location is the first store to open in the state, the company has plans to open more stores in New Jersey. Lidl has plans to expand to other locations, with possible openings in Camden, Atlantic, Burlington, Gloucester and Monmouth counties.

According to the company's website, Lidl first opened in the German city of Ludwigshafen in 1971 and opened its first store in the United States in 2017. The company currently has 10,000 stores in 28 countries.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews. Find NJ.com on Facebook
A top member of a criminal ring that carjacked $8 million in luxury vehicles in New Jersey and New York to ship for sale in West Africa has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Saladine Grant, 43, of Irvington, will have to spend at least four years in prison before becoming eligible for parole, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said Thursday.

The thieves targeted high-end cars, particularly SUVs made by Land Rover, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Honda, Porsche, Jaguar and Aston Martin.

Many of the carjackers targeted people by bumping them from behind on highways, causing minor accidents and then carjacking the vehicles when the victim pulled over.

Thefts also commonly occurred at airports and car washes while the vehicles were running. Thieves would also rob valets, authorities said.

Members of a carjacking ring that were charged in 2014.

The cars were brought to ports and then transported overseas, where they commanded high prices.

Grant was one of 26 people charged in 2014. About 140 of the 160 vehicles were recovered.

Eighteen of those charged have been convicted and are either serving prison terms or await sentencing.

The ring operated in multiple counties in New Jersey, including Essex, Union, Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Bergen and Somerset.

Grant pleaded guilty to financial facilitation of criminal activity earlier this year.

"Grant was a top member of this dangerous crime ring, whose members routinely conducted armed carjackings to obtain the high-end cars they prized," Attorney General Chris Porrino said in a statement. "By putting Grant and his co-conspirators in prison, we've ended their reign of terror and, in all likelihood, saved lives."

In 2009, Grant was sentenced to nine years in prison for running an auto theft ring. Grant was previously jailed from April 2003 to January 2005 on theft charges.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A cardiologist with a practice in Paterson and his wife on Wednesday pleaded guilty to their roles in a bribery scheme operated by a Parsippany medical testing firm, as part of a case that has brought more than 50 convictions and involved millions of dollars in payments, officials said.

Aiman Hamdan, 50, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes while his wife, Kristina Hamdan, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Federal Travel Act, the honest services wire fraud statute and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Acting New Jersey U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Hamdan in September 2008 received a $500,000 loan from the testing company, Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC, in exchange for agreeing to refer patient blood samples to the now-defunct Morris County firm, according to officials. The doctor caused about $53,000 worth blood samples to go to BLS, which received payments from Medicare and private insurers.

For her part, Kristina Hamdan, who worked in sales for the lab, agreed along with other individuals to pay doctors bribes in return for agreements to refer patient blood samples to BLS, according to case filings.

In one case, Kristina Hamdan bribed Yousef Zibdie, an internal medicine doctor with a Woodland Park practice, in exchange for bringing more than $900,000 in business for BLS, prosecutors said. The lab funded the illegal payoffs while the doctors were paid by Kristina Hamdan using a "sham entity" in a scheme to hide the bribes.

Aiman Hamdan faces a maximum possible five year prison term, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Kristina Hamdan faces a possible maximum five year prison sentence on one count and a possible 20 years behind bars on the other offense. The counts also carry fines.

Under a plea agreement, the Wayne couple agreed to forfeit $15,000 and pay back $1.2 million in ill-gotten gains, officials said. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2018.

Zibdie, of Wayne, previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

The bribery probe has, so far, netted 53 convictions, including 38 doctors, according to prosecutors. Organizers of the scheme admitted it involved millions of dollars in bribes and led to more than $100 million in payments to the lab from Medicare and private insurance companies.

BLS pleaded guilty in June 2016 and was ordered to forfeit all of its assets in the case, which has led authorities to recover more than $13 million in forfeiture funds.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook.

Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us: nj.com/tips
The family of a former Gloucester County man killed in a head-on collision with an alleged drunken driver in Virginia will hold a funeral service in New Jersey.

A funeral Mass with full military honors was held last weekend in Portsmouth, Virginia, for Daniel Dill, 29, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard who died following the Nov. 4 crash in Virginia Beach.

Melissa Ann Hancock, 25, of Virginia Beach, was allegedly intoxicated and had an open alcohol container in her car when she drove the wrong way and struck Dill's car.

Family, friends and Coast Guard members from across the country attended last weekend's service, Dill's father, Christopher Dill Sr., said.

The New Jersey service, planned for Saturday, Nov. 25, at St. Clare of Assisi Church on Broad Street in Swedesboro, is intended for local friends and those who grew up with Dill, his father explained.

"We're trying to get the message out so that no one misses this opportunity for closure," he said.

Dill graduated from Kingsway Regional High School in 2006 and his parents still reside locally.

The service will begin with a gathering at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Mass at 3 p.m. Following Mass, light refreshments will be served in the parish hall, located behind the church.

Christopher Dill expressed his gratitude for the support his family has received.

"We are thankful that so many people have reached out to get us through this," he said. "Going forward, we only hope Dan gets justice and the world remembers what a great guy he was."

Dill, who served with the U.S. Coast Guard as an information systems technician, was on his way to pick up his wife from a party when the accident occurred. The couple lived in Portsmouth.

Hancock, who appeared on a few episodes of the reality TV series Little Women: Atlanta, told police she had consumed two to four mixed drinks prior to the crash.

Her blood alcohol content was measured at 0.112 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
A Gloucester County grand jury has indicted a Sicklerville man on charges that he made several threats against a Washington Township church.

Mehal Rockefeller, 35, entered St. Charles Borromeo Church on May 14 and placed a check in the amount of $666,000 in the offertory, according to his criminal complaint.

Parishioners told police they then heard Rockefeller on the phone telling someone, "I'm going to do something tonight or in the near future to this church."

The next day, he left a message on the church's voicemail demanding an apology. In part, he allegedly said, "We can make this into a big problem and the heaters are going to go on and everyone will burn or I can get an apology."

He goes on to say he will contact police, Chris Christie and others and "I'll be taking people down and locking people up."

The exact nature of his grievance with the church isn't revealed in the criminal complaint.

That same day, he posted a message on the church's Facebook page, saying it's "judgement day" for the congregation.

"I hope you have not sinned. Because God kills sinners and rapes their children and burns them in hell. He means business," Rockefeller allegedly wrote.

On May 18, a police officer hand-delivered a letter from the church to Rockefeller's home saying "he is no longer welcome there," according to the police report.

His response was captured on the officer's body camera.

"I'm upset and now I am going to turn up the heat, and there's going to be war and sometimes bodies go missing," he told the officer in response to the letter.

Officers were stationed at the church for a week as a result of Rockefeller's words, police said.

The grand jury indicted him last week on charges of circulating false report of an impending disaster, terroristic threats and cyber harassment.

This isn't Rockefeller's first time facing these kinds of charges.

In October of last year, he was sentenced to 2 years probation on a terroristic threats charge in Camden County, according to court records. A month later, he was sentenced to 310 days on a terroristic threats charge in Mercer County. Court records describe this as a non-custodial sentence.

One of Rockefeller's Facebook pages -- he appears to have several -- still includes the post about the church that was referenced in his Washington Township criminal complaint. That page boasts 4,493 friends and 1,611 followers. Rockefeller describes himself on this page as a "visionary for innovative companies at the forefront of emerging trends."

Another page, under the name Duke Mehal Rockefeller, has 5,199 followers.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao had said Thushar was behind an alleged BJP bid to poach TRS MLAs.
Authorities released this photo of the suspect who robbed the Whitney Bank branch located at 228 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, on Jan. 4. He was later identified as Gregory Chisolm. (Photo from Fox 8)
Patricia Davis, 63, was found dead near Interstate 10 in New Orleans East on Tuesday (Oct. 31).(Facebook)
A voter at the Northpark fire station near Covington in 2016. On Saturday (Nov. 18) St. Tammany voters head to the polls to decide a race for state representative, a tax renewal and a bond issue. The statewide race for treasurer is also on the ballot.(Staff archive)
Among the growing list of celebrities accused of sex harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal are, top row, from left, actors Jeremy Piven and Dustin Hoffman, and celebrity chef John Besh; bottom row, from left, actor Kevin Spacey, journalist Mark Halperin and filmmaker James Toback. (File photos)
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.
Welcome to nonleaguedaily.coms news provision, your go-to source for all non league updates, rumours, interviews, and much more besides.

Founded by a team with a genuine passion for the world of non league football, nonleaguedaily.com understands exactly what supporters of the so-called lower leagues are looking for. You want the high-quality reporting, in-depth analysis, and match reporting that matches that is more commonly found in the journalism for the top flights, but with the focus firmly fixed on the national leagues.

We understand that your passion, interest, and dedication is constant, and we believe you need a news service that matches that commitment with its own dedication and thoroughness  so thats what you can expect from our site.

The latest non league news, as and when it happens

Conventionally, non league news has always travelled fairly slowly, especially when compared to the instantaneous, constant breaking news cycles found in the upper leagues. Tales are told on terraces, rumours passed between pub patrons and circled between supporters at the latest game, often forced to remain somewhat local initially before word eventually spreads to other locales.

For us, this slow spread may be fairly organic in nature, but it simply isnt compatible with the modern football environment. Its also not conducive to the current fast-paced, always-available media landscape, nor the way that people tend to consume news nowadays. Thats why we have put together a non league news source that fans can turn to for the latest updates, as and when they happen, and as and when you want to read them. Non-league news now is the only acceptable speed at Betting.co.uk.

We update our non-league football news coverage constantly, bringing you all the latest developments and seeking to spread the word as quickly and accurately as possible. So if youre wondering whats happening both with your local team and with the lower leagues as a whole, you can visit us for non league news now, and be confident the stories you find are completely up to date.

News reported by passionate fans

Our efforts to bring you the very best non league football news are undeniably a professional concern, and one that we take seriously. We are  if youll excuse the uncharacteristic tooting of our own horns  good at what we do, and we know that the efforts we make in this regard are one of the reasons our site has enjoyed such success thus far.

However, everyone who writes for us also shares our readers enthusiasm for non league football. Were not just churning out content in the hopes of cashing in on a professional dream; were here because we want to be, and will always be dedicated and committed to non league football as an entity and thriving in the experience of being able to talk about our favourite subject whenever we can. We create non-league news now that is written by genuine fans and enthusiasts, for fans. We know what you want to know and what matters most to an ardent non league supporter, and we always ensure that focusing on these elements is our guiding principle as we seek to solidify our status as an online non league paper fans can always rely on.

When compiling non league news, we think with the mind of a fan first and foremost. We cover the angles and stories that we find compelling and that we know our fellow non league enthusiasts also care about. News doesnt have to be dry and formulaic, in our opinion. When its written by people who are genuinely as fascinated by the stories they are reporting on as their readership will be, we believe news can be interesting, compelling, and even have a sense of personality and humour.

News content written with passion and expertise

We believe that thanks to our dedication, insightfulness, and commitment to our subject matter of non league today, we are offering the best of both worlds to those searching for an online non league paper. We give you the professional approach we feel is appropriate for news about one of the most intriguing aspects of UK football; an aspect that we genuinely feel does not receive the interest and plaudits that it should be generating. Nevertheless, we dont let that professionalism take over everything we do: we remain committed fans, nurturing our own personal interest in non league football and ensuring every word we compose is infused with a sense of passion and dedication that enhances the posts we create.

Its therefore obvious that our non-league content today isnt ever going to be dry, basic, or put together by a tired staff writer who has never heard of any team below the Championship before they rush off to the pub for the evening. Our writers are genuine experts: were covering non league football because we want to, because we believe in it, and because its where our strengths lie. The result is informed content that capitalises on our deep knowledge of the history, as well as the present-day realities, of non league football in the UK.

Beyond news: the nonleaguedaily.com interview series

One of our goals with nonleaguedaily.com is to not just dryly report the news from an outsiders perspective, effectively regurgitating press releases that are devoid of genuinely illuminating information. We also go right to the source of the stories: the managers and club insiders who have direct experience, and often influence, on the sport and how it is managed.

We regularly conduct interviews as part of our news provision, asking the questions that are on everyones lips and providing the best possible view into the non league world. We have reporters pitchside at matches, microphone to hand and plentiful questions ready to be asked. The end result for you, the reader, is the kind of information and close-up looks into the non league world that just cant be found anywhere else.

As our commitment to providing interesting interviews amply demonstrates, we want to be involved in breaking the stories that everyone then talks about, rather than following along and focusing solely on what everyone already knows. If youre looking for leading content that you cant find anywhere else, and that goes right to the centre of the non league world, then you can turn to nonleaguedaily.com for all the benefits of a conventional non league paper, but in electronic, easily-accessed form.

A host of other content to enjoy alongside the non league today

Our focus on providing non league news will always be maintained: we consider this aspect the most important of what we do, and it will always be the recipient of our time, dedication, and interest. Well be here, a consistent and trustworthy news portal, for as long as non league football news exists.

With that said, when you have read up on the latest goings-on, were here with further content for you to enjoy. Naturally, given our partnership with leading brand Betting.co.uk, we provide guidelines for those interested in the world of sports betting. Well help you find the best UK bookmaker with our plentiful coverage of existing brands; ideal if youre looking to put your newfound knowledge, courtesy of us, about non league to use and place a few bets.

Furthermore, we also provide highlights of all the latest UK betting offers, so you can ensure youre achieving the best value with all the latest betting deals whenever youre betting on the latest non league matches. Youll find all of this coverage is as consistent and reliable as our non league news provision,

Non league features and deep dives

Returning to the world of non league football, we also provide a range of feature content that goes deeper and further into the non league world than ever before. Less instantaneously topical but still hugely relevant to the modern game, our features are the dream deep dives that we feel non league fans deserve. Were always striving to do better, offer more, and ensure that non league fans can enjoy the same wealth of content as followers of the top tiers, so you can expect top-flight content with the same commitment and dedication as found throughout the upper echelons of the sport.

So whether youre looking to find the most recent non league football news, seeking a new bookmaker for your non league bets, or hoping to delve deep into a niche non league-related topic, nonleaguedaily.com is always going to be worth a visit.

Return to nonleaguedaily.com for all your non league news needs

Weve told you what you can expect from nonleaguedaily.coms news; now we need to put our confidence where our promises are, make sure we deliver on those promises, and establish trust as an online non league paper you can trust. We look forward to welcoming you back to our news section and showcasing the best we have to offer, from exciting new non league interviews to cutting-edge news to transfer speculation. If you want to truly have your finger on the non league pulse, then nonleaguedaily.com is always going to be here for you.
ATLANTIC  A high school student was arrested Tuesday after he said online there would be a shooting at the school that day, police reported.

The Atlantic Police Department was notified of the threat at about 9 a.m. Using the Snapchat mobile app, an anonymous message was sent stating a shooting was going to occur at the Atlantic High School at 10 a.m. or noon (Tuesday).

After investigating, a 16-year-old was arrested for threats of terrorism, a felony. He was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

Police reported there was no credible threat and that no weapons were found.

Officers and faculty believe that there was no real danger to the school, police reported.

Atlantic Community School Superintendent Steve Barber released a statement Tuesday that there was no indication of danger to staff or students.
CARTER LAKE  A federal commission has cleared the way for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska to build a casino on land it owns in Carter Lake after nearly a decade of appeals and legal reviews.

The National Indian Gaming Commission issued a 41-page order this week that affirms a 2007 decision allowing the tribe to develop a casino on its Carter Lake property. The attorneys general from Iowa and Nebraska along with the City of Council Bluffs successfully sued to overturn that decision, but a federal appeals court ordered the case to be reviewed by the gaming commission a second time.

Ponca Tribal Chairman Larry Wright Jr. celebrated the latest decision because building the casino would give the tribe significant new financial resources to help its members. The tribe has close to 4,100 members, according to its website.

The tribe has indicated it would build a casino with 2,000 slot machines, 50 table games and a 150-room hotel.

Now its going to be a lot of work, but a lot of good work, Wright said in a video statement to the Ponca people. It means self-sufficiency for our people.

Wright did not describe in detail what steps tribal leaders will now take to develop the project. A message left for Wright was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.

To move forward with the project, the Ponca tribe would have to work on a compact agreement with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals that would contain provisions intended to implement the policies and objectives of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, according to the Department of Inspections and Appeals website. Gov. Kim Reynolds would have to approve the compact.

The casino would not fall under the purview of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

Carter Lake City Councilman Ron Cumberledge, who is the citys mayor-elect, said he looks forward to discussing the project with Ponca leaders.

Our whole goal for the next four years is economic development. If they bring an opportunity to our town, sure, Im for that, he said.

A message left for Council Bluffs City Attorney Dick Wade to see if the city plans to appeal the National Indian Gaming Commissions decision was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.

Iowa Attorney General spokesman Geoff Greenwood said the office is still reviewing the decision and deciding whether to appeal. The Nebraska Attorney Generals office didnt immediately respond to a message Wednesday.

 Duggan with the BH News Service contributed from Lincoln, Nebraska. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.


Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried writes The Norse Mythology Blog. A Norse mythologist and musician in Chicago, he is Theology and Religious History Faculty at Cherry Hill Seminary and Adjunct Professor, Pagan Chaplain, and Pagan Forum Faculty Advisor at Illinois Institute of Technology. He is also a featured columnist for The Wild Hunt and serves as goi (priest) of Thor's Oak Kindred, a diverse organization dedicated to the practice of the Asatru religion in Chicago.

Click here for more about Karl.
Nebraskans who purchase something online from out-of-state vendors that dont automatically collect sales tax have broken the law, unless theyve claimed the tax and paid it on a tax return.

Yes, were a state full of scofflaws. Our nation is brimming with them, too.

But efforts to mandate collection of online sales taxes have hit a snag, largely because of the current interpretation of a 1992 case by the U.S. Supreme Court that bars the practice unless a retailer has a physical presence in the state. In recent years, Nebraska is among the states that have begun to pursue a measure that would take in the required taxes that have for so long gone unpaid.

To that end, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson has joined with 34 other attorneys general in filing a friend-of-the-court brief to urge the highest court in the land to again review whether businesses can be required to collect the sales tax on behalf of the states, based on South Dakotas new statute on the topic.

The clarity Peterson and his colleagues seek is long overdue and highlights the problem with technology advancing faster than the laws governing it. For a quarter-century, brick-and-mortar stores have been obligated to charge customers for sales tax at a time when nearly all online retailers have refused to do so, with Amazon a notable exception.

All the while, virtually all of these legally required  but entirely self-reported  taxes have gone unpaid.

In a state such as Nebraska, which has grappled with tax revenues that have repeatedly fallen short of previous forecasts, those dollars would make a big difference. The looming $195 million budget gap wont just close itself, and the state is estimated to lose between $30 million and $40 million annually to unpaid ecommerce sales taxes.

Syracuse Sen. Dan Watermeier introduced a bill in the Legislature that would mandate out-of-state retailers whose gross income in Nebraska exceeded $100,000 to collect state sales tax. Despite clearing its initial floor test, it lacked enough support to invoke cloture to end a filibuster in May.

Considering some of the stated opposition was on legal and constitutional grounds, a review by the Supreme Court would likely allay the fears of at least some senators who fought it in the spring. Even Gov. Pete Ricketts, who opposed Watermeiers bill, supported Petersons effort in hopes the U.S. Supreme Court sets clear parameters for this important issue.

Here, the attorney general and governor are on the right page in asking for a review of South Dakotas new law. The collection of sales tax from online purchases represents just the latest intersection between technology and laws that havent caught up - one that could have millions of dollars at stake for Nebraska.

 Lincoln Journal Star
In a recent letter, a fellow Nebraskan urged your readers to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline. We respect her passion and her views, but we feel the need to correct some factual errors.

First, the idea that the oil to be transported on this pipeline is intended to be sold overseas is simply wrong. The U.S. State Department attempted to debunk this myth in a 2014 report when they noted that there is a need for this oil in this country  a need that remains today.

The fact is the U.S. relies upon countries such as Saudi Arabia and Venezuela to meet its daily energy needs, with about 7 million barrels of oil imported daily into this country.

Keystone XL will help fill this need by providing oil from a stable, neighboring country that shares our values.

It has been more than eight years since this pipeline was first proposed. Over the years, this pipeline has been subject to rigorous review at both the federal and state level and every study has concluded it will be safe.

Keystone XL is a much needed energy infrastructure project that will create thousands of jobs and inject millions into the nations economy, including millions into Nebraskas property tax coffers.

Robynn Tysver, Omaha

TransCanada, spokeswoman
Outgoing Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant has called on the new executive taking over in February to appoint more women commissioners, admitting it was a blemish on his five-year tenure this didnt happen.

Grant will step down from the ARLC helm in February and fellow foundation commissioner Catherine Harris has announced she will not be seeking another term.

In July it was announced former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and University of NSW vice-chancellor Megan Davis had agreed to take seats on the eight-member commission following the resignations of senior businessmen Jeremy Sutcliffe and Graeme Samuel. That gave the ARLC two women on the board for the first time since it was established in the 2012 pre-season.

With the Commission expanding to 10 members next year, including two representatives for the 16 NRL clubs and one each from the QRL and NSWRL, it means it is likely there will be only one woman again as the ARLC enters a sixth year.

Australian Bankers Association CEO Anna Bligh, former Canterbury Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle and Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page have strong rugby league connections and have been mentioned as options. None of them have stated whether they want to join the ARLC.

Grant said he hoped that as the ARLC expanded, those making the selections would see the need for women commissioners.

There will initially be one woman from the six independent commissioners, Megan Davis. We will have to see whether more will come from clubs and states, Grant told NRL.com.

Having said that, it is very clear to the current independent commission that membership requires greater diversity. I can't speak for the new commission but it should be clear to it also that more women must be appointed to the commission.

Grant acknowledged his disappointment that he was not able to make that a reality.

It is true to say that under my watch as chair the number of women on the commission has not increased from the one it started with, he said.

This has not been without trying. We have just been unsuccessful in the recruitment process, not enhanced I might add by the public challenges of recent times which have not been constructive to recruiting quality new candidates.

Grant was almost rolled as chairman by the NRL clubs over disagreements in funding for the next broadcast agreement cycle. The subsequent publicity proved damaging to both parties.

The 67-year-old former Queensland and Australian winger will stand down from the ARLC in February but will stay connected with rugby league for as long as the new commission desires.

He and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg are the ARLC nominations on the Rugby League International Federation board.

I have been elected by the board as deputy chair to Nigel Wood, Grant said. This remains in place until my current term ends unless the ARLC chooses to withdraw that nomination. I'm not expecting this to be the case.
The United States and Luxembourg establish a new era of Space cooperation within NATO
MERRILLVILLE  With today's consumers spending so much time online researching products and businesses before making a purchase, it's more important than ever for companies to be on top of their digital game.

That was the message conveyed by marketing experts Wednesday during the Break Through free business educational session presented by Centier Bank and the Times Media Co. The session, which drew more than 100 people, was hosted at the Centier Corporate Center in Merrillville.

"Consumer behaviors are very different today," said Joe Battistoni, vice president, sales and marketing for the Times Media Co. "Consumers want 24-7 access to information."

Marketing research suggests that between 70 percent and 80 percent of consumers research a company before deciding to do business with them, Battistoni said. And a growing number of those individuals are doing that research on a mobile device or smart phone.

Though many businesses today have websites and conduct some business online, not all companies have sites that are optimized with mobile users in mind, said Jolene Sherman, managing director/vice president of digital of St. Louis-based Amplified Digital, a full-service digital agency focused on strategic digital marketing, creative services and media planning and consulting.

She said technology has advanced to a point where websites can track how they are being accessed, whether through a desktop computer or with a mobile device. And mobile users are not patient, Sherman said.

"If a (mobile) site takes more three seconds to load, users will leave," Sherman said.

It's important for a business or service to be easily found online, she said. Contact information for a business should be easy to spot and it's also important for specific words or keywords to be associated with a company or service or product it provides so that it comes up in a user's online search.

"When you do a search on Google, what that and other search engines do is try to give you the best answer," Sherman said.

This is why it's important for businesses to regularly update their websites with fresh content. Sherman said businesses should strive to update their sites a minimum of five times a month.

A strategy to push traffic to a website is using social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Reviews from customers posted online, even negative experiences, also can be effective marketing tools for a business, Sherman said.

Battistoni said in the case of a negative review, it's an opportunity for a businesses to correct a bad experience through posting a follow-up response, either explaining how the issue was investigated and corrected or encouraging the individual to contact the company to resolve the issue.
Firehouse Subs has closed in Schererville's Shops on Main after just four years.

The firefighter-themed eatery at 69 U.S. 41 No. 315 has vacated a strip mall that includes Noodles and Co. and Meatheads in front of the upscale open-air lifestyle center at the border off Schererville and Highland. It was one of the original tenants of the recently built shopping center at Indianapolis Boulevard and Main Street that includes Whole Foods, Nordstrom Rack, Tomato Bar and Ross Dress for Less.

The phone number is disconnected, and the corporate office did not immediate return messages.

The Jacksonville, Florida-based sandwich chain still has other Region locations in Munster, Merrillville, Portage and Valparaiso. Firehouse Subs serves hot and cold sub sandwiches and donates a portion of its proceeds to first responders. It has a hot sauce bar that include extreme hot sauces, such as those made with Ghost Peppers and Carolina Reaper Peppers.

It was part of a wave of new sandwich chains that have opened in Northwest Indiana in recent years, including Potbelly Sandwich Works, Which Wich and Jersey Mike's.
Rachel Brazil teaches English/Language Arts and Social Studies to fifth-graders at Merrillville Intermediate School, which is part of the Merrillville Community School Corp. Brazil is originally from Defiance, Ohio and graduated from Tinora High School there. She is in her eighth year as a teacher, having taught four years in the School City of East Chicago first.

Brazil said she joined the U.S. Army and met her husband, who is from Hobart, in boot camp and the couple decided to settle in Northwest Indiana. She said she served nine years in the military. She said she was a military police officer, and loved it. She said she traveled around Iraq and Kuwait providing security.

"I enjoyed it being in the police department in the military but I didn't want to go into the police force on the civillian side," she said. "I majored in business at Ohio State. I like business and was in the workforce for several years. I decided to go back to school to get a degree in teaching. I absolutely love teaching."

Brazil is one of two teachers who were honored this month as an "Inspiring Teacher" by the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce which honors teachers in the Merrillville and Crown Point school communities. Brazil said it was an "awesome" experience.
CROWN POINT  A 63-year-old man convicted in a knife-point sexual assault nearly 32 years ago was finally sentenced for the crime Wednesday.

Michael J. Davis appeared Wednesday in Lake Criminal Court to be sentenced for the Nov. 26, 1985 sexual assault of a 28-year-old woman in Hammond.

Davis, then a bus driver, picked up the woman from a battered women's shelter in Hammond to drive her to a medical appointment, according to The Times archives.

The woman needed transport to the hospital due to injuries allegedly inflicted by her husband, the archives state.

Davis instead parked the vehicle in a secluded area, brandished a knife and forced the woman to disrobe and perform a sexual act, the archives state.

Davis was charged with criminal deviate conduct, but fled the state before trial. He was convicted at the trial in absentia in April 1986 and ordered to be sentenced upon his arrest.

Davis fled to Colorado, according to testimony at Wednesday's hearing, where he was convicted of sexual battery in 1996.

The details of those allegations were not clear, but Davis was sentenced to 32 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, according to a writ of habeas corpus Davis filed in federal court in August 2010.

The Lake Criminal Court issued a detainer to Colorado prison officials requesting Davis be extradited to Lake County after he completed his sentence for the sexual battery.

Davis attempted to block the extradition, but his writ of habeas corpus was rejected by a federal judge in July 2011. Davis was brought to Lake County in October.

Judge Clarence Murray noted the case was unusual at sentencing Wednesday.

He said he was not the original trial judge, but based on what court records remained from the case, he believed the crime was aggravated.

He said Davis was in a position of trust when he assaulted the woman.

She had every reason to feel safe boarding the bus to get treatment, and instead she was sexually assaulted, Murray said.

Murray sentenced Davis to the advisory sentence for the crime  30 years in prison.

Davis told the judge he intended to appeal the sentence. He said he has made a few bad decisions in his life, but he has paid the price for them.

Attorney Michael Woods raised two issues during the sentencing hearing he believed needed to be addressed on appeal.

He said criminal laws and procedures in 1985 required Davis to be sentenced within 30 days of his conviction, which was not followed. He said there were also issues with Davis' extradition from Colorado.
After a second recent house fire linked to a woodburner, LaPorte County fire officials are urging residents to get their chimneys cleaned.

House fires on Tuesday and Saturday are both believed to be the result of creosote build-up inside chimneys.

Creosote is a flammable charcoal-like soot produced from burning wood and should be swept off the walls of a stove pipe before every heating season then again during periods of heavy use, LaPorte County Police fire investigator Mike Raymer said.

Tuesday night, a house in the 500 block of North Shebel Road, five miles north of Westville, suffered extensive damage. Two adults who lived there heard flames inside one of the walls and got out safely, Coolspring Township Fire Chief Mick Pawlik said.

Pawlik said the cause is still under investigation, but it appears the inside of a flue on a woodburning stove in the basement caught fire.

He said it was a difficult fire to extinguish because of false ceilings and floors. It took about three hours with help by firefighters from Westville to completely douse the flames.

Another house fire, early Saturday on U.S 20 west of Springville, is believed to have been caused by a woodburner inside an attached garage, Raymer said. The garage and breezeway were heavily damaged.

According to police, a man and woman along with their children escaped unharmed but smoke filtering into the residence claimed the lives of a German shorthair pointer and her five puppies.

"Theyre using woodburners, which is good, but you've got to maintain the chimneys, Pawlik said.
Area political leaders and voters were given a break this year after 2016's contentious presidential election.

But the heat will be turned up again next year with a full ballot of races at the national, state and local levels of government.

"We're getting prepared," said Dan Dernulc, a member of the Lake County Council and chairman of the county's Republican Party.

He expects to see his party strongly represented near the top of the ballot with incumbents seeking re-election for secretary of state, state auditor and state treasurer.

The Lake County ballot also will include a U.S. Senate race, U.S. representative race, several state House and Senate races and all the Democratic Party precinct committee officials, he said.

County races include prosecutor, clerk, auditor, treasurer, sheriff and assessor. The entire County Council, currently composed of five Democrats and two Republicans, will be on the ballot.

The County Commissioner seat held by Democrat Kyle Allen Sr. also is up next year. The board currently has two Democrats and one Republican.

The list of candidates will not officially be known until filing begins Jan. 10, according to the state election calendar. The filing period ends Feb. 9, and will be followed by the primary election May 8 and general election Nov. 6.

"We want to sell a good product, and we think our brand is better," Dernulc said of the local GOP.

In addition to being free of corruption, the national tax reform being pursued by Republicans will help at the local level, he said.

"I think people know how to use their money better than government does," Dernulc said.

Jim Wieser, who chairs Lake County's Democratic Party, said there will be a big push locally next year to help U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., win re-election.

"I can't think of any higher priority," he said.

Democrats are going to have to work harder than Republicans, Wieser said, because they won't be able to outspend them in the race.

The other national and state races also are critical, he said, as are the those for sheriff and county clerk.

Clerk Michael Brown is prevented by term limits from running again, and the party faces the challenge of electing a sheriff after John Buncich was forced out of office this summer following his federal conviction for taking bribes from towing firms.

Porter County

Porter County Republican Party Chairman Mike Simpson said the party's goal next year will be to fill the ballot with candidates who will run positive races based on priorities such as economics and public safety.

Simpson said a couple of incumbent officeholders from his party are mulling over stepping aside, but he has not heard any confirmations.

The local ballot will include a U.S. Senate race, U.S. representative race, several state Senate and House races, and county offices including two judge seats, prosecutor, clerk, auditor, recorder, sheriff, coroner, assessor, County Council district seats and the Center District Commissioner seat held by Republican Jeff Good.

Among the party's challenges will be to re-elect Jeffrey Clymer to the Superior Court judge post he was appointed to last month to replace Democrat Bill Alexa, Simpson said. Simpson expects a challenge from Democrats, in addition to a possible run from fellow Republicans.

"Everyone's mulling their options over," Simpson said.

There also is talk among police about running a Republican against Democratic incumbent Sheriff Dave Reynolds, who has announced he is seeking a second term.

Porter County Democratic Party Chairman Jeff Chidester said he will focus on county races, and plans to form a committee to meet with individuals whose names have surfaced as possible candidates for various offices.

The party has minority status on the county Board of Commissioners and County Council, both of which could change because of seats up for election next year.

All of the Democratic precinct seats are up for election in 2018, which is chance to revitalize the party, he said.

"Precinct people are always the backbone of the party," Chidester said.

LaPorte County

LaPorte County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Kimmel said he, too, feels the top priority next year will be to re-elect Donnelly, who is being targeted by Republicans.

"It's the highest profile office up for re-election next year," he said.

Local Democrats will be working to unseat U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Elkhart, and re-elect U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, Kimmel said.

Democrats will attempt to regain a majority on the county Board of Commissioners, he said. Former Democratic Michigan City Mayor Sheila Brillson has announced her intention to seek the seat now held by Republican Michael Gonder.

Democrats have a 5-2 majority on the County Council. Two of them  Randall Novak and Mark Yagelski  are among the four seats up for election next year.

LaPorte County Republican Party Chairman Nick Barbknecht voiced hope about finding challengers in those two races, in addition to holding onto the two council seats on next year's ballot now held by Republicans Terry Garner and Cary Kirkham.

"We're a purple county," he said, referring to the political mix of voters.

Barbknecht voiced confidence in re-electing LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd.

"I think we're doing well," he said of the local party's standing in light of the national political scene.
EAST CHICAGO  Fix it now or shut down quickly became the mantra Wednesday night for those who turned out at Riley Park to sound off against the renewal of Indiana Coke Co.s air pollution control permit.

Environmental groups, including the Southeast Environmental Task Force in Chicago and the Community Strategy Group in East Chicago, were out in full force to oppose renewal of the companys permit renewal sans any significant changes to correct the companys repeated pollution violations. In all, about 60 people were in attendance.

The Indiana Coke Co. supplies coke for the blast furnaces at the ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor steel mill in East Chicago and is considered one of the areas top polluters.

In light of unchecked compliance issues over the past decade at the facility, many at the public hearing argued the Indiana Department of Environmental Management must impose a schedule of compliance in the permit  one with an enforceable timeline  and hold Indiana Coke Co. accountable.

Thomas Frank, an East Chicago resident and environmental activist, questioned why IDEM should be trusted to properly enforce noncompliance issues when the state agency has deferred compliance for years.

We are asking you to either fix it now or shut it down, Frank said.

He said the citys predominantly low-income, minority families have already been dealt enough blows  with the contaminated Superfund site to the south and a toxic sludge storage facility situated near several schools.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found seven violations since the last permit was issued to Indiana Coke Co. in 2010, including that the facility released 160 excess tons of sulfur dioxide and 15.9 excess tons of particulate matter beyond what was permitted from its bypass stacks between 2005 and 2008.

Many of the violations last year were because coke ovens weren't sealed properly to keep toxic gases from being released into the air, according to EPA documents.

If approved, the proposed permit would allow Indiana Coke Co. to continue its operation as a coke oven battery, according to IDEM.

Joseph Conn, with the Indiana Green Party, said the coke emissions from unsealed ovens are sailing out in the lake, falling into the water, falling in the land, and getting into the air that we breathe and wafting over (Northwest Indiana.)

You need to fix this. Youre supposed to protect us, Conn said.

Wanda Gordils, of East Chicago, and other residents told stories of families falling ill from disease due to living in close proximity to heavy industry in the city. Her father died of black lung disease and her two grandsons were born with chronic asthmas, she said.

Keith Harley, an attorney for the Southeast Environmental Task Force, which has threatened to sue over the handling the renewal, said IDEM and EPA negotiating with the company behind closed doors to resolve the violations is not enough.

There is no reason to avoid an agreed-upon measure in the permit right now, he said.

Thousands of coke door fires have been reported in a single quarter, and such uncontrolled emissions would not be tolerated elsewhere in Lake County and across state lines, said Sam Henderson, with the Hoosier Environmental Council.

In other states, coke facilities with fewer emissions are fined millions of dollars. (Indiana Coke Co.) are getting off scot-free. Its time for IDEM to put a stop to that, Henderson said, followed by applause in the room. If approved, IDEM is telling the people of this city that they are simply not worth protecting.

Doug Wagner, with IDEMs Office of Air Quality, said all public comments taken Wednesday night would be recorded and become part of the official record as IDEM weighs its decision. IDEM would not say when they would decide on the permit renewal.
MICHIGAN CITY  The homeless are returning to their old stomping grounds here after a fire forced them into new quarters earlier this year.

Keys to Hope is returning at 8 a.m. Thursday to its permanent location at 1802 Franklin St.

The agency has been functioning at the Grace Learning Center, 1007 W. 8th St., but space restrictions forced some services like showering and laundry into other facilities, including the nearby First Presbyterian Church.

"It was kind of piecemeal, but we were able to provide regular hours," said Jim Musial, director of Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, the parent organization of Keys to Hope.

Only a few punch list items remain for the building to be fully restored.

Musial said the chaos of moving and reaching clients on the streets to tell them about the new temporary location eventually subsided.

People began showing up again in numbers similar to the 30 to 50 visitors per day seen prior to the fire.

"We would have just a handful of participants (right after the fire), but as time went on they got back into the swing of things," Musial said.

The not-for-profit Keys to Hope, founded in 2014, also provides space for people to store their belongings and helps clients secure housing and employment.

Computers are also made available to assist people with getting back on their feet.

Musial said damage was just short of $100,000, but insurance covered much of the rebuilding costs. Fundraisers also helped.

The fire was blamed on a lit cigarette tossed into a planter in front of the single-story structure.

For now, the operating hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, but the plan is to go back to original 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekday schedule once things ramp back up, Musial said.
A 20-year-old Rolling Prairie man is dead after his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree Wednesday on U.S. 20 in northeastern LaPorte County.

A preliminary investigation found Cody Strauch was westbound on U.S. 20 in his 2000 GMC Yukon at about 3 p.m. when his vehicle traveled off the north side of the roadway and struck a tree in the yard of a residence in the 7400 East block, according to a news release from the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department.

The crash site is not far from New Prairie High School approximately one mile west of the town of New Carlisle, police said. Kankakee Township firefighters were the first to arrive at the scene and found that Strauch, the driver of the only vehicle involved, was deceased.

After striking the tree, the vehicle spun off and into the yard approximately 30 feet from the tree.

"It is not known why the vehicle left the roadway. At the time of the crash the road surface was wet which may have been a factor in the crash. Deputies are also looking into speed being a factor as well," LaPorte County police said in the release.

The LaPorte County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the New Carlisle Police, Indiana Department of Transportation, LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service and the Kankakee Township Fire Department.

U.S. 20 was closed between the St. Joseph County Line and County Road 700 East until about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
VALPARAISO  For an English professor, Allison Schuette has a passion for history, especially that of Gary and Northwest Indiana.

The two subjects are meshing because of Schuette's involvement in Flight Paths: Mapping Our Changing Neighborhoods, an initiative of the Welcome Project she and Valparaiso University professor of art Liz Wuerffel launched in 2015.

"Creative nonfiction is a genre that is very interested in how people live. I am somebody who listens and loves people's stories," Schuette said. "I'm also curious about the broader story."

The Welcome Project collects oral histories of Region residents, especially of residents whose roots are in Gary, she said, adding they discussed why their families stayed or left Gary, leading to the de-urbanization of the city.

Flight Paths takes it one step further. Once completed, it will be an interactive documentary website. People will be able to explore the history of Gary, listen to personal stories and learn about the individual neighborhoods, businesses and organizations that made the city what it was. It also will zoom into the 1950s and 1960s, to talk about the "opportunities and resistance of (white) flight, not just the flight itself," she said.

Schuette said it isn't just a black-and-white story, either, as they plan to look at the various ethnic groups that migrated to Gary and their effect on the Region.

"My hope is that the people can put their family experience alongside the regional neighborhood so that their family story is understood in a broader narrative," she said.

The project, estimated to take 5 to 7 years, also will have an interactive timeline and interviews with historians.

Schuette said while Gary has its particularities, what happened in the city is reflective of what has happened in other large urban areas, such as Detroit.

"We want to look at how do our family stories fit into the national narrative," she said.

Schuette recently received the Philip and Miriam Kapfer Endowed Research Award, which will allow her to take a semester off from other duties and concentrate on the project.

Her first priority is interviewing Region residents and former residents. While they have collected 40 interviews so far, she's hoping to more than double that amount. In particular, she is looking for people with ties to the Small Farms, Black Oak, Brunswick, Ambridge Mann, Pulaski and Glen Park neighborhoods of Gary.

The project also received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant for design and creation of a storyboard. They are applying for a second round, which will allow them to build the prototype of the website, and a third cycle, which will allow them to complete the website.

Schuette said the project is not solely her own. In addition to Wuerffel, professors Heath Carter, of the history department, and Bharath Ganesh-Babu, of the geography department, are instrumental in the project. Also working on the project are Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis geographer Vijay Lulla, Pacific Lutheran University graphic designer Jp Avila and Jim Lane and Steve McShane, of the Calumet Regional Archives.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  Illinois' top librarian wants families to turn off the TV and other gadgets and read together.

Secretary of State Jesse White, who serves as the state librarian, announced that Thursday is Illinois' annual Family Reading Night. Free events are being held at several libraries statewide, including in Addison, Carbondale, Mahomet and Mt. Morris.

White says families also can participate in their own homes. He says reading together "creates a positive learning environment and helps children develop language skills, comprehension and a love for reading that can last a lifetime."

This marks the 26th year the Secretary of State's office has sponsored Family Reading Night.
Multiple community churches, including those with Spanish and Korean congregations, will gather Sunday to join in worship and enjoy fellowship at Greater Peace Baptist Church at 650 Jeter Avenue in Opelika during the Annual Community Thanksgiving Service, an event celebrated for more than two decades, according to the chairman of this years event.

We have watched as attendance at this annual community event has grown each year, said Henry Lewis Smith, also the pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Bullock County. Participants will be speaking in their language, English, Spanish and Korean  to give a sense of the unity that Christians enjoy in Christ.

The service is sponsored by the Lee County Ministerial Alliance, Smith said. The events speaker will be Noah Kiser, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Opelika, and special services will include a Harp Duet Prelude by Donna Kemp and Vera Elizabeth Smith T. A piano offertory will also be performed by J. Arthur Grubb Jr., a student from the Savannah College of Art and Design

Seven ministers will assist in leading the service, Smith added, and five local church choirs will sing. The service will conclude with a performance of the Hallelujah chorus from Handels Messiah, sung by the East Alabama Youth Chorale and the Auburn-Opelika Korean Church Choir.

Everyone in the Lee County community is invited to attend the 6 p.m. service and the following reception, Smith said.
Police is back to step one in the Maj. Muhammad Kiggundu murder investigations after releasing the only suspect they had in custody, URN can reveal.



The suspect, Ismail Mukasa, was in custody for more than two months at the notorious Nalufenya detention facility in Jinja.

He was arrested from Kawempe after being implicated by his wife to have been behind the brutal murder of Kiggundu in Masanafu, Kampala, about year ago. Kiggundu and his bodyguard, Sgt. Steven Mukasa were gunned down on the Saturday morning of November 26, 2016 at about 7.30am.

Maj Muhammad Kiggundu and his driver were gunned down last year in Masanafu

However, on scrutiny of the information that had been given to the Flying Squad Unit operatives, it was established that the suspect had no role in the gunning down of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) soldier. At the time of his murder, police blamed Kiggundu's shooting on the ADF rebels.



Immediately after the murder, police went on rampage arresting more than 12 suspects. A reliable source from the Flying Squad Unit, an elite unit within the Uganda Police Force, told URN that most of the suspects were released while four of them were charged for different crimes other than the Kiggundu murder.



The police spokesperson Asan Kasingye declined to comment on the matter saying it is still a subject of investigations.



"Investigations are still ongoing. We shall update you at an appropriate time," Kasingye said.



This adds on to former state prosecutor, Joan Kagezi murder investigation whose case file is still empty, more than two years after the crime was committed in March 2015.



In March this year, police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, who had vowed to hunt for Kiggundu's killers and bring them to book, was himself attacked and killed in similar fashion. His driver Godfrey Mambewa and body guard Kenneth Erau were also killed in the attack.
Power utility firm Umeme wants its lifeline tariff increased from the current Shs 150 to Shs 200.



The lifeline tariff is an affirmative tariff aimed at enabling those at the base of the consumption pyramid to have basic power uses like lighting a few bulbs and ironing a few clothes.



The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) allows Umeme to provide 15 units per month for all domestic consumers charged at Shs 150 per unit.





According to Umeme's David Birungi, the assumption is that poor households would use about 15 units and therefore won't get burdened with paying for extra units at Shs 685 per unit.



It is this affirmative tariff of Shs 150 shillings that Umeme wants increased to Shs 200. Umeme has written to ERA requesting that the lifeline tariff be increased.



Whether or not the tariff will be increased is dependent on a process, including public hearings. Speaking in an interview with URN, Umeme managing director, Selestino Babungi, declined to provide reasons for the request to increase the lifeline tariff.



It is ironical to see Umeme keen on raising such an affirmative tariff yet it claims to be making good revenues, in the region of Shs 1.2 trillion, according to Babungi.



If the lifeline tariff increases, it will increase the current Shs 685 per unit tariff for domestic consumers. In addition to the tariff, consumers also pay value added tax of 18 percent and a monthly service fee of Shs 3,630, equivalent to about a dollar. According to Umeme's David Birungi, the assumption is that poor households would use about 15 units and therefore won't get burdened with paying for extra units at Shs 685 per unit.It is this affirmative tariff of Shs 150 shillings that Umeme wants increased to Shs 200. Umeme has written to ERA requesting that the lifeline tariff be increased.Whether or not the tariff will be increased is dependent on a process, including public hearings. Speaking in an interview with URN, Umeme managing director, Selestino Babungi, declined to provide reasons for the request to increase the lifeline tariff.It is ironical to see Umeme keen on raising such an affirmative tariff yet it claims to be making good revenues, in the region of Shs 1.2 trillion, according to Babungi.If the lifeline tariff increases, it will increase the current Shs 685 per unit tariff for domestic consumers. In addition to the tariff, consumers also pay value added tax of 18 percent and a monthly service fee of Shs 3,630, equivalent to about a dollar.

Uganda's power tariffs are the highest in the region, although it is the most endowed with power generation potential and energy sources. The national electrification rate is estimated at 14 per cent and less than 7 per cent in rural areas.
President Museveni has said the striking teachers have betrayed him and as such will pay for the consequences of their defiance.

While addressing a rally at Karambi sub-county grounds in Burahya county, Kabarole district, Museveni said the doctors are going to regret their actions of laying down tools. He warned that the doctors risk being sacked if they continue with the strike because his government is going to recruit new doctors.



Museveni noted that the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers are also poorly paid but have never gone on strike. Museveni said that he had hoped the doctors would remain patient until the outcome of the salary review commission. The commission was established last month by the president to address the discrepancies in pay for civil servants.

President Museveni in Kabarole

According to the ministry of health Jane Ruth Aceng, Museveni authorised deployment of army soldiers from the army, Police and Prisons.



The doctors under their umbrella body, Uganda Medical Association (UMA) laid down their tools last week and demanded the government to increase their salaries.



Museveni said that the delay to increase the salaries of doctors and other civil servants was due to government's priority on security, infrastructure and extending electricity to all parts of the country.



President Museveni also directed the ministry of Information and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) to close radio stations that he said peddle lies about the NRM government.

Museveni said radio stations have given audience to the striking doctors, giving them platform to peddle lies and propaganda against the government.

"I can even close those radio stations", he said.



He said that the RDCs should monitor and ensure that the radio promote government programmes. Museveni added that its not an obligation but a duty for the radio stations to broadcast facts about the achievements of the government.

FERRIED SUPPORTERS
The increasing population of South Sudan refugees in Adjumani is a major worry for Ugandans living in the West Nile district.

Government and different NGOs have started sensitising refugees about the importance of family planning. Nearly 100 newborns are registered every month across the many refugee camps dotted around Adjumani.

Some say this unsustainably high birth rate is mainly down to majority of refugee men discouraging their wives from using family planning facilities.

Adjumani district has more than seven refugee camps with a bigger population than the local community. Majority of women in refugee camps fear to use any method of birth control since their husbands are against it due to their cultural beliefs, and claims that they are producing children to replace their parents and relatives who have died in South-Sudans wars, Loice Abiria, a comprehensive nurse here told The Observer.

She said the refugees main worry at the moment is about what to eat. Available food is not enough.

Female South Sudanese refugees in Pagirinya camp, Adjumani district listening to health educators sensitising them on contraceptives

Fights over rations distributed by World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees are common.

Ugandan police personnel located in the camps spend a lot of time breaking up fights over food. There is also the cultural dilemma where, in the face of such scarcity, men feel compelled to take on more women and produce even more children, worsening an already impossible burden.

As Ugandans compete for education, our husbands compete for more wives and children. What annoys is that they dont work to support our families. After impregnating us, they return to South Sudan to fight, then return again when we have given birth; spend some time, make us pregnant again and go back, Annet Aldra, a refugee in Pagirinya camp, said.

People like Aldra are in Adjumani because of the conflict back home in South Sudan. Over one million South Sudanese have fled their country and majority of them have settled in northern Uganda, a situation that worries Uganda over population increase.

In December 2013, South Sudan President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar and ten others of attempting a coup detat. Shortly thereafter, fighting broke out between forces loyal to either man, triggering one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. Thousands of Sudanese have died, more continue to flee into exile.



BIRTH CONTROL

Humanitarian organisations like WFP and UNHCR are struggling to keep these refugees alive on a hugely underfunded budget. With so much suffering amongst the women given the daily struggle to find food for their many children, some are quietly taking up tubal ligation as the best option to control the birth rate.

Tubal ligation is a method that prevents pregnancy permanently. A womans fallopian tubes are clamped, cutting off her eggs from reaching the uterus for implantation. However the process doesnt protect partners from sexually transmitted infections.

When I walked into Pagirinya Health Centre III, located in Pagirinya refugee camp, Jaipi sub-county, Adjumani district, I found doctors and nurses performing a 30-minute tubal ligation surgery on Grace Asianzo, 37, a South Sudanese refugee.

After the surgery, Asianzo, who has lived in the camp for over a year, said she chose tubal ligation since her husband has two wives, and she had already given birth to seven children although two died in the war.

Her surviving five children are more than enough for her. Asianzo cannot afford school fees, food, clothes because she is not working. Asianzo also said that she developed complications in her uterus while giving birth to her seventh baby and doesnt want to risk her life again.

My husband is also not working; we agreed to have tubal ligation as the best option, with minimal side effects, for us to control the high birth rate and get enough time for digging to grow food for our children and school fees, she said.

Her last born is two months old. Maria Jane, 36, joined this camp last year and underwent similar surgery. She had also given birth to seven children. Her husband suffers from the virulent Hepatitis B, and she saw no reason to produce more children.



High birth rates

Milly Akello, a nursing officer at Pagirinya health centre, said on average about 80 babies are delivered monthly at health centres in the camps of Adjumani.

Last month, we got 86 deliveries at Pagirinya camp yet we are only four midwives. Sometimes we cant manage when a big number of women come to the hospital to deliver at the same time. At Baratuku camp, about 20 babies were delivered. Adjumani district has more than seven large camps but there are also other [smaller] camps where more than 20 babies were produced, she said.

Akello sees some hope now that, with constant sensitisation about family planning, refugee women have started accepting birth control.

Majority of these women were married off at the tender age of 13, which partly explains why the fertility rate is so high.

Inevitably, by the time they reach 35 years, they have many children, most of whom are malnourished. Coupled with the fact that their children generally miss school, this portends an even bigger problem to the community in future.

They depend on refugee food aid which is not enough and sometimes when they get it, they sell it to get money to buy other things like soap, clothes and also pay school fees, she said.

A South Sudanese who gave birth to twins

The population explosion in the camps is one of the reasons tensions with the local community are bubbling under the surface.

Most of these refugees are also arrogant, brutal, they demand that we do what they want. They prefer giving birth at home due to their cultures and immediately after giving birth, they come to hospital with their new-borns and the placenta to get Mama Kits. If you refuse to give them, they can abuse you or almost beat you, Abiria said.

Dr Kenneth Kyanu, a medical officer with Gulu district local government, says many women in the camps who have given birth at least to five children have started sneaking into their clinics for tubal ligation.



Family planning dislikes

Agnes Fridah Lanyero in Baratuku refugee camp told The Observer that of all the South Sudan refugees, those belonging to the Dinka tribe are most negative about family planning uptake compared to Acholi, Madi, Kuku, Nuer, Lolubo and Lotuku.

The Dinkas are so ignorant about family planning and their culture is totally against it. This is because after a woman gives birth, she separates with the husband for two years and stays with her parents while breastfeeding. They return to their marriages to get pregnant again. So, the Dinka men consider the separation period as family planning. But their wives complain of men cheating on them during this breastfeeding period which has increased HIV and Hepatitis B infections, she said.

Lanyero said Dinkas grow very tall, which makes many young girls enter marriage when below 16 years because when they reach 18 years before getting married, they are considered to be too old.

In our antenatal register, we have many girls of 10 to 18 years giving birth. In their culture, they are not allowed to give birth after 35 years, because they are considered as old people. So, we have changed the health education talk to men to stop having sex with these young girls, she said.

Lanyero said some Dinka men have started appreciating the importance of family planning and allowed their wives to use it as they breastfeed since they can have sex with them instead of looking for other women.

Lanyero has also requested Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) to constantly provide them with family planning commodities to avoid stock-outs.

She requested RHU to introduce public access to condoms in communities to reduce on sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Lanyero further said they still have the challenge of Dinkas, who complain about condom size; that they are too short for them.

A lot of patients in the camps have STIs. If I screen 900 patients for cervical cancer per day, I treat 700 of them with cervicitis and candidiasis infections. These patients also have yellowish and greenish offensive discharge. Last month, out of 600 women we screened for cervical cancer, 11 of them were positive and four had advanced cancer. The doctors had to remove the cervix because they were going to die,Lanyero said.

Filda Anicia, the Service Provider in Charge of RHU Gulu, said although they advise refugees to have planned sex and avoid unwanted pregnancies, the Dinkas demand that their wives produce many children or refund the many cows they paid while marrying them.

To encourage them to use family planning and fight misconceptions against it, we have changed our package of message sensitisation from women and encourage more men to attend and also use kind words like child spacing, instead of family planning. Because by child spacing, they know that they will produce later yet with family planning, they take it as if they are permanently stopped from producing, she said.



District

Anne Mary Adunia, the district Health Officer in Charge of Maternal Child Health, said the turn up for family planning in the district is poor since majority of the men are against it claiming women were created to give birth.

According to Richard Mugenyi of Reproductive Health Uganda, an average of 3,000 refugees cross the borders from South Sudan into Uganda each day and more than 5,000 were recorded in a single day on March 9, 2017.

UNHCR statistics released in September show that 51 per cent of South Sudan refugees are in Uganda and they now number at least 1m of whom 81 percent of them are women and 61 per cent are children under 18 years.



zurah@observer.ug
President Yoweri Museveni

Prof Fredrick Edward Ssempebwa, the man who chaired the last Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), said this week that it would be impossible to tell if President Museveni will still be fit for office in 2021 unless a proper medical examination is carried out on his person.

Ssempebwa said that because different people have different biological make-ups, the capacity to perform in relation to age varies from person to person.

He was presenting his views to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee now processing the Raphael Magyezi-sponsored age limit bill that has attracted much opposition around the country.

In 2021, Museveni will be over the current 75-year constitutional age limit for aspiring presidential candidates. His backers have recently toyed with the idea of drafting in doctors to prove, scientifically, that even at that age, someone still has their wits about them.

The only advice you will be able to get from those experts is what everyone already knows; that the capacity to perform, in relation to age, can only be judged upon detailed examination of an individual, he told the committee.

According to him, the spirit of popular participation in matters of governance is reflected in the entire Constitution and calls for democratic processes as opposed to only considering decisions of the majority which can be whimsical.

He said that despite the ongoing consultations on Constitution Amendment Bill (No.2), 2017, the process would achieve little because it is being handled from the point of view of hardened positions presented to the citizens by either supporters or those opposed to the lifting of presidential age limits.

This can only result in the collection of a few citizens that have been whipped to pander to the cameras, which has been the characteristic practice of both sides over the age limit debate, Ssempebwa said.

He asked the committee to be mindful of the fact that the existence or absence of term and age limits cannot be the magic wand for assuring democracy and constitutionalism.

Ugandans need to take stock of developments since 1995 [when the constitution was written] to assess how they have advanced. It may be recalled that term limits, an important drive towards orderly succession in government, was removed for reasons similar to those currently being canvassed in favour of deleting the age limit clause from the constitution, he said.

He proposed that, instead, parliament should be interested in interrogating issues related to state dispersal of power amongst organs and institutions of government; the role local governments in their current state play over the system of checks and balances; facilitation of popular and effective participation; electoral system reform for free and fair elections as well as the system of public accountability.



namuloki16@gmil.com
When Uganda and Tanzania signed the 1,445km oil pipeline agreement, the move marked a great opportunity for political, social and economic integration for the East African.

Since then, many events have taken place such as studies, laying foundation stones at Tanga, Hoima and a ministerial session at Buloba on cross-border issues.

The East African crude oil project is estimated to cost $3.5 billion and is set to be completed in 2020 when Uganda will join many oil-producing countries with the worlds longest heated pipeline. On completion, the pipeline will carry 216, 000 barrels of crude oil for export per day.

Works will be undertaken by joint ventures among Tullow, Cnooc and Total E&P with two governments of Uganda and Tanzania. An estimated $11.5m has already been invested for the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study of the pipeline.

The projects first tracking will be made by Tanzania and the delivery cost per barrel from Hoima to Tanga at $12.2 will make Ugandas crude oil profitable.

During his visit to Hoima on November 11, 2017, President Museveni called upon locals living where the pipeline will pass to be prepared to tap and benefit from the development as it will create jobs and boost standards of living.

It will also boost other services such as health, transport, accommodation, food, etc. Other potential beneficiaries include insurance companies, airlines, petro-chemical industries, camps, health centers, etc.

The fact that this development is going to be established on land will call for compulsory land acquisition by government.

From the previous experience on communities that have been affected by oil and gas development such as the oil refinery, people can be forgiven if they are already worried about compensation and resettlement.

Government must live to fulfill all its promises during compensation as laid out in the resettlement action plans. This will help to ease and fasten the projects implementation.

Oil, as a national resource, must benefit all Ugandans, especially the host communities, through access to information on ongoing developments.

Prompt, fair and adequate compensation prior to acquisition must also be key in the oil and gas sector. Social and environmental impact assessments conducted and delivered to the public domain in languages the public understands most.

Government must also come up with and abide by environmental laws for all the oil and gas developments. As evidenced from the current studies, the pipeline will pass through or neighbor sensitive areas such as lakes and rivers, game reserves and parks and other ecosystems.

Lets maximize the oil benefits as we mitigate the adverse negative impacts on the environment and livelihoods through bottom up participatory approach to make oil a blessing.



Sandra Atusinguza,

Kampala.

We can reduce income inequality

Just like anywhere else, Uganda is not spared of income inequality among its people, especially to our free market economy.

Some people argue that to end this inequality, wealthy people must either slow down and wait for the poor or share their hard-earned possessions with those with less to attain the equilibrium. But this is practically impossible.

So, what can governments do to end income inequality?

Primarily, government should formulate and implement appropriate legislation, policies and practices that are universal.

These fiscal, wage and social protection policies should consider the needs of the disadvantaged and marginalized.

Create an environment where a miionaires child has an equal chance with a poor mans child to work at any institution in the country.

Secondly, for those brought up in poverty, please stop accepting the stereotype that all rich people are corrupt. If you get the opportunity to study, please do, graduate, and look for a job.



Laster-Stoney Ogola,

Mutungo.

Kyankwanzi training good for everyone

For the minister for Kampala Beti Kamya to mobilize KCCA councillors to go to Kyankwanzi for a seminar on political leadership doesnt mean indoctrination into NRM.

Some KCCA councillors opposed to amending article 102(b) of the constitution allege that going to Kyankwanzi is intended to swirl their opinion in favor of this amendment.

However, this is not true because the Political Education Leadership Course (PELC) at Kyankwanzi enhances ones understanding of matters of national interest and making in-depth analysis using philosophical principles such as objectivity and concrete historical analysis.

This enables any leader to know that things dont occur in isolation but they are interlinked or related.

Kyankwanzi is not an NRM political ideological institution but a national leadership centre that can benefit all leaders irrespective of their political inclination.



Morris Twongeirwe,

morriskyatooko@gmail.com

Relax, people can vote Museveni out

The ongoing process to amend Article 102 (b) of the constitution to remove age restrictions for a presidential candidate has attracted mixed reactions from everywhere.

Some people are saying this is a ploy to entrench Musevenis life presidency. A careful analysis of the reasons given by those alleging life presidency simply points to a mere fear of the person and popularity of President Museveni.

Article 105 of the constitution clearly states: A person elected President under this Constitution shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of five years.

Besides, Article 1 states: The people shall express their will and consent on who shall govern them and how they should be governed, through regular, free and fair elections of their representatives or through referenda.

All these provisions are not under amendment, which rules out any possibility of a life presidency. If power belongs to people and there is a provision for periodic elections, then someone can never be a life president.

This implies that even if the Constitution is amended, and the population feels that Museveni is no longer the person they want to rule them, they will vote him out.



Bernard Odida,

Kampala.

letters@observer.ug
A meeting that was expected to end the debilitating medical workers strike ended with no deal but, rather, an escalation of the situation.

Government and doctors representatives met at Statistics House in Kampala on Wednesday but there was no breakthrough as no side showed readiness to compromise.

In fact, the government side which called for the meeting didnt seem to have any offers to make other than appealing to the doctors humanity; and when this failed, the ministers resorted to their earlier hard-line position.

Now the latest is that the minister of Health, Dr Jane Aceng, has called in army doctors and ordered striking doctors out of government houses.

This unwanted escalation only serves to prolong the pain and misery of Ugandans who are unfortunate to be sick at this time and cant afford private healthcare.

From the meeting on Wednesday, the government now admits that the doctors grievances are legitimate, notwithstanding some of their excessive demands.

However, instead of seeking to address them or at least make concrete promises, they continue to peddle carrot and stick tactics such as questioning the legality of the strike and threatening doctors with dismissal.

Now, if the governments much-touted Plan B is the deployment of army doctors, we are afraid it is only a quick fix that cant be sustainable in the long run. How many army and police doctors can the government possibly deploy, and for how long? Besides, how many of these doctors offer specialised services?

The government should quickly drop its arrogant approach and engage the doctors in meaningful negotiations guided by mutual respect.

Appealing to the doctors humanity or patriotism alone is unlikely to work because they are mostly professionals who dont need such lectures. Besides, the people dishing out such lectures dont have any patriotic credentials of their own to show.

Dismissing them, evicting them and hiring army doctors might not work either as their grievances, which the government has acknowledged, will remain.

And forcing them back to work through threats shouldnt even be an option because a doctor forced to work might be more dangerous than one who is absent.
On November 6, 2017, an important event for all humanity commenced in Bonn, Germany.

The 23rd Confederation of Parties (COP 23), which will end today (November 17, 2017) got underway with the objective of advancing the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement, which has been ratified by 169 countries including Uganda, aims at mitigating climate change through keeping global temperature rises below two degrees Celsius and through enabling countries to adapt to climate change.

Between November 12 and 17, 2017, three of the four civil society organisations implementing the Shared Resources, Joint Solutions Programme (SRJS) in Uganda participated in the COP 23.

Africa Institute for Energy Governance (Afiego), which I work for, was one of these organisations. Others included National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) and the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (Ecotrust).

Our key message at the event was: What Ugandas exploitation of her oil and gas resources means for climate change resilience.

The predominant economic activity in Uganda is rain-fed agriculture, making prolonged droughts, floods and changing weather patterns that are synonymous with climate change, a big challenge for the country and its citizens.

Further, because we are a developing country, we are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as we cannot easily put together resources to address the impacts of climate change.

Amidst the above situation, Uganda is planning on exploiting fossil fuel, which directly contributes to global warming. With this, one would say that Uganda is digging its own grave. Further, oil development efforts are a major driver for climate change.

Destruction of biodiversity including forests and wetlands during development of infrastructure for the oil sector; exploiting of oil in sensitive ecosystems such as national parks, lakes, rivers and others; and compulsory acquisitions of land by government or its agents are going to have a direct and serious impact on global warming.

Lets take a look at one project, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The pipeline is going to be 1, 445km long and 30 metres wide. In Uganda, it will traverse through eight districts and 24 sub-counties while it will go through 24 districts in Tanzania.

This means that hundreds of households across the eight districts in Uganda will be displaced through compulsory land acquisition.

Because of the inefficiencies in compulsory land acquisitions in Uganda including under- and delayed compensation, there have been incidents of oil-project-affected persons resettling in sensitive ecosystems including river banks.

Further, oil activities result in population influxes with speculators driving the population increases. The larger population size creates economic opportunities in the form of charcoal, firewood and others that lead to the destruction of sensitive ecosystems.

This is evident in Hoima. After development of the Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road leading to the oil wells along Lake Albert, charcoal trade sprung up along the road with trees close to River Wambabya and others being destroyed.

Yet compulsory land acquisitions and speculative behaviour are not the only oil sector activities that destroy ecosystems.

Development of the oil sector infrastructure itself is a culprit of the above with forests, wetlands, lakes, rivers and others suffering destruction.

A lot of infrastructure including the crude oil export pipeline, the finished petroleum products pipeline, pipelines from various oil wells, central processing facilities, well pads, workers camps and others are planned for the sector before 2020.

Development of the above infrastructure is a time-bomb. It poses a major threat to Ugandas and, indeed, global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

What is our message at the COP 23, therefore? We are calling on the government of Uganda to invest more in renewable energy such as solar to drive socio-economic development. With economic activity borne of increased access to solar power, government will not need to chase money from dangerous fuels such as oil.

We also call on government to invest more in the planting of indigenous trees as opposed to commercial ones such as pine.

Pine and trees of its ilk have small leaves that do little to absorb carbon dioxide. This translates into too little being done to mitigate global warming and climate change.



The writer is the research and programmes co-ordinator at Afiego.
A mysterious condition has left a 30-year-old man in rural eastern China looking and behaving like a small child. He cannot speak, can only stand for short periods of time and needs round-the-clock care that his loving mother is happy to provide.

Looking at Wang Tianfang, you would swear that he couldnt be a day over 4-years-old, but he was actually born in 1987, which makes him 30. His mother, Chu Xiaoping, says that both Wangs physical and intellectual development stopped when he was between 2 and 3-years-old, and that despite being consulted by several doctors, the reason for his stagnation remains a mystery. The 30-year-old man is only 80-cm-high and is unable to speak or feed himself.

Photo: Tencent News

A teary-eyed Mrs. Chu, 52, told Tencent reporters that when Wang was only three and his health problems became obvious, many of her neighbors advised her to abandon him on the steps of the local Buddhist temple and get on with her life. They told her to have another baby, one that would hopefully be healthy, but the woman wouldnt hear of it. She has dedicated her life to caring for Wang, and says that all she wants is for him to stay alive.

I know hell never recover, thats impossible, but I just want him to live on, I dont want him to die, the mother said. Even though doctors had previously told the 52-year-old woman that her son would not live to see 30, with her care and attention, Wang has beat those odds.

Looking after a disabled son for so long has been a daunting task for Chu Xiaoping, but she has somehow managed it. The single mother puts food on the table by picking tea leaves in the nearby mountains and working as a part-time cleaning lady in the village of Wangfan, Chinas Anhui province. She used to leave Wang alone, but after he fell and hit his head a few years ago, she asks her neighbors to keep an eye on him until she returns.

 

The 30-year-old stuck in a toddlers body has never been able to speak and walk, and can only stand on his own two feet for up to 30 minutes. He cant eat by himself either and has to wear diapers.

In a recent interview with Pear Video, Chu Xiaoping said that her greatest wish was for Wang to call her mother just once, but she knows that will never happen.
In the pantheon of San Francisco, the oldest in Acapulco, lies the tomb of Raul Raulito Gonzalez, who was born on April 2, 1932, and died on February 2, 1933, at the age of 10 months. The tomb is the cleanest in the pantheon, the most visited, and it is always full of flowers, candles, and toys. These are all offerings for Raulito, who many believe performs miracles from beyond the grave.

Raulitos tomb lay forgotten for many decades, slowly deteriorating, until June of 2007, when a woman from Sierra de Atoyac arrived at the cemetery with her young, dying daughter in her arms. Susana Curiel Garcia, the administrator of the cemetery, recalls that the woman asked about a childs grave that had been completely abandoned by his relatives and that had neither fresh flowers nor candles. Garcia pointed towards Raulitos tomb, where the woman then spent an hour and a half praying for her daughter, who doctors had said would not live to the end of the day.

Photo: Noticias Acapulco News

After finishing her prayers, the woman left with the promise that if her daughter survived, she would return to give thanks to Raulito. Nearly two months later, the lady returned with the little girl who had fully recovered. She brought Raulito flowers, a bag of toys and sweets to thank him for the miracle. Her story quickly spread through Acapulco, and soon visitors in need of miracles started flocking to the grave.

A second miraculous story tied to the grave of Raulito made the news a few years ago, when a worker of the municipal Public Security Secretariat lost control of his vehicle when the brakes failed. He called to Raulito for help, and miraculously gained control of the vehicle at that exact moment. The transit agent visited Raulitos tomb soon after and repaired all the damage done by the elements since the 1930s. He also brought gifts to thank the spirit of the baby for saving his life.

Photo: Noticias Acapulco News

Every toy that you see here, one or two toys are from each person that comes to ask for miracles Susana Curiel Garcia told the EFE News Agency, pointing to the plethora of toys covering the tomb of Raulito. She went on to say that, every day, between 10 and 15 people, sometimes upwards of 20, come from the villages of the southern state of Guerrero to visit the now-famous miracle-performing tomb. On April 2nd, Raulitos birthday, and November 1, All Saints Day, the number of visitors reaches 100.

Many believe in the power of Raulito, and some actually clain that the long-since-dead baby has answered their prayers.



I have already asked the baby for many things, and everything I have asked for has been granted, and I keep asking, 80-year-old Francisca Jaime Camacho told EFE. However, she points out that people should not ask for too many things at once, or Raulito could get angry. She also advises people to bring him toys instead of candles.

Raulitos final resting place is constantly covered in toys, and cemetery staff have to remove them to make room for more. All the toys are then donated to orphans and needy children, as everyone agrees that the miracle-performing baby would rather other kids enjoy them.
Dods Group is shelling out $2.2M for a 30 percent stake in Social360, social media monitoring and intelligence outfit with offices in London and New York.

It retains an option to purchase the balance of Social360s shares over the next three years based on its financial performance.

Cheryl Jones, chairman of Dods, welcomed Social360s CEO Ryszard Bublik and CTO Rob Herridge to her team, praising their clear and strong vision for the delivery of social media monitoring and analysis.

Launched in 2009, Social360 says its proprietary search and categorization technology filters out noise and highlights specific insights to provide a single reference point for corporate executives in search of fast, accurate and easily digestible intelligence.

London-headquartered Dods is a content, media services and events company.

In registering $13M in revenues for the six-month period ended Sept. 30, Jones noted the increase in margins and profits were a reflection of high client retention and efficiency levels.

She called the Social360 investment an opportunity to create a competitive advantage and expand its bundled services around political monitoring, business intelligence and consultative services to existing clients and new markets.

Alma PRs Josh Royston, John Coles and Helena Bogle represent Dods in the Social360 transaction.
16/11/2017 - On 16 November 2017, an OECD delegation met Cameroons Minister of Finance Alamine Ousmane Mey in Yaounde to discuss progress being made in implementing the new international standards to combat tax avoidance and tax evasion.

Cameroon is an active member of the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (the Global Forum). Cameroon has also signed the multilateral convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting.

The visit launched an Induction Programme to assist Cameroon in the implementation of the BEPS package, with a focus on the four minimum standards, and the standard for the automatic exchange of financial account information (AEOI).

The visit was organised on the sidelines of the 10th Plenary Meeting of the Global Forum taking place 15-17 November 2017 in Yaounde and attended by senior tax officials from 82 countries and jurisdictions, as well as representatives from 9 international organisations.

A technical workshop with tax officials from the Ministry of Finance and the tax administration from Cameroon will be delivered on 31 January 2018 in Yaounde to elaborate a roadmap for the implementation of the new international standards.





Media queries should be directed to Pascal Saint-Amans (+33 1 45 24 91 08), Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (CTPA) or the CTPA Communications Office.
Omaha World-Herald reporter Paul Hammel was one of three reporters recognized for their coverage of the impact of alcohol sales in the northwest Nebraska village of Whiteclay.

Project Extra Mile, a statewide organization that works to prevent alcohol-related problems, recognized 19 individuals, families and organizations for their contributions last week.

Whiteclay had become notorious for selling 3.5 million cans of beer a year, mostly to residents of the impoverished Pine Ridge Indian Reservation just across the South Dakota state line, where alcohol is banned. In April, the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission voted 3-0 against renewing the liquor licenses of the villages four beer-only liquor stores. The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in September that the stores should remain closed.

The University of Nebraska-Lincolns College of Journalism and Mass Communications also was recognized with the media award for its coverage, as was KETVs Andrew Ozaki and the Lincoln Journal Stars Zach Pluhacek.

The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, Omaha attorney Dave Domina and State Sens. Tom Brewer, Mark Kolterman and Patty Pansing Brooks also were recognized for their efforts.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Minnesota Sen. Al Franken apologized Thursday and faced a likely Senate ethics investigation after a Los Angeles radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing her and groping her during a 2006 USO tour.

Fellow Democrats as well as Republican colleagues called for an investigation, which Franken himself welcomed.

The anchor, Leeann Tweeden, posted her allegations, including a photo of Franken and her, on the website of KABC, where she works. The photo shows Franken posing in a joking manner, smiling at the camera with his hands on her chest as she naps wearing a flak vest aboard a military plane. Both had been performing for military personnel in Afghanistan two years before the one-time Saturday Night Live comedian was elected to the Senate.

Tweeden said Thursday that before an earlier show Franken had persisted in rehearsing a kiss and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth. She said that Franken was persistent, and every time I see him now, my hands clench into fists.

Still, she said she has no reason not to accept his apology.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the allegations troubling and said he hopes and expects that the Senate Ethics Committee will investigate.

Franken is the first member of Congress caught up in the recent wave of allegations of sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior.

Franken apologized in statements Thursday but maintained that he remembered the rehearsal differently.

While I dont remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe womens experiences, he said. Coming from the world of comedy, Ive told and written a lot of jokes that I once thought were funny but later came to realize were just plain offensive.

Of the photo, Franken said: I look at it now, and I feel disgusted with myself. It isnt funny. Its completely inappropriate. Its obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture.

Fellow Democrats swiftly condemned his actions, mindful of the current climate as well as the prospect of political blowback.

Asked for comment on the Franken accusations, Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischers spokeswoman, Brianna Puccini, said: This is very serious, and Senator Fischer supports the call for an Ethics Committee investigation.

There is no place for sexual assault or harassment in our society, said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. The Senate Ethics Committee should look into these allegations.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he could offer only a general comment because hed only had a chance to see the headlines. Any sort of sexual harassment cant be tolerated, Grassley said.

World-Herald staff writer Joseph Morton contributed to this report.
All House members representing Nebraska and southwest Iowa voted Thursday to pass the House version of the Republican tax overhaul. A Senate version is still pending.

Among House members comments after the 227-205 vote:

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.  This legislation is a significant measure in ensuring our nations taxpayers and families will have the opportunity to succeed and businesses will have the prospect of reaching their full economic potential. There are several areas I think still need to be fine-tuned, but this vote today takes us clearly in the right direction.

Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.  These comprehensive reforms will enable nine out of 10 taxpayers to file their taxes on a form the size of a postcard and level the playing field for U.S. businesses to compete in the global economy, which means more jobs and higher wages.

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.  This is a constructive attempt at broad tax reform to help hardworking American families, revive our small business sector, and empower the Made in America label.

Rep. David Young, R-Iowa  Iowans deserve a tax code that is respecting and rewarding their hard work and protecting a lifetime of savings. My vote today reflects my trust in Iowans to spend their money better than the federal government.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa  The passage of todays historic tax reform legislation represents the best opportunity Congress has had in 30 years to reform the nations complex and outdated tax code in a manner which will provide Iowans with tax relief, a simpler tax return, and a better economic climate for job creation. He added that he hopes the final version includes the Senate provision repealing the fine for individuals wvho dont purchase health insurance.

Democratic candidates comments:

Former Rep. Brad Ashford, running in the 2nd district  Rather than looking out for the middle class and hardworking Nebraskans, Representative Bacon just voted for a tax plan that hikes taxes on the middle class in order to give excessive tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations. This is wrong and not how we conduct ourselves in Nebraska.

Kara Eastman, running in the 2nd district  Make no mistake, the GOP tax plan is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to benefit those who can afford to pay more, including large corporations, at the expense of the middle class. Savings are not going to trickle down to us.

Dennis Crawford, running in the 1st district  Fortenberry voted for the House tax bill that would blow up the deficit, increase taxes on the middle class & give 50% of the benefits to the top 1%. ... As usual, Fortenberry put the special interests & Trump first.

State officials also weighed in, including:

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican  I applaud the President and congressional leadership for making tax reform a top priority this year. ... Thank you to Congressman Smith for prioritizing the interests of Nebraskas farm and ranch families as the Ways and Means Committee drafted this legislation.

State Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, a Republican and chairman of the Revenue Committee  Tax reform is essential to returning jobs to the U.S. and to helping our employers create more opportunities at home.
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Oregon State University offered its first look at the architectural designs for the school's planned $50 million expansion of its Newport campus.

Plans for the 72,000-square-foot building at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport were revealed Wednesday afternoon during a public meeting at the coast. OSU hopes to start construction next spring and open the building by 2019.

The long-planned expansion will occur in a tsunami-inundation zone, but OSU says the building will offer one of the first "vertical evacuation" zones in the country.

Designs show a long ramp stretching from ground level to the top of the center's auditorium, with another ramp rising to the top of the three-story building. According to the university, the building will be 47 feet high and able to accommodate more than 900 people during an emergency.

"This new building will not only meet our programming goals for the Marine Studies Initiative, coastal and oceanic research, and public outreach," said Bob Cowen, director of the Hatfield Marine Science Center, "but it will include added safety options for the Hatfield campus through its vertical evacuation."

OSU announced in August 2016 that it would build the new home for its Marine Studies Initiative in the tsunami-inundation zone, despite vocal concerns from some faculty members. OSU President Ed Ray said last fall the state-of-the-art building would be built to sustain a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.

The building, designed by Yost Grube Hall architects in Portland, will be built by Andersen Construction.

OSU's Marine Studies Initiative is a long-term planning effort that aims to boost research and marine studies at the campus by 2025, potentially housing as many as 500 students each year.

The school started the initiative in 2015 with the goal of making the campus an international leader in research. The new center will have a three-story academic and research facility along with a two-story wing with an auditorium, lab space, a community gathering area and other facilities.

State lawmakers approved $24.8 million in bonds for the project.

OSU also plans to build a nearby dorm on five acres purchased from Oregon Coast Community College. The building, which could house 360 students, is not in the tsunami zone, the statement said, and construction will run concurrent with the marine studies building.

OSU's Marine Studies Initiative is a 10-year program to foster innovative approaches to addressing key issues involving the coast, the ocean and ocean literacy. It builds on OSU's deep history of nationally ranked programs in marine sciences and natural resources, faculty excellence, and "world-leading research and premier facilities," said Jack Barth, executive director of the Marine Studies Initiative.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen
By Saul Hubbard, Eugene Register Guard

The University of Oregon this summer received four complaints about alleged sexist and inappropriate behavior by Matthew Halls, then the artistic director of the Oregon Bach Festival, before

.

At least three of the unnamed female complainants were Bach Festival performers, newly released records from the university show.

One of those performers contacted festival director Janelle McCoy to make allegations of sexual harassment against Halls, although it's unclear if that accuser ever filed a formal complaint.

The heavily redacted complaint investigation document, released in response to a public records request, provides only a partial picture of the allegations of sexism against Halls. It contains no further information about the sexual harassment accusation. Eugene Weekly first reported on the released document.

One complainant said that female festival performers were treated differently from male musicians by Halls and felt ignored and "less valued" by him. When Halls provided feedback, his comments "focused on their ... dress or physical appearance rather than on their performance, technique or skill," she said.

Another complainant appears to allege that Halls did not respond appropriately to her complaint about sexism from someone else at the festival.

"It is up to those in a position of authority at this festival to create stricter guidelines during these (redacted) that eliminate casual sexism," that complainant wrote in an email, adding that Halls' response "perpetuate(d) old patriarchal systems."

The UO justified blocking out large sections of the descriptions of alleged incidents by citing public records exemptions that shield people from "an unreasonable invasion of privacy" and that allow redaction of information submitted in confidence.

Halls, in a written statement Wednesday, told The Register-Guard he was completely unaware of the women's complaints until this week. He apologized "to anyone who felt that I (favored) one gender over another."

"At no stage did anybody from the University of Oregon or the Oregon Bach Festival leadership present me  or my attorney  with these documents," he said. "I was not given any opportunity to respond to these complaints before my contract was terminated. At no time did UO leadership talk to me about any impropriety on my part or suggest any changes in my teaching methods or treatment of musicians."

One of the complaints also alludes to a perceived racist joke that Halls made with his friend Reginald Mobley, an African-American performer, in which Halls put on a exaggerated Southern affect.

That incident has already surfaced publicly  and drawn international attention  after Mobley claimed in several interviews in September that that joke was the sole reason Halls was fired. Mobley also said he took no issue with the joke.

But the newly released complaint document indicates that the UO's investigation did not give the joke much weight. The report says Bach Festival director McCoy asked Mobley about the interaction and that he told her he "experienced Mr. Halls' comments and manner of speech as an interaction with a friend." The report does not subsequently revisit it.

The document does, however, show a split between the university's Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity and McCoy over how to handle Halls, an independent contractor to whom the UO had just been given a multi-year extension and a raise.

After two initial complaints in July, Cherie Scricca, an outside consultant working for the UO, recommended that school officials meet with Halls to discuss the school's non-discrimination policies and that they update his contract to include "written expectations of proper behavior including equal and fair treatment of festival participants regardless of race, national origin, age, disability."

Scricca also suggested that written notice be added to Halls contract that, if he did not meet those expectations, his contract could be immediately terminated, and that the festival would hire an "understudy" artistic director who could replace him.

But that meeting with Halls and those proposed contract amendments appear never to have occurred.

After two further complaints came in, including the sexual harassment allegation, McCoy made the decision to terminate Halls, emailing Scricca to tell her as much on Aug. 16. Scricca disagreed with that decision, suggesting a "similar" course of action to her previous recommendations when she spoke with McCoy on Aug. 23.

The next day, however, Halls was fired, with a UO administrator, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Doug Blandy, signing his termination letter.

The UO has since agreed to pay Halls a $90,000 settlement and both parties agreed to make no "negative or disparaging" written or oral statements about each other, publicly or privately, in "any medium."

The documents released by the UO show that Halls isn't the only Bach Festival contract performer to have been terminated in recent years following complaints.

In late 2015, violinist Steven Scharf, a 37-year veteran of the festival, was barred from future events after sexual harassment and hostile work environment allegations.

A female performer alleged Scharf repeatedly touched her on the back and hips and arms without invitation. Although Scharf denied the allegations, UO investigators ruled that the evidence, including several witnesses, suggested Scharf "engaged in a pattern of conduct during the Bach Festivals, which many women find unwelcome and inappropriate."

Also, during the 2016 festival, countertenor Clifton Massey was asked to leave immediately, following another investigation.

A male festival performer alleged that he caught Massey trying to take photos through the crack at the bottom of the door in the UO dorm room where the accuser was staying.

Massey denied the allegations, but festival leaders found his explanation for why he was outside his fellow performer's dorm room door at 11:30 p.m. "less than credible."

-- Saul Hubbard
The holidays are making it hard to get up and go to work. Why not stay home? Live-work units make that possible for some people.

In Portland, live-work units range from re-imagined warehouses to new construction designed to bring commercial elements to a residential neighborhood. Roll-up doors invite sidewalk interaction and perhaps face-to-face sales for your etsy business.

We poked around real estate listings to find a place to both labor and slumber legally, and we found a few. Real estate agents with these types of listings usually recommend the buyer first check with the city about possible use as a live-work unit.

But that caveat doesn't mean it's impossible. In fact, many agents and builders are gung ho on live-work.

"We're seeing a continual rise in the cost of renting office space here in Portland, so it makes sense that some are looking to economize without sacrificing space or style," says Sean Z Becker, broker and owner of Portland-based Sean Z Becker Real Estate.

Compared to renting an expensive office space, you can own a work-live space and pay yourself rent while running your business out of your own home, he says.

Desirable places like Portland's Pearl District are prime for freelancers and those looking to kick off their small business while living in style, Becker says, adding, "Proximity to cafes and restaurants [also make it] perfect for taking clients out to lunch."

-- Janet Eastman



jeastman@oregonian.com

503-799-8739

@janeteastman




Authorities are searching for a missing elk hunter in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the local sheriff said Thursday.

Ground searchers are looking for Vancouver resident Joel Presler in the Indian Heaven Wilderness, and snowmobile teams are combing roads north and east of Forlorn Lakes, according to Skamania County Sheriff Dave Brown. Presler, 37, is overdue from a hunt in the Forlorn Lakes area, Brown said.

He was last in touch with his family Saturday, Brown said in a news release.

Deputies found his pickup truck on a forest road Wednesday. There's about two feet of snow in the area, Brown said, and deputies didn't find any sign Presler had been there over the past couple days.

Deputies don't think he would camp away from his truck, Brown said.

Presler has hunted in the area for many years, Brown said, and doesn't have any known medical problems.

Brown said another 6 to 10 inches of snow are forecasted to fall in the area Thursday. Search operations will be based near the Peterson Prairie Campground.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday that the state of Oregon and Multnomah County are among so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that could lose public safety grants unless they prove they don't have laws and policies that allow withholding information from immigration agents.

A preliminary review found that sections of Multnomah County Sheriff's Office policy, a state statute and a recently signed state law that expands sanctuary protections could violate federal law, the Justice Department said in letters requesting a response by Dec. 8.

The state and county must prove they're following federal immigration law or risk losing Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant money, the letters said. The state was allocated more than $4 million over the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years to distribute to cities and counties for crime reduction and prevention.

Letters also went to the states of Illinois and Vermont, Washington D.C. as well as cities and counties in Washington state, California, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, New Mexico, Mississippi, Kentucky and Vermont.

"Jurisdictions that adopt so-called 'sanctuary policies' also adopt the view that the protection of criminal aliens is more important than the protection of law-abiding citizens and of the role of law," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

He urged all the jurisdictions that received letters to review their laws and policies and "establish sensible and effective partnerships to properly process criminal aliens."

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said the state is in compliance with federal law and is a "welcoming and inclusive place" for all residents.

"These threats by the White House administration to revoke funding to states and to local law enforcement agencies have already been ruled unconstitutional in two federal courts," Brown said.

Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese has said federal and state laws prevent people being detained in Oregon jails based only on a request by immigration officials to hold them. He said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can seek a criminal warrant signed by a federal judge to keep defendants in custody until their case is resolved.

County sheriff's offices operate most of the jails in Oregon.

The issue became a point of contention during the summer when a man with a lengthy criminal history who had been deported from the U.S. to Mexico 12 times was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting two women in Portland.

ICE officials said Sergio Jose Martinez had been booked and released from the Multnomah County jail at least six times before the alleged attacks and agents were never notified by the Sheriff's Office despite asking to know when he was released.

Reese said the jail would have held Martinez if ICE had provided a criminal warrant. Sessions criticized the Sheriff's Office during a visit to Portland in September.

Oregon cities and counties received at least $905,000 under the grant in 2016, with about $466,000 of that going to Portland and Gresham in Multnomah County, according to Justice Department records.

In its application that year, Portland said it would use the money to hire a police crime analyst, retain a deputy district attorney and a probation officer, contract with a service to aid women involved in prostitution-related offenses and buy Tasers, digital signs and camera equipment.

At least $910,000 this year went to Oregon cities and counties, including nearly $386,000 to Portland and Gresham.

Portland city attorney Tracy Reeve declined comment, saying the city hasn't had time to review the letter or the Justice Department's comments. Attorneys for Gresham and Multnomah County and the executive director of Oregon Criminal Justice Commission didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Justice Department said the jurisdictions agreed to comply with federal law when accepting the grant money.

The department cites possible violations of section 1373 of Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which says a federal, state or local government can't restrict sending or receiving information on the citizenship or immigration status of a person.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January denying federal funding to sanctuary cities. In April, the Justice Department sent similar letters to cities and counties in California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In October, the Justice Department said it found Chicago, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia and Cook County, Illinois, weren't in compliance.

Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles have been among cities that have since sued the Justice Department over the funding restrictions.

A federal judge on Wednesday barred the Justice Department from blocking grants to Philadelphia. Another federal judge in Chicago previously issued a nationwide preliminary injunction barring the Justice Department from adding new grant conditions requiring cities to give jail access to immigration officials and advance notice when people believed to be in the country illegally are about to be released.

Billy Williams, the U.S. attorney in Oregon, wrote a commentary piece in August warning that the state's sanctuary status "directly contravenes federal immigration law and threatens public safety." He cites the Byrne grant as an example of federal money that could go away and said preventable crimes would continue to occur without action.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey
Oregon has added a new crabbing ban on the coast.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are closing recreational and commercial crabbing from Tahkenitch Creek, north of Winchester Bay and Reedsport, to Cape Foulweather, north of Newport.

The closure follows tests showing crabs with elevated levels of domoic acid. The ban includes crabs harvested in bays and estuaries and on beaches, docks, piers and jetties.

Domoic acid is produced by certain types of algae and can accumulate in shellfish. It can cause gastrointestinal issues but can even be fatal if consumed by people. It cannot be killed by cooking, freezing or microwaving.

This is the fourth closure announced since Oct. 20, when state agricultural officials banned crabbing from Cape Blanco to California. Three days later it extended the ban to Bandon and on Nov. 1 extended it to Coos Bay.

Crab and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants are safe, the agriculture department said.

For more information, call the agriculture department at 800-448-2474 or go to its page on shellfish toxins.

-- Lynne Terry
A bipartisan throng of Oregon political heavyweights on Thursday called on state Sen. Jeff Kruse to resign following an increasing number of reports that he sexually harassed women at the Capitol, including two senators.

In separate statements, the officials pressured the Republican lawmaker to address accusations of sexual harassment and added their voices to the list of politicians calling for his ouster.

In a strong rebuke of a member of his own party, Bend Rep. Knute Buehler, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, said Kruse's alleged behavior "has no place in civil society or the workplace." Kruse has lost all credibility and should resign, Buehler said.

During his daily radio talk show, Rep. Bill Post, a Keizer Republican, also called on Kruse to resign.

State Treasurer Tobias Read, a Democrat, said the allegations of inappropriate touching by Kruse are "concerning and warrant investigation and action." Read said he is troubled that Kruse has not corrected his behavior despite warnings from legislative leadership and dismayed that Kruse will not accept responsibility.

"A resignation by Senator Kruse would demonstrate that he is willing to accept responsibility and put the state and its citizens first. ... It's time for him to resign," Read said.

"In the face of mounting, serious allegations of sexual harassment, it is time for Sen. Kruse to resign from the Oregon State Senate," said House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland. "The Oregon Legislature is committed to changing a toxic culture but that cannot happen while Sen. Kruse remains."

Jeanne Atkins, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Oregon, also called for Kruse's resignation.

"Enough is enough," Atkins said. "As more facts emerge and accusations surface, we now know his history of behavior is egregious. There must be consequences -- not just never-ending investigations and warnings -- for a sitting Oregon senator with this record."

Statements from the politicians follow remarks made Wednesday by Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, Oregon's top Republican, that Kruse should resign if the allegations against him are true.

Kruse, a lawmaker since 1996, has acknowledged that he touched women at the Capitol, but denied that his conduct crossed boundaries. Kruse has said the allegations against him are politically motivated and that he will not resign. He stopped responding to requests for comment from The Oregonian/OregonLive after it published accounts of the harassment allegations last month.

Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, filed a formal complaint against Kruse on Wednesday, alleging in detail years of sexual harassment that occurred in committee meetings and on the floor of the state House and Senate. Gelser said Kruse touched her breasts and her thigh, kissed her cheek and came so close to her while whispering in her ear that he left her ear wet.

In her complaint, Gelser said as many as 15 other women have told her about unwanted touching by Kruse.

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said Senate rules will be followed that require an investigation into Gelser's complaint and a public hearing to review the findings.

Courtney relieved Kruse of his committee assignments and removed the door from his Capitol office after Gelser filed her second informal sexual harassment complaint against him.

In her formal complaint, Gelser called on the Senate to expel Kruse -- the most serious discipline lawmakers can impose on each other. Expulsion requires a two-thirds vote.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman
Experts stressed the need to enhance connectivity and trade between China and South Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative in Kathmandu on Monday.

Experts stressed the need to enhance connectivity and trade between China and South Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative in Kathmandu on Monday.

Speaking at a forum entitled "Contours of Belt and Road Initiative for South Asia" in Kathmandu, experts said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has brought opportunities for both China and South Asia to increase their partnership in the fields of trade, connectivity, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

Chief guest of the event Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, the former foreign minister of Nepal, said the Belt and Road Initiative offers a good opportunity to South Asian countries including Nepal and India to further strengthen their cooperation among themselves and with neighboring regions.

"Nepal and South Asian countries can enhance their land and maritime connectivity with China, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the rest of the world through this initiative," he said.

Pandey, also a leader of Nepal's CPN (UML) party, said his country wants to share the benefits from the growth of China and seek technical and financial support through the Belt and Road Initiative.

At the forum organized by Kathmandu-based think tank Nepal-China Friendship Forum, distinguished scholars from Nepal, China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan discussed in detail the opportunities and implications of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Nepal's veteran economist Dr. Shanker Sharma said there is potentiality for Nepal to diversify its trade under the initiative.

Shafqat Munir, president of Pakistan-based think tank Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights, highlighted the benefits of connectivity projects in Pakistan such as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Su Changhe, professor of international relations at Fudan University of China, said that the Belt and Road Initiative is an open and inclusive concept pushed forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He underscored the importance of related countries pursuing cooperation in various fields under the initiative, saying that it will create win-win development among participating countries.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is a concert for all players, not a platform for a single country or actor," the professor said.

In her address, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said China has already become a major investor in South Asia.

"In South Asian countries, there is a huge demand for infrastructure and investment including power supply, communication, road construction and so on," she said.

"There is great potential on project contracting cooperation between China and South Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative."

Nepali Finance Secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari said Nepal and China signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2017 on the Belt and Road Initiative. The Nepali government is now reviewing possible infrastructure and connectivity projects under this framework.

"We are open to enhance cooperation in all of them, particularly in expanding trans-Himalayan railways and roadway projects, infrastructure development, trade and investment," he said.

Chairman of the Nepal-China Friendship Forum Kalyan Raj Sharma said that the concept of the Belt and Road Initiative envisages a connectivity vision of an unprecedentedly wide scale.

"It provides a new dimension of economic development through larger connectivity and closer cooperation among the participating nations," he said.

With the implementation of the initiative, Nepal also expects to help realize the proposed Nepal-China-India trilateral cooperation for economic development among the countries involved, Sharma said.
Members of the ASEAN are the prior and primary partners of China in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Xu Bu said.

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are the prior and primary partners of China in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Xu Bu told Xinhua in an interview ahead of the 31st ASEAN summit and related meetings from Nov. 10 to Nov. 14.

Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Xu Bu. [File photo/Xinhua]

ASEAN's development plans, including ASEAN Community Vision 2025, AEC Blueprint 2025 and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, are highly compatible with the objectives of China's Belt and Road Initiative, China and ASEAN have both agreed to integrate and mutually promote the development strategies of both sides, Xu said.

According to him, the Belt and Road Initiative has made remarkable progress and achievements in ASEAN countries in five aspects.

Firstly, with effective policy communication, the Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN countries are forming a multi-level inter-governmental communication mechanism.

Secondly, the construction of infrastructure interconnectivity has been speeding up along with China's high-speed rail "going out" and a series of flagship projects being implemented.

Thirdly, with the China-ASEAN deal to upgrade their free trade agreement (FTA) formally going into force, the two sides have been closely pushing forward production capacity cooperation with industrial parks as key projects, and rapidly enhancing trade and investment.

Furthermore, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has attracted participation and support of all ASEAN countries, providing a firm guarantee for financial integration.

Besides, with cultural exchanges and tourism as a link, non-governmental contact between the two sides is becoming increasingly active, laying the social foundation for people-to-people bonds.

The Belt and Road Initiative, put forward in 2013, is aimed at building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road by promoting trade, financial integration, infrastructure inter-connectivity and people-to-people exchanges among continents.

A recent report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development showed that ASEAN would need infrastructure investment of 60 billion to 146 billion U.S. dollars per annum up until 2025.

China has been providing assistance in railway infrastructure projects to ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Laos. These include Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail link, Malaysia's East Coast Rail, China-Thai high speed railway, and China-Laos railway, according to China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Established on Aug. 8, 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Leaders from the 10 ASEAN member countries and ASEAN dialogue partners gather in Manila from Nov. 10 to Nov. 14 for the 31st ASEAN summit, the 12th East Asia summit and related meetings. Strengthening Regional integration and global free trade, security issues, among others, will be the major topics.
The first trial freight train from China arrived at the cargo port in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia on Monday.



The first trial freight train from China arrived at the cargo port in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia on Monday.

Slovak Transport and Construction Minister Arpad Ersek addresses a welcome ceremony of the arrival of a freight train from China to the Port of Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, on Nov. 13, 2017. The first trial freight train from China arrived at the cargo port in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia on Monday. The train's journey from the Chinese city of Dalian via Russia and Ukraine to Slovakia lasted 17 days. It is carrying goods worth over three million U.S. dollars in 41 containers destined for customers throughout Central Europe. [Photo/Xinhua]

The train's journey from the Chinese city of Dalian via Russia and Ukraine to Slovakia lasted 17 days. It is carrying goods worth over three million U.S. dollars in 41 containers destined for customers throughout Central Europe.

"It is a significant event for Slovakia. I think we'll not stay just in the trial operation, but we'll go further in this," said Arpad Ersek, Minister of Transport and Construction of Slovak Republic.

According to the ministry, the train is the first one ever whose route will cross almost the whole of Slovak territory.

And as of next year, trains between the Chinese city of Dalian and Bratislava's cargo port will operate once a week, and twice a week as of the second half of 2018.

"Rail transport from China to Europe via Slovakia so far has proven that this route is not only fast, but also safe," said Dana Meager, Finance Ministry State Secretary and Government Proxy for the "Belt and Road" Initiative.

"I view the initiative as one of the most important pillars of further developing Slovakia's national economy," added Meager.

Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia Lin Lin said he believes the train's operation "will enhance even more Chinese-Slovak cooperation in the field of transport and logistics."
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Jack Berdasco will show images from his trip to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands at the Midland Camera Club meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 in Room 304 of Midland Evangelical Free Church, 7221 N. Jefferson.

Club members' images captured at the Midland Center for The Arts and action photos will be shown at the club's Nov. 28 meeting -- also at 7 p.m. at Midland Evangelical Free Church.

People interested in possibly joining the club may attend.

The club offers educational opportunities. Its website is midlandcameraclub.org
BLOOMINGTON  The Pantagraph is moving, but will remain in downtown Bloomington.

The newspaper offices are moving to 205 N. Main St., on the old courthouse square, across from the McLean County Museum of History. After the move is completed by early spring, the building will be renamed for the newspaper.

The Pantagraph will have offices on the first and second floors. Heartland Bank is located at the south end of the first floor, and other tenants are on the third floor. The building is owned by 121 North Main LLC.

This has been a long process and weve looked at many, many Twin City locations in the past two years, said Pantagraph Publisher Julie Bechtel. We feel fortunate to have found a new home that will allow us to remain in downtown Bloomington.

Were also proud to be part of the ongoing efforts to revitalize the citys core, she added.

The Pantagraph has a long-term lease for a total of about 14,000 square feet. Bechtel said the space will be freshened up with new paint, carpeting and other improvements to make it our own.

"We're very excited about The Pantagraph being able to stay downtown," said building manager Vicki Varney. "I think it's a good fit. Being on the courthouse square is a perfect place for The Pantagraph."

The Pantagraph is one of the oldest businesses operating in McLean County and traces its roots to a newspaper founded in 1837 by Jesse Fell. The Pantagraph, its website and the Woodford County Journal are owned by Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.

"The Pantagraph is almost as old as the county itself, so what better business to see locate in the heart of our historic district," said Beth Whisman, the museum's executive director.

"Newspapers are the public record for communities and so are history museums," she added. "So it is actually kind of cool that we're sharing the same neighborhood now even a little bit closer than before," she added.

For The Pantagraph to make a commitment to stay downtown "is in many ways acknowledging the downtown and all of the activities that are happening here is the heart of community," said Whisman. "This is where government is. This is where business is thriving. This is where culture is alive. So you want to be close to where the action is, and that's still downtown Bloomington."

Whisman also noted that The Pantagraph will be located on the historic Route 66.

"I am just really thrilled that The Pantagraph is staying right where it belongs in our city center," said Tricia Stiller, the city's downtown development division manager and former executive director of the Downtown Bloomington Association. "It would not have been the same downtown without The Pantagraph there. It's an institution and a very valued member of the downtown community."

Ruth Haney, president of the DBA's board of directors, agreed.

"It's so good to hear The Pantagraph is going to stay in Bloomingon," she said. "I would hate to see it move anywhere else. It's a mainstay."

Bechtel acknowledged it will be hard to leave the current building at 301 W. Washington St.  two blocks west of the new location  which has been the newspapers home since 1935. The building was sold in August 2016 to St. Louis-based Oak LLC/Raven Development.

This building has served us well for decades and we will miss it, but we know the new owners will update it and ensure it remains a key part of downtown, Bechtel said.
NORMAL  Normal Township officials don't plan to fall in line just because the McLean County Unit 5 school board and the county board have agreed to give away property taxes for a decade to bring up to 500 jobs to the county.

"I wasn't elected to follow what they do. I was elected to have a mind of my own," said board member Arlene Hosea. "I need to do due diligence and do all the research I can do so I can make an informed vote."

Instead, the board voted 3-1 on Thursday to meet again 8 a.m. Wednesday on a tax abatement plan for the Brandt Group of Companies, a Canadian agriculture manufacturer considering occupying the soon-to-be-vacated Kongskilde factory at 19500 N. 1425 East Road in rural Normal.

The Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, the county and Unit 5 negotiated with Brandt for months to reach the agreement.

"I was dismayed with my elected school board members and county board representative. ... They were pressured to vote without feeling adequately informed," said board member Sally Pyne. "I feel supportive as well, but ... if somebody asked me about it right now, 'Why'd you do that?' I'm not sure I'd have a good answer, and I want to be able to have a good answer."

Board member Ray Ropp voted no to the delay.

"You're basically saying that you don't have any respect for their judgment," he told Hosea of the school and county board members.

Township officials, especially Supervisor Sarah Grammer, tangled with EDC and county staff on whether the deal is good enough.

"I see nothing in this language that shows partnership, only taking on their part. And if we're going to do that for every business that comes forward in the future, we're going to be in trouble pretty quickly," Grammer said. "The town and the city of Bloomington, a lot of their revenue comes from sales tax (and) income tax. Our budget is purely property tax."

Unit 5 gets most of its operating revenue from property tax, but also gets state money.

EDC President Kyle Ham said Brandt still has not finalized its purchase of the plant, which was scheduled for Wednesday, and urged the board not to jeopardize it. The township collects 4 percent of the taxes to be abated, versus 65 percent for the school district and 12 percent for the county.

Heartland Community College, Hudson Community Fire Protection District and Hudson Area Public Library District have yet to approve the agreement. They get 8 percent, 8 percent and 3 percent of affected taxes, respectively.

Grammer pressed officials on why the deal has no "clawback" provision, which would let the affected taxing bodies reclaim taxes they've already forgiven if Brandt leaves during, or possibly after, the deal. Bridgestone Tires had such a clause in a local expansion deal approved in 2011, she said.

"As long as they're planning to be here after they take the abatement dollars, they risk nothing by having that in the agreement. So why wouldn't they allow that?" said Grammer, referring to Brandt.

Assistant State's Attorney Don Knapp said officials chose instead to negotiate performance-based incentives that won't be paid unless Brandt reaches specific employment goals. He noted Bridgestone had those as well, and that paid off for taxing bodies after the company missed some goals.

"We didn't think Brandt would agree to it," he said of clawback language. "Could ... they pull up and leave (after getting the abatements)? You bet. But what did you get in return?"

He added that the township would likely spend more trying to get its money back than it abated in the first place.
You WILL believe an oil painting can live and breathe in "Loving Vincent" ... from starry, starry nights to black crows erupting over golden wheat fields.

And we can thank Heyworth native, Illinois State University alum and one-time Pantagraph employee Dena Peterson for having a literal hand in what most will agree is the most special effect of any movie this year.

Or, for that matter, any movie of any year.

For 94 unbroken minutes, Van Gogh's art comes to literal life, all the better to pay tribute to his life and his struggles in a revealing manner heretofore untried.

At 12 oil paintings per second (or, 65,000 frames from 850 canvases).

And the eye boggles.

Over and over.

Peterson is one of the 120-odd international artists selected to animate the acclaimed Polish-produced film, opening a two-weekend run Nov. 30 at the Normal Theater.

It's the same theater where she attended movies in her youth, and where she is scheduled for her first homecoming in many years (either via an in-person appearance or, if she can't make the trip, a Q&A-by Skype; details were still being worked out at press time, and will be announced in next week's GO!).

"As artists, many of us can relate to Van Gogh's struggles," Peterson says of her hands-on involvement with five key sequences, including one of its most acclaimed (the crows erupting over the wheat field as externalization of Van Gogh's psychic torment).

"Which is why his life strikes such an emotional chord with us."

Thanks to this experiment, which was so audacious and all-consuming she feels it may never be attempted again, the artist's famously tortured life is now striking emotional chords in filmgoers around the world.

Peterson becoming a part of the team of artists who made the laborious process pay off couldn't have been predicted in her time here in McLean County.

"I always loved art, and was always painting and drawing," says the 1980 Heyworth High School graduate.

"I was a good student, and bright, but my art interests weren't encouraged," she says. "I was considered 'too smart' to be an art student."

So when she enrolled at ISU, she spent the early 80s studying psychology, earning a bachelor's degree in 1985, and her master's degree the following year.

She made spending money working in the Classified Advertising Department of The Pantagraph, shooting real estate photos (all in the family: her brother was a Pantagraph carrier).

"I took a couple classes in art history and painting classes at ISU, and I got rave reviews and A's ... but even one of those professors said, 'Don't go into art'."

The voice in her heart and soul whispered otherwise. But she was imprinted with that "smart kids don't go into art" mantra.

"I loved learning about psychology ... but when I started doing it, I didn't enjoy it so much as I did doing things with my hands," she says. "I don't know why I didn't listen to that voice more ..."

Then life happened: In 1989, Peterson relocated to Colorado, where she had a good a friend and immediately fell in love with the terrain.

She worked in her chosen field as a mental health counselor ... got married ... got out of her field ... "didn't miss it" ... raised a family ... "and stayed home for many years."

Her painting pastimes continued, "and my style began to emerge a little bit," she says. "I never liked photo-realism, that was not my thing. I like a little more thick kind of brushwork and I was drawn to that, pushing the boundaries of reality a little bit."

She took workshops and received her key training at Loveland Academy of Fine Arts where she lived (Loveland is south of Fort Collins and "about the size of Bloomington"). There also was time in an art school in Fort Collins "to get into art education," but her marriage unraveled around that time, and "I was unable to finish that."

Post-divorce, though, "I got more serious about art, studying with some really great people in private workshops," and taking more classes in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Denver.

There was a foreshadowing of her eventual encounter with Van Gogh by virtue of her finding her way into the art world without a formal degree.

"Even though he studied with teachers, he really taught himself to paint," she says.

While still raising raising her family as a single mom, "I kept with it, honing my skills, getting some recognition and winning awards."

Her involvement with "Loving Vincent" was more of a fluke than a natural step in her self-made progression.

"My daughter called and said, 'Hey, I saw a short trailer that's going around on Facebook about this new film ... you have to see it, it's amazing!'"

Peterson took a gander at the promo short "and I was fascinated ... to me it looked like hand-painted paintings that were moving. What grabbed me was the fact that you could see they were paintings ... see the brushwork."

The film's producers were seeking artists to complete the groundbreaking experiment in a fully painted animated narrative film that would dramatize the theory that Van Gogh did not shoot himself in the stomach, but was murdered by one Rene Secretan, a 16-year-old town bully.

A la "Citizen Kane," the portrait of the artist's life is a mosaic: a mixture of black-and-white flashbacks as various acquaintances recollect his life, and full-color renderings of the characters and incidents from his paintings. (The film was shot with live actors, with the resulting footage used as a movement template for the artists.)

"I went to the website, and, on a whim, I sent them a nice email and a link to my website," Peterson recalls. "Like most artists, I do this all the time, and don't expect to hear back."

Surprise: She heard back  with the directive "we like your work, and it might be a good fit. When can you come here and take a test?"

So what if the studio turned out to be in Gdansk, Poland?

"I thought, 'I'm going to book a flight to Poland they don't pay for and take a test to see if they'll hire me to do this?' "

She had visions of making the trek and ending up in an "empty room" in a warehouse on the edge of nowhere. In a foreign country with a language she didn't speak.

After some online excavating, she determined the film company, Breakthrough Films, was for real.

An email to the American Embassy there resulted in a "we can't help you much" response.

"My daughter said, 'What's the worse that could happen other than you get a trip to Poland out of it?'"

So it was off to Gdansk.

And, indeed, Breakthrough Films was housed in a warehouse

But not in an empty room.

Three days were spent teaching Peterson and the other candidates the technique of animating a painting by literally altering it with brush-scrapes, which were photographed at the above noted rate of 65,000 frames taken of 850 separate canvases altered by hand.

"In some ways, it was very low-tech," she says of the process that has been routinely wowing eyes jaded by more than 20 years of anything-goes computer animation.

Peterson passed the test with flying colors and became part of the team that worked 8 to 10 hours a day for the next half-year of her life, "at about half of what the minimum wage would be here."

But the too-smart-for-art student of yore was in heaven, all the same.

"This movie is such a labor of love ... and what a cool project to be involved in," she says, back home and into her regular art-making routine in Loveland (to sample that, go to www.denapaints.com).

"People ask me, 'Do you realize you are a part of history now?' and I say. 'I wasn't thinking about that."'

That was then, this is now.

"As a creative way of tying all of Van Gogh's work together in a tribute to it," she says with clear enthusiasm, "I think it's pretty close to genius."
BLOOMINGTON  The CEO of OSF HealthCare's Eastern Region is optimistic that OSF and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois will resolve their contract dispute by Jan. 1.

"Negotiations are active," Chad Boore told The Pantagraph on Wednesday. "I think we are making good progress.

"I believe we will reach resolution," Boore continued. "If we don't by the end of the year, we will work with our patients to meet their health care needs, with or without Blue Cross."

But Boore added, "There is an interest on the part of both parties to come to a resolution."

Later on Wednesday, Blue Cross Blue Shield spokeswoman Colleen Miller said, "We are continuing discussions with OSF (with) the goal of reaching an agreement that benefits our members and customers."

OSF revealed a month ago that, unless the two organizations came to an agreement, most OSF Illinois hospitals would no longer participate in the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO network. The hospitals include OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, OSF HealthCare Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac, OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria and OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest commercial health insurer in Illinois. If the dispute isn't resolved, the health care of thousands of Central Illinoisans could be impacted. Blue Cross members would still have access to OSF hospitals but would pay out-of-network rates, OSF media relations coordinator Shelli Dankoff has said.

Outpatient services at non-hospital OSF facilities  including doctors' offices and clinics  wouldn't be affected.

But inpatient services and in-hospital outpatient services, including rehabilitation, ambulatory surgery, diagnostic testing, audiology and sleep studies, would be affected and out-of-network rates would apply.

Blue Cross wants to add other hospitals to its network, including hospitals that compete with OSF. OSF responded that it would accept a larger network but couldn't afford to provide Blue Cross with the same reduced rates.

Blue Cross responded by announcing plans to remove larger OSF hospitals in Peoria, Galesburg and Rockford from its network. OSF countered by terminating its Blue Cross agreements, effective Jan. 1, with most of its other hospitals, arguing that the three larger hospitals accept transfers from other OSF hospitals.
ATLANTA  The Atlanta Public Library will contest an order to repay a $25,000 state grant resulting from a conflict of interest for a library trustee.

The secretary of states office sent a certified letter to library board President Randy Brooks on Oct. 23, providing written notice that the grant money must be repaid to the Illinois State Library within 90 days.

In the letter, Amy Williams, from the state's Office of the General Counsel, said the office found that library board member Bill Thomas owns a building that was renovated through the grant and therefore had a financial interest in it.

They are seeking an administrative hearing on the matter, which is their right, said Dave Druker, a spokesman for the secretary of states office. We are working on scheduling a date.

The library is leasing Union Hall, located across the street from the library, from Thomas for $1,000 per month. The building previously was the headquarters for Teleologic Learning LLC, a company that Thomas founded.

Library officials agreed to lease the building for 20 years, satisfying a term in requirements of the Live and Learn grant for proof of a longstanding commitment to a property. State officials say there is no proof the library made payments to Thomas, however, thereby voiding terms of the lease.

Without a long-term lease in effect, the grant requirements were not satisfied.

The grant was one of 17 distributed to Illinois libraries in 2015 by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.

In its grant application, library officials said that more space was necessary because there is no room for growth for current programming despite rising demand. Existing spaces are inflexible and inhibit the variety of programs offered, they added.

The grant money was used to renovate the facility and provide access to the building next door, the Atlanta Museum and Palms Grill Cafe. Both are run by the Atlanta Public Library District.

Brooks declined comment on the matter Wednesday.

The board's position at this time is that since a hearing is pending on this issue, it is premature to comment, said library Director Cathy Maciariello. The library will be happy to respond once the issue is fully resolved.

In June 2017, the board voted to explore purchasing the building. According to board minutes, Brooks was not present at the meeting, and Thomas left the meeting room for that discussion.

Subsequent board minutes indicate a purchase was discussed but never acted upon.

Thomas could not be reached for comment.

In July, minutes from the meeting indicate the board addressed the potential conflict of interest after receiving questions from local residents during the meeting.

The meeting minutes include this statement: The board noted that all board members file financial disclosure forms with the county clerk and no interested party ever participates in discussions or decisions that might be covered in these statements.
Shortly after Inauguration Day, I began to see a new headline pop up in my email feed: "Run For Something."

At first I thought it was a cynical reader responding to one of my cranky assaults on the goofy habits and know-nothing babblings of our national embarrassment, President Donald Trump.

If you think you're so smart, I have heard, why don't you run for something?

Why, I respond, would I want to subject myself to the same abuse that I put politicians through in this job?

Nevertheless I have great respect for those who are willing to take the time and abuse necessary to, as an old saying goes, run something other than their mouths.

Such is the purpose of Run For Something, which turned out to be one of several new Trump-era political action groups that have popped up like Christmas stores in October to help advance progressive politics, outside of regular Democratic Party structures.

While the Democratic National Committee has tried to pull itself together in the wake of its shockingly unexpected loss to Team Trump, a lot of other independent anti-Trumpers are too impatient to wait.

Started by Amanda Litman, 27, former email director for Hillary Clinton's campaign, and her political operative friend, Ross Morales Rocketto, Run For Something aims to enlist, fund and support an important group that often gets too little attention from Democratic party regulars: progressive millennials.

Run For Something and other Trump-era progressive groups such as Sister District, Swing Left, Flippable and Indivisible aim to do for the left what the tea party movement did for the Republican party's right-wing base in the Obama years.

I wished them luck, but didn't expect miracles. Then last week's off-year elections in Virginia, New Jersey and some other states showed as elections always do that you don't need a miracle to unseat powerful incumbents in our democratic republic; you just need to get more votes.

Of the 72 candidates that Run For Something fielded, the organization reported on election night that 32 won seats on school boards, state legislatures and city councils in 14 states, with two other races  both in the Virginia House of Delegates  headed to recounts.

Run For Something's biggest headline makers included Danica Roem, 33, in Virginia, who became the nation's first openly transgender state legislator. She defeated 13-term incumbent Republican Bob Marshall, who authored Virginia's "bathroom bill" and considers himself the state's "chief homophobe."

Also backed by Run For Something was Chris Hurst, a former broadcast journalist in Roanoke, Va., motivated to run for office after his late girlfriend, fellow journalist Alison Parker, was murdered by a crazed gunman during a live morning television report. Pushing education and gun safety, he beat Joseph Yost, a three-term incumbent backed by the National Rifle Association  a group that has successfully blocked all gun control efforts by Congress in recent years.

Also on Run For Something's list was Ashley Bennett, 32, a psychiatric emergency screener in suburban Atlantic City, N.J., who was offended by Atlantic County board member John Carmen's mockery of the Women's March on Washington after Trump's inauguration.

"Will the women's protest end in time for them to cook dinner?" Carmen posted on Facebook. Ha, ha. Bennett got the last laugh, unseating Carman in the Republican dominated district by more than 1,000 votes of more than 14,000 cast.

Words like "landslide," "wipeout" and "blue tsunami" have been used to describe the surge in Democratic turnout nationwide.

Exit polls showed an unmistakeable anti-Trump backlash as turnout exceeded expectations and led to big victories for Democratic governor candidates in Virginia and New Jersey.

But the more important story in the long run may be those down-ballot races where a new generation of angry and activist Democrats can begin to push back after years of losing national and state offices to Republicans,

We usually talk about candidates at the top of the ballot carrying others from their party to victory. But the big "blue tsunami" in Virginia and other states also shows the value of "reverse coattails," where energetic down-ballot candidates help boost fellow partisans at the top. For Democrats, this could be the first step to a national comeback, thanks largely to President Trump, who often seems to be doing all he can to embarrass his own cause.
Last night, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City hosted its annual Art Party with co-chairs Zosia Mamet, Natasha Poly, Laura Kim, Fernando Garcia, Vanity Fair fashion director Michael Carl and stylist Micaela Erlanger, with a pre-dinner hosted by model Ashley Graham and artist (and Whitney Biennial breakout star) Raul de Nieves and a performance by rapper Young Paris.

The event, which included aerial dancers in addition to a dance floor and provided the novelty of checking out several floors of empty exhibits for a Night at the Museum experience, also brought out some truly inspired outfits for a very scene-y evening. See some of the best looks below and live vicariously through the art world's latest batch of Bright Young Things:





Images via Zach Hilty/BFA


Pope Benedict XVI: Statement to the Seminarians of Rome: 8 February 2013:

The second term: inheritance. It is a very important word in the Old Testament, where Abraham is told that his seed will inherit the earth, and this was always the promise for his descendants. You will have the earth, you will be heirs of the earth. In the New Testament, this word becomes a word for us; we are heirs, not of a specific country, but of the land of God, of the future of God. Inheritance is something of the future, and thus this word tells us above all that as Christians we have a future, the future is ours, the future is Gods.

Thus, being Christians, we know that the future is ours and the tree of the Church is not a tree that is dying but a tree that constantly puts out new shoots. Therefore we have a reason not to let ourselves be upset, as Pope John said, by the prophets of doom who say: well, the Church is a tree that grew from the mustard seed, grew for two thousand years, now she has time behind her, it is now time for her to die.

No. The Church is ever renewed, she is always reborn. The future belongs to us. Of course, there is a false optimism and a false pessimism. A false pessimism tells us that the epoch of Christianity is over. No: it is beginning again! The false optimism was the post-Council optimism, when convents closed, seminaries closed and they said but nothing, everything is fine!. No! Everything is not fine. There are also serious, dangerous omissions and we have to recognize with healthy realism that in this way things are not all right, it is not all right when errors are made.

However, we must also be certain at the same time that if, here and there, the Church is dying because of the sins of men and women, because of their non-belief, at the same time she is reborn. The future really belongs to God: this is the great certainty of our life, the great, true optimism that we know. The Church is the tree of God that lives for ever and bears within her eternity and the true inheritance: eternal life.
I was revisiting a case in the Blue Cliff Record. In Chinese the Biyan Lu, the Twelfth century classic anthology of koans. Koans are those lovely fragments of poetry, stories of encounters, and fairy tales that point us to the heart of the great matter. Case number 42 in the anthology goes:

Layman Pang was leaving Yaoshan. Yaoshan ordered ten of his Zen students to see Pang off at the temple gate. Pang pointed to the falling snow in the air and said, Beautiful snow-flakes!  they dont fall on any other place.

At that time there was a student named Zen, who said, Where then do they fall?

Pang gave him a slap.

Zen said, Layman Pang, dont be so rough.

Pang said, If you name yourself Zen student in such a condition, Old En [the fearful judge at the entrance of the realm of the dead] will never release you!

Zen said, What then would you say, Layman Pang?

Pang slapped him again and said, You look, but you are like a blind man; you speak, but you are like a deaf-mute.

(Xuedou added his comment, Why didnt you, [Student Zen], hit him with a snowball in place of your first question?)

From a koan perspective something pretty straight ahead. The layman, terror to all the young monks and not so young who think their clerical status should bring with it a certain deference from those whose state is meant to be supporters of the professionals. The problem with that stance was that by general assent the layman saw deeper and truer than most.

And of course a moment presented. The monks accompany the layman to the gate. He points at the snowflakes. He makes that statement.

Good snowflakes. They dont fall in any other place.

Another translation goes Beautiful snowflakes, one by one; but they fall nowhere else.

Another translation goes Fine snowflakes; they dont fall elsewhere.

What are we being invited into? Well. Here is the heart of the great matter. Its all being laid out for us. Here the layman points to the deepest realities of our lives, the traps and the way of freedom.

Anyone familiar with the stories of Layman Pang know that these young and maybe not so young monks were well aware they were walking with a master of the way. So, that one of them was willing to speak, actually, thats not merely a moment of courage, it is something else. He is making a statement as well as asking a question. And, Its worth noting both the words and the action.

The Layman meets him with a slap. Not our culture. And, I suggest, not representative of the punishment this sort of action would normally indicate in that culture, either. Here we are in the dream time, and every thing presents as an opportunity, an invitation. Here in this luminous place we all parts of a whole: the layman, the monk, and the slap. And so a question. In that place where is there a difference between the laymans pointing and query and that word Where do they fall? and the slap so close that there seems no distinction between the two, call and response, box and lid?

And then, as happens, it goes wrong. Caste resumes, clericalism rises instead of curiosity. As some might shout: mistake! However, with infinite care the layman brings the matter back to the fore. Despite how it might look, there is no rebuke in this story. Not in the first slap, not in the second.

What we are being invited to is the great intimate.

And with that lovely, lovely Xuedou, the anthologys one-man Greek Chorus, pointing, cajoling, commenting, laughing, and dragging us along, once again goes right to the heart of the matter. Now there can be some confusion as to what word he thinks should spark that snowball flying. The laymans pointing words? The monks question? Have a view?

But, you know, it really doesnt matter. Xuedou reminds us. Here it is! Within the great play of life and death, here it is! Amongst the sorrow and loss: something precious and beautiful. The secret heart of our living and our dying displayed before the world.

Like a child throwing a snowball at the first word.
The Nana Akufo Addo-led government has indicated its resolve to energise the entrepreneurial spirit within every Ghanaian to help them earn a decent living and improve the quality of their lives.



Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed this on Wednesday when he presented the 2018 Budget and Fiscal Policy in Parliament.



According to him, government has managed to fix the economic challenges that were bedeviling the country; hence the unemployed will be introduced in entrepreneurial skills.



For us, the fight against poverty and unemployment is not optional; it's a national security issue. It is time for Ghanaians to arise and build.



Thankfully President Akufo-Addo came into office with a positive mindset and inspired all of us to see the invisible, feel the intangible and achieve the impossible.



I am happy to note that we have turned the economy around and our policies are yielding results and restoring hope and bringing relief to Ghanaians, he said.





More soon.....

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash









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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A 24-year-old man, Ehioboh Lucky, has been nabbed by men of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly impersonating billionaire businessman and owner of Globacom mobile network, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr.



The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Ehioboh Lucky was arrested on November 6, following a complaint by one Abiola Ogunseye, who claimed the suspect defrauded him of 1,028,770 naira.



Oyeyemi added that the suspect, who hails from Edo State, had opened a Facebook account with the name and picture of the third richest man in Africa, which he has been using to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.



The suspect



The PPRO said: One of his victims, Abiola Olalekan Ogunseye, came into contact with him on Facebook, where he promised to get employment for him at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and asked him to pay N1.5 million to settle some members of the management of the corporation, who will influence his appointment.



The sum of 1,028,770 naira has so far been paid to the suspect before the victim realised that he was a fraudster. The victim lodged a complaint via a petition to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police and the officer in charge of Anti-Kidnapping and Cultism, CSP Opeyemi Kujore, was directed to go after the suspect.



After weeks of investigation, the suspect was apprehended on Monday, November 6. Recovered from him are one iPhone 6, a laptop, eight different SIM cards, five different ATM cards and one international passport. Oyeyemi, however, said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

Source: Daily Graphic









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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NDC Member of Parliament for Bia East, Richard Acheampong says the Minoritys last minute intervention forced government to withdraw its decision to tax the mobile money sector.



According to him, his side must be commended for ramping up pressure that caused government to back down on the move.



The NDC Minority in Parliament had alleged that the Akufo-Addo government was planning to tax the thriving mobile money business, according to the 2018 Budget statement, a move it described as retrogressive.



The intention to tax mobile money transaction must be abolished immediately since it constitutes a serious threat to financial inclusion and economic growth in Ghana, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority spokesperson on finance said on Monday, during a roundtable breakfast discussion ahead of the 2018 Budget and Economic Policy.



However, there were no such signals as alleged by the minority per the full account of the 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.



But the Bia East legislator told host Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM Thursday their intervention paid off which saw government withdraw the decision to tax mobile money transactions.



Ghanaians should commend the minority on the roundtable discussion we did ahead of the 2018 Budget. It will be recalled that we said three key things about the Budget. We mention this decision to tax the mobile money transaction. When we gave the signals then they quickly went to take out that portion from the Budget. So if you critically look at the Budget, you will see a lot of inconsistencies on the arrangement. it is as if they rushed through it

Source: kasapafmonline.com









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The rate of electricity consumption of a country is taken as a measure of its quality of life. Hence the immense inequalities that exit between nations, as stated in the 10th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), can be perceived readily. This correlation between electricity consumption and quality of life of nations is especially factual for lower and medium income countries. Hence we can use that to underscore:



The ever-growing huge gap between the rich in the west and poor Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, and

How far Ghana has been left behind, by its close competitors in the 1960s, namely Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.

In our discussions, South Africa, which alone accounted for more than 50% of electricity consumed in Africa in the 1980s, is not in the group of SSA countries. Hence SSA means Africa without South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.



To make it convenient to have very comprehensive discussions, reference is made to a special table posted on the website in 2006 by the Energy Information Administration based in Washington DC. The table presented a comparison of data on World Total Net Electricity Consumptionfor the years- 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004 respectively. The abridged version of the table is as shown below.



In those years, South Africa and the five North African nations as provided in the table, accounted for about 78% of electricity consumed in Africa as compared to only 22% for some 47 nations in SSA, including Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa. The table also shows that, electricity consumption in SSA was less than that of Sweden, a rather small advanced country.



The table provided data for only eight (8) SSA countries, namely Cameroon, D.R. Congo, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabweas well as countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and China. The data presented clearly shows that electricity consumption grew steadily in all the listed countries except those in SSA, where it grew sluggishly. In every ten years the growth tripled in the listed Asian countries and nearly doubled in South Africa and the 5 North African countries. In the case of the SSA countries, the growth doubled in 24 years in Cameroon, Cote dIvoire, Kenya and Nigeria, but not in DR Congo, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For instance, electricity consumption in 1980 of 1.33TWh and 1.59TWh in Cameroon and Cote dIvoire respectively, increased to 3.65TWh and 3.20TWh respectively in 2004, as compared to the growth of 3.94TWh  5.13TWh and 4.50TWh  7.09TWh for DR. Congo and Ghana respectively.



Electricity Consumption per Capita (ECPC)



Electricity consumption per capita is perhaps a better way to describe the abject energy poverty in SSA. Once again, it is worthwhile to refer toa table on The Correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and Electricity Consumption per Capita (ECPC) posted on the websiteby the World Bank in 2002 or so. Here also, data comparison was made for countries, including 4 SSA countries that are listed according to their HDI ranking numbers.



The countries with their corresponding HDI ranking numbers written in bracket are, Sweden (3), South Korea (30), Malaysia (58), South Africa (111), Egypt (120), Morocco (126), Ghana (129), Cameroon (146), Kenya (146) and Nigeria (152).



In the period of 20 years from 1980 to 2000, ECPC grew in all the listed countries except that of Ghana.Within the period, Ghanas ECPC of 424kWh for the year 1980,which was higher than 223 and 380kWh for Morocco and Egypt respectively, plunged down to 288kWh. One important observation that could be made from the table is that, the highest growth of ECPC was in South Korea and Malaysia where ECPC grew from 859 and 631kWh to 5607 and 2626kWh respectively. In contrast, ECPC in Cameroon, Kenya and Nigeria grew from 154, 92 and 68kWh to 183, 106 and 81kWh respectively. Note that the huge gap between the values of ECPC for South Korea and Malaysia on one side, and that of Ghana and SSA countries on the other.



In 2015, Ghanas ECPC declined through 241 to 206kWh, while those for Kenya and Nigeria grew through 133 to 137kWh and 107 to 115kWh respectively in 2015. The ECPC ranking for Cameroon (171), Ghana (177), Kenya (184) and Nigeria (188) were worse than those in the year 2000. As a matter of interest, ECPC in kWh and ranking numbers for Ghanasimmediate neighboring countries,La Cote dIvoire, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, were: (189, 177), (92, 192), (86, 194) and (42, 207) respectively.



In a sharp contrast, ECPC in the Asian countries increased remarkably that, South Koreas ECPC values of over 9000kWh in 2012 and 2015 are higher than those for several countries in the Group of 7 or 8. Malaysias ECPC of 3724kWh in 2015 is a clear and significantlyreflection of how far Ghana has been left behind by its competitors in the 1960s.It should be underlined that the worst ECPC data down to 7kWh are found mainly in SSA.



Over-Dependency on Biomass and the Importance of SDG 7



The over-dependency on biomass in SSA, which underlines the abject poverty in SSA, is very detrimental to our health. Burning ofcharcoal in indoor kitchens in urban areas is the main source of indoor pollution of obnoxious gases that are injurious primarily to the health of mothers and their weaning babies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such pollutions leadto ill-health and thousands of premature deaths from lung cancer and other respiratory infections, and may aggravate prenatal problems. That is why the 7th goal or SDG 7 of the SDGs that ensures universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030, could be taken as the most fundamental goal out of the 17 goals of the SDGs.



Lets note that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were adopted at the dawn of this millennium in 2000, did not have a goal for energy, a resource which has direct or indirect links with many of the goals. For instance in the SDGs, SDG-7 is linked to many of the goals, with special reference to SDG-8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, which is linked directly to SDG-1 and 2 on No Poverty and End Hunger respectively. We can also add that when electricity is made reliable and so affordable to replace charcoal, the main source of domestic energy for cooking, it would go a long way to: improve the health of mothers and their babies(SDG-3) reduce substantially the nations health budget, leading to improving its reserves (SDG-1)

lessen the disturbingly rapid rate of deforestation to save our forests,  the carbon-sink, which plays a very important role in the quest to save our planet (SDG-13),

guarantee much longer operating life time for essential electrical appliances used in hospitals, institutions and in our homes (SDG-1), and initiate a complete emancipation of women in SSA., which could be possible when their household chores are made easier by reliable and affordable electricity(SDG-5). Note: the emancipation of women in the west was made possible with the help of electricity.



When the SDGs were adopted in 2015, Ghana (President John Mahama) and Norway (Prime Minister Ms. Ema Stolberg) were appointed as Co-Chairs for a group of eminent advocates to see to the implementation of the SDGs, leaving no one behind. We shall however discuss much later that renewables, promoted in SDG-7, cant be described as reliable and affordable. It must be underscored that Nuclear Power (NP), not mentioned in SDG-7, is the first choice for baseload generation simply because it is clean and generates reliable and affordable electricity more abundantly than any other option.



Since HP is limited, further deployment of renewables would be arguably dominated mainly by WP and SP which are free and inexhaustible. Bur it must be said that wind and wind energies are so diluted that their material and land requirements are so huge that they hardly produce affordable electricity. Besides, their worse limitation is their intermittency which lead them to produce non dispatch-able electricity, or in simple terms, unreliable electricity for the grid. So it is misleading to describe renewables which have to be operated with backups and/or storage systems as reliable and affordable in SDG-7. Lets note that NP, not mentioned in SDG-7, is the first choice for baseload generation simply because it is clean and generates reliable and affordable electricity more abundantly than any other option



Furthermore NP has a better operating safety record than all the options for power generation including Solar Power (SP) and Wind Power (WP), fraught with real danger. Whereas nobody died from the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, and there have been since then no deaths attributable to NP, it can be found on, www.caithnesswindfarms.co.uk/AccidentStatistics.htm,



that, the number of fatal accidents associated with WP in 2011 was15. And since then and up to the end of May, 2017, there have been 55 fatal accidents attributed to WP, with fatalities possibly higher than 55.



Opinions from Our Authoritative Energy Experts



It is very appropriate to discuss the opinions about energy situation expressed once by the former CEOs of VRA, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey and his immediate predecessor Mr. Dokyi. In the latter half of 2013, when Dr. WerekoBrobbey was speaking at a public forum on the 2014 budget after a sharp increase in electricity tariffs.He made the following statements: (1)Increase our energy intensity at least ten folds, and (2) Ghanaians should accept the realistic tariffs. The first statement is very relevant from the ECPC values of 204 and 3724kW in 2015 for Ghana and Malaysia respectively.It highlights that Ghana,should be proactive in tacklingher power deficiency in a massive way. However, no clue for generating options was given. Lets note that generating options have capacity factors which range from about 90% for NP down to 25-35% for WP and about 20-25% for SP. Since WP and SP are variable and intermittent, theydo not produce dispatch-able electricity for the grid.



In another occasion in 2002 at the meeting of ECOWAS Energy Ministers, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey stated that,The tendency has been to withdraw into our own little boundaries in the mistaken belief that we can isolate, resolve and sustain our national power needs. Compare this to a statement made bythat ofMr. Dokyiin 2000 at a similar meeting that: Our economies can only succeed in a highly competitive world if we support them with reliable, technologically efficient and effective power systems. He went on to add that: No country can make it alone. Lets note that, when these statements were made, Ghana was operating both Hydro Power (HP) and thermal power plants. Since SP and WP cant be described as reliable, efficient and effective technologies, and so by elimination, we are left with NP, whose capital cost poses an appreciableis an insurmountable barrier to almost all the ECOWAS countries with weak and fragmented economies, but could be possible as a sub-regional project.



This idea of sub-regional co-operation was also made in 2007 by Mr. Robert Zoellick, the former President of the World Bank in Accra, the first stop of his familiarization tour a week before he took his appointment. He arrived in Ghana during a serious power crisis, when power supply was made alternatively available from 6am-6pm for one half of the population. That obviously influenced Mr. Zoellick who said to the Finance Ministers in West Africa that: It is the expectation of the World Bank and other multilateral financiers to see African countries focus on common goals and have an integrated and regional approach to dealing with their challenges because it makes it easier for the financiers.



Tariff and Production Cost



Lets note that Tariff=Production Cost + (Transmission & Distribution Costs) +Tax & Levies, where Production Cost=Capital Cost+ Operation & Maintenance Cost +Fuel Cost. Production cost, which may account for about 50-70% of the tariff, tends to be lower due to (1) economies of scale, and (2) capacity factor of generating options. NP, usually built with large installed capacity has very high capacity factor. Furthermore fuel cost for NP is very low, and that is why NP produces clean, reliable and affordable electricity more abundantly than any other option.



Justification for Scaling Up Power Production



The Universal Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in 2015 calls for a complete phase-out of fossil fuel from all the economic sectors. Hence we have to move aggressively to scale up reliable and affordable electricity, which is also essential (1) to power modern safe and fast trains which dont pollute and are cheaper than road transportation, (2) to make Ghana the hub of reliable and affordable power supply in our sub-region not only for the sake of good neigh- boringness, but for also economic gains and (3) to kick-start the Comprehensive Aluminum Industry (CAI), the most cherished flagstaff project in Ghana.



The CAI is made up of (1) mining our own bauxite, (2) refining the bauxite into alumina, (3) smelting the alumina into aluminum ingots at VALCO, and (4) using the aluminum ingots to fabricate in Ghana several essential aluminum products. When VALCO was operating only the smelting stage at its full capacity, it benefited greatly its owners and Ghana, even though the alumina was imported from Jamaica and the bulk of resulting aluminum ingots were shipped to the USA. VALCO is now in our hands, so Ghana has the potential to create well-paid jobs to boost our economy. This can be used to justify the need for a major project for reliable and abundant electricity at affordable cost.

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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Zimbabweans are said to be against the military takeover of the country following the dismissal of the Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.



A survey by Afrobarometer, a pan-African non-partisan research network revealed that 69% of the citizens of Zimbabwe reject military rule while 75% prefer democracy over any other system of rule.



Zimbabwe's political crisis will play out against a backdrop of substantial public trust in the army but a clear rejection of military rule in favour of democracy.



Almost two-thirds of Zimbabweans, according to Afrobarometer survey, said they trust the army but even more stated emphatically they disapprove of military rule.



"Six in 10 Zimbabweans (64%) said they trust the army 'somewhat' or 'a lot'. But only 23% said they feel 'somewhat' or 'completely' free to criticize the army. More than two-thirds (69%) of Zimbabweans said they disapprove including 43% who 'strongly disapprove' of military rule. Strong majorities also rejected one-man rule (78%) and one-party rule (65%) and said they prefer democracy over any other political system (75%). Only 38% of respondents said they were 'fairly' or 'very' satisfied with the way democracy was working in Zimbabwe", the survey indicated.



About Afrobarometer



Afrobarometer is a pan-African nonpartisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions and related issues in Africa.



Six rounds of surveys were conducted in up to 37 African countries between 1999 and 2016 and Round 7 surveys (2016/2018) are currently underway.



Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent's choice with nationally representative samples.



The Afrobarometer team in Zimbabwe led by the Mass Public Opinion Institute interviewed 1200 adult Zimbabweans between 28 January and 10 February 2017.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Some African migrants including Ghanaians who are seeking greener pastures in Libya are being sold as slaves.



This was revealed by international news network CNN as part its investigations into the wave of human trafficking in Libya.



Some of the slaves who migrated from Nigeria and Guinea are being held at detention centres which lack ventilation and light.



Eight hundred, says the auctioneer. 900  1,000  1,100  Sold. For 1,200 Libyan dinars  the equivalent of $800, according to CNN report.



One of the unidentified men being sold in the grainy cell phone video obtained by CNN is Nigerian. He appears to be in his twenties and is wearing a pale shirt and sweatpants.



He has been offered up for sale as one of a group of big strong boys for farm work, according to the auctioneer, who remains off camera. Only his hand  resting proprietorially on the mans shoulder  is visible in the brief clip.



After seeing footage of this slave auction, CNN worked to verify its authenticity and traveled to Libya to investigate further.



Carrying concealed cameras into a property outside the capital of Tripoli last month, we witness a dozen people go under the hammer in the space of six or seven minutes.

Does anybody need a digger? This is a digger, a big strong man, hell dig, the salesman, dressed in camouflage gear, says. What am I bid, what am I bid?



Buyers raise their hands as the price rises, 500, 550, 600, 650  Within minutes it is all over and the men, utterly resigned to their fate, are being handed over to their new masters.



After the auction, CNN met two of the men who had been sold. They were so traumatized by what theyd been through that they could not speak, and so scared that they were suspicious of everyone they met.



Crackdown on smugglers



Each year, tens of thousands of people pour across Libyas borders. Theyre refugees fleeing conflict or economic migrants in search of better opportunities in Europe.



Most have sold everything they own to finance the journey through Libya to the coast and the gateway to the Mediterranean.

But a recent clampdown by the Libyan coastguard means fewer boats are making it out to sea, leaving the smugglers with a backlog of would-be passengers on their hands.



So the smugglers become masters, the migrants and refugees become slaves.



The evidence filmed by CNN has now been handed over to the Libyan authorities, who have promised to launch an investigation.



First Lieutenant Naser Hazam of the governments Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency in Tripoli told CNN that although he had not witnessed a slave auction, he acknowledged that organized gangs are operating smuggling rings in the country.



They fill a boat with 100 people, those people may or may not make it, Hazam says. (The smuggler) does not care as long as he gets the money, and the migrant may get to Europe or die at sea.





Source: CNN









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 Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who presented the 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government to Parliament yesterday, announced that the budget is geared towards creating tens of thousands of jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates and school leavers, thereby creating wealth for the people.



The budget, which is christened Edwuma (literally meaning Job Budget), has the main theme, Putting Ghana Back To Work, but the opposition National Democratic Party (NDC) in parliament, apparently dazed by the pro-poor fiscal statement and its progressiveness, described the budget as 419, which was intended to deceive Ghanaians.



The minister said GH600 million had been budgeted for the establishment of the Nation Builders Corps  which will create 100,000 jobs for all unemployed graduates who would be given specialized training for recruitment into special programmes such as Teach Ghana, Clean Ghana, Heal Ghana, Feed Ghana and Revenue Ghana.



Mr Ken Ofori-Atta noted that the 2017 budget was basically to stabilize the economy and create the necessary fiscal environment for economic growth.



According to him, the previous NDC government left a whopping debt of GH123.2 billion, which almost grounded the economy; but the NPP government had been able to pay GH2.3 billion, paving the way for massive injection of financial resources into the economy to create jobs and bring the needed relief to Ghanaians



The Nation Builders Corps Initiative, meant to provide jobs for unemployed graduates, will be a major government initiative to address livelihood empowerment and graduate unemployment to solve economic and social problems, he said, adding that it would help enhance service delivery in health, education, agriculture, sanitation and revenue mobilization and collection.



He added that the government had budgeted GH1.2 billion for the implementation of the Northern Development Authority, Middle Development Authority and the Coastal Development Authority, which would not only create additional jobs, but also help accelerate development across the country, especially in deprived areas.



Mr Ofori-Atta further disclosed that the 2018 budget had allocated GH2 million to each of the 216 districts for the implementation of the one district, one factory policy of the government.



He charged the local authorities, together with the private sector, to take advantage of the funds to feed into the policy.



He said under the one district, one factory policy, 191 projects have so far been appraised and selected for implementation.



According to the minister, 104 companies would be operating in the agribusiness sector, 20 in the meat and poultry sector, 40 in the construction and building materials sub-sector and the 27 in the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals sector.



Railways



Mr Ofori-Atta stated that GH8 billion had been budgeted for infrastructural development through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the development of the railway system, including the Western, Eastern, Central Railway Line, Accra and Kumasi City Lines, while $2 billion had been allocated for the Integrated Bauxite Aluminum exploration, which would come with a number of job opportunities.



The finance minister also announced that as a way of putting more money into peoples pockets, the government had decided to review electricity tariffs downward between 11% and 24%



He said residential and non-residential users would get 13% reduction in electricity tariffs while big companies would get up to 24% reduction.



Government in 2018 will work towards keeping the lights on at affordable rates to consumers, particularly industries and small businesses through reform and policy interventions over a two-year period, he asserted, adding that the existing 4-tier tariffs classification of residential consumers would be collapsed into Lifeline and Non-Life in phases and that the government would forward its recommendations to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to consider and operationalize them.



He said the Free Senior High School policy would be expanded in 2018 and that an amount of GH1.2 billion has been set aside for its successful implementation to bring more relief to parents.



Mr Ofori-Atta asserted that more teacher and nursing trainees would also benefit from the restoration of the allowances in 2018.



He said the NPP government did not overspend but lived within its 2017 budget with a surplus of GH379.3 billion, adding that international foreign reserves had been increased to cover four months for the first time in so many years.



Mr Speaker, President Nana Akufo-Addo is a man of action. We promised to implement Free SHS policy and we have delivered. We promised to restore nursing and teacher trainee allowances and we have delivered, we promised to end dumsor and we have delivered. We promised to reduce fertilizer prices by 50% and we have delivered. We promised to establish Zongo and Inner City Development Ministry, we have delivered. We promised to increase allowances for peacekeeping from $31 to $35. We promised to increase DACF for people with disabilities from 2% to 3% and we have delivered, the minister prided, to a thunderous hear, hear from the majority (NPP) members, while the minority sat quietly.



The debate on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, November 21, 2017.





Source: Daily Guide









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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 16th November, 2017, as part of his 3-day official visit Qatar, paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.



The discussions between the two leaders centred on energy, infrastructural development, railways and roads, and, also on the need to co-operate strategically for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their respective populations.



With the Emir of Qatar set to visit Ghana from 27th December to 29th December, 2017, he told President Akufo-Addo that he was keen for Ghanaian companies to invest in Qatar, and was also keen on meeting with the Ghanaian business community during his visit to the country.



Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani indicated that Qatar was desirous of forging strong partnerships and relations with countries such as Ghana, countries that are governed in accordance with the rule of law, respect for individual liberties and human rights, and the principles of democratic accountability.



The Emir of Qatar stressed the need to rekindle the ancient ties between Africa and the Gulf Region, which has weakened in the course of the last 60 to 70 years.



On his part, President Akufo-Addo was grateful for the warm reception and hospitality corded him and his delegation since his arrival to Qatar.



He noted that Ghana, considering the significant gas resources available to her, was willing to learn from Qatar on how the country has exploited its gas resources for the development of the country and the progress of its people.



President Akufo-Addo was hopeful that Ghana would have an Ambassador to Qatar, and would have established an embassy in Qatar prior to the visit of the Emir.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, Tuesday urged the House to develop an objective framework for performance assessment based on the actual work MPs do so that those who want to conduct research would be appropriately guided.



There seemed to be some misconception about the role of Member of Parliament, he said, and it was about time to confront such mass ignorance now.



Mr Osei-Owusu made the statement after MPs in both Majority and Minority sides had supported a statement by Dr Emmanuel Marfo, MP for Oforikrom on how to assess the Performance of MPs in the House.



The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and Ghana Watch for some time now have been publishing periodic assessment reports of MPs in terms of their performance in the House.



However, some critics say the evaluative criteria employed by some of these researchers in relation to the actual work done by MPs, lack internal validity.



Besides, they say, many of such studies discount the enormous time used by MPs to follow up on projects, school admissions, job applications, committee meetings and other public interest assignments, such as services on boards and the intellectual contributions deployed during these assignments.



Mr Osei-Owusu, therefore, directed the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs working with the leadership to set a standardised criteria.



He said the Committee after evaluating the benchmarks, should produce a report to the House, which could be used by the media and civil society groups for their research.



Dr Marfo, presenting the statement on the Floor of the House, also called on Parliament to set the criteria since the publics perception of the House was not the best.



He urged the House to rise up and have serious public engagement to align their perception and understanding to their constitutional mandate and function.



"We can no longer be on the defence; the time for MPs and Parliament for that matter to rise up to deal with this growing misconception is now, he added.



Dr Marfo also highlighted the misunderstanding on the role of MPs, saying there seemed to be high public interest in the matter.



He cited that that in the IEA study, for instance, majority of the respondents rated the performance of their MPs low to average.



He said 75 per cent of the respondents in the study perceived the role of MPs as assisting people or undertaking developmental projects.



Dr Marfo also stressed the need for massive public education to be able to change the publics misconceptions about the functions of the MP.



He said as the elected representative they had a responsibility to ensure that the people who voted for them understood their roles, otherwise they would have problems sustaining their mandate as they may not be able to meet their expectations, adding that this may account for the high attrition rate in the House.

Source: GNA









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LOS ANGELES -- Authorities confirmed Wednesday that mass murderer Charles Manson is back in a Bakersfield hospital, though the severity of his condition is unclear.

Kern County Sheriff's Lt. Bill Smallwood confirms that Manson, who turned 83 this week, is at a local hospital but could not say more.

Charles Manson in 2014.

Since arriving at the Bakersfield facility three days ago, Manson has been getting various treatments around the hospital -- always guarded by five police officers, TMZ said.

A source familiar with Manson's condition told the website "it's not going to get any better for him."

The source also added, "it's just a matter of time," TMZ said.

Manson and members of his "family" of followers were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate and six other people during a bloody rampage in the Los Angeles area in August 1969. Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war he dubbed "Helter Skelter," taken from the Beatles song of the same name.

Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, was 8-1/2 months' pregnant when she was killed at her hilltop home in Benedict Canyon on Aug. 9, 1969. Four others were stabbed and shot to death the same night: Jay Sebring, 35; Voytek Frykowski, 32; Abigail Folger, 25, a coffee heiress; and Steven Parent, 18, a friend of Tate's caretaker. The word "pig" was written on the front door in blood.

The next night, Manson rode with his followers to the Los Feliz home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, then left three members to kill the couple.

Manson was initially sentenced to death. But a 1972 ruling by the California Supreme Court found the state's death penalty law at the time unconstitutional, and his sentenced was changed to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He has been denied parole 12 times.

During his four decades of incarceration, Manson has been anything but a model prisoner. Among other things, Manson has been cited for assault, repeated possession of a weapon, threatening staff and possessing a cellphone, Thornton said this week.
WASHINGTON - Broadcaster and model Leeann Tweeden said Thursday that Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., "forcibly kissed" her and groped her during a USO tour in 2006, saying that "there's nothing funny about sexual assault."

"You knew exactly what you were doing," Tweeden wrote in a blog post for Los Angeles radio station KABC, for whom she works as a morning news anchor. "You forcibly kissed me without my consent, grabbed my breasts while I was sleeping and had someone take a photo of you doing it, knowing I would see it later, and be ashamed."

The allegations came two days after a stunning hearing where lawmakers acknowledged sexual harassment is a pervasive problem on Capitol Hill.

Model Leeann Tweeden in 2012

In her blog post, Tweeden recalled that Franken "had written some skits for the show and brought props and costumes to go along with them. Like many USO shows before and since, the skits were full of sexual innuendo geared toward a young, male audience."

Franken, she said, "had written a moment when his character comes at me for a 'kiss'. I suspected what he was after, but I figured I could turn my head at the last minute, or put my hand over his mouth, to get more laughs from the crowd."

But on the day of the show, she wrote, "Franken and I were alone backstage going over our lines one last time. He said to me, "We need to rehearse the kiss." I laughed and ignored him. Then he said it again. I said something like, 'Relax Al, this isn't SNL. . .we don't need to rehearse the kiss.'

"He continued to insist, and I was beginning to get uncomfortable.

"He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said 'OK' so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.

"I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn't be so nice about it the next time.

"I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth.

"I felt disgusted and violated."

In a statement, Franken said: "I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann.

"As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Tweeden's blog post included an image of Franken looking into a camera, his hands either over or on Tweeden's chest as she slept.

"The tour wrapped and on Christmas Eve we began the 36-hour trip home to L.A.," she wrote. "After two weeks of grueling travel and performing I was exhausted. When our C-17 cargo plane took off from Afghanistan I immediately fell asleep, even though I was still wearing my flak vest and Kevlar helmet."

Upon returning to the United States, Tweeden said, she was "looking through the CD of photos we were given by the photographer" when she came across the image. It was not immediately clear who took the photo.

Franken, an Air America radio host at the time of the alleged incident, was elected to the Senate two years later, in 2008.

Leaders of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Franken's home state colleague, also didn't immediately respond to inquiries. She is co-sponsor of a bill unanimously approved by the Senate last week that will mandate sexual harassment training for all senators and their staffs.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced that the House will adopt a policy change to make anti-harassment training mandatory for all members and staff.

That announcement followed a congressional hearing during which members publicly came to terms with sexual harassment as a pervasive problem on Capitol Hill.

Female lawmakers aired tantalizing details, albeit without naming names, of unwanted sexual comments and advances taking place in their midst.

"This is about a member, who is here [in Congress] now. I don't know who it is, but somebody who I trust told me this situation," Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-Va., said at the hearing Tuesday.

Harassers have propositioned themselves to staff members by asking: "Are you going to be a good girl?" Some have exposed their genitals to victims. Others have grabbed victims by their private parts on the House floor, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said.

"In fact, there are two members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, right now, who serve, who have not been subject to review but have engaged in sexual harassment," said Speier, who has been pushing for years to make anti-harassment training a requirement.

In a Facebook post last month, as sexual assault accusations began to mount against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, Franken applauded the bravery of the women who shared their stories.

"It takes a lot of courage to come forward, and we owe them our thanks," he wrote.

"And as we hear more and more about Mr. Weinstein, it's important to remember that while his behavior was appalling, it's far too common."

(c) 2017, The Washington Post * J. Freedom Du Lac, Lindsey Bever, Michelle Ye Hee Lee
WILLIAMSPORT - Penn State's decision not to retry a sophomore pre-med student on sexual misconduct charges has made moot his motion to have two university administrators held in civil contempt of court, a judge says.

The student, identified as John Doe, sought the contempt finding after Penn State announced plans to retire him Oct. 27 before a Title IX panel.

U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann on Tuesday denied Doe's motion saying it was moot because the university abandoned its plans to retry him.

Penn State spokesperson Lisa M. Powers would not say why the retrial was canceled, citing the university's practice not to comment on pending litigation.

The university in an October court filing stated it postponed the hearing after Doe submitted a statement saying he opposed the proceeding and would not be attending.

The contempt motion was part of the suit in which Doe charges Penn State with favoring women over men in adjudicating sexual misconduct cases. He also raises due process and breach of contract issues.

The suit follows the June decision by a Title IX panel that Doe violated the Student Code of Conduct by engaging in nonconsensual sex with a coed identified as Jane Roe in her dorm room on Sept. 7, 2016.

He denies the allegations made by Roe, who is in the same seven-year pre-med program that is affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

A preliminary injunction Brann issued Aug. 18 prevented the university from imposing sanctions that included suspension for the current semester and a ban from campus housing and the pre-med program.

Doe filed his contempt motion after receiving a Sept. 25 email from Danny Shaha, interim associate vice president for student affairs, stating the panel's findings and sanctions were vacated and he would be retried.

READ MORE: Penn State accused of favoring women in sexual misconduct investigations

Doe contended that was an effort to circumvent Brann's Aug. 18 order and throw him out of school.

Penn State denied that claiming the new hearing would address due process issues Brann raised in his August opinion.

Doe sought the contempt finding against Karen Feldbaum, associate director of the Office of Student Conduct, and Shaha.

Shaha is not a defendant in the suit, but Doe claims there was legal precedent to hold him in contempt.

Doe, who lives in California, contends Penn State's process in adjudicating him violated his due process rights including his ability to confront his accuser.

Penn State's adjudication procedure in sexual misconduct cases is for an investigator to speak to the parties and prepare a report that is submitted to a Title IX panel.

Besides Feldbaum and the university, other defendants in Doe's suit are Penn State's board of trustees, President Eric J. Barron, Title IX coordinator Paul Apicella and Katharine Matic - the Title IX investigator - in his case.

Brann is scheduled to hear arguments Dec. 8 on their motion to have the suit dismissed.
WILLIAMSPORT - A high-speed pursuit with gunfire exchanged along the way sounds like something out of the movies.

But what happened the night of Nov. 7 between Williamsport and Jersey Shore was reality.

Search warrant affidavits made public Wednesday provide more details of what occurred after a man was fatally shot during a home invasion in Williamsport.

The documents reveal the two intruders were sent by another person and at least one of the suspects was dealing heroin and marijuana.

State and Williamsport police continue to remain silent on their investigations into the home invasion at the 2200 block of West Third Street and what followed that left two men dead and an officer wounded.

But, details are surfacing through search warrant affidavits. Based on their content, this is what happened beginning about 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Two African-American males wearing dark clothing and gloves forced their way into the residence, fatally shot Shawn Graham, 33, duct-taped him and a female, stole several hundred dollars and fled.

The suspect who has not been apprehended told the victims "PJ has sent us."

That individual fled on foot but the other suspect, identified as Paul R. Heath, 27, of Philadelphia, drove off in a car rented in that city to his mother.

Williamsport Patrolman Nicholas Carrita stopped the car about 10 blocks away but was shot in the arm by Heath. AN IPhone and seven spent shell casings were found in the area.

Heath then led other officers at high speeds to Jersey Shore and back to a Sheetz along Route 220 in the Linden area.

He twice shot at police during the pursuit, with officers returning fire.

READ MORE: Philadelphia man found lying along road died from multiple gunshot wounds: coroner

The second exchange occurred just before Heath pulled into the parking lot of a Sheetz near Linden where he got out and shot himself in the head with one of the two pistols he had in his possession.

An autopsy showed Heath suffered only the self-inflicted wound, Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said.

A cell phone found in the car Heath was driving contained numerous calls related to drug transactions one as recently as the day before the home invasion, state police said.

Text messages asked the phone owner for heroin and marijuana at an agreed-to price, an affidavit states.

It has been determined that Heath had checked into a South Williamsport motel at 4 p.m. on Nov. 7, another man was with him and he paid for the room with $100 in cash, an affidavit states.

The suspect being sought, described as 5-5 and 120 pounds, took an iPhone from the Third Street home that was found later along with a pair of blue latex gloves, the document states.

Anyone with information about him is asked to call state police at Montoursville at 570-368-5700.
Over the victim's protests, a state appeals court has ruled that an insurance company doesn't have to cover a high school band director who molested one of his students.

The Superior Court decision means Matthew Stevens is without insurance coverage as he faces a federal civil lawsuit by the girl who accused him of sexually abusing her at the end of her senior year.

Stevens, former band director for Lakeland Junior-Senior High School, was sentenced to 6 to 23 months in Lackawanna County prison in 2014 after pleading guilty to a corruption of minors charge.

In her separate federal lawsuit, the victim claims she was 17 when Stevens molested her repeatedly during the second half of the 2011-12 school year. The abuse occurred two to three times a week and sometimes happened during school hours, she contends. She claims she and Stevens engaged in sex acts in the drum closet even when other students were in the band room.

Judge Carl A. Solano found in the state court's opinion that Old Republic Insurance Company has no obligation to cover Stevens under the school district's legal liability policy because Stevens' wrongdoing was intentional.

A clause in the Old Republic policy indisputably states that such intentional misdeeds aren't covered, Solano noted. The victim appealed to the Superior Court after county Senior Judge John L. Braxton reached the same conclusion and freed the insurer from covering Stevens in the federal case.

"Plainly stated," Braxton wrote in his earlier ruling, "Old Republic never agreed to provide insurance coverage to Stevens for the injuries that resulted from the sexual assault of a minor"

Stevens, now 35, did not contest Old Republic's bid to deny him coverage. He must register with state police as a sex offender for 15 years.

The former student also sued the school district, but in September U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner issued a ruling freeing Lakeland and its administrators from the case. Stevens' conduct was "deliberate and reprehensible," Conner found, but "is simply no attributable" to the school district, Conner found.

At the same time, Conner refused a plea by Stevens to release him from being the sole remaining defendant in the former student's suit.
A restaurant worker who was fired over a confrontation with a group protesting a fatal police-involved shooting has won his bid for unemployment compensation.

Anthony Watson is due those benefits because his ex-employer, Philadelphia Fresh Foods LLC, didn't prove he violated its policy against workplace violence, a Commonwealth Court panel ruled this week.

This case involves two extremely different points of view. The only agreement seems to be that the incident that prompted Watson's firing occurred outside his restaurant on Aug. 4, 2016.

A crowd had gathered outside the eatery to protest the fatal shooting of a black woman by police, according to the state court opinion by Senior Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter.

Watson and the restaurant's assistant manager went outside to talk with the protesters, and the assistant manager convinced Watson to go back inside when the situation started "escalating," Leadbetter noted. Watson was fired after one of the protesters sent Philadelphia Fresh Foods a letter complaining about his behavior.

The firm claimed Watson told the protesters, "People like you are the reason your men are killing each other," the state judge noted. Watson denied saying that. He claimed he felt threatened and intimidated by the group.

Philadelphia Fresh Foods appealed to Commonwealth Court after the state Unemployment Compensation Board of Review awarded benefits to Watson. The review board's decision overturned rulings by the Lancaster Unemployment Compensation Service Center and a referee that denied Watson jobless aid.

The company claimed in its appeal to the state court that there was "overwhelming evidence" Watson engaged in a mouth battle with the protesters. Also, Leadbetter noted, the firm insisted Watson "acted contrary to its policy of welcoming any groups organizing in the courtyard near its premises by offering the groups free food samples."

However, in agreeing with the review board's ruling, (Watson) committed willful misconduct," Leadbetter wrote.

The Philadelphia Fresh Foods' claim that Watson violated its policies seemed to be based only on the firm's "preferred version of the facts," she found.
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed as the next U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Freed, of Camp Hill, will serve a four-year term and preside over an area that includes central and northeast Pennsylvania.

In his 12th year as Cumberland County prosecutor, Freed previously served as the county's first assistant district attorney and as a deputy prosecutor in York County. He ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general in 2012.

Big congratulations to @DADaveFreed who was just confirmed by the US Senate to serve as US Attorney in PAs Middle District! I look forward to continuing our important work together.   Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) November 16, 2017

He also served as president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association from 2013-14. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and earned his law degree from Dickinson School of Law.

He was nominated to serve the as a U.S. Attorney by President Trump in September and was supported by Sen. Pat Toomey and Sen. Bob Casey.



"David Freed is a seasoned prosecutor and a dedicated public servant," Toomey said in a press release. "In addition to his extensive legal work in both the private and public sectors, Mr. Freed has an unfailing commitment to the rule of law and is dedicated to ensuring everyone is treated fairly under it. I have no doubt that Mr. Freed will serve the Middle District of Pennsylvania capably and admirably. I thank my Senate colleagues for their support of his nomination."

Said Casey: "Mr. Freed has an extensive background in public service, and I am confident that he will continue to serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania faithfully in his new role as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District."

The Middle District of Pennsylvania covers 33 Pennsylvania counties, all of which are located in central and northeast Pennsylvania. Federal courthouses in the Middle District are located in Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport.
STATE COLLEGE -- State College, home of Penn State University, is something of an oddity: it's a highly developed and densely populated urban core, surrounded by suburban tracts, wrapped in a larger tapestry of rural townships, with their housing development, industrial development, farm field, mountains and deep forests.

And some critics of the way Pennsylvania draws its legislative districts say it's an example of a system that disenfranchises voters by carving up communities to split up voting blocks, favoring one party over another. In doing so, redistricting can fragment communities, lumping voters from one area into a larger geographic region with which they might have little in common.

Allen Street in State College. Following redistricting in 2000, the street was split down the middle by state representative districts. The borough was un-split after the 2010 round of redistricting.

Infamously, before the last round of redistricting in 2010, State College borough itself was split by legislative districts. Allen Street, arguably the downtown's most recognized streetscape -- was split down the middle.

That was rectified during the last reapportionment. State College Borough is now represented by a single district. But the redrawn state house maps added new, and to some observers, strange wrinkles, primarily in the 77th and 81st state house districts.

READ MORE: 'Slay the gerrymander': Is Pa. ready for redistricting reform?

Prior to the new maps, the 77th was a large district which encompassed most of State College and the county's northern and western, largely rural, reaches. The 81st district meanwhile, didn't enter Centre County at all. It primarily covered rural Huntingdon County to the south.

In the 2011 reapportionment, though, a suburban area adjacent to State College was peeled away from 77th District , (represented by Democrat Scott Conklin) and made part of the 81st district, which now stretches from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, through rural Huntingdon County, to the edges of State College.

The district, represented then by Republican Mike Fleck and now by Republican Rich Irvin, now also includes State College suburbs, such as Ferguson Township and Patton townships where much of the State College area's major commercial and residential growth has happened over the past 15 years.

In doing so it, it leaves State College Borough connected to the rest of the 77th district by only a narrow swath of unpopulated game lands.

"To us it makes no sense," said Tor Michaels, longtime chief of staff to 77th District Rep. Conklin. "What does a person in Huntingdon County have in common with someone from Ferguson township?"

In the latest redistricting, the fast-growing suburbs of State College were pulled into the 81st House District (shown in pink), leaving the borough, in the 77th House District (in blue), connected to the rest of that district only by a thin swath consisting mostly of state game lands.

Residents of the rapidly growing State College suburbs -- Ferguson's population increased 34 percent between 2000 and 2010 -- likely have different legislative priorities than, say a rural resident or farm owner in Huntingdon County.

Michaels said he believes the districts were redrawn in part to protect Republican seats. While Conklin's district after the last reapportionment may actually be safer -- his district would have lost Republican voters, while retaining the heavily Democratic State College, Michaels said both he and Conklin would prefer the old district.

"The reality of it all is that swaths of his district which he represented faithfully now have to go to Huntingdon, and that makes no sense to us at all," Michaels said.

The State College School District itself is crossed by four state House districts -- emblematic of some of the problems associated with politically drawn districts, said Amanda Paveglio, the coordinator for the Fair Districts PA Centre County chapter.

"So if the school district is looking to try and get something done, how many people do they need to talk to?" she said. "Or, with the budget impasse, how many legislators do they need to call and beg to pass school funding? It's challenging enough when there's just one legislator representing your school district, but when there's [more], and they're at odds, how does that work?"

Fair Districts PA is lobbying for an amendment to the state Constitution that would allow the redrawing of legislative district to be taken out of the hand of politicians, and turned over to an independent citizens commission.

READ MORE: 'We're a joke': Life in the nation's most gerrymandered district

But county GOP Chairman Steve Miller said he believes the area's representative delegation reflects well on the larger community.

Like State College, Centre County is a crossroads for four state legislative districts, only one of which is self-contained within the county. It is also a crossroads politically -- the county is represented by two Republicans and two Democrats in the state house.

"I mean, it's two and two," Miller said. "I don't think there is a problem with the way the districts are drawn up. ... It's like losing at monopoly and then complaining that you lost because of the way the board is laid out. I think you have to run a race based on how a district looks."

While redistricting is an unabashedly political tool, the change also has something to do with the demographic changes in the region. The State College region is densely populated and growing, the surrounding rural areas less populated and, in some cases, shrinking.

State College is a rapidly growing semi-urban and suburban area surrounded by a still largely rural central Pennsylvania countryside.

Former Centre County Commissioner Jon Eich said those demographic shifts have contributed to the changes in state legislative districts. For example, the state 171st House district used to be in western Pennsylvania, but was moved to Centre County.

As a former county commissioner, Eich said at times having more representatives is better than having fewer. Each is one more voice that can be lobbied for support on community issues.

READ MORE: Why Pennsylvania is home to some of the nation's worst gerrymanders

"I think the worst problems are at the congressional level," he said. "State house district have relatively small populations ... but when they get to the congressional level I think you have a weaker connection when you're in the tail-end of a district."

Eich said he personally would prefer another redistricting method than the one used in Pennsylvania.

"What's the cliche? I'd rather have voters pick their legislators than the legislators pick their voters?," Eich concluded.

Editor's note: This story is part of a collaboration between PennLive and WITF to examine the issue of gerrymandering -- the practice of drawing Congressional and legislative districts to favor one political party -- and how that affects the people who live, work and vote in those districts. WESA, WHYY and WPSU also contributed to the project.
Hummelstown police are investigating a possible case of inappropriate contact between a male teacher and a former female student.

According to investigators, officers were contacted on Wednesday by the Lower Dauphin School District, advising they were looking into the allegations of inappropriate contact.

School officials suspended the male teacher and uncovered information that led them to contact Child Line and the police.

The incident is under investigation.
Update: Ridge remains hospitalized; well wishes pour in

Tom Ridge, the 72-year-old former Pennsylvania governor and U.S. Homeland Security director, is in critical condition after an emergency heart procedure.

Ridge, who served as governor from 1995 to 2001, was at a Republican Governors Association conference in Austin when at about 7 a.m. he asked hotel staff for medical assistance. He was at the conference for Ridge Global, his security and risk management firm.

First responders took him to the trauma center at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, where he had a diagnostic heart procedure.

Ridge has been responsive with his physicians, spokesman Steve Aaron said.

Prior to serving as Pennsylvania governor for six years, Ridge represented Erie for six terms in Congress.

His second term as governor was cut short after terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when President George W. Bush tapped him to be the nation's first homeland security director. Ridge, a Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, held the position until 2005.
A federal judge has given final approval to a $1.6 million settlement of a class-action pay and overtime lawsuit against snack food giant Snyders-Lance Inc.

U.S. Middle District Judge John E. Jones III gave that nod nearly three months after the firm struck a tentative agreement with its route drivers.

Those drivers claimed Snyders-Lance wrongly classified them as independent contractors when under federal law they should have been rated as employees eligible for overtime. That supposed misclassification enabled the company to underpay them, they insisted.

North Carolina-based Snyders-Lance denied any wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement.

In an order issued this week, Jones approved the payment of $870,330 to 210 eligible employees. Another $171,000 is to go to the nine workers who were plaintiffs in the suit. They will receive $19,000 each.

The law firms which represented the workers, Winebrake & Santillo of Dresher and Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter of Knoxville, Tenn., are to receive $525,000 in fees and $33,670 in reimbursements for expenses.

Snyders-Lance is the second big snack food maker to strike a deal in U.S. Middle District Court to end an overtime pay dispute this year.

In September, Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner gave final approval to a $2.5 million settlement between Utz Quality Foods and nearly 1,900 of its route drivers who work in Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina and New Jersey.
Photo by James Robinson

In a special report, PennLive is chronicling the state of the deadly opioid epidemic raging across Pennsylvania by examining the unique circumstances and the differing community responses in six of the states the hardest-hit counties, as identified by 2016 overdose death rates. Today, Cambria County wages a desperate fight for its future amid the ravages of the ongoing epidemic.

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Chapter Four: Firewall for an epidemic

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By John Luciew

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JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  It stands as one of the most horrific deaths associated with the opioid epidemic in all of Pennsylvania.

Five-month-old Summer Chambers spent five agonizing days dying of thirst and starvation as her young parents lay dead of fentanyl overdoses in their home here.

Summers body was found in her bassinet inside the apartments second-floor bedroom. The bodies of her parents were elsewhere in the home, located in the citys Kernville section, an area hard hit by the heroin epidemic.

The little girls parents, Jason E. Chambers, 27, and Chelsea S. Cardaro, 19, died of what officials believe were near-simultaneous fentanyl overdoses at least five days before the grim discovery was made by a family friend.

The couple from New York had no immediate family in the area. Perhaps this is why it took so long for the friend to crawl through an apartment window and find the horrific scene on Dec. 22, 2016.

First responders were broken up by the tragedy that claimed such a vulnerable and innocent victim. It shocked the senses of this struggling steel city, too.

Johnstown had been ravaged by the opioid epidemic, but it had sustained body blows before and made it through. There were the deadly floods, the steel-industry job losses and sky-high unemployment.

Up until now, the resilient residents who toughed it out through it all had managed to hold on to their pride.

But little Summers death just before Christmas marked a new low.

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Summer Chambers died of starvation at five months of age.

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In this story:

The 'Friendly City' suffers an identity crisis

Opioids await at the bottom of Johnstown's long decline

A recovery community divided over methadone treatment

Salvaging a future by preventing addiction in the next generation

The complete Addicted Towns of Pa. series can be found here.

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Haunting questions

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Johnstown Police Capt. Chad Miller was left to wonder just how long starving Summer Chambers was crying and screaming in her bassinet.

Why didnt anyone else hear her? After all, the walls of the three-unit building werent all that thick.

So did no one hear the babys cries? Or did they simply ignore them?

Miller has asked himself these questions repeatedly.

Hes one of the many here still haunted by the thought of the crying, hungry baby girl receiving no answer to her painful pleas, save for the echoes of her own unrequited wails.

In a larger sense, its as if all of Johnstown, long known as The Friendly City, turned a deaf ear to little Summers life-or-death screams.

It was very hard for my detectives, Miller said. They were just distraught. It was terrible. Nobody should have to see that.

The official autopsy report from Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees confirmed the worst about Summers five days of suffering. An entire city felt the shame.

Was this some alien place where people looked the other way? Or was this still Johnstown, a place where salt-of-the-earth people had each others backs?

You have to imagine that baby was screaming, Miller said. Nobody called to check on that baby. People do not want to make that call. They want to stay away from that situation.

Perhaps for the first time, a friendly city didnt seem to know itself.

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Photo by James Robinson

Johnstown Police Capt. Chad Miller.

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'Nobody should have to see that' - Police Capt. Chad Miller

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WATCH: Faces and voices of Cambria County's opioid crisis

Hear first-hand how the ongoing opioid crisis is devastating the western Pennsylvania community of Cambria County and Johnstown in this PennLive video featuring Coroner Jeff Lees:

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Heart-wrenching

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Even Coroner Lees -- all-too familiar with the mounting human toll of the opioid epidemic that claimed 94 lives in 2016 alone -- broke at the sight of the starved infant in her bassinet, the bodies of her addicted parents already in decomposition elsewhere in the apartment.

If that isn't heart-wrenching, I don't know what is, Lees said, the deep lines in his face testament to the crisis cost.

That was a horrible, heart-wrenching case, he added. One of the most difficult in my career. I hope I never see that again.

But this community under siege cant just hope.

If this struggling area is to have a future, it begins with saving the next generation.

And it must start now.

Johnstown and the wider Cambria County community simply cant afford any more Summers lost.

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'We are, unfortunately, a depressed area' - Coroner Jeff Lees

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Proud past

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The river valley city of Johnstown has been blessed by two things: Steel mills fired by the abundant coal seams surrounding it, and the tough-as-nails immigrants who flocked here from half a world away to work them.

When the many mills here were running hot, the soot and smoke spewing into gray skies above Johnstown were a welcome sign of prosperity.

This city, like its people, was full of grit.

Three deadly, devastating floods roared down mountains into Johnstown, which sits like a drain at the very bottom. Whole neighborhoods were washed away. Many lives were lost.

Yet all that water did nothing to dampen the spirit of its people.

Truth is, no one here expects things to go right all the time. People here have grown accustomed to setbacks  everything from layoffs to brutal accidents in the mines or mills that kill and maim.

The citys response to tragedy was always to get up and do it all over again the very next work day.

Then the work and most of the mills went away. So did opulent downtown department stores, along with many other businesses.

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Photo by James Robinson

Remnants of Johnstowns once-dominant steel industry.

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Turned to rust

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Its a sign of the times that Cambria Countys drug and alcohol offices occupy a floor in the once-bustling Glosser Brothers department store downtown. The coroner has an office on another floor in the same re-purposed building.

Now they are busy ones, going as fast as they can to keep up with the out-of-control opioid epidemic.

We are, unfortunately, a depressed area, Lees said. I believe that absolutely plays a role.

Even in the glory days, substance abuse was an issue here.

Back then, the substance of choice was alcohol, according to James Bracken, administrator of Cambria Countys drug and alcohol program.

People here worked hard and played even harder. It was a proud rite of passage for fathers to take their sons to a favorite bar for their first drink -- their first legal one, anyway.

Often the son would work in the same mill or for the same company as their father. After work, theyd drink together in the same bar.

It went on like this for generations. Until the work, the mills and even many of those beloved corner bars went away.

Then somewhere along the line, the shots and the beers became opioid pills and injections of heroin and fentanyl.

After decades of decline, a once-proud community has been pushed to the brink by the opioid epidemic.

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Photo by James Robinson

A deserted happy hour inside one of Johnstowns remaining corner bars.

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Perfect storm

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How big is the opioid addiction problem in Cambria County?

Its actually difficult to quantify.

Only about 560 people are being treated through the county drug program. Many more with private insurance or state or federal aid dont go through the county system. Theres also a significant portion of people who pay cash for their addiction treatment so theres no record, Bracken said.

His best estimate is the actual number of people in treatment across the county numbers in the thousands. The total amount being spent is at least $6 million a year, just in Cambria County, with a population of 130,000.

Rehab beds and treatment slots are often scarce, causing wait times that allow addicts seeking treatment to reconsider.

If all the opioid addicts in Pennsylvania wanted treatment tomorrow, the statewide treatment system, which is patched together more than it is coordinated and planned, would be absolutely crushed, Bracken said.

Another big problem is paying for all of the treatment steps  everything from detox and rehab to stays in halfway houses and sober living.

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WATCH: Faces and voices of Cambria County's opioid crisis

Hear first-hand how the ongoing opioid crisis is devastating the western Pennsylvania community of Cambria County and Johnstown in this PennLive video featuring county drug and alcohol program director James Bracken:

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Going broke

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Experts insist a so-called continuum of care for opioid addiction is often necessary to avoid all-too-common relapses. Funding all that recovery support is another matter.

Private insurance is actually the worst payer in many cases, Bracken said. Many times, these plans are authorizing in-patient rehab stays of just seven days.

By contrast, many treatment models call for 28 days of detox and rehab, followed by halfway house stays or out-patient treatment and recovery support that can include residential sober living accommodations.

Experts believe -- and the data show  that the more treatment and services a recovering addict receives, the better his or her odds of success. In short, many private insurance plans could be setting up their customers for failure.

Medicaid, which expanded in Pennsylvania under Obamacare, provides the best funding for prolonged and progressive treatments for opioid addiction, Bracken pointed out.

Before Medicaid was expanded, the county picked up the tab for treating those on limited incomes. Only, there was nowhere near enough money.

We would have to tell an addict who wanted treatment that we could only pay for about three days of in-patient rehab, Bracken recalled. We ran out of money. We were almost broke.

Quite simply, the system here has been overwhelmed by the opioid epidemic.

We were in the perfect storm here, Bracken said, noting Cambria County leads in terms of opioid prescriptions per capita, having had four of the states top 21 doctors for writing opioid prescriptions.

Since then, many addicts here have switched from higher-cost, harder-to-get pills, to cheaper, abundant heroin and, more recently, deadly synthetic fentanyl, sourced from China.

In five years, the drug problem has flipped, Bracken said. The treatment task ahead is nothing short of monumental.

Worse still, there remains a huge rift and an ongoing debate over treatment models, themselves.

The biggest lightning rod is methadone, a synthetic opioid maintenance drug that gained prominence in the 1960s and 70s as a successful answer to heroin addiction.

Others in the recovery community see it as trading one drug dependency for another.

Just dont tell this to former hard-core heroin addict and opioid abuser, Amber Hatfield.

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Photo by James Robinson

A weeks supply of the controversial opioid-addiction cure, methadone.

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Curing a controversy

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Amber Hatfield, 46, has been clean for 15 years now. She has returned from hopeless opioid addiction and is now helping other addicts new to treatment as a certified recovery specialist.

Yet there are many in the recovery community who do not consider Amber substance-free at all. Therefore, she cannot be considered in recovery, at least so far as this group of experts defines it.

All because Amber is a long-term patient at a methadone clinic in Richland Township, just outside Johnstown.

All Amber knows is that her daily dose of the synthetic opioid is the only thing that controls her otherwise constant cravings for heroin.

Methadone has given Amber her life back. And shes convinced shed be dead without it.

There are hundreds of others like Amber who flock to this suburban clinic early every morning for their daily dose of what looks like cherry cough syrup.

For them, theres no more effective ammunition against heroin addiction.

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The window where clients on methadone receive their secure, carefully measured dose each morning.

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Feeling normal

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The methadone clinic, operated by Alliance Medical Services, is located in a large suburban shopping center. It co-exists among a Giant Eagle supermarket and a Quaker Steak & Lube restaurant, among other bustling businesses.

This is testament to how commonplace opioid addiction has become here. Its also a measure of methadones acceptance as a viable treatment option.

No one, it seems, gives the clinics presence a second thought.

The red liquid is measured out in a plastic cup. Its carefully dispensed through an automated system that is totally secure, befitting the opioid methadone is.

Patients must check in, show ID and confirm their treatment plan and dosage amount. Then, they must drink the methadone while standing at the dispensing window in full view of a clinic staffer.

This is so patients cannot accumulate multiple methadone doses that could be used to get high, instead of simply providing maintenance. There remains a black market for methadone, as there is for virtually any narcotic these days.

In Ambers case, she was abusing opioids for so long and to such an extent that her brain chemistry has been irredeemably altered.

As Alliance Executive Director Pamela W. Gehlmann explained it, Ambers opioid-addled brain no longer manufactures nearly enough dopamine  the bodys natural feel-good substance.

This is why Amber requires a small, daily doses of methadone. It keeps her brain chemically balanced and calms her opioid cravings. Amber will need it for the rest of her life, unlike most other medically assisted addicts who eventually ween off.

For her part, Amber simply says the methadone helps her feel normal.

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Redefining success

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In addition to methadone, recovering opioid addicts are being successfully treated with Suboxone, which contains a morphine-like synthetic as well as the opioid-blocker naloxone, the same drug found in Narcan. Finally, there is Vivitrol, a monthly injection that is an opioid-blocker and can help prevent a patient from getting high and overdosing.

Unfortunately, some in the recovery community view all those on medically-assisted treatment as not recovered at all.

That this stigma exists at the height of the opioid epidemic, when any approach that successfully rescues people lost to addiction should be welcomed, is surprising. But Amber has faced it for 15 years. No wonder she declined to be photographed for this article.

After I disclose that to someone, their whole face and demeanor changes, said Amber, who's been fired or turned down for work providing peer-to-peer addiction support over her ongoing methadone treatment.

My credibility, it changes, she said. Ive been turned away.

But if opioid addiction is a disease, why is medical treatment looked down upon?

In my perspective, I am substance-free, Amber insisted. If I were a diabetic would you consider insulin a substance?

The biggest test of methadone is it works.

Life was normal again, Amber said. I was normal. I could worry about fixing me.

Added Gehlmann: To say we cant count her as a success would be unfair.

In fact, medically-assisted treatment is registering some of the highest success rates in fighting opioid addiction.

Up to 93 percent of the clinics patients on methadone or other medicine-assisted treatments test negative for opioids in random checks, which are conducted monthly but often far more frequently.

In the desperate battle against addiction, success takes many forms.

Yet treatment alone isnt enough.

Cambria County is increasingly worried that the epidemic has reached such a critical mass, the community cannot treat its way out of the crisis.

Instead, they must stop others -- young people, especially -- from falling prey to opioids in the first place.

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The clinics secure and automated methadone dispensing system.

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Firewall for the opioid epidemic

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If treating opioid addiction here is seen as applying a Band-Aid on an arterial hemorrhage, then preventing addiction in the first place is the only other option to stop the bleeding.

This is where Cambria County is putting its most intense efforts -- along with the lions share of new funding.

The idea is to create a firewall around the opioid epidemic so it doesnt spread to the next generation. Leaders here believe their communitys very future depends on it.

We're investing in stopping it from happening in the first place, said Bill McKinney, director of the United Way of the Laurel Highlands, which covers Cambria and Somerset counties.

We are trying to get at the root causes of the problem, he said.

Those roots, as determined by a community-wide survey in early 2016, involve intervening in the lives of children in poverty before they are even born.

Theres also a major emphasis on rolling out comprehensive, evidence-based anti-addiction curriculum in all its schools beginning as early as the third grade.

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'The concept is to change attitudes of risky behavior around alcohol, tobacco and drugs' - Gerald L. Zahorchak, former Pa. Secretary of Education

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Sixth-grader Brady Brewer in a class designed to prevent opioid addiction among young people.

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Lives in the balance

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The regions intensive, two-pronged prevention effort is being backed by a broad-based community-wide coalition formed in response to the opioid crisis here.

In the age of lethal fentanyl and much earlier experimentation and progression to harder drugs, young lives hang in the balance.

In the past, death from addiction seemed to wait at the end of a long road, reserved only for hard-core addicts, said Bracken, Cambria Countys drug and alcohol director. The downward spiral could take years, even decades.

Now death is ever-present. It can come on the first high, the fifth or the fiftieth, he said.

We're in a different time as far as substance-abuse goes, Bracken added. There is no longer that progression.

All this makes prevention all the more imperative.

But not easy.

It's going to be hard to stop, Bracken said, referring to all those already hooked and the many more who could become ensnared.

This time around, it's everybody, he said. Everyone's eyes are now wide open. When the people started dying, that changed everything.

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Photo by James Robinson

Sara Boden in a Botvin LifeSkills class at Somerset Junior High School.

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Stunning contrast

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In the sixth-grade classroom, the new anti-addiction curriculum mentions nothing about opioids or heroin.

Health teacher Ashley Oglevees students are studying advertising, instead.

They spend the class period analyzing all the subtle messages ads contain, breaking down all the many ways people can be manipulated by them.

Along the way, students learn to see through what somebody may want you to do and why. That somebody could be a company advertising a product. Or it could be a friend offering an opioid pill from a grandmothers medicine cabinet.

The goal of the Botvin LifeSkills Training curriculum is nothing short of arming young people with tools, training and insight to diagnose, analyze and neutralize everything coming at them in todays high-speed, social media society.

Its all about building up resiliency to the messages, influences and uncontrolled impulses that can do young people so much harm.

No, Mr. Oglevees students will never see a TV ad for heroin. But make no mistake, the drug does have its own advertising. Some of the most powerful around, in fact.

Its called word-of-mouth.

The influencer is far better than any TV pitchman, too. Often its a trusted friend. The implied benefit is almost impossible to resist  take this and youll be in with us.

Resisting these pressures and much more is the core of the new curriculum being rolled out across Cambria and Somerset counties.

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Health teacher Ashley Oglevee.

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Painstaking prevention

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In all, the new curriculum aims to build coping and other life skills, increase socialization and empower kids to better deal with stress, peer pressure, anxiety and impulsiveness.

We are moving from middle school training, and now we are going to the elementary school, said Gerald L. Zahorchak, a former Secretary of Education for Pennsylvania who recently retired as superintendent of the Greater Johnstown School District.

The concept is to change attitudes of risky behavior around alcohol, tobacco and drugs, he added of the Botvin curriculum roll-out, which is at various stages across the two counties. Its research-based, and we are getting very positive results of several years of this.

Results are being tracked through the Pennsylvania Youth Survey, which is given anonymously across the state in selected grades to measure students substance use, attitudes and behaviors.

This years survey of Cambria County eighth-graders showed measurable declines in the rates of students who reported experimenting with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, compared to the survey of county eighth-graders three years before.

In every case, there was a significant decrease in every category, the United Ways McKinney noted.

The old way was, let's call someone to give a 40-minute speech to our kids, he added, brushing his hands together as if having finished a task.

OK, we've got heroin taken care of, McKinney mocked. No!

Rather, prevention requires painstaking work of developing kids on social and emotional levels. If done right, the resiliency kids become armed with can help protect them for a lifetime, McKinney said.

The Botvin curriculum now has 65 percent penetration across all schools in Somerset and Cambria counties in third through eighth grades. As its expanded across all schools, officials here hope to see even bigger declines in students substance experimentation, as tracked by statewide surveys.

Human development should be 60 percent of what we do as educators, insisted Zahorchak, now interim chair of the education division at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

The alternative is the somber social media posts Zahorchak encounters while following his Johnstown High graduates on Facebook and Twitter.

Something of a social media savant, Zahorchak delights in keeping up with the many accomplishments of his former stand-out athletes and scholars, now at top-tier colleges and beyond.

Unfortunately, there are far too many tragic notes in these students social media timelines, all marked with the hashtag, RIP, or Rest in Peace.

Almost without fail, these despairing dispatches originate from Johnstown, where word has come that another classmate has died. Many of the tragedies are tied to the opioid epidemic.

Every RIP is another young person lost way too soon back in their hellish hometown.

When I returned, Johnstown was almost unrecognizable in so many points, Zahorchak said of the startling juxtaposition after his ten years away.

I remember walking up Main Street and seeing and feeling a difference, he said. The change in the community over almost a decade -- that contrast was stunning.

His only hope is that its not too late to turn the tide.

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Unmarked graves from Johnstowns 1889 flood. Now, another crisis is claiming lives.

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'We're going to have healthy young families and healthier children' - Bill McKinney, United Way director

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Ta-Niyia Johnson, 22, and her 2 -week-old daughter, Carter Wilson.

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Tummy time

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Perhaps the best way to protect the future is to begin with the future itself.

Cambria County is doing this with its Nurse-Family Partnership program.

Any expectant mother living in poverty is eligible for regular home visits from a registered nurse, both before and long after giving birth.

This protects babies in so many ways. The mothers prenatal needs are met. And from the moment of birth, the baby receives all the proper physical, social and emotional interactions so crucial to their development. These are the seemingly simple yet important techniques and practices many young mothers of little means might not even know about.

For example, 2 -week-old Carter Wilson is getting her Tummy Time.

Visiting RN Lisa Miller instructs new mom Ta-Niyia Johnson, 22, on the importance of placing Carter on her stomach so she can develop all the muscles required to arch her back and lift up her head.

Carter, no slouch, hefts up her head on the very first try.

Theres applause and smiles all around.

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Good start

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Now its time for Carter to undress and get weighed and measured.

The baby cries at first, but there's nothing sad to report. Shes gaining and growing right on schedule.

Mom adds that breast-feeding has been going well, too. But if it werent, the nurse is more than happy to provide pointers.

The hour-long visit goes on like this. Nurse Miller reminds Johnson about an upcoming doctors visit, listing out a few questions she should ask.

Mom appreciates the extra support.

I do have depression and anxiety, Johnson confided. I get panicky. She (Nurse Miller) calms me down. She tells me if I am doing something right or doing something wrong. I had a lot going on.

Indeed, when Johnson became pregnant, she was studying to be a teacher at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Now, shes delaying her semester of student teaching in order to be home with Carter, making sure her daughter is off to a good start.

Both Johnson and her boyfriend are from Philadelphia. They are part of the influx that is remaking this town, a place they plan to make their home.

I hated Philadelphia, she said. This is more quiet and peaceful.

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Visiting RN Lisa Miller, left, helps measure 2 -week-old Carter.

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Johnstown's next generation

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Just before Carter was born, Johnson and her boyfriend, who works construction, moved from a dicey neighborhood in Moxam to a spacious apartment in Westmont, long a premier address in the region.

The difference is night and day.

There are areas that are really bad here, Johnson said of Johnstown's opioid-afflicted neighborhoods. But her mom and some siblings also have relocated here, looking for a better life and a brighter future in the Friendly City.

The nurse visits will continue weekly for at least Carters first year, then move to a monthly schedule. All the while, Nurse Miller will provide pointers, bring along books for Johnson to read to Carter and chart the little girls physical and emotional development  all the while looking for any delays in things like socialization or speech.

Nurse Miller also keeps a constant eye out for anything in the home that could threaten Carter. This includes any kind of illegal drugs, right down to pot.

Miller is a mandatory reporter when it comes to any sign of child endangerment, abuse or neglect. She is one of the few such people who will have regular insight into Carters well-being at home until the little girl begins preschool.

The largely private time between birth and preschool is when children are most vulnerable to all types of abuse. These major threats to the youngest children can go undetected because theres so little interaction with mandatory reporters.

The Nurse-Family Partnership helps fill this void.

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The young family has a new and perhaps permanent home, intertwining their future with that of Johnstowns.

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Unfortunately, even the most innovative of programs can't protect everyone.

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Prayer for a city

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A visiting nurse provides an added layer of protection and an extra set of eyes, all to watch over the innocents at risk as the opioid epidemic continues to rage here.

Innocents like Summer Chambers.

But there are limitations.

The program is voluntary. The nurse must be invited into the home.

Some young mothers turn down this free offer of expert help. Often, its the husbands or boyfriends who dont want this intrusion, Miller pointed out. Especially if illegal substances are in the home.

Sometimes we dont get everyone we want, Miller said of program enrollees. Some people dont want us coming into their home. Boyfriends dont want someone coming into their house and snooping around.

Even the most innovative of programs cant protect everyone.

But Cambria County isnt giving up.

We're going to have healthy young families and healthier children, the United Ways McKinney said. That's our focus. That's how we're really going to change the community. And the payoff could be huge.

Indeed, the return on this investment is nothing short of lives saved, children spared from addiction and a communitys future restored.

Thats the plan, the hope, the prayer  in Johnstown.

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United Way director Bill McKinney is optimistic for his hard-hit regions future.

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The six-part series, Addicted Towns of Pa., continues here

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CHAPTER FIVE: The opioid epidemic extends to the rural reaches of Pennsylvania farm country, where everyone knows everyone else and proud families try to keep addiction a secret  with deadly results.

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Previously in the Addicted Towns of Pa. series:

Chapter One: The opioid epidemic intensifies as deadly China-made synthetic fentanyl begins claiming lives in shocking numbers, causing this once-proud coal region to sink to a new low.

Chapter Two: A community outraged by a four-year-old's horrific opioid-related death launches an all-out effort to protect innocents from the secondary dangers of the epidemic.

Chapter Three: Seduced by opioids and an older boyfriend, one young woman travels a hard 10-year road to that finally leads her to "Recovery Town."

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Mapping Pennsylvania's Addicted Towns

Explore the interactive map showing the six Pennsylvania counties PennLive visited in its Addicted Towns of Pa. series:

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About this series:

In a special report, PennLive is chronicling the state of the deadly opioid epidemic raging across Pennsylvania by examining the unique circumstances and the differing community responses in six of the states the hardest-hit counties.

The six-part series continues all this week on PennLive.

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About the author:

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John Luciew has been a journalist for nearly 30 years, including nearly 25 years at The Patriot-News and PennLive.com. He's also the author of more than 10 mystery-thriller novels, including Fatal Dead Lines, published by Simon & Schuster.

He's a two-time recipient of Pennsylvania NewsMedia Associations Distinguished Writer award.

His three-part chronicle of a combat-wounded double amputees four-year battle to walk again was a finalist for the Scripps Howard Ernie Pyle Award and won a Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi Award and a Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors Award for enterprise reporting.

He graduated from Penn State University in 1989.

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The quartet is set.

Pennsylvania's Speaker of the House Mike Turzai became the latest, and quite likely the last, candidate to announce for the 2018 Republican governor's primary Tuesday.

With his announcement in the books, Turzai joins a Republican field already occupied by state Sen. Scott Wagner, R-York County, Pittsburgh-based business consultant and retired Army officer Paul Mango, and Pittsburgh attorney Laura Ellsworth.

He also will try to buck political tradition that says Pennsylvania's top legislative leaders don't translate well into statewide candidates, probably because in their legislative jobs they have too much ownership for everything that voters are mad about.

Turzai, of course, believes he has an antidote to that in his staunch resistance to tax increases of any type - including the politically easy tax on natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale - during the first three years of Gov. Tom Wolf's administration.

As much as anyone in state government, he can also take credit for a key cultural change: the ability for Pennsylvanians to be able to buy wine and beer at their favorite grocery store.

Pennsylvania's going to get to know Turzai and all of the other GOP candidates on a deeper level over the next six months, as they campaign to keep Wolf, a Democrat, from winning a second term.

The speaker started that process with a series of press interviews Wednesday in Harrisburg.

Here's some of the conversation starters that PennLive's Wallace McKelvey, John Micek and Charlie Thompson were able get into at Harrisburg's American Dream Diner.

1. However confident he may be, Turzai is hedging his bets.

The speaker confirmed Wednesday that, aside from the governor's race, he also intends to file paperwork this winter that would get him on the ballot for another term in the state House.

"I think I have a good opportunity to win and be the nominee... but I just want the opportunity to be able to have the House seat filed in case I don't get the Republican nomination."

In other words, Turzai seems to want to be on the Harrisburg scene after 2018, one way or another. Hopefully as governor; but if that doesn't work out, he's not walking away from the House, where he's represented suburban Pittsburgh since 2001.

2. What's his top motivation for running?

Turzai says while he's pleased with the results he's achieved as leader of the House Republican caucus, he knows they are largely a function of reacting or playing defense to an agenda set by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

Now, he's ready to start playing offense.

"If you really want to change Pennsylvania - to fully reform it - you need a strong governor. You need a real leader in the governor's office," Turzai said.

And Turzai's playbook is heavy on demanding more accountability for government spending, more alternatives for families whose children are "trapped" in under-performing schools, and a staunch opposition to new taxes, even if it means status quo programs have to be cut.

If you accomplish the first, whether its tying new school funding to higher graduation rates, or placing work / work search requirements on medical assistance benefits, you ought to be able to able the latter.

"You look at the tax revenues that are coming in, and then you prioritize the spending.... It's not like its chump change here. It's $32 billion dollars on an annual basis that we're spending."

3. Why does he believe Wolf needs to be relieved as governor?

Turzai's main line of attack Wednesday boiled down to a perceived lack of leadership, which may also have something to do with the realities of the two mens' drastically different priorities on many issues.

A preview of coming attractions:

"Tom Corbett was a passive governor," Turzai said, "but this guy's taken it to a new level...

"He's completely disengaged. He never meets with anybody. He sends staff to go meet with people and then he doesn't stick to the word of his staff," Turzai complained.

Major legislative achievements of Wolf's term - as Turzai sees it - are the compromises on liberalization of alcohol sales laws and public employee pension reform.

But both only came about, he asserted, because of the grinding insistence of the Republican-led legislature.

"What's Tom Wolf for? Tom Wolf is for the status quo in Harrisburg. Let's be honest... He's been in the way of reform in Pennsylvania. He's tied to the public sector union leadership at the hip."

4. Why did it take so long to enter the race?

Turzai said his entry to the primary field, though fourth out of four in the GOP race, is right on time.

It just looks late, he said, because some of his rivals jumped in early.

"I think the other folks felt like they could just crowd out the field and take it over. And here's the interesting thing. I don't think anybody's caught fire. I don't there's any sense that any of the other candidates have anything sewed up."

Turzai also said he is just as confident in his ability to raise funds that can put him on a level playing field with his partially self-funding rivals, state Sen. Scott Wagner of York County and Pittsburgh business consultant Paul Mango.

5. A proxy shale tax referendum?

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but it would be interesting to see to what degree a Turzai v. Wolf general election campaign would become a referendum on a severance tax on natural gas pulled from the Marcellus Shale.

Wolf, as you know, made a shale tax a centerpiece of his 2014 campaign, and he didn't get it yet. Turzai, probably as much as anyone in the legislature, is responsible for that.

He's not changing his stripes now, even though the impact-fee policy in Pennsylvania has failed to sever the shale economy here from the general boom-and-bust cycle of the energy industry.

Turzai, when asked about job losses in the industry from 2014 through 2016, blamed Wolf's "penal approach to the development of natural gas," red tape in permitting and the governor's "obsession" with a severance tax.

"It is an ideological decision and it's losing jobs. It's why there's been a depression in jobs." Turzai said of Wolf's policies. In a Turzai Administration, he said, he not only would not be proposing a tax as governor, but he would be looking for more "employer-friendly" regulations for the industry.

As for the early state of the GOP race right now...

Turzai, some observers believe, may immediately find himself a little bit behind Wagner in terms of building connections with grassroots activists who hold many of the state party committee seats - especially those for whom Donald Trump was a first choice in the crowded GOP presidential nomination last year.

Wagner, the owner of a large waste-processing firm in York County, can also self-fund his candidacy to a large degree.

But the question for the feisty senator from York County going forward will be, can he grow his base beyond those who are naturally drawn to him?

Turzai, meanwhile, is a known entity to the party's establishment, and should have access to plenty of money through his current role and years of raising funds for the House Republican Campaign Committee.

In his campaign pre-season, the 58-year-old attorney has tried out themes like "a reformer with results" as a potential counter-punch at disrupter Wagner.

The question for Turzai will be, can he win over the hearts and minds of the average voter who doesn't live-or-die with the work of the state legislature?

Mango and Ellsworth, meanwhile, are trying to break through as fresh faces who can bring a fresh start to Pennsylvania politics, and a competent managerial style to state government.

Mango, like Wagner, is believed to be able to significantly self-fund his campaign. Ellsworth, meanwhile, will be the only woman in the race.
State flower? Mountain laurel. State animal? White-tailed deer. State bird? Ruffed grouse. State dog? Great Dane.

But we don't have a state amphibian. That could change.

The state Senate is advancing legislation to make the Eastern hellbender the official amphibian of Pennsylvania, as researchers say its population is shrinking because of pollution, The Associated Press reported. The bill passed, 47-2, and heads to the House.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the hellbender is an aquatic salamander that can grow up to two feet long, making them the largest North American amphibian. They are nocturnal and prefer shallow, clear and fast streams with rocks to live under.

The eastern hellbender is one of the largest living amphibians in the world. A large adult can exceed 2 feet and weigh more than 2 pounds, according to the PennLive/The Patriot-News archives. Hellbenders are completely aquatic and spend their lives under large rocks in clean streams where they feed on crawfish and other aquatic organisms. A hellbender's wrinkled skin is specially adapted to absorb oxygen through the water, while their flattened body allows them to squeeze into tight spots under rocks.

Researchers across the hellbender's range, which extends from New York and Pennsylvania to Georgia and Missouri, have noted drastic declines in populations. In Ohio, surveys of hellbender populations have found an 82 percent decline in relative abundance compared to previous surveys conducted in the mid-1980s.

Hellbenders don't have federal protected status, although some states give them protected status, The Associated Press reported. Pennsylvania does not.

For more on Pennsylvania outdoors:
Laura Miller, right, arrives at a Toronto court on Friday, October 27, 2017. Two former senior political aides charged with illegally destroying documents related to the Ontario government's decision to cancel two gas plants will call no witnesses in their defence, their lawyers said Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Stephen Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada holds a news conference concerning the rise of the bank's interest rates, in Ottawa, Tuesday July 12, 2017. Of all the nightmare scenarios that run through Poloz's head, the threat of a cyberattack is more "more worrisome than all the other stuff," he told the Canadian Press in an October interview.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
FILE - This 1946 file photo shows mystery novelist and screenwriter Raymond Chandler. Advice to a Secretary, a rarely seen sketch published this week in the spring issue of the literary quarterly The Strand, is a wry set of instructions for his assistant in the 1950s, Juanita Messick. (AP Photo, File)
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Tourism leaders in Alaska are asking Congress to increase U.S. Forest Service recreation funding.

Tourism leaders representing 49 businesses in Southeast Alaska wrote in an open letter last week that the U.S. Forest Services budget has shrunk by nearly half in a little more than a decade, hampering growth in southeast Alaskas visitor industry.

The U.S. Forest Services funding for recreation on the Tongass and Chugach national forests declined 46 percent from 2004-2014, the businesses said. Thats hurting businesses that depend on U.S. Forest Service staff t...
The Alaska National Guard will host a town hall meeting this Thursday in Juneau to provide an update on the Alaska National Guard in Southeast Alaska, present some of the challenges facing the Guard, and hear concerns from citizens in the community.

Maj. Gen. Laurie Hummel, adjutant general for the Alaska National Guard, will host the meeting and will be accompanied by several Army Guard and Air Guard senior leaders, a chaplain, a recruiter and a representative from the states Office of Veterans Affairs.

The focus of the town hall will be about how to enhance Guard presence in the ar...
The clock is ticking for Petrobras "Pedro Parente". Looks to sign $21 billion in asset sales through June 2018. Revision of offshore contract could deliver up to $30 billion

The clock is ticking for Petrobras "Pedro Parente".

Chief executive officer since May 2016, Parente has set an aggressive agenda to solidify the state-controlled company's finances after the twin challenges of the oil rout and a corruption scandal dealt it a near-death experience. Now, he's rushing to finish his work before an unpredictable presidential campaign makes it harder to sell assets and complete a key compensation deal with Brazil's government.

Parente foresees signing $21 billion in asset sales in the next eight months before domestic politics become a distraction ahead of the election next October. Petrobras is also progressing on a deep-water contract review that could deliver the company up to $30 billion in compensation under one scenario, he said.

We are full speed ahead, Parente said in an hour-long interview at Bloomberg's headquarters in New York. Next year we can expect more volatility, and we are prepared for that.

The Rio de Janeiro-based producer is in a comfortable position going into a volatile 2018 after it pushed out debt payments, built up its cash position and brought operating costs under control. Parente, who gained experience in crisis management when he oversaw power rationing as energy minister during a 2002 drought, is gearing up for the challenge.

It's even harder for a state-owned company in an election year, he said.

The two front runners to replace President Michel Temer have both failed to generate any enthusiasm among investors and have high rejection ratings in polls. Candidates have come forward from all corners of the political spectrum to vie in the election, emboldened by two years of recession and scandals that led to former President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment and almost toppled her successor.

Petrobras has benefited under Temer, who has been more successful at unwinding nationalistic oil regulations than implementing fiscal and social security reforms since taking office last year. He won't be a candidate in 2018 with his approval rating in the single digits, putting pressure on Petrobras to accomplish what it can under the current administration.

Divestment Drive



Top on Parente's to-do list is more deals. The company surprised investors in 2016 with blockbuster asset sales that totaled nearly $14 billion. Then many of the transactions got caught up in legal challenges and the company had to restructure its procedures after new regulations came into effect.

Parente, a former chairman of Brazil's main stock exchange, is ready to make up for lost time before before the country shifts into campaign mode. He sees strong demand for an initial public offering of BR Distribuidora, the largest gasoline station network in Brazil with about 8,000 units and more than 1,000 convenience stores.

Love to Do It'

We would love to do it this year, Parente said. We have a portfolio of $40 billion in assets that can be sold.

In an interview Wednesday at a New York investor conference, Parente said he also plans to meet in Brazil soon with representatives of China National Petroleum Corp. to discuss a variety of strategic partnerships." That could include Petrobras' refineries, the CEO added.

Petrobras' fuel unit could surpass the July IPO of French retailer Carrefour SA's Brazil division, Parente said. Other big-ticket items include its African oil operations and its stake in petrochemical producer Braskem SA.

Parente is working to finalize negotiations about the value of oil reserves in the so-called pre-salt region. It's a $30 billion difference of opinion, ranging from Petrobras paying a very little, in his words, and one scenario suggesting $30 billion as the most they'd get.

The government also stands to gain, because if both sides reach an agreement it will be able to hold a bid round early next year in a deep-water zone where massive oil deposits have already been identified, Parente said.

The government has said an agreement is needed by the end of this year to have time to organize a bid round no later than June. So the clock is ticking.

Seven Scenarios

They need more cash and faster than us, Parente said. The government has seven scenarios, and five out of seven show a positive result for Petrobras.

In 2010, Petrobras received $27.5 billion from investors in a deal designed to extract oil riches buried off Brazil's Atlantic shore. As part of the transaction, Petrobras traded company shares with the government for undeveloped oil -- originally set at $8.51 a barrel -- and agreed to revise the value after the deposits were declared commercial to factor in changes in oil prices and project delays.

Petrobras originally paid $42.5 billion in shares for the rights to produce 5 billion barrels, bringing the total value of a 2010 share sale to $70 billion. The drop in oil prices since then works in Petrobras' favor, Parente said.

I won't sign any contract in which I need to pay anything, he said.
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
Amazon Woot clothing manufacturing center, 2455 Boulevard of the Generals, West Norriton Township near Norristown, Pa. Amazon plans to set up dozens of Kornit printing machines to make and ship clothing to customers at this site, as the online shopping, shipping and Web services giant has expanded from retailing to branding and now producing the items it sells. Read more

Amazon's Woot! clothing unit can start installing 48 industrial printers, 16 giant dryers, and pollution-control equipment at a plant outside Norristown, after its plan was approved Wednesday by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Under terms of the permit, Amazon could install machines that would produce up to 25 million pieces of clothing a year  enough to print a colorful shirt and pant set for every Pennsylvanian  if it ran the 110,000-square-foot plant 24 hours every day. Kornit Digital, the Israel-based manufacturer of the Avalanche 1000 printers that Amazon plans to install, says those machines can run more than triple the permit speed, producing more than 90 million garments a year.

It is the first of what Amazon watchers expect may be a string of garment-printing and eventually design and manufacturing centers to take clothing production in-house. That would make clothing the latest of several businesses (including books and video) in which the company started as an online retailer of others' products, progressed to licensing others' products under its own brand, and then started making some of its own.

Last month, Amazon was awarded a U.S. patent for any automated system that could rapidly produce and ship clothes to customers, enabling Amazon to bypass middlemen and the mostly foreign manufacturers who make most U.S. clothes. The company has also acquired digital-fitting technology that could enable home shoppers to order fitted, custom clothes.

But the plan approved for the plant focuses on the simpler step of printing clothes, potentially competing with and replacing the commercial silk-screeners who customize T-shirts and jackets for teams and events.

When it applied for the Pennsylvania permit last summer, Amazon had hoped to open the plant in a West Norriton Township industrial park building in time to ship millions of garments for this year's Christmas shopping season. The state speeded up its review, which could have lasted into next year, to get it done by mid-November.

But Amazon is now deep into the holiday season and won't likely get the Norristown plant running until next year, Brian Drab, stock analyst for William Blair & Co., wrote in a report to clients. The company has at least one other clothing plant in the works, he added. The Amazon official in charge of the plant didn't return calls to his office at the company's base in Seattle.

According to the permit, Amazon plans to install 48 Kornit Avalanche 1000 printers, worth more than $20 million at prices quoted online by equipment dealers. Kornit says each machine can print up to 220 light-colored (or 160 dark) garments, sleeves, or other cloth pieces an hour. The permit says they will print up to 60 an hour, with no reason given for the slower target pace.

The 16 driers, made by the M&R Companies, based in Roselle, Ill., bake newly printed garments at temperatures of up to 330 degrees Fahrenheit, far hotter than what's needed to boil water.

The permit says Amazon can emit an average of up to 3.6 pounds of volatile organic compounds an hour from the plant (12.9 tons in a 12-month period), plus about 11 ounces of hazardous air pollutants per hour (3 tons a year). The plant's pollution-control equipment includes a natural gas-burning regenerative thermal oxidizer, which cools exhaust from the printers and dryers.

The permit allows Amazon to install the machines and run them for a "shakedown" period of up to six months, between now and May 2019. Once the plant is operating, Amazon will need to file regular Pennsylvania pollution reports and obtain permanent operating approval.

Amazon has advertised for a handful of manufacturing and production positions at the plant. With more than 400,000 employees nationwide, Amazon has large "fulfillment center" warehouses with up to a few thousand employees scattered around the country, including 14 in Pennsylvania (more than any state except California), several in New Jersey, and two in Delaware. The company has lately added many smaller Amazon Prime delivery centers in King of Prussia and other suburbs.
Gran Caffe LAquila co-owner Riccardo Longo sitting in the upstairs dining room on Nov. 10, in front of the Ruth Orkin photo An American Girl in Italy, visible through a window. The photo was removed Nov. 16. Read more

The iconic black-and-white photograph of a young woman being ogled by men on an Italian street has been removed from the Center City restaurant Gran Caffe L'Aquila after its owner said he recently received about two dozen complaints from customers that it depicts sexual harassment.

The poster-size image had hung along the main staircase to the second floor of the Italian restaurant, visible to a portion of its second-floor dining room through a picture window, since its opening in December 2014.

Co-owner Riccardo Longo said complaints began last month, shortly after Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein began facing public accusations of harassment, unleashing a torrent of allegations against powerful men and opening new dialogue on the subject.

Longo said customers approached him directly to express their discomfort with the Ruth Orkin print from 1951, titled "An American Girl in Italy." Several even "took the time to write letters," said Longo, 46. "These are good clients who love the restaurant but are just not comfortable with that photo."

"I look at it like this: We consider people guests in our home," Longo said. "We don't want you to be uncomfortable."

Longo said he and his family's restaurants over the last four decades have hung versions of the photo, which Orkin shot in Florence after asking a fellow American traveler to walk along a street through a cluster of men.

The image is a popular decor item at Italian restaurants worldwide.

"We put it on the wall because people loved it," Longo said. "In the matter of one month, the whole dialogue completely reversed."

The photo came down Thursday morning, replaced with a photo of L'Aquila, Italy, where the original restaurant stood before a 2009 earthquake destroyed much of the town. The photo shows a statue, created by Nicola D'Antino, of a nude man; in the 1970s, a Catholic archbishop protested it.

Mary Engel of New York, who has managed her mother's photographic portfolio since her 1985 death and licenses the image, said this week: "The photo shows an independent strong woman, and it was a different time, and a different culture. It was not shot or meant to illustrate sexual harassment in any way. I was very surprised when Riccardo called and said he was considering removing the photo because of complaints he has received about it. I don't think it should be removed, and this has never been an issue in the past."

The model herself  Ninalee "Jinx" Allen Craig  told the Inquirer that she was "heartbroken" to hear that the photograph could be perceived as depicting harassment, and believed that Longo should have resisted the outcry.

Now 90 and a retired copywriter living in Toronto, Craig remains keenly interested in American life. She said she was heartened to know that "women have found the courage to talk about real harassment.  It's a wake-up call."

Craig said abuse of power in a physical sense is wrong, but being catcalled or whistled at on the street is "a sign of respect. I don't know why women object to being whistled at or to hear a comment. It's nice to hear 'que bella,' 'hello, girl'  if it is verbal compliment."

On that August morning near the Hotel Berchielli  where Craig and Orkin had met the day before and stayed in dollar-a-night rooms  Orkin took two photos, neither staged.

Craig, who stood 6 feet tall, said: "I was holding my head high, as a tall stranger walking through the city. I felt strong. This is the spirit in which that photo must be kept and considered."

"It was the spirit of 1951," Craig said. Americans were postwar heroes.

Orkin also viewed her image as empowering to women, Engel said. Orkin herself was an inveterate solo traveler; in 1939, she rode her bike by herself from her Los Angeles-area home to see the New York World's Fair.

The photo appeared in a 1952 Cosmopolitan magazine article about solo travel. The caption read in part: "Ogling the ladies is a popular, harmless and flattering pastime you'll run into in many foreign countries. The gentlemen are usually louder and more demonstrative than American men, but they mean no harm."

Asked how she would feel if the photo were to be taken in 2017 of a 23-year-old version of herself, Craig replied: "I'd love it. If someone goes 'wow,' it makes me walk a little taller. I even get it today with my walker. I think the women who are objecting  I think it's much ado about nothing. There's enough in the world to really protest."
Blossom Philadelphia, a human-services nonprofit based in Chestnut Hill, lost its license to operate group homes for intellectually disabled adults. Read more

Three weeks after regulators put Blossom Philadelphia on notice by revoking its license to run group homes for intellectually disabled adults, family members and advocates say not much has changed at the Chestnut Hill agency.

Last week, there were no staff present when a client returned home after Blossom's day program, clients continued missing their medications, and the houses were still running out of food, a mother said Tuesday evening at a parent support group in Mount Airy. She declined to be identified because she fears reprisals.

Mary Citko, who works for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services unit that oversees Blossom, told families at the meeting that she visited five Blossom homes last week and saw some of the same issues, including problems from previous inspections that still had not been fixed, even after the license revocation on Oct. 24.

"It really frustrated me," Citko told the support group, which met at an NHS Human Services office.

The absence of urgent action by Blossom, which filed an appeal Tuesday, means the agency is unlikely to improve long term, said Audrey Coccia, co-executive director of Vision for Equality, a nonprofit that sponsors the group.

"I think you should make an example out of Blossom," Coccia told Citko, who is a manager at DHS's Office of Developmental Programs, but who will not decide on Blossom's future. "If this is the way you do business, it's time to go out of business," Coccia said.

That was surely not the kind of change Paula Czyzewski, Blossom's chief executive since 2014, had in mind when she hired a consultant in 2015 to help foster culture change. Czyzewski praised the results in a case study: "We're much more willing to try things, and see where it takes us."

Under Czyzewski, who declined an interview request, change came in spades to the 71-year-old nonprofit. Czyzewski oversaw complete turnover in senior management. She also changed the organization's name this year to Blossom Philadelphia, from United Cerebral Palsy Association of Philadelphia.

But Czyzewski, who was paid $185,726 in 2015, didn't stop there.

Effective July 10, Czyzewski hired a staffing firm to supply direct-care workers for Blossom's 32 community homes, laying off 179 of Blossom's employees.

One longtime observer of intellectual disabilities services in Philadelphia said Blossom, which had $24.6 million in revenue in fiscal 2016, needed to modernize.

"I had some hopes for her coming in that she might bring new vitality and dynamism to it, but this is more like total upheaval," not the right approach, said Kathy Sykes, former director of intellectual disability services in Philadelphia.

Outsourcing staff was a terrible idea, Sykes said. Blossom said it did so to relieve supervisors of scheduling headaches, but Czyzewski also told family members that the residences were losing money and might have to close.

The change led to an ever-changing set of caregivers at Blossom, which houses 89 adults.

"It's a revolving door. I don't even bother learning their names anymore because they're not going to be around long enough for it to matter," said Earni Young, who has a 48-year-old family member in one of Blossom's houses.

Not long after the license revocation, Blossom told families it would try to hire back some of the staffers it laid off.

"We are currently developing how this will be implemented and understand that this transition will take time," Blossom spokesman John Moeller Jr. said.

But only about 30 of the direct-care staffers  mainly those who had not worked there long enough to get unemployment benefits  took jobs with Integrity Workforce Solutions LLC, a long-term staffing firm in Haverford, that was supposed to offer jobs to all 179 of Blossom's residential staff, albeit at sharply lower pay and no benefits, a former worker said.

The lack of regular staff makes it hard for family members to advocate for their loved ones.

"With the turnover in staff, you just can't get anything done. As soon as you start talking to someone it's someone new, even with the higher-ups at Blossom I've been talking to," said Diane Sessions, whose 41-year-old sister has lived at Blossom since 2001.

Sessions described her sister as a social butterfly, who enjoyed Blossom's day program and outings. "In the last two years, though, she has been bedridden due to wounds, which are the result of sitting in urine and feces," Sessions said.

Physical harm is not all that upsets family members.

A supervisor recently went winter-clothes shopping for Young's relative and bought skinny jeans  for a woman who can't straighten her legs and can only use one hand.

"This is the kind of thing that as a family member drives you to drink because it tells you when they look at the client, they see a blur," Young said. "They don't see an individual. They see a blur."

Family members and advocates are not convinced that regulators are doing enough to protect residents. They are meeting with Blossom officials every other week to monitor progress, a city official said.

"What I want is for somebody to be sitting on them 24/7 to make sure they do right. I don't want it to go back to what we've had to deal with," Young said.
Nearly eight months pregnant when the episode taped, Northeast Philadelphia native and Villanova University MBA alumna Jenni-Lyn Williams was her swear-word-using self when she appeared on ABCs Shark Tank to pitch her Snarky Tea line of off-color-labeled flavors. The show aired Nov. 5. Read more

Ah, tea. That soothing, aromatic beverage favored by English royalty and commoners alike. Sometimes sipped from delicate cups of fine china by lunching women wearing big fancy hats; other times, from the plainest vessels by those in pajamas trying to kick a cold or flu.

And then there's Philly's own Jenni-Lyn Williams and her take on the drink.

Let's just say it's too bad Downton Abbey has wrapped. How hilarious would it have been to watch the aristocratic Crawleys bleeped as they called down to the kitchen for a pot of "Get Your S Together" or "Calm the F Down?"

Williams' Snarky Teas certainly are not intended for snobs. Or the easily offended.

"What says approachability more than slapping a curse word on the label?" the 30-year-old mother of an infant and a 2-year-old said of her marketing strategy, inspired by her roots in the Northeast's Parkwood section. "Putting the curse words on the label really spoke to Philadelphia."

And, evidently, to two celebrity investors. In an appearance on ABC's hit start-up-pitch show Shark Tank, taped in June and aired on Nov. 5, Williams, then nearly eight months pregnant, snagged a joint investment of $150,000 for a 50 percent stake in Snarky Tea. Her fans: regular Shark Kevin O'Leary, aka "Mr. Wonderful," who made millions in computer software; and guest Shark Bethenny Frankel, of Real Housewives fame, who went on to found the mega-popular Skinnygirl line of cocktails and snacks.

"It's indescribable," Williams said the day after her seven-minute segment aired and her deal was finally public. "I've been doing a lot of crying. I have so much to be thankful for."

It was a tamer version of the woman who exuded confidence and negotiating savvy on the Shark Tank soundstage in Southern California. Williams had been bleeped about 1 minute, 50 seconds in when she mentioned one of her teas, and, just after convincing Frankel and O'Leary to partner on the deal, she triumphantly told the cameras backstage: "To have two fierce bitches plus Mr. Wonderful, I really think we're going to knock it out of the park."

"Fierce Bitch" happens to be one of the Snarky Teas, a chai-like blend.

The company, which started sales in October 2016, had $270,000 in revenue in the first year but is not yet profitable. Eighty-five percent of sales are through snarkytea.com, the rest to about 50 stores, mostly women-owned boutiques and gift shops, Williams said. The teas were part of gift packages to nominees at the Academy Awards earlier this year.

While calling Williams "clever and smart," Shark Lori Greiner, a serial entrepreneur and infomercial guru who invested a few years ago in locally based Scrub Daddy (now a retail sensation), passed on Snarky Tea.

"I'm afraid it's not sustainable, and gimmicky branding I just don't see as a long future," she said.

Shark Robert Herjavec declared Snarky Tea "a little too edgy" and "a very narrow niche."

On that, O'Leary and Frankel agreed.

"You're going to alienate places like Walmart and a lot of major retailers," Frankel said during Williams' pitch. Minutes later, she was suggesting co-branding with Skinnygirl, though emphasizing the need to "tone down" the labels on the $12.99 Snarky Tea tins, containing 15 sachets of whole-leaf blends. "It's a good product, and I think that's totally lost in the message."

O'Leary saw potential to "sell a lot of these" through his "Something Wonderful" wedding-planning services platform.

Williams' venture began after she had been working at Lincoln Financial Group in Radnor for about six years, mostly in marketing, and realized, "I wasn't all that excited about insurance." She also was drinking too much coffee and started researching tea, only to discover it can be pretty high-octane, too  contrary, perhaps, to popular opinion.

"There's a gap in how people are marketing tea to the general population," she concluded. By then, she was enrolled in an MBA program at Villanova University, where her studies further emboldened her to launch Snarky Tea  which caused a pause in her graduate-degree pursuit.

In May, she moved with husband David and their children from King of Prussia to Sarasota, Fla., "to enjoy the weather all year round." Hurricanes excluded. She watched her Shark Tank debut with neighbors, while about 50 relatives and friends gathered to do the same in Feasterville.

John Kozup, an assistant professor of marketing at Villanova, watched, too. He taught Williams in his strategic management of marketing class, where Snarky Tea was "heavily discussed and incubated," he said.

As for the salty language on its labels, Kozup doesn't object. But on some blends, he suggested, there is opportunity for "more of a PG-13 take."
Former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore at a campaign rally in Fairhope, Ala., in September. Read more

It's funny how you can spend your whole life thinking you're an expert in something and then  bam!  find out you're wrong.

For example, I'm a Catholic, born and bred. I can recite most prayers backward, forward, and in Latin, but I had no idea until this past week that the Virgin Mary met St. Joseph in a mall in Nazareth and they started dating while she was still a teenager. You never got those details in the Bible, but fortunately for me, some helpful fellow from Alabama filled in the blank parts of the Nativity tale. I'm awfully glad about that, since we are entering the Christmas season and I'd hate to spend another year believing the narrative of St. Luke, who clearly didn't do his research. (Fake news!)

According to Alabama State Auditor Jim Ziegler, an ardent Roy Moore supporter, "Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter  They became the parents of Jesus." Ziegler made these comments after noting that Moore, GOP candidate for the Senate, hung out with teenagers as a 32-year-old district attorney in Etowah County, Ala., many years ago. I almost expected Ziegler to suggest that all four of them double-dated way back when.

I suppose we can't blame Moore for every crackpot who comes out in support of his candidacy. I honestly believe that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump privately cringed when they saw the type of extremists who stumped for them. (And a plague on both their houses, because the only thing Hil and Don had in common was the fact that they both brought out the worst in their supporters.)

The fact remains that an elected official who embraces Moore compared his hound dog hero to one of the most revered saints in the Catholic canon in an attempt to justify his predilection for young girls. It's laughable, offensive, anti-Catholic, and also inaccurate, since, as every parochial school child knows, Jesus was the "Virgin Birth." This is well-known to anyone who's actually read the Bible and understands the big words.

If the tone of this column sounds flippant, I apologize. I must try and bring some levity to this subject so I don't have a stroke.

Moore allegedly trolled for girls who smelled like Clearasil and Love's Lemon Fresh, while he himself was much older. I'll reserve judgment on whether he actually assaulted any of the women, because he hasn't admitted it and I won't assume criminal behavior without solid proof. Nonetheless, he has all but said that he liked them young. That's OK if you are 25 and she is 19, or if you are 55 and she is 30, but it is not OK if you are a district attorney and your love interest has a curfew.

He owned a home on which he did work. She had homework.

He earned a salary. She got an allowance.

He filed taxes. She filed her nails.

Ew.

I know that many conservatives are angry that the focus is on one of our own, when there are so many liberal men who have played fast and loose with their libidos since before Mary and Joseph went on that first date. I agree. I also agree that the timing is highly suspect. Moore has been in the public eye for years, but the media is only now noticing his indiscretions. They take great joy in destroying public figures on the right while generally yawning at the immorality on the left. The Harvey Weinstein explosion is the exception that proves the rule, and it's a very troubling exception because it has led to a witch hunt of sorts.

Despite what his supporters think, Moore is not a victim. He's a man who had an unhealthy attraction to teenagers, and while that might not be illegal  unless he acted on that attraction  it's definitely a character flaw.

I know I'll get some blowback from men who dated younger women, and women who married older men. But as someone who has handled asylum cases from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, where young girls have been traded as economic currency by their families to much older men, I don't give a damn.

I've railed against other cultures that think it's fine when old geezers turn their wizened eyes to sweet young things. I called out Gov. Christie on national TV when Beach Boy vetoed a bill that would ban child marriage in New Jersey.

I won't let Moore's people normalize the abnormal, especially when they trash talk a Nazarene teen.
Local balloon artist Brian Ward and his father in the dining room of their Philadelphia home Tuesday November 14, 2017. DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer Read more

A lot of things have crossed my mind while interviewing people over the years, but I can't recall praying to a higher power to look after the person in front of me.

Until I met Brian Ward.

I found my way to Ward through Wallace Peeples. Peeples, better known as Wallo267, is a former inmate who built a huge Instagram following with a contraband phone while still in prison. He's become even more popular on the outside for his infectious motivational energy.

I asked Wallo to take over my Instagram account for a day last month to help me find untold stories that deserved attention. He started with Ward, a balloon artist.

It's probably unfair, but when I think of someone twisting balloons into various shapes, I think of sad, old clowns on the back end of their careers  not a charming 19-year-old from North Philly.

So, on a recent rainy weekday, I made my way to Ward's home on West Cumberland Street. It was one of his few days off, between his balloon business, his classes at Community College of Philadelphia and his part-time job at an institution for adults with intellectual disabilities.

We sat at the family's dining room table while his two younger sisters busied themselves upstairs. He was babysitting while his parents were at work.

Of course, we talked about his mad balloon skills  we're not just talking simple swords and dogs here, though I loved the white dog he made for me. Brian the Balloon Artist, as he's known, is your guy if you find yourself in need of a dinosaur made of balloons or arches to rival the golden ones we're all familiar with.

But our conversation quickly turned to how the fire to be an entrepreneur was lit by his father. After putting in a full day at the job that pays the bills as a maintenance worker in Center City for the last 20 years, Ward's father  also Brian  moves into his kitchen to start a second gig as a cake maker.

Often standing at his side is his namesake, tasked when he was younger with washing dishes and cleaning counter tops, and then as he got older, helping with the cakes.

The long hours spent together served as an opportunity for the father to impart hard-earned lessons to his only son:

Work is honorable.

Be the best at whatever you do, no matter how small.

Treat people as you'd like to be treated.

The lessons stuck as the younger Ward made a list of his own goals:

Finish college. Start a business. Travel. Don't become a statistic.

At the dining room table the other day, Ward talked wistfully of a school trip to the Grand Canyon when he was 12, where for the first time he saw a sky full of stars unencumbered by the city's lights.

"It was just a life-changing feeling," he said. "A reminder that there's more to life than what you see on a regular basis."

Among the top of his accomplishments  growing up.

"Growing up in Philly," he said, "it's a blessing just to see 18."

I'm not sure why those words landed especially hard that day. I've heard other young men express the same sentiment. In a city with daily shootings, where 26 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 have been killed this year, this isn't just hyperbole.

It's reality.

This young man, with his irrepressible smile and energy and his cheering section of family and friends and now, at least one columnist, reminded me of all the potential every kid in this city has, everything we should grieve over when another young person dies in the city and we barely blink.

When I confided in Ward's dad about my prayer, he didn't miss a beat.

"I pray for him every day."

I left Ward feeling something there doesn't seem to be enough of these days: hope.

A few streets over from his house, I found myself driving behind a car with a RIP sticker on its back window. It was a memorial for a young man who had died recently. One street later I passed by a mural made for another young man who was killed in 2014.

Both were dead before they were 20.
Innova Services, a for-profit developer specializing in affordable housing, built 19 homes in Point Breeze for various income levels, ranging in price from $225,000 to $350,000. Read more

San Francisco does it. New York does it. So does Washington. As their housing costs have skyrocketed, pricing out the working poor and making it difficult for even middle-income people to find affordable housing, those cities have adopted laws requiring new developments to include subsidized units for low-wage workers.

Now, a City Council member wants Philadelphia to join the club.

The difference, of course, is that Philadelphia already has some of the cheapest housing stock of any big American city. A typical two-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia rents for $1,160 a month  a third of what the same unit would go for in San Francisco. The median house price here is a modest $137,000. Even in some of the city's most desirable neighborhoods, it's still possible to find a house for $300,000. Our recent pitch to Amazon made Philadelphia's affordability one of the city's selling points.

If Philadelphia is such a bargain, why would the city need to mandate inclusionary housing?

That's the question developers and economists have been wrestling with as an inclusionary housing bill hurtles through City Council. Headed by Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, the bill would require developers to offer 10 percent of their units at substantially reduced prices to renters and buyers earning salaries below $41,000, Philadelphia's median household income. As compensation, they would be allowed to build higher and denser than the zoning code normally allows. The first hearing is scheduled for Nov. 27, and Sanchez is determined to get a vote on the bill by the end of the year.

Sanchez says she sees inclusionary housing as a way to get developers, who have benefited enormously from the 10-year property tax abatement, to give back. Since the tax break was introduced in 2000, house prices have doubled or even quadrupled in some areas, and formerly depressed neighborhoods, like Point Breeze and South Kensington, have exploded with new construction. As gentrification has swept through old rowhouse neighborhoods, the residents, especially renters and elderly people on fixed incomes, find it more expensive to stay.

But just because Philadelphia is a bargain in comparison with its peer cities, Sanchez argues, doesn't mean housing is cheap for people who live here. If you're a single mother working a full-time retail job, finding a decent rental in a transit-accessible neighborhood has become nearly impossible. It's not easy for college-educated millennials, either, especially if they are carrying student loans or paying for their health insurance.

"These are working people who need quality housing," Sanchez says. Though it won't solve everyone's housing problem, inclusionary housing "is another tool in the took kit."

That's all true, but it doesn't necessarily follow that Sanchez's bill is the right solution, particularly in its current form.

No one was surprised when the Building Industry Association, which represents the city's housing developers, came out against mandatory inclusionary housing. They'll be the ones taking the biggest risk, because they have to fund the subsidized units up front and hope that the extra density will offset their costs. "Margins are already tight," complains Leo Addimando, vice president of the association.

But since the bill was introduced in June, developers specializing in affordable housing, such as Jeffrey Allegretti of Innova Services, also have voiced concerns. The automatic extra height or density isn't going over well with neighborhood groups, either. Although the zoning code is far from perfect now, at least it guides taller buildings to wider streets that handle density.

The biggest concern is that the bill will backfire and actually reduce the amount of affordable housing being produced in Philadelphia.

That would happen if the cost of providing subsidized units becomes so high that it discourages developers from building at all. Pricey markets like San Francisco have more of a cushion to help developers absorb the costs. But because house prices are relatively low in Philadelphia, even a modest cost increase can cut into profits. Banks will refuse to lend money to iffy developments. "The last thing you want to do is discourage development," says Jenny Schuetz, an urban economist at the Brookings Institute, a Washington think tank.

For all the risks, inclusionary housing programs haven't proved all that effective. San Francisco, which adopted the requirement in 2002, is producing an average of 140 affordable units a year, a drop in the bucket considering that city's housing crisis. Boston has done slightly better, turning out roughly 260 units a year since 2000. Beth McConnell, a housing advocate who serves as policy director for the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corps., estimates that under the proposed law, Philadelphia could produce about 200 units a year.

Critics say that number is overly optimistic. To Innova's Allegretti, there are better ways to produce for-sale affordable housing. By tapping into the city's existing programs, he was able to build 15 affordable units in Point Breeze that will sold for an average of $239,000. That price might seem high, but the housing is targeted to people earning between 80 percent and 120 percent of median income, about $53,000 to $80,000 for a couple.

People earning less, in Allegretti's view, will have a more difficult time financing new homes and will be less able to afford their upkeep. He also believes that "Philadelphia doesn't really have an affordable housing problem. It has a housing quality problem," and he supports programs that focus on fixing existing housing stock.

Many housing advocates agree. Unlike San Francisco or New York, Philadelphia is a city of homeowners, but a leaky or collapsed roof can make their house uninhabitable.

Rather than mandate new affordable units when Philadelphia already has plenty of affordable housing, the city could beef up its Housing Trust Fund, which supports programs that help low-income homeowners make repairs.

Sanchez's bill would allow developers to make payments to the trust fund instead of incorporating affordable units into their projects. But it complicates the effort with lots of other requirements.

Mitigating the impact of Philadelphia's changing housing market is a worthy cause, but there is a simpler and less expensive way to help low-wage workers: developer impact fees.

Instead of imposing extra risk on developers and tampering with the zoning code, the city could collect a fixed fee from developers based on the size of their projects. The money would go into the Housing Trust Fund to greatly expand the home-repair program. Philadelphia already has thousands of affordable homes  more than developers could ever create through an inclusionary housing program.
What tickles me about the owner of Country Cooking is that she always seems to have something going on.

Either Saudia Shuler is bringing in a live camel for her son's Middle Eastern-theme prom sendoff, or she's giving away hundreds of backpacks to neighborhood kids for back to school, or organizing her staff to do their own rendition of a Cardi B rap song.

On Wednesday, Shuler hosted an event for the jailed rapper Meek Mill, who last week was sentenced to two to four years in state prison for repeatedly violating probation on 2008 gun and drug charges. It was "Free Meek Meal Day," and she gave away platters of fried fish and grits.

Shuler advertised the food giveaway on Instagram on Tuesday to her 75,000 followers. I was amused and intrigued. This was another example of how popular Mill is and how support for him has morphed into a #FreeMeekMill movement. Billboards, buses, newsstands suddenly are carrying the slogan: Stand With Meek Mill. And it's catching on.

On Wednesday, I got a text from a source who told me people started lining up outside Country Cooking in the 2800 block of North 22nd Street around 7 a.m.

By the time I showed up around lunchtime, the food unfortunately was gone. Shuler was standing out front with her employees, who were all wearing black shirts with Mill's mug shot on them. They were posing for photos and everyone seemed happy.

Shuler said they'd volunteered to work as a show of love and support for Mill, who, she said, had been a customer since her days of selling soul food platters out of her North Philly rowhouse. Judging from her Instagram feed, turnout was good.

"You know the line was down the block. Don't play with Saud! You already know what I do," she said when I asked her about it. "But on a for-real note, Meek has been supporting me since I was in the house [selling platters]. He was writing rhymes" there.

"When he come to Philly and he do videos, he says  I don't want nobody's food but Saudia's food, and he sends [his people] down here," she said.

For her, helping the community is a labor of love. I met her in May after she spent $25,000 to bring in three tons of sand and other props for a Middle East-inspired prom sendoff for her son, Johnny "JJ" Eden, now a freshman at Delaware State University. She had arranged for him to have three beautifully attired dates, three outfit changes, and three luxury cars. She served Islamic-themed cakes. Hundreds turned out to eat and watch her son pose for pictures.

She's a fun-loving, larger-than-life businesswoman known for her generosity. But all of those free Meek Meals had to cost a lot of money. Grits may not be expensive, but all that seafood?

"Anything I do, I do it from the heart," she told me. "I definitely love him  He really came from the struggles, like from the trenches  I closed the store down today for Meek. It's Meek Day."

She started handing out food at 9 a.m. as Mill's music blasted and people danced.

"We gave the food out until it was out. The community came out and it showed love," she said happily.

Shuler pointed at how too often African Americans don't get a fair shake in the criminal justice system and added, "When you free Meek, you're going to free a whole lot of other people."
There's one particularly heart-wrenching moment in The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI, the book that first revealed how a secretive band of Philadelphia anti-war activists broke into the FBI's Media office in March 1971 and stole the files that exposed years of illegal spying on political activists by the U.S. government.

As the sun set on March 8, 1971, two central figures in the burglary plot  John Raines, a tall and distinguished-looking religion professor at Temple University, and his wife, Bonnie  were having a typical Monday night dinner at their home on Walnut Lane in Germantown with their three children, 8, 7, and 2 years old. They were about to leave the kids with a babysitter, and the couple tried to eat a normal dinner and listen to the older ones talk about their school day  without betraying their fear that if their plan failed that night, they'd surely be behind bars for the rest of their childhood.

When it was time to go, author Betty Medsger writes, "they both remember kneeling and holding each child in a long, strong embrace, probably stronger than they had ever held them. They tried to act as though nothing unusual was happening. Each of them remembers that as they hugged the children, they hoped, with a nearly desperate feeling, that they would see them in the morning, that they would walk in the door, perhaps by 6 a.m., as quietly as possible, take a shower, get dressed for work, and then, as though they had been there all night, wake the children."

They got their wish. Things worked out for John and Bonnie Raines, the American heroes that America didn't know about for more than four decades. They and their six other cohorts  calling themselves the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI  got away with a treasure trove of secret documents that proved what the Raineses and other activists believed. They revealed that the government was illegally spying on them and thousands of other U.S. citizens, from small local peace groups to leaders like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

John Raines died this week, at age 84, of congestive heart failure here in Philadelphia. But after his group's long-held secret was finally revealed in 2014's The Burglary and a documentary film, 1971, the final years of his life brought a well-deserved wave of adulation both for what Raines and the others accomplished  government reforms aimed (with mixed results, of course) at protecting civil liberties  and for the remarkable risk they took on behalf of their political and moral beliefs.

Indeed, Raines passed away at another fraught moment for American citizens  the rise of a U.S. presidency with an authoritarian bent, with its casual embrace of racism and misogyny and a shocking contempt for a free press, impartial justice, and the other democratic norms that America has striven, however imperfectly, to maintain for the last 241-plus years. Once again, many Americans are asking the existential questions that John and Bonnie Raines asked themselves at the start of the 1970s. What can we do, as everyday citizens, to help stop this nightmare? And just how much of our comfort are we actually willing to risk to try and get there?

Bonnie Raines told me this week that the couple had seen how simply marching against the Vietnam War wasn't ending the conflict, and that stronger methods of resistance were needed; meanwhile, she noted, the FBI's infiltration of the peace movement was palpable. "It seems that no one in Washington was willing to hold J. Edgar Hoover accountable," she said  the reason why the citizens' group took matters into its own hands.

Johanna Hamilton, the filmmaker behind 1971, told me from London this week that John Raines always told her that he didn't want to be seen as a hero but as someone "who owed it to his country, that we had this duty as citizens." Looking back at the risk that the couple would be imprisoned and not able to raise their children, he told her that "we had a responsibility to leave the country a better place for our children."

You rarely hear people talk like that today, and it raises the question of whether John Raines was a creature of a radically different time in America. In some ways, yes. It's practically forgotten now, but the strong anti-war movement that emerged in Philadelphia (centered heavily in Powelton Village, where a few of the burglars lived) had a strong religious bent, with many citing their Quaker, Protestant, or Catholic beliefs as their moral reason for opposing U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

That was certainly the case with John Raines, son of a Methodist bishop, who himself became an ordained minister in his church. He was drawn in the early 1960s to the burgeoning civil rights movement in the South, and his experiences  he was jailed several times  dealing with the white-supremacist power structure radicalized him. He told Philadelphia Magazine years later that "when I saw how power could be manipulated and abused in this way, I was forever changed."

There was something else in the early 1970s  a powerful sense of urgency. Promising young black leaders like Chicago's Fred Hampton (set up by the FBI and assassinated in his bed by local lawmen) were dying or behind bars, while the Vietnam War  on its way to killing more than 58,000 Americans  was not ending after then-President Richard Nixon had promised voters it would. The urgency fueled people to take risks  some, like the violent bombing campaign of the Weather Underground, not as ethically grounded as the mission of the nonviolent Media break-in. Still, hindsight is always 20/20; if the Raineses and the other burglars had been caught, or if the files had shown Hoover's G-men were upstanding agents always upholding the law, they would been called common crooks or kooks  and forgotten by history.

That's not what happened, though. Bonnie Raines, who managed a day-care center in addition to raising her kids, posed as a Swarthmore College student writing a paper to gain access to the Delaware County FBI office  and case it for the other burglars, including the late Haverford College professor Bill Davidon, who initially hatched the scheme. The plan had a brilliant twist: To execute the break-in on the night of the so-called "Fight of the Century" between Philadelphia's own Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, when most of the nation was distracted. Looking back after a generation of post 9/11-security, it's remarkable how easy it was for the burglars to pick the lock and escape to a nearby farmhouse with suitcases full of FBI documents.

The papers revealed the existence of the long-secret FBI program COINTELPRO to spy on political activists and groups, mostly on the left. To carry out COINTELPRO, the bureau used an array of illegal tactics  unlawful wiretapping, opening people's mail, even its own black-bag burglaries. Beyond that, some of the disclosures were shocking, most famously a letter crafted by high-ranking FBI officials to King at the height of the civil rights movement, urging King to kill himself over his extramarital affairs. The trail of disclosure led on Capitol Hill to the landmark 1975 investigation by the Church Committee, which in turn led to a spate of civil rights reforms.

The Media burglars took action when it became clear no one else would. Prior to 1971, Congress and even presidents had been lapdogs for Hoover's FBI, never questioning the lawman's tactics and rubber-stamping his large budget requests. America finds itself in an analogous situation today  an executive branch run amok, and a Congress led by the same party that seems unwilling to challenge either the abuses of President Trump or his often unqualified appointees, as long as Trump is willing to sign off on tax cuts for their wealthy donors.

Bonnie Raines said, "I don't think we have an authentic democracy" right now  and she also cited ongoing government crackdowns against a new generation of whistle-blowers, including the exiled Edward Snowden, that accelerated under Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama. But she voiced a worry that people today are too isolated in social media "cocoons," recalling how 1970s peace activists were sustained by the camaraderie of their community. Today's resistance can succeed, she said, "but it has to have a moral message."

With the government threatening again and again to take away health care for millions and Trump's inherent instability risking a new Asian war that could go nuclear and kill a lot more people more quickly than Vietnam, what is our moral responsibility as citizens  and to our children? At what point will people need to weigh the kind of risks that John and Bonnie Raines took, and when that moment comes, where will a newer generation raised on risk avoidance find that kind of nerve? We are so fortunate that we have the Raineses' example to help guide us, but the hard truth is that we're going to have to mostly figure this one out for ourselves.
Cheyney University officials Thursday made their case to retain accreditation and keep the school open, and now await word on the troubled institution's fate.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is expected to notify Cheyney's president of the decision as soon as Friday.

"We got our chance to make our presentation," president Aaron A. Walton said as he left the commission meeting at the Inn at Penn in West Philadelphia.

Walton declined to reveal what he presented to the commission in defense of allowing the nation's oldest historically black university to keep its doors open, but said it reinforced a plan that the university previously submitted. He also declined to release that plan.

Cheyney's fate lies with the regional accrediting panel, made up of college presidents, professors and other academics, covering schools in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The commission could grant Cheyney one more year to right its course, withdraw its accreditation, or take some other intermediary action.

Removal of accreditation is rare. Richard Pokrass, a spokesman for the commission, said it has happened only four times in his nine years with the commission. If Cheyney were to lose its accreditation, the loss likely would not take effect until the end of the semester or the end of the academic year, he said.

Cheyney had been on probation since 2015 and at risk of losing accreditation because of troubled finances, declining enrollment and unstable leadership. Such a loss would make Cheyney students ineligible for state and federal tuition aid and almost surely force the storied 180-year-old school to close.

As the Inquirer reported this week, Cheyney has been in deep crisis. In August, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, of which Cheyney is a part, agreed to forgive a $30 million loan to the school if it balances its budget for the next four years.

In addition to granting that lifeline, the system's board of governors also appointed Walton, a former Highmark executive, as president, in an attempt to address the commission's leadership concerns. Walton was named to lead the university, which straddles Delaware and Chester Counties, in May.

The university, one of 14 in the state system, has struggled with soaring debt, falling enrollment, and leadership instability for decades, but in recent years, poor management and lax oversight have further eroded the school's position. Cheyney has run a deficit nearly every year for more than a decade. Its deficit most recently exceeded $25 million.

The school also is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for mishandling $29 million in financial aid funds and faces additional scrutiny for raiding scholarship funds and other restricted accounts to plug a budget hole.

Among those accompanying Walton at the commission meeting were James Dillon, the state system's vice chancellor for administration and finance, and Tara Kent, Cheyney provost.
An unidentified woman photographs a copy of Rodins The Kiss at the Rodin Museum. The museum unveiled a new exhibition around the theme of passionate embrace early in 2017. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer Read more

A ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Auguste Rodin, the French artist who gave birth to modernist sculpture, will take place at the Rodin Museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 9:15 a.m. Friday, the exact day of the artist's death in 1917 at 77.

The museum, which opened in 1929, is filled almost exclusively with the collection of movie mogul Jules E. Mastbaum, who died in 1926  a devout Rodin enthusiast who gave the roughly 140 pieces in his collection to the city.

Rodin's famous freestanding The Thinker (1902) greets visitors as they approach the small beaux-arts museum designed by Paul Cret and Jacque Greber.

Other well-known works, such as The Burghers of Calais (1889) and The Monument to Balzac (1891), are featured in the collection, the largest gathering of Rodins outside France. The monumental sculptural group The Gates of Hell, which Rodin began in 1880 and reworked and expanded for the rest of his life, rises on the building's Parkway facade.

Currently on view inside is an exhibition organized around Rodin's intense sculpture The Kiss (1889). The exhibition, which opened in February, commemorates the centennial of the artist's death, now being observed by museums around the world.

In addition, the Rodin museum has received a loan from the Cantor Foundation of The Waltz (1888-1895), by sculptor Camille Claudel, an important artist largely known as Rodin's passionate lover; in recent decades, her artistic reputation has risen sharply.

Another new Rodin loan, a bust of Napoleon  Napoleon enveloppe dans ses reves, or Napoleon wrapped in his dreams  has been installed in the main museum building. The bust was recently discovered in the city council chambers of Madison, N.J. where it had resided for 75 years in complete anonymity until a Drew University graduate student unmasked it.

The Hartley Dodge Memorial, steward of the historic Madison building, has lent the bust to the art museum. It arrived in the last few weeks and now resides in Gallery 155 with Rodin's John the Baptist Preaching and Helmet-Maker's Wife.

Friday's ceremony will be attended by Michael Scullin, honorary French consul; officials from the Cantor Foundation and the Hartley Dodge Memorial; as well as Gail Harrity, Art Museum president and chief operating officer; and other museum curators and officials.

Remarks will be made. Rodin will be honored with a moment of silence.
Growing up in Bermuda, Mark "Metal" Wong had no idea what hip-hop was until MTV came to the island in 2001 when he was 18. When he turned on the television one day, a music video featuring b-boys came on. Wong was mesmerized.

"I had no idea what it was," he said. "I just knew that whatever these guys were doing, like rolling on the ground, I wanted to do that."

In 2001, Wong moved to the Philadelphia area to attend Haverford College. On the weekends, he traveled into the city to explore Philly's underground dance scene. It was then that he began to take dancing more seriously, inspired by all the talent he saw.

"The dance scene here is an underground network of superheroes that no one knows about," he said. "There are people who are working regular minimum-wage jobs, corporate jobs, in college, who will scrounge up space in dance studios and hallways just to practice."

After Wong graduated, he continued b-boying  an acrobatic style of street dance that combines footwork and tumbling  traveling extensively for battles before cofounding Hip Hop Fundamentals, an education company that blends hip-hop with youth empowerment and academic content, in 2010. When Hip Hop Fundamentals was in residency at the Asian Arts Initiative in 2015, an arts center in the Chinatown North neighborhood, Wong met documentarian Aidan Un. At the time, Wong was working on a piece of choreography called "Street Pearls," a dynamic exploration of identity that combines techniques from Chinese and Japanese theater with breaking.

B-boying took off in the 1970s among African American and Latin American youth in the South Bronx. Street corner DJs would often loop dance records, creating rhythmic bass perfect for improvisation. The earliest b-boys and b-girls drew elements from gymnastics, disco, and capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, for their moves. In the 1980s, American soldiers brought b-boying and hip-hop culture to South Korea, where it took off. This style of dance also spread within the Asian American community when Filipino American students introduced it in a culture show at UC Irvine, sparking the creation of many urban dance groups at other universities in the area. B-boying is now a global phenomenon.

Un, who is a hip-hop fan, immediately connected with Wong's artistic vision, and before long, a documentary, The Street Pearls Mixtape, about Wong's performance piece, was in the making. It will be shown Friday, one of four short films on a program at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, accompanied by a freestyle performance by Wong and his crew.

"As a filmmaker, it was amazing to find such a complete world as it lives and breathes in the city of Philadelphia here, with its legends and history and drama," Un said. "It was exciting to find this whole world that has been here all this time."

When Wong's grandmother immigrated to Bermuda, she didn't fit into the existing racial categories  black and white. Despite growing up surrounded by a "sense of Asianness," it wasn't until other people started telling Wong that he was Chinese or Asian that he realized he was different. Gradually, he became interested in Asian "exports," such as anime and kung fu, in his search for identity.

"There are still people who find power and identity through those things, even when they're put through a weird Westernized filter," Wong said. "It's actually a great metaphor for breaking in general as an art form, because breaking takes movements from all different aspects of life."

It was that philosophy that inspired Wong to borrow elements from Chinese and Japanese theater for "Street Pearls." He incorporated masks into the performance to convey the inner turmoil his crew experienced when they were bullied, insecure, or ostracized for being different. He even choreographed a solo piece influenced by butoh, a Japanese dance of "utter darkness." While Wong found his identity through hip-hop, he said he hoped The Street Pearls Mixtape would spark larger conversations about how identity is formed through all kinds of media. He also wanted people to see the positive influence Philly's underground dance scene had on the lives of young people, and the hard work they put into perfecting their moves.

"B-boying is a culture, not a series of fancy movements," Un said. "It's a lens that you can use to look at the world, art form and philosophy. I wanted to try and reinstate a fuller picture of what hip-hop culture looks like in 2017 in Philadelphia. It's alive and breathing in the city."

4 Pillars Shorts + Year of the Ox Live November 17
Meek Mill may be in prison for violating his probation, but he's also everywhere you look.

The Philadelphia street rapper's image is all over the streets of Philadelphia, on billboards and newsstands, and on wrappings around SEPTA buses, along with messages asking people to "Stand With Meek Mill" and hashtags seeking that the 30-year-old rapper, who's currently at Camp Hill State Correctional Institution doing two to four years, be released.

Who's paying for all billboards and wrapped buses? Credit is given in the fine print in a driver's sight on I-95 and the Vine Street Expressway: "Paid for by Michael Rubin, Roc Nation & Friends."

Roc Nation is the management company owned by Jay-Z, which counts Mill, who appeared with the headlining superstar at this summer's Made in America festival on the Ben Franklin Parkway, as one of its premier clients.

Rubin is the Philadelphia entrepreneur whose Conshohocken holding company owns Fanatics, the online retailer that sells pro and college sports gear and who also is a minority ownership partner in the 76ers.

Speaking from New York on Wednesday night, the Lafayette Hill native said the billboards have gone up "to create awareness so we can get this solved. I believe this will quickly rectify itself."

With the public campaign in support of Mill, "there are now millions of people watching this," Rubin said.

He wasn't sure how many billboards were on view  the final tally is six billboards, three bus ads and 18 bus shelters and/or newsstands, according to a Stand With Meek Mill spokesperson  and wouldn't reveal how much money he's spent on Mill's cause. But he spoke as if it was no object.

"If we need one on every corner in every street in the state of Pennsylvania," he said. "we will do it. We won't quit."

The billionaire says both his and Jay-Z's support of Mill is "unwavering." Roc Nation did not respond to requests for comment.

The effort was born last week, after Common Pleas Court Judge Genece E. Brinkley sentenced the rapper to two to four years in state prison for probation violations related to a 2008 weapons and drug charge. The perceived harshness of that sentence has provoked outrage among Mill's supporters: On Monday evening, a Free Meek Mill rally was held outside the Criminal Justice Center, with advocates including 76ers great Julius Erving, Eagles players Malcolm Jenkins and Jalen Mills, and hip-hop mahoff and Maybach Music boss Rick Ross showing their support.

The next day, Meek signage showed up around town: A photo of the 30-year-old rapper with hands held together as if in prayer looking skyward and the all caps message "STAND WITH MEEK MILL," along with the hashtags #Justice4Meek and #FreeMeekMill. The ads also direct fans to a Change.org petition imploring the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons "to close review Meek's application for Pardon and have his unjust prison sentence remedied." As of Thursday morning, over 373,000 had signed.

The main objective of the campaign is "to get Meek out of jail as quickly as possible, to make sure he doesn't spend a minute more in prison than he has to," said a spokesperson for the Stand With Meek Mill campaign. "The second goal is to use his platform to make people aware of the sentencing guidelines and the parole issues that effect lots of people."

Rubin called Mill is a close friend who has "been over my house dozens of times. I think he's a great guy who's making very positive contributions to our world. I'm a big believer in him and I'm sure of it."

He called the rapper "a uniter, not a divider."

"If he did anything that I thought was remotely wrong, I would never stand behind him," Rubin said.

He spoke on Mill's behalf during last week's hearing, and believes a miscarriage of justice occurred when the judge sentenced Mill despite recommendations against prison time by the rapper's probation officer and the District Attorney's Office.

Mill's predicament is uniquely unjust, Rubin said, because of the recommendations against jail time. "If you talked to a thousand people in the legal community," he claimed, "a thousand out of a thousand would say he shouldn't be in jail."

Rubin said he had talked to Mill once since he's been in prison.

"His head is up," Rubin said. "He believes that this is a good world, and he's a good person who got caught up with one bad judge. He's got a good head on his shoulders."
Philly's higher-ups recently have been trying their hardest to get the attention of Amazon in order to have the company build its enormous new offices in the city. But if they haven't gotten the attention of the online shopping behemoth yet, at least their attempts are worth a little satire.

The Onion today pokes fun at Philly's push to be the home of Amazon's HQ2 in an article titled "Confident Philadelphia Officials Preemptively Raze Center City to Make Room For Amazon Headquarters." In it, Philly officials have decided to knock down two square miles of Center City and relocate 57,000 Philadelphians in order to accommodate Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' e-commerce empire, all without a guarantee that the company is even coming here.

The Onion's version of Mayor Jim Kenney, of course, was gung-ho on the decision, calling it "an easy call" to demolish Center City:

"After taking a look at the competition and figuring we probably have this thing in the bag, we just went ahead and tore down Center City so Amazon can move right in," said Mayor Jim Kenney, noting that destroying Philadelphia's central business district was "an easy call" and that he was proud of the city's campaign to woo the company with promotional videos, full-page newspaper ads, and endorsements from state politicians and local celebrities. "We look forward to all the jobs and economic benefits that will be coming our way once Amazon decides to call what used to be Center City home."

In addition to losing landmarks like LOVE Park and City Hall, plus neighborhoods including Society Hill and Penn's Landing, the piece also has Kenney's office displacing 100,000 Philadelphia residents around the city in advance of Amazon's supposed arrival. The company's employees, after all, need somewhere to stay.

"We're willing to do whatever it takes to ensure Amazon chooses Philadelphia, whether that requires tax incentives, infrastructure upgrades, or filling the Schuylkill with concrete to create more parking," The Onion's version of Kenney concludes in the piece. "I'm sure it's just a matter of time until it's all official."

However, as the piece makes clear, Philly loses out on the headquarters, making all that destruction and work for nothing.

Funny, yes, but also maybe a little too real. Philadelphia officials have been going after Amazon intensely, going so far as to launch an $85,000 ad campaign centering on bus wraps in Seattle, where the company is currently headquartered. According to CBS, Philadelphia has spent around $250,000 courting Amazon, all told.

And, according to the Wall Street Journal, Philly isn't a top contender for the Amazon's new headquarters among the 238 cities that submitted bids. That publication's number one city? Dallas.

We also, however, aren't the only city to try a unique promotion to get Amazon's attention. Tucson, Ariz., for example, attempted to mail the company a 21-foot-tall Saguaro cactus, while Birmingham, Ala. installed giant Amazon boxes in its downtown. Stonecrest, Ga., meanwhile, offered to rename a section of its town after the company, and New York City lit the Empire State Building with orange lights in honor of Amazon.

"We wanted to stay on the right side of eager," Mayor Kenney's communications director Lauren Hitt told the Inquirer of Philly's Seattle campaign last month. "We don't want to come off like a lovesick teenager."
For Sylva Senat's first Thanksgiving dinner, the year his family moved to America from Haiti, the turkey was almost an afterthought.

"At the beginning, it was just, 'Well, everyone's home and there's Haitian food, and, oh, we got to make a turkey today,' " said Senat, executive chef at Philadelphia's French-influenced Maison 208. "We put it in the oven and forgot about it. It wasn't the focus."

Over the years he's spent working in restaurants, Senat learned more about American cooking and to prepare the turkey so that it took on more of a starring role. But some relatives remained part of the time-honored American tradition of loving the side dishes most, which means that every year the Thanksgiving table is laden not just with stuffing and gravy, but also with tastes of the Caribbean, like rice and beans or plantains.

"It becomes a perfect hybrid of both places," Senat said. "A multitude of sides."

Senat, who was raised in Brooklyn, and who worked stints at Jean-Georges, Tashan, and Buddakan, and who opened Maison 208 this year, said Thanksgiving with his family is an all-day eating event, featuring multiple meat courses and endless sides made by his five sisters.

Since his oldest sister realized Senat knew how to cook turkey, it has been his job every year. He came up with ways to incorporate Caribbean flavors into the bird: he brines his turkey  in this case a 36-pound organic bird from Jaindl Farms in Orefield, Pa.  in 32 ounces of Haitian coffee from La Colombe. Salt, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers add flavor and heat to the skin and meat.

Senat leaves two types of bread out overnight to harden  brioche and plain white  to use in his stuffing. He bakes it with a variety of wild mushrooms and spices, eggs, and whole milk, turning it into a moist, addictive dish that's gooey on the inside, crisp at first bite, and infused with texture and earthiness.

For the gravy, Senat fashions a thickening slurry out of potato starch and water, then cooks it with chicken stock, rosemary, and thyme. The resulting sauce is light and aromatic, almost delicate. Crunchy, bright haricot verts are blanched and tossed with fresh herbs de Provence for a simple, clean flavor that's refreshing against the richness of the other dishes.

Rice and beans, always served in a pot on the table to keep it warm, is a staple. "It's not a Haitian meal without rice and beans," said Senat, who makes his with thyme, onions, and kidney beans.

There is always a second meat at Senat family Thanksgivings, such as rack of lamb or pork shoulder. There are usually a few dishes of plantains, glistening brown and served as snacks between courses. Senat dusts them with a hint of truffle salt to cut the sweetness. A bowl of Haitian pikliz slaw, a pickled vegetable relish made with Scotch bonnets, is always on the table so anyone can add spice to the turkey or anything else.

Chocolate flan rounds out the dessert offerings, along with chocolate bread, a scone-brioche hybrid pastry with chocolate chips that is one of Senat's 8-year-old daughter's favorite parts of the meal. Perhaps Senat's largest concession to American Thanksgiving traditions is his pumpkin pie, made from the recipe on the can of Libby's pumpkin puree, except that he adds condensed milk. Senat bakes it in several small pie shells because he prefers the way it looks.

"As we all got older and had our own families, the meal became more about creating these traditions for ourselves," he said.
In a move aimed at encouraging the emerging field of regenerative medicine while also protecting patients from dangerous products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday issued guidelines for exempting certain cell and tissue treatments from the costly drug approval process.

"In the last decade, we've seen improbable advances that hold out great hope for patients," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. "Our aim is to make sure we're being nimble when it comes to fostering innovation, while taking steps to protect the safety of patients."

The new policy sets out criteria for using biological products without formal FDA approval. The cells or tissues must come from the patient being treated; be used for the same function they perform naturally in the body; and be "minimally manipulated." The FDA believes such products pose a low risk of harm.

But the new guidance, put out as a draft in 2014, does not address the explosion of stem cell clinics offering treatments that may be ineffective or worse. Some clinics charge thousands of dollars to suck out and then inject cells taken from the patient's blood, bone marrow, or fat, saying they can fix everything from autism to Alzheimer's disease.

In the Philadelphia metropolitan area, for example, a new company founded by chiropractors called Regen America: Centers for Regenerative Medicine has been marketing bone marrow stem-cell treatments as virtual cures for arthritic knees and hips, and damaged spines. The marketing targets the elderly, even though orthopedic research shows they are least likely to benefit because the body's supply of stem cells diminishes with age.

Paul Knoepfler, a stem cell researcher at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and a leading voice of caution about the unbridled stem cell industry, called the new guidance "encouraging," but insufficient.

"The FDA seems serious about smoothing the path for those clinical researchers developing promising new stem-cell therapies based on rigorous data," Knoepfler said. "But it needs to do something major about the stem cell clinic problem on the other side of the coin, too."

During a press conference, FDA officials said they were not ignoring the problem of deceptive marketing, but that enforcement actions would first focus on outright dangerous clinics.

"We are going to be prioritizing where we take action," Gottlieb said, adding that top priority is products "that are not just being promoted inappropriately but are also putting patients at risk."

Peter Marks, director of the FDA's center for biologics evaluation, added, "There are literally hundreds of these clinics and we simply don't have the bandwidth to go after all of them at once."

Along with the new guidance, the FDA on Wednesday sent news outlets a consumer health alert that warned, "Stem cells have been called everything from cure-alls to miracle treatments. But don't believe the hype."

The only stem-cell therapies that the FDA has approved use cells from bone marrow or umbilical cord blood to treat blood cancers and certain immune disorders. Under rules that took effect in 2005, biologic tissues processed and marketed as therapies were supposed to go through the drug-approval process, which requires years of costly testing in humans to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.

Although there have not been many reports of serious injuries from unapproved stem-cell therapies, a handful of shocking examples led the FDA to intervene.

In August, as part of a vow to crack down on what it called "unscrupulous" practitioners, the agency announced the seizure of smallpox vaccine from a California company accused of combining the vaccine with fat-derived stem cells. The FDA also sent a warning letter to a Florida clinic that ruined the vision of three women by injecting stem cells into their eyes.

The FDA said manufacturers will have 36 months to determine whether their products qualify for exemptions from the drug-approval process, or must apply to begin that process. In general, the guidance says, low risk biological products are given by a shot rather than by intravenous infusion, inhalation or injection. Cells may be rinsed or concentrated by spinning in a centrifuge, but manipulation such as multiplying the cells in lab culture is prohibited.

Alta Charo, a professor of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin, praised the new guidance, but also called for better consumer information. California last month adopted a first-of-its-kind law requiring clinics to give each patient a handout disclosing that their stem-cell therapies are not approved by the FDA.

"While FDA does commit to pursuing enforcement for clinics offering the most risky interventions, this alone is not enough," Charo wrote in an email. "It is essential that patients be better informed of the regulatory status of the interventions, of the basis on which clinics have reason to believe the intervention is safe and effective, and of the fact that patients retain their legal right to complain if there has been negligence."
At first glance, "Kiefer Rodin," at the Barnes Foundation through March 12, seems like random mash-up: Combine recent works by one hugely admired contemporary artist with unfamiliar works by the greatest sculptor of the 19 century, and see who buys tickets.

Auguste Rodin, who single-handedly revived the muscularity and humanism of the Renaissance and classical sculpture, would seem to have little in common with Anselm Kiefer, an artist known for his dense, layered, scorched-earth landscapes. Kiefer, born in Germany in 1945, the year World War II ended, conjures dark visions of a moment in human history after the Holocaust and before nuclear annihilation. What do they have to say to each other?

Quite a lot, it turns out. This is a serious and stimulating exhibition, one I expect to be thinking about for a long time. It provokes ideas not just about the two artists being shown, but about the entire course of Western architecture and art.

Read our interview with Anselm Kiefer.

Kiefer's name comes first in the title of the show because it is about his response to Rodin's work. It consists of some works by Rodin that interest and inspire him, along with many works Kiefer created during the last three years in response to a deep dig into Rodin's archives and workshop. Though the show, organized by the Musee Rodin in Paris and the Barnes, is an observance of the centenary of Rodin's death, there is no pretense of comprehensiveness or even depth in its account of the sculptor's career. (Philadelphia's Rodin Museum is just across the street.) Rather, it is a document of an aesthetic and intellectual encounter.

Kiefer came to Rodin because of his interest in a subject Rodin studied throughout his life and wrote and illustrated a book about late in life: the cathedrals of France. Rodin filled more than 100 notebooks with drawings and notes on both the architecture and the sculpture of the cathedrals, and his book was a final testament.

The first gallery is all Rodin, and packed with things, including plaster versions of works in intermediate stages, complete with seams, patches, and, in the case of The Cry, one of the most powerful works here, screws drilled into the head to assist in remaking it in marble. There are dozens of anatomical spare parts  bent elbows, bones, and shod feet  that Rodin used in his work. The conventional view of Rodin as heroic, hands-on form-giver gives way to one that shows the artist assembling his works out of multiple parts, much in the way Kiefer does.

Rodin's sculpture of two hands  titled Cathedral  is here, along with about two dozen watercolors of female nudes, some of them nearly pornographic. Rodin is seeing the women as objects, to be sure, but in some of these pink and blue works, with a delicate pencil line that is often independent of the color, he identifies the curves and contortions of his women with the lines, shapes, and joints he found in Gothic cathedrals. There are also some sculptures, such as the terra-cotta Reclining Woman, that explore this identification between body and architecture.

It becomes clear that Rodin's identification with the Gothic was not merely about sculpture, though his fusion of the grotesques and the complex storytelling of medieval church art with classical beauty is a large part of what makes his work so powerful. Rather, Rodin was seeing the whole cathedral as a sculpture based on the human figure, a place of muscular columns, stony sinews, and upraised arms. He shows that even though these buildings were about transcending our bodies, their structure mimics our anatomy. Cathedrals understand how it feels to be human. And for Rodin, at least, they were sexy.

The bulk of the exhibition is Kiefer's response to Rodin in watercolors, sculpture, and monumental canvases. The watercolors are found in a series of books Kiefer made from cardboard coated with plaster. The pages on view continue Rodin's exploration of cathedral architecture and female form. In one, a nude appears in a rose window. In others, human bodies emerge from the patterning of marble. Some show the staining and blotching familiar from his paintings, but in pinks and blues very different from his usual mud and metal.

Kiefer refers to the 11 three-dimensional pieces on display as vitrines rather than sculptures. All are in glass cases and are assemblages of disparate objects. One of the most complex, Sursum Corda, named for a key moment in the Latin mass ("Lift up your hearts") consists of a large chunk of earth, beneath which are buried casts of Rodin's anatomical spare parts that we saw in the first gallery. Rising from the earth is a tree and a rusty helix that evokes the shape of DNA. An untitled vitrine contains a heavy, rusted old-fashioned scale with an egg-shaped object in its pan. Does this mean life is in the balance?

Of the vitrines, I was most attracted to Emanation, a nonrepresentative piece made of lead, plaster, and other metal. It looks like the surface of many of Kiefer's canvases, but it is hanging free in a glass case. You can walk around the back and see it from the canvas' point of view.

The climax of the show is a gallery with three Kiefer canvases, each about 12  feet square and all titled Auguste Rodin: Les Cathedrales de France. The towers they show aren't from cathedrals; Kiefer constructed them himself in France. However these works do literally contain material from a cathedral. Years ago, Kiefer purchased lead being removed from the roof of Cologne's cathedral, and he has used it in his works ever since.

Here, the lead seems to erupt across the surface of the works, encrusting Kiefer's dark earthen colors in a mysterious iridescence. These need to be seen closely, so that your eye and mind wander deep into the multilayered and sensuous though harsh dreamscape that Kiefer has put on canvas. Kiefer, who creates his own colors in a laboratory, has spoken of himself as an alchemist. This ties in with his interest in the medieval. And, like the alchemists, he works to transform lead. In his case, it is not into gold, but into canvases that feel full of dirt and spirit.

Of all the things in the exhibition, these unpeopled canvases have the least to do with Rodin, and the most to do with what Kiefer has been doing, wonderfully, for quite a long time. Kiefer's take on Rodin is intellectually stimulating. These final works are simply thrilling. I had to force myself to leave.

Kiefer Rodin

Through March 12 at the Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Hours: Wednesday-Monday 11 a.m-5p.m.

Admission: Adults $30; seniors (65+) $23; youth 13-18 and college students with ID, $5; children 12 and under, free.

Information: 215-278-7000 or www.barnesfoundation.org
NEWARK, N.J.  A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial in U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez's corruption case, leaving federal bribery charges against him unresolved and the New Jersey Democrat secure in his seat for now in a closely divided Senate.

The jury's inability to reach a unanimous decision after seven days and 30 hours of deliberations also delivered a blow to the Justice Department, which has faced a number of high-profile setbacks to its efforts to prosecute corruption cases since a 2016 Supreme Court decision raised the bar for proving political bribery.

The jury was split 10-2 in favor of acquitting Menendez and his codefendant, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, according to one juror and an alternate who spoke to the other panelists after the mistrial ruling.

As U.S. District Judge William H. Walls declared further deliberations "futile" and dismissed the deadlocked jury for good just after 1 p.m., the senator stood at the defense table, held his palms out and directed his gaze skyward, saying quiet words to himself.

Later, Menendez  teary-eyed, yet defiant  addressed reporters gathered on the steps of the Newark federal courthouse.

"The way this case started was wrong," he said, his voice wavering at times. "Certain elements of this FBI could not understand or, even worse, accept that a Latino kid from Union City, Hudson County could grow up to be a United States Senator."

Standing in front of his son, Robert, and daughter, Alicia, he added: "I understand why so many Americans feel that justice is elusive. I've also learned about the power of the federal government and how it can crush you if it wants to."

Prosecutors did not immediately say whether they would seek to retry the senator on charges stemming from lavish gifts, flights on private jets and campaign support he received from Melgen, his friend and co-defendant. The senator, whose public career has spanned more than four decades, maintained that he had done nothing wrong and would be exonerated.

Melgen, who was convicted of Medicare fraud earlier this year in a separate criminal case, also faces potential retrial on the bribery charges.

"The Department of Justice appreciates the jury's service in this lengthy trial," a DOJ spokesman said in a statement Thursday. "The department will carefully consider next steps in this important matter."

Yet juror Ed Norris, a 49-year-old equipment operator from Morris County, said the panel remained largely unconvinced of the government's case after the 11-week trial.

"There was no smoking gun in this case," he said. When prosecutors concluded their case in court, Norris said he thought to himself: "In my gut I was like, that was it? That's all they had?"

He added that the two jurors convinced of Menendez's guilt did not explain their reasoning. Even the alternates, who did not participate in deliberations, seemed to favor acquittal, said one, Steve Platt, a 49-year-old finance director for a pharmaceutical company who lives in Essex County.

"It was very hard to specifically link the things Sen. Menendez did with the things that Dr. Melgen provided," he said. "I'm sure if I had a friend with a private jet who offered to take me from his place in Florida to the Dominican Republic because he was going anyway, I would go, too."

Though the trial was inconclusive, its end quickly reverberated from the Newark courtroom to halls of power in Trenton and Washington, where Republicans had hoped the trial would lead to Menendez's ouster and give Gov. Christie a chance to appoint his replacement and boost the GOP's two-vote majority in the Senate.

Menendez's top political adviser, Mike Soliman, said the senator will soon announce a bid for reelection in 2018. For his part, the senator said Thursday, "For those who were digging my political grave so you could jump into my seat, I know who you are."

Should he seek reelection, Menendez would have the support of key Democratic Party leaders. Gov.-elect Phil Murphy and Senate President Stephen Sweeney both said they would support Menendez's reelection bid, a sign that the incumbent likely wouldn't face a serious primary challenger.

"He was tried. They brought the charges and they couldn't find him guilty," Sweeney told reporters at an event in Atlantic City. "We should move on."

Still, his future remains murky.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) immediately called for an ethics investigation into his colleague's behavior, saying the trial had "shed light on serious accusations of violating the public's trust." The Senate Ethics Committee said it had begun "a preliminary inquiry" into Menendez's actions in 2012, but put that on hold out of deference to the criminal investigation.

"At this time, the Committee intends to resume its process," the panel said in a statement Thursday.

Menendez also faces the possibility of a damaging re-trial hanging over any campaign. Headlines from the trial just concluded have already sunk his approval ratings to the lowest point of his career.

For that reason, Republicans intend to take a shot at a weakened Menendez in 2018.

His legal troubles began with unsubstantiated online rumors during his 2012 reelection campaign. Though the anonymous accusations were eventually discredited, the ties between Melgen and Menendez brought on an investigation that led to an indictment in early 2015.

Menendez, investigators discovered, had taken numerous flights on Melgen's private jet without reporting the gifts. Though he paid $58,500 for those trips once they became public, prosecutors found that the gifts went much further.

Menendez took frequent trips to Melgen's luxurious Dominican Republic villa, stayed three nights at an upscale Paris hotel courtesy of the doctor's American Express points, and accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions intended to benefit the senator's 2012 campaign and other groups he supported.

At the same time, Menendez pressed officials to adopt a policy that would help Melgen in an $8.9 million billing dispute with Medicare. The senator also urged officials to take steps that would help Melgen in a business dispute in the Dominican Republic and aided the doctor in obtaining visas for his overseas girlfriends.

Prosecutors said Melgen effectively had the senator "on retainer" for his services.

Menendez argued that the gifts were just exchanges between friends, nothing more, and his advocacy was based on sound policy views, even if Melgen brought the issues to the senator's attention.

The national implications of Menendez's case were heightened by a Supreme Court decision that raised the bar for corruption cases by narrowing the definition of what can be considered an "official act" by a public official.

At least three politicians have had verdicts or sentences overturned based on the 2016 decision, which vacated the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, and Menendez's attorneys had cited that ruling in defending the senator.

The last senator to be convicted of a crime remains another New Jerseyan, Harrison A. Williams, who was caught in the Abscam scandal and found guilty in 1981.

The last time federal prosecutors attempted to prosecute a sitting U.S. Senator, Alaska's Ted Stevens, they obtained a conviction only to see the case fall apart and withdrawn before sentencing over concerns of prosecutorial misconduct.

As he left the courthouse Thursday, Menendez said he was grateful that  at least for now  he had escaped a similar fate.

"I look forward to going back to Washington to fight for the people of New Jersey and across the country," he said. "Today is resurrection day."

Staff writer Amy S. Rosenberg contributed to this article.
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez leaves the federal courthouse in Newark, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. Jurors in Menendez's bribery trial remained deadlocked Tuesday after a judge told them to "take as much time as you need" to reach a verdict on 18 counts against the New Jersey Democrat and his wealthy friend. Read more

UPDATE: A federal judge has declared a mistrial in the corruption case of Sen. Robert Menendez.

NEWARK, N.J.  For the second time this week, the federal jury in U.S. Sen. Robert Mendendez's federal bribery and corruption trial has reported that it is deadlocked  a development that suggested the case could soon be headed toward a mistrial.

Just before noon Thursday, the panel sent a note to U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, indicating that it remained at an impasse and that individual jurors were not "willing to move away from our strong convictions" after more than 30 hours of deliberations.

Speaking from the bench, Walls said that asking the jurors to determine whether they could reach a verdict on at least one of the 12 counts the senator faces seemed like a "futile exercise" that could lead down a "slippery slope of coercion."

He began calling jurors back to his chambers one-by-one to interview them in the presence of attorneys on both sides of the case.

Menendez's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, asked the judge for a mistrial.

"It's not that they're just saying they cannot reach a unanimous decision, they're going beyond that and saying they've reviewed all the evidence slowly and thoroughly in great detailnor are we willing to move away from our strong convictions," Lowell said. "I think we have a for-real hung jury."

Prosecutor Peter Koski, deputy chief of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, told the judge there would be "no harm" in asking the jury if it could reach a partial verdict.

"This jury is under the impression it needs unanimity on each count," Koski said.

In the seven days since jurors were handed the case, they have worked mostly in silence  one interrupted when a member of the panel, after being excused by Walls last week due to a scheduled vacation, sketched a vivid portrait for reporters of the jury room dynamic.

Describing a tense scene, that juror, Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby, said that she doubted the panel could come to a unanimous agreement on any of the bribery counts Mendendez faces. However, she said, the panel was close to convicting the senator on falsifying information about gifts he received from a wealthy benefactor on his financial disclosure form  a felony that carries up to five years in prison.

When the jury returned Monday to resume working, Walls had replaced Arroyo-Maultsby with an alternate and instructed them to start over in their debate. Less than six hours later, they sent their first report of a deadlock.

Since then, the group had remained cloistered without emerging to ask any questions until Thursday's second report of an impasse.

Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, has denied charges that he accepted a series of gifts including flights on private jets, luxury hotel stays, and large campaign donations from Florida eye doctor, Salomon Melgen. In exchange, prosecutors say, the senator brought his influence to bear on issues important to his benefactor.

Jurors heard nine weeks of testimony and arguments. The trial is in its 11th week.

This is a developing story.
A perfect Thanksgiving pinot comes from Sonomas historic Gundlach Bundschu, one of several wineries touched by the recent wild fires. Read more

In a fall of relentless deadly natural disasters, even the seeming paradise of California's wine country didn't escape. More than 200,000 acres and 8,400 structures burned in Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino; 42 people died and thousands more were displaced, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. And locals were especially alarmed when they learned that Gundlach Bundschu was in harm's way.

"Gundlach Bundschu is one of the trademark wineries of California," says Chris Sawyer, a Sonoma sommelier, journalist, and restaurateur. "It's going to turn 160 years old next year and remains the oldest family-owned winery in California, now in its sixth generation. So there was a lot of heartfelt concern about them across the nation."

Jim and Nancy Bundschu escaped with just the clothes on their backs while their vine-fringed century-old home burned to the ground. But no one was hurt, and the winery itself was thankfully untouched.

Not all were so lucky. So in the spirit of revival, it means more right now than ever to celebrate the heart of America's wine industry and consider drinking some California bottles at this year's Thanksgiving table. Fortunately, few things go better with turkey and fixings than a Sonoma Coast pinot noir like the 2014 vintage currently available from Gundlach Bundschu. It pairs the up-front fruit notes of ripe dark berries with plums and cherry, but also a depth of minerals and spice framed by silky tannins. At around $30 a bottle and slightly hard to track down in the Philadelphia region (WineWorks in Marlton has a good supply), this is admittedly a special holiday splurge. For more affordable drinking that's still in keeping with the Sonoma theme, and perhaps more widely accessible, Sawyer suggests the ancient vine zinfandel from Cline Cellars, which was undamaged by the fires but sat precariously in view of the smoldering blaze.

"This is a zin in balance with nice fruit and spice," Sawyer says. "It has finesse and goes with everything on the table, because, let's be honest, Thanksgiving is about so much more than the turkey."

This year, that glass of Sonoma wine can be lifted with extra thanks.

 Craig LaBan

Gundlach Bundschu 2014 Sonoma Coast pinot noir, $28.99 for wine club and internet sales ($34.99 regular) at WineWorks, 319 W. Rte. 70, Marlton, wineworksonline.com; $36.99 in Pennsylvania (code 32148). Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel, $14.99 on sale in Pennsylvania (code 7579).
Parents were dropping their children off at Rancho Tehama Elementary School, a tiny building in a rural stretch of Northern California, when they heard the first shot. Almost immediately, two more gunshots cracked through the morning air.

It was just minutes before school was supposed to begin on Tuesday morning. The school secretary made a snap decision: Lock down the school. She and other staff members ushered children from the quad into the school, quickly urging nearly 100 young students inside, along with four teachers, aides and parents, said Rick Fitzpatrick, superintendent of the Corning Union Elementary School District.

Children were still hurrying in when the gunman's white pickup truck came tearing down the street and crashed into the school's locked gate. A man later identified as Kevin J. Neal jumped out, wielding a semi-automatic rifle and wearing a vest packing additional ammunition, authorities said. Children were still hurrying into classrooms, Fitzpatrick said, when the head custodian looked around a corner.

Neal raised his rifle, targeting the custodian, but it apparently jammed, Fitzpatrick said. By the time Neal cleared the jam, the last student was inside and the school was locked down.

Within 10 seconds of the last lock going into place, Neal was standing in the quad where, moments earlier, children had been playing.

Children, school staff and parents huddled inside under desks and in offices. Outside, Neal raised his rifle and began to fire. Police said in the hours leading up to that moment, he had killed his wife and hidden her body before beginning a bloody rampage across this community about 135 miles north of Sacramento.

Neal, who also tried to open doors and get inside, fired at the school for six agonizing minutes, shattering windows and shooting through wooden walls, authorities said. One bullet struck a child, while others were wounded with broken glass. Neal eventually "became frustrated" and gave up, abandoning the school, Phil Johnston, an assistant sheriff in Tehama County, told reporters.

The decision to lock the building down  a decision that normally comes from law enforcement officials, and a security step that has become commonplace for schools across the country adopting new protocols since the massacre at Colorado's Columbine High School  helped keep the bloodshed Tuesday from escalating into something even more horrifying: Another rampage at an elementary school, one that would have erupted just weeks before the country marks five years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, one of the darkest moments in modern American history.

"It is monumental that that school went on lockdown," Johnston said Wednesday. "I really, truly believe that we would have had a horrific bloodbath in that school if that school hadn't taken the action when they did."

Unable to march into the school, police say Neal continued driving around the small community of Rancho Tehama Reserve, firing at people who happened to cross his path. Neal killed five people during his attacks Monday and Tuesday and injured several others, police said, targeting those he had quarreled with and complete strangers alike.

About 25 minutes after the first 911 call came in, police stopped the attacks when officers rammed his car and killed him during an exchange of gunfire.

Authorities and people who knew Neal said he had a volatile, sometimes violent past. His relatives had long worried about his mental state, and he had a number of run-ins with law enforcement in North Carolina before moving to California a decade ago.

Police said they had been called to Neal's home before after neighbors reported gunfire coming from his home, but "he was not law enforcement friendly" and did not come to the door, Johnston said. Officers, unable to determine from outside if he was there, watched the house hoping he would emerge, but they did not see him.

One of the people killed during Neal's rampage was a neighbor he was charged with assaulting with a deadly weapon in January, police said. Neal was out on bail for that attack. Authorities have not released the name of this neighbor or identified the other people killed or wounded, though they have said no children were among the dead.

Johnston said officials recovered two semi-automatic rifles that they believe Neal illegally manufactured at his home, though it is unclear if Neal built them or modified existing weaponry.

Neal was prohibited from owning, possessing or buying firearms, according to a judge's protective order issued after the alleged assault. In addition to the assault, Neal was charged with other felonies including false imprisonment by violence and discharging a firearm in a "grossly negligent manner," court records show.

When police searched Neal's home after the rampage, they found another victim. Authorities were looking for Neal's wife, who has not been publicly named, concerned that something had happened to her. They found her body hidden under the floor of their home, Johnston said. Police believe Neal shot her several times on Monday.

During the investigation, neighbors told police they believed "there was a domestic violence incident" at the home on Monday, Johnston said. This episode was not reported to police at the time, he said, adding that such incidents were "a very common thing with this couple." He did not elaborate.

Neal is the latest in a long line of mass shooters with histories of domestic violence charges or allegations. He is also the latest to target children, according to people who keep track of mass killings.

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy groups, 1 in 4 victims of mass shootings is a child. One reason, they say, is that such attacks are often rooted in domestic violence, with attackers often victimizing their own children. But as these incidents grow deadlier, some observers say killing kids is just an easy way to up the shock value.

Perpetrators seem to try to kill "with the highest impact, the most extreme form of violence and the biggest splash in their twisted way of looking at things, and one of those ways unfortunately is looking at children and looking at schools, because our children are there every day," said Ken Trump, a school security consultant.

Neal's family said they worried for years about his mental state. His relatives had sought to get him treatment for what they believed was an apparent mental illness, according to his sister, Sheridan Orr. She described the tragedy of the past two days as her worst fear come to life.

"If you could've seen him in those rages," Orr, 46, said in a telephone interview. "Anything was possible."

Neal's behavior escalated from a bad temper as a teenager to something more uncontrollable as he got older, Orr said. When he would call family members in a rage, upset about something, they would tell him that he needed to go to a mental health facility and that he needed medication. He would always refuse and he never received an official diagnosis, Orr said.

"He never should have had guns and he should've been able to get mental health care," she said.

Their mother would break down and tell Orr that she didn't know what else to do or how to help her son, whom she talked to every day, Orr said.

"Her life's work has been to try to get Kevin some help and to find a way for him to be happy," Orr said. "He had a very erratic and uncontrollable temper that made it difficult to deal with him, and so it fragmented and fractured our family for many years."

Neal's mother did not respond to messages seeking comment, and Orr said she was too upset to speak further about what happened. Neal's mother had told the Associated Press that he called her Monday to say "it's all over now" and that he was "fighting against everyone who lives in this area."

Orr said she had not seen Neal in a decade and last spoke with him months ago. But when they were together, she said, it was horrifying to watch him spiral out of control. Something as simple as using the washing machine while he was trying to sleep could set him off.

What may have triggered the attacks on Monday and Tuesday remained unclear. Police believe Neal killed his wife, "cut a hole in his floor" and hid her body there, Johnston said. He also killed the neighbor who he had assaulted earlier in the year, Johnston said.

Shortly before 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Neal began to storm through the community, shooting at vehicles and homes alike. His wrath was seemingly arbitrary. As with other mass killings that have erupted in places such as Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, the bullets targeted whoever had the misfortune to cross the gunman's path at that moment in time.

During the rampage, Neal intentionally crashed into a car and then fired at the passengers when they got out, killing one person, Johnston said. At another point, he shot a woman driving her children to school, seriously injuring her and wounding one of the young children in her backseat. School officials believe these are the shots that were heard at the nearby elementary school, triggering the lockdown.

As was the case after the recent mass shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, concrete answers about what prompted the attack were scarce.

"I really don't know what his motive was," Johnston said on Wednesday. "I think he was just on a rampage. I think he had a desire to kill as many people as he could."

Since the attack, Johnston stressed that school officials kept the rampage from being "so much worse." At the elementary school, the first shot was heard at 7:53 a.m., school officials said. Coy Ferreira, 32, whose daughter is a kindergartner there, was dropping her off when he heard what he said sounded like fireworks.

Children still wearing backpacks rushed inside and hid under desks, said Ferreira, who also went into a classroom. The teacher urged children to hide in her office, but three students were too frightened and remained under their desks, Ferreira said. The gunman blasted out the windows, and Ferreira said he quickly ran to the door.

"If he's going to come in he's going to come in killing me first," he said. "It's going to be me, and hopefully not the students . . . and I was just praying to God he wouldn't be getting to the door."

The gunman never got inside. He moved on to the next room, firing into the wooden walls, and people inside the classroom with Ferreira soon realized one child had been shot in the chest and leg. He was later taken to the hospital.

"This is a situation that is every educator's nightmare," Fitzpatrick said. "Looking at how it went down it could not have possibly gone better."

Still, it's a sign of the times that even a tiny school in a remote area has a plan for an active shooter. Since the Columbine shootings in 1999, people take such planning seriously, having drills and procedures in place.

When Don Bridges, president of the National Association of School Resource Officers started working in security back in the mid-1990s, the majority of schools had no crisis plans, he said. At schools today, he said, "it is just a very natural process and everyone knows that it is something we absolutely, positively have to do."

After the shooting ended, Ferreira said, he praised his daughter for doing what she was told during the attack at the school.

"She said, 'Daddy, you told me there would be no bad people at school,' " Ferreira said, "and how am I supposed to answer her?"
Hours after a tearful Alabama woman accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her nearly 40 years ago, the former judge gathered with supporters at a volunteer fire department near his home in northeastern Alabama to label the charges "absolutely false."

By his side, as always, was his wife of 32 years, Kayla Moore. But this time, she spoke up.

"He has never one time lifted a finger to me. He is the most gentle, most kind man that I have ever known in my life. He's godly. He's loving  and everybody in this community knows it," Kayla Moore said, looking around at the people gathered that night. "These are our church members, these are our family, these are our friends, these are people that know him just like I do."

Over the last week, as several women have come forward to publicly accuse Roy Moore, 70, of pursuing them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, Kayla Moore has become her husband's most visible and aggressive defender. In addition to her defense on Monday night, she has used Facebook to question the credibility of her husband's accusers, threaten lawsuits, and spread information that sometimes turns out to be false.

This is a new role for Kayla Moore, who until now has been happy to yield the national stage to her husband, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge who was removed from the court twice, first for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from courthouse grounds and then for telling state clerks to disregard the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed same-sex marriage.

"She rarely injects herself into the political fray," said Mat Staver, the founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, who represented Roy Moore in an ethics trial when he was most recently suspended from the court. "Her demeanor is more supportive than vocal."

Staver and others who know the Moores well say the accusations against the former judge don't match the man they have known for decades. As a growing number of prominent Republicans have called for him to drop out of the race in the face of allegations of sexual misconduct, defending Moore has fallen chiefly to those closest to him  especially his wife.

Friends describe Kayla Moore as a deeply religious wife, mother and grandmother who has devoted her life to her family and gushes lovingly about her four children and five grandchildren. She served on the board of her husband's Foundation for Moral Law, which he founded to promote Christian values, and then took over the nonprofit as president in January 2013, when Roy Moore was elected to a second term on the state Supreme Court.

For years, Moore has helped coordinate her husband's political campaigns. In his race for the Senate this year, the two have traveled nearly everywhere together  with him often at the wheel while she navigates.

"During these stressful times . . . she remains steadfast and passionate," said Jessie Deem, who is Kayla Moore's executive assistant at the Foundation for Moral Law, "and she's very strong in her faith, and she never wavers from that."

Kayla Moore did not respond to a request for an interview sent through a campaign spokesman. She has forcefully pushed back against the scrutiny her husband has faced during this campaign.

Upon learning that Washington Post reporters were contacting people she knows for this article, Moore on Wednesday posted one of the reporters' personal cellphone numbers on her Facebook page and one of her followers posted a copy of that reporter's resume, which included her home address. Later in the day, Moore posted a link to the campaign website where people can now report any interaction they have with a reporter.

"In the past month our hometown, county, and state have been invaded by the Washington Post and liberal media," Moore wrote. "We have had numerous reports of phone calls, cellphone calls, Messages, emails, even to the point of them showing up at peoples houses . . . It's called a witch hunt. We are filing suit."

In an extensive report published last week, the Post detailed allegations that Roy Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl nearly four decades ago when he was in his early thirties and pursued three other girls around the same time who were between the ages of 16 and 18.

None of the women sought out the Post. While reporting a story in Alabama about supporters of Moore's Senate campaign, a Post reporter heard that Moore allegedly had sought relationships with teenage girls.

Over the ensuing three weeks, two Post reporters contacted and interviewed the four women. All were initially reluctant to speak publicly but chose to do so after multiple interviews, saying they thought it was important for people to know about their interactions with Moore. The women say they don't know one another.

The Moores met at a church Christmas party in December 1984 in Alabama's Etowah County, where they both grew up and lived. He was 37 and worked at a local law firm. She was then known as Kayla Kisor, a 24-year-old former beauty pageant contestant with a 1-year-old daughter who had just separated from her husband, Chuck Heald, who died in 2002.

At the party, Roy Moore read aloud a holiday poem he had written but was distracted by Kisor, who attended with her mother. He recognized her and wondered if she was the same woman he had watched dance in a recital at Gadsden State Junior College years earlier.

"It was something I had never forgotten," Moore wrote in his 2005 autobiography, So Help Me God. "Anxious to meet her, I began with the line, 'Haven't we met somewhere before?' 'I don't think so,' she replied."

Kisor was not interested in a relationship at that point, Moore wrote, but they met again early the next year when she visited the law firm where he worked.

"I was the only attorney available," Moore wrote. "And I was very available! We began to date soon after that."

Kisor filed for divorce on Dec. 28, 1984, according to court records, and her divorce was finalized on April 19, 1985. The Moores married on Dec. 14, 1985.

Roy Moore loves telling the story of how he proposed, said Allen Mendenhall, who worked as Moore's staff attorney at the state Supreme Court and is now the associate dean of the Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.

"He was bashful about popping the question, and said, 'Well, would ya?' " Mendenhall said in an email. " 'Would I what?' she asked, forcing him to formulate the operative words. 'You know,' he said, 'marry me.' "

The newlyweds lived in the partially finished home that Moore was building  which for the first few years of their marriage did not have a kitchen, forcing Kayla Moore to cook on an electric plate in the washroom, Moore wrote in his book.

"Kayla did a remarkable job transforming my cold, uninviting house into a warm, comfortable home," Moore wrote.

The Moores had their first child, Roy "Ory" Moore, in July 1987  followed by Caleb in 1990 and Micah in 1993. In 1992, Roy Moore was appointed as a circuit court judge and in 1994, he won an election to keep the position. In 2000, he was elected to the state Supreme Court for the first time. He was removed in 2003. In 2013, he was elected a second time and then was removed in 2016. Along the way, Kayla Moore was always by his side.

"We do everything together," Kayla Moore said in an interview with Breitbart News this month. "It was just me and him . . . We were always together. Always together."

As the president of the foundation, Kayla Moore became more politically active on her own. In February 2016, she endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) in the GOP presidential primaries because of his stances on small government, abortion and marriage. She has also given speeches defending her husband's actions on the court, opposing same-sex marriage and calling for legislation that will block transgender individuals from using the bathroom of their choice.

In April 2017, Roy Moore stood on the steps of the state capitol and announced he would run for the Senate seat Jeff Sessions vacated to become President Trump's attorney general. Kayla Moore stood to his right, holding a bouquet of red roses. In a brief speech, he acknowledged that campaigning and moving to Washington is "hard, you know, on your spouse." Moore and his wife have repeatedly questioned why the press is scrutinizing him and why damaging reports are coming out so soon before the special election on Dec. 12.

On Facebook, she has attacked Gloria Allred, the prominent women's rights attorney who is representing Beverly Young Nelson, who accused Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her in the late 1970s behind the restaurant where she was a waitress, the Olde Hickory House, when she was 16 years old. She posted a photo of Allred holding a sign that reads "I support transgender equality" and then wrote: "Gloria Allred; what it's really about!"

And she has posted articles  often from little-known blogs with names like "Activist Mommy" and "USA News Magazine"  that aim to refute some of the details from the accusers' statements, often with unsubstantiated and flimsy evidence.

Each time Moore posts, she receives a wave of positive messages, promises of prayers and other tidbits of unconfirmed information.

"These things are false, and it's ugly," Moore said at the end of her brief comments at the firehouse on Monday evening. "It's the ugliest politics that I've ever been in, in my life."
A group of Camden High School alumni emerge from federal court in Camden on Nov. 16, 2017, after a judge denied their request to halt demolition of their alma mater. Read more

A dozen Camden High School alumni and city residents filed out of federal court in disappointment after a judge on Thursday denied their request for an injunction to stop the planned demolition of the landmark "Castle on the Hill."

Work to tear down the 101-year-old edifice could begin in about a month, according to the state Schools Development Authority (SDA).

Attorney Matthew Litt filed for the injunction in mid-October on behalf of the school's parent-teacher organization in a last-ditch effort to save the school. The SDA plans to replace the deteriorating building with a $133 million school that could accommodate more students.

"If I understand this, then parents of current students and former alumni are opposed to the construction of a $133 million new building for their children which would cost them nothing?" asked Judge Robert B. Kugler, sounding incredulous.

Litt maintained that the injunction request in federal court was rooted in the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Marc E. Wolin, representing the SDA, disputed that argument.

"I thought the 14th Amendment was our strongest federal course of action. The judge determined otherwise," said Litt, who inherited the case in October from the Philadelphia law firm Ali Law, which introduced the complaint in federal court earlier this year.

The old school building was previously placed on New Jersey's register of historic places through a "certificate of eligibility," which the state said did not protect it from demolition. In October, the State Review Board nixed a new proposal to name the building a historic site because the demolition contract had already been awarded. The designation could have protected the school from encroachment.

After about 15 minutes of discussion, Kugler said the case likely belonged in Superior Court since there "may have been violations of state regulations."

"The state court can grant what they think is appropriate," he said, adding that Litt had failed to prove the PTO would face injury from the demolition.

Litt vowed to bring the issue to state court in coming days. The building's fate, he said, is "up against a clock."

"The court today did not reach the issue of whether or not there has been a violation of the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Act," Litt said, "only that the determination should take place in state court."

The ruling means the SDA now faces no obstacles in tearing down the building, said Kristen Maclean, the agency's spokeswoman. Crews are now removing asbestos from the school, but will likely begin demolishing the main building in a month.

"We are happy for the children of Camden that we'll now be able to provide a state-of-the-art facility for them and we are moving forward to that end," Maclean said.

The school district has created numerous committees composed of community members that meet quarterly to suggest to the SDA which historical and cultural aspects of the old school should be preserved. A telephone booth and the gymnasium floor are among the architectural pieces that will be salvaged.

"We look forward to continuing to work alongside the community, the city, and the SDA to advance this very important project," said Maita Soukup, district spokesperson.

Some of those who had hoped for a different outcome remained optimistic the school could be saved.

Doris Carpenter, a 1981 Camden High graduate, said she looks forward to continuing the fight in state court to save her alma mater. She spent months researching the school's cultural significance to apply for historic site status before the proposal was tossed in October.

"If we start hanging our heads down now," she said, "then it's over."
Jewell Williams in Harrisburg in 2010, when he was a state representative. Read more

Mayor Kenney said Thursday that Sheriff Jewell Williams should resign in the wake of reports that female employees are pursuing legal action after accusing him of workplace sexual harassment, and that a third woman received a $30,000 settlement in 2012 after suing him for sexual harassment when he was a state representative.

"I think he should step down," the mayor said in an email to the Inquirer and Daily News. "Three women have come forward  and one was paid a significant sum to settle her claim just a few years ago."

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chairman of the Philadelphia Democrats was more cautious. "We're just waiting to see what the allegations are," said Brady. "It would be unfortunate if the allegations are true."

He added that if they are true, Williams, a Democrat, should resign.

The Inquirer and Daily News reported last week that Vanessa Bines, 40, filed a federal lawsuit last month alleging that Williams and Deputy Sheriff Paris Washington harassed her with sexual come-ons and lewd remarks from 2013 to 2015; and later with retaliatory hostility after she filed complaints against them with city and federal equal employment offices.

The newspapers reported this week that former Sheriff's Office employee Marlaina Williams, 34, has accused Williams of similar behavior, according to a complaint she filed this fall with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It alleges that Williams repeatedly harassed her from June 2013 until she left the office emotionally broken this June. Her lawyer said he expects to file a federal lawsuit on the matter.

The Sheriff's Office issued a statement Thursday saying that the sheriff "categorically, and in the strongest possible fashion, denies each one" of the allegations by Bines and Williams, and that "Sheriff Williams is confident he will be completely vindicated."

"The office has consistently and actively promoted changes in process and procedure, including the recent signing of the LGBT directives to ensure that all persons are treated fairly and have equal protection under the law," the statement said.

The sheriff has declined to comment about the settlement of a 2011 lawsuit in which he was accused of engaging in similar misconduct while he was a state representative serving the 197th District in North Philadelphia. That suit, filed by former legislative assistant Karan M. Rogers, was settled in June 2012 for $30,000.

The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women on Thursday called for Williams to step aside until an in-depth investigation is conducted into the allegations.

NOW's request follows City Controller-elect Rebecca Rhynhart's announcement this week that after taking office in January she would conduct a "detailed audit" of the Sheriff's Office due to reported mismanagement and the sexual harassment allegations.

"This type of coordinated predatory behavior rarely happens once, and we must have answers on how many people were victimized through his positions of power over the entire length of is career," NOW said in a statement. "During the years Jewell Williams sexually harassed his employees, he collected over $330,000 dollars from the citizens of Philadelphia and the utility of the entire department needs to be examined. We will not stand for this."

Monique Howard, executive director of another group, Women Organized Against Rape, issued a statement Thursday encouraging women "who want to tell their truth" about experiences with Williams or other alleged abuse to call the organization's 24-hour hotline at 215-985-3333.
The tax bill Senate Republicans are championing would give large tax cuts to millionaires while raising taxes on American families earning $10,000 to $75,000 over the next decade, according to an analysis released Thursday by the Joint Committee on Taxation, Congress' official nonpartisan analysts.

President Trump and Republican lawmakers have been heralding their bill as a win for hard-working Americans, but the JCT report casts serious doubt on that claim. Tax hikes for households earning $10,000 to $30,000 would start in 2021 and grow sharply from there. By the year 2027, Americans earning $30,000 to $75,000 a year would also be forced to pay more in taxes even though people earning over $100,000 continue to get substantial tax cuts.

"What is happening now is just shameful," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) in the Senate Finance Committee hearing shortly after the JCT tables were released. "I don't know how anybody can go home and explain why it's a good idea to hike taxes on parents who barely stay afloat to pay for a massive corporate handout."

Most of the hit to the poor and working-class is likely comes from the Senate Republicans' push to mix health care and tax changes. The decision to include a repeal of the individual mandate would lead to 13 million more uninsured, the Congressional Budget Office has said. Senate Republicans also made most of the individual income tax provisions expire at the end of 2025, which is why most taxpayers below $75,000 end up paying more after a decade. Wealthier Americans would still benefit from a permanent cut in the corporate tax rate, which will likely boost the incomes of people who own companies or investments.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the lead author of the GOP tax bill, dismissed the table as an accounting gimmick.

"Anyone who says we're hiking taxes on low-income families is misstating the facts," Hatch said. "Obviously we have no intention of raising taxes on those families. Every Republican on this committee has been committed to providing tax cuts for every income cohort."

Republicans and Democrats are fiercely debating whether what's happening to low-income Americans is truly a tax hike. According to the JCT, the average tax rate for people working full-time minimum-wage jobs and those earning $20,000 to $30,000 would go from 3.7 percent to 4.2 percent. Meanwhile millionaires' average tax rate would fall from 32.4 percent to 30.9 percent.

Hatch and other Republicans say that low-income people get a choice about whether to buy health insurance or not. If they no longer wish to buy insurance, they would not get government subsidies anymore to help make their health insurance more affordable. JCT is calculating that as a tax increase, but Republicans say it is "ridiculous" to look at it that way. The subsidy was being paid to the insurance company, not to individuals.

"Did we take away their money? No," says Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). "There's not one dollar taken away from them if they make that choice [not to buy insurance]."

Democrats point out that it's more than the insurance subsidy at stake. By 2027, all Americans earning less than $75,000 see an increase, partly because the individual tax cuts go away after 2025.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge speaks to a crowd of hundreds protesting in front of the White House in 2011. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Read more

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge was in critical condition at a Texas hospital Thursday after an emergency heart procedure.

Ridge, 72, had been attending the Republican Governors Association conference at the JW Marriott in Austin when he called hotel staff about 7 a.m. for medical assistance, according to his spokesman Steve Aaron.

The former governor and U.S. Homeland Security secretary was then transported to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, where he underwent cardiac catheterization, a procedure designed to help diagnose heart problems.

At the time of his arrival at the hospital, Ridge had been responsive to doctors, his spokesman said.

The news of his hospitalization quickly spread through political circles, from Harrisburg to Washington.

Friends and former colleagues took to social media to send well wishes. "Prayers going to former Gov Ridge for a quick, full recovery," tweeted Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) tweeted.

"From our time together in #PaGovt I know him to be a fighter who doesn't back down from any challenge," House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D., Allegheny) wrote in a tweet.

A native of Munhall, Pa., outside Pittsburgh, Ridge's family moved to Erie when he was 3. It was there that the Harvard University graduate and Vietnam War veteran's political profile grew. After representing the area for six terms in the U.S. House, Ridge, a moderate Republican, was elected Pennsylvania's governor in 1994.

Near the end of his second term, Ridge's name surfaced as a possible running mate for George W. Bush, then the presumptive favorite to win the GOP presidential nomination. Ultimately, Bush tapped the governor to instead be the first secretary of the newly formed Department of Homeland Security, created in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.

After leaving the Bush administration, Ridge served on corporate boards and wrote a book about his experience at the head of the Homeland Security department.

In recent years, Ridge has headed Ridge Global, a firm that advises on cyber security, international security and risk management.

One of Ridge's successors, Gov. Wolf, released a statement Thursday afternoon saying he and his wife were praying for Ridge and his family.

"We know Tom is a fighter and the Ridges should know that all of Pennsylvania is pulling for them as he recovers," Wolf said.

Staff writer Aubrey Whelan and Chris Potter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette contributed to this story.
In declaring the end of the School Reform Commission, Mayor Kenney said, "The people of Philadelphia will finally be able to hold one person accountable for their school system, the mayor."

After 17 years of state control, returning oversight of our schools to a local board appointed by the mayor represents a significant step in the right direction.

But here's a better idea. Philadelphia should have an elected  not appointed  school board, where all members are accountable to the people, not the mayor.

Better yet, Philadelphians should elect board members by district, so that residents in every part of the city would have a representative they can hold accountable for the schools in their neighborhood.

And even better still, we should ensure that all parents can have a voice in the process.

We rely on our schools to transfer knowledge to the next generation, develop citizens who can participate in the civic spheres of society, prepare young people to succeed in their future careers, and more. Shouldn't the individuals we entrust to oversee our local school systems be directly subject to their electorates rather than indirectly through a mayoral appointment process?

Most communities, historically and today, have said yes. Elected school boards are part of the fabric of the American system of education. The vast majority of the approximately 14,000 school boards across the nation are chosen by their local electorates, and local school board members are the largest constituency of elected officials in the United States.

Council President Darrell Clarke favors an appointed school board because it would be buffered from the "outside pressure" of campaign politics. Undue influence by special interests is a valid concern. Researchers and political observers have long pointed to the outsize role interest groups  from teachers' unions to civic organizations, from charter advocates to corporate interests  can play in school board campaigns.

But we have mechanisms to check the influence of special interests in elected bodies  publicly funded campaigns, contribution limits, and restrictions on who can donate, for example. Let's use them for our school board races.

Some may also point to the problems of low voter turnout and limited information as arguments in favor of an appointed board.

There are some hopeful signs of increased turnout from Philadelphia's most recent election. We could capitalize on this uptick in enthusiasm and develop mechanisms to engage community members through our already rich network of home and school associations and education advocacy groups. Local school board races could be a net boost to informed democratic participation in our city.

Many school boards are elected at large. But a city as diverse and expansive as ours could benefit from district elections. Dividing the city into school board districts would mean that all neighborhoods would have representation on the board. And board members would be held to the educational priorities of their district, from Southwest Philly to the Northeast.

Running a district-wide campaign rather than a citywide one would greatly decrease the cost for candidates. And board members could more effectively reach and respond to their district constituents.

District races would also create greater opportunities for parent, neighborhood, and community leaders to not just run, but win. The socioeconomic and racial diversity of the school board would likely increase, helping to create a closer demographic match between the board and the school system.

Let's take it a step further. Even with an elected board, many Philadelphians would not have a voice in the process. Extending the franchise to residents regardless of their citizenship status would allow all families to have a direct say in the governance of the schools their children attend. This would not be unprecedented. Many localities across the nation have passed laws allowing immigrants to vote in certain races. And just last year, San Francisco approved Proposition N, amending the city charter to allow noncitizen parents to vote in school board elections.

In announcing his plan, Kenney acknowledged the city's schools are facing enormous challenges. Harrisburg won't save the day, the mayor said, so Philadelphia will have to do the work itself. He's right.

But the transformation of our school system into one that meets our hopes and expectations for the young people of Philadelphia should involve input from every corner of the city, and every constituent group.

On Nov. 7, in communities across the country, including 17 school districts in Pennsylvania, voters elected their school board representatives. Perhaps one election day in the near future, Philadelphians will be entrusted to do the same.

Rand Quinn is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. raq@upenn.edu
16 Top-Rated Things to Do in Reykjavik

Written by Anietra Hamper

Updated Oct 14, 2022

We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

The capital city of Iceland, Reykjavik sweeps you off your feet with its quaint and vibrantly colored coastal homes, one-of-a-kind boutiques, and reminders of the country's Viking history at every turn. In a city of only 215,000 people, Reykjavik is quiet, whimsical, historical, and artistic.

The land of fire and ice is naturally stunning, so the backdrop is memorable no matter whether you stroll the charming downtown streets, indulge in a sightseeing excursion, or relax in one of the city's 17 thermal pools.

The best view of Reykjavik is from the tower of Hallgrimskirkja church, in the heart of the city. Reykjavik is a mecca of stunning architecture and cultural attractions. You will feel the deep roots of Viking history meshed with the contemporary energy of modern creativity.

While there are so many things to do within the city itself, its location enables easy day trips to many must-see spots, like the Blue Lagoon and natural waterfalls in the countryside. No matter how you choose to spend your time in Reykjavik, public thermal pools and the signature northern lights are just part of the scene, so you can sprinkle those elements in when you have time.

Plan your travels through the city with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Reykjavik.

1. Ride to the Top of Hallgrimskirkja Church

Hallgrimskirkja Church

The most prominent landmark in Reykjavik is Hallgrimskirkja church in the city's center. Since it can be seen from almost anywhere in Reykjavik, it is an easy way to navigate and it should be one of your first stops. The national monument is as stunning on the inside as it is on the outside.

It was built as a tribute to Icelandic poet, Hallgrimur Petursson. The magnificent 25-ton pipe organ inside the church is one of its finest attractions. Construction on the Hallgrimskirkja church took more than 40 years, and it has become a symbol of Reykjavik.

After you explore the main chapel, buy a token in the gift shop and ride the elevator up almost 74 meters to the steeple. This is the best view of the city. Address: Skolavoruholti, Reykjavik 121 Official site: http://en.hallgrimskirkja.is

2. Spend an Evening at Harpa

Harpa Concert Hall

Even if you do not attend a concert at the Harpa concert hall, this extraordinary landmark is one of the best places to visit in Reykjavik. The award-winning architecture of the building is uniquely artistic. The honeycomb exterior is eye-catching in the daylight and mesmerizing at night as the windows change in a rainbow of colors.

There are two restaurants inside serving authentic Icelandic food, and the small gift shop sells unique gifts, many from local artists. If you can catch a concert in Harpa, plan on extra time before or after to enjoy dinner and a stroll by the water around the venue. Address: Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavik Official site: https://en.harpa.is/

3. Visit Perlan Museum of Icelandic Natural Wonders

Perlan Museum of Icelandic Natural Wonders

The Perlan Museum of Icelandic Natural Wonders is a stunning building with new, state-of-the-art exhibits focusing on the many natural wonders of the country, from the cliffs and volcanos to the sea life around the island.

One of the most impressive exhibits is a replicated ice cave that you can explore at a chilling 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The glacier exhibition examines the history of glaciers in Iceland, as well as the future outlook for these natural wonders.

The Perlan planetarium is an immersive audio-visual experience where you can experience the Northern Lights even if you do not get to see them in the countryside during your visit. When you visit Perlan, head to the observation deck for a 360-degree panoramic view of Reykjavik. Address: Reykjavik 105 Official site: https://www.perlanmuseum.is/en/

4. Take a Whale Watching Tour

Whale Watching Tour

Iceland is surrounded by ocean, and for tourists, whale watching is one of the most popular things to do. The excursions provide up-close encounters with humpback and minke whales. You will likely see other wildlife on the tours such as dolphins.

Several tour companies, including Elding, Special Tours, and Whale Safari, run regular trips out of the Old Harbour. Depending on the time of year that you visit, there could be specialized tours available, like those offered during months where there is midnight sun (June-August) with trips that depart late at night.

5. Walk the Streets in Downtown Reykjavik

Downtown Reykjavik

Plan some time during your visit to Reykjavik to explore the downtown area. It is unlike any downtown scene you have ever experienced. Instead of kitschy souvenir shops, you will find independent boutiques selling unique items, like Icelandic wool clothing and volcanic rock pottery. Take your time to enjoy the shops and fine eateries serving up traditional fare.

The best place to start a sightseeing tour in downtown Reykjavik is on Laugavegur, considered the Main Street in the city and one of the oldest. It is lined with places to shop for handmade woolen sweaters, locally crafted jewelry, and pottery made from volcanic rock. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from when you feel like stopping and a number of museums to visit.

Let your stroll take you to the waterfront walkway to feel the ocean breeze and observe the fine art and architecture in the city. In the late afternoon, position yourself near the waterfront Solfar sculpture to enjoy one of the most majestic sunsets you will see in Iceland.

6. Take a Dip in a Thermal Pool

Thermal Pools

One of the top things to do in Reykjavik is to relax in the public thermal pools. The 17 pools located around the city are filled with Iceland's natural geothermal water. The thermal pools are Reykjavik's community meeting spots that provide a natural therapy for the mind and soul.

These communal pools are an important part of the Icelandic culture and one way for you to truly immerse yourself in the customs of the country, not to mention the healing qualities from soaking in them. If you have time, be sure to take a day trip to the Blue Lagoon for the ultimate thermal pool experience.

7. View the Northern Lights at Aurora Reykjavik

Northern lights over Reykjavik

If you plan to experience the northern lights during your time in Iceland, you will want to prepare with a visit to Aurora Reykjavik. The interactive center uses advanced technology and multimedia experiences to showcase the wonder of seeing the northern lights. Exhibits share the stories related to the Aurora Borealis throughout Iceland's history.

Step inside the Northern Lights Theater, where the captivating blue and green aurora borealis filmed from all over Iceland is projected onto a seven-meter wide screen with music. The center offers instruction on camera settings for when you set out on your own to photograph this natural wonder, and you can book guided northern lights tours. Address: Grandagarur 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland Official site: https://aurorareykjavik.is Read More: Best Places to See the Northern Lights

8. Visit the Settlement Exhibition

The Settlement Exhibition | Luc Coekaerts / photo modified

One of the best ways to acclimate yourself to Icelandic culture is with a visit to The Settlement Exhibition museum. The museum is operated by the Reykjavik City Museum, but it is located in a separate building and requires a couple of hours to visit. Guided tours are available, but the museum layout makes it easy to explore on your own.

Learn about the first Vikings settlement in Reykjavik through preserved archaeological artifacts. Digital interactive displays take you back several centuries to experience primitive Icelandic life and give you a new appreciation for the Viking influences that you will see throughout the city. Address: Adalstraeti 16, Reykjavik 101 Official site: http://borgarsogusafn.is/en/the-settlement-exhibition

9. Plan a Day Trip to Mount Esja

Day Trip to Mount Esja

The majestic presence of Mount Esja in the distance of Reykjavik is one of the best day trips you can take during your visit. Enjoy Iceland's fresh air by hiking one of the main trails around the mountain. Each path up the mountain is marked with signs indicating the level of difficulty.

Mount Esja is suitable for both casual hikers and extreme day trippers. You can hike to the top, at 914 meters, and sign the guestbook, or turn around at the more common stopping point just short of the peak at a rock called Steinn. Take note that the path beyond the Steinn is rather difficult, so only experienced climbers and hikers should attempt it.

10. Explore the Old Harbour Area

Old Harbour Area

Strolling through the Old Harbour area of Reykjavik gives you a true sense of Icelandic culture. This section of the city has some of the best views of the bay and Mount Esja. It is also the departure point for whale watching tours and puffin excursions.

Many of the vibrant colored buildings in the Old Harbour district are renovated fishing sheds that are repurposed into stores, cafes, and restaurants. There is an eclectic energy in the Old Harbour from the collision of historical Scandinavian influence and a hip and modern flare.

11. Step Back in Time at the Arbaer Open Air Museum

Arbaer Open Air Museum

The Arbaer Open Air Museum is a small village with more than 20 historical Icelandic homes for you to explore. Walk the grounds to see how village homes were built over the years and take a peek inside for a glimpse of authentic Icelandic life. This is an interactive way to learn about the unique history of Iceland as you walk through this restored village and farm.

As Reykjavik experienced development and moved away from its settlement roots, many of these buildings were relocated from the city center to preserve the country's heritage. The museum opened in 1957 and remains an interactive experience with a glimpse into Reykjavik's origins.

The museum has regular changing exhibitions and public events like craft days that make for great times to visit. Address: Kistuhylur 4, Reykjavik 110

12. Hike on Videy Island

Videy Island

The allure of Videy Island is almost too difficult to resist. Thankfully, you can visit the island and enjoy a spectacular view of the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the mainland. This island is significant because it was one of the first areas settled in Iceland.

The natural elements, from wildlife to vegetation, are abundant, making this a favorite spot for photographers, artists, and those looking to soak up the peaceful natural beauty of Iceland. There are several trails available for both pedestrians and cyclists. A point of interest during your visit to Videy Island is the Imagine Peace Tower artwork by Yoko Ono.

13. See Bruarfoss Waterfall

Bruarfoss Waterfall

You do not have to go far to experience one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Iceland. The Bruarfoss waterfall in Reykjavik showcases natural blue water in a color that does not seem real. The full waterfall is a series of cascades from converging springs.

It is not surprising that the Bruarfoss is a popular waterfall to photograph. If you plan to visit, carve out time to get here because depending on weather conditions, the trails may be slippery, and navigating is sometimes difficult. Pack a pair of sturdy shoes and you should be fine. The view of the waterfall is worth the extra room that the shoes will require in your suitcase.

14. Watch the Sunset from the Grotta Lighthouse

Grotta Lighthouse

The small Grotta Lighthouse on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula in north Reykjavik is a great spot to take in a sunset or just go for a morning walk. The lighthouse has been here since 1897, erected on farmland. It is a popular place to visit for tourists, mostly because of the views of the landscape.

This is a great bird-watching location, especially in the summer, as many species are known to nest on the rugged coastline. If you plan to visit the Grotta Lighthouse, you will want to take into account the timing of the low and high tides.

15. Learn about Volcanic Activity at the Volcano House

Volcano erupting in Iceland

A small and quirky museum in Reykjavik that is worth visiting is the Volcano House. In the land of fire and ice, the presence of volcanos is an important part of life and history. The Volcano House is a great museum to learn about volcanic eruptions, which happen on the island about every five years.

The Volcano House has mineral and geology exhibits, as well as a Volcano Cinema, where the fiery eruptions come to life. Be sure to stop into the gift shop where you will find minerals and lava jewelry for sale. Address: Tryggvagata 11, Reykjavik Official site: http://www.volcanohouse.is

16. Reykjavik Maritime Museum

Reykjavik Maritime Museum | Gestur Gislason / Shutterstock.com

With so much of Reykjavik's history reliant on the maritime industry, a visit to the Reykjavik Maritime Museum puts much of the present-day culture into perspective. The museum is appropriately located in the Old Harbour.

You will see exhibitions that showcase how early Icelandic settlers relied on fishing as their main industry. You will also see stories and artifacts that relate to the lives of Icelandic fishermen and women who cultivated this important industry for the country. Address: Grandagarur 8, 101 Reykjavik Official site: http://borgarsogusafn.is/en/reykjavik-maritime-museum/

Where to Stay for Sightseeing in Reykjavik

The lodging options in Reykjavik range from eco-focused hotels to luxury apartments with hotel servicing. You can also find a wide range of pricing.

Luxury Hotels: You can live like a local during your stay in Reykjavik at the Black Pearl apartments, which feel like a home but have hotel amenities. The Black Pearl is centrally located in downtown Reykjavik and close to many of the main attractions.

apartments, which feel like a home but have hotel amenities. The Black Pearl is centrally located in downtown Reykjavik and close to many of the main attractions. Two other luxury hotel options in downtown Reykjavik are the Reykjavik Residence Hotel , which also has apartment-style accommodations, and the boutique Kvosin Downtown Hotel .

Mid-Range Hotels: If you want to keep a home base close to city tourist attractions, Hotel Lotus is within walking distance of many sights and bus routes.

is within walking distance of many sights and bus routes. The Hotel Leifur Eiriksson is also centrally located in downtown making it easy to walk or catch the bus to nearby attractions.

Budget Hotels: The cheapest lodging in Reykjavik is in hostels in the city, and there are quite a few, including the Circle Hostel located downtown and close to a number of restaurants and attractions.

located downtown and close to a number of restaurants and attractions. A budget-minded hotel in the city with just the basics is the 4th Floor Hotel that is centrally located and just a few blocks from the waterfront.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Exploring Iceland: For most travelers visiting Iceland, Reykjavik is the home base for exploring. You can easily take day trips to other parts of the island or make it your starting point for driving the Ring Road on your own. If you are looking to spend a bit of time resting and relaxing on your vacation, Iceland has some lovely resorts.
The 8 Ballet Dogs You Need to be Following on Instagram

Youre probably already following your favorite dancers on Instagram, but did you know that you can follow many of their dogs, too? We rounded up some of our favorite dog-centered accounts and hashtags to keep you pawsitively entertained (sorry, we cant help ourselves).
Officer James Williams received a heart transplant after living with heart failure for over a decade. He is back on duty and grateful to be healthy.

Officer James Williams is back on duty after receiving a heart transplant. (Photo: Carle)

Williams returned to the Eastern Illinois University police force in August. "I got goosebumps when I put my uniform back on," said the Desert Storm veteran who one day hopes to meet the family of the heart donor. "I can't even put into words how grateful I am that people choose to donate their organs or the organs of loved ones. I am extremely thankful to my donor family, and I am blessed to have a second chance."

On Monday Williams served as emcee at a free event hosted by the Carle Foundation health system, which provided care for his heart condition. At the event, Carle experts shared guidance for managing the disease.

"Every day at some point, I think how far I've comementally, physically and spiritually. I wasn't sure I'd make it sometimes. I doubted myself sometimes, but because of doctors, nurses, friends and family, I cleared some huge hurdles," Carle reported on its website.

"I'm stable. I'm healthy. I'm strong. I want that for others, too."
A New York man has been arrested for impersonating a police officer during a traffic stop, according to New York State Police.

Anthony J. Carbonaro is charged with impersonating a police officer. (Photo: New York State Police)

According to police, state troopers stopped Anthony J. Carbonaro in the Town of Salina on Tuesday for a vehicle and traffic violation. During the stop, Carbonaro displayed a police badge on his belt and stated that he was a federal police officer, reports CNYcentral.com.

An investigation determined that the badge was fake and a search of Carbonaro's vehicle discovered he had a forged Sheriff's Office ID card, rifle, handcuffs, and a tactical vest.
A Baltimore homicide detective is in critical condition after being shot in the head Wednesday by a man who approached him in west Baltimore at about 4:30 p.m.

The officer, who's been with the Baltimore Police Department for 18 years, was shot in the head after approaching a man who was engaged in "suspicious behavior," said Police Commissioner Kevin Davis in a press conference that evening.

"We are doing everything we can to keep [the officer] stabilized and to take care of the injury to his brain," said Dr. Thomas Scalea, chief of the University of Maryland Medical Center's Shock Trauma Center.

A $64,000 reward was issued for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. A manhunt is under way in Baltimore and the surrounding area. The suspect was described only as a black male in a black jacket with a white stripe, Fox Baltimore reports.

People who walk our streets with guns in their hands are killers. I want to describe this person as cold and callous, Davis said. "He's out there right now and he now knows that he shot a Baltimore police officer. He knows it. He's well aware of it.

"My best guess is that there is more than one other person who is aware that this callous coward with a gun in his hand who shot a cop in the head tonight," he added.

The shooting was the second of a law enforcement officer in West Baltimore this month. Sgt. Tony Anthony Mason Jr., 40, a District of Columbia police officer who lived in Baltimore, was shot to death in the 2800 block of Elgin Avenue on Nov. 4. He was off duty at the time, the Baltimore Sun reports.
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Just hours after a sixth woman came forward alleging that Roy Moore grabbed her inappropriately at his law office in 1991, the Washington Post is reporting that two more women had similar experiences with the current GOP Senate nominee in Alabama.

According to the report, the two women worked at a Sears store at a mall in Gadsden, Alabama, where Moore was a frequent visitor. One of the two women was in high school.

More from the report:

Gena Richardson says she was a high school senior working in the mens department of Sears at the Gadsden Mall when a man approached her and introduced himself as Roy Moore.  Richardson says Moore  now a candidate for U.S. Senate  asked her where she went to school, and then for her phone number, which she says she declined to give, telling him that her father, a Southern Baptist preacher, would never approve.

Of course, Moore didnt let Richardsons refusal to give out her phone number stop him from trying to get a date with her. So what did he do? He phoned her high school, where they pulled her out of class to take the call.

More from the report:

A few days later, she says, she was in trigonometry class at Gadsden High when she was summoned to the principals office over the intercom in her classroom. She had a phone call. I said Hello? Richardson recalls. And the male on the other line said, Gena, this is Roy Moore. I was like, What?! He said, What are you doing? I said, Im in trig class.  Richardson says Moore asked her out again on the call. A few days later, after he asked her out at Sears, she relented and agreed, feeling both nervous and flattered. They met that night at a movie theater in the mall after she got off work, a date that ended with Moore driving her to her car in a dark parking lot behind Sears and giving her what she called an unwanted, forceful kiss that left her scared.

According to the report, Richardson  who is a moderate Republican  said she didnt want to see Moore again after the incident.

The Washington Post noted that the account by Richardson was corroborated by classmate and Sears co-worker Kayla McLaughlin, is among four women who say Moore pursued them when they were teenagers or young women working at the mall  from Sears at one end to the Pizitz department store at the other.

The newspaper spoke to a dozen people who worked at the mall or hung out there as teenagers during the late 70s and early 80s. Those sources said Moore could frequently be seen at the mall walking around alone, leaning on counters, spending enough time in the stores, especially on weekend nights.

Some of the young women who worked there said they became uncomfortable by his constant presence, the Post added.

These deeply troubling revelations follow earlier reporting that Moore was banned from an Alabama mall in the 1980s for prowling the mall and trying to repeatedly pick up teenage girls.

This type of behavior shouldnt just bar Moore from visiting the neighborhood mall. It should also disqualify him from stepping foot inside the United States Senate.
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Roy Moores campaign for the U.S. Senate found itself in even deeper trouble on Wednesday after yet another woman, Tina Johnson, has come forward claiming he grabbed her inappropriately at his law office in 1991.

According to AL.com, Moore, an attorney at the time, was married when the incident occurred, and the woman he allegedly groped was 28-years-old, twice the age of his youngest victim.

The report provides a detailed account of the disturbing interaction between Moore and Johnson when the young woman was at his office to sign custody papers:

Almost from the moment she walked into Moores office, Johnson said, Moore began flirting with her. He kept commenting on my looks, telling me how pretty I was, how nice I looked, recalled Johnson. He was saying that my eyes were beautiful. It made her uncomfortable. I was thinking, can we hurry up and get out of here?  Once the papers were signed, she and her mother got up to leave. After her mother walked through the door first, she said, Moore came up behind her. It was at that point, she recalled, he grabbed her buttocks. He didnt pinch it; he grabbed it, said Johnson. She was so surprised she didnt say anything. She didnt tell her mother. She said she told her sister years later how Moore had made her feel uncomfortable during that meeting. Her sister told AL.com she remembers the conversation.

The same report details another incident in 1982 when Moore asked a 17-year-old Red Lobster waitress if shed go out with him sometime. In her case, Moore walked away after she told him no.

The troubling new accusations come after a handful of women  one who was 14 years old at the time of Moores unwanted sexual advances  have come forward over the past week, accusing the Republican candidate of sexual assault or misconduct. It was even reported that Moore was banished from a local mall due to his behavior around young girls.

As the harrowing stories pile up, so do the number of Republican leaders urging Moore to drop out of the race. Many of them have even said that if he wins the Alabama Senate race, which is still a possibility, then he should be immediately expelled.

The controversy has taken its toll on Moores campaign, with a new internal GOP poll showing Democrat Doug Jones leading by a mammoth 12 percentage points. The race is likely much closer, however, as the RealClearPolitics average still shows Moore leading Jones by three points.

With no end in sight and no guarantee that more women wont come forward over the final weeks of this hotly contested Senate race, Roy Moores days as a Senate candidate could be numbered.
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Donald Trump continued his effort to dismantle anything with Barack Obamas name on it, with the administration announcing it will reverse the previous administrations ban on importing African elephant heads into the United States.

According to The Hill, Trumps U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said it has determined that hunting African elephants in Zimbabwe and Zambia is a good thing that should be encouraged.

More from the report:

The Trump administration is reversing an Obama administration ban on bringing to the United States the heads of elephants killed in two African countries. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said it has determined that hunting African elephants in Zimbabwe and Zambia will enhance the survival of the species in the wild, which is the standard by which officials judge whether to allow imports of parts  known as trophies  of the animals. Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation, an FWS spokesman said in a statement late Wednesday, after hunting group Safari Club International announced the policy. Imports will be allowed for elephants killed between Jan. 21, 2016 and the end of 2018.

To the surprise of exactly no one, pro-gun and hunting organizations were thrilled about the news. Its also a safe bet to assume that Trumps two sons were happy that their fathers administration scored a victory for big game hunters.

This is, after all, something theyre pretty passionate about:

Not surprised  Totally predictable  Just look at Trumps sons who absolutely love trophy hunting, especially killing elephants, cutting off their tails & waving it around while posing & looking mighty proud #BanTrophyHunting https://t.co/v31cFv61oY pic.twitter.com/16egN4ByDE  Sherry Bagby (@Lea81S) November 16, 2017

Inauguration fundraiser: Hunting trip with the Trump sons for $1 million  Pet Rescue Report https://t.co/6Tc0oIzKpd pic.twitter.com/8n3a4gktVB  Big Cat Rescue (@BigCatRescue) November 8, 2017

Of course, the initial reasoning for the Obama administrations decision to enforce the ban was simple: They believed it would encourage the killing of these animals. Trump, on the other hand, seems to believe it will help the species survive.

With the world crumbling around his administration  from criminal investigations to a complete inability to accomplish anything substantive  Donald Trump thought now would be a good time to encourage the killing of African elephants.

It seems that this president has accepted the fact that he cant accomplish anything himself, even with complete Republican control of Congress, so hes going to continue tearing apart anything Barack Obama did  even something as popular as protecting innocent animals.
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the absurd claim that Republicans are killing Obamacare so that they can cut more taxes for the middle-class. McConnell is a lie.

Video:

McConnell said, This plan does a lot of things, including providing relief to businesses so they can create more jobs in America  and then keep them here. The nations leading small business advocacy organization endorsed this legislation, saying that it, will provide much needed tax relief to enable small businesses to grow and create jobs. Theres another important provision of the Finance Committees tax-reform proposal too. It will deliver relief to low- and moderate-income families by repealing Obamacares individual mandate tax. In other words: we can deliver even more relief to the middle class by repealing an unpopular tax from an unworkable law. It just makes sense.

The Senate Majority Leader is lying. Republicans admitted on Wednesday that they were repealing the individual mandate and taking away health care for 13 million people because it would give them a bigger pool of money to cut corporate taxes with. No mentioned an additional middle-class tax cut because Republicans are scrounging for every penny that they can cut to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations that are going to blow a $1.5 trillion hole in the deficit.

There is lying, and then there is fundamental shameless dishonesty about a policy, its intentions, and goals.

Republicans know that their tax plan is unpopular, so they have invented a fairy tale middle-class tax cut.

No one is buying what Republicans are selling on tax cuts. Trying to wrap tax cuts for the rich in a false promise of middle-class tax cuts the losing strategy of a desperate party that is acting they will be out of power soon.
SCANA executive Jimmy Addison said a $180 million power plant acquisition is part of plan that will delay for several years the need to add new generating capacity. File/Sean Rayford/Special to The Post and Courier
Sen. Mitch McConnell was reelected as Republican leader Wednesday, quashing a challenge from Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, the Senate GOP campaign chief criticized after a disappointing performance in the midterm elections that kept Senate control with Democrats. Read moreSen. McConnell reelected Senate GOP leader: 'Not going anywhere'
Assistant Columbia bureau chief

Adcox returned to The Post and Courier in October 2017 after 12 years covering the Statehouse for The Associated Press. She previously covered education for The P&C. She has also worked for The AP in Albany, N.Y., and for The Herald in Rock Hill.
State Circuit Judge DeAndrea Benjamin appears poised to join a powerful federal appeals court bench following a U.S. Senate hearing in which Republicans repeatedly questioned her handling of two cases out of thousands she'd handled in South Carolina over two decades. Read moreSC Judge Benjamin praised by Clyburn, questioned by Republicans during US Senate hearing
A stolen car led to a second stolen car early this morning in northeast Rochester, and Rochester police are warning people not to leave their vehicles running and unattended.

Rochester Police Capt. John Sherwin said at about 1:15 a.m. today, a person had left a car running in a driveway in the 2100 block of Eighth Avenue Northeast to get something from inside the residence. When the person came out, they saw their car, a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix, being driven away. The car was followed by a 2009 Dodge Caravan.

The victim called police, and the Pontiac was spotted by officers on patrol. After a short chase, that was terminated by police, another officer spotted the minivan in the same area of town and pulled that vehicle over, Sherwin said.

A check on the minivan discovered it was also stolen, taken from a driveway in the 3200 block of East River Road on Nov. 5. That vehicle had also been left running and unattended, Sherwin said.

The 16-year-old male driver of the minivan was taken into custody, Sherwin said.

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Later this morning, the Pontiac was found abandoned in a ditch on East River Road, and that vehicle was returned to its owner. The suspect who stole the Pontiac is unknown at this time, Sherwin said.
ST. PAUL  A pair of cases before the Minnesota Supreme Court could spark big shifts in schools across the state.

The court has agreed to hear a case challenging teacher tenure laws that a group of Minnesota parents brought against the state and several school districts last year. The parents claim tenure protections make it too hard to fire ineffective teachers and worsen the achievement gap.

In September, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's decision to dismiss the case.

The Supreme Court said it will hear the case, but stayed further action pending the outcome of a different lawsuit that claims school segregation exacerbates the achievement gap. The Minnesota Supreme Court agreed in April to hear that case.

Both cases deal with two main questions, Mitchell Hamline School of Law professor Jim Hilbert said.

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 One, what is the scope of the state's constitutional obligation to provide a public school system? Plaintiffs argue, separately, that school segregation and teacher tenure laws undercut that system.

 Second, are the issues questions for the courts or the Legislature?

"It's possible that the Supreme Court of Minnesota could decide the broad scope of what is required constitutionally for school districts across the state with respect to school desegregation and even perhaps with respect to teacher tenure statutes," Hilbert said.

Hilbert filed a brief in support of the plaintiffs in the desegregation case.

If the court decides to reinstate the cases, they would return to the lower courts.

"The issues at hand ... are important for every public school family in Minnesota, and every Minnesotan who cares about a quality education for kids. When students' rights are violated, we count on the courts to protect our children," Partnership for Educational Justice director Alissa Bernstein said in a statement.

The nonprofit Partnership for Educational Justice is backing the Minnesota case and also supports similar tenure challenges in New York and New Jersey.

The Minnesota state teachers' union is not a party to the tenure case but has been supportive of the state's position.

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"These lawsuits are part of a nationwide public relations campaign to mislead the public about what due process protections like tenure are all about," Education Minnesota president Denise Specht said in a statement. "These laws prevent good teachers from being fired for bad reasons."
Three young, area companies and one successful founder are slated to be honored Friday at the fourth annual RAVEevent in Rochester.

RAVE, which stands for Recognizing Awarding Valuing Entrepreneurs, is the annual wrap-up event to close out Global Entrepreneurship Week. It's orchestrated by Rochester Area Economic Development Inc.and the Journey to Growthinitiative.

The event is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree hotel in downtown Rochester.

"Every entrepreneur starts with a dream. The reality of transforming that dream to a thriving and growing business is very demanding work. We want to highlight our entrepreneurs and show them that we support and respect the work they do," Xavier Frigola, director of entrepreneurial programs at RAEDI, stated in the announcement of the event.

On Friday, RAVE is scheduled to spotlight three local companies:

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 Envirolastechtransforms discarded plastic and glass into a durable composite that can be used in construction. Founded by Paul Schmitt, the firm recently built and opened a manufacturing facility in St. Charles. It's managed by CEO Jeff Mintz and Geno Wente.

 The Pet Health People LLCmakes Licks, a line of chewable, gummy supplements for pets. Early this year, the company took over the former Ferrara Candyfactory in Winona and revamped it to make pet products. In doing so, CEO Amy Parisbrought back several jobs that were lost, when Ferrara closed.

 Sonex Healthmakes a device called the Stealth Micro-Knifefor carpal tunnel surgery. It was founded in 2014 by Mayo Clinic physicians Darryl Barnes and Jay Smithas well as Aaron Keenan. It's based in the Mayo Business Acceleratorin the Minnesota Biobusiness Centerin downtown Rochester.

In addition to the RAVE honorees, a lifetime achievement award will be presented to F. Mike Tuohy,of Chatfield, for his contribution to entrepreneurial spirit in southeast Minnesota.

Tuohy Furniture Corp.is an internationally known office furniture maker based in Chatfield. Founded as a church furniture maker in the 1940s, Tuohy bought the business from his father in 1973. In 1975, the company began designing and making high-end office furniture.

The event will conclude with the presentation of the 2017 RAVE Warrior of the Year to someone who has made an important contribution to entrepreneurship in the area.
LAKE CITY  The Lake City Catholic Worker Farm will host a discussion on the proposed Line 3 Pipeline that would be built in northern Minnesota.

Paul Fried, owner of the farm, said the discussion will be from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 3, with a potluck to follow.

Two Native American members of Camp Makwa, protest site near the Fond Du Lac Reservation west of Duluth, will speak about the pipeline and their perspective on how it would damage the land and water.

"We do not know much about this issue, so we feel that is important to listen to our native brothers and sisters when they speak on issues of land use and the environment," Fried said.

Canadian petroleum company Enbridge Inc. has said the $2 billion Line 3 project is needed to replace existing pipelines from the 1960s. Line 3 would supply oil to the Pine Bend refinery located in Rosemount.

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Currently, the plan is to hold the discussion at the farm, Fried said, but if there is enough interest, a larger venue in Lake City might be found. You can RSVP to the event at lakecitycw@gmail.com or call 651-345-3149.
CALEDONIAThe Houston County Sheriff's Office mourned the loss of its four-legged officer, who was killed Wednesday morning.

K-9 Ray, an almost 2-year-old German shepherd, was found dead in rural Houston County near County Road 15 after getting struck by a passing vehicle. Sheriff Mark Inglett stated that the incident wasn't work-related, and that while off-duty, Ray somehow managed to escape his handler's large property out in the country.

Ray's handler, Lt. Trace Erickson, came looking for him and after some time searching, found that his partner had died on-scene as a result of his injuries. The Houston County Sheriff's Office shared a statement on Facebook mourning their loss later that evening.

"It's a tragic event, and it came as a shock," Inglett said over the phone this morning. "He was a young, energetic dog."

Although Ray had only been on the force since Oct. 1, Erickson had trained him for many months and had been working together. Ray was hired to fill the position previously held by K-9 Chance, who had recently retired from the Houston County Sheriff's Office.

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Ray was the only police dog serving the agency, according to Inglett, and the agency may need some time to decide what direction the K-9 program would go.

"It's a vital part of our public services," he said. "We certainly want to continue with the K-9 program, and we have to look at options in the near future."

Inglett shared that Erickson was "doing OK" but needed time to grieve the loss of his partner. The employees over in Houston County were also coping with the loss of Ray.

"It was a very tragic loss," Inglett said. "K-9s live with the handlers and the family and become part of the family. It's a very tragic loss for our office and it was a shock and unexpected. It creates a void in our office for sure. Lt. Erickson and Ray were a great team. ...Ray had great potential and it's just tragic."
After sitting quietly for more than an hour, Tiffany Hunsley broke her silence from the back of the room. Her emotional words hit home.

During Wednesday's public forum organized by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the founder of Recovery is Happening urged law enforcement officials, medical specialists and politicians to lean on people like her to combat the opioid epidemic. With most of the 50-plus member crowd nodding along, she passionately argued that recovering addicts should be considered part of the solution as the nation searches for answers amidst thousands of overdose deaths.

"We are ready to take action even after doors are shut right in our face," Hunsley told the seven member panel, which included Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson and two experts from Mayo Clinic.

"We're not allowed in schools. We're not allowed in hospitals," she said. "Now, some of those barriers are starting to be removed. We, the recovery community, are the solution."

Mayo Clinic physician Casey Clements was among those who praised Hunsley's idea, calling it "the next wave" in the fight to combat opioid addiction, which claimed more than 600 lives across Minnesota in 2016. Two panelists  Steve Coddington, of Common Ground, and Phillip Rutherford, of Faces and Voices of Recovery  were among many in attendance who could fit that bill.

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Klobuchar wasn't in attendance, but members of her staff are on a two-day tour of the state to gather information and ideas about how to combat the opioid crisis. They held meetings Wednesday in Eagan, Faribault and Rochester. Today, meetings are planned for Mankato, New Ulm and Litchfield.

Klobuchar was one of four senators to lead the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in 2016, and her support for the 21st Century Cures Act helped Minnesota secure $5 million earlier this year to support prevention, treatment and recovery services. She and others are now pushing the LifeBOAT Act, which would establish reliable funding to support and expand access to substance abuse treatment.

"We don't want to keep our heads in the sand or looking out the window at our Capitol (for help)," Klobuchar said in a pre-recorded video that kicked off the meeting. "Let's get on it."

Coddington, who used to work at Fountain Centers in Albert Lea, said there's still a harmful stigma around addiction. Because it affects roughly 10 percent of the population, he thinks addiction should be viewed similarly to cancer.

Torgerson urged Klobuchar to pursue additional funding so his department can continue to carry naloxone. The grant allowing his staff to carry the live-saving overdose treatment expires soon and, he says, "we don't have that money set aside."

The sheriff said opioids have created a "three-headed monster" with addiction, mental health and public safety concerns.

"These drugs, they know no boundaries," Torgerson said. "They don't know status or symbols. It starts with prescription drugs and ends up with heroin and other drugs. Scary, scary, scary."

The people sitting in the front row of Wednesday's forum are all too familiar with that fact  they've all lost a loved one to opioid abuse. Some say they've sought to share their cautionary tales in local schools and been rejected.

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Rochester's Sharon Schlingmann, who lost her daughter, Rachael, to heroin in 2012, was among that group. She pushed Torgerson and others to confront the reality of the situation, feeling that opioid issues in Rochester are being "pushed under the rug."

Hunsley said it remains a serious concern.

"Our community is suffering  (and) we have to band together," said Hunsley, who received two national awards for her advocacy in 2016.

"I, for one, have been to way too many funerals this year."
CHATFIELD  A man who experienced the hardships of war during Nazi occupation and was proud of later becoming a United States citizen died Nov. 3. He was 92.

Meindert Zylstra was born in Suawoude, a province of Friesland, the Netherlands, on March, 24, 1925. He grew up helping on his father's farm, milking cows, pole vaulting over canals and tipping over outhouses.

His daughter said that their father's presence commanded respect. One look, and people knew he meant business. But he was also known for his kindness.

"The one thing we always learned from him was 'to be nice to everyone,'" said Zylstra's youngest daughter, Sylvia Klomps of Chatfield. "That's what he went by, always. It was very true, and it was something we as kids always learned from him."

He was also known for pulling pranks, such as putting cat food in snow boots, and his belief that twine could fix almost anything, Klomps said.

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The Day the Americans Came

Zylstra was a teenager during the German occupation of the Netherlands. He and his brother worked on dairy farms near Freckenhorst, Germany.

"From our understanding, they were given the choice to go into the German army and serve under Hitler, or work at a farm or do other manual labor and be taken from home," Klomps said. "He chose to work on a farm."

During the occupation, Zylstra watched from the fields as German bomber planes soared overhead. As the tide of the war changed, he'd see American bombers. One day, he saw an American plane crash into a field near the farm where he worked.

"They ran out there," Klomps said. "I don't recall if the pilot was dead, but they saw some documents and grabbed them, knowing the Germans would be coming to rummage through the plane," Klomps said. "They hid those things from the Germans. ... I think it still haunted him. He'd tell us the bombers were flying last night and still relived it."

Although he didn't know it at the time, Zylstra's family hid Jews from the Nazis during the war. Klomps said she read in her father's journal that her grandfather hid two Jewish couples in a concealed space underneath a chicken coop and was part of the underground movement to move people at night through the countryside.

Klomps said that her father would recount the day the Americans liberated the farm where he worked. It was a quiet day, and those working on the farm could hear rumbling. The workers hid in the basement, but a French prisoner looked through the window.

"They said, 'That's the American flag star on the Jeep doors,'" she said, and they ran out to greet them.

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After WWII, Zylstra served three years in the Dutch army, guarding oil fields in Indonesia. When he returned to Holland, "nothing was left for him."

The family decided to immigrate to the United States for more opportunities.

"The whole family talked, and decided to go," Klomps said. "Back then, you had to have a sponsor, a job and learn English. You couldn't just come over and get aid. You had to take responsibility for your actions to become a citizen."

'I am American'

Zylstra and his family arrived at Ellis Island on Aug. 4, 1952, and took a bus to Minnesota. Zylstra worked as a farm hand in the Racine area and took English lessons in Rochester. It was his fifth language. He also spoke Frisian  his native language  Dutch, German and Malay.

To learn English, Zylstra would pen a letter to his teacher, Geneva King, in Rochester and send it through the mail. The next time he'd come to Rochester, his instructor would have his letter corrected. Sometimes, he'd receive lessons from other children living on the farm after supper.

On March 14, 1953, Zylstra married Wilma Clement from Stewartville. He was granted U.S. citizenship on May 14, 1957. In 1964, Zylstra fulfilled his dream of owning his own farm. He grew crops and raised animals southwest of Chatfield for 52 years.

Outside of running a farm, Zylstra was a leader in the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ and was one of 16 charter members of the Chatfield Brass Band where he was a trumpet player. He also enjoyed singing in the Chatfield Lutheran Church choir.

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Although given a Dutch flag by one of this children, he chose not to display it, firmly reaffirming his love for his new home by saying, "I am American."

"It was so important to him that he honored the country that gave him opportunities he did not have after the war in Holland," Klomps said. "We're still very proud (of our Dutch heritage), but that wasn't what he wanted to fly. He wanted the American flag. He appreciated the chance to live in a free country and to be able to buy his own farm and to make a life and raise a family."

Zylstra is survived by three children  Phyllis Comstock of Stillwater, Ronnie Zylstra of Stewartville, and Sylvia Klomps of Chatfield. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma; a son, Gene; a daughter, Elaine; and a brother, Peter Zylstra.
WABASHA  Jim Schurhammer brought in the crop growing around Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center in Wabasha, helping raise more than $20,000 to support the Saint Elizabeth's Community Clinic and efforts to preserve local access to care.

"The farm project has played a significant role in supporting our vision for advancing and sustaining rural healthcare in our service area," said Tom Crowley, president of Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center and Foundation. "We are meeting needs and touching the lives of many patients, residents, and community members because of the generosity and support of our farmers and donors."

The farm project is run by Schurhammer and his wife, Kathy, their son Travis and his wife, Jenny, Tony and Ron Wallerich, John and Gene Marx and many others who contribute farm supplies and the expenses needed to grow the corn, Crowley said.

Since the unique fundraising idea began, the Field of Dreams program has raised funds that contributed to the purchase of a tomosynthesis mammography, advancement CT, pharmacy expansion, and many other technology and facility advancements, he said.

This year's corn crop yielded 230 bushels per acre.
ST. PAUL  The Minnesota Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Gov. Mark Dayton acted within his power when he vetoed the operating budgets of the state House and Senate.

The court, however, declined to rule if the governor was acting in a coercive way when he tried to use his defunding of the Legislature as leverage to get GOP leaders back to the budget bargaining table.

Justices noted the line-item veto power is "expressly conferred" to Minnesota's governors.

"Whether it was wise for the people of Minnesota in 1876 to provide for a veto power over items of appropriation, in language that does not expressly exclude the appropriations for a coordinate branch of government, is not for us to judge," the court wrote.

Justices issued their long-awaited ruling as the Legislature began to take emergency steps to at least temporarily avert layoffs and other disruptions as their account balances dwindled.

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After the court's ruling was posted, GOP House Speaker Kurt Daudt said of the justices, "We had hoped they would end this debacle and they did not."

Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, said he was "very disappointed" by the Supreme Court's ruling.

"To think that the governor can shut down the voice of the people is extremely disturbing."

The fight began in May when Dayton signed the new, two-year state budget but used line-item vetoes to wipe out $130 million to operate the House and Senate. He left intact a separate pool to run joint offices, such as the legislative auditor.

The DFL governor said he wanted to force lawmakers back to the bargaining table to revisit tax and policy measures he didn't like but couldn't stop without bigger implications. The state government bill containing the Legislature's budget included a provision that would have canceled funding for the Department of Revenue if Dayton vetoed a tax-cut package.

Republican leaders of the Legislature quickly announced they would sue over their lost funding, and they won the first round in court. A Ramsey County judge invalidated the vetoes, saying Dayton overstepped his authority by taking such a drastic action against a separate branch of government.

Dayton appealed to the Supreme Court, which initially ordered the sides into mediation. That lasted less than two days. Dayton pulled away from the talks when it appeared clear to him they weren't making progress.

On Oct. 1, a temporary funding agreement for the Legislature expired. So the House and Senate began dipping into the reserve funds. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka warned his chamber would run out of money in December and asked for an infusion from joint legislative accounts to keep the lights on until January.

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After that, Gazelka, R-Nisswa, said the Senate would lay off staff, withhold lawmaker paychecks and lock its building until the Legislature could replenish its budget. The next regular session isn't due to begin until Feb. 20, leaving lawmakers few options without court intervention.

Dayton also wanted the courts to issue a final verdict. He long maintained that his line-item veto rested squarely within the constitutional authority granted to governors.
Leeann Tweeden has posted a detailed account of her sexual assault by Minnesota Senator Al Franken in 2006 (Franken was first elected to office only two years later). Tweedens account has been posted by 790 KABC in Los Angeles, where she works as a morning news anchor. Her account is posted here. I see no reason not to take it at face value.

The incidents recounted by Tweeden amount to recent history by comparison with the conduct charged against Roy Moore. Moreover, unlike the charges against Moore, Tweedens case against Franken is supported by photographic evidence. She has the ocular proof (below). If Tweedens account bears outwell, you finish the sentence.

UPDATE: Franken has issued a statement apologizing for groping her. He thought it was funny. What a pig. It is incumbent on him to resign or on the Senate to expel him. The photograph by itself looks like it may document a criminal sexual assault. On Tweedens account, in any event, Frankens groping in the photo would have been an act of malicious humiliation. Franken is counting on the double standard applicable to liberal Democrats to let bygones be bygones.

UPDATE (By Paul): Senate Majority Leader McConnell has called for an Ethics Committee investigation of Franken. He said:
In the Paul Simon song, its all happening at the zoo. In Minnesota, its all happening at the mall  the Mall of America. Sunday was a big day at the Mall. We had the knife stabbings that did some serious damage to two customers trying on clothes at Macys. Minnesota man Mahad A. Abdirahman is the alleged perpetrator. He is charged with two felony offenses and being held on $750,000 bail.

It turns out that Abdirahman has previously been ruled mentally ill with schizophrenia in a matter that involved a previous stabbing. Minnesota Public Radios Tim Nelson reports:

Court records show he was taken by paramedics to the Hennepin County Medical Centers psychiatric unit in October last year after his family called to report he was having a mental health crisis. Hed been hospitalized just a short time before for mental illness and prescribed medication but stopped taking it. Three days later, he stabbed one of the hospitals psychiatrists with a pen and had to be physically restrained and sent to the intensive care unit. He faced criminal assault charges in that case, as well. As a consequence of his mental illness, Respondent engages in grossly disturbed behavior or experiences faulty perceptions and he poses a substantial likelihood of causing physical harm, says an order dated December 12, 2016. It says when he was hospitalized he was talking and mumbling to himself in auditory hallucinations. He made a statement that the FBI can control his thoughts and read his mind. It isnt clear from court records where he was placed for treatment. Abdirahman had a hearing in June, and agreed to a 7-month extension of his commitment. He was ordered released on a provisional discharge, in a June 1 order signed by referee Mike Lien and Hennepin County district court judge Elizabeth Cutter. Cutters staff referred questions about the case to a court spokesperson, who did not respond to repeated requests about the nature of Abdirahmans case or why he wasnt ordered committed through the end of this year. Instead, he was at the Mall of America last weekend.

Incidents like the Minnesota mans stabbing attack open a window onto aspects of our life in Minnesota that is usually kept tightly closed. Tim Nelson is an excellent reporter and is to be commended for cracking open the window a bit more here. By contrast, the Star Tribune has run a seven-sentence AP story. Pitiful.

Sunday was a big day at the Mall of America. A Mall of America ride operator is alleged to have molested a patron after she was buckled in and with her young son along. The Star Tribune gets around to the story here.

The alleged perpetrator in this second Sunday case is Minnesota man Amin I. Mohamed. He was charged on Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court with fifth-degree (gross misdemeanor) criminal sexual conduct. Mohamed is alleged to have slipped his hand between the womans legs with one finger extended. I have undoubtedly led a sheltered life, but using the rides restraint to take advantage of a woman in that fashion is a new one on me.

Mohamed was arrested Monday. Unfortunately, however, Mohamed is now free on $6,000 bond, if I am reading the sheriffs record correctly.

James Woods recently posted 45-second video showing hundreds of Somali Muslims gathering at the Malls Nickelodeon Universe on his extremely popular Twitter feed. Highlighting the scene, Woods commented: I would suggest getting your Christmas shopping done early. Oh, wait  Disparaging Woods, the Star Tribune has prominently featured the story and reactions to his tweet on its home page. Its all happening at the Mall, as I say, and the Star Tribune wants to make damn sure that we get our minds right.
I will guest host Laura Ingrahams radio show tomorrow. The show runs live from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern, and is heard at other times in some geographies. During the first hour, we will talk with Congressman Ron De Santis. The second hour will be devoted to the shame of Americas public schools, with guests from the fast-collapsing Edina, Minnesota public school system. The third hour will feature an interview with Lila Rose. So dont miss it!

You can go here to find a radio station in your area or to listen online. If you miss the show live, you can get highlights via podcast on iTunes. Please listen in, and give us a call at 855-40-LAURA. As always, I would love to hear from some Power Line readers.
Having just made a visit to Portland, Oregon, I got a fresh reminder that lots of people there think Portlandia is a true-to-life documentary rather than a mockumentary. Take for example a recent news report about a study on substance abuse commissioned by the Portland City Club. The study found that substance abuse iswait for ita serious problem. An epidemic even!

Oregon is facing an epidemic of alcohol and drug abuse, according to a new report released by the Oregon Substance Abuse Disorder Research Committee. The report found that one out of every 10 Oregonians struggles with drugs or alcohol and that addiction costs the state about $6 billion a year in everything from policing to health care. It also found that two of every three Oregonians either struggle with a substance abuse disorder or have a family member or friend who does. Substance abuse disorder is everywhere, said lead author and retired anesthesiologist, Dr. Samuel Metz.

This story wouldnt be noteworthy except for this note at the end:

The Portland City Club commissioned the report. But the club decided against releasing it because of the all-white composition of the committee.

Seriously, Portland City Club? Portland is the whitest major city in America. Its Stockholm. Last time I checked the Census figures for the Portland metropolitan area (admittedly quite a while ago now), Portland was nearly 95 percent white. Partly this is the result of highly discriminatory policies against especially blacks almost a century ago, when the Klan was surprisingly strong in Oregon. Yet I am sure most Oregonians today regard the South as the region that ought to be lashing itself daily for its historic sins.
Senator Patrick Leahy is the Democratic former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He remains a member of the committee. He must be one of the Senates unfunniest senators and most partisan hacks. Vice President Cheney spoke for a lot of us with his imprecation to Leahy back in 2004. Serving on the Judiciary Committee with Minnesotas own Al Franken, however, has probably dimmed Leahys bulb in all departments.

Leahy showed his stuff in questioning Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett at the committee hearing on Willetts nomination to the Fifth Circuit yesterday. Justice Willett is known to many of us as the most popular judicial practitioner on Twitter. He has more than 100,000 followers of his Twitter feed. His wit and humor are the principal source of his popularity. Below is an example from the top of his feed.

The day after the April 2015 oral argument before the Supreme Court in the Obergefell case on same-sex marriage, Justice Willett tweeted that he could support a constitutional right to marry bacon (tweet below). Leahy characterized the tweet as an attack on Supreme Court decisions (even though Obergefell hadnt yet been decided) and wondered why they should believe that Willett would respect Supreme Court precedent as a federal judge. This is numbskull hackery combined with witless stupidity.

I could support recognizing a constitutional right to marry bacon. pic.twitter.com/HKPW6tE4H6  Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) April 30, 2015

Justice Willett responded: I dont believe I had attacked Supreme Court precedent, but certainly, if I were fortunate enough to be confirmed as a federal circuit judge, I would be honor-bound, categorically, absolutely, to follow every controlling precedent. Justice Willett pleaded that his tweet was his attempt to inject a bit of levity. Translation: it was a joke.

The only surprise is that Leahy didnt grill Justice Willett over the patent inadequacies of his law library (tweet below). He should have asked him, if he believes in Supreme Court precedent, where are the Supreme Court opinions in his law library? While he professes his respect for precedent, does he think Supreme Court opinions belong with cartoons? Huh?

My law library is complete. pic.twitter.com/VkdKg2iD5I  Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) September 28, 2017

Leahys exchange with Justice Willett reminds me of the moment in Dr. Strangelove when President Merkin exclaims to General Turgdison and the Soviet ambassador, Gentlemen, you cant fight in here. This is the War Room! Come to think of it, Leahy looks a little like Merkin.

Indeed, Justice Willetts Twitter icon (at right) bears a resemblance to the memorable conclusion of Dr. Strangelove. Does he think nuclear war is funny? Huh?

For Leahys benefit Justice Willett added: Senator, I believe every American is entitled to equal worth and dignity. Ive never intended to disparage anyone and would never do so. Thats not where my heart is (video below).

Via David Rutz/Washington Free Beacon.
( Read 3111 Times)

Source :

Udaipur, Minister of State of Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Arjun Ram Meghwal said the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) in Udaipur as well as other cities will prove to be a milestone in doubling the farmers income by 2022.At the valedictory session of GRAM in Udaipur, he said while 60 per cent of Indias population is dependent on agriculture, the contribution of the agri sector to the GDP of the country is only around 18 per cent. The needof the hour is to devise a methodology to increase the contribution of the Agriculture Sector towards the GDP.The Minister also added that to double farmers incomes, it is imperative that the innovations and improvisation techniques which take place in agriculture should be made available to the farmers. By being a platform of knowledge sharing for farmers, GRAM has set a benchmark in this regard.The GRAM Udaipur was jointly organized by the Government of Rajasthan and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI).On the occasion, the Special Guest, Minister of State, Law & Justice, Corporate Affairs, Government of India, PP Chaudhary said that farmers usually have to face a lot of indifference. In the present times of competition, only those farmers who possess modern know how and technical skills can be successful.GRAM is a blessing for farmers as it shares with them new techniques and knowledge and makes them aware of the new trends in agriculture, he said.He added that the policies of the state government like e-Nam, Fasal Bima Yojna, Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan (MJSA) and Soil Health Scheme, among others are also paving the way for the prosperity and well-being of farmers.Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Government of Rajasthan, Prabhu Lal Saini said through an initiative like GRAM, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has provided the farmers with a national as well as international platform.Through the 38 MoUs worth Rs 4,400 crore signed in Jaipur and the 18 MoUs worth Rs 487.96 crore signed in Udaipur, innovations and improvisations in agriculture will be manifold, he said. The Minister added that agriculture is not just about growing wheat and rice. Diversification of crops, organic farming, herbiculture, floriculture, among others should also be adopted among farmers to ensure success and prosperity.Mr Saini said the Centre of Excellence on maize in Banswara, which was announced by the Chief Minister during the inaugural session of GRAM Udaipur, will be implemented soon. A fund of Rs 10 crore has already been sanctioned in this regard. Similarly, at Balicha in Udaipur an agro tech tower will be set up for Rs 14 crore.There was also a budget announcement of Rs 114 crore for the development of GRAM mandis in the Balicha and adjoining area in inaugural ceremony state CMVasundhara Raje urged farmers to take up agri-tourism which she claimed is already a booming industry in Maharashtra."Tourists are captivated by rural India and love to experience the village life. If you can provide them simple and hygienic staying facilities and home-made food, they will not only pay you money but happily indulge in farming activities like sowing, reaping and even milking the cows," Raje asserted. She said that tourists coming to Ranthambore love to spend time working in jungles like reaping grass. They are willing to learn farm and animal rearing activities which can provide additional income to the farmers in remote areas.It may recalled that Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) in Udaipur. GRAM is being jointly organised by the Government of Rajasthan and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI).Raje remotely inaugurated GRAM Exhibition and Custom Hiring Centres (CHC). She also inaugurated various projects worth Rs 453 crore for agriculture and other departments across the state.
ATLANTIC CITY  After a nearly two-day manhunt, the last of the four juvenile inmates who escaped from the Harborfields juvenile detention center was captured in the city Thursday morning.

Michael Huggins, an 18-year-old who was previously charged with murder as a juvenile, was arrested about 10:30 a.m. on the 100 block of N. South Carolina Avenue by members of the State Police, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Huggins had a handgun at the time of his arrest, but it was not the handgun of a law-enforcement officer, Tyner said.

Huggins was taken into custody without incident and was sent to the Atlantic County jail.

That is being further investigated, as to how he came into possession of a handgun, Tyner said.

Four teenagers broke out of the juvenile detention center in Egg Harbor City after midnight Wednesday by overpowering a corrections officer and stealing a guards car, authorities said. A corrections officer was injured and taken to a hospital. The teens later crashed the car and ditched it ahead of a pursuing police cruiser.

Several hours later, three of the youths were captured in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, about 35 miles west.

Stephine Woodley, Raymir Lampkin and Donovan Nickerson were identified as the three teens caught in Bridgeton. Their ages, hometowns and alleged crimes were not released. Before their capture, authorities said the escapees were 18, 17 and two 16-year-olds.

Huggins remained at large overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning. He was arrested near Carolina Village Apartments in the city after law enforcement received information that led them to him, Tyner said.

Two men were seen being led in handcuffs to awaiting police vehicles at the scene. Tyner would not comment on the second mans identity or any additional arrests.

He said it was unclear why Huggins went to the apartment, but the people who live in the apartment where Huggins was found were cooperating with police and have not been charged at this time, Tyner said.

Were continuing the investigation and were investigating all leads that may suggest that there are accomplices involved, Tyner said.

Huggins was charged with escape, robbery, assault of a law enforcement officer and conspiracy, Tyner said. He will be charged as an adult with possession of a handgun, among other charges, pending further investigation.

Tyner said its still under investigation how long Huggins was in the city and how all of the teens got to their respective locations.

Hes being charged with conspiracy, so we do in fact believe that it was a planned escape, Tyner said.

Huggins previously was charged with murder in the Oct. 7, 2016, killing of Davonte Lee in Bridgeton and was considered dangerous, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said Wednesday.

Huggins was indicted on the murder charge and a motion was made to transfer him to the county jail, but the motion was denied, Tyner said. He could not elaborate on the details.

Laveina Smallwood, 30, lives in the complex with her two children where State Police escorted one man into a police car Thursday. She immediately crossed the street with her children, 10-year-old Harmony and 2-year-old Sincere, when police entered the apartment complex.

Im happy that they finally caught the young boy that escaped, Smallwood said. I feel safer they got them off the street.

She and other residents complained about the alleged drug problem in the area.

I try to stay away from this area because of all the drugs, said Lisa Blight, 43.

Blight, who lives on the corner of N. South Carolina and Baltic avenues, said she traveled with a group of people to a nearby NJ Transit bus stop to take her 4-year-old daughter Faithann to school.

I was petrified, and I was scared to even take my daughter to school this morning. It was dangerous, and Im glad they caught all four of them, especially the fourth one with murder charges, Blight said.

The Atlantic County Sheriffs Office, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, the New Jersey State Police, the Bridgeton Police Department, the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office, the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI assisted in the two-day search, Tyner said.
President Donald Trumps tweets barring transgender people from serving in the military were called into question by local officials on both sides of the po-litical aisle Wednesday afternoon.

Trumps announcement on Twitter barred transgender individuals from participating in the military in any capacity, citing tremendous medical costs and disruption. Trump did not say what would happen to transgender people already in the military.

U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, R-2nd, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Trumps statement concerned him.

Removing thousands of men and women from admirably and honorably serving is counterintuitive to strengthening our military. I have serious concerns about what this new directive means for current active duty and reserve transgender members of our Armed Forces and National Guard. I expect Defense Secretary Mattis to provide clarity on this issue and determine what is in the best interest of military readiness to protect our nation, LoBiondo said in a statement Wednesday.

From Trumps own Republican Party, to an independent transgender activist, the response was met with frustration.

Mico Lucide, of Mays Landing, a member of the Green Party in Atlantic County and a 2nd District Assembly candidate with a history of transgender activism, said he wasnt shocked by Trumps tweets.

However, Lucide said he was frustrated for the transgender community  and specifically a transgender person he knows at Stockton University in Galloway Township whose dream was to go into the Navy.

Now I dont know if that person can fulfill their life dream, Lucide said.

The president tweeted that after consulting with Generals and military experts, the government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.

Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail, he added.

Transgender service members have been able to serve openly in the military since last year, when then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter ended the ban. Since Oct. 1, transgender troops have been able to receive medical care and start formally changing their gender identifications in the Pentagons personnel system.

Already, there are as many as 250 service members in the process of transitioning to their preferred genders or who have been approved to formally change gender within the Pentagons personnel system, according to several defense officials.

The Pentagon has refused to release any data on the number of transgender troops currently serving. A Rand Corp. study estimated there are between 2,500 and 7,000 transgender service members on active duty and an additional 1,500 to 4,000 in the reserves.

Lucide said Trump citing health care costs as the reason for barring transgender individuals was baffling and frustrating.

Thats an absurd thing to say about anybody to declare anyone is a burden because of their health, Lucide said.

But some conservative organizations and lawmakers hailed the decision.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins applauded Trump for keeping his promise to return to military priorities  and not continue the social experimentation of the Obama era that has crippled our nations military.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said Trumps supporters will be happy to hear it. We dont need to be experimenting with the military. Plus, theres no reason to take on that kind of financial burden.

Lucide said the way to make change is in a three-pronged system: education, action and elections. This will involve having knowledge of the situation, protesting much like the womens march in January and electing transgender officials, he said.

When a community does not have a voice in the house where change can be made, then that community is continued to be glossed over with policies. Its easy to ignore something you dont see on a day-to-day basis, but it seems like thats how our politicians work, Lucide said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ATLANTIC CITY  From the highs of capping government spending to the lows of a bridge shutdown, Gov. Chris Christies legacy is a decidedly mixed bag.

So says a group of former governors and policy experts who met Wednesday as part of the 102nd annual New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conferences panel on the legacy of the governor. The conference at the Atlantic City Convention Center wraps up Thursday with Gov.-elect Phil Murphy giving the keynote address at the League Luncheon.

He has a fantastic legacy, said Donald DiFrancesco, a Republican governor from 2001-02. I think that he has done a lot governmentally, but the perception is bad.

Risley defeats Witherspoon for final Atlantic County freeholder at-large seat MAYS LANDING  Republican John Risley defeated Thelma Witherspoon for the final Atlantic Cou

The panel also included former Govs. James J. Florio, James E. McGreevey and John O. Bennett, and Benjamin Dworkin, director of the Rebovich Institute for NJ Politics at Rider University, and Brigid Harrison, a professor at Montclair State University and president of the New Jersey Political Science Association.

Many of us, in 2009, had high hopes that this was someone who was going to turn Trenton upside down, Harrison said. It quickly became apparent because of his relationship with party bosses, Democratic and Republican, and then soon thereafter his presidential ambitions, that the people in the state of New Jersey got shortchanged.

The lack of economic growth in the state compared to the rest of the region was a key factor in Christies approval rating continuing to fall, Harrison said.

His administration was a squandered opportunity, she said.

Florio said Christies brash style, once considered refreshing by many, contributed in part to his downfall.

You cant tell your constituents to shut up, Florio said.

Most of Christies key legislative accomplishments came in the first couple of years, Dworkin said.

Its a potential that was untapped, Dworkin said of Christies tenure. He had incredible policy accomplishments. You have to look at Chris Christies tenure beyond the two gates (Bridge and Beach). He was a talented politician.

While touting Christies accomplishments, including arbitration reform, Bennett, a Republican who was governor for four days in 2002, said the history books would not view his tenure as a success.

Its hard to win re-election at 60 percent (approval) and leave office at 15 percent, Bennett said.
NUREMBERG, Germany, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- France leaps to second place for first time, while UK regains ground to remain third and Japan enters top five

- USA is only country showing overall decline in 2017

- Germany major gains in Governance, People, and Culture

In the wake of a substantial drop in global perception of the USA, Germany retakes the top ranking in the latest Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index[SM] (NBI[SM]) study, while France climbs to second place. The UK has regained the ground it lost last year after the Brexit vote to hold onto third place, while Japan jumps into the top five for the first time since 2011, standing equal with Canada.

Score change Nation 2017 rank 2016 rank 2016 vs. 2017 Germany 1 2 +0.99 France 2 5 +1.56 United Kingdom 3 3 +1.27 Canada 4 4 +0.96 Japan 4 7 +2.12 United States 6 1 -0.63 Italy 7 6 +0.74 Switzerland 8 8 +1.34 Australia 9 9 +0.76 Sweden 10 10 +1.30 NBI[SM] score changes: minor change +/-0.26-0.50; medium +/-0.51-1.00; large > +/-1.00

Of the 50 countries measured in the study, only the USA saw its overall NBI score drop this year. However, it still ranks among the top five nations for three of NBI's six categories: namely, Culture (where the USA is ranked second), Exports (also second), and Immigration-Investment (fifth). But it fell from 19th place to 23rd for Governance, a notably poor score for one of the world's leading countries.

Professor Simon Anholt, who created the NBI study in 2005, comments, "The USA's fall in the 'Governance' category suggests that we are witnessing a 'Trump effect', following President Trump's focused political message of 'America First'. However, Americans' assessment of their own country is notably more positive this year than last. A similar fall in global perception of the USA was seen following the re-election of George W. Bush, when the USA fell to seventh place. Previously, America has never stayed outside the top ranking for more than a year at a time: it will be interesting to see whether this holds true in the 2018 ranking."

Germany gains in Governance, People, and Culture

Germany, by contrast to the USA, enjoys a very balanced image across all six categories of the index, with notable improvements in global perception of its Culture (+1.07), Governance (+1.28), and People (+1.34). It ranks in the top five countries for all but one of the Index categories - that one being Tourism, where it is gaining ground, if not yet in the top five.

Germany's overall score increases are boosted by significantly improved perceptions among Egyptians (+5.92), as well as among Russians (+2.26), Chinese (+2.17) and Italians (+2.06). Americans stand alone in ranking Germany outside the top-ten overall nation brands, placing it eleventh.

UK regains the ground lost in 2016

Global perception of the UK has recovered following the significant decline seen in 2016 immediately after the Brexit vote. Its overall Index score is back to very nearly its 2015 level, with improvement across all six categories. This puts it into the top five countries for Exports, Culture, Tourism and Immigration-Investment. The UK's largest gains are for Governance (nearly two points) and People, suggesting that most countries have come to terms with the UK's vote last year to leave the EU, and their perception has re-settled following that shock.

France and Japan leap ahead in global perception of their national brands

Both France and Japan benefitted from score gains in their own right, as well as from the USA decline, allowing them to leap ahead in the overall ranking.

France now stands in second place for the first time since the NBI began, up from fifth last year, with gains across all six categories. This is seen especially for Governance, where France's improved score stands at double the average amount, and Immigration-Investment. It ranks first of all countries for global perception of its Culture, second for Tourism, and fifth for Exports.

2017 has also been a banner year for Japan. It now stands in fourth place, equal with Canada, having gained its highest overall score in nearly a decade. Japan is perceived most highly for Exports, where it comes ahead of all other countries, and also shows significant gains compared to the average for Immigration-Investment, Culture, and Governance.

Vadim Volos, GfK's senior vice president of public affairs and consulting, comments, "The Nation Brands Index allows our clients to understand where - and why - their nation stands in terms of their current image, momentum and potential. Changing global perception of a national brand is challenging and slow - but countries can influence biased or outdated perceptions by understanding the negative views and actively communicating actions and changes that address those."

For more information about the Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index, please visit nation-brands.gfk.com

SOURCE GfK
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2017-11-15 19:03:16.428176

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Name : firefox

Product : Fedora 26

Version : 57.0

Release : 2.fc26

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New Delhi, Nov 12 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has busted an inter-state gang of cheats and nabbed its three members from Dholpur in Rajasthan, the agency said on Sunday.

The gang used to cheat people on the pretext of exchanging Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) or unbilled gold biscuits on attractive rates.

The NIA recovered 20 gold biscuits of 100 grams each from their possession and is conducting searches in Mumbai and Kolhapur (Maharashtra). The genuineness of the gold is also being verified.

"During the preliminary examination, it was revealed that an inter-state gang had been active since long in the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal. They lured people on the pretext of exchanging high-quality FICN or unbilled gold biscuits on attractive rates," an official said.

"They either looted their targets directly or carried out fake police raids with the help of associates. The off-guard targets would leave their money behind and not even lodge police complaints," he added.

While investigating a FICN-related case, the NIA had recovered fake currency of Rs 9,80,000 face value on March 31 last year from the possession of one Nasir Sheikh near the India-Bangladesh border.

He was arrested on the spot, though his associate from Bangladesh, Darul Sheikh alias Darul, managed to escape.

On Saturday, the agency received a "reliable input" that the same Bangladeshi absconder Darul Sheikh along with other associates was trying to strike a deal in fake currency at Dholpur.

The NIA teams swung into action and detained three suspects, Gagan Kumar Vyas alias Tiwari of Satara, Rashid Khan alias Biza of Thane and Iqbal Ahmad Ansari of Palghar, Maharashtra.

"All the above detained gang members along with seized 20 gold biscuits are being handed over to Dholpur police for initiating appropriate action," the official said.
London, Nov 14 : World Number 1 Rafael Nadal withdrew from the 2017 ATP Finals after suffering a shocking defeat by seventh seed David Goffin of Belgium in his first group match at the O2 Arena here.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner, who has secured the top place in the year-ending ATP Rankings, was apparently struggling but showed inspiring fighting spirit, saving four match points in the second set before losing 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4 on Monday, Xinhua reported.

Goffin, playing the ATP Finals for the second time, took command in the third set, serving for the match with a 14th ace of the match.

"I am really happy. It was such a good atmosphere tonight," Goffin said.

Nadal, who pulled out of he Paris Masters at the quarterfinals 10 days ago, had admitted before the match that his knee was "not perfect". His countryman Pablo Carreno Busta will take his place in Group Pete Sampras.

Nadal has won 75 tour-level titles, including 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns but he has never won the ATP Finals. He qualified for the event 13 times but competed only in eight editions.

"My season is finished," he said after the match. "I had the commitment with the event, with the city, with myself. I tried hard. I did the thing that I had to do to try to be ready to play. But I am really not ready to play."

"I tried, but (it) seriously was a miracle to be very close in the score during the match."
United Nations, Nov 14 : The General Assembly rallied around world court Judge Dalveer Bhandari on Monday in his bid for re-election, defying the Security Council where permanent members and their allies put up a fight to protect one of their own, Britain's Christopher Greenwood.

Bhandari steadily increased his votes from 110 to 121 in the Assembly during five rounds of voting, while Greenwood slipped from 79 to 68.

Over at the Council, Greenwood kept his nine votes through the five rounds. Bhandari, who had polled six votes on Thursday, lost one but held on to his five votes.

The unrelenting standoff forced both chambers to adjourn without electing a judge to fill the fifth position up for election this year to the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Sitting Judge Bhandari had lost the Asia-Pacific seat to Lebanon's Nawaf Salam when the elections were held on Thursday to elect five judges to the ICJ.

Four candidates who got the required majorities in both the Council and the Assembly were declared elected, while Bhandari and Greenwood could get majorities in only one of the chambers.

After a weekend of intense lobbying the voting on Monday became a showdown between the Assembly and the Council.

The mood slowly turned defiant in the 193-member Assembly where members steadily kept moving to Bhandari's side with each round.

The Assembly Vice President, Vanuatu's Permanent Representative Odo Tevi, who presided over the election, and Council President Sebastiano Cardi announced that the voting would resumed on a day to be mutually determined.

The stalemate brought to the fore the imbalance of power between the Council and Assembly.

The Council Permanent Members have by tradition each had a judge on the world court. That is now being challenged by the Assembly, where a majority have been chafing under the unrepresentative character of the Council, which wields enormous powers, and want it reformed.

The Permanent Members and their allies are rallying behind the British candidate as they do not want to see their perk endangered by the loss of one of their own.

So far, a total of nine rounds of voting have been held by the Council and ten by the Assembly.

Three incumbent judges of the ICJ -- President Ronny Abraham of France, Vice President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia, and Antonio Augusto Cancado Trindade of Brazil - were elected along with lawyer-turned-diplomat Salam in five rounds in the Council and six in the Assembly on Thursday.

In the runoff that followed Bhandari won in the Assembly and Greenwood in the Council.

The two chambers can continue voting at another meeting with several balloting rounds and if it was inconclusive, under the election procedures they can set up a conference of three representatives each from Council and the Assembly to resolve the standoff.

Going by precedent, they can also put off the next meeting for several weeks as it happened in 1956 when there was a similar standoff between the Council and the Assembly.

In reconvened voting in 1957, Wellington Koo of Taiwan, which held China's seat at time prevailed over Japan's M. Kuriyama.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Srinagar, Nov 14 : Kashmir's fish are dying because of eutrophication (excess of nutrients leading to oxygen depletion), turtle doves have almost stopped visiting paddy fields to pick grain and, alarmingly, lesser numbers of migratory birds have so far come to the Valley this year.

If these are not enough indicators of an environmental doomsday, then read on.

People living on the banks of the Jhelum river in Srinagar city pounced to pick fish desperately floating on the river a few days back.

"The fish were gasping for oxygen because the river has become saturated with nutrients due to the dumping of the city's refuse into it.

"The enrichment of the water body with nutrients causes structural changes in the fragile ecosystem leading to depletion of oxygen and increase in levels of nitrogen. The fish that were seen floating helplessly on the surface of the river were actually battling for a breath of oxygen," a local environmental scientist, who did not wish to be identified, told IANS. .

"Turtle doves used to come in their hundreds every year to pick the fallen grain left behind after harvesting in our paddy fields.

"Armies of these beautiful birds would descend on our paddy fields to feed till just a few years.

"This year there were hardly any turtle doves seen in our area. We had a good harvest, but the fact is that the area under paddy cultivation has shrunk alarmingly," said Haji Sidiq, who lives in Chanduna village of north Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

Sidiq's observation is backed by Manzoor Ahmad, 60, who lives in Koil village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

"Alarmingly lesser number of turtle doves came to feed in our village this year. Agricultural lands have been shrinking because of their conversion for commercial and other purposes. I also believe the turtle doves have little left to feed on", said Manzoor Ahmad.

People living around Shallabugh Bird Reserve, the largest such for migratory birds in the Valley, have another frightening story to tell.

"Very few migratory birds have arrived in the reserve this year. There is hardly any water left in the reserve for the migratory birds to swim and wade," said Gaffar Lone, 80, who compared his memories of seeing hundreds of migratory birds in the reserve around this time of the year with what he hardly sees nowadays.

Officials of the wildlife department say temporary embankments are being raised to ensure that various migratory bird reserves like Shallabugh, Hokarsar, Mirgund and Hygam have sufficient water levels to support the avian visitors.

Migratory birds come to the Valley each year to spend nearly six months to ward off the extreme cold in their summer homes of Russian Siberia, Eastern Europe and China.

There has hardly been any rain in the Valley during the last three months. This has left its rivers, lakes, mountain streams and springs shrunken to the bottom.

Most rural water supply schemes are now regulating the flow of water for domestic use.

"This is something unheard of in the countryside. Water has always been the richest gift of God to Kashmir and today even this is to be rationed," lamented Zahoor Ahmad, 52, who lives in Haripora village of Ganderbal district.

The state's weatherman, Sonam Lotus, said showers are likely in the plains of the Valley between November 14 and 15.

"This could break the long dry spell that the Valley has been undergoing for the last over three months," Lotus said.

Kashmir's iconic Dal Lake in the summer capital Srinagar depicts a sad story of human callousness provoking Mother Nature to destroy us.

"The lake literally smells. The discharge of waste by everybody living in and around the lake has brought it to the brink of extinction.

"Official efforts to save the Dal Lake will mean nothing unless the people take up the challenge to save this icon for posterity," said Bashir Ahmad, who lives in the city's Buchwara area.

Dying fish, vanishing countryside, smelly lakes and shrinking glaciers -- Kashmir's story during the last two decades has not just been all about violence and blood.

Is the environmental disaster going to be irreversible? Only Kashmiris can tell.

(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)
Panaji, Nov 14 : Wine in India will eventually get its high from the rapidly increasing segment of independent, empowered women who hold the key to the industry's growth in the country, according to Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Vineyards.

Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the 'Sula Selections: Globe in a Glass Roadshow 2017' here, Samant also said that global warming was emerging as a key challenge for the wine industry across the globe -- as well as in India.

"Drinking for young women in tier 2 cities will be socially acceptable. The point is also about economic empowerment in those cities, when younger people become a little bit economically self-sufficient. Young working women may not have a problem any more in 10 cities in India (right now), but outside those 10 there are still problems. But soon, they are going to get their own disposable income and all of that is going to go lock step. So for sure, its inevitable," Samant said underlining that women would be driving the growth of wine sales and popularity in India.

Wine, he said, naturally suited women rather than whiskey in the contemporary Indian social context.

"Whiskey is a little bit tough, too strong. Women are much more comfortable with a glass of wine. (Also) in terms of image, in terms of acceptability in society," he said, adding that such a sentiment is "even reflected in Indian cinema".

"Back then, if you drank a glass or something in a movie, you were the vamp, you were the fallen woman. Today Priyanka Chopra can have a glass of wine in the movie. She is seen not as a fallen woman, but as an independent, modern woman," Samant said.

Sula Vineyards, which pioneered wine manufacturing in India in Maharashtra's Nasik region, currently accounts for nearly 65 per cent market share of the country's wine industry -- with a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 per cent for the last 10 years.

"At this point, our situation is very simple. We have been enjoying a CAGR of 20 per cent for the last 10 years. We are always a little bit constrained on the supply of grapes. Twenty per cent is all we can deal with," he said.

The challenges for the wine industry in the country, as well as much of the world, comes from climate change and its impact and steps need to be taken to overcome the obstacle.

"On the production side, challenges are climate change, global warming, not enough monsoon, unseasonal rains, too much heat. Let's make no bones about it. Climate change does not create advantages for anybody. Five per cent of the world's population will benefit, while 95 per cent is going to face some serious challenges," he said.

This year, grape production was impacted by as much as 15 per cent due to unseasonal rains, he said.

"We have lost 15 per cent of out crop this year, just to put it in perspective, and every year it is something or the other. So that's a big challenge for us, in getting the right grapes in, diversifying geographically, diversifying variety, diversifying in terms of pruning time so that it (the harvest) comes at different times. So that if there's rain at one time, it won't affect the whole crop. All of these things require a lot of changes in the vineyards," he said.

Samant also lamented the lack of government support for production and marketing of Indian wines in the manner the European Union supports the wine industry in the continent's wine manufacturing regions.

"Let's keep it in perspective. Italy's extremely competitive abroad. You are going against the French, the Italians, the Chileans and the Australians, who have hundreds and thousands of years of tradition. We are very new. Our cost structure isn't exactly that low. We have no meaningful support from the government," he said, when asked about how Indian wines fared in markets abroad.

"The EU, for instance, gives a lot of marketing support and underwrites marketing budgets. EU also gives subsidies to grape growers, There's a big mechanism to support wine in Europe. India doesn't have any of that. There are some state benefits like in Maharashtra, where there is a low tax regime. But there, the whole of France, Spain and Italy have a low tax regime for wines," Samant said.

(Mayabhushan Nagvekar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 14 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is visiting Singapore to showcase a slew of investor friendly reforms undertaken by the government and discuss ideas to ramp up investments in India.

Jaitley is leaving on Tuesday evening on a two-day official visit to Singapore.

"During the visit, Jaitley will re-enforce the close ties between India and Singapore, building upon our shared history, rooted in strong commercial, culture and people-to-people links," Finance Ministry said in a statement.

On November 15, the Finance Minister will visit the Singapore Expo and deliver the keynote address at the Singapore Fintech Festival, a global event attracting over 10,000 participants. He will also pay a visit to the India pavilion set up at the expo, showcasing India's achievements in advancing financial technology, both within and outside the government.

On November 16, Jaitley will deliver the keynote address at Morgan Stanley Sixteenth (16th) Annual Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore on the topic 'India: Structural Reforms and Growth Path Ahead'.

"As part of the Summit, Jaitley will meet the senior management of Morgan Stanley and also address a gathering of senior fund managers and key financial institutional investors," it said.

During the visit, he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to discuss bilateral issues.

He will also discuss investment and other issues with his Singapore counterpart and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.

An investors' roundtable is being organised by the Ministry of Finance, India and the Indian High Commission in Singapore to showcase to foreign investors a slew of investor friendly reforms undertaken by the government and also to understand their ideas and suggestions about ramping up investments in India.

The roundtable will be co-chaired by Secretary DEA Subhash Chandra Garg and Tan Ching Yee, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of Singapore.

The participants in the investors' roundtable include senior executives of leading institutional investors and business houses in Singapore, who control significant investments globally and have either existing investments in India or are contemplating such investments in the country in the near future.

During his visit starting Wednesday, Jaitley will also have meetings with CEOs of GIC, the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) of Singapore, the Chairman of Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), CEO of Singapore Airlines, Chairman of Blackstone Asia Pacific and CEO of Singapore Stock Exchange among others, it said.

He will also interact with the Chairman and Board of Directors of Temasek, a leading investment company, headquartered in Singapore.

Jaitley will return to New Delhi late in the evening of November 16.
Islamabad, Nov 14 : An accountability court here on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for his prolonged absence from court proceedings relating to a corruption case.

Dar, who skipped the previous three hearings on account of medical treatment, is accused by the country's anti-corruption body -- National Accountability Bureau (NAB) -- of possessing assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income.

The court also issued notice to Dar's guarantor Ahmad Ali Qudoosi for failing to ensure the presence of the Minister, Dawn online reported.

Asked as to when the minister was likely to appear before the court, Qudoosi said Dar, who is presently in London, will fully recover in three to six weeks.

The court then briefly adjourned proceedings as the NAB investigation officer had not appeared in court. Later, as the hearing resumed, the court issued non-bailable warrants for Dar's arrest.

The hearing was then adjourned until November 21.
New Delhi, Nov 14 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi government to consider stringent punishment for the crime of snatching of chains and other valuables in the national capital.

The court asked the state government to file a report on whether it intends to amend the existing penal provisions since chain snatchings have become a serious problem.

The court also issued notice to Delhi Police and civic bodies and asked them to file their responses by December 14, the next date of hearing.

The court's direction came on a public interest litigation by advocate Prashant Manchanda who sought stringent punishment for those involved in snatchings in Delhi.

He said that neighbouring Haryana, in view of the seriousness of the problem, had provided for harsher punishment for those committing snatchings wherein provisions had been made in the Indian Penal Code to increase the jail term for offenders from five to 14 years along with fine, as against a maximum of three years earlier.

In Maharashtra, too, the punishment for snatchings has been made stringent and, in some cases, Mumbai Police has invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, the petitioner said.

Manchanda told the court that chain snatchings in Delhi had recorded a six-fold increase. On an average, he said, there were 25 snatchings daily due to absence of effective laws and police indifference.

In Delhi, police books offenders under lighter provisions dealing with theft instead of robbery or dacoity, even though weapons are used to commit such crimes, he added.

"The offence of snatchings has almost become endemic. But the Delhi Police is either discouraging victims to refrain from lodging the FIRs or registering FIRs under trivial sections even when hurt is caused so as to minimise the crime rate. Further, the enactment of new laws in Haryana have forced such criminals to shift base to Delhi," he added.

Manchanda told the court that Delhi parks had become hubs of such crime and criminal elements frequented such places due to lack of vigilance.

A majority of public spaces and public parks are bereft of basic security, vigil, closed-circuit television and lighting, the petitioner alleged.
#FIFA World Cup Captain Son Heung-min willing to risk health for fans It would be too risky for any athlete to return to competition less than a month after suffering facial fractures. But Son Heung-min, the beloved captain of the South Korean men's ...
Manila, Nov 14 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he will make a major statement upon his arrival at the White House after a two-week tour of Asia, during which he visited Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

"I will be making a major statement from the White House upon my return to D.C. Time and date to be set," Trump wrote on Twitter, reports Efe news.

Shortly after that tweet, Trump told reporters that his first trip to Asia had been "tremendously successful".

Trump departed from Manila on Tuesday aboard the Air Force One presidential aircraft after participating in meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The Asean comprises of Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

In addition to the Asean heads of state and government, also present in the Philippine capital were leaders of Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, the European Union and the UN.

Both in Manila and throughout his trip, Trump championed his administration's policy of favouring "fair and reciprocal" bilateral agreements over large-scale multilateral deals, and sought to rally international support around increasing sanctions against the North Korean regime and the Islamic State terror organisation.
Beijing, Nov 15 : China is sending a senior diplomat to North Korea, the media reported on Wednesday, reopening a channel of dialogue with the isolated regime.

The announcement comes a week after US President Donald Trump visited China and asked President Xi Jinping to work hard to fix the problem of North Korea's nuclear programme.

Song Tao, who heads the Communist Party's External Affairs Department, will leave for North Korea on Friday to "inform" the government there about the recently concluded Communist Party Congress in Beijing, Xinhua news agency reported.

The report did not say if Song would discuss North Korea's nuclear programme or meet the country's leader Kim Jong-un.

Nevertheless, it is an important opportunity for Beijing to reopen a channel of dialogue with the North, experts said, as relations between the two countries have deteriorated significantly in recent years.

China has an official special envoy to North Korea, Kong Xuanyou, but he is not believed to have visited Pyongyang since taking up the job in August.

His predecessor, Wu Dawei, last visited North Korea in February 2016. Song will be the first ministerial-level visit since Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan visited Pyongyang and met Kim in October 2015.

While in Beijing last week, Trump said China can fix the North Korea problem "quickly and easily" and urged Xi "to hopefully work on it very hard".

After leaving China, he suggested more action by Beijing was coming up.
Mumbai, Nov 15 : Key Indian equity indices on Wednesday were dragged lower for the third consecutive day as sentiments were hampered by weak global cues, a huge sell-off in metal stocks, as well as disappointing trade deficit data released a day before.

According to market observers, the NSE Nifty50 closed at its lowest level in almost five weeks.

On a closing basis, the wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 68.55 points, or 0.67 per cent, to 10,118.05 points.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE closed at 32,760.44 points -- down 181.43 points or 0.55 per cent -- from Tuesday's close.

The BSE market breadth was bearish -- 1,991 declines and 720 advances.

"Markets corrected sharply on Wednesday to close with losses for the third consecutive session. Weak global cues and data showing widening of India's trade deficit in October dampened investor sentiments,"Deepak Jasani, Head, Retail Research, HDFC Securities, told IANS.

Official data released on Tuesday showed that India's trade deficit widened to $14 billion in October as against $11.13 billion during the same period last year.

"Metal shares tumbled as prices of industrial metals declined in global commodities market. The Nifty hit its lowest closing level in five weeks," Jasani added.

In terms of the broader markets, the BSE mid-cap closed lower by 1.01 per cent and the small-cap index by 1.52 per cent.

On the currency front, the rupee strengthened by 20-21 paise to 65.21-22 against the US dollar from its previous close at 65.42.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services, said: "Setbacks like widening in trade deficit, slowdown in factory output and hike in crude oil prices impacted the market which was already trading at premium valuation."

"Additionally, choppy Q2 results during the latest leg of the result season failed to provide a reasonable comfort," he added.

According to Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, the Nifty metal index slipped over three per cent tracking lower global commodity prices.

"Metal stocks like Vedanta and Hindalco Industries fell over four per cent each," Desai told IANS.

"All the sectoral indices led by metal, power and FMCG closed in the red. Shares of oil refiners such as Hindustan Petroleum and aviation shares, including Indigo Airlines' parent InterGlobe Aviation, jumped on plunging crude oil prices," he added.

All the 19 sub-indices of the BSE closed in the red, led by the metal (down 434.40 points), consumer durables (down 280.82 points) and healthcare (down 179.42 points) indices.

Provisional data with the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors sold stocks worth Rs 381.42 crore, while domestic institutional investors purchased scrips worth Rs 869.09 crore.

Major Sensex gainers on Wednesday were: Asian Paints, up 1.96 per cent at Rs 1,176.85; Kotak Bank, up 1.29 per cent at Rs 1,012.20; Hero MotoCorp, up 0.72 per cent at Rs 3,680; ICICI Bank, up 0.54 per cent at Rs 315.55; and Infosys, up 0.26 per cent at Rs 951.95.

Major Sensex losers were: Sun Pharma, down 4.01 per cent at Rs 505.05; ONGC, down 2.55 per cent at Rs 177.35; Bharti Airtel, down 2.15 per cent at Rs 487.35; NTPC, down 1.70 per cent at Rs 173.95; and Lupin, down 1.50 per cent at Rs 822.65.
Harare, Nov 16 : The Zimbabwean military's takeover of power and detention of President Robert Mugabe "seems like a coup", key regional bloc African Union (AU) has said.

AU head Alpha Conde said the Union demands an immediate return to constitutional order, BBC reported on Wednesday.

The military denies staging a coup, saying that Mugabe is safe and that it was acting against "criminals" surrounding him.

Their move follows a power struggle over who might replace Mugabe.

His vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa was fired last week, making Mugabe's wife Grace the president's likely successor -- but leaving top military officials feeling sidelined.

Mugabe, 93, has dominated the country's political scene since it gained independence from the UK in 1980.

Zimbabwean soldiers "had obviously attempted to take power".

The AU had "serious concern" at the situation and "reiterates its full support to the country's legal institutions", the statement said.

After days of tension and rumour, soldiers seized the state broadcaster ZBC late on Tuesday.

A Zimbabwean army officer, Major General Sibusiso Moyo, went on air to say the military was targeting "criminals" around President Mugabe.

"This is not a military takeover of government," he insisted.

Maj. Gen Moyo also said Mr Mugabe and his family were "safe and sound and their security is guaranteed". It is not clear who is leading the military action.

Since then, military vehicles have been out on the streets of Harare, while gunfire has been heard from northern suburbs where Mr Mugabe and a number of government officials live.

In a statement, the office of South African President Jacob Zuma, said: "President Zuma spoke to President Robert Mugabe earlier today who indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine."

There has been no direct comment from President Mugabe, nor his wife Grace, whose whereabouts are unclear.

AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement on Wednesday the AU was closely monitoring developments in Zimbabwe after the military seized power from the government, Xinhua reported.

"I urge all stakeholders to address the current situation in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the relevant instruments of the African Union, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance," Mahamat said.

He stressed that the crisis should be resolved in a manner that promotes democracy, human rights and socio-economic development of the country.

He also expressed the AU's commitment to work with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to ensure peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Zuma, in a statement, expressed SADC's grave concern over the political situation in Zimbabwe and urged both the Zimbabwean government and the military to resolve the political crisis amicably.

Zuma on Wednesday dispatched an envoy to turmoil-hit Harare to hold discussions with the military and Zimbabwean President Mugabe.
Washington, Nov 16 : A small group of House Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump.

Representative Steve Cohen told a press conference on Wednesday that five other Democrats have signed his resolution to introduce five articles of impeachment against the President, Xinhua news agency reported.

They charged that Trump obstructed justice when firing former FBI Director James Comey; that he has violated the Constitution's emoluments clause; and that he has undermined the independence of the federal judiciary and freedom of the press.

"The time has come to make clear to the American people and to this President that his train of injuries to our Constitution must be brought to an end through impeachment," Cohen told reporters.

"We're calling upon the House to begin impeachment hearings," the Tennessee Democrat said. "It's not a call for a vote. It's a call for hearings."

Cohen, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee's Constitution subcommittee, admitted that the Democratic proposal has little chance of success both -- the House and the Senate -- are controlled by the Republicans.

But he pledged to hold briefings in lieu of hearings to highlight what he said were "Trump's impeachable offences".

In response, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that time spent calling for the President's impeachment "would be better spent focusing on tax relief for American families and businesses".

"It's disappointing that extremists in Congress still refuse to accept the President's decisive victory in last year's election," she said.

Michael Ahrens, a spokesman for Republican National Committee, labelled the push for impeachment as "a baseless radical effort".

This is not the first time that Democrats have pushed for Trump's impeachment.

Earlier in November, representative Pramila Jayapal claimed the President had committed impeachable constitutional violations and urged other Democrats to act.
Cape Town, Nov 16 : An urgent foreign ministers meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been called to discuss the unfolding political and security situation in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

South African President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as the SADC chair, called for the meeting to be held on Thursday at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana, Xinhua news agency reported.

The meeting will be attended by foreign ministers from the current member states of the rotating SADC leadership, including the SADC Organ Troika -- Angola, Tanzania and Zambia, and the SADC Council presidency South Africa.

Zimbabwe's 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe was reportedly put under house arrest since early Wednesday by the military.

Zimbabwe's military announced on state TV that they were not taking over the government, but "targeting criminals around" Mugabe, and that Mugabe and his family were safe and their security was guaranteed.

Earlier on Wednesday, Zuma said he was sending special envoys to Zimbabwe. South Africa's Defence and Security Ministers will go to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and leaders of the Zimbabwean defence force.

The special envoys will also travel to Angola to meet with President Joao Lourenco, chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, and brief him on the situation.

Zuma has repeated the call for calm and restraint, and urged the Zimbabwean military to ensure that peace and stability are not undermined.

The SADC will continue to monitor the situation closely, Zuma said.

Zuma spoke to Mugabe earlier on Wednesday. Mugabe indicated that he was confined to his home by the army but said he was fine.
New Delhi : At the Clean Cooking Forum held in New Delhi earlier this month, one of the panels discussed the use of alcohol for cooking. Use of alcohol for cooking is gaining traction in African and Latin American countries as it provides clean burning, drastically reducing household pollution.

Use of alcohol fuel for rural households was pioneered in India by a rural NGO in Phaltan in Maharashtra in the late 1980s. In 1985 it set up the world's first solar pilot plant to produce ethanol from sweet sorghum and used it in specially-designed lanterns for lighting and in stoves for cooking. Its pioneering efforts were recognised by the panel.

Presentations made to the panel showed that large-scale efforts are underway all over the world to use of ethanol for cooking. There are estimates (though the numbers are suspect) that China has close to four million ethanol stoves and Madagascar is shooting for 100,000 ethanol stoves a year in the coming decade.

Similarly, countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Haiti are embarking on a major programme of using alcohol as a cooking fuel for rural households.

But are alcohol fuels safe and available cheaply?

In quite a number of these national programmes, the fuel used is a mixture of ethanol and methanol. Ethanol is produced from plant-based materials like sugarcane, sweet sorghum, corn or any other starch- or sugar-producing plant, while methanol can be produced from natural gas, coal or via biomass gasification. Since India has a good supply of natural gas, Niti Aayog is pushing for a national programme of methanol as a substitute for diesel or gasoline for transportation. There is no programme at present for its use as cooking fuel in rural households.

Also, in all these programmes, the alcohol concentration used in stoves is between 90 and 95 per cent (on volume basis). Alcohol at such concentrations is inflammable and could cause kitchen accidents. Its flash point (the lower the flash point the more dangerous a fuel is for kitchen use) is 170 C whereas for diesel and kerosene it is more than 500C.

This was the reason why the pioneering work in Phaltan in the 1980s was based on the use of 50 per cent concentration alcohol/water mixture in the stoves. This mixture with higher flash point resulted in a safe fuel for cooking.

Ethanol is a high-quality fuel derived from land-based plant material. This puts pressure on land. In the food vs fuel debate, it is imperative to look at multipurpose crops like sweet sorghum which provide food, fuel and fodder from the same piece of land. In any programme on ethanol, a decision will have to be made on how much land is to be allotted for fuel production. In extreme cases, where very little land is available for producing food, what is the point of growing fuel for cooking?

Ethanol is an excellent material for chemical feedstock and is used in the pharmaceutical, perfumery and other chemical industries. Burning it either in cookstoves or automobiles is a waste of a precious, high-quality chemical. Besides, a large number of deaths in villages in India take place every year from drinking illicitly-distilled alcohol.

For cooking needs of the rural poor, the cost of ethanol becomes very important. Since it is produced from plant-based material, farmers should get adequate remuneration for growing it. Most of the alcohol produced in India is from molasses, which is a byproduct of the sugar industry. That is the reason why alcohol prices are low.

Today the Indian government purchases alcohol from local distilleries at Rs 40 per litre. If it is produced directly from sugar-based plant material, the price will double or treble. With the calorific value of high-concentration alcohol around 60 per cent that of LPG, kerosene or diesel, the net alcohol cost becomes Rs 83/kg. This is costlier than diesel and kerosene.

In the US, alcohol is produced from corn and the corn farmers are heavily subsidised by the government -- close to $6 billion per year, about 60 per cent of the total cost of alcohol produced. That is why farmers can afford to produce alcohol. Any country in the world will produce alcohol with such heavy subsidies.

Besides putting a heavy burden on a country's finances, the subsidies also put pressures on land since it has to be diverted from food production. For countries like the US and those in Latin America, where land is plentiful, this strategy might work. But for countries like China, India and those in Africa, the use of precious agricultural land for producing alcohol is not feasible.

There are better fuels than alcohol for rural household cooking. Biogas, after cleaning and compressing, is equivalent to compressed natural gas (CNG). All over the world, CNG is used as a cooking and home-heating gas. It is safe and can easily be transported by pipelines over large distances.

Another technology for producing renewable liquid fuels from biomass is pyrolysis. Pyrolysis oil is a medium calorific value (CV) fuel with CV of 17 MJ/kg and can be produced from any biomass and agricultural residues via fast pyrolysis route (hence the name pyrolysis oil). Major work in this area is being done in the US and Europe where it is being used for power generation.

R&D is therefore needed to produce it economically and efficiently in India and in developing suitable cookstoves. It is equivalent to No.6 oil and has good flowability, thereby making it an ideal fuel for cooking. Again, a small unit producing 1,000-5,000 kg/day pyrolysis oil will help in rural wealth generation. With 400 to 600 million tonnes a year of agricultural residue in the country, which is mostly burnt in the fields, pyrolysis oil can be an attractive alternate to petroleum products for household fuel.

The government is pushing aggressively for LPG as a rural household fuel. With 90 per cent of it being imported, local renewable sources will be a better choice. Not only will it save foreign exchange but will also provide large-scale employment in rural areas.

(Anil K. Rajvanshi heads the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute in Phaltan, Maharashtra. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at anilrajvanshi@gmail.com)
Chennai, Nov 16 : A Doha-bound IndiGo flight suffered a bird hit on Thursday morning just after take-off and had to return to Chennai airport, officials said. All 134 passengers onboard were unhurt.

The flight landed back within 30 minutes after taking off from Anna International Airport in Chennai at 1.47 a.m. The plane returned at 2.20 a.m.

"IndiGo Flight 6E-1707 from Chennai to Doha had a bird hit (on November 16), as the aircraft was climbing after take-off," the airline said in a statement.

"Due to precautionary reasons, the pilot decided to return to Chennai for aircraft inspection," it said.

The airline also said the action was in line with the "recommended procedure by the manufacturer".

"During the process, crew informed all passengers and IndiGo arranged for an alternate aircraft to avoid inconvenience to passengers. At no point, safety of the passengers was compromised," it added.
San Francisco, Nov 16 : Google Maps has updated driving, navigation, transit and explore maps to highlight information that the company thinks will be most relevant.

The company has also updated colour scheme and added new icons to help the users quickly identify exactly what kind of point of interest they are looking at.

Places like a cafe, church, museum or hospital will have a designated colour and icon so that it's easy to find that type of destination on the map.

People will see these changes over the next few weeks in all Google products that incorporate Google Maps, including the Assistant, Search, Earth and Android Auto, Liz Hunt and Product Manager, Google Maps said on Wednesday.

The new style will also appear in the apps, websites and experiences offered by companies that use Google Maps APIs as well.

The company recently announced that one can now virtually visit all planets and moons in our solar system using Google Maps.

Google Maps now enables a visit to Saturn's natural satellites such as Enceladus, Dione or Iapetus, Rhea and Mimas as well as Jupiter's Europa and Ganymede.

Google has also added to its lineup imagery of Pluto, Venus and several moons as well as made it easier to find them in maps.
Seoul, Nov 16 : The South Korean government on Thursday called for the Chinese envoy scheduled to visit North Korea to pressure Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile development programme.

Song Tao, the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, is set to visit North Korea on Friday to discuss an outcome of the Communist Party of China's 19th Congress that saw President Xi Jinping's term as the party's Secretary General renewed.

"We hope that the visit will serve as an occasion to deliver the international community's concerns about North Korea's nuclear threats and North Korea could respond to it," Yonhap news agency quoted a spokesperson of Seoul's Unification Ministry said during a press briefing, Efe news reported.

China's Foreign Ministry said the two sides are expected to discuss matters of mutual interest during the visit.

Song's visit comes amid a period of brief hiatus of Pyongyang's arms tests during the past two months following a series of tests earlier this year.

It also comes just after the 12-day Asia tour of US President Donald Trump, who called for greater pressure on Pyongyang during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : Bullish on its robust growth in the Indian smartphone market amid big investment plans, Samsung Electronics on Thursday elevated its two key India executives to new leadership roles.

Asim Warsi, currently the Head of Samsung India's Mobile Division, has been promoted as Global Vice President.

Dipesh Shah, Managing Director of Samsung R&D Institute in Bengaluru, has been elevated as Global Senior Vice President.

Both the top executives will continue to be based in India, leading their respective divisions, Partha Ghosh, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Samsung India, confirmed the development to IANS.

Samsung had a 47 per cent market share (by value) in the country in September and 65.4 per cent (by value) for the third quarter (for premium segment) this year.

Strong sales in the third quarter were on account of 40 per cent uptick in smartphones sales during the festive season.

Samsung India is on track for record sales this year, Warsi said recently.

"We have been leading and consolidating our position in India continuously for several years. Our gains have come from certain core fundamentals of doing business that we always adhere to and will double down on those fundamentals going forward," Warsi had told IANS in an interview.

"We will continue to invest more and the thrust will be to make phones and other devices customised for Indian conditions... that deliver greater customer satisfaction. We will also leverage our full R&D potential in the months to come," Warsi added.

Samsung has had a great first half with Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices in India.

According to Warsi, India is offering double-digit growth for all phone categories -- led by smartphones.

The South Korean giant recently announced that it would invest Rs 4,915 crore in expanding its Noida manufacturing plant.

The expansion will double its production capacity of both mobile phones and consumer electronics, further consolidating the firm's leadership in these segments.

Samsung's R&D centre in Bengaluru is the largest outside South Korea.

The elevation of Shah is on account of big success of Samsung's 'Make for India' strategy initiated by the company CEO HC Hong.
Madrid, Nov 16 : Atletico Madrid key striker Antoine Griezmann said his club's forthcoming tie against Real Madrid in the La Liga was a vital fixture and his team should win it.

Atletico Madrid will take on Spanish league defending champions on Saturday in the derby encounter.

"It's a game to win, in the new stadium people will come into it with great enthusiasm," the French international was quoted saying by Spanish website Marca. "It is a very important game for the fans and for the club."

The 26-year-old admitted Atletico Madrid were facing trouble scoring goals.

"Defensively we are well and we only need luck in the front. We have to work and improve," he added.
Harare, Nov 16 : Zimbabwe remained in political limbo a day-and-a-half after the military takeover that appears to have put an end to Robert Mugabe's 37-year grip on power.

Talks between the ousted President, who has been confined to his residence in Harare by the Army, and senior military officers continued on Thursday with senior church leaders and envoys from neighbouring South Africa involved in mediation efforts.

Harare remained tense but calm amid the political uncertainty. Troops have secured the airport, government offices, Parliament and other key sites. The rest of the country remained peaceful.

The takeover has been cautiously welcomed by many Zimbabweans, the Guardian reported.

The military declared on national television early on Wednesday that it had temporarily taken control of the country to "target criminals" around the 93-year-old President.

The intervention came after weeks of political turmoil, in which Mugabe sacked his powerful Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, clearing the way for Mugabe's wife Grace to succeed him.

The move exacerbated divisions in the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Mnangagwa enjoyed wide support in the military and was reported to have returned to Zimbabwe. Reports that Grace Mugabe had fled to Namibia on Wednesday appeared false, with the Guardian quoting several sources as saying that she was detained with her husband in their residence.

The future of the first lady is a key element in the ongoing discussions between Mugabe and the military.

Singapore and Malaysia, where the Mugabes own property, are potential destinations if she is allowed to travel into exile.

Critics have accused Mugabe of hurling his country's economy while using revolutionary rhetoric and indulging in corruption and coercion to stave off threats from opponents.

South Africa appeared to be backing the takeover and sent ministers to Harare to help with negotiations to form a new government and decide the terms of Mugabe's resignation.

The African Union called for the "constitutional order to be restored immediately and ... all stakeholders to show responsibility and restraint".

The regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) is due to hold emergency talks in Botswana on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

A high-profile opposition leader in Zimbabwe said there was "a lot of talking going on" with the Army reaching out to different factions to discuss the formation of a transitional government.

The official said Mugabe would resign this week and be replaced by Mnangagwa, with opposition leaders taking posts as Vice President and Prime Minister.

The Movement for Democratic Change's leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been tipped as a potential Prime Minister in a new political set-up.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Tendai Biti told the BBC he wanted to see a transitional authority in place. "It is urgent that we go back to democracy. It is urgent that we go back to legitimacy but we need a transitional period."

"... I think, I hope, that dialogue can now be opened between the Army and Zimbabweans, (that) dialogue can be opened between the Army and regional bodies such as the SADC and, indeed, the African Union," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : Saudi Ambassador to India Saud Al-Sati has said that his country has "credible evidence" that Iran was behind the missile attack on Saudi capital Riyadh by Yemen-based Houthi rebels earlier this month even as Tehran has denied any role in this.

"We have credible evidence which proves that Iran is behind manufacturing of missiles used by terror groups and smuggling them into Yemen," Al-Sati told IANS in an exclusive interview.

"Measures have been taken to address vulnerabilities in the current inspection procedures that led to the supply of weapons and missiles to Houthi militias," he stated.

The Houthi rebels fired a long-range missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on the night of November 4, according to Houthi-controlled Saba news agency.

Saudi Arabia immediately blamed the Houthis' allies, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and regional rival Iran.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, experts in military technology, after thorough examination of the debris, have confirmed the role of Iran in manufacturing missiles and smuggling these to the Houthi militias in Yemen for the purpose of attacking the Gulf kingdom.

Yemen has been in a state of political crisis since 2011 ending with the Houthis taking over the capital Sanaa and then, after ousting President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in a coup d'etat, declaring control over the country. This resulted in the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen making a military intervention to prevent the collapse of Hadi's government.

"The Houthi terrorist groups backed, funded and armed by Iran are continuing their crimes against the people of Yemen and its legitimate institutions," Al-Sati said.

"In fact, the UNSC 2216 resolution had asked them to refrain from any provocation or threats to neighboring states, including acquiring surface-to-surface missiles, and stockpiling weapons in any border territory of a neighboring states; and to end the recruitment and use of children in their violent activities. None of this has stopped."

Asked how the international community has reacted to the latest development, the Ambassador said that "Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns through its proxies (Houthis and Hezbollah) and expect us not to take steps to counteract the threat under the UN article 51" and added that many countries, including India, have condemned the attack.

India, in statement, while "strongly condemning" the attack, expressed deep concern "at any escalation of violence that threatens the safety and security of innocent people". "We also reiterate our commitment to fight against all forms of terrorism and violence," the Indian External Affairs Ministry statement said.

As for the escalating humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Al-Sati said that Saudi Arabia has shown "utmost concern" for this.

"We have been sending aid to all Yemeni provinces, including areas controlled by the Houthi rebels, through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre's programmes," he said.

"Overall, the kingdom has committed to provide more than $8.2 billion in humanitarian and developmental assistance to Yemen since April 2015. Despite hostilities, the Saudi led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen has not interrupted the entry and exit of humanitarian supplies and crews to Yemen."

Though the coalition ordered all transport in and out of Yemen to prevent arms smuggling, the Saudi mission in the UN said on Monday that the Aden, Mocha and Mukalla ports were resuming operations as also Aden and Seyoun airports so that humanitarian food aid can come in for the affected civilian population.

With over three million expatriate Indians living in Saudi Arabia, the Ambassador said that his country appreciated India's concern, but added: "As of now, we do not see any possible impact on the Indians working in our country due to these acts of terror perpetrated by Iran's proxies. It is our duty to protect everyone within our borders including the Indians living there."

Asked what role he expected the UN to play in the current scenario, he said that the the UN Security Council and its sanctions committee should take all necessary legal measures to hold Iran accountable for supplying the Houthi militias that it commands with missiles as it is a blatant violation of the UNSC Resolution 2216,. which prohibits nations from arming militias.

"This aggression also signals to the fact that the threat of such terrorist groups has become increasingly cross border and cross regional, which requires a united stand from the international community to fight and eradicate this threat caused by the Houthi terrorist group and its supporter," Al-Sati said.
Singapore, Nov 16 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has urged Singaporean businesses to invest in India, highlighting the country as one of the largest FDI recipients with the government undertaking major structural reforms, including Aadhaar, GST and demonetisation.

"India has become the most favourable and attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)," Jaitley said while addressing an investors' roundtable here on Wednesday.

He is on a two-day visit here. The roundtable was jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance and the High Commission of India in Singapore.

Jaitley said that to provide further impetus to the economy, "the present government has implemented a slew of economic reforms one after the other, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) roll-out, introduction of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the recapitalisation package for the Public Sector Banks (PSBs)".

He said these will help to redress the balance-sheet problem and revive private investment.

"The Finance Minister also spoke about the major initiatives undertaken, including the crackdown against black money through demonetisation and other follow-up measures and major changes in the FDI policy regime, with an aim to make it more liberal and investor-friendly," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

He also highlighted the "Ease of Doing Business" measures initiated in the last three years that resulted in India "jumping" in World Bank's Index from 146 in 2014 to 100 in October 2017.

Earlier in his key note address at the Singapore Fintech Festival on Wednesday, Jaitley said the three key structural reforms "have brought transparency and efficiency in governance and helped in transition from cash to less cash economy and from informal to formal economy".

He said the demonetisation move has helped in bringing out black money "by giving identity to anonymous cash".

Jaitley also spoke on India's growing economy, stable currency, liberalisation of FDI policies and attractiveness as a global destination for start-ups, among others.

He dwelt on how Aadhaar revolution coupled with financial inclusion and its potential applications in transferring of pension, scholarship and government subsidies directly to the actual beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme is transforming the payment landscape in India.

Jaitley later met Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, and discussed issues of mutual interest between the two nations.

He also met his Singaporean counterpart Heng Swee Keat and discussed key reforms being implemented by the Indian government, along with measures to increase mutual bilateral investments.

He met the CEO and senior officials of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and discussed investment opportunities across multiple sectors in India, including the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

Jaitley met the SIA and DBS Group Holdings Chairman, CEO of Singapore Airlines, Chairman of Blackstone and President of Singapore Stock Exchange and discussed multiple issues of mutual interest in the meeting.

The Finance Minister also visited the Singapore Expo, a global event organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) attracting over 35,000 fintech participants, showcasing state of the art developments in fintech and engaging professionals and policy makers on insightful debates on fintech developments across the globe.

Earlier, Jaitley visited the India pavilion set-up by Invest India, along with the state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Maharashtra, which are also participating in the Expo.
New Delhi : Kerala Police goes hi-tech with new gizmos By Vishal Narayan

New Delhi, Nov 16 (IANS) With a bevy of new gizmos it is in the process of employing, the Kerala Police seems to be one of the few enforcement agency at the forward end of the tech-revolution.

Seven such innovations are on display at the 37th India International Trade Fair (IITF) -- inaugurated on Tuesday -- with each one of them designed to either helping the police in curbing crimes or enabling perform positive acts such as educating children on traffic rules and the like.

"You know, the Kerala Police is one the best in the country and technologically also we are advancing very fast. For this we have developed lot of safety innovations. These innovations are first implemented through start-ups," P.C. Rajashekharan, the PRO of the Kerala Police chief, told IANS.

Cyber Monkey is one such innovative Augmented Reality (AR) programme for mapping a geographical area via a drone and then, with the help of CCTV cameras, executing several tasks -- from reining in traffic violaters to aiding the security forces during a hostage-like situation.

"Cyber Monkey is a drone-based security system. In it, first the area is mapped using a 3-d drone. If we have to calculate the height of a building, we can do using the software without ever going to the building and also calculate the distance from one place to another.

"This can be very effective in crisis management and VIP movement... We have put a lot of CCTV cameras but these cameras are 2-d. Once these cameras are integrated into this system, a 3-d vision can be developed using the camera footage. This is the main advantage of this software. This is an exmaple of AR," said Rajashekharan.

A pilot run was performed by Strava Technologies -- the company which developed the programme -- under which a one kilometre area of Trivendrum was captured using a drone.

Using the programme, the police can spot traffic violaters and also get their vehicle registation number on their screens. They can then send tickets through an SMS -- all this without physically confronting the violater.

Jancy Jose, the founder of the start up, said that the programme was developed by her company in June 2017 and should be fully-functional and commissioned by the Kerala Police by next year.

Another device -- Traffitizer -- developed by a start up launched by two cousins, will facilitate smooth running of ambulances even during the peak hours and without having to stop at traffic lights.

"Here is a system which is integrated into all the traffic junctions.. It's mobile based-software... To use this the drivers will have to turn on the device installed on the autobile's dashboard before starting the journey and within reaching 200 metres of a traffic junction, the light will automatically turn green. Time delay can be avoided. We have implemented it in Kochi at 15 junctions," Rajashekharan said.

The state police also displayed a Cyber Safety AR Card -- designed under a public private partnership -- to educate children on traffic rules.
Hyderabad, Nov 16 : The world's leading taxi aggregator Uber has opened a new engineering facility in Hyderabad, its second in India.

The company has hired over 40 engineers to build what it calls world-class business intelligence platforms and real time streaming for Uber globally.

Spread over 18,000 square feet, the facility has come up in Kondapur in HiTec City, the IT hub here.

This is the latest vertical added by Uber, which opened its first Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Asia here last year. The city also houses Uber's maps team and city operations team.

The CoE, which opened with 350 employees, has now grown to 2,000 people, making Hyderabad the company's largest centre outside its headquarters in San Francisco, said Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, and Information Technology Departments of the Telangana government.

Daniel Graf, Vice President and Head of Product, Uber, said the firm was changing the lives of people around the world.

"Today we doing over 10 million trips a day. Every trip is touched by technology which is developed by our team here in Hyderabad as well," he said.

The company has over two million driver partners globally including 450,000 in India. The number in Hyderabad is 35,000 and they are doing a million rides every week.

US Consul General in Hyderabad, Katherine Hadda, hailed the continued commitment from Uber, the world's most valuable startup in Telangana.

"This is a reflection of strong US-India tech collaboration. The talent pool in India coupled with the government's initiatives to ensure ease of doing business in Hyderabad is attracting many US companies to set up operations here," she said.

At Uber's CoE here, a team of 500 specialists provide support via multiple channels-email, phone and social media to ensure seamless experience before, during and after the ride.

The company has engineering centres in San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Amsterdam, Sofia in Bulgaria, Aarhus in Denmark, Vilnius in Lithuania, Bengaluru and now in Hyderabad.
Amritsar, Nov 16 : President Ram Nath Kovind arrived here on Thursday and offered prayers at Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines.

The President was accompanied by senior functionaries of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), including its President, Kirpal Singh Badungar, and other officials, during the visit.

The President's family members also accompanied him.

With his head covered with a white handkerchief, the President walked around the "parikarma" of the shrine complex and went to the Guru Ram Das Langar Hall (which has the largest community kitchen in the world) before entering the sanctum sanctorum to offer prayers.

Kovind was given a 'Siropa' (robe of honour) inside the shrine.

Tight security arrangements were made in and around the shrine complex for Kovind's maiden visit.

Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore, Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal also accompanied the President and his entourage.

The large number of devotees present inside the shrine complex were excited to see the President in their midst.

The SGPC task force sewadars (volunteers) formed a security ring around the President, along with security personnel in plain-clothes, during the visit.
London, Nov 16 : Indians are living in a climate of hate and intolerance, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says, adding that the Congress was incapable of fighting "communal forces" ideologically.

Vijayan also said that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will decide whether he has to exit Kerala and play a larger national role.

"The RSS-BJP combine has aggressively intensified its communal Hindutva campaign since it assumed power in Delhi," Vijayan told this correspondent in an email interview .

"People of the largest democratic country are living in a climate of hate and intolerance. These forces are trying to eliminate or crush any voice of dissent. If you dare to oppose the communal offensive, you will be depicted as anti-national.

"In BJP-ruled states, police forces violently attack protestors when they raise their voice against the Saffron Brigade," he added.

Vijayan recalled the murders of doctor-cum-rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, CPI leader and rationalist Govind Pansare and former Kannada University Vice Chancellor and rationalist M.K. Kalburgi.

"All of them were vociferous in their opposition to superstition, obscurantism and the perpetuation of the communal agenda by the rightwing Hindutva forces," the CPI-M leader said.

"Recently, Gowri Lankesh, an eminent journalist, was also shot dead in Bangaluru for the same reasons. What is more worrying is that while the whole nation was angry about the cold-blooded murder, a section of people celebrated her death on the social media.

"We remember that RSS people had distributed sweets when Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead in 1948," he added.

Vijayan said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), were "working overtime to build an anti-Left alliance of all communal forces".

He added: "(But) the Congress is incapable of fighting the communal forces ideologically.

"In fact, the RSS-BJP combine is working overtime to build an anti-Left alliance of all communal forces. Needless to say, for the RSS and BJP, the Congress party is not an opponent politically."

Vijayan claimed that only the Left parties could check Hindutva.

He said there were more and more attacks on Left cadres because the Hindutwa forces feared the rise of Left parties.

"It is an undisputed fact that only Left forces are consistently and firmly opposing the Hindutva agenda of RSS and BJP," he wrote in his reply.

"The CPI-M is in the forefront in the fight against communal-divisive forces. Resultantly, the BJP-RSS have intensified their campaign against Left in general and the CPI-M in particular.

"The Left is specially targeted as they consider it their main ideological adversary and biggest challenge to their project of converting India into a 'Hindu Rashtra'."

Denying charges that his party was involved in the killings of RSS and BJP workers in his home district Kannur, Vijayan said many more CPI-M members were being killed in Kerala.

"Since the LDF government assumed office in Kerala in 2016, RSS has intensified its violent attacks against CPI-M cadres. At the same time, playing victim, the RSS and BJP have launched a massive misinformation campaign using all the clout in the central government."

Vijayan said it was for the CPI-M to decide whether he must play a larger national role in politics.

The 22nd CPI-M Congress due to take place in Hyderabad in April will chalk out a new political strategy.

"With regard to my role in national politics, unlike the Congress and many other parties, the CPI-M has a collective leadership," he said.

"We chalk out and implement our policies democratically and collectively. The CPI-M feels that all secular and democratic forces should come together in the fight against Hindutva forces. However, it should not be construed as an electoral alliance or understanding."

(Anasudhin Azeez is Editor of London-based Asian Lite. He can be reached at azeez@asianlite.com)
Panaji, Nov 16 : Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday asked the media not to publish fake news while also making a case for separating facts from opinion while writing news reports.

Speaking at a National Press Day event in the state capital, Parrikar also rued the fact that during elections, voters prefer corrupt candidates over arrogant ones.

The Goa Chief Minister said that India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru should be given the credit for several good deeds of that era.

"Print news that is true. Don't distort news. You have the right to criticise in an editorial. But when a journalist writes fake news despite knowing so, then I believe he is sacrificing his principles," Parrikar said.

"News should be news and news should not have views. If you want to give views, you can present it as an analysis. But if something has not happened and someone prints it as if it has happened, I think that is the biggest disservice."

Parrikar said that he had a track record of never having harassed journalists.

"I differ with you, but I will fight to the last for your right to differ with me. This sentence is inscribed deep in my heart. Harassing a journalist from a newspaper just because he is upset with me, if someone is harassing him and he wants justice, he will always get it from me," he added.

Commenting about the accountability of politicians, Parrikar said that leaders are accountable every five years, when they go to polls, but added that a disturbing electoral trend was that people preferred corrupt politicians to arrogant ones.

"I am sorry to say, people accept corruption not arrogancy. I have experienced this on many, many occasions. Those people who have shown the trend of arrogancy, they have been sent back by the people."

Parrikar also said that there was an extreme sense of negativity in the media, which he said surfaced on Children's Day (November 14) when he was asked whether Children's Day can be de-linked from Nehru.

"Why it was required? why negativity? Why should there be negativity in everything? Bring positivity about. Nehru did several good things for children. So, let it be in the name of the person. He may be Congress that time... I am not going into that," he added.
Los Angeles, Nov 16 : The Walt Disney Company is facing a copyright lawsuit over "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise.

The company is being sued by a pair of Colorado screenwriters, A. Lee Alfred II and Ezequiel Martinez Jr., who allege that the company stole their idea from a 2000 spec script they wrote titled "Pirates of the Caribbean"," reports deadline.com.

In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Colorado on Tuesday, the writers allege Disney committed "willful infringement of Plaintiff's original copyrighted expression of themes, settings, dialogue, characters, plot, mood and sequence of events" contained in the original spec screenplay.

The two writers, along with their producer Tova Laiter, claim they had submitted their script while working closely with Disney's Brigham Taylor, Josh Harmon and Michael Haynes on the never-made "Red Hood" film project.

However, the relationship with the studio soured, with the pair being paid for their work on "Red Hood" after a copy of the screenplay and original artwork was allegedly seen on a coffee table in Taylor's office.

According to the suit, Laiter was later told by Taylor that Disney would be passing on the project. The claim adds that the screenplay wasn't returned until more than two years later, at which point "Defendants were already in production on the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film".

The initial "Pirates" film, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", contains "similarities" to the spec screenplay and the "similarities have continued throughout the entire 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise."

However, the plaintiffs, having just registered "their original works of authorship with the US Copyright Office on October 3rd," do not offer any explanation as to why it took them nearly two decades to recognise a copyright infringement.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : The Delhi government has decided to offer over 40 government services ranging from grant of water connection to marriage certificate at people's doorstep, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said here on Thursday.

Sisodia said citizens would save time and countless trips to government offices in the process and termed the decision as one amounting to bringing "government at your doorsteps" and "home delivery of governance".

The Minister said the decision was taken in a cabinet meeting on Thursday, adding that citizens would be able to access these services outside of the normal working hours too.

The 40 services on offer include issue of OBC, SC and ST certificates, motor vehicle registration certificate, driving licence, handicapped and old age pensions as well as sewage connection.

Sisodia said a nominal fee would be charged from people and added that a private agency would be hired to carry out the service.

Under the new project, if a person wanted a certificate from the government, he would telephone a call centre.

Then a 'Mobile Sahayak' would go to the residence or office of the applicant and collect the necessary documents, take photo and biometric details and then process the application.

Applicants can pay the prescribed application fee to the 'Mobile Sahayak', the Minister said, and termed the service the first of its kind in India.

Sisodia said all government services would be gradually added to the list of services. The project would be implemented in three to four months and added that they were yet to hire the agency to carry out the service.

The Minister said that though many of these services were currently online, many people don't have internet connectivity and the new project would benefit them.

Sisodia said that people can take appointment with 'Mobile Sahayak' to access services according their convenience and even on holidays, so that they do not have to take leave from work.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), one of the worlds largest such, on November 23, an official statement said on Thursday.

The theme of the two-day conference is Cyber4All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development.

"This is a historic moment for all of us to host the Fifth edition of the Global Conference of Cyberspace in India. I believe it is a recognition of India's emerging role as a massive cyber power, accelerated by the Digital India push, which has acquired international acknowledgment," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, Electronics & IT and Law & Justice Minister.

"The GCCS 2017 is certainly in accord with the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision to transform India into a digitally empowered country. GCCS 2017 will give the world's cyber community a unique opportunity to learn from global experience and expert insight, and discover more about the technology led transformation being engineered in India," he added.

Incepted in 2011 in London, second GCCS was held in 2012 in Budapest with focus on relationship between internet rights and internet security, which was attended by 700 delegates from nearly 60 countries. The third edition of GCCS was held in 2013 in Seoul with commitment to Open and Secure Cyberspace. The fourth version GCCS 2015 was held on April 16-17, 2015 in The Hague, Netherlands which saw participation from 97 countries.

"The GCCS 2017 is going to be four times bigger than its previous edition in terms of its magnitude. The last conference held in The Netherlands saw about 1800 delegates, and I am happy to announce that we have over 10,000 delegates who will participate in person. There will also be virtual participation from over 2,800 locations across the world will be connected in an interactive mode," Prasad said.

"We have had over 40 Run-up events around the world since March 2017 to precede the main event that received an unprecedented response from the policy makers, industry, academia, civil society and think tanks. We look forward to cooperation and knowledge sharing among countries to implement and replicate successful initiatives as one of the major expected outcomes of this conference," the minister added.

The statement said representatives from 124 countries will participate in the two-day event.

"Thirty-three ministers from various nations dealing with the subject matter of cyber space (ICT or similar ministries in some countries and Foreign Ministry in others) have already confirmed. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka also is expected to come for the inaugural ceremony," it added.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will deliver the keynote address at the valedictory function.
Bengaluru, Nov 16 : Hundreds of private hospitals across Karnataka on Thursday shut their OPDs again as thousands of doctors intensified their strike against the penal provisions in the amendment bill to the KPME Act drafted by the government.

The four-day strike began on Tuesday. The OPDs were also shut on November 3.

"OPDs in all private hospitals have been shut as we have decided to continue our strike till the penal provisions are withdrawn," Karnataka Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) President-elect C. Jayanna told IANS here.

The private doctors, however, decided to continue to treat in-patients and attend emergency cases in their hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.

The state government had included stringent provisions in the amendment bill to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act 2007 to regulate the functioning of private hospitals, including their costs of treatment and redressing the grievances of their patients.

"Though a majority of our members are at Belagavi, where about 300 doctors are on relay hunger strike in batches since Tuesday, many senior members are on duty in private hospitals to treat in-patients, conduct emergency operations and provide dialysis and chemotherapy to cancer patients," said Jayanna.

Of the registered 1.25 lakh doctors in the state, only about 10,000 work in the state-run hospitals, while over a lakh are employed in about 40,000 private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.

"We have given an ultimatum to the government to withdraw the penal provisions even before tabling the amendment bill in the legislative assembly. Otherwise, all private hospitals will be shut down indefinitely," PHANA Executive Member Yeteesh told IANS here.

The private doctors are staging the hunger strike at Belagavi, about 500 km from Bengaluru, where the 10-day winter session of the legislature began on Monday.

The four main demands are inclusion of government doctors under the KPME Act, no grievances redressal committees, no penalty on erring doctors or their imprisonment for the death of any patient due to medical negligence and ceiling on cost of treatment only for government health schemes under which eligible patients are treated in private hospitals or clinics.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday appealed to the private doctors to withdraw their strike.

"I met a group of doctors at Belagavi and assured them that the government will hear them before the KPME Bill is introduced again. I appealed to them to withdraw their strike. Yet the strike is ongoing and continues to put people to inconvenience," he tweeted.

The amendments to the Bill are in "public interest" and the government was willing to address the concerns of the private hospitals and their doctors, the Chief Minister added.

According to Indian Medical Association's Karnataka Chapter President H.N. Ravindra, about 80 per cent of patients under the government health schemes are refereed to private hospitals or clinics as state-run hospitals lack expertise and facilities to treat them.
Kabul, Nov 16 : At least 10 people were killed and nine others wounded when a suicide bomb ripped through a banquet hall in a northern neighbourhood of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul on Thursday, police and witnesses said.

"A terrorist wearing an explosives-packed jacket tried to enter Qasr-e-Naween Hall at midday in Khair Khana Mina locality shortly before a political gathering ended," Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid told Xinhua.

He said the police intercepted the attacker after identifying him but the assailant detonated his explosive, causing casualties.

"The bomber struck at the front gate of the building. The victims included seven police officers and two civilians in addition to the bomber. Among the injured people were seven policemen and two civilians," he said.

The meeting was held by supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, Governor of northern Balkh province, and a senior member of Jamiat-e-Islami of Afghanistan, a major political party, witness Ahmad Farshad told Xinhua.

Several high-ranking officials, senior members of Jamiat and members of country's parliament were among the attendees of the meeting to honour Noor, he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Late last month, 30 people, including Fazil Ahmad, a member of Jamiat, were killed and 22 civilians wounded in a suicide bomb attack in western Ghor province.
Agartala, Nov 16 : The Indian government is yet to decide on improving the mobile networks along certain border areas of the northeastern states due to security reasons, a top BSNL official said on Thursday.

"The BSNL has set up BTS (Base Transceiver Stations) along the international borders with Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. But the Indian government is yet to decide on setting up BTS along the international borders of other northeastern states due to security reasons," Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) Chief General Manager (NE Circle-1) K.K. Saxena told IANS.

"Currently, the BSNL has been setting up BTS five kilometers away from the borders. If the government asks us, we would set up the BTS close to the bordering areas to improve the mobile services along the borders."

Saxena said the BSNL is the third major player among all the telephone service providers operating in the northeastern states.

"The BSNL has launched many customer-friendly schemes to further expand its base among the people," he added.

Another senior BSNL official said the state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) would provide technical support to the BSNL to further improve connectivity in the far-flung areas of the mountainous northeastern states.

The PGCIL has extensive underground cable network in northeast India and the BSNL will use this network to link the state capitals and other important towns of the mountainous region.
Islamabad, Nov 16 : Pakistan on Thursday said it has offered to resume a dialogue with India on Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and other pending issues and was awaiting a response from New Delhi.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said it was also awaiting India's reply on Pakistan's offer to allow alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet his wife.

Pakistan last week announced that the wife of Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court, can meet him "purely on humanitarian grounds".

The spokesman expressed concern over recent cruise missile tests conducted by India, complaining that Pakistan should have been informed prior to the tests. He termed the tests a potential threat to peace in the region.

The spokesman said there was no response from India on Pakistan's Lt Col. (retd) Habib Zahir, who went missing in Nepal earlier this year.

Habib went missing from Lumbini, a Nepalese town near the Indian border, on April 6 soon after arriving in Nepal.
Mumbai, Nov 16 : Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, who plays a pivotal role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial "Padmavati", says we should be proud of the filmmaker and give him space to create "the amazing work".

"There is no fear and one shouldn't be scared either because I think this is a democratic country and everybody should be allowed to make films they want to make," said Aditi on the "Padmavati" controversy at the screening of film 'Tumhari Sulu' on Wednesday.

"We should be proud of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He is a great filmmaker (but) instead of being proud of him, we are forcing him to defend himself and his film. I think that is very sad," she added.

Aditi also feels that one should be proud of the fact that artists like Bhansali make such beautiful movies.

"We are so lucky to have such amazing artists in our country. We should value them and give them the space to create the amazing work that they create instead of making it so difficult for them.

"We put them through so much and we try to oppress them despite that, they are so amazing and passionate. They continue to make these films and art that they are so passionate about. I think we should support them," added the actress.

Karni Sena is demanding ban on the film but Aditi is confident that the movie will release.

"Film will definitely release. I have complete faith in the system and the people of this country. People are spreading rumors about the film saying it has this or that but there is nothing like that in the film," said the "Bhoomi" actress.

"Padmavati" features Deepika Padukone in the title role as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji with Aditi Rao Hydari and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles.

The film is scheduled for release on December 1.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : Wondering why a notice inviting tenders mentioned only AgustaWestland's name, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed that the records related to purchase of a VIP helicopter by the Chhattisgarh government be placed before it in a week.

A bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit summoned all files and documents on the purchase of AgustaWestland VIP helicopter as it was told that the bids were invited in disregard of then state Chief Secretary's suggestion for floating a global tender to ensure bids from other chopper manufacturers as well.

The court directed for further hearing on November 23.

The name of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's son too is being mentioned in connection with the deal.

The court asked senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the Chhattisgarh government, as to why the notice inviting tenders mentioned the name of helicopter of AgustaWestland only.

Why were other companies not considered even though the then Chief Secretary, in his note, said that the government should consider inviting global tenders, the apex court questioned.

Jethmalani said the tender for chopper purchase was limited to AgustaWestland only as both the then Civil Aviation Secretary and the Chief Pilot had recommended the chopper by saying that they were much superior and would meet the required standards.

Not satisfied with the state government's reply on its choice of AgustaWestland chopper only, the bench directed for the presentation of the deal file within a week.

The Chhattisgarh government had asked for two-week time.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal questioned the maintainability of the petition filed by NGO Swaraj Abhiyan and T.S. Singhdeo, who is leader of the Opposition in the Chhattisgarh assembly.

Even in an earlier hearing, the issue of the petition's maintainability was raised on the grounds of locus standi.

The court was told that judicial forums can't be used, and recourse taken to Article 32 of the Constitution, to settle political scores.
Tokyo, Nov 16 : Japan and the US on Thursday began joint naval drills south of the Korean Peninsula in a show of power against North Korea.

The US sent its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, three destroyers and around 14,000 troops to participate in the drills that will be conducted until November 26 in waters near the Okinawa archipelago, the US Navy said in a statement cited by Efe news.

South Korea and the US on Sunday had launched other joint drills covering larger ground in the Sea of Japan (called East Sea in the two Koreas), also as "a show of might" to Pyongyang.

After a meeting with the Commander of the US Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris on Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had stressed on the need to reinforce the capacity of deterrence and joint response by Tokyo and Washington owing to a worsening security situation in the region.

The meeting between Abe and Harris in Tokyo comes a week after the US President Donald Trump's visit to Japan, as part of his Asia tour, during which he had urged Abe to jointly apply maximum possible pressure on Pyongyang to force it to abandon its weapons programmes.

From Japan, Trump had travelled to Seoul, where he had harshly condemned the North Korean regime in a speech at the South Korean National Assembly and underlined the strategic positioning of military assets in the region.

Pyongyang in response had called the speech "a declaration of war" and vehemently attacked Trump in an article published on Wednesday in the North Korean daily.

Trump's harsh rhetoric, coupled with the North Korean regime's ongoing weapons tests, have escalated regional tension to unprecedented levels since the end of the Korean War (1950-1953).
Mumbai, Nov 16 : The row over filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati" intensified on Thursday after a Shri Rajput Karni Sena member threatened to chop off actress Deepika Padukone's nose amid a call for "Bharat Bandh" (shutdown) on December 1 when the film is slated for pan-India release.

The Uttar Pradesh government has also said in a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that the prospects of public outrage and unrest over "Padmavati" are considered owing to twisting of historical facts before certification of the film by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Earlier on Thursday, Shri Rajput Karni Sena member Mahipal Singh Makrana said in a self-made video that "Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha".

Shri Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi also said at a press conference that they will call for a "Bharat bandh" on December 1.

"We will gather in lakhs, our ancestors wrote history with blood we will not let anyone blacken it; we will call for Bharat bandh on December 1," Kalvi said.

Also, Union Minister Uma Bharti on Thursday lashed out at Bhansali, and tweeted: "If we are talking about the respect of Padmavati, then it is our moral obligation that we respect every woman. Disrespect of the actress or actor of 'Padmavati' is uncalled for and immoral."

She added: "The director and his associate as the scriptwriter of 'Padmavati' are responsible for its story. They should have taken care of the sentiments and the historical facts."

During the shooting of the film earlier this year, a few members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had physically assaulted Bhansali in Jaipur. The party members also set fire to the film's set in Maharashtra.

Various organisations, political parties and individuals have stood up for the Rajput community and have opposed the release of "Padmavati" over apprehensions that it distorts history in telling the tale of Rajput queen Padmavati.

The Congress party also said on Wednesday that if there are scenes that hurt the sentiments of a particular community then the same need to be reviewed.

"I have not watched the movie as yet, but definitely the Central Board of Film Certification formulated and formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has seen it and passed it without cuts.

"But any movie that hurts the sentiments of any community... a film is not made to hurt any community," said Congress Spokesperson R.P.N. Singh.

Earlier, on November 11, Thakur Anup Singh, National Youth President of the so-called Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to take action against those who were protesting against the film "Padmavati".

On the other hand, Deepika in an exclusive interview with IANS said nothing can stop the release of the film.

"It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed," Deepika said.

"The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film," said the actress, adding that the film industry's support symbolises how "this is not about 'Padmavati'... We're fighting a much bigger battle," she added.

On his behalf, Bhansali has clarified through various platforms that the film doesn't show the Rajput community in bad light and has been made keeping all religious sentiments in mind.

"Padmavati", which also features Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is yet to be certified by CBFC. However, the Rajput community has demanded a special screening of the film for them before it hits the theatres.

While the film is drawing a lot of flak from the political parties, Bhansali is getting unstinted support from the film community.

"There is no fear and one shouldn't be scared either because I think this is a democratic country and everybody should be allowed to make films they want to make," Aditi Rao Hydari, who is part of "Padmavati", said here on Wednesday.

Actress Richa Chadha, who worked with Bhansali in "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela", said: "With all due respect and love, I am also a Hindu, and I don't think religion is so weak that a movie can break it. And I think it is a speciality of India that we are a democracy, so watch the film before objecting."

Celebrities like Salman Khan, Karan Johar and Javed Akhtar also expressed their support to the film.
Singapore, Nov 16 : India and Singapore on Thursday discussed upgrading their partnership to a strategic level as well as on a road map for enhancing bilateral economic and commercial ties, according to an Indian Finance Ministry statement.

These and other issues were discussed at a meeting here between Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, it said.

"They discussed the meeting between the two Prime Ministers and elevation of the India-Singapore partnership to a strategic level and actions taken to translate their vision," it said.

"Both the leaders discussed also discussed measures to increase engagements in bilateral trade and the further road map for enhancing India-Singapore economic and commercial ties," it added.

Jaitley is on a two-day visit here concluding on Thursday.

Earlier, he urged Singaporean businesses to invest in India, highlighting the country as one of the largest FDI recipients with the government undertaking major structural reforms, including Aadhaar, GST and demonetisation.

"India has become the most favourable and attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)," he said while addressing an investors' roundtable here on Wednesday.

Jaitley said that to provide further impetus to the economy, "the present government has implemented a slew of economic reforms one after the other, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) roll-out, introduction of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the recapitalisation package for the Public Sector Banks (PSBs)".

He said these will help to redress the balance-sheet problem and revive private investment.

"The Finance Minister also spoke about the major initiatives undertaken, including the crackdown against black money through demonetisation and other follow-up measures and major changes in the FDI policy regime, with an aim to make it more liberal and investor-friendly," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

He also highlighted the "Ease of Doing Business" measures initiated in the last three years that resulted in India "jumping" in World Bank's Index from 146 in 2014 to 100 in October 2017.

Earlier in his key note address at the Singapore Fintech Festival on Wednesday, Jaitley described how Aadhaar revolution coupled with financial inclusion and its potential applications in transferring of pension, scholarship and government subsidies directly to the actual beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme is transforming the payment landscape in India.

He later met Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, and discussed issues of mutual interest between the two nations.

He also met his Singaporean counterpart Heng Swee Keat and discussed key reforms being implemented by the Indian government, along with measures to increase mutual bilateral investments.

He met the CEO and senior officials of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and discussed investment opportunities across multiple sectors in India, including the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

Jaitley met the SIA and DBS Group Holdings Chairman, CEO of Singapore Airlines, Chairman of Blackstone and President of Singapore Stock Exchange and discussed multiple issues of mutual interest in the meeting.

The Finance Minister also visited the Singapore Expo, a global event organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) attracting over 35,000 fintech participants, showcasing state of the art developments in fintech and engaging professionals and policy makers on insightful debates on fintech developments across the globe.

Earlier, Jaitley visited the India pavilion set-up by Invest India, along with the state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Maharashtra, which are also participating in the Expo.
Bonn, Nov 16 : With German Chancellor Angela Merkel skirting the crucial coal issue at the high-level opening of the UN Climate Change conference, a coalition of nations comprising Britain, Canada and France and even a US state on Thursday announced commitments to move away from the fossil fuel, a major source of air pollution.

Canada and Britain jointly launched at the COP23 climate summit here the Powering Past Coal Alliance with more than 20 partners, including Mexico, Finland, New Zealand, Italy and Angola. as well as US states and Canadian provinces.

A climate expert told IANS that this a first-of-its-kind attempt to phase out the traditional coal power on such a massive scale after the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement that aims to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius by cutting greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

Phasing out coal is a necessary first step for many climate action strategies, including the decarbonisation of transportation and the electrification of industrial activities, which will depend on access to growing amounts of electricity generated from non-emitting renewable sources, the expert said.

"The energy transition we need to meet the ambition of the Paris Agreement is already underway, but we need to move with greater speed and scale. Moving away from coal, the most polluting of traditional energy sources, has to be a priority in the energy plans of those who have joined the Paris Agreement," Rachel Kyte, CEO of advocacy group Sustainable Energy for All, said.

"In this way we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on time."

With 40 per cent of the world's electricity still generated from coal, phasing this out is one of the most important steps countries can take to meet their Paris Agreement commitments.

The partners in the Powering Past Coal Alliance are working together to accelerate clean growth and climate protection through the rapid phase-out of traditional coal power, the Canadian government said in a statement.

Along with other partners, Canada will work to grow the alliance to at least 50 partners by next fall's United Nations Climate Change conference.

"Coal is literally choking our cities, with close to a million people dying every year from coal pollution. I'm thrilled to see so much global momentum for the transition to clean energy and this is only the beginning," an official statement quoted Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna as saying.

Describing the global alliance as an important step toward building a coal-free future, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, leader of WWF's global climate and energy programme, said: "Phasing out coal is as much about stronger climate action as it is about ushering in better public health and well-being for the people."

British charity Christian Aid's International Climate Lead Mohamed Adow said: "It is powerful to see not just rich countries such as the UK and Canada but also Angola, Chile and Mexico making the promise that coal has no future in their countries."

Saying this global alliance a rebuke to US President Donald Trump, he said: "People were worried that this summit would see Trump assaulting the Paris Agreement with his coal lobbyists."

"But his actions have actually galvanised other nations into action, with a new alliance making it clear that coal's climate change threat must be taken seriously," he added.

Meanwhile, anti-coal demonstrators are protesting at the UN Climate Change conference venue and at a nearby mining site, asking Merkel to "stop dirty mining in Germany".

"The biggest coal mine in Europe is located just outside Bonn, visible from the UN tower. Germany could shut down the lignite mine immediately as much of the coal electricity gets exported and storage is still hardly used," a leaflet said.

A giant black mark on Germany's environmental record is scarred on the land an hour's drive from the venue of the Bonn talks, The Guardian said.

Stretching across 85 sq km and around 370 metres deep, the opencast coalmine near Hambach forest is the biggest hole in Europe and one of the biggest single sources of carbon on the continent.

It also a frontline for a growing band of environmental defenders who -- believing it is better to break the law than the climate -- are engaged in direct action campaigns against the fossil fuel industry, the newpaper noted.

(Vishal Gulati is in Bonn at the invitation of the Global Editors Network to cover COP23. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
Jaipur, Nov 16 : Opposition to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati" continued to grow with a Karni Sena leader on Thursday threatening actress Deepika Padukone with physical harm over her "provocative statements", while a Brahmin group held a blood signature campaign demanding a ban on the film. The Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah also issued a statement requesting a ban.

On Wednesday, dubbing Deepika Padukone's statement regarding "Padmavati" provocative, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had called for a 'Bharat Bandh' (shutdown) on December 1 if Bhansali's movie was released on that date.

Lokendra Singh Kalvi, founder-patron of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, on Wednesday while addressing a press conference here had dubbed Padukone's statement that "nothing can stop the movie's release", as "provocative".

Mahipal Singh Makrana, state president of Shri Rajput Karni Sena, told IANS on Thursday, "No Kshatriya would ever raise hand on a woman. We advise and request Deepika not to give provocative statements otherwise it will become a big law and order situation."

"Hum to sirf nashiyat de rahe hain ki is tarah ke statements na dein ki kahin Lakshman aur Shurpanakha wala issue na ban jaye (We are only giving advise against making such statements or it could lead to a Lakshman and Shurpanaka situation)," Makrana said, in an obvious threat.

In Ramayana, Lakshman had chopped off the nose of Shurpanakha.

"We are requesting not to show anything which hurts our sentiments...But no one is listening, while on the other hand provocative statements are being issued," he said, adding that the organisation now wants a complete ban on the film.

Meanwhile, Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, an organisation of the Brahmin community, organised a blood signature campaign on Thursday and will send it to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) requesting it to ban the film.

The Deewan of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz) Dargha, Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, has said that opposition to the film is right as it hurts religious sentiments. "The Muslims should support it," he said and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban the film.

Activists of the Karni Sena had on Tuesday vandalised a theatre in Kota, Rajasthan, over reports that it was showing a trailer of "Padmavati".

In January, activists of the Karni Sena had protested, manhandled and misbehaved with the crew of "Padmavati" in Jaipur, claiming that Bhansali was "distorting" historical facts in the movie.

They had also damaged some cameras and other equipment. Bhansali had to stop shooting.

"They are trying to defame queen Padmavati by distorting historical facts. It is not acceptable," an activist of the Karni Sena said.

In March, some miscreants broke the mirrors at the Padmini Mahal in Chittorgarh Fort where Alauddin Khilji is alleged to have seen Rani Padmavati or Padmini. The Karni Sena claims the mirror story was invented years later.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajasthan unit chief Ashok Parnami told the media that the Vasundhara Raje government will not tolerate any distortion of historical facts.

"Our history is glorious. We will not tolerate any distortion in historical facts," he said.

Rajasthan State Commission for Women chief Suman Sharma, in a letter urged CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi to watch the movie and ensure there was no assault on the dignity of women through the film.

Sharma told reporters that she appealed to the board that women from the Rajput community too should be included in the pre-screening of the movie.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed all schools and colleges in Delhi to install rainwater harvesting system on their premises in two months, failing which they will pay Rs 5 lakh as environment compensation cost.

A NGT bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the Delhi government to issue notices to all private and government schools and colleges within three days.

"Any institute not complying with the direction shall be liable to (pay) environment compensation cost of Rs 5 lakh," Kumar said.

The NGT said exemption would be given to institutions where such installation was not possible.

However, they will have to obtain a certificate from a committee constituted by the NGT and set up rainwater harvesting system in a neighbouring area demarcated by the committee.

The committee will have senior officials from the Delhi Jal Board, Public Works Department and the Central Ground Water Authority.

The committee will meet twice a month to deal with applications for setting up rainwater harvesting system.
Phnom Penh, Nov 16 : The Cambodian Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the dissolution of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) and the disqualification of 118 of its members just eight months before the General Elections.

The CNRP is accused of treason and conspiring with foreign agents to overthrow the government, charges that the party has denied, Efe news agency reported.

The disqualification, which will last five years, affects party leader Kem Sokha who has been in prison since September on charges of conspiring against the Cambodian government with foreign forces, particularly the US. He faces between 15 to 30 years in prison.

Police were deployed outside the court and throughout the centre of the capital Phnom Penh ahead of the ruling, which was delivered at the end of an all-day hearing.

Parliamentarians from across Southeast Asia condemned the court's decision, with the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) denouncing the Cambodian judiciary of having "demolished the final pillar of Cambodian democracy and ushering in a new era of de facto one-party rule".

The court had "once again proved its main objective is not justice, but the furtherance of the Prime Minister's personal prerogatives", an APHR statement said.

The APHR added that party's dissolution had "effectively robbed" the national elections slated for next year "of any legitimacy".

In 2013, Prime Minister Hun Sen -- who has ruled Cambodia since 1985 -- won a narrow re-election victory polls that were marred by accusations of fraud.

Sen has repeatedly accused the opposition of planning popular uprisings and has warned that the country could descend into civil war if his Cambodian People's Party was to lose next year's General Election.

Cambodia held its first democratic elections in 1993 after more than two decades of conflict, including the reign of the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-79) during which about 1.7 million people died.
Singapore, Nov 16 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday discussed with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong the issue of upgrading the bilateral partnership to a strategic level as well as a road map to enhance economic and commercial ties.

Winding up his two-day trip to the city state for showcasing Indian economy for potential investors, Jaitley ended his engagements with a call on Lee when they discussed measures to raise the level of their bilateral ties.

"They discussed the meeting between the two Prime Ministers and elevation of the India-Singapore partnership to a strategic level and actions taken to translate their vision," an official statement said.

"Both the leaders also discussed measures to increase engagements in bilateral trade and the further road map for enhancing India-Singapore economic and commercial ties," it added.

Earlier, Jaitley urged Singaporean businesses to invest in India, highlighting the country as one of the largest FDI recipients with the government undertaking major structural reforms, including Aadhaar, GST and demonetisation.

"India has become the most favourable and attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)," he told an investors' roundtable here on Wednesday.

Jaitley said that to provide further impetus to the economy, "the present government has implemented a slew of economic reforms one after the other, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rollout, introduction of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and recapitalisation package for the Public Sector Banks (PSBs)".

He said these will help to redress the banks' balance sheet problem and revive private investment.

"The Minister also spoke about the major initiatives undertaken, including the crackdown against black money through demonetisation and other follow-up measures and major changes in the FDI policy regime with an aim to make it more liberal and investor-friendly," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

He also highlighted the "Ease of Doing Business" measures initiated in the last three years that resulted in India "jumping" in the World Bank's Index from 146 in 2014 to 100 in October.

Earlier, in his key note address at the Singapore Fintech Festival on Wednesday, Jaitley described how Aadhaar revolution coupled with financial inclusion and its potential applications in transferring of pension, scholarship and government subsidies directly to the actual beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme was transforming the payment landscape in India.

He later met Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, and discussed issues of mutual interest between the two nations.

He also met his Singaporean counterpart Heng Swee Keat and discussed key reforms being implemented by the Indian government along with measures to increase mutual bilateral investments.

He met the CEO and senior officials of the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) and discussed investment opportunities across multiple sectors in India, including the National Investment and Infstrategic relationship rastructure Fund (NIIF).

Jaitley met the SIA and DBS Group Holdings Chairman, CEO of Singapore Airlines, Chairman of Blackstone and President of Singapore Stock Exchange and discussed multiple issues of mutual interest.

He also visited Singapore Expo, a global event organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) attracting over 35,000 fintech participants, showcasing state of the art developments in fintech and engaging professionals and policy makers on insightful debates on fintech developments across the globe.

Earlier, Jaitley visited the India pavilion set up by Invest India, along with the state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Maharashtra, which are also participating in the Expo.
Mumbai, Nov 16 : Actress Kriti Kharbanda, whose latest movie is "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana", believes there is nothing wrong in objectifying a woman's beauty, as long as it is done aesthetically.

Kriti earned popularity in the south Indian film industry. Earlier, actress Taapsee Paannu had mentioned a filmmaker's obsession with showing a woman's mid-riff, and Kriti too cited how he does it in an "aesthetic manner".

At a time when body shaming has become rampant, Kriti says it stems from people's narrow-minded perspective towards women.

Often, women have been projected as eye candy and their mid-riffs are objectified. Asked about it, Kriti told IANS: "Well, let's make it clear, women are sexier than men. They are a prettier gender than their male counterparts.

"And then, if a woman is comfortable showing her mid-riff on-screen, what is the other's problem? Why does she face body shaming? Does a man face the same while going shirtless?

"I think objectifying women is not wrong if only her beauty is captured in an aesthetic manner."

She stressed: "Like the way beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, dirt also lies in the eyes of the beholder. They should change their perspective."

Citing an example, Kriti said: "In the south, there is a celebrated Telugu film director name Raghavendra Rao, who is known for shooting women's mid-riff in a certain manner. They are done in a very aesthetic manner and doesn't look vulgar.

"Now, it is up to the audience how they are going to watch it. As long as the girl is comfortable acting in it, I see nothing wrong."

Isn't it true that in a sexual harassment case, it is the woman who is questioned about her clothes and lifestyle?

Kriti said: "Why do women have to face comments like 'You are wearing short clothes, you are alluring and inviting men?'. In the daylight, if a girl covered from head to toe gets groped at a bus stop, who is to blame? Is she inviting someone?

"Like the way a woman covered from head to toe is not inviting someone, a woman flaunting her cleavage, is also not inviting anyone. She wears it because she owns and loves her body. No one has the right to look at her in a dirty way."

Kriti made her Bollywood debut with the film "Guest Iin London" earlier this year after working in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films for eight years.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) is meeting on Friday to decide on the dates for a possible short winter session of both the Houses after the election campaign in Gujarat ends on December 12.

Government sources said the CCPA, headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will be meeting on Friday morning to take a call on the Winter Session of Parliament.

Asked about the delay in announcing the session, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday put the onus of the decision on the CCPA.

"As far as the Parliament session is concerned, I understand the Parliamentary Affairs Committee will take a call. (Parliamentary Affairs Minister) Ananth Kumar is in touch with them (members)," Prasad said.

The two-phased polls in Gujarat are scheduled to be held on December 9 and 14. Since Gujarat is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, the saffron party is leaving no stone unturned in reaching out to the voters.

The Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding the convening of the Winter Session of Parliament at the earliest. The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the Modi government is deliberately avoiding facing Parliament.

"Parliament is the mirror of accountability. Parliament is the only platform to discuss several policies of the government. It is the most important constitutional base to expose the discrepancies of the government," said party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Usually, Parliament's Winter Session commences from mid-November and goes on till December-end.

Parliament is conventionally convened three times a year for the budget session, monsoon session and the winter session.

As per the Constitution of India, there should not be a gap of more than six months between two parliamentary sessions.

Though there is no precedent of a parliamentary session being entirely skipped due to state polls, there are instances in the past when the winter session has been curtailed on account of assembly elections.
Islamabad, Nov 16 : Pakistan has decided to cancel a $14 billion infrastructure agreement with China because it could not accept the "hyper strict" conditions, local media reported on Thursday.

The exclusion of the Diamer-Bhasha dam from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, a key element to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, was because China's hyper strict conditions for funding the project were "not doable and against our interests", Express News on Thursday quoted Water and Power Development Authority chairman Muzammil Hussain as saying.

The harsh conditions included China taking ownership of the project, the operation and maintenance costs and pledging to build another operational dam.

The project will go ahead, however, as Pakistan has decided to finance the project -- which will generate 4,500 megawatts (MW) of hydropower -- itself.

China and Pakistan are due to hold a meeting about the CPEC on November 21. The two sides have prioritised about 15 thermo energy projects valued at $2.2 billion.
Bangkok, Nov 16 : The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Thursday backed Myanmar's humanitarian relief programme in the Rakhine state.

Around 615,000 members of the Muslim minority Rohingya community have fled to Bangladesh from Rakhine following a military offensive by the Myanmar Army since late August.

"A number of leaders expressed support to Myanmar's humanitarian relief programme... They underscored the importance of increased humanitarian access to the affected areas and that assistance be given to all affected communities," according to the Asean statement.

The statement, which does not specifically mention the Rohingyas, comes three days after a meeting, in which topics such as the South China Sea dispute and restrictions on palm oil in the European Union were also discussed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Asean, comprising Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, also urged the Myanmar government to continue to work towards restoring peace and stability in Rakhine, ensure safety of civilians and ensure peace and harmony among different communities.

During the summit, Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi had confirmed her commitment to begin the process of repatriation of the refugees in Bangladesh after a due verification process.

The statement also announced an agreement with Beijing to start negotiations for a code of conduct to prevent escalation of violence over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

China disputes the sovereignty of a majority of the islands and shoals in the South China Sea with countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The statement also expressed "the deep concern of some Asean member states on issues relating to restricting market access for palm oil in the European market" which, it said, has adverse implications for the palm oil producing countries in Asean.
New Delhi/Munich, Nov 16 : Visually challenged gender activist Nidhi Goyal has blamed global airline major Lufthansa of insensitivity and apathy, alleging that she was "locked up" inside the passenger carrier's disability assistance lounge at Munich airport while waiting for her flight to Mumbai.

The incident, Goyal said, occurred on Monday (November 13) when she was waiting for a connecting flight to Mumbai at the Munich airport.

"@lufthansa i am a #blind #traveller who was locked up in your #disability #assistance lounge at #munich #airport yesterday with no food no access to leave," Goyal said in a series of tweets the next day.

"#humiliated #helpless, #forced, #denied i had to endure the next few hours till it ws time to board. unacceptable behaviour towards a #disabled #person."

"i dont think you are #trained in or #sensitive to rights of #persons with #disabilities. ur new aricrafts also exhibit that. individual call buttons on touch screen how is a blind passenger supposed to use it? #UNCRPD #universal #design."

Responding, Lufthansa said in a statement: "We are sorry to hear about Ms Goyal's encounter in Munich."

"At this point, we are investigating into the incident to ensure comprehensive understanding relating to all parties involved. We appreciate your understanding for the time being."
Ahmedabad, Nov 16 : Congress Gujarat unit President Bharatsinh Solanki on Thursday accused the BJP of planning to smuggle in liquor in large quantity into poll-bound Gujarat and urged the EC to appoint special observers in border areas of the dry state.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner A.K. Joti, Solanki called for sealing of border areas in Gujarat to prevent breach of the prohibition in place in the state, where polling will be held on December 9 and 14.

"... a very disturbing development has come to our notice from reliable sources, that the Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to get into Gujarat large quantity of liquor from neighbouring BJP-ruled states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh etc," Solanki said in the letter.

"This is a grievous crime, especially in the wake of impending elections and law and order situation it can entail, plus the obvious health hazards," he added.

Solanki said: "We understand that you are taking care of everything to ensure free and fair elections and thus we thought of bringing this to your notice."

"Please appoint special observers in all border areas with the neighbouring states, to seal them against any such breach of prohibition policy for undue favours. It will be a big support to the cause of democracy and the people of Gujarat," the Congress leader said.

The results of the elections for the 182-member Gujarat assembly and 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly -- for which polling was held on November 9 -- will be declared on December 18.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : A PIL in Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the setting up of an expert committee of historians and social activists prior to the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama film 'Padmavati' on December 1.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Akhand Rashtrawadi Party said the committee headed by a retired Delhi High Court Judge should include a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) member and ensure there were no "distortions" in historic facts in respect of Rani Padmavati of Chittorgarh.

The committee should ensure that no sentiments are hurt with the release of the film, said the plea.

"The petitioner has come to know from reliable sources that the movie portrayed the imaginary or fictitious character of Rani Padmavati and there is distortion of historic facts about her. No individual or a group has any right to play with the sentiments or emotions of any caste or community by distorting Indian history or a historic icon," said the plea.

The plea said the CBFC requires to examine/re-examine the movie's contents with the help of historians or authors with excellent knowledge of historic facts about Rani Padmavati, so that wrong or fictitious image of the queen will not go before people worldwide nor public sentiments hurt.

The PIL, filed through lawyer Puneesh Grover, made the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, producer Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, movie's scriptwriter and the CBFC as respondents.
Ashgabat, Nov 16 : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is committed to the security and stability of Afghanistan and stands with the people of the South and Central Asian country, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash has said at a conference here.

Gargash's comments came on Wednesday at the 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII) in the Turkmenistan capital. Several political, business leaders and representatives of 34 countries and 28 regional and international organisations attended the conference.

"The UAE has extended assistance worth $1.67 billion to help Afghanistan recover from long years of disasters and catastrophes. The assistance covered 16 humanitarian developmental sectors including infrastructure, reconstruction and economic recovery," Gargash said.

UAE is one of the largest development donors for Afghanistan. Gargash said that security and stability are vital for development in Afghanistan, lauding the Afghan government's reforms in law enforcement and political and economic fields.

"The UAE is looking forward to see a new era in Afghanistan that contributes to realisation of security and prosperity for its people and stability to the region," he said.

The UAE minister met Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov on the sidelines of the conference and discussed bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on a variety of regional and global developments of mutual concern.
Harare, Nov 16 : Zimbabwe on Thursday remained in political limbo after the military takeover that appears to have put an end to Robert Mugabe's 37-year grip on power even as South African President Jacob Zuma called an emergency meeting of regional leaders to discuss the crisis.

As talks between Mugabe -- who has been confined to his "Blue House" compound in Harare by the Army and senior military officers -- continued for the second day, there were reports that he is resisting pressure to resign as President and wants to finish his presidential term.

A Catholic priest close to the veteran leader was involved in mediation efforts, the Guardian reported.

The Zimbabwean capital was tense but calm amid the political uncertainty. Troops secured the airport, government offices, Parliament and other key sites. The rest of the country remained peaceful. The takeover had been cautiously welcomed by many Zimbabweans.

Regional power South Africa appeared to be backing the takeover and had sent ministers to Harare to help with negotiations to form a new government and decide the terms of Mugabe's resignation.

An emergency meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc was scheduled to take place in Botswana. It was expected to be attended by the Foreign Ministers of Angola, Tanzania and Zambia.

The African Union called for the "constitutional order to be restored immediately and ... all stakeholders to show responsibility and restraint".

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition, arrived in Harare from Johannesburg on Wednesday night and was due to give a press conference later in the day. He has been tipped as a potential Prime Minister in a new political set-up.

The military declared on national television on early Wednesday that it had temporarily taken control of the country to "target criminals" around the 93-year-old President.

The intervention came after weeks of political turmoil, in which Mugabe sacked his powerful Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, clearing the way for Mugabe's wife Grace to succeed him.

The move exacerbated divisions in the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Mnangagwa enjoyed wide support in the military and was reported to have returned to Zimbabwe. Reports that Grace Mugabe had fled to Namibia on Wednesday appeared false, with the Guardian quoting several sources as saying that she was detained with her husband in their residence.

The future of the first lady is a key element in the ongoing discussions between Mugabe and the military.

Singapore and Malaysia, where the Mugabes own property, are potential destinations if she is allowed to travel into exile.

Critics have accused Mugabe of hurling his country's economy while using revolutionary rhetoric and indulging in corruption and coercion to stave off threats from opponents.

A high-profile opposition leader in Zimbabwe said there was "a lot of talking going on" with the Army reaching out to different factions to discuss the formation of a transitional government.

The official said Mugabe would resign this week and be replaced by Mnangagwa, with opposition leaders taking posts as Vice President and Prime Minister.

The Movement for Democratic Change's leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been tipped as a potential Prime Minister in a new political set-up.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Tendai Biti told the BBC he wanted to see a transitional authority in place. "It is urgent that we go back to democracy. It is urgent that we go back to legitimacy but we need a transitional period."

"... I think, I hope, that dialogue can now be opened between the Army and Zimbabweans, (that) dialogue can be opened between the Army and regional bodies such as the SADC and, indeed, the African Union," he said.
Patna, Nov 16 : The United States Consulate General, Kolkata, in collaboration with the social enterprise Contact Base, on Thursday launched a youth entrepreneurship initiative in four cities of east India -- Guwahati, Patna, Ranchi and Kolkata.

The programme, Y4BIZ (Youth for Business), in Patna is being held in association with a local organisation, Bihar Vidyapeeth Centre for Incubation and Entrepreneurship.

The Y4BIZ programme aims to support a promising group of 50 young entrepreneurs and transform their business ideas from the initial stage to a sustainable business model, said a press release.

The 50 entrepreneurs will be selected through a rigorous screening process after the launch events in all the four cities.

This will be followed by an online capacity building and mentoring programme run by the IC2 Institute, University of Texas, Austin.

A group of ten mentors will also be selected to be trained at the Nexus Incubator Hub, which is housed in the American Center in New Delhi.

Finally, the top 10 business ideas will be showcased before industry leaders, investors and policy makers, to celebrate entrepreneurship and recognise the youth leaders in 2018, according to the release.

Director of the American Center and Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata Jamie Dragon said while launching the event in Guwahati: "The youth entrepreneurship development is a proven strategy that positively impacts the lives of young people. This project seeks to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in eastern India and to strengthen linkages between American and Indian youth leaders."

The scheme is part of a series of activities in the run-up to the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which is scheduled for November 28-30 in Hyderabad.

Organised annually since 2010, GES is a pre-eminent annual entrepreneurship gathering that convenes over a thousand emerging entrepreneurs, investors and supporters from around the world.

This year's summit, being hosted jointly by the United States and India, will be held for the first time in South Asia. The theme for GES is "Women First, Prosperity for all," and will focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth globally.

Ivanka Trump, Senior Advisor to the President, will head the United States' delegation to the summit.

Suman Mukhopadhyay, Director & Vice President (Finance & Strategy), Contact Base said: "An entrepreneurs' journey is a journey of loneliness. For first generation early stage entrepreneurs, this can be a daunting challenge to surmount. If one is attempting to start an enterprise in the eastern region of India, odds are stacked too unfavorably.

"An initiative like Y4BIZ, which intends to create a network of mentors, entrepreneurs, incubators and policy makers, will work closely with the stakeholders towards evolving favourable environments for startups. This can help transform the landscape of entrepreneurship in this region."
Ghaziabad, Nov 16 : A fire broke at a hospital here on Thursday and gutted part of it. Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was controlled within two hours, a fire department official said.

The incident happened at 3.30 p.m. in Ganesh Hospital here. Chief Fire Officer Sunil Kumar Singh said the cause seemed to be an electrical short-circuit in the hospital's medical store.

"A pharmacist, who noticed it, informed us," the official said.

The hospital management engaged seven ambulances through which they transferred the patents to nearby Yashoda and Sarvodaya hospitals.

The loss is estimated to be about a few lakhs of rupees. It will be calculated after normalcy is restored, said Balbir Singh, the hospital's Public Relations Officer.
Bengaluru, Nov 16 : Karnataka on Thursday said it would open a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for data science and artificial intelligence (AI) here with the IT industry's apex body Nasscom as its programme and implementation partner.

"The first of its kind port-based CoE will be set up at a cost of Rs 40 crore on a public-private partnership for developing data science and AI across the country," said the state IT Minister Priyank M. Kharge on the sidelines of the Bengaluru Tech Summit here.

The centre, which will provide technology infrastructure, promote investments into research and innovation of data science and AI solutions, would help in developing India as a destination for global products and solutions on data science and AI, Kharge added.

"The CoE aims to place Karnataka as one among the top five global innovation centres in AI over the next five years," said Nasscom in a statement here.

The centre would provide data-backed solutions to many complex problems of the world, said the President of Nasscom R. Chandrashekhar in the statement.

There would be programmes at the CoE to increase capabilities among academia, enterprises, government and innovators.

The initiative has also had companies like IBM, Intel, Digital Ocean and Nvidia agreeing in-principle to support it, the industry body said.

Nasscom also plans to promote a similar programme across the country so as to support the country's vision to be a leader in digital economy, it added.

According to the industry body, AI-led automation will likely provide $100-120 billion in net productivity-led gain for IT-Business Process Management (BPM) service providers by 2025.
Shillong, Nov 16 : An eight-member committee headed by Meghalaya assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal on Thursday scrapped a tender for the construction of a new assembly building to replace the 125-year-old building which was reduced to ashes 16 years ago.

"We have scrapped the tender after one of the construction firms that bid the lowest couldn't justify completion of the project within quoted sum of money," Mondal said after chairing a meeting of the high-powered committee of the assembly.

He said the committee had directed the Public Works Department to invite fresh tenders.

Three construction companies -- Shapoorji Pallonji Company, Simplex Infrastructure Ltd, and Shree Gautam Infrastructure Company Ltd -- were selected after technical evaluation.

Shree Gautam firm had quoted 15.01 per cent less than the bid value of Rs 105 crore.

Mondal said the decision to scrap the tender was taken after the PWD found that this company would not be able to complete the project.

"PWD officials told the committee members that it will not be possible for the company to complete the project at the bid cost in view of escalation in prices, and new taxes," the Speaker said.

Since March 2001, assembly sessions have been held in the state's Central Library Auditorium but later shifted to the Arts and Culture Auditorium within Brookside, the house where Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore began writing his "Shesher Kobita" in 1919.

The Speaker said the new building would not be a replica of the heritage assembly building built with Burma teak in Gothic style by the British.

The Meghalaya government had proposed a new assembly building at the New Shillong township in Mawdiangdiang, 12 km from state capital Shillong.
Bonn, Nov 16 : A day after a major victory for India and developing countries on climate actions before 2020 that the developed world agreed to discuss in subsequent two years, India's Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan on Thursday reiterated that provisions for finance, technology transfer and capacity building support to developing nations are critical.

"We need not always wait for scientific reports to act," he said at the high-level ministerial meeting of the UN Climate Change conference here.

"Additional and early pre-2020 actions by developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol and provision of finance, technology transfer and capacity building support to developing countries are critical for limiting the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius by end of the century," he said.

Saying this Conference of Parties (COP 23) is crucial as it would set the stage for the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue, accelerate pre-2020 action and firm up the modalities for implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the Minister said India has undertaken ambitious mitigation and adaptation actions.

The actions are in the field of clean energy, especially renewable energy, enhancement of energy efficiency, development of less carbon intensive and resilient urban centers and promotion of waste to wealth and efforts to enhance carbon sink through creation of forest and tree cover.

Planned actions and economic reforms, he said, have contributed positively to the rapidly declining growth rate of energy intensity in India.

"India has taken ambitious targets in its Nationally Determined Contributions and is on path for achieving those."

Tracing India's historical ties with Fiji, under whose presidency this summit is being held, Vardhan said: "We appreciate the initiative by the Fijian Presidency for adopting the Bula spirit of inclusiveness for guiding climate change discussions and action."

"India supports an inclusive approach and believes that citizens are important stakeholders and must also be included in this process. I think if all global citizens contribute to 'green good deeds', the challenge of combating climate change shall become more manageable."

Going forward, he said: "We expect the COP 23 outcomes are balanced and reached upon through a party-driven process. They should not result in reinterpretation of the Paris Agreement and equal progress should be made on all pillars."

Complimenting the world leaders for their resolution to uphold the Paris Agreement, the Minister said: "This is only the beginning. The task ahead is its effective operationalization in accordance with the agreed principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities."

"We must also address the issue of climate justice," Vardhan added.

Two years after the world united around the Paris Climate Agreement and a year after its entry into force, the 197 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have reconvened for their 23rd annual climate change talks in Bonn till November 17.

The talks, which began on November 6, are expected to take a number of decisions necessary to bring the Paris Agreement to life, including meaningful progress on the agreement to implement guidelines to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius with an aim to cut greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

(Vishal Gulati is in Bonn at the invitation of the Global Editors Network to cover COP23. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
Tehran, Nov 16 : Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed a new resolution by the UN on the rights situation in Iran as "unacceptable and politically-motivated", Tasnim news agency reported.

Supports for such a politically motivated resolution from war criminals and sponsors of terrorism have discredited it, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement.

"The support of a number of most notorious violators of human rights and war criminals and sponsors of terrorism, violence, and extremism for the UN's latest resolution is only one of the main reasons showing why the resolution is invalid," Qasemi said without elaboration.

"Western countries' instrumental, selective, and political use of human rights against independent states of the world is a wrong and condemned approach and has no result other than undermining the supreme status of human rights," he was quoted as saying.

The recent anti-Iran resolution sponsored by Canada and passed by the UN's Third Committee on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs has voiced concern about what it calls human rights violations in Iran.

Iran is a ruling system based on religious democracy which has always sought to promote human rights and to seriously fulfil its international commitments, the spokesperson said.

"Iran is ready to seriously establish dialogue and constructive cooperation with any other side interested in promoting human rights based on its supreme values and the principle of mutual respect... within all the legal international mechanisms," Qasemi added.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought presence of the Delhi Police Commissioner before it on December 11 with a plan to bring down crime against women in the national capital.

A division bench of Justice S. Ravinder Bhat and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva directed that either the Police Commissioner or a person similar to his rank like Special Joint Commissioner or Joint Commissioner should to be present in the court on women safety issue.

"The court has to make sure there is effective policing, investigation and preventive or remedial measures in place," the bench said.

During the hearing of a plea on safety of women here, Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal told the court that crime rate in the city was very high.

"In past 10 days, three minor girl children have been sexually assaulted. I visited them and their condition was very bad. It was very painful.

"I visited several police stations in the capital at night and the strength of police personal there was less than 50 per cent as against the requirement. How the law and order will improve if Delhi doesn't have required police force," Maliwal, who was seen weeping during the argument, told the court.

The court asked Maliwal on an average, how many rapes would take place in Delhi, she replied the average was three rapes a day.

Advocate Meera Bhatia, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae in the case, told the court that the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) should be made responsible for any crime in their area, as police know who the criminals are.

"If responsibility will be fixed, crime rate will be come down," Bhatia said.

The bench also asked the central government to take on "war footing" the process of recruiting more police personal in Delhi Police force.

The court was hearing a petition initiated by it to improve women safety in the capital after the December 16, 2012 gang-rape of a young woman in a moving bus.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : A man was arrested on Thursday for molesting two women, including a journalist of an English daily, at a Metro station here, police said.

Police formed five teams to trace the molester and interrogated 5,000 suspects over two days before they nailed the culprit.

The incident took place on Monday evening when the accused, identified as Akhilesh Kumar, was under the influence of alcohol. He molested the women and passed lewd remarks at them in the ITO Metro Station premises in central Delhi.

"By the time the victims informed the police, Akhilesh Kumar had fled. During investigation, five teams of police interrogated over 5,000 persons on Tuesday and Wednesday and finally traced Kumar," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Singh.

"Akhilesh Kumar, who works as a help at a tea stall and lives in a slum area near ITO, was arrested from his residence on a tip-off after police teams conducted a raid," Singh said.
New Delhi : Starring Amitosh Nagpal, Anuradha Mukherjee, Yashpal Sharma, Rajesh Sharma Directed by Prem Prakash Modi

Rating: ***(3 Stars)If you've ever been in a village of North Bihar, or, better still, lived the life of a North Bihari village in the stories of the great litterateur Phanishwarnath Renu, then you'd find it easy to forgive the amateurishness of many portions of the storytelling in Panchlait.

Instead you'd be happy to focus on the sheer heartwarming naivete of the villagers in 1954 who are consumed by the act of bringing a 'petromax' to the village.

There is much empathy and warmth in the characters played by a bevy of brilliant actors. Yashpal Sharma as a village sarpanch who's possessive of his pretty wife, Brijendra Kala as a Krishna Bhakt with a secret yearning for spiritual cross-dressing, and Rajesh Verma as a wandering minstrel lend a lipsmacking lustre to the proceedings.

But the central romance between Godhan (Amitosh Nagpal) and Munri (Anuradha Mukherjee) lets the down the satirical flavour of the plot.

The narrative also moves forward as a tribute to Raj Kapoor and his persona of the lovable tramp in the film Awara. On another level, as we see a nautanki rendition of Krishna Bhagwan's Raas Leela being performed, there is a winking tribute to Pahnishwarnath Renu and Raj Kapoor's collaboration in the glorious but unsuccessful film Teesri Kasam.

All of these scattered and genial images from a rural life of na-ve yearnings as seenA through the profound prism of Phanishwarnath Renu's story, is attempted to be assimilated together in what could be best seen as a whittled-down but witty and warm portrait of a rural ingenuity done with sincerity but amateurishness.

The authentic locations enhance the narrative's constrained appeal. The narrative really comes into its own in the last half an hour when the villagers' collective pride must be ignited by the lighting up of the petromax. The director gets the satirical mood of anxiety right in those scenes.
Agartala/Kailashahar, Nov 16 : Journalists' economic security is deteriorating and challenges are increasing gradually, Tripura Information and Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha said on Thursday.

"Journalists' economic security is failing and challenges are increasing gradually, Saha said while addressing the National Press Day function at the Kailashahar Press Club in northern Tripura.

Saha said that freedom of Journalism must be strengthening further.

National Press Day was observed in Tripura on Thursday with various functions and events.

The Press Council of India (PCI), which started functioning on this day in the year 1966, has assigned this year's theme as "challenges before the media".

The Agartala Press Club and the Information Department also jointly organised the day in Agartala. Tripura assembly deputy speaker Pabitra Kar inaugurated the function.

Information and Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha inaugurated the National Press Day functions at Kailashahar in northern Tripura.

Senior Bangladeshi Journalists and editor took part in the National Press Day functions organised by Kailashahar Press Club.

Saha said that media should reflect the true picture of every situations and events.

This year is the valedictory of the Golden Jubilee Year of the PCI.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : Joint Indo-Bangladesh Training Exercise "Sampriti 2017", which was being conducted at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte in Mizoram, culminated on Thursday with a validation exercise.

It was the seventh such exercise in the Sampriti series. The 13-day-long field training exercise commenced on November 6.

The exercise was aimed at strengthening and broadening the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh armies, an official statement said.

The final exercise was reviewed by Major General Md Moshfequr Rahman of the Bangladesh Army and Major General M.S. Ghura of the Indian Army.

"Besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two armies, it further helped in strengthening bilateral ties," the statement added.
Pune, Nov 16 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday launched a new initiative against childhood obesity here, which will directly benefit over 6,000 children in Pune alone by making them aware about their Body Mass Index (BMI).

As per the initiative, a BMI dialler will be given to the schools through which children will be able to know their BMI.

India is the diabetes capital of the world and by 2025 is expected to be the second-largest country with childhood obesity, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The initiative was taken by Rotary Club of Koregaon Park with JT Foundation.

As part of the initiative, a documentary has also been prepared to create awareness in the schools with the help of JT Foundation. The documentary will be showcased in more than 6,000 schools within Pune district.

With the help of a BMI dialler, school children, parents and teachers will also be sensitised about childhood obesity by the volunteers of the Rotary Club across Pune district.

"Fewer children these days are found in the playgrounds, moreover all comforts are provided to these children easily. This is one of the major causes for rampant rise in childhood obesity.

"This campaign will ensure that childhood obesity will not hamper the growth or development of our future generations. This is a positive movement and the government will ensure support to spread this across Maharashtra," said Fadnavis.

Jayshree Todkar, Director, Dr Todkar's Clinic, and JT Foundation, Pune said it was essential to identify the high-risk population and get to provide further treatment.

"We aim to take this fight against childhood obesity to the next level. Pune tops the first five cities of India in obesity, so it is the most appropriate place to launch the campaign," said Todkar.
Shillong, Nov 16 : Independent legislator Robinus Syngkon on Thursday withdrawn support to the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government ahead of the assembly elections next year.

"I have withdrawn support to the Mukul Sangma-led government since I have lost confidence in him," Syngkon said.

Moreover, he described that his experience in the government has always been "unpleasant".

"There was not much cooperation from the ministers though legislators appointed as parliamentary secretaries were to assist the ministers who look after various departments," Syngkon said.

Syngkon, a former parliamentary secretary along with another Independent legislator Justine Dkhar had met BJP President Amit Shah on August at New Delhi.

BJP Vice President J.A. Lyngdoh claimed both the legislators had joined the party, which had no members in the 60-member House assembly.

Election to the 60-member state assembly is scheduled to be held in February-March 2018.

However, the withdrawal support to the Congress government will not have any serious impact as the Congress has 30 seats - one short of a majority in the 60-member legislature.

The Nationalist Congress Party, which has two members, one member from the North-East Democratic Socialist Party and 10 independent legislators are supporting the Congress.

The opposition Meghalaya People`s Front is made up of eight United Democratic Party legislators, two from the National People's Party. The Hill State People's Democratic Party, which has four members and two independents, are not part of the Meghalaya People's Front.
Bengaluru, Nov 16 : Private hospitals across Karnataka, including Bengaluru would reopen their Out Patient Departments (OPDs) on Friday on the advice of the Karnataka High Court on Thursday, said two official of the medical associations.

"OPDs in all private hospitals across Bengaluru will re-open on Friday as advised by the High Court bench," state Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) President-elect C. Jayanna told IANS here.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by an advocate (N.P. Amruthesh) against the doctors' strike on Wednesday, a division bench of the High Court headed by Acting Chief Justice H.G. Ramesh and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar directed the private doctors and their associations to withdraw the strike and restore the OPD services from Friday.

Hundreds of private hospitals across the state on Thursday shut their OPDs again as thousands of doctors intensified their strike against the penal provisions in the amendment bill to the KPME Act drafted by the government.

The four-day strike began on Tuesday. The OPDs were also shut on November 3.

"The OPDs in all private hospitals across the state will function normally from Friday, as we do not want patients to be affected. We have given an assurance to the High Court bench to keep the OPDs open," Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Karnataka Chapter Secretary B. Veeranna told IANS.

Though the bench said it could pass an order, it was refraining, giving time for the doctors to withdraw their strike and directed the state government to address their demands on the stringent provisions in the amendment bill to the Karnataka Private Health Establishment Act, 2007.

"The state Advocate General (Madhusudan Naik) has submitted a letter to the bench from the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) assuring the High Court that the state government would discuss the provisions of the amendment bill with the representatives of the doctors association on Friday at Belagavi," said Veeranna quoting Naik.

The Chief Minister also assured the High Court the amendment bill would be tabled in the legislative assembly only after discussing its provisions with all the stakeholders, including the doctors, the legislative select committee members and the lawmakers.

The bench adjourned the case for further hearing to Friday.

The state government had included stringent provisions in the amendment bill to regulate the functioning of private hospitals, including their costs of treatment and redressing the grievances of their patients.

Of the registered 1.25 lakh doctors in the state, only about 10,000 work in the state-run hospitals, while over a lakh are employed in about 40,000 private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.

The private doctors are staging the hunger strike at Belagavi, about 500 km from Bengaluru, where the 10-day winter session of the legislature began on Monday.

The four main demands are inclusion of government doctors under the KPME Act, no grievances redressal committees, no penalty on erring doctors or their imprisonment for the death of any patient due to medical negligence and ceiling on cost of treatment only for government health schemes under which eligible patients are treated in private hospitals or clinics.
New Delhi, Nov 16 : A 43-year old builder was allegedly shot dead at his friend house in west Delhi's Bengali Colony, police said on Thursday.

Police said the deceased, Manmohan was on Wednesday night at around 11.30 p.m found shot dead at Sujeet Ghosh's residence.

"The Police was informed by one Vikas Chandra, 68, who stays in the same building. Chandra heard noise of Manmohan, he went to check but in the meantime Sujeet closed his door. Sensing trouble Chandra immediately called police," Deputy Commissioner of Police Shibesh Singh said.

"We have booked Sujeet, his wife, Shashi and two sons, Abhijeet Ghosh and Abhishek Ghosh and a probe is on to ascertain their roles in the crime. Two country-made pistols of which one belonged to Manmohan were recovered from the spot," Singh said.

Singh said, During interrogation, none of the family members admitted to the crime and claimed that Manmohan hit himself from his pistol.

However, Sunita, wife of Manmohan said: "Manmohan called his daughter around 10.30 p.m and informed that he was going to meet Sujeet to discuss something. Recently, they had bought a flat in the area and Sujeet had to pay Rs 50 Lakh which he was ignoring it from few days."
New Delhi, Nov 16 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a new unit for the unorganised sector workers called the All India Unorganised Workers' Congress and said "it will strive to provide voice to those working in different parts of the country".

Interacting with the members of the Unorganised Workers' Congress, Rahul Gandhi urged them to participate in the fight for the rights of the unorganised workers.

He also encouraged them to participate in the struggle of the unorganised sector workers.

"Despite the proficiency of the street vendors, workers in the domestic sectors, autorickshaw drivers, rickshaw pullers and construction workers, they have not received their due respect," said Gandhi.

He said that this unit of the party will be responsible for giving voice to these people working in different parts of the country and fighting for their rights. "It is a historic day for the Congress party because today it was the first meeting of the Unorganised Workers' Congress," Gandhi told reporters.

The aim of the unit will be to give due respect to the capability of the unorganised sector workers and provide them a platform to raise their voice.
Mumbai, Nov 16 : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Viral V. Acharya on Thursday said asset resolution and bank recapitalisation are expected to strengthen bank balance sheets and improve their "ability and willingness" to lend at rates in consonance with policy rates.

According to Acharya, the RBI has reduced its policy repo rate by 50 basis points since October 2016 and by a cumulative 200 bps since December 2014, but the banking sector's credit growth has remained muted.

"While weak demand for bank credit could be one of the factors leading to the observed slowdown in credit growth, a primary cause of the slowdown has also been the weak balance sheets of public sector banks in view of large non-performing assets which seem to have made banks risk-averse and induced them to reduce the supply of credit: under-capitalised banks have capital only to survive, not to grow," Acharya said at the inaugural Aveek Guha Memorial Lecture at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

"The dominance of the supply side factor has also been borne out by the fact that the credit growth of private sector banks remains robust, whereas there has been a sharp deceleration in the credit growth of public sector banks."

Acharya further said the enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in December 2016, the promulgation of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 which has since been notified as an Act, and the subsequent actions taken thereunder by the Reserve Bank, have made the IBC a "lynchpin of the new time-bound resolution framework for bank NPAs".

"These initiatives will now be supported by the government's decision to recapitalise public sector banks in a front-loaded manner, with a total allocation of Rs 2.1 trillion, comprising budgetary provisions (Rs 181 billion), recapitalisation bonds (Rs 1.35 trillion), and raising of capital by banks from the market while diluting government equity share (around Rs 580 billion)," Acharya said.

"The two steps together -- asset resolution and bank recapitalisation -- are expected to strengthen bank balance sheets significantly and improve banks' ability and willingness to lend at rates in consonance with policy rates and result in an improved monetary transmission," the Deputy Governor added.
United Nations, Nov 17 : The UN Security Council has failed to adopt the draft text of the US addressing the renewal of the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN investigating chemical attacks in Syria.

The resolution on Thursday received 11 votes in favour and two against, with two abstentions, Xinhua reported. But since one of the votes against it was from Russia, a permanent council member, the resolution failed to pass.

China abstained from voting on the resolution.

The Security Council had planned to put on vote two draft resolutions, each of which would renew the mandate of the JIM, which ends on November 17. Russia withdrew its draft resolution before the vote began, citing procedure reasons.

"China is firmly opposed to the use of chemical weapons by whichever country, organization or person for whatever purposes and under whatever circumstances," said Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

He said "we have always maintained that the JIM should carry out comprehensive, objective and impartial investigations into chemical attacks in Syria."

"Base this work on solid evidence and draw conclusions that can stand the test of time and reality. Only by doing so can the perpetrators of chemical weapon attacks in Syria and those accountable be brought to justice and can the Syrian people be freed from the suffering caused by chemical weapon attacks," Wu added.

There had been a great deal of activity around the renewal of the JIM and its final report in the last few weeks.

The US put to a resolution to vote to renew the JIM with the same mandate for an additional year on October 24, two days before the release of the JIM's final report.

Russia vetoed the resolution, arguing a need to evaluate the effectiveness of the JIM by assessing the final report before discussing its renewal.

On November 2, Russia and the US circulated competing drafts renewing the JIM's mandate.

On November 7, Edmond Mulet, head of the JIM's leadership panel, briefed the council on its final report. During the briefing, the existing divisions in the council were on full display.

Russia criticised the JIM for falling short of the standards of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Mumbai, Nov 17 : Actor Akshay Kumar gave a suggestion to an aspiring actor while shooting for "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge".

Before commencing shooting of the Star Plus show, Akshay interacts with the audience. While doing so, he met a fan who was a waiter and plans on becoming an actor, read a statement.

He reminded Akshay of his struggling days. The actor then told the young man: "Always keep your goals in front of you. When I was a waiter back in Bangkok, I used to keep a picture of actress Sridevi, actors Sylvester Stallone and Jackie Chan in front of me while working."

"That time I knew I always wanted to become an actor and this helped me work in the direction of achieving my dream. Today, I can proudly say that I have worked and been associated with all three of them in some way or the other."
Using a safe deposit box to store valuables could have prevented some of the horrific losses incurred by Homeowners in these recent disasters

SDBIC's SecurePlus Network of Private Vault Facilities Accelerates Growth with Addition of Safe Haven Vaults

Safe Deposit Box Insurance Coverage, the leader in secure-storage solutions, announced today that Safe Haven Vaults is the latest private vault to be accredited under their SecurePlus program. Based on a comprehensive evaluation of the vaults protective systems and operational procedures, the accreditation is reflective of the facilities commitment to the security and safety of their customers valuable assets.

Safe Haven Vault is the only private vault in Utah to achieve this accreditation.

The shrinking of branch banking has created a void in the market for secure storage. In a two-year period ending March of this year, 7,179 branches closed countrywide, a trend that is expected to continue, if not accelerate. As consumers evaluate unregulated private vault companies, assessing the risk associated with that facility is difficult. SecurePlus is designed to help consumers identify the best, most secure private vaults. For vault owners, it is an opportunity to receive input from independent security experts to assure their facility and operating procedures meet current standards.

Recent wild fires and flooding destroyed billions of dollars of valuable personal property in homes; in the blink of an eye, people lost tens of thousands of dollars for many a devastating, life altering event, said Gerald Pluard, founder of SDBIC. If those items had been stored in a safe deposit box in a vault, many of the losses could have been avoided or at least been covered by insurance, added Pluard.

With new management and recently upgraded facilities, we are committed to providing a world-class facility and unparalleled privacy and services said Sebastian Hadad co-owner of Safe Haven Vaults. Without compromising privacy, our insurance provides another layer of protection if assets are damaged or destroyed by a catastrophic event; something only a few vaults in the country provide, added Hadad

For a detailed look at secure storage options and a list of SecurePlus vaults, click here.

Offering on-demand insurance and high-touch personalized service, SDBIC is changing the way valuable assets are insured. SDBIC is the fastest growing insurer for high-value, investable and collectable assets in the market today. For more information go to http://www.sdbic.com or call 224-227-6181. Secure it and Insure It.
Workbar Boston Community Coworking Space This relationship is an exciting opportunity to expand the Workbar brand and deploy our Hub and Spoke model to new markets.

Workbar LLC, a Massachusetts based coworking pioneer, and Apamanshop Holdings Co. Ltd. (JASDAQ 8889), a Japanese real estate company, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership.

Apamanshop, owner of Japanese coworking brands Fabbit, Growth Next, and Office Attend, has made a strategic investment in Workbar to accelerate its growth. Workbar will continue to add new Boston area locations to its already established network of coworking spaces, while simultaneously expanding into new U.S. and international markets.

Workbars proven Hub and Spoke model pairs downtown and surrounding suburb locations to create a regional network of coworking spaces convenient for entrepreneurs, startup companies, and enterprise employees alike. Workbars unique design and proprietary software platform fosters connectivity amongst its members to create an unparalleled community of professionals.

Fabbit, a pioneer in the growing Japanese startup culture, continues its expansion, often working closely with local municipalities to build and develop the Japanese startup ecosystem. Together Workbar and Fabbit intend to build a global brand of coworking spaces, with a vision to expand into new markets within Asian, the United States and beyond.

Our organizations have a like-minded approach to the coworking experience. I look forward to creating cross-collaboration between our companies and our collective members, says Bill Jacobson, Founder and CEO of Workbar. This relationship is an exciting opportunity to expand the Workbar brand and deploy our Hub and Spoke model to new markets.

Weve been impressed by the innovative spaces, strong community building, and compelling value proposition of Workbar. We saw a great fit with our focus on Japanese entrepreneurs and startup companies who need a supportive working environment to do their best work, notes Omura-san, CEO and Founder of Apamanshop. Workbar and Fabbit, through close collaboration, will bring exciting opportunities to the startup ecosystem worldwide.

ABOUT WORKBAR

Workbar operates a growing network of coworking locations in Greater Boston, and provides technology to other coworking companies. Workbar's locations are a collection of vibrant and buzzing workspaces shared by a community of over 1,800 entrepreneurs, start-ups, and remote enterprise professionals. The result is a high-energy place to work and collaborate. Workbar is leading the way on defining how workspace  both for individuals and large companies - is purchased and functions in todays mobile, on-demand economy. To learn more, visit: workbar.com

ABOUT APAMANSHOP HOLDINGS

Apamanshop Holdings Co., Ltd. engages in real estate intermediary, property management, investment funds, and other businesses in Japan and internationally. It offers rental housing brokerage, leasing placement brokerage franchise, information infrastructure, semi-administrative, and related services; leasing management and sublease operation services; rental estate investment services; franchise construction services and system development services. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Aluvision, the leading, worldwide manufacturer of high-end exhibit systems and Dimension Design, a premier producer of custom branded assets, today announced a strategic partnership designed to integrate the production of branded environments used in exhibits, corporate interiors and other commercial venues.

This partnership was created to provide North American marketing, branding and design professionals with custom, top-tier, turnkey solutions for projects that require modular, aluminum exhibit systems and branded graphics. Quality conscious organizations commonly use these items to create grand-scale environments for trade shows, experiential events, corporate locations and retail outlets.

According to the Society for Experiential Graphic Design, a global, multidisciplinary community of experiential professionals, branded environments are the ultimate asset for companies that understand the value of expressing their brand in everything they do and every place they do it. Branded spaces are a high-growth segment for the design profession.

Through this agreement, Dimension Design becomes a preferred graphics partner for Aluvision in North America. Dimension Design will recommend Aluvision exhibit systems for projects and launch AluvifitSM SEG, a premier graphic service engineered for those offerings. This includes:



A superior, dye-sublimated, printed graphic, finished with a thin silicone edge, that fits tightly into Aluvision frames

Guaranteeing the graphics fit and brand color match on specific solid, mesh and backlit substrates

Targeting a ship date of two business days from the date a client approves its artwork

The lightweight graphics crisp, non-glare surface works as a backdrop for nearly all branded environments. Its versatility enables brands to quickly print and change messageswithout the need for additional framing. Shipping, installation, storage and care of these graphics are simple and cost effective.

Aluvision and Dimension Design enjoy a common culture that is grounded in innovation and client service, said Stephan De Mulder, Senior Account Director at Aluvision. Our organizations share a client base and cross paths regularly in multiple branded environment markets. That and many other things made this partnership right for both of us. As part of our agreement, we will both share detailed information about our offerings, R&D initiatives and participate in an extensive training program to ensure a great experience and high-quality results for our clients.

According to Jim Winter, Chief Operating Officer at Dimension Design, Were pleased to form this relationship with Aluvision. Like our offerings, their systems are engineered to accommodate a branded environments nearly unlimited set of custom requirements. In short order, I anticipate our organizations being able to deliver seamless solutions that feature Aluvision frame systems and Dimension Design graphics for any commercial application. This genuinely bonds two premier elements of most high-end, 3-D branded environments in North America.

About Aluvision

Aluvision is a leading developer, producer and supplier of modular aluminum solutions for the tradeshow, exhibit and event industries. The tool-free aspect of the renowned frame system with holes makes it the quickest and most user-friendly exhibit system on the market. Aluvisions new product developments function as an indicator for emerging trends in the industries it serves. Aluvision has a full stocking and production facility as well as an inspiring showroom near Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit http://www.aluvision.com.

About Dimension Design

Dimension Design is an innovative branding partner that delivers custom environments to support the face-to-face marketing activities of respected exhibit houses, marketing agencies and business brands. The companys work highlights brands, products and services at events and trade shows, in corporate and retail locations and other commercial venues. The company has regional sales and production facilities near Chicago, IL and in Las Vegas, NV and Jacksonville, FL. For more information, visit http://www.dimensiondesign.com.
The new, DBRS-rated facility, provided by Credit Suisse, speaks to Kabbages maturity in the financial markets and gives us diverse funding options to serve our small business customers...

Kabbage Inc., a global financial services, technology and data platform serving small businesses, announced a new $200 million asset-backed revolving credit facility with Credit Suisse, a global financial institution. The new facility diversifies Kabbages funding sources, enables the company to scale faster, and establishes another committed source of capital to propel future growth. The new facility will allow Kabbage to serve more and larger small businesses as it expands into higher lines-of-credit with longer terms tailored to the needs of its customers.

This marks the first credit-facility transaction for Kabbage rated by DBRS, Inc., one of the top global-rating agencies. The top two classes of the multi-class transaction earned investment-grade ratings of A and BBB and are collateralized entirely with assets originated through Kabbages fully-automated underwriting technology. The ratings from DBRS demonstrates recognition of Kabbages ability to predictably and responsibly recognize, qualify, and manage risk, serving more than 125,000 small business customers to-date.

This brings Kabbages total debt-funding capacity to $750 million. In March 2017, Kabbage issued the largest securitization to-date in the online small-business lending space, which was followed by a $25 million upsize in August 2017. The new revolving credit facility will be issued by Kabbage Asset Funding 2017-A LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kabbage Inc.

The new, DBRS-rated facility, provided by Credit Suisse, speaks to Kabbages maturity in the financial markets and gives us diverse funding options to serve our small business customers, said Kabbage Head of Capital Markets, Deepesh Jain. To earn an investment-grade rating requires a rigorous evaluation of not only our lending models, automated risk analysis, and successful history of reducing bad debt to an industry-low, but also our operational processesfrom exceptional customer service to unmatched technology development.

About Kabbage

Kabbage Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, has pioneered a financial services data and technology platform to provide automated funding to small businesses in minutes. Kabbage leverages data generated through business activity such as accounting data, online sales, shipping and dozens of other sources to understand performance and deliver fast, flexible funding in real time. Kabbage is funded and backed by leading investors, including SoftBank Group Corp., BlueRun Ventures, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Thomvest Ventures, SoftBank Capital, Reverence Capital Partners, the UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund, ING, Santander InnoVentures, Scotiabank and TCW/Craton. All Kabbage U.S.-based loans are issued by Celtic Bank, a Utah-Chartered Industrial Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, please visit http://www.kabbage.com.
This work is our passion and the three of us are truly blessed to be able to work together overseeing the growth of Shrub Oak into a pioneering center of excellence for advancement of special education, - Gil Tippy

An inter-disciplinary team of world-class visionaries in the fields of autism education, therapeutic intervention and student life today announced the formation of Shrub Oak International School (Shrub Oak)  a new, world-class special education boarding and day school that will serve an international population of young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The school will open its doors in September 2018 with a mission to advance autism education by providing the fields most progressive academic and therapeutic approaches as it helps students prepare for a purposeful, independent future.

The team of founding co-directors, two of whom will live on campus, includes:

Gil Tippy, Psy.D., Co-Director and Head of Clinical services is a world-leading expert in developmental approaches to intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He has over 30 years of experience as a teacher and psychologist and is a founder of the renowned Rebecca School in New York City. He is a co-author, with Dr. Stanley Greenspan, of the renowned book Respecting Autism, which defines the highly successful use of developmental, individual difference, relationship-based principles (DIR)/FloortimeTM, a groundbreaking approach incorporated into Shrub Oaks curriculum.

Dianne Zager, Ph.D., Co-Director and Dean of Education is recognized globally as a pioneer in autism education. She has consulted with school districts across the U.S. to develop autism educational programs and founded one of the nations first college support programs for students with autism. She has served as president of the International Council for Exceptional Childrens Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities, and has over 30 years experience directing graduate and post-graduate programs to train school personnel in autism. Dr. Zager has done extensive work in the transition of students with autism to adulthood and employment. She was founding editor of Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, one of the most widely read autism journals in the nation.

Wendy Eklund, MBA, Dean of Student Life has extensive experience designing student-life experiences that provide engaging, enriching opportunities for students. As assistant director for residence life at Sarah Lawrence College, Wendy administered all the housing logistics, identified ways to improve student experiences and engagement in the residences, and oversaw the resident advisors and hall directors.

This work is our passion and the three of us are truly blessed to be able to work together overseeing the growth of Shrub Oak into a pioneering center of excellence for advancement of special education, Tippy said. We have all experienced the magic of helping children grow into adults living fulfilling, self-sustaining lives and we are beyond excited to open this incredible school.

Shrub Oak sits on the 127 acres of bucolic, hilltop grounds of a retrofitted former-seminary in Westchester County, New York. The campus will integrate nature, agriculture and cutting-edge technology to provide students with a sensory experience that is unmatched by any special education boarding school in the world. The building will include a modern gym, a restaurant-quality kitchen and dining facility, modern common rooms for socializing, well-appointed student hub, state-of-the art classrooms, and well-designed dormitories. The space will also feature an indoor pool, an open space for robotic development and learning, and numerous career training spaces and services. Its working farm includes livestock and crops set against a backdrop of open fields and wooded trails. A state-of-the-art, 24/7 security system will be incorporated into all areas of the building and grounds.

The school will ultimately have an enrollment of 391 residents and day students, aged 14 to 30+ years old. Each students program will maximize therapeutic and learning opportunities, not only in the classroom but also in the dining hall; on the fields and trails; and in the residential areas as well as the neighboring community.

Shrub Oaks goal is to ensure that all students achieve goals determined by their developmental capacity. This includes employment and the ability to live as independently as possible upon graduation. In order to do so, each student will have an inter-disciplinary team of clinicians, teachers and student-life professionals who will collaborate closely to construct and implement custom programs.

Based on the IEP-development model, which focuses on a students unique issues, while working to reinforce therapies and educational programs, the individualized programs will range from rigorous academic preparation for college to learned skills for independent living and future employment. The areas of emphasis for student program include executive functioning, cooperative work, organization, time management, and task completionall seamlessly interwoven throughout day and evening activities.

About Shrub Oak International School Shrub Oak International School is a world-class, private, special education boarding and day school preparing students for independent adult life and employment. Serving the sophisticated needs of an international co-ed population of young adults on the Autism Spectrum, the schools innovative relationship-based program is grounded in evidence-based principles that build on each students specific needs and interests. Shrub Oaks modern, technology-infused facility is set on 127 acres of farmland where students can learn in a natural environment, full of sensory experiences.
The introduction of residences to AVANI Hotels & Resorts portfolio redefines hospitality as it appeals to both leisure and business travellers looking for an international upscale hotel experience served in a private apartment.

Now open, AVANI Metropolis Auckland Residences offer a stylish city retreat with 65 contemporary, upscale residences available in one and two bedroom configurations. Guests can enjoy all the comforts of home in the heart of Auckland, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

AVANI Metropolis Auckland Residences take urban living to a new level, featuring an open plan well equipped kitchen, lounge and dining room, laundry facilities, complimentary WiFi, grocery delivery services and a thoughtful selection of high-tech comforts. Several residences also boast private balconies.

When it comes to recharging, relaxing and working out, AVANI Metropolis Auckland Residences has a superb range of leisure facilities including, a 22 metre heated indoor swimming pool & Jacuzzi, sauna and high-class fitness centre.

Guests will also have access to AVANIs signature Forget Me Not amenities, a service designed to take the stress out of leaving any essentials behind. From yoga mats to GHD hair straighteners, international power adaptors, and sewing and dental kits.

Located on Kitchener Street, AVANI Metropolis Auckland Residences connects guests with Aucklands myriad attractions and experiences; from where to find home-grown fashion labels, to the best eateries and mixologists, AVANI has all its guests covered.

Auckland is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Epicureans will be in heaven whilst dining at one of the many speakeasies and hatted restaurants. Gourmet markets are another stand out feature of the city. Head to the lively La Cigale French Market in nearby Britomart Street on Saturday or Sunday mornings, breathe in the aromas of freshly made bread and pastries, fragrant olive oils, organic chocolate and local cheeses. The nearby Auckland Fish Market located on Jellicoe Wharf is the place to find freshly caught crayfish and snapper.

Take in one of Aucklands Night Markets. Pakuranga and Glenfield Night Markets are the closest to AVANI Metropolis. Enjoy tasty street food, loads of stalls and live music. There is always a festival happening in Auckland, from the St. Patricks Day Parade, to the Pasifika Festival, Diwali and Chinese New Year to more cerebral events like Writers Week and Art Week, theres an occasion to suit all tastes.

In addition, AVANI will also be opening AVANI Broadbeach Residences on Australias Gold Coast in December 2017.

ENDS.

ABOUT AVANI HOTELS & RESORTS

AVANI Hotels & Resorts is the vibrant upscale brand from Minor Hotels. Offering relaxed comfort and contemporary style in city and resort destinations, AVANI was launched in response to an increasingly influential group of discerning travellers who appreciate stylish design and excellent service, but also demand great value. The brand currently has 20 properties in operation in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Seychelles, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia and now New Zealand, with a pipeline of further openings in Asia, Australia and the Indian Ocean. MH has plans to grow the brand across Asia Pacific, the Indian Ocean, Europe and the Middle East.

For all further information, please contact:

Jane Warburton

AVANI Hotels & Resorts

PR Director

T: +27 82 446 0445

E: jwarburton(at)minor(dot)com
Describing his job, Chris says, We make sure the quality is right; that its going to run efficiently, adding, Youre putting your name on something, and when you put your name on something, you want it to be the best.

A series of day-in-the-life videos featuring employees is the centerpiece of a new campaign from the YORK brand of Johnson Controls. The videos give the company an opportunity to recognize its employees for their work ethic by highlighting their lives, both at home and at work. The campaign also introduces homeowners to the people who put quality and workmanship into YORK heating and cooling systems.

The first video to roll out the series features Chris, a senior test technician at the companys Wichita manufacturing facility and the father of two young boys. Describing his job, Chris says, We make sure the quality is right; that its going to run efficiently, adding, Youre putting your name on something, and when you put your name on something, you want it to be the best.

Each of these videos tells the story of a YORK employee, at home and at work, who is driven to do the best work possible, said Liz Haggerty, vice president and general manager, unitary products group, Johnson Controls. In this first video, we celebrate and thank Chris, who, like so many others throughout our company, brings passion to his work every day and a commitment to take the extra steps necessary to deliver the very best product he can, as if hes building a unit for his own home.

With Chris help, YORK residential heating and cooling systems are designed, engineered and assembled in America with the highest quality standards, delivering performance, efficiency and reliability homeowners can trust. Nearly half of all YORK air conditioners, heat pumps and furnaces display the ENERGY STAR label, a government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. In addition, many are recognized by industry experts with awards such as Consumers Digest Best Buy ranking and the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

YORK products can be found in millions of homes throughout the United States, including those that are part of the Building Homes for Heroes program. Through its sponsorship, Johnson Controls, along with YORK distributors and independent contractors nationwide, has donated quality heating and cooling systems, including installation, labor and on-going maintenance, to military families since 2014.

To learn more about YORK quality and see how Chris brings his passion to work  and to each unit YORK makes, visit http://www.YORK.com/AQ. Also follow on YouTube, @YORKHVAC on Twitter and @yorkhomecomfort on Instagram. #GoodDayForQuality

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and multi-industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries. Our 120,000 employees create intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next generation transportation systems that work seamlessly together to deliver on the promise of smart cities and communities. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. We are committed to helping our customers win and creating greater value for all of our stakeholders through strategic focus on our buildings and energy growth platforms. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.
Mental health, treatment and recovery programs are not topics that most people speak about socially. Andrews podcast gathers and demystifies what the industry is doing from different perspectives

In the Trenches launched August 2017 and is hosted by entrepreneur, founder and Executive Director of Pure LIfe, Andrew Taylor, MBA. Andrew interviews Millennials, Education Consultants, College Consultants and Therapeutic Placement professionals and many other professionals within the Family Choice Behavioral Healthcare (FCBHI) industry. Andrews passion for Whitewater Rafting led him to Costa Rica where he ran the whitewater rafting program for Outward Bound Costa Rica. Pure Life, a wilderness therapy program using a base camp for young adults was launched in April 2013.

I met Andrew at a professionals conference in October 2016 after hearing about his treatment program for several years. We jumped into a conversation about religion, transition and life topics that are generally taboo at a conference. His passion to create and grow is contagious, said Jenney Wilder. I often find myself in these interesting conversations about Millennials with industry experts that everyone could benefit from, said Andrew Taylor about the seeds of his podcast. I wanted to capture those conversations and make them available to the public with the hope that people benefit, in their personal and professional lives, from hearing what these savvy professionals have to say about the work that we do daily, he explained.

Mental health, treatment and recovery programs are not topics that most people speak about socially. Andrews podcast gathers and demystifies what the industry is doing from different perspectives, said Jenney. According to Edison Research, 67 million Americans (primarily 25-54 year olds) listen to podcasts monthly. If he reaches a small number of the millions of Americans who listen to podcasts weekly, Andrew has created a conversation to change the social fabric, Jenney said.

The In the Trenches podcast archive is available on SoundCloud. Jenneys interview is number 15 in the series.

About All Kinds of Therapy

All Kinds of Therapy is located in downtown Salt Lake City, UT. The Intermountain West is surrounded by cutting-edge Family Choice Behavioral Healthcare and substance abuse industries for troubled teens and young adults. The website provides the only comprehensive, independent, online directory with a search and compare function to distinguish among the vast options of treatment models, locations, clientele and included features available throughout the United States.

All Kinds of Therapy will donate 1% of its net income to nonprofits that they believe encompass all types of education, all types of learning and all types of therapy.

About Pure Life Adventure

Pure Life Adventure is located in the Central Pacific region of beautiful Costa Rica. Relying on decades of experience in the Costa Rican outdoor industry, our bicultural team provides a sophisticated and holistic treatment approach to helping young adults with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of motivation, executive function deficits, trauma and substance abuse/recovery. Pure Life utilizes traditional individual and group therapy in combination with outdoor experiential learning and adventure therapy. Our integrated and dynamic approach includes an emphasis on fitness, mindfulness, life skills and cultural immersion.
We are revolutionizing the cannabis industry with an online purchasing platform thats bridging the gap between seed and point of sale, said Heidi Arsenault, CEO of GrassHopperHub.

Colorado-based cannabis retail software company, Cova announced today a partnership with Washington-based cannabis technology company, GrassHopperHub to integrate services and streamline the supply chain for retailers, processors, and producers. The partnership is expected to launch January 2018. GrassHopperHub will be featured in the COVA partner pavilion at this years MJ Biz Con in Las Vegas Nevada November 15-17 in booth #4208.

When integration is complete, retail operators using Covas software suite will be able to order inventory through an online business-to-business platform. By using the online marketplace, buyers will eliminate the inefficiencies and costs associated with time-consuming manual processes and create specificity throughout the entire seed-to-sale cycle.

We are a cannabis retail software designed to make complex operations simple, so this partnership is not just a strategic move for us but the right one, said Gary Cohen, CEO of Cova. By integrating with GrassHopperHub, buyers will be able to make multiple purchase orders with multiple sellers in one click, saving them more time and money while staying compliant.

In addition to the online marketplace, insights such as product descriptions, applicable discounts, product reviews, and budtender ratings provide operators across the supply chain the data they need to make decisions for sustainable growth.

We are revolutionizing the cannabis industry with an online purchasing platform thats bridging the gap between seed and point of sale, said Heidi Arsenault, CEO of GrassHopperHub. Through this exciting partnership with Cova, cannabis retailers will be able to manage the front and back of the house through a single point of entry  Elevating the retailers experience end-to-end.

About MJBizCon

mjbizconference.com

November 14, 2017: Pre-Conference Workshops

November 15-17, 2017: Main Conference & Expo

The fall MJ Biz Conference is held in Las Vegas every November. In 2016, 10,880 cannabis-related executives and financiers attended the conference, making it by far the largest professional cannabis event in history. The event boasts attendees from all 50 states, plus more than a dozen countries and 650 exhibitors. Visit GrassHopperHub and Cova at booth #4208.

###

About Cova

Cova, a Colorado-based cannabis retail software company, provides a point of sale system designed specifically for the cannabis retail industry. Covas POS suite makes complex operations simple, so retailers can stay compliant, deliver an unforgettable retail experience, and grow their empire. The Cova retail platform powers 19,000 locations of all sizes and verticals with virtually no downtime, even on Black Friday and 420. For more information about the Cova POS suite, menu boards, and digital solutions, visit http://www.covasoftware.com.

About GrassHopperHub

GrassHopperHub is the first B2B online business platform specifically created for the legal cannabis industry. GrassHopperHub connects producers, processors and retailers through an online marketplace, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies and costs associated with time-consuming manual processes. GrassHopperHub weaponizes the cannabis industry with high caliber technology to simplify business operations, track inventory, mange financial data and ensure regulatory compliance. Visit http://www.GrassHopperHub.com to buy and sell for free or email info(at)grasshopperhub(dot)com.
Using NxClinical and partnering with BioDiscovery is one of the best choices for Be Creative in bringing a robust solution to the clinical diagnostic laboratories here. - Dr. Xin-Li Huang, CSO, Be Creative

BioDiscovery, Inc., a leader in innovative genomic data analysis software solutions announced today an agreement with Be Creative Lab (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Beijing, China where Be Creative will be the exclusive reseller and distributor of BioDiscovery products in China. The two companies inked the deal at the recent 2017 Clinical Application Conference in Beijing hosted by Be Creative. The focus of this years conference was comprehensive application of SNP-Array, NGS and other technology platforms to enhance the clinical diagnostics and Be Creative debuted BioDiscoverys NxClinical 4.0 software system at the meeting.

NxClinical 4.0 is a revolutionary system that brings together cytogenetics and molecular genetics to increase diagnostic yield while decreasing costs. NxClinical 4.0, just launched last month at the American Association of Human Genetics Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, incorporates BioDiscoverys BAM MSR algorithm to derive copy number and allelic event changes from WES, WGS, targeted panels, and low pass sequencing data. The software has extensive interactive visualization and interpretation tools for integrated and simultaneous analysis of copy number, AOH, and sequence variants changes which streamlines the interpretation and reporting pipeline.

We are extremely pleased to have Be Creative as a partner in providing Chinas clinical labs an easy-to-use, platform-independent system that can be integrated quickly into existing clinical labs analytical pipelines, said Dr. Soheil Shams, President, BioDiscovery, Inc. Be Creative is dedicated to advancing the clinical genetics testing field and our solutions are a great fit. NxClinical is leading the way towards a streamlined testing pipeline where multiple tests are consolidated into a single NGS assay to derive CNV, AOH, and SNV and we are really excited to be bringing the necessary tools to the Chinese market with Be Creative.

Our recent Clinical Applications Conference in Beijing discussed the many challenges faced by geneticists in the quickly evolving field and highlighted the need for robust bioinformatic tools and software to enable laboratories to streamline and better manage the increasing volumes of clinical testing, said Dr. Xin-Li Huang, CSO, Be Creative. Labs here in China are eagerly adopting new technologies that require enhanced clinical communication and follow-up as well as excellent software analysis system for accurate and complete clinical diagnoses. Using NxClinical and partnering with BioDiscovery is one of the best choices for Be Creative in bringing a robust solution to the clinical diagnostic laboratories here. The use of various automation tools, like the Variant Interpretation Assistance within NxClinical, enables labs to establish and enforce clear clinical event classification logic ensuring high quality reporting.

About BioDiscovery, Inc.

BioDiscovery, Inc. is dedicated to the development of state-of-the-art software products for life science research as well as clinical applications. The companys mission is to enable scientists to eliminate disease and suffering through application of computational technologies and translating these findings directly and rapidly to clinical use. From its inception in 1997, BioDiscovery has been an innovative leader in the genomics field having introduced the first dedicated commercial software tool for analyzing microarray images. Since then, innovation has continued to be a top priority. BioDiscoverys passion to make a difference has further extended the companys reach into creating the most comprehensive enterprise-wide system enabling research findings to translate into clinical applications and make direct impact on patient care. For more information, visit http://www.biodiscovery.com.

NxClinical 4.0 is the first comprehensive case review and reporting system with a gold-standard CNV calling algorithm allowing analysis and interpretation of CNV, SNV, and AOH from a single NGS platform. The system also derives copy number from microarrays while incorporating sequence variants from VCF/Nirvana JSON files providing for storage and analysis of both microarray and NGS data in a single repository and offering a complete view of a sample under review. This allows labs to consolidate tools into a single system that scales and grows as a lab expands its offerings, eliminating the time consuming and costly process of training staff on multiple software systems, maintaining separate databases, and manually integrating test results for a single sample. NxClinical 4.0 is a multi-user system with audit trailing and a central (on-site or cloud-based) database easily accessible from anywhere. Using standardized and automated processes, NxClinical increases overall productivity and consistency in the entire workflow allowing for a speedy case review process.

Please note the following:

The BioDiscovery software tools referenced are designed to assist clinical researchers and are not intended as primary diagnostic tools. It is each labs responsibility to use the software in accordance with internal policies as well as in compliance with applicable regulations.

About Be Creative Lab (Beijing) Co. Ltd.

Be Creative Lab (Beijing Beikang Medical Laboratory) is located in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone in Yizhuang Biological Medicine Park, covering over 1,000 square meters. The laboratory is approved by the national health authorities as an innovative clinical diagnosis of cells and molecular genetic testing center, with a complete third-party clinical medical qualification of medical services. Be Creative Lab focuses on genetic diagnosis, mainly engaged in common adult and child genetic diseases screening and diagnosis, infertility genetic diagnosis, and genetic etiologies. Be Creative Lab, since its establishment in 2013, provides diagnostic support for a number of hospitals. At present, the service scope covers mainly Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Anhui, Shaanxi, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.

Contact information:

BioDiscovery, Inc.

Shalini Verma

MarCom Manager

+1 310-414-8100

MarCom(at)biodiscovery(dot)com

Be Creative Lab (Beijing) Co. Ltd.

Zheng Huijun

Marketing Director

+86 10-56315119

zhenghuijun0127(at)163(dot)com
GreyCastle Security is a cybersecurity consulting firm focused on risk management, awareness and operational security. The company was established to counter rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats and Our strategic partnership with Orange Parachute positions GreyCastle Security as the leading cybersecurity firm in the U.S. and the only one that addresses both cybersecurity risks and the overwhelming talent shortage plaguing businesses today.

GreyCastle Security, the industrys leading cybersecurity risk assessment, advisory and mitigation provider, has acquired information security management consulting firm Orange Parachute. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Orange Parachute, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 2002 and has specialized in helping companies establish efficient, effective and sustainable information security and compliance programs, providing the power of informed choice to their clients across the U.S.

As the leading ISO 27001 and Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) consulting firm in the U.S., Orange Parachute adds a suite of information and security and compliance services to GreyCastle Securitys already comprehensive service catalog, including cybersecurity risk assessment, incident response, awareness, penetration testing, vulnerability assessment and governance.

Our strategic partnership with Orange Parachute positions GreyCastle Security as the leading cybersecurity firm in the U.S. and the only one that addresses both cybersecurity risks and the overwhelming talent shortage plaguing businesses today, said GreyCastle Security CEO Reg Harnish. Together, we will continue to transform how businesses manage their risks, protect their assets and position themselves for success in an ever-evolving environment.

As part of the acquisition, Orange Parachute founder Travis Hyde will assume the role of chief operating officer (COO) at GreyCastle Security, joining a highly talented executive team that includes GreyCastle co-founders Harnish and Mike Stamas. As COO, Hyde will work with all GreyCastle Security employees to share and execute the companys vision and mission.

From the moment I first spoke with GreyCastle Securitys CEO Reg Harnish and CSO Dan Kalil, I could tell that we shared a passion for building a globally recognized cybersecurity brand comprised of world-class people, both at work and on the street," said Hyde. "GreyCastle Securitys commitment to building the best culture in the business, driven by people who could exercise core values like humble confidence and transparency, aligned perfectly with our mission at Orange Parachute.

GreyCastle Security employs nearly 60 employees, including former CISOs, ISOs, security specialists and operators, who understand the intricacies of cybersecurity from the inside out.

The Troy, New York-based firm has experienced four consecutive years of triple-digit growth, and is currently working with organizations in nearly every state in the United States, including Fortune 5000 and Global 100 organizations. In addition to making this years Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies, GreyCastle Security also improved its position on the Cybersecurity 500 list and earned the 2015 Technology Innovation Award from the Center for Economic Growth.

The award-winning firm has also been featured in TIME, CNBC, The Washington Post, CBS Nightly News and Forbes, and its CEO, Reg Harnish, was named North Americas Cybersecurity Consultant of the Year by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards.

About GreyCastle Security

GreyCastle Security is the industrys leading provider of cybersecurity risk assessment, advisory and mitigation services. The company was established to help organizations establish effective cybersecurity programs, minimize the impact of security incidents and simplify compliance. GreyCastle Security has clients throughout North America, specializing in cybersecurity for healthcare, higher education, financial services, technology and critical infrastructure.

GreyCastle Security's revolutionary approach to service delivery completely eliminates an organization's need to recruit and retain new cybersecurity personnel. Our award-winning cybersecurity programs are delivered continuously and managed proactively by certified experts, including risk assessment, awareness, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing and incident response.

GreyCastle Security is a subsidiary of Assured Information Security (AIS). For additional information regarding AIS, please visit http://www.ainfosec.com.
Faithsgiving is a great opportunity to open our doors to our neighbors and make sure they can fully participate in Americas nationwide day of thanks. Reverend Nat Katz, All Saints Beverly Hills.

The turkeys are being donated from a variety of sources and will be distributed to local residents who would not otherwise be able to afford them.

The Pico Union Project is a daily laboratory for the Golden Rule  to love our neighbors as wish to be loved, said Micah Edward Acton, Program Intern at The Pico Union Project. Faithsgiving is a great opportunity to open our doors to our neighbors and make sure they can fully participate in Americas nationwide day of thanks. said Reverend Nat Katz, All Saints Beverly Hills.

Pico Union Project is located at 1153 Valencia Street in Los Angeles, and is a multi-faith, multicultural center housed in the 1909 original home of Sinai Temple. Faithsgiving is just one of a wide range of PUPs community activities that include farmers markets, concerts and arts programs. It is also home to Word of Encouragement Church and Kwang Yum Community Church, and brings 300 people together every year from across Los Angeles for Jewish High Holy Days services.

For more information, contact The Pico Union Project at 818-760-1077.
Survey USA, received an "A" rating from fivethirtyeight.com Cuban American support for Trump's Cuba Policy rose after attacks on US Diplomats

Cubans in Miami-Dade County Support Trump Administration Sanctions Against Havana, Back Expulsion of Cuban Diplomats from USA, Want to SeeCuban Gov't Returned to List of State-Sponsored Terrorists:

SurveyUSA interviewed 405 Cubans from Miami-Dade County FL 10/18/17 through 10/25/17 on behalf of theInspire America Foundation ( inspireamerica.org ). 59% of the interviews were conducted in English, 41% were conducted in Spanish. Allof those interviewed were registered to vote. Among the survey's key findings:

By more than 2:1, Cubans support new sanctions against the Cuban government announced by the Trumpadministration in June 2017.

70% say the response to the attacks on American diplomats in Havana was the right response or not forceful enough. A plurality, 44%, say that the Trump administration's decision in August 2017 to reduce the number of Americandiplomats in Havana and to expel Cuban diplomats from the United States was the right response to incidents ofhearing loss and possible brain damage. An additional 26% say the decision was not forceful enough.

By 5:3, Cubans say that the Cuban government should be returned to the list of state-sponsored terrorists.

Overwhelming numbers say that Cubans who have worked for the Cuban police, military or intelligence agenciesshould not be eligible for visa and immigration benefits.

By 2:1 Cubans say that they oppose the Cultural Exchange Program in its current form

The survey was commissioned by Inspire America and conducted by #1 ranked national polling firm, SurveyUSA, ranked above Rasmussen, CNN, NY Times, and numerous other well known polls. These rankings are published by the independent, non-partisan statisticians at 538.com. You can see the ranking here: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/pollster-ratings/

No research company of any size scores as highly as SurveyUSA on four key metrics:



how accurate its surveys are;

how much predictive value its surveys have;

how little partisan bias its surveys have; and

how prolific SurveyUSA is. 
Were excited about the seamless transition of ownership from Cisco over to STA Group  the upside for the Tidal customer community is enormous.

November 16, 2017  Chicago-based business and technology firm STA Group, LLC announced today the acquisition of the Tidal Workload Automation product from Cisco, expanding STA Groups best-in-class portfolio of digital automation solutions for the modern enterprise.

The Tidal software platform offers next-generation performance in workload automation for enterprise IT  automating and orchestrating the complex web of interactions between applications, data, and other systems to optimize business outcomes and business value delivered to the enterprise.

Conventional workload automation can no longer keep pace with rapid changes in data structures, applications orchestration, cloud, and the tsunami of real-time information from IoT, said David Dillon, Senior Managing Partner, STA Group. A next wave is required that can handle the increasingly complexity of IT automation in a world that never stands still. We are proud to spearhead this evolutionary arc by leveraging the best of the past  Tidals decades of excellence in workload automation  with the best of the future, an innovation curve driving a new level of business value for the enterprise.

Previously known as both Tidal Enterprise Scheduler and Cisco Workload Automation, Tidal Workload Automation has a rich 38-year legacy of helping the worlds largest companies automate their workloads. The software boasts a Whos Who of customers in the Fortune 1000. Many of the technologists and executives responsible for Tidals legendary performance are taking a leadership role at STA Group to continue the Tidal innovation wave. Were excited about the seamless transition of ownership from Cisco over to STA Group  the upside for the Tidal customer community is enormous, explained Mr. Dillon. The Tidal product team has an aggressive roadmap leveraging STA Groups agility and entrepreneurial spirit. The next wave is here.

Webinar  December 7

STA Group will hold a webinar on December 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its vision of the future. FutureView: The Next Wave in Workload Automation will explore next-gen workload automation challenges and capabilities. To register, please visit http://www.tidalautomation.com.

About STA Group

STA Group, LLC is a portfolio company of the Dillon Kane Group (DKG), a Chicago-based leader in specialized technology innovation, deployment, consulting, and business transformation for the Fortune 1000. As the foundational engine of the DKG family, STA Group is a proven innovator providing digital strategy engagements across workload automation and other enterprise segments. STA Group has been involved in the development and commercialization of job scheduling and enterprise orchestration solutions since 2000. Our enterprise architectures are mission-driven  business first, technology second.
PervasID Integrated RFID Solution Historically retailers have had to work with multiple vendor technologies to deliver an end-to-end solution and of course that introduces additional complexities. Were delighted to announce our fully integrated Ranger Series which massively simplifies the process.

PervasID, the leading RFID technology company, announces a complete single source solution that can detect, read and monitor RFID tags with the highest levels of accuracy (99%+). This allows goods to be tracked throughout their retail journey through warehouses or DCs, and from loading bays and storage areas in stores to front of store, checkout and store exit.

To achieve this, PervasID has added to its existing ground-breaking patented reader technologies for wide area and gate detection so that there are now four separate product groups which can operate either as stand-alone solutions or, as a fully featured integrated system.

The Four product groups comprise:



Dock Door Ranger which can detect moving items in bulk at high tag density in and out of a warehouse.

Space Ranger which uses a network of low profile flat ceiling tile antennas, each of which are located discretely at intervals across the shop floor or stockroom reducing the required number antennas needed by a staggering 75% as well as reducing the coaxial cabling requirement by 50%.

POS Ranger which can automatically detect and deactivate purchases at the Point of Sale, reducing wait times in checkout queues as well as reducing labour costs.

Security Ranger  a passive anti-theft ceiling based security system suitable for large exit areas and delivering reduced false positives combined with higher detection rates. This new low cost smart solution is predicted to reduce shrinkage significantly.

All four product groups deliver 99%+ detection rates for passive RFID tags even when these are distributed over wide areas and in high tag density environments. The products can be used for real time tracking of inventory, assets and people, delivering detailed sales visibility and insight, and ensuring better customer service, improved security and lower costs to businesses.

Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan, CEO of PervasID said Historically retailers have had to work with multiple vendor technologies to deliver an end-to-end solution and of course that introduces additional complexities. Were delighted to announce our fully integrated Ranger Series which not only massively simplifies the process of deploying and using passive RFID but also delivers the highest levels of accuracy, in the shortest time and lowest cost with a <12 months ROI.

The advent of RFID promised retailers increased revenue, reduction of stock loss, enhanced overall shopping experience and key insights in to customer journeys through the store. With a fully integrated system this promise can now be delivered.

Sabesan will speak about the technology at this week's RFID Journal LIVE! Europe conference and exhibition, held in London.

Ends

About PervasID

PervasID is a leading RFID technology company based in Cambridge, UK. Over the last ten years it has pioneered the development of ground breaking patented RFID innovations based on original research undertaken by the University of Cambridge. PervasIDs near 100% accurate passive reader technology is now deployed all over the world in retail, health and security applications.

For more information contact: Sabesan Sithamparanthan; ssabesan(at)pervasid(dot)com

Tel: +44 (0)1223 422 383 http://www.pervasid.com
As a company with Indian roots, it is an honor to be selected to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, taking place in our country for the very first time.

Sagoon, the social commerce platform enabling its users to Connect, Share, and Earn, today announced it has been selected to participate in the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES 2017), held November 28-30 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre in Hyderabad, India.

The 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, announced by U.S. President Donald J. Trump in June of 2017, will connect more than 1,600 entrepreneurs and investors through networking, mentoring, workshops, and master classes. The Summit will be inaugurated by the Honble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, and will focus on women entrepreneurs, with the theme Women First, Prosperity for All.

As a company with Indian roots, it is an honor to be selected to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, taking place in our country for the very first time, said Swati Dayal, co-founder and product & operations head, Sagoon. We look forward to showcasing Sagoon as a growing startup with opportunities for investment, partnership, and collaboration. We are excited to be a part of GES 2017 and to make valuable connections that can help us pursue our goals.

Being selected to participate in the GES 2017 is a terrific accomplishment for Sagoon and one that we are very proud of. As the theme of this years summit focuses on women entrepreneurs, were also proud to be able to highlight our co-founder, Swati Dayal, and all that she has done to push Sagoon forward, said Govinda Giri, co-founder and CEO, Sagoon. Connecting with so many other entrepreneurs and investors is an incredible opportunity for us, particularly as our Regulation A+ fund raise comes to a close later this month. We look forward to showcasing all Sagoon has to offer.

The Summit is being held in India for the first time since its inception by President Obama in 2010. It has previously been held in Washington D.C., Istanbul, Dubai, Marrakech, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, and Silicon Valley. It has become the preeminent annual entrepreneurship gathering in the world, empowering entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, build partnerships, secure funding, and creative innovative products and services that will transform societies for a better tomorrow.

Sagoon solves a glaring problem in todays U.S. social media landscape  U.S. social networks are not set up for ecommerce. Direct commerce between users and sellers and amongst users is prohibited, and users earn no financial rewards for being a direct source of revenue. There is also a missed opportunity to make gift cards, coupon offers, and discounts purely social.

Regulation A+ offerings provide an opportunity for the non-accredited general public to invest and own stock in the company. The company is currently accepting investments from public and institutional investors until November 30, 2017 and can be accessed through our website http://www.sagoon.com/invest, where the Offering Circular is posted.

About Sagoon

Sagoon is an early-stage social commerce platform that offers users a chance to make money while socializing. The word Sagoon is derived from the Sanskrit word Shakuna, meaning an auspicious moment or good luck. First launched as a search engine in 2009, Sagoon evolved into a social commerce platform in 2014 with the mission of helping people to better Connect, Share, and Earn. To connect with Sagoon, visit http://www.sagoon.com or Like the Company on Facebook. To invest in the company through its Regulation A+ offering, please click here.
ATTOM's robust, data-rich analysis in front of the Think Realty audience makes sense. Together, we can put thoughtful, comprehensive data in the hands of investors to inform their strategies.

Think Realty, the industry leader in residential real estate investor resources, education and ethics, has partnered with ATTOM Data Solutions, the nations largest multi-sourced property database through its RealtyTrac, Homefacts, Home Disclosure and ATTOM Media divisions. Beginning with Think Realty magazines Year End issue, ATTOM Data Solutions will contribute original, data-driven articles and infographics from its award-winning publication, Housing News Report, and make available its raw data to Think Realty. The partnership will ensure that Think Realtys audience and membership have access to the latest real estate market information, data and trends.

For investors to make good decisions, they must be knowledgeable, said Eddie Wilson, president of Think Realty. The insight ATTOM Data provides is fundamental for real estate investors that make a practice of aligning strategy with markets and trends. The property, neighborhood and address-level data as well as timely foreclosure listings they provide can advise investors in making smart, profitable choices.

Think Realty is a well-respected educational resource for real estate investors. ATTOMs robust, data-rich analysis in front of the Think Realty audience makes sense. Together, we can put thoughtful, comprehensive data in the hands of investors to inform their strategies, said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president of communications at ATTOM Data Solutions.

ATTOM Data Solutions is the curator of the ATTOM Data Warehouse, a multi-sourced national property database that blends property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, health hazards, neighborhood characteristics and other property characteristic data for more than 150 million U.S. residential and commercial properties. The ATTOM Data Warehouse delivers actionable data to businesses, consumers, government agencies, universities, policymakers and the media in multiple ways, including bulk file licenses, APIs and customized reports. Visit http://www.ATTOMdata.com for more information.

Think Realty is a central education and information resource for new investors and seasoned professionals, providing members with valuable tools that help them to optimize their competitive advantage, succeed in the industry, achieve wealth-building goals and live a life of purpose. Think Realty is part of Affinity Worldwide. More information can be found at http://www.thinkrealty.com and http://www.affinityworldwide.com.

For additional comments or questions please call or email

Laura Chalk, PR Manager

Affinity Worldwide

816-398-4111 x 86172

lboasberg(at)affinityworldwide(dot)com

###
iPhotonix Customer Support continues to be one of our best features, comments Jeff Mulqueen, iPhotonix Deputy CEO and VP of Sales and Business Development.

iPhotonix, a leading Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology innovator, announced today that it launched iX Support, a suite of extended-support packages that greatly improves the support experience for iVolve ONT customers. Service providers face rapidly evolving industry demands for high-speed services, mobility, big data, social networking, and cloud computing. iX Support helps customers meet these challenges head-on. The extended-support suite enables iVolve customers to vastly improve iVolve ONT integrations, minimizing costs, maintenance times, and impacts to subscribers.

iX Support offers a multitude of options, so customers find the best package for their unique network needs. Customers select from four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. All higher-level tiers include the support services from lower-level tiers. The extended-support options supplement the Standard Warranty which covers software updates and hardware repair/return. iVolve ONT customers may also purchase a la carte services for a professional services fee.

iX Support features include:



Software Updates

Advance Replacement

Remote Technical Support

Feature Updates

24-Hour Technical Support

On-Site Technical Support

iPhotonix Customer Support continues to be one of our best features, comments Jeff Mulqueen, iPhotonix Deputy CEO and VP of Sales and Business Development. We truly approach our business with a partnership mindset that combines with our market-leading technology to enable our customers to deliver extraordinary communication services. iX Support gives iPhotonix customers more options to achieve the highest levels of their customers satisfaction.

Contact iPhotonix

Contact a dedicated iPhotonix representative to learn more about iVolve and the iX Support offerings.

http://www.iPhotonix.com

214-545-0219

sales(at)iphotonix(dot)com

About iPhotonix:

Based in Richardson, Texas, iPhotonix is the leading emerging technology provider for the optical access transformation occurring throughout the globe in the residential, business, enterprise, and mobile backhaul markets. iPhotonix has a rich history of innovation, R&D experience, and delivering reliable solutions for communication service providers.

About iVolve

iPhotonix develops and markets via its iVolve brand, the worlds first Multi-System Operable Optical Access Platform. This platform uses its own complete and comprehensive array of GPON and Active Ethernet access devices (ONTs, MDUs, RGs). iVolve delivers the richest feature set of integrated voice, video, high-speed data, and gateway solutions.

iVolve MoCA 2.0 ONTs offer more cost-effective solutions to service providers who deliver high-speed data, IPTV, Video on Demand (VOD), and Voice over IP (VoIP). The ONTs also support iPhotonix's Wi-Fi Virtual Gateways, RF feature sets, and MDU/SBU solutions to supply multiple options while minimizing customer disruption.
Dr. Richard Smith Appointed to the Arkansas Dental Board I look forward to working with my colleagues on the state Board of Examiners to help attract more young dentists to our state and to create an environment where both providers and patients can thrive.

Monarch Dental is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Richard Smith to the Arkansas Board of Dental Examiners. Dr. Smith has been with Monarch Dental for nearly 22 years and is the owner of Modern Dental Professionals  Smith, P.A., the dental group that operates all 9 Monarch locations in Arkansas.

Governor Asa Hutchinson selected Dr. Smith from an impressive group of nominees based on his long record of service, unique background and the fresh perspective he will bring to the Board of Dental Examiners. The dental industry is undergoing rapid changes with clinical and socio-economic trends making it harder for traditional private practices to keep up. Dr. Smith brings experience both as a private practice owner and lead provider within a large dental group that has affiliated with a dental support organization (DSO) to his role on the Arkansas Board.

The industry is changing and, here in Arkansas, we need to stay on top of these trends, says Richard Smith. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the state Board of Examiners to help attract more young dentists to our state and to create an environment where both providers and patients can thrive.

Dr. Smith graduated from Arkansas State University in 1978 and first pursued a career as a pharmacist. Yearning to play a larger role in patient care, he attended the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry graduating in 1988 and, in 1995, completed a program at the University of Arkansas in IV conscious sedation. Over the past thirty years, Dr. Smith has helped countless patients live better lives free of pain and with the heightened self-esteem that comes from looking their best. He has also seen many industry changes from how dentists are reimbursed for their services to how much debt young dentists have upon graduation. Even social media has impacted the practice of dentistry and the way the Board of Examiners interacts with dentists. These and other factors have led to a dental provider shortage in Arkansas and most rural communities across the U.S.

Dr. Smith travels to his alma mater every year to encourage young dental school grads to practice in Arkansas, but his recruiting efforts started even closer to home. His son, Tyler and daughter Chelsea are dentists with Monarch Dental and his son-in-law Payton is an oral surgery resident. He looks forward to helping further the interests of both patients and dental providers as he begins his five year board term.

About Monarch Dental

Monarch Dental provides general dentistry, childrens dentistry and, in select locations, specialty care services such as orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics and endodontics at 79 offices throughout Texas and Arkansas. Monarch Dental is operated by dental groups that have affiliated with Smile Brands Inc., one of the largest providers of support services to dental groups in the United States. Smile Brands Inc. provides comprehensive business support services through exclusive long term agreements with affiliate dental groups, so dentists can spend more time caring for their patients and less time on the administrative, marketing, and financial aspects of operating a dental practice. Smile Brands is a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors (Gryphon), a leading middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit http://www.monarchdental.com.
This alliance is the latest example of Paces commitment to collaboration with the Federal Government and Federal employees. Pace has consistently been ranked a Military Friendly school and has been for the third time, recognized by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for its role in cybersecurity education and research by designating it a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) through academic year 2022, a distinction only held by two other institutions of higher education in New York State.

Through the Schools alliance with OPM, Pace recognizes a Federal workforce not only in New York, but around the country. The OPM discount is available to eligible Federal employees who enroll in Paces fully online programs.

Pace has a rich history of providing access and opportunity to hard-working people  many of whom are the first in their families to attend college  and setting them on the path to success. Pace was recently ranked first in New York  and second in the nation  for economic mobility of students who enter college at the bottom fifth of income distribution and end up in the top fifth, based on data from the Equality of Opportunity Project.

Pace is proud to expand and enhance the ability for qualified Federal employees to access a world-class Pace University education, said Christine Shakespeare, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President of Adult and Continuing Education Programs at Pace.

Federal employees bring a broad perspective to the classroom which complements the skills and knowledge of students working in the private sector, said Nancy Hale, PhD, Executive Director of Pace Online. It is my hope that this agreement will expand educational opportunities for civil servants.

Federal participants will be eligible for discounts for each of its selected Alliance programs compared to the current tuition rate for Paces degree programs.

Pace offers online degree programs in business, technology, telecommunications, nursing and communications.

For more information about programs and admissions, visit: http://ipaceinfo.pace.edu/ipace-govt-0

About Pace University

A private university, Pace has campuses in New York City and Westchester County enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor, master, and doctoral programs in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

About OPM

OPMs mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve workforce performance.
Art Gallery of Ontario Enjoys More Space and Comfort with Boon Edam Revolving Door The South entrance is now our fourth entrance to the gallery, but its unique in that it offers an additional art space while opening us to the park, offering our staff and visitors a new way to interact with this beautiful new green space. Warren Wilson, Manager Facilities, AGO Past News Releases RSS

Boon Edam Inc., a global leader in security entrances and architectural revolving doors, today announced that the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) has recently completed a major renovation project featuring a new South entrance with a Boon Edam manually revolving door called the BoonAssist TQ.

Located in Toronto, Canadas largest city of 6.5 million, the AGO is one of the largest art museums in North America. The AGOs collection of close to 95,000 works ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to European masterpieces; from the vast collection by the Group of Seven to works by established and emerging Indigenous Canadian artists; with a photography collection that tracks the impact of the medium and with focused collections in Gothic boxwood miniatures and Western and Central African art. A major expansion designed by Frank Gehry in 2008 with lead support from the family of Ken Thomson makes the AGO a highly-photographed architectural landmark.

The AGO has been undergoing improvements and renovations for a number of years and the most recent project was an ambitious one. In a joint effort with the City of Toronto and the local community, the AGO worked to revitalize Grange Park, a 4.5 acre green space located behind the Gallery. Where there was only an emergency exit into the park before, the AGO and its architect, Harari Pontarini, devised a plan to tear out the existing interior stairwell and room and the double doors to create a new space with a 6  foot diameter, 4-wing BoonAssist TQ revolving door that opens the Gallery to the park.

We definitely had some space constraints in creating this new entrance, explained Warren Wilson, Manager of Facilities Services. There was no room for a vestibule, so we decided on a revolving door configuration, and the Boon Edam entrance was recommended by our architects.

Boon Edams BoonAssist TQ is a manual revolving door that has three distinct features: a push and go power assist drive that reduces user effort by up to 50%, automatic positioning of the door wings at the end posts upon completion of rotation, and speed control that prevents rotation faster than 12 rpm to help ensure safe operation.

Wilson explained that the park is one of the few green spaces surrounding the AGO and space is at a premium. Were very conscious of our effect on the neighborhood and the fact that we could locate the entire door inside the building with its opening attached to the exterior wall minimized the impact on the surrounding area. I also really like the smart feature of the doorafter use it positions itself to close the opening to the outside automatically.

From Grange Park, one enters the South entrance through the BoonAssist door and travels 11 feet to a downward staircase that connects the entrance directly to the AGOs Weston Family Learning Centre. The space adjacent to the door also features prominently displayed artwork. The South entrance is now our fourth entrance to the gallery, but its unique in that it offers an additional art space while opening us to the park, offering our staff and visitors a new way to interact with this beautiful new green space.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Tracie Thomas

Vice President of Marketing

T 910 814 8239

E tracie.thomas(at)boonedam(dot)com

For Media Queries, Please Contact:

Bruce Doneff

Public Relations

T 843 476 3022

E doneff(at)verizon(dot)net

About Royal Boon Edam

With work environments becoming increasingly global and dynamic, the smart, safe entry has become the center of activity in and around many buildings. Royal Boon Edam is a global market leader in reliable entry solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, with 140 years of experience in engineering quality, we have gained extensive expertise in managing the transit of people through office buildings, airports, healthcare facilities, hotels and many other types of buildings. We are focused on providing an optimal, sustainable experience for our clients and their clients. By working together with you, our client, we help determine the exact requirements for the entry point in and around your building. Follow Boon Edam Inc. on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog and read the latest news at http://www.boonedam.us/news.
SIUE School of Nursing Dean Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN I commend SSM Health leaders for their foresight and commitment toward supporting the growth and education of their employees.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing and SSM Health today announced a new arrangement to offer two online Master of Science nursing degrees to SSM Health nurses, beginning in January.

Under the agreement, online Master of Science-Nurse Educator and Master of Science-Health Care and Nursing Administration cohort programs will be available to nurses at SSM Health across its four-state region, which includes Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

The announcement marks the first time the SIUE School of Nursing has offered its online master degrees as a cohort program to a health system. While SSM Health has nursing cohort programs with other universities, this is the first time the organization has offered a system-wide MSN program to its nurses. As part of the program, the two organizations have collaborated to offer qualified SSM Health nurses discounted tuition and a convenient payroll deduction option for tuition payments.

I commend SSM Health leaders for their foresight and commitment toward supporting the growth and education of their employees, said Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN, dean of the SIUE School of Nursing. I am confident they will reap the benefits as future nursing leaders are developed.

Both MSN programs comprise 11 courses, with the Nurse Educator degree including 270 hours of clinical experience and the Health Care and Nursing Administration program including 315 hours of clinical experience.

The MSN program builds on a collaboration established in 2015 when the SIUE School of Nursing and SSM Health combined to offer an accelerated RN to Bachelor of Science nursing degree to SSM Health nurses. To date, nearly 60 nurses across SSM Health have graduated from the bachelors program, with more than 170 nurses currently in the program.

The expansion of this collaboration will support nursing leaders in achieving advanced degrees at a significantly reduced cost. Qualifying SSM Health employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement. SIUEs nursing programs allow for accelerated degree completion and provide flexible course progressions for working adults. Being an online student means nurses have flexibility on when and where coursework is completed.

Weve had strong masters specialties in nursing education and health care and nursing administration for several years, said Andrew Griffin, PhD, SIUE School of Nursing assistant dean for graduate programs. Since 2010, these programs have been offered fully online. It is incredibly exciting to know SSM Health nurses now have an opportunity to take advantage of these educational offerings.

For more information, visit siue.edu/corporate/ssm.

About SIUE School of Nursing

The SIUE School of Nursings fully accredited programs are committed to creating excellence in nursing leadership through innovative teaching, evidence-based practice, quality research, patient advocacy and community service. Enrolling nearly 1,400 students in its baccalaureate, masters and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders in pursuit of shaping the nursing profession and impacting the health care environment. SIUEs undergraduate nursing programs on the Edwardsville campus and the regional campus in Carbondale help to solve the regions shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses and enhance the quality of nursing practice within all patient service venues. The Schools graduate programs prepare nurses for advanced roles in clinical practice, administration and education.

About SSM Health

SSM Health (ssmhc.com) is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through one of the largest integrated delivery systems in the nation. With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 20 hospitals, more than 60 outpatient care sites, a pharmacy benefit company, an insurance company, two nursing homes, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a technology company and one Accountable Care Organization. With more than 9,500 providers and 35,000 employees in four states, SSM Health is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. An early adopter of the electronic health record (EHR), SSM Health is a national leader for the depth of its EHR integration. For more information, find us on Facebook and Twitter.
Screencastify Teacher Innovation Fund Teachers today are more creative and dedicated than ever, but too often lack the funds needed to execute their classroom vision, said Ethan Linkner, CEO of Screencastify. As education budgets across the country are threatened, we want to double down on classroom success.

Screencastify, Google Chromes #1 screen recorder, announced today that it will dedicate 1% of total sales to its new Teacher Innovation Fund. Proceeds from the Fund will be distributed to classroom projects listed on DonorsChoose.org. With this partnership, Screencastify reinforces its commitment to support thousands of teachers who need classroom materials but dont have the necessary funding.*

Teachers today are more creative and dedicated than ever, but too often lack the funds needed to execute their classroom vision, said Ethan Linkner, CEO of Screencastify. As education budgets across the country are threatened, we want to double down on classroom success.

Since 2000, DonorsChoose.org has been the leading platform for teacher-led public school project fundraising. To date, over 1 million projects have been funded at more than 75,000 US public schools.

Despite those encouraging numbers, many teachers still find themselves having to pay for classroom supplies out of pocket without being reimbursed. Last year alone, teachers spent an average of $468 of their own money, with nearly 8 in 10 spending at least $200, according to an annual survey by SheerID and Agile Education Marketing. Experts predict that the classroom budget gap will continue to grow.

The purpose of our Fund is simple: to reinvest in our most innovative educators," Linkner continued. "This partnership with DonorsChoose.org is a way we can do our part beyond the product we offer. It fits our identity, and helps us achieve and reinforce our bigger mission.

We so appreciate Screencastifys support of the innovative teachers who use DonorsChoose.org, said Shantaa Foster, partnership associate at DonorsChoose.org. Their help will bring many classroom projects to life across the country.

For more information on the partnership and the Teacher Innovation Fund, and to see the projects that Screencastify has already supported, visit https://www.screencastify.com/giving-back/. Teachers are also welcome to submit their own DonorsChoose.org projects for funding consideration.

To browse and donate directly to a DonorsChoose.org classroom project, please visit https://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html.

About Screencastify

Screencastify is the #1 screen recorder for Google Chrome. It allows anyone to capture, edit and share screen videos. Over 5 million teachers and students around the world use Screencastify to flip classrooms, build student portfolios, adhere to standards, and create personalized assignments. Screencastify is a subsidiary of LearnCore.

About DonorsChoose.org

DonorsChoose.org is the leading platform for giving to public schools. Teachers across America use the site to create projects requesting resources their students need, and donors give to the projects that inspire them.

*Screencastify will donate 1% of all sales from 10/12/17-10/12/18 to classroom projects on DonorsChoose.org, up to $100,000.
The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors team and I are truly honored to be named among such a prominent list of well-respected wealth managers, said Marilyn Suey.

Five Star Professional and The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors, are pleased to announce Marilyn Suey has been chosen as a Five Star Wealth Manager for 2017. This is their highest award for Wealth Managers and is based on ten criteria including credentials, education, regulatory and complaint history, number of client households served and other criteria. The list was published in the November issue of the Diablo Magazine.

The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors team and I are truly honored to be named among such a prominent list of well-respected wealth managers, said Marilyn Suey. It is our commitment and passion to build long-term relationships based on excellence in service and highest levels of trust that has allowed us to continue to help a growing number of people make better decisions about their money and their journey toward financial independence.

The Five Star Wealth Manager award program is the largest and most widely published award program in the financial services industry. The award is based on a rigorous, multifaceted research methodology, which incorporates input from peers and firm leaders along with client retention rates, industry experience and a thorough regulatory history review.

We congratulate Marilyn Suey and her team at The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors for being named a Five Star Wealth Manager, said Daxs Stadjuhar, President and CEO, The Financial Services Network. We look forward to our continued success working together in support of our clients and our community.

About the research process:Now entering its 14th year, Five Star Professional conducts in-depth, market-specific research in more than 45 markets across the United States and Canada to identify premium service professionals.Wealth manager award candidates are identified through firm nominations, peer nominations and industry qualifications, and then evaluated on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria including; client retention rates, client assets administered, firm review and a favorable regulatory and compliant history.

Self-nominations are not accepted and wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or awarded. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future investment performance. For detailed information on the Five Star Wealth Manager research methodology visit http://www.fivestarprofessional.com.

About The Financial Services Network

When you look at your financial advisor and their local office, what you dont see are the myriads of people and organizations that they have partnered with in order to provide you with the personalized financial advice that you are seeking. Behind the scenes, your advisor has aligned with a broker-dealer, a branch office, investment companies, technology firms, insurance agencies, research teams, and a wealth of other professionals in order to ensure that they have the support needed to help you plan for your financial future.

One of those key relationships is The Financial Services Network (The Network). The Network was founded over three decades ago with a singular purpose of supporting independent financial advisors. The Networks diverse team includes a highly experienced group of business, investment and compliance professionals serving the needs of a select group of financial advisors who share a common bond of excellence and desire to elevate their practices. The Networks mission is to bring experience, expertise, and passion into partnerships so that advisors can focus on helping clients navigate their path to achieving financial security. The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors has been a partner office of The Financial Services Network since 2016.

About The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors

The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors is an independent wealth management firm that empowers its clients to design and define their ideal lifestyles starting today, for tomorrow and for life. We follow a disciplined planning process that enables our clients to build their customized Prosperity Blueprint that guides them as they travel on their path toward financial independence. Our clients understand that their wealth is more than their money. Working with us, using our Prosperity Blue Print process, we help guide our clients to take care of their families, and the people and causes they care about deeply. http://www.diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com

Marilyn Suey is a registered representative with, and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Strategic Wealth Advisors Group, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group, LLC. and The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial. CA Insurance License #0E01981. The LPL Financial Registered Representative associated with this website may discuss and/or transact securities business only with residents of the following states: California, Colorado, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Nevada. For information on how we can become registered in your state, please contact our office.
Deloitte has announced that iLearningEngines is ranked 14th on Deloitte's Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. iLearningEngines is also ranked #1 in the Greater Washington DC area. iLearningEngines (ILE) is the leading technology platform for mission critical training. The Companys TaaS (Training-as-a-Service) and Enterprise Collaboration Technology provides auditable training credits delivered by its customers own subject matter experts (SMEs). iLearningEngines has pioneered an outcomes-based approach to training that has resonated with organizations that view training as mission critical.

"To be recognized among the Top-15 of the fastest growing public and private companies in North America and the fastest growing company in the Greater Washington DC area is a tribute to our team, customers, and partners. Our outstanding team of technologists and machine learning experts have built a transformative training platform that delivers mission critical training. ILE uses AI and Machine Learning and Rules Engines to deliver personalized training plans at scale and improve outcomes and behavior. Our product has resonated with organizations that have a strong need for mission critical training. The feedback from our customers and partners has allowed to improve our product and deliver greater customer value, said Harish Chidambaran, Chief Executive Officer.

"We want to thank our customers and strategic partners including Experion Technologies MEA, SAP, and Carahsoft. They are critical to our success and growth, added Bala Krishnan, Executive Vice President of Sales.

The Deloitte 2017 North America Technology Fast 500 winners underscore the impact of technological innovation and world class customer service in driving growth, in a fiercely competitive environment, said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte Consulting LLP and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. These companies are on the cutting edge and are transforming the way we do business. We extend our sincere congratulations to all the winners for achieving remarkable growth while delivering new services and experiences for their customers.

Emerging growth companies are powering innovation in the broader economy. The growth rates delivered by the companies on this years North America Technology Fast 500 ranking are a bright spot for the capital markets and a strong indicator that the emerging growth technology sector will continue to deliver a strong return on investment, said Heather Gates, national managing director of Deloitte & Touche LLPs emerging growth company practice. Deloitte is dedicated to supporting the best and brightest companies of the future in the emerging growth company sector. We are proud to acknowledge the significant accomplishments of this years Fast 500 winners.

About iLearningEngines

iLearningEngines (ILE) is the leader in cloud-based, mission critical, training for enterprises. The Companys TaaS (Training-as-a-Service) and Enterprise Collaboration platform provides auditable training credits delivered by its customers own subject matter experts (SMEs). iLearningEngines is being deployed in some of the most demanding vertical markets including healthcare, energy, transportation and the military. The intense demand for scalable, outcome-based training has led to marquee customer wins across multiple verticals. The Company leverages its clients own subject matter experts, in-house content, and third-party content to create training materials, and then uses its AI and machine learning and rules engine to deliver personalized training plans at scale. The company also has a sub brand, iHealthEngines, specifically for the healthcare market. iHealthEngines is transforming physician and clinician engagement, patient education and engagement, and population health. iLearningEngines has pioneered an outcomes-based approach to training that has resonated with organizations that view training as mission critical. Please see http://www.ilearningengines.com to learn more.

About Deloittes 2017 Technology Fast 500

Deloittes Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies  both public and private  in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2013 to 2016.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.
Pharmacist eCare Plans allow us to share information with our patients' doctors and case workers and the platform provides a financial incentive for doing what is already aligned with our pharmacys mission.

On November 1, 2017, BestRx, a software solutions company whose mission is to deliver affordable, easy-to-use, tailored pharmacy software solutions that address the unique demands of independent community pharmacies, became the first pharmacy dispensing software company to enable eCare Plan Level 2 capability under the Pharmacist eCare Plan initiative. Independent pharmacies, which often anchor care in under-served communities, can now not only share care plans electronically and support care coordination, but also be compensated for the valuable medication use supports they offer patients by submitting their electronic care plans to Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) for payment  all under the BestRx service platform.

The eCare Plans were developed under a project with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology with the goal of improving outcomes related to medication use by coordinated care with other care team members of a patients healthcare team. eCare Plans create a shared document detailing a patients current medication regimen and health concerns, including drug therapy problems and medication support needs, and allows for pharmacies interventions and the patient's health outcomes to be tracked over time. Use of eCare Plans nationally is expected to reduce healthcare costs as result of chronically ill patients having better care and fewer hospital visits.

With this capability, BestRx can now facilitate clinical integration through quality improvement and data-sharing efforts in 26 different states and across 30 different networks with active CPESN efforts. BestRxs national service footprint makes participation in eCare Plans accessible to many pharmacy owners who see the value and have been waiting to have their businesses participate in the Pharmacist eCare Plan initiative.

Troy Trygstad, executive director of CPESN USA, shares, The ability of community-based pharmacies to demonstrate depth of medication-use supports and clinical services to payers alongside the ability to share actionable information gleaned by the pharmacist with other care team members is a must-have in order to participate in emerging payment reform and alternative payment models. For CCNC, theyve decided to adopt a No eCare Plan, No Payment philosophy to ensure quality and meaningful data sharing occurs. We believe this will eventually be the gold standard posture across the country as stakeholders learn more about the advantages of this HL7 standards-based transaction.

Ravin Shah, pharmacist and owner of A1 Pharmacy and Surgical Supply in Lexington, North Carolina says,I was a very early supporter of CPESN Networks and initiated the relationship between BestRx and CPESN USA so that we could use our existing pharmacy management platform to further enhance patient care, compliance and quality of life. Patients have more access to and interaction with pharmacists than any other members of their care team and the Pharmacist eCare Plans allow us to share information with our patients doctors, case workers, etc. Furthermore, the platform provides a financial incentive for doing what is already aligned with our pharmacys mission.

Prince Adekoya, owner of Padek Healthcare Pharmacy in Bladensburg, Maryland adds, "We look forward to the accessibility of Pharmacist eCare Plans and using the platform for disease screening, disease state management, medication therapy management and care coordination for the benefit of our community."

Being a leader in this initiative is aligned with our companys mission for not only supporting community pharmacy but also improving health outcomes within typically underserved communities. We are pleased that this capability will allow over 1,000 BestRx customers to effectively and affordably be at the forefront of this exciting new stage in collaborative health care, shared BestRx president Hemal Desai.

BestRxs proactive innovation permitted the company to be on the forefront of this initiative that influences both healthcare payment reform and overall reductions in healthcare cost for chronically ill patients while increasing revenues for the independent pharmacies that are often the primary healthcare resource for under-served patients and communities.

About BestRx Pharmacy Software

BestRx is a leader in innovative software solutions that help independent, community pharmacies succeed. For two generations, BestRx has studied the unique needs of independent pharmacies to create tools that benefit pharmacy owners, patients, and communities. BestRxs software supports billing, automation and compliance to help pharmacies succeed  for the health of patients and the development of the community. For more information visit BestRx.com.
The reason why many fail when they try to quit smoking is that they rely on willpower alone to resist their cravings.

Every November the American Cancer Society encourages people to support the 36.5 million smokers in America to quit or make a plan to quit smoking during their Great American Smokeout event. The American Cancer Society acknowledges that while quitting is hard, people can double or triple their chances of success if they combine quitting with counseling, education, support from others, and medications. SelfHelpWorks recommends that any plans to quit smoking should make sure to address not just the physiological reasons, but also the psychological and behavioral triggers that cause the desire to smoke.

The reason why many fail when they try to quit smoking is that they rely on willpower alone to resist their cravings. Cravings are triggered by certain substances or situations and unfortunately for many, willpower is simply no match for their cravings over a long period of time. The more one attempts to put up with or suppress cravings, the more they intensify, until they become so overwhelming that they can no longer be denied. Unless the cause of the cravings is removed, theyll keep coming back over time.

Cravings are driven in part by emotional dependency; According to cognitive behavior expert Lou Ryan, Emotion-driven habits are perceived by the brain as a need, not a nice to do. Trying to quit an emotion-driven habit like smoking is interpreted as a threat so the brain puts out alarms in the form of uncomfortable cravings that tell the smoker that they need a cigarette right now. So unless they are able turn off the brains need to have belief, its very hard for a smoker to stop even though they know its bad for their health.

Since 1999, SelfHelpWorks has provided online video-based lifestyle and disease management programs for health plans, employers, and providers to reduce health risk within organizations. SelfHelpWorks targets the psychological drivers of unhealthy behaviors so individuals can make and maintain healthy lifestyle changes. The company offers programs on obesity and unhealthy eating, tobacco addiction, diabetic lifestyle adaptation, chronic stress, alcohol overuse and physical inactivity. For more information about SelfHelpWorks, Inc. please visit http://www.selfhelpworks.com.
Marietta and Glenn are joined by their family - including Glenn's mother, CHN Support Volunteer Dotty. The power of Cancer Hope Network is family  it gives people a place of hope, a place of comfort.

The power of Cancer Hope Network is family  it gives people a place of hope, a place of comfort. I know from personal experience, when you love somebody going through cancer, theres that moment when the initial despair goes away. They talk to a volunteer, and say I can do this. The vigor comes back in, and they realize that they too can conquer this cancer and have another day, another year, another five years with the people that love me and the ones I want to spend my time with. Its truly a powerful thing, Glenn said, accepting the award. The Alba family is proud to be a part of the Cancer Hope family.

After a strolling dinner and silent auction, guests heard from three Support Volunteers who provide support from diagnosis, through treatment and into recovery  Patricia Malizia, Chuck House and Laura Schneider. As breast, throat and ovarian cancer survivors respectively, the three shared the ways theyre leveraging their personal struggles to help patients.

At first, it was hard to share my story without crying, Trisha recalled. As time passed, I thought about how many people I could help by my story, and decided to do that instead of pushing it down inside myself.

Talking to me does two things, Chuck agreed. It helps them understand what to expect and it shows them theres someone whos made it to the other side.

Eleven years after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer, Laura knows that for some patients, just talking to her is hope. The mere fact I am alive and well gives others hope.every conversation is an opportunity to let them know someone understands, and to assure them they arent alone.

Cancer Hope Network provides free one-on-one emotional support to adult cancer patients and their caregivers. Each of our 400+ volunteers is at least one year post-treatment or successfully undergoing maintenance therapies. Our Support Volunteers represent more than 80 cancer types and speak 15 languages. They offer encouragement from diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship.

Event photos and the electronic ad journal are available at cancerhopenetwork.org/gala

For more information about Cancer Hope Network, or to connect with a trained volunteer, contact Sarah Miretti Cassidy, Director of Marketing and Patient Outreach. scassidy(at)cancerhopenetwork(dot)org or 908.879.4039 ex 20.
Pictured: Lane Beattie, Salt Lake Chamber CEO and president (l-r), SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin and Lisa Grogan, Wells Fargo regional marketing manager.

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece G. Huftalin received the 2017 ATHENA Leadership Award from the Salt Lake Chamber, Utahs largest and longest-standing statewide business association, during its annual Women & Business Conference in Salt Lake City.

The ATHENA Leadership Award is a prestigious national award presented annually to an active member of the Salt Lake Chamber who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in business. Each recipient must also provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and assist women in reaching their full leadership potential.

It is my business to help students succeed and find their passion, Huftalin said during her acceptance speech. It is my business to keep the institution moving forward and inventive. It is my business to call out injustices and concerns in the higher education landscape. And it is my business to ensure that taxpayers are getting a high return on their investment and that we are accountable for the support they give us through their funding.

In her remarks, Huftalin also echoed the conference theme, Brave & Bold, saying that it is an inclusive description of all who try, who take on a challenge, who speak their minds, who go against the grain at times. She singled out two women in the room with SLCC connections, Kathleen Lopez and Alex Farmer, for being brave and bold in pursuit of their own goals. Huftalin also praised Gail Miller and Barbara Tanner for enhancing the community with their bold embrace and support of education and social justice.

Huftalin was named the eighth president of SLCC in September 2014. Prior to her current role, Huftalin served as Salt Lake Community Colleges Interim President, Vice President of Student Services, Dean of Students, and Director of Academic and Career Advising. In her tenure as president, Huftalin has launched a College-wide strategic planning cycle that has produced a new vision, mission, values, and strategic goals for the College. She is also leading efforts to strengthen completion rates, transfer pathways, workforce responsiveness, and equity in student access and completion.

Huftalin also has taught in the Education, Leadership, and Policy program at the University of Utah and serves on a number of community boards and committees including the Salt Lake Chamber, Governors Education Excellence Commission, EDCUtah, Envision Utah, and Utah Campus Compact. Nationally, Huftalin serves as a Commissioner and Executive Committee member for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), a trustee for LeaderShape, and a member CEO for RC-2020, Inc.

Salt Lake Community College is an accredited, student-focused, comprehensive community college meeting the diverse needs of the Salt Lake community. Home to more than 60,000 students each year, the College is Utahs leading provider of workforce development programs. SLCC is also the largest supplier of transfer students to Utahs four-year institutions and a perennial Top 10 college nationally for total associate degrees awarded. The College is the sole provider of applied technology courses in the Salt Lake area, with multiple locations, an eCampus, and nearly 1,000 continuing education sites located throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Personal attention from an excellent faculty is paramount at the College, which maintains an average class size of 20.
On behalf of our members locally and nationwide, PIJAC applauds city officials for recognizing that their citys pet stores are not supporters of unethical breeders," said PIJAC's Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Josh Jones.

The Las Vegas City Councils decision to repeal a pet sale ban in the city is great news for all involved, according to a spokesperson for a national pet care association.

The Las Vegas City Council correctly recognized that its pet sale ban was based upon incorrect attacks from activists, not the facts of where Puppy Boutique and other pet stores source their pets, said Josh Jones, Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs of Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). The citys pet sale ban repeal is great news for pet lovers, the small businesses that faced enormous costs, and the city itself.

The 4-3 vote on November 15 was a reversal of the city vote in 2016. The replacement of two Council members  one who voted in favor of the ban, one who opposed it  led to the reconsideration, then the reversal, of the ordinance. The citys pet stores would have only been allowed to source cats and dogs from rescues and shelters, severely limiting available breeds and the ability of pet lovers to find the best companion animal for specific needs. One store, Puppy Boutique, would have had to close and reopen outside of the city.

The ordinance was to go into effect in January 2018. It would only affect pet stores, which are Nevadas most highly regulated options for consumers looking for a pet.

On behalf of our members locally and nationwide, PIJAC applauds city officials for recognizing that their citys pet stores are not supporters of unethical breeders. Puppy Boutique, for example, passed an inspection earlier this month with flying colors, said Jones. Responsible pet stores like those in Las Vegas work only with licensed commercial breeders and ethical hobby breeders. This is why Puppy Boutique and other stores have thrived on their relationships with thousands of satisfied customers.

Pet stores have been part and parcel of the Las Vegas community for years, concluded Jones. Today, the City Council saved pet choice and the dreams of small business owners.

About the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council

Since 1970, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) has protected pets, pet owners and the pet industry  promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare, fostering environmental stewardship, and ensuring the availability of pets. PIJAC members include retailers, companion animal suppliers, manufacturers, wholesale distributors, manufacturers representatives, pet hobbyists, and other trade organizations. http://www.pijac.org
Georgetown has planned a stellar series of panels, and we look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions regarding e-discovery law and industry.

Inspired Review, an organization dedicated to delivering the most technology advanced Document Review Services, is sponsoring the 2017 Georgetown Advanced eDiscovery Institute in Washington, D.C., from the 16th to the 17th of November.

The annual Advanced eDiscovery Institute has gained a reputation among judges, practitioners, and vendors as the leading eDiscovery conference of its kind in the United States. In its fourteenth year, this program, planned by our national Advisory Board, will give attendees access to more federal judges than any similar program and provide the opportunity to learn at an advanced level from the leading eDiscovery practitioners and academics from across the country. A combination of plenary sessions and targeted break-out sessions allows you to craft your own learning experience.

We are excited to be sponsoring the 14th annual Advanced eDiscovery Institute, said Michael Dalewitz, Founder and CEO, of Inspired Review. Georgetown has planned a stellar series of panels, and we look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions regarding e-discovery law and industry."

The panels in this years Institute will explore a variety of topics, including recent eDiscovery court decisions; approaches to information governance that accommodate eDiscovery and data privacy and security; proper application of Technology-Assisted Review; and eDiscovery strategies in government and regulatory investigations.

The Institute is planned by Georgetown Law and is offered as a part of its Continuing Legal Education program

About Inspired Review

Founded in 2013, Inspired Review is the most groundbreaking document review firm in the legal industry and the Pioneer of Remote Document Review. With advances in data security and skills testing and metrics technology, through its proprietary software, ReviewRight, Inspired Review has built the largest network of highly qualified document review attorneys in the United States. Inspired Review ensures the defensibility of your review and minimizes the risk of error through statistically validated quality control, developed in-depth validation and targeted search methodologies. Inspired Review is also very concerned with igniting change in the world by giving back. A percentage of all the company's profits are donated to a monthly sponsored charity.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown will proclaim November 20th as the Oregon Day of Cyber and officially launch the Cyber Oregon Cybersecurity Awareness Initiative at an event on Monday, November 20, 2017, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Oregon Tech Portland-Metro campus in Wilsonville. The governor, who will be introduced by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, is scheduled to speak from 10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. All members of the media are invited to attend.

Other notable activities at the event will include comments from Oregon Tech's President Dr. Nagi Naganathan, a keynote presentation by Skip Newberry, president and CEO of the Technology Association of Oregon and executive sponsor of Cyber Oregon, and comments from the State of Oregon's Chief Information Officer Alex Pettit, PhD. Mr. Newberry will host a panel discussion with top cybersecurity experts and unveil the new cybersecurity website resource for all Oregonians: cyberoregon.com. In addition, the event will include a job fair for individuals seeking careers in cybersecurity and a vendor fair of technology companies focused on cybersecurity. Attendees will include state and local government representatives, technology companies, small businesses, educators and students -- all supporting Cyber Oregon's mission to build tangible solutions to protect the digital lives of all Oregonians.

What: Oregon Day of Cyber Event

When: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday November 20, 2017

Where: Oregon Tech Portland-Metro, 27500 SW Parkway Ave, Wilsonville, OR 97070

Who: Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, State of Oregon CIO Alex Pettit, Oregon Tech President Dr. Nagi Naganathan, Technology Association of Oregon President & CEO Skip Newberry, the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council, state and local officials, university professors and students, local technology companies and business professionals.

About Cyber Oregon Awareness Initiative & Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council

The Cyber Oregon Awareness Initiative is powered by an active consortium of technology companies, educational institutions, organizations, and state/local government agencies. The Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council was established pursuant to Senate Bill 90, signed by Governor Kate Brown on September 19, 2017, to develop a shared vision for the establishment of a cross-sector Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, in collaboration with Oregons cyber-related industries, private sector security practitioners, educational institutions, law enforcement and local governments. Cyber Oregon's mission is to build tangible solutions to protect the digital lives of all Oregonians while helping increase awareness of cybersecurity resources throughout the state.

About Technology Association of Oregon

The Technology Association of Oregon is a local nonprofit working to build opportunities, better our economy and unify a voice for innovation in Oregon and beyond. A recognized leader in shaping and growing technology and business communities, TAO empowers businesses and entrepreneurs through networks, events, advocacy, resources and more. With over 400 member-companies, TAOs network brings together some of the largest companies in the world, small startups, and tech-enabled companies that are using technology to drive growth and innovation.
Since inception, CallRevu has focused on one thing  improving car buyers experience on the phone and in the dealership. - Chip King, CEO

CallRevu, a leading provider of automotive dealer call management software that delivers dealership customers critical call performance data, has entered a partnership with Serent Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm focused on investing in high-growth technology and services businesses.

CallRevus solution is comprised of data-rich interfaces supported by sophisticated functionality and machine learning that helps dealership drive higher sales. Because today's car buyer does most of his or her research online, the inbound phone call has become increasingly important for dealerships. Callers are typically high-value sales prospects, far along in their purchasing journey, and so answering these calls properly is paramount to a dealer's success. Dealers who leverage CallRevus unique platform gain substantial insights into phone calls, both those that convert into sales and, as important, those that are mishandled, but can be recovered. CallRevu serves over 3,300 dealer locations and partners with twenty global automotive manufacturers.

Since inception, CallRevu has focused on one thing  improving car buyers experience on the phone and in the dealership. CallRevu was first to market in this arena providing dealers unmatched services to improve the customers journey. Our call management solution has been critical to enhancing this experience, which ultimately allows automotive dealerships to maximize their conversion of valuable leads, said Chip King, CEO of CallRevu.

He continued, As we continue to scale, we wanted to bring on an investment partner who could offer the set of resources and expertise that will enable the next phase of our growth plan. We feel that the capability Serent Capital brings is perfectly suited to helping us capture the opportunities ahead, while maintaining a steadfast focus on delivering strong value and service to our customers.

We have spent several years looking for the right platform for investment in the automotive technology sector. CallRevu is a differentiated solution and leader in the call management space, and we are tremendously impressed by the business that Chip and his team have built. This success is demonstrated by stellar customer satisfaction, strong growth, and high retention rates, said Kevin Frick, Partner at Serent Capital. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with the CallRevu management team to drive continued product innovation and growth.

CallRevus dedication to ensure that every call to and from a dealership is a notably different and positive experience for the customer during this powerful next phase is stronger than ever. Focusing on clients and providing top notch customer service to every dealer is CallRevus passion. With this investment, CallRevu will be able to take their passion to the next level.

CallRevu was founded by Chip King and David Boice, the CEO of Team Velocity Marketing, which incorporated CallRevus services into its marketing and Apollo Technology Platform. This seamless integration and reporting has provided Team Velocitys dealers the ability to generate leads and track attribution to the marketing. Serent Capital is the right partner for CallRevus next chapter, and we are thrilled to continue working with CallRevu to provide their call technology to our dealer customers, said David Boice.

Serents investment in CallRevu represents its second investment in the automotive market, including Tricolor Automotive Group. Presidio Technology Partners represented CallRevu in the process.

About CallRevu

Founded in 2010, Baltimore, MD-based CallRevu offers dealerships a range of quality call tracking, monitoring, measuring and lead development services. CallRevus key focus is to help automobile dealers measure and improve the most common contact point with their customers: the phone. CallRevus solutions are developed by an incredible team of individuals, who offer a broad range of experiences and whose leadership comes from the automotive world, and have an unrivaled commitment to customer service and satisfaction. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.callrevu.com.

About Serent Capital

Serent Capital invests in growing businesses that have developed compelling solutions that address their customers' needs. As those businesses grow and evolve, the opportunities and challenges that they face change with them. Principals at Serent Capital have firsthand experience at capturing those opportunities and navigating these difficulties through their experiences as CEOs, strategic advisors, and board members to successful growing businesses. By bringing its expertise and capital to bear, Serent helps growing businesses thrive. For more information on Serent Capital, visit http://www.serentcapital.com.

About Team Velocity Marketing

Team Velocity Marketing is the most sophisticated, data-driven marketing agency serving the automotive industry. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Miami, the company has spent 20 years developing proprietary technology that works exclusively for analyzing the automotive market. A Google Premier and Bing Elite Partner, the 360 Strategy attracts, sells, services and retains more customers with the power of the Apollo Technology Platform. Apollo generates dynamic campaigns across Mail, Email, Consumer Portals, Google, Bing, Facebook & Point of Sale. The strategy delivers cost-driven results by identifying Perfect Prospects in the Perfect Market with equity mining, dynamic call tracking and real-time reporting, all from a single dashboard.
Nottingham main market square Tony Stanyard, Head of Procurement, NUH, says, Genmed has an established track record of working with NHS Trusts based on a decade of experience. This gave us the confidence that they could really deliver improvement in our point of care testing services yet save money at the same time.

Genmed today announces that it has been selected as a vendor neutral managed services provider by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) to work with its point of care team (POCT). The appointment is initially for a five-year period with an option to extend by agreement.

As part of the contract, Genmed will manage the relationship with third-party providers to ensure optimum service delivery at the very best prices. The initial requirement is for blood glucose and ketone meters for use at the point of care, together with an IT solution to connect the monitoring equipment and associated consumables. Last year, the Trust used 825,400 glucose and 20,750 ketone strips.

It is anticipated that additional point of care testing products will also be brought into the contract over the period. This includes, but is not limited to, cholesterol, urine, INR and haemoglobin meters, pregnancy and HIV tests along with blood gas analysers.

It is estimated that up to 5,000 to 6,000 nurses and 2,000 to 3,000 doctors use point of care testing equipment 24 hours a day.

Tony Stanyard, Head of Procurement, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts says, Following a formal tendering process, Genmed was awarded the POCT contract. They have an established track record of working with NHS Trusts based on a decade of experience. This gave us the confidence that they could really deliver improvement in our point of care testing services yet save money at the same time.

Genmed adds value add in the procurement process

The use of Genmed to support the procurement function helps to rationalise and standardise pricing, improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance clinical productivity, speed up purchasing, and minimise administration associated with invoice processing and payments.

Genmeds approach since start up is therefore closely aligned with all the key directives highlighted by Lord Carter of Coles in his report to improve the efficiency of hospitals.

Importantly, Genmed is not tied to any third-party supplier and selects consumables and equipment based on close collaboration and input from NHS managers and clinicians. Genmed is therefore unique in the market to offer flexible vendor neutral managed services. This also means Trusts get the very best value for money given its managed services are HMRC compliant for VAT recovery. NUH will receive 20% budget back as VAT can be reclaimed on Genmed provided managed services  cash that can be reinvested in front line services and patient care.

Genmeds managed services package all costs using an umbrella contract with the service then billed monthly or quarterly. All project costs are smoothed with no big upfront investment required.

Genmed is not a managed equipment provider or a finance house. Its remit is much wider. It is an integral partner working with NUH to ascertain what clinical facilities or technology they need, their workload issues, finding and selecting suppliers, driving product costs down, putting together the finance, managing the contracts, paying subcontractors and taking all the risk upfront itself.

Robin Modak, Genmeds chief executive officer, says, Our services are comprehensive, flexible and can link together to support NUH. We work in partnership offering true choice so that the right equipment and services are offered at the right time in the right place aligned to current, medium and future requirements  with flexibility in the contracts built in so that change can be catered for along the way.

-ENDS-

About Genmed

Founded in 2007 and based in London and Wales, Genmed is a vendor neutral managed service provider specialising in the health sector. It works with 40 NHS Trusts and Health Boards around the country where, to date, it has 220 contracts supporting a variety of clinical disciplines such as pathology, surgery, endoscopy, imaging along with medical records, IT and facilities. Genmeds asset finance requirements are funded by large blue chip partners including Societe Generale, GE Capital, Macquarie and Lloyds Corporate. Currently Genmeds contract portfolio totals around 430 million.

Genmed is headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey. For further information, please visit http://www.genmed.eu

For further information, please contact

Tom Herbst

Tom Herbst PR

T:07768 145571

Email: tom@tomherbstpr.co.uk
Denver Scholarship Foundation has engineered tremendous gains in access to education and sustainable careers for thousands of Denvers students. It will be my great honor to work alongside the board, professional staff, and community partners to build on this important legacy for Denvers future.

The Denver Scholarship Foundation has named Lorii Rabinowitz as the organizations next chief executive officer, after an exhaustive national search. Ms. Rabinowitz will assume the role on December 1.

The leadership change comes at a high point in the Denver Scholarship Foundations 11- year history. The organizations strategic investment in the community has provided $36 million in scholarships to more than 6,300 low income graduates of Denver Public Schools who attend Colorado colleges, universities and technical schools. With a unique approach that provides counseling and support services beginning in high school and extending through college completion, Denver Scholarship Foundations Scholars persist in their drive to graduate by a remarkable rate of 76%.

Were committed to building on the positive momentum of our first 11 years said Board Chair, Linda Bowman. Lorii will bring her exceptional talent, deep community connections and passion for education to help us write the next chapter for Denvers students.

Ms. Rabinowitz has an extensive professional background in leadership, communications and community engagement, most recently as executive director of the start-up and feasibility phase for the Denver Center for Arts & Technology. Prior to that she was chief relationship officer and partner at Rebound Solutions, a Denver-based consulting firm specializing in strategy and change for a broad range of public, private, and non-profit businesses. Ms. Rabinowitz also spent nine years in business development for 9News, focused on the development and stewardship of strategic partnerships and new initiatives.

A graduate of the University of New Mexico, Ms. Rabinowitz also completed the Gannett Leadership Program, as well as the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerces prestigious Leadership Denver. Widely known in the Denver community and respected for her innovative, solutions-oriented business approach, she has achieved numerous recognitions for excellence including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Chamber Champion in 2014, Rose Community Foundations Roots & Branches in 2012, and The Denver Business Journals Forty Under 40 in 2011.

I am grateful for this amazing opportunity to lead an organization I have long admired, Rabinowitz said. The Denver Scholarship Foundation has engineered tremendous gains in access to education and sustainable careers for thousands of Denvers students. It will be my great honor to work alongside the board, professional staff, and community partners to build on this important legacy for Denvers future.

About Denver Scholarship Foundation

Denver Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to inspire and empower Denver Public School students to achieve their postsecondary goals. A direct service provider, Denver Scholarship provides college and financial aid advice to Denver students and families and offers a renewable, need-based scholarship to support Scholars throughout their college careers. Denver Scholarship also partners with colleges across Colorado to implement retention strategies that help Denver students complete their postsecondary education. Denver Scholarship aims to create systemic change to prepare Denvers youth to succeed in todays evolving workforce. For more information, http://www.denverscholarship.org or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
The Lighthouse, the parent company of Crescent Harbor recently celebrated its 45th anniversary.

Were excited to celebrate this great milestone, a milestone which would not be possible without our customers around the world, said Tim Fossett, president and spokesman for Crescent Harbor Lighting.

The Lighthouse, a family owned lighting company, was founded in 1972. The company specializes in a high-touch customer service approach to retailing lighting fixtures, ceiling fans and other related items.

We have endured many economic cycles and ups and downs, and continued to grow our business because of excellent customer service, fair pricing, and a commitment to our word, said Fossett.

Fossett went on to stress that the company believes it is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to maintain and grow a business as longstanding as it has.

Fossett noted that from the beginning, The Lighthouse, set out to exceed customer satisfaction by providing high quality products that enrich the lives of everyone.

While some days are better than others, the journey has been extremely rewarding, Fossett said. It is such an opportunity to run a business such as ours and be a great corporate citizen.

Its a joy to be able to be in this industry for as long as we have, Fossett said. Many businesses have come and gone, and we consider it a blessing to still be here serving our customers.

The Lighthouse is in its second generation of ownership. The company opened Crescent Harbor to share its unique Maine lighting tastes with the rest of the world.

Being a family-owned business, Fossett pointed out, the company is committed to providing its customers with quality lighting at a reasonable price.

In addition, we are truly dedicated to growing our business to offer quality careers to the good people of Southern Maine. Whether you're looking for an accent light for your living room, lighting a new addition or an entire home we can offer you the fixtures you need. From affordable lighting solutions that look like theyre high-end to handmade fixtures that look like works of art, we have the product selection you need to decorate your home just the way you want.

For more information, please visit crescentharbor.com/about-us and blog.crescentharbor.com.

About Crescent Harbor Lighting

Crescent Harbor Lighting is the online arm of The Lighthouse, a family-owned lighting company founded in 1972.

The company specializes in a high-touch customer service approach to retailing lighting fixtures, ceiling fans and other related items.

Contact Details:

Tim Fossett

President

88 York Street

US Route One

Kennebunk, Maine, 04043

Toll Free Phone: 1-888-355-9525

Local Phone: 1-207-985-3535

Fax: 1-207-985-4569

Source: Crescent Harbor Lighting

###
RevSpring invites you to attend its 2017 Healthcare Summit, a one-day, online classroom and forum for revenue cycle, patient payment, and healthcare engagement. The series is aimed to educate and facilitate conversation on patient experience.

"This virtual summit is an opportunity to bring together our valued customers and subject matter experts to learn and understand each other's opportunities and needs," says Marty Callahan, President of Healthcare Markets at RevSpring.

Hosted on November 29, with five sessions throughout the day, the conversations will be led by RevSprings healthcare leadership team including Marty Callahan, Casey Williams, April Wilson, Dan Richards, Ken Walsh, and Ben Nero and will focus on the following topics:



2018 Revenue Cycle Trends Roundtable

Delivering Superior Payment Experiences

Segmentation and Analytics for Revenue Cycle

Beyond Appointment Reminders: 360 Patient Engagement

Measurable, Engaging Communication Design

Take advantage of the holiday low season to double-check your 2018 planning and focus on improving the patient experience by participating in this educational summit. Registration is unlimited; attend as many sessions as youd like for free. Click here to register.

About RevSpring

RevSpring is a high-growth technology services organization that provides intelligent communications and payment solutions to over 2,000 of the leading accounts receivables management, credit grantors, healthcare providers, and healthcare technology companies throughout North America. Through its proprietary technology, analytics and workflow tools, RevSpring enables its customers to deliver over one billion personalized financial communications through print, email, SMS, voice and web channels. These communications facilitate accelerated payments through multiple channels, notably web and IVR, to drive valuable consumer/patient interactions. RevSprings strategy and payment technology significantly improves consumer satisfaction, responsiveness, self-service and cash collection rates to best-in-class levels. http://www.revspringinc.com
Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant will debut at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale during late 2018. We are excited to announce Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurants newest location at The Galleria which will add another dimension to our already coveted collection of dining options.

The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, recognized as one of South Florida's premier shopping destinations for its sophisticated level of merchandising and ambiance, will welcome Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant during late 2018. Coopers Hawk will offer shoppers another fine dining option when it opens on the propertys upper level overlooking the main entrance.

The 15,000-square foot second floor location will mirror the restaurant chains philosophy of creating a distinctive layout and decor, but will carry the same warmth and elegance that guests have come to expect. Unique to this location will be a new elevator inside the mall at the valet parking entrance to provide easy access.

We are excited to announce Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurants newest location at The Galleria which will add another dimension to our already coveted collection of dining options, said Mark Trouba, general manager at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. This nationally recognized restaurants wine-driven dining experience enjoys a loyal following and its upscale curated concept is sure to be a hit among our local guests and area visitors.

Founded in 2005 by CEO Tim McEnery, Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurants is built upon the passionate belief that food and wine hold the power to forge lasting connections. The restaurant is a Napa-inspired eatery with a full bar, a winery-inspired private party space and an artisan retail market. Each item on the restaurants menu is perfectly paired with a preferred wine from its private wine label. The company currently has 30 locations in 8 states throughout the U.S. and has received nearly 500 wine awards from various local, national, and international wine competitions.

Executive Chef Matt McMillin has created a 110-item menu of American-fusion dishes featuring flavors from around the world. Guests will enjoy a carefully crafted selection of appetizers, salads, soups, specialty entrees, Angus beef burgers and homemade desserts. All items are paired with a wine, labeled on the menu by bin number, as suggested by the winemaker. Each menu item is made in the companys scratch kitchen and incorporates peak-of-season ingredients.

The Coopers Hawk wine collection, guided by winemaker Rob Warren, is designed to please a range of palates, and includes selections that are accessible for those new to the world of wine, as well as complex and full-bodied options for more seasoned drinkers. The wines are sourced, blended, aged, bottled and distributed exclusively through Coopers Hawk. Explore the Coopers Hawk family of wines in a relaxed, inviting setting in the Napa-style Tasting Room. A tasting includes eight different wines and no reservation is necessary. The Coopers Hawk will also feature an artisan market featuring high-end decanters, wine accessories, and gifts, along with Coopers Hawks own gourmet food line, which allows guests to live the Coopers Hawk lifestyle at home.

The restaurant will also feature the Coopers Hawk Wine Club, an all-inclusive membership whose members are entitled to a winemakers newly released wine each month and other benefits including invitations to members-only events, exclusive discounts, points on purchases, birthday rewards and a Wine Club Newsletter.

Coopers Hawk is a lifestyle brand centered around wine and focused on creating memorable moments that enrich lives, said John Inserra, President of Coopers Hawk. The concept is a fusion of familiar elements  winery, modern casual restaurant, Napa-style tasting room and artisanal retail market  that combined create an entirely new hospitality experience. Were looking forward to welcoming guests and visitors from Fort Lauderdale and beyond.

This addition will complement The Galleria at Fort Lauderdales existing lineup of fine dining options such as The Capital Grille, Trulucks, Seasons 52 and P.F. Changs.

The lease was brokered by David Emihovich of Katz & Associates on behalf of Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant and Kim Salvatori, vice president, retail agency leasing for JLL.

For more information about The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale or for a complete list of retailers and restaurants, please call (954) 564-1036 or visit http://www.galleriamall-fl.com.
Working closely with California educators, we developed Social Studies Alive! California Series (K-5) and History Alive! California Series (6-8) from the ground-up to align with our states learning goals for social studies.

K-12 publishing company, TCI, announced today that its interactive programs, Social Studies Alive! California Series (K-5) and History Alive! California Series (6-8), were adopted by the California State Board of Education on November 9 and recommended for adoption for Californias schools. Developed by teachers from throughout California, TCIs social studies curriculum is aligned to the California History-Social Science Framework, which was adopted by the State Board of Education in 2016.

Working closely with California educators, we developed Social Studies Alive! California Series (K-5) and History Alive! California Series (6-8) from the ground-up to align with our states learning goals for social studies, said Bert Bower, CEO and president, TCI. The result is an interactive learning experience that will provide the states diverse students with a unique opportunity to become active participants in their learning thanks to TCIs award-winning teaching strategies and cutting-edge technology.

TCIs new social studies programs embody the key shifts in the 2016 California History-Social Science Framework with its emphasis on inquiry-based critical thinking skills, integrated literacy activities, and active citizenship. In addition, TCI has taken a particularly thoughtful approach to ensuring that the content and tone of Social Studies Alive! California Series (K-5) and History Alive! California Series (6-8) reflect current scholarship about the states diverse communities.

TCIs online programs, Social Studies Alive! California Series (K-5) and History Alive! California Series (6-8) put everything needed for an engaging and interactive learning experience in one place for students and teachers. The programs student materials feature interactive tutorials, online drawing prompts, primary source materials, engaging activities for hands-on learning, interactive online games and auto-graded assessments.

The online teacher resources make preparing, teaching, assigning and grading easy and convenient, taking the legwork out of preparing and planning so teachers can focus on helping their students succeed. Social Studies Alive! California Series (K-5) and History Alive! California Series (6-8) are accessed through an online learning platform that connects students to teachers and teachers to TCI. Teachers access a wealth of resources  interactive HTML5 presentations with in-class activities, clear standards-based content, interactive student notebooks, tutorials, formative and summative assessments, and more.

Social Studies Alive! California Series (K-5) and History Alive! California Series (6-8) are available for a free, 30-day trial. For more information, visit http://www.teachtci.com.

About TCI

TCI is an award-winning online K-12 publishing company created by teachers, for teachers. For more than 20 years, the company has partnered with the education community to fundamentally change classroom instruction. TCIs K-12 programs are based on proven teaching strategies and practices that bring learning alive and achieve consistent, positive classroom results. TCI believes that the best education marries great content, meaningful technology and interactive classroom experiences. The end result: students of all abilities and learning styles succeed. For more information, visit http://www.teachtci.com.
United Benefit Advisors (UBA), the leading independent employee benefits advisory organization in the United States, is pleased to welcome Glennon Employee Benefits & Financial Planning (Glennon) as its newest Partner Firm. Located in Dublin, Ireland, Glennon has been delivering independent, professional, creative and competitive insurance, and risk management solutions for more than 60 years. Glennons success is due to the quality and efficiency of their services and their ability as a team to deliver total client satisfaction. Locally, Glennon is a member of Brokers Ireland, and internationally is a member of the Worldwide Broker Network.

Glennon are delighted to join UBA as a Partner Firm and to be able to support our fellow UBA Partners. Employee benefits continue to be a huge growth area in Ireland and we continue to see significant foreign direct investment (FDI) from multinational companies choosing to locate operations here. Glennons EB team have been working within the FDI client space for over 40 years and have developed a deep understanding of the guidance multinational companies require when starting out in Ireland. At plan commencement, there is often a single employee, such as the CFO/CEO, and this is normally followed by a rapid headcount growth over a 6- to 18-month period. We look forward to assisting our UBA Partners with any queries their clients may have and welcome questions relating to Ireland-based offices and their local employees benefits packages, says John Bissett, Chief Executive Officer, at Glennon Employee Benefits & Financial Planning.

As an international agency, Glennon understands complex global business issues that are key for a business insurance specialist. Glennon is acutely aware of the risks faced by clients operating in the multinational environment and their established global insurance partners and networks ensure that they deliver the appropriate insurance requirements to meet their clients needs and expectations in an ever-changing market.

UBA President Peter Weber, M.S., CAE says, As UBA grows internationally, its crucial that we have solid, reputable Partner Firms like Glennon. Their decades of leadership in Ireland, combined with their international memberships and understanding of best practices outside the U.S., make them an ideal fit for UBAs strategic direction. Furthermore, Glennons experience is a welcome addition to the knowledge base of our current Partners. I look forward to the wealth and breadth of knowledge they will bring to our collaborative efforts aimed at improving peoples lives.

As the newest Partner Firm of UBA, Glennon joins a network of employee benefits advisory firms that serve employers of all sizes across the United States, Canada, England, and Ireland. As a combined group, UBAs annual employee benefit revenues rank it among the leading employee benefit advisory organizations in the U.S.

ABOUT Glennon Employee Benefits & Financial Planning

Frank Glennon Ltd. was founded by Francis Xavier Glennon, after his retirement from the Irish Assurance Company, in 1948. The company has grown from a single employee to a staff of over one hundred insurance and risk management professionals today. His son Francis Patrick Glennon, who led the team for Ireland to the Olympics in 1948, followed his father into the insurance broking business and was the guiding force behind the development and growth of the company over several decades. Today, his son David A. Glennon represents the third generation of the Glennon family to lead one of the largest independently owned Irish insurance brokers, consultants, and risk managers. For more information, visit https://glennons.ie.

ABOUT United Benefit Advisors

United Benefit Advisors (UBA) is the nations leading independent employee benefits advisory organization with more than 200 offices throughout the United States, Canada, England, and Ireland. UBA empowers more than 2,200 Partners to both maintain their individuality and pool their expertise, insight, and market presence to provide best-in-class services and solutions. Employers, advisors and industry-related organizations interested in obtaining powerful results from the shared wisdom of our Partners should visit http://www.UBAbenefits.com.
Enough Projects 2017 Conflict Minerals Company Rankings

Apple, Alphabet (Google), HP, Microsoft, and Intel are leading the way, while Walmart, Sears, and Neiman Marcus are ranked worst, in the Enough Projects 2017 Conflict Minerals Company Rankings, published today. The new rankings report examines 20 of the worlds largest consumer electronics and jewelry retail companies on their efforts to support a conflict-free minerals trade and ensure their products arent linked to a range of abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Apple emerged as the clear leader with its consistent fulfillment of the rankings criteria indicating that the company has committed substantial resources to developing processes for sourcing minerals from mines that benefit Congolese communities. Alphabet, Googles parent company, ranks second overall and HP, Microsoft, and Intel round out the top five companies. Signet Jewelers and Tiffany & Co. lead the pack in the jewelry retail industry with other companies from this industry lagging far behind.

Overall, 11 companies, including some of the worlds most recognized brands like Neiman Marcus, Sears, and Walmart were ranked in the red, indicating they were making little effort to combat the trade in conflict minerals from Congo. The rankings also clearly indicate that the consumer electronics industry as a whole is more advanced than the jewelry retail sector in corporate efforts to improve supply chain transparency and opportunities for conflict-free sourcing from Congo.

The 2017 rankings build on Enoughs 2010 and 2012 consumer electronics rankings and 2014 jewelry leaders review. The results this year highlight the steady advances that have been made since Enough conducted its first company rankings seven years ago and reveal some corporate trailblazers that are supporting a conflict-free minerals trade in eastern Congo. Many of the ranked companies have consistently improved the quality of their due diligence programs, including developing and implementing more sophisticated risk management processes and moving beyond annual reporting. Top-scoring companies are also enhancing their efforts with regard to sourcing conflict-free minerals from Congo and progress in Congos mining areas demonstrates tangible impact to which company efforts contribute. As of April 2017, 420 mines in Congo had been verified as conflict-free. In 2010, at the time of Enoughs first rankings, no mines had received this designation.

The rankings also expose the considerable need for more action  especially with regard to increasing the opportunities for conflict-free gold sourcing from Congo, and better supporting safe, legal, viable livelihoods in Congolese mining communities  spotlighting companies who do little to ensure they are not contributing to the devastating consequences of the conflict minerals trade.

Annie Callaway, report author and Advocacy Manager at the Enough Project, said: Consumers deserve to know whether the products they purchase are linked to conflict financing, mass atrocities, and grave human rights abuses in Congo. The results of the Enough Projects 2017 company rankings indicate that some companies are beginning to more thoroughly understand and embrace due diligence and responsible sourcing practices, but all companies that use these minerals should commit additional resources in support of a truly conflict-free minerals trade. That means actively contributing to collaborative multistakeholder and livelihoods initiatives in order to build long-lasting systems that benefit the Congolese people, consumers, investors, and corporate supply chains alike.

The report highlights that, as a result of the unique leverage they have over their supply chains, multinational companies that profit from Congos minerals can help address the links between conflict and mining.

John Prendergast, Founding Director at the Enough Project: Since the Enough Projects first company rankings in 2010, many companies have bought in to the idea that conflict-free minerals sourcing from Congo is possible. Thanks to consumer activism, especially from students and conscientious university procurement departments, companies now know that if they do nothing about this issue they risk losing customers. This new rankings report will hopefully generate additional momentum from the leading companies and put increased pressure on the laggards so that global supply chains no longer contribute to Congos ongoing crisis.

Holly Dranginis, Senior Policy Analyst at the Enough Project, said: Amidst growing political turmoil in Congo, multinational companies that rely on these minerals have a role to play in promoting rule of law and security there. Its critically urgent now to shine even brighter light on supply chains originating in Congo. Consumers, investors, and companies can all help ensure that there are costs imposed for the violent or corrupt exploitation of minerals, and contribute to growing opportunities for safe, sustainable livelihoods in Congos mining sectors.

Click here for the full company rankings report.

Resume en francais.

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Greg Hittelman, Director of Communications, +1 310 717 0606, gh(at)enoughproject(dot)org.

ABOUT THE ENOUGH PROJECT  an anti-atrocity policy group

The Enough Project supports peace and an end to mass atrocities in Africas deadliest conflict zones. Together with its investigative initiative The Sentry, Enough counters armed groups, violent kleptocratic regimes, and their commercial partners that are sustained and enriched by corruption, criminal activity, and the trafficking of natural resources. By helping to create consequences for the major perpetrators and facilitators of atrocities and corruption, Enough seeks to build leverage in support of peace and good governance. Enough conducts research in conflict zones, engages governments and the private sector on potential policy solutions, and mobilizes public campaigns focused on peace, human rights, and breaking the links between war and illicit profit. Learn more  and join us  at http://www.EnoughProject.org.
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Saving money is notoriously harder than it seems. Things pop up  car repairs, wedding gifts, invitations to concerts  and suddenly our good intentions go straight out the window.

So if you're trying to save more and spend less, you'd do well to stop telling yourself how important it is for your future well-being. Instead, you've got to trick yourself.

"Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter" is a new book by Duke University behavioral economist Dan Ariely and lawyer-turned-comedian Jeff Kreisler. The authors outline several ways in which people tend to approach their finances irrationally, and offer a series of creative strategies for becoming better money managers.

Below, Business Insider has rounded up five of the simplest and most compelling insights from the book.

We don't consider where else our money could go

Scientists use the term "opportunity costs" to describe alternatives: If you spend money on one thing, you can't spend it on another. And if you take the time to think about all the things you're necessarily giving up when you spend a sum of money, you might be less inclined to spend it. It's not easy, but it works.

This advice goes back to what Jesse Mecham observes in his forthcoming book "You Need a Budget." If you earmark specific sums of money for specific needs  say, $100 a month for car trouble  you'll be less likely to dip into those funds than if you simply designate the money as a general "emergency fund."

We think of money as relative, not absolute

There's a hypothetical story in "Dollars and Sense" that illustrates perfectly how we justify certain expenses. Here's a summary:

You go to buy a pair of $60 sneakers and find out the same pair is on sale for $40 at a store five minutes away. Most people would travel five minutes to save the $20.

Then you go to buy patio furniture for $1,060 and find out the same set is on sale for $1,040 at a store five minutes away. In this case, most people would not travel five minutes to save the $20.

That's because we see every expenditure as relative  the first is a 33% savings and the second is a 1.9% savings, even though we're saving $20 in both cases.

The authors write: "When relativity comes into play, we can find ourselves making quick decisions about large purchases and slow decisions about small ones, all because we think about the percentage of total spending, not the actual amount."

We mistakenly think our possessions are worth as much to someone else

The "endowment effect" describes our tendency to overvalue the things we own.

The authors use another hypothetical story to explain how the endowment effect can work against us.

A couple is selling their longtime family home and thinks it's worth $1.3 million. The real estate suggests they list it at $1.1 million, noting that the house needs a lot of work. The sellers and the agent go back and forth about how much the house is really worth.

If the couple had held their ground and refused to list the house at the suggested price, they might never have sold it. Their emotional attachment to their home would have effectively blinded them to the home's objective value.

We value the past over the future

People often fall prey to the "sunk cost effect." As the authors write, "Once we've invested in something, we have a hard time giving up on that investment."

Consider the example the authors provide.

Imagine you're the CEO of a car company and you have a plan for a new car that will cost $100 million. You've already invested $90 million, and suddenly you learn that your competitor is nearly finished with a better car. Most people would spend the final $10 million anyway.

Now imagine the same scenario, except the total cost of development is just $10 million and you've only invested $1. In this case, most people would not spend the rest of the money.

In other words, we let our emotions  and our hopes and dreams for how the investment was supposed to pan out  cloud our judgment. But the authors write: "We should think about where we are now and what will happen going forward, not where we came from."

We decide on spending and saving in the moment, instead of in advance

The authors use the term "Ulysses contracts" to describe binding self-control agreements. (The term comes from "The Odyssey," in which Ulysses asked to have himself tied to the mast of the boat so he wouldn't be tempted by the Sirens' call.)

For example, enrolling in a 401(k) means that a set portion of your monthly income is automatically placed into your retirement account. If you've already set up your 401(k)  well done, you!  you're acknowledging the limits of your own self-control.

As the authors write, "We only have to overcome temptation once, rather than 12 times a year." And you can use the same strategy for college savings, health-care accounts, and any other kind of savings account.
will reveal its big-rig semi-trailer in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, and I'll be at SpaceX headquarters to check it out. Check back with Business Insider for full coverage.

The Tesla semi was anything but a 10-4-good-buddy move for Tesla. While many observers expected a pickup truck to join the car maker's lineup of all-electric vehicles, the big rig was a surprise.

A logical one, however, as many sustainable mobility experts have for years argued that the best application for electric vehicles isn't personal transportation but rather freight. We move stuff around on the world's highways using largely Class-8 diesel rigs. Subtract those emissions and the fight against global warming, which Tesla CEO Elon Musk takes very seriously, is a large step closer to winning.

Big rigs are already cool  there's a reason why little kids always want drivers to blow their trucks' massive air horns when they pass them on the freeway. Tesla's interpretation of a machine defined by the Macks and Peterbilts should be plenty interesting.

Here's what we expect to see:

A big rig that looks like a spaceship

The exterior and interior design of Tesla's cars is propelled by a sort of traditional regard for what a car is supposed to look like, although design chief Franz von Holzhausen has applied a powerfully disciplined minimalist approach to the job.

But cars and even the Model X SUV as, when compared with a tractor trailer, are small. They're frigates to the big rig's battleship, and that opens up some new aesthetics possibilities.

If you think about it, the only thing that Elon Musk's companies build that are as big as a big rig is SpaceX rockets, and of course they're much bigger. But the star-faring startup's space capsules are sort of semi-sized, so it might be worth it to look at them for hints for how the big rig will be put together.

I'm expecting something pretty out-there. As in, "Who needs a steering wheel?" The whole point of remaking freight transport isn't to electrify it  it's to eliminate drivers. That carries with it some grim prospects on the labor front, but we'd be naive if we didn't think that's what Tesla's future semi customers are after.

So the Tesla big rig's cab will be, I think, more like the bridge of a spaceship. There will be lots of screens so that if there is a human technician in there, he or she can monitor the truck's systems in the same way the helmsman and navigator of the Starship Enterprise do in the movies and on TV. If there are seats, they will be phenomenally cool. And for long-haul duty, the type of sleeping quarters that would be the envy of a luxury boutique hotel.

The rig will also have as different a vibe as is possible, I suspect, on the outside. Sleek and otherworldly. However, given that this will be a prototype, it will probably bear some resemblance to a regular old big rig, as Tesla will have had to consider that the vehicle will be hauling the sort of model-freight containers and trailers that are currently commonplace in the shipping industry.

It could have a gigantic battery that gives it extreme range

The Tesla big rig is going to need a big battery. Even if it doesn't offer ranges on the order of 1,000 miles per charge (what some diesel rigs can deliver today), it's still going to require the torque and range to serve up something like 200 to 300 miles per charge to make sense.

Luckily, the conventional shape and size of the semi lends itself to a huge battery pack. Tesla's biggest pack for a passenger vehicle is a 100 kilowatt-hour unit. It fills the floor of a Model S or Model X.

But Tesla can do larger batteries, for its utility grade Powerpack applications. Powerpack 2 is a 200 kWh lithium-ion unit. And the engineering of a big rig, if it's all electric, is fairly modular. You need a platform, perhaps two electric motors to power all four wheels, and the cab  leaving the motor-free leftover space available for batteries.

The torque should be insane  and torque is what big rigs require, as they're towing massive amounts of weight. Mack's MP8 engine, for example, is a Class-8 diesel powerplant that makes upwards of 505 horsepower, but more importantly, over 1,800 pound-feet of torque.

A Tesla Model S P100D can do almost 800 pound-feet of torque. This is speculative, but a pair of 100-kWh batteries could double that torque output.

Charging a battery that large could take a consumer a couple of hours at a Tesla Supercharger modified for big rigs, but trucking is more flexible when it comes to this kind of scheduling than folks taking long trips in their personal cars, who just want to get where they're going. The logistics industry is an ideal realm for computing power to schedule and optimize freight routes and pickup and delivery times.

Freight companies are also in a better position to absorb substantial battery replacement costs. So ironically, Tesla's technologies could make more sense in a big rig than in a personal car.

Self-driving tech, on a massive scale might also be present

Tesla's approach to autonomous mobility requires a lot of computing power, because the Autopilot system uses cameras and sensors rather than costly laser-radar (Lidar). Crunching the visual data is a major challenge.

Autonomous freight transport in the "over the road" environment  on highways  holds a lot of potential because the freeway is a far more ideal place for self-driving vehicles to operate than in cities.

A big rig is also a great autonomous platform because it has the size to lug around the supercomputer and cooling systems that Tesla's self-driving tech demands.

The commercial applications are even more appealing as trucking companies would like nothing more than to run their fleets remotely. In the short-term, this isn't even necessarily bad news for truckers, who would still be needed to handle Tesla's rigs during the "last mile," picking up and dropping off loads.

They would also be required to monitor the early big-rig Autopilot systems  in the spectacular, spaceship comfort of the semi's futuristic command center.

Impressive aerodynamics

The photo above is of a semi-autonomous big rig made by Volvo that was modified for self-driving duty.

It's relatively aerodynamic, but it could be a lot better. And aerodynamics matter for electric vehicles, because if you remove the work that a motor and battery have to do to maintain a steady highway speed, you can extend range.

Aerodynamics will likely define the Tesla big rig. And unlike the manufacturers of semis, Tesla won't be bound by what a big-old truck is supposedto look like  an intimidating highway presence with roots in the "Convoy"/CB-radio era.

Yes, it will be constrained by the existing design of trailers, which are large, tall, long rectangles  a terrible aerodynamic shape. But for the tractor itself, losing the engine opens up a range of new possibilities to improve airflow.

A justification for why a big-rig makes sense

There doesn't seem to be a lot of gray area when it comes to the big-rig. Market-watchers and Tesla observers think it's either brilliant or pointless.

"The truck market, for a variety of reasons, is ripe for change, from electrification, self-driving and connected," Autotrader.com analyst Michelle Krebs said in an email. "Tesla clearly sees the promise."

But her colleague Michael Harley, an Autotrader and Kelley Blue Blue editor, differed.

"While Teslas truck announcement will unquestionably create a lot of buzz, the company has incorrectly aimed its sights," he wrote. "Diesel fuel is readily available and relatively efficient for heavy long-haul trucks that cruise open highways at a fixed speed."

There are many obvious questions to be asked here, and we expect Musk and his team to address them.

A ridiculous amount of attention to be paid to a big-rig debut

For various reasons, I've followed the Class-8 truck world off and on for over a decade. In all that time, I've never seen this much buzz around a new vehicle.

That's the Tesla effect, of course. But it also proves just how A.) stable the over-the-road truck world is; and B.) how much a disruption of that world has got people thinking.

It's no secret that people who think about mobility for a living have long targeted the freight business as a way to reduce emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels. So Tesla is taking that on with the electric part of the equation.

But the self-driving piece is also important because the freeway is a perfect environment for autonomous operation, far better than the complex landscape of a big city.

"One more thing ..."

Tesla is struggling to meet its production goal for the Model 3 vehicle and could be facing a cash crunch next year. The company will probably have to raise money at some point in the next 12 months, but at the moment, the big-rig reveal is the only piece of market-moving news on the horizon.

It might not be able to move the markets all that much, as Wall Street analysts will ask the obvious question: "If Tesla can't ramp up mass-production of a mid-size sedan, how does it expect to build hundreds or thousands of a huge all-electric semi?"

So the big-rig reveal is a chance for Musk to add a new plot point to the Tesla story.

If he does deliver a Steve Jobsian "One more thing ..." moment, I'm hoping it has something to do with what should be in the trailer that I'm assuming the Tesla semi will haul in front of the cameras Thursday night. It's simply too good an opportunity to roll something out of that vast space.

My money is on a new Roadster design  a proper Tesla supercar, a vehicle that looks like it can do 0-60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds. Tesla's snazziest four-door can do that now. But the company doesn't charge even $200,000 for it, whereas the Ferraris and McLarens of the world sell their fastest rides for more than million.
Border patrol agencies have reported difficulties implementing President Donald Trump's plan to beef up security with thousands of additional agents along the US-Mexico border.

US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement cite "significant challenges in identifying, recruiting, hiring, and fielding the number of law enforcement officers" that Trump wants to hire, according to a recent Department of Homeland Security report.

Both CBP and ICE are DHS federal law enforcement agencies.

The agencies' biggest problem may be that they simply don't know what to do with the 15,000 additional agents Trump wants to bring on board. The DHS report says that neither CBP nor ICE have explained "the operational need or deployment strategies" for these officers.

In his first week as president, Trump signed two executive orders calling on CBP and ICE to hire an additional 5,000 and 10,000 agents, respectively. But the request appears to overwhelm agencies, which have, historically, struggled to properly man the border.

Although border patrol agencies were required to maintain a minimum of 21,370 agents from 2011 to 2016, a government accountability study published this month found that the actual number employed was closer to about 19,500. At one point, the agencies were losing more agents than they were hiring.

CBP is doing everything it can to make the hiring process more efficient, Border Patrol Deputy Commissioner Ronald Vitelli said on Fox Business on Wednesday.

"We need to have a system that brings the right people in because the job is important. We hold the public's trust. We have to make sure the people we bring are the right one," Vitelli said.

But a lack of qualified applicants, low pay for officers, undesirable deployment locations, and competition with local law enforcement agencies make it hard for the government to hire and retain officers.

Should border agents be the priority?

Some experts question whether the agents are even needed.

"Congress is going to be looking at this very carefully and looking for justification for this kind of money to make sure they don't write a check that is not necessary," W. Ralph Basham, who headed CBP during the George W. Bush administration, told Reuters earlier this year. "The question will be do we need more agents or do we need money for technology and infrastructure."

Critics like Basham argue that money and resources should be used to streamline border patrol operations to improve efficiency and stamp out interagency corruption. Simply boosting the number of patrol agents might sound like an improvement in security, they say, but it doesn't always solve systemic operating issues that are holding agencies back.

The recent DHS report, for example, offers recommendations for other areas of improvement that the government can address, including unifying fragmented DHS offices and adapting to shifting environments and evolving demands.
Most people in the country have not known a time without Mugabe, who has been at the epicentre of public life since coming to power in 1980 on the country's independence from Britain.

The nation was left stunned after the ailing leader was confined to his residence late Tuesday as soldiers took up positions at strategic points across Harare and senior officers commandeered state television.

The Southern African Development Community bloc, currently chaired by Zimbabwe's powerhouse neighbour South Africa, was to meet in Botswana later Thursday to discuss the dramatic situation.

And though nothing has been heard from Mugabe or his wife Grace directly since the start of the army operation, many Zimbabweans are hopeful that the crisis will mark the beginning of a more prosperous future.

"Our economic situation has deteriorated every day -- no employment, no jobs," Tafadzwa Masango, a 35-year-old unemployed man, told AFP.

"We hope for a better Zimbabwe after the Mugabe era. We feel very happy. It is now his time to go."

Harare's residents have largely ignored the military presence on the streets and continued commuting, socialising and working much as normal, while analysts speculated that Mugabe and the army could be negotiating a transition.

'The demise of Robert'

Derek Matyszak, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said he expects Mugabe and the military are thrashing out a handover to a new head of state.

"I think Mugabe can still stay in the country. I think they would like to present him as a liberation icon and accord him due respect.

"The difficulty, and this has always been the difficulty for the Mugabe family, is guaranteeing Grace Mugabe's safety... on the demise of Robert."

The international community will also be watching the next phase of the crisis closely.

On Wednesday the African Union issued an unusually terse statement that said the situation on the ground "seems like a coup" and called on the military to pull back and respect the constitution.

Britain, Zimbabwe's colonial ruler until independence, called for calm and warned against handing power to an unelected leader.

"Nobody wants simply to see the transition from one unelected tyrant to the next," said British foreign minister Boris Johnson.

Zimbabwe's army was set on a collision course with Mugabe last week when he abruptly fired his vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa -- a lynchpin of the defence and security establishment.

Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe's most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.

But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing five-page rebuke of Mugabe's leadership and Grace's political ambition.

Army chief General Constantino Chiwenga gave an unprecedented press conference on Monday, flanked by dozens of officers, and warned Mugabe that he would intervene if the president continued to purge the ruling ZANU-PF party.

Mnangagwa has been embroiled in a long-running feud with Mugabe's wife Grace, 52.

Both were seen as leading contenders to replace Mugabe but Mnangagwa had the tacit support of the armed forces, which viewed Grace -- a political novice -- with derision.

In a sign that the military was purging the first lady's backers, a Grace loyalist widely reported to have been detained by the army appeared on state TV late Wednesday.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720Kudzai Chipanga, leader of the ZANU-PF's youth league, apologised for criticising Chiwenga following the general's threat to intervene against Mugabe.
The young Ghanaian received her PhD in Information Systems at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a dissertation research investigating brain fitness games as an intervention for the age-related cognitive decline in healthy older adults.

In English, her research looked into how certain games that need a lot of thinking through can be used to help old people who tend to lose the ability to reason.

She has worked with many technology giants including IBM, Google and other high profile tech companies as a User Experience (UX) Research Scientist due to her interest in technology and research.

Throughout her time at UMBC, Dr. Opoku-Boateng received scholarships and grants from IBM, Google, LinkedIn and Xerox, and participated in several conferences, including the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference, AMIA conference for informatics professionals, engineering-focused Global Students Forum, and Latin American and Caribbean Conference for Engineering and Technology.

READ ALSO: Presec wins 2017 Bridge Engineering Challenge

In an interview with Techpreneur Magazine, Dr Gloria Opoku-Boateng disclosed that he has suffered many setbacks through her journey.
New mom, Yvonne Nelson disclosed in her interview with WOW magazine that, her new man already has kids of his own but what she didnt tell the public was the fact that, this was a married man.

According to reports, Keela and Yvonne Nelson's baby daddy are in the process of divorcing after they got married in 2015.

In the conversation that leaked, the lady disclosed that Yvonne Nelson got to know her when she had wanted to purchase some slimming tea products some time ago from her and they became acquaintances, then she introduced her to her husband-Well, you can tell the rest of the story from there.

In the leaked conversation, Keela described her husband and Yvonnes baby daddy as a broke a** dude, an ex-convict, and one who has his neck in some deep debt.
The woman had to resort to the bush to give birth because the health workers were on strike and only attending to emergency cases like accidents, child delivery among others.

Despite child delivery being part of the emergency cases, the health workers said they were attending to, the woman could not get attention.

According to sundayunityblog.com, the health workers are demanding for a salary increment, duty allowances, disbandment of State House Medical and Health Service Delivery Unit among other thorny issues.
For the sake of clarity, Wilbert Jones has not been set free because his prison term has elapsed. It has actually been determined that the then 19-year-old man was wrongfully failed for a crime he had no knowledge about, and probably would never have committed in his life.

His conviction at the was purely based on an identification parade conducted by the state which saw the said nurse single Jones out of a group of suspects as the perpetrator of the rape against her; three months after the crime, according to reports.

When the case found itself before state District Court Judge, Richard Anderson, he described it as weak at best claiming the state authorities at that time perverted justice by hiding a vital information that could have exonerated the then teenager.

The nurse who testified against Jones died in 2008, according to reports, but Wilbert Jones has now been set free at age 65.

Family members reportedly hugged one another outside the court room amidst tears.

READ ALSO: Woman disappears and turns demon after receiving gift from a friend

In writing his judgement, Richard Anderson said the police knew that the description of the late nurses attacker did not match the appearance of Jones, Nevertheless, the state failed to provide this information to the defense.
According to odditycentral.com, the mans mother, Chu Xiaoping said his growth came to a halt when he was between 2 and 3-years-old. As a matter of fact, he was born in 1987 which makes him 30 this year. However, beard and other masculine features that any 30-year-old man would have, are totally nonexistent as far as Wang Tianfang is concerned.

Wang Tianfang is 80-cm-high and her mother whose source of survival is to pick tea leaves from the mountains and working as a cleaner on part-time basis has remained defiant, despite advice by friends to abandon his son and enjoy life.

Chu Xiaoping, single mother who apparently enjoys caring for her son told newsmen that doctors had predicted that Wang Tianfang would not live up to age 30, but that obviously has not been the case.

Her main motivation now as she cares for her son is not to see him recover from the condition he is suffering from. The woman has admitted that I know hell never recover, thats impossible, but I just want him to live on, I dont want him to die.

It is not yet clear what kind of condition the man is suffering from, the cause and if there are any remedies at all available for him.
According to him, it is a budget presented to Ghanaians to face hardship.

He said "This is Ahokyere budget, a budget for difficulty for the Ghanaian people."

However, the minority has also described the budget as a '419' budget.

Member of Parliament for Hohoe Bernice Heloo in an interview with Accra-based Class FM said the budget is "419, wahala and propaganda".

READ ALSO: Here is how much government has budgeted for 2018

She said "A lot of similar promises were made in the 2017 budget; 750,000 youth were promised jobs, you havent dealt with the past promises and you are promising 100,000 jobs.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Grant said the Akufo-Addo-led government is determined to build a Ghana beyond aid.

He added that the current government will do it can to ensure the economy of Ghana becomes a robust one.

With or without the IMF, I can confidently and comfortably say that here is a government and a Ministry of Finance which says with or without the IMF we are going to do the right things to put the economy on a trajectory of sustainable and irreversible growth. That is going to be challenging, and we will do it. That is the track where we are going.

The governing NPP allowed for the extension of the IMF program for a year. Many Ghanaians were shocked because the same party had criticised the NDC for going for the bailout.

Per the new agreement, the programme will now end in April 2019, and Ghana will receive an additional 94 million dollars disbursement.

Some analysts say the NPPs audacious social intervention programmes will adversely be affected because the IMF frowns on such initiatives.

Meanwhile, editor of the Financial Post newspaper, Toma Imihere, told Accra-based Citi FM that government has defied some of the IMFs directives.
Rochas Okorocha who has a cordial relationship with President Akufo-Addo sanctioned the building of the statue.

President Akufo-Addo and Okorocha have been enjoying this cordial relationship since the formers electoral victory in 2016.

The statue which has been completed is located in Owerri, the capital city of the Nigerian state of Imo.

The date for the unveiling is yet to be announced.

It will be recalled that Nana Akufo-Addo, as president-elect, visited Imo State for the celebration of their Thanksgiving Day as the Special Guest of Honour.

President Akufo-Addo is not the only Head of State to have his statue in Imo State.
According to the Ashanti Regional president of the GNASSM, Mr. Frank Nero, the association wonders why government keeps shifting the goal post on the definite date it would lift the ban on illegal mining in the country.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, has said his outfit will be seeking at least a three-month extension to the ban on all forms of small-scale mining when Cabinet convenes.

According to him, despite some positive results yielded so far in the fight against galamsey, the outcome of the campaign, in general, is still unsatisfactory.

Per his assessment, the government is still far off from its targets, in the fight against illegal mining.

But the Association of Small Scale Miners said the government is confused in fighting the menace.

READ ALSO: Riot in galamsey community after Chinese man kills Ghanaian

Speaking on Kumasi-based Abusua FM, Frank Nero said "The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu earlier said three months, he later added three months and still adding. Is that not a confused government?

"So a part from the ban on small scale what is the government doing next to reclaim the lost environment."

According to him, the approach by the government to stop galamsey including licensed small scale mining is collapsing their businesses.
Before the SHS policy, children were selling items such as sachet water, biscuits, toffees, and other items on the streets, the major markets and commercial towns such as Assin Praso, Breku, Fosu, Akropong-Odumasi.

But since the implementation of the policy two months ago, many of them have left the areas they were operating in, the Ghana News Agency reports.

Some parents told the GNA that: the children were selling those things to help us raise monies to finance their education, but with the free education, they are all in school. The obviously excited parents said formerly, they had no choice than to let their wards support their trading activities sometimes during classes hours because they could not finance their schooling."

Some of the hawkers have gained admission to Assin Manso and Obiri-Yeboah Senior High Schools.

A 19-year-old, Bright Osei who used to sell items at Nyankomasi market said: "I was selling pure water to help my parents raise money to further my education but I have stopped selling because my education is now free.

Had it not been free education, it would have taken me between two to three years for me go to school. My family and I are sincerely grateful for this privilege.
According to Accra-based Starr FM, the 18-year-old Kawala Hawa Kabiru was told by her guardians that she will take up a sewing apprenticeship as part of preparations for a wifely status.

Kabiru who got aggregate 33 after she took her Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in June 2017 was placed in the Awe Senior High Technical School (AWESCO) in the Upper East region.

However her guardians failed to allow her to attend the school because she needed to prepare for marriage.

The results came. I got [aggregate] 33. My parents said I would not go to school. They said I should go and marry. I said no, I wanted to go to school. I want to [be in] school.

Even though Kabiru has missed almost the entire first term of the academic year, she said it is her wish to become a nurse than a seamstress in future.

However, the guardians of Kabiru who live with her in Paga said they are only acting on the instructions of her biological parents who live in Burkina Faso.

The guardians said it would be difficult to backtrack on the decisions they had taken on Kabirus future.

We have paid GH300 to the mistress who will train her how to sew. We have also bought the sewing machine at GH300. Everything we have spent is up to GH700. If she has to go to school, who is going to refund the money we have spent for her to learn how to sew? She is not the only child in this house. I also have a sister who is completing school this year at BOGISS (the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School). We are spending money on them. Even though education is free, we still have to spend on them to buy certain things.

When asked if he would allow Hawa continue her education if the money spent so far on the proposed apprenticeship was refunded, Mr Kabiru said her father would have the final say.

If we get the money back, I would advise my elder brother (Hawas father) in Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana West, Clement Dandori, said the District Assembly will me with Hawas family to ensure she is sent back to continue her education.

The behaviour of the girls parents is new to me. I dont even know the family. I dont know where they are located. I think with this information, we only need to get in touch with the family. I will set up a team to go to the family to find out what actually is the problem. I can understand the parents if the free senior school education policy was not in place. Perhaps, they could argue that they wouldnt have money to pay the fees."
In a statement issued by Mould Iddrisu, who is also a former Education Minister she said the attack was unfortunate.

It is unfortunate that our current Minister of Education described his predecessor the Hon former Minister of Education as a disgrace and an embarrassment for allegedly leaving debts in the Ministry of Education at the end of her four-year tenure.

READ ALSO: Bawumia praises Mahama for this one reason

Professor Opoku-Agyeman is a distinguished and accomplished academic who rose to become vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, she wrote.

Her achievements in the arena of Education are legendary. It is unfortunate that women have to be subjected to such abuse in the discharge of their official duties. I am calling on the Hon minister Dr Opoku Prempeh, on behalf of the women in Ghana, especially Women in Politics to withdraw and apologize for making such derogatory comments about a distinguished woman professional who is a known role model globally, she added.

READ ALSO: Sam George says deputy MASLOC boss is a homosexual and it is a complete mess

In an interview with Accra-based Asempa FM, the Manhyia South MP called his predecessor a disgrace and ignorant for leaving debts at the ministry while she served as a minister under the Mahama government.
Mr Mugabe is said to be resisting pressure to step down, saying he remains the legitimate president.

READ ALSO: Stunned Zimbabweans face uncertain future without President

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said that Mr Mugabe must resign.

But on Thursday, the former Ghanaian president said in a tweet: As unavoidable as the Zimbabwe situation may be, let us hope that the transition occurs without destroying Mugabes legacy and dignity unduly.

His African pride, dignity and audacity were unassailable. He served and lived for the dignity of his fellow black in a manner that so many of us fell very short of.

READ ALSO: AU calls for calm in Zimbabwe

Meanwhile, reports say that Mr Mugabe is holding talks with South African negotiators over his future.
It comes as many of the tens of thousands left homeless by the quake have vented anger at the Islamic regime for what they say has been the slow response of the charitable foundations set up after the revolution of 1979.

"I saw these heartbreaking images of men and women and children buried under the rubble," Netanyahu told the meeting in Los Angeles.

"A few hours ago, I directed that we offer the Red Cross medical assistance for the Iraqi and Iranian victims of this disaster.

"I've said many times that we have no quarrel with the people of Iran. Our quarrel is only with the tyrannical regime that holds them hostage and threatens our destruction. But our humanity is greater than their hatred."

Iran does not recognise the Jewish state.

The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed Netanyahu's offer, but said neither Iran nor Iraq had as yet requested any external aid.

"The offer was not rejected," ICRC spokeswoman in Jerusalem Alyona Synenko told AFP, after Israeli media said Iran had turned down the offer through the Red Cross.

"It is important to stress that humanitarian assistance must always be based on needs and stay away from politics," she added.

More than 400 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless by the quake that struck on the Iran-Iraq border late on Sunday.

Israel regards Iran and its close ally, Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, as its most dangerous foes.

Iran has been a staunch supporter of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The coalition shut down Yemen's sea and air ports as well as borders on November 6 in response to a missile attack by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels near Riyadh.

After repeated appeals by UN officials were ignored, Guterres wrote to the Saudi ambassador on Thursday to ask for an end to the blockade which he said "is already reversing the impact of humanitarian efforts."

"The secretary-general is very much disappointed that we have not seen a lifting of the blockade," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres and his top aid officials are "heartbroken at the scenes we are seeing from Yemen and the risk of continued suffering of the Yemeni people," Dujarric added.

"This is a man-made crisis," continued the UN spokesman, adding that Guterres had called it a "stupid war."

The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with 17 million people in need of food, seven million of whom are at risk of famine.

Yemen is also battling one of the world's worst outbreaks of cholera, that has left nearly one million people ill and killed 2,200 people.

In the letter to Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi, Guterres called on the coalition to allow UN flights to Sanaa and Aden, and to reopen the key ports of Hodeida and Saleef in rebel-held territory.

The direct appeal to Saudi Arabia's ambassador from the UN chief highlighted growing frustration and alarm over Yemen's humanitarian crisis and the coalition's refusal to open up access to aid.

In the letter, Guterres offered to send a UN team to Riyadh for talks on tightening up inspections at Hodeida port, once the aid shipments have resumed.

The coalition argues that ships docking at Hodeida port are used for arms smuggling to the Huthi rebels.

Earlier, the heads of three UN agencies warned that without deliveries of vital supplies such as food and medicine "untold thousands of innocent victims, among them many children, will die."

The joint appeal came from the World Health Organization, the UN children's agency UNICEF and the World Food Programme.
Some of the closely followed measures of tech valuations show they are over-expensive, and for some investors, they point to trouble ahead.

They include the cyclically adjusted price-earnings ratio, which takes the price of the S&P 500 and divides it by ten years worth of earnings. For the broader stock market, this gauge is back to its highs of the dotcom bubble in the early 2000s.

But tech valuations are justified and it would be a mistake to view the sector through this lens, according to Jim McCaughan, CEO of Principal Global Investors, which oversees $423 billion in assets.

McCaughan argues that the US economy's base has shifted from being manufacturing and capital-intensive to being intellectual.

"This is why the Shiller CAPE doesn't work anymore," McCaughan said. "If you think about the cyclically adjusted price-earnings, the intellectual framework that was developed involved physical investment. When you're on intellectual property  and that's what creates value  some of the older concepts are kind of redundant."

Today, it's Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook. These tech companies and others like Netflix have led the stock market's rally this year, gaining 38% as a sector on the S&P 500, more than double the benchmark index.

Unlike some of the largest companies of yesteryear, they don't have a lot of factories or capital equipment.

The dominance of intellectual-property firms is not a global phenomenon. British Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell, HSBC, and even British American Tobacco are all among the top 10 European companies by market cap, McCaughan pointed out.

"Fine companies, but not the future," McCaughan said.
The prices of condos at New York City's Trump Tower have plummeted since President Donald Trump launched his campaign in 2015.

The dropoff is so severe that real estate in the Fifth Avenue building has reached its lowest value since the Great Recession, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

The average price per square foot in the property is $2,100, down 13% from 2016 and 23% from the year before, according to The Journal.

Analysts are pointing to multiple factors that could explain the cheaper prices, including heightened security since Trump was elected, a general dislike of Trump, or an overall deceleration in the luxury condo market in the area.

However, Trump Tower's condos are dropping more rapidly than other properties in Midtown Manhattan. Excluding new developments, the average price per square foot in the area has seen a slight uptick of 0.3% since 2015.

"There is no way of knowing whether prices have taken a nose dive because of the restrictions that are now associated with living in the building  such as the Secret Service and police presence  or because the Trump brand so closely aligned with the building is having a depressing effect on prices," Gabby Warshawer, director of research at the real-estate website CityRealty, told The Journal.

Boaz Mashiach, whose real estate group lists two Trump Tower properties for $7.8 million, said Trump's presidency could be a factor in the building's declining condo prices, but added that the market was "very soft right now."

"Some people dont like to live in his building  and there are some people who want to live only in his building," he told The Journal.

Trump Tower, standing 664 feet tall, occupies prime real estate near Manhattan's Central Park. It was the headquarters for Trump's presidential campaign and was the site of several protests and demonstrations following Trump's election.

The skyscraper isn't the only one of Trump's properties in an apparent slump. The nearby Trump International Hotel and Tower has seen a 24% drop in its average price-per-square-foot rate since 2015, down to $3,600, according to The Journal.
Only days before, Qualcomm rebuffed the $130 billion overture by Broadcom in what would be the largest tech tie-up in history.

And rumors that the asset manager Brookfield Property Partners was eyeing up the shopping-mall investor GGP also came to fruition this week in the form of a $27.9 billion bid, one of the largest real-estate deals of all time.

Is the megadeal back?

The year started off in a frigid climate for large mergers and acquisitions. Only five M&A transactions valued at north of $10 billion were announced in the first half of the year, with a combined transaction value of $84 billion, according to data compiled by Thomson Reuters.

But boardrooms of the US's largest companies have worked up an appetite for megadeals in the back half of 2017. Eight deals or attempted deals valued at more than $10 billion apiece  and a combined value of $245 billion  were announced from July through early November, already dwarfing the front half of the year with seven weeks to go.

While megadeals are still well off the firecracker pace from recent years, the rebound of late is a sign of increasing confidence in global economic conditions and a favorable regulatory environment. But it also highlights the rapidly dawning realization that technological disruption poses an existential threat even to industry giants.

The specter of a global supercorporation like Amazon, Google, or Walmart entering a new industry at a whim has previously fearsome conglomerates with market capitalizations in the tens of billions feeling rather small and acknowledging that maintaining the status quo is now a risky bet.

"If you're not acting proactively, aggressively, to evolve your business and change your business, you're likely falling behind  and that realization is happening at a greater pace," Chris Ventresca, the global cohead of M&A at JPMorgan, told Business Insider. "Therefore, people are more willing to consider deals that they may not have considered in years past."

The cool-off

Why did mega-deal making cool off so much at the beginning of the year?

Small M&A activity  deals worth less than $10 billion  remained strong, with $490 billion across 6,900 transactions, according to Thomson Reuters. That eclipsed small-deal volume in the first half of 2015 and 2016.

It was the large deals that lagged behind.

One explanation for the hesitancy was the nascent administration of President Donald Trump, who had made a habit after his election of tweet-shaming companies that made strategic moves likely to result in fewer jobs for Americans.

How would his regulators respond to large mergers that stood to benefit from synergies and cost cutting?

Such concerns began to ebb by summer. The president's ability to smack stock prices with a single tweet quickly waned, and his social-media salvos shifted toward focusing on concerns such as the Russia investigation, the healthcare debate, and North Korea's " target="_blank"Little Rocket Man."

More important, big deals started to trickle through without arousing attention from the Department of Justice.

In April, the medical-devices company Becton Dickinson bought the surgical-supplies manufacturer C.R. Bard for $24.2 billion. In June, Amazon sent tremors through corporate boardrooms when it swooped in to buy Whole Foods for $13.6 billion. In July, Discovery Communications announced a $14.6 billion takeover of the fellow media company Scripps Networks Interactive.

The consolidations went uncontested, and more followed.

"Over the summer there was a number of big, strategic combinations, and they didn't seem to meet with a lot of regulatory or political resistance," Mark McMaster, the vice chairman of investment banking at Lazard, told Business Insider.

"It appears we're in a regulatory environment where Washington is going to allow pure-play companies to continue to get larger," he added.

The $85 billion merger between AT&T and Time Warner  announced in 2016 before Trump was elected  may be the exception, with regulators suggesting they'd file suit to block the deal. Reports have been mixed about whether the DOJ demanded the sale of Turner Broadcasting, the division that owns CNN.

By summer, CEOs also grew more confident that global economies were in sync and robust growth would continue.

With stock markets setting record highs and equity valuations soaring, this helped make the math on mergers more palatable.

Multiples may be elevated, but the premium is more justifiable with an upward-sloping global economy.

"Things that may have felt expensive suddenly feel less expensive when you model in an improving global economy," said Ventresca of JPMorgan, noting that optimism on this front had improved from even six to nine months ago.

Deals also seem more palatable if a company can tap the low-interest debt markets or use its own inflated equity to finance a deal.

If companies swap shares in a deal, the fact that stock prices are inflated can be neutralized, McMaster noted.

The Amazon effect

Aside from giving investors and business leaders some confidence on the regulatory front, the Amazon takeover of Whole Foods more importantly served as a wake-up call.

Grocery stocks plummeted after the deal was announced, and pharmacy stocks took a hit as well.

Even companies with tens of billions of dollars in market capitalization began to confront the possibility that supercorporations like Amazon could wake up on a given day and upend their industry.

This forced firms to frankly assess their deficiencies and evaluate whether they had enough to be an endgame winner in their sector.

That's why you're seeing more megadeals that establish a firmer footing within an industry.

That may be why Disney  facing threats from Netflix and Amazon  isn't certain it can win purely by growing within. The company was reportedly discussing a bid that could be in the neighborhood of $40 billion to acquire most of 21st Century Fox earlier this month, which would give the company a major leg up. And CVS Health's reported $66 billion takeover plans for Aetna have everything to do with staying one step ahead of Amazon.
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Zine El Abidine Ben Ali - Tunisia

Zine el Abidine Ben Ali will be remembered as the first leader to be toppled in what became known as the Arab Spring. After nearly 24 years in in pomp and luxury, he became the former president of Tunisia. Ben Ali was thrown out for economic mismanagement abuse of power.

Hosni Mubarak - Egypt

The 89-year-old, Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt for almost 30 years until he was swept from power in a wave of mass protests in February 2011 after he surprised the people of his country by refusing to resign.

Laurent Gbagbo - Ivory Coast

He served in opposition for 20 years and finally came to power in 2000 when military leader Robert Guei's attempts to rig elections were defeated by street protests in Ivory Coast. The 72-year-old was forced out of office after his unwillingness to to accept defeat at the ballot box. Gbagbo is being tried at the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.

Muammar Gadaffi - Libya

The African strongman met his inhumane fate in October 2011 after being in power since 1969. Gaddafi had been Africa's and the Arab world's longest-serving ruler. He gave a televised speech amid violent social unrest against his autocratic rule. He promised to hunt down protesters which caused a furor that fuelled the armed rebellion against him.

READ ALSO: AU calls for calm in Zimbabwe

Madagascar's Marc Ravalomanana - Madagascar

The 68-year-old Malagasy politician was ousted in 2009 by Andry Rajoelina, a former deejay and mayor of the capital Antananarivo, with the backing of the army following nearly two months of bloody protests that left an estimated 100 people dead. He fled to Swaziland and later moved to South Africa.

Amadou Toumani Toure - Mali

The 68-year-old was deposed in an apparent coup, first came to power in the arid, land-locked West African country in 1991. Toure, a former army officer, seized power in a coup and was forced out in 2012.

Francois Bozize - Central African Republic

The 71-year-old became a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean-Bedel Bokassa, another dictator who was ousted in 1979. His problems started in 2011 and culminated into his overthrow in 2013.

Blaise Compaore - Burkina Faso

The 66-year-old was deposed in October 2014 following nationwide protests sparked by his efforts to extend his 27-year hold on power.

Charles Taylor - Liberia

Taylor took power in 1990 after deposing Samuel Doe who was brutally murdered and his genitals cut out, stepped down in 2003, handed over power to vice president Moses Blah and sought for asylum in Nigeria where he was arrested after attempting to escape. The 69-year-old is currently serving a prison term in UK having been convicted by a UN-backed court for war crimes and crimes against humanity over supporting rebels who committed atrocities in Sierra Leone.

Kwame Nkrumah - Ghana
President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, forwarded emails about a "Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite" to Trump campaign officials and failed to produce those emails to the Senate Judiciary Committee, two senators on the committee said in a letter to Kushner's lawyer on Thursday.

Kushner also failed to produce emails he was copied on involving communication with the anti-secrecy agency WikiLeaks and with a Belarusian-American businessman named Sergei Millian, the senators said. Millian most recently headed a group called the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce.

"There are several documents that are known to exist but were not included in your production," Sens. Chuck Grassley, the committee's chairman, and Dianne Feinstein, its ranking member, wrote to Kushner.

They continued:

"For example, other parties have produced September 2016 email communications to Mr. Kushner concerning WikiLeaks, which Mr. Kushner then forwarded to another campaign official. Such documents should have been produced in response to the third request but were not.

"Likewise, other parties have produced documents concerning a 'Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite' which Mr. Kushner also forwarded. And still others have produced communications with Sergei Millian, copied to Mr. Kushner.

"Again, these do not appear in Mr. Kushner's production despite being responsive to the second request."

Kushner came under new scrutiny this week after The Atlantic reported that his brother-in-law Donald Trump Jr. told him in an email in September 2016 that WikiLeaks had sent him a private message on Twitter. The report said Kushner forwarded that information to Hope Hicks, at the time a campaign communications staffer.

The "Russian backdoor overture" could be a reference to Kushner's meeting in December with Sergey Kislyak, then Russia's ambassador to the US, that was also attended by Michael Flynn, the incoming national security adviser. The senators said on Thursday that Kushner had not provided all the information it requested related to his communications with Flynn.

The Washington Post reported earlier this year that at that meeting, Kushner had suggested setting up a back-channel line of communication between the Trump transition team and Moscow using Russian diplomatic facilities in the US.

Kushner has disputed that characterization, telling lawmakers in July that he asked Kislyak whether there was "an existing communications channel at his embassy" that could be used to discuss Syria. It had not been reported, however, that the matter was discussed again in emails that Kushner "also forwarded," the senators said.

It is unclear what the "dinner invite" was a reference to. The senators also said Kushner had not produced any phone records.

It had also not been reported that anyone on the campaign was in touch with Millian via email, or that Kushner was copied on any of those correspondences. Millian did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Millian, a Belarus-born businessman who is now a US citizen, founded the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in 2006. He has described himself as an exclusive broker for the Trump Organization with respect to real-estate dealings in Russia.

He told the Russian news agency RIA that he had been in touch with the Trump Organization as late as April 2016. He told Business Insider earlier this year, however, that the last time he worked on a Trump-brand project was "in Florida around 2008." He did not respond to a request to clarify the discrepancy.

The Wall Street Journal and ABC reported earlier this year that Millian was "Source E" in the dossier alleging ties between Trump and Russia. Millian, who attended several black-tie events at Trump's inauguration, has denied that charge. He told Business Insider earlier this year that the author of The Journal's report was "the mastermind behind fake news."

Millian has also worked with Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian government organization whose "fundamental" goal, it says, is to familiarize "young people from different countries" with Russian culture through exchange trips to Moscow.

The FBI has investigated whether Rossotrudnichestvo is a front for the Russian government to cultivate "young, up-and-coming Americans as Russian intelligence assets," as described by a 2013 Mother Jones report  a theory Rossotrudnichestvo has strongly denied.
The bill passed mostly along party lines, 227 to 205, with two Democrats not voting and 13 Republicans voting against it. The White House released a statement after the vote praising the result.

"President Donald J. Trump applauds the House of Representatives for passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act  a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic tax cuts for the American people by the end of the year," the statement said.

Before the vote, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican leadership faced questions about whether they could garner enough votes from party members in states where people were expected to lose a key deduction under the plan. Republican votes against the bill came almost exclusively from members in those states: New York, California, and New Jersey.

Residents of these states are heavy users of the state and local tax deduction, which allows people to subtract state and local taxes from their federal tax bill.

The first version of the bill eliminated the deduction, but leaders were able to come up with a compromise. In the version passed by the House, the SALT deduction would be repealed for income and sales taxes, but most people would still be able to deduct up to $10,000 in property taxes.

For many members in states with high taxes, the compromise was not enough. Rep. Dan Donovan of New York, a Republican who voted "no" on the bill, said he would support the final bill "if the SALT deduction gets put back in."

Donovan also said that discussions between skeptical members and leadership on the SALT deduction were ongoing and that the provision could change when the bill comes back to the House after any revisions in the Senate.

"I think that what we're going to vote on today is not going to be the final bill that's going to go to the president's desk," Donovan told Business Insider before the vote. "I think that there's still going to be negotiations. I think there might be people today voting 'yes' that would like to see the SALT deduction retained and hoping that's done when they go to conference with the Senate."

Other members from the high-tax states still decided to support the bill given the compromise and the bill's broader proposals. Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur of New Jersey, who was initially skeptical of the bill, said proposed changes to things like the standard deduction were enough to win him over despite the significant changes to the SALT deduction.

"This is not only good for the families and businesses in my state, but it's also good for the country, and I think it is important to support it for that reason," MacArthur told Business Insider on Thursday.

The massive bill is moving through Congress at breakneck speed, but the House bill's passage is just another in a series of steps for it.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein has said he wants to build agile networks to connect the force's battlefield assets, allowing personnel to make the best decisions as quickly as possible.

The shift from wars of attrition to wars of cognition, Goldfein said in September, has led the Air Force to ask different questions about the weapons and platforms it acquires. "Now we are starting the dialogue with  does it connect  and  can it share," he told an Air Force conference.

Goldfein reiterated this month that the force was looking at the light-attack aircraft program, known as OA-X, to produce a plane that fits into that networked battlefield, where all of a force's assets are connected.

While the force is not yet set on acquiring a new light-attack aircraft that could fly alongside the vaunted A-10 Thunderbolt, it carried out tests with four candidates in August. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said at a press briefing on November 9 that the force expected to have a report on the experiment by the end of December, after which it would make decisions about the program and potential battlefield tests.

Goldfein  who has previously touted the importance of the OA-X on the battlefield of the future  added that the Air Force was looking to the light-attack program to augment information-sharing among partner forces with different capacities.

"There's two parallel paths that we're looking at on light attack. One is the traditional aircraft, sensor, weapon, but there's another part of that, which is the network that it rides on," Goldfein told reporters at the briefing. "As we bring more and more exquisite technology to the battlefield, it actually becomes harder and harder to share information with out allies and partners who don't have ... either the same quality or level of technology."

"So the question that we're asking is not only is there a light-attack capability off the shelf that we can use that can increase lethality and readiness, but is there also a shareable network that allies and partners who are already with us and those that may choose to join us ... in the campaign against violent extremism, can we actually get into a new, shareable network that allows information to flow at a far faster rate so we can take out the enemy?" he added.

The light-attack experiment started taking shape earlier this year, when the Goldfein said the Air Force was looking for a cheap, commercially built fighter capable of performing close air support and other basic operations. The Air Force plans keep the A-10 Thunderbolt, the force's premier close-air-support platform, in service, but a light-attack aircraft would allow high-end fighters like the F-16 to focus on more complex missions.

Congress allotted about $400 million to OA-X in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, and legislators have said they want OA-X program to continue.

One of the aircraft under consideration, the A-29 Super Tucano, is already in service with the Afghan air force, and the US has ordered six more of them to send to the country as the military adjusts to President Donald Trump's plans to expand the US-led war effort there. The US also recently sent A-29s to the Lebanese army.

Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis described an "annihilation campaign" against ISIS in which the US and partner forces would work to reduce violence to a level that local authorities could handle it. Speaking on November 9, Goldfein used similar terms to underscore the role a light-attack aircraft would play on a connected battlefield.
Louise Linton, wife

Edinburgh, Scotland, Linton married Mnuchin in an extravagant ceremony last June. Last November, she made headlines after she and Mnuchin were photographed holding up a sheet of freshly printed $1 bills. The photos drew attention and criticism on Twitter, as well as a write-up in the Styles section of The New York Times, which critiqued her all-black leather outfit.

Prior, she caused news when she published an Instagram photo that showed her

But the jet photo and ensuing comments were not the first time Linton sparked a controversy. Below, see more about her life.

Linton was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and spent weekends in the Melville Castle Dalkeith. In an interview with the Daily Record in 2015, Linton said of the property: "The castle is definitely haunted and many people have claimed to see a ghost."

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Linton began acting professionally in 2006. Prior to that, she made a TV appearance in 2003 on VH1's short-lived reality show "Hopelessly Rich."

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She's made appearances in "CSI: NY" and "Cold Case." More recently, she starred in movies like 2016's "Intruder."

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She has also modeled. In 2009, she posed for Maxim magazine.

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Linton reportedly met her husband, Steve Mnuchin, through mutual friends.

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In 2016, Linton released a controversial memoir about the time she spent volunteering in Zambia as a teenager. In one part of the book, she writes, "A 'skinny white muzungu with long angel hair,' Louise was an anomaly in darkest Africa." She also described the country as "savage."

Source:

The Zambian High Commission in London publicly denounced Linton and the book's "falsified" content, saying it was "tarnishing the image of a very friendly and peaceful country." Linton later apologized on Twitter, and it has since been pulled from the market.

The only thing missing from... @ Muchemwa Sichone

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By the time Mnuchin was sworn in as Treasury Secretary in the Trump administration, the couple was engaged.

Their wedding, which took place in June of 2017, was officiated by Vice President Mike Pence.

VP Pence officiates Treasur... @ New York Daily News

President Donald Trump and the first lady, along with some members of the Wall Street elite, also attended.

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Last year, Linton made headlines for an Instagram comment she made that bashed a woman publicly for being "adorably out of touch." She made her Instagram account private for a period of time, but has since made the account public again.

Source:
During his trip to South Korea last week, President Donald Trump reportedly asked an unusual question to South Korean president Moon Jae-in as they drank tea.

"Do you have to reunify," Trump asked Moon, Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin reported Wednesday.

The next day, Moon reportedly told the story of the conversation to Choo Mi-ae, the leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, who then recounted the story to The Post.

"This could have been asked by anybody, but people who come to South Korea almost never ask it," Mi-ae told The Post. "The fact that he posed this question, frankly speaking, gave us the opportunity to explain the need for reunification."

According to Choo, Moon viewed Trump's question as an honest and unscripted query, and answered it by explaining the necessity of bringing democracy to those suffering in the North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been known to overlook the country's humanitarian crisis, and frequently diverts the country's funds to finance its controversial missile program. A UN report released earlier this year estimated that two in five North Koreans are undernourished, and over 70% of the people rely on food aid, according to data compiled for 2016.

After hearing the explanation, Trump reportedly asked another question: "Then, what can I do for Korea?"

Moon answered Trump by hinting at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, which has been overshadowed by North Korean provocations. Trump replied by saying that he would personally try to promote the event, The Post reported.

Despite stressing the US's unequal footing in trade relations with South Korea, Trump delivered a scripted speech before the National Assembly, where he praised the accomplishments of the country.
First daughter Ivanka Trump joined Republican leaders and delivered a stinging assessment of the ongoing sexual assault scandal surrounding Roy Moore, the Republican nominee for Alabama's open senate seat.

"There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children," Trump said, according to an Associated Press report published Wednesday. "I've yet to see a valid explanation and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts."

Her statement follows a wave of criticism from lawmakers in both parties. The scandal has caused several Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to distance themselves from Moore. Speaking to reporters on Monday, McConnell said that he believed the accusations and said that Moore "should step aside" from the Senate race.

The Washington Post initially published the accounts of several women who alleged that Moore had previously initiated sexual encounters when they were underage, some as young as 14.

Moore was reportedly in his 30s and was working for the district attorney's office at the time.

Following The Post's report, several more women emerged, recounting their stories of Moore's alleged harassment. Moore's representatives have continued to deny the allegations and accused the women of conspiring with his opposition.
President Bill Clinton's decision to lie under oath about his consensual affair with the White House intern Monica Lewinsky almost forced him from the presidency.

But allegations made by four other women that Clinton either sexually assaulted or harassed them have done little to discredit him among his supporters. Clinton has denied all of the allegations against him, including those made by four other women who say they had consensual extramarital relationships with him.

As a national spotlight focuses on sexual assault and harassment following a flood of accusations of misconduct against dozens of prominent men in Hollywood, the media, and politics, Democrats and others on the left are beginning to reexamine their response to the allegations against Clinton.

"Everybody in the mainstream press is calling all of Bill Clinton's crimes infidelities," Kathleen Willey, one of the women who has accused Clinton of harassment, told the Fox News host Sean Hannity in October 2016. "Rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment are not infidelities. They are crimes and they are misdemeanors."

Here are the allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him:

Juanita Broaddrick

Juanita Broaddrick has made the most serious allegations against Clinton, accusing him of raping her in 1978 while Clinton was Arkansas' attorney general.

Broaddrick, then a 35-year-old nursing-home administrator, met Clinton when he visited her nursing home on a campaign stop. After Clinton asked to meet with her on her next trip to Little Rock, the two set up a meeting in a hotel coffee shop.

Broaddrick, who first made the accusation publicly in 1999, told BuzzFeed News last year that when Clinton arrived at the hotel he asked to meet in Broaddrick's room instead and, after he arrived, violently raped her. Broaddrick said he bloodied her lip by biting it.

"There was no remorse," Broaddrick told BuzzFeed News. "He acted like it was an everyday occurrence. He was not the least bit apologetic. It was just unreal."

The Washington Post reported that two people close to Broaddrick said she described the rape to them at the time.

Kathleen Willey

Kathleen Willey said Clinton kissed her, fondled her breasts, and forced her to touch his crotch during a meeting in the Oval Office in 1993, while Willey was a volunteer in the White House correspondence office.

Willey made her allegations public in 1998, and Clinton "emphatically" denied that the interaction was sexual, arguing that he hugged Willey and may have kissed her on the forehead.

Willey says she was "friends" with Clinton and confided in him during the meeting that she and her husband were having financial troubles. She asked him for a promotion from her volunteer position to a paying job and says that Clinton was sympathetic and asked to talk with her in a small room off of the Oval Office. Willey says Clinton cornered and assaulted her in that room.

"My mind was racing and I thought: 'Should I slap him? Or should I kick him? Or knee him?'" Willey recalled thinking during an October 2016 interview with the Fox News host Sean Hannity. "What do I do? Scream? Is the Secret Service gonna come in and descend upon me with guns?"

Paula Jones

A former Arkansas state employee named Paula Jones said that in 1991, at a government quality-management conference that Clinton attended, she was approached by the state police and told that Clinton, then the governor, wanted to meet with her. Jones said that a police officer escorted her to Clinton's hotel room in Little Rock and that Clinton then propositioned her for sex and exposed his genitals to her.

"He sat down, pulled down his pants, his whole everything and he was exposed, and I said, 'I'm not that kind of girl, and I need to be getting back to my desk,'" Jones recalled to Hannity.

Jones said the state police officer was standing just outside the hotel room during the encounter.

She said that she tried to leave after Clinton exposed himself but that Clinton rushed over and grabbed the door.

"He said, 'You're a smart girl  let's keep this between ourselves,'" Jones said.

She said when she left the room the state trooper was smirking.

Jones made her allegations public in 1994 and brought a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Clinton. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in 1998 on the grounds that Jones didn't prove that she was harmed, either personally or in her career, by the incident, and Jones appealed the ruling.

Clinton ultimately paid Jones $850,000 as part of an out-of-court settlement agreement but did not admit guilt or apologize to Jones.

Leslie Millwee

Leslie Millwee, a former television reporter, came forward publicly for the first time in October 2016 to accuse Clinton of sexually assaulting her in 1980.

Millwee says Clinton, then the governor of Arkansas, groped her on several occasions at the now-defunct TV station she worked at in Arkansas.

"He followed me into an editing room," Millwee told the far-right website Breitbart News in an October 2016 interview. "It was very small. There was a chair. I was sitting in a chair. He came up behind me and started rubbing my shoulders and running his hands down toward my breasts. And I was just stunned. I froze. I asked him to stop. He laughed."

Millwee says the incidents escalated.

She said of a second incident: "He came in behind me. Started hunching me to the point that he had an orgasm. He's trying to touch my breasts. And I'm just sitting there very stiffly, just waiting for him to leave me alone. And I'm asking him the whole time, 'Please do not do this. Do not touch me. Do not hunch me. I do not want this.'"

She recalled a third time in which, she said, she wasn't aware Clinton was in the building when he found her in the editing room.
After a grand jury indicted President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates on Monday morning, Senate Democrats issued statements urging the president to avoid interfering in the investigation, warning that Congress would respond swiftly if he does.

"The President must not, under any circumstances, interfere with the special counsel's work in any way," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. "If he does so, Congress must respond switfly, unequivocally, and in a bipartisan way to ensure that the investigation continues."

Schumer predicated his warning to Trump by focusing on the importance of the rule of law.

"The rule of law is paramount in America and the investigation must be allowed to proceed unimpeded," he said.

Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also released a statement on Monday warning of bipartisan congressional action if Trump interferes in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian election interference.

Warner said the indictments of Manafort and Gates are a "a significant and sobering step" in Mueller's investigation.

"That is why it is imperative that Congress take action now to protect the independence of the Special Counsel, wherever or however high his investigation may lead," Warner said in the statement.

"Members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, must also make clear to the President that issuing pardons to any of his associates or to himself would be unacceptable, and result in immediate, bipartisan action by Congress."

Manafort and Gates were charged on Monday with tax fraud and alleged crimes related to their work for the Ukrainian ruling party before the 2014 revolution that ousted Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovych.
is launching tech-focused pop-up shops in Whole Foods stores.

The stores display the e-commerce giant's devices  such as its Echo smart speakers, Kindle readers, and Fire tablets  and occupy about 300 to 500 square feet of Whole Foods' store space.

They're staffed by Amazon employees, said Ed Yruma, a managing director at KeyBanc Capital Markets who recently visited one of the pop-up shops.

"Amazon pop-ups are focused on helping consumers understand and purchase Amazon devices," Yruma wrote in a recent note to clients.

It makes sense to bring these devices into the hands of Whole Foods shoppers ahead of the holiday season, he said.

In the week leading up to Black Friday, Whole Foods will offer $20 off the Echo Dot, $20 off the new Amazon Echo, and $30 off the Kindle Paperwhite, among other deals.

The pop-up shops are a sign that Amazon is planning to ramp up its presence in Whole Foods stores since its $13.7 billion acquisition of the grocery chain earlier this year, Yruma said.

So far, the shops are in five Whole Foods locations: Denver; Chicago; Rochester Hills, Michigan; Davie, Florida; and Pasadena, California.
 But in an intensely candid Rolling Stone profile, Musk discussed topics he usually doesn't, from his breakup with Amber Heard to his estranged relationship with his father.

 Musk has had a stormy personal life at times. He's been through two divorces and his estranged from his father, who made headlines in March after it was reported he had a child with his 30-year-old former stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout.

In 2010, Elon Musk said he would "rather stick a fork in my hand than write about my personal life."

But the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is a fascinating figure, and along the way, he's opened up here and there about his childhood, his parents, and his relationships.

In an an in-depth November 2017 Rolling Stone interview, he got uncharacteristically candid.

He spoke of his breakup with ex-girlfriend Amber Heard, expressing his heartbreak over their parting. Musk also touched upon his estranged relationship with his father Errol, calling him a "terrible human being."

Musk went on to discuss how difficult it is for him to meet people, saying he is looking for a long-term relationship  and a soul mate. Musk, who has been divorced twice, even asked interviewer Neil Strauss if there was anyone Strauss thought he should date.

"If I'm not in love, if I'm not with a long-term companion, I cannot be happy," he told Rolling Stone. "I will never be happy without having someone. Going to sleep alone kills me. It's not like I don't know what that feels like: Being in a big empty house, and the footsteps echoing through the hallway, no one there  and no one on the pillow next to you. F--. How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that?"

Here's a look back at the tech titan's personal life:

Musk told Rolling Stone he's struggled with loneliness since childhood. "When I was a child, there's one thing I said," Musk said. "'I never want to be alone.'"

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Born in 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk was the eldest of three children. His mother Maye Musk is a Canadian model who's appeared on the cover of Time and became a CoverGirl spokesperson at 69. His father Errol is an engineer.

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Musk's childhood was far from idyllic. He was ruthlessly bullied in school, and even ended up hospitalized after his tormentors shoved him down a staircase. When his parents split in 1980, Musk went to live with his father.

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Today, Musk and Errol are estranged. The Tesla CEO told the Rolling Stone that his father is "a terrible human being." "You have no idea about how bad," Musk said. "Almost every crime you can possibly think of, he has done."

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Musk's father, who is now 72, made headlines in March when it was revealed that he had a child with his 30-year-old former stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout, whom he's known since she was 4 years old.

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Despite this familial rift, Musk is seemingly still close with his brother Kimbal and sister Tosca. All of the Musk siblings seemingly share an entrepreneurial streak. Kimbal is seeking to make the food industry more sustainable and healthy, while Tosca launched the romance film network Passionflix with help from her eldest brother.

Source: , , ,

And Musk also reportedly has a good relationship with his mother. Vanity Fair reported that he gifted Maye with a green Tesla. She also moved to California in 2013 to be closer to her oldest son and grandchildren.

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Musk obtained Canadian citizenship through his mother. At the age of 17, he moved to Kingston, Ontario to attend Queen's University.

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There met his first wife, Justine Wilson. Writing in Marie Claire, Justine  who still uses Musk's last name  recalled that Musk invited her out for ice cream.

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She decided to stay in to study, but he showed up with "two chocolate-chip ice cream cones dripping down his hands."

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Musk transferred to Wharton, but kept sending Justine roses. They went their separate ways, but reconnected as Musk started working on his first startup and Justine started working on her first novel after graduation.

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The Canadian novelist said Musk wooed her by giving her his credit card to buy as many books as she wanted. The pair tied the knot in 2000.

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The couple moved to Los Angeles and had a son named Nevada, whom they lost to SIDS. They ultimately had twins and triplets  five sons in total. In her 2010 Marie Claire article, Justine said her children are "thriving."

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And in 2013, Musk said he strives to spend time with his sons. In 2010, he called his children "the love of my life."

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The couple split in 2008, and Justine kept her husband's last name for the sake of their kids. After his divorce, the tech mogul began dating actress Talulah Riley.

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While Musk and his first wife became estranged, Justine wrote in Marie Claire that she and Riley ended up getting along very well. She even sent her ex-husband's girlfriend an email saying: "I would rather live out the French-movie version of things, in which the two women become friends and various philosophies are pondered."

Source:

Riley and Musk married in 2010. Two years later, news of their divorce became public when Musk tweeted: "It was an amazing four years. I will love you forever. You will make someone very happy one day" at Riley on Twitter.

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The couple remarried in 2013. Musk filed for  then withdrew  a second divorce the following year.

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In 2016, Riley filed for divorce from Musk, which was finalized in late 2016. The two are still on good terms, however  Riley even made an appearance during Strauss' Rolling Stone profile of Musk. "We still see each other all the time and take care of each other," she told People.

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Musk began dating actress Amber Heard in 2016, but they broke up a year later due to their intense schedules.

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Commenting on one of Heard's Instagram posts, Musk said he and his ex were "still friends, remain close and love one another" and added "who knows what the future holds." He later told Rolling Stone: "I was really in love, and it hurt bad."
1. Twitter has removed its blue Verified tick from white nationalists like Richard Spencer, and the company won't hand out more badges until it revamps its entire verification programme. The company has been criticised for handing out what is seen as an endorsement to white supremacists.

2. The FCC is set for a final vote next week to reverse net neutrality rules in the US, paving the way for internet providers to block or throttle websites. FCC chair Ajit Pai claims the existing regulation harms jobs and investment.

3. An anonymous Uber rider is suing the ride-hailing firm in the US for failing to protect her after a driver allegedly raped her. The victim said the company didn't do a sufficient background check.

3. The White House has published new rules about its approach to disclosing cybersecurity flaws, after accusations that the US stockpiles bugs in order to take advantage of them. The new rules give some transparency about how different agencies determine whether to disclose a security flaw.

4. Tim Berners-Lee, the British inventor of the web, has said "the system is failing" around his creation. Berners-Lee described the web's polarisation, the US net neutrality debate, and fake news as a "nasty storm" and that the web wouldn't automatically lead to "wonderful things."

5. Russian hackers targeted UK media, telecoms firms, and energy companies over the last year, the UK's head of cybersecurity said. Ciaran Martin, the founding chief executive of the NCSC, said Russia was "seeking to undermine the international system."

6. Digital wallet firm Parity has admitted that it already knew about a critical security flaw that allowed one hacker to lock down $300 million of other people's Ethereum funds. According to Motherboard, the firm knew about the bug since August but didn't address it for months.

7. Japanese telecoms giant SoftBank plans to invest up to $25 billion in Saudi Arabia, deepening its ties to the Gulf state. It will put around $15 billion into Neom, a new city on the Red Sea coast, and additional money into a state-controlled electricity firm.

8. The chief executive of UK delivery startup Deliveroo, Will Shu, has said an IPO is "somewhat logical" for the company. Shu told Business Insider noted that Deliveroo's latest lead investors were public market investors like T. Rowe Price and Fidelity.

9. Elon Musk criticised investors who short Tesla's stock, calling them "jerks who want us to die." Musk described their actions as "hurtful."
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On Wednesday, a gunman opened fire at a Florida high school, leaving 17 people dead and more than a dozen others injured.

In November, a gunman went on a shooting spree at the Rancho Tehama reserve in Northern California, killing four people and injuring three children.

A week before that, a man in Sutherland Springs, Texas, stormed a church with a semiautomatic rifle, killing 26 people and injuring 20.

A month before that, a gunman in a room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas shot at concertgoers below, killing 59 people and injuring more than 500.

As shootings like these seem to escalate in the US, so do questions about gun control. Americans who fear their town or city could be the site of the next attack wonder what strategies if any the US could take to reduce rates of gun violence.

No country is a perfect analog of the US, but several have taken steps that worked for them  here are their insights.

Australia paid citizens to sell their guns to the government.

A spate of violence in the 1980s and '90s that culminated in a 1996 shooting that left 35 dead led Australian Prime Minister John Howard to convene an assembly to devise gun-control strategies.

The group landed on a massive buyback program, costing hundreds of millions of dollars offset by a one-time tax increase, that bought and destroyed more than 600,000 automatic and semiautomatic weapons and pump-action shotguns.

Over the next few years, gun-death totals were cut nearly in half. Firearm suicides dropped to 0.8 per 100,000 people in 2006 from 2.2 in 1995, while firearm homicides dropped to 0.15 per 100,000 people in 2006 from 0.37 in 1995.

A US buyback would mean destroying more than 40 million guns  but at the state level, the undertaking might not be so massive.

Japan puts citizens through a rigorous set of tests.

Japan, which has strict laws for obtaining firearms, seldom has more than 10 shooting deaths a year in a population of 127 million people.

If Japanese people want to own a gun, they must attend an all-day class, pass a written test, and achieve at least 95% accuracy during a shooting-range test.

Then they have to pass a mental-health evaluation at a hospital, as well as a background check, in which the government digs into any criminal records or ties and interviews friends and family members.

Finally, they can buy only shotguns and air rifles  no handguns  and must retake the class and the initial exam every three years.

Unlike in the US, Japanese law has long outlawed guns. Still, the wisdom from Japan seems to be that tighter regulations keep guns confined only to those fit to use them.

Norway exemplifies the power of social cohesion and trust.

Sociologists who study the Nordic model have found social cohesion, between citizens and between citizens and their government, goes a long way toward ensuring a (mostly) peaceful society.

In Norway, for example, police officers fatally shoot people fewer times in nine years than US police do in a day. Gummi Oddsson, a cross-cultural sociologist from Northern Michigan University, has found that Nordic governments go to great lengths to build trust in local communities.

He told Business Insider that US states could look to strengthen their own sense of trust through measures like community policing. People may begin to feel more safe around the police, and the police will have a better grasp of the neighborhood's makeup.

The UK took a multi-pronged approach.

The UK has taken an approach that combines elements of the other three countries.
Achebe was born on November 16, 1930, and became a renowned novelist in 1958 when he published his award-winning novel-Things fall apart.

The legendary writer who died on March, 21 2013 was also a poet and critic.

As Google and the rest of the the world are celebrating this great Nigerian today, we take a long look back to inform you about the academic history of this fine writer from his primary school in Ogidi to the University College in Ibadan.

So, here's is all you need to know about Chinua Achebe's student life.

The young Achebe started his primary school education at the age of six at St Philips' Central School. After spending a week with young children, he was promoted to a higher class because of his high level of intelligence.

His intellectual gift endeared him to the teachers that one of them described him as the student with the best handwriting and the best reading skills.

At the age of 12, Achebe enrolled at the Central school in Nekede after leaving his family in Ogidi (now in Anambra state)

In 1944, he sat for the entrance examination and was admitted at both Dennis Memorial Grammar School in Onitsha and the even more prestigious Government College in Umuahia but he chose the latter.

Government College was one of the best schools around as it was modelled after British public school and the students were not allowed to speak in their mother tongue. Achebe recalled in one of his books that his first ever punishment at the College was because he asked another boy to pass the soap in the Igbo language.

Interestingly, because of his brilliance and intelligence, Achebe was double-promoted in his first year and ended up spending four instead of five in the school.

Achebe and five other students were banned from studying between 5 and 6 pm by their school principal because their reading habit was considered too intense. Separating them from their books for one hour was the punishment for over-studying.

In 1948, he sat for another entrance exam into the University College (now University of Ibadan) and was admitted as a Major Scholar, and because of the high mark he scored in the exam he was given a scholarship to study medicine.

While studying medicine, Achebe developed an interest in European literature about Africa after reading Joyce Cary's work about a cheerful Nigerian man who worked for an abusive British storeowner.

Joyce Cary's ignorance and portrayal of the Nigerian in the book in a way prompted Achebe to abandon the study of medicine and changed to English, history, and theology.

Achebe, however, lost his scholarship because he switched his field from Medicine to English and had to pay tuition fees.

In 1950, he wrote a piece entitled "Polar graduate" for the University Herald. That piece was his first as an author.

In 1953, Achebe completed his final examinations at Ibadan and was awarded a second-class degree.
According to a twitter post by @OteneSam, the institution allegedly warned students against the growing of facial hairs.

The notice which was posted in the school by the security unit of the Vice Chancellor of the University stated that students are expected to always leave their faces clean shaven without any kind of option.

ALSO READ:When female students exposed breasts to tempt lecturers

The notice read, This is to inform all students (male) that those wearing thick beard on their faces must shave them without option.

The University management has however denies the ban asking the students and public to ignore the story the ban on keeping of beard.

Despite the denial many believe making such decisions is one of the steps Nigerian University management can make to curb cultism on campus.
According to a report by Punch, the veteran, who is down with stroke made the plea at a briefing that was held for his upcoming biography which is scheduled for release in December.

I need help. Nigerians should help me. I am not dead yet, they should not let me die suffering," an ill Sala said.

According to the report, the veteran could barely walk and was supported to the venue.

His first son Reverend Dele Adejumo said that all business investments of the aged veteran including Alawada Standard Hotel, Alawada Records and Alawada Photo magazine, has been ruined by circumstances and poor management.

Baba Sala, who is taken to a hospital weekly, needs a lot of money for medical treatment abroad.

The upcoming biography titled The Triumph of Destiny was co-authored by Babatunde Akinola, Collins Oyedokun, and Kunle Ajani, and captures the antecedents and essence of the creative energies of Sala as a comical trailblazer.

Significantly, Baba Sala started his career in show business as a Highlife musician, fronting in 1964, a group known as the Federal Rhythm Dandies.

He tutored and guided the juju music maestro King Sunny Ade, who was his lead guitar player.
Now she is torn between loyalty to her uncle and saving the marriage from collapse.

Read her story here:

"My name is , a 26-year-old graduate still looking for a job. I graduated three years ago and came to Lagos to stay with my mother's brother in the hope of getting a job though my search has not been fruitful so far.

I have a dilemma and I don't know how to go about it. I am torn between loyalty to my uncle who has been a pillar for me and the fear of causing problems in his marriage.

You see, I caught my uncle's on their matrimonial bed. My uncle and his wife have two children and I know he loves her so much and if I tell him what I saw, I know he will be so devastated and that could break their home.

The day I caught the two, my uncle had traveled to Abuja on a business trip which he often does as he is a contractor.

That day, I had gone out on one of my job hunting but was disappointed because the company that invited me for an interview turned out to be one I could never see myself working in.

The salary they offered was so poor I did not even try to negotiate with them. I left the place in annoyance and went straight home.

Before I left in the morning, my uncle's wife had told me she would be going out and that when I got back, I should help her wash some clothes she had dropped in the laundry bag in their bedroom and to also help her clean up the room.

I let myself into the house with my key and went straight to my room to change. Since I did not meet anyone in the house, I never suspected that anything untoward could be going on.

After changing into a short and blouse, I made to the master bedroom to pick the clothes she wanted me to wash but on getting to the door, I heard some muffled sounds and they were clear sounds of coupling.

I stood there and wondered if my uncle had come back unexpectedly and was making love to his wife but I was shocked when I heard her calling , the houseboy, asking him to hit her hard.

She was telling him how sweet he was and how her own husband did not make love to her the way Tobias did. I almost fainted when I knew it was the houseboy that was humping on my aunt.

I should have left but I was seized by an anger I did not know I had and I pushed the door and luckily, it was not locked. There was my aunt leaning on the bed on all fours while

I stood there for like ten seconds and when I could not take the sight again, I just said: 'aunty, weldone o,' and they quickly detached themselves and grabbed for their clothes.

I just walked out and closed the door behind me. I went into my room and without knowing what came over me, I just broke down and cried. Later, she came to my room and fell on her knees and with tears, begged me not to tell my uncle.

She said it was the devil that pushed her into it. I asked her how long she had been having sex with Tobias and she confessed that they had had sex like five times and promised never to do it again.

It is three weeks now since it happened and I have not been myself. I have been able to look my uncle in the face and he has noticed that there is something bothering and has asked me several times but I keep telling him it is my job situation.

Meanwhile, his keeps begging me every day and sometimes, I feel pity for her but I don't know how long I will keep this secret.

Florence."

The teaser for the day was:

Do you think Florence should tell her uncle about his wife's infidelity?

How Nigeria voted:

Yes, Florence should tell the uncle - 22%

No, Florence should keep the secret for the sake of the marriage - 30%

She should cover up for her aunt as long she has promised not to do so again - 29%

Florence should not be the one to break her uncle's marriage - 16%
Agu who hailed from Ihiala in Anambra State, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN], was brutally beaten during an alleged street fight over a phone in the Olivenhoutbosch area of Gauteng, South Africa.

However, his friends have implicated the SA Police in the death of the Nigerian businessman whom they said was left to die even when the police were invited to the scene and he begged them to take him to a hospital.

One of the deceased's friends, Osinenu Obinna, who posted the sad news on his Facebook page, said Agu had pleaded with police to take him to the hospital but they refused and left him to bleed to death.

Another friend said that even in his condition, the police insisted on taking Agu to his house for a search on the allegation that he was a drug dealer and armed robber.

The victim pleaded with the police to take him to the hospital for treatment but they refused. They insisted on taking him to his house for a search.

After searching his house without finding anything, As usual, the Nigerian community in the area which expressed worry about the incidents, had vowed to take up the matter with appropriate authorities," the friend said.

Posting the devastating news on his Facebook wall, Obinna had this to say of his murdered friend:

"South Africa has brought a lot of pains to us. My brothers, As for me, money is everywhere. Eloka, you left here to South Africa, now you are dead. Why God?

We, your brothers, are angry, crying, living with great pains and asking many questions about your death. Miss you brother, till we meet again."

Apart from Agu, another Nigerian, Ikechukwu Mmanwoke Edmond, a 40-year-old businessman, was also killed in front of his house on Amant Street, Malvern, Johannesburg, on Saturday, November 11, 2017, by some South Africa men who had allegedly gone to rob the house.

Edmond, a native of Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, was said to have tried to intervene while a South African woman was being harassed by the men and they descended on him and beat him to death.

For many years now, Nigerians have been at the receiving end at the hands of their South African hosts and the police who arbitrarily kill, maim and destroy their properties without the government doing anything to curb their excesses.
That said, you'd hope that theyd support you most of the time...especially around the holidays.

Unfortunately, Younger actor Nico Tortorella and his partner of 11 years, fitness and wellness entrepreneur Bethany Meyers, say their decision to be open about being polyamorous makes them unwelcome with her family this holiday season.

Honestly, its kind of a sensitive topic right this second, Nico told People at an event on Monday. Because of all the attention that the relationship has gotten recently, we are coming up to the holiday season and because of certain things that were said, Bethany and I are not necessarily, completely welcome in her family celebrations this year.

In July, Nico and Bethany opened up about their sexuality to The Advocate. Nico said at the time that he identifies as pansexual (meaning hes attracted to everyone regardless of their gender identity or sex) while Bethany identifies as gay.

The couple also opened up about dating other peopleBethany said shes happy to have casual sex, while Nico prefers to be in love first. For me, sex is such an explosive exchange of energy between two people that if youre not connected, energetically, before you have sex, it can be damaging, he said. (He also added that he has no issues with casual sexit's just not for him.)

And criticism from family aside, navigating how to best navigate their 11-year relationship hasn't been simple: I think were raised with this idea that youre supposed to go and find the one, especially women, Bethany said during Nico's podcast, The Love Bomb. Youre looking for your Prince Charming. You need to be proposed to. Theres this one person youre searching to find, so the idea of finding a stability partner, and having other things on top of that, feels too messy.

Still, neither Bethany nor Nico regrets being open about their polyamorous relationship. It just means we have to talk about it more. There are millions of people in non-traditional relationships that get cut off from their families every single day and its not okay, Nico told People.
Mr Victor Isuku, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the attack in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

Isuku said that the incident occurred at about 18:13p.m. when four suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) strapped to their bodies.

He disclosed that first explosion hit a congregation at a prayer ground while other explosives were also detonated at different locations in the area.

Isuku explained that 18 persons including the four bombers were killed while 29 other persons sustained various degrees of injuries in the attack.

Today 15/11/2017; at about 18:13 hours, four suicide bombers, two male and two female, infiltrated Muna Gari community in konduga Local Government Area, and detonated IED strapped to their bodies at different locations.

The first explosion occurred at a prayer ground, while the other explosions occurred thereafter, all within the community.

A total of eighteen persons including the four suicide bombers, died in the multiple explosions, while twenty-nine others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Injured victims

Isuku said that the victims were taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and State Specialist Hospital for treatment.
The President's visit was the first since his assumption of office.

Buhari, who commenced the visit on November 14 with a state visit to Ebonyi, assured the people of South-East that his administration would ensure timely execution of roads, power and other projects in the region.

He gave the assurance when he addressed Ebonyi State Leaders of Thought and Traditional Rulers at a meeting in Government House, Abakiliki.

The President, who was also hosted to a state dinner organised in his honour, commended Ebonyi people for the warm reception accorded him during the state visit.

He said that the visit was clear demonstration of his administrations strong belief in the unity of Nigeria.

Buhari inaugurated the 14.5km Abakiliki-Afikpo Federal road constructed by the Ebonyi Government and launched the 700-metre dual flyover over the Trans-Sahara route, running from Enugu to Cameroon, and the Sen. Offia Nwali flyover, all in the state capital.

The President also performed the foundation-stone laying ceremonies of Ebonyi City Mall, another flyover and road tunnel named after him.

He unveiled the statue of Sir Akanu Ibiam, former Governor of the old Eastern region, whom he described as "a great Nigerian, whose notable records of humanitarianism, advocacy of free primary education and rural development would continue to be an inspiration to all."

Buhari, who commended Gov. David Umahi for "his vision and commitment to the development of the state," also thanked traditional rulers in the state, led by Eze Charles Mkpuna for conferring him with the chieftaincy title of Enyioma 1 of Ebonyi (Trustworthy friend of Ebonyi).

At another event with South East traditional rulers led by Eze Eberechi Dick, the President was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ochioha Ndigbo (Leader of Igbo people).

He was also in Akwa, capital of Anambra, in continuation of the two-day visit to the South East.

ALSO READ: Buhari's visit to Turkey attracts 23 companies

While in Awka, Buhari ordered the police to restore security to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra and called for massive support to Mr Tony Nwoye, APCs governorship candidate.

He called on the people of Anambra to vote Nwoye of APC in the November 18 election.

The President made the call in a short speech at the grand finale of the governorship rally held for the APC governorship candidate.
Mr Oqua Edet-Oqua, Director General of the Agency, disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

He said that the agency embarked on the repairs because of the importance of the routes to the carnival.

According to him, the agency usually carries out repairs of potholes within the state metropolis every December to make the roads motorable and fit for the street dance.

If you drive along the carnival routes and other major roads in the metropolis, you will agree with me that they have actually started work."

Some of the potholes have been marked while others were applied stone base and are waiting for the pouring of asphalt."

Between now and the early part of December, we are hoping to complete the entire work. We are also working on other parts of the state because we believe that the yuletide season in Calabar is of most importance to us."

I am giving you my assurance that the roads along the carnival routes will be ready for use in due course and the carnival participants will have a better road to dance on, he said.

He explained that the maintenance and rehabilitation of major roads, especially the ones on the carnival routes had become a routine activity of the agency every December.

It is a common knowledge in Cross River that before the carnival, all the roads are given attention and we will try to ensure that everywhere is clean before the main event, he said.

A NAN Correspondent, who visited Marian road, IBB way, Mary Slessor and MCC road which are along the carnival routes, observed that the pot holes were all marked for repairs.
He wasnt the head of the team. That honour belongs to CSP Abba Kyari who heads the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force.

They had been tracking Evans for years and when they eventually got hold of him, the police team gyrated and danced to Davidos 30 billion 4 the account o in Magodo; shooting into the air intermittently.

They had engaged Evans in a shootout before swooping on him and running handcuffs around him.

FEARLESS COP

Colleagues describe Sergeant Sanusi as a brave, if fearless police officer who took the maxim, 'obey the last order', to heart.

On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, news filtered in that Sanusi had been outgunned by kidnappersin Delta State during yet another operation.

It was a gun duel that would end his life and time in the police force. It would turn out his last operation as a cop.

In a statement, IRT head Kyari said Sanusi was shot in a gun battle with the abductors of four British citizens in Delta State on Wednesday and died at noon on Friday.

It was during a surgical operation to extract a bullet lodged in his stomach that Sanusi passed on.

Kyari also revealed that the kidnapper who shot Sanusi was also killed.

Two other kidnappers had been arrested earlier.

GALLANT OFFICER

"We pray that our gallant officer, who died in the line of duty, will rest in peace. May almighty God give his family the fortitude to bear the loss, Ameen," Kyari wrote in a statement.

Reports said Sergeant Sanusi seemed fine after the bullets lodged inside of him were removed, only to end up dead a few days later.

"It is really sad and painful altogether. We have not been able to tell his wife and other family members yet. This is the risk of the job we are talking about; we put our lives on the line for others, yet when it is time for promotion, one thing or the other will happen and the list will be kept in view," an unnamed colleague who expressed grief over Sanusi's death, was quoted as saying in the local press.

ALSO READ: Kidnap kingpin to answer to fresh charges in Lagos court

"Look at this now, Sergeant Lanre was one of the men that put his life on the line to arrest Evans and now he is dead. We dont even know how to break the news to his wife and family. It is painful, the anonymous officer added.

NO COMMENT

placed a phone call to the mobile of Lagos Police spokesperson, Famous Cole, for a reaction to Sanusis death, but he told us he wasnt in the best position to comment on the officers death.

I cant comment on the story nor confirm his death because he doesnt work under Lagos State police command. I have read the story online. You have to call the Force PRO in Abuja because the IRT is under the Inspector General of Police", Cole said.

Pulse subsequently rang Police Force PRO Jimoh Moshood following Coles suggestion, but he wouldnt pick up.
He said under the Jonathan government, money "ran away" faster than Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

Tinubu stated this on Thursday, November 16, 2017, while giving a keynote speech at the presentation of Making Steady, Sustainable Progressive for Nigerias Peace and Prosperity: A mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration.

The book presentation was held at the state house conference center, Abuja.

On the Boko Haram insurgency, Tinubu said the terrorists would have taken more territories, which would result in more deaths, if Jonathan was still in power.

He said, "The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves.

"So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could. That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush.

"One minister and her rogues gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in the sleight of hand. In governance, they earned a red card but in corruption l, they won the gold medal.

"It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption. Corruption has become institutionalized."

The former governor of Lagos State said that the ongoing anti-corruption war, which many Nigerians have scored low, has set an axe to "the root of this dangerous tree."

"We have much to do to combat this disease. Not only must we track down the takers. In the long term, we must review the salaries of public servants and create universal credits for our people to reduce temptation."

Some Nigerians, especially the opposition, have described the Buhari anti-corruption war as selective and largely unsuccessful.

The parameters by which the crusade was adjudged a failure is the inability of the anti-corruption agencies to successfully prosecute high profile corruption cases beyond the pages of newspapers.

ALSO READ: Buhari has failed to deliver anything significant - Ezekwesili
Julie Okah-Donli, who disclosed this at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, described organ harvesting as a new dimension in human trafficking.

Organ harvesting is a reality in many parts of the world where people are dubiously sedated on a surgeons table and their organs removed one after the other.

The NAPTIP boss emphasised that such practice had become booming business in 21st century across the globe.

She, however, said she had directed NAPTIPs investigation department to liaise with the police in an event of any reported case of ritual murder to ensure that it was not a case of illegal harvesting of organs.

She said illegal organ harvesting and trafficking have become business ventures whereby organs of victims of human trafficking are harvested unwillingly and sold.

Trafficking for sexual and labour purposes seem no longer a quick money making venture for traffickers, who are not ready to wait for years for their investment to yield desired results.

Perpetrators have now found a quicker way in illegal harvesting of organs of unsuspected victims who are lured with various tricks.

Some are also informed that their organs will be taken for a fee and they will be taken care of but as soon as the organs are removed, promises made will not be fulfilled, while the victim is left to die.

Okah-Donli noted that some family members of sick people who got tired of being on the waiting list for organ transplant sometime resort to buying organs from black market without knowing the source of such organs.

She emphasised that removal of organs for transplanting could only be carried out by professionals in medical field, saying that in a bid to save our lives or lives of our beloved ones, we loss our humanity.

She urged NMA to conduct a Soul Search concerning its members involvement in such act.

The director-general reiterated the agencys commitment to engage Federal Ministry of Health to tackle the menace in the country.

My vision and determination is to present a specialised crime fighting agency that will be foremost in the suppression and elimination of trafficking in persons with specific attention on awareness creation, advocacy, enforcement of law, capacity development.
It was a trip that was long overdue. Buhari hasnt visited the Southeast region of Nigeria since he was elected president in 2015. It was an inexplicable oversight.

In that time, the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) led by an eccentric Nnamdi Kanu was allowed to run amok and brainwash thousands, the Igbos were allowed to feel marginalized by the federal government, the ruling APC was derided and scoffed at in Igboland as a Hausa party and secessionist agitations caught fire and took up residence in the hearts of millions.

All of which could have been avoided if Aso Rock had listened and acted accordingly by dispatching the President to the Southeast soon after the misguided and flippant 97 percent Vs 5 percent comments from the nations Commander-in-Chief.

In any event, the presidents trip to the Southeast this week should be regarded as better late than never. The man was all smiles, was received by mammoth crowds in Ebonyi and Anambra, said all the right things, ordered that a Governors security details be restored and got bestowed with two traditional titles for his troubles.

Wherever Buhari turned, he was feted and adored. Exactly the kind of treatment befitting a president who should unite a fractured nation but who has failed to do exactly that.

Now what?

ALSO READ: 7 things that happened as Buhari visits Southeast

Well, Buhari must now govern all parts of Nigeria equally and bequeath appointments to all geopolitical zones equitably. The president has been labelled with clannish and ethnic tags and most of these labels are his making.

Buhari should also get on a plane for the South South in the next couple of days. His job as president must now include healing age-long wounds of aggrieved regions, implementing policies that reflect his nations diversity and refrain from issuing comments that would further aggravate the concerns of minorities and majorities alike.

Above all else, to counter the Biafra narrative in Igboland, Aso Rock must get to work by gifting the people durable infrastructure and investing in the lives of the poor through social security schemes and empowerment initiatives. On a visit to Abia last week, folks told this writer that they now look up to a quixotic and utopian Biafra for succor because Nigeria has made them poorer and despondent.

In other words, poor socio-economic factors in the Southeast and South South make recruitment into IPOB and Niger Delta Avengers that much easier.

Theres an election in the horizon. If the APC and Buhari intend to garner votes and become a truly national political party, theyve got to factor aggrieved regions of the polity into the overall manifesto.
He also urged them to use the relevant instruments of the African Union, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance in arriving at an amicable resolution of the crisis.

In a statement in Addis Ababa, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Mahmat said he was following closely the developments in the country.

Soldiers had earlier on Wednesday morning announced on state radio what appeared to be a coup against President Robert Mugabe who has been ruling the country since its independence in 1980.

However, a military spokesperson later denied staging a coup saying it was only acting against criminals surrounding the 93-year-old ruler.

Mahmat, in the statement, stressed that it is crucial that the crisis is resolved in a manner that promotes democracy and human rights, as well as the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe.
After negotiations failed to bridge differences, the rivals each called for a council vote on their draft resolutions on Thursday, hours before the JIM's mandate expires at midnight.

Diplomats said they expected Russia to veto the US-drafted measure, which would be the 10th time Moscow has used its veto power at the council to block action targeting its Syrian ally.

The Russian text is unlikely to garner the nine votes required for adoption, diplomats said.

"The United States hopes the Security Council will stand united in the face of chemical weapons use against civilians and extend the work of this critical group," said the US mission in a statement.

"Not doing so would only give consent to such atrocities while tragically failing the Syrian people who have suffered from these despicable acts."

Russia has sharply criticized the JIM after its latest report blamed the Syrian air force for a sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead.

The attack on April 4 triggered global outrage as images of dying children were shown worldwide, prompting the United States to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base a few days later.

Washington and its allies have blamed President Bashar al-Assad's government for the Khan Sheikhun attack, but Syria has denied using chemical weapons, with strong backing from Russia.

Victory for those who use chemical weapons

In its draft, Russia insisted that the panel's findings on Khan Sheikhun be put aside to allow for another "full-scale and high-quality investigation" by the JIM, which would be extended for a year.

During a council vote in late October, Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution on a one-year extension, arguing that it did not want to decide on the fate of the panel before the Khan Sheikhun report.

The United States, Britain and France have insisted that the JIM should be allowed to continue its work and that dozens of other cases of chemical weapons use in Syria must be investigated.

Britain said ending the investigation would mean that perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria will go unpunished.

"The only victors would be people who want to use chemical weapons in Syria, which is the Assad regime plus Daesh, and I think everyone in the Security Council would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we allowed that to happen," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.

Daesh is an Arabic-derived acronym that refers to the Islamic State group.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said this week that scrapping the chemical weapons probe in Syria "may send a bad signal, but the way the investigation has been conducted sends an even worse signal."

The joint UN-Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel was set up by Russia and the United States in 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the council, which renewed its mandate last year.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said far-right gains in Austrian and German elections, which followed the shock of Britain's vote to leave, the European Union, showed action was necessary.

"Rightwing extremists gaining power? Yes of course I'm worried because I know it's a poison for society," Lofven, the summit's co-organiser, told AFP in an interview in Brussels last month.

"I'm convinced that a sustainable European Union needs a strong social dimension because this is all about people."

The so-called "social summit" is the first of its kind since one in Luxembourg in 1997.

It aims to show that the EU is not just a huge market of 500 million people, but a force that can meet the concerns of working people by reducing inequality, boosting welfare and improve people's work-life balance in an era of ever increasing global competition.

Ambitious reforms

The meeting is also the first in an ambitious timeline of summits proposed by EU President Donald Tusk over the next two years to reboot the bloc after Brexit and other setbacks.

Former Polish premier Tusk unveiled the schedule of talks just weeks after calls for deep EU reform by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker.

Most of the EU's 28 national leaders are expected to attend, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, even though her country, which is due to leave the bloc in 2019, has long resisted greater government involvement in the job market.

May could take the chance to have meetings on the sidelines with other leaders about the deadlocked Brexit negotiations, with a December deadline looming for a deal to move on to trade talks.

But Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, the bloc's economic and political dynamo, will skip the summit to lead talks for a new governing coalition, though her aides said she fully supports the meeting's goals.

These points will be enshrined in a European Pillar of Social Rights which Juncker, European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani and Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas -- whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency -- are due to sign on Friday.

'Extremism and populism'

But there are, as ever, splits within the EU over how best to drive economic growth.

Lofven, Juncker and other EU leaders have called for free trade deals with Latin America and other parts of the world despite calls by Macron to moderate their zeal.

Macron argues that EU governments no longer have the popular support to negotiate trade deals as many Europeans fear they will lead only to more job losses as well as weaker environmental and health standards.

Lofven, who has headed a fragile Social Democrat coalition since 2014, said trade deals are needed for economic growth but that wealth must be distributed in a "fairer way than we do today".

"If gaps are widening too much, especially if people at the bottom of the society feel that they are not part of this, well that breeds extremism and populism," Lofven said.

Leaders are also due to discuss ways to make it easier for young Europeans to move for education and jobs, such as the Erasmus programme, which has allowed five million Europeans study around the bloc since it was launched 30 years ago.
But even senior figures of the Republic on the Move (LREM) admit that, having tasted glory over the summer with a membership of some 350,000, the party has stagnated since.

Worse, after widespread grumbling in private, a small group of 100 followers went public this week with an open resignation letter that claimed the party was consumed by political games and "courtesanship".

The anonymous rebels said that LREM was guilty of "contempt and arrogance", had frozen out its community-level members and was aping the methods of the "old world" of politics. "Democracy is not On the Move," it said.

The letter, first published by the France Info radio station on Tuesday, was timed to coincide with a party congress at the weekend where Macron's handpicked favourite Christophe Castaner is set to be named new LREM leader.

Castaner, a government spokesman who has spoken of his "love" for the president, is standing unopposed in a vote set to be dominated by national party bigwigs -- not grassroots members of what Macron calls a "citizens' movement".

Growing pains?

The ructions in LREM are one of a number of challenges faced by the young head of state who needs the party as a support base as he battles opponents on many fronts, including angry trade unionists opposed to his agenda.

It will also be vital for Macron at the local and regional level in France, where upcoming elections for mayors and councils offer him the chance to push his pro-business agenda to "transform" France.

LREM, launched simply as En Marche (On the Move) in April 2016, was a hugely effective electoral force with its thousands of volunteers who knocked on doors, flocked to rallies and distributed leaflets.

Many were drawn to Macron's promise to do politics differently, including his pledge to put "kindness" at the heart of his agenda, while local committees were invited to brainstorm and contribute to the party's manifesto.

But once the former investment banker entered office in May, the tight-knit team behind En Marche's success -- political aides all in their 20s and 30s -- headed to new jobs in ministries or the presidential staff.

Many volunteers returned to their day jobs, or simply took a break after months of exhausting work.

One leading LREM campaigner in Paris told AFP that the party was barely functioning.

"If you ask for help, they don't offer anything. The telephone switchboard doesn't even work properly at headquarters," she said, asking not to be named because of fears the criticism could harm her standing.

An article in the magazine L'Opinion this week looking at the movement's growing pains was headlined: "Republic on the Move goes through a teenage crisis".

'Complicated'

LREM parliamentarian Jean-Christophe Moreau, a former farmer who is one of dozens of MPs who benefited from Macron's drive to bring outsiders into politics, admits that "obviously since the elections, it's been complicated."

"The priority now is to have a clear political line," he said in an interview in his office at parliament where lawmakers were busy voting on a new tax-cutting budget aimed at stimulating business.

He and others hope that the smooth-talking Castaner, a former Socialist MP who sided early with Macron during his presidential bid, can help revive the lost momentum on the ground.

The open letter by the LREM rebels claimed that "local committees have emptied" since the elections -- something seen as a worry by other members who have spoken to AFP and other French media this week.

Castaner's uncontested "election" this weekend will give the party head a new focus, but the opaque process that led to his nomination has left some activists worried about a lack of internal democracy.

"If things are very centralised, then you can get the impression that we're just here to apply decisions made higher up and people will get disappointed," warned Patrick Bernard, an LREM organiser in the rural Creuse region.

But he believes new initiatives like a skills training platform for volunteers and new community projects for members will help regenerate enthusiasm.
The demonstrations are the fourth in a series launched in September that have done little to dent the president's ambitions, given his hefty majority in parliament.

"Macron and the bosses are waging a social war, let's plan the counterattack", read a banner of the far-left Lutte Ouvriere (Workers' Struggle) party in Paris, where about 8,000 people turned out, according to police.

That compared with about 200,000 who participated in a September 12 protest.

The Force Ouvriere union, one of France's largest, backed the demos for the first time, having previously shown a wait-and-see attitude toward the centrist Macron government.

Macron claims to have a mandate for change after handily winning the presidency in May and leading his centrist Republic on the Move party to a sweeping victory in the June parliamentary elections.

The government says its overhaul of labour laws is necessary to lower unemployment, which is stuck at around 9.6 percent -- about twice that of Britain or Germany -- but opponents accuse Macron of trampling on cherished workers' rights.

Macron has scored major legislative triumphs including flagship reforms to France's complex labour code, which took effect in September after he used executive decrees to push them through.

The strikes and street protests sparked by the labour reforms paled in comparison with those that have thwarted similar attempts by Macron's predecessors.

Nearly 400,000 turned out against president Francois Hollande in March 2016 at the height of protests against his reform efforts.

Additional sensitive changes -- of the unemployment benefits system and pensions -- are on Macron's frenetic agenda.

In the southern city of Marseille, the radical-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon said "thousands, millions of political activists... are ready to spring into action."

But even Melenchon, head of the France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party, acknowledged recently that Macron "has the upper hand, for now".
"We are ready to exchange experience with the moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence information to face Iran," Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot was quoted as saying by Elaph, a news website run by a Saudi businessman.

Asked whether any information had been shared recently with Saudi Arabia, he said "we are ready to share information if necessary. There are many common interests between us and them."

Israel's army confirmed the contents of the rare interview with Arabic-language media.

According to Israel's army, it was the first interview of its kind since 2005.

Sunni Muslim powerhouse Saudi Arabia has long been at loggerheads with Shiite, non-Arab Iran but friction has spiralled recently.

Earlier this month, Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced from Saudi capital Riyadh that he was quitting, citing Iran's "grip" on his country.

The leader of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group supported by Iran, has accused Saudi Arabia of pressing Israel to launch attacks against it.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made similar allegations this week.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a devastating war in 2006.

Eisenkot said in the interview that "we have no intention of initiating a conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and reaching a war, but we cannot accept strategic threats to Israel there.

"I am very happy with the calm on both sides of the border, which has lasted 11 years. On the other hand, we see Iranian attempts to escalate."

Israel and Arab countries are also concerned with Iran's influence in Syria, where Tehran and Hezbollah are backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime in his country's civil war.

Gulf Arab countries are also worried about the Islamic republic's support for Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen.

'New international alliance'

Eisenkot referred to US President Donald Trump's attempt to find a path to Israeli-Palestinian peace by drawing in regional countries.

Trump's first trip abroad as president included stops in Saudi Arabia and Israel.

His son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has reportedly formed a bond with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"With President Donald Trump, there is a chance for a new international alliance in the region and a major strategic plan to stop the Iranian threat," Eisenkot said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been promoting the idea that his country's ties with Arab nations are improving, and some experts have said there are signs that shared concerns over Iran are indeed nudging them closer.

Formal ties do not seem likely due to Israel's continuing occupation of Palestinian territory and the lack of progress in peace efforts, but behind-the-scenes cooperation has opened up in various areas, a number of experts and officials have said.

Netanyahu has described relations with the Arab world as the "best ever", though without providing any details.

Leaders of Arab countries have not publicly made similar comments, however that does not necessarily mean they dispute Netanyahu's claim.

They face sensitivities within their own countries, where the Jewish state is often viewed with intense hostility.
"'I will kill all the Americans, each and everyone of them...': This is what the defendant Abu Khattala said and this is exactly what he did," prosecutor Michael DiLorenzo told a jury in the trial in Washington federal court.

"On September 11, he took action," DiLorenzo said, highlighting that the attack in the eastern Libyan city took place on the anniversary of the 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks.

Khattala, in his 40s with a long white beard, sat passively in his chair in the courtroom, where his trial opened seven weeks earlier.

DiLorenzo summed up his argument that Khattala was an Islamic extremist who hated Western culture and believed the US operated a cell of spies in Benghazi.

Prosecutors allege that he directed the attack by some 20 men armed with grenades and heavy weapons on the US consulate and a second annex building where agents of the CIA worked.

The attack set fire to the consulate, where Stevens and a second State Department official, Sean Smith, died of asphyxiation.

Later that night two former Navy Seals who were contracted to the consulate operation, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, were killed by mortar fire on the annex.

The attack shocked the United States. Stevens was the first American ambassador killed in the field since 1979.

Republicans in Congress launched an intense investigation that accused president Barack Obama and then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton of mismanagement, neglect and covering up the truth of the incident.

Murder and terror charges

Khattala is facing 18 separate charges including murder and material support for terrorists.

The 12-person jury is to begin weighing a verdict after final arguments in the case wind up on Thursday.

Khattala's lawyers argue that although he is a conservative Muslim, he did not hate the West. To the contrary, they said he was a "Libyan patriot" who says he worked with Americans to bring down the Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, who was killed in 2011.

The photographs and videos that show him at the site during the attack do not prove he was part of it, his lawyers say. He was only a bystander who came to watch.

But the US government argues he commanded the Islamist militia Ansar al-Sharia behind the attack.

Even if he did not physically participate, DiLorenzo argued, in a conspiracy "the defendant is equally liable."

Test case

Khattala's trial is a test case for foreign suspects forcibly brought to the United States for trial.

He was captured in 2014 when US special forces carried out a raid based on intelligence provided by a Libyan man who ultimately received a $7 million reward from the US government.

On November 4 a second Libyan accused of involvement in the Benghazi attack, Mustafa al-Imam, was put on trial in the same Washington court, days after being captured and brought to the United States.
Hariri has been in Riyadh since announcing his shock resignation from there on November 4, and Lebanon's President Michel Aoun on Wednesday accused Saudi authorities of "detaining" the premier.

"We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri's acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution," Aoun said on the official presidential Twitter account.

"I am awaiting the return of Prime Minister Hariri from Paris for us to decide the next step with regards to the government," Aoun added.

Hariri has not returned to Lebanon since he announced he was standing down, and Aoun has yet to accept the resignation, saying he was waiting for the premier to return to Lebanon.

In his sharply worded resignation statement, Hariri, 47, accused Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of destabilising his country and the broader region.

Speculation has swirled around the fate of Hariri, who is a dual Saudi citizen.

On Wednesday, Aoun accused Saudi Arabia of "detaining" Hariri after what he said was his failure to return to the country for 12 days.

"We consider him to be held and detained, contrary to the Vienna Convention," he said.

On Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said during a visit to the kingdom that Hariri would travel to France.

"He will come to France and the prince has been informed," Le Drian told reporters, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks the previous evening.

The French president's office said on Wednesday that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile.

Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person.

On Wednesday night, Okab Sakr, a close adviser of Hariri's, told the Lebanese television station MTV that the premier "will leave in 48 hours for France with his family".
The fate of the company, founded in 1976, is closely tied to that of Venezuela, which is dependent on oil and sales of its heavy crude for some 96 percent of its export earnings.

Its bonds represent 30 percent of Venezuela's external debt -- estimated at around $150 billion -- which the government is seeking to renegotiate.

President Nicolas Maduro owes the difficulties to a fall in oil prices -- which have halved since 2014 -- and US government sanctions, which prohibit any US person or bank from buying the country's debt.

But many economists, like Cesar Aristimuno, blame a drop in production, which is at its lowest level since the 1990s, excluding a strike observed between December 2002 and February 2003.

Currently Venezuela produces 1.9 million barrels per day, compared with 2.3 million barrels in 2016.

Before the late President Hugo Chavez came into power in 1999, that figure stood at 3.1 million barrels per day.

Revenues mirrored the decline, from $122 billion in 2014 to $72 billion in 2015 -- to $48 billion in 2016.

It's a stark contrast from a decade prior, when the industry newsletter Petroleum Intelligence Weekly ranked PDVSA as one of the world's leading companies, with even more power than giants Shell or Chevron.

So why such a tumble?

Experts point fingers at a lack of investment and exploration and inadequate maintenance of oil installations.

"PDVSA is virtually the only source of foreign exchange in the Venezuelan economy, and the government has spent everything without looking at oil investments," said Risa Grais-Targow, the Eurasia research group's Latin America director.

'PDVSA is ruined'

The group's windfall was primarily used to finance huge public spending and a budget deficit of around 20 percent of its GDP.

"PDVSA is ruined. Why? Because it has become a bank," said Jose Gonzales, director of the consulting firm GCG Advisors.

Beginning in 2005, the enterprise has fed a government fund to the tune of some $130 billion, according to economist Orlando Ochoa.

To build up the fund the budget was prepared using an oil base price lower than in reality, Ochoa told AFP.

According to oil services company Baker Hughes, Venezuela has only 39 active wells, compared with 83 in October 2013. This threatens the "ability to improve production," said expert Jesus Casique.

Prices have been rising in recent months and Venezuelan crude now exceeds $55 per barrel -- the highest level since 2015, even though it is far from its average price in 2014 of $88.42.

But PDVSA has lost efficiency: the group has seen its workforce explode from 40,000 to 150,000 employees in 18 years, and producing a barrel rings up at $40, Gonzales said.

Corruption is another scourge, with a court probe underway over 10 contracts worth $35 billion that were over-billed upwards of 230 percent, for example.

PDVSA is also at the heart of Venezuela's geopolitical alliances: 36 percent of its production is used to repay loans to China and Russia, as well as sending crude oil to Cuba and the Caribbean under cooperation agreements, according to Aristimuno.

Only a small portion of the fuel feeds into the domestic market, where gas prices are the lowest in the world -- a kilogram of meat costs as much as 75,000 liters (19,812 gallons) of gasoline.
But Venezuela announced Wednesday a restructuring deal with Russia on a small part of the estimated $150 billion in foreign debt held by the oil-rich but cash-poor nation, and says it has made payments on those bonds.

S&P managing director Joydeep Mukherji, who handles Latin American and Caribbean sovereign ratings, said even if those payments are confirmed, other debt service remains in doubt, including on four other bonds that already are overdue.

The agency also had declared state oil company PDVSA in selective default for non-payment on some of its obligations.

So even if the government manages to make a payment, it would "just go back to where you were before default. The larger picture hasn't changed just because you managed to scrape together cash to pay the bonds."

A default designation would have legal ramifications, allowing creditors to take action to demand payment, including potentially seizing valuable assets, but it would not change the situation on the ground.

"They've been in dire straits for quite a while," he said, and the ratings on the debt at "CC" is still "the closest you can get to the abyss without falling into default."

Like other observers of the deteriorating political situation in Venezuela, where the government has installed a constituent assembly to overrule the opposition-controlled Congress, and faces US economic and financial sanctions, Mukherji does not see prospects for the Maduro regime to change course.

"The economic policy has been the same for many, many years now... I have no reason to think, based on past performance, that a big change is coming now."

While lenders have seen many other defaults in Latin America, notably Argentina in 2002, Venezuela's situation is unique in many ways, not least that the government promised to pay its debt but also called for a creditors meeting Monday to discuss a restructuring, where it failed to present any plan.

Normally a country in crisis has declared default and approached creditors to negotiate a solution.

Venezuela, unlike other cases, has valuable resources in the United States that creditors could attempt to seize for repayment, notably its oil exports and Citgo with its three refineries, owned by PDVSA.

There also is huge uncertainty due to the US sanctions that prohibit American institutions and individuals from buying new Venezuelan bonds, which normally would be part of any restructuring.

But Venezuela's case is anything but normal, he said.
The media outlet also said another woman claimed that Moore asked to date her in 1982, when she was just 17 and he was in his mid-30s, and that Moore told her he went out "with girls your age all the time."

The allegations are the latest in a series of explosive claims against Moore, a conservative former Alabama Supreme Court judge. Five women have previously come forward to accuse Moore, including a woman who claimed he initiated a sexual encounter with her decades ago when she was 14.

Moore, now 70, is the Republican nominee in a special Alabama election December 12 to fill the seat of now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Appearing before media in Alabama, Moore's lawyer Phillip Jauregui denied the allegation of one accuser, Beverly Young Nelson, who this week said Moore sexually assaulted her in his car in 1977, when she was 16.

Nelson showed reporters her yearbook that Moore apparently signed, as evidence that they knew one another.

Jauregui said the campaign wants the yearbook released so that a handwriting expert can determine, "is it genuine or is it a fraud?"

In the new sexual harassment allegation detailed in AL.com, which includes the Birmingham News and Huntsville Times newspapers, Tina Johnson said Moore made her feel uncomfortable during a meeting in his office, when he "kept commenting on my looks."

Johnson was then 28 and in a strained marriage, and was visiting with her mother who had hired Moore to handle a custody petition involving Johnson's son.

As the women left Moore's office, Johnson said, he groped her buttocks.

"He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," she said.

The second woman, Kelly Harrison Thorp, said she he was just 17 when Moore asked her out. She declined.

Mainstream Republicans in Washington have made it clear they want Moore to exit the race.

President Donald Trump has appeared to equivocate on the matter, saying last week that Moore should step aside if the claims proved true, while adding that a mere allegation should not destroy the Alabama politician's life.
Washington and Moscow have put forward rival draft resolutions on renewing for a year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), tasked with identifying perpetrators of Syria's toxic gas attacks.

After negotiations failed to bridge differences, the rivals each called for a council vote on their draft resolutions on Thursday, hours before the JIM's mandate expires at midnight.

Diplomats said they expected Russia to veto the US-drafted measure, which would be the 10th time Moscow has used its veto power at the council to block action targeting its Syrian ally.

The Russian text is unlikely to garner the nine votes required for adoption, diplomats said.

A resolution requires nine votes to be adopted at the council, but five countries -- Russia, Britain, China, France and the United States -- can block adoption with their veto power.

"The United States hopes the Security Council will stand united in the face of chemical weapons use against civilians and extend the work of this critical group," said the US mission in a statement.

"Not doing so would only give consent to such atrocities while tragically failing the Syrian people who have suffered from these despicable acts."

Russia has sharply criticized the JIM after its latest report blamed the Syrian air force for a sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead.

The attack on April 4 triggered global outrage as images of dying children were shown worldwide, prompting the United States to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base a few days later.

Washington and its allies have blamed President Bashar al-Assad's government for the Khan Sheikhun attack, but Syria has denied using chemical weapons, with strong backing from Russia.

Victory for those who use chemical weapons

In its draft, Russia insisted that the panel's findings on Khan Sheikhun be put aside to allow for another "full-scale and high-quality investigation" by the JIM, which would be extended for a year.

During a council vote in late October, Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution on a one-year extension, arguing that it did not want to decide on the fate of the panel before the Khan Sheikhun report.

The United States, Britain and France have insisted that the JIM should be allowed to continue its work and that dozens of other cases of chemical weapons use in Syria must be investigated.

Britain said ending the investigation would mean that perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria will go unpunished.

"The only victors would be people who want to use chemical weapons in Syria, which is the Assad regime plus Daesh, and I think everyone in the Security Council would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we allowed that to happen," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.

Daesh is an Arabic-derived acronym that refers to the Islamic State group.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said this week that scrapping the chemical weapons probe in Syria "may send a bad signal, but the way the investigation has been conducted sends an even worse signal."

The joint UN-Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel was set up by Russia and the United States in 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the council, which renewed its mandate last year.

Previous reports by the JIM have found that Syrian government forces were responsible for chlorine attacks on three villages in 2014 and 2015, and that the Islamic State group used mustard gas in 2015.
"The Brexit mutineers -- Remain-supporting Conservatives rebel against May's move to enshrine in law the date Britain leaves EU," Wednesday's headline read, referring to those who voted to stay in the EU in last year's referendum.

The targets of the piece accused the paper of "bullying", while a government minister distanced himself from what he said was an attempt to "divide" the party.

"If fighting for the best possible future for our country and our government is considered mutiny -- then bring it on," tweeted one MP, Heidi Allen.

Another, Anna Soubry, said it was a "blatant piece of bullying" and insisted none of those named wanted to delay or thwart Brexit.

"We just want a good Brexit that works for everybody in our country," she said.

However, she added that she took being named as a "badge of honour", adding on Twitter that "a number of Tory MPs (are) outraged they've been left off!"

"The role of MPs is not to be lobby fodder but to scrutinise legislation," tweeted Antoinette Sandbach, referring to the lobby areas in which lawmakers vote.

Brexit minister Steve Baker, who spoke for the government in Tuesday's debate, tweeted: "I regret any media attempts to divide our party.

"My parliamentary colleagues have sincere suggestions to improve the bill which we are working through and I respect them for that."

'Don't want us to leave'

The government won the first five votes late Tuesday on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which seeks to formally end Britain's membership and transfer European law onto the UK statute books.

Debate resumes on Wednesday on the next batch of almost 200 pages of amendments tabled from MPs of all parties.

Conservative rebellions are likely later on in the process, with a further six days of discussion set aside over the coming weeks.

Criticism of the bill was initially focused on its provisions to give powers to ministers to amend the EU law as it is moved across.

But a last-minute government move to use the law to legislate for Brexit day has sparked widespread anger among those who argue that there should be some flexibility if EU negotiations are delayed.

Britain trigged the two-year Article 50 process of leaving the EU on March 29 this year, but this can be extended if all 28 EU member states including Britain agree.

Ministers want to set exit day as 2300 GMT on March 29, 2019.

A eurosceptic Conservative MP, Bernard Jenkin, told the debate Tuesday that any lawmakers who opposed the government's move "are open to the charge that they don't want us to leave the European Union".

However Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general who was named by the Daily Telegraph and has tabled around 20 amendments to the bill, told AFP earlier this week: "I'm not trying to stop Brexit.
A State Department official said the US embassy in Harare has been closed to the public as a safety precaution and a message has been sent urging American citizens to shelter at home.

"The US government is concerned by recent actions undertaken by Zimbabwe's military forces," the official said.

"We call on all Zimbabwean leaders to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, uphold the constitutionally-protected rights of all citizens, and to quickly resolve differences to allow for a rapid return to normalcy," he added.

"The United States does not take sides in matters of internal Zimbabwean politics and does not condone military intervention in political processes."

Military vehicles were stationed around key government buildings in Harare on Wednesday after officers announced an operation to purge Mugabe's entourage of "criminals."
COAL VALLEY  Mayor Mike Bartels announced Wednesday the village will hold its first-ever Christmas tree lighting Dec. 1.

The tree lighting will happen at 6 p.m. at the Post Office Park, 1st Street and 22nd Avenue. Children will be able to decorate and keep their own Christmas decorations, and hot chocolate and cookies will be provided.

Also, Santa Claus might make an appearance, Mayor Bartels said.

"It has really opened my eyes and has really been great for me to see all the residents chip in," Mayor Bartels said. "Just the amount of lights that we have got from donations, monetary donations, it has been a real blessing to have people come forward and care for our community.

"We are hoping to have at least 100 kids there that night," Mayor Bartels said.

In Christmas-related news, the council approved a $250 donation for the Coal Valley Lions Club for the Christmas basket program.

In other news, the property tax levy will remain the same for a fifth year after the board unanimously approved the fiscal year 2018 budget.

Trustee Stan Engstrom commented that the village will not be able to hold the line on the levy forever.

No other comments regarding the budget were made.

Trustees discussed adopting a liquor ordinance similar to one recently passed by the Moline City Council that would allow an 18-year-old to serve alcohol. While Illinois law already allows that, the city ordinance still stipulates alcohol can only be served by those 21 years old or older.

Village Administrator Annette Ernst said she would reach out to businesses that sell alcohol to see if this is a change they would welcome.

Mayor Bartels announced that a formal meeting with the Rock Island County Forest Preserve District to discuss a cost-sharing plan for water extension to Niabi Zoo. The meeting will be held 3:30 p.m. Dec. 12.

Village Administrator Annette Ernst told the board that a hearing with MUNICIES regarding the fees racked up by the owner of the former Jack and Jill location lasted just 16 minutes. Mr. Struyk has been fined $4,500 per day for code violations.

The attorney for owner Tony Struyk told officials that she had learned that a sale of the property had fallen through at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. Officials with MUNICIES determined Mr. Struyk's attorney did not have enough time to prepare for a hearing, according to Ms. Ernst. The hearing will now be held Dec. 8.

Municipal Code Enforcement System, also known as MUNICIES, is a system used by several municipalities in Rock Island County to hear cases about ordinance, building and zoning violations.

New residents to village may have to pay a $35 connection fee to turn on water services. Trustees will make a final vote on the fee at the next council meeting Dec. 6.

Mayor Bartels said he does not like trying to justify implementation of the fee "because other cities do it."

"When you look at the issue of us having to go out, read a meter separately from our other readings, it pulls our guys away from doing our duties," Mayor Bartels said. "It takes up time, and it's an added cost."
CAMBRIDGE  Henry County inched away from an advisory referendum on local government consolidation Wednesday.

The countys executive committee, which withdrew a vote on an advisory voter referendum two months ago, held a special meeting with the sole topic being consolidation discussion.

The original discussion focused on townships; Wednesdays conversation also touched briefly on drainage districts and schools.

Mostly, the executive committee members took comments from about 15 members of the public including several township officials, a fire chief and a former school superintendent

Committee chair Kippy Breeden said earlier the goal of the special meeting was to decide the scope of the consolidation question and how it should be presented. After hearing from the audience for two hours, then going around the table for committee members thoughts, she said her committee could not take any action immediately, but would review Wednesdays discussion.

The feeling from the committee Im getting is this is still a dead issue, Im sorry, she said.

The township officials stressed that their chief responsibilities are roads, assessments, general assistance and cemeteries.

They said their tax dollars come to the county through the intergovernmental agreements for road construction. They wondered who would oversee cemetery funds, which can run into big bucks.

Rural Geneseo resident Jim Ufkin asked why the county was stirring things up when theyd probably end up where were at, anyway.

He said there was no way road districts could be consolidated and do it cheaper.

Are we going to start consolidating counties, too? Or throw out Geneseo and run that from over here? Thats how crazy it could get, he said. If there are problems, let those districts take care of it.

Munson Township supervisor Deve Detloff wondered what the countys plan was to replace townships. I cant understand if were all strapped for money, time and resources, you all can be spending time on this.

Yorktown Township supervisor David Thompson said he thought township consolidation was finished after a meeting three years ago. Im wondering why you didnt accept the results of the last meeting we had on township consolidation. It was very good, honest, intelligent and informative and we thought wed put this thing to bed.

He also said he was at a conference where he learned two townships combined and the funds belonging to the smaller township had to be sent to the state or county. You dont put both your holdings together, he said.

Cambridge Township supervisor Dave Dobbels said he didnt think the county should be involved in a consolidation question.

For someone to say township government is antiquated is almost like saying our Constitution is an antiquated document, he said.

Atkinson Township clerk Ray Elliott wondered what any savings would be after three years, offering examples like increased fuel cost, labor and mileage on vehicles. Its every little thing that adds up and its a shame, he said.

Colona Fire Chief John Swan suggested asking all taxing bodies to assess themselves to get feedback on what the issues are. Those types of things might be the best step, he said.

Cooperative purchasing and intergovernmental agreements might be the better route, according to former Silvis superintendent Ray Bergles. Youre asking an awful lot if you think that this is going to go over, he added.

County board chairman Roger Gradert said the concept of the advisory referendum was to seek out the publics opinion. He said county residents living in towns may wonder why they are paying township taxes. I dont think they see all the value, he said.

He talked about where the issue came from.

There have been people that have called and said, I think its time for the discussion, he said. We do not want the county to take over, just get the discussion going.

One resident told the committee he wanted to see consolidations. David Allen of Lorraine Township said he sees three to five election judges for 239 voters  maybe 40 for primary elections. He said it was the countys job to look at it.

I think its good that the county is looking at consolidating some of this cost, he said. Were taxed through the nose in Illinois.
The $US 80m project involved reconstructing track subgrade and superstructure and five switches, as well as building two tunnels and 17 bridges, installing new signalling, telecommunications, alarm and contact systems, and repairs to infrastructure along the 77.6km route, including overhead electrification, 11 level crossings, 10 stations. The improvements have increased line speeds from 50km/h to 120km/h.

Work on the project began in July 2016 and RZD says it was completed on schedule despite delays caused by the holiday season. The ceremony was attended by Ms Zorna Mikhailovich, Serbias deputy prime minister and minister of construction, transport and infrastructure, and first president of RZD, Mr Alexander Misharin. Traffic on the Belgrade - Bar line resumed in July following the completion of the 35km Resnik - Vreoci section.

The project is the last of the three southern sections of TEN-T Corridor X which RZD has rebuilt under a $US 941m contract signed by the Russian and Serbian governments in March 2014.

RZD International also confirmed that it will start work in the first quarter of 2018 to upgrade the 40km Stara Pazova - Novi Sad section of the Belgrade - Budapest line after it signed a contract with Serbian Railways (ZS). Work will involve building a new double-track railway, which will feature three viaducts, a tunnel, 19 bridges and overpasses, and 36 smaller bridges. The project will also involve rehabilitation of stations along the route and will cost around $US 247m.

The project is part of a wider upgrade to the Belgrade - Budapest line, with a Chinese-Hungarian consortium responsible for the Hungarian section of the route.
The line between Amery and Churchill has been inoperable since May 23 following flooding that requires repairs costing between $C 20m and 60m ($US 16.2m-48.6m). In September, the Canadian government formally demanded that HBR honour a 2008 agreement and repair the tracks, and on October 13 the government gave the railway 30 days to make the repairs.

On November 13, Canadas minister of transport Mr Marc Garneau said the government will move ahead with its planned suit against OmniTrax as it has failed to resume operations on the Gillam - Churchill section of the HBR in Manitoba.

Our government remains committed to the people of Churchill and northern Manitoba and we recognise the importance of the rail line for the community, Garneau says. We also believe it is important to hold OmniTrax accountable and that is why we are moving ahead with legal action. We are optimistic that interested buyers can develop a viable, sustainable business plan towards owning and operating the line.

Transport Canada says OmniTRAX did not fulfil its obligations under the terms of the contribution agreement it signed with the Canadian government in 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, the government provided $C 20m for the rehabilitation of the line between The Pas and the Port of Churchill. Transport Canada says it has paid out $C 18.8m to date.

According to Transport Canada, the agreement requires that OmniTrax operate, maintain and repair the entire HBR in a diligent and timely manner until March 31 2029. It also specifies that the company must repay Transport Canada if it significantly reduces, discontinues, abandons or sells HBR.

OmniTrax has argued that the line is not commercially viable and should be viewed as a public utility. We recognise this position has frustrated many, but it has become the inconvenient truth for Churchill, Mr Merv Tweed, president of OmniTrax Canada, said in a statement issued in October.
There have been four rounds of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) re-negotiations, with the fifth round set for Mexico City beginning Nov. 17. According to Workingmans Dead: NAFTA Withdrawal Risk Sector Impact, a just-released study from Cowen and Co.s 11-member Washington Research Group, a U.S. pullout from the landmark agreement forged more than 20 years ago will likely have a significant negative impact on the freight railroad industry.

The full report discusses 30 companies Cowen covers, 8 of which are a Class I railroad or a major supplier conducting cross-border business. Cowen Managing Director and Railway Age Wall Street Contributing Editor Jason Seidl and analyst Matt Elkott cover 16 of them.

The full report can be downloaded at the link below; following are highlights:

 There are three big-picture takeaways: We view NAFTA withdrawal as unlikely, but this is something President Trump can do unilaterally (no Congressional role) and protectionist trade theory has been his policy North Star for decades. This is a zero-sum, visceral issue for Trump. This is likely a Q1 2018 issue, though the Mexican Presidential election in July and potential left-wing win could make NAFTAs demise a self-fulfilling prophecy. The three sectors most impacted will be autos, apparel, and freight carriers.

 The deadline of February/March is due to Mexicos Presidential election on July 1. Leading candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, also known as AMLO, is a fiery left-wing populist who has said he too will re-negotiate NAFTA. NAFTAs demise could become a self-fulfilling prophecy in a Trump-AMLO negotiation with shades of Newtons third law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

 Since Trump first dipped his toes in the deep waters of the Presidency 30 years ago, trade has been the one policy constant. We have flagged Trumps near unilateral powers on trade as one of the greatest short-term policy risks since his election in November. The U.S. has not had a protectionist/defensive trade President since The Great Depression. Trumps margin for victory in the Electoral College largely came from the Rust Belt, where trade is a pariah and a four-letter word. This is one of the few issues  where the Trump and (Sen. Bernie) Sanders wings are in broad agreement. And lets be honest: The [Republican Party] is no longer anchored on free trade, internationalist foreign policy, and entitlement reform. Trumps fair-trade evangelism on the campaign trail has converted huge swaths of the GOP to a party of born-again mercantilists that sings from the same hymnals as their brethren in organized labor.

 Trumps zero-sum view on trade has been consistent through his public years. The six core industries for the America First trade agenda, as described by the White House: 1) steel; 2) aluminum; 3) vehicles; 4) aircraft; 5) shipbuilding; and 6) semiconductors.

 The U.S. has not withdrawn from a trade agreement since 1866, but that is not because of its difficulty. There is an escape hatch built into [NAFTA], which makes it very easy to void: Article 2205. This basically states that six months after Trump sends the Canadian Prime Minister and Mexican President written notice, the treaty is dissolved. No Congressional approval is required. Because this hasnt happened since 1866 (which is a bit of a ridiculous practical precedence given the changes in economies, etc.), we do not know what would actually happen if this happened: tariffs reset to 1994? U.S. investment to Mexico blocked/unwound? It would be a zero-gravity environment. What is clear is that President Trump can go down this road with a single stroke of a pen and a six-month lag.

 A termination of NAFTA would likely have a net negative impact on the U.S. and Canadian freight carriers in our coverage universe. Freight is, first and foremost, a function of the economy and trade activity. If protectionist policies are implemented and prove detrimental to trade, the carriers would be bound to see the impact in their volumes. Additionally, potential changes to border crossing procedures could disrupt the fluidity of carriers networks and potentially increase dwell time and empty miles. Perhaps the most at risk in our universe is Kansas City Southern..

 Among the publicly traded railcar builders, Greenbrier faces the highest risk from the potential of protectionist trade policies toward Mexico, followed by Trinity. American Railcar Industries (ARI) and FreightCar America, on the other hand, could benefit, as substantially all their manufacturing infrastructures are in the U.S. We estimate at least 80% of Greenbriers current railcar production for the North American market comes from Mexico, where the company has three facilities.
Russian Supreme Court mitigates sentence of woman convicted of treason

MOSCOW, November 16 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russia on Thursday reduced the sentence of Inga Tutisani, who had been convicted of treason, from 6 to 4 years and 1 month in prison, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

The woman has sent a message to Georgia containing information on Russias troops movement in August 2008, according to case papers.

Tutisani will be released from prison in 9 days, her attorney Ivan Pavlov wrote on his Facebook.

Earlier, three other women, who had received prison terms in similar cases, were pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin and freed.

Marina Dzhandzhgava was sentenced to 12 years behind bars in 2013; Annik Kesyan was given an 8-year prison term in 2014, according to the website of unofficial human rights group of lawyers and journalists Team 29. They were convicted of sending messages allegedly containing information about a railroad train with war equipment bounding for the Republic of Abkhazia in 2008. In late July, they were pardoned.

In March 2017, Putin pardoned another woman, Oksana Sevastidi, who had been sentenced to 7 years in prison for the same crime. She was released on March 12.

According to Pavlov, the case of Sevastidi was not the first one opened on charges of treason because of SMS-messages sent shortly before the military operation in Georgia resulted in Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.
State Duma passes bill on tax free system in Russia

MOSCOW, November 16 (RAPSI)  The State Duma has passed a government bill introducing tax free system in Russia in the third and final reading.

According to the government, the bill seeks to allow citizens of countries outside the Eurasian Economic Union to receive compensations for value-added tax (VAT) paid in Russia.

The bill also envisages that retailers are to be granted the right to deduct VAT pertaining to the goods sold to foreign citizens from the total amounts of VAT payable. The bill establishes 0% VAT rate for organizations providing VAT compensation services to foreign citizens.

On June 13, the bill was approved by the governmental legislative commission.
Russias State Duma backs life sentence for terrorist recruitment

MOSCOW, November 16 (RAPSI)  The State Duma passed a bill toughening punishment for recruiting terrorists up to life sentence in the first reading on Thursday.

The bill that would amend the Russian Criminal Code is aimed to tighten control over peoples involvement in financing and organizing terrorist and extremist activities.

Over 1,000 people around the world are being recruited to terrorist groups every day. Terrorist recruiters receive a reward for new members, an explanatory note to the draft law reads.

The bill stipulates the sentence of up to life in prison for terrorist attacks, training for carrying out terrorist activities, organization and membership of a terrorist group, hostage taking, terrorist hijacking as well as recruitment, inducement to terrorism and financing of terrorist activity.

Currently, terrorist recruitment is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Lithuanian parliament passes bill similar to Magnitsky Act

MOSCOW, November 16 (RAPSI)  Lithuanian Seimas has passed a bill on sanctions against persons, who are believed to be involved in the death of Hermitage Capital auditor Sergey Magnitsky on November 16, 2009, the resolution of the countrys parliament reads.

Lithuania is a fifth country to adopt an act related to Magnitskys case. Previously, similar documents were passed by the United States, Estonia, Canada and Great Britain.

According to the bill, foreigners, who are involved in major violations of human rights, corruption and embezzlement, are prohibited from entering Lithuania. These persons are also prohibited from acquiring and holding assets on the countrys territory, and all existing assets are to be frozen. The bill is to be implemented by ministers of internal and foreign affairs.

Authors of the bill have called for national parliaments of EU and NATO to pass similar legislation.

Magnitsky, an auditor at the London-based investment fund, was arrested on November 24, 2008, on suspicion of having masterminded large-scale corporate tax evasion. He died while in pretrial detention on November 16, 2009, after spending a year behind bars. The case was closed after his death, only to be reopened later. Under Russian law, a person can be prosecuted after death. Later, Magnitsky was found guilty of tax evasion.

Hermitage Capital maintains that it paid 5.4 billion rubles ($180 million) in taxes, but the money was stolen by corporate raiders with the help of law enforcement officials.

According to Russias Prosecutor General's Office, Magnitsky died of heart failure. His death evoked an international outcry, triggered amendments to the Criminal Code and a reshuffling of officials in the penal system.

On Dec. 6, 2012, the U.S. Senate approved the Magnitsky Act, to severe criticism from the Russian State Duma, stipulating visa and economic sanctions for Russians who are believed by the U.S. authorities to have been involved in human rights violations.

In October 2017, the Magnitsky Act came into force in Canada.
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Read Entire Auction Before Bidding Read Entire Auction Before Bidding. Read TERMS and CONDITIONS. Read Before Bid! This is a CASH SALE! Not for Payments! No Minimum! No Reserve! High Bid Wins This Auction! County Delinquent Tax Sale Mineral Rights on 40 Acres, Santa Rosa, Florida Panhandle. Potential oil profit could be around $ 40,000.00 a day !!! (see pics & county info for details) About 40 acres of subsurface rights (mineral rights only - land is not included) by Milton, in Santa Rosa County...

Price: $ 255 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: Baxley Rd @ 30.676103,-87.049632 State/Province: Florida City: Milton Type: Acreage Zoning: Mineral Rights Zip/Postal Code: 32570 Location: , Fl

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Additional Fees Include: GO Properties Services LLC Closing Costs: $475.00 (PAID BY SELLER) Recording Fee: $0.00 2018 Maintenance Fee: $2448.99 (PAID BY SELLER) Resort Transfer Fee: $525.00 (PAID BY SELLER) The Cliffs Club 3811 Edward Road Princeville, HI 96722 808/826-6219 (eBay requires a home resort on all listings) The Cliffs Club is located in Princeville, on Kauai's northern coast. Enjoy swimming in the beautiful pool and relaxing in a choice ...

Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: New Jersey Type: Beach//Ocean State/Province: Hawaii Location: 967**, Waikoloa, Hawaii

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The Manhattan Club 15,000 Bluegreen Club Points, Allocated April 1st Every Year Trust Fund: E, Sales Type: A Unit/Week: 0235Y/33 Annual usage beginning on April 1st, 2018. Maintenance fees are approx. $1,310 every year and will be billed to you for your 2018 usage. WINNING BID IS ALL YOU PAY! SELLER HAS PAID CLOSING COSTS AND TRANSFER FEES! NOTE: ALL TRANSACTIONS WILL BE HANDLED THROUGH EMAIL AND USPS. LOCAL PICK-UP IS NOT NECESSARY. Upon arrival in our intimate lobby, guests have access to a fr...

Price: $ 106 Seller State of Residence: North Carolina Property Address: 200 W. 56th St. New York, NY 10019 State/Province: New York City: New York Zip/Postal Code: 10019 Location: 656**, Branson, Missouri

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Quake victims and survivors arrive to receive medical supplies at a field hospital in the town of Sarpol-e-Zahab, Iran, on Tuesday. ATTA KENARE/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SARPOL-E-ZAHAB, Iran - Thousands of Iranians on Tuesday spent a third night in the cold as authorities scrambled to help those made homeless by a major earthquake that killed more than 530 people.

As the country marked a day of mourning, President Hassan Rouhani promised swift help following the magnitude 7.3 quake that struck a mountainous region spanning the Iran-Iraq border on Sunday.

Volunteers also rushed to help after thousands of homes were destroyed in the quake which rocked a region extending across Iran's western province of Kermanshah.

The preliminary estimated loss stood around $450 million, Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday.

About 11,000 residential buildings in the rural areas plus 5,000 residential buildings in urban areas have been ruined, said Mojtaba Nik-Kerdar, construction deputy of Kermanshah province governor office.

During his visit to the quake-stricken areas on Tuesday, Rouhani pledged to allocate sizable fund for the reconstruction of the buildings.

"I want to assure those who are suffering that the government has begun to act with all means at its disposal and is scrambling to resolve this problem as quickly as possible," the president said.

On Tuesday afternoon, residents of Sarpol-e-Zahab helped police evacuate an elderly man, his face caked in blood, from a home at risk of imminent collapse.

Several buildings and houses lay in complete ruins, while others stood disfigured. Some structures appeared unscathed.

Rescue workers with sniffer dogs combed the ruins for survivors after at least 280 people were killed in the town of some 85,000 people.

The town center was clogged with traffic as people from the surrounding province rushed to help with rescue efforts.

Tents, some provided by the Red Crescent, dotted green spaces turned into camps for the displaced.

But some did not have shelter in a region where temperatures dropped to 4 C on Tuesday night.

Health Minister Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi was cited on Tuesday by the Tasnim news agency as recognizing that aid "distribution was not assured properly" and needed to be improved.

On Tuesday, Iran marked a day of mourning, with a black banner adorning the corner of images of the disaster broadcast by state television.

Afp - Xinhua - Ap
Nilekani is an organised person and his strength is simplification of complex ideas, said Murthy.

Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy has buried any qualms he had regarding corporate governance issues during former chief executive officer Vishal Sikkas tenure.

Absolutely, all is well, Murthy said on Wednesday.

I said in my speech to the investors that now we have Nandan (Nilekani) as the chairman, we can all sleep well.

"He is an organised person and his strength is simplification of complex ideas.

"There were lots of complexities and, therefore, he has his hands full. Now, lets leave it to him. Also, let us all keep quiet so that he does his job well.

Murthy was at the firms Bengaluru campus to announce the winners of Infosys Science Foundation awards along with Nilekani and other co-founders Kris Gopalakrishnan and K Dinesh.

Nilekani returned to Infosys in August to assuage investors who were fleeing in the midst of a public spat between Murthy and the board led by R Seshasayee, following Sikkas resignation.

Murthy had raised concerns over governance failure after the firm acquired Israeli Panaya.

He also raised issues with the severance pay to Rajiv Bansal, its former chief financial officer.

The firm commissioned an independent forensic investigation on the allegations, raised by an anonymous whistle-blower.

The probe report found no wrong doing by either Sikka or other members of Infosys.

Murthy, however, insisted the report be made public, which Infosys said it would not, citing confidentiality reasons.

Nilekani, who studied the report, also gave a clean chit to Sikka.

Murthy, who reacted with dismay after Nilekanis clean chit, had said we will no longer know the truth about the investigations.

However, it was known that there will not be any public spat between Nilekani and Murthy.

The board led by Nilekani, too, maintained that publishing additional details would affect Infosys' ability to conduct future probes and also affect confidentiality of whistle-blowers.

On the search for the next CEO, Murthy said: Nandan himself has been a CEO and he knows what he requires and there is no need for advice.

Though the company has not made any announcement on the next probable CEO candidate, people familiar with the search process have said Infosys reached out to former senior executives such as B G Srinivas, Ashok Vemuri and considered a few internal names already.

Vemuri, however, has since made it clear that he is not in the fray for the top job.

Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters
Post DeMo and GST, business outlook remain diminished among both buyers and sellers

One year after demonetisation and more than four months after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime was rolled out, Indias largest trade fair has begun under a pall of anxiety with business outlook remaining diminished among both buyers and sellers.

As a result, both domestic and international sellers continue to keep their fingers crossed at the 37th India International Trade Fair, which was inaugurated on Tuesday and which opened its gates fully to business visitors from Wednesday.

The price of tickets for general visitors has been kept low at Rs 60 on weekdays for adults and Rs 120 on weekends while business visitors have to pay Rs 500 each.

Remaining same as last year, this has ensured that people continued to stream in, albeit in low numbers, throughout the day.

But while the fair is set to run till November 27, stall owners started expressing disappointment by early evening on Wednesday as business was slow.

We have not received a single business enquiry till now and the first two days generally see a lot of action, Deepak Sandilya, marketing head at a Hyderabad-based plastics manufacturer, said.

Buyers were not far behind. Nikunj Shah, owner of a mid-sized bottling plant in West Delhi who visited the fair on Tuesday to source equipment for his factory, said his procurement kitty had substantially reduced this year owing to a severe shortage of working capital due to the GST.

This refrain was common among a majority of repeat customers in the small and medium enterprises segment who come to the fair hunting for new technologies and improved marketing channels.

However, an official from the Indian Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), which organises the event, said the government expected more people to troop in this time around.

But traders said footfalls were not the issue last year as well.

This was due to the fair beginning just 10 days after demonetisation was announced on November 8, blindsiding traders.

While footfalls had crossed 1.4 million by the end, business was affected because bulk buyers had given the fair a miss.

The government had then swung into action and erected 18 ATMs inside the premises.

None of the three ATMs in the sprawling campus were functional on Wednesday.

While most stalls accepted cards, many did not have card swiping machines or complained of poor Internet connectivity.

This time, however, the main issue has been space as the government's decision to undertake a massive upgradation project to change the face of Pragati Maidan, the historic venue venue for the fair, has meant that most halls have been demolished. According to official statistics. the display space has shrunk by more than 45 per cent.



As a result, the Start Up-Stand Up themed fair started with a lower number of participants than the peak 7,000 participants seen last year.

"We have tried to keep the rent the same as last year but due to the dynamic market-driven approach we follow, less space and high demand has meant that prices have increased," the senior ITPO official mentioned above said.

The international exhibition-cum-convention centre, a state-of-the-art facility that is expected to replace the current facilities, will have automatic pathways and environmental sustainability ratings, visitors are reminded by giant hoardings as one enters the fair.

Till then, however, a significant amount of dust and a roundabout entry route meant most visitors were tired by the time the first hall came in sight.

As always, the international pavilion drew the maximum footfall.

This time, firms and government agencies from 18 nations have showcased themselves. Vietnam, which is the Partner Country and the Kyrgyz Republic, the Focus Country, have managed to command the largest stalls.

Left complaining have been Bangladesh and Myanmar, whose traders look forward to brisk sales in Delhi every year.

Our delegation has reduced by half owing to low space available, said Sariful Ali, a manufacturer of sarees from Tangail, Bangladesh.

Kamran Shafi, a wholesaler of dry fruits from Herat, Afghanistan, and Wang Nieng, the general manager of a turbine manufacturing company based in Hebei, China, said they have brought fewer products to showcase this year.

With space commanding a premium, small sellers from across the country who generally find a place in the pavilions of various states have been hit the most.

Several delegations were seen sitting morose at their stalls, reminiscing of yesteryears when most large states had their own permanent pavilions.

Subimal Das, a seller of premium varieties of rice from West Bengal, said even as he has had to accept a smaller stall with lower visibility, his rent had gone up.
These firms invested $17.9 bn and have also contributed $147 million towards corporate social responsibility and $588 million as R&D expenditure in the US.

Apart from pumping $17.9 billion into the US economy, the top 100 Indian companies operating in the country employ more than 113,000 people there.

Titled 'Indian Roots, American Soil', a report released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Wednesday states Indian companies have also contributed $147 million towards corporate social responsibility and $588 million as R&D expenditure in the US.

The data describes spread of Indian FDI across all 50 states of the US.

It shows most investments are focused on major manufacturing centres such as New Jersey and New York on the eastern seaboard as well as Texas and California.

Overall, the report found 23 US states had 10 or more Indian companies present.

This nullified the argument of the US government that foreign firms were only taking money out of the country, a diplomat said.

US lawmakers have proposed increasing visa fees and reducing the number of available H-1B and L-1 visas used by most information technology professionals from India.

India has termed the move as protectionist and said it has had an adverse impact on services trade.

"Indian companies continue to face problems in obtaining H-1B and L-1 visas in the form of annual caps, higher fees and rejection rates, a commerce ministry official said.

Trade between India and the US is more than $100 billion (Rs 6.67 lakh crore), with the merchandise trade accounting for $64.51 billion (Rs 4.14 lakh crore).

India's exports to the US, accounting for over $40 billion, constitutes the largest offshore market for Indian goods.

The ongoing success of Indian companies is why India remains among the top ten fastest-growing sources of FDI in the US.

"Indian companies are funding community workforce skills training throughout the nation, and popular corporate social responsibility programmes include STEM training for students and US veterans, the report points out.

In the first ministerial trade deliberations with the Trump administration last month, India had pointed out that homegrown firms had invested heavily in R&D in in the US in a wide spectrum of sectors, enhancing the competitiveness of the economy.

The report also points out the average amount of investment received from Indian companies per US state or Federal territory is more than $187 million.

Added to this, 85 per cent of the companies plan to make more investments in the country while 87 per cent plan to hire more employees locally in the next five years.

This has significant impact for US states that have not fared well since the financial crisis of 2007-08, such as Illinois.

Indian-origin US Congressman from Illinois, Raja Krishnamoorthy, pointed out that Indian firms had invested over $195 million in the state and created over 3,800 jobs.

"As the son of immigrants and an advocate for a strong middle class, I hope that Indian companies continue to put down roots and invest in our state, as our economy and community are strengthened by their engagement with us, he said.

Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
2,138 firms deposited unaccounted Rs 5,000 cr in zero-balance accounts during the note ban

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Surat has replaced Kolkata as the new capital of shell firms that evade taxes.

According to the income tax (I-T) department, a majority of the companies featuring on the new list of shell firms provided by the government are based in Surat.

Kolkata had topped the first list.

The tax department began tightening the noose around shell firms earlier this year, as more details about such companies came to light after demonetisation.

In the new list, tax officials have found that over 80 per cent of the 2,138 shell firms, which deposited unaccounted cash of at least Rs 5,000 crore during the note ban, were from Surat.

The tax department expects this number to go up.

This list featured 5,800 shell companies, shortlisted by the finance ministry, which had deposits of Rs 17,000 crore in near zero-balance accounts after demonetisation and nearly an equal amount of withdrawal thereafter.

Earlier, the tax department had identified 16,000 shell firms floated in Kolkata between 2011 and 2015, to launder money.

The probe further revealed that Surat had become a safer bet for shell firms compared with Kolkata for two main reasons.

First, Surats diamond business has also resulted in a flourishing parallel trade, with traders shipping diamonds worth millions of dollars illegally abroad, mostly to Dubai and South Asian countries, from where they can be sold to western markets.

Since the system was in place and operators were well-versed with the parallel economy, it was easy, explained a senior I-T official.

The second reason is that Surat also has indirect exposure to overseas markets, which is complex and tough to crack.

The earlier modus operandi of converting black money into white was to buy shares of listed shell firms, jack up their prices, sell shares after a year and claim long-term capital gains exemptions.

However, in the new cases, the entities are adopting new strategies to make transactions more complex in nature.

Surat is known for complex financial structures, which have evolved over the years.

"There are professional services firms, chartered accountants, and lawyers located both overseas and in India, who help such companies launder money, said a tax consultant, requesting anonymity.

Under one such scheme, called layering, which the Surat operators have mastered, laundering takes place through multiple transactions involving several entities making it difficult to expose the money trail, the officer pointed out.

In the case of shell companies, assets are seldom in the beneficiarys name and money moves to jurisdictions where Indian law has no reach.

In the recent past, we have come across a significant number of cases where promoters have parked money in overseas bank accounts with some links with Surat-based firms.

"The matter is currently under investigation, said the officer quoted above.

The I-T officer said this was how Surat replaced Kolkata, which was the previous centre for shell companies since 1980.

Also, shell companies based in West Bengal have already been prosecuted, said another I-T official.

The continuous crackdown on companies in Kolkata by us is another probable reason for entities avoiding West Bengal to launder money through shell routes, he added.

The action on shell companies gathered momentum in August, when the Ministry of Corporate Affairs identified 331 such firms. About 150 of these were in Kolkata.

Acting on the list, the capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India directed stock exchanges to immediately restrict trading in these firms.

The government decided to crack down on such sham transactions after the Special Investigation Team on black money suggested a mechanism to detect shell companies and put in place checks and balances to curb stock market abuse.

In the last three years, the tax department has identified over 1,155 shell companies, which were used as conduits by over 22,000 beneficiaries.

The amount involved in non-genuine transactions of such beneficiaries was over Rs 13,300 crore.

So far, it has launched criminal prosecution complaints against 47 persons.

Meanwhile, the department has also initiated action against chartered accountants involved in helping shell companies to flourish.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs is now likely to examine whether all active companies have PAN or not

An investigation conducted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has revealed more than 130,000 companies, out of 224,000 taken off registers, did not have a permanent account number (PAN) even as they transacted crores of rupees.

Sources said the probe indicated only 93,000 firms struck off by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) had PAN, which is mandatory for any transaction above Rs 50,000.

The findings showed these firms did not pay taxes and made it difficult for the authorities to track their transactions, sources said. Absence of statutory filings was cited as a reason for deregistering the firms.

It is learnt that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs is now likely to examine whether all active companies have PAN or not.

After the recent rounds of deregistration by RoC, 1.13 million companies remain active.

The PAN issue adds to the concerns of the ministry over many banks failing to submit post-demonetisation transaction details of companies which were deregistered recently.

State Bank of India (SBI), for instance, has not provided the ministry with the transaction details of companies struck off the registers, sources said.

A query sent to SBI on this matter remained unanswered.

The government crackdown on shell companies has not stopped with deregistering 224,000 companies and disqualifying their directors.

The MCA is probing 809 listed companies which are not traceable by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), sources said.

While 300,000 directors associated with the struck-off companies have already been disqualified, the number could cross 450,000 as the crackdown continues.

Around 100 disqualified directors have appealed against the governments decision in various high courts.

Also, some 70-odd companies have appealed against being deregistered.

In a separate development, there was a 300 per cent jump in the number of applications for PAN post-demonetisation.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sushil Chandra had said while there were around 250,000 PAN applications per month earlier, the number rose to 750,000 after the Centre announced scrapping of high-value currency notes last November.

The ministry has also found discrepancies in the data provided by many banks.

Analysis of details sent by 13 banks reveals that about Rs 4,500 crore was deposited and withdrawn post-demonetisation.

In fact, there are companies with over 100 bank accounts. One of the companies had 2,134 accounts.

There were several companies with zero balance as on November 8, 2016 when demonetisation was announced, but some of them deposited funds running into crores of rupees after note ban.

In fact, there were transactions by these companies even after their names were struck off.

The surveillance of shell companies could intensify with their real estate coming under the scanner.

The firms could be debarred from selling and transferring such properties.

The ministry has asked state governments to identify properties owned by shell companies and put them in the custody of the district collectors concerned.

While several chartered accountants suspected to be involved with the struck off companies came under scrutiny too, nothing has been found against them yet.

The decision to deregister companies was taken under a special drive by a task force formed by the Prime Ministers Office.

The task force is working with other enforcement agencies and is jointly chaired by the revenue secretary and the corporate affairs secretary.

Photograph: Mukesh Gupta/Reuters
'Some brands only lend their names to the property and take a royalty.'

'The developer only needs to adhere to the terms and conditions of the contracts.'

'But branded apartments from Trump are particular about every small detail.'

Tinesh Bhasin reports.

Despite a sluggish market for high-end luxury residences, US President Donald J Trump's eldest son Donald Jr is expected to launch two Trump-branded residential projects in India.

One of the projects is in Kolkata, while the other is in Gurugram.

Though branded houses are sold at a premium of 15 to 20 per cent compared to a similar property in the area, industry experts say there's still a demand for them.

"These are not mass-market products. They are for a niche set of affluent buyers who don't mind loosening their purse strings if they like the property," says Amit Oberoi, national director-knowledge systems, Colliers International India.

But are the premiums justifiable, especially when housing sales are witnessing a slowdown?

They are, especially in projects where the brand gets involved in the entire construction process, according to real estate experts.

"Some brands only lend their names to the property and take a royalty. The developer only needs to adhere to the terms and conditions of the contracts. But branded apartments from five-star hotel chains or Trump are particular about every small detail," says Anuj Puri, chairman, Anarock Property Consultants.

Brands that take part in the development ensure that the realtor meets their international standards -- be it exteriors, interiors, housekeeping services, theatre, swimming pool or gymnasium.

The property in India will not be much different from the one in any other part of the world.

Many such apartments, for example, come with concierge services and housekeeping. Five-star branded homes, which are usually constructed next to the hotel, get these services from the hotel staff.

"In such a case, a premium is justified because the apartments come with a quality of service and standard. Buyers look at the brand name and they know what to expect," says Puri.

It is similar to buying a house from a developer with a track record. Realtors such as Hiranandani or Oberoi Realty in Mumbai commands a premium over others due to their quality of construction brand, and the fact that they meet project completion deadlines.

Are branded apartments really worth it?

Branded apartments can also be an attractive investment. Many buyers don't use these as their primary residence.

A few well-known businesspersons and film actors, for example, have bought houses in a branded project in Pune. They only use it when travelling to the city.

They are also sold through invitations to maintain exclusivity.

"As of now, there are just a few completed branded apartments in the country. But due to the exclusivity, those looking for a resale would be willing to pay a premium," says Oberoi.

Most of the branded homes are in the ultra-luxury space. There are very few in the lower segments.

Disney, for example, has tied up with a few developers.

In these projects, buyers get Disney-branded accessories such as fixtures, kitchenware, furniture, beddings, rugs, tableware, fans, wall coverings, and bath accessories.

Such projects don't have exclusivity, and anyone who can afford it can buy a property in them.

In such projects, therefore, the brand is not the only trigger for the purchase. Also, developers may not even charge a premium in such projects.

IMAGE: Donald J Trump with his eldest son Donald Trump Jr announce plans of building a Trump Tower in Mumbai at a media conference on August 13, 2014. Photograph: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com
'In Gujarat, for 22 years when the BJP was in power, they sold only dreams, but the delivery was zero.'

Senior Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil tells Vinay Umarji why the party is more confident this time of forming a government in the state.

Through social media campaigns, the Congress has taken a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party's development agenda. Will that be enough?

We have come up with the slogan, 'Navsarjan Gujarat', where we are raising issues of how Gujarat was already developed before the BJP came to power, but under that party, there has been a gap between the haves and the have-nots.

The BJP did not fulfil the genuine demands of Gujaratis. In Gujarat, for 22 years when the BJP was in power, they sold only dreams, but the delivery was zero.

The Congress is offering to recreate a Gujarat where we will fulfil the needs of the people.

There is anti-incumbency and lot of anger among people. There are problems in education -- no new government colleges have been started.

Lack of cost-effective quality education, jobs for youth, reasonable power and minimum support prices for farmers are some of the issues we are raising during the campaign.

For instance, as against the promise of Rs 2,000 per kg of cotton for farmers, when Narendra D Modi became prime minister, support prices went down to as low as Rs 800 to Rs 900 per kg.

The Congress did well during the 2015 panchayat polls and is perceived to be stronger in rural areas. What is your strategy for gaining urban votes?

Urban people are also unhappy with the BJP now. For instance, one of the BJP's major vote banks used to be traders mostly in the urban areas.

But due to the goods and services tax and demonetisation, they are angry and even writing on their bills that 'Kamal ka phool, hamari bhool (Lotus -- the BJP's symbol -- is our mistake)'.

We have now established a rapport with traders. Problems in education, jobs for the youth are urban issues that we are picking up. We are sure to have a good run in urban areas too during the election.

Only industrialists, who are the government's blue-eyed boys, have grown in Gujarat under the BJP. If we come to power, we will offer balanced development.

The BJP has set itself a target of 150 seats. What about the Congress?

This is sheer arrogance. It is because of the BJP's arrogance that people are angry.

It is not that Amit Shah's money can buy 150 seats for the BJP.

We have not set any target for ourselves.

We will fight all 182 seats of the state assembly. With the blessings of the people the party will win and we will form the government.

The Congress has been fighting the polls without a single chief ministerial candidate and is depending on Rahul Gandhi. Will the lack of a CM face affect its prospects?

We have a tradition in the Congress of fighting in a united way and when we win, the party decides the candidate.

In Uttar Pradesh, even the BJP didn't project a face as there were 11 leaders vying for the post of CM.

Senior BJP leaders have also said that while the party is fighting the election with Vijay Rupani as chief minister, a new CM will be decided by the high command if the party wins the elections.

So even the BJP is not sure about its chief ministerial candidate.

On the contrary, not having a CM face will work in our favour because it shows that we are fighting in a united manner.

We have leaders representing almost all the communities and are together in this and respect the party high command's decision.

Do you think the induction of OBC (Other Backward Classes) leader Alpesh Thakor into the Congress will adversely affect Patidar support to the party?

These three youngsters (Thakore, Jignesh Mevani and Hardik Patel) have fought the establishment and exposed the BJP's failure.

The BJP has tried to polarise, but it will not succeed in the name of religion or caste.

People have understood this and hence, it will work in our favour.

There is no conflict of interest among the communities because we have already clarified that we will give reservation to all those communities which are not covered by it.

Those who are economically backward and not in the reservation category will also get reservation, but it won't affect others.

The BJP government had offered 10 per cent reservation for the EBCs Economically Backward Classes), which was struck down by the high court in the absence of any scientific survey.

Unlike the BJP, we will have a scientific survey and be able to overcome any legal hurdles.

How will you counter Shankersinh Vaghela who has formed a new party, the Jan Vikalp?

The people of Gujarat are wise. Voters have never voted for any candidate who is simply playing politics.

There won't be any negative impact on the prospects of the Congress.

Is there any change in your strategy for the election?

Earlier, there was criticism that senior party leaders in Gujarat were not well grounded. That has changed.

All state party leaders are now visiting taluka-wise across Gujarat.

Scores of booth-level meetings are being held daily, apart from the rallies being led by the party vice-president (Rahul Gandhi).

This is why we are even more confident of the people's support as we find anti-establishment sentiment in these places.

We will try to have at least one leader conducting a taluka-level meeting.

We will look to cover all the major geographical regions -- north, central and south Gujarat as well as the Saurashtra and Kutch regions.

We will look to reach out to all communities and sections of society.

IMAGE: From left, BJP Gujarat president Jitu Vaghani, BJP national president Amit A Shah, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel in Gandhinagar. Photograph: PTI Photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity has risen unabated across the country and peoples satisfaction with the economy is at an all-time high, Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah said on Thursday, citing a survey by the Pew Research Center.

According to the survey conducted by the American think tank, more than eight-in-ten Indians say economic conditions are good in the country despite Modis decision to abolish high-value bank notes last November.

Nine out of ten people in the country hold a favourable opinion about him and that indicates the popularity of Modi among the countrymen, Shah said in a BJP statement.

Modi started the politics of performance in this country by ending casteism, minority appeasement and nepotism from Indian polity, the BJP chief said adding that the country has witnessed a decisive, transparent and corruption free government led by Modi in last three years.

The findings of Pew Global research are very significant. After the Modi government came to power, peoples trust in the government, democracy and confidence that the nation is in the right direction has gone up drastically, Shah said in a series of tweets.

Modi remains the most popular national figure in Indian politics tested in the survey. His popularity is relatively unchanged in the north, has risen in the west and the south and is down slightly in the east, according to the surveys findings.

PM @narendramodis popularity rises unabated across the length & breadth of the country and across demographic groups. His handling of various issues also receive a thumbs up from people, Shah said.

The ease with which Modi handled all challenges for development and welfare of the country has further strengthened the peoples trust on him and also enhanced his respect among them, Shah added.

At the briefing on the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to the survey and said it showed that Modi and his governance has gained popularity in all corners of the country.

He said the survey shows how the BJP and its leadership have gained popularity.

Asked whether the report came up for discussions at the Cabinet meeting, Prasad merely said that he has been given the report.

The survey was conducted among 2,464 respondents in India from February 21 to March 10.

Shah also extended greetings to media professionals on the occasion of National Press Day and applauded their commitment towards their profession.

I applaud the commitment and efforts of every media person who works tirelessly to uphold the value of the fourth pillar of democracy, he said in a tweet.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spins cotton on a wheel during his visit to Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters
The Mumbai Police on Thursday beefed up the security of actor Deepika Padukone after Shri Rajput Karni Sena warned of physical harm in case she did not refrain from inciting public sentiments, a senior official said.

Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana invoked the nose chopping of Surpanakha in the epic Ramayana and said if the Bollywood film Padmavati was not banned and Padukone does not refrain from fanning sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.

Rajputs would not lag behind in pursuing the way Lakshman acted in the Ramayana, he said hinting at the Surpanakha nose chopping episode.

He asked why was Padukone, who has the citizenship of Denmark, speaking so provocatively.

Makrana claimed that a cinema hall in Kota was rampaged as a result of such provocative language.

Shri Rajput Karni Sena has now just conveyed a lesson to Deepika Padukone to stop making provocative statements or face the result, Makrana said.

Padukone had reportedly said that nothing could stop the release of the film and that India had regressed as a nation.

Mumbais Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti reacting to the threats said,  The Mumbai Police have increased actor Deepika Padukones security after the outfit issued the nose chopping threat.

We are providing her adequate security after the threat, he said. The police will also provide security at the actresss residence as well as office in Mumbai.

They have already provided protection to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali after the Rajput community outfit protested outside his office in Mumbais Juhu area last Saturday while accusing him of distorting historical facts in the history drama.

Rajputs to write letters in blood to cinema owners More than 300 people were killed Alleging that an attempt was made to distort history in the film, members of a organisation, Rajput Shaurya Foundation in Lucknow, said that they will not allow the screening of film. We will not allow the screening of the film, which is an deliberate attempt to distort our glorious history, senior office bearer of the foundation Ram Moorti Singh said. Lokendra Singh Kalvi of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena said that his organisation will not allow the film to be released on December 1. A joint statement by both the organisations said, A cinema hall, which tries to show the film will be shut. On December 1, a blood-written letter will be given to district magistrates and owners of cinema halls as a mark of protest.

Police have beefed up security at Bhansalis residence in Versova in the city.

Organisations like the SRKS have been protesting against the release of the film, claiming that it distorts history and hurts sentiments.

The SRKS has called for a country-wide bandh on December 1, the day the film is slated to be released.

In January this year, the SRKS had attacked the sets of the movie in Jaipur and even slapped Bhansali.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil said the government was assessing Padukones security in the wake of the threats.
India's plan to buy futuristic tanks and infantry combat vehicles -- estimated to be worth Rs 80,000 crore to Rs 100,000 crore each -- will certainly intimidate Pakistan which already feels threatened by our vast tank strength.

Ajai Shukla reports.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat and a battery of senior generals on Wednesday, November 15, explained the details of India's biggest-ever weapons acquisition -- the ongoing procurement of futuristic tanks and infantry combat vehicles, estimated to be worth Rs 80,000 crore to Rs 100,000 crore (Rs 800 billion to Rs 1 trillion) each.

Pakistan already feels threatened by India's vast tank strength.

This includes three strike corps, each with hundreds of tanks and ICVs.

In addition, 8 to 10 tank-heavy 'battle groups', drawn from defensive corps, are poised to scythe through Pakistan in a 'Cold Start' offensive.

While tanks, with their heavy armour protection and huge guns spearhead an advance into enemy territory, tracked ICVs move close behind them, carrying infantrymen to occupy the captured area.

The procurement explained by General Rawat, which include new tanks and ICVs, would significantly enhance Pakistan's insecurity.

Justifying the build-up, General Rawat said: "Tanks are expected to operate on the western front as well as the northern borders (with China)."

The generals told a defence industry gathering that the mechanised forces would be boosted on three parallel tracks.

The first is the manufacture of 1,770 advanced, 50-tonne tanks -- termed future ready combat vehicles -- under the 'strategic partner' policy to replace the ageing T-72 fleet.

For this, private Indian firms will bid in partnership with global 'original equipment manufacturers' to set up a production line in India by 2025-2027.

Last Wednesday, November 8, the army floated a global 'request for information' inviting global OEMs to outline what they would offer India.

Simultaneously, the ministry is shortlisting Indian SPs that will bid in partnership with the chosen OEMs.

"This process involves identifying a mature, in-service, tank in the world which can be tweaked to meet our requirements," said Lieutenant General M J S Kahlon, the army's planning chief.

While the FRCV will be a derivative of an in-service tank, the future infantry combat vehicle will be a brand-new, futuristic system.

It will be pursued under the 'Make' procedure, with the defence ministry funding 90 per cent of the development cost, and the private firm paying 10 per cent.

Six firms/consortia have submitted proposals for the FICV, and the minister if defence must select two. These will design competing FICV prototypes and build an estimated 2,600 of the winning design.

"The FICV and FRCV will be game changers for indigenous defence industry," said the mechanised forces chief, Lieutenant General Ashok Shivane.

General Kahlon pointed out that this would be the first time indigenous production would take care of our armoured requirements.

"So far, we bought all our armour on a government-to-government basis -- from the west till late 1960s and from the Soviet Union and Russia since then," General Kahlon said.

That dependence forced the army to adapt its warfighting doctrines to platforms that had never been designed with India's tactical needs, geography and manpower in mind.

"We bought what was available and adapted our doctrines onto that," rued General Kahlon.

Since the FRCV and FICV projects are time-consuming projects, the army will simultaneously upgrade the existing T-72 tank fleet to remain battle-worthy till the new platforms are inducted.

General Shivane said T-72s would get more powerful engines, day- and night-vision thermal sights, and improved guns and ammunition.

"The chosen vendors would also take care of life cycle management of his equipment, with indigenous solutions coming from him. This would make good operational sense for us and good business sense for the vendors," said General Shivane.

The FRCV is intended to carry out roles other than that of a tank.

The RFI states it will be the base platform for a range of additional armoured vehicles, including self-propelled artillery and air defence guns, mine trawls, bridge-layer tanks, armoured engineering vehicles, etc.

Looking beyond the heavy, tracked FICV, both General Rawat and General Kahlon raised the need for a wheeled infantry carrier that could move on roads, and in towns and cities, without damaging infrastructure.

"Imagine infantry being able to travel in its own transport," said General Kahlon, "with ballistic protection wherever it needs to go... say all the way up to Leh."

IMAGE: Indian T-90 tanks in action. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/Reuters
Few in Zimbabwe dared to anger 'Gucci Grace' as Grace Mugabe was called.

Robert Mugabe's wife was ruthless and terrifying, and her ambition clearly provoked the army's coup on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Robert Mugabe listens to his wife Grace at a ZANU-PF party rally in Harare, November 8, 2017, a week before the army removed Zimbabwe's president from office. Photograph: Philimon Bulawayo

That Robert Mugabe was deposed was no surprise to anyone who had been followed the increasingly bizarre despot's reign in Zimbabwe this past decade and more.

Harare watchers knew the event was just a matter of time, only who would muster the courage to evict the only leader Zimbabweans have known since independence.

Mugabe had ruthlessly removed political challengers to his authority, so it would have to be the generals.

And since the frail Mugabe at 93 was more or less a symbolic figure, the provocation for the tyrant's exit would have to be Grace Mugabe who has come to symbolise the regime's worst financial and political excesses.

In Fraser Grace's memorable play Breakfast With Mugabe (you can read an extract here: external link), the playwright set the action in October 2001 a few months before the 2002 presidential election. In the riveting drama, Robert was 77, Grace 36.

In remarkably prescient literature, Fraser Grace set out to expose the sinister route Mugabe would take to eliminate all opposition whether it was comrades in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front -- ZANU, the African nation's ruling party since independence in 1980 -- or from white settlers who he periodically cast as evil outsiders out to ruin his country.

In recent years, Grace -- who worked as a typist in the president's office when she first caught Mugabe's eye in the early 1990s -- had begun the process to succeed her husband.

She had been the real power in Harare for sometime -- manipulating her way in Zimbabwe politics, influencing her husband's decisions -- incurring the people's silent wrath by her reckless spending, and worse, her violent temper that just weeks ago was unleashed on a model who she thought was cavorting with her sons in a Johannesburg hotel room.

After getting rid of one rival -- vice-president Joice Mujuru -- Grace may have overplayed her hand when she took on Emmerson Mnangagwa, the other vice-president.

Mnangagwa once ran Zimbabwe's intelligence services and clearly knows where all the bodies -- literal or metaphorical -- are buried.

Grace and Mnangagwa's battle became public after she accused him of conspiring to overthrow her husband. Mnangagwa then fell seriously ill and charged Grace with trying to poison him.

Mnangagwa was recuperating in a South African hospital when Mugabe was removed from office by the army on Wednesday, November 15.

Clearly, the generals thought it was time they stepped in. Mugabe was too old and too erratic. Grace was too dangerous.

Some reports said she had been arrested, other said she was in Namibia when the army moved against her husband.

The army has promised not to stay on for more than necessary, but we have heard that line often enough from Islamabad to Buenos Aires.

Irrespective of whether Mujuru or Mnangagwa take office in the next election (if and when it is held), it is unlikely that Grace Mugabe will realise her cherished dream of running the country legitimately as president, and not as regent which she was till Wednesday morning.

A look at the woman described as Zimbabwe's Lady Macbeth through the years:

IMAGE: Robert Mugabe and his bride Grace leave the Kutama Catholic church August 17, 1996.

The couple married shortly after the death of Mugabe's first wife Sally.

6,000 guests, including Nelson Mandela, attended the ceremony. Photograph: Howard Burditt /Reuters

IMAGE: Then US First Lady Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea are escorted by Robert and Grace Mugabe after they arrived at the presidential palace in Harare, March 21, 1997. Photograph: Win McNamee/Reuters

IMAGE: Robert and Grace Mugabe arrive at an election rally in Madziwa, a village north of Harare, June 21, 2000.

Mugabe was then quoted as saying Britain and the US were trying to discredit his government.

London and Washington, he said, had launched a campaign against his plan to seize 804 white-owned farms for redistribution to landless blacks. Photograph: Reuters

IMAGE: Robert Mugabe speaks to Grace at the funeral of his sister Bridget in the village of Zvimba, 90 km west of Harare, January 21 2014.

Mugabe attributed his long life to God's will. Photograph: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters

IMAGE: Robert and Grace Mugabe greet supporters at a national Heroes Day rally in Harare, August 11, 2014. Photograph: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters
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The ICC Makes a Courageous Move Against a Repressive Regime

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 9 November 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, The ICC Makes a Courageous Move Against a Repressive Regime, 9 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d47c04.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced the decision to open an investigation into crimes committed in Burundi between 26 April 2015 and 26 October 2017, the day before Burundi's effective withdrawal from the ICC. This courageous decision, a prelude to a difficult investigation, comes as the victims of the dictatorial regime have nothing more to expect from the Burundian legal system and in light of the indifference of the international community. Today, the ICC published publicly a decision taken on 25 October 2017, which has remained confidential until today to ensure the safety of victims and potential witnesses. The investigation will concern crimes against humanity committed in Burundi and by Burundian nationals outside the country, including alleged crimes of opponents in the surrounding refugee camps. Therefore, Burundi's announcement to withdraw from the ICC appears retrospectively as another vain attempt to shield its leaders from international justice. Nevertheless, the investigation will be difficult. On the one hand, the country has been closing its borders to international journalists and investigators and is suppressing all dissenting voices in Burundi and in Burundian refugee camps in neighbouring countries. On the other hand, Burundi has been isolating itself from the international community, symbolised by its withdrawal from the ICC, which was a first in the history of the court, and by Burundi's refusal to cooperate with any request for independent investigations since the beginning of the repression. The worrying situation in Burundi has claimed thousands of lives, pushing more than 422,000 people to flee the country. The Pre-Trial Chamber's decision comes as victims of successive repressive waves have nothing left to expect from the domestic legal system which has opened no genuine investigation into the crimes committed. Moreover, the African (African Union, Community of East African States) and international political bodies (Human Rights Council, United Nations Security Council) have failed to find the political solutions to navigate a way out of the crisis. As a result, the ICC is emerging as the ultimate recourse and last resort for forgotten Burundian victims.

Since the investigation promises to be particularly difficult and complex, it is vital that the investigation can depend on the strong support of the States concerned and of the African and international political authorities.
CSOs Call for Immediate Release of Mother Nature Cambodia Activists Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 14 November 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, CSOs Call for Immediate Release of Mother Nature Cambodia Activists Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy, 14 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d48054.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

We, the undersigned Cambodian and international civil society organizations (CSOs), call for the immediate release of Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy, environmental activists affiliated with the recently deregistered NGO, Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC), who have been wrongfully detained for over two months on spurious charges. We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary nature of their arrest and pre-trial detention, which appears to be an attempt to stifle and punish their legitimate work as environmental human rights defenders.

Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy were arrested on 11 September 2017, while filming two large vessels anchored off the coast of Prek Khsach in Koh Kong province, which they suspected of illegally carrying sand for export. Their arrest was reportedly based on a complaint by Ly Yong Phat, one of Cambodia's most powerful and well-connected businessmen, for violation of privacy and incitement. Ly Yong Phat is owner of the LYP Group and a ruling Cambodian People's Party Senator. The pair were interviewed by the prosecutor of Koh Kong court without any defense lawyer present and then detained in Prek Svay prison in Koh Kong province. On 13 September 2017, they were charged with "incitement to commit a felony" (Criminal Code Article 495) and "violation of privacy" (Criminal Code Article 302).

They are being held in Koh Kong prison, which is suffering from severe overcrowding, deplorable sanitary conditions, and a lack of basic provisions such as water and, food and medical care. Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy are reportedly detained in an extremely cramped 4 x 4 meters cell, together with up to twenty other inmates. No date has yet been set for trial, and their bail motion, which was submitted on 28 September 2017, was denied on 3 October 2017.

Article 203 of the Cambodian Code of Criminal Procedure states that the imposition of pre-trial detention should only occur in exceptional circumstances, a requirement which reflects international human rights law [specifically Art. 9(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)]. The investigating judge of the Koh Kong court justified the imposition of pre-trial detention on the basis that the investigation 'had not yet been completed'. This justification does not align with any of the six narrow bases upon which pre-trial detention may be imposed, as outlined in Article 205 of the Code of Criminal Procedure [1] . As such, it appears that pre-trial detention was imposed without adequate consideration of alternative pre-trial measures, in violation of Cambodian and international law.

Rather than being grounded in facts and law, this prosecution appears to be an attempt by the Cambodian authorities and powerful business interests to silence these young activists, other environmental groups, and any Cambodian who dares to speak out against corruption or environmental destruction.

The activists said they filmed the vessels while in the open sea, rather than on private property, a fact which would render the charge of "violation of privacy" baseless. Article 302 of the Criminal Code explicitly requires "taking [a] picture of a person in a private place" to support this charge. Furthermore, the pair was conducting monitoring activities in order to combat illegal sand-dredging activities in the region, something which the Ministry of Mines and Energy had explicitly encouraged civil society actors to do. As such, the "incitement" charge - a criminal offence often used to suppress legitimate activism in Cambodia - appears to be equally baseless. This arrest and detention occurred two days after MNC had publicly released a video highlighting a USD30 million discrepancy between Taiwan and Cambodia's customs records in relation to the amount of silica and quartz sand imported from Cambodia.

MNC has a history of successful campaigns against sand dredging. In November 2016 the Royal Government of Cambodia ("RGC") issued a temporary ban on sand extraction after MNC activists exposed massive discrepancies in reported trade of reclamation sand between Cambodia and Singapore. Subsequently, on 10 July 2017, the RGC instated a permanent ban on sand exports from Koh Kong for construction and land-reclamation purposes. The effectiveness of activists linked to MNC in exposing potential corruption and raising awareness of environmental issues appears to be the true motivation for this prosecution.

The arrest of Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy is the latest in a series of legal actions against MNC activists since September 2014. On 15 September 2017, the NGO was officially de-registered, following a request by MNC on 23 August. MNC activists claim the request was filed by the group's nominal directors as a result of years of harassment by the authorities.

We call upon the Cambodian authorities to abide by their constitutional and international human rights obligations by immediately releasing Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy, and ensuring full respect for the presumption of innocence and other fair trial rights. We further call for these groundless charges to be immediately dropped, and appropriate compensation to be paid to Doem Kundy and Hun Vannak in recognition of this arbitrary deprivation of their liberty.

Footnotes

[1] Article 205 states: 'Provisional detention may be ordered when it is necessary to: stop the offense or prevent the offense from happening again; prevent any harassment of witnesses or victims or prevent any collusion between the charged person and accomplices; preserve evidence or exhibits; guarantee the presence of the charged person during the proceedings against him; protect the security of the charged person; or preserve public order from any trouble caused by the offense'.
Disclaimer

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Sale of surveillance technology to Egypt: Paris Prosecutor asked to open a criminal investigation

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 9 November 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Sale of surveillance technology to Egypt: Paris Prosecutor asked to open a criminal investigation, 9 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d49554.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

This morning, FIDH and the Ligue des Droits de l'Homme (France), with the support of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, filed a criminal complaint relating to the potential role - via the sale of surveillance technology - of the French company Amesys (renamed Nexa Technologies) in widespread oppression under the Al-Sissi regime. The complaint was filed with the specialised unit responsible for prosecuting crimes against humanity in France. This request for the opening of a criminal investigation for complicity to torture and enforced disappearance follows revelations published by the newspaper Telerama, and supplements the investigation already underway on the sale of surveillance technology to Gaddafi's Libya.

On 5 July 2017, Telerama revealed that Amesys had "changed its name and shareholder in order to sell its services to the new Egyptian authorities while the French state stands and looks on". A press conference was organised at FIDH headquarters in Paris with the journalist who published these revelations: Olivier Tesquet.

This morning, FIDH filed a complaint ("denonciation") with the specialised unit responsible for prosecuting crimes against humanity within the Paris Prosecutor's office, requesting that a criminal investigation be opened for complicity to torture and enforced disappearances in Egypt. On 19 October 2011, our organisations first filed a complaint against Amesys following revelations published in the Wall Street Journal and WikiLeaks. In 2013, FIDH organised for Libyan victims of the Gaddafi regime to come to France and testify before the investigating judges as to how they were tracked down, arrested and then tortured. In May 2017, Amesys was formally placed under the status of assisted witness ("temoin assiste) for complicity to torture committed in Libya between 2007 and 2011.

However, the opening of criminal proceedings alone would not mask the lack of political willingness on the part of the French authorities, who should have prevented the export of "dual-use" surveillance technologies by the former managers of Amesys to Egypt, where oppression has been in full swing since General Al Sissi's coup d'etat.
Title Mongolia: Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing as a Component of the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living, and on the Right to Non-discrimination in this Context

Publisher Amnesty International

Publication Date 8 November 2017

Country Mongolia

Reference IOR 30/7341/2017

Cite as Amnesty International, Mongolia: Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing as a Component of the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living, and on the Right to Non-discrimination in this Context, 8 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d4de64.html [accessed 16 November 2022]
Title Response of the Spanish Government to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) on its visit to Spain from 27 September to 10 October 2016

Publication Date 16 November 2017

Country Spain

Citation / Document Symbol CPT/Inf (2017) 35

Other Languages / Attachments Spanish

Cite as Council of Europe: Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Response of the Spanish Government to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) on its visit to Spain from 27 September to 10 October 2016, 16 November 2017, CPT/Inf (2017) 35, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d59004.html [accessed 16 November 2022]
Mauritania: Blasphemy Case Raises Islamist Ire

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 10 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 21 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Mauritania: Blasphemy Case Raises Islamist Ire, 10 November 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 21, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d677a4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Mauritania's efforts to curtail Islamist extremism have seen success in recent years, but protesters calling for a blogger to be put to death for allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed show that tensions continue to simmer.

The blogger in question, Mohamed Ould Mkhaitir, was arrested back in 2013 after he posted an article on Facebook in which he invoked the Prophet in a post critical of the country's caste system (Entalfa, December 17, 2014; Agoravox, December 31, 2014). He was put on trial for blasphemy in 2014 and sentenced to death, though Mkhaitir was able to press his case through a series of appeals (PressAfrik, November 8). On November 9, a court reduced his sentence to a two-year jail term, meaning he will now be allowed to go free (News 24, November 9).

Mkhaitir's trials have repeatedly drawn conservative crowds (New Arab, November 16, 2016). His return to court this month prompted protests once again from Mauritania's Islamists in the capital of Nouakchott and in the city of Nouadhibou, were the case was begin heard.

Picked up by Western rights groups, Mkhaitir's case has received some international attention, but it has also polarized groups inside Mauritania  liberals who publicly supported the blogger have reportedly received death threats from groups claiming to be "protectors" of the Prophet's name (Entalfa, June 11, 2014).

Despite the anger of the country's conservatives, however, Mauritania has moved away from the Islamist violence that dogged it between 2005 and 2011, when it faced repeated attacks by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Since then, concerted efforts at home and a greater engagement with its neighbors and the West in the battle against Islamist terrorism in the Sahel region have made a significant impact.

The threat from violent Islamists remains. At least 55 Mauritanian jihadists are fighting with AQIM, according to sources quoted in the State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism 2016. Mauritanian authorities have also in the past rounded up suspected Islamic State supporters inside the country (AllAfrica, October 15, 2014).

Last month, Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, the al-Qaeda alliance in neighboring Mali, released a 25-minute video showing men confessing to spying for the Mauritanian intelligence service (SITE, October 9).

Mauritania's efforts to tackle extremism have paid off, but the protests around Mkhaitir's trial are a reminder of a continued potential threat.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Iraq: Space for Change in the KRG

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 10 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 21 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Iraq: Space for Change in the KRG, 10 November 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 21, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d68984.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The fallout from the Iraqi Kurds' ill-judged independence referendum has seen the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) humbled and its Peshmerga fighters pushed out of territory they had captured from Islamic State (IS) in 2014. Having overplayed his hand, Masoud Barzani has stepped down as KRG president (Kurdistan 24, October 29). Coming not long after the death of Barzani's longtime political rival, Jalal Talabani, there is the intriguing possibility of political change in northern Iraq.

In October, several weeks after Kurds turned out to vote overwhelmingly in favor of independence, Iraqi troops backed by Shia militia moved to re-take Kirkuk from the Kurds, recapturing the disputed city and taking back large areas of territory in Kirkuk and Nineveh provinces (TRT World, October 19). Some clashes were reported, but overall the Iraqi forces advance met little resistance (al-Jazeera, October 16). In many cases the Peshmerga had already withdrawn, the result of a deal with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the traditional rival to Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

The deal likely came about as a result of Iranian intervention. Ahead of the advance, Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani was reportedly in the PUK stronghold of Sulaimaniyah (The National, October 16; al-Monitor, October 17). Barzani later seized on this and the role of the Shia militia, complaining that the offensive on Kirkuk was "led by Iranians," and that the Kurds' U.S. and British allies were well aware of the fact (al-Jazeera, November 8).

That Barzani misread the situation going into the referendum suggests he was poorly advised. The United States and the United Kingdom have both been clear that while they are willing to back the KRG financially and the Peshmerga forces militarily in the fight against IS, they do not support the KRG's quest for independence.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

The PUK will have been pleased to see Barzani chastened over this. They had been only lukewarm to the idea of the referendum, while a third faction in Kurdish politics, the Gorran Movement, openly opposed it (Rudaw, September 24). The question now is how the Kurds move forward and whether a new set of leaders can mend the fractures in their political landscape.

However, wholesale change seems unlikely. Barzani himself will maintain a political role as part of the High Political Council, a body he established ahead of the referendum (Rudaw, October 29). For the KRG leadership he is thought to favor his son Masrour, the KDP's spy chief. Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, his nephew, is another contender. Meanwhile, in the PUK, Talabani's son Bafel is becoming more prominent (Rudaw, October 12). There seems to be a need for "new blood" in Kurdish politics, but where it will come from is unclear.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
The Attack on U.S Special Forces in Niger: A Preliminary Assessment

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Jacob Zenn Publication Date 26 October 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The Attack on U.S Special Forces in Niger: A Preliminary Assessment, 26 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d6a2b4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Of all the potential terrorist hotspots in the world today, Niger is an unlikely country to take center stage. However, the killing of four members of U.S. Special Forces in Niger, near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso, on October 4, has forced the U.S. military, Congress and foreign policy community to ask many questions: one such question is "who did it"? This Hot Issue explores the various militant actors present in the area where the attack on U.S. Special Forces took place, assesses which actor was most likely involved in the attack, and offers an explanation as to why there has been no claim of the attack despite the high profile of the operation.

Introduction

According to the Pentagon, on October 4, 2017, around 50 militants ambushed a 12-member team of U.S Special Forces in Niger, near the country's borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, killing four U.S Special Forces members and wounding two. The U.S. patrol was considered routine. This specific patrol, however, may have sought a particular Islamic State (IS) factional leader, such as Abu Walid al-Sahrawi. Some suspect that the U.S. Special Forces team may have been purposefully delayed in the village they were visiting, which allowed the militants to carry out an ambush. Presumably, more details will emerge, and some details about the mission are still being withheld. The Pentagon, however, asserted that IS-affiliated militants or "local tribal fighters" affiliated with IS carried out the attack (defense.gov, October 23; defense.gov, October 23).

Jihadist Networks in the Sahel

The primary militant actors in the Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali border area operate under the al-Qaeda and Islamic State umbrellas. However, the al-Qaeda affiliate in the region, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), is much stronger than IS in the region and has withstood IS attempts to recruit AQIM foot soldiers.

For much of the past decade, the Algerian leaders of AQIM have sought to devolve power to "sub-affiliates" in West Africa. The apex for AQIM gains began in 2011, when Tuareg militants who fought in Libya for Muammar Qaddafi's regime returned to Mali after Qaddafi fell from power. They brought with them their weapons and reignited a northern Mali Tuareg separatist insurgency against the Malian state. By 2012, some of these Tuaregs were co-opted by Iyad Ag Ghaly, a Tuareg former Malian diplomat-turned jihadist. Ag Ghaly formed a new jihadist group called Ansar al-Din.

In 2012, Ansar al-Din joined in a coalition to govern northern Mali with AQIM and an AQIM sub-affiliate called Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA). MUJWA was led mostly by Mauritanian or Malian Arabs. Each of the three militant groups dominated a different region of northern Mali: AQIM was strong in Timbuktu; Ansar al-Din was strong in Kidal; and MUJWA was strong in Gao.

After the French-led intervention in northern Mali began in early 2013, AQIM, Ansar al-Din and MUJWA dispersed. By 2016, however, they resurfaced in the rural areas of Mali. Additionally, AQIM carried out several attacks in late 2015 and early 2016 on an international hotel in Bamako (Mali's capital), a hotel and a cafe in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso's capital) and a resort hotel outside of Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire's largest city) (Abidjan.net, March 14, 2016; Sidwaya.bf [Ouagadougou], January 16; Jeune Afrique, November 20, 2015). AQIM often praised Fulani members in the attack "martyrdom" claims. As West Africa's most transnational ethnic group, the Fulanis in AQIM's ranks are an important and often used asset that helps AQIM expand beyond Mali into a number of other countries in the region.

Enter Ansaroul Islam

Differences exist, however, between AQIM's current coalition in Mali and AQIM's allies in Mali in 2013. After France intervened militarily in 2013, MUJWA allied with Mokhtar Belmokhtar's brigades for a short time. Together, they carried out the suicide bombings of French energy installations in Arlit and Agadez in northern Niger, in June 2013, along with elements of the AQIM-overseen Boko Haram breakaway faction, Ansaru (Jihadology.net, September 9, 2013). However, MUJWA and Ansaru are now rarely active, and Belmokhtar is believed to have been killed in Libya (but this remains to be confirmed).

One reported member of MUJWA was Amadou Kouffa, a Malian ethnic-Fulani Islamic preacher who participated in MUJWA's final battle in Konna in January 2013 before the French intervened and even named himself the "sultan of Konna" (maliactu.net, July 16, 2015; see Militant Leadership Monitor, February 29, 2016). Kouffa has since come to lead the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), which primarily recruits Fulanis. Also known as the Macina Brigade, the MLF is a "sub-sub affiliate" of AQIM under its own sub-affiliate Ansar al-Din.

The MLF has been increasingly active since 2016 and has extended AQIM's insurgency to central Mali. Additionally, the MLF has its own "sub-affiliate," Ansaroul Islam - it is technically a "sub-sub-sub-affiliate" of AQIM via Ansar al-Din and the MLF (Le Monde, April 9, 2016). Ansaroul Islam operates primarily in northern Burkina Faso. The group is led by Fulanis and has targeted military outposts in the Burkina Faso-Mali-Niger border area. Ansaroul Islam is a possible culprit in the attack on the U.S Special Forces unit because its area of operations extends near the area of the attack in Niger, and its previous strikes on military outposts show it has the ability to carry out such attacks.

Ansaroul Islam is nonetheless distinct from MLF, Ansar al-Din and AQIM. For example, when the latter three groups merged into a new coalition in January 2017, called Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM, Group for the Support of Islam, and Muslims) with the approval of al-Qaeda's overall leadership, Ansaroul Islam was not included in the coalition (al-Masra #42, March 6). Before JNIM formed, Ansaroul Islam wrote a message on its Facebook page saying that Ansaroul Islam's leader, Mallam Dicko, disapproved of Kouffa's joining JNIM. Rumors swirled around that Dicko suspected Ag Ghaly was an Algerian government agent, that Dicko was coming under the influence of IS or that Dicko had a falling out with JNIM over Ansaroul Islam's attacks on schools - JNIM had in fact claimed one of those attacks, but this is not generally a tactic promoted by AQIM.

Whereas JNIM prolifically carries out and claims attacks, Ansaroul Islam has maintained only its Facebook page for making attack claims or statements. Ansaroul Islam's lack of sophisticated media use could explain why so far there has been no claim of the attack that killed the four U.S. Special Forces members. The more media-savvy JNIM's lack of claim three weeks after the attack strongly suggests that JNIM is not behind the attack.

The Islamic State Network in the Sahel

Ansroul Islam is not necessarily the most likely culprit behind the attack on the U.S. Special Forces, even though some of its members may overlap with the group most likely responsible for the attack. An IS faction under the leadership of Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, which uses the name "Islamic State in the Greater Sahara," can also be found in the same vicinity of Ansaorul Islam. However, al-Sahrawi's has more capabilities in Niger than in Burkina Faso. Al-Sahrawi's faction is most likely to have been behind the October 4 attack on the U.S. Special Forces unit in Niger.

IS' auxiliary media agency, Amaq, formally recognized the pledge of loyalty of al-Sahrawi's faction to IS leader Abubakr al-Baghdadi in October 2016. This was followed by a video of al-Sahrawi physically making the pledge alongside over 20 other militants (Jihadology.net, October 30, 2016). However, IS did not name al-Sahrawi's faction as a "province" like it did when it renamed Boko Haram as "West Africa Province" in 2015. This means that al-Sahrawi's faction is not a "province" of IS, though it can still feature in Amaq claims and videos.

Al-Sahrawi had initially pledged loyalty to IS in 2015, so the roughly one year between his pledge and IS' recognition of his pledge raises questions about the proximity of lines of communication between al-Sahrawi and IS. Immediately before Amaq recognized al-Sahrawi's pledge in October 2016, al-Sahrawi's faction had claimed three attacks, indicating that al-Sahrawi may have had to prove himself to win IS recognition (alakhbar.com, September 3, 2016; RFI, October 17, 2016). The three attacks that al-Sahrawi carried out before Amaq recognized his faction included:

An attack on a Burkinabe border post, killing two Burkinabe soldiers;

An attack on a military post in Burkina Faso near the Mali and Niger borders, killing at least three Burkinabe soldiers; and

An attack on a prison north of the Nigerien capital of Niamey that held several prominent jihadists, which was repelled. [1]

In addition to these incidents, the Nigerien interior minister claimed that militants aligned with MUJWA-possibly a reference to al-Sahrawi's faction, because al-Sahrawi was aligned with MUJWA in 2012-were responsible for the October 2016 kidnapping of Jeffrey Woodke, an American aid worker, in the town of Abalak in central Niger. That kidnapping, like the attack on U.S. Special Forces on October 4 and another attack on October 21, 2017, that killed 12 Nigerien gendarmeries (RFI, October 21), has not been claimed.

Since al-Sahrawi's faction is the most likely culprit behind Woodke's kidnapping and the prison break outside of Niamey, his faction may also be behind the other two attacks in October 2017 on U.S. Special Forces, which the United States has said was "Islamic State-affiliated," and the 12 Nigerien gendarmeries. The killing of the 12 gendarmeries (in the village of Ayorou) occurred so close geographically and temporally to the attack on the U.S. Special Forces (in the village of Tongo Tongo) that it suggests the two attacks may be related. However, these two attacks were also close to the Burkinabe and Malian borders, where Ansaroul Islam operates. Al-Sahrawi's faction may rely on Ansaroul Islam fighters when his faction, which may only have 50 to 60 members, approaches near the Burkinabe border.

One reason why there may have been cooperation between al-Sahrawi's faction and Ansaroul Islam - regardless of the former being on the periphery of the IS network and the latter being on the periphery of the al-Qaeda network - is that despite pledging allegiance to IS, a JNIM commander has admitted al-Sahrawi has maintained contact with some elements of JNIM. (alaqssa.org, November 1, 2016). Two months after the commander's admission of this contact, on January 1, 2017, a prominent online al-Qaeda propagandist also posted a tweet saying that "unconfirmed news indicates that the Abu Walid al-Sahrawi group and Daesh [IS] have split" (Twitter [@Nourdine_1991], January 1). Al-Sahrawi's ties and even loyalty to IS may now be too tenuous for IS to claim an attack on his behalf, especially with IS on the run in Libya and Syria-Iraq. At the same time, it would not be surprising if al-Sahrawi's faction cooperated with Ansaroul Islam, which has ties to JNIM.

Conclusion

The attack that killed four U.S Special Forces members was most likely carried out by al-Sahrawi's faction but possibly with some support from Ansaroul Islam. The attack may not have been claimed because al-Sahrawi prefers to operate in the shadows. Additionally, his faction is only tenuously in contact with IS, and Ansaroul Islam is only tenuously in contact with al-Qaeda (or AQIM or JNIM). Thus, this was an attack that was too far removed from any umbrella group-al-Qaeda or Islamic State-for any claim to be made. Al-Sahrawi's faction may nonetheless represent a future trend in West Africa, where jihadists shift between alliances but act locally and mostly independently while operating less predictably and leaving less of a "media trail" than do the umbrella groups.

In addition, jihadism is spreading deeper into the interior of Niger and elsewhere on the periphery of West Africa. The region is likely to see more U.S Special Forces encounters with jihadists in the years to come. The U.S. military, Congress and foreign policy community should be aware of the factions in the region and the threats they pose before the next U.S. Special Forces unit ventures into potential enemy territory.

NOTES

[1] See Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Jacob Zenn & Nathaniel Barr, "Islamic State 2021 Possible Futures in North and West Africa," February 2017.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Egypt: Hasm Movement Takes a More Islamist Tone

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 27 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 20 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Egypt: Hasm Movement Takes a More Islamist Tone, 27 October 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 20, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d6acd4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

The Hasm Movement's bomb attack on the Myanmar embassy in Cairo adds weight to claims that the group, which portrays itself as a nationalist movement intent on bringing down Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, may be developing a more overtly Islamist slant.

On September 30, an improvised explosive device was detonated at the Myanmar embassy in Cairo's Zamalek district, causing damage but no casualties. Initial reports claimed the explosion was the result of a gas leak in an apartment.

In a statement released on Telegram following the blast, Hasm claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in response to events in Myanmar's Rakhine State, where Muslim Rohingya are fleeing in the wake of a violent military campaign (Egyptian Independent, October 2; Egyptian Streets, October 2). The statement also attempted to draw parallels between the actions of the Egyptian government and the events in Myanmar, condemning a supposed "global silence" in both cases.

Two days later, police reportedly killed three alleged Hasm members in a gun battle and called for further raids on the group (Daily News, October 2).

The Hasm Movement has been careful to avoid civilian casualties in its attacks, preferring to target security officials and state institutions (see Terrorism Monitor, September 22). Although the blast at the embassy is in keeping with that to an extent - at least in respect of the care taken to avoid civilian casualties - it is a potentially significant development in terms of the group's alignment and popular appeal.

The situation in Myanmar is not a uniquely Islamist issue, instead it has galvanized a diverse range of activists and experts, but the messaging behind the embassy blast lends more weight to the belief that the Hasm Movement is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, a claim made by the Egyptian authorities, one which they are yet to substantiate (al-Monitor, October 15).

It is a belief that appears to be shared by Islamic State (IS), which accuses the Hasm Movement of pursing self-interested nationalist goals rather than "pure" jihad (SITE, October 4). IS' disdain of Hasm stems in part from the Movement's unwillingness to endorse IS attacks on Egypt's Copts. IS fighters killed scores of people in separate suicide bombings on Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria in April (Daily Sabah, April 9).

Hasm condemned both of those attacks, but with the Myanmar embassy bombing and its play on the plight of the Rohingya, the Hasm Movement appears to be attempting to broaden its appeal and may be growing more Islamist in its outlook.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Mali: A Step Forward for the Peace Process

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 27 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 20 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Mali: A Step Forward for the Peace Process, 27 October 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 20, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d6b714.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

After months of clashes, a ceasefire deal between Malian rebels and the pro-government Platform militia is a positive development for Mali, but attacks by jihadists continue to undermine security.

On September 20, the Tuareg separatists of the Coalition of Azawad Movements (CMA) and members of the Platform militia signed a peace deal in Bamako (AfricaNews, September 22). The deal built on an earlier truce that had allowed Kidal State Governor Sidi Mohamed Ag Ichrach to return to the regional capital in northern Mali for the first time in several years (Sahelien, August 23).

The move is a boost for Mali's stuttering peace process, but the gains remain tempered by jihadist violence. Even as the rebels signed their truce, there were a number of attacks on Malian soldiers and troops with the United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) (MaliActu, September 20). A second attack later in the month killed three MINUSMA Peacekeepers (MaliActu, September 24). Unsurprisingly, the government has extended for another year the state of emergency in Mali, which has been in place since November 2015 (MaliActu, October 21).

The Mali-Niger border area has also grown increasingly dangerous (Asharq al-Awsat, October 21). Over the border, the killing of four U.S. soldiers, along with four of their Nigerien counterparts, in an ambush near the village of Tongo Tongo in the Tillaberi region on October 4 adds to the concern (AllAfrica, October 5; MaliActu, October 6).

It appears to still be unclear exactly who the perpetrators of the attack were, and there are troubling suggestions that villagers may have been complicit by delaying the troops from leaving.

Possibly, it was the work of the local arm of IS, led by Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the former spokesperson for the Movement for the Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) (see Hot Issue, October 26). The group could be attempting to gain greater prominence. That in turn could bring them into conflict with the dominant al-Qaeda alliance, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM).

Earlier this month, jihadists with JNIM, which is led by the Ansar Dine chief Iyad Ag Ghali, released a video announcing they had executed local hostages as a warning to those who might collaborate with the security forces (aBamako, October 9). That tactic is more closely associated with IS, and if true could indicate an attempt to consolidate its position.

Positive steps in the peace process should allow the government to better focus on tackling the jihadists. The Sahel G5 force could help in that regard. The joint anti-terror effort between Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania is supposedly edging closer to becoming operational. The pace of developments, however, remains painfully slow.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Sudan's Controversial Rapid Support Forces Bolster Saudi Efforts in Yemen

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Nicholas A. Heras Publication Date 27 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 20 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Sudan's Controversial Rapid Support Forces Bolster Saudi Efforts in Yemen, 27 October 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 20, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d6be54.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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In late September, the military leader of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Muhammad Hamdan Daqlu (a.k.a. "Hametti"), unintentionally sparked controversy by announcing that 412 Sudanese soldiers had been killed in the war in Yemen, a figure of which most Sudanese people were wholly unaware (al-Sayha [Khartoum], September 27; Akhbar al-Yemen [Sanaa], September 27).

In fact, Sudanese military forces have been participating in the coalition campaign in Yemen since 2015, fighting against the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement and its allies, composed mainly of forces loyal to the former Yemeni president Ali Abd-Allah Saleh (Press TV [Tehran], August 26; YouTube, March 22; YouTube, November 9, 2015; YouTube, October 27, 2015). [1] They are a core ground component of coalition forces in Yemen, serving in multiple regions of the country (al-Araby al-Jadid, June 13).

Saudi Arabia's recent efforts to create a buffer zone inside northern Yemen have led to the increasing deployment of the RSF (al-Sudan al-Youm [Khartoum], September 29; Sudan Tribune [Khartoum], June 9). Their presence, however, is not without its drawbacks as a Houthi information war has made much of the RSF's highly problematic past.

Janjaweed Militias

The RSF is one of the most powerful components of the Sudanese military. It is deployed mainly for counter-insurgency operations and includes among its troops a significant number of the Janjaweed militias that were linked to systematic human rights abuses in the Darfur region, particularly between 2003 and 2008. These forces have also been implicated in further systematic human rights abuses in Sudan, allegedly carried out in more recent counterinsurgency campaigns (YouTube, August 2; Asharq Alawsat, May 14; Human Rights Watch, May 3; Human Rights Watch, September 9, 2015). [2]

The force is considered to be a type of "praetorian guard" for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, himself the subject of an International Criminal Court indictment for war crimes and genocide due to the activities of the Janjaweed militias in Darfur. [3]

Al-Bashir's decision to deploy the RSF in Yemen reflects the nature of the coalition's counter-insurgency campaign there, particularly for Saudi Arabia, which has seen its southwestern provinces become the target of debilitating cross-border raids and missile attacks by the Houthis and their allies. [4] As coalition forces have made gains in central and southern Yemen, generally under the command of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Saudi military has sought to consolidate its position in the north, clearing the border regions and capturing critical Red Sea ports from the Houthi movement and its allies. [5] Now Saudi Arabia is looking to aggressively clear and hold large areas of northern Yemen and, limited by its own military's manpower constraints, Riyadh made sure the RSF's counterinsurgency capabilities were written into its planning for its campaign. [6]

Sudan's participation in the coalition campaign in Yemen is also reportedly tied to an effort by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to pull al-Bashir away from his previous close ties to Iran (al-Monitor, November 23, 2015). The Gulf States are underwriting the Sudanese military's participation in Yemen, and that financial support is believed to be crucial for al-Bashir whose government is reeling from ongoing insurgencies at home, the loss of oil revenue from the independence of South Sudan and the imposition of sanctions (al-Jazeera August 10).

Controversial Counterinsurgency Force

The RSF has supported Saudi border security operations, and it is one the lead forces in the Saudi directed campaign to capture several northwestern Yemeni provinces, particularly in Hajjah governorate (al-Akhbar [Beirut], September 30; Sudan Tribune [Khartoum], May 27).

In January, the coalition captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Midi, which was believed to be one of the hubs for arming the Houthi movement via maritime supply lines maintained by Iran's Republican Guard Corps (IRGC). The wider Hajjah governorate, however, remains the site of ongoing and fierce clashes between coalition forces and the Houthis and their allies (Sudan Tribune, August 23; YouTube, May 21). [8]

The RSF's experience as al-Bashir's lead counterinsurgency force in Sudan, where it also engages in interdicting smugglers, makes it potentially (at least in Saudi eyes) well-suited for this (Ida'at, August 17; Xinhua, May 28; Asharq Alawsat, May 14). However, there is evidence that the RSF is facing difficulties in adapting its tactics to the more treacherous mountain terrain of Yemen, a landscape to which the Houthi movement and its allies are already well-adapted (Arabi 21 [Sanaa], September 28). Indeed, the Houthis claim the majority of the casualties they have inflicted on the RSF over the course of 2017 are the result of ambushes in Hajjah governorate (al-Masdar News [Damascus], June 11; al-Masdar News [Damascus], May 23).

The RSF's participation in the coalition campaign in Yemen is also raising fears among international non-governmental organizations that the force could commit similar abuses against civilian communities that support the Houthis as it is accused of perpetrating in Sudan (IRIN News, April 25). However, the Sudanese government has not disclosed which RSF units have been deployed in Yemen, and that information has not been furnished elsewhere for public analysis, making it difficult to realistically determine if components of the RSF that committed human rights abuses in Darfur are currently present in Yemen.

To date, the Sudanese military forces deployed in Yemen have not been linked to systematic human rights abuses. Nonetheless, their presence has provided opponents of the Saudi-led coalition with ample ammunition for information operations aimed at shifting the opinion of the international community against Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their coalition partners (Yemen Press [Sanaa], March 10).

Anger in Sudan

The Houthi movement and its allies have tried to implicate the RSF in what they claim is the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Hajjah governorate (Yemen Press [Sanaa], July 4). Rather than presenting a battlefield challenge to the Houthis, the Sudanese forces may be more of a public relations liability for the Saudis, one exploited by the Houthi movement and its allies (Russia Today, August 4). These propaganda efforts portray the RSF, which is the core component of the Sudanese military contribution to the coalition in Yemen, as atrocity-prone Janjaweed mercenaries, hired out to Saudi Arabia for the profit of Sudan's war criminal president (Yemen Press [Sanaa], May 13).

The information campaign has further implications for both Sudan's al-Bashir and the coalition leadership, as the Houthi movement and its allies have focused their information operations on what they describe as the heavy casualties suffered by the RSF and other Sudanese forces in Yemen (al-Alam [Tehran], September 28; al-Masdar News [Damascus], June 11; YouTube, May 12).

Those losses play badly at home, and the outcry in Sudan in the wake of Hametti's statement that nearly 500 Sudanese had been killed in Yemen, demonstrates just how much anger the topic can spark against al-Bashir and his decision to participate in the Yemen war (YouTube, August 2; Sudan Tribune [Khartoum], June 23; Middle East Monitor, May 25).

As the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition seeks to escalate its operations against the Houthis, particularly in the Red Sea and northern Saudi-Yemeni border regions, the RSF provides an important and battle-hardened force to compliment the coalition's local Yemeni partners. Its presence in Yemen, however, will continue to be an important subject for use in the information war against the coalition.

Further, the expeditionary deployment of the RSF to the Yemen conflict is significant, as it represents the next stage in the development of a multi-national force, led by the leading Gulf Arab states, to confront Iran and its partner and proxy forces in the wider Middle East region. Meanwhile, the RSF provides Sudan's al-Bashir with a revenue-generating force that can be used to support allies in conflicts throughout Africa, particularly in the trans-Sahara region, and in the Middle East.

NOTES

[1] Author's interviews with Saudi national security officials planning the coalition campaign in Yemen. Interviews conducted in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (May 10-14, 2017).

[2] Jerome Tubiana, Remote-Control Breakdown: Sudanese Paramilitary Forces and Pro-Government Militias, Small Arms Survey, April 2017, http://www.css.ethz.ch/en/services/digital-library/publications/publication.html/57467515-a864-4b5d-839a-4d85945e857a.

[3] Ibid

[4] Author's interviews with Saudi national security officials planning the coalition campaign in Yemen. Interviews conducted in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, (May 10-14, 2017).

[5] Author's interviews with Saudi national security officials planning the coalition campaign in Yemen. Interviews conducted in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (May 10-14, 2017).

[6] Author's interviews with Saudi national security officials planning the coalition campaign in Yemen. Interviews conducted in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (May 10-14, 2017).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Kazakhstan Faces Three Kinds of Separatist Threats

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 17 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 131 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Kazakhstan Faces Three Kinds of Separatist Threats , 17 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 131, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d6fa14.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

More than any other non-Russian country in the post-Soviet space, Kazakhstan now faces separatist challenges that were structured into it by Joseph Stalin in the 1920s and 1930s, when he included large and predominantly ethnic-Russian-populated regions in the north within the republic's borders. The Soviet dictator did so to prevent the Kazakhs from combining with other Central Asians against Moscow. He recognized that Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan would never join together with giant Uzbekistan unless the latter was counter-balanced by Kazakhstan, a possibility Stalin was committed to preventing. Indeed, Stalin and the Soviets pointedly always referred to the entire region as "Central Asia and Kazakhstan" rather than just "Central Asia," as most in Russia and abroad have done since 1991. Demographic changes have reduced some of this particular historically induced threat-ethnic Russians have not formed a plurality in Kazakhstan since 1986, and represent an ever-declining share of the population-but it has not been eliminated. And according to Kazakh analysts, their country now faces other separatist challenges as well.

Many Kazakhstanis are asking three questions about these risks, openly referred to by some local analysts as "the specter of separatism": How serious are these risks in fact? Where do they come from-abroad or at home? And what can Kazakhstan's government do to "reduce separatist attitudes to a minimum" by pursuing carefully selected domestic reforms and foreign policy initiatives? (Central Asia Monitor, October 13). But although analysts assert that these three questions are now more important than ever to resolve, the Kazakhstani government has yet to offer a response to any of them.

Kazakhstani political scientist Dosym Satpayev says that despite the authorities' official silence, his fellow countrymen recognize Kazakhstan is currently confronted by three different kinds of separatism, which, if unaddressed or not countered, could easily reinforce one another. First of all, there is ideological separatism, driven by neo-imperialist or radical Islamist ideas. Recent events in Turkey and Ukraine, he suggests, show just how quickly Kazakhs could "become victims not only of a foreign information war or foreign propaganda but of a foreign identity." To counter this, Kazakhstan must promote a Kazakh identity; but that can emerge only on the basis of economic and political reforms and not by diktat from the government (Central Asia Monitor, October 13).

Second, Kazakhstan faces what could be called "economic 'separatism,' " that is, the desire of regions to have more authority than they are granted by the Constitution, which defines the country as a unitary state. Those regions that are doing well-either due to their own efforts or thanks to foreign investment-increasingly see the central government as a problem because it takes resources from them to support lagging regions. This policy can generate separatist ideas as well.

The third risk, which often arises as a result of the coming together of the first two, is "classical territorial separatism." In such a scenario, a region and its population come to view their interests as having been ignored by the central government. Kazakhstanis began to talk about this threat after the (Moscow-driven) outbreak of war in Donbas, over three years ago. Some have even concluded they might become victims (or in some cases beneficiaries) of a similar Russian strategy directed against Kazakhstan (see EDM, December 16, 2014).

The government in Astana, Satpayev says, has responded by introducing more draconian punishments against anyone calling for changes to the country's borders or against those who participate in separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. But the authorities have not, he suggests, taken sufficient actions to address regional differences in the economic situation, which can trigger such separatist challenges. He thus urges the creation of educational clusters and economic development zones in the poorest areas.

A second Kazakhstani political scientist, Rasud Zhumaly, is even blunter about a different source of the threat. Kazakhstan has all the laws it needs to counter separatism arising at home, he says; but it has failed to take a tough enough line against foreign-predominantly Russian-support for separatist ideas inside the Central Asian republic. "The foreign ministry must be very tough and categorical" about this, Zhumaly declares, but "unfortunately, it still conducts itself in too soft a way, despite provocative declarations from Russian politicians" (Central Asia Monitor, October 13).

Astana, he argues, must do three things to counter the three threats: It must conduct its own sophisticated information and ideological work among its people, underscoring the fact that "Kazakhstan is a unitary state, a single country, and the motherland of all the peoples and ethnic groups living there." It must introduce severe limits on foreign information providers, so that they cannot sway portions of the population against the country. And perhaps especially important, Zhumaly says, it must work to ensure the balanced development of the country's regions, so that some are not well off and others left behind.

"In Kazakhstan today," he continues, "the lion's share of investments and budget spending is concentrated in two or three regions, while the remainder suffer from inadequate funding." As a result, "internal migration is growing" and entire regions are being left depopulated, which represents "a threat not only from the point of view of separatism but also from the point of view of the development of the state."

Astana finally appears to be listening. In the last week alone, the government set migration quotas for within the country (Ratel.kz, October 13), and it banned RT and six other foreign television channels from broadcasting in Kazakhstan (Fergananews.com, October 10). All this indicates that Kazakhstani officials now recognize just how serious the above-cited threats are becoming.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan Undertake Resolving Their Water Disputes

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Umida Hashimova Publication Date 17 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 131 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan Undertake Resolving Their Water Disputes, 17 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 131, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d70544.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Transboundary water sharing is one of the most contentious issues dividing Central Asian countries. And as Uzbekistan continues to actively pursue better relations with its neighbors (see EDM, May 24, June 27, September 12, 18), discussions over water usage are moving to the top of the agenda. Uzbekistan has already directed a great deal of energy and attention to improving relations with Kyrgyzstan; and almost a year after the process was launched, the two countries are now reviewing their water disputes.

Kambat-Ata 1 is a large hydropower station Kyrgyzstan has been planning to build for some time. The project was vehemently opposed by Uzbekistan under its previous president, Islam Karimov, for fear the dam would block large amounts of water upriver and deprive Uzbekistan's downstream agricultural lands from securing sufficient volumes of irrigation water. But now, not only has Tashkent eased that opposition, it furthermore wants to participate in building the Kambat-Ata 1 station (AKIpress, October 6). The 1,860-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power plant comes at a steep price of $3 billion, according to the feasibility study carried out by a Canadian company back in 2014 (Vecherniy Bishkek, July 19, 2014).

Energy firms in both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have already taken steps to draw up initial plans for financing the project, which heretofore had been the major issue bogging down progress on constructing the dam (Kun.uz, October 10). Bishkek had found and later lost investors in the Kambat-Ata 1 project on two previous occasions. Indeed, Tashkent's opposition to the project had likely contributed to the lack of interest by investors. In 2012, Russia's RusHydro committed to become the sole builder, but pulled out in 2016, without even starting construction, because of outstanding land disputes and loss of interest in the project (Current Time, January 26, 2016). Then, in July 2017, the Czech company Liglass Trading entered into an agreement to build several small hydropower stations and pay off Kyrgyzstan's $37 million debt to RusHydro over Kambar-Ata 1 (Vedomosti, July 10). However, in less than three months, that deal fell through as well due to the inability of Liglass Trading to meet its financial obligations within a set period of time (Gov.kg, October 10).

By recently dropping its opposition to the project and turning from foe to friend on this issue, Uzbekistan has caused "tectonic changes" to the benefit of the power station's construction, according to Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister Duyshenbek Zilaliev (24.kg, September 19). Invigorated investors are currently reaching out to the Kyrgyz Republic to express interest in participating in the project.

Less controversial or well-known in the international arena, but more politically charged than Kambat-Ata 1 is the issue over the Kasan-Say (Orto-Tokoy) water reservoir, found in Kyrgyzstan. According to Kyrgyzstani officials, the reservoir, which is located eight miles from the border with Uzbekistan, is used solely by Uzbekistan for irrigation and guarded by Uzbekistani law enforcement officials (24.kg, September 4). After Kyrgyzstan unilaterally nationalized the water reservoir in 2016, both sides deployed their troopsthough the standoff dissipated after several weeks, in August 2016 (Kloop.kg, September 20, 2016; see EDM, September 13, 2016).

In February 2017, Adkham Ikromov, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister and the most senior official in the early stages of public diplomacy between the two countries, was turned away at a checkpoint to enter the village around the reservoir for a scheduled meeting. As a result, he and his Kyrgyzstani counterpart exchanged testy barbs with one another (Centrasia.ru, February 23). The incident likely elevated the issue to the presidential level. Consequently, one of the agreements that transpired after President Almazbek Atambayev's latest visit to Tashkent, on October 56, was the official transfer of the Kasan-Say water reservoir to Kyrgyzstan, while Uzbekistan would finance the maintenance of the structure (Kun.uz, October 11). The incident illustrates how unresolved local issues around resources continue to play a major role in relationseven though the two presidential administrations had until now been much more focused on settling a series of unrelated bilateral border disputes.

It is noteworthy that while the two countries are resolving the ownership of infrastructures in each other's territories alongside border issues, officials on both sides want to ensure that no onein particular local peoplecomes under the impression that their country is giving up territorial claims. The land issue is a particularly sensitive matter for ethnic Kyrgyz, hence the authorities' focus on trying to dampen the potential flare-up of nationalistic feelings. Illustratively, last month, Bishkek's special representative on issues of delimitation and demarcation of border lines, Kurbanbay Iskandarov, explicitly stated that "not a meter of Kyrgyz land was given to Uzbekistan and not a meter was taken from Uzbekistan" (Kabar.kg, September 15). From the Uzbekistani side, Ilhomjon Nematov, the country's ambassador on special issues, stated that neither Central Asian neighbor is losing anything in the process (Kun.uz, September 10).

Uzbekistan habitually frames regional transboundary water issues around the Aral Sea and the ecological disaster surrounding it. The Aral Seaa large lake between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan that today is mostly dried up due to decades of water mismanagementis one of world's largest modern ecological catastrophes. Building large hydroelectric plants and dams upriver would further exacerbate the existing "fragile water and ecological balance" in the region, according to Uzbekistan's former United Nations representative, Ildar Shigabutdinov (Un.org, February 19, 2014; Gazeta.uz, September 20, 2017). Therefore, Uzbekistan's recent consent to large hydropower projects in Kyrgyzstan represents a truly monumental concession on the part of Tashkent. But it is also an opportunity for Uzbekistan to exercise leverage over the construction process going forward, thus ensuring that the upstream project does not ultimately become disadvantageous.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Zimbabwe's Very Peculiar Coup

Publisher International Crisis Group (ICG) Publication Date 16 November 2017 Cite as International Crisis Group (ICG), Zimbabwe's Very Peculiar Coup, 16 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d71644.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Zimbabwe's military has detained the country's 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace Mugabe, and taken control of the streets of the capital and the main television station. The next step  apparently, a legitimate-looking transfer of power to someone of the army's choosing  may prove less easy.

The Zimbabwe Defense Forces have taken control of the country. What exactly happened?

The crisis burst into the open on 6 November when President Mugabe fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and expelled him from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party. Mnangagwa has been aligned with the military and Zimbabwe's National Liberation War Veterans Association, and had been in a fierce struggle for power in the race to succeed the country's 93-year-old leader. His principal opponent was Grace Mugabe, the president's wife, who heads a rival faction of ZANUP-PF veterans known as the G40, leads the women's wing and is popular among young party activists.

The army then unambiguously stepped in. A statement on 13 November by the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantino Chiwenga, called for an end to the unfolding purge of party elements with who took part in Zimbabwe's fifteen-year war of liberation from white rule, and warned that the army would intervene against any threat to the integrity of the revolution that led to Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. Almost 24 hours later, the party's spokesperson, Ambassador SK Moyo, accused Chiwenga of treasonous utterances and overstepping his mandate. Then, in the early November, troops took control of the government's media headquarters and other important buildings.

The military urged the sixteen million Zimbabweans to "limit unnecessary movement" and have called for calm among key components of the state, the judiciary, parliamentarians, the security sector, churches, youth formations, traditional leaders and other political actors. Military vehicles were parked on the streets, but on the morning of 15 November this did not discourage Zimbabweans from going about their lives almost as normal. Incidents of violence appear to have been minimal, with few reports of gunfire and some of beatings. There is no evidence of overt division within the security sector.

An effective news blackout from the state media has however made people reliant on international and social media, and speculation is rife. A great variety of sentiments are being expressed, from relief and excitement that Mugabe's long reign may be finally over, to a profound nervousness that what follows could be even worse.

Does the military action spell the end of Robert Mugabe's 37 years in power?

Mugabe appears to have lost power, but not his position as president, at least in the first two days after the military move. At 01:26 in the early hours of Wednesday 15 November, an army spokesman delivered a written statement on national television and radio claiming the military had taken action, "targeting criminals around [President Mugabe] who are committing crimes and are causing social and economic suffering in the country to bring them to justice". The statement said the president and his family were safe and that "as soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect the country to return to normalcy".

South African President Jacob Zuma confirmed Mugabe is "confined to his home", as is apparently his wife, Grace. But Mugabe's personal position remains unclear on many fronts.

Does the military's action constitute a coup d'etat?

This is a very peculiar kind of coup. Effectively there has been a military takeover, but the army has not declared martial law, the suspension of the constitution, or the deposition of the country's head of state. The military and those such as War Veterans who supported a robust pushback following Vice President Mnangagwa's dismissal have been at pains to argue that they are not pushing for a coup. Outside powers are also at pains not to use the word "coup" in relation to current events.

Yet General Chiwenga's statement on 13 November had the hallmarks of threatening to seize power. He said that unless Mugabe took appropriate steps there would be a military intervention, albeit to address an apparent security threat perceived in both the ruling party and the country at large. The situation, he argued, warranted action and was in line with the military's previous interventions in internal ZANU-PF disputes, enacted to ensure the ruling party and its revolutionary objectives were not hijacked. It would appear that Mugabe was either unable or refused to take the steps being demanded, setting in motion Chiwenga's promised action.

The military's televised broadcast maintained that "we wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government. What the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation in our country which if not addressed may result in violent conflict". The statement urged important arms of government and social constituencies to remain focused and calm.

There may well be sympathy for the military's intervention from several domestic and regional quarters, but it sets dangerous anti-democratic precedent with major implications for Zimbabwe and beyond. How much longer can this overt military intervention avoid being labelled a coup d'etat? While the army's intentions may be couched in constitutional language, the democratic credentials of those pursuing this course of action are also in doubt. Just as importantly, will the military, in conjunction with ZANU-PF and the government, be able to cobble together a plausible veneer of legality around this intervention? Will the opposition and civil society take a clear stance on this? Will President Mugabe, whose controversial election in 2013 was widely accepted, be willing and able to put his imprimatur on any new suggested plan of action?

What has been the regional reaction?

The African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) rightly condemn unconstitutional takeovers of power as a red line not to be crossed. At the time of going to press, neither the AU nor SADC have expressly condemned the Zimbabwe military's intervention or described it as a coup. There have been growing frustrations with how Mugabe has been mishandling internal factional dynamics, the economy and the unresolved issues of his own succession, exacerbated by the destabilising antics of the first lady.

The SADC chairman, Jacob Zuma, despatched two special envoys to Zimbabwe's capital Harare, his defence minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the new and little experienced state security minister, Advocate Bongani Bongo. From there, the envoys are expected to travel to Angola to brief President Joao Lourenco who is chairperson of SADC's Organ for Politics, Defence and Security. Zuma confirmed he had been in touch with Mugabe and with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, which are well-regarded in the region. Zuma called for "calm and restraint" and for the ZDF "to ensure peace and stability are not undermined". He made no mention of a coup d'etat.

Speaking on Tuesday, South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Gwede Mantashe made it clear that the ANC doesn't want to get involved in the rift. "ZANU-PF must deal with the issue because Zimbabwe is not our colony. It's not our province, it's our neighbour. If things go wrong there, of course, we'll be concerned because it'll impact on us, but we have no authority over them, that's the point we're making".

Where are Zimbabwe's domestic politics heading? What kind of transitional government might be possible?

When Mugabe fired Vice President Mnangagwa on 6 November, it was thought that Grace Mugabe had prevailed in the eventual struggle to succeed her husband. But the army's reaction appears to have ended the chances of her taking over.

The army has now detained senior members of Grace Mugabe's G40 faction of party veterans, including Party Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, and Patrick Zhuwao, Mugabe's nephew and minister of public services, labour and social welfare. Some social media is reporting Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo has also been arrested; others claim he also sought refuge with Mugabe. Others reportedly taken in include the ZANU-PF youth league chairperson, Kudzai Chipanga; images of his beaten visage have been circulating on social media. Unconfirmed reports claim the commissioner of police, Augustine Chihuri has also been detained. It remains to be seen who else constitutes the alleged "criminals and counter-revolutionaries" referred to by the military and whether they will now be subjected to due process, criminal investigation and prosecution.

36 hours after the announcement on state media, there had still been no public statement from the government or from any key political players. A statement from opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is on his way back to Harare this evening, is keenly awaited.

The most likely person to benefit from recent events is Mnangagwa. Some ZANU-PF party structures have already reversed their former support for Mnangagwa's expulsion. He was in the past held out by many as the best hope within ZANU-PF for piloting a pragmatic economic recovery predicated on re-engagement with international creditors and a package of reform that would instil a measure of much needed confidence. He now has a chance to show that he can deliver on this promise.

If Mugabe steps down from office, Mnangagwa could be sworn in as interim leader. Tsvangirai has not indicated what line he will take, but he has made political deals before. It may be we are in for a staggered transitional process that features a staged public show of Mugabe "overseeing" the process, which would allow the new powers in the land to introduce credibly some kind of interim government. Some wish to bring forward parliamentary elections currently scheduled for mid-2018, but with guarantees that the political space will be opened up. Others are pushing for a longer transition, even up to two to three years, in the hope that this period can be used to level the political playing field and to build some foundation for economic recovery.

But even if Mnangagwa wins formal control of ZANU-PF at the scheduled ZANU-PF Extraordinary Congress in December, it is unclear whether he can cobble together a transitional unity government that can turn around the moribund economy and end the political crisis. Mnangagwa may explore options for an executive that incorporates opposition elements and those more recently estranged from ZANU-PF, such as Joice Mujuru. This would probably mean postponing the 2018 elections, which many believe would in any case be unable to provide a legitimising platform for reform and recovery in the current political context. Such a proposition would require broad based buy-in, not only from opposition elements, but civil society more broadly. Their endorsement and participation in charting a new national vision is essential, if this interregnum is to generate a credible set of options designed to enhance and rebuild Zimbabwe's democratic credibility.
Kyrgyzstan's Thorny Road: Sooronbay Zheenbayev Inherits Burdensome Legacy From His Predecessor

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Farkhad Sharip Publication Date 18 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 132 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Kyrgyzstan's Thorny Road: Sooronbay Zheenbayev Inherits Burdensome Legacy From His Predecessor, 18 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 132, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d72684.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Preliminary results of the presidential elections held in Kyrgyzstan, on October 15, announced by the Central Election Committee, may come as a surprise to observers who followed pre-election developments (see EDM, September 27). In a resounding victory, Sooronbay Zheenbekov, the ruling Social Democratic Party candidate, ended up winning 54.8 percent of the votes. His main opponent, the leader of the opposition party Respublika, Omurbek Babanov, garnered just over 33.8 percent. Babanov's position seemed irreparably weakened after his more experienced political ally, Bakyt Torobayev, dropped out of the race on October 6. Contrary to apprehensions and fears of unrest and public disorder-common to all preceding presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan-the transfer of power this time occurred peacefully, notwithstanding a small protest gathering of around 600 people in the city of Talas, allegedly staged by Babanov's supporters. Nevertheless, Babanov distanced himself from the organizers of the rally (For.kg, October 16).

Whatever the undercurrents of the election campaign, the presidents of each of the other Central Asian states as well as Russia will now have to deal with the loyal successor of Kyrgyzstan's incumbent president, Almazbek Atambayev. The election had particularly strained Kazakhstan's relations with Kyrgyzstan after Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Omurbek Babanov, in Almaty, last September (see EDM, September 27). Angered by this apparent signal of support for his rival, Zheenbekov accused Astana of trying "to thrust on Kyrgyzstan a foreign-backed puppet as a head of the state" (24.kg, October 13).

As the election campaign drew to a close, officials in Bishkek were further unnerved after Astana initiated entry restrictions at a checkpoint in Korday, on Kazakhstan's side of the border, for Kyrgyzstani nationals and vehicles with Kyrgyz Republic license plates. This resulted in unprecedentedly long queues at the border, stretching for many kilometers. Similar alarming reports came from the Chon Kakpa, Ak Zhol and Ak Nyet checkpoints. Moreover, on October 10, Kazakhstan reportedly deployed military personnel to Korday. And pictures of Kazakhstani military trucks on the highway near this border village checkpoint appeared on social media. The National Security Committee of Kazakhstan issued a statement saying that the introduction of heightened security measures was necessary to ward off a potential terrorist threat and to control migration flows from Kyrgyzstan during the presidential election (Nws.tj, October 12).

However deep the tensions between Bishkek and Astana appeared on the eve of the election, the two neighboring nations nonetheless share a common faith and spiritual values as well as closely related languages. Both sides seem to understand they cannot afford to permanently alienate one another, particularly in economic and security terms. Shortly after his victory at the polls, Zheenbekov told Kazakhstani media he would continue to maintain good relations with Nazarbayev, "the president of the fraternal state" (Tengrinews.kz, October 16).

It is worth pointing out that last July, Kazakhstan signed an agreement to allocate $100 million to facilitate Kyrgyzstan's integration into the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) (Kt.kz, July 5). Additionally, according to Kazakhstani Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, his country has invested $820 million into the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic. Apart from that, more than 125,000 Kyrgyzstani labor migrants are currently working in Kazakhstan (Ratel.kz, October 9). And especially pointedly, on October 15, large groups of Kyrgyz Republic servicemen arrived at the Iliyski military training range, in Kazakhstan, to take part in Nerushimoye Bratstvo 2017 (Unbreakable Fraternity 2017). This Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military exercise also included Armed Forces personnel from Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan (Sputniknews.kz, October 15). Political scientist Azimbay Gali believes that, from a geopolitical perspective, it is reasonable for Kazakhstan to cement its ties with Kyrgyzstan in order to reduce militarily strong Uzbekistan's influence in the region (Ktk.kz, October 16).

Of course, outgoing president Atambayev's efforts to prioritize Kyrgyzstan's economic and security interests in relations with Kazakhstan and Russia have not always been successful. He complained last December, that those two states were barring access to their markets for agricultural produce from Kyrgyzstan under the pretext that Kyrgyzstani exports fail to meet EEU standards (Eadaily.com, December 1, 2016). And the Kyrgyz Republic's road to military cooperation with its CSTO partners is also full of stumbling blocks. On his visit to Russia last June, then-president Atambayev-doubting the capability of Tajikistan to put up effective resistance to potential militant infiltration from Afghanistan-asked Moscow to base Russian troops to guard the porous Kyrgyzstani-Tajikistani border in the vulnerable Batken region, rather than spend the resources to reinforce the Russian air base in Kant. But recently, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoriy Karasin bluntly dismissed appeals for a Russian border-security mission in Kyrgyzstan, retorting that Russia does not need an additional military base in this Central Asian republic (News-asia.ru, October 11).

In his election campaign platform, Sooranbay Zheenbekov vowed to complete economic reforms in Kyrgyzstan and to rebuild relations with EEU partners on an equal footing. But given the country's ailing economy, rampant unemployment and uneasy relations with many of its neighbors, this will not be an easy task for the new president.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Kazakhstan Adopts New Military Doctrine

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Anna Gussarova Publication Date 23 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 134 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Kazakhstan Adopts New Military Doctrine, 23 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 134, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d73ad4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree, on September 29, adopting Kazakhstan's new Military Doctrine. The document outlines key priorities in military security for the Central Asian republic (Zakon.kz, September 29; Nomad.su, October 9).

Interestingly, the doctrine itself received almost no public attention inside Kazakhstan. Several mass media outlets published short briefs, citing passages from the introduction to the presidential decree. To date, neither the president nor the minister of defense have commented or made public statements in reference to the document.

Whereas the previous military doctrine (2011) focused more on countering violent extremism and terrorism, the newly adopted version puts greater emphasis on armed conflict along the border and measures to mitigate it. In this regard, Kazakhstan is very much emulating Belarus, a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) partner, which modified its own military doctrine in 2016 (Belta.by, July 20, 2017; see EDM, February 29, 2016). Even though the Kazakhstani document does not precisely identify any major conflicts that could pose a threat, it significantly shifts the rhetoric and logic of country's security agenda.

The overall tone of Astana's new military doctrine has a geopolitical background. The text is full of Cold War-style jargon-namely "confrontation between global and regional powers for spheres of influence," "the arms race," "increased tensions," "a certain country's desire to change the existing world order," and "militarization of the region"-that could easily be attributed more to Moscow. However, the main difference is that Russia's current military doctrine makes clear whom the Kremlin considers an ally and who is an enemy, while the Kazakhstani document is rather blurry on those counts (Informburo.kz, June 25).

Kazakhstan's 2017 Military Doctrine introduces the concept of "hybrid" warfare, which can be employed against the country. According to the document, "hybrid" warfare is defined as the "ways of achieving military-political and military-strategic objectives of an integrated military force (including special operations forces, private military security companies on the territory of the opposing side), via non-military means, as well as by using the potential of other states, terrorist and extremist organizations, and separatist movements to destabilize the situation in the territory of the opposing state" (Zakon.kz, September 29).

The use of military force or intention to use force, including "hybrid" warfare, is thus seen as a main military threat to Kazakhstan's national security. While Astana has declared zero enemies in its new doctrine, the fact that it is explicitly referring to the types of operations and tactics used in eastern Ukraine is telling because of what it signals about the focus of Kazakhstani policymakers and the military establishment. Indeed, earlier in 2016, President Nazarbayev emphasized, "The people of Kazakhstan do not want a Ukrainian scenario in the country," and he warned that anyone trying to bring about such events would be severely punished (Ukraine-analytica.org, August 9).

Another major threat noted in the new military doctrine is the possibility of an outside force gaining control over Kazakhstan's strategic resources and transport infrastructure. Oil and natural gas are the most valuable sector in terms of investment and development. But recent transport and transit projects are also of great concern from a security standpoint. Moreover, these two might become ever more important elements of Astana's multi-vector foreign policy.

The Kazakhstani government is paying special attention to its Caspian border. According to Zhandarbek Zhanzakov, the commander-in-chief of the country's Naval Forces, "Kazakhstan seriously underestimates the importance and vulnerability of its border along the Caspian coastline" (Lada.kz, October 3). The country's total number of navy assets is significantly lower than neighboring Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and Turkmenistan (Globalfirepower.com, October 17). In addition, all Caspian countries, including those that previously had no naval forces, have been building up their military power (see EDM, April 2, 2013; July 25, 2016). Recently, Dariga Nazarbayeva, the chairperson of the Defense Committee in the Kazakhstani parliament, during her visit to Mangystau, proposed establishing a three-year program to strengthen Kazakhstan's coastline, military forces and border guard service along the shore of the Caspian Sea (Zakon.kz, October 3).

Among other security challenges listed in the newly adopted military doctrine are armed border conflicts and destabilization of the country by undermining Kazakhstan's constitutional order and territorial integrity through violent means. Interestingly, however, Central Asia is not mentioned in the document at all. Rather, the document notes that Kazakhstan will continue to enhance its cooperation with the United Nations, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the CSTO, including in peacekeeping operations and training. Even though the doctrine remains defensive in nature, it notes that Kazakhstan reserves the right to use military force when all non-military means to ensure the country's security prove ineffective.

According to the Doctrine, to develop the country's military-industrial complex, Kazakhstan will establish joint enterprises to produce advanced weapons systems. Notably, During KADEX-2016, an international exhibition of weapons system and military equipment, Kazakhstani firms signed about a dozen agreements with companies from Belarus, China, Germany, Russia and Ukraine (Cvsi.kz, June 4, Kapital.kz, June 2).

Another major novelty in the new 2017 Doctrine is an actual approach to cyber security-one that for the first time goes beyond strictly the informational component. The document establishes special cyber security groups within the Armed Forces and notes the need for enhanced training.

In terms of a division of labor with respect to military threats, the document explains that the National Security Committee Border Service will supervise the resolution process in case of armed conflict along the border, while the National Guard (previously, the Domestic Troops of the Ministry of Interior), will suppress domestic armed conflicts. In addition, Kazakhstan will create a national center for defense management, which will become a centralized command-and-control system of the Kazakhstani Armed Forces-along the model of the Russian National Defense Management Center (NTsUO) (see EDM, November 4, 2014).

Kazakhstan's military looks poised to begin undergoing a comprehensive transformation process, starting from refining general mobilization and enhancing border security to strengthening military education and improving military capabilities. Based on its new military doctrine, Astana clearly sees this effort as essential to be able to successfully withstand the geopolitical challenges the country currently faces.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moscow Losing Its Leverage in Kazakhstan as Astana Loses Influence Over Nationalists

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 26 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 137 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moscow Losing Its Leverage in Kazakhstan as Astana Loses Influence Over Nationalists, 26 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 137, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d74db4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Russia is rapidly losing its traditional leverage in Kazakhstan. Not only is demographic change swiftly reducing the share of ethnic Russians in the population, but the government in Astana is promoting the Latinization of the Kazakh alphabet (see EDM, April 25) and a new and more radical generation of Kazakh nationalists is coming to the fore. On the one hand, these developments are reducing Moscow's ability to influence Kazakhstan; and on the other, they are dramatically changing the role Kazakhstan is going to play not only vis-a-vis Russia but also with regard to other Central Asian countries and the broader world.

Some pro-Moscow Kazakhs, like Yermek Taychibekov, who was recently released from prison where he served a sentence for advocating that Kazakhstan and Russia unite, argue their country is going the way of Ukraine: by mobilizing its ethnic majority against all things Russians, it is implicitly inviting Moscow to intervene as it has in the Ukrainian case (Svpressa.ru, October 22). Such claims are certainly overblown, and the possibility that Russia could intervene in Kazakhstan is increasingly unlikely given the demographic changes in that Central Asian country. But the vehemence with which these views are expressed does highlight just how fundamental the changes there are and how fateful they are likely to prove.

Joseph Stalin drew the borders of Kazakhstan before World War II, to ensure that that republic would be dominated by ethnic Russians and that any possibility of a combination of Central Asian republics against Moscow would be excluded. Kazakhstan could not unite with the others lest it risk the loss of the ethnic-Russian northern third of the country. And Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan could not unite with the far larger Uzbekistan unless Kazakhstan joined the mix (see EDM, October 17). The Russian share of the population was boosted not only by World War II but also by Nikita Khrushchev's Virgin Lands development program in the late 1950s. And until the late 1980s, ethnic Russians formed a plurality of Kazakhstan's population, while ethnic Kazakhs formed a minority in their own republic.

But even in the last decades of the Soviet Union, two factors were already working to reduce the Russian share of the population: outmigration of ethnic Russians, a higher death rate among those remaining in Kazakhstan, and far higher birthrates and far lower death rates among the much younger ethnic Kazakhs, according to Aleksandr Alekseyenko, a demographic historian at East Kazakhstan State University. As a result, he says, the Kazakhs gained plurality status in the late 1980s, majority status in the 1990s, and will form 80 percent or more of Kazakhstan's population in a decade or so (Central Asia Monitor, October 20).

In the 1990s, Alekseyenko says, "the greatest influence on the change of the ethno-demographic composition of the population of the republic was external migration"-the flight of ethnic Russians and other Europeans and the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs. Now, however, these factors are less important than the relative balance between birth and death rates among the various groups. Among ethnic Russians, who are an older population, birth rates are quite low and death rates quite high; but among Kazakhs, who are much younger, just the reverse is true. As a result, the shift from the former to the latter is taking place quickly and will continue to do so, even though birthrates among the urbanizing ethnic Kazakhs are likely to fall over time.

The Kazakhstani government has responded by taking a nationalist line that has met almost all the demands of the "romantic" form of nationalism that dominated the republic in the years just before and just after the achievement of independence in 1991. These new policies now include a real path to the Latinization of the Kazakh alphabet and the closer integration with the Turkic world this promises, according to Kazakh commentator Arman Kudabay. But now, he suggests, these "romantics" have been succeeded by a variety of groups, none of which is yet dominant but out of which is likely to emerge a new and more radical form of nationalism that may end by challenging the Kazakhstani state itself (Central Asia Monitor, October 19).

These nationalists, mostly unorganized, have their roots in the same sense of economic and cultural dispossession that explains the rise of the populist right in Russia, Europe and the United States, the commentator continues. They are angry about what has happened to them, but so far at least, he suggests, they have not decided to blame just one category. For them, Kudabay suggests, "it really is not important who has 'offended' them: Hindu or Arab, Chinese or Almaty resident, 'sovok' or 'vatnik,' 'their own' or 'aliens.' " What matters is that they are angry about what has happened and want to strike out.

The "romantic" nationalists of the past, he continues, no longer have their sympathies: " 'We do not believe you!' " is what the new nationalists often say. " 'You have also sold us out.' " As a result, Kudabay argues, the milder Kazakh nationalism of the 1990s is now over; and the country "stands on the brink of serious changes." It remains to be seen whether these emerging new nationalists might eventually become hijacked by radical Islamism or become "tragic" for some other reason.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Public Protests Against Russian Military Presence Mounting in Kazakhstan

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Farkhad Sharip Publication Date 9 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 145 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Public Protests Against Russian Military Presence Mounting in Kazakhstan, 9 November 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 145, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d755c4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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In a rare show of solidarity, a large group of Kazakhstani intellectuals, writers, prominent public figures, as well as activists of diverse opposition forces and political parties released an open letter addressed to President Nursultan Nazarbayev, protesting the envisaged lease of land in Kostanay Region (northern Kazakhstan) to Russia for military use. The authors of the letter, which was published in a number of independent papers, expressed their indignation at the fact that a Russian missile launch site would be built on the "sacred land of Torgay [the historical name for Kostanay]," the birthplace of Akhmet Baitursyn and Mirzhakip Dulat. The two referenced historical figures were prominent leaders of the Alash national independence movement, which proclaimed the autonomy of the Kazakh people in December 1917, and lasted until August 1920 (Qazaquni.kz, October 26).

Symbolically, at the top of the letter's list of signatories is the name of the popular poet Olzhas Suleymenov who, in the late 1980s, led the "Nevada-Semipalatinsk" anti-nuclear mass movement, demanding the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, in northeastern Kazakhstan. But more explicit evidence of the rising public awareness of the proposed new Russian base on Kazakhstani territory is a protest letter sent this past summer by residents of Kostanay Region to Prime Minister Bakitzhan Sagintayev and Defense Minister Beibit Atamkulov. The letter stresses that the authorities of the province are not heeding the public outcry and are ignoring the ecological disaster local Russian missile launches would likely cause (Tobyl-torgai.kz, July 12).

The government's plans to lease 100 hectares of land in Zhangeldin and Amangeldy districts of Kostanay province to Russia for a military range were initially kept secret from the public. But news leaked to the press in February of last year, when a photocopy of the document obtained from the Kostanay regional department of environment protection was posted to Facebook. Local officials hastened to explain that "only unusable, non-agricultural saline lands" would be made available to the Russian military (Kostanay.tv, February 28).

According to Marat Shibutov, a member of the Association for Cross-Border Cooperation, Kazakhstan currently hosts five Russian military ranges and testing sites. They include the Saryshagan missile testing ground on Balkhash Lake, the Baikonur space launch site in Kyzylorda Region, the Taisoygan flight test center (one of several Soviet-era nuclear test sites once located in Kazakhstan) in Atyrau Region, as well as two military facilities in West Kazakhstan used to test Russian missile defense systems (365info.kz, November 30, 2016).

Kazakhstani media routinely report of stray missiles, fired from adjacent Kapustin Yar test range in Russia's Astrakhan region, falling on West Kazakhstan. But what worries most Kazakhstani residents are the frequent failures of Proton-type Russian rockets launched from Baikonur. On July 2, 2013, a Proton-M space rocket deviated from its trajectory and crashed to the ground a few seconds after launch. All technical service personnel were immediately evacuated from the ground as a toxic cloud, believed to be evaporated heptil, a highly toxic rocket fuel, rose over the crash site. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations warned the populations living in nearby settlements of heptil's dangerous toxicity and offered to relocate them to safe places. But Talgat Musabayev, Moscow-educated Soviet-era cosmonaut of Kazakhstan who now heads the country's space agency, KazCosmos, dismissed these warnings at a cabinet meeting. Musabayev argued that heavy rain minimized the harmful effects of the heptil cloud. He added that local authorities of Kyzylorda region had no legal grounds to set up a commission into the disaster because the rocket fell on the territory of Baikonur and did not contaminate neighboring territories (Interfax, July 2, 2013). As in the majority of similar cases, the Russian authorities refused to compensate Kazakhstan for the damage.

The complacent attitude exhibited by the head of KazCosmos angered activists of the "Antiheptil" protest movement. They accused Musabayev of betraying Kazakhstan's national interests. Moreover, Antiheptil members staged a protest rally in front of the Russian embassy in Astana and handed a petition addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, demanding a ban on further Proton rocket launches. The activists threatening to resort to "more radical" actions if their demands are not met. They also honored the memory of Vladimir Popovkin-the former head of the Russian space agency, Roscosmos-who, according to a medical investigation, died from cancer after inhaling poisonous heptil vapors at the July 2013 crash site (Diapazon.kz, July 3, 2014).

Recent developments show Kazakhstanis are hardening their attitude against leasing local land to Russia for military purposes. And there is some limited evidence to suggest that Moscow is yielding to public pressure. In July, Putin ratified a protocol to return the 300,000-hectare Emba military range back to Kazakhstan. In line with the bilateral agreement signed in 1998, Kazakhstan annually received $718,000 from Moscow for the lease on this property. Some Russian officials claimed that the decision to abandon the Emba military base was taken in response to serious financial pressure on the state budget (Sputniknews.kz), July 2).

Kazakhstan is committed to military cooperation with Russia by its membership in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In 2013, Kazakhstan and Russia concluded a number of agreements on military and technical cooperation and on a unified air defense system. After 25 years independence, Kazakhstan still lacks sufficient modern technology and qualified specialists to develop a domestic military industry; as a result, it continues to heavily rely on Russia for military equipment and officer training. But Astana is paying a high price for this cooperation with Moscow.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moldovan President Igor Dodon Suspended by the Constitutional Court

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mihai Popsoi Publication Date 24 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 135 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moldovan President Igor Dodon Suspended by the Constitutional Court, 24 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 135, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d764d4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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The Moldovan Constitutional Court temporarily suspended the country's president, on October 20, following a request by the government to interpret article 98, paragraph 6 of the Constitution, covering the president's role in government reshuffles (Constcourt.md, October 20). The issue dates back to December 27, 2016, when the office of the minister of defense became vacant after then-minister Anatol Salaru was dismissed by the newly inaugurated President Igor Dodon. The Liberal Party, at that point a member of the ruling coalition, withdrew its political support for Salaru, and the government initiated the dismissal, which was eagerly accepted by Dodon. However, the president refused to appoint thenenvironment minister Valeriu Munteanu, another Liberal Party appointee, to fill the vacancy at the top of the defense ministry. The inter-institutional deadlock was immediately addressed by the Constitutional Court on January 24, 2017. On that date, the Court ruled that a president can only decline a prime minister's proposal for a government reshuffle once, but it did not elaborate on what happens if the president refuses to accept a cabinet nomination for a second time (Constcourt.md, January 24).

The Democratic Partycontrolled government never went ahead with nominating Valeriu Munteanu for a second time. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party withdrew from the ruling coalition in May and was replaced by a group of Liberal Democratic Party defectors, under the leadership of former prime minister Iurie Leanca, who became deputy speaker of Parliament on June 2. The European People's Party of Moldova, headed by Leanca, nominated its vice president and Leanca's former chief of staff, Eugen Sturza, to become minister of defense. However, the public announcement came from the Democratic Party chairman, Vlad Plahotniuc, on September 12. President Dodon rejected the nomination the following day, citing Sturza's lack of experience in the defense sector and the nominee's questionable integrity. Instead, Dodon proposed former defense minister Victor Gaiciuc (20012004), who also served as Moldova's ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during former Moldovan president Vladimir Voronin's second term (Zdg.md, September 13). The government insisted on Sturza, but President Dodon rejected his nomination again on September 18 (Unimedia.info, September 18). The following day, the government appealed to the Constitutional Court for a way out of this deadlock.

The Court issued a highly controversial ruling on October 17, mandating that if the head of state refuses to carry out his constitutional duties by rejecting a cabinet nomination twice, this represents grounds for his or her temporary suspension from office (Constcourt.md, October 17). Two days later, the government asked the Constitutional Court to temporarily suspend the president, which it did on October 20 (Constcourt.md, October 20). Under the Court's ruling, the president's suspension will be in force until an acting president appoints a new defense ministerdespite the fact that no such provisions exist in Moldova's Constitution. Article 89 of the Constitution clearly states that a president can only be suspended from office if he or she has violated the Constitution. One third of the members of the parliament need to initiate the suspension, and two thirds of the legislators need to vote in favor for the suspension to be approved; only the citizens can remove the president from office in a national referendum (Presedinte.md, accessed October 24). Ironically, the government acknowledges in its referral to the Court that, despite President Dodon having violated the Constitution, "a referendum is too difficult to achieve" and "it does not guarantee a solution to the deadlock" (ConstCourt.md, September 19), meaning that a recall referendum against Dodon is likely to fail. The absurdity of the situation is that Dodon's fellow Socialists agree that the president has violated the Constitution and Dodon himself openly calls for a referendum (RTR Moldova, October 20). Nonetheless, the Democratic Party pulled an ace from its sleeve, as the Constitutional Court equated Dodon's brazen refusal to carry out his duty with a president's inability to do soa provision normally covering health-related impediments.

The present situation is not the first time Moldova's Constitutional Court has engaged in similar far-reaching judicial activism. In fact, Dodon owes his presidency to a highly controversial ruling that reintroduced direct presidential elections in March 2016 (see EDM, March 8, 2016). Another watershed decision was the banning, in April 2013, of thenprime minister Vlad Filat from being reappointed to head the cabinet based on allegations of corruption (RFE/RL, April 23, 2013). This time, Dodon attempted to give the Court a taste of its own medicine, alleging that Eugen Sturza, a former Filat advisor, was also corrupt, but to no avail. The Constitutional Court's refusal to entertain such charges has strengthened critics' accusations that Moldova's highest court currently serves the interests of one personoligarch Vlad Plahotniuc. Though, it may seem as if this latest court ruling undermines the tacit Plahotniuc-Dodon power-sharing agreement (Jamestown.org, March 23), in fact, the Plahotniuc-controlled government did Dodon a favor by allowing him to save face by virtue of not taking part in this cabinet appointment. Some are even predicting that this controversial ruling could be used to make Plahotniuc prime minister without Dodon having to take the blame for it (Deutsche WelleRomanian version, October 18; Trb.ro, October 20).

Meanwhile, on October 24, Sturza was sworn in as defense minister by Parliamentary Speaker and Acting President Andrian Candu, thus ending President Dodon's suspension. Still, there is hardly any major political party, other than the Socialists, willing to defend Dodon against this attack on presidential powers that undermines the few remaining checks and balances in the Moldovan political system. Moldova's highly polarized politics notwithstanding, Dodon and Plahotniuc are both fully complicit when it comes to the most dramatic case of democratic backsliding in Moldova's recent historythe change of the electoral system (see EDM, July 25). Ultimately, how Dodon reacts to this latest challenge to his constitutional powers could either make or break his presidency. So far, he has vaguely threatened to initiate a popular movement in favor of "early parliamentary elections and transition to a presidential form of government" (Presedinte.md, Newsmaker.md, October 18). Yet, regardless of what the president does, Plahotniuc is now in an even stronger position to further consolidate his grip on power.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
The Tragic Case of Alexander Korzhych Highlights Problem of Hazing in Belarusian Military

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Grigory Ioffe Publication Date 25 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 136 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The Tragic Case of Alexander Korzhych Highlights Problem of Hazing in Belarusian Military, 25 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 136, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d76b54.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On October 3, Alexander Korzhych, a 21-year-old conscript, was found dead in the basement of his military unit, located in Borisov, a city in the Minsk region of Belarus. Korzhych was stationed at a training base devoted to five-month courses that transform ordinary soldiers into ensigns (a separate career group between non-commissioned officers and officers, comparable to OR-9). The incident was initially classified as a suicide. However, this qualification was called into question by the fact that Korzhych's feet were bound with a shoestring and a T-shirt was covering his head. Moreover, he had earlier complained to his parents about hazing. So-called dedovshchina, a particular kind of hazing whereby petty officers and older conscripts mistreat younger draftees, has long been a known scourge of the Soviet army and was apparently inherited by some Armed Forces of the successor states (Tut.by, October 14). Now, dedovshchina is often exacerbated by extortion, whereby younger conscripts are forced to pay a ransom in order to avoid beatings. This practice allegedly flourished in Korzhych's unit.

Some observers were quick to suggest dedovshchina is so difficult to fight because it is part and parcel of an authoritarian political regime that itself is based on strict hierarchy and expected unconditional subordination of the bottom to the top. A person with damaged willpower and a fear of superiors is easier to manipulate and subjugate (Svaboda.org, October 13). While such an opinion is not without grounds, it may rest on a classic case of spurious correlation. Both dedovshchina and a popular demand for a particular type of top-down leadership may simply (though separately) be integral to the social fabric of some national communities. To be sure, proponents of cultural universalism would militate against this point of view, arguing instead that everybody inherently wants to embrace Western behavioral norms just as much as everybody wants a clean environment. This perspective, however, defies cultural studies. Incidentally, at the October 17 plenary session of the First Belarusian Philosophical Congress, in Minsk (Philosophy.by, October 18), Luca Maria Scarantino, the secretary general of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies, criticized Western universalism by casting doubt on the assertion that all cultures would behave identically if bestowed with freedom (Conference attended by author, October 17).

Returning to Korzhych's tragic episode, it has generated an unusually broad debate domestically-unusual because his is by no means the first death of a young conscript in Belarus. Indeed, six months ago, Artyom Bastyuk, yet another Belarusian draftee, died under suspicious circumstances (Naviny, October 12); but at that point, no public discussion followed. Either a critical mass of outrage had not yet been reached or his military unit was more insulated from public scrutiny than Korzhych's. Be that as it may, it was not until the news of Korzhych's death prompted a stern rebuke by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka (and that took ten days), that the suicide qualification of the incident was dropped and a full-scale investigation launched. To date, ten people have been placed under arrest, and criminal proceedings were initiated against eight of them, including two officers (Tut.by, October 17). "Dedovshchina" and "racket" are the most frequently used words in conjunction with the case.

Several viewpoints shared during the ongoing media debate deserve attention. Thus, Valer Karbalevich of Radio Liberty opined that a deficiency of horizontal ties extending beyond close relatives and friends has long been a bane of Belarus. When this is the case, only top-down coordination becomes the glue that makes a society out of individuals. No wonder then that many people worry about the weakening of the vertical chain of command (the so-called "power vertical") in society, as to them such a weakening spells debacle. According to Karbalevich, the problem has been somewhat mitigated by the Internet. Today, 70 percent of Belarusians use the Web regularly and half of them have online social network accounts. This has propped up weak horizontal ties. As of October 25, 11,540 people signed a petition on the website zvarot.by, devoted to public petitions to the authorities, to fire the minister of defense (Zvarot.by, accessed October 25). Such a situation would have been unthinkable without the popularity of Internet-based social networks among Belarusians (Svaboda.org, October 18).

An interesting twist in the discussion is associated with the personality of Defense Minister Alexander Ravkov. Uncharacteristically, the voice against his resignation emanated from the newspaper Nasha Niva (NN). The publication was once associated with the opposition Belarusian Popular Front. Now that the Front is but a shadow of its former self, the association is loose; still, NN's pro-Western and anti-"regime" orientation remains quite strong. NN offers five reasons why Minister Ravkov should not be ousted. First, according to the paper, he gives the impression of a responsible leader who might be the best person in the government to clear the Augean stables of Belarus's Soviet legacy. Second, Ravkov is "pro-Belarusian." Unlike some other high-ranking military personnel, he stopped thinking in terms of the extinct great power (i.e., the Soviet Union) and learned to perceive himself as a Belarusian. To justify this idea, NN, quotes Ravkov's published confession of how saddened he was when, right after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many Belarusian officers decided to plead allegiance to Russia and Ukraine. Surely, NN suggests, such personalities as Alexander Goura, the Belarusian army's chief ideologue, and Vladimir Makarov, its press secretary, represent a breed different from that of Ravkov (i.e., being Russian/Soviet rather than Belarusian patriots). Third, Ravkov was one of the authors of the new Belarusian military doctrine, which envisions resistance to any external threat, no matter where it is coming from (see EDM, June 28, 2016). And indeed, the Russian airbase in Belarus failed to materialize under Ravkov's tutelage (see EDM, December 9, 2015; May 3, 2016). Fourth, as NN notes, Ravkov confessed he carefully studied the experience of the Ukrainian army at repelling external attack. Fifth, Ravkov forcefully and in a timely fashion disavowed the rumor that a survey was underway among Belarusian army officers about the unification of Russia and Belarus (Nasha Niva, October 16).

It is hard to wholly accept reasoning like this at face value. In fact, the article in question may actually seek to compromise Ravkov; things like this are not uncommon in Belarus, after all. Nevertheless, there is hope that the latest tragic death of a soldier will finally become a hallmark to fight dedovshchina and other birthmarks of Soviet legacy in the Belarusian army and beyond.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Belarus Demonstrates Resilience

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Grigory Ioffe Publication Date 30 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 138 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Belarus Demonstrates Resilience, 30 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 138, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d77484.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Newsworthy material from and about Belarus tends to either concentrate on Belarus's relations with Russia, relations with the European Union or on domestic issues, including the economy. When it comes to headlines, external drivers of Belarus's development often eclipse its domestic scene. Last week, however, was an exception, as multiple media outlets responded to Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobiakov's October 25 interview in Forbes magazine.

Belorusskie Novosti singled out Kobiakov's examples of successful Western investments (VMG and Arvi from Lithuania; Kronospan, Velcom, Raiffeisen from Austria; Santa Bremor from Germany; and Stadler Rail from Switzerland); the extraordinary success of its information technology (IT) sector; and the attractiveness of its free economic zones, one of which contains the "Great Stone" Chinese-Belarusian industrial park (Naviny.by, October 26). In turn, Tut.by, Belarus's most popular non-state news portal, emphasized Kobiakov's confession that, in its economic strategy, Belarus is trying to repeat the successes of Poland and Israel (Tut.by, October 26). Yaroslav Romanchuk, a liberal economist and a 2010 presidential hopeful, criticized Kobiakov for taking credit for the individual achievements of high-tech firms, attempts to conduct structural reforms without resorting to layoffs, and for forgoing cheaper loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) only to obtain more expensive credit by allocating Eurobonds (Salidarnasts, October 26).

Incidentally, on October 10, Romanchuk was incorporated into President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's Entrepreneurial Activity Advisory Board. According to a Russian source, this became a "shock for everybody, from the opposition-as Romanchuk was its economic standard bearer-to governmental bureaucrats" (RT, October 27). The same source emphasizes two of Lukashenka's recent decrees (# 345 and 337), which radically improved the status and freedoms of small businesses by expanding the range of activities in which they can engage, limiting state control, and significantly lowering taxes for certain types of businesses. Soon, sweeping small-business reform is expected to unshackle the potential of Belarusians' entrepreneurial activity even more. Overall, Belarus is following in the footsteps of China, which retained rigid political control over its society but liberalized the economy. One breakthrough to be credited to Belarusian state-run business is the Polonez, a multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) developed in Belarus that boasts good export potential. The first buyer of this system will be Azerbaijan. From 2002 to 2012, Belarus sold that country ammunition worth $500,000, but then a sharp decline followed. This downturn is now set to be reversed (Naviny.by, October 22).

In his October 23 interview to the Financial Times, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei declared that five-day no-visa trips for foreigners coming to Belarus (as per the February 2017 ruling that allowed visa-free travel to foreign citizens of 80 states) could be extended to ten or even thirty days. And this extension, the Belarusian top diplomat noted, may contribute to even further improvement of the domestic business environment. Moreover, Makei promoted Belarus's commitment to reform gradualism. According to him, "it is impossible to fall asleep in the Soviet Union and wake up in an ideally democratic state" (Tut.by, October 24). Since late February to October 2017, 56,000 people from 68 countries have already taken advantage of five-day-long visa-free trips to Belarus. Most of those were citizens of Germany, Poland, Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom. The passenger turnover at Minsk National Airport, the only international entry port in Belarus established for visa-free travel, has grown 30 percent compared with the same period in 2016. From January to August, Belarusian tourist agencies earned $69 million or 34.1 percent more than one year ago (RT, October 26).

Meanwhile, expressions of public discontent, also a homegrown phenomenon, have been on the decline. Thus, whereas the February 17 "march of offended Belarusians" involved 3,000 people in the city of Minsk, the eponymous event on October 21 ended up being just a 200-person rally. According to opposition-minded commentators, passions are not as close to the boiling point as they were in February, when people were protesting the presidential decree on social parasites, which required all those unemployed to pay a $180 tax. Today, this decree is on hold and the situation is improving. Also, those prone to protest see that the available opposition leaders, notably Nikolai Statkevich, do not have a plan for the future (Svaboda.org, October 22).

One more factor of declining protest activity in Minsk was emphasized at the October 20-21 "Belarusian Human Rights Forum," which took place in Vilnius, Lithuania. According to Andrei Yegorov, the director of the European Transformation Center, the EU is now ready to tolerate human rights abuses in the name of international security and stability in the region. Five reasons have led to this situation, he argues: They include authoritarian revanche and the expiration of the third wave of democracy that began in 1989; a return of geopolitics; a crisis in democracy promotion; along with the advent of isolationism, whereby the US and Poland demonstrate a kind of inward-turning reaction to global problems-the opposite to that practiced by Germany, seen as a paragon of openness. Finally, the very concept of human rights has reached a peculiar "end of history," requiring reflection on the current situation (Belarusky Zhurnal, October 26).

To a significant extent, Yegorov's report was devoted to dispelling "myths" about Belarusian-European relations that are manufactured to obscure reality. One such "myth" is that Belarus requires European aid so as to avoid being absorbed by Russia. This idea, according to Yegorov, is "fully exploited" by the Minsk Dialogue discussion platform. In such a way, in accordance with the Belarusian opposition's most tenacious tradition, a less productive affiliation tries to discredit a more successful one, the one that has actually attracted Western funding and promoted dialogue with Europe. Nonetheless, in criticizing some fables, the author of the report promotes others. For example, the talk of a return of geopolitics makes little sense because geopolitics never left the international scene. What has actually changed is Europe's relative estimate of the Belarusian opposition versus Belarus's political regime. Such a reassessment is the result of the opposition's infighting on the one hand, and of tangible success of the Belarusian authorities in promoting security and economic growth on the other.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Autumn Brings Fresh Persecutions in Russian-Occupied Crimea

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Ridvan Bari Urcosta Publication Date 30 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 138 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Autumn Brings Fresh Persecutions in Russian-Occupied Crimea, 30 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 138, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d779a4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Despite Western diplomatic efforts and sanctions against Russia, Moscow continues to attack and put pressure on the last vestiges of organized political and social opposition in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in early 2014. Indeed, September and October brought renewed persecution on the peninsula.

The latest wave of harassment and intimidation began right after the opening of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) annual Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) conference in Warsaw. On September 13, Crimean Tatar Renat Paralamov was kidnapped by unidentified Russian authorities and, he says, severely beaten. However, thanks to international pressure, he was released the next day and found at a bus stop in Simferopol (Krymr.com, September 14)-the first instance, since 2014, that a disappeared individual in Crimea was found within 24 hours of having gone missing.

International attention rarely focuses on Crimea, except when politicians and experts bring up the annexed peninsula as a historical turning point or to highlight its implication for international law and regional and global security. Nevertheless, during the 36th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in Geneva, delegates introduced a remarkable new report on the "Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol" (Ohchr.org, September 25). The document is a detailed overview of the human rights situation since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Moreover, the massive deterioration of the situation in Crimea in recent weeks triggered condemnation from the European Union: the European Parliament issued a resolution "On the cases of Crimean Tatar leaders Akhtem Chiygoz, Ilmi Umerov and journalist Mykolay Semena" (Europa.eu, October 4). In fact, this public international pressure has been systematically boosted by advocacy from Crimean Tatars, Ukrainian and international human rights-focused non-governmental organizations (NGO), as well as engagement by the Mejlis, the quasi-governing assembly of the of the Crimean Tatar people (Qtmm.org, October 25).

In general, Russia has been targeting two main groups on the occupied peninsula: members of the Mejlis, as a single representative body of the indigenous people of Crimea, as well as followers and supporters of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a pan-Islamist group recognized in Russia as a terrorist organization since 2003 (Fsb.ru, accessed October 30). In Crimea, both of these categories are predominantly made up of Crimean Tatars.

Last month, the Russian government finally issued decisions regarding two politically motivated trials: against Mejlis deputy chairmen Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz. On September 11, Chiygoz, received eight years in prison (Qha.com, September 11). On September 27, Umerov was sentenced to two years at a settlement colony (koloniya-poseleniye) (Krymr.com, September 28). In issuing these two sentences, the occupying Russian authorities have essentially completed the process of entirely banning the Mejlis on the Crimean peninsula. Moscow legally terminated the Crimean Tatar self-governing body exactly a year ago, under the pretext that the Mejlis was acting as an extremist organization (Minjust.ru, September 29, 2016). Notwithstanding the ban itself, Moscow nevertheless chose to enforce it in a rather gradual manner. The strategy was to "behead" the Mejlis by banning its leaders based abroad from re-entering the region; isolate those potential leaders who stayed in Crimea (Umerov and Chiygoz) and, by this measure, to send a direct threatening message to other members of the Crimean Tatar community; and finally, to create an alternative to the Mejlis from the local pro-Russian Crimean Tatars. But because of strong unity among Crimean Tatars, all these measures have had particularly limited success.

Moscow clearly calculated that keeping Umerov and Chiygoz imprisoned failed to achieve its primary goals in Crimea. And indeed, thanks to negotiations at the highest level by the presidents of Ukraine, Russia and Turkey, the above-mentioned Crimean Tatar political prisoners were released, on October 25, and sent to Turkey via Anapa (Novayagazeta.ru, October 27). According to Crimean Tatar leader and former Soviet dissident Mustafa Dzhemilev, the agreement was achieved over the course of several meetings between Turkey's head of state, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, in New York and Kyiv, and following talks between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Qha.com, September 28).

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin, the release of the two Mejlis activists was the result of 3.5 hours of private talks between Erdogan and Poroshenko, on October 9, in Kyiv (15minut.org, October 25). For Poroshenko, it is a significant accomplishment to point to, particularly against the background of the recent mass protests led by former Georgian president and former Odesa governor Mikheil Saakashvili (Lb.ua, October 26). Meanwhile, Russia claims Putin pardoned the dissidents after a request from the Mufti of Crimea (Regnum, October 25).

The deal on releasing the two political prisoners in fact brought significant political gains for the presidents of Turkey and Russia. Erdogan garnered praise from the millions of ethnic Crimean Tatars living in Turkey (Qha.com, September 28). While Putin, by freeing the "top political prisoners" in Crimea, was again able to demonstrate his "generosity," as he did in the case of captured Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko (who was traded to Kyiv in a prisoner swap, in 2016). Through these actions, the Kremlin is able to deflect further criticism from human rights groups as well as assert that Russia is fighting terrorism rather than persecuting political opponents in Crimea (Ntv.ru October 11). Finally, the prisoner release was likely expected to help keep the situation in Crimea calm ahead of next year's presidential elections.

The occupying government's Crimea policies are designed to cement Moscow's rule over the annexed peninsula. Therefore, Russia's declarations that it is fighting terrorism by prosecuting Mejlis members and supporters of Hizb ut-Tahrir (Tvc.ru, October 11) are little more than a pretext to stifle the Crimean Tatars' ability to resist the annexation. However, recent one-person pickets across the peninsula by over 100 Crimean Tatars (49 were detained by police) are direct evidence that the current situation may in fact be growing more, rather than less tense (Khpg.org, October 14).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Mikho-Maidan: Waiting for a New Agenda

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Oleksandr Gavrylyuk Publication Date 31 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 139 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Mikho-Maidan: Waiting for a New Agenda, 31 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 139, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d78124.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's political career in Ukraine has been defined by a dramatic series of ups and downs. He began, back in 2015, as an ally of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and was named head of Odesa's regional administration. But since then, he has resigned from that post and evolved into one of his former patron's chief political opponents and opposition leaders. The authorities stripped Saakashvili of his Ukrainian passport while he was abroad, but in defiance he triumphantly (and illegally) reentered the country last September, accompanied by a large crowd of his supporters (UATV via YouTube, September 11; see EDM, September 14).

Many observers saw Saakashvili's return to Ukraine as a chance for him to seize the political initiative amid the temporary confusion in the highest governmental offices. "Once you have managed to cross the border, [you should] grasp the nettle and get things done," wrote Evan Riley, a Ukrainian political media blogger based in Ohio state. "However, he [Saakashvili] seems not to be interested in results. He is enjoying the trip, where he can address the people gathering around him." Critical of this lack of political progress to date, Riley asks, "With more than a month of voyages and preparations, what has been the result?" (Facebook.com, accessed October 26).

Indeed, this past month's demonstrations outside the Ukrainian parliament, inspired by Saakashvili's opposition party Movement of New Forces and its political allies (including members of the Samopomich, Batkivshchyna and Svoboda parties, as well as the National Corps and Right Sector), have so far failed to either elicit massive public support or affect the ruling class. Some organizers had presumed the protests in Kyiv would draw some 10,000 backers into the streets. But the protests peaked at around 4,000, on October 17. On the fourth day of the demonstrations, October 20, only several hundred were present; and the protesters' tent city was mostly empty. Crowds began to swell again somewhat, but peaked (on October 22) at only about 1,500-around one third of the number of demonstrators who had come out to protest initially. By the following day, however, only a few remained in the tent city in front of the national legislature (Focus, October 17; Rian.com.ua, October 20; Hromadske.ua, October 22, 29; Atlanticcouncil.org, October 23).

The protesters called for "Big Political Reform," a slogan that can be distilled into three specific demands: lifting parliamentary immunity, changing the electoral system to an open-party list, and creating a National Anticorruption Court. Through creative legislative maneuvering, the authorities were able to bury those demands in red tape, however. For instance, President Poroshenko presented a bill to lift parliamentary immunity, but he set the date of the draft law's commencement for 2020. In turn, the parliament then sent both the protesters' and president's draft bills before a court for legal review. According to Igor Tyshkevich, an analyst with the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, the authorities are feigning willingness to speed up the legislative process on reforms, but in fact they are simply buying themselves more time and taking over the political initiative from the street (Hvylya.net, October 17). As such, the Big Political Reform initiative has turned out to be the campaign's weakest point. Ukraine blogger Evan Riley argues that if even the three demands are met by the ruling class, this will hardly change the situation in the country as long as Ukrainian courts and the judiciary system in general remain corrupt (Facebook.com, accessed October 26).

None of the protesters' suggestions are likely to contribute to a radical change of the current political regime, believes Vitaliy Kulyk, the director of the Kyiv-based Center for the Study of Civic Society Problems. Indeed, in his estimation, the specific elements of the Big Political Reform program would likely "prolong its existence." According to Kulyk, the government and legislature continue to suffer from a corrupt system of clientalism, which requires "revolutionary change." The three proposed reforms, on the other hand, cannot provide such a sharp shock to the system, Kulyk argues, and the legislative/bureaucratic process surrounding those reforms would simply preserve the status quo (Glavred.info, October 24).

Moreover, Kulyk posits that the present protest campaign has suffered from weak support because Saakashvili and his allies voiced their party slogans instead of articulating the people's true demands. "While the Maidan of 2013-2014 stood against the abuse of power and stealing of our future-for human and civic dignity-the key deficit in today's society is [a lack of] justice," Kulyk maintains. According to him, the current political regime is about to complete the counter-revolutionary takeover of power and fully restore the old clientelist system. "It has been going on in all fields, from legal proceedings [] to asset-grabbing and raidership [hostile takeovers] in business; from persecuting political opponents to buying out positions in the state administration," the political expert claims. "There has been no de-oligarchization of the economy, instead a trivial redistribution of financial flows has taken place. With power consolidating in single hands, there are risks of a return to authoritarianism. That is why protesting against the regime's deeds or misdeeds is our right and duty as responsible Ukrainian citizens," he asserts (Glavred.info, October 24).

The remaining protesters are prepared to continue their campaign until November 7, the anniversary of the 1917 Russian Communist Revolution. Their demands have been shifting: Now, they are calling for the resignation of both the president and the parliament, de-oligarchization, and fair courts (Kyiv Post, October 23). In the opinion of prominent Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Portnikov, real political reform in the country would mean reforming the constitution and actually choosing between a presidential or a parliamentary system of government (thus finally putting an end to governing dualism, which repeatedly resulted in political gridlock and dysfunction in the past). Portnikov further suggests implementing decentralization, judicial reform, de-monopolizing the national economy and carrying out structural reforms-all elements neglected by the protesters (Inforesist.org, October 18).

Only those able to voice society's real needs and articulate a meaningful vision for the country's future can expect to enlist significant popular support, believes philosopher Sergiy Datsiuk (Pravda.com.ua, October 20). Until Mikheil Saakashvili is able to strike this right tone, his political career in Ukraine is likely to remain a lengthy succession of ups and downs.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Turkish President Erdogan Brokers Deal With Putin to Release Two Crimean Tatar Political Prisoners

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Idil P. Izmirli Publication Date 2 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 141 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Turkish President Erdogan Brokers Deal With Putin to Release Two Crimean Tatar Political Prisoners, 2 November 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 141, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d791a4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

September and October saw a fresh wave of house searches, arrests and increasing oppression of regime critics on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. But last week (October 25), two Crimean Tatar political prisoners, Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov, were freed and extradited to Turkey after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brokered a deal with Russia's President Vladimir Putin for their release. Their emergency release was unexpected and became possible based on a signed protocol between Turkey and Russia (see EDM, October 30).

During their first press conference, at the Ukrainian embassy in Ankara, the two activists stated that, on October 25, they were taken from Simferopol in different cars and the two did not see each other until they boarded a plane bound for the Russian city of Anapa. From there, they were flown to the Turkish capital. Chiygoz stated that when two Federal Security Service (FSB) agents picked him up from Simferopol's pre-trial detention center without any explanation, he initially thought he was being sent to Siberia. Umerov, 60, was brought to the plane from a hospital, where he was being treated since October 20, due to his deteriorating health (112 Ukraine via YouTube, October 26).

Over the past month, Erdogan met with both Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Putin. Poroshenko said that he had asked Erdogan for help with releasing Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia, during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, in September 2017 (Qiriminsesi.com, October 26). According to Chiygoz and Umerov's lawyer, Nikolai Polozov, a great deal of legal, diplomatic, and political negotiations took place for their release, which was finally accomplished by Turkey's President Erdogan. Confirming this, Poroshenko himself announced on his Facebook page that Erdogan played a key role in the release by negotiating a deal with the Kremlin leader (Novaya Gazeta, October 25).

Both Crimean Tatar activists were prisoner of conscience. Chiygoz is the deputy chair of the Mejlis, the representative body of the Crimean Tatars. He was detained in January 2015 for allegedly organizing a February 26, 2014, mass rally of thousands of Crimean Tatars in front of the Crimean parliament, in Simferopol, to prevent the (Moscow-orchestrated) extraordinary session that was about to decide Crimea's future. It is true that Chiygoz was there in the crowd, but he certainly was not the organizer of the rally (see EDM, March 1, 2014).

That protest was led by Refat Chubarov, the chairperson of the Mejlis. He is still the chairperson in mainland Ukraine. In Crimea, however, the Mejlis was declared an extremist organization by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea; and on April 26, 2016, it was banned across the entire territory of the Russian Federation, including in occupied Crimea (see EDM, May 4, 2016). Since Chubarov was declared persona non-grata in Crimea, he had to leave for mainland Ukraine. Chiygoz on the other hand, still lived in Crimea and became the Russian court's scapegoat.

On September 11, 2017, Chiygoz was sentenced to eight years in a colony prison settlement for his so-called role in the February 26 protests, in accordance with part 1, article 212 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. His arrest and detainment were politically motivated. After three years in jail (at a Simferopol pre-trial detention center widely known for its deplorable conditions and mistreatment of inmates) and 150 Kafkaesque trials (some of which he was only allowed to attend via videoconference), he was sentenced for an alleged crime he did not commit and that occurred while Crimea was still under Ukrainian jurisdiction (Sprotyv.info, October 26). Chiygoz's mother passed away while he remained in jail, and he was not allowed to attend her funeral (Avdet.org, October 27).

Ilmi Umerov is the first deputy chairman of the Mejlis. In an interview for ATR television, in March 2015, Umerov stated that sanctions should be intensified against the Russian Federation to pressure Moscow to de-occupy Crimea and Donbas voluntarily (Avdet.org, October 27). On September 27, 2017, the Simferopol District Court found him guilty of promoting separatism, stating that Umerov's words violated the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. Under article 280.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the Russian court sentenced him to two years in a colony prison settlement (effectively a death sentence for someone with such poor health) and a two-year ban on any public activities because of his political opinions (Qha.com.ua, October 26). Earlier, in August 2017, the court demanded that Umerov needed a psychiatric evaluation and forcefully confined him to a mental institution, where he was kept for three weeks (Qha.com.ua, September 21).

While in Ankara, Umerov and Chiygoz met with Erdogan. And on October 27, they flew to Kyiv and met with Poroshenko. The Ukrainian president awarded Umerov with the Order of Merit (second degree) and Chiygoz with the Order of Merit (third degree) for their courage, indestructibility of the human spirit, and the ideals of constitutional human rights in defense of the state of Ukraine (Avdet.org, October 27).

Over the past year or so, Putin and Erdogan have been normalizing relations between their countries, which hit a critical point when Turkish forces downed a Russian jet, in November 2015, that had strayed into Turkish airspace from Syria. According to Putin's press secretary, Dimitry Peskov, Russia and Turkey enjoy close bilateral "trade-economic, military-technical, and cultural cooperation." Moreover, they are about to implement two large-scale projects-the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline along the bottom of the Black Sea and the first Turkish nuclear power plant, in Akkuyu. During their September 28 bilateral summit, Moscow and Ankara reached an agreement on the supply of Russian S-400 anti-air missile systems to Turkey-despite the latter being a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Ankara has reportedly already paid out the first installment for the S-400. According to Turkish officials, delivery of the system will begin within two years (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, September 28).

As the release of the two Crimean Tatar prisoners last month highlights, Erdogan-who met with Putin five times and held ten phone conversations in 2017-is a key player in regional security, including in Syria. Crimean Tatars all over the world rejoiced collectively at the release of their two jailed leaders. But the Turkish-Russian rapprochement that allowed Umerov and Chiygoz's emancipation to occur is posing a real challenge to the unity of the broader Euro-Atlantic community.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russia Pours More Military Hardware Into 'Fortress Crimea'

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Sergey Sukhankin Publication Date 14 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 147 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russia Pours More Military Hardware Into 'Fortress Crimea', 14 November 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 147, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d7aee4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

According to the chief of the General Staff of Russia, Valery Gerasimov, in the last five years Russia has profoundly increased its military presence in key regions of the world, in some areas "reaching the level of the Soviet Union" (Vpk.name, November 9). Speaking on November 7, Russia's top-ranking military official devoted significant attention to Crimea, which Moscow had forcibly annexed from Ukraine in spring 2014. In particular, Gerasimov noted that Russia has installed there a self-sufficient military formation ("samodostatochnaya gruppirovka woysk") consisting of a naval base, an army corps, as well as an aviation and air defense division. Also, the Black Sea Fleet (based out of Sevastopol) received six submarines, two frigates (the Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Essen, which took part in Russian military operations in Syria) equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles, and three divisions of costal missile complexes Bal and Bastion. Gerasimov claimed these deployments are part of a strategy aimed at upgrading the military capabilities of the Southern Military District, which subsumes occupied Crimea (Rosbalt, November 7).

Sergey Ermakov, an analyst with the Moscow-based Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISS), has argued that Russia's primary strategic goal around the Black Sea is strengthening the military potential of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF), "which is the key factor precluding NATO [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization] and the United States from more decisive actions in the region" (Rueconomics.ru, November 7). Comparative analysis of recent developments on Russia's northwestern and southern flanks, however, undermines Ermakov's argument that Russia is only trying to bolster the BSF. Rather, it would be more accurate to say that Moscow's objective in Crimea is to complete the creation of an Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) "bubble" on the shores of the Black Sea.

Experts have pointed to Russian efforts to build up a military presence in Crimea (see EDM, September 22, 2014; March 27, 2015) and establish an A2/AD zone on the peninsula since the annexation (see EDM, June 24, 2016). All too often, however, Western analysis has tended to regard Russian A2/AD efforts as defensive in nature. Yet, much as in the case of the A2/AD bubbles being developed in Kaliningrad and Syria, Russia's continuing aims in Crimea are in fact offensive (see EDM, March 4, 2016; November 1, 2017). Russia's A2/AD strategy-including in Crimea-combines information/cyber security (including Electronic Warfare), strategic air operations, an integrated air-defense system as well as naval superiority, with submarines playing a key role (this last element is not universally recognized by the expert community). The analysis presented below will seek to highlight the above-mentioned points with respect to the Crimean A2/AD bubble.

First, the domain of information/cyber security has received a huge boost in the past several months. Notably, Crimea has received a mobile Murmansk-BN coastal complex, which can disrupt radio communications at a range of more than 3,000 kilometers (5,000 km, according to Russia). Reportedly, it is effective against the High Frequency Global Communications System (HFGCS) employed by the US military (Tvzvezda.ru, March 10). In 2018, Russia is planning to deploy to Crimea an early-warning Voronezh-SM radar, which will be capable of monitoring both the southern and western vectors (Politexpert.net, August 15). For information-psychological warfare, the Crimean authorities are expected to soon raise a 151-meter radio antenna near Dzhankoy to broadcast television and radio signals covering Crimea as well as Ukrainian-controlled Nikolayev, Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donetsk Oblast. The main purpose will be to jam Ukrainian programs and spread Russian TV and radio content (Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer August 9).

Second, in the domain of strategic air operations, in 2014 Russia established the 27th Mixed Aviation Division, consisting of three regiments located in Gvardeyskoye, Belbek and Dzhankoy. Russia claims that this division is unique within the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). More recently, Moscow has undertaken a comprehensive rearmament program encompassing the 43rd and 318th maritime/naval aviation regiments of the BSF (airfields located in Saki and Kacha, respectively) (Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer, March 20). Yet, without the deployment of strategic bombers (such as the Tu-22M3), these measures will remain rather incomplete.

Third, Crimea's air-defense system has been boosted in recent years by the integration of S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) and S-400 (SA-21 Growler) anti-aircraft complexes (see EDM, January 18). Aside from this, local capabilities have been strengthened by the Pantsir-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound) short-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) and anti-aircraft artillery weapons system, which particularly complements the S-400 (Tvzvezda.ru, October 24). And reportedly, Russia has also deployed to Crimea the Buk medium-range SAM system. The relative potency of local air defenses is inseparable from Russia's ability to promptly transport required pieces from other parts of the Southern Military District. The capability to do so was clearly demonstrated in November 2016, amidst the bilateral tensions over Ukrainian missile tests near Crimea (Tvzvezda.ru, August 10). Another factor that could have a profound impact on local military capabilities is the potential deployment of the Tor-M2 missile system. On November 9, this complex arrived in the 150th Rifle Division (based out of Rostov Oblast, on the border with eastern Ukraine), which means (on the basis of previous experience) that it could soon be anticipated in Crimea, too (Tvzvezda.ru, November 9, 2017). However impressive they might seem, these measures remain incomplete without Iskander-M complexes. The Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile is an essential element of Russia's broader A2/AD strategy-repeatedly and explicitly demonstrated in Kaliningrad, for example. But despite numerous rumors presented by Ukrainian sources (Censor.net.ua, June 3), there is no concrete supporting evidence that Iskanders had been permanently deployment to the Crimean peninsula for now.

Analysis of Russian activities during 2014-2017 emphasizes Russia's clear determination to turn Crimea into a new-style, offensively oriented A2/AD bubble. Yet, the process remains incomplete, and further progress will greatly depend on both internal and external developments-including NATO's posture.

The continued militarization of Crimea also brings into focus Russian perceptions of neighboring NATO members posing a regional containment threat. Analysis of Russian sources suggests that the Kremlin's apprehension of Turkey is subsiding due to the ongoing bilateral rapprochement (see EDM, July 7, 2016; November 6, 2017). At the same time, in the eyes of Russian military strategists and experts, Romania is increasingly seen as a concern to Russia and its regional aspirations. RISS analyst Ermakov argues, "Romania is currently perceived by the North Atlantic bloc as a pivot and a center for containment of Russia in the entire Black Sea region" (Riss.ru, November 9). If Moscow has truly internalized such a viewpoint, this also suggests that, unlike in Kaliningrad (contained by the Baltic States and Poland), Russia does not perceive the need to rush to develop the Crimean A2/AD bubble given NATO's relatively weaker presence in the Black Sea region.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Modest Advances in US-Belarus Relations

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Yauheni Preiherman Publication Date 14 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 147 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Modest Advances in US-Belarus Relations, 14 November 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 147, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d7b634.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

The United States embassy in Minsk announced, on November 1, the expansion of visa services in Belarus (By.usembassy.gov, November 1). On the same day, the embassy began accepting tourist and business visa applications for residents and citizens of Belarus who are age 50 and older. Previously, only Belarusian nationals 70 and older could use the visa section in Minsk, while others had to apply to US embassies in neighboring countries-Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. This is the first serious decision by the US government to expand its visa services in Belarus in almost ten years (Belta, November 1). Moreover, the embassy hopes to start issuing non-immigration visas to all residents and citizens of Belarus in mid-February 2018.

These recent steps reflect the continuation of modest progress in bilateral relations, which have been in a downgraded state for almost ten years now. A fully-fledged diplomatic crisis broke out between the two states in the spring of 2008, when US and Belarusian ambassadors were recalled to their respective capitals (see EDM, April 9, 2008). The diplomatic missions have remained without ambassadors (they continue to operate at the charge d'affaires level) and with reduced staffs ever since.

The years 2009-2010 saw attempts by Minsk and Washington to normalize relations. On the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) 2010 summit in Astana, the US and Belarus even made a joint statement on cooperation in the field of nonproliferation, which, at the time, some analysts interpreted as a breakthrough (Ctv.by, December 2, 2010). However, after the presidential elections in Belarus the same month, when the government's notorious crackdown on the opposition took place, bilateral relations entered another freeze.

New attempts to establish a positive agenda in relations began at the end of 2012. After a series of consultations, Minsk and Washington agreed to an unofficial "small steps" formula for advancing ties. The idea was to leave the most contentious issues aside and seek progress on pragmatic items of common interest (Minskdialogue.by, November 2). Gradually, this strategy started to bear fruit, even though the intensity and level of contacts were lower than those between Belarus and the European Union.

Most recently, Belarusian-US relations have seen some palpable progress. In particular, a human rights dialogue has been launched (Usa.mfa.gov.by, October 6). Moreover, the two countries signed a plan for bilateral military cooperation (Mil.by, October 21, 2016). Belarus introduced a visa-free regime for short-term visits of up to five days for US nationals (alongside other 79 nations). Additionally, Belarusian applicants of any age whose US visa in any category expired less than a year ago obtained the right to apply for visa renewal in Minsk. And as noted above, these moves have now been followed by the more serious expansion of visa services in Belarus.

Thus, the latest decision reflects the overall positive (albeit slow) forward trend in bilateral relations. But it is also a consequence of the growing escalation between the United States and Russia. In August, US consular sections in Russia had to drastically cut the number of staff and are no longer able to accept applications from Belarusian citizens (see EDM, August 3). At that time, the Belarusian foreign ministry expressed hope that under such circumstances the US would make a decision to expand its visa services in Minsk (Mfa.gov.by, August 21).

In this respect, the worsening of Russian-US relations has contributed additionally to advancing Belarusian-US ties. Yet, this does not mean that tensions between Moscow and Washington generally work to the benefit of Belarus. First of all, given Belarus's special relationship with Russia, Minsk will find it more difficult to stay out of the geopolitical conflict if it escalates beyond a certain point. For example, it will become increasingly problematic to explain to the Russians that Belarus's neutral stance on regional conflicts does not challenge Moscow's interests. Second, Western sanctions against Russia are causing collateral damage to Belarus's economy, as Belarusian goods face additional problems on the shrinking Russian market. Moreover, some Belarusian companies owned by sanctioned Russian banks have become direct victims of these East-West tensions (see EDM, December 11, 2014).

If full visa services in Minsk are restored early next year, as the US embassy has announced, this will mark a more significant step forward in Belarusian-US relations. It could represent a further step toward the eventual return of their ambassadors to Washington and Minsk, thus finally fully restoring bilateral relations. Such a development looks a bit more realistic now that the US State Department has finally received a new Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs-A. Wess Mitchell. Yet, no quick advances should be expected.

Currently, the US seems to be tailoring a more "nuanced approach" toward Belarus: previously prevailing cliches like the "last dictatorship of Europe" are no longer uttered by US officials, and Washington appears to be more closely following the situation in and around Belarus. Moreover, regional security in Belarus's neighborhood has become a particularly acute topic on both sides of the Atlantic, and Minsk has shown itself to be willing to contribute to easing tensions in Ukrainian Donbas and in wider region (see EDM, September 3, 2014). However, human rights and democracy issues are still high on the bilateral agenda. The Belarus Democracy Act remains the biggest obstacle on the way to further rapprochement. Like with other US sanctions, it was relatively easy to adopt it but is now difficult to remove (see EDM, June 22, 2016).

Effectively, the US Congress holds the key to the problem. The Belarus Democracy Act authorizes the administration to monitor the situation in Belarus and initiate the termination of sanctions once conditions on the ground change. But given the relatively minor significance of Belarus for US foreign policy, the President is unlikely to take such a step even as a positive dynamic gains momentum. Hence, a Congressional initiative will likely be needed, although interest toward Belarus in the US legislature is only marginal. This reveals a fundamental problem Belarus has in relations with the US. Unlike some other post-Soviet states, the country has no lobby in DC. The Belarusian diaspora is weak and most of its representatives still hold a negative view toward deepening relations with Alyaksandr Lukashenka's government. Breaking this logjam will require a clear and persistent political vision by both sides.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Was King Salman's Visit to Moscow a Turning Point in Russian-Saudi Relations?

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Nikolay Kozhanov Publication Date 23 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 134 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Was King Salman's Visit to Moscow a Turning Point in Russian-Saudi Relations?, 23 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 134, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d7daf4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

When Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was welcomed in Moscow, on October 5-8, both Russian and Saudi media sources rushed to call his visit an important milestone in bilateral relations (TASS, October 8). But with the initial euphoria from Salman's trip to Russia now fading, it is useful to provide an objective assessment of its outcome.

The visit of the Saudi king to Russia was, indeed, historic: this was the first official trip of a ruling Saudi monarch to Moscow since the foundation of the Kingdom. Before this, none of the members of the House of Saud visited Russia in the capacity of a king. The agenda of Salman's visit was also intense. He conducted negotiations with both President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, managed to talk to the leaders of the Muslim regions of Russia, and met with Russian muftis. During negotiations, Moscow emphasized discussions of existing economic issues. Thus, the Kremlin was primarily interested in dialogue on the prospects for Saudi investments in the Russian economy as well as bilateral cooperation in hi-tech, military-industrial, infrastructure and nuclear spheres. Moscow also wanted to talk about the future of the oil-production-cut agreement with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and options for Russian oil giant Rosneft to participate in the privatization of Saudi state-owned Aramco. King Salman, in turn, came to Moscow to discuss political issues such as the situation in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, as well as Saudi concerns about Iran's regional policies. The domestic situation in Saudi Arabia was another factor that brought King Salman to Moscow: he also wanted to introduce his son, Muhammad bin Salman, as successor and, thus, to secure Russian support in this question (as he did with the new administration in the White House) (RBC, October 9).

Nevertheless, in spite of their different priorities, the two sides seemed to come to an understanding on a large number of issues. They signed around 15 agreements on cooperation in areas including space, nuclear energy, telecommunications and culture. Russia confirmed the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) leading role in settling the Yemeni crisis. The Saudi leadership supported the Astana process of the Syrian settlement, while Moscow assured Riyadh that the Kingdom will play one of the key roles in forming the delegation of the Syrian opposition at the future Geneva talks (TASS, October 8). Gazprom, Sibur and Aramco signed agreements on cooperation. The Saudi Public Investment Fund and Russian Direct Investments Fund agreed to finance joint oil, natural gas, and petrochemical projects, as well as scientific and technological research; and they promised to invest in Russian transport infrastructure (TASS, October 8).

Yet, it is too early to speak about a breakthrough in Russian-Saudi relations. First of all, on the political track, the sides merely confirmed unofficial agreements that existed between them since June-July 2017, when Moscow traded its silence on Saudi actions in Yemen for Riyadh's support of the Astana process (RBC, October 9). No serious efforts were required to reach a bilateral understanding on this matter. Moscow had no vital interests in Yemen, whereas Saudi support at the negotiation table in Astana and Geneva was needed. Riyadh, in turn, was interested in international backing for its efforts in Yemen; whereas, continued confrontation with Moscow in Syria could only deprive the Saudis of any substantial role in the post-conflict future of this country (Iimes.ru, October 20).

The Saudi king failed to come to terms with Russia on another serious issue: Iran's presence in the region. Riyadh wanted to persuade Moscow to decrease its cooperation with Tehran in exchange for the development of economic ties and political dialogue. However, Moscow only suggested playing the role of a mediator between Tehran and Riyadh. Consequently, the Iranian factor still remains a serious constraint for the development of a closer dialogue between Moscow and Riyadh. The cool-down in Moscow's relations with Tehran is a traditional precondition set by the Saudis. Yet, Russia will hardly agree to abandon Iran (Iimes.ru, October 20; see EDM, October 16).

The future of the economic relationship between the two countries is also unclear. Most of the documents signed during King Salman's trip were non-obligatory memorandums of understanding. The sides still have to negotiate the practical details. For long-time observers of Russian relations with the Middle East, this raises a strong feeling of deja vu. In past years, Moscow and Riyadh periodically made bold declarations about their ambitious intensions. However, the track record of their practical implementation remained negligible. The volume of potential joint investments also does not appear to live up to the potential of the two countries. While Russia and Saudi Arabia are only planning on investing up to $2.1 billion in joint projects, Qatar has already invested up to $2.5 billion in the Russian economy. Moreover, Riyadh clearly refused to discuss with Moscow prospects of Russian participation in the privatization of Saudi Aramco (TASS, October 8).

The biggest questions revolve around the apparent agreements reached between Moscow and Riyadh in the military-industrial sphere (see EDM, October 11). The two sides reportedly signed an agreement on the sale of the S-400 air-defense missile system to Saudi Arabia, but it remains unclear whether the deal was finalized. Rather, it seems the Saudi side simply expressed its intent to discuss the purchase of S-400s during the forthcoming meeting of the bilateral commission on military-industrial cooperation, later this month. Meanwhile, an agreement on cooperation in the military sphere, also signed in Moscow during King Salman's visit, was mostly related to smaller arms produced by the Kalashnikov consortium: the Russians plan to provide Saudi Arabia with the assembly line. This will help the Saudis arm their proxies in the region (probably in Yemen) and save money on buying Kalashnikov machine guns in Eastern Europe. However, the volume of the deal ($1-1.5 billion) looks small if not negligible against the volume of military contracts that Saudi Arabia signed with the United States only this past May ($110 billion) (RBC, October 9).

All in all, Salman's visit was important for Moscow, but its practical results are, so far, too limited to call it the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Israeli Military Exposes Vulnerabilities in Joint Russian-Syrian Air Defense

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Roger McDermott Publication Date 24 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 135 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Israeli Military Exposes Vulnerabilities in Joint Russian-Syrian Air Defense, 24 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 135, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d7e144.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

On October 16, the Israeli Air Force launched a precision attack, in the Damascus area, against a Russian-supplied S-200 air-defense battery under the control of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). The aerial raid was conducted partly in response to a March incident involving its aircraft being targeted by air-defense assets in Syria (Gazeta, October 16). The Israeli operation, reportedly successful, was met with a muted response in both Russian and Syrian media, perhaps linked to the attack coinciding with the bilateral meeting, in Tel Aviv, of Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman (see EDM, October 17). Indeed, the coverage and rhetoric in response to the attack on the S-200 battery contrasted sharply with reporting on earlier incidents involving the Israeli Air Force operating in Syria (Riafan.ru, October 16).

Most Russian media preferred to focus on the bilateral meeting between Shoigu and Lieberman and their respective delegations, making clear that Moscow is seeking to end its operations in Syria-though it does not intend to withdraw its forces from this Middle Eastern country. The Russian Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno Kosmicheskikh Sil-VKS) commenced operations in Syria in September 2015, in support of the Bashar al-Assad regime and allegedly focused on countering terrorist groups in Syria, including the Islamic State. But from the onset, Russia's force-protection efforts were stepped up and reinforced by the creation of a series of "air-defense bubbles," with deployment of strategic and tactical assets ranging from the S-400 to the Pantsir-S1. These air-defense systems were intended to fulfil a number of functions, from protecting Russian bases to sending strategic signals to other actors about the need for de-confliction and caution due to the VKS operations. During the process of building the air-defense network, Moscow also entered an agreement with Damascus to form a joint Russian-Syrian air defense (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, May 10, 2016).

A de-confliction agreement between Israel and Russia has reportedly functioned well. Though, in recent months, the Israeli military has launched targeted attacks in Syria and has frequently conducted reconnaissance flights using Lebanese air space. In March 2017, while carrying out routine aerial reconnaissance from Lebanon, an Israeli Air Force platform was fired on from a battery of S-200 surface-to-air missiles (SAM). In the aftermath, both sides traded threats. Finally, on October 16, the Israeli Air Force took action against a Syrian SAM system, located 50 kilometers east of Damascus, though it honored the de-confliction agreement with Moscow and provided warning to the Russian military of the unfolding operation (Krasnaya Vesna, October 16).

Pavel Ivanov assessed the incident and its implications in a detailed article in Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, noting that the result of the operation remains unclear, with Damascus claiming only partial damage was inflicted. First, Ivanov noted some of the key features of the Israeli attack. The Israeli Air Force deployed advanced versions of the F-35. An undisclosed number of F-15Is or F-16Is were used as well, though it is not clear if they launched cruise missiles to strike the target or GPS-guided bombs. Other reports allege the SAA SAM system fired on Israeli jets first (Wynetnews.com, October 16). The warning given to the Russian side was described as occurring in "real time," suggesting it was close enough to the actual attack not to allow any room for interference or assistance to the SAA (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, October, 24).

As Ivanov observes, Israel's real security interests in Syria lie in concern about chemical weapons, countering Hezbollah and monitoring the rise of Iranian influence. To date, Israeli attacks within Syria have proved to be targeted, carefully avoiding the risk of escalation and paying close attention to Russia's ongoing operations in the country. However, Ivanov raised some concerns, similar to ones that were aired in the aftermath of the United States' cruise missile strike on al-Shayrat in April 2017. Specifically, Ivanov scrutinized the real value of Russian air-defense systems and the much-publicized air-defense bubbles in Syria. He identified that the SAA fields Buk-M2Es and the Pantsir-S1s among other systems. Ivanov highlighted the importance of identifying the missile or bomb type used in the Israeli attack to try to evaluate whether these air-defense systems might have had a role to play. The S-200, Buk-M2E or Pantsir-S1 certainly did not prevent the attack; but if the ordnance was a cruise missile, then in theory the Pantsir-S1 could have proved effective. Ivanov concludes that the SAA forces are to blame due to "poor training" standards. He also raises the possibility that the S-200 battery was not the intended target, but that the Israeli Air Force sought to take out a new asset in the hands of Hezbollah (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, October, 24).

A number of issues undermine Ivanov's analysis and may mask deeper vulnerabilities of Russian air-defense assets in Syria. First of all, blaming the SAA for "poor training" is odd in the sense that the Russian military, with the use of numerous "advisors," has been actively training the SAA over the past two years-presumably also in the use of Russian-designed and -supplied air-defense systems. Moreover, the Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer author makes no mention of the joint air-defense agreement between Damascus and Moscow, or the fact that Russian VKS operations are mostly intended to aid the al-Assad regime: allowing a foreign power to degrade SAA air defense assets close to the Syrian capital surely represents questionable support. Of course, there may be other factors involved that are not public and that disposed Moscow to effectively turn a blind eye to the incident (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, October, 24; Riafan.ru, October 16).

The Israeli action in the area around Damascus on October 16 has apparently not damaged relations with Russia. It has, however, served to again (see EDM, April 10, 11) raise questions about some Russian air-defense assets in the SAA. The Israeli military has proved cautious about undertaking operations in Syria. When engaging targets, it appears to take steps to avoid damage to Russian forces: its air force either circumvents Russia's air defense bubbles, or simply flies through them. Targeting an SAA-controlled S-200 battery is by no means a game changer, and may have been calculated to send a message to Damascus that the Israeli Air Force is free to act when necessary in Syria and with force protection. Nonetheless, Moscow's relative silence on the incident is interesting in itself.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Hezbollah's Drone Program Sets Precedents for Non-State Actors

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Avery Plaw & Elizabeth Santoro Publication Date 10 November 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Hezbollah's Drone Program Sets Precedents for Non-State Actors, 10 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d7eb94.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

On the afternoon of September 19, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from an airstrip near the Syrian capital of Damascus flew into the demilitarized zone that separates the Syrian-controlled area of the Golan Heights from that which is controlled by Israel. The Israeli military scrambled jets and launched a patriot missile to intercept what it identified as a Hezbollah drone approaching Israeli airspace. The Patriot missile, its flight accompanied by two Israeli fighter jets, successfully intercepted the drone in the air (Haaretz, September 19). The debris fell inside the demilitarized zone, near the ruins of the Syrian city of Quneitra.

Despite the drone's prompt destruction, the incident further escalated rising tensions between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran, which reportedly supplied the drone to Hezbollah (al-Jazeera, September 9).

Only a few weeks prior to the drone's deployment, Israel had staged its largest military drill in 20 years, in which it simulated a potential conflict with Hezbollah. The incident also came just hours prior to a scheduled speech to the United Nations by Binyamin Netanyahu, in which the Israeli prime minister was expected to discuss the increasing threat posed to Israel's northern border by Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah (Times of Israel, September 17; Haaretz, September 24).

This year Israel's Institute for National Security Studies declared Hezbollah to be the greatest threat to the country in its annual report (The Middle East Eye, March 20). Although Hezbollah has been an enemy of Israel for decades, last year's report had ranked Iran as the number one threat. The change is due in no small part to Hezbollah's robust aerial drone program. Moreover, while this most recent drone deployment raises concerns about the possibility of bolder and more violent drone usage by the group, the incident is far from Hezbollah's first drone attack against Israel.

In fact, Hezbollah's growing fleet of UAVs has posed a relentlessly escalating threat to Israeli security over the last 13 years, and the Syrian War has allowed the group to further develop and test its drones.

Developing Drone Technology

Hezbollah's first successful drone deployment took place in November of 2004, when the group deployed an Iranian made Mirsad-1 military-grade surveillance drone into Israeli airspace and surveilled Nabariva, a city in northern Israel, for about 20 minutes. This marked the first time a non-state actor had utilized aerial drones against a state, opening a new world of potential terrorist capabilities. Hezbollah has since remained the single most prolific and successful non-state user of aerial drones, continually establishing new precedents for non-state actors.

On October 6, 2012, for instance, Hezbollah deployed an Iranian Ayoub drone from Lebanon deep into Israel, to the city of Dimona, to surveil the country's nuclear weapons manufacturing facilities. The drone surveilled the plant for several hours before it was eventually shot down by an Israeli fighter plane. Several weeks after the attack, Iran released photographs of Israel's nuclear weapons plant that had been relayed by the drone. The incident served as a significant propaganda victory for both Hezbollah and Iran, indicating that Hezbollah could potentially attack even Israel's best-protected and most important facilities (Jafria News, October 2012).

On September 21, 2014, Hezbollah launched an even more impressive drone operation, utilizing a UAV to attack the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front in Syria. The drone attack killed more than 20 of the group's fighters, which was more than the ensuing ground assault. By the conclusion of the attack, at least 23 al-Nusra operatives had been killed and several others were held captive by Hezbollah (Times of Israel, September 21, 2014). This attack represents two momentous developments: the first time a non-state actor had carried out a deadly drone attack, and the first time a non-state actor had utilized drones to attack another non-state group. [1] After this, Hezbollah and Iran began to seriously invest in the expansion of Hezbollah's drone program.

Syria as Training Ground

One of the most notable facets of the Hezbollah drone program is the airbase Hezbollah currently operates. Located in northern Lebanon, the base was identified by IHS Jane's using satellite imagery in 2015. It is comprised of a 2,200-foot unpaved runway, numerous sheds and an antenna that may be intended to enhance the range of a UAV ground control post. Experts speculate that the runway was designed specifically for Iranian UAVs, such as the Ababil-3 and the larger Shahed-129. The runway is relatively short, unpaved and surrounded by unforgiving mountainous terrain, making it nearly impossible for any manned aircraft to land on the airstrip.

The airstrip's existence illustrates Hezbollah's increasingly sophisticated air capabilities and its commitment to rapidly develop them. Furthermore, the fact that the airbase is located a mere 10 miles from the Syrian border implies that Hezbollah has long held intentions to utilize UAVs to try to influence the outcome of the Syrian War. UAVs are indeed becoming a more central weapon within Hezbollah's combat tactics and strategies (Business Insider, April 24, 2015).

The Syrian War has functioned as a training and experimentation ground for Hezbollah. According to one Hezbollah fighter: "We are definitely learning a lot by working with Russians and Iranians in the Syria war and more specifically when it comes to UAV" (The Middle East Eye, March 20).

Interestingly, however, Hezbollah has demonstrated a preference for cheaper commercially available drones over the military-grade drones they receive and assemble with Iranian assistance. Hezbollah is in fact infamous for using what journalist Nicholas Blanford terms "off-the-shelf drones for over-the-hill reconnaissance in Syria's battlefields" (CSM, August 16, 2016).

Additionally, on August 9, 2016, a video was released on social media depicting a small commercially available quadcopter armed with two small Chinese-made MZD-2 sub-munition bombs attacking rebel positions in northern Syria. The video represents the first digital evidence that Hezbollah has the capability to bomb targets remotely (Times of Israel, August 11, 2016). Earlier drone attacks were kamikaze-style missions.

Future Drone Operations

Hezbollah has led the way in the deployment and use of drones for non-state groups for more than a decade. Over that time, it has made frightening progress in the acquisition of increasingly sophisticated UAVs, broadening the scope of its operations from simply menacing Israel to targeting non-state combatants.

In a matter of ten years, Hezbollah transitioned from having no drones at all to having their own airstrip and a fleet of military and upgraded commercial drone models. Hezbollah is now experienced in using drones for a variety of purposes - surveillance, propaganda manufacturing, kamikaze attacks and bombings - and has gained competency in operating drones in different terrains and countries (Israel and Syria).

How all will be realized in combat is difficult to say, but as Hezbollah has greatly expanded its UAV arsenal - including, but not limited to, the Mirsad, Ababil, Ayoub, and commercially available drones - in recent years, it is likely it will continue to utilize drones with increasing frequency and sophistication.

Elizabeth Santoro is a Researcher at the Center for the Study of Targeted Killing. Her earlier works on drone technology covered Saudi Arabian and Houthi use of drones in Yemen, and were published through the Center for the Study of Targeted Killing. She was also co-author of Reaping the Whirlwind: Drones Flown by Non-state Actors Now Pose a Lethal Threat

NOTES

[1] See: Robert J Bunker, Terrorist and Insurgent Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Use, Potentials and Military Implications, (U.S. Army War College, August 2015)

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Interaction with Turkish Air Forces Boosts Azerbaijan's Air-Combat Capability

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Ilgar Gurbanov Publication Date 26 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 137 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Interaction with Turkish Air Forces Boosts Azerbaijan's Air-Combat Capability, 26 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 137, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d7fc54.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

The Azerbaijani and Turkish Air Forces conducted joint flight-tactical exercises in Azerbaijan, on September 18-30, with the involvement of combat/transport aircraft and helicopters. Such systematic joint exercises help foster greater interoperability and exchange of experience between the two air forces. Additionally, these drills improve the practical skills of pilots for joint coordination and execution of conventional combat operations (Mod.gov.az, September 14, 29). Through years of joint exercises with its Turkish ally, Azerbaijan has been updating the air force's combat readiness tactics as well as adapting its airbases to contemporary standards, such as with the latest landing-departure methods and the application of instrument landing systems (ILS) (Azeridefence.com, March 22, 2016; Minval.az, September 26, 2017). Although, Azerbaijani pilots mainly train at the Azerbaijan Higher Military Aviation School, many also attend courses in Turkey (Azvision.az, February 14, 2013).

The two countries first established extensive military cooperation in multiple areas in the 1990s (Mfa.gov.az, accessed October 18). But Azerbaijani-Turkish military relations only shifted from the technical to the strategic level following the signing of the Strategic Partnership and Mutual Assistance Agreement (SPMA) in 2010 (YouTube, December 9, 2014), just days before Moscow and Yerevan signed an accord prolonging Russia's use of its military base in Armenia. Arguably, the SPMA, at least in part, sought to neutralize Armenia's tightening military cooperation with Russia (see EDM, July 29, 2013). The SPMA, which legally codifies bilateral military interaction, stipulates a reciprocal security commitment if one of the sides suffers an external armed attack. The document does not, however, authorize immediate military intervention without consultations, nor does it stipulate the creation of a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan (EurasiaNet, January 18, 2011). The reorganization of Turkey's Ministry of Defense and the General Staff after the military coup in 2016, which included the discharge of a number of high-ranking military personnel and Turkish Air Force pilots (Turkeyanalyst.org, September 26), did not radically affect the pragmatic and close cooperation between the two allies.

Azerbaijan's Armed Forces regularly participate in joint bilateral (Turkey), trilateral (Turkey, Georgia) as well as multinational (Turkey, other countries) military exercises, with the involvement of artillery, air defense and air force units. These drills are important for improving joint headquarters planning, combat-readiness and battlefield capabilities, the coordination/coherence of military units/troops in mutual interactions, as well as the operational skills of pilots for reciprocal actions. Joint exercises also serve to achieve headquarters-troop interoperability and better operational command-and-control preparedness (Mod.gov.az, accessed October 23; Hurriyetdailynews.com, May 31, 2016; Azernews.az, June 6, 2016; News.az, May 16, 2016; Azeridefence.com, June 20, 2016, June 9, 2017). Although, Baku's cooperation with Ankara within the framework of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey triangle has an important military dimension (CACI Analyst, July 24), the three countries have never conducted trilateral joint flight-tactical exercises. Whereas, thanks to regular military courses conducted by Turkey, Azerbaijani officers study comprehensive approaches to air operations/control and staff/unit management (Mod.gov.az, March 7, 2015).

Notwithstanding the intensity of Azerbaijani-Turkish joint air forces interaction, however, Baku generally chooses to conduct Air Defense Forces exercises separately or with limited Turkish involvement (Mod.gov.az, accessed on October 25). Baku does seek Turkish experience to boost its strike capabilities, but Azerbaijan's capacity for aerial surveillance and small-scale air attack is largely supported by either Israeli-made or domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) (see EDM, September 25). This was highlighted during the so-called "four days war" in Karabakh (April 2016), when Azerbaijan mainly relied on drones to counter Armenia's offensive, as its manned air assets (particularly Mi-24 helicopters) proved vulnerable to being shot down by Armenian forces (Vestnik Kavkaza, April 11, 2016). Combined with Turkish-supplied Hurricane and Sakarya multiple-rocket-launch systems (MRLS) (Novosti.az, September 21, 2016), UAVs are increasingly playing an important complementary role to Azerbaijan's air-defense/assault system. At the same time, Azerbaijan became the first foreign buyer of Turkish Aselsan's and Harp Arge's high-speed electromagnetic-interference anti-drone systems. Additionally, Baku has expressed interest in purchasing Turkey's T-219-ATAK combat helicopters (Azeridefence.com, March 22, 2016; March 13, October 13, 2017). Finally, Turkey has helped Azerbaijan modernize its air force's centralized management system (Maxe.az, September 25), and there are ongoing negotiations with Turkish companies to construct a new airbase in Pirsaat, Azerbaijan (Azeridefence.com, March 22, 2016).

To date, Azerbaijan has not permitted the creation of any Turkish military bases on its territory. Nor has Turkey ever voiced a desire to establish a common air-defense system with Azerbaijan, similar to the "Combined Regional Air-Defense System" agreed between Russia and Armenia (TASS, December 23, 2015; Rbth.com, October 12, 2016).

Last year, speculation swirled about the alleged establishment of a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan, following a decree signed in July 2016 by the Azerbaijani president authorizing Turkish Armed Forces to use the Gyzyl Sharg military camp and a terminal at the Haji Zeynalabdin airbase (located just outside Baku). These rumors were dismissed by Azerbaijan's defense ministry, however, which clarified that the dedicated terminal was being used to transport Azerbaijani peacekeeping servicemen by Turkish aircraft, to temporarily accommodate Turkish pilots, and for technical maintenance of their planes; the facility was handed back to Azerbaijan afterward (President.az, Azertag.az, TASS, July 20, 2016). Turkish military personnel had already used the base on previous occasions in a limited capacity, but the new decree is supposed to strengthen the diplomatic status accorded to the specific terminal and auxiliary buildings there used by Turkey (Kavkazsky Uzel, July 23, 2016).

Amidst Turkish-Russian negotiations on Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air-defense system, both Azerbaijani and Armenian commentators rushed to suggest that these advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) complexes might at some point be deployed to the autonomous Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, which shares a border with both Turkey and Armenia, to protect against Armenian ballistic missile strikes (Inosmi.ru, August 2; Voicepress.az, August 3). Armenia is sensitive about any indications that Turkey might establish a military base in Azerbaijan-especially in the Nakhchivan region, which maintains firm military ties with Turkey through joint military exercises and consultations (Haqqin.az, May 13).

Azerbaijan's current Military Doctrine expressly excludes the installation of foreign military bases on its territory, except in cases stipulated by Baku's international treaties or in the event of a fundamental change in the regional military-political situation (Anl.az, June 8, 2010). Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether, in case of a large-scale military confrontation with Armenia, Baku would (in accordance with the SPMA) allow Turkish military personnel to access bases on its territory or whether Azerbaijan could count on visiting Turkish aircraft to help repulse an Armenian military offensive. Although Baku retains the sovereign right to allow it, the emergence of a military base for a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member state inside Azerbaijan would undoubtedly trigger a sharp reaction from several neighboring countries.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Authorities in Abkhazia Strengthen Discriminatory Policies Against Ethnic-Georgian Population

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Giorgi Menabde Publication Date 26 October 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 137 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Authorities in Abkhazia Strengthen Discriminatory Policies Against Ethnic-Georgian Population, 26 October 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 137, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d804c4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

In the Gali district of the Russian-occupied separatist Georgian region of Abkhazia, the local administration is launching a campaign to oust ethnic Georgians who refuse to officially change their identity.

Gali is located in the southeastern part of Abkhazia. Ethnic Georgians constitute an absolute majority in this district (Travelgeorgia.ru, accessed October 26). After the August 2008 Five Day War, Moscow established a military base in this area (Agrba-timyr.livejournal.com, January 18, 2014), and Russian border guards fully control the frontier between Georgia and Abkhazia, along the Enguri River (Svoboda.org April 21). The Russian military contingent often conducts large-scale exercises in Gali (Sputnik-georgia.ru, June 23, 2010).

The Abkhazian authorities have long pursued a policy of expelling the Georgian population not only in the Gali district, but throughout the whole of Abkhazia. Indeed, the final declaration of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) December 1996 Lisbon Summit highlights, "We condemn the ethnic cleansing, which resulted in the mass destruction and forcible expulsion of the predominantly Georgian population of Abkhazia" (Osce.org, December 3, 1996).

One year ago, the Abkhazian government seized Abkhazian passports from Georgians living in the Gali district (Abkhazeti.info, October 18, 2017). Without a passport, these residents are barred from participating in parliamentary, presidential or local elections in breakaway Abkhazia. Temur Mzhavia, a deputy in the parliament of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (in exile, in Tbilisi), told this author that the seizure of Abkhazian passports represents clear discrimination against Gali's ethnic Georgians: "Georgians of the Gali district are allowed to live in Abkhazia: they are given a 'residence permit.' But this document fails to protect any of their civil or property rights" (Author's interview, October 21).

Georgians who have been deprived of their passports in Abkhazia do not have the right to sell the house or apartment that their ancestors built or bought. They do not even have the right to leave property to their relatives in an inheritance. The house or apartment where the Georgians live is considered property of the Abkhazian state. When a Georgian homeowner in Abkhazia dies, this person's family can no longer use his or her house. An ethnic-Georgian resident is legally allowed to transfer ownership of his or home only to a citizen of Abkhazia (meaning, an ethnic Abkhazian). Depriving these individuals of their passport and banning real estate transactions involving their property is one of the ways the authorities in Sukhumi have been gradually ousting the ethnic-Georgian population from Abkhazia (GHN, October 19). But this is far from the only policy tactic.

Giorgi Gvazava, the chairman of the Parliament of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (in exile), told the author about a second way: "People are forbidden to cultivate the land [And when they] go to neighboring Georgia, the Abkhazian administration of the Gali district hinders their return, so that they cannot work the land that belonged to their ancestors. Such a person is then forced to leave Abkhazia so as to not die of hunger" (Author's interview, October 21).

The local education laws are also designed to discriminate against ethnic-Georgians. Several months ago, Abkhazian authorities banned instruction in the Georgian language in this breakaway region. In the local Georgian schools, the Georgian language can be taught only as a separate subject. Vakhtang Kolbaya, the prime minister of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (in exile), said, "There were once 58 Georgian schools in Gali; in recent years [many were closed, and] only 33 schools remain. But now, the Abkhazian authorities have shifted all Georgian schools to the Russian language of instruction. If [the schools were forced to use] Abkhaz, this could be considered a concern for [the republic's] native language, but Abkhazia does not have any textbooks in the Abkhaz language; therefore, they have introduced instruction in Russian. The Georgian children and their parents asked to retain Georgian [as the language of instruction in their schools], but the Abkhazian administration refused" (Author's interview, October 21).

The ban on teaching in Georgian is another means to expel the ethnic-Georgian population from the Gali district and the whole of Abkhazia. The Abkhazian authorities and Moscow expect that Georgians will choose to leave Abkhazia in order to be able to teach their children in the Georgian language.

The above policy of "ethnic cleansing" is reinforced by the fact that the Abkhazian administration has closed four of the five points of crossing on the Georgian-Abkhazian de facto border (Newsgeorgia.ge January 28). The only crossing-via a bridge spanning the Enguri River-is entirely controlled by Russian border guards. Movement across this bridge has, by design, become unbearable. And despite the population's requests, the local administration has refused to assign a bus route between Gali and Zugdidi. Georgians, including children, are forced to walk several kilometers on foot to cross the de facto border. Again, the goal of the Abkhazian administration is to create agonizing conditions for ethnic Georgians and force them to either permanently leave Abkhazia or change their ethnic identity (GHN, October 19).

The head of the Gali district administration, Temur Nadaraya, calls on the Georgians of Gali to declare themselves ethnic Abkhaz in return for being accorded an Abkhazian passport and all the privileges of a citizen of Abkhazia (Civil Georgia August 1). Gali resident "K. M." (who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons), noted that if an ethnic Georgian living in Gali changes his or her Georgian name to the Abkhazian style, he or she is automatically recognized as Abkhaz. But in this case, that person will have to give up contact with Georgian relatives in Georgia proper and will be seen to be showing intransigence toward Georgia (GHN October 19).

International law forbids the forcible change of a person's or group's ethnic identity as well as the creation of intolerable conditions that compel a person to either leave his/her home or change his/her identity. By accepting the terms of the Abkhazian administration, however, Georgians who do not want to leave Abkhazia are forced to publicly acknowledge that their ancestors were not Georgians but Abkhazians-that is, to change their ethnic identity (GHN, October 19).

International law and international opinion on this matter generally do not enter into the separatist Abkhazian authorities' calculations since Sukhumi enjoys the full support of Moscow and the Russian occupying forces. Many Georgian experts believe that if the campaign to oust or assimilate the ethnic-Georgian population continues at the same pace, in two or three years Abkhazia may have no more Georgians left who have retained their ethnic identity-even in Gali district. Thus, the ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population of Abkhazia will have concluded.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russia and Georgia Agree to Unite Against 'Church Separatism' in Abkhazia

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Giorgi Menabde Publication Date 7 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 143 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russia and Georgia Agree to Unite Against 'Church Separatism' in Abkhazia, 7 November 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 143, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d813a4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Ilia II, the patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC), met in his Tbilisi residence, on November 2, with Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk (Russia). Metropolitan Hilarion is one of the most influential hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). He is a member of the Holy Synod and head of the external affairs department of the ROC (Hilarion.ru, accessed November 6). As special envoy of Patriarch Kirill-the head of the ROC-Metropolitan Hilarion gave the Georgian Church leader an invitation to Moscow to take part in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchy in the Russian Church (Ekho Kavkaza, November 2). But the invitation to the Russian capital was not the main purpose of the ROC hierarch's visit to Georgia. Unexpectedly for many, Metropolitan Hilarion additionally made tough statements against the Abkhaz separatists who "captured the Novyafon Cathedral [located on the grounds of a 19th century monastery in New Athos, a coastal Abkhazian town in Gadauta district]."

"The group that captured the New Athos Monastery and proclaimed itself to be almost an autocephalous church, still maintains its position; we must figure out how to settle the situation," Metropolitan Hilarion proclaimed (Ekho Kavkaza, November 2). He recalled that during the last meeting of the patriarchs of Russia and Georgia, a decision was made to create a special group "to consider the situation in Abkhazia" (Ekho Kavkaza, November 2).

It appears that Metropolitan Hilarion's remarks were in fact directed at Abkhaz priests and the Abkhazian authorities. The issue in question that the ROC metropolitan alluded to "is, first and foremost, the problem of the St. Simon the Canaanite church in New Athos [Novyafon Cathedral]," according to Nika Imnaishvili, an analyst with the independent Georgian news agency GHN (Author's interview, November 4). Specifically, the church in New Athos is considered a shrine of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Unlike the Russian state, which recognized the independence of Abkhazia in 2008, the ROC still regards Abkhazia part of the canonical territory of the Georgian Orthodox Church. As such, the Cathedral in New Athos is part of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the GOC. Therefore, Moscow, for a long time, had been negotiating about the future of the Novyafon Cathedral with the Georgian Patriarchate. In 2012, the two parties reached a compromise: Patriarch Ilia II verbally (without signing any document) agreed to "double jurisdiction" over this church, after which Patriarch Kirill sent the ROC hierarch Hegumen Ephraim to the Cathedral. But this step ran counter to the interests of the state and church authorities of Abkhazia.

In 1993, with the help of the Russian army, Abkhaz armed groups first carried out ethnic cleansing of the predominantly Georgian population in Abkhazia (see EDM, October 26), which included the expulaion of Georgian priests. At that point, ethnic-Abkhaz priest Father Vissarion (Aplia) proclaimed himself the head of an Abkhaz Orthodox Church (AOC) (Civil Georgia, November 2).

Formally, the AOC claimed to continue to recognize the jurisdiction of Georgia's Patriarch. But in fact, Father Vissarion many times appealed to the Russian Church to recognize the autocephaly of the AOC and direct its bishops. However, the Moscow Patriarchate could not take any firm decisions regarding the jurisdiction of the GOC, because it itself needed the support of the Georgian Orthodox Church against church separatism in Ukraine.

Father Vissarion's repeated overtures to the ROC outraged local Abkhaz priests. Some of them broke away and announced the creation of a separate Holy Abkhaz Diocese (HAD), in May 2011. They chose Novyafon as the main cathedral of the HAD (Georgia Times, May 24, 2011). The head of the HAD, Archimandrite Father Dorofei (Dbar), then appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew with a request to recognize the autocephaly of the Abkhaz Church and appoint an Episcopal. Archimandrite Dorofei rebuked any need for cooperation with the ROC (Jam-news.net, March 16, 2016), and leaders of the HAD forbade clergymen of the Russian Church from worshipping at the Novyafon Cathedral. Moreover, they blocked the ROC's Hegumen Ephraim from coming to the New Athos Monastery. This caused great irritation in Moscow. Patriarch Kirill, in turn, urged Christians not to enter the Church in New Athos and not to pray there (Lenta.ru, July 8, 2013). That appeal had limited effect: hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists and pilgrims continue to visit this church every year.

Previous attempts by Moscow to pressure the secular authorities of Abkhazia into forcing the HAD leaders to leave Novyafon Cathedral have repeatedly ended in failure. In early 2011, the president and prime minister of separatist Abkhazia respond that the Abkhazian parliament had transferred all the churches on the territory of the republic to the "Abkhazian Church." And if the HAD refuses to submit to Father Vissarion and the AOC, the Abkhazian state "cannot intervene in the [internal] Church dispute and forcibly expel Father Dorofei and his supporters from the monastery" (Apsnypress.info, February 9, 2011).

Yet, Georgian experts consider this argument to be a political excuse: "The Abkhazian government considers the Abkhazian church, including the Novyafon Cathedral, an 'instrument' for promoting Abkhazia's independence on the world stage," GHN's Imnaishvili noted. "It is the Abkhazian government that categorically opposes the transfer of Novyafon to Russia. But they cannot say this directly, so as not to provoke the wrath of Patriarch Kirill and President [Vladimir] Putin. That is why they [speak] about a 'split inside the Abkhazian church' and the 'impossibility for the state to intervene in this split,' " Imnaishvili added (Author's interview, November 4).

Against this background, the purpose of Metropolitan Hilarion's recent visit to Tbilisi is clear: the Russian Church is warning Abkhazian "schismatics" that if they refuse to transfer control of the Novyafon Cathedral to the ROC, Moscow will conclude a union with Tbilisi and join forces against the "separatists."

In this case, Russia will not rescind its recognition of Abkhazia's independence, but it could impose economic sanctions and a blockade against the self-proclaimed republic. Abkhazia would then find itself totally isolated because it borders only Russia and Georgia. Taking into account the important role the ROC plays in the Kremlin's foreign policy, such an "ultimatum" proclaimed by the Moscow Patriarchate is likely to have some teeth; but in this, Moscow will need the support and partnership of Tbilisi.

A final agreement on joint sanctions against the Abkhaz Church separatists could be reached on December 4, during Patriarch Ilia II's scheduled visit to Moscow and his meeting with Patriarch Kirill. It is possible that during that trip, the head of the GOC will also hold talks on the Abkhazian issue and Russian-Georgian relations with the Russian president.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Fewer than 100,000 Ethnic Russians Remain in Dagestan, a Major Problem for Moscow and Makhachkala

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 14 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 147 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Fewer than 100,000 Ethnic Russians Remain in Dagestan, a Major Problem for Moscow and Makhachkala, 14 November 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 147, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d81e34.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

The continuing, radical and apparently irreversible decline in the size of the ethnic-Russian community in Dagestan, the poorest and most heavily Muslim republic in the North Caucasus, is creating serious problems for both Moscow and Makhachkala. And these concerns threaten to lead to the destabilization of that republic and possibly to the re-ignition of a major conflict across the entire region. At the very least, the continuing collapse of the Russian component of the population there will make it increasingly difficult for Moscow's new man on the scene to navigate through the thicket of challenges he faces from other national groups.

Since the end of Soviet times, the number of Russians in Dagestan has fallen from nearly 200,000 to under 100,000 today. The demographic shift has been driven by a continuing exodus of ethnic Russians as well as due to the excess deaths over births among this aging group. Dagestani Russians' share of the republic's overall population has declined from 15 percent in the 1979 census and 9.2 percent in the 1989 census to only 3.6 percent in the 2010 census. Those numbers reflect both the ethnic Russians' own demographic dynamics as well as the far higher birthrates and longer life expectancies among the non-drinking Muslim nations living there (Demoscope.ru, January 22; Newstracker.ru, November 10).

Not surprisingly, both the Dagestani authorities-especially under Russian President Vladimir Putin's newly installed head, Vladimir Vasilyev (see EDM, October 13)-and many in Moscow are worried about the consequences of this exodus of ethnic Russians. Officials believe this trend will continue to the point where there will be almost no ethnic Russians left in Dagestan in the coming decades. Such a development would radically change the ethnic balance there because the Russian community has long served as a useful tool for Dagestani elites to resist the demands of other groups. Moreover, the ethnic Russians' exodus will likely depress the economic situation in the republic given that they still form a disproportionate share of the more educated strata of the workforce. But far more ominously, the appearance of a Dagestan without Russians could trigger a rebellion even more threatening to Moscow than Chechnya ever had been. This is due not only to Dagestan's location astride major north-south trade routes and on the Caspian coast-neither of which Chechnya has-but also because most of Dagestan's other national groups are in fact far more Islamic than the Chechens. Dagestanis have formed a vastly greater share of all hajis from Russia than any other group, and they are also reported to have sent more fighters to fight for the Islamic State in the Middle East.

All these threats are generating serious concerns in Moscow. But they are also having an impact closer to home, which may complicate the situation in the North Caucasus republic still further. In particular, the demographic trends are prompting ethnic-Russian and Cossack communities in Dagestan to mobilize to oppose the republic government in the name of protecting their communities. Moreover, these groups are appealing to the central Russian government to back them if it wants to avoid disaster. In an article posted online yesterday, November 13, Moscow-based commentator Yury Soshin describes this congeries of threats and says that ever more Russians in Dagestan and ever more officials in Moscow view the situation in Dagestan as having reached "a critical stage," one that must be addressed immediately before things deteriorate further (APN, November 13).

Soshin begins by acknowledging that on the surface the situation of ethnic Russians in Dagestan is not as dire as it was a decade ago, because "acts of direct terror and force" against them "have disappeared [] but behind this attractive facade is a different and far from happy picture." He continues, "Yes, Russians now, in contrast to recent times, are not being attacked or driven from their homes, but those leaving the region are not returning, and for those who remain, life in their native land is far from happy." That is why the ethnic Russians and Cossacks who used to form three-quarters of the population in villages in the north of the republic, now make up only "about 40 percent"-and most of them are elderly who are simply waiting to die. Their situation is ignored by Makhachkala and Moscow as well, Soshin asserts.

The Russians of Dagestan engaged in serious protests in 2012-2013, and both capitals said all the right things, making all kinds of promises that the situation would improve; but in fact it has grown worse, as the number of Russians in that North Caucasus republic continues to fall. Several months ago, the leadership of the Cossack community in the Khasavyurt district of Dagestan issued what can only be described as "a cry of despair" in the form of "An Analytic Report on the Effectiveness of Measures for Reducing the Outflow of the Ethnic Russian and Cossack Population from Dagestan" (APN, November 13).

That report acknowledges that laws have been changed in positive ways, but it goes on to say that the actions of the authorities remain the same. One indication of that: since 1970, the share of the ethnic Russians in the population of northern Dagestan has declined from 74 percent to 19.7 percent. The new majority, which has cut the number of ethnic Russians in official posts almost to zero, the report continues, is actively hostile to both ethnic Russians and Cossacks and uses its power over school programs to promote negative attitudes toward both. As a result, tensions in Dagestan are rising, with more Russians and Cossacks ready to leave but others ready to fight.

The report concludes with this warning: "The transformation of Dagestan into an ethnocratic Muslim state represents great dangers not only for Russia but for the local Muslim population." And these "contradictions," it continues, include many of "a religious, inter-religious, inter-ethnic and social character." Neither Moscow nor Makhachkala seems ready to respond, because each is caught in a trap: If officials defend the Russians, they will offend the non-Russians still more; but if they do not, the Russians will leave, and the report's warning may prove prophetic.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Cambodia: Banning of opposition party a "blatant act of political repression"

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 16 November 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Cambodia: Banning of opposition party a "blatant act of political repression", 16 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d83304.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reacting to the Cambodian Supreme Court's decision to dissolve the main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), James Gomez, Amnesty International's Director of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said:

"Today's decision by the Supreme Court to dissolve the CNRP is not only a blatant act of political repression that must be reversed immediately, but also a serious violation of the human rights to freedom of association and expression in Cambodia. The fact that the Court also ruled to ban more than 100 senior CNRP officials from political activity for five years compounds this injustice.

"This is yet more evidence of how the judiciary in Cambodia is essentially used as an arm of the executive and as a political tool to silence dissent. The Supreme Court President Judge is known to have close ties to Prime Minister Hun Sen and is a member of high level committees of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.

"Sadly, this is just the culmination of several months of threats, rhetoric and outright repression. The authorities have launched a widespread assault on dissent, including by shutting down NGOs and media outlets, and by harassing and jailing human rights defenders. The international community cannot stand idly - it must send a strong signal that this crackdown is unacceptable."

Background

The dissolution of the CNRP stems from a complaint by the Ministry of Interior, which was filed under a recently amended law prohibiting political parties from "conspiring with criminals". The CNRP leader, Kem Sokha, was arrested in early September this year on trumped up charges of "conspiracy with a foreign power." He remains in detention.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Nearly a third of Darfur's people still displaced, despite drop in violence, Security Council told

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Nearly a third of Darfur's people still displaced, despite drop in violence, Security Council told, 15 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d88a94.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The armed groups in Darfur have largely been defeated and the ferocity of intercommunal violence has declined, but anxiety over safety continues to keep many people from returning to their homes, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Wednesday.

"However, those positive developments have not led to the voluntary and sustainable return of internally displaced persons," said Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, noting that nearly one third of Darfur's population remained displaced.

Presenting the Secretary General's latest report on the African Union UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), she said the slow returns reflected anxiety about security and lack of confidence about present and future prospects, as progress has been slow on addressing such issues as land, poor resource management, accountability, and security sector reform.

The political process to negotiate a settlement of the conflict in Darfur with non signatories to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur remains stalled, she said, adding that armed clashes between Government and non signatory forces have subsided.

Describing the Doha Document as integral to addressing underlying communal tensions, she said its full implementation is an entry point for sustaining peace because it touches on the causes of the decades long conflict, including land, displacement and relationships with nomadic herders.

The Government has begun the next stage of its disarmament campaign - the forced collection of weapons - which has raised tensions among militia groups not aligned with Government forces.

She went on to report that intercommunal violence also persisted. On 7 November, UNAMID prevented a group of armed Arabs from entering the internally displaced persons site, she said, adding that on 10 November, the mission intercepted a group of Arab nomads firing randomly on the outskirts of Sortony.

Emphasizing the importance of augmenting capacity to support longer term peacebuilding activities, she said UNAMID and the UN country team have finalized the integrated strategic framework for 2017 2019, which set out priorities on the rule of law and human rights, durable solutions, and peacebuilding for human security.

With the closure of 11 team sites and reduced numbers of military and police personnel, the mission's civilian staffing has been readjusted and its budget for 2017 2018 revised, she said.

Ms. Keita went on to report that the Jebel Marra Task Force is expected to become operational on 1 January 2018, but voiced regret that the allocation of land on which to open a new team site in Golo is still pending.

Establishing that new team site will be essential to underpinning the concept of reconfiguring UNAMID, and goes hand in hand with the mission's withdrawal from more stable parts of Darfur, she explained.

In conclusion, she said the level of cooperation between UNAMID and the Government of Sudan has been positive overall, although challenges remain in terms of access restrictions and customs clearance at Port Sudan.
UN peacekeeper in DR Congo honoured for combatting sexual violence on the frontlines

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN peacekeeper in DR Congo honoured for combatting sexual violence on the frontlines, 15 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d89254.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the Organization's peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), until 15 November 2018, increased the mission's troop level by 900 military personnel.

The increase in the number of the Mission's 'blue helmets' comes against the backdrop of increasing fighting in the African nation and the resulting added insecurity and misery of its civilian population.

The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR, known by its French acronym, MINUSCA, has also come under numerous attacks, which have killed at least 12 peacekeepers this year and injured many more.

In an effort to draw attention to the fragile situation in the country that, in his words, is "often far from the media spotlight," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres travelled to CAR in late October.

In CAR, the UN chief warned of religious divisions in the country, stressing that these rifts are a result of "political manipulation that must be condemned and avoided at all costs."

Security Council condemns incitement to ethnic, religious hatred

Through a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member Council condemned "in the strongest terms" incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence and the multiple violations of international humanitarian law and the widespread human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, committed - in particular - by the mainly Muslim ex-Seleka and mainly Christian anti-Balaka elements, as well as other militia groups, and the targeting of civilians from specific communities.

The Council also reiterated its serious concerns over the "dire humanitarian situation" in the country because of the deteriorating security situation, and the lack of access for and attacks against relief workers.

According to estimates, over 600,000 people have been internally displaced within the country and more than 500,000 have sought refuge beyond CAR's borders. This total figure of more than 1.1 million displaced - internally or abroad - is the highest ever recorded for the country.

Also by the resolution, the Security Council called on the national authorities to take concrete steps, "without delay and as a matter of priority," to strengthen justice institutions and to fight impunity and urged them continue their efforts to restore the effective authority of the State over the whole territory of the CAR.

Human rights, including child protection and sexual violence in conflict

Concerning the human rights situation in the country, the Council reiterated the urgent need to hold accountable all perpetrators of violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law.

It also called upon all parties to conflict, including ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka elements, to end all violations and abuses committed against children, in violation of applicable international law, including those involving their recruitment and use, rape and sexual violence, killing and maiming, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals.

"[The Council] further calls upon the CAR authorities to swiftly investigate alleged violations and abuses in order to hold perpetrators accountable and to ensure that those responsible for such violations and abuses are excluded from the security sector," read the resolution.
Afghanistan opium production jumps 87 per cent to record level  UN survey

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Afghanistan opium production jumps 87 per cent to record level  UN survey, 15 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d895e4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A profoundly alarming trend in the cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan reveals an 87 per cent production increase compared to 2016, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) said Wednesday in its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017.

"It is high time for the international community and Afghanistan to reprioritize drug control, and to acknowledge that every nation has a shared responsibility for this global problem," said UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov.

According to the latest figures released by the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics and UNODC, in addition to an 87 per cent jump to a record level of 9,000 metric tonnes in 2017, the area under opium poppy cultivation also increased to a record 328,000 hectares in 2017, up 63 per cent compared with 201,000 hectares in 2016.

"For both Afghanistan, and the world, we are heading towards uncharted territoryAdditionally, the number of poppy-free provinces in the country decreased from 13 to 10 - and after more than a decade, Ghazni, Samangan and Nuristan lost their poppy-free status. The number of provinces affected by cultivation increased accordingly from 21 to 24.

"These frightening figures should give considerable pause for reflection on whether the calculus on the illicit drugs flowing from Afghanistan adds up to a workable and achievable solution," he continued, again urging the international community to revisit its engagement with Afghanistan, and to acknowledge that fresh assessments and policy revisions may be necessary.

Pointing to the multiple challenges the increase would pose for the country, Mr. Fedotov stressed, that Afghanistan, "already suffering from the opium produced within its borders, the increases will drive drug abuse, an increased dependency on the illicit economy, and rising levels of corruption."
UN rights chief urges DRC authorities to allow peaceful expression of dissent at protests

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights chief urges DRC authorities to allow peaceful expression of dissent at protests, 15 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d898c4.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday called on the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to lawfully handle demonstrations organized by those protesting the updated electoral calendar for general elections.

The inflammatory comments by police authorities ahead of today's protests are deeply alarming, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a news release.

I call on the Government and security forces to work to defuse tensions instead of creating the conditions for suppression, confrontation and violence, he added.

Upon publication of the electoral calendar on 5 November, which states that general elections will take place in December 2018  two years later than originally scheduled  civil society organisations called for nationwide protests to be held today.

In response, a number of alarming comments were reportedly made by provincial police inspectors in Goma and Kinshasa. Yesterday, the Police Nationale Congolaise (PNC) provincial inspector in Kinshasa warned that any gathering of more than five people would be dispersed mercilessly, upon the Governor's orders.

Even before the announcement of the electoral calendar, between 22 and 23 October, at least 65 opposition political activists were arrested in Lubumbashi, in the country's southeast. All those arrested were later released, some on bail, but these arrests were part of a worrying pattern of actions to prevent political opponents from gathering.

Mr. Zeid called for top political leaders to ensure respect for the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and the freedom of expression. He also urged all sides to exercise restraint and to renounce the use of violence.

The UN's Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials contains very strict guidelines on the use of force, including that intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

In September last year, 54 people died after defence and security forces used excessive force against demonstrators who were calling for constitutional deadlines to be respected and for President Joseph Kabila to step down at the end of his second mandate.
Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Abyei for six months

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Abyei for six months, 15 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d89d54.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Security Council on Wednesday extended until 15 May 2018 the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, a contested area on the Sudan-South Sudan border.

Unanimously adopting a resolution, the 15-member body also extended, for the same duration, the tasks of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) set out in the resolution that authorized the deployment of UNISFA in 2011.

Further, the Council extended until 15 April 2018 UNISFA's support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, which was established by the two countries as part of the negotiations on South Sudan's secession from Sudan in July 2011.

In doing so, however, the Council decided that this renewal of UNISFA's support for the Mechanism will be the final such extension unless Sudan and South Sudan ensure the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Abyei and throughout the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone of all personnel, as well as equipment, provisions, supplies and other goods, including vehicles, aircraft, and spare parts, which are for the exclusive and official use of UNISFA.

The Council further decided to maintain the authorized troop ceiling of 4,791 until 15 April 2018, but the ceiling will decrease to 4,235 unless the Council decides to extend UNISFA's support for the Mechanism.
Security Council maintains partial lifting of arms embargo on Somalia for one year

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council maintains partial lifting of arms embargo on Somalia for one year, 14 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d8a034.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Security Council on Tuesday renewed until 15 November 2018 the partial lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, authorization for maritime interdiction of illicit arms imports and charcoal exports, and the humanitarian exemption.

In the resolution adopted by 11 affirmative votes and four abstentions, the 15-member body requested the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG) to continue its investigations related to the export to Somalia of chemicals that may be used as oxidisers in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices, such as the precursors ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate and sodium chlorate.

Those abstained in the vote were Bolivia, China, Egypt and Russia.

Further, the Council extended until 15 December 2018 the mandate of the SEMG, and recognised that during the course of its current and three previous mandates, the SEMG has not found conclusive evidence that Eritrea supports Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

The Council expressed its intention to keep measures on Eritrea under regular review, in light of the upcoming midterm update by the SEMG due by 30 April 2018.

Recalling the three meetings between an Eritrean government representative and the SEMG, the Council reiterated its expectation that Eritrea's Government will facilitate the entry of the SEMG into Eritrea to discharge fully its mandate.

The Council urged Eritrea and Djibouti to engage on the issue of the Djiboutian combatants missing in action and to seek all available solutions to settle their border dispute peacefully.
Kosovo: Time for action overtakes time for excuses, UN envoy tells Security Council

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Kosovo: Time for action overtakes time for excuses, UN envoy tells Security Council, 14 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d8a584.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Comments All reference to Kosovo should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Noting recent momentum to advance democracy and good governance in Kosovo, the head of the United Nations Mission there urged for more emphasis on rebuilding trust and reconciliation, including through engagement with women and the youth, as well as on overcoming challenges related to freedom of cultural and religious identity.

"With the end of the election cycle, the time for action now moves ahead of the time for excuse," Zahir Tanin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), told the Security Council Tuesday.

"It is important that the potential for embarking on a sustainable peace process not be hindered by inflexibility or simple inaction," he added, calling all parties to play their part in the process.

In his briefing, Mr. Tanin informed the Security Council that 40 new judges and 13 new state prosecutors from the Serb community were sworn into office in Kosovo, who would work as part of a unitary Kosovo justice system.

He, however, noted that the implementation of agreements made in 2013 and earlier, continue, at best, to be sporadic and variable.

"Within the framework of the European Union (EU)-facilitated dialogue, technical implementation needs more meaningful commitment from both sides," said the UN envoy, noting that the most obvious gap is the lack of progress towards the implementation of the agreed Community/Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

Regarding Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), the UNMIK said that Pristina representatives attend all CEFTA meetings, and that UNMIK's participation is limited to the requirements of the legal statutes.

"This participation continues strictly to the extent required by CEFTA members to ensure its functionality, which in turn supports economic opportunity throughout the region," he said, noting the importance of economic and employment opportunities as well as addressing corruption, ensuring public accountability at all levels and combatting organized criminality.

"The final objective of [UNMIK] remains clear, with your support: sustained peace, and the opportunities it brings for individuals to fulfil their aspirations and their potential," concluded Mr. Tanin.
Suffering deepens in Yemen as border shutdowns enter second week  UN agencies

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Suffering deepens in Yemen as border shutdowns enter second week  UN agencies, 14 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d8a994.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A proposal to deliver vitally needed aid to war-ravaged Yemen via smaller ports than those under blockade will not solve the catastrophic humanitarian situation there, a senior UN official said Tuesday.

Speaking over the phone to journalists in Geneva, Jamie McGoldrick, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, called for the reopening of the country's major import hubs, Hodeida and Saleef, along with Sana'a airport.

Smaller ports such as Aden in southern Yemen and Jazan - which is in neighbouring Saudi Arabia - lack the capacity to handle the amount of fuel, food and medicines that's needed, Mr McGoldrick said.

"Coming from Jazan in the north or coming from Aden in the south to serve the bulk of the population that we have identified, in the northern part of the country, it would be very difficult in many places because of for security issues, because of logistical issues" he said.

This would increases the cost of supplies by an estimated $30 per metric tonne "and this is something that would then reduce the amount of money we have to serve the population and right now our humanitarian response plan is only 57 per cent funded," explained Mr. McGoldrick.

He said that Yemen has just 20 days' worth of diesel left in the north, and three months' reserves of wheat, adding that while he has heard reports that Aden and other ports were opening, there has been no confirmation of it.

The decision to blockade Yemen was taken by the Saudi-led coalition - engaged there in a three-year war against Houthi militants, which, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has left more than seven million close to famine and 21 million needing assistance in one of the world's poorest countries.

With humanitarian supplies "dangerously low," Mr. McGoldrick warned that keeping famine and disease at bay risks setbacks.

Suffering worsens in Yemen

With the closure of land, sea and air borders now entering its second week, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed alarm at the worsening humanitarian situation.

"Over the past week, the closures have prevented humanitarian and commercial supplies and restricted the movement of aid workers. They are also placing new economic strain on a civilian population already suffering through many months of conflict," said UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler at the regular press briefing in Geneva.

"As a result," continued Mr. Spindler, "our staff and those of our partners are seeing an increase in the number of civilians seeking humanitarian help. Vulnerable populations including internally displaced people, refugees and asylum seekers are especially hard-hit."

The spokesperson reminded reporters that since the conflict began in March 2015, it has become the world's largest humanitarian crisis, affecting 21 million people.

"Two million internally displaced people, a million returnees and 280,000 refugees and asylum seekers are all struggling to survive through increasingly prolonged displacement," he stressed, adding that worsening conditions have also led to child labour and early marriage.

"Together with other members of the humanitarian community in Yemen, UNHCR is advocating for the border closures to be lifted without delay. The closures are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, posing a critical threat to the millions struggling to survive," Mr. Spindler concluded.
Libya's detention of migrants 'is an outrage to humanity,' says UN human rights chief Zeid

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 November 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Libya's detention of migrants 'is an outrage to humanity,' says UN human rights chief Zeid, 14 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a0d8ae84.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The European Union's (EU) support for Libya's Coast Guard which has resulted in thousands of migrants being detained in "horrific" conditions inside Libya is "inhuman," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday.

Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein sounded the alarm after a probe by UN monitors who visited migrants held in State detention centres in Libya at the start of the month.

From 1 to 6 November, UN human rights monitors visited four Department of Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM) facilities in Tripoli, where they interviewed detainees who have fled conflict, persecution and extreme poverty from States across Africa and Asia, according to the High Commissioner's Office (OHCHR).

"Monitors were shocked by what they witnessed: thousands of emaciated and traumatized men, women and children piled on top of one another, locked up in hangars with no access to the most basic necessities, and stripped of their human dignity," OHCHR spokesperson told reporters today in Geneva.

Detainees at the centres said they are often beaten or prodded with electric sticks if they ask for food and medicine. There are no functioning toilets in the hangar-like facilities and the detainees find it 'difficult to survive the smell of urine and feces.' Rape and other sexual violence appear commonplace.

The EU is providing assistance to the Libyan Coast Guard to intercept migrant boats in the Mediterranean. This includes in international waters, despite concerns raised by rights groups that this would condemn more migrants to arbitrary and indefinite detention and expose them to forced labour or extortion. According to OHCHR, those detained have no possibility to challenge the legality of their detention, and no access to legal aid.

Nearly 20,000 people are in custody now, up from about 7,000 in mid-September.

The spike in numbers came after authorities detained thousands of migrants following clashes in Sabratha, a smuggling and trafficking hub, about 80 kilometres west of Tripoli.

"We cannot be a silent witness to modern day slavery, rape and other sexual violence, and unlawful killings in the name of managing migration and preventing desperate and traumatized people from reaching Europe's shores," said High Commissioner Zeid.

His Office has urged the Libyan authorities to stamp out human rights violations in centres under their control, while also calling on the international community not to turn a blind eye to the "unimaginable horrors" endured by migrants in Libya.
Opinion of Advocate General Bot: A.S. v. Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie

Publisher European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union Publication Date 16 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol C-550/16 Cite as Opinion of Advocate General Bot: A.S. v. Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie , C-550/16, European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union, 16 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/cases,ECJ,5a0dad064.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

OPINION OF ADVOCATE GENERAL BOT

delivered on 26 October 2017 ( )

Case C550/16

A. S. v Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Rechtbank Den Haag, zittingsplaats Amsterdam (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Amsterdam, Netherlands))

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Border control, asylum and immigration - Immigration policy - Right to family reunification - Concept of 'unaccompanied minor' - Right of a refugee to family reunification with his parents - Temporary residence permit - Refugee aged under 18 at the time of arrival and at the time of application for asylum and over 18 at the time of application for family reunification - Relevant date for assessing unaccompanied minor status)

I. Introduction

1. What is the relevant date for assessing unaccompanied minor status? Is a third country national who arrives on the territory of a Member State as a minor and who is granted asylum only after attaining the age of majority, entitled to family reunification as an unaccompanied minor? These are, in essence, the questions which the Court is requested to answer.

2. This case will give the Court the opportunity to rule on the protection to be afforded to persons who arrive as minors in the European Union, obtain refugee status when they have attained the age of majority during consideration of their application for protection, and, after obtaining that status, initiate a family reunification procedure.

3. It will be necessary to weight the procedural stages which mark the path of those asylum seekers against the possible administrative delays and the inexorable passage of time in the life of a person who becomes an adult during examination of his asylum application and who applies for family reunification for his parents after obtaining refugee status.

4. At the end of my analysis, I shall propose that the Court adopt the interpretation which affords the greatest protection by holding that a third country national or stateless person under the age of 18 who arrives on the territory of a Member State unaccompanied by an adult responsible for him by law or custom, who applies for asylum, then, during the procedure, attains the age of majority before being granted asylum, with retroactive effect to the date of the application, and subsequently applies for family reunification as granted to unaccompanied minor refugees under Article 10(3) of that directive, may be considered to be an unaccompanied minor, within the meaning of Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86/EC ( ).

II. Legal context

A. EU law

5. Directive 2003/86 lays down the conditions for the exercise of the right to family reunification by third country nationals residing lawfully in the territory of the Member States.

6. Recitals 2, 4, 6 and 8 to 10 and 12 of that directive are worded as follows:

'(2) Measures concerning family reunification should be adopted in conformity with the obligation to protect the family and respect family life enshrined in many instruments of international law. This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular in Article 8 of the [Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 ('the ECHR'),] and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union [ ( )].

...

(4) Family reunification is a necessary way of making family life possible. It helps to create sociocultural stability facilitating the integration of third country nationals in the Member State, which also serves to promote economic and social cohesion, a fundamental Community objective stated in the Treaty.

...

(6) To protect the family and establish or preserve family life, the material conditions for exercising the right to family reunification should be determined on the basis of common criteria.

...

(8) Special attention should be paid to the situation of refugees on account of the reasons which obliged them to flee their country and prevent them from leading a normal family life there. More favourable conditions should therefore be laid down for the exercise of their right to family reunification.

(9) Family reunification should apply in any case to members of the nuclear family, that is to say the spouse and the minor children.

(10) It is for the Member States to decide whether they wish to authorise family reunification for relatives in the direct ascending line, adult unmarried children ...'

7. Article 2 of the directive sets out the following definitions:

'For the purposes of this Directive:

(a) "third country national" means any person who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of Article 17(1) [EC, now Article 20(1) TFEU];

(b) "refugee" means any third country national or stateless person enjoying refugee status within the meaning of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, as amended by the Protocol signed in New York on 31 January 1967;

(c) "sponsor" means a third country national residing lawfully in a Member State and applying or whose family members apply for family reunification to be joined with him/her;

(d) "family reunification" means the entry into and residence in a Member State by family members of a third country national residing lawfully in that Member State in order to preserve the family unit, whether the family relationship arose before or after the resident's entry;

...

(f) "unaccompanied minor" means third country nationals or stateless persons below the age of eighteen, who arrive on the territory of the Member States unaccompanied by an adult responsible by law or custom, and for as long as they are not effectively taken into the care of such a person, or minors who are left unaccompanied after they entered the territory of the Member States.'

8. Article 3 of Directive 2003/86 provides:

'1. This Directive shall apply where the sponsor is holding a residence permit issued by a Member State for a period of validity of one year or more who has reasonable prospects of obtaining the right of permanent residence, if the members of his or her family are third country nationals of whatever status.

2. This Directive shall not apply where the sponsor is:

(a) applying for recognition of refugee status whose application has not yet given rise to a final decision;

(b) authorised to reside in a Member State on the basis of temporary protection or applying for authorisation to reside on that basis and awaiting a decision on his status;

(c) authorised to reside in a Member State on the basis of a subsidiary form of protection in accordance with international obligations, national legislation or the practice of the Member States or applying for authorisation to reside on that basis and awaiting a decision on his status.

...

5. This Directive shall not affect the possibility for the Member States to adopt or maintain more favourable provisions.'

9. Article 4(2)(a) of that directive provides:

'The Member States may, by law or regulation, authorise the entry and residence, pursuant to this Directive and subject to compliance with the conditions laid down in Chapter IV, of the following family members:

(a) 'first-degree relatives in the direct ascending line of the sponsor or his or her spouse, where they are dependent on them and do not enjoy proper family support in the country of origin;'

10. Article 5 of that directive states:

'1. Member States shall determine whether, in order to exercise the right to family reunification, an application for entry and residence shall be submitted to the competent authorities of the Member State concerned either by the sponsor or by the family member or members.

2. The application shall be accompanied by documentary evidence of the family relationship and of compliance with the conditions laid down in Articles 4 and 6 and, where applicable, Articles 7 and 8, as well as certified copies of family member(s)' travel documents.

...

3. The application shall be submitted and examined when the family members are residing outside the territory of the Member State in which the sponsor resides.

...

4. The competent authorities of the Member State shall give the person, who has submitted the application, written notification of the decision as soon as possible and in any event no later than nine months from the date on which the application was lodged.

In exceptional circumstances linked to the complexity of the examination of the application, the time limit referred to in the first subparagraph may be extended.

Reasons shall be given for the decision rejecting the application. Any consequences of no decision being taken by the end of the period provided for in the first subparagraph shall be determined by the national legislation of the relevant Member State.

5. When examining an application, the Member States shall have due regard to the best interests of minor children.'

11. Articles 9 to 12 in Chapter V of Directive 2003/86 specifically govern family reunification of refugees. Article 9(1) and (2) provides:

'1. This Chapter shall apply to family reunification of refugees recognised by the Member States.

2. Member States may confine the application of this Chapter to refugees whose family relationships predate their entry.'

12. Article 10 of that directive states:

'1. Article 4 shall apply to the definition of family members except that the third subparagraph of paragraph 1 thereof shall not apply to the children of refugees.

2. The Member States may authorise family reunification of other family members not referred to in Article 4, if they are dependent on the refugee.

3. If the refugee is an unaccompanied minor, the Member States:

(a) shall authorise the entry and residence for the purposes of family reunification of his/her first-degree relatives in the direct ascending line without applying the conditions laid down in Article 4(2)(a);

(b) may authorise the entry and residence for the purposes of family reunification of his/her legal guardian or any other member of the family, where the refugee has no relatives in the direct ascending line or such relatives cannot be traced.

13. Article 11 of that directive provides:

'1. Article 5 shall apply to the submission and examination of the application, subject to paragraph 2 of this Article.

2. Where a refugee cannot provide official documentary evidence of the family relationship, the Member States shall take into account other evidence, to be assessed in accordance with national law, of the existence of such relationship. A decision rejecting an application may not be based solely on the fact that documentary evidence is lacking.'

14. Article 12 of Directive 2003/86 provides:

'1. By way of derogation from Article 7, the Member States shall not require the refugee and/or family member(s) to provide, in respect of applications concerning those family members referred to in Article 4(1), the evidence that the refugee fulfils the requirements set out in Article 7.

Without prejudice to international obligations, where family reunification is possible in a third country with which the sponsor and/or family member has special links, Member States may require provision of the evidence referred to in the first subparagraph.

Member States may require the refugee to meet the conditions referred to in Article 7(1) if the application for family reunification is not submitted within a period of three months after the granting of the refugee status.

2. By way of derogation from Article 8, the Member States shall not require the refugee to have resided in their territory for a certain period of time, before having his/her family members join him/her.'

15. Pursuant to Article 20 thereof, the directive was to be transposed by the Member States into their respective national laws by no later than 3 October 2005.

B. Netherlands law

16. Pursuant to Article 29(2)(c) of the Vreemdelingenwet 2000 (Law on foreign nationals 2000) of 23 November 2000, a temporary residence permit for persons granted asylum, as referred to in Article 28 of that law, can be issued to the parents of a foreign national who is an unaccompanied minor within the meaning of Article 2(f) of the directive, where the parents, at the time of the arrival of the foreign national, were members of his or her family and travelled to the Netherlands with him or her or joined him within three months following the issue to that foreign national of a temporary residence permit pursuant to Article 28.

III. Facts of the main proceedings and the question referred for a preliminary ruling

17. The daughter of A and S, an Eritrean national, arrived in the Netherlands, alone, when she was a minor. She lodged an application for asylum in the territory of that Member State on 26 February 2014. During the examination of her application for asylum and when no final decision had yet been taken, the person concerned attained the age of majority. By a decision of 21 October 2014, the competent authorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands granted her a residence permit for persons granted asylum, valid for five years, with retroactive effect to the date on which her application was lodged.

18. On 23 December 2014, VluchtelingenWerk Midden-Nederland, acting on behalf of the daughter of A and S, lodged an application for temporary residence permits for her parents and her three minor brothers for the purposes of family reunification.

19. By a decision of 27 May 2015, the Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie (State Secretary for Security and Justice, Netherlands) dismissed that application on the ground that, at the time of the application for family reunification, the person concerned was an adult and therefore could not claim unaccompanied minor status enabling her to enjoy a preferential right to family reunification. The objection lodged in respect of that decision was dismissed on 13 August 2015.

20. On 3 September 2015, A and S brought an appeal against that decision before the referring court, the Rechtbank Den Haag, zittingsplaats Amsterdam (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Amsterdam, Netherlands), claiming, inter alia, that it is apparent from Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86 that, in order to determine whether a person qualifies as an 'unaccompanied minor', it is the date on which the person concerned entered the Member State at issue which is decisive. However, the Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie (State Secretary for Security and Justice) considers that it is the date on which the application for family reunification is lodged which is relevant in that regard.

21. The referring court points out that the Raad van State (Council of State, Netherlands) has held, in two judgments of 23 November 2015, ( ) that the fact that a foreign national has attained the age of majority after arriving on the national territory may be taken into account for determining whether he falls within the scope of Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86 and whether he may be regarded as an 'unaccompanied minor'.

22. However, according to the national court, that provision should be interpreted as meaning that the concept of 'unaccompanied minor' is assessed at the time of the arrival of the person concerned on national territory, owing to the use of the term 'arrive' and that only two exceptions to that principle are listed in Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86, namely the situation of a minor originally accompanied and then left alone and, on the other hand, the situation of a minor who is unaccompanied when he arrives and is subsequently taken into the care of a responsible adult. The referring court states that neither of those exceptions to the right of unaccompanied minors to family reunification obtains in the case before it and that those exceptions must be interpreted strictly.

23. In those circumstances, the Rechtbank Den Haag zittingsplaats Amsterdam (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Amsterdam) decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following question to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:

'In matters relating to family reunification for refugees, must the term "unaccompanied minor", within the meaning of Article 2(f) of Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification, also cover a third-country national or stateless person below the age of 18 who arrives on the territory of a Member State unaccompanied by an adult responsible by law or custom and who:

- applies for asylum,

- during the asylum procedure, attains the age of 18 on the territory of the Member State,

- is granted asylum with retroactive effect to the date of the application, and

- subsequently applies for family reunification?'

IV. My assessment

24. The Court is asked to answer, in essence, the question of which date is to be taken into consideration for deciding whether a third country national may be regarded as an unaccompanied minor and assert his right to family reunification, when he entered the territory of a Member State as a minor, applied for asylum, obtained that international protection after attaining the age of majority and then asserted his right to family reunification as an unaccompanied minor.

25. In that respect, the Court has at least three options, namely to consider that it is (i) the date on which the person concerned entered the territory of the Member State or (ii) the date on which he lodged the application for asylum or, (iii) the date on which he lodged the application for family reunification which will be relevant for assessing the right of the person concerned to benefit, as an unaccompanied minor, from the provisions of Directive 2003/86.

26. It follows from Article 2(f), in conjunction with Article 10(3) of Directive 2003/86, that the relevant date in that regard must be prior to that of the grant of international protection. Therefore, that date can only be the date on which the application for asylum was lodged given, (i) the use of the term 'arrive' in Article 2(f) of that directive, (ii) the fact that recognition of that status is retroactive, in that it takes effect from the date on which the application was lodged and, (iii) that that date is the most precise available to the authority for determining with certainty the age of the person concerned.

27. Indeed, in the order for reference, the Rechtbank Den Haag, zittingsplaats Amsterdam (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Amsterdam) points out that it is clear from the very wording of Article 2(f) of that directive that that provision is to be understood to mean that the relevant date for determining whether the applicant is to be regarded as an unaccompanied minor must be the date on which the residence permit is granted by the competent authority and not that on which the application for family reunification is lodged. Since the grant of refugee status is a declaratory act and has retroactive effect, it is therefore definitely the date of the application for a residence permit which will be relevant for assessing whether the applicant falls within the definition of unaccompanied minor.

28. The retroactivity of a measure cannot be accompanied by a redistribution of its effects. The fact that the Netherlands legislation protectively provides that the grant of refugee status has retroactive effect to the date on which the application was lodged necessarily means that the status thus conferred comprises a series of derivative effects from the date of the application for international protection, and therefore including a right to family reunification, as is apparent from Directive 2003/86 when, as in the present case, refugee status is granted to a person who submitted her application when she was a minor. Moreover, the consequence of the protective aspect of that national measure is to do away with inequalities of treatment which would result from varying durations of treatment of asylum applications. Furthermore, not to grant all the rights conferred by refugee status, retroactively, as provided for in Netherlands law, would clearly be contrary to the best interests of the child who submitted an application for asylum before becoming an adult.

29. Moreover, family reunification may be applied for, or take place, only when a final decision has been taken on the application for a residence permit by the competent national authorities ( ) in accordance with Article 3(1) of Directive 2003/86. Since recognition of refugee status is one of the conditions for lodging an application for family reunification, it would be contrary to the objectives pursued by that directive, and by the EU and international instruments which protect refugees, to give effect to that preferential right only for persons who are still minors when they obtain international protection, even though this is declaratory and has retroactive effect to the date on which the application was lodged.

30. It should be noted that, by this reading favouring family reunification, the Court would avoid a formalistic interpretation of Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86, which would hinder the attainment of the directive's objectives. However, it is not a question here of allowing every minor who arrives on the territory of the Member States to benefit from the right to family reunification. It is nevertheless possible to confer the right on persons who arrive as minors on the territory of the Member States and who obtain refugee status, even after attaining the age of majority, that is to say at the time family reunification becomes possible, because we must remember that, under Article 3(1) of that directive, a person seeking to benefit from the provisions relating to family reunification must have a residence permit, preferably one which is long-term or has a very real possibility of becoming a permanent right of residence. ( )

31. That is why, in the present case, in order to submit an application for family reunification, the daughter of A and S was entitled to wait until she had right of asylum, for five years, in accordance with Article 9(1) of Directive 2003/86. She refrained from submitting an application for family reunification before she had that right of residence; that, (i), would have been contrary to the provisions of Article 3(2)(a) and Article 9(1) of that directive, (ii) would have rendered the outcome of the family reunification procedure uncertain and, (iii) would have had the effect of clogging the national authorities with an application for family reunification which might not have succeeded because the applicant did not have a residence permit. The relevant date for assessing unaccompanied minor status must therefore be the date from which family reunification becomes possible, that is to say, when the competent authority accepts the application for a residence permit. ( ) In the case in the main proceedings, in view of the declaratory and retroactive nature of the grant of refugee status, that is the date on which the asylum application was lodged.

32. In short, the respectful attitude, by the person concerned in the present case to the procedures and their sequence adopted should not be to her detriment and should even be commended.

33. Indeed, in the particular circumstances of the present case, account should be taken of the lengthy processing of asylum claims and the inexorable passage of time which made the person concerned an adult on the day on which she was granted asylum and could, therefore, submit an application for her parents, one of whom was in Ethiopia and the other in Israel, to join her in the Netherlands in order to resume the family relationships and private life to which every third country national is entitled under Article 8 of the ECHR and Article 7 of the Charter, as interpreted both by the Court of Justice and by the European Court of Human Rights.

34. In that regard, recital 6 of Directive 2003/86 seeks to protect the family and to preserve family life. That means that that text is to be interpreted in accordance with Article 8 of the ECHR and Article 7 of the Charter, in a non-restrictive manner, so as not to deprive that directive of its effectiveness or disregard its objective, which is to promote family reunification. ( )

35. Moreover, the Court has already had occasion to point out that it is apparent from recital 2 of that directive that measures concerning family reunification should be adopted in conformity with the obligation to protect the family and respect family life enshrined in many instruments of international law.

36. It should also be recalled that, according to the Court's case-law, the right to respect for private and family life guaranteed in Article 7 of the Charter must be read in conjunction with the obligation to have regard to the child's best interests, which is recognised in Article 24(2) of the Charter. In accordance with the requirements of the latter provision, the Member States must make the best interests of the child a 'paramount consideration' when, acting through public or private authorities, they issue a legislative act relating to children. That requirement is expressly recalled in Article 5(5) of Directive 2003/86. Moreover, the Court has held that the Member States must ensure that the child can maintain on a regular basis a personal relationship with both parents. ( )

37. Although it does not necessarily follow from the case-law of the European Court of Human rights that the right to family reunification may be applied to adult children, as part of the protection of private and family life, it is nevertheless apparent from its case-law that the ties between the child and his family are to be maintained and that only exceptional circumstances may lead to a severing of the family ties. It follows from that case-law that everything must be done to preserve personal relations and family unity or to 'rebuild' the family. ( )

38. In that respect, the European Court of Human Rights takes into consideration several individual circumstances connected to the child in order to best determine his interest and ensure his wellbeing. It has regard to, inter alia, his age, his maturity, and his degree of dependence on his parents, and takes due account, in that respect, of the presence or the absence of those parents. It also takes account of the environment in which he lives and the situation in his country of origin in order to assess the difficulties which he might encounter there. ( ) It is by taking all those factors into consideration and weighing them against the general interest of the contracting States that the European Court of Human Rights assesses whether those States have, in their decisions, struck a fair balance and respected the provisions of Article 8 of the ECHR.

39. The Court of Justice has held that the competent national authorities must, when implementing Directive 2003/86 and examining applications for family reunification, make a balanced and reasonable assessment of all the interests in play, taking particular account of the interests of the children concerned. ( )

40. Accordingly, if that balanced assessment were made in the present case, it would have to be noted that the daughter of A and S arrived alone and a minor on the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, that she comes from Eritrea and that giving her the right to family reunification would allow the whole family to be rebuilt. That would promote the right to respect for the private and family life of all its members, regardless of the fact that, on the day the competent authority of the Member State rules on the application for family reunification, the party concerned, who arrived as an unaccompanied minor on the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has become an adult and can no longer be regarded, strictly speaking, as a child.

41. Therefore, the possibility of granting the right to family reunification to a person, such as the daughter of the applicants in the main proceedings, who arrived as an unaccompanied minor on the territory of a Member State, but who obtained refugee status after attaining the age of majority and could therefore not claim the benefit of the provisions relating to the right to family reunification until after that event, in accordance with Article 3(2)(a) of Directive 2003/86, does not seem to go beyond the objectives set for the Member States.

42. Moreover, as the applicants in the main proceedings point out, the right to family reunification as provided for in Article 10(3) of that directive cannot depend on the speed with which the administration of the Member State can process claims for asylum, particularly where the persons concerned attain, within a few months, the age of majority, even though the Member States are regularly called upon, by the institutions, to give priority to claims for asylum from unaccompanied minors, in order to take account of their special vulnerability which requires specific protection. ( )

43. In the case in the main proceedings, the person concerned took eight months to obtain refugee status following her arrival on the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, The case is therefore subject, fairly typically, to the habitual delays in handling asylum claims, even although Article 23(2) of Directive 2005/85/EC, ( ) applicable at the time of the facts, provided that asylum claims were to be handled as soon as possible, within approximately six months, as the European Commission emphasises in its observations.

44. Furthermore, I note, in that regard, that the Court has held that preference should be given to an interpretation which ensures that the success of applications for family reunification depends mainly on circumstances attributable to the applicant, not to the administration, such as the lengthy handling of the application. ( )

45. Those factors favour a broad interpretation of the combined provisions of Article 2(f) and Article 10(3) of Directive 2003/86, given the usual length of time taken to handle asylum claims and the possibility for the authorities to give priority to the cases of certain asylum applicants, particularly when they are close to the age of majority.

46. Moreover, the declaratory character of the grant of refugee status means that the Member States cannot try to avoid their obligations or to circumvent them to the point where they undermine the rules relating to the Common European Asylum System, by refusing to deal expediently with claims for asylum from minors who are unaccompanied on their territory, with the unspoken aim of not implementing the preferential right to family reunification of unaccompanied minor refugees. It is necessary to prevent a strict application of those rules which would have the effect of discouraging asylum seekers and further increasing the obstacles already faced by those persons and their families. ( )

47. However, it is not a matter here of setting out a casuistic argument with the aim of establishing that, during a certain time, the preferential right of minors to obtain family reunification must be maintained even when they attain the age of majority. It is not a question of denying the legal effects of attaining the age of majority. Nevertheless, it is possible, in a situation such as that in the main proceedings, to grant very young adult refugees the benefit of the protective provisions of Directive 2003/86, given the sequence of the procedures, the approaching attainment of the age of majority and the opportunity to facilitate family reunification.

48. It must be considered that, in the particular circumstances of this case and, once again, in view of the declaratory and retroactive character of the grant of refugee status, which permits the submission of an application for family reunification, the fact of according the right to family reunification to a person who submitted a claim for asylum when she was a minor does not constitute an over broad interpretation of the provisions of that directive.

49. If the Court were not to accept my proposal, it would be necessary to point out, in the alternative, that, in the light of recitals 8 and 10 of that directive, the Member States must lay down more favourable conditions for refugees to exercise their right to family reunification and may authorise family reunification for relatives in the direct ascending line. The only effect of attaining the age of majority is to extinguish the preferential right and the more favourable rules enjoyed by the person concerned when he or she was a minor in respect of his or her right to family reunification.

50. There are also EU and international instruments which provide that applications for family reunification lodged by persons with refugee status must be examined by the States with particular expediency and understanding. ( )

51. Therefore, even if, in the present case, the daughter of A and S were not considered to be an unaccompanied minor, the provisions of Directive 2003/86 could not be interpreted as making it impossible for her to obtain family reunification for her relatives in the ascending line, in accordance with the provisions of Article 4(2)(a) of that directive, which provides that the Member States may authorise the entry and residence, for the purposes of family reunification, of the sponsor's first-degree relatives in the direct ascending line, where they are dependent on the sponsor and do not enjoy proper family support in their country of origin.

52. It is therefore for the referring court to determine whether national law provides for the possibility of granting an application for family reunification for a refugee's relatives in the ascending line and whether the present case fulfils the conditions for doing so.

53. However, to apply that interpretation to the present case would involve considering whether a person who has recently attained the age of majority is, on her own, able to assume responsibility for the needs of a whole family.

54. I consider that it is necessary to afford the most extensive protection in order to respond, in so far as possible, to the particular vulnerability of unaccompanied minors arriving on the territory of the Member States, and of young adults who have refugee status ( ) and whose degree of maturity remains to be assessed, and that this would be unlikely to jeopardise the objectives set by the Union legislature with regard to stemming migratory flows.

55. It will be noted that family reunification constitutes the rule ( ) and that exceptions to that rule are to be interpreted strictly. Moreover, allowing family reunification through the child sponsor does not represent any particular danger for national policies, since parents may themselves apply for family reunification for their children, when these are minors and dependent.

56. That means that, in that type of family reunification, it is necessary to assess dependency as well as the sentimental and material ties. Therefore, it cannot be accepted, above all in our contemporary societies, that the relationship of dependency between parents and children ceases immediately upon the date on which the child attains the age of majority and can no longer be regarded as a minor child.

57. Moreover, Directive 2003/86 seeks to address the vulnerability of the persons concerned. To deny the vulnerability of persons who have arrived as minors from Eritrea on the territory of the Member States and have obtained refugee status, even if they have become adults in the meantime, would be contrary to the objectives pursued by the Union legislature.

58. It is apparent from all the foregoing that a person is to be regarded as an unaccompanied minor, within the meaning of Article 2(f) of that directive, if he or she is a third country national or stateless person under the age of 18 who arrives on the territory of a Member State unaccompanied by an adult responsible for him or her by law or custom, who applies for asylum, then, during the procedure, attains the age of majority before being granted asylum, with retroactive effect to the date of the application, and subsequently applies for family reunification as granted to unaccompanied minor refugees under Article 10(3) of that directive.

59. If the Court were not to agree with that interpretation, it would be necessary to ponder the Union legislature's approach in adopting Directive 2003/86, without expressly stating the date to be taken into consideration for assessing unaccompanied minor status, within the meaning of Article 2(f) of that directive. By so doing, it either opted for full harmonisation, leaving the Member States no room to manoeuvre, or it opted to allow the Member States a wide margin of discretion to determine, albeit in compliance with the principles of equivalence and effectiveness, the most appropriate moment for assessing a person's right to benefit from the provisions relating to family reunification, in accordance with Article 10(3) of that directive.

60. In that regard, contrary to the argument of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Poland and the Commission, these are not optional but mandatory provisions, in accordance with Article 10(3)(a) of Directive 2003/86. If the refugee is an unaccompanied minor, the Member States 'shall authorise' the entry and residence for the purposes of family reunification of his relatives in the direct ascending line. That provision is worded in imperative form and imposes specific positive obligations on the Member States. The Member States therefore have no margin of discretion and, if there were such a discretion, it could not be used in a manner which would undermine the objective of that directive, which is to promote family reunification. ( )

61. Refugees who are unaccompanied minors have a right to the family reunification of their first-degree relatives in the direct ascending line. The Court has also held, in that regard, that Article 4(1) of the directive imposes precise positive obligations, with corresponding clearly defined individual rights, on the Member States, since it requires them, in the cases determined by the directive, to authorise family reunification of certain members of the sponsor's family, without leaving them a margin of appreciation. ( )

62. The Court has also stated that, although the Member States nevertheless had a certain latitude, under Directive 2003/86, to lay down conditions for exercising the right to family reunification, that freedom must be interpreted strictly, since authorisation of family reunification is the general rule. ( )

63. Therefore, the fact that the Union legislature made no mention of the date for assessing the right to family reunification when the person requesting it is an unaccompanied minor, and those for whom it is requested are his relatives in the ascending line, cannot be seen as granting a latitude to the Member States to assess the conditions for benefiting from that principle of protection and that preferential right. It is only if the person concerned is no longer regarded as an unaccompanied minor that the Member States have a margin of appreciation for allowing family reunification.

64. Therefore, application of the principles of equivalence and effectiveness must be excluded in replying to the question referred to the Court for a preliminary ruling if the Court considers, as I propose, that a person who arrives as a minor on the territory of a Member State and obtains refugee status only after attaining the age of majority must nevertheless be regarded as an unaccompanied minor within the meaning of Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86 and may therefore claim the preferential right to family reunification provided for in Article 10(3) of that directive.

65. If the Court does not agree with me regarding the mandatory character of the provisions at issue in the main proceedings and the possibility of regarding the person concerned as an unaccompanied minor, then it should be pointed out that taking Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86 to mean that the date to be taken into consideration for deciding whether the applicant has a right to family reunification is that on which the application for reunification is lodged would not meet the requirement for effectiveness. Such a reading would hinder a person's ability to benefit from family reunification when, as has been stated, the objective of that directive is precisely to promote protection of the family, inter alia by recognising the right of refugees to family reunification. ( )

66. It follows from all the foregoing that it is proposed that the Court rule that a third country national or stateless person under the age of 18 who arrives on the territory of a Member State unaccompanied by an adult responsible for him by law or custom, who applies for asylum, then, during the procedure, attains the age of majority before being granted asylum, with retroactive effect to the date of the application, and subsequently applies for family reunification as granted to unaccompanied minor refugees under Article 10(3) of that directive, may be considered to be an unaccompanied minor, within the meaning of Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86.

V. Conclusion

67. In the light of the foregoing considerations, I propose that the Court reply as follows to the question referred for a preliminary ruling by the Rechtbank Den Haag, zittingsplaats Amsterdam (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Amsterdam, Netherlands):

A third country national or stateless person under the age of 18 who arrives on the territory of a Member State unaccompanied by an adult responsible for him by law or custom, who applies for asylum, then, during the procedure, attains the age of majority before being granted asylum, with retroactive effect to the date of the application, and subsequently applies for family reunification as granted to unaccompanied minor refugees under Article 10(3) of that directive, may be considered to be an unaccompanied minor, within the meaning of Article 2(f) of Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 December 2003 on the right to family reunification.

Original language: French.

Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification (OJ 2003 L 251, p. 12).

'The Charter'.

See judgments No 201501042/1/V1 and No 201502485/1/V1. The referring court challenges before the Court of Justice an interpretation with which it should normally abide, even though it does not come from the proper interpreter of the EU rules at issue in the main proceedings. According to the referring court, the Raad van State (Council of State) misinterpreted the provisions of Directive 2003/86 when they were not clear and should have given rise to an authoritative interpretation by the Court of Justice. Without wishing to engage in the dispute, I would nevertheless point out that there may be a legal controversy in this case, at least at national level.

See, a contrario, the opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi in Noorzia (C338/13, EU:C:2014:288, points 34 to 36).

See, to that effect, my Opinion in O and Others (C356/11 and C357/11, EU:C:2012:595, point 56).

See, by analogy, the Opinion of Advocate Mengozzi in Noorzia (C338/13, EU:C:2014:288, points 34 and 36).

See, to that effect, judgment of 4 March 2010, Chakroun (C578/08, EU:C:2010:117, paragraphs 43 and 44), and my Opinion in O and Others (C356/11 and C357/11, EU:C:2012:595, point 63).

See my Opinion in O and Others (C356/11 and C357/11, EU:C:2012:595, points 77 and 78 and the case-law cited), and judgment of 6 December 2012, O and Others (C356/11 and C357/11, EU:C:2012:776, paragraph. 76).

See my Opinion in O and Others (C356/11 et C357/11, EU:C:2012:595, point 73), and ECtHR of 6 July 2010, Neulinger and Shurukv.Switzerland (CE:ECHR:2010:0706JUD004161507,  136) and the case-law cited.

See my Opinion in O and Others (C356/11 and C357/11, EU:C:2012:595, point 74), and ECtHR of 21 December 2001, Senv. Netherlands (CE:ECHR:2001:1221JUD003146596,  37), and of 31 January 2006, Rodrigues da Silva and Hoogkamerv.Netherlands, (CE:ECHR:2006:0131JUD005043599,  39). See also judgment of 27 June 2006, Parliament v Council (C540/03, EU:C:2006:429, paragraph 56).

See, to that effect, judgment of 6 December 2012, O and Others (C356/11 and C357/11, EU:C:2012:776, paragraph 81).

See the declaration of Frans Timmermans, first Vice-President of the European Commission, of 30 November 2016, calling on the Member States to speed up the registration of unaccompanied minors and improve their protection.

Council Directive 2005/85/EC of 1 December 2005 on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status (OJ 2005 L 326, p. 13.

See, by analogy, judgment of 17 July 2014, Noorzia (C338/13, EU:C:2014:2092, paragraph 17).

See, by analogy, my Opinion in Danqua (C429/15, EU:C:2016:485, points 75 to 79). See also, to that effect, ECtHR, 10 July 2014, Tanda-Muzingav.France, (CE:ECHR:2014:0710JUD000226010,  75 and 76).

See the judgment of 27 June 2006, Parliament v Council (C540/03, EU:C:2006:429, paragraph 57), which notes that Article 9(1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 and came into force on 2 September 1990, provides that Member States are to ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will and that, according to Article 10(1) of the Convention, it follows from that obligation that applications from a child or his or her parents to enter or leave a Member State for the purpose of family reunification are to be dealt with by Member States in a positive, humane and expeditious manner. See also Article 22 of that Convention, which enshrines the right of every child to live with his or her parents. See, further, the Final Act of the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of Refugees and Stateless Persons of 25 July 1951, and the judgment of the Court of Human Rights of 10 July 2014, Tanda-Muzingav. France, (CE:ECHR:2014:0710JUD000226010,  44 and 45 and also paragraphs 48 and 49, which also refer to Recommendation No R (99) 23 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on family reunion for refugees and other persons in need of international protection, adopted on 15 December 1999, and also the Memorandum of 20 November 2008 by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe following his visit to France from 21 to 23 May 2008).

The Council of Europe's group of experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, in its fifth and sixth general activity reports (covering the periods from 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015 and from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016, available at the following internet addresses: https://rm.coe.int/168063093d and https://rm.coe.int/1680706a43), recommends that specific protection be afforded to migrant or asylum seeking children and adolescents, in light of the risk of human trafficking to which they are exposed. That said, that extensive protection must extend to any risk incurred by third country minors and young adults who are on the territory of the Member States. More particularly, that group of experts, in its statement of 28 July 2017, on the occasion of the 4th World Day against Trafficking in Persons, available at the following internet address: http://www.coe.int/fr/web/portal/news-2017/-/asset_publisher/StEVosr24HJ2/content/states-must-act-urgently-to-protect-refugee-children-from-trafficking?inheritRedirect=false&redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coe.int%2Ffr%2Fweb%2Fportal%2Fnews-2017%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_StEVosr24HJ2%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-4%26p_p_col_count%3D1 inter alia criticised the restrictions on family reunification in many States.

See, to that effect, the judgment of 4 March 2010, Chakroun (C578/08, EU:C:2010:117, paragraph 43), and my Opinion in O and Others (C356/11 and C357/11, EU:C:2012:595, point 59).

See, by analogy, the Opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi in Noorzia (C338/13, EU:C:2014:288, points 25 and 61).

See judgments of 27 June 2006, Parliament v Council (C540/03, EU:C:2006:429, paragraph 60), and of 4 March 2010, Chakroun (C578/08, EU:C:2010:117, paragraph 41). See also, to that effect, the Opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi in Noorzia (C338/13, EU:C:2014:288, point 23).

See judgments of 4 March 2010, Chakroun (C-578/08, EU:C:2010:117, paragraph 43), and of 6 December 2012, O and Others (C-356/11 and C-357/11, EU:C:2012:776, paragraph 74), and the Opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi in Noorzia (C-338/13, EU:C:2014:288, point 24).

See judgment of 27 June 2006, Parliament v Council (C-540/03, EU:C:2006:429, paragraph 88), in which the Court notes that, although the Member States have a margin of discretion, under certain provisions of Directive 2003/86, they are still required to examine applications for family reunification in the interests of the child and with a view to promoting family life.

Copyright notice: Cour de justice des Communautes europeennes L-2925 Luxembourg. Telephone switchboard: (352) 4303.1; fax: (352) 4303.2600
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TORRINGTON  The Northwestern Connecticut Community College Art Department presents a student show, Process and Product at the Nancy Marine gallery of the Warner Theatre, Torrington, through Feb. 8. The show was curated by Karl Goulet and Krista Narciso, emerging artists from the Launchpad initiative at Five Points Gallery in Torrington.

Goulet studied Fine Art at Northwestern Connecticut Community College and went on to earn his Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford in 2014. Krista Narciso earned her BFA in Printmaking with a Minor in Art History at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford in 2015. Karl is currently the Gallery Manager and Assistant Curator at Five Points Gallery, 33 Main Street, Torrington, CT. Krista Narciso is an M.F.A. student at the University of Iowa Center, with a concentration in Artists Books.
Between Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and a whole list of cable TV stations in the mix, it can be hard to keep track of when your favorite shows return. Just go ahead and clear your evenings or set your DVRs now to make way for new seasons of "Divorce," "Search Party" and more.

Here, the dates you need to know:

November

"Search Party" (Season 2): How does a series about a missing woman return for round two? Dory (Alia Shawkat) and the group need some time to cope with the way the first "Search Party" ended, and so do we. The search continues Nov. 19 at 10 p.m. on TBS.

December

"Easy" (Season 2): Aubrey Plaza and Kate Berlant are among the new cast members who will pop up in Netflix's drama about couples (and singles) figuring out how to successfully fumble through modern relationships. The entire season will be available for streaming Dec. 1.

"The Crown" (Season 2): Netflix's period drama will return to the '60s with Michael C. Hall cast to play the late President John F. Kennedy and Jodi Balfour as first lady Jackie Kennedy. You'll be able to stream the royal new season Dec. 8.

January

"Divorce" (Season 2): A "Sex and the City 3" movie may not be happening, but SJP is returning to your TV screen for the second season of her HBO series. Her character, Frances, will start rebuilding and moving past that messy divorce from Robert (Thomas Haden Church) when the show premieres Jan. 14 at 10 p.m.

"Crashing" (Season 2): Chances are high comedian Pete Holmes will still be struggling to score a stand-up spot at NYC's The Boston Comedy Club in season 2. Hopefully, he'll have his own couch to crash on this time. "Crashing" will premiere Jan. 14 at 10:30 p.m. after "Divorce."

February

"UnReal" (Season 3): Lifetime's "Bachelor"-esque drama series is ready for a new suitress (Caitlin FitzGerald). This time, Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby) and Quinn King (Constance Zimmer) have to learn how to deal (er, manipulate) an "Everlasting" star who doesn't fall for their mind games. "UnReal" will premiere Feb. 26 at 10 p.m.
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Far from the village greens and train platforms of Connecticut, a handful of Republicans strayed this week beyond the traditional campaign trail to make their case why the national party should back them for governor.

Their destination: the Republican Governors Association conference in Austin, Texas, a confluence of sitting GOP governors, Vice President and former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and a raft of candidates.

It was by invitation only, which some of the attendees publicly boasted in an effort to distinguish themselves from rivals who were snubbed by the RGA.

At least five gubernatorial hopefuls said they were invited to the Lone Star State for the Wednesday/Thursday confab and to a previous RGA summit in Nashville, Tenn., in August. Among them was Dave Walker, the former U.S. comptroller general and a Bridgeport resident, who questioned whether one of his rivals was on the guest list for the summertime meeting.

There was one other candidate, but Im not sure they were invited, Walker said. They came to one session and spent the rest of the time out by the pool. Ill not mention the name to protect the guilty.

While Walker omitted the name of Tim Herbst from the other attendees, the Trumbull first selectman told Hearst Connecticut Media he was in Nashville and Austin.

I was invited to Nashville back in the summer and I didnt bring my bathing suit, and I was certainly in several sessions, Herbst said from Austin. I dont know where Walker the stalker gets his information.

There are 36 governors races on the calendar in 2018, including 21 open seats. Connecticut presents an opportunity for Republicans, who suffered losses last week in New Jersey and Virginia, to reclaim the Governors Residence in a blue state.

The Republican and Democratic governors associations can render aid to candidates in multiple ways, from funding super PAC opposition groups in the state to bringing in surrogates from other states. When New Jerseys Chris Christie was at the helm of the RGA, he campaigned for Republican Tom Foley against Democrat Dannel P. Malloy, who won races against Foley in 2010 and 2014. Malloy, who is not seeking re-election next year, is the current head of the DGA.

Mark Lauretti and Mark Boughton, the Republican mayors of Shelton and Danbury, skipped the RGA confab.

Yeah, I get invited to that stuff, but I really have no interest, Lauretti said. I think sometimes these guys go to these things because they think its going to raise their profile. Good luck. Im not convinced that the RGA has any interest in a state like Connecticut. Theres not a strong history there.

A request for comment was left with an RGA spokesman Wednesday.

Boughton hasnt declared himself a candidate yet and is getting over surgery to remove a non-cancerous tumor from his brain.

The mayor was invited, but is still exploring a run for statewide office and is in the state for the week, said John Kleinhans, a political adviser to Boughton.

Westport businessman Steve Obsitnik went to Nashville and Austin, while state Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, R-Glastonbury went to the first and skipped the second.

Theyve been on my case, Srinivasan said.  Arent you coming? I said, No, thank you. Austin, Texas is not our backyard and with Thanksgiving coming...

State Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, who is still exploring a run for governor, and Greenwich businessman Peter Thalheim, a declared candidate, said they have spoken to RGA officials about the race.

Theyre not taking sides, Boucher said.

I was not invited to the Republican Governors Association meeting, Thalheim said. I did, however, meet with a representative of the RGA at the GOP headquarters in Southington, Connecticut, last month and delivered my proposal for policies to broaden the size of the Republican tent.

Bob Stefanowski, a Madison businessman and former UBS executive, said he had a full schedule in Connecticut this week.

Mike Handler, the city of Stamfords chief financial officer and gubernatorial candidate, met with RGA representatives a month ago, said his spokesman, Chris Cooper.

Our understanding is that any candidate can go to this meeting, Cooper said. I dont know if there were any specific invites.

Requests for comment were also left for Peter Lumaj, a Fairfield immigration lawyer, and Greenwich hedge fund manager David Stemerman.

Its safe to say Herbst and Walker wouldnt be grabbing a couple of ice cold Lone Star Beers on Austins Sixth Street.

I also try to keep my distance from people who are a legend in their own mind, Herbst said.

Walker said last weeks municipal election triumph by Democrats in Trumbull, where Herbst opted against running for re-election as first selectman, spoke volumes.

Many people speculated that Tim was going to have a tough time getting re-elected, and I think the election results pretty much confirmed that, Walker said.

Herbst harkened back to Walkers unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor in 2014, which is also when Herbst got the GOP nomination for state treasurer and narrowly lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Denise Nappier.

I have done something that Mr. Walker has never been able to do, and thats win an election, Herbst said of his four terms as Trumbulls top office holder. The one election he did run in, he came in dead last in a three-way primary.

twitter.com/gettinviggy; nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436
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BRIDGEPORT  Hand-kneaded Portuguese dinner rolls ride on a conveyor belt that snakes through a 65,000 square foot industrial bakery on State Street. Hundreds of them.

The journey is slow enough to allow the dough to rest and double in size before sliding through an oven and out the other side a golden brown.

Then its up to the ceiling and back again on a 35-foot high spiral cooler. Packaging comes much later in the evening.

They are hand-made because customers still want them that way, Vito Catale, vice president of sales and general manager at Chaves Bakery, shouts above the din of large custom-made equipment. We have to accommodate them. It is what Chaves is famous for.

In a corner, flour from silos is piped into computerized mixers that churn out dinner rolls, Italian rounds, muffins and more. They are baked goods destined for supermarkets, hospitals and a number of school districts including Stamford, Waterbury and Wallingford.

None, though, will find their way onto the lunch menu next door at Cesar Batalla School or across the street at Bassick High School. Unless the districts attorneys say differently.

The local bakery that put it roots in Bridgeport 38 years ago lost its contract to supply baked goods to the city school district; instead, the district went with Calisse and Sons, a Rhode Island firm.

Nutrition Director Sharlene Wong said Chaves didnt make a bid on a contract she put out in August  the third solicitation put out by the district since June. The district uses several bakery vendors.

The first solicitation for hamburger rolls, bread sticks and buns was withdrawn and amended because it requested just frozen bread. The district wanted fresh and frozen.

On the second try in July, Chavess bid was the lowest but deemed non-compliant by Wong.

If nutritional standards dont meet USDA standards ... we wont be serving reimbursable meals, Wong warned when she explained to members of the school boards finance committee this month why she went out to bid a third time.

Half baked

Board Member Maria Pereira doesnt buy it. She claims the whole process was improperly handled since the contracts did not go to the school board for its OK.

We should cancel the contract and give it to Chaves, Pereira told the committee.

After the second bid in July, everyone saw the submitted prices, Catale said. Chaves was the lowest but then was asked for things not in the bid package, including invoices for two years worth of flour to prove it was purchased in the United States.

Catale said Chaves has been supplying some baked goods to the district for more than two years and is fully complaint with government nutrition standards.

Bread consumption is still strong in school districts but portions are smaller, Catale said. Many districts now call for 2 and even 1.5 ounce wheat rolls to help stay within nutrition guidelines.

Catale said owner John Chaves loves the Bridgeport community.

If you cant serve your own community, you should be ashamed of yourself, Catale said.

The contract to supply the city school district with bread, rolls and baked goods is said to be worth more than $120,000 a year, according to the school nutrition office.

Dumpster fire

Any school district contract more than $25,000 is supposed to go to the school board for approval.

But Schools Superintendent Aresta Johnson said that the usual practice is not to do so for any nutrition department contract  at least since before she became superintendent earlier this year and Wong became director of food and nutrition services a year ago.

Recently, several school board members have pushed to steer business to local vendors but were told they could not do so legally other than to make sure local vendors were notified of bid solicitations.

Wong said she followed the city charter and purchasing requirements in soliciting the bid.

We are required to have a responsible bidder and a compliant bidder, she said. The districts attorneys were asked to look into the dispute.

Wong said surveys of the bread served this year came back with mostly positive results. Students at Hooker school called the new bread a hit and the change was noticed. Kids at Bryant School have asked for seconds.

On the other hand, students at Tisdale School complained the new bread was hard and broke easily.

Pereira called the bidding situation problematic and said she plans to raise the issue at an upcoming school board meeting.

Board Member Ben Walker called it a mess.

This is a dumpster fire, Walker said when the issue was raised at the committee meeting. Our contracts should go to the board of education.
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GOSHEN  The Torrington-Winsted Rotary Club came together this week to celebrate three people who have devoted their time and effort to improving life in the Northwest Corner.

Lourena G. Helt, Jeffrey A. Smith and Louise P. Van Alstyne were recognized as the latest Paul Harris Fellows, joining the ranks of a litany of accomplished and respected professionals from the region.

Helt has been involved with both the Rotary Club and community life in New Hartford for years, presenter Tim Cook said Thursday.

Among other roles, Helt served as a former Rotary president, a member of the New Hartford Board of Education and chairman of the New Hartford Republican Town Committee, Cook said.

She was one of the first women to join the South End Fire Department, a past member of the Board of Trustees for the Bakerville United Methodist Church and a founding member of the Save Bakerville School organization.

To Lou, Jeff and Louise, congratulations on being recognized as a Paul Harris recipient this evening, said Cook. Tonight you join a remarkable company of persons throughout the world, all recognized for devotion to the ideal of goodwill, peace and understanding. This is the goal of Rotarians around the world, and one that our friend, Lou Helt, clearly shares. Lou Helt has given her service on so many levels to so many organizations for so many years, breaking glass ceilings.

Helt thanked her family, colleagues and fellow Rotarians Wednesday.

I am very grateful for this award, said Helt. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jeffrey Smith was introduced by his son, Tyler, who appeared via webcam from Kolkata, India. He said his father had served as an inspiration, both professionally as a part of accounting firm Petrovits, Patrick, Smith & Company, a longstanding member of the Rotary Club, and spending his time taking part in a series of mission trips and charitable efforts, including the Heifer International and Simply Smiles.

My father, my hero, has devoted his life to his family and his community, and I couldnt ask for a better role model, said Tyler Smith. Since I was born, my dad has picked our family up when were down, taught my brother and I how to serve the community and to love what we do, and show us how much he cared every single day.

In addition to thanking his family, colleagues, friends and other Rotary Club members, Jeffrey Smith said his parents had inspired him to give back to others, handing down a tradition of volunteerism. He said he wanted to help improve the lives of others in a meaningful way, contributing to wide-ranging overall efforts to aid people and create change in disadvantaged communities.

I wrestle with believing that spending a couple of days, or a week of my time is going to make a difference in anyones life, but Ive come to see that its not the length of time that an individual commits that matters, as much as the breadth of the overall plan within your volunteer efforts take place, said Jeffrey Smith. Thats why organizations like the Rotary Club and Simply Smiles are so important  they provide a large framework in which individuals can do their part. I look forward to many more years working with both organizations, and continuing to learn and grow, so I can find more answers to the question how can I help?

Alan Colavecchio said that Van Alstyne was a fixture in the Northwest Corner community, and shared praise from a number of her fellow members of boards and organizations, including the Winchester Land Trust, Foothills Visiting Nurse & Home Care and Beardsley Memorial Library.

Van Alstyne spent 35 years teaching French at Northwestern Regional High School, Colavecchio said.

To the lady with the generous spirit, radiant smile, infectious laugh, and boundless commitment to our community, thank you and congratulations, said Colavecchio.

Van Alstyne thanked her husband, the Rotary Club, and said she was in heady company among the Paul Harris Fellows.

I believe that volunteerism and charity are what make the world go around. All the boards and organizations I work with give so much  such enthusiastic people together make burdens lighter, tasks smaller, and obstacles disappear, said Van Alstyne.

Each recipient was presented with a medal and pin marking the honor Wednesday, and received a warm round of applause from those in attendance.

Milly Hudak and Charlie and Pat Marciano were recognized with Paul Harris Awards earlier this year.

Reach Ben Lambert at william.lambert@hearstmediact.com.
Authorities in the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning have formally arrested "disappeared" rights lawyer Li Yuhan, as another top rights lawyer she once defended spoke from house arrest in her support.



Li's brother Li Yongsheng said he received notification of his sister's formal arrest on Wednesday on charges of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" from police in Liaoning's provincial capital, Shenyang.



The notice of arrest came 37 days after her incommunicado detention, on the last day of the legal time limit for criminal detention without formal arrest.



Beijing-based rights attorney Wang Yu, whom Li defended in the wake of her arrest in July 2015, called for Li's immediate release.



"I am one of those detained in July 2015, and I call on the Shenyang police to release Li Yuhan immediately," Wang said, speaking in spite of a warning by state security police not to give media interviews.



So far, police have refused to answer any further questions from the family, Li Yongsheng said.



"[The officer] gave me the notification document, and I wanted to know more, but he said he had no comment," he said. "Only the lawyers will be able to find out more when they get access to the case files."



Political revenge



Li's son Ma Yueting said the authorities had also searched Li's apartment in Shenyang. He said he believes the case against her is a form of political revenge for a lawsuit she brought against local officials several years ago, as well as for her defense of a number of politically sensitive cases in recent years.



"There are no computers left at home now, including cell phones," Ma said. "Actually, my mother had made mental preparation for her arrest a while ago."



He said he is very concerned for Li's health.



"Actually my mother is in very poor health; she has a very serious heart condition," he said. "The police haven't been allowing her to have her medication, which means that her life is hanging by a thread."



Defense attorney Lin Qilei said Li's case is still in the investigative stage.



"All the lawyers can do is to produce a legal opinion, based on the account given by their client," Lin said. "We are of the opinion that this is political persecution."



Evidence unclear



Rights activist Wang Zongyue said there is little that Li's supporters can do with no information about her alleged "crime."



"Even the lawyers don't know what evidence they have against her," Wang said. "They will only be able to analyze whether ... the evidence fits the facts when the investigation is complete and they are allowed to view it."



U.S.-based legal scholar Teng Biao said Li had been particularly courageous in the wake of a nationwide police operation targeting rights lawyers, legal firms, and rights activists since July 2015.



"Li Yuhan showed tremendous courage during the July 2015 crackdown, which the authorities have continued with no let-up ever since," Teng said. "So many of these cases have hidden political motivations."



Li went missing on Oct. 9, and is "at risk of torture and other ill-treatment" in the police-run No. 1 Detention Center in the northeastern city of Shenyang, London-based Amnesty International has said.



Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Despite international trade sanctions imposed by the United Nations, North Korea continues to pull in badly needed foreign cash through the sale of tobacco products, much of it produced in joint ventures with China and sold as counterfeit cigarettes across Asia, sources say.



The impact of U.N. bans on North Korean exportscovering mostly seafood, coal, iron, and lead oreis now largely cushioned by the trade, one North Korean source now traveling abroad told RFAs Korean Service in a recent interview.



Even if sanctions are tightened again, this wont do much to hurt [national leader] Kim Jong Uns financial resources, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



He is probably making tens of millions of dollars through these joint-venture tobacco companies, the source said.



Many North Korean factories have been hit hard by sanctions, but tobacco factories in North Korea are thriving, sources say.



The most active factories still running in North Korea are the tobacco factories, a Chinese businessman working in the capital Pyongyang told RFA.



Of these, about 20 are joint ventures run by Chinese and North Korean firms, some of which are managed solely by North Korea, the source said. But regardless of who manages them, the ingredients needed to manufacture tobacco products are imported from China.



'Big profits for Kim'



Some of these products are intended for domestic consumption, but most are falsely labeled with fake foreign brands and smuggled to Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asian countries where they are sold at prices far greater than their cost to produce, the source said.



North Korean tobacco products have a low production cost, and quality-wise they are not so bad, so they have been selling well, a source in Chinas Dandong city, a trade hub across the border from North Korea, told RFA.



These sales earn big profits for Kim Jong Uns political funds, RFAs source said, also speaking on condition he not be named.



Speaking separately, a source in North Koreas North Hamgyong province, bordering China, said that one North Korea-China joint venture company, the Taedong River Tobacco Company, produces counterfeit products with South Korean brand names.



Meanwhile, the Pyongyang Ryongseong Tobacco Company produces counterfeit tobacco products bearing famous foreign brand names like Marlboro and Dunhill, the source said, adding that most of these fake products are sold in Southeast Asian and African countries at a low price.



Some high-quality domestic brands, including 7.27 and Geonseol, have for years been sold mainly to North Korean officials of different ranks, but are now being made available to ordinary citizens as well, one source said.



Reported by Joonho Kim and Sunghui Moon for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (R), commander-in-chief of Myanmar's armed forces, discuss the crisis in northern Rakhine state, in Naypyidaw, Nov. 15, 2017.

Rohingya Muslim refugees living in displacement camps in Bangladesh will be allowed to return to Myanmar only if the Southeast Asian countrys real citizens accept them, the military commander-in-chiefs office said on Wednesday in a remark that raised questions about the governments repatriation plans for hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

More than 615,000 Rohingya have fled to southeastern Bangladesh from northern Rakhine state during a brutal crackdown by Myanmar security forces following deadly Aug. 25 attacks on police outposts by the Muslim militant group the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

Many of the refugees have accused soldiers of indiscriminate killings, arson, torture, and rape, though both the military and Myanmars civilian-led government have consistently denied the allegations, without allowing independent observers into the region.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Myanmars capital Naypyidaw on Wednesday to discuss the situation in volatile Rakhine state.

Preparations are being made to re-accept the Bengalis who left Myanmar, under the law, said Min Aung Hlaings statement summarizing the points he raised with Tillerson, and using a derogatory term for the Rohingya who are viewed as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and subjected to discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

The situation must be acceptable for both local Rakhine ethnic people and Bengalis, and emphasis must be placed on [the] wish of local Rakhine ethnic people who are real Myanmar citizens, it said. Only when local Rakhine ethnic people accept it, will all the people be satisfied by it. If it is [an] unacceptable situation, political instability may occur, on the other hand.

The generals words are a clear contradiction of statements by Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi that the government is working on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees who can show they had been living in Rakhine.

The governments newly created Union Enterprises for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and Development (UEHRD), which Aung San Suu Kyi chairs, is overseeing the provision of humanitarian aid and coordinating resettlement and rehabilitation efforts in the state.

On Monday, she said that the repatriation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh would begin three weeks after Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh, the Associated Press reported.

During a press conference following a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday, Tillerson expressed concern over credible reports of atrocities committed by Myanmar military forces during the crackdown in northern Rakhine, but said that new sanctions against the Southeast Asian country would not resolve the crisis.

We recognize the militarys responsibility to respond to terrorist or other insurgent attacks, he said. Any response, however, must be disciplined and avoid to the maximum extent possible harming innocent civilians.

ARSA caused an exodus

Min Aung Hlaings statement flies in the face of testimony by Rohingya who fled the region and documentation by human rights groups of atrocities committed by the military during the crackdown. The general claims that most of those who went to Bangladesh were ARSA terrorists and their families  not Rohingya civilians.

He said the Aug. 25 attack was related to other assaults by terrorists in northern Rakhine on Oct. 9, 2016, and earlier in 2012, the year in which intense communal violence between Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in northern Rakhine caused the deaths of more than 200 people and drove tens of thousands of primarily Rohingya Muslims into displacement camps.

The number of Bengalis fleeing to Bangladesh from 25 August to 5 September was very small, and more had fled there only since then, the statement said. The main reason is that the ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists fled to Bangladesh fearing [a] counterattack [by] security forces after they failed to carry out successful attacks on the security outposts. As they fled, they took their families, causing an exodus.

Though Tillerson on Wednesday stressed the need for a credible, independent investigation to provide an accurate assessment of the events that have occurred in northern Rakhine, the Myanmar government has refused to allow a United Nations-appointed mission to investigate reports of atrocities.

A report by a military investigation team said on Monday that soldiers conducted the recent security operations in accordance with their duty assignments and the law and did not use excessive force. The report was swiftly dismissed as a whitewashing by leading human rights groups.

The military investigation team estimated that 6,000 to more than 10,000 Muslim militants were in northern Rakhine at the time of the Aug. 25 attacks and accused ARSA extremists of brutally killing children, women, and other Rohingya who cooperated with the government.

Myanmar and Bangladeshi border police forces said this week that they would work together to fight ARSA terrorists reported to have been involved in the attacks in northern Rakhine state and who fled to Bangladesh.

A Rohingya Muslim woman discusses a sexual assault by Myanmar security forces during a crackdown in northern Rakhine state, at Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh, Jan. 14, 2017. This photograph has been darkened to protect her identity. Credit: BenarNews New report on sexual violence

Min Aung Hlaings announcement coincided with the release of a new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls, chronicling widespread rape as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.

The reports findings are based on interviews with 52 Rohingya women and girls, including 29 rape survivors who were from 19 different villages, mostly in Buthiduang and Maungdaw townships where the crackdown took place.

HRW also spoke to representatives of humanitarian organizations providing health services to women and girls in the refugee camps, including representatives of U.N. agencies and international and national NGOs, and two Bangladeshi government health officials.

Human Rights Watch found that Burmese security forces raped and sexually assaulted women and girls both during major attacks on villages but also in the weeks prior to these major attacks, sometimes after repeated harassment, the report said. In every case described to us, the perpetrators were uniformed members of security forces, almost all military personnel.

Other humanitarian organizations working with Rohingya refugees have also documented numerous rape cases.

All but one of the sexual assaults reported to HRW were gang rapes, involving two or more perpetrators. Some women and girls reported being attacked in their homes and while fleeing burning villages, and being beaten or taunted during or after the attacks.

In general, the government and military have failed to hold military personnel accountable for grave abuses against ethnic minority populations, the statement said. Multiple biased and poorly conducted investigations in Rakhine state largely dismissed the allegations of these abuses.

On Thursday, the U.N. General Assemblys human rights committee endorsed a resolution drafted by Muslim countries calling on Myanmar to stop the violence against the Rohingya in Rakhine state, allow humanitarian workers access to the region, ensure the return of all refugees, and grant full citizenship rights to the Rohingya.

The non-binding draft resolution, which also called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special envoy to Myanmar, will be submitted to the full assembly for debate in December.

Bombings continue

Meanwhile, attempted or actual attacks that some believe to be committed by Muslims are still occurring in Rakhine state.

On Thursday, authorities discovered four homemade explosive devices at a bridge in Apaukwa village along the road connecting Rakhines capital Sittwe to the countrys commercial capital Yangon.

Colonel Aung Myat Moe, Rakhine states police chief, said that a military engineering unit and police officers removed the devices, though he could not specify who had placed them there.

Police have searched people leaving and entering the area at checkpoints, and security is tight in the town, he said.

On Wednesday, three trucks from Army Battalion 828 based in Rakhines Ann township hit explosive devices as they passed through Phapyaw village in Minbya township, said a local police officer who did not give his name.

The trucks windshields were broken, he told RFAs Myanmar Service, adding that an investigation is underway.

The trucks are from army combat service support and transport units, he said.

Also on Wednesday, a Buddhist nun was injured by a bomb explosion in Waitharli village in Mrauk-U township and sent to a hospital in Kyauttaw township for treatment, local sources said.

Reported by Min Thein Aung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
EWG senior Ella Whitford has decided to collect food and personal hygiene products for Operation Stand Down as part of her senior project.
Three Richmond-area companies were recognized Wednesday for their impact on the local economy.

The 30th annual Impact Awards, sponsored by the business organization ChamberRVA, were announced at the chambers annual awards ceremony at the Richmond Marriott.

For only the second time in the 30-year history of the Impact Awards, there was a tie in the small-business category.

It is always an interesting process to go through all the nominees and trim it down to a small set of finalists, said Kim Scheeler, president and CEO of ChamberRVA. A testament to the challenge of doing that is that we have got a tie this year in the small-business category.

The winners in the small-business category were CarLotz and The Fahrenheit Group.

The winner in the large-business category was AvePoint.

A panel of volunteer judges chose the winners of the awards, which honor local businesses that are making an impact on the local economy, the community and their employees.

Richmond-based CarLotz, founded in 2011 by Michael Bor, Aaron Montgomery and Will Boland, is a consignment store for used vehicles. It takes vehicles on consignment and, for a flat fee, prepares the vehicle for resale and negotiates a deal on the sellers behalf.

The company has grown to about 70 employees and has three locations in Virginia, including one each in Chesterfield and Henrico, and two in North Carolina. In September, it announced it had raised $30 million in equity capital to fund continued expansion that could include 10 new locations in the next two years.

The Fahrenheit Group, founded in 2010 by Keith Middleton and Rich Reinecke, is a consulting and professional services firm that has provided such services as fractional CFO work, human resources consulting and executive searches for hundreds of Virginia businesses. The company grew from a two-man operation to a staff of about 80 now.

The winner in the large-business category, AvePoint, is relatively new to the Richmond area, having opened a downtown Richmond office in 2016 to serve as a primary operations center for the New Jersey-based company, which has 29 offices in 15 countries.

The company, which has more than 75 employees here, develops, sells and supports software that provides governance, compliance and management solutions for businesses and helps clients worldwide transition to the Microsoft Cloud.
Former Petersburg City Attorney Brian K. Telfair pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to police last year about a racial threat to city leaders he falsely claimed he received from an unknown redneck caller when in fact Telfair orchestrated the call.

The plea comes weeks after Telfair appealed his Sept. 1 conviction for the same offense in lower court.

Telfair entered his plea in Petersburg Circuit Court to making a false police report and was sentenced to 12 months in jail with 11 months suspended. The punishment is the same imposed by Petersburg General District Court Judge Ray P. Lupold III, who found Telfair guilty Sept. 1 after a two-hour trial.

Lupold said Telfair committed a calculated crime and admonished him for the harm he caused to the community.

Telfair immediately appealed his conviction to Circuit Court, even though he admitted on the witness stand that he had concocted the entire episode and made the racist threat in a call to himself with a TracFone that he sent another city employee to buy earlier that same day.

It could not be immediately determined why Telfair pleaded guilty on Wednesday. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

In September, Lupold also ordered Telfair to pay $7,411 in restitution to Virginia State Police for the cost of their investigation. On Wednesday, Telfair was ordered to pay the same amount, said Special Prosecutor Benjamin Garrison.

Garrison said he sought to have the same punishment imposed on Telfair that the lower court judge imposed in September.

Telfair was not immediately remanded to jail. He will be allowed to serve his time on weekends, Garrison said.

The phony call led to the abrupt cancellation of a Petersburg City Council meeting on Feb. 16, 2016, after city officials received word that residents were upset about high water bills and other financial issues plaguing the city.

At Telfairs Sept. 1 trial in lower court, Thomas Johnson, his attorney, argued that although his clients actions were clearly wrong, he was under tremendous stress to cancel the City Council meeting, and that he was essentially acting at the behest of former Petersburg Mayor Howard Myers, who wanted the meeting scrapped.

Johnson disclosed that Telfair was diagnosed this year with post-traumatic stress disorder, that he lost his job with a local law firm and that a complaint had been filed against him with the Virginia State Bar.
A Richmond City Council member wants the state to compensate business owners along Broad Street who have seen sales fall during construction of the Pulse bus rapid transit line, drawing strong opposition from Virginias secretary of transportation.

Councilwoman Kimberly Gray on Monday introduced a proposal that, if approved, would ask Mayor Levar Stoney to lobby the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide aid to businesses along the 7.6-mile route.

Grays request is at odds with state law, said Transportation Secretary Aubrey L. Layne Jr., who bristled at the idea that the state should pay.

This is no good deed goes unpunished, Layne said. GRTC and Richmond had screwed this up, and we came up with $15 million to get them on track.

Layne said the state had helped Richmond win a crucial federal grant for the project, a funding stream the transit agency and the city risked losing because of delays in design, procurement and other foot-dragging that drove up construction bids.

VDOT agreed to step in to manage construction to get it off the ground, he said.

Its not a VDOT project; its a city of Richmond and GRTC project, Layne said.

GRTC Transit System and city officials originally had said the bus line, which will offer more frequent service between Rocketts Landing and Willow Lawn along Broad and East Main streets, would be completed last month.

Gray said: With the construction lingering and not finishing in October as we were all promised, I think its important to let the businesses know that we are here to support them and to try and give them some financial support to bridge them until the construction pains are over.

Construction on the Pulse began in August 2016. Contractor Lane Construction is working to complete the project by the end of the year, a GRTC spokesperson said. Under the contract, Lane has until the end of June to complete the work.

Gray, who represents the 2nd District on the City Council, proposes taking some of the $3.25 million incentive for early completion of the project and divvying it up among business owners who say they have been negatively affected by the construction. The contractor already has missed out on most of the incentive money.

Asked how the businesses could link their losses to the project, Gray cited conversations with several restaurant and shop owners who say they have seen sales drop.

All of the businesses Ive spoken with can show in their revenue where theyve lost and where it directly corresponds with the construction inconveniences and loss of parking, Gray said.

Scott Garnett, who co-owns Lift Coffee Shop at 218 W. Broad St., said he supported the idea.

While his shop hasnt suffered as much as some of his neighbors, Garnett said the length of the project has made it difficult for business owners to plan for its effect on sales.

Its crushing some of these businesses, Garnett said.

Jim Nolan, a spokesman for the mayor, wrote in an email that the administration had not reviewed Grays proposal but the mayor supports doing everything we can to help our businesses during this construction phase.

Nolan referred questions about the proposal to the state.

Layne said using any of the money earmarked for construction incentives to compensate businesses for lost sales during the work would violate state law.

The only way we can give money to property owners is through a taking of property, such as acquiring a property or right of way for a road through eminent domain, Layne said.

He noted that the state has given the city money for marketing businesses along the Pulse corridor during construction. Any unused incentive money will go back into the states Smart Scale program for prioritizing and funding major transportation projects, he added.

Beyond the legality of it, Layne said the request was an affront to the state, which helped salvage a foundering project.

If the city or GRTC thinks businesses need to be compensated, they should be addressing it through their own budget, said Layne, who has also disputed Grays claims that the Pulse will end up costing nearly double its $65 million budget, an assertion he said is false.

City Council President Chris Hilbert said he supports Grays proposal. Hilbert, who sat on the council that approved the project in February 2016 during then-Mayor Dwight C. Jones administration, said he recalls state officials assuring the council that they would provide financial support to businesses beyond the advertising campaign carried out.

This would be a corrective action that would show some good faith on the part of the state, Hilbert said. This wasnt just some imagined impact.  This was real and is real and continues to be.

The councils Finance and Economic Development Committee is scheduled to weigh the matter at its Nov. 30 meeting.
Sixteen area teachers are receiving money to travel the world to continue their own learning and bring it back to the classroom.

The Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation gave out $180,800 to 30 teachers in the Richmond region  16 winners and 14 finalists  from a pool of 112 nominees. The annual R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence, which started in 1988, are given to teachers considered among the best in their field, according to a Community Foundation news release.

The 16 winners each won grants between $8,500 and $12,000. The finalists each received a $750 unrestricted cash grant.

A ceremony was held Monday night at the Virginia Historical Society. The counties of Chesterfield and Henrico each had five winners, while Richmond had four and Hanover County had two.

This years winners are:

Tiana Addai-Mensah, Miles Jones Elementary School in Richmond, $12,000 to visit libraries around the world with the purpose of exchanging ideas to elevate students love of reading for pleasure;

Helena Agnew, Cosby High School in Chesterfield, $12,000 to study Native American crafts at the Taos Art School in New Mexico by taking classes taught by renowned Hopi, Navajo and Acoma artists;

Heather Andre, Cosby High School in Chesterfield, $12,000 to travel to Italy and England, where a cappella music originated, to gain a greater appreciation for and understanding of how to teach and perform this popular style of choral music;

Karen Barber-Olajuwon, George Mason Elementary School in Richmond, $12,000 to attend workshops in the U.S. and Barbados that promote the art of poetry writing, the use of poetry as an instructional tool, and poetry as a constructive outlet for traumatic experiences;

Alicia Broughton, Laurel Meadow Elementary School in Hanover, $10,500 to explore the ancient civilizations and architecture of Greece and Rome to make relevant elementary STEM connections, and to attend the 2018 ISTE conference in Chicago;

Michaela Dismann, Chesterfield Career and Technical Center, $12,000 to gain perspectives from former students and experts at rural colleges, universities and places of rural employment to encourage student interest in large animal veterinary careers, and to gain hands-on experience with stockmanship at a Wyoming working ranch;

Jerome Fleming, Short Pump Middle School in Henrico, $10,300 to explore Americas historic cities and create a photo/video diary of each city to illustrate the culture and history that has made America into the diverse nation it is today;

Eliza Gemmill, South Anna Elementary School in Hanover, $8,500 to participate in conferences, tours and interviews to learn how companies encourage innovation and how educators can connect business frameworks and philosophies to educational strategies;

Jennifer Gradwell, Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home School, $11,400 to explore the connections between poverty, education and students hope for the future in Niger, Uganda, and Kenya, and to gain perspective through stories of resilience in parts of Africa with the lowest literacy rates in the world;

Minh Jurgens, Bailey Bridge Middle School in Chesterfield, $10,000 to visit war sites in Vietnam to deepen the understanding of a chapter in American history that had an impact on millions of lives;

Jonathan Lauder, Mills Godwin High School in Henrico, $6,500 to explore the ideas of the Enlightenment and the social and political revolutions brought to the Western world by traveling to Paris, Vienna, Munich and Philadelphia;

Christine Muse, Richmond Career Education and Employment Academy, $9,500 to study entrepreneurial opportunities for people with disabilities by visiting and networking with other organizations in North Carolina, Scotland and Grenada;

Lindsey Pantele, Glen Allen High School in Henrico, $12,000 to study the Heroic and Classical Greek, Renaissance and modern literary periods through visits to several European cities;

Todd Ritter, Henrico High School, $10,600 to participate in Commedia Dellarte and mask-making workshops in Florence, Italy, and to visit several theaters spanning from ancient Rome to the present;

Frenishee Smith, J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School in Richmond, $9,000 to visit schools across the country that use innovative ways to engage students living in poverty, and to attend The International Conference on Urban Education in Nassau, Bahamas; and
The Virginia Board of Education on Thursday revised the states school accreditation and graduation requirements.

Schools, starting in the 2018-19 school year, will be rated as either accredited, accredited with conditions or accreditation denied. Before Thursdays vote, there were nine possible ratings, ranging from fully accredited to partially accredited to accreditation denied.

The board approved the new requirements with an 8-1 vote. James Dillard was the lone no vote.

The new standards put more of an emphasis on closing achievement gaps, the state Education Department said in a news release, by including progress toward English and math proficiency, student attendance and dropout rates.

Under these new standards, schools will be rewarded for the success of students who are on a trajectory toward meeting Virginias high expectations, even if they are not quite there yet, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven Staples said in a prepared statement. This addresses an inequity in our current system which sometimes labels schools serving children in poverty as failing when in fact students are making great strides and showing high growth from one year to the next.

The new graduation requirements will take effect with incoming freshmen. The main change is that the number of required verified credits needed for both an advanced-studies diploma and a standard diploma goes down to five from six. Course requirements for both diplomas stay the same.

A verified credit is given for a course where a student earns a standard credit, but also passes the courses SOL test or an alternative assessment approved by the state board. Under the new requirements, fewer SOL tests are needed in order to graduate.

***

Virginia on Thursday also became the first state in the U.S. to adopt mandatory standards for computer science education.

The standards, approved unanimously, but reluctantly, by the state Board of Education on Thursday, are a framework for computer science education in the state. Other states have advisory standards, but Virginia became the first to have mandatory standards.

Board member Anne Holton voiced her concern with the grade level appropriateness of the standards before the vote.

The standards, they seem ambitious to me, she said. These are not meant as aspirational standards, they are meant as a mandate that our teachers need to be able to teach.

Were clearly leading the nation and that puts an extra burden on us to get it right.

Mark Saunders, the director of the Education Departments Office of Technology and Virtual Learning, led a presentation of the departments process in adopting the standards.

The presentation satisfied the board enough to vote on the standards rather than delay action until January.

A unanimous vote followed, adopting the standards jump-started in 2016 in the General Assembly with the approval of House Bill 831.

Now, computer science will be part of everyday curriculum.

Were going to be integrating it, said Chris Dovi, the executive director of CodeVA, a Richmond-based nonprofit that helped shape the legislation. It becomes part of the vernacular rather than a separate course.

Other business:
PORTSMOUTH  Members of a powerful House of Delegates committee want a second look at Virginias plan for transforming its juvenile justice system by replacing large youth prisons with smaller, more therapeutic facilities.

The director of the House Appropriations Committee suggested Wednesday that the state instead consider building one new facility at the Powhatan County site of the Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center that the state closed in June to consolidate its shrinking need for maximum-security incarceration.

Appropriations Director Robert P. Vaughn expressed concern about a 66 percent increase in the annual cost for serving each minor committed to the juvenile justice system over the past three years, as Gov. Terry McAuliffe has moved aggressively to shift away from operating two large prisons that have been ineffective in rehabilitating youths committed by judges to the states custody.

I dont know that we fully vetted what that is going to cost to stand up two facilities, Vaughn said in an interview after the two-day budget retreat ended here Wednesday.

He also favors shifting the center back to Beaumont in western Powhatan so the state can sell the property now occupied by the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center in Chesterfield County, where about 215 juveniles committed to state custody have been housed since midsummer.

The Chesterfield property has a lot of value for economic development, Vaughn told the committee.

Appropriations Chairman S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, said he remains committed to building two smaller centers  including one in Hampton Roads, from which most of the committed youths come  but intends to ask state juvenile justice officials to discuss their plan before the committee when the General Assembly convenes in January. Bon Air and Beaumont were built to confine as many as 280 youths each, while the system currently houses about one-third of that total.

Two make sense for the commonwealth and for the individuals that were looking to rehabilitate, Jones said in an interview after the retreat. The whole idea is to reduce the recidivism rate.

One reason for the possible change of heart is the difficulty of getting approval of a joint juvenile justice complex in Chesapeake that would include a 64-bed state facility and a 48-bed local juvenile detention center to replace the citys aged center. The joint project on city-owned land was expected to reduce the states expense by sharing the costs of building and operating the two facilities.

Chesapeake backed off its first plan to build the joint complex on property it owns on South Military Highway after public opposition arose to the project, but the City Council is scheduled to act Tuesday night on a proposed 14-acre facility owned by the public school system on Minuteman Drive.

The project is the same  its still a joint facility with the state, Chesapeake spokesman Heath Covey said Wednesday. Its important to Chesapeake because it allows us to move forward in replacing a very antiquated local facility.

Andrew K. Block Jr., director of the state Department of Juvenile Justice, said Wednesday that hes confident that the project will proceed and help the state divert money away from operating prisons into community treatment programs that provide a more therapeutic environment for youths in the system.

Our hope is that the council will still do the right thing, he said. Even though the project has taken longer to approve than we had thought, its still a project that is good for the city, good for the state and, most importantly, is a huge improvement over the status quo for the small group of young people who still need confinement and who are from the Hampton Roads region.

Block said the state would pay about $38 million and that Chesapeake would contribute the land, site preparation and $7.5 million to the project, which the state included in a bond bill adopted in 2016 after negotiations between McAuliffe and General Assembly budget leaders.

He said the $248,000 average annual cost of treating each youth confined in the state system  up from $149,000 per youth in 2014  is misleading because the total cost of operating the facilities is declining but is spread over a smaller number of youths in confinement.

The costs will go down as we get smaller, he said.

However, the delay in action by Chesapeake already had prompted preliminary discussions between the city and state over building a state-only juvenile correctional center on land next to the St. Brides state prison for adults in another part of the city, appropriations analyst David Reynolds told the committee.

Given increased average operating costs of a smaller juvenile correctional center population and issues with the Chesapeake facility, further discussion about the necessity of two new facilities is warranted, Reynolds concluded in a brief presentation to the committee.

His report prompted Appropriations Vice Chairman R. Steven Landes, R-Augusta, to suggest that the state could save money by renovating the recently shuttered Beaumont prison in Powhatan County. Why pay to build a new facility? Landes asked.

Reynolds explained that Beaumonts closure was based on the need to create a more therapeutic environment for incarcerated youths than the old penal system, in which almost 80 percent of youths released from the state centers were re-arrested within three years, with 70 percent convicted of new offices and almost half re-incarcerated.

It was not driven by the condition of the facility, he said.

Juvenile justice advocates welcome a fresh look at the state plan, but not for the same reason as Landes or Vaughn. They want the state to shift confinement to even smaller facilities  no more than 25 or 30 beds  in community settings across the state.

Were trying to think long-term and in as strong a therapeutic, best-practice way as possible, said Amy L. Woolard, attorney and policy coordinator at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville.

I would like them to have some more time to think through some of this, said Woolard, who added that she doesnt want the process to be driven by cost savings rather than the best interest of youths committed to state custody.

Block said the new correctional centers are just one piece of the plan to transform the juvenile justice system, using savings from operating smaller prisons to pay for community placement programs in local detention centers and other alternatives.

We are committed and convinced this is the right way to do juvenile justice in Virginia, he said.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Thanks to a dose of state funding, Radford Universitys physical presence in Roanoke is expanding while upgrading one of its hallmark programs.

Earlier this year, the Roanoke Higher Education Center  the board of which is chaired by state Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke  secured a bond-funded package of $2 million from the General Assembly to revamp its Clinical Simulation Center used by the schools nursing students.

The 1,800 square-foot expansion and renovation of 2,800-square feet of the existing CSC was celebrated Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from university officials and other local leaders.

When I arrived [at RU], one of the things I heard loud and clear was about this project, said RU President Brian Hemphill. We had a true champion within the General Assembly that was fighting every day to make sure we had the funds for this. This could not have happened without the work of Senator Edwards.

In 2014, Radfords CSC became the first simulation center in Virginia to earn accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. The Radford CSC is now one of 64 accredited simulation centers in the nation and one of two in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 2017, more than 1,250 students used RUs two CSC sites in Roanoke and Radford. That involved almost 3,000 sessions for simulations of a range of medical events from congestive heart failure to depression to pediatric appendicitis.

With this recent renovation, that number is expected to grow to 1,600 by the spring semester.

Ken Cox, dean of RUs Waldron College of Health and Human Services, reminded those in attendance Wednesday that by 2020, the demand for nursing across the commonwealth is projected to be 30 percent greater than the supply.

Health care is one of the most important industries in this country right now, Edwards said. Were trying to meet the needs of our community.

The face-lifted facility features a series of new examination rooms where RU nursing students will perform tests, clinical trials and wellness checks on eerily lifelike mannequins.

Among the students who have benefited from the hands-on training is senior Kimmy Stafford.

Its as close to the real thing as you can get, Stafford said. I am only slightly jealous that all these changes are happening as I am walking out the door. But what makes our experience so invaluable is the Sim lab staff. It takes a village to raise a class of nursing students.

The renovation project, which paid for new dummy patients, exam rooms and computer equipment, began in May.

Inside the rooms, naturalistic newborns squirm and stroke victims show a facial droop. The mannequins can tell you their name and describe their symptoms. One even has tear ducts allowing it to cry.

Weve come a long way, Cox said. This is an advancement that will broaden the variety of opportunities for our students. In this larger more robust space they will better understand the complexities of the human body and needs of the patients.

The expanded facility will be used by students from RU, Jefferson College of Health Science and Patrick Henry Community College.
CHRISTIANSBURG  Major changes are planned for one of the regions busiest and most confusing intersections and the area around it.

An additional traffic light and more flexible lane choices would be available to drivers arriving at the unusually-designed intersection of North Franklin and Cambria streets, according to diagrams town officials plan to unveil at a public hearing Thursday night.

The hearing is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at Town Hall.

The changes, expected to be implemented over the next few years, are designed to reduce congestion and alleviate confusion.

Drivers coming from downtown Christiansburg pass through the intersection flanked by the towns recreation center, a McDonalds and other businesses before entering U.S. 460 either to travel more quickly to Blacksburg or connect to Interstate 81.

The intersection also receives traffic exiting the bypass or coming from the towns big box retail corridor around the New River Valley Mall.

Several town council members said they have not seen the design for the estimated $8.5 million project, but they agreed that changes are needed.

Its maybe the worst intersection in the state of Virginia, said Mayor Mike Barber. Or lets just say Southwest Virginia. Its one of the worst Ive encountered.

The four-light setup is known to create confusion among drivers who have at times displayed uncertainty with the turns theyre allowed to make at the intersection.

Its confusing as heck, Barber said. Its certainly a source we have needed to pay attention to for many years.

The intersections layout can be difficult to follow because of the current lane layout. Also, drivers from North Franklin Street going south toward downtown cant make a direct left onto Cambria Street. They have to exit North Franklin Street, then make a left at the recreation center to go back toward the intersection. That often backs up traffic and hems cars into the rec center parking lot.

Four lights also govern North Franklin Streets southbound traffic crossing Cambria Street at the intersection. The two lights on the left direct their corresponding pair of lanes, while the two lights on the right direct the two right-sided lanes. That has caused confusion as well.

Heres what would happen under the proposed plan:

North Franklin Street would be slightly adjusted before it reaches Cambria Street and will form an intersection with the road used by cars exiting the U.S. 460 bypass. That change calls for a traffic light to be installed at that new intersection to manage the bypass and North Franklin traffic.

The median that currently separates the bypass and North Franklin Street traffic before it reaches Cambria Street would be removed. The new configuration would give the two traffic streams more flexibility to determine which of the four lanes can be used.

Numerous existing access points to properties around the intersection would be closed. They are the entrance to the recreation centers parking lot at North Franklin Street, an entrance to a small office plaza housing The Roanoke Times New River Valley bureau, and another entrance to a property occupied by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and a pharmacy.

Another light would be added to manage traffic on a road that will replace Patricks Way in front of the Waffle House. The new road will be located in the same general location.

New sidewalks, to be added on both sides of North Franklin Street, would run from the North Franklin and Cambria streets intersection to Independence Boulevard near Christiansburg High School. The new sidewalks would create a pedestrian connection between the recreation center and downtown Christiansburg.

The project is being paid for with money from the state. It was approved through VDOTs Smart Scale, a program that ranks various proposed transportation projects.

Councilman Steve Huppert said the changes are necessary to accommodate the growth in Christiansburgs population.

For Christiansburg, it went from 14,000 to 18,000. Now were at 22,000, he said, and its saying by 2030, were going to be 30,000 people.

Weve got to get ourselves prepared for the changes.

Town staff said the intersection improvements complement two other projects  street improvements to the intersection of North Franklin Street and Independence Boulevard and the future extension of the Huckleberry Trail from Food Lion to an area near Christiansburg High School.

Town staff expects to advertise construction bids in September 2018.

The hearing Thursday will allow officials to gather public feedback for adjustments to the project.
PORTSMOUTH  Members of a powerful House of Delegates committee want a second look at Virginias plan for transforming its juvenile justice system by replacing large youth prisons with smaller, more therapeutic facilities.

The director of the House Appropriations Committee suggested Wednesday that the state instead consider building one new facility at the Powhatan County site of the Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center that the state closed in June to consolidate its shrinking need for maximum-security incarceration.

Appropriations Director Robert Vaughn expressed concern about a 66 percent increase in the annual cost for serving each minor committed to the juvenile justice system over the past three years, as Gov. Terry McAuliffe has moved aggressively to shift away from operating two large prisons that have been ineffective in rehabilitating youths committed by judges to the states custody.

I dont know that we fully vetted what that is going to cost to stand up two facilities, Vaughn said in an interview after the two-day budget retreat ended here Wednesday.

He also favors shifting the center back to Beaumont in western Powhatan so the state can sell the property now occupied by the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center in Chesterfield County, where about 215 juveniles committed to state custody have been housed since midsummer.

The Chesterfield property has a lot of value for economic development, Vaughn told the committee.

Appropriations Chairman Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, said he remains committed to building two smaller centers  including one in Hampton Roads, from which most of the committed youths come  but intends to ask state juvenile justice officials to discuss their plan before the committee when the General Assembly convenes in January.

Bon Air and Beaumont were built to confine as many as 280 youths each, while the system currently houses about one-third of that total.

Two make sense for the commonwealth and for the individuals that were looking to rehabilitate, Jones said in an interview after the retreat. The whole idea is to reduce the recidivism rate.

One reason for the possible change of heart is the difficulty of getting approval of a joint juvenile justice complex in Chesapeake that would include a 64-bed state facility and a 48-bed local juvenile detention center to replace the citys aged center.

The joint project on city-owned land was expected to reduce the states expense by sharing the costs of building and operating the two facilities.

Chesapeake backed off its first plan to build the joint complex on property it owns on South Military Highway after public opposition arose to the project, but the city council is scheduled to take action next week on a proposed 14-acre facility owned by the public school system on Minuteman Drive.

The project is the same  its still a joint facility with the state, Chesapeake spokesman Heath Covey said Wednesday. Its important to Chesapeake because it allows us to move forward in replacing a very antiquated local facility.

Andrew Block , director of the state Department of Juvenile Justice, said Wednesday that hes confident that the project will proceed and help the state divert money away from operating prisons into community treatment programs that provide a more therapeutic environment for youths in the system.

Our hope is that the council will still do the right thing, he said. Even though the project has taken longer to approve than we had thought, its still a project that is good for the city, good for the state and, most importantly, is a huge improvement over the status quo for the small group of young people who still need confinement and who are from the Hampton Roads region.

Block said the state would pay about $38 million and that Chesapeake would contribute the land, site preparation and $7.5 million to the project, which the state included in a bond bill adopted in 2016 after negotiations between McAuliffe and General Assembly budget leaders.

He said the $248,000 average annual cost of treating each youth confined in the state system  up from $149,000 per youth in 2014  is misleading because the total cost of operating the facilities is declining but is spread over a smaller number of youths in confinement.

The costs will go down as we get smaller, he said.

However, the delay in action by Chesapeake already had prompted preliminary discussions between the city and state over building a state-only juvenile correctional center on land next to the St. Brides state prison for adults in another part of the city, appropriations analyst David Reynolds told the committee.

Given increased average operating costs of a smaller juvenile correctional center population and issues with the Chesapeake facility, further discussion about the necessity of two new facilities is warranted, Reynolds concluded in a brief presentation to the committee.

His report prompted Appropriations Vice Chairman Steve Landes, R-Augusta, to suggest that the state could save money by renovating the recently shuttered Beaumont prison in Powhatan County.

Why pay to build a new facility? Landes asked.

Reynolds explained that Beaumonts closure was based on the need to create a more therapeutic environment for incarcerated youths than the old penal system had, in which almost 80 percent of youths released from the state centers were re-arrested within three years, with 70 percent convicted of new offices and almost half re-incarcerated.

It was not driven by the condition of the facility, he said.

Juvenile justice advocates welcome a fresh look at the state plan, but not for the same reason as Landes or Vaughn. They want the state to shift confinement to even smaller facilities  no more than 25 or 30 beds  in community settings across the state.

Were trying to think long-term and in as strong a therapeutic, best-practice way as possible, said Amy Woolard, attorney and policy coordinator at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville.

I would like them to have some more time to think through some of this, said Woolard, who added that she doesnt want the process to be driven by cost savings rather than the best interest of youths committed to state custody.

Block said the new correctional centers are just one piece of the plan to transform the juvenile justice system, using savings from operating smaller prisons to pay for community placement programs in local detention centers and other alternatives.

We are committed and convinced this is the right way to do juvenile justice in Virginia, he said.
Paging Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, the original hosts of TVs Mythbusters. We have a myth we really need you to bust.

Its called gerrymandering.

That might not be as exciting as testing whether an MRI can cause tattoos to explode (they wont) or whether a passing snowplow can generate enough air suction to flip over a car (it wont).

However, its just as necessary if were going to have any rational discussion about politics.

Theres a common theme weve heard this year as critics voice one complaint or another about Reps. Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke and Morgan Griffith of Salem  that they voted for the Republican health care bills, that they wont hold town halls, that theyre generally, well, conservatives.

That theme is this: Goodlatte and Griffith only get re-elected because their districts are gerrymandered in favor of Republicans. This is simply not true, and we dont need high-priced television celebrities to bust that myth.

All we need is a map, specifically the one at lower right, accompanying this editorial.

What you see are the locality-by-locality results from the recent gubernatorial election. The color configuration should be familiar to all by now  red for Republicans, blue for Democrats.

The remarkable thing about this map is that its not remarkable at all. Its virtually the same map as the 2016 presidential election, and the 2014 U.S. Senate race, and the 2013 governors race . . . and pretty much every statewide election for the past three decades.

Youll notice that just about everything west of the Blue Ridge is one big sea of red, interrupted only by a few blue islands  Montgomery County and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Lexington, Roanoke and Radford. If we were to shade these counties by their degree of enthusiasm, they wouldnt just be red, theyre dark red.

This map should make it obvious: The 6th and 9th districts  held respectively by Goodlatte and Griffith  are not heavily Republican because theyre gerrymandered. Theyre heavily Republican because just about everything west of the Blue Ridge is heavily Republican.

Furthermore, the 6th (Roanoke to Front Royal) and 9th (everything from Salem west) are actually quite sensibly drawn. Theres plenty of gerrymandering that takes place, of course, but its not happening here  partly because Republicans dont need to engage in gerrymandering to draw those districts in their favor.

Its simply impossible to draw a Democratic congressional district west of the Blue Ridge unless you want to engage in some gerrymandering of your own trying to figure out how to connect Roanoke with, say, Charlottesville. (This also explains why there are no Democratic state legislators west of the New River.)

The 9th District is hard to gerrymander. Thats because map-makers are hemmed in by Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina. As the states population has shifted east, the 9th has had to grow geographically. You can always quibble about where the precise lines ought to be, but the current configuration that takes in the Alleghany Highlands and Martinsville  two economically distressed regions  makes a lot of sense.

Was it gerrymandering when Republicans redrew the lines to bring in Salem  after Griffith of Salem got elected to the 9th District? Maybe. Except heres the thing  that probably would have happened anyway, just to make the numbers work out. Even before Griffith, the district went right up to the Salem city limits. If thats gerrymandering, its gerrymandering on such a microscopic scale that it hardly matters. The main point: The 9th would be just as Republican whether it included Griffiths home in Salem or not.

The big picture is this: Generally speaking, the 9th District represents a coherent community of interest of low-growth (or no-growth) rural areas. Its not some weird, salamander-looking district drawn specifically to elect a congressman of a particular party. Likewise, the 6th District is also pretty coherent: Its basically an Interstate 81 district from Roanoke to the Shenandoah Valley. The only deviation is the eastward swing to Lynchburg  which might be odd, depending on how you feel about Lynchburg. Historical context: Lynchburg was in the 6th District even when it was represented by Democrat Jim Olin in the 1980s, so its not as if it were added to buttress Goodlatte.

Furthermore, if the 6th District had to grow geographically  which it surely will after the next census in 2020  the places it most likely would absorb are also heavily Republican localities. Were looking at Franklin County to the east or Frederick County and Winchester to the north.

Perhaps the real question is where the 9th District will expand, since state borders limit the choices there. There really are just three options: Push east past Martinsville into more of Southside. Go north beyond the Alleghany Highlands (although there arent many people to be gained there). Or take more of the Roanoke Valley, perhaps even a chunk of Roanoke itself. The first two wouldnt change the political character of the 9th; the latter might, because Roanoke is reliably Democratic.

Consider this: If an expanding 9th District ate into Roanoke, and the 6th District expanded into some of those neighboring counties to make up the difference, the 6th would become even more Republican, not less. Thats something those who want to run to succeed Goodlatte, who is retiring after this term, might want to think about. So can we stop saying that Goodlatte and Griffith stay in office because of gerrymandering? They have stayed in office because they represent the two most Republican parts of the state.

Notice we havent mentioned the 5th District, represented by Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham County. Thats because his district is gerrymandered, a point he conceded at his town hall in Moneta earlier this year. The 5th District stretches from the states southern border to within a dozen miles of its northern border. Its an unnatural merger of rural Southside with the outer suburbs of Northern Virginia. The 5th was a Republican-leaning district anyway but managed to elect Democrat Tom Perriello for a single term in 2008. After the 2010 census, Republican mapmakers in Richmond made a point of taking out some Democratic-leaning counties and adding in some Republican-voting ones.

That is gerrymandering.

So it clearly happens. Just not with the 6th and 9th.

Myth busted.
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St Bernard's Catholic High School

TEACHERS will take to the dancefloor in a fundraising drive for 30 teenagers to travel to Africa.

Staff, governors and parents at St Bernards High will battle it out in a Strictly Come Dancing-style contest on Saturday.

The event will help raise cash towards the groups 60,000 target for next years trip, which will see Year 10 and 11 pupils travel to Lesotho to help build a community.

Tickets for the event, priced at 8, are available on 01709 828183.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacqueline-hone for more information or to donate.
The 12th Anniversary of the 'China Gold & Precious Metals Summit' will be held in Shanghai China on 6-7 December 2017, as per a Press note from the organizers.

The Summit, which is endorsed by the China Gold Association and the Shanghai Gold Exchange; hosted by the Shanghai Gold & Jewelry Trade Association; and organized by IGVision International Corporation, brings together key industry stakeholders from mining companies, refiners and fabricators, bullion dealers, mints, investment and bullion banks, jewelers, gold & commodity exchanges, money managers, equipment and service providers as well as policymakers around the world for knowledge sharing on topical issues in the gold and precious metals industry and the related sectors. The Summit has been recognized as the largest and most important gold & precious metals conference in China.

The China Gold & Precious Metals Summit 2017 will offer the insightful discussions on Overview of leading mining companies stepping out of China as encouraged by Chinas One Belt and One Road initiative; Exploring the emerging opportunities and international cooperation in cross-border gold mine investment; Impact of Feds balance-sheet deleveraging; and Prospect of bullion market with its physical trading, futures contract, effects on the currency market and associated PGM market.

Entrepreneurs will attend China Gold & Precious Metals Summit 2017 to embrace new ideas, technologies, and solutions; keep up to date with industry growth and development; meet friends and strengthen business relationships; explore new business chances and partnership opportunities; network with global industry professionals and colleagues; and share the best practices and experiences with industry experts.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished




The share of rough produced by ALROSA and processed in Russia is to increase to 50% - Trutnev

16 november 2017 News

(FINMARKET.RU) - The share of rough produced by ALROSA and processed in Russia is to increase to 50%, said Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Russian Federation President to the Far Eastern Federal District, who is overseeing the diamond miner.

"In Namibia, the percentage of rough to be processed in the country is defined by law and I believe that for us this percentage should be at least 50% to start with. I believe that we should use half of the mined rough to cut diamonds in Russia. This is not the task for the next month or year, but we should strive to reach such a target," the deputy prime minister said.

Currently, no more than 10% of diamonds mined by ALROSA (in terms of value) goes to the domestic market, while the rest is exported, mainly to Antwerp and Mumbai, where the company's customers are based being major stakeholders of the diamond market - diamond manufacturers and jewelers. In 2016, there was established a free trade zone in Vladivostok to develop diamond manufacturing within Russia. It is offering a preferential tax and customs regime, which made Indias KGK, one of the largest customers of ALROSA, to launch a diamond cutting factory in this area.

Yury Trutnev, who is on a trip to South Africa, visited the KGK factory in Johannesburg. The meeting with the management of the Indian company was focused on the discussion of their work in Vladivostok, the deputy prime minister said.

The main problem faced by KGK there is the lack of personnel to work in diamond manufacturing, Yury Trutnev explained, which complicates both the operation of the factory opened in September and the plans for its expansion.

"We agreed that we will invite the management of the Human Capital Development Agency and that of the Ministry of Education to Vladivostok to try and work out a mechanism to train at an accelerated pace the required number of personnel both to be employed at the factory already opened by KGK and with an eye to the possibility of its expansion, he said.

In addition, KGK asked for additional amount of rough to organize the training process. "They want to recruit a group, and this group needs to be trained on real rough. I asked ALROSA to embrace these needs, and they have no specific issues regarding this matter," Yury Trutnev said. He also informed that several other companies expressed their desire to open diamond manufacturing operations in Vladivostok.




Procter & Gamble has acquired Native deodorants, a fast-growing direct-to-consumer natural deodorant brand. The consideration for the venture-backed deodorant startup reportedly is $100 million cash.

The acquisition is expected to help P&G broaden its portfolio to reach consumers who are looking for products free of certain ingredients or full of natural ones, amid concerns that traditional deodorants may cause cancer. The company already owns popular deodorant brand Secret.

According to the consumer products giant, Native would appeal to consumers buying natural personal care items online and not in stores.

San Francisco-based Native, an online distributor of deodorant, reportedly has more than a million customers since launching 2.5 years ago. The company recently received $500 thousand from Azure Capital Partners.

Native's deodorants are more expensive than average deodorant at $12 per stick. It comes in various scents including pumpkin spice latte or honeycrisp apple and cinnamon.

According to its website, Native produces paraben-free and aluminum-free deodorant that isn't a a science experiment.

Native founder and CEO Moiz Ali will continue to lead the brand from its San Francisco operation. In a statement, Ali said, "I've long admired P&G's commitment to product innovation and obsession with customer happiness, and I'm excited to leverage their expertise as we continue to grow Native."

P&G's latest acquisition comes amid a bitter proxy battle with activist investor Nelson Peltz. Initially, P&G declared victory, saying Peltz didn't win a seat on the company's board. But, on Wednesday, preliminary results after a recount show that shareholders elected him to the Board.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
(Agencia CMA Latam) - The Argentinean government and the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) reached an agreement to send Congress a labor reform bill. The deal was cut after several rounds of talks involving the Labor Minister Jorge Triaca and union leaders.

As a result, the Mauricio Macri's administrations intends to send the bill to Congress as soon as possible, aiming at getting parliamentary approval before the end of the year.

Although there is still need to agree on details, the agreement provides for flexibility in hiring personnel, the links between the employer and the employee, and outsourcing.

The also provides for fine waivers and criminal immunity for one year, gives more power the employers to alter the guidelines of contracts, and limits the employees' access to litigation and compensatory fees. The bill would also allow the establishment of work cessation funds with contributions from workers, and reinstate internship programs.

In return, it extends some licenses, such as for parenthood, and creates others. The government also receded from excluding overtime hours and commissions from the compensation calculus. The so-called "comp time" would be extinguished and outsourcing would be forbidden in areas such as security, hygiene, IT and transportation.

by Agencia CMA Latam

For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
The row over filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati" intensified on Thursday after a Shri Rajput Karni Sena member threatened to chop off actress Deepika Padukone's nose amid a call for "Bharat Bandh" (shutdown) on December 1 when the film is slated for pan-India release.

The Uttar Pradesh government has also said in a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that the prospects of public outrage and unrest over "Padmavati" are considered owing to twisting of historical facts before certification of the film by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Earlier on Thursday, Shri Rajput Karni Sena member Mahipal Singh Makrana said in a self-made video that "Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha".

Shri Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi also said at a press conference that they will call for a "Bharat bandh" on December 1.

"We will gather in lakhs, our ancestors wrote history with blood we will not let anyone blacken it; we will call for Bharat bandh on December 1," Kalvi said.

Also, Union Minister Uma Bharti on Thursday lashed out at Bhansali, and tweeted: "If we are talking about the respect of Padmavati, then it is our moral obligation that we respect every woman. Disrespect of the actress or actor of 'Padmavati' is uncalled for and immoral."

She added: "The director and his associate as the scriptwriter of 'Padmavati' are responsible for its story. They should have taken care of the sentiments and the historical facts."

During the shooting of the film earlier this year, a few members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had physically assaulted Bhansali in Jaipur. The party members also set fire to the film's set in Maharashtra.

Various organisations, political parties and individuals have stood up for the Rajput community and have opposed the release of "Padmavati" over apprehensions that it distorts history in telling the tale of Rajput queen Padmavati.

The Congress party also said on Wednesday that if there are scenes that hurt the sentiments of a particular community then the same need to be reviewed.

"I have not watched the movie as yet, but definitely the Central Board of Film Certification formulated and formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has seen it and passed it without cuts.

"But any movie that hurts the sentiments of any community... a film is not made to hurt any community," said Congress Spokesperson R.P.N. Singh.

Earlier, on November 11, Thakur Anup Singh, National Youth President of the so-called Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to take action against those who were protesting against the film "Padmavati".

On the other hand, Deepika in an exclusive interview with IANS said nothing can stop the release of the film.

"It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed," Deepika said.

"The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film," said the actress, adding that the film industry's support symbolises how "this is not about 'Padmavati'... We're fighting a much bigger battle," she added.

On his behalf, Bhansali has clarified through various platforms that the film doesn't show the Rajput community in bad light and has been made keeping all religious sentiments in mind.

"Padmavati", which also features Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is yet to be certified by CBFC. However, the Rajput community has demanded a special screening of the film for them before it hits the theatres.

While the film is drawing a lot of flak from the political parties, Bhansali is getting unstinted support from the film community.

"There is no fear and one shouldn't be scared either because I think this is a democratic country and everybody should be allowed to make films they want to make," Aditi Rao Hydari, who is part of "Padmavati", said here on Wednesday.

Actress Richa Chadha, who worked with Bhansali in "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela", said: "With all due respect and love, I am also a Hindu, and I don't think religion is so weak that a movie can break it. And I think it is a speciality of India that we are a democracy, so watch the film before objecting."

Celebrities like Salman Khan, Karan Johar and Javed Akhtar also expressed their support to the film.

_

_SHOW_MID_AD__
Just a few years ago, India relied almost exclusively on coal to fuel its rapid development, opening new coal-burning power plants and increasing coal mining and imports. This year, however, in a remarkable turnaround, India cancelled plans for an additional 14 gigawatts of coal power and announced that it won't build any new coal plants for at least a decade -- thanks to a rapid rise in renewable energy.

As world leaders gather in Bonn for the follow-up to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, India is one of several standouts in the global emissions picture. This nation of 1.3 billion people, the third-largest emitter of climate pollution, is on track to meet and exceed its Paris commitments. But the challenges India faces as it seeks to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty while tackling climate change are immense. The world needs to be invested in India's climate progress.

The need to scale up climate solutions in India is clear. In New Delhi, citizens are suffering through a week-long toxic smog that has closed schools, cancelled trains and suspended flights. Air pollution, much of it from dirty energy used in vehicles and coal-fired power plants, was linked to the deaths of 1.6 million people last year. Heat waves in India are becoming more severe and deadly as global temperatures rise, killing thousands. And climate change is boosting the intensity of seasonal monsoon rains. Last year 1,200 people across South Asia died in massive flooding, including 500 in the Indian state of Bihar.

Clean energy holds tremendous promise to meet India's complex challenges, and solar development in particular is surging forward. In just a few years, India installed nearly as much solar capacity as the three top US states -- California, New Jersey and Massachusetts -- combined. India is now home to the world's largest solar park, with a bigger one in the works. In Paris, India committed to 40 percent non-fossil energy by 2030, and will likely hit this target by 2022 -- eight years ahead of schedule.

Even on a more individual scale, solar energy is making a huge difference in people's lives. I have seen how solar energy has empowered rural women in the salt flats of Gujarat. Through the partnership with NRDC (Natural Resources Defence Council), SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association) now has a loan programme that replaces fuel-hungry, inefficient diesel pumps with solar-powered water pumps to use in the salt flats.

Several women I met in this community say they can now save money to pay for their children's education instead of having to put their profits back into diesel fuel. For these families, solar energy is a ticket out of poverty.

In addition to developing a cleaner energy supply, India is working to reduce energy demand from appliances and buildings. The government just launched a new energy-efficient buildings programme that will support investment in about 10 million LED lights, 1.5 million energy-efficient ceiling fans, and 150,000 energy-efficient air conditioners. A new Energy Conservation Building Code, which NRDC is working to implement with partners, has been adopted by eight states, with 15 more to follow. This widespread adoption would make 90 percent of India's infrastructure development more energy efficient.

Financing for clean energy, however, remains a major challenge. Solar prices are dropping rapidly, but researchers estimate that India would need $834 billion in financing to achieve all its Paris targets -- a hefty sum for any nation, let alone a developing country that has not historically contributed to climate pollution.

Leveraging India's limited government funds to bring in more private and international investment will be the key and NRDC is working with experts in India to unlock more investment in clean energy. Green bonds dedicated to clean energy could be one way to attract private capital.

Greenko Energy Holdings, one of India's leading clean energy companies, successfully raised $1 billion with green bonds in July. At the same time, greater financing is needed to scale solutions that bring reliable electricity to underserved communities, such as rooftop solar, microgrids and mini-grids to provide more localised power.

India has made solid progress on its Paris climate commitments. But developing its economy while combating climate change, air pollution and extreme poverty is an enormous undertaking. No nation can make this uphill climb alone. In today's world, countries, cities, states and regions need to work together across borders to support climate solutions and protect people worldwide from the worst impacts of climate change.

Only by accelerating climate action worldwide will we close the emissions gap and achieve the promise of Paris -- a safer climate future for us all.
An explosion at one of the diesel fuel storage tanks on the wharf at Matautu-tai, which killed a worker last year, has prompted the government to make changes to the law in a bid to ensure the tragedy is not repeated.

This was revealed by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Parliament this week when he tabled the Fire and Emergency Service Amendment Bill 2017.

The bill proposes to amend the Fire and Emergency Act 2007 (Act) to provide for hot works permit to avoid and minimise risks of fire and explosions in any hot works.

For section 2 of the Principal Act, it states that hot works means welding, thermal cutting, heating, brazing, soldering, plasma cutting, grinding, metal spraying and all other works that has potential to generate heat, flames, or sparks that may increase the risk of fire or explosion.

Section 41(2) of the Principal Act is amended: To authorize the Samoan Fire and Emergency Services Authority to issue permits for any hot works operations.

According to Tuilaepa, the explosion prompted Cabinet to really look into the matter.

The Cabinet and the people were asking why this happened and where was the Fire Emergency Service, he said.

An investigation was conducted to determine the cause of the incident and what we found was that there was no safe guard under the fire and emergency Bill to prohibit anyone from doing welding works to these tanks at any time.

This is very important because we believe that if this incident occurred and it was petrol, it would have caused a lot of damage in Apia as it would have spread immediately.

Tuilaepa said the government did not take what happened lightly.

We the Cabinet thought that we should not be taking this lightly or wait around until another incident occurs, but to take into consideration the saying better safe than sorry.

This is why the Cabinet as well as the heads of the Fire and Emergency Service looked into a solution to solve such a problem.

We decided to ban any hot works conducted in these areas unless a permit has been authorized by the fire emergency services.

Those companies who want to conduct hot works in these areas must put in a proposal to the fire emergency service and then they (F.E.S.A.) will have to conduct a safety investigation whether the work will not affect the public safety.

When such accidents happen, the government must intervene to come up with plans to ensure that nothing similar will happen in the future.

Tuilaepa added there are penalties for those who go against the law when it is passed.

There will be consequences for those who will go against this or found doing unauthorized hot works without the knowledge of the Fire and Emergency Service, he said.

Member of Parliament from Faleata, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi questioned whether the amendment of the Bill covered any kind of work.

We all dont want what happened last year to happen again but this might affect all the other works that needs to be done every day, said Leala.

Tuilaepa said the Bill says any kind of work that must be done needs to get authorization from the fire service.

The Constitution said any kind of work, said Tuilaepa.

If we dont do this then there will come a time that something unexpected and bigger will happen.

When the explosion went off last year, an employee of Petroleum Products Supplies Limited (P.P.S) who was working on the storage tank was killed immediately.

Another employee of the company was hospitalised.

The blaze caused widespread panic throughout the Apia township where workers, visitors and students were evacuated.

The fire also kicked the Disaster Advisory Committee (D.A.C) into action, calling in their private and public sector members.

The Bill has now been referred to the Parliamentary Committee.
Samoa is blessed with an abundance of natural resources.

Malosi Ioane, a father of four from the village of Aele told the Village Voice team yesterday that his work made him realise how blessed our country was.

I work at a place where they pack and export crops, the 49-year-old said.

We also travel to rural places to collect crops and thats how we see people work on their plantation almost every day.

Mr. Ioane also shared about the breadfruit harvesting season.

This made us realize that we have everything here and we dont need to depend on imports for survival.

The only problem Mr. Ioane commented on was the expensive cost of living.

Life here in Samoa is getting very expensive and the only solution is to go back and work our land so we can export and make money from what we have.

People are complaining about the cost of living but trust me it wont make any difference at all, we just have to put in the work needed.

Mr. Ioane also acknowledged his employer for their role in helping the people of Samoa.

For me I am personally proud of the people who are bringing their crops to us so we can pack and export them.

Not only will it provide money for them, it is also an opportunity to let the world have a taste of what grows from our soil.

Mr. Ioane added money did not grow on trees.

You have to work hard in order to fight the expensive cost of living, our land is a blessing and so are we.
The power struggle between the government and the church over the issue of taxes is an intriguing one to follow.

It certainly adds a new dimension to the political climate of the moment. And while it appears insidious, it is nonetheless a first for Samoa and perhaps a sign of things to come.

You see for years many of us thought the two pillars of Samoan life were working like hand in glove in just about everything. We thought they were inseparable folks.

That was until the government turned around and slapped the church, or specifically Church Ministers by taxing their incomes.

They didnt stop there of course. They went further and taxed the envelopes church Ministers receive from funerals, weddings and the lot. Now they have turned on each other in what has been a most interesting little scuffle to follow.

The latest development emerged this week during a series of seminars being conducted by the Ministry of Revenue to explain how the new law will work, starting on 01 January 2018.

From what weve been told, the government appears quite envious of the church and church Ministers.

The Bill is not new from our perspective; its been years since the government has been trying to put it in place, a government official said.

The government and the Ministry have noticed that some of the pastors receive more than C.E.O.s and thats why we think that it will be nice for pastors to contribute.

Well thats interesting, isnt it?

Especially in a nation that has just declared itself a Christian state.

What about scriptures in the Bible which clearly point out that Church Ministers and workers of God are to be looked after by the people whom they are ministering too? Arent they specifically instructed not to take anything which is why villagers and church members fork out for them? Housing, clothing, food and everything?

Come to think of it, we live in a country where Church Ministers have always been referred to as representatives of God on earth. As such, is the government now asking God to pay taxes to Samoa as his contribution?

Do they not consider life, natural resources, the air we breathe and all the blessings we get daily as contribution? And how do we put a monetary value to such?

Clearly, members of the clergy are not happy.

And this week, they had a strong message for Prime Minister Tuilaepa delivered by Reverend Siaosi Samuelu, of the Catholic Church at Salua Manono.

There are countless families in Upolu especially at Aleipata who dont have access to water and electricity, he said. Use those monies to help those families. Use it wisely please but dont abuse and waste them.

Well theres an interesting little revelation.

So the church knows about how the government has been abusing and wasting money? If this is so, why has it waited until now to find its voice? A matter of convenience perhaps?

Of course Rev. Samuelu doesnt speak for all members of the clergy. But he pretty much sums up the general feeling many of them have openly expressed since this debacle started.

For your information we only heard this on the radio and newspapers but not from the government, he said about the seminars.

Now theyve come and want to hear from us, personally, its a waste of time because the law has already been passed. What more do they want from us now?

Rev. Samuelu said he doesnt object to the governments plan but he wants to make it clear that common courteousy would have gone a long way.

We couldnt agree more. But how many times have we seen this from this government? This is so typical.

Back to Rev. Samuelu he is obviously aware that nothing he says would change the governments plan. He and many others like him have probably accepted their fate to pay taxes.

But he doesnt go down without a fight.

Dont spend it on road constructions where in the next two years, they dig the road again, he advised about how tax monies should be spent. That is a waste of taxpayers money. Stop wasting money on useless projects. They should look at solid developments, not another burden to everyone shoulders.

Wonderful.

But heres a last thought though, if the government hadnt wasted so much money on useless projects and abuse, maybe we would never have reached the stage where today they are now looking to tax God too?

What do you think? Write and share your thoughts with us!
The wife of a prisoner who died at the Moto'otua Hospital last month has dismissed Police claims her husband died of a heart attack.

And Jackie Tasi is asking the relevant authorities to investigate his death. She has also threatened to take legal action against the Prison, Police and the hospital over the handling of his case.

Alele Mano, 33, from Siumu was serving life in imprisonment when he was hospitalised. A source within the Ministry of Police said the cause of death was heart attack.

But Jackie does not accept this.

During an interview with the Samoa Observer yesterday, she called on the Police to further investigate her husbands death.

The doctors report clearly pointed out that my husband died because of high blood pressure and it affected his heart, she said.

However, she said when she arrived at the Motootua Hospital, she saw that her husbands body had bruises.

I asked the police officers who were at the hospital at that time why my husbands body was like that and they told me that my husband always had chest pains, she said.

Jackie was not convinced. She told the Samoa Observer she did not have the courage to look at her husbands bruised body.

Alele was wrapped with a piece of cloth that looked so ugly and the mat that he was lying on was nearly torn apart. To me I could not believe that this is the way my husband would be treated under the prisons care.

The different accounts relayed to her about how her husband died adds to the confusion.

Up until now, I am still confused if my husband died at Tafaigata Prison or at the hospital because even the prison officers had different stories to tell me when I asked them, she said.

I was also told by officers that my husband was taken to the hospital on Saturday, Oct 21st because he felt ill.

The doctor whose name I cannot recall, discharged him and asked to take him back to Tafaigata Prison.

I was very disappointed because they knew he was very sick, they should have detained him at the hospital for further treatment.

I am not happy with the way officers did not inform me first, they informed my husbands father first, yet they know I am the wife.

During the interview, Mrs. Tasi said: When my husband came home to celebrate White Sunday with us, he mentioned to me that they were collecting money. I asked him what that money was for; he replied that it was for their contribution to the construction of the newly-built Tafaigata Prison at Tanugamala.

My mum jumped into our conversation and said they should not be collecting money to help out with the construction because the government is funding it. Alele replied yes and dont worry he wont put in even though they were instructed by the prisoners officers.

After spending White Sunday with us, he went back and later on, I was told that my husband is gone forever.

I do believe that something happened inside prison that led to the bruises on my husbands body.

My husband was buried on Wednesday and now I will seek justice for my husbands death. I will look for a lawyer to help me out with my case.

She said she is seeking a lawyer to take up her case.

Mrs. Tasi burst into tears when she said that she had never thought that Alele would have gone early because their children were very young.

We have two children, our eldest is two years old and the youngest is 11 months.

Our family relies on him when he had the chance to come home and spend Sundays with his children and then the following week he goes back to prison.

He was a loving father to my children and also to my father who is disabled. Alele always takes good care of him, she said.

Jackies mother, Safata Tasi and Aleles father shared with us their disappointment and sadness on what had transpired.

I am not happy with the way they treat my son inside prison, yes of course he is serving life imprisonment because of what he had done but that does not mean they should treat him like that, Aleles father said.
In an ever changing and dynamic retail environment, two of Samoas high profile and longstanding family businesses, MENA and Eveni - Koko Pacific, have joined forces to give their customers the best Christmas experience.

MENA and Eveni are getting together to launch their new collections in time for Christmas.

The launch is scheduled in the next few weeks.

Both Samoan brands have made successful transitions across to New Zealand with local marketing, retail and distribution channels in Auckland.

A key part of their sales strategy has been a strong focus on the e-commerce market.

MENAs growing online channel has seen the business consolidate their retail and online operation to new premises in Grey Lynn, Auckland.

Likewise, Eveni - Koko Pacific has gained significant reach with their prominent social media campaigns.

Both labels have a following of over 100K on their respective Facebook pages.

Although MENA and Eveni - Koko Pacific target slightly different sectors of the market, the team at MENA are optimistic of the benefits to both brands in this collaboration.

Jackie Loheni says that their MENA brand has always looked to innovate in what is always a challenging retail environment.

A key driver for us is deciding who to partner with is making sure that the business is sustainable and that we are aligned in our values, we are very excited to launch our Salamasina Collection alongside Eveni - Koko Pacific. Eveni Carruthers has a wonderful story with a rich 88 year business history in Samoa and were really proud to be working alongside them.
A 38-year-old father of two is the latest drowning victim at Tufutafoe, Savaii.

This was confirmed by Police Media Spokesperson, Superintendent Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

He said the deceased was with other two men of the village on the night of 1 November 2017 when the incident happened.

According to our report, he went fishing with two men in the wee hours of the morning, Auapaau said.

The two men told the Police that not long after they started fishing, they heard him screaming for help, by that time he already fell off from where he was standing on the rock.

Auapaau said the deceaseds family contacted Police at Apia at 5:30am the same day.

Thats when we called our station at Asau for help because people of the village have been looking for his body everywhere, he said.

He was later found out at sea not far from where they were fishing. Police are satisfied that he died from drowning.

A family member of the deceased told Samoa Observer he was trapped between rocks when he fell and strong waves carried his body out to the sea.

The deceased was laid to rest last week at his home in Tufutafoe.

In a separate incident, Auapaau also confirmed a 38-year-old man of Samalaeulu drowned last week.

Auapaau said he went with his cousins to fish at Solomea at Samalaeulu when he died. Police are still investigating.
Food security in Samoa was at the forefront of a panel discussion attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (C.O.P 23) in Bonn, Germany yesterday.

Access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times has been recognized as a right for all people in our region by the Pacific health ministers, endorsing the vision of healthy islands as an overarching framework for health protection and promotion in the Pacific, Fiame said.

At the climate change food security and nutritious challenge of Small Island Developing States and global Action Programme held yesterday, Fiame said Pacific islanders have traditionally enjoyed comparatively good food security.

This is mainly because they have secured food in a variety of ways including subsistence farming, trading and selling products, fishing and hunting.

Now, this historic food security is being eroded by urbanization and a growing reliance on cheap and often poor quality imported foods that have little nutritional value.

The change in both supply and demand of food poses an increasing threat to food security which is reflected in the health of Pacific populations.

Imported foods that are of poor and nutritional quality are contributing to high rates of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables is low, she said.

Fiame says environmental shock also impacts food security.

With climate change, the maximum speed of tropical cyclones is expected to increase by up to 20 percent rainfall variation destabilizes croplands, agricultural lands are damaged, coastal areas are inundated, fresh water sanitized, tuna stocks are shifting and the incidences of diseases and health risks such as devalue fever and chikungunya is increasing.

She added the safety of imported food was also an enormous challenge for the Pacific because there was a lack of food safety laws and regulations.

Regarding fish and fishing which are the fundamental to life, Fiame says Blue Pacific is the mainstay of many economies in the Pacific.

Threats are imminent through overexploitation and environmental degradation of marine and coastal habitats.

Climate Change seriously threatens the sustainability the fishing industry, says Fiame.

She also points to the importance of Forests which is often overlooked and in the context of food security; however it provides important staple crops such as breadfruit, mangoes and citrus fruits.

In regards to agriculture, Fiame indicates that this subject is vulnerable to sectors particularly on yields and the type of crops that can be grown.

Some of the more acute risks to agriculture production include cyclone impacts, drought, emergence of new pests and disease vectors.

Attention is placed on the importance of farmers receiving the best available information and guidelines on the choice of crop varieties and soil and water management options.
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP)  In the first round of negotiations over how President Robert Mugabe will leave power, the Zimbabwean leader met Thursday with the army commander who put him under house arrest and mediators, including South African Cabinet ministers and a Catholic priest.

Meanwhile, an emergency summit of heads of state of regional countries was called by the 16-nation Southern African Development Community and is expected to formalize the terms of Mugabe's exit.

The summit puts regional leaders who have worked with the 93-year-old Mugabe for decades into the difficult position of either supporting what appears to be a coup or keeping the unpopular president, the world's oldest head of state, in office.

In the first images of Mugabe after the military moved in earlier this week, Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper published photos of him smiling and shaking hands with army commander Constantino Chiwenga. The photos also showed South African Cabinet ministers and a Catholic priest whom Mugabe has used as a mediator before.

First lady Grace Mugabe was not pictured, however, amid speculation over the future of a woman whose rapid political rise had alarmed many who feared she could succeed her husband after he fired his longtime deputy last week.

"This is political theatre. Chiwenga and the army want to give Mugabe a soft landing, a dignified exit," said Piers Pigou, southern Africa expert for the International Crisis Group.

"They are working on the choreography of how this will be done. By calling a full summit, (the regional leaders) are showing respect for Mugabe, the last of the liberation war heroes," Pigou said. "Mugabe wants the full fanfare as he exits stage left. The regional leaders will be showing deference to Mugabe, even though they can't wait to see the back of him."

As Zimbabweans waited anxiously for details of a deal, South African President Jacob Zuma told parliament Zimbabwe's political situation "very shortly will be becoming clear."

Seizing on the political limbo, Zimbawean opposition leaders and civil society groups urged Mugabe to step aside after 37 years in power and for the country to have a transition period leading to free and fair elections.

Mugabe has been in military custody, reportedly with his wife, since the army seized control of the capital late Tuesday.

There has been no sign of former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose firing last week angered supporters in the military amid concern that Grace Mugabe would replace him at a party meeting next month. Mnangagwa, who fled Zimbabwe saying he had received threats, is widely tipped to be brought back to lead Zimbabwe's transition.

A joint statement by more than 100 Zimbabwean civil society groups urged Mugabe to peacefully step aside and asked the military to respect the constitution. A joint statement by churches also appealed for calm.

Knox Chitiyo, an analyst with the Chatham House think tank, said he believed the negotiations "have pretty much reached an end point" to get Mugabe to step aside and that it was a "matter of hours or days."

He said the aim was a peaceful, managed transition and a dignified exit for Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from white minority rule in 1980 and remains widely known, even praised, in Africa as a liberation leader.

Chitiyo said he doesn't know where the ailing Mugabe would go but that the destination is "likely driven by his health." Mugabe frequently seeks medical treatment in Singapore.

Meanwile, opposition leaders added their voices to those calling for Mugabe to step down.

Morgan Tsvangirai, who shared power with Mugabe between 2009 and 2013, said Mugabe must resign, adding that his party would participate in talks on a transitional mechanism if approached.

He pointedly referred to Mugabe as "Mister" not president.

A former vice president who was fired in 2014, Joice Mujuru, called for "free, fair and credible elections" following a transition arrangement that draws from a range of communities.

And the Rev. Evan Mawarire, the Zimbabwean pastor whose #ThisFlag social media campaign last year led to the largest anti-government protests in a decade, said of the unfolding events: "Should we just sit and wait or shall we at least be part of this transition process?"

Zimbabwean newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube summed up the dilemma facing the nation over Mugabe's exit, saying in a Twitter post:

"How do you ask your Head of State and Commander-in-Chief that you recognize and salute to step down? You find answer to this puzzle then you are good to go."

Across the country, Zimbabweans long frustrated by crackdowns on dissent and a collapsing economy were enjoying freedoms they hadn't had in years. Soldiers manning the few checkpoints leading into downtown Harare greeted motorists with smiles, searching cars without hostilities and wishing motorists a safe journey.

Human rights groups urged respect for rights as the drama played out.

Amid persistent questions about the whereabouts of first lady Grace Mugabe, one Namibian newspaper, the New Era, reported that the country's foreign minister denied she had fled there.

The U.S. Embassy advised citizens in Zimbabwe to "limit unnecessary movements" as political uncertainty continues. The British government also urged its citizens to avoid large gatherings and any demonstrations.
A state senator sent a letter Wednesday to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), urging a rejection of a request by San Diego Gas & Electric to pass $379 million to ratepayers for costs associated with three deadly wildfires that scorched San Diego County 10 years ago.

Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, addressed the letter to all five CPUC commissioners, who have final say in the case.

The commission last week delayed a vote on the case for a fourth time. It is now scheduled for Nov. 30 but, theoretically, can be put off to a later date.

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The perception your delay casts is troublesome, and your public rationale as to the need for delay is inadequate, Hills letter said.

In a telephone interview, Hill said he believes SDG&E has done a tremendous job since the fires and learned many lessons, but to allow them to now pass on those charges would be sending the wrong message.

CPUC spokeswoman Terrie Prosper thanked Hill for his input, adding: The commissioners will decide the case as soon as they have undertaken a thorough analysis, which is not dependent on when the proceeding shows up on our meeting agenda, but rather when they have completed their review.

SDG&E spokeswoman Colleen Windsor said of Hills letter that parties from all sides of the case have met with commissioners and staff.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conducted its own inquiry with respect to the reasonableness and prudence of the FERC-jurisdictional portion of the wildfire costs for which SDG&E has sought recovery, and approved SDG&Es request, Windsor said in an email.

In August, a pair of CPUC administrative law judge recommended the commissioners reject SDG&Es request, saying the utility did not reasonably manage and operate its facilities.

SDG&E vehemently disagreed with the administrative law judges opinion and the CEO of Sempra Energy, the utilitys parent company, said last month, it is something we will put through the court system if the commission does not rule in our favor.

Related: Letter from state Sen. Jerry Hill to the CPUC

The Witch, Rice and Guejito wildfires in October 2007 killed two, destroyed more than 1,300 homes and forced thousands to take temporary shelter at Qualcomm Stadium.

SDG&E officials have argued the conditions leading up to the blazes were beyond the utilitys control and point to California court decisions that have ruled utilities can spread their costs of damages to ratepayers.

The utility estimates its proposal will cost the average ratepayer $1.67 more per month over the space of six years.

Two other California utilities, Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, jumped into the case in support of SDG&E. They have met with commission staff, maintaining utilities face greater risk of wildfires due to factors such as drought conditions, vegetation growth, climate change and home construction in wooded areas.

Shortly after entering the case, the Wine Country wildfires erupted, killed at least 43 people and destroyed 8,900 structures, many located in PG&Es service territory. The CPUC and CAL FIRE are investigating the cause of the fires.

Some parties opposed to SDG&E have raised concerns the delays in the case may be an indication that commissioners will issue a ruling in the utilitys favor.

We believe Sen. Hill sees the failure of the CPUC to enforce safety rules, said former San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre. We believe it will take a special session of the legislature to reform the CPUC so it vigorously enforces safety rules.

This story has been updated to include a statement from SDG&E and clarifies the fact that the CPUC and CAL FIRE are investigating the cause of the Wine Country wildfires.

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rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski

ALSO

CPUC delays vote on 2007 wildfire case for a fourth time

Why 2 other California utilities have joined SDG&E case on 2007 wildfire costs

Why is it taking so long for the CPUC to decide the SDG&E wildfire case?
In a ruling that could set a precedent for lawsuits over the effects of climate change, a panel of appeals judges on Tuesday found three paint manufacturers responsible for the health hazards of lead paint in California homes and upheld an order that they pay to abate the dangers.

The companies  ConAgra, NL Industries and Sherwin-Williams  had been ordered by a trial court in 2014 to pay a combined $1.15 billion for a lead paint abatement program in 10 counties and cities covering homes built before 1978, when lead paint in homes was outlawed.



For the record: An earlier version of this article identified a Sherwin-Williams attorney as Antonio Diaz. He is Antonio Dias.

In their ruling issued Tuesday, three judges of the California Court of Appeal narrowed the program to homes built before 1951, when the paint companies said they ceased actively advertising residential lead-based paint. It isnt clear how much the abatement fund would be reduced by the order, though an attorney for the plaintiff counties and cities estimated that the companies still would be on the hook for about $600 million.

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Thousands and thousands of homes are out there still with lead paint in their interior walls.  Joseph Cotchett, attorney for cities and counties suing lead paint manufacturers

This case is all about children, said the attorney, Joseph Cotchett. He observed that thousands of children in low-income families in Los Angeles alone have been shown by tests to have elevated levels of lead in their blood.

Even though lead hasnt been used in homes in decades, he said, thousands and thousands of homes are out there still with lead paint in their interior walls.

The appellate ruling may have ramifications beyond the hazard of lead paint. Thats because the judges upheld the plaintiffs argument that the marketing of lead paint created a public nuisance  a doctrine commonly applied to landlords operating drug dens or factories with noxious emissions, but seldom on broad environmental grounds. A similar public nuisance argument is at the heart of lawsuits recently filed against major fossil fuel companies by cities and counties in California blaming them for a sea-level rise associated with climate change.

Like the lead paint case, says Vic Sher, a San Francisco attorney representing the city of Imperial Beach and San Mateo and Marin counties in sea-level cases, we have an industry that knew its products could inflict serious damage and continued to promote those products anyway. The lawsuits, which Sher estimated could lead to billions and billions in judgments against the oil industry, were filed in California state court but have been moved to federal court at the defendants request.

The cases are strikingly similar, says Sean Hecht, an expert in environmental law at UCLA. As of yesterdays ruling, those sea-level rise cases are far more likely to advance past the first litigation hurdle.

The defendant paint companies say theyll appeal the ruling to the California Supreme Court.

We disagree with the appeals courts determination relative to the public nuisance issue, says Antonio Dias, an attorney for Sherwin-Williams. He argued that the effect of the ruling is to stigmatize owners of homes built before 1951 by labeling their properties a public nuisance. Theyre wearing a scarlet letter.

He added that no abatement program on the scale ordered by the courts has been done anywhere in the country, and that the process of removing or covering the remains of lead paint in aging homes could create additional lead hazards.

Cotchett, meanwhile, said he would recommend that the cities and counties appeal to the state Supreme Court to return the abatement program to its original application to pre-1979 homes.

As we reported in April, the lead-paint litigation had been wending its way through the California court system for 17 years. That made it one of the longest-lived lawsuits in the state, outlasting the original trial judge, James P. Kleinberg of Santa Clara, who retired shortly after issuing his 2014 ruling. Kleinberg held the three companies liable for the actions of their predecessor firms and ordered them to put up $1.15 billion to inspect more than 3.5 million California homes and apartments and remove or abate residual lead hazards. That means painting over deteriorating surfaces and removing lead chips and dust, especially in units housing children.

The original manufacturers, Kleinberg found, energetically promoted the use of lead in house paint to improve its durability and water-resistance, even though the dangers of lead had been known since antiquity. The appellate panel found that the manufacturers promotion of lead paint for interior residential use necessarily implied that lead paint was safe for such use.

Indeed, trial evidence suggested that the industry saw the risk of health effects from lead paint to be chiefly a PR problem, with the dangers mostly concentrated in low-income ethnic neighborhoods.

Aside from the kids that are poisoned, its a serious problem from the viewpoint of adverse publicity, an industry health official wrote in 1956, according to legal filings in the case. The basic solution is to get rid of our slums, but even Uncle Sam cant seem to swing that one. Next in importance is to educate the parents, but most of the cases are in Negro and Puerto Rican families, and how does one tackle that job?

Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com.

Return to Michael Hiltziks blog.
Cox Charities recently awarded $70,000 in grants to 20 San Diego County nonprofits to fund programs focused on youth, education, conservation, and supporting military families.

A separate $5,000 grant also went to Shelter to Soldier, which received the most votes from Cox employees through a voting campaign. Shelter to Soldier trains dogs to become service animals for post-9/11 combat veterans.

The Cox Charities 2017 Nonprofit Grant recipients are:

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Autism Tree Project Inc.  Free early intervention screenings to hundreds of low-income Head Start preschoolers to help prepare them for kindergarten.

Barrio Logan College Institute  Helps underserved students and parents through academic support, college prep and workforce readiness classes.

Biocom Institute  Workshops, career events, mentorship for veterans planning careers in the life science industry.

Boys to Men Mentoring Network Inc.  Provides male mentors to high-risk boys throughout San Diego County.

Burn Institute  Child Burn Survivor Support services provide emotional, financial, and social support to child burn survivors and their families.

Education Begins in the Home  The nonprofit provides North County youths with free books to help improve literacy.

Home Start Inc.  The new Transition Age Youth Rapid Rehousing program provides homeless women ages 18-24 who are pregnant or parenting with housing, case management and support services.

I Love A Clean San Diego Inc.  Hundreds of cleanups each year, including the annual Creek to Bay cleanup, which engages thousands of volunteers at more than 100 sites simultaneously.

Media Arts Center San Diego  The Teen Producers Project is a hands-on technology training program for underserved youth attending Title I schools in San Diego.

Ocean Discovery Institute  Community Initiative programs provide opportunities for City Heights residents to do hands-on, science-based stewardship in their neighborhood environments.

Operation Homefront  Assistance to military families in need, including holiday meals.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego  Keeps families close to their hospitalized children by providing a place to stay, hot meals, and other support.

San Diego Center for Children  The centers academy provides K-12 education to students with mental, emotional and/or behavioral disorders.

Semper Fi Fund  Supports wounded, critically ill and injured service members and their families as they transition back into their communities.

Shelter to Soldier  Adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 combat veterans.

SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes  This San Diego-based program serves athletes with developmental disabilities from age 5 through adulthood.

The Arc of San Diego  One of the regions largest human-service agencies, The Arc serves people with disabilities, including the Parent/Infant Program for children at risk of developmental delays from birth to age 3.

The Elementary Institute of Science  Increases opportunities for students in southeast San Diego through STEM education, including the Steps-2-STEM program, which provides 25 extra hours of STEM learning during the school year.

YMCA of San Diego County  Youth & Family Services  Service and support to more than 15,000 individuals in the county annually, including the YMCA Turning Point transitional living program for homeless youth ages 18-21.

Zoological Society of San Diego  The grant will help fund the participation of 475 elementary-age students from 12 underserved school groups in a hands-on water conservation program through San Diego Zoo Globals Save Our Aquatic Resources program at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Cox Charities grants are funded by employee payroll donations that are matched by the company and support the communities in Cox Communications service area.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
A three-year study of possible solutions to Oceanside beach erosion has stalled after federal funding dried up and now the city is being asked to pony up as much as $1 million to restart it, a city official said Wednesday.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers launched its shoreline feasibility study in March 2016 to examine the effects the Camp Pendleton harbor, built in 1942, has on Oceanside beaches. The citys harbor, built in the 1960s, shares its entrance.

The ultimate goal is to get more sand on the beaches, said Kiel Koger, the citys public works director.

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Studies as early as the 1950s have shown the jetty that extends out into the ocean from the harbors mouth diverts sand that currents otherwise would carry onto the beaches. Other sources of beach sand such as rivers and bluffs also have been stopped by steady development over the last century.

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Last year, when the latest study began, it was to be 100 percent federally funded, Koger said.

However, the money stopped this year, and now the Corps is asking Oceanside to kick in half the remaining costs so that work can resume.

They said it will probably be about $1.5 million to $2 million to complete  total, he said, and it will take about two more years to finish the study.

A similar federal study in Solana Beach and Encinitas set the basis for a 50-year sand replenishment project that was allocated $87 million last year as part of the federal Water Resources Development Act. That project, planned for more than 15 years, could begin as soon as next year. It would use sand from offshore deposits to widen beaches by 50 to 150 feet in those two cities, which, along with the state, will share portions of the estimated $165 million total cost over the next five decades.

An Army Corps spokesman was unavailable Wednesday to discuss the Oceanside study. Another Corps project in Oceanside, the San Luis Rey River flood-control excavation, fell through because of problems with the contractor after work was scheduled to begin this fall. That project also would have placed more sand on the citys beaches.

Oceanside beaches south of the harbor have eroded steadily since the 1940s. Only a narrow strip of sand remains in most spots south of the municipal pier. Structures along the shore are protected by rock revetments and by annual beach replenishment with sand pumped from the harbor and other sources.

Like all coastal San Diego County cities, Oceanside depends on its beaches for tourism, recreation, and protection of its coastal structures from the ocean waves.

The goal of the current feasibility study is to gather more information about beach erosion and the possible solutions to it.

The Corps has been working on and off on these feasibility studies since about 2000, Koger said. A previous effort also ended when funding for it was cut.

Oceanside officials have asked the Corps for a letter that outlines details of the expected costs for the remaining work and the time it will take, Koger said.

Once that it received, the Corps request for local funding will be presented to the City Council for a decision.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
UPDATE on 11/28: A memorial service for Chris Johnson will be held on Friday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. at the Lake Poway pavilion.

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A recently retired Sheriffs deputy, nicknamed Sheepdog by Chelsea Kings parents because of his fierce protection of their family, has died.

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At the age of 54, Chris Johnson, a Poway resident, suffered a heart attack Tuesday in Michigan while visiting family.

Johnson was assigned in 2010 to be the liaison between law enforcement and the Kings in the days and weeks following the 17-year-old Poway High School students abduction and murder.

Johnson retired from the department last year after 28 years, but had returned on a part-time basis and was working out of the Sheriffs headquarters as recently as last week, officials said.

The King family  Brent, Kelly and their son Tyler -- posted a tribute to Johnson on Facebook Wednesday night.

It is with a heavy heart we mourn the loss of our dear friend, (Deputy) Chris Johnson. His sudden and unexpected passing this morning has left us heartbroken. We first met Chris the day after our daughter Chelsea went missing. He was assigned to stay by our side nearly 24/7.

In the following days, weeks, months and years he became our protector, our rock, our friend and our hero. We find comfort knowing he was met in heaven by an angel with the bluest of eyes and the brightest of smiles. We will miss you, Sheepdog, but we will see you again. Our deepest sympathy to Chriss cherished children and the love of his life, Sherri. Rest peacefully, Chris, and thank you for a life devoted to protecting your flock as only a Sheepdog can do.

According to a news article in the Poway News Chieftan last year, Johnson said he was assigned to the King family the day after Chelsea King was abducted while out for a run on the trails near Lake Hodges.

I stayed with them 20 hours a day for the first 10 days, Johnson said. I brought them to get briefings and to court.

Johnson said his responsibilities as the liaison were to communicate with the family and get them away from the media. I made them feel safe. They were victimized enough already. (A liaison) gives the victims family someone to trust.

He remembered having to tell Brent King his daughters body had been found in a shallow grave near the lake five days after she had gone missing.

Brent King had come to me and asked me to tell him about Chelsea ahead of (the rest of the family) so he could be strong for them, Johnson said. I had to find a few minutes to tell him away from the family. How do you tell someone something like that?

John Albert Gardner III confessed to the February 2009 rape and murder of 14-year-old Amber Dubois from Escondido, and the February 2010 rape and murder of Chelsea. He is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Chelseas family moved to Illinois not long after their daughters death, but return to San Diego often.

Every spring, Finish Chelseas Run is held in Balboa Park and attracts thousands of participants.

Sheriff Bill Gore on Thursday said he got to know Johnson during the King case.

He said Johnson will be buried soon in Michigan. A local memorial service will be held in San Diego at a date not yet scheduled.

I knew he was a juvenile detective up there who was highly thought of in the Poway area with the schools and for all the work he had done, Gore said.

But I got to know him in 2010. He was one of the pallbearers along with me for Chelsea at the funeral.

Gore said he spoke with Kelly King Wednesday.

She was devastated, he said. Chris was like family to her. This is pretty tragic. It was a real shocker.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones

UPDATES:

Updated at 9:40 p.m. Nov, 21  A memorial service for Chris Johnson will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1 at Lake Poway.
The Oceanside Unified School District and its teachers union agreed Wednesday to hire a mediator to jump-start stalled negotiations, a day after hundreds of teachers packed a school board meeting Tuesday to challenge bargaining proposals they say undervalue their work.

Wednesday marked the 13th negotiation session for the district and the Oceanside Teachers Association, and officials hope to bring in the mediator for the next meeting on Dec. 5, said Cheri Sanders, associate superintendent for human resources.

Weve been negotiating for over 500 days, she said. Today, we discovered that we are still a long ways apart from each other in our counterproposals.

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The district and union have clashed over pay, healthcare and other issues since spring 2016. To protest that gridlock, about 500 teachers and their supporters attended a school board meeting Tuesday night, held at Cesar Chavez Middle School to accommodate spillover crowds. Many of those attending, including teachers, parents and students, wore red as part of a national Red for Ed campaign in support of public education.

District officials projects budget deficits totaling more than $20 million for the next two years, and say theres little room for labor concessions. Teachers complain that the district is offering no pay increase and considering cutting health benefits.

You have eroded away the trust for the collaboration that is needed for the success of our students, said Robert Ho, a seventh-grade science teacher at King Middle School and chairman of the Oceanside Teachers Association bargaining committee.

Parents and pupils voiced support for the teachers, saying they go above and beyond their job requirements to help students succeed in class and in life.

Teachers arent recognized for the work that they do, said Oceanside High School junior Serena Fajardo, 16.

The Oceanside district serves 18,500 students at 23 schools and employs more than 2,000 teachers and other staff. Increased pension and healthcare contributions have caused spending to rise, officials said, while declines in enrollment have cut the districts revenue, which is calculated based on students average daily attendance.

This years budget projects $203 million in revenue, with $216 million in spending, said Shannon Soto, associate superintendent for business services. For the 2018-19 school year, thats expected to rise to $209 million in revenue and $220 million in spending.

The district declared a qualified budget in January, which means that it may not be able to meet all its financial obligations. It expects to continue in that status through the 2019-20 school year, Soto said.

Because of those projected shortfalls, officials said they plan to keep spending steady, and say any increases in pay or benefits must be offset by cuts elsewhere. The district stated in its proposal that it will consider increases to salaries and retirement benefits only if employees agree to a healthcare cap.

But teachers are skeptical of the districts insistence on belt-tightening, noting that Oceanside closed the last fiscal year with a $27 million ending balance, some of which they say should go to cost-of-living increases for staff. To illustrate that point, 27 teachers held up hand-written signs with the number one million, as counselor Nellie Finn addressed the board.

The U.S. public education system is not a charity case, Finn said. It is a civic institution. Tonight, lets end wage suppression and the attitude that educators should expect lower wages compared to other professions.

Soto said the $27 million includes various restricted funds and assets that the district cant apply to compensation.

It has funds that are not considered cash or available for distribution, Soto said Wednesday. Its allocated and committed amounts.

Teachers have also asked for class size reductions, saying that overcrowded classrooms make it harder to teach, and harder for students to learn. The district has said it would consider cutting class sizes, but opposes hard caps on the number of students per class.

When I speak to parents, thats the number one thing they tell me  class size, said Micaela Reese, a kindergarten teacher at Mission Elementary School. Our students are falling through the cracks.

To underscore their dissatisfaction with the labor negotiations, teachers are picketing outside campuses, and suspended voluntary activities to highlight the extra hours they put in at work. At Garrison Elementary, that meant canceling the after school theater club, along with tutoring and other activities.

I have enjoyed learning to be a better actor in theater club on Fridays, Garrison fourth-grader Myles Thomas, 9, told the board. Our teachers are willing to do extra things for us. We need our teachers. We want that contract signed tomorrow, today.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
A Vista business that makes high-tech robotic machines geared toward making pharmacies more efficient is getting ready to double the size of its headquarters.

Come the start of December, RxSafe LLC will knock down walls in its Vista Business Park headquarters and add more than 7,500 square feet, company President William Holmes said last week.

He credits the companys growth to the innovation of its main product, new kind of storage and retrieval robot to automatically and efficiently track medicines and fill prescriptions.

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We have created a new market, Holmes said. The type of automation that we have invented and manufactured here  didnt exist before we thought of it.

Prescriptions are often filled by hand or by an automated technology that Holmes said has been around for decades. Holmes said his product takes the automation and efficiency to a much higher level.

Holmes said the RxSafe 1800 pharmacy automatic robot contains technology and software that increases speed and accuracy in filling prescriptions. Then there is the space-saving aspect; the high-density storage inside its towers can save more than 100 feet of space in a pharmacy.

Another notable aspect, in the face of a national opioid crisis, is the security of the storage inside the towers, Holmes said.

The towers can hold thousands of bottles of different medications, stored on their sides and with a barcode on the bottom to help the robot figure out which is which.

Easy for the robot to filter through. But a thief who might manage to break into the tower would see just the bottoms of hundreds of bottles on their sides  row after row after row  with no quick way to know what medicine was inside any of them.

If someone cant steal the opioids, it cant get onto the streets, Holmes said.

The company is also now selling a product that puts a patients medicines in strip packaging, instead of traditional vials. The packaging, he said, makes it much easier for patients to know whether they have taken their medicine.

Holmes said the company, which has about 50 employees, counts about 250 customers, most of them independent pharmacies, including some mom-and-pops with more than one storefront. That gives RxSafe about 330 or so towers operating at about 300 sites.

Geographically, RxSafes towers are in about 25 states  they are biggest on the East Coast  as well as in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Holmes said they also work with the University of Michigan Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic.

RxSafe started out along Via Vera Cruz in San Marcos back in 2008. It later moved to a bigger spot on Twin Oaks Valley Road.

In 2015, the still growing company relocated to the Vista Business Park, renting a space with elbow room, more than 7,500 square feet on the front end of a large building.

RxSafe not only uses local suppliers  most are within 10 miles of the Vista headquarters  in some cases it has nurtured those suppliers for years, allowing them to grow as RxSafe grew.

Holmes will not share the companys annual revenue. A profile of the company in the San Diego Business Journal two years ago reported their 2012 revenue at $1 million, and at $5 million the following year. He did say that their contracts have doubled each year for the last four years.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
In 1968, Chinary Ung was a Manhattan School of Music graduate with a one-way ticket to Cambodia in his pocket. Although provisionally accepted into the composition program at Columbia, he had no way to pay for it, and so he was returning to his native land after four years of living in New York.

His departure was imminent. He told a friend about his wish to attend Columbia. The friend encouraged him to petition the new director of the Rockefeller Institute for assistance. Ung naively wrote a letter to John D. Rockefeller instead, requesting financial help, saying that he hoped to infuse the rich traditional cultural heritage of Cambodia into the modern creativity of the Western orchestra.

Days before his scheduled return to Cambodia, Ung was awarded a scholarship that allowed him to get a doctorate at Columbia. Had he gone back in 1968, he would have inadvertently walked into the Khmer Rouge insurrection, where his intellectualism and Western contamination would have been a death sentence.

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Its an extraordinary tale, fitting for an extraordinary composer. Kalean Ung told this and other stories about her father Chinary in her one-person play, Letters From Home. Her moving performance was part of a 75th birthday celebration for Chinary Ung on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Conrad Prebys Music Center at UCSD Department of Music.

Twenty years after writing that letter to Rockefeller, Ung realized his ambition to successfully fuse East and West in his orchestral composition, Inner Voices, a work that made him internationally famous.

Four of Ungs 21st-century works were featured: Cinnabar Heart for marimba (complemented by Charya Burts Cambodian-influenced dance); Spiral XIV: Nimitta for clarinet, piano, and two percussionists; Singing Inside Aura for an instrumental ensemble; and his blissful, large-scale Spiral XII: Space Between Heaven and Earth for 13 voices and 10 instruments.

All of these works display Ungs musical personality. Textures are busy on the surface  every instrument and voice seems to have its own rhythm. Beneath this activity are slowly changing harmonies based on folk modes and artificially constructed scales. With most composers, motion from highly chromatic chords to modal harmonies is usually blindingly obvious. For Ung, these changes happen organically; we marvel at how the sonic environment has changed without us really knowing when we arrived.

These four works also require instrumentalists to vocalize. Nowhere was this more dramatic than in Singing Inside Aura, a kind of concerto for Susan Ung (Chinarys wife). Vigorously bowing her viola, she sang in a rustic, penetrating tone, at one point raising her head upwards to let out a loud whoop. It was a sincere, compelling performance.

In Spiral XII, classically trained voices created a lush aural web, contrasted with instrumentalists whistling, yelling, or Susan Ungs earthy folk-like vocalise.

The earliest work on the festival was Still Life After Death, a 1995 musical drama evoking a Cambodian Buddhist ritual where a monk assists a dying person to leave life behind. Soprano Stacy Fraser hauntingly enacted the ritual using abstract movement and a net-like costume, trailed and ultimately joined by bass James Hayden.

The musicians through the festival were outstanding in capturing the mystery and the ecstasy of Ungs music, expertly led by conductors Steven Schick (Still Life and Singing Inside Aura) and Gil Rose (Spiral XII).

Whenever Chinary Ung tells the story of his last-minute reprieve from the Khmer Rouge, he ends it by saying Im a lucky guy. San Diegans are lucky to have such a great composer in our midst, and festival attendees were lucky to enjoy such forcefully emotional performances of Ungs fabulous music.

Hertzog is a freelance writer.
Baja California authorities are investigating the death of a Tijuana police officer shot by a driver during a traffic stop early Monday morning.

Antonio Juvera Ponce, an assistant chief in the citys central La Mesa district, was gunned down after he and his partner stopped a speeding vehicle on Federico Benitez Boulevard shortly before 2 a.m., authorities said.

The partner, who has not been named, was seriously injured in the attack, authorities said.

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The cars driver fled the scene after opening fire, and soon after was found dead beneath a vehicle in a nearby auto body shop where he had sought refuge. Authorities were investigating whether he was shot by accident with his own weapon, or committed suicideor possibly was struck by a shot fired from a police weapon.

The Tijuana newsweekly Zeta linked the suspect to a drug distribution cell connected to the Arellano Felix Cartel, identifying him as Daniel Aranda, El Roy.

Law enforcement officials did not name the suspect at a news conference on Tuesday, but said that he had an extensive criminal record. It is not clear to us which cartel he belonged to, which cell, or for whom he was working, said Miguel Angel Guerrero, coordinator of special investigations for the Baja California Attorney Generals Office.

Juvera was a 17-year member of the Tijuana police department and is recognized as a hero, said Marco Antonio Sotomayor, the citys director of public safety. Juvera was buried Wednesday following an honor guard and a Mass at Santa Cecilia Church in downtown Tijuana.

Juvera is the third municipal police officer killed in the line of duty this year in Tijuana, where more than 1,500 homicides since January make it the most violent year in the citys history.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
A Marine military police officer is accused of strangling a woman at a Camp Pendleton beach after she refused to have sex with him in a firetruck.

In a federal court filing obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune this week, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service accuses Marine reserve military police officer Sgt. Daniel Jack Schumi of beating and choking an unidentified woman on Feb. 26 at the bases Del Mar Beach Rental Cottages.

Responding to an emergency call placed from a neighboring cottage at the base resort, authorities found witnesses restraining Schumi after they overhead the screams of his alleged victim and came to save her.

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According to the criminal complaint, a drunk Schumi suggested to the woman that they have sex in a firetruck parked at the beach. She didnt want to do it and began packing to leave, the complaint states.

Schumi then spun her into a chair and squeezed her throat until she saw black, she told investigators. After she kicked herself free, he allegedly threw her to the floor, pinned her with his knees and then returned to strangling her, trying to cover her mouth to keep her from crying for help, authorities say.

It allegedly took four bystanders to hold him until Camp Pendletons law enforcement arrived, according to the complaint.

NCIS does not discuss the details of ongoing investigations, agency spokesman Ed Buice said by email.

Attempts to reach Schumi, 26, on a social media platform and the telephone number of a parent in Wisconsin were unsuccessful.

Reached by telephone, his court-appointed criminal defense attorney, John Ellis, declined to comment.

An arrest warrant was issued for Schumi on Nov. 6, and he was arraigned in federal court three days later, according to court documents.

Federal prosecutors allege that the woman also reported a previous assault by him in July of 2016 at their residence in Oceanside.

Prine writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune
A man who admitted stabbing his estranged wife to death in a San Diego City College restroom seven years ago was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Armando Perez, 44, told Superior Court Judge Frederic Link that he wished he would have gotten the death penalty.

Perez was convicted by a jury in September of first-degree murder and lying in wait when he repeatedly slashed Diana Gonzalez, 19, and carved a slur on her back.

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He was hiding in a tree, watching her leave her class at the downtown campus before the attack on Oct. 12, 2010. Gonzalezs parents, who feared for her safety because of past violence by Perez, were at the college waiting to pick her up.

Gonzalez had taken out a restraining order against Perez after accusing him of raping her. He was not charged in that incident.

Several members of Gonzalezs family, including her mother, attended the sentencing. Her older sister, Janette Gonzalez, barely held back tears as she read a statement in court saying in part that she wished the couple had never met.

Why take her life away the way he did it? she asked. Why? Because this devil just thought of himself, like always.

It is the second time Perez has been ordered to prison for killing Gonzalez.

He was representing himself when his trial began in 2014 and he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. An appeals court overturned his sentence, ruling that he should not have been allowed to plead guilty without a lawyer while he faced life in prison without parole.

His case returned to Superior Court and attorney Barton Sheela III from the Office of the Alternate Public Defender was appointed to represent him.

In a two-week trial, Perez took the witness stand and admitted going to the college to confront her about being allowed to see their child. He said he lost control of himself when he saw her kissing another man outside her classroom.

However, that man testified he never kissed Gonzalez on campus that night.

Perez testified that he got her into a mens restroom, where she taunted him about the other man. Perez said he didnt know what happened next until he was standing over her blood-soaked body. He had stabbed her over most of her body, including the neck, chest and genital area, and carved an expletive into her back.

He left her on the restroom floor. He fled into Mexico and was arrested in Tijuana 16 months later.

Because Mexico will not extradite a prisoner who could face the death penalty, San Diego prosecutors had to agree to not seek that ultimate punishment.

In court Wednesday, Perez said he was sorry for what he did to Gonzalez and that God has healed me from being a monster.

I assure you, I will never, ever lose my mind again like I did that night, Perez said. To me, I should have gotten the death penalty for what I did.

The judge answered him with harsh words, saying Perez would have faced the death penalty if not for Mexicos extradition laws.

You butchered her, Link said. Im convinced that you knew what you were doing when you went to get the knife. You deserve to be put away for the rest of your life.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
Defense attorneys said it was a case of risky investment in a medical syringe prototype that simply failed to turn a profit.

On Wednesday, a San Diego Superior Court jury disagreed, finding two operators of U.S. Medical Instruments Inc. guilty of more than 30 counts each in what prosecutors called a $4.7 million investment scam.

Judge Laura Halgren ordered defendants Matthew Mazur and Carlos Manjarrez to be taken into custody immediately after accepting the verdicts from a jury that heard four weeks of testimony.

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The defendants could face at least 35 years in state prison when they are sentenced Dec. 15, Deputy District Attorney Hector Jimenez said.

Mazur was charged with 56 felony counts and Manjarrez with 55 counts of securities fraud, grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft, theft from six victims over age 65 and failing to file tax returns or filing false returns between 2008 and 2012.

The charges involved 17 victims who lost a total of $4.7 million between 2011 and 2016, according to Jimenez.

Jurors found Mazur guilty of 36 counts and Manjarrez guilty of 31, acquitting them of others.

The judge had dismissed two counts for each defendant before the jury began deliberations.

Some investors put as much as $1 million, others their life savings, into what they thought would be mass production for worldwide sales of SafeSnap syringes. The syringes were designed to contain the needle after it was used, making special safety disposal containers unnecessary.

Jimenez said some syringes were produced and shown to prospective investors. But, he said, most of their money went either directly to Mazur and Manjarrez, or paid some dividends to the earliest investors.

Jimenez said more victims could still be out there. Even while the jury deliberated over the past week, he said, Mazur was offering investment opportunities in his now-defunct company to a doctor in Los Angeles.

Mazurs attorney, Deputy Public Defender Michael Begovich, told jurors in closing arguments last week that there was no securities fraud.

You have investors claiming to be victims in an arms length transaction, in a risky start-up business, and they didnt get paid. That is not a crime, he said.

He said a reasonable prospective investor should check out a companys claims thoroughly before putting up any cash.

Jimenez, in his closing arguments, told jurors: Its not buyer beware. Its dont lie to your investors. Dont hide important information.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, is getting pressure from conservative and liberal groups alike over his stance on the GOPs tax overhaul bill.

On the right is 45Committee, an organization that supports President Donald Trumps policies. Its planning to spend $2 million on broadcast and digital advertisements in 30 congressional districts, including Issas, to encourage them to support the GOPs tax bill.

We elected Darrell Issa to cut taxes, so were counting on him to vote yes on tax reform, which could mean nearly $3,000 for California families, a YouTube version of the commercial says.

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On the left is a liberal group, Not One Penny, with its own advertisement and message, thats reportedly airing in five districts represented by California Republicans.

The Republican tax plan will raise taxes on California families by eliminating middle class tax deductions to pay for a tax break for the super wealthy and big corporations, it says.

Issa, one of a small group of House Republicans who said they will not vote for their partys tax bill, isnt phased by the back-and-forth.

I couldnt care less what the special interests have to say, Issa said in a statement. My job is to fight for whats best for my constituents and whats best for California. Thats what Im here to do.

He said that Gov. Jerry Brown and the state legislature have implemented misguided policies that have consistently raised taxes, and he wants to make sure that federal tax policies help out over-taxed Californians.

My constituents need a lifeline from Sacramentos tax increases, so Im going to keep fighting to make sure this bill is something that benefits Californians too, Issa said.

The GOPs tax bill consolidates the current seven income tax brackets into four, almost doubles the standard deduction for both single and joint filers and increases the child tax credit to $1,600 from $1,000.

And, particularly relevant to Issas constituents, the bill also eliminates the state and local tax deduction and caps mortgage-related deductions  two popular policies that provide the most tax relief to people who live in high-tax states and cities or who own expensive properties.

In addition to the television commercials, protesters met outside of Issas district office in Vista on Tuesday to pressure the congressman to stand against the tax bill. The protests occur weekly but do not always focus on tax policy.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
A new analysis shows San Diego is facing significant budget deficits over the next three years that could become much worse if there is an economic downturn.

Its uncommon for cities to face deficits in a relatively strong economy, but San Diego officials say revenue growth has slowed while expenses have spiked  primarily in the form of pay raises for city workers and higher pension debt.

San Diego faces deficits of $10.1 million in 2019, $34.6 million in 2020 and $19.8 million in 2021, according to a five-year financial outlook unveiled this week by city finance officials.

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Those projections come after the city made cuts to its annual $1.4 billion budget and eliminated jobs last spring for the first time since the recession of 2007-09 and its aftermath.

In addition to more budget cuts, the projections mean the city will likely halt a steady restoration of many services that were slashed during the last economic downturn, such as hours at libraries and recreation centers.

And things might be worse than the projections show, said Tracy McCraner, the citys director of financial management.

It doesnt include any kind of economic downturn, McCraner said, adding that many economists are predicting such a slowdown. We do believe its coming, but we have no way of really projecting when or how much.

Another concern is the citys pension payment, which has climbed to $228 million from $191 million of general-fund dollars over the past two years.

McCraner said its likely to increase more when the pension system issues updated financial numbers in late December.

Weve been told that could possibly rise to the tune of about $10 million, McCraner said.

About $7.5 million of that money would affect the citys general fund, with the remaining $2.5 million covered by the citys water and sewer funds, she said.

The five-year outlook unveiled this week also doesnt include the final analysis of pay raises of 25 percent to 30 percent recently approved for police officers to help solve a staffing crisis.

An initial analysis projects the pension costs of those raises to be $6.4 million in 2020 and $15.9 million annually in subsequent years. McCraner said theres a chance those numbers could climb.

Pay raises have played a key role in shifting the city from surplus mode to deficit mode. They are coming after a five-year freeze on raises was put into place when voters approved Proposition B in 2012, with the intention of reining in pension costs.

The police raises are expected to cost the city $50 million per year in addition to the pension impact.

Meanwhile, most other city employees are due to receive 3.3 percent increases next July and again in July 2019.

Some targeted groups of employees, including 9-1-1 dispatchers, have been granted much larger raises, similar to police officers.

And some raises have been given despite the Proposition B pay freeze. The city used a loophole to give nearly 150 high-level managers more than $4 million in pay raises since 2012.

To soften any potential budget cuts, McCraner said all city department heads have been asked to come up with 2 percent in proposed budget cuts for the budget year that will start July 1. That would save the city $28 million.

City officials could also use money from various reserve funds to stave off cuts, McCraner said.

The city also has nearly $18 million in leftover cash from the budget year that ended June 30, but McCraner said Mayor Kevin Faulconer plans to use a significant chunk of that to cover recent expenditures addressing the citys hepatitis A outbreak and homelessness crisis.

Another factor in the projected deficits is a list of critical strategic expenditures city officials consider too important to cancel even when facing deficits, McCraner said.

They include staffing for three new fire stations slated to open during the next five years  Black Mountain Ranch, North University City and the University of California San Diego  and three new library branches slated to open in Mission Hills, San Ysidro and Pacific Highlands Ranch.

Other new expenditures deemed crucial include electronic voting machines, staffing for dozens of joint-use parks at public schools and more body-worn cameras and tasers for police.

City offcials said Mayor Faulconer is also committed to maintaining increased funding for street repair required as part of his campaign to fix 1,000 miles of city streets in five years.

The citys independent budget analyst, Andrea Tevlin, is scheduled to release her review of the five-year outlook next month.

After the three years with deficits, the outlook projects surpluses in 2022 of $5.6 million and in 2023 of $59.3 million.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
A Border Patrol agent was injured when a Mexican national sped through a check point near Pine Valley, prompting a pursuit that, at times, reached speeds of 100 mph, a federal official said Thursday.

The 27-year-old driver was on east Interstate 8 near the Pine Valley checkpoint Tuesday about 10:30 a.m. when he suddenly made a U-Turn into oncoming traffic, said Mary Beth Caston, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman. He then made another U-Turn, heading east again, and blasted through the checkpoint at 70 mph.

The driver, who was in a 2009 Infiniti G35, veered around several vehicles waiting for inspection and slammed into a steel sign, sending debris flying, Caston said. Sign fragments hit one agent, who was hospitalized with injuries that werent specified.

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Other agents, who had their lights and sirens on, pursued the speeding driver. He exited the freeway at Pine Valley Road, lost control and crashed into a berm, Caston said.

He climbed out of the wrecked car, leaving two passengers who were also Mexican nationals behind.

More agents arrived soon after. Some helped the two men, ages 27 and 40. They werent injured and were taken into custody. Others searched for the driver, who was found inside the garage of a nearby home, Caston said.

He was arrested on suspicion of human smuggling.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
Two young men were arrested last week in connection with a burglary at a Scripps Ranch home, San Diego police said Wednesday.

The men, ages 18 and 22, also were identified as suspects in a break-in at a La Mesa residence, but no other information about that case was available.

Police said two men ransacked the Scripps Ranch house on Red Cedar Drive near Ironwood Road about 11:30 a.m. on May 16.

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The residents, who were not home at the time, received an alert on their cellphones about the break-in, police Lt. Natalie Stone said. Their home surveillance system showed two people in their house and another at the front door.

The residents called police, but the burglars were gone when officers arrived. Several items had been stolen, Stone said.

She said investigators used a face recognition system and DNA from evidence left behind to identify the two suspects.

Breaking News

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
Chula Vista police arrested a man they said admitted to slashing a friend across his abdomen with a knife during a fight Wednesday night.

A woman who was with the two men called 911 about 9:30 p.m. to report the violent altercation outside a home on Fifth Avenue near D Street, police said.

One man was taken to a hospital with a gash that was not considered to be life-threatening, police Lt. Dan Peak said.

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He said the other man admitted to the crime and was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Officers recovered the knife they believe was used in the attack, Peak said.

Police had not determined what the argument was about.

Breaking News

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
A student was detained at Torrey Pines High School Thursday after it was discovered he was carrying an Airsoft gun in his backpack, police said.

Police were called to the campus shortly before 10 a.m. after a student reported potentially seeing a weapon in the backpack of another student.

It turned out to be an Airsoft weapon, not a real gun, said San Diego police Lt. Edward Zwibel.

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Torrey Pines Principal Rob Coppo said the student was identified and removed quickly from a classroom. He said no specific threats had been made to any student or anybody else on campus.

It was identified quickly and he was removed quickly, so we didnt need to go into lock down or a secure campus (mode), he said. He declined to say what grade the student was in.

Airsoft guns are realistic-looking replica weapons that can shoot BB-type pellets. According to a company website, the guns may be powered by spring-loaded air pumps, compressed gas or battery powered gearboxes.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com
House Republicans approved their sweeping tax-cut package Thursday, setting up a showdown with the Senate, where Republicans are struggling to win support for their own significantly different approach.

Senate GOP leaders, after making some revisions this week, are facing mounting dissent and criticism that their tax plan favors corporations and the wealthy. An analysis by Congress bipartisan tax experts on Thursday concluded the Senate plan would raise taxes for some of the poorest Americans by 2021.

House Republicans had an easier time, passing their measure by a vote of 227 to 205, though 13 Republicans voted no.

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Democrats were unified against the plan, and the Republican defections came from lawmakers in the Northeast and California, who were mostly concerned about the proposed elimination of deductions for state and local income taxes, and the capping of property tax deductions at $10,000. The write-offs are widely used in their high-tax districts.

Three California Republicans  Darrell Issa of Vista, Tom McClintock of Elk Grove and Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa  were among those who voted against the bill. I believe this bill could be made better, Issa said ahead of the vote. McClintock this week urged his colleagues to leave no taxpayer behind.

Californians would also be hard hit by the House plans limits on mortgage interest deductions. After the vote, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters he was working on revisions to improve the bill for California taxpayers, when it undergoes changes to reconcile with whatever the Senate passes.

Youll see some changes that would come for California and others, and I think youll see more people vote for it, the Bakersfield Republican said.

Ahead of the House vote, President Trump traveled to Capitol Hill to bolster Republicans worried that if they didnt pass tax reform, they would risk voter revolt in next years midterm election for failing to keep a major campaign promise, particularly after their failed Obamacare repeal.

Trump assured House Republicans that he was behind their effort. The White House has so far expressed no preference for either the House or Senate version.

Rather than a hard sell, the president emphasized the historic nature of what they were trying to accomplish. Though the Obamacare effort stalled amid opposition from a handful of Senate Republicans, he predicted that senators currently voicing skepticism about the tax reform bill would come around.

I love you, Trump told them, according to those who attended the private meeting. Go vote!

House leaders celebrated the vote.

Passing this bill is the single biggest thing we can do to grow the economy, restore opportunity and help these middle-income families that are struggling, said House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.).

But approval sets Republicans in the House and Senate on a collision course as they rush to finish the package by Christmas.

The Senate plan has key differences and is facing greater hurdles for passage, particularly as senators try to find ways to enhance benefits for middle-income Americans.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) became the first GOP senator to oppose the proposal, saying it did not do enough to help small businesses. Centrist Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has also raised concerns, as have other senators. Under special budget rules, Republicans can only afford to lose two votes in the Senate, assuming all Democrats vote against their plan.

Concerns were only heightened by a report Thursday from the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation that estimated many low-income earners would end up with tax increases, not tax breaks, in the latest Senate plan.

Those making between $10,000 and $30,000 a year would pay more in taxes starting in 2021, the committee found. By 2023, people with incomes less than $10,000 also would see tax increases.

All other income categories  including those earning more than $1 million a year  would see tax decreases, according to the report.

But in 2027, taxes would go up for every income group under $75,000 because the Senate Republican bill calls for tax cuts and other changes to the individual code to expire at the end of 2025.

The large cut in the corporate tax rate, to 20% from 35%, would be permanent under the Republican bill.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called the report jaw-dropping news.

But Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) noted that the projections for low-income people were based on a provision of the Senate bill that does away with the Obamacare mandate that all Americans have health insurance.

If low-income earners opt to drop their healthcare coverage as a result, they would also no longer receive the Affordable Care Acts federal subsidies for their premiums. Without those subsidies, which act like tax credits, their taxes would effectively go up.

But Hatch said it was unfair to call that a tax increase. Anyone who says were hiking taxes on low-income families is misstating the facts, he said.

The findings put the bills prospects in the Senate further in flux. Even so, the Senate Finance Committee voted 14 to 12 along party lines to approve the measure late Thursday. A full Senate vote is not expected until after Thanksgiving.

Democrats criticized the package, saying it guts essential tax breaks to give corporations and the wealthy tax cuts.

The House bill ends student loan interest deductions and medical expense deductions, and caps the mortgage interest deduction to loans of $500,000, repealing the write-off for second homes.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the GOP plan preys on the middle class.

In a last-ditch gamble to raise revenue, Senate Republicans attached the partial Obamacare repeal, eliminating the tax imposed by the Affordable Care Acts mandate that all Americans have insurance.

That change, which would go into effect in 2019, is expected to leave 13 million more Americans uninsured and drive up premium costs by 10%. But it brings in $318 billion over the decade by cutting federal healthcare subsidies to middle- and low-income Americans who chose not to buy insurance.

Is this a country that kicks people off of their health coverage to cut taxes for the top 1%? asked Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Even though Trump broke with House Republicans this year, calling their version of the Obamacare overhaul mean shortly after he pushed them to pass it, lawmakers did not raise those concerns in Thursdays meeting. Many posed for selfies with the president afterward, posting their snapshots on social media.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and a go-between for congressional Republicans and the White House, said he was confident Trump had their back this time.

He gave me his word, Meadows said.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

@LisaMascaro

ALSO

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Bannons ouster could boost the powerful Koch network, which has surprising sway in Trumps White House

McCains surprise vote doomed GOP healthcare bill, but did it open the door for Senate bipartisanship?

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

UPDATES:

7:20 p.m.: This article was updated with the Senate Finance Committee vote to approve the tax bill.

2:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional analysis and background.

11:25 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the vote and the tax study.

10:50 a.m.: This article was updated with the House vote.

8:50 a.m.: This article was updated with President Trump arriving at the Capitol.

This article was originally published at 8:20 a.m.
Senate candidate Roy Moore of Alabama sought Wednesday to discredit a womans accusation that he sexually assaulted her when she was 16, suggesting that what looks like his signature on her high school yearbook is a forgery.

Moore also disputed a statement by Beverly Young Nelson that shed had no contact with him since the alleged assault took place in 1977 in Gadsden, Ala.

In an open letter to Fox News host Sean Hannity, Moore said he was the Etowah County Circuit Court judge who presided over her divorce case in 1999, a matter that apparently caused her no distress at a time that was 18 years closer to the alleged assault.

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Yet 18 years later, while talking before the cameras about the supposed assault, she seemingly could not contain her emotions, Moore wrote.

Moores attorney, Phillip L. Jauregui Jr., demanded that Nelson, 55, and her lawyer, Gloria Allred, give the yearbook to a neutral custodian so that a handwriting expert could examine it.

Is it genuine or is it a fraud? Jauregui said of the signature.

Moores accusations came as another woman, Tina Johnson of Gadsden, Ala., alleged that Moore grabbed her buttocks during a visit to his law office in 1991, when she was 28, according to AL.com, publisher of the Birmingham News and other Alabama newspapers. Moores campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Allred renewed her call for a Senate hearing on Moores conduct toward women, saying Nelson would testify under oath that he sexually assaulted her. If a hearing takes place, Nelson would turn over the yearbook to an independent handwriting expert, she said.

At a news conference Monday in New York, Nelson, seated alongside Allred, said Moore, a 30-year-old prosecutor at the time, signed the yearbook: Love, Roy Moore D.A.

The encounter occurred at the Olde Hickory House restaurant in Gadsden, where she was a 16-year-old waitress and he was a frequent customer, she said.

A week or two after he signed the yearbook, she alleged, Moore offered her a ride home and she accepted. But instead of driving her there, he parked the car behind the restaurant, groped her breasts, tried to shove her face into his crotch and bruised her neck before she stopped him, she said.

Beverly Young Nelson at a news conference in New York on Monday with attorney Gloria Allred. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images )

I thought that he was going to rape me, Nelson said.

Jauregui said that Moore would never have put D.A. at the end of his signature in 1977 because he was only a deputy district attorney.

But when he was on the bench overseeing Nelsons divorce case years later, the initials D.A. would appear at times after his name, Jauregui said. Moore had an assistant who sometimes used a stamp for the judges signature and then initialed the documents. The assistants initials were D.A., Jauregui said.

Roy Moore attorney Phillip L. Jauregui Jr. on Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala. (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press )

Nelsons is one of the more serious sexual assault accusations that have emerged in Moores Senate campaign. Another woman says that Moore molested her when she was 14 and he was 32.

Leaders of the national Republican Party have called on Moore to end his campaign and threatened to expel him from the Senate should he win the Dec. 12 special election against Democrat Doug Jones.

Moore, 70, has vowed to stay in the race. He taunted Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell on Twitter on Wednesday.

But Moores GOP support continued to crumble. Alabamas senior senator, Richard C. Shelby, said he planned to write in the name of another candidate on his ballot. The winner of the election will fill the Senate seat vacated by Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions.

I wish we had another candidate, Shelby said, naming Sessions as the ideal contender.

Still, most of Alabamas Republican Party was sticking by him. A party committee for the 5th Congressional District in northern Alabama on Tuesday night adopted a resolution supporting Moore.

State party Chairwoman Terry Lathan warned over the weekend that any Republican official or candidate who publicly backed a Senate candidate other than Moore would be making a serious error.

With Moores financial support from national Republican groups drying up, Jones has now outspent him on television advertising by 11 to 1, according to Advertising Analytics.

Also troublesome for Moore: Fox News personalities began casting doubt on his denials of the sexual misconduct allegations.

Tucker Carlson faulted Moore for using his Christian faith as a shield against the womens accusations by saying his adversaries were trying to stifle religious conservatives.

Sean Hannity, who interviewed Moore last week, issued an ultimatum Tuesday giving Moore 24 hours to clear up inconsistencies in his denials. After receiving Moores letter calling the allegations a smear, Hannity said on his show Wednesday night that voters needed time to make an informed decision on whether they were true, even if that means Republican Gov. Kay Ivey might need to postpone the election.

The people of Alabama deserve to have a fair choice, especially in light of the new allegations tonight, Hannity said.

michael.finnegan@latimes.com

Twitter: @finneganLAT

Times staff writer Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

ALSO:

Women share graphic sexual harassment stories on Capitol Hill as Congress considers changes

Richard Cordray is resigning as Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief

Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions angrily denies lying to Congress about Trump campaign Russia contacts

UPDATES:

7:30 p.m.: The story was updated with Roy Moores letter to Sean Hannity and Hannitys response.

4:08 p.m.: The story was updated with comments from Gloria Allred and a new allegation of groping.

The story was originally published at 3:15 p.m.
A Texas sheriff says he could throw the book at a driver over his limited vocabulary and dislike for President Trump.

F--k Trump and f--k you for voting for him, reads the sticker on the back of a GMC Sierra broadcast via Facebook by Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls.

What the message lacks in wit it apparently made up for in offense, with Nehls saying he had received numerous calls regarding the offensive display from citizens hoping that the drivers foul mouth and truck can be washed clean by the law.

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The sheriff southwest of Houston put out a call for information, saying that a prosecutor had already told him that she could bring disorderly conduct charges.

Texas sheriff concerned about truck with anti-Trump message https://t.co/Tb8956PpAJ  Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) November 16, 2017

Social media commenters almost immediately took issue with the local lawmans assessment, suggesting that Nehls could infringe on the drivers free speech.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1971s Cohen v. California said that a law on disturbing the peace violated the Constitution when it was applied against a man who wore the phrase f--k the draft on a jacket.

A decision written by Justice John Harlan said that the words were not likely to provoke anyone to violence and that one mans vulgarity is anothers lyric.

Nehls later shared the Texas statute he was thinking of, which prohibits language that tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace.

Despite the supposed traffic jam of calls to the sheriffs office, there have been no reports of people so incensed by the trucks message that they resorted to violence that may actually require police attention.

Karen Fonseca told the Houston Chronicle that her husband owns the truck, which has been pulled over by officers who could not find a reason to write a ticket.

Christopher Brennan is a reporter for the New York Daily News
The ever-widening Harvey Weinstein-Kevin Spacey-Louis C.K.-Michael Oreskes-Mark Halperin-Raul Bocanegra-Tony Mendoza-Roy Moore mega-scandal may have changed how America reacts to sexual harassment. Perhaps we really are on the cusp of a new era in which men are less likely to behave boorishly, women are less likely to stay silent about being mistreated and workplace leaders are more likely to hold harassers accountable  and less inclined to look the other way when the offenders are among their most talented and valuable workers.

But American history is so rife with opportunistic hypocrisy on the issue that the notion our nation is suddenly a better, healthier place seems preposterous. The default position for Democrats who champion womens rights and for Republicans who champion family values is either to believe or disbelieve accusations based on how it helps or hurts their party.

Thats whats made the reaction to the reporting about Moore, the Alabama Republican Senate candidate in a Dec. 12 special election runoff, so interesting. Fairly or not, the news outlet that broke the story  the Washington Post  has been regularly accused by conservatives of blatant bias against the GOP for some time. In the wake of the Weinstein bombshell, the timing of the Posts story alleging that Moore fondled a 14-year-old girl and hit on other teen girls decades ago while in his early 30s seemed curiously convenient to some on the right. It would not have been surprising to see many Republicans adopt the Breitbart News line and dismiss the report as a partisan hit. Instead, many GOP figures  including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell  accepted the allegations as credible. And this week, after an Alabama woman produced her high school yearbook, which she said was signed by Moore, and described his alleged attempted sexual assault on her when she was 16, though Moore denied knowing the woman, national GOP support for his candidacy collapsed. McConnells verdict, according to USA Today:

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Hes obviously not fit to be in the United States Senate, the Kentucky Republican told reporters on Tuesday.

So does this mean the party that dismissed allegations about Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991 now accepts the contention that allegations of male sexual misconduct must always be taken seriously? Or does it mean the Republican establishment never liked Steve Bannon-backed Moore in the first place  strongly favoring appointed incumbent Sen. Luther Strange in the Sept. 26 GOP primary  and is confident it can regain the Alabama seat in 2020 if Moore loses to Democratic nominee Doug Jones next month?

The latter theory seems far more likely. This is the same Republican establishment thats been silent about the Fox News harassment scandals involving Bill OReilly and Roger Ailes and which chose to stand by Donald Trump in fall 2016 even as allegations of his bad behavior from at least 16 women were seemingly confirmed by Trump himself when video from 2005 emerged in which he boasted that as a celebrity, you can do anything with women  including grab them in the pelvic region. The hypocrisy of Republicans taking a moralistic stand on Moore but not Fox News or Trump was gleefully highlighted by liberal journalists. Huffington Post interviewed two Republican senators:

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) said he believes the women accusing Moore of sexual misconduct but threw his hands in the air when asked about Trumps accusers. I dont think in this particular case that there was a lot of disagreement among those individuals, so ... he said, trailing off. ...

Im working on taxes right now and concentrating on that and heading to a meeting where I have to speak and thats what Im concentrating on, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) told HuffPost, walking quickly down a Senate hallway. Asked if he has any thoughts at all on the Moore scandal, he replied, My thoughts are on taxes. If you want to talk about taxes.

OK. Do you want to tax Roy Moore? asked HuffPost.

Enzi said nothing and walked away.

But Democrats also have a problem when they talk about GOP hypocrisy: Bill Clinton is an anvil that will forever drag them down from their high horse. In 1994, a low-level Arkansas state employee named Paula Jones alleged that in 1991 then-Arkansas Gov. Clinton invited her to a hotel room and then exposed himself, asking for oral sex. After Jones sued then-President Clinton, she was mocked as trailer park trash by Clinton aide James Carville. Clinton eventually settled Jones lawsuit for $850,000.

Clinton later began an affair with 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky and then lied about it to investigators  behavior that would have led to his firing in any other setting. But instead of finding this nauseating and unacceptable from a president, many Democratic lawmakers ended up describing Clinton as the victim of attempts to hold him accountable. The day the House impeached Clinton after charging him with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, hinted a coup was unfolding. President Bill Clinton is guilty of not being owned by the Good Ol Southern Boys, she said on the House floor.

As Carville did with Jones, liberal New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd took to ridiculing Lewinsky throughout 1998:

It is Ms. Lewinsky who comes across as the red-blooded predator, wailing to her girl friends that the president wouldnt go all the way. ...

It appears that theres one thing Monica has immunity from: brains.

Clinton was found not guilty by the Senate in 1999, with Democrats successfully arguing that his offenses were not serious enough to justify ousting him from office. But the Lewinsky bashing didnt stop. In 2000, feminist pioneer Betty Freidan dismissed Lewinsky as a little twerp and said it disgusts me to have to talk about her.

Friedan and other feminists also had little use for former Arkansas nursing home operator Juanita Broaddrick, who in 1999 alleged that Clinton had raped her in 1978 when he was Arkansas attorney general. As Slate and many other outlets reported in 1999, five people said Broaddrick told them about the alleged assault just after it happened  the same sort of detail that gave credibility to Moores accusers. But liberals have mostly ignored her allegations, as they did Clintons sordid exploitation of Lewinsky.

At least until this week.

On Monday, New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg wrote a column headlined I believe Juanita and declared, Bill Clinton no longer has a place in decent society.

On Wednesday, Vox journalist and co-founder Matthew Yglesias  on the short list of Americas most influential pundits  wrote that Clinton should have resigned not for lying to a grand jury but for the behavior he lied about.

A president who uses the power of the Oval Office to seduce a 20-something subordinate is morally bankrupt and contributing, in a meaningful way, to a serious social problem that disadvantages millions of women throughout their lives. ...

Had Clinton resigned in disgrace under pressure from his own party, that would have sent a strong, and useful, chilling signal to powerful men throughout the country.

Instead, the ultimate disposition of the case  impunity for the man who did something wrong, embarrassment and disgrace for the woman who didnt  only served to confirm womens worst fears about coming forward.

Two decades too late, this is likely to become conventional wisdom. Before long, newly minted public pariah Bill Clinton will long for the days after his presidency when he used to travel the world on a private jet with his best friend from Hollywood  part of a relationship that PBS host Charlie Rose likened to a bromance.

That friend? Kevin Spacey. The mind reels.

Reed can be reached at chris.reed@sduniontribune.com. He welcomes column suggestions. Twitter: @chrisreed99. To see his past columns, go to sdut.us/chrisreed.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Now that President Donald Trump has enfeebled the Environmental Protection Agency, reversed climate regulations opposed by fossil fuel interests and announced U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, it is right to examine whether his agenda on climate change really puts America first, which he so often proclaims is his overriding goal. In four critical areas, it does not.

Our public health: The Trump agenda apparently disregards that the burning of fossil fuels spews volumes of gases and particulates into the air that are toxic to human health. Numerous studies show that the most severe effects include acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, lead and heavy metals poisoning, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks and premature death, with those most vulnerable to these ills being the elderly and our children.

Moreover, pollution from the burning of fossil fuels costs billions of dollars in health care costs that are hidden in that they are not reflected in the market price for these fuels. These hidden costs include lost work days, increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations, increased insurance premiums and the overall growth in our national health care costs. In a 2009 report requested by Congress, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that in 2005 alone these costs were more than $120 billion.

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Our economy: Although President Trump proclaims he will bring back jobs by cutting environmental regulations, the evidence shows that new clean-energy technologies and the industries formed around them create far more jobs than are lost in the transition from burning fossil fuels.

According to a 2015 report by the Environmental Defense Fund, based upon Department of Energy data, clean energy jobs already outnumbered those in fossil fuel by more than 2.5 to 1 and were growing at a rate 12 times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy. In a 2017 report, the Department of Energy predicts that energy-efficient employment will grow at the rate of 9 percent in the next 12 months, faster than any other energy sector.

Our national security: Trumps agenda also ignores a stark warning from the Department of Defense contained in a 2015 report requested by Congress, National Security Implications of Climate-Related Risks and a Changing Climate.

The report goes straight to the heart of the matter: DoD recognizes the reality of climate change and the significant risk it poses to U.S. interests globally. The National Security Strategy, issued in February 2015, is clear that climate change is an urgent and growing threat to our national security, contributing to increased natural disasters, refugee flows, and conflicts over basic resources such as food and water. These impacts are already occurring, and the scope, scale, and intensity of these impacts are projected to increase over time.

Our global leadership: President Trump has announced that the U.S., the worlds largest polluter after China, will withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate accord, an international agreement, signed by the United States with 196 other countries, which commits the world community to a concerted effort in combating climate change. Our withdrawal would leave the U.S. isolated as one of a tiny handful of nations in the world that is not a member the pact.

China, however, has signed the agreement and sees climate action as a way to fill the leadership vacuum left by the U.S., announcing plans to invest more than $360 billion in renewable energy by the end of this decade. Moreover, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, China is accelerating its foreign investments in renewable technologies and related equipment, a growing international market in which China may soon become the dominant player.

Our announced withdrawal from the Paris agreement amounts to abdication of leadership in the global effort to combat climate change, at our cost and to Chinas benefit.

Let it therefore be said that President Trumps agenda on climate change not only fails to put America first by ignoring the hard facts, it also puts in jeopardy our critical interests as a nation both at home and in the global arena.

Kaplan is an international business attorney in San Diego. He was a previously a Foreign Service officer with the State Department.
Every human being deserves to live in a society where basic needs are met in order to be a self-realized and productive citizen. Access to health services, food, shelter, education and a safe environment is paramount to well-being. Every individual citizen of the world should expect their right to a healthy environment to be promoted and protected.

Why?

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. One of the organizations guiding principles is the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political beliefs, economic or social condition

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Related: Why better safety net system needed in health care

Related: Why health care is a basic human right

Related: Right vs. privilege question in health care is false choice

Advanced societies such as the U.S. and developed countries have crafted laws for the protection of individual and societal health to protect from the common dangers such as communicable diseases. We have expanded health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act to complement private insurances, Medicaid and Medicare. However, there are still millions of Americans who go without coverage that facilitates access to health services that provide the medical care and educational services they need to make informed decisions about their health. Unfortunately, we have educational and socioeconomic barriers that prevent people from achieving a high standard of health. People struggling financially find it difficult to maintain or improve their health and well-being, or prevent the deterioration of their health.

While we debate the merits of right vs. privilege, we understand that there is an intersection of individual health and community health. Without a balance between these two a community is in danger of contagion contributing to an unhealthy environment affecting the population. This is a major drive for public health officials and government to devise protective laws and programs to safeguard the health of its population.

As San Diego is experiencing an outbreak of hepatitis A primarily among its homeless population. This and the tragic shootings in Las Vegas and elsewhere are painful reminders that access to timely preventive health and medical treatment as well as access to mental health services is essential to individual well-being and to society as a whole. We must do all that we can in a wealthy society such as the United States of America to invest in individual and public health systems if we want the next generation of our children to have the ability to live harmoniously and achieve their fullest potential.

Cota is CEO of North County Health Services.
In our hyper-politicized world, slogans can rule the day. An example would be the issue of female reproductive rights, where polarized advocacy groups frame their arguments with words that are appealing such as life and choice.

In a similar fashion with health care, those who favor health care run completely by government argue that health care is now a privilege that should instead should be a right.

Related: Why better safety net system needed in health care

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Related: Why health care access is vital to community well-being

Related: Why health care is a basic human right

Privilege is something only available to people of means, such as dining every night at a fine restaurant. Health care is clearly nothing like that, as nearly $2 trillion are already spent each year by all levels of government to pay for the health care of tens of millions of people of limited means.

As to rights, they are those things enshrined in our Constitution that require no action on the part of others, such as freedom of speech or the freedom to assemble. Health care, which by contrast requires significant action on the part of others, is also clearly not that. Does a drug dealer with infectious hepatitis who just got shot have a right to have health professionals literally risk their own lives to provide the finest trauma care possible? Most would say not.

So if neither a privilege nor a right, then what is health care? The answer is that it is an essential social service, similar to food or housing.

Tell 100 random people that they cannot visit a physician for 100 days, and two or three people may be inconvenienced. Tell the same 100 people that they will not have any food for 100 days and all 100 will die.

Yet we do not discuss a right to food. Rather, we recognize it as an essential social service, and go to great lengths to assure access to adequate food to all Americans regardless of income. The same could be said for housing.

Thus health care is an essential social service. Low-income individuals have  at a minimum  access to many thousands of clinics around the country, and have an ironclad guarantee of evaluation and often treatment of any and all maladies through emergency rooms  often at little or no cost.

That said, ours is by no means a perfect system, and our goal should be to improve access and quality by closing the gaps in care that remain. But sloganeering about rights and privileges is just a political distraction by interest groups that will not help us solve the problems that we actually face.

Hertzka, senior staff physician at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns, is a past president of the California Medical Association and a past chair of the American Medical Associations Council on Health Policy.
Its not a philosophical question to ask whether health care is a right or a privilege. In this country, it is, in fact, both.

We have already determined as a society that some level of health care is a right. Government charity care laws and regulations require hospitals with basic emergency rooms to care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. Other health care providers are not bound by these requirements. Access to private physicians and all other health services is a privilege; patients can be turned away if they cannot afford the care.

Related: Why health care access is vital to community well-being

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Related: Right vs. privilege question in health care is false choice

Related: Why health care is a basic human right

Patients seeking basic care for which they cannot pay are often forced to go where they, by right, must be seen  emergency rooms.

Others without means who visit emergency rooms for truly serious issues are treated, and then have nowhere appropriate to go for the continued care they need. So hospitals admit them and absorb the cost to keep them as a patient, or pay a skilled nursing facility or other provider to continue their care.

This irrational system needs to be fixed so emergency rooms arent overwhelmed, and patients receive the care they need when and where they should receive it. There should be a safety net system of care providers  not just hospitals with emergency rooms  required to help these patients.

Many believe single-payer health care systems of other countries are examples we should follow. But true single-payer systems manage cost by rationing care  through long wait times or waiting lists for nonemergent care, or by not offering certain services and even cutting some procedures off by age. Some have created two-tier systems by permitting the purchase of private insurance to gain faster access or receive services not available in the government plan. These are really right and privilege systems; and in that sense, arent terribly different from what we have now here.

Creating the right health care solution for this country will take bipartisan legislation. The Affordable Care Act wasnt perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. And there has not been a viable proposal since. Health care providers, who know firsthand the downstream consequences of laws and regulations on patients, havent even been at the table. From what I can tell, these health care reform efforts have been less about health care and more about partisan politics.

Its doubtful both sides will come together any time soon to fix this nations broken health care system. And for the patients, and those of us who serve them, thats a shame.

Van Gorder is president and CEO, Scripps Health.
One of my fondest memories of growing up in San Diego was being able to go surfing for the day in northern Baja California, Mexico. Within an hours time, my brother and I would be surfing such iconic breaks as Baja Malibu, Calafia, K-38, and Salsipuedes. Our parents bought us our first surfboards in 1975 at RCs Surflines in Imperial Beach. My brother and I learned to surf in Coronado. Little did I know that the pristine beaches of Imperial Beach and Coronado, over the next 40 years, would regularly be impacted by sewage runoff from the Tijuana River Valley; San Diegos environmental disaster.

The Tijuana River flows for 120 miles, crossing into the United States just west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry; flowing its remaining five miles through the Tijuana River Valley to the Pacific Ocean. Tijuana has a population of 1.7 million people. Tijuanas infrastructure has never kept up with its growth. Storm drains and sewers are one and the same in the city. Pedestrians often smell sewage while walking down city streets. Tijuanas elevation is higher than the Tijuana River Valley. Natural runoff, sediment, industrial waste, toxins and sewage naturally flow into the Tijuana River.

In February 2017, more than 140 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Tijuana River in Mexico, eventually making its way to the Pacific Ocean. Over 20 miles of beaches from the Mexican Border to Coronado were closed until mid-March. Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina called the spill a tsunami of sewage. According to the local environmental group Wildcoast, beach closures in 2016 at Border Field State Park totaled 163 days; Imperial Beach, 37 days; Coronado, 3 days. Beach closures in 2017, from January to June, have totaled: Border Field State Park, 157 days; Imperial Beach, 62 days; Coronado, 11 days. Millions of gallons of sewage have flowed into the Tijuana River since the late 1930s.

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During a recent tour of the Tijuana River Valley with Christopher Harris, director of legislative and political affairs, Local 1613, National Border Patrol Council, I witnessed polluted water flowing into the U.S. from storm drains at Goat and Yogurt Canyons and at Smugglers Gulch. Hundreds of used tires, plastic bottles and tons of garbage washed into the U.S. from Mexico, littered the landscape. Just west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, Harris pointed out drug addicts living in the river basin, washing in the polluted water. On the southern levy of the river, human feces and used syringes littered the ground.

Border Patrol agents are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals, polluted soil and raw sewage in the Tijuana River Valley. Harris stated that 83 out of 315 agents, in the Imperial Beach Sector, had reported some type of contamination, reaction or sickness to pollutants within the last four months. Border Patrol agents have suffered chemical burns, headaches and lung infections and arent the only people exposed to pollutants. Contract workers who clean detention cells and processing areas are exposed to polluted soil as are unauthorized immigrants that cross the border and walk through the valley and river. Human smugglers often traffic unauthorized immigrants through storm drains filled with polluted water.

The United States-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP), established in 1996, was initially set up to fund deficient water and wastewater facilities along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Paloma Aguirre, coastal and marine director at Wildcoast, said the program was initially funded with $100 million per year, however it has been reduced, over the last 20 years, to less than $10 million. Aguirre said the program has been successful in combating sewage spills. In September 2017, Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, and Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, voted to approve House Resolution 3354; effectively gutting the program.

In October 2017, the Port of San Diego and the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista and Imperial Beach filed a notice of intent to sue the federal government for not adequately addressing the pollution issues in the Tijuana River Valley. Lawsuits can take years to provide an outcome. Without buy-in from Mexico, I dont see the problem being resolved.

In order to resolve this environmental crisis, the following needs to take place: The U.S. trade representative needs to include and demand resolution of Mexican pollution issues as part of ongoing NAFTA negotiations; equal environmental rules and regulations for the United States and Mexico need to be drafted, implemented and enforced; funding from both the U.S. and Mexico needs to appropriated to resolve the issue; and the United States and Mexico need to initiate high-level bilateral negotiations to resolve pollution issues.

Jacobson, a San Diego resident, is an international businessman, surfer and environmentalist.
Donald Trump has recently praised (kow-towed to) Xi Jinping, Chinas dictator, a man he excoriated during the election campaign. He repeatedly praises Vladimir Putin and Rodrigo Duterte, both ruthless dictators.

It is apparent that Trump envies the powers of dictators and his actions clearly indicate he would like to become one himself. A man who aspires to dictatorship is totally unfit to be president of a democracy. Trump must be removed from his position as soon as possible.

Joseph J. Bookstein

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La Jolla

Responding to the letter Kudos for deletion of Trump Twitter account (Nov. 6): Sorry for this fellow, but he is in for a lot of hurt in the next seven years. Trump is here and we (the conservatives) have him.

Stay tuned, we are looking forward to Hillary Clinton doing the perp walk. I think Donna Brazile is writing Clintons demise.

Junious Montgomery

Carlsbad

Re Pentagon - Invasion only way to secure N. Korea (Nov. 5): How far are we going to pursue this insanity, this pervasive madness?

There are 25 million inhabitants in Seoul, South Korea. Would 25 million civilian casualties be sufficient to satisfy the insatiable war-appetite of the Pentagon and its blood-lust partners, the military industrialists?

We are under the greedy thumbs of an administration that is beyond sick. Ultimately it falls upon us, as American citizens of conscience, to disable that control.

Stan Levin

San Diego

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Re In Vietnam, Trump blasts critics on Russia as haters (Nov. 11): Veterans Day 2017 and Donald Trump the draft dodger taped up his big toe and marched right into Da Nang, South Vietnam.

Only 50 years after the U.S. Marines made their home there. Way to go.

Steve Quinn

North Park

Now that the U.S. is out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, China is taking the economic lead in Asia and, while giving Trump the red carpet, they are manipulating him at will.

Nothing new on North Korea on this trip and Trump continues to succumb to flattery wherever he goes.

Bob Kerber

Oceanside
Some viewers are calling for Fox News anchor Shepard Smith to go while others are basically saying way to go after he spent several minutes on his show Tuesday debunking a conspiracy theory surrounding a sale of uranium to Russians while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state.

Smith said the theory that then-candidate Donald Trump repeatedly shared during the 2016 campaign  one purporting that investors in a uranium sale approved by Clintons state department funneled $145 million to the Clinton Foundation in a quid pro quo deal  is inaccurate in a number of ways.

For one, Smith said, Clintons state department had no authority to veto or approve such a transaction and that, instead, it was approved by an interagency committee  the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States  made up of members of nine government agencies, including the state department.

Its not unusual for those members to be career civil servants, CNN has reported.

We dont even know if Secretary Clinton participated at all directly, Smith said on Tuesday.

He wrapped the six-minute report with this:

The accusation is predicated on the charge that Secretary Clinton approved the sale. She did not. A committee of nine evaluated the sale, the president approved the sale, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and others had to offer permits, and none of the uranium was exported for use by the U.S. to Russia. That is Uranium One.

Smith is not the first to offer facts that debunk the theory, which first emerged in a book authored by Breitbart editor Peter Schweizer and was repeated by his Fox News colleague, Sean Hannity. Organizations including FactCheck.org and Snopes.com have debunked the theory in lengthy posts.

But Smiths takedown of the Clinton conspiracy theory on Fox News that drew emotional reactions from those on the left and the right, given the networks consistent coverage of the former presidential candidates role as state secretary.

HE HAS TO GO!!! one of them tweeted.

Elsewhere, those on the left called Smiths report a courageous act and applauded what one person called a methodical annihilation of his own networks coverage of the story.

Indication came later in the day that Fox News was not yet ready to drop its Clinton coverage. Hannity had a card in his sleeve: a full blackboard of Clintons scandals.

What do you think  should Shepard Smith go? Do you think he demonstrated bias in his report? Or do you think he was reasonable and did a good job debunking the theory?

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.
A Rancho Bernardo centenarian has literally seen the area change over his lifetimes 100 years.

Arthur Hastings Jones, who said he was nicknamed Pat by a grandmother because there were several others named Arthur in the family, was born in the Escondido area on Nov. 8, 1917. His family has a long history in the region, with a grandfather and his father being longtime politicians, businessmen and entrepreneurs in the Escondido area.

His family also owned the Sycamore Creek Ranch off Pomerado Road, a property that met up to the Bernardo Winerys vineyards a century ago. There they raised dairy cattle and procured honey from their bee hives. Jones said his familys home remained at the site until destroyed in the 2007 wildfires.

It has completely changed, Jones said when asked about the areas developments. Rancho Bernardo was complete wilderness. ... (There were) cattle here.

Jones said he entertained himself by pursuing various interests since there were no other children nearby to be his playmates. His brother, Clinton Jones, was a decade younger and became the first attorney in Rancho Bernardo, he said.

So he could attend school, Jones said his father drove him to Poway and later they gave rides to other teens who, like Jones, attended Escondido High School since at the time Poway schools did not go beyond eighth grade. During his school years he played the violin and excelled in track. Distance running is something Jones continued, even in his 90s, according to his son, Jon Jones.

During his childhood a county library was set up in the familys home, so Jones said he had plenty of reading materials. He taught himself how to become a speed reader and enjoyed reading as much as he could about how radios work.

But he did more than just read about radios in magazines. Jones recalled when, as a youth, the areas steel telephone wires were replaced by copper due to their lower electric resistance. He decided to re-purpose the discarded wires in order to get radio transmission at his home, which did not have electricity and was in the canyon.

Jones said he pulled the wires up to their ranch by using his horse, Gypsy, twisted four strands together to make a stronger cable and after creating a 1,000 foot length strung it between the two hills on either side of the house. That let him listen to a handmade crystal set radio, which he also made for others. Via Morse code he was also able to communicate with another guy in Highland Valley.

Jones said his father taught him how to ride a horse at age 5 or 6 and that led to him and Gypsy appearing in the annual Escondido Felicita Pageant for several summers. He would dress up as a Mexican horseman and he was responsible for having the horses ready for the reenactment.

After graduating from high school Jones said he completed an additional year of schooling before he enlisted in the Navy. When he retired 20 years later, in 1958, he was a lieutenant commander.

He served aboard the USS Cincinnati, the USS Pasadena when it was in Japan during the signing of the Japanese surrender in 1945, the USS Shangra La in support of the Bikini Atoll Operation Crossroad atomic bomb test and the USS Princeton. His duties included serving with the Bomb Disposal School  a precursor of the Underwater Demolition Team  and he parachute jumped out of a Spearman biplane. Other duties included working on the creation of the Atlantic and Pacific Missile Test Ranges and with an early cruise-like missile.

Even though he was in engineering, Jones said because of his radio knowledge he often fixed problems with the ships communications systems too.

Following his military retirement, he and his now 101-year-old wife, Lydia, moved around the world as he worked for Western Electric for 20 years as an electrical engineer with its anti-ballistic missile system and telecommunications. This second career took them overseas to Guam, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, and stateside they lived in San Diego, New Jersey, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

The couple  married for 75 years this past May  met when Pat was stationed in Washington, D.C. and Lydia worked for the Navy. She is a Vermont native whose career path included teaching Russian while they lived in Guam and being a legal secretary at a law school. They have three children and five grandchildren.

In 2000, the couple returned to the area and settled in Rancho Bernardo. Fascinated with the construction of the 990-foot-long stressed ribbon style David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge that followed the path of the old Highway 395 that he traveled as a youth, Jones said he went out to view its construction every two days and took more than 1,000 photos as it was being built. Construction began in 2007 and the bridge opened in 2009. He has walked across it many times since.

Email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com
San Diegans are living in a complicated place during a tricky time, so who can we trust with a discussion of immigration and the border in the age of Donald Trumps wall? A panel of well-informed local experts, or the guy with the fart jokes?

As it turns out, the answer is both of the above, and you wont have to wait long to find out why.

On Thursday, the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park is hosting Politics + Examining the Border, a panel discussion inspired by MOPAs latest exhibit, Point/Counterpoint: Contemporary Mexican Photography.

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The free event is part of MOPAs Community Conversation series. Doors open at 6 p.m. The talking starts at 6:30. Tickets are at: mopa.org/pcp.

Also on Thursday, the Comedy Central cable network is airing Jeff Ross Roasts the Border: Live from Brownsville, Texas. The one-hour docu-comedy special  which airs at 10 p.m.  cuts between Ross stand-up comedy show at the Texas/Mexico border and his interviews with undocumented immigrants, law-enforcement agents, Trump supporters and even an immigrant-smuggling coyote.

The MOPA panel discussion is inspired by the museums new exhibit, which looks at life in Mexico through the very different lenses of 19 contemporary Mexican photographers.

The panel will feature thought-provoking insights about life on the border from Osvaldo Ruiz of the Border Angels immigrant-support organization, blogger and photographer Jill Marie Holslin, and lawyer Dulce Garcia, who specializes in Dreamer cases.

The Comedy Central special features Ross earnest, Everyguy encounters with people on both sides of the Brownsville border, along with jokes guaranteed to offend viewers of all races and political persuasions.

No one is off limits when Ross turns up the comedy heat. Not the Border Patrol, immigrant kids or the local official who has indulged in a few too many Taco Tuesdays.

Youre the size of your own sanctuary city! Ross crows.

One of these things is definitely not like the other, but both the funny cable show and the serious museum event make the same point. When it comes to issues as many-sided as immigration and cross-border relationships, the more viewing angles the better.

Comedy can certainly do a lot. It presents a different way for people to look at issues, and it can approach them more frankly than we often do, said Kevin Linde, MOPAs adult programs manager.

Here in the museum and with the visual arts, the potential we have is to provide diverse entry points to people. Different artists can approach topics in different ways, so we can have a more diverse way of looking at a particular issue.

You can say the same for Jeff Ross Roasts the Border, as the genially liberal comedian hunkers down with all kinds of people who look at the issue of immigration in all kinds of ways.

In Brownsville, Ross drives along the border with a local constable who worries about the fate of the immigrants he hands over the Border Patrol while also thinking the U.S. needs to focus on the people who are already here.

Ross talks to some Trump supporters who are in favor of the presidents immigration policies and some who arent. There is a heartbreaking conversation with a college-aged Dreamer who didnt find out she was undocumented until she tried to enlist in the military, and a chilling chat with a coyote about what happens if a client cant pay for his services.

There is also plenty of time for the roast, in which Ross makes fun of an immigration attorney, a guy in a wheelchair, President Trump, and every ethnic group in attendance, including his own. (Im El Chapos Jewish cousin. El Cheapo.)

Ross is not a subtle guy, but he approaches border issues and border people with such good-natured curiosity, he gives us a close-up look at an issue that we often hold at arms-length. Even when were wagging our fingers at each other.

Were in a time when opinions tend to be polarized, and that can be dehumanizing, MOPAs Linde said. Understanding the culture goes a long way to bringing in the human element. It isnt just words on the page or a policy anymore.

Like Ross roast, the MOPA exhibit and the conversations it provokes can bring us closer to the things that scare and confuse us. And in this polarizing time, that is where we need to be.

Twitter: @karla_peterson

karla.peterson@sduniontribune.com
Americas Finest craft beers are prime takeover targets for multinational beverage brands. Case in pint: MillerCoors swallowed a majority stake in Saint Archer Brewing Co. for around $70 million, and Constellation Brands chugged Ballast Point for a cool billion.

If you cant beat em, gulp em!

Brewing is big business  and one local company has found a recipe that lets locals get a taste of the action. Using WeFunder, an equity crowdfunding platform that connects investors to publicly and privately held companies, San Diegos own Mission Brewery is releasing $1 million in private stock for purchase by the craft-beer-loving public.

Missions offering is a first for the city. Historically, investments of this nature have been available only to accredited investors: those who earn $200,000 or more per year and/or have a net worth of more than $1 million (as set by the Securities and Exchange Commission).

Until Missions WeFunder campaign ends, unaccredited investors can own a pint-size piece of one of San Diegos most historic breweries for a minimum investment of $200.

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Depending upon their size, investments come with perks like engraved Founders Planks on permanent display in the brewery, investor-only events and complimentary rounds of beer.

With increasing sales and bottling capacity, the already-established Mission Brewery is on the rise, says Dan Selis, the companys president, founder and CEO. Were selling $1 million in private shares to expand while keeping Mission local and inviting our neighbors to become a part of brewing history.

The big news in local brews is how fast Mission may raise the million. Local investors have already guzzled $212,000 in equity through the campaign, which launched Oct. 1.

Originally established in 1913, Mission Brewery went out of business during Prohibition. Selis, a homebrewer for 25 years before getting into the beer biz, reignited the flame in 2007, reopening Mission Brewery in the old Wonder Bread Factory (built in 1894) in East Village.

Today, on the eve of the new Missions 10-year anniversary, the brewery is hailed as one of San Diegos (and the nations) best.

Our goal is to bring Mission Brewery into households nationwide and open more tasting rooms for our local San Diegans to come in and enjoy, says Selis.

Mission Brewery has won 59 national and international brewing awards. Investors, be warned: purchasing shares in this company-on-the-rise may lead to drinking some of the best beers on the planet. And then your friends might try to get involved 

Join the Mission. Own your craft.

Invest and/or learn more about Mission Brewery at wefunder.com/missionbrewery. Follow @missionbrewery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news on beers, tasting-room events, investment updates and more.

#JoinOurMission

#OwnYourCraft

#OwnWhatYouDrink
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The history of cigarettes in the United States is one of a great rise and fall, but will smoking ever completely die out?

Cigarettes were a tiny fraction of total tobacco consumption at the turn of the century, when chewing tobacco, pipes, and cigars were more popular. By 1930  more than 40 years after the invention of the practical rolling machine  cigarettes had taken over, and by 1965, 42 percent of adults were smoking them. But a government report in the mid-sixties would spell the rapid decline of smoking in America.

The U.S. Surgeon Generals report in 1964 dealt a permanent, heavy blow to tobacco sales, but it wasnt the first consideration of the health effects of smoking. In 1950, this magazine explored whether the cigarette cough might be indicative of a causative link between smoking and lung cancer in the article, Can We Check the Rising Toll of Lung Cancer?

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Whether excessive cigarette smoking is a factor in the commonest form of lung cancer, squamous cell or epidermoid, is being warmly argued, claimed author Steven M. Spencer after finding that 63 percent of lung cancer patients in a New York survey had smoked cigarettes 25 years or more. Lung cancer was quickly rising at the time  particularly among men  but the breadth of studies didnt exist to prove that cigarettes were causing it.

Now it does exist, and the smoking rate among adults in the U.S. is down to 15 percent.

The fall of cigarettes in the U.S. could be regarded as an unparalleled victory in public health. I dont know of another area in which similar health improvements have been demonstrated, says Dr. David Hammond, a public health expert from University of Waterloo. Yet despite the dramatic decline, smoking is still the leading cause of death in the U.S. Its a case of simultaneous success and failure.

Although smoking rates have plummeted across the board, there are still some geographic, social, and economic indicators. The incidence of smoking is about four percent higher in the Midwest than the national average, five percent higher among lesbians, gays, and bisexuals, and more than 10 percent higher for people living under the poverty line. Hammond says, The good news is that smoking has been going down across all socioeconomic strata; the bad news is that we havent narrowed the disparities that have been there for decades. And narrowing those disparities is in the public interest, since the CDC estimates a loss of more than $300 billion each year due to smoking from direct medical care and loss of productivity.

There are tools for the public fight against cigarettes that have proven effective, like media and regulation on advertisements. Dr. Hammond says the U.S. could improve in other areas, particularly warning labels: Theyre probably among the weakest in the world, he says, and they havent changed since 1984. The FDA has released stricter deterrent warnings to be used on cigarette packaging per the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, but litigation from tobacco companies  framed around First Amendment rights  has kept the reality of the new packaging standards at bay.

Another, more controversial, tool for quitting is the electronic cigarette. Like the prescribed medications for smoking cessation  nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges  e-cigarettes, or vaping, deliver nicotine to the user. The jury is still out on the long-term effects of e-cigarette use, but the harm is estimated to be somewhere between smoking and the aforementioned medications.

Vaping has been found to help smokers quit, but experts worry that it could attract young people to nicotine who never used it in the first place. Dr. Hammond co-authored a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal regarding youth initiation to smoking and vaping. It found that the causal nature of this association remains unclear because of common factors underlying the use of both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. While they may not pose a high risk of being a gateway to tobacco use, e-cigarettes warrant more data. We would be crazy if we werent keeping a close eye on the number of kids trying e-cigarettes, but to date it doesnt seem to be increasing smoking, according to Hammond.

A variety of approaches, in a variety of fields, seems to be the accepted strategy in taking down cigarettes, but what would victory look like? An absence of cigarette companies? Vaping as a new norm? Its difficult to imagine that e-cigarette companies would cease to exist after completing the task of taking down big tobacco, but, unlike the latter, the vaping industry is less monolithic and represented by a variety of big and small interests. The conglomerated efforts of tobacco companies, after all, have put up the decades-long fight that continues more than 50 years after a report that probably should have buried the industry. There have been considerable public health triumphs, but the current 480,000 annual smoking-related deaths suggest that there is still a long road ahead.
Lewes, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/16/2017 -- The study of adverse effects of chemicals and other biologic substances on living organisms is termed as toxicology. The term toxicology is broadly used in various industries such as agrochemical, pharmaceutical, medical devices, cosmetics, and others. Toxicologists are responsible for the development, implementation, and interpretation of toxicological tests to meet regulatory requirements and data quality standards (e.g., GLPs).



The toxicology services global market is expected to grow at high single digit CAGR to reach $14,343.0 million by 2025. Mandatory toxicology testing in various industries such as pharmaceutical, agriculture, environmental and chemical, rapid technology advancements, increased demand for crop protection are some of the driving factors for this industry. Increasing trend in outsourcing the toxicology services and increasing end stage drug failures are creating newer opportunities for the market to grow. However, opposition to animal testing in case of in vivo tests and increased funding towards drug repurposing are hindering the market to grow.



Toxicology services global market is classified based on methods, industries, endpoint tests, and geography. Based on methods the toxicology services market can be divided into two segments i.e., in vivo, and in vitro. In silico methods have been included in the in vitro segment along with ex vivo methods. Based on industries the segment is further classified as pharmaceutical industry (discovery and preclinical), medical device industry, cosmetics, chemical industry (industrial chemicals, agrochemicals, environmental) and others (consumer goods and food). The endpoints segment can be classified as systemic toxicology, organ toxicology, dermal toxicology, neurotoxicology, ocular toxicology, genotoxicology, developmental and reproductive toxicology, carcinogenicity and ecotoxicology.



Based on geography toxicology services global market is classified as North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the world. North America accounts for the highest market share followed by Europe. The region is backed by huge government funding, mandatory toxicology testing regulations and streamlined toxicology guidelines which makes the volume of tests higher. Particularly in the case of pharmaceutical industry, the research for new drug candidates in on a rise taking a look at the pipeline drugs which makes these regions grow in terms of revenue and market size. However, Asian countries especially China and India are the fastest growing regions with its growing demand for toxicology services products.



Major players in toxicology services market include Charles River Laboratories (U.S.), Labcorp (Covance) (U.S.), Envigo (U.S.), MPI Research Inc. (U.S.), Eurofins (Luxembourg), Wuxi (China), SGS (Switzerland), Merck KGaA (Bioreliance Inc.) (Germany), Evotec (Germany), Bureau Veritas (Maxxam) (France).



The report provides an in-depth market analysis of the above-mentioned segments across the following regions:



- North America

U.S.

Others



- Europe

Germany

U.K.

France

Others



- Asia-Pacific

Japan

China

India

Others



- Rest of the World (RoW)

Brazil

Rest of Latin America

Middle-East and Others



Spanning over 344 Pages "Toxicology Services Global Market - Forecast To 2025" report covers Executive Summary, Introduction, Market Analysis, Toxicology Services Global Market, By Method, Toxicology Services Global Market, By Industry, Toxicology Services Global Market, By Endpoint Tests, Toxicology Services Market, By Region, Company Developments, Major Companies. This Report Covered 167 Companies Few Are - Bureau Veritas, Charles River Laboratories, Eurofins Scientific, Envigo, Evotec A.G., Labcorp, Merck Kgaa, Mpi Research, Sgs Group, Wuxi Apptec, Concept Life Sciences, Concord Biosciences Llc, Consumer Product Testing Company, Creagen Biosciences Inc.



Please visit this link for more details: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/iq4i/toxicology-services-global-market-forecast-2025



Find all Pharma and Healthcare Reports at: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/pharma-healthcare



About Market Research Reports, Inc.

Market Research Reports Inc. is world's largest store offering quality market research, SWOT analysis, competitive intelligence and industry reports. We help Fortune 500 to Start-Ups with the latest market research reports on global & regional markets which comprise key industries, leading market players, new products and latest industry analysis & trends.



Contact us for your market research requirements: http://www.marketresearchreports.com/contact
FLORENCE, S.C.  The leader of Duke Energy said Wednesday that her company, like Florence County, is going through a transformation. She said Duke Energy will continue to invest in the territories it serves.

Duke Energy President Lynn Good, who is also chairman and chief executive of the company, gave the keynote address at the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerces annual Membership Luncheon on Wednesday afternoon.

Good spoke in front of hundreds of people including business leaders, chamber board members and ambassadors, city and county council members, and state representatives who gathered inside the Florence Center for the event.

She talked about Duke Energys contributions to South Carolina and its commitment to providing service to the Pee Dee region.

Weve been serving the region for over 100 years  113 years to be exact, Good said. We have been a part of bringing power to lives and livelihood for a long period of time. We at Duke Energy are proud to be a part of this region.

Good addressed the importance of economic development and community vitality in the region and how Duke Energy can contribute to those elements of growth and progress. She also recognized the revitalization process going on in the Florence community and talked about how Duke Energy is going through some changes of its own.

Its a period of transformation, Good said. Theres transformation occurring all along the value chain, from the way we make power to the way we deliver power to the expectations of customers.

Good said business leaders and Duke Energy stakeholders can expect certain changes to come in order to better meet customer needs, create efficient energy infrastructure and invest in clean energy such as nuclear power. In the past month, Duke Energy announced a new program called Power Forward Carolinas which allows the company to invest $3 billion in energy infrastructure over the next 10 years.

Good added that Duke Energy will invest approximately $11 billion in gas infrastructure and renewable energy throughout all of its services territories, including Florida, North Carolina and the Midwest, over the next decade. Good also plans to continue to advocate for nuclear power as a clean source of energy moving forward.

Our customers are expecting more from us, Good said. The demand has never been greater. Were anxious to continue to grow the infrastructure in a way that provides a great foundation for the growth of the region and believe that this investment will be important for the success that all of you are trying to achieve.

Fortune magazine lists Good as 11th among the Most Powerful Women in Business, and Forbes magazine calls her one of The Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women. In 2016, she became the first regulated utility CEO designated as a LinkedIn Influencer  an online thought-leadership program.

Good has served as chief executive officer since 2013. Previously she served as Duke Energys chief financial officer, and earlier she led the companys commercial energy businesses during its initial development of renewable energy projects. She began her utility career in 2003 with Cincinnati-based Cinergy, which merged with Duke Energy three years later. Prior to 2003, she was a partner at two international accounting firms.

Mike Miller, president of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, said that under Goods leadership, Duke Energy has intensified its focus on serving its customer and all of its communities while leading the way to a safe and responsible energy future.

Miller also provided updates on the chambers happenings and how the organization is continuing to focus on its three major goals: supporting small business growth, becoming a part of community leadership and continuing its efforts toward education.

We know education and workforce are what is going to drive growth in our Pee Dee and Florence County communities, Miller said.
Dawn Bickford didnt start her career in education as a counselor, but in the past 11 years at Weeping Water High School she has developed into one of the best in the state.

I started as a math teacher at Weeping Water High School in 2000, she said.

After a few years of teaching at the school, Bickford decided to pursue a Masters Degree at University of Nebraska-Omaha. Thats when Brian Gegg, the former principal, asked her if shed ever considered a career as a school counselor and told her he thought she would make a good one.

Gegg was correct. After earning her degree, she took the counseling position at the high school in 2007 and over the course of the next decade proved Gegg right.

On Nov. 9, Bickford was chosen as the Nebraska School Counselor Associations (NSCA) High School Counselor of the Year. The award was presented to her during the NSCAs annual convention at The Graduate Hotel in downtown Lincoln.

As part of the awards ceremony, Cora DeMikes letter of recommendation for Bickford was read. DeMike said she works with Bickford through the Reaching Out Weeping Water organization.

Our focus is to meet basic needs for children and their families. It has been incredible to work with Dawn through this endeavor. Her heart to see children be successful is evident as she advocates for her students in and out of the classroom, DeMike writes.

DeMike notes Bickfords professionalism, integrity and caring attitude make her a vital member of Weeping Water.

I have seen her rejoice with students over their successes, be a shoulder they can lean on when it is tough, and a steady pace as she walks with those who carry the weight of the hurts in their lives, she writes. Mrs. Bickford is an excellent model of what a teacher should be. I believe she has truly found her lifes calling and would be an excellent recipient for the Nebraska School Counselor of the Year Award.

Bickford covers a wide range of activities in her job as counselor. First, she heads the School Community Intervention and Prevention (SCIP) program.

Teachers who have a concern about a student-- whether it is academic, social, home life or behavior -- bring it to the team. As a team we decide what we need to do to help that student such as recommending outside counseling, inside counseling or extra help, Bickford explained.

She also heads the Crisis Team. We get a team together when a crisis happens. We decide what information we need to get out and what steps we need to take to help students, staff and faculty deal with the crisis. I also go to other school districts when they have a crisis such as Conestoga and Elmwood-Murdock, Bickford said.

In addition, Bickford leads the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support team.

Its a team we put together schoolwide to set expectations for students in the school, she said. Tier I expectations are for all students In the district. Tier II expectations are for students with some behavior problems. Tier III includes expectations for students in need of special education classes.

We determine what supports we need to put into place to help the student whether they are acting out, not getting along with peers or have trouble following directions all the time. Behaviors are like academics. If they are struggling with behavior, there is a skill missing. We find how to help them get that skill, she explained.

Bickford also helps seniors with scholarship applications, college applications and exploring their future plans.

There are also the in-depth sessions with students who need help with self-esteem, drug and alcohol problems and friendship issues. Some students come in every week, others just come in when they need to, she said.

Working with the community and generous donations from PSC Phosphate, Bickford also heads the school Backpack Program. We buy food with the donations and any student on the free lunch program qualifies for a backpack if they want one. Every Friday, I pack the backpack with things like pancakes, syrup, cereal, taco shells  non-perishables. They also receive a $10 Hy-Vee gift card to buy the meat for the tacos or other things.

Each Friday or the last day in the school week, the students pick up their filled backpack so they have food for the weekend.

Bickford loves working with the students in her role as counselor. I love getting to know the kids in a completely different way than as a classroom teacher. As a counselor, Im not a disciplinarian. We talk about what they should do differently next time, she said. Its great to see when you can help somebody, but its also hard when you know youve done everything you could and you still couldnt help them.

Graduation ceremonies bring a special joy to her. I love to watch them walk across the stage and seeing what they do once they get out of high school. Many of them Ive known since they were kindergarteners, Bickford said.

Her work, however, as a counselor, community servant and mother/wife isnt everything Bickford does. She has served in the Air National Guard for 20 years. Sometime in the near future, she will be deployed overseas for six months in her role as Master Sergeant in the 139th Airlift Wing.

Im with a unit out of St. Joseph, Mo., because when I graduated from Humboldt High School, St. Joseph was closer than Omaha, she said. I stayed with the unit because of the friends and families there.

Even with all of her accomplishments, Bickford felt honored with the award she received last week. She added there was a particularly exciting moment during the award ceremony. Before they arrived, she noticed family members with the recipient of the Outstanding Elementary School Counselor Award and the Outstanding Middle School Counselor Award recipients.

I kept thinking, I didnt ask anyone to come with me. I wish Id asked more people, she said.

At that moment, her husband Kerry, son Tucker, parents Tom and Rhonda Standerford, and Principal Gary Wockenfuss walked in the room smiling to see the award presentation.

I felt very honored, but it really belongs to the students, staff and community I work with. Without them, I couldnt do the job that I do, she said.
Durham Museum (801 S. 10th St., Omaha): Zoom Into Nano, through Jan. 7. The exhibit presents a variety of largescale, immersive experiences in the world of nanotechnology. Mid-Western Missions: Agents and Expeditions, through Jan. 14. A Lifetime of Objects: The Story of Byron Reed, 1829-1891, through Jan. 14. Lets Go to Town for Boys Town, through Jan. 21. Through images, documents and artifacts from the Boys Town Hall of History collection and archives, visitors to The Durham Museum will trace the development of this Omaha fixture over the last 100 years.

Admission: adults $11, seniors (62+) $8, children (3-12) $7, children under 2 free.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and major holidays.

International Quilt Study Center & Museum (33rd and Holdrege streets, Lincoln): Against the Grain: Quilted Leather by Cathy Wiggins, through Jan. 6. Block by Block: American Quilts in the Industrial Age, through Nov. 30. Small Talk, through Feb. 4. Voltage: Quilts by Erica Waaser, through Feb. 25.

Admission: adults, $6; children ages 5-18, $3; children under 5, free; families, $10. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

May Museum (1643 N. Nye Ave., Fremont): Transplanted: The Early Ethnic Settlers of Dodge County.

Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for students. Hours: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Nebraska History Museum (131 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln): Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined, through Jan. 8. The exhibit features 48 hand-colored engravings and lithographs. Dont Touch That Dial: Kalamity Kate and the George Churley Puppets, through June 17. The exhibit features puppets created by Churley that were prominently featured on the KOLN/KGIN program, Kalamity Kates Cartoon Corral, and hundreds of live programs during the 1970s. Visitors also will be able to see the original Kalamity Kate costume worn by Leta Powell Drake, as well as film footage.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission: Free.

Omaha Childrens Museum (500 S. 20th St., Omaha): Forever Forest, through April 15. Exploring the realities of forests through play, this exhibit includes a tree top climber, a realistic mini replica of a Union Pacific engine, a kid-sized home kids can help build and more.

Admission: $12 for adults (16-59) and children (2-15), $11 for seniors (60 and older) and free for children under 24 months and members. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (28210 West Park Highway, Ashland): Nebraska 150 Aerospace. The exhibit highlights significant contributions of Nebraskans over 150 years of aerospace history. Admission: $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and military and $6 for children ages 4-12. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History (14th and Vine streets, Lincoln): Guts and Glory: A Parasite Story, through May 1, 2018. The exhibit explores the hidden world of parasites while showcasing the museums Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology. Miss Mie, through Dec. 31. The historic Japanese friendship ambassador doll and its accessories will be on display. Admission: $6 for adults (19 and over), $3 for children (5-18 years), free for children 4 and under, and $13 for families (up to two adults and children). Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays.
Northeast Community College in West Point will offer two courses later this month that explore Googles many capabilities.

Google I (INFO 5215/17F & CRN #60031) will meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 28 in Room 212 of the West Point Extended Campus, 202 Anna Stalp Ave.

This is a course for those who would like to learn a little more about Google Drive and Google Docs and want to become more productive with the cloud-based program. Participants will learn how to create and save documents, spreadsheets and more.

Google II (INFO 5215/17F & CRN #60332) will meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the same location.

This class is for those who want to dive a little deeper into Google Maps and Google Earth. Participants will learn how to use and get directions with Google Maps. They will also learn the basics of Google Earth and its satellite images.

Cost of each class is $30. Patty Schinstock is the instructor for both classes.

To register, call Northeast Community College in West Point at 402-372-2269.
Banking officials briefly discussed measures in place to help keep employees and customers safe after a local bank was robbed on Wednesday morning.

Law enforcement officials said an armed robbery occurred at the First State Bank and Trust branch, 1965 E. Military Ave.

The Nebraska State Patrol confirmed that three suspects are in custody in Douglas County after a pursuit.

Cindy Slykhuis, vice president-marketing for First State Bank and Trust, said the Parkview branch would reopen on Thursday and expressed appreciation for the communitys concern and support.

We are always looking at the best ways to keep our staff and customers safe, she added.

Local banks take various measures to help ensure the safety of employees and clients.

Recently, Pinnacle Bank installed whats called a secure access at all three of its Fremont locations, said Sharon Carlson, senior vice president at the local bank.

This requires everyone to be buzzed into the lobbies, she said.

While an outside door is open, the inside door is secure and theres an option to lock the outside door.

The bank has protocols.

We have procedures in place for all of our opening and closing tellers to protect them and all employees are given the authority to call the police when suspicious activities are occurring, she said.

Kevin Langin, senior director for public relations for First National Bank of Omaha and Fremont, said those banks have a program in place, too.

All banks in the area work closely with law enforcement to monitor the threat level  whats going on in the area relative to bank robberies and other potential crimes that financial institutions have to deal with, Langin said. Based on that, we have a comprehensive safety and security program in place and those procedures are continually updated as potential threats warrant.

Bank employees are advised to be vigilant and keep an eye out for suspicious individuals and activity.

We encourage employees to be observant of their surroundings and to know whats not normal activity, Carlson said.

Employees who notice cars in the parking lots or people hanging around without a business purpose are encouraged to call police and allow them to investigate.

Customers can help by removing sunglasses and hats when they enter bank branches, which lets employees know these individuals are not suspicious, Carlson said.

Bank customers also can help by being observant.

In todays world I think its important for all of us to really be aware of the environment and thats true whether its a bank or another retail location  to be aware of your surroundings and if there is a potential threat, Langin said.
Authorities have arrested three suspects connected to an armed bank robbery Wednesday in Fremont following a chase into Omaha.

The three individuals were taken into custody near the Village Pointe shopping center, at 168th and Dodge Street in Omaha, following an armed robbery that took place at First State Bank, at 1965 East Military Avenue, in Fremont on Wednesday morning.

The suspects are identified as Warren D. Vasser, 44 years old, of Council Bluffs, IA, Warren D. Copeland, 27, of Omaha, and Angelo C. Douglas, 25, of Omaha. All three men face charges of robbery, use of a weapon to commit a felony, possession of stolen property, and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person.

According to information released by the Fremont Police Department, it was reported that four to five armed individuals entered the bank and took money from the cashier drawers and bank vault at approximately 10:35 a.m.

The men fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and no bank employees or customers were injured during the robbery.

We appreciate the communitys concern and support, said Cindy Slykhuis, vice president-marketing for First State Bank and Trust. With there being an ongoing investigation, we are not able to release any details. We understand the suspects have been apprehended.

Slykhuis said the banks Parkview branch will reopen for business on Thursday.

Despite initial reports of four to five people being involved in the robbery, authorities are not looking for any other suspects at this time according to the Fremont Police Department.

Fremont Police reported that, following the robbery, a witness saw the suspects drive away from the area in a vehicle described as a white colored sport utility vehicle. Shortly after, an FPD Lieutenant saw a vehicle matching that description which was occupied by at least three individuals driving south on Highway 275 toward Omaha.

A description of the vehicle and its direction of travel was dispatched to the Nebraska State Patrol, which led to an attempt by a Nebraska State Patrol officer to stop the vehicle on Dodge Street near Elkhorn.

Following a short pursuit that ended near Village Pointe at 168th and Dodge Streets in Omaha, three individuals were placed into custody by members of the Nebraska State Patrol.

The three suspects were apprehended due to the great work of the State Patrol, and they did a fantastic job of bringing those guys into custody, Huston Pullen, public affairs officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said.

In Fremont, a block away the First State Bank location, police tape cordoned off an empty grey Honda Odyssey minivan with the doors wide open parked in an alley near the corner of North William Avenue and East 7th Street.

According to Fremont Police the van has been determined to be one of the getaway vehicles used in the commission of the robbery, and was reported stolen out of Omaha nearly a week ago on November 9th.

Along with the Nebraska State Patrol, multiple agencies were involved in the pursuit including Omaha Police Department, Dodge County Sheriffs Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to Pullen, the FBI Greater Omaha Bank Robbery Task Force is participating in the investigation along with NSP, FPD, and DSCO.

The work of the Greater Omaha Bank Robbery Task Force is something that we are really proud of, and along with all of our partners throughout the Omaha area we are working together to bring these kinds of bad guys in, Pullen said.

The First State Bank branch on Military Avenue was also hit by armed robbers over a decade ago, by two masked men with semi-automatic weapons on March 10th, 2004.

In 2006, Sherman R. Wade was sentenced for his involvement in the 2004 robbery along with robberies of four other banks in Fremont and Omaha during that time.

He received a total of 32 years on his sentence for using and carrying a firearm during the commission of the offense of bank robbery. He was also sentenced to 10 years for the bank robberies.
More than 800 guests including, Lionel Yeo, chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board, Lim Ching Kiat, managing director, Airhub Development, Changi Airport Group, and Lionel Wong, ceo, SATS-Creuers, government dignitaries, business, trade partners and media witnessed the debut.

With over 1.7m outbound sea travellers, Singapore is an important market for Dream Cruises.

Singapore also has the benefit of strong local support for the tourism industry as is evidenced by the innovative three-year tripartite joint cooperation partnership between the Singapore Tourism Board, Changi Airport Group and Dream Cruises.

This collaboration will see an investment of over SGD28m($20.6m) to promote Singapore as a key tourism destination and Asian cruise hub as well as a strategic gateway to access neighbouring countries through fly/cruise itineraries.

Kent Zhu, president of Genting Cruise Lines said, it is our goal to help boost Singapores tourism industry with our presence in the city.

With this partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, Changi Airport Group and our homeport deployment of Genting Dream in Singapore, we hope to encourage more vacationers from Singapore and internationally, including neighbouring countries to explore and expand their holiday experience in this dynamic city, added Zhu.

Lee Seow Hiang, Changi Airport Groups ceo said, Asia Pacific is currently the largest aviation market in the world, and will be the fastest growing region in the next 20 years. With Changi Airports strong air connectivity to more than 380 cities worldwide, Singapore is well-positioned to capitalise on this growth opportunity and bring more fly-cruise traffic here, serving as a cruise hub for the region.

Lim Ching Kiat, managing director, Airhub Development, Changi Airport Group said Changi airport has capacity for 82m passengers a year at Terminals 1-4 with a fifth terminal now being planned. He said the three year partnership will help to boost air traffic, particularly from India, China, Indonesia and Australia, which are major source markets for fly cruise.

Dream Cruises president Thatcher Brown said Genting Dreams latest homeport is a good place to tap into the fly cruise market. Theres more work we can do in that space. We see a lot of growth coming out of Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar, he told Seatrade.

There are also significant volumes flying out from India and Dream Cruises continues to leverage on the networks it has developed there. Given the increasing connectivity and GDP growth in region, we see positive momentum, he added.

Genting Dreams itineraries includes ports of call in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand with 2-night and 5-night cruises including Kuala Lumpur - Penang - Phuket and the launch of a brand new cruise to Surabaya - North Bali.

The ASEAN footprint allows for fantastic itineraries, Brown said. Macleod islands in Myanmar, for instance, is new on Genting vessels itineraries. Another Genting vessel, SuperStar Libra has been there as a pathfinder and Genting Dream will make one call there.

Referring to visible improvements to service and facilities onboard the one year old vessel, Brown said we learn and adjust.
The operations centre located in Thome's Singapore head office the hub tracks all 221 vessels in Thome's fleet and their position can be automatically updated every 30 minutes. It features a video wall comprising ten 55 inch screen allows multiple operators to view several screens at once.

A variety of functions allow operators to view security zones, war risk areas, and emission control areas and where the manager's vessels are in relation to these.

The Operations Hub means that we now have an even closer control of our managed fleet, offering our clients up to date information and even greater improvements in our ship management services. The monitoring capabilities provided by the hub will enable us to direct our managed fleet more efficiently saving time and improving our operational efficiency, said Claes Eek Thorstensen, president and cco of the Thome Group.

The hub is also designed to handle emergency situations and features such as CCTV enable shore staff to understand what current conditions are like.

Furthermore, in times of emergency we can react much more quickly and get faster and more accurate information about the situation in real time, allowing our crisis teams to make informed decisions on how to resolve any issues, he said. The centre gives ship Masters a single and immediate point of contact the time of crisis.

Currently CCTV images are updated every five minutes, and there are also videoing conferencing facilities. However, despite recent improvements in maritime communications, bandwith does remain an issue for some of the more ambitious communications using video as an aborted video call on Skype with a ship's Captain at sea in a demonstration for media showed..

Olav Nortun, ceo of Thome Group, said they were seeing what they could do with compression techniques, but bandwith would be an issue in the next few years.

Most of the systems used in the operations hub have been bought off the shelf rather than specifically developed for Thome's use. Nortun said that as they go forward with using the system there might be new systems that would need to be developed.
It's not easy keeping a secret when the secret is giant letters on a building.Moses Walker thought he was going out for a quiet dinner with his family in late October. Instead, he was met by 200 people who showed up for a ceremony renaming the Paterson Street clinic of the Family Health Center the Moses L. Walker Building. It turned out to be a surprise as intended.Walker arrived at the Paterson campus with his family, who insisted he wear a blindfold. He removed it to see 200 people cheering outside the clinic.Moments later, workers on the roof released a tarp to reveal the new, LED-lighted sign with his name. He also received commendations from Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell and Congressman Fred Upton.Keeping the renaming a secret was a real challenge, says Denise Crawford, Family Health Centers President and CEO.Walker lives nearby and is an active board member. He visited the Paterson facility twice in the days before the ceremony -- days during which workers installed the buildings new sign. With a tarp and staff leading Walker to another door the surprise stayed a secret. Another time, a friend of Walkers saw the new sign and promptly headed off to tell him. Fortunately, Crawford caught the friend in time.Mr. Walker has worked endlessly on behalf of Family Health Center so that our community could be stronger, Crawford, said at the unveiling. We stand here today bigger and better than ever before, able to serve more, give more and impact more because of Mr. Walker and his 47 years of commitment and dedication."The Moses L. Walker Building stands on the original site of Family Health Center. In 2012, it expanded from a 23,000-square-foot clinic to its current two-story, 75,000 square feet of 104 examination rooms, offices, pharmacy and support space. Walker, then board chair, was instrumental in raising $10.3 million to support that expansion.Today, Family Health Center operates six clinics plus two mobile units, providing medical and dental care to underserved populations in Kalamazoo County.Walker, a long-time member of the Family Health Center Board of Directors, helped spearhead the creation of Family Health Center in 1971at the time a simple trailer at the current Paterson Street location.The rechristened Moses L. Walker Building is a state-of-the-art healthcare facility providing care to thousands of underserved patients.During the dedication ceremony, many attendees said they felt like Walkers adopted children, crediting him with wise counsel that influenced their lives. Crawford picked up on that theme in her remarks: As witnessed tonight, Mr. Walker has many adopted children. But he has also adopted a community and a county. He has many times fed and clothed our children and attended to our ailing parents. He has truly walked the walk.Walker, a prominent community leader and champion of social justice, was visibly moved as Family Health Center surprised him Friday with a ceremony renaming its Paterson Street clinic the Moses L. Walker Building.To say that Im overwhelmed would be an understatement, Walker said. It does bring tears to my eyes. I really appreciate the honor.Family Health Center has been a labor of love. Its still a labor of love, he added.
From homelessness to holding down a job  that is the kind of transformation that people who go through the Momentum program can experience.Brian Parsons is director of Urban Alliances Momentum , a wildly successful employment program for some of the communitys most marginalized job seekers that has placed 150 people in jobs in the past four years and 82 percent of them have kept those jobs for more than 90 days.National statistics show that if you make it past 90 days, you tend to stay, and we're finding that to be true, Parsons says. Weve had some really high success rates beyond that first 90 days. To my knowledge, Momentum is the only program of its type in the country that is turning out the success rate that we are.He remembers one Momentum participant who was living in his car with his wife and children when he joined the program. After completing the Momentum program he went through a CNC operators program and was hired at Bowers Manufacturing Co.Hes been working there for almost a year now, Parsons says. And since then he's gotten a new car. He's gotten his own place to live. He's renting right now, and doing fantastic. Hes been promoted twice within that year.This kind of story is the not the exception but the rule for the Kalamazoo-based Momentum program, where the placement rate for participants seeking jobs is 93 percent, in part because participants are trained specifically in jobs for which a network of 53 local employers have said they need workers.Equally important, participants are supported by services tailored to help them succeed. Transportation, food pantry assistance, housing, and interview clothes provided by local clothing closets are some of the services participants receive.That's possible because a cornerstone of the program is its small class size. Were not just running a bunch of people through a program, Parson says. Its really about getting to know each person.This intensive case management is necessary since those in the program have to overcome many barriers to finding and keeping a job. Some have criminal records, others have very limited job experience.Whatever the barriers might be for an individual, that's what their program is geared toward. And so it's about getting in, and digging in, and helping them really overcome those barriers.Housing is a huge need, Parsons says. If you have any kind of criminal background it's almost impossible to find affordable housing that's in good condition in a decent location. So that's something that weve worked on really hard to develop partnerships (with people who can offer affordable housing). And we're still working on that. That's something that is still very much a work in progress.Program participants also can get help with their interactions with agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health or parole and probation offices. Those type of services sometimes can be complicated, Parsons says, so we help them navigate those so they get the assistance that they need.If you listen to those who have been through the Momentum program they also say they get a sense of family that some of them have never experienced.Were doing all kinds of supports to help them along the way to get them up to a place where they're going to be able to stand on their own, Parsons says. But at the same time, we do hold them at a very high level of commitment. So they are proving themselves through the process.Participants are paired with a mentor and go through a six-week employment program where they develop employability skills and life skills. During this process they also demonstrate they are committed to turning around their lives.We believe that we're in a perfect situation where we're able to provide a service to individuals who are serious about making change and we're able to supply a community need  skilled workers who are hungry and ready to just dive in and do everything they can to be successful, Parsons says.By meeting requirements such as never missing a class  Momentum has a zero-tolerance attendance policy  would-be workers prove themselves to Momentum staff and prospective employers.Our employers know when they get a graduate they get somebody who has been able to toe the line for six weeks, Parsons says. So it becomes an easy transition for them because it's like they've already proven they can do it.For those who go on to an academy there is an even deeper commitment required. They spend eight hours a day in a classroom for three weeks. It's something that I would find difficult  and they're knocking it out, Parsons says. They're excited about it.Those who participate in the program are those who want to work, they just need some training and some assistance in getting them in front of the right people who will recognize their talents, he says.Theres another benefit to going through the Momentum program. Once you're a Momentum graduate, you're always a Momentum graduate, Parsons says. So if you ever need any assistance you can always come back and we're always here to assist you.We've had people who've been employed for two years, and even three years, who have come back and said, You know what? I've moved up as far as I can move up in this company. I think I'm ready to advance into something else. Can you find me something else? And then we work with them to find something else. And then, not only find something else and help them leave that employer right. And then we can backfill their (the employers) need with a new employee.Looking forwardAfter a year of planning, the Momentum program began 2014 in the Edison neighborhood. It added a second location at New Village Park in the Eastside neighborhood. Recently, it added a location at the Douglass Community Center in the Northside neighborhood. Now classes meet in Edison and alternate between the Northside and Eastside. But in 2018 all three locations will operate simultaneously.Soon, the program will have the ability to serve even more job seekers. A partnership between the transportation and warehouse company L.C. Howard Inc. , Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Urban Alliance is opening the Urban Alliance Technical Center at 400 Island Avenue, off Riverview Drive in Parchment, in early 2018.The partners are in the process of raising $2.4 million for the tech center, with about $2 million to go. The center is being opened in phases as funds become available. We have completed Phase One, which is basically the classroom areas, as well as administrative wings, Parsons says.A small section of the warehouse area will be completed next. A warehouse management and inventory control academy begins Dec. 4. Well be phasing in additional academies as additional funding comes in.About 300 people turned out for a recent open house to see the home of the new tech center. The first academy there already has 20 students enrolled the new 40,000-square-foot technical center.All the academies are developed around an experiential model that is 50 percent classroom instruction and 50 percent hands-on learning.Academies previously offered in partnership with KVCC include a Production Technician Academy, CNC Machine Operator's Academy, and Culinary Academy.In the works are Warehouse Management and Inventory Control academies offered in partnership with WMU and KVCC. Future academies in development are Quality Control, Coding, Call Center Technician, and Diesel Technician.All academies are developed in conjunction with local employers needs and the jobs potential for providing a living wage.We dont place anyone in minimum wage jobs, Parsons says. Everything that we're doing is trying to get people self-sustainable. So graduates are placed in jobs that on average start at about $12 an hour.The fact that we've been able to get four entities with completely different backgrounds to work together on this has been pretty amazing, Parsons says. Its amazing what can happen when people do decide to work together for the right reason.Though many jobs programs rely on federal government funding, Momentum has no intention of going that route because they believe it would fundamentally change how they are required to run the program.We believe we've started something that is transforming, Parson says, and we don't want anybody to mess with that.Kathy Jennings is the managing editor of Southwest Michigans Second Wave. She is a f reelance writer and editor
Press Release

November 15, 2017 Senate Seeks Solution to NEA-BUSECO Dispute The Senate is taking the lead in mediating the heated dispute between the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative Inc. (BUSECO) concerning the former's disciplinary authority over the latter. "This meeting was set to create a solution that would benefit both parties. A misunderstanding like this can possibly lead to technical issues. We don't want this to affect our power consumers in Bukidnon," said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, during the emergency consultative meeting last week facilitated jointly by said committee and the committee on cooperatives, chaired by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Reported irregularities in BUSECO had prompted NEA to issue Office Order No. 2017-80 to take-over the cooperative's internal and financial management. BUSECO answered by filing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman questioning the legality of the order. "During the meeting we managed to find rational solutions through certain agreements. This is the first step in mending this strained relationship, said Gatchalian. The following agreements were agreed upon by both parties: 1. Appoint Dr. Regin Mordeno, former Board of Directors of First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FIBECO) as the Acting Manager for BUSECO for a month. 2. A publication must be made to fill up the vacant position of General Manager of BUSECO. 3. NEA shall conduct an audit of BUSECO's books without pre-condition. 4. All dismissed employees and BUSECO board members who are under preventive suspension shall be reinstated. 5. NEA and BUSECO shall refrain from any activities that would spew misinformation. 6. There shall be a withdrawal of filed complaints made before the Office of the Ombudsman. Gatchalian reassured both parties that the committee will remain impartial while the issues between the two are being resolved: "I would like to reiterate the value of trust and so we ask you to trust us that this matter will not go unnoticed. Trust that the committee will exhaust all lawful actions to mend this relationship."
Now Playing: Federal and local law enforcement here in the Bay Area are searching for what Honolulu police are describing as an extremely dangerous man who escaped from a Hawaii state hospital. Video: KTVU

The dangerous fugitive who escaped from a Hawaii psychiatric hospital, where hed been held for more than three decades, was captured in Stockton on Wednesday when a taxi driver recognized him from news reports and turned him in, officials said.

A search had been under way for Randall Saito, 59, since he escaped from a psychiatric hospital in Hawaii on Sunday. He flew to Maui, and officials suspected he caught another flight to San Jose.
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While Vinod Khosla fights a state Coastal Commission order to open the gates of Martins Beach, the billionaire owner has gained a victory on another legal front  a San Mateo County judges finding that there was no evidence the propertys previous owners had granted a right of access to the public by displaying billboards and inviting visitors.

Superior Court Judge Steven Dylina announced his ruling Nov. 3 after conducting a nonjury trial in a suit by a group called Friends of Martins Beach. Dylina has not yet issued a written decision.

In a separate suit by the Surfrider Foundation, state courts have ruled that Khosla should have obtained a permit from the Coastal Commission, which regulates coastal development, before closing the gates to the beach in 2010. He has periodically admitted the public in recent weeks, but the commission says he faces substantial fines if he resumes blocking access.

Khoslas lawyers have argued that any state interference with his right to exclude the public from private property would amount to an unconstitutional confiscation of his land. He previously offered to sell the state an easement, allowing public access, for $30 million. Legislation is pending in Sacramento to take over the land, for a price to be determined by the courts.

The Friends of Martins Beach suit seeks public access without charge, other than parking fees.

Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, bought nearly 90 acres of picturesque beachfront land in Half Moon Bay for $32.5 million in 2008 from the Deeney family, who had owned it since the start of the 20th century. According to the lawsuit, the Deeneys opened the beach and an access road to the public sometime in the 1930s, posting a billboard on a nearby highway and allowing visitors to picnic, fish and surf while shopping at the familys general store.

A state appeals court ruled in April 2016 that those actions could show the Deeneys intent to dedicate the road and beach to public use and establish rights that a future owner could not revoke. The court returned the case to Superior Court for a trial on disputed facts in the case.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Dylina, who took over the case after each side exercised its right to challenge a judge who had been assigned to it, ruled that Friends of Martins Beach had failed to prove the former owners intended to grant a public right of access. A lawyer for the group said Wednesday it would ask the appeals court to overturn Dylinas decision.

We had the evidence and the witnesses to show that the former owners invited the public to the beach, said attorney Gary Redenbacher.

Khoslas lawyers could not be reached for comment.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@egelko
San Franciscos Recreation and Park Commission will vote again Thursday on whether to strip Justin Hermans name from the Embarcadero plaza thats borne his name since 1972.

Its the second time that the commission has taken up the issue in as many months in response to growing criticism about Hermans fraught history with the city and calls to rename the site after a less divisive public figure.

The commission was forced to take a second vote after an unusual clerical error invalidated its 4-3 decision last month to rechristen the space.

Before departing that meeting early for another engagement, Commissioner Eric McDonnell stated his clear support for renaming the plaza.

There have been many moments like these when the city, candidly, gets it right and finally takes the step in the right direction, McDonnell said at the commissions October meeting.

McDonnell left the meeting before the roll-call vote on the issue, but the commissions secretary improperly counted him as voting in favor of changing the plazas name. Without McDonnells vote, the commission actually had a 3-3 tie, meaning no action could be taken.

Hermans legacy in San Francisco has been thrust into an uncomfortable spotlight in recent months by city residents and lawmakers. In his time, Herman was a powerful bureaucrat, serving as the director of the citys Redevelopment Agency under three mayors, from 1959 until he died in 1971.

He is perhaps best known, however, for razing 60 blocks of the Western Addition in the 1960s in the name of urban renewal. It was an effort that had disastrous effects on the neighborhoods African American and Japanese American residents. Thousands were displaced as their homes and business were destroyed.

Hermans critics maintain that having his name on the plaza is a deeply painful emblem of a shameful time in San Franciscos history. The citys supervisors unanimously passed a resolution urging the park commission to remove his name from the space in September.

Others say that Hermans legacy and myriad contributions to the city have been reduced to a single  if grave  mistake. In October, Commission President Mark Buell said Herman was being unfairly demonized for policies that he was not solely responsible for. Buell, who worked with Herman in the late 1960s and 1970s, voted against changing the plazas name.

If the commission does strip Hermans name from the space, it would be called Embarcadero Plaza until a new name is chosen.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
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The rain had stopped when San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley stepped out from behind a dilapidated home with peeling pink paint this week and walked through the morning mist to the edge of a coastal bluff.

There, laid before him, were a mile of beach, a babbling creek and towering cliffs overlooking the roiling blue sea  a rugged expanse south of Half Moon Bay known as Tunitas Creek Beach.

The 58-acre panorama of natural beauty, which had been private property for more than a century, was to be bought Thursday for $5 million by the nonprofit Peninsula Open Space Trust, known as POST. The group  well aware of a nasty tug-of-war over public access a few miles up the coast at Martins Beach  plans to turn the former Ohlone village site into a county park accessible to everyone.

Its a great place to see whales, Horsley said as he looked out over the landscape, the beachs signature creek running across the sand. Its like the jewel in the crown of our park system. I think it is going to be the most breathtaking park in the county.

It is exactly the kind of deal that county and state regulators would like to see at Martins Beach, where the billionaire owner, Vinod Khosla, claims the public has no right to cross his 90-acre property and access the sandy cove he purchased for $32.5 million in 2008.

Khosla shut the access gate in September 2010, citing the cost of maintenance and liability insurance, after the previous owners had admitted the public for at least 70 years. That set off a fury of lawsuits and regulatory and legislative action. In August, a San Francisco appeals court affirmed a 2014 ruling by a San Mateo judge who ordered Khosla to let the public into the comely cove  but the battle appears to be far from over.

The newly purchased coastal property, at the intersection of Tunitas Creek Road and Highway 1, covers the entire beach south of the creek.

It has a colorful history as a resting spot for Indians, Spanish explorers, loggers, rum runners, bohemians, poachers, surfers and campers. The land, dotted with old shacks and an abandoned house, was divided in two in 1995, but the owner moved out after only three years when the house caught fire and a landslide knocked out water service.

The beach, home to a federally protected bird, the snowy plover, isnt easy to reach, but became a popular site for overnight camping and other illegal activities after the owner moved away.

Walter Moore, the president of POST, said his organization decided to buy the property after the county received complaints about noisy Burning Man-style beach parties, littering and illegal parking along Tunitas Creek Road.

County supervisors banned bonfires and overnight camping in July, but just about everyone who got interested in the matter was afraid the owner would sell the land to someone like Khosla, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems, who has dragged government and regulatory agencies through the legal mud.

We didnt want to go through another Martins Beach, Horsley said. We wanted to make sure this was something that could be enjoyed by the general public.

Moore said it took a year of negotiation to persuade the owner to agree to the $5 million price.

Now Playing: Tunitas Creek Beach is bought by the Peninsula Open Space Trust so that it can be opened to the public

This is a wonderful example of what can happen when numerous people work together for the public good, Moore said.

POST plans to raise another $10 million to clean up the cliffs and beach, remove buildings, build a trail from the cliffs, and create parking, restrooms and possibly a ranger station. The sprawling 1950s-era pink house  now infested with rats and mice  will either be renovated or torn down.

The idea is to open the beach to the public within three years, though the county is expected to put in at least $10 million more over the next decade to protect and manage the park and restore the creek. Moore said a new section of the 1,200-mile California Coastal Trail will be developed in the area.

The mouth of Tunitas Creek was, for many centuries, the sight of an Ohlone seasonal village. Its thought to have been a stopping point for Don Gaspar de Portola during the 1769 expedition that discovered San Francisco Bay.

During the Gold Rush, the cove became a harbor for boats shipping redwood logs up and down the coast. A large wooden logging chute once graced the beachs northern bluff, according to local historians.

Tunitas Creek was once the terminus of the Ocean Shore Railroad, which transported tourists down the Peninsula until 1910. During Prohibition, the beach was used by bootleggers bringing booze to the Peninsula, Horsley said, before it hosted an artist colony from the 1920s through the 1940s  the genesis of shacks that still exist.

The beach is popular with surfers, who are well aware of the sea lions, elephant seals and hungry great white sharks that sometimes pay visits. Shark sightings are so frequent, in fact, that surfers have come up with an alternative name: Dont Eat Us Beach.

Restoration wont be easy. The beach is currently accessible only via a steep, eroded trail next to Tunitas Creek. The county and POST said they will work with conservation groups like the Surfrider Foundation and with the property owners on the north side of the beach, who have long complained about the overnight campouts and rave parties.

Places like Tunitas Creek Beach belong to everyone, said Kari Mueller, vice chairwoman of Surfrider in San Mateo County, which sued Khosla in 2013, arguing that shoreline access is a public right under the California Coastal Act.

To ensure that everyone can continue enjoying this beautiful place we need to responsibly improve, manage, and maintain the public access, she said. We all share the responsibility of making and keeping this a special space.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
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A North Beach parking lot and an Embarcadero pier that are near restaurants and tourist destinations are being floated as sites for a homeless Navigation Center, an idea thats causing anguish among neighborhood business owners.

Some, like Pier 23 Cafe owner Flicka McGurrin, wondered why they hadnt been consulted about the proposal that Supervisor Aaron Peskin presented at Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting.

McGurrins waterside restaurant sits next to one of the sites, a vacant shed at Pier 23 that she expects will eventually hold offices. Its Peskins second choice for a temporary homeless center in his district, if his first choice, a parking lot at 88 Broadway, falls through.

When McGurrin heard that the site could become an interim hub for the down-and-out people she sees shuffling along the Embarcadero with shopping carts and threadbare suitcases, her eyes narrowed.

Youd be introducing a whole new element  homeless traffic  to a population of families, tourists and people getting right off the cruise ships, McGurrin said. San Franciscos main cruise ship terminal is just north of Pier 23.

I think they need to put these places next to San Francisco General Hospital, where people can get services  not in the northern waterfront area, she added.

Brett Maurice, general manager of Fog City restaurant across the street, had similar misgivings.

I want to take care of people, Maurice said, but a lot of it falls into that not in my backyard category. When you invite a lot of people who are desperate, you get crime.

He gestured to a bike rack outside the restaurant, where many of his employees frames and wheels have been swiped. Maurice said he assumes the bike parts wound up in sidewalk chop shops.

But business owners along the Embarcadero also acknowledged the areas growing homeless problem. Maurice said he has seen peoples belongings on Fog Citys roof, suggesting someone has been sleeping up there.

Some of the tourists who McGurrin feared would be driven away said they might actually welcome a Navigation Center.

Steve Bower of Marin County, who on Wednesday was visiting the Exploratorium science museum on Pier 15, said that as long as the building is secure and aesthetically pleasing, its probably OK.

I doubt it would shut down tourism in San Francisco, Bower said.

Others, like Sheila Richards of Redlands, thought the Pier 23 building made sense, given the number of panhandlers who congregate at Fishermans Wharf, farther north.

But if the city opens it, Im sure the businesses would protest, Richards said.

The Broadway site, a city-owned lot a block and a half from the Embarcadero, looks more promising, Peskin said.

One person who works near the 88 Broadway site agreed.

Anything to help the homeless is a good idea, lawyer Bashir Agah said.

But a downside could be that its near both the Exploratorium and the Ferry Building, with its ferry terminals and upscale marketplace. Both draw high numbers of tourists. There is also expensive housing directly across the street.

Lee Radner, a 22-year resident of the Golden Gateway area at the edge of the Financial District, said he has been alarmed by the number of people sleeping on sidewalks near his home.

His neighborhood group, Friends of Golden Gateway, attended a meeting Peskin held, along with staff from Public Works and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, in October to present the Navigation Center proposals. Peskin did not cite specific addresses at the meeting.

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Radner backed the idea, saying he has grown dismayed with the all-too-familiar sight of people sleeping on the Embarcadero.

Peskins ordinance would convert the 88 Broadway lot into a temporary homeless hub with modular shelters, probably similar to the Dogpatch Navigation Center that opened in May. Affordable housing developer Bridge Housing has submitted plans to build a mixed-use project on the property, with 178 dwellings and a child care center.

A plan for a center at Pier 23 would have to be initiated by port officials and approved by the Port Commission.

Peskin has been eyeing sites for Navigation Centers since he was elected to the board two years ago, after a hard-fought campaign that forced him to confront voters despair about the homeless crisis.

Navigation Centers differ from regular homeless shelters in that people are allowed to move in with their companions, possessions and pets, and they may stay there during the day as well as overnight. Services are also offered.

Currently, San Francisco has two Navigation Centers in the Mission, one in Dogpatch, one in the Civic Center and one at San Francisco General Hospital. The two Mission district buildings are scheduled to close in March, but Supervisor Hillary Ronen said she has found new facilities to replace them.

Officials in City Hall are under pressure to spread homeless services around the city, but several supervisors have resisted.

Peskin initially tried to open a homeless hub at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Broadway and Mason Street last year, but the plan fell through when a large cash offer was made to the landlord for the building, he said.

Hes now looking to the 88 Broadway site. The idea appeared to sit well with about 200 people who attended the neighborhood meeting in October. If the board passes his ordinance, it could open as early as June, he said.

A Navigation Center at Pier 23 would require a much longer approval process.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
Leah Millis/The Chronicle

Airbnb has sometimes come under fire for lack of access for travelers with disabilities. The home-stay company says it wants to do better. So its buying Accomable, a London company that arranges vacation stays in private homes that have verified accessibility features.

We want to help create new policies and procedures for vetting Airbnb properties, to make sure an Airbnb customer with accessibility needs can trust its offerings the same way theyd trust an Accomable listing, said Srin Madipalli, 31, Accomable CEO. An inveterate traveler and wheelchair user, he co-founded the London company two years ago after encountering many obstacles with accommodations during his globe-trotting.
Money will buy you a lot of expensive things in the United States. But as Yuri Milner recently discovered, suspicion and paranoia come free.

The Russian billionaires investments in Facebook and Twitter years ago have now come under scrutiny because of Russias efforts to interfere with our presidential elections last year. Media reports have suggested that Milner may have acted on behalf of the Kremlin because state money ended up in DST Global, Milners investment firm.

Yet concluding that Milners Internet investments from 2009 and 2011 were somehow connected to Russian leader Vladimir Putins plan to undermine Hillary Clinton and put Republican Donald Trump in the White House several years later is a bit of a stretch, even for the most die-hard conspiracy theorist. For one thing, Putins grudge against Clinton dates back only to December 2011, when he reportedly blamed her for protests mounted against his run for a third term as Russias president. But in America, we have a not-so-honorable tradition of tarring whole groups of people for real or perceived threats to the country.

I was shocked to read conspiracy-theory style allegations in some of the recent publications, Milner told me. To anyone who knows the Internet technology industry, the notion that our investments were driven by political considerations is just not credible.

Only a worldview that sees my nationality as inherently suspicious could find such a fairy tale compelling, he said.

Milner contacted me after reading my Sunday column, which warned people not to get too hysterical about Russia. The piece noted that its often hard to distinguish pure business interests from the government in countries like Russia and China, where the state wields enormous control over the economy. Name a rich person in either country and youll probably find some link to a government official or entity.

Milner, whos known mostly for his secrecy, rarely speaks to the media. But hes made an exception to rebut recent stories with long explanations about banks, timelines and disclosure requirements. He also wrote a letter to DST investors denying wrongdoing, which TechCrunch published in full. (TechCrunchs Disrupt conference in San Francisco, where Milner spoke in September, is one of the few venues where the Russian investor speaks publicly.)

Will Milners efforts get people to read past the headlines? It may be an uphill battle in a season of Russophobia. But logic and common sense throw plenty of doubt over suggestions that Milners interests in Facebook and Twitter were anything more than financial.

Lets start with the timeline. Milner invested $200 million in Facebook in May 2009, when the company was just 5 years old. We take Facebooks success and power for granted now, but the world was a different place seven years ago.

Facebook was years away from going public, had yet to overtake Myspace (then owned by media powerhouse News Corp.), and was spending lots of cash on expansion, which is why it needed Milners money in the first place. The company had just moved out of its University Avenue digs in Palo Alto to an old Hewlett-Packard office near Stanford University. The mobile revolution that would supercharge its growth was barely getting started; Facebook had an iPhone app, but Apple had only a tenth of the smartphone market back then.

Today, Facebook has 2 billion users and makes nearly 90 percent of its revenue from mobile ads. Milner was prescient in investing in the company, sure. But does anyone really think that in 2009 he knew that Facebook would be the perfect vehicle for the Russian government to plant fake ads on our iPhones to help Donald Trumps future presidential campaign?

But heres the biggest piece of contrary evidence: Milner did not take a board seat on either Facebook or Twitter (he led an $800 million round of funding in Twitter in 2011). Oh, and by the way, Milner says the 2009 investment in Facebook didnt use any government money.

If the Russian government really wanted the skinny on Facebook or Twitter, then you would think it would want Special Agent Milner to serve on the board, where hed have regular access to confidential information on the tech firms.

Milner told me that public investors got far more information on Facebook after its initial public offering in 2012 than he did as an inside investor.

The Russian investors modus operandi is to take stakes in late-stage companies before they file for an IPO. He said he doesnt take board seats on companies he invests in because he presumes that they are already well developed; there would be little upside to a board seat.

That ceding of control was a big attractant for private tech companies that need cash but dont want investors who might pressure them to chase profitability or go public too soon.

Serving on a late-stage private companys board might expose investors to unnecessary headaches  think of the drama in Ubers boardroom over the ouster of co-founder Travis Kalanick as CEO  and even legal risk if things go south.

Finally, consider Milner himself.

After earning an MBA at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School in 1992, he worked at the World Bank in Washington. In 2011, Milner purchased a home in Los Altos Hills, where he now lives with his parents, wife and children.

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Milner is an active investor around the world: Besides Silicon Valley companies like Mountain Views WhatsApp (which Facebook bought in 2014), he also helped fund Alibaba in China and Flipkart in India.

If Milner is supposed to be some sort of sleeper agent acting on behalf of Putin, hes doing a real thorough job in hiding his motives.

Milner is a natural object of suspicion. Hes rich (reportedly worth $3.5 billion) and a native of a nation historically at odds with the United States.

It is unpleasant to experience guilt by association, and frankly scary for my children to face suspicion in (their) Silicon Valley school on the grounds that their parents are Russian, Milner said.

I really do empathize with Milner. Fear of foreigners is a recurring theme in the United States. My parents are from China, and Im bracing for the day when people question my loyalty to America (even though I was born in Boston) should a conflict arise between the two countries.

Milner has built a life and career in the United States. But that doesnt seem to matter in these unsettling times.

Thomas Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: tlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByTomLee
Gege and Didi couldnt stop laughing at bedtime. Every minute or so, more giggles pealed forth as my husband read from Dav Pilkeys Captain Underpants series. Wed recently bought a set, but I hadnt had a chance to read it to them yet.

What was so funny? I asked afterward.

Its very silly, my husband told me, with a goofy grin on his face.

The next night, when it was my turn to read, I discovered why: potty humor, and lots of it, involving characters with names like Professor Pippy Pee-Pee Poopypants. (I challenge you to say it aloud without giggling.)

The humor is gentle, and never mean-spirited, in contrast to what happened after Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea, called President Trump a dotard. Trump sarcastically hit back on Twitter: Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me old, when I would NEVER call him short and fat? Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend  and maybe someday that will happen!

It seemed like a parody. Sadly, it wasnt. The president sinks to schoolyard taunts, even though his careless words could set off a nuclear war.

Somewhere along the way, Trump forgot his manners, or maybe he never learned them at all. I dont mean manners in the sense of using the correct fork at a fancy dinner party, or knowing when to bow and curtsy. Rather, manners as in commonly accepted standards of decency, of kindness and sensitivity.

He should heed the Think First lessons that Gege and Didi are getting in class, on how to manage their emotions, develop empathy for others and solve problems cooperatively, or World Kindness Day, celebrated earlier this week at their school and elsewhere.

Now, if we talk sternly to the boys, they stand up for themselves.

Stop splashing, I said during bath time. Youre getting water everywhere.

Youre bullying me! You have to give us respect, Gege said.

At first, I was taken aback. Couldnt they just obey? And yet, I was glad that they were learning how to talk out their feelings, how to protest without resorting to childish insults of the kind that the president hurls around.

The world feels turned upside down, with adults acting like children  and in an even greater perversion, adults have gone after them.

Earlier this week, her voice quavering, wiping away tears, Beverly Young Nelson recounted meeting Roy Moore, the Republican Senate candidate in Alabama, when she was 15 years old. After offering her a ride home, he allegedly groped her in his car behind the restaurant where she worked as a waitress.

As victim after victim has come forward alleging sexual and harassment by a roll call of powerful men  including actor Kevin Spacey, comedian Louis C.K. and NPRs Mike Oreskes  Nelson stands out because she was underage. Another girl, Leigh Corfman, was just 14 when the 32-year-old then-assistant district attorney allegedly brought her back to his house for a sexual encounter.

Fourteen? Thats when I was an eighth-grader, and that fall, a freshman in high school. Back then, I had crushes on classmates, read Sassy magazine, hoped Id get to be first flute in the symphonic band and worked on the school literary magazine.

Im fortunate that no one more than twice my age attempted to take advantage of me, at a time when I was still figuring myself out. Many young people arent as lucky.

Inspired by the #MeAt14 trending on Twitter  raising awareness about the age of consent  I looked through my old yearbooks. How gawky and half-grown everyone seemed!

Although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders have urged Moore to drop out of the race, some still defend him, calling the allegations a smear campaign. Moore  who fought gay marriage and referred to Islam as a false religion  could still win the Dec. 12 special election, despite the brave women sharing their stories.

Ive felt that shock of betrayal  that disappointment in someone you thought valued you, your work and your ideas, but wanted only one thing from you after all. At least I was an adult by then.

Moore preyed on young and vulnerable girls, who have had to swallow their fear and shame for a lifetime. He was the adult, and he should known better  and so, too, every leader now failing us.

Vanessa Hua is a Bay Area author. Her columns appear Fridays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com
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Charlie Palmer says its time for people to focus on the positive when it comes to Napa. Its a mantra the Wine Country restaurateur says hes been living by for the last few months while coordinating the opening of Charlie Palmer Steak Napa in Downtown Napas Archer Hotel.

The restaurant officially opens Thursday.

Im one of the most optimistic people there is, he recently told Inside Scoop. The last thing worth talking about is just the doom and gloom of everything.

The doom and gloom hes referring is the aftermath of historic wildfires that raced across Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, destroying more than 8,000 homes and other structures and leaving 199,000 acres scorched.

Were in the post-fire phase. Thats the attitude now, says Palmer, whose steak house represents the first notable new restaurant to open in Napa after the fires.

All in all, its a unique time for a debut, Palmer admits, simply because there are misconceptions about the state of Napa and surrounding areas. Most people still envision the dramatic images of vineyards burning and homes being reduced to rubble.

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Only 5 percent of the nearly 4 million acres across Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino burned, according to reports. And of the regions 1,200 or vineyards, only three were destroyed.

I have friends in New York who will ask how they can help. I tell them to fly to Napa, spend some money and enjoy yourself, Palmer says. I cant stress how important it is for people to come and drink the wine, eat the food and stay in the hotels. Support it. Thats the key thing.

Palmers venture will also be the first major restaurant to open within the Archer Hotel, the citys boutique hotel thats serving as the anchor for the 325,000 square feet of downtown Napa commercial development space. The Charlie Palmer Group will also manage all food and beverage operations in the hotel. A rooftop bar and restaurant is also in the works.

The project makes sense for Palmer, whos no stranger to the world of hotelier. He owns San Franciscos Mystic Hotel, recently acquired St. Helenas 40-year-old Harvest Inn, and is a partner in Sonoma County's Hotel Healdsburg.

The Napa steak house is the fifth iteration of Palmers eponymous restaurant, which has sister properties in New York, Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Reno.

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Napas outpost, which is being led by executive chef Jeffery Russell, will have 120-seats, a 48-seat lounge, and a 12-seat circular bar.

Palmer calls it a modern steak house with three meal services and a dinner menu with dishes like the Prime Platter with lobster, oysters, poached prawns and king crab legs; see the full dinner menu here.

This project is a statement with or without the fires, he says. Its the biggest thing to happen to downtown Napa in a long time.

Charlie Palmer Steak Napa: 1260 First St.; Napa. Opens Thursday

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri begins where most stories should begin, already in progress. The pivotal event, the tragedy from which the central character can never recover, has already happened, and what we see is the aftermath, the crazy things that take place after the world has already tipped its hand and revealed its madness.

The movie represents a leap forward for writer-director Martin McDonagh. Three Billboards is as clever and imaginative as McDonaghs In Bruges in terms of how it makes characters collide in delightful and unexpected ways. But theres just something more going on here: an underlying sense of loss and impending loss; an awareness of sorrow and of the importance of human connection.

Extreme behavior pervades Three Billboards, so it comes as a surprise to look up and realize that it doesnt contain a single major character who is entirely or even mostly evil. In fact, in the strangest way imaginable, this is a rather warm movie, something like the Coen Brothers in its zaniness and bone-deep pessimism, but with a heart.

It provides an ideal showcase for Frances McDormands intensity and single-mindedness. She plays Mildred, a divorced mother whose daughter, seven months earlier, was raped and then murdered by being set on fire with gasoline. McDormand plays Mildred as if seeing that horror before her eyes at every waking moment.

As the movie begins, she notices three empty billboards outside town and decides to rent them with a message criticizing the local police chief, Willoughby, for inaction. In fact, Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) isnt a bad guy at all. Hes genuinely trying to solve the case, which is difficult, while coping with a serious health problem.

Its a wonder how much emotional nuance McDormand can convey behind a mask of seeming implacability. She doesnt play for sympathy, and she conveys underlying pain without actively playing pain. She has a lovely scene when she lets her guard down and talks to a deer that appears out of nowhere. She also has a beautiful flicker of a moment, when the ailing police chief, in the midst of a fairly contentious conversation, accidentally (and to his own horror) coughs up blood on her. He assures her he didnt mean to do that, and she says, I know, baby.

Its hard to imagine anyone but McDormand bringing to this role such odd combinations of rage, bitterness, perception, tenderness and probity. She is nicely matched by Harrelson, who brings to the police chief the odd suggestion that knowing the worst of human nature can actually make a person more forbearing, not less.

Three Billboards is very much a screenwriters movie. Audiences will delight in the dialogue, its virtuosity as well as its economy, while also appreciating the mechanical brilliance of McDonaghs inspiration. Whenever, for example, two characters absolutely must not meet, McDonagh figures out a way to bring them into contact immediately. Watching this movie with an audience, you can feel people catch their breath before some scenes even start, in anticipation of fireworks.

Thats a serious gift, but one all the more impressive when combined with a penetrating understanding of character. Where another director might settle for stereotypes, McDonagh gives us human beings. Thus, Sam Rockwell  an original and underused actor  finds one of his best roles in years, playing a dumb cop who starts the movie unable to express any doubt, discomfort or emotional pain except through violence. Its a wonderfully intuitive performance, full of illuminating touches, as when the cop laughs inappropriately in moments of stress and embarrassment.

Like the best movies often do, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri leaves audiences with a complex set of emotions, and with a hard-to-define hint of the profound. Theres no message here, exactly, but instead a definite feeling  of an undercurrent working beneath lifes surface chaos, something worthwhile and humane.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Drama/comedy. Starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell. (R. 113 minutes.)
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

In the wake of the devastating wildfires that brought extensive damage throughout the North Bay last month, many artistic organizations have looked for ways to contribute to the relief

efforts. The healing power of music  not to mention the opportunity to garner financial support for those affected  makes a benefit concert the natural path.
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WASHINGTON  The late Rep. Leo Ryan, a Peninsula Democrat assassinated in the 1978 Jonestown massacre, and former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, gunned down in 2011 near a supermarket in Tucson while meeting with constituents, were honored Wednesday by their fellow House Democrats who named their cloakroom after them.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, who represents much of Ryans old district, had accompanied Ryan to Jonestown as his aide and was shot five times at point-blank range and left for dead.

She fought back tears Wednesday as she recalled that horrible day, 39 years ago this Saturday.

Excuse me if Im not as composed as I should be, Speier said during a reception on the second floor of the Capitol, across the hall from the cloakroom. She thanked Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., for instigating the tribute, something Speier said she had always wanted to do since joining Congress in 2008, but struggled coming to grips with the fact that it was so long ago and not that many people remembered.

Ryan was killed as he was investigating the Peoples Temple settlement in Jonestown, Guyana, which had relocated from San Francisco and involved several of his constituents. Speier said Ryan distrusted experts and had a compulsion to see things firsthand and set out to investigate reports that Jim Jones, the Peoples Temples charismatic leader, was controlling members through physical, mental and sexual abuse. Jones had moved 900 members, many initially drawn to his anti-racist Christian preaching, to a remote outpost where he promised a socialist utopia.

Leo wanted answers, Speier said. He recognized the danger but insisted on going to try to help constituents he suspected were being held against their will.

He flew to Guyana on Nov. 17, 1978, with a delegation of 18, including Speier and several reporters, visiting the Jonestown compound without incident. As the group was preparing to leave the next day, several cult members approached Ryan asking for help to leave. As Ryan and his group, including the Peoples Temple defectors, were about to board a plane on a small jungle airstrip, gunmen from the temple opened fire. Ryan and four others were killed, and Speier and several others were gravely wounded.

Later that day, Jones ordered temple members to drink a concoction of cyanide-laced, grape-flavored Flavor Aid. More than 900 people, including 200 children, died in the largest loss of U.S. civilian life in history before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Wilson said she had seen a movie about the massacre, and one day on the House floor, she asked Speier to tell her about it. After hearing the story, she asked Speier if Congress had ever honored Ryan. He was a hero, and they never did, Wilson said. He was the first member (of Congress) to lose his life on foreign soil while conducting foreign business.

Giffords also attended the reception, which was organized by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco.

On Jan. 8, 2011, a week into her third House term, Giffords was shot in the head by a gunman who ambushed her at a regular Congress on Your Corner event in her district. Six others died, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old child. Thirteen others, besides Giffords, were wounded.

Giffords survived but suffers from a brain injury from the shooting.

Fellow Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican, introduced her at the reception. A smiling Giffords, now able to walk on her own, said she continues to undergo intensive therapy.

Its been long and hard, but Im getting better, she said. Since retiring from Congress a year after the attack, Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, formed the political action committee Americans for Responsible Solutions to push for gun controls, recently renaming the group Giffords.

Pelosi, who came up with the idea to name the House Democratic Cloakroom after Giffords and Ryan, was ebullient as she showed off the gold lettering emblazoned over the room where members can gather privately off the House floor.

We inscribe their names in the halls of the Congress as an enduring monument to their legacies of heroism and selflessness, Pelosi said.

Wilson said the effort took years of conversations, meetings, resolutions and floor speeches, but ... we did it. Democrats were allowed to make the decision among themselves to rename their own cloakroom.

Patricia Ryan, a Sacramento resident who is one of Ryans five children, called the commemoration a huge honor, and I hope it inspires everyone who walks through those doors to remember what this is all about. Its about public service, integrity, public policy and courage.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com
In the theology that posits tax cuts as the answer to most of the nations ills, economic growth functions as a sort of holy ghost mysteriously conferring fiscal responsibility. Popular as they are with politicians and the public, tax cuts cost the federal government money, deepening deficits and debt. Proponents promise the cuts will unleash untold growth, raising enough revenue to replace whats lost.

This could be mistaken for an insoluble question of faith: Republicans believe in the higher power of growth, Democrats dont, and the truth is unknowable. In reality, however, the evidence overwhelmingly refutes the notion that economic expansion will heal every fiscal wound inflicted by tax cuts.

Not that one would know it from listening to those hoping to cut corporate and personal income taxes by years end, with a vote on House legislation to do so expected Thursday. The key is economic growth, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., replied last week when asked about cost. We believe were going to get more than enough growth to pay for this, President Trumps top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, told Fox News this week. Trump himself summed up the sentiment in a September Fox interview: Well, its going to be all growth. Look, its going to be growth. I think that growth can be staggering.

It would have to be. The tax cuts stand to add about $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next decade  even with Senate Republicans plan to save an estimated $388 billion by scrapping the Affordable Care Acts insurance mandate, adding an estimated 13 million to the ranks of the uninsured. The cuts would increase the national debt as a share of gross domestic product from 91 to 97 percent, the Congressional Budget Office estimates, at a time when its already at a postwar high and an aging population portends still more spending. California Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance (Los Angeles County), noted Wednesday that the plan undermines GOP claims to fiscal responsibility. None of this is paid for, he said.

Though Republicans cite the growth that followed President Ronald Reagans tax reforms, which took place when top rates were much higher, economic expansion has not reliably followed tax reductions and has sometimes accompanied increases. As the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget notes, studies suggest growth will offset at most about a third of the tax cuts, partly because adding public debt does countervailing economic harm.

A recent University of Chicago survey of economists found that 84 percent did not believe growth would cover the cost of Trumps proposed tax cuts; only 5 percent did. They agreed even more broadly that growth had not paid for much of any tax cut since 1980.

True believers are, of course, entitled to keep their faith in self-sustaining tax cuts. The facts, however, are not on their side.

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.
When he was running for office, Donald Trump made no secret of the fact that he wanted to see his opponent, Hillary Clinton, imprisoned.

On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee saying the Department of Justice was looking into appointing a special counsel to investigate the Clinton Foundation.

The questionable charge has to do with Clintons role as secretary of state in the approval of a 2010 decision by the Obama administration to allow a Russian nuclear agency to buy Uranium One, a company whose major investor had made donations to the Clinton Foundation.

On Tuesday, Sessions told the Judiciary Committee that any decision to appoint a special prosecutor would be based on the facts.

Yet it is already impossible to separate Sessions inquiry from President Trumps unceasing demands for investigations into his political rivals.

Lock her up! was a recurring chant at Trumps campaign rallies. He also promised that if he were elected, he would instruct his attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor to pursue Clinton.

Since becoming president, Trump has repeatedly made public statements about how disappointed he is with Sessions for the attorney generals failure to focus on long-standing, unproven allegations about Hillary and Bill Clinton and the Obama administration.

As recently as Nov. 3, Trump tweeted that Everybody is asking why the Justice Department (and FBI) isnt looking into all the dishonesty going on with Crooked Hillary and the Dems.

So it is clear that Sessions feels the need to please his boss.

Yet by pursuing such an investigation, Sessions would also undermine the historic  and essential  independence of his department.

Since Watergate, the Justice Department has taken special care to prevent even the appearance of political meddling in prosecution decisions. The career staff at the Justice Department are supposed to serve the Constitution and the people, not the president.

In accordance with that charge, the department has policies prohibiting its personnel, except at the very highest levels, from communicating with Congress or the White House.

These kinds of policies were helped along by previous presidents basic understanding of the importance of maintaining an independent Justice Department. Neither George W. Bush nor Barack Obama ordered investigations into their rivals for the presidency.

Through his words and promises, Trump has shown no similar understanding. Sessions must not compromise the function of his department just to do his boss bidding.

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.
Its the countdown to the holidays  the SF-Marin Food Banks busiest time of the year. But this time around, theres even more at stake. Many of the already-struggling families we serve are now facing the possibility of changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as SNAP or food stamps). The types of cuts to SNAP being discussed by congressional leaders would cause mayhem for food banks around the nation.

In San Francisco and Marin alone, 60,000 people received SNAP benefits last year. Food banks could not handle the influx of new demands if SNAP benefits were cut.

Our region has also suffered through some of the most devastating wildfires in Californias history. Thousands of people in the North Bay desperately need help to get past the roughest patch of their lives.

There is a rawness about the issues we face in 2017. But we are mobilizing with many partners  corporate, philanthropic and community organizations  because we know we cant do this alone.

Were providing nutritious food every week to 30,000 families in San Francisco and Marin counties. We also continue to introduce new and exciting programs that expand our reach, and help to feed even more neighbors in need.

Were feeding people like Heather Crossen, who starts her delivery-driver job before the sun comes up, then comes home to care for her two young children while her fiance goes off to work two different jobs.

Were helping seniors like Betty Ann Kirkpatrick, a 94-year-old widow who has outlived her husband by 35 years. She could never have done without food assistance from her neighborhood pantry. As someone with a fixed income, she continues to live an active life with dignity because of the healthy food she receives every week.

The SF-Marin Food Bank continues to be a voice for food safety-net programs in the halls of government in Washington, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Rafael.

We are also assisting with disaster relief efforts  not just with the Wine Country fires, but also in Houston following the destruction left by Hurricane Harvey. Numerous SF-Marin Food Bank employees have traveled to both communities and put in long hours because it was the right thing to do.

This all brings us back to the here and now. The holiday season is upon us and with so much at stake already, the comfort and welcoming of a shared holiday meal for neighbors in need is going to mean even more. To me, its simply unthinkable for one of our neighbors to go hungry  especially at Thanksgiving  especially in a community as thriving as the Bay Area.

If you want to share the holiday spirit, here are three ways to help nonprofits that serve our community: consider a cash donation, sign up for a volunteer shift, or lend your voice as an advocate or ambassador for the cause. These are the best ways we know to make all our communities healthier and stronger.

Paul Ash is executive director of the SF-Marin Food Bank.
No one goes to graduate school for the money. According to federal data cited in the Chronicle of Higher Education, more than half of graduate students in this country have adjusted gross incomes of $20,000 a year or less. That includes graduate students in Californias public and private universities, who struggle to survive on a poverty wage in some of the costliest cities on the planet. They do so because Californias universities are justly famed around the country and around the world as leaders in research and innovation.

Our future biomedical researchers, economic analysts, climate engineers and social and cultural change-makers get their start in the nations premier graduate programs, in the United States in general and in California in particular. In addition, graduate students who work as teaching assistants help keep tuition costs down for undergraduates, by providing individualized teaching support to undergraduate students at a modest cost. By running discussion sections and grading papers, problem sets and exams, teaching assistants experience an apprenticeship in teaching and more of professors time is freed up to do the cutting-edge research that gives our universities their justified reputation for greatness.

Now, it seems, President Trump and Congress would like to change all that.

The tax bill making its way through the House of Representatives contains a provision that would tax tuition waivers for graduate students. Because, as a community, we cannot pay our graduate students enough to make graduate school an option for any but the wealthiest students, we pay their tuition and fees in exchange for the work they do while enrolled. Some work as teaching assistants, while others spend time as research assistants. Under the Republican tax plan, those tuition waivers would now be counted as income  and taxed accordingly.

Thus a graduate student would pay taxes on much more than their paycheck. Lets say a University of California graduate student was paid $20,000 working as a teaching assistant and had the $19,230 in tuition waived. Under the House tax proposal, the student would pay taxes on $39,230, not $20,000.

A recent study at UC Irvine notes that under the proposed revisions, taxes would rise 200 percent for California resident graduate students who work as teaching assistants. Take-home pay for those students would drop by $2,000, to just over $17,000 a year. For out-of-state students, taxes would increase 323 percent, to nearly 25 percent of their annual income. Given that nearly half of students entering Ph.D. programs at UC Irvine come from low-income backgrounds, this change is bound to drive out nearly all those who aspire to a doctorate.

Even with the proposed doubling of the standard deduction, which could offset some of the financial liabilities of taxing tuition waivers, this policy profoundly misunderstands the waiver, which is money a student never sees. We dont plan to tax the tuition vouchers for charter and private schools so much beloved by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; why, then, tax the very same vouchers for graduate students?

Also, if students take out loans, interest will no longer be deductible under the House bill.

The Republican plan makes no sense from an economic or a political perspective. Students who successfully complete doctoral programs will go on to make more money on average than those without advanced degrees, and they will pay taxes on that income over a lifetime. Moreover, innovative research that originates in universities is a primary driver of the nations economic health and competitive future. If our best minds cant afford to go to graduate school because of a tax that will yield the government very little revenue, the long-term economic costs could be catastrophic. Im an English professor, and I can still do the math.

The tax makes no political sense either. If youre going to run on the slogan Make America Great Again, it seems unwise to blow up the research pipeline. Even when innovation occurs within industries rather than within universities, that research is conducted by people who hold advanced degrees. Imagine if the research and development departments of every major corporation in the country simply disappeared overnight. Thats a very real possibility under this tax plan.

The next generation of doctoral candidates is poised to find cures for Alzheimers disease, diabetes and cancer, create innovative responses to climate change, and propose solutions to the ever-more pressing social inequalities of our time. Can we really afford to destroy that future before its even begun?

Jody Greene is the director of the Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning at UC Santa Cruz.
For decades, a Berkeley elementary school has carried the name of a prominent conservationist and co-founder of the Sierra Club. But the 19th century geologist, Joseph LeConte, also was a slave owner and munitions supplier to the Confederacy during the Civil War, and parents wanted his name off their childrens school.

The Berkeley school board honored that request Wednesday night, voting to strip the LeConte name off the school and begin a process to select a new moniker.

The decision follows similar ones by elected leaders across the state to remove the names of those with pasts stained by racism. Palo Alto last year rebranded two schools that were named after men who supported eugenics, the belief that selective breeding and sterilization can improve the human race.

The vote in Berkeley follows a months-long process initiated by community members to rename the south Berkeley school that included meetings, straw polls and conversations about LeContes record.

District policy requires that a school named after an individual shall examine whether the individual, on the whole, has made outstanding contributions to the community or made contributions of state, national or worldwide significance in light of the Berkeley communitys values and contemporary view on history.

In 1892, when the school was named, LeConte was a renowned professor at UC Berkeley, joining the faculty after the Civil War.

But the board accepted schools Superintendent Donald Evans recommendation to remove the LeConte name after 125 years.

I am a proud graduate of Columbus Elementary School, but I am even prouder of the fact that the school is now named after Rosa Parks, said school board President Ty Alper. That is not erasing history, it is not whitewashing the past, it is progress towards a more inclusive, welcoming, and just public education system.

He believed that it would take centuries of evolution to put races on an equal footing, Evans said in his report to the board.

Before the war, LeConte and his brother, John, were the owners of a 3,356-acre plantation with 200 slaves, district officials said.

In the Berkeley Unified School District, we take pride in our diversity, we hold high expectations for ourselves and our students, and we treat each other with respect and act with integrity, Evans said. Joseph LeContes racist, sexist beliefs are antithetical to these values.

In San Francisco before the 1895 Womens Congress, LeConte gave a lecture on his theory that evolution in the higher races meant greater sex role differentiation, and his implication that womens role should be limited and not include voting.

He still has a waterfall, canyon, glacier and mountain named after him in addition to schools and university buildings, including one at UC Berkeley.

LeContes views, one hopes, would be repudiated by most people today, Evans said. Some might excuse his supremacist views and call him a man of his time, but we should also point out a Civil War was fought over the question of racial equality, and he took the side that believed that our Union should be torn asunder in order that human beings could continue to be treated as property.

Jill Tucker and Annie Ma are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, ama@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jtucker, @AnnieMa15
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There will be no cannabis cappuccinos or drone deliveries in California under the new pot rules state officials released Thursday that regulate everything from who can legally sell and deliver marijuana to how it must be packaged and transported.

The rules released by three licensing agencies  the Department of Health, Department of Food and Agriculture and the Bureau of Cannabis Control  offer the first glimpse of the future in which pot is legal throughout California.

Big farms will continue to thrive in Mendocino and Monterey. Small delivery services will finally operate legally. Pot wont be transported in self-driving cars or on bicycles, and it isnt allowed in strip clubs.

Those guidelines come amid mass confusion among cities that havent put together their own regulations for the sale of recreational marijuana, which will be legal Jan. 1.

Now Playing: Recreational-use marijuana sales are expected to generate more than $7 billion is sales. The sale of recreational-use marijuana will be legal by January. California State Treasurer John Chiang outlined new banking strategies for cannabis-related businesses in California. Video: KCRA

Californias regulations dealt a win to cannabis-delivery businesses, which for years have operated in the shadows. They will now be allowed to apply for licenses once the new rules take effect next month.

With delivery, its been a huge fight, said Nina Parks, co-founder of the San Francisco-based cooperative Mirage Medicinal, which allows patients to order cannabis through a website, and have it brought to their doorsteps.

When you think of bedridden patients or elderly people, they dont want to travel far to get their medicine, Parks said.

Yet the state will allow cannabis to be delivered only in cars and trucks  transport by aircraft, watercraft, drone, rail, human-powered vehicle, and unmanned vehicle is prohibited, according to the rules.

Edible cannabis products can contain only 100 milligrams of euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol  commonly known as THC  in each 10-serving package under the new rules. Other products, such as lotions and tinctures, are limited to 2,000 milligrams of THC in the medicinal market, or 1,000 milligrams for regular adult use.

That means some popular but extremely potent items, like the Black Bar brownie by Korova Edibles  which has 1,000 mg of THC  will be illegal.

Cannabis labels cant be decorated with cartoons or other marketing that appeals to children. Manufacturers also cant use the term candy in any of their branding language. The new regulations also prohibit businesses from mixing cannabis with alcohol, nicotine, caffeine or seafood.

That provision wont affect brews like SuperCritical Ale, a new cannabis beer by Lagunitas Brewing Co. in Petaluma. Its made with terpenes  plant-oil compounds  which have a strong flavor but contain no THC.

The state also clamped down on the aesthetics of cannabis products, which cannot be (made) in the shape of a human being, animal, insect or fruit, Miren Klein of the Department of Public Health said at a Cannabis Advisory Committee meeting in Sacramento on Thursday.

The rules didnt include size restrictions for marijuana farms and nurseries  a notable shift from the one-acre cap that the states Department of Food and Agriculture had proposed in an environmental impact report published Monday.

The idea of limiting cannabis agriculture to one-acre plots had become a major point of debate in the industry. It would have benefited small businesses and blocked corporations from setting up huge farms or greenhouses in the Salinas Valley.

But now that the cap has been tossed, California has set the stage for marijuana to be the next major industrial crop.

Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association, called the decision a catastrophe.

Simply put, there will be too much supply, he said, noting that federal law still prohibits interstate shipment of controlled substances  and reports from the Department of Food and Agriculture show that the state already produces far more marijuana than it consumes.

Even so, the state has set up a sliding-scale fee system so that large companies pay much more for licenses than their mom-and-pop counterparts. The biggest distributors  companies that expect to earn more than $80 million in gross revenue  will pay $125,000 annually.

Though Californias rural areas may soon be exploding with marijuana, San Francisco and other Bay Area cities appear to be lagging behind. Dispensaries in those cities wont immediately enter the adult-use market, since the state will only issue licenses to businesses that have local permits.

However, regulators offered some flexibility for the first four months, allowing any licensed farm or nursery to sell cannabis products to any licensed dispensary, regardless of whether the licenses are classified as medicinal or recreational.

That added grace period will help jump-start the market, even though few recreational permits have been issued throughout the state.

The extension is very necessary, said industry consultant Sean Donahoe, who was watching a livestream of the meeting from the top floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, where thousands of industry bigwigs gathered this week.

Regrettably, most localities have not moved forward with adult-use licensing, Donahoe said. Theyre apprehensive. They fear a rush of new business.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
GARNER | Jerry Lewerke started JMR Quick Release, a bracket system that saves mud flaps, based on his own experiences losing mud flaps with his own trucks in Arizona several years ago.

Without the Quick Release brackets, losing a mud flap means time and money, as it is usually ruined, Lewerke said.

With this system, as pressure is applied to the mud flap, the patented upper bracket releases the lower plate with the attached mud flap unharmed. Then it can be slid back on.

The Quick Release brackets are manufactured by Metal Fabrication in Clear Lake. They are assembled and distributed in Garner.

Last year, JMR started selling the brackets, and is listed on Amazon now.

Lewerke started working on the Quick Release system five years ago, and built and designed the two pieces, plus a hinge bar for dump trucks to keep the bracket straight.

The upper bracket attaches to the truck and the lower attaches to the mud flap, which is then slid into the upper bracket. Spring tension allows the mud flap to drop unharmed, saving down time and danger to the driver.

"When you back into something, (the mud flap) comes off, and then you can slide it back on," Lewerke said. Any mud flap works.

When a mud flap falls off, a yellow flag visible from side mirrors comes up to warn the driver. The spring-loaded system also emits a loud "bang."

Besides providing safety for the driver, the Quick Release system doesn't throw rocks back at any vehicles behind it.

JMR Quick Release brackets are sold in Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Ohio and Iowa. At this time, 32 states require mud flaps.

Iowa is not one of them. Arizona and Ohio are strict.

If a state requires mud flaps, and a driver doesn't use them, Lewerke said that can result in fines and court costs. Over-the-road trucks have to be equipped for all states.

In Arizona, Lewerke's brother and niece are part of the business, keeping paperwork straight. He does all the assembly and shipping in Garner shop, located behind Dollar General on Highway 18.

"Probably now when I go down the road, all I do is look at mud flaps," Lewerke said. If there are two different kinds of mud flaps, it's likely one fell off.

A display in Garner shows a series of brackets, with the dump box hinge at the top. Then comes the quick release bracket and a chrome version, because some truckers want chrome.

It takes Lewerke 3-and-1/2 minutes to assemble one unit, and 7 to 10 minutes to set up.

The Quick Release system can be used for all types of trucks, dump trucks, heavy duty rigs, towing vehicles, paving vehicles and 18-wheelers.
Bill Hutchinson /

A 21-year-old Richmond resident was shot and wounded near the Richmond BART station early Thursday by the transit agencys police officers who confronted him after getting reports he was carrying a gun, officials said.

That wounded man, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to a local trauma center, where he was undergoing surgery, according to the Richmond Police Department, which is investigating the incident. The man was in serious but stable condition.
Up to 1.7 million people in California would no longer have health insurance by 2027 if the requirement under the Affordable Care Act to buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty  known as the individual mandate  is repealed, which is under consideration by Senate Republicans.

The latest version of the GOP tax proposal, released late Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, would end the mandate starting in 2019.

The California estimates, released Wednesday by the UC Berkeley Labor Center, found that 780,000 fewer Californians would enroll in Medi-Cal, 730,000 fewer people would enroll in health plans in the individual market, and 230,000 fewer people would be insured through their employers.

The mandate encourages some workers who are on the fence about whether to enroll in job-based plans, it creates an incentive for them to do so to avoid the penalty, said Laurel Lucia, director of the labor centers health care program.

The center based its analysis on a recent CBO report, which found 13 million fewer Americans would be insured if the mandate were repealed.

Courts

Suit over Roundup

label warning

A coalition of a dozen agricultural groups sued on Wednesday to try to overturn a California decision that could result in labels warning that the popular weed-killer Roundup can cause cancer.

The federal lawsuit in Sacramento seeks an injunction barring the state from enforcing what the suit describes as a false and misleading warning. It claims Californias decision should be superseded by federal regulations.

Roundups main ingredient, glyphosate, is not restricted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and has been used widely since 1974.

But the International Agency for Research on Cancer, in Lyon, France, has classified it as a probable human carcinogen. That prompted the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to add glyphosate this summer to a list of chemicals known to cause cancer. The listing could eventually lead to a requirement for warning labels on the product.

Autos

Tesla expands

2 Superchargers

In-N-Out Burgers has some new competition for attracting drivers on two busy freeway stretches that help link Los Angeles to Las Vegas and San Francisco: Teslas biggest Supercharger stations.

The charging stations in Kettleman City, off Interstate 5, and Baker, near Interstate 15, each have 40 stalls, making them the largest among more than 1,000 in North America, the company said in an email Wednesday.

The Kettleman station north of Bakersfield has a play wall, a pet relief area and outdoor space for families.

Medicine

Device may ease

opioid withdrawal

U.S. health authorities have cleared a brain-stimulating device for patients suffering from debilitating withdrawal symptoms caused by addiction to heroin and other opioids, treating symptoms such as joint pain, anxiety, stomachaches and insomnia.

Chronicle News Services
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Hayley Flores, 26, and Robert Bill, 24, were in love. The El Sobrante couple moved in together about a year ago with plans to start a family soon, friends said.

But their bright future was cut short when the two were killed by gunfire about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a residence on the 900 block of View Drive, in the Hilltop Green neighborhood, according to Lt. Felix Tan of the Richmond Police Department.

Hayley was the life of the event. She was under 5-feet, but she had the biggest personality and heart. (Bill) was super nice. He was funny and he loved Hayley, said Jeanne Miller, a friend of the victims.

Two other gunshot victims were taken to a hospital. Their conditions were not released.

I was and still am hurt, said Miller of Richmond. I thought about how happy I was (that Flores) was there when I went into labor and that she loved my son. I thought about how happy I was that I got to hug her and kiss her goodbye. And lastly, I hope she gets justice.

The shooting appears to be targeted, Tan said. No suspects had been identified and police have yet to comment on a motive.

Flores was known for her love to dance Cumbia and Bachata. And among their friends, Bill was known for his adoration of Flores and always striving to protect her, Miller said.

Miller met Flores when the two were students at Leadership Public Schools in Richmond. They graduated in 2011 and Flores was working two jobs - at TJ MaXX and Staples in Pinole. Bill attended Pinole Valley High School and was working as a chef at Jupiters in Berkeley.

He was fun, down to earth. He was a good person. He didnt deserve what happened, said Courtney Merkt, 21, of Pinole. They both didnt deserve it.

When Merkt heard the two had been killed, she said she was in denial. She frantically started calling both Flores and Bill in hopes that their death was just a rumor. When the two didnt answer, Merkt said the truth sunk in.

I couldnt believe it had happened. I was just Snapchatting with her. She just posted something on Snapchat being happy and then this happened, Merkt added.

A vigil for Flores is being held at 5 p.m. on Friday at Leadership Public Schools.

She was determined to be a role model for people who knew her, Miller said. It was important to her to make a difference.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
An attempt by the convicted killer of South Bay teenager Sierra LaMar to get a new trial was knocked down by a San Francisco judge, who rejected an argument that the presiding judge in the high-profile case should have recused herself on grounds of potential bias.

Sentencing for Antolin Garcia-Torres, 26, was suspended in September when his defense attorneys learned the day before the hearing that Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Vanessa Zecher failed to disclose she once represented the lead investigator in the high-profile murder case.
Editor's note: This story originally ran in November 2017; Prices reflect 2017 prices. After running this story, many readers contacted us to ask how prices stacked up at Total Wine & More, which does not have a San Francisco location but has a number of stores in the Bay Area. Ask and ye shall receive: Check back this Wednesday for an update in which we compare prices at Costco and Total Wine & More.

From Friendsgiving to Festivus to that awkward work function where everyone needs a drink, your holiday parties are on the horizon and  if you're the one doing the party shopping  you'll likely go hunting for a deal. But where can San Franciscans turn for a deal on booze in this expensive city of ours?

We set out to answer that question recently, taking a look at posted prices at Costco, BevMo, Safeway and Trader Joe's. Click through the slideshow above to see the prices we found.

As it turns out, for most items, Costco is the best and it is not close. That's particularly true if you're just trying to get the biggest quantity of beer at the lowest cost  you can grab 36-packs of Tecate and Coors Light for $22.49 (about 62 cents a beer) or a 24-pack of PBR for $13.99 (about 58 cents a beer).

Should you prefer beer with a little more flavor, you can get a 24-pack of Lagunitas IPA for $24.99 (about $1.04 per beer), their popular Brown Shugga ale for $28.99 (roughly $1.21 per beer), or Racer 5 IPA for $25.99 ($1.08 per beer).

When it comes to some types of liquor, the savings at Costco are extreme enough that they'd be enough to offset the cost of a membership if you drink enough (or throw enough parties). But luckily, in California you can buy alcohol at Costco even without a membership. It's the law here and in and a few other states. You just need to tell the card checker at the entrance what you are up to.

Big ticket items had some of the most notable price differences. On our visit, a 750-ml bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch was going for 149.99 at Costco and was a whopping $50 more at BevMo.

But BevMo wins when it comes to selection. If you're looking for the greatest possible variety of brands, or you're looking for craft cocktails inputs like St. Germain or Luxardo, you might find Costco wanting, and of the four, BevMo is your best bet for getting everything you need in one place. That convenience will cost you, though.

Click through the gallery to see the best places to stock up on booze on the cheap  and which items you should never buy at BevMo and Trader Joe's.

Methodology: Prices were recorded on November 1 and 2 at the Costco at 450 Tenth St. in SoMa, the Safeway at 1335 Webster St. in the Western Addition, and the Trader Joe's at 10 Fourth St. in SoMa. At Safeway and BevMo, we used prices for Safeway Club Cardholders and Club Bev members, because those membership cards are free.

Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter.
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People in the maker movement will have to get more creative to find spaces to bring their ideas to life.

Tech Shop, a chain of facilities that provides do-it-yourselfers access to tools ranging from welding equipment to 3D printers, has announced the closure of all 10 American locations, including three in the Bay Area.

"As a company, TechShop has gone through many iterations. We have grown from one location in Menlo Park to 10 locations across the US and 4 Internationally," company representatives wrote in an online posting confirming the November 15 closures. "We have furthered the impact

of the Maker Movement, guided the creation of more makerspaces, and launched countless individual enterprises. Now, however, we are bringing this final iteration of the company to a close."

The organization was founded in October 2006 as a way for paying members to access tools that would otherwise be too expensive. Tech Shop went on to partner with Ford Motors, the Veterans Affairs Department, Autodesk and others to expand the footprint of the maker movement. The company had operated a location on San Francisco's Howard Street since 2011, as well as a Bay Area facility in San Jose.

When the The Chronicle visited in 2014, San Francisco members were paying around $125 a month for access to the tools and about 150 technical classes per month.

"TechShop had +9,000 active members in the United States alone. We engaged over 100,000 individuals since opening, including memberships, skill building classes and K12 STEAM youth programs," company officials said in announcing the closure.

Despite the healthy community, the company struggled to remain solvent.

"In spite of many months of effort to restructure the company's debt and raise new capital to fund our recently announced strategic pivot, we have depleted our funds. We are left with no other options," representatives wrote.

The company has now gone into Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and a trustee will work with a bankruptcy judge to liquidate Tech Shop assets. Operators say it is likely that Tech Shop gear will eventually be made available through an auction established by the trustee.

"This was a difficult decision, and this will be a difficult transition to a world without TechShop," wrote CEO Dan Woods. "As makers, we must learn from our mistakes."

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story indicated that international locations would be closing as a result of the bankruptcy. That is not the case. Locations operated by licencing partners in Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Paris and Lille will remain open.
MUSCATINE  Isaac Gbalea is in the third grade at Franklin Elementary and though a tad shy, he is capable of outrunning many. With all that energy comes a reluctance to sit down.

"He is one of our kids that doesn't like to sit still," said Trina Hepker, a special education teacher. "It can be hard to get him to sit down and read on an average day."

But there was a reason to be excited Wednesday as there was a fresh addition to Franklin. Hailing from a suburb of Des Moines, Frankie is having her first week of school. Though she comes from a hard working agrarian background, she can often be found napping in class. But thus far Hepker couldn't be more pleased with Frankie's performance as the school's new therapy pig.

"I think she is really adding to the room," Hepker said. "I think she is really going to help some kids."

And Gbalea agrees.

"I like her," he said. "I've never seen a pig before."

Gbalea sat quietly in the corner, a snout quietly snoring in the fold of his elbow as he quietly read to Frankie.

The pig is part of a plan that Hepker brought to Principal Jason Wester.

"When she approached me about a therapy pig, I thought, 'What are you thinking?'" Wester said. "But then she showed me the research behind it, and how it would impact student learning and how it would impact student relationships. How it could make school a successful adventure for them."

"(Trina Hepker) understands the importance of relationships," Wester said. "The research shows that sometimes an animal, whether a dog or cat or any type of animal, is a really nice calming mechanism."

By offering a calming mechanism to these students, Hepker is better able to keep the learning in the classroom.

"We try to keep (our students) in the general education class as much as we can," Hepker said. "But if they get upset  we call that a yellow zone  they get to come down for calming."

When students enter these escalated phases of emotional distress, Frankie the pig could mean the difference between a lost session of instruction or a lost day of instruction.

"Sometimes when a student is getting frustrated all of a sudden that person needs 15 minutes to read to that animal," Wester said. "That is much better than having a student be out of instructional control for two hours to try and calm themselves down. We look at this as a tool to get students back in instructional control and ready to learn."

Hepker said that she sees to a number of students with behavior disorders.

"I feel like I always need to meet their academic needs, social needs and emotional needs," Hepker said. "To do this, I try to make the day special for them so then they want to come to school on a daily basis."

For Hepker, making the day special came down to getting students to feel some sense of ownership over the classroom. For these students, Frankie might be that linkage to create ownership.

"On a daily basis, they are feeding her and watering her. They're getting the droppings. They're making her bed," Hepker said. "It's a reason to come to school. I try and really incorporate Frankie into our day."

In addition to giving students something to care for, Hepker explained that Frankie is a living thing that students can confide in.

"You may not want to tell me everything, but you might feel better if you got it out," Hepker said. "So here is the pig. The pig can't tell anyone. You can trust the pig. It's okay to be upset. It's okay to want to vent. I feel because she is real  unlike a stuffed animal  that they will be more likely to talk to her."

Hepker always returns to a quote she loved from the film "Spiderman": "With great power comes great responsibility."

"I try and let them know that they have a responsibility now so coming to school is important," Hepker said. "Academics are important, but you also need to come to school because your pig needs you as well."
WASHINGTON  Eight years ago, Hobby Lobby president Steve Green found a new way to express his Christian faith. His familys $4 billion arts and craft chain was already known for closing stores on Sundays, waging a Supreme Court fight over birth control and donating tens of millions of dollars to religious groups.

Now, Green would begin collecting biblical artifacts that he hoped could become the starting point for a museum.

On Friday, that vision will be realized when the 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible opens three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in what marks the most prominent public display of the familys deep religious commitment. The $500 million museum includes pieces from the familys collection from the Dead Sea Scrolls, towering bronze gates inscribed with text from the Gutenberg Bible and a soundscape of the 10 plagues, enhanced by smog and a glowing red light to symbolize the Nile turned to blood.

It is an ambitious attempt to appeal simultaneously to people of deep faith and no faith, and to stand out amid the impressive constellation of museums in Washington. The Bible exhibits are so extensive, administrators say it would take days to see everything.

Green says the institution he largely funded is meant to educate, not evangelize, though critics are dubious. Museum administrators have taken pains to hire a broad group of scholars as advisers. Lawrence Schiffman, a New York University Jewish studies professor and Dead Sea Scrolls expert, called the museum a monument to interfaith cooperation. Exhibits are planned from the Vatican Museum and the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Theres just a basic need for people to read the book, said Green. This book has had an impact on our world and we just think people ought to know it and hopefully theyll be inspired to engage with it after they come here.

The last major splash the Greens made in Washington was over their religious objections to birth control. In 2014, Hobby Lobby persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to exempt for-profit companies like theirs from the contraception coverage requirement in President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act. That culture war victory has in part colored reactions to the museum even before it opens.

The Oklahoma company also had to pay a $3 million fine and return artifacts after federal prosecutors said they got caught up in an antiquities smuggling scheme.

Rachel Zoll is an Associated Press writer.
NEWARK, N.J.  The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday with the jury hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. Prosecutors did not immediately say whether they plan to retry the lawmaker.

U.S. District Judge William Walls declared a hung jury after more than six full days of deliberations that had to be restarted midway through when a juror was replaced.

Outside the courthouse, choked-up Menendez fought back tears as he blasted federal authorities and thanked the jurors who saw through the governments false claims and used their Jersey common sense to reject it.

Certain elements of the FBI and of our state cannot stand, or even worse, accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County could grow up to be a United States senator and be honest, said Menendez, the 63-year-old son of Cuban immigrants.

Juror Edward Norris said 10 jurors wanted to acquit Menendez on all charges, while two held out for conviction. Norris said that after the prosecution rested, in my gut I was like, Thats it? Thats all they had?

The inconclusive end to the 2-month trial could leave the charges hanging over Menendez as he gears up for an expected run for re-election next year to the Senate, where the Republicans hold a slim edge and the Democrats need every vote they can get.

On Capitol Hill, the top Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, called on the Ethics Committee to immediately investigate Menendez for possible violations of the public trust and the Senate code of conduct.

Menendez was accused of using his political influence to help Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for luxury vacations in the Caribbean and Paris, flights on Melgens private jet and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to organizations that supported the senator directly or indirectly.

Prosecutors said Menendez, in return, pressured government officials on Melgens behalf over an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute and a stalled contract to provide port screening equipment in the Dominican Republic, and also helped obtain U.S. visas for the 63-year-old doctors girlfriends.

Menendezs lawyers contended also that the government failed to establish a direct connection between Melgens gifts and specific actions taken by the senator.

David Porter is an Associated Press writer.
A warm, moisture rich atmospheric river blasted the Sierra, marking the biggest storm the mountain range shared by California and Nevada has seen so far this year.

Elevations above 8,000 feet in the Tahoe area received up to two feet of snow between Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and Mount Rose, the first ski resort to open this season, reported 26 inches of fresh powder.

Lower elevations were drenched with rain with about four inches falling at lake level around Tahoe.

As a result of the snowfall, there's chain control on Highway 80, both westbound and eastbound, between Cisco and Donner Lake. Chain control is also in place on Highway 49 over Yuba Pass Summit.

"There should be another good slug of moisture coming in this afternoon," says Zach Tolby, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno. "We're expecting another round of pretty heavy rain and high-elevation snow."

Tolby says an additional foot of snow is possible at elevations above 8,000 feet, "which is above a lot of the ski areas."

This is the first moderate atmospheric river to hit the region during the 201718 season and the supercharged storm is tapping into moisture from the tropics.

"The band of moisture is pretty skinny; last year we had four or five bigger storms." Scott McGuire, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Reno, told SFGATE on Tuesday. "But the moisture stream is stretching all the way to Hawaii so it's got pretty good fetch."

The skies are forecast to clear Friday, making for a dry weekend with a little warming each day. Motorists should watch out for fog.
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Cult leader Charles Manson has been hospitalized in California with a bleak prognosis, according to a report Wednesday.

The 83-year-old was brought to a Bakersfield hospital three days ago, TMZ.com said.

The notorious mass murderer serving seven life sentences in Corcoran State Prison in California has been suffering from health issues for some time.

In January he had to be hospitalized for severe intestinal bleeding. He also needed surgery to repair a lesion but doctors said he was too weak and sent him back to prison.

Since arriving at the Bakersfield facility three days ago, Manson has been getting various treatments around the hospital _ always guarded by five police officers, TMZ said.

A source familiar with Manson's condition told the website "it's not going to get any better for him."

The source also added, "it's just a matter of time," TMZ said.



The Los Angeles Times later confirmed Manson's hospitalization with Kern County Sheriff's Lt. Bill Smallwood, though he declined to elaborate on the patient's condition.

Now Playing: Dianne Lake, the youngest member of the notorious Manson Family, describes her time living with Charles Manson Video: People

Famous for the crude, self-carved swastika on his forehead, Manson shocked the world on Aug. 9, 1969, when he directed his protege Charles Watson to take three female members of his cult  known as the Manson Family  to a posh house above Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles and slaughter everyone there.

The Manson Family members brutally butchered movie director Roman Polanski's pregnant wife Sharon Tate along with celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, writer Wojciech Frykowski, and visiting teen Steven Parent.

Reporter asks Charles Manson for his election thoughts, gets a creepy letter in response

The next night, Manson joined the same four followers along with two more as they broke into the Los Feliz home of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary.

Manson wanted to show the group the correct way to execute and ordered the LaBiancas bound with lamp cords and their heads covered by pillowcases before the savage stabbing started.

The vicious Manson killings stunned Los Angeles and caused a worldwide sensation.

Manson was tried for the horrific murders and sentenced to death along with several members of his cult. The sentences were commuted to life when the death penalty was briefly outlawed in 1972. Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war he believed was suggested in the Beatles' song "Helter Skelter."

Behind bars since 1971, Manson has been denied parole a dozen times. His next hearing is scheduled for 2027.



___



(c)2017 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BRITT | The city of Britt likely wont pursue legal action against Mason City-based asbestos and mold removal contractor Bergo Environmental Enterprises.

The decision comes after the city council sought a second opinion from longtime Forest City attorney Steven Bakke about what it says was a costly mistake made by Bergo this summer.

While he does feel that we have recourse to go after Bergo for compensation, his recommendation is that we dont have enough money lost to make it worth doing so, said Mayor Ryan Arndorfer.

This summer, the city of Britt hired Jeff Bergo, owner of Bergo Environmental Enterprises in Mason City, to test and remove asbestos for $970 and $1,675, respectively, at the former motel and greenhouse property along U.S. Highway 18 in preparation for a new commercial park.

After Bergo notified the city that the asbestos had been removed from the site, Bill Deibler Excavating of Garner began the demolition of the building and the removal of trees on the site, but progress on the demolition was halted in July after officials with the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement found asbestos on the site following its visit during the citys hosting of the Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) on July 25.

According to a letter from Bakke to the City of Britt dated Oct. 23, the city paid $21,690 for the asbestos removal, the testing and the landfill.

Britt seeks second opinion on legal action against Bergo BRITT | The city of Britt is still considering legal action against Mason City-based asbesto

The city also paid ECCO Midwest Inc. of Cedar Rapids $45,550 to remove the asbestos-contaminated debris in August, so it could continue work on the nine-lot commercial park.

In his letter, Bakke said there are two issues with suing Bergo. The first is theres no written contract outlining the terms and conditions for the work, and the second is the legal expense.

The contract for asbestos removal between the City of Britt and Bergo was made through oral and email communications.

The existence of the Contract is not the issue, the terms of the Contract will be the issue including to what extent should Bergo have investigated this building, Bakkes letter said. If Bergo was under the impression he was only supposed to do a limited amount, that obviously become his defense. Your position is you hired Bergo to complete the entire investigation as to the asbestos.

Bakke said in speaking with attorneys at Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm in Des Moines, a firm who has tried two asbestos cases in the past year, he learned that cases are not economically feasible unless you have at least $100,000 in damages.

Britt's old hotel demolition delayed while it addresses unresolved asbestos issue BRITT | The city of Britt is considering legal action against a Mason City-based asbestos an

It would appear even though I think you would have a good case, Im not sure it is economically feasible to pursue, the letter said.

The city council didnt take any action regarding the legal opinion.
NORTHWOOD | A Clear Lake woman who falsely told law enforcement a man assaulted her after she stopped to help him will be arraigned in Worth County District Court Monday.

The Worth County Sheriff's Office charged Ty OHara Wooten, 36, with misdemeanor false report of indictable offense to a public entity Oct. 10.

North Iowa law enforcement on Sept. 28 circulated information a man had staged a vehicle break-down and assaulted a woman who stopped to help him. The Worth County Sheriff's Office said in a Sept. 29 news release the woman recanted her story.

Sheriff: Roadside assault recanted, 'no active threat' to Worth County residents NORTHWOOD | A woman who told law enforcement a man assaulted her after she stopped to help h

Wooten claimed she was a victim of an attempted rape on Wheelerwood Road, south of Diamond Jo Casino. She said the alleged attacker burnt her and had a knife, according to court documents.

Wooten was interviewed the following morning and recanted the entire story, stating that she wasn't attacked and hurt herself, court documents said.

She recanted her statement in an interview with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation the morning after the alleged attack, the department said.

Wootens original claim of attempted rape with injuries and weapon would have been felony level, making the false report charge a serious misdemeanor, the department said in a release.

 Courtney Fiorini
MASON CITY | Larry Whaley, the Mason City man accused of first-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Samantha Teeter last December, has been deemed competent to stand trial.

The decisions was made by Judge Christoper C. Foy at a hearing Monday morning in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

Cerro Gordo County Attorney Carlyle Dalen stated at the hearing two medical reports, penned by neuropsychologist John Bayless and psychiatrist Arnold Andersen  both based in Iowa City  were enough to prove Whaley, 61, could stand trial.

Mason City homicide scene, aftermath detailed in new documents MASON CITY  The morning two police officers carried a fatally injured woman from a Mason Ci

Public defender Michael Adams, representing Whaley, did not object to that evidence, or present a counterargument.

Whaley  who previously wrote letters to Foy expressing his concerns about whether he would get a fair trial  is accused of shooting Teeter through his apartment door at 116 17th St. S.E. on Dec. 2, 2016.

Police said Teeter was hit once in the head in the hallway. She died two days later.

Since the Globe Gazette last reported on the letters, Whaley has written more to the court, stating he believes he will not receive a fair trial in Cerro Gordo County since he is black.

At Thursday's hearing, Whaley again expressed concerns about how evidence is being handled in his case.

"I've been denied evidence in my case, important evidence that has been tampered with," he said in court.

Foy instructed Whaley that all complaints must come through Adams, his attorney.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 18.
GARNER | The Garner Rotary Club earned the Rotary International Presidents Citation for outstanding work in 2016-17.

It was the second consecutive year the club has received the honor, based on success in membership growth and retention, foundation fundraising, youth activities and community support.

Rotary District 5970, comprised of 53 Rotary clubs located in the northern third of Iowa, also received the Presidents Citation.
MASON CITY | Cathy Glasson, a Democrat running for governor, will hold a town hall meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the First Congregational UCC Church, 100 First St. N.E.

The meeting is sponsored by the Citizens for Community Action (CCI) PAC.

She will speak on her ideas on how to make sure Iowans have clean water and economic issues.

The meeting is free and open to the public.
Greggs

British bakery giant Greggs is "really sorry" it replaced baby Jesus with a sausage roll in a Christmas advertisement.

The chain, which has 1,800 locations, on Wednesday apologized for its ad, which depicted the Three Wise Men kneeling before a manger containing a delicious pastry-wrapped sausage instead of the infant Son of God. The ad was a promotion for the Greggs' Advent calendar.
KERMANSHAH, Iran  Criticism of U.S. sanctions on Iran rekindled Thursday over Iranian-Americans abroad being unable to send money directly to aid those affected by a powerful earthquake that killed over 530 people as doctors worked to help the injured.

Though the 2015 nuclear deal lifted some sanctions, others from as far as the days after the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran still stand, including those that prohibit the some 1 million Iranian-Americans from directly sending cash to Iran.

The state-run IRNA news agency, as well as other media, published articles criticizing the rules.

Despite all the difficulties, the Iranians living in the U.S. are doing their best to devise innovative solutions to send their humanitarian supplies to the quake-hit areas in western Iran, IRNA said in its report.

Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said earlier this week that his country does not need foreign help for the quake and it is capable of managing the aftermath on its own.

However, the Washington-based National Iranian American Council has offered suggestions about how to donate.

It also urged the U.S. Treasury to closely examine whether additional steps are needed to ensure that Americans can effectively contribute to relief efforts, and to issue any additional licenses necessary to ensure that U.S. sanctions do not stand in the way of urgent relief.

The U.S. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. However, it has lifted some sanctions in the past to help with Iranian earthquake relief, most notably in 2003 when a magnitude 6.6 earthquake killed 26,000 people in Bam.

The official IRNA news agency has said that the earthquake Sunday night killed 530 people.

Nasser Karimi and Mohammad Nasiri are Associated Press writers.
KABUL  No one will ever know what went through the mind of Afghan Police Lt. Sayed Basam Pacha in those moments when he came face to face with a man he suspected of being a suicide bomber on Thursday afternoon, but whatever it was, he did not hesitate to act.

At his back was a crowd of civilians, many of them dignitaries, leaving the hall he was guarding. Around him were officers from the police company he commanded. The suspect had just approached their heavily guarded gate, the only way in or out of the compound around the hall.

Broad-shouldered and heavily muscled, Pacha shouted at the suspect to halt, but instead the man started running. The officer stopped him, throwing his arms around him in a bear hug.

A second later the bomber detonated the explosive vest hidden under his coat. Fourteen people, including Pacha and seven other police officers as well as six civilians, were killed; 18 others were wounded, seven police and 11 civilians, said Basir Mujahed, a police spokesman.

There was little doubt the death toll would have been far higher without the lieutenants body blunting the blast, Mujahed said.

Hes a hero; he saved many lives, he said. All seven of those policemen are heroes but especially him. Just think if that suicide attacker got past the gate, what would have happened  you cannot even imagine.

Pachas father, Gen. Sayed Nizam Agha, is also a police commander.

My son sacrificed himself to save other people, Agha said, proud but tearful when reached by telephone. He wept as he recounted his sons story.

He had two bachelor degrees, one in political science and another one at the police academy, the father said. He studied five years in Turkey. He came back from Turkey a year and a half ago. He was 25 years old and he was single. He has three brothers and one sister. He and I are the only police in our family. He was a very sporty guy.

Although only on police duty in Kabul for a year and a half, Pacha had already received a commendation from his superiors, which he displayed proudly on his Facebook page. His current post was commander of the Second Company, Police District 4 in Kabul, which includes the Khairkhana area where the attack took place.

The lieutenant never expected to die, friends said, although the profession of Afghan police officer has become increasingly perilous. Dozens of officers were killed in five Taliban attacks Monday and Tuesday.

He was always worried about victims, but he never thought that one day he would get killed, said his longtime friend, Sayed Najib Asil, a producer at Tolo Television.

Pacha was not someone who would have faced death fatalistically, as his friends told it.

He had very big dreams for himself, Asil said. He wanted to be a general like his father, and maybe one day a high ministry official.

The characteristic his friends most noted, though, was his cheerfulness. Every week or two he and his friends had a party together.

He was always the cheeriest guy in the party, making everyone else happy, Asil said.

The Islamic State in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a post on Twitter by the Terror Monitor organization. It was the latest in a series of suicide attacks by the group in Kabul. A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, said his group did not carry it out.

Rod Nordland and Fahim Abed are New York Times writers.
MASON CITY | Lee Meleney was 2 years old when six Marines gallantly raised the flag on Iwo Jima in February 1945, a scene captured in one of the most famous photographs of World War II.

Fifteen years later, when Meleney was a 17-year-old Marine recruit in San Diego, he and a bunch of his buddies took part in the movie, "The Outsider," the story of Ira Hayes, one of the flag-raising Marines.

Tony Curtis, one of the most famous actors of that era, starred in the movie.

"We were in the recruiting station in San Diego when he and some others came in, looking for Marines to be in some scenes in the movie," said Meleney, 75, a retired KIMT employee.

"He pointed to us and said, 'you and you and you and you' and pretty soon, most all of us got picked," Meleney said.

Their part in the movie was not glamorous, however.

"They shot scenes everywhere  on the obstacle course, the mess hall, the whole works," he said.

"On the obstacle course, we had to swing over a pit full of wet mud  and all of us had to do it without falling in. There must have been a hundred of us, and if any one of us fell, we had to shoot the scene all over again.

"You can imagine, it took us a long time to shoot that scene and we were a mess," Meleney said.

Other memories he has of his movie "debut": Curtis' wife, actress Janet Leigh, was with him when he came looking for Marines; there were lots of lights and cameras; and he didn't get paid.

The following year, when the movie was released, Meleney went to a theater and saw himself on the big screen, if only for a moment. "It was exciting," he said.

Meleney was born and raised in Garner and, at age 17, needed his parents' permission to join the Marine Corps.

"I think they said, 'go, go, go'," he said with a laugh. Two months after graduating from Garner High School, he was a Marine. He served from 1960 to 1964 but reminds people, as most Marines do, "once a Marine, always a Marine."

He got married in 1963 and returned to North Iowa in 1965.

Meleney began work at KIMT three years later as a maintenance man and a "PR guy" as he called it, playing Santa Claus and doing other community events for the station. He retired in 2008 after 30 years with KIMT.

Mason City Marine recalls Cuban missile crisis MASON CITY | When Lee Meleney of Mason City was a young man serving in the Marines in 1962, 

Two events in his military life stand out far more than his encounter with Curtis.

In April and May 1962, he was sent to Vietnam, a little-known country in Southeast Asia to help build a landing strip for U.S. aircraft. He could not have known then how important that air strip would be as America's involvement escalated over the years in the Vietnam War.

In October 1962 his unit was sent to Guantanamo Bay during what came to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. U.S. intelligence had determined the presence of Soviet nuclear-tipped missiles in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy demanded the missiles be removed and established a military blockade, blocking shipments into Cuba. After 13 days of negotiations, the Russians agreed to remove the missiles.

Meleney said the Marines at Guantanomo at first didn't know why they were there and had no idea the U.S. was on the verge of possible nuclear war.

"We were just doing our job," he said.
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The New Zealand dollar was little changed, having fallen to a two-week low overnight, as a measure of risk appetite improved but commodity prices fell, leaving the kiwi struggling against a mixed global backdrop.

The kiwi dollar traded at 68.53 US cents as at 8:30am in Wellington, having touched 68.34 cents overnight, from 68.55 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index was at 72.68 from 72.70.

The CRB Index of 19 commonly traded commodities fell 0.2 percent overnight while the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX), known as Wall Street's fear gauge, dropped almost 13 percent. Traders will be watching for a survey of New Zealand manufacturing today for any signs sentiment has shifted in the wake of the change of government and will also be keeping an eye on the progress of US tax reform plans.

"Market sentiment improved overnight as global equities rebounded and yields rose. However, the US dollar and commodities were more mixed," said Philip Borkin, senior economist at ANZ Bank New Zealand, in a note. "Despite a bounce in risk sentiment, the NZD has underperformed, suggesting it could head into the weekend threatening to push lower."

Yesterday, the US House of Representatives approved the package of tax cuts that Reuters described as the biggest tax code overhaul in a generation in a vote that was won 227 to 205, shifting the debate to the Senate. Tax cuts were seen as one of the economy-stimulating policies heralded by US President Donald Trump, although he has struggled to gain policy traction in the Republican-dominated House.

"We suspect support levels will hold, keeping it (the kiwi) range-bound today, although any US tax reform progress will be key to watch," Borkin said.

The kiwi traded at 90.30 Australian cents from 90.24 cents yesterday, when the local currency fell following a drop in the Australian jobless rate. It traded at 51.99 British pence from 52.04 pence and at 58.26 euro cents from 58.20 cents. It was at 4.5424 yuan from 4.5497 yuan and traded at 77.47 yen from 77.45 yen.

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand shares rose, led higher by Kathmandu Holdings and A2 Milk Co, while CBL Corp dropped.

The S&P/NZX50 Index gained 34.76 points, or 0.4 percent, to 8,034.7. Within the index, 26 stocks rose, 19 fell and five were unchanged. Turnover was $190 million.

"There's not a lot going on today, some stocks are regaining ground they lost yesterday," said Grant Williamson, broker at Hamilton Hindin Greene. "There's a bit of buying activity in A2 and Synlait which obviously helps the index somewhat."

Kathmandu Holdings led the index, up 2.5 percent to $2.44. Z Energy gained 2.4 percent to $7.70 and Metro Performance Glass rose 2.3 percent to 88 cents.

A2 Milk Co gained 2.1 percent to $7.79 while Synlait Milk advanced 1.9 percent to $7.08.

CBL Corp was the worst performer, down 1.3 percent to $3.04. Vector dropped 1.2 percent to $3.31 and Port of Tauranga fell 0.9 percent to $4.54.

Outside the benchmark index, Pushpay Holdings rose 3.1 percent to $3.37. The mobile payments app company's results released today show the Auckland-domiciled, US-headquartered company's loss widened to US$12.5 million in the six months ended Sept. 30, from US$11.3 million a year earlier, while revenue more than doubled to US$29.7 million from US$12.1 million.

Pushpay says it's planning on a US listing and likely a capital raising within the next 15 months, but that won't mean de-listing from the NZX or ASX.

Steel & Tube Holdings dropped 1 percent to $2.04. Its first-half earnings may fall as much as 38 percent, reflecting a write-down of inventory, restructuring costs and margin pressures. The guidance came as the company holds its annual meeting in Wellington.

First-half earnings before interest and tax would be $9-to-$10 million below the year-earlier period, it said in a statement. Underlying ebit was about $16 million in the first half of the 2017 year.

"The market is not too surprised," Williamson said. "Steel prices are having to be moved up by distributors because underlying steel prices have moved higher and they're trying to re-capture margins, but it takes time to flow through."

Rakon gained 7 percent to 23 cents. The Auckland-based company turned to a first-half profit of $908,000 from a $5.7 million loss a year earlier, citing growth across the technology company's key markets, improved margins and lower costs.

"That was signalled a wee while ago, it certainly seems to be improving but off a very low base," Williamson said. "Investors will be a little bit relieved there."

(BusinessDesk)

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Rakon turned to a first-half profit from a loss a year earlier, citing growth across the technology company's key markets, improved margins and lower costs.

The Auckland-based company posted a profit of $908,000, or 0.4 cents per share, in the six months ended Sept. 30, from a loss of $5.7 million, or 2.9 cents, a year earlier. Revenue advanced 5.1 percent to $48.3 million, as operating expenses dropped 5.7 percent to $19.5 million, it said in a statement.

Managing director Brent Robinson said the company, which designs and manufactures advanced frequency control and timing products, had achieved modest revenue growth across all its key market segments of telecommunications, global positioning, and space and defence. While the telecommunications market remained subdued, he said the company had strong sampling for two new product platforms that can lead customer's next generation technology requirements.

"It was pleasing to see both improved margins and a reduction in operating costs, where action had been taken in recent years to improve results," Robinson said.

Rakon generated positive cash flow in the period of $4.9 million, compared with negative cash flow of $600,000 in the year-earlier period, which helped the company reduce net debt to $30,000 from $19.7 million.

First-half underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation jumped to $3.8 million from $600,000 in the year-earlier period and the company reiterated its forecast for full-year earnings on that measure of between $10.7 million and $12.7 million.

In its largest market of New Zealand, underlying ebitda lifted to $4 million from $292,000 a year earlier, while its Chinese investments boosted earnings to $1.4 million from $809,000.

In the UK, underlying ebitda dropped to $815,000 from $1 million, and in India earnings fell to $371,000 from $531,000.

In France, the underlying ebitda loss narrowed to $1.3 million from $1.6 million, while in Australia the loss widened to $1.3 million from $921,000.

Rakon won't pay a first-half dividend. Its shares last traded at 21.5 cents, having dropped 2.3 percent this year.

(BusinessDesk)

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Urban Communications Inc. (TSX-V:UBN), is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced arrangement agreement ("Arrangement") between Urban and ACME Communications Canada, Inc. ("ACME"). Preceding the completion ACME and its affiliated company Dr Peng Holding Canada Inc. ("Dr Peng") completed a vertical amalgamation pursuant to S. 185 of the Canada Business Corporations Act under the name Dr Peng Holding Canada, Inc. Urban has now become a wholly owned subsidiary of Dr Peng.

John Farlinger, Chief Executive Officer of Urban commented, "We are extremely appreciative of the strong support we received from our shareholders and the Dr Peng management in completing this transaction. This combination of an experienced telecommunications provider around the world with access to mature products and services and expansion and operating capital for a Canadian business with a unique infrastructure will result in a continuing viable business and significant competition in the market that will be a benefit to businesses and consumers."

Under the Arrangement, all of Urbans 109,909,941 common shares have been purchased by Dr Peng which has become the sole shareholder of Urban. Upon final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, Urbans common shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange and Urban will become a private company.

Full details of the Arrangement and certain other matters are set out in the management information circular of Urban Communications Inc. dated September 29, 2017 (the "Information Circular"). A copy of the Information Circular can be found under Urbans profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

Information for Former Urban Shareholders

The common shares of Urban (the "Urban Shares") are expected to be formally delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") effective at the close of business on Wednesday November 15, 2017, when trading will cease.

Pursuant to the Arrangement, former Urban shareholders are entitled to receive $0.07 per share. In order to receive the share entitlement, former Urban registered shareholders must complete, sign, date and return the letter of transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal") that was mailed to each registered Urban shareholder prior to the special meeting of securityholders of Urban. The Letter of Transmittal is also available under the SEDAR profile of Urban on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For those shareholders of Urban whose shares are registered in the name of a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, trust or other intermediary or nominee, they should contact such nominee for assistance in depositing their Urban Shares and should follow the instructions of such intermediary or nominee.

Board and Management

The board of directors of Urban have tendered their resignations and will be replaced by a new board of directors nominated by Dr Peng.

Chief Executive Officer John Farlinger would like to thank former directors Richard Earle, Alan B. Howe, Leslie E. Maerov, Aasim Saied and Herb Willer for their steadfast stewardship and continued support of Urban through this transaction.

For more information about Urbanfibre Gigabit Internet for business or residential customers, please visit www.urbanfibre.ca.

ABOUT URBAN COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Urban Communications Inc. (TSX-V:UBN) one of the countrys first telecommunications company to deliver Gigabit Internet service to the home, provides a full suite of Internet, voice, video and broadband application products over its 300 km. state-of-the-art carrier grade fibre optic network in Metro Vancouver and Victoria to commercial, residential and public sector customers.

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.

CONTACT INFO:



John Farlinger, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (604) 763-7565

jafarlinger@urbanfibre.ca
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Medical Device Connectivity Market is installation and maintenance of connection which is used to transfer data between medical devices and information systems. It is gaining significant importance as it facilitates exchange and access of vital information which is necessary for better patient information exchange and monitoring. These devices carry vital information such as patients history, maintenance schedule, and real time patient tracking information for providing best available care to patients. Increase in geriatric population, rise in incidences of chronic diseases, rise in demand for homecare devices, and advanced technologies (such as mobile health, and wireless and Wi-Fi enabled patient monitoring) will play a key role in growth of the market during the forecast period. Various healthcare providers and institutes are highly focused on advancing medical device connectivity as medical device data needs to be more reliable, accurate and standardized to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety.



Medical device connectivity services segment dominated the global market in 2016. This can be attributed to increase in demand for maximum utilization of connectivity services by end users. However, medical device connectivity solutions segment will experience robust growth over the forecast period due to rising adoption of interoperability solutions and electronic health record (EHR) systems in healthcare organizations. Technological advancements in wireless technology such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enable medical devices for monitoring will further contribute to the market growth.

Get Sample of this report: http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report-sample/HC0636

U.S. dominated the North American medical connectivity devices market in 2016, due to the rising adoption of home care medical devices to manage and improve prolonged medical conditions. As medical device connectivity facilitates connection between physicians and medical devices, it becomes convenient to continuously monitor patients health parameters. Emerging economies such as India and China will witness favorable growth for medical devices connectivity market over the forecast period due to rising demand for advanced healthcare services in these countries.

Strategic collaborations and acquisitions are the major strategies adopted by the leading companies in medical device connectivity market. For instance, in September 2015, Qualcomm Life Inc. acquired Capsule Technologies, a global leading provider of clinical data management and medical device integration solutions. Likewise, in October 2014, Philips Healthcare collaborated with Seaeye, global provider of M2M cellular connectivity, for supplying Multi-IMSI Any Net connectivity for their telehealth platform, Philips Motiva.

Key Market Players

Phillips Healthcare

Siemens Healthcare

GE Healthcare

Cerner Corp.

Honeywell HomeMed LLC

Drager Medical GmbH

eDevice Inc.

Capsule Tech

Qualcomm Inc.

Lantronix Inc.

Cardiopulmonary Corporation

Buy Report: http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/checkout/HC0636

Key Findings of the Research Study:

Medical devices connectivity services market accounted for the largest share of the overall market in 2016, due to the need for effective implementation of connectivity solutions.

Medical devices connectivity solutions market will witness favorable growth over the forecast period, due to the need for integrated healthcare solutions to improve the quality and outcome of healthcare systems.

North America occupied major share of the global medical devices connectivity market in 2016, due to rising adoption of healthcare information systems in the region.

Europe held the second largest share of the global medical devices connectivity market in 2016. Increasing need of real time and continuous patient monitoring and information management will further drive the growth of this market over the forecast period.

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.

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Company announcement Orphazyme A/S No. 10/2017 Ole Maales Vej 3 DK-2200 Copenhagen N www.orphazyme.com Company Registration No. 32266355 16 November 2017

Major shareholder announcement

With reference to company announcement no. 5/2017 dated 16 November 2017 regarding the result of the Initial Public Offering (the "Offering") of Orphazyme A/S ("Orphazyme"), Orphazyme hereby announces that it has received the following notifications pursuant to section 29 of the Danish Securities Trading Act regarding the existing major shareholders' direct and indirect respective holdings of shares in Orphazyme.

Prior to the completion of the Offering, the major shareholders of Orphazyme were the Novo Nordisk Foundation through Novo Holdings A/S (33.1%); Aescap Venture Management B.V. through Cooperative Aescap Venture I U.A. (15.2%); Sunstone Life Science Ventures A/S through Sunstone LSV General Partner II ApS and Sunstone Life Science Ventures Fund II K/S (15.6%); LSP Management Group B.V. through LSP V Management B.V., LSP V Cooperatieve U.A. and Orpha Pooling B.V. (21.0%); Idinvest Partners through FCPI Idinvest Patrimoine n3, FCPI Idinvest Patrimoine n4, FCPI Objectif Innovation Patrimoine n6 and FCPI Objectif Innovation Patrimoine n7 (7.2%); and Kurma Partners through Kurma Biofund II (6.6%).

Novo Holdings A/S has reduced its shareholding in Orphazyme as a consequence of (i) the dilution resulting from the issue of 7,500,000 new shares in Orphazyme of a nominal value of DKK 1 each in connection with the Offering; and (ii) the lending of 1,125,000 shares in Orphazyme of a nominal value of DKK 1 each by Novo Holdings A/S to Joint Global Coordinators for the purposes of delivery of shares to investors as a result of the overallotment option in connection with the Offering (the "Overallotment Option"). Regardless of whether the Overallotment Option is exercised, Novo Holdings A/S will have an equivalent number of shares redelivered, either by way of existing shares or new shares issued by Orphazyme.

Aescap Venture Management B.V., Sunstone LSV General Partner II ApS, LSP Management Group B.V., Idinvest Partners and Kurma Partners have reduced their respective indirect shareholdings in Orphazyme as a consequence of the dilution resulting from the issue of 7,500,000 new shares in Orphazyme of a nominal value of DKK 1 each in connection with the Offering.

Moreover, Kurma Biofund II and LSP V Cooperatieve U.A. have increased their respective direct shareholdings in Orphazyme by having subscribed for an additional number of shares in Orphazyme in connection with the Offering.

Subsequent to the Offering, Orphazyme has received the following major shareholder announcements:

Novo Holdings A/S

Following completion and settlement of the above transactions in connection with the Offering, Novo Holdings A/S' holding of shares in Orphazyme will be a total of 2,705,832 shares (i.e. excluding lending shares pursuant to the Overallotment Option) of a nominal value of DKK 1 each, corresponding to 13.6% of the total share capital and voting rights.

Novo Holdings A/S is a limited liability company organized under the laws of Denmark under CVR no. 24257630 with its registered office at Tuborg Havnevej 19, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark. Novo Holdings A/S is wholly-owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is a foundation organised under the laws of Denmark under CVR no. 10582989 with its registered office at Tuborg Havnevej 19, DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark.

Aescap Venture

Following completion and settlement of the Offering, Aescap Venture Management B.V.'s indirect holding of shares in Orphazyme through Cooperative Aescap Venture I U.A. will be a total of 1,765,605 shares of a nominal value of DKK 1 each, corresponding to 8.9% of the total share capital and voting rights.

Cooperative Aescap Venture I U.A. is a limited liability cooperative association organised under the laws of the Netherlands, registered under registration number 34257886 with its registered address at Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Aescap Venture I U.A. is managed by Aescap Venture Management B.V.

Aescap Venture Management B.V. is a limited liability company organised under the laws of the Netherlands, registered under registration number 32108991 with its registered address at Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures

Following completion and settlement of the Offering, Sunstone Life Science Ventures A/S' indirect holding of shares in Orphazyme through Sunstone LSV General Partner II ApS and Sunstone Life Science Ventures Fund II K/S will be a total of 1,804,405 shares of a nominal value of DKK 1 each, corresponding to 9.1% of the total share capital and voting rights.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures Fund II K/S is organised under the laws of Denmark under CVR no. 30582268 with its registered address at Lautrupsgade 7, 5., 2100 Copenhagen , Denmark. Sunstone Life Science Venture Fund II K/S is managed by Sunstone LSV General Partner II ApS.

Sunstone LSV General Partner II ApS is organised under the laws of Denmark under CVR no. 30575245 with its registered address at Lautrupsgade 7, 5., 2100 Copenhagen , Denmark. Sun-stone LSV General Partner II ApS is a subsidiary of Sunstone Life Science Ventures A/S.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures A/S is organised under the laws of Denmark under CVR no. 33859198 with its registered address at Lautrupsgade 7, 5., 2100 Copenhagen , Denmark.

LSP

Following completion and settlement of the Offering, (i) LSP V Cooperatieve U.A.'s direct holding of 279,157 shares of a nominal value of DKK 1 each in Orphazyme will correspond to 1.4% of the total share capital and voting rights; and (ii) Orpha Pooling B.V.'s direct holding of 2,431,672 shares of a nominal value of DKK 1 each in Orphazyme will correspond to 12.2% of the total share capital and voting rights.

Orpha Pooling B.V. is a private limited liability company and has its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with registered office address at Johannes Vermeer, Plein 9, 1071 DV Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is registered with the Dutch trade register under number 67827055. The shareholders of Orpha Pooling B.V. are (i) LSP V Cooperatieve U.A. (88.24% of the total share capital and voting rights), and (ii) ALS Invest 2 B.V. (11.76% of the total share capital and voting rights), a private limited liability company, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its registered office address at Eerste Weteringdwarsstraat 54 E, 1017TP Amsterdam, the Netherlands, registered with the Dutch trade register under number 67804187.

LSP V Cooperatieve U.A. is a cooperative with excluded liability and has its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with registered office address at Johannes Vermeer, Plein 9, 1071 DV Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is registered with the Dutch trade register under number 61888575. LSP V Cooperatieve U.A. is a closed end investment fund managed by LSP V Management B.V.

LSP V Management B.V. is a private limited liability company and has its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with registered office address at Johannes Vermeer, Plein 9, 1071 DV Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is registered with the Dutch trade register under number 60800542. LSP V Management B.V. is a subsidiary of LSP Management Group B.V.

LSP Management Group B.V. is a limited liability company has its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with registered office address at Johannes Vermeer, Plein 9, 1071 DV Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is registered with the Dutch trade register under number 34288020.

Idinvest Partners

Following completion and settlement of the Offering, Idinvest Partners' indirect holding of shares in Orphazyme through the FCPI Idinvest Patrimoine n3, FCPI Idinvest Patrimoine n4, FCPI Objectif Innovation Patrimoine n6 and FCPI Objectif Innovation Patrimoine n7 will be below 5% of the total share capital and voting rights. Consequently, Idinvest Partners will no longer be a major shareholder of Orphazyme pursuant to section 29 of the Danish Securities Trading Act.

Idinvest Partners manages its investment in Orphazyme through FCPI Idinvest Patrimoine n3, FCPI Idinvest Patrimoine n4, FCPI Objectif Innovation Patrimoine n6 and FCPI Objectif Innovation Patrimoine n7, which are French Fonds Communs de Placement dans l'Innovation, governed by the laws of France, having their registered office at 117 Avenue des Champs-Elysees, 75 008 Paris, France, registered with the Registry of Trade and Companies of Paris under number 414 735 175.

Idinvest Partners is a French societe anonyme governed by the laws of France, having its registered office at 117 Avenue des Champs-Elysees, 75 008 Paris, France, registered with the Registry of Trade and Companies of Paris under number 414 735 175.

Kurma Partners

Following completion and settlement of the Offering, Kurma Partners' indirect holding of shares in Orphazyme through Kurma Biofund II will be below 5% of the total share capital and voting rights. Consequently, Kurma Partners and Kurma Biofund II will no longer be a major shareholder of Orphazyme pursuant to section 29 of the Danish Securities Trading Act.

Kurma Biofund II, a professional private equity fund represented by its management company Kurma Partners, a French societe anonyme (corporation), with its registered office at 24 rue Royale - 75008 Paris, registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Registry under number 510 043 136.



For additional information, please contact

Orphazyme

Anders Vadsholt, CFO +45 28 98 90 55



About Orphazyme

Orphazyme is a Danish biotech company with a late stage orphan drug pipeline, developing new treatment options for orphan protein misfolding diseases. The Company was founded in 2009 based on early scientific discovery in heat shock proteins ("HSPs"). Since inception, the Company has translated scientific discovery into a late stage clinical development programme. The Company is headquartered in Copenhagen and currently has 30 employees.

The Company focuses on severe and mostly fatal diseases with a high unmet need, and with a particularly strong commitment to neuromuscular diseases and a group of severe genetic diseases called lysosomal storage diseases. The Company plans to pursue development of its lead candidate through to registration in the EU and the United States after which launch and commercialisation is expected to be undertaken by the Company.

The lead candidate arimoclomol is in development as a potential treatment for four orphan diseases; two neuromuscular diseases, sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis ("sIBM") and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ("ALS"), and two lysosomal storage diseases, Niemann Pick type C ("NPC") and Gaucher disease.

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a98a21d0-1b7f-4913-be06-edc4b373a7b9
Lithuanian English

Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB, identification code 304151376, registered office placed at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the Company). The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 894 630 333; ISIN code LT0000130023.



The Company informs that the pilot project launched in 2016 of smart electricity metering for private customers has been finalised.



According to the results of the pilot project Ernst & Young Baltic performed a cost-benefit analysis of the mass roll-out of smart electricity and gas metering in Lithuania which revealed that preliminary the most beneficious scenario for 4 years (period of 2019-2022) would require approx. 219 million euro investment. Taking into account the potential financial and social long-term benefits for Lithuania, the total economic benefit of the project would be 88 million Euro.



The Company continues coordinating the project with the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices. The final decision on the investment is intended to be taken after the decision of the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices. The mass roll-out of smart metering in Lithuania is included in the National Strategy of Energy.



It is noted that no specific decisions are taken. The Company will inform about any further decisions in accordance with the procedure established by law.


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 61-year-old teacher's aide was arrested for allegedly hitting a male, non-verbal autistic child in a public school in Concord, according to sources with knowledge of the investigation.

David Pologruto, 61, was arrested for the alleged assault that happened at about 8 a.m. Wednesday inside a school on Targee Street in Concord, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Public records indicate that the special education district that he is assigned to has a location at P.S./I.S. 48 at 1050 Targee St.

Pologruto allegedly was seen by a witness hitting the victim on the back and also is accused of striking the child's right hand. The victim cried and felt pain, but had no visible injuries, according to police.

Pologruto, who lives on Staten Island, is a special-education paraprofessional with the New York City public schools, according to public records.

He has been charged by police with acting in a manner injurious to a child less than age 17 and assault.

"There is no place for this alleged behavior in our schools and Mr. Pologruto was immediately suspended without pay," according to a statement from the Department of Education. "The troubling incident is being investigated and we will ensure that appropriate follow up action is taken."

Pologruto, who has no prior disciplinary record, began as a substitute paraprofessional in 2015 and became a paraprofessional at 31R373 in 2016. His salary is $28,469, according to education sources.

Caroline Hanna, PTA co-president at P.S./I.S. 48, emailed the Advance to stress that Pologruto is not an employee of P.S./I.S. 48.

"The fact is we're a co-located school and therefore share the building with P373, which is a District 75 school," Hanna said in her email. "The employee involved in the incident is a P373 employee, not a PS/IS 48 employee.

"
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dozens of animals in the care of Staten Island's volunteer animal rescue groups are still waiting for their forever families to find them. Click through the photos to meet the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens up for adoption at events this weekend.

MOBILE ADOPTION EVENT: Don't miss the Animal Care Centers of NYC Mobile Adoption event from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at Petco Staten Island, 2752 Veterans Road West.

BTW: ACC's Staten Island Care Center is located at 3139 Veterans Road West. Email adopt@nycacc.org for more information or visit NYCACC.org.

ACC adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, a collar, an identification tag, and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.

PURCHASING CALENDARS HELP ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS: 'Heart Throbs and Hounds' 2018 calendar: Order your "Heart Throbs and Hounds" Calendar 2018 by celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz which benefit Fur Friends In Need and Lilo's Promise Animal Rescues. What happens when you put together hot fitness models who volunteer their time and adorable rescue pups? The goal of the calendar is to raise awareness to decide to "adopt and not shop" for pets. Proceeds will help both rescue groups save more local shelter lives and help with medical needs. For more info, visit the Friends in Need website.

'Paws of Gotham' 2018 calendar: Louie's Legacy's fourth annual calendar (take a sneak-peak in the above gallery) is aimed at raising funds to rehabilitate and re-home animals from high-kill shelters across the United States. "Paws of Gotham" was shot by famed South African photographer Candy Kennedy. The images she captured focus on the diversity of both people and pets, and showcase the noise and colorful energy of New York City. Each month features a stunning photo of a real rescue pet, most from Louie's Legacy, with a celebrity, influencers or model, and is shot in front of an iconic New York scene.

"This project has given me the opportunity to combine my love for animal charities and New York," says Kennedy. "Not only was I able to work with some amazing and creative people on this calendar, but they all share the same love for animals, which makes this project very rewarding and special. I am very proud of how hard everyone worked to find the perfect locations, people to shoot, and most importantly, to fit the right pet with the right person. There is nothing better than the feeling of helping an animal or person in need."

Pre-orders can be made at LouiesLegacy.org/wp/calendar.

SIX THANKSGIVING FOODS POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS FOR PETS

Turkey Day is almost here, and that means an abundance of delicious food. However, many popular human dishes aren't healthy for pets to consume. This is important to remember during holiday meals, when dogs and cats beg for table scraps and guests might fall for those cute faces. Below are six foods that are bad for cats and dogs. Make sure to keep these away from your pets to ensure they remain healthy this Thanksgiving and don't forget to inform your family and dinner guests about these potentially toxic or dangerous foods so they don't feed them to your pets.

1. Stuffing is often made with onions, scallions or garlic. These ingredients, however, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats and can cause a life-threatening anemia (destruction of the red blood cells). It's best to avoid feeding any amount of stuffing to pets.

2. Ham and other pork products can cause pancreatitis, upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Pork tends to be high in fat as well, which can lead to obesity in pets. Even a small amount of ham can contribute a very large amount of calories in a small dog or cat.

3. Turkey Bones can cause severe indigestion in dogs and cats, potentially causing vomiting and obstructing the bowel. Bones may also splinter and cause damage to the inside of the stomach and intestines. In some cases, turkey bones may even puncture through the stomach and cause a potentially fatal abdominal infection.

4. Mashed Potatoes: While taters are safe for pets to eat, the mashed variety usually contain butter and milk, which can cause diarrhea in lactose intolerant pets. Additionally, some recipes call for onion powder or garlic, which are very toxic to pets.

5. Salads with Grapes/Raisins: There are many salads served at Thanksgiving that include grapes or raisins as an ingredient, from fruit salad, to Waldorf salad, to ambrosia. However, grapes and raisins are very toxic and potentially deadly. Grapes can cause severe, irreversible and sometimes fatal kidney failure in dogs. Be sure to keep all dishes that include grapes and raisins away from pets.

6. Chocolate Desserts: While pumpkin pie is the most famous Thanksgiving dessert and canned pumpkin has pet health benefits, many people offer a variety of chocolate desserts at Thanksgiving. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, yet dogs love the smell and taste of it. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Keep all chocolate desserts out of the reach of pets to prevent an emergency trip to the veterinarian.

If your pets ingest any of these foods this holiday season, be sure to call your veterinarian immediately. The most important part of pet safety is early action, which may prevent more costly and serious complications from developing. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

(SOURCE: PetsBest.com)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It's great news: The New York State Association of Realtors honored John Vernazza as the 2017 Realtor of the Year during the association's Fall Business Meetings in Verona, N.Y.

Vernazza is the 60th recipient of the award, which recognizes outstanding service at the local, state and national levels, a strict adherence to the high principles of the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics, a commitment to civic activity and business accomplishments.



"A leader in his real estate business, within the organization and throughout his community, John Vernazza is greatly deserving of this honor," said Dawn Carpenter, 2017 president of the New York State Association of Realtors. "His tireless efforts to promote the American Dream of homeownership and also fight against legislative issues that harm our industry are awe inspiring."

Says Vernazza: "It's truly an honor being selected. I have the privilege of working along side such dedicated and talented realtors, many of which would be deserving of this honor. I am humbled to be named 'New York State Realtor of the Year.'"



A realtor for 18 years, Vernazza is the broker/owner of Vernazza Real Estate on Staten Island.

He is an active member and 2009 past president of the Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR). He has served as chair of several committees including public relations and nominating as well as the Board Certifications Task Force. His committee service also includes strategic planning, MLS rules, and budget and finance. He was named SIBOR's Realtor Associate of the Year in 2004 and SIBOR's Realtor of the Year in 2010.

On the state level, Vernazza has served as a director since 2008.

He served as the Regional Vice President for the Metro Region in 2015-2016.

An active member of NYSAR, Vernazza has chaired and served on numerous committees including legislative steering, legal action, and organizational planning. He also served as a New York City Council political coordinator to Councilman Vincent Ignizio in 2010-2011.

He also is a past member of the NYSAR Realtors Honor Society, and has served as a director for the National Association of Realtors, as well as a stint on the NAR Conventional Finance and lending Committee.

He is currently serving as Broker Involvement Council State Representative, helping lead New York past its 2017 Broker Involvement Program (BIP) recruitment goal. He is also serving as a Federal Political Coordinator for New York's 11th Congressional District on behalf of NAR.

Active in his community, Vernazza is the president-elect of the South Shore Rotary and is a past recipient of the Rotarian of the Year award and the Car Rosenberger Rotary Service Above Self Award.

In 2014, he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow, the most prestigious award a Rotarian can receive. He also is a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, the Staten Island Zoo, and is a former director for the Staten Island Center of Independent Living.



In acknowledgement of his outstanding achievements, Vernazza will be honored at the Realtor Recognition Program during the 2017 Realtors Conference and Expo in Chicago, Ill., later this month.

The New York State Association of Realtors is a not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 55,000 of New York State's real estate professionals.
English French

London, Paris, November 16th, 2017 - Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, signs a contract with the world-renowned University of Oxford (UK) to deliver a new national Deep Learning Supercomputer which will enable UK academics and industry to develop and test deep learning applications and Proof of Concepts, as part of the JADE1 project.



The supercomputer, which is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will be used in a Deep-Learning-as-a-Service (DLaaS) model, powered by NVIDIA GPUs and Atos' Extreme Factory technology, creating a public Deep Learning cloud.

The Alan Turing Institute (ATI), recently established by the UK Government to provide a national focus for developments in Artificial Intelligence, will be a primary user of the new service helping industry and academia to access the latest cognitive analytics technologies. DeepLearning has broad applicability, from automated voice recognition and autonomous vehicles to medical imaging. The technology can be used, for example, to increase the accuracy of diagnoses in digital pathology.



Professor Mike Giles at University of Oxford said: "The University of Oxford partnered with Atos to provide a national GPU supercomputer for the UK, which we will use specifically to develop and support deep learning and AI applications in addition to GPU-based supercomputing."



Arnaud Bertrand, Fellow, Head of Big Data and HPC at Atos, concluded: "We are proud with the delivery of JADE, the first Deep Learning supercomputer on UK soil and believe our technology and our expertise will accelerate high-tech business innovation across the UK and beyond."



Technical features:

The system is composed of a cluster of 22 NVIDIA DGX1 deep learning supercomputers, which makes it the largest GPU-based system in the UK.

Each DGX1 system has 8 Pascal P100 GPUs providing a total of 176 GPUs and a total power of 492.2 Tflops.

It is currently ranked #12 on the TOP20 of the Green500 list of the most energy efficient computers.

The supercomputer is hosted by Atos at the STFC Hartree Centre in Daresbury, near Warrington, UK.



Atos present at SC17

SC17 is the biggest event in supercomputing in the USA, focusing on HPC, networking, storage and analysis, taking place in Denver, USA starting 13 November. Atos presents its expertise on booth #1925.

***

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 72 countries and annual revenue of around  12 billion. European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, the Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.



Press contact:

Jose de Vries | jose.devries@atos.net | +31 6 30 27 26 11 | @josee_de vries

1JADE - Joint Academic Data science Endeavour. This proposal, led by the University of Oxford, with support from the Alan Turing Institute (ATI), Bristol, Edinburgh, KCL, QMUL, Sheffield, Southampton and UCL is for a national GPU system that will support multidisciplinary science with a focus on machine learning and molecular dynamics.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It was last call Wednesday for a Tompkinsville bar bouncer as a justice sentenced him to nine years behind bars for viciously beating and robbing a patron last year.

In July, a jury in state Supreme Court, St. George, convicted Paul Justiniano, 38, of second-degree robbery stemming from a March 13, 2016 incident behind Poco Loco at 8 Van Duzer St. at about 5:30 a.m.

According to a criminal complaint, Justiniano, 38, of West Brighton, punched the man in the face multiple times and snatched his wallet, containing a debit card and cash.

The victim suffered two maxillary fractures of the face and multiple lacerations to the top and back of his head, requiring 30 medical staples to close, said the complaint.

He also suffered lacerations of the upper lip requiring three staples, the complaint said.

Justiniano did not testify during the trial.

Assistant District Attorney Frank Prospero asked Justice Mario F. Mattei to sentence Justiniano to the maximum of 15 years.

He cited the defendant's criminal history, including a 10-year prison sentence for prior first-degree robbery convictions stemming from a string of armed holdups in Queens in 2001.

And he called the defendant's attack of the victim "savage and vicious."

"He showed no remorse for his actions," said Prospero, who along with Assistant District Attorney Mark Palladino prosecuted the case. "He does not care about society or the well-being of others."

Karen Hamberlin, one of Justiniano's lawyers, sought the minimum sentence of seven years.

Such a sentence would serve as ample punishment and a deterrent, she said, adding the defendant had completed several programs since being incarcerated, including relapse prevention and general building maintenance.

The bespectacled, goateed defendant did not address the court.

Hamberlin, who along with Joshua Benjamin represented Justiniano, said she advised him against making a statement since an appeal is anticipated.

Mattei said a minimum sentence was "not appropriate" due to the viciousness of the crime and the victim's injuries.

"It was clearly a crime of opportunity," said the judge.

Besides prison time, he sentenced Justiniano as a second violent felony offender to five years' post-release supervision.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rep. Daniel Donovan was one of only 13 Republicans to vote "no" on the GOP tax bill passed in the House of Representatives Thursday by a vote of 227 to 205.

The $1.5 trillion tax bill has recently come under scrutiny after the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Congress' bipartisan tax policy advisers, said that the amended Senate version of the bill will raise taxes on lower- and middle-class families.

Donovan said he feels the proposed bill places an unfair burden on New Yorkers by ending the state and local income tax deduction, capping the mortgage interest deduction for loans that are below the median home price in his district, and capping the property tax deduction at $10,000.

"The math just doesn't add up. This would be a tax increase for far too many families that I represent," said Donovan. "I will not support legislation that cuts taxes for everybody else in the country and sends my constituents the bill."

The new policy would see New York, New Jersey, California and Maryland pay an additional $16.7 billion in taxes over the next 10 years, while the remaining 46 states would see a $101.5 billion tax cut, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

"Let's stop pretending this bill is good for everybody. It's shifting the tax burden to families in states that already pay exorbitant taxes in order to fund tax cuts elsewhere," Donovan said.

"Folks in Washington view New York as a piggy bank to continue subsidizing services for other parts of the country, but the party won't last forever," Donovan added.

He concluded that while opposing the currently proposed legislation, he is open to alternative solutions.

"Tax credits, income caps, and other ideas that have been batted around should all be on the table," said Donovan.

The Senate Finance Committee will vote on the legislation on Friday, with the full Senate vote expected to take place after Thanksgiving.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Tossing a cup of urine at a cop is not only unsanitary, it's criminal.

And a West Brighton man will have up to four years behind bars to think about that indiscretion after pleading guilty on Thursday to a felony aggravated harassment charge.

The incident occurred March 21 at the 120th Precinct stationhouse.

Kevin Washington, 36, was being held on charges of attacking a woman he knows on March 19 in a home in his community.

Washington put the victim in a chokehold, causing her to lose consciousness, a criminal complaint said.

When the victim regained consciousness, Washington punched her head and face, knocking out two of her teeth, said the complaint.

While in the holding cell at the St. George stationhouse, the defendant threw a cup containing urine at an officer walking past at about 3:55 p.m., said authorities.

Washington was accused of a felony count of aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate and a misdemeanor count of obstruction for the incident in the precinct.

The defendant was charged with felony counts of strangulation and assault, along with misdemeanor counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation for the alleged attack on the woman.

Washington pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate to satisfy all charges against him.

In exchange, he'll be sentenced on Dec. 4 to two to four years in prison.

Garbed in a white shirt and tan pants, Washington responded, "Yes, sir," and "No, sir" to Justice Stephen J. Rooney's questions, but did not make an independent statement.

The defendant was previously convicted in 2010 for felony stolen-property possession, according to statements made in court. He was sentenced to 10 months in jail.

Attorney Louis Gelormino is representing him in the current case.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A businessman alleges that a man broke into an office, took nothing, but left behind a gas can and then ransacked another business in a series of illegal entries into a commercial building in Charleston.

Artem Pogosyan posted on Facebook a video of a man crawling through the window of Direct Smart Leasing at 4233 Arthur Kill Road at about 4:20 a.m. on Monday.

Pogosyan speculated that the culprit broke into the wrong office, then made his way into the intended target.

The man captured on video spent about an hour and expended considerable effort to gain entry to the second-floor office of Direct Smart Leasing and an adjacent business. The culprit apparently also was injured during the episode, Pogosyan opined.

Police confirmed that burglaries reportedly occurred between 4:15 and 6:15 a.m. on Monday at Direct Smart Leasing and another business at that address. About $10,700 in items were reported missing from the other ransacked business, including about $5,300 and three laptops, according to a spokesman for the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Property damage in excess of $250 was reported at the auto-leasing company, the police spokesman said.

The preliminary report indicates that the suspect entered and exited at least one of the businesses through a window, the police spokesman said.

The intruder likely climbed a ladder carrying a gas can and a hammer up to a window located about 25 feet above the ground on the side of the building bordered by woods. He then busted a double-pane window with the hammer, the businessman suspected.

Once inside, the culprit was captured on video opening interior doors in what appeared to be an attempt to find another way into the adjacent enterprise, Pogoysan said.

The burglar spent 10 or more minutes cleaning up the shards of glass and exited out through the window. At some point, the suspect apparently was cut because blood was found on the window sill, Pogosyan said.

"He didn't even steal anything," Pogosyan said, but a gas can with a rag inside later was found on a counter at Direct Smart Leasing.

The suspect then made his way into the other office in the building, according to the businessman.

"I was pretty shocked," Pogosyan said, adding that "being broken into was the last thing I would imagine would happen" in the building and neighborhood generally thought of as safe.

Pogosyan is offering via Facebook an undisclosed amount of money for information.


PRESS RELEASE

New BEAM Alliance Position Paper calls out worldwide stakeholders to support SME-driven innovation and revive the product pipeline fighting antimicrobial resistance

2017 marks the beginning of a strong collective fight aimed at setting up initiatives to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on a national and international level

European BEAM Alliance emphasises key role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as major innovators and presents a set of guidelines on how to more effectively reinforce and support antibacterial research and development (R&D) by SMEs

Globally, some 250 biotech companies are focusing on developing new drugs to combat AMR - The 40 BEAM members alone approx. 120 new drug candidates in their pipelines including many novel breakthrough approaches

Paris (France), November 16th, 2017 - In 2017, the collective fight to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has experienced a new upswing. Following the eye-opening report of British economist Lord Jim O'Neill, policymakers, funding bodies and national governments set up a series of new initiatives to accelerate drug development by supporting research and development (R&D) in the AMR field.

Taking advantage of the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WHO) and 2 days before the European Antibiotic Awareness Day (Nov 18, 2017), the European BEAM alliance, representing 40 'Biopharmaceutical companies from Europe innovating in AntiMicrobial resistance' research, today released a position paper to acknowledge these efforts and to highlight the important role that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are playing as innovators.

The document lists ten (10) guidelines as to how antibacterial R&D could be revived and proposes specific support for SME-driven innovation in the AMR field. The alliance particularly demands that policymakers understand the specific nature and needs of SMEs to design effective PUSH and PULL mechanisms.

Adequately-shaped incentive mechanisms that ultimately rewards R&D evidence Health Technology Assessment recognising the true value of SME innovation Dedicated regulatory pathways to support the specific needs of AMR projects and act as pre-qualification criteria to some PUSH/PULL incentive mechanisms PUSH incentives and funding mechanisms that are directed to SMEs, calibrated and accessible for SMEs in practice Calibrated Market Entry Rewards (MER) to ensure continuous and sustainable innovation from academics to biotech companies and to large pharma players R&D prizes and phase entry rewards as effective PULL mechanisms for SMEs to incentivise the most underserved indications in AMR Targeted tax incentives specifically addressing SMEs to incentivise private investments into AMR-focused companies and/or avoid de-prioritization Going beyond to exploit all possibilities for AMR from SMEs Support education to strengthen attractiveness of the field for R&D professionals/scientists Long term thinking and wisely usage of AMR innovations combined with appropriate diagnostics development

Marie Petit, coordinator of the BEAM alliance, says: "Existing SMEs in the AMR field are true pioneers! Despite a much-underserved ecosystem to fund and perform R&D, they fight to make the difference for millions of patients and come up with very innovative approaches - both antibacterial and non-antibacterial (prevention, anti-virulence, anti-biofilm, phages, microbiome protection.). They carry the hope for the coming decades and it is of upmost importance that policymakers and countries involved in the fight against AMR make sure their policies are laser focused on SMEs need and none is left behind until the ecosystem is properly revived."

"Due to their versatile properties, bacteria are evolving resistance faster than policymakers are implementing action. It is of enormous importance to ultimately revive R&D in AMR by developing compelling surveillance data, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, rewarding R&D evidence and strengthening existing scientific expertise." adds Marc Gitzinger, CEO of BioVersys AG, Switzerland, Vice-President of the BEAM Alliance.

Marc Lemonnier, CEO of Antabio SAS, France, Member of the Management Board of the BEAM Alliance comments: "Globally, some 250 biotech companies are working on new antibacterial strategies. SMEs are the crucial innovation engine in the AMR field. Addressing the specific requirements of SME-driven innovation within current AMR initiatives is key in order to provide patients with effective drugs that can win the fight against AMR."

In March 2018, the BEAM alliance together with Berlin-based BIOCOM AG will invite key players to a one-day-conference, providing a discussion platform for addressing the specific challenges of SMEs in developing new antimicrobials and AMR diagnostics. The Berlin Conference 2018 expects more than 200 high-level representatives from policy, academia, industry and the finance sector. "We will have more than 40 speakers, among them over half from SMEs, to explore the best business strategies in the AMR R&D arena." says Sandra Wirsching from BIOCOM AG, a life science-focused publishing house. The event is further supported by the German Fraunhofer Society and the EU-funded "European Gram Negative Anti-Bacterial Engine" (ENABLE) consortium.

To have full access to the BEAM Alliance position paper 2017, you can click here.

About the BEAM Alliance:

The BEAM Alliance (Biopharmaceutical companies from Europe innovating in Anti-Microbial resistance research) plays a key role working on a European and national level to represent the interests of its 40 members. The BEAM members are collectively developing over 120 new R&D projects focused upon the cure and prevention of bacterial infections. They cover the whole range of pharmaceutical drug development from small molecule antibiotics, antibiotic combinations, phages, antibodies, prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, peptides, prebiotics, other bioproducts, adjunctive therapies and medical devices, thus representing the large majority of all European companies actively working on AMR. The goal of the BEAM alliance is to maintain and promote awareness of SME-driven innovation in the field and to support policymakers in understanding economic business models around AMR. The BEAM Alliance closely cooperates with all stakeholders dedicated to the fight against AMR.

www.beam-alliance.eu

About the Berlin Conference "Novel Antimicrobials & AMR diagnostics"

The "Berlin Conference on Life Sciences" was started eleven years ago as a BIOCOM event to discuss promising developments in the biotech and pharma business in Europe. For the second year in a row, the Berlin Conference addresses the AMR market and its challenges. The one-day-event aims at building a broad discussion platform for relevant stakeholders in the field to help accelerating innovation. That there is a need of combined efforts is underlined by the rise of a multitude of global, European and national initiatives to support the development of new antimicrobials and diagnostics. The conference brings together people from science and business, investors and policy makers, start-ups and health economists, the public and private sector, to highlight the most promising technologies, to showcase best-practice examples and to discuss how to follow successful business strategies in the AMR market.

www.berlin-conferences.com

BEAM Alliance Member Companies:

Abac Therapeutics - AiCuris Anti-infective Cures - Alaxia - Allecra Therapeutics - Antabio - AntibioTx - Arsanis - Auspherix - Basilea Pharmaceutica International - BioFilm Pharma - BioVersys - Centauri Therapeutics - Combioxin - Da Volterra - Debiopharm International - Deinobiotics/Deinove - Destiny Pharma - Discuva - Eligo Bioscience - Helperby Therapeutics - Karveel Pharmaceuticals - MaaT Pharma - Madam Therapeutics - Motif Bio - Mutabilis - Nabriva Therapeutics - Neem Biotech - Northern Antibiotics - Nosopharm - NovaBiotics - Pherecydes Pharma - Phico Therapeutics - Polyphor - QureTech Bio - Redx Anti-Infectives - Septeos - SetLance srl - Ultupharma - VaxDyn - Vibiosphen

BEAM Alliance Associated Member Companies:

Bioaster - Vivexia

Contacts: Press@Beam-Alliance.eu

Board Members



Florence Sejourne, President (Da Volterra)

Marc Gitzinger, Vice-President (BioVersys)

Holger Schmoll (AiCuris)

Mark Jones (Basilea)

Marc Lemonnier (Antabio) Coordinator



Marie Petit

T.: +33 6 50 01 15 33

E.: marie.petit@beam-alliance.eu

www.beam-alliance.eu





Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79d1830e-5379-490a-9697-b5411d6f9468
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (the Company or Purepoint) (TSX:PTU.V) announced today that the proposed 2018 Hook Lake JV exploration program with a budgeted cost of $4,000,000 has been approved by the JV partners. Situated within the Patterson Uranium District, the Hook Lake JV is a project owned jointly by Cameco Corp. (39.5%), AREVA Resources Canada Inc. (39.5%) and Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (21%), and is on trend with recent high-grade uranium discoveries including Fission Uraniums Triple R deposit and NexGens Arrow deposit.



Highlights:

An exploration budget of $4,000,000 has been approved by the Hook Lake JV partners for 2018;

The proposed 2018 exploration program includes 9,000 metres of diamond drilling, approximately 16 holes utilizing two drills, and a geophysical survey;

The 2018 diamond drilling will continue to test high-priority targets along the Patterson Corridor;

A ground gravity survey is scheduled to be conducted over the Derkson Corridor early 2018;

The 2017 program has now re-commenced with 4 to 5 holes scheduled to be drilled before year-end;

Purepoint is currently fully funded through to the end of the 2018 exploration program.

The 2018 exploration program plans for 16 diamond drill holes, approximately 9,000 metres of drilling, and a geophysical survey. Drilling will follow-up on the early success at the Dragon Zone and continue testing high-priority Patterson Corridor targets while advancing towards the northeast. A ground gravity survey is also planned for the Derkson Corridor (east of the Patterson Lake Corridor) that will cover the historic mineralized hole DER-04.

Current mobilization of camp and drill equipment is complete and drilling has now commenced. The remaining 2017 budget is expected to allow for 4 to 5 drill holes prior to the end of the year (Purepoint press release September 28, 2017). The initial hole will be collared at the Spitfire Zone to test for mineralization approximately 50 metres northeast of NexGens Harpoon hole HP-16-20 that intersected 13.5 m at 3.9% U 3 O 8 (NexGen press release of Mar. 23, 2017).

Spitfire/Harpoon Discovery

The Spitfire high-grade uranium mineralization has been correlated with NexGens Harpoon discovery by Purepoint and both a long section and plan map are available on the Purepoint website. No drilling has yet been conducted by Purepoint during 2017 proximal to the Harpoon discovery. The initial Spitfire drill hole this fall will test for mineralization near the Hook Lake southern claim line, approximately 50 metres northeast of NexGens Harpoon hole HP-16-20 that intersected 13.5 m at 3.9% U 3 O 8 including 2.5 m at 20.9% U 3 O 8 .

Dragon Zone

One of the two diamond drills mobilized this month will start within the Dragon target area and test the same location where hole HK17-75 was lost earlier this year. Drill Hole HK17-75 was a follow-up to the favourable alteration and radioactivity encountered by HK17-72 (see Purepoint PR, Apr. 13, 2017) and was spotted by moving the drill 200 metres southwest along strike from the HK17-72 collar location. Unfortunately, the hole was lost at a depth of 204 metres within a pressurized sand seam similar to those present within the Spitfire Zone.

Derkson Corridor

A ground gravity survey is scheduled to be conducted along the Derkson Corridor early in 2018. Historic exploration efforts in the area focused on the Derkson Corridor, where SMDC encountered uranium mineralization near the unconformity averaging 0.24% U 3 O 8 and 1.35% Ni over 2.5 metres in 1978. Drill holes along this trend encountered very encouraging clay basement alteration but were typically completed only 30 to 40 metres past the unconformity. Based on the geologic setting of the Patterson Corridor mineralization, it is considered that the historic shallow drilling along the Derkson Corridor did not properly test for basement-hosted uranium deposits.

Hook Lake JV Project

The Hook Lake JV project is owned jointly by Cameco Corp. (39.5%), AREVA Resources Canada Inc. (39.5%) and Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (21%) and consists of nine claims totaling 28,683 hectares situated in the southwestern Athabasca Basin. The Hook Lake JV is considered one of the highest quality uranium exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin due to its location along the prospective Patterson Lake trend and the relatively shallow depth to the unconformity.

Current exploration is targeting the Patterson Lake Corridor that hosts Fissions Triple R Deposit (indicated mineral resource 79,610,000 lbs U 3 O 8 at an average grade of 1.58% U 3 O 8 ), NexGen Energys Arrow Deposit (indicated mineral resource 179,500,000 lbs U 3 O 8 at an average grade of 6.88%) and the Spitfire Discovery by the Hook Lake JV.

About Purepoint

Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. is focused on the precision exploration of its seven projects in the Canadian Athabasca Basin. Purepoint proudly maintains project ventures in the Basin with two of the largest uranium producers in the world, Cameco Corporation and AREVA Resources Canada Inc. Established in the Athabasca Basin well before the initial resurgence in uranium earlier last decade. Purepoint is actively advancing a large portfolio of multiple drill targets in the world's richest uranium region.

Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, PGeo, Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.



For further information please contact:

Purepoint Uranium Group Inc.

Chris Frostad, President and CEO

(416) 603-8368

www.purepoint.ca
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceanus Resources Corporation (TSXV:OCN) (OTCQB:OCNSF) ("Oceanus" or the Company) has intersected the high grade Caleigh vein in the first hole of the Fall 2017 drilling program at its 100% owned El Tigre Property in Sonora, Mexico.



A map accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f9fe8818-86f9-46ba-b396-9ecb164c2462

Hole ET-17-145 returned 0.75 meters of 48.7 grams per tonne (g/t) gold equivalent from a depth of 28.50 meters to 29.25 meters consisting of 10.91 g/t gold and 2,830.4 g/t silver.

The hole also encountered the low grade hanging wall alteration zone adjacent to the Caleigh Vein. The overall intersection returned 25.75 meters of 1.88 g/t gold equivalent from a depth of 3.50 to 29.25 meters consisting of 0.65 g/t gold and 91.9 g/t silver. The true width has not been calculated for the intercepts, however true width is generally estimated at 75% to 90% of drilled width. The gold equivalent ratio is based on a gold-to-silver price ratio of 1:75.

Drill hole ET-17-145 is located on the same section as the step-out hole ET-17-144 (see Appendix A) and was located to cut the Caleigh Vein approximately 40 meters up-dip from hole ET-17-144. The Caleigh vein in hole ET-17-145 is hosted by a brecciated, dark grey fragmental tuff of the El Tigre Formation. The mineralized zone consists of a 0.75 meter wide vuggy quartz vein carrying stromeyerite and pyrite. As was reported June 7, 2017, hole ET-17-144 intersected high-grade gold and silver mineralization in the Protectora vein and returned 3.15 meters of 36.6 g/t gold equivalent from a depth of 88.25 meters to 91.40 meters consisting of 10.1 g/t gold and 1,990.9 g/t silver. This intercept included 0.85 meters of 135.1 g/t gold equivalent consisting of 37.2 g/t gold and 7,338.9 g/t silver. Hole ET-144 also returned 1,107.36 g/t silver and 0.024 g/t gold over 1.5 meters from a depth of 188.65 meters to 190.15 meters.

The high gold and silver grades intersected in drill holes ET-17-145 and ET-17-144 have defined the Caleigh and Protectora veins as high priority targets to develop new mineral resources on El Tigre, stated Glenn Jessome, President and CEO, Oceanus Resources. Furthermore, hole ET-17-145 has provided Oceanus with initial evidence of the wide, low-grade alteration zone located along the Caleigh vein and this target seems to replicate what we see at the El Tigre mine located 800 meters to the south, continued Mr. Jessome.

2017 Summary and El Tigre Fall Drilling Program

The Fall 2017 drilling program at El Tigre will test the Caleigh vein with 10 to 15 HQ-size diamond drill holes totalling approximately 1,500 meters and is expected to be completed by mid-December 2017. The purpose of this drill program is to define the strike and dip of the high-grade Caleigh vein and the low-grade alteration zone in the hanging wall. Geological mapping on surface suggests the Caleigh vein strikes in a north to south orientation and dips steeply to the west. The goal of the drilling program is to follow the Caleigh vein along strike to the north and south at depths from 25 to 75 meters below surface. The Company will continue to update the market regularly as results become available.

To date in 2017, 28 holes have been drilled for a total of 5,712 metres inclusive of todays reported hole ET-17-145. A maiden resource estimate for the El Tigre project was reported on September 13, 2017 and filed on SEDAR on October 26, 2017 containing indicated resources of 661,000 gold equivalent ounces at 0.77 g/t (21 g/t silver and 0.51 g/t gold) and inferred resources of 341,000 gold equivalent ounces at 1.59 g/t (88 g/t silver and 0.52 g/t gold). The full National Instrument 43-101 technical report is posted to the Companys website, and by clicking here.

El Tigre Property

The El Tigre Property lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre gold belt which hosts many of the larger multi-million ounce epithermal gold and silver deposits including Ocampo, Pinos Altos, Dolores and Palmarejo. In 1896, gold was first discovered on the property in the Gold Hill area and mining started with the Brown Shaft in 1903. The focus soon changed to mining high-grade silver veins in the area with the majority of the production coming from the El Tigre vein. Underground mining on the El Tigre vein extended 1,450 meters along strike and mined on 14 levels to a depth of 450 meters. By the time the mine closed in 1938, it is reported to have produced a total of 353,000 ounces of gold and 67.4 million ounces of silver from 1.87 million tons (Craig, 2012).

The El Tigre Property is approximately 35 kilometers long and comprises 21,842.78 hectares. The El Tigre gold and silver deposit is related to a series of high-grade epithermal veins controlled by a north-south trending structure cutting across the andesitic and rhyolitic tuffs of the Sierra Madre Volcanic Complex within a broad gold and silver mineralized prophylitic alternation zone. The veins dip steeply to the west and are typically 1 meter wide but locally can be up to 5 meters in width. The veins, structures and mineralized zones outcrop on surface and have been traced for a distance of 5.3 kilometers along strike. Historical mining and exploration activities focused on a 1.5 kilometer portion of the southern end of the deposits, principally on the El Tigre, Seitz Kelly and Sooy veins. Four veins in the north (Aguila, Escondida, Fundadora and Protectora) were explored with only limited amounts of production.

Lab Preparation and Assay

The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work.

The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the ActLabs facility in Zacatecas, Mexico. ActLabs crushes the samples and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 150 mesh (106m). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 50 gram charge by fire assay (Code 1A2-50) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 1A3-50). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code 1F2 Total Digestion ICP).

Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification

Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed Oceanus QA/QC protocols.

Qualified Person

David R. Duncan, P. Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Company, is the Qualified Person for Oceanus as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Duncan has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

About Oceanus Resources Corporation

Oceanus Resources Corporation is a gold exploration company operating in Mexico. Oceanus is managed by a team of mine finders with extensive experience in exploring and developing large hydrothermal gold projects in Mexico. Oceanus is currently drilling and exploring the El Tigre Property in the Sierra Madre Occidental.

For further information, please contact:

Tania Shaw

Vice President, Investor Relations

416 419 2750

tshaw@oceanusresources.ca
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WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At its recent Winnipeg fundraising gala, A Celebration of Hope, Polar Bears International (PBI) presented Merv and Lynda Gunter, founders of Frontiers North Adventures, with its prestigious Ice Bear Award.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a7a7ff4a-41ac-4b77-a726-8c0d4b107fac

This annual award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to polar bear conservation, said Krista Wright, PBIs executive director. Merv and Lyndas long-standing commitment to polar bears and their sea ice home deserves our heartfelt thanks and recognition.

The Winnipeg couple helped put the town of Churchill, Manitobaknown for its annual gathering of polar bearson the map. As the founders of Frontiers North Adventures, they made it possible for tens of thousands of people from around the world to see polar bears in their natural setting, letting them experience the bears up close and personal from the comfort of a Tundra Buggy.

We always say that once you see polar bears in the wild, it changes your life forever, inspiring you to care, said Wright. And that caring goes hand in hand with their conservation.

From the beginning, the Gunters have partnered with PBI to support efforts to conserve polar bears, generously donating countless hours on Tundra Buggies to PBI research staff and educators. Their specially outfitted Buggy One serves as a mobile broadcast studio, allowing PBI to air its live educational Tundra Connections webcasts from the shores of Hudson Bay. In addition, the Buggy streams live views of the polar bears as they wait for the ice to form. The Polar Bear Cams attract a worldwide audience, raising awareness of the threats to polar bears, and are broadcast in partnership with explore.org, PBI, Frontiers North Adventures, and Parks Canada.

The company also donates Tundra Buggy space to PBIs educational partners, allowing them to see polar bears and the tundra first hand, and to gain valuable messaging related to polar bears and climate change.

PBIs annual fundraising gala in Winnipeg takes place every year in late October or early November. All proceeds from the event support PBIs conservation and research efforts in Canada, home to two-thirds of the worlds polar bears. The 2017 event included a special presentation by Jay Ingram, former co-host of the Discovery Channels Daily Planet, a dinner, silent auction, and more.

Merv and Lynda Gunter remain involved in Frontiers North in an advisory capacity while their son, John Gunter, carries on the family tradition as the President and CEO, leading the company towards its growth and sustainability targets. Frontiers North remains a Platinum Sponsor of PBI, offering generous support for our research, education, and boots-on-the-ground conservation efforts.

Contact

Barbara Nielsen

Director of Communications

Polar Bears International

media@pbears.org

202-815-7221


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ScaleFT, the Zero Trust security company, today announced the launch of a new BeyondCorp Anywhere community initiative. The new program is designed to identify ambassadors for BeyondCorp that ScaleFT will sponsor to run regional meetups for companies and developers interested in the latest information on BeyondCorp. ScaleFT is also taking the BeyondCorp message to cities across the United States, including Austin, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.



We believe Zero Trust is the best security model and BeyondCorp, pioneered by Google, is proof that it works, said Paul Querna. No company understands scale, speed and productivity better than Google and they created a new paradigm for security that doesnt get in the way of users, it helps people do their jobs. There is a huge community interested in this new security paradigm and thats why we launched our new BeyondCorp Anywhere initiative.

ScaleFT is recruiting ambassadors to run local meetups for anyone interested in BeyondCorp. The company will sponsor activities around meetups organized by security experts in the community who apply to become advocates. For more information on ScaleFTs BeyondCorp Community Initiative, please visit www.beyondcorp.com/community. Experts interested in organizing future meetups can apply online here.

ScaleFT has scheduled BeyondCorp meetups in the coming months that are free and open to anyone who signs up here. Cities and dates already confirmed for BeyondCorp community meetups include San Francisco on January 10, 2018 followed by Seattle on January 24, Boston on February 13th, New York on February 15th and Austin on February 28.

ScaleFT announced in July the pre-release of the ScaleFT Access Fabric, a globally distributed authorization engine that allows enterprises to emulate security practices pioneered by Google. With ScaleFT, customers can now rely on a cloud-native access management platform that better protects company resources without the need for VPNs by making intelligent access decisions in real-time based on dynamic user and device conditions. ScaleFTs Zero Trust solutions for managing access to company web apps and servers assume that traffic within an enterprises network is as trustworthy as traffic on the public Internet. ScaleFT integrates natively out of the box with an enterprises choice of identity governance solutions, including Okta, G Suite, Active Directory, and more.

About ScaleFT

ScaleFT helps companies enable access to sensitive resources through a Zero Trust security platform that makes intelligent, context-aware access decisions in real time, eliminating the need for VPNs. Founded by startup veterans from The Apache Software Foundation, Cloudkick, Iron.io, JBoss, MongoDB and Rackspace, the company is venture-backed with offices in San Francisco and Austin. Follow us on Twitter @ScaleFT.

Editorial Contact

Lonn Johnston

lonn@flak42.com

+1.650.219.7764
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A Canberra court threw out a rare private prosecution former One Nation senator Rod Culleton launched against federal Attorney-General George Brandis to allege he attempted to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Culleton described himself as a "senator in exile" as he resisted federal prosecutors' attempts to take over the case in the ACT Magistrates Court.

Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton outside the ACT Magistrates Court. Credit:Megan Gorrey

He alleges Mr Brandis misled the Senate over matters that led to his dismissal.

Mr Culleton's election to the Senate was ruled ineligible by the High Court in February after a drawn-out legal battle that began soon after his election.
A 102-bed aged care facility is planned for a block of land in Deakin that was occupied by the Margaret Dimoff Art Gallery, formerly known as the Solander Gallery.

The 2973 sqaure-metre site is located on the corner of Hopetoun Circuit and Grey Street next to Canberra Girls Grammar School.

The 2973 sqaure-metre site is located on the corner of Hopetoun Circuit and Grey Street next to Canberra Girls Grammer School.

Provectus Care runs aged care homes in Sydney and Melbourne; this would be its first Canberra project.

Consultants Purdon Planning said the proposal will fulfil a growing need for such services with an ageing population in south Canberra.
Twenty bankers from National Australia Bank have been sacked or have left the lender for breaching its policies when issuing 2300 home loans, including some that may be based on false information.

NAB on Thursday said it had also disciplined a further 32 staff for failing to follow its strict policies when writing the loans, which mainly went to foreign buyers of Australian property.

In the latest example of misbehaviour in the banking industry, NAB said that in 2015 it became aware of the problematic mortgages, many of which were sold via "introducers"  people outside the bank who collect a fee for referring a customer.

NAB said some of the loans may have been submitted without accurate information about the customers, which could include incorrect documents such as payslips.
Rupert Murdoch has survived the latest battle to end his control of 21st Century Fox despite a massive revolt by investors at the media group's annual meeting early on Thursday morning.

Nearly 78 per cent of the voting stock controlled by Murdoch's fellow investors was voted in favour of unwinding the dual-class share structure that allows the billionaire to control 40 per cent of the voting stock despite owning just 12 per cent of the company.

The vote was always going to be uncomfortably close for the Murdochs. Credit:Bloomberg

The final vote was 313.7 million shares voted in favour of the resolution and 412.5 million against - including the 317 million voting shares held by the Murdoch family.

The vote was always going to be uncomfortably close for the Murdochs, coming just weeks after it became clear Murdoch no longer had Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal in his corner.
The vote was always going to be uncomfortably close for the Murdochs, coming just weeks after it became clear Murdoch no longer had Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal in his corner. The recent arrest of the prince  a long-time ally of the Murdoch family  led to scrutiny of his voting stake in Fox, which made Murdoch's control impregnable. It became clear that the prince had sold his stake, possibly years ago, but the opaque corporate rules governing Fox means the company has not had to report this significant change. Investors like Nathan Cummings Foundation have argued that a more conventional share structure is needed to hold the Murdoch-controlled group accountable to investors. "We have long argued that scandals like these [phone hacking and sexual harassment] are in large part a result of a capital structure that fosters a lack of accountability," the foundation said prior to the meeting.

But Rupert and sons Lachlan and James Murdoch know the larger battle is still ahead of them  convincing the market that recently-revealed talks to sell a large part of Fox and its Sky stake to Disney is not a signal that it does not have the scale to compete against a new generation of rivals like Google, Facebook and Netflix. "Universal connectivity and access to nearly every piece of content ever made represents remarkable opportunity," Rupert told investors. "And it's still very early in this evolution." He said "content is king all over again" and Fox was "uniquely positioned". There was also a significant protest vote at the meeting against the re-election of independent directors including high-profile Australian businessmen like Rod Eddington and former Ford boss and BHP chairman Jac Nasser. The largest protest vote was reserved for the sole female director of the company, which has been plagued by sex scandals. More than 27 per cent of voting shares rejected the re-election of Delphine Arnault to the board. She did not show up to the meeting.

It was not a good look for a company with its track record. News time News Corp's 3pm AGM made Fox's 26-minute meeting look like a drawn-out affair. It was done and dusted in just 19 minutes. But the aftermath of the vote is one that will concern Rupert long into the new year. The biggest protest votes were reserved for his two heirs, Lachlan and James. The latter would barely have been re-elected to the News board if it were not for the family's 79 million voting shares in his back pocket.

Rumble Kings The brawlers at Aussie miner Kingsgate Consolidated have found themselves in another fight. While executive chairman Ross Smyth-Kirk and crew have been focused on their legal action to redress the closure of its lucrative Thai goldmine, one of its investors, UK-listed Metal Tiger, has announced plans to clean out most of Kingsgate's board  three out of four directors and install its own team of five. Controlling the board of a company in which you hold on a 6.7 per cent stake sounds like a great return for Metal Tiger investors. Metal Tiger boss Michael McNeilly, who is one of the proposed board members, commented: "Metal Tiger believes that KCN is in urgent need of board renewal. The incumbent board has overseen a massive destruction of shareholder value and failed to articulate a clear strategy going forward."

Another of Metal Tiger's proposed "independent directors" will be more familiar to Aussie investors Richard (Dick) F E Warburton AO LVO, bon vivant, climate sceptic and a veteran director whose career includes stepping down as David Jones chairman after rows with investors over years of failed expansion strategies. "Neither Metal Tiger nor any of its nominees to the board have articulated any alternative plans for the company," Smyth-Kirk told investors in a release to the ASX. Good man A rather relieved Ian Ferrier was enjoying the tea and bikkies after Goodman Group's AGM on Thursday. Antsy shareholders had two chances to dislodge their unpopular chairman and certainly made the most of their opportunities.
 "I'm sorry, did I take my stupid pills today?"  "Are you lazy or just incompetent?"  "I trust you to run world-class operations and this is another example of how you are letting me down."  "If I hear that idea again, I'm gonna have to kill myself."  "Why are you ruining my life?"

Stone's account indicates the Amazon CEO doesn't suffer fools gladly. 2. He is especially difficult to impress during presentations Bezos is apparently a tough critic during employee presentations. Back in 2011, programmer and ex-Amazon employee Steve Yegge published an account of his time at Amazon. In particular, he spoke of going in to present to the CEO, an experience he likened to being in 'a gladiator movie'.

"'Presenting to Jeff is a gauntlet that tends to send people back to the cave to lick their wounds and stay out of the sunlight for a while", he says. Yegge said Bezos ended up liking his presentation, which surprised his coworkers. "One VP told me privately: 'Presentations with Jeff never go that well," he wrote. But don't try to wow him with Powerpoint. Business Insider reported a leaked email from the Amazon CEO accuses the program of encouraging people to "gloss over ideas, flatten out any sense of relative importance, and ignore the inner connectedness of ideas." It's apparently banned from Amazon's campus, according to Yegge.

3. Bezos reportedly once yanked transportation perks because he didn't want workers to leave the office In Stone's book, he writes the Amazon CEO declined to give employees city bus passes in the early years of the company "because he didn't want to give them any reason to rush out of the office to catch the last bus of the day". 4. He told prospective employees back in 1997 that 'it's not easy to work here' In the early days of the company, Bezos was reportedly upfront about the intense environment with job candidates. The New York Times reported on Bezos' 1997 letter to shareholders, in which he said he told all potential hires "it's not easy to work here" and "you can work long, hard, or smart, but at Amazon.com you can't choose two out of three".

5. Bezos advocated Amazon go after publishing houses like a 'cheetah would pursue a sickly gazelle' Amazon has been accused of taking an almost predatory view of other companies over the years. Business Insider previously reported Bezos himself once suggested at a meeting that "Amazon should approach these small publishers the way a cheetah would pursue a sickly gazelle" when negotiating with publishing houses. 6. Bezos reportedly established secret tech teams working against one another to keep everyone on their toes

Former Amazon senior developer David Loftesness told the New York Times he had been working to improve the site's search capabilities for years before he discovered the CEO had "greenlighted a secret competing effort to build an alternate technology". He said he ended up quitting over the company's work environment. 7. He compared one acquisition to an exotic octopus dish Bezos once compared a potential acquisition to a rather unusual meal when he sat down with Woot founder Matt Rutledge over a breakfast of octopus with potatoes, bacon, green garlic yoghurt, and eggs.

"When I look at the menu, you're the thing I don't understand, the thing I've never had," Bezos said, according to Business Insider. "I must have the breakfast octopus." 8. Bezos hired a top industry expert, then allegedly ignored everything he said Yegge wrote Bezos is an "infamous micromanager" who drove away computer scientist Larry Tesler after poaching him from Apple. Yegge said, instead of working with Tesler, Bezos '"gnored every g------ thing Larry said for three years". 9. Bezos reportedly had Amazonians overhaul their whole service interface system - or get sacked

Yegge also dubbed the CEO 'the Dread Pirate Bezos' for issuing a certain "huge and eye-bulgingly ponderous" mandate around 2002, ordering all teams to expose their data through externalisable service interfaces. And what's more -- anyone who didn't follow would be fired. But Yegge said the effort was effective, and helped transform the retail giant. "He didn't - and doesn't - care even a tiny bit about the well-being of the teams, nor about what technologies they use, nor in fact any detail whatsoever about how they go about their business unless they happen to be screwing up," he wrote. Loading
DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, more than 150 national ag leaders joined together at the Prairie Crest Capital Annual Ag Tech Investor Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, which featured legendary investor Steve Forbes as the keynote speaker.



Forbes spoke about the importance of technology in agriculture and the impact globalization has had on the industry.

Over the past 30 years, no industry has become more globally interconnected than agriculture, remarked Forbes during his keynote address. Ag companies are continuing to innovate with cutting-edge research and development. However, they cannot succeed without capital. We lead the world by being better, smarter, and not being afraid to take risks. Now is the time to take risks and invest in these new technologies allowing companies and ideas to flourish.

A major theme of Forbes address was peoples willingness to take risks and be an example for the rest of the industry  something he saw happening in the room.

Although the Midwest is home to approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population, top research universities, entrepreneurial talent, and Research and Development spending, the region receives less than five percent of venture capital investment. This conference was designed to connect the intellectual promise of the Midwest startup and entrepreneurial communities with the connected capital of the East and West Coasts to lead the way in changing this statistic, said Mark White, partner at Prairie Crest Capital. The potential for this industry to grow and become even more revolutionary is vast and I thank all those who participated.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds kicked off the conference discussing the key role Iowa plays in the future of agriculture.

Throughout the course of the day, agricultural investors and innovators discussed a variety of topics and breaking edge technology. The day focused on the important role the Midwest must play in the ag tech investment effort. Multiple companies at different business stages from across the country showcased their latest ideas featuring new technologies and advancements. The following companies presented pitch ideas: Power Pollen, Natural Fiber Welding, Ag Pixel, CropPro, Performance Livestock Analytics, Zeavaxx, Wisran, Smart Ag, Automed, Quantified Ag, Terva, Tradelanes, and Green Sense Farms.

Bringing national agricultural assets to the Midwest is vital in helping entrepreneurs realize their potential, said Barry Adams, partner at Prairie Crest Capital. Entrepreneurs need opportunities to engage with resources (markets, capital, and expertise) that are distributed nationally. By holding this conference, we were able to make that a reality. I look forward to the next few months and years as relationships built grow this industry.

Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig closed the event detailing where Iowa stands among the nation as a leader in agriculture and the innovation needed to meet public sector goals.

About Prairie Crest Capital

Prairie Crest Capital is a venture capital firm in Des Moines focused on early-stage investments in promising agricultural and breakthrough technology firms. Leveraging their experience and Midwest location, Prairie Crest Capital connects investors to underserved and compelling opportunities in the Ag Tech sector in order to deliver superior returns.
Who will defend the rights of pastry chefs who "conscientiously object" to baking a cake for a gay wedding, implored Liberal senator James Paterson during the same sex marriage survey campaign.

With the results in, some parliamentarians will no doubt choose to contend with that very question. But a far more intriguing and important scenario has emerged on the back on the survey outcome. One that has much broader political and social implications.

Nearly 62 per cent of Australians said "yes" to same sex marriage but western Sydney "left the cake out in the rain". Just on 56 per cent of the region's survey respondents said no.

Why did western Sydney overwhelmingly vote "no"? And what does it say about changing attitudes and voter behaviour in Australia's most keenly contested political battleground?
All of a sudden, it seems terribly obvious that Australia's 120-year-old constitution is past its "best-by" date. From the exclusion of First Nations people to 19th-century dual-citizenship rules to the mess of federation, our constitution needs reconstituting.

Isn't it time we started rebuilding from the ground up? We're facing a serious democratic crisis, joining the economic and ecological crises. Surely now is the time to start a series of constitutional conventions, led by Indigenous people, in suburbs, cities and towns, to redesign  together  our democracy.

The ludicrous citizenship saga brought to the surface what an old, out-dated document we are governed by. Section 44, like the vast bulk of our constitution, was written in the age of empires. Even then, it was a matter of dispute. But it is understandable, in an era far closer to the Napoleonic wars than the present day, that potential allegiance to a foreign power would be a matter of concern to those seeking to build an Australian Commonwealth.

But in the 21st century, it's not foreign allegiance we need to be wary of. These days, multinational corporations have more power than most nation states, and exercise a far more corrupting influence on our politics. Yet nothing in our constitution bans close relationships between parliamentarians and corporations. It would have been fanciful, in the 1890s, that a clause such as that would have been needed. But in 2017, Matt Canavan's statement that he had enjoyed "representing the mining sector" as resources minister is far more troubling than his familial connection to Italy.
The "yes" vote has caused nationwide celebrations in Australia while sending a shockwave in western Sydney, which accounted for 12 of the 17 electorates that voted "no". "Yes" voting Australians are grappling to make sense of this. Is it poverty, lack of education, or unemployment that's the driving factor behind the voting decision of socially conservative communities in western Sydney or is it something else? Truth is, it is none of these.

Social pressures, religious ideology, and a migration pattern that is not conducive to integration played the most important role in western Sydney's voting behaviour.

Muslims pray at Lakemba Mosque. Credit:Daniel Munoz

Western Sydney is a home for many new migrant communities including the Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. Even the older established ethnic communities are still first generational and find it difficult to integrate in the wider Australian community. To understand their voting behaviour, one has to understand the cultural ethos and fears that drive their political decisions.

Many ethnic and religious communities that reside in Blaxland and Watson are on a different social and moral tangent to electorates elsewhere in Sydney. Up until the postal vote, interracial marriage was probably the most controversial issue in these socially conservative communities. As for contemplating same-sex marriage, even choosing marriage partners is at the discretion of parents, so same-sex marriage was inconceivable. To then have a national vote on same-sex marriage is beyond the understanding of most of these communities.
The Royal Commission into children in detention in the Northern Territory says the financial costs are "staggering" and its final report to be released on Friday will show the problem is "deep seated, confronting and [has] come at an enormous human and financial cost".

Commissioners Mick Gooda and Margaret White said their report would show that the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments were right to call the inquiry, which was sparked by the ABC's Four Corners program Australia's Shame, broadcast in July last year.

The program showed young males being strapped to mechanical chairs and tear-gassed at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in Darwin.

One of those was 17-year old Dylan Voller who was handcuffed, hooded and strapped to a restraint chair for almost two hours.
Newly minted Greens senator Andrew Bartlett could be the next federal politician to fall foul of the constitution, with the party seeking fresh legal advice about his eligibility just four days after he was sworn in.

And the man set to replace Jacqui Lambie in the upper house, Steve Martin, is scrambling to get further clarity around his eligibility after a landmark High Court ruling that blocked Liberal Hollie Hughes from taking up a seat. If Mr Martin is ruled out it could clear a path for Ms Lambie to return to the Senate.

New Australian Greens senator Andrew Bartlett reads the oath of office as he is sworn-in on Monday. Credit:AAP

Former Australian Army major general Jim Molan is poised to take up a Senate seat after the court prevented Ms Hughes from replacing former cabinet minister Fiona Nash, who was kicked out because of her British dual citizenship.

The court disqualified Ms Hughes under section 44 of the constitution because she held an "office for profit under the crown": a government-paid part-time job with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which she took up after last year's election.
On paper, Dean Smith is not the most likely champion of same-sex marriage in Parliament.

By his own admission, he only became a supporter of the cause in 2014. He may be the first openly gay Liberal MP in Federal Parliament, but Smith is also a staunch conservative (he is a big fan of the Queen). And is a devout Christian.

In a workplace where egos, shouting and outrageousness tend to get you ahead, Smith does not fit the mould. He chooses his words  and his actions  carefully.

And yet on Thursday morning it was Smith, the senator from Western Australia, who began debate in the Senate on a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia. There have been many parliamentarians who have fought for the change over the past decade. But after 22 legislative attempts, Smith leads the bill that finally has a chance of success.
The state's top court has overturned a decision awarding $3000 to a Sydney commuter who was stopped by police for four minutes to check his Opal card, after the three-judge bench rejected a finding that this amounted to false imprisonment.

Sam Le, 24, was approached by two police officers at Liverpool train station in January last year and asked to produce his Opal card and pensioner concession card, along with photo identification.

He was told he was not under arrest but was "not leaving" until the officers had verified his identity.

After four minutes and 15 seconds waiting on the platform while police conducted a radio check, Mr Le was told he was "free to go".
Ask Dixie Peters which part of a human skeleton is the hardest to examine in the search for DNA, she will tell you it's the skull.

"I suspect it may be the lack of bone marrow."

Dixie Peters utilises mitochondrial DNA testing to help solve missing persons cases across the US. Credit:Phil Carrick

From skulls, to femurs and carpals, Ms Peters oversees the examination of 750 to more than 1000 skeletal remains samples every year.

As the technical leader for the Missing Persons Unit at the University of North Texas, she is a specialist in mitochondrial DNA testing, utilising it to help solve missing persons cases across the US.
James Brechney had more reason than most to feel anxious as he joined the crowd gathered at Sydney's Prince Alfred Park on Wednesday to await the announcement of the results of the same-sex marriage postal survey.

He had pocketed a ring that belonged to the British grandmother of his partner Stuart Henshall in the hope that the "yes" vote would prevail.

Stuart Henshall and James Brechney at their home in Chippendale on Thursday. Credit:Ryan Stuart

"How embarrassing if the whole country said yes and he would have said no," Mr Brechney said.

As the results of the survey were revealed and euphoria swept the crowd, Mr Brechney mustered the courage to ask his partner of two-and-a-half years to marry him.
Mohamed Abbasher Fageer was driving to work on a dull and drizzling Sunday morning last December when a single lapse of concentration changed his life and many others, and ended that of a young doctor returning from her morning bike ride.

One minute he was rounding the corner from Mona Vale Road into Woodlands Avenue in Pymble, then there was a loud bang, and the next moment he was outside his car and hysterical.

Christopher Vanneste said there were no winners from the proceedings.

"I didn't see her," he cried.

Ann Formaz-Preston was lifeless on the road.
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Platinex Inc. (CSE:PTX) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed an interim closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"), issuing a total of 8,550,000 units ("Units") for aggregate gross proceeds of $427,500 (the "Interim Closing"). Each Unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") of the Company and one warrant ("Warrant") of the Company, bearing the terms described in the initial press release announcing the Private Placement ("Initial Press Release").



The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Interim Closing in accordance with use of proceeds described in the Initial Press Release.

All securities issued in connection with this Private Placement will be subject to a four month plus one day hold period from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws. The closing of the Private Placement, including the Interim Closing, is subject to receipt of applicable securities regulatory authorities.

Details of Initial Closing

In connection with the Initial Closing, the Company paid $5,200 of finder's fees and issued 104,000 Broker Units.

Insiders of the Company subscribed for 5,125,000 Units in connection with the Interim Closing and such subscriptions are considered related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on an exemption from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of any Insider Participation; at the time the transaction was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value consideration for the transaction, as it related to insiders, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Lori Paradis, Corporate Secretary

Tel: (416) 268-2682

Email: lparadis@platinex.com

Web: www.platinex.com

About Platinex Inc.

Platinex is currently focusing efforts on developing various strategies to capitalize on the lucrative growth of the cannabis sector in North America. At the same time Platinex has been focusing its mining business efforts in assembling a very large property in the Shining Tree gold camp, which has received little modern exploration compared to other gold camps in the Abitibi greenstone Belt. Shares of Platinex are listed for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "PTX".

To receive Company press releases, please email lparadis@platinex.com and mention Platinex press release on the subject line.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Such statements include submission of the relevant documentation within the required timeframe and to the satisfaction of the relevant regulators, completing the acquisition of the applicable assets and raising sufficient financing to complete the Company's business strategy. There is no certainty that any of these events will occur. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Investing into early stage companies, inherently carries a high degree of risk and investment into securities of the Company shall be considered highly speculative. Furthermore, the Company seeks to enter the cannabis market in the United States, where some states have legalized cannabis for medical or adult recreational use, while cannabis remain illegal under United States Federal law. As such, the Company may become subject to additional government regulation and legal uncertainties that could restrict the demand for its services or increase its cost of doing business, thereby adversely affecting its financial results.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any province in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities issued, or to be issued, under the Private Placement have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not passed upon the merits of the Private Placement and has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
The state government is under increasing pressure to reverse a total funding cut to dozens of NSW organisations that advocate for people with a disability, as Queensland follows suit and the state opposition commits to maintaining the funding.

About 50 NSW groups advocating for people with disabilities receive $13 million a year from the state government, but Fairfax Media revealed at least half face imminent wipe out as the government transfers disability funding to the national disability insurance scheme next July.

Leigh Creighton, who has Down syndrome, made a personal plea to the NSW Premier.

Others forecast scaling back their services such as legal representation or advocating for greater accessibility at transport hubs.

Groups dependent on state government funding include the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability which has been advocating on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities in the state for six decades.
Brazilian UFC fighter Fabricio Werdum has been charged by police after allegedly assaulting rival fighter Colby Covington with a boomerang outside a Sydney hotel on Thursday afternoon.

According to police, two men got into an altercation about 1.30pm outside the hotel on George Street.

In a video posted online by New Zealand UFC fighter Dan Hooker, a man who appears to be Werdum, 40, can be seen gesticulating and pointing at Covington, 29, before launching a boomerang at him from close range.

The boomerang strikes Covington in the neck, but it does not return to the thrower.
A youth advocacy group has pledged to refer the LNP to the United Nations over a plan to house 17-year-olds with adult offenders in Queensland.

On Wednesday, the LNP announced it would build two medium-security, 90-bed facilities to house 17 to 25-year-olds, at a cost of $40 million.

The LNP plans to build two reintegration centres, which would be medium-security facilities for 17 to 25-year-olds offenders.

Labor's bail houses would be scrapped, and the 17-year-olds would be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act, despite being placed with offenders aged 18 to 25.

In September 2016, legislation passed to allow 17-year-olds to be moved into the youth justice system and out of adult jails.
A Queensland court has heard Tyrell Cobb's mother has a "capacity for deception", but her barrister says the exact circumstances of the child's death will tragically never be known.

Heidi Strbak pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of criminal negligence over her four-year-old son's death on May 24, 2009.

Heidi Strbak arrives at the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Credit:AAP

But the 34-year-old is facing a contested sentencing in the Brisbane Supreme Court because prosecutors claim she inflicted a fatal blow to the child.

In his submissions, crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy told the court Strbak had demonstrated a "capacity for deception" when telling the truth did not advance her own self-interest.
For Aussie tech entrepreneur Lee Gaywood, the same-sex marriage debate was personal.

Mr Gaywood, 35, just recently became engaged to his fiance Gemma Cooper and is marrying her next April. In contrast, his future brother-in-law has been in a relationship for several years and has been unable to marry the man he loves.

It was for this reason, Mr Gaywood told Fairfax Media, that he decided to donate to the 'Yes' campaign what would have totalled approximately half a million dollars worth of text messages.

Fairfax Media can reveal for the first time that it was Mr Gaywood's company, SMS Broadcast, that sent more than ten million somewhat controversial text messages in support of the 'Yes' vote to Australian mobile subscribers on behalf of the Australian Marriage Equality campaign, for free.
A Port Melbourne man who punched a woman in the mouth at a New Years Eve house party in Prahran has been fined $10,000 in court.

Gokturk Aktas, who goes by the name George Royal, was at the party in 2015 with his then-girlfriend Denise Thornburgh, the former wife of dead nightclub identity Darren Thornburgh.

Gokturk Aktas, who goes by the name George Royal, and his former girlfriend Denise Thornburgh. Credit:Facebook/@bowdownandkneel

The couple became involved in a heated argument, which was witnessed by accountant Melissa Lawson.

When Ms Lawson intervened to try to defuse the situation, Aktas turned on her.
Melbourne Express: Friday, November 17, 2017

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A Perth man in prison for murdering his mother has been denied access to her fortune after his brother, who inherited her estate, died in 2014 without having a will.

Brent Mack was in 2012 convicted of murdering his mother, Ah Bee (Pauline) Mack, in 2008 and concealing her death from friends and family for two years.

Brent Mack was in 2012 convicted of murdering his mother, Ah Bee (Pauline) Mack, in 2008.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a coroner's report finding the 31-year-old's motive for the murder was to control his mother's property and money.

Mack stole more than $225,000 from Ms Mack's accounts shortly after her death.
"I am a special-needs educational assistant in a high school and it got to the point where I couldn't walk up stairs to the class room or across the school grounds. Even house work was hard to do," Ms Ashby said. In August last year, Ms Ashby was put onto the transplant list. "You take your phone to bed every night waiting for the call. You just don't know when it is going to happen," Ms Ashby said. Right now, 1,300 Australians are waiting for a life-saving transplant. Western Australia has the second lowest donation rates, with 16.2 donations for every 1 million people, according to the Organ and Tissue Authority.

Ms Ashby got the news she had been waiting for in January this year when she went into the clinic for a routine visit before a lunch date with her girlfriends. "I was just all dressed up ready to meet my girlfriends for lunch," she said. "They said ' well we've got the heart and it is happening today'. I said 'oh' and they said 'like right now'. I said 'should I call my husband?'" Ms Ashby said the next few hours were a blur, but she still remembers the gratitude she felt upon awakening. "I am forever grateful. I was just thinking how lucky I was that someone had done that to give me a second chance," she said.

DonateLife WA's state medical director Bruce Powell said organ donation was a "profound" gesture of generosity. "It is a unique thing. Governments can contribute financially, doctors can contribute professionally, but these organs themselves come from the community," he said. "It is genuinely a profound thing that people do. Let's be honest, at the end of the day as a donor you are the only person that won't benefit, yet people do show that generosity. "It speaks to Australians and them being generous and community spirited. I think it says something about the broader community."

One donor can improve the plight of up to 10 people. In 2016, a record 1,713 Australians received a life-saving transplant, all because of the generosity of 503 deceased individuals and 267 living organ donors. "This year [WA's] numbers are up from between 30-40 per cent from last year, thanks to the community's acceptance of donation as a good thing," Dr Powell said. He emphasised the importance of making your wishes known to your family by registering as an organ donor. "We know that if, God-forbid, one's family is asked whether or not to allow their relative to donate, if the name is on the register that question is an easier one to answer," he said.

"About 85-95 per cent of the time families will say yes." Without that knowledge, only about 60 per cent of Australian families will give that consent, according to the Organ and Tissue Authority. "I think getting that instruction from someone makes our conversation with relatives a very different one. For families who perhaps don't know, to be confronted with that uncertainty at a time of great sorrow is very difficult," Dr Powell said. Ms Ashby said she had been given a "whole new life". "I can't contain the amount of vitality and energy I have now," she said.

"I have all this energy, I want to walk and dance. That is actually something that I find hard to comprehend even now. "My plan is to get up and try and wakeboard this summer." Ms Ashby now walks 5-10 kilometres every day and swims 1,600 metres in the pool three times a week. "The Transplant Games are coming up next year in September on the Gold Coast," she said. "People who have had whole organ transplants can compete. My aim is to go to the transplant games next year and see how I go in the swimming."
Beijing: Shanghai police have seized 14,000 bottles of fake Penfolds wine being sold by counterfeiters in China.

The fake Penfolds wine was being sold through Alibaba's online flea market Taobao, as well as pubs and karaoke bars.

Bottles of counterfeit Penfolds wine being sold through Alibaba, shown at a press conference in Shangha.

The three-month investigation followed a complaint to Alibaba by Australian wine company Treasury Wine Estates that suspicious retailers were charging "extraordinarily low prices" for Penfolds wine in its fastest growing market.

Alibaba called in police, who said at a press conference on Wednesday that 13 suspects had been detained, including Mr Dai, a wine dealer who was selling fake Penfolds for 200 yuan ($40) per bottle online, while it should retail for 600 to 3000 yuan ($120 to $595).
Toronto, Canada, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cority, the most trusted Environmental, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) software for assuring client success, today introduced new functionality in its Clinical Testing solution, enabling the direct import of HL7 clinical test results from LabCorp laboratories. The LabCorp interface, part of Coritys SaaS-based Occupational Health Management solution, is designed to reduce the administrative load on occupational health professionals and ensure data privacy and integrity.



Managing and maintaining accurate and up-to-date employee health records is an ongoing challenge for occupational health professionals who are inundated with high volumes of paper-based test results on a daily basis. Developed to ease this administrative burden and improve efficiency, Coritys Clinical Testing solution now interfaces directly with LabCorp to facilitate the automatic transfer of employee test results  eliminating the manual upload process and reducing the risk of faulty data.



The challenge with test result printouts is that the margin for error is high when employees are manually transcribing and uploading them to an occupational health management system, said John Easton, Director of Product Management, Cority. We streamlined this process for our clients by interfacing directly with LabCorp through a secure FTP connection. Now, test results can be uploaded into Cority automatically so occupational health professionals can spend less time on administrative tasks like data reconciliation and more time on what really matters  improving the health of their employees.



Key capabilities of Coritys LabCorp interface include:



Automatic Test Import enables the direct upload of employee test results into Coritys Occupational Health Management solution, eliminating manual file retrieval and data entry



Email Notifications alert occupational health professionals when test result imports are complete and when health records have been added, updated or rejected



Secure Data Transfer ensures sensitive test results are entered into the management system accurately and are safeguarded against manual data manipulation or human error



To learn more about Coritys Clinical Testing LabCorp interface, visit www.cority.com



About Cority

Cority (formerly Medgate) is the most trusted environmental, health, safety, and quality (EHSQ) software for assuring client success. Cority enables organizations to utilize EHSQ software to advance their journey to sustainability and operational excellence by combining the deepest domain expertise with the most comprehensive and secure SaaS platform. With 30+ years of innovation and experience, Coritys team of 250 experts serve more than 800 clients in 70 countries, supporting millions of end users. The company enjoys the industrys highest levels of client satisfaction and has received many awards for its strong employee culture and outstanding business performance.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a0568ac-fd45-4947-8839-be0bf1a4b2dd
Los Angeles Charles Manson, the cult leader who sent followers known as the "Manson Family" out to commit gruesome murders, shattering the peace-and-love ethos of the 1960s hippie era in California, has been hospitalised, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.

Manson, 83, was in a Bakersfield, California hospital and his condition was unclear, the Times reported, citing Kern County Sheriff's lieutenant Bill Smallwood.

A spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation declined to comment. She cited privacy laws that preclude the agency "from commenting on protected health information for any inmate in our custody," the newspaper reported.

State and local officials were not immediately available for comment .
Paris: Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri and his family will travel to France in coming days, a French presidential source says, after Emmanuel Macron invited him as part of efforts to defuse tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking in the German city of Bonn after a climate conference on Wednesday, Macron said his invitation was not an offer of exile for Hariri, who announced his abrupt resignation 11 days ago from the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who has refused to accept his prime minister's resignation, has accused the Saudis of holding Hariri hostage - and called this "an act of aggression against us and our independence."

Asked if he was offering Hariri exile, Macron said: "No, not at all. I hope that Lebanon will be stable, and that political choices should be in accordance with institutional rule.
Phnom Penh: A soldier poured gasoline over a heavily pregnant woman and set her alight.

Another ripped a baby from his mother's arms and threw him into the fire.

"He was not even one year oldI will never forget their screams," a 24 year-old woman told investigators from Save the Children, which has just released a report revealing shocking atrocities against Rohingya Muslim children in Myanmar.

A 12 year-old boy fled his village for Bangladesh after the military started hacking people with machetes before entering an abandoned village, hoping to find some food or water, and eventually came across a reservoir, the report said.
The Ohio government called off the execution of a 69-year-old convicted murderer while it was under way on Wednesday because officials could not find a suitable vein in the inmate, who is sick with cancer and other diseases, state officials said.

Alva Campbell Jr, who also suffers from lung disease, asthma and heart problems and uses a walker and a colostomy bag, had argued through his lawyer he was too sick for a lethal injection, but lost a bid to be killed by firing squad instead.

Alva Campbell Jr had argued he was too sick for a lethal injection, but had lost a bid to be killed by firing squad instead. Credit:Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

"We had warned them for months that they were going to have this problem," said David Stebbins, Campbell's lawyer.

It was the fifth mishandled execution in Ohio in recent years and the second time an attempted execution was abandoned, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. The advocacy group, which opposes the death penalty, called for an immediate moratorium on executions in the state.
London: One of Rolf Harris' child sex convictions has been quashed on appeal, because a key witness at his trial was later discovered to be a fantasist who had invented an implausible tour of duty in Korea.

The English Court of Appeal, however, denied the 87-year-old Australian former entertainer the right to appeal his other 11 convictions.

Rolf Harris outside court in July 2014. He did not appear in court on Thursday. Credit:AP

The court delivered its judgment on Thursday morning, London time. Harris did not attend court.

Lord Justice Treacy agreed with prosecutors that it would not be in the public interest to retry the quashed conviction, that Harris groped an eight-year-old girl at a community centre near Portsmouth in the late 1960s.
Beijing: China's share bike bubble has started to burst. The share bike business, which has pumped millions of bicycles onto city streets worldwide, has seen its first big casualty.

Bluegogo, which ranked in the top three share bike companies at the start of the year, is reported to have gone bankrupt after burning through 600 million yuan ($119 million) in venture capital churning out bikes.

On Chinese social media, bike users complained they couldn't get their 99 yuan ($19.65) deposits returned. Several reports claimed the company's human resources department was selling off the furniture at its glitzy headquarters in Beijing through WeChat.

Bluegogo was the first share bike company to launch overseas, in San Francisco, and had 700,000 bikes on Chinese streets before its collapse.
Harare: Zimbabwe was on a knife's edge on Thursday as the army denied it had seized power but kept President Robert Mugabe and his family under house arrest.

It was not clear whether the apparent military coup would bring a formal end to the 93-year-old Mugabe's near four-decade rule. The main goal of the generals appeared to be preventing Mugabe's wife Grace, 41 years his junior, from succeeding him. It has earlier said it was only targeting criminal elements in Mugabe's entourage, not Mugabe himself.

Local media reported South African defence and state security ministers, dispatched by President Jacob Zuma as regional envoys, arrived in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, on Wednesday night and were expected to meet both Mugabe and the military. Their ultimate goal was not clear.

Zuma earlier called for "calm and restraint" and asked the defence forces "to ensure that peace and stability are not undermined in Zimbabwe." .
London: A British explorer who went missing on an expedition to search for a remote tribe in Papua new Guinea has been spotted, alive and well, and is awaiting medical evacuation, his close friend said.

Benedict Allen was dropped by helicopter into the remote jungle three weeks ago and has not been heard of since. He was hoping to reach the Yaifo, a tribe thought to be one of the last on earth to have no contact with the outside world.

British explorer Benedict Allen has been sighted after going missing in Papua New Guinea. Credit:Twitter

The author and TV presenter, who has made six TV series for the BBC, has no mobile phone or GPS device with him and was expected to begin his journey home at the weekend.

Sky News reported that Allen was expected back in Port Moresby on Sunday for a flight to Hong Kong, where he was due to give a speech to the Royal Geographic Society.
PHILIPSBURG:--- For many students applying to colleges and universities in the United States or Canada, a college essay is a must, while for some schools in the Netherlands motivation letters are the norm. Drafting these college application essays or motivation letters can be a challenge. However, the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport is here to help.

SSSD is holding a workshop entitled Crafting a College Entrance Essay and Motivation Letter on Thursday, November 23, 2017 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. This event will be held at SSSDs office which is located in the Amigo Building, across from the Police Station next to the Windward Island Bank (WIB) in Philipsburg. This workshop aimed at students in the last two years of secondary school and recent graduates.

Writing for some people comes naturally, however, others struggle to express themselves. This workshop is aimed at giving students an edge when it comes to writing their college application essays, said SSSD officials.

According to SSSD officials, during this workshop, students will critically analyze excerpts of essays so they can apply the lessons to their own writings. They added that emphasis will be placed on the IBC method for essays and having a proper thesis. The other aspects of essay writing and motivational letter writing will be explained. The importance of the essay and letter with respect to their entire application will also be highlighted.

Students are urged to call Student Support Services Division at Tel. 543-1235 to register for this workshop since space is limited. If parents or students have any questions on these workshops, they can contact the same number for more information. Workshop participants are urged to be on time and bring their own writing utensils.

Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools. These services consist of psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, career services, and parent education sessions.

Public Notice from the Ministry of ECYS
Sarasota, FL, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Beer Market by Product (Light Beer and Strong Beer), by Production (Micro Breweries and Macro Breweries), by Category (Premium, Super Premium and Normal) and by Packaging (Canned, Bottled and Draught): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2016  2022. According to the report, the global beer market was valued at approximately USD 530.00 billion in 2016 and expected to reach approximately USD 750.00 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of around 6.00% between 2017 and 2022.

Beer is one of the highly preferred alcoholic beverages across the globe. This drink is majorly brewed from ingredients such as yeast, water, hops and malted barley. Fermentable carbohydrates, of various types such as rice, wheat, maize, etc. are added to produce different styles as well as flavors. Beer style categories this alcoholic beverage by factors including ingredients, flavor, production technique, color, and origin.

Browse through 104 Tables & 25 Figures spread over 110 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Global Beer Market: By Product, Brands, Category, Type, Size, Share, Analysis, Segment and Forecast 2016  2022.

Request Free Sample copy of Global Beer Market Size & Trends Analysis Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/beer-market

Changing lifestyle coupled with increasing disposable income across the globe are expected to drive the market growth over the years to come. Moreover, an increase in a number of local breweries is expected to have a positive impact on the beer industry. However, heavy taxation and increase in legal regulations coupled along with health issues are expected to pose a threat to the market growth in the near future. Nonetheless, high demand for beer among emerging economies especially in Asia Pacific region is expected to offer new opportunities for the growth of the beer market in the near future.

On the basis of product, the market can be segmented into light beer and strong beer. The demand for light beer is on rising due to rising in a number of female alcohol consumers especially in the age group of 21 to 30 years. The market for light beer is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Light beer is increasingly being preferred by the consumer due to its low calorie and low alcohol content.

Browse the full "Beer Market by Product (Light Beer and Strong Beer), by Production (Micro Breweries and Macro Breweries), by Category (Premium, Super Premium and Normal) and by Packaging (Canned, Bottled and Draught): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2016  2022" report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/beer-market

Breweries manufacturing beer can be either microbreweries or macro breweries based on the manufacturing capacity and size of the breweries. As a result of ease of setting up, microbreweries are expected to register noticeable growth during the forecast period. Based on category, beer can be classified as premium, super premium and normal. Consumers are increasingly opting to experiment with locally produced premium as well as super premium international beer varieties. Thus, these two segments are expected to grow at a noticeable growth rate during the forecast period. Premium beer segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on packaging, global beer industry can be segmented into canned, bottled and draught beer. In line with the growing sales of beers, such as ales, new and flavored drinks in bottles are showing immense growth. However, with this acceleration, canned brews are projected to give intense competition to bottled and draught beer.

Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/beer-market

The beer market was dominated by Asia Pacific and it held largest revenue share in 2016. Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest growth rate during the forecast period. There has been a significant increase in the demand for beer in the developing countries of Asia-Pacific region. Changing lifestyle is primarily driving beer market in this region. Asia Pacific was followed by Europe and North America in terms of revenue in 2016. Europe and North America market are expected to grow at a moderate growth rate due to increase in a number of legal regulations and increasing health concerns. Latin America is another key regional market and is expected to witness substantial growth within the forecast period.

Key players present in this market include Anheuser-Busch InBev, SABMiller, Heineken, Carlsberg, China Resources Enterprise, Boston Beer, Tsingtao Brewery, Oettinger, Modelo, Molson Coors, Diageo, Yanjing Beer among others.

For media inquiry contact our sales team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.com

This report segments the global beer market as follows:



Global Beer Market: Product Segment Analysis

Light Beer

Strong Beer

Global Beer Market: Production Segment Analysis

Micro Breweries

Macro Breweries

Global Beer Market: Category Segment Analysis

Premium

Super Premium

Normal

Global Beer Market: Packaging Segment Analysis

Canned

Bottled

Draught

Global Beer Market: Regional Analysis

North America U.S.

Europe Germany France UK

Asia Pacific China Japan India

Latin America Brazil

The Middle East and Africa

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Dietary Supplements Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/dietary-supplements-market

Pea Protein Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/pea-protein-market

Blenders and Juicers Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/blenders-and-juicers-market

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About Us:

Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.

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Hurricane Irma destroyed our country, displaced our people and exposed our government. Governing now appears to be dominated by politics. Decisions that should be made in the interest of the people seem to be solely politically motivated. Take for example the decision to hold elections at a time when people are roofless, homeless and suffering. Apparently, the coalition members knew months ago that if parliament gave government a vote of non-confidence, due to ship jumping, government would retaliate by dissolving parliament. This was purely a political choice and had absolutely nothing to do with what was best for the people of Sint Maarten at this time. In the eyes of the government, calling for snap elections may have been a smart political move, but from the perspective of the people, it was a very bad governance decision.

Limited space in this paper will not permit me to chronicle all the details leading up to the vote of non-confidence and the retaliatory decision by the Council of Ministers to dissolve Parliament. Neither will I be able to detail the process of tinkering with the constitution by our Governor in order to accommodate the political decision to have snap elections.

In the aftermath of hurricane Irma, one could clearly observe the buildup of political tension in the

NA/DP/USP coalition. In Parliament, DP Members, Sarah Wescott-Williams and Perry Geerlings, were very critical of the Prime Minister, the honorable William Marlin, and his government. Consequently, the DP stepped out of the coalition together with another member of the coalition and joined with the UP Party, to form a majority coalition of eight members of Parliament, the so-called Magic Eight. On November 2nd, 2017, the Magic Eight, made use of Article 33 of the Constitution and passed a motion of non-confidence in the government. That same day, Prime Minister Marlin tendered the resignations of his entire Cabinet to the Governor and simultaneously submitted a draft national decree to dissolve parliament.

One week later, November 10th 2017, the Magic Eight passed another motion discharging Prime Minister Marlin of his duties with immediate effect and resolving to install Acting Prime Minister Rafael Boasman as the new Prime Minister. Popularly speaking, parliament fired the Prime Minister twice and then requested the Acting Prime Minister, in whom, one week prior, they had no confidence, to become the new Prime Minister. What makes this matter even more ridiculous is that parliament has no authority to enforce their decision or motion to dismiss the Prime Minister or to appoint a new Acting Prime Minister. According to article 40 of the constitution, Prime Minister Marlin has to prepare his own dismissal decree as well as the appointment decree of the proposed Acting Prime Minister after which, he would then have to send these two documents to the Governor to be co-signed. You can imagine Prime Minister Marlin thinking what chaos, they havent a clue of the power of the Prime Minister.

Since 10-10-10, article 33 of the constitution has become a very controversial article. It states that if a minister no longer has the confidence of Parliament, he SHALL resign. SHALL is the operative word and is subject to various interpretations. However, article 33 need not be controversial or disputable because the constitution allows for parliament to enact further rules to regulate this matter. Isnt it strange that despite the regular contention caused by this article not one of the past parliaments or parliamentarians have done anything to ease the execution of this article! We surely love chaos!

If Prime Minister Marlin and his Cabinet had refused to resign then parliament had one big stick in reserve. According to the explanatory notes of article 33, if a minister refuses to resign he will be acting beyond the rule of constitutional law. This means that Parliament could then take the matter to court and eventually be able to evict that minister using the strong arm of the law. But is our Parliament up to this?

The motion of non-confidence triggered government to draft a national decree to dissolve parliament. It must be noted however, that the constitution does not oblige the government to dissolve parliament. Article 59 of the constitution reads parliament MAY be dissolved by national decree. The operative word here is MAY. Two years ago, then Member of Parliament, William Marlin, condemned Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs for dissolving Parliament but two years later he does the said same thing.

Furthermore, we did not have to be in this constitutional chaos because the Governor is not obliged to sign the dissolution decree. Seeing the damage done to the island and the resulting social circumstances he should have refused to sign it or he should have sent it to the Kingdom government for annulment according to article 21 of the Governors Regulation. Moreover, if he had consulted with the institutions involved in organizing and facilitating the elections, such as the Main Voting Bureau and the Post Office, he would have known that elections at this time was not a good choice. But no, the Governor upheld a bad governments decision, seemingly motivated by politics and retaliation and signed it into law within 24 hours without considering the hurt and suffering of the people. The fact that ten days later the Prime Minister and the Governor modified their decision goes to show that it was not a carefully considered decision!

Wycliffe Smith

Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party
Supervisory Board of Directors (SBD)

The SBD is truly saddened by the lack of social, political and financial responsibility being taken by Government. Over the years, we have been red flagging the financial realities at PSS to the competent authorities but to no tangible avail. The passage of Hurricane Irma has compounded the problem and further exposed the reality whereby PSS is in dire need of an immediate cash injection by its shareholder.

PSS is the only postal organization in the Dutch Caribbean that receives zero subsidy from Government. PSS started in October 2010 under our new constitutional status with zero start-up capital (equity) whilst inheriting a director without any employees. After a year, PSS obtained all former local NPNA employees with all their existing employment benefits and years of service. This transfer was ratified by the shareholder and yet even then no financial injection was received.

The SBD continues to have sleepless nights as it seems that PSS is surely not a priority for Government except when it comes to the land speculation. The SBD was and is very concerned with the livelihood of the 24 employees and their families which is tied into the continuity of PSS.

The SBD nor the interim managing-director sat around and waited for a miracle to happen as employments contracts have been grandfathered and a turnaround plan has been in effect. PSSs concession is to disseminate the mail of our country, however, even that lately is to be circumvented with remarks on how voting cards can be distributed in the next parliamentary election.

The SBD remains of the opinion that PSS must receive an immediate cash injection as well as fully acquire the rights to the land which would enable a start in making PSS a viable company. Parliament also has an integral role as we have signaled repeatedly to have laws drafted to strengthen the postal organization.

PSS plays a significant role in the further development of our country amidst its present reality. The task of maintaining PSS to present by Interim Director Ms. A. Wilson and her management team, has been truly commendable despite all the odds stacked against PSS from its inception.

Interim Managing-Director  A. Wilson

PSS is tasked with the core responsibility of providing postal services locally, regionally and internationally. PSS has been designated by the Kingdom as the entity that provides postal services for this part of the Kingdom and has an exclusive local concession dated November 26, 2010 to carry out this task. PSS is a wholly owned government company, however, PSS has been functioning at a deficit for many years and while we have been trying to stay afloat, we can no longer function without the proper assistance from the Government.

Our Government was to finally rectify the situation which remained just that, an empty promise. Nothing concrete that is beneficial to PSS has been forthcoming. Two former ministers were a while back brought in by PSS to assess the situation and one was appointed by Government to be the change manager. Despite such, PSS continues to struggle daily with its day to day operations as no follow up is forthcoming while only grand plans being promoted elsewhere.

Our building is currently damaged, and we are functioning out of a temporary location that is not suitable to house our 24 staff members nor accommodate the high volume of clients. The building is what we can afford with the assistance of the regulator, however, we must admit to the dangerous situation where our clients are forced to wait outside right by the road with passing cars with limited protection from the sun or rain.

Regardless of all of these challenges we still strive to provide optimal service to our clients, there is only so much we can do without concrete and credible assistance from our shareholder. Unfortunately, valuable time and resources are being wasted on individual personnel matters while the entire company is suffering. Basically, government is focusing on matters unrelated to their role as shareholders.

The PSS has 24 employees that we are responsible for and we will keep fighting to ensure that we can continue to provide a job for them and live up to our local, regional and international obligations. With mounting losses into the millions, we cannot keep doing what we are doing and is has become clear that we were setup to fail.

SMCU

After discussing the deteriorating financial situation of PSS N.V. with several stakeholders, it has become evident that the PSS is now on the verge of a total financial collapse, while our government has done absolutely nothing to remedy the situation.

The employees of PSS N.V. are still working and serving the public, while our government refuses to take any action to better the financial situation of PSS. Our government has absolutely no interest in the wellbeing of the employees of PSS. A meeting with the Prime Minister has also yielded nothing.

It is impossible to start a public service entity company like PSS with a deficit and expect the company to be financially viable without the government injecting the necessary capital into the company.

The SMCU is hereby appealing to Government to intercede right now. The lack of action has taken a heavy toll on PSS and it cannot continue to be sustained by solely running on bank overdrafts.

SMCU and PSS Joint Press Release
Stansfeld Scott does what it does best - bringing Suppliers and Distributors together for effective solutions and coordinating shipments across the Caribbean.

TAMPA, Florida:--- September was a month of unrelenting storms with Hurricanes Irma and Maria ripping through the Caribbean, leaving an unprecedented amount of damage in Barbuda, St. Martin/Maarten, St. Barthelemy, Anguilla, Dominica, the British and US Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and Puerto Rico. Infrastructure has been devastated, lives have been disrupted, and the full extent of the fiscal damage is still being tallied. Yet through this heart-wrenching devastation, the resilience and

unity of the Caribbean people has been truly inspiring.

Immediately after the storms passed, Stansfeld Scott reached out to their distribution partners from each of the affected islands and determined that all employees were safe but many had experienced some degree of personal loss especially regarding their homes. Some of the businesses suffered extensive damage but were assessing the situation and re-establishing operations despite the dire circumstances.

Based on feedback received from the affected countries, it was determined that beyond food and beverage, building supplies were most needed. On September 22, 2017, Stansfeld Scott launched their Caribbean Hurricane Relief Fund, pledging containers filled with building and emergency supplies to be sent to a few of the most severely impacted islands.

For Stansfeld Scott, many of these people are not nameless. They are our friends and colleagues who work with our brands daily, noted Brian Cabral, President/CEO of Stansfeld Scott. We wanted to assist them, their families and communities with essential building supplies to ease their transition to normalcy.

With the support and generosity of almost all Stansfeld Scott suppliers along with key logistics partners, the fund has surpassed the initial goal (USD125K) and has reached USD150, 000.

Procurement of some items in short supply has delayed filling the containers, but the first of six 20-foot containers of building supplies is scheduled to ship mid-November. Distribution of supplies is being coordinated through local trading partners. It has been a truly collaborative and fulfilling initiative for the Stansfeld Scott team.

The storms have passed and most of the debris has been cleared, but the arduous task of rebuilding is on going. Direct communication, understanding of the local situation and cooperation is paramount. Stansfeld Scott understands these fundamentals and will continue to work with their distributors on their road to recovery as their Caribbean partners rebuild not only their islands but also their lives.

Stansfeld Scott expresses their deep appreciation to their trading partners who supported the initiative, including Accolade Wines of Australia and the UK, Grupo Claro and Veramonte of Chile, Bardinet, Gabriel Meffre & Patriarche of France, Bosca and Santa Margherita of Italy SPI Spirits of Latvia, Babich Wines of New Zealand, William Grant of Scotland, Distell of South Africa, Casamigos, Constellation Wines, Premium Ports and Sazerac of the USA and Principle Healthcare of the UK.

Transportation of the containers will be provided by JF Hillebrand and TGD Consolidators. D & M Construction of Barbados also volunteered a generous donation.

Stansfeld Scott Inc. Press Release
QNAP, Overland-Tandberg and Archiware Join Forces for Data Protection

Munich, Germany/Taipei, Taiwan, Nov. 16th, 2017  Leading network storage provider, QNAP Systems, Inc., storage solution manufacturer, Overland-Tandberg and data management expert, Archiware have joined forces to provide the optimal solution for data protection. The brand-new integration comprises QNAPs Network Attached Storage (NAS), Overland-Tandbergs RDX removable disk system and Archiwares P5 Software Suite.

QNAPs cutting-edge NAS ranks amongst the most efficient and flexible. It improves data management with its ease-of-use, robust operation and large storage capacity. Business data is quickly stored and accessed, with additional integrated technologies and services included.

Overland-Tandbergs RDX is the most popular removable disk system available. Contrary to cloud services, using an RDX for off-site storage provides the user with full control over the data. Independence of bandwidth and availability of any online service adds to the benefits.

Archiwares P5 Software Suite offers platform agnostic data management software for archiving, backup and cloning of data. The browser-based software is now optimized to run on QNAPs NAS and comprises four modules to secure and restore data: P5 Synchronize, P5 Backup, P5 Backup2Go and P5 Archive.

Using P5 Backup and P5 Archive, data can be stored offline at a different location for optimal medium- and long-term security. This is enabled by Overland-Tandbergs RDX removable media, which is now available as an option for QNAPs NAS models: TVS-882BRT3 or TVS-882BR. Using P5 Backup, a copy of the data is created and stored on the QNAP system, which can quickly be moved offsite for maximum protection. In P5 Archive, archived files can easily be referenced and restored using a file catalog, which includes thumbnails, media previews and searchable metadata.

Meiji Chang, General Manager of QNAP, said: It would be our greatest pleasure to work with the globally renowned Overland-Tandberg and Archiware, and jointly deliver a strong and reliable total data security solution. With QNAP NAS, data can be efficiently ingested and stored on NAS and Overland-Tandbergs RDX devices, both external and internal ones, via the Archiware P5 data backup and archiving utility. Multi-layer backup and disaster recovery plans can be easily deployed both on- and off-site, offering adequate mid- to long-term data keeping needs.

The combination of powerful QNAP NAS with P5 for data management and RDX for removable media makes this integration particularly unique. The customers need for maximum data security and long-term archiving are supported in the simplest way possible, said Archiwares Business Development Manager, Dr. Marc Batschkus. More and more customers are discovering how valuable their data is and this combined solution solves their issues.

A live demonstration of the QNAP NAS, Overland-Tandbergs RDX and Archiwares P5 integration will be presented at Inter BEE 2017 at QNAPs Booth 4303.
MONTREAL, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V:PYR) (OTCQB:PYRNF), a high-tech company (the Company or PyroGenesis) that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, announces today that it has received a purchase order, in the amount of US$ 800,000 (Can$ 1.02 million), for the sale of a second (2nd) DROSRITE Furnace System (the System) to a North American automobile parts manufacturer (the Client).



The system is the second (2nd) commercial System sold to date and represents a re-order from the Client; the name of which remains confidential for competitive reasons. Delivery is scheduled to be in Q2-2018, and the contract calls for a fifty percent (50%) down payment and ten percent (10%) holdback.

PyroGenesis DROSRITE System is a salt-free, cost-effective, sustainable process for maximizing metal recovery from dross, a waste generated in the metallurgical industry. PyroGenesis patented process avoids costly loss of metal while reducing a smelters carbon footprint and energy consumption, providing an impressive return on investment.

With aluminum manufacturers being subjected to increased pressure from regulatory authorities, requiring them to eliminate landfilling of hazardous salt cakes from traditional recovery operations, combined with tight operating margins, PyroGenesis DROSRITE System is able to (i) increase metal recovery from waste, without producing any hazardous by-products, while (ii) reducing operating costs, said Mr. Pierre Carabin, Chief Technology Officer of PyroGenesis.

Additionally, as previously announced, PyroGenesis had received an unsolicited offer from a waste management company to be the sole distributor of PyroGenesis DROSRITE System within the Gulf Cooperation Council (the GCC). A successful DROSRITE demonstration was conducted at a major aluminum smelter, following which a formal visit took place at PyroGenesis facility in Montreal, Canada. Negotiations for the sale of DROSRITE Systems are currently underway.

Separately, a potential client from India has engaged PyroGenesis to perform a pilot demonstration at its manufacturer facility. The pilot system is currently being deployed to India for a demonstration scheduled in Q1-2018.

PyroGenesis has recently hired a dedicated business development professional to address the growing demand for DROSRITE, said Massimo Dattilo, VP, Business Development of PyroGenesis. Given our existing Clients need for an additional 2 systems; combined with the continuing demand from the Middle East; and the fact that the Companys demonstration unit is currently in-transit to India, all reflects, we believe, DROSRITEs success at addressing a serious need within the aluminum industry. The Company is currently targeting primary aluminum smelters in Asia and the Middle East where the market is estimated to be in excess of 1 million tonnes of dross1, as well as tertiary casting producers worldwide, all of which we expect will represent a potential requirement for DROSRITE systems numbering in the hundreds of units.

We expect DROSRITE to be a significant contributor to the operations of our non-additive business segments, said Mr. P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis. It underscores the success of our strategic plan in targeting high value niche problems in various industries. The fact that we have one of the largest concentrations of plasma expertise, under one roof, gives us the unique advantage of being able to target, and address, these opportunities.

About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.

PyroGenesis Canada Inc. is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes. PyroGenesis provides engineering and manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge contract research, as well as turnkey process equipment packages to the defense, metallurgical, mining, additive manufacturing (3D printing), oil & gas, and environmental industries. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of our Montreal office and our 3,800 m2 manufacturing facility, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. Its core competencies allow PyroGenesis to lead the way in providing innovative plasma torches, plasma waste processes, high-temperature metallurgical processes, and engineering services to the global marketplace. Its operations are ISO 9001:2008 certified, and have been ISO certified since 1997. PyroGenesis is a publicly-traded Canadian company on the TSX Venture Exchange (Ticker Symbol: PYR) and on the OTCQB Marketplace (Ticker Symbol: PYRNF). For more information, please visit www.pyrogenesis.com

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 ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com, or at www.otcmarkets.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, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the OTC Markets Group Inc. accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

For further information: Rodayna Kafal, VP, Investor Relations and Communications, Phone: (514) 937-0002, E-mail: ir@pyrogenesis.com or rkafal@pyrogenesis.com

___________________________

1 http://www.world-aluminium.org/statistics/primary-aluminium-production/
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AbraPlata Resource Corp (TSX.V:ABRA) (OTCQB:ABBRF) (Frankfurt:1AH) ("AbraPlata" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that PhotoSat has completed satellite surveying of the Ag-Au Diablillos Project in the Salta Province and delivered all the data to the company. The surveying was carried out using stereo photos from the high-resolution DigitalGlobe WorldView-3 imaging satellite. The satellite survey consists of an elevation point every meter, contours with 1m elevation intervals, and the review and verification of the survey coordinates of 245 drill holes on the property.



A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1ba3d31-7e72-4044-b719-65c47f956860

We are pleased to have had access to the worlds highest quality image satellites and Photosats cutting-edge satellite surveying technology to produce a high quality base map for the Diablillos property, commented AbraPlatas Chairman, Hernan Zaballa, adding that: These data form the foundation for the ongoing Preliminary Economic Assessment and will greatly assist in the compilation and interpretation of all past and current exploration data.

The PhotoSat survey was registered to the ground reference points collected by AbraPlata (Figure 1). The survey elevations were converted to heights above the EGM2008 Geoid (Figure 2). Stereo WorldView-3 satellite photos were then taken on September 12, 2017, and the data were processed by PhotoSat using their proprietary geophysical stereo satellite elevation system. PhotoSat produced surveyed elevation surfaces for the Diablillos property (Figure 3 and 4) to an accuracy of 20cm in elevation.

About PhotoSat

Vancouver-based PhotoSat, founded in 1993, has invented a new technology to produce highly accurate satellite survey data. PhotoSat specializes in elevation surveying for civil engineering infrastructure projects and the planning and design of resource development projects. Their clients are oil and gas, mining, oil sands, engineering, and environmental companies and government agencies. PhotoSats expertise in geophysical data processing methods combined with extensive experience has resulted in the worlds most accurate satellite surveying. They have delivered over 850 surveying projects, and produce data with better than 20cm elevation accuracy. For more information about PhotoSat, visit www.photosat.ca

About AbraPlata

AbraPlata is a junior mining exploration company focused on delivering shareholder returns by unlocking mineral value in Argentina. The Company's experienced management team has assembled an outstanding portfolio of gold, silver and copper exploration assets, and is focused on expanding and advancing its flagship Diablillos property, with an Indicated Resource of 81.3m oz Ag and 755k oz Au. In addition, AbraPlata owns the highly prospective Cerro Amarillo property with its cluster of five mineralized Cu-(Mo-Au) porphyry intrusions located in a mining camp hosting the behemoth El Teniente, Los Bronces, and Los Pelambres porphyry Cu-Mo deposits. Further exploration work is also planned for the Companys Samenta porphyry Cu-Mo property south of First Quantums TacaTaca project as well as its Aguas Perdidas Au-Ag epithermal property.

Qualified Person

Willem Fuchter, PhD PGeo, President & CEO of AbraPlata Resource Corp and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

ABRAPLATA RESOURCE CORP.

"Willem Fuchter"

Willem Fuchter

President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information concerning this news release, please contact:

Willem Fuchter

President &Chief Executive Officer

AbraPlata Resource Corp.

Tel: +54.11.5258.0920

E-mail: willem@abraplata.com

Rob Bruggeman

Investor Relations

AbraPlata Resource Corp

Tel: +1.416.884.3556

Email: rob@abraplata.com



This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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.

For further information about AbraPlata and its projects, please visit the Companys website at www.abraplata.com.
DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines today made available the results of its annual stress test as required by its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Results can be found on the Banks investor relations page:



http://www.fhlbdm.com/about/investor-relations/

The stress test estimates the Banks capital levels under hypothetical severely adverse economic conditions. Results are projected over a nine-quarter period beginning with capital balances as of December 31, 2016.

Questions regarding the results of the stress test should be directed to Angie Richards by calling 515.281.1014.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is a member-owned cooperative that provides funding solutions and liquidity to more than 1,400 financial institutions to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in their communities. Serving Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the U.S. Pacific territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. The Des Moines Bank is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. For additional information about FHLB Des Moines, please visit www.fhlbdm.com.

Contact:

Angie Richards

515.281.1014

arichards@fhlbdm.com
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSX-V:LIT) (FSE:OAY1) (WKN:A0RK7E) (OTC:PNXLF) Argentina Lithium or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on exploration programs on its two active lithium exploration projects at the Arizaro and Incahuasi salars located in the prolific Lithium Triangle in Argentina. Due to an increase in activities, a new Project Manager is being hired to manage exploration moving forward.



The Company has recently expanded the property holdings at the Arizaro project in Salta province by an additional 7,030 ha. Geophysical and seismic surveying is the next step prior to a Phase II drill program to test for deep brines.

At the new wholly-owned Incahuasi project in Catamarca province, the Company plans to move directly into a first drill program, and is now in the process of obtaining permits to do so. The Company recently announced the acquisition of the property which controls the entire salar as well as initial surface sampling and VES geophysical results (See press release dated November 6, 2017). The results included samples of 409 mg/l Lithium at surface.

It is expected that the two properties will see up to 10,000 metres of drilling collectively.

We are very encouraged by the results to date at these two large and promising projects, said Nikolaos Cacos, President and C.E.O. We are happy to now be stepping up the pace of work and we expect the next six months to provide significant data at Arizaro and Incahuasi.

About the Arizaro Lithium Project

The Company has the option to earn a 100% interest in the Arizaro Lithium Brine Project, including 27,530 hectares in the central core of the Arizaro Salar, the largest in Argentina and third largest in the "Lithium Triangle". Very little historic exploration work has been done on the Arizaro Salar, however the central area is interpreted to have the geologic conditions to be the most prospective for quality brine resources. Furthermore, the Arizaro Salar benefits from a strategic location for infrastructure, including: a railway that connects to the deep water port of Antofagasta, nearby advanced mining projects that are expected to bring significant development of access routes and power, and the availability of water for development. The Company recently amended its option agreement for the Arizaro project to defer US$650,000 of the November 1st 2017 payment to December 1st, 2017. A payment of US$200,000 was made on November 1st as originally scheduled.

About the Incahuasi Lithium Project

The Company has acquired a 100% interest in, or has under application, mineral rights totaling 23,700 hectares covering the entire Incahuasi salar and basin in Catamarca Province, Argentina. The salar is situated within the "Lithium Triangle" of Argentina and Chile, and has characteristics prospective for lithium-rich brines. Initial sampling of near-surface brines has returned up to 409mg/L lithium, and geophysical surveying indicates the potential for lithium-rich brines at depth.

Qualified Person

The contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by David Terry, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Argentina Lithium

Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp is focused on acquiring high quality lithium projects in Argentina, and advancing them towards production in order to meet the growing global demand from the battery sector. The management group has a long history of success in the resource sector of Argentina, and has assembled a first rate team of experts to acquire and advance the best lithium properties in the world renowned Lithium Triangle. The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Nikolaos Cacos

_______________________________

Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director

For further information please contact:

Corporate Communications

Tel: 1-604-687-1828

Toll-Free: 1-800-901-0058

Email: info@argentinalithium.com

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 contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's public disclosure documents for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.
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They manage some of the biggest fortunes in the country, while raising at least two children at home, proving that mothers have what it takes to make your money grow, according to a recent report by Working Mother Magazine and SHOOK Research that ranks the 200 best financial adviser moms in the country.

Elana Milianta a Greenwich financial adviser, ranked as one of the top wealth advisers in the U.S. in the report. While studying finance at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1993, Milianta owned a childrens retail shop in Old Greenwich. As a mother of three, she joined a predecessor firm of Wells Fargo Advisors in 2003.

"To be honest, I was really fortunate to have family help me out when I was away at work or business trips," she said. "At the end of the day, I believe its spending quality time with your family and not so much focusing on quantity."

Michele McCallion, a wealth adviser at Merrill Lynch in Greenwich, also made the list. She works directly with some of the largest accounts on her team, including widows and divorcees as they order their finances.

"Working with women who are widowed or divorced, I bring a different sensitivity to the table," she said. Sometimes, women who are going through a divorce want to talk to another woman. There is a different level of empathy."

McCallion lives in New Canaan with her husband, their 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. She said her job lets her set her own schedule, leaving room for morning coffee with her children, PTA meetings, and now helping her son prepare for the college application process.

"It gave me a lot of flexibility to build a business that was important to me," McCallion said.

Sarah Man, a non-practicing attorney and financial adviser at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Westport, was also listed as one of the top wealth adviser mothers in the U.S. And she, too, raises teenagers, a 14-year-old and a 15-year old. She has two adult children, age 29 and 31.

A Ridgefield resident, Man has changed careers, and sometimes career paths, each time she had a baby. As a lawyer, she specialized in patent law, intellectual property rights, family law, real estate, and banking. In 2006, Man joined a Morgan Stanley predecessor firm as a financial adviser, before becoming partner of the Voyage Group at Morgan Stanley's Westport office, where she advises families, and particularly women.

"Ive dedicated my life to my family and to empower women to take control over their finances, and to help women build and protect their wealth, then plan their legacy," Man said.
WordPress powers roughly 15 million websites worldwide -- and that's a conservative estimate. The platform is the most dominant content-management system (CMS) at work today, with 60 percent of the global CMS market. If you own a website, it likely runs on WordPress.

Here's the bad news: WordPress sites top hackers' popularity list, too. Web-security firm Sucuri revealed that 78 percent of the 11,485 compromised websites it investigated during the first three months of 2016 were powered by WordPress.

Related: The Worst Reported Hacks of 2017 -- So Far

Cyber criminals don't care if your company returns a merely decent annual profit or runs a small site with only a few monthly visitors. Your size doesn't magically insulate you from hacks. If you're online, you can be hacked. These six red flags could help you discover if your WordPress site is compromised and take decisive steps to kick hackers out of your web space.

1. You can't log in.

Your first clue? WordPress doesn't recognize your email address/username or password. This is the rare occasion you hope for a typo. Try again, making sure you've spelled everything correctly and you haven't engaged the caps lock. (It's the equivalent of making sure the printer is plugged in, but it does happen.)

If you're new to WordPress, you might wonder how a user can get locked out of his or her own account. Hackers are an enterprising bunch, however. If one is bent on accessing your database, she or he will go to extreme lengths to take control of your site.

Hackers usually steal login details by brute force. They use automated programs that run thousands of possible username/password combinations in a trial-and-error process. Then, once they're in, they change your administrator privileges so you can't make changes to correct the situation. Or they might delete your account outright.

Related: Password Statistics: The Bad, the Worse and the Ugly

2. Your site is unusually slow or unresponsive.

If your site is uncharacteristically slow, the lag could be caused by hackers trying to brute-force their way into your site or injecting malicious code. Another possibility: Your site is on the receiving end of a random denial-of-service attack. This tactic employs several hacked computers and servers with fake IPs to overwhelm your server with more requests than it can handle.

Any one of these activities has the potential to make your website slow, unresponsive or even unavailable. If youre managing several sites, consider using pingdom to measure the speed of each. This free, online tool allows you to test your websites speed from different locations. Review your server logs periodically to learn whether a few IPs are sending far too many requests. Then, block them.

If youre confident your site isnt hacked, check for poorly coded plugins and external scripts or an improperly configured web-hosting server.

Related: Your Startup Should Think About Security From the Beginning

3. You can't send or receive WordPress emails.

Hackers love to turn your websites against you. If they're using one or more of your sites to send large volumes of spam, your WordPress email account will register significant delays. In addition to slugging up your site's performance or rendering it unresponsive, this action will prevent you from sending or receiving WordPress emails.

4. Your page displays another website's content.

Imagine you're attending a marketing event or conference, and you hit it off with a potential client. You decide to impress him or her further by showing off your stellar website. The site temporarily loads -- and then redirects to an entirely different site. As you frantically contemplate the most logical way to recover, you should know one thing: Your site has been hacked. This scenario typically means someone has gained unauthorized access to your server and inserted improper code in your site's root directory.

5. Google flags your site as insecure.

Google warns visitors against accessing sites it perceives as infected. This means clients and potential customers will be turned away from your pages and discouraged from transacting business with your company. Users will be cautioned that interacting with your website could infect their systems with malicious software that steals information or otherwise harms their computers and networks.

Related: 12 Tips to Protect Your Company Website From Hackers

6. Your web host takes your site offline.

Most web hosts will notify you immediately via email when your site is removed from service. Assuming you haven't let your subscription expire, this is a protective action. If left online, a hacked website can spread malware to other servers and continue the chain reaction.

Related:

6 Signs Your WordPress Site Is Compromised

Ransomware Could Be the Monster If Stephen King Wrote a Novel About Small Businesses

Why This Cybersecurity Expert Wants You to Rethink What You Keep Secret



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


MIAMI, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Republic Metals is proud to be the first company to receive the Above and Beyond Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Florida State Committee. The award was presented on November 10, 2017 during Republics annual Veterans Day luncheon, where veterans as well as Guard and Reserve employees enjoyed a catered lunch and received specially-minted Medals of Honor.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b224d0e4-0fd9-46fc-a506-1f1f0991217e

The Above and Beyond Award recognizes Republic Metals superior support of Guard and Reserve employees through additional leave and wage benefits that go above the legal requirements. This prestigious award is only presented to companies where a manager or supervisor has been awarded the Patriot Award from the ESGR in the past.

Jason Rubin, President and CEO, Lindsey Rubin, Corporate Secretary, and David Strul, Security Director at Republic Metals Corporation, have all been recognized with Patriot Awards by the ESGR in the past.

I am so proud and thankful for our Guard, Reserve, and veteran employees who have been and continue to be willing to risk their lives in service to the United States. It is our great privilege to employ and support these outstanding individuals at Republic Metals, says Jason Rubin.

About Republic Metals Corporation

Headquartered in Miami, Republic Metals was established in 1980 and has since grown to become one of the largest and most respected primary precious metals refineries in the world. Throughout its illustrious history, Republic Metals has displayed excellence in precious metals refining in a manner that is considered environmentally friendly, as demonstrated through its long-standing ISO14001 registration. Republic Metals currently holds listings on the LBMA, Shanghai Gold Exchange, and COMEX with recognitions from the Responsible Jewellery Council, Conflict Free Smelter Initiative, and Ethical Alliance. As an LBMA-designated Responsible Gold Party, all business conducted by Republic Metals is performed in accordance with its stringent Patriot Act compliance and supply chain policies.

Website:

www.republicmetalscorp.com

Contact:

Republic Metals Corporation

12900 NW 38th Avenue

Miami, FL 33054

1-888-685-8505

info@republicmetalscorp.com

About the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

For more than 45 years, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) has been committed to encouraging employers to support service members of the National Guard and Reserve by providing meaningful employment and a supportive work environment as these honorable men and women reincorporate themselves back into the civilian workforce. The ESGR, a Department of Defense program, strongly believes that companies who are accommodating and supportive of our service members are critical to preserving the strength and readiness of our Nations Guard and Reserve, and as a result, the ESGR recognizes these employers with distinguished honors such as the Patriot Award and Above and Beyond Award.

Website:

https://esgr.mil/
Newark, NJ, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage company and leader in the field of cancer metabolism-based therapeutics, announced today, the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of CPI-613 in combination with chemotherapeutic agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, for patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. The study will be conducted in collaboration with Atlantic Health System. CPI-613 is a first-in-class drug with a unique mode of action and is Rafaels lead altered energy metabolism directed (AEMD) drug candidate. The drug is designed to disrupt the altered energy-production pathways in cancer cells by targeting their mitochondrial metabolism.

The primary aim of the study is to establish the maximum tolerated dose of CPI-613 when given in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Secondary aims include:

(1) To describe the safety profile for the gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel/CPI-613 combination.

(2) To determine the clinical activity of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel/CPI-613 in metastatic pancreatic cancer as measured by tumor response rate (RR) by RECIST criteria, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Encouraging results observed in earlier trials, including Phase I data from a trial led by Angela Alistar, MD that was recently published in The Lancet Oncology, demonstrated the preliminary efficacy of CPI-613 in combination with modified FOLFIRINOX (a multidrug treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. These results support further evaluation of CPI-613 in this indication.[1] The safety profile of CPI-613 in earlier trials, which shows the drug to be well tolerated, provides further support for evaluation of CPI-613 in combination with other drugs to maximize benefit.

In 2013, the MPACT study, a multinational, phase III clinical trial comparing gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel to gemcitabine alone, demonstrated an improved median survival of 8.5 months as compared with 6.7 months for gemcitabine monotherapy (p=0.000015). While some clinical benefit was shown, these outcomes also highlight the need for new combination strategies to improve upon the outcomes seen with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Alistar, Medical Director of GI Medical Oncology at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center of Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Health System, and the Principal Investigator for this trial, remarked, Strategies to enhance our current standard of care options are sorely needed in pancreatic cancer. Due to the low toxicity profile of CPI -613 as a single agent, I anticipate good tolerance in combination with the gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel regimen. I am excited to be able to offer this novel option to our patients with pancreatic cancer. Targeting metabolism in pancreatic cancer has a strong scientific rationale.

Sanjeev Luther, Rafael Pharmaceuticals Chief Executive Officer, commented, Our companys motto of One Patient at a Time is especially relevant in this situation. Patients with a low tolerance for toxicity may not be eligible for the FOLFIRINOX combo. We believe that the gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel regimen has the potential to be a potent treatment with less toxicity. It is especially meaningful for us to announce the initiation of this study on World Pancreatic Cancer Day.





About Atlantic Health System

Atlantic Health System, headquartered in Morristown, N.J., is an integrated health care delivery system powered by a workforce of 16,000 team members dedicated to building healthier communities. The system is comprised of 350 sites of care, including six hospitals: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Newton Medical Center, Chilton Medical Center, Hackettstown Medical Center and Goryeb Childrens Hospital. Atlantic Health System also supports communities through Atlantic Medical Group, Atlantic Rehabilitation, Atlantic Home Care and Hospice, and its subsidiary, Atlantic Ambulance Corporation. Atlantic Health System sponsors the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the larger ACOs in the nation, and Optimus Healthcare Partners.

About Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage, oncology-focused pharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of therapies that exploit the metabolic differences between normal cells and cancer cells. Rafaels primary objective is to develop highly selective and effective agents with minimal toxic effects on normal cells and tissues. Rafaels first-in-class clinical lead compound, CPI-613 is being evaluated in multiple Phase I, I/II, and II clinical studies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Rafael approval to initiate pivotal clinical trials in pancreatic cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and has designated CPI-613 an orphan drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, AML, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The company's investors include IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT). For more information, visit http://www.rafaelpharma.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or the companys future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential" or "continue", the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the company, or any other person, that such forward-looking statements will be achieved. The business and operations of the company are subject to substantial risks which increase the uncertainty inherent in forward-looking statements. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of the foregoing, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Reference

[1] Alistar A, Morris BB, Desnoyer R, et al. (2017). Safety and tolerability of the first-in-class agent CPI-613 in combination with modified FOLFIRINOX in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: a single-centre, open-label, dose-escalation, phase 1 trial. The Lancet Oncology. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30314-5

Contact



Sanjeev Luther

Chief Executive Officer, Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

sanjeev.luther@rafaelpharma.com

Jacob Jonas

Public Relations, Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

jacob.jonas@rafaelpharma.com
VANCOUVER, B.C., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Sky Uranium Corp. (TSX-V:BSK) (FSE:MAL2) (OTC:BKUCF) ("Blue Sky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 5,500,000 units at a price of $0.19 per unit for gross proceeds of $1,045,000.

Each unit will consist of one common share and one transferrable common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share in the capital of the Company at $0.30 per share for one year from the date of issue. If the volume weighted average price for the Company's shares is $0.50 or greater for a period of 5 consecutive trading days, then the Company may deliver a notice (the "Notice") to the warrantholder that the Warrants must be exercised within twenty (20) days from the date of delivery of such Notice, otherwise the Warrants will expire at 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the twenty-first (21st) day after the date of delivery of the Notice. The accelerated exercise shall not apply until the expiration of the four-month hold period required under Exchange policies and rules, and securities laws that are applicable to the Company.

This financing is subject to regulatory approval and all securities to be issued pursuant to the financing are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. Directors, officers and employees of the Company may participate in a portion of the financing. A commission may be paid on a portion of the financing. The proceeds of the financing will be used for exploration programs on the Companys projects in Argentina and for general working capital.

About the Amarillo Grande Project



This new uranium district was first identified, staked and underwent preliminary exploration by Blue Sky from 2007 to 2012 as part of the Grosso Groups strategy of adding alternative energy focus to its successful portfolio of metals exploration companies. The proximity of several major targets suggests that if resources are delineated a central processing facility would be envisioned. The area is flat-lying, semi-arid and accessible year-round, with nearby rail, power and port access.

Mineralization identified to date at Amarillo Grande has characteristics of sandstone-type and surficial-type uranium-vanadium deposits. The sandstone-type deposit is related to a braided fluvial system comprising a potentially district-size roll front system. Uranium minerals are present in the porous of poorly-consolidated sandstones and conglomerates. In surficial-type uranium deposits, carnotite mineralization coats loosely consolidated pebbles of sandstone and conglomerates. Carnotite is amenable to leaching, and preliminary metallurgical work at the project indicates that the mineralized material can be upgraded using a very simple wet screening method. The near-surface mineralization, ability to locally upgrade, amenability to leaching and central processing possibility suggest a potentially low-cost development scenario for a future deposit.

For additional details on the project and properties, please see the Companys website: www.blueskyuranium.com

Qualified Person

The results of the Company's drilling program have been reviewed, verified (including sampling, analytical and test data) and compiled by the Company's geological staff under the supervision of David Terry, Ph.D., P.Geo. Dr. Terry is a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. The contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Terry.

About Blue Sky Uranium Corp.



Blue Sky Uranium Corp. is a leader in uranium discovery in Argentina. The Company's objective is to deliver exceptional returns to shareholders by rapidly advancing a portfolio of surficial uranium deposits into low-cost producers. Blue Sky holds has the exclusive right to over 434,000 hectares (equiv. to 1,072,437 acres) of property in two provinces in Argentina. The Companys flagship Amarillo Grande Project was an in-house discovery of a new district that has the potential to be both a leading domestic supplier of uranium to the growing Argentine market and a new international market supplier. The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Nikolaos Cacos

______________________________________

Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Tel: 1-604-687-1828

Toll-Free: 1-800-901-0058

Email: info@blueskyuranium.com

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 contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's public disclosure documents for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.
NORCROSS, Ga., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK), a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, announced today a planned investment in its Florence, South Carolina kraft linerboard mill that will significantly increase the mills efficiency, quality and service levels.



The $410 million investment over two years will include installing a 330 state-of-the-art kraft linerboard machine and related infrastructure that will replace three older, narrow-width paper machines. The company expects the new machine to produce 710,000 tons of kraft linerboard annually. In addition, the company plans to invest approximately $60 million over the next five years to support the new machine and other mill projects.

When coupled with the recently completed modern woodyard, the Florence mill will become one of the lowest cost kraft linerboard mills in North America.

This investment will make our Florence mill a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, sustaining good manufacturing jobs and promoting the long-term success of the mill, said Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer of WestRock. The support of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership and the South Carolina Department of Commerce helped make this investment possible and is greatly appreciated. We look forward to contributing to the Florence community for many years to come.

Any time a company invests in our state, it shows a commitment to our citizens that we couldnt be more grateful for. This investment is something that South Carolina should be proud of, and we know that the future is bright for the partnership between our state and WestRock, said Henry McMaster, governor of South Carolina.

WestRock is not only a leader in the packaging industry, but also a respected name in South Carolinas overall business community. Today, Im thrilled to congratulate this great company on their continued success in the Palmetto State, said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

WestRock supports hundreds of jobs in Florence County and remains one of our top employers. We are very pleased that this industry will continue to be an important part of Florence Countys economy, said Florence County Council Chairman Kent Caudle.

Florence County is excited about WestRock and its investment in our area  one of the largest in recent history. This is a significant development for the people of Florence County, said Florence County Economic Development Partnership Chairman Frank J. Buddy Brand.

This new investment is an important step for Florence County in preserving jobs that support so many families in our community, and is evidence that companies that come to Florence stay in Florence. Im very pleased that this project will help sustain the significant economic progress that Florence has made in recent years, said South Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh K. Leatherman.

The new linerboard machine will be housed in a building adjacent to the existing complex, and the company expects production on the new linerboard machine and the shutdown of the three existing machines to occur in the first half of calendar 2020.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that are based on managements current views and assumptions and are typically identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "prospects," "potential" and "forecast," and other words, terms and phrases of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements include statements such as that (a) the planned investment will (i) create a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, (ii) significantly increase the mills efficiency, quality and service levels, (iii) total $410 million over two years and we plan to invest approximately $60 million over the next five years to support the new machine and other mill projects and (iv) include installation of a 330 state-of-the-art kraft linerboard machine that will have an annual production capacity of 710,000 tons; (b) the mill will become one of the lowest cost kraft linerboard mills in North America; (c) the planned investment will sustain good manufacturing jobs and promote the long-term success of the mill; and (d) production on the new linerboard machine is expected to occur in 2020. Factors that may affect actual results include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive and market conditions generally, volumes and price levels of purchases by customers; our ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; the performance of contractors and subcontractors related to the installation of the machinery and the performance of suppliers; and competitive conditions in WestRocks businesses and possible adverse actions of their customers, competitors and suppliers. Please refer to the cautionary statements set forth in Item 1A of WestRocks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2016, March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017. WestRock undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.

About WestRock

WestRock (NYSE:WRK) partners with our customers to provide differentiated paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRocks 45,000 team members support customers around the world from more than 300 operating and business locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com.

WestRock

Investors:

Matt Tractenberg, 470-328-6327

Vice President  Head of Investor Relations

matt.tractenberg@westrock.com

John Stakel, 678-291-7901

Senior Vice President  Treasurer

john.stakel@westrock.com

Media:

John Pensec, 470-328-6397

Director, Corporate Communications

mediainquiries@westrock.com
Kenneth Eugene Furrey, 55 of Gering, Nebraska passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017 at Regional West Medical Center.

His memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel with Pastor Jeremy Skaggs officiating. Military honors will follow the service. Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials may be given to the family. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Ken was born on June 22, 1962 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Earl and Carolyn (Strodtman) Furrey. He graduated from Gering High School in 1980. Following graduation, Ken entered the United States Army on July 22, 1980 and served in Germany for 3 years. He was honorably discharged in 1983.

Ken worked for Barnett & Ramel for a number of years, Hights Tavern and the last 18 years for the City of Terrytown as Supervisor in the Utility Department.

He married Dianna Troxel on June 8, 1992 in Gering.

He was an avid Husker and Bronco fan and enjoyed fishing. He loved spending time with his family and being a grandpa. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife Dianna; son Raymond Furrey (Brandie Frickey) of Scottsbluff and grandson to be Devin Eugene Furrey due November 17, son Shad Higgins of Scottsbluff and daughter Misty Higgins of Seeley Lake, MT; grandson Robert Bruce; mother Carolyn Furrey of Gering; sister Katherine (Monty) Moore of Hutchinson, KS and their children Jessica (Stephen) Burtin and Jacob Moore; brothers-in-law Tommie (Jennifer) Troxel of Torrington and their daughter Taylor and Tracy (Angie) Troxel of Denver and their children Symone and Dylan.

He was preceded in death by his father Earl, maternal and paternal grandparents and niece Karissa Shannon.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone, a real estate lending, investment and advisory company, today announced it has provided $20,130,000 in Freddie Mac financing for West Village, an 86-unit apartment community in West Philadelphia, PA. The loans were originated by Jason Yuen of Greystones New York office.



Consisting of 3 separate parcels, West Village is a newly-constructed multifamily complex comprising 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom units. All units are townhome style duplexes with upgraded finishes. The community offers a range of amenities for residents including parking, roof decks for some units, and a community courtyard.

The property, owned by West Village Group, was financed with three separate Freddie Mac Small Balance Loans, all carrying 10-year terms and Interest-only for three years with 30-year amortization schedules.

Based on the borrowers acquisition strategy of creating a community from contiguous parcels developed over time, Greystone applied a similar financing strategy in providing a separate loan for each parcel, said Mr. Yuen. This enabled West Village Group to take advantage of the favorable terms offered by Freddie Mac and its Small Balance Loan program.

The financing of West Village is another example of the speed, pricing and certainty of execution Freddie Macs Small Balance Loan Program provides, said Stephen Johnson, vice president, Small Balance Loan Business at Freddie Mac Multifamily. Most importantly, it underscores the programs flexibility. Were committed to working with our lender partners to deliver a product that meets their clients needs  and their bottom line.

About Greystone

Greystone is a real estate lending, investment and advisory company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA and Affordable Fannie Mae lender in these sectors. Our range of services includes commercial lending across a variety of platforms such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CMBS, FHA, USDA, bridge and proprietary loan products. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Corporation, Inc., Greystone Funding Corporation and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greyco.com.

PRESS CONTACT:

Karen Marotta

Greystone

212-896-9149

Karen.Marotta@Greyco.com
Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Thursday that he intends to present a development over time of the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) reports, in order to show how and in what period the number of recommendation has increased.

"I have read and re-read the CVM report. Today, I will probably show the dynamics of the CVM reports, for you to see how it started with three recommendations and it got to 12, to see when the number of recommendations multiplied and why, what is the stage of accomplishment and then you draw the conclusions," Toader stated, upon leaving the Constitutional Court of Romania meeting, during which he presented the Gov't view regarding the request of Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu to establish if there is a judicial conflict between the Gov't and the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) in the "Belina" case.The Justice Minister assessed that the latest CVM report contains positive conclusions regarding the development of Romania's judicial system."I have presented the conclusion of the report, which is positive, that Romania can fulfill its objective of having the CVM lifted before the tenure of the incumbent European Commission ends (...) I have taken note of the commission's assessment of the progress made by Romania with meeting the recommendations made in January 2017. It is a milestone report, which is very important to underline, is a progress report, a report tracing progress from the previous similar report of January 2017. The report highlights many of Romania's progress from January 2017, providing a basis for the Commission's conclusion on Romania meeting all the CVM recommendations in the near future, with 2018 being a possible time horizon," Toader said at a news conference. AGERPRES
Citizen is the priority of Romania in exercising the presidency of the Council of the European Union in two years' time, Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu told Thursday's debate on "EU Trade Policy. Challenges and Priorities," organized by the European Institute of Romania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the Bucharest Economics Academy.

"It is the duty of each of us to participate in the European decision-making process, in the way our country expresses itself in Europe, in how we conceive our country's strategy at European level, in how we act," the minister said.Moreover, Negrescu stressed that, in this context, "we should talk about more integration, about more unity, about more solidarity - essential concepts, concepts that are related (...) to what the essence of the European Union means.""We can talk today about the need to re-build Europe, to re-found the European Union. As some decision-makers have said, Romania may be even part of this new process of re-founding the European Union and Romania assumes this," Negrescu added.Victor Negrescu also spoke about the need to increase administrative capacity in Romania. "It is pointless for us to want to be a strong country if we cannot be a strong country at European level," Negrescu pointed out.In the year when Romania will hold the presidency, he reminded, on May 9 there will be the special summit in Sibiu that will decide "the strategic agenda of the European Union by 2024."Negrescu talked also about the possible accession of Romania to the Eurozone and the need to consult all those involved in drawing up a European convergence instrument. AGERPRES
President Klaus Iohannis will attend on Friday the EU Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The summit brings together EU heads of state and government, social partners, as well as other top key actors, and includes an introductory plenary session plus three thematic sessions on access to the labor market, the situation of the labor market and the transition between jobs."The meeting will approach relevant European policies and initiatives to identify ways in which the European Union, the member states and the social partners can ensure the fulfillment of common economic and social priorities," the Presidential Administration said in a statement.The Romanian head of state will also address the session on the subject of access to the labor market.According to the Presidential Administration, President Klaus Iohannis will emphasize the importance of education in ensuring the fulfillment of labor market requirements and will insist on the continuous adjustment of educational policies to technological developments and labor market dynamics.The head of state will also underscore the need to reduce youth unemployment through relevant education policies, as well as by providing incentives to employers.A ceremony will also be held during the summit for the signing of the "Proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights".An informal meeting of the members of the European Council dedicated to the future actions of the Union in the line of education and culture is also scheduled on the occasion of the summit."During the debates, President Klaus Iohannis will express Romania's support for the relevant projects meant to help restore the citizens' confidence in European values and to increase their sense of being part of a true European community," the release said.The head of state will also advocate intensified cooperation regarding youth, highlighting the special impact of the Erasmus+ program (the EU support program in the fields of education, training, youth and sport) on building a European identity for young people and creating the skills required by the labor market."President Klaus Iohannis will advocate the importance of continuing the Union's cultural support programs and improving access to financing for businesses in this sector, given the role of culture in supporting growth and social economic development," informed the Presidential Administration. AGERPRES
Romania has the lowest level of financial brokerage in the European Union, 50 per cent of the GDP, while the European average is of 200 per cent, the head of the Directorate for Financial Stability of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), Eugen Radulescu, told IFN Credit National Conference.

"We are, by far, the country with the lowest level of financial brokerage. It stands somewhere below 50 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. On top of us is Bulgaria, with 98 per cent, and then Poland, with a little over 100 per cent. The European Union average exceeds 200 per cent. Which means that, as far as this chapter is concerned, our stand is less good than others. There are numerous reasons for this. First of all is the 70 and something per cent debt service. For these are not two things that are comparable, with the total debt. The debt service refers to how much an individual has to pay from his/her monthly income," said Radulescu.According to him, the level of more than 70 per cent appears only in the case of persons with very low incomes.This level of more than 70 percent only appears in connection to the very low incomes, of the last third of incomes from work. The ones with larger incomes have a smaller weight of the credit. This is less important to us, however. You saw that we went through the extremely unpleasant experience of the debt-to-asset law and the freezing of the Swiss franc exchange rate, with the legal regulations that came afterwards addressing the fact that the problem became real, acute. Of course, the solution adopted by the legislative was not a happy one and it got rejected by the Constitutional Court, which saved us from a great danger at the level of the financial system," the BNR official said. AGERPRES
The Department for Emergency Situations and the Federal Emergency Management Agency from the Unites States of America have just started what they want to be a long collaboration, by signing a collaboration protocol on Wednesday, which stipulated, among other things, an increased resilience in responding to emergency situations and training sessions focusing on disaster management.

The protocol has been signed by the head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Dr. Raed Arafat, and the deputy manager for protection and national training from FEMA, Prof. Dr. Daniel Kaniweski, at the headquarters of the US Permanent Representation to NATO in Brussels."The protocol is meant to increase the level of resilience and reduce the risk of disasters both in Romania and the United States of America, by facilitating cooperation in case of disasters and making an exchange of experience in the emergency situations field. In order to apply this protocol, DSU and FEMA will create a contact point that will allow the exchange of information at all times and facilitate steering. Moreover, the two institutions will make an exchange of experience based on the emergency situations that they will have to manage and they are going to organize seminaries and conferences to train the personnel from the emergency situations," specified the abovementioned source.The agreement signed by DSU and FEMA will be concluded for five years, with the possibility to prolong it.The collaboration between DSU and FEMA started in 2016, once with the signing of a memorandum on the organization of training sessions focusing resilience and on how to ensure continuity in case of disasters. The protocol between DSU and FEMA is also aimed at developing a training programme for the staff in the emergency situations and disaster management sector.The continuation of the operations represents the effort of the individual organizations to ensure the continuous functioning of the essential services during disaster time or other emergencies that may interrupt the normal functioning of operations.The first training session took place on November 2016 with the representatives of the DSU, General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, Presidential Administration, the Governmental Secretariat General, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of National Defence, emergency units, with new session to follow in the years to come. AGERPRES
Andrew Popper, the head of the House of His Royal Highness King Mihai I, stated that the health condition of the former royal is "very fragile," but for the moment it is stable.

"His state of health is fragile. Doctors are currently focusing their efforts to keep His Majesty away from pain and in a comfortable condition. Forecasts are impossible in these cases. We cannot tell. There are better moments, worse moments. Fortunately, for the time being, his situation is stable. But, no doubt that it is a fragile situation which I have explained very clear," Andrew Popper stated on Wednesday evening at TVR 1 national television station.Popper mentioned that King Mihai has "moments when he is conscious and moments when he is less conscious." "It is a normal development for this respective situation. It's not uncommon," Andrew Popper mentioned.When asked why official releases from doctors haven't yet been released, head of the House of His Majesty King Mihai explained that neither the Swiss law nor their professional ethics allows them to issue this type of releases."We, too, wanted that Swiss doctors publish a medical release and we requested them this thing. Unfortunately, they cannot do it and explained their reasons: the Swiss law doesn't give them the right to issue this type of releases and, at the same time, they are convinced that, ethically speaking, they cannot issue releases regarding the health status of a patient. (...) They are bound to observe their medical secrecy and the patient's privacy. This is the only reason for which medical releases have not been issued," Popper explained.In regards to the absence of new footage with King Mihai, he mentioned that "it would be a violation of His Majesty's dignity."The head of the Royal House added that the last time he met King Mihai was in March, in Aubonne, Switzerland."I paid a long visit, I spent an entire day with His Majesty. (...) I tell you, I left satisfied in the sense that, certainly this physical degradation that I told you about intervened, but, at the same time, the most encouraging thing is that I found him calm and content, and, in a sense, happy. Having peace of mind. And it filled me with happiness to see him living in peace," Andrew Popper added. AGERPRES
Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil Eduardo Augusto Ibiapina de Seixa met on Thursday on which occasion the Romanian official praised the encouraging growth trend of Romanian exports to Brazil, arguing that economic and trade relations need stimulation for mutual benefit.

According to a press release of the Senate, the parties discussed ways to attract Brazilian investors to Romania but also possibilities to promote reciprocal investments focused on research and technology transfer in domains such as infrastructure, petrochemical industry, energy, naval constructions, agriculture or the food industry.Within the same context, the Senate Chairman showed the importance Romania grants to the development of the relations with Brazil, the biggest trading party in Latin America, both bilaterally and within the EU - the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).Moreover, Senate President Tariceanu expressed confidence that the bilateral relation can also be strengthened through a more dynamic and steady dialogue at parliamentary level, highlighting in this context, the role of the Friendship Parliamentary Group with Romania Brazil's Congress and of the Friendship Romanian-Brazilian Parliamentary Group in Romania's Parliament, set up this year. AGERPRES
Chairman of the Romanian Senate Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Thursday welcomed Polish ambassador to Bucharest Marcin Wilczek to underline the importance of economic co-operation and a mutual interest of the two countries in the development of projects at regional level designed to bridge the gap between East and West in the European Union.

According to a Senate press statement, the talks highlighted the "excellent" dynamics of parliamentary dialogue and close collaboration, in which joint initiatives and joint actions are being developed in a broad format, given the convergence of interests within the EU and NATO and the important regional role of both countries, which develop privileged relations under their bilateral strategic partnership.Tariceanu mentioned that particular attention was paid to strengthening the role of the Legislature in the field of regional and international security, and steps were taken to establish a parliamentary pillar of the platform for dialogue and consultation on security issues, such as the Bucharest Format (B9)."The Romanian side voiced confidence that the organisation of the first B9 parliamentary summit in Bucharest in 2018, at the joint initiative of the Senate of Romania and the Senate of the Republic of Poland, will contribute to the series of consultations of NATO's eastern flank countries in preparation for the NATO Summit in Brussels in 2018," reads the statement. AGERPRES
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 Vantiv Inc and Vantiv UK Limited (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 15 November, 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, Worldpay Group plc

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:



USD 0.00001 Class A common



Interests short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 5,741,889 3.5329



(2) Cash-settled derivatives:



(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 5,741,889 3.5329





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 USD 0.00001 Class A common Sale 134,400 52.7381 GBP

(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: 16 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.
United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Romania, stopping in Bucharest on his way back home from his journey in Asia.

Rex Tillerson doesn't have an official scheduled in Romania, the US Embassy informs in a message sent to AGERPRES . He was greeted by Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu, according to some diplomatic sources.The high official spent the night in Bucharest, after a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi and the Army commander, general Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar on Wednesday, in the context of the humanitarian crisis which has the Rohingya minority at its core.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trifecta Gold Ltd. (TSX-V:TG) (Trifecta or the Company) is pleased to announce the results from 2017 exploration programs at its wholly-owned Eureka, Triple Crown and Treble properties in the Dawson Range Gold Belt of western Yukon.



Results from the 2017 exploration programs on our wholly-owned Yukon properties are very encouraging and the Company looks forward to building on these advancements in 2018, stated Dylan Wallinger, Trifectas President and Chief Executive Officer. We have successfully expanded known anomalies and have identified high quality drill targets.

Eureka

Trifectas road accessible Eureka property is located in the legendary Klondike Goldfields, 110 km by road south of Dawson City. It lies directly on the proposed haulage road for Goldcorps Coffee Deposit, between Klondike Gold Corp.s Klondike project and White Gold Corp.s Black Hills property. Eureka is underlain by metasedimentary rocks belonging to the Yukon-Tanana Terrane and has never been glaciated. The property straddles the headwaters of Black Hills and Eureka creeks, two of the most productive placer creeks in the southern part of the Klondike Goldfields with reported gold production totaling about 200,000 ounces between 1978 and 2016.

There are five known mineral showings on the Eureka property, three of which are drill-ready targets, and all of which appear to host gold in a series of gently to moderately dipping breccia zones that have been partially delineated by mineralized trenches and drill holes. Historical work on the property includes: mapping; prospecting; soil sampling; hand and mechanized trenching (5818 m in 38 trenches); ground and airborne geophysical surveying; reverse circulation (RC) drilling (4174 m in 41 holes); and diamond drilling (1188 m in 8 holes). Highlight results from drilling include a bulk tonnage intercept of 0.59 g/t gold over 18.3 m, and a high grade intercept of 9.99 g/t gold over 1.5 m.

Soil sampling in 2017 expanded a previously outlined 6 km long by up to 2.5 km wide northwesterly-elongated gold-in-soil geochemical anomaly to the northwest and southeast by 1000 m in each direction, increasing its length to 8 km. Four hundred and forty-three soil samples were collected in 2017, with anomalous values ranging from 20 to 545 ppb gold-in-soil. This northerly elongated belt of extensive gold-in-soil geochemical anomalies is open to extension in most directions and much of the property has not yet been sampled. Very limited prospecting has been done in the vicinity of the strongly anomalous gold-in-soil locations and this remains a high priority for future work.

The Eureka property is favourably located, but has received surprisingly little drilling and trenching considering the size and strength of its soil geochemical anomaly and the abundance of placer gold in creeks draining the property. Placer mining is ongoing in the area, and gold recovered from the upper reaches of both Eureka and Black Hills creeks is described as a mixture of coarse and fine, generally angular grains, with some grains containing inclusions of dark quartz while others are attached to larger white quartz fragments. All of these attributes suggest the gold is near source. Future work should include additional grid soil sampling followed by excavator trenching and/or track-mounted RC or rotary air blast drilling and diamond drilling.

Triple Crown

The Triple Crown property is located midway between Goldcorps Coffee Deposit and Rockhaven Resources Klaza Deposit, near Western Copper and Golds proposed Casino Project access road. The property hosts numerous strong multi-element soil geochemical anomalies, none of which have been tested by drilling or mechanized trenching. Historical results from Triple Crown include a 2015 rock sample assaying 6680 g/t silver, 30.22% lead and 0.80 g/t gold, and a 2016 hand trench returning 570 g/t silver, 2.76% lead and 0.08 g/t gold over 6.4 m.

Exploration at Triple Crown in 2017 consisted of mapping, prospecting and hand trenching. In 2017, a total of 603 grid and contour soil samples were collected from the central and northeastern parts of the property. This sampling expanded existing soil geochemical anomalies and generated new targets for follow-up work. Peak values from this sampling were 137 ppm silver-in-soil, 11,250 ppm lead-in-soil and 232 ppb gold-in-soil with strongly elevated values for antimony, bismuth, copper, molybdenum and zinc.

Prospecting on the property in 2017 returned encouraging results for silver, lead and gold. Two composite chip samples collected in the vicinity of the 2016 and 2017 hand trenches returned 1465 g/t silver, 52.52% lead and 0.176 g/t gold and 1360 g/t silver, 49.41% lead and 0.434 g/t gold, respectively, while prospecting in an under-explored part of the property, west of the hand trenching area, produced a grab sample returning 3.78 g/t gold and 281 g/t silver with low values for lead.

In 2017, four hand trenches were attempted, but frozen ground hindered productivity and only TR-17-01 reached bedrock. Trench TR-17-01 was excavated along the same topographic linear as TR-16-18, which failed to reach bedrock due to permafrost. A chip sample from this trench returned 197 g/t silver, 7.17% lead and 0.228 g/t gold over 1 m.

Future work on the Triple Crown property will focus on delineating known mineralization both along strike by prospecting and hand trenching, and down-dip by drilling. Additional prospecting and soil sampling is required as much of the property remains untested.

Treble

The Treble property lies in the centre of the Dawson Range Gold Belt in western Yukon, about 55 km southeast of Goldcorps Coffee deposit, near the proposed Casino Project access road and 8 km northwest of Triple Crown. The Treble property is underlain by Late Devonian to Mississippian Nasina Assemblage metasediments, which were intruded by Pelly Gneiss Suite plutons prior to regional deformation. Together, these units form the basal package that was intruded by Middle to Late Cretaceous granites and cut by Late Cretaceous to Tertiary felsic dykes belonging to the Prospector Mountain Suite. The Treble property hosts multi-element soil geochemical anomalies and vein- and breccia-style mineralization.

Pre-2017 work included prospecting, soil sampling and airborne magnetic and radiometric geophysical surveys. This work identified three multi-element soil geochemical anomalies (Anomalies A, B and C). These anomalies have returned anomalous values up to 1060 ppb gold-in-soil, 1045 ppm arsenic-in-soil and 24 ppm antimony-in-soil. Anomaly A hosts a 100 by 120 m zone of hydrothermal quartz breccia float. The hydrothermal breccias are characterized by dark grey siliceous matrix with vugs filled with arsenopyrite, stibnite and limonite and rare scorodite staining. A rock sample of hydrothermal breccia collected within Anomaly A returned 14.15 g/t gold, 684 ppm antimony, 3060 ppm barium and greater than 1% arsenic.

Trifectas 2017 exploration program focused on the northeastern part of the property, within and west of Anomaly A, while minor prospecting was completed within Anomaly C. The program comprised closely spaced grid soil sampling, prospecting and 31 m of hand trenching. Soil sample results from this work were encouraging with peak values of 135 ppb gold-in-soil, 456 ppm arsenic-in-soil and 9 ppm antimony-in-soil. The best rock sample collected in 2017 was a specimen of limonitic hydrothermal breccia from within Anomaly A, which yielded 0.885 g/t gold, 1170 ppm arsenic and 41 ppm antimony. The hand trench did not reach bedrock; however, a composite sample of float specimens within the trench returned 0.290 g/t gold, 387 ppm arsenic and 14 ppm antimony across 3 m.

Trifecta would like to thank the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Geological Survey for awarding Yukon Mineral Exploration Program grants to the Company for the 2017 work programs on the Triple Crown and Treble properties.

QAQC

Sample preparation for the Eureka, Triple Crown and Treble properties in 2017 was carried out by ALS Minerals with sample preparation in Whitehorse, Yukon and geochemical analyses in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Rock and soil samples were analyzed for 35 elements by aqua-regia acid digestion and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ME-ICP41). Rock samples from the Triple Crown property were analyzed for 48 other elements by four acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ME-MS61). Overlimit values were determined for silver, lead and zinc by four acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ME-OG62). Overlimit analysis for samples with lead greater than 20% were completed by acid dissolution and titration (Pb-VOL70). All samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay fusion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (Au-ICP21), except for rock samples from the Treble property which were analyzed for gold by a 50 g fire assay fusion followed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (Au-AA24).

The 2017 programs were managed by Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited (Archer Cathro). Technical information in this news release has been approved by Heather Burrell, P.Geo., a geologist with Archer Cathro and a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.

About Trifecta Gold Ltd.

Trifecta is a Canadian precious metal exploration company dedicated to increasing shareholder value through the acquisition and development of attractive exploration projects in Canada and other mining-friendly jurisdictions.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Dylan Arnold-Wallinger

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information concerning Trifecta or its various exploration projects please visit our website at www.trifectagold.com or contact:

Corporate Information

Trifecta Gold Ltd.

Dylan Wallinger

President and CEO

Tel: (604) 687-2522

This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

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.
Developer Green Street St. Louis is adjusting its financing plan to turn the old Missouri National Guard Armory in Midtown St. Louis into 170,000 square feet of "next generation" office space.

Green Street's Brian Pratt told a city commission this week said that after a "rigorous discussion" with state and federal officials, its plans for the Armory building's interior wouldn't qualify for historic tax credits. The company says historic preservation officials say its plans to fill in part of the Armory's large atrium disqualifies it for historic tax credits. Green Street had been counting on state and federal historic credits to finance about $11 million of the project.

The $83 million project is now turning to local property tax abatement to fill in the gap. It is within an area where St. Louis University's new Midtown Redevelopment Corp. can grant property tax breaks to developers. But the city's agreement with the entity requires the consent of the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority for abatement granted to the Armory.

It granted that this week, at a rate of 95 percent for 10 years and 50 percent for five years, worth roughly $11.8 million over 15 years. Combined with tax increment financing the city approved earlier this year, some $17.2 million in local incentives are assisting the project.

Green Street plans to have the Armory building open by the second quarter of 2019. In addition to the Armory office space, it plans a parking garage next door with a development on top of it that will connect the 8-acre development site below Grand Boulevard and Highway 40 (Interstate 64) to the streets around St. Louis Universitys campus above it.

Green Street also helped fund the Great Rivers Greenway design competition for the Chouteau Greenway from downtown to Midtown. It would connect the Armory with the Lawrence Group's City foundry project planned on the other side of Highway 40, as well as to the rest of the Central Corridor. (11.16)
SAN MATEO, Calif. and RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SnapLogic, the leader in self-service application and data integration, and CSC BRASIL, a premier consulting and solutions provider focused on data analytics, business intelligence, and infrastructure management, today announced a strategic partnership to help organizations in Latin America improve business processes, accelerate decision-making, and drive better business outcomes.



The rapid growth of the cloud and the rise of big data present unprecedented opportunities that SnapLogic and CSC BRASIL will help their customers unlock. Together, SnapLogic and CSC Brasil are uniquely positioned to deliver simple, powerful solutions that allow customers to quickly and easily connect disparate sources of data and mine valuable insights to expand their businesses.

Were excited to be partnering with CSC BRASIL to better serve our joint customers and expand our operations in the region," said Carlos Hernandez Saca, Area Director for Latin America, SnapLogic. Businesses are acquiring more cloud apps and more data than ever before. By combining CSC BRASILs unmatched market and domain expertise with SnapLogics leading integration technologies, customers will be able to get the most out of their technology investments, uncover new opportunities, and grow their business.

We have very strong expertise in the Data Analytics segment, working with many leading market solutions, said Eduardo Sterenfeld, Business Development Manager, CSC BRASIL. Our partnership with SnapLogic aims to provide our customers an even more comprehensive portfolio, adding Snaplogic as the premier integration platform for the modern architecture.

According to industry analysts, the global Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) market grew by more than 60 percent in 2016. In April, SnapLogic was named a leader in the 2017 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Integration Platform as a Service for the second year in a row. By applying its expertise in application and data integration, SnapLogic provides the following solutions:

SnapLogics Enterprise Integration Cloud (EIC) accelerates data and process flow across cloud and on-premises applications, as well as data warehouses, big data streams, and IoT deployments. Unlike traditional integration software, which requires painstaking, handcrafted coding by teams of developers, the SnapLogic platform makes it fast and easy to create scalable data pipelines that supply the right data to the right people at the right time.

accelerates data and process flow across cloud and on-premises applications, as well as data warehouses, big data streams, and IoT deployments. Unlike traditional integration software, which requires painstaking, handcrafted coding by teams of developers, the SnapLogic platform makes it fast and easy to create scalable data pipelines that supply the right data to the right people at the right time. SnapLogic Snaps provide more than 400 intelligent pre-built connections to popular SaaS applications, APIs, databases, data warehouses, analytic tools, and more. IT and business leaders who need to connect various endpoints  such as Salesforce, Workday, Oracle, SAP, Cloudera, Amazon Redshift, Google Big Query, Tableau, and more  can find the right Snap to meet the task.

provide more than 400 intelligent pre-built connections to popular SaaS applications, APIs, databases, data warehouses, analytic tools, and more. IT and business leaders who need to connect various endpoints  such as Salesforce, Workday, Oracle, SAP, Cloudera, Amazon Redshift, Google Big Query, Tableau, and more  can find the right Snap to meet the task. SnapLogic's AI-powered Integration Assistant expertly guides users to quickly build high quality data pipelines, accelerating time-to-value and flattening the learning curve for citizen integrators.



SnapLogic is focused on building out a rich partner ecosystem to accelerate its expansion and enable global customers to more quickly adopt SaaS applications, cloud data management, and big data technologies. SnapLogics technology enables this by accelerating integration and driving digital transformation in the enterprise.



About CSC BRASIL

CSC BRASIL is a solution and services provider that supports your customers businesses, enabling them to become more efficient and competitive in an increasingly digital world. Backed by more than 30 years of market experience, CSC BRASIL offers innovative technologies and carries end to end projects in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Service Management, and Infrastructure Management, servicing clients in large corporations covering multiple market segments.

About SnapLogic

SnapLogic is the global leader in self-service integration. The companys Enterprise Integration Cloud makes it fast and easy to connect applications, data, APIs, and things. Hundreds of Global 2000 customers  including Adobe, AstraZeneca, Box, GameStop, Verizon, and Wendys  rely on SnapLogic to automate business processes, accelerate analytics, and drive digital transformation. SnapLogic was founded by data industry veteran Gaurav Dhillon and is backed by blue-chip investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Capital One, Ignition Partners, Microsoft, Triangle Peak Partners, and Vitruvian Partners. Learn more at snaplogic.com.



Connect with SnapLogic via our blog, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Press Contacts:

Scott Behles

SnapLogic

scott.behles@snaplogic.com

+1 415-571-4462

Mariana Mendes

CSC BRASIL

mmendes@cscbrasil.com.br

+55 21 3216-9444



Leigh Ann Benicewicz

Bateman for SnapLogic

snaplogic@bateman-group.com

+1 415-315-9301




WASHINGTON  The Federal Communications Commission has voted to undo key roadblocks to increased consolidation among media companies, potentially unleashing new deals among TV, radio and newspaper owners as they seek to better compete with online media.

The Republican-led FCC voted 3-2 to eliminate the 42-year-old ban on cross-ownership of a newspaper and TV station in a major market and to make it easier for media companies to buy additional TV stations in the same market, and for local stations to jointly sell advertising time and for companies to buy additional radio stations in some markets.

Big media companies including Tegna Inc., CBS Corp. and Nexstar Media Group Inc. have cited the rule change as motivating them to consider expansion opportunities.

This is really about helping large media companies grow even bigger, Democratic FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said, adding that Republicans were more intent on granting the industrys holiday wish list early rather than looking out for the public interest.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended the rule change, saying it was utter nonsense that rules banning cross-ownership of a newspaper and broadcast station were still in place after massive changes in media over the last four decades.

The decision could also allow Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., which is seeking approval for its proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co., to avoid some divestitures in order to gain approval of the deal.

Sinclair announced plans in May to acquire Tribunes 42 TV stations in 33 markets as well as cable network WGN America, extending its reach to 72 percent of American households.

If it isnt required to divest any stations, Sinclair could end up owning KTVI (Channel 2) and KPLR (Channel 11) in St. Louis in addition to KDNL (Channel 30), which it already owns.

KPLR is part of the CW network. KDNL is an ABC affiliate. KTVI, a news partner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is the local Fox affiliate.

The newspaper and broadcasting industries have said they need the changes to deal with growing competition from much larger web and cable companies.

But critics say dumping these rules, by encouraging consolidation, hurts media diversity. Free Press, a group that opposes media mergers, said Thursday that it would challenge the rule changes in court.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a critic of media consolidation, has called on the FCC to block the Sinclair-Tribune Media deal.

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 nations largest television broadcast company, Durbin, of Springfield, said in a recent letter to Pai.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Thursday that the vote will pave the wave for massive broadcast conglomerates to increasingly provide local viewers with nationalized cookie-cutter news and corporate propaganda thats produced elsewhere.

But the National Association of Broadcasters said the rules were not only irrational in todays media environment, but they have also weakened the newspaper industry, cost journalism jobs and forced local broadcast stations onto unequal footing with our national pay-TV and radio competitors.

Moodys, the credit ratings company, said Thursday that the FCCs decision would allow broadcasters that increase their scale in local markets to attract more advertising, improve their negotiating leverage and bring down their costs.

The FCC has already taken steps favorable to broadcasters and Sinclair. It scrapped a rule that required TV and radio broadcasters to maintain a local studio and withdrew a technical measure that hindered media consolidation.

Pai is also expected to call for an initial vote in December to rescind rules prohibiting one company from owning stations that serve more than 39 percent of U.S. television households, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing two people briefed on the matter.

Shares of media stocks, including Sinclair, Nexstar, Tegna, Tribune Media and CBS, all rose after the FCC vote.

Reuters, The Associated Press and the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
LONDON, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Modex (www.Modex.tech) CEO Mihai Ivascu announces the launch of worlds first App Store for Blockchain.



The Modex Smart Contract Marketplace will be launched through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO), allowing investors to participate in the launch and buy utility tokens, which will give them access to the marketplace. The date of the pre-sale for the ICO will be 28th November 2017.

This was announced at The Smart Contract Marketplace Platform in London and attended by industry giants such as Miko Matsumura of Pantera Capital, Renny Navaez of BNY Mellon, Angelique Mohring, Founder CEO of GainX, Professor Olinga Taeed, Director of the not-for-profit Think Tank, the Centre for Citizenship, Enterprise and Governance (x Pedagog Limited and Hyper Cast) as well as Nick Williamson, Founder of Qadre, along with leaders of industries.

About the Modex Smart Contract Marketplace, Renny Navaez of BNY Mellon commented: From a financial perspective theres a big piece of savings in there. But, in addition to that, we see a lot of potential for building products that have not been thought of yet and thats quite exciting. That, for any financial institution is quite important.

The Modex Smart Contract Marketplace promises to be a global blockchain App Store meant to remove the inefficiencies by having users interact directly with the provider at every level of a companys daily life whether it be in financial services, retail, supply chain or travel insurance.

Mihai Ivascu, CEO of Modex, said: Since September, Modex has moved steadfast to be the innovator and creator of the worlds first App Store for Blockchain. The moment is now to launch the Modex Smart Contract Marketplace which coincides with the increasing interest from retailers, industry leaders and financial institutions. Smart contracts introduce an added layer of facilitation, where agreements can be structured on the Blockchain to be both self-executing and self-enforcing, providing a wide range of benefits and applications.

The Modex App Store for Smart Contracts will be a platform to connect smart contracts and applications that together will create an ecosystem to empower blockchain advancements.

Modex makes deployment of Smart Contracts significantly easier, faster and more cost-effective, speeding up blockchain technology adoption.

Download image of Mihai Ivascu, Modex CEO: www.APO-mail.org/Modex1.jpg www.APO-mail.org/Modex2.jpg

Download image of Renny Navaez of BNY Mellon: www.APO-mail.org/Modex3.jpg

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Modex.



Press Enquiries:

Gemma Dunn, Teamspirit, Moneymailme@Teamspiritpr.com, +44 020 7360 7878

Mihaela Becheru, Head of Communications at Modex, Mihaela@Modex.Tech https://Modex.Tech, +40766.350.466
ST. LOUIS  Homicide detectives are looking into the death of a St. Charles County man who was admitted to a hospital in October.

Relatives told police that they took Phillip Campbell, 61, to a hospital after he was possibly assaulted on Oct. 28, but they didn't notify police until Oct. 30, according to the department. Police learned he had been found critically injured in a gangway in the 3600 block of Dunnica Avenue in St. Louis.

The police department said it was notified he died on Nov. 10. An autopsy Wednesday did not determine a cause of death, pending further investigation. Homicide detectives are investigating the case as a suspicious death.

Campbell lived on Chele Drive in St. Charles County, but owned a rental property on Dunnica.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this gave an incorrect hometown for Phillips.
WAYNE, N.J., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., a recognized leader in medical imaging systems and healthcare IT, unveils AeroRemote Insights, a new web-based tool designed to provide valuable information for imaging departments, to gain more insights about their Konica Minolta digital radiography (DR) assets. AeroRemote Insights represents Konica Minoltas commitment to providing customers with enhanced tools to improve their imaging efficiency and effectiveness. The company will be demonstrating AeroRemote Insights at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in booth #1919, being held November 26-December 1, 2017 in Chicago.



AeroRemote Insights is designed to provide vital information about productivity, user performance and AeroDR system health at a glance. Easy to use data analytics are available from any computer or mobile device and will enable departments to improve workflow, accuracy and uptime.

Representing a new era of proactive monitoring solutions and a great addition to the AeroRemote service, AeroRemote Insights delivers valuable, interactive and actionable data, says Steven Eisner, Senior Product Manager at Konica Minolta Healthcare. Managers can remotely evaluate productivity by technologist or exam room, identify areas for improvement such as exam repeat rates, and ensure optimal calibration and performance of their AeroDR systems.

As part of Konica Minoltas premium Blue Moon plans or as a stand-alone subscription, AeroRemote Insights will be available for most Konica Minolta AeroDR systems in early 2018.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.

Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs and helping make better decisions sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

Company name KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

Headquarters JP TOWER, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Founded December 1936 FY 2016 Revenue $962.8 Billion JPY Number of employees Approx. 43,980 (2017) Business Lines





The Konica Minolta Group operates in sectors ranging from business technologies, where our products are typified by MFPs (multi-functional peripherals), and Industrial Business (former Optics Business), where our products include pickup lenses for optical disks, and TAC film, a key material used in LCD panels, to healthcare, where we make digital X-ray diagnostic imaging systems.







Contact:

Mary Beth Massat

Massat Media

224.578.2388

www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa
English German

Horgen, November 16, 2017 - 3A Technology & Management AG, a company belonging to the Schweiter Technologies Group, has signed an agreement with Halter AG to sell its investment property in Neuhausen. The transaction will generate a book gain in the single-digit CHF millions for Schweiter Technologies.

In 2012, 3A Technology & Management AG and Halter Entwicklungen signed an agreement to jointly develop the RhyTech site in Neuhausen. In October 2014 the changes to the zoning plan required for the project entered into force, and the related district plan was approved in 2016. The project encompasses the development of residential and commercial spaces while retaining the historic production building. Halter will continue to drive the development project forward as planned after the transfer of ownership.

The transaction will be concluded once the legally valid entries in the land register have been made, which is expected to take place before the end of 2017.

For further information please contact:

Martin Kloti, CFO

Tel. +41 44 718 33 03, fax +41 44 718 34 51, martin.kloeti@schweiter.com

Schweiter Technologies AG, Neugasse 10, CH - 8810 Horgen, Switzerland

Tel. +41 44 718 33 03 Fax +41 44 718 34 51 info@schweiter.com

www.schweiter.com

Please find the Media release in the PDF attached:
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. To a kid growing up in southeast Missouri, the fourth Thursday of November meant waking up to falling leaves, crisp air and the aroma of my moms freshly brewed coffee. For me, Thanksgiving was basically Christmas without the presents. I still look forward to it every year.

My sister and I spent hours crafting colorful turkey decorations each autumn  yet we were encouraged to eat the very birds we celebrated. I watched my male relatives jockey for the role of turkey carver like it was a position of honor. Right before every Thanksgiving meal, my whole family formed a circle around the birds carved-up body, joined hands and bowed heads.

Now that I know what turkeys go through before reaching our tables, I must speak up. This Thanksgiving alone, 45 million turkeys will be killed for our dinners  after suffering short, brutal lives.

Turkeys are highly social, sensitive and intelligent. They can form lifetime bonds with humans, chickens, each other and many other animals. A turkeys vocabulary boasts more than 20 distinct vocalizations, and turkeys recognize one another by each birds unique voice. In the wild, turkeys can memorize the details of areas as large as 1,000 acres. If given the chance, these birds are often as affectionate as dogs, and theyll purr when petted. Wild turkeys can live up to 13 years, and baby turkeys stay with their mothers for the first five months of their lives.

But factory-farmed turkeys are taken from their mothers as hatchlings and killed at just five months of age.

These young turkeys spend their entire lives crammed in windowless sheds with thousands of other birds. Factory-farmed turkeys are bred to grow so large, so fast that their legs sometimes break from the weight. Males are bred to develop such large breasts that the birds cant even mate. All reproduction is through artificial insemination.

Many turkeys are so stressed by these conditions that they stop eating. Even worse, turkeys often have heart attacks when they see other birds being killed. And many turkeys who survive long enough to face slaughter are scalded alive; production lines move so rapidly that workers often fail to kill the turkeys before theyre dropped  conscious and able to feel pain  into feather-removal tanks.

Sadly, this is all considered acceptable and customary by the animal agriculture industry. But the cruelty doesnt stop there. I know this because I work at Mercy For Animals, an animal protection charity working to uncover and stop animal abuse at factory farms and slaughterhouses.

MFAs undercover investigations into Butterball brought about the first-ever felony conviction for cruelty to factory-farmed birds after we documented workers punching, kicking and throwing turkeys. These devastating investigations of the largest turkey producer in the U.S. show baby birds ground up alive in giant macerators, beaks and toes burned or chopped off without painkillers, and wounded animals left to suffer and die without care. But Butterball is no exception.

So this Thanksgiving, I have to ask: Why take part in such an abusive system when you dont have to, especially when eating meat increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes, food poisoning, antibiotic resistance and premature death?

Its also important to know that factory farms hurt Missouris independent family farmers, rural communities, public health and environment. As John E. Ikerd, an agricultural professor at University of Missouri-Columbia, points out it in a recent paper, although industrial farmers are not legally required to care about Missouri conservation or the health of Missourians, they are ethically bound to stop polluting Missouris streams and producing unsafe foods.

Fortunately, planning a healthy, tasty, and cruelty-free Thanksgiving feast isnt difficult. The internet is full of simple, delicious vegan recipes for all your favorite sides  mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, stuffing and even macaroni and cheese. And you can replace the bird with any centerpiece you want; stuffed squash, vegan wellington and plant-based roasts are all great options available at your local Kroger or Walmart.

Personally, I couldnt be more thrilled that Im about to celebrate my first vegan Thanksgiving. I cant wait to start my own cruelty-free Thanksgiving traditions, and Im more excited than ever about waking up on Thanksgiving Day.

Elizabeth Enochs is a Los Angeles-based writer born and raised in Missouri who graduated from Southeast Missouri State University.
French English

BONDUELLE

A French SCA (Partnership Limited by Shares) with a capital of 56,000,000 Euros

Head Office: La Woestyne, 59173 Renescure, France.

Registered under number: 447 250 044 (Dunkerque Commercial and Companies Register)

COMBINED SHAREHOLDER'S MEETING

OF THE 7th OF DECEMBER 2017

Villeneuve d'Ascq, on the 16th of November 2017

Press Release

AVAILABILITY OF PREPARATORY DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE COMBINED

SHAREHOLDER'S MEETING

The shareholders of the company are invited to attend the Combined Shareholder's Meeting that will take place on Thursday the 7th of December 2017 at 5.00 pm at the company's administrative head office located at: rue Nicolas Appert in VILLENEUVE ASCQ.

The preliminary notice of meeting, including the agenda and draft resolutions, was published in French Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) dated of 30.10.2017 and the convening notice will be published in the BALO as well as in a newspaper authorized to carry legal advertisements - La Voix du Nord - on the 20.11.2017. The preparatory documents for the forthcoming Combined Shareholder's Meeting as set out in Article R. 225-73-1 of the French Code of Commerce are available on the website of the company: http://www.bonduelle.com/fr/investisseurs/assemblee-generale.html as from today.

In accordance with article R. 225-89 of the French Code of Commerce, it is specified that the full text of the documents to be presented to the Shareholder's Meeting according to articles L. 225-115 and R. 225-83 of the French Code of Commerce will be made available at the company's administrative head office, located at: rue Nicolas Appert, BP 30173 - 59653 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex as from the publication of the Shareholder's Meeting convening notice, i.e. 20.11.2017.

In accordance with article R. 225-88 of the French Code of Commerce, any shareholder holding registered shares may, up to and including the fifth day before the Shareholder's Meeting, request the company to send him the information mentioned in articles R. 225- 81 and R. 225-83 of the French Code of Commerce. For holders of bearer shares, the exercise of this right is subject to the submission of a shareholding certificate in the bearer share accounts held by a financial authorized intermediary.

This document is a free translation into English and has no other value than an informative one. Should there be any difference between the French and the English version, only the French-language version shall be deemed authentic and considered as expressing the exact information published by Bonduelle.
A FORMER Warwickshire police officer accused of sexually assaulting a number of children almost 40 years ago will not stand trial until the early part of 2019.

Timothy Lively appeared at Warwick Crown Court today, Thursday, for what was intended to be a plea and trial preparation hearing on 20 allegations in relation to ten boys and three girls.

The offences are all alleged to have taken place in Stratford in the 1970s and 1980s when Lively, aged 58, of Old School Mead, Bidford-on-Avon, was a serving Warwickshire Police officer.

But Judge Stephen Eyre QC was told by prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC that both the prosecution and defence were asking that the indictment should not be put to him.

Miss Cottage explained that Lively, who was a police officer and, before then, a cadet, denies all of the allegations.

There will therefore have to be a trial, which she said is expected to last up to ten weeks.

But before then there will need to be a further hearing in relation to three of the charges  and in law that hearing has to take place before he is arraigned on them.

And in addition, she said the defence have a number of enquiries to make regarding witnesses and people the police have spoken to but who are not expected to be called by the prosecution to give evidence.

As a result, the defence would not be ready for trial until October of next year, but she would then not be available to conduct the trial until February the following year.

Asking for the trial to be put back until then to enable her to do so, Miss Cottage commented: This is not a straight-forward case; it is very complex.

Confirming he had no objection to that, Stephen Vullo QC, defending, said: We are going to conduct an investigation and were going to ask for time. An extra four months will not make any difference.

So Judge Eyre adjourned the case for the legal matters to be dealt with at a two-day hearing at the court in March next year and for the trial to begin in February 2019.

Granting Lively unconditional bail, the judge told him: If you do not attend on those days, that is a separate offence, and if you do not attend, the trial may continue in your absence.

The charges Lively faces include raping and indecently assaulting a girl when she was under the age of 16, and indecently assaulting another girl when she was over 16.

In relation to a third girl, he is accused of two charges of indecently assaulting her, one relating to when she was under 14 and one when she was under 16, as well as committing an act of gross indecency with her.

Lively is also charged with committing sexual offences with a boy when he was 15 in the early 1980s, and again when he was over 16, without his consent.

He further faces charges of indecently assaulting each of seven boys who were under 16 at the time, and four of indecently assaulting two of those boys and two others when they were 16 or over.
Los Angeles, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmithGroupJJR, one of the nation's largest integrated design firms, will now offer mechanical and electrical engineering services in-house at its Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego offices for the first time in the companys 164-year history. Director of engineering services and sustainable design expert Don Posson has relocated from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles to lead this expansion initiative.

With 10 offices in the U.S. and a presence in Shanghai, China, SmithGroupJJR has provided a full range of professional services for large and complex projects across markets. The decision to offer engineering services in California supports strategic and operational initiatives to expand SmithGroupJJRs pattern of steady growth and positions the firm to better service clients and building owners that are increasingly opting to use multi-disciplinary firms to solve project challenges through Integrated Project Delivery and design-build partnerships.

Having a myriad of services  from master planning and architecture, to multiple engineering disciplines, landscape architecture and more  provided by a single, integrated firm allows owners to benefit from the creativity and heightened quality that such collaboration brings. By adding Dons (Posson) expertise to our West Coast leadership team and expanding our service offerings to include engineering talent in California, were stating loud and clear that were becoming increasingly multi-disciplined and fully integrated, said SmithGroupJJR Managing Partner Troy Thompson.

Posson rejoined SmithGroupJJR in 2013, and has been instrumental in strengthening its capabilities to deliver high performance building design solutions. He has played a prominent role in shaping engineering design concepts for some of SmithGroupJJRs recent notable projects, including the Museum of the Bible; the University of California, Riversides Multidisciplinary Research Building 1; and a new headquarters for the District of Columbias Water and Sewer Authority. The latter, currently in construction, incorporates an innovative heat recovery and rejection system that will utilize heat from the pumping stations wastewater treatment operations to condition the building. Once complete in 2018, it will be one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The specialized services and award-winning engineering solutions that weve been known for nationally will now become more readily available to our California-based clients, stated Posson.

SmithGroupJJR projects have been recognized for engineering excellence by the industrys most reputable organizations, including American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC); Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI); Engineering News-Record; R&D Magazine; and the Resilient Design Institute, among others. Select projects cited for outstanding engineering include:

- Chesapeake Bay Foundations Brock Environmental Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia  This net-zero energy, Living Building Challenge Certified facility is the first building in the U.S. permitted to treat rainwater for potable uses and has been lauded as a pinnacle of sustainability and resilience for its many design and engineering accomplishments.

- DPR Constructions Phoenix Regional Office, Phoenix, Arizona  Once an adult-themed boutique, this high-performance workplace is a living laboratory of green design and Arizona's first commercial net-zero-energy office building.

- U.S. Department of Energy & National Renewable Energy Laboratorys Energy Systems Integration Facility, Golden, Colorado  The first of its kind in the country, this ultra-green workplace employs the most efficient technology available and was named the 2014 Laboratory of the Year by R&D Magazine.

SmithGroupJJR (www.smithgroupjjr.com) is a nationally recognized, fully-integrated design firm with more than 1,100 employees in 10 offices in the U.S. and a presence in Shanghai, China. The firm was ranked the 7th Largest Architecture/Engineering Firm by Building Design + Construction for 2017, and serves clients in the health, workplace, higher education, science & technology, cultural, urban design, and waterfront arenas.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0e88a66-c66c-418d-95c5-f70506758807

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/93a1040c-601a-4770-aad7-9b799da126f2

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e7d29b3-ed9a-49b6-b7be-3b7edf1f430e
At least fifteen people died on Wednesday and more were missing after a strong overnight downpour flooded three towns in Greece, officials said.

The flooding struck the towns of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, a semi-rural area west of Athens where many factories and warehouses are based.

TV images showed tanker trucks, buses and lorries nearly completely submerged in the muddy torrent. We have confirmation of seven deaths, deputy regional governor Yiannis Vassileiou told state TV ERT as rain continued to fall.

Five men and two women aged 45 and above have died so far. The weather forecast is poor, so we are on alert, he said, adding that torrents of water had flooded a highway all the way to the sea many kilometres (miles) away.

A river of debris went through Mandra This is unprecedented, Vassileou said. Everything is lost, the disaster is biblical, Mandra mayor Ioanna Kriekouki told the station.

We have people who are trapped we need machinery to get them out of their homes, said Kriekouki, who was also immobilised in her home.

Five people were found inside and outside their homes, the fire department said. Another two bodies were found in the coastal areas of Aspropyrgos and Elefsina, the coastguard said. ERT said at least three more people were missing.

Access to the area is difficult, debris has nearly reached the height of homes, said fire department spokesman Yiannis Kapakis. The deputy governor said rubble-clearing equipment had been moved to the area but could not be used until the water levels subside.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said the deaths had been caused by a disastrous flood and expressed deep sorrow for the deaths. The fire service said it had received over 300 calls for help and dispatched over 120 firemen to the area.
HATTIESBURG, Miss., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kretschmar Premium Deli Meats & Cheeses and Roberts Group, owners of Corner Markets and Sunflower Stores, have teamed up with Make-A-Wish Mississippi to welcome Wish Kid Mallory home from Hawaii after having her wish granted to meet Bethany Hamilton, professional surfer and shark attack survivor.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5806a9b2-6693-4ff6-94d0-f464d2b13d35

Leading up to the welcome home party, Corner Markets and Sunflower Stores executed in-store fundraising that generated more than $8,000 towards granting future wishes like Mallorys. The donation came from $1 and $5 Make-A-Wish stars fundraising that ran at Corner Markets and Sunflowers stores from November 5 through November 11, throughout Mississippi.

Corner Markets and Sunflower Stores are passionately devoted to inspiring happiness and strengthening our community through partnerships with great brands like Kretschmar, said Darryl Martin, Corner Markets and Sunflower Stores. We are thrilled to welcome Mallory home and to help empower our guests and employees to donate for Make-A-Wish Mississippi.

Make-A-Wish has positively impacted the lives of so many children and their families as they endure the challenges of battling life-threatening medical conditions, said Michael Baughman, Smithfield Foods director of marketing. Everyone at Kretschmar is incredibly grateful for Make-A-Wish, and their efforts to grant wishes and change lives. We are privileged to help with Mallorys welcome home party and the opportunity to make more unforgettable experiences possible with help from our friends at Corner Markets and Sunflower Stores.

Since 2012, Kretschmar has contributed more than $725,000 to Make-A-Wish nationally and sponsored more than 15 wishes with local chapters through the brands Legendary Wishes campaign.

Additionally, with the help of retail partners like Corner Markets and Sunflower Stores, Kretschmar has raised more than $115,000 through sales of Make-A-Wish paper stars sold at stores registers for donations, employee donations, and sandwich fundraisers. The brand gives these funds to local Make-A-Wish chapters to grant more wishes.

We are grateful for the support of Kretschmar, Corner Markets, and Sunflower Stores. These organizations understand the impact a wish has on wish kids, like Mallory, her family, and her community. A wish granted can be a life-changing experience filled with hope, strength, and joy. Thank you for investing in the lives of local wish kids, said Rod Henderson, Make-A-Wish Mississippi Senior Director of Development.

For more information about Kretschmar Deli and its involvement with Make-A-Wish visit www.kretschmardeli.com or www.facebook.com/kretschmardeli.

Kretschmar is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Kretschmar

Kretschmar Premium Deli Meats & Cheeses has meant quality since 1883. Our hams are made with a unique hardwood smoking process. Kretschmar poultry and beef are hand-trimmed using the finest cuts. Our full line of Off-The-Bone deli meats are delicately sliced from the leanest, most tender cuts. And our premium Wisconsin cheeses repeatedly win in competitions world-wide. Try the Legendary Taste of Kretschmar today. For great recipes and more, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/kretschmardeli or visit our website at www.kretschmardeli.com.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathans Famous, Farmland, Armour, John Morrell, Cooks, Kretschmar, Gwaltney, Curlys, Margherita, Carando, Healthy Ones, Krakus, Morliny and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

About Make-A-Wish Mississippi:

Make-A-Wish Mississippi grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Mississippis chapter, based in Ridgeland and Gulfport, with the help of generous donors and volunteers grants around 100 wishes a year. Visit Make-A-Wish at www.ms.wish.org to learn more.
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.365 per share. The dividend is payable on January 3, 2018, to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2017.



About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) a global fintech leader, is the leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, mutual funds and corporate issuers globally. Broadridge's investor communications, securities processing and managed services solutions help clients reduce their capital investments in operations infrastructure, allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities. With over 50 years of experience, Broadridge's infrastructure underpins proxy voting services for over 90 percent of public companies and mutual funds in North America, and processes more than $5 trillion in fixed income and equity trades per day. Broadridge employs over 10,000 full time associates in 16 countries. For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com .

Contact Information

Investors:

W. Edings Thibault

Investor Relations

(516) 472-5129

Media:

Gregg Rosenberg

Corporate Communications

(212) 918-6966
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeedMD Inc. (TSX-V:WMD) (WeedMD or the Company), a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis, and Van der Pop (VdP), one of North Americas leading female-focused cannabis brands together with parent TS BrandCo, announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement to distribute two branded strains of cannabis under the VdP brand in Canada. As the first of its kind in Canada, VdP-branded strains will be available through WeedMDs website by end of November 2017. For a limited time, new customers who order the VdP strain sampler will receive a Van der Pop launch kit including Van der Pops signature miron glass jars and welcome accessories. New customers can pre-register here.



Since announcing the partnership with the innovative Van der Pop team less than four months ago, weve been targeting a wider-reaching cannabis market pertaining to our female patients - a very important, yet under-serviced demographic in Canada - and we are pleased to be releasing Van der Pops strains for sale on our website later this month, said Bruce Dawson-Scully, CEO of WeedMD. Furthermore, this will help WeedMDs revenue potential and brand recognition within the current medical and future recreational cannabis markets. Together with these strategic initiatives and Van der Pops unique offering, we are expanding our market reach.

WeedMDs unique offering and strains were chosen for their specific characteristics and cannabinoid profiles to best help women meet their health and wellness needs, said April Pride, Van der Pop founder. The VdP strains are called Eclipse and Cloudburst and we are thrilled to be finally releasing this collaboration. Our goal is to provide a consistent, beautiful experience for women that addresses their therapeutic needs. Were confident that these carefully-chosen, grown and cultivated strains will fit in perfectly with the rest of our Van der Pop offerings.

In connection with the branding arrangement, the Company has agreed to issue to Tokyo Smoke 76,923 common shares of the Company, of which 25% will be issued immediately and 25% will be issued on each of February 15, 2018, May 15, 2018 and August 15, 2018. In addition, the Company has issued to Tokyo Smoke 50,000 warrants with an exercise price of $1.49 per common share of the Company exercisable for two years, of which 25,000 warrants will vest and be exercisable upon the cumulative shipments of 150 kilograms of flower (or the equivalent amount of oil), and the other 25,000 warrants will vest and be exercisable upon the cumulative shipments of 300 kilograms of flower (or equivalent amount of oil).

For more information about WeedMD, access our investor presentation on our website here.

About WeedMD Inc.

WeedMD Inc. is the publicly-traded parent company of WeedMD Rx Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis pursuant to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). The Company operates a 26,000 sq. ft. indoor facility in Aylmer, ON, with four acres of property for future expansion. The Company has entered into supply agreements as well as strategic relationships with established cannabis brands and partners. WeedMD is focused on providing medical cannabis to the long-term care, assisted living and seniors markets in Canada through its specialized, comprehensive platform. It is dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners and furthering public understanding of the role that medical cannabis plays - including as it pertains to regulatory requirements, indications and potential side effects.

Follow WeedMD on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weedmd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/5020743/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeedMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weedmd/



About Van der Pop

Van der Pop is one of North America's most recognized female-focused cannabis lifestyle brand. Founded in 2016, Van der Pop is the cannabis digest for discerning women. With an emphasis on discretion, education and style, the aim is to enhance flower-powered pleasures through a thoughtful and candid exploration of cannabis. Through an editorial platform, weekly newsletter, social sites, product line and SESSION events, Van der Pop explores cannabis and how it relates to self-care, health, wellness and socialization. With its recent acquisition by Toronto-based Tokyo Smoke, Van der Pop is set to release branded cannabis strains to medical patients throughout Canada in November 2017. For more information, visit www.vanderpop.com, like on Facebook, and follow on Twitter and Instagram .

For further information, please contact:

WeedMD Inc.

Keith Merker, Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 519-765-2440 Ext. 222

Email: investor@weedmd.com

To learn more, visit us at www.weedmd.com

For WeedMD Media Inquiries:

Marianella delaBarrera

Margin Communications & Public Relations

416-897-6644

marianella@marginpr.com

Van der Pop:

Michael Frank, Senior Marketing Manager

Tel: 949-394-8037

Email: michael@vanderpop.com

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. Statements about the date of trading of the Company's common shares on the Exchange and final regulatory approvals, among others, are forward-looking information. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lastline Inc., the leader in advanced network-based malware protection, today released predictions and trends for the 2018 cyberthreat landscape. As in recent years, 2017 saw an increasing number of cyberattacks, and indications point to another tumultuous year in 2018. With companies storing more data in the cloud and the number of Internet-connected devices rapidly increasing, the appeal and opportunity for cybercrime continues to escalate.



However, technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have produced significant new products to combat cyberattacks, and these defense mechanisms are expected to continue to emerge throughout the new year. Lastline has issued a report on its 2018 predictions and trends, which can be viewed here.

Cybercrimes impact will be huge in 2018, said Giovanni Vigna, Lastline co-founder and CTO. The ever-increasing attack surface is already so large that the limited cybersecurity resources found in most organizations are unable to keep up with the onslaught. Fortunately, the cybersecurity industry is vigorously fighting back with advances in resiliency and automation technologies like ML and AI. During 2018, organizations will increasingly use these methods to defend themselves from cyberattacks.

Lastlines Predictions and Trends for the 2018 Cybersecurity Landscape are:

Cybercriminals Get More SophisticatedDeveloping Multiple New Ways to Attack Their Victims  In 2018, expect to see a dramatic increase in sophistication among cybercriminals, even entry and mid-level hackers, as they leverage AI and ML-powered hacking kits built from tools that criminals leaked or stole from state-sponsored intelligence agencies.



In 2018, expect to see a dramatic increase in sophistication among cybercriminals, even entry and mid-level hackers, as they leverage AI and ML-powered hacking kits built from tools that criminals leaked or stole from state-sponsored intelligence agencies. Malware Invades Hardware at Increasing Rates  2017 saw an increased amount of malware attacking the firmware and memory of hardware devices like disk controllers, fingerprint sensors, and computer cameras. As most malware detection products cant identify malware on hardware, expect hackers to increasingly turn to this type of attack during 2018.



2017 saw an increased amount of malware attacking the firmware and memory of hardware devices like disk controllers, fingerprint sensors, and computer cameras. As most malware detection products cant identify malware on hardware, expect hackers to increasingly turn to this type of attack during 2018. The Cyberattack Surface Expands Exponentially  In 2017, Android surpassed Microsoft as the worlds most popular operating system, giving cybercriminals a good reason to expand their number of attack points. To countless Microsoft and Android platforms add the strong growth of iOS-based systems and billions of new Internet-connected devices, and the resulting expanded attack surface is so extensive its hard to fathom.



In 2017, Android surpassed Microsoft as the worlds most popular operating system, giving cybercriminals a good reason to expand their number of attack points. To countless Microsoft and Android platforms add the strong growth of iOS-based systems and billions of new Internet-connected devices, and the resulting expanded attack surface is so extensive its hard to fathom. Giant Leap in Adoption of Security Oriented AI & ML  Enterprises face millions of cyberthreats every day, and its virtually impossible for even a large staff of human security analysts to process all of the data and manually evaluate each security incident or alert. AI and ML are particularly suited to solve these problems and a significant leap in their adoption in 2018 is expected.



Enterprises face millions of cyberthreats every day, and its virtually impossible for even a large staff of human security analysts to process all of the data and manually evaluate each security incident or alert. AI and ML are particularly suited to solve these problems and a significant leap in their adoption in 2018 is expected. Security Automation Becomes a Primary Objective  With the escalating number of cyberattacks and limited resources to fight them, expect to see organizations start to automate as many cybersecurity functions as possible during 2018. ML, AI and outsourcing will be used to do much of the heavy lifting, freeing human cyber teams to focus on things that cant be fully automated.



With the escalating number of cyberattacks and limited resources to fight them, expect to see organizations start to automate as many cybersecurity functions as possible during 2018. ML, AI and outsourcing will be used to do much of the heavy lifting, freeing human cyber teams to focus on things that cant be fully automated. Cybersecurity Augments Prevention with Resiliency  In 2018, instead of focusing primarily on breach prevention, organizations will begin in earnest to invest in breach containment and rapid recovery to beef up resiliency. These tools will quickly detect breaches, isolate infected assets and network segments, and rapidly restore damaged data and systems.

For an in-depth look at Lastlines Predictions and Trends for the 2018 Cyberthreat Landscape, see our full report.

For more information on Lastline, visit www.lastline.com.

About Lastline

Lastline provides breach protection products that are innovating the way companies defend against advanced malware with fewer resources and at lower cost. We deliver the visibility, context, analysis, and integrations enterprise security teams need to quickly and completely eradicate malware-based threats before damaging and costly data breaches occur. Headquartered in Redwood City, California with offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia, Lastlines technology is used by Global 5000 enterprises, is offered directly and through resellers and security service providers, and is integrated into leading third-party security technologies worldwide. www.lastline.com.

Media Contact

Noe Sacoco for Lastline

(408) 340-8130

noe@lmgpr.com
The Bay of Plentys selfless, optimistic and generous citizens were honoured for their service last night at the annual Kiwibank Local Hero Awards.

As part of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards 2018, 21 Bay of Plenty locals received their Local Hero medals at a special ceremony at Classic Flyers Museum in Tauranga.

Mayor Greg Brownless, attended the ceremony to congratulate and present the medals to this years winners. He commended the recipients for their achievements in the community, saying that the award ceremony is a fantastic and vital opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of many in the region.

This years recipients are selfless, loving and dedicated people who have all impacted our community in unique ways.

The positive difference they have made to the lives of others cannot be overstated. Its important we as a community take time to reflect and acknowledge the special place these people hold in our lives.

The 2018 Kiwibank Local Heroes for the Bay of Plenty were:

Peter Burling (Tauranga)

Bob Mankelow (Tauranga)

Denny Spee (Tauranga)

Steve Campbell (Tauranga)

Percy Jones (Tauranga)

Marty Hoffart (Tauranga)

Kathleen Young (Opotiki)

Joseph Ngametuangaro (Opotiki)

Dianna Te Riini (Edgecumbe)

Matthew Bryson (Edgecumbe)

Leslie David Jones (Whakatane)

Tautini Hahipene Whakatane)

Dale Walker (Whakatane)

Ian Feasey (Whangamata)

Wini Hahipene-Geddes (Thornton)

Shaun Smith (Papamoa)

Diane Norris (Thames)

Leona Smith (Mt Maunganui)

Donal Boyle (Omanu)

Berice Julian (Kawerau)

Cliff Osborne (Matua)

The Kiwibank Local Hero awards is New Zealands premier community award, celebrating and honouring those who have made a positive contribution to their region, town, suburb or community.

340 specially made Local Hero medals will be presented nationwide over the next few weeks with one national Local Heroes winner to be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards in Auckland of February next year.

Mark Stephen, Kiwibank Acting CEO, said the banks nationwide network of staff were humbled and proud to be supporting communities to celebrate their Local Heroes over the past nine years.

Many of these medal winners are unsung heroes, whose selflessness has had a profound effect on the lives of so many in the community.

Those acts of charity, optimism and commitment are what make New Zealand such a special place to live in. We think its important for us to give thanks to these people and thats why we sponsor the Local Hero Awards.

The 2018 New Zealander of the Year Awards are to be presented in six award categories, with the overall winner of each category to be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala on the February 22, 2018.

The 2018 New Zealander of the Year categories:
A Tauranga company has spent seven years developing a unique platform to safeguard the more than 800,000 hives in New Zealand, and satisfy overseas market access requirements, with its globally unique software.

ApiTrak, which launches this month, allows everyone  from hobbyists with 10 hives, to corporates with over 10,000  to easily track and verify their product throughout the value chain.

Founder and chief executive officer Hayden Stowell says ApiTrak maintains the confidence of overseas consumers and regulators in the integrity of New Zealand Manuka honey, by ring-fencing the industry to easily identify stolen or adulterated product and provide consumers with clear traceability.

Consumers worldwide are increasingly seeking assurances that everything they eat is safe and can be reliably traced back to its point of origin. They want to be able to connect with where their honey is from, says Hayden.

ApiTrak software can be utilised at every step of the supply chain and its advanced authentication system verifies product and captures all critical tracking events. The cloud-based GS1 compliant system allows users to track honey throughout the supply chain, utilising small NFC (near field communication) tags, which are attached to hives, drums and jars.

Hayden says the ApiTrak complements existing systems and is managed through a web-based platform and proprietary smart phone apps, meaning no expensive extra hardware is needed.

The surge in beekeeping over the past five years, as cited in recent media reports, has created an increased need to safeguard the valuable honey industry.

By June last year there were estimated to be almost 700,000 beehives, this has grown by at least 100,000 since  our industry is in fast growth. The high market demand for Manuka honey in particular is driving an increase in hive numbers.

And with larger numbers entering the industry, there are more pressures on land use, and an increased need to ensure hives are correctly sited and that honey can be securely tracked from beehive through to shelf.

ApiTrak chief technology officer Duncan Williamson says the platform goes well beyond the hive management-only systems offered by some other providers.

ApiTrak can be integrated with existing hive management systems, providing a bolt-on service to the many platforms that lack our food safety compliance functionality. Our long-term aim is to help create a fully connected industry with robust traceability and food security.

Sean Goodwin, chief executive of 100% Pure New Zealand Honey, and a member of ApiTraks advisory board, says the ApiTrak team had put in a great deal of effort to engage industry participants and ensure they not only created an innovative system, but one that would be widely utilised.

The key to ApiTrak is the integrated, end-to-end nature of the system, which provides benefits for every user, he says.

Sean, who is also deputy chair of both Apiculture New Zealand and GS1 NZ and so has strong insight into the requirements of industry and international standards, says ApiTrak has significant potential on the global stage.

Jamie Te Hiwi, Customer Manager in New Zealand Trade & Enterprises Maori Business Team, says global consumers are demanding the highest standards of food safety throughout the supply chain.

We also know the risk we run if the consumer loses trust in our ability to control the safety of their food. To earn more from the food we export, solutions like ApiTrak will help attract the premium price from consumers willing to buy the intangible attributes like food safety, country of origin labelling, and traceability.

Hayden, who has been involved in the Manuka honey industry since the early 2000s, founded the Honey Network honey auction site, and is a member of the Maori Honey Working Group.

The cloud-based ApiTrak platform makes food safety compliance easy and significantly cuts down on paperwork for apiarists, processing facilities and marketing companies.

The ApiTrak system has potential applications beyond the honey industry to a range of other food producers. Consumers worldwide are increasingly seeking assurances that everything they eat is safe and can be reliably traced back to its point of origin.

Victor Goldsmith, general manager of Ngati Porou Miere Limited Partnership, who also serves on ApiTraks advisory board, says the partnership owns 1000 hives on its own land blocks and will continue to increase the numbers.

We need to give our customers assurance that what they are buying is authentic and we will be able to demonstrate this with ApiTrak. As we grow the business to include extraction processing and bottling, we will be one of the only honey businesses that is truly integrated from the land right through to the brand. ApiTrak will be vital to our growth.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Level Four Advisors, a full-service real estate marketing and sales firm, announced today it is now selling Stage 1075, a new, 90-unit condo building at 1075 Market Street. The building is the first for-sale condo product in San Franciscos newly revitalized Mid-Market neighborhood.



Two model homes are ready for viewing in this eight story modern building featuring studios, one- and two-bedroom homes ranging in size from approximately 400 to 1,100 square feet. Prices start from the mid-$500,000s for a studio, the mid-$600,000s for a one-bedroom, and the low $1 million range for a two-bedroom home. Projected completion is February 2018.

Were honored to represent Stage 1075 and contribute to the revitalization of Mid-Market, said Michelle Antic, principal of Level Four Advisors. Stage 1075 is designed with urban pioneers in mind, offering the opportunity to own a modern home in a dynamic neighborhood with a rich history. Its central location makes it ideal to live, work and play, Antic said.

The building is centrally located in a bustling area of Market Street in close proximity to numerous employers, restaurants, theaters, museums, and shopping. Stage 1075 boasts high marks with a walk score of 99, bike score of 99 and transit score of 100.

Stage 1075 derives its name from its history, first as a vaudeville theater called Graumans Imperial Theater in 1912, and later as Premiere Theater in 1929, and United Artists Theater in 1931. In 1972, it became Market Street Cinema, a colorful dancing venue, until it closed in 2013.

Stage 1075 honors the history of the building with a restored original stained glass window, which will be incorporated into the lobby design. The modern facade of the building displays a large-scale public art piece designed by San Francisco-based blacksmith artist Daniel Hopper. The art consists of forged hollow steel rings with bright round lights to symbolize theater marquee lights, as a nod to the buildings history. Gizmo Art Production Inc. assisted with the fabrication and installed the piece, which runs vertical from the fourth to the eighth floor.

Weve just launched sales and have already sold a number of homes, which are perfect for a variety of buyers, from first time buyers who are tired of paying exorbitant rents, to those seeking a pied-a-terre, added Antic. Amenities include a lobby attendant, a virtual doorman, Luxer One package lockers, rooftop deck with BBQ, lounge seating and fire pits featuring beautiful city views, dog run and dog washing station, landscaped courtyard, ground floor retail space, bike storage and maintenance. The building also offers underground parking.

Stage 1075 was developed by Encore Capital Management and designed by architect Levy Design Partners with the landscape designed by Chris Ford Landscape Architecture.

About Level Four Advisors

Founded in 2015, Level Four Advisors is a premier provider of analysis, advisory services, marketing and sales to resort and urban real estate developers and their investors. Over the course of their careers, the firms principals have generated more than $4 billion combined in sales throughout the western United States. For more information, please visit www.level4advisors.com
It is down to four applicants to replace Mark Estepp as president of SWCC.

The four finalists, in alphabetical order, are Dr. Jeff McCord of Church Hill, TN; Dr. Timothy R. Oxley of Bridgeport, WV; Dr. J. Michael Thomson of Highland Hills, OH; and Dr. Thomas F. Wright of Cleveland, TN. The state board for community colleges released the names Nov. 16.

Dr. Jeff McCord has worked in higher education for more than five years, following nearly two decades of service in the chemical industry. McCord currently serves as vice president of economic and workforce development at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, TN, where he provides administrative leadership for the Kingsport Campus. Prior to that, he spent 16 years at Eastman Chemical Company where he began as an advanced systems analyst and worked his way up through several supervisory and management positions, including managing the companys corporate university. McCord earned a doctorate from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; a masters degree from Kennesaw State University; and a bachelors degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dr. Timothy R. Oxley has more than 25 years of experience in higher education. He currently works at Fairmont State University in West Virginia, where he has held several positions since first joining the institution in 2002. Oxley currently serves as the universitys vice president for student services. Prior to working in higher education, Oxley spent nearly 16 years in several state economic development organizations. His careers came together in 1999 when he became the director of sponsored programs at Concord University in Athens, WV. Oxley earned a doctorate and masters degree from Marshall University, and a bachelors degree from Concord University.

Dr. J. Michael Thomson has nearly 40 years of higher education experience. He currently serves as college vice president and Eastern Campus president at Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio. Thomson began his career as an assistant professor at Ouachita Baptist University. He later worked at the University of Cincinnati as a liaison with local governments. He spent 20 years at Northern Kentucky University, working several roles, culminating in the positon of department chair. Thomson has worked at Cuyahoga Community College, rising to his current position, since 2013. Thomson earned a doctorate and masters degree from the University of Kentucky, and a bachelors degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Thomas F. Wright has more than 25 years of higher education experience. He currently serves as vice president for finance and advancement at Cleveland State Community College, as well as the executive director of the colleges education foundation. Wright previously served as the colleges interim vice president for academic affairs. Prior to that, Wright worked for a decade at Appalachian State University, rising to the position of director of housing operations. He began his higher education career at Middle Tennessee State University where he served in several roles including interim assistant dean of students. He earned a doctorate from Tennessee State University, and a masters degree and bachelors degree from Middle Tennessee State University.

The four finalists seek to succeed Dr. Mark Estepp, the colleges second president, who will retire at the end of this year after serving in that role since 2007. The finalists will each visit the campus of SWVCC in late November and early December to meet with faculty, staff, students and community members.
SYRACUSE, NY - In April 2016, Golden Corral proposed opening one of its all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants on Syracuse's East Side.

Ten months later, the proposal fizzled when the franchisee pulled out of the deal, corporate officials said at the time.

Now Golden Corral is back with plans to open a restaurant on the same site - on a vacant lot at 115 Simon Drive in Syracuse, facing Midler Avenue and Interstate 690, near Lowe's, according to company officials.

The new Golden Corral will be a company-owned restaurant, and not a franchised operation, said Lisa Parker, a developer with the North Carolina-based buffet chain.

If all proceeds as planned, the new restaurant would open at the end of 2018, Parker said.

Plans this time call for a 10,308-square-foot restaurant, about 800 square feet smaller than the original proposal, according to an application filed with Syracuse. There would be about 240 parking spaces, the application said.

The chain had secured the necessary approval from the city the first time, but needs approval again for the new project.

Golden Corral last operated in Central New York on Fourth Street in Fulton in Oswego County, but that location closed in 2005.

The chain has more than 480 all-you-can-eat buffet locations in 43 states, including five restaurants in New York: Colonie, Saratoga Springs, Rochester, Queensbury and Middletown.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Judicial action has been taken against a Syracuse University student accused of child pornography charges by state police Wednesday.

BingDong Gu, 22, has had an interim suspension order filed against him by the university, effective immediately, said a university spokesman.

Gu, who lives at 126 Remington Ave., is accused of promoting images and videos of children engaging in sexual acts, according to state police. The children were less than 10 years old.

Gu was charged with three counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and three counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, both felonies.

Gu is a graduate student at SU, studying engineering and computer science, according to the school's directory. He is now on interim suspension as the investigation goes on.

Syracuse University officials declined to give further information on the case.

State police ask anyone with information about the investigation to call 315-455-2922.
This feature is coordinated by The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and InterFaith Works of CNY. Follow this theme and author posted Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

My daughter is a world traveler and will travel to Rwanda soon. As a mother, this is quite a terrifying thought; but to be honest, if I were her age, I could easily be making the same trip or would certainly want to make such a trip to a very different part of our world. As I thought about her destination, the 1946 hand colored calendar emerged again, beautiful as art, but also a date that is between WWII and the Korean War, at least technically between wars, brings to mind the other wars and the many veterans who were standing for something prized by democracy. If the small ravaged, country of Rwanda can focus on repair and envision peace, perhaps remembrance will lead us so that we can rehabilitate as we remember the lasting causalities of wars and our national days of recollection and thanksgiving.

Mary Beck Abraham an Educator working for both Jamesville-DeWitt Schools and Syracuse University. My family, husband, and children are my inspiration.
Stephen Sarsfield Bowman is president of Peregrine Senior Living, in Syracuse.



By Stephen Bowman | Special to Syracuse.com

Judgments about character are a curious thing. My hero of virtue may be your abomination, and so it goes with Sen. John McCain and President Donald Trump. But most of us can agree that the cardinal test of character is how one treats his adversaries, and whether one can offer forgiveness and empathy, when continued spite and gratuitous condemnation is always an option for the self-righteous. This, at least, is what I take from the New Testament's "love thy enemy" precept. And that is why McCain will always be a moral beacon for me.

A little-known morality play I would like to share is about how McCain dealt with his bitterly hostile nemesis, David Ifshin. Ifshin was the Syracuse University Student Association president in 1969, and a vehement opponent of the Vietnam War. This is a story about hate, reconciliation and brotherly love. Maybe how we wished the story of Cain and Abel had ended.



Most of us know of McCain's service during the Vietnam War. In 1967, he was shot down over North Vietnam and was captured and tortured at the "Hanoi Hilton" for five and half years. He had been bayoneted in the leg and foot, broke both arms, shattered his shoulder, and weighed less than 100 pounds. It was a scene out of Dante's "Inferno": It was dark, excruciating and hopeless.



But McCain was not just any prisoner of war. His father was the head of the Pacific Fleet and the Vietnamese would have released him at any time, but to do so, McCain would have superseded the protocols of "first in, first out" procedures for prisoners of war. He refused to take advantage of his privilege as it would have been unfair to his fellow prisoners, and embarrassing to U.S. prestige in the propaganda war. For his unwillingness to succumb, the tortures were increased.



Ifshin followed a different path. After graduating from Syracuse, where Ifshin led the student protests and occupied administration buildings, he became the president of National Student Association and led a group of protesters to Hanoi. The made vitriolic speeches where they condemned the American soldiers as baby killers, Nazis and war criminals. These speeches echoed others hate speeches by American protest leaders such as Jane Fonda, and were pumped into the jail cells at the "Hanoi Hilton," where McCain lay incapacitated for weeks at a time. These protesters where not simply protesting the war; they were advocating the destruction of the American forces and urged the soldiers to abandon their posts. It was something much closer to treason than protected free speech. This is how McCain first learned of Ifshin. He was furious and incredulous that the honor of the POWs was being maligned by rich college kids.



Eventually McCain broke and signed a "Confession of Criminality," though he remained in his cell, being beaten two or three times a week. He became so ashamed at reaching his breaking point that he tried to commit suicide. But he grew and, upon reflection, he made a vow to himself never to question the statements and actions made by anyone else about the Vietnam War. McCain broke his vow in 1984, when the Reagan presidential campaign asked him to read a speech criticizing Ifshin for his speeches in Hanoi. This he did thoughtlessly, as a first-year congressman eager to please the president.



McCain and Ifshin did not really speak until a year later at an AIPAC dinner, where the former war protester approached the former POW to apologize. Instantly, McCain stretched out his hand, saying, "I'd like to apologize to you for the statement I made about your Hanoi speeches last year. I was terribly wrong." Ifshin was flabbergasted and embarrassed that he had never summoned the courage to make his own apology for his harangues in Hanoi. Regardless, Ifshin had been at least partially redeemed by his victim.



As the years passed, McCain became a senator and Ifshin rose to prominence in the Democratic Party, where he went to work for candidate Bill Clinton. After the election, Clinton, McCain and Ifshin all attended a service at the Vietnam Memorial where Ifshin's presence was protested. McCain was appalled and, the next day, he went onto the floor of the U.S. Senate and gave a speech about his friend and patriot, David Ifshin.



Three years later Ifshin died of cancer, and McCain gave a eulogy where he emphasized what Ifshin taught him about courage and commitment to our nation, though their approaches had been different.



In this Age of Trump and his demonizing tweets, his disdain for soldiers who "get captured" and attacks on Gold Star families, I am grateful for McCain's example and his moral courage. John McCain is a national leader who I hope my children will look up to and emulate. This is why it is so hard for me today to watch this lion in winter, shadowed by cancer, as he prowls Washington and the halls of our consciousness.



From the archives: McCain's friendship with SU's radical student leader
BALTIMORE, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Former Baltimore Raven, Ed Reed, with support of the United Way of Central MD, ShopRite, private donors and public support, will once again be feeding almost 3,000 people for Thanksgiving.



On the afternoon of Friday, November 17th, Ed will visit The SEED School of Maryland (SEED Maryland) to personally give Thanksgiving meals to all 400 students, to take home for their families.

Being able to help a community in need, similar to the community I grew up in, is a blessing, says Reed. To give a Thanksgiving meal to thousands of people is only the start, each year we grow to help more and more.

Earlier in the day, at 10:00 AM, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, the U.S. Representative for Marylands 7th congressional district, and SEED Maryland Board of Trustees member, will join the students, faculty, families and friends to express his gratitude to the volunteers and charitable organizations supporting this effort.

Jon Tucker, Head of School for The SEED School of Maryland, commented that, We are truly grateful for the support we receive from philanthropists such as Ed Reed, volunteers and organizations like the United Way and the Ed Reed Foundation, for their relentless dedication to the children of Baltimore and community betterment.

With the support of local businesses, the Ed Reed Foundation is committed to helping those in need via local schools and shelters who have identified particular families for these Thanksgiving blessings. The Foundation also gives food to students of Booker T. Washington Middle School & Loving Arms Youth Shelter among others.

About The SEED School of Maryland:

The SEED School of Maryland (SEED Maryland) is a statewide, public, college-preparatory boarding school offering an extraordinary learning and living experience in preparation for college and beyond. The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation to establish the school; which receives state, local and private funds. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) oversees the school and holds it accountable to state and federal standards for teaching and learning. By design and state-law, SEED Maryland serves students who could most benefit from our 24-hour learning environment.

For additional information, please visit https://www.seedschoolmd.org/

Visit www.edreedfoundation.org

For information or sponsorships: info@EdReedFoundation.org

Ed Reed Eye of the Hurricane (EREHF) is operating through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, Inc. (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178), a charitable trust with federal tax-exempt status from the IRS as a public charity under Section 501(3). Contributions to EREHF are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

CONTACT:

Mostafa Razzak

JMRConnect (for SEED School MD)

202-904-2048

m.razzak@jmrconnect.net




Yusuf Abudul Qadir is the director of the Central New York Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. Kevin Jason is a staff attorney with the New York Civil Liberties Union.



By Yusuf Abudul Qadir and Kevin Jason | Special to Syracuse.com



The 2014 death of Eric Garner in New York City showed the world just how deadly police chokeholds can be.



Despite this, here in Syracuse, our police department continues to put lives in danger, even the lives of our children. The department has been warned many times that its use-of-force policy, which covers chokeholds, is dangerously deficient. Yet it has done nothing to fix it.



With a new mayor coming into office, Syracuse has an opportunity to rethink policing. We shouldn't delay - lives are at risk.



Our organization, the New York Civil Liberties Union, sued the police department in September on behalf of a teenager who was needlessly put in a chokehold by a SPD officer, even though he posed no threat to anyone.



The life-threatening encounter happened the prior September, on the day "T.H." turned 14. As he walked home with his twin brother, a fight broke out outside of Corcoran High School. The brothers broke up the fight out of concern for young children leaving a nearby school, but it started again by the time SPD officers arrived. T.H. and his brother were not involved in the fight, but T.H's brother was inexplicably pointed out by an SPD officer.



T.H. didn't see that happen, so he was confused and worried when he saw his brother being walked toward a patrol car by a man in plainclothes, who turned out to be a cop. T.H. tried to grab his brother to get him out of the tense situation so they could celebrate their birthday together.



That's when, without warning, a SPD sergeant put our client in a chokehold, slammed him to the ground and choked him until he actually lost consciousness. His mother still thinks about what would have happened if her young son had never woken up.



There was no good reason why a well-meaning, asthmatic 14-year-old boy was put in this deadly situation. But when you start to look at the SPD's history, it makes more sense.



For years, the city's Citizen Review Board has repeatedly warned SPD that its use-of-force policy is inadequate and made recommendations for improving it - including banning chokeholds, except when lethal force is necessary. The department has never acted on any of those warnings or recommendations.



The department's use-of-force policy is dangerously inadequate. It says almost nothing about the proper use of deadly physical force. It also makes no mention of chokeholds, neither defining what constitutes one or when one may be used. That is in stark contrast to dozens of departments nationwide, which have either banned chokeholds outright or limited their use to only situations where the use of deadly force is warranted.



SPD's use-of-force policy also prohibits officers from drawing distinctions between children and adults when using deadly force. The policy only requires distinctions between children and adults within the Taser policy, which was only improved as part of a settlement in a lawsuit brought by the NYCLU in 2010. That means children like our client, who weighed 130 pounds when he was put in a chokehold by a much bigger officer, must be treated exactly the same as full-grown adults.



The department's reckless indifference to public safety all but guarantees that what happened to our client will happen again, and the next time could cost someone his or her life.



Syracuse just elected Ben Walsh as our new mayor; he spoke of police reform during his campaign. Walsh now has the opportunity to appoint a new police chief, negotiate a new contract with the police officers' union and to change policing in our city for the better.



There's a good place for the mayor-elect to start: He should commit to reforming SPD's use-of-force policy without delay. Syracuse deserves more sensitive, responsive, community-minded policing, not least for the sake of our city's children.



We expect kids to make mistakes. But from our police, the people of Syracuse expect more.



Syracuse 14-year-old sues city cops claiming school officer put him in chokehold
Alyssa Rosenberg blogs about pop culture for The Washington Post's Opinions section.

By Alyssa Rosenberg | The Washington Post

It's really the picture that does it. Even by the standards of the sexual harassment stories we've heard in recent months, there is something particularly revolting about the sight of Al Franken, now a Democratic senator from Minnesota, reaching for the breasts of a sleeping woman, a naughty grin on his face as he turns toward the photographer.

For Leeann Tweeden, the woman in the picture, the picture punctuated a bad 2006 USO trip. Tweeden says that though she was only supposed to present and act as a master of ceremonies for the show, Franken wrote a skit that gave him an opportunity to kiss her, and then pressured her to rehearse the scene and the kiss with him and harassed her afterward. Franken, in a statement addressing Tweeden's allegations, said, "While I don't remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe women's experiences."

As has so often been the case these past few months, Franken's alleged behavior seems at odds with other parts of his record as both a comedian and a legislator. But we should know by now that these sorts of contradictions are commonplace.

And we shouldn't let the seeming tension between the good Franken has done and the hurt he's alleged to have caused tangle us in knots or lead us to treat him as if he's irreplaceable.

Last year, when he picked his favorite "Saturday Night Live" political sketches for The Washington Post, Franken included one about Clarence Thomas's confirmation hearings in which he played then-Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., saying "the silliness of male senators asking Thomas for tips on picking up women struck at a deeper truth about an all-male Judiciary Committee grappling with the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace." (The skit is astonishingly dark and very funny, but perhaps not for everyone at this particular moment.)

As a senator, Franken pushed to cut off government funding to defense contractors who require their employees to submit to mandatory binding arbitration in sexual assault cases. When a man who had interned for Franken raped two women, Franken took the case, and the experience of one of the man's victims, Abby Honold, as inspiration for a bill that would provide federal funding to train police officers and first responders in best practices for interviewing sexual assault victims.

Like with plenty of men before him, these facts may prompt some Franken supporters to try to explain away Tweeden's experience, or to hope other women don't come forward with other allegations of misconduct by Franken. Harvey Weinstein championed great roles for women at the same time that women have said that he harassed and assaulted them. Louis C.K. spoke out about the harm men do to women, even as he was doing that harm. (C.K. acknowledged the allegations of sexual misconduct against him are true.) Journalist Nina Burleigh infamously said during the Monica Lewinsky scandal that "I think American women should be lining up with their Presidential kneepads on to show their gratitude for keeping the theocracy off our backs."

These supposed dilemmas are driven by an assumption that's powerful but also untrue. We must live with the conduct of men who behave badly toward women, the thinking goes, because their contributions count for so much. In some cases, their positions do feel unique: C.K.'s blunt treatment of misogyny was unusual in comedy. Weinstein was the rare producer who seemed to enjoy finding and promoting great roles for older actresses.

But a lot of the time, these cases create a sort of tunnel vision. The idea that Roy Moore's supporters need to reconcile themselves even to the allegations that he abused a 14-year-old girl and harassed and assaulted other young girls and women on the grounds that he's the only person who can take their theological vision of the world to Congress simply isn't true.

We shouldn't allow ourselves to get trapped by this false logic, not least because it prevents us from pushing other men to step up to the plate. Saying that Weinstein is the only person who could push roles for Meryl Streep or Judi Dench lets the rest of Hollywood off the hook for being stupid enough to waste the talents of a whole cohort of older actresses. Suggesting that only C.K. could tell the truth about misogyny is just an excuse for letting the rest of comedy stay mired in the piggish norms of an earlier era.

And if we were really in a situation where Franken was the only male senator willing to stand up for rape victims, then we would be in even deeper trouble than we are now.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia , Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tango Mining Limited (Tango or the Company) (TSXV:TGV) is pleased to announce the recommencement of production at its Oena Diamond Mine (Oena) located in the Northern Cape, South Africa.



Bluedust 7 Proprietary Limited (Bluedust) has mobilized and commissioned mining and processing equipment, including a Bourevestnik X-ray sorter (BVX), to Oena (see news release dated 10 October 2017). Please see the Project Updates section of our website for regular operational updates with photos and videos from Oena.

The Contract Mining and Diamond Recovery Agreement (the Agreement) with Bluedust, with regard to processing run of mine (ROM) gravel, has been amended to include consideration for diamonds recovered from the processing of pan tailings and bantam material (Tailings) left on site from previous mining operations. Bluedust, at its own cost and expense, provides and maintains all the plant and equipment as required and the diamonds recovered will be sold at a designated Tender Facility in South Africa, of which 40% of the gross income, less commission recovered from Tailings, will be paid to Tango`s subsidiary for the duration of the 60-month contract.

Given the recent amendment to the Agreement to allow for processing of Tailings, Tango has deferred the decision to advance the TML Equipment Solutions (Pty) Ltd strategy as previously announced (see news release dated 21 July 2017 and 10 October 2017) until after the completion of due diligence by Bluedust, which is scheduled to be finalized by 31 December 2017.

The Company also announces it has agreed to settle indebtedness in the amount of CAD $78,033 by the issuance of 1,560,660 common shares at a price of $0.05 per share.

In addition, the Company also announces that the conversion rights of all outstanding unsecured and secured convertible debentures have been extended to 31 December 2018 (news release dated 22 June 2015, 18 July 2016, 20 February 2017 and 7 July 2017). Pursuant to the terms of the convertible debentures, the lenders have the option to convert the principal into units of Tango at the discretion of the lender. Each unit shall consist of one common share at a price of $0.05 per share and one share purchase warrant to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.10 per share, which warrants shall be for a term of two years. Interest payable under the loans may be settled by the issuance of common shares at a price not below the trading market price at the time the interest is payable.

The shares for debt settlement and extension of the outstanding unsecured and secured convertible debentures are subject to receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Tango Mining Limited

Mr. Samer Khalaf

Chief Executive Officer

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.

Tango Mining Limited

202  5626 Larch Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6M 4E1, Canada

TSX Venture: TGV

info@tangomining.com

www.tangomining.com
VANCOUVER, B.C., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa British Columbia hosted its What do I need to know about my stratas finances? seminar to educate strata residents and potential clients.



The event hosted more than 80 guests who listened to speaker Andrew Gee, Associa British Columbia vice president of finance, present on topics including:

Introduction of Associas accounting team

Systems and workflows

How Associa is governed

Services Associa provides

Reading financial statements

Overview of industry reports and their purpose

Cash flow vs. operating surplus

CRF and investment options

At Associa BC, our management staff is comprised of the best-trained, best equipped professionals in the industry, stated Berit Hansen, Associa British Columbia president. This seminar takes that industry experience and expertise and provides attendees with unparalleled training opportunities and educational resources to better serve the communities they represent. We want to thank all those in attendance for their support and interest.



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.



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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Republican Super PAC Save Alabama Now called on fellow Republicans in the Yellowhammer state to vote for the "consensus candidate," Doug Jones, a Democrat.



K.B. Forbes, a resident of Alabama and a life-long Republican who voted for Roy Moore in the primary and the runoff election, launched the independent expenditure-only Super PAC this week.

"We are encouraging life-long Republicans to do the honorable thing: vote against pedophilia and sexual misconduct. A vote for Doug Jones is a vote for goodness. Honor above politics," Forbes wrote on the website.

Forbes added, "I have never voted for a Democrat for federal office in my life. A product of the Reagan Revolution, a member of the Buchanan Brigades of 1996, my loyalty to our party is unwavering. However, Roy Moore has deceived us all. The sick and ugly truth is that in 1979, the legal age to marry in Alabama was 14 years of age. Legal pedophilia was the law then. The sexual misconduct allegations against Roy Moore are solid and he is unfit to serve."

Forbes noted that the allegations against Moore are credible. "The young girls and their families would have feared reporting the allegations against an assistant district attorney because back in the day county officials including judges, law enforcement officers, and members of the District Attorney's office were some of the most powerful, best paid, and most intimidating people in the county," he said.

Forbes has already made an agreement with a Republican political consulting firm to help with direct mail and advertising efforts. Forbes hopes to raise between $100,000 and $250,000 in the next two weeks. The election is to be held on December 12th.

Calling a write-up campaign futile, Forbes opined, Many of us voted against Luther Strange because he is a product of the corrupt Republican political machine tied to now disgraced ex-Governor Robert Bentley. For out-of-state politicians trying to spur a write-in campaign for a spineless politician who wouldn't stand up to Bentley and rolled-over for other special interests, we take great offense. Strange, a lame-duck U.S. Senator, is not a suitable alternative and would lose just as he did this summer.

A veteran of numerous federal, state, and local campaigns, Forbes served as a spokesperson for Republican presidential candidates Patrick J. Buchanan and Steve Forbes and has lived in Alabama for eight years.

K.B. Forbes

Friends@savealabamanow.com


I recently revisited one of my favourite books, Journey by Moonlight, one of the best known Hungarian literary works outside Hungary, as well as, according to The Guardian, the novel most loved by all cultivated Hungarians. I dont know what cultivated should mean in this context, but it seems true that it is among the favourite novels of many Hungarians.

First published in 1937, its author, Antal Szerb, was also a literary scholar who, by the age of 40, had written a comprehensive study of the histories of Hungarian and world literature  even if his opportunities to publish were restricted by anti-Semitic laws in the last years of his life, before his death in 1945. I also recommend another novel of his, The Pendragon Legend, a mystery novel (and its parody) set in Wales.

The novel follows Mihaly, a bourgeois Hungarian businessman on his honeymoon in Italy, yet many figures from his past resurface. He tells his wife, Erzsi, of his former days, how he used to play-act stories with his friends Tamas and Eva Ulpius which often took dark turns in erotic interpretations of death. There are elements of love, regret, suicide as Mihaly grapples with his desire to conform to bourgeois respectability which struggles against the rebellious adolescent in him.

Mihaly eventually becomes lost in Italy, wandering around Umbria and later moving to Rome. He is reunited with some of his childhood acquaintances, befriends an English doctor called Ellesley and has an affair with an American student. He also meets his old university mater, Rudi Waldheim, now a famous historian of religion in Rome, who tells him about the erotic nature of death  something that resonates well with Mihalys teenage play-acts.

We also get subtle jokes, travelogues (appropriate of a book entitled Journey by Moonlight), great characters (Rudi Waldheims eccentricities are wonderful), detailed descriptions of Mihalys mental breakdown and an entire subplot of Erzsis actions after Mihaly leaves her.

I first read this book three or four years ago and while it instantly became my favourite, truth be told, I didnt remember much of the story, except for the Ulpius subplot and the main idea of someone getting lost during their honeymoon. I reread it a month ago, and it was a joy to rediscover all the subtleties of this beautifully-written novel: contrary to my memories, it isnt just the story of Mihaly reuniting with figures from his past.

At the end of the novel, Mihaly returns to Budapest to try to fit in society again  maybe, after 15 years of trying and a life-changing experience in Italy, he will be able to. I remember that I found this conclusion unsatisfying when I first read it. Now I think this is the logical way to round up the novel: with a consideration of whether its possible to fit in somewhere you dont feel you belong.
CEDARVILLE, OHIO, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CEDARVILLE, OHIO  Seven Cedarville University students hope their research findings will contribute to developing cancer treatment. The molecular and cellular biology students, under the direction of professor of biology Dr. Heather Kuruvilla, plan to submit two research papers for publishing within the next few months.

The students studied Tetrahymena thermophila, single cellular organisms with cilia on their membranes that are often model organisms for research. The projects specifically focused on how Tetrahymena functioned with proteins known as Netrin-1 and Netrin-3, which are used in the human body to signal development of branched tissues.

The first research project primarily focused on protein determination and the physical effects of netrin-1 treatment, and the second focused on the effect of netrin-3 proteins in mitosis, or cell division. While much is already known about netrin-1, this will be the first paper published on netrin-3 in seven years.

My hope is that our paper will spark further research on netrin-3, said Bethany Khol, a senior molecular and cellular biology student and lead author on the paper. Most existing research has focused on its role in the nervous system during development, but we suspect it may have other roles in the body.

In their research, the students found that netrin-3 stops cell division, which can be medically significant if it stops the division of cancer cells like it stops the division of Tetrahymena cells.

Cancer treatment research is already looking at netrin-1, but there are potential treatments from netrin-3 if they start looking at it as well, said Kuruvilla. It wouldnt kill cancer, but it could slow it down.

The students involved have also benefited immeasurably from the research process.

Researching for Dr. Kuruvilla for two years has allowed me to gain valuable experience in the lab and has enabled me to take my book knowledge and apply it to real-world situations, added Kenneth Ward, a senior molecular and cellular biology student.

Projects such as these not only teach students valuable lab techniques and scientific methods, but also allow them to make meaningful contributions to science before finishing their undergraduate education.

We didn't study the latest potential cancer treatments or flashy drug regimen, said 2017 alumnus Matthew Merical, who now works as a contract cellular biologist for Advanced Testing Laboratory. But our work is a necessary step in general research, so we can know as much about the world as possible.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.

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ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Keeping CA Water Strong through solid water infrastructure, sustainable groundwater systems and forward-thinking water policy will be the focus of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) 2017 Fall Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim Nov. 28  Dec. 1.



An estimated 1,600 local and state water leaders will gather at the four-day event  titled CA Water Strong  where they will attend more than 80 meetings, panel discussions, forums, presentations and keynote addresses. Topics to be explored range from navigating climate change in the Sierra to desalination, innovative water rate structures and advances in recycled water.

On Wednesday Nov. 29, Chronicles Group, Inc. Producer Jim Thebaut will discuss water challenges and food security issues examined in his film Beyond the Brink. The film explores societys future in a world where water, food and natural resources teeter on the edge of sustainability. The film also provides a vision for a path forward, focusing on efforts already underway to shift our course.

Later that day, newly-appointed California Department of Water Resources Director Grant Davis will deliver a keynote address on his first 100 days with the department and some of DWRs largest projects, such as the recent Oroville Spillway repairs. Davis also will look at future efforts including improvements in long-term forecasting.

Thursdays keynote luncheon address will be presented by Alan Mikkelsen, acting commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, who will provide an update on federal issues emanating from Washington, D.C.

The full conference program is available here.

Highlights of the conference include:

A Wednesday, Nov. 29 Statewide Issue Forum titled: Can we Close the Deal on WaterFix?

A Wednesday, Nov. 29, Statewide Issue Forum titled: Finding a Path Forward for Renewed Health of California Headwaters

A Wednesday, Nov. 29, Regional Issues Forum titled: Navigating Climate Change in the Sierra

A Thursday, Nov. 1 Town Hall session titled: State Water Boards Development of a Plan for a Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program  Can the State and Local Water Agencies Get on the Same Page?

A Thursday, Nov. 1 Water industry trends program titled: Whats the Potential for Increased Groundwater Replenishment?

A Friday, Dec. 1 breakfast titled: Devastation and Destruction: A Story of Response and Resiliency

WHAT: ACWAs 2017 Fall Conference & Exhibition

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 28 - Friday, Dec. 1

WHERE: Anaheim Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, CA

Contact: Heather Engel, Director of Communications | (916) 441-4545 | C (760) 217-0627



ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 440 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com




NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE:CXW) (the Company") announced today that it has entered into a new contract with the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Corrections to house medium and close-security offenders at CoreCivic's 816-bed Lee Adjustment Center in Beattyville, Kentucky.



The new management contract commences on November 19, 2017, and has an initial term expiring June 30, 2019, with two additional one-year extension options. CoreCivic expects to begin receiving offender populations under the new contract at the Lee Adjustment Center toward the end of the first quarter of 2018, following a 120-day period to staff and prepare the facility to care for the offender population. We expect to incur operating losses at this facility of $0.03 to $0.04 per share for staffing and other start-up related expenses, most of which will be incurred during the first quarter of 2018, prior to stabilized occupancy currently expected to occur during the second quarter of 2018. Upon reaching normalized occupancy the new contract is expected to generate approximately $15.0 million to $17.0 million of annual revenue.

"We look forward to once again providing high quality, cost effective correctional services to the Kentucky Department of Corrections at our Lee Adjustment Center," said Damon Hininger, CoreCivic's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Demonstrating the recently expanded and high quality services we are providing in the neighboring states of Tennessee and Ohio allowed us to provide a compelling solution to the State of Kentucky. The individuals entrusted in our care will have access to educational and rehabilitative programs and we are proud of the trust placed in CoreCivic to provide these critical services that improve lives and reduce recidivism."

About CoreCivic

The Company is a diversified government solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in cost-effective ways. We provide a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through high-quality corrections and detention management, innovative and cost-saving government real estate solutions, and a growing network of residential reentry centers to help address Americas recidivism crisis. We are a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) and the nations largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities. The Company has been a flexible and dependable partner for government for more than 30 years. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good. Learn more at http://www.corecivic.com/.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Rock Capital Corp. (TSX-V:RCC.H) (the Company) announces that its board of directors has elected to terminate the letter of intent with Electric Metals Corp. (Electric Metals) announced on October 16th. While the board will continue with its review of potential qualifying transactions for the Company, it does not intend to pursue a transaction with Electric Metals at this time.



As part of its efforts to arrange a qualifying transaction, the board of directors has also approved a forward share split on the basis of 2.33 common shares for every 1 common share currently outstanding. The board is of the view that the share split will provide a more attractive capital structure for potential transactions. Following completion of the share split, the Company will have approximately 24,931,000 common shares outstanding.

Completion of the share split remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company will issue a further news release once such approval has been obtained and a record date determined for the share split.

Following completion of the share split, the Company intends to undertake a private placement of up to 6,363,636 common shares at a post-share split price of $0.11 per share, for gross proceeds of up to $700,000. The Company intends to utilize the proceeds of the private placement to retire existing trading payables, to ensure the Company remains current in its continuous disclosure obligations and for ongoing due diligence of prospective qualifying transactions.

In connection with the private placement, the Company may pay finders fees to eligible parties who introduce subscribers to the Company. All securities to be issued in the private placement will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period. Completion of the private placement remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Following completion of the share split, the Company also intends to grant 200,000 incentive stock options to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Each option will be exercisable at a post-share split price of $0.15 per share for a period of thirty-six months.

For further information, contact Richard Grayston at rwgrayston@telus.net.

On behalf of the Board,

Red Rock Capital Corp.

Richard Grayston, Chief Executive Officer

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 news release may contain certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to proposed financing activity, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause 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. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

RED ROCK CAPITAL CORP.

Suite 2200, 885 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6C 3E8
A Louisiana State Police officer being investigated for possibly lying on his timesheets may also have falsified traffic tickets as part of the scheme, according to a WVUE report.

The revelations come as part of an investigative report that exposed the disparities and led to multiple officer suspensions as allegations are investigated.

Daryl Thomas, who was paid $240,000 last year  $147,000 in overtime  was identified in a report as one of the suspended officers, and was observed at home for hours during shifts he billed for as long as 16 hours.

Report: Suspended trooper, paid $240K last year, spent hours at home during shifts Seven years ago, WVUE-TV raised questions about the huge amount of overtime pay Louisiana State Police Trooper Daryl Thomas was raking in. But

The latest report says the times listed on multiple tickets issues by Thomas in September can be matched up to times a WVUE camera recorded him as being at his Harvey home. One person issued a ticket by Thomas said the time of 8 p.m. recorded for his ticket could not have been accurate, because Thomas pulled him over in the daytime.

In all, WVUE's report identified 11 tickets that had potentially falsified times. If deemed to be intentional, such actions could constitute the criminal offense of injuring a public record, which is punishable by up to a year in prison, according to Tulane law professor Joel Friedman, quoted in the report.

Thomas is one of three state troopers under criminal investigation after WVUE showed its findings to Col. Kevin Reeves, the State Police superintendent. Those troopers have been suspended with pay, State Police officials told The Advocate recently.

The other troopers under investigation are Eric Curlee, a senior technician assigned to the agency's Emergency Services Unit, and Byron Sims, a polygrapher. A fourth trooper, who is on sick leave, is also under investigation, WVUE reported. State Police have not released his name because he has not been suspended.

The statewide highway traffic enforcement program the troopers were allegedly bilking has also been suspended. The program, called Local Agency Compensated Enforcement, or LACE, has for years been funded by district attorneys around the state, who contract with State Police and then reimburse the agency for the extra-duty shifts worked by troopers, as well as their mileage. The money for the program comes from traffic tickets written by the troopers.

LSP suspends 3 troopers, highway safety program amid payroll fraud investigation The State Police on Wednesday suspended a statewide highway traffic enforcement program and began a criminal investigation into three troopers

For the full WVUE report, click here

Information from The Advocate staff report Jim Mustian was used in this report.
The Metro Council may ask Baton Rouge voters to pass a new tax to give city police officers pay raises  as much as 24 percent for new recruits  saying its needed to keep salaries competitive with other law enforcement agencies and to get vacancies filled.

The proposed 8 mill property that would be presented to voters inside the city limits would raise the pay of fresh recruits from $32,900 a year to $40,800, said Councilman Matt Watson, who is leading the effort.

"If you're at 40 (thousand dollars) starting, you're really competing with people at the career fair," Watson said. "Good people should not have to choose between serving their community and making a decent living."

Higher ranking officers would also see pay increases, though they would be proportionally less. Watson said his focus is on enticing new cadets, and that he would reveal more information next week, after Saturday's elections are over.

The police department currently has 57 vacant positions, and authorities in the past have blamed low wages for trouble attracting new officers.

+4 Baton Rouge police struggle to find new recruits; low salaries, millennial outlooks partly to blame As downtown Baton Rouge evolves into a more vibrant urban center, the Police Department has tried to keep pace by promising a fully-staffed, r

Watson hopes the council can debate his millage proposal in January in time for the April 28 ballot. Several council members have signaled their support, though Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome has not yet given it her blessing.

"I need to see a plan," Broome said. "I would be a little bit concerned to allocate $15 million without a plan."

She also said its premature to seek a new tax before she appoints a new chief to lead the police department.

The tax would be restricted to residents inside the city limits, and Broome said based on their review of the proposal property owners would not be able to apply their homestead exemption. Thus, owners of a $200,000 house would pay $160 per year should the millage pass, according to the tax assessor's office.

Watson acknowledged that 8 mills is fairly high, but said it is whats necessary to make Baton Rouge competitive with other cities and agencies, and "there is no other way to find the money ... there just isn't."

Republican and Democratic council members who represent the city proper were supportive of the new tax. They all have other concerns that could benefit from more funding  for Barbara Freiberg, that includes better roads and mental health services; for LaMont Cole it's economic development and accessible healthcare, for Buddy Amoroso it's a new prison and improved drainage.

But directing more funding to police seems to be something they can likely all rally around, Freiberg said. Voters have already shot down funding for programs she's supported, like the second phase of the Green Light Plan and the Bridge Center which would help people in psychiatric crisis and in need of detoxification. Offering higher police salaries may be more palatable to everyone.

"This is one the entire community might favor," she said.

Officers with two to five years' experience currently make around $41,000 in base pay. Sergeants jump up to about $61,000, though it currently takes about 18 years to reach that rank due to civil service rules that favor promotion based on experience. Lieutenants start around $75,000 and captains at $78,000.

College graduates make an extra $2,000, and officers frequently supplement their pay with department overtime and extra duty working for private companies.

Councilwoman Tara Wicker said she doesn't want police who are exhausted and stressed because they feel as if they have to work many extra hours to make the same as law enforcement officers at other agencies.

Raising the pay is "kind of a no-brainer,"Wicker remarked, adding that she's sick of Baton Rouge serving as a training ground for other departments.

The department hasn't tried to swell its ranks by lowering standards, it just leaves positions open when it can't find a candidate willing to take a job, Amoroso said.

Broome and several council said raising officer pay can't be the only approach to improve public safety .

"The solution to reducing crime is more than just putting more officers on the street," Broome said.

She specifically mentioned additional training resources as another need.

However, Watson viewed the narrow focus of the tax as a boon. Voters know it's going right to police paychecks, not to government contractors or a politician's slush fund, he said. In his own district, residents in neighborhoods like Tara and Goodwood are already paying $100 to $130 each year for crime prevention districts that use money to hire off-duty officers to patrol in their communities; he counts that as evidence that people are willing to pay for more protection.

Yet residents will have to weigh those needs against others, Broome said.

"People are certainly counting their dollars and cents," the mayor-president said.

Broome advanced a 5-mill tax proposal for road improvements earlier this year but the Metro Council rejected putting it before the public for a vote. Broome referenced her proposal  the Better Transportation and Roads proposal  several times, pointing out that she asked for less money than Watson is seeking.

+7 Metro Council refuses to put Broome's proposed roads tax on ballot in Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome's first proposed tax package sputtered and crashed Wednesday when the Better Transportation and Roads pla

Broomes administration is seeking ways to boost officer pay, said Finance Director Marsha Hanlon. That could include freeing up more money as veterans retire. Officers will still earn their merit increases next year, though the budget currently under consideration does not include extra money to raise salaries beyond that, she said.

Hanlon also noted that some salary funds might be freed up once the city-parish hires a new permanent police chief and that individual decides what kind of command structure they want for the department.

Complicating matters, there could be a separate police tax on the April ballot. A 0.87-mill tax has been on the books since 1921, but recently the Legislative Auditor challenged the city-parish's right to collect the tax, explained Parish Attorney Lea Anne Batson. A local judge sided with the auditors, but the city-parish has appealed the decision.

If the city-parish is unsuccessful, that tax may also go on the ballot. The two millages are unrelated. The 0.87-mill tax is the only one earmarked for the Baton Rouge Police Department, Batson said. The department is mostly funded through the city-parish general fund. There are other law enforcement taxes, though they support entities like the sheriff's office and local crime prevention districts.

Councilwoman Chauna Banks introduced several police policy proposals last year following the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling, an incident that remains under investigation by the state Attorney Generals Office. She proposed requiring that officers live in East Baton Rouge Parish and called for a citizen board to advise the department.

She also asked for then-Mayor-President Kip Holden to consider giving officers a 10 percent raise. After much debate, the Metro Council shot down all the proposals. Banks said Thursday that she had not yet had time to review Watson's proposal.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The non-profit organization Save the Sound took to the steps of City Hall in New York City on November 15 to release their new study, NYC Nitrogen Report: East River and Long Island Sound. The landmark study, authored in collaboration with University of Connecticut Professor Jamie Vaudrey, examines the health of New York City-area waterwaysthe East River and Long Island Soundwhere $1 billion has been invested to tackle nitrogen pollution. Excess nitrogen (often from treated sewage) depletes oxygen in the water and causes dead zones that lead to fish die-offs. High nitrogen levels also fuel toxic and nuisance algae blooms and deterioration of coastal marshes that protect shoreline communities from storm surges.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e5f60516-b5c5-4657-b17d-172ccf98ac86

The report contained long-awaited good news, noting that investment in new sewage treatment technology by New York City at four East River facilitiescompleted earlier this yearappears to be shrinking dead zones in the East River and Long Island Sound. At the same time, the report calls for using the full capabilities of the new technology to continue to combat this threat which has been exacerbated by increasing population along the coast and impacts from climate change. The report shows that dead zones have not been eliminated and that, in fact, the East River and Long Island Sound dead zone in the summer of 2017 extended across approximately 95 square miles. The report found that the East River still contributes 19% of the nitrogen load reaching Long Island Sound and that a remarkable 98% of the nitrogen in the East River is from sewage discharge, even after treatment at wastewater facilities.

Tracy Brown, director of Save the Sound, commented, New York City officials are to be applauded for reaching this important milestone. Investment in new sewage treatment technologymore than a decade in the makinghas allowed the city achieve a 60% reduction in nitrogen discharge levels. She added, What this report shows, however, is that 60% doesnt get us far enough. Fortunately, solutions are at hand that can further reduce discharge without requiring major capital investmentby ensuring the sewage plants maximize the use of this new technology. The report also clearly demonstrates the crucial but often-forgotten link between the East River and the Long Island Sound and their importance for New Yorkers.



Both the East River and Long Island Sound are vital waterways for residents of New York City for a host of reasons including natural resources, tourism, and recreation. During the press conference, Save the Sound called on city officials to aim for an additional 10% reduction in nitrogen loads discharged to the East River versus 1990 levels, bringing the total reduction to 70%. Eliminating the low oxygen dead zones was the target of initial 58.5% nitrogen load reductions mandated by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) under direction of the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in 2000.

Dr. Jamie Vaudrey, University of Connecticut, commented, The NYC Nitrogen Report highlights a crucial recognition that has emerged in the decade and a half since initial target levels were established  which is the fact that climate change is impacting area waters and working counter to nitrogen load reductions. Higher ocean water temperatures coupled with greater acidity in the water accelerate the effect of nitrogen in fueling hypoxic zones, making nitrogen load reductions even more crucial. Professor Vaudrey added, Whats more, the East River area anticipates population growth of nearly 500,000 between 2010 and 2040, which will increase the demands placed on sewage treatment facilities.

The Citys rivers, streams, and creeks highlight how interconnected we truly are, said Arturo Garcia-Costas, environment program officer at the New York Community Trust. This report illustrates how nitrogen released into our precious waters in New York City affects the health and livelihoods of millions of people both inside and outside the five boroughs.

Despite the challenges, Save the Sound representatives were upbeat about recent successes, and optimistic that an immediate opportunity exists to make further improvements in water quality. They pointed to Long Island Sounds Orchard Beach in the Bronx, the most popular swimming beach in all of New York City, as an example of New Yorkers appreciation for the Sound and commitment to clean water.

About Save the Sound

Save the Sound is a bi-state program of the Connecticut Fund for the Environment with an established 45-year track record of restoring and protecting the waters and shorelines of the Long Island Sound. From its offices in Mamaroneck, NY and New Haven, CT, Save the Sound works for a cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant Long Island Sound where humans and marine life can prosper year-round. The organizations success is based on scientific knowledge, legal expertise, and thousands of ordinary people teaming up to achieve results that benefit the environment for current and future generations. Learn more at www.savethesound.org.

Funding Provided by the New York Community Trust

Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative is a group of funders with missions that include protecting and restoring the Long Island Sound. www.lisfc.org.
A former Baker police officer will not face criminal charges after he was arrested in April and accused of failing to properly investigate a report of shots fired.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said this week that his office found that Adam Procell, who was a sergeant with the Baker Police Department, broke no laws while investigating an April 27 report of illegal gun discharges.

The incident involved Ben Gautreaux, 44, the son of East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, who admitted when Procell knocked on his door that he and two others fired shots at a snake in his backyard. An ordinance forbids Baker residents from discharging firearms within city limits.

Before the April investigation, Procell had applied for a position with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs Office and needed only to pass a physical exam before transferring into that role, according to his attorney.

Baker Police Chief Carl Dunn said that Procell was recently fired from his position with the department based on his actions and behavior on the day of the incident, which violated department policies. He said Procell is appealing the termination decision; the Baker Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board will decide whether to overturn or uphold that decision.

Procell had originally responded to an alarm at Aspire Academy Charter School on the morning of April 27, but heard gunshots while leaving the building and began canvassing a wooded area across the street, behind the Walmart on Plank Road, said Assistant District Attorney April Williams. A police report at the time said a window at the store had been shot.

During the investigation, Procell and another officer began knocking on doors  including Ben Gautreauxs  in the nearby residential neighborhood.

Detectives reviewed body camera footage and found that once Gautreaux admitted to firing a rifle, Procell repeatedly told Gautreaux he wouldn't do anything about that, according to his arrest warrant prepared by Baker Police Department detectives. He also called the city ordinance forbidding firearm discharges BS and didnt investigate whether there were other rifles in the house, the warrant says.

The day after the incident, Procell was arrested and booked into Parish Prison on one count each of malfeasance in office and obstruction of justice. He was released that same day on $2,500 bail.

After reviewing the arrest warrant, body camera footage and supplemental police reports, Moore said his office found insufficient evidence to charge Procell with either of the counts on which he was arrested.

Jermaine Guillory, another assistant district attorney, said charging someone with malfeasance in office requires evidence that person either obstructed or interfered with an investigation, while obstruction of justice similarly requires evidence of tampering with evidence with the intent to disrupt an investigation.

Guillory said Baker detectives ultimately issued Gautreaux a misdemeanor summons for illegally discharging a weapon within city limits. Christopher Dassau, prosecutor for the city of Baker, said Gautreaux was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to probation.

Guillory said that Procell called Dunn as he was leaving Gautreauxs house and was told to return to the house, seize weapons and bring Gautreaux to the station for further questioning  all of which the officer did. Procell also asked his partner to take over the investigation after finding out that the sheriffs son was involved, as you would want someone to do in that situation, Moore said, referencing the fact that the officer had applied to join the sheriff's office.

Investigators have not yet found any connection between the reported Walmart shooting and the shooting Gautreaux described in his backyard, Guillory said. According to the arrest warrant, Procell said it seemed possible, but not probable, that bullets could have traveled from the yard into the Walmart window.

Guillory said body camera footage shows that Gautreaux told Procell he had lived there his whole life and had no idea firing a gun was illegal. Guillory compared Procells interaction with Gautreaux to a police officer issuing a warning instead of a speeding ticket.

From everything that weve seen  it wasnt that the investigation was covered up or that evidence was concealed or destroyed  it was collected and the investigation was actually conducted, Guillory said. (Procell) was not even the final authority in this investigation to actually make a call on whether Gautreaux should have been issued a summons. He was in essence the initial responding officer.  The protocol is for him to notify his superiors, which he did.

Moore said the decision against charging Procell was based purely on evidence and had nothing to do with the individuals involved.

Procells attorney Chris Alexander said that the criminal case against Procell was based on "no real evidence" but instead constituted a form of retaliation over his possible upcoming position with the sheriff's office and because he had angered other Baker officers. For that reason, Alexander said this week that he expects his client will be successful in appealing the termination.

"Chief Dunn has arbitrarily tarnished the good name of a stellar law enforcement officer," he said. "A public arrest wasn't necessary, a premature and baseless termination wasn't necessary. The hole he digs keeps getting deeper."

Dunn refuted those claims, denying any tension or past animosity between officers that could have played a role in the investigation. Dunn said detectives conducted a thorough and fair investigation that resulted in more than enough probable cause."
WASHINGTON  The latest version of the U.S. Senate's sweeping tax bill proposal includes a set of long-sought tax breaks for victims of the devastating 2016 Baton Rouge-area flood.

The tax-relief measures would allow flood victims to deduct property losses from their taxes and waive a tax penalty for those who tapped retirement accounts in the wake of the disaster, which followed record-breaking rainfall that hit the area beginning on Aug. 11, 2016.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and member of the Senate Finance Committee, which is handling the tax bill, submitted the provisions as an amendment during the committee's lengthy hearings on the bill.

The committee's influential chairman, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, of Utah, included it in a revised version of the Senate GOP bill released Tuesday night.

The tax-relief measures would save those hit by the August 2016 flood a total of about $200 million, according to the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation's analysis of the latest Senate draft bill.

"This amendment will deliver vital tax relief to tens of thousands of Louisiana families hurt by last years devastating flood," Cassidy said.

"This is a huge help for the people of our state, and I thank Chairman Hatch for agreeing to include my amendment in the bill."

The inclusion of disaster tax relief in Hatch's latest draft  known as a "chairman's mark"  doesn't ensure it'll make it into law. A separate tax bill drafted by House Republicans doesn't include the provisions and significant revisions are possible as GOP leaders on Capitol Hill attempt to reconcile major differences between the two chambers while maintaining enough votes in each to pass.

Sen. John Kennedy, the state's junior member of the U.S. Senate, welcomes the move. The Republican doesn't sit on the finance committee but said he's pleased with the latest revisions to the bill.

"I think it's a great idea," Kennedy said.

Louisiana's congressional delegation has fought for similar disaster tax-relief provisions for more than a year with little luck.

Cassidy and former Republican Sen. David Vitter pushed a bill shortly after the flood that would've allowed flood victims to tap retirement funds without penalties.

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, and former Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, also introduced disaster tax relief bills that would've made it easier to write off disaster losses.

None of those bills came close to passing into law. Both Graves' and Boustany's proposals died in the House Ways and Means Committee, a panel that has no Louisiana members and holds sway over tax decisions.

Several Louisiana lawmakers were furious when their colleagues in September promptly passed a raft of tax-relief measures for those hit by a series of hurricanes in 2017  but left out any provisions for victims of last year's Louisiana floods.

"This is absurd, it is absolutely absurd," Graves told his House colleagues during floor debate on that tax bill, which was tacked onto a bill funding the Federal Aviation Administration.

Graves on Wednesday welcomed the changes to the Senate bill, calling tax-relief for Louisiana flood victims a matter of fairness and a needed boost for the areas recovery.

Both he and others in the Louisiana delegation have met with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, about including tax relief and other 2016 flood recovery measures in the next anticipated disaster recovery package, which is expected to also include billions of dollars in recovery money for Gulf Coast states and U.S. territories in the Caribbean devastated by this years hurricanes.

Any vehicle to get this done is fantastic, Graves said. Were going to keep working a multi-prong strategy here (in Congress) to get this done.
The recent letter from Tyler Bond of the National Public Pension Coalition lamenting the fact that teachers in some Louisiana charter schools 
One person died Monday night in an officer-involved shooting at The Palms Apartments on McClelland Drive in north Baton Rouge, said Baton Rouge Police spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. (TSXV:STMP)(OTC Markets:STMGF)(FRANKFURT:TMP2) (Stamper or the Company), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Alexander (Alex) Polevoy to its board of directors. Mr. Polevoy has held leading positions in international companies and is a seasoned financial accountant, oil & gas executive and an active investor in both private and public companies. Mr. Polevoy is currently Board Member of Basin Logistics, located in New York and Tonga Petroleum Corp, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.



Mr. Polevoy worked for Renova Management AG of Zurich (2010-11) as a business development consultant on behalf of United Manganese of Kalahari. He was the representative a major Russian private investment group, Interros, as CFO, and Member of the Board of Directors of subsidiary Norilsk Nickel Mining Company, managing over $6 billion USD in debt and over $25 billion USD in assets. He created financial reporting framework for the group and the ability to produce audited financial statements, managed M&A transactions and was involved in communication with the banking and investment community.

Mr. Polevoy was previously CFO, Member of the Board, and the Audit Committee for Integra Group GDR, a leading FSU oilfield service and oilfield equipment manufacturing company. He managed the IPO of the firm in 2007 and raised $750 million USD with over 14 acquisitions during a two year period.

From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Polevoy was CFO, Member of the Board, and the Audit Committee for NYSE listed company, Mechel Group, a Russian based industrial group, managing international assets in mining, metallurgical production and trade, energy, and logistics. He was responsible for financial activity of one of the largest Russian mining and metallurgical production companies and for financial reporting of the group in accordance with requirements of the NYSE. Also during this period, he was a Director, Corporate Audit for TNK-BP Group, 3rd largest oil producer in Russia, supporting and advising Audit Committee and executive management in sound risk management system.

Mr. Polevoy was formerly Head of Monitoring and Control Group, Audit Committee of the Board of Directors for TNK Group, Moscow, Russia. Mr. Polevoy was involved in the restructuring of the company, developing strategic incentives to improve efficiency and value, while overseeing financial reporting and performance management systems specifically in the upstream sector.

In early 2000's, Mr. Polevoy was Director, Corporate Procedures and Development of Yukos Group, Moscow, Russia, involved with preparing and implementing corporate strategy for improvement of financial structure over next 5 years, and setting up JOA, PSA negotiations, and tax planning. During this time, Mr. Polevoy held several positions at Yukos Group of companies including as VicePresident Finance, Deputy Chairman of the Board, and Member of the Board of Directors. He was involved in many aspects of the group providing leadership in a program of westernizing its financial system, developing the financial control strategy through the company, restructuring the head office and regional financial departments (over 2500 employees in finance) to fit new functions.

From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Polevoy was employed in the oil and gas, mining and manufacturing in Canada and the United States including as a Director, CFO and Accounting Manager for several firms including ZCL Composites Inc., Gold Tail Inc., Kazakhstan Goldfields Inc., and Geotex of Houston TX.

Mr. Polevoy is a Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, New York. He graduated from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a degree in Finance and Accounting and McGill University with a degree in Advanced Financial Accounting and Management Financial Accounting.

Mr. Polevoy has also been appointed to the Corporation's Audit Committee.

David Greenway, President of Stamper commented, I am very pleased to welcome Alex to the Board of Stamper as we move forward to better focus the Company on its efforts with our international opportunities in Africa. Alex has experience in the international arena in oil and gas, in the development of financial strategies, and working with companies developing new policies and improving corporate performance.

The Company reports that TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has accepted the second tranche of Company's non-brokered private placement announced on May 23, 2107. The second and final tranche consists of 962,500 units at $0.40 per unit. Each unit consists of one (1) common share (Common Share) of the Company and one (1) non-transferable share purchase warrant (Warrant) which is exercisable at $0.75 for a period of thirty-six (36) months; for gross proceeds of $385,000. The funds will be used for general working capital and evaluation of new projects.

In addition, Stamper paid a Finders fee in connection with the Private Placement. The finders were paid an aggregate cash sum of $30,800.00. The finders were granted Warrants ("Finders Warrants") to purchase an aggregate of 77,000 Warrants at a price of $0.40 per Finders Warrant. Finders Warrant consists of (1) non-transferable share purchase warrant (Warrant), exercisable into Common Shares at a price $0.75 per Common Share and having a term of eighteen (18) months.

All securities issued in the financing will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the financing.

About Stamper Oil and Gas

Stamper Oil and Gas Ltd. (TSXV:STMP) is an independent international oil and gas company, engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of conventional oil and natural gas properties. The Company plans to identify and build out a portfolio of high-impact oil and gas prospects, with a focus on Latin America. Stamper is committed to creating sustainable shareholder value by evaluating and developing future prospects into commercially viable assets.

For further information on Stamper Oil and Gas please visit www.stamperoilandgas.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David C. Greenway

President & Director

For further information, please contact:

Stamper Oil and Gas Investor Relations

Phone: (604) 684-2401

Email: ir@stamperoilandgas.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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. 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 may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Stamper Oil and Gas Corp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
The ACT could shift its year 12 essay writing test online by 2020 to try and lessen the stress on students studying to get into university.

The Board of Senior Secondary Studies has signalled its intention to offer the ACT Scaling Test writing task digitally after trialling the initiative with three schools this year.

Year 12 students could one day sit all of their tests online. Credit:AP

Board director John Stenhouse said 92 per cent of participants said they preferred doing the essay writing assessment on a computer.

"It's a case of lessening the stress that's on students by allowing them to write in the way that they normally write outside of school, things like Facebook and all the social media, they're using keyboards of some sort - they're not using a pen and paper," he said.
The roundabout at the intersection of Lonsdale and Elouera Streets in Braddon will be given a splash of colour to celebrate Canberra's resounding 'yes' vote in the marriage equality postal survey.

Three in four ACT residents vote to legalise same-sex marriage, the highest proportion of 'yes' voters in any state or territory in Australia.

Andrew Barr at the Braddon street party to celebrate the marriage equality vote result. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the ACT government would commission public art to commemorate the historic result, including a rainbow roundabout.

"I think Canberra as the home of the roundabout definitely needs a rainbow roundabout in the heart of the city," Mr Barr said.
Commonwealth Bank chair Catherine Livingstone has apologised over flaws in the bank's systems for stopping money laundering, as shareholders backed its overhaul of executive pay and crackdown on short-term bonuses.

The country's largest bank on Thursday dodged a second strike over executive pay, with 92 per cent of shareholders backing its remuneration report, and director Andrew Mohl facing a moderate protest vote over his re-election.

Several big investors opposed Mr Mohl's re-election as a way of demanding accountability over the money-laundering scandal, but he was still elected with the support of 85 per cent of shareholders, compared with 95 per cent or more for other directors up for election.

Even so, the laundering scandal hung over the meeting in Sydney, with Ms Livingstone facing repeated questions over the August allegations that CBA failed to report more than 53,000 suspicious deposits to the regulator.
Embattled dairy processor Murray Goulburn has admitted breaching its continuous disclosure obligations as part of a court settlement with the corporate watchdog.

On Thursday Murray Goulburn said it had agreed to pay a $650,000 penalty under a deal with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) over its behaviour in the lead-up to last year's profit downgrade and cut in milk prices paid to farmers.

Murray Goulburn's announcement in late April 2016 caused turmoil for its suppliers that reverberated around the dairy industry after it announced retrospective price cuts on its milk payments to farmers who supplied it with milk. Credit:Bloomberg

ASIC has brought Federal Court proceedings against Murray Goulburn, alleging that from March 22, 2016 to April 27, 2016, it had failed to notify the ASX that it was unlikely to achieve forecasts it made in February.

Under the terms of the settlement Murray Goulburn has agreed it breached its obligations on one occasion. The maximum penalty for a breach is $1 million.
Each time a painting sells for countless millions, it's hugely tempting to discuss billionaires' whims and starving artists. But the $US450 million ($592 million) paid by an anonymous buyer for Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, is a different story. It's a testament to the true value of great art.

Salvator Mundi, the portrait of Christ that Leonardo supposedly painted around 1500, likely for King Louis XII of France, does have something of a history as a billionaire's investment. The seller, Dmitry Rybolovlev, made his $US10 billion fortune in potash, sold his Russian companies and invested a large part of the proceeds in an art collection valued by Bloomberg Billionaires at $US2 billion.

Since 2015, Rybolovlev has been suing Yves Bouvier, his Swiss art dealer, for allegedly overcharging him by $US500 million to $US1 billion as he built the collection. He also has been selling off the art. Rybolovlev acquired Salvator Mundi from Bouvier for $US127 million (substantially more than the $US75 million to $US80 million Bouvier paid for it), so, given Christie's share of the final price, he made a profit of $US273 million - enough to recoup up to half of what he says Bouvier owes him.

Why could the painting be worth so much more to the new owner than to Rybolovlev, when he acquired it in 2013. When he bought it, it had already been generally accepted as a work of Leonardo's and put on display in London's National Gallery. One possible answer is that the potash billionaire kept it, like other works he'd acquired, in freeports - huge warehouses built for art in low-tax regions. Salvator Mundi however, has the potential to be another Mona Lisa sparking speculation that a museum may have acquired it rather than a private collector. One can only hope.
Jeremy Hutchinson, a British lawyer who excelled as a silver-tongued goad to high society and a devilish advocate for spies and drug smugglers, and who fought legal battles during the countercultural ferment of the 1960s and '70s that helped broaden freedom of expression in Britain, died on November 13 at his home in Lullington, England. He was 102.

Born into a wealthy family that dined with poet T. S. Eliot and members of London's Bloomsbury Group literary set, Hutchinson was among the last of Britain's lawyer-celebrities, white-haired barristers whose performances in the courtroom were sometimes as closely followed as those of actors on the stage.

Jeremy Hutchinson, QC, centre, in Essex in 1963. Credit:Dennis Oulds

He nearly matched the theatrics of his first wife, Shakespearean actress Dame Peggy Ashcroft, captivating juries with a polished, mesmeric speaking style and lightly mocking judges as "old darling"  a habit his friend John Mortimer conferred on the popular television character Horace Rumpole.

Yet Hutchinson's talents were not used in support of the conservative establishment that gave him the elite legal designation of queen's counsel or, in 1978, ennobled him as Baron Hutchinson of Lullington. Lord Hutchinson, as he was known, was a liberal who once made an unsuccessful attempt to run for parliament as a member of the Labour Party.
Australia's backing of the fossil fuel industry is expected to come under more scrutiny at the Bonn climate talks in Germany, as a global effort to reduce coal use gathers momentum.

Britain and Canada were expected to launch the Global Alliance to Power Past Coal at a Thursday media conference aimed at phasing out consumption of the high-emissions fuel.

The alliance was expected to announce nine more nations would sign up to the group, including Italy, France, Mexico and Finland, an at least one African nation, Reuters reported.

The Marshall Islands, one of the alliance members, stepped up its criticism of Australia's policies, with its President, Hilda Heine, saying every nation should seek to end burning coal to prevent dangerous climate change.
Washington: Conservation groups have reacted furiously to a planned move by the Trump administration to allow hunters who kill elephants in two African countries to bring home the animals' tusks or other body parts as trophies.

The move triggered protests from conservation groups and a frenzy on social media from opponents who posted pictures on Twitter of US President Donald Trump's adult sons, who are avid hunters, posing with the cut-off tail of a slain elephant and other dead wild animals.

At a meeting in Tanzania organised by a pro-trophy hunting lobbying group, the US Fish and Wildlife Service disclosed that it would allow the import of trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia until 2018.

The agency said the countries had developed robust conservation programs that would enhance the survival of African elephants, the world's largest land animals.
It was supposed to be a day of harmony in the Senate as Parliament basked in the loved-up glow of the postal survey result.

But Cory Bernardi had other ideas.

Just before lunchtime on Thursday, the Australian Conservatives senator moved a series of motions in the Senate attacking abortion, communism, progressive activists GetUp! and White Ribbon Australia, which works to stop violence against women.

Only one of the motions - which are used to record what the Senate thinks - was successful. But for about half an hour, they caused chaos as Coalition MPs split during the votes and other senators yelled abuse at each other. This comes with government MPs already divided over how to legalise same-sex marriage.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has opened the door to a potential refugee resettlement deal between Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, acknowledging it is a decision for the two sovereign states that Australia could not block.

But he warned any arrangement would be against Australia's wishes and would run the risk of souring both countries' diplomatic relationships with Australia  making it unlikely without Canberra's blessing.

"That's an issue between those two countries. Any sovereign state can enter into bilateral arrangements," Mr Dutton said in a Sky News interview on Thursday.

"They would have to think about other equities within the respective relationships  they would have to think about their relationship with Australia."
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ledcor congratulates two client groups on their selection as winners of the prestigious Urban Land Institutes (ULI) 2017-2018 Global Awards for Excellence.



Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2896852f-c238-4a4c-ac67-7311a3e4dafc

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d1f8a9d-41ac-4572-9b30-b44893e10175

PCI Developments Corp and designer Perkins+Will were selected for their Marine Gateway project in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Also selected was the West Don Lands project in Toronto, Ontario, which was developed by - Master Developer: Waterfront Toronto; Developers: Urban Capital [River City], DREAM Unlimited, Kilmer Group [Canary District], Toronto Community Housing; Public Realm Designers: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc., PFS Studio with The Planning Partnership and &Co., Claude Cormier & Associates NAK Design Strategies; Architectural Design  River City: Saucier & Perrotte, ZAS Architects; Architectural Design  Canary District: architects Alliance, KPMB Architects, Page + Steele/IBI Group Architects, Daoust Lestage, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects, Design/Builder  Canary District: EllisDon Inc., Ledcor Group.

Marine Gateway and West Don Lands were two of 13 winning projects selected from 25 projects nominated from across North America, Europe and Asia as the ULIs Global Leaders in the Future of Urban Development.

We are extremely proud to be associated with both of Canadas 2017 ULI finalists and award winners, said Peter Hrdlitschka, President, Ledcor Construction. Both clients and their design teams visualized innovative mixed-use real estate development projects that would fundamentally transform two very different global city neighbourhoods. We are pleased to have helped their visions be actualized.

Ledcor was the general contractor for PCIs Marine Gateway and a Ledcor EllisDon JV was the Design Builder for the West Don Lands project, also known as the Canary District or Pan Am Athletes Village (PAAV).

Marine Gateway is Vancouvers first transit-oriented, mixed-use development directly connected to two major transit stations: Marine Drive Canada Line station and South Vancouver bus loop. The 830,000-square-foot landmark is comprised of two neighborhood plazas, a 250,000 square-foot office tower, 27 busy retailers covering 230,000 square-feet, and two 26- and 33-storey high-rise buildings with 415 residential units and 46 rental suites on a 4.8-acre site.

The West Don Lands project, an innovative Toronto urban development project, revitalized a former historic railway and industrial district in two phases on a 45-acre site. First, constructed into a 1,300-unit athletes village for 10,000 athletes and officials attending the 2015 Toronto Pam Am Games. Then, converted into a seven-building mixed-use neighbourhood; consisting of condos, community and affordable housing, a college residence and a YMCA.

We congratulate our client PCI Developments and designer Perkins+Will for an excellent project, and setting an example for transit-based urban redevelopments world-wide, said Hrdlitschka. And we equally congratulate Dream Unlimited, the Kilmer group and the whole West Don Lands development and design team, as well as our Design Build JV partner EllisDon, for creating an innovative method of using an international sporting event to revitalize an industrial site into an exemplary community, which will be a model for all future games village projects.

The other finalists were from Spain, Japan, Singapore and the United States. Before 2017, only five Canadian projects had been selected in the last 15 years.

More information on the projects, global awards and the ULI here: Marine Gateway, West Don Lands, Global Awards for Excellence and Urban Land Institute .

About Ledcor

The Ledcor Group of Companies is one of North America's most diversified construction companies, serving the building, oil & gas, infrastructure, mining, power, and telecommunications sectors. Ledcor also owns operations in property investment, forestry, aviation, and marine transportation services. Ledcor employs over 6,000 people across 20 offices, and numerous construction sites. Since 1947 we have been growing with our clients and partners: Forward. Together. Find out how at www.ledcor.com.

For more information, please contact:

David Hoff

Ledcor Media Relations

604-681-7500

media@ledcor.com
It's time for me to call it a day. What happened?

the parliamentary debate on same-sex marriage legislation began ;

; debate will resume - and consume - much of the final fortnight of Parliament from November 27;

from November 27; Labor, the Greens and some government MPs have indicated they have little appetite for changes to the legislation ;

; if things go according to plan, same-sex couples will be able to get married from January ;

; the day wasn't all smooth sailing with conservative senator Cory Bernardi using abortion to exploit differences in government ranks over the marriage debate;

using to exploit differences in government ranks over the marriage debate; the Greens are seeking urgent legal advice on the eligibility of their newest senator, Andrew Bartlett ; and

are seeking urgent legal advice on the eligibility of their newest senator, ; and Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne was hacked.

My very great thanks to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen but especially to Andrew because today is his final day in the Canberra press gallery and with Fairfax Media.

Mearesy has been the very best of colleagues and we wish him well as he rides off into the sunset (that's not a lazy saying, he really does love riding).

You can follow me on Facebook.

Alex and I will be back for the final, probably very crazy, fortnight of Parliament in a little over a week's time. We hope to see you then. Until we meet again - go well.
A view from the study. And just in time for summer and Christmas gift ideas, the former lawyer said that while the collection is non-seasonal as a "promise to our customers that they are going to have something that is in fashion for a long time," the brand's collaboration with New-York based Australian designers TOME is one of her favourites. "The colour waves are good for the summer," she said. "It was created for the Northern Hemisphere and we showed the collection with them at New York Fashion Week. The stuff is ready to buy, you will be ahead of the curve, whereas you have to wait a few months for the TOME clothes" Hang tight Melbourne, the newly renovated Chadstone store will be opening up again soon, inspired by a penthouse bar. "All the new stores form part of the TDE house of apartment concept in terms of fit out. The Sydney store is actually the master suite, and Melbourne is the bar in a ultimate penthouse, it suits the city. In New York we already have opened the living room, and next year LA will have a store that fits in."

TDE Apartment, Sydney. Level 4, Pitt Street Mall Westfield Sydney. Sales guide Love labels? Then the Parlour X sale is a must. There are bargains on brands including Celine, Chloe, Valentino, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant at up to 50 per cent off recent collections and up to 70 per cent off past collections. Now, while stocks lasts. Designer emporium Parlour X sale is a must-visit.

Furniture designer and manufacturer King Living is having a huge warehouse sale with up to 80 per cent off selected designs. The clearance event includes a diverse range of floor display items and warehouse stock on sale in across all King Living showrooms

While stocks last. King Living is having a rare sale this weekend. Sydney Sabatini is holding their summer sale over four days in Surry Hills. Get ready for warmer weather with a selection of lightweight knits, silk dresses, organic cottons, jersey and linen styles available. The brand sticks to a "Made in New Zealand" philosophy, with each design hand-made using sustainable fabrics. Suite 305, Level 3, 61 Marlborough Street, Surry Hills. Wednesday 15 10am-5pm, Thursday 16 10am-5pm, Friday 17 10am-2pm, Saturday 10am-3pm.

It's time for Sabantini's summer sale. Renowned for their unstructured and relaxed collections, Jac + Jack is opening their Sydney outlet now with past seasons including '17 and exclusive one-off design samples at up to 70 per cent off. Expect signature tee, pants, skirts and dress styles as well as linen jerseys, cashmere and accessories for men and women. 1&2/22-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills. Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5.30pm. Jac + Jack's knits are part of the outlet sale. Contemporary label Nique, which began in 1998 as a side project for founders Nick and Lucy Ennis, is returning its warehouse sale to Melbourne this weekend. Expect to find edgy wardrobe staples and timeless essentials including clothing archives, samples and more at up to 80 per cent off.

17 Oxford Street, Paddington. Friday 17 8am-8pm, Saturday 18 10am-6pm, Sunday 19 11am-4pm. Nique has up to 80 per cent off. Melbourne Infusing edgy elegance and razor sharp tailoring, Korean-born Australian designer Yeojin Bae is holding a one-day sale in South Yarra with up to 80 per cent off past season styles and samples. Sale dresses will start at $150. 80 River St, South Yarra. Saturday November 18 9am-4pm.

One of the designs to feature at the sale. Diesel is holding a denim clearance sale with all jeans and other designs $100 or under. The sale will run over three days in South Yarra. 9-11 Claremont Street, South Yarra. Thursday 16 and Friday 17 10am-6pm, Saturday 18 10am-4pm. Need something to update your home for summer? Head along to the United Interiors sale for 40 per cent to 80 per cent off furniture, art, decor and rugs. 253 Wickham Road, Moorabbin. November 18, 9am-5pm.

Pick up a bargain for your home at United Interiors. Australian brands Funky Trunks and Funkita are having a warehouse sale this weekend with activewear, swimwear and underwear that will make you stand out from the crowd. Expect their signature bold colours and designs at up to 70 per cent off, with prices starting at $5. Cromwell Gallery, Unit 3, 29 Cromwell Street, Collingwood. Thursday 16 5  8pm, Friday 17 9am  6pm Saturday 18 9am  4pm. Funkita and Funky Trunks are having a three-day sale. Just Launched

With 70s style accents present in style trends of late, the latest, luxury online retailer My Theresa have collaborated with Parisian fashion house Chloe on an exclusive bohemian fall 17' collection. Along with the capsule, which includes ready-to-wear clothing, shoes and handbags, the collaboration also includes a video series created by Lola Bessis called Runaway Baby. It tells a mysterious tale of creativity and freedom, something that is reflected in the brand's feminine design detailing and 70s Americana road-trip vibe. Pieces in the range include oversized knit dresses and sweaters in a light camel hue with golden threads and Chloe's signature silk blouses with guipure lace at the cuffs for a feminine finish. The runaways, Klara Kristin and India Menuez, featured in the video-series. Renowned for its eclectic designs, cult Australian label Alice McCall is now featuring on NET-A-PORTER with their BonBon resort collection. McCall's team were scouted at Australian Fashion Week, "where they fell in love with her whimsical and feminine dresses." "Her use of delicate hand embroidery on tulle and her playful use of colour and fabric at such a great price point really appealed to us. It has resonated very well with our customer," said Elizabeth ver don Goltz, Global Buying Director at NET-A-PORTER.

Part of Alice McCall's BonBon collection now features on Net-a-Porter. Children's cancer charity, Camp Quality has released an Acts of 'Kid-ness' Advent Calendar, which is unlike any on the market. Celebrating the spirit of being a kid, the calendar encourages families to undertake fun acts together. It also includes an Arnott's biscuit each day as well as an act of 'kid-ness', with a range of tasks including 'sharing a toy with a friend,' to help encourage good will and gratitude during the festive season. The calendar is available now for 14.95 at the Camp Quality online store. Acts of 'Kid-ness' Advent Calendar. #Inthecart Just in time for summer adventures, Melbourne-based designer Jamie Nelson is helping us find the perfect sandal with her bespoke online design service. Designed and assembled locally from natural vegetable tanned leathers, Nelson believes in the artistry and ethics of small batch production, creating limited-edition pieces according to each customer's personality and envisaged style.
Announcing her candidacy for the Bennelong byelection, Labor candidate Kristina Keneally was quick to produce a letter showing she had renounced her US citizenship.

Unlike some others falling foul of Section 44 of the constitution in the Australian Parliament it wasn't done in a blind panic.

The Las Vegas-born Keneally's letter is dated 2002, the year before she entered the NSW Parliament in March the next year and two years after she attained Australian citizenship.

As it turns out, she needn't have done so. Holding dual citizenship is no bar to entering the NSW Parliament under the state's Constitution Act.
The NSW government will announce fire safety laws today giving officials broad power to identify unsafe building materials and ban them, after fears that dozens of apartment blocks could be encased in flammable material.

Corporate builders caught knowingly using unsafe materials, including highly flammable aluminium cladding, will face fines of up to $1 million as a result of laws to be introduced to Parliament on Thursday.

"These new laws will make it easier for us to inspect and to pinpoint exactly where unsafe cladding is on high-rise residential buildings," Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean said.

Unsafe aluminum cladding, which experts say is difficult to distinguish from safe varieties, has been linked to several fatal apartment fires, including London's recent Grenfell inferno that claimed 80 lives.
Craig Lembke has been charged over a 700-kilogram cocaine shipment. Credit:Newcastle Herald Police will allege they began watching the trio after information came from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, formed last year to bring together the Australian Crime Commission and CrimTrac. The investigation, involving the NSW Police Force's Organised Crime Squad and the Australian Federal Police, had been monitoring increased shipping activity from the South Pacific to Australia linked to large-scale drug importation. The cocaine found on the yacht had an estimated street value of $245 million. Credit:NSW Police It is alleged the trio had organised to pick up the shipment in Tahiti, with tentacles also reaching Thailand where some of the syndicate's members had allegedly met to help hatch the plan.

In October, Mr Lembke is alleged to have flown to Tahiti to pick up the yacht and sail it home. After months of surveillance, state and federal police swooped on the 14-metre twin-hull yacht. Credit:Simone De Peak Police have not determined the origins of the shipment, but are working with the US Drug Enforcement Agency to investigate possible links to drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia. The vessel arrived at Coffs Harbour last Friday before it was sailed down the east coast, arriving in Catalina Bay on Monday. Craig Lembke is alleged to have flown to Tahiti to pick up the yacht and sail it home.

Police swooped on Wednesday afternoon, taking Mr Bath into custody while conducting raids on several Lake Macquarie properties as other search warrants were executed by federal police in Western Australia and Thailand. Mr Lembke, a 47-year-old former model, was arrested at a hotel in Warners Bay and Mr Jackson, 63, was taken into custody at Islington. The trio briefly faced Newcastle Local Court on Thursday morning where they were formally refused bail on the charge of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. As they were facing court, a large team of federal and state police remained at the wharf to retrieve the huge haul of cocaine, which was carried off by police rescue squad members over several loads using a body stretcher and tarpaulin. 'Serious questions'

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said 3.3 tonnes of cocaine had been seized in Australia in the past year. "We're not naive enough to think that this is the end of the business and to these people who continue to try and bring these types of substances into Australia while we have a significant demand issue," he said. "We need to ask ourselves some serious questions as a community why we have such an insatiable demand, not only for cocaine, but methamphetamine in this country. "We have seen no change in the street price, even though we've seen 3.3 tonnes of drugs removed from the streets in 12 months. "It says something in relation to the amount of cocaine that is still on the streets.

"It's an education issue. We need to start early with our kids in schools to ensure they don't put this filth in their veins. That they don't snort this filth up their nose. We need to ensure we keep filth off the streets." 'Thirst for illicit drugs' State Crime Commander Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the results of recent joint agency investigations were "indicative of the seriousness of NSW's thirst for illicit drugs, particularly cocaine". "As we recently highlighted, the Organised Crime Squad  with the assistance of our law enforcement partners both here and abroad  has seized tonnes of prohibited drugs and precursors destined for the streets of NSW," Assistant Commissioner Lanyon said. "With every seizure we make, a syndicate is taken down, but the demand remains high, and another organised criminal syndicate is willing to flip the coin and risk it all to try and exploit that demand for profit.
A truck driver is to be released from prison after successfully appealing against his conviction over a crash in which he ploughed into a line of cars, seriously injuring two NSW Police officers.

Sarmad Nisan's truck was speeding down a hill at Dee Why on Sydney's northern beaches in October 2014 when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed, injuring six people.

The then-42-year-old was sentenced in April to at least three years' jail after NSW District Court judge Deborah Payne found him guilty of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm to two police officers.

When Mr Nisan was sentenced, the court heard that he was travelling at almost twice the speed limit when he lost control of his almost fully laden 22-tonne truck, which flipped over and slammed into a line of traffic stopped at a red light at the busy intersection at Pittwater Road.
Two men have been charged after a protest outside a Liberal Party fundraising event in inner-city Sydney.

Protesters organised by the Refugee Action Coalition Sydney picketed the event at the Australian Technology Park, in Eveleigh, on Friday evening, calling for the evacuation of asylum seekers on Manus Island.

Police escort Christine Forster past protesters picketing at the Liberal fundraising event. Credit:AAP

The event was attended by Liberal MPs Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton, as well as City of Sydney councillor Christine Forster, who said protesters tried to punch, and spit at, her as she made her way inside.

Police arrested four people on Friday night, including a 24-year-old man who was charged with assaulting police in the execution of their duty, after he allegedly spat on an officer.
Queensland teachers would have to pass a numeracy and literacy test before they could take to the classroom under an LNP government.

But a political bun fight has broken out about whether the test already existed or was new, or had not been implemented yet.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the LNP's suggested tests for teachers had already been implemented. Credit:AAP

Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there was already a test in place.

"Can I say to [LNP leader] Tim Nicholls, he might want to go back in time to 2013 when Campbell Newman and John-Paul Langbroek actually put out a document here, and that document very clearly states it was a direction of the federal government to ensure that teachers had numeracy and literacy before they started teaching, she said.
A Queensland woman allegedly busted trying to smuggle a bullet stashed in her hair into a prison could face up to two years in jail.

The 38-year-old was visiting an inmate at the Woodford Correctional Centre on October 27 when she was allegedly caught with what was believed to be a live .22 round.

A bullet was alleged smuggled into Woodford Correctional Centre by a visitor.

She was charged with possession of an explosive and introducing a prohibited item into a correctional centre, and was due to appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A Queensland Corrective Services source had told Fairfax Media there was speculation within the jail there could have been a makeshift gun inside but a spokesman for the organisation said no such weapon was found.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advantage Insurance Inc., a leader in providing customized insurance solutions for businesses and individuals, announced today that Tamara K. Kravec has been appointed its Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Kravec has responsibility for Advantages financial reporting, corporate development and strategy, treasury and investor relations activities. She has served as a consultant to Advantage since August 2017 and will be based in Advantages San Juan headquarters.



Ms. Kravec was most recently the Founder and CEO of BWT Consulting, LLC, where she worked as a strategic advisor to insurance and investment management companies. Prior to that, she was a Partner, Managing Director, and Senior Equity Research Analyst at NWQ Investment Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Nuveen Investments. At NWQ, Ms. Kravec was responsible for driving investment portfolio construction through research analysis and idea generation in the global insurance, REIT and consumer discretionary sectors. Ms. Kravec joined NWQ from Banc of America Securities where she was Senior Equity Research Analyst for the Life Insurance sector and also had equity research management responsibilities. Prior to Banc of America Securities, Ms. Kravec held positions in equity research at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse First Boston. Ms. Kravec holds an MBA degree from New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Advantage CEO Walter Keenan said, We are extremely pleased to have Tamara join our team. She has extensive industry knowledge in the financial services and insurance sectors, and highly relevant experience both analyzing and consulting for life insurance companies. We welcome Tamara to Advantage and look forward to working with her and leveraging her strengths as we continue to grow our business.

Ms. Kravec stated, I am excited to be joining Advantage Insurance at a time when it is poised for significant growth. Advantage has a strong specialty insurance business combined with a differentiated approach to investing, which is well matched to my background and experience. I look forward to making a significant leadership contribution to the ongoing and future success of the company.

About Advantage

Advantage Insurance Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, provides customized insurance products and services to businesses and individuals worldwide. Founded in 1993, today Advantage serves approximately 400 clients and administers over $2 billion of insurance assets from its headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico and additional locations in the Cayman Islands and United States. Advantage's primary lines of business include private placement life insurance, captive insurance management and alternative risk transfer services. Additional information is available on the company's website: www.advantagelife.com

Mary Herms

m.herms@advantagelife.com

+1 (787) 705-2900
I lost my cool with a marketing call-centre. On a busy day, an offshore-based operator called with an offer to change energy suppliers. Their firm has called at least six times, despite repeated requests to be taken off their database and their assurances to do so.

Later that afternoon, two property agents from the same firm called about two houses for sale. Having attended a few inspections nearby, I get calls and texts whenever a house is for sale. They won't stop texting even though I replied STOP to get off their list, as instructed.

Too many companies, including some of Australia's largest, are badly overworking their customer databases. Credit:iStockphoto

To top it off, a car company called to follow up a marketing email and thought nothing of a reminder text. Then there was the university advertisement that stalked me online throughout the day because I searched course information for a story.

I'm not in the market for a new house/car/energy deal/university course. But Corporate Australia thought nothing of robbing 20 minutes of my work day with four intrusive bits of marketing and more again in less intrusive materials (texts, emails etc).
The inside man in a half-a-million-dollar heist at Myer's Melbourne CBD store 24 years ago claims he never got a cent from the armed robbery.

A County Court trial in Melbourne heard that the witness, whose identity is suppressed worked as a security guard.

Wladimir Babaeff, who has pleaded not guilty, pictured leaving Melbourne's County Court on Thursday. Credit:Joe Armao

trained the accused Wladimir Babaeff, who has pleaded not guilty.

The witness claimed he told Mr Babaeff that Myer kept its cash room unlocked and there would be up to a million dollars in cash and cheques inside.
Some government MPs are openly fuming at a claimed factional "hit" on exiled former minister Jane Garrett.

One of Ms Garrett's closest allies says she is "incredibly angry" at the Labor Party's failure to back the Brunswick MP's dramatic  and failed  tilt for an upper house seat.

Jane Garrett wasn't preselected for an upper house seat. Credit:Jason South

Tensions are rising within the ALP after Ms Garrett's bid to move from her marginal, inner-city electorate didn't get past the party's powerful public office selection committee on Wednesday night.

Wendouree MP Sharon Knight deflected the question when asked if Ms Garrett's preselection loss was a sign that any Labor MP who disagreed with Premier Daniel Andrews risks being booted out of parliament.
A critically ill Victorian mother has woken from a coma months after she was struck with the flu, unaware she had given birth.

Sarah Hawthorn, 33, was otherwise fit and healthy when she was struck down by the influenza epidemic gripping the country in the late stages of her pregnancy.

Sarah Hawthorn, 33, was an otherwise healthy and fit woman when she was struck down by the influenza epidemic sweeping the country in the late stages of her pregnancy.

Ms Hawthorn's son was delivered five weeks premature during an emergency birth on August 28.

Her family said at the time that she was unaware she had given birth to "the most perfect little baby boy".
A fire at the Bentley Plaza Shopping Centre has caused a damage bill expected to be in the millions of dollars.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the blaze broke out on Ewing Street about 1:38am on Thursday morning and about 70 firefighters were at the scene to fight the flames.

More than 70 firefighters were at the shopping centre to fight the blaze. Credit:Anthony Anderson

Firefighters were also conducting search and rescue operations in the building, and were trying to protect adjoining assets.

Police had cordoned off the scene as a protected forensic area.
School leavers who do not feel confident refusing alcohol predict they will drink significant amounts during the end-of-year celebrations.

And many say they intend to drink more than five drinks on a single occasion, according to a survey.

School-leavers are set to descend on popular Schoolies destinations. Credit:Nic Walker

With party plans being finalised, Curtin University released the results for a survey of 586 year 11 and 12 West Australian students about drinking during the 'schoolies' period.

The study examined the reasons that may stop school leavers from drinking excessively, as well as looking at the relationship between believing one can say 'no' and intended consumption of alcohol.
Phnom Penh: Cambodia's Supreme Court has dissolved the country's main opposition party, denying millions of Cambodians the opportunity to vote for their elected representatives in elections next year.

The verdict follows a sweeping crackdown on democracy and political freedoms in the country where Australia has an agreement to send refugees from Nauru and Manus Island.

More than half of the leaders of the National Rescue Party (CNRP), which Prime Minister Hun Sen's government asked the court to dissolve, are already in jail or have fled the country.

The court also ordered a five-year ban on political activity for 118 members of the party, which had emerged as a threat to Mr Hun Sen's three decade-rule.
London: A British bakery chain has apologised after creating a Nativity scene in which Baby Jesus, surrounded by three wise men, was replaced with a sausage roll.

And not just any sausage roll, but one that had been bitten into.

The Nativity scene created by British bakery Greggs to promote its Advent calendar. Credit:Greggs

Greggs, the largest bakery chain in Britain, released the image of the sausage roll nestled in a straw-filled manger to help promote its $40 advent calendar.

But no sooner had the image of the sausage roll saviour been published than consumers of all faiths took to Twitter to express moral indignation ??? and more than a few snickers.
Washington: A growing national outcry over sexual harassment has reached the United States Senate after a radio newscaster accused Democrat Al Franken of kissing and groping her without consent during a 2006 USO tour of the Middle East before he took public office.

Franken, who has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, almost immediately released an apology to the newscaster, Leeann Tweeden, who said that Franken forcibly kissed her during a rehearsal and groped her for a photo as she slept.

Democratic Senator. Al Franken has apologised a radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing her in 2006. Credit:AP

"The first thing I want to do is apologise: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women," Franken wrote.

"I respect women. I don't respect men who don't," he continued. "And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed."
Toronto, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) congratulates the inaugural members of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) board of directors. Todays announcement is an important step that reinforces the historic commitment the federal government has made to infrastructure development across the country. The 10 appointees, under the leadership of Chair Janice Fukakusa bring together exceptional investment experience and infrastructure expertise as the Bank moves into its operational phase.

Canadas Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi, and Chair Fukakusa have both stressed the importance of strong partnerships between the public and private sectors to address Canadas infrastructure deficit. Those partnerships will be equally as important as the CIB begins its work to help provide more infrastructure for Canadian communities.

The CIB is faced with a unique opportunity to be a catalyst for infrastructure development and economic growth across Canada, says Mark Bain, CCPPP Chair. With the announcement of this talented board, CCPPP is confident the Bank is well positioned to leverage untapped private capital and innovation, bringing to market a host of previously out-of-reach infrastructure projects that are in the public interest.

The CIB has the potential to be an important, innovative tool that will complement and grow the P3 sector in Canada. It will play a critical role in establishing a prosperous and solid foundation for Canadas new infrastructure frontier, focusing on revenue-generating projects and establishing a strong and stable pipeline.

This accomplished and experienced CIB board will help set a new course for the next infrastructure era in Canada, says Mark Romoff, CCPPP President and CEO. Drawing on the success of the P3 model, the CIB will be able to bring investors, developers and governments together to advance transformational infrastructure that may not otherwise come to market. The Council looks forward to working with Chair Fukakusa and her board.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee33c1fd-38dc-4e82-9a6f-0b97872810f7
Washington: The House passed a sweeping rewrite of the tax code on Thursday, taking a significant leap forward as Republicans seek to enact $US1.5 trillion in tax cuts for businesses and individuals and deliver the first major legislative achievement of President Donald Trump's tenure.

The House voted to 227-205 to approve the bill, shortly after Trump came to Capitol Hill to address House Republicans.

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he walks with Vice-President Mike Pence as he leaves Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday Credit:AP

Thirteen Republicans voted against the bill, and zero Democrats voted for it.

The tax overhaul still faces significant obstacles, as Republicans must align the House legislation with a bill that is working its way through the Senate Finance Committee this week and contains big differences that will have to be bridged.
John Leguizamo's new solo show, Latin History for Morons, opened last night, November 15, at Studio 54. Recently extended, performances will now run through February 25. Check out photos of Leguizamo and the stars in attendance in the gallery below.

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Directed by Tony Taccone, Latin History for Morons comes to Broadway following coproductions at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Public Theater. Inspired by the near-total absence of Latinos in his son's American history class, the show is Leguizamo's frenzied search to find a Latin hero for his son's school project. From a mad recap of the Aztec empire to stories of unknown Latin patriots of the Revolutionary War and beyond, Leguizamo breaks down the 3,000 years between the Mayans and Ricky Ricardo into an irreverent and concise history lesson.

The creative team includes Rachel Hauck (scenic design), Alexander V. Nichols (lighting design), and Bray Poor (original music and sound design).

For tickets and more information, click here.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
Latest regulations are part of efforts to implement directive on financial security

The country's top banking regulator has called on China Development Bank Corp and the Export-Import Bank of China to step up management of country risks, compliance risks and overseas lending risks, while they support Chinese companies expanding their business globally.

On Wednesday, the China Banking Regulatory Commission issued regulations for three State-owned policy banks, CDB, China Exim-Bank and Agricultural Development Bank of China.

Among them, CDB currently has six representative offices overseas, and China EximBank had three representative offices abroad, plus a branch in Paris, by the end of last year.

Zhou Minyuan, head of CBRC's policy banks supervision department, said at a news conference on Wednesday: "The CBRC required both banks to fully identify overseas business risks, step up compliance management, completely understand the operational and financial status of their clients as well as the laws and regulations of host countries, strictly observe the local environmental and industrial regulations, and strengthen communication with local regulators."

The CBRC demanded the banks enhance capital supervision via on-site inspections and investigations, effectively prevent and control overseas business risks by taking risk-sharing measures, prudentially evaluate the feasibility and compliance of relevant guarantee measures, and improve their emergency response mechanism.

"These banks should set clear goals and plans for development and determine their priority areas of service based on self-positioning," Zhou said.

Regulators will also set requirements on capital adequacy ratios for the three policy banks by taking reference of the requirements on commercial banks, said Xu Qinghong, deputy head of CBRC's policy banks supervision department.

"The banks need to establish their own capital management system, workflow and policies, to ensure that they can combat various risks with their own capital, and make a medium- to long-term capital plan," Xu said.

The CBRC required the banks to have an internal evaluation of capital at least once a year and build a sustainable capital replenishment mechanism.

The latest regulations are part of the CBRC's efforts to implement the central government's directive on the prevention and control of financial risks, said Hu Bin, deputy director-general of the Institute of Finance and Banking at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The CBRC is trying to stop the transfer of problems associated with the real economy to financial institutions, prevent the Chinese banking sector from being significantly affected by external economic and political shocks, and take precautions to help policy banks avoid huge fines imposed by host countries' regulators for compliance issues."

He advised policy banks to make internal control policies and risk management strategies according to different countries and regions, different categories of business, and different types of risk while helping Chinese companies expand business in the economies related to the Belt and Road Initiative.

The total assets of the three policy banks amounted to 25.12 trillion yuan ($3.79 trillion) by the end of September, according to CBRC statistics. The banks extended loans of 1.42 trillion yuan to projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative and 2.36 trillion yuan to support Chinese companies going global.
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The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University is set to host a public lecture event Thursday focusing on the challenges facing those trying to provide assistance in Syria.

Mark Ward, director of the Syria Transitioning Assistance and Response Team at the U.S. Department of State and an expert on disaster preparedness, will be the featured speaker at the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs-sponsored event.

The free event will take place 12:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and requires registration.

For more information or to register for the event, visit bush.tamu.edu/events.
The third annual Texas Symposium on Women, Peace and Security: Challenges and Opportunities Amidst Global Change, hosted by the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M, is set for Monday.

Featured speakers expected to present at the event include U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, Ambassador Catherine Russell and Bush School professor Valerie Hudson.

Speakers are expected to discuss topics including women and peacebuilding in Afghanistan, women's health as a national security issue and "scholarly research on the relationship between the security of women and the security of the states in which they live," according to an announcement for the event.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information, visit bush.tamu.edu/wps-symposium2017.
The North American Free Trade Agreement is frequently criticized by President Donald Trump as a bad deal for the U.S., but according to Carla Hills, who was the primary trade negotiator for the agreement, that is not quite the case.

Hills was the featured speaker at the "NAFTA 2.017: Strengths, Weaknesses and Ways Forward" event hosted Wednesday by the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M's Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs and the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics and Public Policy. The event came as the fifth round of negotiations regarding NAFTA began in Mexico City between officials from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

She was joined by fellow panelists Michael K. Young, president of Texas A&M; Alejandrina Salcedo, director of the Banco de Mexico Real Sector Research Area; and Jesus Canas, senior business economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Hills -- who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Gerald Ford administration and as U.S. Trade Representative under President George H. W. Bush -- said during her address she is fearful of the "nationalist wave" that has affected politics across the globe recently and the damage it could do to crucial collaborative agreements such as NAFTA.

"The [negotiation] process will not be easy, and we are likely to be in for a bumpy ride in the months ahead," she said.

Established under former President George H.W. Bush after the U.S. and Canada began bilateral talks with Mexico in 1991 and going into effect in 1994, NAFTA created a trilateral trade bloc between the three countries and eliminated tariffs.

Hills said "without question, all three economies have benefitted" from the agreement and that, in the U.S., one-third of the nation's global trade is conducted with the NAFTA partners.

She said she believes if the U.S. were to pull out of the agreement altogether, the impacts could be "catastrophic" -- ranging from lost jobs to higher prices on imported goods.

"If we pull out of agreements and just say we're going to turn inward, it's going to have a profound effect globally, too," Hills said.

Young, who also participated in the negotiations for NAFTA, said while it is often said by some, including Trump, that Mexico has a greater benefit under the agreement, he believes the sacrifices the country made are undervalued.

He said one of the things that stood out to him during the negotiations was "how much Mexico was willing to give up to engage."

"In context, they were willing to give up a lot of things," Young said. " My impression was Mexico was giving up more fixed tariffs than we were."

He said probably the biggest benefit to both Mexico and the U.S. in the crafting of NAFTA was "the capacity to really think about how one creates a more seamless economy in terms of supply chain and so forth."

Salcedo agreed with the assessments of Hills and Young, adding that NAFTA has allowed the three nations to create what amounts to one economy, resulting in more productivity and efficiency for all parties involved.

Salcedo said among the ways consumers have benefitted from deal include lower prices and a higher variety of goods -- a fact she said she wished a larger percentage of the population was better aware of.

As an example, Salcedo said removing the benefits of NAFTA would be akin to building a wall between two wings of a factory, leaving the collaborating workers at a disadvantage for continuing their work.

Taking a more specific focus on the Texas economy, Canas noted that the state trades more with Mexico than it does with the entirety of Asia or the European Union.

"We would definitely feel [a restriction]," Canas said.

Hills said, however, the agreement is not perfect: She said she believes the greatest adjustments needed to the treaty involve modernizations to better facilitate a more technologically advanced economy.

Looking forward, Hills said she would like to see a modernization of NAFTA that takes advantage of "21st-century opportunities."

"It's clear that all three of our nations would benefit from agreeing to modern rules governing digital flows, e-commerce, financial services, telecommunications and energy," she said.

Hills said the greatest concern she has regarding the ongoing NAFTA negotiations is that political factors may prevent a successful deal from coming to fruition.

Under the current timeline, she said the soonest Congress could bring a potential new deal to a vote would be summer 2018 -- well into campaign season for the U.S. midterm elections.

"Our history tells us that trade issues, even those that are overwhelmingly in America's best interest, are a very tough sell during a political cycle," Hills said. " My concern is that trade in general, and NAFTA in particular, have become such polarizing political issues for a significant [and] influential minority of Americans that an updated agreement that leaves us all better off may be beyond our reach at this time in history."

Hills said she believes for these challenges of political opinion to be overcome, the negative perception of NAFTA will need to be corrected.

"If we are to continue to reap the economic and security benefits that he have gained over the years from NAFTA and agreements like it, we desperately need to get these facts out to the American public and to their elected leaders," Hills said.
A Brazos County jury decided in less than an hour Wednesday that an East Texas man convicted of capital murder in connection to the deaths of six people at an Anderson County campsite should die for the crime.

Though they ordered lunch, jurors reached a verdict on William Mitchell Hudson's fate before they had time to eat, announcing they had made a decision between life in prison without parole and death by lethal injection after deliberating for about 45 minutes. Third District Judge Mark Calhoon sentenced the 35-year-old Tennessee Colony resident shortly thereafter.

Hudson was indicted on three counts of capital murder in connection with the slaying of six members of the Johnson and Kamp families on the night of Nov. 14, 2015: Thomas Kamp, 45; Nathan Kamp, 23; Austin Kamp, 21; Kade Johnson, 6; Carl Johnson, 77; and Hannah Johnson, 40. The case was moved to Brazos County because of pre-trial publicity in Anderson County, which is more than 100 miles northeast of Bryan.

After the trial, Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell called the killings "the worst thing that ever has happened in Anderson County in our modern history."

'The stuff of nightmares'

According to testimony over the trial's 11 days, the families gathered in Anderson County that weekend on land Thomas Kamp had recently purchased from a distant relative of Hudson's to celebrate the upcoming 24th birthday of Nathan Kamp. Carl and Cynthia Johnson -- who was the sole survivor -- arrived first in an RV the retired couple used to travel around the country. Using a bolt cutter Thomas Kamp had given them, the couple cut a lock on the gate, gaining entrance to the land he had recently purchased.

Shortly after arriving on the land, the couple's RV got stuck in the sandy ground near their campsite. The sound of Cynthia Johnson yelling at her husband as he tried to work the RV out of the ground made its way over to Crystal Hudson's home, where her son, William Hudson, had been staying.

Friends of the Hudson family testified that they had owned the land since the 1800s, and that Hudson had wanted to buy the land his distant cousin was selling because he had run cattle over it with his father, Mack, who died in December 2014. Unemployed and broke, Hudson hadn't been able to buy the land; Thomas Kamp purchased it several months before his death.

That Nov. 14, William used a tractor to help pull the Johnsons' RV out of the sandy ground. He refused payment, asking instead to share a beer with them. Several hours passed until Thomas Kamp -- who was delayed by work -- arrived. By then, darkness had fallen, and the group needed more firewood to offset the November evening chill.

Hudson, Tom, Nathan and Austin Kamp and Kade Johnson piled into Thomas Kamp's all-terrain vehicle to go into the forest to find firewood. Recalling the bloody night from the stand, Cynthia Johnson said she, Hannah and Carl Johnson didn't think anything of the gunshots they heard from the woods, thinking the group was hunting squirrels. Cynthia Johnson said they were unsure how long the others were gone, but it was long enough that the trio gave up waiting on them for dinner and started to eat their hamburgers and beans without them.

Hudson came back alone on Thomas Kamp's ATV. Hannah Johnson reacted first, screaming "Daddy!" at Carl Johnson before running into the RV. Hudson fired two shots from his shotgun, narrowly missing Hannah Johnson's body and hitting Carl Johnson in the hip. Out of ammunition, Hudson proceeded to beat Carl Johnson to death after he collapsed on the RV's stairs, preventing Hannah Johnson from shutting the door and trapping her inside.

Cynthia Johnson dropped to the ground and hid on that cold, dark night. Her husband screamed for her help, but she knew she couldn't move.

"I just was wondering what I could do, and, but knowing William was in there ... I would be the end of any witness," Cynthia Johnson testified.

She then listened as Hudson beat her husband and daughter to death, coating the RV's walls, ceiling, floors, appliances and furniture in blood.

The moonlight especially dim because of a waning crescent, Cynthia Johnson hid until the sun rose the next morning, picking up a cellphone Hannah Johnson had dropped and fleeing to the woods to call the police. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and arrested Hudson on Nov. 15, exactly two years before he would be sentenced to death in a Brazos County courtroom.

Authorities testified in the trial that the bodies of Tom, Nathan and Austin Kamp and Kade Johnson later were found in a stock pond behind Hudson's mother's home.

In her closing argument Wednesday morning, special prosecutor Lisa Tanner of the Texas Attorney General's Office, called the night's massacre "the stuff of nightmares."

"It's not fathomable, because it's not human," she said.

'... Wasn't born this way'

Mental health experts called to testify by Hudson's attorneys in the trial's punishment phase said Hudson had suffered brain damage from multiple seizures at various points of his life, two car accidents and extreme alcohol abuse. They also said he suffered from a personality disorder and used alcohol as a coping mechanism to mask a crippling sense of inadequacy. Defense attorneys also said Hudson had a difficult early home life, arguing that his father was emotionally -- and sometimes physically -- abusive.

"William Hudson was created; he wasn't born that way," said Stephen Evans, one of Hudson's attorneys.

Testifying Monday, Dr. David Self, a forensic psychiatrist, said Hudson suffered from a Cluster B personality disorder, and that he became further unwound after the death of his father. Hudson had been offended "beyond rationality" after Thomas Kamp had purchased the land.

"He had anticipated all his life that that little farm was going to be his," Self said. "William felt compelled to step into his father's shoes. And he wasn't capable. The pressure ate him up."

Mental health experts called by prosecutors, meanwhile, said Hudson had a personality disorder, not a mental illness, and was not likely to be helped by available treatment options.

Hudson's ex-wives, ex-girlfriends and mother testified in the trial, describing many instances of violence: Hudson had threatened to harm both of his parents, put a gun to the head of the mother of one of his children and asked his own mother to bring one of his guns to court, to name a few.

The day before the slayings, Crystal Hudson said her son threw an ice pick at her feet, hitting the bathroom floor's tile instead. She said she fled the house, driving so fast that law enforcement pulled her over and gave her ticket. She then drove to see her daughter in Tyler, staying with her for several days.

Crystal Hudson tried to get Hudson help from mental health professionals several times over the course of his life, but his drinking and violent tendencies continued throughout his life.

"This is just who he is," Tanner said. "This is a man who is not gonna change. That ought to scare you."

"This case is exactly why our state has the death penalty," Mitchell told jurors.

In her closing argument, Mitchell said more than 50 people testified over the trial's 11 days; more than 400 exhibits of evidence were presented.

According to Robert Hurst, spokesman at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, death row inmates are sent to the Byrd Unit in Huntsville for processing, then within a few days will be transferred to Polunsky Unit in Livingston. Hurst said death row inmates are placed in solitary cells as they await their execution.

Hudson has been in the Brazos County Jail for about two months. Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk said they were working with the Anderson County Sheriff to transfer Hudson "as soon as we can."

Surviving members of the Kamp and Johnson families flew into Texas from Maine, Florida, New York, Michigan and California to watch the trial. At one point, Hudson was served papers for a wrongful death lawsuit by one of the mothers of the victims.

Several family members made victim impact statements after Hudson received his sentence, reading their prepared remarks from the spectator section of the 361st District Courtroom. Hudson remained seated and stared straight ahead; he never made eye contact with the family members of those he had slain.

"I don't want to say anything in front of this man," Toby Kamp, one Thomas Kamp's brothers and Nathan and Austin Kamp's uncles, said in reference to the impact the killings had on his family. "It's just a tragedy."

Elizabeth Vankirk, daughter of Carl Johnson, sister of Hannah Johnson and aunt of Kade Johnson, said "there's so many 'nevers' now," reflecting on all the memories that would never be, stolen from them by Hudson.

Authorities led Hudson out of the courtroom around 1:15 p.m., shortly after jurors were dismissed. Members of the Johnson and Kamp families hugged Mitchell and staff from her office.

"Time to heal," Vankirk as she packed up her things from the courtroom pew.

Outside the courtroom, Vankirk said the family was "very happy with the verdict."

"He can't hurt anybody anymore," she said. Having arrived in Brazos County on Oct. 31, Vankirk said she would be flying back home to Michigan this morning, closer to her husband, children and grandchild.

"I have a family to get back to," she said.
Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for the vacant Senate seat left by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has been accused of sexual misconduct with several teenagers. So far, he stridently has maintained that he will not withdraw from the race, leading to speculation about whether the Senate could refuse to seat him or expel him if he were to win the special election Dec. 12.

Most constitutional law experts agree that under the Supreme Court decision Powell vs. McCormack, the Senate cant refuse to seat Moore.

There is much more uncertainty, however, over whether he could be expelled after he takes his seat.

In 1967, the House excluded New York Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. at the beginning of the 90th Congress because Powell had been accused of misappropriating public funds. He challenged the Houses decision, and the Supreme Court held that, because Powell met the Constitutions age, residency and citizenship requirements, he had to be given his seat.

The justices rejected the House argument that it had expelled Powell as allowed by the Constitution.

Article I, Section 5 states that each House (of Congress) may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. Two-thirds of the House had voted against Powell, but because the congressman never formally had been seated, it didnt count as expulsion.

The justices further pointed out that the misconduct at issue occurred prior to the convening of the 90th Congress, and that the Houses own manual of procedure at the time stated that both Houses have distrusted their power to punish in such cases.

In the Senate, there have been 15 expulsions. During the Civil War, 14 senators were unseated for cooperating with the Confederacy. Another was expelled in 1797 for treason. These actions seem justified, even obvious. But how far does the power to expel extend?

Imagine if one political party controlled two-thirds of the Senate or the House; could that party exclude a member solely for partisan reasons? The answer surely should be no. If the power to expel is limited under those circumstances, it is not hard to imagine other limitations as well.

Take Roy Moore. As despicable a figure as he is (besides the allegations of sexual misconduct, he has twice had to leave judicial office for refusing to obey the law), the people of Alabama may want him in the Senate. Is it fair to allow senators from other states to exclude him and, given the courts comments in Powell, for conduct that he engaged in long ago?

In the Powell decision, the court underlined its doubts about the reach of the expulsion power: A fundamental principle of our representative democracy is, in Hamiltons words, that the people should choose whom they please to govern them.  As Madison pointed out at the (Constitutional) Convention, this principle is undermined as much by limiting whom the people can select as by limiting the franchise itself. Allowing the Senate to expel a sitting member for conduct prior to winning the election may appear to the court to also deny people the right to choose whom they please to govern them.

The current Congressional Research Service manual for the House has similar language: The reticence of the House to expel a Member for past misconduct after the Member has been reelected by his or her constituents, with knowledge of the Members conduct, appears to reflect the deference traditionally paid in our heritage to the popular will and election choice of the people. Of course, other legal and political considerations could come into play should this issue ever reach the court.

Leading figures in the Republican Party, such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, publicly have said Moore should withdraw from the race.

They should use all the pressure they can muster to convince Moore to end his run. Otherwise, the people of Alabama may well get their way, for an entire six-year term or more.

Eric J. Segall, a law professor at Georgia State University, is the author of Supreme Myths: Why the Supreme Court Is Not a Court and Its Justices Are Not Judges. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times.
Climate change has ravaged Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in 2017. The prime minister from one of them - Fiji - presides over COP23, this year's UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Bonn, Germany. But if this means we are celebrating the first Island COP', given the previous year, it is a muted yet profound observance.

A relentless battering ram of hurricanes struck the Caribbean in recent months. Hyperactive, Category 5, highest total accumulated cyclone energy: these labels mean little to those uninitiated in climate science. Yet the destruction caused - it was the costliest cyclone season on record and led to over 400 fatalities - is understandable to all.

Indeed, that makes it apt a leader of a nation facing similar challenges should be president of the conference. At the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) - of which Fiji is a member - we have sought recognition for states that are on the frontline of climate change. We are often exposed to the acute end of global warming, yet have the least capacity to cope with its effects.

Framework and solutions

As the Chair of that organisation - and in my capacity as the Minister of Environment of the Maldives - I call on our developed international partners to own their responsibility. The affluence of the modern world was built on polluting foundations.

Rich nations - those who have benefitted from vast historical Green House Gas (GHG) emissions - are therefore indebted to humanity's future. And they must honour that obligation. For if they do not, nations like mine will suffer through no fault of our own.

Progress has been made. The landmark 2015 Paris Agreement acknowledged that GHG reductions should be should be tied to historical emissions. Now, in Bonn, we must figure out how exactly each nation implements their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as well mechanisms to monitor the level of reductions. The framework and solutions are known; we now just need action.

Vulnerability with resilience

This word has become so overused in climate circles as to become trite. But there is no way around it. Time is against us. The latest UNEP Gap report states it is not too late to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Yet it makes for uncomfortable reading. It identifies an "urgent need for accelerated short-term action and enhanced longer-term national ambition". Quibbling over important issues such as financing should therefore be avoided. We are talking about lives, not bottom lines.
The Sierra Club of Connecticut is calling for a shutdown of efforts to develop a new energy market road map for the state until allegations that the states two largest electric utilities manipulated the process for bringing natural gas into New England can be fully investigated.

Work on the states Comprehensive Energy Strategy is scheduled to be completed by the of the year, so it can be delivered to the General Assembly in time for the 2018 legislative session. But Sierra Club officials are contending the energy plan could be misleading because it is predicated on claim that an inadequate supply of natural gas to the region is driving up energy costs and threatening Connecticuts energy security.
GREENWICH  As each day seems to bring new accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against men in powerful circles, many who attended the Greenwich Chamber of Commerces Women Who Matter Luncheon on Thursday remarked that it was appropriate for Gretchen Carlson to serve as the events speaker.

The town resident, who sued Fox News after years of harassment by the channels founder and CEO Roger Ailes, did not hold back. Carlson, who had been a high profile host on the channel, spoke not just about her own experiences, but the many women coming forward to reveal what they have endured.

The pace and the volume of stories is like an avalanche, a tidal wave, a tsunami or any weather term that you want to use, Carlson said at the luncheon at Greenwich Country Club. For those in the audience who have been sexually harassed or assaulted, and statistically thats almost all of you, I hope that all of this news has you saying to yourself, About time.

Sexual harassment is something that can happen to anyone, regardless of job or skin color or political party, she said, relating bad experiences in her own life before she even got to Fox. One her way up she ran into publicists and news executives who felt any help they provided her entitled them to do whatever they wanted, she said. One time a station fired her right after she got married, telling her she would be OK now that she had a husband.

While admitting she never envisioned becoming the face of the issue, Carlson said she still constantly receives harassing remarks on Twitter, from people telling her they hope she never gets a job, that she should stop whining or that she is too ugly to be sexually harassed.

Jumping into that abyss was the toughest thing I ever did in my life, Carlson said. But once I told my story, thousands of other women started reaching out to me and I realized what an epidemic were facing in this nation. The floodgates really opened and we started hearing more stories.

Carlson most recently authored the book Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back. A copy of the New York Times best seller was given out to everyone in attendance, and she drew from themes of the book for her remarks, urging women to speak out about harassment because so much still goes unreported while criticizing a society that protects powerful men and ignores and belittles women, making it difficult for them to report what happens to them.

She noted that many of the women she talked to for her book were victims of harassment who not only lost their jobs but never worked in their chosen professions ever again.

My latest challenge to companies is this: Please start hiring back all the women who lost their jobs for being brave and having courage, Carlson said. Please give the American dream back to these women who worked just as hard as anyone else. And lets stop talking about how were going to rehab the alleged harassers and when they might go back to work. Lets hire the women back first.

Carlson said proceeds from her book are going to her newly formed Gift of Courage Fund, which she said she established to empower women and girls.

She is scheduled to testify before Congress in 2018 where she will discuss workplace inequality and the damage caused by mandatory arbitration clauses, which she said rob people of their Seventh Amendment right to an open jury process if they happen to get into a workplace dispute. She said 60 million Americans have contracts containing the clauses, which she said serve to protect harrassers and their employers.

The sold-out luncheon, in its fifth year, had an attendance of 240. Chamber president and CEO Marcia OKane said Carlson was a great choice to represent what the event is about.

Our luncheon series derives from the viewpoint of the speaker, OKane said. She is speaking from the heart, not the bio. What matters to her and what decisions did she have to make that ultimately led to her success?

Carlson told those in attendance to help by telling their stories, by keeping their companies accountable and by supporting victims.

Women will no longer be underestimated, intimidated or set back, Carlson said. We will not be silenced by the ways of the past or the establishment. We will stand together and we will use our voices together. We will show our courage. We will be the women we were always meant to be.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
NORWALK  The Carver Foundation seeks help in providing 100 families with food baskets that include a turkey and all the trimmings. This annual Thanksgiving food basket program is conducted at the Carver Community Center at 7 Academy St., is now under way and ends Wednesday, Nov. 22.

For decades, Carver has provided food baskets for many hundreds of local families. Shopping for the food, filling the baskets and offering them to our neighbors allows us to share ourselves as well as our food. This annual offering truly puts community into the George Washington Carver Community Center.
NORWALK  The long-standing battle to keep contaminants from running off the Yankee Doodle Bridge into Norwalk Harbor could be making headway.

For years, the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission has pressed the Connecticut Department of Transportation to install filters into the bridge deck drains to prevent oil and other pollutants from entering the harbor. Such pollution added dramatically to the cost of the most-recent harbor dredging project, according to local officials.

Geoffrey Steadman, NHMC planning consultant, said this week that the DOT is pursuing several options.

Earlier this year, the DOT changed their design, said Steadman, speaking at the 2017 State of the Harbor Annual Meeting at City Hall on Wednesday evening. It hasnt been finalized yet but its a design that now includes storm-water detention ponds on either side of the bridge, underneath the elevated span of the bridge, and under-bridge piping to bring the storm water, rather than directly into the river, off to the sides.

The DOT did not respond immediately for comment Thursday afternoon.

Opportunity for improvements

The Yankee Doodle Bridge, a 911-foot, seven-span steel, multi-girder structure that carries Interstate 95 over the Norwalk River, was built in 1958 and is slated to undergo rehabilitation starting in spring 2018.

The estimated $30 million project is intended to extend the service life of the bridge, which is rated in poor condition by the DOT. The rehabilitation will repair the bridges structural steel, underside deck concrete and deck expansion joints, paint its structural steel, upgrade median barriers and replace the channel fenders.

The project, as presented during a public information meeting last year, also calls for cleaning the bridge deck scuppers and replacing defective connecting drains.

The DOT has maintained that the drains principal function are to keep the highway free of water for safety reasons, and that altering the drainage system is outside the scope of the rehabilitation project.

Norwalk officials, nevertheless, pressed ahead for the department to reconsider.

The NHMC hired Thomas Hart, investigator for the commissions analysis of water quality data in the Norwalk River and watershed, to study runoff pollution from the bridge. Such pollution typically includes metals, hydrocarbons and some PCBs, Steadman said.

When you have a volume of traffic, based on the literature, (you can) project what over the course of the year the volume of pollutants is that comes off of that traffic, Steadman said. And if it comes off over a specific distance over the bridge, it goes through the drains and enters into the harbor.

Steadman said the NHMC also looked at what transportation departments outside Connecticut have done to reduce highway runoff into water bodies.

Local review and input

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection  not the NHMC  will have the final say on whatever final plan the DOT executes. Nevertheless, the local harbor commission will have a significant role in the process, according to Steadman.

Its a review function, Steadman said. And if the commission makes an unfavorable recommendation, the DEEP, which is the permitting agency, (the DOT) has to show cause why they do something contrary to the commissions recommendations.

The ways things are now, it looks like we have been able to effect some meaningful change in the way that the DOT does its storm-water management plan, he added.

In December 2015, Mayor Harry Rilling wrote the DOT, urging the agency to support the harbor commissions effort to incorporate improved storm-water management practices into the bridge overhaul.

He said contaminated sediment beneath the bridge added substantially to the cost of the federal dredging of the harbor in 2005.

The citys cost-share for disposal of this materials was over $200,000, Rilling wrote. At that time, CT DOT officials told the Mayors Office and Harbor Management Commission that they would be better able to address bridge-related storm water issues at such time as the bridge might be repaired.
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NORWALK  The president of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk expressed confidence Wednesday that the state will pick up the entire bill for a new IMAX Theater.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to raze the existing theater in order to replace the nearby Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River.

Negotiations continue regarding funding for functional replacement of the theater and exhibits to be affected by the Walk Bridge replacement, said aquarium President and CEO Brian Davis. We are working carefully so that our designs fall within what is reasonable for full reimbursement from the Connecticut DOT.

On a 13-1 vote Tuesday evening, the Common Council amended the citys lease with the aquarium, allowing the theater rebuild to advance. The city owns the aquarium buildings and land upon which they sit at 10 North Water St.

As part of his last vote on the 2015-17 council, At-Large Republican Councilman Richard Bonenfant cast the sole vote against the lease amendment.

If the costs go over for like extra things in there that they were hoping for  and would pass the functional equivalent  and they dont pay it even though they say theyre going to, if they dont, we do, Bonenfant said. Lets just be clear about that.

Bonenfant, who was lost his re-election bid Nov. 7, did take comfort in learning the aquarium will be responsible for maintenance costs for the new theater and other structures resulting from the bridge project.

Under an earlier lease amendment approved in 2014, the aquarium pays the city an annual rent of $1 and covers all maintenance costs. Until then, the city was responsible maintaining the buildings.

The least amendment approved Tuesday evening outlines the roles of the city and the aquarium, in terms of state compensation, as the bridge replacement advances.

The parties acknowledge that the State will award compensation for the functional replacement of certain building improvements necessitated as a result of the Walk Bridge Project and acknowledge that such compensation should be directed to the Aquarium, wrote Norwalk Assistant Corporation Counsel Diane Beltz-Jacobson in a memorandum. The City shall direct and authorize the State to make such payments directly to the Aquarium as they become available.

The city, by contrast, will receive the state compensation for temporary and permanent construction easements needed by the DOT. Foremost is the land upon which the theater sits.

Assistant Corporation Counsel Mario Coppola found it preferable that the theater to be rebuilt with state money than with city dollars.

The value to the city may have been $20 million, Coppola said. The cost of replacement is probably over $40 million. So you have a choice between getting paid $20 million and then going to rebuild it yourself, or getting paid the cost for allowing the DOT to fund the reconstruction of it, youre going to pick the latter.

The aquarium hopes to build and open a 4D theater next to its main entrance before the DOT starts replacing the Walk Bridge in 2019.

The plan, which was the subject of a public hearing before the Norwalk Zoning Commission on Wednesday evening, calls for a two-story, 11,900-square-foot addition on the east of the main entrance. The addition would house a 4D, 178-seat theater, entrance lobby, ticket area and other space.

The aquarium also plans to build a two-story, 8,700-square-foot addition on the east side of the existing building to house the aquariums seals. It would replace the existing tent structure and exhibits along the Norwalk River.
The Norwalk Hour recently published a letter from a college professor, science educator, family therapist, grandmother, great-grandmother, etc., who wants us to hold a new election (regardless of the fact that it would be unconstitutional) and elect a president who would effectively deal with the situation in North Korea. (Welcome to Trumps all-about-me world, by Muriel Gerhard, Nov. 14) Would she elect, say, a Jimmy Carter type who would give North Korea a bunch of stuff in exchange for peace, and then have them violate the treaty the moment we left the negotiating table  again?

Kim Jong-Un, as was his father and grandfather, is nothing more than a bully and an extortionist. He threatens that if we dont kowtow to his wishes he will blow us up. What do you get when you meet the demands of an extortionist? The answer: more demands. And showing a bully that you are weak and afraid of him will have only one result: You will continue to be bullied. Dealing from strength is far better than dealing from weakness. Reagan showed strength to the Soviet Union, Kennedy showed strength to Khrushchev, both to good effect.
WILTON  Parents came with questions about efficient professional development of staff, the fate of Extended School Year services amid a new budget season, and the preparedness of students with special needs at a recent meeting with the districts new assistant superintendent of special services.

Leonardi, who replaced Ann Paul in September and was previously the director of special education for 20 years, held the meeting Monday night to hear from parents directly and to share what she feels the district needs to do in order to move the district forward.

She told parents she wants a push for early identification and intervention through literacy instruction starting at pre-K, earlier planning of post-secondary goals (starting at sixth grade), and continuous oversight of the continuum of grades 6-12 to ensure students get the right support from the right people.

Your system isnt desperately broken. Its not something that has to be fixed. There are things that need to be addressed and learned about. There are things that can use continuous improvement and thats what I hope we can work on together  the idea that were never finished, Leonardi said. Were going to solve some problems, were going to find some new ones, and were going to work together to solve those problems.

One of the challenges special education departments generally face is budgetary constraints, Leonardi said, because of the wide range of specialized services that are necessary to meet the unique needs of students.

One of her budget requests for the upcoming school year is to fund a transition specialist, who will help students with special needs forge paths of independence once they graduate.

My job is to make sure I can articulate to this community the needs of their kids and help them see that special education is never going to be inexpensive, she said. But we can provide services in more fiscally responsible ways by internal program development and investing in the staff of the Wilton Public Schools.

Overall, Leonardi said her goal is to expand the communitys expectation of students with special needs  not just what they consume, but what they actually bring to us as a community.

Initiatives like the districts new Community Steps transition program for 18- to 21-year-olds aim to accomplish just that, she added.

The community is embracing them to help them finds paths forward that speak to their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses and provide natural supports in that employment environment, Leonardi said. So this work takes 18 years for a reason. Its not easy. Its very complex.

In discussing how the district aims to develop pathways of success for students with special needs, Noreen OMahoney raised the question of how the district is working to meet the growing social and emotional needs for all students.

OMahoney, who has worked as an advocate for students with special needs for 15 years, said this discussion needs to take place in Wilton.

She is also the founder and director of Collaborative Advocacy Associates and a member of the executive board of the Special Education Network of Wilton, also known as SPED*NET Wilton.

I have experienced, in the last couple of years, some more significantly mentally ill children who really need a lot of help and support, OMahoney said. And I dont know that thats necessarily addressed through sped, but we tend to have the resources, we tend to have the psychologist, social workers and the emotional and social support for them.

Leonardi said she couldnt agree more and that administrators and educators in the area are seeing a generation of students who are less resilient, who are unable to handle lifes ups and downs, and therefore turn to school avoidance, substance abuse and other kinds of behavior.

And our answer is, Buck up, kid and lets get ready for Harvard, Leonardi said. Sometimes we have to listen and figure out how were going to help them develop a pathway. These kids want big things. These are not kids who are struggling academically. These are kid who are taking eight or nine AP classes a semester and are crashing and spending a weekend at the psychiatric hospital.

The content of Mondays discussion were consistent with those Sharon DeAngelo has heard in the three years shes been the districts assistant director of special services, she said.

And with Andrea on board, DeAngelo said she is confident the district will move forward in addressing some of those concerns.

Im really excited to have Andrea here, DeAngelo said. Shes brought in a ton of energy and what she has brought so far has been an improvement to Wilton.

Both Leonardi and DeAngelo emphasized their open door policy, and encourage any parents with questions or concerns to reach out to them anytime.

skim@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2568; @stephaniehnkim
Special Events

Friday, Nov. 17  Unhung Heroes Art Exhibition, 6-7:30 p.m. Wilton Library welcomes 20 artists who have either not exhibited at the library before or not in the recent past. The artists work in a variety of media including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, graphics, mixed media, drawings, photography and sculpture. Their works encompass an array of styles and subject matter such as figures, portraits, still life, abstracts, botanicals, landscapes and more. Reception free and open to the public. Exhibition runs through Dec. 28. A majority of the works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library.

Saturday, Nov. 18  Destroy Your Hard Drive Fundraiser, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Are you looking to get rid of your old computer, but worried about all the personal information stored on it? Let Singularity Technology, Wilton Librarys Robotics team take care of it! This is a team fundraiser. $20 per computer. Theyll destroy your hard-drive while you wait. No registration necessary.

Monday, Nov. 20  Weir Farm Artist-in-Residence Exhibition/Reception: Linda Packard, 6-7:30 p.m. November brings Linda Packard to the Weir Farm Artist-in-Residence program. Lindas work is expressive, responding to direct observation in nature. She has a personal relationship with trees. She often treats trees as figures, gestural and dancing. She was deeply moved by two 2014 art shows in New York in which the artists used trees either as the subject or as a source of expression. Since then, it has been her goal to produce a major body of work exploring her personal expression of tree. See registration link for details. Co-sponsored by Weir Farm Art Center and Weir Farm National Historic Site and presented by Wilton Library. No charge. Registration suggested. Register online or call 203-762-6334.

Saturday, Nov. 18  Tales to Tails, 11 a.m. to noon. ROARs (Ridgefield Operation Animal Rescue) Therapy Dog Program will be bringing a therapy dog to be read to by children. The use of trained therapy dogs in reading programs can result in children who feel comfortable reading out loud, read more often, attempt more difficult books, and look forward to reading. As they improve their literacy skills, theyre not just learning how to read, theyre learning to love to read! Children must read independently to participate in this program. No program charge, registration is required. Register online or call 203-762-6336.

Sunday, Nov. 19  Thanksgiving Crafts, 1-4:30 p.m. Come to Wilton Library and make a Thanksgiving craft! Turkey centerpieces and place mats will be available for busy crafters. Create something to make your Thanksgiving table extra special this year! All ages. Drop in, no registration required.

More Information 137 Old Ridgefield Road 203-762-3950 www.wiltonlibrary.org See More Collapse

Monday, Nov. 20 and Tuesday, Nov. 21  Red Cross Babysitting Training, 2-5 p.m. This is a two-day babysitting workshop for students ages 11-15 and is conducted by a certified Red Cross Babysitting Trainer. Upon completion of the course, everyone will receive a Red Cross babysitting certification. Cost is $70 which includes the course text, first aid pack, LED flashlight, and drawstring bag. Payment due before class. To register, call the teen department at 203-762-6342. Once placed on the list, please send a check in the amount of $70 made out to Wilton Library to hold the spot. Space limited. Advanced registration and payment required.

Tuesday, Nov. 21  Storytime STEM, 4:15-5 p.m. Children in grades K-2 are invited to join us weekly for a story and various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities. This fun and hands-on program will include a read-aloud of a popular children's picture book along with a correlating STEM craft and activity and a whole group science demonstration. This week's story is Turkey Trouble by Wendi J. Silvano, illustrated by Lee Harper. Supported by the Amadeo Family. Registration required. Register online or call 203-762-6336.

Friday, Nov. 24  Day After Thanksgiving Movies  Cars 3, 10:15-11:45 a.m. Enjoy a free movie on the day after Thanksgiving! We will be showing the Disney hit Cars 3. Rated G, 95 minutes. No registration required, caregivers must remain with children under 8, and stay in the building for children under 12.

Friday, Nov. 24  Day After Thanksgiving Movies  Captain Underpants, 2-3:30 p.m. Enjoy a free movie on the day after Thanksgiving! We will be showing the summer hit Captain Underpants. Rated PG, 90 minutes. No registration required, caregivers must remain with children under 8, and stay in the building for children under 12.

Sunday, Nov. 26  Candlelight Concert at the Wilton Congregational Church  Stephen Hough, 4-5:30 p.m. Acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough will perform works by Beethoven, Schumann, and Debussy. Concert held at Wilton Congregational Church located at 70 Ridgefield Road, Wilton. A portion of the proceeds benefits Wilton Library. For ticket information call 203-762-3401 or www.wiltoncandlelightconcerts.org.

Thursday, Nov. 30 through Wednesday, Jan. 3  Wilton Library Holiday Book Sale. Wilton Library's Holiday Book Sale in the gallery is a seasonal delight where bargains can be found  featuring a large array of pristine books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks suitable for gift-giving to all ages. As items are sold, new ones appear daily. All sales support the library. Sale opens at noon on Nov. 30 and continues during regular library hours through January 3, 2018. Library closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Classes in Innovation Station this week  Saturday, Nov. 18: Scanning Slides into Digital Images, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 18: Create Thanksgiving Place Cards, Gift Tags & More, 12-2 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 20: New Life for Old Videos, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 20 & 27: Stitch Time for Knitters and Crocheters, 1-2:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 26: Embroider or Monogram It!, 1-2:30 p.m.

Childrens programs  Tuesday, Nov. 21 & 28: Storytime STEM, 4:15-5 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 24: Day After Thanksgiving Movies  Cars 3, 10:15-11:45 a.m.; Friday, Nov. 24: Day After Thanksgiving Movies  Captain Underpants, 2-3:35 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 30: Throwback Thursdays Games, 4-4:45 p.m.
WILTON  Nearly 150 gallons of used cooking oil was stolen overnight from a local Chinese restaurant, police said.

Wilton police responded to the Ren Dumpling and Noodle House around noon Thursday on reports of a theft.
You can attend art exhibitions, theatre productions, film screenings, music concerts, and an engaging faculty speaker seriesall at Southwestern Illinois College this fall.

The colleges arts series, called the Southwestern Illinois Creative Arts Syndicate, features a variety of events ranging from a SWIC faculty music recital Sept. 26, an exhibition of East Asian art at The Schmidt Art Center Oct. 26, a series of one-act plays titled All in the Timing by David Ives Nov. 3 and 4, and a discussion on art history and Disney Nov. 8.
A wild, arctic wonderland with over half a million twinkling holiday lights and festive family fun awaits you at U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo!

Dates and Times

Wild Lights is open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:

 Friday, Nov. 24-Sunday, Nov. 26

 Wednesday, Nov. 29-Sunday, Dec. 3

 Wednesday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 10

 Wednesday, Dec. 13-Saturday, Dec. 23

 Tuesday, Dec. 26-Saturday, Dec. 30

Tickets

 Monday-Thursday: $7/Zoo members; $8/non-members

 Friday-Sunday: $9/Zoo members; $10/non-members

 Children under age 2 receive free admission.

Wild Lights tickets can be purchased in advance at stlzoo.org/wildlights, or at the door on nights of the event starting at 5:30 p.m. Free parking is available on Zoo parking lots during event hours.

Sensory Night Dec. 11

For the first time, the Zoo is offering a Sensory Night on Monday, Dec. 11 for individuals on the autism spectrum and others who may benefit from a sensory-friendly experience. Sensory Night tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance.

Holiday Lights and Activities

Youll be enchanted by whimsical light displays including Starry Safari, Jungle Bell Rock, Swan Lake, South Entrance Safari, Winter Wildland, Snowfall Alley, Gingerbread Village, Candy Lane and more.

Visit with the cool birds at Penguin & Puffin Coast, check in on Kali the polar bear at McDonnell Polar Bear Point, warm up in the tropics of the Monsanto Insectarium where youll see colorful insects from around the world, and go underwater through the Sea Lion Sound tunnel.

Gather round the fire to hear captivating animal stories by theatrical interpreters. Enjoy carolers, costumed characters and other live performances on select weekend nights. At the Woodland Workshop, kids can take part in festive crafts and activities.

Climb aboard your favorite animal on the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel ($3). Chill out in the 4D Theater featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4D ($4-5). Rides are weather permitting.

Food and Shopping

Roast your own campfire smores (available for purchase) at one of the fire pits. Take a detour to enjoy dinner, snacks, hot chocolate and more available at food locations throughout the Zoo.

Shop for a variety of unique gifts at Zoo gift shops and receive a 10 percent discount on any purchase; Zoo members receive a 20 percent discount.

Group Rate

Groups of 15 or more may receive a group rate of $7/person on weekdays and $9/person on weekends by calling in advance. To order group tickets, call (314) 646-4718 or email groups@stlzoo.org.

More Information

The Zoo will close to the public at 4 p.m. each day of Wild Lights. Doors re-open at 5:30 p.m. for the event.

For more information, visit stlzoo.org/wildlights, or call (314) 781-0900. Follow the Zoo and post photos of the event using hashtag #USBankWildLights on facebook.com/stlzoo, instagram.com/stlzoo, SnapChat (SaintLouisZoo) and twitter.com/stlzoo.
Trinity Lutheran Ministries will host its second annual CHRISTmas Ugly Sweater Dash 5K in Edwardsville on Saturday, December 9.

The event will feature a 5k race, family fun run, Christmas-themed photo booth, holiday-themed inflatables, an ugly sweater contest, and hot chocolate and cookies for all participants at the finish line.

FinalLap Race Management will time this event through "chip" technology.

All of the proceeds from the race will stay in the community, as 20 percent of the registration costs will be donated to the Glen-Ed Food Pantry and Neighbors In Need program. Last year's event donated $1,000 to both community organizations.

Medals will be given to the top male and female finishers and to the top three finishers in each of the following age categories: 6-13, 14-20, 21-30, 31-40, 51-60, and 61 and up.

T- shirts and fun finishers medals are guaranteed to who register by November 22. The first 300 registered adults will also get a swag bag.

The sweater contest will be held after the race, with prizes awarded to the participant with the ugliest sweater and most festive sweater. A trophy and gift card will also be awarded to the family or team with four or more participants with the most spirited garb.

The race will begin at 9 a.m. on December 9 at Trinity Lutheran Ministries at 600 Water Street in Edwardsville. The early-bird registration cost is $30, which is available until November 24.

For questions or more information, please visit TrinityLutheranMinistries.org or call (618) 656-2918.

The Facebook page for the event is Facebook.com/CHRISTmasUglySweater5K.
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Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 08:22 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a29400cc 4 Editorial #Editorial,#food,#FoodResilience,food-security,imports-liberalization,WTO,imports,#import Free

Last week, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Apellate Body upheld the December 2016 ruling that found fault with Indonesian import restrictions on horticultural and animal products from the United States and New Zealand; a ruling that has put the governments agricultural policy in a delicate dilemma.

Early in his administration, President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced his goals of food self-sufficiency, food security and food sovereignty to be achieved by the end of his term in late 2019. While the oft-lauded goals were attractive to voters, their achievement will be an uphill challenge.

Past experience shows that food self-sufficiency does not address the core elements of food security. In fact, the governments deployment of non-tariff import barriers to protect local farmers from imports  most of which have lower prices  has tended to increase food costs for the majority of consumers and has damaged the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

The problem has been compounded by the inaccuracy of agricultural production data, with even the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) often voicing its doubts over the official data. Analysts have also suspected that the agricultural production data are often inflated to give credit to officials. Consequently, the import quotas have often been set much lower than the actual market demand, causing prices to rise steeply. It is no wonder that import quotas and licenses for rice, beef, sugar and other horticultural products have always been vulnerable to corruption.

But agricultural issues related to imports and subsidies are not new. In fact, they have been one of the most contentious issues negotiated among developed and developing countries in the WTO. These issues will also be quite prominent in next months WTO ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires.

The US complaints against Indonesian non-tariff barriers are understandable, because Indonesia was the ninth largest destination for US agricultural goods last year, taking in US$2.6 billion in goods, according to the US Commerce Department.

The government should address this issue quite seriously, otherwise we may become subject to trade sanctions from the US. Moreover, US President Donald Trump has aggressively policed trade relationships and made ending bilateral trade imbalances a centerpiece of his nationalist economic agenda.

But the government priority program to ensure that food is accessible and affordable to the majority of its citizens is also key to its political sustainability. The biggest challenge though, is how to find the right balance between consistently pushing ahead with concerted efforts toward self-sufficiency in vital food commodities such as rice and horticultural products, and still engaging with the international market in compliance with WTO rules.

The government should enhance good partnerships between small farmers and agribusinesses to steadily increase production, but only in food commodities that have been carefully selected in line with local comparative advantages.

At the same time, self-sufficiency programs should not run against the economic-integration objectives of the ASEAN region or the realities and opportunities of globalization. In this context, politicians should help destigmatize food imports in the eyes of the public, in spite of the upcoming elections in 2018 and 2019.
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Linkedin Dio Herdiawan Tobing (The Jakarta Post) Leiden  Thu, November 16, 2017 15:53 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a295d275 3 Opinion #ASEAN,ASEAN,migrant-workers,#MigrantWorkers,#humanrights,human-rights,#HumanTrafficking,human-trafficking Free

On the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila from Nov. 11-14, ASEAN leaders signed the newly adopted pact on migrant workers. The pact, officially the ASEAN Consensus on the Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, promotes fair treatment of migrant workers, the right to visit their families, and prevention of abuse, exploitation and violence.

As of 2015, there were over 450,000 migrant workers deployed from and to ASEAN countries, as noted by the International Labor Migration. The new pact, adopted a decade after the signing of the Cebu Declaration on the Protection and the Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, is claimed to serve as a stronger basis to meet and protect migrant labor in ASEAN countries.

But interestingly, only two ASEAN members, Indonesia and the Philippines, have ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. Cambodia once signed but never acceded to the convention.

Like other ASEAN agreements, it is unsurprising that the newly-signed pact of migrant workers is non-legally binding. With the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers tasked to ensure the effective implementation of the commitments made and to facilitate the development of an ASEAN instrument to protect migrant workers, the responsibility to meet such commitments falls under the self-awareness of each member state.

Besides being non-legally binding, several other problems arise when we look at the pact in detail.

Among others, the pact contains the reference to the prevailing national laws, regulations, and policies of ASEAN Member States. This decentralized approach does not bring fresh air to the situation of migrant workers across ASEAN, nor does it solve the unequal treatment of migrant workers.

Of course the non-uniform migrant worker laws in each ASEAN member state are part of their respective sovereignty.

Moreover, the overarching focus of the agreement on fair or unfair treatment neglects the importance of a standardized treatment towards migrant workers. This gap leaves each ASEAN member to decide what laws are to be passed based on their own judgments. In consequences, unfair treatment of migrant workers as defined in one ASEAN state may be considered fine in others.

In addition, the agreement does not specify in detail what constitutes fair or unfair treatment. From Chapter 1 to 7, the agreement only mentions fair treatment for the fulfillment of migrant rights yet lacking necessary details.

The pact is also silent on individual or collective procedures to complain in the face of unexpected, unfair treatment. The agreement only describes ASEAN member states responsibility and duties to fulfill migrant workers rights without mentioning necessary details on how migrant workers can file complains against the receiving state that breaches its obligation.

In comparison, for instance, the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers mentions, Migrant workers shall be entitled, under the same conditions as nationals, to full legal and judicial protection of their persons and property and of their rights and interests.

However, in the ASEAN pact, such regulation is absent. The most probable and common procedure is of course to access local courts in the receiving state, but it is not mentioned clearly how the procedure takes place.

Thus the absence of procedure, in fact, does not reflect a people-oriented ASEAN as often claimed, but reaffirms ASEANs non-inclusive and elitist approach in protecting migrant workers.

It is too soon to assess how ASEAN and its member states will voluntarily comply and enact the non-binding regional agreement on migrant workers. But based on wording of the agreement with missing crucial parts needed to ensure their rights, it is sufficient to question ASEAN and its members commitment in establishing a framework of protection and promotion of migrant workers rights.

***

The writer is a research associate at the ASEAN Studies Center, Gadjah Mada Univeristy in Yogyakarta, and currently pursuing post-graduate studies in law at the Leiden University, the Netherlands.

---------------

We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to academia@jakpost.com.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Becky Davis (Agence France-Presse) Tianjin, China  Thu, November 16, 2017 18:52 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2967ffa 2 Books library,Book,#books,China,Tianjin-Binhai-Library Free

A futuristic Chinese library has wowed book lovers around the world with its white, undulating shelves rising from floor to ceiling, but if you read between the lines you'll find something is missing.

Those rows upon rows of book spines are mostly images printed on the aluminium plates that make up the backs of the shelves.

Pictures of the sleek Tianjin Binhai Library have gone viral on Chinese social media and abroad since its opening last month, with headlines trumpeting it as the "world's best library" and a "book lover's dream".

On weekends, an average of 15,000 visitors flock to the six-storey space in the eastern port city of Tianjin.

Designed by Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, the building looks like an eye when viewed from the still unfinished park outside, with a spherical auditorium as the iris at its centre.

The library contains 200,000 books and it has grand ambitions to grow its collection to 1.2 million.

But readers expecting to pluck tomes from most of the terraced shelves are in for a surprise. Most books are in other rooms with more classic library bookshelves.

"There's quite a big difference between the photos and reality," said Jiang Xue, a 21-year-old medical student left perusing one of the more robustly stocked sections: propaganda about the ruling Communist Party's recent congress.

Read also: Jakpost guide to the National Library of Indonesia

'Give it a soul'

A futuristic Chinese library has wowed book lovers around the world with its white, undulating shelves rising from floor to ceiling, but if you read between the lines you'll spot one problem. (AFP/Fred Dufour)

An essential part of the original concept was for the upper bookshelves to be accessible via rooms placed behind the atrium, MVRDV told AFP, but a fast-tracked construction schedule forced them to drop the idea.

The decision was made "locally and against the MVRDV's wishes," its spokeswoman Zhou Shuting said.

But Liu Xiufeng, the library's deputy director, blamed the design for putting them in a bind.

Liu said the plan finally approved by authorities stated that the atrium would be used for circulation, sitting, reading, and discussion, but omitted a request to store books on shelves.

"We can only use the hall for the purposes for which it has been approved, so we cannot use it as a place to put books," Liu laughed, adding that they would likely soon have to remove all those temporarily on display.

There's another quirk: The irregular white stairs have proven hazardous for selfie-snappers with eyes glued down to their phones or up at the stylish ceiling.

"People trip a lot. Last week an old lady slipped and hit her head hard. There was blood," said one guard, who yells warnings at visitors.

China is notorious for building astronomically expensive cultural facilities that open to great fanfare, only to end up standing empty without concerts or programming to fill them.

Those rows upon rows of book spines are mostly images printed on the aluminium plates that make up the backs of shelves. (AFP/Fred Dufour)

It is also no stranger to controversy over book faking.

Last month, Beijing's Liyuan Library, a non-profit space internationally recognised for its beautiful wooden reading spaces and design, suspended operations after its books were found to contain pirated and explicit content.

But the Binhai library's viral image has boosted readership, with checkouts quadrupling since the opening.

The children's rooms downstairs bustled with families flipping through illustrated stories.

"The architecture they completed is like a newborn infant delivered into our hands. Now it's up to us to give it a soul," said Liu.

Read also: World's largest library on Indonesia opens in Leiden

'I don't touch real books'

Building membership, however, may prove a challenge for Liu in a country where readers increasingly flip through novels on smartphone apps.

The popularity of reading apps has led to a boom in online publishing.

Shares in China Literature -- the country's biggest player in the business, comparable to Amazon's Kindle Store -- shot up more than 60 percent on their debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange last week, after raising $1.1 billion in an IPO.

Yuan Jiwen, an e-commerce major fond of online novels set in the Three Kingdoms period, held an unread paperback like a prop as he people-watched in the atrium.

"I don't usually touch real books," he said. "But it feels appropriate to be holding one here."
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Linkedin News Desk (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Kuala Lumpur  Thu, November 16, 2017 19:31 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a296a8ba 2 Food Malaysia,durian,food,#food,aphrodisiac Free

The Malaysian government is looking at conducting detailed studies on claims that durians have aphrodisiac value.

"A friend told me it is true that there have been studies conducted on claims that durians have aphrodisiac value and are said to be good for men. We will ask the relevant people to conduct more research into this matter," Agriculture and Agro-based Resources Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek was quoted as saying in Parliament on Thursday.

He was responding to a question from fellow Barisan Nasional lawmaker Noor Azmi Ghazali who asked whether a comprehensive study would be carried out on the health benefits of frequently eating durians.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery said previous research had showed that the durian "is one of the smelliest yet most nutritious fruits in the world".

"For instance, research done in Thailand showed that the durian has higher antioxidants than other tropical fruits, and has polysaccharide gel that helps stimulate the immune systems to reduce cholesterol," he said.

"A study from China showed that the durian skin has analgesic and antibiotic properties that helps to relieve coughs, while a study from Singapore said durian has high levels of potassium which helps to reduce high blood pressure," he added.

Other studies, he said, showed that the durian has anti-ageing properties and contributed to the body's production of serotonin. "According to these experts, it is really true that the durian is the key to our happiness," he said.

Ahmad Shabery also said that Malaysia now has the technology to preserve durians to ensure a longer shelf life. This, he said, could be done by using a combination of deep freeze technology and collagen which can make the durians last up to a year, the New Straits Times reported.

Read also: Catch a whiff of this: Scientists decode durian DNA

Durians usually have a shelf life of three to six days when kept at room temperature. Extending their shelf life , he said, would lessen the impact that the fruit's seasonal supply has on prices.

"Using deep freeze and collagen, durians can last up to year. Already, the durian season is coming and the price of Musang King had dropped to between RM50 (S$16) and RM40 per kilogram recently," he was quoted saying.

Ahmad Shabery was also asked by another lawmaker if Malaysia was capable of producing durians all year long. "We have imports from Thailand but I cannot say specifically. However most of the world community, if given a choice between durian from Thailand and durian from Malaysia, those from Malaysia is preferred", he said.

A shortage in the durian supply this year caused by the weather had led to a spike in prices. Some varieties saw prices rising from RM40 to 60 per kilogram to more than RM100 per kilogram, the New Straits Times reported.

Meanwhile, the rising popularity of the fruit among the Chinese in recent years has led Malaysian producers to export most of their harvest to China.

Prices in China for the prized Musang King variety had in some cases reportedly reached RM500 (S$161) per kg.

Ahmad Shabery earlier this month led a Malaysian delegation to a three-day durian festival in Nanning, in China's Guanxi province. Some 5,000 kg of the 'Musang King' variety were shipped from Malaysia to China for the festival, which ran from Nov 3 to Nov 5, Bernama reported.

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This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 08:56 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2944fdc 1 Art & Culture Teater-Koma,theatrical-play,theater,Chinese-culture Free

The final installment of the Sie Jin Kwie epic play comes to a close, with Teater Koma troupe providing an amazing display and showing respect to the art and the cultural elements depicted.



The troupe previously presented three chapters of this play: Sie Jin Kwie in 2010, Sie Jin Kwie Kena Fitnah (Sie Jin Kwie Gets Falsely Accused) in 2011 andSie Jin Kwie Di Negara Sihir (Sie Jin Kwie in the Land of Magic) in 2012.



Sie Jin Kwie Menyerbu Barat (Sie Jin Kwie Attacks the West) is the final installment, running from Nov. 10 to 19. It ends the series in spectacular fashion and has met with acclaim. Director Nano Riantiarno described the final installment as the episode that ties up all loose ends.



Sie Jin Kwie is not done yet before this one. His mortal enemy has not yet been defeated. It cannot end until the Tang Kingdom has no more enemies, he said.



The story is adapted from a medieval Chinese story written by Tio Keng Jian, who lived between 1271 and 1368. It made its way into Indonesian literature in 1894.



Nanos efforts to blend the legend with elements of drama, wayang golek(wooden puppet theater) and Chinese-Javanese wayang paid off as they could support each other under one giant production. Once again, long-time fans of Teater Koma can enjoy the plays grand presentation, where movements, dialogue, costumes and music come to life on stage.



The concluding performances of the Sie Jin Kwie quadrilogy at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, were an amalgam of tradition, fusing ancient Chinese legend and tone alongside a surprising wayang performance, which further enhanced the accessibility and interactivity of the play.



It was clearly a lively night. If the play had simply presented the main story of ancient Chinese warriors and their respective countries going into battle, the night might have ended up rather bland. Instead, with the humorous Javanese wayang sections, Teater Koma showed that its performances and its material is accessible to all walks and all cultures of Indonesian life.



Twenty-two wars were referenced in this play, and the audience could enjoy as many as 23 songs.



Peppered with Javanese humor, intertwined with the backdrop of ancient China and subtly making topical political references, such as the upcoming 2019 presidential election, the wayang part stole the limelight.



It provided huge comic relief, detailing the exploits of war from the soldiers perspective. While not entirely central to the story, the jokes and the wayangmovements were enjoyable enough, even for children who might not understand some of the jokes.



But this does not mean the performances of Ade Firman Hakim as General Sie Teng San or Rangga Riantiarno as Yo Hoan are not to be admired. Tuti Hartati as the tough general Hwan Lie Hoa stood her ground among her male counterparts, with her character emerging as the most powerful, most logical and most graceful on the stage.



The set itself was rather grand. Massive red pillars and massive thrones evoking an ancient Chinese castle were moved on and off the stage with minimal effort. A team of warriors marched in unison to the fictional battle in which they were to die, with a projected discipline not unlike the clay terracotta warriors.



As the more than four-hour performance paced itself to the end, the Sie Jin Kwie quadrilogy ended with the real conclusion that Teater Koma is probably the finest theater company that Indonesia has at the moment. Going strong since 1977, its performances have been consistent in showcasing the best of Indonesian culture with its own unique method and flair.



Teater Komas latest play basically teaches us about the virtues of heroism and devotion to our country. The company has also demonstrated an exceptional devotion to Indonesian arts by consistently producing inspirational material, Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation program director Renitasari Adrian said.
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Linkedin News Desk (AFP) Washington DC  Fri, November 17, 2017 01:06 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2978afe 2 Science & Tech Google,Facebook,newspaper,politics Free

Google, Facebook and other tech firms joined global news organizations Thursday in an initiative aimed at identifying "trustworthy" news sources, in the latest effort to combat online misinformation.

Microsoft and Twitter also agreed to participate in the "Trust Project" with some 75 news organizations to tag news stories which meet standards for ethics and transparency.

"In today's digitized and socially networked world, it's harder than ever to tell what's accurate reporting, advertising, or even misinformation," said Sally Lehrman of Santa Clara University's Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, the project leader.

"An increasingly skeptical public wants to know the expertise, enterprise and ethics behind a news story."

Each online platform will develop "trust indicators" to help readers "assess whether news comes from a credible source they can depend on," Lehrman added.

News organizations participating include the Washington Post, Mic and the Independent Journal Review in the US, Canada's Globe and Mail, the German press agency DPA, the Economist, Italy's La Repubblica and La Stampa, and Trinity Mirror, which includes the Mirror newspapers in Britain.

Participants agree to core practices including transparency on funding and disclosure of the mission of the organization; details about the journalists behind stories; labeling of opinion and factual articles, and references on how the reporting is carried out.

"News consumers need a way to tell media companies what we expect from them, the types of news we can count on and will pay for," said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist, whose philanthropic fund was an early supporter of the effort.

Other funding comes from Google, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Democracy Fund and the Markkula Foundation.

'Authoritative journalism'

Google, Twitter and Facebook have come under fire for allowing the spread of bogus news -- some of which was directed by Russia -- ahead of the 2016 US election and in other countries.

Google's vice president for news Richard Gingras said the yet-to-be determined labels will help the online search giant "to better understand authoritative journalism, and help us to better surface it to consumers."

Alex Hardiman, head of news products at Facebook, called the initiative "a great next step in our ongoing efforts overall to enhance people's understanding of the sources and trustworthiness of news on our platform."

Greg Sterling, a contributing editor for the Search Engine Land blog, said the effort is good but may be "too complex to accomplish its ultimate objective."

"Readers should be able to see what's behind the labeling scheme, but they should be able to tell at a glance whether an item is from a credible source, not have to spend time evaluating it based on a range of factors that may be obscure to them," Sterling wrote.

Topics : Google Facebook newspaper politics
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 13:15 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a29506c7 1 Business aceh,investment-summit,kick-off Free

The Aceh Investment Forum 2017 kicked off at Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta on Thursday to boost investment, trade and tourism sectors in the northern province of Indonesia.

Governor Irwandi Yusuf said despite implementing the sharia system, the province has been very open to national and international investment, especially in four sectors: agribusiness, tourism, infrastructure and business centers.

At the moment, Aceh is focusing on its economic development through the improvement of peoples income, construction of strategic projects and opening access to remote areas, but respecting the environment, he said in his opening speech.

Read also: Leading yachting publication features Sail Sabang 2017, Weh Island

Were seriously committed to making Aceh a major investment destination in the country, he added.

Aceh is known for its diving sites, cultural cities, Saman dance, as well as Arabica Gayo coffee.

It is scheduled to kick off the groundbreaking of the Arun special economic zone in Lhokseumawe next December.

In the past five years, investment in Aceh accounted for Rp 21 trillion, 75 percent of which came from domestic investors, with the remaining from foreign investors, mostly from China and Malaysia, according to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Around 100 representatives of private and state firms as well as international delegates worldwide, especially from the Middle East, attended the event held by the Aceh provincial government. James Riyadi of Lippo Group and delegates from Japan, New Zealand, Palestine, Jordan and Sudan were among the attendees. (bbn)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 23:06 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2978585 1 City #KoleseKanisius,#Jakarta,#Anies-Sandiaga,#anniversary Free

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has called for an end to the discord resulting from an incident in which noted pianist and composer Ananda Sukarlan walked out on a speech Anies was giving at Canisius Colleges anniversary event last Saturday.

Several days after the walk-out, messages began circulating on social media inviting Jakartans to protest the school.

On Thursday, Anies met with several Canisius representatives who visited City Hall to talk about the issue.

I want to emphasize that we [Anies and the school] dont have any problems and our friendship will continue regardless of the issues circulated [online], Anies said.

I hope that no one exaggerates this issue and judges Canisius, as it has faced a lot of criticism.

Anies said he and the schools representatives had discussed more important matters, such as education and the countrys development.

Meanwhile, priest Eduard Calistus Ratu Dopo, head of the anniversary events organizing committee, said the school did not support the walk-out.

What happened was beyond our control as committee members of [the commemoration], Eduard added. (vny)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 19:15 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2969bcd 1 City attack,robbery Free

A man identified as Odi Damiri, 20, was killed and another man, M. Abdullah, was injured after being attacked by an armed group in Warung Buncit, Pancoran, South Jakarta on Wednesday.

The attack occurred at around 1:15 a.m. when the victims were hanging out with their friends at a mass organization post in the area, South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Iwan Kurniawan said.

"Ten unknown men driving six motorcycles suddenly appeared and threw a molotov cocktail at them," Iwan said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

They quickly grabbed Odi, who was then trampled on the ground. The attackers also stabbed Odi's ears and back with a bladed weapon.

"Another victim, M. Abdullah, received wounds to his back and head after being stabbed with a sword," Iwan said.

The friends of the victims rushed them to the nearest hospital, while some others reported the incident at Pancoran Police station.

Iwan said the perpetrators took the victims' wallets and money before leaving the scene. A police team is still investigating the case. (yon)

Topics : attack robbery
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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 13:46 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2954250 1 City Cikampek-toll-road,crane,collapse Free

A crane carrying an electronic traffic sign collapsed at kilometer 15 of the Cikampek-Jakarta toll road, causing heavy congestion on the Cikampek-bound side of the road on Thursday morning.

The crane, which was being used for the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road project, reportedly collapsed on Thursday early morning at 12 a.m., blocking four lanes.

Dwimawan Heru, spokesman for the toll road operator PT Jasa Marga, said when it collapsed, the crane was being operated by a staff member from PT Waskita, the contractor for the ongoing elevated toll road construction. The crane was moving the electronic sign for the project.

"However, because of a technical issue, the crane failed to move it. It collapsed and blocked the lanes," Heru said in a press release on Thursday.

Heru added that currently, the crane had been moved to the roadside but still blocked part of the first lane.

PT Jasa Marga, in teaming up with the Jakarta Police, is imposing a contraflow lane reversal from kilometer 14 to 21 to ease congestion in the area.

"PT Jasa Marga apologizes for any inconvenience and will keep coordinating with many parties to ease impact from the incident," he said.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 17:04 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2960f70 1 City Tanah-Abang-Market,sidewalk,vendors Free

The Jakarta Small and Medium Enterprises Agency is investigating reports about the rental of Tanah Abang sidewalks to street vendors, and the alleged involvement of civil servants in the business.

The vendors reportedly pay Rp 500,000 (US$36.90) per month to get space on the sidewalks to conduct their business.

The rent, which is considered low by most of the vendors, has led to them leaving the kiosks provided by the administration to go back to doing business on the sidewalks.

The head of the agency, Irwandi, said the administration had not yet discovered the people who rented out the sidewalks.

We will ask the vendors [about to whom they are paying rent]. If theyre paying it to civil servants, and have the evidence in the form of photos, we will act firmly against them, Irwandi said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

The agency would engage the citys inspectorate, Central Jakarta administration and Public Order Agency to investigate the matter, Irwandi said.

They would also monitor activities on Tanah Abang sidewalks to monitor and curb the practice of illegal levies there, he added. (cal)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 09:42 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a294666f 1 Politics setya-novanto,Golkar,e-ID,graft Free

The Golkar Party has said it would provide legal assistance for chairman Setya Novanto after the nation's antigraft body issued a warrant for his arrest for his alleged role in the e-ID graft case.

"The party's executive board, of course, will provide legal aid," senior Golkar member Mahyudin said after visiting Setya's house on Wednesday night. "This is about solidarity. [Because] we are family."

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) sent investigators to Setya's home in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, to arrest him on Wednesday night, but they were only met by his wife and lawyer.

The KPK has urged Setya, whose whereabouts remain unknown as of Thursday morning, to turn himself in, saying that it is considering putting him on a wanted list.

Setya, who also serves as House of Representatives speaker, has refused to step down from his position as Golkar chief and House speaker.

Several of Golkar's top members showed up at his house on Wednesday night, including Mahyudin, Aziz Syamsuddin and Secretary-General Idrus Marham.

The party has stood behind Setya, even though some of his fiercest critics have repeatedly called for his ouster on the grounds that his legal case has tarnished the party's image.

"Golkar remains solid in supporting Setya. After all, our electability is still good," Idrus had told reporters at the House's building hours before the KPK went to Setya's house. (ahw)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 16:40 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a295fd3a 4 Business maritime-affairs-and-fisheries-ministry,distribution,fishing-boat Free

The Indonesian government is set to hand over 373 fishing boats to fishermen cooperatives this month in an effort to boost their catches, said the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministrys fish catch director general Sjarief Wijaya in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said the ministry would distribute 782 fishing boats this year.

We have distributed 151 fishing boats. The construction of another 373 boats will be finished next week or by late November. While the remaining 258 boats will be finished in December, said Sjarief as reported by kompas.com.

Operational permits for the boats had been obtained from the relevant institutions, he added.

This year, the government has allocated Rp 390 billion (US$21.88 million) to procure the fishing boats measuring 5 gross tonnage (GT) (243 units), 5 GT (384 units), 10 GT (134 units), 20 GT (15 units) and 30 GT (six units).

Sjarief said the boats would be distributed to 235 fishermen cooperatives in 122 regencies and cities that had been verified by teams coordinated by the ships and fishing equipment directorate at the ministry.

The ships are under construction. By the end of December, all ships will have been distributed, he stressed. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 12:30 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a294d5f4 4 Business PLN,electricity-supply,ignasius-jonan,anticipation,customers,regrouping Free

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan has said that the reason for regrouping the customers of state-owned electricity company PLN was in anticipation of the increased production of electricity due to the 35,000 megawatt (MW) program expected to be achieved in 2019.

Currently [the supply] is not so high, but in 2019, 2020, 2021 and up to 2025, we will at least have 40,000 MW of electricity, said Jonan in Jakarta as reported by tempo.co on Wednesday.

He said the large supplies of electricity should not only be used by industry and other businesses, but also by households.

Therefore, we want to increase the electrical supply to households, he said, adding that in the future more electrical power would be needed by households for their equipment, including for recharging batteries of electric motorcycles and cars.

PLN president director Sofyan Basir said after the regrouping, the customers with 1,300 volt-ampere (VA), 2,200 VA, 3,500 VA and 4,400 VA would be able to access 5,500 VA electric power, while the electric power of customers with 900 VA, both subsidized and non-subsidized, as well as subsidized customers with 450 VA, would remain unchanged.

PLN spokesman I Made Suprateka said the change in electrical power was optional for customers, meaning customers could reject the change.

The PLN will cover all costs to install new miniature circuit breakers that would cost between Rp 60,000 (US$4.43) and Rp 65,000 for each household, said Made, adding that 13 million customers were expected to receive higher electrical power. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 14:30 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2956640 1 City commuter-line,teenagers,investigation Free

At least four teenagers swung on a commuter trains handles and repeatedly shouted dog while opening one of the windows, as seen in video footage that went viral on the internet on Wednesday night.



It was not clear where the train was heading or what the teenagers' intention was, but the incident likely took place during non-peak hours, given that there were only a few passengers onboard the train.



State-owned PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI), which operates the commuter train, lambasted the incident and said they were launching an investigation into it.



We regret that such an incident took place. Besides potentially damaging the [train] facilities, it also endangered their safety, KCI spokesperson Eva Chairunisa said on Thursday.



She added that she encouraged other passengers to proactively maintain facilities and remind other customers to refrain from such behavior. (fac)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 18:30 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a296374a 1 Politics setya-novanto,KPK,Golkar,e-ID,corruption Free

Whether or not Setya Novanto is guilty of colluding with businessmen, government officials and fellow lawmakers to rig the multi-million dollar national project to procure electronic IDs is for a court to decide.

But the Golkar Party chief has built a reputation as a teflon politician who has always managed to get off the hook for his alleged roles in a number of graft scandals, including the e-ID graft case.

When the South Jakarta District Court ruled in his favor in September, annulling the decision made by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to name him a graft suspect in the high-profile case, it triggered an online frenzy, with the ever-creative Indonesian netizens competing to satirize his political acumen.

For months, the House of Representatives speaker has been engaged in a power play with the KPK, which has insisted that it has a strong case against the politician, whose party is leading a House inquiry into the antigraft bodys performance.

Setya has dodged nearly a dozen KPK summonses, citing various reasons ranging from health issues and tight schedules to his claimed right to immunity as a lawmaker.

But on Wednesday, less than week after renaming Setya a suspect in the e-ID graft case, the KPK upped the ante against the politician by issuing a warrant for his arrest. We have done everything we can to persuade him to fulfill summonses as a witness and suspect," KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said.

The antigraft body sent its top investigators, including Ambarita Damanik, to his house in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. But they were only met by his wife and lawyer. As of Thursday afternoon, Setya was nowhere to be seen.

The KPK has urged Setya to turn himself in within 24 hours, saying that it is considering putting him on a wanted list and thus transforming him into a graft fugitive.

Senior Golkar members are scrambling to find a way to resolve the worst crisis to hit the party in years. While Setyas loyalists claimed to be standing behind the embattled chairman, some of his detractors were quick to call for his resignation to salvage the party ahead of the 2018 regional elections and the 2019 legislative and presidential elections.

"[He] must be immediately [replaced] if he is nowhere to be found. If a captain disappears, why wouldn't we replace the captain?" Vice President Jusuf Kalla, a former Golkar leader, said in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, after attending a national meeting of the NasDem Party.

Golkar is currently the biggest supporter of President Jokowis re-election. It remains unclear if Setya can remain in his post.

The 62-year-old politician, however, has refused to give up.

He has apparently resorted to the same tactic he used before to escape KPK prosecution, which is to file another pretrial motion against the antigraft body's decision to rename him as a suspect in the e-ID scandal.

A spokesman of the South Jakarta District Court, Made Sutrisna, said on Thursday that Setya's lawyers had filed the pretrial motion on Tuesday.

If the court approves the motion and proceeds with a hearing, this will be the second time the KPK has faced Setya in a pretrial hearing, after the antigraft body lost the first round in September.

The court has yet to appoint a judge to handle the pretrial motion, said Made, who suggested that the court would likely rule out judge Cepi Iskandar, who presided over the first pretrial hearing. "Probably not [Cepi], so we can avoid a conflict of interest," Made said.

Meanwhile, Golkar has said it will provide legal assistance for Setya. "This is about solidarity. [Because] we are family, senior Golkar member Mahyudin said after visiting Setya's house on Wednesday night.

The House of Representatives ethics council (MKD) is considering suspending Setya, saying that his legal wrangle would prevent him from performing his duties as House speaker.

At this point, he can't carry out his duties, can he? It is safe to say that he can't," said MKD deputy chairman Sarifuddin Sudding.

As his fate now hangs in the balance, Golkar politicians claimed that they did not know where he was.

"I've been trying to call him since last night but his cellphone is off," Golkar secretary-general Idrus Marham, a Setya loyalist, said. "Actually, he's not running away. If I meet him I'll tell him to make it all clear as soon as possible. (ahw)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16 2017

National Awakening Party (PKB) politician Musa Zainuddin was sentenced to nine years behind bars on Wednesday for accepting Rp 7 billion (US$517,330) in bribes from a businessman to secure a project in Maluku.

The defendant [Musa] is guilty beyond reasonable doubt for corruption, presiding judge Masud read out the verdict at the Jakarta Corruption Court as quoted by kompas.com.

The court also ordered Musa to return the Rp 7 billion he stole to state coffers and pay Rp 500 million in fines.

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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Thu, November 16, 2017 15:29 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a295c700 1 National railway,ITB,Education Free

With the country's major cities still working to modernize their transportation systems, the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java has said that it will offer a masters degree program on railway systems next year.

I want to get it opened as soon as possible, ITB rector Kadarsah Suryadi said on Wednesday, adding that he saw potential for the growing development of mass transportation in the country.

Kadarsah said he was hoping that as Indonesia developed more mass rapid transit systems, the country would already have local human resources to support the projects.

The institute has launched a project to develop new railway technology involving 54 doctors and professors in eight faculties at its National Center for Sustainable Transportation Technology. The project is being held in cooperation with PT MRT Jakarta.

Were collaborating with some foreign universities. The goal is to build a future railway, he added.

MRT Jakarta and the ITB had previously collaborated to prepare local human resources for future MRT projects by providing training and education for its staff members.

We hope that this collaboration could have a useful outcome. We can do collaborative research that can be developed further, MRT Jakarta president director William Sabandar said. (hol/ahw)

Topics : railway ITB Education
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 20:37 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a296b300 1 City Komnas-Perempuan,assault-case,Tangerang Free

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has condemned an assault of a couple accused of having premarital sex in Tangerang, saying the act was inhumane and degrading.

The assault, during which people reportedly stripped off the couple's clothes on Nov. 11, violated human rights principles addressed in the Constitution, says the commission.

"Komnas Perempuan views the act as sexual torture and inhumane punishment conducted by residents," the commission said in a statement on Thursday.

The mob assault has destroyed the female victims dignity and will affect her long into the future, it added.

The assault, during which the woman was accused of being immoral, has also occurred in other areas such as Aceh, Sragen and Riau.

As a result, Komnas Perempuan has urged the government to soon deliberate a draft bill on sexual assault eradication to better protect women and act as a deterrent for perpetrators.

The commission also expressed hope that the individuals involved in the Tangerang attack would be severely punished, as well as those who recorded the incident and uploaded the recording on the internet.

The commission also demanded that the public stop circulating the recording to prevent further stigmatization of the female victim and prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 12:50 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a294ecca 1 City LRT,incident Free

A concrete piece from the construction of the light rail transit (LRT) project fell in front of the PT Roda Mas office building on Jl. MT Haryono near Cawang Station in East Jakarta on Wednesday night.

According to eyewitnesses, the concrete piece fell from the crane while being transported. It happened around 6:30 p.m. and it hit a white car and the offices fence," Nanang Setiawan, a security guard for the PT Roda Mas office, said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

There were no casualties from the incident. The only damage was to part of a car parked nearby.

He said he was shocked by the sound of the incident, as he was standing near the area. "It sounded like a bomb," Nanang said.

Spokesperson for the Pancoran Police Adj. Second Insp. Rubiyanto confirmed the incident, saying the concrete had fallen from the LRT drilling shaft.



The wrecked car is currently stored at the scene and covered with orange tarp. The LRT project workers on-site refused to comment on the accident.

Earlier this month, a concrete segment of the MRT track on Jl. Wijaya II, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, fell and injured a motorcyclist who was passing underneath. The crane lost balance, causing the concrete to slip and hit a truck before falling to the ground and hitting Samsudin, who was riding his motorcycle.

Last month, a construction crane that was used on the LRT's Corridor 1 Kelapa Gading-Rawamangun, fell onto a two-story shop located on Jl. Kelapa Nias Raya, Pegangsaan Dua.

Some of the shop staff were injured by broken glass. (dis)

Topics : LRT incident
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 21:44 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2976599 1 City Tangerang,assault-case,khofifah-indar-parawansa Free

Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa vowed on Thursday to protect the recent victims of assault in Tangerang, Banten.

A couple accused of having premarital sex were reportedly stripped and beaten last Saturday by residents of Sukamulya subdistrict in Cikupa district.

Our team has met the victims, and first, we will conduct an assessment before we decide what kind of [treatments] are suitable for them, Khofifah said.

She added that her ministry would offer the victims psychosocial assistance. If they agreed, the ministry would relocate them to a safe house, where they could receive treatment safely and effectively.

Khofifah said the assault could deeply impact the couples mental health, adding that the victims might suffer trauma, stress or even depression.

Whatever the reasons [the residents had], stripping [the victims] and parading them is not justified in our countrys laws, she said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com. (rdi)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 16:00 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a295de8a 4 Business MRT,ITB,cooperation Free

Management of the MRT project in Jakarta has teamed up with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in research and human resources development through training and other events.

Both parties also agreed to exchange relevant data and other documents.

It is a collaboration involving the campus, the industry and the government to develop human resources, said MRT president director William Sabandar during the signing ceremony as stated in a press statement received on Thursday.

The ITB has a train development program through its National Center for Sustainable Transportation Technology. This synergy will have a positive impact for both MRT development and national public transportation in general," he added.

The agreement, which was signed by William and ITB rector Kadarsah Suryadi in Bandung on Wednesday, would be evaluated every five years.

As an initial program, both parties organized a workshop on train signaling, control and automation technology, communication-based train control (CBTC) design and implementation held on the ITB campus on Thursday.

As of Oct. 31, the construction of the MRT from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta had reached 83.07 percent for train depot construction and 91.57 percent for underground structures.

The MRT is expected to begin operation on March 1, 2019. (bbn)

Topics : MRT ITB cooperation
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 21:04 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2974a98 1 City #Muhammadiyah,#Jakarta,#KoleseKanisius,#Anies-Sandiaga Free

Muhammadiyah youth wing has called on people not to stage a demonstration against Canisius College following an incident in which noted composer Ananda Sukarlan walked out during Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedans speech at the schools anniversary last Saturday.

Since then, messages urging people to stage a protest against the college have circulated on social media.

On Wednesday, a delegation of priests and school alumni visited the Muhammadiyah building, which is located next to the school, to convey their worries about the planned demonstration.

The school's rector Joannes Heru Hendarto SJ, said the school deplored Anandas act.

What had been done by Ananda did not represent the schools stance, Heru said.

The head of Muhammadiyah youth wing, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, said the organization would protect the school in the event of a demonstration.

We humbly say that anyone who tries to stage the protest against Canisius is trying to protest in our home, the Muhammadiyah office, which is located next to Canisius College, Danhil said in a statement.

He added that the organization demanded the protest be called off as it might incite intolerance.

Anyone who wanted to protest against Anandas decision to walk out, should convey their complaints to Ananda as it was his personal decision, not the schools, Danhil added.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 15:00 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2959380 1 City Sandiaga-Uno,business,embezzlement Free

The business partner of Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, Andreas Tjahjadi, who together with Sandiaga had been reported to local authorities on land embezzlement allegations, was detained by the Jakarta Police on Thursday.

Jakarta Police Spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said Andreas was detained so he would not escape, hide evidence or repeat the alleged misconduct.

We'll detain him starting from today and over the next 20 days, Argo said on Thursday according to kompas.com.

Sandiaga and Andreas were denounced by Edward S. Soeryadjaya during the gubernatorial campaign season in March for allegedly misappropriating funds in the sale of a piece of land in Curug, South Tangerang, in 2012.

Sandiaga had previously denied the allegations, saying the case had been fabricated for political gain.

The police named Andreas a suspect in early October.

Meanwhile, the police said earlier they had yet to find Sandiagas involvement in the alleged embezzlement. (cal)
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Linkedin Dinesh Nair , Sonali Basak , and Matthew Martin (Bloomberg) New York  Thu, November 16, 2017 21:54 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2977420 2 Business Saudi-Arabia,anti-corruption,banking-industry,kingdom Free

In London, New York, Zurich and beyond, the answer from international bankers is the same: We dont want to talk about the Saudis and their billions.

More than a week after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrested wealthy princes, officials and businessmen, in a power play that could reshape the oil-rich kingdom and the Middle East, bankers whove been discretely tending Saudi fortunes seem all but frozen.

Many are afraid to say, much less do, anything that might draw attention in Riyadh, where dozens of the kingdoms richest people, including at least 11 princes, are being detained in the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Saudi Arabias market regulator has frozen the trading accounts of individuals being detained or investigated, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The reason is clear: Saudi authorities say at least $100 billion has allegedly been siphoned off over decades through corruption and embezzlement. How much of that money might have passed through global banks is anyones guess; no foreign institutions or business people have been accused of wrongdoing.

The official line from global finance, as much as there is one, was summed up on Nov. 8by Michael Corbat, the chief executive officer of Citigroup Inc. We look at some progressive things happening there -- were encouraged by it, he told the Bloomberg Year Ahead summit in New York.

Thats not quite the way many private bankers see things just now.

One senior banker covering the region said many Saudi clients are reluctant to speak via phone because theyre worried the lines might be tapped. His advice to clients and colleagues alike: sit tight.

Lay of the Land

Other bankers, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, tell similar stories. Many say business has ground to a halt for now.

Two senior bankers in the Middle East at global institutions said that they havent made any new loans or done other new business since the arrests were announced. They also said no Saudi companies have approached them for new business.

Caution is the byword. One banker based in Monaco said he canceled a planned visit to Riyadh in the immediate aftermath of the crackdown. Several other executives and investors said they hoped to fly in this month, between financial conferences in Dubai, to assess the lay of the land.

Most of our members are taking a wait-and-see attitude, said David Callahan, a vice president at the U.S.-Saudi Business Council, whose members include banks, oil companies and contractors.

Others are trying to get ahead of events. Over the past week, some hyper-wealthy Saudis have sold investments in neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council countries and moved the money to safer havens overseas.

Many billions of Saudi money is already managed offshore, and Switzerland, for one, wants to know if its banks might be exposed somehow. Finma, the Swiss financial regulator, is monitoring the developments in Riyadh, a spokesman told Bloomberg this week.

Bankers wonder if Crown Prince Mohammed, 32, will try to bring private fortunes home as he attempts to modernize the kingdom, reduce its dependence on oil and take public Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the state-owned giant known as Aramco.

The young prince is moving through all of the issues that confront hundreds of years of tradition, led by a hundred years of dependency on oil and a family practice and policy that worked at the beginning of that great adventure, billionaire investor Tom Barrack said in an interview in Dubai on Thursday. Changing it takes disruption and I think thats what were experiencing. None of us are well versed enough to know the details of that exactly.

Bank exposure

Among major banks, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and UBS Group AG are some of the biggest managers of Saudi wealth. Citigroups private bank counts among its clients Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Khalid al-Tuwaijri, former chief of the Royal Court, according to people familiar with the matter. Both men are among the detained.

With so much money at stake, financiers warn that the Saudi government is sensitive to which companies back them in difficult times, and stepping back now could hurt a firms chances of winning business later, according to the two senior bankers in the region.

Some executives are trying to channel the inherent optimism of global finance. One U.S. banking executive likened the developments in Saudi Arabia to post-Soviet Russias first chaotic steps toward capitalism. A U.S. private-equity executive drew comparisons to China, where President Xi Jinping has amassed extraordinary power in his bid to catapult the nation into the center of global affairs.

The developments havent discouraged SoftBank Group Corp., the Japanese company run by Masayoshi Son, from betting big on the kingdom. His firm plans to invest as much as $25 billion in Saudi Arabia over the next three to four years in a new city called Neom and state-controlled Saudi Electricity Co., according to people familiar with the matter.

Several other financiers said they hoped Saudi Arabia would eliminate red tape and speed lucrative deals. Aramco is the greatest prize.

The crackdown could accelerate the privatization process as there is now total centralization of power, said Emad Mostaque, London-based co-chief investment officer of emerging-markets hedge fund Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd. The government has shown it is not afraid to shake up the status quo to achieve its aims to a degree that would have been unimaginable a few years ago."

 With assistance by Laura Colby, Vivian Nereim, Archana Narayanan, and Tracy Alloway
The Billings Police Department has launched a homicide investigation after a body was discovered by two people walking early Wednesday evening on the West End.

Two people walking on a dirt road along the irrigation canal west of Billings Collision Repair on South 32nd Street West discovered the body, according to BPD Capt. Jeremy House.

It appeared to be the body of an adult, but House said they had not determined if it was a man or woman. Officers had difficulty reaching the body, which was found in an area heavy with downed trees and debris near what appeared to be an abandoned transient camp between the road and the canal.

The body looked to be partially covered in debris, leaves and possibly a blanket, according to House. The people who found the body were cooperating with police.

House said officers would be watching the scene overnight and detectives would begin processing it in the morning with 3-D scanning, photography and a canvass of the area for evidence. After that work had concluded, the body will be recovered and an autopsy performed.

Limited visibility and officer safety were both factors in the decision to process the crime scene Thursday morning, House said. "In daylight we'll be able to take our time, go in there and look in a large area," he said, adding that police currently had "minimal lights set up covering a small space and we don't want to miss anything."

BPD Lt. Brian Korell initially described the body as headless and wrapped in carpet. House, who was at the scene, said he had not gotten close enough to the body to confirm those details, but that it was possible that description came from an initial report on police radio channels.

He also declined to comment on the condition of the body, citing policy that recommends generally not sharing that sort of information with the public while the investigation is ongoing.

"Our official statement is we can't confirm because we haven't moved the body. We haven't processed the body," House said.
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Linkedin News Desk (AFP) Washington  Thu, November 16, 2017 20:28 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a296aa49 2 Politics Donald-Trump,North-Korea,China Free

US President Donald Trump on Thursday praised China's decision to send a special envoy to its wayward ally North Korea days after he had pressed Beijing to do more to curb Pyongyang's nuclear threats.

"China is sending an Envoy and Delegation to North Korea - A big move, we'll see what happens!" he tweeted.

China's foreign ministry on Wednesday announced President Xi Jinping's special envoy, Song Tao, will travel to Pyongyang this week to brief officials about last month's Chinese Communist Party congress and "other issues of mutual concern."

Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not say whether the nuclear issue would be discussed but he said China was "committed to the denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability of the peninsula, and resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation."

Trump has called on the region to take a united stance against the threat posed by isolated North Korea, which has sparked global alarm with its nuclear and missile tests in recent months.

China has backed a series of United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang and imposed banking restrictions on North Koreans, putting the Cold War-era allies at odds.

Song will be the first Chinese envoy to make an official trip to North Korea since October 2016, when vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin visited. Xi has never met Kim.

China's announcement came a day after Trump completed a five-nation tour of Asia which he has trumpeted as a major success.
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Linkedin (Bloomberg) Guangzhou  Thu, November 16, 2017 12:36 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a294e426 2 Business Volkswagen,China,automotive,car Free

Volkswagen AG will invest more than 10 billion euros ($12 billion) with its partners to make and develop a range of new-energy vehicles in China as carmakers step up investments in low-emission models in the worlds biggest auto market.

Volkswagen will make the investments by 2025 and introduce 40 locally produced vehicles, its China head Jochem Heizmann told reporters in Guangzhou Thursday. The European automakers venture with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group will start production of electric vehicles in the first half of next year, while sales will start in the second half.

The German manufacturer joins Ford Motor Co. in boosting investments in electric vehicle development in China as the country will require most automakers to obtain a new-energy vehicle score linked to the production of various types of zero- and low-emission vehicles. Volkswagen in September announced sweeping plans to build electric versions of all 300 models in the 12-brand groups lineup, vowing to spend 20 billion euros by 2030 to roll out the cars and earmarked another 50 billion euros to buy the batteries needed to power the vehicles.

In May, VW received green light from the government to set up a joint venture with the state owned Chinese automaker to make electric cars. The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company sold 2.5 million vehicles in China in the first ten months. VW has previously said it plans to sell 400,000 units of new-energy vehicles a year by 2020 and increase that number to 1.5 million by 2025.

Last week, Ford said it will invest 5 billion yuan ($753 million) with partner Anhui Zotye Automobile Co. to make and sell small electric cars in China.

Chinas Policy

VW will introduce 15 models based on its MQB platform, which converts internal combustion engine cars into plug-in hybrid or pure electric versions, said Heizmann. The rest of the models will be developed on new platforms, he said.

In September, China unveiled a comprehensive set of emission rules and delayed a credit-score program tied to the production of electric cars, giving manufacturers more time to prepare for the phasing out of fossil-fuel powered vehicles.

Under the so-called cap-and-trade policy, automakers must obtain a new-energy vehicle score -- which is linked to the production of various types of zero- and low-emission vehicles -- of at least 10 percent starting in 2019, rising to 12 percent in 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on its website.

The new adjusted quota policy is really the right thing, Heizmann said.

By delaying the implementation year to 2019 and allowing carmakers to combine credits in 2019 and 2020, its no longer a major challenge for VW to fulfill the demand, said Heizmann.

Electric cars will outsell fossil-fuel powered vehicles within two decades as battery prices plunge, turning the global auto industry upside down and signaling economic turmoil for oil-exporting countries.

The Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts that adoption of emission-free vehicles will happen more quickly than previously estimated because the cost of building cars is falling fast.

Topics : Volkswagen China automotive car
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Linkedin News Desk (AFP) Vatican City  Fri, November 17, 2017 03:17 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2979f26 2 World Pope-Francis,inequality,healthcare-policy,rich Free

Pope Francis on Thursday took wealthy nations to task over unequal healthcare and systems which increasingly penalise all but the very wealthy.

Healthcare is a particularly hot-button issue in the United States, where President Donald Trump has been fighting to scrap the Affordable Care Act brought in by his predecessor Barack Obama.

"Increasingly sophisticated and costly treatments are available to ever more limited and privileged segments of the population," the 80-year old pontiff said in an address read out to a World Medical Association conference.

The "growing divide ...raises questions about the sustainability of healthcare delivery," he said, denouncing "a systemic tendency toward growing inequality in healthcare".

Pointing the finger at "the richest countries, where access to care risks depending on financial means rather than needs", he said: "The state cannot renounce its duty to protect all those involved".

Francis's dressing down came just days before the Catholic Church celebrates its first-ever World Day for the Poor on Sunday.

As part of the lead-up, the Argentine made a surprise visit to a medical centre for the poor and homeless in St Peter's square Thursday, warmly clasping the hands of patients and volunteer staff alike at the Vatican's "field hospital".
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Linkedin Daphne Rousseau and Tom Barfield (AFP) Frankfurt am Main  Fri, November 17, 2017 03:31 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2979fa9 2 Business Siemens,German,layoffs Free

Industrial conglomerate Siemens on Thursday announced thousands of job cuts worldwide, most of them in its fossil fuels division, with unions and politicians in its home country Germany particularly outspoken against the plans.

A total of 6,900 workers are set to lose their jobs, around half of them in Germany, where Siemens also plans to close sites in the country's economically weaker east.

"The power industry is experiencing disruption of unprecedented scope and speed," board member Lisa Davis said in a statement, saying layoffs were necessary to keep Siemens competitive.

The Munich-based group says global demand for the large turbines its power and gas unit produces "has fallen drastically" as renewable energy has become more popular.

This has sapped profitability as there is not enough demand to keep its factories turning.

In Germany, that division alone will shed 2,600 jobs and close sites in Goerlitz and Leipzig, both in the former communist east.

"This is sad news... a sudden bolt from the blue for Leipzigers," said Stanislaw Tillich, premier of Saxony state.

Some 1,100 jobs are set to go in the rest of Europe, while the US will see 1,800 layoffs.

German employee representatives have vowed to resist job cuts, as they would follow on the heels of flourishing annual results for the sprawling group.

Chief executive Joe Kaeser had already warned of "painful cuts" last week, even as Siemens reported 11-percent growth in net profit for 2016-17, to 6.2 billion euros ($7.3 billion).

But he had pledged to "soften the blow" by reassigning or retraining workers, a promise the group reiterated Thursday.

Germany's powerful IG Metall union vowed to put up "strong resistance" to the proposed site closures and layoffs.

This "broad attack against the employees" is "completely unacceptable given the company's excellent overall health", IG Metall board member Juergen Kerner said.

Siemens -- whose products range from trains to wind turbines to medical equipment -- has already announced some 6,000 job cuts in its wind power unit, sapped by falling prices in major markets like India and the US.

The group employs around 350,000 people worldwide, with around 115,000 of them in Germany.

- 'Discontent and doubts' -

Germany's poorer eastern states have yet to fully recover from decades of communist mismanagement and an arduous reunification with the west since 1990.

Alongside the closures in Goerlitz and Saxony, almost 900 jobs are set to go in Berlin, while the group is considering selling off a site in Thuringian state capital Erfurt.

Cuts in the east "could stoke the discontent and the doubts" that helped far-right party Alternative for Germany into parliament with 12.6 percent of the vote in September elections, outgoing economy minister Brigitte Zypries wrote in a letter to Kaeser seen by Bild newspaper.

For its part, IG Metall accused Siemens of failing to consult closely with workers about the planned restructuring, as was the norm at big German conglomerates for decades.

The group laid off some 15,000 people in 2013, partly as a consequence of Germany's decision to abandon nuclear energy in favour of renewables.

Under Kaeser's tenure, whole divisions have been abandoned or sold off, including household appliances, telecoms networks and nuclear and solar energy.

Tearing up a 2008 agreement that ruled out layoffs short of an "existential crisis" at the firm "would disquiet colleagues in all of the divisions," union boss Kerner said, especially when "the group is doing well" overall.

Battling the same headwinds, Siemens' US competitor General Electric on Monday announced a restructuring of its own, with thousands of job cuts around the globe as it narrows its focus to aeronautics, health and energy.

Topics : Siemens German layoffs
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Linkedin Suy SE (AFP) Phnom Penh  Thu, November 16, 2017 22:28 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2977aaf 2 SE Asia Cambodia,opposition,Supreme-Court Free

Cambodia's Supreme Court dissolved the country's main opposition party and banned more than 100 of its politicians for five years on Thursday, in a ruling blasted by a rights groups as the "death" of the nation's democracy.

The verdict was widely expected from a justice system heavily warped by the influence of long-standing premier Hun Sen, who is accused of ruthlessly targeting rivals in the run-up to 2018 polls.

It nevertheless delivered a crushing blow to what remained of the embattled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) -- the only party that had a fighting chance to break the authoritarian leader's 32-year grip on power.

The court "decides to dissolve the CNRP and ban 118 leaders... from politics for five years starting from the date of the verdict," said Judge Dith Munty, himself a member of Hun Sen's ruling CPP party, in what rights groups blasted as a mockery of judicial independence.

The judge said the CNRP, by boycotting the trial, had effectively confessed to the government-levied accusation of conspiring with the United States and other foreign actors to plot a revolution.

The CNRP and Washington have rejected those charges as bogus, with the main evidence from the government being a publicly available speech from the party's president discussing US help to build a democracy-movement in Cambodia.

Rights groups said the verdict stripped next year's election of any credibility.

"This is the death of democracy in Cambodia," said Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch, calling on foreign partners to suspend any assistance for the 2018 poll.

The International Commission of Jurists said Cambodia had crossed a "red line," with the dissolution stripping millions of voters of a chance to freely choose their representatives.

Seats redistributed

The CNRP's parliament seats and local posts will now be redistributed to other parties after the government amended laws last month to allow the reallocation.

That pushes Cambodia towards being a de facto one party state, with it highly unlikely opposition activists can now mount any significant challenge to the CPP next year.

The verdict is the culmination of a methodical strangling of dissent in Cambodia that began after the CNRP nearly unseated Hun Sen in the last national election in 2013, rattling the premier.

The crackdown accelerated dramatically after the party faired well in local elections this July, despite weathering a series of legal attacks against its leadership.

Several months later CNRP president Kem Sokha was suddenly thrown into jail and charged with treason over the same accusations of plotting a revolution.

That arrest, and the threat of a 30 year prison sentence, sent more than half of the party's 55 lawmakers fleeing into exile out of fear.

Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who defected, has a long history of undercutting his rivals through well-timed crackdowns and dubious court cases.

But observers say the current climate of repression is harsher and longer-lasting than previous clampdowns, with Hun Sen foregoing even the pretense of respecting human rights and a free press.

In addition to assaults against the CNRP, his government has in recent months shut down a series of outspoken NGOs and independent news outlets -- including the respected Cambodia Daily.

Analysts say the premier has been emboldened by financial backing from Beijing, which has lavished the poor country with investment that has made it less dependent on aid from Western democracies.
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 13:04 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a294fa6d 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,digital-tourism,travel Free

UK-based travel commerce platform Travelport has recently released the results of its Global Traveler Survey that analyzes different digital traveler habits.

The report included Digital Traveler Rankings with India taking the first spot as the country with most-digitally advanced travelers, followed by China and Indonesia, respectively.

Taking in the fourth until 10th spots are Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Colombia and Italy.

The survey results, according to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, shows that the ministry is correct in implementing the go-digital approach. India and China, both of whom are potential markets for Indonesia, are in the top-two positions and then followed by Indonesia.

Up until September 2017 up to 1,607,615 Chinese tourists visited Indonesia, up by 45.68 percent from the same period last year. Meanwhile the majority of tourists from India love to travel to Bali. Up until June 2017, a total of 129,727 Indian tourists came to Bali, up by 39.90 percent from the same period last year that had 92,371 people.

Digital is no longer a lifestyle but it has become a daily need for todays millennials.

Managing Director Travelport Asia Pacific Mark Meehan said that Indonesians prefer to do a research before planning a trip, with 93 percent of the respondents look at travel photos and videos on social media as part of their research -- the rate is above the average of Asia Pacific respondents that is at 76 percent.

Moreover, 84 percent of Indonesian tourists use tour agents to plan their trip, while 68 percent of them do their bookings online.

Read also: 10 local travelers to follow on Instagram

Last year, the ministry launched an area in their office called War Room that features interactive dashboards showcasing tourism promotions for Indonesia, other countries, tourist destinations, top 10 priority destinations and human resources institutions.

It also set up Indonesia Travel Exchange (ITX), a marketplace platform that aims to offer transaction space for buyers and sellers like travel agents, accommodation providers and attractions.

Additionally, Indonesian Charms Generation (GenPI), a youth community that aims to promote Indonesian tourism and has several chapters in different cities across the archipelago, is known for their tech-savvy approach in promoting the country.

For example, the GenPI branch in Central Java came up with Karetan Market event that relies heavily on social media promotion and exposure.

Other GenPI chapters are also following the success of Karetan Market by holding similar events such as Fishing Market in Lombok and Siti Nurbaya Market in West Sumatra. (kes)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Thu, November 16, 2017 14:00 1826 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2954ec6 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,foreign-tourists Free

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data shows that until September this year, Indonesia has welcomed 10,458,299 foreign tourists, a 25.05 percent increase from last years achievement.

For the September period, its up by 20.47 percent from the same month last year, told Tourism Ministry's deputy minister for overseas promotion I Gde Pitana.

In comparison, tourism growth in ASEAN region is only 6.5 percent and the worldwide growth is at five percent.

Pitana added that hes optimistic the ministry will achieve its target of attracting 15 million foreign tourists by the end of this year.

Read also: Five travel trends to watch in 2018

The recent activity of Mount Agung in Bali that went on for more than a month from Sept. 23 to Oct. 29 resulted in the declining of tourist visits to Bali.

On Oct. 29, the Indonesian authorities lowered the alert status from Level 4 to Level 3.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said Bali is now ready to welcome tourists.

The ministry is currently busy promoting to countries such as China, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Japan for the year-end holiday season that runs from November 2017 to January 2018.

One of their efforts is conducting a familiarization trip (famtrip) to Bali for nine media companies from China.

Up until September 2017, China was the biggest contributor for foreign tourists who came to Indonesia with 1,607,615 people, a 45.68 percent increase. Other countries such as Japan contributed 416,040 people (up 6.46 percent), Australia had 918,957 people (up 1.38 percent), Malaysia had 885,412 people (down 0.16 percent) and Singapore had 1,067,242 people (up 0.36 percent). (kes)
A third woman has come forward accusing actor Ed Westwick of sexual assault, it follows the rape allegations made by two separate women last week both of which the Gossip Girl actor has denied.

Rachel Eck, a 23-year old executive assistant at the time, alleges that the actor pulled me onto the bed and aggressively groped me."

Speaking to Buzzfeed News, Eck explained that the incident took place the night before the Academy Awards in 2014 at a Los Angeles hotel room. Her former boyfriend, film producer Kaine Harling, invited her to come over and hang out.

Eck thought there may be a possibility that she and Harling could rekindle their relationship. She claims Westwick asked her to invite a friend over and when she didnt he turned his sights on me. At the hotel, she says whenever Harling left her on her own with Westwick the actor would try to kiss me or kind of push me up against the wall, and when she tried to tell Harling about what was happening he simply dismissed Westwicks actions. I have never felt so uncomfortable in a situation like that in my entire life, Eck said.According to Buzzfeed News, Westwick's representative did not comment on the new allegation. Westwick has denied previous two allegations, calling them "two unverified and provably untrue social media claims." Actress Kristina Cohen was the first woman to accuse Westwick of assault, posting on Facebook how she had been invited to Westwicks house in 2014 by a producer she was dating when the actor raped her. She claims that Westwick held me down and raped me. While she does not name the producer she was dating in her Facebook post she later identified him to the Hollywood Reporter as Kaine Harling - the same person that introduced Eck to Westwick. Former actress Aurelie Wynn also accused Westwick of raping her in the same year as the other two victims. In a Facebook post, she wrote in her own: "I was wearing a one piece bathing suit that he ripped. I was in complete shock." Both Cohen and Wynns allegations are being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, Westwick says he is "cooperating with the authorities so they can clear my name".
Therapy dogs have become a common sight in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and disaster areas, with the idea being that the pups provide love and care to people who need it.

Golden retrievers are a breed often used for the treatment and in the UK, Therapy Dogs Nationwide sends its temperament-tested dogs to hospitals, schools and prisons.

All thats pretty easy to understand. Its easy to cuddle a dog. But what about a duck?

THERE WAS A THERAPY DUCK NAMED WEBSTER HERE TODAY. AND HE HAD A HARNESS LEASH AND A DIAPER. He was so precious pic.twitter.com/JjFIg2f0Je  Tay (@scully_gibson) November 8, 2017

If the reaction of students at Iowa Law School is anything to go by, therapy ducks can be just as good as dogs.

The duck in question, Webster, is a pretty big deal in Iowa  visiting about three different places each week, according to KCCI, and nestling into peoples laps everywhere he goes.

Websters owner Philip Blanchard told KCCI he decided to enlist his duck in the Animal Rescue League of Iowas TheraPet program after realising it acts like a human.

And just look how happy he is doing his job.

(Paul Gowder)

Iowa Law School Professor Paul Gowder said: It was Websters first visit, but not the first visit of a therapy animal in general.

The University of Iowa College of Law often invites therapy animals to pay a visit to bring some joy to the students, especially as exam time approaches. Usually, an adorable Labrador comes  this was our first duck!

And never mind the students, lets appreciate how delighted Professor Gowder was.

(Paul Gowder)

Youre doing amazing, Webster.
Waking up bleary-eyed and dry-mouthed with a pounding head is bad enough at the best of times  but add a bill for 5,000 into the mix and things start to look a little bit worse.

After a heavy night in Cheltenham thats exactly what greeted Will Armstrong in an envelope from travel agents Flight Centre which he later posted to Twitter.

Inside was Wills travel summary, detailing a first-class flight with Etihad Airways to the Maldives he had no memory of booking.

Thank you so much for popping in the other day, one of the enclosed letters said, right above the amount due in big red letters  5,289.87.

so I was pretty drunk the other night and I lost my ID, then this turns up today pic.twitter.com/TX0CHttfnT  will (@willarmstrong__) November 7, 2017

Luckily Will turned the page to find another note, left by someone called Stephen Lee, which saved both his blushes and his bank account.

Were just kidding. Weve found youre (sic) driving license (enclosed) outside our shop and thought you might need it! Just make sure you consider us for your next holiday. Take care! Stephen wrote.

The international travel consultant, who hails from northern California, explained he had returned lost wallets a few times before and wanted to change things up a bit.

Stephen told the Press Association: I was at work on Friday and had a glance out the front shop window when I saw a drivers licence just outside our steps.

I basically thought Id have some fun with this one and organise some fake first-class flights to the Maldives, hoping that this guy was actually on a night-out from the previous day.

The pair eventually met and had a good laugh about the letter.

We both started cracking up laughing, we then took a photo together and I said thanks for being so cool about it. Hes a pretty rad kid, Stephen said.

Wills post has received over 50,000 retweets  a lot more interest than Stephen was expecting his letter to get  and hes got a thumbs-up from Flight Centre head office as a result. Its great promo.

To top it off, Will said hed definitely be booking his next holiday with the company  so it looks like a job well done.
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Buoyed after the huge response at the World Food India-17 at New Delhi, the West Bengal State Fisheries Development Corporation (WBSFDC) is set to launch a fish app through which customers will be able to buy fish and fish items.

The fish app will be launched on the first day(15 December) of the three- day Fish Festival at Nalban Food Park, managing director, West Bengal State Fisheries Development Corporation Mr Soumyajit Das said.

State chief minister Mamata Banerjee wants all her brands to become global as part of her Biswa Bangla dream and WBFDC hopes that by 2018, fish and fish products of the state will be easily available through the mobile fish app all over the country and also abroad, Mr Das added.

Talking to The Statesman, Mr Das said the Fish app will be a-first of its kind effort to reach the global audience which is in sync with the Biswa Bangla outlook of the West Bengal government. So far mobile apps have been very popular in private transportation sector , but this is the first time a government organisation has taken the initiative to launch a food app to sell items to be delivered directly to the consumers home, Mr Das said.

WBFDC has selected 22 varieties of fish, seven varieties of dried fish (sutki maach), fish pickle etc to be sold through this mobile fish app.

Initially, after its launch the products will be available at Salt Lake, Lake Town, Kestopur, Baguihati, Kankurgachi and will be sent from the counters of WBSFDC situated at Nalban, Eco Park, Bikash Bhawan, New Town, Salt Lake.

The size of the packets will be 250, 500 grams and one kilograms and fishes likerohu, katla, hilsa, tilapia, mackerel, pomfret, prawns will be available.

By next year the items will be sold throughout the state, country and even abroad. Fish outlets are coming up very soon in cities like Bengaluru, New Delhi, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Jodhpur and Chandigarh.

Today we have tied up with a private retail outlet for selling our products in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru, Soumyajit Das added.

The varieties of fishes of Bengal are in high demand among not only the non-resident Bengalis but also other people and foreigners. Our target is to set footprints in the global market,  Mr Das added.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the central governments decision to impose 12 per cent tax on sanitary napkins under the GST regime, saying it has exempted bindi, kajal, sindoor which seem more essential than sanitary napkins.

The court said the government needs to look towards reducing GST on sanitary napkins as it has done recently for many products.

During the hearing, the court asked the Centre whether it had discussed with the Ministry of Women and Child Development before imposing 12 per cent tax on sanitary napkins.

The court also asked whether the price of sanitary napkins has been increased after GST.

Responding to the courts query, counsel for the Goods and Services Tax Council told the court that if GST on sanitary napkins is reduced, it would apply even for the raw material involved, which will increase the input tax credit due to addition of financial cost in form of interest burden, hence put local manufacturers at a disadvantage in comparison with importers.

In an affidavit, the GST Council said that in pre-GST era, sanitary napkins attracted concessional excise duty of 6 per cent and 5 per cent VAT and the pre-GST estimated total tax incidence on sanitary napkins was 13.68 per cent. Keeping such pre-GST tax incidence in view, the GST Council has recommended 12 per cent GST on sanitary napkins.

The Council also said that the basis of arriving at tax rates takes into account not only the use of the goods and services but also their pre-GST tax incidence and mode of production.

Seeking dismissal of the plea, the GST Council said that to treat sanitary napkins as a separate set would be arbitrary and discriminatory.

The levy on sanitary pads, like others levies, enhance reserves, which in turn facilitate provision of various educational and medical facilities which facilitate effective exercise of reproductive rights by enabling the state to marshal its resources, it added.

The affidavit was filed on a petition by Zarmina Israr Khan, PhD scholar in African studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here, contending that discriminatory and illegal treatment was being meted out to women by an unconstitutional and illegal imposition of 12 per cent tax on sanitary napkins.

The GST, which came into force across the country on July 1, is a unified indirect tax system on various goods and services.

Khans lawyer Amit George told the bench that 12 per cent tax makes no distinction between high and low-cost sanitary napkins.

The petitioner pleaded for nil tax, or a reduced one, pointing out that there are certain items exempted under the GST system so as not to burden consumers, including makeup items, plastic and glass bangles, hearing aids, bags, and material used in religious rituals, and contraceptives.

The petitioner said there were an estimated 355 million menstruating women in India, with a vast majority still facing significant barriers to a comfortable and dignified experience with menstrual hygiene management.

It is estimated that approximately 88 per cent of menstruating women in India have no access to sanitary napkins the root cause of approximately 70 per cent of all reproductive diseases in India is poor menstrual hygiene, the petition noted.

The court posted the matter for December 14 for further hearing.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday joined British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh Andrew Ayre and Canadian Consular General Chandigarh Christopher Gibbins at a Remembrance Day event to pay homage to the soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in the Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who had lost their lives in the war.

Addressing a small gathering at an event here to mark the 100 years of the Remembrance Day, Amarinder recalled the contribution of Indian soldiers who fought for the Allied Powers during the first World War and said their role would forever remain etched in world history. The CM went down memory lane to recall the battlefield of Yepres and other places where Indian soldiers had been laid to rest.

India raised 14,40,037 volunteers and sent seven exeditionary forces to various theatres, he further pointed out, adding that the courage and valour of the Indian soldiers who fought battles that did not even belong to them can never be forgotten.

Speaking on the occasion, Gibbins said Canada, which was observing the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, had lost 4,000 of its men in the war, in which the Indian armed forces also played an important role.

The British Deputy High Commissioner Chandigarh also lauded the role of the Indian armed forces in both the world wars, alongside British, Canadian and other allied forces. Their role in securing British independence should never be forgotten, he said, expressing happiness that the Punjab Chief Minister and students from Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute were present to mark the occasion.

He recalled that during WWI, over one million Indian troops served overseas, of whom 74,000 died and another 67,000 were wounded. He lauded the role of Indian soldiers in various battles and said that to ensure that their contribution was not forgotten, the Department for Communities and Local Government was working on a new community engagement programme. The bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers was all the more notable as the conflicts in which they participated were not their wars, but ours, he added.
The CBI on Thursday arrested former Superintendent of Police, Shimla, over the alleged custodial death of one of the suspects in the Gudia gangrape-and-murder case.

DW Negi, who is presently posted with the states Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, was produced before a CBI court here which remanded him to police custody till 20 November.

Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation had arrested eight members of Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Himachal Pradesh government to probe the Gudia case.

Those arrested earlier included Inspector General of Police Zahoor Zaidi.

Sources said the latest arrest was part of the ongoing investigations in the case.

The CBI team which is investigating both the Gudia case and the custodial death of one of the suspects in that case ~ Nepalese national Suraj ~ are camping at the crime scene at Kotkhai in Shimla district.

On Wednesday, the CBI had questioned two men who were arrested by the HP Police in the case.

All the suspects had been granted bail by a CBI court in October as the investigating agency had failed to file a charge-sheet against them within the stipulated 90 days.

The CBI had also sought courts permission to take voice samples of IG Zahur H Zaidi, Theog DSP Manoj Joshi, then SHO Kotkhai Rajender Singh, ASI Deep Chand Sharma, head constables Surat Singh, Mohan Lal and Rafiq Ali and constable Ranjit Singh.

Sources said the CBI is seeking voice samples as the officials have got hold of some call recordings in the custodial death case.

Gudia, a class 10 girl from Kotkhai, had gone missing while returning home from school on 4 July. Her body was found in the woods on 6 July.

An autopsy confirmed that she was raped and strangled.

The state SIT had arrested Ashish Chauhan, Rajender Singh alias Raju, Deepak, Subhash Singh Bisht, Suraj and Lokjan for the ghastly crime on 12 and 13 July. Suraj was later killed in police custody.

The police theory failed to satisfy the public which alleged that they were sheltering some influential people.

This triggered public protests in upper Shimla, leading to the state government referring the case to the CBI.
As many as 1,000 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics will be set up and managed by the Delhi State Health Mission (DSHM), Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.

A decision in this regard was taken at a DSHM review meeting chaired by Kejriwal where Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Social Welfare Minister Rajendar Pal Gautam, Chief Secretary MM Kutty and other senior officials were present.

In line with the objective of providing universal health coverage, the Chief Minister approved the proposal to entrust the mission with the responsibility of setting 1,000 Mohalla Clinics in Delhi and managing them, an official statement said.
Announcing arrest of three terrorists alive during a counter-insurgency operation in the Kund area of South Kashmir, the IGP (Kashmir) Munir Khan on Thursday said that Pakistan was aggressively misusing the social media to brainwash young boys and lure them towards terrorism.

Khan told media persons that one of the arrested terrorist was injured during an encounter earlier this week in the forests of Kulgam district.

The Operation against terrorists was launched on 14 November in which one Army soldier and a terrorist lost their life.He said that Pakistan was recruiting terrorists from Kashmir through social media campaign.

The IGP said that two more terrorists were believed to be still hiding in the forest area as a result of which the search operation by the security forces was continuing.He identified the arrested terrorists as Atta Mohammad Malik, Shams-ul-Waqar and Bilal Sheikh. Malik was undergoing treatment in the hospital as he was injured during the encounter.

It is worth mentioning that the security forces had last month also arrested three terrorists at different places of North and South Kashmir.

Sources told the SNS that many young boys in terrorism were desperate to surrender as the security forces have stepped up the Operation against the terror outfits.
Kapil Sharma has been promoting his upcoming movie Firangi on various platforms, and has not yet revealed about his mother and sister also being a part of the movie.

The actor has given a platform to his mother Janak Rani and his sister Pooja Sharma for their debuts.

Kapil is all set to release his home production venture on November 24, and has given fans a double reason to watch the movie.

Seen in the picture above is Kapils mother in a grey shawl.

Kapils sister is on the left dancing in a green suit.

Ace comedian and actor Kapil Sharma has ventured into production with Firangi.

Kapil came into limelight when he won The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 3. After that he went on to do shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 and Comedy Circus before starting his popular show Comedy Nights with Kapil, under his home production.

He started his show Comedy Nights with Kapil, which ended after his fall out with the channel. He was later seen rib tickling people in another comedy show The Kapil Sharma Show on a different channel. However, the comedian couldnt sustain success for long as he indulged in a mid-air brawl with Sunil Grover while returning to India from Australia. Sunil and two more comedians quit and the TRPs of his show went down. This took a toll on Kapils health and he called it quits from TV.

The actor has returned once again with a bang, but will be seen on silver screen this time.

READ ALSO: Kapil Sharma turns film producer with Firangi
The Walt Disney Company is facing a copyright lawsuit over Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

The company is being sued by a pair of Colorado screenwriters, A. Lee Alfred II and Ezequiel Martinez Jr., who allege that the company stole their idea from a 2000 spec script they wrote titled Pirates of the Caribbean, reports deadline.com.

In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Colorado on Tuesday, the writers allege Disney committed willful infringement of Plaintiffs original copyrighted expression of themes, settings, dialogue, characters, plot, mood and sequence of events contained in the original spec screenplay.

The two writers, along with their producer Tova Laiter, claim they had submitted their script while working closely with Disneys Brigham Taylor, Josh Harmon and Michael Haynes on the never-made Red Hood film project.

However, the relationship with the studio soured, with the pair being paid for their work on Red Hood after a copy of the screenplay and original artwork was allegedly seen on a coffee table in Taylors office.

According to the suit, Laiter was later told by Taylor that Disney would be passing on the project. The claim adds that the screenplay wasnt returned until more than two years later, at which point Defendants were already in production on the first Pirates of the Caribbean film.

The initial Pirates film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, contains similarities to the spec screenplay and the similarities have continued throughout the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

However, the plaintiffs, having just registered their original works of authorship with the US Copyright Office on October 3rd, do not offer any explanation as to why it took them nearly two decades to recognise a copyright infringement.
The Congress is facing some tough tasks in Gujarat as the election days near. The local news circles were rife with the reports of an old Congress hand Vijay Kella, associated with the party since 38 years, quitting the Congress over being ignored by the party seniors.

Kella is apparently angry due to the importance being given to Dalit, Patidar and Tribal leaders at the cost of dedicated Congress workers who have over decades kept the flag high for the party.

The chairman of the Gujarat Congress relief committee, Vijay Kella sent his resignation letter to the Gujarat Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki. Kella has extensively worked during relief operations after floods and other calamities in Gujarat on behalf of his party. He feels that Vice-President Rahul Gandhi does not meet all party workers and also does not take them along during visits and tours.

On being asked about his future plans after leaving Congress, he was upfront in sharing that he will be joining the BJP in the next few days. The flight of leaders like Kella to other parties in Gujarat may affect the partys prospects in the elections.

Individuals are still easy to maintain and placate but Congress also is about to face the daunting task of winning over the Muslims who are also feeling threatened by the proximity of Congress with other sections. It is being widely discussed within the Congress inner circles the cost the party may have to pay for ignoring the Muslims who, traditionally, had been with the party. Representation of the community in the party candidate list will be crucial for the Congress .

In Surat, Congress youth workers on Wednesday put up posters reflecting the mood of the dejected community. The murmurs of giving the ticket to a non-Muslim for Surat (East) is said to be the main reason behind the posters.

Local Congress leader Firoz Malek, who lost the last election to the BJP candidate, is a strong contender for the seat. However, his ticket is yet not confirmed and this could be a pressure tactic that he and his followers may be adopting to bag the ticket.

Congress had given tickets to six Muslim candidates in Gujarat in 2012 elections and only two could win  Gyasuddin Shaikh and Mohammad Javid Pirzada. This time around, the expectation of Muslim leaders getting nominated are lesser as the Congress is portraying a Soft Hindutva image rather than a Muslim appeasement line it has been following in the past. How it works for the party is yet to be known but it may have a cost to pay for leaving the Muslim hand in this tightly fought elections.

Another headache for Congress is the firebrand Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who is playing a hide-and-seek game with the Congress by not committing anything in favour of the party. Mevani has been successful in keeping the national party on tenterhooks, at the same time flirting with the Congress.

On Thursday, Jignesh Mevani denied having any negotiations with the Congress for fielding joint candidates in the Gujarat Assembly elections and hinted at the possibility of fielding his own candidates to challenge the BJP nominees across the state.

We are not in talks with the Congress party to field our leaders on their symbol. There is no such negotiations going on, is what Jignesh Mevani said to a TV channel. He went on to add: We want to overthrow the 22 years of BJP rule. But we are not endorsing Congress either. People of Gujarat are smart enough to choose whom to cast their vote to. We dont have to tell them.

The Congress may have been able to knit a strong web of Patidar-Dalit-Tribals-OBCs, but to hold them together to deliver a decisive mandate would be a much more difficult task than just using them for a photo ops. How Rahul Gandhi and Congress deal with this extremely delicate concoction would be interesting to know.
A Doha-bound flight carrying 134 passengers today suffered a bird hit, prompting it to return here, airport officials said.

The aeroplane operated by a private airline suffered the bird hit after taking off from the Anna International Airport here, they added.

Subsequently, the flight returned to Chennai and made a safe landing.

The passengers were accommodated in an alternative flight, the officials said.

The carrier later resumed its journey to Doha after a two-hour delay.
Countering BJP President Amit Shahs remark that the Congress does not have a face in Gujarat, the opposition party said the contest is not about individuals, but against the regressive policies and actions of the central and state governments.

The Congress said that even the BJP fought elections in many states without a (Chief Ministerial) face.

We are not fighting elections on the strategy provided by Amit Shah. We are not giving them the same. We are not asking how they fight their elections.

The BJP too fought elections in many states, be it Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Haryana all the major states they contested were without a face. So, what is good for the goose is definitely good for the gander too, Congress Spokesperson RPN Singh said.

But the contest is not about individuals. It is about our ideology and the problems that Gujarat people, be it any community or section that is being harassed and tormented by the Bharatiya Janata Party, he added.

Singh said: Our fight is a jan andolan against the BJP and against the regressive policies and actions of the government at the Centre as well as the state.

BJP President Amit Shah had said the Congress does not have a leader in Gujarat, nor a clear-cut strategy. The Congress has outsourced the Gujarat elections, he said at an event.
Jignesh Mevani, the young Gujarat politician and Convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, has been quite vocal about his support to Hardik Patel, especially after latters sex video went viral on the internet. Mevani had even tweeted, Dear Hardik Patel, dont worry. Im with you. And the right to sex is a fundamental right. No one has right to breach your privacy.

Hardik Patel had alleged that it was the BJP who was trying to malign his image and had floated the video. He mentioned that BJP might release many more such morphed videos in order to defame him. Along with this, he also announced that he shall support anyone and everyone who was against BJP to ensure partys defeat in the state where the party had been ruling for 22 years.

Mevani, in support of his friend Hardik, stated that the ruling party had intentionally circulated the video to turn Hardiks supporters against him and take electoral advantage in the upcoming Assembly polls. Mevanis agenda, like his friend Hardik, is to not let BJP to come to power again. They both have a common cause for which they seem to have united.

Taking a jibe at Gujarats Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, he said the situation of the Dalits had deteriorated as Dalits were being deprived of the land that was promised to them. H said there was lack of medical facilities for Dalits and there seemed no concrete planning on creating job opportunities for the community.

However, Mevani did not mention that he was supporting the Congress in his recent conversation, and took a diplomatic stand by saying that they would like to hear from political parties about the steps they wish to take towards the upliftment of the Dalits. Besides welfare for the Dalits, Mevani also stated that he would question the Modi government regarding the reservation status of Patels in jobs.

Mevani, who seemed to be in support of Congress earlier has a different stand now. Lets see which way the wind blows!
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday termed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals visit to Chandigarh to meet Haryana CM on the issue of stubble burning as a sinister media stunt aimed at befooling the people of Delhi, Punjab as well as the country.

Addressing a Press conference, former finance minister and SAD leader Parminder Singh Dhindsa said Kejriwal was in the habit of inventing a make belief solution to the problems being faced by the people of Delhi.

Last year he came up with the odd-even scheme and spent crores of rupees on a media blitz to take political mileage of the same. This year he has come up with the idea of meeting the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab with the sole purpose of flogging these meetings as an achievement, Dhindsa said

The Akali leader said the result of the meeting with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar was there for all to see. All Kejriwal could say after the meeting with his Haryana counterpart was that concern had been expressed about health issues due to stubble burning.

Arvind Kejriwal could have expressed this sentiment on the phone but chose to indulge in cheap publicity on this sensitive issue even though he knew that the talks with his Haryana counterpart would not have any outcome, he said.

Dhindsa said it was a fact that stubble burning alone was not responsible for the smog in Delhi.

If that was so Chandigarh would have been the worst sufferer. The truth is that Kejriwal has failed to check vehicular pollution and is now trying to blame the farmers of Punjab and Haryana for his own failures. If he is really serious about this issue he should provide financial assistance to Punjab and Haryana to tackle stubble burning. Agriculture equipment and even establishment of bio mass plants can provide a lasting solution to utilize paddy straw, he added.

Asking Kejriwal to desist from deceit, Dhindsa said the Delhi CM should first tell the people what he had done to reduce the effect of smog in Delhi.

While you (Arvind Kejriwal) are holding the Haryana and Punjab governments responsible for the smog in Delhi by accusing them of failing to check stubble burning, your Punjab legislature party leader is encouraging the same. Please clarify your stand on this issue immediately, the Akali leader added.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday accused the Congress of proximity to the Adani Group and JSW Steel, both of whom operate coal handling berths at the states only major port in Vasco.

Parrikar told media persons here that the government had already opposed expansion of existing coal handling facilities at the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) in Vasco town  where local residents, as well as the Congress, the main opposition party, have complained of coal pollution  but also downplayed the issue of pollution in the port town, claiming it was under control.

The coal licences were given to Adani and JSW. Coal handling has been signed during Congress time. Basically it was approved and signed, MoU was signed before 2012, before I became Chief Minister, Parrikar said.

Actually Congress can do anything. They are Ok with Adani, they are OK with JSW Why they are OK with them, you ask them, Parrikar said, even as the Congress last week alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in the state was in league with the coal importer lobby.

The issue of coal pollution erupted after the MPT had sought permission from the Union Ministry Environment and Forests for redevelopment and expansion of four berths at the port.

Two coal handling companies Adani Ports and the JSW-operated South West Port Limited are already handling coal operations.

Coal imported into Goa is expected to be utilised by steel manufacturing units in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, through a road and rail network, which is also under expansion.

Parrikar now maintains that the Goa government has already opposed the expansion plans of the central government-operated Port Trust.

The Goa Chief Minister also said that the port facility should focus more on attracting cruise ships rather than importing coal, considering that the state is one of the top beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country.
DECATUR  Passengers flying out of Decatur Airport could lose St. Louis flights after business leaders lobbied for an airline company that provided jet service Wednesday.

The Decatur Park District board voted 3-2 for SkyWest Airlines, which would provide jet service to Chicago. The vote was a switch from the board's Nov 3. decision to recommend Cape Air, which would have offered the same flights to St. Louis and Chicago that are now handled by Air Choice One, the airport's current provider.

The change would affect more than 30 percent of the airport's passengers, or 2,500 people, who currently travel to St. Louis, according to previous board estimates.

Representatives from ADM, Decatur Memorial Hospital and T/CCI Manufacturing told the board that they preferred SkyWest for its jet service and for the potential impact they said the larger planes could have on Decatur's economy.

Why should it be that Bloomington, Champaign, Peoria and Springfield should have jet service? asked Michael DAmbrose, ADMs senior vice president. Decatur deserves an opportunity to have jet service.

The agribusiness giant threw in another incentive to choose SkyWest: ADM offered to invest $100,000 into airport refurbishing efforts, and said it would guarantee 5,000 filled seats for two years if the board decided to recommend its favored company. ADM has supported Utah-based SkyWests proposal since the board first received proposals from the three companies  SkyWest, Cape Air and Air Choice One  on Oct. 30.

Commercial flights in Decatur are federally subsidized through the Essential Air Service program, which supports air service in less populated communities. The park district will send its recommendation to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will make the final decision.

The board voted 3-2 on Nov. 3 to recommend Cape Air, with Commissioners Chris Riley and Jack Kenny voting for SkyWest. On Wednesday, Commissioner Chris Harrison changed his previous vote from Cape Air to support SkyWest. Commissioner Stacey Young and Board President Bob Brilley II remained in favor of Cape Air.

Riley is the director of state government relations at ADM, and he said that he felt no conflict in showing support for the same air service provider that was preferred by his employer. As someone who travels frequently, Riley said that he personally wanted to bring jet service to Decatur as opposed to continually taking flights from Springfield or Champaign.

In my 16 1/2 years on the board, Ive always wanted jet service, and to me, its a once-in-a-lifetime thing, Riley said. I truly believe ADM can support jet service, and over time it will grow.

Business concerns

Along with DAmbrose, the board was addressed by Decatur Memorial Hospital President and CEO Tim Stone; Kara Demirjian-Huss, global marketing director of T/CCI and Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe.

Brilley asked the speakers why they didn't voice their concerns before. Some said scheduling prevented them from attending the last meeting, while others said they weren't aware that the vote had already taken place.

D'Ambrose told the board that offering larger, faster jet aircraft in Decatur would make it easier for the company to transport vendors, employees and other people to and from Chicago. He said that he hopes that a partnership with SkyWest would not only be beneficial for ADM, but also allow room for economic growth by attracting more passengers and new employers to the area.

"Decatur is an important part of ADM, and we're linked forever, DAmbrose said.

Stone said utilizing SkyWest's services would help DMH become more competitive in the pursuit of recruiting physicians from larger cities, as it would make transportation to Decatur easier.

Moore Wolfe, who is also director of community and government relations for DMH, commented in her capacity as mayor of Decatur and as former president of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce. During her time in the latter job, she said she learned that many business leaders wanted to bring jet service to the area for years.

While she acknowledged that many people are not likely to think of Decatur as a prime destination for travel, Moore Wolfe said it's the city's business community that the airport needs to market its services to.

"This is really important to them," she said. "If (the airport) is going to be a viable business, I think we need to give jet service a try."

After the Nov. 3 vote, Harrison said several community members reached out to him and stressed the importance of offering jet service within the community. He said he decided to change his vote after further researching the opportunities that SkyWest could bring to Decatur.

Young attended the meeting by phone, and said that while she agreed with some of the points that were made in favor of SkyWest, she still believed that Cape Air would be a better fit for the Decatur Airport. She also objected the prospect of losing flights to and from St. Louis, which had become an important hub for the airport in recent years.

I have no regrets, no hard feelings, no nothing, Brilley said. Our board of commissioners decided this is what they wanted, and Im behind it.

Three proposals

Headquartered in St. George, Utah, SkyWest has a fleet 421 aircraft and operates 2,000 daily flights to destinations throughout North America.

The airlines proposal offered to provide 14 non-stop, round-trip flights to Chicago O'Hare International Airport from Decatur Airport on a two-year contract. SkyWest would also provide a Canadair Regional Jet 200 for service at the airport, which is a 50-seat, twin engine aircraft.

Through SkyWest, Decatur's air service would be a part of the United Airlines network, and would feature bookings, connections and baggage transfers through the company's global network.

SkyWest Airlines is excited about the opportunity to provide new daily United Express jet service between Decatur and Chicago O Hare, said McKall Morris, SkyWests manager of corporate communications, in a statement.

Air Choice One has been the city's commercial air service provider since late 2009 through the Essential Air Service program. Board members said previously they would not recommend continuing to contract with the company because it had failed to attract the desired number of passengers.

While Cape Air would provide the same amount of flights to Chicago and St. Louis as Air Choice One, SkyWest would only offer two daily flights from Decatur to Chicago, according to the company's presentations to the board last month.

Andrew Bonney, Cape Airs senior vice president of planning, said that he considered SkyWest a great competitor, and understood why Decatur would be interested in using its services. However, he continued to stand by Cape Airs proposal and the frequency of flights that it would offer out of Decatur.

The Essential Air Service mandates that air carriers offer fewer departures from an airport if its providing jet service, Bonney said. Cape Air primarily uses Cessna 402 aircraft, which allows it to offer higher-frequency proposals to communities in need of service.

He also said Cape Airs proposal is significantly cheaper than SkyWests. According to the companys proposal, Cape Airs operating expenses would cost a total of $2,760,772, while SkyWests total came to $4,815,078.

Ultimately, representatives for both airlines said the final decision is now up to the Department of Transportation.

"We look forward to the Department of Transportation's decision regarding Decatur air service, Morris said.

Going forward

The board is expected to vote on ADMs offer to provide funds and passengers for the airport at its next meeting. Riley said that he planned to recuse himself from that vote because it involves a contractual agreement between the company and the park district.

DAmbrose said that providing those seats could help the park district reach its goal of 10,000 enplanements within a year, which would allow the district to receive federal money for infrastructure purposes. An emplanement represents when a passenger boards a flight that originates in Decatur.

"We didn't want to just come in and ask for this, because we think it's compelling by itself. But we also want to help," D'Ambrose said.

Brilley said that the recommendation would be filed after he signed the paperwork Wednesday afternoon. Regardless of what the Department of Transportations final decision is, Brilley said the board will work hard to ensure that it benefits the community.

If the department approves the board's recommendation, SkyWest will take over as Decatur Airport's air service provider on Feb. 1, Airport Director Tim Wright said.

"It's been wonderful to see how the community has supported the and the park district," Wright said. "It's great news, and an exciting time for the airport, and the sky's the limit."
After arresting three terrorists during a counter-insurgency operation in the Kund area of South Kashmir, the IGP (Kashmir) Munir Khan on Thursday said that Pakistan was aggressively misusing the social media to brainwash young boys and lure them towards terrorism.

Khan said that Pakistan was recruiting terrorists from Kashmir through social media campaign.

Addressing media on the operation, Khan said that one terrorist was injured and another killed during an encounter earlier this week in the forests of Kulgam district.

The operation against terrorists was launched on 14 November, in which one Army soldier died.

The IGP said that two more terrorists were believed to be still hiding in the forest area as a result of which the search operation by the security forces was continuing.

Khan identified the arrested terrorists as Atta Mohammad Malik, Shams-ul-Waqar and Bilal Sheikh. The injured terrorist, Malik, is undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Last month, the security forces had arrested three terrorists at different places of North and South Kashmir.

The Centre has made it clear that the anti-terrorist operations will continue despite the dialogue process with stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir and Centre-appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma.
A special Gurugram court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the bail plea of bus conductor Ashok Kumar, till 20 November. Kumar was arrested by the Haryana Police for murdering Class II student, Pradyuman Thakur, of Ryan International school in Bhondsi area of Gurugram city in Haryana.

According to media reports, the CBI has stated that there is no evidence against the bus conductor so far. The agency has not opposed the bus conductors bail but has not given a clean chit to him either.

Earlier, Lawyers representing Ashok Kumar had moved a bail application on 10 November, after CBI accused a school student of committing the murder.

On 8 September, Class II student Pradyuman Thakur was found with his throat slit in a bathroom of Ryan International School.

The family of the bus conductor had earlier said that Kumar was allegedly tortured by the Haryana Police and was made to confess to Pradyumans murder under duress.

Haryana Police arrested Kumar few hours after Pradyumans body was discovered in the schools bathroom. Police had also claimed that Kumar brought a knife from the bus tool box and threw it into the toilet after the murder.

The investigation into Pradyumans murder took a dramatic twist on 8 November, when the CBI arrested the Class 11 student, also of Ryan International School, and charged him with murdering the young boy in the school washroom.

On 23 September, the CBI took custody of the bus conductor, who as per the Haryana Police had killed the child after a failed bid to sodomise the victim.

Meanwhile, Varun Thakur, the father of the victim, moved the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Wednesday requesting the 16-year-old accused be treated as an adult during trial.

His plea will be heard by the board on November 22.

According to the CBI investigation, the juvenile committed the murder in a bid to postpone the schools scheduled examinations and parent-teacher meetings.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pradyumans father had alleged that Haryana Cabinet Minister Rao Narbir Singh told the family not to demand a CBI inquiry and spoke strongly against a probe by the agency.

(With agency inputs)
Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday expressed shock at the killing of a Punjab youth in the US.

He also requested Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the matter at the highest level. Shocked at the gruesome killing of Nawanshahrs Dharampreet Singh in California. @SushmaSwaraj ji, request you to take up the issue at highest level with US authorities to ensure justice for the family, Amarinder said in a tweet.

A resident of Khothran village of Banga in Nawanshahr , Dharampreet Singh Jasser, 21, had moved to the US in 2015. He was shot dead allegedly by robbers at a grocery store where he worked, in Fresno city of California late on Tuesday night, local time.

In the US, Jasser stayed with his paternal grandparents who had settled there some years ago. His parents, a sister and the rest of the family stay in Punjab.

Jasser worked part-time at a grocery store at a petrol pump. His family came to know about his death on Wednesday when his grandfather, Bhag Singh, called up.
Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Thursday said dialogue was the only way to find a long lasting solution to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

As part of his efforts, to mediate in the contentious issue, the spiritual guru reached Ayodhya on Thursday and held talks with Hindu leaders and other stakeholders. He said courts cant provide long term solutions to problems.

Long term solution for this problem can only come through dialogue Courts cant give you long term solution. Both the communities (Hindus and Muslims) should come together, Ravi Shankar told the media.

Its not easy task but let me talk to everyone, I need some time Dialogue is the only way to find a solution for Ayodhya, he added.

Environment is positive, people want to come out of this conflict. I know it is not easy, let me talk to everyone, it is too early to reach a conclusion, he said further.

When asked if the Central government had asked him to mediate, Ravi Shankar said: Not at all. I am mediating talks on my own accord.

The spiritual guru arrived in the city at around 12 noon, a day after he met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his residence in Lucknow and senior Muslim cleric Khalid Rashid Firangimahali.

In a bid to end the controversies surrounding the film Padmavati, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said the Information and Broadcasting Ministry will handle the issue.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has voiced doubts over Ravi Shankars efforts to resolve the issue saying the issue of constructing a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya can never be resolved through talks.

On Thursday, firebrand BJP leader Subramanian Swamy urged Hindus to wake up and take action to restore the holiest temple on the birthplace of Ram.

In a tweet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said: Hindus wake up! Muslims leaders are refusing to give up on a masjid,that is shiftable, to restore the holiest temple on the birthplace of Ram.
As spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar meets stakeholders in Ayodhya to resolve the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, firebrand BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday urged Hindus to wake up and take action to restore the holiest temple on the birthplace of Ram.

In a tweet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said: Hindus wake up! Muslims leaders are refusing to give up on a masjid,that is shiftable, to restore the holiest temple on the birthplace of Ram.

Known for his controversial statements, the Rajya Sabha MP had last month said that the construction of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya will commence soon and it will be ready by next Diwali.

Meanwhile, the Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrived in Ayodhya and held talks with Hindu leaders and other stakeholders.

The spiritual guru had on Wednesday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his residence in Lucknow to discuss the contentious issue.

As per reports, in the 30-minute long meeting, Ravi Shankar briefed the Chief Minister about his initiative to try thrash out a mutually acceptable formula to the long simmering dispute.

Ravi Shankar also held a meeting with senior Muslim cleric Khalid Rashid Firangimahali.

Last month, Ravi Shankar had expressed his willingness to mediate in the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir dispute.
Assuring that India was firmly committed to peace, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said if needed, the nation would use all its might to protect its sovereignty.

Speaking at a ceremony after awarding Standards to the 223 Squadron and the 117 Helicopter Unit of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Adampur Air Force Station in Punjab, Kovind said the countrys armed forces reflect our national resolve.

Though we remain firmly committed to peace, we are determined to use all our might to protect the sovereignty of our nation, Kovind said.

Our armed forces, exemplified by our air warriors, reflect our national resolve. And they secure the values embodied in our Constitution, he added.

Showering praises on the 223 Sqaudron and the 117 Helicopter Unit, Kovind said: The 223 Squadron is one of the few that remains alert 365 days a year and truly lives up to its motto of Vijaya Amoghastraha, which means the Ultimate Weapon for Victory.

In Operation Rahat, Operation Megh Rahat, and numerous other humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, 117 Helicopter Unit has worked tirelessly in helping civilians, he added.

Kovind also said that he was proud to be Supreme Commander of the magnificent men and women of our valiant Air Force.

On his first visit to Punjab, after becoming the President, Kovind said the contribution of the state to the countrys armed forces has been enormous.

This is my first visit to Punjab after taking over as President of India. This is the land of sainiks and sants. The contribution of Punjab to our armed forces has been enormous.

That is why, in my role as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, I am truly glad that my first visit to Punjab has brought me to the Air Force Station in Adampur, he said.

(I am) especially fortunate to come here in November, a month that marks birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji and martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, he said further.
Just as news started to come out that the Syrian Arab Army was on the verge of liberating the city of Abu Kamal, destroying the last Islamic State stronghold in Syria and rekindling hope that the region may yet see some semblance of stability, another piece of news from the Middle East had started to make the headlines, doing the exact opposite. This was the sudden resignation of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri only a week after his routine visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, followed by the detention of 11 House of Saud princes, four current ministers and dozens of former princes/cabinet secretaries  all charged with corruption.

Prior to his resignation and after his return from Saudi Arabia on November 1, Hariri had held meetings with many regional diplomats including Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei. In an unexpected move, Hariri had announced the official appointment of Saad Zakhia as ambassador to Damascus (Syria) afterwards.

About 24 hours later, Hariri was summoned back to Saudi Arabia, leaving in a hurry with only two security personnel. On November 4, news came out that the PM of Lebanon had resigned in a video recorded from Saudi Arabia on the official channel of Al-Saud  Al-Arabiya. According to Lebanese political commentator Marwa Osman, Lebanese people were shocked by the resignation because there was no evidence that something was wrong with the governmentwhether from him or his rivals for that matter that there was something going on politically speaking inside of Lebanon that would hint to a resignation, not at all.

Two hours later, reports emerged that 11 very important princes and many others were arrested in Saudi Arabia at the orders of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ironically, the arrestees were being detained at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where they had gathered only a few days ago, when the Crown Prince had hosted his convention to introduce the robot Sophia. This has led many commentators to opine that the Prince held that convention to bring all those he was planning to have arrested to the country, so that he could have them arrested all at once.

That, however, still does not explain why the Lebanese PM was summoned to Saudi Arabia and why he had resigned, but what is important to note is that according to the Saudi Minister of State of Gulf Affairs, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon were now at war because the Lebanese government was providing support to Hezbollah (Saudi Arabia says Lebanon declaring war against it, Al-Jazeera, November 7).

This, according to Marwa Osman, is what causes concern, because people [outside of Lebanon and the region] cannot comprehend the fact that Hezbollah is the peopleit is through the people by the people. According to her, it means that if the threats were serious, then the people of Lebanon were now in danger of having a war waged against them. There is, however, another explanation that has been circling among commentators. And that is, that far from going to war with Lebanon, what has been happening in Saudi Arabia simply has to do with its own internal affairs and nothing to do with Lebanon or any other country for that matter. And that the decision by Crown Prince to have the Lebanese PM detained was purely because of his ties with the Saudi prince, Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, who died in a gunfight with Saudi security personnel when they had attempted to detain him.

That still does not explain why Hariri has not yet returned to Lebanon and the true purpose behind what CNN described as a tense and tearful interview of Hariri by Paula Yacoubian in Saudi Arabia on November 12. However, according to historian and writer Sami Moubayed, one story presently making the rounds in Lebanon is that Hariri is being asked to testify against Prince Mutib Bin Abdullah, who is the son of former Saudi King Abdullah and heads the Royal Guard. Given his gravitas, Prince Mutib Bin Abdullah is not easily removable. Thus, as Sami Moubayed explains, only Hariri has enough information to bring him down.

Moreover, it is an open secret that Saudi Arabia has some serious financial struggles at hand, as with the decline of oil prices (and no indication that it will rise significantly in the near future) which it so heavily depends on, it has even had to flirt with floating its national petroleum and natural gas company, Saudi Aramco. This, after it had borrowed $10 billion from the IMF for the first time in 10 years.

Therefore, some analysts believe that the Crown Prince, having realised the true severity of the countrys financial problems, is indeed looking to clamp down on corruption, while trying to modernise (and bring moderation to) the kingdom which is essential to overcoming its financial struggles. The fact that the arrests of all these princes have led to the confiscation of $800 billion lends credence to this school of thought.

Either way, given the nature of the problem, it is difficult to say exactly what to expect from these latest developments in the Middle East, other than that they do have the potential to create more instability and cause greater divisions in the region. What, however, must be avoided is what proponents of a third alternative believe is happening, and that is, that Israel is planning a new war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, at the same time as the Crown Prince is carrying out a purge against his political rivals.

If this is the true nature of the events that are unfolding, then there is definitely a lot to be concerned about, as this would, no doubt, again draw in regional powers (and possibly world powers if it drags on) that are becoming increasingly distrustful of each other, this time, possibly into Lebanon. Having gone through decades of civil war, followed by two failed invasions by Israel (which cost many Lebanese lives), this is the last thing that the Lebanese, who have finally managed to establish some form of stability in their own country, need.

If recent history has taught us anything, it is that smaller countries are often the victims of the power politics that is played out between bigger countries. Lebanon may just be the latest victim.

The Daily Star/ANN
The Clean India initiative is one of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis pet projects. Launched three years ago, it seems to address one of Indias biggest problems  urban sanitation. One figure quoted by The Washington Post as the cost of poor sanitation in India was $106.5 billion in 2015 i.e. over five per cent of the countrys GDP.

Less than half of Indian households have access to a proper toilet and as a consequence many people defecate in public spaces. This means a total of 500 to 600 million people leave their body waste out in the open.

The consequences are quite literally catastrophic: millions of children in India, about 38 per cent of all children, are stunted, shorter than they should be. Studies show that there is a link between open defecation and stunting. Open defecation results in the spread of germs and parasites. Children who are exposed to this environment contract illnesses which can affect the absorption of nutrients that are critical to boosting height and weight. The extent of stunting among Indian children is worse than among the children of sub-Saharan Africa.

In recent months, Mr Modis Clean India programme to provide access to sanitation has received international attention and even praise from people like Bill Gates who has commended the fact that the Modi government has said that the problem will not exist by the year 2019. The United States Agency for International Development has pledged millions of dollars, and the World Bank has signed off on a loan of $1.5bn to help speed up the sanitation initiative. Unicef, the UN agency that works for children, is said to be providing training tools and educational material.

The cleaning up of India and the end of open defecation in that country may not be so easy. As researchers Diane Coffey and Dean Spear point out in their recently released book Where India Goes, the issue of why most Indians do not use toilets is less a problem of the unavailability of proper toilets and more to do with social behaviour and religious beliefs.

As Coffey and Spear have pointed out, the caste system that is still prevalent among the majority of the population leads to a situation where no one is willing to clean out the pit latrines that are being built for fear of losing caste. The lower-caste members who would have done the work a long time ago, and who are now beneficiaries of government programmes promoting their uplift, do other things. The result: no one uses the pit latrines and open defecation continues. When everyone goes outside, there is no one to stop them.

Across the border, Pakistan also has a hygiene problem. According to statistics from 2015, Pakistan is number three, after India and Indonesia, in the ranking of countries where people defecate in the open. According to Unicef, 40 to 50 million Pakistanis do not have access to a working toilet. The consequences are the same as in India.

Millions of Pakistanis contract water-borne diseases every year often resulting from their contact with fecal matter. When babies get these infections, they are at high risk of dying  this explains why Pakistan has the second highest child mortality rate in South Asia. The total economic cost of neglecting sanitation in Pakistan is estimated to be $5.7bn annually. The numbers mean that Pakistan is unlikely to realise the Sustainable Development Goal of proper sanitation for all for several years.

The numbers attest to a reality that any Pakistani citizen can attest to. Even large cities like Karachi and Lahore lack public toilet facilities. In situations where such facilities are available, they are in such a state of filth and disrepair that it seems better to forego them. In some cases, excrement can be seen on the floor on or around the latrines instead of inside it. It is nearly impossible to distinguish between water that has been used to clean and liquid excrement.

Womens restrooms are rare and the stench and state of the few that exist are sickening beyond words. If this is the state of large cities, one can imagine the conditions in smaller ones, not to mention slums and rural areas that have virtually no sanitation.

Unlike India, Pakistans condition with regard to the prevalence of open defecation cannot be explained by caste. Moreover, India is at least acknowledging the problem while in Pakistan the issue remains unaddressed, a literal dirty, filthy open secret. Pakistani men in particular seem to have no problem with relieving themselves anywhere and everywhere, just steps from a place of worship, from someones home, near a school. While India has embarked on a programme that publicly shames people who engage in open defecation, this method is not in evidence in Pakistan.

If anything, those who defecate in public, using the land of the pure as their personal toilet, seem to feel entitled to do so. All of them seem to believe that no land is really their own unless they can scatter their personal waste all over it.

They have been successful. The stairwells of many public buildings, the boundary walls around many others, all reek of excrement; when there are no toilets the whole country is a toilet. If Pakistanis want a better future for their children, if they want to ensure that so many of them do not perish because of entirely preventable illnesses, this attitude of stubborn denial will have to change. The filth is everywhere; pretending not to see it or smell it or produce it will not make the problem go away.

Dawn/ANN.
The African Union (AU) has called on the stakeholders in Zimbabwe to address the current political impasse in accordance with the countrys constitution.

AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement on Wednesday the AU was closely monitoring developments in Zimbabwe after the military seized power from the government on early Wednesday morning, Xinhua reported.

I urge all stakeholders to address the current situation in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the relevant instruments of the African Union, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, Mahamat said.

He stressed that the crisis should be resolved in a manner that promotes democracy, human rights and socio-economic development of the country.

He also expressed the AUs commitment to work with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to ensure peaceful resolution of the crisis.

South African President Jacob Zuma, on behalf of SADC, has issued a statement expressing SADCs grave concern over the political situation in Zimbabwe and urged both the Zimbabwean government and the military to resolve the political crisis amicably.

Zuma on Wednesday dispatched an envoy to turmoil-hit Harare to hold discussions with the military and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is reportedly under house arrest.
Lebanons President Michel Aoun on Wednesday criticized Saudi Arabia on the background of Prime Minister Saad Hariris resignation, saying that Riyadh has carried out an act of aggression against Lebanon.

We consider Prime Minister Saad Hariri as being detained in Saudi Arabia and this is an act of aggression against Lebanon, Aoun said during a meeting with the National Audio&Visual Council, Xinhua reported.

Aoun said that nothing justified Hariris continued stay in Saudi Arabia, now into day 12.

This contradicts the Vienna Treaty and human rights, said Aoun, according to the Presidents Twitter account.

He stressed we cannot keep waiting and lose time, because state affairs cannot be put on hold.

Reiterating his previous comments regarding Hariris resignation, Aoun said that it was not possible to complete the resignation formality as Hariri had announced it from abroad.

Aoun added he needs to return to Lebanon to submit his resignation or withdraw it, or discuss the reasons for it and the solutions.

The controversy was raised following Hariris sudden resignation on Nov. 4 through a statement he read on al-Arabia TV from the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Later Wednesday, Hariri tweeted again saying that he was fine and will return to Lebanon soon, as promised.

Aoun also hit out at Saudi Arabia, saying they were holding Hariris family.

We have not previously asked for their return, but we have confirmed they are also detained and family members are being searched as they enter and leave the house Aoun said in a statement reported by local media outlets.


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The Sun Chronicle

34 South Main Street

Attleboro, Massachusetts 02709

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news@thesunchronicle.com

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508-222-7000
Organization: Mercy Corps

Funding Source: United

States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Duty Station: Uganda

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.

About USAID SP3 Project:

The USAIDs Securing Peace and Promoting Prosperity in Karamoja (SP3)

is a two year Conflict Management and Mitigation Project that will apply a

people-to-people peace building approach to enhance the capacity of

institutional structures to address underlying social, economic, ecological,

and governance issues at risk of fueling conflict in Karamoja Sub-region. The

project will be implemented in Kaabong, Kotido, Abim, and Moroto.

Job Summary: The Mercy Corps

Partnership, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer will be primarily responsible

for tracking, monitoring all conflict Mitigation and Management focused

activities. The incumbent will play a key role in Mercy Corps SP3 Program

quality assurance, accountability, documentation and learning unit. The unit

exists to support program design, implementation and utilization of information

collected at different stages. He / she will support program in planning and

execution of monitoring and evaluation activities, ensuring quality in

accordance with accepted standards, providing essential feedback for learning,

accountability and decision making. S/he will be responsible for providing

internal capacity building for program staff on monitoring and evaluation

activities as well as review and development of necessary tools that feed into

needs of Mercy Corps and donor reporting. Working and building the capacity of

the partners, supporting in developing institutional development plans for the

local partners.







Key Duties and Responsibilities:



The M&E Officer will be tasked with

developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation tools



The jobholder will also play a focal role in the

development of intervention designs, sector strategies and M&E frameworks



Manage the assessments, evaluations and

monitoring surveys in area of operation. This will entail development of Scopes

of Work, development of survey tools, trainings and management of data

collectors, report write and facilitating results discussion.



Regularly document and share all learnings from

program implements



Maintain an up to date database that reflects

progress (including disaggregated beneficiary counts) and donor indicators



Build the capacity of all relevant team members

and partners to develop and maintain an excellent M&E system, and

facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information

that feeds into programming and learning.



The incumbent will leverage lessons learned,

best practices, program data, evaluations and provide evidence based

information, proposal annexes, success stories, case studies and other high

quality, results-based documentation.



Work with MEL and IT staff to maximize the value

and utility of ICT4MEL initiatives for activity monitoring and evaluation data

collection.



Carry out regular spot check and sites visits

for programs and partners activities to collect supplementary data, stories and

conduct qualitative research both independently and in teams



Actively participate in on-going M&E

training and support for all Mercy Corps programs and partnering private sector

staff capacity building of the local partners, developing institutional

development plans.



Build and strengthen professional relationships

with local government officials, private sector partners, NGOs, other

development organizations, and civil society organizations



Maintain an active advisory role with each

program team to help guide them towards robust and relevant data collection



Engage and collaborate with a range of partners

and stakeholders to stimulate joint inquiry, analysis and reflection that lead

to shared learning and collective action.



Actively participate in all implementation, providing

advice and feedback for quality results at any point











Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:



The ideal candidate for the Mercy Corps

Partnership and M&E Officer job placement should hold a bachelors degree

in Economics, Demography, Statistics, Business administration or relevant field



At least three years of program monitoring and

evaluation experience



Extensive knowledge and understanding of

concepts and demonstrate skills in monitoring and evaluation, project cycle,

results chain and frameworks, participatory monitoring



Ability to design and implement surveys, have

knowledge of commonly used probability and purposive sampling techniques



Excellent writing and analytical skills



Working knowledge of quantitative and

qualitative data collection, reporting techniques. S/he should understand and

be able to apply basic measures of central tendency and spread



Computer literacy skills i.e. proficient in

using Microsoft Excel, data management software including Ms Access, SPSS,

STATA.



Demonstrated ability and curiosity to work

comfortably and effectively in the cultural, relatively poor infrastructure of

Karamoja sub region.



Knowledge on Gender, social and power dynamics

is an added advantage



He /she should be an excellent communicator,

have a strong sense of humor, multi-tasker



Ability to work in difficult and often stressful

environments.



Fluent in both spoken and written English.

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: 17th November 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






But the tribe has a long way to go
Homes in Florida are in danger of collapsing into the ocean due to beach erosion elevated by Hurricane Nicole, the U.S. now has a record numbe
Raymond has long been synonymous to textile and apparels. It is now breathing fresh energy in the fast moving consumer goods business, through new products and overseas expansion, aiming to double revenue from the business to around Rs 1,000 crore over the next three to four years.

Reuters

Raymond operates FMCG business through its associate JK Helen Curtis, which largely includes male grooming products, including deodorants, soaps and shampoos. Revenues from the FMCG business are currently around Rs 500 crore, and Raymond's chairman and managing director Gautam Singhania says the company may look to at least double the revenue over the next 3-4 years, on the back of double-digit growth the segment is witnessing.

In FMCG products, India has come of age. GST (Goods and Services Tax) has also simplified things. Keeping that in mind, the Raymond group decided to put a much stronger focus into our FMCG business...The same way as we are transforming the Raymond group, what has not been achieved in the last 50 years in the FMCG business, we want to achieve in less than five, said Singhania.

As a part of plans to create a strong consolidated FMCG business, the textile maker, bought out Australian partner Ansell's stake in the joint venture company JK Ansell, which makes Kamasutra brand of deodorants and condoms, in August this year.

Buying out Ansell's stake will help JK Helen Curtis leverage Kamasutra's wider retail footprint to also expand the Park Avenue range and drive the FMCG business under one company.

Park Avenue is already available in some format or the other across 200,000 outlets. The unified organisation gives us resources to take it much beyond. The Kamasutra business goes through another 100,000 outlets. So, there are synergies, which are on the revenue front, on the cost front, which will allow us to chase growth, said Giriraj Bagri, president of the FMCG business.

Also on cards, is a renewed push in overseas markets, starting in regions where there is a sizeable Indian population. Bagri said, the plan was to reignite growth in West Asian market, and then over the next couple of months look at other neighbouring markets in Asia.

Male grooming is estimated to be around Rs 5,000 crore industry in India According to Raymond officials, Park Avenue is the second largest brand in the men's deodorant market. But, its also looking to boost its presence into other categories in the male grooming space.

In its latest annual report, the company said it would look to increase the proportion of non-deodorant products in the overall mix, which includes soaps, shampoos, talc, room freshners and cologne.
Fringe group Rajput Karni Sena, known for their vocal opposition against Padmavati, on Thursday, threatened to cut off actor Deepika Padukone's nose if she acted in the film.

"Rajputs never raise a hand on women. But if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha," said Mahipal Singh Makrana of Rajput Karni Sena in a self-made video, ANI reported.

Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha: Mahipal Singh Makrana of Rajput Karni Sena in a self-made video #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/82AWKGO7IU  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

A few days before, the group had held massive protests in Gandhinagar and Surat demanding a ban on the release of Padmavati, alleging that the makers had distorted historical facts.

While over one lakh members of the community converged at a massive gathering at Gandhinagar, thousands took part in the protest march in Surat to raise their demand of staying the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Bollywood film Padmavati.

The movie is scheduled to release on December 1.

According to Mansinh Rathod, who is leading the Gujarat chapter of 'Karni Sena', Bhansali has "distorted the historical facts in the movie".

"We have learnt that there is a dream sequence in the movie wherein Rani Padmavati has been shown romancing with 'Allaudin Khilji'. We condemn such a heinous portrayal our queen. 'Karni Sena' will never allow such movie to hit the theatres," Rathod said.

He said not just Gujarat, the movie must not be released anywhere in the country.

"To raise our demand, Karni Sena and other Rajput and Hindu organisations called a gathering in Gandhinagar. We had also organised a protest march in Surat. It is our clear warning that if this movie gets released on December 1, there will be violent protests and government will be responsible for the law and order situation," Rathod added.
Defending negotiations on the purchase of Rafale warplanes from France, chief of Indian Air Force has stated the NDA government did the better deal of fighter jet than what was negotiated during Congress led UPA government.

Congress has accused the government of purchasing 36 Rafale jets at much higher cost than the price was offered during 126 Multi Medium Role Combat Aircraft deal, which was eventually scrapped by the Narendra Modi led government. Instead of 126 MMRCA, Prime Minister Modi announced the purchasing 36 Rafale jets from France during his visit to Paris in April 2015.

Strongly defending the price, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa on Thursday said the Rafale deal is not ''overpriced''.

"I think we have negotiated a better deal in the Rafale contract than what we did in MMRCA. There is no controversy. What is the controversy, I don't understand? It is not overpriced, IAF chief said.

After hard negotiations of nearly 18 months, IAF had signed a Euro 7.87 billion (approximately Rs 59,000 crore) deal with the French government for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets in September 2016 from Dassault Aviations, the manufacturer.

IAF is desperate to increase its combat strengththe key concern, which has been raised by the force on many occasions. IAF at present operating with 32 squadrons and on the verge of losing out more squadrons as MiG 21 and MiG 27 fleeting is ageing. The Air Force would achieve its sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. It will have 83 indigenous Light Combat Aircaft Tejas, 36 Rafale and 36 additional Sukhoi fighter jets by end of 2019.

The Congress has alleged that Modi government promoted the interest of prime minister's capitalist allies, by signing the Rafale aircraft agreement for purchase of 36 fighter aircraft without following the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).

Continuing its attack, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned the deal. "Can you explain 'Reliance' on someone with nil experience in aerospace for Rafale deal? Self 'Reliance' is obviously a critical aspect of 'Make in India'," he had tweeted.

Congress on Tuesday had alleged that complete non-transparency, flagrant violation of mandatory provisions of the defence procurement procedure, sacrificing national interests on transfer of technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and blatant promotion of financial interests of crony capitalist friends of PM have marred the aircraft deal. Party leader Randeep S. Surjewala claimed that as per UPA negotiated price, the cost of one plane was Rs 526.1 crore whereas under NDA, the plane is costing Rs 1570 crore. He also questioned why transfer of technology for HAL was not insisted. Congress, however, could not provide any details to support its claims.

Giving out a chronological sequence of the deal, Surjewala added that while India signed the deal on September 23 last year, just 10 days later, on October 3, 2016, Reliance Defence Limited entered into a joint venture with the French fighter plane maker.

But the BJP responded it by calling the allegations baseless and said the Congress is trying to divert attention as it is scared at the prospect of several of its leaders being questioned in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.
Villages of Manipur and Assams Barrack Valley are these days seeing unique things that both Indian and Bangladesh armies entering villages with arms and ammunition and trying to enact a terrorist flush out exercise.

The seventh joint military training exercise between India and Bangladesh is going on in Northeast states of India. Several villages in these states have been chosen for the exercise to train Bangladesh army which is recently threatened by the IS attacks.

The thirteen-day long field exercise is called Sampriti 2017. It is being conducted at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare school of Indian army.

Indian army said that the exercise is aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between Indian and Bangladesh armies.

In this kind of exercise, both India and Bangladesh were informed and detailed about their organisational structures and tactical drills.

Subsequently, the training advanced to various joint tactical exercises by two armies, said spokesman of Indian armys eastern command.

According to officers, Northeastern terrains were chosen because its considered the toughest after Kashmir.

Also Northeast has multidimensional strategic points like hill, valley and forests, and is place for more than 40 terror outfits, said an officer.

Field training was conducted at different terrains and of different tactics. Scenario of terrorists hiding in a village, which is very common in Northeast, was painted for the validation exercise. It finally culminated to daring raids in the village to neutralise the terrorists.

A few room intervention drills, where terrorists hiding into buildings were painted, were also carried out.

Both Major General Moshfequr Rahaman of Bangladesh army and Major General M.S. Gura of Indian army reviewed the exercise.

The Indian army spokesman said, Not only the exercise tightened the strategic tie up between two nations, it has also improved the bilateral tie up even.

The exercise will end on November 19.
During his earlier visits to Gujarat, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi used to address one or two public rallies in a day before heading back to New Delhi. This time around, things have changed and the Congress scion, during his four-phase Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra, covered almost the entire poll-bound state.

This is for the first time after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi that any Congress leader of Gandhi's stature stayed in Gujarat continuously for more than two days.

Gandhi's campaign tour seems to have struck the right chord as he has been receiving overwhelming response in areas where he halted to hold meetings with people.

From the first leg of the campaign tour that began from Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka to the fourth leg of his tour that ended in North Gujarat, a hub of Patidar community, Gandhi had been on attacking mode. Each phase was of three days.

For the Congress, which is feeling rejuvenated after Ahmed Patel's victory in Rajya Sabha polls, Gandhi being on the offensive could not have come at a better time. Gone, seems to be, are the times when the BJP and Narendra Modi would set the poll agenda in the state and the Congress would go on the defensive.

The Congress vice president raised some pertinent questions and it was up to PM Modi and the BJP to come up with answers. He questioned the complex nature of the GST to which PM Modi's answer was that even the finance ministers of Congress ruled states were also party to the decision on the GST. GST was merely a case in point.

The number of jokes on 'Pappu' have reduced and the Congress quickly took objection to an advertisement in which a prominent Gujarati theatre actor was featured. The Election Commission barred the BJP from using the word 'Pappu' in its poll campaigns.

It is for the first time that we got such a good response in Saurashtra region. Not all were party workers. There were traders, who had come to speak to Rahul Gandhi, said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi

In his South Gujarat phase of yatra, a class 10-student took a selfie with Gandhi by climbing on to his vehicle and later a young boy traveled for some distance with him in his vehicle.

In his other tours, he broke the security cordon and shared chocolates with children and took photographs with farmers in the fields. Gandhi was indeed striking the right chord.

While listening to people, Gandhi assured that his party would try to include their wishes in the election manifesto.

For the Congress, which is aiming to come back to power after over two decades, Gandhi has set the stage for hectic political campaigning. He is due to make many more visits. The BJP's answer to Gandhi is Modi and party chief Amit Shah, who are slated to criss-cross the state in the days to come.
Shiv Sena MLA Harshvardhan Jadhav claimed that he was offered Rs 5 crore to join the BJP by a senior BJP minister in Maharashtra. The claim by the Kannad MLA has further worsened the already volatile ties between state's ruling Sena-BJP coalition.

"When I met BJP minister Chandrakant Patil at his official residence near Mantralaya late last month, he made me the offer," Jadhav told a Marathi news channel, according to PTI.

"Patil told me that the BJP was frustrated with the Shiv Sena due to their bickerings and was looking at getting rid of that party by increasing the number of BJP MLAs," Jadhav claimed.

The Shiv Sena MLA said he was told by the minister that the BJP is planning to give every Sena MLA Rs 5 crore to quit that party and contest the bypoll as BJP nominee.

"The minister made the same offer to me...I feel he gave this offer to all Sena MLAs," Jadhav said. "Patil told me that if I do not get elected, I will be fielded (by the BJP) for the legislative council polls," he added.

The BJP, with 122 MLAs, is the single largest party in the Maharashtra legislative assembly. Shiv Sena has 63 MLAs. Even since it decided to back the BJP, Shiv Sena has been routinely issuing threats to withdraw support.

Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Sena MLA of indulging in a farce and called the latest claims by the party MLA a publicity stunt.

"All these are baseless charges. BJP does not need to do such things...Compared to Jadhav, Patil enjoys the trust of people of Maharashtra," state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said.

"What Jadhav has claimed is a nautanki (farce)," he said.

(With PTI inputs)
Though dark smog returned to the National Capital Region on Thursday morning after a brief respite on Wednesday, the air quality improved somewhat by the evening.

It dropped from very poor to poor by Thursday afternoon. The credit for this went to the smog fighting measures including water spraying by fire engines.

Sprinklers were used to put down the hazy dust in many parts of the city, including the area around the Delhi Development Authority's high rise building on Ring Road.

On a day when the Delhi unit of the BJP, led by its president Manoj Tewari, marched to Lt Gov Anil Baijal's office to complain against the state government for doing nothing about the air pollution, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told the National Green Tribunal that particulate matter levels had dropped on account of the water sprinkling in many parts of the capital.

The Environment Pollution Control Authority decided to lift the ban on entry of trucks into the capital as well as the ban on construction, given the improvement in air quality. With these bans not showing the desired results, the Delhi government continued to point an accusing finger at Punjab, where farmers admitted to burning stubble in order to cut down the time delay in planting next crop.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has decided to expedite the introduction of BS-VI grade automobile fuel by two years. It will now be used in India by April 2019at least in the National Capital Region.

The Bharat Stage emission standards regulate the permissible toxic particles. But the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the central government's air quality monitoring agency, attributed the smog to a dust storm in West Asia.

This had a sprinkler effect on the political storm raging between Punjab government on the one hand, and the Delhi government on the other, over the issue of stubble burning in the agrarian state.

Another twist to the smoggy tale was the Central Pollution Control Board's finding that the smog this year was worse than in the previous winters, largely on account of low wind speeds, which left pollutants literally hanging in the air.
URBANA  A federal judge in Central Illinois has denied a defense motion to delay the trial of a 28-year-old man accused of killing a University of Illinois scholar from China.

U.S. District Court Judge Colin Bruce on Wednesday ruled the trial of accused kidnapper and killer Brendt Christensen remains set for Feb. 27. The government has to decide whether to seek the death penalty by Feb. 1.

Christensen, who is being held in the Macon County Jail, is charged in the June kidnapping and death of 26-year-old Yingying Zhang. Her body hasn't been found.

In seeking a trial delay, Christensen's attorney cited its complexity.

In his decision, Bruce noted the case does not involve extensive, highly technical computer forensics, nor is was it a fraud-related case involving thousands upon thousands of pages of documentary evidence.

Zhang's family returned to China last weekend, though they had hoped to wait until her remains were found. Zhang's mother is in fragile health  she broke down at the start of a recent court hearing  and there's no way of knowing when this cruel mystery will be solved. Each day they wait, in agony.

"We don't know where she is, and I don't know how to spend the rest of my life without my daughter," said Lifeng Ye, Zhang's mother through a translator. "I can't really sleep well at night. ... I often dream of my daughter, and she's right there with me. I want to ask the mother of the suspect, please talk to her son and ask him what he did to my daughter. Where is she now? I want to know the answer."
When a bevy of beautiful, bejeweled women with their designer handbags, along with dapper, handsome men, in bespoke suits and Murphy Johnston shoes, come together to support a cause such as the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) fundraiser auction, you know it is going to be a spectacular evening. From theatre star Sanjna Kapoor, who looked gorgeous in a stunning black sari, to architect and interior designer Pinakin Patel, the auction attracted some serious art connoisseurs, who dug deep into their pockets to procure some of the finest art on display at the Saffronart auction house, Mumbai.

Veteran Pinakin Patel said he felt that the KMB was almost like a crusade in art, where founders Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu took on this whole risk of creating a public property through hard work. Patel, who was intrigued by G.R. Irannas Tampered Branches felt that Bharti Kher had done a fabulous job with Duck Face. It is a relief not to see the same bindis and to see something so refreshingly different from her other works, he said.

Besides the familiar faces one sees at auctions, there were new ones, too. Samir Mehta, a diamond trader from Malabar Hill, said, Pinakin brought me here. His love for art started when Patel did his house several years back. Though Mehta joked before the auction about not having deep pockets, he ended up buying a lot of art.

The auction got off to a great start with Atul Dodiyas female nude, Black Block, fetching Rs4.5 lakh. His male nude, Angry Scribe, was also sold for Rs4.5 lakh to an online bidder. Subodh Guptas untitled sculpture was sold for Rs25 lakh and Bharti Khers Duck Face went for Rs4.8 lakh. Himmat Shahs Head was sold for Rs14 lakh to Sunita and Vijay Choraria, both of whom were excited with their purchases. Of course, we love the artists that we have acquired, but the idea was primarily to support them, said Sunita, an art patron. Abir Karmakars Door II, which was a favourite, was sold to an online bidder from Gurgaon for Rs5.5 lakh and Prajakta Palavs Clotted Blue was sold to an online bidder from London for Rs7 lakh.

Amrita Sher-Gils self-portrait was sold for Rs23 lakh and an untitled one which started at Rs14 lakh fetched the highest priceRs49 lakh. When it comes to history, Amrita plays an important role and whoever got those works, [has to realise] it has much more value, said Bose.

The auction attracted bidders from New York, London, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai, among other places.

Dinesh Vazirani, cofounder, Saffronart, conducted the auction. Rs2.75 crore is a great number, he said. I think it will help the biennale in some ways. Artists helping themselves is an amazing thing.

Said Bose, The solidarity from artists and patrons, new bidders coming and a new generation of people joining hands, that is a good thing.

Komu felt that the huge success of the auction showed that we have been able to create a good momentum to move ahead with the biennale. He concluded by inviting everybody to come to Kochi for the next biennale which will be curated by Anita Dubey.
The Armenian parliament is now reviewing a bill that would extend a law by which those men 27 or older who never served in the military can pay a sum of money and have criminal proceedings against them dropped.

Karineh Achemyan, the bills cosponsor, said she had received numerous calls from Armenians living overseas who cant return to Armenia because the law on the books isnt working.

Achemyan also wants to raise the fees to be paid.

Over the past several years, hundreds of citizens have returned to Armenia and paid around AMD 8 billion to the government. Listening to the government representative, we decided to raise the amounts to be paid, Achemyan said.

Deputy Minister of Defense Artak Zakaryan told the parliament that the law has been changed eight times over the past few years and that it has always sought to ensure the return of citizens to Armenia.

When asked how many citizens are being sought for avoiding military service, Zakaryan replied in the thousands.

Zakaryan argued that the government wasnt interested in raising more money, but felt that those who had avoided their constitutional obligation should pay an appropriate amount.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will next week host Turkish and Iranian counterparts Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani for summit talks on Syria, officials from Turkey and Russia said Thursday.

With the violence in Syria diminishing but still no political solution in sight, the three presidents will meet at Putin\s official residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on November 22.

The meeting  the first such summit between the trio  comes as Ankara, Moscow and Tehran cooperate with increasing intensity on ending the more than six-year civil war in Syria.

They are sponsoring peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana and also implementing a plan for de-escalation zones in key flashpoint areas of Syria.

Turkey\s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that the three leaders would discuss progress in reducing the violence in Syria and ensuring humanitarian aid goes to those in need.

Describing Iran, Russia and Turkey as the three "guarantor" countries, he said the talks would look at what they could do for a lasting political solution in Syria.

Turkey\s top diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu said the foreign ministers of the three countries would meet in the southern Turkish city of Antalya by the end of the week.

Confirming the summit, Putin\s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was just these three countries who were the "guarantors of the process of political settlement and stability and security that we see now in Syria".

There was no immediate comment from Tehran.

 \Six meetings in one year\ 

The cooperation comes despite Turkey still officially being on an opposite side of the Syria conflict from Russia and Iran.

Russia, along with Iran, is the key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Moscow\s military intervention inside Syria is widely seen as tipping the balance in the conflict.

Turkey, however, has backed the rebels seeking Assad\s ouster in a conflict that has left more than 330,000 dead.

But Russia and Turkey have been working together since a 2016 reconciliation deal ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria.

In recent months, Turkey has markedly toned down its criticism of the Assad regime and focused on opposing Syrian Kurdish militia seen by Ankara as a terror group.

According to the Anadolu news agency, Putin and Erdogan have already met five times this year and spoken by telephone 13 times.

Erdogan last met Putin for talks in Sochi only days ago on November 13, agreeing on the need to boost elements for a lasting settlement.

Turkey earlier this month said Russia had decided to postpone a planned Syria peace conference with all parties after Ankara objected to the potential inclusion of Kurdish forces.

Moscow denied this was the case, saying a date for the conference had never been set. Peskov told reporters in Moscow that the date for the "Congress of Syrian National Dialogue" had yet to be fixed.

SOURCE: AFP
The UN Security Council will vote Thursday on whether to extend an investigation to determine who is behind chemical weapons attacks in Syria, with Russia expected to cast a veto.

Russia and the United States have put forward rival draft resolutions on renewing for a year the mandate of the UN-led Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), tasked with identifying perpetrators of Syria\s toxic gas attacks.

President Donald Trump urged the council to support the panel\s continued work, saying on Twitter that this would "ensure" that President Bashar al-Assad\s "regime does not commit mass murder with chemical weapons ever again."

Earlier Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave his clearest indication yet that Moscow was prepared to veto the US-drafted measure extending the panel for one year.

"The American resolution has no chance of adoption," Lavrov said during a press conference in Moscow.

He slammed Washington\s text as "totally unacceptable," arguing that it would extend the mandate "without changing any of the current activities of the mechanism which are in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention."

UN diplomats said they were expecting a Russian veto of the US text during the council meeting scheduled for 3:00 pm (2000 GMT). The panel\s mandate expires at midnight.

It would mark the tenth time that Moscow has used its veto power at the council to block action targeting its ally Syria.

The Russian-drafted resolution was unlikely to garner the nine votes required for adoption, diplomats said.

Russia has sharply criticized the JIM after its latest report blamed the Syrian air force for a sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead.

The attack on April 4 triggered global outrage as images of dying children were shown worldwide, prompting the United States to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base a few days later.

Washington and its allies have blamed Assad\s government for the Khan Sheikhun attack, but Syria has denied using chemical weapons, with strong backing from Russia.

A resolution requires nine votes to be adopted at the council, but five countries  Russia, Britain, China, France and the United States  can block adoption with their veto power.

 Victory for those who use chemical weapons 

In its draft, Russia insisted that the panel\s findings on Khan Sheikhun be put aside to allow for another "full-scale and high-quality investigation" by the JIM, which would be extended for a year.

During a council vote in late October, Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution on a one-year extension, arguing that it did not want to decide on the fate of the panel before the Khan Sheikhun report.

The United States, Britain and France have insisted that the JIM should be allowed to continue its work and that dozens of other cases of chemical weapons use in Syria must be investigated.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre urged council members to "please think twice before throwing it away, because this would be a major setback for the fundamentals of our common security."

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said this week that scrapping the chemical weapons probe in Syria "may send a bad signal, but the way the investigation has been conducted sends an even worse signal."

The joint UN-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel was set up by Russia and the United States in 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the council, which renewed its mandate last year.

Previous reports by the JIM have found that Syrian government forces were responsible for chlorine attacks on three villages in 2014 and 2015, and that the Islamic State group used mustard gas in 2015.

SOURCE: AFP
A suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital near a meeting of supporters of an influential regional leader on Thursday killed at least nine people and wounded many, the interior ministry said.

Islamic State claimed responsibility, according to Amaq, its official news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.

Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party, was not at the meeting at the time of the attack, members of the party said.

Political tensions are rising as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019 and thousands of civilians have been killed in attacks this year.

The bomber approached the hotel hosting the gathering on foot but was spotted by a police official, Sayed Basam Padshah, as he neared a security checkpoint, an interior ministry spokesman said.

The attacker triggered his explosives vest before he could get any further, Kabul police chief Basir Mujahid told Reuters.

Padshah was among the seven policemen and two civilians killed.

"He saved many lives by sacrificing his life," Mujahid said.

The northern-based Jamiat-i-Islami was for years the main opponent of the Taliban, who draw their support largely from the southern-based ethnic Pashtun community.

A witness to Thursday\s bombing said: "We are proud to be martyred because of our country and our rights. This gathering was for the sake of our country to raise our voice."

In June, a suicide bomber attacked a meeting of Jamiat-i-Islami leaders, including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Abdullah, who is supported by ethnic minority leaders including Noor who fought against the Taliban\s hard-line Islamist regime in the 1990s, formed a coalition government with President Ashraf Ghani after a disputed 2014 presidential election.

Ghani on Wednesday sacked the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, raising doubts over whether parliamentary and council ballots scheduled for next year will take place as planned.

SOURCE: AFP
Greece was in mourning Thursday as rescue crews tried to locate several people missing in a flood that killed 16 people near the capital, with more thunderstorms forecast until the weekend.

Authorities said at least four people were still unaccounted for in Mandra, one of three towns about 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Athens hit by a freak flood early Wednesday.

The latest victim, a 50-year-old man, was found in a mud-filled basement. It took rescue crews over a day to reach his home.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who declared three days of national mourning after the disaster, said he felt "shock" after touring the area Thursday.

"This is clearly a rare and extreme weather phenomenon," Tsipras said in a statement.

"But this extreme phenomenon had these effects because of (decades of) accumulated problems and deficiencies in infrastructure and zone planning," he said.

Experts have said ill-conceived building in the area  some of it by local municipal authorities  meant this was a disaster waiting to happen.

Corrective drainage works for the area were approved in 2016 but work has yet to begin.

Meteorologists said Wednesday\s heavy rainfall was concentrated on a nearby mountain that had been devastated by wildfires in 2016, facilitating the ensuing mudslide.

Neighbouring areas saw much less rain, they said.

"It was like a tsunami," Evangelos Kolovetzos, a local shopowner, told AFP.

Local resident Spyros Karambikas told ERT television that he saw a man being swept away by the torrent "like the wind blows away a napkin."

"The water in my house rose to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet)," said Sotiris Loukopoulos, whose pharmacy is the only one still open in Mandra.

"Five pharmacies were destroyed, we are still operating because we are on higher ground," he told Athens municipal radio, as residents tried to clean their yards with shovels and hoses.

Over a hundred firefighters aided by army machinery were mounting search and rescue efforts in Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, the semi-rural communities west of Athens hit hardest by the deluge.

The operation unfolded alongside gutted, debris-strewn streets, overturned cars and hundreds of flooded homes and shops as utility crews laboured to restore power and water services.

Emergency crews used pumps to drain water as police reinforcements were sent to the area to prevent looting.

The poor weather is set to continue until the weekend, raising concerns for hundreds of people with waterlogged homes.

"We are trying to deal with two torrents, one of which is still flowing through the centre of Mandra," a civil protection agency source told AFP.

Twelve people are hospitalised, one in serious condition.





 \Great tragedy\ 

As a first step, the state will cover the funeral expenses, the interior ministry said.

Food, water and blankets have been rushed to the area, hit by what locals have described as the worst flooding in 20 years.

"The situation is unprecedented," said Constantinos Palaioroutis, director of the hospital nearest to the area.

Some elderly people died inside their homes while other people were trapped in their cars as they drove to work. Two bodies were carried out to sea.

Parts of the area are without water and electricity for a second day, and much of the damage will take days to repair, though fortunately the sewage system is still functioning, the state water company said.

A 364-cabin cruise ship has been commissioned to shelter some of the homeless if necessary, the merchant marine ministry said.

Once a rural area, Mandra and neighbouring towns were rapidly transformed into a logistics hub for factories and warehouses over the last 20 years, with the new construction covering riverbeds that would have provided natural drainage.

A prosecutor has ordered an investigation into building violations in the area, where two people had already died in flooding that struck in 1996.

"There is a bad precedent with public works in this country," Interior Minister Panos Skourletis told Antenna TV.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said "Illegal building was a response to huge social and economic inequality."

Stricken areas will request EU solidarity funds, the Athens governor\s office said.

SOURCE: AFP
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Brunswick

A California-based solar energy company wants to build a large solar array on land off the busy Route 7 commercial corridor in Brunswick.

Borrego Solar wants town permission to build a 5.6-megawatt facility, with a total of about 16,000 solar panels, at 138 Brick Church Road, according to recent notice filed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The most recent town assessment records indicate the 99-acre site was owned by Kirk and Stephanie Gendron. A solar array of that size would produce enough power for about 700 average homes.

Founded in 1980 to install residential solar systems, Borrego has grown into one of the nation's largest commercial solar developers. Since launching its commercial service in 2009, the company has installed systems totaling about 300 megawatts, which is equivalent to the power consumed by about 200,000 average homes.

According to its website, the company is the largest commercial installer in the U.S, and has put in commercial systems for Warner Bros. Studios, Apple corporation, Harvard University, North Adams, Mass., the Johnson and Johnson corporate office, University of Massachusetts, and San Diego International Airport, as well as Ithaca College and Houghton College in New York state.

In 2014, Borrego proposed an 18-acre, 3.7-megawatt solar array on town-owned land off Bridge Street in Bethlehem. At the time, the project carried an estimated price tag of $12 million and would have been one of the largest solar farms ever planned for the region.

The town was planning to sell the power to National Grid. The status of the project could not be immediately determined Thursday.

The Borrego website listing of its projects does not reflect a Bethlehem project. A check of the Bridge Street site on Google Earth did not show a solar array there.

Calls to Bethlehem town planning offices were not immediately returned. Company officials then had said the project's future depended on funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Milton

A settlement agreement between the town of Milton and a woman who accused Supervisor Daniel Lewza of on-the-job harassment was ordered unsealed Wednesday by a state Supreme Court justice who ruled the Times Union had "substantially prevailed" in its legal battle to have the document made public.

The ruling by Justice Ann C. Crowell affirms that the settlement agreement was not a confidential document, and should have been released in response to a Freedom of Information Law request filed by the Times Union in February.

"Certainly the general public has an interest in how its public officials resolve claims related to conduct of a public official and a public employee," Crowell wrote in a seven-page decision. "Access to this information should not be blocked by making confidentiality a term of the agreement. The subject agreement's confidentiality clause directly conflicts with the public policy of FOIL."

In an interview with the Times Union at his town office in August, Lewza denied that he was a target of his former secretary's complaints or listed as a respondent in the settlement agreement, which included a $10,000 payment to his former secretary, Theresa Wilson, and a $25,000 payment to her attorneys.

"I hope you realize when I'm talking to you I'm being honest with you, I'm being sincere," Lewza said during the Aug. 3 interview in which he denied being a target of Wilson's complaint or a respondent in the settlement agreement. "All I was told was that (harassment case) involved six employees, six, and our insurance carrier handled something and that was it. I'm sorry that people are saying to you that my name is behind something."

Lewza was the only town official listed in the settlement agreement, which said he was the subject of "various claims" filed by Wilson in April 2016. The judge declined to unseal Wilson's name or identifying information in the agreement, saying she is entitled to privacy. The Times Union independently confirmed Wilson filed the complaints against Lewza and that she was allowed to work from home for several months after the town hired an outside law firm to investigate her harassment allegations.

The town of Milton, in denying a request by the Times Union for a copy of the agreement, improperly cited the confidentiality terms of the agreement, as well as a local town code and provisions of state Public Officers' Law related to privacy. Attorneys for the Hearst Corp., which owns the Times Union, filed an appeal with the town urging release of the agreement and indicating the newspaper would pursue the matter in court if it wasn't disclosed.

The newspaper then filed a second appeal, asking the town to reconsider its decision with a detailed explanation of the statues and court decisions that supported release of the document. The town's attorney, James Craig, then turned over a heavily redacted copy of the agreement  which he previously said could not be released at all. The copy released by Craig had nearly all meaningful information blacked out, including Lewza's name and the amount of the settlement payments. He claimed the town was "legally and contractually bound to keep the names and the matter confidential ... ."

"The town of Milton has been a leader in public access and has always strived to comply to the fullest extent of the law," Craig wrote to attorneys for the Times Union last March.

Crowell's decision said the Times Union had prevailed so "substantially" in its argument that the newspaper is entitled to have the town pay its legal costs. She directed the newspaper to submit details of its expenses to the court by Dec. 1 for her review.

The settlement agreement became fodder in the recent town elections as Councilwoman Barbara Kerr, who lost a Republican primary in her bid to become supervisor, was accused by Lewza  without evidence  of leaking details of the settlement agreement to the Times Union. Lewza also singled out Kerr in a notice of claim he filed Oct. 17 against the town to preserve his right to bring a formal lawsuit.

In the claim, Lewza listed damages of $340,000, alleging he suffered humiliation and mental distress when details of the settlement agreement were made public.

"He really smeared my name," Kerr said Wednesday. "I'm very happy the truth is finally out, my name is cleared and I will be speaking to my attorney. I've never discussed the settlement agreement with anyone outside of executive session."

James Craig, the town's attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

Lewza emailed a short statement to the Times Union on Wednesday, saying: "The only quote I have is that you don't print the truth."

blyons@timesunion.com  518-454-5547  @brendan_lyonstu
Washington

President Donald Trump boasted on Wednesday that nearly 10 months of his "America First" foreign policy had restored strength and respect to the United States on the world stage after years of what he called failed leadership under his predecessors.

Hours after returning home from a 12-day, five-country excursion to Asia with few concrete achievements, Trump made no significant announcements in a speech that he had hyped on Twitter as "a major statement" to be delivered upon his return.

Trump nonetheless declared the trip a resounding success, saying that he had made real progress by uniting the world against North Korea and insisting on reciprocal trade from Asian nations.

"America's renewed confidence and standing in the world has never been stronger than it is right now," he said. "This is exactly what the world saw: a strong, proud and confident America."

By recounting his travels and detailing the just completed Asia trip, Trump sought to make the case that the United States was once again playing a leading role in the world.

"My fellow citizens, America is back, and the future has never looked brighter," he said.

Critics say Trump has abandoned the United States' status as a global superpower by retreating from trade agreements and backing out of the Paris climate accord. The president's political rivals accuse him of straining relationships with allies in NATO and elsewhere while embracing despots, including President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

"He is so easily played by foreign leaders, so transparently susceptible to flattery," said Eliot A. Cohen, one of Trump's harshest critics and a former adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "It clearly has undermined the reputation of the United States, the credibility of the United States."

Casting the Asia trip as the culmination of a year of accomplishments, Trump noted his efforts in the spring, during a trip to Saudi Arabia, to rally Arab and Muslim nations to fight financing of terrorism. He boasted that his tough talk with NATO allies has led those longtime partners to increase their commitments to the common defense of the alliance.

"To each of these places, I have carried our vision for a better  a vision for something stronger and sovereign  so important  sovereign and independent nations, rooted in their histories, confident in their destinies, and cooperating together to advance their security, prosperity and the noble cause of peace," Trump said.

In talking about his foreign policy achievements, Trump has often bragged about the personal relationships he has forged with his counterparts.

In Wednesday's speech, Trump hoped to highlight what his advisers said were three successes from his just-concluded trip to South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines: attempts to unite opposition to North Korea's nuclear ambitions; to strengthen economic alliances; and to insist on fair trade.

John D. Negroponte, deputy secretary of state under President George W. Bush, said Trump should get credit for developing relationships with his counterparts and for delivering a tough message toward North Korea.

"I thought he handled that very well, with friend and adversary alike," said Negroponte.
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The California Coastal Commission on Thursday agreed to carve a mile of public beach out of ranch land that has been in private hands for more than a century.

The commission, which oversees coastal development, unanimously approved a deal that calls for the owners to fix damage to land they developed without permission and to transfer 36 acres (14.5 hectares) of coastal property to Santa Barbara County. It will be used to extend a current public park at remote Jalama Beach, 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
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An Albany County judge has declined to dismiss a criminal indictment of former state Sen. George Maziarz.

Judge Peter Lynch said that Maziarz's arguments seeking dismissal of his corruption charges were without merit and a trial is scheduled to begin in February.

Maziarz's attorneys argued Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office is selectively prosecuting Maziarz, a Republican from Niagara County, and not others. Maziarz is accused of engaging in a pass-through scheme that funneled money from campaign committees, including his own, to a former Senate staffer.

In a six-page ruling, Lynch wrote that dismissal of the case "would undermine the welfare of the community."

In June, Lynch dismissed separate criminal charges against Sen. Robert Ortt, Maziarz's Republican successor in the western New York Senate seat.
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Americans carried out more hate crimes in 2016 than in 2015, according to new data from the FBI, which shows an uptick against Jewish people, Muslims and the LGBT community.

Last year, law-enforcement departments across the country reported 6,121 criminal incidents, according to FBI statistics. That compares to 5,818 such crimes reported in 2015.

More than 70 percent of the incidents stemmed from bias based on race or religion, the FBI said.

Criminals committed a total of 7,615 overall hate crimes overall, according to the data, with 4,720 against people and 2,813 against property. An additional 82 victims of the crimes were categorized as "crimes against society," according to the report.

Now Playing: Recent attacks have started a conversation about the definitions of hate crime vs. terrorism. Elizabeth Keatinge (@elizkeatinge) has more. Video: Veuer

"It's deeply disturbing to see hate crimes increase for the second year in a row," said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, a civil-rights group that monitors hate groups. "Hate crimes demand priority attention because of their special impact. They not only hurt one victim, but they also intimidate and isolate a victim's whole community and weaken the bonds of our society."

Greenblatt and leaders of other hate-watch groups said the FBI data - released Monday - likely under-reports hate- or bias-related crimes because it relies on voluntary submissions from law enforcement departments across the country - and law enforcement departments generally classify hate crimes. For instance, more than 90 cities with more than 100,000 residents appear to have reported zero hate crimes or ignored the FBI request for their 2016 hate crime data.

"There's a dangerous disconnect between the rising problem of hate crimes and the lack of credible data being reported," Greenblatt said. "Police departments that do not report credible data to the FBI risk sending the message that this is not a priority issue for them, which may threaten community trust in their ability and readiness to address hate violence."

A report released earlier this year from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics estimated that from 2004 to 2015, approximately 250,000 hate crime victimizations occurred annually and the majority of these were not reported to police.

Police agencies in New York reported 595 hate crimes to the FBI. Forty percent, or 234 incidents, occurred outside of New York City. Police agencies in the Capital Region reported 12 hate crimes in 2016. Click through the gallery above to learn about each local report.

The increase shown by the FBI data Monday was the first back-to-back rise in reported hate crimes since 2004, experts said, but the 2016 number remains approximately 20 percent lower than the highest number of reported crimes, in 2006.

Professor Brian Levin, of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, attributed the increase in hate crimes over the last year to a spike in such incidents after President Donald Trump's election; am uptick in hate crimes in large cities; and a rise in hate crimes against Jews, Latinos, Arabs, transgender people, whites, and Muslims.

The report shows a 25 percent rise in incidents during the final three months of 2016. Southern Poverty Law Center President Richard Cohen said the report showed the nation's most vulnerable residents were paying the price of the toxic rhetoric of the 2016 election.

"The words of our political leaders have consequences," Cohen said Monday. "President Trump has energized the radical right with his xenophobic rhetoric and has given bigots a license to act on their worst instincts."

The report comes as hate-fueled incidents have surged in the United States and abroad over the past year, with white supremacists and hate groups becoming increasingly emboldened after last year's presidential election.

Rallies by those groups have, at times, grown violent. At a pro-Confederacy rally in Charlottesville, Va., a white supremacist drove through a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one woman.

In the wake of that rally, Trump decried violence on both sides, saying some of the white supremacists were "very fine people." He was widely criticized for failing to condemn the white supremacists' actions more forcefully.

Most recently, 60,000 people took to the streets Saturday in Warsaw, Poland, carrying signs with slogans like "Europe Will Be White" and "Clean Blood."

Hate-watch have likewise tracked a rise in hate groups.

According to the SPLC, 917 hate groups were operating in the U.S. in 2016, up from 892 the year before.

During the same period, the number of anti-Muslim groups nearly tripled, rising from 34 groups to 101.

"The numbers undoubtedly understate the real level of organized hatred in America," the SPLC noted in a report released earlier this year. "In recent years, growing numbers of right-wing extremists operate mainly in cyberspace until, in some cases, they take action in the real world."

Hate watch groups say the numbers of hate incidents continue to rise. Earlier this year, the ADL identified 1,299 instances of anti-Semitism across the U.S. including physical assaults, vandalism, and attacks on Jewish institutions - two-thirds more than occurred than in 2016.

Its the Southwest Region -- which includes Houston and southern Texas from El Paso to Orange -- the numbers nearly tripled, from 12 instances of anti-Semitism in 2016 to 35 in 2017, according to the ADL.

Levin, the professor with the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, said that since the hate crime report only tracked actual reported crimes, it likely failed to capture the scope of the problem.

"We're looking at manifestations of bigotry that are occurring that don't rise to the level of a crime that are still out there -- whether they're out there, in public places, schools, or social media," he said. "I think there's a substantial amount of bigotry being expressed that way, and not necessarily criminally. While we saw a moderate increase nationally in hate crime, I think if we were able somehow to gauge hate incidents, we would probably see a greater increase."

This story was reported as part of "Documenting Hate," a Houston Chronicle collaboration with Pro Publica tracking hate crimes across the U.S.

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.
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TROY  A nonprofit group that advocates for free speech on college campuses is threatening to lodge a formal complaint with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's accrediting association unless the private Troy college stops its "repeated and deliberate efforts" to quash student criticism.

In a letter dated Monday, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) addressed the unrest that's spread across campus since the administration's decision to pursue judicial action against two students who participated in a peaceful protest Oct. 13 outside of a black-tie fundraiser on campus.

Hundreds of students gathered outside the alumni and donor event to protest what they view as a de facto takeover of the 127-year-old student-run student union. During the protest, students breached a fence that had been erected just prior to the fundraiser in order to demonstrate closer to the event.

According to the administration, the students moved a barrier and entered a restricted area of campus. According to students, they walked through an open area of fencing on a campus they pay to attend.

Regardless, students Michael Gardner and Bryan Johns were informed they had been identified in photographs, videos and news reports as having led the protest, and were sent letters informing them their actions  which included trespassing, violation of a policy, and failure to comply  were grounds for disciplinary action.

Other students were sent letters informing them they had been identified at the demonstration, and must schedule a meeting soon with the assistant dean of students to discuss the matter. "This is not a judicial matter," they were assured, according to a copy of one letter obtained by the Times Union.

Even before these actions, the administration's removal of "Save the Union" flyers from campus and repeated denials of student requests to demonstrate earned RPI a "red light" rating from FIRE, which contends its policies "clearly and substantially" restrict freedom of speech.

"We write today because RPI's disrespect for student rights has hit a shocking new low," said Adam Steinbaugh, a senior program officer for FIRE, in the letter sent this week.

"At every opportunity, RPI has demonstrated that it will use its vague policies as a vehicle to suppress students' criticism in advance of visits by prospective students or donors," he wrote. "When students have sought to hold demonstrations, RPI has claimed a lack of resources to enable such demonstrations  resources RPI was able to summon when students proceeded with their demonstrations."

RPI Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Relations Richie Hunter on Wednesday said it would be "inappropriate to comment" on any individual student's situation related to the Oct. 13 protest, which he stated was unauthorized and involved students breaching security barriers.

Students, however, said they were not informed that the fencing was intended for security purposes or to block off a restricted area. In addition, they said, Troy police and RPI public safety officers who were working the demonstration did not inform students they had trespassed or violated policy.

"I feel like my freedom of speech is not welcome here," said Gardner, one of the two students facing disciplinary action.

Gardner, a graduate student from Ohio who also completed his undergrad degree at RPI, said students have approached him to thank him for speaking out since word got out he is facing disciplinary action.

"They really believe I'm fighting something worthwhile because, as they told me, they're constantly worried about repercussions any time they speak out critically of the administration," he said. "I feel like they're just facilitating this continuous culture of fear we have here."

Johns, the other student who was charged, said the judicial proceedings have put a strain on an already-busy class schedule.

"It's also unjust for the RPI administration to single out two students," he said. "By deciding to target just the two of us, the RPI administration continues to spread a culture of fear."

The administration's actions have also prompted condemnation from Grand Marshal Justin Etzine, who represents the student body in the highest-elected student leadership position on campus.

While RPI is a private institution and therefore not bound to uphold the First Amendment, it explicitly states in the Student Handbook that it will not "impede or obstruct students in the exercise of their fundamental rights as citizens."

In order to maintain its accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, it has to uphold this promise, according to FIRE. If it does not respond to FIRE's letter by Nov. 21, Steinbaugh said, the group will lodge a formal complaint with RPI's accreditor.
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BALLSTON SPA - The indictment against Mechanicville murder defendants Nikolai Mavashev and Joseph Broscko might be thrown-out.

Mavashev's attorney Cheryl Coleman said on Wednesday that Saratoga County Judge James Murphy III has found "serious irregularities" in the grand jury's proceedings that have put the indictments in question.

"The prosecutor screwed up," said Coleman, whose client is charged with the Aug. 7 shooting of 19-year-old David J. Feliciano. "If the judge throws it out, the prosecution will have to go back and start all over again with another grand jury."

Coleman and Broscko's attorney, Matthew Chauvin, were in court on Tuesday to discuss the prosecutor's request for DNA sampling, Coleman said. Murphy asked the attorneys, including Assistant District Attorney Jesse Ashdown, to meet in his chambers. There he told them of his concern with the indictments.

When Murphy returned to the bench, he announced to the courtroom too that he had questions on the indictments, Coleman said. As grand jury proceedings are secret, the irregularities will not be made public.

Mavashev, 19, of Halfmoon faces a first-degree murder charge, while Broscko of Clifton Park, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, faces a second-degree murder charge. If convicted, Mavashev could be sentenced to life in prison, while Broscko could be sentenced to 25 years to life.

Murphy will make his decision on the validity of the indictments on Monday.

Meantime, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said that her attorneys are doing their due diligence.

"We have a strong case," she said on Wednesday.

In addition to the indictment questions, Coleman said that she is also trying to have her client's confession throw-out. She said when State Police questioned Mavashev, he asked for an attorney and was not provided one. She said other mistakes were made during the interrogation.

"It was a textbook case of everything you shouldn't do," Coleman said. "That will be litigated once there are proper indictments. But the confession, memorialized on video, will be a major issue in the case."



Feliciano, who authorities claim was meeting the defendants to transact a marijuana deal, was shot several times in the torso inside his home at 42-44 Grove St. in Mechanicville. He stumbled outside to his driveway to find help and collapsed.



Mechanicville police found Feliciano there, bleeding, but breathing. Chief Joseph Waldron said officers started CPR, but were unable to save him.
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A State Police investigator accused of lying to investigators about activity on his bank account admitted that he was covering for the fact that he was giving his mistress money to support her crack habit, according to court records.

Omar Snow, a 25-year veteran, laid out how an illicit romance snowballed into criminal activity in a confession to colleagues earlier this month.

I was just trying to keep my wife happy and still keep things going, he said in his statement. I was caught and I didnt know how to get out of it.

Snow was charged with two misdemeanors  falsely reporting an incident and offering a false instrument for filing.

A call to his attorney, Melissa Carpinello, was not immediately returned.

In a 55-minute interview Nov. 10 with Senior Investigator Michael Cuomo, Snow, 51, of Schenectady, explained that he met a woman named Kim Peters in January 2012 when he responded to a high-speed pursuit for a stolen vehicle that started in Clifton Park and ended in Colonie.

Peters and others in the car had stolen property with them. Snow was the arresting officer. When she got out of jail, Snow brought Peters her purse. The two began talking and struck up a friendship, Snow said in his statement.

Peters eventually pleaded guilty in connection with the stolen-car case and shortly after the pair began sleeping together, Snow told police. That lead to him helping her pay her bills, buying her groceries and even co-signing a loan for her to buy a used car. Snow said he used money from checking accounts he shared with his wife. Snow took care of the payments and the maintenance on the car.

At the time they met, Peters was clean, Snow told police. In June 2016 Peters relapsed into her crack addiction, Snow said. She stopped paying her bills and a few months later she began asking Snow for money to support her addiction. He agreed.

I still cared about her, but it became more of me paying her bills in return for sex, he said.

Snow said he never bought or supplied her with drugs.

Snows wife began noticing money missing from their account and asked him what was happening. Snow said he told her their accounts had been hacked. Over the summer he went to their two banks and filed a report after his wife urged him to report it. One bank gave them $3,000 out of the $5,000 in disputed transactions while the other bank refused to refund any money.

Snows wife continued to push him to report it to the police and on Nov. 6 he filed a report with State Police in Saratoga.

He was arrested four days later. Snow pleaded not guilty on Wednesday at his first court appearance in Malta town court. The State Police suspended him as a result of the arrest. He is due back in court in January.
The state Suicide Prevention Task Force has been created, following on a promise made by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his State of the State address early this year.

The panel will be co-chaired by Christopher Tavella, executive deputy commissioner of the state Office of Mental Health, and Peter Wyman, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
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Ashley Gibbons could have been at home in Clifton Park, snuggled up on the couch watching Netflix or catching up on schoolwork.

But Tuesday night is the 17-year-old's time to volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Latham.

On a recent evening, there was an earthy aroma in the cavernous Food Bank warehouse, as Ashley and more than 30 other young people ripped into the pale green husks of fresh sweet corn  a mind-boggling 36,000 ears  heaped in chest-high black bins.

"We're opening the top to check if it's rotten or if there are any bugs," Ashley explains.

During harvest season, Ashley and her peers handle truckloads of fruits and vegetables donated by upstate farms. Other times, she might pack meat donated by supermarkets or cleaning supplies from WalMart and Target.

The Shenendehowa High School senior has faithfully volunteered one or two evenings a week for the past two years.

"Every night, it's a different thing," she says. "Sort, pack and weigh."

The non-profit Regional Food Bank sends nearly 37 million pounds of food and household products to non-profit organizations in 23 counties, to communities as far west as Utica and north to the Canadian border.

"We work with 7,000 volunteers annually, and close to a half of them are young volunteers," says volunteer coordinator M.E. Mazur. "In the past years, I've seen an increase in youth volunteers."

Mazur believes that volunteering is "a very beneficial experience for kids, to get a sense of doing something that's bigger than themselves."

Across the Capital Region, young adults are lending a hand not only at the Food Bank but at Albany Medical Center, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and for the American Cancer Society.

They are not alone. The Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, reports that 26.4 percent of teens and 25.7 percent of college students did volunteer work in 2015, a figure that adds up to 7.3 million recruits.

In Cohoes, Carli O'Hara is only 11 years old but she's joined the fight against breast cancer.

Last month, Carli launched the American Cancer Society's first-ever Real Kids Wear Pink campaign. At her school, Cohoes Middle, as well as Harmony Hill Elementary, students wore pink clothing on designated days and donated money for cancer research and programs to help patients.

"Your family, your friends, your aunt, your mother, your grandmother, whoever is affected by breast cancer, you have to support them. No one in their lifetime should go through it," the sixth-grader says.

Carli got the idea for Real Kids Wear Pink from her dad, Chad O'Hara, who last year led the Capital Region's Real Men Wear Pink campaign for the ACS. Carli was inspired by the experience of her grandmother, Charlene Squires, a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed with stage four disease in 1998.

"I wanted to take part in something, and I think all kids should take part in something. We can make a change and we can make a difference."

Next year, she and the ACS plan to expand the pink project to more Capital Region schools.

"Anyone can wear pink, and no one should tease you about it," Carli says. "Hats, t-shirts, headbands. Even a pink sock can make a difference."

Hundreds of Capital Region teens and college students also volunteer for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, a fund-raising event during which teams of walkers take turns going around a track for six to 24 hours.

"It's so amazing to see how the youth of the area are for this cause, says Nick Liporace, manager of community development for the American Cancer Society, Capital Region. "Many of my teen and college-age volunteers haven't really had anyone [with cancer] super close ... they just want to help and be part of something."

In Niskayuna, the annual Relay for Life is run by students at Niskayuna High School. This fall, Liporace is meeting twice a month with 20 students who plan the music, food and theme for the spring event. Five area colleges also hold student-run Relay for Life events.

If you happen to find yourself in Albany Medical Center in July or August, a teenager will probably knock at your door.

Volunteers in the hospital's teen program, for ages 16 and 17, bring patients items they might need or enjoy.

"Books, magazines, reading glasses, decks of cards," says Kelly Morrone, manager of volunteer services. "We have manicure stuff ... we have hair dryers. There are board games that the volunteers can play with them. They check to make sure their room looks OK, that they can reach their call button, that they can reach their phone safely."

Volunteers in the medical center's college program are age 18 and older. They help out in the same way as teen workers, but are allowed to work anywhere in the hospital, including emergency and pediatrics. (Those in the teen program work with patients of all ages, but not in those two specific areas.)

"Every semester, I have at least 80 college students coming in. We have a waiting list. They are here seven days a week, all different hours of the day," says Morrone. "We're very lucky because we are surrounded by colleges. A lot of kids are interested in medicine at all different levels, and they will come in and volunteer to see if it's what they want."

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Morrone, who has been in her job for 23 years, tells the young volunteers, "You're going to get as much out of this, if not more, than the patient probably does.

"The way these kids act gives me faith in our youth. They do care about something besides their cell phones or YouTube or Facebook. I've had kids that come back extra days to visit with a patient who they know needed extra company."

Five miles away, at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Menands, 22-year-old Maria Ijaz volunteers three or four times a week.

Maria lives in Glenmont and commutes to the University at Albany to study biology. She also works at night at LabCorp in Albany. But on her morning visits to Menands, she spends four or five hours walking the homeless dogs who live at the animal shelter.

"I love it when all the dogs can get walked at least once a day. Sometimes it takes awhile," she says.

Maria has been volunteering for about a year. "At first, it was because I got to be around dogs, but then it got to be about the shelter and how I'm actually helping these dogs. And the best part about it is when they finally get homes."

She also has become an educator.

"We definitely help the community. We teach them about dogs. We limit the amount of dogs that are roaming out there," she says.

Of the Humane Society's 463 volunteers, 52 (or about 11 percent) are ages 22 or under. Volunteers must be 18 to walk dogs; cat care volunteers are age 16 and up.

Back at the Food Bank, Ashley takes break from ripping corn husks to talk about volunteering.

The hurricanes that barreled through Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico are on her mind, and she's hoping the people there are getting the help they need.

Even though Ashley is far from those places, she understands the spirit of volunteering.

"People in our own community need help. There's always something that someone can do," she says. "It's great to give back. Anything you can do. It's really fulfilling. It makes you a better person."
A plea has again been made by Cllr Ger Darcy for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to examine the road at Congar on the N52 following another crash there over the weekend.

Six people were taken to University Hospital Limerick following a three-car collision at Congar last Saturday at around 1pm.

However, the crash did not occur at the right-hand turn at Congar which has seen multiple collisions since the road was widened a couple of years back.

Cllr Darcy has been vocal in trying to get a turning lane at the junction, and, following Saturday's crash, he urged TII to look at the entire stretch.

There have been six or seven fatalities and numerous collisions there, particularly on the Nenagh side of Gaulross, he said.

I am surprised there have not been many more, he told the Tipperary Star. I am calling on TII to look at the road. That part has gone very dangerous because of high traffic volumes.

The Fine Gael councillor, who lives in the area, said the road was so busy now that there was a need for an updated traffic count on it.

He said he would be raising the issue with the Gardai and would bring it up at this Thursday's meeting of Nenagh Municipal District Council.

Meanwhile, Cllr Darcy again urged that the right-hand turn at Congar be looked at, saying there was enough land bought beside it that was only allowing ragworth to flourish.

Cllr Darcy has also called in the past for TII to look at the junction at Grange where thePuckaun road joins the Borrisokane road.
Drama: 'Stepping Out' in Moyne

The hilarious Steeping Out comes to Moyne Community Centre on Thursday 30th November and runs until Sunday 3rd December. Tickets available on the door and the play starts at 8.15pm. Get there early to avoid disappointment!

Country tunes in Golden

Tipp Mid West Radio host Jimmy Buckley and Band with special guests Louise Morrissey, Dermot Lyons and Paddy O'Brien on Tuesday 21st November at Golden GAA complex. Doors open at 7.15pm and show starts at 8pm sharp. Tickets cost 20 and are available from the radio station on 062 52555.

Film screening: Marys Land comes to Thurles

The film Marys Land is showing in the IMC cinema Thurles from Friday 17th November to at least Thursday 23rd November. This film has variously been described as an extraordinary film of faith, hope and love, a sceptics search for answers, and a must-see film for 2017. The producer Juan Manuel Cotelo has spent three years of his life as a director, actor, and producer of this film, which has now toured all over the world. Ireland has now become the thirtieth country in which the film has been released. Thurles has the privilege of being the fifth location in Ireland where it is being shown, after having premiered in the Savoy, Dublin on October 29th. According to Mr Cotelo, the film will be a success if it provokes even one person to have a personal meeting with God. The film follows Mr Cotelo, the Devils Advocate, a lukewarm believer with unresolved doubts, who receives a new mission: to fearlessly investigate those who still trust Heaven's formulas. Are they swindlers? Swindled? If he discovers that their beliefs are bogus, our lives will remain the same. But what if they're not a fairy tale? Tickets will be on sale at www.imccinemas.ie. Trailers and more information can be found at www.maryslandmovie.org and www.facebook.com/maryslandireland.

Drop into the Pop up Gaeltacht!

A 'pop-up' Gaeltacht will run at the Hibernian, Pearse Street, Nenagh on Thursday, November 23rd at 8pm. Drop in and give the aul cupla focal a go!

Nenagh Players present 'Noises Off'

The Nenagh Players present the hilarious comedy 'Noises Off', directed by Nenagh Players stalwart Kevin Walshe in the Nenagh Arts Centre from Wednesday 15 to Sunday 19 November at 8pm. The group are delighted once again to host a Gala night for Nenagh Special Camp on Wednesday 15th November at 7pm in Rocky's Pub. To book your ticket for performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 16-19 November, call Nenagh Arts Centre on 067 34400
Representatives from Manchester Bidwell and Pitts Manufacturing Assistance Center, two potential University of Pittsburgh at Titusville partners, presented ideas for how their programs would benefit the Titusville area during a meeting, Wednesday.
The Titusville Airport Authority discussed its lease, as well as other matters, during a meeting on Tuesday at the airport.
[November 16, 2017] California Transit Agencies Begin Deploying Next-Generation Microtransit Services

TransLoc, a technology provider of flexible agency-owned microtransit solutions, today announced partnerships with three innovative California transit agencies readying to deploy microtransit in their respective communities - Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA) and the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (SJRTD). Microtransit is a highly flexible, on-demand mode of transportation that's changing the face of public transit. This on-demand mode couples traditional fixed-route services, like public buses and trains, with demand-driven options to serve the unique needs of cities and communities. Microtransit has the power to positively impact a community's social mobility and economic viability while also addressing concerns stemming from traffic and parking congestion. "Forward-thinking transit agencies such as OCTA, CCCTA and SJRTD are breaking down the barriers prohibiting people from leveraging public transit. Together with companies like TransLoc, these public agencies are embracing new approaches when providing public transit options to enhance the benefits in their communities by bringing greater economic vitality, greener environmental stability and a higher quality of life. Microtransit represents this next wave of innovation, merging flexible and fixed trasit to better serve their citizens and their communities," said TransLoc vice president Rahul Kumar.



Powered by TransLoc's MicroTransit Simulator, a predictive modeling service that can simulate rider demand and determine fleet operations for successful new pilot programs for on-demand transit services, OCTA, CCCTA and SJRTD are now in the initial stages of rolling these new services out to the public. By introducing new agency-owned flexible transit services, each transit agency is now better able to serve their community with their own unique brand of services. Flexible first mile/last mile options with OCTA

Located southeast of Los Angeles, Orange (News - Alert) County Transportation Authority (OCTA) serves 34 cities, including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, California. Challenged with accommodating the diverse transit coverage demands of their community, grappling with declining ridership and solving traffic congestion, OCTA is turning to microtransit to supplement the transit needs of communities underserved by their existing fixed-route network. OCTA's microtransit service, called OC Flex, will help the agency reduce parking congestions, grow ridership and provide more efficient service for public-transit riders. OCTA says it plans to launch OC Flex in the summer of 2018 in two zones within the county - one serving the cities of Huntington Beach and Westminster, and the other serving Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel. Seamless intermodality with Central Contra Costa Transit Authority In the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area, CCCTA plans to deploy microtransit to complement its current demand-response services, as well as help its riders connect more seamlessly with the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Walnut Creek station. CCCTA currently transports 20-40 commuters per day on its demand-response service that requires call-ahead scheduling. The new microtransit service is about providing CCCTA riders with a positive customer experience that will help to grow ridership numbers. "By improving the overall rider experience and making it much easier to schedule trips on a mobile device, without having to call in, wait and request a new pick-up appointment, CCCTA will be well on its way to making access to transit more convenient to passengers in our area," said Rob Schroder, County Connection Board Chair. CCCTA's microtransit services are scheduled to begin in February of 2018. Paratransit rural service at San Joaquin RTD San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) in Stockton, California is currently leveraging microtransit services, powered by TransLoc, to better serve its rural residents. RTD piloted microtransit in its community to make it possible for riders to request on-demand rides in both real-time and also to schedule services in advance. "Microtransit has allowed us to provide equitable access to transit for what was an underserved segment of our community," said Donna DeMarino, CEO of San Joaquin RTD. "We're just beginning. The information that we are now able to collect on ridership behaviors and the use of this new service will allow us to successfully plan for the expansion of these unique services more quickly across our entire service area." San Joaquin RTD's microtransit pilot began in July 2017. About TransLoc, Inc. Hailed by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies in transportation, TransLoc is the technology provider of the most flexible agency-owned microtransit solution designed to deliver the ultimate rider experience. TransLoc offers predictive models that simulate rider demand and fleet operations, the expertise to plan and deliver unique future-proof transportation solutions, and TransLoc OnDemand, the premier cloud-based flex transit dispatch system built for rapid deployment and hands-free operations, empowering transit agencies to remain central to the future of modern transportation. TransLoc is also proud to be a Google Partner. To learn more, visit TransLoc.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @TransLoc. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116005340/en/

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[November 15, 2017]

Sangfor Technologies -- 7 Years Rooted in Indonesia, Aims to Prosper with Indonesian Enterprise IT Market

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 14, PT Sangfor Technologies Indonesia celebrates its new office opening by hosting an in-house office-warming gathering. The 240 sqm new office locates on the 3rd floor of MD Place, Jakarta.

50+ partners show up, including PT Aliansi Sakti, PT. Citra Multi Services, PT Eliusstema Indonesia, PT. Trikarsa Sempurna Sistemindo, Kayreach System, Mega Komputindo Lestari, Trinet Prima Solusi, PT ACA Pacific, PT Ingram Micro Indonesia, PT Zies Tekno Indonesia, etc., to congratulate PT Sangfor Technologies Indonesia.

Sangfor Technologies has been in Indonesia since 2010, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sangfor Technologies Inc. "We came to Indonesia because the industry here is dynamic and loadedwith new opportunities driven by organizations actively seeking digitalization," said Don Lin, Country manager of PT Sangfor Technologies Indonesia.







"We strive to support local companies and organizations in addressing the business challenges they face in the digital economy today," said Carson Tu, Product Director of PT Sangfor Technologies Indonesia. "Our internet access control solution, IAM, provides internet bandwidth management. Our wan acceleration solution, WANO, can significantly improve WAN speed. Our NGAF, for enterprise firewall protection, increases security visibility and enhances real-time detection, thus effectively preventing malicious software and activities."

"We have our hyper-converged infrastructure solution, since HCI is the fastest growing segment in IT infrastructure market as organizations of all sizes continue to want substantial infrastructure simplification. Finally we offer virtual desktop solution," Carson added.

"We are committed to meet local customers' needs", said Don, "we have 600+ local customers with organizations and companies like PT Cemindo Gemilang, K-Link, PT Sinta Prima Feedmill, Kotamobagu North Sulawesi, Kementerian Perindustrian, Lippo Karawaci, Kementerian Perhubungan, RPX, Koperasi Nusantara, Click Square, Gadjah Mada University, BMKG, Hermina Hospital Group, BNI, J&T Express, PT Trakindo Utama, PT Trimegah Sekuritas, etc."

Paul Wang, President of Southeast Asia, Sangfor Technologies Inc., said Indonesia will continue to be one of the key markets of Sangfor, particularly by looking at the IT strategies implemented by organizations and companies.

"We want to take our business in Indonesia to a much higher level, by helping organizations transform and face new cyber threats in this cloud era", said Paul.

Sangfor Technologies Inc. is a global leading vendor of network security and cloud computing solutions with 60+ offices around the world.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171115/1993518-1

SOURCE Sangfor Technologies Inc.
[November 16, 2017] Singapore, Bangalore and Barcelona Choose DataCity to Develop Innovative Solutions for Urban Sustainability

PARIS, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "Cities are the biggest cause of climate change, its biggest victims and its best hopes for solutions." (Marie-Vorgan Le Barzic, CEO of NUMA) (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/601815/NUMA_Logo.jpg )

The urgency of the situation means city leaders around the world must use every tool available to make a difference before it is too late. DataCity was created by NUMA in 2015 to help cities test and implement solutions quickly, with the potential to be replicated to other cities for large-scale and fast impact. DataCity is an open innovation program for smart city based on 2 core beliefs: Data is key to identify challenges, design solutions and ensure scalability

Change can only happen through a multi-actor co-design approach The program brings together corporations, public authorities and startups,from challenge definition to co-developing innovative solutions. Drawing on the expertise and datasets provided by partners and with advice from DataCity experts, startups test and co-develop concrete solutions, to build more sustainable, inclusive and livable cities.



NUMA is a leading French innovation hub and key player of the innovation & tech ecosystem Towards a global smart city open innovation network

"Cities in every part of the world seeking innovative, data-driven solutions to the threat of climate change, because they recognise the urgency of the challenge we face. Singapore and Bangalore will provide an invaluable contribution to the DataCity project." - Mark Watts, C40, Executive Director. Building on the success of the program in Paris and Casablanca, DataCity is now expanding internationally through a partnership between NUMA and C40 Cities - a network of 91 of the world's greatest cities committed to tackling climate change. The international development of DataCity is taking a step forward with 3 new cities joining the program: Singapore with IMDA (Infocomm Media Development Authority) and GovTech (Government Technology Agency) through a partnership with Impact Hub Singapore, Bangalore with the government of Karnataka (Ministry of Information and Technology) and Barcelona with the support of Barcelona City Council. The program is also supported at a global level by technical partners who provide their expertise and technology. Carto and OpenDataSoft are joining the list of partners for all upcoming programs around the world. Download our press kit on http://bit.ly/DataCityPressKit https://datacity.numa.co/

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CTA Announces Media Days Schedule for CES 2018

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) today announced the official lineup for CES 2018 Media Days, featuring CES Unveiled Las Vegas, a media-only preview of exhibitor product launches, a presentation of anticipated technology trends for 2018 and two days of exclusive news events from exhibitors. CES (News - Alert), produced by CTA, runs Jan. 9-12, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nev.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MEDIA DAYS SCHEDULE

Media Days will kick off at 1 PM on Sunday, Jan. 7 with exhibitor news conferences and lead into a presentation by Steve Koenig, CTA's senior director of market research, exploring Tech Trends to Watch in 2018. CES Unveiled Las Vegas, the official media event of CES, will immediately follow drawing more than 1,500 influential media from around the world. The CES 2018 Best of Innovation Awards Honorees will be on display along with tabletop displays from more than 100 cutting-edge CES exhibitors.

CTA expanded Media Days programming in 2017 to two days to help meet demand for advance information, story preparation and exhibitor news.

Open exclusively to registered CES media, Media Day programming will take place at Mandalay Bay and run through 5:45 PM on Monday, January 8, 2018. The full schedule can be found here. Following Media Day 2, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich will deliver the CES preshow keynote address at 6:30 PM, Monday, Jan. 8, in a new CES venue, Monte Carlo's Park Theater. The Park Theater is part of CES Tech South. Please check the CES Keynote Addresses page regularly for updates on the keynote schedule.







LOGISTICS

Complimentary shuttle service for media will run from select official CES hotels to Mandalay Bay on both Media Days. Shuttles will also be available to take media to the preshow keynote at Monte Carlo's Park Theater on Jan. 8.

Lunch is available to registered CES media beginning at 11:30 AM on Media Day 2 (Jan. 8) in the Mandalay Bay Media Room (Level 2, Breakers Ballroom).

All CES 2018 media room locations and hours are available online. Exhibit halls will open 10 AM Tuesday, January 9, 2017.

CES 2018 is the global stage for innovation and will span more than 2.6 million net square feet of exhibit space and feature more than 3,900 exhibiting companies unveiling technologies, products and services that touch every industry, including the content industry.

Take a look at three new areas at CES 2018. High-definition video b-roll from CES is available for easy download on CESbroll.com. See exclusive photos from the CES show floor, keynotes, conference sessions, events and award ceremonies in the CES photo gallery.

About CES:

CES is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years-the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers. Check out CES video highlights. Follow CES online at CES.tech and on social.

About Consumer Technology Association:

Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is the trade association representing the $321 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies - 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world's best known brands - enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES - the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA's industry services.

UPCOMING EVENTS

CES Media Days

January 7-8, 2018, Las Vegas, NV

January 7-8, 2018, Las Vegas, NV CES Unveiled Las Vegas

January 7, Las Vegas, NV

January 7, Las Vegas, NV CES 2018 - Register

January 9-12, Las Vegas, NV

January 9-12, Las Vegas, NV CES Asia 2018

June 13-15, Shanghai, China

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115006371/en/
[November 15, 2017] Blockchain and Payments Take Center Stage at Inside Fintech Conference & Expo 2017 in Seoul, South Korea, November 30 - December 1, 2017

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Inside Fintech Conference & Expo, Asia's premier professional conference for blockchain and Fintech innovation organised by Rising Media, has announced that the event will host up to 2,000+ industry leaders from Google, Visa, Microsoft, HSBC, IBM, and other top-tier firms to discuss and explore applications of Blockchain technology as well as various Fintech innovations around the globe. Exploring Blockchain's Potential Inside Fintech aims to discover just how far the Blockchain can go in today's developed financial sector. In addition to Blockchain technology, Inside FinTech will discuss disruption in Payments, AI, Cloud Computing, Banking, eCommerce, InsurTech, Authentication, and Wealth management. While Mauro Sauco from Google will be speaking on Cloud Computing, Dongbum Lee from Microsoft, Jae-Woo Ha from R3, SeYoul Park from IBM, Talal Tabbaa from Jibrel Network, Ella Qiang from Stellar and Alejandro De la Torre from BTC.com (acquired by Bitmain,), will all be there to discuss how to make Blockchain real for enterprises.



A Major Platform for Blockchain to Prosper Inside Fintech represents every sector of the financial market. The event, which is to be held at KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center) from November 30 - December 1, 2017, boasts over 2,200 attendees with 200 CEOs & Presidents, from 600 companies and 32 countries. Both domestic and international delegates are joining the conference to hear the likes of Citibank's Terry Oh discuss the power of AI in the financial sphere, and to hear more about the power of Blockchain technology.

Sponsors and Exhibitors to be highlighted this year In addition to the conference, Inside Fintech features a robust exhibition hall with top-tier sponsors and exhibitors. Among the sponsors are Jibrel Network, aiming to fully automate and decentralize consumer banking through ethereum blockchain and Stellar specialized in cross-border payments and multi-asset transactions are confirmed as Platinum Sponsors this year. BTC.com, acquired by Bitmain, is confirmed to participate as a Gold Sponsor at Inside Fintech 2017. Upcoming Price Break and Sponsorship Opportunities Inside Fintech Conference & Expo if offering a pre-registration 20% discount until November 29. To register, visit www.insidefintechconference.com/seoul. Companies interested in sponsoring Inside Fintech should contact [email protected]. Rising Media is a global events and media producer excelling in Internet and technology-related events and content. Events include Inside 3D Printing, RoboUniverse, Virtual Reality Summit, Data Driven Business, Building Business Capability, Predictive Analytics World, Text Analytics World, eMetrics Summit, Digital Growth Unleashed, AllFacebook Marketing Conference, All Influencer Marketing Conference, Search Marketing Expo, Affiliate Management Days, Influencer Marketing Days, Future of Immersive Leisure, Global Online Classifieds Summit, and Web Effectiveness Conference in the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, India, China, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Brazil. Media Contact Christoph Rowen

+852-9190-4412

[email protected] Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171114/1992103-1 SOURCE Rising Media

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[November 15, 2017] VMware Accelerates Enterprise Transformation in Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- During the company's annual vFORUM event, VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a global leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility, laid out its vision today for enterprise transformation in an increasingly app-driven and multi-cloud world. With more business and IT leaders recognizing digital transformation's positive impact, VMware demonstrated how enterprises can achieve business outcomes with a portfolio of solutions that help modernize data centers, integrate public clouds and empower digital workspaces. Businesses in Southeast Asia are ramping up on their digital transformation strategies, as IT plays an increasingly important role in creating differentiated customer experiences and driving business outcomes. In a recent Gartner survey of CIOs, companies in the region are spending slightly more than a quarter of their IT budgets on digitization, and this is set to increase by more than 10 percent in 2018[1]. "Digital transformation yields tangible results for businesses, and it is heartening to see more organizations leveraging technology to extend the limits of what's possible. VMware is committed to equipping organizations with the digital tools to run, manage, connect and secure any application on any cloud to any device, enabling them to make the most of the opportunities before them," said Ron Goh, president, Southeast Asia and Korea, VMware. Cloud as an Enabler of True Digital Transformation Cloud is the heart of true digital transformation. With more than 60 percent of companies in the region planning to adopt both on-premises and cloud-based models[2], a multi-cloud environment is increasingly the critical enabler for business success. V3 Smart Technologies' (V3) successful cloud journey exemplifies this reality. V3 is a leading provider of smart mobility and automation solutions for over 600 customers and 10,000 vehicles in Singapore, and needed an IT infrastructure to scale IT resources rapidly based on customer demand. After transitioning to an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) model, enabled by Singtel and VMware, V3 reduced operational overheads and infrastructure costs by half, and can now roll out new applications and services to customers within days instead of months, sharpening its competitive edge. To continue pushing the boundaries in delivering best-in-class cloud services, VMware unveiled a new set of products and services at VMworld U.S. earlier this year. The priority was to make cloud easy by partnering with public cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud and more than 4,300 cloud service providers globally, to provide a consistent infrastructure across all clouds, even those not based on VMware technologies. The expanded VMware Cloud Provider Program and new VMware Cloud Services enable organizations to manage, secure, monitor and automate cloud infrastructure and applications by providing a unified approach for end-to-end visibility into cloud usage, costs, and network traffic. A People-First Approach to Mobility The nature of work is changing. With work no longer tethered to static workplaces, a people-first, mobile approach is becoming essential. Instead of silo-ed application and device management strategies with multiple end-points across different locations, hardware and software, these future digital workspace platforms deliver a simple and secure experience for both end-users and IT teams. For a leading global financial institution, this new work paradigm resulted in the need to equip its 200,000 employees with a seamless and easy-to-use platform, allowing them to deliver quality customer service. In partnership with Dell EMC, VMware worked closely with the organization to tailor a suite of software-defined workspace solutions, VMware Horizon Enterprise Edition. This created an IT architecture that made it easier for employees to get work done in real-time from any device or location by simplifying access and app management, while keeping all information secured. "Standard web and office productivity apps are driving more immersive experiences, and consuming greater endpoint resources than ever before. In close collaboration with VMware, we look to empower the bank's employees with solutions ideal for VDI environments," said Eric Goh, managing director and vice president, Singapore Enterprise Business, Dell EMC. "The Dell EMC VDI solution, powered by VMware Horizon software and built on Dell EMC infrastructure and software-defined storage, enables employees to self-manage the apps they need at any given time, reducing complexity, safeguarding corporate data and streamlining IT management and delivery. By virtualizing its business-critical apps, the bank is able to ensure that its workforce can remain productive while drastically reducing the organization's exposure to data being compromised at endpoints." To further empower the digital workspaces of the future, VMware is expanding its VMware Workspace ONE solution to deliver the broadest platform and endpoint support for end-users and IT teams. The enhanced Workspace ONE solution will extend a native client experience to iOS, Android, macOS, Windows 10 and Chromebooks so that end-users can access everything they need for work from a single unified digital workspace. To reduce complexity for IT teams, Workspace ONE will also unify context, identity and device management into a single streamlined management console. Future-Grade Data Centers Redefining customer experiences, improving employee engagement and increasing operational efficiency are only possible if a future-ready IT infrastructure is in place. A modernized data center is key to increasing the performance and efficiency of IT resources and strengthening the availability and security of critical applications. For local telecommunications provider, M1, the company's Software-Defined Networking Data Centre (SDNDC) powered by the VMware Cloud Provider program, has demonstrated significant customer momentum, according to M1, in empowering organizations to drive innovation and business growth. One of the SDNDC's customers, Teralytics, depends on the facility to process and crunch massive volumes of data quickly. Equipped with the ability to deliver billions of signals from multiple sources rapidly, the data analytics company can create timely and actionable insights for its end-customers, including city planners, transportation operators, car manufacturers and ride-sharing companies. Extending its leadership position in virtualization, VMware announced new releases of Integrated OpenStack and VMware vRealize Network Insight earlier this year. These releases are aimed at helping customers modernize their data centers to increase business and developer agility, while introducing increased networking and security capabilities. Additionally, VMware is unveiling a new VMware vSAN offering to reduce the cost and complexity of collecting, storing and processing data to support Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives, especially in defense, oil and gas, manufacturing and retail. The New Digital Paradigm Technology is no longer only about optimizing costs of ownership and operations, but also about driving business innovation and growth. Cloud, whether private, public or hybrid has become ubiquitous over the last few years and companies are leveraging cloud to improve business speed and flexibility in some way, shape or form. Managing users, resources and applications across multiple clouds, however, raises a new set of challenges including governance and control, workload provisioning and placement, capacity management, portability and the need to monitor performance, and cost transparency across clouds. "In this new digital paradigm, we empower our customers to succeed with solutions that are tailored to specific business and industry needs. VMware's vision for cloud is what organizations really need from a unified, multi-cloud environment: the ability to securely and efficiently work across any cloud with flexibility and choice. With our portfolio of cloud and infrastructure solutions, we are ready to continue supporting our customers in Southeast Asia to drive digital transformation and realize the region's digital future," added Goh. Media Contacts







Mark Koh FleishmanHillard Singapore SEAK Communications, VMware Phone: +65 6424 6366 / +65 6424 6379 Phone: +65 9022 3938 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]



About VMware VMware, a global leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility, helps customers realize possibilities by accelerating their digital transformation journeys. With VMware solutions, organizations are improving business agility by modernizing data centers and integrating public clouds, driving innovation with modern apps, creating exceptional experiences by empowering the digital workspace, and safeguarding customer trust by transforming security. With 2016 revenue of $7.09 billion, VMware is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA and has over 500,000 customers and 75,000 partners worldwide. VMware, vFORUM, vCloud, vCloud Air, VMware Cloud, Horizon, Workspace ONE, vRealize, Network Insight, and vSAN are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. Other trademarks or names mentioned in this press release belong to respective owners. This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites. [1] March, 2017 - Gartner: Gartner Says CIOs in Southeast Asia Must Balance High Expectations with Moderate Budget Increases [2] June, 2017 - OrbisResearch: Infrastructure as a Service Market-Global Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Trends, and Forecasts to 2023 SOURCE VMware Inc.

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[November 15, 2017] SK Telecom, Hyundai Motor Company, Hanwha & Element AI Create $45M USD Global AI Fund

Element AI, an artificial intelligence company that delivers groundbreaking AI solutions, today announced it has established a joint $45M fund with Korean conglomerates SK Telecom (News - Alert), Hyundai Motor Company, and Hanwha. The new fund leverages each partner's unique value and targets the most promising sectors of commercial AI applications and infrastructure, specifically emerging AI-based technologies including autonomous vehicles, household robots, manufacturing, drones, and hardware. The $45M fund will be actively managed by the three Korean companies with investment advisory by Element AI. Capital will be deployed to leading AI companies over the next 36 months. The fund is designed to use Element AI's extensive domain knowledge, cutting edge research and proprietary pipeline to source, assess, and invest in startups focused on applying AI in advanced technologies. SK Telecom, Hyundai Motor Company and Hanwha's data and deep industry expertise combined with Element AI's artificial intelligence knowledge will both differentiate the fund in the market and add immense value to portfolio companies. "Infusing large companies with artificial intelligence capabilities is the future of global industrialization," said Element AI CEO Jean-Francois Gagne. "Our position in the marketplace gives us extraordinary access to the most cutting-edge technologies being developed today -- all we need are partners and capital commitment to seed the future and that's what we're achieving today with this announcement. SK Telecom, Hyundai, and Hanwha share our passion for investment and building the future; I'm excited we can now work together to create a new global, industrial reality that will serve our local communities well." "SK Telecom is striving to create a 'New ICT industrial ecosystem' that shares various technologies, services and infrastructures such as AI and autonomous driving to create new value," said Ryu Young-Sang, Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy and Planning Division at SK Telecom. "SK Telecom is leading the Korean AI industry by launching NUGU, the first AI speaker service in Korea, and by introducing the world's first 5G Connected Car. Last month, we launched the 'Around Alliance', an alliance of industry-academia and collegiate autonomous vehicles, to secure autonomous driving technology. We hope that the joint investment from different fields will lead to the growth engine of New ICT." "No single company holds the key to the future and this why Hyundai Motor is pursuing such an alliance under the 'open innovation' philosophy," said Dr. Youngcho Chi, the Chief Innovation Officer and the Head of Strategy & Technology Division of Hyundai Motor. "We are pleased to join this great collaboration project with passionate partners who know their space. We look forward to contribuing to the building of an ecosystem for the promising startups within the AI and autonomous driving industry," added Dr. Chi.



Hanwha Asset Management is a comprehensive asset manager with US$ 82bn in AUM in Hanwha Group. Through this partnership, Hanwha will look to create synergies for its portfolio companies, increase the firm's footprint among global start-ups, and strengthen the firm's internal capabilities in assessing innovative technologies and originating new investments. Moreover, this partnership will allow Hanwha Asset Management to closely evaluate the latest Fintech innovations, and grow as a leading asset manager in Asia. About SK Telecom

Established in 1984, SK Telecom is the largest mobile operator in Korea by both revenue and number of subscribers. The company holds around 50 percent of the market, and has reached KRW 17.092 trillion in revenue in 2016. SK Telecom has led the advancement of mobile technologies ranging from 2G to 4G, and is currently setting important milestones in its journey to 5G. The company is not only leading innovation in the field of mobile network, but also providing IoT, AI, automotive, media, home and platform services. SK Telecom is determined to play a significant role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (News - Alert) by achieving innovations and promoting shared growth with other players in the industry. For more information, please contact [email protected] or www.globalskt.com About Hyundai Motor Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond. The company leads the Hyundai Motor Group, an innovative business structure capable of circulating resources from molten iron to finished cars. Hyundai Motor has eight manufacturing bases and seven design & technical centers worldwide and in 2016 sold 4.86 million vehicles globally. With more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with localized models and strives to strengthen its leadership in clean technology, starting with the world's first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle, ix35 Fuel Cell and IONIQ, the world's first model with three electrified powertrains in a single body type. More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at: http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://globalpr.hyundai.com About Hanwha Hanwha Group, founded in 1952, is one of the Top-Ten business enterprises in South Korea and a "FORTUNE Global 500" company. Hanwha Group has 56 domestic affiliates and 226 global networks in three major sectors: manufacturing and construction, finance, and services and leisure. With more than 60 years track record of industrial leadership, Hanwha's manufacturing and construction businesses encompass a broad range of fields from chemicals & materials, aerospace & mechatronics, total solar energy solutions, and global construction. The finance network, covering insurance, asset management and securities, is the second largest non-bank financial group in South Korea. The services and leisure sector offers premium lifestyle services with retail and resort businesses. For more information, visit: www.hanwha.com About Element AI Element AI delivers groundbreaking artificial intelligence solutions to enterprise companies, bringing together the best AI experts and top entrepreneurs to produce next generation AI capabilities for any organization. Element AI is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and is funded by leading investors including BDC Capital, Data Collective, Fidelity Investments Canada, Hanwha Investment, Intel Capital (News - Alert), Microsoft Ventures, National Bank, NVIDIA GPU Ventures, Real Ventures, and Tencent. http://www.elementai.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115006508/en/

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[November 15, 2017] Japanese Firm Chaintope and Vizitech Solutions Launch a Blockchain R&D Center in Pune

PUNE, India, November 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vizitech Solutions, a Fintech company based out of Pune, recently signed an agreement with Japanese blockchain start-up, Chaintope to set up a blockchain R&D center. This center, to be located in Pune, will conduct innovative blockchain research and will train developers in this revolutionary technology. Chaintope will leverage this new center to further research and product development in areas such as Smart Contracts, a space where the company has already positioned itself as a market leader. For instance, Chaintope recently launched in Japan a blockchain application to facilitate real estate transactions by storing validated land ownership records, allowing faster land deals and reducing fraud-related losses. Vizitech Solutions, a fast growing company in the Managed Services domain, will manage the R&D center in Pune. The company will hire and train high-quality blockchain developers and will help organizations in the U.S. and Japan with their research projects. "This venture will combine Chaintope's cutting-edg research with Vizitech's market leading execution. It will be a great space for young and interested developers to explore this new life-changing technology and have access to opportunities both in India and abroad," says Anandsagar Shiralkar, Founder and CEO of Vizitech. Vizitech's team and Mr Hideki Shoda (Founder, Chaintope) visited multiple colleges back in October, including SICSR and PICT, the result of which was a number of promising hires. "We hope to create opportunities for many more candidates soon," says Mr Shoda, whose vision for the R&D center is to become a digital playground for young blockchain developers and enthusiasts in India.



Vizitech had been exploring the blockchain space for over a year. Their team created Blockchain Meetup groups, taught over 10,000 students via online courses and formed an international blockchain community of experts, investors, entrepreneurs and developers, focused on creating a resource pool of quality blockchain developers and partners for projects in the U.S., Japan, Middle East and India. Blockchain is a distributed ledger system that eliminates intermediaries and cannot be hacked. This technology, which was originally born as the supporting technology for the viral cryptocurrency 'Bitcoin' has expanded into many other industries with potential far reaching consequences in their respective domains.

Blockchain awareness is increasing in India with initiatives like the Bankchain consortium (which now has more than 27 banks) and the Fintech Valley in Vizag. Add to this, the scope for growth in the digital economy in India and the future of this new technology is boundless. For more information, please visit https://www.vizitechsolutions.com/ Media Contact:

Anand Shiralkar

[email protected]

+91-8888766006

Vizitech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.



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[November 16, 2017] Virgin Hyperloop One Signs MoU in India With the Government of Maharashtra to Conduct its Preliminary Study

MUMBAI, November 16,2017 /PRNewswire/ -- - Announces preliminary study in India by signing an MoU with the Government of Maharashtra - Company promises to create progressive transportation solutions for the State

VIRGIN HYPERLOOP ONE today announced its partnership with the Government of Maharashtra with an intent to conduct a preliminary study in the region. The US-based company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to identify potential routes and analyze the high-level economic impact and technical viability of hyperloop transportation solutions in India. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/605958/Virgin_Hyperloop_Partners_Govt_of_Maharashtra.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/605959/CM_Maharashtra_Virgin_Hyperloop_One.jpg )

Virgin Hyperloop One will work with its partners in the region and the PMRDA will help navigate the regulatory requirements and support the report with data. The preliminary study is intended to analyse the applicability and benefits of hyperloop technology, identify high priority routes within the State based on demand analysis and socio-economic benefits, and inform the Government of Maharashtra in any future decision to progress to the full project stage. Virgin Hyperloop One will improve economic competitiveness, reduce congestion and emissions, and provide citizens with greater social and economic mobility. As it is the only company in the world that has built and successfully tested a full-scale hyperloop system, there is a growing demand for a hyperloop from governments and the private sectors around the world. Apart from India, Virgin Hyperloop One is working on projects in countries like the UAE, U.S., Canada, Finland, and the Netherlans.



"A hyperloop route requires high-density traffic to become viable as a means of rapid public transit. Mumbai and Pune, the most and seventh most populous cities in India respectively, have the potential to provide an optimal route with a high density," said Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri. Devendra Fadnavis. "By reducing travel time to under 20 minutes, a hyperloop route will help intensify the connectivity between the metropolitan regions of Pune and Mumbai, transforming the two cities into India's first and largest Megapolis," he added. Looking at the present traffic scenario in Mumbai, Virgin Hyperloop One can reinvent and transform transportation in Maharashtra as it redefines speed with minimal time consumption. A hyperloop solution could revolutionize the transport experience. For example:

It would take just 14-minutes to travel between Mumbai and the fast-growing city of Pune , a journey that currently takes up to 3 hours by car

and the fast-growing city of , a journey that currently takes up to 3 hours by car It could also streamline airport connectivity, such as connecting Pune's new Purandar Airport to the city center or Navi Mumbai International Airport to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

new Purandar Airport to the city center or Navi Mumbai International Airport to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport It could look at connecting Nagpur, which is in the easternmost part of Maharashtra, with Mumbai and Pune to vastly improve passenger and freight transportation

"To coincide with the Digital India initiative and the pivotal role that technology will play in it, Virgin Hyperloop One can be a key facilitator," said Nick Earle, SVP Global Field Operations, Virgin Hyperloop One. "India has a proud track record of technological advancement by leapfrogging legacy solutions as illustrated by the successful national roll out of 3G and 4G networks. Hyperloop represents a leapfrog opportunity which will enable a dramatic reimagining of the complete transportation system," he added. India has been facing major transportation challenges. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, 65% of India's freight is transported on the country's strained and congested road networks. With speeds 2-3 times faster than high-speed rail, and being fully autonomous, hyperloop technology can deliver a 300-km commute in under 20 minutes and address many of these issues. "This preliminary study will help the Government of Maharashtra provide its citizens with a cleaner, safer, and faster mode of transportation," said Harj Dhaliwal, Managing Director, Middle East & India, Virgin Hyperloop One. "Virgin Hyperloop One is the only company in the world that has successfully built and tested the first full-scale hyperloop system. With this report, the Government of Maharashtra will be able to identify viable routes that link commercial and knowledge hubs dispersed throughout the region with greater mobility and unparalleled efficiency," he added. About Virgin Hyperloop One Virgin Hyperloop One is the only company in the world that has built a fully operational Hyperloop system. Our team has the world's leading experts in engineering, technology and transport project delivery, working in tandem with global partners and investors to make hyperloop a reality, now. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company was co-founded by Executive Co-Chairman Shervin Pishevar and CTO Josh Giegel, and is led by CEO Rob Lloyd. For more information, visit http://www.hyperloop-one.com. Media Contacts

For Genesis Burson-Marsteller

Shivangi Prabhudesai

[email protected]

+91-9769351676



For Virgin Hyperloop One

Marcy Simon

[email protected]





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[November 16, 2017] ADVA wins MEF 2017 award for risk-free NFV solution

FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4) with pluggable server takes Carrier Ethernet 2.0 prize Orlando, Florida, USA. November 16, 2017. ADVA announced today that it has won the MEF 2017 Carrier Ethernet 2.0 (CE 2.0) award in the Third Network Technology Solutions Award category. The accolade honors the ADVA FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4), a solution for multi-layer business service demarcation and virtual network functions (VNF) hosting with a hot-swappable, pluggable server. Judges recognized the value of the ADVA FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4), which removes the risk of introducing virtualization by enabling communication service providers (CSPs) to easily and cost-effectively roll out network functions virtualization (NFV). The unique device also helps with server lifecycle management by making the process of upgrading simple and efficient. "With this device, we're tearing down the entry barriers to the NFV market. By winning the hotly contested CE 2.0 category, the MEF panel is highlighting how our unique approach makes virtualized service delivery possible for so many more customers," said Stephan Rettenberger, SVP, marketing and investor relations, ADVA. "Our FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4) completes the virtualization business case. For many CSPs, it's the missing piece of the puzzle, providing a pain-free route to NFV-based service delivery. With its VNF service assurance and innovative hardware-based support functions, our solution offers more than any competing technology. And, thanks to our device's pluggable modular server, we're enabling CSPs to deploy the latest innovation as soon as it's available." The ADVA FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4), whch hit the market in Q3 2017, combines proven CE 2.0 demarcation technology with a hot-swappable server for straightforward migration from legacy technology to high-value, NFV-based managed IT services. It empowers CSPs to grow their business without the need for significant upfront investment in management systems and cloud data centers. When combined with Ensemble Connector software, the ADVA FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4) enables NFV infrastructure resources to be configured and activated by zero touch automation, minimizing the need for manual intervention. The solution also protects connections with encryption through hardware-based security features, as well as securing system integrity with access control and providing in-service monitoring of servers and software appliances with a fully integrated, patent-pending test solution.



"The value of our FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4) is clear to see. To put it plainly: this product is the key to risk-free NFV deployment. Now CSPs are able to rollout virtualization as and when needed," commented Ulrich Kohn, director, technical marketing, ADVA. "Accepting this major honor means a lot to our team. The MEF17 panel of expert analysts clearly understands the compelling business case that our FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4) creates. Every aspect of this technology has been engineered to align capital costs with actual revenue. That's why we included a pluggable server that's easily upgradable. It means the solution grows at the same pace as your business. By removing all of the risk and all of the unnecessary cost, we're making NFV accessible to a far wider range of customers." Watch this product video for more information on the ADVA FSP 150 ProVMe (P2.4): https://youtu.be/cwYvk6IUsco.

About ADVA Optical Networking

ADVA Optical Networking is a company founded on innovation and driven to help our customers succeed. For over two decades, our technology has empowered networks across the globe. We're continually developing breakthrough hardware and software that leads the networking industry and creates new business opportunities. It's these open connectivity solutions that enable our customers to deliver the cloud and mobile services that are vital to today's society and for imagining new tomorrows. Together, we're building a truly connected and sustainable future. For more information on how we can help you, please visit us at: www.advaoptical.com . Published by:

ADVA Optical Networking SE, Munich, Germany

www.advaoptical.com For press:

Gareth Spence

t +44 1904 699 358

[email protected] For investors:

Stephan Rettenberger

t +49 89 890 665 854

[email protected]

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[November 16, 2017] Chinese Fintech Company Neo Online Recognized as 2017 Deloitte Rising Star

GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 9, the 2017 Deloitte China Rising Star award ceremony was held in Guangzhou, China. Neo Online, the China's leading fintech company was honored as the 2017 Deloitte Rising Star. The activity of Deloitte China Rising Star is to honor the leading businesses which focus on the market segments with the huge growth potential. At the award ceremony, Mr. Jensen Zhao, the managing partner of Deloitte commented that this year 35 enterprises had been selected as China Rising Star, which were mainly from the Internet field. For years, many companies which participated in Deloitte's Rising Star Program have become technological giants in China and throughout the world. Leading enterprises such as Apple, Google, Facebook, Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, JD and Qihoo 360 have all been honored with the "Deloitte Rising Stars" award. The Deloitte China Rising Star program aims at selecting the leading enterprises distributed across different fields. The winning enterprises must display strong competitiveness, unique and innovative business models, technologies, and a good social reputation. This year, the China Rising Star were nominated and selected jointly by Deloitte and China Renassance who chose leading enterprises with rapid growth in China's high-tech industry and with an objective and fair attitude. The inclusion criteria set high demands for the enterprise's innovative capacity, including technology, products, business models, core management team and market influence. This selection has become known as the cradle for "Rising Stars". The winners have been praised by mainstream financial media worldwide as the "benchmark for high-growth enterprises in China".



Since 2016, Neo Online has begun to implement a "Fintech" driving strategy to optimize its financial risk control process and fully enhance its risk control capacity through big data and artificial intelligence. Recently, the platform has unveiled its third generation core system, which has deeply integrated with the complete set of big data risk control technology system of the big data department from Neo Online's sister company - Neo FinTech Co., applied technologies such as Automatic User Information Crawling Technology, OCR automatic identification technology for user related scans and risk control model's based on big data machine learning to achieve an automatic and intelligent credit process. Finally, it has enhanced the efficiency of the automatic process by 90% and the overall verification efficiency by 50%. About Neo Online

Launched in June 2013, Neo Online (www.xiaoniu88.com) is one of the first set of members of China Internet Finance Association, and now has become one of China's largest online smart banking services platforms. Neo Online's vision is to make investment and financing become transparent, simple and efficient. According to the 2016 China Internet Financial Platform Risk Rating and Analysis Report published by The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Neo Online ranked sixth nation-wide and first in South China. For media enquiry: Neo Online Internet Information Consulting Co., Ltd

Kimmi Kong

Phone:0086-18575688624, 00852-95650624

Email: [email protected] Neo Capital Management Group Co., Ltd

Cecile Zhang

Phone:0086-18621658793, 00852-67413407

Email: [email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinese-fintech-company-neo-online-recognized-as-2017-deloitte-rising-star-300557488.html SOURCE Neo Online

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[November 16, 2017] The Salon sur les meilleures pratiques d'affaires celebrates its 25th anniversary with first-ever presentation in Canada of a cyber-physical factory

High-caliber program draws 3,000 participants MONTREAL, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Le Mouvement quebecois de la qualite this morning kicked off the 25th edition of the Salon sur les meilleures pratiques d'affaires (www.salonmpa.com), organized in collaboration with the Government of Quebec, especially the Ministere de l'Economie, de la Science et de l'Innovation. More than 3,000 business leaders, experts and quality enthusiasts converged at the Palais des congres de Montreal to participate in the largest event dedicated to continuous improvement and innovation in Quebec. "We are proud to present for the first time in Canada the cyber-physical factory of the Centre de recherche industrielle du Quebec (CRIQ). This veritable factory-school, which integrates new production technologies and connected systems, promotes learning about how 4.0 industrial projects work and enables participants to discover the best practices surrounding this next industrial revolution," says Johanne Maletto, Executive Director of the Mouvement quebecois de la qualite. Over the past 25 years, the Salon has played host to more than 1,000 improvement, innovation and engagement projects. This year, some 40 teams from across Quebec and from all sectors of activity are eager to share lessons learned within their respective organizations. Thanks to their approach, they have improved their productivity, the quality of their products and services, and their innovation processes. The Salon offers a rich program, including pavilions on trending topics, major presentations, a Leaders' Forum, and training sessions taught by recognized experts. This is a unique opportunity for those who are passionate about continuous improvement and innovation to exchange ideas and discover success stories by Quebec companies and ew trends.



A diversified program aligned with business needs Pavilions on intelligent manufacturing and problem solving

The Mouvement quebecois de la qualite, the Government of Quebec and the CRIQ have joined forces to present a pavilion dedicated to the Factory 4.0. Intelligent manufacturing is about connecting production systems, or even factories, around the globe so that they can communicate and make decisions themselves. This revolution is paving the way for highly flexible and highly customized production systems. Companies that have already begun the 4.0 shift will be on hand to share their experiences.

A second pavilion dedicated to problem solving provides participants with simulations in a structured approach, enabling them to experience all the steps of a problem-solving process. Experts will present a series of creative tools and methods that visitors can test and compare, including 8D, PCRP, Kaizen, DMAAC and A3. High-calibre presentations

Two major presentations are on the program. Dr. John Izzo, speaker and author of six best-sellers, has advised more than 500 organizations throughout his career to help them build a sustainable competitive advantage through a highly motivated work environment. Backed by compelling examples, Dr. Izzo's presentation, entitled 100% Responsibilities - 0% Excuses, is an invitation to disrupt the status quo and take personal responsibility. In his lecture, Mr. Imed Othamani, Associate Partner at IBM Canada, is presenting the concepts of artificial intelligence and related fields such as Big Data and the Internet of Things (loT), as well as the latest advances and case studies in the industrial sector. Leaders' Forum

The Leaders' Forum features four business leaders who are on the rise: Jean Bedard, President and CEO of Sportscene Group; Stephane Glorieux, President of Keurig Canada; Philippe Morin, President and CEO of EXFO; and Eric Wazana, President and Founder of Yoga Jeans, Beauce Jeans and Second Clothing. These high-level executives have agreed to share with thousands of participants how they have managed to adapt and change their business model to better propel their growth. In lively discussions, they reveal lessons learned and the major challenges they have faced during these periods of profound transformation. Training Sessions

Training workshops on cutting-edge topics are also being offered to visitors, including the power of group animation as a mobilization tool for action as well as the benefits of the kata approach when deploying performance. About the Mouvement quebecois de la qualite et du Salon

The Mouvement quebecois de la qualite (www.qualite.qc.ca) is an association dedicated to performance improvement that brings together 600 companies from all economic sectors. For the community of Quebec organizations, the Mouvement quebecois de la qualite is both the greatest source of information and the largest association of organizations dedicated to best management practices. The Salon sur les meilleures pratiques d'affaires is organized by the Mouvement quebecois de la qualite and is presented in collaboration with the Government of Quebec, especially the Ministere de l'Economie, de la Science et de l'Innovation. The Salon receives financial support from its major partners: Canada Economic Development, Hydro-Quebec, Alcoa, AcelorMittal, CNESST, Fink Steel, Fonds de solidarite FTQ, Investissement Quebec, Kruger and Paccar Canada. SOURCE Mouvement quebecois de la qualite

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[November 16, 2017] Cloudistics Unveils Comprehensive New Channel Program to Drive Growth and Expand Distribution

RESTON, Va., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloudistics, the enterprise on premises cloud computing company, today launched its comprehensive new channel partner program Accelerate that aims to provide the highest level of support and unique enablement required by each of its partners.

Its a straightforward, simple program that demonstrates our commitment to empowering our channel community to assure our mutual and profitable long term and repeatable success, explained Cloudistics VP of Worldwide Channel Sales & Marketing, Chris Myhill. We need the deep customer relationship and technical prowess of our partner community to ensure customer success, and this program both recognizes and honors that. Accelerate, the three-pronged program, addresses the support needs of the companys value added resellers (VARs), Technology Alliance Partners (TAP) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs), via three satellite programs that are each uniquely tailored to these audiences. Cloudistics Reseller Program - Two tiers catering to the diverse needs of different size partners, and categorized as Authorized Partner and Premier Partner. By meeting sets of clearly defined criteria, resellers will gain access to one or the other tier; unlocking comprehensive benefits that range from financial to services, business support and marketing. Technology Alliance Program - Cloudistics develops joint relationships with influential technology partners to extend their joint markets and solutions, while enhancing products for its customers. Two unique programs make this vision possible  the Cloudistics ISV Program and the Cloudistics OEM Program. Cloudistics ISV Program offers partners inclusion in the Cloudistics Marketplace, a launchpad via which customers can avail themselves of near-instant delivery of leading software titles with just a few clicks. Among other benefits, it also unlock the ability of ISVs to use the Marketplace to create bundles with complementary products and services.



The OEM Program provides a versatile foundational platform with all the essential building blocks of IT infrastructure for system builders to build upon and sell packaged solutions to their end-customers. Thus, instead of individually sourcing components and committing time and effort to integrating them, this program makes it easy for system builders to acquire and distribute these solutions. Embedded in both Cloudistics TAP channel programs are benefits that range from technical support, to bundled product offerings, and joint marketing and sales initiatives and support.

After meeting with Cloudistics and seeing its product, it is clear the company is committed to having successful relationships with its partners. Our objective is to have a partnership with a leading SDDC provider that allows us to have a joint approach to the market place with innovative technologies. We are excited to partner with Cloudistics which has shown it has the tools and products needed to assure our success, said Dallas Digital Services VP, Howie Evans. We have seen what the Cloudistics platform provides and are excited to show this to our customer base. We cant help but win with the most advanced data center technologies, delivered in the most simplistic method from Cloudistics. Participating in Cloudistics MSP Partner Program grants MSPs access to the StarterCloud and ReadyCloud solutions that assist them with launching on-premise cloud offerings that can be re-sold to customers and packaged as cloud infrastructure on demand; secondary disaster recovery site; or as backup scenarios. The pre-packaged StarterCloud platform empowers MSPs to build their own private cloud services, starting with a complete Cloudistics on-premise cloud platform that delivers all the features and functionality of public cloud in an affordable manner. The ReadyCloud option delivers to MSPs friction-free channel selling with a utility-based approach, via the ability to create and scale their cloud business in an affordable, consumable manner with monthly usage billing. Apart from the ability to quickly construct private cloud services that deliver immediate customer value, the benefits of participating in the MSP Partner Program include, reduced risk via lower initial cap-ex, and Cloudistics provision of a consultative process through the launch of each partners cloud product offering. In partnership with our channel we aim to provide innovative and competitive solutions that excite our mutual customers, are rewarding, and which jointly allow us to earn business in an ethical and moral manner. I believe our new channel program, and the 360-degree manner in which it addresses supporting, incentivizing and rewarding our partners, will go a long way towards helping us achieve this goal, concluded Myhill. About Cloudistics

Cloudistics, an enterprise on premises cloud computing company, enables enterprises and service providers to deliver composable cloud services. Its software-defined technology natively converges network, storage, compute, virtualization, and management into a single platform to drive unprecedented simplicity in the data center. Customers can start with a base infrastructure and scale to multi-site and multi-geo infrastructures with predictable economics and performance. With open and secure virtual networking, elastic all-flash storage, application orchestration and SaaS management, Cloudistics is the blueprint for application-optimized enterprise hybrid cloud infrastructures. Learn more at www.cloudistics.com or follow @cloudistics on Twitter. Media Contact Waters Communications [email protected]

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[November 16, 2017] With ARCOS, NOVEC looks to reduce length of power outages

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARCOS LLC is implementing its ARCOS Callout and Scheduling Suite to help Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) expedite electric service restoration, focus on safety and reduce the utilitys System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), which is the total annual duration of outage interruptions per customer.

The ARCOS software will automatically find and contact our employees. Instead of spending their valuable time on the phone, our system operators will be able to activate ARCOS with only a few clicks and then focus on critical tasks such as high-voltage switching or coordinating restoration work with service technicians in the field, says Dan Swingle, vice president of System Operations for NOVEC. Were hoping that ARCOS will reduce our service restoration times, which will also help us meet our SAIDI goal. NOVECs 2016 SAIDI was 45.79 minutes, calculated without outages related to major events. The utilitys five-year average SAIDI, excluding major events, is 49.56 minutes. J. D. Power and Associates 2017 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction study placed NOVEC second among the 138 largest electric utilities in the nation. NOVEC also ranked second in Power Quality and Rliability, the largest contributor to overall customer satisfaction, according to the study.



We always look for cost-effective ways to improve performance in the operations division, but at our high level of achievement, its increasingly difficult to reduce SAIDI. We expect ARCOS to give us an edge through automation, adds Swingle. If an automated callout process gets our people to work faster, then well be able to restore power faster. NOVEC has been using a labor-intensive process to monitor minimum callout requirements for approximately 215 union employees. Through its partnership with ARCOS, the Cooperative expects to reduce the amount of staff time it takes to initiate callouts and track responses. According to Swingle, NOVEC administrators, on average, spend an hour per day documenting callouts; sometimes that climbs to three or four hours during a busy event.

Weve also had major events that required operators to spend 9 to 10 hours making callouts, which diverted their focus from their primary job - restoring power to NOVEC customers, says Swingle. With ARCOS, operators and staff can concentrate solely on service and safety, instead of tallying callout requirements and resolving complaints, which can easily require an hour per incident. Through automation of the crew assembly and deployment process, NOVEC expects to improve overall outage response and, thereby, reduce service restoration times, while maintaining its high employee safety standards. The data provided by the ARCOS system will also enable final event reports to be produced quickly and accurately. In addition to its union workforce, NOVEC plans to add another 107 employees to the ARCOS system. This will enable system operators to reach all or specific groups of employees with alerts, news or requests for assistance. Comparing the cost of ARCOS to what weve spent administratively on manual callouts clearly justified the investment in the ARCOS system, adds Swingle. About NOVEC

NOVEC, headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, is a not-for-profit corporation that provides electricity to more than 166,000 metered customers in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, and Clarke counties, the City of Manassas Park, and the Town of Clifton. It also supplies natural gas and energy products and services to consumers in the Washington, D.C., region. The utility serves more customers than any electric co-op in Virginia and is one of the largest electric cooperatives in the United States. About ARCOS LLC

ARCOS is the leader in delivering utility companies SaaS solutions for managing resources in real time. The ARCOS solution goes beyond the callout of crews and automatically plans for all types of events and reports on the up-to-the minute location and status of equipment and crews via mobile technology, which helps utilities restore service faster, yet safely. ARCOS solutions for assessing damage, building crews and managing events save time and money for utilities, while improving the efficiency and accuracy of operations and customer satisfaction. Learn more about ARCOS resource management software at www.arcos-inc.com. Media contact:

Bill Perry

Mobile: 614-975-7538

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[November 16, 2017] Infogain Announces Steven R. Springsteel as Its Newest Board Member

Infogain, a leading business and IT consulting firm, today announced Steven R. Springsteel, CFO at MetricStream, a PE and venture backed global company in the Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) space, has joined Infogain's Board as an Independent Director. Springsteel has more than 20 years of experience as CEO and CFO for leading technology companies including Sagent Technology, Verity Inc., Liquid Robotics Inc. and others. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116005611/en/ Steven R. Springsteel_Board Member_Infogain (Photo: Infogain) Springsteel's expertise inludes structured and negotiated public and private financings, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, complex contracts and divestitures. In addition, he has served on the Boards of Zend, Chordiant (News - Alert) Software Inc., Critical Path and California State Parks Foundation. Springsteel is also a recipient of the prestigious Ernst and Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" award.



Infogain's Board Chairman, Kapil Nanda, said, "Steven Springsteel is known as a trusted advisor and business partner to board members, CEOs and global business unit leaders. His deep understanding and insights on financial, operational and market issues will help us further traverse the dynamics of a changing business environment. I am pleased to welcome Steven to Infogain and look forward to his contributions." About Infogain

Infogain (www.infogain.com) provides front-end, customer-facing technologies, processes and applications that lead to a more efficient and streamlined customer experience for enterprises in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and India. Offering solutions for the high-tech, retail, insurance, healthcare and travel & hospitality verticals, Infogain specializes in areas such as software product engineering, digital service automation, cloud, mobility, testing and business intelligence & analytics. The company has nine delivery centers and close to 4,000 employees globally. Infogain has a customer retention rate of 90%+ over a five-year period. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116005611/en/

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[November 16, 2017] Tata Consultancy Services Named Winner of CA Technologies 2017 Partner Award

LAS VEGAS and MUMBAI, India, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CA WORLD: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, has been recognized as a winner of the CA Partner of the Year in the category of Global Marketing Innovation Partner of the Year. The winners were announced at the CA World '17 Partner Awards Ceremony held last night, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. As the winner of CA Technologies Global Marketing Innovation Partner of the Year, TCS was selected for its increased utilization of the CA Partner Advantage Program to drive market momentum and results, expertise to establish shared business and revenue goals to drive a successful partnership mindset and behavior, and its ability to grow joint pipeline and revenue exponentially through markets and sales innovation. "Together with our partners, we are helping customers remove barriers and accelerate the time from ideas to outcomes," said John Eldh, Senior Vice President, CA's Global Partner Organization. "Each year at CA World, we celebrate the success of our partners with the CA Technologies' Partner Awards. These awards recognize the efforts and achievements of our partners from across the globe. We are pleased to recognize Tata Consultancy Services for their outstanding contribution to CA and their dedication to customer success." "Being awarded the Global Marketing Partnr of the Year Award by CA Technologies is testimony to the strength of our relationship and the expertise we provide," said Raman Venkatraman, Vice President and Global Head of the Alliance & Technology Unit at Tata Consultancy Services. "We look forward to using this recognition as momentum for continuing to deliver valuable and innovative capabilities."



About CA World '17 For nearly two decades, CA World has been the meeting ground where IT leaders build relationships, discover insights and shape the future of IT. In the application economy, CA World offers attendees an opportunity to see and test-drive the software that can help them build their Modern Software Factory to fuel business transformation in this new era. CA World '17 (November 13-17, 2017) will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS) Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that delivers real results to global business, ensuring a level of certainty no other firm can match. TCS offers a consulting-led, integrated portfolio of IT, BPS, infrastructure, engineering and assurance services. This is delivered through its unique Global Network Delivery Model, recognized as the benchmark of excellence in software development. A part of the Tata group, India's largest industrial conglomerate, TCS has over 389,000 of the world's best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of U.S. $17.6 billion for year ended March 31, 2017 and is listed on the BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited. For more information, visit us at www.tcs.com. To stay up-to-date on TCS news in North America, follow @TCS_NA. For TCS global news, follow @TCS_News. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tata-consultancy-services-named-winner-of-ca-technologies-2017-partner-award-300557700.html SOURCE Tata Consultancy Services

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[November 16, 2017] Charles River Showcases New Solutions at 2017 Global Client Conference

Charles River clients, partners and industry experts from 13 countries gathered at the Charles River 2017 Global Client Conference, held November 5-8 in Boca Raton, Florida. More than 550 attendees learned about Charles River's newest offerings and discussed ongoing challenges for the buy side such as incorporating risk analytics into the investment process, expansion of passive investing, methods of integrating the front/middle/back offices and custody, managing OTC derivatives, and deployment of enterprise systems. More than 50 presentations and panel discussions addressed important trends affecting the investment industry and how the Charles River Investment Management Solution (Charles River IMS) helps buy side firms improve investment decision making and front and middle office operations. Product specialists provided demonstrations of Charles River's latest capabilities, and presented product strategy and roadmaps, including: Consolidation of portfolio construction, PMA, risk and scenario analysis into a single workstation for portfolio managers

Multi-asset portfolio management

Trade execution optimization

Evolving middle office strategies and the central role of IBOR

Ensuring readiness for MiFID II, Global Shareholder Disclosure and other regulations

Staying current, improving data quality and reducing cost with Software as a Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) When not in meetings, attendees took advantage of the Demo Center covering the components of the Charles River IMS. The Solutions Pavilion offered opportunities to meet with 20 sponsoring partner firms providing algorithmic trading and execution venues, analytics, data, benchmarks, post-trade services, compliance services and IT infrastructure with the Charles River platform.



Charles River also made several announcements during the conference, highlighting its growing client base for both wealth and institutional investment management (Fiera Capital chooses Charles River IMS), ongoing partnership work to improve access to fixed income liquidity (Charles River partners with OpenDoor), and recent industry recognition (Charles River Compliance has won "Best Buy-Side Compliance Product"). "We are continuously expanding the enterprise capabilities of the Charles River IMS and the conference lets our clients understand where we are headed, as well as see what's available now and learn from other clients' successes," said Peter Lambertus, CEO, Charles River. "To take advantage of these new capabilities, more clients are adopting our SaaS delivery model so they can stay up to date, ensure data quality and enable better investment decisions."

About Charles River

Charles River enables sound and efficient investing across all asset classes. Over 350 firms worldwide use Charles River IMS to manage more than US$25 Trillion (News - Alert) in assets in the institutional investment, wealth management and hedge fund industries. Our Software as a Service-based solution automates and simplifies investment management on a single platform - from portfolio management and risk analytics through trading and post-trade settlement, with integrated risk and compliance throughout. Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, we support clients globally with more than 750 employees in 11 regional offices. For more information, please visit www.crd.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116005911/en/

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[November 16, 2017] SnapLogic Partners with CSC BRASIL to Meet Increasing Demand for Enterprise Integration Technologies Throughout Latin America

SAN MATEO, Calif. and RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SnapLogic, the leader in self-service application and data integration, and CSC BRASIL, a premier consulting and solutions provider focused on data analytics, business intelligence, and infrastructure management, today announced a strategic partnership to help organizations in Latin America improve business processes, accelerate decision-making, and drive better business outcomes.

The rapid growth of the cloud and the rise of big data present unprecedented opportunities that SnapLogic and CSC BRASIL will help their customers unlock. Together, SnapLogic and CSC Brasil are uniquely positioned to deliver simple, powerful solutions that allow customers to quickly and easily connect disparate sources of data and mine valuable insights to expand their businesses. Were excited to be partnering with CSC BRASIL to better serve our joint customers and expand our operations in the region," said Carlos Hernandez Saca, Area Director for Latin America, SnapLogic. Businesses are acquiring more cloud apps and more data than ever before. By combining CSC BRASILs unmatched market and domain expertise with SnapLogics leading integration technologies, customers will be able to get the most out of their technology investments, uncover new opportunities, and grow their business. We have very strong expertise in the Data Analytics segment, working with many leading market solutions, said Eduardo Sterenfeld, Business Development Manager, CSC BRASIL. Our partnership with SnapLogic aims to provide our customers an even more comprehensive portfolio, adding Snaplogic as the premier integration platform for the modern architecture. According to industry analysts, the global Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) market grew by more than 60 percent in 2016. In April, SnapLogic was named a leader in the 2017 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Integration Platform as a Service for the second year in a row. By applying its expertise in application and data integration, SnapLogic provides the following solutions: SnapLogics Enterprise Integration Cloud (EIC) accelerates data and process flw across cloud and on-premises applications, as well as data warehouses, big data streams, and IoT deployments. Unlike traditional integration software, which requires painstaking, handcrafted coding by teams of developers, the SnapLogic platform makes it fast and easy to create scalable data pipelines that supply the right data to the right people at the right time.

accelerates data and process flw across cloud and on-premises applications, as well as data warehouses, big data streams, and IoT deployments. Unlike traditional integration software, which requires painstaking, handcrafted coding by teams of developers, the SnapLogic platform makes it fast and easy to create scalable data pipelines that supply the right data to the right people at the right time. SnapLogic Snaps provide more than 400 intelligent pre-built connections to popular SaaS applications, APIs, databases, data warehouses, analytic tools, and more. IT and business leaders who need to connect various endpoints  such as Salesforce, Workday, Oracle, SAP, Cloudera, Amazon Redshift, Google Big Query, Tableau, and more  can find the right Snap to meet the task.

provide more than 400 intelligent pre-built connections to popular SaaS applications, APIs, databases, data warehouses, analytic tools, and more. IT and business leaders who need to connect various endpoints  such as Salesforce, Workday, Oracle, SAP, Cloudera, Amazon Redshift, Google Big Query, Tableau, and more  can find the right Snap to meet the task. SnapLogic's AI-powered Integration Assistant expertly guides users to quickly build high quality data pipelines, accelerating time-to-value and flattening the learning curve for citizen integrators.





SnapLogic is focused on building out a rich partner ecosystem to accelerate its expansion and enable global customers to more quickly adopt SaaS applications, cloud data management, and big data technologies. SnapLogics technology enables this by accelerating integration and driving digital transformation in the enterprise.



About CSC BRASIL

CSC BRASIL is a solution and services provider that supports your customers businesses, enabling them to become more efficient and competitive in an increasingly digital world. Backed by more than 30 years of market experience, CSC BRASIL offers innovative technologies and carries end to end projects in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Service Management, and Infrastructure Management, servicing clients in large corporations covering multiple market segments.

About SnapLogic

SnapLogic is the global leader in self-service integration. The companys Enterprise Integration Cloud makes it fast and easy to connect applications, data, APIs, and things. Hundreds of Global 2000 customers  including Adobe, AstraZeneca, Box, GameStop, Verizon, and Wendys  rely on SnapLogic to automate business processes, accelerate analytics, and drive digital transformation. SnapLogic was founded by data industry veteran Gaurav Dhillon and is backed by blue-chip investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Capital One, Ignition Partners, Microsoft, Triangle Peak Partners, and Vitruvian Partners. Learn more at snaplogic.com.



Connect with SnapLogic via our blog, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Press Contacts:

Scott Behles

SnapLogic

[email protected]

+1 415-571-4462 Mariana Mendes

CSC BRASIL

[email protected]

+55 21 3216-9444

Leigh Ann Benicewicz

Bateman for SnapLogic

[email protected]

+1 415-315-9301



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[November 16, 2017] VolAero Drones Fights Everglades' Python Invasion With Thermal Cameras

MIAMI, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- VolAero Drones is working with famed outdoorsman Bill Booth to demonstrate that drones equipped with the latest thermal imaging equipment can effectively spot and track pythons at night  the prime hunting time. Over 100,000 Burmese pythons infesting the Florida Everglades have decimated 90 percent of small wildlife while surviving all attempts at eradication. Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8225051-volaero-drones-thermal-technology-python-invasion-everglades/ "Python hunters finally have a tool to make hunting more efficient, bringing down the python numbers that are devastating Florida's Everglades," said Booth. "This drone and thermal technology is light-years ahead of shining a flashlight into the darkness and hoping for the best. The thermal imagery picked up not just the monster pythons, but also native snakes as small as 18 inches. This suggests that we'll be able to spot and eliminate clusters of python hatchlings, which will help curb their reproductive cycle." The demonstration video, (https://youtu.be/5gviPwEvk-o) recorded at night in the Florida Everglades on Nov. 11, clearly shows the thermal outline of a massive Burmese python being captured by Bill Booth. "We are happy to advance our relationship with Bill Booth, Florida's number one snake hunter. Along with Bart Bruni, of Bruni Infrared Inc., who is one of 21 certified Master Thermographers in the world, we've put tech to use where traditional methods have been ineffective in resolving this environmental challenge," said Charles Zwebner, CEO of VolAero. VolAero will be sharing this demonstration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Everglades National Park, South Florida Water Management District and other organizations engaged in python eradication campaign. Zwebner invites inquiries from nterested parties wishing to collaborate on drone technology solutions to environmental challenges. VolAero has also started a crowdfunding campaign. To view VolAero case studies and learn how to support the company's work, visit startengine.com/volaero.



About VolAero Drones

VolAero is a professional drone services company that integrates cutting-edge drone, imagery, and processing technologies to save time, money and resources for its clients. volaerodrones.com. About Bill Booth

Florida native Bill Booth's love for the outdoors began as a young boy. An avid hunter and fisher, Bill is now a professional guide and expedition leader as well as a Florida-licensed python hunter. His media appearances include National Geographic, CNN, the History Channel and a Canadian documentary series. billboothoutdoors.com.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volaero-drones-fights-everglades-python-invasion-with-thermal-cameras-300557781.html SOURCE VolAero UAV & Drones Holdings Inc.

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[November 16, 2017] Major projects related to the development and deployment of clean technologies

Government of Canada awards two financial contributions totalling nearly $1,900,000 to the Institut national de la recherche scientifique QUEBEC CITY, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) Businesses need to be able to rely on adequate resources to create and commercialize innovative products. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting innovative Canadian businesses and organizations. As a true economic driver, innovation is the key to success because it generates growth that benefits businesses and communities. Acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Quebec and Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has been awarded two non-repayable financial contributions totalling $1,885,500 to support the deployment of environmental technologies developed at INRS and the upgrade of the Laboratoire de biotechnologies environnementales (LBE). INRS's mission includes sustainable development and environmental protection in Earth and water sciences. In 2012, INRS acquired the LBE, a platform for the development and pilot-testing of bioprocesses, the latter step being essential in analyzing the cost-effectiveness of clean tech innovations. The fnding granted through CED's Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP) will help INRS add resources for a commercial deployment project for the environmental technologies it has developed. INRS will also acquire specialized equipment to improve the efficiency of the LBE so as to more effectively meet the needs of businesses that are developing industrial bioprocesses.



Quotes "The Government of Canada is proud to support INRS's efforts in improving the efficiency of a laboratory to facilitate the development of clean technologies for businesses. Research and development in the greater Quebec City area is a powerful driver for economic development, as it is elsewhere in Quebec, and I am pleased that the government is supporting its responsible development."

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Quebec and Minister of Families, Children and Social Development "As the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, my goal is to help businesses grow, innovate and export so that they can create high-quality jobs and wealth for Canadians. That is why we support technological development partners like INRS." The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED "We want to highlight this major investment by the Government of Canada and, more specifically, CED, which is critical for the transfer of clean technologies in businesses. Our laboratory is the missing link between research and industry, facilitating the commercialization of bioproducts. INRS is proud to contribute to environmental innovation." Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Director General, INRS Quick facts CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

For more information on CED's key directions until 2021, consult Strategic Plan 2021 or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca. Stay connected

Follow CED on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

Follow INRS on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and

YouTube SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

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[November 16, 2017] Sojern Acquires Adphorus to Accelerate Facebook Adoption for the Travel Industry

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sojern, the global demand engine for reaching travelers, today announced it has acquired Facebook & Instagram Marketing Partner (FMP) Adphorus, the leading FMP specializing in custom advertising solutions for travel brands. According to Sojern CEO Mark Rabe, interest in Facebook marketing solutions has grown dramatically as the global travel sector continues expanding and marketers look for efficient ways to attract new customers. Rabe noted, "Our clients know that Facebook attracts 2 billion users a month, with the average user spending nearly an hour every day. The only question for travel marketers has been how to capitalize on that scale to drive bookings. As we researched the market we came to the conclusion that only one company had cracked that code: Adphorus. Through years of refining experimentation methods and travel-specific best practices, they've helped some of the biggest brands in travel maximize revenues from Facebook's breadth of advertising products." For Adphorus, the acquisition offers an opportunity to accelerate the adoption of its unique approach to travel marketing science leveraging the global reach of Sojern's 400 employees and 11 offices worldwide. Adphorus CEO Volkan Cagsal commented, "We've been partnering with Sojern or about a year now to provide expertise to brands who recognize the massive opportunity to win customers on Facebook and want a skilled partner to help them unlock it at scale. Sojern's long-term vision aligns directly with our own -- to develop the most scientific approach to achieving the best performance and results in the world for travel marketers. Joining forces with Sojern means we can achieve our goal that much faster."



Recognized as a Facebook certified partner since 2014, Adphorus now employs 50 team members in Istanbul and Berlin and serves top travel brands including Expedia, Trivago, and Kayak. It will continue to operate as a standalone company post-acquisition. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Sojern has reported previously that it is profitable, has driven $10 billion in global bookings, and serves over 4,000 clients in 50 countries. The company offers products and services in the global travel advertising space as well as in commission-based distribution markets. About Sojern

Sojern is travel's direct demand engine for thousands of brands in the hotel, air, cruise, transportation, and tourism industries. Specializing in traveler path-to-purchase data for over a decade, Sojern delivers branding and performance solutions by combining search and booking intent signals with proprietary data science methods to analyze and activate the world's travelers in real-time. Recognized as a Deloitte Technology Top 500 Fastest Growing Company for 5 years in a row, Sojern is headquartered in San Francisco and has teams based in Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Mexico City, New York, Omaha, Paris, Singapore, and Sydney. For more information, visit www.sojern.com.

About Adphorus

Adphorus is a travel marketing science company that provides travel brands around the globe with the tools and the know-how to scale their revenues through a scientific approach to travel advertising on Facebook and Instagram. The Adphorus platform makes executing a marketing science strategy automated, scalable and easy. They are an official Facebook & Instagram Marketing Partner, focusing exclusively on the travel and hospitality vertical. Built by and for travel marketers, Adphorus is dedicated to developing custom solutions to achieve full-funnel performance at scale on Facebook. For more information, visit www.adphorus.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sojern-acquires-adphorus-to-accelerate-facebook-adoption-for-the-travel-industry-300557544.html SOURCE Sojern

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[November 16, 2017] Arizona Governor Ducey Welcomes Benchmark To Tempe At Groundbreaking Ceremony

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark Electronics (NYSE: BHE) a leading global design, engineering and manufacturing company, today broke ground on its new headquarters located at Rio Salado 2106 in Tempe, Arizona. Presiding over the ceremony, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey joined Paul Tufano, president and CEO, Benchmark, and Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president, Knowledge Enterprise Development and chief research and innovation officer at ASU, to celebrate Benchmark's new home in the Valley. "We are proud to be a part of the outstanding technology and business community here in Tempe," said Tufano. "I would like to thank Governor Ducey, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the City of Tempe, Arizona State University and all of our partners that have welcomed Benchmark and helped our relocation process run smoothly." Benchmark is dedicated to the continued development of Arizona's business and technology community and looks forward to deepening its involvement. The company plans to bring an additional 500 jobs to the greater Phoenix area over the next five years. "With the groundbreaking of Benchmark's new headquarters and 500 ne jobs headed our way, eyes from New York City to Silicon Valley are once again focused on our state," Governor Ducey said. "Benchmark's selection of our state is further proof there is no better place than Arizona to start or scale a business or test and develop new technology."



The company has already joined forces with Arizona State University through a strategic partnership to foster an innovative ecosystem that benefits students and businesses. Benchmark plans to leverage the impressive talent produced ASU's Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering and W.P. Carey School of Business in its hiring efforts. "Our partnership with Benchmark is another step toward the outstanding collaboration between business and education we have fostered at our university," said Michael Crow, President, ASU. "We are fortunate to work with leading companies like Benchmark, which provide opportunities in the classroom and real-world, hands-on learning environments for faculty and students, as well as promoting the development of high-technology jobs."

Construction on Benchmark's Tempe headquarters is expected to be completed in early 2019. It will house the corporate leadership team and key corporate functions. Benchmark's Internet of Things (IoT) Center of Innovation will also transition to the new location. "Microsoft, Amazon, GoDaddy and now Benchmark, have all found a home here in Tempe," said Tempe Mayor, Mark Mitchell. "As the company breaks ground at the prime location of 2100 Rio Salado Pkwy, we welcome them with open arms and look forward to the jobs and innovation they will bring to our community." For more information on Benchmark, please visit www.bench.com or call 979-849-6550. About Benchmark Electronics

Benchmark provides worldwide integrated electronics manufacturing services (EMS), engineering and design services, and precision machining services to original equipment manufacturers of industrial equipment (including equipment for the aerospace and defense industries), telecommunication equipment, computers and related products for business enterprises, medical devices, and test and instrumentation products. Benchmark's global operations include facilities in eight countries, and its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arizona-governor-ducey-welcomes-benchmark-to-tempe-at-groundbreaking-ceremony-300557856.html SOURCE Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

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[November 16, 2017] Razer Unleashes New Wolverine Xbox Gaming Controller For Tournament Use

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveiled the Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition, an addition to its Razer Wolverine Xbox controller line designed specifically for professional gamers. The new controller retains the ergonomic design and highly praised features of Wolverine Ultimate. Tested and validated by many of the world's best professional esports athletes, the Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition ensures the highest levels of performance and comfort. "Razer has been great to work with throughout the development of the Wolverine Tournament Edition, taking direct feedback from our professional players and implementing it into the controller," says Alex Gonzalez, Head of Red Reserve's North American Operations. "This process has helped guarantee that the wolverine gives our players the biggest edge over the rest of the competitive scene." The Wolverine Tournament Edition also introduces Razer Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons, which combine the soft-cushioned touch of a membrane rubber dome with crisp tactile clicks of a mechanical switch. The distinct feel of the controller makes it a unique choice for professional console gamers. The controller offers extraordinary customization via Razer Synapse for Xbox, the all-in-one configuration software designed for XBOX ONE and Windows 10. Multi-function buttons can be mapped to create more than 500 customized profiles to fit different playstyles for each game title. They can also enjoy the advantage of "focus" and "agile" settings to reach greater headshot aiming precision or speedy response by changing sensitivity of thumb stick movement. Lighting effects powered by Razer Chroma allow for an immersive gaming experience, and the RGB LED lighting will flash together with the controller's vibrations and other button actions. These visual settings can be customized and stored via Razer Synapsefor Xbox.



The Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition is compatible with Xbox One and PC (Windows 10). Visit www.razerzone.com/wolverine-tournament-edition for more information.

Price: $119.99/ 139.99 Availability: Razerzone.com: November 16, 2017 Worldwide: Q1 2018 Product features: Razer Synapse for Xbox

4 Re-mappable multi-function buttons

Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons

Razer Chroma Lighting with selection from 16.8 million color palettes

Hair-Trigger Mode with trigger stops

Ergonomic non-slip rubber grip

Play anywhere  Play on Xbox One or PC (Windows 10)

Detachable braided cable Images: Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition About Razer: Razer is the world's leading lifestyle brand for gamers. The triple-headed snake trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized logos in the global gaming and esports communities. With a fan base that spans every continent, the company has designed and built the world's largest gamer-focused ecosystem of hardware, software and services. Razer's award-winning hardware ranges from high-performance gaming peripherals (for the PC and console platforms) to the Razer Blade gaming laptops. Razer's software platform, with over 35M users, includes Razer Synapse (an Internet of Things platform), Razer Chroma (a proprietary RGB lighting technology system), and Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher). Razer services include Razer zGold, one of the world's largest virtual credit services for gamers, which allows gamers to purchase virtual goods and items from over 2,500 different games. The company has a global footprint with 9 offices worldwide and is recognized as the leading brand for gamers in the US, Europe and China. Founded in 2005 and dual-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore, Razer is backed by institutional investors such as IDG-Accel, Intel Capital and Horizons Ventures. For more information, visit http://www.razerzone.com/about-razer. Press Contacts: Global Alain Mazer

[email protected] Americas Stephen Huynh

[email protected] Europe/Africa Jan Horak

[email protected] Asia Pacific Nicholas Ferguson

[email protected]

China Evita Zhang

[email protected] Razer  For Gamers. By Gamers. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/razer-unleashes-new-wolverine-xbox-gaming-controller-for-tournament-use-300557985.html SOURCE Razer

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[November 16, 2017] BCSC sponsors British Columbia's first Regtech Hackathon

VANCOUVER, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) today announced its sponsorship of the first ever Regtech Hackathon held in British Columbia. The one-day Hackathon will challenge participants to create innovative solutions to help industry meet its regulatory requirements more efficiently and effectively, and improve regulatory quality and competitiveness. "The BCSC is a strong supporter of industry-led innovations and solutions," said Mark Wang, Director, Capital Markets Regulation, BCSC. "We are excited to be a part of this event, because we believe it has the potential to generate some truly novel and exciting ideas to help advance regulatory technologies." The Regtech Hackathon is part of the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada's (NCFA) VanFUNDING 2017 Conference on Tuesday, November 28. Teams of three to six people will select a problem statement to solve and work throughout the day on their pitch with help from experienced mentors, including some BCSC staff members. The full problem statements are available on the VanFUNDING Conference's website, and address the following five areas of focus:



Blockchain, Crowdfunding, and Smart Contracts

Capital Markets Innovation

Know Your Client (KYC)

Investor Protection and Investment Literacy

Registration and Compliance (Tracking) "We are thankful to the BCSC and other industry partners for their support," said Craig Asano, NCFA Founder and CEO. "This collaborative approach is the basis for developing creative and innovative regtech solutions. We encourage entrepreneurs and regulatory experts, innovators, data analysts, designers, and developers to join us in helping discover and launch some amazing B.C. regtech-focused projects." The winning team will have an opportunity to present their pitch to the VanFUNDING Conference, as well as a chance to win prizes valued at over $20,000. Submissions will be judged on innovation, user experience, pitch, and viability.

The Regtech Hackathon will take place at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue located at 580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. More information on the Hackathon, including how to register, can be found on the VanFUNDING Conference website. About the British Columbia Securities Commission ( www.bcsc.bc.ca ) The British Columbia Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating capital markets in British Columbia through the administration of the Securities Act. Our mission is to protect and promote the public interest by fostering: A securities market that is fair and warrants public confidence

A dynamic and competitive securities industry that provides investment opportunities and access to capital Learn how to protect yourself and become a more informed investor at www.investright.org SOURCE British Columbia Securities Commission

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[November 16, 2017] WaterToken Gushes Onto the Exchange Today

DALLAS, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WaterToken will finally release today at 6:00 p.m. PST after over 100,000 whitepaper downloads and over 10,000 pre-registrations. The anticipation of one of the most revolutionary 'green technology' ICOs will splash on the Blockchain today. The WaterToken's System has been in development and tested in real-world applications for years in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Mexico and now is poised for a worldwide rollout to save our Earth's most precious resource ... water. The IoT (Internet of Things) has been the driving force in the hype concerning the verifiable data of success from the WaterToken Systems. Genesis Research & Technology Group has diligently worked on a generous token raise so that countries, municipalities, and industry can all benefit from this patented revolutionary technology. MVP Asia Pacific has been one of the driving forces, along with Universal Media Group, to deliver the message of the totally chemical-free water treatment system that is solar powered. "The cost savings are astronomical; and, the fact that the machines are portable and scalable to any project gives the user a plethora of options," says Ron Price, CEO of Genesis Research & Technology Group. The main reason for the debut exclusively on the blockchain is because Genesis Research & Technology Group has seen too many companies manipulate results strictly for profit. The WaterToken System is IoT ready and gives indisputale, verifiable results to the world that the water has been cleaned and is able to be reused over and over again.



In 2008, roughly 25 billion barrels of polluted water was produced in the United States alone. This year, it is estimated that the number of barrels of produced water will number in the 31 billion barrels. In response to this immense threat to the environment, Genesis Research and Technology Group has developed sole-sourced, green, state-of-the-art Industrial Water Treatment Technologies that treat produced and frack water and return it to a reusable state. The water, in the past, used to produce the chemical fluids required for the fracking process either came from nearby groundwater and surface water or brought in by the truckloads from other freshwater sources. "Genesis has developed a game-changing technology that eliminates the use of chemicals and restores the water to a natural state without transportation," states Billy Hood, VP of Marketing for Genesis Research and Technology Group. Considering that fracking-produced water accounts for roughly 98 percent of all waste products generated by the petroleum industry and 40 billion per annum to dispose of fracking polluted water, the Genesis system is a win-win.

Darren McVean, CEO of MVP Asia Pacific, LLC states, "We believe the blockchain solves the serious issues around trust and verification of environmental impact monitoring. With the introduction of blockchain and smart sensor devices, ultimately environmental regulation will require real-time monitoring of equipment sensors to ensure instant access to accurate environmental statistics." About Genesis Research and Technology Group: Genesis Research and Technology Group is a U.S.-based company that has developed a patented, state-of-the-art technology that provides clean, reusable water for the world's population. The Company exploits its CHEMICAL-FREE technology as its efforts are being recognized by several leading government agencies developing and implementing Green technologies to protect and preserve our Earth's resources. Genesis Research and Technology Group provides custom-built state-of-the-art water treatment technologies for all types of water. Years of research and development go into perfecting this technology that allows Genesis to offer its clients a sole source, reusable water filtering and cleansing technology that is totally chemical-free. For more information: watertoken.io/genesis Media Contact:

Patricia Almand

Phone: 855-8100UMG

Email: [email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/watertoken-gushes-onto-the-exchange-today-300558032.html SOURCE Genesis Research & Technology Group

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[November 16, 2017] IFF Partners with Mars Wrigley Confectionery to Support Smallholder Mint Farmers; Strengthen Supply Chain

Regulatory News: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) (Euronext Paris:IFF), a leading innovator of sensory experiences that move the world, is pleased to announce its supporting partnership with Mars Wrigley Confectionery in their initiative to improve the long-term viability of mint farming in India. The program, called Shubh Mint, is part of AdvanceMint, a larger, global project to advance mint plant science and support mint farmers and their communities. IFF is specifically contributing to the initiative's "Resilient Communities" pillar by sponsoring a municipal center focused on youth education and women's empowerment. "IFF has a track record of partnering to strengthen supply chains and the communities that power them," said Andreas Fibig, IFF Chairman and CEO. "We are very proud to join with Mars Wrigley Confectionery to support this initiative - and we believe the benefits to the community as a whole will be exponential." Despite its ubiquity in scores of flavored products, such as gums, breath fresheners and candies, mint is an often-overlooked crop. Eighty percent of the world's mint supply is produced in India by about one million smallholder farmers - many of whom depend on mint crops for their income. However, declining crops are putting pressure on already low incomes, putting the farms and their communities at risk. "Mint is an important crop for our industry," added Matthias Haeni, Group President, Flavors, "so ensuring a reliable supply chain of high-quality, natural mint is key. Partnering to support these critical smallholder farmers lets us leverage experience IFF gained last year as we worked to strengthen the vetiver supply chain, so, it was an easy lift for us to support hyper-local initiatives like this for the community."



For the Shubh Mint initiative, IFF is sponsoring a community center through READ India, an arm of READ Global that expanded to India in 2007 to empower women and marginalized groups, and create educational and economic opportunities in rural areas. Through READ India, the Company seeks to empower women in the community with the skills they need to offset the financial pressures caused by challenges to the mint crops. Mr. Fibig delivered IFF's first sponsorship check to READ in October and the Company has committed to sponsoring two more centers in India. "We're thrilled to have IFF join us and our other partners in this exciting initiative. Together, we're empowering farmers, their families and surrounding communities so that they - and the mint industry - thrive." - John Buckley Global Category Director Mints & Flavors, Mars Wrigley Confectionery.

Meet IFF International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) (Euronext Paris: IFF) is a leading innovator of sensorial experiences that move the world. At the heart of our company, we are fueled by a sense of discovery, constantly asking "what if?". That passion for exploration drives us to co-create unique products that consumers taste, smell, or feel in fine fragrances and beauty, detergents and household goods, as well as beloved foods and beverages. Our 7,400 team members globally take advantage of leading consumer insights, research and development, creative expertise, and customer intimacy to develop differentiated offerings for consumer products. Learn more at www.iff.com, Twitter , Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171116006407/en/

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Microsoft launched the Windows Mixed reality platform nearly a month ago, but until now there werent many games to play with the various WMR HMDs from Microsofts five hardware partners. As of today, you can use a WMR headset to access Valves SteamVR platform, which offers a vast library of VR games to try. Its safe to say that Microsofts XR platform no longer suffers from a content problem.

Last week, we learned from a source close to the matter that you would need a PC with significant hardware specs to play SteamVR games with your Windows MR headset. We were told that you would need an Nvidia GTX 1070 and a new Intel Core i7 processor to play SteamVR games through Microsofts platform. It is true that Valve recommends a high-end gaming system with those specifications for Windows MR headsets, but theres nothing stopping you from trying with a less powerful machine (other than your tolerance for motion sickness).

To set up Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR (opens in new tab), first make sure that Windows 10 is up to date. Install any pending updates, and once they're installed, manually check for updates again. Next, install Steam and SteamVR if you dont already have them on your computer. You can find the Steam installation files at Steampowered.com. Once you have Steam installed, log in (create a new account if you dont have one) and install SteamVR, which youll find in the tools section of the Library tab. Once you have SteamVR installed, download the Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR client, which you can find in the Steam Store.

To use your Windows MR headset with Steam software, first connect your headset and launch the Windows Mixed Reality portal. Turn on both controllers and ensure that the computer detects them both. Before you put the headset on, launch the SteamVR app from the Steam Library. SteamVR should automatically detect that its the first time youve calibrated the device and will launch the SteamVR Tutorial.

Microsoft said that the way you use the WMR motion controller would change from game to game, but most titles will use that trackpad instead of the thumbstick. The Trigger, Grip, and Menu buttons should function as you would expect. To access the SteamVR Dashboard, press the thumbstick on the left controller. To close SteamVR, press the Windows button, which will bring you back to the Windows MR cliffhouse.

Microsoft released the WMR SteamVR client through Valves Early Access program. Currently, SteamVR support for Windows MR headsets is in the experimental stage, which means you should expect to encounter bugs. It also means that not all SteamVR games are supported at this time. Microsoft said that Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR enables access to over 2,000 VR titles, but you shouldnt expect all of them to work right now.

Valve added a flag for developers to indicate that their games support Windows MR headsets, but few have validated support. Valve said that games that arent marked for Windows MR may or may not work with a WMR headset.

In other words, technically the ability to play Steam VR games on a Windows Mixed Reality headset is now possible for all users, but not all games and experiences are ready for you.
KC Innocent Man Talks Newfound Freedom

1 month later - Lamonte McIntyre says freedom still seems surreal He was in prison for 23-and-a-half years for a double murder that he didn't commit. Now - he's had one month of freedom. And Lamonte McIntyre says it all still seems surreal. But, he's enjoying getting used to it. "It feels like winning the lottery, that's what it feels like."

Kansas City Suspect List

Kansas City Crime Stoppers Most Wanted Fugitives Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers most wanted fugitives. Updated Nov. 15, 2017.

JoCo Election Aftermath Fight

OP lame ducks quack down attempt to delay incentive votes - Kansas City Business Journal Overland Park Councilman Paul Lyons argued Wednesday that two Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee agenda items involving incentives should be delayed, given that three of the six members will be replaced in January as a result of the Nov. 7 election in which the city's use of incentives became a major issue.

Show-Me Guv Under Fire

Did Missouri's governor break the law in bid to oust top school leader? JEFFERSON CITY * Gov. Eric Greitens is being accused of breaking the law in his controversial bid to oust the state's top school official. In a statement issued Wednesday, House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty said Greitens violated state statute in September when he removed state Board of Education member Melissa Gelner from office.

KCMO Club Life Save

CNA's quick action saves a man's life after shooting at KCMO night club KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sherri Davis says everything was peaceful until the end when she was out with friends and family last Friday. Late that night, Davis said she went to Bob's In Motion Nightclub near East 57th Street and Troost Avenue to celebrate her son's 33rd birthday when bullets ripped across the air.

Community News #TBT Report

Highest point in KC housed corruption cleanser This advertising postcard from The Westmoreland Company shows a residence at 74th and Mercier streets. The actual residence shown on the card is a house at 7404 Mercier St. that basically looks the same as it did when this postcard was published in 1914.

Kansas City Foodie Celebration

How Corvino Pulled Off Its Plan to Be Kansas City's Most Ambitious Restaurant ost people go to Kansas City for the barbecue. I go for the fried rice. The kind I still dream about -- a far cry from the clumpy rice huddled with frozen vegetables that gets scooped into takeout cartons -- is a staple dish of chef Michael Corvino's namesake restaurant, Corvino, on the Missouri side of downtown Kansas City.

In much the same way that the world is now filled with Instagram hottie models, there's a great deal of important Kansas City news out there that deserves attention and maybe not a full discussion. Take a look:And this isfor right now . . .
An Overland Park man has been charged with rape for his actions toward a person under the influence of alcohol in the spring of 2016.
Bond Bridge back open after incident involving an individual on the bridge Wednesday afternoon At one point, authorities closed both directions of traffic on the bridge. Traffic was restricted on the Bond Bridge because of police activity Wednesday afternoon. Kansas City police were called about 2:40 p.m.
Kansas City police are investigating after a man was shot Thursday morning on the city's south side. Police were called just after 10 a.m. to an apartment complex in the 14500 block of South U.S. 71 on a shooting. Officer found man suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived.
PARKVILLE, Mo. -- A yoga teacher Parkville Children's Cottage School is accused of inappropriately touching a young boy. Christian A. Hammond, 22, is charged with child molestation in Platte County. According to court documents, the victim, a six-year-old boy, told investigators that on Nov. 7, he received a hug from the yoga teacher.
The University of Kansas Health System and St. Louis-based insurer Centene Corp. said Wednesday that they'd struck a deal to offer coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. In 2018, health system patients will be able to receive in-network care through Centene's Sunflower State Health Plan in Kansas, and its Home State Health Plan in Missouri.
Tracy Thomas: Westbrooke Green and Corporate Welfare

But now city councils across Johnson County have added new sugar: CID's, which I oppose. This is where it's not just a rebate of incremental (new) property taxes, they are now additionally rebating future SALES TAX! An attorney for Westbrooke Green has set a new record for greed. (THE LAWYER IN QUESTION) who once got his Land Of Oz project to stop payment on its $400,000 earnest money to Johnson County, when he decamped to Wyandotte County.)

The silent majority is actually the development attorneys who work over the city council. To get them to divert money that should support our schools and streets--in order to rescue the obsolete industry of RETAIL. In return, developers and their attorneys are the major source of campaign funds--to elect city councils. And they also allow the giant 8 foot x 4 foot freen sign locations on ALL of the major intersection corners during elections.I served five years on the Shawnee City Council. We have fallen for the TIF fear, that "if we don't cave in, some other city will give away the farm" and we won't get the development.With CID, in addition to seizing for his clients the 1% sales tax we pay anywhere in Shawnee, he is adding another record-setting 1.5% sales tax on top of that, to go into the pockets of his clients. A total of 2.5% sales tax.Personally, I agree with State Senator Mary Pilcher Cook, that the receipt on any diverted SALES TAX to the developer/landlord SHOULD BE NOTED ON EACH RECEIPT. Just like it is when you shop at Costco in Missouri. eg where you note you are paying LESS tax on food than on computers or toilet paper, etc. The computer breaks it all out.For the next 22 years, when you buy a cup of Starbucks coffee, or groceries or books or whatever at Westbrooke Green, you are gonna pay 2 1/2% sales tax straight into the pockets of the landlord, and NOT to Shawnee Mission School District or Shawnee Parks or Shawnee Police or Shawnee Fire. The public needs to know this. Because Mom and Pop stores are fighting for their lives without this corporate welfare.########You decide . . .
CHECK THIS NOTE ON A NEW BOOK CHRONICLING THE IMAGINARY ADVENTURES OF KANSAS CITY MAYOR SLY JAMES!!!





"Through the magic of his trademark bow tie, Kansas City Mayor, Sly James, takes young readers back through time for a tour of his favorite locations and landmarks and introduces many of the historical figures whove left their imprint.





"Launching the book  illustrated by Rob Peters  Authors Audrey Masoner, Aja James and inspiration Mayor Sly James join in a discussion of the unique project.





The program begins with a 6:30 p.m. performance by the Millennium String Quartet, featuring members of the Kansas City Symphony. They will play KC-themed selections, culminating with an original arrangement of Goin to Kansas City. Followed by a live book reading, Q&A session and book signing."

#########

Tonight we're not sure if this note on an important Kansas City upcoming book should be a caption contest or maybe a gift giving guide.We're sure ourhas a lot to say about a new tome documenting the imaginary life of Mayor Sly . . . However, this fanciful title would also make the perfect gift for development lawyers, consultants and all manner of corporate creeps, given that KCMO taxpayers will be putting their youngsters through college given all of the subsidies dominating the local agenda at 12th & Oak.In any event . . .It's looks like a fairy tale so I'm sure that there's probably a just as much detail about infrastructure repair in this book as anything written in a City Hall press release.Check the presser thanks to an. . .You decide . . .
Based on the revised numbers, for 2016 the decline in apartment prices in the same areas compared to 2015 was 1,8%, 3,5%, 2,3% and 3,0% respectively

Decreasing but at significantly lower rates are the prices of apartments in the third quarter of 2017, according to the official figures of the Bank of Greece.

The drop in the third quarter is marginal, below 1%, namely 0,6% (in nominal terms) compared to the corresponding 2016 period, which seems to confirm estimates of market executives for stabilization from next year. According to the analysts of the Bank of Greece, based on data gathered by the credit institutions, the fall in prices in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2016 was 0,5% for the new apartments, i.e. up to 5-years-old and 0,7% for the old ones, i.e. age over 5 years. On the basis of the revised data, the average annual rate of decline for 2016 for new and old flats was 3,0% and 1,9% respectively.

Note that these figures include the banks calculations of the residential properties current market value, as well as information on their quality characteristics.

The number of estimates already disclosed by the Bank of Greece (by the end of October 2017) totaled 692,8 thousand (66,1% apartments, 19,2% houses, 6,1% maisonettes, 6,1% plots and 2,5% other properties).

The Bank also mentions the revised figures up to the first half of 2017: In the first two trimesters of 2017, the decrease stood at 1,7% and 1,2% respectively, while for the whole of 2016, apartment prices declined at an average annual rate of 2,4%.

As far as the prices of apartments by geographical area indicate, the decrease of apartment prices in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2016 was 0,4% in Athens, 0,7% in Thessaloniki, 1% in other major cities and 0,5% in other areas of the country.

Based on the revised numbers, for 2016 the decline in apartment prices in the same areas compared to 2015 was 1,8%, 3,5%, 2,3% and 3,0% respectively.

Finally, for all the urban areas of the country, in the third quarter of 2017 the prices of apartments fell by 0,7% compared to the third quarter of 2016, while, on the basis of revised data for 2016 the average annual reduction was 2,4%.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Tilemahos Efthimiadis License: CC-BY-SA

Source: protothema.gr
The conference is organised by the Society of Aesthetic Medicine and Non-Ablative Surgery (SAMNAS) in Greece and held under the auspices of the Tourism Ministry

The new, combined and revolutionary techniques of aesthetic medicine and soft surgery will be unveiled at the 2nd Aesthetic Medicine and Soft Surgery Conference and Workshops in Athens on November 17-18, at the premises of the Eugenides Institute.

The event is organised by the Society of Aesthetic Medicine and Non-Ablative Surgery (SAMNAS) in Greece and held under the auspices of the Tourism Ministry and the National Organisation for Medicines. Its official sponsors include the University of Camerino, Italy, the European Medical Association, the Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine, with support from the Swiss Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine, the International Association of Aesthetic Gynecology and Sexual Wellbeing and the Peelings International Society.

It is a point of reference for doctors and scientists of different specialities from all over the world. Over 70 key speakers from 20 countries will present new innovative techniques in aesthetic medicine and will demonstrate them in practice at the 18 workshops.

All the tips and tricks of aesthetic medicine and the new techniques in mesotherapy, peelings, stem cells, fillers, microbotox, PRP, aesthetic gynaecology and urology and others will be revealed at the conference.

The Aesthetic Medicine and Soft Surgery Conference and Workshops aims to become established among the most popular global conferences in the field, so that Greece becomes a meeting point for more and more noted scientists.

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: IQP License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ANA-MPA
EFG Hermes, a leading financial services corporation in Mena, posted a net profit of EGP237 million ($13.4 million) after tax and minority interest for the third quarter (Q3) of the year, marking an increase of 476 per cent.



The Groups strong performance in the third quarter was driven by its product diversification and geographic expansion strategy, delivering a 184 per cent surge in revenues during 3Q17 to EGP834 million.



Withstanding the inherent seasonality during the third quarter due to a slow summer season and a number of holidays, our strategy to diversify our product base and expand into newer markets continues to create significant value for our shareholders with another very strong quarter reported by the Firm, in which growth was largely driven by a suite of new initiatives under this strategy, said EFG Hermes Group chief executive officer Karim Awad.



Parallel to pursuing new ventures and expansion opportunities, our investment banking platforms sell-side and buy-side businesses delivered outstanding results. Driven by a world-class team, the platform executed a number of high profile advisory mandates, led regional exchanges in our main markets, and capitalized on the new synergies of a key buy-side investment, he added.



The Securities Brokerage division, which led five regional exchanges, reported a revenue of EGP172 million in 3Q17, a 101 per cent year-on-year increase largely due to higher revenues from the firms traditional markets  namely Egypt & Kuwait  and augmented by contribution from new frontier market operations and continued growth of the newly launched structured products division.



The Investment Banking Division, the top-ranked adviser on Thomson Reuters Middle Easts equity capital market rankings, contributed EGP21 million during 3Q17, a year-on-year increase of 58 per cent owed to closing a number of advisory mandates during the quarter. In aggregate, the Firms sell-side business grew 95 per cent year-on-year.



The firms buy-side business, comprised of both the Private Equity and Asset Management divisions, recorded a year-on-year growth of 161 per cent. The Asset Management Divisions reported a revenue of EGP89 million in 3Q17, a 199 per cent year-on-year increase driven by the Firms recently announced investment in Frontier Investment Management Partner Ltd. (FIM) in 3Q17, which also increased the Divisions AUM base to reach USD3.2 billion.



Similarly, the Firms Private Equity Division recorded a year-on-year growth of 95 per cent in revenue during 3Q17 to contribute EGP33 million; largely attributed to an increase in management fees.



EFG Hermes Finance, the Firms NBFI platform continued its stellar growth trajectory, recording a 127 per cent year-on-year growth in 3Q17, as EFG Hermes Leasings revenues increased 178 per cent year-on-year to EGP86 million. Furthermore, Egypts leading private sector Microfinance company, Tanmeyah, recorded an 86 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to reach EGP72 million.



Supplemented by capital gains realized from seed capital in funds, merchant banking activities, which the Firm initiated as part of its new strategic direction, reported a revenue of EGP361 million, to record a strong 357 per cent year-on-year increase in 3Q17.



Overall during the third quarter, the merchant banking platform generated EGP361 million of revenues, representing c. 43 per cent of the total revenues. The investment bank delivered 38 per cent of total revenues with a contribution of EGP315 million, while the non-bank financial services platform contributed 19 per cent of total revenues at EGP158 million.



Despite the challenges associated with costs incurred on the back of expanding the business into new ventures and jurisdictions, management continued to maintain the employee expenses ratio to operating revenues well below the 50 per cent mark, at 42 per cent during 3Q17 compared to 47 per cent recorded a year earlier.



Accordingly, net operating profit grew at a faster pace than revenues recording 263 per cent rise year-on-year, to reach EGP274 million in 3Q17 and reflecting in a net operating profit margin of 33 per cent in 3Q17. This filtered into a Group net profit after tax and minority interest from continued operations of EGP237 million in 3Q17, up 476 per cent year-on-year.



The final months of 2017 will see us make important headway in our strategic goal of expanding our product base, with a major product to be launched under the NBFI platform in the few months ahead, said Awad. While pursuing diversification of our products and expanding our presence, EFG Hermes will continue to enhance its traditional lines of business, reinforce its position as the leading financial services corporation in Mena and heighten our execution capabilities across high growth Frontier markets.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai-based global marine terminal operator DP World has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Mali for the development of trade and logistics, at the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) Global Investment Forum, held in Dubai, UAE, today (November 16).



At the conference, DP World Group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem met with Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of Mali, and signed an agreement under which DP World, in partnership with the Government of Mali, will develop a master plan to enhance trade and logistics and unlock the resource rich countrys economic potential, said a statement from the company.



The plan includes a transportation and logistics strategy with electronic customs processes, replicating DP Worlds successful model with Dubai trade at its flagship Jebel Ali Port and Freezone in Dubai, it said.



The partners will continue discussions and carry out due diligence studies on the infrastructure projects that fit with the governments development goals, it added.



Additionally, Bin Sulayem, speaking on a panel discussion entitled Investment opportunities in Dubai, shed light on DP Worlds integral role in the growth of the city into a global trade hub.



The company enables trade for about 50 per cent of the world's economy, while its flagship Jebel Ali port is the leading port in Middle East and a gateway to more than 2 billion people. With its free zone, the port sits at the crossroads of world trade, offering business-friendly processes to attract customers and together they contribute to over 20 per cent of Dubais gross domestic product.



Bin Sulayem said: Dubai dared to dream and its vision became reality resulting in its transformation into a leader in everything it does.



Anticipating change, thinking smart and planning for the future provided the foundations on which we build today and tomorrow and now we are in the Digital Age where the pace of change and new technologies happens faster than ever before we need to keep learning to survive and flourish, he added



Innovation and the application of these technologies are at the heart of our business and our Jebel Ali port is among the worlds most technologically advanced, he said.



Bin Sulayem continued: Customers expect faster, more efficient and cost-effective services and we need to be able to deliver what they need even before they know they need it to stay competitive.



This is why were always on the lookout for new investment opportunities and technologies, such as Hyperloop One in which were a partner, he said.



We want to be a part of the industrys future disruption and not a victim. Talent management, long term partnerships (PPPs), smart trade, economic diversification and a sustainable long-term approach will all drive our future. As a founding partner of Dubais Area 2071 initiative, we will also continue to work alongside the UAEs leaders, committing our expertise to exploring new solutions to the transformation of our society, he added.



Bin Sulayem added that those that embrace game changing technologies and breakthroughs such as Blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous vehicles will also lead in the future.



He noted that the IoT alone was expected to contribute between $10-15 trillion to the global economy over the next twenty years.  TradeArabia News Service
OSC Issues Temporary Order Suspending Trading at Omega and Lynx ATS

ATS trading in Canada has come under regulator scrutiny.

The Ontario Securities Commission filed an application to Issue a temporary order that the registration of Omega Securities Inc. (OSI) be suspended for such period as is specified by the Commission, pursuant to subsection 127(5) and paragraph 1 of subsection 127.

It listed the following:

An Order that trading in any securities by OSI cease for such period as is specified by the Commission, pursuant to subsection 127(5) and paragraph 2 of subsection 127(1) of the Act; and that such other Orders as the Commission considers appropriate in the public interest.

The grounds for the actions were described by the OSC as follows:

1. OSI operates two Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs): Omega ATS and Lynx ATS.

2. The operations of ATSs such as Omega ATS and Lynx ATS are governed by National Instrument 21-101 (Marketplace Operation) (NI 21-101) and its related companion policies.

3. Omega ATS and Lynx ATS may have failed to comply with Parts 7 and 11 of NI 21-101 in four respects:

(i) Inaccurate identification of brokers participating in mid-point peg transactions;

(ii) Time stamp deficiencies;

(iii) Content discrepancies across OSIs data feeds; and

(iv) Dissemination of data to certain subscribers prior to TMX Information Processor (TMX IP).

While the mid-point peg transaction issue has been corrected by OSI, Omega ATS and Lynx ATS continue to inaccurately record, store, and disseminate information with respect to items 3(ii), 3(iii), and 3(iv), above.

5. As a result of OSIs failure to comply with NI 21-101, OSI has failed to comply with its obligations pursuant to section 2.1 of the Act to provide timely, accurate and efficient disclosure of information, and, as a result, has frustrated the fundamental purposes of the Act.

6. Without timely, accurate and efficient disclosure of information: (i) Regulators are unable to properly protect investors; 3 (ii) Capital markets are prevented from operating in a fair and efficient manner; and (iii) Investors confidence in capital markets is negatively affected.

7. Staffs investigation into this matter is continuing.

8. The order sought by Staff is necessary to protect the public interest in light of the serious and ongoing potential breaches of Ontario securities law being committed by the Respondent.

Chris Nagy, posted on Twitter, Wow! The Ontario Securities Commission orders Dark Pool operators Omega and Lynx to cease trading. together they represent ~5% Canadian volumes.

When contacted by Traders Magazine Wednesday night, Sean Debotte, CEO of Lynx ATS said that due to the nature of the investigation, we will not be commenting at this time.

He referred all inquiries to the firms legal counsel of Stikeman Elliot.

On its website, Lynx posted the following statement:

Omega Securities to Vigorously Oppose Application for Temporary Order by Staff of the Ontario Securities Commission

Omega Securities Inc. (Omega or the Company) today announced it will vigorously oppose a temporary order that is being sought by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) to suspend the registration of, and cease trading of any securities by, the Company, effective Friday, November 17.

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AiX Launches AI Broker to Bridge Cryptocurrencies and Traditional Financial Markets

AiX announced the first artificial intelligence broker to bridge the worlds of cryptocurrencies and traditional financial markets. AiX will use a chatbot to disrupt the traditional brokerage model, executing trades on behalf of traders and reducing commissions by up to 95%. It will use machine learning technology to automatically discover the best deals for traders, heralding a new age of democratised financial systems.

Jos Evans, a former broker, and founder and CEO of AiX, says: I spent more than a decade working as a trader and broker, ultimately building and selling my own brokerage firm, Red Ops Ltd. I know from first-hand experience that Interdealer Brokers are expensive, inefficient and opaque. They are a hangover from the 1980s. Open outcry trading has already almost entirely been replaced by electronic markets, its time to replace the IDB dinosaurs.

AiX is building a hugely disruptive trading tool, made possible by using the latest blockchain technology for proof and transparency. Trading eligibility in the form of KYC and AML information will be recorded on the blockchain, ensuring regulatory requirements are met. Additionally, every trade will write an Evidence Tree to the blockchain, which provides a complete, auditable record of the data and decisions used to make the trade.

Jos Evans continues: Cryptocurrencies are fast approaching $200 billion in market capitalisation. That is still only a rounding error in global financial markets, but investors and traders are starting to take notice. We will bridge the gap between cryptocurrencies and traditional financial markets, allowing cross-market trades using the simplest of interfaces, a chatbot. Most importantly, we will use artificial intelligence to optimise every trade.

Artificial intelligence has now reached the point that it can replace traditional broker roles of price discovery and cross-market execution, even for over-the-counter (OTC) trades or when accessing dark pools of liquidity. AiXs artificial intelligence engine is powered by Rainbird, the first auditable cognitive reasoning engine.

Artificial intelligence and automated decision-making are heralding the fourth industrial revolution. With AiX, brokers and market makers will be replaced by an AI-powered engine which will promote greater efficiency and democratisation in the financial markets.

The AiX token sale is coming soon, visit https://ai-x.ai to register your interest.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
Praised by The Huffington Post, the BBC, and Yahoo Finance, TourMega, AirbnB Experience biggest competitors, celebrates its 1st anniversary!.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - November 16th, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO, California. November 2017 TourMega, Airbnb Experiences biggest competitor, celebrates its one year anniversary this month. Since its launch in November 2016, TourMega, a vanguard Silicon Valley startup, disrupts the travel and tourism industry as the first search engine dedicated to tours and activities around the world. With TourMega: SEARCH, BOOK, and EXPLORE!

TourMega is the first one-stop platform featuring more than 54,000 travel experiences in 2773 cities; and aims to add 30, 000 more activities for the end of the year celebrations. The platform offers to travelers thousands of unique experiences at their fingertips. In few clicks, book a cooking class in Paris with a real chef, dive in the Pacific Ocean, dine at Michelin rated restaurants in Tokyo, or watch an aurora borealis in Iceland on New Year's Eve.





The travel and tourism industry is growing at a fast rate. TourMega plans to expand its inventory and add new features to its tools in 2018. In fact, the platform just started a worldwide campaign to attract new business partners.

TourMega is already working with preeminent tour operators and innovative startups such as GrayLine, City Discovery, Withlocals, Spatial.A.I, and e-miles. The development team led by Quynh Pham, TourMegas Founder, just launched a chatbot on Facebook Messenger and will soon be deployed on Google Mini, Skype, and Slack. They are also working on artificial intelligence solutions, mobile applications for IOS and Android devices, and virtual reality tools.

For its first anniversary, TourMega offers 10% reduction with promo code [ILOVETM] on all tours and activities. Book your tour now on www.tourmega.com.

About TourMega

TourMega was founded in 2016, by Quynh Pham, and an international team who share the same love for travel, culture and new technologies. For more information about the company and the team, please contact us at media@tourmega.com and visit www.tourmega.com.

Contact Press: Mariam Bulin-Diarra, Press and Public Relations Manager, mariam@tourmega.com

###
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 16

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said three key structural reforms implemented by the present governmentAadhaar, demonetisation and GST have brought transparency and efficiency in governance and helped in transition from cash to the less-cash economy and from informal to the formal economy.

Jaitley, who is on two-day visit to Singapore, said demonetisation had also helped in bringing-out black money by giving identity to anonymous cash.

The minister said to provide further impetus to the economy, the government had implemented a slew of economic reforms, including GST, introduction of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and recapitalisation package for the public sector banks which will help redress the twin balance sheet problem and revive private investment. He said India has become a most favourable and attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment.

Meanwhile, Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, had a comprehensive bilateral meeting with Tan Ching Yee, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of Singapore. They discussed issues relating to Singapores concerns on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement, Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, possibility of mutual co-operation in financial innovation, fintech and digital payment ecosystem.
Chandigarh, November 16

The two youths who were arrested for allegedly kidnapping and thrashing a BA first-year student of MCM DAV College were produced in the court, which remanded them in judicial custody. The police have recovered the Chevrolet Beat car in which the victim was kidnapped.

Victims friend Vikrant and another youth Yash were arrested for kidnapping the victim from near her college in Sector 36 on November 14. The victim was thrashed and then dropped at the Hallo Majra light point.

The accused, who are natives of Panipat, fled to Solan in Himachal Pradesh from where they were arrested. The police said the car used in the crime and Vikrants mobile phone had been recovered.  TNS
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, November 16

A car loot was reported from Panchkula last night when a landlord was kidnapped from Sector 9 and thrown in a secluded area in Dera Bassi.

Subhash Kang, a resident of Sector 4 here, went out in his Verna car around 11.40 pm to Sector 9 to have eggs from a roadside vendor. The vendor used to sit near Sagar Ratna and Burn Gym.

After having eggs, he started smoking in his car. A youth came and asked for a matchbox from Kang. He gave him the lighter. After that another youth came and asked for a lighter and started enquiring where he could have food there.

As Kang was talking to him, two more youths came and entered the car. They thrashed him and pointed a revolver at his head. They allegedly took control of the car and drove towards Dera Bassi. According to Kang, they threw him out of the car at a secluded place.

The miscreants also took away his mobile phone and an ATM card. He came back and reported the matter at the Sector 10 police post.

We have registered a case under Section 379 B of the Indian Penal Code and under the Arms Act. We tried to look for CCTV footage of the place in Sector 9, but he was stationed at a spot where there were no cameras, said the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Sector 5 police station, Inspector Karanvir Singh.

Old man robbed of gold kara

Karnail Singh, a resident of Lalru, had come to the Sector 6-based Command Hospital for taking medicine. As he was going back, a Maruti car stopped near him. A woman came out and told him that she knew him and would drop him back to Lalru as she too was going there. One more woman and the driver were already in the car. As the old man sat inside the car, the driver took rounds of Sector 6. After some time, one of the women asked him to sit in the front seat. As he stepped out of the car, they fled away. He later realised that he had lost his gold kara". A case has been registered in this regard.

Past cases

On January 17, a girl was kidnapped, raped and then her Hyundai i-20 car was taken away forcibly from her. The car was later recovered.

On March 21, two robbers forcibly took away a Honda City car from an engineering student near the Sector 19 railway T-point.
Chandigarh, November 16

Two brothers, natives of Jalandhar, have been arrested by the crime branch of the UT police for snatchings in Chandigarh. Several cases have reportedly been solved with their arrest.

Those arrested have been identified as Naman and Shubham. The duo was active in the city for the past few months. Though police officials refused to divulge any information about the recovery made from the duo, sources said gold chains had been recovered from the accused.

The sources said snatching cases reported from areas under the Sector 34 and Sector 19 police stations had been solved. A stolen motorcycle was used in the snatching incidents, which has been recovered by the police.

The duo was staying as paying guests in Sector 20. The police had gathered the footage of CCTV cameras installed near the places where snatching incidents were reported, which led to the arrest of the accused.

The sources said one of the miscreants used to wait on a motorcycle while the other used to walk up to the victim and snatch her gold chain.

This year, 200 snatching incidents have already been reported from the city. A majority of the incidents have been reported from southern sectors.  TNS

Gold chains recovered

Though police officials refused to divulge any information about the recovery made from the duo, sources said gold chains had been recovered from the accused.
SN Sahu

SN Sahu

Former press secretary to the late KR Narayanan, President of India

A grateful nation paid rich tributes to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was the Prime Minister and architect of modern India and an outstanding statesman of the whole humanity. Unearthing ideas from the vast collections of his writings, we learn about his vision and views on environment, gender justice and many other aspects which are assuming critical importance across the world in the 21st century. It is, therefore, important to recall that vision which is inseparable from our history and history of humanity.

Nehru predicted electronics age

Today so much is being talked about Digital India. Nehru had predicted the advent of the age of electronics or the digital age in his Discovery of India where he wrote that mankind passed through the steam age, was passing through the age of electricity and would inevitably pass through the age of electronics. The electronics age began when telecommunication revolution was started in the middle of 1980s.

Attuned to ancient wisdom

While relying on frontier areas of science and technology and laying the foundations of modern India Nehru remained tuned to the ancient wisdom of our civilisation and stressed on its deeper significance for restoring the sanity and strength of life often getting stressed by the fast-paced march for progress. In his monumental piece "Basic Approach" written in 1955 for Congress Members, he wrote that a Vedantic outlook remained a fundamental necessity to finding solutions to the mounting problems caused by modern civilisation. It is deeply relevant now as the world is confronting phobias and conflicts based on religion and other factors. In fact one gets the deep impression that now humanity is driven by diabolical forces of hatred and violence. Nehru's vision and legacy assumes critical significance to stem the tide of hatred and bigotry.

Vision for gender equality

Today the whole world is in passionate quest for gender equality. It is educative to note that Nehru had deeply reflected on these points in early 1950 and late 1950s. When a Bill was introduced by the Manmohan Singh government in the Rajya Sabha in 2009 to reserve 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, none referred to Nehru and his vision to have more women in our legislatures. In a letter to Chief Ministers on January 4, 1950, he regretted that there were a very few women members in the Constituent Assembly and wrote about the necessity of having an adequate number of women members elected to Parliament. However, on January 18, 1950 and also after the General Election of 1952, he regretted that few women were chosen for Parliament. He painfully remarked that laws were men made, women were subordinated to men and, therefore, their less representation would go against them.

Mahatma Gandhi, too, had stressed on greater representation of women in legislature in 1931 and in 1947 he was on record saying that he would prefer women to men for increasing their representation even if such preference would lead to total displacement of men.

The large presence of women in our universities now, 50 per cent reservation of seats for women in panchayats and call for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies represent the fruition of Nehru's vision on womens role in India's future.

Goal of sustainable development

Another fascinating dimension of Nehru was his reflections on environment even as he was pursuing the goal of nation-building by constructing several big industrial and river valley projects. On August 15, 1957, he wrote a letter to the chief ministers in which one page was devoted to environment. We need to drive home the point that he provided leadership on such matters when rest of the world had not adequately applied mind to it.

In favour of secularism

Another matter on which Nehru assumes importance is of secularism. The Bommai judgment delivered by the nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court declared secularism as the basic structure of the Constitution. While doing so, the apex court profusely quoted Nehru. In fact when French philosopher Andre Malaraux asked Nehru as to what he would find the most difficult to do in India, Nehru in his characteristic brilliance said, "To create a just society by employing just means and to create a secular Sate in a religious society". And now the secular State has also come under pressure because of unacceptable developments arising out of hatred for religious faiths of many of our citizens.

Such a man who raised the stature of India at the global level in face of many challenges during the formative stages of our independence has left behind an enduring legacy. Such a man was not just the leader of India but also the leader and statesman of humanity.
Sanjeev Tripathi

Sanjeev Tripathi

ON October 13, in the Rohingya deportation case, the Supreme Court sought the right balance between national interests, including security concerns, and humanitarian considerations of asylum seekers. However, it refrained from passing any interim order to stay the process.

This has provided a breather and an opportunity to the government to re-examine the issue in a holistic manner and come out with a solution which is practical, legally sustainable and internationally acceptable.

Government estimates put the number of illegal Rohingya immigrants at 40,000, of which around 16,000 are registered with the UNHCR. Their unhindered movement, including in sensitive areas like J&K, is a grave security risk which India can ill afford to take. The intelligence reports in this regard should not be ignored. Further, global jihadi terrorist groups like the IS and Al-Qaeda target Muslim groups who feel persecuted and the Rohingya are certainly a soft target for them. At a time when Indian Muslims are also being targeted by the IS and the Al-Qaeda, and some of them have actually fallen prey to such overtures, India cannot afford the presence of a large foreign vulnerable group.

Moreover, a majority of the Rohingya entering India have not come here directly from Myanmar, but via Bangladesh. Therefore, India is not the first country of refuge and as such is not bound to give them refugee status. It is therefore heartening to note that the government has acted without undue delay to address the issue. While it will take time to repatriate those who have already entered, the governments resolve to deport them has certainly put a brake on their further influx.

India has been receiving refugees and illegal immigrants from almost all neighbouring countries for over five decades. However, it has not yet developed a national refugee law nor has it signed the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. In the absence of that, there is no legal distinction in India between an illegal immigrant and a refugee.

Dealing with the refugee issues through administrative orders, rather than an enacted law, has made government action on the issue an open-ended case before a court of law. Otherwise, the court would have to examine it within the purview of an existing law.

There seems to be no valid reason for various governments to refrain so far from enacting a national refugee law taking into consideration national security concerns, interests of local population or any other issue.

As per the generally accepted international norms, refugees are people who leave their country of origin to take shelter in another country because of persecution on religious, ethnic, political or any other ground. Leaving a country for any other reason, including economic reasons, does not come within the definition of refugee. While suitably incorporating it in the proposed law and defining rights and privileges of refugees, provisions can also be made for restricting their movement. They can be kept either in designated camps/areas or barred from sensitive areas like the Northeast, J&K and districts adjoining international borders.

The proposed law should also include the concept of first country of refuge, leaving discretion with the government to give refugee status in cases where India is not the first country of refuge. Further, the failure of an asylum seeker to report at the designated centres within a specified period may render him ineligible for the refugee status.

Once a national refugee law is in place, all illegal immigrants seeking asylum in India, including the Rohingya, should be asked to apply at designated centres within a specified period. Those who fail to apply and those whose asylum request is rejected will come in the category of illegal immigrants.

Since the enactment of law would ensure a legal distinction between refugees and illegal immigrants, the government may formulate separate guidelines and instructions to deal with the two distinct categories.

In the case of refugees, the generally accepted international norms should be followed. Return of refugees to their country of origin is the preferred option for which the UNHCR and various countries work. They do so by engaging with the country of origin and encouraging it to create conditions conducive for safe return of refugees. Even though the 1951 Refugee Convention envisages voluntary repatriation, India, in the proposed law, should provide for safe rather than voluntary return as some refugees might be reluctant to return after the situation normalises in their country of origin.

Other options for refugees are a third country settlement or the grant of citizenship. While the proposed law should have provisions for that, the government should have full discretion as to when and how to go for these options.

India should ask the UNHCR to provide the list of Rohingya registered with them along with their biometric details, if recorded by it. They, along with other Rohingya asylum seekers, should be kept in designated camps pending their repatriation. Since a majority has entered India through Bangladesh, efforts should be made to shift them to refugee camps in Bangladesh with UNHCR's assistance and India should undertake to provide financial and other humanitarian assistance to those refugee camps.

Those Rohingya who are neither registered with the UNHCR nor seek asylum in India will come in the category of illegal immigrants. They need to be identified and deported to Myanmar. India has friendly relations with Myanmar and should try to persuade them to take back their illegal immigrants. In fact, India can play a much larger role in resolving the Rohingya problem and should take initiative for that too, in consultation with Myanmar, Bangladesh and the UNHCR.

The next hearing of the Rohingya deportation case in the Supreme Court is on November 21 and the government could inform the court about its intentions to frame a national refugee law and proceed further as per that law.

Moreover, once it is in place, the government could even consider not going ahead with the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016. All the cases envisaged in that Bill will be covered in the refugee law and the government will meet its desired objective without coming in for criticism for alleged communal bias.

The writer is a former chief of R&AW
AS the crucial Gujarat elections draw closer, controversies are bound to multiply in the political marketplace. The Modi Government's unusual deal for purchasing 36 Rafale fighter jets from France was certain to figure in the laundry list of allegations against the ruling arrangement. Fresh from a resounding victory in 2014, PM Narendra Modi had championed the belief that a rules-based framework for selecting vendors was superfluous when the tiller of national security was in the hands of self-accredited desh bhakts. Thus the new Government scrapped a tender floated 10 years back which had painstakingly tested the wares of six competitors and selected the French plane Rafale. The process was questioned by Yashwant Sinha, now in the dissident camp, forcing officials to run a fine toothcomb over the deal.

Eyebrows were bound to be raised after PM Modi decided to abruptly scrap this tender. And just before his visit to France, he announced that India will buy just 36 planes instead of 126 with no technology transfer to boot. Its original Indian partner HAL was junked and the baton handed over to a wet-behind-the-ears Anil Ambani company. Doubters are now highlighting the simplistic notion that the Modi Government had inked a deal that is far costlier per plane than the one negotiated by the UPA Government. It is dangerous and foolhardy to equate a sophisticated defence platform with purchasing a consumer durable.

A countrys national security requirements can scarcely be met if each defence deal becomes the basis for political name-calling and innuendoes. No one knows it better than the BJP which is trying to resurrect the Bofors ghost in an attempt to tar the Gandhis. At the same time, the BJP's overused tactics of counter-questioning the Congress for defence deals in its tenure is bound to be self-injurious, especially when the much talked up make-in-India cupboard remains bare. The cause of national security will be better served with a dollop of transparency. Instead of another defence deal sinking in the quagmire of misgivings, the Government needs to clear the air as soon as possible.
Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, NOVEMBER 16

Eco-friendly electric buses of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) have finally started to ferry passengers to visit the snow point on the Manali-Rohtang road from Monday. The buses were flagged off by Transport Minister GS Bali on September 21 from Kullu but regular bus service could not start due to pending formalities and permit issues.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the state government to explore the possibility of eco-friendly transportation to protect the eco-fragile Rohtang area. Capping the number of petrol and diesel vehicles visiting the Rohtang Pass the NGT has allowed 1,200 vehicles (800 petrol and 400 diesel) daily up to the mighty Rohtang. The HRTC had imported 25 electric buses as no company in India manufactures battery-operated buses to comply with the NGT orders.

Kullu HRTC regional manager Mangal Chand Manepa said that two battery-operated buses were plying to Rohtang Pass till yesterday. Now after the snowfall the buses would go up to the spot on the Rohtang road where the vehicles would be allowed by the district administration. He said that 32 passengers left for the journey in two buses today and to and fro bus fare was Rs 600.

Manepa said that they were working out a plan to operate these buses on other routes when the Rohtang road would be completely closed after snowfall. He said that booking for these buses could be done at the booking counter at Manali. Soon online booking facility would also be made available.

Manali SDM HR Bairwa said that tourist vehicles were not allowed to go beyond the Gulaba barrier today as the Rohtang Pass was witnessing intermittent snowfall for the past two days.

Meanwhile, a lot of enthusiasm was seen among the visitors as well as the residents to travel in the electric buses, which were being run for the first time as a public transport. Shweta, a tourist, said that the view of the surroundings visible while travelling in the bus was breathtaking and going to the Rohtang Pass had become convenient now.

While hefty fares are charged by taxi operators to go to Rohtang Pass during peak tourist season, the electric buses will come to the aid of the enthusiasts willing to enjoy the adventures in snow. The buses are scheduled to go in the morning and return in the afternoon. The transport minister had stated that 10 electric buses had been approved for Kullu and Manali.
Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Una, November 16

The role of the Una police in the satta operations being run in the district is under the scanner.

Sources said in the recent past, the Una police had registered 80 cases against satta operators under the Gambling Act. Most of the cases were registered in the border areas of the district close to Punjab.

After many cases were busted, Sanjeev Gandhi, SP, had ordered an inquiry into the role of policemen posted in the areas where maximum cases of gambling were registered. The inquiry was being conducted by an Additional SP rank officer. The sources said active connivance of certain Una police officials had been found in the satta racket.

Sanjeev Gandhi admitted that an inquiry had been ordered in the gambling racket. He also admitted that involvement of some police officials was suspected.

Gandhi said the enormity of satta operations in the district could be gauged from the fact that in a single day, 24 cases were registered by a special team assigned the job. Since the offence under the Gambling Act was bailable, most of the accused were released. However, during interrogation the accused revealed that earlier they used to transfer money collected under the satta operations through bank. However, with the increased surveillance, they were transferring money in cash.

The police were also trying to investigate into the sources of wealth and hard cash acquired by the main accused arrested under the Gambling Act.

The SP said after the investigation was complete, action would also be initiated against the police officials involved in the racket.

What is satta?

Police sources said satta was an organised gambling racket being run at the pan-country level. It was being operated by the organised underworld. It is like a single digit lottery. People gamble on a single number and are promised about 10 times to 70 times the amount they invest. The money invested in the gambling racket is collected by agents who operate randomly. The award money is also paid to winners through these agents only. The agents operate from some shops or residential buildings and from the stalls of official lotteries being run by some states. Every day people invest on a single digit and winner number comes to the agents by the evening which is then conveyed to the investors. Investors collect award money from the agents and the agent transfers rest of the money to the main person operating the racket in Delhi. The entire business is being run on faith.

Police officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said persons running the satta racket had amassed huge properties without any known sources of income that were now under the scanner of the investigating agencies.

24 cases in a single day
Srinagar, November 16

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said they arrested three militants during a gunfight in Kulgam district which left a soldier dead.

Addressing a joint press conference along with officers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan said: In the ongoing operation against militants in Kund area, we have arrested three local militants.

He said one of them, Atta Muhammad Malik, was caught in an injured condition. He would have died if we hadnt shifted him to a hospital where he is now said to be out of danger.

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Khan said the security forces had launched the joint operation in Kund on Tuesday after intelligence inputs about the presence of a big group of militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen there.

A militant, Muzamil, and a soldier were killed on the first day of the encounter, Khan said.

Even if a local militant raises his hands during an encounter, we will help him to return to his home and lead a normal life, he said. IANS
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 16

The Paediatric Surgery and Child Health Nursing Department of the College of Nursing of Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) is observing Paediatric surgery awareness week from November 12 to 19.

In the course of an elaborate programme chalked to focus on paediatrict surgery, assistant professor Richa Justin and clinical instructor Jatinder Kaur delivered talks to create awareness on nutritional deficiency disorders (folic acid deficiency).

An MSc (Nusing) student Kanika Sharma apprised parents with ways to conduct nutritional assessment at home. Other experts focused on common paediatric surgical problems in children.

Professor and head, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Dr William Bhatti, spoke on common surgical problems in children, their importance and management by surgeons/doctors attending to them.

Associate professor and head, Department of Child Health Nursing Department, CMCH, Premlata Prakash, spoke on the role of nurses in the prevention and management of common paediatric surgical problems witnessed in children.

The MSc (Nursing) student, Rohit Lazarus, who conducted study on foreign body aspiration, distributed informative pamphlets on its first aid management.

A poster competition was also held on the topic of common paediatric surgical problems for third year students of BSc (Nursing). Dr Nandini K Bedi, Dr Inderpreet Sohi, and Neeta Austin Singh were judges in the contest. The winners of the competition were Shreya Thakur (first), Nitika (second) and Snell Anna (third). Consolation prizes were given to Anugrah Victor and Glory.
Chennai, November 16

A petition seeking direction to the police to register an FIR against actor Kamal Haasan for his alleged comments on Hindu terrorism in a Tamil magazine has been filed in the Madras High Court.

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When the plea came up for hearing today, Justice M S Ramesh directed the public prosecutor to get instructions from the police authority concerned and adjourned the petition by a week.

According to the petitioner G Devarajan, a registered advocate clerk in the high court, Kamal Haasan said in an article published in a Tamil magazine that the presence of Hindu terrorism in the country cannot be ruled out.

By making such statements Kamal Haasan is trying to brand Hindus as terrorists. He should understand that no religion preaches violence but only peace. The actor with vested interests is trying to divide the Tamil community on basis of religion, the petitioner said.

He added that he had approached the Chennai Police Commissioner on November 4 and Teynampet Police on November 6 with his complaint against the actor.

Since no action was taken on the complaints, he approached the High Court.

The petitioner also wanted the court to direct the police to take action against the editor of the Tamil magazine for publishing the article. PTI
Kota/New Delhi/Mumbai, November 16

The controversy over Bollywood film "Padmavati" took an ugly turn today as a leader of the Rajput Karni Sena cited Ramayana's Surpanakha nose-chopping incident and warned her against "inciting" sentiments.

Reacting to the development, the Mumbai police have stepped up actor's security.

Editorial: Stifling Padmavati

Meanwhile, protests were held in several parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, against the movie, which is slated to be released on December 1.

Ajmer dargah deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan also joined the chorus of voices against the film and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban it, saying it hurt religious sentiments.

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Earlier, referring to the nose chopping of 'Surupnakha' in the epic Ramayana, Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana said while Kshatriyas respected women, but if the film was not banned and Padukone does not stop inciting sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs would not lag behind in acting. He asked why was Padukone, who has the citizenship of Denmark, speaking such provocative language?
New Delhi, November 16

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Chhattisgarh Government to produce the original file in connection with the purchase of AugustaWestland helicopter following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) claiming commission being paid in the deal.

The case is in connection to the Rs 3,700-crore AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper Scam.

The CBI, earlier on September 1, had filed a chargesheet against retired Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, former Air Marshal J.S. Gujral and 10 others in the case.

The chargesheet, filed before a special court, also named as accused Air Chief Marshal Tyagis cousin Sanjeev Tyagi, lawyer Gautam Khaitan, Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke, alleged middlemen Christian Michel, former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini and former Finmeccanica chairman Giuseppe Orsi.

The investigation conducted and various documents collected so far revealed that Agusta Westland International Ltd., UK, paid an amount of Euro 58 million as kickbacks through Gordian Services Sarl, Tunisia and IDS Sarl, Tunisia.

These companies further siphoned off the said money in the name of consultancy contracts to the Interstellar Technologies Ltd., Mauritius and others, which were further transferred to UHY Saxena, Dubai, Matrix Holdings Ltd. Dubai and others.  ANI
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 16

With an eye on ramping up surveillance capabilities, the Indian Army is looking to purchase 60 specialised unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that can stay in the air for 10 hours at a stretch, transmitting live images and videos to ground-based controllers.

These will be useful in tracking movements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, strengthening surveillance along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, in counter-terrorism grid and key operational areas of Corps mandated in plains and deserts.

The Army today issued a request for information (RFI)  the first step for purchase  and said the UAV should be developed and manufactured locally. Only Indian companies can bid and the Army wants these inducted within two years of signing a contract.

The project will be based on proven or matured technologies where fundamental research is not required. The development and manufacture of the equipment may also be undertaken by the Indian industry, the Army demand says.

The intended use is for day and night aerial surveillance of a large area over a sustained period. The UAV should be able to fly up to 20,000 feet, broadly covering all areas along the Himalayas, within a radius of 200 km from the ground station for minimum 10 hours.

The UAV must have electro-optical and infra red (IR) capacities with the ability to listen in to communications. It must also have a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for imagery during adverse weather conditions and a maritime patrol radar (MPR). During flight, it should be able to identify a friend or foe, the requirement says.
New Delhi, November 16

The Congress and the BJP continued to exchange barbs over the Rafale aircraft deal today with Rahul Gandhi accusing the Prime Minister of allegedly changing the entire deal to benefit a businessman, a charge debunked by the ruling party.

The Congress vice-president also asked why no questions were put to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on BJP president Amit Shahs son Jay, whose company his party alleged has witnessed a quantum jump in turnover since the Modi government came to power. You ask me so many questions and I answer all of them. I want to ask you, why dont you question PM Modi on the Rafale deal. Why dont you ask about Amit Shahs son?

Why dont you question the PM who changed the entire Rafale deal to help a businessman? he said.

Gandhi said the PM should explain the Reliance on someone with nil experience in aerospace for the Rafale deal. Self Reliance is obviously a critical aspect of Make in India, Gandhi added in a series of tweets on the Reliance Rafale deal.

Responding to Gandhi, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress must remember its rule when it rakes up such an issue. They are finding it difficult to accept that there has been no case of corruption in the three-year rule of the Narendra Modi government, said Prasad while briefing the media on Cabinet decisions.

The Rafale deal was the focus of debate earlier this week as well when the Congress accused the government of compromising national interest and security while promoting crony capitalism and causing a loss to the public exchequer.

Congress communications department head Randeep Surjewala alleged that the government neglected the interests of public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).  TNS/PTI
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 16

Amid raging row over Bollywood movie Padmavati and Rajput Karni Senas open threat to actress Deepika Padukone, Union minister Uma Bharti today said she had been assured that the Censor Board would take care of the issues being raised by the Rajput community.

Her Cabinet colleague Nitin Gadkari also reacted on the issue. Filmmakers must also keep cultural sensitivities in mind, he said.

I have been assured that the Censor Board will take care of all issues. I am confident that they are already informed about the concerns being raised by the people... The director and his associate are responsible for the film story. They should have taken care of the sentiments and historical facts, she added

Just like disrespect to Padmavati was immoral, so was that to the films artistes (read Padukone), she said. If we are talking about respect of Padmavati, it is our moral obligation that we respect every woman Disrespect of any actress or actor of Padmavati is uncalled for and immoral, Bharti said, an obvious reference to the threat of physical harm to Deepika.

President of the Rajasthan unit of Karni Sena Mahipal Singh Makrana has been quoted as saying that they would not hesitate to chop off Deepikas nose like Shurpanakha. Rajputs never raise hand on women, but if the need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha, he said. Padukone had recently termed as appalling the violent protests over the film.

Ajmer dargah deewan equates Bhansali with Rushdie, Taslima

Ajmer dargah deewan Sayed Zainul on Thursday compared filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali with Salman Rushdie, Tasleema Nasreen and Tareq Fateh

He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban the movie that hurt religious sentiments of every citizens, including Rajput community at large

Bhansalis character is like that of Rushdie, Tasleema and Tareq who always twists or distorts historical facts and hurts religious feelings of people, hence every Muslim should support the cause of Rajput community, Deewan said in a statement in Jaipur

Actress disrespect immoral

If we are talking about respect of Padmavati, it is our moral obligation that we respect every woman Disrespect of any actress or actor of Padmavati is uncalled for and immoral. Uma Bharti, Union minister

Where were they during British era

Every single one of these so-called valorous maharajas, who today are after a Mumbai filmmaker, were less concerned about their honour when the British were trampling all over it. They scurried to accommodate themselves. So lets face it, there is no question, that we were complicit. Shashi Tharoor, Congress leader
Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Adampur (Jalandhar), November 16

Rubbishing Opposition allegations surrounding the purchase of 36 French Rafale fighter aircraft, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa today said the Indian Government managed to negotiate a very good deal and that there was no overpricing.

Editorial: Flap over fighter jets

Speaking at the Air Force Station, where two IAF units were awarded Presidents Standard by President Ram Nath Kovind today, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said: Since it is a government-to-government contract, we are getting the 36 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) at a highly negotiated price. It is definitely a good deal. It is lower than what it was in the MMRCA contract. He, however, did not specify the amount.

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Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had alleged that the aircraft was purchased at three times the cost  up from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,570 crore each  without the transfer of technology to India.

Technology may not be going to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), but it is coming to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and then to a lot of Indians. We are purchasing two aircraft in a flyaway condition as an emergency measure. We are getting 50 per cent offset, the IAF Chief said.

On if it was coming to Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence Ltd, which has entered into a joint venture with Frances Dassault Aviation, he said: I cannot answer that question.

On the efficacy of light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the Air Chief Marshal said: We have stood behind Tejas. We signed a contract in March 2006 for the delivery of 20 aircraft in April 2009 and December 2011. It is 2017 and so far we have received only five. Another contract for 20 aircraft was signed in 2010 for delivery between June 2014 and December 2016. We had committed to 40.

In addition, we are getting 83 aircraft of Mk1-A configuration. The Mk2 will be flying in 2023 with induction into the squadron by 2027, he said. The IAF Chief said the force had been authorised 42 squadrons.
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 16

Two SAD (Amritsar) office-bearers were detained outside the Golden Temple ahead of President Ram Nath Kovinds visit on Thursday.

Jarnail Singh Sakhira, general secretary of the party, and office secretary Harbir Singh wanted to hand over a memorandum to the president.

Later, amid heavy security, Kovind walked the parikrama of the temple. There was negligible restriction on devotees movement. Earlier, he also visited the langar hall.

The president was accompanied by Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore, Union Minister Harsimrat Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and minister Rana Gurjit Singh.

The large number of devotees present inside the shrine complex were excited to see the president in their midst.

The SGPC task force sewadars (volunteers) formed a security ring around the president, along with security personnel in plain-clothes, during the visit.
Vikramdeep Johal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

Only 30 Punjab-based recruiting agents are registered with the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), even as hundreds of others are running operations illegally in the state. Lack of awareness about the handful of genuine operators often makes people fall prey to the unscrupulous ones.

Across the country, there are 1,234 MEA-authorised agents dealing with overseas employment, particularly in the Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar and Iraq. As many as 639 of them are in Maharashtra, followed by Delhi (169) and Kerala (138). Punjabs legit operators account for a paltry 2% (Haryana has seven of them, while eight are based in Chandigarh). In stark contrast, the state is among the toppers on the ministrys list of unauthorised or unregistered agents.

The MEA grants a registration certificate (RC) only after a thorough scrutiny of the applicants antecedents and repeated inspection of his premises, says Bhupinder Singh, who runs Palta Travels in Moga. Not many operators have the wherewithal and track record to clear the verification hurdle. The hefty bank guarantee of Rs50 lakh also puts them off.

Bhupinder received the RC in 2005 and has been getting it renewed every five years, as per rules laid down in the Emigration Act, 1983. He sends 1,500 to 2,000 employees abroad  all male  mostly to Dubai (UAE) and Muscat (Oman). These include construction workers, masons, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. He rues that illegal emigrants make distress calls to the government as a last resort, whereas they should have taken the prescribed safe route in the first place and avoided trouble.

Prem Kumar Saini (78), who runs Asiatic Power Services in Hoshiarpur, has been in this business for the past over 35 years. He says, We never promise the moon to our clients. They are clearly told that their salary would be in the range of Rs20,000-25,000 per month, not in lakhs. The employment terms and conditions are all spelt out, while we also caution them that the Middle East is not an easy place to live and work.

The registering authority for recruiting agents is the Protector General of Emigrants, which comes under the MEA. It also has the powers to suspend or cancel the agents licence in case violations are detected. The Protector General is assisted by 10 field officers, known as the Protector of Emigrants (POE), who grant emigration clearance to aspirants. The local POE covers Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh.

There is a robust system in place. It works best when emigrants play safe and keep us in the loop at every stage, says an MEA officer, preferring anonymity.
Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Adampur (Jalandhar), November 16

Rubbishing the allegations of the Opposition over the purchase of 36 French fighter aircraft Rafale, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Thursday defended the government saying that it has managed to negotiate a very good deal and that there was no overpricing.

At Adampur Air Force Station where two units of Indian Air Force were awarded Presidents Standard by President Ram Nath Kovind, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said, It being a government-to-government contract, we are getting the 36 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) at a very negotiated price. It is definitely a better deal. It is lower than what was there in the MRMCA contract.

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He, however, did not specify the amount. Asked on this, he looked into some papers in front of him and said, I dont have the amount.

He countered all allegations put forth by Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on the issue, including purchase of aircraft at three times the amount (up from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1570 crore for an aircraft) and no technology being transferred to India.

We have purchased two aircraft in a flyaway condition as an emergency measure. We are getting 50 per cent offset. Technology may not be going to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) but it is coming to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and then to lot of Indians, the IAF chief said.

Asked if it was coming to Reliance Defence Ltd, he said, I cannot answer that question.
GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 16

Various Central government-sponsored mega projects conceptualised for Amritsar have been in limbo for want of political will.

Residents feel if these keenly awaited projects  Indian Institute of Management (IIM), railway line between Patti (Amritsar) and Makhu (Ferozepur), Software Technology Park of India  been completed, it would have given an impetus to the economy of the region and created employment opportunities in the border belt.

With Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh skipping the all-party MPs meeting scheduled for today, Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik said all hopes to convince the Chief Minister about completing the stalled projects had been dashed. It was disheartening to see the Chief Minister adopting a casual approach. Like other MPs, I was also prepared to raise the issue of certain mega projects suffering a setback in Amritsar because of non-cooperative attitude of the state government. The Centres funds are lying unutilised, he said.

Punjabs first IIM, awarded to Amritsar, failed to have its own campus even after the lapse of over two years. After much hiccups, the 61-acre land on the Amritsar-Jalandhar road at Manawala (between Rakhcheeta and Nijjarpura) was acquired during the SAD-BJP regime in 2015. The possession of the 60 acres at Manawala village, for the 15th IIM, was handed over to the IIM Society on June 18, 2016.

Presently, when the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was finalised by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the 3.5-km boundary wall is underway, it has been revealed that the change of land use (CLU) certification has not been obtained yet. Another hiccup is that an acre of land could not be acquired yet from a farmer.

Malik said the tentative cost of the IIM campus was estimated to be Rs 671 crore. The Central government had sanctioned Rs 26.82 crore till date. Out of this Rs 15 crore had been utilised, but Rs 11.81 crore was lying unused.

The construction of the 25.47-km Ferozepur-Patti rail link, approved by then Railway Minister Pawan Kamar Bansal in the 2013 Rail Budget, could not be started for want of land, which is also a state subject. The small chunk of land that needs to be acquired will cost only Rs 40 crore. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 297 crore for the project in the 2017-18 Budget, but the money could not be utilised, he said.

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Parsad had laid the foundation stone of the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) here but the project has not seen any progress on the ground till date.

On 19 June, 2014, the Centre, in its plans to refurbish major cities on modern lines, had agreed to develop Amritsar as a Smart City. As a large number of devotees visit the holy city daily to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir, besides offering tributes to martyrs at the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, it is the need of the hour to ensure ultramodern facilities for this historic city on the concept of Smart Cities. But the project is yet to be kicked off as the state government could not spare its share of funds.
Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

As many as 47 alleged terrorists, mostly new recruits, belonging to eight terror modules have been arrested in the past seven months in the state. The police claim that Pakistan-based Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) were trying to revive terrorism in the state.

As per a police analytical report, all modules had common elements and pattern. Youths, mostly unemployed and belonging to lower middle class were radicalised by offering them handsome compensation and foreign settlement, besides influencing them with emotive stories of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and police torture on Khalistanis.

All alleged terrorists have been accused of being in contact with Khalistan sympathisers on social media and propagating their ideology.

Each module had a handler based in Canada, UK, France, Italy, Belgium or Germany, who funded the modules and provided logistic support. More than 20 such handlers have been identified so far. But not much action is possible against them on the foreign soil. Pakistan-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy PhD (nicknamed due to his expertise in computers) of the KLF and Lakhbir Singh Rode of the International Sikh Youth Federation were the main conspirators.

The police analysis says the conspiracy to roll out such regular modules and target leaders of different communities started in early 2015 and resulted in six killings and two failed attempts.

The report says the eighth module led by Jagtar Singh Johal of the UK busted last week was the most dangerous. It remained in action for the longest duration and was the most determined effort of Happy and Rode and the ISI, said a senior police official.

He said the police failed their designs to revive terrorism and thanked the state residents who did not react adversely to the killings.

Lawyers and some political leaders, however, fear that the large-scale arrests are an indication of police raj where youths were being branded as terrorists for merely expressing their opinion on the social media or following Khalistan sympathisers.

Where is the evidence against them? Is the police probe transparent? asks Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, a lawyer who is representing Johal, besides other alleged terrorists and Sikh detainees in different jails of the state.

It is no crime to read and share stories of 1984 riots on the social media. It is also no crime to express your dissatisfaction with an organisaiton hurting your religious sentiments. The weapons were planted on them. Have the police ever booked any RSS leader for giving controversial statements, he asks. The arrests have stirred emotions in the UK where a campaign for Johals release is on.

While the Akali Dal is silent on the issue, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken up the matter through Kharar MLA and NRI wing incharge Kanwar Sandhu.

AAP leaders were earlier accused of meeting Khalistan sympathisers during the Assembly elections. Sandhu says: We are not supporting violence. We are saying the rule of law should be followed. There is no transparency in police functioning. Why are they not making the evidence against Johal or others public? We would have raised similar questions if a non-Sikh innocent person was branded terrorist like this, he said.
Timika (Indonesia), November 15

An Indonesian police officer was killed and a second wounded on Wednesday, after being shot in the back in an area near Freeport-McMoRan Incs giant Grasberg copper mine in the eastern province of Papua, a police spokesman said.

The officers were patrolling an area close to where a Freeport vehicle was targeted in a shooting on Tuesday, Papua police spokesman Suryadi Diaz said in a statement. Both were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the nearby city of Timika.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said the main mine access road from Timika to Freeports mining town of Tembagapura remained closed.

A string of shooting incidents in the area since mid-August that wounded at least eight people and killed two police officers has been blamed by police on an armed criminal group, but linked to separatist rebels by others.

The separatist West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), a group linked to the Free Papua Movement, has said it is at war with police, military and Freeport, but it was not immediately clear if TPN-OPM were behind the latest shootings.

The shootings took place on the 79-mile (127-km) winding road linking with the sprawling lowland urban hub of Timika.

The road, with many check points, runs beside a river rich with gold in tailings from Grasberg upstream. For decades, there have been sporadic attacks along it, but authorities efforts to catch the perpetrators have been hampered by thick surrounding jungle.

Papua has had a long-running, and sometimes violent, separatist movement since the province was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised 1969 U.N.-backed referendum.

Foreign journalists have in the past required special permission to report in Papua, and once there, have had security forces restrict their movement and work.

President Joko Widodo has pledged to make the region more accessible to foreign media by inviting reporters on government-sponsored trips, although coverage remains difficult. Reuters
Chicago/New York, November 16

The Ohio government called off the execution of a 69-year-old convicted murderer while it was under way on Wednesday because officials could not find a suitable vein in the inmate, who is sick with cancer and other diseases, state officials said.

Alva Campbell Jr., who also suffers from lung disease, asthma and heart problems and uses a walker and a colostomy bag, had argued through his lawyer he was too sick for a lethal injection, but lost a bid to be killed by firing squad instead.

We had warned them for months that they were going to have this problem, said David Stebbins, Campbells lawyer.

It was the fifth mishandled execution in Ohio in recent years and the second time an attempted execution was abandoned, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. The advocacy group, which opposes the death penalty, called for an immediate moratorium on executions in the state.

This is not justice, and this is not humane, Mike Brickner, the groups policy director, said in a statement.

Since the 1940s, only three execution attempts have been halted after they began and the prisoner returned to death row, said Austin Sarat, an Amherst College professor who has studied botched executions. U.S. courts have ruled states can make more than one attempt.

Ohios Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said Ohio Governor John Kasich agreed to a temporary reprieve. Campbells execution was rescheduled for June 5, 2019, Stebbins said.

Attempts by the medical team this morning to gain intravenous access were unsuccessful, JoEllen Smith, a department spokeswoman, said in a statement.

Journalists who witnessed the execution attempt said medical staff tried to inject Campbell twice in each arm and once in his right leg, the Columbus Dispatch newspaper reported. Campbell appeared to cry at one point.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal by Campbell to stop the execution at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville.

Stebbins had argued Campbells medical conditions could make it hard to find suitable veins to inject. Stebbins wasnt certain if Campbell, shaken by the failed attempt, would seek a different execution method.

Kasich, the Republican governor, earlier rejected clemency for Campbell, who has said he was abused as a child.

Campbell served 20 years of a life sentence for killing a man in Cleveland before being released by a parole board in 1992. Five years later, he was arrested and jailed for robbery in Columbus, Ohio, and was awaiting a court date when he faked paralysis, according to court documents.

As a deputy was transporting Campbell in a wheelchair to the courthouse, he suddenly beat the deputy, stole her pistol and fled, according to court records. He then car-jacked and fatally shot 18-year-old Charles Dials. Campbell was convicted in 1997 on robbery and murder charges.

Dials brother, Joseph Dials, his sister, Kayela Dials, and an uncle, Michael Brewer, were present to witness the attempted execution, the Dispatch reported.

Campbell was the latest inmate to challenge Ohios lethal injection methods. In September, Ohio put to death a double murderer, Gary Otte, in its second execution after a three-year hiatus because of legal challenges and difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs.

Otte was put to death after he lost an appeal challenging the use of midazolam as a sedative in that protocol. Several U.S. states have used midazolam in executions in which witnesses said inmates appeared to twist in pain.

Twenty-four more inmates after Campbell are slated for execution in Ohio through 2022. Among them is Romell Broom, a convicted murderer who left the execution chamber alive in 2009 after officials could not find a suitable vein. Broom is scheduled to return to the chamber in 2020. Reuters
Islamabad, November 16

Nawaz Sharif on Thursday suffered another jolt when the Pakistan Supreme Court chief justice rejected the ousted prime ministers appeal to merge three corruption cases against him in the high-profile Panama Papers case.

An accountability court on November 8 rejected an application filed by Sharif to have the three cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him and his family merged into one.

Today, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar dismissed Sharifs in-chamber appeal to merge three cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Panama Papers scandal, the Express Tribune reported.

This means the Sharif family will stand three separate trials, the report said.

A five-member Bench of the Supreme Court on July 28 had disqualified Sharif over his undeclared income. The apex court also directed the NAB to file cases against him and his children in the accountability court and directed the trial court to decide the cases within six months.

Sharif, 67, had earlier petitioned the apex court regarding the same matter, but the petition was rejected by the SC registrar.

He subsequently appealed against the registrars decision, saying that filing three separate references was illegal, and violates the law and the Constitution, besides being violative of his fundamental rights, the Dawn reported.

During todays hearing, Sharifs lawyer once again argued for consolidation of the three corruption cases, saying that the charges levelled against the Sharifs were common in all three cases.

The cases relate to different assets but all three name the same persons as accused, he argued.

He said the accountability court only had the authority to continue with the proceedings after merging the cases, adding that under the law, an accused could not be punished for the same crime multiple times.

But Justice Nisar upheld the apex registrars decision and refused to order the NAB to club the references together.

The NAB had filed three cases on September 8 against Sharif and his family, and another case against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The three cases against the Sharifs are related to the Flagship Investment Ltd, the Avenfield (London) properties and Jeddah-based Al-Azizia Company and Hill Metal Establishment.

The political future of Sharif, who leads the countrys most powerful political family and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, has been hanging in balance since his disqualfication. If convicted, Sharif could be jailed.

Sharifs family alleges that the cases are politically motivated.  PTI
Kabul, November 16

A suicide bomber killed nine people at a political gathering in the Afghan capital today in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the attacker detonated his payload at the entrance to a wedding hall where the event was being held, killing seven police and two civilians, and wounding another nine people. The Islamic State group claimed the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.

Parliament member Hafiz Mansoor, who attended the meeting but was not harmed, said around 700 supporters of the governor of the northern Balkh province were attending a conference to highlight his work.

Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the Taliban and other insurgents since the US and NATO shifted to a counterterrorism and support role at the end of 2014. The Taliban have seized a number of districts across the country, and both groups have carried out major attacks.  AP
London, November 16

The UK will double the number of visas offered to non-EU nationals who show promise in the field of technology, art and creative industries, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced, as part of her post-Brexit strategy to present Britain as open to global talent.

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The number of visas available through the Tier-1 (Exceptional Talent) route will increase from the current 1,000 to 2,000 a year to attract the brightest and best talent from around the world, including in digital technology.

May, who hosted digital entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country at Downing Street on Wednesday evening here, said that the visa hike was part of a slew of measures directed at the digital tech sector.

As we prepare to leave the European Union (EU), I am clear that Britain will remain open for business. That means government doing all it can to secure a strong future for our thriving tech sector and ensure people in all corners of our nation share in the benefits of its success, she said.

Our digital tech sector is one of the UKs fastest- growing industries, and is supporting talent, boosting productivity, and creating hundreds of thousands of good, high-skilled jobs up and down the country. It is absolutely right that this dynamic sector...has the full backing of government, she added.

The government said that the UK Home Office will look at how it can work with organisations across Britain to ensure wider take up of the additional visas outside London.

Alongside this, UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd is set to meet with technology experts to seek their input on making visa processes more efficient.

Increasing the number of visas for these sectors will make sure that we continue to be at the heart of world culture and forefront of digital and scientific advances, Rudd said.

The 2,000 visas will be made available to individuals who are recognised as existing global leaders or promising future leaders in the digital technology, science, arts and creative sectors by one of five UK endorsing organisations  Tech City UK; Arts Council England; The British Academy; The Royal Society; and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

The current allocation of the 1,000 visas  which are already split between the five endorsing organisations  will remain in place and the additional visas will be made available across all of the endorsing bodies based on their requirements.

Britain is a world leader in digital innovation with some of the brightest and best tech firms operating in this country. Working with us, they can provide technological fixes to public sector problems, boost productivity, and get the nation working smarter as we create an economy fit for the future, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond said.

Among the other measures unveiled for the digital industry include a 21-million-pound investment towards the expansion of Tech City UK into a nationwide network called Tech Nation and another 20-million-pound fund to help public services take advantage of UK expertise in innovative technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Tech Nation will see the organisation expand its successful hub model to more cities around the UK, including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Under the Tech Nation banner, this country that has brought so much innovation to the world and leads in sub- sectors such as fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics and life sciences, will build a national network of digital excellence so that the UK will continue to be recognised as one of the best places in the world to start or grow a digital tech business, said Eileen Burbidge, chair of Tech City UK.

The government also announced the launch of a 20-million- pound training programme which will challenge thousands of young people, aged between 14 and 18, to test their skills against simulated online cyber threats. PTI
FMCSA new Deputy Administrator Cathy Gatreaux talks about the importance of regulators and enforcement partnering with industry to improve safety. Photo: Deborah Lockridge

On her third day on the job, the new number-two at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration outlined the priorities of the agency under the Trump administration, including ELD implementation, deregulation, infrastructure investment, autonomous vehicles, and fighting human trafficking.

Deputy Administrator Cathy Gautreaux had only a day and a half in her new office before hitting the road for the FMCSAs Southern Regional Road Show, the fourth such regional event this year, being held in Birmingham, Alabama.

Gautreaux, who has a degree in criminal justice and experience in law enforcement before her 32-year stint at the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, said this is an exciting time to be in transportation, citing an expanding economy, new technology, and a rare bipartisan consensus about infrastructure.

Of course, these opportunities also present challenges, she said, including congestion, highway fatalities, neglected and aging infrastructure, and concerns around the reliability, security and privacy of new technologies.

Thats why the DOT, she said, has three over-arching priorities:

Safe deployment of automated road transportation systems

Revitalization of Americas infrastructure

Regulatory reform

These priorities will have a major impact on our work at FMCSA over the next few years, she said, and outlined the following priorities for the agency:

Mandatory ELD Implementation

Gautreaux noted that the agency has had many meetings with stakeholders on the new rule requiring electronic logging devices to track driver hours, from beef and pork industries to the motion picture industry to individual trucking companies and Capitol Hill staffers.

FMCSA has heard from a wide range of people on this issue, she said. The staff heard the concerns presented and we want to work with the groups, but the bottom line is in the end, FMCSA cannot arbitrarily change the compliance date of Dec. 18, 2017.  We must emphasize the fat that the rule and deadline has been published for more than two years. I hope everyone understands that [the ELD rule] does not change the underlying hours of service rule. All ELDs will do is replace paper logs. Were going to help move the trucking industry into the 21st century. We also want to make sure our state partners are comfortable and prepared to enforce the rules.

Infrastructure Investment

The state of our infrastructure is critical to our industry, Gautreaux said, and this administration is proposing to invest in it through public-private partnerships. This type of financing for large projects eases the burden on taxpayers.

However, she said, there are many hurdles in place in the form of regulatory and permitting barriers that can delay projects for years and in some cases decades without providing any real benefits to safety, the environment, or other concerns.

Which led into her next topic, deregulation. She noted that in August, an Executive Order issued by President Trump aimed at rebuilding the countrys deteriorating infrastructure would curb or remove unnecessary red tape and a fragmented, inefficient and unpredictable system for environmental reviews.

Reducing Regulation

Pointing out that one of President Trumps his first acts after taking office in January was signing an executive order directing federal agencies to repeal two federal regulations for every new rule they issue, Gautreaux said, the spirit is quite clear. Without compromising safety or a change in our mission, we at FMCSA look for ways to reduce regulatory burdens on industry whenever and wherever possible. This can be difficult, especially when rules come to us as statutory mandates, required by congressional legislation. Nevertheless, there are ways we can work to reduce the regulatory burden.

For instance, she said, a proposed rulemaking would allow states to issue commercial learners permits for up to a year, instead of making drivers and government officials go through the process of renewing a six-month permit. She also cited an example of a change under the previous administration, removing the requirement for drivers to file pre- and post-trip inspection reports where the inspection didnt find any problems. The final rule has provided more than a billion dollars in savings for the industry, she said. FMCSA is in the early stages of looking for more ways to reduce regulation, she said, with the help of its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.

Autonomous Vehicles

At FMCSA were looking to the future by eliminating obstacles and providing opportunities for industry to develop driver assistance and automated driving systems, she said, noting that it has sought input from representatives from trucking, law enforcements, safety advocates and technology companies.

Additionally, FMCSA is an integral part of the DOTs 3.0 autonomous vehicle program. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao recently unveiled a revision of the Obama Administrations guidelines for developing self-driving cars, which she called Version 2.0, and Version 3.0 is due next year.

Human Trafficking Education

Human trafficking continues to be a sensitive and painful topic but is something that must be publicly addressed, Gautreaux said, calling it an awful blight on humanity.

FMCSA will continue to work with other DOT offices and members of congress, she said, to do things like providing more in depth training for motor carriers and state enforcement officials.

Partnering for Progress

Gautreaux stressed using a partnership approach between FMCSA and industry to address these various priorities. Having been involved in both law enforcement and the trucking industry, she said, I hopefully will bring to the table a reinvigoration of the partnership that helped create the FMCSA, she said, noting she was involved in the creation of the agency.

She believes the trucking industry is headed into the next phase. The first was as an economically regulated industry, by the old Interstate Commerce Commission and state Public Utilities Commissions, prior to deregulation in 1980. The next phase involved safety being the primary determinant affecting motor carriers.

And now I think the next phase is going to be technology, and the broad, broad way that technology will impact the industry. So I hope I bring that knowledge and the ability to reach across the table to industry and law enforcement, and we together embrace this as the technology and insight on what technology will mean to the industry. Thats where that partnership is so incredibly important.

The agency does not yet have its top leadership position, that of administrator, filled. Although White House nominee Raymond Martinez last week got a thumbs-up from the Senate Commerce Committee, FMCSA officials said at the show they did not have any indication on when a full Senate vote on the nomination might occur.
When Francisco Ibarra and Manuel Gomez created Supermercado Morelos, they envisioned opening 10 stores in 10 years.

They eased off that goal a bit and instead focused on a slower, calculated growth during the past 15 years.

The local grocer recently opened its seventh location, and an eighth is expected to open in the summer of 2018.

Thats good progress, Gomez said. The stores we are building we know are really going to meet the communitys needs.

Supermercado Morelos opened its newest store in north Tulsa earlier this month, and a grand opening event is set for Friday.

The store, at 1515 N. Harvard Ave., is the third in Tulsa and the seventh in the state, with four locations in the Oklahoma City area. A fourth Tulsa store near 31st Street and 129th East Avenue is expected to open next summer in a former Warehouse Market location.

The new 15,000-square-foot store features a dine-in restaurant, a bakery, a meat department featuring locally made chorizo and marinated meats, fresh produce and aisles of Mexican-brand staples.

You can walk in the store and feel like you are in another country. You smell the bread, the food and see all the brands, Ibarra said.

The owners purchased the North Harvard Avenue property in 2015 and started renovations the next year.

It was totally abandoned, Gomez said. Everything was destroyed. It was bad.

They had been leery of buying the property, but doing so gave them the freedom to create a new image for their store. The new design eventually will be implemented in the other locations, Gomez said.

When its a lease, youre kind of scared of doing too much, he said.

Business has been better than expected at the new location, and Gomez said they are already looking at hiring additional staff.

The company employs more than 30 people at the store and around 230 at its seven locations.

He added that they expected the store to be successful because there was a definite need for a grocery store in the area.

The Tulsa City Council recently voted for a 180-day moratorium on dollar stores in north Tulsa to encourage more full-service grocers to locate there.

Many customers for years have been requesting that we open something in their area, which is this part of town, Gomez said.

The area is seeing an increasing Hispanic population, which had been traveling to the Supermercado Morelos at 21st Street and Garnett Road.

Fran Owens, owner of the nearby Rubicon Restaurant, used to have to travel several miles to get groceries she might need for her restaurant. She stopped by the store recently and was impressed.

I absolutely love it, she said. Its wonderful, organized and clean.

According to the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the new store will have a $2.8 million economic impact on the community.
Owasso High School is helping save lives thanks to the record-breaking number of donations it received during its blood drive on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

The school signed up 213 participants and collected 182 donations from students, teachers and community members, which was enough blood to help up to 546 patients in area hospitals.

Marla Roberts, account manager at Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI), said through Tuesdays event, OHS now holds the record for hosting the largest high school blood drive in northeast Oklahoma in 12 years.

Owasso is an incredibly giving community, and your support helps make sure that OBI is able to collect a portion of the almost 1,200 donations needed every day in order to maintain a safe blood for our state, she said.

OBI has already hosted several blood drives at seven Owasso locations this year that have brought in 538 donations, 204 of which have come from the high school.

OHS Principal Mark Officer said he was pleased to see the large turnout and is excited to continue hosting the drive on a regular basis.

Im very proud of Judi Leander, the teacher who led the event, and all the students who participated, he said. (Its) another indication of the extreme level of unselfishness and compassionate that is characteristic of our community.

For more information about the Oklahoma Blood Institute or future blood drives in the area, visit obi.org.
A 19-year-old man identified as the mastermind behind 10 QuikTrip robberies has received a 35-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 13 felony charges.

Nicholas Byrd faced four counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and conjoint robbery, as well as two first-degree robbery counts and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony, all in connection with a series of holdups that occurred in the summers of 2016 and 2017.

Byrd, who was 18 at the time of his arrest, was also charged as a youthful offender with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

He entered a blind guilty plea  a plea made without a sentencing recommendation from the state  to all the charges.

Tulsa County District Judge William Musseman imposed 35-year prison terms on Monday for the robbery counts and a five-year sentence for the conspiracy charge, all to be served concurrently.

Byrd also received a 15-year prison sentence for each youthful offender charge, which will run concurrently with his adult case.

Musseman denied a request from Byrds attorneys to have a judicial review of his case next year, which could have given him a chance at a sentence modification.

Byrd was accused of conspiring with 18-year-olds Misael Briones and Thomas Avery, as well as with 17-year-olds JayVerre Aguilar and Tyvon Mumphrey, to rob QuikTrip stores primarily in midtown and east Tulsa.

Briones pleaded guilty in September as a youthful offender to two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and an unrelated count of conjoint robbery, for which he received a 17-year prison sentence.

Aguilar, who is Byrds stepbrother, is scheduled for continued preliminary hearing proceedings Friday that will determine whether he will stand trial as a youthful offender or be prosecuted as a juvenile in connection with five of the QuikTrip robberies.

Mumphrey testified against Aguilar during a preliminary hearing and implicated himself, Aguilar and Byrd.

Avery and Mumphrey are each charged as youthful offenders with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony. Both have entered guilty pleas, but District Judge James Caputo has withheld making a finding of guilt pending their progress on treatment plans created by the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Oklahomas youthful offender laws allow teenagers charged with serious crimes the opportunity to complete treatment under OJAs purview, which if successful could result in the avoidance of state incarceration and even the dismissal of their cases. However, prosecutors can ask judges to sentence youthful offenders as adults if they are unsuccessful in the OJA program or if they believe such treatment wouldnt be an effective deterrent.

Caputo is scheduled to sentence Avery and Mumphrey on March 19 and April 23, respectively.
The fatal shooting of a man last month by a Sequoyah County sheriffs deputy was justified, according to a district attorney.

Phillip Trammell, 30, was shot in Muldrow by Christian Goode as the deputy was being attacked with a knife, authorities said.

District 27 Attorney Jack Thorp determined the shooting to be justified, announcing his decision Tuesday in a letter to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Goode was with Muldrow police officers when he attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Trammell at a home about 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20, authorities said. Trammell was accused of violating his sex offender registration requirements following a 2007 conviction in Texas for rape by instrumentation.

Goode and the officers had entered the residence looking for Trammell when he reportedly jumped out of a pile of clothes with a knife.

A police officer used a stun gun to try to subdue Trammell, but it was not effective, Thorp said.

Trammell reportedly pinned Goode against a wall and stabbed him. Goode dropped his baton while pinned and pulled his firearm, witnesses said.

Ultimately, it appears that Goode fired five rounds from his service weapon, which finally stopped the deadly force attack, Thorp stated.

Afterwards, Goode was hospitalized with two stab wounds.
Paris Saint-Germain have smashed the record for most goals in a UEFA Champions League group stage, taking their tally to 25 despite losing their final fixture at Bayern.

Unai Emery's team had set a new mark on matchday five following their 7-1 home win against Celtic, attacking trio Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe all scoring as the French side recovered from falling behind inside 60 seconds. Having won their earlier outings 5-0, 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0, Paris duly raised their average to 4.8 goals per game in Group B. That figure slipped to 4.17 after the 3-1 defeat in Munich on matchday six, yet their overall 25-goal haul is still four more than any other club have ever managed.

The previous record of 21 belonged to Borussia Dortmund, and Paris have also bettered Napoli's UEFA Europa League best of 22 (though Benfica's 29 goals in the 2015/16 UEFA Youth League remain the record for a six-game UEFA club group).

Most goals in a group

25 Paris Saint-Germain 2017/18

21 Borussia Dortmund 2016/17

20 Manchester United 1998/99

20 Barcelona 2011/12

20 Real Madrid 2013/14

20 Barcelona 2016/17

19 Barcelona 1999/2000

19 Real Madrid 2011/12

19 Real Madrid 2015/16

19 Bayern Munchen 2015/16

Paris nonetheless missed out on another record after losing at Bayern  even if they did at least hold onto top spot in Group B thanks to a superior head-to-record with the Bavarians, with whom they finished level on 15 points.

Striving for perfection

Only six teams had ever won six out of six in a UEFA Champions League group stage. It was a target in Parisian sights after five successive wins in their section, including a 3-0 against Bayern, but they were denied a sixth in Munich. Manchester City (goal difference +10) are still in contention to join this elite band.

Highlights: Paris 7-1 Celtic

100% group stage records

Real Madrid (2011/12) +17 goal difference

Real Madrid (2014/15) +14

Spartak Moskva (1995/96) +11

AC Milan (1992/93) +10

Barcelona (2002/03) +9

Paris Saint-Germain (1994/95) +9

Keep it tight at the back

Alphonse Areola had conceded just once before letting it three on matchday six AFP/Getty Images

No side had ever gone through a group stage without conceding, and on matchday five in Paris, Celtic's Moussa Dembele ensured this statistic stayed intact with a quick-fire strike. The closest any club had come was in 2010/11 when Manchester United lasted until 32 minutes into their final group fixture  and Valencia's Pablo Hernandez blotted their copy book. Ten teams have let in only one goal, which was the case for Paris before they shipped three in Germany.

Fewest goals conceded in a group

1 AC Milan 1992/93

1 Ajax 1995/96

1 Juventus 1996/97

1 Juventus 2004/05

1 Chelsea 2005/06

1 Liverpool 2005/06

1 Villarreal 2005/06

1 Manchester United 2010/11

1 Monaco 2014/15

1 Paris Saint-Germain 2015/16
| By Betsy Stein

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) CURE Scholars are off to a busy start this school year with new curriculum tracks, extensive writing and math programs, a new location for after-school learning, and even a fun science program as part of the Maryland STEM Festival.

Twenty-six sixth-graders from three schools in West Baltimore joined the Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Scholars Program in a ceremony Oct. 14 when they received their white coats, a symbol of their entrance into the field of health care. The new scholars have joined 54 seventh- and eighth-graders who all meet three times a week for tutoring, mentoring, instruction, and hands-on learning to set them on a path toward a career in health care or research.

The main goal of the program is to create a science pipeline for under-represented minorities, to expose students to health care careers, and excite younger students about all the possibilities in health care, said UMB CURE Executive Director Robin Saunders, EdD, MS.

Sixth-graders in the UMB CURE Scholars program check out how quickly liquid nitrogen evaporates at a Maryland STEM Festival event put on at the University by the Maryland Science Center.

Branching out from a previous focus on researching cancer health disparities, the middle school scholars this year also can choose three areas of study  anatomy, robotics, or MESA (mathematics engineering science achievement).

In addition to their research on cancer health disparities, scholars will also explore a wide array of topics in science and technology, explained Lauren Kareem, MEd, assistant director and curriculum coordinator for the CURE Scholars Program. Our scholars have many interests in the field of STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math].

After an overview of the three curricula, the scholars were asked to write an application for their top choice. They already have started dissecting sheeps eyes, programming robots, and building bridges, according to TaShara Bailey, PhD, MA, diversity fellow and PROMISE director.

Throughout the year, the scholars in each curriculum will work on specific research topics, Kareem explained. Anatomy students will continue researching cancer health disparities and will draw from the students research last year. The robotics students will study artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, and automation. The MESA students will focus on renewable energy, solar-powered cars, and computer coding. All the scholars will write a research article, to be published together in a journal at the end of the year. They also will create posters similar to last year that they will use in a culminating presentation in April, Kareem said.

Instead of meeting at their individual schools Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, this year the students are being transported to the Baltimore City Community College Life Sciences Institute at the University of Maryland BioPark for their training with the nearly 250 UMB CURE mentors. On Saturdays, the students meet at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to take part in A Bridge to Academic Excellence, where they receive tutoring as well as other instruction.

Writing and math are a big focus for the scholars this year  especially the eighth-graders. The UMB Writing Center has held workshops to help prepare the students for the college application process with a particular focus on writing an essay, said Isabell May, PhD, director of the writing center.

On a recent Saturday, James E. Wright, MFA, a multilingual writing specialist with the UMB Writing Center, helped the scholars to understand the power of writing and the impact it could have on their lives.

Writing is about you, creating your own story for people who dont know you, he explained. These essays are going to go out to college admissions committees, the people who make decisions about who to give scholarships to.  You choose what story you want to tell.  You are never too young to start thinking about what story to tell.

For math instruction, eighth-graders are taking Kaplan math every Saturday to help prepare them for the PSAT, and the younger scholars are taking IXL math  an online math tutorial.

In sixth and seventh grade, we are enhancing their math skills because some are pretty low, said Edana Jackson, CURE office manager and program coordinator. To be competitive when they get to high school, they need to be at least in Algebra I if not Geometry.

On a recent Saturday, all of the sixth-grade scholars and many of the seventh- and eighth-graders put on their white coats and gathered on the third floor of the Southern Management Corporation Campus Center for a program on liquid nitrogen. Its Cool in Your School was put on by the Maryland Science Center as part of the Maryland STEM Festival, and a few community members also were in attendance. (See the Photo Gallery)

The students were riveted by the show. Science Center educators created clouds in the room by pouring water into liquid nitrogen, deflated balloons by dipping them in the sub-zero liquid, and even passed around marshmallows that had been frozen by liquid nitrogen for the children to taste.

It was a great learning experience, said Demari Smith, a sixth-grade CURE Scholar from Southwest Baltimore Charter School. My favorite part was the marshmallow and how smoke came out of your mouth when you ate it.

Smith said he applied to be a CURE Scholar because he heard it would open doors for him. His cousin, Damonte Shields, also is in the program. Smith has not been disappointed.

Its better than I thought it would be. We are actually jumping into projects and designing bridges, said Smith, who is in the MESA curriculum.

Sixth-grader Jazire Faw, from Green Street Academy, also is loving her CURE experience in the anatomy curriculum.

I think its amazing, she said. Last week we dissected a sheeps eye, and I thought that was really cool.

Faw is looking forward to more dissecting and learning about the human body.

I might want to become a doctor, she said. Thats what Im hoping.
Boboya Emmanuel Sebit Gabu attends an economic lesson with his fellow students at the Adriatic College located in Duino, near Trieste.  UNHCR/Fabio Bucciarelli

DUINO, Italy  On a cliff top overlooking the Adriatic Sea, 18-year-old Emmanuel sits on a rock, doing his economics homework in the late afternoon sun. War overshadowed his childhood and educational opportunities in South Sudan, but now he is catching up academically and making the most of a scholarship to UWC (United World College) Adriatic College in Duino, near Trieste.

There is a feeling of freedom up here, he says, spreading out his arms. A human being is like a tree. When you are in a bad environment, you narrow yourself and your thoughts but in a good place, you expand.

UWC Adriatic is one of 17 colleges and schools that UWC has established around the globe, teaching the International Baccalaureate (IB). Founded in 1962, UWC is a secular organization with a mission to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. This year, the UWC Refugee Initiative, supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, hopes to more than double the number of scholarships it currently offers to refugees, from 47 to at least 100.

The cooperation between UNHCR and UWC is an example of the type of new partnerships needed to advance a comprehensive response, achieve better protection and long-lasting solutions for refugees and widen the options available for those refugees with few prospects of attaining a durable solution.

Emmanuel is making the most of a scholarship to UWC (United World College) Adriatic College in Duino, near Trieste.  UNHCR/Fabio Bucciarelli

Emmanuel, in the first semester of his first year at UWC Adriatic, and his classmates attend a lecture held by UNHCR reporter Helen Womack.  UNHCR/Fabio Bucciarelli

"I come up here to refresh my mind, to listen songs on my phone and sing alone with them. I miss home." says Emmanuel.  UNHCR/Fabio Bucciarelli

Emmanuel talks with Anna Illy at a cafe in in Duino. Anna donated him a full scholarship to attend the Adriatic College.  UNHCR/Fabio Bucciarelli

UNHCR hopes that the UWC Refugee Initiative can grow beyond the initial 100 students that will benefit from UWCs colleges and schools. Education is crucial for young refugees to build their future, become self-reliant, provide leadership in displacement and rebuild communities recovering from conflict, including in areas of return and in host countries.

Like its sister schools on four continents, UWC Adriatic pursues a policy of deliberate diversity, bringing together students from all over the world. It currently has 188 students, of whom 10 are refugees, from over 80 countries doing the two-year IB programme, providing over 70 per cent of students with full or partial scholarships.

We look for potential young leaders and persuasive students who will go out into the world and make a difference, says headmaster Mike Price. At UWC Adriatic, we provide the melting pot and let the students do the melting.

Emmanuel is in the first semester of his first year at UWC Adriatic. His scholarship is courtesy of Anna Illy, of the famous Italian coffee roasting company Illy, and she has come to the college to meet Emmanuel for the first time. They sit in a cafe, sipping from small cups, before it is time for him to go to his English class.

Emmanuels English is fluent, and he also speaks Arabic and his native Moru tongue. He grew up in Yambio in South Sudan. While still in primary school, he fled conflict and became an internally displaced person in his own country, like millions of others. He later became an orphan, although he does not want to talk about his childhood. The memories are too painful.

A person can lose hope but you have to believe in what you do.

After attending secondary school in Bahr Naam, Maridi County, Emmanuel moved to the capital of Juba but ran into fierce battles between government and rebel forces. He fled to Uganda, becoming one of over a million refugees from South Sudan at present being hosted in the neighbouring country. His older sister Raile also fled separately to Uganda. Miraculously, they met up again in Bweyale refugee camp.

A friend from South Sudan called Peter told Emmanuel about the UWC scholarship. Peter himself was too old to apply but encouraged his younger friend. Peter has a caring heart, says Emmanuel. We had a closeness and when I faced challenges, he was like a brother to me.

But Emmanuel had to take a big risk, giving up the protection he had been given in Uganda in order to return to his home country and to take part in the UWC scholarship interviews in Juba. I spend most of my time praying, he says. A person can lose hope but you have to believe in what you do.

He was selected by the UWC South Sudan National Committee from 19 candidates. Perhaps his 400-word essay on the war was the decisive factor, or perhaps it was his record of service as a Pathfinder (equivalent to a Boy Scout) in the Adventist church.

See also: Former refugee from South Sudan to address Brussels education gathering

Emmanuel has settled in well at UWC Adriatic. He shares a room with a Ukrainian student, while his best friend is a boy from Japan.

Everything was new, Emmanuel says. The weather, the landscape, the people around, so nice and welcoming. I am seeing things differently here.

Emmanuel is studying economics, philosophy and biology, with mathematics, Italian and English as secondary subjects. After his morning lectures and a quick lunch in the canteen, the cliff top is a peaceful spot in the open air to do his homework.

The trees here remind him of his old school in South Sudan. He admits he is homesick. I come up here to refresh my mind, to listen to songs on my phone and sing along with them. I miss home. I have lost old friends. But life is not a choice. Its all about where you find yourself.

Economics is the subject he hopes will take him to university after he completes the IB, possibly in Europe, and back home again to South Sudan. He is determined to return and make a difference for his own people.
BONN, 15 November  The Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), LI Yong, has re-affirmed his organizations support for the 44 members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

UNIDO will continue to support small island developing states (SIDS) to respond to the challenges of climate change and we will also support your need for economic development that leads to job creation, Li told the gathering of delegates during the first day of the high-level segment of the COP23.

In the last year, UNIDO has opened two renewable energy centres in the SIDS, one in Barbados and the other in Tonga.

The Director General told the group that UNIDO is able to assist with the implementation of SDG 9, working together for your inclusive and sustainable industrial development, and mentioned the potential to work together on developing the blue economy.

In thanking Li for his visit, Amjad Abhullla, Chair of AOSIS, said that he was heartened to hear of the on-going relations with Member States, especially in expanding their renewable energy capacity. We value UNIDOs role with us in responding to the Paris Agreement mitigation targets, said Abhullla, and we thank you for your commitment for UNIDO to remain a strong partner with us, he concluded.

Over thirty SIDS are members of UNIDO. Later this month, island leaders are expected to attend UNIDOs General Conference in Vienna, under the theme, Partnering for Impact: Achieving the SDGs.

For further information about UNIDO and COP23 please see here:

http://www.unido.org/news/press/unido-boosts-innovat.html

http://www.unido.org/news/press/greening-industry-to.html
Chinese envoy going to NK for talks

Beijing, Nov 16 (UNI) A senior Chinese diplomat will travel to North Korea on Friday as a "special envoy" of Chinese president Xi Jinping amid growing pressure on Pyongyang to curtail its nuclear and missile programme, the CNN reported.

The move comes after US President Donald Trump wrapped up his 13-day Asia trip, where he called for more diplomatic measures to be applied to North Korea, singling out China to do more.

But observers cautioned against any expectations of an imminent solution to the nuclear crisis, saying, if anything, the visit was another step in the warming of relations between the two formerly close allies.
Egypt says three militants killed, 74 arrested in Sinai raids

CAIRO, Nov 16 (Reuters) Egyptian security forces killed three suspected militants and arrested 74 others in raids targetting militant groups in North Sinai in recent days, the military said in a statement on Thursday.

Egypt faces an Islamist insurgency led by the Islamic State group in the Sinai Peninsula, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013.

The military did not name a specific militant group or release the names of those killed but said the militants were "highly dangerous".
Cong attacks AAP after 3 held in cash-for-ticket case 16 Nov 2022 | 10:43 PM New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) The Congress on Wednesday attacked the AAP after the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) arrested three people, including kin of its MLA in an alleged cash-for-ticket case for the forthcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls. see more..

Railways approves special provision for supervisory cadre to hike their pay scale up to group A 16 Nov 2022 | 10:37 PM New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) Fulfilling the long pending demand of a supervisory cadre, the Ministry of Railways on Wednesday approved a special provision "Pay upgradation" to hike their salary and position equivalent to Group A (level 9). see more..

Railways to construct boundary wall on 1000 km stretch to prevent cattle run over incidents 16 Nov 2022 | 10:32 PM New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) After the recent cattle run over incidents involving the Vande Bharat Express train on Gandhinagar- Mumbai route, the Railway Ministry has decided to construct a boundary on a 1000 KM stretch in the next six months. see more..

Prez, PM condole loss of lives in Mizoram quarry 16 Nov 2022 | 6:13 PM New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to a stone quarry collapse in Mizoram. see more..
Libyan forces hit Islamic State camp with air strike - commander

BENGHAZI, Libya, Nov 16 (Reuters) East Libyan forces said they launched air strikes against suspected Islamic State militants on Wednesday south of the jihadist group's former stronghold of Sirte.

"The Libyan air force struck and destroyed the biggest concentration of Daesh (Islamic State) south of Sirte, after monitoring the site over a period of time," said Sherif al-Awami, an air force commander with the Libyan National Army.

The site contained a large camp with military vehicles and stocks of petrol and water and had been used as a base for mounting attacks, he said.
Pakistan's long-persecuted Ahmadi minority fear becoming election scapegoat

By Saad Sayeed

RABWAH, Pakistan, Nov 16 (Reuters) Crammed into buses and mini-vans, more than 10,000 Pakistanis travelled to a mosque on the outskirts of the small Punjabi town of Rabwah, for the sole purpose of denouncing followers of the minority sect based here as "infidels and enemies of the state".

For members of the long persecuted Ahmadi community, who are forbidden to call themselves Muslims and face discrimination and violence over accusations their faith insults Islam, the open vitriol on display at the Oct. 20 rally was not new.
Saudi-led coalition rescues French journalists in Yemen - Arabiya TV

DUBAI, Nov 16 (Reuters) The Saudi-led coalition rescued two female French journalists on Thursday who had gone missing in an area of Yemen held by the Iran-aligned Houthi group, Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television reported.

The channel said the two had been "kidnapped" by the Houthis on Nov. 2. A source in the Houthis said the two had been ordered confined to a hotel after they were found travelling near combat areas in northern Yemen without permission.

The journalists were both taken to an air base in the Saudi capital Riyadh, al-Arabiya added.
Thailand plans joint arms factory with China

BANGKOK, Nov 16 (Reuters) Thailand's defence technology agency plans to set up a joint centre with China to produce and maintain military equipment in the latest sign of the strengthening security relationship since a 2014 coup.

The plans to establish the facility - and discussions on a Chinese naval centre to serve submarines Thailand ordered this year - point to a growing Chinese security presence in the oldest U.S. ally in the region as elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

The Thai government's Defence Technology Institute (DTI) will set up Thailand's first commercial joint defence facility with China in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen in July, a defence ministry spokesman said.
Toxic haze receding gradually in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) Pollutants lingering in the air of the national capital since a fortnight, were settling down gradually, leading to slight improvement in the air quality index, however, the rail traffic could not escape from getting affected, leading to cancellation of six trains, rescheduling of seven and delay in timing of 26 trains.

The weatherman said the toxic haze will take some time to completely leave the skyline of Delhi.

According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, particulate matter was registered at 443 and 227 for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively.
United Nations, Nov 16 (UNI) The very serious challenge facing peacekeepers with the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) makes it vital that additional efforts are made for the four-year-old operation to fulfill its mandate, the UN peacekeeping chief has said.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations made this assessment Tuesday as he addressed a packed Working Meeting for Member States, on the sidelines of the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference, which is taking place from 14-15 November, in the Canadian coastal city of Vancouver, the UN News said.

Top military personnel and leading defence ministers  together with organisations and groups from more than 80 countries involved in peacekeeping  have joined UN officials to discuss the increasing challenges faced in the field, and how to address crucial funding gaps in equipment and expertise.
A consultant is recommending Madison hire an independent auditor for the citys Police Department.

A citizen-led police ad hoc committee on Wednesday heard the first results of a much-anticipated study being conducted by OIR Group on Madison Police Department practices, policies and procedures.

Recommendations ranged from a further commitment to restorative justice options to the department holding listening sessions following controversial incidents.

But the California-based consultant did not make a definitive recommendation on whether officers should start using body-worn cameras.

One of the critical suggestions is to add an additional layer of police oversight in the form of an independent auditor, said Mike Gennaco, founding principal of OIR Group.

The auditor could provide an outlet to receive and evaluate police complaints, review internal investigations and use-of-force incidents, and have complete access to Madison Police Department information to provide transparency for the public, he said.

Currently, the city has a Police and Fire Commission that rules on hiring, firing, promoting and disciplining employees.

While residents can bring complaints about police officials to the commission, Gennaco said the process is such that they almost need to have a lawyer.

He also noted that a Police and Fire Commission doesnt have the authority to conduct independent audits or review internal investigations for objectivity, fairness and completeness.

Stephen Connolly, a principal at OIR Group, acknowledged the important and critical function of a Police and Fire Commission.

Were not talking about overturning that apple cart, but maybe supplementing it, Connolly said.

Gennaco said there would also need to be a community review board for an independent auditor to report to and work with for input.

Final recommendations on the $400,000 study will be received by the citizen committee next month.

During Wednesdays presentation, OIR Group representatives acknowledged there are advantages, such as increased transparency, and disadvantages, such as cost and a recent study suggesting body cameras do not increase accountability, in implementing the technology.

On Monday, the City Council voted 17-3 to remove $123,000 from the 2018 budget that would have gone toward conducting a pilot program using body cameras, citing a desire to hear the consultants recommendations first.

While no definitive recommendation on the technology was given, the consultant provided some guidelines.

Gennaco said city officials might want to work out policy decisions, such as when cameras would be turned on and when footage could be released, before a pilot program is conducted.

He added, though, that Madison police should not use body cameras if a bill passed by the Wisconsin Assembly last week becomes law. The Republican-backed proposal would limit public access to footage to only certain situations and creates exemptions for privacy concerns.

The restrictions that legislation has on the release of information, I think that really would create a huge hole with regards to the advantages of having body cameras, Gennaco said.

Connolly said the Madison Police Department has made a concerted effort to hire officers of color and has one of the higher percentages of female officers across the country.

Theres no question that the department does a lot of things remarkably well and unusually well in terms of the personnel it is able to attract, he said.

Connolly said there are some gaps in how comfortable female officers and officers of color feel going through the academy and during their time on patrol.

Earlier this year, the City Council approved 13 interim recommendations to make changes to the Police Department and city practices regarding policing while the study was being conducted.

The citizen committee will review the final report at its Dec. 14 meeting. It also asked for Madison Police Chief Mike Koval to weigh in on the recommendations by Jan. 15 and plans to meet with the full City Council some time that month.
Two Nigerian men living in Texas bamboozled their way into a couples purchase of a Deerfield home through a Madison real estate agent and a Stevens Point title company, making off with money loaned for the purchase by passing it through the bank account of an Iowa woman who thought she was being romanced by a man she met on a dating website, federal prosecutors said.

The scheme was among the identity theft, romance fraud and credit card fraud schemes that federal prosecutors in Madison said were carried out by Clement Onuama, 52, and Orefo Okeke, 41, both of Arlington, Texas. The two were each indicted Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to defraud, six counts of wire fraud and three counts of identity theft.

In all, according to an indictment issued in U.S. District Court, the pair netted $2.6 million of attempted grabs totaling $3.2 million.

Onuama and Okeke were originally charged in a sealed criminal complaint on Oct. 30, and were arrested in Texas on Nov. 1. They appeared in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 2 and will remain in custody until they are brought to Madison for arraignment. No date has been set for their court appearances.

According to the indictment, Onuama and Okeke ran an auto dealership and repair business under several names in Grand Prairie, Texas. The indictment states they were involved in schemes in which they would meet people through dating websites, convince them that they were in romantic relationships with them and eventually ask for financial help, often in releasing money frozen by a foreign country.

Prosecutors also said they opened credit card accounts, without authorization, under the names of other people, then charged the cards with fake transactions for Destiny Auto Repair, one of the business names the two used.

According to court documents:

In early 2014, a Madison real estate agent was handling the sale of a Deerfield home to a couple which, because of the couples bad credit, was being financed by a company in Chicago. Closing was set at a title company in Stevens Point.

In February 2014, the agent received an email from a title company representative with instructions for wiring loan money to an account at BMO Harris Bank. The agent responded to confirm the instructions. About an hour later, the agent received another email, purportedly from the title company, updating the wire instructions, telling him that the money instead should be wired to an account at Wells Fargo Bank in Bettendorf, Iowa.

The finance company in Chicago wired $123,747 to the Wells Fargo account on Feb. 24, 2014. The next day, the agent called the title company and was told that BMO Harris had never received the money.

The real estate company had its computer specialists look into the emails from the title company and found that instead of coming from the title company, most of the messages had come from somewhere else, and the sender information was disguised to appear legitimate.

The money that was sent to the Wells Fargo account in Iowa was transferred out in increments on Feb. 24 and 25, 2014. The Wells Fargo account holder, interviewed by federal agents, said she didnt know where the $123,000 deposited into her account had come from but said she had done four transactions similar to this one with people she had met online.

The woman told the agents that she had become involved in an online relationship with a man named Brian Ward in late 2013. In January 2014, she said, Ward told her that he had money in bank accounts that he was unable to transfer because he was in Spain, and asked for her bank account number so she could help him.

After that, she received a $12,112 deposit from the Internal Revenue Service in the name of a couple, along with a larger deposit. She said that Ward gave her a routing number and account number and told her to wire the money to that account. She said she made two transfers of $80,000 to Clement Onuama and $50,000 to P.M. Voss, neither of whom she knew.

Among the other fraudulent transactions alleged:

The controller of a development company on Saint Kitts told federal agents that she received urgent instructions by email from her supervisor to transfer $84,100 to D&D Service of Grand Prairie, Texas, which she did. Her supervisor later said he didnt send the email.

The owner of a food wholesaler in Santa Clara, California, said his investment adviser had received an email purportedly from the wholesaler asking to transfer $22,000 to a bank account belonging to Sysco Serve, a business registered in Texas to Okeke. Unable to reach the wholesaler, the adviser made the transfer.
Organized crime is considered to be a changing and flexible phenomenon. Many of the benefits of globalization such as easier and faster communication, movement of finances and international travel, have also created opportunities for transnational organized criminal groups to flourish, diversify and expand their activities. Traditional, territorial-based criminal groups have evolved or have been partially replaced by smaller and more flexible networks with branches across several jurisdictions. In the course of an investigation, victims, suspects, organized criminal groups and proceeds of crime may be located in many States. Moreover, organized crime affects all States, whether as countries of supply, transit or demand. As such, modern organized crime constitutes a global challenge that must be met with a concerted, global response.
November 16 2017

The Glasgow Instuitute of Architects have recognised eight of the best new projects to be delivered in 2017 as part of its annual award programme - with Lily Jencks Studio, in partnership with Nathaniel Dorent and Savills, sweeping the board to claim the prestigious supreme award for Ruins Studio home.This years panel was headed-up by guest judge Keith Williams of Keith Williams Architects with awards being divvied out to projects of all sizes and uses; from Baxendale Studio with Ben Parrys Riverside Solidarity scheme in the Small Works category to Stallan-Brands Halfmerke Primary in the Education grouping.Riverside Solidarity takes the form of a pop-up installation proving that there is money for old rope by scavenging discarded rope found around Govan Graving Docks as an informal viewpoint. Halfmerke School in East Kilbride meanwhile was praised for its generous spaces and through views.Hoskins Architects stormed the health category with Eastwood Health and Care Centre, which won over the panel courtesy of its flexibility and innovation. Cameron Webster Architects claimed the leisure & arts title thanks to Cove Parks simple and deliberately unfussy palette while Hoskins were again recognised, alongside CDA, for their work at St Andrew Square in the commercial category.The residential line-up was unsurprisingly led by Ruins Studio, a peaceful refuge carved out from a derelict farm although it faced stiff competition from double winners Cameron Webster following their sensitive upgrade of Millbuies House, a B-listed modernist landmark designed by Robert Matthew.Elder & Cannon meanwhile were recognised for their own historic remodeling after the practice unveiled a reinvigorated Russell Institute in Paisley.Last year's GIA winners were led by Ann Nisbet Studio's Newhouse of Auchengree
(Nov. 16, 2017) -- Vikram Kapoor, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Drew Johnson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), have been awarded a $692,452 funding agreement through the City of San Antonios Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Program to design and implement a way to track fecal bacteria in the Edwards Aquifer so that major contamination can be stopped before it starts.

The Edwards Aquifer is the primary source of drinking water for millions of people living in central and south Texas. Like all naturally occurring water sources, it is vulnerable to contamination from storm water runoff, municipal waste or even leaking septic tanks on private properties.

Some of the sources that contribute to bacteria in aquifer systems are uncharacterized and uncontrollable, said Kapoor. San Antonio is a forward-thinking city and UTSA is a forward-thinking university which is why we seek to identify sources that can be characterized and controlled. Were going to use innovative molecular techniques to get ahead of any issues that could arise.

The project team will spend the next two years collecting samples over several different regions of the Edwards Aquifer. The researchers will then work to identify specific DNA markers that are found in fecal bacteria to determine if theres contamination in the aquifer, to evaluate the level of contamination if present, and to accurately locate where it originated along the aquifer.

Understanding and identifying the sources of surface and groundwater fecal contamination is paramount to protecting water quality and mitigating pollution and risk to human health, said Kapoor. We will determine whether theres fecal contamination, then well advise the City on how to mitigate it.

Kapoors work is the first approach of its kind to studying fecal contaminants in the Edwards Aquifer. Once the scientific testing is complete, his project will include outreach efforts to educate the public, especially homeowners, on how to keep local water resources safe from contamination.

Were reaching out to our community to understand how septic tanks, pet waste, urban wildlife populations and household wells can affect our drinking water and our environment, said Kapoor.

Education modules for the communities surrounding the aquifer, also funded by the project, will be developed and led by the UTSA Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the project team will begin collecting and testing samples from the aquifer this winter.

UTSA is ranked among the nations top four young universities, according to Times Higher Education.
UW Art Museum Accepts Works for Juried Student Exhibition

These are among works displayed at last years Juried UW Student Exhibition at the UW Art Museum. This years exhibition will be on view Feb. 17-May 12. (UW Art Museum Photo)

The official call for entries is available online for the University of Wyoming Art Museums 43rd annual Juried UW Student Exhibition.

Students have until Thursday, Dec. 21, to submit up to three original works for consideration at https://www.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=4778. The exhibition will be on view at the UW Art Museum Feb. 17-May 12, with an opening reception and awards ceremony Friday, Feb. 16, from 6-8 p.m.

A variety of cash and purchase awards are available to accepted students. Awards will be announced at 6:30 p.m. during the opening reception.

The exhibition is open to any student enrolled at UW during the current academic year. The exhibition also is open to any in-state student enrolled through UW distance courses. UW students on and off campus are encouraged to submit their original artwork for consideration.

Original artwork may include paintings, drawings, prints, photography, sculpture, graphic design, ceramics and mixed media. Images of artwork selected for the exhibition will be archived by UW Libraries online repository.

Each year, a juror from outside Wyoming selects artwork for the exhibition. This years juror is Pamela Campanaro, director of galleries at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo.

For more information about the 43rd annual Juried UW Student Exhibition, call Kayle Avery, exhibitions coordinator, at (307) 766-6621 or email klangfor@uwyo.edu.

For more information, call the Art Museum at (307) 766-6622, visit the website at www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum, or follow the museum on Facebook.

Through its Museum as Classroom approach, the UW Art Museum places art at the center of learning for all ages. Located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive in Laramie, the museum is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday hours are extended to 7 p.m. February through April and September through November. Admission is free.
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CHICAGO  What is being lost as Republicans  the number dwindling every day  defend Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore from allegations of sexually assaulting teenage girls?

There is a cost to defending Moore. Dont kid yourselves that there is no cost to it.

And something is lost. So what is it?

With a corrupt establishment political center collapsing of its own rotten weight and the left pulling one way and the right pulling another, it seems that politics is everything to us now.

Yes, we have our tribes, our rhetorical weaponry and our mantras we tweet at each other, again and again, like shamans on a mountaintop, until the words themselves begin to lose meaning. But politics isnt everything.

For the record, I believe the women who have accused Moore. And I think it would be best for the nation, for the United States Senate and the state of Alabama if Roy Moore just walked away and disappeared somewhere.

But as long as he fights this, even as more women come out with their accounts of what happened years ago and reports surface about how Moore, in his 30s, trolled shopping malls for teenage girls, the temptation is for some in the GOP to defend him.

Unfortunately, that means casting doubt on the memories and the pain of the women giving their accounts of what happened when they were girls, some as young as 14 and 16, when Moore allegedly put his hands on them.

He calls all this a lie, threatens to sue The Washington Post and says hes the victim of the Democrats and the establishment Republicans. His answers seem incomplete and remarkably thin. He signed his name in a girls yearbook? He cant remember the name of the restaurant where he met one of them, where an alleged assault took place?

Many of those still defending him, from Moore diehards in Alabama to those in the Breitbart sphere, cant stand the Democratic Washington political establishment, and they detest, perhaps even more so, the Republican establishment. I understand their concerns. They see giving any credence to the stories about Moore as capitulation to their enemies.

But that is politics.

The one thing we dont lose in all of this is our vast reserves of political hypocrisy. American politics is incapable of running a hypocrisy deficit.

Speaking of which, remember when Democrats rallied around their big dog, then-President Bill Clinton? Feminists and other Democrats trashed and ridiculed women who dared go public with their allegations against the most powerful man in the world.

If you drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what youll find, said James Carville, one of the lead Clinton defenders, about Paula Jones.

That was the beginning of team Clintons nuts-and-sluts strategy.

Did the president have a sexual relationship with this young lady? No, said then Clinton aide Rahm Emanuel on CNN, talking of White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Did the president ask this young lady to lie? No, Emanuel continued. Thats what matters in a media frenzy about rumor and gossip. (Youve) got to get back down with the facts.

The White House was in chaos then. And Emanuel climbed chaos as if it were a ladder. These days, as mayor of Chicago, hes a wealthy and powerful man. So he didnt lose much. Hes too silky to take any blame.

But when it comes to politics and sexual predators, we know some facts. We know that Clinton was a sexual predator. His defenders  including his wife  protected him. The nation suffered. And now, some 30 years later, the left has discovered that character counts, and that there should be some kind of reckoning.

Democrats had their chance. And many were silent and many others were loud and public in their trashing of women to benefit Clinton. And it appears that Roy Moore is a sexual predator as well. So, 30 years from now, will the Republicans who defend him remind us that character counts?

What is lost in all this isnt mere political advantage. And its not the chance to forge human suffering into a weapon and use it to bash the brains out of political opponents so that your side, not the other side, may grab the levers of government power and win great treasure.

What is lost isnt the hysterical rantings of tribal partisans using the Moore allegations to trash the GOP while conveniently and cynically ignoring the Clinton history and the Democrats trashing women.

That kind of selective raving can be read on almost every news site now. All that is about is winning and shaming the other side. Its all about pure tribalism and clicks on a news site. It brings no light. Republicans see this, and they dig their heels in. They take their swings and the Democrats take their swings, and it gets even worse.

So what is lost when partisans are sent out to conveniently lie, to trash a woman for telling us what happened to her at the hands of powerful men?

And what happens when, in our desire to win at politics, we grab eagerly at such silky partisan lies and devour them as if they were nourishment in our political fights?

What is lost is decency.

America has lost too much decency already. We cant afford to lose any more.

So go away, Roy Moore. Just go away.
Hai Au Aviation and AirAsia's new partnership will miss out on international operations

MoT officially responded to the proposal of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment (HDPI) regarding adjustments in Hai Au Aviations investment certificate after the domestic airline announced intentions to accept the investment from Malaysia-based AirAsia Investment.

After receiving foreign investment, Hai Au Aviation also had another scheme of raising its charter capital from VND100 billion ($4.4 million) to VND1 trillion ($44 million), 30 per cent of which would belong to AirAsia.

Along with the intention of raising the market cap, Hai Au Aviation planned to register other businesses, some of which are not included in the list of services under Vietnam's WTO commitments, such as air transport support services (746), commodity loading and discharging (7419), passenger carriage (CPC 7311, 7312), aircraft services with pilot included (CPC 734), and air ticket services.

According to MoTs respondent, Hai Au Aviations business sectors are being narrowed down.

In particular, in the field of air transport support services, Hai Au Aviation, with 30 per cent of foreign ownership is solely permitted to provide two business lines: aircraft services, except for cargo services (CPC7461), and other airfreight support services (CPC7469).

In terms of air traffic control (ATC), MoT asserted Hai Au Aviation was permitted to provide ATC services even after transferring 30 per cent of the enterprises stake to the foreign investor.

Le Dinh Tho, Deputy Minister of Transport, noted that the co-operative link Hai Au-AirAsia could only provide services for commercial passengers in the domestic market, similarly to other airlines, such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Vasco, and JPA in case the authority upgrades Hai Au-AirAsias general aviation business licence to an air transportation business licence.

It was implied that the minimum amount of investment, VND300 billion ($13.2 million), would not please the young founder of AirAsia, Tony Fernandes, as the Kuala Lumpur-headquartered airline could only provide domestic commercial flights for individual passengers, carry-on luggage, commodities, post and parcels, whereas AirAsia was more keen on international operations.

However, the airfreight business registration has been thoroughly and legally assessed by the government to assure the security and safety of the aviation field at all costs.

Previously, in April, the government issued a notice approving the investment policy for the air transport projects and air transport licence for Vietstar Airline after constructing the passenger terminal and aircraft apron according to the decision approving the master planning of Tan Son Nhat International Airport until 2020.

The Hai Au-AirAsia alliance must convince the government, especially about the benefits brought to passengers, if they wish to earn a licence from the government in the anytime soon, an expert suggested.

Earlier in June, according to newswire The Guardian, an AirAsia flight, coded D7237, encountered technical problems and was forced to return to Perth, the airport of departure, instead of heading towards the destination of Kuala Lumpur.

ABC reported one passenger had felt the turbulence during the flight and that the plane was trembling like a washing machine.

The turbulence caused the aircraft to plunge from 32,000 feet to 10,000 feet without warning, leaving passengers in distress, according to newswire The Jakarta Post.

Fortunately, the crew handled the situation quite well despite the 90-minute expansion of the trip from Perth to Kuala Lumpur.

Hai Au Aviation was founded in 2011 as a member of the Thien Minh group, a travel and hospitality group in Southeast Asia. The aviation company specialises in commercial seaplane services in Vietnam, which enables customers to traverse to tourist destinations.

AirAsia is a Malaysian carrier which operates domestic and international flights to more than 165 destinations spanning 25 countries. AirAsia is one of the worlds largest low-cost airlines.
Much of the violence against albinos has occurred in Tanzania, where dozens have been slaughtered. (Photo: AFP/Bunyamin Aygun)

Much of the violence against albinos has occurred in Tanzania, where dozens have been slaughtered. (Photo: AFP/Bunyamin Aygun)

"Recent trends indicate a significant decrease of incidents of attacks and killings of" people with albinism, said Tanzania's Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC).

Canadian charity Under The Same Sun (UTSS) has documented 161 attacks on people with albinism in Tanzania in recent years, including 76 murders, more than anywhere else in Africa.

Albinos are kidnapped and their body parts hacked off for use as charms and magical potions in the belief that they bring wealth and good luck.

However in good news for those suffering from the genetic condition that results in a reduction of pigment in the hair, skin, and eyes, no attacks were registered in the first six months of 2017, according to the LHRC.

This is attributed to increased efforts from government, rights groups and UTSS to stop such attacks.

Tanzania's prosecuting authority reported in June that at least 30 people had been convicted for killing albinos between 2006 and 2016, and another 67 cases were underway.

The LHRC however noted an "increase of incidents of vandalism of .... graves" containing the bodies of albinos.

In January a man was arrested in the southern Mbeya region for vandalising a grave and exhuming body parts, with similar incidents taking place in northern Kagera and central Morogoro.

Despite the decrease in attacks on albinos, they "continue to live in fear and consequently cannot fully participate in social, economic and political activities," said the LHRC.

In north America and Europe there is approximately one albino for every 17,000 to 20,000 people. However in areas of sub Saharan Africa, including northern Tanzania, there are as many as one per 1,400 people due to inter-marriage in small communities.
The 1.45-hectare site in District 4 of Ho Chi Minh City, will be developed into a 870-unit residential development with a retail component at a total value of $177 million.

CapitaLand develops its 11th project in district 4 of Ho Chi Minh City

Strategically located within a five-minute drive from districts 1 and 7, residents at the new 24- storey development will also enjoy panoramic views of the Saigon River and city skyline.

The latest acquisition comes on the back of a year of record home sales growth for CapitaLand in Vietnam.

At the launch of its newest residential development, dEdge Thao Dien in Ho Chi Minh City, close to 100 per cent of the project was sold in less than two months after its launch in July 2017.

According to Chen Lian Pang, CEO of CapitaLand Vietnam, 2017 marks a record year of growth for CapitaLand in Vietnam with the highest home sales value achieved in nine months, surpassing that of 2016 by close to 50 per cent.

Beyond the residential market, we have made strategic inroads and expanded our footprint in the country with prime assets in gateway cities. To scale up fast and be nimble in seizing opportunities, we are also working with reputable capital partners who want to invest through CapitaLand given our deep local insights and execution know-how. Pang said.

For the first time in Vietnam, we plan to introduce dual-key apartments to cater to the young and vibrant rental market in District 4 and to attract potential investors. Our latest acquisition reaffirms CapitaLands commitment as a long-term partner in Ho Chi Minh Citys urbanisation journey and we will continue to explore opportunities to expand our presence and grow our market share in Vietnam, he added.

CapitaLands 11th residential development in Vietnam will be in a highly sought-after residential district in Ho Chi Minh City District 4  formerly a port city, the area has been redeveloped into a residential neighbourhood with a plethora of dining options and lifestyle offerings.

Vietnam is the third largest market for CapitaLand in Southeast Asia, after Singapore and Malaysia. As at end September 2017, it has S$2.0 billion worth of gross assets under management in Vietnam.

The latest acquisition will expand CapitaLands portfolio to 11 residential developments, 21 serviced residences with around 4,700 units and one international Grade A office development across six cities in Vietnam.

CapitaLand Vietnam wins GoHome Awards 2017 CapitaLand Vietnam won Best Overseas Property Developer (Vietnam) at GoHome Awards 2017 in Hong Kong, standing out from a crowd of accomplished competitors.

CapitaLand strikes biggest deal in Asia-Pacific In the largest office transaction in the Asia-Pacific this year, Singaporean real estate company CapitaLand purchased a landmark office tower for SGD2.09 billion ($1.55 billion).

CapitaLand wades deeper into Vietnamese commercial real estate To capitalise on the increasing interest of foreign real estate investors in Southeast Asia in general and Vietnam in particular, CapitaLand Limited has set up its first commercial fund in Vietnam named CapitaLand Vietnam Commercial Fund I (CVCFI) with a capital of $300 million.

Singapore property moguls move in The first half of 2017 has seen increased interest from Singaporean real estate firms in the Vietnamese market, with Sembcorp, CapitaLand, Mapletree, and Keppel Land among the biggest movers and shakers.
Models showing off designs from Dubai's Amato Couture during a show at Arab Fashion Week. (AFP/GIUSEPPE CACACE)

Models showing off designs from Dubai's Amato Couture during a show at Arab Fashion Week. (AFP/GIUSEPPE CACACE)

At the opening shows on Wednesday (Nov 15) night, ballgowns and evening gowns appeared in full force, with Lebanese designer Saher Dia showcasing a collection inspired by old Hollywood - including a metallic-fringed dress that appeared to be a modern-day tribute to Ginger Rogers.

And in a city that has become a metaphor for luxury, Filipino designer Furone One, of Dubai's Amato Couture, turned his models into fairies living the high life.

"This collection is inspired by fairies - sea fairies, all kinds of fairies, because as a child I believed in fairies," Furone told AFP backstage.

His collection did not disappoint.

The celebrity favourite, who has dressed Beyonce, Katy Perry and Heidi Klum among others, sent more than 20 models down the runway in holographic and pearl headpieces, their arms stained with green duochrome glitter, as if Tinkerbell had gone for a swim.

Embroidered or beaded, gowns in muted blues, blushes and beiges were paired with voile capes and purses made from seashells in a collection that was still wearable for the Dubai crowd.

"For me, Arabs are very creative," One said. "They love to experiment, they love to explore," he added. "Here in Dubai, you have the time for luxury."

Arab Fashion Week's spring/summer 2018 season strikes a markedly different tone from the previous fall/winter season, which had a heavier focus on unisex and menswear lines.

While Aiisha Ramadan, the Lebanese designer who has garnered a dedicated following in the Gulf for her traditional aabaya robes, did embrace the unisex structured blazer, hers had blue ruffled overlays pouring out of the shoulder pads.

Her "bridal" look was a galaxy-print ballgown with pockets and a black veil - a far cry from the solid colours and long kaftans she is known for.

"The Arab client is definitely changing," Ramadan said backstage, in biker boots studded with crystals.

"She's changing in the way she's thinking. She's becoming simpler, someone who wants to shine more than the dress on her."

The shows this week will also feature Mua Mua's hand-knit celebrity dolls, made in Bali by Italian designer Ludovica Virga.

Arab Fashion Week, held twice a year, showcases only see-now-buy-now collections and pre-collections, as opposed to the traditional haute-couture model in which designs are delivered only months after they are ordered.
During a Presidential review in 1861, a soldier, distraught upon being denied a request for leave, used his unexpected face-time to appeal to President Lincoln, This morning I went to speak to Colonel Sherman and he threatened to shoot me. Lincoln stared at him a moment, glanced at Sherman, and finally leaned close to the officer, saying in a stage whisper, Well if I were you, and he threatened to shoot, I would not trust him, for I believe he would do it! Laughter erupted and the twice-denied captain slunk away.

The Civil War, which in 1861 had many hard years ahead, would be won by three indispensable men: Lincoln, Grant and Sherman. The bold action of Grant and Sherman in the west and waging war in such a manner as to extinguish the will of the southern states to continue is relayed in Fierce Patriot by Robert OConnell.

Fierce Patriot paints three separate portraits of Sherman: the Military Strategist, the General whose men affectionately referred to him as Uncle Billy, and finally a portrait of him and his family. His character is examined honestly. OConnell captures Shermans relentless brilliance and volubility, his tenacity in battle, his generosity towards the vanquished, and even his restraint in his march of destruction across the south. Shermans bundle of contradictions are beautifully evident even from the description of his rumpled uniform, tailored by Brooks Brothers.

Sherman grew up a foster child raised by a family friend after his father died unexpectedly when he was nine. When brought in by the man who would raise him his sister implored the man take Cump, the red haired one, hes the smartest! Growing up in the home of Thomas Ewing in Lancaster, Ohio was a godsend for Sherman and his brother John. Ewing was a US Senator and would later be the first Secretary of the Interior. Shermans brother, John Sherman, became a US Senator and would later be memorialized near the turn of the century in the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Cump would marry his foster sister, Ellen, whose devotion led her to personally appeal to Lincoln when his command was in jeopardy after a mental breakdown. The familys loyalty to one another would be a ballast to the careers of both Cump and his brother.

After West Point, Sherman served in California where his command was the first to receive word from Johann Sutter that gold had been discovered. To support his wife, Sherman left the military for greener pastures, where, like Grant, he never found his stride. At one point, a speculation in California municipal bonds put him $20,000 in debt, a fantastic sum at the time. He doggedly paid it off. Sherman wound his way back to military service just before the war, helping to found the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and military academy, which would later become Louisiana State University.

Once the war began a too early elevation in command responsibility brought about a mental breakdown in Sherman. He would be mindful afterwards that he served best in a number two role. That he had the sense to acknowledge that, and that there was a Ulysses Grant as his friend and a grounding influence would be the most fateful and important fact of his life. Sherman would once remark, Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other always.

Fierce Patriot paints a wonderful picture of the broad importance of the strategic successes of Sherman and Grant, as well as a more focused view of how his army functioned and how that armys natural adaptability and spirit lives on in the army of today.

Shermans contradictions are more apparent after success and immortality are assured: He helps spearhead the process completing the transcontinental railroad, but wipes out the Indian food supply to help ensure the completion. He fractures his marriage and explodes when his son joins the priesthood, yet he continues to act as a surrogate father to those who served under him.

Toward the end of his life, Sherman forcefully defended the righteousness of the union cause, using his dying days to help dispel the notion of the Lost Cause of the confederacy that was beginning to spring up.

Sherman was a complicated, brilliant, decent, yet flawed man whose many qualities are made appreciable and comprehensible in this terrific volume by Robert OConnell.
Masan's animal feed facility

During the buyback period, Masan purchased over 100,660,000 shares, increasing its total treasury shares to nearly more than 109,900,000 or 9.5 per cent of its charter capital.

Masan paid a weighted average price of VND58,352 ($2.6) per share for a total consideration of VND5,874 billion ($267 million).

According to the group's release, the completed buyback will deliver strong shareholder returns. That is because Masan Consumers growth is back due to operational transformation to focus on innovation and building power brands rather than heavy investment in trade.

As a result, stock level has been normalised to 2010 and 2011 levels with double digit growth expected in 2018s first quarter. The third quarter of 2017 results demonstrate a recovery in its major categories and strong performance in big growth pillars such as beer, energy drinks and processed meat.

Masan Nutri-Science has lowered the companys overall consolidated financial results in 2017 as Vietnam experienced historically low livestock pig prices.

Livestock pig prices will start to recover as consumer demand for pork picks up during the Tet holidays. The company believes it will start to realise results from growing pig feed market share from 30 per cent to nearly 50 per cent in 2018.

In addition, management will continue to focus on building an integrated branded meat platform, which will enable the company to deliver strong top and bottom-line growth through livestock cycles.

The outperformance at Techcombank and Masan Resources which has witnessed a 50 per cent plus recovery in tungsten prices will continue in the medium term and is not being properly reflected in Masans valuation.

The successful IPOs of consumer-centric businesses (VietJet, VP Bank, and Vincom Retail) and the more recent investment in Vinamilk by Jardine Matheson show that investors today believe in Vietnams consumer growth story, particularly in sector leaders that can demonstrate market consolidation and a large consumer base.

As a leader across the largest consumer segments and a strong 2018-2020 growth trajectory outlook, Masan believes it will deliver strong returns for shareholders. Masan believes the share buyback provides flexibility for growth capital while minimising dilution to existing shareholders.

Masan has built leading businesses in the branded food and beverage sector and in the animal nutrition value chain.

Masans businesses include Masan Consumer Holdings, the producer of some of Vietnams most trusted and loved brands across many food and beverage categories (such as Chin-su, Nam Ngu, Tam Thai Tu, Omachi, Kokomi, Vinacafe, Wake-up, Vinh Hao and Su Tu Trang), and Masan Nutri-Science, Vietnams largest local animal protein company (with brands such as Bio-zeem, Proconco and ANCO).

The groups other businesses include Masan Resources, one of the worlds largest producers of tungsten chemicals and strategic industrial minerals, and Techcombank, a leading joint stock commercial bank in Vietnam.

Prolonged pig crisis overshadows Masans growth fundamentals Masan Group, one of Vietnams largest private sector companies with a focus on the consumption and resources sectors, has just released its financial statements for the first nine months of 2017.

Masan to buy back up to 10 per cent of common stock Masans buyback of its common stock is seen as one of the groups attempts to respond to the expectations of shareholders.

Masan Nutri-Science delivers 3F promise At first glance, the Vietnamese animal protein industry appears to have reached its full potential with a total market size of $18 billion, equivalent to over 9 per cent of the national GDP. The entire value chain includes animal feed, farming, and end-consumer products, both fresh and processed meat.

Masan's history of unique M&A While M&A may be a new and strange activity to Vietnamese businesses, to Masan, it is simply a tool to be used for developing their long-term vision.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to give a "high-level" speech, along with UN chief Antonio Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron AFP/Tobias SCHWARZ

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to give a "high-level" speech, along with UN chief Antonio Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron AFP/Tobias SCHWARZ

Despite announcing it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the United States has a delegation at the Bonn huddle, tasked with drawing up rules for executing the hard-fought pact on winding down Earth-warming greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, oil and gas.

Washington's presence is not universally appreciated, especially after White House officials hosted a sideline event Monday defending the continued use of fossil fuels.

"A lot of negotiators are not happy with the way the US has been behaving in some of these negotiations," Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientist, a veteran observer of the climate process, told AFP.

"Things like this fossil fuel initiative ... are not making things easier."

The United States, which championed the Paris Agreement under former president Barack Obama, ratified it just two months before Donald Trump - who has described climate change as a "hoax" - was voted into office.

In June, the new president announced America would pull out of the historic pact.

This week, Syria became the 196th country to adopt the agreement, leaving the United States as the only nation in the UN climate convention to reject it.

Bureaucrats have been haggling over the Paris Agreement rulebook for the past nine days. Now it is the turn of energy and environment ministers to unlock issues above the pay grade of rank-and-file negotiators.

The goal is to draft a set of decisions to be adopted before the meeting ends on Friday.

Along with UN chief Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will kick off Wednesday a day-and-a-half of back-to-back "high-level" speeches.

NOT A HOLIDAY

"Ministers speaking at the UN summit in Bonn on Wednesday have a big job to do. This meeting is not making progress on some key issues," said Mohamed Adow of Christian Aid, which represents the interests of poor countries at the talks.

"It almost feels like negotiators have taken this Fiji-led summit and treated it as if they are on holiday in the Pacific."

The Paris Agreement commits countries to limiting average global warming to under 2C over Industrial Revolution levels, and 1.5C if possible, to avert calamitous climate change-induced storms, drought and sea-level rises.

To bolster the agreement, nations submitted voluntary commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning.

But the 1C mark has already been passed, and scientists say that on current country pledges, the world is headed for a 3C warmer future, or more.

Armelle le Comte of Oxfam said Merkel and Macron must signal that they will lead by example.

"It is the moment to show that the French-German couple is dynamic and ambitious on these questions," she told AFP.

But Merkel is in a tough spot.

Coal provides about 40 per cent of Germany's electricity needs, and the country is set to miss its own goal to cut emissions by 40 per cent by 2020 from 1990 levels.

"Chancellor Merkel over the years has been a great climate champion and has driven the global debate forward," said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace.

"But that credibility is hanging in the balance."

Outstanding issues for ministers to solve include a demand from poorer countries for firm financing commitments to help them prepare for, and deal with, the fallout from climate change.
Tourists visit Ha Long Bay

A group of tourists said each of them had to pay VND250,000 (USD11) for a 4-hour tour trip on Thanh Cong 28 boat on November 12. However, their trip was forced to cut short. A tourist said, "The crew on the boat always urged us to be quick. Usually, it takes an hour to explore a cave but the crew said we must return after 40 minutes."

The group left Tuan Chau Port at 9 am and returned at 11.30 am. As soon as they reached the shore, another group of tourists was urged onto the boat.

Quang Ninh Inland Waterway Port Authority confirmed that Thanh Cong 28 boat ran three trips on November 12 and there was a two and a half hour trip. Ho Quang Huy, vice chairman of Ha Long City People's Committee, said they were checking the information because in some cases, tourists had made a deal with the boat crews to cut the trips short.

However, the complaining tourists said they had no deal and were told that their trip would be four hours.

The tour guides also raised concerns about the shortcomings when providing services for solo travellers. Most tourists share their bad experiences on the Internet instead of coming to the authorities. They are usually grouped with the tour groups and have to follow group schedules. If there are only free independent travellers on the boat, those who want to leave early will be prioritised.

Tran Duc Binh, a tour guide from Hanoi, said, "The managers should tell tourists about the timeframe of each trip and let them decide on whether to cut the trip short or not. After that, they can make plans to group suitable tourists together."
For too long our complex tax code has confused American individuals and families, nickel-and-dimed small businesses and obstructed job creation and economic growth. It has kept our businesses from growing and adding more workers. This bill provides tax cuts for the middle class, low-income Americans and U.S. businesses of all sizesfrom home builders, to contractors, to farmers and small businesses in Illinois, said Rep. Hultgren. Comprehensive tax reform is long overdue, and this bill provides significant relief to people in Illinois and across the country. Every time I meet with family-owned businesses and ask them what it would take to hire one more employee, they unanimously state fixing the tax code, among other issues. I am especially pleased the legislation includes my bill, the Bring Small Businesses Back Tax Reform Act, to cut the overall small business tax rate to 25 percent and provide much-needed relief to the engine of Illinois economy. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to finalize a plan that includes municipal finance tax protections that preserve a key tax tool for funding local and state infrastructure projects like hospitals, roads and bridges. Our goal is a tax code that benefits and works for families, seniors, workers and job creators in the 14th District.

WASHINGTON DC Thursday, U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (R-IL-14) supported passage of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation included Rep. Hultgrens bill H.R. 1425, the Bring Small Businesses Back Tax Reform Act , which cuts the overall small business tax rate to 25 percent. Some Illinois companies are paying up to 40 percent in federal taxes.

Hultgren's office listed the following items for individuals and families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

Lowers individual tax rates for low- and middle-income Americans to Zero, 12%, 25% and 35% so people keep more of what they earn, and continues to maintain 39.6% for high-income Americans.

so people keep more of what they earn, and continues to maintain 39.6% for high-income Americans. Significantly increases the standard deduction to protect roughly double the amount of what you earn each year from taxes  from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples.

to protect roughly double the amount of what you earn each year from taxes  from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples. Eliminates special-interest deductions that increase rates and complicate Americans taxes  so an individual or family can file their taxes on a form as simple as a postcard.

 so an individual or family can file their taxes on a form as simple as a postcard. Takes action to support more American familiesby:

o Establishing a new Family Credit  which includes expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $1,600 to help parents with the cost of raising children, and providing a credit of $300 for each parent and non-child dependent to help all families with their everyday expenses.

o Preserving the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families care for their children and older dependents such as a disabled grandparent who may need additional support.

o Preserving the Adoption Tax Credit so parents can continue to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and their homes to an adopted child.

Maintains the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide important tax relief for low-income Americans working to build better lives for themselves.

to provide important tax relief for low-income Americans working to build better lives for themselves. Streamlines higher education benefits to help families save for and better afford college tuition and other education expenses.

to help families save for and better afford college tuition and other education expenses. Continues the deduction for charitable contributions so people can continue to donate to their local church, charity or community organization.

so people can continue to donate to their local church, charity or community organization. Preserves the home mortgage interest deduction for existing mortgages and maintains it for newly purchased homes up to $500,000, providing relief to current and aspiring homeowners.

for existing mortgages and maintains it for newly purchased homes up to $500,000, providing relief to current and aspiring homeowners. Continues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local property taxes up to $10,000.

up to $10,000. Retains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts so Americans can continue to save for their future.

so Americans can continue to save for their future. Repeals the Alternative Minimum Tax so millions of individuals and families will no longer have to worry about calculating their taxes twice each year and pay the higher amount.

so millions of individuals and families will no longer have to worry about calculating their taxes twice each year and pay the higher amount. Provides immediate relief from the Death Tax by doubling the exemption and repealing the Death Tax after six years. Family-owned farms and businesses will no longer have to worry about double or triple taxation from Washington when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation.

For job creators of all sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

Lowers the corporate tax rate to 20%  down from 35%, which today is the highest in the industrialized world  the largest reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate in our nations history.

 down from 35%, which today is the highest in the industrialized world  the largest reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate in our nations history. Reduces the tax rate on the hard-earned business income of Main Street job creators to no more than 25%  the lowest tax rate on small business income since World War II.

 the lowest tax rate on small business income since World War II. Provides a new, low tax rate of 9% for businesses earning less than $75,000 in income to help the Main Street startups who fuel innovation and job creation in communities across the country

to help the Main Street startups who fuel innovation and job creation in communities across the country Establishes strong safeguards to distinguish between individual wage income and pass-through business income so Main Street tax relief goes to the local job creators it was designed to help most.

so Main Street tax relief goes to the local job creators it was designed to help most. Allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipment to improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers  unleashing the growth of jobs, productivity and paychecks.

to improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers  unleashing the growth of jobs, productivity and paychecks. Protects the ability of small businesses to write off the interest on loans that help these Main Street entrepreneurs start or expand a business, hire workers and increase paychecks.

that help these Main Street entrepreneurs start or expand a business, hire workers and increase paychecks. Retains the low-income housing tax credit that encourages businesses to invest in affordable housing so families, individuals and seniors can find a safe and comfortable place to call home.

that encourages businesses to invest in affordable housing so families, individuals and seniors can find a safe and comfortable place to call home. Preserves the Research & Development Tax Credit  encouraging our businesses and workers to develop cutting-edge Made in America products and services.

 encouraging our businesses and workers to develop cutting-edge Made in America products and services. Strengthens accountability rules for tax-exempt organizations to ensure that churches, charities, foundations and other organizations are focused on helping people and communities in need.

to ensure that churches, charities, foundations and other organizations are focused on helping people and communities in need. Modernizes our international tax system so Americas global businesses will no longer be held back by an outdated worldwide tax system that results in double taxation for many of our nations job creators.

so Americas global businesses will no longer be held back by an outdated worldwide tax system that results in double taxation for many of our nations job creators. Makes it easier for American businesses to bring home foreign earnings to invest in growing jobs and paychecks in our local communities.

to invest in growing jobs and paychecks in our local communities. Prevents American jobs, headquarters and research from moving overseasby eliminating incentives that now reward companies for shifting jobs, profits and manufacturing plants abroad.

Supporting organizations:
More like Darren Aronofs-TONY. Photo: Woohae Cho/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Darren Aronofsky, an aficionado of scarves and existential terror, also loves himself a good show tune. Thats according to Hugh Jackman, who invented show business and recently hosted a screening of Aronofskys controversial mother! with Ellen Burstyn. Darren loves a Broadway musical! Jackman, who starred in Aronofskys The Fountain, told the assembled audience, according to Page Six. Now, first of all, there is no evidence of Jennifer Lawrence meeting Ben Platt backstage at Dear Evan Hansen for the worlds most #relatable selfie, so we have our doubts about Darrens theater enthusiasm. But more importantly, if that mother! opera doesnt work out, he could always stage mother!: the musical! (all lower case, of course). Hugh Jackman stars as Javier Bardems character. That Sink Isnt Braced is the act 1 finale; whoever plays the Michelle Pfeiffer part  my vote is Donna Murphy  steals the show with Try My Lemonade; and the theater burns down at the end! Itll run for eons.
No one ever knows if theyre experiencing tunnel vision. When someone desperately tries to accomplish their biggest goal, or give their life meaning, or save the world, or prevent a tragedy, they dont know if theyre missing the forest for the trees. Only those who arent directly connected to that journey can provide the appropriate perspective. But what happens when everyone around you also suffers from tunnel vision? What happens when myopia dominates everyones worldviews? What happens when everyone can only see trees?

eps3.5_kill-pr0cess.inc dramatizes that terrifying idea by essentially pushing every character, and their conflicting goals, into the same orbit. Credited writer Kyle Bradstreet constructs a ticking-time-bomb scenario in which everyone races against the clock to either stop or help the Dark Army, and yet everyone on the ground has no idea about the other shoe thats slowly dropping out of sight. No one can see the bigger picture because theyre too focused on whats in front of them.

Elliot confronts Angela only to discover a true believer has taken the place of his once close friend. She parrots the tired logic of consequences are necessary and changing everything for the better to further her denial about the human toll of her actions, but Elliot sees the truth: Angela manipulated his personality disorder to commit an act of terrorism that she has been duped into believing will provide justice. Elliot abandons her in order to stop the explosion at the recovery facility himself. Unfortunately, Mr. Robot has a vested interest in destroying those paper records and wants to see Elliot fail.

Meanwhile, Elliot tells Darlene about Tyrells location at the Red Wheelbarrow. She gives that information to Dom and Norm, who kick it up the chain of command to Santiago. Unbeknownst to them, Santiago is a Dark Army agent, so he just brushes them off and alerts Whiterose that Tyrell has been compromised. Dom, pushed by Darlene and unsatisfied with simply allowing a superior to dictate her actions, decides to go to Red Wheelbarrow to investigate.

Director Sam Esmail mostly cuts back and forth between Elliot and Dom, both agents technically on opposite sides of a war trying to do the right thing, though both are operating under limited information. Elliot believes that Stage 2 simply encompasses the New York recovery building and that stopping its destruction will save lives. Dom believes that Tyrell is her link to the Dark Army, her white whale that almost got her murdered in a shootout in China. Neither suspects that theyre acting within a large distraction created by forces beyond their control.

As this chaos happens above ground, Tyrell flounders below. Irving informs him that he and his family will not be jetting to Ukraine. He simply hands him an envelope of instructions and tells him to burn it when hes done. Like any terrorist organization, the Dark Army uses people as long as theyre necessary and then dumps them in an instant. Its not clear what instructions Tyrell was supposed to follow, whether he was supposed to set a fire and then get himself captured, or if it simply informed him of his wifes death and his sons displacement. Regardless, the Dark Army played him for a fool, along with the other cronies that they deceived.

Even the people who supposedly know about the impending tragedy dont really know whats about to strike. Though her voice quivers when pushed, Angela believes Irvings assurances that the New York facility has been evacuated and that no one will die. Santiago phones his mother and tells her not to leave the house as he fiddles with a New Yorkthemed snow globe. How much does he know? Probably as little as Angela.

Even Mr. Robot doesnt know what Whiterose and her revolutionaries have concocted. As Elliot amusingly fights against himself on his way to the battery room, he tries to get Mr. Robot to communicate. Initially hes unwilling to talk at all, preferring to force blackouts and inflict physical pain on Elliot. But when hes outside the room, Elliot finally gets through to him and reveals that the paper records arent in the facility. Even Elliots split personality has no idea of what he has wrought. The revolution is fully out of their hands.

Throughout eps3.5_kill-pr0cess.inc, Mr. Robot creates tension around a perceived threat that could seemingly take place at any time. The potential destruction of the New York storage facility informs every action and belief. Some think theyre doing the right thing; others know they arent. Dom doesnt even know about the bomb, but believes Tyrell will provide the answers she needs. Elliot knows that he and Mr. Robot can stop the explosion and save lives.

Except Whiterose has them all chasing each other in a maze of her own creation, all for a pissing match between her and Phillip Price. Instead of blowing up the New York facility, the Dark Army just blew up 71 other E Corp storage facilities around the country, killing thousands. Dom watches as the police capture Tyrell while he screams about an attack. Elliot leaves the building believing that hes done good, but enters a shattered world. Angela insists to Darlene that she knows what shes doing is right, but they both look at their phones and cant believe whats happened. In the last moments of the episode, the sound cuts out for a second as Elliot and other strangers stare up at the fires on TV. It perfectly captures the moment when you finally clear through the trees and catch a glimpse of the forest, only to realize youre trapped in a wildfire.

Orphan Code

 Though the Mar-a-Lago scenes are fine, I couldve done without the wink-wink-nudge-nudge Trump bashing between Price and Whiterose. Not because its not deserved, but it just feels cheap and transparent.

 Music Corner: There are two key music cues from 80s movie soundtracks. First, theres Back in Time by Huey Lewis and the News from Back to the Future, and then the Plugzs Reel Ten featured on Repo Man soundtrack.
Stallone. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

The Daily Mail has obtained a police report that accuses Sylvester Stallone of forcing a 16-year-old girl into a threesome with him and his bodyguard at a Las Vegas hotel in 1986. According to the report, which the former head of the Vegas metro police departments sexual-assault unit verified to the Mail, both Stallone and Michael De Luca allegedly sexually assaulted the unnamed teenager at the former Las Vegas Hilton hotel during the filming of Over the Top. The girl, a hotel guest, says she was introduced to Stallone, then 40, through his co-star on the film, David Mendenhall, after meeting him at the hotels arcade. She claims Stallone had De Luca, then 27, proposition her after she asked for Stallones autograph. She says Stallone complimented her body after learning of her age and told her he would give her a kiss at a later date, that she would not forget.

The report alleges that De Luca gave her keys to a room at the hotel, where she willingly had sex with Stallone while De Luca was in the bathroom. (The age of consent in Nevada is 16.) She claims Stallone then asked her if shed ever had a threesome and then allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on De Luca. According to the report, De Luca proceeded to have sex with the teen without her consent; Stallone then allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on him. She claims Stallone threatened to beat her head in if she reported the incident and the two men laughed. The teen told police that she felt uncomfortable and intimidated when Stallone brought De Luca into the situation and would not have otherwise pursued the matter with law enforcement.

A hotel employee who was notified of the alleged incident by a friend of the victim reported it to police. The teen did not press charges against Stallone or De Luca because she says she was humiliated and ashamed and did not wish to discuss the incident any further. In 2013, De Luca was killed by California police during a traffic stop. In 1987, Stallones half-sister Toni-Ann Filiti sued the actor for rape, which Stallone denied. The Mail could not reach Stallone for comment on the 1986 report.

Update, 3:50 p.m.: Stallones spokesperson has denied the accusations made in the 1986 report in a statement to TMZ:
Oh boy. Photo: FOX

Confirming that nothing good will survive 2017, Fox has announced it is replacing its annual New Year Eves special hosted by national cheerleader Pitbull with a new special from Steve Harvey. Joining the NYE shake-up that has also seen CNN replace Kathy Griffin with Andy Cohen on its special with Anderson Cooper, Foxs New Years Eve With Steve Harvey will air live from Times Square, instead of Miami, where Harvey will lead viewers into 2018 with some surprise celebrity guests. Or, if Harveys hosting track record has taught us anything, maybe hell announce that its actually 2019? Worst case: His envelope says 2017. Yikes!
Actually, at City Center. Photo: Matthew Murphy

Leaving Anna Zieglers taut, devastating new play Actually  directed with a deft, unsparing sense of forward motion by Lileana Blain-Cruz at MTC  I was haunted by echoes of sound designer Jane Shaws effective and deceptively upbeat preshow. Its a collection of contemporary club music, the most bump-and-grindable earworm of all inevitably being a remix of that stupidly catchy, number-one-most-streamed-song-on-Spotify, Ed Sheerans Shape of You. When I took my seat, knowing that I was about to see a play about the highly charged topic of sexual consent, I very soon found myself unsettled by lyrics like, Say, boy, lets not talk too much / Grab on my waist and put that body on me. For the next 85 minutes, that feeling only deepened. Actually is a smart, profoundly painful exploration of the murky, treacherous sexual culture this country is mired in  a culture where young men and women laden with crippling psychological baggage feel pressured to pack it all away, drink to excess, and, above all, not talk too much. A perfect formula for life-altering misunderstanding and disaster.

The play unfolds in large part as a pair of overlapping monologues, a kind of millennial De Profundis. Amber Cohen and Tom Anthony, two students involved in a Title IX trial at Princeton, walk us through their memories, not only of what happened between them but of the experiences that have shaped them, somehow leading to this excruciating moment of judgment. The actors turn to speak to each other only a few times  in a flashback to the party that preceded the encounter now so terribly in question, and at a single breaking point in their account of the trial, where their memories diverge so drastically that they truly frighten and enrage each other. Earlier, Tom, who reads as chill and confident, has told us his impressions of this weird high-strung girl whos not shy, exactly, talks Usain Boltfast, and cant look me in the eye. Its chilling to realize just how little eye contact there is between the characters in Actually, even when they do share a scene together. They can open up to us, spilling their histories and hangups and their deepest fears over the fourth wall, but they come to each other so twisted up with insecurities  their vision so obscured by a looming, inadequate image of themselves  that they cant really see the other person until its too late.

Actuallys great strength, and its great heartbreak, is that it allows us to see both Amber and Tom so fully. They arent just another ugly campus news item, a seemingly clear case of where to place our sympathy and where our wrathful censure. They arent the matter of Anthony-dash-Cohen, as their Title IX investigation is so clinically titled. They are a young black man and a young Jewish woman. They are a boy whose father left and whose mother is sick, and a girl whose father  who always listened to me and seemed to care what I had to say is dead and whose mother encourages her not to eat carbohydrates if you ever want to get married. They are a young man who plays piano rapturously and with great promise because a teacher who actually cared offered him free lessons as a child, and a young woman who doesnt see herself as having anything more than a minor talent in writing and a mediocre (though useful for college admissions) gift for squash. They are a boy who knows hes handsome and whose sexual career began early, and a girl whos had sex once  a physically painful first time with a best friends drunk brother after an awkward Passover seder, an encounter which left her always silent during sex, always always. They are a son whos the first in his family to go to college, let alone an Ivy League school, and a daughter of academics. And they are both college freshmen: overwhelmed, overstimulated, underslept, surrounded by strangers, full of tension, uncertainty, and alcohol. What could possibly go wrong?

If that sounds flip, its not meant to. Actually conjures the destabilizing jump to light speed of the college transition with the kind of total emotional recall that makes your palms start to sweat. We go out every night because everyone goes out every night, Amber chatters nervously. Its not peer pressure so much as fear. Like, if I dont do this, I might have to think about who I am and where I am and all of that is just too  Too scary to finish the sentence. Too scary to stop drinking. Its a miracle anyone makes it through such choppy waters unscathed.

Not that Zieglers incisive chronicling of the complexities of early college chaos amounts to sexual-assault apologism. The play is far too smart for that. It knows rape and assault are all too real and regular, that were living in a world where every day we learn of horrible abuses enacted without repercussions for years on end by powerful, culture-shaping men. It knows that shit like this  and this and this and this  goes down every day. But its also too smart to give in to the current frenzy for moral absolutism. The niggling little adverb of its title doesnt only refer to the moment in which consent becomes questionable (Amber didnt say No but she did say Actually, um )  its also a way of gently prying open our clenched fists, ever ready to be raised in righteous anger. Actually, its saying with Wildean wisdom, the truth is rarely pure and never simple. And it sure as hell wont set you free.

Ziegler isnt the only one responsible for the compelling grip of uneasiness in which Actually suspends its audience: Blain-Cruz and her two fine actors, Alexandra Socha and Joshua Boone, are also playing each note of the text with real drive, nuance, and depth of feeling. Not to mention, even in this dangerous terrain, humor. Socha and Boone expertly navigate the shows shifts of tone  from tortured, frightened, and confessional as their trial progresses, to inviting and conversational in their role as storytellers, generous friends to us in the audience. Their exchange over whether being black helped Tom get into Princeton buzzes with wry observance of our current, ultracareful idiom: Um. You know you cant say that. Right? asks Tom, eyebrow raised. But its not a microaggression or anything, Amber innocently insists, to which Tom responds dryly, Cause its like a macro-aggression.

Or take the moment in which Blain-Cruz and lighting designer Yi Zhao suddenly switch the focus to Amber, just after a befuddled Tom has tried to describe this girls strange combination of neuroses and intellectual confidence, and Alexandra Sochi flicks her gaze out to us and quips, A little thing about Judaism? Its undeniably funny, and its a poignant illustration of the distance between these two young, searching humans. What to Tom is an utterly weird way of moving through the world is, for Amber, an inborn identity fired in a kiln of years of specific experience. And vice versa. I dont want to be so naive as to say Jews and African-Americans have all this stuff in common, Amber philosophizes when she recalls first developing a crush on Tom, but they have some stuff in common  Like not really wanting to go camping, or to Nantucket, and also the deep and unwavering fear that at any moment they will be rounded up and killed.

Actuallys wit and its intelligence are part of what makes the complex darkness at its center hit so hard. There is brightness in this play, and in these people, and to see its sparks overwhelmed by such fearful and familiar shadows is shattering. In moments, its even revelatory. Near the plays end, Ziegler makes her most profound suggestion in the form of a dawning realization by Amber: I cant just be silent anymore, Amber ventures, speaking much more slowly and deliberately than is her wont, I cant do that to myself  But the cost of not doing that to myself anymore is  Tom. The heartbreaking wisdom of Actually is its recognition that so many young women have gone through their entire young lives learning to say  or at least to imply  Yes: learning to accommodate, learning to just deal with it, learning not to fight or object or make themselves a nuisance or a burden or, god forbid, a bitch. Ambers accusation of Tom is ultimately an accusation of a world that taught her to acquiesce, to go along, to be always always silent. And though she must make it, it has collateral damage in the form of another person, one with his own social programming, his own good intentions and great fears. This is the tragedy of Actually and of our world: In our zeal to fix a broken system, we wind up breaking human beings.

Remember that one song by the Verve Pipe? You know the one. Its too 90s to feature in Actuallys hypercontemporary soundscape, but as I left the theater, I couldnt get its chorus out of my head:

For the life of me

I cannot remember

What made us think that we were wise and wed never compromise

For the life of me

I cannot believe

Wed ever die for these sins

We were merely freshmen.

The words butted up against Shape of Yous bubbly, insistent handsiness, and I couldnt help thinking: This is the world weve created  a deadly cycle of Ed Sheeran Friday nights and Verve Pipe Saturday mornings.

Actually is at City Center.
The Clay Pot

416 Franklin Ave.

254-756-2721

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays

Price: $-$$

Takeout: Yes.

Alcohol: BYOB, but beer and wine permit applied for.

On the menu: Vietnamese cuisine, including pho and bun nuoc (Vietnamese soups), clay pot dishes, noodle dishes, spring rolls. Beverages include bubble tea and Vietnamese coffee

Good to know: The Clay Pots new location has a spring roll bar and an outdoor patio complete with fountain.

Restaurant origin: Owners Thanh Le and Phong Le relocated their restaurant from its longtime Interstate 35 location near Baylor University to downtown, opening in October with a grand opening Nov. 6.
Its more a case of tour scheduling than holiday creep, but a touch of the Christmas season arrives Thursday when a Moscow Ballet company brings its Great Russian Nutcracker back to the Midway Performing Arts Center.

The company, one of three touring with the Great Russian Nutcracker, has come to Waco in December in past years, but visits this year in November as the parent organization celebrates its 25th year of Nutcracker performances in America.

Its reach has expanded considerably in that quarter century of dancing the beloved Tchaikovsky ballet, growing from one touring company and eight cities to three and 132 cities, noted Moscow Ballet North America publicist Sally Michael Keyes.

The Great Russian Nutcracker is the first of two Nutcrackers performed this year at the Midway Performing Arts Center in Hewitt. The second arrives Dec. 2-3 when Ballet Frontier of Texas from Fort Worth brings its Nutcracker, one that will feature live accompaniment from Midway High Schools Camerata Orchestra. Both productions will incorporate young dancers from Waco-area dance schools.

The Russian one has 36 dancers, supplemented by 30 local dancers who will take the role of snow sprites and maidens, small mice, snowflakes and children at a party.

Fans of the traditional Nutcracker commonly seen in the United States will find a slightly different storyline in the Russian version. Its heart is the same, the Christmas eve fantasy of a young girl named Masha (Clara), who dreams that her wooden Nutcracker comes to life, defends her from an army of rats, then, turned into a prince, guides her through a magical land of imagination.

In the Russian retelling, Masha and her prince journey not through a realm of candy and sweets, but the Land of Peace and Harmony. Dancers there represent animals associated with countries, such as a bear for Russia and a dragon for China. The Moscow Ballet touring production also has a signature Dove of Peace formed by two dancers.

Viewers will see the Moscow Ballets characteristic style of dance, one marked by dancers high leaps, well-defined positions and attention to detail, said Keyes. And they emote  you see what theyre feeling in their facial and body expression, she added.

The production that performs Thursday has some changes from its previous Waco appearances. Seven new drops add different backgrounds for scenes, including one for Uncle Drosselmeyers workshop that creates a three-dimensional effect.

The Dove of Peace scene will feature a dancer in the background with a flying dove puppet, one crafted by famed South African puppeteer Roger Titley.

Theres also a new Masha, ballerina Iryna Borysova, and a new prince, principal dancer Konstyantyn Vinovoy. Borysova is principal ballerina and soloist with the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine in Kiev while Vinovoy is principal soloist with the Kiev Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. Both dancers have performed in Europe, North America and Asia.
McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna filed Wednesday to seek re-election.

Filing started Saturday for the March 6 joint primary, and about 20 people have filled out Republican candidate applications, said Barbara White, McLennan County Republican Party vice chairwoman. The local party is in the process of reviewing the applications, and seven candidates have been approved by the party chairman so far, White said.

A local Democratic Party representative did not return a call seeking information about Democratic candidates. Filing ends Dec. 11, and the general election is next November.

Reyna did not return a message requesting comment about his filing.

Barry Johnson, a former Dallas attorney, recently announced a campaign to oust Reyna in the Republican primary. Johnson, 61, moved back to Waco in March after practicing personal injury law in Dallas since 1989. Born and raised in Waco, Johnson is the son of the late Judge Joe N. Johnson, who served as justice of the peace and state district judge for 40 years.

Reyna easily won his second term in 2014 against write-in challenger Robert Callahan. Reyna received 84 percent of the votes and had no Democratic challenger. In 2010, Reyna ousted Democratic incumbent John Segrest, who was seeking his sixth term. Segrest is the longest-tenured district attorney since McLennan County formed in 1850.

Reyna is the son of Felipe Reyna, a former McLennan County district attorney and former justice on the 10th Court of Appeals.

The last day to register to vote is Feb. 5.

The filing comes almost a week after a mistrial was declared in the case of Jacob Carrizal, one of 154 bikers under indictment in the 2015 Twin Peaks shootout. The jury deliberated 14 hours before saying they were deadlocked, forcing the mistrial.

The day before Johnson announced his campaign, Reynas former first assistant, Greg Davis, submitted a sworn affidavit alleging Reyna has arranged for criminal cases against friends and influential people to be dismissed in exchange for campaign donations.

Davis also states in the affidavit that he met with an FBI agent in August 2014 regarding an investigation of Reyna and that he believes the investigation is ongoing.

Reynas latest campaign finance report, which was through June 30, shows he has $82,863 in his campaign coffer and $109,395 in outstanding loans.

He received mostly $1,000 donations per individual over the six-month reporting period.

Several people across the community have announced intentions to file for various positions.
Arturo was born December 25, 1952, in Tecolcahuite, Jalisco, Mexico, to Santos and Carlota Chavez. Arturo served in the Mexican military from 1968 to 1972. After moving to the United States, Arturo began working for the Riverside Sanitation Department. Soon afterward he found his true passion in working with pallets. At a young age he owned a profitable business which allowed him to provide for his family despite a long battle with Polycystic Kidney Disease, being strong-hearted and never giving up despite many challenges. He was a wonderful son, a loving father, and an amazing friend. He was a well-respected man, not just in business but in his personal relationships. He will be missed by all he knew and loved.
Msgr. Frank was born on August 29, 1930, in Fort Worth, to Frank S. and Philomena Pavlicek Miller. He attended Sacred Heart Academy in Waco and graduated from Waco High School in 1947. After graduation he entered St. Mary Seminary in Houston, and was ordained to the holy priesthood for the Diocese of Austin on May 29, 1954 by the Most Reverend Wendelin J. Nold, Bishop of Galveston, at St. Mary Seminary Chapel. He celebrated his First Mass at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in his hometown of Waco on June 6, 1954.

After his ordination in 1954, he was appointed parochial vicar at Guardian Angel Parish in Wallis, in 1959 at St. Mary Catholic Church of the Assumption Parish in West, and in 1963 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Granger. His first assignment as pastor was in 1965 at Holy Rosary Parish in Frenstat and its mission parish at St. Joseph in Dime Box. He then served as pastor in 1969 at St. Martin Parish in Tours and its mission parish at St. Joseph Mission in Elk, along with prison ministry. Following an eight month medical leave, in 1974 he served as parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish in Bryan, then in 1975 as pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Marlin. In 1976, he again served as pastor at St. Martin Parish in Tours and St. Joseph Mission in Elk. In 1985, he received the title of Prelate of Honor by the Holy Father. He served as pastor in 1987 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gatesville, adding the prison ministry in 1991, and the mission at St. Thomas Parish in Hamilton in 1992. Msgr. Miller retired in May of 1994 to move to Abbott in the diocese of Fort Worth to care for his mother and assist in area parishes, and finally served part-time as the sacramental minister at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Abbott and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Penelope.
Wahkiakum High School graduate Ashley (Silva) Calvert will lead a group of six optometry students and one optometrist to Tanzania, Africa this December to provide eye care to people in need. Calvert traveled as a team member last December, and will be returning this year to continue serving the people of Tanzania, who otherwise would receive no eye care.

The people of Tanzania whom this group will help are primarily nomadic people of the Maasai tribe. These people not only need glasses, but they suffer from various infections, diseases and injuries to their eyes. Many of them have never had any eye care, let alone medical care. Last year the team was able to help over 500 people, but there is still much work to be done.

Without the support of kind donors, this trip would not be possible. This trip is completely funded by the generosity of the community, and serves to provide free eye care to the people of Tanzania. Over the last three years, this trip has helped many people in the short time that the students are able to take time away from their studies. The time spent in the country leaves a long term effect on the lives of the patients and does not go unnoticed.

For those who would like to make a charitable donation to this groups effort, contact Calvert at silv4665@pacificu.edu or 360-431-3839. For information about the organization, the team members, and other ways to help, visit their website at amigostanzania.com.
OMAHA  A man wanted in connection to a robbery on Oct. 23 at the Cubbys near Greenwood is also a person of interest for a similar crime in Omaha that occurred on the same day.

Omaha police on Nov. 3 released a photo of a person of interest who was at the site of two robberies minutes before the businesses were robbed.

The robberies  one at a Cubbys in Greenwood, Nebraska, and one at a Buckys at 3909 N. 132nd St. in Omaha  occurred on Oct. 23. Police said that about two minutes after the man in the photo left the stores, a robber walked in.

Police are asking for help in identifying the person of interest, whose face is visible in the photo. They said he may have information about the robberies. Omaha Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $3,000 in the arrest of the robber.
PLATTSMOUTH  A Waverly woman charged with embezzling funds pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing Monday morning in Cass County District Court, according to the Cass County Attorneys office.

Ginger Neuhart appeared in court on charges related to alleged embezzlement of funds from the Village of Alvo, where she served as village clerk. She also faces similar charges in Saunders County, where she was a clerk for the villages of Memphis and Ithaca.

The Auditors Office detailed in a letter to Alvo officials last month how $105,000 in unauthorized payments over seven years had gone missing from the village.

The clerk had allegedly been altering checks, according to the Auditors Office.

Neuhart has been charged with felony theft by deception in Cass County in connection with the funds missing from Alvo.

According to an affidavit filed Sept. 13 in Cass County court, Neuhart confirmed altering Alvo checks when confronted by Nebraska State Patrol.

Neuhart has been charged with two counts of theft and four counts of forgery in Saunders County in connection with missing money from Memphis and Ithaca.

The amount of money Neuhart allegedly stole from Memphis  nearly $160,000 over a 12-year period  was revealed Oct. 19 in a report from the Nebraska State Auditor. The amount Neuhart allegedly took between July 2014 and August 2017 is $37,500. In Nebraska, the filing of a

felony complaint charging embezzlement carries a statute of limitations of three years.

The State Auditor released a report on Oct. 27 detailing alleged fraud committed by Neuhart as Ithaca village clerk/treasurer. A total of $38,000 was paid to Neuhart without authorization from the village board of trustees from July 2014 to August 2017. The auditors office also found an additional $3,000 overpayment to Neuhart dating back to May 2013, which is beyond the statute of limitations.

Neuhart will reappear in Cass County District Court Jan. 22 for a pre-trial conference, and a jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 7.

Her next court date in Saunders County is Dec. 20, when she is scheduled for her first felony appearance.
16 Nov. The Choir of the Diocese of Rome will perform a special Gospel concert, a genre outside the choir's usual repertoire, to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the founding of the charity Peter Pan Onlus.

The concert takes place at 20.30 on 16 November at the Church of S. Maria delle Grazie al Trionfale, at Piazza S. Maria delle Grazie 5.

Admission is free but guests are invited to make a donation to the Rome-based charity which provides support for families with children suffering from cancer. For more details about Peter Pan see related article.
Tokyo: It may have been the most profusely regretted 20 seconds in history.

Living up to Japan's reputation for being precise as well as contrite, a train company in Tokyo delivered a formal apology on Tuesday because one of its trains left a station just 20 seconds early.

In a country where conductors beg forgiveness when a train is even a minute late, the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Co posted an apology on its website for "the severe inconvenience imposed upon our customers" when the No. 5255 Tsukuba Express train left Minami-Nagareyama station in Chiba, a suburban prefecture east of Tokyo, at 9.44:20am, instead of 9.44:40am as scheduled.

According to the statement, the train arrived at Minami-Nagareyama on time, at precisely 9.43:40am. But when it came time to leave, the over-eager crew closed the doors prematurely and pulled out of the station ahead of schedule.
By PTI: Rameswaram(TN), Nov 16 (PTI) Ten Tamil Nadu fishermen were today arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy when they were allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu in the island nation waters, a Fisheries Department official said.

The fishermen from Akkarapettai in Nagaptattinam district were held on charges of poaching fish near Neduntheevu, Assistant Director of Fisheries Department, Gangadharan said.

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They were taken to Kankesanthurai in the island nation along with their trawler, he added. On November 14, over 1,600 Tamil Nadu fishermen were forced to return without their catch after Lankan Navy personnel allegedly snapped the fishing nets of 25 boats near Katchatheevu.

Earlier on November 7, four fishermen from Pudukottai district were arrested by the Lankan naval personnel for allegedly fishing off Neduntheevu. PTI CORR SSN SS DV

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Ummar's body was found near railway tracks on November 11 and his family and community members have since alleged that he was killed by cow vigilantes.

By India Today Web Desk: Police today confirmed that Ummar Khan, who was allegedly killed by cow vigilantes in Alwar last week, was shot dead. The post-mortem report of Ummar says that two bullets hit him, causing his death.

Ummar's body was found near railway tracks on November 11 and his family and community members have since alleged that he was killed by cow vigilantes.

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Ummar along with two others, Tahir and Javed, were travelling in pick-up and transporting cows from Alwar to a village in Bharatpur in Rajasthan when the incident occurred.

Two people have been arrested for allegedly killing Ummar Khan and have been produced in a local court which remanded them in police custody for two days on Tuesday. Four other accused have been identified.

A case has also been lodged against Ummar, Tahir and Javed for alleged cattle smuggling.

Alwar SP Rahul Prakash earlier told India Today that two separate cases have been filed in connection with the incident.

"One is under the Rajasthan Bovine Act and the other is a murder case registered on the basis of complaint registered by Ummar's relative," Alwar SP said.

Ummar's family has been camping in Jaipur after his body was referred to the Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Hospital in the city. The hospital's post-mortem report today said that Ummar died of bullet injuries.

Ummar's death comes nearly seven months after dairy farmer Pehlu Khan was killed by suspected cow vigilantes in Alwar.

(With inputs from Dev Ankur Wadhawan)

ALSO WATCH: Alwar gau rakshak attack: Despite legal papers, cow transporters were arrested by police

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The Army has already sent proposal, which includes nine high-priority tunnels to be built in different areas along the LAC, to the defence ministry sources told India Today TV.

The Army has already sent the proposal to build tunnels along the LAC to the defence ministry (Picture for representation)

By Manjeet Negi: Seeking to tackle the growing Chinese military presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Indian Army is planning to build 17 major tunnels between Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh to improve connectivity by roads for rapid deployment of troops.

The force has already given the proposal to the defence ministry, which includes nine high-priority tunnels to be built in different areas along the LAC, sources told India Today TV.

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"The government is preparing to build one tunnel close to the China border in Arunachal Pradesh which would be built at an altitude of 11,000 to 12,000 feet with two lanes for military class vehicular traffic," a source in the army said.

"These tunnels would also help us to ensure that our troops remain deployed in the far flung areas in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh round the year, and if required, can be moved in rapidly," the source added.

During defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh recently, a particular tunnel had come up for discussion during one of the briefings, and it was noted that the tunnel would help the troops in avoiding the Se La pass at 13,000 feet and also cut short the travel distance.

"The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has already started acquiring the required land from the government of Arunachal Pradesh and work is expected to commence shortly," they said.

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The website of the Chennai-based Asian College of Journalism was hacked late Wednesday night by what seemed to be a Turkish cyber group.

The homepage of the ACJ website displayed chunks of Turkish text

By India Today Web Desk: The website of Chennai-based Asian College of Journalism's website (www.asianmedia.in) was hacked late Thursday night, apparently by a Turkish hacker group called "Ayyildiz Tim".

IndiaToday.in accessed the website while it was hacked and saw multiple messages in what seemed to be Turkish. One of the messages read that the ACJ website had been hacked by Ayyildiz Tim, which, online searches suggested, is a Turkish hacker collective.

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While hacked, the ACJ website displayed a series of text messages. A basic Google Turkish-English translation suggested that one of the messages read, "My martyr sleeps comfortably... we are the waiters of vatan."

The Google translation of the text posted on the Asian College of Journalism's website was largely incomprehensible and did not make much sense.

"I am destined to die for the homeland... Such is the kiss of the hands," was also a message posted on the ACJ homepage.

A third message read, "One eliminate weapons... one in the qur'an... they say they look like martyrdom squirrels". Another message read, "I did not hear you... I was a flag... I was killed... I was killed".

A screenshot of the Asian College of Jouranlism website while it was hacked (Note: The English text seen here is a Google translation of the original Turkish text) A screenshot of the Asian College of Jouranlism website while it was hacked (Note: The English text seen here is a Google translation of the original Turkish text)

"My name is Muslim... Im (sic) surname Turkish," another message followed. "Martyr or downy soldier? Everywhere in paradise kotu..." was one of the other incomprehensible Google translations of the text on the ACJ website.

IndiaToday.in could not independently verify the accuracy of the message on the ACJ website's hacked homepage. The translations mentioned here were carried out by Google's automatic translation tool that accompanies the browser Chrome.

The website was still hacked at the time of last updating this report.

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A CCTV footage showed how an ATM guard, an old man, managed to foil a robbery attempt by two bike-borne criminals despite being shot at.

By India Today Web Desk: All superheroes don't wear capes.

You think that statement is overrated? Let us prove it is not.

Here's an an old man, guarding an SBI ATM in Delhi's Majra Dabas, who is nothing less than a superhero in his own right.

Yesterday two bike-borne criminals attempted to loot the SBI ATM this old man was guarding. Both the thieves were armed.

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A CCTV footage now released by ANI showed how the assailants stopped beside the ATM, shot the unassuming guard in his leg and tried to storm inside the ATM.

BUT THEY FAILED.

Because, like we said, the ATM guard is a superhero in his own right.

Despite being shot at, the old man blocked the assailant who tried to enter the ATM, caught hold of his gun and pushed him aside. The thief then shot in the air, called for help and his partner could be seen trying to enter the ATM.

Realising there is one other man inside the ATM, the criminals try to flee. The guard, still being dragged around by one of the assailants could be seen trying to convince them not to do more harm. He could also be seen folding his hands when one of the thieves managed to get hold of his gun.

The thieves flee the spot and the guard, now robbed off his gun, could be seen collapsing in front of the ATM, and quite visibly, in a lot of pain.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

#WATCH: Guard foils robbery attempt by two bikers at SBI ATM in #Delhi's Majra Dabas after being shot at by the assailants (15.11.17) pic.twitter.com/tO5cn1iuGu- ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

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By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 15, 2017 | 09:55 PM | FULTON, KY

Kentucky State Police have located a woman who has been missing since Tuesday afternoon, and have arrested the man she was with.According to Kentucky State Police, officers found 41-year-old Lori Peavy at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday in a Fulton motel. Peavy had last been seen Tuesday around 3 p.m. in the Paducah area.Police arrested 42-year-old Billy Jo Williams of Amory, Mississippi, who was also at the motel with Peavy. They said they had reason to believe that Peavy might be in danger, but she was found unharmed.

Williams, who reportedly has multiple active felony warrants, was arrested and charged with 2nd degree assault and tampering with a witness.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Nov. 16, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 16, 2017 | 05:10 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Former Ballard County Judge-Executive Vickie Viniard and former county Treasurer Belinda Foster were sentenced Thursday for their roles in securing and concealing bank loans without authorization of the Fiscal Court. However, they will spend no additional time in jail.



United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced the sentences, saying Viniard and Foster received sentences of time served and a 2-year period of supervised release. They must also pay restitution, individually and jointly.



Viniard must pay $1,832.76 in individual restitution, Foster was ordered to pay $39,675.61, and together they must repay another $53,998.21.



Viniard pleaded guilty in August to bank fraud, wire fraud and making false statements on a loan application. Foster pleaded guilty last December to bank fraud, wire fraud, and receiving fraudulent medical reimbursement payments.



In a press release, Coleman said neither Viniard nor Foster had any history of criminal activity but both now stand convicted of felony offenses involving public corruption.



He said, Our office and our law enforcement partners will hold elected officials accountable, be it for defrauding banks or the very resources of the people they were elected to represent. Vigorous investigation and ultimate federal prosecution of public officials in the Western District of Kentucky, who use their positions to steal from the public, should keep corrupt officials up at night.



While Viniard was Judge-Executive, she applied for and received a series of five unauthorized loans, totaling over $1 million, on behalf of Ballard County during a two-year period between June of 2012 and June of 2014. The loans were secured to cover shortages in operating expenses and make payments on bond obligations. But this was done without approval from the Ballard County Fiscal Court or informing the Kentucky Department of Local Government, both of which Viniard was required to do under Kentucky state law.



Foster assisted Viniard by concealing the existence of the loans and even acting as a co-signor on some of them. She labeled the loan proceeds as "payroll tax" and didn't report the loans to the county or state government. In addition to the fraudulent loans, Foster wrote herself checks for fraudulent medical reimbursement payments totaling over $27,000.
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By The Associated Press

Nov. 16, 2017 | WASHINGTON, D.C.

By The Associated Press Nov. 16, 2017 | 04:24 PM | WASHINGTON, D.C.

President Donald Trump calls the House passage of the $1.5 trillion tax package "a big step" toward delivering on the Republican Party's promise of tax cuts by year's end.



Trump tweets his approval of the legislation, calling it "a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic TAX CUTS for the American people by the end of the year!" The House passed the bill Thursday by a 227 to 205 margin, with only Republican votes in favor.



Senate Republicans are debating their own version of the tax legislation in the more sharply divided chamber. Trump has said he wants to deliver a "Christmas present" in the form of tax cuts.



Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky released a statement on the tax plan's package, saying, We are one big step closer to putting more money in the pockets of millions of struggling American families so they can pay their bills, save for their future and invest for their children. The members of the Senates tax writing committee are also making real progress on a bill thats been years in the making to fulfill our promise to the American people. The tax proposals before Congress will help restore our nations economic growth and give our workers, families and small businesses greater confidence that the future will hold greater prosperity, more jobs and opportunity.



Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, also issued a statement after the bill passed in spite of his "no" vote. He outlined his party's view of the tax plan, saying it will increase taxes for middle-class families, shower tax cuts on the wealthy, and increase deficits by $1.5 trillion.



Yarmuth said, "Now the bill heads to the Senate where Republicans plan to add a provision sabotaging the Affordable Care Act and leaving 13 million more Americans uninsured. This isnt tax reformits an attack on the health and financial security of the American people. Democrats will continue to fight for its defeat.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Nov. 15, 2017 | FRANKFORT, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 15, 2017 | 07:33 PM | FRANKFORT, KY

Kentucky's Secretary of State is joining the efforts of others to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky.



Alison Lundergan Grimes is convening a task force in Frankfort next week to focus on a legislative proposal to legalize medical marijuana.



In a statement on Wednesday, Grimes said, "Too many Kentuckians are suffering from debilitating physical and mental illnesses. Most have lived with the effects of these illnesses for years. We must do more to relieve their pain and suffering, and there is significant evidence that cannabis is beneficial for these individuals, especially veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress."



The task force will also study and propose potential implementation and regulation processes.



The group will include members of Kentucky's medical community, including doctors, nurses and medical administrators, as well as representatives from law enforcement and state agencies with regulatory oversight, medical marijuana advocates, and military veterans.



It will be co-chaired by Democratic Representative John Sims, who is crafting medical marijuana legislation for next year.




By The Associated Press Nov. 15, 2017 | 04:13 PM | FRANKFORT, KY

A Democratic lawmaker in Kentucky says he has asked a state ethics commission to investigate a sexual harassment settlement involving four members of the House of Representatives.

Rep. Jim Wayne says he filed a complaint with the Legislative Ethics Commission, which has the power to subpoena witnesses. He wants the commission to investigate a sexual harassment settlement involving former Republican House Speaker Jeff Hoover and three other GOP lawmakers.

Hoover acknowledged the settlement and resigned from his leadership position earlier this month. He is still in the legislature. House Republican leaders have hired a law firm to conduct their own investigation.

The commission investigated sexual harassment allegations against former Democratic Rep. John Arnold in 2014. The commission voted to fine him $3,000.
The world rejoiced as Australia 61.6 per cent people voted in favour of legalising same sex marriages. Take a look.

Sydney Opera House after Australia voted in favour of legalising same sex marriage. (Photo: Twitter)

By India Today Web Desk: On November 15 Australians voted with a resounding yes to legalise same-sex marriages. The historic nationwide poll saw 61.6 per cent voting yes while 38.4 per cent voted no. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull assured the citizens that this vote will soon be turned into a forceful law.

"It is our job now to get on with it, and get this done," the prime minister said shortly after ABS declared the survey result.

Sydney Opera House last night lit up in celebration of #MarriageEquality coming to Australia. ?????????? pic.twitter.com/EkJdQUBYz0- Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 15, 2017

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"I say to all Australians, whatever your views on this issue may be, we must respect the voice of the people. We asked them for their opinion and they have given it to us. It is unequivocal, it is overwhelming," he said.

After the results came in, thousands of supporters celebrated the decision by waving rainbow flags in public gatherings across Australia.

World over, people supported Australia's decision to legalise same-sex marriages. Reactions poured in from across the world on social media. In one such photo posted by a Twitter user, the Empire State building covered in pride colours.

Look what the Empire State Building in NYC did for #MarriageEquality Australia today ???????????? Beautiful! Thankyou ?? pic.twitter.com/VMKX3BFs0U- Chloe ?? (@StrayaCamilizer) November 15, 2017

So happy I could celebrate #MarriageEquality with you all in Melbourne tonight! Congrats Australia! #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/6ds6cEfbVq- Colleen Ballinger?? (@ColleenB123) November 15, 2017

Just woke up to the amazing news that Australia has voted YES to Marriage Equality. Even though we shouldn't have to 'vote' for something that's part of human rights in today's world, it's still incredible news ?????? LOVE WINS! #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/eppZl2SvBO- James Andrew (@JAOfficial_) November 15, 2017

Australia has voted for #MarriageEquality This gets my paw stamp of approval. pic.twitter.com/bU1d0atg7D- Gladstone (@TreasuryMog) November 15, 2017

Same-Sex marriage is now supported by the majority of Australia's population. We're one step closer to equality around the world. #MarriageEquality #AustraliaSaidYES ???????? pic.twitter.com/lqkjZtreL7- Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 15, 2017

In India, Delhi celebrated the 10th edition of International Pride Parade. Hundreds of people flocked to Jantar Mantar to lend support to the LGBTQ community.

WATCH: A look at Delhi Pride Parade 2017

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What's the Welsh for Les Mis? It may well be Tiger Bay. Daf James and Michael Williams' massive new musical, which charts the social tensions and economic pressures around Cardiff's docks at the turn of the century, is straight out of the Boublil and Schonberg playbook. It pulls together disparate, rivalrous characters from all walks of life into a rousing show of social solidarity.

At the height of the industrial age, Welsh coal made Cardiff's docks a destination, drawing money and people from all over the world. It led its owner, the Marquess of Bute, to the top of the global rich list, while the suburb named in his honour, Butetown, housed a heaving and diverse immigrant population. That history is still a source of local pride  Tiger Bay testifies to a long history of multiculturalism in Britain  even if the area has long since changed beyond recognition. Coal exports seized up, depression set in. It's mostly chain hotels and shopping malls today.

With riches comes change, and with change, disruption. As coal-dusted donkeymen' shunt cartloads through the docks, aided by urchin'd 'waterboys' greasing the tracks, they're pushed in turn by Noel Sullivan's sly, hard-nosed harbourmaster, Sean O'Rourke. Any threat of a strike is kept at bay by that of unemployed immigrants ready to step in, and racial violence routinely spills into the streets. James' score heaves and hos with the rhythm of work, but splits into cacophonies whenever chaos erupts.

It this midst, an unlikely partnership forms between Themba (Dom Hartley-Harris), a refugee widowed by the Boer War, and his scampish waterboy Ianto (Ruby Llewelyn). Sullivan conveys O'Rourke's central contradiction: his economics press people down but they lift the place up. Romantically, he's caught between his spirited shop girl fiance Rowena (Vikki Bebb) and the dock prostitute Klondike (Busisiwe Ngejane), while his managerial callousness evaporates in his own boss's presence. As the Marquess, John Owen-Jones, voice pure as spring, conveys the idealism of a man in an ivory tower, mourning his late wife and pining for a lost son.

You can likely see what all that tees up, and for all the skill with which Williams weaves narratives together, Tiger Bay can feel like it's running on rail tracks. It's all-encompassing and industrial, too vast to move perhaps, but always engaging over three hours, even when its second act struggles for propulsion under narrative strain.

Every new musical faces the hurdle of novelty. The best scores have songs you feel you've sung forever. If that's true of Tiger Bay, it's because you have done. Local boy composer James ships classic tunes in wholesale. "Down to the Docks" is trilled to "Into the Woods," while the enticing melody of "Joanna" seeps through the whole score. There's so much Sondheim, he's surely due royalties, but echoes of Oliver and Les Mis, maybe more, abound.

If it can feel like a round of Name That Tune, there's justification. Repeated tunes suggest the past rolling around  and Tiger Bay's troubles look a lot like our own  but they also allow James to break through familiar tunes with bursts of elsewhere. Arabic prayer and African drums add new textures and riches, and Melly Still's staging brings cartloads of atmosphere to Anna Fleischle's monolithic grey set. Wales being Wales too, is in fine, fine voice  worth going just to hear the people sing.

Tiger Bay runs at the Wales Millennium Centre until 25 November.
WNC CONGRESSMAN MARK MEADOWS/FOX NEWS

.Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

Today, the House kept its promise to pass a historic tax reform proposaland its a delivery that is long overdue. Moms, dads, small business owners, and working families across the country sent us to Congress to create a simpler and fairer tax code that grows our economy, works for American families rather than D.C. special interests, and returns power from bureaucrats in Washington back to the people of Main Street. Today is an monumental step toward fulfilling those promises.

But make no mistake: we must not allow ourselves to view todays vote as a job completed. This is not a time for extended celebration or victory laps. This task will not be finished unless both chambers, the House and the Senate, come together and send a tax reform proposal to President Trumps desk. Its on ALL of us to make that happen. The American people have had it with political statements or symbolic victoriesthey want results, and the results wont be delivered until President Trump signs the bill into law. Congress must run through the tape and finish what we promised. No more excuses.
Bangladesh also poses a security threat to India, apart from China and Pakistan, Union Minister of State (Home) Hansraj Ahir has said.

By PTI: Union Minister of State (Home) Hansraj Ahir has said that Bangladesh also poses a security threat to India, apart from China and Pakistan.

Ahir was addressing a conference on homeland security, organised by business ASSOCHAM on Thursday. He said, "Bangladesh is only a so-called friend because evidently it has caused India the maximum harm through illegal intrusion."

"It is not only China or Pakistan, but Bangladesh also poses an equally bigger challenge to our national security. I know it because I get to see that closely", Ahir said.

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The Union MoS for Home said that the government had deployed modern technologies and equipment to keep a check on intrusion in Kashmir and were using the same on other fronts - be it in dealing with Naxalites, growing issues of youth radicalisation in Kerala, security of the railways, airports and other such places.

Referring to the recent incursion attempts made by China, he said, "China today is not a very close friend of ours. It has always raised problems for the country. And be it China, Myanmar, Bangladesh or terrorists coming into India through Pakistan, we will promote the usage of various modern technologies to curb intrusion."

AHIR HAILS EFFORTS FOR CONSENSUS ON AYODHYA

Ahir also welcomed the efforts being made to build a consensus to resolve the Ayodhya dispute, an ASSOCHAM release said.

He said the government would look into the demands and suggestions of the industry but it must come up with indigenously developed smart technologies and the government would help in research and development in this regard.

The minister said that the government would work in tandem with the private industry to deal with all homeland security-related threats and challenges faced by the country, the release added.

Meanwhile, Ahir slammed the controversial comment of National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah in which he called PoK a part of Pakistan which India had not been able to get even after 70 years .

He said, "I condemn his (Farooq's) statement on PoK. I say PoK is a part of India and due to the previous government's mistakes, it has been with Pakistan. If we try to get PoK back, no one can stop us because it is our right. We will make efforts to get it back."

WATCH VIDEO | Rishi supports Farooq Abdullah, says POK belongs to Pakistan

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Maharashtra government will periodically review threat perceptions to people which will help them decide if the people being protected need protection any further or not.

By Vidya : Maharashtra government will soon come out with a policy to regulate providing security to private people, including the Bollywood celebrities. Bombay High Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sunny Punamiya seeking direction from Maharashtra government to recover dues from VIPs who are given police security but have not paid up for the services.

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Government pleader, Abhinandan Vaigyani, told the court that the draft policy for regulation of security to private people had already been forwarded to the chief minister's office for consideration. "It should be passed within 3-4 days," said Vaigyani to the court.

According to the draft policy the government would review if a person being protected can pay up or not. The government does not want to put the entire burden of protection of a protectee on the exchequer and would try to come out with a mechanism to assess whether a person being protected can pay for the cover or not.

For this, the protectees' gross annual income will be asked for and a bank guarantee would be taken to secure payments. The state also cannot stop giving protection to those who cannot afford it. However, the draft policy states that Maharashtra government will develop a mechanism to adequately secure in advance the payment that a protectee has to pay.

According to Punamiya, mainly politicians are defaulters but, other VIPs like Bollywood celebrities and builders in Mumbai too form a big chunk of those who have reached to pay up for the security they had been provided with.

According to the latest statistics obtained by Punamiya, builders in Mumbai owe Rs 24 lakh to Mumbai police while Bollywood celebrities owe Rs 38 lakh. Others, which include MPs MLAs, owe about Rs 2.5 crore who have been availing protection since 1993 and have not paid up. The statistics reveal that 83 Mumbai police officials are protecting 51 builders while 26 policemen are protecting 14 Bollywood celebrities and 500 policemen are protecting 242 politicians and others with threat perception.

The state government has also promised to periodically review threat perceptions to people and accordingly decide if the people being protected need protection any further.

The next hearing on the case is on 23rd November.

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Williamson, WV (25661)

Today

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
CBI has arrested a former Superintendent of Police posted at Shimla for the custodial death of one of the accused in the rape and murder case of a minor in July.

By Shivendra Srivastava: The CBI on Thursday arrested a former Superintendent of Police posted at Shimla during an ongoing investigation into the custodial death of one of the accused in the rape and murder case of a 16-year-old girl.

The minor school girl was found dead in July first week in a forest under Kotkhai Police Station in Shimla district. She was allegedly gangraped and later tortured to death.

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Himachal Pradesh Police had earlier arrested 6 people in the case. One of the accused Suraj Singh was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Kotkhai police custody on July 18.

The arrested accused were produced today in a Shimla court and remanded in police custody till November 20.

CBI had filed two FIRs on the orders of Himachal Pradesh High Court dated July 19 under Sections 302, 376 of the IPC and Section 4 of POSCO Act at Kothai Police Station of Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh relating to rape and murder of the minor girl. Another case of the custodial death of accused Suraj Singh was filed at the Kothai Police Station during the course of the investigation.

After taking over the investigation, CBI had arrested eight police officers of Himachal Pradesh, including the then Inspector General of Police, Southern Range; the then DSP (SDOP); a sub-inspector and then SHO, Kotkhai; an ASI; 3 head constables and one constable. All the said arrested accused are presently in judicial custody.

--- ENDS ---
Chhattisgarh BJP minister Rajesh Munat has alleged that senior journalist Vinod Verma demanded Rs 2 lakhs from him and threatened to make the sex CD public.

By Munish Chandra Pandey: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case of an alleged sex CD involving a Chhattisgarh BJP minister on Thursday.

A senior journalist has been arrested by the local police in this case. CBI confirmed the developments and said that they have initiated their investigation in the case.

The controversial sex CD which allegedly features Chattisgarh PWD minster Rajesh Munat came into news when senior journalist Vinod Verma was arrested from his Ghaziabad residence on October 27.

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Verma was arrested on charges of blackmailing and extortion.

Chattisgarh minister claims that the CD was fake and that Congress is trying to malign his image. Munat has also filed a case against Vinod Verma.

Munat alleged that Vinod Verma demanded Rs 2 lakhs from him and threatened to make the sex CD public if he was not paid. Verma, however, refused the allegations saying he received the clip through WhatsApp and that he never demanded any money from the minister.

On November 9, Vinod Verma's bail application was rejected by the sessions court in Chhattisgarh's Raipur district and he was sent to judicial custody. In the court, his lawyer argued that it is a conspiracy against Verma as the person who had called for extortion was yet to be identified.

According to the Raipur police, a case of blackmail and extortion was registered at the Pandri police station based on a complaint by a BJP leader. The complaint letter said that a BJP leader Prakash Bajaj got a call from an unknown number in which the caller claimed that he had a sex CD of his 'aka'.

After the case was lodged, a search team was sent to Delhi and Ghaziabad. The police also claimed to have recovered 500 "porn" CDs, a pen drive and a laptop from Verma.

Due to mounting pressure from the opposition, the Chhattisgarh government had recommended a CBI probe.

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Penny Pronschinske of rural Waumandee, Wis., and of the Glencoe Hustlers 4-H club was awarded the third annual Buffalo County 4-H Community Servant Award by Cara Lee Wiersgalla of Golden Hornets 4-H on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Buffalo County Fair Association meeting.

Pronschinske was nominated for her undying contribution to community members and youth across Buffalo County, especially with her efforts at the county fair. For several years, Pronschinske has been a fair board director, chair of the meat animal auction committee, the coordinator for weigh-ins and the swine superintendent at the fair. Last year, Penny worked to develop a Friends of the Fair group that raised significant funds for fairground improvements. She also chaired the fair's first-ever 5K run/walk in 2017.

Pronschinske is also an active volunteer in the 4-H club and is active with her childrens sports, church and school activities. Pronschinske embodies what it means to be a community servant through 4-H and the larger community.

The 4-H Community Servant Award is provided on behalf of the county's 4 H Leaders Association and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation through the generous support of donors.
Hyon Kim is a woman with an extraordinary story of overcoming adversity after being born in Korea and leaving the country when war broke out in 1950.

Kim was in Winona Tuesday representing the Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees, as part of a presentation hosted by Winona State University students affiliated with Amnesty International and UNICEF on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in North Korea.

What the dilemma here in North Korea is this: Kim said. If we sent UNICEF, or money or rice or whatever, that money isnt going to go to those starving people.

With Kim Jung-uns government confiscating the vast majority of anything imported, bringing aid to those in need is extremely difficult. However, despite citizens being forced to swear loyalty to the regime, many have found ways to escape.

Meanwhile, the people living under the North Korean regime face the direst humanitarian situation in the present world. Those within its borders face starvation, torture, constant surveillance and punishments that can extend for generations.

Those that escape into China face great challenges as they avoid the Chinese government officials who do not recognize them as refugees. The North Korean people that make it this far face exploitation in sex slavery, intense labor with no protections, and long prison terms if caught by the Chinese.

We like to focus on things that we can do, like North Korean refugees in China, Kim said. With over 250,000 North Korean refugees living under the radar in China, a lot of aid is directed there. The stateless children born to those people have little to no support system, unwanted by both the North Korean and Chinese governments. Specialized charities make the effort to establish orphanages for food and school programs, but resources are especially thin.

Jennifer Nestrud, the North Korean Specialist for Amnesty International, seeks to educate as many people as she can on the humanitarian options available.

Nestrud said she Hopes to have this Human Rights Day every year to get more people involved, adding that In a country where we have so much, I truly believe we are obligated to do something.

Lauri Luosta, an international student from Finland, serves as the vice president of Winona States chapter of Amnesty International, and has acted as a student activist coordinator in the past. He reached out to the speakers after meeting Nestrud at a conference.

We decided to team up together because of our joint passion for human rights, Luosta said, referring to the partnership with UNICEF. I think that the whole human rights perspective is something people dont really talk about much. Its all about just politics, Trump and Nukes, not so much that theres actually millions and millions of people who are in dire need of assistance in North Korea.

Lauren Fischer began Winona States UNICEF chapter recently after seeing the scale of human suffering taking place in Syria.

After sending an email to the organization, UNICEF replied with information on a program initiative that she could bring to Winona States campus. The process lasted more than a semester, before the group was verified with a formal executive board.

I just put my heart and soul into this, and I have the most wonderful team behind me who cares just as much as I do, Fischer said. She advises those that care to Continue to educate yourself, even if you feel frustrated and helpless.

Winona States UNICEF chapter raised over $1,000 during their trick or treat campaign, and continues to advocate for the children suffering from humanitarian abuses.
A female radio news anchor said Thursday that Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken groped and "forcibly kissed" her without her consent during an overseas USO tour in 2006, two years before Franken was elected to the Senate.

The revelations have prompted Franken to apologize and ignited calls for a Senate ethics investigation into Franken's behavior.

Leeann Tweeden is now a morning news anchor on TalkRadio 790 KABC in Los Angeles and posted her story in a lengthy post on the station's website.

"You knew exactly what you were doing," Tweeden wrote. "You forcibly kissed me without my consent, grabbed my breasts while I was sleeping and had someone take a photo of you doing it, knowing I would see it later, and be ashamed."

The revelations come amid a growing national furor over sexual harassment and misconduct, including a remarkable House hearing earlier this week in which lawmakers addressed what they described as a rampant sexual harassment problem on Capitol Hill.

Republican campaign arms have already tied Democratic candidates to Franken, but members of Congress have largely agreed to leave the allegations to a committee investigation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have each called on the Senate ethics committee to review Tweeden's account against Franken. Franken has said he would cooperate with an investigation.

Sources briefed on the matter say that Franken was emotional and upset as he apologized to staff Thursday. Franken skipped all Senate votes and the Democratic lunches, where he would have interacted with colleagues. He has not, sources say, spoken to most of them.

What happened in December 2006

In her post, Tweeden says the harassment occurred as the two rehearsed for a USO skit written by Franken in which he was supposed to kiss her. She writes that Franken repeatedly insisted they rehearse the kissing scene despite her protests. When she relented, she says, Franken "put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth."

"Senator Franken, you wrote the script," Tweeden wrote. "But there's nothing funny about sexual assault."

She also included a photo in which Franken appears to grab her breast while she's asleep.

"I couldn't believe it. He groped me, without my consent, while I was asleep," Tweeden writes. "I felt violated all over again. Embarrassed. Belittled. Humiliated."

Franken apologizes twice

In a statement to reporters, Franken said he doesn't remember the forced kissing, but that said he shouldn't have behaved the way he did in the photo.

"I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann," Franken said. "As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Franken released a longer statement several hours after his initial one, where he delivered a lengthier apology and said he "didn't know what" had been in his head when he took the actions in the photo.

"The first thing I want to do is apologize: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women. There's more I want to say, but the first and most important thingand if it's the only thing you care to hear, that's fine  is: I'm sorry," Franken said in the emailed statement.

He continued, "I respect women. I don't respect men who don't. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed."

Franken continued to say he didn't remember the exact actions of the rehearsal skit, but added, "I understand why we need to listen to and believe women's experiences."

Tweeden: 'There's no reason why I shouldn't accept his apology'

At a news conference, Tweeden was asked if she accepted Franken's apology.

"There's no reason why I shouldn't accept his apology," she said. "I wasn't looking for anything."

Tweeden also recounted her 2006 encounter with Franken during the news conference, describing in detail the moment in which Franken kissed her.

She said he stuck his tongue in her mouth "so fast."

"All I could remember is that his lips were really wet and it was slimy. In my mind I called him fish lips the rest of the trip because that's what it reminded me of," she said.

Tweeden said she "pushed" Franken off, and that she almost punched him.

"I pushed him off with my hands, I just remember I almost punched him ... Every time I see him now, my hands clench into fists," she said.

After the incident, which Tweeden said she did not report at the time, she said she made sure she was never alone with Franken again.

Asked whether she believes Franken should step down, Tweeden said that "people make mistakes."

"I'm not calling on him to step down," she said. "That's not my place." However, she added that her opinion may change if other women come forward with similar allegations.

Tweeden did not report Franken's behavior, and the USO released a statement saying that it had never been reported to the group.

"We have no knowledge of it," Ashley McLellan, a spokesperson for the USO, told CNN. "The report is deeply disturbing and does not reflect the values of the USO."

Congress confronts harassment and misconduct among its own

The comments about Franken come at a time when Congress is conducting a review of its policy for addressing sexual harassment and how it handles complaints. The House held a hearing on the issue earlier this week, and both chambers now will require sexual harassment training. The changes to Capitol Hill follow the ground-shaking allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct that have swept industries, organizations and institutions worldwide.

Franken acknowledged that cultural change in his revised statement.

"Over the last few months, all of us  including and especially men who respect women  have been forced to take a good, hard look at our own actions and think (perhaps, shamefully, for the first time) about how those actions have affected women," Franken said.

Tweeden said she's coming forward now after hearing testimony from women -- including California Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier -- who have shared similar stories of men in power who have committed sexual harassment and sexual assault.

"I want to have the same effect on them that Congresswoman Jackie Speier had on me," Tweeden wrote. "I want them, and all the other victims of sexual assault, to be able to speak out immediately, and not keep their stories --and their anger-- locked up inside for years, or decades."

Tweeden's revelations about Franken's behavior rocked the Capitol, with a number of lawmakers -- Republicans and Democrats -- calling for action.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, said the issue should be referred to the ethics committee.

"As with all credible allegations of sexual harassment or assault, I believe the Ethics Committee should review the matter. I hope the Democratic Leader will join me on this," McConnell said in a written statement. "Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptablein the workplace or anywhere else."

In his own statement, Schumer said that sexual harassment is "never acceptable and must not be tolerated."

"I hope and expect that the Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as they should with any credible allegation of sexual harassment," he added."

Franken has said he would cooperate with the committee's investigation.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the highest ranking woman in the Democratic Senate leadership, said Franken's apology "doesn't reverse what he's done or end the matter."

A similarly sharp rebuke came from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat.

"This should not have happened to Leeann Tweeden," Klobuchar said in a statement. "I strongly condemn this behavior and the Senate Ethics Committee must open an investigation. This is another example of why we need to change work environments and reporting practices across the nation, including in Congress."

The political fallout

The allegations against Franken quickly crossed into politics, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee tying senators running for re-election to Franken and the National Republican Congressional Committee demanding that Democratic candidates who had received campaign money from Franken to return those donations.

Josh Hawley, Missouri's Republican attorney general, who is running for the US Senate, used the event to needle Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, who is up for re-election in 2018 and considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats.

McCaskill tweeted that she was "shocked and concerned" and that the behavior described by Tweeden is "completely unacceptable." She also said she supports calls for an ethics investigation.

"This is not enough," Hawley tweeted, calling on McCaskill to join him in calls for Franken's resignation. "Return the money he gave you & the money he raised for @MODemParty."

McCaskill told CNN that returning Franken's campaign donations is "basically under consideration right now."

Several Democrats, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, have indicated that they will donate money they've received from Franken.

An aide to Gillibrand told CNN that she plans to give all the money she's ever received from Franken's PAC -- which they say totals $12,500 -- to the group Protect our Defenders, which combats rape and sexual assault in the military.

Baldwin told MSNBC that she plans to donate campaign contributions from Franken to a women's veteran initiative in Wisconsin.

Montana Sen. Jon Tester, also a Democrat, said he will donate $25,000 from Franken to a Montana organization that supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

This story has been updated and will continue to update with developments.

CNN's Manu Raju, Ashley Killough and Jen Rizzo contributed to this report.
According to an environmentalist, the development plan of the city doesn't seem to be taking into account the nature's intentions but it seems to be driven by political needs and financial viability.

By Akshaya Nath: "We have been given flats next to our fishing hamlet by the government and soon more societies will be built in the region, and a proposal for building a metro rail in the area is also being given by the government. The only question is, is the government taking into consideration the report given by ISRO?" Bharthi, a fisherman from the Nochi Kuppam fishing hamlet in Chennai questions.

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There are close to 2,000 families that live in this hamlet and based on a report - Coastal Zones of India -- by Space Application Centre - ISRO, that was sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, it is stated that in the next 50 years, the region will be under the sea.

The report predicts that 3209.33 sq km of Tamil Nadu's coast will likely be submerged.

The report predicts that 281.54 sq km of state highway, 85.66 km of railway infrastructure, 497.65 sq km of cropland and 826 sq km of aquifers will be submerged or degraded by tidal actions. The report also predicts that many sensitive regions also fall under these vulnerable areas.

THE REPORT

As per the report, almost all critical industrial infrastructure in the Ennore region, NTECL Vallur, all of TANGEDCO's power plants in Ennore, Kamarajar Port's existing and proposed infrastructure inside the Creek, HPCL and BPCL's oil terminals, the Minjur desalination plant and portions of CPCL's petrochemical refinery in Manali, the entire IT corridor will be affected by the rising sea level.

Most of the newly developed areas in Pallikaranai marshlands will be submerged under advancing sea.

Industries and settlements in low-lying areas such as the proposed 4,000 MW Cheyyur plant and existing nuclear complex in Kalpakkam, the existing IL&FS plant and proposed petroleum refinery and Petrochemical Investment Region in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam, industrial installations and salt pans in Tuticorin and the Koodankulam nuclear reactors are located in vulnerable areas that are prone either to submergence or degradation due to tidal action.

"Climate change and sea level rise are real and present dangers. The CZMP offers an opportunity to plan for the decongestion of the coast. Other countries are doing that. We must start retreating from the sea and improving our natural safeguards against extreme sea-borne events," said Pooja Kumar of Coastal Resource Centre.

BAD NEWS IS IGNORED

Environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman explaining the situation said, "The government of India and the states has to understand the importance of the report, there is a culture in India where bad news is ignored. Sea level rise cannot go away, but it predicts a near damage and it could be more or less, but it is happening."

"Proper planning should be done to retrieve from the sea, critical structures like power plants, ports are in secured areas and won't be damaged. Lives of people in the coastal areas and measures to ensure the density of the population along the region is controlled. These are the steps that need to be done but why it is not done is the question," he added.

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The development plan of the city doesn't seem to be taking into account the nature's intentions but it seems to be driven by "political needs and financial viability".

"If you look at Ennore or Pallikarani will not step in there. You plan a city to stay for 600-700 years and not for five years. People are not taking seriously issues like sea level rising about encroachment and flooding seriously. People seem to be fearless about nature, and the healthy respect for the nature is not there now," added Nityanand.

There are five growth corridors in Chennai and two along the coast - ECR and OMR have fast growth and many multistory buildings have come up leading density of population and two, there are violation of the CRZ regulation particularly the 1996, and 1998 plans of the Tamil Nadu state and though there are amendments made in 2011 there has not been many change, both in terms of the intensity of the development and CRZ violation.

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URBAN PLANNING

The last 25 years, many urban plans have been drafted but only two urban plans have status - one is the 1975 plan which was the first master plan, and the 2006 plan which is the second master plan.

But urban planning experts like A Srivatsan insist that, "It is not required that we wait for 20 years before a plan is made, there are enough provisions in the act that you can devise multiple projects in the larger ambit of the townplanning act, and within the masterplan."

"Though the masterplan works in the larger horizon of 20 years, you don't necessarily have to wait for 20 years to produce the plan," Srivatsan added.

All this is at a time when urban planners insist that there is a complete rethinking in the world on how masterplan works, and many countries have started to rethink on how to develop their cities.

"Climate change, sea level issue and impact of it are a world issue, but it is not seriously incorporated and taken into consideration. All the coastal areas in the country will be affected. The Coastal zone management authority is specifically there with a mandate to prepare the coastal zone management plan, why these plans don't reflect the sea level raise is a question and two, we don't have a second plan after the 1998 coastal zone plan for Chennai. If new evidences have come then the government should redefine their plans and the agencies not doing it is of serious concern," added A Srivatsan.

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COASTAL REGIONS IN INDIA

All the coastal regions in India will be affected, and the impact of the effect is dependent on the region and also the preparedness of the states and experts reiterate that most states have not taken this warning seriously.

According to "Future Sea Level Rise: Assessment of Loss and Damage in 2015" - prepared for the State Planning Commission predicts that in Chennai alone, 10 lakh people and 144 sq km of land are in danger of submergence due to SLR by 2050.

"Many parts of our hamlets are already facing erosion, and if the report is to be believed, there will be adverse effect on fishermen in the future. What is the government doing to ensure our safety, and why have they not spoken about this impact and started preparedness?" questions Saravanan, an activist and fisherman from the Uroor Olocott fishing hamlet.

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The Columbus Lions Club Participated in the 30th Annual 2017-2018 Lions International Peace Poster Contest. This years theme was The Future of Peace.

The Columbus Lions Club purchased Peace Poster Kits and distributed them to the local schools. The Peace Poster Contest is open to middle school students in grades sixth, seventh and eighth. Lions International is sponsoring this contest to promote world peace to students everywhere.

The students are given the theme and a few simple guidelines and then set free to create their own unique and imaginative masterpieces.

The Columbus Lions Club is excited to share the works of the students who chose to participate. The students attend Columbus Middle School, Fall River School, Zion Lutheran School and St. Jeromes. The art work is on display at the Columbus Public Library, the NAPA Store, Quamme Insurance, Julies Java House and various other businesses and banks in the Columbus/Fall River area for the next several weeks.

The winning posters were selected for their originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme. First place winners received a $25 prize, second place winners $15 and third place $10. Cash prizes and certificates were awarded to students for their winning entries on Nov. 15. The first place winner from each school at the local level will have their artwork sent to the district level. Winners were as follows:

Columbus Middle School: FirstEmma Iles; secondLily Bellin; thirdMolly Damm

Zion Lutheran School: FirstMorgan Stadler; secondCaelan Baney; thirdNora Larson

St. Jeromes Catholic School: FirstChloe Borreson; secondZoe Zittel; thirdEmily Schroedl

Fall River Middle School: FirstAnonymous; secondEmma Ladwig; thirdIzebelle Hughes
When a Portage resident told Mayor Rick Dodd about the importance of the Wisconsin River as a local landmark, the citys Parks and Recreation Board listened.

The conversation at Tuesdays meeting included ideas for helping residents and visitors locate boat launches, fishing spots and other points of interest on the rivers banks in Portage  starting with directional signage.

Parks and Recreation Board Chairman Brian Zirbes said directional signs, in general, could stand some improvement in the city, possibly including standardizing the style of signs pointing the way to parks and recreational amenities.

We have kind of a hodgepodge of signs, Zirbes said. Some of the existing signs have deteriorated, he said, and the styles of other signs are inconsistent.

At Dodds Aug. 30 listening session, Gary Corning suggested city officials find ways to make better use of the citys natural assets, including the Wisconsin River. He said the river sites  including a popular fishing spot near West Conant and Carroll streets  should be consistently well-maintained, and motorists should be able to follow signs to find these spots.

Common Council member Mike Charles, who also is a member of the Parks and Recreation Board, was at that listening session, and remembered Cornings observations.

People want to know, how to get to the spot  besides being told, turn left, then turn left again and its the place next to the blue garbage can,  Charles said.

Parks and Recreation Manager Dan Kremer said other Portage parks also might benefit from improved signage.

The citys Municipal Services Committee, he added, likely would have a say as to how the signs are designed and where they are placed.

Generally speaking, Zirbes said, a brown sign with white lettering is the federal standard for highway signs related to parks and recreation.

Common Council Member Mark Hahn, a Parks and Recreation Board member, suggested the citys website listing parks and other attractions also could offer information about the river. Kremer said the information could be added soon.

The board took no action, but Zirbes asked Kremer to come up with some sample signs that can be reviewed at a future meeting.

The proximity to the Wisconsin River, and to the nearby Fox River, is one key reason why Portage is one of Wisconsins oldest communities of settlers of European origin. The area was known as The Portage because it was where river travelers, including fur traders, would get out of their canoes and carry the vessels to the other river.

The Portage Canal was used from 1876 to 1951. It carried boats, including some large commercial vessels, between the two rivers.
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with more details)

Bhubaneswar, Nov 16 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today told the collectors of 15 coastal districts to keep a watch on the unseasonal rains and its impact on the Kharif crop even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours.

Patnaik, through a video conferencing, asked the district collectors to engage the field officials of agriculture and revenue and disaster management and guide the farmers facing crop loss due to the unseasonal rains during the harvesting period.

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The chief minister also cancelled the weekly holiday of field staff of the two departments as the farmers were struggling to save their crop affected due to the unseasonal rains.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P sethi, who attended the video conferencing, said that the assessment of the crop damage due to the unseasonal rains would be done as soon as the rainfall stops.

The district collectors are asked to report on the crop loss as soon as the rain stops, Sethi said.

Patnaik also directed the district collectors to ensure that the drought and pest attack affected farmers get their assistance in time.

The collectors were also told to report the SRC on the agricultural input subsidy being distributed among the farmers hit by drought and pest attack.

Meanwhile, the IMD sources said that the depression over West Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh A south Odisha coasts moved slightly northeast wards and lay centred at about 185 km of southAsouthwest of Gopalpur.

The system is very likely to move northeastwards off north Andhra Pradesh A Odisha coasts during the next 12 hours maintaining its intensity, it said, adding that the system is very likely to continue to move northeastwards and weaken gradually.

The average rainfall of today across the state was 16.8 mm, they said, adding that the highest rainfall of 56.0 mm. was recorded in Puri followed by 52.3 mm. in Jagatsinghpur, 44.3 mm. in Gajapati, 44.0 mm. in Kendrapara and 39.3 mm. in Ganjam district.

The unseasonal rains have been reported from 25 of the 30 districts of the state, they said.

Meanwhile, the state government has started process for disbursal of agriculture input subsidy among farmers who have sustained crop loss of 33 per cent and above in the drought.

The district collectors were asked to complete the process within seven days, Sethi said. PTI AAM RG KJ

--- ENDS ---
New Centre of Centre of Excellence to focus on early human behaviour

Collaboration between Wits and the new CoE at University of Bergen is essential to answer some of the most fundamental questions about our ancestry.

A new Centre of Excellence in early human behaviour at the University of Bergen in Norway will aim to address unanswered questions about our species.

Headed by Wits Professor, Christopher Henshilwood, the Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE), was officially launched at the Bergen Universitys Department of History, Archaeology, Cultural and Religious Studies recently.

The Centre will directly address unanswered, first order questions about Homo sapiens, such as what defines the switch to modern behaviour, how exactly should this term be defined and why and how did this switch occur, says Henshilwood.

One of the other questions that we aim to answer is were there changes in the human brain at that time that accelerated behavioural variability and how can these be measured now?.

Henshilwood holds the South African NRF SARChI Chair in Modern Human Origins, which was recently renewed. The new CoE programme is operated by the Research Council of Norway, which finances the activities of Norways foremost scientific environments in centres to achieve ambitious scientific objectives through collaboration and long-term basic funding. It has close links to Wits, with several staff members having links with Wits, including Professor Bruce Rubidge, who serves on the SapienCE board.

The establishment of the SapienCE in Norway is a huge achievement for Professor Chris Henshilwood. As Director of the Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences in South Africa I am excited about the close collaboration between these two centres of excellence. This will bring a great deal of local and international research attention to the remarkable Middle Stone Age sites of the Southwestern Cape which are providing ground breaking new understanding of early human behaviour, says Rubidge.

Henshilwood believes his work in Blombos Cave and Klipdrift Shelter in the southern Cape has laid the foundation for the need to establish a Centre of Excellence in human origins research.

Over the past 20 years, archaeological evidence from the Middle Stone Age in Africa has rapidly changed perceptions of the behavioural variability and adaptive strategies of these early humans, says Henshilwood. Our research in the southern Cape, since 1991, has uncovered unprecedented new evidence for the evolution of early Homo sapiens in southern Africa.

Some of these major discoveries related to the advanced technology that early humans developed. It also included the earliest evidence for the making of a pigmented compound, as well as the first known use of a combination of heating and pressure flaking to create finely-crafted stone tools.

There are a lot of questions about our early development to still be answered by the SapienCE, says Henshilwood. The centre will focus on seven different research questions in the next 10 years.

The starting point is simple. We all come from Africa. I am certain that in the next five or 10 years, we will have a completely new understanding of human behaviour.
One in two Delhi college students is suffering from respiratory problems, thanks to city's toxic air and smog, a study conducted by a leading hospital has found.

By Priyanka Sharma: The city's young lungs are asphyxiating under a cloud of poisonous air.

A study by a top hospital among over a thousand college students has found that more than half of them have been hit by respiratory ailments in just five days of smog mayhem.

Fortis Healthcare carried out the survey to assess damage caused by high levels of air pollution between November 6 and 11 at five different colleges at Delhi University, Dwarka, Rohini and Greater Noida.

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A total of 1,044 students took part in the review done by a questionnaire method. Of the total students, 72 per cent were male and 28 per cent female. They were in the 18 to 24 age group.

FINDINGS

The findings revealed that about 53 per cent of the students suffered respiratory health issues while 51 per cent complained of aggravated symptoms during this period due to which they are now receiving extensive treatment.

Also, 42 per cent students showed lung function impairment during tests and 11 per cent were already on inhalers.

They were asked to fill a questionnaire that consisted of respiratory symptoms, pollution, allergies and use of inhalers. The lung function was tested by peak expiratory flow meter and those who tested positive for airflow impairment were further tested by spirometry (measures volume and speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled).

Dr Vikas Maurya, head of respiratory medicine and interventional pulmonology department at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh, told Mail Today, "The objective of conducting the survey was to have a greater insight to the after-effects of air pollution and the dangers that it poses. Delhi's air quality remains in the emergency category. There is a need to involve the youth in such a study because it makes them aware of how air pollution can deter their growth."

Between November 6 and 11, when air pollution was at its peak, about 51 per cent students complained of aggravated symptoms and 53 per cent had visible warning signs like cough, sputum, complaints of chest tightness and breathlessness, he said

"52 per cent of the students informed that they were allergic to dust, smoke and pollens, while 42 per cent showed lung function impairment," said Dr Maurya.

POISONOUS POLLEN

A recent study by Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute noted that pollens in atmosphere are also responsible for triggering asthma and allergic reactions during winters. According to the findings, the air during September, October and November contain highest pollen count.

Professor Raj Kumar, head of pulmonary medicine at the institute and the author of the study, said, "More than 30 per cent of the population is reportedly suffering from one or the other allergic ailment, which immediately leads to increase in respiratory problem. This is one of the main reasons why OPDs in hospitals witness more patients."

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The findings have been published in the Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

'GAS CHAMBER'

Delhi turned into a "gas chamber" last week when experts recorded extremely poor PM2.5 levels in the air, prompting the government to announce the closure of schools.

Dr Bobby Bhalotra, pulmonologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said OPD cases have jumped 40-50 per cent with patients complaining of breathing problems. "Most affected are the ones who have to do outdoor activities, and college students. They are not able to do their routine work," he said.

The Lancet medical journal has reported that in 2015, pollution claimed nearly 3 million lives in India.

At AIIMS, the doctors are witnessing a record number of respiratory patients. Dr GC Khilani, head of pulmonary medicine, said people are suffering with acute asthma and bronchitis attacks.

"Most of the patients are young like college and school students and those who go out early in the morning for work when the pollution levels are very high," he said. "We are trying to help them through inhalers and nebulisers."

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--- ENDS ---
Delhi Police arrested a man who allegedly molested two women on the same day at the ITO metro station. Authorities say a shortage of staff is making women vulnerable in metro station corridors.

Two women were molested by a 25-year-old man in the unmanned corridor of the ITO Metro station early this week. (Picture for representation)

By Chayyanika Nigam: Delhi Metro is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Two women, including a journalist, have lodged a complaint of having been molested inside the ITO metro station on the same day. What's more shocking is that both were molested by the same man, a 25-year-old resident of the nearby slum clusters, who was allegedly encouraged by the unmanned and secluded corridor of the station.

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The incident took place on Monday at around 9.30 pm when the journalist had just stepped into the ITO metro station. According to her complaint, an inebriated man first passed lewd comments at her and then touched her inappropriately. When the woman confronted him, he apologised but then groped her. On reprimanding him, he attacked the women and escaped.

She raised an alarm but the CISF officials, posted barely 300 metres away from the spot, paid no heed. A case was registered after she lodged a complaint.

On Tuesday, another woman approached the station controller and complained about having suffered harassment the previous night. Her complaint was also lodged and it was learnt that the same man had molested her and in a similar manner. He was arrested by Delhi Police on Thursday from his residence near the metro station.

Both CISF and Delhi Police have said that it is the shortage of staff that is making women vulnerable in the metro corridors.

The CISF currently relies on CCTV surveillance to keep a check on the station corridors (from main entrance to security check). These corridors are often misused by the criminals and molestation, eve-teasing and snatching incidents in these deserted spots are on a rise.

A total of 159 metro stations in the city are manned by the CISF. Delhi Police looks after the investigation after a crime takes place in the metro stations. In a bid to facilitate the commuters in trouble, the police have installed booths inside the metro premises.

This year, as many as 17 cases of molestation have been reported by the metro commuters.

"While CISF is looking after the security of the Delhi Metro, it is only deployed in and around the paid areas. That is near the baggage-checking machines and the metal detectors. But every now and then the CISF officials do a recce in the entire premises that includes the jurisdiction till the main entrance/exit gate of the stations," a source said.

On the condition of anonymity, an official told Mail Today: "There are more than 6,500 CISF officials deployed for metro security and around 7,000 CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the stations." Delhi Metro has around 26-27 lakh daily ridership.

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Both Delhi Police and CISF have asked the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to provide manpower to them for better security in the metro premises. The MHA has not sanctioned any of the proposals as yet, the source said.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Mumbai, Nov 16 (PTI) Dutch pension fund manager APG Asset Management has reiterated its commitment to the retail estate space here with an additional investment of USD 175 million (around Rs 1,150 crore) to Virtuous Retail South Asia.

This is the second largest forex inflows into the domestic retail realty space after the Dutch pensions fund major had made the largest investment into Virtuous Retail last November with a commitment of USD 450 million.

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Virtuous Retail is the retail realty funding arm of the American private equity major Xander Groups that is focused on the emerging markets.

The USD 175-million fresh equity commitment will augment the existing investment capacity of Virtuous Retail and help its future growth, Virtuous Retail said in a statement today.

"This fresh equity commitment reflects our continued support for growth and our conviction in the Indian retail sector," APG managing director and global head of real assets Patrick Kanters said in the statement.

He said they are looking forward to the coming years as the Virtuous management team executes the strategic plan.

"Additionally, we are happy to further expand our strategic relationship with Xander in India," Kanters added.

From the USD 450 million fund, Virtuous Retail had acquired an initial portfolio of three retail assets in a transaction valued at Rs 2,000 crore and committed an additional USD 150 million as growth capital, giving it an immediate investment capacity of USD 300 million to be used for acquisitions and new developments.

"Virtuous has expanded significantly across all parameters over the past year. Weve grown the portfolio by adding VR Punjab, while VR Chennai is on schedule for opening in the first half of 2018.

"With all our existing centers trading well, our focus will be now on greenfield projects and selective acquisitions that will meet our location and quality parameters," Xander Group founder and chairman of Virtuous Retail Sid Yog said.

This May, Virtuous Retail had acquired a 2-million sqft center in Chandigarh for Rs 700 crore, taking its retail portfolio to 5.5 million sqft across Bengaluru, Surat, Chandigarh and Chennai.

The Chandigarh center has since been rebranded VR Punjab and is undergoing a reconditioning now. VR Punjab, in recognition of its dominant location in the region and positioned as a regional flagship center in the state, helped Virtuous Retail expand its footprint into Northern markets.

"Well continue to leverage its extensive capabilities across the value chain of development, ownership and operations, so as to grow our portfolio by adding centers in other key markets, including the Delhi-NCR, the Mumbai metropolitan region, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata," Virtuous Retail said.

Virtuous managing director and chief investment officer Rohit George said the new equity gives them the enough firepower to add significantly to their already dominant portfolio of shopping centers, integrated with extensive and unique management capability built over the past decade.

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"We hope to announce some new developments and acquisitions in the near future that will further expand Virtuous Retails footprint across our key focus markets in the country," George added. PTI PSK BEN BEN

--- ENDS ---




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Regulators start technical assessment of UK HPR 1000

16 November 2017

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The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Environment Agency announced today they are progressing to the next phase of their Generic Design Assessment of the UK HPR1000 reactor. This is the Hualong One design that General Nuclear Services (GNS) - a subsidiary of EDF and China General Nuclear (CGN) - proposes to use at a prospective new nuclear power plant in England.

A cut-away of the HPR1000 reactor design (Image: GNS)

The GDA process enables the regulators to begin assessing the safety, security and environmental aspects of new reactor designs before site-specific proposals are brought forward.

Mike Finnerty, ONR's deputy chief inspector and director of ONRs New Reactors Division, said he was satisfied there were "adequate project management and technical provisions in place" to enter Step 2 of the process. This means the start of the technical assessment phase.

According to the UK HPR1000 website, the regulators concluded that the information submitted by GNS during Step 1 is sufficient to allow the start of Step 2. Step 2 formally commenced today and is planned to take about 12 months. The targeted timescale for the UK HPR1000 GDA process is about five years from the start of Step 1.

Under a strategic investment agreement signed in October last year, CGN agreed to take a 33.5% stake in EDF Energy's Hinkley Point C project in Somerset, as well as jointly develop new nuclear power plants at Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex. The Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C plants will be based on France's EPR reactor technology, while the new plant at Bradwell in Essex will feature the Hualong One design.

As part of that agreement, CGN agreed to form a joint venture company with EDF Energy to seek regulatory approval for a UK version of the Hualong One design.

The GDA is a voluntary process for reactor vendors - it is policy rather than law - but it is a government expectation for all new build projects in the UK. In January, the British government formally requested they start the process for the UK HPR1000.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
By PTI: Boston, Nov 16 (PTI) Energy drinks can trigger risk- seeking behaviour, as well as cause mental health problems and obesity, say scientists who found that the short-term benefits of such beverages are outweighed by serious health risks.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, also highlights the worrying trend of mixing energy drinks with alcohol.

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As energy drink consumption continues to grow worldwide, there is a need to thoroughly examine their advertised benefits, nutritional content and any negative effects on public health.

"We summarise the consequences of energy drink consumption, which include heart, kidney, and dental problems, as well as risk-seeking behaviour and poor mental health," said Josiemer Mattei, assistant professor at the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health in the US.

"The evidence suggests they are harmful to health and should be limited through more stringent regulation by restricting their sales to children and adolescents, as well as setting an evidence-based upper limit on the amount of caffeine," said Mattei.

Most energy drinks consist of similar ingredients - water, sugar, caffeine, certain vitamins, minerals and non- nutritive stimulants such as guarana, taurine and ginseng.

Some can contain up to 100 milligramme caffeine per fluid ounce, eight times more than a regular coffee at 12 milligramme.

A moderate daily caffeine intake of up to 400 milligramme is recommended for adults, but little research exists on tolerable levels for adolescents and children.

The health risks associated with energy drinks are mostly attributed to their high sugar and caffeine levels.

They range from risk-seeking behaviour, such as substance misuse and aggression, mental health problems in the form of anxiety and stress, to increased blood pressure, obesity, kidney damage, fatigue, stomachaches and irritation.

The review also highlights another worrying trend of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Individuals who do this consume more alcohol than if they were drinking alcohol alone.

It is thought energy drinks can mask the signs of alcohol inebriation, enabling an individual to consume more, increasing the likelihood of dehydration and alcohol poisoning.

"Future research should explore the effects of the energy drink constituents we know less about, such as taurine, and consider long-term assessments across a broader range of the population to examine the effects of energy drink consumption over time," Mattei said.

"However, we conclude that there is currently enough evidence to suggest that the negative health consequences of drinking energy drinks outweigh any potential short-term benefits," she said. PTI MHN SAR MHN

--- ENDS ---

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Some of the religions that originated in Greater Persia or Greater Iran are Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, Zurvanism, Mazdakism, Mandaeism, Manichaeism, Babism, and the Baha'i Faith.

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world that mix eschatological monotheism with cosmogonic dualism uniquely from other faiths. The followers of Zoroastrianism believe in the teachings of Zoroaster (an Iranian prophet) who teaches that Ahura Mazda is the Supreme Being. The root of the religion is traced as early as second millennium BCE and was once the state religion between 600BCE and 650 CE. Zoroastrianism began to die off as a result of the Muslim invasion of Persia between 633 and 654. It is approximated that roughly 2.6 million Zoroastrianism followers are still found in Iran and India.

Mithraism

Mithraism was a religion preserved only for the initiates, and it was anchored on Mithras, the god that was worshiped in the Roman Empire between the first and the fourth century CE. The worshippers had a hierarchical system starting from grade one to seven of different types of initiation marked by traditional foods. The initiates were called syndexioi, a group that was united by the handshake. The Mithraism is characterized by the concealment in that no one was allowed to disclose anything that goes on during and after initiation to outsiders. The existence of Mithraism had been confirmed by archaeologists who found an artwork scene bearing Mithrass image slaughtering a bull and sharing a feast with Sol, the god.

Zurvanism

Zurvanism is a subdivision of Zoroastrianism. The followers of the religion believed that Zurvan (the deity creator) procreated twins, Angra Mainyu and Ahura Mazda, described as equal-but-opposite. Ahura Mazda was the creator of good things while Mainyu represented the evil. However, the roles of the two twin-brothers changed, and Mazda took over the role of the evil-doer. Zurvan was the only supreme God. This God could not differentiate between good and evil. The Zurvanism followers understood that Zurvan existed alone and with his desire to have offspring, he offered sacrifice for years that led to the birth of Ohrmuzd (doubt), and Ahriman (sacrifice). The religion died off in the 7th century after the fall of Sassanid Empire.

Mazdakism

Mazdakism is a religion that came into existence during the times of Mazdak, a prophet from Iran. Mazdak gained favor and influence during the reign of Emperor Kavadh. He claimed that he was sent by Ahura Mazda, a claim that enabled him to enact public laws and programs that ensured social welfare of the members. Mazdakism followers saw the religion as a better version of the Zoroastrianism, however some argued that the religion copied the Manichaeism doctrines. The Mazdakism doctrines inculcated the belief that there existed two universe principles, Light (good) and Darkness (evil). The two accidentally mixed, contaminating everything apart from God.

Mandaeism

Mandaeism is a religion that had a double view of the world. Its origin is traced to Mesopotamia during the first three century CE. It relies on shared heritage and has no doctrines or religious creeds. The Mandaeism followers are estimated to be ranging 60,000 and 70,000 in number, mostly Semites and Mandaic speakers. Dominican Catholic, described Mandaeans as an extraordinary and singular people who detested Abraham for carrying out circumcision practices and adored John the Baptist. Mandaeans consider Jesus a false messiah who deviated from Johns teachings.

Manichaeism

Manichaeism was a religious group in the Sasanian Empire led by Mani, Iranian prophet between 216 and 276 CE. He proclaimed to be the apostle of Jesus Christ. Manichaeism was based in Mesopotamian but later spread to other parts of the world such as China and Roman Empire. The religion teachings revolve around creation narrative called motifs and myths. The motifs have it that the world was created, influenced, or organized by two beings who either have complementary roles or compete in creating, influencing, or organizing the world. It also described the struggle between what is termed as spiritual world of light, the good, and material world of darkness, the evil. Manichaeism followers gradually reduced during the first part of 19th century and the religion was eventually replaced by other religions.

Babism

Babism is a religion currently based in Iran. Ali Muhammad Shirazi started the Babism in 1844. The followers believe in the existence of one God, God of Abraham, who created the world and has control over it. To them, this god is not understandable and remain anonymous. The religion immediately gained a good number of followers in Persia until late 1852 when the number of his followers started to decrease. Quran and Islamic traditions are the references materials. The members believed that there were twelve Imams and the last one to die was called Imam Mahdi. Mahdi used to pass the word of God through only selected representatives. According to Twelver Shia Islamic, before Imam Mahdi died, he went into the State of Occultation and became inaccessible to his followers. He occasionally gets out of occultation when the world gets oppressed and bring back the true religion to Earth in preparation for judgment day.

Khurramites

Khurramites was a politically oriented religious movement based in Iran. It was founded by a Persian cleric called Sunpadh to replace the earlier version that had an attachment to both Zoroastrianism and Shia Islam. Khurramites shot to fame after Babak Khorramdin adopted the religion as a way of rebelling Abbasid Caliphate. Under the leadership of Babak, the followers rejected ownership of resources by the state. They demanded government dissolution and redistribution of state-owned properties. Khurramites doctrines are guided by what they called principle of the universe in which Light (good) part got rub out and turned into Darkness.

Baha'i Faith

In the year 1863, Baha'u'llah started the Baha'i Faith. It teaches about the equality of all human beings in which all religions despite the differences are worthy. Baha'i Faith was established in Iran and has faced constant persecutions from the radical religions. The religion shares the messages that God is the supreme being and all-powerful. Baha'u'llah emphasized that God uses Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad to bring order in the religions through what he called the Manifestation of God.
Surprisingly, women have not always had the right to vote and hold public office. Denial of these rights is rooted in Athenian democracy in which only men could vote. Although involving women in the electoral process was not a common practice throughout the Western World, many Indigenous tribes had key positions for women in governing bodies. Suffrage efforts were long and difficult; countries granted voting equality over many years, some long before others. Each place has its story, and some are quite surprising. This list will take a look at the first countries to grant women suffrage as well as a brief history of the movement.

The First Countries to Grant Women's Suffrage

New Zealand

In 1893, New Zealand became the first permanent and independent country to pass suffrage laws. Although the Corsican Republic, Pitcairn Island, Isle of Man and the Cook Islands all granted women the right to vote before this year, these acts were temporary as these countries were colonized and lost the right to vote. In New Zealand, the landmark act did not grant women the right to hold office in Parliament.

Australia

Nine years later, Australia followed suit and also passed a suffrage act for women, after independence from Great Britain. This act took effect in 1902, and though it did apply to all women in the new country, Aboriginal women were left out.

Australian stamp printed for the centenary of women's suffrage in the country, circa 1994. Image credit: Mitrofanov Alexander/Shutterstock

Finland

Finland was the first European country to join the ranks of other, more progressive nations in 1906. At that time, the country was called the Grand Duchy of Finland. Women had enjoyed voting rights before this, however, under both Swedish and Russian rule. What was unique about the 1906 ruling is that it also granted women the right to stand for parliament, the first country in the world to do so.

Norway

Norway granted suffrage in 1913 to women, though men in the nation had been voting since 1898. The suffrage movement here was led by Gina Krog, and she helped pioneer a law in 1901 that would allow some women to vote. These women must have paid a certain amount of taxes or be married to a man who paid that same amount. Not satisfied, Gina Krog and other women continued fighting for the next 12 years.

Denmark

Parliament in Denmark began discussing womens suffrage in 1886 though the right was limited to tax-paying women living in Copenhagen. Women here got organized and formed the Womens Suffrage Association, which held public meetings to discuss womens rights and questioned parliamentary candidates about their views on the matter. Denmark finally granted women suffrage in 1915.

Armenia

The year 1917 saw sweeping legalization movements in favor of women voting. Armenia was granted womens suffrage by the ruling Russian government and later passed its own law in 1919. The final Armenian law allowed for voting and holding public office.

Estonia

Estonia gained independence in 1918 but had already practiced equal voting rights since 1917. The first parliamentary elections were held in 1920, and two women were elected to serve. This year is the same year that Latvia granted women the right to vote.

Russia

Women had a difficult time obtaining the right to vote in Russia. Suffragists organized and rallied throughout the year 1917, even holding a march of over 40,000 attendees. The government finally relinquished and gave women the same voting rights as men on June 20, 1917.

The Famous Five statue, Ottawa, Canada. Image credit: Joyce Nelson/Shutterstock

Canada

The final country on the list is Canada. It joins several other countries in having granted women the right to vote in 1917. Only women who were war widows or had husbands or sons at war were able to vote. Considerations for extending this right were linked to the desire of the nation to remain a White Settler land. The government believed that by extending political rights to white women, the country would be further protected from racial degeneration. In May 1918, women citizens (this did not include Indigenous women) were given the right to vote.

The Importance of Women's Suffrage

Securing the right to vote was the first step toward equality for women. The most fundamental of Democratic rights, voting, gives a voice to individuals and allows them to participate in the actions of their government. The Suffrage Movement was more than this; women used this as a platform for continuing civic action and have since contributed to lasting change in their communities.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) Microsoft founder Bill Gates today said if India can achieve a 7 per cent average growth rate over the next 20 years and do that in equitable way then it will be a remarkable achievement for the country.

Gates further said that getting the Goods and Services Tax (GST) passed was a step in positive direction.

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"If India over the next 20 years can achieve a 7 per cent average growth and do that in equitable way thats a miracle for the country and the world," he said while participating in a panel discussion organised by Observer Research Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates foundation.

Gates, also expressed hope that as Indias tax-GDP ratio is likely to increase, so government will have extra resources to spend on health, education and nutrition.

The billionaire, however, lamented that philanthropy in US is 2 per cent of overall economic activity but it is less than 0.2 per cent in India.

Speaking at the same event, Principal Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance Sanjeev Sanyal said that the government should spend more on health and education.

"Hopefully with growing economy, we will get more tax money for more expenditure on health and education," Sanyal said. PTI BKS BAL

--- ENDS ---
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The Alaska Senate set aside constitutional concerns and approved a crime bill Friday, but it sidestepped taxes when ending the special legislative session.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska warned lawmakers that a provision of the crime bill, passed by the House this week, would make presumptive sentence ranges for first-time Class C and Class B felonies the same.

The group said this would violate due process requirements. The ACLU of Alaska said the concept of graduated offenses is to ensure more serious crimes are sentenced more harshly. Class C felonies...
By PTI: efforts

Lucknow, Nov 16 (PTI) Amid Sri Sri Ravi Shankars attempts to mediate on the Ayodhya dispute, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said everyone knows where talks would lead, especially when the Supreme Court is going to hear the matter from December 5 on a day-to-day basis.

"The Supreme Court is going to hear the matter on a day- to-day basis from December 5. Everyone knows where the talks would lead... Had the solution (to the dispute) been possible, it would have been reached earlier," he told reporters.

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"Even after this, if someone initiates talks there is no harm. The government is not a party to this. In my first visit to Ayodhya, I had said that if both the parties reach consensus on the issue, the government could consider. The government cannot take an initiative in this regard as the matter is before the Supreme Court," he added.

On his meeting with the Art of Living founder yesterday, Adityanath said, "See we did not have any discussion on the matter (Ayodhya dispute). It was a courtsey meeting as he was known to me and had arrived in Lucknow."

Ravi Shankar had yesterday met Adityanath but said he had no proposal yet to discuss with the stakeholders.

His offer for mediating in the dispute has received a tepid and skeptical response from key protagonists on both sides, with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) voicing reservations about his role.

When his attention was drawn to comments by some Muslim leaders rejecting his proposal to resolve the dispute, Ravi Shankar had yesterday said he had no proposal at the moment so any question of rejection does not arise.

"Neither have I given any proposal nor have I got it from anyone," he had said.

Ravi Shankar is apparently exploring ways for a reconciliation between the warring parties locked in the protracted legal dispute over the land on which the Babri mosque stood before being pulled down in 1992.

The VHP and the AIMPLB have, however, rejected the relevance of mediation efforts by Ravi Shankar.

"It is being said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of All India Muslim Personal Law Board which is leading the Muslim side," AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani said.

He said Ravi Shankar had made a similar move to resolve the dispute some 12 years ago and concluded that the site be handed over to Hindus.

The VHP too appeared dismissive, saying no dialogue on the issue was needed as courts go by evidence and archaeological evidence was in favour of Hindus.

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"There is no relevance of the (recent) clamour for agreement over Ram Janmabhoomi after the archaeological evidences in this regard have been found to be in favour of Hindus... the courts go by evidence," regional spokesman for the VHP Sharad Sharma said in a statement.

A bench headed by the then Chief Justice J S Khehar had said in March that such religious issues can be resolved through negotiations and offered to mediate to arrive at an amicable settlement. PTI ABN ZMN

--- ENDS ---
The European Union (EU) is launching the construction of an authority to monitor and censor so-called fake news. It is setting up a High-Level Expert Group on the issue and soliciting criticisms of fake news by media professionals and the public to decide what powers to give to this EU body, which is to begin operation next spring.

An examination of the EUs announcement shows that it is preparing mass state censorship aimed not at false information, but at news reports or political views that encourage popular opposition to the European ruling class.

The term fake news is taken from the campaign in the United States promoting unsubstantiated accusations that Donald Trumps victory was attributable to Russian manipulation of the 2016 US presidential elections that publicized material harmful to his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. This campaign has developed into ever more aggressive demands for censorship of the Internet to prevent the expression of critical views and social protests.

At one US Senate hearing on the issue, former FBI officer Clint Watts called for censorship in front of sympathetic US Senators, who denounced Russia for supposedly trying to amplify racial and social divisions in America. Watts said, 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.

The EUs anti-fake news censorship body serves the same basic political ends. It aims to create conditions where unelected authorities control what people can read or say online. We live in an era where the flow of information and misinformation has become almost overwhelming, EU Vice-President Frans Timmermans declared. He added that the EUs task is to protect its citizens from fake news and to manage the information they receive.

According to an EU press release, the EU Commission, another unelected body, will select the High-Level Expert Group, which is to start in January 2018 and will work over several months. It will discuss possible future actions to strengthen citizens access to reliable and verified information and prevent the spread of disinformation online. Who will decide what views are verified, who is reliable and whose views are disinformation to be deleted from Facebook or removed from Google search results? The EU, of course.

As in the United States, the EU anti-fake news campaign flows out of operations against Russia and attempts to shield from criticism the ever more unpopular EU policiesin particular, the accelerating turn by the European bourgeoisie towards militarism and authoritarian rule.

According to its press release, the EUs new initiative began with the establishment by the EU Council, in March 2015, of the East Strategic Communication Task Force (East Stratcom). This was shortly after Washington and Berlin successfully organized a regime change operation in February 2014 in Ukraine, via a putsch led by the pro-Nazi, anti-Russian Right Sector militia that toppled a pro-Russian government in Kiev. This led to a bitter civil war in Russian-speaking areas of eastern Ukraine that was still raging at the beginning of 2015.

The EU was well aware of the fascistic character of its Ukrainian allies. The EU Parliament had just voted in 2012 for a resolution formally denouncing one of the parties it put in power in Kiev, Svoboda. Stating that Svoboda's racist, anti-Semitic, and xenophobic views go against the EUs fundamental values, the EU Parliament appealed to democratic political parties not to associate with, endorse, or form coalitions with this party.

After US and European imperialism put Svoboda in power, however, European media denounced as a supreme lie criticism that the EU was working with neo-fascists, which it called lying Russian propaganda.

These are the reactionary political roots of the anti-fake news campaign in Europe in general, and of East Stratcom in particular. According to the current EU press release, the agency was set up to identify, analyse, and raise awareness of Russias ongoing disinformation campaigns on a daily basis. Its mission statement declares its top purpose is to ensure Effective communication and promotion of EU policies towards the Eastern Neighbourhood, that is, to promote the EUs aggressive policies and its links to neo-fascists in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and beyond.

The situation emerging in Europe is a warning to the working class. A body set up to promote forces like Svoboda and the Right Sector, which glorifies the Ukrainian forces who participated in the Nazi Holocaust of the Jews in the USSR during World War II, is to lead a drive to censor the Internet and official public life in Europe. Police-state rule in Europe is actively being prepared.

This reflects a historic collapse of democratic forms of rule across the continent that has developed over decades. The quarter century since the Stalinist bureaucracy dissolved the USSR has seen austerity at home and escalating NATO wars in the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe. European capitalism is bankrupt, and nearly a decade after the 2008 Wall Street crash, economic inequality is reaching levels incompatible with democratic forms of rule.

With tens of millions of unemployed and youth left with no future, social anger has reached explosive levels. The EUs Generation What poll earlier this year found that more than half of European youth would be willing to participate in a mass uprising against the existing order. The response of European imperialism is to prepare repression and authoritarian rule at home, while denouncing criticism of its policies as fake news and Russian propaganda.

Significantly, a key battleground of the EU fake news campaign is Spain. Last month, Madrid suspended Catalonias elected government amid mass protests in Barcelona, after police assaulted peaceful voters in the October 1 Catalan independence referendum. Berlin, London and Paris all issued statements backing Madrid. Spanish General Fernando Alejandre threatened Catalonia with military intervention and hailed the Spanish army of all epochs, implicitly including the 1939 invasion of Catalonia by fascist dictator Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

Predictably, European media, the Spanish government, and East Stratcom are launching a campaign to denounce criticism of Madrids policies, and EU support for them, as fake news. On Monday, the British Guardian reported, Officials working at the East Stratcom taskforce in Brussels say they have seen an increase in disinformation linked to the Catalan referendum, in line with the explosion of media interest in the story.

To illustrate the alleged upsurge in pro-Kremlin disinformation and false claims about the political crisis in Catalonia, the Guardian cited a Facebook post by Moldovan politician Bogdan Tirdea that stated: EU officials supported the violence in Catalonia.

As in Ukraine, the ruling elite attacks such statements as fake news and Russian propaganda not because they are false, but because they threaten to provoke political opposition at home.

Claims that Russia and its allies in Eastern Europe instigated the Catalan crisis or used it to smear the EU are lies refuted by Madrids own statements. Over a week after the October 1 referendum, Madrid hailed Moscows reactionary support for its internal repression. Spanish Ambassador to Russia Ignacio Ibanez Rubio said, Spain endorses Russias official stance. From the very beginning, Russia has recognized that this is an internal affair of our country So we are very pleased with Russias stand on the crisis in Catalonia.

The accelerating moves towards police-state rule in Europe and the media campaign against Russian fake news again underscore the significance of the World Socialist Web Sites reporting, its opposition to the EU, and its struggle against Googles attempts to censor it. It is emerging as the leading voice against the drive to legitimize authoritarian rule and far-right politics in Europe.
Germanys intelligence agency and representatives of the German army have interfered in the negotiations over the formation of the next federal government. They insist on increased military expenditure, a confrontational course towards Russia and ruthless measures against refugees.

On Tuesday, the President of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) Bruno Kahl gave a keynote speech at the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Munich. The foundation is affiliated to the Christian Social Union (CSU). In his speech Kahl warned in drastic terms of Russias geo-political ambitions and expressed doubts regarding Western Europes ability to adequately respond.

Kahl accused Russia of trying to weaken the EU and push back the US, and in particular drive a wedge between the two. The modernisation of Russian forces is amazing and disturbing, he said. Instead of being a partner for European security, the country is more of a potential danger. Russia as a world political player is back and will remain an uncomfortable neighbour, Kahl declared.

The intelligence chief doubted whether NATO and the West were sufficiently strong militarily to counterbalance and deter these potential threats, and whether their own defence and armament capabilities were sufficient.

Kahl also warned against Chinas foreign policy. The time of modesty is apparently over, as is the time of exercising consideration. China claims it will rank as a major foreign power by the year 2050, he said. As an example of Chinese ambitions he cited a Chinese base in the Horn of Africa and the naval maneuvers carried out by China and Russia this summer in the Baltic Sea.

Kahl called the growing number of refugees an additional security risk. Well over a billion people would have a rational reason to leave their homeland. The number of migrants due to environmental problems will increase dramatically and reach hundreds of millions. The population of Africa has almost doubled since 1990 and it is questionable whether the campaign to combat the root causes of mass migration could keep up with this dynamic at all.

Migratory pressure on Europe will increase. The question is whether European governments can maintain or create new control potential to influence this development, he concluded.

The very fact that Kahl gave such a speech is extraordinary. Normally, the BND advises the federal government internally and does not intervene in public debates. The fact that the head of the BND went public a few days before the conclusion of exploratory talks on a Jamaica coalition (from the three parties coloursblack, yellow and green, those of the Jamaican flag) composed of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Free Democratic Party and the Greensand did so at a forum of the CSU, can only be considered as direct interference in the formation of a government.

Prior to Kahl, the chairman of the German Armed Forces Association Andre Wustner had already made public demands for more military spending.

I have so far followed the exploratory talks with horror, because defence policy and thus our Bundeswehr are apparently being ground down as a bargaining chip between other issues, he told the German Press Agency. Security policy is being neglected not only by the Greens and the FDP, but also by the Union, he insisted. Jamaica is playing with the future of the Bundeswehr.

The blatant intervention by representatives of the intelligence services and the military in ongoing coalition negotiations must be taken as a warning. Based on the devastating role played by the German army (Reichswehr) and secret services in the downfall of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Hitler, post-WWII Germany adhered to a strict principle of subordinating both the army and the intelligence services to civilian controlat least on paper. Not any longer.

The BND chief did not restrict his appeal to demands for increased military armament and more resources for the secret service. He also sought to influence future foreign policy. He speaks for those representatives of the German ruling class and security apparatus who, despite the current conflicts with Donald Trump, want to maintain close cooperation with the US and are skeptical about proposals to establish an independent European army, put forward by the French President Emmanuel Macron with the support in Germany of the SPD, the FDP, the Greens and sections of the CDU.

In his speech, the head of the BND emphasized that it was highly advantageous for Germany to have a power like the US on its side, and not on an opposing side. The United States was the only state that had troops in the three major geo-strategic fronts of world affairsEurope, the Persian Gulf, and East Asia. They have 10 aircraft carriers, which they can summon in a short time to international conflict zones.

The 34,000 American soldiers still stationed in the Federal Republic showed how close security policy between Berlin and Washington remains, Kahl said. And it was only alongside the US that Europe would be able in the next few years to form a credible counterweight to Russia on the eastern flank of Europe.

Kahls speech received backing from leading media outlets. The Suddeutsche Zeitung went to press on Wednesday with the headline: BND: Russia is potential danger. The author of the lead article, Stefan Kornelius, reported at length on the BND leaders speech and justified Kahls interference in the political process in a separate commentary under the title, Is he allowed to do that?

Kahls warning to Russia and his call to politicians to pay more attention to security is an unusual role for a secret service chief, writes Kornelius. But the BND boss was no agitator, he was not craving recognition. Rather, the leading players in Germanys security institutions have noticed that the seriousness and depth appropriate for Germanys significance is missing in the discussion about protection and threats.

Kornelius is one of those leading journalists who are closely involved in think tanks linking together the foreign policy and military establishment of Germany, Europe and the United States and whose aim is to influence public opinion accordingly. In 2014 Kornelius played a leading role in justifying the Washington and Berlin-sponsored coup in Ukraine. According to Wikipedia, he is currently a member of the Atlantic-Bridge, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and the advisory council of the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS).

For its part the BND has both close historic and current ties with the US intelligence services. The espionage department Foreign Armies East of Hitlers Wehrmacht led by Reinhard Gehlen, was taken over directly by the US after the war. This eventually became the BND, which was led by Gehlen until 1968, and remains closely linked to its American counterparts. Edward Snowdens revelations showed that the BND and the American NSA work closely together to spy on millions of ordinary citizens.

Kahl paid tribute to this collaboration in his Munich speech. As President of the Federal Intelligence Service, may I say that cooperation with the US intelligence services is indispensable to our effectiveness, he said.

Kahl was a surprise appointment as head of the BND in April 2016. He is a close confidant of former economics minister Wolfgang Schauble (CDU), with whom he has worked closely since 1995. The Tagesspiegel reported that Kahls predecessor Gerhard Schindler, who only reached retirement age a year and a half later, had been replaced prematurely to prevent politically motivated negotiations over the occupation of one of the most sensitive posts in Germanys security architecture after Septembers federal election. Circles in and around the BND feared that a candidate of the Green party could possibly take over the leadership of the secret service.

Kahl has already made clear that the BND intends to intervene increasingly in political affairs. This month, the first 400 employees moved into the new BND headquarters in the center of Berlin. Another 4,000 will follow next year, while 1,200 will remain in the BNDs old headquarters in Pullach near Munich. The new building complex on a 10-hectare site on Berlins Chausseestrasse has cost a billion euros. It has 5,000 rooms and an elaborate, anti-surveillance technology.

Commenting on the move Kahl noted that it was a great advantage to be closer to the centre of political life. We wanted to leave the dark walls and dark forest in Pullach and be more in the forefront. The BND had no reason to hideapart from the operations we carry out. He called for high levels of investment in security and increased training for young agents. A special study program Master of Intelligence is to be created. The restructuring, according to Kahl, will do the service a great deal of good.
An investigative report by the BBC titled Raqqa's dirty secret has confirmed earlier charges by Iran, Russia and the Syrian government that the Pentagon has colluded with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the evacuation of ISIS fighters from cities and towns under US military siege.

The BBC story, based on interviews with some of those who organized the evacuation along with truck drivers who were brought in to transport the fighters and others who observed it, describes a four-mile-long convoy that included 50 trucks, 13 buses and more than 100 of the Islamic State groups own vehicles. IS fighters, their faces covered, sat defiantly on top of some of the vehicles.

In total, the convoy, which set out on October 12, transported some 4,000 peopleISIS fighters and their familiesalong with tons of arms, ammunition and explosives. The US military and its proxy ground force, the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces, assured that reporters and cameramen were kept out of Raqqa to prevent images of the long column of trucks, with armed ISIS fighters on top of them from being broadcast around the world.

The story has been largely ignored by the US media. It flies in the face of repeated statements by leading US officials vowing to annihilate ISIS to the last man in Iraq and Syria and debunks the greatest fake news story of the 21st centurythe so-called US war on terror.

In the face of the evidence uncovered by the BBC, the Pentagon has been forced to acknowledge that the evacuation took place, while insisting that it was merely an innocent bystander.

We didnt want anyone to leave, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, told the news agency.

But this goes to the heart of our strategy, by, with and through local leaders on the ground. It comes down to Syrians  they are the ones fighting and dying, they get to make the decisions regarding operations, he said.

This is patent nonsense.

The siege of Raqqa was organized by the US military and carried out by means of a merciless campaign of airstrikes and artillery bombardments conducted by US forces that left thousands of civilians dead and wounded and most of the city in rubble. The so-called SDF militia operates under US direction with American special operations troops embedded in its ranks.

The decision to transport armed ISIS fighters to safety elsewhere in Syria was made at the top levels of the US military and intelligence apparatus and for definite strategic reasons.

In terms of immediate objectives, Washington was eager to wind up the siege of Raqqa in order to mount a speedy offensive aimed at beating the Syrian army for control of strategically vital oil and gas fields in Syrias eastern Deir Ezzor province. The SDF has since captured two of the largest oil fields, Al-Tanak and al-Umar.

More broadly, however, Washington has an important stake in seeing ISIS live to fight another day. The continued existence of the Islamist militia provides a pretext for the permanent occupation of Syria and Iraq in the name of fighting terrorism.

The US defense secretary Gen. James Mad Dog Mattis, gave direct expression to these objectives in a Pentagon briefing Monday, declaring that the US military would remain in Syria combatting ISIS as long as they want to fight.

He went on to indicate that the US intended to continue its illegal military occupation of the country until there is a political settlement ending the war that the CIA itself orchestrated to effect regime change in Syria over five years ago.

Were not just going to walk away right now before the Geneva process has traction, he said, referring to the long-stalled talks between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the so-called rebels backed by the CIA, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf oil sheikdoms.

ISIS itself emerged as a major force in the region thanks to the US war for regime change, fattening off of the billions of dollars worth of arms and aid funneled into Syria by the CIA and Washingtons regional allies. It continued to enjoy this support until it turned eastward into Iraq, routing the US-trained Iraqi security forces in Mosul and across much of Iraq in 2014.

In the wake of the supposed defeat of ISIS and retaking of its capital of Raqqa, these same forces can again be rebranded as anti-Assad rebels and utilized in the furtherance of US imperialisms continuing objectives of securing regime change in Syria, preparing for military confrontation with Iran and Russia and asserting US hegemony in the Middle East by means of armed force.
With the impending parliamentary elections in Italy, which must take place in May 2018 at the latest, the Democratic Party (PD), which under Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni still heads the government in Rome, confronts a similar fate as other Social Democratic parties in Europe: they are losing voters, breaking apart and sinking into insignificance.

In the regional election that took place in Sicily on November 5, the PD candidate for regional president, Fabrizio Micari, received only 19 percent of the vote, while the PD as a party received just 13 percent. This was far behind an alliance of right-wing and fascist parties, which won the election with just under 40 percent of the vote, and Beppe Grillos Five Star Movement, which received 35 percent.

The PD won the election in Sicily five years ago. But its regional president, Rosario Crocetta, did not solve any of the burning social problems. On the contrary, he imposed a harsh austerity programme that left the infrastructureroad construction, schools, garbage collection, etc.even more neglected. Although he was elected with much premature praise as being a fighter against the mafia, he also disappointed in this regard and even attracted the attention of the state attorney.

The social situation in Sicily is catastrophic. Many of Italys problems find their most concentrated expression here. For example, since the closure of the Fiat works on the island, young people have had hardly any job prospects. Over 70,000 young people under the age of 30 have left Sicily in the last year.

The vacuum left by the politics of the PD has been exploited by right-wing forces. While more than half of all voters stayed at home, and turnout reached a historic low of 46.5 percent, the 81-year-old ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is not allowed to hold political office himself until 2019 due to accounting fraud and judicial corruption, celebrated something of a comeback. He organized a right-wing alliance between his own Forza Italia, Lega Nord and the fascist party Fratelli dItalia and even acted as a campaigner. The banker Sebastiano (Nello) Musumeci, who comes from the post-fascist Alleanza Nazionale and calls himself a decent fascist, was elected Regional President.

The election in Sicily reflects the situation throughout the country. Here too the Democratic Party is in free fall.

Less than a year ago, on December 4, 2016, then Prime Minister Matteo Renzi lost the referendum on constitutional reform. He resigned, leaving the affairs of state to his close confidant Paolo Gentiloni, but hoped for a comeback in April when he was elected chairman of the PD.

The municipal elections in June then revealed a similar picture to that in Sicily: with an extremely low turnout, the government camp collapsed. The PD lost numerous municipalities to the Lega Nord or the Five Star Movement.

In parallel with this, the PD has eroded in parliament. In February, a group of PD parliamentary deputies joined Nichi Vendolas newly formed party Sinistra Italiana. Shortly thereafter, former party leader Pierluigi Bersani and other parliamentarians left the PD and founded the Movimento Democratico e Progressista (Mdp). They were followed by Giuseppe Pisapia with the newly founded Insieme (Together). And most recently, Pietro Grasso, the partys prominent senate president, declared his resignation from their parliamentary group on October 26. In Sicily, a section of the renegades did not support the PD candidate, but the slate of Claudio Fava, the son of a mafia victim, which contributed to the poor result.

According to current opinion polls, the PD has hardly any chance of heading the next government. With just under 30 percent support, the alliance of parties headed by the PD stands well behind Berlusconis right-wing alliance (36 percent) and just ahead of the Five Star Movement (28 percent).

The right will also benefit from the new election law, called the Rosatellum, which the PD backed in October, along with the right-wing. The mixture of first-past-the-post and proportional representation favours the formation of electoral alliances and should actually isolate the Five Star Movement, which has refused to join any alliances so far. But now it is favouring the right-wing, who can form slates without first agreeing on a common programme.

The deeper reason for the demise of the PD is the anti-working-class policies it has been prosecuting for 25 years, which have completely discredited it in the working class. The traditional Italian party system imploded at the beginning of the 1990s in a huge corruption scandal. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the influential Communist Party (PCI) also dissolved itself. Its successor party, the PDS, then took on the task of stabilizing Italian capitalism.

While the right-wing governments under Silvio Berlusconi were busily lining their own pockets, the governments supported by or led by the PDS saw their task as bringing order to the public finances at the expense of the working class. The depression of wages and destruction of social rights and achievements bear their signature. In this, the PD was assisted by pseudo-left organizations such as Rifondazione Comunista, which even joined the government of former European Commission President Romano Prodi in 2006, thus sealing their own fate.

In these 25 years, the PD has moved further and further to the right and gradually absorbed into its ranks the remnants of the Christian Democrats, who, under Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni, finally took the lead.

The PD has systematically attacked the social and democratic rights of workers, and is in no way inferior to the right-wing extremists in terms of militarism and xenophobia. For example, Interior Minister Marco Minniti (PD) is responsible for a deal with the Libyan Coast Guard, which employs the most brutal means to prevent refugees crossing the Mediterranean to Italy.

Reactionary right-wing forces then moved into the political vacuum that this created. On the one hand, the Five Star Movementwhich pretends to be an opponent of the establishment, but in key issues such as social and refugee policy, represents a right-wing, neoliberal and racist programwas able to profit from it. On the other hand, right-wing forces such as the Lega Nord (Northern League), which now calls itself just Lega, acts as a national party and follows the example of the French National Front, are gaining ground.

The Italian sociologist Ilvo Diamanti describes the decline of the PD as a crisis of a mass party, which apparently has no answers to the needs of society today. In this he hits the nail on the head. The parties which once called themselves left-wing, have abandoned any interest in the social issues facing the mass of the population. Instead, they represent the interests of capital and wealthy layers of the middle class.

The rise of right-wing and fascist forces poses a great danger. It can only be prevented by building a revolutionary socialist movement in the working class that is independent of the Social Democrats, the unions and their pseudo-left appendages.
By PTI: Chennai, Nov 16 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has taken up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the issue of alleged firing on two fishermen by the Indian Coast Guard and sought his intervention to avoid recurrence of such incidents.

He said six fishermen from Rameswaram had ventured out for fishing in a mechanised boat on November 13. "It is reported that while fishing within our territorial waters, about four nautical miles from the shore near Olakkuda around 3.15 pm, an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Rani Abaka asked the fishermen to stop their boat for inspection and fired at the fishing vessel," he said in his letter to Modi, a copy of which was released to the media here yesterday. While one fisherman, Pitchai, was injured in his left hand, another man Johnson was injured in his left shoulder, Palaniswami said. The chief minister said they were admitted in the General Hospital at Rameswaram and were undergoing treatment. "A bullet was found in the fishing vessel and was handed over later to the Mandapam Marine police station," he said. The fishermen had also alleged that the Coast Guard personnel got into their vessel, manhandled them and hit them with sticks and iron rods, he said. "The Mandapam Marine police station has registered a First Information Report on the incident on November 14, based on the complaint filed by the injured fishermen," Palaniswami said. He said the unfortunate incident had created panic and a feeling of insecurity among fishermen of Tamil Nadu, and that the fishermen of Palk Bay region have decided to go on strike on November 16 against the action of Indian Coast Guard. Reiterating the issue of apprehension of fishermen and confiscation of their boats by Sri Lanka, the chief minister said against this background, the Coast Guard personnel could have shown better restraint.

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"Hence, I request you to immediately intervene in this matter and advice the Ministry of Defence to avoid such incidents in future," he said.

Tamil Nadu IT Minister M Manikandan had told PTI on Tuesday that the matter would be taken up with the Centre to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

Alleging that the two men were shot in the Indian waters by the ICG personnel, fishermens association here had sought police action against those who fired at them.

The Coast Guard while denying any firing by its personnel had said that the fishing crew in question was involved in "unauthorised" paired trawling. A Coast Guard vessel on patrol off International Maritime Boundary Line in Palk Bay "was routinely" investigating fishing boat Jehovah Jireh, its statement had said. The vessel was investigating the boat "for paired trawling on November 13, 2017, at about 1440 hrs," it said. A Madurai report said two Coast Guard Junior Commissioned Officers called on the fishermen at the hospital, enquired about their health and the firing incident, following which the fishermen reportedly decided to call off the stir. They also met Meenakumari, deputy director of public health, and enquired about the health condition of the fishermen, it said. Fishermen Associations president N J Bose was also present. PTI VGN SSN APR SRY RCJ

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly job report for October 2017 released on November 3 revealed that a staggering 4.8 million American workers are stuck working in part-time, precarious positions when they would prefer full time work, referred to officially as involuntary part-time workers.

Involuntary part-time workers often must piece together two or more jobs just to make ends meet. Often, these jobs are low wage and do not offer benefits, or if they do, the benefits they offer are out of reach financially for many workers. This type of life leaves many workers mentally and physically exhausted. Rushing from one job to the next, often outside of normal hours, leaves little time for family life, leisure, education, or even the ability to look for a better job.

Data from the BLS report shows that the total number of workers in this category decreased by 1.1 million over the past year, to 3.4 percent However, this is still a high number for an advanced country, and far higher than the pre-2008 crisis level of 2.9 percent. A report in the Chicago Tribune noted that the failure to return to pre-crisis levels worries some economists.

What mainly worries these economists is that the growing economic crisis in the US will further fuel opposition of masses of workers to the profit system based on the rule by the corporate oligarchs and the banks. Indeed, the reliance of the profit system on the labor of part-time, low-wage workers has created a situation in which, after ten years of so-called economic recovery, the US economy has not returned to its pre-2008 employment levels.

A report by Lonnie Golden, a senior research analyst on the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, found that the trend of underemployment is more pronounced in some Midwestern areas, with Illinois having nearly doubled in its number of underemployed since 2008. Golden also remarked that 40 percent of all workers nationally, including those who work full-time, are feeling starved for enough work to make ends meet due to declining wages and the rising cost of living.

Three other revealing aspects from the BLS report point to the reality of US economic decline. First, the labor force participation rate, which is the number of workers who are working or actively seeking a job aged 16 years and older, dropped 0.4 percent to 62.7 percent from September to October. This is a very low number for an advanced economy like the US, and significantly lower than pre-2008 labor force participation rate of about 66 percent.

Second, the number of long-term unemployed, those unemployed for 27 weeks or more, dropped from the previous month by just 0.7%, accounting for 24.8% of the total unemployed, compared to the pre-2008 level of about 18 percent. However, the number of discouraged workers, that is workers who have given up looking for work, rose by 25.5 percent from September, a rise that offers a different perspective on the official unemployment rate of 4.1 percent.

Although the official unemployment rate has reportedly fallen to a 17-year low, the reality is that the shrinking of the labor force, the growth of long-term unemployment and the fall in wages and high level of involuntary part-time employment, points to an overall employment crisis in the US.

In October, the US added a total of 261,000 jobs, higher than the 150,000 benchmark required for the US economy to be considered expanding. The report admits, however, that much of this growth came from the adding of jobs lost temporarily during the month of September after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma that ripped through the states of Florida and Texas. Had the addition of these jobs not been counted in, real job growth numbers would likely show that the US economy is stagnant, or even shrinking.

The food and drinking places sector, which tends to rely more heavily on part-time and low-wage jobs, added a total of 89,000 jobs in the month of October, the most of any of the section of industry. But if one factors in the loss of approximately 98,000 jobs from this sector in September, mostly due to the hurricanes, it amounts to a net loss of 9,000 jobs.

Other industries that netted the highest amounts of job growth were business and professional services and manufacturing, with 50,000 and 24,000 jobs, respectively. Healthcare was third with 22,000 jobs, with the majority coming from the growth in low-wage ambulatory services that pay workers an average of $9.80-$16.57 per hour, according to the website payscale.com.

In manufacturing, corporations and unions have worked together to implement second and third tiers of workers, most notably in the auto industry, where older, higher-paid workers are laid off or pushed into retirement and replaced with Temporary Part-Time (TPT) workers who sometimes start working at less than half the standard wage rate and must often work for years before being able to move into full-time positions. The brutal conditions of exploitation faced by these workers was highlighted by the apparent suicide of Jacoby Hennings, a 21-year-old TPT autoworker at the Ford Woodhaven stamping plant south of Detroit.

Overall US wages fell by about $0.01 to an average of $26.53 per hour. With the rising cost of healthcare, transportation, food, and housing, this amounts to a deep pay cut for the majority of workers in the US. Most of the jobs added in to the economy were in low-wage sectors, such as food service and hospitality, and the growth of low-wage jobs within previously higher-paying sectors, such as the manufacturing industry.

Despite the declarations by President Trump that the economy is roaring, and previous statements Obama who declared that the US economy was doing great after the recession, the figures presented by the BLS give a very different picture. The stock market has soared while millions of American workers remain stuck in low-wage, precarious jobs that offer little chance for advancement.

Corporations rely on the growth of the precarious, part-time, gig economy to keep labor costs low in order to boost stock prices and to pay back their enormous debts to the banks and Wall Street.

Unions like the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) promote campaigns to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour as an answer to the crisis. These campaigns do not challenge the profit system, and are aimed at keeping mass opposition from the working class at bay. They have achieved little to nothing, as evidenced by the fact that wages are actually falling and underemployment remains high. Furthermore, a wage of $15 per hour does not guarantee benefits or full-time employment, and is still far from an adequate amount and well below the average US wage rate. Such a raise would still allow corporations to remain highly profitable, and in reality would ensure that $15 per hour becomes the new maximum wage.
Senate Republicans announced late Tuesday that they had included repeal of the Affordable Care Acts so-called individual mandate in their version of the massive tax cut for corporations and the rich that is moving through Congress. The provision, requiring all those not insured under a government plan or one provided by their employer to purchase health care coverage from a private insurer, is a linchpin of the Obama administrations health care overhaul, commonly known as Obamacare.

It is designed to force people to buy insurance or pay a fine in order to expand the private insurance market and bolster the profits of the insurance companies. Last week, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that repeal of the individual mandate would leave 4 million fewer people insured when it went into effect in 2019, and result in 13 million fewer people with health coverage by 2027. The CBO also forecast a 10 percent annual increase in insurance premiums for most of the decade.

The main lobbies for the insurance industry, hospitals and physicians immediately issued statements opposing repeal of the Obamacare mandate, warning that besides depriving millions of people of health coverage, it would destabilize the individual health insurance market.

The attachment of the health care provision to a bill that slashes the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, lowers the top personal income tax rate, eliminates the Alternative Minimum Tax, dramatically cuts the estate tax, and establishes a new, lower tax rate for pass-through business owners underscores the reactionary and oligarchic character of the measure being pushed by the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress, with little more than token opposition from the Democrats.

In pushing for the tax bill, named the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, Trump and the Republicans are resorting to the most absurd and shameless lying, insisting that it is designed to benefit the hard-working middle class. This claim is belied by numerous studies showing that the benefits will go overwhelmingly to the richest 5 percent, and especially the top 1 percent and 0.1 percent, of the population.

If the final bill includes the Senate Obamacare proposal, it will combine a tax handout to corporate America in the trillions of dollars with an assault on health care for millions of people. This will be only a prelude to a frontal attack on Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, justified by the sharp increase in the federal deficit resulting from the loss of tax revenues. The CBO has reported that the $1.5 trillion deficit by 2027 resulting from the tax overhaul will trigger annual cuts in the Medicare budget of $25 billion over the next decade.

The health care proposal makes even more clear the reality that the tax reform is the framework for an unprecedented looting of society to transfer the wealth from the bottom to the top and increase the already colossal levels of social inequality.

President Trump tweeted repeatedly during his Asia trip to urge congressional Republicans to include repeal of the Obamacare mandate in the Senate and House tax bills. Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell decided to comply for both economic and political reasons.

Repeal of the individual mandate will, according to the CBO, save $338 billion over the next decade, significantly reducing the deficit caused by the tax cuts. The Republicans, in order to move the bill through the Senate without a Democratic filibuster, under the so-called reconciliation process, have to keep the total 10-year deficit to $1.5 trillion. The attack on access to health care for ordinary Americans is an example of the tax schemes fleecing of working people to pay for the tax windfall for the rich, including the cutting of tax credits that benefit the working class and middle class that will mean a tax increase for tens of millions of middle-income people in the coming years.

Politically, the mandate repeal is designed to shore up support from recalcitrant far-right senators such as Rand Paul, who have demanded the inclusion of such a provision as a precondition for their support. On the other side, it could cost the vote of Maine Senator Susan Collins, who was one of three Senate Republicans who voted against the administrations Obamacare repeal bill earlier this year, killing it. On Wednesday, she criticized the decision to include the provision in the tax bill. However, Senator John McCain, who also voted against the Obamacare repeal bill, did not rule out voting for the tax bill with the mandate repeal attached to it.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) complicated the push for passage on Wednesday by announcing that he would not support the current bill because it disproportionately benefited corporations at the expense of other businesses. One of his main complaints is that it makes the corporate tax cut permanent, while allowing the pass-through tax cut for business partnerships to end in 2025.

The latest Senate version of the bill also makes personal income tax rate reductions temporary, expiring in 2025, instead of being permanent as in previous versions.

The Republicans have only a 52-48 majority in the Senate, meaning they can lose no more than two Republican votes to pass the tax plan, assuming that the Democrats vote as a bloc against the bill. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the tie-breaking vote in favor in the event of a 50-50 split.

Senate Republican leaders hope to vote the bill out of the Senate Finance Committee next week and bring it to a floor vote the last week of November.

The House of Representatives plans to bring its version of the tax plan to a floor vote today (Thursday) and it is expected to pass. The House bill does not include repeal of the Obamacare mandate. However, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday that he would be open to adding it in the reconciliation process that would follow passage of separate bills by the two chambers.

The Democrats, for their part, denounced the decision to add the health care cut to the Senate bill. But they are fully on board for a sweeping cut in corporate taxes, proposing a somewhat smaller reduction to 25-28 percent instead of 20 percent.

On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs analysts raised their odds for a tax-cutting package being signed into law from 65 percent to 80 percent.
Far from guaranteeing the basic democratic right of marriage equality, the Australian governments postal survey on gay marriage has been, as intended, an exercise in political diversion and division.

The 61.6 percent to 38.4 percent yes vote in the $122 million ballot confirmed what had already been shown by scientifically-conducted opinion polls for at least a decade: strong majority support for the right of all couples, regardless of gender, to legally marry if they so wish.

Every state and territory and the overwhelming majority of electorates recorded yes votes, with a 79.5 percent participation rate, demonstrating a groundswell of support for an elementary democratic right that should have been recognised long ago.

The most immediate result of the survey, however, will not be legislation to provide genuine equality for same-sex couples, but laws that entrench discrimination against homosexuals under the fraudulent banners of free speech and religious freedom.

The Liberal-National Coalition governments proposed laws, which are being backed by Labor, the Greens and the rest of the political establishment, will institutionalise the treatment of same sex couples as second-class citizens.

The survey was foisted on the population by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to satisfy the demands of conservative agitators in the Coalition and other extreme right-wing elements. It was the brainchild of elements, such as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Australian Conservatives leader Senator Cory Bernardi, who saw it as a platform to try to create a social base for a right-wing movement.

At their behest, the government is now pushing through the Senate laws that would allow not just ministers of religion, but all civil marriage celebrants to refuse to marry couples on the grounds of sex, sexuality or family status. Religious educational institutions will be permitted to discriminate on the basis of sexuality in regard to employment. The government is also moving to exempt people of faith from existing anti-discrimination laws if they continue to denounce and vilify same-sex marriage.

For now, the most right-wing layers in the government have dropped their demands for even further discrimination. These include allowing businessesincluding photographers, caterers and venue-hirersto refuse to service same-sex weddings. But Abbott, Bernardi and others will step up their agitation for such measures to be imposed via separate legislation.

The genuine democratic principle of freedom of religion means the right to practice any form of worship. But for the Coalitions right-wing constituency, it means the right of religious zealots to impose their doctrines on society.

For all the proclamations of a democratic triumph, the ballot has set a reactionary precedent for plebiscites on fundamental legal and democratic rights. The prospect now exists of right-wing agitation for surveys on issues ranging from proscribing Muslim women from wearing the burqa, to banning immigration to Australia by Muslims altogether.

At the same time, in the name of equality, the protracted plebiscite campaign was used to divert attention from growing social inequality and the other pressing economic and political issues facing the working classnot least the governments commitment, backed by the Labor Party, to join any US-led war against North Korea.

Even as the campaign was underway, the government and the parliament were being wracked by mounting numbers of MPs being disqualified on the reactionary basis that they held dual citizenship and therefore lacked undivided loyalty to the Australian nation-state, which the High Court insisted was essential in times of war.

Yesterday, on the same day the survey result was released, two telling indicators of social polarisation were published. First, the latest official data showed that real wages declined on average in the September quarter, deepening a four-year fall.

This is the result of a relentless assault on the jobs, wages and conditions of the working class, spearheaded by the same corporate chiefs, such as Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who are being promoted by the media as heroes of the marriage survey. Led by Joyce, Qantas alone has eliminated 8,000 jobs in the past five years.

Secondly, Credit Suisse, a large private bank, reported a 29 percent rise over the past year in the number of ultra-high net worth individuals in Australia whose net assets exceed $64 million. Among these nearly 3,000 members of the wealthy elite are the bankers and business leaders who yesterday hailed the ballot outcome as good for their companies.

From the outset, as the Socialist Equality Party warned, the postal ballot was an operation to stymie genuine marriage equality, stave off the collapse of the Liberal-National Coalition and lay the basis for an extreme right-wing movement seeking to divert and exploit the mounting working-class discontent and disaffection produced by the corporate offensive.

Significantly, the highest yes votes were recorded in the wealthiest electorates, where the results were above, or close to 80 percent. The lowest yes voteand also the smallest participation ratewas in some of the poorest working-class areas of Sydney and Melbourne. In the western Sydney seat of Blaxland, covering Bankstown, a quarter of voters declined to mail in their questionnaire and the no vote was 73.9 percent.

Attempts are being made in the media to depict this pattern as the result of innate bigotry or backwardness in the working class and immigrant communities. This is a libel.

The abstentions and no votes reflect an underlying hostility toward the political, corporate and media elite. These areas have been devastated by decades of job destruction, declining incomes and soaring living costs. In the latest attack, Ford recently shut down its assembly plant at Broadmeadows in the heart of the Calwell electorate, in northern Melbourne, where the no vote was 56.8 percent.

Right-wing elements, including Christian and Islamic fundamentalists, targeted these areas. They agitated for a no vote on the basis that the ballot represented a broader assault by the establishment on free speech, religious practices and parents ability to provide their children with a religious-based education. The no propaganda featured false claims that religious people would be persecuted and children would be forced to perform homosexual role-playing at school.

Figures such as Bernardi and Abbott, emulating Donald Trump and right-wing movements in Europe, are propagating sectarianism and xenophobia as a means of dividing the working class and channeling mounting social antagonisms in nationalist directions. They always regarded the marriage plebiscite as part of a wider political campaign.

In a column published in Rupert Murdochs Australian on Tuesday, the day before the ballot result was announced, Abbott declared: [D]efeat could turn out to be a blessing in disguise if it forces the defenders of Western civilisation out of their long complacency.

Abbott lauded the ability of the No case to mobilise more than 5,000 volunteer doorknockers and phone canvassers and to raise more than $6 million from 20,000-plus individual donors. He insisted: The challenge will be to keep the faith and stay the course for the even more important struggles ahead.

The greatest fear of these circles, and the ruling class as a whole, is the emergence of a movement of the working class, across ethnic and religious lines, openly fighting to end the capitalist profit system and national-state divisionsthe source of war, exploitation and all forms of oppression.

As the SEP explained in its October 19 statement, which correctly advocated a boycott of the plebiscite as a travesty of democratic rights: The realisation of genuine social and democratic equality can only be carried out by the international working class, unified in a world movement on the basis of the perspective of socialist internationalism.
The clerical workers union at New York University (NYU) has made an agreement with the school to postpone the contract expiration date until the end of November. Concurrent with the extension management has issued demand for draconian cutbacks in health benefits.

The current six-year UCATS contract covering about 1,400 staff workers expired October 31. The staff works in all schools and divisions of NYU except the School of Medicine.

According to UCATS website, on November 2 NYU proposed to increase workers monthly healthcare premiums, reduce two health plan options that about 30 percent of the workers depend on, and in addition, impose on the workers very high deductibles before the workers can even use the health benefits.

UCATS reports that the university has not made a wage proposal or responded to the unions wage proposal, although the unions wage demands have not been made public. Indeed, UCATS has not released much information on the status of the negotiations. However, what information has surfaced indicates the university is determined to impose a concession contract.

Most of the clerical and technical workers are also graduate students, which means that whatever benefits they receive through free tuition count as income and therefore significantly increases employees tax burden.

In 1988, the workers conducted a three-week strike against NYU. The main issues involved cost of living, job security, family and childcare leave, as well as opposition to hostile administrative actions by the university against the clerical and technical workers.

The World Socialist Web Site interviewed a number of NYU clerical workers who participated in a recent rally protesting NYU managements refusal to provide staff a living wage and decent benefit package.

Edwin, a worker at NYU for 17 and one-half years, described the situation facing staff. Wages are too low for living in New York. Lots of people are barely making it because of paying for the commute or having to pay for healthcare.

Im making $42,000 a year and our wages go up by 2 to 2.75 percent every year, but living expenses have basically doubled in the last few years.

You can see workers are struggling. You have condos going up everywhere, even in places like Harlem that used to be affordable. We just keep getting pushed out farther and farther.

James Singleton, who has worked at NYU for 11 years, said, The university keeps giving us more work and the cost of living is going up, but not our wages. I just want to be paid for the work Im doing.

They are always raising the tuition here and the university has the money. You can tell they just dont want to give us sick days or any days off. The higher-ups just make all the decisions and I am out here protesting on my lunch break.

Barbara Newsome who has worked at NYU for over 25 years said, With every contract they are just taking more and more from the workers.

Many of us are well educated and have Masters degrees and PhDs. A lot of us have student loan debt or have to pay medical bills. You have a lot of people that are paying $1,500 to $2,000 even with insurance for an operation.

This situation is bigger than Trump. Whether it is a Democrat or a Republican, there are take-backs all the time. The cost of housing is going up. Jobs are being cut. It is like the heart of the country is not beating.

The other unions at NYU, one for graduate student workers and the other for adjunct teachers, have separate contract expiration dates, which the unions have engineered in order to keep staff divided.

At the same time the entire strategy of the union is based on its orientation to Democratic Party politicians, bitter enemies of the working class.

The utterly reactionary character of the AFT was demonstrated by the secret meeting between AFT President Randi Weingarten, a member of the Democratic National Committee and an ally of Hillary Clinton, with then-White House chief strategist and neo-fascist Steve Bannon in April.

In the wake of Clintons defeat in last years presidential contest, a large section of the union bureaucracy, seeking to defend their own privileged economic positions, have sought an alliance with Trump based on support for his ultra-nationalist America First agenda promoting trade war and militarism. The effect of this program is to line workers up behind their US employers and pit them in a competitive struggle against their brother workers overseas. The logic of this leads to ever worse conditions for all workers.

UCAT workers urgently need new forms of organization independent of the pro-capitalist AFT that will unite their struggles with other campus workers and with students, who are paying exorbitant tuition fees and accumulating huge student debts. This must be combined with a political strategy to mobilize workers in a common struggle around socialist demands, including for free college tuition and free high quality universal health care for all.
The Basics of Killing, written and directed by Jan Cvitkovic, was one of the highlights at this years Cottbus Festival of Eastern European Cinema (November 1-6). The basics of killing are the social measures and pressures that can destroy the lives of entire families in a short time.

As Cvitkovic points out in the interview below, the events in his film take place in Slovenia, a country in south central Europe with only 2 million people, but the processes at work are symptomatic of capitalist society across the globe.

The Basics of Killing opens with a portrait of seemingly idyllic middle class family life. Father Marko is a philosophy professor in a Ljubljana (Slovenias capital) high school, his wife Dunja a researcher in a pharmaceutical company. Their son Taras excels at judo, and his younger sister enjoys her ballet classes. For different reasons, both parents lose their jobs and their situation spirals rapidly out of control.

Due to a law passed in Slovenia in 2012 as part of austerity measures introduced after the financial crash of 2008-2009, the family are ineligible for any sort of social assistance. The various attempts of the parents to find new employment prove fruitless. Both are overqualified for the types of low-paid work available--in a warehouse or bar.

The situation for the father and mother becomes desperate. They have no food for their kids, and relations between the parents break down. Dunja takes to the streets, perhaps seeking a new man, while Marko hits the bottle. At the same time, they attempt to hide the state of affairs from their neighbours. The wife points out that everyone in the neighbourhood will know they cannot afford gas for their car because it is always parked on the same spot. To save face, the husband dutifully pushes the auto to a different space in the middle of night.

Since the instalments on the car go unpaid, it is towed away a few days later. How ordinary people attempt to disguise their descent down the social ladder and avoid social exclusion is a central theme of the film.

In the most moving scenes in The Basics of Killing, the children are eventually forced to steal food because their parents cannot afford to pay for their lunches.

Cvitkovic chooses to end his film on a more upbeat note. The two children are able to a bring about a reconciliation of their estranged parents--at the same time, however, none of the familys material problems have been solved.

Tribute should be paid to the excellent acting performances in the film, which stands out as a thoughtful and telling indictment of modern social relations.

I spoke to the director.

Stefan Steinberg: I was impressed with your film. My initial reaction is that it is quite an angry film.

Jan Cvitkovic: Yes, it is in a certain sense angry, but it is also an optimistic film. I myself faced a similar situation a few years ago. I was invited to work at a summer camp for children from broken families. We had fun making short films, and I started to observe the children. The deprived kids were mixed with kids from, if you want to call it, normal families. I thought I would immediately be able tell who was who, but I couldnt. The poor kids had developed a way of hiding their poverty, their status. It was then that I had the idea for the film.

A central role in the film is played by a law passed in 2012. It said that you could get social assistance based on your income. This income was calculated at the end of the year, and the process took about a year to complete. That meant that if you lost your job it could be nearly two years until you received any sort of social assistance. It was a very bureaucratic measure, which excluded many people from the system. The law was done in a hurry, but nobody has corrected it for the past five years.

It mainly affected the middle class. If one parent in a family loses their job, it is a big problem, if both parents lose their jobs, the family is totally destroyed. Especially if the family does not have relatives who can help out.

A big problem is the prevailing mentality. People are ashamed to be poor, and this is not only a problem in Slovenia. It is a general problem of contemporary society, of capitalist society. Capitalism is based on competition. If you cannot take care of yourself and your family, you are a loser, and people are ashamed to admit it. So people in Slovenia are hiding their situation. They find ways to hide their poverty.

Steinberg: What you show at the start of your film is a sort of perfect middle class family: a loving mother and father, the son does judo, the little girl has dancing lessons. Then the whole thing breaks apart--quite quickly the parents cannot afford to feed their kids.

Cvitkovic: There are many, many cases of such families. There was a big controversy in Slovenia following the introduction of electronic machines in school canteens. When a red light goes on and a buzzer sounds, everybody in the canteen knows that a kid has a chip card which has been rejected. Everybody knows that some particular child cannot afford a lunch. It has had devastating psychological effects on kids. If you are poor, suddenly you become outlawed.

Steinberg: In one scene, the philosopher-father compares the political elite in Slovenia with the cowardly and deceitful rulers in ancient Greece who forced the philosopher Socrates to take poison.

Cvitkovic: It is not only in Slovenia. You can see primitive, greedy, psychopathic people in power everywhere. There is a rejection of the notion of the state as a community. And that is a big problem. You are alone, you are not a member of a community. This is scary. If you want to survive you have to be a member of a community, and not just any community but rather a healthy community.

We are all alone in capitalist society, and this is especially the case when things go wrong. When things are okay.you have a job and income, then you have lots of friends; when things go wrong, then you are very suddenly alone.

Steinberg: We also witness the descent of the husband into criminality.

Cvitkovic: He is desperate. If you are good at your job, you know it and you enjoy the work. But then if you cannot carry out that work, you become desperate, because you know this is wrong. You can give something, but that something is rejected. After you are robbed of your integrity and self-esteem, you end up doing anything to survive.

Steinberg: The film ends with reconciliation, although none of the problems have gone away. Then the camera pans across the entire block of flats where the family live. You seem to be saying that it is not just one family affected.

Cvitkovic: Thats right. It could be your neighbour. What is frightening is that people are hiding this so well you might not even know that your neighbour is starving. This has been the case for thousands of families in Slovenia, especially in the past five years. There have been suicides. The right or the left--it doesnt matter who is in power. In fact, it was the official left that introduced the law in 2012. They are all ambitious people with no feeling, no empathy.

[Note: the main left party in Slovenia is the Social Democrats, which emerged from the regional section of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia.]
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with more details)

New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) The government today removed export curbs on all varieties of pulses to ensure farmers get remunerative prices as domestic rates have crashed below MSP in view of record production.

India produced a record 22.95 million tonnes of pulses in the 2016-17 crop year (July-June) and the government is targeting to repeat this performance this year.

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"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for removal of prohibition on export of all types of pulses to ensure that farmers have greater choice in marketing their produce and in getting better remuneration for their produce," an official statement said.

In September this year, the government had lifted ban on export of tur, urad and moong dal. However, exports of these varieties of pulses were allowed after taking permission from agriculture export promotion body APEDA. Exports of organic pulses and kabuli chana is permitted in a limited quantity.

Briefing media, IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Opening of exports of all types of pulses will help the farmers dispose of their products at remunerative prices and encourage them to expand the area of sowing".

The CCEA empowered the committee headed by food secretary to review the export and import policy on pulses and consider measures such as quantitative restrictions, prior registration and changes in import duties depending on domestic production and demand, local and international prices and global trade volumes, he said.

Export of pulses will provide an alternative market for the surplus production of pulses, he said, adding that it will also help the country and its exporters regain markets.

"It is expected that pulses production will be sustained in the country and our import dependence on pulses will come down substantially," the statement said.

The decision to remove export curbs will lead to integration with global supply chain, helping farmers adopt good agricultural practices and achieve better productivity.

The government said it has taken a number of steps to sustain high pulses production and procured 20 lakh tonnes of pulses directly from the farmers by ensuring minimum support price or market rates, whichever is higher.

Welcoming the move, India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) Chairman Pravin Dongre said it will correct price distortions, offer support to pulses selling below MSP and revitalise the milling industry.

"We believe this step will improve the returns to farmers and potentially open up greater investments in the sector," he added.

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Recently, the government had imposed quantitative restrictions on some of the pulses to check cheaper imports. The country had imported more than 5 million tonnes of lentils last fiscal despite bumper crop.

For the year 2017-18, the government has fixed a target of 22.90 million tonnes of pulses production. The annual demand is 25 million tonnes.PTI NKD DP LUX MJH CS BAL

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - To honor the life of Andrew Coffey, the 20-year-old fraternity pledge who was found dead at an off-campus party, this evening, students and others plan to remember his life with a candlelight vigil at Langford Green.

The university has approved this event and it's one that will allow many students to support each other and to grieve the loss of one of their own.

Vigils like the one tonight play a big role in a person's mental health.

The Apalachee Center says any kind of death is traumatic for the people left behind.

The president and CEO says a vigil gives people an important outlet for them to grieve in a supportive format, so they don't feel isolated and unsure how to process their feelings and for college students, the opportunity to do that is crucial.

After Coffey's death, the university banned all Greek life in an effort to get students to change the culture on campus.

Tonight could be a big step in doing that.

Once again, the vigil will start at 6 p.m. here at Langford Green.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - WTXL ABC 27's Stephen Jiwanmall spoke with Laura Dixie's three children as they shared memories of the local civil rights activist.

The life of Laura Dixie is painted with stories from her children. They recall one time she tried to break racial barriers growing up in a segregated Leon County.

Four years later, Dixie helped FAMU students who were jailed during the Woolworth Counter Sit-Ins.

The Dixies rubbed shoulders with Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. and when he came to visit Tallahassee, he stayed at their house and drove their car.

Laura Dixie's legacy is literally etched in downtown Tallahassee, but her family says her fight for civil rights went beyond the capital city.

Dixie's children say they'd tag along with her sometimes as she traveled to push for change. They say she was brave in a time and place where fear seemed to be more powerful.
ATLANTA (WTXL) - Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and a coalition of 22 states filed a legal document urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the practice of lawmaker-led prayer at public meetings.

"The tradition of legislative prayer dates back to our countrys founding and is a time-honored practice in Georgia," said Attorney General Chris Carr.

He said the amicus brief, or friend-of-the-court brief, shows that lawmaker-led prayer, at both the state and local level, is a non-coercive expression of faith that is fully consistent with the Constitution.

The coalition filed the brief Wednesday asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments in Lund v. Rowan County, a case involving a North Carolina countys practice of opening its meetings with prayer offered by its commissioners.

The brief, filed in support of the North Carolina county, asks the court to confirm the constitutionality of that practice. Such a decision would establish clear national precedent permitting the longstanding practice of lawmaker-led prayer.

Georgia joined the brief along with Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin, and the Governor of Kentucky.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional local news and hourly updates.

Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
The union cabinet has given its approval for the creation of the posts of chairman and technical members of National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST.

By India Today Web Desk: The union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the creation of the posts of chairman and technical members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST.

The decision comes in the wake of Wednesday's sharp reduction in the GST rates of a large number of items of mass consumption.

This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices.

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An official statement said, "The establishment of the NAA, to be headed by a senior officer of the level of secretary to the government of India with four technical members from the Centre and/or the states, is one more measure aimed at reassuring consumers that the government is fully committed to taking all possible steps to ensure the benefits of implementation of GST in terms of lower prices of goods and services reach them."

Effective from midnight of November 14, the GST rate has been slashed from 28 per cent to 18 per cent on goods falling under 178 headings. Here's the full list of items made cheaper.

There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28 per cent.

Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18 per cent to 12 per cent and so on and some goods have been completely exempted from GST.

WHAT THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAYS

The statement further said, "The 'anti-profiteering' measures enshrined in the GST law provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers. This institutional framework comprises the NAA, a standing committee, screening committees in every state and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)."

Affected consumers who feel the benefit of commensurate reduction in prices is not being passed on when they purchase any goods or services can apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the particular state.

However, in case the incident of profiteering relates to an item of mass impact with 'All India' ramification, the application may be directly made to the Standing Committee.

After forming a prima facie view that there is an element of profiteering, the Standing Committee will refer the matter for a detailed investigation to the Director General of Safeguards, CBEC, which will report its findings to the NAA.

In the event the NAA confirms there is a necessity to apply anti-profiteering measures, it has the authority to order the supplier or business concerned to reduce its prices or return the undue benefit availed by it along with interest to the recipient of the goods or services.'

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If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the recipient, it can be ordered to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. In extreme cases, the NAA can impose a penalty on the defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST.

"The constitution of the NAA shall bolster confidence of consumers as they reap the benefits of the recent reduction in GST rates, in particular, and of GST, in general," the statement said.

WATCH VIDEO | Finance Minister Jaitley announces GST tax revision on a host of consumer items

--- ENDS ---
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By PTI: alleges PAAS

Gandhinagar, Nov 16 (PTI) The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) today alleged that the Gujarat chief minister and state BJP unit chief were behind the "morphed" sex clips of its leader Hardik Patel, a charge rejected by the ruling party.

The BJP dismissed the allegation as "baseless" and termed the circulation of the video clips as the "fallout" of a dispute within the PAAS.

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"We have learnt that a Surat-based builder who is a BJP supporter and another person are behind these morphed clips. They did it at the behest of the Gujarat chief minister (Vijay Rupani) and the state BJP unit president Jitu Vaghani to tarnish Hardiks image ahead of the polls to save the BJP," PAAS convener Dinesh Bambhania alleged at a news conference.

This was done as part of a "Rs 40 crore deal", he alleged, but did not elaborate. Bambhania, a close aide of Hardik, further alleged 52 more such "morphed" videos were prepared outside India by the two Surat-based persons on the directions of the BJP.

At least three intimate videos purportedly of Hardik are currently reported to be in circulation. Hardik had attacked the BJP after the first clip surfaced.

"As the BJP is worried about Hardiks rising popularity, they have planned to put him behind bars ahead of the polls to stop further damage to the party," Bambhania alleged.

"Our sources have told us that 52 such morphed clips are still there, out of which, 22 clips are of Hardik while remaining clips are of other PAAS leaders," he said.

Bambhania said PAAS will initiate legal action in the coming days after consulting lawyers and will make the "evidences" public to prove BJPs "involvement".

Refuting the charges against the BJP leaders, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said there is a "strong possibility" that the sex clips were prepared by a dissident PAAS worker out of a grudge or a dispute.

"As PAAS has claimed that 52 more CDs are still there, it shows that they are aware that their own workers might have prepared them. It is an internal matter of the PAAS. BJP leaders have nothing to do with it. Instead of giving excuses, PAAS leaders need to come out clean and give proofs," Patel told reporters.

It is "very much likely" that one of the two persons the PAAS is claiming to be behind the videos was associated with the Patidar body before parting ways "over distribution of funds, allegedly given by the Gujarat Congress to PAAS for fanning protests," he said.

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"All the allegations against our CM and state party chief are baseless. It is very much possible that the dispute within the PAAS regarding the funds led to this shameful episode. The BJP is nowhere in the picture," Patel added.

Hardik is posing a challenge to the ruling BJP as he holds sway over a chunk of Patidars, considered as loyal voters of the saffron party.

The Congress has been trying to wean away Patidars ahead of polls for caste consolidation. Though Hardik has not yet opened his cards, he has put the commitment to reservation for Patidars as a pre-condition to support the Congress. PTI PJT PD NSK GSN GSN

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On September 17, 2017, Ms. Yvonne Ambrose shared a heartbreaking story in front of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. She testified about her wonderful daughter, Desiree. She told us about how Desiree enrolled in JROTC because she dreamed of becoming a doctor in the United States Air Force. She wanted to help people.

Yvonne also told us about the last day of Desirees life. On Christmas Eve 2016, Desiree was brutally murdered by a 32-year-old man who bought her services on the internet from a pimp. Her mother stated, She was only 16 years old and just wanted to make friends. We know now that adult men found Desiree on social media, reached out to her, pressured her, and used her to make money. Desiree didnt know what Backpage.com was or the harm that would come from this website.

For many years, the furthest reaches of the internet have enabled some of the worst predators in the world. Websites like Backpage.com have been allowed to operate while selling and exploiting people for profit. In fact, between January 2013 and March 2015, Backpage.com earned 99 percent of its profits from adult advertisements.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in the world. Like Desiree, these victims are often young women or children, sold online like pieces of property within increasingly organized networks. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reports of online child sex trafficking skyrocketed by more than 800 percent between 2010 and 2015. The cause for this incredible increase was noted to be directly correlated to the increased use of the internet to sell children for sex.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA), although intended to help ensure websites remain neutral platforms we can use freely, has inadvertently given broad protections to websites like Backpage.com, shielding them from any responsibility for the harmful and criminal content carried out by their users. The CDA was never written to facilitate the selling of children for sex, and we cannot continue to allow it to be used as a tool sheltering crime online.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee took action against this unconscionable practice by unanimously approving S. 1693, Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA). As a cosponsor of this important and bipartisan legislation, I could not be prouder of the committee. We must deploy every tool we have to stop human trafficking.

SESTA is narrowly crafted to provide clarity to Section 230 and would ensure websites that knowingly expedite sex trafficking can be held accountable in violation of federal sex trafficking laws. The bill also grants state law enforcement the authority to take action.

This legislation would hold the appropriate parties liable and give the victims of these horrible crimes the justice they deserve. The trafficking of young women and children in our society is an atrocity, and the internet can no longer be a place for perpetrators of these crimes to hide. I will be pushing for this legislation to move swiftly to the Senate floor for a vote.

We must protect our children from those who would use the internet to prey on them. The quicker we put this law on the presidents desk, the sooner the facilitators of these heinous crimes can be held accountable.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process, I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
It will be a big task for Mumbai Congress workers to go and campaign in the bastion of BJP and ask votes for their party. Mumbai Congress workers will be working with North Gujarat Congress team to do door-to-door campaigning.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: In the battle of Gujarat , Mumbai Congress workers will be campaigning in south Gujarat for the party.

Congress High Command has asked Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam to send his team immediately after November 21 which is the last date for filling nomination for first phase. Mumbai Congress so far has received a positive response from around 200 workers who are willing to go to Gujarat to campaign for the party.

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There are around 33 constituency seats in North Gujarat and this belt is regarded as bastion of BJP. It will be a big task for Mumbai Congress workers to go and campaign in the bastion of BJP and ask votes for their party. Mumbai Congress workers will be working with North Gujarat Congress team to do door-to-door campaigning.

"We have received the message from high command to do door-to-door campaigning and convince the people of North Gujarat to cast their votes for Congress party. We will be providing a small training to them about how to speak with voters as Gujarati community is very soft-spoken."

According to sources within Mumbai Congress, while convincing North Gujarat voters, Mumbai Congress workers will share their experience of BJP government in Maharashtra which is in power from the past three years. They have been asked to share Fadnavis government's failures while campaigning in the state.

"Initially Mumbai Congress workers will campaign only in south Gujarat for the first phase of Gujarat election but if party requires them then we will be send to other parts of Gujarat too for the second phase", said Nirupam.

"Maharashtra and Gujarat have an old connection. Many Gujaratis travel to Mumbai for business and trade daily. Even many relatives of Mumbai Congress workers stay in northern part of Gujarat. We have asked such Mumbai Congress workers to reach out to them and convince them to cast their votes for Congress this time", said senior Mumbai Congress leader.

--- ENDS ---
Property developers want to build affordable housing and property investors want to invest in it, he insisted. They can see the demand for it just as well as anyone can. The huge demand and undersupply of properties presents a fantastic opportunity to them.

Ian Ugarte is a full-time property investor, a strong advocate for affordable housing and Australias leading micro apartment and rooming house specialist. He sits on the Board of the Future Housing Taskforce and holds 7 worldwide patents on sustainability and wastewater treatment.

Mr Ugarte explained that all the state government needed to do, along with local councils, was to do their job of creating policy and get out of the way and let the private sector get on with building the required housing.

All we need are some tweaks to planning laws to let developers actually build the correct type of housing and theyll step up to meet the demand. Regulations and red tape are the only things stopping them right now, he said.

Its irresponsible of the Queensland Greens to propose to waste $60 billion of taxpayers money building a forest of awful high-rise towers. That would be a massive waste of money building towers that will be nothing but unpleasant eyesores. Meanwhile, the private sector is waiting on the sidelines for the go-ahead to build beautiful, affordable housing that people actually want to live in.

A self-described social capitalist, Mr Ugarte is adamant that he will only invest in property developments that provide a benefit to the community in addition to making money. It needs to make sense before it makes dollars is his catch phrase. He sees his mission as making affordable housing available to all Australians and helping to end the current epidemic of housing stress.

Ian has advised several state governments and councils on changing their planning regulations to allow investors to provide more affordable housing. He also teaches investors and developers how to build affordable housing thats fully compliant with the often-complex regulations, while still providing an attractive return on investment.
As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - Those looking for a Thanksgiving meal and good company are invited to the 14th annual North End Feast, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, November 23 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Center, 300 S. 13th Ave. (3rd Street and 13th Avenue).

There is no charge for a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.

Turkey, ham, various side dishes and desserts will be served by volunteers from community groups, private businesses and faith-based organizations.

There are no restrictions on who may attend; however, children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Again this year, deliveries will be made available to homebound elderly, disabled or confined individuals only; please call (928) 373-5187 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 21 to make a request. No carry-outs will be available from the feast.

Volunteers to help the event are welcome. Call 928-783-9347 to arrange participation or to learn more about the event.

The North End Feast grew out of revitalization efforts in the Carver Park neighborhood. Now, many organizations made up of students and adult volunteers come together to support the event.

The City of Yuma, through the Neighborhood Services Division of its Department of Community Development, co-sponsors the North End Feast along with the Thanksgiving Dinner Committee and the following organizations: Yuma Crossing Rotary, Carver School, Church for the City, Arizona at Work-Yuma County (formerly YPIC), Agua Viva Church and the Young Marines.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - The Yuma Police Department was awarded several grants from the Arizona Governors Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). A portion of the grant money was used to purchase new equipment. The rest was used to cover overtime costs for Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs and DUI / Impaired Driving Enforcement Details.

The Governors Office of Highway Safety awarded the Yuma Police Department a total of $54,300.00 in grant funding for equipment. The department used this money to purchase new LIDAR units, Portable Breath Test devices (PBT), 1 police motorcycle, and 1 message board trailer that is being used for speed display and posting important messages for the motoring community.

The Yuma Police Department was also awarded a total of $30,000.00 in grant funding to cover the cost of officers overtime expenses. This grant money was used for Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs and for DUI / Impaired Driving Enforcement details.

The Yuma Police Department takes a strong proactive approach to enforcing DUI / impaired driving and traffic law violations. With the assistance of the Governors Office of Highway Safety, the Yuma Police Department can continue to make our community a safer place to travel in.
By PTI: By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 16 (PTI) The latest hate crime statistics released by the FBI shows that violence has become "a fact of life" for South Asian communities, a top South Asian organisation has said.

"The FBIs hate crimes statistics underline that violence has become a fact of life for our communities," said Suman Raghunathan, executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

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According to the FBIs 2016 hate crimes statistics released this week, since 2015, anti-Muslim hate crimes increased by 19 per cent, anti-Hindu hate crimes increased by 100 per cent, and anti-Sikh hate crimes increased by 17 per cent.

"These surges are on top of the historic spike in hate crimes reported in the FBIs 2015 data, now marking the highest levels of violence aimed at our communities since the year after 9/11. Tragically, hate has become the new normal for our communities," SAALT said.

"These incidents are just a fraction of the violence our communities experience on a daily basis. According to FBIs own estimates, for every one hate crime reported, five hate crimes go unreported. Enough is enough ? the violence must stop," Raghunathan said.

SAALT alleged that Trump, as a candidate and now as President, has encouraged and emboldened hate violence against our communities through his administrations anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. PTI LKJ AJR

--- ENDS ---
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - This morning, at 12:17 a.m., officers responded to the area of the 1900 block of S 33rd Drive, in reference to a vehicle colliding with a house.

Initial investigation revealed that 20 year old Tia Hebert was driving eastbound on 20th Street when she lost control of the vehicle, went through a brick wall, and collided with a residence in the 1900 block of S 33rd Drive. Substantial structural damage was caused to the residence. Hebert was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Adult Detention Center.

Alcohol appears to be a factor.

No occupants of the residence reported any injuries.

This case is currently under investigation.

The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call Detective E. Carrillo at the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- The Government approved on Wednesday the Emergency Ordinance that covers some measures for Romania's participation in the North Atlantic Alliance Innovation Fund. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your friends

- The Day of Distinguished Visitors of the multinational joint exercise Justice Sword 22.2 will be organized on Wednesday, at the Getica Joint National Training Center in Cincu (CNII), Brasov county, the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) informs. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- An amount of more than 7.41 million euros will be invested in the restoration of cultural-historical heritage sites at Sarmisegetuza Regia, after the Minister of Investments and Projects, Marcel Bolos, and the president of the Hunedoara County Council, Laurentiu Nistor, signed three financing agreements

- The Government approved on Wednesday an emergency ordinance for the creation of the single industrial license, a project initiated by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism and the Competition Council, announced Bogdan Chiritoiu, the president of the competition authority, in the briefing at

- The Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, General Philippe Lavigne, is visiting Romania, until Wednesday, at the invitation of the Chief of the Defense Staff (SMAp), General Daniel Petrescu, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) informs. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced on Wednesday that the Ministry of Finance will present the draft budget for next year by October 20, so that it can be submitted to the parliamentary debate in November. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook

- As many as 2,098 Romanian citizens affected by the cancellation of Blue Air flights turned to the consular services, according to the data received, on Wednesday morning, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced, specifying that all line ministries and institutions

- The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, will participate on Tuesday and Wednesday in the informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU Member States (in Gymnich format), which will take place in Prague, within the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a
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- Romania's President Klaus Iohannis will participate in the 5th edition of the Paris Peace Forum on Friday and Saturday at Brongniart Palace, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your friends know

- President Klaus Iohannis will participate, November 7-8, in the Climate Implementation Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, as part of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), the Presidential Administration reported on Friday, told Agerpres.

- President Klaus Iohannis signed, on Friday, the decrees for the accreditation of the Romanian ambassadors in Samoa and Tanzania. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your friends know more about Romania! Share

- President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Thursday and Friday, in Brussels, in the meeting of the European Council, among the topics of discussion being the necessary measures in the field of energy, following the package of proposals presented by the European Commission and the reaffirmation

- The division of labor between the European Union and NATO needs to be clarified, and the joint declaration that recently reappeared on the discussion table should clarify this, expert in European security and defence policies Mihai Sebastian Chihaia with the European Policy Center NGO told AGERPRES

- President Klaus Iohannis signed, on Friday, the decree designating Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization Sebastian Burduja as Acting Minister of Education. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your

- President Klaus Iohannis will lead the Romanian delegation that will participate in the high-level segment of the 77th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, on Tuesday and Wednesday, in New York, the Presidential Administration informs. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri.

- On September 16-19, on the sidelines of the high-level segment of the 77th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Transforming Education Summit will take place, during which President Klaus Iohannis will moderate one of the sessions, presidential counselor Ligia Deca announces
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reportedly rejected a Chinese proposal to include the country's $14-billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework, in a first major jolt to the CPEC initiative.

The Pakistani reaction comes after Beijing has placed strict conditions including taking ownership of the project, the Express Tribune reported.

Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests, the Tribune quoted Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) chairman Muzammil Hussain as saying.

Therefore, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has decided to finance the dam from the countrys own resources, he said.

The issue had come up for discussion during a Cabinet Committee meeting on CPEC last week.

Earlier, the Joint Cooperation Committee, the highest decision-making body of CPEC, had agreed to establish a mechanism to develop hydro-power projects on the Indus River including the Diamer-Bhasha project.

Pakistan has decided to take the dam off the table just days before the seventh JCC meeting, scheduled on November 21 in Islamabad.

There are currently 15 energy projects, worth $22.4 billion, which are part of the CPEC framework. Of which, only two are hydroelectric power projects with a capacity of 1,590MW. The other projects are coal based, the report said on Wednesday.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had refused to fund the project, saying it was located in a disputed territory.

When completed, the Diamer-Bhasha project will have the capacity to generate 4,500MW of electricity.
Chennai: Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan on Thursday announced that he is returning the donations which he had received from his fans for his soon-to-be-launched political party.

The veteran Tamil superstar made his intentions clear through a column in a weekly Tamil news magazine.

"It'll be illegal to keep the money without any infrastructure," he wrote in the weekly column.

The 57-year-old actor had sometimes back said that his fan clubs had helped him in raising nearly Rs 30 crores to assist the needy.

However, he also said that there should be no ambiguity over his plans to enter politics.

Though the actor maintained that he has ''not fixed a date or name for the new political venture''.

"The party has to be first named and formed," he wrote in the column.

"This doesn't mean I am backtracking, it doesn't mean I won't accept money," he added.

Shifting his focus to a recent controversy over his 'Hindu terrorist' remarks, the actor also sought also to assuage those offended by his comments.

In an earlier column, the veteran actor had spoken of "Hindu terror" and said that there was a new trend among right-wing groups to resort to violence instead of debate to make their arguments.

The veteran actor, however, later apologised for his remarks and said that he was misquoted.

"I didn't mean that. I come from a Hindu family," he had said.

In today's piece, Haasan asked the Hindus to act like 'older brothers'.

"Hindus are in a majority, (so) they have the responsibility of an elder brother. When Hindus say we are big, their hearts too ought to be big. They should embrace others and correct them if they do wrong," he wrote.

Kamal Haasan, on his birthday on the 7th of this month, said that he will launch an app which would allow him to collect feedback on what voters want and enable whistleblowers to post crucial information.

He had first disclosed his intent to turn politician in July.
New Delhi: State-owned Bank of Baroda on Thursday said the Finance Committee of the board will meet next week to consider approving its plan to raise Rs 6,000 crore via QIP or rights issue.

The meeting of the designated board committee i.e. Finance Committee of the board will be held on November 21, 2017 to consider and approve of equity fund, the bank said in a regulatory filing.

BOB said the equity fund can be raised through "qualified institutions placement (QIP), and/or rights issue for size and amount as may be decided, within overall approval of the board of raising Equity Capital up to Rs 6,000 crore".

Shares of the bank closed 4.58 percent up at Rs 182.50 per unit on BSE.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday sought more time to reply to the plea filed by former finance minister P. Chidambaram`s son Karti Chidambaram, seeking permission to travel abroad in connection with the INX Media case.

The matter has been adjourned till November 20.

A lookout notice issued by the CBI on July 18 prevents Karti from travelling abroad without the investigating agency`s permission.

The Supreme Court`s three-judge bench has asked CBI to file its reply by on Thursday evening.

Karti is an accused in the alleged INX media case.

On November 9, the Apex Court had asked the CBI to respond whether Karti Chidambaram could be allowed to travel abroad for four to five days.

The apex court was hearing Karti`s plea seeking permission to travel to the UK.

The top court also asked the probe agency as to what conditions can be imposed on Karti so that he does not escape.The apex court had earlier on November 6 rejected Karti`s plea after the CBI opposed it, saying that he might tamper with the evidence, which is very crucial for the ongoing investigation, in the country.

It has been alleged that Karti illegally took service charges for getting the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to the INX Media for receiving funds from abroad worth Rs 305 crore in 2007, when his father P. Chidambaram was the finance minister in Congress-led UPA government.
New Delhi: Amid tall claims made by Arvind Kejriwal on fighting the pollution menace, an RTI query has now revealed that the AAP government here has failed to properly utilise nearly Rs 787 crore green cess collected during 2017.

The revelation has put the Arvind Kejriwal government "in a spot" as it has raised a lot of hue and cry over the rising air pollution in the city.

While replying to a query filed by Sanjeev Jain - a Right To Information activist  the Delhi government said that it received Rs 50 crore in 2015, Rs 387 crore in 2016 and Rs 787 crore as environment cess from January 1 to September 30 in 2017.

The AAP government claimed that it had spent Rs 93 lakh of the environment cess in 2016, however, there was "no mention of any expenditure" in 2017.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is likely to come under attack from the opposition parties, including BJP, following its response to the RTI query.

Delhi CM Kejriwal had on Wednesday met his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar and said that the state governments will collectively take steps to fight the pollution menace.

It is to be noted that stubble burning by farmers in the states of Punjab and Haryana is also a big contributor to air pollution in Delhi.

Capitalising on the opportunity, the Congress said that the Delhi government was not utilising funds for strengthening the public transport system, and instead was involved in "blame game".

"It is complete negligence on the part of (Chief Minister) Kejriwal's government. It has not been able to utilise Rs 787 crore which is lying idle," Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken was quoted as saying by IANS.

"The public transport system in Delhi is in shambles," Maken added.

Slamming the AAP government, Maken said they could have bought new buses with this money, and also augmented total parking capacity of the bus depots.

Lashing out at Kejriwal, Maken said, "Instead of using the money which is lying idle, he is busy aiming at the other state governments and the Centre instead of doing his bit."

Maken said Kejriwal could have purchased road vacuum cleaners, as the dust "is the single biggest contributory factor for air pollution" in Delhi.

"In Delhi, if we look at all the factors contributing to air pollution, then about 80 per cent of it is due to road dust, vehicular movement, industrial pollution and domestic pollution. And the Delhi government itself should deal with it," he said.

"He (Kejriwal) is passing the buck and trying to get attention. He could have utilised Rs 787 crore they could have bought more than 1,500 Delhi Transport Corporation buses," he said.

He accused the Delhi government of deterioration in the DTC fleet over the last few years.

"When we were in power, the strength of the DTC was 5,445 buses, which has now gone down to 3,951 buses. There has been a shortfall of 1,500 buses in three years," he said.

The Congress leader also said that the passenger ferrying capacity has also gone down from 46 lakh per day to 26 lakh per day.

"People have been forced to use their two-wheelers in the absence of a robust public transport system," Maken added.

With IANS inputs
The Madhya Pradesh government continues to remain mute over its stand on the construction of a temple in the name of Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi, thus triggering speculations about the tacit support of the ruling party to the Hindu Mahasabha.

By Hemender Sharma: The Madhya Pradesh government continues to maintain silence over its stand on the construction of a temple in the name of Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi, thus triggering speculations about the tacit support of the ruling party to the Hindu Mahasabha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan has not uttered a word on the incident despite personal allegations being labelled against him.

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The Hindu Mahasabha on November 15, while observing the day of Godse's hanging as 'sacrifice day' had laid a foundation for a temple in his name in its Daulatganj area office. Also, an idol was placed in this 'temple' to which floral tributes were paid.

The Congress too has levelled allegations against Chief Minister Chouhan saying it was with his tacit support that a temple in the name of Gandhi's killer was being built.

"Only a fortnight back, a statue of the father of the nation was desecrated in neighbouring Morena district. No action was taken against those involved and now no action is being taken against those behind Godse's temple," leader of opposition in MP Vidhan Sabha Ajay Singh said.

The Congress party meanwhile went to the Habibganj police station in Bhopal and demanded a case be registered against the Hindu Maha Sabha. A delegation of Congress men also met the Gwalior district collector and demanded registration of a sedition case against those behind the temple.

The Congress party has also announced to organise a silent one hour protest before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in every district headquarter in Madhya Pradesh.

Although the MP chief minister is silent on the issue, his ministers and BJP spokespersons have called it an issue of freedom of expression. "It is an issue of freedom of expression. Anyone can construct or build a temple, in this country temples have even been built in the name of dacoits," BJP spokesman Dr Hitesh Vajpayee while talking to India Today said.

Nathuram Godse who was convicted for killing the father of the nation was hanged to death on November 15,1949 and his supporters observed the day as 'sacrifice day.'

The Hindu Maha Sabha on November 9 had applied for land for a temple that they proposed to build in the name of Nathuram Godse. The application for land was rejected by the district administration.

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: A class IX student was stabbed to death outside his school Delhi's Shahdara district after he allegedly got into an argument with few boys.

According to ANI, the incident occurred in the Usmanpur area of Delhi.

The matter comes at a time when the entire nation is fumed over the murder of a seven-year-old boy Pradyuman Thakur, a student of Ryan International School in Gurugram.

The seven-year-old boy was found dead inside the toilet of school premises, with his throat slit on September 8.

Pradyuman was allegedly killed by his schoolmate, who is a class XI student.

With ANI inputs
New Delhi: A security guard was shot at by two bike-borne men after he foiled their bid to loot a SBI bank ATM in Delhi.

The crime, which occurred in Delhi's Majra Dabas area, was caught on a CCTV camera installed outside the ATM.

#WATCH: Guard foils robbery attempt by two bikers at SBI ATM in #Delhi's Majra Dabas after being shot at by the assailants (15.11.17) pic.twitter.com/tO5cn1iuGu  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

The visuals show two motorcycle-borne men attacking the security guard as he resisted their bid to loot the SBI ATM.

The two men then fired shots at him, snatched the guard's rifle and fled from the pot.

The middle-aged security guard was badly injured in the incident.

The CCTV footage shows people watching the whole incident from a safe distance and not rushing forward to help the guard.

The guard, who was rushed to the hospital, is now out of danger.

The Delhi Police have, meanwhile, registered a case against the miscreants under Sections 394/397 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act.

Various teams have been constituted to investigate the case.

Meanwhile, another incident of ATM robbery was caught on camera in Rajasthan.

Four robbers were caught on camera, stealing a Central Bank of India ATM machine in Rajasthans Bundi.
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for the creation of the posts of chairman and technical members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST, following up immediately on yesterday's sharp reduction in the GST rates of a large number of items of mass consumption.

This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices.

The establishment of the NAA, to be headed by a senior officer of the level of secretary to the government with four technical members from the Centre and/or the States, is one more measure aimed at reassuring consumers that government is fully committed to take all possible steps to ensure the benefits of implementation of GST in terms of lower prices of the goods and services reach them.

It may be recalled that effective from midnight of 14th November, the GST rate has been slashed from 28% to 18% on goods falling under 178 headings. There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28%. Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18% to 12% and so on and some goods have been completely exempt from GST.

The 'anti-profiteering' measures enshrined in the GST law provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers.

Affected consumers who feel the benefit of commensurate reduction in prices is not being passed on when they purchase any goods or services may apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the particular State.

However, in case the incident of profiteering relates to an item of mass impact with 'All India' ramification, the application may be directly made to the Standing Committee. After forming a prima facie view that there is an element of profiteering, the Standing Committee shall refer the matter for detailed investigation to the Director General of Safeguards, CBEC, which shall report its findings to the NAA.
New Delhi: The air quality in Delhi saw a slight improvement on Thursday as the Air Quality Index was at 345 which falls under the "very poor" category.

At 11 am on Thursday, Delhi's AQI was 345, which falls under the 'very poor' category and it will see improvement in the coming days, said a report.

Also, the average PM2.5, or particles with diameter less than 2.5mm, in Delhi was 345 units, 14 times the safe limit, compared to 397 units couple of days earlier.

On Wednesday, officials had said the EPCA might ask officials to revoke the restrictions imposed under the "severe-plus" or "emergency" category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and replace them with those under the 'very poor' category.

A Supreme Court-appointed environment body also ordered lifting of a ban on entry of trucks and all the construction activities in the city.

The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) also rolled back the four-time hike in parking fees.



EPCA member and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) researcher Usman Naseem told IANS while the restrictions imposed since last week have been lifted, the ban on diesel generator sets would continue.



The severe-plus GRAP was imposed on November 7, after a thick yellow blanket of smog covered Delhi due to the cumulative effect of stubble burning in neighbouring states and meteorological reasons.



Under the "severe-plus" category, according to rules, truck movement in Delhi is stopped, construction work is banned, odd-even scheme for vehicles is imposed and schools are shut.



However, since November 7 while all other restrictions were in place following the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) intervention, the odd-even scheme could not be implemented due to a difference in views of the green court and the Delhi government, which is the implementing agency for the vehicular restriction scheme.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: Scientists from NASA have developed a tool to forecast which cities are vulnerable to flooding due to the melting of ice in a warming climate.



It looks at the Earth's spin and gravitational effects to predict how water will be 'redistributed' globally, says NASA.

In India, Mangalore and Mumbai are the two cities which will be at higher risk, as per reports.

"This provides, for each city, a picture of which glaciers, ice sheets, (and) ice caps are of specific importance," the report mentioned.



The research, detailed in the journal Science Advances, could provide scientists a way to determine which ice sheets they should be "most worried about".



The researchers explained that as land ice is lost to the oceans, both the Earth's gravitational and rotational potentials are perturbed, resulting in strong spatial patterns in sea-level rise (SLR).

The pattern of sea-level change has been termed sea-level fingerprints.



"We lack robust forecasting models for future ice changes, which diminishes our ability to use these fingerprints to accurately predict local sea-level (LSL) changes," the researchers said.



So they set out to determine the exact gradient of sea-level fingerprints with respect to local variations in the ice thickness of all of the world's ice drainage systems.



"By exhaustively mapping these fingerprint gradients, we form a new diagnosis tool, henceforth referred to as gradient fingerprint mapping (GFM), that readily allows for improved assessments of future coastal inundation or emergence," the study said.



The researchers demonstrated that for Antarctica and Greenland, changes in the predictions of inundation at major port cities depend on the location of the drainage system.

(With Agency inputs)
Zurich: Mehran Marri, a key leader of the Balochistan struggle, has been detained by the Swiss authorities at the Zurich airport.

Informing the same, Mehran Marri, the president of the Baluchistan House, tweeted, "Friends, I have been detained at Zurich Airport for the last few hours and feel I am under arrest by Swiss authorities on request of the Pakistan Govt. My wife and children are also with me in detention. Don`t worry, being detained is nothing new for the Baloch..."

"My father spent many years in far worse conditions, but never have up. The peaceful & legal struggle for an independent #Balochistan free of Pakstani occupation shall continue no matter what the Punjabi generals & babus of that excuse of a country plan. We`ll persevere" he tweeted.

"I have now been informed that I have been placed under a lifetime ban on entering Switzerland at the request of Islamabad. So much for the Geneva UNHRC being the world capital of human rights. I am still in detention at Zurich Airport with my wife and children. Stay tuned 4 more."

Another tweet of Mehran Marri read, "If it had been Pakstan or China, I wd have shrugged it off, but i never imagined Swiss Authorities would take mug shots of my 4-yr-old and seven-year-old children as detainees. The long arm of the Pakistan`s billionaire Army Generals sure reach far beyond their bank accounts."

Youngest son of the late Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, Mehran Marri was travelling to Geneva to attend the Baloch unity moot called by his brother-in-law, Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP).

Brahamdagh, who organised the meeting in Geneva, speaking to ANI on the detention stated, "It is sad and shocking for me that he was stopped and detained with his family and children."

"I am really shocked how a neutral country like Switzerland can do that. Mehran`s visiting the country is not new," Brahamdagh said, adding that the former used to often visit Switzerland "for last 15 years".

Baloch activist Bhawal Mengal also condemned the Pakistani military`s "malicious and desperate attempt".

"This is a malicious and desperate attempt by the Pakistani military establishment to malign and curtail the freedom of Baloch representatives, who are working to raise awareness on the worsening situation in Balochistan and Pakistan`s crimes against humanity.

Developed countries should not be intimidated by Pakistan, which has been an international sponsor of terrorism," Mengal said.

Other than Mehran Marri, his estranged elder brother Hyrbyair Marri, who heads the Free Balochistan Movement, was expected to attend the Baloch unity meeting that begins this Saturday.

On a related note, Mehran and Hyrbyair Marri are active participants in the struggle for free Balochistan, while their eldest brothers Jangyz Marri, a provincial government minister and Gazain Marri, who ended his exile and returned to Pakistan in September, owe allegiance to the country.
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat is all set to go to polls in two phases on December 9 and 14, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle between the ruling BJP and Congress.

Anklav in Anand district is one of the 182 constituencies in the state.

The constituency will have 240 polling stations.

In 2012 assembly polls, Congress candidate Amit Chavda won the seat with 81575 votes.

The first phase will be held in 89 of the 182 seats and will cover 19 of 33 districts. The notification for the second phase will be issued on November 20 for the remaining 93 assembly seats in 14 districts.

The votes will be counted on December 18, the same day as Himachal Pradesh, where elections were held on November 9.

A total of 50.25 lakh electorate, including 19 lakh women and 14 transgenders, will decide the fate of candidates. The poll process in the state started on November 14 with the issue of the gazette notification for the first phase.
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat is all set to go to polls in two phases on December 9 and 14, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle between the ruling BJP and Congress.

Petlad in Anand district is one of the 182 constituencies in the state.

The constituency will have 231 polling stations.

In 2012 assembly polls, Congress candidate Niranjan Patel won the seat with 77312 votes.

The first phase will be held in 89 of the 182 seats and will cover 19 of 33 districts. The notification for the second phase will be issued on November 20 for the remaining 93 assembly seats in 14 districts.

The votes will be counted on December 18, the same day as Himachal Pradesh, where elections were held on November 9.

A total of 50.25 lakh electorate, including 19 lakh women and 14 transgenders, will decide the fate of candidates. The poll process in the state started on November 14 with the issue of the gazette notification for the first phase.
GURUGRAM: A Gurugram court on Thursday questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for arresting conductor Ashok in connection with the murder of eight-year-old Pradyuman Thakur in Ryan International school.

The court asked CBI that on what basis was Ashok arrested? "The investigating agency was not able to give a response to the court's question," Conductor Ashok's lawyer Mohit Verma said.

The court has asked the CBI to file a detailed reply by 2 pm on Thursday after which arguments in the case will be heard in Gurugram sessions court

Earlier, the Haryana Police had admitted to committing a mistake while accusing Ashok of the murder. The team, which arrested the conductor and declared him a paedophile, confessed that they did not view the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage carefully. They, however, remained mum on how they missed this crucial evidence.

His family has repeatedly hinted that there might be a larger conspiracy in the murder case but asserted that Ashok was innocent.

"We have been saying this for long that he is innocent. This is a conspiracy hatched by the school administration and the police. My husband was tortured by the police to extract the confession. We want proper investigation and justice," Mamata, wife of bus conductor Ashok, said.
SHIMLA: In the latest development in the Kothai gangrape-cum-murder case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested DW Negi, former Superintendent of Police of Shimla.

Negi is the ninth police personnel to be arrested in the case.

Negi was produced before the special CBI court which sent him to agency's remand till November 20.

Following public pressure, the Himachal Pradesh government had earlier transferred Negi to state Vigilance and anti-corruption Bureau.

Notably, the top cop is an accused for the custodial death of one of the accused in the sensational gang rape and murder of a schoolgirl in Shimla district in July.

The central probe agency had in August arrested eight Himachal Pradesh Police officials, including Inspector General ZH Zaidi, in connection with the custodial death of Singh, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court in July handed over the investigation into the Kotkhai gang-rape and murder case and also the custodial death of one of the accused to the CBI.

Police had said the 16-year-old girl was offered a lift in a vehicle by the accused on July 4 when she was returning home from school in Kotkhai town, some 56 from the state capital.

On the way, they raped and murdered her in a nearby forest. Her naked body with injury marks was found two days later.

The arrested persons are prime accused Rajinder Singh, who offered her the lift, Ashish Chauhan, Subhash Bisht, Deepak Kumar, Suraj Singh and Lokjan. They believed to be drunk at the time of the crime.

However, a new twist in the case came after Rajinder Singh allegedly murdered fellow accused Suraj Singh in the police lock-up in Kotkhai on July 19.

Following the gang-rape of the girl, people had taken to streets and there were allegations about attempts to shelter some influential persons involved in the heinous crime and that the six accused held in the case were not the main accused.

On court orders, the CBI constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by a Superintendent of Police after registering a case under charges of murder and rape of the Indian Penal Code, apart from sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The CBI also registered a separate FIR to probe the circumstances that led to the death of Suraj Singh.
By PTI: asks NTPC

New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal today directed the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to inform it how much agricultural residue, in "pellet" form, it can use as raw material along with coal in power plants for power generation.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh governments to take instructions on the possibility of power plants collecting agriculture residue from the fields and converting it into fuel.

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Pellet form is the terminology used for compressed form of agriculture residue.

The green panel also directed the NTPC to submit complete details of its total coal requirement on per day basis.

It also ordered the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh governments to ensure presence of representatives from all the thermal power plants in their areas on the next date of hearing -- November 21.

The NGT had earlier said, "We expect no individual, body, department, panchayat, association to directly or indirectly recommend or promote burning of crop residue in Punjab, UP and Haryana."

It had said the "serious" issue of stubble burning by farmers was still going on and had sought the response of the Centre as well as the Punjab and Haryana governments on the issue.

It had sought the names and details of all power houses and biomass-based energy plants which could use crop residue for electricity generation and had directed the Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab governments to provide a detailed strategy of how "happy seeders" (machines to sow wheat without burning of paddy crop residue) or "balers" could be given to farmers.

The tribunal had also sought a reply from the NTPC as to why it could take the stubble from the farmers under its corporate social responsibility programme for the "general cause of environment".

The tribunal had taken exception to the fact that even after more than two years, nothing substantial has been done with regard to the issue of stubble burning.

The Punjab government had earlier said it had taken Kalar Majri village in Nabha Tehsil of Patiala district as a model project for implementing the directions of the NGT and to sensitise the farmers.

The NGT had warned the governments of the Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan governments that it would stop the payment of salaries of government officials if they failed to come up with an action plan to prevent stubble burning, which triggers heavy pollution in Delhi-NCR. PTI PKS SC

--- ENDS ---

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday took a "serious" note of the Centre's "extreme concern" that various privileged and sensitive documents, including Cabinet notes, which are outside the purview of the RTI law have been forming the basis of PILs.

While the Centre said that such documents including file notings, which otherwise are protected material, were coming into hands of some through "disgruntled" employees, a bench comprising justices A K Goel and U U Lalit termed the development as "serious" warranting apex court's intervention.

The Centre flagged its concern through Attorney General K K Venugopal when activist advocate Prashant Bhushan was arguing a PIL relating to AgustaWestland helicopter scam.

Venugopal told the bench that the government was "extremely concerned" as even the investigating agencies were not able to protect sensitive documents.

"This is a serious issue. The government of India is extremely concerned that it is unable to protect its documents and even the documents of investigating agencies are in the hands of others," the attorney general told the bench.

The bench agreed with submissions of the top law officer and said it would consider this issue.

"Certainly, what you are saying is serious," the bench said, adding, "yes, we will consider it".

Venugopal made these submissions when the apex court was hearing a plea seeking probe into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of an Agusta helicopter for VIP use by the Chhattisgarh government and also the foreign bank accounts, purportedly linked to the son of Chief Minister Raman Singh.

The bench also asked the Chhattisgarh government to place before it the original files pertaining to the purchase of the helicopter in 2006-2007 by the state.

During the hearing, the attorney general referred to the petition filed in the matter and said that internal file notings, like the August 2007 decision of the state Cabinet and relevant files, have been annexed with it.

"This is a matter of daily concern. PIL after PIL are filed wherein entire CBI documents are annexed. Documents of Enforcement Directorate (ED), Cabinet proceedings everyone of them are filed. Electronic copy (of these documents) is taken. It is an offence under the Information Technology Act," he said.

Bhushan, representing the petitioner, told the bench that the petitioner has received some of these documents through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

To this, the bench asked Venugopal, "Are anyone of these documents disputed?"

Venugopal said that these documents were all "copies" and no original documents have been filed.

He said there might be some "disgruntled employees" in the departments who were leaking the documents.

"Have you (Centre) taken any action on it? Are these marked with official secret," the bench asked.

Responding to this, the attorney general said, "according to me, Cabinet note is privileged. He (petitioner) does not say which documents have been received under the RTI."

When the bench said whether the Chhattisgarh government was disputing that these documents were not correct, Venugopal said he was not appearing on behalf of the state but for the Union of India.

"Source of document matters. We are concerned with this case. We are concerned with the issue of documents," he said, while requesting the court to consider this aspect.

Venugopal also cited the instance of the entry register at the residence of former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha which had come up before the apex court.

When the attorney general referred to certain judgements of the apex court on the issue of documents, the bench said it was a settled law that a litigant has to come to the court with a clean hand.

Venugopal also said though the petitioner has claimed he has received documents through RTI, the replies received under the RTI has not been filed in the court.

At the fag end of the hearing, the bench told Bhushan that it would see the RTI replies received by the petitioner and asked Bhushan to keep them ready.
In his bid to mediate on the Ram temple issue, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is slated to visit Ayodhya on Thursday. This comes a day after the Art of Living founder met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Ravi Shankar has also interacted with several Hindu groups on the Babri Masjib-Ram Janmabhoomi issue before making the visit to Ayodhya.

Following the meeting, Adityanath had said that talks were the only way out to find a solution to the dispute. If talks fail, let court take a decision on Ayodhya, the UP CM told Zee News.

Adityanath also said that he was ready to provide all necessary support to stakeholders involved in negotiations. The two met at the UP CM's residence in Lucknow.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's meeting with Adityanath also came in the backdrop of BJP launching its civic poll campaign from Ayodhya with promises of redevelopment.

However, both the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Muslim Personal Law Board has rejected he Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's offer to mediate on the issue.

The BJP leadership also said on Wednesday that the Ayodhya dispute is a decision best left to the Supreme Court.

Ram Temple matter is in the Supreme Court and I think we should let the legal process be complete. Other discussions can be held after that, said Ram Madhav, BJP's National General Secretary.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also voiced concerns over the Art of Living founder trying to resolve the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

"This is not for the first time that Sri Sri has taken this initiative. In 2001, he made attempts but failed. The reaction to his efforts was the same as today. Somebody is calling him an agent of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi while another is dubbing him a VHP agent. In fact, he is being insulted," VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain had said.

"A way out cannot be found through talks. We doubt his (Sri Sri`s) efforts will succeed," he added.

Clarifying his stance on the issue, the spiritual guru had on Monday said that he had no personal agenda and simply wanted to solve it peacefully keeping in mind every party.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the Ayodhya dispute case on December 5.

(With agency inputs)
NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Thursday said that it will provide all help to the authorities to maintain law and order amid ongoing protests against director Sanjay Leela Bhansalis film Padmavati.

"Any request for assistance, as and when received, will receive the fullest consideration of the Ministry," MHA Spokesperson told ANI.

He further said, "The first responder in relation to ongoing and potential public order issues are the district administration and State Police under the overall guidance of the State Government."

Earlier in the day, the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha members signed a letter in blood to be sent to the Central Board of Film Certification.

The members of the unit have been asserting that the movie hurts the sentiments of the Rajputs and should not be allowed to be released. The film is slated for release on December 1.

Also, the Uttar Pradesh government, meanwhile, apprised the Centre that the release of 'Padmavati' will pose a law and order problem for the state.
Greater Noida: China on Thursday held a special session to promote its ambitious 'Belt and Road Initiative', which India is strongly opposing, at the World Road Meeting (WRM) -- organised here by an international body and supported by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, among others.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, however, sought to disassociate itself from the session with an official later saying that "neither the ministry approved any such session nor the organisers apprised it about any such matter".

The International Road Federation (IRF), a Geneva-based body which is organising the four-day event from November 14 on the outskirts of the national capital, said in a statement that the China Highway and Transportation Society (CHTS) held a special session at WRM to promote its Belt and Road Initiative as well as introduce China's development of transport and newer technologies.

This comes against the backdrop of India consistently objecting to the controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is part of BRI and passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has boycotted China's Belt and Road forum on sovereignty concerns and has been mounting diplomatic pressure in this regard.

"Any representation of this initiative (BRI) does not change or alter the position of India," official sources said when asked about today's session at WRM.

The statement quoted, President CHTS Mengyong Weng as saying, "To promote and implement the 'Belt and Road Initiative' worldwide the CHTS has proposed to establish the Belt and Road International Transport Alliance'(BRITA) to promote the idea and achievements among the member countries and regions of the initiative."

The Belt and Road Initiative will not only focus on Asian, European and African countries but will also be open to all other countries, Weng was quoted as saying in the statement.

"China will contribute 14.5 billion US dollars to the silk road fund and two Chinese banks will be lending 55 billion US dollars to member countries," he said.

The statement also quoted Weng as saying that the proposed initiative will help bring peace and cooperation apart from economic prosperity in various regions.

To bring in more openness among countries and regions the CHTS has proposed to set up a Non political and a non government body named Belt and Road International Transport Alliance (BRITA) ,this will help ward off the fears of BRI as detrimental to stability and create a big one family of countries en route the silk road, Weng said.

A Road Transport and Highways Ministry official said they "completely disassociate with any such special session. Neither the organisers reported about any such session nor we approved it."

On being asked about the Ministry supporting the event, the official said the Ministry supported the Global Road Meet like it does to other such events.

Besides, the Road Ministry and NITI Aayog, others listed as 'supporting organisations' include NHAI, EXIM Bank, CII, Assocham and World Bank.
Islamabad: China has asserted that there is no contradiction in its policy to block India's bid to designate Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, saying the BRICS declaration was against terror groups and not individuals, Pakistani media on Thursday reported.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move to impose a ban on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief under the Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.

The latest technical hold by China came on November 2 when it blocked another proposal by the US, France and the UK to list Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN. Beijing had blocked such a move in February this year.

Speaking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors in Beijing this week, Counselor and Asia Division Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chen Feng said vetoing a resolution against Azhar after the BRICS declaration against terror outfits did not reflect a contradiction in China's policy as BRICS members have not entered into any such agreement.

The Chinese move was not in contradiction with Chinese policy in the context of BRICS declaration against terrorism, Chen was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

Chen clarified that the BRICS summit discussed only banned organisations and not individuals, Pakistan Today reported.

The BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - at a summit in China in September named, for the first time, Pakistan-based groups like the Lashkar-e- Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani network in a joint declaration condemning terror.

In early November, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said: "we raised a technical hold so as to allow more time for the committee and its members to deliberate on this matter. But there is still absence of consensus on this matter."

Defending the repeated technical holds, Hua said China's actions are meant to ensure and safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council.

China in the past has also asked India to discuss the issue directly with Pakistan to reach an understanding on Azhar's listing.

In the last two years, China has stonewalled efforts by India to declare Azhar as a global terrorist.

The senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official also briefed the Pakistani editors about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an ambitious project that is opposed by India as it is passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Chen said Beijing was trying to convince India that the multibillion dollar project is based on economic cooperation and that its main aim is to promote peace and prosperity in the region.

"The CPEC is neither a way to achieve political aims nor to be used in regional conflicts. Basic aim of the economic plan is to expand the mutual relations. China wants to engage other countries in the economic corridor too," Chen said.

He said China had time and again clarified it to India that it had no hegemonic designs in the region.

"We rather view CPEC as a way of forming equal relationships with regional countries and to promote friendship and neighbourhood in the region," he added.

Feng clarified that China was not a party in the Kashmir dispute.

"India's accusation of Chinese occupation on any part of Kashmir is baseless. We have denied such claims in the past as well. Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, peaceful solution of which is the only way to regional peace and prosperity," he was quoted as saying.
A woman has died in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh as her husband was denied ration. He was reportedly denied ration because the shop owner demanded the woman to be present for biometric fingerprint.

According to reports, the woman was unwell for the past five days and hence could not accompany her husband to the ration shop.

Reacting to the incident, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav termed it as shameful. He asked that if woman does not go to fetch her own ration, will she have to die of starvation.

Demanding an alternative arrangement for such situations, he said that no rule can be bigger than the life of a person.

His tweet said, Death of a poor woman due to hunger is shameful for a welfare democracy. If a poor woman is unable to go to the ration shop herself, will she die of starvation? There must be alternative arrangements for such situation. A rule made in the name of system cannot be bigger than the life of a person. Extremely sad!

            .                ?         .               .  ! pic.twitter.com/5tvheE2su7  Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) November 16, 2017

Ram Akshay, the SDM of the area where the incident took place, said that a probe was on into the incident. The family was very poor, the victim had an antodya card. We are probing the incident in detail, he said.

The incident brings back the horror of a 11-year-old girl dying in Jharkhand as her family was denied ration because of no Aadhaar. Reportedly, the ration card of the family was not linked to their ration card and hence they were denied ration for months.

While government officials said that the girl, Santoshi Kumari, had died due to malaria, the family alleged that she died due to starvation, crying bhaat, bhaat (rice).

Following the incident, the Jharkhand government had said that they would issue orders to all district administrations to not cancel any ration card.
New Delhi: Amid reports of meeting between Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the Babri Masjid issue, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the All-India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) have made that Muslims will not shelve their claims on the land belonging to the Babri mosque.

We have not received any proposal for talks or any formula from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. We have already made it clear to the spiritual leader that Muslims will not surrender their legal right and rightful claim over the land belonging to Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, said Jafrayab Jilani, AIBMAC Convenor and AIMPLB Secretary.

Jilani said that talks failed in the past also due to same rhetoric and rigid stand of other parties to surrender the entire disputed land. There is no question of Muslim giving up their claim on 2.77 acres of land in Ayodhya as per the 2010 Allahabad High Court, said Jilani.

In its verdict on September 30, 2010, the Lucknow Bench of the Allabahad High court had distributed he 2.77 acres of land equally between Ram Lala Virajmaan, Nirmohi Akhara and Central Sunni Wakf Board. Later, Sunni Board had filed a case in Supreme Court which will hear the land dispute case on day to day basis from December 5.

We welcome efforts of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. But talks for an out of court settlement will not succeed till Muslim Personal Law Board is involved in talks, said Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, a member of AIMPLB.

The spiritual leader on Wednesday arrived in Lucknow and met the CM for about 40 minutes. It was a courtesy call. We held a discussion on various issues includin the welfare of poor and farmers, said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

On the question of AIMPLB and AIBMAC rejecting his formula, Sri Sri Ravishanker clarified that when no formula or proposal was sent to them then where is the question of rejection by them, he pointed.

The Spiritual leader also held a meeting with VHP- RSS leaders, sadhus and saints involved in the land dispute in Ayodhya.

We have told Sri Sri Ravishanker that temple of Lord Ram should be constructed at the 2.77 acres of land. We are ready to build a mosque nearby or any other place of their choice, said Amar Nath Mishra, a senior VHP leader.

Significantly, the All-India Shia Personal Law Board has too sided with the stand taken by the AIMPLB.

They want us to surrender our claim on the land in Ayodhya but Muslims in the country is with the stand taken by the All-India Muslim Personal Board and will follow the Supreme Court verdict, said Maulana Mirza Yesoob Abbas, Spokesperson for the Shia Board.

Meanwhile, Art of Living Foundation Darshan Hathi said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was not carrying any formula for resolving the Ayodhya dispute.

He is only providing a platform to representatives from both communities to hold talks and resolve the Ayodhya imbroglio out court, clarified the Spokesperson.

Sri Sri Ravishanker will go to Ayodhya on Thursday to hold with Muslim and Hindu litigants, including Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Dharam Das, Dr Ram Vilas Vedanti, Iqbal Ansari and Haji Mehboob etc. The Art of Living Foundation founder had made a similar effort in 2003 to resolve the dispute but it had failed.
New Delhi: French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive here on a two-day visit on Thursday to prepare the ground for President Emmanuel Macron's proposed India trip early next year.

The first day of Drian's India visit is packed with a series of meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval among others.

A wide range of strategic and economic issues concerning the two countries will be on the discussion table. The minister will also meet prominent members of the Indian and French business communities, the French embassy said in a statement.

"Minister Le Drian will work to strengthen various aspects of France's bilateral cooperation with India, its foremost Asian strategic partner: security, economy, sustainable urban development and renewable energy, education and research, people-to-people ties and cultural affairs," it said.

On the second day, the French minister will unveil an exhibition on bilateral ties in Delhi and then travel to Jaipur to launch 'Bonjour India'.

This three-month Indo-French collaborative platform is focused on innovation, creativity and partnership. It will present more than 300 events in 33 cities across India.
WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said the government is following up on the murder of the Indian student who was shot dead at a grocery store in the United States.

The incident took place in the US state of California. Reportedly, one of the two attackers was of Indian-origin.

Swaraj took to Twitter saying, she had received a detailed report on the "unfortunate death" of Jassar.

"It was a case of armed robbery at a gas station in which robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there. The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin," she said.

"We are following up further police investigation and will extend all help to his family."

On Monday, 20-year-old Dharampreet Singh Jassar was on duty at the Tackle Box store next to a gas station in Madera city when the incident took place.

The armed men barged into the store with a motive to loot when one of them fired several shots at Jassar, who reportedly tried to hide behind the cash counter.

The suspects robbed cash and fled with a couple of cigarettes boxes. The victim's body was found on Tuesday following which the police were informed.

Jassar hailed from Punjab and was a student of accounting. He had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

Police arrested 21-year-old Armitraj Singh Athwal, an Indian-origin man, believed to be one of the two robbers who fired multiple shots at Jassar.

(With IANS inputs)
Kottayam: Congress president Sonia Gandhi should pardon those sentenced to death or life imprisonment in the assassination of her husband Rajiv Gandhi, says former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas who delivered the capital punishment.



Thomas told IANS on Thursday that he had indeed made the appeal to Sonia Gandhi so that those involved in her husband`s assassination and now in jail can be pardoned.



Thomas, 80, said he wrote to Sonia Gandhi last week.



"I happened to read an article about the emotions and feelings of Perarivalan, one of the accused... It filled my eyes and then I felt that he and others have been in jail for over a quarter century.



"Even though it was I who delivered the judgement then, I felt that the only person who can come forward to pardon them is none other than Sonia Gandhi and hence I wrote to her," he said.



Thomas, however, said he had no feeling of guilt over the judgement that he delivered.



"The central government will never ever even think of pardoning those in jail as it could lead to a severe backlash. None other than Sonia can take the initiative to see that they are pardoned.



"If she does it, I am certain, the Centre also will come forward and do what it can do," said Thomas, who became a judge of the Supreme Court in 1996 and retired in 2002.



A suicide bomber linked to the now vanquished Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers assassinated Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally near Chennai in May 1991.
By Shweta Keshri: New show Ikyawann recently premiered on Star Plus. The story revolves around Parekh's family's 51st child Susheel.

The show had a dramatic beginning, as it started with Susheel's mother Avni's death, who was pregnant with her. Doctors hard work pays off as they are able to save the 51st child of Parekh family.

The show's antagonist Leela is over-dramatic and her first look was quite scary, where her face was covered in black kohl. Leela's aim is not fulfilled, as she didn't succeed in killing both the mother and the child. She wanted to kill Avni and her child, as her daughter Kiran couldn't take Mehul (Susheel's father) rejection to her marriage proposal.

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Susheel's family shifts to Surat, where four men bring up a newborn, with no woman in the house. Her father loves Susheel to death while her maternal and paternal uncles are ready to do anything to bring a smile on her face.

Susheel and her family in a still from the show.

Susheel's grandfather is always a little cross with the child, as she hardly behaves like a typical girl. She loves to play gilli-danda, wear boyish clothes and takes no interest in household chores. But, when you come to think of it, she is just a six-year-old and it wouldn't be fair to expect a kid that small to make tea or do any kind of chores.

Susheel might not be sanskari but she is righteous and can't stand wrong. She is also not afraid to speak the truth even if it has repercussions. She is naughty, cute and often bullied for her height.

When Mehul is asked to remarry by his father so that household chores are taken care of, he is impressed us with his reply. He said, "Biwi ghar mein khana banane nahi aati hai hai. Balki makaan ko ghar banane aati hai..pyar se jazbaat se." (A wife is not brought to cook food but she is brought to make a home out of a house with her love and emotion.)

Ikyawann asks a very pertinent question if not being feminine makes a girl not a marriage material. One of Ikyawann's trailers mentions Susheel's hobbies as breaking matkis during Janmashtami, riding bikes and eating dhoklas made by her father. And her dislikes are cooking, wearing lehenga and doing makeup. But what caught our attentions was the line written below - "Lekin Ladki nahi hai shaadi material."

We are sure Susheel will turn out to be better than the sari and makeup clad protagonists of the saas-bahu sagas; but does not having interest in wearing a lehenga makes her any less a girl? Who decides if a girl is a marriage material or not? Cooking is a life skill and both men and women should know it or have a work around for it, not for anyone else but for their own survival.

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We hope Susheel's not-so-sanskari avatar continues to be so and entertains us with her unique activities.

--- ENDS ---
NEW DELHI: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale fighter aircraft deal.

Questioning the media on why no questions are asked to the Prime Minister, he said: "You ask me so many questions and I answer you properly, why don't you ask the PM about Rafale deal," he said.

Earlier in the day also, he had questioned the Rafale deal. "Can you explain 'Reliance' on someone with nil experience in aerospace for Rafale deal? Self 'Reliance' is obviously a critical aspect of 'Make in India'," he had tweeted.

He also asked why questions are not being posed to Modi regarding the controversy around Amit Shah's son Jay. Congress has alleged that his company has witnessed a quantum jump in turnover since the Modi government came to power.

Congress had earlier accused the government of compromising national interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer.

The BJP rubbished the allegation, claiming it was intended to "divert attention" as the party bigwigs faced the prospect of being questioned in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal.
NEW DELHI: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's accusation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the "entire Rafale fighter aircraft deal" to benefit a businessman was dashed, with Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief BS Dhanoa on Thursday categorically stating that there was "no overpricing" in the purchase as the government had "negotiated a very good" deal for the French fighter jet.

Addressing the media at the Adampur Air Force station near here, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said, ""It is not overpricing... We have negotiated for 36 French fighter aircraft Rafale (at a price) lower than that in the contract. The government has negotiated a very good deal."

"It is definitely a better deal. It is lower than what was there in the MRMCA contract," he said without going into specifics.

The IAF Chief's statement comes after the Congress vice president asked the media to raise questions about the Rafale deal and on BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay's income from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"You ask lots of questions from me. And I always answer. But why don't you ask questions about the Rafale deal and Amit Shah's son Jay from the Prime Minister," Gandhi told reporters.

Rahul also took pot shots at PM Modi over the Rafale deal on Twitter saying, "Can you explain 'Reliance' on someone with nil experience in aerospace for Rafale deal? Self 'Reliance' is obviously a critical aspect of 'Make in India'," he had tweeted.

Congress had earlier accused the government of compromising national interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer.

The BJP rubbished the allegation, claiming it was intended to "divert attention" as the party bigwigs faced the prospect of being questioned in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's allegations, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress is reminded of its rule when it rakes up such an issue.

"They are finding it difficult to accept that there has been no case of corruption in the three-year rule of the Narendra Modi government," Prasad, who was briefing reporters on cabinet decisions, said when asked about allegations levelled by Gandhi.

In 2015, the Indian government had withdrawn the tender to procure 126 multi-medium role combat aircraft (MMRCA).

Shortly after, during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to France in April 2015, India had decided to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets in a government-to-government deal to boost the depleting fighter squad strength of the Indian Air Force.

The highly versatile Rafale is currently being used for bombing missions over Syria and Iraq as part of an international campaign against the self-styled Islamic State jihadist group.

It has also been deployed in the past for air strikes in Libya and Afghanistan.
NEW DELHI: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is mediating in the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute, on Thursday hit out at his critics, saying one should always find solution to problems through a dialogue process and urged people to get out of their negative mindset.

After visiting Ayodhya on Thursday, the spiritual guru said one must believe in solving the problems through dialogue rather than rooting for failure even before something begins.

Sri Sri took to twitter to express his views on the contentious Ram Temple issue.

"How strange,some people start rooting for failure even before something begins&relish doing so.We need to get out of this negative mindset," he tweeted.

"We must believe that problems can be solved through dialogue and mutual respect,rather than conceit and accusations," his another tweet said.

Sri Sri visited Ayodhya after 5 years and offered prayers at Ram Janambhoomi, Hanuman Gadhi and Devkali Temple. He also met "Muslim brothers".

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Wednesday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here and discussed the dragging Ayodhya dispute.

Adityanath also said that he was ready to provide all necessary support to stakeholders involved in negotiations. The two met at the UP CM's residence in Lucknow.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's meeting with Adityanath also came in the backdrop of BJP launching its civic poll campaign from Ayodhya with promises of redevelopment.

However, both the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Muslim Personal Law Board has rejected he Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's offer to mediate on the issue.

The BJP leadership also said on Wednesday that the Ayodhya dispute is a decision best left to the Supreme Court.

Ram Temple matter is in the Supreme Court and I think we should let the legal process be complete. Other discussions can be held after that, said Ram Madhav, BJP's National General Secretary.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also voiced concerns over the Art of Living founder trying to resolve the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

"This is not for the first time that Sri Sri has taken this initiative. In 2001, he made attempts but failed. The reaction to his efforts was the same as today. Somebody is calling him an agent of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi while another is dubbing him a VHP agent. In fact, he is being insulted," VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain had said.

"A way out cannot be found through talks. We doubt his (Sri Sri`s) efforts will succeed," he added.

Clarifying his stance on the issue, the spiritual guru had on Monday said that he had no personal agenda and simply wanted to solve it peacefully keeping in mind every party.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the Ayodhya dispute case on December 5.
New Delhi: The Indian Navy on Thursday sealed a deal with Tata Power SED for supply of portable diver detection sonar which are fitted on ships to detect underwater threats.

The defence ministry said that the contract, under the 'Buy and Make' category, has been finalised in consonance with the government's 'Make in India' policy for the defence sector.

Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (Tata Power SED) has partnered with Israel's DSIT Solutions Ltd for manufacturing the sonars under technology transfer at its facility in Bengaluru.

The company in a statement said the order for the sonars is one of the largest in the world market.

"This is the second contract to be signed by the Indian Navy under the 'Buy and Make (Indian)' category to boost government's defence indigenisation effort," the defence ministry said in a statement.

The first contract under this category was signed earlier this year by the Navy for supply of surface surveillance radar for IN warships.

"In the last three years, we have committed the largest private sector investments in defence manufacturing at Vemagal in Karnataka. For this programme, Tata Power SED is committed along with our partner DSIT Solutions to deliver a world class solution to Indian Navy," Rahul Chaudhry, CEO of Tata Power SED, said.

A Navy official said the induction of the sonar would further enhance the Navy's underwater surveillance capability in the field of low intensity maritime operations.
New Delhi: What does one do when a planned vacation clashes with a high-profile team visit? Does one cancel the trip for the meeting or goes ahead with the plan?

Well, this Dublin-based LinkedIn employee went ahead with her plans but left a note for her boss on her computer.

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner had scheduled a high-level meeting at Dublin office. However the professional networking website's analytics manager Mariah Walton had already made plans for a trip to Venice. So she left a note for her boss for missing the meeting.

When she came back, she was pleasantly surprised to find a selfie of Weiner posing at her desk while she was away on vacation. The CEO even left a morale-boosting note for her.

Walton's post on LinkedIn has since gone viral. She wrote, When you accidentally schedule your vacation for the day your CEO is specifically dropping by to meet your team, it doesn't hurt to 'subtly' remind them what you do and how it helps the big picture. Thanks for stopping by Jeff Weiner! Proud of the team I work with and my new favorite selfy ;)



" Mariah , sorry I missed you this trip to Dublin. Keep up the great work on the international dashboard. Has been a game changer for the product team," was Weiner's note to her.
Belagavi: Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday staged a walkout in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly protesting against the state government`s "indifference" to the statewide private doctors` strike.

The agitating doctors have also been on a relay hunger strike here since Monday against the stringent provisions in the amendment bill to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act on regulating the functioning of private hospitals in the state.

Accusing state Health and Family Welfare Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar of being "stubborn" on wanting to pass the amendment bill without any change in the provisions, opposition leader and BJP lawmaker Jagadish Shetter termed the state government`s stand on the doctors` strike as "irresponsible".

"The state government should hold talks with the private doctors on their demands at the earliest, as thousands of patients are severely affected by the strike in the state," urged Shettar before the walkout along with other BJP lawmakers.

The 10-day winter session of the state legislature is being held at Suvarna Soudha since Monday in the state`s northern town here, about 500 km from Bengaluru.

"Why are you making this (doctors` strike) a prestige issue? A transport strike can result in change of travel plans, a strike by advocates can result in postponement of cases, but a strike by doctors is entirely different. Why is the government failing to understand the gravity of the issue?" said Shettar.

Refuting the opposition charge against him, Kumar said the state government was ready for talks with the private doctors on the provisions in the amendment bill.

"We are not passing the amendment bill to send the private doctors to jail, as its provisions are to protect patients and in the interests of the people in the state. The government is ready for talks with the doctors," Kumar told the lawmakers.

In a series of tweets earlier in the day, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the BJP was being "opportunistic" and "encouraging" the private doctors to continue with their strike.

"Opposition parties are being opportunistic and encouraging doctors to continue the strike. (BJP leader) B.S. Yeddyurappa has even promised to repeal the KPME Act. If he wants to stand against the poor and needy patients, that is his choice," said the Chief Minister in a tweet on Thursday.

"The state government wants to amend the KPME Act, 2007 to provide a grievances redressal mechanism to patients and regulate the cost of treatment in the private hospitals in the state," said Siddaramaiah in another tweet.

The main demands of the striking doctors on the amendment bill are: inclusion of government doctors under the KPME Act, no grievances redressal committees, no penalty on erring doctors or their imprisonment for the death of a patient due to medical negligence and ceiling on cost of treatment should be applicable to only government health schemes under which eligible patients are treated in private hospitals.

Of the registered 1.25 lakh doctors in the state, only about 10,000 work in the state-run hospitals, while over a lakh are employed in about 40,000 private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics across the state.

A BJP lawmaker (C.T. Ravi) charged that the differences between the Chief Minister and the Health Minister over the amendment bill were costing the patients dear.

"The Chief Minister is in favour of diluting the provisions of the bill, while the Health Minister is against it," Ravi said, adding the government could have taken steps to bring doctors from outside the state to ensure patients did not suffer.

Another BJP legislator (V.H. Kageri) demanded the state government should defer tabling the revised version of the amendment bill so that the striking doctors could report back to duty.

Making a suo motu statement in the House, Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad appealed to the state government to find a solution to the amendment bill at the earliest.

"Reports on patients suffering due to the doctors` strike has saddened me. The state government should hold talks with the protesting doctors and resolve the issue. At the same time, the doctors should resume duty on humanitarian grounds," Koliwad reiterated.
Bhopal: Right-wing outfit Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha had installed a bust of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse at its office in Gwalior.

According to ANI, after installing Godse's bust, the leaders of the outfit observed his death anniversary on Wednesday.

#MadhyaPradesh: Observing the death anniversary of Nathuram Godse, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Sabha built a temple and installed Godse's idol inside their office in Gwalior, yesterday pic.twitter.com/zkEuR0v5cF  ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

The Gwalior district administration had earlier denied permission to Hindu Mahasabha for construction of a temple in the name of Nathuram Godse.

Hindu Mahasabha national vice president Jaiveer Bharadwaj, who installed a 32-inch-tall bust of Godse at the outfit's office in Gwalior's Daulatganj, said their request to the district administration on November 9 that they be allowed to build a temple to Godse was denied.

He said with the bust installed now, a "temple" for Godse has been built.

"Nobody should have any objection to this as we have set up the temple in our own space. It is Mahasabha's own property," Bharadwaj said.

The Congress has, meanwhile, raised objections to Hindu Mahasabha installing a statue of Mahatma Gandhi's killer. The party has called for registering a case of sedition against the right-wing group.

"This is a conspiracy to disgrace the Father of the Nation... We demand that a case of sedition be filed against these people," Ajay Singh, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, said.

Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia too criticised the group.

"A temple of Bapu's killer is being established just under the nose of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who pretended to be fasting using the name of Gandhiji. This is a shameful and condemnable act," Scindia tweeted.

The BJP, however, said Congress should desist from claiming sole ownership of Mahatma Gandhi's legacy.

"Mahatma Gandhi's legacy is the legacy of this country... If anybody has violated the law and the Constitution, such activity would come under the purview of law," state BJP spokesperson Rajnish Jain said.
New Delhi: India's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel today announced two new 'effectively' low-cost 4G smartphones with Karbonn Mobiles, continuing its offensive in the Indian telecom market that has seen an onslaught of bundled offerings in the last few months.

Launching the two new Android-based 4G smartphones 'A1 Indian' and 'A41 Power' "at the price of a feature phone", Airtel said the devices would be available at an "effective price" of Rs 1,799 (against MRP of Rs 4,390) and Rs 1,849 (against MRP of Rs 4,290) after taking into account the cash refunds on offer.

Both 4G smartphones come bundled with Airtel's monthly pack of Rs 169.

"The launch is part of Airtel's 'Mera Pehla Smartphone' initiative, which is aimed at enabling every Indian to buy a 4G smartphone and get on to the digital superhighway," the Airtel statement said.

Over the last few weeks, telecom service providers have joined forces with mobile phone manufacturers to bring bundled 4G smartphones that give consumers attractive combination of low-cost handset along with voice and data plans.

To counter JioPhone, Bharti Airtel has teamed up with Celkon and Karbonn Mobiles to offer low-cost bundled 4G smartphones.

Vodafone India too has partnered with mobile handset firm Micromax to launch a 4G smartphone at an 'effective price' of Rs 999.

Outlining the details of the latest offering, Airtel said downpayment for 'A1 Indian' 4G smartphone is Rs 3,299 and for the 'A41 Power' 4G smartphone it is Rs 3,349.

The offer requires 36 continuous monthly recharges of Rs 169 pack, the statement said adding that customer will get a cash refund of Rs 500 after 18 months and another Rs 1,000 after 36 months.

This takes the total cash benefit to Rs 1,500, it said.

In case customers do not wish to opt for the Rs 169 bundled plan, they can also go for recharges of any denomination and validity.

But the cash refund benefit will only be available if recharges worth Rs 3,000 are done in initial 18 months (for first refund instalment of Rs 500) and Rs 3,000 over the next 18 months (for second refund instalment of Rs 1,000).

All devices under the Airtel-Karbonn partnership will also be available on Amazon India, the statement added.

Raj Pudipeddi, Director Consumer Business and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Bharti Airtel said the partnerships will help the company contribute towards transforming India into a smartphone nation.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday told the collectors of 15 coastal districts to keep a watch on the unseasonal rains and its impact on the Kharif crop even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours.

Patnaik, through a video conferencing, asked the district collectors to engage the field officials of agriculture and revenue and disaster management and guide the farmers facing crop loss due to the unseasonal rains during the harvesting period.

The chief minister also cancelled the weekly holiday of field staff of the two departments as the farmers were struggling to save their crop affected due to the unseasonal rains.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P sethi, who attended the video conferencing, said that the assessment of the crop damage due to the unseasonal rains would be done as soon as the rainfall stops.

The district collectors are asked to report on the crop loss as soon as the rain stops, Sethi said.

Patnaik also directed the district collectors to ensure that the drought and pest attack affected farmers get their assistance in time.

The collectors were also told to report the SRC on the agricultural input subsidy being distributed among the farmers hit by drought and pest attack.

Meanwhile, the IMD sources said that the depression over West Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh ? south Odisha coasts moved slightly northeast wards and lay centred at about 185 km of south?southwest of Gopalpur.

The system is very likely to move northeastwards off north Andhra Pradesh ? Odisha coasts during the next 12 hours maintaining its intensity, it said, adding that the system is very likely to continue to move northeastwards and weaken gradually.

The average rainfall of today across the state was 16.8 mm, they said, adding that the highest rainfall of 56.0 mm. was recorded in Puri followed by 52.3 mm. In Jagatsinghpur, 44.3 mm. In Gajapati, 44.0 mm. In Kendrapara and 39.3 mm. In Ganjam district.

The unseasonal rains have been reported from 25 of the 30 districts of the state, they said.

Meanwhile, the state government has started process for disbursal of agriculture input subsidy among farmers who have sustained crop loss of 33 per cent and above in the drought.

The district collectors were asked to complete the process within seven days, Sethi said.
New Delhi: Bollywood's undisputed 'queen' Kangana Ranaut's sister Rangoli Chandel is blessed with a baby boy. The glowing new mother shared the good news on Twitter this morning and even shared the first pictures of the baby.

The baby boy has been named Prithvi Raj Chandel and looks adorable in the pictures shared by mommy. Check it out here:

Dear friends meet our son Prithvi Raj Chandel pic.twitter.com/5k7JcUBV15  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) November 16, 2017

My little munchkin !!!! pic.twitter.com/FhsGw5cvNE  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) November 16, 2017

Rangoli has been a total support system to Kangana throughout her journey. The proud sister has never minced her words when it comes to talking straight from the heart. Just like Kangana, Rangoli too happens to be a bold woman who never really deters from calling a spade a spade.

Kudos lady, and a big congratulations to the family!
By PTI: Kohima, Nov 16 (PTI) India and Bangladesh held the field training exercise - SAMPRITI 2017 at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte in Mizoram to strengthen interoperability and cooperation between the armies of the two countries.

The joint exercise, which started on November 6, was conducted in a progressive manner in which the participants initially familiarised themselves with each others organisational structure and tactical drills.

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Subsequently, the training advanced to various tactical exercises by the two armies, a press release issued by PIB Defence wing here said.

The final exercise was reviewed by Major General Md Moshfequr Rehman of Bangladesh Army and Major General M S Ghura of the Indian Army.

Describing the combined exercise as an unprecedented success, the release said that besides promoting understanding between the two armies, it helped in strengthening bilateral ties.

The combined exercise culminated with a validation exercise conducted on November 15 and 16.

The release said that a scenario of terrorists hiding in a village was painted for the validation exercise and it commenced with joint briefings by the company commanders of both the armies.

The troops cordoned off the village on the basis of the briefings and a daring raid was carried out in the jungle terrain. The exercise ended after the terrorists were neutralised.

A spectacular demonstration on room intervention drills was also conducted jointly by the Indian and Bangladesh army personnel, the release added. PTI SBN SUN KK KK

--- ENDS ---
Mumbai: Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, who plays a pivotal role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial "Padmavati", says we should be proud of the filmmaker and give him space to create "the amazing work".

"There is no fear and one shouldn't be scared either because I think this is a democratic country and everybody should be allowed to make films they want to make," said Aditi on the "Padmavati" controversy at the screening of film 'Tumhari Sulu' on Wednesday.



"We should be proud of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He is a great filmmaker (but) instead of being proud of him, we are forcing him to defend himself and his film. I think that is very sad," she added.



Aditi also feels that one should be proud of the fact that artists like Bhansali make such beautiful movies.



"We are so lucky to have such amazing artists in our country. We should value them and give them the space to create the amazing work that they create instead of making it so difficult for them.



"We put them through so much and we try to oppress them despite that, they are so amazing and passionate. They continue to make these films and art that they are so passionate about. I think we should support them," added the actress.



Karni Sena is demanding ban on the film but Aditi is confident that the movie will release.



"Film will definitely release. I have complete faith in the system and the people of this country. People are spreading rumors about the film saying it has this or that but there is nothing like that in the film," said the "Bhoomi" actress.



"Padmavati" features Deepika Padukone in the title role as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji with Aditi Rao Hydari and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles.



The film is scheduled for release on December 1.


New Delhi: Realtors' body CREDAI and NAREDCO on Thursday hailed the government's decision to hike carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, saying the move would help middle income buyers and help the sector in clearing unsold homes.

NAREDCO's Chairman Rajeev Talwar and President Niranjan Hiranandani said this decision would help in meeting the aspiration of millions of MIG (middle income group) home buyers.

"This decision of government, besides helping in clearing unsold stock, will also encourage developers to launch new projects and boost economy, GDP growth and employment," they said, adding that the move would now bring the entire demand for affordable housing under the interest subvention scheme.

CREDAI's President Jaxay Shah said: "Housing for All by 2022 has taken a huge leap forward by the increase in unit size of MIG Houses under Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme."

"The average middle class in smaller towns and cities would now be able to afford bigger and better quality homes than before," Shah added.

The Cabinet today approved the enhancement of the carpet area of houses for the middle income group (MIG) category under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).

Under the MIG-I category, the carpet area has been enhanced from 90 sq meter to 120 sq meter. Under the MIG-II segment, it has been raised to 150 sq meter from 110 sq meter.

Under the MIG-I category, a 4 percent interest subsidy is provided to the beneficiaries having an annual income of Rs 6-12 lakh and up to Rs 9 lakh loan. Under the MIG-II category, the beneficiaries with an annual income of Rs 12-18 lakh get 3 percent interest subsidy on loans up to Rs 12 lakh.

Commenting on the development, Tata Housing MD and CEO Brotin Banerjee said: "After the extension of interest subsidy under the CLSS scheme to MIG, the decision to approve an increase of carpet area eligible under this scheme will be definitely an important financial impetus for buyers looking at ready to move homes, especially in high-density cities."

Ramesh Nair, CEO and Country Head, JLL India, said: "In line with promoting the Housing for All agenda on a more inclusive basis, the central government has made further modifications to the CLSS scheme for Mid Income Group."

Anshuman Magazine, Chairman, India and South East Asia, CBRE, said this move is set to attract more buyers as they will benefit immensely by getting bigger homes in accessible rates.

"To achieve the vision of 'Housing for All', such schemes and benefits open up the market for buyers and further strengthen the spirit of the sector," he added.

Gagan Banga, VC and MD Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd, said the Cabinet's decision is a massive positive for the macros of housing.

"The home buyer now has a larger pool of prospective houses to choose from. The fence sitters specially, who were delaying their home purchase will now be given a further push," he added.
New Delhi: Google, Facebook and other tech firms joined global news organizations Thursday in an initiative aimed at identifying "trustworthy" news sources, in the latest effort to combat online misinformation.

Microsoft and Twitter also agreed to participate in the "Trust Project" with some 75 news organizations to tag news stories which meet standards for ethics and transparency.

"In today`s digitized and socially networked world, it`s harder than ever to tell what`s accurate reporting, advertising, or even misinformation," said Sally Lehrman of Santa Clara University`s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, the project leader.

"An increasingly skeptical public wants to know the expertise, enterprise and ethics behind a news story."

Each online platform will develop "trust indicators" to help readers "assess whether news comes from a credible source they can depend on," Lehrman added.

News organizations participating include the Washington Post, Mic and the Independent Journal Review in the US, Canada`s Globe and Mail, the German press agency DPA, the Economist, Italy`s La Repubblica and La Stampa, and Trinity Mirror, which includes the Mirror newspapers in Britain.

Participants agree to core practices including transparency on funding and disclosure of the mission of the organization; details about the journalists behind stories; labeling of opinion and factual articles, and references on how the reporting is carried out.

"News consumers need a way to tell media companies what we expect from them, the types of news we can count on and will pay for," said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist, whose philanthropic fund was an early supporter of the effort.

Other funding comes from Google, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Democracy Fund and the Markkula Foundation.Google, Twitter and Facebook have come under fire for allowing the spread of bogus news -- some of which was directed by Russia -- ahead of the 2016 US election and in other countries.

Google`s vice president for news Richard Gingras said the yet-to-be determined labels will help the online search giant "to better understand authoritative journalism, and help us to better surface it to consumers."

Alex Hardiman, head of news products at Facebook, called the initiative "a great next step in our ongoing efforts overall to enhance people`s understanding of the sources and trustworthiness of news on our platform."

Greg Sterling, a contributing editor for the Search Engine Land blog, said the effort is good but may be "too complex to accomplish its ultimate objective."

"Readers should be able to see what`s behind the labeling scheme, but they should be able to tell at a glance whether an item is from a credible source, not have to spend time evaluating it based on a range of factors that may be obscure to them," Sterling wrote.
New Delhi: Dismissing reports that Google removed its app from its Play Store over data security concerns, Alibaba-owned UCWeb said on Thursday a certain setting of the app was not in line with Google`s policy and it will be back on Play Store next week.

"The exact reason for UC Browser`s unavailability on Google Play is because of a certain setting of UC Browser that was not in line with Google`s policy. The reason for the removal has nothing to do with alleged data security breach or malicious promotion," a UCWeb spokesperson told IANS.

The app was de-listed from Google Play store on Tuesday night. There were media reports that Google removed the application because of data security issues.

"We would like to state that we have no records of anyone named `Mike Ross` claiming to be working for UC Browser, as mentioned in some reports. The person claiming to be working for UC Browser is in no way associated with the firm nor represent the views of the company," the spokesperson added.

"The allegations of misleading and malicious promotions by the said person are completely false and baseless. UC Browser new product package will be back on Google Play next week and, in the interim, users and partners can download the product from our website http://www.ucweb.com," the company said.

When contacted, Google said in a statement: "Our policies are designed to provide a safe and positive experience for users. That`s why we remove apps from Google Play that violate those policies."

UCWeb, however, clarified that the new version has been uploaded on Google Play`s "Developer Console" and was awaiting evaluation. Meanwhile, UC Browser Mini and UC News from the same group are still available online for download.

UC Browser claims to have a bigger base than Google Chrome and over 43 per cent market share in India. Out of its 500 million downloads, 100 million are from India alone.

In January, Alibaba announced Rs 2 billion investment to build UCWeb in India and Indonesia over the next two years.
New Delhi: Bigg Boss season 11 has sparked off numerous controversies right from the beginning. The Bigg Boss house this season has witnessed a plethora of arguments.

And amidst this chaos is the blossoming 'love' between Bandgi Kalra and Puneesh Sharma. Bandgi, who lives in Mumbai has been reportedly kicked out of her rented house.

The landlord has said that as soon as she comes back from the show, she will have to vacate the house.

Bollywoodlife reports that Bandgi has been kicked out of the house in Mumbai because she is a bad influence on the children.

We see Bandgi and Puneesh getting cosy inside the house almost every day. The 'couple' was even seen talking dirty in a video posted on Instagram.

What's more serious is the report that Bandgi's father has been hospitalised.

Bollywoodlife quotes the source as saying, Bandgi is a resident of a small town in Punjab. Her father holds a taluka from the middle-class family and is very angry with his family after seeing her antics on the show. Because of Bandgi, the society is pointing fingers and gossiping about the Kalras and her father couldnt seem to take all this pressure. He recently had to be admitted to a hospital because of all this.

However, we can't vouch for the authenticity of the claim made by the source. Only time shall reveal the truth.
NEW DELHI: A BJP leader along with his security guard from Greater Noida was on Thursday shot dead by bike-borne assailants.

The incident took place at Greater Noida's Bisrakh. The leader was identified as Shiva Kumar.

Following the firing, Kumar's car lost balance and hit a divider.

#SpotVisuals: BJP leader Shiva Kumar and his security guard shot dead by bike borne assailants in Greater Noida's Bisrakh; Kumar's car lost balance & hit a divider after shots were fired. pic.twitter.com/GlvrMWJP0h  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 16, 2017

Earlier on November 2, the district president of BJP youth wing was killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

Terrorists slit the throat of BJP's Shopian youth president Gowhar Ahmad Bhat.

Bhat had played a crucial role in organising first BJP state youth convention recently.
AYODHYA: Spiritual teacher Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Thursday said that most Muslims are not opposing the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. "I know some may not agree with this, but Muslims by and large are not opposing the Ram temple," Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said.

He added that a solution may sometimes seem impossible "but our people, youth and leaders of both communities can make it possible."

The Art of Living founder on Thursday held an interaction with all stakeholders of the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya to resolve the issue. His visit comes even as the Supreme Court is due to hear the case on December 5.

He said that the mediation talks had begun but it is too early to reach a conclusion."The environment is positive. People want to come out of this conflict. I know it is not easy. Let me talk to everyone. It is too early to reach a conclusion," he had said earlier in the day.

Ravi Shankar had proposed to hold open talks with stakeholders in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. He had made the announcement on the sidelines of his lecture to students of a university.

He had pressed that he did not have an agenda and would listen to everybody.

While the visit has been applauded by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it has been criticised by opposition leaders.

Ahead of Sri Sri's meeting with all stakeholders on Thursday, he had met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the latter's residence in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati said on Thursday that her party favoured joining hands with secular parties to check "communal parties" in Lok Sabha and state polls but only if it gets a respectable number of seats to contest.

She said that even in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls her party leader Satish Mishra held talks with senior Congressman Ahmed Patel but the outcome was not encouraging.

"Our party is in favour of fighting the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in alliance with any secular party, but only when it gets a respectable number of seats in seat sharing or else it would go alone," Mayawati was quoted in a party release issued here.

The BSP president who today convened a meeting of senior party leaders to pass directions for the coming urban local bodies polls, which the party is contesting on its "elephant" symbol for the first time, said that any partymen entering the fray as independents will be expelled.

Referring to recent efforts at seat sharing, she said that the Congress did not approve sharing 25 seats in Gujarat and 10 in Himachal Pradesh, all which it had lost in the previous polls.

Senior BSP leader S C Mishra held detailed talks with Ahmed Patel of the Congress and dejected over the results he has now stopped advocating contesting elections in alliance, she said.

"Mishra is also unhappy with the stance of the Samajwadi Party in this matter...The past experience with the SP has also not been good," the former chief minister said.

She claimed that contesting in alliance had not benefitted her party in the past, therefore it was better than the BSP contests the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls alone for which it will work towards increasing support base among the "sarv samaj" like in the 2007 UP Assembly polls.

Following the BJP spectacular performance in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and then the state polls, earlier this year, there has been much speculation that BSP may enter into an alliance with parties like the Congress and the SP in the forthcoming polls.

The BSP president also took the opportunity to inform her partymen that her coming birthday on January 15 will be celebrated as "Jan Kalyankari Divas" like earlier years and valuable gifts will not be accepted.

"Instead, partymen need to work hard to strengthen the party and get the master key of power...That will be the most valuable present for me," she said.

Exhorting partymen to foil BJP "tactics and the misuse of official machinery" in the urban local bodies elections, she alleged that ever since the saffron party had come to power, it had become a bigger "jumlebaaz" (empty rhetoric) party which is out to tarnish the image of opposition leaders instead of working for the people.

She termed BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' or manifesto for the urban local elections an "eyewash" issued by a party that had failed to fulfil its promises.

She alleged that along with a "casteist" BJP, a section of the media was also trying to tarnish the image of the BSP leadership by raising baseless allegations.

"Under such a design, a canard is being spread that the BSP chief is pushing up her brother and nephew in the party organisation...Everyone knows that the BSP is not a family based party like the Congress and SP...Responsibility has been given to Anand Kumar (brother) out of compulsion, as a strong and mature leadership which can take the responsibility is not yet ready," she added.
Ayodhya: Former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti has once again rejected Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's offer to mediate in the Ayodhya dispute case and said that he should rather focus on running his own NGO the Art of Living (AOL).

Who is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to mediate? He should continue to run his NGO and receive foreign funds, Ram Vilas Vedanti told ANI on Thursday.

Further attacking the AOL founder, the UP-based saint alleged that Sri Sri has amassed huge wealth from foreign funding, and by offering to mediate in the Ram Temple issue, he was just trying to save himself from a government probe.

''I believe he has amassed a lot of wealth and to avoid a probe he has jumped into the http://zeenews.india.com/india/efforts-to-resolve-dispute-welcome-but-wont-surrender-claim-on-ayodhya-muslim-personal-law-board-2057360.htmlRamTemple issue,'' Vedanti said.

The Art of Living founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, does not qualify to mediate on the matter as he has never been associated with the movement, Vedanti, who has been associated with the Ram Temple movement, had earlier said.

"How can someone who has never been associated with the movement and never had darshan of the Ram Lalla mediate on the matter of temple construction...we have gone to jail for it, faced house arrest and have been fighting court cases ...Sri Sri does not qualify to mediate on the matter," Vedanti said.

"We want Muslim religious leaders to come forward. We will sit together and discuss the issue...We want Hindus and Muslims together to find a solution to the dispute and that temple is constructed on the basis of mutual agreement," he said.

Vedanti also said the Ram Temple movement has been led by the Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas and Vishva Hindu Parishad and these two organisations should get an opportunity to hold a dialogue on the issue.

Importantly, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) have earlier opposed an out of the court settlement of the issue.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is slated to visit Ayodhya today. The AoL founder had on Wednesday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow.

Ravi Shankar has recently interacted with several Hindu groups on the Babri Masjib-Ram Janmabhoomi issue ahead of his visit to Ayodhya.

Following the meeting, Adityanath had said that talks were the only way out to find a solution to the dispute. If talks fail, let court take a decision on Ayodhya, the UP CM told Zee News.

Adityanath also said that he was ready to provide all necessary support to stakeholders involved in negotiations.

The Art of Living Foundation had last week said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been in touch with several imams and swamis, including Acharya Ram Das of Nirmohi Akhara, to help find an out-of-court settlement to the Ram Temple dispute.
Islamabad: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew has expressed his country's inability to control the advertisements about Balochistan in London.

"I understand the strength of feeling about adverts in London. The British Government does not and cannot control advertising in the UK. But our own position is clear about the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, of which Balochistan is and will continue to be an integral part," Saama TV quoted Drew as saying in response to concerns about advertisements about Balochistan in London.

This comes after the World Baloch Organisation launched the third phase of its #FreeBalochistan advertising campaign, in spite of attempts to ban and censor its adverts by the Pakistan Government.

More than 100 London buses are carrying adverts that say "Free Balochistan", "Save The Baloch People" and "Stop Enforced Disappearances".

Bhawal Mengal, spokesperson for the World Baloch Organisation (WBO), said, "This is the third phase of our London campaign to raise awareness about Pakistan`s human right abuses in Balochistan and the right of the Baloch people to self-determination. We started with taxi adverts, and then did roadside billboards and now we are advertising on London buses."

"The attempts by the Pakistan Government to pressure the UK to ban our adverts have failed. The campaign is powering ahead and will continue for weeks to come. The bullying tactics of Pakistan are an attack on freedom of expression. This is a peaceful advertising campaign."
India will be asking for a hotline connecting the army headquarters of India and China at the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India China Border Affairs (WMCC).

By Sudhi Ranjan Sen: India will be asking for a hotline connecting the army headquarters of India and China at the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India China Border Affairs (WMCC).

WMCC will be the first major bilateral meeting between the two countries after a 73-day stand-off in the Doklam plateau in Bhutan, sources have told India Today.

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Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan are already connected through a hotline. The DGMOs of India and Pakistan talk to each other at least once a week to flag and sort out issues between the two armies who are deployed eye-ball to eye-ball along the Line of Control- the de-facto border between India and Pakistan.

The WMCC mechanism setup in 2012 by the Manmohan Singh government looks at "ways and means to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between military personnel and establishments" and explores "possibilities of cooperation in the border areas agreed upon by the two sides". The WMCC meeting is scheduled at the end of this month, sources said. The Indian delegation will be led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) and will have representation from the military operations wing of the Indian Army.

Along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China, de-facto border, there are five Border-Personnel Meeting (BPM) points - Depsang in sub-sector north, Sappangur Gap in eastern Ladakh, Nathu La in Sikkim and Bumla and Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh. These are used by local commanders to flag and sort out local issues and iron out differing perception of the border.

"The BPM are used to sort out immediate tactical level issues, there is need for a more strategic level interaction between the two armies for better understanding and cooperation," sources told India Today.

Also, DGMOs in their interaction are better placed to "reflect the broader thinking of respective governments paving way for better understanding," the source said.

The WMCC meeting also reflects that bilateral relations between India and China that had suffered a major setback because of the Doklam plateau stand-off is now back on track. At the height of the Doklam stand-off Prime Minister Modi personally took up the issue with President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Hamburg setting off hectic diplomatic negotiations leading to Doklam stand-off being resolved.

When India first unofficially presented its demand for a hotline connecting the army headquarters, Beijing gave a lukewarm response.

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While China too is keen for more military to military exchanges, it wants hotlines to connect its Western Theater Command headquartered in Chengdu in the Sichuan province.

--- ENDS ---
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday praised China's decision to send a special envoy to its wayward ally North Korea days after he had pressed Beijing to do more to curb Pyongyang's nuclear threats.

"China is sending an Envoy and Delegation to North Korea - A big move, we'll see what happens!" he tweeted.

China's foreign ministry yesterday announced President Xi Jinping's special envoy, Song Tao, will travel to Pyongyang this week to brief officials about last month's Chinese Communist Party congress and "other issues of mutual concern."

Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not say whether the nuclear issue would be discussed but he said China was "committed to the denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability of the peninsula, and resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation."

Pressed for details today, Geng re-affirmed the two nations' close ties in a statement that appeared to downplay the suggestion of a tough approach.

"China and DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) are close neighbors," he said.

"Developing friendly cooperation relations between the two countries serves the common interests of the two countries and is conducive to regional peace, stability and development," he added.

Trump has called on the region to take a united stance against the threat posed by isolated North Korea, which has sparked global alarm with its nuclear and missile tests in recent months.

China has backed a series of United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang and imposed banking restrictions on North Koreans, putting the Cold War-era allies at odds.

Song will be the first Chinese envoy to make an official trip to North Korea since October 2016, when vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin visited. Xi has never met Kim.

China's announcement came a day after Trump completed a five-nation tour of Asia which he has trumpeted as a major success.
Jerusalem: Israel`s military chief of staff said in an interview Thursday that his country was prepared to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to face Iran`s plans "to control the Middle East."

"We are ready to exchange experience with the moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence information to face Iran," Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot said in an interview with Elaph, a Saudi-run news site.

Asked whether information was shared with Saudi Arabia recently, he said "we are ready to share information if necessary. There are many common interests between us and them."

Israel`s army confirmed the contents of the interview. Israel and Saudi Arabia have no official diplomatic ties.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday made a televised address on his 12-day journey to Asia. What he said for 20 minutes of his accomplishments did not make the news but his pause did.

Partway through his remarks, Trump paused as cameras rolled to have a drink. Initially, he could not see water on his podium, but then the reporters present there pointed a bottle that was kept on a table next to him.

Thirsty Trump reached for the bottle of water and sipped.

However, him sipping water brought back memories from 2013 when US Senator Marco Rubio stopped in the middle of a sentence to drink water. Last year, Trump had mocked Rubio, who ran against him for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, calling him a "total choke artist" for drinking water.

Seeing Trump in the awkward position, Rubio did not miss a chance to take a jibe on the US President. "Similar, but needs work on his form. Has to be done in one single motion & eyes should never leave the camera. But not bad for his 1st time," Rubio wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

Similar,but needs work on his form.Has to be done in one single motion & eyes should never leave the camera. But not bad for his 1st time https://t.co/s49JtyRo3S  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 15, 2017

Trump sipping water has left the social media talking.

Dear @realdonaldtrump,



You having to use two hands to hold a water bottle makes a couple things clear.



Marco Rubio has bigger hands than Trump.

So do I.

So does everyone reading this.



Sincerely,

Fred



PS: If you need help writing a resignation letter, I'm available.  Frederick Douglass (@gettinnoticedmo) November 15, 2017

So, to be clear, trump's word salad right now, which is mixed with constant sniffles, what appears to be obvious cotton mouth and a robust thirst for water, is an entire self praise, self worship, me me me, I'm great speech mixed with a tour of Asia. What the hell is?  Ricky Davila __ (@TheRickyDavila) November 15, 2017

Trump made fun of Marco Rubio for needing water! BAHAHA pic.twitter.com/hkcNlC7tbT  Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) November 15, 2017

Trump makes Senator Rubio look like a world champion water drinker compared to his clumsy display. Has the man never opened a bottle of water before? https://t.co/iUVMPFUssH November 15, 2017

If u don't think the water stunt was strategic, u don't get Trump. All his moves are significant, no accidents & he's a master troll! __ pic.twitter.com/jqDlmJxZwl  LIZ THE_IS HERE!!__ (@LizCrokin) November 16, 2017

And Donald Trump drinks water like my child drinks out of a sippy cup...



Good night Twitter.  Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) November 16, 2017

I don't care that Trump needed water during a speech. What struck me was how odd he handled drinking a bottle of water. He seemed to struggle with some motor skills there.  Allen Clifton (@Allen_Clifton) November 16, 2017

Some even commented that he chose an imported refreshment - Fiji Water - during a speech in which one of the main themes was a pledge to reduce US trade deficits with foreign nations.

Newsflash: Trump drinks Fijian water, not American water.  Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) November 15, 2017

The White House has chosen not to respond to requests of social media users on Trump's water drinking.
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with EAM Sushma Swarajs comments)

Washington, Nov 16 (PTI) A 21-year-old Indian student has been shot dead allegedly by four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, at a grocery store in the US state of California, according to a media report.

Dharampreet Singh Jasser was on duty at a grocery store next to a gas station in Fresno city in California on Tuesday night when four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, barged in to loot the store, local daily Fresnobee reported.

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Jasser reportedly hid behind the cash counter but was shot by one of the four robbers while they were leaving the service station after looting cash and goods, the report said.

The incident was reported to the police yesterday when a customer who had stopped by to buy some goods, discovered Jassers body on the floor.

Commenting on the incident, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said she has received a detailed report on the "unfortunate death" of Jasper.

"It was a case of armed robbery of a gas station in which the robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there. The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin," she tweeted.

"We are following up further investigation by the police and will extend all help to the family of the deceased," the minister said.

Originally from Punjab, Jasser was a student of accounting and had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

Police have arrested 22-year-old Indian-origin Athwal, who is believed to be one of the four suspects who looted the gas station and fired multiple shots one of which hit Jasser.

Police said a Fresno County Sheriffs deputy saw media coverage of the incident on Tuesday and recognised some similarities between the suspects from the incident and Athwal, the Madera County Sheriffs Office said.

Madera Sheriffs detectives were contacted and determined Athwal is the likely suspect in the shooting.

A warrant has been obtained for the suspect and he will be transferred to the Madera Department of Corrections, the report said.

Athwal has been charged with murder and robbery.

"Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery," Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said.

Detectives continue to search for other suspects and any further information related to this case, the Sheriffs Office said. PTI UZM ZH

--- ENDS ---
By India Today Web Desk: It was only last evening that Janhvi Kapoor's Bollywood debut was officially launched by producer Karan Johar. Dhadak, which is said to the remake of hit Marathi film Sairat, will go on floors in December. But before she begins shooting for debut project, Janhvi is also in news for another film. Buzz has it that Janhvi might romance Ranveer Singh in Rohit Shetty's next, which is an official remake of Telugu film Temper.

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Shetty, who tasted success with his last release Golmaal Again, has begin working on his next, and has rubbished the rumours of casting Janhvi in his film. He told Mid-Day, "I don't know where this news came from. I have not finalised the leading lady. The cast will be decided only when the final draft is ready early next year."

While he hasn't finalised his leading lady, a few weeks ago, Shetty announced that he is working with Ranveer. It is for the first time that the two have collaborated for a film. Ranveer will essay the role of a corrupt police official and Shetty thinks he is best suited for the role. "The script is best suited for Ranveer. It is an out-and-out action masala entertainer, a kind that he hasn't attempted before. We will include amazing action sequences, and given the kind of energy and enthusiasm that Ranveer has, I'm sure he'll do justice to the part," added the filmmaker.

Though Shetty has bought the right of NTR's Telugu film, the filmmaker says that it won't be an exact remake. "Around 20 per cent of the original story will be retained; the rest will be amended to suit our audience. We will start rolling next year," he said.

The film will hit the screens in December 2018, and is set to clash with Sara Ali Khan-Sushant Singh Rajput's Kedarnath and Shah Rukh Khan-Anushka Sharma-Katrina's Kaif next with Aanand L Rai.

ALSO WATCH: Star kids are B-Town's next big thing, Priyanka meets PM Modi

--- ENDS ---
November 12, 2017

Lebanese call for Hariri's return

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have the impression that the United States, and perhaps Israel, has his back in his recent statements and actions, which are increasing the risk of miscalculation or conflict. Absent some clear red lines, the Trump administration may find itself on a slippery slope toward confrontation with Iran or unrest in Lebanon because of decisions made in Riyadh, not Washington.

The actions of the past week, including claims of two "acts of war" against Saudi Arabia from Yemen and Lebanon, and the arrests and asset seizures of over 200 prominent Saudi princes and businessmen, come as "the kingdom is at a crossroads," as Bruce Riedel writes. "Its economy has flatlined with low oil prices; the war in Yemen is a quagmire; the blockade of Qatar is a failure; Iranian influence is rampant in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq; and the succession is a question mark. It is the most volatile period in Saudi history in over a half-century."

Despite this volatility and checkered record, US President Donald Trump expressed "great confidence" that King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud and the crown prince "know exactly what they are doing" when news of the purge broke. Mohammed may have been emboldened when the White House blamed Iran for the introduction of missiles, and more, in Yemen, which the United States will raise with the UN Security Council. In Lebanon, Mohammed probably hoped that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation would back the charge that the country is Hezbollah-occupied territory. Thus, the kingdom would capitalize on the Trump administration's increased focus on Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, including sanctions legislation making its way through the Congress, as Jack Detsch reports. Israel, preoccupied with Hezbollah's expanded capabilities as a result of the war in Syria, would also be a silent partner in Saudi efforts to isolate and pressure Hezbollah.

But the seemingly contrived crisis in Lebanon may have been a bridge too far, even for the Trump administration. The scripted nature of Hariri's resignation made his claims of a threat on his life ring hollow. Many believe he is being held in Riyadh against his will, along with the princes and business leaders who have also been detained. The international community did not rally around the crown prince. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres instead warned of potential "devastating consequences" if there is a new conflict in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron, who traveled to Riyadh to meet with Hariri and Mohammed, said he did not share the kingdom's "very harsh opinions of Iran."

The United States may also have stepped back from the initial claims of "great confidence" in Saudi actions. While US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson blamed Iran for much of the turmoil in the region, he said, All the parties need to be careful about characterizing the start of yet another new war. My input would be lets be a little more cautious about what we say. The State Department warned of using Lebanon as a base for "proxy conflicts" that could contribute to instability.

The Trump administration should send a clear signal to the crown prince that the United States does not necessarily have his back in any and all confrontations with Iran, while urging a try at diplomacy between Tehran and Riyadh, which is essential and long overdue. The US return to the Middle East should not be at the behest of Mohammed. Without American or Israeli muscle to count on, the crown prince might think twice. Iran  by backing the Houthi rebels  reveals daily, at relatively low cost, the limits of the kingdoms military and diplomatic capabilities in settling the conflict in the poorest country in the region, right on the Saudi border.

In regard to Lebanon, we have been writing here since 2014 about the emergence of a new "social contract" in Lebanon that aims for good governance and that considers diversity as a source of strength, not weakness. As we wrote here last year, the arrangement that led to Hariri's return as prime minister presented a "rare opportunity." It hasn't been perfect, but it has been a step forward. The Lebanese across the political spectrum aren't buying what Mohammed is selling in this crisis  a further sign that this progress continues. Hariri could revive and indeed energize his, and his country's, political fortunes by returning to Lebanon  if he is able to do so.

Israel, Assad back Syrias Druze

Ben Caspit reports, Added to Israel's firm red line on a Syrian transfer of tiebreaking weapons to Hezbollah, the world has now learned of another no less firm boundary: Dont touch the Druze.

On Nov. 3, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they were prepared and ready to help the residents of the village [of Hader].  It will prevent the occupation of the village or any attempts to harm it, out of a commitment to its Druze population."

That Israel has not been sucked into the Syrian war, which has raged across its northern border for the past six years, is a first-rate strategic achievement, Caspit explains. Israel's government has somehow managed to remain outside the circle of bloodletting despite the frequent drizzle of mortar and artillery fire onto the Israeli side of the Golan Heights, despite the veritable War of Armageddon being fought along the border of the Golan Heights between various rebel groups, despite the reported increase in Israeli aerial attacks on arms convoys from Syria to Hezbollah, and despite at least two attempts by Hezbollah to open a second front against Israel on the Golan Heights. It did this while maintaining its capacity for deterrence on the one hand and by sticking to the red lines that it established on the other. That is no small feat.

The residents of Hader are loyal to the Assad regime, Caspit continues. The Druze constitute a small minority in many Middle Eastern states, and their strategy for survival has been simple: loyalty to the central government. The Druze in Israel have a blood alliance with the Zionist state, which considers them its most loyal citizens and its bravest soldiers.  Rebel forces, mainly from Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the al-Qaeda affiliate formerly called Jabhat al-Nusra, attacked Hader on Nov. 3.  The public statement [by the IDF] had the desired effect. The Jabhat Fatah al-Sham assault was blocked and dispersed by local fighters, and Hader residents were able to regain control of the routes leading to the village. Tensions have since decreased, but the Golan Heights front is still seething, and the Assad regime is trying to establish control along the Israeli border.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed two National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisions that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union broke laws during job actions at Oregons Port of Portland.



The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Nov. 6 affirmed two National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisions that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) is guilty of violating labor laws during job actions carried out in 2012 and 2013 at Oregons Port of Portland.

Terminal operator ICTSI said the D.C. Circuit Court upheld the NLRBs findings that the ILWU had engaged in deliberate work stoppages and slowdowns, made false safety claims, and engaged in other coercive conduct against ICTSI Oregon and its customers.

ICTSI Oregon is the former operator of Terminal 6 at Oregons Port of Portland.

We are extremely pleased with the D.C. Circuit decisions because this means that the court, as well as the NLRB, confirmed our position that the ILWUs actions at Terminal 6 violated federal labor law, ICTSI Oregon CEO Elvis Ganda said. Our effort continues in federal court here in Portland to hold the ILWU accountable and obtain compensation for the harm it has done.

The ILWU said it would appeal the courts decision.

Its ironic that ICTSI is sounding self-righteous when the United States Department of Labor, through OSHA, found ICTSI guilty of several serious safety violations in Portland, and ICTSI workers around the world have accused the company of safety violations, mass firings, poverty wages, and violations of international labor codes, the union said in a statement.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. President of Moldova Igor Dodon and First lady Galina Dodon visited the Yerevan Brandy Company on November 10 where they were introduced on the history of the Armenian Ararat brandy and production process.

I already feel the smell of brandy, President Dodon said while entering the factory.

Igor Dodon got acquainted with the Barrel of Peace which was established in 2001 in honor of the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. It is called peace, since it will be opened only when the Karabakh conflict will be resolved.

President Igor Dodon left his signature on the factorys memory book.

Arno Tadevosyan, manager at the Ararat Museum, said the Moldovan President was impressed by the visit. Igor Dodon was really excited: he photographed his personal barrel.

We have introduced the President on the history of Armenian brandy, as well as what role the Yerevan Brandy Company and Ararat have in Armenia and abroad. We have tasted the brandy and shared our impressions, Arno Tadevosyan told Armenpress.

He handed over to the President a brandy from the factorys exclusive series corresponding to the date of his birth.

I think when a leader of any country visits the company, it already speaks about the status of that company, Arno Tadevosyan said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Russia are united in praising the multilateral partnership of the two countries. Bilateral ties are successfully and dynamically developing in all directions, both in bilateral format and multilaterally on the sidelines of organizations  CIS, CSTO, EEU, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his opening remarks at the grand opening of Armenian Culture Days in Russia, which took place in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Russia and Armenia are united by truly allied relations. Our countries are heartily seeking mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthening of collegial strategic partnership in all directions. We are united by a common history of many centuries, spiritual friendship, sincere interest towards each others traditions and customs. The human, friendship, family ties, which go deep into the centuries, are passed down from generation to generation. And the special interest which we give to humanitarian cooperation is no coincidence, preservation of close ties in the fields of arts, culture, and education, Putin said.

He reminded that April 2017 marked the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia, the in August  the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Aid.

The Armenian Culture Days are another chance for Russian citizens to get to know the historic-cultural legacy of the ancient people of our friendly country. And here I would like to stress the richness and diversity of the upcoming events, which will be held throughout Russia until the end of November. These are performances of the Yerevan Drama Theater, the state youth orchestra and dance ensemble, film screenings, exhibitions of valuable items and national dresses. Today, the performance of the Hover state chamber choir was successfully held in the Armenian Apostolic Church complex of Moscow. The exhibition of USSR Peoples Artist, renowned painter Martiros Saryan is being opened in the Tretyakov Gallery, who united the Russian school style, Eastern traditions and the European Arts of the 20th century with an organic style in his work. His work, name is our common legacy. And certainly, the pride of both Armenia and Russia, the president said.

He stressed that it is similar events that unite and draw closer two countries, and create honest emotions among people, serve for strengthening friendship and cooperation.

Putin expressed certainty that the humanitarian field will play an important role soon also in the partnership.

Putin handed over the famous painting of Mikhail Vrubel to the Armenian President. The painting was stolen in 1995 from the Russian Arts Museum in Yerevan. I am happy to hand over today Mikhail Vrubels Demon and Angel with Tamars Soul. It was painted in 1891 and is from the range of illustrations made under Mikhail Lermontovs Demon. More than 20 years ago it was stolen from the Russian Arts Museum in Yerevan. The painting was found last year. The best restoration specialists of the Tretyakov Gallery returned the painting to its original look. And now, visitors of Yerevans Museum of Russian Arts will once again be able to see the painting of the famous Russian painter, he said.

The Russian president thanked all participants and organizers of the event.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The third session of the parliaments sitting began with 82 MPs in attendance. At the beginning of the session, the Armenian lawmakers welcomed the delegation of the Netherlands parliament.

Lawmakers will continue debating the 2018 state budget draft.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Savory hospital of Istanbul Bedros Shirinoglu on November 15 met with Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Hakan Cavusoglu, as well as some of the advisors of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Agos reports.

According to Agos, such meetings in the context of existing difficulties on organizing the election of Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul are under attention.

It is supposed that the meeting agenda focused on the community elections and the election of the Armenian Patriarch. The meeting with the Turkish Deputy PM lasted two hours. Its important to note that after the meeting no statement was released by Shirinoglus office.

In a period when there are so many questions over the process of the patriarchal elections, the persons and society engaged in this process are interested in the meeting details. Its worth mentioning that neither the patriarchal locum tenens Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan nor the community leaders were aware of the meeting, Agos writes. The newspaper titled the news as Secret meetings in Ankara.

Bedros Shirinoglu is famous for his close ties with the Turkish ruling circles. On January 18, 2017 he met with President Erdogan in the Presidential Palace. Erdogan promised to deal with the issue of the patriarchal election after the April constitutional referendum. However, the issue of patriarchal election is still unresolved.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. There is a certain activeness by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenian deputy foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan told reporters after todays Cabinet meeting, reports Armenpress.

Asked what is the reason of the activeness of the Co-Chairs, the deputy FM said: It is already several years not only there is no progress in the negotiation process, but also the situation in many cases is explosive the evidence of which are the April events. From this point of view, they have to be worried, especially when the three Co-Chair countries are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Its normal that for them the resumption of military operations is completely unacceptable.

The deputy FM said the expectation, as well as that of the Co-Chairs, is to have a progress in the negotiation process, and for this trust is needed between the sides which in its turn supposes the implementation of the Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements.

There are no talks on the meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. There is no talk on the meetings of the Presidents, the fact that the Co-Chairs meet separately with the two foreign ministers, doesnt rule out the possibility that the mediators may propose a meeting of the FMs. We will announce if it is held, the deputy FM said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. President of the Senate of Netherlands Ankie Broekers-Knol hopes Armenia thanks to its unique position will soon become a bridge between the European Union, on the one hand, Russia, on the other hand, and other Eurasian countries, reports Armenpress.

This is my first visit to Armenia, and although I have not seen yet much, I can state that it is a very beautiful country. I am very impressed with the history of this ancient country and the fact that it was the first to adopt the Christianity as a state religion. This year is really important since we mark the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries: the talk is about the firm ties and friendship between our countries. And I hope the important agreement on enhanced relations [Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership agreement] will be signed within two weeks which will strengthen education, security and other spheres in Armenia, she told reporters in the Armenian Parliament after the meeting with Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan.
By PTI: Jammu, Nov 16 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP today hit out at Farooq Abdullah for his remarks that 70 years had passed but India could not get back PoK, saying that it was the NC Chiefs father Sheikh Abdullah who convinced first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to announce a unilateral ceasefire when the Indian Army was poised to liberate PoK.

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State Spokesperson of J&K BJP Anil Gupta said the wavering stand and conflicting statements of Abdullah, MP and President of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, were pushing the Kashmiri youth towards extremism.

"The lingering fear of Kashmiri speaking Muslims becoming a minority and Sheikh Abdullah virtually losing the race to Premiership to some non-Kashmiri speaking leader made Sheikh convince the then Prime Minister Nehru to announce a unilateral ceasefire, when Indian Army was poised to liberate the remaining parts of the state, resulting in creation of PoJK," he said.

"Rather than liberating POJK as promised by his father and the unanimous resolution passed byAIndian Parliament, Abdullah has meekly submitted to the PakAnarrative which has added to the confusion of Kashmiri youth," he said.

Gupta said Abdullahs recent statements have added to the confusion of Kashmiri youth who are already faced with a dilemma of politics versus religion.

"Let down by politicians like Farooq and other members of his bandwagon, they are gravitating towards radicalisation. Terrorists like Zakir Musa are emerging as new icons. The reality is that disillusioned Kashmiri youth is looking for direction," he added.

The BJP leader said that the youth wanted to join the national mainstream but when leaders like Abdullah parrot the Pakistani leaders and make pro-Pakistan statements, they are compelled to re-think.

"After the Prime Minister of Pakistan denounced the concept of "Azadi" for Kashmir, he also came out with a ditto statement unmindful of his earlier statements on the subject," he said.

Gupata said Abdullah was repeatedly talking of Pakistan as a nuclear nation, giving credence to the statements of Pakistan political and military leadership resorting to nuclear blackmail of India.

"Nuclear weapons are weapons of deterrence and not war- fighting, Abdullah should stop creating fear psychosis among the common masses," he said. PTI AB MRJ

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. There is a great potential to develop the relations between Armenia and Netherlands at different directions, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ara Babloyan told reporters after the meeting with president of the Senate of Netherlands Ankie Broekers-Knol, Armenpress reports.

The visit of the delegation led by the president of the Senate of Netherlands to Armenia is taking place on the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. I hope it will significantly contribute to further deepening and developming the inter-parliamentary and inter-state ties of our countries putting a base for close mutual relations. Summing up the meeting I would like to state that it was quite productive, and I am convinced that it will have its visible results in the future. We and our partners attach importance to the cooperation between the parliaments of our countries at bilateral and multilateral formats within the frames of international organizations. Our parliaments will make more active efforts on this path, Ara Babloyan said. I am confident that this visit will give new impetus to the relations of the two friendly countries in the future.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Justice minister Davit Harutyunyan on November 16 held a meeting with newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote, press service of the ministry told Armenpress.

The minister congratulated the Ambassador on assuming the post and expressed confidence that he will continue developing the firm cooperation of the two countries.

The French Ambassador thanked the minister for the warm reception and assured that all his efforts will be directed for strengthening and expanding the Armenian-French mutual partnership.

During the meeting the justice minister touched upon the ongoing works in the legislative field after the Constitutional changes, the successful stories of companies operating in Armenia with the French capital, as well as the possibility of introducing a lecture in several Armenian universities, including the French University in Armenia on electronic tools and technologies in the field of law.

The officials also discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation in judicial field.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Russian minister of foreign affairs Sergey Lavrov, who will be in Yerevan on an official visit November 20-21, will discuss prospects of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with Armenias minister of foreign affairs Edward Nalbandian, Russian FM spokesperson Maria Zakharova said during a press briefing.

She said that in addition to the meeting with Nalbandian, Lavrov will meet with President Serzh Sargsyan.

Lavrovs visit is being carried out in the year of 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia, and the 20th anniversary of the Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Aid Treaty. The ministers of the two countries will participate in the opening of the Russia and Armenia  Friendship Through Centuries exhibition, as well as a stamp cancellation ceremony dedicated to these significant historic events, Zakharova said.

She mentioned that a 2018-2019 consultations program is planned to be signed between the Armenian and Russian foreign ministries. The agenda of bilateral talks includes the wide complex of cooperation, issues related to OSCE and CSTO, foreign political partnership in terms of CIS, coordination of positions on the sidelines of international organizations, such as UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, BSEC.

The foreign ministers will discuss the regional security issue, including prospects of the NK conflict settlement, she said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The opening ceremony of Armenias Honorary Consulate was held in the city of Aktobe of Kazakhstan on November 15, press service of the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

In his remarks Armenian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ara Sahakyan said community figure and businessman Hayk Terteryan, who is appointed as Armenias Honorary Consul in the Aktobe region, is tasked to contribute to the development of Armenian-Kazakh commercial and humanitarian ties, and handed over to him the respective certificate ratified by foreign minister of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov.

Armenias Honorary Consul Hayk Terteryan expressed gratitude to the foreign ministers of the two countries for highly trusting him and assured that he will make efforts to properly implement his duties.

Several Kazakh officials delivered remarks at the event congratulating the newly-appointed Honorary Consul and expressed their assistance to him.

The opening ceremony was followed by a program and reception.

The event was also attended by Armenian community figures from different regions of Kazakhstan, media representatives, as well as other guests.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Father of the iPod Tony Fadell, who received Armenian Presidential Award for IT, announced in Yerevan that he has heard a lot about Armenias IT field and maybe someday he will make an investment here.

Over the past 25 years I have heard a lot about the information technologies field of Armenia. Wherever I go, including here, Im looking for smart people and meet with them, tomorrow as well I will have such meetings. In terms of my investments I have no restrictions, so maybe. I have heard about an interesting company here which receives energy from garbage and waste, we will also consider this, its interesting, lets see what will happen, who knows, Tony Fadell said during the meeting with the ICT community and students in Yerevan, in response to the question of ARMENPRESS.

Nest Labs founder and iPod brand creator Tony Fadell has received the 2017 Armenian Presidential Award for global contribution in Information Technologies. He has arrived in Yerevan to receive the award from the President.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government approved bill on ratifying the agreement between Armenia and Russia which was signed on October 24, 2017 on providing a state exports loan to Armenia.

Deputy defense minister of Armenia Artak Zakaryan said during the Cabinet meeting that under the agreement Russia is providing a new loan of state exports worth 100 million dollars to Armenia for acquisition of Russian made modern military equipment, armaments and its supplies.

Under the agreement, separate contracts will be signed between the Armenian defense ministry and Rosoboronexport regarding remaining issues, including maintenance, deadlines and others.

Back in 2015 Armenia signed another loan agreement with Russia for 200 million dollars, which is currently in force.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) met separately on 14 and 16 November with the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated in the meetings, reports Armenpress.

The Co-Chairs issued a statement which says: The Co-Chairs discussed with the Foreign Ministers concrete steps to implement the agreements reached by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan during the Geneva summit on 16 October 2017, as well as other items raised by the Co-Chairs in Geneva. During the meetings, the Co-Chairs and the Ministers reviewed a number of working proposals currently on the table.

The Ministers agreed to hold a joint meeting on the margins of the December 2017 OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna. The Co-Chairs will prepare the agenda for this meeting, which will include substantive issues of the political settlement, as well as specific measures to reduce tensions on the Line of Contact. Special attention will be paid to finalizing the expansion of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan received on November 16 the President of the Senate of the Netherlands Ankie Broekers-Knol, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia.

Greeting the guest, Karen Karapetyan noted that its symbolic that such a high level visit takes place in the year marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Netherlands. According to the Head of the Executive, the visit will give an opportunity to give new impetus to bilateral relations, and particularly to intensify trade and economic relations, the current level of which is below the desired, but the potential is rather great. We are ready to organize mutual visits of business delegations which will give an opportunity to get acquainted with the investment opportunities of Armenia, the friendly investment atmosphere created by the Government to attract investments and to examine the prospects of entering 3rd markets through Armenia, PM Karapetyan said. Karen Karapetyan assessed the development of partnership in agriculture, road construction, water management, IT, tourism, and other sectors as rather promising.

The President of the Senate of the Netherlands highly assessed the level of political dialogue with Armenia, and noted that her country also attaches importance to expanding economic relations with Armenia. Armenias geographic location makes Armenia an important country in the region and serves as an economic bridge between the EU and the EEU. There are opportunities to cooperate and develop relations both with Armenia and various countries through Armenia, Ankie Broekers-Knol said. The President of the Senate highlighted the suggestion of the Armenian Premier regarding the organization of mutual visits aimed at activation of business ties and expressed readiness to work in that direction.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement to be signed between Armenia and the EU in November.

The sides also exchanged views on the constitutional reforms in Armenia, the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, the peaceful settlement process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other issues of mutual interest.

Premier Karapetyan thanked for the support of the Netherlands to the reforms conducted in Armenia for decades. Karen Karapetyan also highlighted the implementation of technical and financial assistance projects through the Netherlands Development Assistance.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan received newly appointed Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote on November 16, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia.

The PM congratulated him on assuming the post and expressed conviction that his activities will foster the further development and strengthening of the high level Armenian-French relations. The Head of the Government of Armenia highlighted the deepening of trade and economic relations between the two states, and stressed that Armenia can become the best platform for French companies trying to enter the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran. Karen Karapetyan assessed the investment projects in energy, agriculture, tourism, transport, water resources management, IT and other sectors as rather promising. The Prime Minister of Armenia highlighted the role of France in the relations of Armenia and the EU, as well as the bilateral cooperation in various international platforms.

Thanking for the cordial reception, the Ambassador noted that he shares the opinion of the Premier referring to bilateral relations, including the activation of economic ties. Jonathan Lacote added that he has already visited a number of successful French companies operating in Armenia. According to the Ambassador, a number of French companies are also interested in entering the Armenian market, particularly in the spheres of waste management, energy, transport, agriculture, IT and other areas. Ambassador Lacote noted that he is impressed by Armenias potential in the IT sector and added that there are good cooperation opportunities in this sector as well.

The interlocutors highlighted also the organization of business forums and the introduction of Armenias investment attractiveness to business circles.

Karen Karapetyan and Jonathan Lacote also referred to the summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie to be held in Armenia in 2018, expressing conviction that it will foster not only the development of political relations between Armenia and the members of the organization, but also the development of economic relations.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received on November 17 the recipient of 2017 Presidential Award for the Global Contribution in the Area of Information Technologies Tony Fadell, founder of Nest Labs.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, greeting the prominent scientist, Serzh Sargsyan noted that the Presidential Award for Global Contribution in the Area of Information Technologies expresses the united admiration and gratitude of the Armenian people towards those who propel the civilization becoming symbols of the time.

By bestowing this award we also try to draw the attention of our youth on success cases and successful people, explaining by all the possible means that humans are the greatest wealth with their shortcomings and problems, but also their talent. Our focus on this sphere, I think, gives results. Our youth has great interest towards this sector and we are glad the schoolchildren are also interested, President Sargsyan said.

Tony Fadell thanked the President for the reception and noted that he has already met with the Prime Minister of Armenia and is aware of the innovations in the IT sector, and particularly in the electronic management. You should open your country for the outer world, you should tell about your positive developments, Tony Fadell said, adding that its very important that physics and mathematics, and other subjects related to the IT are on a high level in Armenia. Tony Fadell also expressed interest in working with Armenian specialists in the future.

In the evening, at the Presidential Palace there will be a reception in honor of the recipient of the Presidential Award in the area of Information Technologies for year 2017 Tony Fadell.

Additional information on the RA Presidential Award for the global contribution to the IT area

Tony Fadell is the eighth recipient of the Presidential Award for the global contribution to the area of information Technologies. The first award was bestowed on the former President of the Board of Directors of Intel Corporation Greig Barrett in 2010, the second one was given in 2011 to Steve Wozniak - a co-founder of the Apple Computers corporation, the third one  in 2012 went to Federico Faggin - the Honorary President of the Synaptics Company, the fourth award went to Tsugio Makimoto, the President of Semiconductor Industry Association, President of the Techno Vision company, former CEO of the Hitachi Company, the fifth  to Chief Development Officer of Sysco Systems, Inc., Mario Mazzola, the sixth  to Director General of Kaspersky Lab Evgeni Kaspersky.

The Presidential Award for the global contribution to the IT area was founded by President Serzh Sargsyans decree of July 6, 2009 and is aimed at the enhancement of the areas development. The award is annual and is bestowed on the individuals who have made outstanding contribution to the area and whose input  technological, educational, organizational, financial or other has resulted in significant developments in the area of information technologies. The nomination program is carried out by the award committee designated by the President of Armenia and the international commission. The award represents a medal symbolizing Armenia and high technologies, a diploma and a souvenir.
"People have started sending me letters and money. But if I accept it now, it is illegal and hence I am sending them back," Haasan wrote.

By India Today Web Desk: In his latest weekly column in a Tamil magazine, megastar Kamal Haasan has said he will send the money he received as donation to launch his political outfit back.

The 63-year-old actor also hinted at paying a visit to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, which happens to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency.

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"People have started sending me letters and money. But if I accept it now, it is illegal and hence I am sending them back," Haasan wrote.

"Don't think that I'm stepping back. I want to create the fundamentals before accepting the money."

"The moment people started sending the money itself, the political party had begun. But I need to create proper infrastructure so that even after me, this movement should continue," he wrote. Haasan said his fans have spent Rs 30 crore so far "for the welfare of people".

"The truth is even I can't arrange for that much money on my own," he wrote. Elaborating on his future plans in his column, Haasan also made a subtle hint at visiting Varanasi, from where Modi had handsomely won in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

"I have started my journey to meet the people and I would take this as a part of it. If they want me to come to Varanasi, I would not hesitate. I have been there while shooting for Hey Ram," he wrote.

Accusing the Congress of "word play" on his alleged Hindu terror remarks, Haasan said, "I did not say Hindu terrorism. I wouldn't call my fans a 'terror fan'. The word play is the stand of the Congress which is against the BJP. I am still maintaining that extremism is spreading but I didn't use the word terrorism," he said.

"They say that like water and oil, religion and extremism don't mix, but isn't religion the reason for the riots occurring in the world? No one has the right to say that one cant talk about religions, riots and violence," he said.

Haasan called on the Hindus in the country to be more tolerant to others since they are the majority. "Hindus are in majority. They have a big brother responsibility," he wrote.

On his 63rd birthday earlier this month, Haasan had announced that he will soon launch a mobile application that would serve as a platform to communicate with the people.

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Amid strong buzz of his taking the political plunge and possibly launching a party by next year, the actor had said "I am already there" when asked about entering politics.

VIDEO | Didn't talk about Hindu terrorism, was only pointing out extremism: Kamal Haasan

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Tony Fadell, founder of Nest Labs, the recipient of 2017 Presidential Award for the Global Contribution in the Area of Information Technologies, is convinced that Armenia is on the right path on creating a digital society, reports Armenpress.

During the awarding ceremony at the Armenian Presidential Palace, Tony Fadell thanked the Armenian President, the Prime Minister and the Committee for nominating and electing him for this award.

You truly believe that there is a way to take your country from where it has been, where it is today and where its going. I would like to leave you with a few words about things I have seen about success in my 25-30 years career in the IT business. The first thing is about creating an environment for success to happen. There are three important things that President has already mentioned, the first one is education, education at all levels, from primary school all the way up and it is not just after postgraduate, but even beyond. The world is a changing place; it is changing faster than ever. Today is the slowest the world will ever be, it will only accelerate through technology and the people, world citizens not just through the school they have done, but each day. And so whatever programs that you can create to continually educate yourselves as well as your constituents, as well as your population, the better off your economy will be and will allow new things to flourish that we havent seen before, Tony Fadell said.

According to him, the second is about government, it is about government leadership. He said the Armenian government now has an ability to not just have technology inside the government, its now about shaping a digital society and creating laws, regulations and working in public-private partnerships to define what digital society is. It is about how we are going to embrace technology, what does privacy mean, what does security mean, what does data access mean for all demographics. I believe that Armenia has this, after talking to the Prime Minister, after talking to the President; you are on the press of this, onto creating a digital society, as the world has never seen before, because you have a microcosm here and if you look at startups, they always start with a small team. You are a small country, but it can grow outsize if you take advantage of this microcosm that you have and this community you have and lead, not just follow, not just adopt technology, but actually think about what your society can be and work towards it every day and unlike a startup I know tenacity of the Armenian people. The government is not going away, so if you imagine it in 10 or 20 years and even if there is ups and downs, youll get there, because the government is not going away, its a state of mind and you will have different startups that will be able to create this digital society for all, he said.

The third thing, according to him, is the public-private partnership. Its really about opening up to accept things, people such as myself, investors, teams, mentors into your society as well as having them come into ours so that we can learn and communicate and take the best of the world, because I believe if you can set a digital society sooner than any other country, the world will be looking at you to see how it is done the right way. So those three things I believe is whats going to bring you forward. you will try, you will fail, but you will learn and you keep going, you dont stop, you keep trying, because if you know what you believe is true, it will be the future, you will get there one day as long as you keep learning along the way. So again, I challenge you, I hope to come back, I hope to help you in someway to create that digital society, to show the world what it really means to embrace the next millennia. You have been around many millennia, this country, this people have been around many millennia, just like you have done to create the alphabet, to adopt the Christianity as the first country in the world. Adopt a digital society that is equality for all for all in the digital world and you will again set the stage like you have done in the past, Tony Fadell concluded.
Following an exclusive interview of Army Recognition editorial team with international manufacturers of combat vehicles at Defense and Security Exhibition , Thailand is always on the process to acquire new wheeled armoured vehicle. There is three vehicles candidate for this request including the Ukrainian BTR-4E, the Chinese VN1 and the FNSS Turkish PARS.



Scale model of Turkish-made PARS 8x8 armoured vehicle at Defense and Security Thailand 2017 exhibition in Bangkok.

The PARS 8x8 is a wheeled armoured combat vehicle developed, designed and manufactured by the Turkish Company FNSS. PARS is designed not only to have a high level of ballistic and mine resistance, but also carry a variety of weapon stations and provide a high internal volume, which allows for a full complement of infantry soldiers with all of their equipment.

The PARS III 8X8 is the latest generation of wheeled armored combat vehicle in the PARS family designed and developed by the Turkish Company FNSS. The vehicle was unveiled during the Defense Exhibition IDEF in May 2017.

The Turkish-made PARS III 8X8 has been developed with a special emphasis on mobility, protection, payload and growth potential. The vehicles employ the latest designs and technologies with a focus on the performance and durability of modern military operational requirements.



Scale model of Chinese-made VN1 8x8 armoured vehicle at Defense and Security Thailand 2017 exhibition in Bangkok.

In June 2017, Thailand has announced the purchase of 34 VN1 armoured personnel carriers from China worth $68 million. The VN-1 is the export version of ZBL-09 8x8 APC designed and manufactured in China by the Chinese Defense Company NORINCO.

China has started to market the VN1 in 2008 and the vehicle was unveiled for the first time to the public in February 2009 during IDEX, the International Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE.



The VN1 is based on an 8x8 chassis able to be fitted with weapon station up to 105mm cannon or 122mm howitzer. China has started to market the VN1 in 2008 and the vehicle was unveiled for the first time to the public in February 2009 during IDEX, the International Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE.



The VN1 can be fitted with a wide range of turret and weapon station which can be remotely controlled from inside of the vehicle. Armament can include 30mm automatic chain gun, Red Arrow 73 anti-tank guided missile system, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.



The hull and the turret of the VN1 is made of high hardness armor steel, which provide a protection against firing of small arms 12.7mm Armour-Piercing Incendiary (API) caliber frontally at 100m, 7.62mm API on the sides at 100m and 7.62mm at the rear.



Ukrainian-made BTR-4E 8x8 armoured vehicle at Defense and Security Thailand 2017 exhibition in Bangkok.

Ukraine and Thailand has cooperate in the past for acquisition of military equipment, including the main battle tanks Oplot and the BTR-3E1 8x8 armoured personnel carrier. According the Ukrainian Defense Industry has reportedly the supply of 233 BTR-3E1s to Thailand as part of a combined $270m contract awarded in 2006 and 2011.

Ukraine was contracted to supply a battalion of 49 T84 Oplot tanks in 2011 but was slow to press ahead with production and delivery due to security problems in the country.



The BTR-4E is the export version of the BTR-4, an 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier (APC) designed by the Ukrainian Company Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau. The BTR-4E can be fitted different types of weapon station, but the standard version is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station called BM-3 Shturm which is armed with one ZTM-1 30mm automatic cannon. Second armament of the turret includes one KT or PKT 7.62mm machine gun, one AG-17 30mm automatic grenade launcher mounted to the left side of the main armament.



The BTR-4E hull is protected against firing of small arms 7.62mm AP (Armour Piercing) caliber and artillery shell splinters, Level 2 STANAG 4569.
CYBERSPACEFarrah Abraham, the 26-year-old reality TV personality who has appeared in two adult videos, continued to capitalize on her association with the porn industry by introducing a line of Farrah-branded sexy lingerie items this weekmodeling the skimpy underthings on her Instagram page to kick off the sales campaign.

Abraham has appeared in a series of reality TV programs starting with MTVs 16 and Pregnant in 2009, followed by that shows sequel, Teen Mom, on which she was featured for four seasons. She has also made appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and in 2014, the VH1 reality show Couples Therapy.

But her Couples Therapy stint went awry when boyfriend Brian Dawe admitted that Abraham paid him to fake a relationship with her, simply to get her on the show. But that wasnt the first time Abraham had staged a phony relationship.

In 2014 she attempted to pass off her porn debut, Backdoor Teen Mom (Vivid), as a leaked, homemade sex tape, even though her boyfriend in the video was porn star James Deen, who was paid to have sex with Abraham in the video. And despite Abrahams claim at the time that the tape had ruined her life, she again paired with Deen in a sequel for Vivid, Farrah 2: Backdoor and More.

None of the scandal and controversy that continually swirls around the Omaha, Nebraska, native has stopped her from pressing onward as a sex-industry entrepreneur. She has released a line of sex toys with Topco Sales, including a Farrah-branded rabbit vibrator and a Backdoor Entry male masturbation toy by CyberSkin, molded from her own anatomy, allowing users to simulate the James Deen role in Abrahams Backdoor video series.

This week she augmented her commercial enterprise with a lingerie line set for release on December 1, according to her Instagram postswhich depict Abraham in a see-through negligee with boots, and wielding a riding crop, suggesting a mild S&M theme for the line of bedwear.

To check out her Instagram posts and videos introducing the lingerie line, visit her page here.

In addition to her two porn videos, Abraham has also starred in two low-budget horror films, Axeman 2: Overkill and Adam K.
LOS ANGELESGrand Slam Media on Thursday announced plans to welcome Fuckbook.com as an exclusive member's area publisher starting on December 1st. It will also continue their high level plan set with TrafficPartner.com. This cooperation will increase the availability and regions for popunder ads, exclusively available for advertisers working with Grand Slam Media.



Current advertisers or those looking to start with Grand Slam Media, can be assured to benefit from our latest and exclusive publisher addition, said Luke Hazlewood, CEO, Grand Slam Media. The sites statistics gives you an impression of just how much potential will be available traffic wise. Were talking 5.3-plus million visits, an average duration time of 11-plus minutes and 12 pages per user! Plenty of room for your ad material to rotate and convert, with only 21 percent of users bouncing! Eighty percent of Fuckbook.coms traffic is organic, which makes the users even more valuable.



Membership area traffic brings enticing profits from very potent customers and in Fuckbook.coms case makes up for 25 percent of earnings after integrating it. On top, the site delivers a varied roster of members as well, considering that the top five regions are: United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia and Brazil. Anybody interested in English, German or even Portuguese focused traffic should hit us up now, Luke continued. I am confident youll be glad you didnt miss this great opportunity!



After running latest tests in October, both parties are optimistic about the future cooperation. Were happy Fabian and his team are willing to embrace the possibilities of members area traffic with us, Luke continued. We are highly experienced in this field and happy to see them work with us. Both parties are eager to see advertisers get on board now to start increasing their revenue with Fuckbook.coms and Grand Slam Medias premium quality members area traffic.



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MELBOURNE, AustraliaLovehoney has inked a distribution deal with Calvista for the distributor to carry the manufacturers Coco de Mer Pleasure Collection exclusively.

The Coco de Mer Pleasure Collection is truly something else, there really isn't another brand quite like it out there, said Roger Sheldon-Collins , General Manager of Calvista. The products are housed in an elegant display cabinet which show them off so beautifully and the products come in the most exquisite packaging. The toys themselves look very sleek and we are really excited to be the exclusive distributor of Coco de Mer in Australia and New Zealand.

Retailers who agree to list the luxurious pleasure products, oils and candles will become part of an exclusive group of retailers worldwide who will be visited personally by the Calvista team and Jade Bawa, sales executive at Lovehoney, to discuss their individual requirements. The team will deliver brand and bespoke product training to ensure staff are fully trained and confident with the product USPs prior to in-store launches.

We are delighted to be working with Calvsita on this distribution partnership, said Jade Bawa, sales executive at Lovehoney. We will be very much hands on and will work more closely with them than ever before to help support and establish the brand with the best retailers in Australia and new Zealand. There has been more interest than ever in Coco de Mer as the Emmeline Pleasure Wand recently featured in the Fifty Shades Freed trailer and Calvista have stocked up in anticipation of the Fifty Shades Freed frenzy!

For more information, email [email protected], or visit LovehoneyTrade.com.
LOS ANGELES  Dogfart Network welcomes Ariana Aimes in her debut performance on the niche site WeFuckBlackGirls.com.

Aimes is a naughty, white cock slut. Just look at her, pulling boyfriend, Derrick Pierce, into an empty house in order to fuck him! Why is the house empty? It's for sale, and the couple are house hunting. What a perfect time to be a slut! They turn some poor homeowner's sofa into their fuck pad. Just as they finish, a Realtor walks in the side door to show the home!

"Ariana is a rare find," said a Dogfart Network rep. "A true knockout, and she brought a fresh energy to the scene without holding back."

Click here to watch the NSFW trailer.

The public can get a sneak peek behind the scenes on all Dogfart productions by visiting DogfartBehindTheScenes.com.

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To join all 22 Dogfart Network sites for one low price click here.
The Democrat leadership has made constant, profound and incredible pronouncements that one's supportive vote for Republicans is tantamount to surrendering Democracy forever. Understanding their sincere thinking in their extreme position: How will you still vote on this election day?

Democrat; because the continuance of this Democracy from the existential threat of extreme Republicans is paramount.

Republican; the process of having a choice is the democratic method within what so called "Democracy" does exists.
On Tuesday evening, the media world went gaga over Fox News' Shepard Smith "debunking" the so-called Uranium One scandal.Smith went after President Trump's characterization of the situation; Trump stated that Hillary Clinton's State Department had approved "transfer of 20% of America's uranium holdings to Russia. Well, nine investors in the deal funneled $145 million to the Clinton Foundation.Smith also pointed out that most of the money supposedly funneled to the Clinton Foundation came from Frank Giustra, who had divested from the uranium company years before the sale.But this is a bit too simplistic. The New York Times reported that the Uranium One acquisition actually began in 2005, while Giustra still owned the company,According to the Times:The two men had flown aboard Mr. Giustra's private jet to Almaty, Kazakhstan, where they dined with the authoritarian president, Nursultan A. Nazarbayev. Mr. Clinton handed the Kazakh president a propaganda coup when he expressed support for Mr. Nazarbayev's bid to head an international elections monitoring group, undercutting American foreign policy and criticism of Kazakhstan's poor human rights record by, among others, his wife, then a senator.Within days of the visit, Mr. Giustra's fledgling company, UrAsia Energy Ltd., signed a preliminary deal giving it stakes in three uranium mines controlled by the state-run uranium agency Kazatomprom.If the Kazakh deal was a major victory, UrAsia did not wait long before resuming the hunt. In 2007, it merged with Uranium One, a South African company with assets in Africa and Australia, in what was described as a $3.5 billion transaction. The new company, which kept the Uranium One name, was controlled by UrAsia investors including Ian Telfer, a Canadian who became chairman. Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Giustra, whose personal stake in the deal was estimated at about $45 million, said he sold his stake in 2007.Soon, Uranium One began to snap up companies with assets in the United States. In April 2007, it announced the purchase of a uranium mill in Utah and more than 38,000 acres of uranium exploration properties in four Western states, followed quickly by the acquisition of the Energy Metals Corporation and its uranium holdings in Wyoming, Texas and Utah. That deal made clear that Uranium One was intent on becomingthe company declared. ... The Times published an article revealing the 2005 trip's link to Mr. Giustra's Kazakhstan mining deal. It also reported that several months later, Mr. Giustra had donated $31.3 million to Mr. Clinton's foundation.Furthermore, questions about Rosatom's control of uranium isn't about the Russians crafting nukes - they already have them. It's about shortages of uranium in the United States, and dependence on foreign sources for that material. It was also about Rosatom purchasing a huge stake of nuclear material in Kazakhstan.And the Clintons were still involved. Here's the Times again:Amid this influx of Uranium One-connected money, Mr. Clinton was invited to speak in Moscow in June 2010, the same month Rosatom struck its deal for a majority stake in Uranium One.The $500,000 fee - among Mr. Clinton's highest - was paid by Renaissance Capital, a Russian investment bank with ties to the Kremlin that has invited world leaders, including Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, to speak at its investor conferences.So no, it's not at all unclear that the Clintons were unrelated to Uranium One. And it's not unclear that they'd have no interest in pushing Uranium One - Giustra still had an interest in maintaining faith with his former shareholders, and the Clintons had intervened in the past to help out the company beyond Giustra's involvement. That doesn't mean that Hillary signed off on the Uranium One sale. But to downplay the sale itself or the Clintons' interest in it would neglect facts in evidence.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met in Manila, Philippines on November 13, 2017, to discuss a broad range of shared interests and priorities. Both leaders praised the enduring United States-Philippines Alliance, built on a strong foundation of shared values, sacrifices, and history, and bolstered by common interests, people-to-people ties, and full respect for legal and diplomatic processes. They pledged to expand cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral alliance-a 70-year partnership that has stood the test of time and ensures both countries' mutual security and contributes to regional peace, stability, and economic prosperity.During the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 40th anniversary of United States relations with ASEAN, the United States and the Philippines commended ASEAN for its important role in promoting regional peace, stability, and socio-economic development. They pledged to continue to work within the ASEAN framework to pursue these goals throughout the Asia-Pacific. President Trump applauded the Philippines for its leadership as ASEAN chair during the past year.The two sides underscored that human rights and the dignity of human life are essential, and agreed to continue mainstreaming the human rights agenda in their national programs to promote the welfare of all sectors, including the most vulnerable groups.Both leaders condemned the unlawful nuclear weapons and missile development by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and called on the DPRK to immediately comply with U.N. Security Council Resolutions and agree to complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. President Trump commended the Philippines for its compliance with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions on the DPRK. The leaders also urged all countries, including those in ASEAN, to voice their opposition to these threatening programs and to take steps to downgrade their diplomatic and economic engagement with North Korea.President Trump expressed his condolences for the tragic loss of life in Marawi City at the hands of ISIS-affiliated terrorists, and congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines for its success in liberating Marawi. He vowed that the United States would continue its support and assistance for the fight against terrorism and the rehabilitation of Marawi. Both sides committed to enhance their counterterrorism cooperation through conducting additional exercises, increasing information sharing, and addressing the drivers of conflict and extremism. Both sides discussed the rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of Marawi and pledged to continue discussions for the rebuilding of Marawi.The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, as reinforced by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. The two sides discussed proposals to support the United States' efforts to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, develop capacity and capability for maritime security and domain awareness, and provide rapid humanitarian assistance. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continue defense cooperation, including by reinforcing respective national defense capabilities and interoperability and enhancing joint activities, disaster response, and cybersecurity.Both sides reiterated their commitment to uphold their principles including the freedom of navigation and overflight, and the exercise of self-restraint. They stressed the importance of peacefully resolving disputes in the South China Sea, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention. They further underscored the need to continue pursuing confidence-building measures to increase mutual trust and confidence, and to refrain from actions that would escalate tensions, including militarization.They discussed the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Both leaders called for the expeditious delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected communities, and welcomed the Myanmar government's commitment to end the violence, restore media access, ensure the safe return of displaced persons, and implement all of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, and urged all parties to support these government commitments. They expressed their support for ASEAN's role in working with the government of Myanmar to provide humanitarian assistance.The two sides decided to further deepen the extensive United States-Philippine economic relationship. They discussed ways to expand on their mutual commitment to free, fair, and balanced trade that increases economic opportunity for all. The two leaders pledged to nurture economic ties, including private sector cooperation, to create jobs and opportunities for people in both countries. To this end, both sides will explore strengthening dialogues for innovation and sharing of best practices in technology to optimize the position of the Philippines as a preferred destination for American investments in the Asia-Pacific region.The two countries recognized the importance of regular discussions under the United States-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to strengthen the trade relationship, including by continuing to make progress in the areas of market access related to agricultural products, intellectual property, customs and labor, among others. The United States welcomed the Philippines' interest in a bilateral free trade agreement and both sides agreed to discuss the matter further through the United States- Philippines TIFA.The two sides discussed the ongoing campaign in the Philippines against criminality including illegal drugs. Both sides acknowledged that illegal drug use is a problem afflicting both countries and committed to share best practices in the areas of prevention; enforcement, including capacity-building and transparency in investigations; and rehabilitation.Both leaders stressed the strong people-to-people connections between the Philippines and the United States. They acknowledged the many long-standing institutions that connect people of the two countries, including the longest continuing Fulbright program in the world-a program that has sent more than 3,000 Filipino scholars to the United States and nearly 1,000 American scholars to the Philippines-and the dynamic Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative that held its annual summit in Manila recently, in October.Both leaders recognized the two countries' successful cooperation in promoting inclusive development, fueled by good governance, partnerships with the private sector and civil society, and investments in health, education, infrastructure, agribusiness, technology, and democratic institutions. The two sides committed themselves to institutionalizing development capacity, which is the foundation of sustainable stability, growth, and prosperity.President Trump and President Duterte pledged to continue cooperating to promote the mutual goals of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.White House 
Before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classified all African lions and threatened or endangered last year, U.S. trophy hunters had been killing as many as 600 lions in Africa each year and bringing their parts home. Photo by Alamy

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Yesterday, on this blog, I reacted in real time to the Safari Club Internationals announcement that the U.S. Department of the Interior plans to lift a ban on the import of sport-hunted trophies of rare and beleaguered African elephants. In short, our government is essentially turning loose American trophy hunters in Zimbabwe, at a time when declines in elephant populations have been documented because of the ruthless killing of the animals for their ivory. The United States has led the fight against the ivory trade worldwide, and now its undermining that morally urgent fight by allowing one class of ivory hunters to have their way with elephants. The upper class, that is.

And its just as shocking that the agency is also turning trophy hunters loose to kill African lions. The lion hunters are typically the elephant hunters too, because of the contest killing framework that the Safari Club has devised. You see, SCI has an awards program that promotes the trophy killing of the worlds rarest animals, as a way to drive business to the guides and outfitters who contribute to the organization. One award is the Africa Big Five, which involves killing an elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, and Cape buffalo.

With yesterdays news, which has prompted trophy hunting companies to advertise Zimbabwean elephant hunts on their websites, the Interior Department and the government of Zimbabwe (whoever is in charge) are rolling out the red carpet for the next Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who lured a famous and beloved lion, Cecil, out of a national park and shot and wounded him with an arrow.

Palmer left Cecil to bleed through the night, and then went out the next morning to finish him off. Walter Palmer never ended up facing any charges. Adding insult to injury, as an example of Zimbabwes inability to properly manage trophy hunting, its government dropped all charges against the hunting guide who accompanied him on this infamous and illegal hunt.

In July, I wrote about an eerily familiar slaying in Zimbabwe: a trophy hunter shot and killed Xanda the lion, whose primary range consisted of a portion of Hwange National Park. Xanda was the son of Cecil, and about four years old when Palmer killed his father.

No one knew what would become of Cecils progeny, since trophy hunting disrupts social relationships among family members. Lions live in communities where males sometimes work together to protect their mates and cubs; when a dominant male is lost, new male coalitions may seize the moment and try to take over their prides. When they succeed, they are known to kill the cubs to ensure the females continue only their lineage. Xanda survived the loss of his father and grew into a mature male who mated and had cubs of his own.

In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, acting on a petition from The HSUS and Humane Society International, classified all African lions as endangered or threatened. In response to that plea, the agency, based on the best available science, forbid the imports of sport-hunted trophies effective January 22, 2016. Each year prior to that, trophy hunters had been killing as many as 600 lions in Africa and bringing their parts home, with the continent-wide population at only 20,000 and rapidly declining. Their numbers have been cut in half in just the last two decades. Trophy hunting is, without question, one of the greatest threats to lions.

Yesterdays announcement from the Interior Department will not only allow sport-hunting trophies for 2017 to come into the United States, but it will also permit entry of those from 2016. The administration is doing a reachback and accommodating all of those American hunters who killed lions in 2016 but couldnt legally bring them back. Call it an amnesty program for the lion hunters.

The outrage factor is almost beyond compare for us at The HSUS.

Remember, this same administration took aim at two Obama-era rules to protect grizzly bears, wolves, and other native carnivores on 100 million acres of national wildlife refuges and national preserves. In April, President Trump signed a repeal of the refuge rule protecting predators. And just last week, the agency announced that it was revisiting the rule  which means starting the process to nix it  for National Park Service lands in Alaska.

So first there was an assault on Alaskan wildlife. And now an assault on African wildlife. The American public should not stand for these human attacks on these remarkable animals  all drivers of rural economies at home and abroad because of the wildlife-watching they attract.

The laughable part of this latest regulatory maneuvering dance is that the Interior Department is essentially saying that Zimbabwe has strict controls and has a sound wildlife management program. Remember, this is a nation run by a ruthless dictator who has targeted political opponents and average citizens. It is a country where poaching by shooting and poisoning of wildlife has been rampant. And it is a country that has a notorious pay-to-play approach  offering up animals to the highest bidder. In the middle of a political crisis of the worst order there, the U.S. government is working not to improve governance and promote the democratic process in Zimbabwe, but to open the door for Americans to join in the pillaging of that nations extraordinary wildlife.

What also defies understanding is, why would the U.S. government allow American trophy hunters to import lion trophies when they are unlikely to find an airline that will carry them into the country. After the killing of Cecil, 43 airlines, including all major U.S. carriers, said they would no longer ship lion trophies in the cargo holds of their planes.

African elephants and African lions drive billions of dollars of economic activity in Africa. But they drive that activity only when they are alive. Killing them deducts from their populations, diminishes wildlife-watching experiences for others, and robs the countries of Africa of its greatest resources.

The folly that the killing helps lions and elephants is just that  pure folly. Well see the agency in court.
A 24-year-old man died after private nursing homes refused to admit him. Several private doctors in Karnataka are protesting against Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act.

By India Today Web Desk: Government's controversial Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act is not being entertained by private doctors across the state.

The private doctors protested against the government and the act, leaving several patients unattended.

Karthik Rokade had a heart attack and because of a protesting private doctors, the 24-year-old died in Dhward district.

According to the locals, Karthik lost his life because the private hospitals refused to admit him. According to a few media reports, Karthik was taken to about three private nursing homes in the district but not a single one was willing to give the medical attention he desperately needed.

Photo Courtesy: Nagarjun Dwarkanath

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Karthik died on the way to a government hospital.

More than 22,000 private doctors stayed away from work on Thursday protesting against the Karnataka Private Medical Act.

Karnataka High Court while hearing a PIL on doctors strike, observed that the doctors should call off the strike immediately as they have a duty towards the society.

KPME ACT

The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act was passed in 2007. The act is to "to bring a comprehensive legislation in place of the Karnataka Private Nursing Home (Regulation) Act, 1976" that will be the legal control over private medical establishments (PMEs) in the Karnataka.

Among several other points, the Bill made the registration of PMEs mandatory and laid down guidelines to ensure their quality.

The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2017, proposed by the current Health Minister KR Ramesh Kumar, is an amendment to the existing KPME Bill that intends to bring the PMEs under the purview of the government.

PRIVATE DOCTORS PROTEST

The Indian Medical Association State-unit president Dr HN Ravindra has called the very amendments as "draconian".

"We will go ahead with our protest till our demands for dropping the contentious provisions, including that of price capping of various procedures, imprisonment of doctors and setting up of a grievance redressal cell, are met. Otherwise, let the government accept the Vikramjit Sen committee's report in toto," The Hindu quoted Dr Ravindra.

Among other points, the Vikramjit Sen report had suggested that the Act be made applicable to the government hospitals too. However, this has not been considered as of now.

As protests by private doctors picked up strength, over 500 doctors including private healthcare industry leaders such as Devi Shetty, the founder of Narayana Health, Bhujang Shetty the Chairman of Narayana Netralaya and S.C. Nagendra Swamy, the President of Federation of Private Association Karnataka had assembled in front of Indian Medical Association in Chamrajpet opposing the KPME Act, according to a Hindu report.

--- ENDS ---
5 Causes of Nursing Home Resident Anxiety Unfortunately, for many reasons anxiety happens more often by long-term care residents than by those who live in
A survey of 1,500 Zurich canton doctors reported in the Swiss Medical Weekly found that out of the respondents, 23% had prescribed homeopathic "remedies" but only 42% actually believe in homeopathy (a discredited medieval quack remedy that involves giving water to patients that is supposed to "remember" having been in contact with molecules of allegedly helpful compounds that have been diluted out of the dose); 35% of the rest prescribe on the basis that the placebo effect might help their patients.

This is disturbing on two counts: first, that so many doctors believe in homeopathy; and second, that even more doctors are willing to commit a gross breach of medical ethics in prescribing placebos without informed consent.



Only about 27 percent strongly bought into the principles behind homeopathy, including the miasm theory that "noxious influences" cause diseases. And only 19 percent bought into more modern twists, such as the incomprehensible idea that water molecules can have memories.



About 35 percent of prescribers said they thought homeopathic treatments only worked because of placebo effects. On the flip side, around just 23 percent of prescribers thought there was adequate scientific evidence to back up efficacy of homeopathic treatments. Prescribers were most likely to endorse homeopathic treatments either when symptoms were vague and a clear cause couldn't be identified, or after conventional treatments failed. But among both prescribers and non-prescribers, 71 percent of survey takers agreed that homeopathy could effectively generate a placebo effect.

Beliefs, endorsement and application of homeopathy disclosed: a survey among ambulatory care physicians

[Stefan Markun, Marc Maeder, Thomas Rosemann and Sima Djalali/Swiss Medical Weekly]

In Swiss study, only half of homeopathic prescribers thought it actually worked

[Beth Mole/Ars Technica]
In 1942, Hitler paid a secret visit to Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland and Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces in honor of Mannerheim's 75th birthday.



Finnish broadcasting engineer Thor Damen covertly captured the first 11 minutes of their conversation, the only known recording of Hitler's normal conversational voice.



The SS realized that Damen was recording the conversation, and they immediately demanded to have it stopped. The SS were furious, but Yle was allowed to keep the tape hidden away, never to be opened. The tape was given to head of the state censors' office, Kustaa Vilkuna, returned to Yle in 1957, and made publicly available a few years later. It is the only known recording of Hitler speaking in an unofficial tone and one of the very few recordings in which Hitler may be heard delivering a narrative without raising his voice. The conversation is about Hitler explaining the failure of Operation Barbarossa, Italian defeats in North Africa, Yugoslavia, and Albania, armaments in the Soviet Union, and Romanian petroleum wells.

(via Reddit)
One thing you can always rely on in Japan is punctuality, so much so that a train line sent out an official apology this week for leaving a station 20 seconds early. No, not minutes, but seconds.

The Tsukuba Express line  which travels between Tokyo and Tsukuba  regrettably left a station at 9:44:20, rather than 9:44:40. The staff was to blame for not properly reading the schedule.

"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to you by our customers," the apology letter said. And later in the letter: "The crewman handled the passengers on board after opening the door. After that, when departing at 9:44:40 on time, I closed the door without checking the departure time sufficiently and departed (departure operation) at 9:44:20."

By the way, not one passenger complained of the mishap. Phew!

Via Time

Image: Rsa
Troy E. Nehls is the sheriff in Fort Bend County, Texas. Troy here thinks that it's illegal to have a "Fuck Trump" sticker on your truck, and called on the public to track down the owner so they could be threatened with a disorderly conduct charge.

"I have received numerous calls regarding the offensive display on this truck as it is often seen along FM 359," he wrote on Facebook. "If you know who owns this truck or it is yours, I would like to discuss it with you. Our Prosecutor has informed us she would accept Disorderly Conduct charges regarding it, but I feel we could come to an agreement regarding a modification to it."

The easily-offended Nehls, himself reportedly considering a run for political office, has a problem: the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to upset the delicate feelings of public officials like him and president Trump  even if the words are naughty.

Moroever, the truck belongs to a former employee, whose wife Karen has more words for her sweet summer sheriff, and for a cop who pulled the vehicle over in hopes of finding something to charge them with.

"It's just our freedom of speech and we're exercising it," she told the Houston Chronicle.

Worse for Nehls, the local district attorney, John Healey, publicly rejected his assertion a prosecution was on the cards.

Healey, a Republican not seeking re-election next year, said he wished the sheriff's office had contacted him earlier about the incendiary issue. He said he did not receive a call until around the same time the comments were posted. In disagreeing with his own prosecutor, Healey noted that his office lacked any information about how the public was reacting to the truck. "I did not believe it was a prosecutable case based on the definition of disorderly conduct," Healey said.

Shorter Texas D.A.: "Go fuck yourself, Nehls."
By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth will add another landmark to her record-breaking reign on Monday when she and Prince Philip celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Princess Elizabeth, as she was at the time, married dashing naval officer Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at London's Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947, just two years after the end of World War Two, in a lavish ceremony attended by statesmen and royalty from around the world. Seventy years on, Elizabeth, 91, and her 96-year-old husband will mark their platinum anniversary with a small family party at Windsor Castle, the monarch's home to the west of London. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said there would be no public event to mark the occasion. Greek-born Philip, a descendant of Elizabeth's great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria in his own right, has been at his wife's side throughout her 65-year reign, the longest in British history. He was the person who broke the news to her in 1952 that her father, George VI, had died and that she was now queen. "One of the secrets of this very, very long marriage, and it's an incredibly impressive anniversary, is the fact Prince Philip has always seen it as his main duty to support the queen, to help her in whatever way he can," royal historian Hugo Vickers told Reuters. "He is the only person who can actually tell the queen absolutely straight what he thinks, and if he thinks some idea is ridiculous he will say so in whatever language he chooses to use." The couple first met when they attended the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece, to Elizabeth's uncle, the Duke of Kent, in 1934. Philip then gained the attention of his future wife when the then-13-year-old princess made a visit with her parents to Britain's Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in southern England where he was a cadet. "TRULY IN LOVE" "She was truly in love from the very beginning," the queen's cousin Margaret Rhodes, a life-long friend and one of her bridesmaids who died last year, wrote in her memoir. Their engagement was announced in July 1947 and they married four months later. With Britain still recovering from the war, the wedding offered a rare burst of color and pageantry against an austere background of rationing and shortages. The 21-year-old princess, who wore an ivory silk Norman Hartnell gown decorated with 10,000 seed pearls, had to collect coupons for her dress like other post-war brides and the couple spent their honeymoon in southern England and Scotland. While some two billion people were estimated to have watched the couple's grandson Prince William marry his wife Kate in 2011, their own wedding was only broadcast live to some 200 million radio listeners, although highlights of the day were captured on grainy black and white film footage. "I can see that you are sublimely happy with Philip which is right, but don't forget us is the wish of your ever loving & devoted Papa," King George wrote to his daughter after the wedding. While royal watchers say Elizabeth and Philip have had their ups and downs like any married couple, they have avoided the travails of three of their four children whose marriages have ended in divorce, most notably heir Prince Charles's ill-fated union with his late first wife Princess Diana. It was at the couple's 50th wedding anniversary in 1997 that the queen paid a rare personal tribute to her husband. "He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years," Elizabeth said. No other British monarch has celebrated such a landmark, and indeed Elizabeth was the first to mark a diamond wedding anniversary in 2007. Philip, who has suffered health issues in recent years and was hospitalized in June, retired from active public life in August. They both attended a memorial service on Remembrance Sunday on Nov. 12, although a royal source said the monarch had decided not to lay a wreath so she could watch from a nearby balcony alongside her husband. "Without Prince Philip the queen would have had a very tough and lonely life. He's been a complete support to her, a rock to her, from the moment she was on the throne," royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Reuters. (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Gareth Jones)
A proposal to change names of Alberta places would improve understanding of Indigenous culture and language without necessarily removing existing names, a Stoney Tribal Administration manager says.

The administration for three First Nation bands west of Calgary has applied to name a long list of well-known Alberta towns, cities and landmarks with traditional Indigenous names.

"We would certainly like to see more about Stoney Nakoda understanding about landscapes in general," Bill Snow told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday morning. "This is really about the preservation of our language and culture."

Calgary made the list.

In the Nakoda language of the Stoney people, the Calgary area is called Wichispa Oyade, which roughly translates to elbow town and a gathering of people or cultures.

The city was named officially after Calgary Bay on Mull, an island off the west coast of Scotland. It means "Bay Farm" or "clear running water" in Gaelic.

"I'm not suggesting that we take away all the existing names," Snow said. "I think what we're suggesting is that we add to what we already know about places, about landscapes."

This may take the form of replacing names entirely or adding a second official name for certain places, as has been done in some parts of British Columbia.

Many places in southern Alberta do have Indigenous names, but primarily from the Blackfoot and Cree languages, such as Okotoks, which translates to "meeting creek" in Blackfoot.

Nihahi Creek, which means "ravine," is one of the rare places named a Stoney Nakoda word.

More than three dozen Indigenous languages are spoken in Alberta, although some by as few as 10 people, according to Statistics Canada.

Rare name changes

Applications to change the names of places in the province are not typically approved, a co-ordinator with Alberta's Geographic Names Program told the Calgary Eyeopener. One of the reasons is because consistency is important to mapping and navigating an area.

Story continues

But "that's not to say name changes can't happen," Kelland said.

For example, Ha Ling Peak near Canmore, Alta., was once named Chinaman's Peak, which is derogatory. The local Chinese community pushed for a more accurate namesake for the railway worker who climbed the mountain and returned to the Bow Valley in under six hours.

This long, thorough list is very unusual, and the department plans to write to the Stoney Tribal Administration soon, to arrange a meeting and find elders with traditional knowledge of the land, Kelland said.

"To be honest, that is something that we have not really dealt with in the past," he said.

"So it is very much new territory for us and we're going to have to work very closely with the Stoney, with the Blackfoot and likely with the Tsuut'ina, as well, to navigate issues of this sort and hopefully come up with some solutions."

The naming department may look at prioritizing a few names to study first, he said.

Preserving language and culture of Indigenous peoples through naming has been brought up by both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. But Snow said he hasn't seen concrete change locally.

"You don't have a group taking up all the calls to action and giving us six month or yearly reports on their progress," Snow said.

"There's really been drop-off of that kind of activity, so I think this is a way to preserve some of those things under the bigger studies that have been happening."

This year also marks the 150th anniversary of Canada's confederation, and also 140 years since the signing of Treaty 7 by Great Britain and multiple First Nation governments in what is now southern Alberta.

Along with adding traditional Stoney names to this province, the administration is advocating to formally teach Treaty 7, Indigenous culture and First Nations history in Alberta elementary and post-secondary schools, Snow said.

"When we look at all the events that have happened leading up till today, how important it is, those relationships between the Crown and First Nations, I think we're advocating for more understanding and more education in all of those areas," he said.

The Stoney Nations also have a lawsuit, dating back to 2003, underway against Alberta and the federal government over treaty rights that covers much of southern Alberta and the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.

- Hear more about the proposal to change or add names to Alberta places:



With files from Falice Chin, Rachel Ward and the Calgary Eyeopener.
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?
MPs and senators are on track to spend $4.5 million to meet with their parliamentary counterparts around the globe this fiscal year  $1 million more than was spent last year.

According to information on the calendar of events for parliamentary associations, the groups of MPs and senators tasked with promoting Canada's interests abroad, the $4.5 million will cover at least 134 meetings. It means hosting a number of visiting legislators from around the world in Canada and funding at least 69 trips abroad by delegations of Canadian MPs and senators.

Canadian parliamentarians have travelled to France, China and Portugal and are planning to visit cities such as Washington, Las Vegas and Kingston, Jamaica, according to the list of scheduled trips.

Last year these groups took 83 trips at a cost to taxpayers of more than $3.5 million. That was the largest number of trips abroad in five years, according to Colette Labrecque-Riel, the director general of international and interparliamentary affairs in the House of Commons.

Labrecque-Riel presented the latest 2016-2017 expenditures to the Board of Internal Economy (BOIE) , the governing body of the House of Commons, on Nov. 2.

She disclosed the information under new rules governing the formerly secretive BOIE. Previously, details on the spending were kept under tight wraps, but some meetings are now televised and transcripts are publicly released.

Labrecque-Riel says the number of activities increased last year and used up 98 per cent of the budget. That's "somewhat unheard of" for associations, she said, noting that activities were "significantly higher" than in previous years.

Canadian parliamentary associations are required to pay membership fees to take part in meetings held by international organizations. Those fees represent a large part of the total budget for parliamentary travel. In 2016-2017 membership fees took up $1.3 million of the $3.5 million budget.

Story continues

Labrecque-Riel told BOIE members that six of the 13 parliamentary associations are required to pay membership fees to be invited to global meetings. Those with the highest fees include the Canadian Group of Inter-Parliamentary Union, which promotes democratic values and Canadian interests, and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association.

"If we do not pay them, we do not participate," Labrecque-Riel said.

Even though there are fewer trips scheduled this year, the associations asked for and received an additional $1 million in permanent funding on April 1, 2017.



"The trend began last fiscal year in terms of the increasing number of activities and the ways that associations were utilizing additional funding. And the trend has been maintained and increased in the first six months of this fiscal year," Labrecque-Riel said.

The Joint Interparliamentary Council is the committee that allocates funds for the associations. The co-chair, Conservative MP Bruce Stanton, told CBC in an email that the increase in trips could be due to several factors. Those factors include a general increase interest in diplomacy among MPs and senators, and and a need to engage with the U.S. on issues like NAFTA renegotiations.

At the same BOIE meeting, a request was made for an additional $313,000 for three more staff members to handle the increase in association activities, but the extra money was not approved.

"Maybe we should scale back the travel a bit in order not to overwork the staff who are currently there," Conservative MP Candice Bergen said in the meeting.

NDP BOIE member Peter Julian says the associations already received a permanent $1 million increase. He said he is not comfortable approving $313,000 more.

"They have had a substantial increase in their funding. They have to make sure they are doing the appropriate administration and hiring," he said.

The Joint Interparliamentary Council can now go back to its members and reevaluate and resubmit a new funding proposal to the BOIE.
By Andrew Osborn and Christian Lowe MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Thursday named nine U.S. government-sponsored news outlets likely to be labeled "foreign agents" under a new law that is being rushed through parliament in response to what Moscow says is unacceptable U.S. pressure on Russian media. Russia's lower house of parliament approved the law - allowing Moscow to force foreign media to brand news they provide to Russians as the work of "foreign agents" and to disclose their funding sources - on Wednesday. The legislation needs approval from the upper house of parliament, which is likely to happen next week, and the signature of President Vladimir Putin before it becomes law. The Russian Justice Ministry on Thursday published a list of nine U.S.-backed news outlets that it said could be affected by the changes, which it said in a statement on its website were likely to become law "in the near future." It said it had written to the U.S. government-sponsored Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), along with seven separate Russian or local-language news outlets run by RFE/RL. One of the seven outlets provides news on Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, one on Siberia, and one on the predominantly Muslim North Caucasus region. Another covers provincial Russia, one is an online TV station, another covers the mostly Muslim region of Tatarstan, and the other is a news portal that fact-checks the statements of Russian officials. Russia's broadside against U.S. media is part of the fallout from allegations that the Kremlin interfered in the U.S. presidential election last year in favor of Donald Trump. U.S. intelligence officials accuse the Kremlin of using Russian media organizations it finances to influence U.S. voters, and this week Washington required Russian state broadcaster RT to register a U.S.-based affiliate company as a "foreign agent". The Kremlin denies meddling in the election and has said the restrictions on Russian broadcasters in the United States amount to an attack on free speech. The new media law in Russia is retaliation, it says. The draft legislation states that Russian authorities can designate foreign media as "foreign agents", making them subject to the same requirements that are applied to foreign-funded non-governmental organizations under a 2012 law. Under that law, "foreign agents" must include in any information they publish or broadcast to Russian audiences a mention of their "foreign agent" designation. They also must apply for inclusion in a government register, submit regular reports on their sources of funding, on their objectives, on how they spend their money, and who their managers are. They can be subject to spot checks by the authorities to make sure they comply with the rules, according to the 2012 law, which has forced some NGOs to close. RFE/RL said in a statement it did not want to speculate what steps Russia might take against it next, and looked forward to continuing its journalistic work. VOA Director Amanda Bennett has said the station remains committed to providing independent news to global audiences. (Additional reporting by Polina Nikolskaya; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Thomas Chandy is the third minister to leave the LDF government in Kerala since it came to power in May 2016.

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: After over three days of high voltage drama Kerala minister Thomas Chandy stepped down on Wednesday. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state secratary N Peethambaran Master handed over the minister's resignation letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Chandy is the third minister to leave the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala since it came to power in May 2016.

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RESIGNATION: FROM 2 YEARS TO 2 DAYS

Amidst immense pressure from Opposition and within the LDF, Thomas Chandy on Sunday said that their is no question of him resigning and "will think about it after 2 years". However, the LDF meeting which was convened later in the day witnessed verbal spat between NCP representatives and other co allies in the ruling front. Sources revealed that According to sources, at one point CPI state secretary Kaanam Rajendran and Thomas Chandy indulged in a heated debate as well.

The meeting finally assigned Vijayan to take a final call on the fate of the tainted minister. He gave NCP time till Monday to revert with their decision. NCP, however, convinced the CM that the minister would get a favourable decision from Kerala High Court when his petition challenging the collector's report would be considered.

CONGRESS 'HELPING HAND' FOR LEFT MINISTER

On Monday, Thomas Chandy roped in a senior Supreme Court lawyer Vivek Thankha to appear for him in the Kerala High Court. Thankha is apparently a Congress MP from Madhya Pradesh. Despite immense criticism from Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Thankha appeared for Thomas Chandy.

Senior Congress leaders including KPCC president MM Hasan requested Thankha not to go ahead with the case considering the political scenario in Kerala. However, he declined it citing professional reasons.

HIGH COURT HAMMERING

All eyes were on Kerala High Court on Tuesday as the division bench was set to hear all petitions pertaining to the allegations on the tainted minister. Thomas Chandy and his counsel had no idea what they were to witness.

The court came down heavily on the minister for challenging the government machinery. The HC observed that it was unconstitutional for the minister to challenge the district collector's report. The court further said that the minister is facing public scrutiny and should not expect judiciary to protect him.

Though the bench granted time till Tuesday afternoon to withdraw the petition, Thankha decided to go ahead with the battle. This lead to severe bashing from the court in afternoon session. The division bench observed that it would be appropriate for Thomas Chandy to step down from the capacity of the minister and fight the case legally. The division bench then dismissed the plea.

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PINARAYI TIGHTENED THE SCREWS

Following huge setback from the High Court, focus shifted to Pinayari Vijayan by the evening, who flew from Calicut to Thiruvananthapuram and told reporters that he would take appropriate action at the right time after considering the court verdict and NCP decision.

Soon after the court verdict, reports emerged that Thomas Chandy would move to the Supreme Court challenging the HC verdict. But Vijayan called upon the minister and NCP leaders to Thiruvananthapuram late in the night. There, Chandy told reporters he will resign if their is any personal mention in the high court verdict.

CPI SKIPS CABINET

On Wednesday morning Thomas Chandy and NCP state leaders met Vijayan and asked for more time to decide. It is learned that the CM asked Thomas Chandy to inform their decision in 3 hours. Following the meeting, Chandy went to the government secretariat to attend the cabinet meeting. CPI ministers, who were provoked by the presence of the tainted minister, took a tough call.

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All four cabinet ministers of CPI who came for the cabinet skipped the meeting sending a strong message to the Chief Minister and NCP. Vijayan held a press conference after the meeting and told mediapersons that NCP has been given few hours to study the court order and discuss with the national leadership.

THE CLIMAX

Around 11 am, Thomas Chandy left his residence for the meeting with his party national leadership and said the final decision will be taken in 2 hours. As the reporters shifted focus to Chandy's residence, former minister and NCP MLA AK Saseendhran broke the suspense. "Resignation will be given in 30 minutes," he said. Shortly after, Chandy came out in his official vehicle amid tight security.

The NCP state leader reached the Chief Minister's office with the resignation letter around 12.45 pm. Within 10 minutes, Peethambaran announced that they have handed over the resignation to Vijayan. The CM, stepping out of his office, confirmed the receipt of Thomas Chandy's resignation and added, "the letter would be forwarded to Governor P Sadhasivam".

ALSO WATCH | Thomas Chandy resigns as Kerala transport minister over land grab allegations

--- ENDS ---

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Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..Gatestone Institute..15 November '17..In what is being called an "unprecedented move," eight European countries -- members of an initiative called the West Bank Protection Consortium -- recently announced that they had drafted a formal letter to the Israeli government, demanding the reimbursement of 30,000. According to Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Ireland and Denmark, this was the sum spent by the Consortium on materials provided for two structures (modular classrooms equipped with solar panels) erected for Palestinians and Bedouin in the West Bank, and dismantled by Israel at the end of August.What these EU countries failed to mention, however, is that the structures were illegal, and therefore should not have been built in the first place. Instead, in its letter, the Consortium accused Israel of causing "suffering to Palestinian civilians," through its "practice of coercive measures such as demolitions and confiscations of humanitarian supplies as well as infrastructure for schools," and of "contradict[ing] Israel's engagement according to the international point of view..."This is worse than disingenuous.
Trends in Higher Ed

Growth in International Student Enrollment Slows, Even as Impact of Global Perspective Intensifies

Even as the number of international students in the United States increased by 3 percent over the prior year, the count for those enrolled at a U.S. institution for the first time in fall 2016 declined by nearly 10,000 students  the first time the "Open Doors" project has seen a drop of those numbers in the 12 years since it began this reporting.

At the same time, the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) issued a report to its member institutions, calling on them to show leadership in "internationalization" efforts.

Open Doors is run by the Institute of International Education, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Each year the non-profit organization conducts a survey among about 3,000 U.S. institutions to gather data on international students in the United States.

According to the "2017 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange," in the 2016-2017 school year, U.S. colleges and universities hosted a record-breaking 1.08 million international students  for the 11th consecutive year of growth. The top five places they came from were China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada. The top five states they headed to were California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Illinois. (Each state saw increases in international students during the current academic year.)

However, only 291,000 students enrolled for the first time in the current school year, growth of just 3 percent compared to increases of 7 percent to 10 percent for the previous three years.

The report pointed to two broad factors influencing this "slowing of growth": a "mix" of global and local economic conditions and expanded opportunities for higher education closer to home. The biggest decreases of students, particularly for non-degree study (such as short-term exchanges and intensive English language programs) were found in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, where government scholarship programs were scaled back. The flattening trend would have had its seeds of origin planted two years ago, in 2015-2016, since that's when students on campus in fall 2016 would have applied and made their decisions regarding attendance.

Credit for the increases of the past couple of years, according to the research, can be given to a rise in the number of students staying longer in the country after completing their degree studies in order to pursue "optional practical training" related to their academic fields. That segment rose by 19 percent to more than 175,000 students, driven by "a strong desire" among international students to gain career skills and connections before they head back home.

The report also examined data related to the number of American students studying abroad. In 2015-2016, 325,339 of this population received academic credit for their study abroad, a bump of four percent from the previous school year. Their top five destinations were the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and Germany.

The institute also peered into the future by surveying nine education associations this fall, to understand what American institutions will see for the 2017-2018 academic year. The flattening is expected to continue, with a greater decrease  7 percent  in the number of first-time students. It wasn't bad news across the board, the researchers noted. While 45 percent of respondents saw declines in new enrollments for fall 2017, 31 percent reported increases; the remainder saw no change from the previous year.
THURSDAY, Nov. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Using stem cells to grow new heart tissue, and even whole organs, used to be the stuff of science fiction.

But the field of "regenerative medicine" is a reality now -- and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has its eye on it, the agency's head said Thursday.

"In the last decade, we've seen improbable advances that hold out great hope for patients," FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in an agency news release. "I believe that with the ability to facilitate the regeneration of parts of the human body, we're bearing witness to the beginning of a paradigm shift in the practice of medicine."

For example, over the past few years scientists and physicians have developed tissue-engineered skin for transplant; bladders grown from a patient's own cells; and tissues grown to repair ailing hearts or failing knees, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

But Gottlieb said that along with all this good comes the bad. Companies seeking to exploit consumers are already popping up across the United States -- stem cell "clinics" promising pricey cures that they can't deliver to desperate patients.

"The rapid growth and promise of this field has increasingly sowed the ground for the entry of some unscrupulous actors, who have opportunistically seized on the clinical potential of regenerative medicine to make deceptive claims to patients about unproven and, in some cases, dangerous products," Gottlieb said.

"By exploiting the lack of consumer understanding of this area, as well as the fear and uncertainties posed by the diseases these bad actors claim to treat, they're jeopardizing the legitimacy and advancement of the entire field," he explained.

So, Gottlieb says his agency is rolling out a new "regulatory framework" aimed at encouraging and speeding legitimate development of regenerative therapies that do work, while stamping out firms offering bogus treatments.

He said the FDA intends to promote the "least burdensome" rules for companies big and small that are seeking to develop new therapies, "while ensuring patient safety."

"Our policy will allow product manufacturers that time to engage with the FDA to determine if they need to submit a marketing authorization application and, if so, seek guidance on how to submit their application to the FDA for approval," Gottlieb said.

The new rules are in keeping with provisions from the 21st Century Cures Act, passed by Congress in December. That legislation earmarked $6.3 billion in funding, mostly for the U.S. National Institutes of Health, towards groundbreaking medical research.

According to Gottlieb, the bottom line is to allow patients "access to safe and effective regenerative medicine products as efficiently as possible. We are also committed to making sure we take action against products being unlawfully marketed that pose a potential significant risk to their safety."

More information

There's more on regenerative medicine at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
THURSDAY, Nov. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Having a father with depression may put teens at a heightened risk for the mental health problem, a new study suggests.

Previous research had linked depression in mothers and in their children. But according to the investigators, this is the first study to find such an association between fathers and their children, independent of whether the mother has depression.

The findings were based on an analysis of data from thousands of families in Ireland, Wales and England.

"There's a common misconception that mothers are more responsible for their children's mental health, while fathers are less influential," said lead study author Gemma Lewis. She is a researcher with the division of psychiatry at the University College London.

"We found that the link between parent and teen depression is not related to gender," Lewis said in a college news release.

"Family-focused interventions to prevent depression often focus more on mothers, but our findings suggest we should be just as focused on fathers," she added.

Rates of depression rise sharply at the start of adolescence, so learning more about risk factors at that age may help prevent depression later in life, according to the study authors.

"Men are less likely to seek treatment for depression," Lewis said. "If you're a father who hasn't sought treatment for your depression, it could have an impact on your child. We hope that our findings could encourage men who experience depressive symptoms to speak to their doctor about it."

The study's senior author, Glyn Lewis, also with the university's psychiatry division, concurred.

"The mental health of both parents should be a priority for preventing depression among adolescents," Lewis said. "There has been far too much emphasis on mothers, but fathers are important as well."

The report was published Nov. 15 in The Lancet Psychiatry. While the study found an association between fathers' mental health and the development of depression in their children, it didn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on teen depression.
Madurai

Stating that sand imported by a private company from Malaysia for sale in Tamil Nadu, is not natural sand but silica and unfit for construction purposes, the Tamil Nadu government on November 14 told the Madras high court's Madurai bench that it would pose health hazards if it is used for the same.

When the case came up for hearing before, Justice R Mahadevan, advocate general Vijay Narayan said that the imported sand could instead be used for industrial purposes including manufacturing of ceramic articles. Besides, as per existing legal provisions the company cannot keep the sand, transport and sell the same in Tamil Nadu. For that, it has to get permission from the authorities concerned.

Managing director of M R M Ramaiya Enterprises Private Limited, M R M Ramaiya filed a case. The petitioner claimed that she entered into an agreement with All Works Trading Limited, Singapore on September 9, to import 1 lakh tonne of sand. Accordingly, it imported sand from the Sungai Pahang river, Kauntan city, Malaysia, to an extent of 55,443 metric tonne through a shipping vessel Anna Dorothea. The sand is at present lying at the Tuticorin port.

When the company wanted to sell the same in the state, the government did not permit it and registered an FIR against it. Hence, the petitioner sought a direction to the government not to insist the company to get licence and transport slip to transport and sell the imported sand in the state.

During arguments, Petitioner's Senior Counsel Vallinayagam said, "In the interest of saving river and exorbitant collection of money for river sand, the company imported the sand. It has invested Rs 12 crore and has paid Rs 39 lakh as goods and service tax (GST). Every document regarding import is in order. The government has no jurisdiction to restrict imported sand sale in the state."

Replying to this, the advocate general said, "The state has jurisdiction to intervene in the import of minerals. What they brought here is silica sand which is a mineral. One cant come and sell minerals here and there. There are conditions that need to be fulfilled by a dealer who wants to deal with such minerals. The petitioner can apply for registration. If it is done, the government will consider it in accordance with legal manner. Besides, experts say silica doesnt have same characters of natural sand. Use of silica in construction will lead to health hazards. Government cant allow public to use it."

The governments insistence forced the company to express willingness to transport the sand to Kerala for sale. Following it, the judge directed the government to get instructions in allowing the company to transport the sand to Kerala and adjourned the case to November 15.

L Saravanan, Economic Times, Madurai




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New York, November 15, 2017The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Pakistani

authorities to release local journalist Hafiz Husnain Raza and drop all charges against him.

Punjab province police arrested Husnain Raza on April 25, 2016. Authorities charged him with disturbing public peace and tranquility and instigating people to terrorism under Section 7 of Pakistans Anti-Terror Act, the journalists lawyer, Farooq Bajwa, told CPJ.

A Lahore court granted Husnain Raza bail on September 12, 2017, according to Bajwa. Before the journalist was released, Okara police then filed additional charges against him, the lawyer said.

Authorities have been holding the journalist in Central Jail Sahiwal, which is located in the city of Sahiwal in Pakistans Punjab province, Bajwa said.

A regional court tomorrow will hold another bail hearing in the case, Bajwa said.

Husnain Raza was working as the Okara correspondent for Nawa-i-Waqt, one of Pakistans leading Urdu newspapers which leans conservative, and frequently reported on regional land rights issues before his arrest, Amal Khan, features editor at The Nation English-language daily newspaper, who has been investigating the case, told CPJ.

There has been a land rights dispute in Okara for decades between the Anjuman Muzaareen, a tenants association in Punjab, and the military, according to Bajwa.

Khan told CPJ that the Okara land rights topic is completely taboo because it involves the military.

Husnain Raza was a vocal proponent for the rights of the Punjab tenants group in the press, and as a result he made enemies in the army, she said.

Hafiz Husnain Raza has been unjustly imprisoned for more than a year and a half in Pakistan, and we call on authorities to drop the charges against him, said Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator. Local authorities should not be able to imprison journalists just because they report on sensitive topics.

Bajwa told CPJ that the charges against Husnain are retaliation for his reporting in the Okara district in Punjab, Pakistan. The Nation has also reported that the charges against Husnain are fake.

The District Police Officer did not answer CPJs repeated requests for comment.

Husnain Raza was asked to withdraw his support and reporting on the Anjuman Muzareen, but he refused to give an apology, she said. Due to the sensitivity and fear surrounding the topic, for the first three months of Husnain Razas imprisonment, there were no news reports about his detention, she said.

Journalists in Punjab province are vulnerable to many pressures  feudal, police, and military, Iqbal Khattak, director of local press freedom group Freedom Network Pakistan, said. Authorities want to make Husnain Razas case symbolic for other journalists in the region, a lesson to others to not report on the topic, Khattak said.
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Bangkok, November 16, 2017Two former reporters with the U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Asia were detained in Cambodia on November 14 on suspicion of illegally producing and disseminating news, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Cambodian authorities to immediately release the pair and drop any charges against them.

Uon Chhin, a former RFA videographer, and Yeang Sothearin, a former RFA editor and office coordinator, were taken to Phnom Penhs municipal police headquarters and held for questioning, the reports said. They were still in detention today, according to news reports.

Phnom Penh Police Deputy Police Chief Sim Vuthy said that the two reporters would be taken to court tomorrow to face espionage charges, according to reports. The police chief said that the two could be charged under Article 445 of the criminal code, a provision that bans providing a foreign state with information which undermines national defense, the reports said. Convictions under the law carry maximum 15-year prison sentences.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said that the pair were being investigated for allegedly setting up a broadcast studio for RFA, according to the same news report. Chhin and Sothearin denied the accusation, according to reports.

The Cambodia Daily reported that the two former journalists were accused of secretly installing broadcasting equipment in a guest house in the capitals Meancheay district and sending news reports to the stations headquarters in Washington, D.C. The report said police seized a voice recorder, microphone, laptop, and video monitor from the guesthouse.

RFA closed its Phnom Penh bureau and suspended its in-country news operations in September under official pressure related to its registration as a licensed media company. The broadcaster said it no longer had ties with the journalists and denied they were working on its behalf, according to reports.

CPJ calls for the immediate release of former Radio Free Asia reporters Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin, and an end to the official intimidation of all journalists in Cambodia, said CPJ Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin. Prime Minister Hun Sens reputation as a democratic leader is at a new low. He should reverse the course of this media crackdown now.

The government announced after RFA closed its bureau that its reporters would not be given official press passes to report in the country, the Phnom Penh Post report said.

In recent months, authorities have closed at least 19 radio stations nationwide on charges they had violated their state operating contracts by airing RFAs news programs, CPJ has found. The crackdown comes ahead of a general election due to be held next year. Hun Sen said today that the vote would take place, despite the Supreme Court banning the main opposition party, according to Reuters.
       :   MLA ,        41 
The arrest was made in a criminal case which was registered after Sunday's boat tragedy in Krishna Godavari Sangam in Krishna district in which 22 people lost their life.

The tragic incident claimed life of 22 tourists after a newly inducted private boat toppled and sank near Sangam on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

By Ashish Pandey: Vijayawada police on Wednesday arrested seven persons including a crew member and an Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) employee on charges of culpable homicide under Section 304(II) of the IPC.

The arrest was made in a criminal case which was registered after Sunday's boat tragedy in Krishna Godavari Sangam in Krishna district in which 22 people lost their life.

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Meanwhile, seven other employees of the APTDC including an Assistant General Manager, Divisional Manager, Assistant Manager, a contract swimmer and three drivers have also been suspended by Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya. They are also likely to get booked under culpable homicide or criminal negligence, said a source.

The tragic incident claimed life of 22 tourists after a newly inducted private boat toppled and sank near Sangam on Sunday.

The boat which was running without license was carrying over 40 passengers illegally and had no life jackets on board.

--- ENDS ---
This week is National Apprenticeship Week, and the Urban Institute and Franklin Apprenticeships held the third annual Transatlantic Apprenticeship Exchange Forum. The forum explored whether the United States has the capability to create 5 million apprenticeships. Apprenticeship programs have been successful around the world and in some states in America, and could expand further.

Apprenticeship programs can take different forms, but, in general, an apprenticeship offers a person a full-time job, on-the-job training in a specific occupation, and a job-related educational curriculum. Apprenticeship programs can be mutually beneficial by supplying the apprentice with specified and applicable skills to the occupation of choice, and providing a company with an employee who has met industry-specific and company-specific standards.

Apprenticeships can offer an alternative to college. The price of higher education has been rising, requiring around 30 percent of adults to borrow money for their education. According to the New York Federal Reserve, Americans owe more than $1.3 trillion in student loans. Additionally, college does not always teach students the skills that employers require. At the forum, Ned McCulloch from IBM stated that his company will often search for candidates with expertise and experience.

Apprenticeship programs are more prevalent and successful in other countries than in America. In the United Kingdom, the apprenticeship system was nearly nonexistent about two decades ago. However, since 1997 the UK has increased apprenticeship starts almost fourfold, from approximately 75,000 apprenticeship starts to a little over 290,000 starts during the 2015-2016 term.

The UK has also changed the composition of apprenticeships. Apprenticeships used to be designed around blue-collar jobs such as construction or manufacturing. More recently, the UK has been encouraging the growth of apprenticeships from intermediate- level apprenticeships to advanced- and higher-level apprenticeships in non-traditional industries, such as information technology or management.

Funding for the apprenticeship programs in England are now paid for through an Apprenticeship Levy that is raised on employers. Companies with an annual payroll over approximately $4 million must pay 0.5% of the payroll bill, but they then receive this levy in the form of an annual allowance for apprenticeships. Unused funds do not carry over to the next tax year. For companies paying less than $4 million in payroll, the costs of the programs are split with the government.

Apprenticeship programs in South Carolina have been particularly effective. Brad Neese, Associate Vice President and Director at Apprenticeship Carolina, and his company have found great success connecting youths to registered apprenticeship programs in the state.

In the past decade, the South Carolinian apprenticeship programs have grown substantially. Neese said that when he began working for Apprenticeship Carolina he only hoped to get four companies to join that year. Instead, he got four companies in one day.

Since 2007, South Carolina has increased the number of apprenticeship programs from 90 to 918 and the number of active apprentices from 777 to 14,475. The extensive growth illustrates that a demand exists from both employers and employees for apprenticeship programs.

The South Carolina experience could be an example to other states. Neese believes South Carolinas success can extend to all of the country through state-specific programs and federal tax credits. Because all states have different economic conditions in terms of popular industries, labor force participation, etc., Neese does not believe that a uniform apprenticeship program will match the needs of individual states.

Also, Neese argues that federal tax credits would be more effective than state tax credits because everyone has a federal tax liability. The federal tax credit would encourage apprenticeship programs by reducing the cost to companies through lower taxes. In South Carolina, businesses can receive a $1,000 tax credit for each registered apprentice per year for up to four years.

Apprenticeships in the United States are often thought as a Plan B to college, but they do not have to be. High schools do not advertise apprenticeships as viable alternatives to college. This is often because states base their high school ratings on the number of graduates that go to college afterwards. If ranking systems were changed, high schools would likely be more willing to promote other paths into the workforce.

Discovering the proper formula for expanding apprenticeship programs in the United States will take time and experimentation to perfect. Fortunately, the United States benefits from being able to learn from trials in different states. The goal of reaching 5 million apprenticeships in the United States is lofty, but as the South Carolina example suggests, some employers and employees are ready to embrace the apprenticeship pathway.

Emily Top is a research associate at Economics21.

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Senator Sanders recently embarked on a tour of the Canadian health care system as part of his push to bring single-payer to the United States. But problems with the provision of healthcare in Canada and the United Kingdom show that, despite what Sanders might tell you, moving to a single-payer system will not magically cure all that ails the American health care system. Rather, it would exacerbate those problems.

Canadas Fraser Institute estimates that 63,459 people may have received treatment outside Canada in 2016, a substantial increase from the 2015 level of 45,619. The authors of that report point to the wait times, 10.6 weeks for medically necessary treatment after seeing a specialist, as a major reason the rolls are growing.

Perhaps due to its single-payer system, Canada has a limited number of health care professionals. Compared to 29 OECD counties, on a per-1,000-population basis the country is 26th in terms of physicians and 15th for nurses. The country also has fewer physical resources, with fewer acute care beds and psychiatric beds per capita than the average OECD country.

Even with these forms of rationing, the burden for Canadians has increased. Health care is free at the point of service and the public health system is financed out of general revenue instead of a dedicated tax, making it more difficult to estimate this burden. However, in another report the Fraser Institute estimates that the amount of taxes paid by an average Canadian family going towards public health insurance has increased almost 174 percent from 1997 to 2017.

Sanders has not mentioned the United Kingdom, and its single-payer system, the National Health Service (NHS). His silence about the NHS is likely due to its serious problems and controversies. The problems in the U.K. would be worse if British doctors were prohibited from accepting private payments for services also covered by public reimbursement, as they are in Canada.

A tracker from the BBC found that for 18 months hospitals across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have failed to meet any of their three key targets, namely four-hour waits at the emergency department, cancer care within 62 days, and treating at least 92 percent of patients for planned hospital care or surgery within 18 weeks.

Waiting lists have ballooned. As of August 2017, the most recent month of data available, 409,000 had been waiting longer than 18 weeks for hospital treatment, an increase of almost 73,000 from the previous August. The median wait now stands at 7.1 weeks. Earlier this year the NHS decided to abandon the target of 92 percent treatment within 18 weeks for non-urgent operations, which prompted the Royal College of Surgeons of England to accuse NHS of waving the white flag on that metric.

In response to budget squeezes and demand outpacing capacity, local government authorities are turning to increasingly inventive and invasive ways to ration care. In one area, under new rules, smokers would be denied non-urgent surgery unless they pass a test confirming they have not smoked for eight weeks. Obese patients would also be denied non-urgent surgery until they lose weight. Rules already in placed added delays for surgery for up to nine months for obese patients, but surgery could now be delayed indefinitely.

Other localities are using pain threshold scales to ration non-urgent surgeries based on pain, limiting them only to people reporting debilitating or incapacitating pain. Health commissioners in Kent suspended all non-urgent care from February until the start of their new fiscal year in April.

Citizens dissatisfied with rationing and wait times are turning to alternative options, forbidden in Canada. About 10 percent of people purchase supplemental private insurance for more timely treatment, many through company offerings. The recent increase comes even though the insurance premium tax doubled from 6 percent in October 2015 to 12 percent today. Profit-driven hospital firms have seen a 15-25 percent year-on-year increase in the number of patients paying for their treatment themselves.

People are also venturing abroad in their quest to get needed medical care. According to the Office of National Statistics, the total number of people leaving the U.K. for medical care surged from 48,000 in 2014 to almost 144,000 in 2016. Analysis from The Daily Telegraph finds the number of medical visits for some countries is rising. For example, the number of people visiting Spain for medical treatment increased from 1,112 in 2015 to 10,741 in 2016.

Source: Data from Laura Donnelly and Katie Morley, Soaring Numbers Flying Abroad for Medical Care as NHS Lists Lengthen, The Daily Telegraph, October 22, 2017.

Proposals to bring some form of single-payer to the United States would suffer from the same struggles to provide access to timely, quality health care. Further, American voters have shown little appetite for the substantial tax increases that would be needed to finances such an effort, voting down proposals at the state level once they got a sense of the price tag. The American health care system has much room for improvement, but single-payer would be far from a panacea and would exacerbate many of the current problems.

Charles Hughes is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. Follow him on Twitter @CharlesHHughes.

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In a speech to South Koreas National Assembly, President Donald Trump contrasted South Koreas vibrant democracy -- which respects individual rights and is one of the worlds leading economic powerhouses -- with the prison state of North Korea located just 40 kilometers [25 miles] north of Seoul. In doing so, he outlined numerous human rights abuses by the North Korean regime.

Workers in North Korea labor grueling hours in unbearable conditions for almost no pay. Despite this backbreaking workload, more than a million North Koreans died of famine in the 1990s, and more continue to die of hunger today.

And yet, in 2012 and 2013, the regime spent an estimated $200 million -- or almost half the money that it allocated to improve living standards for its people -- to build even more monuments, towers, and statues to glorify its dictators. What remains of the meager harvest of the North Korean economy is then distributed according to perceived loyalty to the regime.

An estimated 100,000 North Koreans suffer in gulags, toiling in forced labor, and enduring torture, starvation, rape, and even murder.

Christians and other people of faith who are found praying or holding a religious book of any kind are detained, tortured, and, in many cases, even executed.

North Korean women are forced to abort babies that are considered ethnically inferior. And if these babies are born, the newborns are murdered. One woman's baby born to a Chinese father was taken away in a bucket. The guard said it did not deserve to live because it was impure.

The horror of life in North Korea is so complete that citizens pay bribes to government officials to have themselves exported aboard as slaves. They would rather be slaves than live in North Korea.

To attempt to flee is a crime punishable by death. One person who escaped remarked, "When I think about it now, I was not a human being. I was more like an animal. Only after leaving North Korea did I realize what life was supposed to be."

And so, it is a tale of one people, but two Koreas, said President Trump. One Korea in which the people took control of their lives and their country and chose a future of freedom and justice, of civilization and incredible achievement, and another Korea in which leaders imprison their people under the banner of tyranny, fascism, and oppression.

Together, said President Trump, we dream of a Korea that is free, a peninsula that is safe, and families that are reunited once again.
Pope Francis during the interview with EL PAIS on Friday. L'Osservatore Romano

On Friday, just as Donald Trump was being sworn into office in Washington DC, Pope Francis was granting EL PAIS a long interview at the Vatican, during which he called for prudence in the face of widespread alarm over the new US president.

For an hour and 15 minutes, inside a modest room in Casa de Santa Marta, where he lives, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was born in Buenos Aires 80 years ago and is on his way to completing his fourth year as Pontiff, explained that in the Church there are saints and sinners, decent men and corrupt men, but that what worries him the most is a Church that has been anesthetized by mundanity, one that is far removed from the problems of the people.

The hallmark of the Church is its proximity to people. We all are the Church

Francis showed himself to be up to speed not just on what is happening within the Vatican, but also in the southern border of Spain or in the tough neighborhoods of Rome. He says that he would love to travel to China  as soon as they send an invitation  and that, even though he sometimes slips up, his only revolution is the Evangelical one.

The drama of the refugee crisis has affected him greatly - that man cried and cried on my shoulder, with the life-jacket in his hand, because he hadn't managed to rescue a four-year-old girl  as much as the visits he has made to women who were sold into slavery by prostitution mafias in Italy. He still does not know whether he will die as pope or will opt for the open road of Benedict XVI. He admits that sometimes he has felt used by his Argentinean countrymen, and he calls on Spaniards to do something that looks easy but is not: Talk to one another.

Question. Your Holiness, after nearly four years in the Vatican, what is left of the street priest that came from Buenos Aires to Rome with the return ticket in his pocket?

Answer. He is still a street priest. Because, as soon as I can, I still go out on the streets to greet people at the general audiences, or when I am traveling... my character has not changed. I'm not saying that is a deliberate thing: it has been a natural process. It is not true that you have to change once you get here. To change is unnatural. To change at 76 is tantamount to putting on makeup. Perhaps I cannot do everything I want, but my street soul is alive, and you can see it.

Q. In the last days of his papacy, Benedict XVI said about his last years at the helm of the Catholic Church: "The waters ran troubled and God seemed asleep". Have you felt that loneliness too? Was the Church hierarchy asleep with regard to people's problems, both new and old?

The pope drinks mate during an audience in Rome on August 31, 2016. Stefano Spaziani (EL PAIS)

A. Within the Church hierarchy, or among the Catholic Church's pastoral agents (bishops, priests, nuns, laymen), I am more afraid of those who are anesthetized than of those who are asleep. I am talking about those who are anesthetized by mundane affairs. They sell out to mundaneness. That is what worries me. Everything is seemingly calm, everything is apparently quiet, everything is going right...that is too much order. When you read the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul's epistles, it was a mess, there were troubles, people were on the move. There was movement and there was contact with people. An anesthetized person is not in touch with people. He protects himself against reality. He is anesthetized. Nowadays there are so many ways of anesthetizing oneself against daily life, aren't there? Maybe the most dangerous illness for a pastor is the one produced by anesthetics, and that is clericalism. I am over here and the people are over there. But you are those people's pastor! If you don't take care of those people, if you give up on taking care of those people, then you should pack your bags and retire.

Q. Is there a part of the Catholic Church that is anesthetized?

A. It is a risk that we all run. It is a danger, it is seriously tempting. Being anesthetized is easier.

Q. It is a better life, a more comfortable life.

A. That is why, rather than those who are asleep, I worry about those who are anesthetized as a result of that mundane spirit. A spiritual mundanity. I am always struck by the fact that Jesus Christ, during the last supper, when he prays to his Father on behalf of his disciples, he does not ask "Keep from breaking the Fifth Commandment, keep them from killing, from breaking the Seventh Commandment, keep them from stealing". No, he says: "Keep them from the evils of the world, keep them from the world". A mundane spirit has a numbing effect. When that happens, the pastor becomes a civil servant. And that is clericalism, which is the worst evil that may be afflicting today's Church.

Q. The troubles that Benedict XVI faced towards the end of his papacy, and which were contained inside that white box that he gave you in Castel Gandolfo, what are they?

A. A very normal sample of daily life within the Church: saints and sinners, honest people and crooked people. Everything was in there! There were people who had been questioned and were clean, there were workers... Because here, inside the Curia, there are some true saints. I like to say it. We talk too easily about the level of corruption in the Curia. And there are corrupt people. But there are also many saints. Men who have spent all their lives serving people anonymously, behind a desk, or in conversation, or in a study...Herein there are saints and sinners. That day, what struck me the most was holy Benedict's memory. He said: "Look, here are the records of the proceedings, inside the box". "And here is the sentencing of all the individuals. So-and-so, he got that much". He remembered everything! What an extraordinary memory. And he still retains it.

Barack Obama visits Pope Francis in Rome on March 27, 2014. STEFANO DAL POZZOLO/CONTRASTO/VA (Vatican Pool)

Q. Does he feel all right, health-wise?

A. His head is fine. His problem are the legs. He needs help to walk. He has an elephant's memory, even in nuances. I may say something and he goes: "No, it wasn't that year, it was that other year."

Q. What are your main concerns with regard to the Church and the world in general?

A. With regard to the Church, I would say that I hope that it never stops being close to people. A Church that is not close to people is not a Church. It's a good NGO. Or a pious organization made up of good people who meet for tea and charity work... The hallmark of the Church is its proximity. We are all the Church. Therefore, the problem we should avoid is breaking that closeness. Being close is touching, touching Christ in the flesh and blood through your neighbor. When Jesus tells us how are we going to be judged, in Matthew chapter 25, he always talks about reaching out to your neighbor: I was hungry, I was in prison, I was sick... Always being close to the needs of your neighbor. Which is not just charity. It is much more.

Hitler didn't steal power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people

As for what worries me about the world, it is war. We already have a World War III in little bits and pieces. Lately there is talk of a possible nuclear war, as though it were a card game: they are playing cards. That is my biggest concern. I am worried about the economic inequalities in the world: the fact that a small group of humans has over 80% of the world's wealth, with all its implications for the liquid economy, which at its center has money as a god, instead of men and women. Hence the throwaway culture.

Q. Your Holiness, going back to the global problems you just mentioned, Donald Trump is just now being sworn in as president of the United States, and the whole world is tense because of it. What do you make of it?

A. I think that we must wait and see. I dont like to get ahead of myself, nor to judge people prematurely. We will see how he acts, what he does, and then I will form an opinion. But being afraid or rejoicing beforehand because of something that might happen is, in my view, quite unwise. It would be like prophets predicting calamities or windfalls that will not come to pass. We will see what he does and will judge accordingly. Always work with the specific. Christianity is either specific or it is not Christianity.

It is interesting that the first heresy in the Church took place just after the death of Jesus Christ: the gnostic heresy, condemned by the apostle John. Which was what I call a spray-paint religiousness, a non-specific religiousness...nothing concrete. No, no way. We need specifics. And from the specific we can draw consequences. We are losing our sense of the concrete. The other day, a thinker was telling me that this world is so upside down that it needs a fixed point. And those fixed points stem from concrete actions. What did you do, what did you decide, what moves did you make? That is why I prefer to wait and see.

Q. Aren't you worried about the things we have heard up until now?

A. I'm still waiting. God waited so long for me, with all my sins...

The pope at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem in May 2014. ANDREW MEDICHINI (AFP)

Q. For the most traditionalist sectors, any change, even if it is only a change in language, amounts to treachery. At the other end of the spectrum, even for those who will never embrace the Catholic faith, no change is ever enough. You yourself have said that everything has already been written in the essence of Christianity. Are we then talking about a revolution of normalcy?

A. I always try I don't know if I always succeed to do what the Gospel says. That is what I try. I am a sinner and not always successful, but that is what I try. The history of the Church has not been driven by theologians, or priests, or nuns, or bishops... Maybe in part, but the true heroes of the Church are the saints. That is, those men and women who devoted their lives to making the Gospel a reality. They are the ones who saved us: the saints. We sometimes think that a saint is a nun that looks up to the heavens and rolls her eyes. The saints are the specific examples of the Gospel in daily life! And the theology that you learn from a saint's life is immense. There is no doubt that the theologians and the pastors are necessary. They are part of the Church. But we must come back to that: the Gospel. And who are the best messengers of the Gospel? The saints. You used the word "revolution". That is a revolution! I am not a saint. I am not making any revolution. I am just trying to push the Gospel forward. In an imperfect way, because I make my blunders from time to time.

Q. Don't you think that many Catholics may feel something like the syndrome of the prodigal son's sibling, and may think that you are more focused on those who left than on those who remained and obeyed the Church's commandments? I remember that in one of your trips, a German journalist asked you why you never talk about the middle class, about those who pay their taxes...

A. There are two questions in there. The syndrome of the eldest child: I know that those who feel comfortable within a Church structure that doesn't ask too much of them, or who have attitudes that protect them from too much outside contact, are going to feel uneasy with any change, with any proposal coming from the Gospel. I like to think about the owner of the hotel where the Samaritan took the man who was beaten and robbed by thieves along the way. The owner knew the story, the Samaritan had told him: a priest had passed by, he looked at the time, saw that he was late for temple and left the man there, he didn't want to get blood-stained because that would prevent him from celebrating mass according to the law. A lawyer passed by, he looked and said: "I better not get involved, it will make me late, tomorrow in court I will have to testify and... No, it's better not to get involved." As if he had been born in Buenos Aires, he turned his back using that city's slogan: "Better not get involved". And then along came a man who was not Jewish, he was a pagan, he was a sinner, he was deemed the scum of the earth, yet he was moved by the hurt man's plight and he helped him get up. The owner's astonishment was tremendous, because it was unusual.

The novelty of the Gospel is astonishing because it is essentially scandalous. Saint Paul tells us about the scandal of the cross, the scandal of the Son of God becoming man. It is a good kind of scandal, because Jesus condemns the outrage against children too. But the evangelical essence was scandalous by those days' criteria. By any mundane criteria, it is a scandalous essence. So the eldest child syndrome is the syndrome of anyone who is too settled within the Church, the one who has clear ideas about everything, who knows what must be done and doesn't want to listen to strange sermons. That is the explanation for our martyrs: they gave their lives for preaching something that was upsetting.

That is your first question. As for the second one: I didn't want to answer the German journalist right away, but I told him: I am going to think about it, you may be somewhat right... I am always talking about the middle class, even without mentioning it. I use a term coined by the French novelist Malegue, who talks about "the middle class of sanctity". I am always talking about parents, grandparents, nurses, the people who live to serve others, who raise their kids, who go to work... Those people are tremendously saintly! And they are also the ones who carry the Church onward: the ones who earn their living with dignity, who raise their children, who bury their dead, who care for their elders instead of putting them into an old people's home: that is our saintly middle class.

From an economic point of view, these days the middle class increasingly tends to vanish, and there is the risk that we will take shelter in our ideological caves. But this "middle class of sanctity": the father, the mother who celebrate their family, with their sins and their virtues, the grandfather, the grandmother, with the family at the center, that is "the middle class of sanctity". That was a great insight on the part of Malegue, who writes a sentence that is really impressive. In one of his novels, Augustine, an atheist asks him: "But do you believe that Jesus Christ is God?" He is presenting the problem: Do you think that the Nazarene is God? "For me, it is not a problem", is the protagonist's answer, "the problem would have been if God hadn't become the Christ". That is "the middle class of sanctity".

My concern is for women to give us their thinking, because the Church is female, it is Jesus Christs wife, and that is the theological foundation of women

Q. Your Holiness, you have mentioned the ideological caves. What do you mean by that? What are your concerns in this regard?

A. It is not a concern. I am stating the facts. One is always more at ease in the ideological system that he has built for himself, because it is abstract.

Q. Has it been exacerbated in recent years?

A. It has always existed. I would not say it has been exacerbated, there has also been much disappointment in connection with that statement. I think there was more [polarization] in the period before World War II. I think. I haven't given it much thought. I am putting things together... In the restaurant of life you always get many ideological dishes. You may always take refuge in that. They are shelters that prevent you from connecting with reality.

Q. Holy Father, over the course of these years, during your trips, we have seen you get moved by others and in turn you have moved many who listened to you... There are three very special occasions: once in Lampedusa, when you asked whether we had cried with the women who lost their children to the sea; in Sardinia, when you spoke about unemployment and the victims of the global financial system; in the Philippines, over the tragedy of the exploited children. What can the Church do about it, what is being done, and what are governments doing?

The pope with Fidel Castro during a visit to Havana in September 2015. Alex Castro (AP)

A. The symbol I proposed for the new Migrations office in the new structure, I took directly over the department of Migrations and Refugees, with two secretaries is an orange life jacket, like the ones we all know. During a general audience, there was a group of people working to rescue refugees in the Mediterranean. I was passing through, greeting people, and a man had one of those things in his hands and he started to cry on my shoulder, and he sobbed: "I wasn't able to do it, I didn't get to her in time, I wasn't able to do it." And when he calmed down a little he told me: "She wasn't more than four years old. And she went down. I am giving this to you." This a symbol of the tragedy that we are living.

Q. Are governments rising to the occasion?

A. Everyone does what they can or what they want to do. It is very hard to pass judgment. Undoubtedly, the fact that the Mediterranean has become a graveyard is food for thought.

Q. Do you feel that the way you reach out to the margins, to those who suffer and are lost, is a welcome attitude, considering it is accompanied by a machine that is perhaps used to a very different pace? Do you feel that you and the Church go at a different pace? Do you feel support?

A. I think that, fortunately, the responses are generally good, very good. When I asked the parishes and the schools in Rome to take in immigrants, many said that it had been a failure. It is not true! It was not a failure at all! A high percentage of Rome's parishes, when they didn't have a big house or they had a very little one, they had their parishioners rent an apartment for an immigrant family. In convent schools, whenever there was room, they welcomed an immigrant family... The answer is that we have done more than you know, because we haven't advertised it. The Vatican has two parishes and each parish has an immigrant family. An apartment at the Vatican for one family, another for the other one. The response has been constant. Not a 100% response, I don't know the proportion, I think maybe 50%.

Then there is the problem of integration. Each immigrant constitutes a very serious problem. They are fleeing their country, because of hunger or because of the war. They are exploited. Take Africa: Africa is the symbol of exploitation. Even when given their independence, in some countries, they are the owners of their land on the surface, but not underground. So they are always used and abused...

The migrant reception policy has several phases. There is an emergency phase: you have to welcome them, because otherwise they will drown. Italy and Greece have led by example. Even now, Italy, with all the problems caused by the earthquake, still provides care. They come to Italy because it is the nearest shore, of course. I think they also get to Spain through Ceuta. But rather than staying in Spain, most of them tend to go north in search of better opportunities.

Q. But in Spain there is a fence in Ceuta and Melilla, so they cannot go through.

A. Yes, I know. And they want to go north. So the problem is: welcome them, yes, for a couple of months, give them accommodations. But the integration process must start at some point. Receive and integrate. The role model for all the world is Sweden. Sweden has nine million people. Of those, 890,000 are "new Swedes", children of immigrants or immigrants with Swedish citizenship. The Foreign minister I think it was her, the one who came to send me off is a young woman, the daughter of a Swedish mother and a father from Gabon. Integrated immigrants. The problem is integration. When there is not integration, ghettos spring up. I am not blaming anyone, but it is a fact that there are ghettos. The young men who committed the atrocity in Zaventem [airport] were Belgian, they were born in Belgium. However, they lived in an immigrant neighborhood, a closed neighborhood. So the second phase is the key: integration. So much so that, what is the big problem for Sweden now? It isn't that they don't want any more immigrants to come, no! They can't get enough of the integration programs! They wonder what else they can do to get more people to come. It is astonishing. It is an example for the whole world. And it is nothing new. I said it right from the start, after Lampedusa... I knew of Sweden because of all the Argentinians, Uruguayans, Chileans who went there in the era of the military dictatorships and who were welcomed there. I have friends who went there as refugees and who live there. You go to Sweden and they give you a healthcare program, papers, a residency permit... And then you have a home, and the following week you have a school to learn the language, and a little bit of work, and you are on your way.

In that respect, Sant'Egidio in Italy is another model to follow. The Vatican is in charge of 22 [migrants], and we are taking care of them, and they are slowly becoming independent. The second day, the kids were going to school. The second day! And the parents are getting gradually settled in an apartment, with a bit of work here, a bit of work there... They have instructors to teach them the language... Sant'Egidio has that same attitude. So, the problem is: urgent rescue, of course, for everyone. Second: receive, welcome as best as possible. Afterwards, integrate.

Q. Your Holiness, half a century has passed since many significant events happened: the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI's trip to the Holy Land and his embrace with the Patriarch Athenagoras. Some people say that in order to know you, one must know Paul VI. He was up to a point the unappreciated Pope. Do you also feel that way, like an uncomfortable Pope?

A. No, no. I think that I should be less well understood because of my sins. Paul VI was the unappreciated martyr. (...) Evangelii gadium, which frames the pastoral principles that I want for the Church, is an update of Paul VI's Evangelii Nuntiandi. He is a man who was ahead of history. And he suffered a lot. He was a martyr. There were many things that he wasn't able to do, he was a realistic person and he knew that he wasn't able to and he suffered for it, but he offered us his suffering. He did what he could. And the best thing that he did was planting the seeds. The seeds of things that history collected afterwards. Evangeli Gadium is a mix of Evangeli Nuntiandi and the Aparecida document. Things that developed from the bottom up. Evangeli Nuntiandi is the best post-Council pastoral paper, and it is still relevant. I don't feel unrecognized. I feel accompanied by all kinds of people, young people, old people... There are some who don't agree, of course, and they have the right not to, because if I felt bad because someone disagrees with me, I would have the germ of a dictator in me. They have the right to disagree. They have the right to think that the path is dangerous, that the outcome may be bad, they have the right. But provided that they talk, that they don't hide behind others. Nobody has the right to do that. Hiding behind others is inhumane, it is a crime. Everyone has the right to debate, and I wish we would all debate more, because it creates a smoother connection between us. Debating unites us. A debate in good faith, not with slander nor things like that.

Q. You don't feel uncomfortable with power?

A. But I don't have the power. Power is something that is shared. Power exists when we make decisions that have been meditated, talked about, and prayed over; prayer helps me very much, it is a great support to me. I don't feel uncomfortable with power. I feel uneasy with certain protocols, but that is because I come from the streets.

Q. You haven't watched TV for 25 years now, and you were reportedly never were very fond of journalists. Yet you have reinvented the whole communication system of the Vatican, you have professionalized it and have made it into a dicastery [a department of the Curia]. Are media that important for the Pope? Is there a threat against the freedom of the press? Can social media be detrimental for the freedom of the individual?

A. I don't watch television. I simply felt that God was asking that of me. On July 16, 1990 I made that promise, and I have not broken it. I have only been to the television center that was next to the archbishopric to watch a couple of films that I was interested in, which I thought would be appropriate for my message. I used to love the movies, I had studied a lot about cinema, most of all the Italian cinema of the postwar period, Italian realism, and the Polish director Wajda, and Kurosawa, and several French directors. But not watching TV didn't prevent me from communicating. Not watching TV was a personal decision, nothing more. Communication comes from God. God communicates. God has communicated with us throughout history. God doesn't exist in isolation. God communicates, and has spoken, and has accompanied us, and has challenged us, and has made us change course, and He is still with us. You cannot understand Catholic theology without God's communication. God is not static up there, watching how people have fun or ruin themselves. God gets involved, through the word and through his flesh. And that is my starting point. I feel a little afraid when mass media don't express themselves with an ethos of their own. For instance, there are ways of communicating that, instead of helping, weaken unity. A simple case in point: a family that is having dinner without conversation, because they are watching TV or the kids are with their phones, texting people who are somewhere else. When communication loses the flesh, the human element, and becomes liquid, it is dangerous. It is very important for families to communicate, for people to communicate, and also in the other way. Virtual communication is very rich, but there is a risk if it is lacking human, normal, person-to-person communication. The concrete element of communication is what will make the virtual element take the right course. We are no angels, we are concrete individuals. Communication is key and must go forward. I have spoken about the sins of communication in a lecture I gave in Buenos Aires at ADEPA, the association that bring together Argentinean publishers. The chairmen invited me to a dinner in which I gave this lecture. I signaled the sins of communication and said: don't commit them, because you have a great treasure in your hands. Today, communicating is divine, it always was, because God communicates, and it is also human, because God communicated in a human way. So, for functional purposes, there is a dicastery to channel all this. But it is a functional thing. Communication is essential to the human being, because it is essential to God.

Q. The Vatican's diplomatic machine works at full capacity. Both Barack Obama and Raul Castro thanked it publicly for its work during their rapprochement. However, there are other cases such as Venezuela, Colombia or the Middle East, which remain blocked. In the first case, the parties have even criticized the Vatican's mediation. Do you fear that the Vatican's image may suffer for it? What are your instructions in these cases?

A. I ask the Lord that he give me the grace of not taking any measure for the sake of image alone. Honesty and service, those are the criteria. You may make mistakes sometimes, your image will suffer, but it doesn't matter if there was goodwill. History will judge afterwards. And there is a principle, a very clear one for me, that must govern everything both in pastoral action and in Vatican diplomacy: we are mediators, rather than intermediaries. We build bridges, not walls. What is the difference between a mediator and an intermediary? The intermediary is the one that has a real estate business for instance, who looks for someone who wants to sell a house and for someone who wants to buy one, he helps them reach an agreement and he gets a commission, he renders a good service but he always gets something out of it, and rightly so because it is his job. The mediator is the one who wants to serve both parties and wants both parties to win even if he loses. Vatican diplomacy must be a mediator, not an intermediary. If, throughout history, it has sometimes maneuvered or managed a meeting that filled its pockets, that was a very serious sin. The mediator builds bridges that are not for him, but rather for others to cross. And he doesn't charge a fee. He builds the bridge and then he leaves. That is to me the image of Vatican diplomacy. Mediators, rather than intermediaries. Bridge builders.

Q. Will that Vatican diplomacy extend soon to China?

A. In fact, there is a committee that has been working for years with China, they meet every three months, once here and once in Beijing. There are many talks with China. China has always had that aura of mystery that is fascinating. Two or three months ago they had an exhibition of pieces from the Vatican Museums in Beijing, and they were very happy about it. And next year they will come to the Vatican with their own exhibits.

Q. And will you soon be going to China?

A. As soon as they send me an invitation. They know that. Besides, in China, the churches are packed. In China they can worship freely.

Q. Both in Europe and in America, the repercussions of the crisis that never ends, the growing inequalities, the absence of a strong leadership are giving way to political groups that reflect on the citizens' malaise. Some of them the so-called anti-system or populists capitalize on the fears of an uncertain future in order to form a message full of xenophobia and hatred towards foreigners. Trump's case is the most noteworthy, but there are others such as Austria or Switzerland. Are you worried about this trend?

A. That is what they call populism here. It is an equivocal term, because in Latin America populism has another meaning. In Latin America, it means that the people for instance, people's movements are the protagonists. They are self-organized. When I started to hear about populism in Europe I didn't know what to make of it, until I realized that it had different meanings. Crises provoke fear, alarm. In my opinion, the most obvious example of populism in the European sense of the word is Germany in 1933. After [Paul von] Hindenburg, after the crisis of 1930, Germany is broken, it needs to get up, to find its identity, it needs a leader, someone capable of restoring its character, and there is a young man named Adolf Hitler who says: "I can, I can". And Germans vote for Hitler. Hitler didn't steal power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people. That is the risk. In times of crisis we lack judgment, and that is a constant reference for me. Let's look for a savior who gives us back our identity and let us defend ourselves with walls, barbed-wire, whatever, from other people who may rob us of our identity. And that is a very serious thing. That is why I always try to say: talk among yourselves, talk to one another. But the case of Germany in 1933 is typical, a people who were immersed in a crisis, who were searching for their identity until this charismatic leader came and promised to give their identity back, and he gave them a distorted identity, and we all know what happened. Where there is no conversation... Can borders be controlled? Yes, each country has the right to control its borders, who comes in and who goes out, and those countries at risk from terrorism or such things have even more of a right to control them, but no country has the right to deprive its citizens of the possibility to talk with their neighbors.

Q. Do you see, Holy Father, any sign of 1933 Germany in today's Europe?

A. I am no expert, but, with regard to today's Europe, let me refer you to three speeches I have made, two in Strasbourg and the third one on the occasion of the Charlemagne prize, the only award I have accepted because they insisted a lot due to the situation Europe was in, and I accepted it as a service. Those three speeches contain what I think about Europe.

Q. Is corruption the great sin of our times?

A. It is a big sin. But I think that we must not think of ourselves as historically exclusive. There has always been corruption. Always and right here. If you read about the history of the Popes, you will find some nice scandals... And that is just to mention my own house and not talk about others. There are examples of neighboring countries where there was also corruption, but I will stick to my own. There was corruption here. A lot. Just think of Pope Alexander VI, and Lucrezia with her [poisoned] "teas".

Q. What news are you getting from Spain? What feedback are you getting about the way your message, your mission, your work is being received in Spain?

A. What I just got from Spain are some polvorones [shortbread] and turron de Jijona [nougat] that I am going to share with the boys.

Q. Ha ha. In Spain there is a very lively debate on secularism and religiousness, as you already know...

A. Very lively indeed...

Q. What do you think about it? Is it possible that the secularism process, in the end, will force the Catholic Church out to the margins?

A. Talk amongst yourselves. That is the advice I give to every country. Please talk. Have a fraternal conversation, if you feel up to it, or at least in a civilized way. Don't hurl insults at each other. Don't condemn before talking. If, after the conversation, you still want to insult the other guy, alright then, but first talk. If, after the conversation, you still want to condemn the other guy, alright then, but first talk. Today, with our level of human development, politics without talking is inconceivable. And that applies to Spain and elsewhere. So, if you ask me for advice for the Spanish people, I say: talk. If there are problems, first talk.

Q. It is no surprise that your words and your decisions are followed with special interest in Latin America. How do you see that continent? How do you see your own country?

A. The trouble is that Latin America is suffering the effects which I emphasized in Laudato Si of an economic system that has the money god at its center, and that means policies that lead to a lot of exclusion. Which leads to a lot of suffering. It is obvious that Latin America today is the target of a strong attack from economic liberalism, the one I condemn in Evangelii Gaudium when I say that "this economy kills". It kills with hunger, it kills with a lack of culture. Migration flows not just from Africa to Lampedusa or Lesbos. Migration also flows from Panama to the Mexican-U.S. border. People migrate in search of something, because liberal systems don't give them job opportunities and foster criminality. In Latin America there is the problem of the drug cartels, drugs that are consumed in the United States and Europe. They make them for the rich countries here, and they lose their lives in the process. And there are those who do it willingly. In my homeland we have a term to describe them: cipayos. It is a classic, literary word that is included in our national poem. The cipayo is the one who sells his homeland to the foreign power who pays him the most. In the history of Argentina, for instance, there has always been a cipayo among the politicians. Or some political position worthy of cipayos. Always. So Latin America must re-arm itself with political groups that will recover the strength of the people. The biggest example for me is Paraguay after the war. The country lost the War of the Triple Alliance and was left almost entirely in the hands of women. And the Paraguayan woman felt that she had to rebuild the nation, defend her faith, defend her culture and defend her language, and she did it. The Paraguayan woman wasn't a cipaya, she defended what was hers, and she repopulated the country. I think that she is the most glorious woman in the Americas. That is an example of someone who never gave up. Of heroism. In Buenos Aires there is a neighborhood on the banks of the Rio de la Plata, where the streets bear the names of patriotic women, women who fought for independence, for their homeland. Women have better sense. Maybe I am exaggerating. Correct me if I am. But they have a stronger inclination towards defending their homeland because they are mothers. They are less cipayas. They are less at risk of being cipayas.

Q. That is why it hurts so much to witness all the violence against women, which is such a scourge in Latin America and so many other places...

A. Everywhere. In Europe... In Italy, for instance, I have visited organizations that rescue female prostitutes who are being taken advantage of by Europeans. One of them told me that they had brought her in from Slovakia in a car trunk. They tell her: you have to earn such and such today, and if you don't bring it in, we will beat you. They beat her. In Rome? The circumstances of these women, in Rome, is terrifying. In the house that I visited, there was a woman that had had an ear cut off. When they don't earn enough, they are tortured. And they are trapped because they are frightened, the abusers tell them that they are going to kill their parents. There are Albanians, Nigerians, even Italians. One very good thing this association does is that they walk down the streets, approach the women and, instead of asking how much do you charge, how much do you cost, they ask: How much do you suffer? And they take them to a safe community so that they may recover. Last year, I visited one of those communities with recovering girls, and there were two men there, two volunteers. And one of the women said to me: I found him. She had married the man who had rescued her and they were eager to have a child. The use of women for profit is one of the worst things that are happening today, also in Rome. It is female slavery.

Q. Don't you think that, after the failed attempt of Liberation Theology in Latin America, the Catholic Church has lost a lot of ground to other denominations and even sects? What is the reason for it?

A. Liberation Theology was very positive for Latin America. The Vatican condemned the part that adopted a Marxist analysis of reality. Cardinal Ratzinger conducted two inquiries when he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. One about the Marxist analysis of reality. And a second one that recovered some positive aspects. Liberation Theology had positive aspects and also deviations, mainly as concerns of the Marxist analysis of reality.

Q. Regarding your relationship with Argentina, in the last three years the Vatican has become a pilgrimage destination for politicians of all colors. Have you felt used?

A. Ah, yes. Some say: let us have our picture taken together, just as a souvenir, and I promise it will be for my personal use, I will not publish it. And before they walk out out the door it is already published. [He smiles]. Well, if that makes him happy, that is his problem. His quality as a person diminishes. What can I do? It's his problem, not mine. In Argentina there always was a lot of travel, but nowadays, coming to a general audience with the Pope is almost mandatory. [Laughs]. There are also those who come who are my friends I lived in Argentina for 76 years  sometimes family, nephews and nieces. But I have felt used, yes. There are people who have used me, my pictures, my words, as if I had said things to them, and whenever someone asks me, I always respond: it's not my problem, I didn't say anything to them. But to each with their own conscience.

Q. A frequent subject is the role of laymen and, most of all, the role of women in the Church. Your wish is for them to have a bigger influence and even a role in decision-making. How far do you think that you will be able to get?

A. We must not look at the role of women from a functional point of view, because that way, in the end, the women, or the women's movement in the Church, will be some sort of chauvinism in skirts. The functional aspect is all right. The deputy director of the Press room at the Vatican is a woman, the director of the Vatican Museums is a woman. But what I want is for women to give us their thinking, because the Church is female, the Church is Jesus Christ's wife, and that is the theological foundation of women. What was more important on Pentecost, the Virgin or the apostles? The Virgin. There is a long way ahead yet, and we must work so that women may give to the Church the freshness of their being and their thinking.

Q. On some trips, you have addressed the churchmen, both from the Roman Curia and from the local hierarchies or even common priests and nuns, to ask them for more commitment, more proximity, even a better mood. How do you think they receive that advice, that rebuke?

A. My focus is always on proximity, closeness. And it is well received in general. There are always more fundamentalist groups in every country, also in Argentina. They are small groups and I respect them, they are good people that prefer to live their faith that way. I preach what I feel that the Lord asks me to preach.

Q. In Europe there is an increasing number of priests and nuns originating from the so-called Third World. What is the reason for this?

A. A hundred and fifty years ago, in Latin America, there were growing numbers of European priests and nuns, same as in Africa and Asia. Young churches expanded. In Europe today there are no births. Italy has a rate below zero. I think that France is leading the way now, thanks to all the natality laws. But there are no births. The Italian welfare of years ago cut down births. We'd rather go on vacation, we have a dog, a cat, we don't have children and, if there are no births, there are no callings.

Q. In your consistories you have created cardinals from all over the world. How would you like the next conclave to be, the one that will elect your successor? Your Holiness, do you think that you will witness the next conclave?

A. I want it to be Catholic. A Catholic conclave that chooses my successor.

Q. And will you see it?

A. I don't know. That is for God to decide. When I feel that I cannot go on, my great teacher Benedict taught me how to do it. And if God carries me away before that, I will see it from the afterlife. I hope it will not be from Hell... But I want it to be a Catholic consistory.

Q. You seem very happy to be a Pope.

A. The Lord is good and hasn't taken away my good humor.

Translation from Spanish by Maria Luisa Rodriguez Tapia, editing by Susana Urra.
Spain's Mariano Rajoy and Donald Trump at the White House in September. EFE

More information Clarifications needed

The United States is turning its attention to claims that Russia has been using social media to amplify the impact of Catalan separatism as yet another tool to destabilize western democracies.

We are, of course, very concerned about allegations of Russian interference in events in Spain, said a spokesman for the US State Department after EL PAIS asked for comment.

Some of our partners in Europe and the US apparently have nothing better to do than to level accusations against our media

Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov

Any Russian effort, whether external or through internal actors, to inappropriately influence Spains internal affairs would be completely unacceptable, added the spokesman.

The Spanish government said on Friday of last week that it has evidence that Russian online groups actively promoted the independence referendum of October 1, which had been declared unconstitutional by the Spanish courts.

Online accounts with ties to the Kremlin, supported by Venezuelan networks, effectively dominated the online conversation about the referendum with messages that included disinformation, as this newspaper has reported. This included claims that Spains Balearic Islands also want independence.

The Spanish government says it has evidence that Russian online groups actively promoted the October 1 referendum

US officials, who are investigating Russian meddling in their own domestic affairs, declined to reveal whether the Trump administration has any evidence of Kremlin-sponsored activities with regard to the Catalan crisis.

The European Union, in the meantime, addressed the matter at a meeting of foreign and defense ministers on Monday, following a request by Spain. And in early November, two members of the US Senate Intelligence Committee did the same at hearings with representatives from Facebook, Twitter and Google.

Russian denial

Russia has always denied such accusations, and it did again on Wednesday on the matter of Catalonia.

We consider these claims to be groundless and more likely a deliberate or inadvertent continuation of the same hysteria that is now happening in the United States and a number of other countries, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in statements to the news agency AFP. Neither Spanish authorities, nor NATO, nor the media have come up with any argument that lends credibility to these accusations.

Russias foreign minister, Serguei Lavrov, has called it one more manifestation of anti-Russian hysteria in the West, and a sign that affected countries are unable to deal with their own domestic problems.

We consider these claims to be groundless Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

We are accustomed to seeing that some of our partners in Europe and the US apparently have nothing better to do than to level accusations against our media and declare them foreign agents, he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry says the claims are damaging bilateral relations between Spain and Russia. Ministry spokesperson Maria Zajarova added that we would like for our Spanish colleagues to start backing up their statements and present specific evidence.

In December of last year, US intelligence agencies concluded that President Vladimir Putin of Russia ordered a strategy to try to influence the 2016 US presidential campaign in a bid to favor Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. This led former US president Barack Obama and Congress to adopt reprisals against Russia.

English version by Susana Urra.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) The new emission norms for coal- based power plants are to come into effect from December, but most plants will "not comply" with them, a green body today claimed.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in a statement said, "Ambitious timelines backed by strict penalties from the environment ministry are needed to prevent further delay in compliance."

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The new norms were enacted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in December 2015 in view of the sectors "massive contribution" to air pollution and its "huge water withdrawal", the CSE said.

"The new emission norms for coal-based power plants are to come into effect from December 2017, but most plants will not comply with them," the CSE claimed.

The green body further claimed that the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is now "recommending" that plants be given "another five years" (which means the deadline should be extended from 2017 to 2022) to comply with the new norms.

Chandra Bhushan, the deputy director general, CSE said, "Another five years to meet these standards is unacceptable. Power plants have already wasted two years doing virtually nothing. It is important to push for ambitious timelines for compliance with the new norms." PTI KND TDS AAR

--- ENDS ---
View of Arriate. In the far right is the house of the Ovalles Family, who founded the town.

In Arriate, all roads lead to Ronda. If you were talking about an egg, we would be the yolk and Ronda the white, explains one local. The town is surrounded by the neighboring municipality, to which it belonged until 1661. That year, and after many disputes, its inhabitants achieved independence after paying a large sum that they had managed to collect.

Our ancestors tried to become legally independent. They petitioned in the courts to get it Rafael Melgar, town resident

There was no sense of belonging to an area, as is the case with the Catalan independence movement of today. Instead, there was a yearning for freedom that gradually increased among its inhabitants, who paid the nobles an excessive amount in taxes and had to put up with harsh living conditions.

I do not think there are many towns that have bought their independence, says Rafael Melgar, one of the 4,500 residents of the town in Malaga province. In his opinion, this fact defines the personality of the people from Arriate, because it reinforces their identity.

But Melgar also sees a clear difference between the history of the people of Arriate and the Catalan independence drive: Our ancestors tried to become legally independent. They petitioned the courts to get it, despite the power the nobles had. After the Christian conquest of Ronda in 1485, the Crown of Castile granted the Davila family  who had helped Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II fight Islamic rule  the site of Arriate, then unpopulated.

A street in Arriate with structures from the 20th century. Roberto Rivera

The Davila family founded the village. Their former home is now used as a residence for the elderly. They built houses for the farmers who were beginning to settle in the area. The family worked the area for three centuries and, during that time, they established relations with other nobles: the Ovalle, the Loaysa and the Moctezuma families, the latter descendants of the last Aztec emperor.

The towns name comes from the Arab word Arriadh (the orchards), for the rich flora present when the Arabs inhabited the area. Today, Arriate  a town of just 8.3 square kilometers, five kilometers from Ronda  is still a predominantly agricultural place.

Failed attempts

In 1530, the Ovalle family established a right of succession that saw their firstborn son become sole heir to their possessions. However, they monopolized more land than they were entitled to, which gave rise to litigation.

The peasants only wanted the right to work the land so they would not have to pay as much in taxes, explains the historian Sergio Ramirez. The key lawsuit was that which began in 1619 between the Ovalle family and local residents, and which lasted seven years. Locals argued to the court that they had right of first refusal when the nobles were buying up the land. They acquired the town in 1631 on the back of the promise they would pay compensation to Ronda.

The dream of freedom did not even last five years. The debts they incurred forced the town to renounce their sovereignty in 1635. The lands returned to Ronda and the Ovalle family established even tougher conditions than before.

It reminds me of Catalonia because there was division between pro-independence people and the critics of independence, reflects Ramirez. He adds: If the Catalans say that Spain steals from them, then for Arriate it was the nobles who robbed them. The peasants had no rights or property; they lived to pay tribute. The lords of Arriate continued to manage the town for decades, but their debts to the royal treasury offered the residents a new opportunity. On February 14, 1661, Felipe IV ratified the towns autonomy and exempted its residents from paying the debt.

We have very deep values. We boast about the town we have inherited Francisco Rosado, town resident

We have very deep values. We boast about the town we have inherited, says Francisco Rosado, another resident. Like many, he works in Ronda, a city with which they have maintained a tense relationship for centuries. We have already overcome our differences.

Isabel Sanchez rejects the existence of an Arriate nationality: We did not have our own flag until a few years ago. Our independence was not based on emotion, it was a struggle to acquire rights. They obtained those rights definitively in September 1783, when the Royal Council granted the jurisdiction of the town to its citizens. Without knowing it, they had sown the seed of a new time: the end of feudalism, which was not abolished in Spain until the Constitution of 1812.

English version by Debora Almeida.
Agustin Martinez, the defense lawyer for three of the accused. Jesus Diges (EFE)

The trial over an alleged gang rape during the 2016 Running of the Bulls in Pamplona entered day three on Wednesday, with testimony from police officers who aided the victim.

Five men in their twenties are accused of assaulting an 18-year-old woman and recording the incident with their cellphones.

The case made world headlines and prompted Pamplona officials to roll out greater security measures at the popular week-long celebration.

Private investigators tailed the victim and tracked her online activity

This year, local authorities introduced a raft of measures to prevent new assaults, including a city map showing the spots where women may feel less safe during Sanfermines.

At the Wednesday hearing, police officers stated that they found the young woman in a state of shock, and did not get the impression that she was faking.

On Tuesday, the victim had told the court that the reason she did not have significant injuries after the rape was not that she failed to fight her attackers, but rather that she went into shock.

Her testimony, and the seven videos that the accused made of the attack, are the key pieces of evidence in a case that will extend until November 24.

A scene from day one of the 2017 Sanfermines in Pamplona. AFP

The judge has also accepted as evidence a report by private detectives who were hired by one of the defense lawyers to tail the victim in the weeks following the incident. The initial report submitted to the court  and accepted by the judge as evidence  was based on the tracking of the victim during one weekend, as well as analysis of her social media posts. They also studied recordings from security cameras in her area of residence, in Madrid. They subsequently added another post on social networks of a celebratory measure that the victim had shared. The motive cited for the surveillance operation was to analyze the behavior of the victim after the alleged crime.

Agustin Martinez Becerra, the defense attorney for three of the accused, has talked to the press on each of the three days of the trial, and said that criticism about the fact that the judge accepted the detective report is part of some kind of campaign to cast doubt on the courts impartiality.

On Wednesday, Pamplona municipal agents told the court that they answered a call made to the emergency services by a couple who were walking down the street and found the young woman crying on a bench, on the corner of Paulino Caballero street and Roncesvalles avenue.

When they arrived at the scene around 3.30am, their appraisal was that the womans condition was compatible with that of someone who has just been the victim of sexual assault. She was then transferred to the local hospital for a checkup.

A couple called the emergency services after finding the young woman crying on a bench

Also on the witness stand were three members of the regional police force who identified the alleged aggressors thanks to the victims description and security camera footage.

According to the police, the accused did not resist requests to show their ID. One of them was a member of the Civil Guard and another one is in the army. All five of them hail from Seville.

Miguel Angel Moran, the lawyer representing the victim, said on Wednesday that he is satisfied with the way the trial is developing.

English version by Susana Urra.
The European Parliament in Strasbourg. EFE

Britains exit from the EU will have significant consequences. It is a decision that we lament but respect; we are making efforts to organize an orderly departure for the United Kingdom through negotiations led by Michel Barnier in the name of the Union. But the British exit is also creating a historical opportunity. When it walks away, 73 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will go with it. So the question is, what shall we do with those seats, which will be vacant in 2019? There are three options under consideration, and they are not mutually exclusive. We could eliminate these seats totally or partially, for the sake of savings. We could share them out among the remaining 27 member states, so that the number of seats becomes a better reflection of each members population size. Or we could also take those seats and create a Europe-wide constituency.

Italy, France and Spain support the creation of transnational candidate lists. We are proposing that some of the vacant seats should be used to create a European constituency, taking into account Europes political and geographical diversity.

We are proposing that some of the vacant seats left behind after Brexit should be used to create a European constituency

Each one of us is simultaneously a citizen of his or her country and a citizen of Europe. Yet our European citizenship is incomplete. It is true that we have a European Parliament that is elected through universal suffrage, and deputies who are, in theory, elected not because of their nationality but because of their political platform. It is true that a Spanish citizen can these days be elected in Italy or in France. But the way European elections and campaigns are carried out remain national in nature. European elections are currently a collection of 28  soon to be 27  separate and parallel debates that take place within each member states borders. All too frequently, European elections boil down to a vote of support or rejection of national policies, or in the best of cases, of a debate on foreign policy.

The creation of transnational candidate lists, alongside existing national or regional ones, would let the debate focus on truly European issues that affect us all, creating a veritable European forum. A society is not solely built through the legal system. Those in power do not decree what it means to be a European citizen. The peoples of Europe must live, share, experiment their diversity through exchanges between their societies. How much do we really know about the way our European neighbors perceive tomorrows European challenges?

Election campaigns are crucial periods of debate. Thanks to them, collective options and values crystallize within our democracies, and a common understanding about our collective assets is developed. At this time of intense debate, we must look at one another as Europeans, and listen to a Czech candidate share his vision for a social Europe, or an Italian candidate list his expectations for immigration policy, instead of sticking to often erroneous or stereotypical ideas regarding our neighbors thoughts. Lets stop confining national citizens within walls and putting blinkers on them. Lets bear our European identity together, without renouncing our national identities, and lets develop a real European public space that is alive and united in its diversity.

The essence of the European project is democracy

French President Emmanuel Macron

Without a doubt, this reform would not alter existing balances in the short run. But when the time came, each voter would introduce an additional slip into the ballot box in order to choose among European, gender-balanced lists bringing together candidates from at least seven different nationalities. That would serve as a reminder that the European Parliament represents European interests, and not the sum of 27 different national interests. For Europeans, this would represent a real change, both practical and in terms of viewpoint.

The ties between our nations and the European construction project have become progressively looser. Europe is often viewed as distant, filled with technocrats, or run in a way that ignores the people. If there was ever a time when anyone thought it was possible to push Europe forward without taking our fellow citizens into account, that was a mistake. We have overcome that stage. It is indispensable to restore dialogue with Europes citizens. Our governments are committed to a re-foundation of the European project. But such an ambitious plan deserves more than simplistic, binary choices of the type: Are you in favor or against Europe?

We must recall, as French President Emmanuel Macron did at La Sorbonne, that the essence of the European project is democracy. Europe, just like democracy itself, is being accused of weakness. Both are dealing with abstention, with populist votes, and at times with a fascination for democracies that are not liberal. Yet denouncing populism is as essential as it is insufficient: we need to act. That is why we must jump on this historic opportunity afforded by Brexit and turn it into an opportunity for a profound renewal of European democracy. This renewal specifically implies creating transnational candidate lists for the 2019 European elections. This ambitious reform could be put into practice without revising EU treaties, by incorporating it into voting legislation that is already undergoing review. In truth, all that is required is political will.

Let us create a true European public space through these women and men who, above and beyond their own nationality, will embody our political desire to build European unity from diversity. Lets dare to experience the 21st century of democracy. Lets dare to create transnational European lists. Lets give everyone one more ballot paper for Europe.

Sandro Gozi is Italys Under-Secretary for European Affairs.

Nathalie Loiseau is Frances Minister for European Affairs.

Jorge Toledo is Spains Secretary of State for the European Union.

English version by Susana Urra.
An official of Irans Chamber of Commerce (ICC) says that China has imposed further restrictions on banking ties to his country.

Ali Shariati, a member of ICC told Iranian News Agency ILNA on November 14, that bank accounts belonging to Iranian businessman in China, Dubai, and Malaysia have been also blocked in recent days.

China had limited its banking ties to us since weeks, but the restrictions have been boosted after the recent trip of U.S. president Donald Trump to Beijing, Shariati added.

According to him, even students in Malaysia have been affected by the recent development. Malaysian banks have told Iranian businessmen and students that they cannot provide services to them, he said.

Unfortunately, two years after the nuclear agreement, the Iranian businessman are still facing banking problems and many big banks are not ready to do business with Iran, Shariati reiterated.

Last month, Iranian media had reported about similar restrictions by Chinese major banks including Agriculture Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). However, based on a report by Mehr News Agency, the measures by Chinese banks had nothing to do with the U.S. sanctions.

On October 28, Mehr quoted Chinese officials as saying that the restrictions were caused by enforcing stricter regulations on Chinese banks as part of (Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering) FATF, an intergovernmental anti-corruption and money laundering body created by the Group of Seven leading industrial countries in 1989.

Following the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, all U.N. sanctions related to Irans nuclear program were lifted. But international companies and banks are still hesitant to do business with Tehran due to fear of violating unilateral sanctions imposed by United States against Iran.

President Trump said on October 13 he would not certify Irans compliance with the international agreement to curtail its nuclear program, and his administration imposed new economic sanctions in July against several Iranian entities and individuals over its ballistic missile program.

The Trump administration has also said Tehrans malign activities in the Middle East undercut any positive contributions coming from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

After Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen on November 4th, United States and France accused Iran of supplying the missile to the Houthis. French President Emmanuel Macron even spoke of possible international sanctions against Tehran over its missile program.
(AP)  Iran and Britain are discussing the possible release of some 400 million pounds held by London since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, an Iranian official acknowledged Thursday.

Both Britain and Iran denied any link between the possible money transfer and the detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who is serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling with her young daughter.

However, a similar U.S. transfer to Iran happened at the same time American prisoners were released in 2016.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson faces tremendous criticism at home over his handling of Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case. Iranian media have speculated that Johnson may visit Iran soon.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi was quoted by the semi-official ISNA news agency as saying that the 400 million pounds held by London is a payment Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi made for Chieftain tanks that were never delivered. The shah abandoned the throne in 1979 and the Islamic Revolution soon installed the clerically overseen system that endures today.

Sanctions between the countries have stopped the money being returned.

Ghasemi said Tehran has pursued the refund of the money through long and broad talks with Britain for some time. He denied any connection between the payment and Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case.

"The case of Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe and paying debt are two separate issues and there is no link between them," Ghasemi said. He added that she received prison sentence following the "necessary legal procedure."

The Daily Telegraph newspaper of London reported earlier Thursday that the money might be part of a bargain to free Zaghari-Ratcliffe. It described the payment as a "goodwill" gesture between Britain and Iran and said authorities in London continued to consult with experts over whether the payment could be made under current U.S. and U.N. sanctions.

The Foreign Office said in a statement that it was "wrong to link a completely separate debt issue with any other aspect of our bilateral relationship with Iran."

"This is a longstanding case and relates to contracts signed over 40 years ago with the pre-revolution Iranian regime," it said.

Johnson has faced withering criticism over the case after he told a parliamentary committee that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "teaching people journalism" when she was arrested last year. Her family and her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, long have said she was on vacation taking her toddler daughter to meet relatives in Iran.

Johnson later apologized for his comment, but Iran's state broadcaster said it was an implicit admission of her guilt. Her husband recently warned that Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces new charges that could add 16 years to her sentence.

Analysts and family members of dual nationals and others detained in Iran have suggested that hard-liners in the Islamic Republic's security agencies use the prisoners as bargaining chips for money or influence. A U.N. panel in September described "an emerging pattern involving the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of dual nationals" in Iran, which Tehran denies.

A prisoner exchange in January 2016 that freed Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-Americans also saw the U.S. make a $400 million cash delivery to Iran the same day. That money too involved undelivered military equipment from the shah's era, though some U.S. politicians have criticized the delivery as a ransom payment.

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, so those detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government.

Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly "infiltrating" the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, a member of Iran's 2015 nuclear negotiating team, is believed to be serving a five-year prison sentence on espionage charges.

Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah, are both serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage.

Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail last year after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for "collaboration with a hostile government." Shahini is believed to still be in Iran.

Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who advocates for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. He was sentenced to 10 years last year on espionage-related charges.

Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well. Iran says Levinson is not in the country and that it has no further information about him, though his family holds Tehran responsible for his disappearance.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By NIigar Guliyeva - Trend:

The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers agreed to hold a joint meeting on the margins of the December 2017 OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna, reads a joint statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs released Nov.16

"The Co-Chairs will prepare the agenda for this meeting, which will include substantive issues of the political settlement, as well as specific measures to reduce tensions on the Line of Contact," the co-chairs said noting that a special attention will be paid to finalizing the expansion of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America met separately with the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on Nov.14 and Nov 16 . The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated in the meetings.

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. 16

Trend:

Azercell Telecom LLC, the only mobile operator offering iPhone devices in Azerbaijan, has launched a new favorable campaign for its subscribers. Thus, starting from November 15, 2017, various models of iPhone are offered with Hedsiz tariff and Internet packs.

1. iPhone 8 (64GB)

2. iPhone 8 (256GB)

3. iPhone 8 plus (64GB)

4. iPhone 8 plus (256GB)

5. iPhone 7 (32GB)

6. iPhone 7 (128GB)

7. iPhone 7 plus (128GB)

8. iPhone 6S plus (32GB)

9. iPhone 6 32GB

Any customer who has a cell number may join the campaign upon making the initial payment and presenting a proof of employment. In order to benefit from this favorable opportunity offered by Azercell, you should visit Customer Service Centers or exclusive stores of Azercell. Hurry up, limited offer!

For more information, please contact [email protected]



The leader of the mobile communication industry of Azerbaijan and the biggest investor in the non-oil sector Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48% share of Azerbaijans mobile market Azercells network covers 80% of the territory and 99,8% of population of the country. Currently, 4,5 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, 24/7 Customer Care, online customer services, GPRS/EDGE, M2M, MobilBank, one-stop- shop service offices Azercell Express, mobile e-service ASAN signature, etc. Azercell deployed first 4G  LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality surveys of Global Wireless Solutions company and international systems specialized in wireless coverage mapping such as Opensignal and Testmy.net, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan.
Details added (first version posted on 11:54)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Azerbaijan is an important strategic partner of Russia in the Caucasus region, said Russian Foreign Ministrys Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at a briefing Nov. 16.

Russia closely cooperates with other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, continues to assist the parties of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in search for peaceful, mutually acceptable solutions, said Zakharova.

She noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on Nov. 20.

He is expected to have talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. During the meeting, it is planned to exchange views on a wide range of issues of the bilateral, international and regional agenda, added the spokeswoman.

As it is demonstrated in specific cases, Azerbaijan is our important strategic partner in the Caucasus region. This year we mark the 25th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, said the Russian official.

Not only the long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual respect, but also the coincidence or proximity of positions on key issues of the regional and international agenda stand at the bases of the Russia-Azerbaijan cooperation, added Zakharova.

"The regular friendly contacts between the presidents of our countries set high dynamics to the development of bilateral relations and allow us to promptly resolve any emerging issues, she added.

She went on to say that FM Sergey Lavrov will also pay an official visit to Yerevan on November 20-21.

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. 16

Trend:

Pakistan will continue to support Azerbaijan in the issue of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistans Armed Forces, Army General Zubair Mahmood Hayat said.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani ambassador to Pakistan Ali Alizade, Pakistans embassy in Azerbaijan said Nov. 16.

Pakistans army general stressed that as a result of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh and Kashmir conflicts, innocent people are constantly dying.

Zubair Mahmood Hayat added that during his visit to Azerbaijan, he will discuss further expansion of cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.

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.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the provocations which are periodically committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan, the need to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh and Kashmir conflicts on the basis of the UN resolutions, the further expansion of military-technical cooperation between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Pakistan and implementation of new joint projects.

Zubair Mahmood Hayats upcoming visit to Azerbaijan was also discussed during the meeting.
Details added (first version posted on 13:14)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a priority for Russia, said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at a briefing Nov. 16.

This issue is one of the priorities for us, because we are talking about our neighbors, said the spokeswoman.

Zakharova noted that Russia closely cooperates with other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and continues to assist the conflict parties in search of peaceful, mutually acceptable solutions.

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.
Officials intercepted the Air India senior engineer while he was exiting Aerobridge after attending to AI 331.

By Munish Chandra Pandey: The air intelligence unit of Air India arrested one of its senior superintendent service engineers for trying to smuggle gold bars from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivagi International Airport.

According to the air intelligence unit, the Air India engineer Janardan Gunaji Kondvilkar was arrested on the night of Tuesday and Wednesday. He was on his way to hand over the gold to an accomplice.

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"Janardan Gunaji Kondvilkar was arrested on the intervening night of November 14-15 after receiving specific intelligence input. He was exiting the Aerobridge after attending to AI 331 when officials intercepted him. During the search, the customs officials recovered 8 cut gold pieces from his possession," the air intelligence unit said.The recovered gold weighing 1,649 grams is worth Rs 44.2 lakh.

During the interrogation, Kondvilkar disclosed that one Jagdish Rawal was waiting outside the Mumbai Airport to receive the gold. Rawal was later intercepted from the airport premises.

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.16

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Baku has agreed with the proposal to hold a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Vienna, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend Nov.16.

He said that during a meeting of Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Moscow, it was proposed to hold a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers as part of the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna on Dec.7-8.

It was proposed to hold the meeting with participation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, he added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Details added (first version posted on 14:51)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.16

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Baku has agreed with the proposal to hold a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Vienna, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend Nov.16.

He said that during a meeting of Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Moscow, it was proposed to hold a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers as part of the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna on Dec.7-8.

It was proposed to hold the meeting with participation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, he added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

Trend:

Uzbek defense minister, General Mayor Abdusalom Azizov has arrived on an official visit to Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reportted.

During the visit, the Uzbek delegation led by Azizov will hold meetings at the Defense Ministry over military, military-technical cooperation, military education and other issues.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.16

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The meeting of Azerbaijani, Pakistani and Turkish foreign ministers is expected to be held in Baku November 30, Pakistani ambassador to Azerbaijan Saeed Khan Mohmand told Trend.

He noted that the issues of common interest will be discussed during the meeting.

Earlier, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that this meeting is very important in terms of discussing all challenges, issues and threats that the three countries face, adding that this meeting is a very useful tool.

Azerbaijan organizes many meetings at the level of foreign ministries  with Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and now Pakistan is joining. There are many other countries wishing to join to such a format. In my opinion, this is a very convenient and right format, Mammadyarov added.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Azerbaijani Parliament has hosted final discussions on the International Crimes Prevention and Punishment System: National Legislation and International Law topic.

The discussions are related to the draft law On prevention of international crimes and punishment of perpetrators.

Speaking about the draft law, Vice Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Bahar Muradova said that the draft laws development is aimed at fully applying the law to those who commit crimes not only against Azerbaijan but all over the world, supporting the application of international principles and contributing to the prevention of international crimes.

She noted that the proposals put forward during the previous discussions of the draft law were considered and evaluated, and stressed that effective work was carried out regarding this issue.
Details added (first version posted on 15:44)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

Trend:

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with the delegation led by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Major General Abdusalom Azizov on November 16, said the Azerbaijani Defense Ministrys press service in a message.

The Uzbek delegation visited the Alley of Honor and the Alley of Martyrs, laid wreaths and flowers at the graves of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva and the heroic sons of the Motherland, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of the country.

Afterwards, an official welcoming ceremony for the Uzbek delegation was held in the Ministry of Defense. The Uzbek defense minister passed along the guard of honor and national anthems of both countries were played. The Book of Honor was signed in accordance with the protocol.

Firstly, the two ministers held a one-on-one meeting, which was continued in an expanded format.

Having greeted the guests, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov noted that bilateral military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is based on friendly and fraternal relations.

Touching upon the military-political situation in the region, the minister brought to the attention of the guest that the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a serious threat to regional stability.

Expressing satisfaction with his visit to Azerbaijan, Uzbek Minister Abdusalom Azizov noted that he is informed about the reforms being carried out in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and achievements in military construction. He also spoke about his countrys interest in using such military experience.

The sides stressed that the development of Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations serves to strengthen peace and stability in the regions of the South Caucasus and Central Asia, in which the two countries are located.

During the meeting, a wide exchange of views was held on the prospects for military ties, the development of cooperation in the military, military-technical spheres and in the field of military education, the organization of mutual visits of expert groups, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

Upon completion of the meeting, the Plan of bilateral military cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2018 was signed.

Afterwards, the Uzbek delegation visited a museum with the expositions reflecting the life and activities of Azerbaijans national leader Heydar Aliyev, established in the administrative building of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, as well as got acquainted with the working environment in other office premises.

Having visited the Central Command Point, the guests got in touch with the formations and branches of the Armed Forces through a video call.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 17

Trend:

Today Azerbaijan marks National Revival Day.

On the first days of 1988, Armenia started its evident aggression against Azerbaijan. Seeing Moscow and particularly the head of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev's indifferent attitude towards these events, the Armenians started mass deportation of the Azerbaijanis from their native lands in Armenia under the instructions of the Armenian government.

More than 200,000 Azerbaijanis were deported from their homes, killed by the Armenians. Gorbachev and his surrounding had no reaction to the Armenian vandalism.

In early February 1988, Armenians carried out revolts in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and even raised the issue of joining those lands with Armenia.

Azerbaijani people expressed protest to the government. Slogans, portraits and flags carried by the Azerbaijani citizens proved their belief to Moscow and local authorities at that time. But getting no serious answer from Moscow and the then government, people from every corner of the republic moved to Baku and gathered on Azadlig Square (Lenin Square at that time), they held meetings and evidently expressed their protest.

Azerbaijani people started indefinite rally on Azadlig Square against the anti-Azerbaijani policy of the USSR on Nov.17, 1988. It was a real national liberation movement. The Soviet troops dispersed the nationwide rally in early December. These events are regarded in Azerbaijan as the start of the national liberation movement and the main factor in gaining independence.

November 17 has been marked as the Day of National Revival since 1992.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Samir Ali - Trend:

The quake destroyed three houses in Tartar district of Azerbaijan, Deputy Head of the Tartar Region Ramiz Shabanov told Trend.

He said that three houses and one stall were destroyed in Ismayilbeyli and Evoglu villages and six houses were damaged.

"The number of damaged houses may increase," he said.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Aghdam district Nov. 15 at 11.48 p.m. (GMT +4).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

Trend:

 Mahira, your speech at a solemn ceremony on celebrating two billion tons of oil production in Azerbaijan last week attracted great attention. How did you feel when speaking before the President of the country?

 I was very proud that I made a speech on behalf of our Higher School at the Heydar Aliyev Centre on November 8 this year. As of today, I think of it as of the most exciting moment in my life. After that event, I realized that I made the right choice when I selected BHOS for study.

 What can you say about Mahira Asadzada who earned 700 points at the entrance exams to those people who do not know her?

 I was born in Baku on August 27, 1999. I went to a primary school 40 in the Lachin district. Then I studied at a secondary school 162 named after Ehtibar Aliyev in Baku and graduated from the school with honors this year. At the entrance exams to higher educational institutions for 2017/2018 academic year conducted by the State Examination Centre, I achieved the best result, earned 700 points and chose to study Process Automation Engineering at Baku Higher Oil School.

 Mahira, speaking at the ceremony, you said that your biggest dream is to work in oil industry and join SOCARs family. Probably, thousands of other young people have the same dream. What steps are necessary in order to make this dream true?

 Indeed, many of us try to fulfill childrens dreams. I believe that any young person who wants to become a petroleum engineer should choose Baku Higher Oil School. Everything starts here. For example, the Higher School will help me to become a multi-skilled engineer. Moreover, we not only study at BHOS, we also gain practical knowledge of the industry.

 Why have you chosen Baku Higher Oil School and what makes BHOS so special for you?

 The Higher School provides students with unique opportunities. Education, which is free of charge at BHOS; lessons taught in English language; acquisition of theoretical knowledge alongside getting practical experience; opportunities for continuing education in foreign countries; and cooperation with transnational companies  all this together is available only at BHOS.

 What motivates you most in your life?

 The most thing that motivates me is the result of what I do. Even when the process lasts for a long time, the successful result of it can inspire me and increase my enthusiasm.

 What would you advise those prospective students who need to select a higher educational institution?

 I would like to tell them that they should choose a university, which definitely matches their wishes, and where they want to see themselves in the future. The higher educational institution of your choice should not just give you a diploma after four or five years of study; it shall also provide you with deep knowledge, experience and practical skills, and offer career opportunities. If you want to be a professional engineer, your best choice, of course, is the Baku Higher Oil School.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

Trend:

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Caspian International Hospital have signed an agreement on cooperation.

The Foundation told Trend Nov. 16 that under the agreement, surgical, resuscitative and other health examinations and treatment of thalassemia patients, which is impossible to conduct in the Republican Thalassemia Center, will be carried out in the Caspian International Hospital free of charge.

The signing of the agreement is a part of plan of actions to provide thalassemia patients in the Republican Thalassemia Center with a wide range of quality medical services.

Moreover, when the Heydar Aliyev Foundation sends various individuals for examination and treatment to foreign countries, assistance will be provided in establishing links with relevant clinics and collecting documents.

Treatment at the Caspian International Hospital is provided free of charge or under special benefits.
Unlike Rahul's Kisan Yatra ahead of Uttar Pradesh election, which was managed by Prashant Kishore or PK, Navsarjan Yatra is an in-house project of Congress.

By Supriya Bhardwaj: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi criss-crossed across Gujarat in his blue coloured bus during his Navsarjan Yatra.

The entire Yatra was modelled on his famous Kisan Yatra, which he had undertaken during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Poll.

However, unlike Kisan Yatra, which was managed by Prashant Kishore or PK, Navsarjan Yatra was completely an in-house project of Congress.

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Congress' frontal organisations as well as district level leaders and workers in Gujarat ensured that around 2,500 km long Navsarjan Yatra gives them enough arsenals to challenge BJP.

Riding high on the success of Navsarjan Yatra, Arjun Modhwadia, former leader of opposition in Gujarat Assembly, said, "We didn't take any professional advice or private support for our Navsarjan Yatra. It was a completely in-house poll campaign drive. The success of this Yatra has now forced even PM to come and campaign in Gujarat in a 'carpet-bombing' style."

Gujarat Congress had divided the entire state into four zones in which Rahul Gandhi campaigned for three days each.

From meeting traders, professionals, fishermen, tribal community, Asha workers, roadshows, addressing corner meetings to enjoying Gujarati local cuisines and dancing with tribal community, Rahul Gandhi's Navsarjan Yatra was high on political and cultural quotient.

Modhwadia added, "We decided that we should reach out to people through Navsarjan Yatra and who better than our own party leaders and workers to manage his Yatra. Rahul Gandhi ji gave us his time. Everything was decided at Pradesh leadership level and was implemented at district and block level as well as frontal organisation level."

The high point of Navsarjan Yatra was Rahul Gandhi being able to connect with local people, which has now helped party to build upon its further door to door campaign.

Mahila Congress President Sushmita Deb said, "Entire Yatra of Rahul Gandhiji was not about optics but the idea was connecting Rahulji and Congress with people of Gujarat. This was only possible through our Gujarat Congress and frontal organisations' workers, who successfully mobilised the people."

According to experts, party has been able to successfully connect its leader with masses and business class which has rattled the BJP.

Campaigning in Gujarat, Sushmita Deb added, "The success of Navsarjan Yatra has forced BJP to redraw its campaign strategy in Gujarat. It was successfully managed to showcase the real Rahul Gandhi to people. Navsarjan Yatra took Rahulji closer to people whereas PM Narendra Modi is still maintaining a distant relationship with people where they can just hear and see him through radio, tv and twitter."

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The workers and supporters of Congress' frontal organisations, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal, are heading towards Gujarat from across country and campaigning in Gujarat.

Nitish Vyas, Gujarat Congress General Secretary, "Our frontal organisations and team of Congress leaders, workers made sure that Navsarjan Yatra becomes such a big hit. The credit goes to 'Team' Congress."

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

Trend:

EY Azerbaijan held a training session for the Ministry of Taxes of the Azerbaijan Republic entitled International Financial Accounting Basics: Accounting for Revenue and Fixed Assets at the Education Center of the Ministry of Taxes in Shamakhy on 14 November 2017.

The training was led by EY Assurance Manager Kamran Safaraliyev and EY Assurance Senior Emil Mahmudzade.

The presentations and discussions covered IFRS aspects such as revenue recognition, recognition of fixed assets, as well as differences between IFRS and local tax legislation. Specific attention was paid to the application of a new revenue standard (IFRS 15) and possible tax implications. Further, training participants discussed key issues arising during financial and tax audits, as well as possible solutions to these problems.

Kamran shared: The participants were extremely interested in new IFRS provisions, and their tax implications in particular, and proactively participated in discussions. I am very happy with the training, and I hope that this cooperation between EY Azerbaijan and the Ministry will be long-lasting and productive. As a company, we highly value this cooperation.

EY was delighted to see all the participants at the session and thanks each of them for their enthusiastic participation!

About EY

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EY in Azerbaijan

EY made a major commitment to the development of Azerbaijan and the region by opening the office in Baku 23 years ago. Today, in addition to being the leading audit and consulting firm in Azerbaijan, we are the leading professional services firm in the region. As a result of our experience and competence, we have been able to assist both domestic and international companies as well as state-owned entities to develop and manage the challenges of the international economy.

There are currently more than 200 people working in our Baku office that serve our clients in Azerbaijan. EYs strength in the Caspian Region and the firms commitment of resources are important to the entities operating in the region. It means that as we grow, EY will continue to demonstrate a tradition of hiring and training local professionals to be leaders in our practice.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

Trend:

Baku hosted a special session of Caspian Energy Forum dedicated to the healthcare (Caspian Energy Medical Forum) on Nov. 15.

The business forum was held with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Healthcare of Azerbaijan Elsevar Aghayev.

Speaking at the business forum, Elsevar Aghayev greeted the Members of the Board of the Caspian European Club and congratulated them on the election. He stressed that close cooperation between the Club and the government agencies has a positive impact on the economy of Azerbaijan. Our doors are always open for the Azerbaijan businessmen engaged in the field of medicine, the deputy minister said.

Elsevar Aghayev also spoke about the ongoing health reforms implemented in Azerbaijan. According to Elsevar Aghayev, to date the Ministry of Healthcare has issued licenses to 875 private medical companies and 2,378 pharmaceutical enterprises.

It is encouraging that the number of private clinics is growing every day, and we, in turn, are trying to make every effort to contribute to this, Elsevar Aghayev said.

First Deputy Chairman of the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club Telman Aliyev thanked the Ministry of Healthcare headed by Minister Oktay Shiraliyev and Elsevar Aghayev for the constructive dialogue and for prompt reaction and active participation in addressing problems of businessmen and the member companies of the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club.

Telman Aliyev recalled that the Caspian European Club 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 is taking an active part in the ongoing economic reforms implemented in Azerbaijan, in attracting foreign investments and in the development of small and medium-sized businesses. At the same time the Club plays the important role in establishing international economic ties between the countries of the Caspian-Black Sea and Baltic regions, Telman Aliyev said.

Caspian Energy Georgia has been representing the interests of the Caspian European Club, Caspian American Club and Caspian Energy International Media Group in Georgia since September, Telman Aliyev said. He reminded that the third CEO Lunch Tbilisi will be held on November 29, where the members of the Government of Georgia are expected to be present. PASHA Bank Georgia is the sponsor of the CEO Lunch Tbilisi events until the end of 2017.

As part of the resumption of activities of Caspian Energy Georgia the 5th International Caspian Energy Forum will take place in March 2018 with the support of the Governments of Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the Caspian European Club. Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili and all members of the Government of Georgia representing the economic and energy bloc are expected to attend the opening ceremony, Telman Aliyev said.

The main election of the members of the board of the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club was held on the same day.

Telman Aliyev also introduced Mustafa Abbasov, the new Chief Executive Officer of the Caspian European Club, who previously headed the Legal Committee and the Committee for Customs and Taxes of CEIBC.

Mustafa Abbasbeyli thanked the senior management of the Club and noted that he would make all efforts to justify the confidence reposed in him.

He said that the closed meeting of the branch Medical Club, part of the Caspian European Club, was held on the threshold of the Caspian Energy Medical Forum to discuss the problems and proposals that need to be implemented in the healthcare sector. He read all the questions of the companies at the business forum and Deputy Minister Elsevar Aghayev gave the corresponding answers to them.

Addressing the forum were also heads of branch clubs operating within the Caspian European Club, President of the Medical Club Vugar Eyvazov and President of the Finance Club Anar Bayramov who thanked the Deputy Minister for the participation and the first organized meeting of the Club with the Ministry of Healthcare. Vugar Eyvazov emphasized a dynamic implementation of reforms in the field of healthcare, saying their results are already seen in practice. He noted that the Club creates good conditions and a ground to address problems and proposals within the framework of the business forums held.

During the business forum Elsevar Aghayev was awarded the Honourary Membership Certificate of the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club.

The results of the election were announced at the traditional CEO Lunch Baku. Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas became the honoured guest of the CEO Lunch Baku. At CEO Lunch Baku Narimanfilm Company has made a presentation about its activity and projects it implements.

Also, answers were given to the questions of interest to the business representatives, problems and proposals for their solution were heard.

More than 100 businessmen from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, as well as representatives of the international organizations and the heads of the diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan attended this business forum.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend:

The National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan concluded loan agreements with leading German banks for a total of 950 million euros, the bank reported.

The agreements were signed during the visit of a governmental delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov Nov.14-17 to Germany.

The Uzbek-German business forum was held in Munich Nov.15, as part of which a package of agreements was signed with the leading financial institutions of Germany.

The largest agreement was signed with Deutsche Bank AG in the amount of 500 million euros aimed at supporting large-scale investment projects in Uzbekistan.

Agreements with Commerzbank AG worth 350 million euros and AKA Bank worth 100 million euros were also signed. The agreements provide for the financing of investment projects, as well as projects for small businesses and private entrepreneurship.

The signed loan agreements are "non-guaranteed", that is, they do not require a government guarantee.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.16

By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend

Japanese corporations are interested in joint projects with Kazakhstan on geological exploration of gold and copper, Kazakh Kazgeologiya said in a message.

During the Japan-Kazakhstan business forum entitled "Investment opportunities in the regions of Kazakhstan" in Tokyo, the sides discussed investment projects in the mining and metallurgy, energy, chemical, and agrarian industries.

Vice-Minister for Investments and Development of Kazakhstan Yerlan Khairov, Chairman of the Japan-Kazakhstan Economic Committee Koichi Yajima and Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Japan Erlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev adressed the event, where Kazgeology's chief geologist Berikbol Hamzin participated.

Business meetings within the framework of "B2B" format attracted interest from over 180 Japanese investment companies.

Hamzin met with representatives of companies "Argonavt Corporation", "Sumitomo Corporation", "Tairiku Trading", "Mitsubishi materials". Head of Sumitomo Corporation, Hitoshi Tanaka, expressed an interest in investing in gold and copper exploration projects in Kazakhstan, stressing that he heard about the successful joint projects of Kazgeology with Rio Tinto.

General Manager of the Department of Mining and Mineral Resources of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation Kazufumi Jaano, also expressed interest in cooperation.

One of the main tasks of the company is to provide copper concentrate for two plants in Japan - Onakham and Naoshimi. Currently, these enterprises are loaded with imported raw materials from abroad only by 30 percent, so Mitsubishi Materials Corporation is very interested in access to new copper ore deposits.

On the same day, a seminar was held at the office of the state geological exploration company "JOGMEC" with the participation of the delegation of Kazakhstan. Following the seminar, the parties agreed to meet in early 2018 in Kazakhstan to discuss projects on copper, cobalt, rare earth and lithium ores.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.16

By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend:

Uzbek Trustbank and German Commerzbank signed a memorandum on mutual cooperation, the Uzbek side reported Nov.16.

The Memorandum was signed to implement the tasks of the decree of Uzbek president on "Strategy of actions on five priority directions of the development of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021".

"Attraction of foreign investments is a key task in the development of the national economy," said Sardor Normuhamedov, Chairman of the Board of "Trustbank".

He noted that Uzbekistan has created a solid legal basis for attracting foreign investments and their effective use is ensure.

"Uzbekistan regards foreign investment as a factor in further improving the pace of economic growth, applying best practices, modernizing and renewing production, supporting small and private entrepreneurship, increasing the incomes of citizens by creating new jobs," he added.

During the meeting, topical issues of bilateral cooperation and plans for the future were discussed.

Earlier, the Uzbek banks signed memo with Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International.
Details added (first version posted on 15:45)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Russian entrepreneurs invested over $3.7 billion in Azerbaijans economy, Azerbaijani Deputy Economy Minister Sahib Mammadov said at the Azerbaijan-Russia business meeting in Baku Nov. 16.

He added that Azerbaijan has invested over $1 billion in Russias economy.

Mammadov said Azerbaijan and Russia have more than 200 intergovernmental and interregional agreements.

He stressed that trade relations are an important component of cooperation between the two countries.

Russia is one of Azerbaijans main trading partners, Mammadov said. It is not a coincidence that the countrys first trade mission opened in Russia. This shows the importance we attach to our relations with Russia.

He said the trade turnover between the countries increased by more than 10 percent and exceeded $2 billion in 2016 compared to 2015.

The trade turnover increased by 6.5 percent up to $1.34 billion in January-September 2017 compared to the same period of 2016.
Details added (first version posted on 16:04)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Almost 80 regions of Russia have trade relations with Azerbaijan to one degree or another, Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said Nov. 16 in Baku at the Azerbaijan-Russia business meeting.

"Azerbaijan is open for cooperation, he said. I am very glad that the Russian Federation shows interest in that.

Dorokhin said Azerbaijan and the regions of Russia have signed 18 intergovernmental agreements.

"We want to cooperate with Azerbaijan as closely as possible," the diplomat added.

Russia is one of the main economic and trade partners of Azerbaijan. Russias investments in Azerbaijans economy exceed $3.7 billion. Azerbaijani entrepreneurs invested over $1 billion into the Russian economy.

The data from the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee shows that trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to almost $1.66 billion in January-October 2017, which makes up 10.35 percent of the entire trade turnover between Azerbaijan and other countries.
Details added (first version posted on 16:34)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijan has taken a serious step forward for the development of non-resource based exports, said Elgiz Kachaev, chairman of the Committee for Entrepreneurship and Consumer Market Development of St. Petersburg, at the Azerbaijan-Russia business meeting in Baku Nov. 16.

He said trade turnover between St. Petersburg and Azerbaijan is increasing. Thus, he continued, exports from St. Petersburg to Azerbaijan rose 2.5 times and imports from the country increased by almost five times in the first half of 2017.

Speaking about the importance of establishing relations with Azerbaijan, Kachaev said St. Petersburg is interested in importing quality products, and Azerbaijani goods have already turned into a brand.

Russia is one of the main economic and trade partners of Azerbaijan. Russias investments in Azerbaijans economy exceed $3.7 billion. Azerbaijani entrepreneurs invested over $1 billion into the Russian economy.

The data from the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee shows that trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to almost $1.66 billion in January-October 2017, which makes up 10.35 percent of the entire trade turnover between Azerbaijan and other countries.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijan offers Russias St. Petersburg city to expand cooperation in the sphere of services and processing industry, Rufat Mammadov, head of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), said.

Mammadov made the remarks at the Azerbaijani-Russian business meeting in Baku Nov. 16.

"Usually, when we talk about trade with Russia, first of all, agricultural products come into our mind," Mammadov said. We are a traditional supplier of these products in the region. We have a [competitive] advantage, but we should expand ties in a number of spheres. We should not be limited only to the food industry."

He said that Azerbaijan and St. Petersburg could also cooperate in the fashion sector.

"There are all the necessary opportunities in Azerbaijan and a production chain has been established beginning from cotton growing and ending with production of final products," he said.

Mammadov recalled that at present, Azerbaijan actively promotes the Made in Azerbaijan brand.

"We launched a very ambitious and practical program for the promotion of the Azerbaijani brand in foreign markets, he said. We launched our activity with our traditional trading partners. Russia ranks first among consumers of our non-oil products."

As for cooperation with St. Petersburg, Mammadov added that currently, a delegation of Azerbaijani businessmen is on a visit to this city.

He said that the delegation members have held over 200 bilateral meetings over two days.

"St. Petersburg is very important for us, he said. We feel great prospects and potential, which has not yet been fully used.

Russia is one of the main economic and trade partners of Azerbaijan. During the cooperation, Russias investments in Azerbaijans economy exceeded $3.7 billion. Azerbaijani entrepreneurs invested over $1 billion into the Russian economy.

The data of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee shows that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to almost $1.66 billion in January-October 2017, which is 10.35 percent of the entire trade turnover between Azerbaijan and other countries.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

The businessmen from Russias St. Petersburg city show great interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan in a wide range of spheres, Elgiz Kachayev, chairman of the Committee for the Development of Entrepreneurship and the Consumer Market of St. Petersburg, told reporters in Baku Nov. 16.

Among those spheres are light industry, processing industry, agriculture, tourism sector and petrochemistry, he said.

The measures for the development of tourism, which have been recently taken both in Azerbaijan and St. Petersburg, are giving results, he said. It is necessary to expand the number of flights between Azerbaijan and Russia.

Kachayev added that as for tourism in Azerbaijan, gastronomic, health and cultural tourism can be of interest.

"Azerbaijan has a very interesting culture, he said. Your country has a great historical past and the prevalence of the Russian language makes it possible to communicate without interpreters."

He also added that Azerbaijan and St. Petersburg increased the trade turnover by almost 5 times in January-June 2017 compared to the same period of 2016.

"The volume of trade turnover between two countries was about $120 million in January-June 2017, he said. The growth was fixed from both sides. I think this is only the beginning of the path supported by the presidents of two countries. The presidents made it clear that both countries should intensify and diversify relations."

Kachayev also stressed the importance of establishing joint logistics centers.

Russia is one of the main economic and trade partners of Azerbaijan. During the cooperation, Russias investments in Azerbaijans economy exceeded $3.7 billion. Azerbaijani entrepreneurs invested over $1 billion into the Russian economy.

The data of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee shows that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to almost $1.66 billion in January-October 2017, which is 10.35 percent of the entire trade turnover between Azerbaijan and other countries.
By PTI: Islamabad, Nov 16 (PTI) China has asserted that there is no contradiction in its policy to block Indias bid to designate Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, saying the BRICS declaration was against terror groups and not individuals, Pakistani media today reported.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked Indias move to impose a ban on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.

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The latest technical hold by China came on November 2 when it blocked another proposal by the US, France and the UK to list Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN. Beijing had blocked such a move in February this year.

Speaking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors in Beijing this week, Counselor and Asia Division Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chen Feng said vetoing a resolution against Azhar after the BRICS declaration against terror outfits did not reflect a contradiction in Chinas policy as BRICS members have not entered into any such agreement.

The Chinese move was not in contradiction with Chinese policy in the context of BRICS declaration against terrorism, Chen was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

Chen clarified that the BRICS summit discussed only banned organisations and not individuals, Pakistan Today reported.

The BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - at a summit in China in September named, for the first time, Pakistan-based groups like the Lashkar-e- Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani network in a joint declaration condemning terror.

In early November, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said: "we raised a technical hold so as to allow more time for the committee and its members to deliberate on this matter. But there is still absence of consensus on this matter."

Defending the repeated technical holds, Hua said Chinas actions are meant to ensure and safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council.

China in the past has also asked India to discuss the issue directly with Pakistan to reach an understanding on Azhars listing.

In the last two years, China has stonewalled efforts by India to declare Azhar as a global terrorist.

The senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official also briefed the Pakistani editors about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an ambitious project that is opposed by India as it is passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Chen said Beijing was trying to convince India that the multibillion dollar project is based on economic cooperation and that its main aim is to promote peace and prosperity in the region.

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"The CPEC is neither a way to achieve political aims nor to be used in regional conflicts. Basic aim of the economic plan is to expand the mutual relations. China wants to engage other countries in the economic corridor too," Chen said.

He said China had time and again clarified it to India that it had no hegemonic designs in the region.

"We rather view CPEC as a way of forming equal relationships with regional countries and to promote friendship and neighbourhood in the region," he added.

Feng clarified that China was not a party in the Kashmir dispute.

"Indias accusation of Chinese occupation on any part of Kashmir is baseless. We have denied such claims in the past as well. Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, peaceful solution of which is the only way to regional peace and prosperity," he was quoted as saying. PTI AKJ ZH

--- ENDS ---
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 16

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Deputy prime minister, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov has met with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze in Ashgabat city, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

During the talks, the sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation in the fuel and energy sphere, as well as in the field of transport and communications.

The parties noted their interest in ensuring security, stability and sustainable development in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Noting the mutual desire to develop bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, the sides agreed to boost the existing cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries, said the message.

Earlier, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who paid an official visit to Ashgabat in August 2017.

Among the topical areas of cooperation the sides stressed energy and transport spheres.

The advantageous geographic location of the two countries and the common interests of the sides predetermine favorable prospects for uniting efforts to create transit and transport corridors by using the potential of the Caspian Sea and Black Sea, which will create new broad opportunities for interregional integration and intensify trade and economic ties throughout Eurasia.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

Uzbekistans intention to buy oil from Iran, while neighboring Kazakhstan is the biggest oil producer in Central Asia, is explained by competition between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan within the region, Oleg Egorov, an energy expert and chief researcher at the Institute of Economics of Kazakhstan, told Trend.

The statement of Uzbek officials regarding the intention to buy oil from Iran was unexpected for the region, especially given that the issue of supplying oil to Uzbekistan was also raised in Kazakhstan in September, he said.

Its not a secret that Uzbekistan doesnt have big oil reserves, Egorov noted. Although there are good neighborly relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, there is competition between them, and for this reason Uzbekistan adheres to the policy of diversifying sources of oil supply in order to reduce dependence on supplies from one country.

He added that Uzbekistan has never bought oil from Kazakhstan in big volumes.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Revenues from export of products as part of the SOCAR Polymer project are forecast to total $8 billion for the whole period of the plants activity, said Rovnag Abdullayev, president of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR.

Abdullayev made the remarks addressing a reception of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku Nov. 16.

SOCAR Polymer is the biggest petrochemical project in Azerbaijan in the last 40 years, he noted.

The project, which will be launched in the first half of 2018, will reduce dependence on imports of this type of products, increase export potential and allow diversifying export destinations. Thirty percent of the products are meant for the local market, and 70 percent will be exported to Turkey, Europe and other markets, said Abdullayev.

Total cost of the SOCAR Polymer project is $750 million. The project is being implemented in the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP). At the first stage, its production capacity will total 120,000 tons of polyethylene and 180,000 tons of polypropylene. The total capacity may reach 570,000 tons by 2021.
Details added (first version posted on 14:27)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR plans to earn $140-150 million annually as a result of the operation of its carbamide plant, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev said.

He made the remarks in Baku at the reception of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) Nov. 16.

Abdullayev said that the carbamide plant will be constructed in late 2017.

The carbamide plant construction project is worth $750 million, he said. Production will be launched at the plant in January-June 2018.

The plant will produce 2,000 tons of carbamide per day. A quarter of products is planned to be supplied to the domestic market. The remaining volume will be exported, in particular to Turkey, Georgia and the markets of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd. won the tender for the carbamide plant construction.

The company acts as a general contractor, but it has no license for ammonia production, which will be an intermediate product in the carbamide production process. Therefore, the corresponding licensing agreements have also been signed with Danish Haldor Topsoe company concerning ammonia production and Netherlands Stamicarbon B.V. concerning carbamide production.

The plant will consume electricity in the volume of 25-26 megawatt per hour.

At first, construction work was financed through the state budget funds. Around 205 million manat was allocated till early 2015. But later a decision about project financing was made and negotiations with banks were launched.

As a result, a 500 million euro credit line was opened by Korea Eximbank under the state guarantees of Azerbaijan to complete the construction. Eximbank directly allocates 251 million euros. Moreover, 249 million euros are allocated by 3 commercial banks UniCredit, Societe Generale and Deutsche Bank with Eximbanks support.

Meanwhile, 1.3 million cubic meters of gas will be required per day for the full operation of the carbamide plant.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.16

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

The US works with Azerbaijan to boost global energy security, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta told reporters in Baku Nov.16.

"The US has been working with Azerbaijan and with other countries to boost global energy security for a long time," he said.

As President of Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev stated today in his speech, the US companies have been and are active in the development of the hydrocarbon sector and in the oil and gas sector of Azerbaijan, noted Cekuta.

"We work with Azerbaijan to boost regional, global and European energy security," added the ambassador.

Europe pins high hopes on Azerbaijan with relation to the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.



At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.



As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.
Details added (first version posted on 11:38)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Huseyn Valiyev  Trend:

Revenues from Azerspace-1, Azerbaijans first satellite, amounted to $80 million, Rashad Nabiyev, head of Azercosmos OJSC, said at a meeting in the countrys National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Nov. 16.

He said that the launch of Azerspace-2, the second geostationary satellite, is scheduled for 2018. Azerbaijan also owns the Azersky remote sensing satellite.

Pictures received from the Azersky are provided free of charge to the scientific community of Azerbaijan for scientific research, Nabiyev noted. The satellites management is carried out directly by employees of Azercosmos OJSC. We will continue to increase the countrys personnel potential in this field.

Earlier, a source in Azercosmos OJSC said that about 80 percent of resources of Azerspace-1 satellite have already been commercialized and annual sales of satellite resources are forecasted to grow.

Azerspace-1 was launched on Feb.8, 2013. Its service area includes the countries of Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, Middle East and Africa.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Nigar Guliyeva- Trend:

Kazakhstan will provide a humanitarian assistance worth 128,685 million tenge to Tajikistan for the purchase of fuel oil in accordance with the resolution of the Government of Kazakhstan.

Under the decree, the Defense and Aerospace Industry Ministry of Kazakhstan was instructed to allocate 128,685 million tenge from the emergency reserve of the Kazakh government to Tajikistan for the purchase of 1,000 tons of fuel oil.

These funds are provided in the republican budget for 2017.

In turn, the Foreign Ministry was instructed to determine the recipient of official humanitarian assistance and ensure coordination of measures to provide it, the Investment and Development Ministry was tasked to ensure the timely supply of rolling stock for the transportation and delivery of humanitarian goods to a destination in Tajikistan.

The official exchange rate for November 16 is 332.72KZT / USD.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 16

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

OSCE in its press release said that it facilitates exchange of best practices in using service dogs to ensure border security in Turkmenistan.

A workshop for canine officers and veterinarians on using service dogs to ensure border security in Turkmenistan, organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, concluded near Ashgabat.



The eight-day workshop was made up of two parts: a course on the effective use of special dogs and a course on the effective use of search dogs. It was organized as part of an extra-budgetary project to enhance the capacities of canine centers.



Service dogs are used worldwide to ensure border security and public safety in crowded places such as airports and train stations. Service dog training techniques and approaches are constantly evolving and adapting to current and emerging border-related threats.



The workshop provided a platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices involving service and search dogs to protect state borders, detect narcotics and psychoactive substances in busy public places, and to ensure appropriate veterinary care for dogs.



Canine experts from Belarus shared best practices on the use of service and search dogs and stressed the importance and relevance of service and search dogs in an age of high technology, which offers myriad technological solutions to the security challenges the world is facing.



Natalya Drozd, head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat said: Todays workshop offered an excellent opportunity to share international standards and national practices on the effective use of service and search dogs in ensuring border security. The OSCE stands ready to support the State Border Service of Turkmenistan by sharing the best practices of the OSCE participating States.



As part of the project, the OSCE Center in Ashgabat also organized a study visit to Belgium that focused on the involvement of dogs in protecting the state border. The visit enabled Turkmenistans State Border Services canine officers to exchange experiences with their colleagues from the Canine Department of the Federal Police of Belgium.



The project is being funded by the governments of Japan and Germany.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 16

By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend

The representatives of the Turkmen government and Special Representative of the German Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan Markus Potzel discussed Turkmenistans activity in some spheres during the meeting in Ashgabat, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message Nov. 16.

The sides discussed Turkmenistans activity in energy, transport and economic spheres aimed at integrating Afghanistan into regional economic ties and exchanged views on the issues of the regional agenda.

As for an extensive infrastructure network in the region, the sides stressed the role of the transit and transport cooperation agreement signed in Ashgabat as part of the 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII).

The document was signed by high-ranking representatives of the foreign ministries of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

Ashgabat promotes the implementation of a number of infrastructure regional projects involving Afghanistan.

In particular, Turkmenistan is working on the implementation of such projects through Afghanistan, as the construction of a railway to Tajikistan and the gas pipeline to Pakistan and India.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 16

By Diana Aliyeva  Trend:

Uzbekistan hosted a meeting under the leadership of the countrys President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Nov. 15.

Issues of preventing crime among young people in Uzbekistan, strengthening interaction of the countrys educational institutions and internal affairs bodies in this direction, increasing their responsibility, were discussed at the meeting.

It was noted that during ten months of 2017, 22,000 young people committed one third of the total number of crimes in Uzbekistan.

Among them, 875 students of academic lyceums and professional colleges, as well as 310 schoolchildren committed grave and especially serious crimes.

The heads of relevant ministries of Uzbekistan were instructed to develop a program of concrete measures for effective organization of meaningful and useful leisure for students, formation of entrepreneurial skills during preschool and school education, involvement of highly qualified specialists in this process, and creation of business literature for young people.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) Union Minister Hansraj Ahir today said no one could stop India if it wanted to wrest PoK from Pakistan, stressing that the territory was a part of India.

The minister of state for home said Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir was under Islamabad because of the "mistakes" of previous governments.

"I say Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is a part of India and due to the mistakes of the previous governments it has been with Pakistan. If we try to get PoK back, no one can stop us because it is our right," he said on the sidelines of a function here.

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The minister said India would make efforts to get the territory back from Pakistan.

The comments came a day after National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said Pakistan would not allow India to take that part of Jammu and Kashmir which was under its occupation.

The former state chief minister had raked up a controversy last week when he said PoK belonged to Pakistan. PTI ACB BDS

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 13

By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:

The recent agreement on oil swap between Tehran and Baghdad apparently tends to diversify Iraqs routes for carrying crude from the oil-rich province of Kirkuk in northern regions of the Arab country.

Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi through a Facebook post on Friday said that Kirkuk will supply about 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil to the Kermanshah refinery in western Iran. He also said that the figure may reach 60,000 barrels per day in future.

According to Iranian media reports, Alaa al-Moussawi, director of the oil marketing company Oil Marketing Company SOMO, has also echoed plans for delivering Kirkuks oil to Iran.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh earlier said that his country preferred to swap oil with Iraq. He had mentioned that Kirkuk oil would feed refineries in northern and northwestern Iran, including Arak, Kermanshah, Tehran and Tabriz. In turn, Iran will deliver the same amount of oil to Iraq through its southern borders.

According to Iraqi oil minister, the Kirkuks oil will be carried by road tankers and in the meantime, the sides will take measures to construct a pipeline to transfer the Arab countrys oil to Iran.

The Iraqi official has said that the oil swap deal is capable of contributing to the economic situation of the southern ports of the Arab state, as well as strengthening ties with its eastern neighbor, Iran.

Iraq used to ship Kirkuks oil to the Turkish port of Ceyhan via a pipeline owned and operated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). However, following the recent tensions in the region, the Iraqi Oil Ministry took control of the oil filed and started talks with Iranian officials about the provinces oil exports through the Islamic Republic.

It appears that the central government of Iraq in the current situation is after diversifying its routes for exporting the countrys northern oil. While the Ceyhan pipeline remains at the sole route for exporting Iraqs oil from its fields in north, the construction of a new pipeline to Iran would open a new gate for Kirkuks crude into the world.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Export Development Bank of Iran is expected to establish its first corresponding relation with South African banks in near future.

Ali Salehabadi, the head of Export Development Bank of Iran, said his country has, so far, failed to establish corresponding relations with South African banks, Iraneconomist news website reported.

Saying that South Africa is expected to introduce a bank to Iranians in near future, he added that Iran's officials are currently following up on the issue.

He added that there are talks underway to create ties with two banks in Uganda as well.

Salehabadi also touched upon Irans banking ties with Nigeria and said the sides have agreed to establish SWIFT relations with a state-run bank of the African country.

The official eventually expressed his dissatisfaction with the low volume of trade ties between Iran and African countries, urging for a boost in ties.
Tehran, Iran, Nov. 13

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Iranian and German officials held a meeting November 13 in Tehran to discuss cooperation opportunities in the field of rail transportation.

The German delegation was led by Tillmann Rudolf Braun, the Middle East deputy of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and the Iranian side was headed by the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) Director Said Mohammadzadeh, Trend correspondent reported from the event.

Speaking during the meeting, Mohammadzadeh said so far $7 billion finance has been signed for rail infrastructure in Iran and some of it is being implemented as projects, noting that over the past four years $1.5 billion has been invested in the countrys rail industry annually.

He noted that Iran is the second biggest economy in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) with a 2016 GDP of $412 billion and a population of over 80 million.

Mohammadzadeh noted that by 2022, Iran plans to increase the share of rail in cargo transportation from 12 to 30 percent and in passenger transportation from 8 to 20 percent.

Increasing the penetration of electric railways and achieving a 200 kmph speed, making the countrys rail industry tourist-friendly, renovating railways, stations and wagons, increasing private sector cooperation in rail development, and developing the rail system according to market demands are among the most prominent goals in RAIs developmental projects, the official said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iran has denied media reports suggesting that the UK was preparing to pay back decades-old debt to the Islamic Republic in a diplomatic effort aimed at helping release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The settlement of the UK governments debt to Iran has no connection with the case of Mrs. Zaghari. These two cases are quite different issues, the spokesperson of the foreign ministry of Iran, Bahram Qasemi, told ISNA on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Theresa Mays spokesman also denied the report on Thursday, saying there was no link between the 400 million pound ($528 million) debt owed to Iran and the fate of a jailed Iranian-British aid worker, Reuters reported.

The Sun newspaper earlier reported that the UK was preparing to pay the long-standing debt to help free the 39-year old woman who was earlier imprisoned in Iran during her family holiday in April 2016 for allegedly "plotting to topple the regime".

The Sun said Iran has demanded that Britain pay back the 400 million pounds, which the former Shah of Iran paid in 1979 for 1,750 Chieftain tanks and other vehicles, almost none of which was eventually delivered.
President Donald Trump, fresh off a five-country swing through Asia, sought Wednesday to cast his first 10 months on the world stage as an unmitigated success, claiming a "great American comeback" that has restored the US' standing in the world, CNN reports.

The speech, which came as Trump fumed at press coverage of his trip, framed his accomplishments in terms of correcting the "mistakes" of his predecessors and following through on his promises to voters. But he offered no new announcements on trade or North Korea, two of the top issues he focused on during his trip.

"I vowed that we would reaffirm old alliances and form new friendships in pursuit of shared goals. Above all I swore that in every decision, every action I would put the best interest of the American people first. Over the past 10 months traveling the globe and meeting with world leaders, that is exactly what I have done," Trump said from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.

Trump pointed to his efforts during his first foreign trip to rally Muslim leaders around the fight against radical Islamist terrorism and his urging that NATO allies boost their financial commitments to the alliance. And he highlighted his efforts on this most recent trip to bring back "free and reciprocal trade" and unite the world against the North Korean threat.

"My fellow citizens, America is back, and the future has never looked brighter," he concluded.

Trump on Wednesday touted his insistence to regional partners on "free and reciprocal" trade, but he emerged with no written commitments from the region to rebalance trade with the US or change trade practices that have disadvantaged the US.

The President did appear to try to clean up remarks in Beijing when he said he did not "blame" China for its unfair trade practices and gave the country "credit" for taking advantage of the US.

Trump said Wednesday that he emphasized to Chinese President Xi Jinping in "a very candid conversation" that US-Chinese trade must be "conducted on a truly fair and equitable basis."

"The days of the United States being taken advantage of are over," Trump promised, though he announced no changes to the terms of the relationship.

Trump returned Tuesday night from his tour of Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, where he focused on trade and North Korea's ongoing development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
NATO is set to agree on Thursday to increase its Afghanistan training mission by some 3,000 troops, alliance officials said, after the United States switched tack in long-running efforts to defeat Taliban militants and end the conflict, cbc news reports.

Fresh NATO personnel will not have a combat role but the alliance hopes more soldiers can train the Afghan army and air force to complement U.S. President Donald Trump's strategy to send more American counterterrorism troops to the country.

"We have decided to increase the number of troops ... to help the Afghans break the stalemate, to send a message to the Taliban, to the insurgents that they will not win on the battleground," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference on Tuesday.

NATO defence ministers are expected to approve the deployment in the latter part of a two-day meeting that starts on Wednesday. The troops would be deployed from the start of 2018, a NATO official said.

The NATO contribution would boost the training mission, called Resolute Support, to around 16,000 troops, Stoltenberg said.

About half the additional troops would come from the United States and the rest from NATO allies and partner countries.
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Thursday there was a broad understanding in Britain of the importance of reaching a transition deal for Brexit and a good trade and investment deal with the European Union after that.

The government recognises, parliamentarians, businesses, people across the country, people in Europe recognise as well that it is in everyones interest to have at a minimum a transition period to the new relationship, Carney told ITV television, Reuters reports.

Carney said there was also recognition of the need for as comprehensive and open a trading and investment partnership between the UK and the EU 27 at the end of that transition.
Three students were killed and 55 students, teachers and parents were injured when a school bus crashed in Nakhon Ratchasima's Dan Khun Thod district Wednesday evening, THE NATION reports.

Police said the accident happened at 4 pm on the Sikhiew-Chaiyaphum road at the Ban Kud Muang intersection in Tambon Takhien of Dan Khun Thod district.

The bus took 51 students, teachers and parents from Ban Nong Waeng School in Chaiyaphum's Phu Kiew district on a field trip to Dan Khun Thod. The accident happened while the bus was returning to Chaiyaphum.

The three students, who died at the scene, were in the junior secondary school level.

The injured, who are mostly primary and junior secondary school students, were rushed to the district hospital.

The survivors told police that a pickup truck cut into the front of the bus, causing the bus to crash into the pickup. The bus then overturned and fell into the roadside.
The UN has accused Britain and other countries backing Libyan forces of turning a blind eye to the unimaginable horrors endured by migrants in efforts to stem the refugee crisis, INDEPENDENT reports.

Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the situation for thousands of migrants detained in Libya was deteriorating fast as EU member states increase support for fragile authorities in the war-torn country.

The suffering of migrants detained in Libya is an outrage to the conscience of humanity, he said.

The Ministry of Defence is training members of the force, which stands accused of beating and shooting migrants, causing fatal sinkings and attacking international rescue ships.

Some Libyan officials are also taking bribes to free detained migrants who then attempt crossings for a second time, The Independent revealed last month.

According to Libyas Department of Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM), 19,900 people are being held in facilities under its control, up from about 7,000 in September, when authorities detained thousands of migrants following fighting between militias and smugglers in Sabratha.

Thousands more are being held by armed groups running rampant across lawless swathes of the country, seeing gangs extract profit by ransoming migrants or forcing into labour, prostitution or other forms of modern slavery.
15:02 (UTC+4) An explosive device, possibly a car bomb, was detonated outside a restaurant near Lab-e-Jar square in Kabuls PD4 shortly after 1.30 on Thursday killing at least 18 people.

Security sources said eight policemen along with 10 civilians were killed outside a restaurant in Khair Khana where a number of high-ranking Jamiat-e-Islami officials had gathered.

TOLOnews reporter Massoud Ansar said according to security sources at least 10 others were wounded.

Ambulances immediately converged on the scene and security forces cordoned off the area.

Eyewitnesses said at least three cars were also destroyed in the incident and surrounding buildings sustained some damage.

Not group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is the second attack this year against a Jamiat gathering.

In June, at least seven people were killed and more than 119 wounded in three separate explosions at the funeral in Kabul.

The funeral was for the son of a Jamiat leader who had been killed in a shooting during a protest rally the previous day.

At the time, CEO Abdullah Abdullah had also been at the funeral but escaped unhurt.

14:01 (UTC+4) An explosive device was detonated outside a restaurant in Lab-e-Jar in Kabuls PD4 shortly after 1.30 on Thursday, Tolo News reports.

Eyewitnesses said the incident happened outside a restaurant where a number of high-ranking officials had gathered.

TOLOnews reporter Massoud Ansar said that according to security sources, five policemen lost their lives in the incident.

He said a number of civilians were dead in the explosion.

Ambulances have arrived in the area and security forces have cordoned it off.

Eyewitnesses said at least three cars were also destroyed.

However no details have yet been released.
By PTI: Jalandhar, Nov 16 (PTI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) today said that there was "no overpricing" in the Rafale purchase as the government had "negotiated a very good" deal for the French fighter aircraft.

"It is not overpricing... We have negotiated for 36 French fighter aircraft Rafale (at a price) lower than that in the contract. The government has negotiated a very good deal," Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said.

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Stressing that it was a "government-to-government contract", he told the media at the Adampur Air Force station near here that the IAF was getting 36 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) at a greatly "negotiated price".

"It is definitely a better deal. It is lower than what was there in the MRMCA contract," he said without going into specifics.

The Rafale deal has been the focus of debate with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing the Prime Minister of changing the "entire deal" to benefit a businessman, a charge debunked by the ruling BJP.

The Congress also claims technology is not being transferred to India under the deal.

Dhanoa said two aircraft had been purchased in a fly-away condition as an emergency measure.

"We are getting 50 per cent offset," he said, without elaborating.

On technology transfer, he said, "Technology may not be going to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) but it is coming to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and then to a lot of Indians".

The IAF chief said a plan was in place to deal with the "drop-down" -- or dip -- in IAF squadrons.

He said the government had ordered two squadrons of Su 30.

"The drop-down will be made up by two Rafale, two Su 30, two LCA squadrons and 80 more aircraft which will give four more squadrons," he said.

The government has authorised 42 squadrons to the IAF and at present there are 33.

He, however, added that the drop-down did not affect the performance of the force.

"It does not mean that we cannot carry out operations. We can do restricted operations. For carrying out full-spectrum operations the IAF needs a certain amount of force," he said.

"There was an order of 272 aircraft and once again we were 35 short by March 2017," he said.

Dhanoa said a contract was signed in March 2006 for 20 Tejas aircraft to be delivered between April 2009 and December 2010.

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"Out of these 20 aircraft, only five were received ... Again a contract was signed in December 2010 for 20 more aircraft to be delivered between June 2014 and December 2016. So we have already committed to 40 aircraft in addition to 83 more Tejas," he said.

He said the IAF would induct Mark 2 fighters with higher thrust engines and new weapons by 2027.

Shortcomings in LCA Mark 1 will be removed in the LCA Mark 1A aircraft and then Mark 2 will be manufactured, he said.

"Gradually we will make advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, moving from low medium to high technology aircraft," he said. PTI VSD BDS

--- ENDS ---
Singapore has suspended trade relations with North Korea, the latest of Pyongyang's major trade partners to cut commercial ties under toughening UN sanctions over its weapons programme, a customs notice obtained on Thursday (Nov 16) showed, Channel News Asia reports.

The move comes about two months after the United States imposed North Korea-related sanctions on a number of firms and individuals, including two entities based in Singapore.

"Singapore will prohibit all commercially traded goods from, or to, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," Singapore Customs said in the notice sent to traders and declaring agents last Tuesday, referring to the country by its official name.

The suspension would take effect from Nov 8, Fauziah A Sani, head of trade strategy and security for the director-general of customs, said in the notice.

Repeated breach of the new prohibitions is punishable by a fine of up to S$200,000 or four times the value of the goods traded, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, it added.

Singapore is North Korea's seventh largest trading partner. The Philippines, Pyongyang's fifth biggest trading partner, suspended trade with North Korea in September to comply with a UN resolution.

Tension on the Korean peninsula has escalated as North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong Un, has stepped up the development of weapons in defiance of UN sanctions.

North Korea has tested a series of missiles this year, including one that flew over Japan, and conducted its sixth and biggest nuclear test in September.

Pyongyang maintains a diplomatic presence in Singapore, with an embassy in its financial district.
Afghan officials said Thursday that a suicide bomber killed nine people at a political gathering in the capital, Kabul, CBS NEWS reports.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) faction in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid, at least seven police officers and two civilians were among the dead, and 10 others were wounded. Based on photos posted on social media following the blast, however, the death toll seemed likely to rise.

Mujahid said the suicide bomber wanted to get inside a wedding hall where the political gathering was taking place, but was stopped by police at a checkpoint, where he detonated his suicide vest.
Egyptian military has launched a major counter-terrorism operation in the restive Sinai Peninsula, killing three militants and arresting 74 others, PressTV reported.

Military spokesman Colonel Tamer el-Rifai said Thursday that a number of raids had been carried out on the hideouts of militants in Sinai earlier in the day.

He said the military had also managed to destroy five four-wheel-drive vehicles and four bomb-making workshops while ammunition and fuel stocks were also targeted in the raid.

Sinai has seen massive militancy since the outer of former president Mohamed Morsi four years ago. Egypt has lost hundreds of its troops in the volatile region, where a branch of Daesh, a Takfiri terrorist group mainly active in Iraq and Syria, targets police posts as well as civilians.

The Egyptian military says hundreds of militants have been killed in the counter-terror operations in the region. However, the North African country still suffers from widespread militant attacks.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey, Russia and Iran will discuss the Syrian crisis during the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Russias city of Sochi, the Turkish media reported Nov. 16 quoting diplomatic sources.

It is reported that Erdogans visit to Sochi will take place Nov. 22 this year.

Erdogan has recently visited Sochi, and during the Nov. 13 meeting, the presidents of Turkey and Russia discussed the situation in Syria.

Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has claimed more than 500,000 lives.

Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State, the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

A shootout between the Turkish army and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) terrorist group has occurred in eastern Turkeys Tunceli province, the countrys media reported Nov. 16.

Four members of the PKK were killed in the shootout, according to the report.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for more than 30 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Two Turkish servicemen were killed during military operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the Turkish General Staff said in a message Nov. 16.

According to the message, one Turkish soldier was wounded during the military operations.

Currently, military operations against PKK are underway in northern Iraq, the message said.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for more than 30 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
KYODO NEWS - Nov 16, 2017 - 09:58 | All, Feature

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Thursday began a three-day trip to southwestern Japan, reflecting the 83-year-old emperor's desire to visit the country's remote islands prior to his expected abdication within the next few years.

Their first stop, Yaku Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, was chosen as the emperor and empress want to meet people affected by a 2015 volcanic eruption on the nearby Kuchinoerabu Island. The eruption at one point led the residents of Kuchinoerabu Island to evacuate to Yaku Island.

The imperial couple will then head further southward and stay overnight in Okinoerabu Island, one of the Amami islets. On Friday, they will travel to Yoron Island, which is known for the white sandbar that appears offshore at low tide.

The emperor and empress will also visit an elementary school the following day to see pupils make raw sugar, a local specialty.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, the emperor and empress had planned to travel to the Amami islands in February 2012, but the trip was postponed due to the emperor's poor health.

The emperor said in a video message issued in August last year that he believes it is necessary for him to have "deep understanding of the people" in order to play his role as the symbol of the state, and in that regard, he feels that traveling throughout Japan, particularly to remote places and islands, are "important" acts.

In the same public address, the emperor signaled his desire to abdicate, saying he is concerned that age and failing health could one day stop him from fulfilling his public duties.

Speculation is growing that his abdication may take place in March 2019, making it the first such case in just over 200 years.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 16, 2017 - 15:53 | Urgent, All

A former U.S. civilian base worker accused of raping and killing a 20-year-old woman in Okinawa in April last year denied intent to murder on Thursday at the opening of his lay judge trial.

Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 33, however, admitted at the Naha District Court to the charges of rape resulting in death and abandoning the victim's body.

The murder case has sparked public anger and strengthened anti-U.S. base sentiment in Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan and has seen a spate of crimes committed by American troops or military-linked personnel.

According to the indictment, Shinzato assaulted the woman for the purpose of raping her on a road in Uruma in central Okinawa around 10 p.m. on April 28, 2016. After hitting her on the head with a bar, he stabbed her in the neck with a knife so she would not resist, killing her as a result.

The skeletal remains of the woman, who was taking a walk at the time of the crime, were found on May 19 of that year in a wooded area in the village of Onna, north of Uruma, based on Shinzato's statement.

He was working at an internet company within the premises of the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa at the time of the incident after serving as a U.S. Marine from 2007 to 2014, according to his lawyers and the U.S. Defense Department.

In the hearing, Shinzato said he planned to let the woman go after raping her, denying any murderous intent.

His defense counsel said, "He did not stab her during the assault. He wrung her neck but did not try to kill her and there is a possibility that the woman died as a result of falling and hitting her head on the ground."

Meanwhile, prosecutors claimed Shinzato had intent to murder her, referring to multiple stabbing of the victim's neck. They also said it was a premeditated crime as he prepared a suitcase to transport the body and changed his clothes at a hotel after the incident.

As Shinzato barely speaks Japanese, an interpreter is being used at the trial. However, he refused to answer any questions from both his defense counsel and the prosecutors during the hearing in the afternoon, exercising his right to remain silent.

During his service as a Marine, Shinzato engaged in material procurement and instructed shooting. He also received an award for his contribution to the war against terrorism.

Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, the commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces in Japan, held a press conference at Camp Courtney in Okinawa on Thursday morning.

"I still speak for all Americans I am still shocked and I (find it) hard to understand how anyone could commit such a crime," he said.

Shinzato had a family in Okinawa at the time of the incident but got divorced afterward.

Under the lay judge system, local citizens will hear the case alongside professional judges.

Shinzato had requested his trial be held outside Okinawa, saying it was unlikely a fair lay judge trial could be held there during the strong anti-U.S. base sentiment. But the Supreme Court rejected the request in August last year.

A ruling will be handed down Dec. 1.

The victim's father, who attended the first hearing, is scheduled to state his views in the trial.

The incident reignited talks to review the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which has been criticized by locals who see it as overly protective of U.S. service members and civilian base workers if they are implicated in crimes.

In January, Tokyo and Washington signed a pact to effectively remove legal protection over some U.S. military base workers, hoping the move will deter base-linked crimes in Okinawa.

In Okinawa, a total of 576 heinous crimes, including murders, robberies and rapes, have been committed by U.S. military-related personnel between May 1972, when the prefecture reverted to Japanese control following postwar U.S. occupation, and last December, according to data from the prefectural government and local police.

Following the gang rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen in 1995, a massive rally -- which organizers estimated was attended by 85,000 -- was held to call for the removal of the U.S. military base from Okinawa.

A series of accidents involving U.S. military aircraft have also fueled anti-U.S. base sentiment on the island, with such incidents totaling 709 during the same period.

Nearly 500 people lined up in the morning to get a ticket to observe the high-profile trial.

"I came here to keep the defendant's figure and voice in my heart so I would never forget the case," said Makoto Yasu, 52, from the town of Yonabaru, Okinawa.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 16, 2017 - 13:49 | World, All

An Indonesian meat distributor is importing Japanese "wagyu" beef, long banned in the Southeast Asian country, in cooperation with the Japan External Trade Organization to test the local market dominated by the same breed from Australia.

Johana Koswara, managing director of PT. Global Pratama Wijaya, said her company has imported more than 1.2 tons of "Omi Hime Wagyu" from western Japan as initial shipments during a six-month trial period from July to December this year. Indonesia lifted an import ban on Japanese beef last year.

"We hope we can double the current achievement in the second trial period that is starting from January 2018," Johana said at an Omi Hime Wagyu launch event in Jakarta last week.

Global Pratama Wijaya, which used to focus on wagyu of Australian-bred beef cattle, has begun importing Japanese wagyu as well, counting on its growth potential.

"Now we are supplying Omi Hime Wagyu to 10 restaurants in Jakarta. Currently we focus on Jakarta and Bali first because the highest demand comes from those two provinces," Johana said, although the beef has yet to be supplied to Bali due to the eruptions of Mt. Agung.

Johana said Omi Hime Wagyu has been certified as halal, or fitting consumption by Muslims under Islamic law, by the Indonesian Ulema Council, with every process of slaughter overseen by the council, better known as MUI.

"I directly looked at their farms in Shiga Prefecture in the Kansai (western Japan) region," Johana said. "I saw how they treated their cows and also how they maintain the cleanliness of farms. That's what has made us sure to import Omi beef." (NNA/Kyodo)
O Globo Tamanho do texto

RIO  Um exoplaneta recem-descoberto pode ser o mundo mais proximo da Terra a oferecer condicoes confortaveis para abrigar vida. Com tamanho aproximado ao do nosso planeta, Ross 128b esta a apenas 11 anos-luz de distancia, e medicoes indicam que ele possui clima ameno, com temperaturas variando entre - 60 graus Celsius e 20 graus Celsius, ideais para a manutencao da vida como conhecemos.

A orbita de Ross 128b e de apenas 9,9 dias, a uma distancia 20 vezes menor que a distancia entre o Sol e a Terra. Entretanto, o exoplaneta orbita uma estrela ana vermelha particularmente pouco volatil, fazendo com que a radiacao recebida, apesar da proximidade, seja de apenas 1.38 vezes a da Terra. Normalmente, anas vermelhas sao bastante instaveis, com erupcoes mortais de radiacao ultravioleta e raios-X.

E o que acontece em Proxima Centauri b, o exoplaneta mais proximo da Terra dentro da chamada zona habitavel. Segundo Xavier Bonfils, lider da equipe que descobriu Ross 128b, pesquisador da Universidade de Grenoble, na Franca, parece que Ross 128 e uma estrela muito quieta, e entao os seus planetas talvez sejam a moradia mais confortavel para a vida que conhecemos.

E a estrela Ross 128 esta se movendo na direcao do nosso Sistema Solar. Segundo os calculos, em 79 mil anos, um instante em termos cosmicos, Ross 128b estara mais perto da Terra que Proxima Centauri b.

Entretanto, ainda existem incertezas. Apesar de os cientistas considerarem Ross 128 um planeta temperado, ainda nao se sabe se ele se encontra dentro, fora ou nos limites da chamada zona habitavel. Os pesquisadores tambem aguardam a inauguracao do Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), prevista para 2024, para a deteccao de biomarcadores, como a presenca de oxigenio.

 Novas instalacoes do Observatorio Europeu do Sul irao desempenhar papel critico no censo de planetas amenos com massa proxima a da Terra. Em particular, o braco infravermelho do HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher) aumentara nossa eficiencia na observacao de anas vermelhas  comentou Bonfils.  E entao o ELT fornecera a oportunidade de observar e caracterizar grande fracao desses planetas.

Although it is currently 11 light-years from Earth, Ross 128 is moving towards us and is expected to become our nearest stellar neighbour in just 79 000 years -- a blink of the eye in cosmic terms. Ross 128 b will by then take the crown from Proxima b and become the closest exoplanet to Earth!

With the data from HARPS, the team found that Ross 128 b orbits 20 times closer than the Earth orbits the Sun. Despite this proximity, Ross 128 b receives only 1.38 times more irradiation than the Earth. As a result, Ross 128 b's equilibrium temperature is estimated to lie between -60 and 20C, thanks to the cool and faint nature of its small red dwarf host star, which has just over half the surface temperature of the Sun. While the scientists involved in this discovery consider Ross 128b to be a temperate planet, uncertainty remains as to whether the planet lies inside, outside, or on the cusp of the habitable zone, where liquid water may exist on a planet's surface [2].

Astronomers are now detecting more and more temperate exoplanets, and the next stage will be to study their atmospheres, composition and chemistry in more detail. Vitally, the detection of biomarkers such as oxygen in the very closest exoplanet atmospheres will be a huge next step, which ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is in prime position to take [3].

"New facilities at ESO will first play a critical role in building the census of Earth-mass planets amenable to characterisation. In particular, NIRPS, the infrared arm of HARPS, will boost our efficiency in observing red dwarfs, which emit most of their radiation in the infrared. And then, the ELT will provide the opportunity to observe and characterise a large fraction of these planets," concludes Xavier Bonfils.

Caso as estimativas sejam confirmadas, provavelmente existem lagos e oceanos.

A newly discovered planet orbiting a nearby star could be the closest world to Earth that offers a comfortable home for life. The Earth-sized planet, named Ross 128b, is just 11 light years away and thought to have a relatively mild climate with temperatures ranging between an icy -60C and balmy 20C.

That could mean it has oceans and lakes in which life may have evolved. But the best news for possible life on Ross 128b is the planets peaceful parent star. Like many other exoplanets that weve found, it orbits close to a dim and cool red dwarf star at a distance 20 times less than that between the sun and Earth.

The habitable zone of a red dwarf  the narrow temperature belts where surface water can persist without freezing or boiling away  is usually quite close to the star. Since red dwarfs are prone to deadly eruptions of ultraviolet radiation and X-rays, this can be dangerous. Planets close to most red dwarfs are likely to be severely irradiated, causing many scientists to doubt that life could survive on them regardless of whether theyre in the habitable zone.

However, Ross 128bs star is much less volatile than typical red dwarfs. Even though the planet orbits quite near its star, its surface probably receives only about 1.38 times more radiation than the Earth.

Wobbly star motionConditions on the closest exoplanet to Earth that sits in a habitable zone, Proxima Centauri b, are likely to be far less pleasant. Its star, Proxima Centauri, is also a red dwarf, but it regularly unleashes bursts of radiation and solar wind particles powerful enough to strip the atmosphere from a nearby planet.

Compared to Proxima Centauri and many other red dwarfs, it seems that Ross 128 is a much quieter star, and so its planets may be the closest known comfortable abode for possible life, said Xavier Bonfils at the University of Grenoble, France, who led the European team behind the new discovery. Their work will soon be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Not only is Ross 128b potentially better for life than Proxima Centauri b, it is also moving toward Earth. The team says that in about 79,000 years Ross 128 will be our nearest stellar neighbor, making Ross 128b the nearest exoplanet.

Ross 128b was spotted by a planet-finding instrument attached to the European Southern Observatorys 3.6-metre telescope in La Silla, Chile. The High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) looks for tiny wobbles in a stars motion caused by the gravitational tug-of-war between the star and its planets. From these readings, astronomers can make calculations about a planets mass and orbit.

While Ross 128b is considered to be a temperate planet, astronomers are still not certain where it lies in relation to its stars habitable zone. Since the planet does not pass between its star and Earth, its difficult for us to study it in more detail and find out.

It could be an oasis for life. Or it could be a sweltering hellscape more like Venus, or a frozen wasteland like Neptune with no possibility of liquid water.

Um exoplaneta recem-descoberto e a maior aposta da comunidade cientifica para a descoberta de vida. Orbitando a estrela ana vermelha Ross 128, a apenas 11 anos luz da Terra, Ross 128 b tem caracteristicas climaticas temperadas, como o nosso planeta, com temperaturas variando entre -60 e 20 graus Celsius

Closest temperate world orbiting quiet star discoveredESO's HARPS instrument finds Earth-mass exoplanet around Ross 128

IMAGE: THIS ARTIST'S IMPRESSION SHOWS THE TEMPERATE PLANET ROSS 128 B, WITH ITS RED DWARF PARENT STAR IN THE BACKGROUND. THIS PLANET, WHICH LIES ONLY 11 LIGHT-YEARS FROM EARTH, WAS FOUND... view more

CREDIT: ESO/M. KORNMESSER

A team working with ESO's High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) at the La Silla Observatory in Chile has found that the red dwarf star Ross 128 is orbited by a low-mass exoplanet every 9.9 days. This Earth-sized world is expected to be temperate, with a surface temperature that may also be close to that of the Earth. Ross 128 is the "quietest" nearby star to host such a temperate exoplanet.

"This discovery is based on more than a decade of HARPS intensive monitoring together with state-of-the-art data reduction and analysis techniques. Only HARPS has demonstrated such a precision and it remains the best planet hunter of its kind, 15 years after it began operations," explains Nicola Astudillo-Defru (Geneva Observatory - University of Geneva, Switzerland), who co-authored the discovery paper.

Red dwarfs are some of the coolest, faintest -- and most common -- stars in the Universe. This makes them very good targets in the search for exoplanets and so they are increasingly being studied. In fact, lead author Xavier Bonfils (Institut de Planetologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble - Universite Grenoble-Alpes/CNRS, Grenoble, France), named their HARPS programme The shortcut to happiness, as it is easier to detect small cool siblings of Earth around these stars, than around stars more similar to the Sun [1].

Many red dwarf stars, including Proxima Centauri, are subject to flares that occasionally bathe their orbiting planets in deadly ultraviolet and X-ray radiation. However, it seems that Ross 128 is a much quieter star, and so its planets may be the closest known comfortable abode for possible life.

Although it is currently 11 light-years from Earth, Ross 128 is moving towards us and is expected to become our nearest stellar neighbour in just 79 000 years -- a blink of the eye in cosmic terms. Ross 128 b will by then take the crown from Proxima b and become the closest exoplanet to Earth!

With the data from HARPS, the team found that Ross 128 b orbits 20 times closer than the Earth orbits the Sun. Despite this proximity, Ross 128 b receives only 1.38 times more irradiation than the Earth. As a result, Ross 128 b's equilibrium temperature is estimated to lie between -60 and 20C, thanks to the cool and faint nature of its small red dwarf host star, which has just over half the surface temperature of the Sun. While the scientists involved in this discovery consider Ross 128b to be a temperate planet, uncertainty remains as to whether the planet lies inside, outside, or on the cusp of the habitable zone, where liquid water may exist on a planet's surface [2].

Astronomers are now detecting more and more temperate exoplanets, and the next stage will be to study their atmospheres, composition and chemistry in more detail. Vitally, the detection of biomarkers such as oxygen in the very closest exoplanet atmospheres will be a huge next step, which ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is in prime position to take [3].

"New facilities at ESO will first play a critical role in building the census of Earth-mass planets amenable to characterisation. In particular, NIRPS, the infrared arm of HARPS, will boost our efficiency in observing red dwarfs, which emit most of their radiation in the infrared. And then, the ELT will provide the opportunity to observe and characterise a large fraction of these planets," concludes Xavier Bonfils.
By PTI: Coimbatore, Nov 16 (PTI) Senior Tamil Nadu minister Dindigul Srinivasan today brushed aside the opposition parties criticism of Governor Banwarilal Purohits meeting with government officials here, saying there was nothing wrong in it.

"There is nothing wrong if the governor meets government officials. He (Purohit) had had such meetings in other states also where he served as governor earlier," he told reporters here.

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Srinivasan was responding to a question on the allegation levelled by the DMK and other opposition parties that such meetings amounted to interference in the states autonomy.

"There is no issue (with the governor meeting the officials)...take it easy," he said to persistent queries on the matter.

Referring to Purohits remarks that he would visit all the districts of the state, the minister said he would welcome it.

A political row had erupted yesterday over the governor meeting government officials here on November 14, with the DMK and other opposition parties claiming that it amounted to interference in the states rights.

State Higher Education Minister K P Anbalagan and Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani, who had met the governor during his visit here, have already said that such meetings do not affect the states autonomy.

Meanwhile, PMK youth wing president Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters at the airport here that a district-wise review by a governor was against "democratic traditions".

Referring to a memorandum submitted by the PMK to the then governor K Rosaiah on alleged corruption in certain government departments, he said there was no response to it so far and Purohit should take action on it. PTI NVM ROH VS ROH RC

--- ENDS ---
When villagers found out about a couple having an affair, they were taken to a local court where they were tied to a poll and thrashed brutally. Later, they were fined Rs 50,000.

By India Today Web Desk: "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go," beautiful lines by famous poet TS Eliot. However, little did he know, that if one goes so far, they get mercilessly thrashed too.

The aforementioned quote might find its ironic friend in the story where a youth from Bengal and a tribal woman fell in love.

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For that, punishments could have varied, be it staying away from each other or not getting enough time to spend with each other, but that clearly did not happen, courtesy - a local court.

The couple was tied to a pole and beaten brutally by villagers at Malkangiri, Krusiwada in Odisha.

The videos of the incident went viral on the social media and that's how the incident came to light. Soon after this, the police started with the investigation.

Upon enquiring the matter, the locals said that the villagers had warned the youth and the woman of Koya community not to continue with their relationship. The couple however, did not take the warning seriously and went ahead with the affair.

The couple overlooked the warning whihc angered the villagers. When they were caught red handed inside a house, they were thrashed brutally.

The villagers in a decision to punish the them took them to a local court where they were tied to a pole, mercilessly beaten and imposed with a fine of Rs 50,000.

The police according to some villagers, was aware of the happenings and chose not to interfere in the matter on purpose.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Deepika, cops beef up her security

(EDS: Changes in para 11)

Kota/New Delhi/Mumbai, Nov 16 (PTI) The controversy over Bollywood film Padmavati took an ugly turn today as a leader of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena cited Ramayanas Surpanakha nose-chopping incident and warned her against "inciting" sentiments.

Reacting to the development, the Mumbai police soon stepped up actors security.

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Meanwhile, protests were held in several parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, against the movie, which is slated to be released on December 1.

Ajmer Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan also joined the chorus of voices against the film and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban it, saying it hurt religious sentiments.

Earlier, referring to the nose chopping of Surupnakha in the epic Ramayana, Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana said that while Kshatriyas respected women, but if the film was not banned and Padukone does not stop inciting sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.

He asked why was Padukone, who has the citizenship of Denmark, speaking such provocative language?

Makrana claimed that a cinema hall in Kota was rampaged as a result of such provocative language.

"Shri Rajput Karni Sena has now just conveyed a lesson to Deepika Padukone to stop making provocative statements or face the result," Makrana said.

Padukone had reportedly said that nothing could stop the release of the film and that India had regressed as a nation.

The Karni Sena leader said that when a movie like Bahubali can earn crores showing the valour of kshatriyas, then why people want to cash-in on films presenting wrong facts.

"Who are the people behind movies like Padmavati and are investing their money in such movies," he had said earlier in a press conference in Jaipur yesterday.

The Mumbai Police beefed up the security of the actor following the outfits aggressive stance.

"The Mumbai Police have increased actor Deepika Padukones security after the outfit issued the nose chopping threat," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told PTI.

We are providing her adequate security after the threat, he said. The police will also provide security at the actresss residence as well as office in Mumbai.

The police have already provided protection to filmmaker Bhansali. They have also beefed up security at Bhansalis residence in Versova in Mumbai.

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The Karni Sena has called for a country-wide bandh on December 1, the day the film is slated to be released.

Meanwhile, Ajmer Dargah Deewan Khan compared Bhansali with controversial writers Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen and Tareq Fatah, and said Muslims should oppose the film.

He also said a film, in which historical facts were depicted in a distorted manner, could adversely affect the law-and-order situation if it was allowed to be screened in theatres.

Congress leader and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor also waded in the controversy claiming in Mumbai that the "so called valourous maharajas" had scurried to accomodate themselves when the British "trampled" over their honour and were now after a filmmaker claiming prestige was at stake.

At an event Tharoor was asked why his book, An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India, had a "whiff of victimhood" when he holds that Indians had connived with the English.

"It is (our fault) and I say so. I actually dont take the mantle of victimhood. In about half a dozen places in the book, I am harsh enough on us... Some British reviewers said Why doesnt he explain why the British conquered? And its a fair question...," Tharoor said.

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"In fact, every single one of these so called valorous maharajas, who today are after a Mumbai filmmaker because their honour is at stake, they were less concerned about their honour when the British were trampling all over it. They scurried to accommodate themselves. So lets face it, there is no question, that we were complicit," he said.

Protests were held by various organisations in several parts.

The Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA), however, came to the films defence. The association wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking a smooth release of the film. PTI CORR AG DC MM NSK RDS JUR NSK ADS

--- ENDS ---
A new report paints a clear picture of just how much money automakers, suppliers, tech companies and venture capital firms are spending to remake the auto industry.According to McKinsey & Company, a whopping $111 billion has been invested in mobility start-ups and technologies since 2010. More than 60 of those transactions carried a price tag of at least $1 billion."We were a little surprised looking at the numbers," said Matthias Kasser, a partner with McKinsey. "The business models for making money on these technologies are not yet clear, but the companies feel they have to make these investments."The report says more than half the money invested since 2010 has been focused on car-sharing and autonomous-drive solutions. Since 2014, $9.6 billion has been spent on technologies related to car-sharing. Included in that figure is $500 million General Motors (NYSE: GM) invested in Lyft to take a 10 percent stake in the ride-hailing company. Lyft, as well as Uber, Didi Chuxing and Grab have all collected massive investments as they push to capture market share, especially in China and the United States."It's a bit of a land grab right now," said Kasser. "The ride-hailing companies still have to develop these markets even though it's still not clear how big ride-hailing will become."The growth in ride-hailing is expected to accelerate over the next decade as automakers and tech companies develop self-driving cars and robo-taxis.Waymo says in the near future its self-driving minivans will start giving paying customers rides in the Phoenix area. Meanwhile, General Motors, Uber, Delphi and other companies are also investing heavily to develop autonomous-drive vehicles.In short, they are all racing to be ready for a changing world of mobility, even though industry veterans admit it's impossible to know exactly when these investments will pay off. Questions? Comments? BehindTheWheel@cnbc.com . A new report paints a clear picture of just how much money automakers, suppliers, tech companies and venture capital firms are spending to remake the auto industry. According to McKinsey & Company, a whopping $111 billion has been invested in mobility start-ups and technologies since 2010. More than 60 of those transactions carried a price tag of at least $1 billion. "We were a little surprised looking at the numbers," said Matthias Kasser, a partner with McKinsey. "The business models for making money on these technologies are not yet clear, but the companies feel they have to make these investments." The report says more than half the money invested since 2010 has been focused on car-sharing and autonomous-drive solutions. Since 2014, $9.6 billion has been spent on technologies related to car-sharing. Included in that figure is $500 million General Motors (NYSE: GM) invested in Lyft to take a 10 percent stake in the ride-hailing company. Lyft, as well as Uber, Didi Chuxing and Grab have all collected massive investments as they push to capture market share, especially in China and the United States. "It's a bit of a land grab right now," said Kasser. "The ride-hailing companies still have to develop these markets even though it's still not clear how big ride-hailing will become." The growth in ride-hailing is expected to accelerate over the next decade as automakers and tech companies develop self-driving cars and robo-taxis. Waymo says in the near future its self-driving minivans will start giving paying customers rides in the Phoenix area. Meanwhile, General Motors, Uber, Delphi and other companies are also investing heavily to develop autonomous-drive vehicles. In short, they are all racing to be ready for a changing world of mobility, even though industry veterans admit it's impossible to know exactly when these investments will pay off. Questions? Comments? BehindTheWheel@cnbc.com .



More From CNBC


By Samrudhi Ghosh: The anti-Padmavati movement across the country, spearheaded by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, has gone out of hand, with members of the organisation issuing death threats to the film's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Leading lady Deepika Padukone has not been spared either, with the Shri Rajput Karni Sena branding her as "naachnewali" and threatening to chop off her nose. Deepika has just been provided a special security cover after these threats.

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The bone of contention is the alleged demeaning of the honour of Rani Padmini by incorporating a romantic dream sequence between her and Alauddin Khilji. Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the team of Padmavati have been shouting from the rooftops that no such scene was ever a part of the film's script, but it has fallen on deaf ears.

Padmavati is not the first historical film to face roadblocks. In fact, it is not even the first film with uncertainty looming over its release for hurting Rajput sentiments. Before this, there was Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar.

The Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer was under fire for supposedly distorting history. Incidentally, it was the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, who took it upon themselves to be the guardians of Rajput culture and honour there as well.

According to the founder of the organisation, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Akbar had no wife named Jodhaa. He claimed that Jodhaa Bai was actually the wife of Akbar's son Salim, and thus, the Ashutosh Gowariker film was objectionable. Eventually, Jodhaa Akbar did not see the light of day in Rajasthan.

But Padmavati is no Jodhaa Akbar. The protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama are not limited to Rajasthan, they have spread across the nation.

So why does Padmavati matter more to the Rajputs than Jodhaa?

Rani Padmini is deified in Rajput culture and her valour has attained legend status, because of her placing 'honour' above life. To the Rajputs, she proved that, as Deepika Padukone says in the trailer of Padmavati, "Rajputi kangan mein utni hi taqat hai, jitni Rajputi talwar mein." The Padmini Mahal, where Rani Padmini supposedly lived, is regarded as sacrosanct, and temples and shrines have been built in her memory in Rajasthan. Jodhaa Bai, while revered as a historical figure, has no such cultural significance.

The Rajputs' intense emotion for Rani Padmini comes from anger and hurt. To put it from their perspective, she was a dutiful wife to a brave Rajput king. All was well, till she unwittingly became the object of the uncontrolled lust of a barbaric Muslim plunderer. The Rajput hero of our story (Maharawal Ratan Singh) fights valiantly till his last breath, but is vanquished by the villain (Alauddin Khilji). The heroine refuses to be 'defiled' and instead, goes beyond her call of duty and embraces death by jumping into a burning pyre.

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Needless to say, this is a sore point for the Rajputs. Rani Padmini's pride and honour has been further aggrandised to whitewash the defeat at the hands of Alauddin Khilji. Anyone who dares differ from this narrative will not be spared.

Jodhaa Akbar weaves together a tale of romance between a Hindu princess, Jodhaa Bai, and a Muslim emperor, Akbar, and how they achieve communal harmony. It is not a subject that evokes such strong sentiments as Padmavati does.

There, of course, is the divide along religious lines too. With Padmavati, emotions have been spilling over because how dare a filmmaker show the quintessential Rajput woman dancing in front of men in 'less clothing' and a Muslim barbarian dreaming about romancing her?

Jodhaa Bai, on the other hand, might probably have served as one of the first examples of 'love jihad', a concept that saffron fanatics have been trying to peddle for a few years now. In fact, one can't help but wonder if Jodhaa Akbar would have been allowed to release, had it been made today. Because, how dare a filmmaker show a Hindu princess and a Muslim emperor living in marital bliss?

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ALSO WATCH: Sanjay Leela Bhansali thrashed, sets of Padmavati vandalised by Karni Sena

--- ENDS ---
Sun shining through greenery.

Theres no place like home, our warm and watery planet Earth. But we wont be living here long if humans dont change their ways, say 15,365 scientists from 185 countries who want your attention.

On Nov. 13, the journal BioScience published the World Scientists Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice in four languagesEnglish, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The first warning was issued in 1992 when 1,700 members of the Union of Concerned Scientists argued that humans are on a collision course with nature. That group, which included numerous Nobel laureates, urged the world to save the Earth from extreme climate change by burning fewer fossil fuels, preserving forests, limiting population growth, and improving food production.

French climate change warning.

Il y a 25 ans, we told you so.

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of their call, we look back at their warning and evaluate the human response, contemporary scientists write.

Brace yourselveswe didnt respond well, the scientists find.

Since 1992, with the exception of stabilizing the stratospheric ozone layer, humanity has failed to make sufficient progress in generally solving foreseen environmental challenges, and alarmingly, most of them are getting far worse, the paper states. Its authors say they are especially troubled by the current trajectory of potentially catastrophic climate changefrom burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agricultural productionparticularly from farming ruminants for meat consumption.

Um segondo aviso for Portugese speakers.

Um segundo aviso for Portugese speakers.

They also point out that this rapid heating has unleashed a mass extinction event, the sixth in roughly 540 million years. Scientists predict many current life forms could be annihilated or near extinction by the end of this century.

Still, theres some hope. Humans have shown that, with concerted effort, were able to make positive and sustainable changes. The global decline in use of ozone-depleting substances shows progress is possible and destruction isnt inevitable, the scientists argue. Overall, humans have made advancements in reducing extreme poverty and hunger, declines in deforestation in some regions, and rapid growth in the renewable-energy sector.

Story continues

Spanish climate change warning.

Tambien a little good news for humans.

But more must be done. The paper calls on all to help by being informed consumers and voters, lest we find ourselves homeless. Time is running out, the scientists remind us:

To prevent widespread misery and catastrophic biodiversity loss, humanity must practice a more environmentally sustainable alternative to business as usual. This prescription was well articulated by the worlds leading scientists 25 years ago, but in most respects, we have not heeded their warningWe must recognize, in our day-to-day lives and in our governing institutions, that Earth with all its life is our only home.

]]>

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CWCO vs. GWRS: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?

Astute investors are always on the lookout for a plan that is likely to yield high returns regardless of market circumstances. Efficiency level, which measures a companys capability to transform its available input into output, is often considered an important parameter used to gauge a companys potential to rake in handsome returns.

A company with a promising efficiency level is likely to deliver stellar returns as it is assumed to be positively correlated with its price performance.

How to Measure Efficiency?

We have considered four popular ratios in order to find efficient companies that have the potential to provide impressive returns.

Inventory Turnover

Inventory level is one of the key indicators of a companys business health. While a high inventory level may indicate that the company is going through a rough patch in terms of sales, a dwindling level may indicate that the company will run out of stock in a favorable sales condition. This is where inventory turnover comes into play. It is the ratio of 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a 4-quarter average inventory. Thus, a high value of the ratio indicates a low level of inventory relative to COGS, while a low ratio signals that the company has excess inventory.

Receivables Turnover

This ratio is used to measure a companys capability to extend its credit and collect debts on the basis of that credit. Receivables turnover ratio or the accounts receivable turnover ratio or the debtors turnover ratio is calculated by dividing 12-month sales by four-quarter average receivables. While a high ratio indicates that the company efficiently collects its accounts receivables or has quality customers, a low ratio signals that the company has an inefficient collection procedure or has low-quality customers or an inefficient credit policy.

Asset Utilization

This is a widely used measure of a companys efficiency. Asset utilization indicates a companys potential to utilize its assets. It is a ratio of total sales over the past 12 months to the last 4-quarter average of total assets. So, the higher the ratio, the greater is the chance that the company is utilizing its assets efficiently. On the contrary, a low value of the ratio signals that it is failing to use its assets effectively.

Story continues

Operating Margin

Another popular efficiency ratio is operating margin. Operating profit margin, which is simply operating income over the past 12 months divided by sales over the same period, indicates how well a company is controlling its operating expenses. If a company has a high operating profit margin in relation to its competitors, it is doing a better job at controlling operating expenses.

All these ratios can be considered as effective measures if one compares different companies within a particular sector or industry. This is the reason why we have considered only those companies that have higher ratios than their respective industry averages.

Screening Parameters

In addition to the above mentioned ratios, we have added a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) to the screen with an objective to make this strategy more profitable.

Inventory Turnover, Receivables Turnover, Asset Utilization and Operating Margin greater than industry average

(Values of these ratios higher than industry averages may indicate that the efficiency level of the company is higher than its peers.)

Zacks Rank better than or equal to #2 (Buy)

(Only Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Buy-rated stocks can get through.)

The use of these few criteria has narrowed down the universe of over 7,904 stocks to only 13. Here are five of the 13 stocks that passed the screen.

The Home Depot, Inc. HD operates as a home improvement retailer. The company has a Zacks Rank #2. It has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 3.8%.

Baxter International Inc. BAX provides a portfolio of renal and hospital products. The company operates through two segments, Hospital Products and Renal. The company has a Zacks Rank #2. It has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 10.6%.

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. IDXX develops, manufactures, and distributes products and services primarily for the companion animal veterinary, livestock and poultry, dairy, and water testing markets worldwide. The company has a Zacks Rank #2. It has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 9.4%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

NVR, Inc. NVR operates as a homebuilder in the United States. The company has a Zacks Rank #1. It has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 17.2%.

MAM Software Group, Inc. MAMS provides software, information, and e-commerce and related services to businesses engaged in the automotive aftermarket in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and Ireland. The company has a Zacks Rank #2. It has an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 104.2%.

You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance

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The exterior of a Barnes & Noble Booksellers store is seen in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., June 17, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Barnes & Noble Inc <BKS.N> said on Thursday a deal proposed by an activist investor to take the bookstore chain private was not "bona fide" as its chairman and founder, Leonard Riggio, would not participate and raising the required funds was highly unlikely.

Sandell Asset Management had proposed to take Barnes & Noble private with the help of current shareholders and $500 million in debt financing in a deal that valued the company at more than $650 million, or over $9 per share, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier, citing people familiar with the matter.

Barnes & Noble's shares closed up about 8 percent at $7.13. They hit a session-high of $7.80 after the WSJ report, valuing the company at $566.5 million.

The Journal said the proposal by Sandell, which holds a 2.75 percent stake in Barnes & Noble, also called for roughly $250 million coming from company shareholders keeping their stakes and rolling them into a new private entity it would control. (http://on.wsj.com/2ANekD0)

"The company does not take Sandell's proposal as bona fide in that Sandell is the beneficial owner of 1 million common Barnes & Noble shares worth approximately $7 million, Mr. Riggio has no intention of rolling his shares into such a transaction, and the company believes a debt financing of $500 million is highly unlikely," Barnes & Noble said.

Sandell did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

Riggio holds a roughly 18 percent stake in Barnes & Noble, making him the New York-based retailer's biggest shareholder, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The Journal said Riggio's refusal to roll his stake into a private entity as per Sandell's plan meant the hedge fund would need to find backing from other major shareholders or put up the cash itself.

Barnes & Noble is grappling with a slump in revenue due to changing reading tastes and competition from online sellers, especially Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O>. Its stock had lost nearly 40 percent of its value this year before the gains on Thursday.

Story continues

ConsumerEdge Research analyst David Schick said private equity could make sense for the company as it "has the potential to change its strategy as a private company  work on membership, NOOK, store layout, and traffic drivers."

Sandell had in July urged Barnes & Noble to sell itself, saying the retailer could fetch at least $12 per share and attract media or internet companies seeking a retail presence.

(Reporting by Gayathree Ganesan and Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
Whole Foods has cut prices on holiday staples and other groceries, Amazon (AMZN) announced Wednesday. Customers will be able to purchase organic or non-antibiotic turkeys at a reduced price of $3.49 per pound and $2.49 per pound, respectively. Members of Amazon Prime will save an additional 50 cents per pound on both varieties, the company said in a release. A Whole Foods representative told CNBC that cashiers will identify Amazon Prime members when customers present coupons sent via email. The company didn't say how much of a discount it was offering. "We're just getting started" on reducing prices after the Amazon buyout closed in August , Whole Foods CEO John Mackey said in a statement. "We'll continue to work closely together to ensure we're consistently surprising and delighting our customers while moving toward our goal of reaching more people." New discounts also are for products including chicken breasts, shrimp, canned pumpkin and specialty potatoes. Before Amazon's acquisition, Whole Foods was known pejoratively as Whole Paycheck because of its high prices. Afterward, Amazon marked down certain Whole Foods products, including on produce and fish. Grocers like ShopRite often have promotions where shoppers can earn a free turkey by purchasing a set amount of groceries in the weeks leading into the holidays. Last week, the investment arm of Moody's said in a note that Kroger (KR) "will remain a market leader" among groceries. Moody's believes the Cincinnati-based chain is the "best equipped among its peers" to deal with an escalating price war from Amazon, saying Kroger's "strong private label brand" gives it a distinct advantage. Grocers are in a race to the bottom when it comes to price. Big-box retailer Target (TGT) and Wal-Mart (WMT) have made investments to slash prices on frequently purchased items , while value players Lidl and Aldi are expanding rapidly across the U.S. Against the backdrop of a down market, shares of both Kroger and Sprouts (SFM) traded over 1 percent lower Wednesday.  CNBC's Lauren Thomas contributed to this report.



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AstraZeneca, plc AZN announced that the FDA has granted approval to its asthma disease candidate, benralizumab. Benralizumab, approved as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma in patients aged 12 years and older, will be marketed by the trade name of Fasenra.

Shares of this London, United Kingdom based pharma giant were up more than 1% on Tuesday. So far this year, AstraZenecas shares have gained 21.7%, comparing favorably with the industrys growth of 14.4%.

Fasenra will be given as a fixed-dose subcutaneous injection via a prefilled syringe, once in every eight weeks, making it the first respiratory biologic medicine to be approved with the convenient 8-week maintenance dosing schedule. GlaxoSmithKlines GSK Nucala (subcutaneous administration) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' TEVA Cinqair (intravenous infusion) are presently marketed for the same indication but administered once every four weeks

The FDA approval of Fasenra was based on positive data from pivotal studies, SIROCCO and CALIMA, which showed significant reductions in exacerbations and improvements in lung function on treatment with benralizumab. Meanwhile, another phase III study, ZONDA, showed that adding benralizumab to standard of care led to statistically-significant and clinically relevant reduction in daily maintenance oral corticosteroid (OCS) use with two benralizumab dosing regimens compared with placebo.

Severe asthma patients whose disease is driven by inflammation of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, have until now had only limited treatment options, mostly oral steroids. Fasenra, which distinctively targets and rapidly depletes eosinophils, has shown the potential to reduce oral steroid use in such patients.

Fasenra is under regulatory review in the EU, Japan and many other countries. Earlier this week, AstraZeneca said that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended marketing approval of benralizumab.

Story continues

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of breathlessness and has a significant unmet medical need. This is because it affects 315 million individuals worldwide and up to 10% of patients who have severe asthma, which can become uncontrolled despite receiving high doses of standard of care medicines and require the use of chronic OCS.

Benralizumab is also being evaluated for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in late-stage studies. Other severe asthma candidates in AstraZenecas portfolio are tralokinumab and tezepelumab  in partnership with Amgen, Inc. AMGN .

AstraZeneca carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.

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FILE PHOTO - The logo of Australian oil and gas producer Santos Ltd is pictured at their Sydney office February 15, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Reed/File photo

By Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian gas producer Santos Ltd (STO.AX) said on Thursday it rejected a A$9.5 billion (5.48 billion pounds) takeover approach in August, sending its shares up 13 percent on speculation another offer was likely to emerge.

Santos, with stakes in three liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in a region where gas demand is soaring, said it rebuffed the approach from private equity-backed Harbour Energy as too cheap and has not received a further proposal.

It revealed the August approach after a newspaper reported that U.S.-based Harbour, led by a former executive director of Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L), Linda Cook, was set to make a bid worth around A$11 billion.

Santos said in a statement it had turned down the "non-binding conditional and indicative" takeover proposal from Harbour at A$4.55 a share, but said it had no current proposal from Harbour and was not in talks with the group.

The Australian Financial Review said Harbour is lining up a bid of around A$5.30 a share, well above analysts' average price target of A$4.26, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Harbour Energy's general counsel declined to comment.

"Linda was an architect of Shell's LNG business in Australia and had overseen its development. It is therefore not surprising that Linda would be interested in getting involved in Australian LNG with Harbour," a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Santos, whose shares hit a 15-month high of A$4.97 on Thursday, also rejected a A$7.1 billion proposal in 2015 from a fund backed by the ruling families of Brunei and the United Arab Emirates, at a time when the company was saddled with nearly A$9 billion in debt.

Analysts said a bid even at A$5.30 was unlikely to be accepted by a company that has since slashed debt, cut costs and is poised to benefit from rising oil and gas prices at its Gladstone LNG project, Papua New Guinea LNG, Australia's Cooper Basin and offshore northern Australia.

Story continues

"Santos is a considerably improved business, with a strong management team and soon to be fresh set of eyes as Chairman," said Credit Suisse analyst Mark Samter.

Santos should only consider "serious discussions" at A$6.50 a share, he said.

RIVAL INTEREST

The main prize in Santos is its stake in the Papua New Guinea LNG project, run by ExxonMobil Corp (XOM.N).

PNG, considered the lowest cost source of LNG growth, has been a hotbed of takeover activity, which could see other bidders emerge for Santos, analysts at UBS said.

Woodside Petroleum (WPL.AX) was rebuffed in a bid for PNG LNG partner Oil Search Ltd (OSH.AX) two years ago, while ExxonMobil swallowed another PNG player, InterOil, this year, after trumping a bid from Total SA (TOTF.PA) and Oil Search.

Santos' biggest shareholder is China's ENN Ecological Holdings Co , which together with private equity partner Hony Capital holds 15.1 percent of the group.

They have an agreement with Santos that they must accept any takeover recommended by the Santos board, as long as it is pitched above their average entry price into the company, but are not blocked from making a counter offer.

Hony declined to comment on Thursday and ENN was not immediately available for comment.

Harbour Energy was formed in 2014 by private equity firm EIG Global Energy Partners to make investments outside the United States.

Earlier this year Harbour bought Shell's UK North Sea assets with Chrysaor Holdings Ltd for $3 billion, making it the largest independent oil and gas producer in the North Sea.

EIG has already invested in Australia, taking a 12 percent stake in junior gas producer Senex Energy (SXY.AX).

If an A$11 billion for Santos emerges, it will be the biggest U.S. offer for an Australian company ever and Australia's second-biggest private equity buyout, according to Reuters data.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Additional reporting by Gary McWilliams, Ron Bousso, Julie Zhu and Byron Kaye; Editing by Richard Pullin)
Padmavati actress Deepika Padukone has been provided special security by the Mumbai police after the Karni Sena threatened to chop off her nose.

By India Today Web Desk: Amid increasing protests and threats over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, the lead actress of the film, Deepika Padukone, has now been provided special security by the Mumbai police, say reports.

The Mumbai police's move comes after the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, the fringe group that has been spearheading the protests against the film, threatened Padukone with physical harm.

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Mahipal Singh Makrana, president of Rajasthan unit of the outfit, said that they would not hesitate to chop off Deepika's nose like Shurpanakha (Shurpanakha was a character in Ramayana whose nose was chopped off by Lakshman).

Deepika recently broke her silence on the Padmavati controversy by saying that it was 'absolutely appalling' to see what was happening in the country, and that we as a nation 'have regressed'.

Her words rubbed many people the wrong way. Talking to India Today Television yesterday, the convenor of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, slammed "naachnewali" Deepika Padukone, who plays the titular role of Padmavati, for her comment.

"The country is not regressing, you are making it so. With folded hands, I beg Deepika not to insult women... Deepika is dancing in the film. Yes, dance, but why are you dancing with less clothing? How are you trying to portray Indian women?" he asked.

He also alleged that Padmavati was financed by the "underworld".

The discontent over Padmavati stems from the speculation that the film contained a dream sequence featuring Rajput queen Rani Padmavati and Turk emperor Alauddin Khilji. Khilji attacked Chittorgarh in 1303.

In a video released earlier this month, Bhansali yet again clarified that there is no dream sequence in his film and that all rumours about the same were baseless and untrue.

However, that has not been able to convince the protesters.

Padmavati is slated for a release on December 1, and stars Deepika Padukone in the titular role, Shahid Kapoor as her husband, Maharawal Ratan Singh, and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji.

WATCH: Karni Sena thugs holding Padmavati hostage

--- ENDS ---
Bitcoin (Exchange: BTC=) has again recovered quickly from a sharp drop. The digital currency briefly surged more than 11 percent Wednesday to a high of $7,336.80 , according to CoinDesk. That's within 10 percent of its record high of $7,879.06 hit last Wednesday. Bitcoin had fallen 30 percent below that record over the weekend amid controversy over the digital currency's future.In the established stock market, a decline of at least 10 percent from a recent high sends a stock into "correction" territory, and a drop of at least 20 percent marks "bear market" territory. Wednesday's gains in bitcoin came after news that Jack Dorsey's company Square (NYSE: SQ) is testing support for bitcoin through its payments app Cash. Early on Wednesday, Credit Suisse analysts published a report on the Square news describing how the "bitcoin buying option could help stock."Square shares spiked more than 5 percent in the open before closing about 2 percent higher. The company's test of bitcoin is still small and focused on letting customers buy and sell the digital currency within the app. The test does not allow individuals or businesses to send or accept bitcoin, Square said.Bitcoin performance over the last six monthsSource: CoinDesk Digital currency trading firm Genesis Global Trading found bitcoin tends to recover dramatically from large drops. The last four times bitcoin has fallen more than 20 percent this year, it has gained an average 28 percent in the two weeks following, and an average 61.5 percent in the four weeks following, the analysis showed.Trading in Japanese yen accounted for about nearly 56 percent of bitcoin trading volume Wednesday, according to CryptoCompare. U.S. dollar-bitcoin trading volume accounted for about 25 percent. Another digital currency, ethereum (Exchange: ETH=) , traded about 1.5 percent lower near $331, according to CoinDesk. "A lot of the recent volatility has been caused by the recent narrative and events surrounding bitcoin and bitcoin cash and the record setting exchange trading volume between the two amongst large investors, miners, and retail investors in Asia," Alex Sunnarborg, founding partner, Tetras Capital, said in an email. "The price of BTC and BCH have moved inversely between each either, driving the price of bitcoin down as it flows to bitcoin cash and vice versa."The controversy over the best way to improve bitcoin's transaction speeds and costs remains unresolved.One upgrade proposal called SegWit2x was called off last Wednesday, causing bitcoin to surge temporarily to its record high before crashing.An upgrade which took effect in August split bitcoin into bitcoin and bitcoin cash. The offshoot bitcoin cash traded slightly lower Wednesday near $1,222, about 50 percent below its record high of $2,477.65 hit Sunday, according to CoinMarketCap.Another version of bitcoin that launched Sunday, bitcoin gold, has tumbled more than 20 percent in the last 24 hours to around $162, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin gold is an attempt to make "mining," or creating, the digital currency less dependent on specialized hardware. Bitcoin (Exchange: BTC=) has again recovered quickly from a sharp drop. The digital currency briefly surged more than 11 percent Wednesday to a high of $7,336.80 , according to CoinDesk. That's within 10 percent of its record high of $7,879.06 hit last Wednesday. Bitcoin had fallen 30 percent below that record over the weekend amid controversy over the digital currency's future. In the established stock market, a decline of at least 10 percent from a recent high sends a stock into "correction" territory, and a drop of at least 20 percent marks "bear market" territory. Wednesday's gains in bitcoin came after news that Jack Dorsey's company Square (NYSE: SQ) is testing support for bitcoin through its payments app Cash. Early on Wednesday, Credit Suisse analysts published a report on the Square news describing how the "bitcoin buying option could help stock." Square shares spiked more than 5 percent in the open before closing about 2 percent higher. The company's test of bitcoin is still small and focused on letting customers buy and sell the digital currency within the app. The test does not allow individuals or businesses to send or accept bitcoin, Square said. Bitcoin performance over the last six months Source: CoinDesk Digital currency trading firm Genesis Global Trading found bitcoin tends to recover dramatically from large drops. The last four times bitcoin has fallen more than 20 percent this year, it has gained an average 28 percent in the two weeks following, and an average 61.5 percent in the four weeks following, the analysis showed. Trading in Japanese yen accounted for about nearly 56 percent of bitcoin trading volume Wednesday, according to CryptoCompare. U.S. dollar-bitcoin trading volume accounted for about 25 percent. Another digital currency, ethereum (Exchange: ETH=) , traded about 1.5 percent lower near $331, according to CoinDesk. "A lot of the recent volatility has been caused by the recent narrative and events surrounding bitcoin and bitcoin cash and the record setting exchange trading volume between the two amongst large investors, miners, and retail investors in Asia," Alex Sunnarborg, founding partner, Tetras Capital, said in an email. "The price of BTC and BCH have moved inversely between each either, driving the price of bitcoin down as it flows to bitcoin cash and vice versa." The controversy over the best way to improve bitcoin's transaction speeds and costs remains unresolved. One upgrade proposal called SegWit2x was called off last Wednesday, causing bitcoin to surge temporarily to its record high before crashing. An upgrade which took effect in August split bitcoin into bitcoin and bitcoin cash. The offshoot bitcoin cash traded slightly lower Wednesday near $1,222, about 50 percent below its record high of $2,477.65 hit Sunday, according to CoinMarketCap. Another version of bitcoin that launched Sunday, bitcoin gold, has tumbled more than 20 percent in the last 24 hours to around $162, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin gold is an attempt to make "mining," or creating, the digital currency less dependent on specialized hardware.



More From CNBC


The Boeing Company BA has inked a deal with flydubai for 225 737 MAX airplanes. Valued at $27 billion at current list prices, the order was awarded during the 2017 Dubai Air Show. It marks the largest-ever single-aisle jet order from a Middle East carrier.



Order in Detail



The agreement comprises a commitment for 175 MAX airplanes and purchase rights for 50 additional MAX jets. Among these 175 airplanes, the order includes over 50 737 MAX 10s  the newest and largest member of the 737 MAX family  along with other MAX 8 and MAX 9 airplanes.



With this third aircraft deal, flydubai, which started flights in 2009, will surpass its previous record order of 75 MAX jets and 11 Next-Generation 737-800s that was signed at the 2013 Dubai Airshow. The current fleet of the carrier is all Boeing and at present only operates 737-8s.



Delivery of the 175 planes will commence in 2019 and be spread across 10 years with some coming ahead of the 2013 order. Given the size of the deal, it is expected that flydubai will get a discount on the list price of the aircraft.



Deals Inked at the Ongoing Dubai Air Show



Demand for Boeings commercial airplanes has been rising due to a steady increase in passenger and freight traffic.



Of late, at the Dubai Air Show, this aircraft giant received an order from the Kuwait-based ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Company for 20 additional 737 MAX 8s, valued at $2.2 billion. Additionally, the company secured an order for five more 787-8 Dreamliners and a commitment to purchase two large freighters, valued at approximately $1.9 billion, from Azerbaijan Airlines.



Apart from this, the company sealed a deal for delivering 40 787-10 Dreamliners to Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East. The purchase order also comes with equipments related to the 787-10 fleet, valued at $15.1 billion.



Given the enormous commercial demand in the market, Boeing is witnessing significant progress, especially in the single-aisle market.



Global Demand for Single-Aisle Aircraft



Boeing anticipates demand for 29,530 single-aisle jets, worth $3.2 trillion, in the next 20 years. The figure reflects a 5% increase over last year's projection.



Moreover, the company expects single-aisle jets to be the major driver behind the increase in demand, comprising 72% of the total commercial jets demand projection. While the new 737 MAX and the 737-800 is likely to grab the lions share of the new orders, Boeings arch-rival Airbus Group SEs EADSY A320neo is expected to pose significant challenges. Recently, Airbus received an order for 430 single-aisle airplanes valued at $49.5 billion at the Dubai Air Show.



Nevertheless, Boeings 737 model remains one of the best-selling planes in the single-aisle market, thanks to its fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. Therefore, to maintain its dominance in the commercial aerospace market, this aerospace behemoth continues to invest in research and development for upgrading and churning out upgraded versions of its existing planes.



The 737 model is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeings history, exceeding 4,000 total orders from 92 customers.



Price Movement



Share price of Boeing has surged 77.5% over the last 12 months, outperforming the broader industrys gain of 35.6%. This could be because the companys strong balance sheet and cash flows provide financial flexibility in matters of incremental dividend, ongoing share repurchases as well as earnings accretive acquisitions.

Story continues





The stock also performed better than that of General Dynamics Corporation GD and Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT, which missed the industry mark.



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Boeing carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here



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Airlines are warring over wealthy travelers, spending millions on plush first-class cabins that look more like flying hotel rooms than seats on a commercial airliner. But other carriers think the thriftiest travelers are worth billions. The blockbuster deal at the Dubai Air Show was a monster order Wednesday from a private equity firm for 430 single-aisle Airbus jets. Indigo Partners signed the preliminary order , which includes planes for a host of budget airlines it's invested in, including Frontier Airlines. The order is worth nearly $50 billion at list prices, but deep discounts for an order of that size are customary. The same day, low-cost carrier Flydubai and Boeing (NYSE: BA) , inked a deal worth $27 billion for single-aisle 737 MAX planes. No-frills air travel has grown worldwide, as passengers seek out the lowest fare in exchange for perks like food, free checked baggage and seat assignments, which used to all come with the cost of a ticket. It's been a thorn in the side of some more traditional airlines that have been forced to compete with airlines that sometimes offer fares in the low-single digits. In response, these traditional airlines have offered their own rival bare-bones products, and tout how some passengers to pay more to avoid it . But Indigo's deal shows the strength of budget airlines are gaining worldwide as record numbers of travelers take to the skies. Indigo has stakes in Hungary-based Wizz Air, Mexico's Volaris, and Chile's Jetsmart.Investors have taken notice of travelers' price sensitivity. Warren Buffett, who long shunned investments in airlines only to take a large stake in the biggest four U.S. carriers last year , recently noted travelers remain extremely price conscious, even if they are crammed in more closely-packed cabins. Cabins "may become like cattle cars ... but a significant percentage would rather be treated that way and fly for X" than have far more legroom and have all kinds of things and travel for X plus 25 percent," he told CNBC in May . WATCH: Airlines will need to build higher fuel prices into planning Airlines are warring over wealthy travelers, spending millions on plush first-class cabins that look more like flying hotel rooms than seats on a commercial airliner. But other carriers think the thriftiest travelers are worth billions. The blockbuster deal at the Dubai Air Show was a monster order Wednesday from a private equity firm for 430 single-aisle Airbus jets. Indigo Partners signed the preliminary order , which includes planes for a host of budget airlines it's invested in, including Frontier Airlines. The order is worth nearly $50 billion at list prices, but deep discounts for an order of that size are customary. The same day, low-cost carrier Flydubai and Boeing (NYSE: BA) , inked a deal worth $27 billion for single-aisle 737 MAX planes. No-frills air travel has grown worldwide, as passengers seek out the lowest fare in exchange for perks like food, free checked baggage and seat assignments, which used to all come with the cost of a ticket. It's been a thorn in the side of some more traditional airlines that have been forced to compete with airlines that sometimes offer fares in the low-single digits. In response, these traditional airlines have offered their own rival bare-bones products, and tout how some passengers to pay more to avoid it . But Indigo's deal shows the strength of budget airlines are gaining worldwide as record numbers of travelers take to the skies. Indigo has stakes in Hungary-based Wizz Air, Mexico's Volaris, and Chile's Jetsmart. Investors have taken notice of travelers' price sensitivity. Warren Buffett, who long shunned investments in airlines only to take a large stake in the biggest four U.S. carriers last year , recently noted travelers remain extremely price conscious, even if they are crammed in more closely-packed cabins. Cabins "may become like cattle cars ... but a significant percentage would rather be treated that way and fly for X" than have far more legroom and have all kinds of things and travel for X plus 25 percent," he told CNBC in May . WATCH: Airlines will need to build higher fuel prices into planning



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SendGrid IPO

SendGrid

Email marketing company SendGrid went public Wednesday, raising $131 million.

Shares priced at $16 and rose above $18 by Wednesday afternoon.

CEO Sameer Dholakia spoke with Business Insider about what it took to get the company to this point.



If youve ever reserved a night through Airbnb, a meal through OpenTable, or received a list of personalized song suggestions from Spotify, chances are that email came via a little known Denver-based startup called SendGrid.

SendGrid, which graduated from the TechStars accelerator back in 2009, went public on the the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, raising $131 million to continue its quest for inbox domination.

Business Insider caught up with CEO Sameer Dholakia just a few hours after he and his colleagues rang the opening bell to celebrate the initial public offering. He says the process was exhausting, but that he's looking forward to the next chapter after being a private company for eight years.

"Its been insane but also insanely fun," Dholakia said by phone of the pre-IPO process. "What's hard is your days are stacked. You start at 7:30 in the morning and are going until the last meeting ends late in the evening. You're probably in at least two cities on any given day, sometimes three. It's certainly not for the faint of heart."

His work appears to have paid off. In its first day of trading, SendGrid opened at $18.55, or roughly 16% above the $16 IPO price. The momentum carried throughout the week and the stock price was still hovering near $18 by Friday afternoon

Prior to its IPO, SendGrid raised over $80 million in venture funding from Bain Capital, Bessemer Ventures, Highway 12 Ventures and the Foundry Group. The company is already profitable by its own non-GAAP measures, Dholakia says, and raked in about $100 million of revenue in the last year.

Dholakia and SendGrid co-founder Isaac Saldana own 1.51% and 4.38% of the company respectfully, according to SEC filings. That could easily make both founders into millionaires, depending on the stocks price after the SEC's lockup period expires, and if they decide to sell any of their shares.

Story continues

2017 has been a hot year for IPOs around the world

20 tech companies went public around the world in the third quarter of 2017, according to PwC data. In the US, however, fortunes havent been as bright.

Of the notable US tech IPOs this year, both Snap and Blue Apron have seen their stock prices decline sharply since going public. Video streaming company Roku, on the other hand, has seen its stock price more than double since its September IPO.

As for his favorite emails to read each morning, Dholakia says he loves The Hustle, a daily newsletter of tech news and entrepreneurial inspiration.

"I think email will outlive us all," Dholakia said. "It is an extraordinarily efficient channel of communication. I deeply believe it remains the center of gravity for digital communication. For many of us, we change home addresses more frequently than our personal email address."

Sendgrid stock price

Markets Insider

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FILE PHOTO: A newly installed phone made by Cisco is shown in San Diego, California, U.S., April 17, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo (Reuters)

By Salvador Rodriguez

(Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc <CSCO.O> reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, driven by gains from its newer businesses such as security, which more than offset declines in its traditional switches and routers business.

This shows the technology leader has begun to turn a corner as it shifts focus from hardware to software and recurring subscriptions, several analysts said.

"Cisco has been shifting its business model towards subscriptions, especially in the faster-growing segments like security," said Tim Green, analyst with the Motley Fool. "That effort may be starting to bear fruit."

The world's largest network gear maker forecast second-quarter adjusted profit of 58 cents to 60 cents per share, largely above analysts' estimate of 58 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Cisco forecast a revenue increase of 1 to 3 percent for its second quarter, which would end a streak of eight quarters of year-to-year decline.

"The forecast is better than feared and speaks to a company that has started to turn the corner," said Daniel Ives at research firm GBH Insights.

The company's shares rose more than 5 percent to $35.95 in after-hours trading.

"Cisco has been shifting its business model toward subscriptions, especially in the faster-growing segments like security," said Tim Green, analyst with the Motley Fool. "That effort may be starting to bear fruit."

Revenue from Cisco's security business, which offers firewall protection and breach detection systems, rose 8 percent to $585 million.

"We've been in a multi-year journey selling software and subscriptions against the threat intelligence and the malware intelligence that we have. And I think that's what's continuing to pay off," Chief Executive Charles Robbins said on a post-earnings call.

Cisco is focussing on high-growth areas such as security, Internet of Things and cloud computing like other legacy technology companies.

Story continues

"If the new services add revenue next year, they will seem very cheap, and the dividend makes them a great add for a conservative portfolio," said Phil Davis, CEO of PhilStockWorld.com, an investment advisory service.

Recurring revenue from Cisco's subscription businesses accounted for 32 percent of total revenue in the first quarter, up 3 points year-to-year. The company also reported deferred revenue of $18.6 billion, up 10 percent year-to-year, as a result of Cisco's new focus on software and services, Green said.

Net income rose to $2.39 billion, or 48 cents per share, from $2.32 billion, or 46 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the company earned 61 cents per share. Revenue fell 1.7 percent to $12.14 billion.

Analysts on average had expected Cisco to report a profit of 60 cents per share on revenue of $12.11 billion.

(Reporting by Salvador Rodriguez in San Francisco and Laharee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Richard Chang)
December West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures are under pressure on Tuesday after the U.S. government said on Monday U.S. shale production in December would rise for a 12th consecutive month, increasing by 80,000 bpd and a cooling Chinese economy stoked some concerns about demand.

Additionally, in its monthly report, the International Energy Administration (IEA) cut its oil demand forecast by 100,000 bpd for this year and next, to an estimated 1.5 million bpd in 2017 and 1.3 million bpd in 2018.

Daily January West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil

Daily Technical Analysis

The main trend is up according to the daily swing chart. However, momentum has been trending lower since the formation of the closing price reversal top on November 8. The chart pattern was confirmed yesterday without much of a follow-through to the downside.

The chart pattern typically leads to a 50% to 61.8% retracement of the last rally.

A trade through $58.14 will negate the chart pattern and signal a resumption of the uptrend.

The short-term range is $58.14 to $56.52. Its 50% level or pivot is $57.33. Trading below this level is helping to give the market a downside bias.

The main range is $51.09 to $58.14. If the selling pressure continues then its retracement zone at $54.62 to $53.78 will become the primary downside target.

Daily January West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil (Short-Term)

Daily Technical Forecast

Based on the early price action, the direction of the market today will be determined by trader reaction to the downtrending angle at $57.14.

A sustained move under $57.14 will signal the presence of sellers. Taking out $56.52 will indicate the selling is getting stronger. If this move takes place with rising selling volume then we could see an acceleration to the downside into an uptrending Gann angle at $57.14.

We could see a technical bounce on the first test of $57.14, but if it fails then look for a minimum break into the main 50% level at $54.62.

Overcoming the downtrending angle at $57.14 will indicate the return of buyers. This could lead to a labored rally with potential resistance targets at $57.33, $57.64 and $57.89. The latter is the last potential resistance angle before the $58.14 main top.

Story continues

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
Executives and guests of SendGrid, Inc. (NYSE:SEND) visit the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to celebrate their IPO. To mark the occasion Chief Executive Officer, Sameer Dholakia, alongside Tom Farley, President, NYSE, ring The Opening Bell.

Marketing email company SendGrid had a decent first day on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. After pricing shares at $16, the company closed at $18.03, or up almost 13%.

The Denver-based company had raised $131 million after pricing its IPO at $16, above the expected range of $13.50 to $15.50. SendGrid also upsized its IPO, selling 8.2 million shares, instead of 7.7 million.

SendGrid helps businesses like Spotify or Airbnb send email confirmations, password reminders and more. The company says it has processed more than a trillion emails, including over a billion per day.

Sameer Dholakia, CEO at SendGrid told TechCrunch that most of the company's growth is organic. Customers are usually coming to SendGrid's website on their own volition, without having been approached by sales reps.

The customers start out with a free trial and then end up paying a monthly fee to use SendGrid services. SendGrid competes with SparkPost, MailChimp and divisions of Amazon, Oracle and Salesforce, but Dholakia likes to think SendGrid has the "Kleenex" brand, or the most known name in the business.

Byron Deeter, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, said he invested in SendGrid because "email is the fundamental backbone of business communications and thats not changing anytime soon." SendGrid "manages scale and reliability in an unparalleled way."

Revenue for 2016 was $79.9 million, compared with $58.5 million in 2015 and $42.3 million the year before. The business is unprofitable, losing $3.9 million last year, compared to $5.9 million in 2015.

According to the risk factors section of the IPO filing, SendGrid warns that if we are unable to maintain consistent revenue or revenue growth, our stock price could be volatile or decline, and we may not achieve or maintain profitability.

The company raised at least $80 million in venture funding, dating back to 2009. The largest shareholders prior to the IPO were Foundry Group, Bessemer Venture Partners, Highway 12 Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures. SendGrid got its start in a Techstars accelerator in Boulder, Colorado.

Says Dholakia, SendGrid is "hoping to really get Colorado tech on the map."
By PTI: By Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Nov 16 (TI) Nepals former prime minister and CPN (Maoist Center) chief Prachanda today criticised the governments move to scrap a deal with Chinas state-owned Gezhouba Group Co Ltd (CGGC) company regarding the 1200 MW Budhi Gandaki Hydroelectricity Project.

Speaking at a function in Bharatpur of Chitawan district in southern Nepal, he said Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deubas government has committed a "mistake" by revoking the deal.

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The deal for the USD 2.5 billion Budhi Gandaki Hydroelectric Project in Gorkha and Dhading districts, the biggest hydropower project in the landlocked country facing acute energy crisis, was signed in June.

The project was touted as a key project to resolve the perennial power crisis in the country.

On Monday, a cabinet meeting decided to revoke the decision taken by the erstwhile Prachanda-led government.

"This is a testimony that the government is not working for the countrys economic development and prosperity, but for its parochial political interests," Prachanda said.

He said it was wrong to revoke the decision taken by the former government as it was done in the presence of the Chinese company and the representatives of the government of China as well.

"In the context of Nepal, Budhi Gandaki, which has been recognised as a national pride project, is an extremely ambitious project. The success of this project could have heralded economic revolution in the country," Prachanda said.

He also said that his party was not consulted before the decision, though they are also in the cabinet.

Nepals hydropower potential has been estimated to be around 84,000 MW, of which 43,000 MW has been identified as economically viable. Currently, Nepals installed hydropower capacity is just 753 MW, according to the International Hydropower Association (IHA).

In February 2016, the Nepal government had declared 2016?26 as the national energy crisis reduction and electricity development decade with ambitious targets to end the current power shortages within three years and to spearhead further development in the hydropower sector, the UK-based IHA said.

At present the total supply of electricity to Nepal from India is about 400 MW. PTI SBP ZH

--- ENDS ---
Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Allegations against Roy Moore continue to pile up, we meet the real Molly Bloom, and Katrina Lake wasnt Stitch Fixs only founder. Have a wonderful Thursday.

EVERYONES TALKING

 The war on Moore. The allegations against Alabama Senate hopeful Roy Moorewhos been accused of initiating unwanted sexual encounters with minorsare piling up even higher. Yesterday, more women came forward to describe encounters with the Republican candidate, bringing the number of women who have spoken up against the politician to seven.

Also yesterday, local news site AL.com reported that Moore was known to cruise for young girls at the local mall in his hometown of Gadsden; he was allegedly banned from the shopping center because he was bothering girls there.

Moore, in an open letter to the conservative talk show host Sean Hannity, denied all accusations of assault and insisted that he did not date underage girlsthough he did say he might have dated teenagers when he was in his 30s. His lawyer, Phillip Jauregui, is also casting doubt on at least one womans allegations.

Either way, the GOP isnt taking any chances. Politico reports that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his top advisers are discussing asking current Alabama Senator Luther Strange, who was appointed to the seat, to resign to trigger a new special election. Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that a state party committee is mulling whether Moore should remain the Republican nominee (they did not comment on the outcome of that discussion).

President Donald Trump has so far stayed silent on the matter, though his daughter and presidential advisor Ivanka Trump weighed in during an interview with the Associated Press yesterday, saying: Theres a special place in hell for people who prey on children.

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

 This years best. Fortune this morning revealed its Business Person of the Year list, with Ulta Beautys Mary Dillon and Lockheed Martins Marillyn Hewson making the prestigious top 10. Check out the full list here.

Story continues

 Stitch Fixs secret. Stitch Fix, a fashion startup preparing to go public this week, lists CEO Katrina Lake as its sole founder on its website and in documents distributed to prospective investors. But, WSJ reports, buried in a footnote of a regulatory filing is a hint of the type of ownership conflict that often roils young companies early on. It turns out Lake once had a co-founder, named Erin Morrison Flynn, who has been scrubbed from most company records. In a lawsuit that was settled in 2014, Flynn claimed that they started the company, originally called Rack Habit, together in October 2010. Wall Street Journal

 Meet Molly Bloom. The forthcoming film Mollys Game, starring Jessica Chastain, is about a world-class skier named Molly Bloom who went on to run the worlds most exclusive high-stakes poker game (only to become an FBI target). The real-life Bloom took the stage at Fortunes Most Powerful Women Next Gen Summit to share with the room full of entrepreneurial businesswomen some of the lessons she learned. Fortune

 So very Vice. Vice is the latest media company to investigate accusations of sexual harassment by senior employees, following a Daily Beast expose in which the publication spoke with more than a dozen former and current Vice employees about the companys culture. In the words of one former female employee, hostility due to sexism, racism, religionism, ageism, idk-what-ism makes us feel not only uncomfortable, but unsafe and just plain dirty. Daily Beast

 The cop gap. A new Politico survey (the first in over a decade) revealed a gender gap at federal law enforcement agencies thats as wide as it was during the Clinton administration: In 1996, women held about 14% of the countrys federal law enforcement jobs; today, that number is 15%. The gap raises questions about the competence of these agencies: Most obviously, female agents are needed to do invasive searches of women and for undercover work. But, at a higher level, any organization that fails to engage half the population in its hiring is leaving behind serious talent, the publication notes. Politico

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

 Fake news fighter. Meet Renee DiResta, the tech founder who has been battling disinformation campaigns for years. She recently advised Congress on the use of bots and fake accounts to manipulate social media. She says she discovered years ago that Facebooks platform was tailor-made for a small group of vocal people to amplify their voices, especially if their views veered toward the conspiratorial. New York Times

 Ch-ch-ch-changes. Liza Landsman, the recently promoted president of Jet.com, discussed with the Next Gen audience on Tuesday the adjustments Walmart had to make when it bought the online shopping startup. Though Jets employee happy hours initially moved to local bars, they have since returned to the office by popular demand. And, while Walmart has been selling certain no-frills vibrators for several years, Jet sells products such as sex furniture and anatomically correct male genitaliawhich meant Walmart had to add a gate in front of its online sex toy department. Fortune

 Adios, Dos Santos. Isabel Dos Santos, Africas first female billionaire, has been fired from her post as head of Angolas national oil company Sonangol. Dos Santos is the daughter of Angolas former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled the country from independence in 1979 until stepping down earlier this year. Forbes estimates her total wealth as $3.5 billion, although she has generally pegged it much lower. Fortune

 The co-Skimms. TheSkimm founders Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg are co-CEOs, a choice they say has made their company stronger. Almost six years in, Im so thankful we have this model because I think it would be completely isolating to go through this alone, said Weisberg at Next Gen on Tuesday. We go through the day making so many decisions. The one thing I never have to think about is can I trust my partner? Fortune

Share todays Broadsheet with a friend.

Looking for previous Broadsheets? Click here.

ON MY RADAR

Arianna Huffington ignored sexual misconduct at The Huffington Post Gizmodo

Jennifer Lawrence says she was punished for standing up to inappropriate director Huffington Post

Martha MacCallum: Fox hosts arent blonde Barbies Motto

The one word that causes Amber Heard to automatically throw away a script Vanity Fair

QUOTE
By Paresh Dave SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google reclaimed on Tuesday its spot as the default search engine on Mozilla Corp's Firefox Internet browser in the United States and other regions as the browser maker stunned Verizon Communication Inc's Yahoo by canceling their deal. Google confirmed the move but declined, along with Mozilla, to disclose revenue-sharing terms of the multiyear agreement. Google's growing spending to be the primary search provider on apps and devices such as Apple Inc's iPhone has been a major investor concern. Google will be Firefox's default search provider on desktop and mobile in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said Denelle Dixon, Mozilla's chief business and legal officer. The decision was "based on a number of factors including doing what's best for our brand, our effort to provide quality web search and the broader content experience for our users," Dixon said. "We believe there are opportunities to work with Oath and Verizon outside of search." Yahoo had been the default in the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Firefox did not have an official partner in Canada. Verizon said Mozilla terminating the Yahoo agreement caught it off guard. "We are surprised that Mozilla has decided to take another path, and we are in discussions with them regarding the terms of our agreement," said Charles Stewart, a spokesman for Verizon's Oath unit, which oversees Yahoo. The search provider switch came as Mozilla announced Firefox Quantum, a faster, new version of the browser that company says is 30 percent lighter than Google Chrome in that it uses less computer memory. For a decade until 2014, Google had been Firefox's worldwide search provider. Google then remained the default in Europe while regional rivals such as Yahoo, Russia's Yandex and China's Baidu Inc replaced it elsewhere. Former Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer won a five-year contract with Mozilla in 2014 when Firefox and Google's Chrome browser were battling for users. (http://reut.rs/2hsYZQo) Chrome's U.S. market share has since doubled to about 60 percent, according to data from analytics provider StatCounter, with Mozilla, Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp browsers capturing the rest. Yahoo paid Mozilla $375 million in 2015 and said that it would pay at least the same amount annually through 2019, according to regulatory filings. Yahoo and Google aim to recoup placement fees by selling ads alongside search results and collecting valuable user data. Google said in October that contract changes drove a 54 percent increase in such fees to $2.4 billion in the third quarter. (Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Flydubai and Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President & Chief Executive Kevin McAllister attend a news conference at the Dubai Airshow in Dubai, UAE November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Satish Kumar

By Alexander Cornwell and Tim Hepher

DUBAI (Reuters) - Boeing Co. <BA.N> reached a preliminary deal for 175 of its 737 MAX jets with flydubai on Wednesday, potentially committing the budget airline's fleet to the U.S. planemaker for another decade.

The Dubai-based carrier wants more than 50 of Boeing's largest narrowbody jet, the 737-10, as well as to-be-determined numbers of its 737-9s and 737-8s, Boeing said in a statement at the Dubai Airshow.

Reuters had reported that Boeing was close to reaching a deal with flydubai for 175 737 MAX jets.

Flydubai Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum told a news conference the provisional deal was struck Tuesday night.

It is flydubai's third aircraft deal. It agreed to buy 75 737-8 MAX aircraft at the Dubai Airshow four years ago.

"We try to grow as fast as we want," Chief Executive Ghaith al-Ghaith told reporters.

Delivery of flydubai's 175 planes will begin in 2019 and be spread across 10 years with some overlap with the delivery of its 2013 order, al-Ghaith said.

The current fleet of flydubai, which started flights in 2009, is all Boeing. It currently only operates 737-8s.

The provisional deal is worth $27 billion, including purchasing options for an additional 50 planes.

Al-Ghaith told Reuters the airline was interested in the new mid-sized jet that Boeing is studying whether to develop, but that it had not been discussed during the 737 negotiations.

Boeing is looking at potentially filling a market gap between narrow and widebody jets with a new aircraft that could seat 220 to 270 passengers.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Kevin McAllister told the news conference that flydubai's 737 commitment would be good for jobs in the United States and in the Middle East.

Gulf customers are keen to stress the importance of their orders for U.S. jobs as they are locked in a trade dispute with three major American carriers.

Sheikh Ahmed said the airline had picked the 737s after also looking at Airbus' <AIR.PA> similar-sized A320s, echoing comments he made this week in his role as Emirates [EMIRA.UL] chairman when he said the 787 had been chosen over the Airbus A350.

Story continues

Dubai-based Emirates this week committed to buying 40 of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

Emirates and flydubai are both owned by the government of Dubai, which has pushed the two airlines to work more closely.

McAllister said the flydubai and Emirates deals were negotiated separately.

Also on Wednesday, Airbus reached a preliminary deal for a record 430 of its A320neo-family jets from U.S. investor Bill Franke's Indigo Partners.

(Editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter)
The Republican tax plan appears to have a public opinion problem. Most American voters  52 percent  disapprove of the GOP proposals to overhaul the tax system, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday . Only 25 percent of respondents approve of the Republican effort. The GOP says its push to chop taxes on businesses and individuals by year-end is designed to trim the burden on middle-class taxpayers while boosting job creation and wage growth.Voters largely have not bought into the message, the Quinnipiac poll found.Sixty-one percent of voters said the plan would mainly help the wealthy. Twenty-four percent responded that it would primarily benefit the middle class, while only 6 percent said the same about low-income people.The proposals favor the rich at the expense of the middle class, 59 percent of respondents said. Only 33 percent disagreed with that statement.Only 36 percent of respondents said the GOP effort will lead to more jobs and better economic growth. A majority, 52 percent, disagreed.Thirty-six percent of voters said the proposals would not have much of an effect on their taxes. Thirty-five percent said the plan would increase what they pay, while 16 percent said it would reduce their tax burden.Poor public approval of the plan could give more fodder to Democratic arguments that Republican tax bills would not do enough to help the middle class.House and Senate Republicans have crafted separate, but largely overlapping, bills that would chop corporate taxes and tweak the individual tax system. The House aims to pass its plan Thursday, while the Senate wants to approve its bill during the week after Thanksgiving. If the chambers pass their own bills, they will have to reconcile them. Lawmakers would create a unified plan to approve and send to President Donald Trump 's desk. Major analyses so far have estimated that versions of the bills would cut the tax burden on most Americans. However, millions of middle-income people could end up seeing a tax increase, due to changes to provisions like state and local tax deductions.Both bills would reduce the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent. On the individual side, the plans get rid of the personal exemption, nearly double the standard deduction, either narrow or repeal the estate tax and reduce the tax burden on pass-through businesses. Under the latest Senate proposal, most individual rate cuts would expire, while corporate reductions would be permanent . The bill would also effectively repeal the Obamacare individual mandate, a politically contentious measure that would lead to an estimated 13 million more people uninsured by 2027. The bills treat some deductions differently. The House plan curbs the mortgage interest deduction and keeps a deduction for state and local property taxes. The Senate bill does not change the cap on the mortgage interest deduction and scraps all state and local deductions.The nationwide Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,577 voters from Nov. 7 to Nov. 13. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.WATCH: Ryan says Republicans need to keep their promise on tax reform The Republican tax plan appears to have a public opinion problem. Most American voters  52 percent  disapprove of the GOP proposals to overhaul the tax system, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday . Only 25 percent of respondents approve of the Republican effort. The GOP says its push to chop taxes on businesses and individuals by year-end is designed to trim the burden on middle-class taxpayers while boosting job creation and wage growth. Voters largely have not bought into the message, the Quinnipiac poll found. Sixty-one percent of voters said the plan would mainly help the wealthy. Twenty-four percent responded that it would primarily benefit the middle class, while only 6 percent said the same about low-income people. The proposals favor the rich at the expense of the middle class, 59 percent of respondents said. Only 33 percent disagreed with that statement. Only 36 percent of respondents said the GOP effort will lead to more jobs and better economic growth. A majority, 52 percent, disagreed. Thirty-six percent of voters said the proposals would not have much of an effect on their taxes. Thirty-five percent said the plan would increase what they pay, while 16 percent said it would reduce their tax burden. Poor public approval of the plan could give more fodder to Democratic arguments that Republican tax bills would not do enough to help the middle class. House and Senate Republicans have crafted separate, but largely overlapping, bills that would chop corporate taxes and tweak the individual tax system. The House aims to pass its plan Thursday, while the Senate wants to approve its bill during the week after Thanksgiving. If the chambers pass their own bills, they will have to reconcile them. Lawmakers would create a unified plan to approve and send to President Donald Trump 's desk. Major analyses so far have estimated that versions of the bills would cut the tax burden on most Americans. However, millions of middle-income people could end up seeing a tax increase, due to changes to provisions like state and local tax deductions. Both bills would reduce the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent. On the individual side, the plans get rid of the personal exemption, nearly double the standard deduction, either narrow or repeal the estate tax and reduce the tax burden on pass-through businesses. Under the latest Senate proposal, most individual rate cuts would expire, while corporate reductions would be permanent . The bill would also effectively repeal the Obamacare individual mandate, a politically contentious measure that would lead to an estimated 13 million more people uninsured by 2027. The bills treat some deductions differently. The House plan curbs the mortgage interest deduction and keeps a deduction for state and local property taxes. The Senate bill does not change the cap on the mortgage interest deduction and scraps all state and local deductions. The nationwide Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,577 voters from Nov. 7 to Nov. 13. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. WATCH: Ryan says Republicans need to keep their promise on tax reform



More From CNBC


Hyatt Hotels Corporation H has large-scale expansion and development plans in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America to gain further traction in the hospitality industry.

Hyatt affiliate, Andaz recently announced the opening of Andaz Singapore, which marks the first Andaz hotel in Southeast Asia and the brands 17th opening.

Offering 342 contemporary guestrooms, including 26 suites, Andaz Singapore is located in close proximity to the Changi Airport and Central Business District.

Notably, Singapores tourism industry has seen solid growth in first-quarter 2017. According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), a leading economic development agency in tourism and one of the countrys key service sectors, Tourism Receipts (TR) grew 15% to $6.4 billion in the quarter.

Moreover, for 2017, STB expects TR in the range of $25.1-$25.8 billion, reflecting 1% to 4% growth from last year. Thus, Singapore offers Hyatt a lot of scope for expansion.

However, the company will face tough competition from hotel chains like Marriott International, Inc. MAR, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation WYN and Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. HLT that are looking to tap into such markets. Lingering political uncertainties in some key operating regions and currency headwinds might also impede revenue growth.

Nevertheless, the company is poised to grow on a strong developmental pipeline along with consistent brand establishment and expansion strategies.

Notably, year to date, shares of Hyatt have recorded a gain of 26.6%, outperforming its industrys 17.1%.





Currently, Hyatt carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Rohtang Pass has been closed till March for vehicular traffic following heavy snowfall. Temperatures plummetted to -2 degrees Celsius this morning.

By India Today Web Desk: The Rohtang Pass has been closed till March for vehicular traffic following heavy snowfall. Temperatures plummetted to as low as -2 degrees Celsius this morning.

Rohtang Pass and nearby areas witnessed the first spell of snow this season yesterday that have led to extremely cold conditions in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh.

Temperatures across the state have dipped as icy winds swept the region.

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A thick fog cover has engulfed the region since yesterday. Commuters faced a lot of inconvenience driving in this weather and had to switch on their headlights in the morning hours.

While Kalpa had a low of minus 0.4 degrees yesterday, Keylong and Manali recorded 1.6 degrees and 3.4 degrees. The temperatures in Solan, Shimla and Bhuntar were 5.4 degrees, 5.6 degrees and 6.5 degrees Celsius respectively.

The MeT Department has predicted rains or thundershowers in the lower and mid-hills and rains or snow in the higher hills up to November 19.

(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI)

WATCH VIDEO | Rohtang Pass shut till March after heavy snow

--- ENDS ---
Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have diplomatic ties but have a shared interest in countering Iran - Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Israels top military commander has given an unprecedented interview to a Saudi website, offering to share intelligence between the Jewish state and the Arab regional power in a joint effort to counter Iran.

Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot told the Saudi-owned Elaph news site that Saudi Arabia and Israel - two countries that do not have formal diplomatic relations - should work together in a new international alliance against Iran.

We are ready to exchange experiences with moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence to confront Iran, the Israeli chief of staff said. We are ready to share information if necessary. There are many common interests between us and them.

The generals words and his decision to grant the interview to an Arab outlet show the growing convergence between Saudi Arabia and Israel over their shared alarm at Irans influence in the Middle East.

Hours earlier, Saudi Arabias foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir lambasted both Iran and Hizbollah, the Lebanese militant group which is backed by Iran and seen as a mortal enemy by Israel.

Hizbollah is a Grade A terrorist organisation, Mr Jubeir said, in words which match Israels description of the group. Whenever we see a problem, we see Hezbollah act as an arm or agent of Iran and this has to come to an end.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends a joint news conference with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Riyadh Credit: REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

The Elaph site is based in London and owned by Othman Al Omeir, a Saudi businessman known to be close to Saudi Arabia's King Salman.

The interview was conducted by an Israeli Druze journalist in Hebrew and then translated into Arabic, an Israeli military official said.

It was the first interview an Israeli chief of staff has given to an Arab outlet since 2005, when then commander Dan Halutz spoke to Al-Jazeera.

Gen Eisenkot said Israel had no intention of launching an attack on Hizbollah in southern Lebanon but also warned that he would not accept the groups military build becoming a strategic threat to Israel.

Story continues

Israels top military official Eisenkot: Tel Aviv ready to cooperate with #Riyadh 'to confront #Iran' pic.twitter.com/HnAD7RFkwL  Press TV (@PressTV) November 16, 2017

He said he believed Iran was trying to establish dominance in the Middle East through two Shia crescents one from Iran, through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon, and a second from Bahrain to Yemen.

In the interview he stressed that while Israel and Saudi Arabia have never had diplomatic relations the two sides had never actually fought against each other.

Under the leadership of its aggressive young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has tried to counter Iran across the region.

For the last two years it has been fighting in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran, and recently accused Iran and Hizbollah of helping the Houthis to fire a missile at Riyadhs airport.

Saudi Arabia has led a blockade against its neighbour Qatar, partly over the emirates ties with Iran, and many suspect Riyadh forced Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister, to resign as a way of countering Hizbollahs influence in the Lebanese government.

Saad Hariri resigned from Saudi Arabia and many believe Riyadh had a hand in his resignation Credit: Future TV

The Trump administration is eager to see Israel and Saudi Arabia, who are both American allies, work together against Iran. Gen Eisenkot said Donald Trumps presidency created an opportunity to build a new international coalition in the region.

Saudi Arabia and Israel are unlikely to be able to establish full public diplomatic relations without a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or at least significant progress. While Saudi Arabias leaders may be eager to cooperate with Israel, the Saudi public is strongly opposed to Israel and would likely react with anger to a deal that leaves out the Palestinians.

The right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to give the political concessions Saudi leaders would need to justify a public embrace of Israel.

There is no way that an initiative that does not embarrass the hell out of the Saudis would not shatter Benjamin Netanyahus coalition, and perhaps even his Likud party, into pieces. Its basically a binary, 'either/or' situation, wrote Chemi Shalev, a columnist with Israels liberal Haaretz newspaper.

Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries with which Israel has diplomatic ties, although it cooperates secretly with other states in the region. Mr Netanyahu often speaks publicly of Israel's warming ties with "moderate Sunni states" but does not go into details.
Ivanka Trump has weighed in on the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, claiming that she believes the accounts of the women who have come forward.

Theres a special place in hell for people who prey on children, Trump told the Associated Press Wednesday in an interview. Ive yet to see a valid explanation and I have no reason to doubt the victims accounts.

In the last week, six women have come forward alleging that Moore pursued them romantically when they were teenagers and he was in his thirties. Four of the women spoke on the record to the Washington Post in a November 9 article.

One of the women, Leigh Corfman, said she was just 14 when she met Moore outside a courthouse before a child custody hearing. They began seeing each other before he initiated sexual contact. Another woman, Gloria Thacker Deason, alleged that Moore had taken her on dates and given her wine when she was underage. On November 13, a fifth woman, Beverly Young Nelson, alleged that Moore had assaulted her when she was sixteen, locking her in a car with him, forcing her head toward his crotch and trying to pull her shirt off.

On Wednesday, yet another woman came forward, telling AL.com that Moore groped her in 1991.

Moore has dismissed these allegations, claiming he never heard of Corfman and Young, although he did acknowledge knowing Deason and another woman who came forward to the Post, Debbie Wesson Gibson.

But the allegations have drawn swift condemnation from Republican Senators and party leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has said he believes the women and Moore should step aside. The Republican National Committee and Republican National Senatorial Committee also withdrew from their fundraising agreements with the candidate.

According to the AP, Trump did not say if Moore should step aside. Trumps father, President Donald Trump, has not spoken publicly about the allegations but issued a statement while he was in Asia through his spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. President Trump has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct by a number of women.

Like most Americans, the President believes that we cannot allow a mere allegation  in this case, one from many years ago  to destroy a persons life. However, the President also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside, the statement read.
In Ethiopia, so-called girls' clubs in schools are helping break the taboo of talking about menstruation (AFP Photo/Zacharias ABUBEKER)

Sheno (Ethiopia) (AFP) - There's one room at the Sheno primary school in rural Ethiopia that's different from all the others, starting with the sign over the door reading: "Menstruation is a gift from God."

Inside this converted classroom, boys and girls gather in what some pupils call the "girls' club" to break one of the country's most enduring taboos: talking about periods.

In Ethiopia, adolescent girls are generally left to muddle through puberty on their own without guidance or the means to buy sanitary pads.

Only 54 percent of Ethiopian girls finish primary school, according to the United Nations children's fund, UNICEF, and many abandon it because of cramps or embarrassing mishaps during their periods.

With child marriage prevalent in rural areas, local beliefs link menstruation to sexual activity, and so an accidental blood stain could see girls relentlessly teased by their classmates.

When 14-year-old Yordanos Tesfaye first got her period, she was "shocked and frightened".

"I went home and told my father but he couldn't afford to buy me a pad. Then I told my friend and she suggested I use a rag. However, I didn't know how to use it and dropped it on the street and I was very embarrassed," she told AFP.

Like many teenage girls, she was tempted to drop out of school, but support from the girls' club convinced her to stay.

The clubs -- officially called "menstrual hygiene management" clubs and open to pupils aged 11 and older -- began as a collaboration between local health officials and UNICEF, based on the idea that adolescent girls won't stay in school if they can't effectively manage their transition to womanhood.

"That (time) of the girls' lives is absolutely critical to manage well in order to improve the sort of academic performance and reduce the dropouts in school," said Samuel Godfrey, UNICEF's sanitation chief in Ethiopia.

Story continues

The programme has been implemented in 65 schools and UNICEF is planning to expand it further.

- 'Not a disease' -

Children attend primary school in Ethiopia from the age of seven to 14 but many stay longer if they were late to enroll or have repeated a class.

At Sheno school, which has more than 760 pupils and lies some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, sanitary pads are given out for free and boys and girls work together to demystify the female menstrual cycle.

Since the girls' club opened three years ago, Sheno's rate of dropouts due to period woes has been reduced to zero. The year before it opened, 20 girls left, according to the school.

Clad in a white coat, biology teacher Tafesech Balemi guides girls through the changes their bodies are experiencing, while also educating the boys.

She hands out reusable sanitary pads to girls who can't afford to buy them and also offers a shower and a mattress where they can lie down if they don't feel well.

"We teach students in this club that menstruation is a gift from God. We teach them that it is not a disease but rather it is natural and biological," she explains.

Tafesech also tracks girls who don't come to school and will meet with their families if she believes their absenteeism has something to do with menstruation.

At another school in the same region, Hiwot Werka, 14, was mortified when she got her period while in class, staining her uniform.

"I used to hide... the whole day until nobody was around."

Adding to her shame, her mother accused her of being sexually active and forbade her from leaving the house, beating her when she tried to go to school.

Local health officials went to speak to her family, to explain to them that what Hiwot was going through was normal and not linked to sex.

"After a time, my mother came to realise that menstruation is normal," said Hiwot, who was allowed to return to school.

- Key role for boys -

Despite the name of the clubs, boys are an integral part of it because they help fight some of the most vicious side-effects of the menstruation taboo.

Yonas Nigussie, 14, remembers teasing girls who had a mishap during that time of the month, yelling out: "You know you have blood on your behind!"

He credits the club with changing his attitude completely, and now tells friends who taunt girls to knock it off.

"I remember when my sister got her first period. I was the one who brought her pads," Yonas said.

Ethiopia is among several countries in Africa that have implemented ways to accommodate women during their periods.

In 2015, Zambia enacted a law allowing women to be absent from work without notice to help them deal with menstrual pain.

And earlier this year, Kenya mandated that all schools provide sanitary pads to girls, free of charge.
Zimbabwe remained without a clear political leader on Friday in the face of conflicting reports about the apparent military coup on the countrys long-ruling president, Robert Mugabe.

Some sources have portrayed the strongman leaders departure as a done deal, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai called for Mugabes resignation in a news conference Thursday. Yet other reports have suggested that he is refusing to cede power and resisting attempts to mediate a plan for a peaceful exit.

Its a sort of stand-off, a stalemate, one source told Reuters. [Mugabe allies] are insisting the president must finish his term.

Mugabe made his first public appearance on Friday since the military acted earlier this week, attending a graduation ceremony at Zimbabwes Open University.

#Zimbabwe president Mugabe sleeping at the ZOU graduation where he is scheduled to cap students - 17 November 2017 pic.twitter.com/WNeBhugIU3  Povo Zim (@povozim) November 17, 2017

Confusion reigned over who would take control of Zimbabwe from Mugabe, if he were to end his 37-year authoritarian grip on the country. Former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was ousted earlier this month, said he planned to address the country as its head of state when the time is right. He had reportedly been working with the military and the opposition on a post-Mugabe vision for more than a year.

Heres what we know so far about this developing situation.

A man walks past an armored personnel carrier stationed at an intersection in Harare as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic on Nov. 15, 2017. (Photo: - via Getty Images)

Is there a coup happening in Zimbabwe?

Despite the armys show of force and apparent takeover of state television, military officials have so far denied they are attempting to depose Mugabe. On state television, army spokesman Maj. Gen. SB Moyo said, We wish to make this abundantly clear: This is not a military takeover of government.

Story continues

Instead, the army claimed that it has temporarily seized control in order to remove criminals surrounding Mugabe and pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation.

But the situation in Zimbabwe certainly seems to have most of the elements of a coup. Military vehicles are occupying key parts of the capital; the state broadcaster appears under military control; and Mugabe has spent hours detained in his home with no direct word from him or his politically powerful wife.

South African President Jacob Zumas office said in a statement Wednesday that Zuma had talked to Mugabe, and the Zimbabwean ruler was confined to his home but said that he was fine.

Mugabe has been the leader of Zimbabwe since 1980, when he helped the country gain independence after a long struggle against colonial rule. Throughout his presidency, 93-year-old Mugabe has held on to power through crackdowns on opposition and dissent. Even as Zimbabwes economy collapsed in the past decade and Mugabe drew harsh international condemnation, he found ways to remain in control.

In recent years, Mugabes advanced age and mental lapses have grown increasingly apparent. He often sleeps through public events, has been oblivious while delivering the wrong speech to Parliament and seemed unfit for even basic ceremonial duties.

President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace Mugabe, attend a rally of his ruling ZANU-PF party in Harare on Nov. 8. (Photo: Philimon Bulawayo / Reuters)

How did this start?

The current crisis stems from a political shake-up earlier this month, but the roots of it go back much further.

On Nov. 6, Mugabe decided to fire Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The move caused unrest in the presidents ruling ZANU-PF party and the army. Mnangagwa has support among the military and was seen as a potential successor to Mugabe when the president likely dies in office.

As Mugabes health noticeably deteriorated in the past year, the question of who will succeed his rule has become more pressing. This has led to a heated standoff between Grace Mugabe and Mnangagwa, which even included the first lady having to publicly deny that she attempted to poison her rival after he became ill last month.

Mnangagwas ouster seems to have been a catalyst for these longstanding tensions to boil over, as it appeared that Grace Mugabe  whose political capital has grown in the past few years  had won out and positioned herself as a top contender for the presidency after her husbands death.

But amid the ouster of Mnangagwa and the subsequent purge of his allies from government offices, the military decided this week that it would assert its power. On Monday, a military general issued a statement threatening to step in if the purges didnt stop. The army then took action on Tuesday night, and now appears to be in control.

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Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare on Nov. 15. (Photo: Philimon Bulawayo / Reuters)

What happens next?

Its unclear. Theres still a ton of uncertainty about the militarys intentions. Even the locations of key players in the crisis arent known for sure, as unconfirmed reports place Grace Mugabe in Namibia.

There has been no sign of violence so far in the military action, and there have not been public demonstrations either in favor of it or against it. Foreign officials and regional leaders have called for calm and the country to avoid conflict, saying they are closely monitoring the situation.

Embassies in Zimbabwe, including the United Kingdom and United States, have issued statements instructing their citizens in the country to shelter in place and monitor the news for updates.

Although the situation is still unfolding, there is a strong possibility that this is the beginning of the end for Mugabes rule and his status as the worlds oldest serving president.

CORRECTION: A previous caption in this story misidentified an armored personnel carrier as a tank.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
By Taenaz Shakir

(Reuters) - Canadian grocery and pharmacy chain Loblaw Cos Ltd <L.TO> said on Wednesday it would shut 22 unprofitable stores as the company revamps its business in the face of challenges in a brutal retail environment.

Like many other Canadian retailers, Loblaw has lost market share to bigger rivals like Wal-Mart <WMT.N> and Amazon <AMZN.O> and faces a hit next year from rises in minimum wages in its home state of Ontario.

It beat analysts' expectations for third-quarter profit and revenue thanks largely to a rise in same-store sales at its Shoppers Drug Mart outlets, which rose 3.3 percent in the quarter, up from 2.8 percent growth a year ago.

Same-store sales growth at its Loblaw groceries was flat at 1.4 percent in the quarter ended Oct. 7 compared with the year-earlier period.

Loblaw said the store closures would come across its brands and formats and would largely be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2018.

It had earlier said it would cut 500 jobs, planning to reinvest the savings in its digital and e-commerce offering.

The Brampton, Ontario-based retailer expects to record charges for the layoffs and store closures of approximately C$135 million, most of which will be factored into its fourth-quarter earnings.

It also expects annualized savings of about C$85 million from the changes.

Excluding items, the company earned C$1.39 per share for the third quarter, beating analysts' average estimate of C$1.30 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue was flat at C$14.19 billion, but beat analysts' estimate of C$14.10 billion.

($1 = 1.2742 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Taenaz Shakir, additional reporting by Nishara Karuvalli Pathikkal in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto and Patrick Graham)
Nelson Peltz

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Nelson Peltz appears to have won his proxy battle for a seat on Procter & Gamble's board.

In October, Peltz was initially reported to have lost the proxy vote by a slim margin.

Now, a recount shows Peltz actually won by 43,000 votes  a 0.002% margin.



A little over a month ago, it looked like billionaire investor Nelson Peltz had been foiled in the biggest proxy battle in history.

Now, after a recount, it looks like Peltz may have won his bid to claim a seat on the board of the $236 billion giant Procter & Gamble after all.

CNBC and The Wall Street Journal are reporting that Peltz, the founder of the $14 billion hedge fund Trian Partners, won the recount by a slim 43,000 votes  a 0.002% margin.

The billionaire investor, who has an estimated net worth of $1.65 billion, had been trying to shake up P&G since announcing a $3.5 billion stake in February. He was nominated to the board in July.

The two companies spent some $100 million on the campaign to win over shareholders, 40% of which are individual retail investors, according to Reuters.

Peltz was considered a favorite to win one of the 11 board seats up for a vote since he had the backing of the three top shareholder advisory firms that recommend how mutual funds cast their vote, according to Reuters.

After the preliminary results were released in October showing Peltz had been defeated, P&G CEO David Taylor said he was pleased but suggested he would welcome Peltz to the board if the recount yielded a different tally.

"We will honor the wishes of the shareholder. We've always said this," Taylor told CNBC at the time.

P&G is up 3% in after hours trading.

NOW WATCH: This is what Bernie Madoff's life is like in prison

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Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is bullish on its business in China as initial public offering activity there picked up after slowing the year before, a top executive at the investment bank said Wednesday. Gokul Laroia, Asia Pacific co-CEO of Morgan Stanley, told CNBC that what he is most positive about when it came to deal flows and IPO activity in the coming year is the quality of public listing activity in the region."Deals coming out of China  and the reason I talk about China is because it's the principal driver of this activity  reflect the changing nature of the Chinese economy," Laroia said on the sidelines of the Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore.China has attempted to rebalance its economy over the past few years by transitioning from a factory-led model of growth to one that's driven by services and consumption, or what is often referred to as its "new economy." That shift has been reflected in the types of businesses with which the investment bank has been talking."We're in discussions with over a hundred companies at this point in time, from education, health care, content, online retail, financial technology. So the mix has changed," Laroia said."And the one thing that's changed in addition to the mix is that the scale of these businesses [is] much larger than we've ever seen before. So I think there will be a really robust supply over the next couple of years," he said, referring to the trend as "new economy with scale." The global number of IPOs this year has increased after slowing in 2016, with stock exchanges in greater China accounting for the most listings globally by volume, according to a quarterly EY report in September. As for the broader Chinese economy, Laroia said that, even though credit tightening will have an impact on China's growth, the country's economic outlook was positive."Growth will slow, but I've always maintained that the quality of growth is much more important than the quantum of growth," he said."I think we've seen a hard landing in China. It happened a couple years ago when nominal growth went from 12 percent to 5 percent. We had a deflationary environment in China for three or four years. We've come out of that, so the quality of growth now in China [is] a lot better," Laroia said. Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is bullish on its business in China as initial public offering activity there picked up after slowing the year before, a top executive at the investment bank said Wednesday. Gokul Laroia, Asia Pacific co-CEO of Morgan Stanley, told CNBC that what he is most positive about when it came to deal flows and IPO activity in the coming year is the quality of public listing activity in the region. "Deals coming out of China  and the reason I talk about China is because it's the principal driver of this activity  reflect the changing nature of the Chinese economy," Laroia said on the sidelines of the Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore. China has attempted to rebalance its economy over the past few years by transitioning from a factory-led model of growth to one that's driven by services and consumption, or what is often referred to as its "new economy." That shift has been reflected in the types of businesses with which the investment bank has been talking. "We're in discussions with over a hundred companies at this point in time, from education, health care, content, online retail, financial technology. So the mix has changed," Laroia said. "And the one thing that's changed in addition to the mix is that the scale of these businesses [is] much larger than we've ever seen before. So I think there will be a really robust supply over the next couple of years," he said, referring to the trend as "new economy with scale." The global number of IPOs this year has increased after slowing in 2016, with stock exchanges in greater China accounting for the most listings globally by volume, according to a quarterly EY report in September. As for the broader Chinese economy, Laroia said that, even though credit tightening will have an impact on China's growth, the country's economic outlook was positive. "Growth will slow, but I've always maintained that the quality of growth is much more important than the quantum of growth," he said. "I think we've seen a hard landing in China. It happened a couple years ago when nominal growth went from 12 percent to 5 percent. We had a deflationary environment in China for three or four years. We've come out of that, so the quality of growth now in China [is] a lot better," Laroia said.



More From CNBC


FILE PHOTO: The Nestle logo is pictured on the company headquarters entrance building in Vevey, Switzerland February 18, 2016. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy/File Photo (Reuters)

By Martinne Geller and Silke Koltrowitz

LONDON/ZURICH (Reuters) - Nestle, the world's largest packaged food firm, is reorganising its infant nutrition unit to compete with regional rivals, the latest in a string of shake-ups for global packaged goods companies struggling to reignite sales.

The Swiss maker of Gerber baby food and Illuma formula said on Wednesday it would appoint regional managers for the $10 billion business to address local trends faster.

The change comes five months after Nestle's new CEO listed its highly profitable infant formula as a priority focus.

Consumer groups like Nestle, Unilever and Procter & Gamble are under intense investor pressure to lift margins as people flock to smaller, independent brands.

Infant nutrition is a key battleground for Nestle and rivals such as Danone, which also ranks its baby unit as its most profitable, and Reckitt Benckiser, which recently bought Mead Johnson, the maker of infant formula Enfamil.

Major brands still retain consumer trust that they have lost in other areas of packaged food, particularly in China, a big focus for future growth due to its growing affluence and a policy to allow two children per family instead of one.

Nestle has come under pressure to shift gear from activist shareholder Third Point, which in June revealed a $3.5 billion stake. Nestle has satisfied some demands, such as buying back shares and setting a margin target.

Nestle said it would manage some areas of infant nutrition globally via a "strategic business unit" for innovation, quality management, compliance and global manufacturing capacity.

But the position of global nutrition head will be replaced by three regional business chiefs. Current Nutrition head Heiko Schipper leaves at the end of 2017, to lead Bayer AG's consumer health unit.

REGIONAL FOCUS

Nestle already manages most of its businesses regionally, with exceptions such as bottled water, Nespresso, Nestle Health Science and Nestle Skin Health.

Story continues

"The new organisation will allow Nestle's infant nutrition business to deliver accelerated organic growth and realise further efficiency gains," Nestle said, adding it would allow it to be more "agile and efficient" in responding to local demands.

Strengthening local management and decision-making has become a trend for consumer firms that had relied on strategies outlined by headquarters. Both Unilever and Diageo have shifted towards decentralisation.

Nestle is the world's biggest infant formula maker, with about 21 percent of the market, according to Euromonitor International. It is also No. 1 in China, which accounts for a third of a global market worth $68 billion.

The Chinese market has temporarily slowed ahead of new rules from January that require manufacturers to register with the government. But analysts see international players benefiting next year as some smaller brands fail to meet the requirements.

Danone has been outperforming rivals, helped by its presence on new Chinese e-commerce sites and in shops targetting mothers and babies. The French firm said strong China sales aided a 4.7 percent rise in underlying third-quarter sales.

Nestle Chief Executive said in September that he was "reasonably optimistic" about China over the next two years, due to the two-child policy and a stronger focus on quality.

Schneider said in June he would focus capital spending on particular high-growth categories including coffee, petcare, bottled water and infant nutrition.

Nestle said Chief Technology Officer Stefan Catsicas was leaving "to pursue entrepreneurial and venture capital activities outside Nestle". He will be replaced at the start of the year by Stefan Palzer, head of the Nestle Research Center.

Nestle shares, up about 15 percent this year, were flat at 84 Swiss francs at 1356 GMT.

($1 = 0.9864 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Martinne Geller and Silke Koltrowitz; Additional reporting to Dominique Vidalon in Paris; Editing by Jason Neely and Edmund Blair)
FILE PHOTO - Tezos co-founder and CTO Arthur Breitman and his wife and co-founder Kathleen Breitman respond to questions during the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. on October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Steve Marcus

By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Steve Stecklow

ZURICH/LONDON (Reuters) - Backers of the embattled Tezos tech project should not expect to receive refunds, according to the Swiss cryptocurrency broker that helped it raise $232 million in July.

Zug-based Bitcoin Suisse also said in a statement it "is not currently aware" that any of the funds "have been mismanaged, lost or are put at risk" by the project's organizers.

A Reuters investigation last month detailed a battle over control of the Tezos project between its founders  Arthur and Kathleen Breitman  and Johann Gevers, the president of a Swiss foundation the couple helped establish to handle the coin offering and promote and develop the Tezos computer network. (https://reut.rs/2gPOMNH)

The dispute has significantly delayed the project. New digital coins linked to the project, called "Tezzies," have yet to be issued to contributors. They were told they were making a "non-refundable donation" to the Tezos Foundation in Zug and may never receive any. The participants made their contributions in bitcoins and another cryptocurrency, ether, which have since jumped in value.

Bitcoin Suisse's chief executive, Niklas Nikolajsen, told Reuters on Wednesday that since the dispute, it had suspended "major movements of any kind of funds" at the Tezos Foundation's request. He did not elaborate.

Gevers said last month the foundation had slowly begun selling the virtual currencies  about $10.2 million worth a week  and planned to invest the proceeds in a diverse portfolio.

Nikolajsen said the broker issued its statement, which was released Monday, after receiving emails from concerned participants in the Tezos fundraiser.

A class-action lawsuit filed in a California state court last month alleged Tezos' organizers violated U.S. securities laws and defrauded participants. It is asking that plaintiffs receive a refund as well as damages. Brian Klein, an attorney for the Breitmans, said the lawsuit "is without merit" and the couple "are going to aggressively defend themselves."

In the broker's statement, Nikolajsen said "we made it perfectly clear" that contributions to the Tezos project were "to be considered a highly risky proposition." The fundraiser's terms specified refunds "would not be possible, due to both regulatory reasons as well as practical reasons," he said.

(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi in Zurich and Steve Stecklow in London; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Chris Reese)
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) "An Insignificant Man", billed by the makers as a film based on the life of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, would hit the screens tomorrow as the Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking a stay on its release saying freedom of speech and expression was "sacrosanct".

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that any film, theatre, drama or novel was a creation of art and courts should not crucify rights of an expressive mind.

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The court was hearing a plea filed by Nachiketa Walhekar, who allegedly threw ink at Kejriwal in 2013. He has claimed that he has been depicted as a convict in the movie despite the fact that trial in that matter was still pending.

His counsel told the bench, also comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, that the film contains a video clip, which was originally shown by media, pertaining to him and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) should not have granted a certificate to the movie for its release.

"It is worthy to mention that freedom of speech and expression is sacrosanct and the said right should not be ordinarily interfered with," the bench said.

It said when the CBFC has granted a certificate and only something with regard to the petitioner, which was shown in the media, was being reflected in the movie, "this court should restrain itself in not entertaining the writ petition or granting injunction".

"Be it noted, a film or a drama or a novel or a book is a creation of art. An artist has his own freedom to express himself in a manner which is not prohibited in law and such prohibitions are not read by implication to crucify the rights of expressive mind," the bench said.

It said that "human history" records that there were many authors, who expressed their thoughts according to the choice of their words, phrases, expressions and also created characters who may look absolutely different than an ordinary man would conceive of.

"A thought provoking film should never mean that it has to be didactic or in any way puritanical. It can be expressive and provoking the conscious or the sub-conscious thoughts of the viewer. If there has to be any limitation, that has to be as per the prescription in law," it noted in its order.

The bench also said that courts have to be extremely slow in passing any kind of restraint order in such a situation and it should allow the respect that a creative man enjoys in writing a drama, play, book on philosophy or any kind of thought that is expressed on the celluloid or theatre.

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Regarding the petitioners apprehension that the documentary film would be used as an evidence during the trial of the case, the bench said it cannot be commented upon as it would be for trial court to adjudge under the Evidence Act.

During the hearing, the petitioners counsel told the bench that his image has been tarnished in the film and the filmmakers could have put in a disclaimer that trial in the ink-throwing case was still pending.

"The incident happened in 2013. It was alleged that the petitioner had thrown the ink on Kejriwal. Trial is still pending. How can they show me as a convict of throwing ink at Kejriwal?," the lawyer said.

The bench, however, said that prohibiting exhibition of a documentary or a film was "very serious" and courts should be very slow in interfering with it.

It said that only the courts have the right to convict a person of any crime.

"Everyday, debate takes place in this court and people write about it as they understand. We do not gag them. Pre- censorship by courts should not be done," the bench said. PTI ABA MNL SJK RKS ZMN

--- ENDS ---

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Nordstrom Inc. JWN seems to on track with its store-expansion endeavors, besides enhancing its e-commerce activities. The company has announced the inauguration of a Rack store in the Phoenix area situated at SanTan Village in Gilbert, AZ, in fall 2018. Notably, this marks the companys sixth store in the market.



Sprawling over 25,000 square feet, this store will be located right east of the 202 Freeway, making it convenient for the Southeast Valley community. It will accommodate merchandise in the Women's, Men's, Kids' and Home categories and will be on the corner of Williams Field Road and SanTan Village Parkway.



As Gilbert is one of the fast-growing suburbs in the Phoenix area, we believe Nordstrom will efficiently cater to the needs of this community with enormous brands and related services.



Nordstrom Rack, the off-price retail segment of the company, offers fashion-savvy customers a wide range of on-trend apparel, footwear and other accessories at discounted prices. These Racks usually keep items from the main Nordstrom stores as well as online store, Nordstrom.com. Further, these stores stack products from other major brands sold by the company.



Currently, the company operates 366 outlets across 40 states. Its portfolio includes 122 full-line stores across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada; two Jeffrey boutiques, 232 Nordstrom Racks and two clearance stores.



Furthermore, Nordstroms store-expansion efforts, amid a tough retail landscape, are quite impressive. It is aggressively opening new stores, relocating the existing stores in order to enhance the customers shopping experience and expand its market share. Going forward, this fashion specialty retailer is scheduled to open 11 Rack stores this fall as well as one relocation in markets that include Los Angeles, Manhattan and Seattle.



Concurrent to this release, management also declared a quarterly dividend of 37 cents per share. This will be payable on Dec 12, 2017, to shareholders of record as on Nov 27.

Story continues





A look at this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) companys share price also reveals that it has declined 11.8% in the past three months, as against the industrys growth of 7.6%.



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Investors can count upon some better-ranked stocks in the same industry such as Zumiez Inc. ZUMZ, Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. BOOT and Canada Goose Holdings Inc. GOOS each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Zumiez, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 18% has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 27.1% in the last four quarters.



Boot Barn Holdings, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 15.7% has delivered positive earnings surprise of 100% in the last quarter.



Canada Goose Holdings, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 34.6% has come up with positive earnings surprise of 43.8% in the last quarter.



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A North Korean soldier who staged a dramatic escape to South Korea may potentially have useful insights about dictator Kim Jong Un's administration. The individual reportedly drove a vehicle near the military demarcation line  the border separating both Koreas  on Monday and proceeded to run towards the South Korean side, attracting a hail of gunfire from North Korean guards. The man, who is currently on life-support at a hospital near Seoul, could have been a driver for a high-level North Korean official, the Chosun Ilbo, a major South Korean newspaper, reported on Thursday . "Only drivers are allowed to operate vehicles and go to Panmunjom through the demilitarized zone," a former North Korean police officer told the Chosun Ilbo, referring to a North Korean facility in the zone."It looks like he was a driver for a representative of the Panmunjom delegation, a chief of staff, or a state security chief."Footage of the defector's bold escape is expected to be revealed later on Thursday, according to the Chosun Ilbo.Ri Jong Ho , a former senior North Korean economic official who defected in 2014, recently described the dire economic conditions presently gripping his home country, stating that he wasn't sure whether the rogue nation could survive another year under sanctions. Read the Chosun Ilbo's full English-language account. A North Korean soldier who staged a dramatic escape to South Korea may potentially have useful insights about dictator Kim Jong Un's administration. The individual reportedly drove a vehicle near the military demarcation line  the border separating both Koreas  on Monday and proceeded to run towards the South Korean side, attracting a hail of gunfire from North Korean guards. The man, who is currently on life-support at a hospital near Seoul, could have been a driver for a high-level North Korean official, the Chosun Ilbo, a major South Korean newspaper, reported on Thursday . "Only drivers are allowed to operate vehicles and go to Panmunjom through the demilitarized zone," a former North Korean police officer told the Chosun Ilbo, referring to a North Korean facility in the zone. "It looks like he was a driver for a representative of the Panmunjom delegation, a chief of staff, or a state security chief." Footage of the defector's bold escape is expected to be revealed later on Thursday, according to the Chosun Ilbo. Ri Jong Ho , a former senior North Korean economic official who defected in 2014, recently described the dire economic conditions presently gripping his home country, stating that he wasn't sure whether the rogue nation could survive another year under sanctions. Read the Chosun Ilbo's full English-language account.



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Nucor Corporation NUE is set to build a full-range merchant bar quality (MBQ) mill at its bar steel mill located in Bourbonnais, IL. The MBQ mill, which is likely to cost $180 million, will have an annual capacity of 500,000 tons. The project is expected to be completed in two years.

The setting up of the latest MBQ mill is in sync with the companys long-term growth strategy. The move builds on the companys position as a low-cost producer to displace tons which are being supplied by competitors outside the region. Additionally, it will strengthen Nucors product offerings of merchant bar, light shapes and structural angle and channel in markets in the central United States.

With this project, Nucor will be able to fully utilize the company's existing bar mills melt capacity and infrastructure. The project will also take advantage of ample scrap supply in the Midwest region and Nucors footprint in the central United States.

Nucors shares have lost 2.1% over the past six months underperforming the 11% gain of the industry it belongs to.

Nucor logged a profit of $268.5 million or 83 cents per share for third-quarter 2017, compared with earnings of $305.4 million or 95 cents it registered a year ago. Barring one-time items, earnings per share for the quarter were 79 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents.

Revenues increased roughly 20.5% year over year to $5,170.1 million in the reported quarter from $4,290.2 million, but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,276 million.

The company expects generally stable and improving market conditions for automotive, energy, nonresidential construction, agriculture and heavy equipment. It is also encouraged by the cumulative benefits resulting from successful trade cases of the domestic steel industry. The company expects earnings in fourth-quarter 2017 to be to be similar to slightly lower from the third quarter, excluding tax benefits recognized during the quarter.

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Nucor expects improved performance from the raw materials unit on the back of consistent DRI production. Its downstream steel products unit is also expected to benefit from margin improvement whereas the steel mills unit is expected to suffer a decline due to weakness in plate steel and typical seasonality.

Nucor remains committed to expand its production capabilities and grow its business through strategic acquisitions. It is also seeing continued momentum in the automotive market.

Nucor Corporation Price and Consensus

Nucor Corporation Price and Consensus | Nucor Corporation Quote

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Nucor currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked companies in the basic materials space are Ingevity Corporation NGVT, ArcelorMittal MT and Westlake Chemical Corporation WLK, all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Ingevity has expected long-term earnings growth of 12%. Its shares have gained 33.5% year to date.

ArcelorMittal has expected long-term earnings growth of 11.3%. Its shares have rallied 27.5% year to date.

Westlake Chemical has expected long-term earnings growth of 8.4%. Its shares have moved up 61.8% year to date.

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Despite numerous setbacks on the legislative front, the Trump administration continues to press forward with its attempts to amend U.S. tax laws. Earlier this week, House Republicans laid the foundation for a vote on Thursday which may be decisive for the prospects of the new tax Bill.

Meanwhile, late on Wednesday, the legislations proponents in the Senate released a version which would do away with a crucial element of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If such a law does indeed come into effect, it would effectively cripple Obamacare by hiking premiums and making the entire prospect unviable for insurers.

However, the passage of such a draft is far from assured at this point. Meanwhile, a rapidly ageing population ensures that the demand for healthcare services will continue to remain high in the near future. This is why investing in hospital stocks continues to be a lucrative proposition.

Senate Republicans Look to Abolish Individual Mandate

As of date, Republicans have failed to repeal Obamacare and made tenous progress on tax cuts. But the new Senate version seeks to secure victory, albeit partial, on both fronts. This would mean that Republicans would enter mid-term election year with greater confidence, despite their previous reverses.

But the need to repeal the individual mandate stems from fairly simple reasoning. The Senate Republicans original tax cuts proposals would have increased the budget deficit beyond a decade. This would go against Senate rules which Republican lawmakers want to utilize in order to pass the tax legislation with only a simple majority.

However, the inclusion of the clause which aims to do away with Obamacares individual mandate would result in $300 billion of savings for the federal government over the next decade, per the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This would enable Republicans to push through tax cuts without violating any legislative procedures.

Repeal of Mandate Could Cripple Obamacare

The November edition of the Kaiser Health Tracking Poll has found that most respondents would like to do away with the ACA stipulation that all U.S. citizens must have purchase health insurance or pay a fine. However, a large portion of the same respondents are not in favor of such a move after learning about its impact in the near future.

Story continues

According to the CBO, nearly four million people would lose their insurance cover within the first year of the mandate. This figure would increase to 13 million uninsured individuals by 2027. Additionally, premiums would rise by 10% over the majority of the years of this decade.

More importantly, the exit of young and healthier individuals would make the situation extremely tough for insurers. Hospitals would also suffer since the large number of uninsured individuals would lead to a lower number of paying customers which would erode their profits.

Senate Draft Likely to Meet with Significant Opposition

Several Senate Republicans have already voiced their disapproval for such a plan. Senator Susan Collins of Maine cautioned party members to stay away from the healthcare muddle, saying that the repeal of the individual mandate complicates tax reform. Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin has also opposed the new plan. However, his opposition stems from the belief that it doesnt do enough for businesses.

Republicans hold a wafer thin majority in the Senate and can do without at most two party members if they intend to push through the legislation without any support from the Democrats. Not that such support would be easily forthcoming with some Democrats already opposing the proposal to repeal Obamacares individual mandate

Our Choices

Senate Republicans have made an ambitious move by combining their two key legislative goals. By attempting to repeal the individual Obamacare mandate while pushing through tax cuts, they would effectively cripple the ACA.

But such an outcome seems unlikely at this point, which is why hospital stocks continue to be a profitable proposition. However, picking winning stocks may be difficult.

This is where our VGM score comes in. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three scores. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. However, it is important to keep in mind that each Style Score will carry a different weight while arriving at a VGM Score.

We have narrowed down our search to the following stocks based on a good Zacks Rank and VGM Score.

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG offers government-sponsored managed care services.

WellCare has a VGM Score of A. The company has expected earnings growth of 35.7 for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 20.6% over the last 30 days. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Centene Corporation CNC is a well-diversified, multi-national healthcare company that primarily provides a set of services to the government sponsored healthcare programs.

Centene has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A. The company has expected earnings growth of 12.4% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.2% over the last 30 days.

The Joint Corp. JYNT is a healthcare franchisor of chiropractic clinics. The Company's plans include: Single Visit, Premium Wellness Plan and Wellness Plan. It also provides a family wellness plan.

Joint Corp has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B. The company has expected earnings growth of 70.7% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 10% over the last 30days.

Triple-S Management Corporation GTS is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Triple-S also offers its services in Costa Rica as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Costa Rica. This enables its members to access the U.S. Blue Card network.

Triple-S Management has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A. The company has expected earnings growth of more than 100% for the current year The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 43% over the last 30 days.

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Zacks Investment Research
The battle for a seat on the board of The Procter & Gamble Company PG or P&G may now be drawing to a close. Hedge fund billionaire Nelson Peltz seems to have won a seat, albeit narrowly, after a recounted tally of votes was released on Nov 15.



Shares of the worlds largest consumer products maker by market value gained more than 3% in after-hours trading on Nov 15. The news might have cheered P&G investors, who support management reshuffle in the hope of financial improvement.



P&G revealed Peltz is leading Ernesto Zedillo by 0.0016%, or 42,780 shares, out of the company's nearly 2.7 billion in diluted shares outstanding. In a preliminary count disclosed last month, Peltz fell short of winning by 6.2 million votes, after losing by 0.3% of votes cast.



However, yesterdays updated vote count is also a preliminary one, and subject to review and a challenge period. The company, currently under CEO Taylor, is simplifying its operating structure to boost sales and profits.



In contrast, Peltzs Trian Fund Management wants to radically alter the companys corporate structure. Trian argued that P&G should be simplified further into three standalone business units, namely grooming ($26 billion in annual sales), home care ($21 billion) and family care ($18 billion).



Native Buyout



In a separate business development, P&G announced the acquisition of Native, a startup competitor that specializes in direct-to-consumer personal care products. Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, it marks P&G's first buyout in eight years.



Bill Brace, P&G's vice president of North American Personal Care said in a statement that this addition will help P&G to expand its portfolio that already includes Secret, Old Spice and Gillette, to reach consumers avoiding ingredients like parabens and aluminum.



Consumers have become extremely vigilant of the ingredients used in products. Natives website proclaims its brand as "deodorant that isn't a science experiment.



The purchase not only gives P&G another beauty brand in the field of natural ingredients, but also gives a solid foothold in digital sales. The Cincinnati-based consumer products giant said Native would appeal to consumers, who buy natural personal care items online and not in stores.



Again, the acquisition could be an answer to Peltz, who in his quest for a seat on P&G's board, had earlier criticized the company for being slow in adapting to innovations and insisted on taking over small, on-trend companies. P&G, however, has largely focused on streamlining operations by divesting rather than acquiring in recent years.



Share Price Performance



P&Gs shares have gained 5% so far this year, comparing unfavorably with the growth of the industry it belongs to. Earnings estimates for the current year have remained unchanged over the last 30 days. Meanwhile, P&G has surpassed earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The companys new product lineup, aggressive marketing, productivity improvement and cost-saving initiatives should boost its profits and thereby the stocks performance in the upcoming quarters.





Story continues







Zacks Rank & Key Picks



P&G currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Some better-ranked stocks from the same sector are Pilgrim's Pride Corporation PPC and Tyson Foods, Inc.s TSN, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Unilever PLC UL, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Pilgrim's Pride is expected to register 58% EPS growth this year.



Tyson Foods has an expected EPS grow rate of 8% for this year.



Unilever PLC projects earnings growth of 26% for 2017.



Zacks Best Private Investment Ideas



While we are happy to share many articles like this on the website, our best recommendations and most in-depth research are not available to the public.



Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time. Our experts cover all kinds of trades from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from stocks that corporate insiders are buying up to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises. You can even look inside exclusive portfolios that are normally closed to new investors.

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New rock samples including 10.35 ppm and 6.73 ppm gold

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 18, 2017 / Endurance Gold Corporation (TSX.V: EDG, "Endurance") is pleased to report encouraging results from a rock and soil sampling program (the "Program") completed in August on the South Fork Target. The South Fork Target is located on the Trout Property which was acquired earlier this year to expand and enhance the exploration potential of the Company's Elephant Property. The Elephant Mountain Project, which includes the Elephant, Trout and Wolverine Properties, can be easily accessed by the all-weather Elliott Highway located 76 miles (123 kilometres ("km")) northwest of Fairbanks within the Rampart-Eureka-Manley Hot Springs placer gold mining districts near Eureka, Alaska.

The South Fork Target is located approximately two km northeast of the Trout Target which results were announced on October 12, 2017. As reported on August 28, 2017, initial assay results from 2017 sampling on South Fork returned gold values up to 6.60 parts per million ("ppm") and 1.94% lead. Follow-up rock samples reported in this release were collected in August and returned gold values including 10.35 ppm, 6.73 ppm, 5.15 ppm, 4.10 ppm, and 3.53 ppm, confirming the gold potential associated with one or more structural linear features. The three highest gold-in-rock samples collected in August also returned 0.48% lead, 1.280% lead, and 1.205% lead respectively. Elevated arsenic is also associated with the higher gold values in rock. Mineralization is related to oxidized sulphides associated with quartz veining, vein stockwork, and quartz healed breccia hosted in hornfels altered clastic sediments. Hand trenching was also completed in August. The most significant area of the trench exposed the quartz-breccia over about 9 metre ("m") in estimated true width associated with quartz breccia and quartz vein stockwork with slickensides and oxidized sulphides. Chip sampling averaged 0.547 ppm gold over 9.14 m including 0.846 ppm gold over 4.57 m. With the trench assay and other rock samples the quartz-breccia mineralization has now been confirmed in rocks over an east-west trend distance of 250 m.

Story continues

"We are pleased that the South Fork anomaly has advanced to become a sixth drill target at Elephant, commented Robert Boyd, President and CEO of Endurance. "The frequency of identification of higher grade gold-in-rock samples over a trend area of at least 250 m is encouraging and warrants additional trenching to expose these structures, soil sampling to better define the strike extent of the mineralized structures, and initial drill testing."

Results from 76 soil samples received to date cover about a 500 x 250 m area. While the South Fork anomaly has significantly higher grade gold-in-rocks than the Trout Target, the soil signature at South Fork is much more subtle for gold and other elements than the Trout Target. Soil sampling has defined an east-west trending 350 m x 25 m (+20 parts per billion ("ppb")) gold-in-soil anomaly directly associated with 10.35 ppm and 6.6 ppm gold-in-rock samples. Approximately 90 m to the north, a sub-parallel 200 m x 25 m (+20 ppb) gold-in-soil anomaly has also been defined associated with a gold-in-rock quartz-breccia sample of 6.73 ppm gold. These two east-west trends are also defined by anomalous arsenic (+50 ppm) and lead-in-soil (+50 ppm).

Plan maps showing the location of the Trout soil sample grid and rock samples with analytical results to date are available at www.endurancegold.com.

The Elephant Mountain Project which hosts at least six km-scale gold targets associated with a Cretaceous aged intrusive complex and hornfels alteration that extends over a strike length of about 12 km. Five of these gold targets are associated with greater than +100 ppb gold-in-soil and multiple +1 grams per tonne gold in rock samples. A map showing the location of the three properties and targets is also available at www.endurancegold.com.

Next Steps - With the identification of this South Fork Target and the Trout Target reported on October 12, 2017, the Company has now identified six drill targets supported by chargeability anomalies and gold-in-soil at the Elephant Mountain Project. Further soil sampling to increase sampling density and expand the trend potential is also warranted. Minor soil and rock sample results are still pending on the Wolverine Target and will be reported once available. The Company has deferred the implementation of a drill program until the spring.

About Endurance

Endurance Gold Corporation is a company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of highly prospective North American mineral properties with the potential to develop world-class deposits. The company also owns a significant shareholding in Inventus Mining Inc.(IVS-TSXV) which controls the entire Pardo paleoplacer (Witwatersrand-type) gold district near Sudbury, Ontario and shares in GFG Resources Inc. (GFG-TSXV) which controls the entire Rattlesnake Hills gold district in Wyoming, USA.

ENDURANCE GOLD CORPORATION

Robert T. Boyd

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Endurance Gold Corporation

(604) 682-2707, info@endurancegold.com

www.endurancegold.com

Robert T. Boyd, P.Geo. is a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and supervised the compilation of the information forming the basis for this release. The grab samples from the 2017 sampling program were analyzed at ALS Minerals using Au-ST43, Au-ICP21, ME-MS41, Au-GRA21(+10 ppm), and Pb-OG46(+10,000 ppm). The soil samples from the 2017 sampling program were also analyzed at ALS Minerals using Au-ST43, Au-AROR43 (>100 ppb), and ME-MS41. Both Endurance and ALS Minerals inserted standards with each shipment analyzed. Bedrock grab samples mentioned in this release are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades within the bedrock when drilled.

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 news release. This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

SOURCE: Endurance Gold Corporation
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2017) - Quaterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: QTA) (OTCQB: QTRRF) ("Quaterra" or the "Company") and its subsidiary Singatse Peak Services LLC ("SPS") today announced results from the last three holes of a 13-hole, 26,056-foot drill program at its Yerington Copper Project. Drilling, which began in March 2017, tested targets across the Company's 51-square-mile land package located in the historic Yerington Copper District of Nevada.

The three holes reported today (YM-043-17, YM-044-17 and YM-045-17) tested the depth extension of mineralization in and around the historic Yerington pit. (For drill hole locations please see map on the Company website at www.quaterra.com/2017-drill-hole-map/). Hole YM-043-17, drilled at - 55 degrees, intersected 1,269.5 feet averaging 0.15% copper, as shown in Table 1. Hole YM-045-17, also drilled at - 55 degrees, collared in the pit about 900 feet further east, intersected several thinner intervals with grades ranging to 0.55% copper, including a shallow oxide zone (See Table 1 below for more details). Hole YM-044-17, drilled on the northwest rim of the Yerington pit at - 50 degrees, intersected several narrow zones of mineralization averaging less than 0.2% copper.

These results, in combination with previously announced holes YM-041A-17 and YM-042-17, have extended sulfide mineralization from 600 to 800 feet below the currently defined resource across a strike length of 4,400 feet. The absence of higher grade mineralization in these widely spaced holes decreases the likelihood that better grades over appreciable widths exist at greater depth below the pit.

Mineralization, primarily chalcopyrite, is hosted in a quartz monzonite-quartz monzonite porphyry complex and occurs as sheeted veins and vein swarms that are steeply dipping and strike northwesterly parallel to the long axis of the pit. Copper grades are directly related to vein intensity and spacing, which vary markedly over short distances.

Table 1. Significant intercepts from Yerington Holes YM-043-17, YM-044-17 and YM-045-17

HOLE YM-043-17 From To Interval %

feet feet feet Cu

includes

includes 692.0

1077.3

1592.0 1961.5

1151.4

1656.0 1269.5

74.1

64.0 0.15

0.23

0.26 HOLE YM-044-17 From To Interval %

1016.9

1665.8

1789.1 1089.0

1726.0

1842.0 72.1

60.2

52.9 0.16

0.10

0.14 HOLE QM-045-17 From To Interval % Oxide







includes

includes 65.2

992.0

1060.2

1147.0

1236.5

1346.0

1568.5

1736.0

140.9

1006.0

1076.0

1378.6

1322.0

1363.8

1584.0

1993.5

75.7

14.0

15.8

231.6

85.5

17.8

15.5

257.5

0.17

0.36

0.55

0.15

0.23

0.28

0.26

0.13



*Drill intercepts are based on actual core lengths and may not reflect the true width of mineralization

The 2017 drill program at Yerington was funded with option payments to SPS by Freeport-McMoRan Nevada LLC ("Freeport Nevada"). On September 13, Quaterra announced that Freeport Nevada had terminated its option to acquire an interest in the Yerington Copper Project. As a result Quaterra now has regained full control over its 100% interest in these assets.

Quaterra's Yerington Copper Project is located in the historic Yerington Copper District, about 70 miles southeast of Reno, Nevada. It consists of the Yerington pit sulfide and oxide deposit previously mined by Anaconda; the MacArthur oxide and sulfide deposit; the Bear porphyry copper deposit; and several untested exploration targets. Quaterra's 51-square-mile land package is situated in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with a history of copper production and good infrastructure. It also owns valuable water rights in the district. Quaterra has been active in the Yerington District since 2006, and has released NI 43-101-compliant oxide and sulfide resources at both MacArthur and Yerington, and a preliminary economic assessment at MacArthur.

Quality assurance and control

Drilling includes both reverse circulation (RC) and core, contracted to Layne Christensen Company, Chandler, Arizona, which provided both drill rigs. Core samples were either sawed or split by SPS personnel in Yerington, Nevada, and shipped to Bureau Veritas Minerals NA - Inspectorate America Corporation, an ISO certified assaying/geochemistry facility, in Reno, Nevada, for sample preparation. Gold analyses are assayed in Bureau Veritas' lab in Reno using their "FA430" procedure (fire assay with atomic absorption finish) with a 5 ppb Au detection limit. Prepared pulps are shipped to Bureau Veritas' lab in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, for analysis using their "MA 300" procedure for 35 element ICP-ES analysis. Commercially prepared standards and blanks are inserted by SPS at 50-foot intervals to insure precision of results as a quality control measure. SPS has a chain of custody program to ensure sample security during all stages of sample collection, cutting, shipping, and storage.

SPS also engaged a reverse circulation (RC) drill rig in the current program. RC samples were shipped to the Bureau Veritas Minerals NA facility in Reno, Nevada, for sample preparation and analyses following the same procedure and protocol, including inserted blanks and standards, as that of the core samples described above.

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Thomas Patton, Ph.D., the CEO of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

About Quaterra Resources Inc.

Quaterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: QTA) (OTCQB: QTRRF) is a copper exploration company with the objective of advancing its U.S. subsidiary's copper projects in the Yerington District, Nevada. The Company also looks for opportunities to acquire copper projects on reasonable terms that have the potential to host large mineral deposits attractive to major mining companies. It has an option to earn a 90% interest in the Groundhog copper prospect, a 40,000-acre property situated on an established copper porphyry belt 200 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Thomas Patton, President & CEO

Quaterra Resources Inc.

For more information please contact:

Thomas Patton, President & CEO

Quaterra Resources Inc.

604-641-2758

Gerald Prosalendis, President and COO

Quaterra Resources Inc.

604-641-2780

Disclosure note:

Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements under Canadian securities laws and within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified in this news release by words such as "believes", "anticipates", "intends", "has the potential", "expects", and similar language, or convey estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives, potential outcomes, expectations, or goals. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. In particular, forward looking statements in this news release include that further exploration drilling will be undertaken, that results will define further mineralization or high grade zones; that historical and new exploration will support a resource on the property; and that the Yerington assets have the potential to support mining operations. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. A summary of risk factors that apply to the Company's operations are included in our management discussion and analysis filings with securities regulatory authorities, and are publicly available on our website. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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.
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with fresh developments)

Bengaluru, Nov 16 (PTI) A health crisis lurked in Karnataka as doctors in private hospitals across the state today shut out-patient departments (OPD) indefinitely, intensifying their stir against proposed amendments to an act aimed at making them accountable for medical negligence.

However, as the stir crippled private health care facilities, a section of doctors called off their protest after the Karnataka High Court asked them to withdraw the agitation, reflecting a division within the medical community.

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Hearing the PIL petitions, which complained about severe hardship being caused to patients, the court said the government had an "open mind" on the issue and the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2017, had not yet been tabled in the assembly.

Doctors affiliated to five medical bodies yesterday announced the shutdown of OPD services till the government dropped its move.

Health services in private hospitals and nursing homes were crippled twice in the last two weeks by strikes by doctors who alleged that the proposed changes, which among others provide for jail term for medical negligence, were "draconian" in nature.

Doctors are opposing the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, which among others proposes six months to three years of jail term and a hefty penalty for medical negligence on their part.

The amendments, which also arms the government with powers to fix the cost of treatment, are based on recommendations of former Supreme Court judge Vikramajit Sen.

Soon after the courts observations, doctors belonging to Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) called off their strike. But the four other private doctors associations stuck to their decision to stop OPD services indefinitely from today.

PHANA president Dr C Jayanna said the association has decided to call off its strike in view of sufferings of people.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar said there was no strong case for the doctors to protest as the amendment bill has not yet been tabled in the assembly and adjourned further hearing on PIL petitions on the matter for tomorrow.

Amid reports that the strike has caused several deaths in the state with serious patients being unattended to, more than 22,000 doctors went on an indefinite strike in Bengaluru alone. This manifested in the unmanageable rush at government hospitals.

Government-run Victoria Hospital, K C General Hospital and Bowring Hospital, the three prominent hospitals of Bengaluru, attended to a large number of patients.

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In a casualty of the strike, students of a school at neighbouring Ramanagar, who were injured after their van and a bus collided reportedly faced difficulties after a nearby private hospital allegedly refused to treat them and referred them to Bengaluru, the police said.

Two children were killed and seven others injured in the accident, they said.

In Jamakhandi Taluk in Bagalkote district, a seriously ill woman was taken to a private hospital, but allegedly there were none to attend her.

She was rushed to government hospital, but died on the way, her family alleged.

In view of the strike, the health department has directed Taluk Health Officers and its programme officers to attend to clinical services till further orders.

The crippling of medical services led to furore in the Karnataka Assembly, whose winter session is in progress in Belagavi.

The government was ready to talk to agitating doctorsA and would try to find solution to the issue, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said.

Replying to opposition BJP, the minister said it was not a prestige issue for him.

It is the doctors who have made it a prestige issue, as they have called for a state wide agitation, when the Bill was yet to be tabled, he alleged.

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"We will try to find a solution soon, we are open forA discussion with doctors," the minister said. A A ADisappointed with the ministers response, BJP members walked out of the House demanding immediate resolution, saying a delay may cause more deaths of patients.

Kumar said doctors have a responsibility and by shutting medical services they were making the common man suffer. The government has no intention to harass doctors or the private medical institutions, he said.

"As we empanelled you and we have to pay you tax payers money for services, we have to fix charges for services...," he said.

The minister said he had no plans to resign if the Bill was not tabled during the session as reported by some sections in the media.

The Bill was first tabled in the assembly on June 13,A and later sent to the joint select committee followingA opposition by doctors and medical professionals. PTI GMS KSU BDN RA VS ANB

--- ENDS ---
Saudi Arabia has introduced trading licenses that will allow foreign entrepreneurs to set up a business in the Kingdom for the first time. The initiative, announced Wednesday by several Saudi regulators, will enable select businesses to establish themselves in the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). The KAEC is the world's first publicly listed city and was established by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2005. "We believe the future of the (Saudi) economy is the knowledge economy, so we can't do that without entrepreneurs from all over the world," KAEC CEO Fahd Al-Rasheed told CNBC on Wednesday.More than 11 licenses have been handed out to entrepreneurs in different sectors, Al-Rasheed said.He added: "We've offered entrepreneurs incentives to come into Saudi Arabia so it doesn't only require regulatory approvals but also access to market  we're giving them free office space, free education for their children, anything that they ask for." Al-Rasheed said the project aims to take advantage of technological advancements like driverless cars, a tech currently led by U.S. firms like Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Google's Waymo. Saudi Arabia 'needs new cities' Inspired by the country's Vision 2030 reform package , the licensing initiative seeks to reduce the private sector's over-reliance on oil revenues. Saudi Arabia's oil and gas sector accounts for 85 percent of its export earnings and around 50 percent of gross domestic product, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Saudi regulators said that entrepreneurs who receive a license will benefit from the megacity's simplified process of setting up and running a business, as well as discounts and other incentives to stimulate growth.KAEC's Al-Rasheed said that, with an ever-expanding Saudi population, the country would need to create new megacities to keep up."The Kingdom needs new cities. We are at 30 million population today, growing to 40 million in the next 13 years. KAEC is only going to handle a million by then, so you're going to need 10 more KAECs." Saudi Arabia has introduced trading licenses that will allow foreign entrepreneurs to set up a business in the Kingdom for the first time. The initiative, announced Wednesday by several Saudi regulators, will enable select businesses to establish themselves in the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). The KAEC is the world's first publicly listed city and was established by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2005. "We believe the future of the (Saudi) economy is the knowledge economy, so we can't do that without entrepreneurs from all over the world," KAEC CEO Fahd Al-Rasheed told CNBC on Wednesday. More than 11 licenses have been handed out to entrepreneurs in different sectors, Al-Rasheed said. He added: "We've offered entrepreneurs incentives to come into Saudi Arabia so it doesn't only require regulatory approvals but also access to market  we're giving them free office space, free education for their children, anything that they ask for." Al-Rasheed said the project aims to take advantage of technological advancements like driverless cars, a tech currently led by U.S. firms like Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Google's Waymo. Saudi Arabia 'needs new cities' Inspired by the country's Vision 2030 reform package , the licensing initiative seeks to reduce the private sector's over-reliance on oil revenues. Saudi Arabia's oil and gas sector accounts for 85 percent of its export earnings and around 50 percent of gross domestic product, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Saudi regulators said that entrepreneurs who receive a license will benefit from the megacity's simplified process of setting up and running a business, as well as discounts and other incentives to stimulate growth. KAEC's Al-Rasheed said that, with an ever-expanding Saudi population, the country would need to create new megacities to keep up. "The Kingdom needs new cities. We are at 30 million population today, growing to 40 million in the next 13 years. KAEC is only going to handle a million by then, so you're going to need 10 more KAECs."



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The night of November 5 was a long one in Riyadh. Saudi authorities began a widespread crackdown aimed, on the one hand, against former economic policymakers and business leaders and, on the other, against the chiefs of the Saudi National Guard and Saudi Royal Navy. This had the look of a political purge  but it is much bigger than that.

The first sign of how serious this was came on November 4 with the removal of Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, eldest son of the late King Abdullah and head of a powerful fiefdom, the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Essentially a force of tribal recruits from throughout Saudi Arabia, the guards structure still bears the mark of King Abdullah, who oversaw it from its foundation in 1962 before passing it to Mutaib in 2015.

Then it was the turn of Saudi economic moguls, who have influenced financial policymaking and its implementation for years. The most remarkable takedowns were those of Prince Waleed bin Talal, one of the richest men in the world and a nephew of King Salman; Ibrahim Assaf, former finance minister and father of Prince Waleeds daughter-in-law; Prince Turki bin Abdullah, the former governor of Riyadh; and Adel Fakeih, minister for economy and planning.

Also taken into custody were Khaled al-Tuweijri, the extremely influential advisor to King Abdullah and head of his royal court, and Amar al-Dabbagh, former head of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority. Business magnates were seized too, among them Saleh Kamel, Walid al-Ibrahim, and Bakr bin Laden, owner of the Saudi Bin Laden group.

Most of those arrested were prime figures in the political order under King Abdullah, with Khaled al-Tuweijri, Mutaib, and Turki among the most powerful members of the royal court. Ibrahim Assaf and Amar al-Dabbagh were vital to economic policy. Adel Fakeih the minister of economy and planning and formerly of Health and Labour had also remained the mayor of Jeddah for five years. The notorious Jeddah floods in which scores died, occurred during his tenure.

Story continues

In the world of money and communications, Walid al-Ibrahim was owner of the Middle East Broadcasting Company and its subsidiary channels. Walid also launched al-Arabiya News TV, in which Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd  also a nephew of Walid and the youngest son of King Fahd  reportedly had major shares. Saleh Abdullah Kamel is another prominent businessman, and the chairman of Dallah Albaraka Group.

Why now?

This shakeup is not just a consolidation of power by the crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, but an act of persecution against members of King Abdullahs policymaking circle. To properly move on from the Abdullah era, the leftovers of the old order had to be scrapped, and suddenly their time was up. The removal of Mutaib Bin Abdullah is merely a continuation of Mohammad bin Salmans strategy to bring the various royals security fiefdoms under his direct control. The removal of former crown prince and interior minister Mohammad bin Nayef, King Salmans nephew, was only the first step.

The Saudi government has framed the arrests as an anti-corruption drive and touted them as proof it is prepared to act against even the kingdoms richest and most powerful figures. Even Prince Mutaib has been purportedly accused of graft in the purchase of bulletproof vests. Mohammad Bin Salman has stuck to the anti-corruption line in public, as have his lieutenants; in an interview with Bloomberg, the crown princes advisor, Mohammad al-Sheikh, spoke of uncontrolled spending during the oil boom of 2010-2014, with US$80-100 billion lost to inefficiency each year.

These financial habits and dealings led Saudi Arabia into a difficult situation, and at the time, Mohammad bin Salman  then only the defence minister  was not powerful enough to take on these influential royals and business elites. But once he became crown prince in June 2017 and saw Mohammad bin Nayef dispatched, the stage was set for a big political leap.

Bringing the states axe down on the Abdullah circle could fulfil an economic motive and satisfy a PR objective, raising the crown princes profile with the Saudi populace. And for now, Mohammad bin Salman has checked any attempts by the Saudi elite to question his grand schemes of the Economic Transformation Plan and Vision 2030. Having already detained religious dissenters, the crown prince has secured the economic and business fronts in his strategy, and managed to reshape his countrys security apparatuses. The way is clear, if all goes to plan, for him to take the Saudi throne.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Umer Karim 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.
The proposed Republican tax reform bill will include repeal of Obamacare's individual mandate requiring most Americans to have some form of health insurance or pay a tax penalty, GOP leaders said Tuesday. The decision means that Republicans, yet again in 2017, will attempt to gut a key element of the Affordable Care Act. So far, such efforts have failed because not enough Republican senators have backed the idea of repealing the mandate, which would lead to an estimated 13 million more people lacking health insurance. "We're optimistic that inserting individual mandate repeal would be helpful," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. on Tuesday afternoon after a lunch meeting with the Republican conference. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said, "I'm pleased the Senate Finance Committee has accepted my proposal to repeal the Obamacare individual mandate in the tax legislation." "Repealing the mandate pays for more tax cuts for working families and protects them from being fined by the IRS for not being able to afford insurance that Obamacare made unaffordable in the first place," Cotton said. "I urge the House to include the mandate repeal in their tax legislation." Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Tex., said, "We're going to repeal the tax on poor Americans." Cornyn said the majority of people who pay the individual mandate tax penalty for not having insurance have lower incomes. Sen. John Thune, R-SD, told the Washington Post that there are 50 Republican senators willing to support the mandate-repealing tax reform bill. That would be enough to pass it, with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence. Thune also said the deal agreed upon is to pass that bill alongside another bill, known as Alexander-Murray, which would restore key federal subsidy reimbursements to Obamacare insurers cut off last month by President Donald Trump.

The Democratic leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, was scornful of the Republican decision. "Thelma and Louise are warming up the car," Schumer said, referring to the eponymous movie that ends with two women driving their car off a very tall cliff to their deaths. "They're cutting taxes on the wealthy and taking health care from millions and raising premiums on millions of others all to reduce taxes on the rich," said Schumer. "Does that sound familiar? Well, it does to us. And that's why their health care bill failed." "It's a back-door approach to get 'Trumpcare,'" Schumer said. The moves came a day after Trump called for the tax bill to include such a repeal. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told reporters he wants to see the entire bill before he decided on whether to support repeal of the mandate. McCain's opposition to prior Obamacare repeal bills this year had helped doom them to defeat. A repeal of the individual mandate could alleviate one concern held by some House Republicans about the Senate's version of the bill. But it could also make it more difficult for the tax bill to pass because of worries by some GOP members about big drops in the number of Americans with health insurance that would result from repeal of the mandate. The Senate bill would do away with state and local income tax deductions, which are most commonly used by federal tax filers in states that have high income tax burdens. Those states, in turn, tend to lean Democrat. House Republicans from those states are worried they will suffer in the 2018 congressional elections if they support doing away with the deductions. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in a series of Twitter posts, said repeal of Obamacare's individual mandate "allows an additional $300 billion+ in tax cuts." Paul said he would also introduce a tax deduction similar to the House plan. The repeal of the individual mandate and the inclusion of a state and local tax deduction in the Senate legislation would help ease acceptance by the House, Paul said. But killing the individual mandate would lead to an estimated 13 million fewer people with health insurance by 2027. In turn, the government would spend almost $340 billion less on subsidies for low-income people insured through Medicaid, and on subsidies for people who buy individual health plans sold on government-run marketplaces. Trump, in his own tweet calling for the mandate's demise on Monday, said the savings could be used to cut the top marginal income tax rate for the highest income earners to 35 percent with "all the rest going to middle income cuts." Tweet That differs from Paul's stated motivation, which is to provide relief to middle-income taxpayers. Republicans had called for repealing the mandate in a series of Obamacare repeal-and-replace bills they proposed since the beginning of this year. All of those bills failed, in no small part because of concerns by several Republicans in the Senate that gains in insurance coverage for millions of Americans seen under Obamacare would be wiped out if the bills became law. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., said Monday that she believes it is "a mistake" to combine repeal of the mandate with the tax bill, "because I think we'll get no Democratic votes and I'd like this to be bipartisan." Collins, along Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and McCain, had voted against a GOP-sponsored bill in July that would have repealed the mandate. Democrats in Congress universally oppose repeal of the individual mandate. But they don't have enough votes on their own to block its repeal if all of the Republicans voted for such a move.

WATCH: Trump reportedly prepped executive order that could gut Obamacare individual mandate



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Senators reveal plans in surprise announcement day after Donald Trump calls for repeal, as lawmakers seek revenue in effort to slash taxes

The Senate finance committee chairman, Orrin Hatch. His committee is seeking to repeal the Affordable Care Acts requirement that Americans get health insurance. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Senate Republicans announced on Tuesday that their tax plan will include a provision to repeal the Affordable Care Acts requirement that most Americans have health insurance, tying together two of the partys biggest legislative priorities.

Senate Republicans, who have failed in multiple attempts to repeal and replace Barack Obamas healthcare law this year, said targeting the ACAs so-called individual mandate would help pay for an overhaul of the US tax code that seeks to slash corporate taxes and individual rates.

We are optimistic that inserting the individual mandate repeal would be helpful; thats obviously the view of the Senate finance committee Republicans, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, told reporters at a press conference on Capitol Hill.

The surprise renewal of the failed effort to repeal the healthcare laws mandate came a day after Donald Trump renewed pressure on Republican lawmakers to include the repeal in their tax overhaul legislation.

The move by Republicans in the Senate finance committee was also dictated by the Republicans need to find revenue sources for the vast tax-cut bill that calls for steep reductions and elimination of some popular tax breaks.

Targeting the mandate in the tax legislation would save an estimated $338bn over a decade that could be used to help pay for the deep cuts.

But it is unclear as yet whether including the provision will make the tax legislation harder for Republicans to pass. Republicans in the Senate has so far been unable to advance various bills to repeal the healthcare law, widely known as Obamacare, amid opposition within their own party.

The ACAs individual mandate requires most people to buy health insurance coverage or face a fine. Without being forced to get coverage, fewer people would sign up for Medicaid or buy federally subsidized private insurance.

Story continues

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that repealing the requirement that people buy health coverage would mean 4 million additional uninsured people by 2019 and 13 million more by 2027.

House Republicans are expected to pass their own tax bill on Thursday, which does not currently include repeal of the individual mandate.

The Republican senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Tom Cotton of Arkansas had pushed for a repeal of the individual mandate in the tax bill, just one month after the latest effort to dismantle the 2010 healthcare law collapsed in the Senate before even reaching a vote. In July, three Republicans broke with the party to kill a separate measure that would have repealed and replaced the ACA in a dramatic late-night vote on the Senate floor.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, one of the Republicans who has thus far opposed her partys ACA repeal efforts, swiftly raised concerns over merging healthcare and tax reform.

I personally think that it complicates tax reform, Collins said.

Democrats, who are uniformly opposed to ACA repeal and have attacked the Republican tax plans as favoring the wealthy, exploded with anger when word came of the latest gambit.

Republicans just cant help themselves. Theyre so determined to provide tax giveaways to the rich that theyre willing to raise premiums on millions of middle-class Americans and kick 13 million people off their healthcare, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said in a statement.

Rather than learning the lessons from their failure to repeal healthcare, Republicans are doubling down on the same partisan strategy that would throw our healthcare system into chaos.

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate finance committee, said the move will cause millions to lose their healthcare and millions more to lose their premiums.

Congressional Republicans projected confidence earlier in the day about delivering the tax legislation, with Trump planning an in-person appeal to lawmakers ahead of a crucial House vote this week.

This bill will make things better for hard-working Americans, the House speaker, Paul Ryan, told reporters.

House Republican leaders rallied support with the rank-and-file at a closed-door meeting. Underscoring the sharp political stakes for Trump, who lacks a major legislative achievement after nearly 10 months in office, is his planned meeting with House Republicans on Thursday ahead of an expected vote on the legislation.

In the second day of work on the Senate version of the legislation, Democrats on the finance panel complained that the bill would enable US corporations with foreign operations and wealthy individuals and families to exploit loopholes to skirt millions in taxes.

It sure looks like a lot of gaming to me, said Wyden.

On Monday, a non-partisan analysis of the Senate bill showed it actually would increase taxes for some 13.8 million moderate-income American households.

Promoted as needed relief for the middle class, the House and Senate bills would deeply cut corporate taxes, double the standard deduction used by most Americans and limit or repeal completely the federal deduction for state and local property, income and sales taxes. Republican leaders in Congress view passage of the first major tax revamp in 30 years as imperative for the party to preserve its majorities in next years elections.

In the meantime, Trump tweeted into the debate on Monday by urging Republican leaders to get more aggressive in the tax legislation. He called for a steeper tax cut for wealthy Americans and the addition of the contentious healthcare change to the already complex mix.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
The United States Senate recently released its own version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and there were several key differences from the original version the House Ways and Means Committee released.

Perhaps the most striking difference is the proposed tax brackets. Instead of consolidating the tax structure into fewer brackets, the plan surprised many people by keeping seven individual tax brackets and simply lowering marginal tax rates for most Americans. Here's a rundown of the Senate bill's proposed tax brackets, and how they differ from current tax law.

U.S. tax forms on top of spread-out money.

Image Source: Getty Images.

The plan still calls for seven tax brackets

There are several key differences between the two versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that we've seen so far, and one of the biggest discrepancies is how the two bills would reform the tax-bracket structure for individuals.

The House version of the bill calls for a simplification of the tax structure by consolidating the current seven brackets into just four, and it would keep the highest marginal tax rate unchanged at 39.6%. On the other hand, the Senate's version keeps the seven-bracket structure but makes two key changes. Most of the marginal rates would be lower than they are under current law, and the infamous "marriage penalty" would be reduced.

Here's the Senate bill's 2018 tax brackets

As I mentioned, the Senate's version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act keeps the seven-bracket structure. However, it uses generally lower rates of 10%, 12%, 22.5%, 25%, 32.5%, 35%, and 38.5%. It also changes the income thresholds for each range. Let's look at the Senate's proposed 2018 tax brackets, as well as a chart of the tax brackets the IRS has announced for 2018 based on the current tax law.

First, here are the proposed tax brackets under the Senate's bill for the three most popular filing statuses:

Marginal Tax Rate Single Head of Household Married Filing Jointly 10% $0-$9,525 $0-$13,600 $0-$19,050 12% $9,525-$38,700 $13,600-$51,800 $19,050-$77,400 22.5% $38,700-$60,000 $51,800-$60,000 $77,400-$120,000 25% $60,000-$170,000 $60,000-$170,000 $120,000-$290,000 32.5% $170,000-$200,000 $170,000-$200,000 $290,000-$390,000 35% $200,000-$500,000 $200,000-$500,000 $390,000-$1,000,000 38.5% Over $500,000 Over $500,000 Over $1,000,000

Data source: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Senate version).

Story continues

For comparison, here are the 2018 tax brackets that are scheduled to go into effect under current tax law:

Marginal Tax Rate Single Head of Household Married Filing Jointly 10% $0-$9,525 $0-$13,600 $0-$19,050 15% $9,525-$38,700 $13,600-$51,850 $19,050-$77,400 25% $38,700-$93,700 $51,850-$133,850 $77,400-$156,150 28% $93,700-$195,450 $133,850-$216,700 $156,150-$237,950 33% $195,450-$424,950 $216,700-$424,950 $237,950-$424,950 35% $424,950-$426,700 $424,950-$453,350 $424,950-$480,050 39.6% Over $426,700 Over $453,350 Over $480,050

Data source: IRS.

A few interesting but not-so-obvious things to notice:

The first couple of tax brackets are virtually identical to those in the current tax law, although the marginal rate for the second bracket would drop from 15% to 12%.

The marriage penalty would not be completely eliminated. That would mean the single-income ranges would be exactly half of the married brackets. However, the plan does a good job of reducing the marriage penalty in the higher-income ranges. Under current law, two single individuals who earn $400,000 each would have a marginal tax rate of 33% but would see their rate rise to 39.6% if they get married. Under the proposed brackets, this couple would have a marginal tax rate of 35% regardless of whether they get married.

In some cases, taxpayers' marginal tax rates could go up. For example, a single filer who earns $300,000 would pay 33% under current law. With the Senate's proposed brackets, the rate would rise to 35%.

Take this with a grain of salt

It's important to keep in mind that this is just a proposal at this point, and that it conflicts with the tax brackets that the president and House GOP leaders have supported.

For a tax reform bill to become law, the House and Senate will need to pass identical bills, which President Trump would then need to sign into law. So there's likely to be significant compromise before we know what a final product will look like.

Having said that, the Senate's plan would indeed result in a lower marginal tax rate for most, if not all, Americans, and it's important to know how it could affect you.

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SL Green Realty SLG announced that it has entered into a contract with Allianz Real Estate, pursuant to which the commercial property owner will sell 43% stake in 1515 Broadway to the real estate investment division of German-based company Allianz Group.

The above-mentioned deal values the Class-A Times Square office property at $1.95 billion and is expected to generate $416 million in cash proceeds for SL Green. Notably, 70% of the transaction will likely close on Nov 30, 2017, while the balance is slated to close in the first quarter of 2018.

Per SL Greens management, the agreement reflects the confidence of foreign investors in New York Citys office realties. Per Allianz Real Estate, this joint venture is a strategic move as well as consistent with the companys plan of expanding its footprint in the city. Moreover, this trophy asset is anticipated to add significant value to Allianzs portfolio in the future.

Spanning 1.86 million square feet of space, the 57-storeyed building is well placed between the 44th and 45th street of New York's Times Square. This enables the property to boast an enviable tenant roster and enjoy high leasing activity. The building is currently 98% leased to well-known tenants such as Skechers, Milano, Line Friends as well as the Minskoff Theater, which hosts the top grossing show  The Lion King  in Broadway.

SL Green initially owned interest in the building through a joint venture in 2002 after which it gained full ownership in 2011. The company then redeveloped the property in 2012 by adding new elevators, signage and a lobby, as well as repositioning the retail spaces. This enabled the company to sign a lease renewal with Viacom. Per a long-term lease renewal, the media giant will occupy the building's office space through 2031.

Increasing demand associated with job growth is helping reverse the persistent office-space efficiency trends which have continued to limit robust growth in the office sector fundamentals. Further, with corporate sectors renting more space to accommodate the increased workforce, we anticipate a healthy revival in office leasing activities. The aforementioned joint venture further reaffirms strength of the retail and office real estate market in the Times Square locality.

Story continues

Shares of SL Green have underperformed the industry it belongs to, year to date. The companys shares have declined 7% as against the industrys growth of 7.3%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2017 funds from operations (FFO) per share has been revised downward to $6.44 in a weeks time.





SL Green currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to Consider



Better-ranked stocks in the REIT space include DCT Industrial Trust DCT, Extra Space Storage EXR and National Health Investors NHI. All three stocks carry a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

While DCT Industrial Trust has an expected long-term growth rate of 4.1%, Extra Space Storage has a long-term growth rate of 5.7%.

National Health Investors currently has a long-term growth rate of 3.8%.

Note: All EPS numbers presented in this report represent funds from operations (FFO) per share. FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs, is obtained after adding depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income.

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By PTI: normal life: IGP

Srinagar, Nov 16 (PTI) Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Kashmir) Muneer Khan today said that security forces would take all steps to help "local militants" in Kashmir return to a normal life, even if they surrender during an encounter.

The statement of the official comes as the Jammu and Kashmir police prepares its recommendations for a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for surrendering militants.

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"We stand by our commitment to local militants that they can surrender at any time, even during an encounter, and return to lead a normal life after facing the law," the IGP told reporters here.

Khan was addressing a press conference in which two of the three militants arrested yesterday in Kulgam district were presented before the media.

The third militant, who was injured in the gun battle with security forces in Kulgams Kund area, is in hospital, the official said.

"Ata Mohammad (a local militant) was injured during the encounter at Kund on November 14, and he was on the verge of dying.

"But our jawans, who had lost a colleague during the operation, rescued him and took him to a hospital. His rescue shows our commitment to the offer of surrender," Khan said.

The IGP claimed that the police had brought back many youths, who were on their way to join militants, into mainstream.

Several of them arrested from Kupwara while on their way to get arms training, he said.

Responding to a question, Khan claimed that not more than 17 youth have joined militancy recently. "I do not agree with the reported figure of 42, but there is no doubt that youths have gone and joined militants," he said.

Replying to a question, he said it is a point of discussion on what was the driving force or lure behind youths joining militants.

"Most of them, you will find, are college or school dropouts. There is a relentless social media campaign by Pakistan to lure the youth also," Khan said.

The officer said that the youth in the age group of 15 years to 25 years were vulnerable to be exploited as they find it hard to differentiate between right and wrong.

In response to a question, the IGP said that he would not divulge the details of surrendered militants as "we have to ensure their safety and security".

Khan said that the police is compiling its recommendation to be submitted to the government on steps to be taken for rehabilitation of those militants who surrender.

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"We are compiling the steps to be taken for rehabilitating militants -- both who have gone across and those who are here. We will send our recommendations on how to rehabilitate them to the government. In the near future, we shall have a comprehensive policy," he said.

Khan said that a search operation in Kund area was still on as there were intelligence reports about two militants there.

"The operation at Kund was jointly launched by the police, Army and CRPF. This operation was started on November 14 based on specific information about a big group of terrorists, a joint group of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen," he said.

He said a militant and a jawan were killed in the encounter.

"The Kund operation is still ongoing, a specific area is still cordoned. We have information that a foreign militant and a local militant are still in the area. We are looking for them. Hopefully we should get them," he said.

Khan said this operation was a fine example of excellent coordination between various security agencies. PTI MIJ ANB

--- ENDS ---

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The HULU Plus app is played on a Samsung Galaxy phone in this photo-illustration in New York, December 23, 2013. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Reuters)

By Anjali Athavaley

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sprint Corp will offer its unlimited data plan customers free subscriptions to the streaming service Hulu LLC, the companies said on Wednesday, marking the latest move by a U.S. wireless carrier to bundle content with mobile service.

Under the agreement, Sprint's unlimited plan, priced at $60 a month for a single line, will cover Hulu's $7.99 a month basic subscription. The No. 4 U.S. wireless carrier is also working on plans to offer Hulu's $39.99 live TV streaming service to customers next year, potentially at a discounted price, said Allan Samson, senior vice president of marketing at Sprint, in an interview.

U.S. wireless carriers are seeking ways to provide content to win over customers in a saturated market. In September, T-Mobile US Inc said it will offer free subscriptions to Netflix Inc with its unlimited data family plans.

AT&T Inc, which is in the process of buying Time Warner Inc for $85.4 billion, has already started bundling the premium channel HBO with wireless service. Earlier this year, Sprint tested a promotion with Dish Network Corp's streaming service Sling TV in Chicago and Atlanta.

Sprint has been in the middle of a turnaround plan to cut costs and shore up cash. The carrier said earlier this month that it ended merger talks with T-Mobile because Sprint Chairman Masayoshi Son was not prepared to relinquish control of the company.

The agreement with Hulu gives Sprint an additional perk to offer subscribers as it plots a future as a standalone company. Consumers are using their mobile phones to stream more video, and offering Hulu helps Sprint differentiate its service, Samson said.

"We don't necessarily believe you have to own the content," he said. "What we have to do is have great partnerships where we can strategically put it inside our bundle."

The partnership also enables Hulu, whose service is mainly geared toward younger audiences, to reach Sprint's broader customer base of families as well as share in subscriber revenue, the companies said.

Hulu is owned by Walt Disney Co, Comcast Corp, Twenty-First Century Fox Inc and Time Warner.

(Reporting by Anjali Athavaley; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) released its Q3 2017 earnings Wednesday morning before the markets opened, and although the company beat analyst expectations for revenues, earnings and same-store sales growth, TGT stock dropped almost 10% on the news.

Can TGT Stock Get Back to $80?

Source: Mike Mozart via Flickr (Modified)

Why the drop?

The company gave a very cautious holiday outlook that sees adjusted earnings per share between $1.05 and $1.25 per share, well below the $1.24 analysts were expecting.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

A lot is riding on this holiday season for CEO Brian Cornell. With a good showing, TGT stock is off to the races. With a bad performance, he could be out the door. If its the latter, you can forget about TGT stock hitting $80 in 2018. However, the former almost certainly guarantees revisiting $80 or possibly $100 by the end of next year.

This clearly isnt the start he was looking for.

However, lets assume TGT stock can hit $80 in 2018. Here are three things it needs to deliver for investors.

The Customer Experience

Target held its 2016 annual financial community meeting on Mar. 2 of last year in New York City. While there, Cornell answered five questions for A Bullseye View, Targets corporate newsletter.

Cornell was asked what he was focusing on in the year ahead. He responded by saying the company wanted to provide a seamless, reliable and enjoyable guest experience each and every time.

Well, the best indicator of a happy guest, as Target calls customers, is to deliver positive same-store sales growth during the all-important holiday season.

How did TGT do last holiday?

Same-store sales in Q4 2016 declined 1.5%, 340 basis points lower than a year earlier. Broken down by channel, brick-and-mortar stores saw a 3.3% decline, while e-commerce delivered a 1.8% increase, 50 basis points higher than Q4 2015.

Story continues

In Q2 2017, overall same-store sales grew by 1.3%, 240 basis points higher than a year earlier on the back of positive growth at its physical locations, which was a good sign. In the third quarter, they grew 0.9%, 110 basis points higher than last year.

As part of its Q2 2017 guidance, Target said that it expects full-year same-store sales to be flat, about the same as last year, possibly a bit higher. Now, it sees full-year same-store sales growing by as much as 1%. Thats very good news.

We know that Targets online sales continue to grow  Q3 2017 digital sales increased by 24%, about the same growth as last year  but to get to $80 and beyond, Target likely needs to deliver no worse than flat growth at its physical stores for the entire 12 months. Through the first nine months of the year, theyre down 0.6%.

Its going to be close, but like the companys prospects, Im cautiously optimistic.

New Products for Target

Targets adding eight new store brands for the holiday season including Hearth & Hand by Magnolia, the brand created by HGTV sensations Chip and Joanna Gaines.

For Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, we worked closely with Chip and Joanna to create an experience that will stop shoppers in their tracks, stated Erika De Salvatore, Targets vice president of visual merchandising. Its big, its bold, and it truly feels like were bringing a little piece of the Magnolia Silos to guests everywhere.

These are the kind of innovations Targets customers have come to expect over the years. To keep its business moving in the right direction, partnerships like the one with the Gaines is the best way I can think of to keep shoppers coming back for more.

TGT Share Repurchases

Im not a fan of buybacks because companies tend to repurchase their shares at 52-week, five-year or all-time highs, ostensibly defeating the purpose of the capital allocation lever.

However, with TGT stock down 31% from its five-year high of $85.81, trailing 12-month free cash flow of $4.8 billion, and $4.0 billion remaining on its $5-billion share repurchase program, there couldnt be a better signal to investors that TGT stock is ready to rocket into orbit.

Through the first nine months of the year, Targets repurchased $757 million of TGT stock, down considerably from the $3.0 billion bought back in the same period last year. Going forward, it needs to do more.

Bottom Line on TGT Stock

The Associated Press recently asked Cornell some questions about the holiday season.

The consumer has been incredibly resilient, the Target CEO stated. I look at the latest consumer confidence numbers. They look really positive, and were seeing traffic up at the stores. Were seeing visits (to our) store site grow.

Okay, the tables been set. Can Target deliver an $80 stock in 2018? Its going to be even tougher after the latest hit to its share price.

Ill reserve judgment until after Black Friday, but business does appear to be getting stronger. And thats all you can ask for as an investor.

As of this writing, Will Ashworth did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

The post Can Target Corporation Stock Get Back to $80? appeared first on InvestorPlace.
Turns out that when Martha and the Vandellas sang about the irresistible attraction to a bad boy and certain heartbreak, they were also singing about 21st-century politics: Nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide. The point's been demonstrated again with Volvo announcing, in a now-deleted tweet posted Nov. 13, that it will no longer advertise on Sean Hannity's Fox News show "Hannity." Volvo joins 10 other advertisers that have pulled or reconsidered their ads in response to public outcry over Hannity's coverage of Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore.



When Volvo Car USA tweeted, "We have spoken with our media agency and have advised them to cease advertising on the show," it joined firms like Reddi Wip, Realtor.com, 23andMe, Nature's Bounty and Hebrew National among the 11 advertisers who have paused or pulled advertising on "Hannity." Volvo hasn't commented on its position, nor on the now-deleted tweet.



The backstory: five women recently accused Roy Moore of sexual misconduct that happened decades ago, when Moore - now 70 - was in his 30s and the women were in their teens. A Washington Post story spoke to four of the women, one of whom said she was 14 when the alleged events took place. After the story ran, Hannity discussed it on his radio program "The Sean Hannity Show" with the show's executive producer. At one point in the exchange, the producer said the encounters between Moore and the girls were consensual, appearing to include the 14-year-old, and Hannity agreed. (Note: Hannity's radio show runs on Premiere Networks, a privately owned company with no affiliation with Fox News. Fox News Radio Network is one of the stations in Premiere Networks' programming, separate from Hannity's channel.)



Hannity later apologized on his televised Fox News Show for the "consensual" remark, saying, "That one line was absolutely wrong." Hannity cautioned against rushing to judgment, though, saying everyone has a right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. Then, with a guest on the show, Hannity probed the motivations of Moore's accusers.



By then, the tweets had already started, with some observers on Twitter asking companies if they would continue advertising on Hannity's televised show.

Volvo latest of 11 advertisers to pull ads from Sean Hannity's show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2017 16:21:00 EST.
A Whole Foods Market is pictured in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. June 16, 2017. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (Reuters)

By Sruthi Ramakrishnan

(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O> said on Wednesday it will offer more discounts and steeper price cuts at Whole Foods Market on many organic foods and groceries popular during the holidays.

The plan was announced just ahead of Thanksgiving and is on the heels of price cuts in August when Amazon completed its $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods.

"Price cuts are permanent," Brooke Buchanan, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods, told Reuters in an email.

Investors have been closely watching for price cuts at Whole Foods, concerned that cheaper prices would further hurt U.S. grocers already struggling to stay competitive with Amazon and Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N>, which are locked in an intense battle for market share.

"Ever since Amazon bought Whole Foods Market, this is exactly what the other grocery store competitors have been fearing," Fort Pitt Capital analyst Kim Forrest told Reuters.

"Other grocers are going to have to come back in competitive replies  and it could be better service, better products and better pricing."

Shares of rival U.S. grocers Costco <COST.O>, Sprouts Farmers Market <SFM.O> and Kroger <KR.N> all fell on Wednesday morning between 1 percent to 2 percent after the news.

Target Corp's <TGT.N> stock also moved lower. The shares were already pressured after the company forecasted disappointing earnings for the key holiday quarter.

Amazon, which forayed into brick-and-mortar retailing with Whole Foods, could upend the grocery industry with its deep pockets and large presence, analysts have said.

In September, Target slashed prices on thousands of items, including cereal and baby formula, and said it would continue to offer discounts on some products in addition to the price-cuts. (http://bit.ly/2vT4elO)

Prices at Whole Foods, however, are still higher than most grocery stores because it caters to an up-market clientele.

Story continues

"As we saw with Sprouts Farmer and really other grocery reports, the prior cuts haven't had a material impact on leading players," said Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh.

"(Whole Food) prices are still quite high versus peers," he said.

Sprouts Farmer reported better-than-expected third-quarter profit and net sales this month and raised its full-year forecasts.

Amazon said on Wednesday that Whole Foods will sell organic turkeys for $3.49 per pound to all customers, while Amazon Prime members can buy them at $2.99 a pound.

The company said it will also offer lower prices on items from national brands including Chobani Yogurt and Applegate Hot Dogs, as well as smaller organic brands such as Eden Foods.

A study last month showed Whole Foods' previous price cuts on items including bananas, avocados and beef had drawn customers away from Wal-Mart, Trader Joe's and Sprouts Farmers.

(Reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Rama Venkat Raman and Karina D'souza; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Bernard Orr)
By Vidya : Minister of State for Housing in Maharashtra and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar has filed a defamation case against Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam.

The defamation suit worth Rs 25 crore was filed earlier this week and will be heard in time.

In June this year, Nirupam had accused Waikar of usurping 20 acres of prime land in the green zone of Aarey in Goregaon area of Mumbai from where Waikar has been elected as the member of legislative assembly since 2009.

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Nirupam had also alleged that Waikar had went ahead with illegal construction in the form of a gymnasium located adjacent to the grabbed land and is running the facility through his private unregistered trust.

Nirupam had asked for an FIR to be registered and had even written to the Lokayukt.

Waikar now claims in his petition that he had won the case before and had even given time to Nirupam to apologise. However, since there were no apologies made, he has now gone ahead and filed the defamation suit.

Nirupam alleges that Lokayukt never gave a clean chit to Waikar.

"If someone has stolen something and then returns it, does it mean that there cannot be a case registered against him? However Lokayukt did not agree with this contention of ours and so we have decided to go to Bombay High Court against that order of Lokayukt. Our petition is also ready but the Lokayukt is not giving us a certified copy so we are held up," Nirupam said.

Nirupam will also be filing a reply to the defamation petition filed by Waikar when the case comes up for hearing.

--- ENDS ---
A person passes a newspaper headline in Harare, Zimbabwe, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. People across the country are starting another day of uncertainty amid quiet talks to resolve the country's political turmoil and the likely end of President Robert Mugabe's decades-long rule. Mugabe has been in military custody and there is no sign of the recently fired deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who fled the country last week. (AP Photo)

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- In the first round of negotiations over how President Robert Mugabe will leave power, the Zimbabwean leader met Thursday with the army commander who put him under house arrest and mediators, including South African Cabinet ministers and a Catholic priest.

Meanwhile, an emergency summit of heads of state of regional countries was called by the 16-nation Southern African Development Community and is expected to formalize the terms of Mugabe's exit.

The summit puts regional leaders who have worked with the 93-year-old Mugabe for decades into the difficult position of either supporting what appears to be a coup or keeping the unpopular president, the world's oldest head of state, in office.

In the first images of Mugabe after the military moved in earlier this week, Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper published photos of him smiling and shaking hands with army commander Constantino Chiwenga. The photos also showed South African Cabinet ministers and a Catholic priest whom Mugabe has used as a mediator before.

First lady Grace Mugabe was not pictured, however, amid speculation over the future of a woman whose rapid political rise had alarmed many who feared she could succeed her husband after he fired his longtime deputy last week.

"This is political theatre. Chiwenga and the army want to give Mugabe a soft landing, a dignified exit," said Piers Pigou, southern Africa expert for the International Crisis Group.

"They are working on the choreography of how this will be done. By calling a full summit, (the regional leaders) are showing respect for Mugabe, the last of the liberation war heroes," Pigou said. "Mugabe wants the full fanfare as he exits stage left. The regional leaders will be showing deference to Mugabe, even though they can't wait to see the back of him."

As Zimbabweans waited anxiously for details of a deal, South African President Jacob Zuma told parliament Zimbabwe's political situation "very shortly will be becoming clear."

Story continues

Seizing on the political limbo, Zimbawean opposition leaders and civil society groups urged Mugabe to step aside after 37 years in power and for the country to have a transition period leading to free and fair elections.

Mugabe has been in military custody, reportedly with his wife, since the army seized control of the capital late Tuesday.

There has been no sign of former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose firing last week angered supporters in the military amid concern that Grace Mugabe would replace him at a party meeting next month. Mnangagwa, who fled Zimbabwe saying he had received threats, is widely tipped to be brought back to lead Zimbabwe's transition.

A joint statement by more than 100 Zimbabwean civil society groups urged Mugabe to peacefully step aside and asked the military to respect the constitution. A joint statement by churches also appealed for calm.

Knox Chitiyo, an analyst with the Chatham House think tank, said he believed the negotiations "have pretty much reached an end point" to get Mugabe to step aside and that it was a "matter of hours or days."

He said the aim was a peaceful, managed transition and a dignified exit for Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from white minority rule in 1980 and remains widely known, even praised, in Africa as a liberation leader.

Chitiyo said he doesn't know where the ailing Mugabe would go but that the destination is "likely driven by his health." Mugabe frequently seeks medical treatment in Singapore.

Meanwile, opposition leaders added their voices to those calling for Mugabe to step down.

Morgan Tsvangirai, who shared power with Mugabe between 2009 and 2013, said Mugabe must resign, adding that his party would participate in talks on a transitional mechanism if approached.

He pointedly referred to Mugabe as "Mister" not president.

A former vice president who was fired in 2014, Joice Mujuru, called for "free, fair and credible elections" following a transition arrangement that draws from a range of communities.

And the Rev. Evan Mawarire, the Zimbabwean pastor whose #ThisFlag social media campaign last year led to the largest anti-government protests in a decade, said of the unfolding events: "Should we just sit and wait or shall we at least be part of this transition process?"

Zimbabwean newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube summed up the dilemma facing the nation over Mugabe's exit, saying in a Twitter post: "How do you ask your Head of State and Commander-in-Chief that you recognize and salute to step down? You find answer to this puzzle then you are good to go."

Across the country, Zimbabweans long frustrated by crackdowns on dissent and a collapsing economy were enjoying freedoms they hadn't had in years. Soldiers manning the few checkpoints leading into downtown Harare greeted motorists with smiles, searching cars without hostilities and wishing motorists a safe journey.

Human rights groups urged respect for rights as the drama played out.

Amid persistent questions about the whereabouts of first lady Grace Mugabe, one Namibian newspaper, the New Era, reported that the country's foreign minister denied she had fled there.

The U.S. Embassy advised citizens in Zimbabwe to "limit unnecessary movements" as political uncertainty continues. The British government also urged its citizens to avoid large gatherings and any demonstrations.

___

Meldrum reported from Johannesburg. Associated Press writer Cara Anna in Johannesburg contributed to this report.
KABUL -- At least 11 victims have been killed in a suicide attack against a Kabul rally that was being held by supporters of Atta Mohammad Noor, the powerful governor of Afghanistan's northern Balkh Province.

Noor, an outspoken critic of President Ashraf Ghani's National Unity Government and a former factional militia leader in the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, was not attending the November 16 rally at the time of the attack.

Kabul police told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that at least nine police officers and two civilians were among the victims who were killed in the suicide bombing. Police said at least seven police were injured by the blast.

The attack took place at the Naveen Palace Wedding Hall in Kabul's Khair Khana neighborhood while the rally was going on inside the building.

Afghanistan's defense ministry said the attacker wore a suicide vest and tried to enter the building but was stopped outside the entrance by security officials.

A ministry spokesman told RFE/RL the attacker detonated his explosives when police stopped him.

Noor is the chief executive of the mainly ethnic-Tajik Jamiat-e Islami party -- one of the key factions of the so-called Northern Alliance that had fought against Afghanistan's Taliban regime before it was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.

Noor has hinted that he may run for president in Afghanistan's 2019 elections.

In the initial months after the downfall of the Taliban regime, Noor's militia fighters clashed repeatedly in northern Afghanistan with fighters loyal to another former Northern Alliance commander, the ethnic Uzbek Abdul Rashid Dostum.

But Noor and Dostum, who is now one of two vice presidents in Afghanistan's National Unity Government, recently resolved their differences and have agreed to form a political alliance, together with Afghanistan's ethnic-Hazara Deputy Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq, aimed at bolstering the number of ethnic-Tajik, ethnic-Uzbek, and Hazara officials in the central government.

Dostum's political compact with President Ghani, a Pashtun, began to unravel after Dostum was accused in December 2016 of ordering an elderly political rival to be sodomized with a Kalashnikov.

Dostum has refused to cooperate with Afghanistan's attorney general in the case and claims the allegations against him are a form of blackmail aimed at stripping him of his authority.

Dostum fled to Turkey in May.

In July, Noor and Mohaqiq traveled to Turkey where they met with Dostum to form their new alliance, which they call the Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan.
English French

BIC GROUP - PRESS RELEASE

Clichy - November 14th, 2017

Follow what's new at BIC

BIC LAUNCHES BIC SHAVE CLUB IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM: THE FIRST ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE WITH A BIC REFILLABLE SHAVER FOR MEN

BIC launches BIC SHAVE CLUB, its online subscription service with a BIC refillable shaver for men in the United-Kingdom.

Available as of today, at an exclusive launch price offer of 2.95 for the five-blade shaver (delivery included) for the first month's subscription, customers will get their blades delivered to their door, be able to change their subscription without commitment and cancel at any time using: www.bicshaveclub.com

BIC SHAVE CLUB will deliver the best of BIC's shaving technology through two refillable razor options:

#3

#3 is the ideal shaver for a quick

and efficient shave

3 blades-patented technology for a quick and efficient shave

A lubricating strip with Aloe Vera and

Vitamin E for a smooth glide

An easy-to-refill system

An ergonomic handle designed with anti slip rubber grip

4.50 / month

#5

#5 is ideal for a precise

and ultra-close shave

5 movable blades-patented technology for a closer shave and optimal comfort

A precision edging blade at the back of the head to easily reach difficult areas such as side burns

A lubricating strip with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for a smooth glide

An easy-to-refill system

An ergonomic handle designed with metal and rubber grip for a better handling and control

Launching offer: 2.95 the 1st month,

then 8 / month

With more than 40 years of research and development in the shaving category, BIC revolutionised the world of shaving with the first non-refillable razor to provide a reliable and simple solution for the everyday consumer.

BIC SHAVE CLUB, started in France in March 2017, is the first direct-to-consumer service initiative from BIC, which according to a recent survey boasts 88% client satisfaction and a high loyalty rate.

This success has encouraged the company to expand its added-value shaving service to consumers in the UK in order to pursue its vision of simplifying consumers lives, offering the best of BIC technology at an affordable price directly to consumers and to broaden its customer base through the e-commerce channel.

Contacts

Investor Relations

Contacts : +33 1 45 19 52 26 Press

Contacts : Sophie Palliez-Capian

sophie.palliez@bicworld.com Benjamin Durand +33 1 45 19 51 55 benjamin.durand@bicworld.com Katy Bettach

katy.bettach@bicworld.com Isabelle de Segonzac +33 1 53 70 74 70

isegonzac@image7.fr

For more information, please visit: www.bicworld.com

2018 Agenda (all dates to be confirmed)

Full Year 2017 results 14 February 2018 Meeting - BIC Headquarters First Quarter 2018 results 25 April 2018 Conference call 2018 AGM 16 May 2018 Meeting - BIC Headquarters First Half 2018 results 1st August 2018 Conference call

ABOUT BIC

BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters, shavers and promotional products. For more than 60 years, BIC has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication and thanks to everyday efforts and investments, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide for identifying BIC products which are sold in more than 160 countries around the world. In 2016, BIC recorded Net Sales of 2,025.8 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris" and is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes. BIC is also part of the following Socially Responsible Investment indexes: CDP's Climate A List, CDP's Supplier Climate A List, CDP Supplier Engagement Leader Board, FTSE4Good indexes, Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI) Excellence Europe, Euronext Vigeo - Eurozone 120, Euronext Vigeo - Europe 120, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders Index.
Northern Horizon Capital AS as the management company of Baltic Horizon Fund (the Fund) announces the signing of an agreement to acquire Vainodes 1 office building in Riga, Latvia to the Funds portfolio.

On 14th November 2017 a share purchase agreement was signed with the sellers SIA NULE 4 and SIA NM 2 for acquisition of Vainodes 1 and the neighbouring land plot located at Telts 1, Riga. The total purchase price for the properties under the agreement is approx. EUR 21.3 million corresponding to an approximate acquisition yield of 7%. Closing of the acquisition is subject to customary conditions precedents and is expected to take place in December.

Vainodes 1 office building is situated on the left bank of river Daugava next to one of the main arterial roads of Riga - Karla Ulmana avenue. The office building is fully occupied and located within 10 minute drive from the city centre of Riga. The complex consists of a new office building, built in 2014, which is connected to a smaller reconstructed building. The total leasable area of the building is 8 052 m2. The anchor tenant is JSC Latvian State Forests (about 90% of GLA), other tenants include pharmaceutical company Abbvie and a cafeteria. The current detail plan for the land plots includes an opportunity to construct of up to 18 262 m2 of additional office space and a parking house.

Fund manager Tarmo Karotam: We are glad to include such an attractive property to our cash flow portfolio and are satisfied about being able to deploy most of the capital raised in Q2 offering. Process towards execution of the agreement took more time than usual as additional legal and tax due diligence was needed due to changes in tax regulations applicable in Latvia as of January 2018.

Additional information:

Tarmo Karotam

Baltic Horizon Fund manager

E-mail tarmo.karotam@nh-cap.com

www.baltichorizon.com

The Fund is a registered contractual public closed-end real estate fund that is managed by Alternative Investment Fund Manager license holder Northern Horizon Capital AS
Hamilton, Bermuda, 16 November 2017 - Key information relating to the cash dividend to be paid by Hoegh LNG Holdings Ltd.

Amount: USD 0.125 per share

Declared currency: United States Dollar

Last day including right: 6 December 2017

Ex-date: 7 December 2017

Record date: 8 December 2017

Payment date: On or about 15 December 2017

Date of approval: 15 November 2017

* * *

About Hoegh LNG:



Hoegh LNG provides floating energy solutions and operates world-wide with a leading position as owner and operator of floating LNG import terminals; floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), and is one of the most experienced operators of LNG Carriers (LNGCs). Hoegh LNG's vision is to be the industry leader of floating LNG solutions and the strategy is to continue to focus its growth plans in the FSRU market, with the objective of securing long-term contracts with strong counterparties at attractive returns. Hoegh LNG is a Bermuda based company with established presence in Norway, Singapore, the UK, USA, South Korea, Indonesia, Lithuania, Egypt, Colombia, China and Turkey. The company employs approximately 115 office staff and 500 seafarers.

Contacts:

Sveinung J. S. Sthle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Telephone +47 975 57 402

Steffen Freid, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone +47 975 57 406

Erik Folkeson, Head of IR, Telephone +47 414 21 769

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act or the Continuing Obligations of Oslo Brs
In a new book about the antiparty feeling of the early political leaders of the United States, Ralph Ketcham argues that the first six Presidents differed decisively from later Presidents because the first six held values inherited from the classical humanist tradition of eighteenth-century England. In this view, government was designed not to satisfy the private desires of the people but to make them better citizens; this tradition stressed the disinterested devotion of political leaders to the public good. Justice, wisdom, and courage were more important qualities in a leader than the ability to organize voters and win elections. Indeed, leaders were supposed to be called to office rather than to run for office. And if they took up the burdens of public office with a sense of duty, leaders also believed that such offices were naturally their due because of their social preeminence or their contributions to the country. Given this classical conception of leadership, it is not surprising that the first six Presidents condemned political parties. Parties were partial by definition, self-interested, and therefore serving something other than the transcendent public good.



Even during the first presidency (Washington's), however, the classical conception of virtuous leadership was being undermined by commercial forces that had been gathering since at least the beginning of the eighteenth century. Commerceits profit-making, its self-interestedness, its individualismbecame the enemy of these classical ideals. Although Ketcham does not picture the struggle in quite this way, he does rightly see Jackson's tenure (the seventh presidency) as the culmination of the acceptance of party, commerce, and individualism. For the Jacksonians, nonpartisanship lost its relevance, and under the direction of Van Buren, party gained a new legitimacy. The classical ideals of the first six Presidents became identified with a privileged aristocracy, an aristocracy that had to be overcome in order to allow competition between opposing political interests. Ketcham is so strongly committed to justifying the classical ideals, however, that he underestimates the advantages of their decline. For example, the classical conception of leadership was incompatible with our modern notion of the freedoms of speech and press, freedoms intimately associated with the legitimacy of opposing political parties.

Show Spoiler B

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

Show Spoiler E

2. According to the passage, the author and Ketcham agree on which of the following points?

Show Spoiler D

3. It can be inferred that the author of the passage would be most likely to agree that modern views of the freedoms of speech and press are

Show Spoiler A

4. Which of the following, if true, provides the LEAST support for the author's argument about commerce and political parties during Jackson's presidency?

Show Spoiler C

5. The author of the passage would most likely to agree with which of following statements about Ketcham?

Show Spoiler E

6. Which of the following best describes the attitude of the first six Presidents toward political parties as it is discussed in the passage?

(A) describing and comparing two theories about the early history of the United States(B) describing and analyzing an argument about the early history of the United States(C) discussing new evidence that qualifies a theory about the early history of the United States(D) refuting a theory about political leadership in the United States(E) resolving an ambiguity in an argument about political leadership in the United States(A) The first six Presidents held the same ideas about political parties as did later Presidents in the United States.(B) Classical ideals supported the growth of commercial forces in the United States.(C) The first political parties in the United States were formed during Van Buren's term in office.(D) The first six Presidents placed great emphasis on individualism and civil rights.(E) Widespread acceptance of political parties occurred during Andrew Jackson's presidency.(A) values closely associated with the beliefs of the aristocracy of the early United States(B) political rights less compatible with democracy and individualism than with classical ideals(C) political rights uninfluenced by the formation of opposing political parties(D) values not inherent in the classical humanist tradition of eighteenth-century England(E) values whose interpretation would have been agreed on by all United States Presidents(A) Many supporters of Jackson resisted the commercialization that could result from participation in a national economy.(B) Protest against the corrupt and partisan nature of political parties in the United States subsided during Jackson's presidency.(C) During Jackson's presidency the use of money became more common than bartering of goods and services.(D) More northerners than southerners supported Jackson because southerners were opposed to the development of a commercial economy.(E) Andrew Jackson did not feel as strongly committed to the classical ideals of leadership as George Washington had felt.(A) He overemphasizes the influence of classical ideals on the first six Presidents of the United States.(B) He fails to recognize that classical ideals had little influence on politics in the United States.(C) He does not pay adequate attention to the negative aspects of the first six Presidents commitment to classical ideals.(D) He inaccurately suggests that classical ideals gave rise to our modern notion of democracy.(E) He underestimates the effect of ideologies other than the humanist tradition on the first six Presidents.(A). Political parties were essential to the notions of democracy on which the United States government was based.(B). Personal character in leadership was as important as affiliation with a political party.(C). Political parties were one way to ensure that government could meet the needs of all citizens.(D). Political parties, though undesirable, were inevitable in a democratic political system.(E). Political parties represented opposing political interests rather than the general public good.
But things have been quite a bit different in the Pacific coast states. As seen in the accompanying tables, Washington, Oregon, and California are going in the opposite direction.





All three states have been down every month in total milk production. Oregon and California were also down every month in cow numbers, while Washington dropped seven months in a row before no change in August.





Californias production decline started well before 2017. In fact, August was the 30th drop in the last 33 months, and total output so far this year is 478 million pounds less than in 2016. But it should be noted that July and August were down just 7 and 24 million pounds, respectively, perhaps a sign that things are leveling off.





Fewer cows is one reason for Californias retreat; numbers have fallen 33 straight months. But there is data indicating that an increase in the number of Jerseys  at the expense of Holsteins  is also a factor. Ill look at that in an upcoming issue of Hoards Dairyman Intel.

The situations in both Oregon and Washington are different. Oregon State University Professor Emeritus and longtime Extension Specialist Mike Gamroth points out that Oregon set an all-time record for milk production in 2016, and cow numbers tied the record set in 2015.

It looks to me that we are settling back to normal; we are generally ahead of 2015, he said.

Washington also set an all-time milk record in 2016, and its cow numbers were just 1,000 head under the record set in 2015. So, it may be that Washington is simply taking a breather this year, too.
The 48 ft-long statue belongs to 3rd century AD, making it the world's oldest sleeping Buddha.

By Reuters: Pakistan unveiled the remains of a 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha image on Wednesday, part of an initiative to encourage tourism and project religious harmony in a region roiled by Islamist militancy.

A reflection of the diverse history and culture of the South Asian country, the ancient Buddhist site in Bhamala province was first discovered in 1929. Eighty-eight years on, excavations resumed and the 14-metre-(48-foot)-high Kanjur stone Buddha image was unearthed, and opposition leader Imran Kahn presided over Wednesday's presentation.

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"This is from the 3rd century AD, making it the world's oldest sleeping Buddha remains," Abdul Samad, director of Bhamla's archaeology and museums department, told Reuters.

"We have discovered over 500 Buddha objects and this 48-foot-long sleeping Buddha remains," he added.

Khan said: "It's a question of preserving these heritage sites which are an asset for our country."

The region was once the centre of Buddhist civilisation that took root under the Mauryan king Ashoka 2,300 years ago.

Also Read: Have you already added this underwater museum to your bucket-list?

The presentation of the Buddha image coincided with a lockdown of major highways around the nation's capital to contain a rightist protest against a perceived slight to Islam by members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Minority communities in Pakistan are often targeted by right-wing groups and successive governments have in the past been reluctant to embrace the country's non-Muslim heritage.

But recent attempts to improve Pakistan's image have included overtures to minority communities by the PML-N.

In January, then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the restoration of Hindu temples at Katas Raj in Punjab province.Considered a conservative figure, Khan has stressed dialogue with Islamist hardliners including the Taliban but on Wednesday said the preservation of sites like Bhamala could promote religious tourism.

"It's a world heritage site (and) because of it people can come for religious tourism and see these places," he said.

Khan dismissed the protesters in Islamabad, seeking to project a more tolerant image of Pakistan. "It's a very small part of what is happening in Pakistan. The majority of the population wants to see such (Buddhist) sites restored."

Khan's opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is hoping to make big gains at the 2018 elections as the PML-N has been increasingly embroiled in corruption investigations.

Sharif resigned as prime minister in July after the Supreme Court disqualified him for not declaring a source of income and faces trial before an anti-corruption court.

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Skype lost a legal appeal in Antwerp, Belgium, on Nov. 15, and now has to pay the fine of a30,000 for not supplying Belgian authorities with information requested in an investigation dating from 2012, writes Reuters.

The company was asked to deliver user messages and authorize a tap on calls between members of a criminal organization. Skype said it was technically impossible to access that information due to the encryption deployed, so it only gave metadata to law enforcement. The court claimed it was still possible to intercept the communication with necessary technical adjustments, but no other details were provided.

For failing to comply with the request, Skype was fined by a court in Mechelen in 2016 under Belgian telecommunications laws. Skype challenged the fine in court, claiming its servers are based in Luxembourg, although the data was from Belgium. Also, the company said it is a software provider and not a telecommunications provider, so telecommunication laws should not apply to the case. The court rejected the argument and Microsoft announced it is looking into further legal options.

According to Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad.be, the decision says An operator or service provider who targets Belgian consumers on the Belgian economic market must comply with Belgian regulations and must organize themselves in such a way that they can easily comply with the courts claims.

In the next year, the EU Commission is expected to issue legislative guidelines on sharing digital evidence between countries in the EU.
New Delhi, Nov 16 (IBNS): Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Poland for the Promotion of Civil Aviation Cooperation.

The MoU will be signed on behalf of the two countries after its approval by the two Governments. The MoU would be for a term of five years.

The objective of the MoU is to recognize the mutual benefit of Cooperation in the field of Civil Aviation having particular significance in establishing and improving Regional Air Connectivity in India.

Apart from this both sides will recognize the mutual benefits of environmental testing or approvals, flight simulators monitoring and approvals, aircraft maintenance facilities approvals, maintenance personnel approvals and aircrew members approvals.

The main areas of this Memorandum of Understanding to promote ad facilitate mutual cooperation are as under:

a. Support in the civil aviation market by reviewing any legal and procedural issues which may adversely affect cooperation between India and Poland.

b. Exchange of information and expertise between the Ministries and respective Civil Aviation Authorities related to aviation regulations, regional air operations, airworthiness requirements and safety standards to enhance safety and security of air transport; and / or

c. Collaboration on or joint development, organization and/or conduct of training programmes on aviation safely, on topics such as safety oversight, airworthiness, flight operations, licensing, legislation and enforcement; and / or

d. Aviation associated consultations, joint organization and/or conduct of conferences and professional seminars, workshops, talks and other such activities on aviation safety with the participation of representatives from the Parties related to the field of civil aviation; and / or

e. Regular dialogue or meetings for exchange of information; knowledge, expertise and experiences between Ministries and respective Civil Aviation safety related development of mutual interest to the parties;

f. Collaboration on research and studies on aviation safety interest topics and issues of mutual interest.

g. Any other issues related to co-operation in the areas mentioned above.






Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations made this assessment Tuesday as he addressed a packed Working Meeting for Member States, on the sidelines of the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference, which is taking place from 14-15 November, in the Canadian coastal city of Vancouver.



Top military personnel and leading defence ministers  together with organizations and groups from more than 80 countries involved in peacekeeping  have joined UN officials to discuss the increasing challenges faced in the field, and how to address crucial funding gaps in equipment and expertise.



Of the 170 peacekeepers killed while serving in UN missions since the beginning of 2013 up to the end of September this year, 86 were with MINUSMA.



A June 2015 Peace Agreement was signed between the Government and various armed groups which it was hoped would bring a lasting ceasefire to the country, whose northern region was over-run by militant extremists in 2012.



Lacroix told the meeting of mostly uniformed men and women, looking out onto Vancouvers picturesque waterfront, that there were key gaps in equipment such as helicopters and robust armed personnel carriers.



He appealed for other troop contributing countries (TCCs) to come forward to help staff one the UNs most dangerous peacekeeping missions.



We need to do more in terms of training, how the force is organized, and modalities of how we protect ourselves and better-protect the population as well, against the threats they are facing, said the Under-Secretary-General.



UN Field Support chief Atul Khare told the meeting that while challenges remained, MINUSMA has made significant achievements in terms of protection and training, and was fulfilling its mandate.



MINUSMA Force Commander, Major General Jean-Paul Deconinck of Belgium, gave the meeting a frank assessment of the operational difficulties and deficiencies that he faced with deploying blue helmets and equipment, but in an interview with UN News after the 90-minute session, he said he was confident but realistic and if given the tools he needs, the mission will succeed.



Overcoming the threats of continuing extremist violence against civilians was not only about MINUSMA he stressed, but about durable partnerships with the Malian army and international missions deployed in and around Mali, such as the regional counter-terrorism force knows as the G5 Sahel, which comprises Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania, along with Mali.



The full plenary meeting of the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial takes place Wednesday afternoon, with sessions on smart pledges and pledge announcements; innovation in training and capacity building; protection; early warning and rapid deployment; and the Women, Peace and Security Chiefs of Defence Network.



UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti



Source: www.justearthnews.com










The CNN article traced through much of Ratcliffes experience of being separated from his Iranian-born wife and daughter. The child, Gabriella, is now three years old and remains in Iran in the care of her grandparents, whom she and her mother were visiting on vacation prior to Nazanins arrest in April. Gabriellas British passport was confiscated at that time, preventing her from returning to her father, who has been able to communicate with her only via Skype while watching as she lost much of her grasp on the English language. Nazanin reportedly receives visits from her daughter approximately twice a week, and generally speaks to her husband by phone once.

According to the CNN profile, Richard Ratcliffe initially remained silent over his wifes situation, as do the families of many Iranian political prisoners, in the midst of secrecy and obfuscation by the Iranian regime. But he went public after speaking to human rights organizations and recognizing that Nazanins case fit an established pattern of persecution and unsubstantiated accusations against dual nationals, activists, and others.

On Monday, the Center for Human Rights in Iran published an article indicating that at least 30 dual nationals had been arrested in Iran since the signing of the nuclear agreement between it and six world powers in 2015. The article also provided brief descriptions of the most prominent of these cases, which include three American citizens and one permanent resident who have each been sentenced to 10 years on vaguely described and unsubstantiated charges of spying like those levied against Mrs. Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

When, after a few weeks, her husband petitioned for her release the document quickly gained half a million signatures and presumably exerted pressure on the British government, though it remained silent in public, preferring to work behind closed doors to make use of the newly restored diplomatic relations between London and Tehran.

Whether because of a lack of progress in back-channel discussions or because of the continued escalation in pressure from the British public and the international community, the UKs Foreign Office spoke up at the beginning of November in what was supposed to be a routine hearing. But Johnson attracted unwanted attention from Ratcliffe and from Nazanins other supporters when he mistakenly contradicted the position of the family, Nazanins employers at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, and the British government itself.

When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as I understand it, the Foreign Secretary said, effectively parroting the accusations lodged against her by Iranian authorities, who exert tight controls over the media and who recently imposed an illegal ban on financial transactions for 152 current and former contributors to the BBCs Persian service. Days after Johnsons statement, Nazanin was summoned for an unscheduled hearing as Irans revolutionary court was weighing new charges against her that could add a further 16 years to her existing five year sentence.

The confluence of these events led many observers to conclude that Johnsons blunder was being used by the court as evidence that Nazanin was guilty of propaganda against the regime. In fact, contrary to the prosecutors narrative, Nazanin has never worked in a journalistic capacity, though she has been employed by the separate, charitable arms of the BBC and Thomson Reuters. The latter, her current employer, does not carry out programs in Iran, and this cuts against Tehrans insistence that the woman was in the country in a professional capacity.

As is familiar to cases of imprisonment in Iran, especially involving political charges, the condition of the accused has deteriorated considerably since her arrest. And Johnsons ill-advised commentary contributed further to this trend, according to Mr. Ratcliffe. Business Insider conveyed his concerns in an article published on Monday, noting that phone conversations with Nazanin suggested that she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

But the peril of her condition may not only be psychological. The Iranian prison system is notorious for withholding medical treatment for prisoners, especially those in political wards. This trend gained considerable international attention following the September release of photographs of the journalist Alireza Rajaei, who had an eye and part of his jaw surgically removed as a result of cancer that had gone undiagnosed for as much as four years while he was serving a sentence as a political prisoner.

Rajaeis case served as the introduction to a new report on Friday, which catalogued a number of incidences of medical neglect in political wards. The article noted that deaths from such medical neglect have continued unabated under the presidency of Hassan Rouhani, who won his first election in 2013 after a campaign that promised domestic reforms and specifically called attention to the need for prisoners to receive the rights of citizens, including rights to suitable nutrition, clothes, health and medical care. The ongoing campaign against political prisoners highlights the fact that Rouhanis promises of reform have not been realized.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran also called attention to the trend of withholding medical care and to the broader phenomenon of inhuman pressure on political prisoners and labor activists. The article called particular attention to the case of Mahmoud Salehi, a labor activist who became a new focal point of prisoners rights activism several weeks after Rajaei filled that role.

At the beginning of November it was reported that security agents had interrupted Salehis dialysis treatment in order to take him to begin serving a one year sentence. As with Rajaeis loss of his eye, Salehi lost both kidneys after prison authorities defied medical advice that the prisoner be transferred to a hospital to receive specialized treatment for a worsening ailment. As the NCRI pointed out, Salehi spoke out about his mistreatment after he was eventually granted medical leave. It is perhaps because of his refusal to remain silent that he is facing additional pressure today. Aside from returning him to prison, authorities have reportedly confiscated his medicine, thereby leaving his health to deteriorate as a result of diabetes, heart and kidney ailments.

The relevance of these and other instances of medical neglect to the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was made clear by some of the reporting that followed Johnsons comments. The Financial Times reports that the Iranian-British dual national recently discovered lumps in her breasts, but only after months of stabbing pains in the same area. The same report indicates that she has finally been transferred to a hospital outside the prison, although her previous complaints had been blithely ignored.

Although such details underscore the seriousness of her case and the potential consequences of Johnsons blunder, CNN characterized the recent developments as milestone because the public response had raised Nazanins profile and led to more direct communication between Richard Ratcliffe and the British government. The Guardian reported that Ratcliffe had asked the Foreign Office to remind all government officials of the relevant facts surrounding his wifes case and had also asked that Johnson accompany him when he travels to Iran to visit with her.

Since his misstatement, Johnson has spoken to Nazanin by phone and has reportedly promised to visit her by the end of the year. CNN indicates that it is likely he will indeed do so in the company of the prisoners husband. The Guardian also reported that in a Downing Street briefing, the Foreign Office had indicated it was considering giving diplomatic protection to Nazanin as a way to help secure her release/

In the meantime, however, the controversy over the Foreign Secretarys mistake is contributing to political discord and amplifying criticisms by the opposition Labour Party. While Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Johnsons resignation, Environment Secretary Michael Gove seemed to make the situation worse while trying to defend Johnson, saying in an interview that he didnt know why Mrs. Zaghari-Ratcliffe had traveled to Iran. The Labour Party accused Gove of compounding Johnsons cavalier approach to foreign policy. But Gove also used the interview to insist of Nazanin that there is no reason why she should be in prison in Iran.

We make a big mistake, Gove added, if we think the right thing to do is to blame politicians in a democracy who are trying to do the right thing for the plight of a woman who is being imprisoned by a regime that is a serial abuser of human rights.
Some of the houses that collapsed were built under an affordable housing scheme initiated in 2011 by then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

However, the new wing of the Imam Khomeini hospital was opened only last year. More than 100 beds were added in a $15 million construction project that had taken more than eight years to complete and had made the hospital the largest in the region. During the 30-second earthquake on Sunday, the new wing crumpled, while the original hospital building, 40 years old, stood beside the wreckage, barely damaged.

An arrest warrant has been issued for a contractor responsible for the recently built hospital, according to parliamentarian Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, as reported on Tuesday, by the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA).

The magnitude 7.3 earthquake killed more than 500 people in Iran. Officials say that more than 40,000 properties became uninhabitable, including many newly built state hospitals, schools, apartment complexes, and army barracks. It is unclear how many people died in collapsed government buildings.

This revealed what many Iranians have been saying  corruption inside state organizations has led to shoddy construction work and undermined Irans infrastructure.

State media quoted President Rouhani, That a house built by (ordinary) people in the Sarpol-e Zahab region has remained standing while in front of it a government-built building has collapsed is a sign of corruption. He told a cabinet meeting, Its clear there has been corruption in construction contracts.

The truth of this was demonstrated in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, hardest hit by Sundays 7.3 magnitude quake. A picture circulated on social media shows an older building with relatively little damage in Sarpol-e Zahab, next to a heavily damaged newly government-constructed building.

On Wednesday, Mohammad Hossein Sadeghi, the prosecutor general in Kermanshah, the largest city in the earthquake zone, said that the quality of construction of heavily damaged new buildings would be investigated and charges may be brought against anyone deemed responsible. He told the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), If there are any problems with the construction, the individuals who were negligent must answer for their deeds.

It is reported that building permits can be bought, and developers are allowed to economize on safety regulations. Insiders allege that some quality-control inspectors make more of their living from bribes than salaries.

Iran has experienced a sharp increase in industrial accidents in recent years. In fact, just this year, a poorly maintained high-rise building in the center of Tehran burned and collapsed, leaving 20 firefighters dead. The building reportedly did not have a sprinkler system. A government report concluded that government agencies had failed to enforce 22 national building regulations. No one was punished.

In the city of Boomehen, outside Tehran, around 40 high rises have been erected and have had construction issues.

Analysts say the root problem is widespread corruption. State institutions tasked with fighting corruption are themselves corrupted, said economist Saeed Laylaz. There is no short-term remedy. He pointed out that the government had not paid contractors for their jobs, instead giving them i.o.u.s that quickly lost half their worth. Naturally next time they get a job they try to cheat wherever they can, Mr. Laylaz said.

A local member of Parliament, Ahmad Safari, from Kermanshah Province in western Iran, spoke out in an angry interview with the semiofficial news agency ILNA. He said that he believed the number of dead may be roughly double the the official toll. In my opinion, more than 1,000 people lost their lives, Mr. Safari was quoted as saying. Seventy people were killed only in one street in Sarpol-e-Zahab. More than 250 people were killed in the Mehr apartments. He was referring to the housing complexes built for the poor.

Safari also criticized the lack of relief supplies for the victims. He is quoted as saying, Unfortunately, aid has not yet been distributed to all villages, perhaps only 10 percent of the villages have tents.
While tensions have long simmered between Saudi Arabia and Iran, this latest provocation seems to be part of the larger pressure between the two countries, including clashes in Lebanon and Iraq. Saudi Arabia seems determined to stop the Iranian regimes expansionist moves.

Jubair also provided details explaining how the missile was smuggled into Yemen in parts and assembled by Hezbollah and Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps operatives and fired by Hezbollah from Yemen.

As well, it has previously been reported that the U.S., Saudi, and other coalition naval warships have periodically caught Iranian fishing and commercial vessels smuggling weapons, ammunition and parts to Yemen from Iran.

An official league source told Egypts MENA state news agency that Saudi Arabia has called for an urgent meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo next week, to discuss Irans intervention in the region.

The call reportedly came after the resignation of Lebanons prime minister. On Sunday night, in a dramatic television interview Saad Hariri alluded to Irans involvement with Hezbollah in Lebanon as his reason for resigning. I am not against Hezbollah as a political party but it should not be the cause of the destruction of Lebanon, Hariri said. He also cited fear for his life, but said the decision was his alone, and that his goal was to cause a positive shock to draw Lebanons attention to the dangers it was facing. Hariri also claimed that he would return to Lebanon very soon, and might withdraw his resignation if Hezbollah respects Lebanons policy of staying out of regional conflicts.

When the French President visited the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Macron said, The missile which was intercepted by Saudi Arabia launched from Yemen, which obviously is an Iranian missile, shows precisely the strength of their program. There are extremely strong concerns about Iran among its Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf region over the missile launch, and there are negotiations we need to start on Irans ballistic missiles, he said.
By PTI: (Eds: changing dateline)

Colombo/Rameswaram, Nov 16 (PTI) Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 10 Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in the countrys territorial waters, a Navy official said today.

A fast attack craft attached to the Northern Naval Command, on routine patrol, arrested the Indian fishermen and also seized their fishing trawler when they entered the Sri Lankan territorial waters north of Point Pedro Lighthouse last night, a Navy spokesperson said.

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The fishermen, their trawler and fishing gear were brought to the naval base SLNS Uttara in Kankesanthurai, he said, adding that they were handed over to the Assistant Fisheries Director of Jaffna for further action.

Meanwhile in Rameswaram, a Fisheries Department official said that the fishermen hailed from Akkarapettai in Tamil Nadus Nagaptattinam district.

They were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing near Neduntheevu in the island nation waters, Assistant Director of Fisheries Department, Gangadharan said.

On November 14, over 1,600 Tamil Nadu fishermen were forced to return without their catch after Lankan Navy personnel allegedly snapped the fishing nets of 25 boats near Katchatheevu.

Earlier on November 7, four fishermen from Pudukottai district were arrested by the Lankan naval personnel for allegedly fishing off Neduntheevu.

The arrest of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy has become a flash point in India-Sri Lanka relations. PTI CORR SSN SS SMJ DV AKJ SMJ

--- ENDS ---
However, there are concerns that as long as Hariri stays in Saudi Arabia, Iranian interests gain strength with the Lebanese Hezbollah. Many hope that Hariri will soon return to Beirut with U.S. and French support. It is believed that Hariri plans to travel to France this week and is expected travel to Beirut afterwards.

It is reported that Hariris Lebanese opponents claim that Saudi Arabia wont allow him to leave because it wants to disrupt Lebanons democracy. According to the BBC, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, tweeted that Nothing justifies the failure of Prime Minister Hariri to return for 12 days. Therefore, we consider him to be held and detained, in violation of the Vienna Convention and human rights law.

In his opinion piece for the Washington Examiner, journalist Tom Rogan explains the concerns, Under the Lebanese constitution, the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim, the parliament speaker a Shia Muslim, and the president a Christian. And while Hariri is pro-western/pro-Saudi Sunni Muslim, Iran and Hezbollah have close allies in the form of President Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri. Correspondingly, if Iran can get a Sunni puppet figure to replace Hariri in the prime ministers office, theyll control the executive branch.

Rogan believes that Iran is on the offensive, with Bashar Assads consolidation in Syria, the advance of its militia forces in Iraq, and economic benefits it gained under the nuclear deal. He writes, Iran senses opportunity. But if were clever, we can stop them.

Hariris Future Movement party is said to have twice as many Parliamentary seats as Hezbollah, so Harari is likely viewed as an obstacle by Iran. Rogan writes, Hariris vulnerability is also based on his close relationship with the Saudis. That makes him a target for Iranian assassination as a means by which to send a message to the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. From Hariris perspective the risk is a personal one: his father was killed by Assad and Hezbollah for the sin of serving Lebanese democracy.

However, in Rogans opinion, the U.S. and France can lead an effort to strengthen Hariris position, and act more aggressively against Iranian and Hezbollah interests in Beirut. It will require some risk taking for Iran to understand that they will face consequences for their behavior. This may include a pledge by the U.S. and France, that they will take unilateral action against those who threaten Hariri with harm.

He says as well, that Lebanese military units that would oppose Hezbollah may need support for any attempt to remove its enemies from power. Some Lebanese special forces are well trained, and have longstanding ties to the west. In fact, the head of the Lebanese Army has taken four separate training courses in the U.S. during his career.

Rogan writes that, most important will be efforts to strengthen the Hariri political bloc. Theres new urgency here following electoral reforms introduced earlier this summer in which Lebanon reduced the number of constituencies from 26 to 15, and introduced a proportional representation system. The hope is that these efforts will open sectarian parties to greater competition and that future governments will have to build broader coalitions. He adds, In turn, if Hariris Future Movement can consolidate its alliance with two Christian parties, Lebanese forces, and Kataeb, Hariri might then be able to influence the Druze-led progressive socialist party to join them. At that point, Hezbollah would find itself in a far less confident position to be able to dictate efforts and Michel Aoun might reconsider his partys alliance with them.

These efforts, according to Rogan, would not be intended to fight Hezbollah and its allies, but instead, the objective would be to counter Hezbollah and Iran with many domestic and foreign political opponents, and force them to reconsider their aggressive agenda.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir warned on November 6th, Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns, and expect us not to take steps, he said.

We see this as an act of war.

Additionally, Lebanons prime minister resigned, as a way of exerting pressure on Irans major ally in Lebanon, Hizbollah. In his resignation speech on November 4th, Saad al-Hariri said, Wherever Iran settles, it sows discord, devastation and destruction. He added that Irans hands in the region will be cut off.

Saudi foreign policy is said to have become more aggressive under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is eager to challenge Iran more directly.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have been fighting a cold war across the Middle East for over a decade. In his article for The Straits Times, former Middle East bureau chief at Newsday and journalism professor, Mohamad Bazzi writes, The proxy battles  in which the two rivals are backing competing factions in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Bahrain  have shaped the Middle East since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003. While the conflict is partly rooted in the historical Sunni-Shiite split within Islam, it is mainly a struggle for political dominance over the Middle East between Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia.

He adds, Both powers increasingly see their rivalry as a winner-takes-all conflict: If the Shiite Hizbollah gains an upper hand in Lebanon, then the Sunnis of Lebanon  and by extension, their Saudi patrons  lose a round to Iran. If a Shiite-led government solidifies its control of Iraq, then Iran will have won another round.

In these proxy wars lie the cause of much of the death and destruction in the region over the past six years. They have cost hundreds of thousands of lives in Syria. At least 400,000 have been killed there since March of 2011, when uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began.

Saudi Arabia launched a war against Houthi rebels in Yemen  who Iran is accused of supporting  in March of 2015. Saudi officials claim that the missile which was fired at Riyadh had been smuggled into Yemen in parts. According to Saudi officials, members of Hizbollah and Irans Revolutionary Guard assembled the missile, and helped Houthi rebels fire it from Yemeni territory.

Saudi Gulf Affairs Minister Thamer al-Sabhan, has said, We will treat the government of Lebanon as a government declaring a war because of Hizbollah.

Lebanon is kidnapped by the militias of Hizbollah, and Iran is behind it.

The power centers in the Arab world, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, are said to be nervous about the growing influence of Iran  its nuclear ambitions, its influence over the Iraqi government, its support for militant groups like Hizbollah and Hamas, and its alliance with Syria.

After the 2011 Arab uprisings, the conflict with Iran intensified, especially when the Arab revolutions spread to Bahrain, a Shiite-majority country ruled by a Sunni monarchy only 26km from the Eastern Province. Bahrain is an oil-rich area where a large segment of the population is Shiite. After accusing Iran of supporting the Bahrain uprising, in March of 2001 the Saudis sent more than 1,000 troops to help crush the pro-democracy movement there.

King Abdullah died in January of 2015, and was succeeded by his brother Salman, who, along with his advisers, pursued a more aggressive policy. According to Bazzi, King Salman launched a war against Houthi rebels in Yemen, and appointed his then 29-year-old son as defense minister to oversee the campaign.

Despite intensive air strikes and a naval blockade, the Saudis and their allies have still not been able to remove the Houthis from Sanaa, Yemens capital.
The November 14th letter, signed by members of both parties after their trip to Middle East, opened with an expression of concerns regarding Iranian presence in Syria. We recently returned from the region where we heard concerns from our close ally, about Iranian operations in Syria, particularly since the signing of a ceasefire last July, which set up de-escalation zones on Jordans border.

It added, Iran is providing substantial amounts of support to the Syrian regime, including funds, weapons and personnel from IRGC-Quds force. Iran is estimated to have deployed about 1,300-1,800 IRGC soldiers and even some regular army Special Forces personnel to Syria.

The 43 members of Congress warned that should Iran be allowed to maintain a permanent military presence in Syria, it would pose a significant threat in the region, and United States interests.

The letter showed concern about the risk of an Iranian corridor from Tehran through Iraq to Syria and into Lebanon if the strategy is not changed. A permanent Iranian presence in Syria would connect Lebanon-based Hezbollah to Iran via Iraq and Syria. This would give Iran the ability to project power from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.

One week after the US agreed with Russia on a de-escalation deal in southern Syria, the Congressmen warned that any agreement or policy that allows Iran to station forces on or near Israel and Jordans border does not serve US interests.

The letter continued, We urge you to come to Congress with a strategy for Syria that includes how the United States plans to prevent Iran from gaining a permanent foothold in the region and to block Iranian arms exports to Hezbollah.

Hezbollahs 150,000 rockets and missiles [are] larger than that of most states and could pose a grave military threat to Israel, they wrote.

The letter came while a White House delegation visited the region to discuss concerns over the Syrian deal. A US spokeswoman at the national security council stated, We have an important, strategic, strong, collaborative relationship with the countries in the region, and US government delegations routinely visit the region to coordinate on a wide range of issues.

While the US has made the south-west de-escalation zone a priority in its Syria policy, it has no realistic means of actually rolling back Iranian influence across the border, said Tobias Schneider, an international security analyst based in London. He added, Iran not only runs networks of tens of thousands of militiamen, but also [has] increased its reach in economics and politics.
By PTI: less hopeful

Ayodhya/Lucknow, Nov 16 (PTI) Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has offered to mediate in the Ayodhya dispute, today met various people and claimed to have received "very good and positive signs" from both the communities even though the stakeholders in the case were less hopeful.

"I am not here to give a solution to this issue... I want people to come together and find a solution... and I found very positive response from both the communities...," Ravi Shankar told reporters later.

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"I would like to appeal to you to please have some patience... give some time... 2 or 3 months please give some time... let people of both communities think...," he said.

He said it is a Herculean task and he will meet all type of people. "We will need everyones cooperation for this."

Several stakeholders gave a tepid and skeptical response to his offer. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also did not sound very positive on the outcome of Ravi Shankars efforts.

Adityanath, who met Ravi Shankar yesterday, said everyone knows where talks would lead, especially when the Supreme Court is going to hear the matter from December 5 on a day- to-day basis.

"The Supreme Court is going to hear the matter on a day- to-day basis from December 5. Everyone knows where the talks would lead... Had the solution (to the dispute) been possible, it would have been reached earlier," he told reporters in Lucknow.

"Even after this, if someone initiates talks there is no harm. The government is not a party to this. In my first visit to Ayodhya, I had said that if both the parties reach consensus on the issue, the government could consider. The government cannot take an initiative in this regard as the matter is before the Supreme Court," he added.

Mahant Gyan Das, the chief priest of Hanumangarhi temple, refused to meet Ravi Shankar in Ayodhya today alleging he is "fooling the public in the name of negotiations".

Another priest of the temple, Mahant Raju Das, claimed that Ravi Shankar is seeking to take credit as the Ayodhya issue is very near to a peaceful solution.

Triloki Nath Pandey, a senior VHP leader and a litigant in the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya issue alleged that Ravi Shankar met those who are not even parties in the case.

Iqbal Ansari (son of late Hashim Ansari, another litigant) dismissed Ravi Shankars visit as a "political stunt".

However, Ravi Shankar reacted saying "Some people are opposing my move as they have no hope that this dispute may be solved through negotiated settlement. But there are lot of people who believe that peaceful solution of the Ayodhya issue may came out only through talks."

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"If the court gives any verdict and if any one community feels left out... and even if the mandir or whatever is built there... after 50 or 100 years the problem might come back again... so the best thing is these two communities come together and then this problem will be resolved," he said.

He interacted with the media after meeting Mahant Dinendra Das of Nirmohi Akhara.

He also met a gathering of Muslim intellectuals in Faizabad city. PTI COR ABN HMB ZMN

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The chief of Nirmohi Akhada Mahant Dinendra Das has alleged that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will mediate with the Sunni board about it.

By India Today Web Desk, Padmaja Joshi, Ankit Tyagi: In a stunning claim, one of the stakeholders in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case has alleged that there is a back-channel deal to pay Rs 20 crore to the Sunni Waqf Board to get them to relinquish their claim to the disputed site in Ayodhya.

The chief of Nirmohi Akhada - one of the three parties to the decades-old Ayodhya case currently being heard by the Supreme Court - Mahant Dinendra Das has alleged that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will mediate with the Sunni board about it.

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The provocative allegation is now bound to overshadow the Art of Living founder's visit today to the disputed site at Ayodhya, where the Babri Masjid once stood and was demolished in 1992. A makeshift temple now stands there.

HERE ARE THE LATEST UPDATES:

I know some may not agree with this, but Muslims by and large are not opposing the Ram temple: Sri Sri Ravishankar

A solution may sometimes seem impossible but our people, youth and leaders of both communities can make it possible: Sri Sri Ravishankar

We need to see that both communities come together with friendship and goodwill: Sri Sri

It is not easy, but if we succeed then it will set a big example before the world: Sri Sri

We want to make an effort, politics and law should be kept aside: Sri Sri

Tamasha is going on in the name of settlement: Owaisi

NGT has fined Sri Sri, he should pay that first: Owaisi

Asaduddin Owaisi slams Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, asks who authorised him to intervene.

Environment is positive, people want to come out of this conflict. I know it is not easy, let me talk to everyone, it is too early to reach a conclusion: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar #RamTemple pic.twitter.com/1n5A6J2WzY

- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 16, 2017

VHP has taken money to the tune of Rs 1400 crore in the name of Ram Temple: Mahant Sri Sitaram Das.

Haji Mehboob, stakeholder of Sunni Waqf board, has refuted allegations of bribe by Nirmohi Akhada Mahant Dinendra Das.

It would have been better if Sri Sri would have worked for the betterment of Yamuna: Randeep Surjewala

Ram Temple issue is in court and we should let the Supreme Court decided it: Randeep Surjewala

Who is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to mediate? He should continue running his NGO & hoarding foreign funds, I believe he has amassed a lot of wealth & to avoid a probe he has jumped into #RamTemple issue: Former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti pic.twitter.com/OovKekDhW9

- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 16, 2017

Sri Sri reaches Ayodhya, will meet Nityagopal Das soon.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reaches Sri Maniram Das Chavani in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. pic.twitter.com/TdWBvyJ44x- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 16, 2017

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will first visit the disputed site at Ayodhya today, followed by meetings with Iqbal Ansari and Haji Mehboob, the two stakeholders to the dispute.

He will then meet Ramjanmabhoomi Shrine Board chairman Nritya Gopal Das, Ram Vilas Das Vedanti, and Mahant Suresh Das of Digambar Akhada in Ayodhya. He will also meet Hindu saints including Mahant Gyandas of Ayodhya Hanuman Garhi.

Sri Sri will then reach Nirmohi Akhada at 3 pm to meet Mahant Dinendra Das, who has made the controversial allegation, and the Panchas of the Akhada.

At 4 pm, the Art of Living founder will hold a press conference. He will leave for Bengaluru at 5 pm via Lucknow.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several leaders of Hindu religious organisations on Wednesday as parts of his efforts to build a consensus for a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Besides Adityanath, Ravi Shankar also met Suresh Das of Digambar Akhada, Janmejay Sharan of Rasikpeeth and Rajaram Chandra Acharya of Nirmohi Akhada, Art of Living representative Gautam Vig said. He told reporters that Ravi Shankar was listening to both sides, the Hindus and Muslims, and there was no proposal or formula yet.

"I am hopeful... I am not disheartened. No one is opposed to amity. This is just a beginning, we will talk to all," Ravi Shankar told the media.

Responding to a question on the All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Zafaryab Jilani rejecting his "proposal" for an amicable settlement, Ravi Shankar said he had given no proposal nor got one so the question of rejecting it did not arise.

Jilani today said the Ayodhya matter cannot be resolved through discussion, and asked the parties concerned to wait for the court order.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has ruled out the need for a dialogue over the Ayodhya dispute, saying that archaeological evidence in the matter were in favour of the Hindus and courts go by proof.

(Inputs from ANI)

VIDEO | No backroom dealing, says Ayodhya-dispute stakeholder Nirmohi Akhara before Sri Sri meet

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Scientists have long believed that a star explodes when it reaches the end of its life.

This explosion is called a supernova. NASA, the American space agency, describes a supernova as the largest explosion that takes place in space.

Recently, a team of astronomers discovered evidence of one star that apparently refuses to die.

The long life of this supernova is raising questions for experts who thought they knew how dying stars worked.

The star, officially called iPTF14hls, is 500 million light-years away from Earth. One light-year equals 9.5 trillion kilometers.

It was found in 2014 and appeared to be a normal supernova, growing less bright over time.

But a few months later, astronomers at the Las Cumbres Observatory saw it getting brighter. In fact, they have seen the light grow brighter, then weaker, then stronger again five different times. They also found evidence of an explosion in the same area 60 years ago.

The findings were reported in the journal Nature.

The observatory is based in the American state of California. The astronomers say they continue to keep watch of the star with robotic telescopes around the world.

Supernovas normally grow dark after about 100 days. But this one is still going strong after 1,000 days, although it is slowly getting darker.

Its very surprising and very exciting, said Iair Arcavi, who is with the Physics Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Arcavi led the team of astronomers. He said We thought weve seen everything there is to see in supernova after seeing so many of them, but you always get surprised by the universe. This one just really blew away everything we thought we understood about them.

This supernova is believed to have once been a star up to 100 times larger than our sun. It is possibly the biggest explosion of a star ever observed. The Associated Press says this might explain its unusual ability to survive.

Alive and rare

One theory is that the supernova is actually several explosions happening so quickly that they run into one another. It could also be a single explosion that repeatedly gets brighter and darker.

Another idea is that this star was so large, and its core or middle so hot, that an explosion only blew away the stars outer layers. This would mean the stars core was left solid enough to repeat the entire process. However, this theory still does not explain everything about this supernova, Arcavi said.

Avi Loeb is chairman of the Astronomy Department at Harvard University in Massachusetts. Loeb was not involved in the study. But he thinks the stars core might be either a black hole or a magnetar. A magnetar is a neutron star with a strong magnetic field. However, there will need to be further study in order to better explain what is happening, Loeb said.

Scientists also do not know if this unusual supernova is one of a kind. For now, it appears to be rare since no others have been identified.

We could actually have missed plenty of them because it kind of masquerades as a normal supernova if you only look at it once, Arcavi said.

However one thing that everyone agrees on is that nothing lasts forever, not even this super supernova.

Eventually, this star will go out at some point, Arcavi said. I mean, energy has to run out eventually.

Im Phil Dierking.

Marcia Dunn reported this story for AP. Phil Dierking adapted her report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Have you ever seen a one-of-a-kind event? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

masquerade - v. to pretend to be someone or something else

neutron - n. a very small particle of matter that has no electrical charge and is part of the nucleus of all atoms except hydrogen atom

speculate - v. to think about something and make guesses about it

super - n. extremely good

layer - n. an amount of something that is spread over an area
Sexual assault charges against a leading expert on Islam have left many European Muslims shocked.

The Islamic expert, Swiss-born Tariq Ramadan, took a leave of absence from his teaching position at Oxford University last week. The move came after two French women accused him of rape and assault. Reports of similar accusations were published in a Swiss newspaper.

Ramadan has denied the accusations. An Oxford University statement said that both he and the school agreed on his leave of absence.

Effect on French-speaking Muslims

The effect of the accusations is huge, especially in French-speaking countries. He appealed to a generation of young Muslims who came to believe they could follow Islams teachings and be European citizens. Unlike many Islamic religious leaders in Europe, he spoke in French instead of Arabic at meetings and conferences.

Ramadan is the grandson of the founder of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood. The 55-year-old has long had critics. They claim he hid political Islam under talk of unifying society. He was temporarily banned from the United States during the presidency of George W. Bush. The ban was lifted after Bush left office.

An estimated five million Muslims live in France. They make up Western Europes biggest Islamic community.

In April, French officials expelled Ramadans older brother, Swiss clergyman Hani Ramadan. They claimed he was a threat to public order. The brother made news in 2002 when Frances Le Monde newspaper published an article he wrote. His story expressed support for stoning adulterers -- married men and women who have sex with someone who is not their wife or husband.

Tariq Ramadan condemned his brothers position.

The assault charges come at a time when a growing number of powerful men have been accused of sexual abuse. It started in early October, when media reports described the first abuse claims against American movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

Claims against Ramadan

Last month, French activist Henda Ayari, a former supporter of the Salafist movement, accused Ramadan of raping her in a hotel room in 2012. Since then, another French woman has reportedly come forward with a similar story. French government lawyers are investigating the accusations.

In Switzerland, a Geneva newspaper reported that four young women claimed they had sexual relations with Ramadan when he was teaching at their school. The four women said they were not old enough at the time to be considered adults.

Media reported another rape claim in Belgium.

And Oxford University graduate Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi published a blog post about Ramadan. It gave voice to an American Muslim friend, who described an unwanted sexual advance by Ramadan in 2013.

For me its not about his political views, Al-Tamini said. He works for a group opposed to Ramadan, but says he is not part of that debate.

Ramadan accuses his critics of making false charges and damaging his public image. In a Facebook post Saturday, he said he remains calm and has confidence in justice. For years, he has called for moderation and openness, he wrote, and these are the values we need most today.

Reaction to the accusations

There have been different reactions to the charges on social media.

Workers at Charlie Hebdo, the French newspaper that was targeted in a 2015 terrorist attack, have received death threats over a front-page cartoon of Ramadan. In addition, former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls condemned his behavior on Twitter.

Others suggest the accusations against Ramadan are a Zionist or Jewish plot or evidence of racism.

But a group of Muslim women expressed support for his accusers in a statement published in Le Monde. There is no Muslim exception when it comes to sexual abuse, researcher Fatima Khemilat wrote.

When questioned, several well-known French Muslims remain guarded, saying they were waiting for French courts to announce judgement first.

But Mhammed Henniche said the accusations against Ramadan would harden feelings against Muslims. Henniche works for an alliance of French Muslims in the Seine-Saint-Denis area outside Paris.

Everyone who is against Tariq Ramadan will say this is proof that Islam is not a religion of peace, that its a barbaric religion that treats women as objects, he said.

Abdallah Zekri, a member of the French Council for the Muslim Faith, is not a big supporter of Tariq Ramadan. But he criticizes the strong reaction against him.

Ramadan is a big personality because the media made him one, he said. Hes never been my cup of tea. But he has not been judged or condemned, and I respect the presumption of innocence.

Im Jill Robbins.

And I'm John Russell.

Lisa Bryant reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted her report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

assault  n. a violent attack

absence  n. failure to be present at an expected place

Salafist  n. a conservative form of Sunni Islam

advance  n. forward movement

confidence  n. a feeling of ones own powers; the quality of being sure of oneself

cartoon  n. a picture making people or objects look funny or foolish

cup of tea  expression. something one likes

presumption  n. a belief that something is true

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
Voters in Helena, Montana, have elected Wilmot Collins as their new mayor. Collins is a former refugee from Liberia. He is also the first black mayor in the state of Montana.

The story of his success in America has created interest around the world.

There are no limits, Collins told VOA. I arrived in this country with 25 cents in my pocket. Do you think I was thinking of ever running for mayor? No! But I worked hard and I had the support of my family and my community.

Collins says he tells his children with those things in place, There is no reason why you cant succeed at what you attempt to do.

Collins and his wife, Maddie, were part of a large group of Liberians that fled the civil war in that country in the early 1990s. Two of his brothers were killed in the war. The couple escaped to Ghana but were starving there.

So, Maddie Collins reached out to an American family she had lived with as an international high school student in Helena. As a result, she was offered a college scholarship in the same town.

About two weeks before leaving Ghana for the United States, the Collins learned that they were expecting a baby. They decided that Maddie should still go to the U.S. Wilmot would follow as soon as possible.

He tried to get a visa but was denied. After several more failed attempts, Wilmot Collins requested refugee status through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

When I was finally allowed to come to America, my little daughter was turning two years old. That was the first time I had ever seen her. That was February 17, 1994.

He was 31 years old when he finally reached America. The mayor-elect Collins says he realized immediately that the real America was very different from what he had seen in movies back home.

He says when he heard the pilot announce that it was warm at one degree Celsius, he thought the man was crazy. Collins laughs at that memory.

He says he was even more surprised to learn there were almost no black people in Montana. The state is 92 percent white and five percent Native American. The remaining three percent are listed as other. He says the realization gave him a lonely feeling, but that he was happy to be with his family again.

Two weeks later, Collins got a job cleaning a local school. He says it is not true when people say refugees do not offer any community service. I didnt get anything for free, he argues.

Collins believes he and his wife were among the first refugees ever to settle in the Helena area. And soon, he says, he would try to persuade people in Helena that his family was in the country legally.

Your government accepted us here, he told local people who did not believe them.

Collins has two university degrees and is working on a doctorate. Before his election, he worked as a child protection specialist with Montanas Department of Health and Human Services.

He also told his story in talks at high schools.

Collins believes that, generally, when people hear a persons life story, it can change their mind. Some people realized, Okay, this guy is just like us, he said.

But, Montana is a traditionally conservative state and not everyone is accepting of Collins or others like him. Collins says this causes him worry, especially considering the state's very permissive gun laws.

It makes me and my family nervous because there are crazy people out there, and someone may not want me to do this. Everybody in Montana carries a gun.

Even with those concerns, Collins said he feels ready to begin leading Helena.

The voters spoke and they said, Hey, you know, with your story and with your experience, its you we want.

As mayor-elect, Collins is excited by the opportunity to give back" to the community.

If I can just give back half of what this community gave me, my life is complete, just half. Ill be thankful.

His goals include improvements to the fire department, police department and other emergency services. He also plans to establish low-cost housing for homeless veterans and young people because, he says, years ago, he too was homeless.

Im John Russell.

And Im Alice Bryant.

Adam Phillips wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

refugee  n. someone who has been forced to leave a country because of war or for religious or political reasons

congratulate  v. to tell someone that you are happy because of his or her success or good luck

scholarship - n. an amount of money that is given by a school, an organization, etc., to a student to help pay for the student's education

status  n. the official position of a person or thing according to the law

degree  n. n official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university

veteran  n. someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor or some other position
Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 900 bank branches and 3,300 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. Bank of Montreal was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
"A solution may sometimes seem impossible but our people, youth and leaders of both communities can make it possible," a news agency quoted Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as saying.

By India Today Web Desk: Muslims are "by and large" not opposed to the construction of a Ram temple on the disputed site in Ayodhya where the Babri Masjid once stood, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said Thursday.

The Art of Living founder spent the day in Ayodhya, a day after meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Sri Sri didn't mention the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute when he explained what he and Adityanath discussed.

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"A solution may sometimes seem impossible but our people, youth and leaders of both communities can make it possible." he said today, ANI reported.

He said "if we succeed, then it will set a big example before the world."

I know some may not agree with this, but Muslims by and large are not opposing the #Ramtemple : Sri Sri Ravishankar pic.twitter.com/3ZxOblJogl - ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

Yogi Adityanath said today that previous talks had not provided a solution, but he welcomed fresh efforts.

Talks have been initiated earlier as well but without any solution, but still I welcome anyone who makes efforts again. Supreme Court is hearing the case we should wait for it: UP CM Yogi Adityanath #Srisriravishankar pic.twitter.com/Fn5tEiLiNF - ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 16, 2017

But Sri Sri's efforts to mediate in the dispute have not been unanimously welcomed.

Former BJP lawmaker Ram Vilas Vedanti said today that the spiritual leader had "jumped" into the Ram Mandir issue to avoid an investigation of his wealth, ANI reported.

Who is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to mediate? He should continue running his NGO & hoarding foreign funds, I believe he has amassed a lot of wealth & to avoid a probe he has jumped into #RamTemple issue: Former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti pic.twitter.com/OovKekDhW9 - ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 16, 2017

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi, too, asked who had authorised him to intervene.

VHP Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain said Tuesday that the issue of constructing a Ram temple at Ayodhya could never be resolved through talks.

"This is not for the first time that Sri Sri has taken this initiative. In 2001, he made attempts but failed. The reaction to his efforts was the same as today. Somebody is calling him an agent of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi while another is dubbing him a VHP agent. In fact, he is being insulted," Jain told the news agency IANS.

"A way out cannot be found through talks. We doubt his (Sri Sri's) efforts will succeed."

PTI reported Tuesday that Muslim organisations, too, expressed reservations over Sri Sri's initiative, saying he should first disclose his plan.

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STUNNING CLAIM

Nirmohi Akhara chief Mahant Dinendra Das alleged today - on camera - that there was a back-channel deal to pay Rs 20 crore to the Sunni Waqf Board to get them to relinquish their claim to the disputed site in Ayodhya.

When asked about the claim, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar told India Today, "I will not get into this."

(Inputs from agencies)

WATCH | Muslims by and large not opposed to Ram temple, says Sri Sri in Ayodhya

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LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.

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Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, Offshore, Canadian Manufacturing, U.S. Manufacturing, and Retail segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen and heavy oil in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. This segments Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Sunrise, and Tucker oil sands projects, as well as Lloydminster thermal and conventional heavy oil assets The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, Clearwater, and Rainbow Lake operating in Alberta and British Columbia, as well as interests in various natural gas processing facilities. The offshore segment engages in the exploration and development activities. The Canadian Manufacturing segment includes the owned and operated Lloydminster upgrading and asphalt refining complex, which upgrades heavy oil and bitumen into synthetic crude oil, diesel fuel, asphalt, and other ancillary products, as well as owns and operates the Bruderheim crude-by-rail terminal and two ethanol plants. The U.S. Manufacturing segment comprises the refining of crude oil to produce diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, and other products. The Retail segment consists of marketing of its own and third-party refined petroleum products through retail, commercial, and bulk petroleum outlets, as well as wholesale channels. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
Banco Santander-Chile, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial and retail banking products and services in Chile. It operates through Retail Banking, Middle-Market, Corporate Investment Banking, and Corporate Activities segments. The company offers debit and credit cards, checking accounts, and savings products; consumer, automobile, commercial, mortgage, and government-guaranteed loans; and Chilean peso and foreign currency denominated loans to finance various commercial transactions, trade, foreign currency forward contracts, and credit lines, as well as mortgage financing services. It also provides mutual funds, insurance and securities brokerage, foreign exchange, financial leasing, factoring, financial consulting and advisory, investment management, foreign trade, treasury, and transactional services, as well as specialized services to finance projects for the real estate industry. In addition, the company offers short-term financing and fund raising, and brokerage services, as well as derivatives, securitization, and other tailor-made products. It serves individuals, small to middle-sized entities, companies, and large corporations, as well as universities, government entities, and local and regional governments. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 326 branches, which include 220 under the Santander brand name, 14 under the Select brand name, 7 specialized branches for the middle market, and 22 as auxiliary and payment centers, as well as 1,338 ATMs, including depository ATMs. Banco Santander-Chile was incorporated in 1977 and is headquartered in Santiago, Chile.
United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface.

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Details of the 40-minute-long meeting between Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Yogi Adityanath were not made public, but the former said it was just a formal meeting.

By Rajat Rai: A day before his visit to Ayodhya, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath Yogi at his residence.

Though the details of the 40-minute-long meeting were not made public, Sri Sri said it was just a formal meeting. "The matter of discussion included issues related to farmers, wellbeing of poor and cleanliness," he said after the meeting. However, he avoided questions related to the temple issue and his proposed meeting with saints.

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Sri Sri has remained tight-lipped over the temple issue and his efforts made in this regard ever since he held a meeting with religious gurus last month in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, saints of Ayodhya have welcomed Sri Sri's visit, but maintained that no such meeting is proposed with him in this regard.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has said that it is keeping its eyes on all activities related to the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

"The VHP has been demanding formulation of a law in Parliament for construction of a temple in Ayodhya. There are some elements who are not related to the issue, but are active ever since the Supreme Court verdict. Sri Sri is a respectable saint and he should know that such efforts have been made in the past too, but yielded no results", Sharad Sharma, regional spokesperson of VHP told Mail Today.

The 15th 'Dharm Sansad' is scheduled to be held on November 24-25 in Pejawar Math in Uduppi (Maharashtra) and besides other issues, the issue of Ram mandir will also be discussed among saints who are gathering from all parts of India.

Mahant Ram Das of Nirmohi Akhada (one of the parties of the case) feels the matter should not be politicised. "All talks and discussions should be held within constitutional limits and there should be not be any kind of political interference in the issue," he said.

Meanwhile, another saint of the Nirmohi Akhara has welcomed Shri Shri. "We welcome him to visit our akhara and we can comment on the so-called formula (which he is having) only after meeting him," mahant Dinendra Das said.

The chief priest of Ram Janambhoomi (disputed land) Satendra Das has said that he is looking forward to meet Sri Sri. "He has visited Ayodhya earlier too and expressed his views regarding construction of the temple," he said.

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Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farms in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
For those who aren't up to speed on this (because it's hard to keep ahead on all these harassment stories), Amazon is investigating a harassment complaint against Jeffrey Tambor. There aren't many concrete details here yet, so it's a wait and see thing.

But "Transparent's" writers must act now to be prepared for the loss of their main character (Maura Pfefferman, the trans woman played so very, very well by Tambor). Season 5 was ordered, so it's their job to produce scripts and proceed. Amazon can always call the whole thing off, and if they did, I would say -- as a loyal, enthusiastic viewer of the series -- that season 4 was ending enough, with the Pfefferman family's cathartic journey to Israel. Maura seemed more at peace than anyone else.

It is interesting though that the show ended on a kind of transitional note that focused on Ali (Gaby Hoffman), who is in the process of defining her (their?) own gender. She chose to stay behind in Israel, so that's at least one way to shift the show in another direction.

Another possibility is to recast Maura -- this time with a trans woman actor. Soap operas used to do it all the time ("the role of Maura will now be played by ..."), and it would make Tambor's most recent Emmy speech, in which he hoped aloud that he would be the last cisgender person to play a transgender role, somewhat prophetic.

Still, like any fan of the show, I find it hard to imagine any stories that don't involve Maura, someway, somehow. There is also another solution -- kill her off. In which case, I'd rather they just cancel season 5 and leave it where it beautifully exists.
Some fear that the suspension of the Filipino governments issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates will affect domestic helpers in Macau.

Last week, The Philippines Department of Labor and Employment announced the suspension of acceptance and processing of new Overseas Employment Certificates for land based overseas Filipino workers (OFW), saying the government must investigate allegations of illegal recruitment activities.

These certificates are required for Filipinos who identify themselves as working abroad when passing through Philippine immigration.

However, seafarers hired by manning agencies, workers hired by international organizations and members of the diplomatic corps are excluded from this requirement.

Returning workers and government-hired workers are also excluded from the suspension.

Based on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administrations estimates, some 75,000 aspiring OFWs may be affected by this suspension  which will be in place until December 1.

Greens Philippines Migrant Workers Union, a Filipino migrant group in the region, lamented the move, noting that the measure will not halt illegal recruitment in the Philippines.

Speaking to the Times, chairperson of the migrant group, Nedie Palcon, condemned the measure even though she believed that the move will not affect domestic workers in the region.

Palcon expressed that it is significantly affecting those set to leave the region for other countries within these two weeks.

Many workers already have their flights scheduled so it really affects them. What if the employers abroad could no longer wait for them? she questioned.

The chairperson also noted that the suspension of the document is not an effective measure to lessen and solve illegal recruiters.

Even here in Macau we encounter a lot of illegal recruiters. If we have illegal recruitment agencies back home, we also have them here in Macau. So suspending the document will not help,  said Palcon.

Meanwhile, the Macau Overseas Worker Employment Agency Association explained that the measure is highly unlikely to affect the local market as only a low percentage of domestic helpers in Macau are hired through official agencies in the Philippines.

Speaking to TDM, chairman of the association, Ao Ieong Kuong Kao, explained that majority of Filipino domestic helpers found employers during their 30-day travel visa.

Its not going to affect Macau much because looking at previous records, most of the Filipino domestic helpers didnt come to Macau in an official way. Only maybe less than 20 to 30 cases, so this figure is very low, Ao pointed out, continuing, as we can see in the market, many of them came to Macau under a travel visa because the number of them getting official documents through the Philippine Consulate is very low.

The Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL) also issued a statement noting that the measure has not been implemented to specifically target the local market, noting, according to the information obtained currently, it is understood that the measure is not aimed at Macau.

However, the bureau pledged to follow up on relevant issues and make further announcements if further information becomes available.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong, the Immigration Department pledged to be flexible with work permits for its domestic helpers in its region.

The HKSAR also acknowledged that the requirement was not targeting Hong Kong. LV

Rally outside the PHconsulate in HK

MEMBERS OF the United Filipinos of Hong Kong, a workers union of about 6,000 domestic workers in the city, staged a rally outside the Philippine Consulate yesterday. They are calling for the government of the Philippines to reimburse people affected by the ban and for Hong Kong authorities to push for it to be lifted. Some 210 workers bound for Hong Kong are believed to have been affected, while the citys Secretary for Labor and Welfare Law said it could impact as many as 1,000 local families.
State media say more than 30 vehicles have collided in heavy fog on an expressway in eastern China, killing at least 18 people and injuring 19 others. The official Xinhua News Agency said the pileup yesterday morning in Fuyang, a city in Anhui province, caused several vehicles to catch fire. It cited local police as saying 19 people were injured, nine seriously, and were being treated in a hospital.

Chinese national accused of taking GRE for other people

A 25-year-old Chinese citizen is facing federal charges in Massachusetts after officials say she took the GRE graduate school entry exam for other people. Federal prosecutors say Yinyan Wang was arrested in Pennsylvania on Monday on visa and passport fraud charges. The U.S. attorneys office for Massachusetts says Wang will be brought to Boston later this week. Prosecutors say she took the exam for another Chinese citizen Oct. 20 in Boston with false identification documents. Authorities say Wang took the GRE or the Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam, called the TOEFL, five other times between July and August. Prosecutors say each charge carries a minimum 10-year prison sentence. Its unclear if Wang has hired an attorney.
The Brazilian Augusto Farfus returns to the Macau Grand Prix driving the special BMW M6 GT3 Number 18 Art-Car. As the number indicates, this is the 18th of a series that started back in 1975, by the hand of French racecar driver and auctioneer Herve Poulain. Poulain wanted to invite artists to use a car as a canvas to create a new art form, to connect the two industries.

As Farfus told the Times on the sidelines of a Macau Grand Prix community event in Taipa yesterday, to drive a [BMW] Art-Car is a great responsibility and also a great honor, he said, noting, This is a brand-new car that will compete in this event and after racing here he will be straight to BMW Museum where it will be displayed [together with the other 17 previews Art-Cars.

I need to say that Im not an expert in art so I cant say much about it but I know that this car is made by [Chinese artist] Cao Fei and on which she makes use of [augmented] reality [to show her work]. This is a completely different thing and a very new thing, he said, noting that a lot of people have been asking me, if it is not just a plain black car.

To those I must reply that probably 20 years ago when Andy Warhol picked a brush to paint its BMW Art-Car, some people should have looked to him and asked: with a brush? Farfus said, adding, Art is not to discuss, its to participate and to appreciate.

Showing enthusiasm, the Brazilian concluded saying, if I have the chance to participate in this [project] and leave my name in history, its an honor.
By PTI: By H S Rao

London, Nov 16 (PTI) Not all sugars are bad for health, some can in fact help in treating poor-healing wounds such as diabetic and chronic ulcers in the elderly people, according to a joint study by researchers from the UK and Pakistan.

The research, conducted in part by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the School of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Sheffield and the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials Research at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, found that sugar can help in new blood vessel formation, also known as angiogenesis.

advertisement

The researchers added sugar to a hydrogel bandage to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, which are crucial for wound healing as blood vessels carry blood around the body to supply it with oxygen and nutrients.

The new use for sugar may help tackle the increasing number of non-healing skin wounds associated with age, poor blood supply and diabetes, and even save money for health care providers, the researchers said.

This successful method is much more simple and cost- effective than more traditional methods such as adding in expensive short-lived growth factors, they said.

The new technique works because a specific group of sugars can stimulate skin healing.

"Throughout the world, people are living longer and unfortunately experiencing more non-healing skin wounds associated with age, poor blood supply and diabetes. These are often difficult to treat and are very expensive for healthcare systems to manage," said Sheila MacNeil, Professor at University of Sheffield.

"The new skin healing technique using simple sugars, promises to aid in wound healing more simply, meaning patients would need less treatment, clinicians could treat more patients and significant savings could be made by national healthcare systems," MacNeil said.

The research is a key step to developing simple, robust and low cost wound dressings that can be used to treat poor- healing wounds such as chronic ulcers in the elderly and diabetic ulcers.

The research was published in journal Materials Today Communications. PTI HSR MRJ AKJ MRJ

--- ENDS ---
World leaders arrived at global climate talks in Germany yesterday to give the negotiations a boost going into the final stretch, as campaigners called for a strong signal from rich countries on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Particular attention was focused on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is co-hosting the talks together with Fiji, a small Pacific nation that faces dramatic consequences from unchecked climate change.

Green campaigners and developing nations called on Merkel to use the event on her home turf to announce that Germany will set a firm deadline for phasing out the use of coal by 2030.

Germany generates about 40 percent of its electricity from coal, including the light brown variety called lignite thats considered to be among the most heavily polluting fossil fuels.

Environmental groups staged anti-coal protests before and during the talks, and planned to roll out a red carpet for leaders arriving in Bonn bearing the slogan Keep It In The Ground.

The timing is difficult for Merkel: after speaking at the climate talks in Bonn she flies back to Berlin for negotiations on forming a new government that would include both the environmental Green party and a pro-business party, the Free Democrats, which opposes a coal deadline. Energy companies warn that coal is needed to ensure a steady supply of energy for Europes biggest economy.

Greens co-leader Katrin Goering-

Eckardt said yesterday that reaching an agreement on Germanys exit from coal would be a small contribution to managing to secure the survival of the planet.

Of course we are thinking about jobs  we do care about that  and of course supply security in the energy market is obvious, she said. But we must reach the climate protection targets for 2020, 2030, 2050.

Germany is currently predicted to fall short of its target of reducing emissions by 2020 by 40 percent from 1990 levels, largely due to emissions from the energy and transportation sectors. Experts say phasing out coal would ensure the biggest cut.

If we want to honor this pledge we have to phase out coal power  that means lignite in particular in Germany, said John Schellnhuber, who heads the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

The loss of around 20,000 jobs in Germanys coal industry could be absorbed by the 600,000 new jobs the countrys economy is expected to add next year, he said.

Germany as a climate champion could definitely get out of coal fairly quickly, but we keep on operating the dirtiest of all fossil fuels to export the excess power, said Schellnhuber, who was an adviser to Merkel, a trained physicist, when she was Germanys environment minister at the first global climate talks in 1995.

Shes a brilliant mind and she knows about the facts, we can be sure, he said.

Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International, said Merkel had been a leader on climate, even in the face of setbacks such as the announcement by President Donald Trump earlier this year that he would pull out of the Paris accord.

That credibility is hanging in the balance because of the fact that German emissions are growing and because of the fact that there is a big gap in being able to achieve this 2020 goal, Morgan said.

Also speaking at the talks are U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron, who has convened a climate summit in Paris next month to build on international efforts to fight global warming. Frank Jordans, Bonn, AP
It calls itself a steelmaker, but dont be misled by the name. Japan Steel Works Ltd. is no longer just the old-world metals firm that it started life as more than a century ago. These days, the Tokyo-based company is more a technology play, supplying machinery to the makers of everything from high-end phone screens to lithium-ion batteries. So much so, in fact, that the steel and energy products business makes up less than a quarter of sales.

Now, with Apple Inc. selling its first phone boasting an organic light-emitting diode display, a sharp, vibrant screen that uses less energy, Japan Steel Works is counting on that being good for its own bottom line. While the iPhone X display supplier doesnt use the companys annealing machines, which apply a type of laser treatment to create a key layer of OLED screens, Japan Steel Works says Apples move will help expand the entire OLED industry.

If this takes off, demand is going to swell, said Hidehiko Ohtsu, the head of planning for Japan Steel Works laser-equipment business. Well boost capacity as needed.

JSW is one of a surprising number of Japanese companies that play key roles in the OLED business, hidden from sight as suppliers to suppliers, but possessing niche technologies. And while Japanese firms are sometimes criticized for diversifying away from their core strengths, Japan Steel Works is an example of that approach paying off.

Apples shift toward OLED displays, a technology that Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook once disregarded, has sparked billions of dollars of investments in the display industry by those betting the new screen technology will fly with Apple on board. While Samsung Electronics Co. has used OLED screens for its phones for almost a decade, other smartphone makers have largely relied on liquid crystal displays.

While LCDs rely on a backlight panel, OLED pixels can glow on their own, resulting in thinner displays, better battery life and improved contrast. OLED screens can also be made on flexible plastic, which allows for a better variety of shapes and applications.

Chinese panel makers, which have started aggressively developing OLED displays, have ordered many of Japan Steel Works laser annealing machines, Ohtsu said, vying to win a chunk of what UBI Research Inc. estimates will be a USD57 billion market by 2020. JSW, which had been generating as much as 10 billion yen ($88 million) in annual sales from the machines, saw revenue for the business more than double in the year ended March.

Were the top player in what we do, said Ohtsu. The steelmaker says it has about a 70 percent market share for laser-equipped annealing machines for LCD display manufacturing, thanks to its early foray into the machinery. It sold machinery to Samsung Display Co., the only OLED screen supplier for the iPhone X, and LG Display Co., before the South Korean companies started making it themselves.

JSW will benefit as Apples move into OLED screens prompts other phone makers to adopt the technology, said Thanh Ha Pham, a Tokyo-based analyst at Jefferies Group LLC who rates Japan Steel Works a buy. When that happens, obviously a lot of the orders will come to Japan Steel Works.

In 1995, the Japanese machinery maker was first in the world to start a process called excimer laser annealing, which helped accelerate market adoption of high-performance, cost-efficient LCDs. Demand for small LCDs that initially targeted the digital-camera market took off with the massive growth in mobile phones in the late 1990s.

With the advent of smartphones, demand only got greater. But unlike companies such as Japan Display Inc. that fell behind amid the transition to OLED, JSW hasnt been affected, because its laser machines can easily be used for making the new screens. Bloomberg
Following President Donald Trumps visit to Beijing, China said yesterday that it would send a high-level special envoy to North Korea amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbors over Pyongyangs nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Song Tao, the head of Chinas ruling Communist Partys International Department, will travel to Pyongyang on Friday to report on outcomes of the partys national congress held last month, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Xinhua said Song, as president and party leader Xi Jinpings special envoy, would carry out a visit in addition to delivering his report, but gave no details about his itinerary or meetings. It also made no mention of Trumps trip to Beijing or the Norths weapons programs, although Trump has repeatedly called on Beijing to do more to use its influence to pressure Pyongyang into altering its behavior.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang downplayed any connection between Songs trip and Trumps visit, saying it was common practice for the Communist Party and North Koreas ruling Workers Party to exchange views.

The purpose of this visit is to brief about the party congress and exchange views on issues of common interest and bilateral interest, Geng said at a regularly scheduled briefing.

Song would be the first ministerial-level Chinese official to visit North Korea since October 2015, when Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan met with leader Kim Jong Un. Liu delivered a letter to Kim from Xi expressing hopes for a strong relationship, although the respite in frosty ties proved short-lived. Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin visited Pyongyang in October of last year.

The two ruling parties have long-

standing ties that often supersede formal diplomacy, even while Beijing has long been frustrated with Pyongyangs provocations and unwillingness to reform its economy.

However, Song is not directly connected to Chinas efforts to convince Pyongyang to cease its nuclear weapons program and return to talks, downplaying the chances for a breakthrough in that highly contentious area.

China is also North Koreas largest trading partner and chief source of food and fuel aid, although it says its influence with Kims regime is often exaggerated by the U.S. and others. While it is enforcing harsh new U.N. sanctions targeting the Norths sources of foreign currency, Beijing has called for steps to renew dialogue.

Beijing is also opposed to measures that could bring down Kims regime, possibly depriving it of a buffer with South Korea and the almost 30,000 U.S. troops stationed there, and leading to a refugee crisis and chaos along its border with the North.

In Beijing last week, Trump urged Xi to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.

China can fix the problem easily and quickly, Trump said in remarks to journalists alongside Xi. He urged Xi to hopefully work on it very hard.

If he works on it hard, it will happen. Theres no doubt about it, Trump said.

While calling the visit significant, a top Chinese expert on North Korea relations downplayed any connection with Trumps statements in Beijing, saying it fit a pattern of traditional exchanges between the two parties following significant events such as national congresses.

Representatives are dispatched to brief the other side at a chosen time and chosen level. It is a tradition and it is unnecessary to connect it with Trumps visit to China, said Guo Rui, researcher at the Institute for North Korean and South Korean Studies at Jilin University in northeastern China.

However, he said the visit shows Chinas willingness to see a continuous development of the friendly relations between the two sides.

Although the Korean Peninsula situation has been evolving fast with worrisome indications, the two parties are maintaining normal exchanges, and that is of significance for stabilizing the bilateral relations and the peninsular situation, Guo said.

The nature of Songs visit as a party-to-party exchange rather than one between the two governments appears to paint it as a bilateral attempt to strengthen relations, said John Delury, a professor at Seouls Yonsei University who specializes in Korea and China.

The fact that Song was identified as Xis special envoy also suggests that Xi is personally making a push to open the channel at a higher level and engage more constructively with Kim, Delury said.

This is a chance to see if he can open things up, he said. The relationship has been so frosty, it will be interesting to see if theres some improvement in the bilateral ties.

North Korea staged its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3, detonating what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb, and last launched a ballistic missile on Sept. 15, firing it over the Japanese island of Hokkaido into the Pacific Ocean.

Since then, there has been a lull in such activity, leading to some hopes in Beijing that Pyongyang might be responding to international pressure and becoming more amenable to talks.

Songs visit to Pyongyang also comes as China and South Korea are repairing their relations, with South Korean President Moon Jae-in scheduled to visit next month for talks with Xi.

Previously warm ties soured last year over Seouls decision to deploy a sophisticated U.S. missile defense system aimed at guarding against North Korean threats.

Beijing claimed the THAAD system damaged its own security because its radars could observe military movements within northeastern China and retaliated by banning Chinese tour groups from visiting and interfering in the China operations of South Korean companies.

While South Korea resisted Chinas demands to withdraw the system, Beijing appeared satisfied with a pledge from Seoul not to expand it, among other commitments .Christopher Bodeen, AP
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said yesterday that his country was deeply concerned by credible reports of atrocities committed by Myanmars security forces and called for an independent investigation into a humanitarian crisis that has seen hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya flee to Bangladesh.

Speaking at a joint news conference with leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmars capital, Tillerson said the U.S. would consider individual sanctions against people found responsible for the violence, but he would not advise broad-based economic sanctions against the entire country.

All of that has to be evidence based, Tillerson said. If we have credible information that we believe to be very reliable that certain individuals were responsible for certain acts that we find unacceptable, then targeted sanctions on individuals very well may be appropriate, he said.

Tillersons one-day visit comes as a new report said there was mounting evidence of genocide against the Rohingya in Myanmars northern Rakhine state, where a government security operation has caused more than 600,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.

Tillerson also met with Myanmars powerful military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, who is in charge of operations in Rakhine.

A senior U.S. State Department official said Tuesday that Tillerson would use the visit to express concerns over the displacement and violence and insecurity affecting Rohingya populations and other local populations and discuss ways to help Burma stakeholders implement commitments aimed at ending the crisis and charting productive ways forward.

Myanmar was formerly known as Burma.

Though Suu Kyi has been the de facto head of Myanmars civilian government since her party swept elections in 2015, she is limited in her control of the country by a constitution written by the military junta that ruled Myanmar for decades. The military is in charge of the operations in northern Rakhine, and ending them is not up to Suu Kyi.

Still Suu Kyi has faced widespread criticism for not speaking out in defense of the Rohingya. At yesterdays news conference Suu Kyi denied she had been silent on the issue, saying she had personally commented on the situation as well as issued statements through her office.

I havent been silent, she said. What people mean is what I say is not interesting enough. But what I say is not meant to be exciting. Its meant to be accurate. And its aimed at creating more harmony and a better future for everybody. Not setting people against each other.

The report by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the advocacy group Fortify Rights found there is mounting evidence of genocide against the Rohinyga. It accused security forces and civilians of mass killings  including burning victims alive including infants  rape and other abuses, and called on the international community to take action.

These crimes thrive on impunity and inaction, said Matthew Smith, the head of Fortify Rights. Condemnations arent enough. Without urgent international action towards accountability, more mass killings are likely.

Myanmars military has denied the accusations, most recently with a statement Monday. The military said it had interviewed thousands of people during a monthlong investigation into the conduct of troops in Rakhine after Rohingya insurgents launched a series of deadly attacks there on Aug. 25.

While the report acknowledged that battles against militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army had left 376 terrorists dead, it also claimed security forces had never shot at the innocent Bengalis and there was no death of innocent people.

Myanmars government and most of the Buddhist majority say the members of the Muslim minority are Bengalis who migrated illegally from Bangladesh and do not acknowledge the Rohingya as a local ethnic group even though they have lived in Myanmar for generations. AP
Zimbabwes army said yesterday it has President Robert Mugabe and his wife in custody and is securing government offices and patrolling the capitals streets following a night of unrest that included a military takeover of the state broadcaster.

The nights action triggered speculation of a coup, but the militarys supporters praised it as a bloodless correction.

For the first time, this southern African nation is seeing the military oppose Mugabe, the worlds oldest head of state and one of the longest-serving authoritarian rulers. Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwes independence from white minority rule in 1980.

Armed soldiers in armored personnel carriers stationed themselves at key points in Harare, while Zimbabweans formed long lines at banks in order to draw the limited cash available, a routine chore in the countrys ongoing financial crisis. People looked at their phones to read about the army takeover and others went to work or to shops.

In an address to the nation after taking control of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Major General Sibusiso Moyo said early yesterday the military is targeting criminals around Mugabe, and sought to reassure the country that order will be restored.

It was not clear where Mugabe, 93, and his wife were yesterday but it seems they are in the custody of the military. Their security is guaranteed, Moyo said.

We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover, he said. We are only targeting criminals around [Mugabe] who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice.

Moyo added as soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy. The army spokesman called on churches to pray for the nation. He urged other security forces to cooperate for the good of our country, warning that any provocation will be met with an appropriate response.

All troops were ordered to return to barracks immediately, with all leave canceled, said Moyo. The broadcast was sent out from the ZBC headquarters in Pockets Hill near Harares Borrowdale suburb.

Overnight, at least three explosions were heard in the capital, Harare, and military vehicles were seen in the streets.

The military actions appear to put the army in control of the country. Army commander Constantino Chiwenga had threatened on Monday to step in to calm political tensions. Mugabes ruling ZANU-PF party responded by accusing the general of treasonable conduct. But now Chiwenga appears to be in control.

The army has been praised by the nations war veterans for carrying out a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power. The military will return Zimbabwe to genuine democracy and make the country a modern model nation, said Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the war veterans association, told The Associated Press in Johannesburg.

Mutsvangwa and the war veterans are staunch allies of Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was fired from his post of vice president by Mugabe last week. Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe last week but said he would return to lead the country.

The U.S. Embassy closed to the public yesterdayday and encouraged citizens to shelter in place, citing the ongoing political uncertainty through the night. The British Embassy issued a similar warning, citing reports of unusual military activity.

For the first time, this southern African nation is seeing an open rift between the military and Mugabe. The military has been a key pillar of his power. Farai Mutsaka, Harare, AP
Credit: Shutterstock

Primary school teachers could detect children at high risk of developing mental disorders soon after they start school, new research at UNSW Sydney suggests.

The study used teacher assessments of children in kindergarten, linked with administrative records, and found that being exposed to abuse or neglect before age five was the strongest predictor of whether a child would be at risk for future mental illness.

Associate Professor Melissa Green of the UNSW School of Psychiatry says that while much attention and funding have been directed toward clinical services providing early mental health intervention for adolescents, it is unlikely that this approach alone will reduce the prevalence of mental illness in young people.

Susceptibility to mental illness needs to be reliably detected much earlier in childhood, before the emergence of symptoms, and the study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry provides an insight into how this might occur.

The researchers set out to identify patterns of childhood development at age five that may serve as early markers of risk for mental illness.

Using a NSW population of 67,353 children selected from the NSW Child Development Study, they identified four groups of children based on their developmental functioning in the 2009 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).

The census is conducted triennially by teachers in all Australian schools when children begin kindergarten.

The four groups of children were:

4 percent who showed "pervasive risk" across all areas of development;

6.5 percent who showed "misconduct risk" (disrespectful, aggressive, hyperactive behaviour);

11.6 percent with "mild generalised risk," and;

77.9 percent showing "no risk."

Then, using linked data from NSW Health, NSW Department of Family and Community Services and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the team examined the background characteristics of these children according to their particular risk profile.

"We found that being exposed to childhood maltreatment before age five was the strongest predictor of membership in any of the three risk profiles," Associate Professor Green says.

"Children in the 'pervasive risk' group were six times more likely to have been exposed to childhood maltreatment, relative to the 'no risk' group. Having a parent with a mental illness, or a parent with a criminal offending history was also strongly associated with early risk."

One major implication of this work is that children at high risk of later mental illness could be detected as early as five years of age by teachers.

This would enable existing school programs in emotional and social health to be refined and better targeted before behaviour problems emerge and become intractable. This would help to prevent what is known as a "cascade" of neurodevelopmental processes leading to poor mental health, and potentially other problems in later life such as antisocial behaviour or poor educational achievement.

"Investment in very early detection and intervention for children at risk could potentially reduce the prevalence of mental illness in adolescence, and save health care and other costs in the longer term," Associate Professor Green says.
Despite an FDA black box warning against prescribing children codeine following tonsil and adenoid removal, 1 in 20 children undergoing these surgeries continued to receive the opioid, a new study suggests.

The FDA issued a warning regarding the significant safety risks of codeine use by children undergoing a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy in 2013. While the move substantially decreased codeine prescribing, it did not completely eliminate the practice, researchers report in Pediatrics.

"The residual codeine prescribing is concerning since this should be a zero event," says lead author Kao-Ping Chua, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher and pediatrician at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital who conducted the study with colleagues at the University of Chicago and Harvard Medical School.

"We need to ensure children are not subjected to unnecessary potential harm when we have reasonable alternatives."

Researchers analyzed a national sample of claims from 362,992 privately insured children who had a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy between 2010 and 2015. Following the FDA warning, codeine prescribing related to the common procedures decreased significantly, by roughly 13 percentage points. Yet, about 5 percent of children were still prescribed codeine following these surgeries in December 2015nearly three years after the black box warning.

In an additional analysis, researchers also found that the decreased use of codeine was accompanied by an increase in prescribing strong opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. This trend deserves further study, Chua notes.

"Though over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen are quite effective for pain after these surgeries, some children with more severe pain will require opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. The problem is that there are also concerns regarding the safety and abuse potential of these alternative opioids," Chua says.

Historically, codeine has been widely used to treat pain among children undergoing surgical removal of tonsils or adenoids. But in the past few decades, the FDA received several reports of respiratory depression and death among children prescribed codeine after these surgeries.

Most of these children were "ultra-metabolizers" who converted codeine rapidly to morphine in the liver, resulting in dangerously high blood morphine levels. As a result, the FDA initiated a safety investigation in August 2012 and ultimately issued a "black box warning" that specifically prohibited the use of codeine for children undergoing these surgeries.

In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics reinforced the warning and also called for the elimination of codeine use more broadly in pediatrics.

"The problem is we don't how each patient metabolizes codeine. So every time a doctor prescribes codeine to a child, they are rolling the dice with the child's health," Chua says.

"Our findings suggest the need to increase efforts to eliminate inappropriate codeine prescribing and encourage the use of effective non-opioid medications following tonsil and adenoid removal in children."
Difficulties in replacing a fifth of the general practice workforce in England after Brexit will primarily threaten healthcare in more deprived areas, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Medicine. 21.1 per cent of General Practitioners (GPs) employed in English primary care are doctors who qualified outside the UK (4.1% in the EEA and 17% elsewhere). These non-UK qualified doctors work longer hours, tend to be older, serve a larger number of patients in more deprived areas, and appear to be paid slightly less, researchers at the University of Manchester suggest.

Evangelos Kontopantelis, senior author of the study said: "The workforce crisis affecting recruitment and retention in general practice is likely to worsen over the next ten years. Our findings point towards a Brexit 'paradox': the more deprived parts of the UK population that voted for Brexit are the ones that will be primarily affected by the inability of the NHS to replace older, non-UK qualified GPs following Brexit and new policy-restrictions on immigration."

Professor Aneez Esmail, lead author of the study added: "The ongoing crisis in GP recruitment resulted in a promise of 5,000 more GPs by 2020 in the run-up to the 2015 elections. However, there was no increase between 2015 and 2016, so it is unclear how this target will be met in the context of hardening public attitudes to immigration. An additional promise of 1,500 new medical graduates per year from 2018 is not enough to meet the 2020 target: it will take at least 10 years for new GPs to be trained, assuming that more than the current 30% of UK graduates choose to become GPs."

The researchers analyzed data on 37,792 GPs in England and found that non-UK qualified GPs made up 21.1% of the total numbers of GPs, with the largest percentage working in East England (29.8%) and the lowest in the South West (7.6%). The areas found to be most heavily dependent on non-UK qualified GPs include the Greater London area, the East of England, the North West and North East.

Compared to UK qualified doctors, EEA qualified doctors were found to work longer hours, while doctors who qualified outside both the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK worked longer hours than both. The authors also found that GPs who had qualified in the EEA or elsewhere worked more often on a full-time basis and that they worked in practices whose patients lived in considerably more deprived areas. This was particularly the case for elsewhere qualified GPs, according to the authors.

Practices with high percentages of EEA or elsewhere-qualified GPs had a higher number of patients per GP and more people with chronic conditions per GP, while GPs in these practices appeared to be paid less. Average pay per patient was 133, 132 and 129 for UK, EEA and elsewhere qualified GPs respectively. Adjusting for patient age and the total number of chronic conditions there was no difference in pay between UK and EEA qualified GPs, but a ten per cent increase in elsewhere qualified GPs within a general practice was linked to a 1 decrease in average pay per patient.

The authors used primary care workforce data from NHS Digital from 30 September 2016, which contains information on the location of GP practices, numbers of patients, numbers and working hours for GPs. The authors analysed characteristics of GP practices such as average working hours per GP, average pay and patient deprivation and their association with the number of overseas qualified GPs. Because this was an observational, cross-sectional study, it can only report associations and does not allow for assumptions about cause and effect.

Professor Esmail said: "This is the first investigation to evaluate the characteristics of the populations served by non-UK qualified GPs. Members of this largely undervalued group of doctors are sometimes marginalized or even stigmatized, but our study shows that they are a hard working group serving the most deprived areas of England. They are part of the solution to the recruitment crisis facing general practice and that needs to be acknowledged by policy makers and politicians."

More information: Aneez Esmail et al, The potential impact of Brexit and immigration policies on the GP workforce in England: a cross-sectional observational study of GP qualification region and the characteristics of the areas and population they served in September 2016, BMC Medicine (2017). Journal information: BMC Medicine Aneez Esmail et al, The potential impact of Brexit and immigration policies on the GP workforce in England: a cross-sectional observational study of GP qualification region and the characteristics of the areas and population they served in September 2016,(2017). DOI: 10.1186/s12916-017-0953-y
Credit: Queensland University of Technology

Improved disease surveillance at Australian ports and borders is needed to prevent the growing threat of dengue infection spreading across the country, with a new QUT study identifying potential risk factors linked to dengue outbreaks beyond climatic conditions.

First author of the study published in PLOS One, Rokeya Akter from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), said overseas and interstate travellers posed a significant threat in the transmission of dengue across Australia.

"Dengue is a major public health concern, with the severity of incidence increasing globally 30-fold in the past 50 years," she said.

"We know climatic conditions are closely linked to outbreaks of dengue infections in Australia and overseas.

"This study, has for the first time, looked beyond weather patterns (temperatures and rainfall) to identify trends in other risk factors linked to dengue infection.

"Overall, an increasing trend of dengue and in potential socio-demographic factors such as overseas arrivals, having rainwater tanks, house types and economic status were found across Australia."

Ms Akter said because dengue was a mosquito-borne disease transmitted from human-to-human by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, travellers entering Australia from dengue endemic countries posed a significant threat to outbreaks.

Dengue is spread by two species of mosquito of the Aedes type and transmitted by a mosquito bite from an infected human to a non-infected human.

"In addition, illegal shipping and cargo vessels increase the chance of virus distribution to other non-exposed states and also increase the risk of exotic mosquito importation into Australia.

QUT researcher Rokeya Akter. Credit: Queensland University of Technology

"Even with upgraded inspection protocols placed in different ports in Australia, this study raised concern about the re-emergence of the Aedes mosquito due to a history of incursion and the extreme survival capacity of the Aedes eggs."

Ms Akter said there were several mosquito control programs and strategies in place in Australia to monitor and eliminate the Aedes species including the use of traps, briquettes, insect growth regulators and bio-controls.

"However, current programs focus on dengue risk areas and not the risk posed by returned travellers from dengue endemic countries, especially during times of outbreak.

"One option is to increase surveillance and monitoring of travellers arriving in Australia to control the importation and transmission of dengue virus."

Other social factors raised in the study that may pose a risk to increased spread of infection include:

Rainwater tanks, which many have been found to be non-complaint with Australian safety standards

Terraced Queenslanders, which may provide a perfect breeding ground for mosquitos

Economic advantage, or people financially able to travel and holiday to overseas dengue endemic countries such as Bali, Indonesia.

Ms Akter said while more than 53 per cent of dengue cases were found in Queensland, it was the absence of the Aedes mosquito that prevented other states and territories from experiencing similar dengue infection rates.

"The climatic conditions in NSW, Northern Territory and Western Australia follow similar trends and we have also found similar patterns in social factors," she said.

"If the distribution of Aedes mosquitoes expands to other parts of the country under changed climate and owing to availability of socio-ecological factors, this poses a future threat on local transmission of dengue across Australia.

"Therefore, it is essential to consider the importance of placing upgraded mosquito surveillance at different ports to reduce the chance of disease-transmitting mosquitoes being imported all over the country."

More information: Rokeya Akter et al. Socio-demographic, ecological factors and dengue infection trends in Australia, PLOS ONE (2017). Journal information: PLoS ONE Rokeya Akter et al. Socio-demographic, ecological factors and dengue infection trends in Australia,(2017). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185551
Dr. B Ajay Kumar Rao, who is a doctor at a private hospital in Arpalli village, said his wife Lasya was harassing him with police cases and thus he wanted a divorce.

By Ashish Pandey: A doctor in Telangana pulled off a Veeru (from Sholay) like stunt and climb on a tower threatening suicide.

But there's a twist in the tale, the doctor did not threaten suicide to profess love but because he wanted a divorce.

via GIPHY

Dr. B Ajay Kumar Rao, who is a doctor at a private hospital in Arpalli village, said his wife Lasya was harassing him with police cases and thus he wanted a divorce. Since Rao failed to convince her, he climbed a local tower and refused to come down.

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He dropped a letter from the 40-feet tall tower which said that he wants a divorce.

Describing his ordeal Dr. Ajay wrote in the letter, "My wife threw me out of my house after lodging a case the second time two days ago and the police is also pressurising me. I want custody of my daughter and divorce from wife."

After much coaxing the police finally succeeded in bringing him down. The couple was then sent for counselling.

Jagityal town police inspector Prakash said that Ajay and Lasya married seven years ago and have a daughter. Recently a case of dowry, harassment and domestic violence was filed against him.

WATCH | Telangana: Doctor climbs atop mobile tower demanding divorce from wife

--- ENDS ---
Researchers from the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) and the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) at the University of Calgary have discovered a medication that could make it possible to treat individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease.

An article published today in JCI Insight concludes that pimozide was found to be safe and over the short term, preliminary data shows that it could stabilize the progression of ALS. This neurodegenerative disease normally leads to a progressive paralysis of the skeletal muscles and, on average, three years after the onset of symptoms, to death.

"This medication alleviates the symptoms of ALS in animal models," said Alex Parker, a CRCHUM researcher and professor at Universite de Montreal. "Riluzole and edaravone, the drugs currently used, have modest effects. Other studies must be conducted to confirm our results, but we believe that we've found a medication that may prove to be more effective in improving patients' quality of life."

From worm to man

The story behind the discovery began six years ago with a little millimeter-long nematode worm called C. elegans. In his laboratory, Parker genetically modified the worms so that they would exhibit aspects of the human form of ALS. Simultaneously, his colleague Pierre Drapeau did the same thing to another animal, the zebrafish, a tiny tropical fish only 5 centimetres long.

The two scientists obtained funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to test medications on these worms and fish born with ALS. "We sifted through a library of 3,850 molecules approved for the treatment of other diseases, and found a class of antipsychotic drugs that stabilize mobility in worms and fish," said Drapeau, a CRCHUM researcher, professor at Universite de Montreal and principal investigator on the study. "Pimozide works especially well in preventing paralysis in fish by preserving the neuromuscular junction."

Subsequently, Universite de Montreal Professor Richard Robitaille performed electrophysiological tests on mice in his laboratory and reached the same conclusion. Thus, pimozide was shown to maintain neuromuscular function in three different animal models: worms, fish and mice.

At the annual ALS Canada Research Forum in 2012, the researchers met Dr. Lawrence Korngut, an Associate Professor at the CSM, member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) and Director of the Calgary ALS/Motor Neuron Disease Clinic. "Pimozide is a drug that has been well-known for 50 years," the neurologist said. "It was approved for treating certain types of psychiatric conditions, like schizophrenia, and costs only 9 cents per pill. Other recent studies have shown genetic links between schizophrenia and ALS. The next logical step was to test it on human volunteers with ALS."

In 2015, the first preclinical trial for ALS was launched in Canada with a small group of 25 patients who had ALS. Funding was provided by the Quirk family of Calgary, by the HBI, and the Clinical Research Unit at UCalgary.

"We found the highest dose most likely to be tolerated in individuals with ALS - a lower dose than that used in other conditions - and we have preliminary proof showing that pimozide may be useful," said Korngut.

The initial clinical trial was modest in scope. But after only six weeks, the researchers had a first indication of the drug's efficacy. Loss of control of the thenar muscles, located in the palm of the hand between thumb and index finger, is usually one of the first signs of ALS. For patients who took pimozide, this function remained stable. This observation is tempered by the very limited size and length of the clinical trial.

"For us, this is an indication that we found the right therapeutic target," said Drapeau. "Pimozide acts directly on the neuromuscular junction, as shown in our animal models. We don't yet know whether pimozide has a curative effect, or whether it only preserves normal neuromuscular function to at least stabilize the disease. This is also the first time that a potential drug for human patients was discovered based on basic research on small organisms such as worms and fish."

Now comes the next step: a phase II clinical trial on 100 volunteers, funded by the "The Ice Bucket Challenge" through a partnership between ALS Canada and Brain Canada to begin in the next few weeks. Headed by Korngut in Calgary and conducted in nine hospital centres across Canada, the study aims to confirm that pimozide is safe and to measure, over a six-month period, its effect on the progression of the disease and its symptoms and on patients' quality of life.

Daniel Rompre, 47, father of two teenage girls, hopes to participate in the new study. He was diagnosed with ALS in March 2016. The muscles of his upper body are getting weaker, he is beginning to have trouble speaking, and he can no longer use his left arm. "It is hard to maintain a positive outlook," Rompre said. "You ask yourself: 'Why me?' But at least it's encouraging to see that research is advancing. There has been more progress in the last five years than in 100 years of research on the disease."

It is too soon to draw firm conclusions about the safety and efficacy of pimozide. "At this stage, people with ALS should not use this medication," Korngut emphasized. "We must first confirm that it is really useful and safe in the longer term. It is also important to be aware that pimozide is associated with significant side effects. Therefore, it should only be prescribed in the context of a research study."

More information: Shunmoogum A. Patten et al, Neuroleptics as therapeutic compounds stabilizing neuromuscular transmission in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, JCI Insight (2017). Shunmoogum A. Patten et al, Neuroleptics as therapeutic compounds stabilizing neuromuscular transmission in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,(2017). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.97152
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Heavy drinking and smoking are linked to visible signs of physical ageing, and looking older than one's years, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Light to moderate drinking was not associated with biological ageing, the findings showed.

But nor was it linked to the slowing of the visible ageing process as there was no difference in the prevalence of the signs of ageing between light to moderate drinkers and non-drinkers, the researchers point out.

They base their findings on information from more than 11,500 adults, whose heart health and visible ageing signs were tracked for an average of 11.5 years as part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study.

This study, which began in 1976, has been monitoring a random sample of Danish people over the age of 20 living in the Copenhagen area in 1981-3, 1991-4, and in 2001-3.

Before each of the clinic visits, participants were quizzed about their lifestyle and general health and asked to state how much they drank and smoked.

And they were checked for four signs of ageing that have previously been linked to a heightened risk of cardiovascular ill health and/or death.

These were: earlobe creases; a greyish opaque coloured ring or arc around the peripheral cornea of both eyes (arcus corneae); yellow-orange plaques on the eyelids (xanthelasmata); and male pattern baldness (receding hairline or a bald patch on the top of the head).

The average age of the participants was 51, but ranged from 21 to 86 among the women, and from 21 to 93 among the men. Average alcohol consumption was 2.6 drinks/week for women and 11.4 for men. Just over half the women (57%) and around two thirds of the men (67%) were current smokers.

Arcus coneae was the most common sign of ageing among both sexes, with a prevalence of 60 per cent among men over 70 and among women over 80. The least common sign was xanthelasmata, with a prevalence of 5 per cent among men and women over 50. A receding hairline was common among men, with 80 per cent of those over the age of 40 affected.

Analysis of drinking and smoking patterns revealed a consistently heightened risk of looking older than one's true age and developing arcus corneae, earlobe creases, and xanthelasmata among those who smoked and drank heavily.

For example, compared with a weekly alcohol intake of up to 7 drinks, a tally of 28 or more was associated with a 33 per cent heightened risk of arcus coneae among the women, and a 35 per cent heightened risk among men who knocked back 35 or more drinks every week.

Similarly, compared with not smoking, smoking one pack of 20 cigarettes daily for between 15 and 30 years was associated with a 41 per cent heightened risk among women and a 12 per cent heightened risk among men.

The occurrence of the visible signs of ageing was no different among light to moderate drinkers than it was among non-drinkers, the analysis showed.

Male pattern baldness was not consistently associated with heavy drinking or smoking, possibly because it is strongly influenced by genes and circulating levels of male hormones (androgens), suggest the researchers.

This is an observational study so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, particularly as the data on smoking and drinking relied on personal recall, which is subject to bias.

And while the researchers took account of a range of potentially influential factors, they were unable to take account of stress, which is associated both with cardiovascular disease risk and smoking and heavier drinking.

Nevertheless, they conclude: "This is the first prospective study to show that alcohol and smoking are associated with the development of visible age-related signs and thus generally looking older than one's actual age....This may reflect that heavy drinking and smoking increases general ageing of the body."

More information: Alcohol consumption, smoking and development of visible age-related signs: a prospective cohort study, Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-208568 Alcohol consumption, smoking and development of visible age-related signs: a prospective cohort study,
Progression from quiescent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, via incipient and subclinical disease, to active pulmonary tuberculosis disease in humans. Credit: Scriba TJ, et al (2017)

Researchers have uncovered a sequence of biological processes that occur in humans infected with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the infection progresses to pulmonary tuberculosis, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens.

M. tuberculosis infects about a quarter of all people worldwide. Some infected people remain healthy, but five to 15 percent eventually develop active tuberculosis disease, which can be deadly. The most common form of the disease occurs in the lungs and is known as pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis can be cured, but little is known about how it develops from the initial infection.

To better understand the mechanisms that underlie development of tuberculosis, Thomas Scriba of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and colleagues followed 150 adolescents infected with M. tuberculosis for several years. 106 of the study participants remained healthy, but 44 went on to develop pulmonary tuberculosis within a few years of initial infection.

During the study period, the researchers took regular measurements to monitor and compare immune system activity between individuals who remained healthy and those who eventually fell ill. They found that some differences were detectable as early as one to two years before diagnosis, while some were only detectable just before active disease began.

Eighteen months before diagnosis, the researchers found, individuals had elevated activity of immune system signaling molecules known as interferons, which aid in fighting infection. They also had elevated activity of the complement system, another immune system component. In the days just before diagnosis, additional immune changes occurred, including increased activity of white blood cells.

The scientists also analyzed which genes were expressed in T cells (a type of white blood cell) purified from study participants' blood. They found that certain genes associated with T cells' response to infection were suppressed in those who later developed pulmonary tuberculosis.

Overall, these findings lay out a clearer timeline of biological events that occur along the path from infection to disease. With further research, this knowledge could aid development of new strategies for diagnosis, vaccination, and treatment.

More information: Scriba TJ, Penn-Nicholson A, Shankar S, Hraha T, Thompson EG, Sterling D, et al. (2017) Sequential inflammatory processes define human progression from M. tuberculosis infection to tuberculosis disease. PLoS Pathog 13(11): e1006687. Journal information: PLoS Pathogens Scriba TJ, Penn-Nicholson A, Shankar S, Hraha T, Thompson EG, Sterling D, et al. (2017) Sequential inflammatory processes define human progression from M. tuberculosis infection to tuberculosis disease.13(11): e1006687. doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006687
Credit: University of Reading

Hyper masculine men, who exhibit traits such as competitiveness and aggressiveness, may be more likely to take part in pain research  and it could be skewing our understanding of how women and men experience pain differently.

The research published in the Journal of Pain today (Wednesday 8 November) looked at whether identification with traditional gender roles influences the likelihood of participating in a pain study. The team from the University of Reading and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro found that men with traditionally male gender traits such as competitiveness and aggression were significantly more likely to sign up as participants for studies examining their pain responses.

Dr Tim Salomons, from the School of Psychology at the University of Reading, said:

"I've always wondered what kind of people sign up for studies where they'll experience pain. We were especially interested in gender identification, as studies show that certain types of men might do unpleasant or risky things to test themselves and show others how "manly" they are.

"Maybe it isn't all that surprising that hyper-masculine men sign up for pain studies at a higher rate, but it's quite important in terms of understanding how they behave in those studies."

Credit: University of Reading

The team recruited 137 student volunteers to answer questions about their biological sex and gender identification, and then say whether they were willing to participate in a pain study. The results revealed that while there was little difference between men and women in participating, there was a significant correlation between masculine traits and participation, and the study indicated that the more aggressive and competitive a man, the more likely he is to agree to participate in pain studies.

Dr Salomons says the discovery not only suggests that pain studies may not accurately reflect population demographics, but may also alter our interpretation of observed differences between men and women:

"Contrary to the popular belief that women can endure more pain, research consistently shows that men have higher pain thresholds. Our paper suggests that this effect might be inflated by recruitment and reporting biases. Previous studies link gender identification to pain threshold, so if we're recruiting more 'macho men', it stands to reason that men will appear more tolerant. We also know that men report less pain if the experimenter is a woman, suggesting they might report less pain to appear manly."

"It certainly opens up questions about how perceived gender roles affect what we observe in studies  and what influence social upbringing and internal attitudes towards gender roles would have for pain management."

More information: L. Mattos Feijo et al. Sex-Specific Effects of Gender Identification on Pain Study Recruitment, The Journal of Pain (2017). Journal information: Journal of Pain L. Mattos Feijo et al. Sex-Specific Effects of Gender Identification on Pain Study Recruitment,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.09.009
Patients with a "mental disorder" in England and Wales can be detained and treated against their will under the Mental Health Act (MHA). The United Nations has said the UK should repeal legislation authorising compulsory treatment in healthcare.

Should this law be reformed - or could changes make things worse for patients? Experts debate the issue in The BMJ this week, ahead of the 56th Maudsley Debate on 22 November 2017 at King's College London.

Unjust discrimination against people with mental ill health in relation to involuntary treatment should be replaced with universal rules based on decision making ability, argues George Szmukler, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Society at King's College London.

In non-psychiatric cases, the person's decision-making ability (capacity) and what is in their best interests are key to when treatment decisions can be overridden, he explains. Yet in psychiatric cases, mental health law invokes two entirely different criteria operate - the presence of a (largely undefined) 'mental disorder' and a perceived 'risk' to the person's health or safety, or of harm to others. The patient's autonomy is thus not accorded equal respect.

"We have accepted such discrimination for so long because of deeply rooted stigmatising stereotypes of people with mental illness - that they are incapable of exercising judgment, and that dangerousness is intrinsic to mental illness," he writes.

Szmukler believes we can create a legal framework governing involuntary treatment that is non-discriminatory. "The law must be generic; that is, it applies to everyone who has a problem with decision-making, whatever their diagnosis - physical or mental - and in any setting - medical, surgical, psychiatric, or in the community," he argues.

"Northern Ireland has taken the ground-breaking step of enacting such a law. We are sure to see more like it in the future," he concludes.

A world without compulsory mental health treatment is a commendable ambition, writes Scott Weich, Professor of Mental Health at the University of Sheffield. But he worries about legal distractions that won't improve outcomes while services are so thinly stretched.

By abandoning the Act, as in Northern Ireland, "lives would be lost and more people in distress would go without help," he argues. It would also mean contravening other human rights, including the rights to health, liberty, justice, and life. The most vulnerable people would likely suffer most.

The law is not the problem, he says. Only properly resourced mental health services can reduce rates of compulsion and assure decent, humane outcomes. "But because UK services are so thinly stretched, abandoning the MHA would discriminate against people with mental illness by denying them care."

One of the paradoxes of the MHA is that its application obliges services to provide care, he adds. "Only patients deemed at most risk can access mental health beds. In other words, they get help only because the MHA (that is, the law) demands that they get treatment."

"We can't divorce the law from its setting," he concludes. "Focusing on the MHA is looking too far downstream, and is a dangerous distraction. Unless services are properly resourced, changing the law won't make things better for patients, and it might make them very much worse."

More information: George Szmukler et al. Has the Mental Health Act had its day?, BMJ (2017). Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) George Szmukler et al. Has the Mental Health Act had its day?,(2017). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j5248
In this photo, Zika virus infection kills non-human primate epithelial cells. White gaps in the image show where Zika virus has disrupted a layer of healthy cells. Researchers analyzed infection in these cells to test the infectivity of the Zika virus, and protection conferred by virus-specific neutralizing antibodies. Published by PLOS Pathogens, the study suggests mothers with resolved prior asymptomatic Zika infection build immunity that will protect them and -- if they later get pregnant -- their fetal offspring. Credit: Cincinnati Children's

Birth defects in babies born infected with Zika virus remain a major health concern. Now, scientists suggest the possibility that some women in high-risk Zika regions may already be protected and not know it.

New research in PLOS Pathogens on Nov. 16, performed in mice, shows women who develop symptom-free Zika infections may be able to acquire immunity that would protect them from future infections and their offspring in a future pregnancy. The study was led by investigators at the Cincinnati Children's Perinatal Institute.

During their study of Zika infection in pregnant mice, the authors found built-up immunity in previously infected mothers that continued into pregnancy and protected fetal tissues. Because the mothers had already cleared their non-symptomatic Zika infections, they developed high levels of protective immunoglobulin antibodies against the virus that researchers found in the animals.

Detection of these protective antibodies points to the possibility of developing diagnostic tests to identify naturally immune women and distinguish them from women at high risk of infection, according to researchers.

"We need more research to investigate the levels of antibodies generated when humans get infected, and how they work in women during pregnancy. But this opens up the possibility that some individuals likely have acquired natural resistance to infection," said Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD, lead author and a pediatrician in the Division of Infectious Diseases. "There are promising efforts underway to develop a vaccine against Zika, but currently there isn't one. These results suggest in lieu of a vaccine, Zika-fighting antibodies could be used therapeutically to help protect high-risk women."

The ability to identify high-risk women would help develop focused therapeutic strategies for prevention, researchers say. They also suggest their findings point to the possibility of combining protective antibodies with an eventual vaccine, which could synergistically provide more a robust level of protection against Zika.

Way and his colleagues, including co-first authors Lucien Turner and Jeremy Kinder, PhD, stress that because study was in animal infection models, it's premature to say how the findings will apply clinically. Future studies will include closer biological investigation to understand exactly how built-up immunoglobulin antibodies protect against Zika infection in mothers and their developing fetal offspring.

Zika Explosion

The study comes in the wake of an ongoing Zika epidemic and an explosion of cases involving fetal death, microcephaly (born with severely decreased head size), and other congenital birth defects. Researchers said expectant mothers are especially susceptible to Zika infection compared to non-pregnant women. If the virus is active during pregnancy, it usually spreads to vital tissues of a developing fetus.

Because Zika virus infection in healthy non-pregnant women is mostly asymptomatic, many women of reproductive age in high-risk regions have a cleared infection before pregnancy, according to researchers. High-risk regions of the world include areas of Africa and Central and South America, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To investigate the impact of a prior infection on the susceptibility to reinfection, researchers infected two groups of mice with Zika.

One group had a previous asymptomatic infection that had resolved before scientists performed a second round of infection. They found that susceptibility to Zika virus infection was markedly reduced in mice that had previously cleared a prior infection compared to those undergoing a first infection during pregnancy.

Mice that didn't have prior Zika infections developed clinical symptoms and sharply increased levels of Zika virus in their blood, which spread to fetal tissues.

Zika virus could not be found in most of the baby mice from mothers with resolved infection prior to pregnancy. Protection found in Zika-resistant mice could be transferred to susceptible mice with Zika virus neutralizing antibodies found in the blood of mice with prior asymptomatic infection.

More information: Turner LH, Kinder JM, Wilburn A, D'Mello RJ, Braunlin MR, Jiang TT, et al. (2017) Preconceptual Zika virus asymptomatic infection protects against secondary prenatal infection. PLoS Pathog 13(11): e1006684. Journal information: PLoS Pathogens Turner LH, Kinder JM, Wilburn A, D'Mello RJ, Braunlin MR, Jiang TT, et al. (2017) Preconceptual Zika virus asymptomatic infection protects against secondary prenatal infection.13(11): e1006684. doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006684
Credit: Imperial College London

Scientists have developed a sensor that fits in the ear, with the aim of monitoring the heart, brain and lungs functions for health and fitness.

In previous pilot studies that involved trialling the device with 24 people, the researchers from Imperial College London have demonstrated the prototype's potential for monitoring brain, heart and breathing activity.

Now, the latest study from Professor Danilo Mandic's team from Imperial has shown that their 'Hearable' technology also has potential as a heart monitor. In the preliminary study, the new in-ear heart monitoring device was found to accurately capture heart data in six people.

The device detected heart pulse by sensing the dilation and constriction of tiny blood vessels in the ear canal, using the 'mechanical' part of the electro-mechanical sensor. The electrode part of the sensor is used to detect a full and clinically valid electrocardiogram, which records the electrical activity of the heart.

The new research was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

Based on these results and previous preliminary findings, the researchers suggest Hearable may in the future go on to identify and manage heart conditions such as heart attack or irregular heart beat, and also serve to observe the general health state of body.

They suggest the device for heart monitoring may also be easier and more convenient for patients and clinicians to use. Traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) testing involves wearing a chest belt for 24 hours. However, the in-ear device fits discreetly in the ear, meaning it can be worn for longer, providing a longer-term picture of the patient's heart activity.

Hearable is made of foam and moulds to the shape of the ear like a conventional ear plug. As well as mechanical sensors, it uses electrical sensors to detect brain activity.

Credit: Imperial College London

Professor Mandic, lead author of the study from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said: "This is the latest piece of research on what we think could be a versatile new piece of wearable technology. We've now completed a number of tests on our sensor that focused on detecting vital signs within the body. Our early results are proving interesting and, although we are still a way off from seeing it used outside of experiments, we have many exciting avenues to explore."

Future applications

The technology is still in its early development, but the researchers say the device also has other potential applications such as in sleep science and monitoring fatigue, epilepsy, drug delivery, and person authentication. By monitoring the brain, the device could be used as a new method for cyber security, where brain signals, much like the fingerprint lock on a smart phone, are used to activate a device. Unlike a fingerprint, brain waves are impossible to forge.

It may also be useful in other settings such as in the health and fitness industry. By monitoring the heart and lungs, the researchers believe that the sensor could perform similar functions to wrist-worn fitness trackers.

However, unlike wrist-worn trackers, which monitor from the arm at the body's extremity, the ear-worn sensor, despite a relatively weaker signal, may get more stable results because the position of the ear relative to the internal organs is nearly always the same.

During previous pilot trials in humans, the researchers showed that the prototype can be used to monitor a combination of vital signs and brain function, which could be used to screen for and monitor stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, and heart disease.

Ultimately, the researchers are aiming for the device to wirelessly transmit the data to clinicians in real-time to provide immediate results and analysis. This could open up new possibilities in patient care.

For example, patients who are monitored overnight in sleep clinics are usually asked to wear lung, heart, and brain monitors, all of which provide an unnatural sleeping environment. The earpiece would mean patients could be monitored for a number of days and sleep in their own beds, while transmitting data in real time, to improve monitoring.

Professor Mandic said: "This is a very exciting piece of technology but its evidence in humans is limited. We will now work to put these preliminary results into practice and could eventually use this in real life situations."

More information: Wilhelm von Rosenberg et al. Hearables: feasibility of recording cardiac rhythms from head and in-ear locations, Royal Society Open Science (2017). Journal information: Royal Society Open Science Wilhelm von Rosenberg et al. Hearables: feasibility of recording cardiac rhythms from head and in-ear locations,(2017). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171214
Credit: New Jersey Institute of Technology

Like an earthquake that ruptures a road, traumatic spinal cord injuries render the body's neural highway impassable. To date, there are neither workable repairs nor detours that will restore signal flow between the brain and limbs, reversing paralysis.

"The problem with spinal cord injuries is that nerve cells do not regenerate," explains Treena Arinzeh, director of NJIT's Tissue Engineering and Applied Biomaterials Lab, who has proposed a solution: a scaffold, made of an energetic polymer, that will coax nerve cells to extend their axons over the spine's damaged section.

Earlier this month, Arinzeh and her lab team, former graduate student, Yee-Shuan Lee, Ph.D. '10, and George Collins, an adjunct professor, won an Edison Patent Award from the New Jersey Research and Development Council for their invention. Their repair strategy combines a piezoelectric scaffold with neural cells to regenerate nerve tissue in spinal cord injuries. Piezoelectric material, which produces an electrical charge in response to a mechanical force, is also used in sonar and sound technologies. The advantage of this "smart" material is that it generates its own charge and does not require an external power source.

"Axons - the fibers that transmit messages - can potentially travel long distances if given the right cues to regrow. We knew that an electrical charge could direct this growth," Arinzeh says, adding, "Some tissues in the body are naturally piezoelectric. What we did was to create a fibrous material that is similar, but with a higher charge to stimulate growth."

Her scaffolds caught the attention of the Department of Defense (DoD), which seeks remedies for traumatic battle injuries. "There is no effective treatment for severe spinal cord injuries, and soldiers can remain completely paralyzed for the rest of their lives," she notes.

With funding from the agency, the technology is being put to the test in preclinical studies at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where Arinzeh is working with Mary Bunge, a neuroscientist, and her former student. They are testing the efficacy of injecting Schwann cells from the peripheral nervous system, which produce the myelin sheath around nerve axons, in combination with the piezoelectric scaffold, for spinal cord repair. The Schwann cells' job is to restore existing cells by stimulating them to extend their axons.

The Miami Project is currently in phase I clinical trials with humans as well, using Schwann cells for spinal cord repair. By combining those cells with piezoelectric scaffolds, "we hope to improve the cells' survival and their effectiveness when implanted into the spinal cord," Arinzeh says.

"The nice thing about Schwann cells is that they're readily accessible from low-risk sites like limbs. I think of them as 'facilitator cells' because they provide the signals that prompt axons to grow and reach their targets - other neurons," she adds.

In the pre-clinical studies, Arinzeh found that implanted scaffolds with Schwann cells would extend over a five-millimeter gap in the spinal cord. "The cells survived and were getting good growth - wrapping themselves around the growing axons as the axons extend along the scaffold."

The primary conventional remedy to spinal cord trauma is to reduce inflammation with drugs. There have also been regenerative medicine strategies which involve injecting cells with growth factors, or growth factors alone, into the spinal cord in the hopes of stimulating new growth, but they have not been successful. Arinzeh says that engineering approaches are gaining more acceptance.

"No technology has been effective so far, and so we're taking it a step further, introducing biomaterials with an electrical charge. We've known in the biomedical world that electrostimulation can cause nerve cell growth - we've seen this with bone and cartilage tissue - so we set about to identify a polymer with piezoelectric properties. We found it in a material used for sutures, which is biocompatible and promotes nerve growth," she explains. "We're looking for some recovery of function. If we can show that, it would be a significant leap."

Arinzeh has creatively borrowed techniques from other engineering sectors to advance tissue regeneration, including for bone and cartilage repair. The polymer fibers that compose the framework of her scaffolds, for example, are formed by electrospinning, a technique developed by the textile industry.

For the community of scientists, engineers and clinicians determined to treat paralysis, the stakes are high. Success will hinge upon contributions from all of their domains.

"With bone and cartilage, we're relying on the scaffold to stimulate the body's own cells to regrow tissue, but the biological factors driving the formation of neural tissue in the spinal cord appear to be more complex," Arinzeh notes. "To induce nervous tissue to not only regrow across the lesion, but to reconnect with the rest of the spinal cord, may require a combination of scaffolds, cells and growth factors."
A vial is labeled and prepared to hold blood from an Ebola patient in Sierra Leone. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Tokyo and the University of Sierra Leone will compare blood from those who died of the virus to those who survived and those who never got sick to try and develop treatment. Credit: Kawaoka Lab/University of Wisconsin-Madison

In a comprehensive and complex molecular study of blood samples from Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, published today (Nov. 16, 2017) in Cell Host and Microbe, a scientific team led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison has identified signatures of Ebola virus disease that may aid in future treatment efforts.

Conducting a sweeping analysis of everything from enzymes to lipids to immune-system-associated molecules, the teamwhich includes researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the University of Tokyo and the University of Sierra Leonefound 11 biomarkers that distinguish fatal infections from nonfatal ones and two that, when screened for early symptom onset, accurately predict which patients are likely to die.

With these results, says senior author Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a virology professor at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, clinicians can prioritize the scarce treatment resources available and provide care to the sickest patients.

Studying Ebola in animal models is difficult; in humans, next to impossible. Yet, in Sierra Leone in 2014, a natural and devastating experiment played out. In September of that year, an Ebola outbreak like no other was beginning to surge in the West African nation. By December, as many as 400 Ebola cases would be reported there each week.

That fall, Kawaoka sought access to patient samples. He has spent a career trying to understand infectious diseases like Ebolahow do they make people sick, how do bodies respond to infection, how can public health officials stay at least a step ahead?

"Here, there is a major outbreak of Ebola. It is very rare for us to encounter that situation," says Kawaoka, who is also a professor of virology at the University of Tokyo.

Yet blood samples were proving difficult to obtain and people continued to die.

Then, just weeks before Christmas, Kawaoka learned about a colleague in his very own department at UW-Madison, a research fellow from Sierra Leone named Alhaji N'jai, who was producing radio stories for people back home to help them protect themselves from Ebola. The pair forged a fortuitous partnership.

"He knows many people high up in the Sierra Leone government," says Kawaoka. "He is very smart and very good at explaining things in lay terms."

By Christmas, Kawaoka, N'jai and Peter Halfmann, a senior member of Kawaoka's team, were in Sierra Leone.

"On the first trip, Alhaji took me to Parliament and we talked to a special advisor to the president, then the vice chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone," says Kawaoka. "We got the support of the university, which helped us identify military hospitals and provided space. We went to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the chief medical officer and we explained what we hoped to do."

Yoshihiro Kawaoka, professor of pathobiological sciences at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, meets with Ekundayo Thompson, vice chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, while in the African nation to establish a partnership to study and fight Ebola while improving the research capacity and infrastructure of the University of Sierra Leone. Credit: Kawaoka Lab/University of Wisconsin-Madison

By February of 2015, Kawaoka and other select senior researchers on his team, including Amie Eisfeld, set up a lab in a military hospital responding to the outbreak in the capital city of Freetown (the researchers never entered patient wards). With the approval of patients and the government of Sierra Leone, health workers collected blood samples from patients after they were diagnosed with Ebola and at multiple points thereafter.

They obtained 29 blood samples from 11 patients who ultimately survived and nine blood samples from nine patients who died from the virus. The samples were transported to the lab where Kawaoka's experienced and expertly trained team inactivated the virus according to approved protocols. Blood samples were subsequently shipped to UW-Madison and partner institutions for analysis.

For comparison, the research team also obtained blood samples from 10 healthy volunteers with no exposure to Ebola virus.

"Our team studied thousands of molecular clues in each of these samples, sifting through extensive data on the activity of genes, proteins and other molecules to identify those of most interest," says Katrina Waters, a biologist at PNNL and a corresponding author of the study. "This may be the most thorough analysis yet of blood samples of patients infected with the Ebola virus."

The team found that survivors had higher levels of some immune-related molecules, and lower levels of others compared to those who died. Plasma cytokines, which are involved in immunity and stress response, were higher in the blood of people who perished. Fatal cases had unique metabolic responses compared to survivors, higher levels of virus, changes to plasma lipids involved in processes like blood coagulation, and more pronounced activation of some types of immune cells.

Pancreatic enzymes also leaked into the blood of patients who died, suggesting that damage from these enzymes contributes to the tissue damage characteristic of fatal Ebola virus disease.

And, critically, the study showed that levels of two biomarkers, known as L-threonine (an amino acid) and vitamin D binding protein, may accurately predict which patients live and which die. Both were present at lower levels at the time of admission in the patients who ultimately perished.

"We want to understand why those two compounds are discriminating factors," says Kawaoka. "We might be able to develop drugs."

When Ebola virus leads to death, experts believe it is because of overwhelming viral replication. Symptoms of infection include severe hemorrhaging, vomiting and diarrhea, fever and more.

Kawaoka and his collaborators hope to better understand why there are differences in how patients' bodies respond to infection, and why some people die while others live. The current study is part of a larger, multicenter effort funded by the National Institutes of Health.

"The whole purpose is to study the responses of human and animal bodies to infection from influenza, Ebola, SARS and MERS, and to understand how they occur," Kawaoka explains. "Among the various pathways, is there anything in common?"

In the current Ebola study, the team found that many of the molecular signals present in the blood of sick, infected patients overlap with sepsis, a condition in which the bodyin response to infection by bacteria or other pathogensmounts a damaging inflammatory reaction.

And the results contribute a wealth of information for other scientists aimed at studying Ebola, the study authors say.

Kawaoka says he is grateful to UW-Madison, University Health Services and Public Health Madison and Dane County for assistance, particularly with respect to his research team's travel between Madison and Sierra Leone. Each provided protocols, "I hope another outbreak like this never occurs," says Kawaoka. "But hopefully this rare opportunity to study Ebola virus in humans leads to fewer lives lost in the future."
Many ASEAN diplomats are looking for reasons to leave Delhi to get away from the smog situation, said Thai envoy Chutintorn Gongsakdi.

By Geeta Mohan: Thailand's ambassador to India Chutintorn Gongsakdi has said that many diplomats are looking for reasons to leave the national capital to get away from the smog situation that was taking a toll a their health.

Speaking to India Today, Gongsakdi said, "There was one story of an ambassador who had bronchitis and had to move south. There are other ambassadors out of Delhi on duty. Wouldn't say smog is the primary reason for that, but it could be one of them."

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He also added that at a time when the Ministry of External Affairs was busy lobbying with diplomats to ensure victory of Indian candidate Dalveer Bhandari at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), getting the ambassadors to go to South Block on short notice would be a little difficult. Ambassador Chutintorn said, "If you have to call the ambassadors urgently to lobby, you would be facing the Deputy Chief of Missions, the person in-charge. As far as I know, out of 10 ASEAN envoys, there are 7 ambassadors in Delhi. The others are out of town."

Gongsakdi emphasised on the need for better facilities for diplomats - such as air purifiers - not just in their offices but also at their residences. As the head of the Thai mission in New Delhi, he has been lenient with the staff taking leaves and has allowed them to leave town given the pollution situation in Delhi.

'ENVIRONMENT A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY'

Speaking of measures that have been taken, he said Prime Minister Modi alone can't be blamed for the problems and that it was a joint responsibility. "Can't put everything on Prime Minister Modi alone. Environment is a collective responsibility. I noticed that we don't separate our garbage, we allow our pets to litter in public spaces."

He also highlighted the plight of the farmers and the alarming situation in the light of smog burning that the country was facing. "One also has to recognise the issue of stubble burning. It's a problem to do with poor farmers so we have to find solutions for them too because it affects their livelihood. They need to be compensated for their produce or helped with other agricultural scientific methods", he said.

WATCH VIDEO | Delhi pollution: Kejriwal, Khattar say they'll work together to tackle smog

--- ENDS ---
Samsung has announced that Craige Fleischer, its director of integrated mobility for Southern Africa, is stepping down.

Fleischer is leaving to pursue new business opportunities, and will leave Samsung at the end of December.

Samsung said it will ensure the transition period during which a new candidate is found will be smooth.

The role is an important one for South Africa, as it involves the companys smartphone and mobile device strategy in the country.
Oil prices may reach $120 a barrel and stay at this level for 2 years

Zelenskyy receives 'signals' that Putin wants direct talks

Security Service of Ukraine puts Ramzan Kadyrov on wanted list

Unidentified men open fire at market in Izeh city in southwestern Iran

Karen Donfried tries to explain State Department's decision to exempt Azerbaijan from 907th Amendment

Philip Reeker says U.S. administration representatives have no access to Nagorno-Karabakh

Rimac Nevera sets speed record for production electric cars

Reeker: Pace and depth of current talks between Yerevan and Baku demonstrate potential to resolve conflict

FBI director considers TikTok threat to US National Security

Bob Menendez says Ukraine supplies Azerbaijan with phosphorus bombs it used in Karabakh

Delegation headed by Speaker of Armenian Parliament is in Tbilisi

Austin: U.S. intends to continue supplying weapons and aid to Ukraine during winter

Armenian politician charged with abuse of office, money laundering

Karen Donfried says Armenia and Azerbaijan have historic opportunity to establish lasting peace

Bob Menendez: How can the U.S. justify security assistance to the Baku regime?

Azerbaijan fires at residents of Sarushen village of Artsakh

Head of Portugal's Finance Ministry: EU countries must work faster on energy intervention

Kuwait executes 7 prisoners

Czech Republic plans to train up to 4,000 Ukrainian servicemen next year

Ukraine once again asks US for powerful drones

Belarusian border guards shoot down drone intruding into airspace from Ukraine

Armenian Deputy PM: Regional electricity export opportunities significantly increased

Greek authorities temporarily ban export of firewood from country

Azerbaijan protests to France in connection with Senate resolution

Blinken calls on Aliyev to observe ceasefire and limit provocations

Pashinyan: We're advancing rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan: Armenia invites Azerbaijan to sign framework agreement on peace

Pashinyan: Most of the arable land of 4 villages in Tavush Province is occupied by Azerbaijanis

Armenian Prime Minister: Let the opposition loudly reject Russia's proposals

Pashinyan: 2023 budget growth in social protection compared to 2018 is 56%

Inflation in UK up to 41-year high of 11.1% in October

Pashinyan: We don't want to provoke war between CSTO and Azerbaijan

Pashinyan's explanation: How should we fight inflation?

Pashinyan: Armenia submitted its proposals for peace treaty to Azerbaijan, we are waiting for a response

Pashinyan: Army budget 2023 more than doubled compared to 2018

CNN: CIA director visits Kyiv

Macron urges Iran to calm down and respect the French

IRGC forces detain Mossad spy in southern Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister expresses dissatisfaction with number of 'unrealistic comments' by Azerbaijani officials

Parliament Vice-Speaker: Armenian military-industrial complex able to establish serial production of military products

Armen Grigoryan receives Major General Daniel Lasica

Poland says Ukrainian missile could be cause of explosion

Ivanka Trump says she will not participate in her father's presidential campaign

KGB of Belarus states about 'threat of intervention' from Baltic States, Ukraine, and Poland

Belarus says AFU blew up bridges in direction of Gomel and Mozyr

22-year-old soldier dies in accident with army truck in Armenia

Indonesian president hands over G20 presidency to India

Azerbaijani Ombudswoman's distorted perception of reality: French Senate Resolution 'will undermine peace in the region'

Nikol Pashinyan holds telephone conversation with Irakli Garibashvili

Four explosions blow up in sky over Belgorod

NATO Secretary General to hold meeting of alliance on incident in Poland

Finnish Foreign Ministry: Many in NATO believe that Turkey has created an awkward situation for the alliance

Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem receives group of wounded participants of 44-day Karabakh war

AP: Drone with explosives attacks oil tanker off the coast of Oman

LPR announces attack by AFU from Popasna to Kharkiv Oblast

Toyota reveals next-generation Toyota Prius hybrid

Central Bank head: State Budget deficit in Armenia to grow to 3.1% of GDP in 2023

Erdogan believes Russia had nothing to do with the missile incident in Poland

Thanasis Bakolas shares concerns that Armenian politician banned from leaving Armenia

Biden and Sunak discuss missile incident in Poland at G20 summit

Russian Defense Ministry: Elements of the Ukrainian S-300 system fell in Poland

Erdogan: Biden administration is determined to sell F-16s to Turkey

Gold price remains stable

Copper falls in price

Microsoft to leave Azerbaijan

G7 and NATO leaders say they are ready to support Poland in investigation of bombings

Joe Biden asks Congress for new funding for Ukraine

Finance Minister: Capital expenses will greatly increase in Armenia in 2023

Azerbaijani MFA accuses French Senate of undermining relations normalization process between Baku and Yerevan

Armen Grigoryan to pay working visit to India

AP: Missile falls in Poland may have been fired by Ukraine to shoot down Russian missile

Erdogan plans to discuss fertilizer transportation and grain deal with Putin

Oil price falls

Blinken calls on Armenian Prime Minister to maintain momentum of peace talks with Azerbaijan

CNN: NATO aircraft tracked the trajectory of the missile that fell in eastern Poland

Armenian FM to visit Tunisia

Yerevan draft budget 2023 revealed

U.S. Embassy: Major General Daniel Lasica arrives in Armenia

Armenian MOD refutes 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
A large-scale attempt of falsification undertaken by Azerbaijan, aimed at neutralizing the efforts of the international community towards the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as damaging the developing relations between Armenia and EU on the eve of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels was thwarted at the European Parliament.

The destructive steps of Azerbaijani side were managed to be identified thanks to the permanent representation of Armenia is Brussels, as well as the targeted work of the Armenian lobbying organizations in Brussels.

At the plenary session of the European Parliament a resolution was adopted with an overwhelming majority of votes. In the resolution, for already the second time, the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination is practically recognized by repeating the precedent taken in connection with the 72nd session of General Assembly of UN, when due to persistent efforts of the Armenian side in Brussels, the European Parliament recognized the right of Artsakh people to self-determination.

This resolution is of a significant importance, because it determines the expectations of the partnership at the eve of the Eastern Partnership. It also points on the logic of the further development of the Eastern Partnership, thats why there is no wonder that Azerbaijani side put efforts to change the main idea and the logic of the resolution.

Particularly, the Azerbaijani side, acting in it style of Laundromat, could manage to make the authors add twenty annexes that are against the peaceful regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and are against Armenia. The additions represented Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan and contained other pro-Azeri wordings and demanded the return the refugees.

Nonetheless, due to the principal attitude of the European side and the persistent work of the Armenian side, all the destructive annexes of the Azerbaijani side were rejected. Moreover, the right of Nagorno-Karabakh people to self-determination was again ascertained.

After the rejection of the annexes where Armenia was depicted in negative light, Armenia was announced to be a positive example and a relating link in the two integration areas of the EU and the Eurasian Union.

Thus, another Azerbaijani provocation faced a serious opposition in Brussels, thanks to the Armenian diplomacy in favor of the peaceful regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the development of Armenia-EU relationship.
By PTI: Ahmedabad, Nov 16 (PTI) Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia today alleged that things do not move without paying commission in BJP-ruled states.

Scindia, while addressing a gathering of youths at Congress Yuva Samvad programme here, also attacked the BJP government in Gujarat for failing in the fields of education and health care, adding that the states gross state domestic product (GSDP) rate had also come down in recent years.

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"The truth is that not even a single government school was opened (in Gujarat) in the last 22 years. The state is going back in terms of literacy rate. Twenty three per cent students cannot read a paragraph in Gujarati, 62 per cent fail in Mathematics, 63 per cent cannot read a passage of English," the Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha said.

"The government is failing in its responsibility. Every year, four to five universities come up with the speed of a bullet train and the fees also grow at the speed of the bullet train. One has to pay deposit and capitation fee for education, even as 33 per cent faculty posts in technical education lie vacant," he said.

Referring to the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, his home state, Scindia said, "In a BJP-ruled state, education is a source of corruption. Vyapam is a scam that shows that a poor but talented youth cannot get job, but an incapable and rich kid will certainly get it".

The former Union minister said the BJP also did not add any health centre in the last 22 years of its rule in Gujarat, and there were only a few doctors in government hospitals and a few teachers in state-run schools.

When some people from the audience pointed out to him that patients in government hospitals were being referred to private facilities by doctors, Scindia said it was due to "commission".

"You do not understand. They say so because they have their commission fixed there. In BJP rule, nothing happens without commission...Commission agent number 1," he said.

Scindia slammed the Centre for failing to provide jobs to youths, and said moves like note-ban and GST hurt Surat textile and diamond industry, which provided jobs to a large number of youths.

"I would like to ask why Gujarats (GSDP growth) is today stagnant at 6.7 per cent. Narendra Modi and Vijay Rupani will have to answer this. The main reason behind this is that the state loan is Rs 2.22 lakh crore, more than Rs 10,000 crore 22 years ago," he said.

Scindia said after demonetisation, the production of Surat textile industry, which produces four crore metres of cloth (annually), has gone down by 50 per cent.

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"Similarly, 30 per cent of diamond industry in Surat, which offered jobs to 15 lakh people is closed. And note-ban? Kar diya ailan bina kisi plan (the announcement was made without any planning)," he said. PTI KA PD NP SRY

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN.  The visits of Armenian President and Foreign Minister to Moscow were planned long ago; the same refers also to the holding of Armenia Culture Days in Russia, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs forthcoming visit to Armenia.

Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan noted about the aforesaid to reporters, after Thursdays Cabinet session of the government of Armenia.

In his words, Lavrovs visit to Armenia will take place on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On the other hand, its apparent that there is some activeness by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, in connection with the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Kocharyan added.

As per the Armenian official, however, not only there is no progress in the respective talks, but the situation is somewhat volatile, and this is proved by the events that occurred in April of the year past.

The Minsk Group co-chair countries [Russia, US, and France] are also permanent members in the UN Security Council, the Armenian deputy FM noted, and [therefore] the resumption of military actions is unacceptable to them.

And when asked whether Sergey Lavrov will bring along any proposals to Yerevan, Shavarsh Kocharyan responded that the Russian FM works within the format of the three OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

He has dismissed publicly several times, assured the Armenian official. There are no separate Russian proposals [toward resolving the Karabakh conflict].
TMC leader Anubrata Mondal threatens to burn the houses of farmers protesting Mamata Banerjee government's proposal to build a residential colony over land acquired for an industrial project at Birbhum.

By Indrajit Kundu: "I will do tandav (dance of destruction). What's the time now? I am giving you (the police) time till 7pm. Arrest them (protesters) immediately. I don't want to listen to any story, or else, I will break open their houses and burn them down."

This is not a dialogue from one of the superhit Bollywood action film but a real threat coming from Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal. The leader was caught on camera intimidating Opposition leaders with dire consequences.

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He asked the police to arrest Opposition leaders failing which he would take law onto his own hands.

"I don't care which CPM or Congress leaders are here. If they create trouble, I will break their arms and legs. If you don't arrest them, I will take things into my own hands" Mondal announced aloud, flanked by his supporters even as Birbhum deputy superintendent of police (HQ) in Kashinath Mistry looked on in awe, fumbling for words.

As Anubrata Mondal continued with his tirade the TMC workers cheered him with slogans of "Vande Mataram". Mondal repeated his threat while speaking to India Today later.

WHAT IS THE MATTER?

Trouble began recently when unwilling farmers renewed their agitation over a 300-acre land acquired during the Left regime for an industrial project in Bolpur. The project never took off and now the Mamata Banerjee government wants to use the land for a housing colony and a university. The proposal has been met with stiff resistance by a section of farmers who lost their land.

The CPI(M) leader and former Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya along with Congress leader Abdul Mannan had plans to visit the area extending their support to the agitation. The two were scheduled to address protesting farmers at the site but the stage for the public meeting was vandalized, allegedly by TMC workers.

Later, the two Opposition leaders were stopped by the police, which claimed that their presence could escalate tensions on the ground. On the other hand, the TMC supporters blocked the road with sticks and bamboos.

OPPOSITION REACTS

The CPI(M) has dismissed Mondal's threats calling it "a mad persons rant". Bhattacharya said that he would soon visit Birbhum once again.

In a similar incident, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh too was stopped by the police in Coochbehar district following a protest by TMC workers, who blocked the road and showed black flags to protest Ghosh's visit.

Ghosh was on his way to Shitalkuchi, an area which had witnessed a communal flare up last month. "Since they can't counter us politically they are using violence to throttle Opposition voice in Bengal," the Bengal BJP president said.

"Birbhum has become the den for criminals. The district TMC president Anubrata Mondal himself controls all the criminals. Unfortunately, Congress and CPI(M) don't have the strength left to counter them. So, we have taken up the fight," Ghosh added.

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(With Bhaskar Mukherjee in Birbhum)

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN.  Israeli-Azerbaijani relations will not be affected by the recent scandal over Israeli drone producer who was told to attack the Armenian military on behalf of Azerbaijan, Israeli journalist Yossi Melman told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Earlier this year journalist and writer Yossi Melman published an article in Maariv newspaper saying that Israeli defense ministry was investigating the complaint saying Israel-based Aeronautics Defense Systems refused to demonstrate the capabilities of new drones on Armenian targets as requested by Azerbaijan.

I do not think geopolitical situation in your area has changed. Israeli-Azeri relations are not affected by this particular case. This does not affect the overall relations and would not affect in the long run, it is an isolated case of a company. I would put it differently, Azerbaijan is very important for Israel, but this case is so outrageous, that even the defense ministry realized that they cannot turn a blind eye, Mr. Melman said.

He mentioned that Azerbaijani side tried to say that the case is poisoning the relations, but Israeli side explained that we are a democratic society and we cannot interfere with the investigation.

On Monday it was revealed that Israeli police have opened a criminal investigation against an Israeli drone manufacturer. News of the investigation came out as an Israeli court approved a gag order for the case, constraining the information that can be spread about it.

The journalist said that the probe started in late July when the defense ministry started to investigate the case. He believes the Israeli authorities realized that it is a complex investigation, and it is not only about breaching the terms of the license, but may be something bigger.

As to the gag order by court, I think it is a theater of absurd. The gag order will operate until March and will forbid Israeli media to report about the case. I think the gag order would be challenged by Israeli media outlets, he emphasized.

Mr. Melman said he had become a public enemy in Azerbaijan, and was even called an agent of Armenia on one of Azerbaijani websites.

I am demanding an apology. They said I am corrupt journalist and received bribes from Armenian lobby. I would take them to court for defamation and I would demand compensation, he said.

The journalist added that unless he receives an apology from Azerbaijani website, he would take the case to the British court.
YEREVAN.- Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received on Thursday the President of the Senate of the Netherlands Ankie Broekers-Knol, the press service of the Government of Armenia reported.

Greeting the guest, Karen Karapetyan noted that its symbolic that such a high level visit takes place in the year marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Netherlands.

According to the Head of the Executive, the visit will give an opportunity to give new impetus to bilateral relations, and particularly to intensify trade and economic relations, the current level of which is below the desired, but the potential is rather great.

We are ready to organize mutual visits of business delegations which will give an opportunity to get acquainted with the investment opportunities of Armenia, the friendly investment atmosphere created by the Government to attract investments and to examine the prospects of entering 3rd markets through Armenia, PM Karapetyan said.

Karen Karapetyan assessed the development of partnership in agriculture, road construction, water management, IT, tourism, and other sectors as rather promising. The President of the Senate of the Netherlands highly assessed the level of political dialogue with Armenia, and noted that her country also attaches importance to expanding economic relations with Armenia.

Armenias geographic location makes Armenia an important country in the region and serves as an economic bridge between the EU and the EEU. There are opportunities to cooperate and develop relations both with Armenia and various countries through Armenia, Ankie Broekers-Knol said. The President of the Senate highlighted the suggestion of the Armenian Premier regarding the organization of mutual visits aimed at activation of business ties and expressed readiness to work in that direction.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement to be signed between Armenia and the EU in November.

The sides also exchanged views on the constitutional reforms in Armenia, the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, the peaceful settlement process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other issues of mutual interest.

Premier Karapetyan thanked for the support of the Netherlands to the reforms conducted in Armenia for decades. Karen Karapetyan also highlighted the implementation of technical and financial assistance projects through the Netherlands Development Assistance.
European Court of Human Rights court ruled out that Armenia is to pay  12,000 to Albert Movsesyan  father of a dead pregnant woman  in respect of non-pecuniary damage, ECHR reported.

The applicant alleged, in particular, that the authorities had failed to conduct an effective investigation into his daughters death.

It was noted that on 7 September 2007 at 10 p.m. K.M., who was in the early weeks of pregnancy at the time, was at home with her parents and husband when she fainted and began to have convulsions. An ambulance was called, which arrived 40-45 minutes later.

Upon arrival, the ambulance doctor, A.G., found K.M. nearly unconscious, with impaired breathing and low blood pressure. According to the applicant, the doctor was told at that point that K.M. was pregnant. A.G. diagnosed a convulsion syndrome, gave K.M. two injections  one of relanium and one of magnesium  and took her to hospital. Although K.M. had not regained consciousness after the injections, A.G. chose not to sit beside her during the journey to hospital, but instead sat beside the driver in the drivers cab.

On 14 September 2007 K.M. died in hospital without ever regaining consciousness.

On 30 April 2008 the applicant lodged a complaint with the Avan and Nor-Nork District Court of Yerevan concerning the investigators decision of 25 April 2008 seeking the institution of criminal proceedings against A.G. and the nurse. The applicant submitted, in particular, that the panel of experts performing the additional forensic medical investigation had not taken due account of his arguments, which had been based on relevant medical literature and Government decrees. He reiterated his arguments with regard to the contra-indication of relanium and magnesium in cases of pregnancy and low blood pressure and the other arguments previously submitted in his complaint lodged with the District Prosecutors Office.

On 26 May 2008 the Avan and Nor-Nork District Court of Yerevan dismissed the applicants complaint, finding that the inquiry into K.M.s death had been thorough and adequate. In doing so, the District Court referred to the results of the fresh forensic medical opinion. As regards the late arrival of the ambulance, incorrect completion of the visit record and the doctors failure to sit beside the patient during the journey to the hospital, the District Court referred to the fact that A.G. had been reprimanded for poor performance of her duties.

On 16 July 2008 the applicant lodged an appeal against this decision with the Criminal Court of Appeal. On 4 September 2008 the Criminal Court of Appeal dismissed the applicants appeal and upheld the decision of the District Court.
By PTI: (Eds: Correcting words in intro, headline)

Chennai, Nov 16 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu government today opposed in the Madras High Court the plea of Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking parole for a period of six months, saying she was not eligible for the relief.

A counter affidavit filed by the deputy home secretary said she was not eligible for grant of ordinary leave as per the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules 1982 and Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.

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The government said the probationary officer, who looks into requests for parole by convicts, has not recommended the grant of the six months leave.

The state government had yesterday opposed the plea of Nalini, serving life imprisonment, for premature release.

She has moved the court seeking six months of ordinary leave for making arrangements for the wedding of her daughter Harithra, who is living in London.

She has been lodged in a special prison for women in Vellore for more than 26 years since her arrest in connection with the assassination of the former prime minister at Sriperumpudur by an LTTE suicide bomber on May 21, 1991.

She moved the court saying there was no response to her representation to the prison authorities seeking the leave.

Nalini contended that she was entitled to be granted ordinary leave for one month once in two years and she had not availed any such relief so far.

She was not eligible for grant of ordinary leave and in addition she had also not provided any valid proof, such as visa of her daughter for her proposed visit to India for the wedding. Under the pretext of making arrangements for the wedding, the petitioner said she wants to get ordinary leave, the counter affidavit said opposing the plea.

The state government yesterday informed the court that it cannot entertain the plea seeking premature release as a similar matter was pending before the Supreme Court in connection with remission of sentences of all the seven convicts in the case. PTI CORR VS AAR

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Washington, Nov 16 (PTI) Reversing an Obama-era ban, the Trump administration has decided to issue permits for elephant trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe, which environmental groups say would lead to more poaching.

A US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) official said the agency received new information from Zambia and Zimbabwe that the move would benefit conservation in their countries.

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The FWS, under former president Barack Obama, determined in 2015 that importing the trophies would not benefit the species in the two African countries.

The FWS official said the US move will allow the two African countries to include US sport hunting as part of their management plans for the elephants and allow them to put "much-needed revenue back into conservation."

"Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation," the FWS sokesperson said in a statement.

Critics, however, note the restrictions were created by the Obama administration in 2014 because the African elephant population had dropped. The animals are listed in the US Endangered Species Act, which requires the US government to protect endangered species in other countries.

"We cant control what happens in foreign countries, but what we can control is a restriction on imports on parts of the animals," CNN quoted Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society, as saying.

"Reprehensible behavior by the Trump Admin," tweeted the Elephant Project.

"100 elephants a day are already killed," the group said, adding that, "This will lead to more poaching."

The number of elephants in the wild plummeted 30 per cent overall between 2007 and 2014, despite large scale conservation efforts. In some places it has dropped more than 75 per cent due to ivory poaching.

In 2016, there were just over 350,000 elephants still alive in the wild, down from millions in the early 20th Century.

US President Donald Trumps sons Donald Jr. and Eric are themselves big game hunters, US media reported.

Several years ago, Trump Jr. was criticised for posting a photo of himself with a dead elephants severed tail.

Safari Club International, a worldwide network of hunters, cheered the announcement by the Trump administration.

"We appreciate the efforts of the Service and the US Department of the Interior to remove barriers to sustainable use conservation for African wildlife," SCI President Paul Babaz said in a statement. PTI AKJ AKJ

--- ENDS ---

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Take a moment to imagine retirement and picture your perfect setting. Maybe you're dreaming of moving to Florida? Arizona, perhaps?

How about Costa Rica?

Retiring abroad is becoming a more popular option for seniors. The Social Security Administration estimates nearly half a million Americans have retired abroad, and according to a report from the Associated Press, the number of retirees moving out of the U.S. has increased 17% from 2010 to 2015.

There are plenty of reasons why moving abroad may sound appealing. Maybe you're looking for a change of scenery. Perhaps you've been eager to travel the world and you're finally getting the chance to do it. But one of the biggest reasons retirees move is money.

Travel map with passport and airplane tickets

Image source: Getty Images

Is retiring abroad right for you? It's a big decision that shouldn't be taken lightly, but here are three signs retiring in a new country may be a good choice.

1. Your retirement savings are a lot less than you'd hoped for

The median amount working-age American families aged 56 to 61 have saved for retirement is just $17,000, according to the Economic Policy Institute. So if you're like a lot of soon-to-be retirees, your retirement fund may be a little (or a lot) smaller than you'd hoped for.

You may think your only option is to continue working until you do have enough to retire -- or worse, risk running out of money during retirement. However, you might be surprised how far your savings can go in a country with a lower cost of living.

In Quito, Ecuador's bustling capital city, the average 900-square-foot furnished apartment costs around $450 per month. You can even move to a tropical paradise in Cancun, Mexico, and find a 900-square-foot furnished apartment in an upscale part of town for less than $750 per month.

Before you start packing your bags, you'll still need to do your research and find out how far your retirement savings will go in certain countries. But choose the right country, and even meager retirement funds can last a lot longer than they would in the U.S.

Story continues

2. You're anticipating high healthcare bills

Healthcare in the U.S. is incredibly expensive, even with Medicare helping to cover some of the costs. In fact, the average 65-year-old couple retiring today can expect to spend over $275,000 on healthcare costs during retirement.

In some other countries, though, healthcare is far more affordable. Mexico, for example, is a popular expat destination partly because of its healthcare system, and many hospitals in the country have American-standard facilities to appeal to expats and retirees. Also, once you become a resident, you can take part in the country's social security system and pay around $33 per month for health insurance.

Similarly, France was ranked No. 1 out of 191 countries for its healthcare by the World Health Organization, and expats are allowed to apply for public healthcare coverage once they establish residency by living in the country for at least 183 days per year. The average doctor's visit in France costs just $26, and 70% of that is reimbursed by the government.

3. You're willing to make sacrifices

Moving to a different country is a much bigger commitment than moving across town or to a new state. You'll have to seriously consider whether you're OK leaving friends and family behind, adapting to a new culture and way of life, and possibly learning a new language.

But if you're willing to make sacrifices, taking on a new adventure may be good for more than just your wallet. Traveling to a new country forces you outside your comfort zone, which can also be good for your brain. Things like learning a new language and navigating a new environment can strengthen your cognitive and social skills, according to a report by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Mental stimulation and socialization are especially important as you age.

Also, 86% of people in the study said their overall mood and outlook had improved as a result of travel during retirement, and 78% said their stress level had improved as well. So if you're willing to make the jump and move to a new country, you may thank yourself for it down the road.

There are many wonderful countries where you can live in comfort on a small (by American standards) budget, so don't limit yourself to the U.S.

More From The Motley Fool

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
By PTI: By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 16 (PTI) President Donald Trumps trip to Asia shows the US is ready to lead again, while the visit also helped strengthen the global communitys commitment to address security threats posed by North Korea and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley has said.

"President Trumps recent trip to Asia showed that America is ready to lead again in this crucial region of the world. That includes standing strong with our friends and allies, calling out those who threaten us, and looking out for the best interests of the American people and American businesses," Haley said.

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Trumps visit helped strengthen the international communitys commitment to addressing the security threats posed by North Korea and its lawless regime, she said a day after the president returned from a nearly two-week Asia trip.

"Now more than ever, Kim Jong-un is isolated and feeling the pinch from the strongest set of sanctions ever passed by the UN Security Council," she said.

The President made strides in each country he visited to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region that will benefit the economies and political stability of the region, she said.

"Finally, President Trump stood up for American prosperity by promoting fair trade and new investments that will lead to new jobs for hard-working Americans," Haley said.

In a fact-sheet, the White House said Trumps trip to five Asian nations strengthened existing relations and advanced high-standard rules that will enable regional development and prosperity.

"President Trump hosted a trilateral meeting with Prime Minster Turnbull of Australia and Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe of Japan, which was followed by a bilateral meeting between President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi. Representatives at the working level from all four countries met to discuss issues related to the Indo-Pacific," it said.

During his trip through Asia, Trump secured new projects and deals that will bring investment back to the US and employ American workers, the White House said.

He also advanced fair trade between the US and its partners in Asia, working to end years of one-sided and unbalanced trade that has left too many Americans behind.

"While visiting Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to promoting prosperity, development, and security in the Indo-Pacific region," the White House said.

"In Japan, the two nations launched the Strategic Energy Partnership, which supports universal access to affordable and reliable energy, and agreed to cooperate to offer high-quality infrastructure investment options in the Indo-pacific region," it said.

"In South Korea, Trump delivered a clear message that the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea will be strengthened and grounded in shared values and mutual trust, the White House said. PTI LKJ AJR

--- ENDS ---

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lmfao that last paragraph. y'all still on that

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How is complacency improving our democracy in any way? Serious question. I get not voting because you can't get the time off work and your employer is a tyrant (been there), but what other excuse is there not to exercise one's civic duty?

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Stay trash

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it's a sentence, dear. not a paragraph.

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if y'all cared half as much about voter suppression as voter apathy maybe you'd get somewhere

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do people get a toy for being snarky about your last point? if yall cant hold compatible thoughts at the same time in your head, dont mean OP and others cant.

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voting should be obligatory in every country tbh. it has more pros than cons

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Go in, Ellen. Elephants are awesome and Trump just proves over and over again that he's not

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Me too. It's honestly exhausting. Those animals won't survive another decade and the people responsible for their demise need to be culled.

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Remember that many of these countries have pivoted to the point where wild animals are essential to their livelihood, to the extent that bands of anti-poachers roam the parks.



So the ban may be lifted, but that doesn't mean the Trumplings can just waltz in and start shooting. It's actually quite likely they'd end up in jail, which is a splendid notion.



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Rich assholes will pay Zimbabwe or Tanzania $15K for a permit to kill an elephant - same situation as before. The repeal allows them to bring the pieces home, arguably making it more alluring to these psychopaths.

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same :(

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I really just want him to choke on a moldy bowl of elephants dicks, from the same elephants that are being killed for his precious trophies.

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can he just d*e. manson needs to snatch his soul on the way down to Satan's butt hole

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he's a fucking attention whore.

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its like every fucking thing obama did he has to overturn it's wild

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this is such a gross dictator move - his sons want to kill elephants, so now they can. all in the family, nothing about actual leadership.



:/

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Honestly he's just doing shit to do it at this point. Like "I can do whatever I want! Look at me!"

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He knows how to play press coverage. People are outraged at this more than the shit tax bill.

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All he cares about is sticking it to Obama. That's literally all he cares about.

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no yeah, as a tyrant does.



and until people stop trying to have "conversations" and behead the snake it'll keep being that way

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It's a distraction. Whenever he does some bullshit attention grabber it's to try and divert from some othe4 bullshit that's even more nefarious.

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its so his barely functioning adult sons can butcher animals for fun and bring them back as prizes.

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Wish this was mar-a-lago and Trump and his sons were inside



Edited at 2017-11-16 07:05 pm (UTC)

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A+++ Jumanji gif usage

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this makes me so, so sad. there's no point to this other than cruelty.



i hate him so

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Elephants maintain lifelong social groups, mourn their dead, & have a spoken language below the range of human hearing. https://t.co/B6ZD3OHC2X  David Slack (@slack2thefuture) November 16, 2017







Edited at 2017-11-16 07:04 pm (UTC) I hope that ugly fucker Don Jr falls into a pit of fire but the death is slow and painful. May he one day feel every bit of pain he and his ugly ass family has brought and inflicted upon these animals.

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hunting for sport makes me sick. this is vile

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this fucking scares me.

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This is really bad news. We are fucked.

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paul needs to die

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god can they die

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I actually surprised myself by laughing at this, as if it weren't real. It's so hard to deal with all this bullshit. It's terrifying.

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i just

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I have a bad feeling about this tax bill. There's so much other stuff going on that I feel like a lot of people are missing this.

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terrifying

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It will likely not pass in the Senate, the House sucks ass

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The real story... this loser bitch.

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He's just jealous because elephants are smarter than him. And have more empathy.

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This makes me so angry. Hunting for sport is disgusting. Fuck trump.

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James Franco, Simon Kinberg, Wonder Woman Scribe Allan Heinberg Team On Foxs Marvel Mutant Multiple Man https://t.co/u1CxAsfBOM pic.twitter.com/QvSKs9JTnC  Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) November 16, 2017

Fox is developing a starring vehicle for James Franco in X-Men property "Multiple Man".In the comics, Multiple Man is Jamie Madrox, who, in the comics, conveyed his cloning powers at birth, when a second, identical version of him appeared after the doctor slapped the infant to get him to breathe. His father, a worker at the Los Alamos Nuclear Research Center, moved his family to a remote farm where his son  fitted with a special suit to control his powers designed by X-Men patriarch Professor Xavier  lived quietly until the suit malfunctioned and he began to go crazy. His cloning abilities drove Madrox to have various collisions and collaborations with both the X-Men and Fantastic Four.Allan Heinberg (Wonder Woman) will write the script.
The world's forests shrank by 3 % between 1990 and 2015. Credit: Pixabay/ Free-Photos

The world is losing its trees, but at what cost? Better estimates of deforestation and degradation could shed light on the amount of CO2 emitted, refine climate models and help developing countries better manage their forests.

Forests cover about 30% of the world, according to World Bank estimates, and they act as important keystones for life. Home to millions of species, they capture and store carbon dioxide and provide us with clean water and timber. Forests are also known to play an important role in regulating the climate.

According to UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world's forests shrank by 3 % between 1990 and 2015, with most losses at the tropical latitudes. Although the rate of forest removal has halved over these past 30 years, it is still alarmingly high.

Professor Guido van der Werf from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands said: 'Besides habitat fragmentation and loss of biodiversity, deforestation emits CO2 that is roughly equivalent to 10 % of the global fossil fuel emissions.'

That is because one of the main methods of deforestation is to burn down trees. Prof. van der Werf and his colleagues have looked at how CO2 emissions from deforestation have varied since 1950, using tropical forest fires as a proxy. Funded by the EU's European Research Council, their DE-CO2 project aimed to provide more accurate estimates of the carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation over the past decades.

Understanding how much deforestation contributes to global CO2 emissions can help refine climate change models.

'I was interested in (obtaining) better numbers on deforestation CO2 emissions because it allowed mein an indirect wayto estimate how well the processes that are sequestering about half of our emissions are keeping up with rising CO2 emissions,' said Prof. van der Werf.

Carbon sinks

These processes are known as carbon sinks, which act like sponges, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Forests and oceans act as carbon sinks that reduce the effects of global warming. But as CO2 emissions rise, these carbon sinks are becoming saturated.

'Despite climate change, we found the natural carbon sinks are becoming ever more efficient with time,' said Prof. van der Werf. 'These changes are very small so they will never be able to absorb all CO2 unfortunately, but these results may help in improving climate-carbon models.'

But besides clear-cut deforestation, forest degradationa reduction in the quality of forests through activities such as logging and firescan also increase carbon emissions. However, there is limited information on forest degradation and many degraded areas are counted as healthy forests.

Degraded forests

Since September, Dr Cesar Perez Cruzado from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain has been working on an EU-funded project known as QUAFORD, which aims to come up with a new way of quantifying carbon emissions due to forest degradation.

'We're trying to find out to what extent forest degradation occurs worldwide and evaluate its impact on global carbon emissions,' he said.

This is important because through a UN programme called REDD+, developing countries can access funding to reduce carbon emissions by conserving the health of their forests. A better way of estimating how degraded a forest is can help reveal the extent of the problem and monitor the level of improvement.

'International initiatives under the UN REDD+ programme have almost exclusively focused on deforestation because of the difficulties and uncertainty of quantifying carbon emissions from forest degradation,' said Dr Perez Cruzado.

'To provide credibility to the system, REDD+ will require methodologies that transparently deliver evidence on the reduction of carbon emissions due to forest degradation and that's where our research can provide a solution for this complex issue.'

It is important to reduce emissions from both deforestation and forest degradation in order to combat climate change and achieve the objective of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, agreed at the 2015 COP21 climate change conference in Paris, France.

More than 45 tropical countries are participating in the REDD+ programme and many countries target the forest and land-use sector in their activities under the Paris Agreement on climate change.

'The methodology we are developing only needs one survey to judge the occurrence and extent of forest degradation,' said Dr Perez Cruzado. 'Therefore, fewer efforts are needed in the monitoring process and restoration priorities can be defined for areas where only one survey is available or resources are limited.'

The results at the end of the project will be used by the project's partner, UN's FAO Forestry Department, which assists countries in developing national forest monitoring systems and reports on the state of forests worldwide every five years through the Forest Resources Assessments.
Baidu co-founder and chief executive Robin Li speaks during the annual Baidu World Technology Conference

Chinese web giant Baidu unveiled Thursday a smart speaker model and plans for a self-driving mini-bus, its latest foray into the hyper-competitive field of artificial intelligence.

Baidu will collaborate with bus manufacturer King Long to develop and produce the first model of a fully autonomous mini-bus, Baidu CEO Robin Li said during the company's annual technology conference at a glitzy Beijing hotel.

The company aims to start "small-scale production" on the mini-bus in July 2018.

Baidu also plans to launch self-driving car models in 2019 in cooperation with manufacturers JAC Motors and BAIC, as well as the Chery car group, Li said, noting that these vehicles will be able to reduce traffic jams endemic to Chinese cities.

The company, regarded by some as the "Chinese Google", established in September a $1.5 billion fund dedicated to developing driverless cars.

In April it launched "Apollo," an "open platform" on which its technologies can be shared with developers and automakers. The platform signals a move to compete with Californian giant Alphabet (Google's parent company) and its subsidiary Waymo.

Baidu also unveiled Thursday a voice-responsive speakerthe "Raven H"similar to Amazon's "Echo" loudspeaker.

A driverless car named "Apollo" is displayed at the annual Baidu World Technology Conference in Beijing on November 16, 2017

The product, which will be sold in China starting December for $256, takes advantage of Baidu's advancements in voice recognition and artificial intelligence.

Li likewise announced at the conference that the Baidu smartphone application will also be upgraded to better integrate voice recognitionno small feat given the tonal complexities of Mandarin and diversity of Chinese dialects.

 2017 AFP
Researchers are producing low fat cheddar that tastes just like the real stuff. Credit: Steven Lilley/Flickr

For many of us, a cheese platter after a nice meal is a guilty pleasure.

But new research into fat displacement technology, known as double emulsions, could reduce the amount of fat in cheese, while tricking our tongues into thinking we are still eating something with a full fat, creamy flavour.

Cheese is a high-fat and high-calorie food. Depending on the variety, you're consuming up to 33 per cent fat when you eat it, mostly of the saturated kind. Just one piece of cheddar cheese can contain about 6 to 9 grams of fat.

But when we opt for the healthy choice, most of us find reduced fat cheese loses its creaminess since a lot of the flavour and texture results from its fat structure.

The ARC Dairy Innovation Hub's Functionalised Milk Streams team located at the University of Melbourne is developing new ways to create healthier and tastier dairy products.

"The use of double emulsions means the taste stays the same, but the total calorific content is reduced by replacing fat with internalised water droplets," says Dr Thomas Leong, an early career post-doctoral research fellow from the University of Melbourne.

"By doing this, we can trick our tongues into thinking that we are consuming something that feels a lot higher in fat than it actually is."

Replacing the fat content with water can reduce calorie content by 30 per cent.

Using sound waves to reduce fat content

The team is using a bottom-up approach to completely redesign the fat component of dairy products, starting with one of Australia's favourite cheeses: cheddar

The next step in bringing double emulsion cheese to supermarket shelves is working with industry to design products that meet consumer demand. Credit: University of Melbourne

"We use the natural fat-emulsifying proteins in milk, to redesign the types of fats we can incorporate into milk products such as cheeses, yogurts and smoothies. For example, the highly saturated fat present in cow's milk can be replaced with healthier vegetable origin oils such as olive and sunflower oils.

"These fats contain a higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids and have additional benefits in that they do not spike cholesterol levels like animal fats can."

To make these emulsions, the team uses sonic waves and high pressure to generate intense mixing forces on a micro-scale to disperse and stabilise droplets of oil in milk. The mixing forces are generated by a process known as cavitation, which is the formation and collapse of miniature bubbles.

"A balloon that pops gives off a large amount of energy," says the University of Melbourne's Professor Muthupandian Ashokkumar, one of the project's chief investigators.

"Cavitation is essentially the same process, but it occurs within very small, but extremely intense 'hot-spots'. The ability for sound waves or high pressure to create thousands of these bubble hot-spots is the key to efficiently creating stable fat droplets in dairy products."

Stable fat droplets are important because they do not collect to form one big mass of fat - a process known as phase separation, which negatively impacts appearance and taste.

"This technology will provide Australian dairy companies with new capability to tailor their products," says Dr Leong.

"It could provide significant value-add for Australian dairy companies. The challenge we are addressing is to understand how to formulate double emulsions that are stable and can be produced in a cost-effective manner."

The ARC Dairy Innovation Hub is collaborating with industry partners and the University of Queensland, and the research is now moving fast. The next stage is to work closely with industry to design products that people will want to eat.

Dr Gregory Martin, who's leading the project, says the team is beginning to assess the functional characteristics of different types of cheeses made using double emulsions.

"The cheeses made in the lab look, feel and smell great. However, the proof is in the tasting, and the next task will be to make the double emulsion cheeses in a commercial facility so we can confirm that it tastes as good as it looks."

More information: Thomas S.H. Leong et al. The formation of double emulsions in skim milk using minimal food-grade emulsifiers  A comparison between ultrasonic and high pressure homogenisation efficiencies, Journal of Food Engineering (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2017.09.018
Gene drive systems distort the rule that there is a 50:50 chance of a gene copy being passed on. This promotes the inheritance of a particular copy of a gene from the parent to offspring. When coupled to a genetic trait that affects an individual's survival or ability to reproduce, it becomes a powerful tool that can be used for population control or even local elimination. Credit: Kevin Esvelt

Scientists working in the vanguard of new genetic technologies have issued a cautionary call to ensure that possible applications in conservation will only affect local populations. In an article publishing 16 November in the open access journal PLOS Biology, Neil Gemmell from the University of Otago, New Zealand, and Kevin Esvelt of MIT examine the possible consequences of the accidental spread of existing self-propagating gene drive systems.

New Zealand is considering genetic technologies to help eliminate rats, mice, stoats and possums. A gene drive system promotes the inheritance of a particular genetic variant to increase its frequency in a population, which would require fewer invasive organisms to be released in order to spread infertility and ultimately eliminate the pest population.

Although Professor Esvelt was among the scientists who first described how gene drive could be accomplished by making CRISPR genome editing heritable, in the new article the authors say that the original suggestion that self-propagating gene drive systems might be suitable for conservation "was a mistake."

Professor Gemmell believes there is still "huge merit" in using genetic technologies for conservation work. However, he says that standard self-propagating versions "may be uncontrollable" and therefore unsuited to conservation.

"The bottom line is that making a standard, self-propagating CRISPR-based gene drive system is likely equivalent to creating a new, highly invasive species - both will likely spread to any ecosystem in which they are viable, possibly causing ecological change."

Introducing such a system "without the permission of every other country harbouring the target species would be highly irresponsible," they say. "It would be a profound tragedy if New Zealanders - or anyone else - inadvertently caused an international incident and the consequent loss of public confidence in scientists and governance prevented us from realizing other benefits of biotechnology."

"New Zealand's ambitious goal to eradicate mammalian pests is already generating global interest, in part because there are strong lobbying groups advocating for and against the use of gene editing in a conservation framework," Professor Gemmell says. "The New Zealand initiative provides an obvious focal point for this emerging debate. But the topic has global relevance and context because gene drives have been proposed for use in other locations where mammalian invaders are a conservation issue. This study calls for an open discussion about technologies considered for the New Zealand context that could readily have global ramifications."

More information: Esvelt KM, Gemmell NJ (2017) Conservation demands safe gene drive. PLoS Biol 15(11): e2003850. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2003850 Journal information: PLoS Biology
From left, Gene Robinson, Arian Avalos, Matthew Hudson and their colleagues found genomic signatures associated with the evolution of gentle behavior in Puerto Rico's Africanized honey bees. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer

A genomic study of Puerto Rico's Africanized honey bees - which are more docile than other so-called "killer bees" - reveals that they retain most of the genetic traits of their African honey bee ancestors, but that a few regions of their DNA have become more like those of European honey bees. According to the researchers, these changes likely contributed to the bees' rapid evolution toward gentleness in Puerto Rico, a change that occurred within 30 years.

The findings, reported in the journal Nature Communications, could lead to advances that will bolster honey bee populations in the Americas, the researchers said.

Africanized bees are the offspring of African honey bees and their European counterparts. In the late 1950s, these aggressive "killer bees" escaped from an experimental breeding program in Brazil. That program had set out to produce a desirable mix of traits from the gentle European bees and their African counterparts, which were more aggressive, disease-resistant and adapted to a tropical climate.

Ironically, what scientists failed to do in the laboratory was eventually accomplished by happenstance. Africanized honey bees arrived in Puerto Rico (most likely on a ship, by accident) in the 1990s, and within three decades had evolved into the gentle, yet hardy, Africanized bees that dominate the island today. Biology professor Tugrul Giray, of the University of Puerto Rico, first reported on the gentle Puerto Rican bees in the journal Evolutionary Applications in 2012. Giray is a co-author of the new study.

To gain insight into how the bees became gentle, the researchers sequenced the genomes of 30 gentle Puerto Rican bees, 30 Africanized bees from Mexico and 30 European honey bees from central Illinois.

"The benefit of having these three populations is that you can compare and contrast between the three," said University of Illinois postdoctoral researcher Arian Avalos, who conducted the research with U. of I. entomology professor Gene Robinson; crop sciences professor Matthew Hudson; and Guojie Zhang and Hailin Pan, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "We asked, 'How is the genome of the gentle Africanized bee different than other Africanized populations? What parts of the genome are similar to European bees?'"

The team discovered that, for the most part, the genomes of the gentle bees resembled those of their Africanized forebears. Specific regions of the DNA, however, had shifted in the gentle bees, reflecting more of their European heritage. These regions appeared to be under "positive selection." This means that something in the bees' environment was favoring these genetic signatures over others.

The scientists hypothesize that the bees evolved to be more docile as a result of living on a very densely populated island from which they could not easily escape. Humans likely eradicated the most aggressive bees, aiding their more docile counterparts.

"Evolution involves changes in the frequency of gene variants across a population, and that's what we're seeing in Puerto Rico," said Robinson, who directs the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. "Now we know that these gentle Africanized bees can be genetically distinguished both from other Africanized honey bees and from European honey bees."

The new findings offer a bit of hope for the beleaguered beekeeping industry, the researchers said. European honey bees tend to have less genetic diversity than Africanized bees, which carry both European and African honey bee genes. European honey bees also are more susceptible to a host of debilitating parasites and pathogens. Their rapid decline since 2005, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder, is disrupting agriculture around the world.

"The fact that we've shown that the genetics of these Puerto Rican bees are very distinct from the European bees, and the fact that they are demonstrably gentle, makes it very interesting as a potential way to mitigate pollinator decline," Hudson said.

In particular, the Africanized bees are highly resistant to the varroa mite, a parasite of bees that undermines their health and spreads disease. The mites - along with pesticides used to treat infested bees - are believed to be major factors in the widespread decline of honey bees across the globe.

In previous research in the Giray laboratory, scientists showed that Puerto Rico's gentle Africanized bees groom themselves aggressively when infested with varroa, removing the mites almost as soon as they appear.

"Infestation of European honey bees with the mites elicits very little response," said Avalos, who previously worked with Giray in Puerto Rico. "This could be good news for beekeepers who want to develop a gentle honey bee that is also varroa-resistant."

More information: Arian Avalos et al, A soft selective sweep during rapid evolution of gentle behaviour in an Africanized honeybee, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01800-0 Journal information: Nature Communications
By PTI: (Eds: Recasting overnight story)

Ahmedabad, Nov 15 (PTI) Former finance minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, said even the 14th century Delhi sultan, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, had implemented note ban 700 years ago.

Criticising Modi for the controversial move, Sinha at a function here claimed that demonetisation had hit the economy to the tune of Rs 3.75 lakh crore.

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"There were many shahenshas (king) who brought their own currency. Some even kept previous currency in circulation while introducing the new one. But, there was a shahenshah 700 years back - Muhammad Bin Tughlaq - who introduced his own (currency) while discontinuing the old currency," he said.

"Thus, we can say that demonetisation was done 700 years back. Though Tughlaq is infamous for shifting his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, he has also done demonetisation," Sinha said.

Tughlaq, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate for a short period of time in the 14th century, was known for his controversial decisions like shifting the capital of the Sultanate from Delhi to Daulatabad and introducing non-precious metal currency.

Sinha was invited by a group of activists under the banner of Lokshahi Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Movement) to share his views about note ban and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He claimed that the biggest problem of the country was unemployment.

"Time is running out to do something for the economy in the current situation," he said.

Citing a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, the veteran BJP leader claimed that the direct cost of demonetisation would come around Rs 1,28,000 crore.

"The direct cost of note ban, such as printing new notes, would come around Rs 1,28,000 crore. If we consider that the economy has slowed down by 1.5 per cent due to note ban, although I believe it is more than that, then it has made a dent of Rs 2,25,000 crore more to the economy.

"Now add that direct cost of Rs 1,28,000 crore with this Rs 2,25,000 crore. In total, our economy has suffered a loss of around Rs 3.75 lakh crore directly," he said.

Sinha, who was finance minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, said demonetisation and the GST roll-out were treated just as "media events".

"We must think why we did that. We did it because nowadays everything is a media event. We started believing that no one did that before us. You should not forget that Atal Bihari Vajpayees government was also there. If he has not done anything, then why did we give him Bharat Ratna?" said Sinha. PTI PJT PD NP SRY DIP

--- ENDS ---

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The HAWC Observatory, perched next to a volcano at an altitude of 13,500 feet, uses its 300 massive water tanks to scoop up the products of high-energy particle collisions happening in the upper atmosphere. Credit: Jordan Goodman

A mountaintop observatory in Mexico, built and operated by an international team of scientists, has captured the first wide-angle view of gamma rays emanating from two rapidly spinning stars. The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory provided the fresh perspective on high-energy light streaming from these stellar neighbors, casting serious doubt on one possible explanation for a mysterious excess of anti-matter particles near Earth.

In 2008, astronomers observed an unexpectedly high number of positronsthe anti-matter cousins of electronsin orbit a few hundred miles above Earth's atmosphere. Ever since, scientists have debated the cause of the anomaly, split over two competing theories of its origin. Some suggested a simple explanation: The extra particles might come from nearby collapsed stars called pulsars, which spin around several times a second and throw off electrons, positrons and other matter with violent force. Others speculated that the extra positrons might come from processes involving dark matterthe invisible but pervasive substance seen so far only through its gravitational pull.

Using new data from the HAWC observatory, researchers made the first detailed measurements of two pulsars previously identified as possible sources of the positron excess. By catching and counting particles of light streaming from these nearby stellar engines, HAWC collaboration researchers found that the two pulsars are unlikely to be the origin of the positron excess. Despite being the right age and the right distance from Earth, the pulsars are surrounded by an extended murky cloud that prevents most positrons from escaping, according to results published in the November 17, 2017 issue of the journal Science.

"This new measurement is tantalizing because it strongly disfavors the idea that these extra positrons are coming to Earth from two nearby pulsars, at least when you assume a relatively simple model for how positrons diffuse away from these spinning stars," said Jordan Goodman, professor of physics at the University of Maryland and the lead investigator and U.S. spokesperson for the HAWC collaboration. "Our measurement doesn't decide the question in favor of dark matter, but any new theory that attempts to explain the excess using pulsars will need to account for what we've found."

Francisco Salesa Greus, the lead corresponding author of the new paper and a scientist at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, Poland, added that "we are closer to understanding the origin of the positron excess after excluding two of the main source candidates."

An Eye in the Sky

As with an ordinary camera, collecting lots of light allows HAWC to build sharp images of individual gamma-ray sources. The most energetic gamma rays originate in the graveyards of big stars, around stellar remains like the spinning pulsar remnants of supernovae. But that light doesn't come from the stars themselves. Instead, it's created when the spinning pulsar accelerates particles to extremely high energies, causing them to smash into lower-energy photons left over from the early universe.

Credit: Relatively Certain is a production of the Joint Quantum Institute, a research partnership between the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This episode of Relatively Certain was produced by Chris Cesare, Sean Kelley and Emily Edwards and edited by Chris Cesare and Kate Delossantos, featuring music by Dave Depper, Podington Bear, Kevin MacLeod and Chris Zabriskie

The size of the debris field around powerful pulsars, measured by the patch of sky that glows bright in gamma rays, tells researchers how quickly matter moves relative to the spinning stars. This enables researchers to estimate how quickly positrons are moving and how many positrons could have reached Earth from a given source.

Using a recently published HAWC catalog of the high-energy sky, scientists have absolved the nearby pulsar Geminga and its sisterthe pulsar PSR B0656+14as sources of the positron excess. Even though the two are old enough and close enough to account for the excess, matter isn't drifting away from the pulsars fast enough to have reached the Earth.

"The gamma rays HAWC measures demonstrate that there are high-energy positrons escaping from these sources," said Ruben Lopez-Coto, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany and a corresponding author. "But according to our measurement, they could not be significantly contributing to the extra positrons seen at the Earth."

This measurement wouldn't have been possible without HAWC's wide view. It continuously scans about one-third of the sky overhead, which provided researchers with a broad view of the space around the pulsars. Other observatories watching for high-energy gamma rays with a much narrower field of view missed the extended nature of the pulsars.

The HAWC Observatory sits at an elevation of 13,500 feet, flanking the Sierra Negra volcano inside Pico de Orizaba National Park in the Mexican state of Puebla. It consists of more than 300 massive water tanks that sit waiting for cascades of particles initiated by high-energy packets of light called gamma raysmany of which have more than 10 million times the energy of a dental X-ray.

When these gamma rays smash into the upper atmosphere, they blast apart atoms in the air, producing a shower of particles that moves at nearly the speed of light toward the ground. When this shower reaches HAWC's tanks, it produces coordinated flashes of blue light in the water, allowing researchers to reconstruct the energy and cosmic origin of the gamma ray that kicked off the cascade.

"Thanks to its wide field of view, HAWC provides unique measurements on the very-high-energy gamma ray profiles caused by the particle diffusion around nearby pulsars, which allows us to determine how fast the particles diffuse more directly than previous measurements," says Hao Zhou, a scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and a corresponding author of the new paper.

It's possible that a new insight about the astrophysics of these pulsars and their local environments could account for the positron excess at Earth, but it would require a more complicated theory of positron diffusion than physicists in the collaboration think is likely. On the other hand, dark matter may provide the right explanation, but more evidence will ultimately be needed to decide.

More information: A.U. Abeysekara el al., "Extended gamma-ray sources around pulsars constrain the origin of the positron flux at Earth," Science (2017). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.aan4880 Journal information: Science
Interior view of the cave and excavation trench as of the end of the 2012 field season. Credit: Joao Zilhao

Neanderthals survived at least 3,000 years longer than we thought in Southern Iberia - what is now Spain - long after they had died out everywhere else, according to new research published in Heliyon.

The authors of the study, an international team from Portuguese, Spanish, Catalonian, German, Austrian and Italian research institutions, say their findings suggest that the process of modern human populations absorbing Neanderthal populations through interbreeding was not a regular, gradual wave-of-advance but a "stop-and-go, punctuated, geographically uneven history."

Over more than ten years of fieldwork, the researchers excavated three new sites in southern Spain, where they discovered evidence of distinctly Neanderthal materials dating until 37,000 years ago.

"Technology from the Middle Paleolithic in Europe is exclusively associated with the Neanderthals," said Dr. Joao Zilhao, from the University of Barcelona and lead author of the study. "In three new excavation sites, we found Neanderthal artefacts dated to thousands of years later than anywhere else in Western Europe. Even in the adjacent regions of northern Spain and southern France the latest Neanderthal sites are all significantly older."

The Middle Paleolithic was a part of the Stone Age, and it spanned from 300,000 to 30,000 years ago. It is widely acknowledged that during this time, anatomically modern humans started to move out of Africa and assimilate coeval Eurasian populations, including Neanderthals, through interbreeding.

According to the new research, this process was not a straightforward, smooth one - instead, it seems to have been punctuated, with different evolutionary patterns in different geographical regions.

In 2010, the team published evidence from the site of Cueva Anton in Spain that provided unambiguous evidence for symbolism among Neanderthals. Putting that evidence in context and using the latest radiometric techniques to date the site, the researchers show Cueva Anton is the most recent known Neanderthal site.

"We believe that the stop-and-go, punctuated, uneven mechanism we propose must have been the rule in human evolution, which helps explaining why Paleolithic material culture tends to form patterns of geographically extensive similarity while Paleolithic genomes tend to show complex ancestry patchworks," commented Dr. Zilhao.

The key to understanding this pattern, says Dr. Zilhao, lies in discovering and analyzing new sites, not in revisiting old ones. Although finding and excavating new sites with the latest techniques is time-consuming, he believes it is the approach that pays off.

"There is still a lot we do not know about human evolution and, especially, about the Neanderthals," said Dr. Zilhao. "Our textbook ideas about Neanderthals and modern humans have been mostly derived from finds in France, Germany and Central Europe, but during the Ice Ages these were peripheral areas: probably as much as half of the Paleolithic people who ever lived in Europe were Iberians. Ongoing research has begun to bear fruit, and I have no doubt that there is more to come."

More information: Joao Zilhao et al. Precise dating of the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Murcia (Spain) supports late Neandertal persistence in Iberia, Heliyon (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00435

Provided by Elsevier
Deterministic growth of InSb nanowire networks. Credit: University of California - Santa Barbara

UC Santa Barbara scientists are on the cusp of a major advance in topological quantum computing.

In a paper that appears in the journal Nature, Chris Palmstrm, a UCSB professor of electrical and computer engineering and of materials, and colleagues describe a method by which "hashtag"- shaped nanowires may be coaxed to generate Majorana quasiparticles. These quasiparticles are exotic states that if realized, can be used to encode information with very little risk of decoherenceone of quantum computing's biggest challengesand thus, little need for quantum error correction.

"This was a really good step toward making things happen," said Palmstrm. In 2012, Dutch scientists Leo Kouwenhoven and Erik Bakkers (also authors on the paper) from the Delft and Eindhoven Universities of Technology in the Netherlands, reported the first observation of states consistent with these quasiparticles. At the time, however, they stopped short of definitive proof that they were in fact the Majoranas, and not other phenomena.

Under the aegis of Microsoft Corporation's Research Station Q headquartered on the UCSB campus, this team of scientists is part of a greater international effort to build the first topological quantum computer.

The quasiparticles are named for Italian physicist Ettore Majorana, who predicted their existence in 1937, around the birth of quantum mechanics. They have the unique distinction of being their own antiparticlesthey can annihilate one another. They also have the quality of being non-Abelian, resulting in the ability to "remember" their relative positions over timea property that makes them central to topological quantum computation.

"If you are to move these Majoranas physically around each other, they will remember if they were moved clockwise or anticlockwise," said Mihir Pendharkar, a graduate student researcher in the Palmstrm Group. This operation of moving one around the other, he continued, is what is referred to as "braiding." Computations could in theory be performed by braiding the Majoranas and then fusing them, releasing a poof of energya "digital high"or absorbing energya "digital low." The information is contained and processed by the exchange of positions, and the outcome is split between the two or more Majoranas (not the quasiparticles themselves), a topological property that protects the information from the environmental perturbations (noise) that could affect the individual Majoranas.

However, before any braiding can be performed, these fragile and fleeting quasiparticles must first be generated. In this international collaboration, semiconductor wafers started their journey with patterning of gold droplets at the Delft University of Technology. With the gold droplets acting as seeds, Indium antimonide (InSb) semiconductor nanowires were then grown at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Next, the nanowires traveled across the globe to Santa Barbara, where Palmstrm Group researchers carefully cleaned and partially covered them with a thin shell of superconducting aluminum. The nanowires were returned to the Netherlands for low temperature electrical measurements.

"The Majorana has been predicted to occur between a superconductor and a semiconductor wire," Palmstrm explained. Some of the intersecting wires in the infinitesimal hashtag-shaped device are fused together, while others barely miss one another, leaving a very precise gap. This clever design, according to the researchers, allows for some regions of a nanowire to go without an aluminum shell coating, laying down ideal conditions for the measurement of Majoranas.

"What you should be seeing is a state at zero energy," Pendharkar said. This "zero-bias peak" is consistent with the mathematics that results in a particle being its own antiparticle and was first observed in 2012. "In 2012, they showed a tiny zero-bias blip in a sea of background," Pendharkar said. With the new approach, he continued, "now the sea has gone missing," which not only clarifies the 2012 result and takes the researchers one step closer to definitive proof of Majorana states, but also lays a more robust groundwork for the production of these quasiparticles.

Majoranas, because of their particular immunity to error, can be used to construct an ideal qubit (unit of quantum information) for topological quantum computers, and, according to the researchers, can result in a more practicable quantum computer because its fault-tolerance will require fewer qubits for error correction.

"All quantum computers are going to be working at very low temperatures," Palmstrm said, "because 'quantum' is a very low energy difference." Thus, said the researchers, cooling fewer fault-tolerant qubits in a quantum circuit would be easier, and done in a smaller footprint, than cooling more error-prone qubits plus those required to protect from error.

The final step toward conclusive proof of Majoranas will be in the braiding, an experiment the researchers hope to conduct in the near future. To that end, the scientists continue to build on this foundation with designs that may enable and measure the outcome of braiding.

"We've had the funding and the expertise of people who are experts in the measurements side of things, and experts in the theory side of things," Pendharkar said, "and it has been a great collaboration that has brought us up to this level."

More information: Sasa Gazibegovic et al. Epitaxy of advanced nanowire quantum devices, Nature (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nature23468 Journal information: Nature
A female and male Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) mount from the collections of the Royal Ontario Museum. Credit: Brian Boyle, MPA, FPPO photo copyright ROM

The passenger pigeon is famous for the enormity of its historical population in North America (estimated at 3 to 5 billion) and for its rapid extinction in the face of mass slaughter by humans. Yet it remains a mystery why the species wasn't able to survive in at least a few small, isolated populations.

One theory, which is consistent with the findings of a new study published November 17 in Science, suggests that passenger pigeons were well adapted to living in huge flocks, but poorly adapted to living in smaller groups, and the change in population size happened so fast they were unable to adapt.

"Passenger pigeons did really well for tens of thousands of years, and then suddenly they went extinct. Paradoxically, their enormous population size may have been a factor in their extinction," said corresponding author Beth Shapiro, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz.

Shapiro's team looked at the genetic diversity of passenger pigeons, using DNA recovered from museum specimens. The researchers confirmed earlier observations of remarkably low genetic diversity in the passenger pigeon population. But where previous researchers saw evidence of an unstable population that had fluctuated between highs and lows, the new study reached very different conclusions.

"What we did, which the previous study didn't do, was to look at variation in diversity across the genome. We found that it wasn't just lower than expected overall, it was also more variable, and we were able to see where those regions of high and low diversity are in the passenger pigeon genome," said first author Gemma Murray, a postdoctoral researcher in Shapiro's Paleogenomics Lab at UC Santa Cruz.

The analysis revealed patterns in the passenger pigeon genome indicating that the species' low genetic diversity was the result of natural selection causing the rapid spread of beneficial mutations through the population and the elimination of bad mutations. The researchers did not find the same patterns of genetic diversity across the genome in the closely related band-tailed pigeon, which has a relatively small population of about 2 million native to western North America.

"When we looked at rates of adaptive evolution and purifying selection in both species, we found evidence that natural selection had resulted in both a faster rate of adaptive evolution in passenger pigeons and a faster purging of deleterious mutations," Murray said. "That is exactly what you would expect to see if selection is causing the differences in genetic diversity."

DNA recovered from museum specimens, such as these in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, enabled researchers to sequence and assemble mitochondrial and nuclear genomes of passenger pigeons. Credit: Rene O'Connell

When a beneficial mutation spreads through a population, it carries along with it adjacent stretches of DNA, so subsequent generations carry not only the good mutation but entire sections of identical DNA. These regions of low diversity can be broken up by recombination, the process in which paired chromosomes exchange sections of DNA during the formation of eggs and sperm (which explains why parents don't pass on exact copies of their chromosomes to their offspring).

Recombination tends to happen less frequently in the middle of chromosomes than at the ends, a tendency that is especially pronounced in birds. In the passenger pigeon genome, the researchers found that areas of low genetic diversity were in the middle of chromosomes, while higher diversity regions were at the ends.

"At the ends of the chromosomes, nothing gets dragged along with the beneficial mutation because of the high rate of recombination," Shapiro explained.

When the researchers looked at what types of genes showed evidence of adaptive evolution, they found many that could be related to aspects of passenger pigeon ecology and the demands of living in large flocks. Among the 32 genes with strong evidence of adaptive evolution were genes associated with the immune system and stress reduction (large, dense populations tend to have a high burden of disease and social stress) and with the ability to eat lots of certain foods.

These findings are consistent with the idea that the passenger pigeon's adaptation to large populations may have become a liability when their population was reduced. "Our findings fit with that story, and we don't find any evidence that the population was unstable before people started to hunt them," Murray said.

The historical population of passenger pigeons in North America was estimated to be 3 to 5 billion. Their huge flocks darkened the sky. Yet by the early 1900s they had disappeared from the wild, and the last captive bird died in 1914. Credit: Rene O'Connell

The study also has important theoretical implications for population geneticists. Population theory predicts that species with large populations should have greater genetic diversity than those with smaller populations, but this prediction assumes that most of the genome is evolving "neutrally" through genetic drift, accumulating random mutations with neither beneficial nor deleterious effects. Population geneticists often use models that assume neutral evolution to make inferences about a population's history.

"It's a common assumption that if a species has low genetic diversity, it went through a population bottleneck at some time in the past," Murray explained.

But theoretical predictions about the relationship between population size and genetic diversity are not borne out in the real world. This is known as Lewontin's paradox (after evolutionary biologist Richard Lewontin), and according to Shapiro, it may be because natural selection is more efficient in larger populations and can swamp the effects of random changes, making the assumption of neutral evolution invalid.

Natural selection is predicted to have a greater influence on large populations both because strongly beneficial mutations are more likely to arise, and also because in small populations, random events have a greater effect on what gets passed on to the next generation.

Evidence in support of this explanation of Lewontin's paradox was presented in a 2015 paper by Russell Corbett-Detig, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz and a coauthor of the new paper. The passenger pigeon and the band-tailed pigeon, similar species with very different population sizes, offered a perfect opportunity to test the idea, Shapiro said.

"The interaction between the recombination landscape and the enormous population size of passenger pigeons allows us to see what's behind Lewontin's paradox," Shapiro said. "In most species, it is probably safe to assume the majority of the genome is evolving neutrally, but for species with very large populations we might want to hesitate. These tools that use genetic diversity to make inferences about historical changes in a population's size don't work at all for the passenger pigeon."

More information: G.G.R. Murray el al., "Natural selection shaped the rise and fall of passenger pigeon genomic diversity," Science (2017). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.aao0960 Journal information: Science
Left, an image of Earth from the DSCOVR-EPIC camera. Right, the same image degraded to a resolution of 3 x 3 pixels, similar to what researchers will see in future exoplanet observations. Credit: NOAA/NASA, Stephen Kane

As a young scientist, Tony del Genio of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City met Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto.

"I thought, 'Wow, this is a one-time opportunity,'" del Genio said. "I'll never meet anyone else who found a planet."

That prediction was spectacularly wrong. In 1992, two scientists discovered the first planet around another star, or exoplanet, and since then more people have found planets than throughout all of Earth's preceding history. As of this month, scientists have confirmed more than 3,500 exoplanets in more than 2,700 star systems. Del Genio has met many of these new planet finders.

Del Genio is now co-lead of a NASA interdisciplinary initiative to search for life on other worlds. This new position as the lead of this project may seem odd to those who know him professionally. Why? He has dedicated decades to studying Earth, not searching for life elsewhere.

We know of only one living planet: our own. But we know it very well. As we move to the next stage in the search for alien life, the effort will require the expertise of planetary scientists, heliophysicists and astrophysicists. However, the knowledge and tools NASA has developed to study life on Earth will also be one of the greatest assets to the quest.

Habitable Worlds

There are two main questions in the search for life: With so many places to look, how can we focus in on the places most likely to harbor life? What are the unmistakable signs of lifeeven if it comes in a form we don't fully understand?

"Before we go looking for life, we're trying to figure out what kinds of planets could have a climate that's conducive to life," del Genio said. "We're using the same climate models that we use to project 21st century climate change on Earth to do simulations of specific exoplanets that have been discovered, and hypothetical ones."

Del Genio recognizes that life may well exist in forms and places so bizarre that it might be substantially different from Earth. But in this early phase of the search, "We have to go with the kind of life we know," he said.

Further, we should make sure we use the detailed knowledge of Earth. In particular, we should make sure of our discoveries on life in various environments on Earth, our knowledge of how our planet and its life have affected each other over Earth history, and our satellite observations of Earth's climate.

Above all else, that means liquid water. Every cell we know ofeven bacteria around deep-sea vents that exist without sunlightrequires water.

Life in the Ocean

Research scientist Morgan Cable of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is looking within the solar system for locations that have the potential to support liquid water. Some of the icy moons around Saturn and Jupiter have oceans below the ice crust. These oceans were formed by tidal heating, that is, warming of the ice caused by friction between the surface ice and the core as a result of the gravitational interaction between the planet and the moon.

"We thought Enceladus was just boring and cold until the Cassini mission discovered a liquid water subsurface ocean," said Cable. The water is spraying into space, and the Cassini mission found hints in the chemical composition of the spray that the ocean chemistry is affected by interactions between heated water and rocks at the seafloor. The Galileo and Voyager missions provided evidence that Europa also has a liquid water ocean under an icy crust. Observations revealed a jumbled terrain that could be the result of ice melting and reforming.

As missions to these moons are being developed, scientists are using Earth as a testbed. Just as prototypes for NASA's Mars rovers made their trial runs on Earth's deserts, researchers are testing both hypotheses and technology on our oceans and extreme environments.

Cable gave the example of satellite observations of Arctic and Antarctic ice fields, which are informing the planning for a Europa mission. The Earth observations help researchers find ways to date the origin of jumbled ice. "When we visit Europa, we want to go to very young places, where material from that ocean is being expressed on the surface," she said. "Anywhere like that, the chances of finding evidence of life goes upif they're there."

Credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Water in Space

For any star, it's possible to calculate the range of distances where orbiting planets could have liquid water on the surface. This is called the star's habitable zone.

Astronomers have already located some habitable-zone planets, and research scientist Andrew Rushby, of NASA Ames Research Center, in Moffett Field, California, is studying ways to refine the search. Location alone isn't enough. "An alien would spot three planets in our solar system in the habitable zone [Earth, Mars and Venus]," Rushby said, "but we know that 67 percent of those planets are not very habitable." He recently developed a simplified model of Earth's carbon cycle and combined it with other tools to study which planets in the habitable zone would be the best targets to look at for life, considering probable tectonic activity and water cycles. He found that larger rocky planets are more likely than smaller ones to have surface temperatures where liquid water could exist, given the same amount of light from the star.

Renyu Hu, of JPL, refined the search for habitable planets in a different way, looking for the signature of a rocky planet. Basic physics tells us that smaller planets must be rocky and larger ones gaseous, but for planets ranging from Earth-sized to about twice that radius, astronomers can't tell a large rocky planet from a small gaseous planet. Hu pioneered a method to detect surface minerals on bare-rock exoplanets and defined the atmospheric chemical signature of volcanic activity, which wouldn't occur on a gas planet.

Vital Signs

When scientists are evaluating a possible habitable planet, "life has to be the hypothesis of last resort," Cable said. "You must eliminate all other explanations." Identifying possible false positives for the signal of life is an ongoing area of research in the exoplanet community. For example, the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere comes from living things, but oxygen can also be produced by inorganic chemical reactions.

Shawn Domagal-Goldman, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, looks for unmistakable, chemical signs of life, or biosignatures. One biosignature may be finding two or more molecules in an atmosphere that shouldn't be there at the same time. He uses this analogy: If you walked into a college dorm room and found three students and a pizza, you could conclude that the pizza had recently arrived, because college students quickly consume pizza. Oxygen "consumes" methane by breaking it down in various chemical reactions. Without inputs of methane from life on Earth's surface, our atmosphere would become totally depleted of methane within a few decades.

Earth as Exoplanet

When humans start collecting direct images of exoplanets, even the closest one will appear as a handful of pixels in the detector - something like the famous "blue dot" image of Earth from Saturn. What can we learn about planetary life from a single dot?

Stephen Kane of the University of California, Riverside, has come up with a way to answer that question using NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging camera on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). These high-resolution images2,000 x 2,000 pixels - document Earth's global weather patterns and other climate-related phenomena. "I'm taking these glorious pictures and collapsing them down to a single pixel or handful of pixels," Kane explained. He runs the light through a noise filter that attempts to simulate the interference expected from an exoplanet mission.

DSCOVR takes a picture every half hour, and it's been in orbit for two years. Its more than 30,000 images are by far the longest continuous record of Earth from space in existence. By observing how the brightness of Earth changes when mostly land is in view compared with mostly water, Kane has been able to reverse-engineer Earth's rotation ratesomething that has yet to be measured directly for exoplanets.

When Will We Find Life?

Every scientist involved in the search for life is convinced it's out there. Their opinions differ on when we'll find it.

"I think that in 20 years we will have found one candidate that might be it," says del Genio. Considering his experience with Tombaugh, he added, "But my track record for predicting the future is not so good."

Rushby, on the other hand, says, "It's been 20 years away for the last 50 years. I do think it's on the scale of decades. If I were a betting man, which I'm not, I'd go for Europa or Enceladus."

How soon we find a living exoplanet really depends on whether there's one relatively nearby, with the right orbit and size, and with biosignatures that we are able to recognize, Hu said. In other words, "There's always a factor of luck."
Credit: Australian National University

New research from The Australian National University (ANU) has provided the first in-depth look for 30 years at gender inequity Australia's tax and welfare systems, revealing the key factors contributing to Australia's gender pay gap.

The results also revealed that women make up less than one quarter of the top 10 percent of income earners in Australia and that lifetime wages of women are less than two thirds those of men.

University education leads to higher earnings for women, although not as much as men. Women who do Certificate I-IV training are no better off than if they left school at Year 12, in sharp contrast to men.

The low lifetime earnings of women means that many never pay off their higher education HECS debts, because they do not reach the income threshold required to repay the loans.

The research, published on Thursday in a book titled Tax, Social Policy and Gender: Rethinking Equality and Efficiency, points to issues with current child care and retirement income policy as some of the reasons women continue to face financial inequality.

Professor Miranda Stewart, Director of the ANU Tax and Transfer Policy Institute and editor of the book, said women were still bearing the brunt of work in caring for young children, which was seeing them fall behind in their careers.

"Gender equality is not being achieved and this is partly a result of the current tax-transfer system. We see it particularly in relation to care obligations," Professor Stewart said.

"Although there has been some progress in the last decade with the introduction of broader child care and paid parental leave policy, we still have settings in place that embed gender bias in the system.

"Successive governments have abolished universal child payments that used to be a feature of Australia's welfare system.

"If we keep pushing that care burden to be borne more by woman than men, and are also pushing them back into the workforce, at some point it becomes unsustainable."

Professor Stewart suggest Australia looks to countries like France, who have formalised early childcare education for 3-4 year olds as a way to reduce the burden.

"Our research found that the quality of care is a priority when mothers are deciding whether to return to work," she said.

"A more formalised early education program frees up women to return to work earlier knowing that there is quality care.

"This is an important investment in Australia's future."

The research also confirmed that women faced a retirement-income gap, as is well known.

"It's important for gender equality to support the age pension and the public retirement system," Professor Stewart said.

"Women have more interrupted work patterns than men over the course of their career, so they can't accumulate as much super.

"They are also paid lower wages, and super is dependent on income levels.

"The reality is that private savings are not going to deliver adequate retirement income for a majority of the population - we can't just rely on super."

More information: Miranda Stewart. Tax, Social Policy and Gender: Rethinking equality and efficiency, (2017). DOI: 10.22459/TSPG.11.2017
Credit: PlanetEarth Online

Scottish legend is full of tall tales of selkies, the mythical and beautiful seal-folk who shed their skins to become people, leaving sea for shore. Such popular, lasting stories show how important seals were to remote coastal communities across Scotland in the past. Marine mammals were a vital source of food and of oil, for heat and light, which islanders, in particular, relied upon.

Today, seals' relationship with people has changed significantly but they are no less important. Now, more than ever, the focus is on ensuring that our survival does not threaten theirs.

These days seals are one of the nation's most popular attractions on wildlife tours and are a major link in the biodiversity chain. Without them, our seas would not have the same rich variety of flora and fauna.

But the same waters which bring countless visitors from near and far are also increasingly being turned to as a solution to our growing demand for new energy sources and expanding infrastructure, like the new Forth road bridge, to cater for the escalation of traffic in modern times.

For the past few decades, the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at St Andrews University has conducted world-leading research providing NERC with crucial scientific evidence for the Scottish Government to make decisions on how to forge a sustainable future for people and marine mammals alike.

Decline and fall

Arguably, the most important data gathered by the unit's experts is on the changing populations of Scotland's two seal species, the grey and the harbour - or common - seal.

Their findings have revealed stark differences in the animals' fortunes since the 1980s. Grey seal numbers in the North Sea are rocketing, while harbour seals off Scotland's east coast and the Northern Isles plummet.

Professor Ailsa Hall, the unit's director, said:

"What is causing this decline in harbour seals is a major concern, and the Scottish Government is providing additional funding to SMRU so we can continue our investigations in a five-year project which is currently underway."

Possible causes of the declining population of harbour seals include competition between grey and harbour seals and the effect of toxins from harmful algae.

The unit is also conducting a separate five-year study into the potential impact of the vast tidal energy scheme planned for the Pentland Firth between Orkney and mainland Scotland.

Collision course with tidal energy

The same tidal streams that are so attractive to the growing marine energy industry also draw vast shoals of fish. Foraging seals follow the fish, raising the risk that underwater turbine blades could injure or kill them.

Previous studies by the unit looking at another potential tidal energy site off the Scottish coast found that seals were attracted to the fast-flowing waters due to the migrating fish which passed through, almost as if on a conveyor belt, providing a relatively easy meal.

Other SMRU research funded by NERC found that the noise of tidal turbines led to a marked change of behaviour in harbour seals, which stayed up to 500 meters away.

Professor Hall adds:

"This behaviour may help reduce collisions between seals and turbines but potentially at the cost of excluding them from key foraging and breeding areas."

These results are now being used to predict the effects of future tidal turbines on seals.

Meanwhile, Scotland's lucrative aquaculture industry and salmon rivers have been another key focus of work by SMRU. Experts have found that devices emitting sounds the seals dislike can be very effective in discouraging the animals from preying on the fish, helping to reduce demand for licences granted for killing the predatory mammals as an alternative method of protecting multimillion pound fishing businesses. This is particularly important for Scottish salmon exports as the USA will soon be restricting the import of fish from countries that use lethal methods to protect their fisheries from marine mammals.

Seals in numbers:

5,000

Fewer harbour seals counted in Scottish waters in 2016 than in 2001 (down from 30,000 to around 25,000).

FIVE

Number of years SMRU are due to study the possible impact on seals of the huge tidal power scheme off Orkney in the Pentland Firth, including the risk that the creatures could be harmed or killed by colliding with turbine blades.

65 million

Pounds per year which wildlife tourism has been found to be worth in Scotland. Seals are among the popular animals visitors come to see.

FIFTY

Percentage of Scotland's energy needs which the Scottish Government aims to generate from renewable sources by 2030, with marine schemes expected to play a major role in achieving that goal.

14,000

More grey seal pups born in the North Sea off Scotland in 2014 than in 2001 (up from around 19,000 to more than 33,000).

This story is republished courtesy of Planet Earth online, a free, companion website to the award-winning magazine Planet Earth published and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
A research team led by Professor Lim Chwee Teck (standing) from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS Faculty of Engineering has developed a soft, flexible and stretchable microfibre sensor for real-time healthcare monitoring and diagnosis. The sensor can measure pulse waveform in real-time, and the information can be used to determine one's heart rate, blood pressure and stiffness in blood vessels. Credit: National University of Singapore

A research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a soft, flexible and stretchable microfibre sensor for real-time healthcare monitoring and diagnosis. The novel sensor is highly sensitive and ultra-thin with a diameter of a strand of human hair. It is also simple and cost-effective to mass produce.

Wearable and flexible technology has gained significant interest in recent years, leading to tremendous progress in soft and wearable sensors. In tandem with this trend, microfluidic devices using conductive liquid metals have been increasingly employed as wearable pressure and strain sensors. However, current devices have various limitations - for instance, they may not fit well on the skin or are uncomfortable to wear.

"Our novel microfibre sensor can hardly be felt on the skin and conforms extremely well to skin curvatures. Despite being soft and tiny, the sensor is highly sensitive and it also has excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical deformability. We have applied the sensor for real-time monitoring of pulse waveform and bandage pressure. The results are very promising," said Professor Lim Chwee Teck from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS Faculty of Engineering, who is the leader of the research team.

Real-time monitoring of pulse waveform

The smart microfibre sensor developed by the NUS Engineering team comprises a liquid metallic alloy, which serves as the sensing element, encapsulated within a soft silicone microtube. The sensor measures an individual's pulse waveform in real-time, and the information can be used to determine one's heart rate, blood pressure and stiffness in blood vessels.

"Currently, doctors will monitor vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure when patients visit clinics. This requires multiple equipment such as heart rate and blood pressure monitors, which are often bulky and may not provide instantaneous feedback. As our sensor functions like a conductive thread, it can be easily woven into a glove which can be worn by doctors to track vital signs of patients in real-time. This approach offers convenience and saves time for healthcare workers, while patients can enjoy greater comfort," added Prof Lim.

The microfibre sensor could also be beneficial for patients suffering from atherosclerosis, which is the thickening and stiffening of the arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty streaks. Over time, these streaks accumulate into plaques which may completely block off blood flow or break apart, resulting in organ failure or may trigger a heart attack or stroke.

Existing methods of detecting plaque in blood vessels - such as computerised tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging - would require expensive and bulky equipment. Such tests need to be done in hospitals by trained medical professionals.

As plaque will change the stiffness of the blood vessel and hence the pulse waveform, the novel sensor developed by the NUS Engineering team could be easily used to detect plaque before it accumulates to a size big enough to block or rupture the blood vessel.

Earlier this year, the NUS team published the development of the microfibre sensor and its application for pulse monitoring in scientific journals Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and Advanced Materials Technologies, respectively.

Bandage pressure monitoring

Another clinical application of the smart microfibre sensor is for the management of venous ulcers, which are caused by poor blood circulation. They occur when the veins in the legs could not push blood back to the heart as well as they should. As blood pools in the veins, there is increased pressure in the veins, causing progressive skin damage over time.

Compression therapy is a common treatment for venous ulcer. Depending on the severity of the ulcers, bandages with varying amount of pressure have to be applied on the legs of patients for months to even a year. If the bandage is too tight, it could result in tissue damage, but if the bandage is too loose, the healing could be ineffective. Currently, healthcare workers tend to estimate the pressure in the bandage at the point of application, based on training and experience.

As the pressure provided by the bandage could change over time due to movements by the patient, accurate and continuous measurement of the bandage pressure in real-time is therefore important to ensure that healing takes place effectively.

Being ultra-thin and highly flexible, the NUS Engineering team's microfibre sensor can be easily woven into bandages to monitor the pressure that is being delivered and maintained. This could potentially improve the effectiveness of the treatment and reduce the time required for healing. In future, patients could also track the bandage pressure using an app, and the information could be shared with doctors who could remotely monitor the progress of the treatment.

The team is currently collaborating with the Singapore General Hospital to test the application of the microfibre sensor for bandage pressure monitoring.

Commercialisation and further research

"Our microfibre sensor is highly versatile, and could potentially be used for a wide range of applications, including healthcare monitoring, smart medical prosthetic devices and artificial skins. Uniquely designed to be durable and washable, our novel invention is highly attractive for promising applications in the emerging field of wearable electronics," said Prof Lim.

The team has filed a patent for its smart microfibre sensor. Researchers are currently refining the sensor design and reducing the size of its accessories to improve the user-friendliness of the device. The NUS team had recently won the Most Innovative Award at the Engineering Medical Innovation Global Competition held in Taipei in September 2017.

While the NUS researchers continue to explore new applications of the microfibre sensor, they are also keen to work with commercial partners to bring their novel sensor to market.

More information: Wang Xi et al, Soft tubular microfluidics for 2D and 3D applications, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1712195114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Gaia's first sky map. Credit: ESA/Gaia/DPAC. Acknowledgement: A. Moitinho & M. Barros (CENTRA  University of Lisbon), on behalf of DPAC

In the latter years of the 18th century, astronomers William and Caroline Herschel began to count stars. William called the technique "star gauging" and his aim was to determine the shape of our Galaxy.

Ever since 1609, when Galileo lifted his telescope to the misty patch of light known as the Milky Way and saw that it was composed of myriad faint stars whose light all blurred together, we have known that there are different numbers of stars in different directions throughout space. This means that our local collection of stars, the Galaxy, must have a shape to it. Herschel set out to find out what that shape was.

He used a large telescope, twenty feet (610 cm) in length, mounted between tall wooden frames to sweep out a large circle in the sky that passed through the Milky Way at right angles. He then split this circle into more than 600 regions and counted or estimated the number of stars in each.

With this simple technique the Herschels produced the first shape estimate for the Galaxy. Fast-forward to the 21st century and now researchers use star counts to search for hidden star clusters and satellite galaxies. They look for regions where the density of stars rises higher than expected. These patches are called stellar over-densities.

Back in 1785, Herschel's circular track passed close to the brightest star in the night sky Sirius. Now, scientists mining the first data released from the ESA spacecraft Gaia have revisited that particular area of the sky and made a remarkable discovery.

They have revealed a large star cluster that could have been discovered more than a century and a half ago had it not been so close to Sirius.

The cluster was spotted by Sergey E. Koposov, then at the University of Cambridge (UK) and now at Carnegie Mellon University Pennsylvania (USA), and his colleagues. They have been looking for star clusters and satellite galaxies in various surveys for the past decade. It was natural for them to do this with the Gaia mission's first data release.

Gaia is the European Space Agency's astrometric mission. Collecting positions, brightnesses and additional information for more than a billion sources of light, its data allows nothing less than the most precise 'star gauging' ever.

Video explainer: How to find a star cluster. Credit: ESA

These days the laborious task of counting the stars is done by computers but the results still have to be scrutinised by humans. Koposov was combing the list of over-densities when he saw the massive cluster. At first it seemed too good to be true.

"I thought it must be an artefact related to Sirius," he says. Bright stars can create false signals, termed artefacts, that astronomers must be careful not to mistake for stars. An early paper from the Gaia team had even discussed artefacts around Sirius using a nearby patch of sky to the one Koposov was looking at.

Although he moved on and found another over-density that looked promising, his mind kept wanting to return to the first one. "I thought, 'That's strange, we shouldn't have that many artefacts from Sirius.' So I went and looked at it again. And I realised that it too was a genuine object," he says.

These two objects were named: Gaia 1 for the object located near Sirius, and Gaia 2, which is close to the plane of our Galaxy, and both were duly published. Gaia 1 in particular contains enough mass to make a few thousand stars like the Sun, is located 15 thousand light years away, and spread across 30 light years. This means it is a massive star cluster.

Collections of stars like Gaia 1 are called open clusters. They are families of stars that all form together and then gradually disperse around the Galaxy. Our own Sun very likely formed in an open cluster. Such assemblies can tell us about the star formation history of our Galaxy. Finding a new one that can be easily studied is already paying dividends.

"The age is of great interest," says Jeffrey Simpson, Australian Astronomical Observatory, who conducted follow-up observations with colleagues using the 4-metre-class Anglo-Australian telescope at Siding Springs Observatory, Australia.

Identifying 41 members of the cluster, Simpson and colleagues found that Gaia 1 is unusual in at least two ways. Firstly, it is about 3 billion years old. This is odd because there are not many clusters with this age in the Milky Way.

Typically clusters are either younger than a few hundred million years  these are the open clusters  or older than 10 billion years  these are a distinct class called globular clusters, which are found beyond the main bulk of stars in our Galaxy. Being of intermediate age, Gaia 1 might represent an important bridge in our understanding between the two populations.

Gaia scanning the sky. Credit: B. Holl (University of Geneva, Switzerland), A. Moitinho & M. Barros (CENTRA  University of Lisbon), on behalf of DPAC

Secondly, its orbit through the galaxy is unusual. Most open clusters lie close to the plane of the Galaxy but Simpson found that Gaia 1 flies high above it before ducking down and passing underneath. "It might go as much as a kiloparsec (more than 3000 light years) above and below the plane," he says. About 90% of clusters never go more than a third of this distance.

Simulations of clusters with orbits like Gaia 1 find that they are stripped of stars and dispersed by these high velocity 'plane passages'. That puts it at odds with the age estimate.

"Our finding that Gaia 1 is three billion years old is curious as the models would have it not surviving anywhere near as long. More research is required to try and reconcile this," says Simpson.

To test a possible explanation, Alessio Mucciarelli, Universita' degli Studi di Bologna, Italy and colleagues investigated the chemical composition of Gaia 1. Such a study has the ability to see if the cluster formed outside of the Galaxy and has been caught in the act of falling in.

"The chemical composition of the stars can be considered a 'genetic' signature of their origin. If a stellar cluster formed in another galaxy, its chemical composition will be different with respect to that of our Galaxy," says Mucciarelli.

They found that the compositions were practically identical to those expected if Gaia 1 formed in the Milky Way  so the puzzle remains.

Now Mucciarelli hopes that the discrepancy might go away when Gaia releases more data. "Even if the orbital parameters seem to suggest a peculiar orbit, their uncertainties are large enough to prevent any firm conclusion. More accurate orbital parameters will be obtained with the second Gaia data release and we will better understand whether the orbit of Gaia 1 is peculiar or not," he says.

As well as finding new clusters, the Gaia data are proving useful for checking out the reality of previously reported associations of stars. "Using Gaia data I can see stars that share the same motion. So I can confirm which ones form real open clusters," says Andres E. Piatti, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Argentina.

Star cluster Gaia 1. Credit: Sergey Koposov; NASA/JPL; D. Lang, 2014; A.M. Meisner et al. 2017

He recently published a study that showed ten out of fifteen previously published open clusters were not really star clusters at all, they were just statistical flukes where a lot of unrelated stars happened to be passing in different directions through the same region of space.

It is laborious but vital work. "No one wants to spend their life doing this," says Piatti, "but it is necessary. If we can determine the real size of the cluster population we can learn a lot about the processes that the Galaxy has suffered during its lifetime."

In astronomy, the most famous list of star clusters, nebulae and galaxies was compiled by astronomer and comet hunter, Charles Messier, in the 18th century. Unaware of the importance of these objects, he designed his catalogue to stop the frustration felt by him and other astronomers in mistaking one of these 'deep-sky objects' for a nearby comet.

That original catalogue ran to 110 objects. If it hadn't been for the glare from Sirius obscuring the view, Gaia 1 would have been bright and obvious enough to have made it onto that list too. And there is every reason to think that there are more to come, thanks to Gaia.

The next data release will give accurate proper motions and distances to an unprecedented number of stars, which can be used to more efficiently find star clusters that were buried too deep in the stellar field or were too diffuse or too distant to be seen before.

There is always the possibility to find something totally new too. "I hope with the next data release we can find some new classes of objects too," says Simpson.

For the astronomers ready to explore the Gaia data, the adventure has only just begun. Gaia's second data release is scheduled for April 2018. Subsequent data releases are scheduled for 2020 and 2022.

More information: J. D. Simpson et al. Siriusly, a newly identified intermediate-age Milky Way stellar cluster: a spectroscopic study of Gaia 1, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2017). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stx1892 On the physical reality of overlooked open clusters. lanl.arxiv.org/abs/1701.02609v1 The chemical composition of the stellar cluster Gaia1: no surprise behind Sirius. lanl.arxiv.org/abs/1706.01504v1 Gaia 1 and 2. A pair of new Galactic star clusters. lanl.arxiv.org/abs/1702.01122v2 Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
At Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), scientists have studied ceria nanoparticles with the help of probe molecules and a complex ultrahigh vacuum-infrared measurement system and obtained new insights into their surface structure and chemical activity. Their work is reported in three articles published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

Cerium oxides, compounds of oxygen and the rare-earth metal cerium, are among the most important oxides for technical applications. Ceria is mainly used in heterogeneous catalysis, examples being exhaust gas catalytic converters of passenger cars, photocatalysis in solar cells, water splitting, or the decomposition of pollutants. Ceria, as used in catalytic converters, is in the form of a powder. It consists of nanoscaled particles of highly complex structure. Special arrangement of the metal and oxygen atoms on the surface determines the physical and chemical properties of ceria. So far, however, it has been impossible to precisely analyze the rearrangement and reconstruction processes taking place at the surface of the nanoparticles.

At KIT, scientists of the Institute of Functional Interfaces (IFG) under the direction of Professor Christof Woll established a new method to study chemical properties of oxide surfaces in recent years. They used small molecules, such as carbon monoxide (CO), molecular oxygen (O2), or nitrous oxide (N2O), as probe molecules. These molecules attach to the surface of the oxide nanoparticles. Then, the researchers determine vibration frequencies of the probe molecules. "This approach has led to major progress in the understanding of surface properties of ceria nanoparticles," Christof Woll says.

Together with scientists of the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT) of KIT, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, the University of Udine/Italy, and the Polytechnical University of Catalonia in Barcelona/Spain, the IFG researchers studied various aspects of the surface structure and chemical activity of ceria nanoparticles.

The main reason of the progress achieved is that the researchers succeeded in verifying the vibration frequencies measured for the powders by measurements using exactly defined model substances. They applied a unique ultrahigh vacuum-infrared system. Additionally, they used quantum mechanics calculations to allocate the previously unknown vibration bands of the oxide particles. In this way, they gained entirely new insights into the surface chemistry of ceria nanoparticles.

The scientists proved that the surface of a bar-shaped ceria nanoparticle has a number of defects, such as sawtooth-shaped nanofacets, oxygen vacancies, corners, and edges. These irregularities probably lead to the high catalytic activity of such nanoparticles. In addition, the researchers found that photoreactivity of ceria can be enhanced considerably by the generation of oxygen vacancies, i.e. unoccupied oxygen sites. Another study yielded basic information on the position of oxygen vacancies on various ceria surfaces and their relevance to oxygen activation. "Based on our findings, we can now systematically further develop and optimize nanoscaled ceria-based catalytic converters and photocatalysts," Professor Woll says.
Three alleged Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) members were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the killing of police officer Amitabha Malik.

By Arindam De: Three alleged Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) members were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the killing of police officer Amitabha Malik.

Shyam Kami, Mahendra Kami and Dewaj Lepcha, all residents of the Alipurduar district were arrested on November 2. The state CID is also investigating the Alipurduar links of the GLP now.

The ongoing CID and police investigation is trying to pinpoint the current location of absconding GLP members. The agencies believe that almost a dozen heavily armed GLP members are escorting the absconding GJM chief Bimal Gurung, besides several others from the north-east and Nepal.

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Police sources say that after Darjeeling, Gurung had established strong GLP connections in the Kalchini and Buxa hill areas of Alipurduar. A substantial number of youths had reportedly joined Gorkhaland Personnel under the direct control of Gurung.

In its heydays GLP was a 10,000 strong volunteer force which was initially named Gorkhaland Police but the name was changed after the state government objected. A number of these GLP members received training under former army personnel Col (Retd) Ramesh Alley.

Police chief of Alipurduar Abharu Rabindranath said that CID is investigating the case and police is monitoring the situation on ground. State sleuths are of the opinion that at least 20 GLP members remain untraced in Alipurduar.

Only one GLP member from Alipurduar was found to be active in Darjeeling .

A former Morcha leader said that in 2015 at least 60 youngsters joined GLP from the Kalachini block alone and majority of them joined in the hope of finding employment as Gurung projected GLP as the police of a future Gorkhaland.

Most of them later returned to the mainstream and a few have gone elsewhere looking for employment. GJM leader Ashok Lama denied any knowledge of how many joined GLP saying that Morcha chief Gurung directly recruited and controlled them.

--- ENDS ---
Did you know there are over 600 shipwrecks in the Swan River and off the coast of WA? A group of volunteers in Perth have been working with the WA Museum since 1974 to help with mapping and inspecting them.

MAAWA (the Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia) provides members with the opportunity to dive on shipwrecks.

They have the opportunity to participate in research and management of maritime archaeological heritage sites all around the coast of WA.

MAAWA's Secretary Patrick Morrison says, historically, a lot of wrecks were inspected by MAAWA in the 70s and 80s.

More recently, he says members have started investigating 3-D photogrammetry, which has reinvigorated the group.

3-D mapping of shipwreck sites

The Perth Region Maritime Archaeology 3-Dimensional Mapping Project aimed to record sites under water.

Patrick says, in the past, this involved taking measurements from photographs, but now, computers can do it by themselves.

"You can take a GoPro and run it over a site, as long as you have a good technique."

An example is the wreck of SS Omeo off the coast at Coogee.

In 1991/92, the site was recorded, involving hundreds of hours and diving and 2 years of technical drawings.

Using photogrammetry, the site was recorded in 1 hour with a photo scan.

"When you compare, you can see mistakes in the drawingfor example, the midline of the ship is actually curved," Patrick says.

He says drawings are still useful, as they can tell different things about a site.

"But the drawing can be done from a 3-D model rather than needing 2 years of diving."

The group is now testing a feasible and cost-effective way for MAAWA to continue this work.

SS Omeo. Credit: KEVIN EDWARDS

App registers shipwrecks in WA

The Shipwrecks WA app lets you search a register of shipwrecks along the Swan and Canning Rivers, around the shores of Rottnest Island and the Perth coast.

Patrick says there are over 40 years of wreck inspections sitting in archive boxes in the museum or members' garages.

With funding from Lotterywest, MAAWA member Ian Warne has been working through these libraries and archives to make the data accessible for people wanting to dive sites.

With around 500 to 600 shipwrecks along the coast and in the river, that's a lot of information!

"The earliest wreck we have is the Trial from 1622," Patrick says.

Wrecks include the Mira Floras, 12m under water off Rottnest, which is well protected by reef.

There's also the Macedon and Denton Holme, two large wrecks on Transit Reef in the Rottnest Sanctuary Zone, which are visible when snorkelling.

Recording dump sites in the Swan River

Quite a different story is the Swan River project SCRIMSHAW. This project involves recording things in the river like dump sites.

"Blackwall Reach is notorious for this type of thingcars and bikes and shopping trolleys are found there," Patrick says.

"This can tell us a different sidestories about why someone would want to throw a car off a cliff!"

There's also of lot of wrecks, industry sites, a soap factory and debris from a slipway, plus a tunnel going 120 metres into the cliffs of Rocky Bay.

MAAWA is digitising all of this information and will be running workshops over the next few months.

How to get involved

Currently, around 10 to 15 people are regularly involved in fieldwork, with the group meeting on the third Tuesday of every month at the Shipwreck Galleries in Fremantle.

"People can show up and hear about what we've been doing and what fieldwork is coming up," Patrick says.

They also have guest speakers and training courses. Check out MAAWA's Facebook page for more information.

Provided by Particle

This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article.
A new study is highlighting one possible reason women aren't making more headway in Silicon Valley: men prefer to invest in companies run by other men. With men making up 90 percent of venture capitalists, that preference is a bottleneck that keeps women out of the ranks of tech entrepreneurs.

The study's authors, Michael Ewens of Caltech and Richard Townsend of UC San Diego, analyzed nearly 18,000 start-ups to identify the "chicken and egg" situation faced by women entrepreneurs. Because female-led start-ups face tougher funding prospects than male-led start-ups, fewer women enter the tech entrepreneur pipeline that ultimately feeds the ranks of venture capitalists. Without an adequate supply of female venture capitalists, women-founded start-ups continue to struggle to find funding.

"Women are treated differently than their male counterparts. They receive less interest and, in the end, less funding from male investors," says Ewens, a Caltech professor of finance and entrepreneurship.

To reach that conclusion, the authors analyzed data from 2010 to 2015 on the fates of start-ups with profiles on AngelList, a website that connects start-up companies with investors. Data collected by the site showed how much interest companies were garnering from investors as well as the gender of the founders and interested investors. Ewens and Townsend combined those data with other information they collected about whether the start-ups ultimately found funding, failed, went public, or were purchased by another company.

They found that male-led companies were almost twice as likely to receive funding from male investors than were female-led companies. Male-led companies also had a higher chance of being asked to meet with a male investor and of being "shared" from AngelList onto other platforms like Facebook or Twitter by a male investor.

Among the start-ups seeking funding on AngelList, 16 percent were founded by women. However, Ewens and Townsend found that female-founded companies only made up 13.5 percent of companies that had success finding funding on the platform.

Why were female-founded companies treated differently? Ewens and Townsend explored a few possible explanations that ultimately the data didn't support.

Do men build better companies?

One possibility is that start-ups founded and led by women have undesirable characteristics that investors are responding to that were not obvious to the researchers. If this were the case, potential investors of both genders would have good reason to prefer companies founded by men. However, the data revealed that women-founded companies were less desirable only to male investors. Female investors actually slightly preferred women-founded companies, suggesting that the women-founded companies did not have uniquely undesirable characteristics.

Ewens and Townsend also explored the possibility that women investors were partnering with women founders out of a desire to help other women succeed regardless of the start-up quality. "We wondered if maybe women investors are investing in women because they want to make money and help women," Ewens says. "That would result in women-women pairings that underperform."

To account for potential differences in the ability of investors to pick good investments, the researchers compared outcomes of companies against others within the same portfolio, asking the question, "When an investor funds a company founded by someone of their same gender, does the company perform differently than the same investor's other investments?"

The data revealed, however, that the worst performers were in fact male-founded start-ups that paired with male investors. Female-female, male-female, and female-male pairs all performed better.

A matter of focus?

Ewens and Townsend also wondered if sector focusthe field in which the start-ups operatewas playing a role. That is, if a female-founded company is focused on makeup, and a male investor isn't familiar with this sector, he might shy away and opt to invest instead in a male start-up that sells facial-hair grooming products.

To account for such possible preferences, the researchers developed a subsample of "gender-neutral" start-ups without a clear masculine or feminine focusbiotech firms, for example. They found that even among these start-ups, male investors were more likely to pair with male-founded companies.

Risk and reward?

A third idea possibility that men and women prefer different levels of risk, both on the start-up side and the investment side, and that same-gender pairings between entrepreneurs and investors are driven by that preference.

"There is some experimental evidence that women are more risk averse," Ewens says. "So, female-founded firms may be less risky or the founders may pursue different growth strategies than male-founded firms do."

Female-run companies with more conservative business plans that present less riskbut also less chance of a big payoffmight align better with the interests of a risk-averse female investor. On the other hand, male-founded companies, which tend to take more business risksbut have a higher potential for financial rewardmight appeal more to male investors.

To test the hypothesis, the researchers looked at cross-gender pairings of male founders and female investors.

If female investors are more risk averse, the argument goes, they should be more likely to choose male-founded companies with safer business approachesand, because of their conservatism, those same male-founded companies should have a harder time attracting male investors.

But these patterns are not observed in the data, Ewens and Townsend found. Male-run companies that paired up with female investors still garnered significant interest from male investors.

A matter of taste

With company quality, sector focus, and risk aversion ruled out, Ewens and Townsend were left with only one likely explanation: taste-based discrimination. That is, male investors simply prefer to fund male-founded companies for reasons that may include outright sexism as well as subtler factors, such as a desire among male venture capitalists to mentor young entrepreneurs who remind them of themselves.

Because investment preferences are personal and not easily identified, Ewens says it would be difficult, if not impossible, to create laws or regulations that would prevent discrimination in investments. A more successful approach would include efforts to increase the number of women investors, though that will take some time to begin paying off.

"There's no quick fix; however, if we continue to lower the barriers to becoming an investor, the pool of venture capitalists will begin to look more like the general population, and the gender gap will shrink," he says.

The paper is titled "Are Early State Investors Biased Against Women?"

More information: Michael Ewens. Can Access to Capital Explain the Entrepreneurship Gender Gap?, SSRN Electronic Journal (2017). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2953011
Is it time for the Arvind Kejriwal government to consider annual smog holidays for Delhi schools? At least 55 per cent people agree with this idea in a survey and they have their reasons to do so.

By Prabhash K Dutta: In May 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that Delhi had the worst air quality in the world. The WHO had released its report on the basis of its study of air quality, between 2008 and 2013, of about 1600 cities across 91 countries.

Delhi's air has only worsened since then. During 2015-16 winters, when the odd-even scheme for vehicles was introduced in Delhi to ease pressure on city's air, the Arvind Kejriwal government had ordered the schools to remain shut for December 25, 2015 - January 15, 2016 due to "bad weather".

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In November 2016, the Arvind Kejriwal government ordered closure of schools for three days as smog levels spiked in Delhi. In the first week of the month, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that Delhi witnessed worst smog in 17 years.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data showed that the levels of PM2.5 increased by 62.7 per cent on November 2 as compared to that even on Diwali (October 30).

This year is only worse. The mean AQI in Delhi on November 9 showed 486 and 468, 403, 460 and 460 for next four days, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, which has set AQI of 500 as the upper limit of measurement. In many areas, the AQI reading meter stuck at 499 as the pollution level went beyond.

SMOG LEAVES PARENTS WORRIED

With this in background, 55 per cent of Delhi people have demanded in an online survey, conducted by citizen engagement platform LocalCircles, that the Arvind Kejriwal government should declare smog holidays for schools every year in November.

About 55 per cent of over 6,500 voters - mostly parents - in the survey said that Delhi schools should be shut down every year between November 1 and 20 due to annual spike in smog during this period.

The parents are worried about the health of their children going to school passing through the traffic maze breathing the toxic smog of Delhi. Their worries are not unfounded. India Today reported a study saying that the ongoing spell of smog has caused respiratory problems for half of Delhi's college going students.

The study was conducted by Fortis Healthcare, which surveyed 1,044 college students aged 18-24. The younger school going children are more vulnerable to polluted air.

DELHI KIDS VERSUS REST

According to a study conducted by the scientists from Kolkata-based Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) said that the Delhi kids are more vulnerable to respiratory diseases and disorders due to bad air quality than those living in areas having purer air.

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The CNCI study included a survey of 11,628 school-going children, aged 4-17, from 36 Delhi schools for their respiratory health status and degree of lung function impairment, and compared 4,536 children chosen from 15 schools of rural West Bengal and 2 schools from Uttarakhand.

The Delhi school kids were 1.8 times more prone to respiratory diseases like sinusitis, running or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat and common cold with fever. The CNCI study found that 43.5 per cent school children in Delhi showed reduced lung function compared to 25.7 per cent in children from other areas.

They were found to be twice more vulnerable to the rest for frequent dry cough, sputum-producing cough, wheezing breath, breathlessness on exertion, chest pain or tightness and disturbed sleep due to breathing problems. These are serious health problems for kids.

CURRENT DELHI SMOG CONDITION

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the mean AQI in Delhi was 361 yesterday. This falls in the 'very poor' category. It showed a dip as compared to Tuesday's AQI of 308, which was the best in a week.

Mean PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in Delhi was recorded as 198 and 307 microgrammes per cubic metre yesterday at 7 PM. The 24-hour safe standards are 60 for PM and 100 for PM10. Air pollution is considered 'severe plus' or emergency when PM2.5 is recorded above 300 and PM10 over 500.

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Even though the spell of smog in Delhi weakened over past two days, it continued to be in 'severe plus' or emergency zone till yesterday. The "air emergency" was lifted today. The SAFAR (System of Air Quality And Weather Forecasting And Research) - government's air quality monitoring agency - has said that strong surface winds in Delhi have helped pumping out accumulated pollutants.

There are strong chances, according to SAFAR, that air quality in Delhi may dip again. However, it may come down from 'severe plus' to near ceiling in the 'very poor' zone on the Air Quality Index (AQI) by the weekend. The change in meteorological conditions due to fall in temperature and increase in moisture is likely to keep air toxic in Delhi.

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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 

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" " The Palouse River cliffs in Washington state were formed by lava flows that occurred over 16 million years ago. B.E. Butler / Getty Images

In southeastern Washington state, the Palouse River dives 200 feet (60 meters) off cliffs created by lava flows that occurred over 16 million years ago. While this in itself is impressive, researchers recently discovered something even more astounding about these cliffs: They were created by the third-largest eruption in Earth's history.

The research by Washington State University, funded by the National Science Foundation, appears in the journal Geology and details a thousand-year span during which an explosion of sulfuric gas blocked out the sun and chilled the Earth.

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"This would have been devastating regionally because of the acid-rain effect from the eruptions," John Wolff, a professor in the WSU School of the Environment said in a university statement. "It did have a global effect on temperatures, but not drastic enough to start killing things, or it did not kill enough of them to affect the fossil record."
Apart from a two-hour programme in Shastri Bhawan for a closed group of government officials on November 11, the UGC did not issue any directive to universities to observe Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's birthday.

Apart from a two-hour event at Shastri Bhawan for a closed group of govt officials, there was no UGC order to observe the day.

By Sweta dutta: After ensuring celebrations across universities and educational institutions on Quit India Movement anniversary, National Handloom Day, Swachh Bharat anniversary, Sardar Patel's birth anniversary, International Yoga Day and Matribhasha Diwas among others, the HRD ministry's silence on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's birth anniversary on November 11, observed as National Education Day, has sparked outrage among educationists, historians and a section of government officials.

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The UGC, which sends out circulars and notices on the behest of the HRD ministry through the year, instructs universities, colleges and educational institutions to conduct events to mark various occasions, but apart from a two-hour programme in Shastri Bhawan for a closed group of government officials on November 11, it did not issue any such directive to universities to observe the day, pointed out officials.

"While there were directives to observe Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary with 'unity runs' across educational institutions and to treat the event as a 'priority', the first education minister Maulana Azad's anniversary fell off the government's priority list this year. Only a handful of government officials were called for a small meeting at the ministry on National Education Day," said a senior ministry official. "Earlier, there used to be elaborate celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan and debates and discussions were organised."

Calling it 'tokenism of the saddest kind', Syeda Hameed, educationist and Maulana Azad's biographer, told Mail Today, "This is an attempt at minimising and obliterating Maulana Azad's existence. We are not just doing disservice to a great leader but also crushing our history. His 100th birth anniversary was celebrated with much fanfare, but in a matter of a few years, he is no longer remembered, except for a few tweets by some leaders. Why is there such a huge contrast in the way Maulana Azad is commemorated? Who were the speakers at the ministry meeting? Were any of them an authority on the leader?"

Literary historian and commentator, Rakshanda Jalil added, "It is sad. We see the seeding of a certain ideology and weeding out of a worldview... the planting of ideas of icons such as Deendayal Upadhyay, whereas the weeding out of several other public icons. Why should it be left to the minorities alone to protest against this? Maulana Azad was the first education minister and hence an icon for all Indians. Why is this not offensive to everyone but just a handful?"

'BLAME UPA, NDA BOTH'

Maulana Azad's grandson and writer Firoz Bakht Ahmed, however, refused to place the blame squarely on just the BJP, but pulled up the UPA government too. "It is very unfortunate that such a great man whose contribution was no lesser than that of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru or Sardar Patel, is not even being acknowledged. While Children's Day and Teacher's Day have been popularised, very few know of National Education Day," he said.

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"However, it will not be right to blame just the BJP government. In 2013, during UPA rule, Maulana Azad's 125th birth anniversary was hardly celebrated, whereas the very next year, Nehru's 125th birth anniversary was observed with much fanfare. The Congress has never looked beyond birth and death anniversaries of the Gandhi family or Nehru, whereas the BJP has glorified Veer Savarkar and KB Hedgewar," Ahmed added.

Officials in the ministry maintained that newspaper advertisements marking the occasion were issued, though in some states it could not be carried due to the model code of conduct ahead of elections. "The Prime Minister and other senior leaders tweeted on the occasion," an official added.

UGC chairman VS Chauhan clarified, "A meeting was called that lasted two hours and a lot of people remembered Maulana Azad. Good quality observation was made. We went from home to attend the meeting on a holiday. What else could have been done?"

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" " An artist's impression of Ross 128 b, with its red dwarf parent star in the background. That relatively calm red dwarf star is a big boost for the exoplanet's habitability. ESO/M. Kornmesser

A very special alien world has been discovered on our galactic doorstep, and it may have the secret sauce that allows life as we know it to exist on its surface.

Enter Ross 128 b, an Earth-sized exoplanet that likely orbits its star in its habitable zone. What makes this exoplanet discovery so exciting is that it's located only 11 light-years away. Plus, its red dwarf star appears to be inactive. That means that this newly discovered world may not face the radioactive ravages that other "habitable" exoplanets must endure, thereby boosting its habitable potential.

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Astronomers detected Ross 128 b using the European Southern Observatory's High Accuracy Radial-velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) at the La Silla Observatory in Chile and measured the slight "wobbles" of the star caused by the orbiting exoplanet. From the study, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, the researchers calculated the exoplanet's mass and orbital period. A year on Ross 128 b is slightly less than 10 days, so the distance at which it whips around the star is very close. But as the red dwarf is so tiny and cool, the exoplanet receives a similar amount of solar heating as our planet receives from the sun.
By Julie Gordon

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Canada will not be sending hundreds of peacekeepers to support a United Nations mission in Mali in the near future, officials said on Wednesday, a move likely to disappoint allies who want Canadians to play a role in the West African country.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year promised to contribute up to 600 troops to peacekeeping operations and Canadian defense experts made three trips to Mali, where soldiers under the U.N. are fighting Islamist militants.

Canada said it would split its soldiers among various missions instead, with no more than 200 going to any one spot, and will offer transport aircraft and helicopters in a series of "smart pledge" initiatives. It will also help train peacekeepers.

U.N. officials downplayed concerns, saying that if Canada had pledged its troops and equipment to a single mission, like Mali, then those assets could not be deployed to support other missions in the region.

"This is exactly what we need, we need flexibility... we need to be able to allocate these resources where we need them the most," Jean-Pierre Lacroix, a U.N. under-secretary general for peacekeeping operations, told reporters.

Lacroix said talks continue on how Canadian assets will be deployed, but added, "I'm sure there's a strong determination to turn this commitment into a concrete action on the ground."

Earlier on Wednesday, a Canadian official told reporters the option of sending forces to Mali one day was still alive, but added the planning process took at least six months, "So youre not going to going to see some kind of rapid deployment to any mission, let alone a complex one like Mali."

Trudeau sidestepped questions about the likely international reaction at a news conference, saying the varied measures Canada was proposing would serve the U.N. better.

Unhappy allies this year said Canada's bid for a U.N. Security Council seat could suffer unless Trudeau lived up to his promises.

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"This approach will be a disappointment to some, and the Canadian government will have to work hard to overcome the credibility it has lost in not following through on its initial pledge," said Jane Boulden, a security studies expert at Queen's University in Kingston.

Government insiders said enthusiasm for the Mali mission faded as the extent of likely casualties and the complex nature of the conflict became clear. More than 80 members have been killed since 2013, making Mali the world's deadliest peacekeeping operation.

(Writing by David Ljunggren and Julie Gordon; Editing by Grant McCool and Clarence Fernandez)
The two sides hope the agreement can become a framework for further such agreements across ASEAN

Fintech bridges are all the rage and the Monetary Authority of Singapore inked yet another co-operation agreement, this time with The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, to promote fintech in one anothers respective countries.

The key benefit for these types of agreements is it provides an avenue for startups from one country to enter the other. If authorities pinpoint a promising startup, they can help facilitate its expansion between the Philippines and Singapore.

The co-operation agreement also puts pen-to-paper an agreement to co-operate on sharing trends and cooperating on projects. One example brought up in the announcement is facilitating cross-border payments and improving know-your-customer standards.

The CA (co-operation agreement) provides avenues for greater collaboration through a more defined structure and referral system for FinTech players between the innovation functions of each authority, said Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr., the Governor of BSP, in a statement.

Also Read: Bitcoin is a financial scam, says DBS Chief Information Officer David Gledhill

Ravi Menon the Managing Director at MAS said he hoped the agreement could provide a framework for broader ASEAM fintech co-operations.

As should be expected, the MAS has released a ton of updates during its Fintech Festival  including similar agreements with Hong Kong, Poland and a new collaboration organisation called the ASEAN Financial Innovation Network.

Also Read: Malaysian accelerator Sunway iLabs to invest US$480K in up to 10 startups in 2018

It also announced a US$20 million AI grant as well as updated regulations regarding ICOs.



The post Central banks for Singapore and Philippines sign fintech cooperation agreement appeared first on e27.
There's one room at the Sheno primary school in rural Ethiopia that's different from all the others, starting with the sign over the door reading: "Menstruation is a gift from God." Inside this converted classroom, boys and girls gather in what some pupils call the "girls' club" to break one of the country's most enduring taboos: talking about periods. In Ethiopia, adolescent girls are generally left to muddle through puberty on their own without guidance or the means to buy sanitary pads. Only 54 percent of Ethiopian girls finish primary school, according to the United Nations children's fund, UNICEF, and many abandon it because of cramps or embarrassing mishaps during their periods. With child marriage prevalent in rural areas, local beliefs link menstruation to sexual activity, and so an accidental blood stain could see girls relentlessly teased by their classmates. When 14-year-old Yordanos Tesfaye first got her period, she was "shocked and frightened". "I went home and told my father but he couldn't afford to buy me a pad. Then I told my friend and she suggested I use a rag. However, I didn't know how to use it and dropped it on the street and I was very embarrassed," she told AFP. Like many teenage girls, she was tempted to drop out of school, but support from the girls' club convinced her to stay. The clubs -- officially called "menstrual hygiene management" clubs and open to pupils aged 11 and older -- began as a collaboration between local health officials and UNICEF, based on the idea that adolescent girls won't stay in school if they can't effectively manage their transition to womanhood. "That (time) of the girls' lives is absolutely critical to manage well in order to improve the sort of academic performance and reduce the dropouts in school," said Samuel Godfrey, UNICEF's sanitation chief in Ethiopia. The programme has been implemented in 65 schools and UNICEF is planning to expand it further. - 'Not a disease' - Children attend primary school in Ethiopia from the age of seven to 14 but many stay longer if they were late to enroll or have repeated a class. At Sheno school, which has more than 760 pupils and lies some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, sanitary pads are given out for free and boys and girls work together to demystify the female menstrual cycle. Since the girls' club opened three years ago, Sheno's rate of dropouts due to period woes has been reduced to zero. The year before it opened, 20 girls left, according to the school. Clad in a white coat, biology teacher Tafesech Balemi guides girls through the changes their bodies are experiencing, while also educating the boys. She hands out reusable sanitary pads to girls who can't afford to buy them and also offers a shower and a mattress where they can lie down if they don't feel well. "We teach students in this club that menstruation is a gift from God. We teach them that it is not a disease but rather it is natural and biological," she explains. Tafesech also tracks girls who don't come to school and will meet with their families if she believes their absenteeism has something to do with menstruation. At another school in the same region, Hiwot Werka, 14, was mortified when she got her period while in class, staining her uniform. "I used to hide... the whole day until nobody was around." Adding to her shame, her mother accused her of being sexually active and forbade her from leaving the house, beating her when she tried to go to school. Local health officials went to speak to her family, to explain to them that what Hiwot was going through was normal and not linked to sex. "After a time, my mother came to realise that menstruation is normal," said Hiwot, who was allowed to return to school. - Key role for boys - Despite the name of the clubs, boys are an integral part of it because they help fight some of the most vicious side-effects of the menstruation taboo. Yonas Nigussie, 14, remembers teasing girls who had a mishap during that time of the month, yelling out: "You know you have blood on your behind!" He credits the club with changing his attitude completely, and now tells friends who taunt girls to knock it off. "I remember when my sister got her first period. I was the one who brought her pads," Yonas said. Ethiopia is among several countries in Africa that have implemented ways to accommodate women during their periods. In 2015, Zambia enacted a law allowing women to be absent from work without notice to help them deal with menstrual pain. And earlier this year, Kenya mandated that all schools provide sanitary pads to girls, free of charge.
For being a beacon of hope, welcoming refugees and immigrants with open arms and for its unspoiled environments and dynamic cities, Canada has been named the Travel + Leisure's "Destination of the Year 2017."

The praise and accolades are enough to make any Canuck blush.

They come fast and furious in the US travel magazine's editorial, which pays homage to their northern neighbor.

"In 2017 all signs pointed north," editors wrote, adding that Canada has become an influential global leader -- "a nation defined by tolerance and hope."

To determine the winner, experts looked for destinations that best capture the travel zeitgeist of the moment.

Along with celebrating a milestone anniversary -- Canada marked its 150th anniversary this year -- the country distinguished itself during a particularly divisive time, editors said, presenting itself as a "unifier of communities and cultures."

The result? Global interest in the country, which has long languished quietly under the shadow of its formidable US neighbor, has grown significantly, with its world-class cities, "epic natural wonders," and burgeoning, creative food and arts scenes, finally coming to light.

Past honorees include Portugal, which was crowned the 2016 Destination of the Year, and Cuba in 2015.

- Trump slump -

Travel + Leisure isn't the only publication to shine the spotlight on Canada this year. Back in 2016, experts at Lonely Planet also named Canada their pick for the top country to visit in 2017.

Likewise, the findings of a recent industry report from market research provider Euromonitor International suggest that Canada will stand to gain from the 'Trump slump' phenomenon and the US president's controversial administration.

Unveiled at the World Travel Market in London, England last week, analysts credited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, described as "young, trendy, clever, articulate and welcoming" as a boon for Canadian tourism.

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"Canadian cities Toronto and Vancouver are in a strong growth period, as the low Canadian dollar ensures Canada is an affordable holiday destination for many," analysts wrote.

"Canada is also likely benefiting from some substitution effect, as its current political vision is the near-opposite of its southern neighbor, advocating openness and stronger ties with other countries."

Travel + Leisure's comprehensive guide to the best of Canada hits newsstands Dec. 1.
The UN Security Council was expected to vote, probably on Friday, on a 30-day extension of a UN-led investigation of chemical weapons attacks in Syria to allow for negotiations after Russia vetoed a renewal of the probe. Japan on Thursday presented a draft resolution that would give the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) another 30 days as the United States and Russia work to reach a compromise on the future of the panel. Russia earlier cast its 10th veto on Syria at the council, blocking the one-year extension of the JIM as proposed in a US-drafted resolution that won 11 votes. A Russian-drafted resolution fell short of the nine votes required for adoption, garnering just four votes in favour. The joint UN-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel was set up by Russia and the United States in 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the council, which renewed its mandate last year. The expert team is tasked with determining who is responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Russia has sharply criticized the JIM after its latest report blamed the Syrian air force for a sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead. The attack on April 4 triggered global outrage as images of dying children were shown worldwide, prompting the United States to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base a few days later. Syria has denied using chemical weapons, with strong backing from its main ally Russia. US Ambassador Nikki Haley assailed the veto as a "deep blow", saying: "Russia has killed the investigative mechanism which has overwhelming support of this council." "By eliminating our ability to identify the attackers, Russia has undermined our ability to deter future attacks." The Japanese move however revived hope that the JIM could be salvaged. The draft text obtained by AFP would renew the JIM mandate for 30 days and task UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with submitting to the council in 20 days "proposals for the structure and methodology" of the panel. Japan requested a vote for Thursday, but diplomats said it was more likely that the council would consider the measure on Friday. A resolution requires nine votes to be adopted at the council, but five countries -- Russia, Britain, China, France and the United States -- can block adoption with their veto power. - Flawed probe - Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the investigation of the Khan Sheikhun attack suffered from "fundamental flaws" and that the US-drafted resolution was "geared toward entrenching the inherent flaws of the JIM." In its draft, Russia had insisted the panel's findings on Khan Sheikhun be put aside to allow for another "full-scale and high-quality investigation" by the JIM. The Russian veto came as the United Nations was preparing to convene in Geneva on November 28 a new round of talks to end the six-year war and underscored deep divisions over Syria. Eleven of the council's 15 members voted in favor of the US-drafted resolution, while Egypt and China abstained. Bolivia joined Russia in voting against the measure. Russia, China, Bolivia and Kazakhstan voted in favour of the Russian draft, while seven countries opposed it. Four countries abstained: Ethiopia, Senegal, Egypt and Japan. French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the Russian veto was a blow to international efforts to curb the use of chemical weapons. "Let there be no doubt: we have unleashed a monster here," said Delattre. Previous reports by the JIM have found that Syrian government forces were responsible for chlorine attacks on three villages in 2014 and 2015, and that the Islamic State group used mustard gas in 2015.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri will travel to France this weekend from Saudi Arabia, Paris said Thursday, after the kingdom rejected accusations he was detained in Riyadh following his shock resignation. The French presidency said Hariri would meet President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace after arriving on Saturday, two weeks to the day since he announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia. Hariri has been in Riyadh since giving a statement on television that he was stepping down because he feared for his life while also accusing Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of destabilising Lebanon. His trip to Paris could help to defuse regional tensions and end speculation that Hariri, a dual Saudi national, was being held against his own will. The latest developments came after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met Hariri in Riyadh and said the Lebanese premier had accepted an invitation to go to Paris. Hariri said he would travel to France "very soon" from Saudi Arabia, without saying when. Earlier Le Drian held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir who told reporters that Hariri, whose family is a longtime ally of the Sunni-ruled kingdom, was free to leave "when he pleases". Hariri is living in the kingdom "of his own free will," said Jubeir, the highest-ranking Saudi official to comment on Hariri's status since his surprise resignation. "These are false allegations. The accusation that Saudi Arabia is detaining a prime minister, and particularly a political figure who is an ally... is untrue," he added. Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who had accused Saudi authorities of "detaining" Hariri and refused to accept his resignation from abroad, welcomed the news about the trip. "We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri's acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution," he said on the official presidential Twitter account. - France visit 'not exile' - "If Mr. Hariri speaks from France, I would consider that he speaks freely, but his resignation must be presented in Lebanon, and he will have to remain there until the formation of the new government," Aoun said later in a statement issued by his office. Le Drian's visit is the latest in a string of European efforts to defuse the rising tension over Lebanon, which has long been riven by disagreements between Hariri's bloc and that of his chief rival, Hezbollah. "He (Hariri) will come to France and the prince has been informed," Le Drian told reporters, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks Wednesday. The French president's office on Wednesday had confirmed that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile. Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person. - Common stance on Iran - Hariri's resignation came against the backdrop of mounting tensions between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which back opposing sides in regional conflicts in countries including Syria and Yemen. Many observers saw his stepping down as a power play between Riyadh and Tehran. Speaking at the news conference, Jubeir denounced Hezbollah as "a tool of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards" and "a first-class terrorist organisation used by Iran to destabilise Lebanon and the region". Le Drian said he was also concerned over Iranian "intervention in regional crises" and "hegemonic" intentions. "I'm thinking specifically about Iran's ballistic programme," Le Drian added. France has however sought to maintain a nuanced position in the region. Macron, on his first state visit to the Middle East last week, called for vigilance towards Tehran over its ballistic missile programme and regional activities. But the French president also cautioned against creating a "new front" in a region already fraught with conflicts, including the war in Yemen. The Arab League is to hold an extraordinary meeting next Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss alleged "violations" committed by Iran in the region.
Singapore has suspended trade ties with North Korea in the latest move by a country to implement UN sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme, a customs document showed Thursday. A circular by Singapore Customs on its website banned "all commercially traded goods... from or to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), regardless of whether they are imported, exported, transhipped or brought in transit through Singapore" with effect from November 8. DPRK is North Korea's formal name. The United States is leading a drive at the UN Security Council to impose two recent sets of sanctions on North Korea to punish Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile tests. Singapore Customs sent the notice to traders and agents on Tuesday. It warned violators they can be fined up to Sg$100,000 ($74,000) or three times the value of the goods traded, or suffer a jail term of up to two years, or suffer both penalties, for the first offence. Repeat violators will be subject to stiffer penalties. The North carried out its sixth nuclear test -- and most powerful to date -- on September 3, sparking international outrage and a fresh round of sanctions. International powers hope that economic sanctions will deprive the North of the resources it needs to pursue its nuclear programme and pressure it into negotiating. "I think it is a matter of time when most Southeast Asian countries would do the same, so it is especially appropriate that Singapore as the region's major trading power takes the lead," Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told AFP. He said that on top of Pyongyang's repeated nuclear tests, the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's half brother, in Malaysia last February also "stiffened the resolve of the Southeast Asian countries to sever substantial ties with North Korea". Kim Jong-Nam, who was estranged from the leader, was about to board a plane from Kuala Lumpur's international airport when assassins poisoned him with the banned nerve agent VX, according to Malaysian officials. He died minutes later. The murder sparked a furious row between North Korea and Malaysia, with the South blaming Pyongyang for ordering the killing. North Korea has denied the allegation. Singapore has a standing advisory on citizens against non-essential travel to North Korea. With effect from October last year, Singapore also required North Koreans to have visas before travelling to the city-state. North Korea has an embassy in Singapore but the latter has no representation in Pyongyang.
By PTI: (Eds: Adding word lifting in intro)

New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government to submit data of ambient air quality in the national capital and said it would consider lifting its ban on construction and industrial activity in the National Capital Region (NCR) on that basis.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that it would take up the matter tomorrow and till then its order would be in force.

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During the brief hearing, the AAP government told the bench that water was sprinkled at ITO area according to its direction and PM 2.5 levels had come down as detected by the monitoring centre of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Some of the lawyers, appearing for builders and industries, requested the tribunal to lift its ban on the ground that air quality in the NCR had improved.

The bench refused to pass any order, saying there was no urgency and no builder would be starting construction activity tonight.

"We will pass the order tomorrow after going through the data," it said.

On November 14, the NGT had expressed concern over the high pollution level, terming it as an "environmental and health emergency". The city should "not gift infected lungs to its children", it had obnserved.

It had also refused to exempt women and two-wheelers from the Delhi governments odd-even vehicle rationing scheme and directed it to ensure that over 10-year-old diesel vehicles be taken off the roads without delay.

It had also asked the city government to identify the most polluted areas and sprinkle water, while allowing the non-polluting industries and those manufacturing essential goods to operate in Delhi-NCR.

The NGT had on November 11 stated that it would not exempt women and two-wheelers from the odd-even vehicle rationing plan to tackle pollution. PTI PKS RRT SC

--- ENDS ---
Representatives of Russia and Bolivia vote in the United Nations (UN) Security Council on a bid to renew an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria during a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia on Thursday cast its 10th veto of United Nations Security Council action on Syria since the war began in 2011, blocking a U.S.-drafted resolution to renew an international inquiry into who is to blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

The mandate for the joint inquiry by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which found the Syrian government used the banned nerve agent sarin in an April 4 attack, expires on Friday.

A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. The U.S. draft text received 11 votes in favor, while Russia and Bolivia voted against it and China and Egypt abstained.

The vote sparked a war of words between Russia and the United States in the council, just hours after White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said President Donald Trump believed he could work with Russian President Vladimir Putin on issues like Syria.

The April 4 sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed dozens of people prompted the United States to launch missiles on a Syrian air base. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned after the council vote on Thursday: "We will do it again if we must."

Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the U.S. draft resolution was not balanced.

"We need a robust, professional mechanism that will help to prevent the proliferation of the threat of chemical terrorism in the region and you need a puppet-like structure to manipulate public opinion," Nebenzia said.

RUSSIAN BID FAILS

Syrian ally Russia withdrew its own rival draft resolution to renew the inquiry, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), after unsuccessfully pushing for its proposal to be considered second and not first, as council rules required.

However, following the vote on the U.S. draft, Bolivia then requested a vote on the Russian text. It failed, receiving only four votes in favor, seven against and four abstentions.

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Nebenzia said he was "deeply disappointed" and that those who voted against the Russian draft "bear the full brunt of responsibility for the cessation of operation of the JIM."

After the meeting ended Japan circulated a draft resolution to roll over the mandate for the inquiry for one month, diplomats said. It was not immediately clear when the council could vote.

Ahead of the council votes on Thursday, Trump urged the Security Council in a Twitter post to renew the inquiry, saying it was needed to prevent Assad from using chemical weapons.

While Russia agreed to the 2015 creation of the JIM, it has consistently questioned its findings, which also concluded that the Syrian government used chlorine as a weapon several times.

Russia has now vetoed 10 resolutions on Syria, including blocking an initial U.S. bid on Oct. 24 to renew the JIM, saying it wanted to wait for the release two days later of the inquiry's report that said the Syrian government used sarin.

"Russia has killed the Joint Investigative Mechanism," Haley said. "In effect Russia accepts the use of chemical weapons in Syria. How then can we trust Russia's support for supposed peace in Syria?"

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States.

"We condemn the use of chemical weapons by anyone," Nebenzia said.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Children rest on a bed at their family hut at a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, Yemen November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad (Reuters)

By Stephanie Nebehay and Tom Miles

GENEVA (Reuters) - The heads of three U.N. agencies urged the Saudi-led military coalition on Thursday to lift its blockade of Yemen, warning that "untold thousands" would die if it stayed in place.

The coalition closed all air, land and sea access to Yemen on Nov. 6 following the interception of a missile fired towards the Saudi capital, saying it had to stem the flow of arms from Iran to its Houthi opponents in the war in Yemen.

Yemen already has 7 million people on the brink of famine, but without the reopening of all ports that number could grow by 3.2 million, the heads of the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the World Health Organization said in a joint statement.

"The cost of this blockade is being measured in the number of lives that are lost," the statement from David Beasley, Anthony Lake and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

"Together, we issue another urgent appeal for the coalition to permit entry of lifesaving supplies to Yemen in response to what is now the worst humanitarian crisis in the world."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to Saudi U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi to warn him that the blockade was "already reversing the impact of humanitarian efforts," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.

"The Secretary-General is very much disappointed we've not seen a lifting of the blockade. The Secretary-General and his humanitarian team are heartbroken at the scenes we're seeing from Yemen," Dujarric told reporters.

Saudi Arabia has since said that aid can go through "liberated ports" but not Houthi-controlled Hodeidah, the conduit for the vast bulk of imports into Yemen.

For months, the U.N. has warned that the closure of Hodeidah would dramatically escalate the crisis.

As of Wednesday, 29 vessels, with 300,000 tonnes of food and 192,000 tonnes of fuel, had been blocked, while U.N. ships carrying $10 million of health and nutrition supplies and 25,000 tonnes of wheat were waiting to berth at Hodeidah, according to another U.N. statement.

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"Without fuel, the vaccine cold chain, water supply systems and waste water treatment plants will stop functioning. And without food and safe water, the threat of famine grows by the day," the U.N. agency heads said.

At least one million children are at risk if a fast-spreading diphtheria outbreak is not stopped in its tracks, and the lives of 400,000 pregnant women and their babies are under threat because of the lack of medicines.

There is also the risk of a renewed flare-up in cholera, which was on the wane after the most explosive outbreak ever recorded - with over 900,000 cases and 2,200 deaths in the past six months.

The number of new cholera cases has declined for the last eight weeks, Sherin Varkey, UNICEF deputy representative in Yemen, said in a telephone interview from Sanaa on Thursday.

The government-controlled port of Aden has re-opened and Sanaa airport is operating for commercial flights, however this is inadequate as "needs are so huge", he said.

"There is a fuel crisis. Some estimates say fuel will only last in the country for 20 days because of the blockade and challenges of getting fuel into the country," Varkey said.

UNICEF is helping provide clean water to 6 million Yemenis by ensuring fuel is delivered to water pumping stations in cities, he said.

"Our worry is with the fuel shortage this could affect and even we assume reverse the declining trend (in cholera)," he said.

(Reporting by Tom Miles and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Toby Chopra and James Dalgleish)
adidas Originals Yeezy Boost 350 V2

It sure is a big week for sneakerheads in Singapore.

Just days after Off-White designer Virgil Abloh launched his Nike collaboration here on Tuesday, Yeezy designer and rapper Kanye West will be launching his own sneaker collaboration with adidas in Singapore on Saturday (18 November). The adidas Originals Yeezy Boost 350 V2 will be available in sizes UK3.5 to UK12, and will cost $349 a pair.

Prior to a purchase, buyers hoping to get these sneakers will need to collect ballot tags on Friday at the brands boutique store at Pacific Plaza shopping centre. The collection of ballot tags will open from 10am to 8pm and only 500 will be given out on a first-come-first-serve basis. Registration is required before the collection of ballot tags, and the queue for this will open at 9am.

Each customer with a valid photo ID/passport is only eligible to enter the ballot once. Any double entries will be disqualified, said adidas Singapore on Facebook on Thursday (16 Nov). No one is allowed to purchase the YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 on behalf of a successful customer.

adidas Originals Yeezy Boost 350 v2

A live ballot draw will take place on Saturday at 10am. Customers who are successful in the ballot will be led into the store to purchase the footwear immediately. The shoes will also be available on adidas online shop, but are expected to sell out fast due to buyers making multiple purchases.

The sale of limited edition sneakers has garnered a lot of attention around the world, with videos surfacing on social media showing long queues of sneaker fans hoping to purchase exclusive sneaker collections.

Earlier this week, a video showing an altercation outside an adidas store in Malaysia surfaced on social media. The people involved had quarrelled over the brands limited edition shoe collection in collaboration with popular music producer Pharell Williams.

Heres a video showing the brawl:

A video of people queuing for the new Yeezy sneakers outside the adidas Originals store at Pacific Plaza:

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The city of East Palo Alto, California, sent a tow truck on Wednesday morning to haul away a dozen RVs in which homeless families have been living. The tow truck was met by a crowd of protesters, who blocked its way and helped push broken RVs into new curbside parking spaces where they would be safe from the eviction order issued by the city. The San Jose Mercury News called the move a crackdown on the new mode of low-income housing in the Bay Area.

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The problem, East Palo Alto says, is that RV residents there have clogged storm drains by illegally dumping sewage from the campers. With big rains expected at the end of the week, the city is concerned the sewage could flood the area.

This kind of police action, a periodic occurrence in the Bay Area, is another sign of how dire the housing crisis has become at the heart of Silicon Valley, where even families with two working parents are living out of RVs and dumping shit into street drains. Most of the kids living on Weeks Street belong to the Ravenswood City School District, which draws students from East Palo Alto and part of nearby Menlo Park. More than half of the kids in the 4,500-student district are homeless, the superintendent, who joined the protest, told the Mercury News. The block in question is about a mile and a half from Facebooks headquarters, and adjacent to the future site of the Primary School, a middle school being developed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan.

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In the San Jose metro area, where the median home price is approaching nation-high $1.2 million, living in a parking spot is becoming more and more common. Gilroy, at the southern edge of Santa Clara County, now has a higher ratio of homeless residents per capita than D.C. or San Francisco, according to a county survey. Countywide, the number of homeless residents is up 13 percent since 2015. Homelessness is up 26 percent in Palo Alto, 51 percent in Mountain View (home of Google), and 74 percent in Cupertino (home of Apple) over that two-year stretch.

The crisis is not the fault of those tech companies, though, but of local governments who continue to fight tooth and nail against building any new housing at all. Just this week, the San Francisco suburb of Burlingame stalled the approval of a 128-unit, four-story apartment complex two blocks from a train station. And while its true that new apartment complexes are not affordable to the areas homeless families, new housing creates space for wealthier residents who would otherwise gentrify places like East Palo Alto. No matter, according to Burlingame: Do we need this big of an apartment complex at this time in our citys life? I dont know if we do, the planning commission chair said.


Zoho Social for Agencies allows smaller advertising agencies the ability to manage several client accounts from one platform. These agencies can collaborate with clients and make reports using customized aggregated statistics.

The new service from Zoho provides a way for small businesses to be more hands on in their marketing too. Not every small business has the resources to handle social media marketing. So they often outsource the work instead. But the new platform allows small businesses to maintain more say in important aspects like publishing and scheduling posts and engaging with customers.

Zoho Social for Agencies Eliminates Emails

One advantage becomes immediately clear. Social for Agencies eliminates sending emails back and forth between the agency and the small business. Praval Singh, Product Manager for the parent product, Zoho Social spoke with Small Business Trends about who benefits most from the new product.

Zoho Social is geared towards digital agencies that offer social media marketing as a service to their clients, with the help of a team of social media and content marketers. Most agencies are small companies, but they do manage social media for large clients, he said.

Using Zoho Social for Agencies to Publish and Schedule Posts

Since Zoho Social for Agencies helps with publishing and scheduling posts, listening to mentions and keywords, engaging with prospects and customers in real-time, and creating custom reports to measure performance, it is a complete social media management tool for digital agencies, Singh explains.

The Zoho Social for Agencies edition has a number of features.

First, the tool allows agencies to manage their brands and clients from one place while also specifying distinct rolls for different team members. The built-in cooperation feature means small businesses are always kept in the loop.

New Discussions

Team members can start new discussions and collaborate with clients or among themselves. A tagging feature facilitates the process allowing you to invite clients or team members to specific discussions. Not only does this improve the overall decision-making process, according to Zoho. It preserves a record of the process as well.

The tool can also be customized for branding with logos on reports and invitation to clients is included.

Integrating Zoho Social for Agencies with Facebook Lead Ads

Zoho Social for Agencies can also integrate with Facebook lead ads. Agencies can generate leads from these Facebook campaigns and slide them right into the Zoho CRM system for their clients with no need to download leads manually from Facebook. Zoho argues this feature becomes a time and cost saving measure promoting quicker decision-making.

Zoho Social for Agencies has two different plans, an Agency and Agency Plus version based on the number of brands each can accomodate. The Agency version costs $1000 a year for 15 brands and the Agency Plus costs $1500 a year for 25 brands.

Zoho Corporation is a business management software (SaaS) developer and information technology company with 5,000 employees and offices in California and India.
The Defence Ministry wants most of the new vehicles to be produced by Slovak companies.

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The government approved a proposal to provide 8x8 and 4x4 armoured vehicles for the Slovak army, submitted by the Defence Ministry, at its November 15 session.

The country will purchase 81, 8x8 military armoured vehicles and 404, 4x4 vehicles for 1.2 billion in total, the TASR newswire reported.

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The government did not approve the purchase, only the method of procurement, Defence Minister Peter Gajdos (nominee of the Slovak National Party) said.

The development will bring new jobs

The development of the vehicles is expected to cost 9 million including VAT. The Defence Ministry expects that this solution, in which Slovak companies are involved, will be cheaper and quicker than the ordinary purchase of existing vehicles and will meet high technical standards.

The army will receive the 8x8 vehicles between 2018-2024. About 70 percent of the new vehicle will be produced by Slovak firms, while the cost per vehicle should not exceed 4 million including VAT, Gajdos and general secretary of the Defence Ministrys personnel department Jan Holko told the press.

Read also:

Read also: President requires transparency in army modernisation Read more

We expect up to 50 jobs will be created in Slovakia, the minister added, as quoted by TASR.

Slovakia will cooperate in the development of these vehicles with Finnish company Patria.

Slovak companies will participate in the production of the 4x4 vehicles too. Its development is expected to be completed in 2018, with the Slovak contribution accounting for more than 80 percent. Gajdos expects about 80 new jobs may be created in this case. The vehicle will then be gradually introduced to the Slovak army between 2019 and 2029. The expected cost is 960 million per vehicle.

A partner for this type of production has not been selected yet, TASR reported.

The ministry receives recommendations

Since the total investment in the purchase of new armoured vehicles exceeds 40 million, the plan was evaluated by the Value for Money Unit. Due to the lack of information and the size of the project, the main risks are mostly late delivery and the possibility of exceeding the expected cost per vehicle.

The unit thus prepared several recommendations for the Defence Ministry. First, to specify and explain the required technical parameters and the number of procured vehicles.

Second, to minimise risks linked to research, development and production of the 8x8 vehicles. This includes developing, testing and certifying the prototype, updating the feasibility study and preparing a detailed budget for the project and specifying the potential subcontractors.

It also recommends the ministry think about purchasing the 4x4 vehicles via competition in the market. The alternative may be similar methods to those used in the case of the 8x8 vehicles.

Lastly, the ministry should declassify parts of the submitted documents that do not come under trade secret or security risk.

Based on the analysis, the Defence Ministry said it first plans to complete the research and development of the prototype in cooperation with a strategic partner. The vehicle will then have to undergo technical and military tests. The Slovak defence industry will have to be involved to the maximum extent and the order should be economically advantageous, TASR reported.
The police seized pictures of underage girls and also a weapon while searching his premises.

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The police have laid charges against a Canadian anthropologist who teaches at the university in Presov. David S. (62) has been accused of sexual abuse, spreading child pornography and being illegally armed.

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The district court in Presov ruled on taking David S. into custody on November 13. The reason for this was that there is a founded concern that he is a flight-risk and may continue in his criminal activities, the Presov Region Courts spokesperson Ivana Petrufova told TASR.

The decision is not valid yet and the regional court will now decide on the complaint against it, Petrufova added.

The first to report on the case was the website of the private broadcaster TV Markiza, according to which the police seized many pictures of underage girls in various positions found during a home search of the anthropologists premises.

He is also suspected of abusing an 11-year-old girl, the website wrote.

The police also seized the weapon which was sent to experts.

David S. was born in 1955 in Prague. He is a Dutch citizen and has permanent residence in Canada. In Slovakia, he deals with research into Roma settlements and communities. The Presov University granted him an honorary degree, doctor honoris causa, in 2012, TASR reported.
A cab driver, and an accomplice, allegedly abducted a female passenger in Delhi, drove off to Nodia and gang-raped the woman at gun point. The Delhi Police has registered a case in the matter.

A Delhi woman has alleged that she was abducted by a cab driver, taken to Greater Noida and gang-raped at gun point (Picture for representation)

By Munish Chandra Pandey: A 29-year-old woman from Rohini in Delhi was allegedly abducted, gang-raped and robbed by two men in Greater Noida between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

The woman lodged a complaint alleging the incident took place after she boarded a taxi from near the national capital's Hauz Khas neighbourhood around midnight Tuesday.

In her complaint, the woman said she boarded the taxi from Ansal Plaza near Hauz Khas. Her destination was Rohini, but the cab driver allowed another man to board the taxi near Dhaula Kuan, and then allegedly drove off to an isolated area near Pari Chowk in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

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There, the woman alleged, she was gang-raped at gun point. The two men also allegedly robbed her of her gold ornaments, mobile phone and Rs 12,000 in cash. The woman said she somehow managed to reach her home in Rohini at 5 am on Wednesday, and informed her family about what had transpired.

The family then made a PCR call to the KN Katju Marg police station but since the woman was allegedly abducted up from Hauz Khas, a case was registered at a different police station that had jurisdiction over the area.

"We have registered a case of gang-rape and robbery at the Hauz Khas police station and a team has been formed to identify the suspects," Chinmoy Biswal, Additional DCP of Delhi Police (south), said.

According to the family and friends of the woman, the two men also made a video recording of the rape and threatened to make the footage public if she approached the police.

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The list of land plots with significant investment certificates for VW Slovakia has been expanded.

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On November 15, the cabinet approved the enhancement of the list of land plots, for which the Economy Ministry issued a certificate of significant investment to Volkswagen Slovakia in March 2015.

This investment concerns the expansion of production capacity at the VW automotive plant in Bratislava-Devinska Nova Ves, the SITA newswire wrote. In the complementary certificate for the carmaker, the cabinet approved additional land with an area of 2,386 square meters.

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The issue of the certificate was the result of an application made by VW Slovakia, dating back to September 20, 2017. At the time, the original certificate was issued, it was impossible to locate and fix precisely enough the tracking of engineering networks, the dimensioning and location of service transport infrastructure for production and the logistics hall, as well as the carmaker's entire premises, including protection zones.

The total investment connected with the approved certificate will amount to 352 million and following the investment in question, the applicant will create at least 2,500 new jobs.
The opposition seeks to oust Kalinak, as his ministry must pay fines amounting to 10-million for botched public procurement.

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Opposition politicians and parties will initiate a no-confidence vote in Interior Minister Robert Kalinak, opposition MPs Jozef Rajtar (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS), Richard Vasecka (OLaNO) and Milan Krajniak (Sme Rodina) said on November 15.

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Robert Kalinak has repeatedly failed in his post, Rajtar said, adding that the latest issue concerns a ten-million-euro fine from the Public Procurement Office. There are experienced people at the Interior Ministry who have been working with public procurement proceedings for years. It's unimaginable for the fines to be the result of inadequacies. The fines are the result of tender malfeasance and the fact that the winners of the tenders are set beforehand. Robert Kalinak is responsible for this, added Rajtar, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Kalinak has failed as the head of the Interior Ministry. It is mainly his fault that the public has no trust in the police and he has also failed as an honest politician, as he hasn't been able to avoid shady businesses and non-transparent tenders, the Sme Rodina MP noted.

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We've concurred that as of today, we'll start collecting signatures to convene an extraordinary session to oust Interior Minister Robert Kalinak, Krajniak also said. We'll most probably submit these signatures to the Parliament Office on the day of and at the beginning of the [next] parliamentary session.

Ministry pays

The Interior Ministry has had to pay fines for tender malfeasance equalling almost 25.7 million in the past three months alone, opposition OLaNO party leader Igor Matovic said one day earlier. He added that the media were reporting, almost on a daily basis, how Kalinak was signing agreements on the payment of the fine by instalments with Igor Federic (also of the ruling Smer party) from the Government Office. The OlaNO chair pointed out that the ministry has to pay 25.7 million for wrongdoings in tenders worth 340 million.

The largest of the fines is related to the procurement of electronic ID cards and amounted to 10 million.

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Read also: Interior Ministry must return EU money Read more

Matovic rejected the statement by Prime Minister Robert Fico who said that the payment of fines is nothing but a transfer of money from one state coffer to another. ...(because) in most cases, there are European funds that we won't receive at the end of the day, and we'll need to pay out of our own pocket. Up to 90 percent of it is European money, he claimed. This sentiment is shared by OLaNO MP Jan Marosz, who strongly demanded that the government pay all the ministry's fines from Kalinak's personal bank account.

Minister and ministry strike back

A press statement released by the ministry describes Matovic as completely clueless when he claims that the Interior Ministry has received several fines for tender malfeasance, as these were rather corrections regarding projects for which the ministry drew 300 million from the EU. The statement continues with an argument that the corrections involved other recipients as well, including ministers in the government of Iveta Radicova [2010-12], in which Mr. Matovic himself was involved. We fail to understand why the very individual who was proven guilty of tax fraud plays the part of an EU funds expert, the ministry backlashed.

Corrections, not fines

It also pointed out that Slovakia is not losing any money by these corrections, as the resources are being returned to the Slovak budget, from where they will be reassigned.

In the processing of EU-funds, in some cases financial participation is increased by what we call corrections, the explanation reads. In one such case, the Interior Ministry received a correction for the fact that we failed to send out replies to all bidders but sent them to just one who raised a question. There was one bidder who asked the question and received a reply regarding what exactly a personal document is and that there was a need to make euro conversions in the recommendations. We did not have to expel any of the bidders over this, so it had no impact on the result. Therefore, there were no corrections for dubious tenders but rather for administrative mistakes, reads the text.

In response to Matovic, Kalinak also argued that the Interior Ministry under his lead (2006-10, 2012-present) has not received a single fine from the Public Procurements Office (UVO) since 2006. In fact, the ministry has received fines only twice  at the time of PM Iveta Radicova, when it was headed by Daniel Lipsic (2010-12), the minister claims. So, if [OLaNO leader] Igor Matovic and people from the opposition want to talk about the ministry paying fines and they table a motion for my removal, they've got the wrong guy, unfortunately, Kalinak summed up.

Minister misleading

The alleged corrections were issued for grave violations of the law on public procurement when organising tenders, the Sme daily writes on its website, adding that Kalinak is also lying when ascribing the fines to the cabinet of former prime minister Iveta Radicova. Although concluded during the term of Daniel Lipsic, the audit that found wrongdoings in the tenders started eight days before the general election that brought PM Radicova and Daniel Lipsic as interior minister to power, according to Sme. In both disputed cases, the UVO found law violations that may have impacted directly on the selection of a supplier.

The next parliamentary session is scheduled for November 28.
The centre is the largest and one of Amazons most technologically advanced ones

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Even though there is no Slovak version of the Amazon shopping website and this US online retailer does not even ship its latest devices like the portable bluetooth speaker Alexa to Slovakia, it has selected the rather small Slovak town of Sered for its largest and one of its most technologically advanced returns centre. It is already in operation with the plan of processing about 100,000 items a day week during the peak season.

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Amazon took just about 10 months to build, equip and open the centre. It is comfortably accessible from the D1 highway and R1 dual carriageway, just about 60 km from Bratislava. The centre processes returned items, either those whose delivery failed, or those returned by customers. The company employs more than 1,000 people and continues hiring while its representatives declined to specify the target employment.

Firstly we want to respond to the real needs of our clients and development of the market, said Matt Greene, general manager of the centre in Sered while stressing the consumer-oriented approach at Amazon.

For now employees are working in two 10-hour shifts four days in a week while the more than 60,000 square metre centre is in operation all seven weekdays. The daily shift starts at 7:10 and the night one at 18:00. The employees have three breaks during a shift: one 30-minute break for lunch and two 15-minute breaks. These are announced with a gong.
While the speaker of parliament spoke in Moscow, President Kiska delivered a speech in the European Parliament. Lajcak says both should have consulted him.

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Neither President Andrej Kiska nor Speaker of Parliament Andrej Danko discussed their speeches prior to their performance in the European Parliament and Russian State Duma, respectively. This is not right, said Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak.

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As a foreign affairs minister Im uncomfortable that top constitutional officials dont feel the need to consult their speeches delivered abroad in advance, Lajcak said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. I only hope that they will not be in a different direction. It wouldnt have a good impact on Slovakia.

Though the law does not order high-ranking politicians to discuss their speeches delivered abroad with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, former foreign affairs minister and MEP Eduard Kukan thinks they should do it. It is a sign of politeness, he told the Sme daily.

Culture Minister Marek Madaric (Smer) also thinks the highest state representatives should consult their speeches in order to keep foreign politics united.

Kiska and Danko respond

Kiska responded to the criticism by saying that Lajcak probably does not have adequate insight into the current goings-on in Slovakia, as he is busy serving as president of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.

After his speech, the president pointed out that a month ago a joint statement by Slovakias top constitutional officials, himself, Danko and PM Robert Fico, was put to ink in which they highlighted the countrys membership of the EU and stated that there is no other alternative than the European one for Slovakias future.

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The speech I gave here today was in perfect harmony with what we signed along with him [Danko] and the prime minister, said Kiska, as quoted by the TASR newswire, adding that he does not view the fact that Danko addressed the Russian State Duma as problematic in terms of the declaration.

Danko is ready to demand an explanation from Lajcak after he returns from his visit in Russia. He claimed he sees no reason to consult his speech with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and called Lajcaks commentary outrageous, as reported by TASR.

Others criticise Danko

The fact is that Lajcak was not the only one to criticise Danko. Slovak MEPs were surprised by his speech, in which he stated that global peace is not possible without a strong Russia, as Russia forms part of global security.

Our country does not exist in an international and security vacuum, reads the joint statement of the Slovak MEPs, as quoted by the SITA newswire. We have different opinions on the political management of public affairs, but we need to have a clear idea about our allies and who in the international environment is seeking security and a better life for our citizens.

Thus they were really surprised by Dankos speech.

Such displays, unfortunately, do not make Slovakia a trustworthy member of the European community, the statement reads.

They warned against a different language used by some politicians on the national political level and abroad.
The accused group members can spend up to 12 years in prison.

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This story was updated.

The National Criminal Agency (NAKA) dissolved an organised crime group that was stealing money from the state by importing and distributing food products from abroad. The loss was calculated at 2.45 million.

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The Rajo RAIO operation took several months and culminated on November 14, when the police carried out raids in Bratislava, Dunajska Streda, Velky Meder (both in the Trnava Region), Kosice, Zilina and Tvrdosin (Zilina Region). The police laid charges against four people for tax evasion and tax fraud, the TASR newswire reported.

The group created a billing chain involving eight companies. They imported soya, rapeseed scrap and other agricultural products from Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. They were subsequently distributed via a network of companies to end customers, explained Police Corps President Tibor Gaspar.

The companies were formally represented by straw men, who were mostly socially dependent people. Some of them cooperate with the police.

The companies either paid no taxes to the state coffers or prepared tax returns that allowed them to either lower their taxes or ask for excessive VAT refunds, Gajdos said, as reported by TASR.

If found guilty, the accused members of the group could spend five to 12 years in prison.

Disclaimer: We corrected a mistake in the story on January 9, 2018. In the original version authored by the TASR newswire, it was reported that the police operation was titled RAJO. This information is not correct. Its name is actually RAIO and it has nothing to do with the dairy products producer RAJO. We apologise for the mistake and the inconvenience this might have caused.
The tour around Small Carpathian cellars offers not only wine tasting, but also a rich additional programme.

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More information about travelling in Slovakia

Please see our Please see our Spectacular Slovakia travel guide

Young wines from the Small Carpathians, regional food, folk music and art exhibition. All this will be available for visitors on the Day of Open Cellars 2017 held on November 17 and 18.

The journey around 167 wine cellars offering wine samples from 228 local producers starts below Devin Castle.

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The castle cellars will be also opened in Cerveny Kamen and Smolenice castles, said Jarmila Dudova from the Small Carpathian Educational Centre in Modra, as quoted by the TASR newswire. People can visit the cellars and wineries in 38 municipalities, from Bratislava, via Svaty Jur, Limbach, Pezinok, Modra, Dolany, to Trnava.

For the very first time, people will be able to use the Small Carpathian express expected to simplify the travelling between Bratislava and Modra.

Among the biggest attractions are young wines from the Small Carpathian region as well as the honesty of winemakers and friendly encounters, Dudova said. The regional gastronomy will be offered by 61 cellars, she added.

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As for the cultural programme, several organisers will offer original folk music and there is an art exhibition presented in one of the cellars. In addition, the tour around the castle cellars at Cerveny Kamen will be led by the daughter of the cellar master, Dudova told TASR.

Visitors to the Day of Open Cellars will receive a map and a wine guide presenting the participating winemakers and their wineries.

To attend the event, it is not necessary to have tickets. People can visit the opened cellars and pay for the tasting.
The experts are ready to monitor projects linked to state IT from the very beginning.

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The state is currently working on more than 30 IT projects, amounting to 500 million in total. In order to give more information about their quality, the experts from the Slovensko.Digital initiative want to collect the information and evaluate it using the Red Flags method.

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It is a simple way to point to the flaws in the projects and help the public learn more about state IT.

Our aim is to inform about the projects at the time they are prepared, Jan Hargas of Slovensko.Digital told the press in mid-November. If they are good, we will praise them and if there are serious mistakes, point them out and if they are really serious, give them a red light.

Though the state invests hundreds of millions of euros annually in informatisation, the results are not positively perceived and the IT projects are accompanied by several problems. One such example is the problem with mail deliveries to the state e-letterboxes that occurred during the summer, another is the recent problem with the eID card certificates.

As part of the IT community, we care about using the money from tax payers on better projects whose results will be more user-friendly and for normal prices, Hargas added.

How does it work?

The association has already started evaluating the projects, including those that are in the preparatory phases, with the aim of identifying problems at the very beginning. It will focus on 50 criteria that are divided into five stages that all state IT projects need to undergo.

We are focusing on criteria which are, from our experience, necessary for success, added Lubor Illek from Slovensko.Digital. In the case that a project significantly lags behind in any criteria, it will receive a red flag and we will ask for the project to be halted and rewritten.

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The criteria concern the projects transparency, contribution for citizens, and the effective use of money. IT experts who are members of Slovensko.Digitals discussion platform assessed the projects, with the evaluation being approved by the associations team under the supervision of an expert commission. Its members are various experts from informatisation, academia, and non-governmental organisations, as well as representatives of the future users.

We are about the evaluations quality, Hargas said, adding that this is the reason why the control takes place in several stages.

The results will then be published on the Redflags.slovensko.digital website.

The best and the worst

The association has already evaluated 14 projects. The best evaluation went to the Register and Information System of Non-Governmental Organisations, the Managerial Information System to Support the Processes of the Office for the Regulation of the Organisations Running under the Health Ministry, and the Information System of the Legal Aid Centre.

They still lack feasibility studies however.

Of those with a feasibility study, the best evaluation went to the Information System of the Business Register and Data Integration, which follows the once is enough principle.

On the other hand, the experts gave the worst evaluation to the Edunet project (which is expected to provide internet to schools), the Construction Information System of the Transport Ministry, and the Waste Management Information System of the Environment Ministry.

Slovensko.Digital has already proposed that these projects be re-written.
Kiska responded by saying that he understands Ficos frustration after regional election loss

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Prime Minister Robert Fico is calling on President Andrej Kiska to pay 1 million for the use of a government plane for private purposes. In this way Fico was responding to Kiska's criticism of the condition of the social state in Slovakia.

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Mr president likes to talk but he has absolutely no responsibility for anything, said Fico as cited by the TASR newswire.

Fico recalled that the decision on free travel for students and pensioners does not pertain to the president. He also does not know anybody for whom the state would pay to travel home by plane.

I will issue an invoice for 1 million to him, payable to the Slovak Republic, said Fico. Because I think that he has to pay this money. I refute his empty statements, the number of which is increasing.

Smer has criticised Kiska for flying to Poprad where his family lives at weekends, using a special government plane  which has allegedly cost two million euros in two years. However, it was originally Interior Minister Robert Kalinak who recommended that Kiska fly so that the state planes have ordered flight hours recorded, otherwise, they might be forced to fly in vain, Sme wrote earlier this year. After the criticism, Kiska began to travel home by train and car.

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The President understands the frustration of Mr Fico after he failed and lost the regional elections, said the presidents spokesperson Roman Krpelan in response to Ficos call. And he also understands that he needs some time to consolidate his party, in which dissatisfaction, especially with the performance of the interior minister, is increasing. But afterwards his cabinet might finally begin to deal with the problems of the country, corruption, abuse of police power, education and the social problems of the people.

President Kiska stressed after his meeting with Labour Minister Jan Richter (Smer) earlier on November 16 that if the state forgets about the most vulnerable groups of its citizens, it cannot call itself a social state.

Not only the labour minister but each politician should think each day of ways to take care of those who cannot care for themselves, said Kiska. Each politician should think of making Slovakia a real social state, in which each person knows that if something bad happens to them, then the state will take care of them.
After the Zimbabwe military seized control of the country in an apparent coup, the question on everybody's minds is whether this marks the downfall of Robert Mugabe, who has ruled over the African nation for nearly four decades.

By India Today Web Desk: The entire world's attention is currently fixated on Zimbabwe, which has replaced Saudi Arabia as a country with high political drama and intrigue.

The land-locked African nation was thrown into turmoil this week after its military stormed the state-run broadcaster and took control of capital city Harare in a bloodless apparent coup that has put into question what future Robert Gabriel Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades, has in his country.

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The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) steadfastly denied it had orchestrated a coup, and said the military action witnessed this week was against "criminals" who had surrounded President Robert Mugabe.

According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), the Zimbabwe military, led by General Constantine Chiwenga, remained in control of the country's state broadcaster and capital Harare on Wednesday.

The AP also reported that President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe - who seems to have played a Marie Antoinette-esque role in these new developments - were being held under a "house arrest".

Meanwhile, Indian authorities reported that the situation in Harare was "calm". "Embassy staff, Indian Community, (and) both PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) & Expat are safe. No reason for concern and worry," the Indian embassy in Zimbabwe said in a tweet.

Situation in Harare is calm. Embassy staff, Indian Community, both PIO & Expat are safe. No reason for concern and worry.- India in Zimbabwe (@IndiainZimbabwe) November 15, 2017

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too said she had been assured that all Indians in Zimbabwe were safe and that there was no cause for concern.

Zimbabwe - I am in constant touch with Indian Embassy in Zimbabwe. Our Ambassador has informed me that Indians there are safe and there is no cause for concern. @IndiainZimbabwe- Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 15, 2017

MILITARY TAKING 'CORRECTIVE MEASURES'

Zimbabwe's state-run newspaper The Herald on Wednesday published what seemed to be an editorial written by the military in which the army reiterated that its actions were against "counter revolutionary infiltrators" that had entered the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), the country's ruling party to which Mugabe belongs.

There is "instability" in the Zanu-PF, the editorial read, and any instability in the party, which has mainly been the only one to rule Zimbabwe since its independence, "naturally impacts on [Zimbabweans'] social, political and economic lives, accordingly, there is distress, trepidation and despondence within the nation," the editorial titled 'In defence of the nation's founding values, gains of independence' read.

A vendor picks up a copy of a special edition of the state-owned daily newspaper The Herald in Harare, Zimbabwe November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo A vendor picks up a copy of a special edition of the state-owned daily newspaper The Herald in Harare, Zimbabwe November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

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The editorial went to say the military was taking "corrective measures" but did not provide any indication of what role Robert Mugabe might play in Zimbabwe's future. Interestingly, the editorial termed Mugabe as the president of Zimbabwe and the commander-in-chief of its military, and even used a slogan coined by the 93-year-old to advance the military's defence of its actions this week.

"The famous slogan espoused by His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde R. G. Mugabe: 'Zimbabwe will never be a colony again' is being seriously challenged by counter revolutionary infiltrators who are now effectively influencing the direction of the Party," the editorial read.

HOW THE TAKEOVER HAPPENED

Events that led to the apparent coup in Zimbabwe began last week when President Robert Mugabe fired his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was seen as his successor. According to a report by Reuters, the army generals saw Mnangagwa's firing as a move aimed at clearing the way for Robert Mugabe's wife Grace to take over Zimbabwe.

This was problematic as Grace, according to a brief profile of hers published by the AP, is not a popular figure in Zimbabwe. "Her lavish spending touches a nerve in a country whose economy has fallen apart," the AP wrote in its profile of the 52-year-old Zimbabwean first lady.

(L) Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe with wife (R) Grace (AP photo)

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So, on Monday, Zimbabwe's military chief General Constantine Chiwenga issued a statement saying the army was prepared to "step in" if the purges within the ruling Zanu-PF did not end, Reuters reported.

The very next day, the Zanu-PF hit back at the army general, condemning his "treasonable conduct", according to an AP report, which added that by evening, military vehicles and armoured personnel had moved into Zimbabwe's capital Harare, where they seized control of the state broadcaster, ZBC, and other strategic points, including Mugabe's residence.

Soon, after an army officer, Major General SB Moyo, appeared on ZBC denying the military had staged a coup and saying they were merely going after "criminals" who had surrounded Mugabe.

Watch: Soldiers storm the state broadcaster and take control in Zimbabwe, but say 93-year-old President Mugabe is 'safe'. pic.twitter.com/rMiTGfyzIN- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) November 15, 2017

"We are only targeting criminals around him (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice," Major General Moyo was quoted as saying by Reuters. "As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."

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WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

It remains unclear what sort of a "normalcy" the army has in mind for Zimbabwe. What seems to be apparent, however, is that the military's mentions of "criminals" around Mugabe and "counter revolutionary infiltrators" inside the Zanu-PF are references to the so-called G40, which is headed by Grace Mugabe.

According to the AP, the G40 is a group of cabinet ministers and officials in their 40s and 50s who are too young to have fought in Zimbabwe's war to end white-minority rule in Rhodesia.

Notably, the deposed Vice President Mnangagwa, whose current location remains unknown, is a veteran of the war that ended the white-minority rule in 1979-80 and ultimately installed Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe's ruler for decades to come.

Zimbabwe military chief General Constantine Chiwenga (L) and deposed vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa (AP photos)

"We cannot tell how developments in Zimbabwe will play out in the days ahead and we do not know whether this marks the downfall of Mugabe or not," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was quoted by Reuters as telling told his parliament.

Daily life in Zimbabwe, on the other hand, seems to be going as usual, according to a Reuters report.

"By Wednesday afternoon it was business as usual in Harare's suburbs while there was less traffic than normal in the city centre. Soldiers continued to man armoured cars but had relaxed searches on vehicles on some checkpoints. Residents spoke in awe of events that had previously seemed unthinkable," the international news agency said in its report.

Whether or not Robert Mugabe will be allowed to return to power remains unclear as the situation in Zimbabwe, as the United States of America put it, "remains fluid".

(With inputs from agencies)

--- ENDS ---
Output of good quality coffee beans in Vietnam, the world's No. 2 producer, is expected to be strong due to favourable weather conditions, while depleted stocks in rival Indonesia have kept premiums there high, traders said on Thursday.

Typhoon Damrey, Vietnam's deadliest storm so far this year, flooded some areas last week in the country's coffee belt region of Central Highlands, but only had a minimal impact on the 2017/2018 crop, traders and farmers said.

Most traders expect good quality beans from the new Vietnamese coffee crop after the rains, and the current sunny weather should allow farmers to harvest and dry the beans.

Traders said farmers in Daklak were offering coffee beans at 38,800-39,400 dong ($1.71-$1.73) per kg, compared with 39,000-39,500 dong a week earlier.

Vietnam's 5-percent black and broken grade 2 robusta were traded at a discount of $30-$50 per tonne to the ICE January 2018 futures contract , traders said, adding some deals were sealed based on the March contract instead.

Demand has started to pick up as buyers sought to secure contracts amid rising supply at the beginning of the harvest season.

In Indonesia, the grade 4 defect 80 robusta beans traded at a premium of $60-$70 a tonne to the January contract, rising from a $50 premium a week ago amid low stocks, a trader said. ($1 = 22,709 dong)
The Institute of International Educations (IIE) annual 'Open Doors' Report has revealed that the number of Vietnamese students studying in the U.S. had risen for 16 consecutive years, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi announced in a press release on Tuesday.

According to the report for the 2016-17 academic year, Vietnam remains the sixth leading country of origin for international students in the U.S., with 22,438 students, a 1,035 student or five percent increase from 2015-16.

Of the 22,438 Vietnamese students in the U.S., 68 percent were undergraduates, 15.6 percent were graduate-level students, nine percent were enrolled in Optional Practical Training, and the remaining 7.4 percent pursued non-degree programs.

The U.S. received nearly 1.1 million international students for the 2016-17 academic year, a 3.4 percent surge over last year, according to the data.

International students accounted for 5.3 percent of all higher education students in the country, a slight increase from last years 5.2 percent.

Engineering, business and management, math and computer science remain the most popular fields of study for international students in 2016-17.

Math and computer science were also the fastest-growing fields of study, with a positive change of 18 percent from 2015-16.

The top 10 states for international students include California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.

This illustration shows the number of Vietnamese students in the U.S, posted on Consul General Mary Tarnowkas verified Facebook page

On the other hand, the data also revealed that Vietnam became an increasingly popular destination for American students.

Vietnam welcomed 1,012 students from the United States during the 2016-17 academic year.

Hot on the heels of President Donald Trumps visit, this data demonstrates increasingly strong ties between the United States and Vietnam.

President Trump noted in his speech at the APEC CEO Summit last week, Vietnamese students rank among the best students in the world. And that is very impressive.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, education remains a cornerstone of the United States-Vietnam bilateral relationship, and the United States will continue to promote opportunities for Vietnamese students to study in the United States through EducationUSA and its American Centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A 19-year-old man in southern Vietnam is facing fines of up to US$44,000 and possible jail time for livestreaming a screening of a Vietnamese blockbuster through his Facebook page.

The man, identified as Nguyen V. Tr., was eventually asked by cinema employees n Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to end the stream before being handed over to police officers for investigation.

According to his written account at the police station, Tr. used an iPhone 7 to film and broadcast the Vietnamese blockbuster Co Ba Sai Gon (The Tailor) on his Facebook page using the platforms livestream feature.

Tr. broadcast the stream while on a date with his girlfriend on Monday afternoon.

The livestream attracted thousands of viewers at one point, with many  including the films producer and lead actress Ngo Thanh Van  using the comment section to criticize Tr. for his crime.

You are killing Vietnams film industry with your actions, the female producer writes in her comment after discovering the livestream, which lasted about 30 minutes before an employee escorted Tr. to the cinemas manager.

He was later handed over to Ba Ria-Vung Tau police officers where he confessed to having livestreamed the movie without permission.

In a Facebook status update posted shortly after the livestream ended, Ngo Thanh Van expressed her disappointment and powerlessness by the lack of conscience of young moviegoers.

Im crying for the efforts of my crew. Im truly disheartened. This is like a slap to the face, Van wrote. This could be the last film I ever produce. Totally disappointed.

<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fveronicangothanhvan%2Fposts%2F10159622004595230&width=500" width="500" height="326" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>

The Tailor hit Vietnamese cinemas last Friday, and tells the story of a pre-1975 tailor in Saigon  the former name of Ho Chi Minh City  specializing in traditional Vietnamese ao dai.'

The films production house has filed a formal request to Ba Ria-Vung Tau police officers for the handling of Tr.s violations in accordance with the law.

According to legal experts, Tr. could face fines of up to VND1 billion ($44,000) and three years behind bars if found guilty of violating copyright laws.

A theatrical poster for Co Ba Sai Gon (The Tailor)

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
An automatic railway signaling system worth over US$300 million installed at several train stations in Vietnam is falling short of expectations, leaving trains susceptible to derailments and collisions.

Railway signaling is a system used to direct railway traffic and keep trains a safe distance from eachother by redirecting their paths to avoid collision.

A key element of the signaling system is the interlocking, a signal apparatus that decides whether a train will continue on its current track or be redirected, eliminating the risks posed by having two trains on one track.

While this task is traditionally done manually by train station staff, smart interlocking platforms capable of automatically signaling trains to move to specific tracks at junctions or crossings now exist in order to prevent crashes and improve safety.

In 2003, Vietnams Ministry of Transport approved a project to install a smart interlocking system along three train routes connecting Hanoi with nearby Lao Cai, Dong Dang, and Thai Nguyen stations. The project came with a VND3.51 trillion (US$233.92 million) price tag, funded by Chinese loans.

In December 2004, the transport ministry gave the go-ahead for a similar system to be installed on the Vinh-Saigon train route. This projects first phase alone cost VND2.42 trillion ($106.61 million), also financed by loans from China.

The company responsible for installing the interlocking system, known as 6502," was China Railway No. 6 Group Co., Ltd.

Just one year later, Hanoi-Vinh became the fourth train route in Vietnam to have a smart interlocking system installed. The newest interlocking system, known as SSI, was developed by French rail transport firm Alstom at a cost of VND1.08 trillion ($47.58 million).

Despite such massive investments, the automatic interlocking systems were never quite able to live up to expectations, resulting in several near-crash incidents and train derailments.

A series of train derailments were recorded at the Van Dien Station in Hanoi from late 2016 through early 2017.

On July 14, two trains nearly collided when they both entered the same rail track at the Suoi Van Station, part of the Saigon-Vinh route using 6502 interlocking system developed by the China Railway No. 6 Group.

The two trains were heading to Suoi Van in the south-central province of Binh Thuan from opposite directions, yet the interlocking system signaled that both could enter the station via the No. 2 track.

One of the two drivers was able to stop his train in time to prevent a collision. The trains were only 80 meters away from a head-on crash.

The SSI automatic interlocking system is seen at Giap Bat Station, near Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Not problematic

In April 2017, Vietnam Railways admitted to several safety risks at train stations using the 6502 and SSI interlocking systems.

Following a series of incidents caused by the automatic interlocking platforms, the Vietnam Railway Authority opened an investigation.

By late August, they had concluded that the 6502 system is designed to receive two incoming trains at a time  a violation of national safety standards.

Many of the affected stations have since reverted back to manual train signaling in an attempt to restore a measure of safety.

On September 15, the railway authority ruled that relevant agencies will review all issues related to the SSI and 6502 system and report their findings to the transport ministry.

One railway expert has suggested that the investments in the automatic interlock systems, collectively totaling VND7 trillion ($308.37 million), should be reviewed and the exact problems be identified.

However, Doan Duy Hoach, deputy head of Vietnam Railways, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday that the train signaling systems in question only have asynchronous, rather than problematic, functioning.

Hoach refused to give an immediate comment on whether Vietnam Railways has plans to resolve the issue.

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A brief look at what is in the news today, November 16!

Politics

-- Vietnams Embassy in Indonesia has sent a representative to attend the court hearing in Ranai City on Thursday for five Vietnamese fishermen charged with conducting illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters, eight months after their arrest in April.

-- Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly convenes on Thursday for a questioning session where cabinet members are expected to provide answers on issues in the fields of finance, banking, information and technology, and justice.

Society

-- Nearly 15,000 plots of land reserved for relocation in central Vietnams Da Nang City are being left in disuse despite the fact that many construction projects are slowed down due to challenges in relocating affected residents.

-- Wrongdoings and violations in Hanois management of land and public properties between 2002 and 2014 resulted in a loss of around VND6 trillion (US$264.32 million) in budget collection, according to the conclusion of government inspectors.

-- A VND3,465 billion ($152.64 million) project to install a ten-kilometer water pipeline from a water factory in Thu Duc District to downtown Ho Chi Minh City is expected to provide a backup plan for the current pipeline which has been in use for nearly 50 years.

-- Families of eight patients who in May died after undergoing renal dialysis at a hospital in northern Hoa Binh Province have threatened to sue the hospital for failure to pay compensation for the death of their loved ones.

Business

-- The General Department of Vietnam Customs has issued a dispatch requesting all customs departments in the country to stop clearing the export of silica sand  used in the production of glass  as per a government order to preserve natural resources.

-- The developer of five-star hotel Seashells in Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc Island has been ordered to remove the top floor of the under-construction building for exceeding its floor limit, according to Mai Anh Nhin, deputy chairman of Kien Giang Province.

-- Vietnams Ministry of Health has said it is looking into the abolishment of around 100 business conditions for enterprises in the food sector as well as a number of other administrative procedures in an attempt to facilitate a better business environment.

Lifestyle

-- Around 450 foreign and domestic businesses in the food industry have gathered in Ho Chi Minh City for the 2017 Vietnam Foodexpo  running from November 15 to 18  to showcase agricultural products and cuisines of their countries and connect with global partners.

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An under-construction hotel on Phu Quoc Island whose developer deliberately breached the seven-story limit on its building license has been asked by local authorities to demolish its extra floors.

The five-star Seashells Hotel, located on prime real estate in Duong Dong Town on Phu Quoc, an island off the southern province of Kien Giang, was licensed for seven stories, though the developer, Phu Quoc Tourism, chose to ignore its permit, eventually adding an additional two floors to the building.

The violation was eventually noticed by the inspectorate of the Kien Giang construction department, which later consulted the provincial administration on how to handle the case.

The Kien Giang administrations ruling called on Phu Quoc Tourism Co. to remove the two stories not permitted by its construction license, the inspectorate confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday.

Later the same day, the developer had the newly finished top floor of the hotel removed. It is not clear when the eighth floor will follow suit.

Rampant construction violations

The Seashells Hotel has also been criticized by members of the public on Phu Quoc for its close proximity to the beach and obstruction of the remaining beachfront view on Vietnams biggest island.

The Dinh Cau night market, one of the most popular attractions on Phu Quoc, was also relocated to make space for the hotel, upsetting many islanders.

However, Kien Giang authorities later decided that the hotel had been licensed before regulations on beach protection came into effect; therefore, its construction was permitted to continue as planned.

Despite this, Kien Giang deputy chairman Mai Anh Nhin admitted that violations on urban construction on Phu Quoc have been rife in recent times.

We have formed a working team and are cooperating with authorities on Phu Quoc to investigate and crack down on violators, he added.

Phu Quoc, an hour-long flight from Ho Chi Minh City, is currently in the process of being re-categorized as a special administrative zone.
The second branch of a major flyover in Ho Chi Minh Citys Go Vap District has opened to traffic, giving commuters hope that near-constant congestion in the area will begin to ease.

The overpass route, connecting Nguyen Kiem and Hong Minh Giam Streets at the Nguyen Thai Son Roundabout in Go Vap District, was officially inaugurated on Thursday morning, the Urban Traffic Management Zone No. 3 under the municipal Department of Transport said.

Construction on this second branch of the flyover, measuring 367.7 meters long and 13.5 meters wide, lasted two and a half months.

The N-shaped overpass is designed to include three branches.

The first route, linking Hoang Minh Giam and Nguyen Thai Son Streets, was opened to traffic on July 3.

The construction of the final branch, planned to connect Nguyen Kiem and Nguyen Thai Son Streets, is still in the site clearance phase.

As compensation rates have been submitted to higher authorities, the Peoples Committee in Go Vap District is expediting the process.

A model of the N-shaped flyover upon completion

The building of this route is expected to take three months once the area has been cleared for construction.

The Go Vap administration previously asked the Ministry of National Defense to hand over three land plots in the area to facilitate the implementation of the project.

An official decision by the ministry will be made in December.

According to Trinh Linh Phuong, deputy director of the Urban Traffic Management Zone No. 3, the flyover is part of a plan to minimize traffic jams at areas near Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Upon completion of all three bridges, the structure will handle over 50 percent of vehicles traveling in the hotspot and, hopefully, relieve heavy traffic pressure during rush hours, Phuong said.

The installation of plants and lighting systems under the overpass will be finished by the end of the year, the official added.

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A man in Vietnam has been fined for lashing out at a woman through Facebook.

The Department of Police in Vung Tau, a beach city in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, on Wednesday imposed an administrative fine upon Nguyen Trong Tuan, 26, originally from the north-central province of Nghe An, for offending the dignity of another individual.

On November 9, officers received a denunciation letter from L.T.Y.N., 21, complaining that a Facebook account named Nguyen Tuan had insulted her in a comment.

According to the report, the VungTau Facebook page posted an article regarding a suspect being arrested for obstruction.

Tuans first comment on the status included the slandering of the police officers mentioned in the article.

N. was quick to post her disagreement with Tuans comment, though she was met with a barrage of insults directed at her and her family.

Upset by the incident, N. reported the situation to local police officers.

Tuan was taken to the police station where he admitted to posting the offensive comments, blaming alcohol for his lapse in judgment.

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The transfer of TEN shares to CBS has now been completed, meaning CBS now officially owns Network TEN.

The deal completes months of administration, speculation and legal hurdles surrounding the third-rated network. The US giant was given the green light last week following a challenge by minor shareholders, which was ultimately quashed.

Administrators KordaMentha today issued a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange:

As previously advised, on 10 November 2017, Justice Black granted leave for the Deed Administrators of Ten Network Holdings Limited (Ten) to transfer the shares in Ten to CBS International Television Australia Pty Ltd (or its nominee) (CBS) pursuant to section 444GA of the Corporations Act 2001 (s444GA Application), consistent with the provisions of the Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) approved by creditors on 19 September 2017.

The Deed Administrators provided an undertaking to the Supreme Court of New South Wales that they would not implement the transfer of the shares in Ten to CBS prior to 5pm on Tuesday, 14 November 2017 to allow time for the interested persons who appeared to oppose the s444GA Application to consider their position. No further action has been taken by the interested persons.

The Deed Administrators advise that, with the satisfaction of all conditions precedent:

 All shares in Ten have been transferred to CBS

 Completion has occurred under the DOCA, meaning Ten is no longer subject to Deed of Company Arrangement

 The receivers and managers have retired.

Link Market Services will shortly issue a holding statement to all Ten shareholders reflecting the transfer of shares to CBS.
Iconic Star Trek actor George Takei told audience members at an event in Melbourne last night that the allegations were a fantastical claim.

Some of my friends suggested I cancel this appearance, the 80 year old actor said at an event at Melbourne Town Hall, hosted by Benjamin Law.

I thought, why should I do that? This is a falsehood  I have never met the man. I dont know what motivated him.

Former actor Scott Brunton alleged he had passed out at Takeis condo in the early 80s and woke to find him groping his crotch.

But Takei continues to dispute the claims.

Fairfax reports Takei wanted to discuss the topic of sexual misconduct in Hollywood further, but was told not to by his managers.
If you have been watching Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders you might be wondering how accurate the show is in reflecting history.

Shelley Ross, who was the lead producer on ABC News coverage of the case has penned a piece for Variety.

Here are 2 of the 7 inaccuracies she has highlighted (please note the series has not concluded on Nine):

1. The fatal shot

Starting with the first frame of the first episode, I knew there was a giant truth problem. Dark shadowy figures come into the den of the Beverly Hills mansion, holding shotguns. Jose Menendez is seen standing up to confront the intruders and is shot directly in the forehead. There are many rounds of gunfire which also kill his wife, Kitty. We soon learn the killers are their sons, Erik, 18, and Lyle, 21.

A later episode includes sworn testimony enforcing the lie that the fatal wound was a point blank shot to the forehead. Noooo!!! There is zero question the fatal blow to Jose Menendez was fired at point blank range to the back of the head, causing explosive decapitation. Why does this matter? The lie goes to the heart of the defense: that the brothers shot their parents in self-defense because, after years of sexual abuse, they falsely believed their parents were going to kill them. The image of a large, hectoring father coming towards you might support that defense more than a Dad relaxing in front of the television across from Mom, each with a bowl of berries and ice cream on the coffee table.

2. The key witness gets slut shamed

One of the greatest sins of the series is Heather Grahams portrayal of Judalon Smyth, who cracked the case when she informed the cops shed overheard Lyle and Eriks murder confessions. Graham plays Judalon as a campy nymphomaniacal mistress of the Menendez brothers therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel. We see Judalon put her head in the oven and manipulate her way into the Oziels marital home, where she tells his young children shes going to be their new mommy.

The real Judalon was a sexually exploited patient in the middle of her own nightmare which worsened when Dr. Oziel had her listen in on the Mendendez brothers murder confessions and convinced her that her life was in danger so he could move her into his house with his wife. When Judalon first told Diane Sawyer and me her full story, she ran a couple of small businesses and had a productive life. She was not crazy and never stuck her head in an oven. She knew she had been gaslighted, saying Oziel forced her to take medication and threatened to put her in a mental hospital. California State Board investigators verified her story and quickly revoked his psychology license mid-trial. Whats more, she knew of two other women Oziel had abused in similar ways; strangling one with a telephone cord, and forcing another to stand in bare feet on a plate she had broken until it cut through the bottom of her feet.

You can read more at Variety.
The Screen Forever conference has addressed the issue of harassment following headlines emerging from the US industry.

The accusations against Weinstein, Spacey, Louis CK  the list is growing  demonstrate the worst abuses of power in our industry, said SPA CEO Matt Deaner.

This abuse of power hurts and harms people  in particular, women. The accusations against Weinstein has brought front and centre the issue of sexual harassment and abuse of power in our industry.

SPA and MEAA put out a joint statement at the beginning of the month stating we have zero tolerance for sexual harassment in our industry. We are working together on bringing in tougher policies and procedures to stamp out sexual harassment in our industry. Everyone deserves a safe workplace. Its not just SPA and MEAA working towards this shared goal and to defeat this scourge we must all work together, united.

There is also a perverse power in silence. The Sicilian mafia draws power from omerta  the code of silence. Silence can promote and protect perpetrators. This coercive power stops people from speaking up, ostracises whistle-blowers, drives talented men and women out of our industry, to our collective detriment.
Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte adresses a news conference to announce the formation of a coalitiion government in The Hague, Netherlands, October 10, 2017. REUTERS/Reuters TV (Reuters)

By Toby Sterling and Bart H. Meijer

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday returned to parliament for the second time in a week to defend a tax cut that benefits Anglo-Dutch multinationals and British equity investors in general.

Rutte's unexpected decision to scrap the 15 percent dividend withholding tax has fed into a mood of public resentment at large companies widely perceived as being taxed too lightly.

Populist lawmaker Geert Wilders loudly questioned why the Dutch should approve a measure that benefits foreigners.

"This is about jobs," Rutte said of the tax cut, after acknowledging protesters in the public gallery.

"It's important that we have a strong industry made up of a rich tapestry of small businesses, mid-size businesses, but also large companies ...that we know are very important for jobs."

According to Statistics Netherlands, Anglo-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell and Unilever and other multinationals account for more than 2 million jobs, or about 40 percent of all employment, in the country of 17 million people.

Rutte said competition to attract multinational companies has become more fierce in light of Britain's imminent departure from the European Union.

He argued scrapping the tax would make Dutch blue-chip shares more attractive to foreign investors, raising their valuations and hence making them less likely to be targeted for takeovers. He described failed attempts by U.S. companies to buy Unilever and paint maker Akzo Nobel <AKZO.AS> in the past year as "undesireable."

Describing the government as "just scared", tax consultant Rudolph de Vries of Ernst & Young said it was worried that, having surrendered several corporate tax perks in the face of international criticism, the country would lose its allure as a European base and companies already located there could leave.

With Brexit in mind, Unilever is reviewing its dual corporate structure to see whether consolidating into either a single Dutch or British entity makes sense.

Story continues

The company said of the Dutch dividend cut that that it "welcomes measures that improve the business climate" in any country it operated in.

Shell, which openly lobbied for the cut, has said it will likely be able to scrap its dual share structure as a result, saving significantly on costs. [L8N1NF6M6]

DIVIDEND TAX BEHIND THE HYBRIDS

The dividend tax has been one of the main reasons both Shell and Unilever have maintained their unusual dual-nationality structure over the years.

In the Netherlands and most other countries, investors are able to offset the dividend tax withheld by the Dutch government against other taxes.

But because Britain, almost alone among developed nations, does not levy any dividend withholding tax, investors there are unable to reclaim the Dutch tax, so Shell and Unilever maintained a way to pay dividends directly to their British shareholders.

Unilever says a third of its shareholders are British.

The removal of the tax takes away one reason the firm might not choose the Netherlands as a headquarters if it decided to unify its structure.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by John Stonestreet)
Oil field technicians work with a drill at a rig of Ecuador's state oil company Petroamazonas, in Tiputini, Ecuador October 19, 2017. Picture taken October 19, 2017. REUTERS/Daniel Tapia (Reuters)

By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador has abandoned for now a plan to ask OPEC for an exemption from its share of the organisation's oil production cut as crude prices are reacting positively to the group's measures, the country's oil minister said on Thursday.

Ecuador, one of the smallest producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said last month that it would request an exemption from the joint output cut when the group meets in Vienna later this month. It said then that it could even consider leaving the cartel for two years to avoid reducing its production.

"For now we are not going to submit the request. We'll analyse along with OPEC's members which alternatives they can offer. To sustain prices, we have to support OPEC's measures, which are so far succeeding," minister Carlos Perez said during a press conference.

OPEC, Russia and nine other producers plan to meet on Nov. 30 to decide whether to extend a 1.8-million-barrel-per-day (bpd) cut beyond March in an attempt to eradicate a supply glut that has weighed on oil prices.

The price of West Texas Intermediate Crude <CLc1>, a reference for many Latin American grades, has increased 23 percent since mid-June to trade above $55 per barrel.

The Andean country is facing a large fiscal deficit due to low oil prices and a devastating earthquake last year, and needs to boost oil production as much as it can to finance rebuilding.

Ecuador produced 541,000 bpd last month, according to secondary sources quoted by OPEC in its most recent report. That was above its allocation of 522,000 bpd. Perez said Ecuador's compliance level was between 60 and 70 percent.

Other members, including Venezuela and Qatar, have been producing below their targets in recent months, according to data reported to OPEC, opening opportunities for producers to slightly increase output.

Perez also said Ecuador continues negotiating with China's PetroChina <601857.SS> and Unipec and Thailand's PTT PCL <PTT.BK> to change the terms of oil-for-loan agreements signed by the country.

Story continues

"Today I received letters from PTT and Unipec saying they are willing to solve the issues. We have not yet reached an agreement, but we have opened the door for sitting down to negotiate," Perez said.

In the meantime, commercial relationships with these firms have not been suspended, the minister said, adding that Ecuador is seeking to avoid supply contracts being declared unfulfilled.

"The country must be very cautious about that," Perez said.

Perez also said that major repairs at the Esmeraldas refinery's fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) are scheduled to start in March.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Marianna Parraga; Editing by Alistair Bell and Rosalba O'Brien)
PRAGUE (AP)  A group of six Czech tourists who dressed up in skimpy swimsuits made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat" have reportedly been detained by authorities in Kazakhstan's capital Astana.

Sporting lime green "mankinis" and black wigs, the men had hoped to take a picture in front of the "I Love Astana" sign.

But local police took action, detaining them on Friday and fining them 22,500 tenge ($68) each for committing minor hooliganism, according to the Kazakh news website informburo.kz.

The swimsuit became popular after Baron Cohen, playing the fictional Kazakh television presenter Borat, sported it in the 2006 movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

That film offended many Kazakhs by portraying the country as backward and degenerate.

See Also:
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court ruled on Thursday that Kuwait Airways had the right to refuse to carry an Israeli passenger due to his nationality, a verdict that Jewish groups said condoned anti-Semitism.

The Frankfurt state court said the airline was merely respecting the laws of Kuwait, a country that does not recognise the state of Israel, and said it was not up to a German court to rule on Kuwaiti law.

Germany's anti-discrimination law applies only in cases of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnic background or religion, not citizenship, it said.

The lawyer for the plaintiff, who was denied boarding on a flight to Bangkok, said he would appeal.

"This is a shameful verdict for democracy and for Germany in general. This verdict cannot stand," Nathan Gelbart said.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany said the Kuwaiti law was reminiscent of Nazi policies. Similar cases in Switzerland and the United States were decided in the favour of the plaintiffs, it said.

"It is unacceptable that a foreign company operating on the basis of deeply anti-Semitic national laws should be allowed to do business in Germany," the Jewish group said.

"We urge the federal government to examine all legal avenues to prevent such cases of discrimination in the future," the group said, calling on the government to take action against the airline.

Frankfurt Mayor Uwe Becker also criticised the decision.

"An airline that practices discrimination and anti-Semitism by refusing to fly Israeli passengers should not be allowed to take off or land in Frankfurt," he said.

Kuwait Airways could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Japan rescued a group of North Korean fishermen - and then sent them straight back to Kim Jong Un's dictatorship after they apparently pleaded to go home.

Officers on a Japanese Coast Guard ship discovered the capsized fishing boat off Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan's west coast on Wednesday afternoon.

The three people still on board were rescued, Japanese officials said.

They were then handed to another North Korean ship on Thursday after saying they wanted to go back to their home nation, according to Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga.

He added: "All three people rescued were North Korean nationals and they expressed hopes to return to North Korea."

The rescued fishermen told the Coast Guard they had been trying to sail back to North Korea after a fishing expedition when their boat capsized.

The area they were fishing in is managed by South Korea and Japan, but is full of squid and crab, and North Koreans often fish it illegally.

Mr Suga said the fishermen had told Japanese officials there were 15 sailors on board, but none of the others have been found.

In 2016, 1,418 people defected from North Korea to South Korea in a bid to to get away from the repressive regime, according to the South's Ministry of Unification.

More defect over the northern border into China because it is easier than crossing the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between the two Koreas, but no figures have been released.

Illegally leaving North Korea is considered a serious offence under the country's Criminal Code, according to the United Nations.

Those who defect are considered to have committed treason which carries a minimum five-year punishment or "reform through labour".

Those caught face being tortured, imprisoned, inhumanely treated and even executed, the UN says.
The Zimbabwean army has said president Robert Mugabe and his wife have been taken into custody after gunfire was heard near his compound and troops seized control of the state broadcaster.

Loud explosions were heard in Harare in the early hours of Wednesday after military vehicles rolled into the capital, triggering speculation of a "bloodless" coup.

The blasts and gunfire came hours after a military chief warned the army could "step in" amid a political crisis sparked by 93-year-old Mr Mugabe firing his vice president - and likely successor - Emmerson Mnangagwa earlier this month.

General Constantino Chiwenga, commmander of Zimbabwe's defence forces, had demanded an end to a purge in the ruling ZANU-PF party - which appeared to be paving the way for Mr Mugabe's 52-year-old wife Grace to succeed him.

In a statement read on state TV, Major General Sibusiso Moyo said: "Comrade Mugabe and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed.

"We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country, in order to bring them to justice."

The Zimbabwe military said on Wednesday that Mr Mugabe and his wife were in custody and it was securing government offices and patrolling the streets of Harare.

:: Mugabe: The war hero who became a dictator

General Chiwenga - who Mr Mugabe had accused of treason for his intervention - said: "We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government.

"What the defence forces are doing is to pacify a degenerating political social and economic situation in our country, which if not addressed may result in a violent conflict."

Soldiers in armoured personnel carriers and tanks have been stationed at key locations in the capital, including government buildings.

The military has also taken control of a paramilitary police armoury and disarmed police officers there, Reuters reported.

Story continues

It is unclear where Mr Mugabe and his wife Grace are being held, but they appear to be in the custody of the military.

Supporters of the Zimbabwean military have insisted it is a "bloodless correction of gross abuse of power".

Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the war veterans' association, said the military will return Zimbabwe to "genuine democracy" and make it a "modern model nation".

Opposition leader Tendai Biti told Sky News a transitional authority is needed to secure a road map to democracy.

He said: "If it flaps like a duck, waggles like a duck, then it's a duck. This is a coup, there's no question about that.

"We condemn the extra-legal extraction of power from an elected civilian authority, but having said that we must acknowledge the deep structural underlying causes that would have led the army to do what they are doing now, whether it's pacification or whatever lipstick or mascara they might want to put on (it).

"This is Robert Mugabe's Waterloo and he must accept that. I pray the army do not harm him, I pray that they give him free passage if he wants to leave Zimbabwe."

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We advise any British national in Zimbabwe who may be concerned to monitor our travel advice for changes."

The US State Department urged its citizens to shelter in place during the crisis.

South African President Jacob Zuma said he hoped the intervention would not lead to "unconstitutional changes of Government".

Mr Mnangagwa, 75, a veteran of the liberation wars, fled to South Africa after he was ousted on 6 November - with President Mugabe accusing him of plotting against the government.

Mr Mugabe is the only leader Zimbabwe has known in 37 years of independence.
By Saad Sayeed

RABWAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Crammed into buses and mini-vans, more than 10,000 Pakistanis travelled to a mosque on the outskirts of the small Punjabi town of Rabwah, for the sole purpose of denouncing followers of the minority sect based here as "infidels and enemies of the state".

For members of the long persecuted Ahmadi community, who are forbidden to call themselves Muslims and face discrimination and violence over accusations their faith insults Islam, the open vitriol on display at the Oct. 20 rally was not new.

But this year, they say, anti-Ahmadi rhetoric has also re-entered mainstream Pakistani politics, as politicians seek to shore up support among religiously conservative voters after surprise gains by two new Islamist parties.

"We are an easy community to scapegoat for political opponents to target each other," said Usman Ahmad, who moved to Pakistan from Britain to work as a community activist.

With a general election due in 2018, politicians from both the religious fringe and established parties have had the Ahmadis in their sights.

In the past six weeks, a row over proposed changes to the election law that would have eased some of the barriers on Ahmadis participating in elections has seen the group denounced on the floor of Pakistan's parliament, while one of the new Islamist parties has held street protests.

The government has since taken out ads in major newspapers reaffirming a religious oath requiring elected officials to vow that they do not follow anyone claiming to be a prophet after Mohammad and "nor do I belong to the Qadiani group", using a common derogatory term for Ahmadis.

The Ahmadis consider themselves to be Muslims, but their recognition of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who founded the sect in British-ruled India in 1889, as a "subordinate prophet" is viewed by many of the Sunni majority as a breach of the Islamic tenet that the Prophet Mohammad was God's last direct messenger.

Story continues

A WIDENING SECTARIAN DIVIDE

The Ahmadi sect has 10-20 million followers worldwide who face discrimination in a number of Muslim-majority nations such as Indonesia and Algeria, as well as being ostracised by large parts of the Muslim community in Britain.

There are about half a million Ahmadis in Pakistan, local leaders say, though other estimates have put the number at 2-4 million.

Ahmadis are some of the most common defendants in criminal charges of blasphemy, which in Pakistan can carry the death penalty.

By law they cannot call their place of worship mosques or distribute religious literature, recite the Koran or use traditional Islamic greetings, measures that they say criminalise their daily lives.

The legal restrictions began in 1974, when the then-Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto passed a constitutional amendment declaring Ahmadis non-Muslim. A decade later military dictator General Zia ul Haq barred Ahmadis from identifying themselves as Muslim.

Community leaders say these moves laid the groundwork for a sectarian divide that has since seen many violent attacks on Ahmadis and birthed multiple militant organizations, including many that are now linked to Islamic State.

In the past four years, the Punjab government has also targeted Ahmadis under the country's anti-terrorism laws, filing at least eight cases against Ahmadis on charges of producing hate literature, including the sect's own holy texts.

The offices of an Ahmadi magazine in Rabwah were raided in December 2016 by police, who arrested seven people and confiscated papers and hard drives.

"They stormed the office, it felt like a group of terrorists had come in," said Amir Fahim, who worked at the magazine and was held for 65 days.

"They said the religious language you use belongs to us and the things you write offend the sensibilities of Muslims."

Community leaders say the use of anti-terrorism laws marks a new phase in the targeting of Ahmadis.

"Here, to be an Ahmadi, through state laws, is a crime," Pakistan's Ahmadi community spokesman Salimuddin said. "There are restrictions on our annual gatherings, our annual games ... If the state did not persecute us, we would not be persecuted."

Punjab government spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said the authorities were not using the anti-terrorism laws to target any particular minority group.

"The Punjab Government arrested thousands on charges of hate speech during the last three years," he told Reuters. "Anti-Ahmadi groups were also included in them."

POLITICAL STORM

Many Ahmadis in Pakistan say they only truly feel safe in Rabwah, a town of more than 60,000 in eastern Punjab that is 95 percent Ahmadi. Most of the town's infrastructure is maintained on contributions made by the community, including free hostels and food for visitors and a community organised garbage clean-up.

But on the edge of Rabwah lies a small settlement and a mosque run by a right-wing Islamist organisation that openly professes hatred for Ahmadis.

The organisation, Khatm-e-Nubuwwat (Finality of the Prophet), built the mosque on land the Punjab government ordered confiscated from Ahmadis in 1975 for low-income housing.

Khatm-e-Nubuwwat has been at the forefront of initiating blasphemy allegations against Ahmadis. Every year for 36 years, the group has held an anti-Ahmadi rally at the mosque.

"Qadianis are the enemies of the prophet," said Aziz ur Rehman, an organiser of the Rabwah conference, adding: "A country that was made in the name of the prophet cannot accept Qadianis."

Always volatile, political atmosphere in Pakistan has been especially tense since the Supreme Court removed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office in July over corruption allegations, which he denies.

The calculations of the mainstream parties have been complicated by the formation of two new Islamist political groups that garnered more than 10 percent in two recent by-elections and could become spoilers in a close election.

One of the new parties, Tehreek-e-Labaik, launched a political furore last month after lawmakers from Sharif's party, which still holds a parliamentary majority, approved apparently small changes to the country's election law.

The changes eliminated a requirement for Ahmadi voters to declare they are not Muslim and turned a religious oath for elected officials declaring belief in the Finality of the Prophet and affirming they are not Ahmadi into a simple declaration of belief.

Tehreek-e-Labaik quickly termed any concessions to Ahmadis to be blasphemy and threatened mass protests.

The government, still controlled by Sharif's party, quickly retreated and reversed the changes.

A week later, speaking before Pakistan's National Assembly, Sharif's son-in-law, lawmaker Muhammad Safdar Awan called for Ahmadis to be barred from employment in the government, judiciary, and military. Sharif himself later distanced himself from Safdar's statement.

The climbdown did not appease Tehreek-e-Labaik, which last week launched street protests blockading roads into Islamabad and demanding the law minister be sacked. The protests are ongoing and have paralysed traffic in the capital.

Saadia Toor, author of State of Islam said it's likely that anti-Ahmadi rhetoric will continue up to next year's elections, due by the end of August.

"Anti-Ahmedi sentiment is widely held across the Pakistani Muslim mainstream, even among moderate Sunnis," she said. "So using them as scapegoats for political purposes is easy."

(Additional reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Alex Richardson)
By Ronnie Cohen

(Reuters Health) - Physicians in England appear to favor research from high-income countries over research from low-income countries, a bias that could lead to reluctance to adopt cost-saving healthcare innovations, a new study suggests.

High-income research is disproportionately overvalued, and low-income research is undervalued, said lead author Dr. Matthew Harris, clinical senior lecturer in public health at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London.

Research from low-income countries is being discounted prematurely and unfairly, he said in a Skype interview. Thats a prejudice, a preconceived notion.

Harris and his team enlisted 347 clinicians in England. The clinicians were told they would be taking a speed-reading survey, but instead of judging them on how fast they read, the researchers examined how participants evaluated the evidence and relevance of four research abstracts.

The abstracts were of similar length and complexity, the research team reports online November 6 in Health Affairs. Each abstract was labeled as having been written by an unnamed researcher at one of four universities. Two of the universities were in high-income countries  Harvard University in the U.S. and Freiburg University in Germany, and two were in low-income countries  the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and the University of Mzuzu in Malawi.

When the abstracts were labeled as coming from Harvard or Freiburg, clinicians were more likely to rate them as relevant and to consider the studys evidence as strong. When the same abstract was labeled as coming from the University of Addis Ababa or the University of Mzuzu, clinicians tended to rate it as weaker and less relevant.

The greatest difference in clinician ratings was a 25% higher rating for the relevance of a randomized trial of a cholesterol-lowering drug when the abstract was labeled as coming from Harvard or Freiburg as opposed to Addis Ababa or Mzuzu.

Story continues

Dr. David Kuwayama, a vascular surgeon and professor at the University of Colorado Denver in Aurora who was not involved with the study, said it clearly illustrates the inherent biases that all of us in academic medicine . . . share when it comes to devaluing research from outside of the U.S. and Europe.

If a journal publishes a groundbreaking paper from a low-income country, but we in the Western world are unwilling to value it, then we are depriving both ourselves and our patients of valuable, maybe even life-saving, medical knowledge, he said in an email.

As a result of prejudices that the study suggests, patients and healthcare systems could be missing out on so-called frugal innovations, Harris said. One example is using a hand drill available in hardware stores in a sterilized bag to perform orthopedic surgery. Englands National Health Service could save an estimated 100 million pounds ($131 million) over five years, if it switched from orthopedic drills to hand drills in sterilized bags, Harris said.

Many countries that have emerged from poverty are actually developing frugal innovations, doing more with less, increasing value, he said. We know that there are some excellent ideas arising from these settings that dont get the attention they deserve, he said.

Kuwayama said it would be dangerously naive to presume that researchers in low-income countries have little to provide us.

Walter Kukull, epidemiology professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle who was not involved with the research, was less concerned about the bias it suggests.

Part of the effect of the reported study could be due to a reviewer-perceived impression that a project described in the abstract either would not have the resources or recognized expertise in the country to carry out the reported research, he said by email. While this is regarded as a bias in the paper, it could also go to the element of trust, thus a purposeful judgment.

The results might have been different, Kukull noted, if study participants had read full papers, which might have reduced perceived bias. Regardless, Kukull was not convinced that the findings showed prejudice.

As a reviewer of grants, knowing who the investigators are, what they have done and where they are located as well as their scientific environment influences outcomes substantially and probably should, he said. I am not as worried as their conclusion implies we should be that great research from low-income countries is being buried or rejected.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2AeK6IK

Health Aff 2017.

See Also:
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) - The Syrian army backed by Russian jets on Wednesday stepped up shelling and air strikes on a besieged rebel-held enclave in Damascus a day after rebels stormed an army base in the area, rebels, a war monitor and residents said.

The bombardment follows a surprise ground offensive by jihadist rebels on Tuesday on an army complex in the heart of the city's Eastern Ghouta region that has defied opposition assaults since the start of the conflict.

The fortress-like Military Vehicles Administration in the government-held part of Harasta town has long been used to strike at the densely populated Eastern Ghouta, where over 300,000 people live under siege.

Rebels have failed in repeated offensives to seize the sprawling compound, from where surface-to-surface rockets are launched against the rebel enclave. Douma, the main city in opposition-held Eastern Ghouta, is only three km away.

"The fighting is continuing and the shelling and air strikes are heavy near the base and most of the towns of the Ghouta," said Abu Kutaiba, a military commander for Ahrar al Sham, an Islamist rebel group that has spearheaded the attack.

A Syrian military source said on state media the army had repelled "terrorists who sought to infiltrate in large numbers," killing tens and destroying their weaponry. It did not mention the heavy aerial strikes on opposition areas.

Backed by Russian strikes, government forces have escalated military operations against Eastern Ghouta in recent weeks, seeking to tighten a siege on the area, residents and rebels say. The rebel assault aims partly to relieve that pressure.

The Eastern Ghouta is part of several de-escalation zones which Russia has brokered with rebels across Syria that has freed the army to redeploy in areas they can regain ground.

REBEL OFFENSIVE

The rebel offensive which began on Tuesday is the first since last March when mainstream Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels staged an attack against government-held areas in northeastern Damascus. The rebels were forced to retreat after initial gains.

Story continues

In retaliatory attacks, aerial strikes and shelling hit Harasta, Irbin, Misraba, Hamouriya, and Saqba towns in Eastern Ghouta with at least eight civilians killed and about 94 wounded in the last 20 hours alone, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and residents.

After securing the last rebel pocket inside the capital's Qaboun district last May, the Syrian army has since concentrated its military drive against Ain Terma and Jobar, northeast of the capital in the Ghouta area.

Rebels helped by an elaborate network of underground tunnels have repelled repeated attempts to storm these areas.

"The army and its militias have failed to make any progress and have had heavy losses," said Alwan, a spokesman for the FSA's Failaq al Rahman rebel group.

Backed by Russian strikes, the army has however gradually succeeded in the last year in shrinking rebel held control over Eastern Ghouta. The loss of agricultural land has compounded the humanitarian plight of civilians.

The United Nations has warned of impending starvation if aid does not reach the area, where international deliveries have long been erratic and obstructed.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Editing by William Maclean)
London stocks lurched lower on Wednesday morning after geopolitical tensions between American and North Korea were further inflamed by some hotheaded rhetoric from President Donald Trump.

After close to an hour of trading on a day that some are calling the 10-year anniversary of the dawn of the financial crisis, the FTSE 100 lost 40.66 points or 0.54% to 7,502.07, having quickly found a floor following an initial dip.

Overnight US and Asian stock markets slipped into risk-off mode late on, as Trump warned North Korea would be "met with fire and fury and, frankly, power the likes of which the world has never seen before" if it continues to threaten the US.

The VIX volatility index, having recently hit an all-time low, spiked from 9.54 just after Europe went home and around 10 when the comments were reported to a peak of 11.29 with 30 minutes left in the session before closing at 10.96.

This move in the Vix was only to a level last seen a month ago, while the Dow gave up a paltry 33 points - that after a streak of nine-straight record closes - said analyst Neil Wilson at ETX Capital, noting that European stock indices were all in the red.

"That said other riskier assets have quickly found bid again and stocks may therefore recover pretty sharpish if this proves no more than a temporary war of words. Indeed overall the risk-off moves are not enormous for the time being, but we await developments."

The price of gold rose, but Wilson pointed out it was only trading at its highest since Friday  "it doesnt look like much risk is being taken away yet".

Nevertheless, precious metals miners Fresnillo, Randgold Resources and Acacia Mining were lifted to the top of the FTSE leaderboard.

On what is a fairly quiet day in terms of macroeconomic data, the overnight release of Chinese consumer prices showed gains slowed from 1.5% year-on-year in July to 1.4% for June.

That prompted analysts at Capital Economics to tell clients: "Rising steel prices aside, broader price pressures appear to have cooled last month. We expect the reflation of the past year to continue to fizzle out in coming quarters as policy tightening dampens economic activity."

Traders were also keeping close tabs on the US dollar, with Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, saying: "It has started to become apparent to some in recent days that the US dollar, after five months of losses, may be susceptible to some kind of rebound, and yesterdays price action would appear to confirm that there are some weak short positions out there."

In company news, payments processing company Worldpay was on the rise as it had agreed a 9.3bn merger with US rival Vantiv. Worldpay shareholders have been offered 0.55p a share in cash, 0.0672 of a new Vantiv share and a 4.2p dividend. Worldpay investors will own 43% of the combined group, up from the 41% initially mooted.

Also higher was Spirax-Sarco as interim pre-tax profits at engineering group spurted up 21% to 88.5m as revenue grew 25% to 428.6m. The collapse of sterling after the Brexit vote last year helped boost profits by 16%, the company said, adding that strong UK operations and acquisitions had also contributed to the rise.

Legal & General posted a 43% jump in half-year profits before tax to 952m, which saw earnings per share rise from 11.27p in the year-ago period to 15.94p. In turn, the company's payout was raised from 4.0p to 4.3p. Its shares were caught up in the general risk-off mood, however.

Security outsourcing group G4S was down more than 6% as it reported slower than expected growth in the second quarter but held its first-half dividend steady, as management declared their increased confidence in prospects thanks to the "substantial progress" being made with restructuring. Revenue of ongoing business rose 6.2% to 3.7bn and earning per share was up 7.8% to 8.3p.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,509.00 -0.45%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,875.07 -0.37%

techMARK (TASX) 3,423.44 -0.41%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,497.00p 1.70%

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 7,300.00p 1.67%

Mediclinic International (MDC) 735.50p 1.03%

Worldpay Group (WPG) 385.60p 0.52%

Vodafone Group (VOD) 226.35p 0.40%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 964.00p 0.26%

Imperial Brands (IMB) 3,261.00p 0.11%

Next (NXT) 4,371.00p 0.07%

Unilever (ULVR) 4,414.00p 0.07%

Experian (EXPN) 1,532.00p 0.07%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

G4S (GFS) 313.10p -5.29%

Convatec Group (CTEC) 286.30p -1.92%

Legal & General Group (LGEN) 271.60p -1.59%

Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,766.00p -1.53%

Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) 2,190.00p -1.53%

Pearson (PSON) 619.00p -1.43%

WPP (WPP) 1,569.00p -1.38%

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 937.00p -1.37%

CRH (CRH) 2,662.00p -1.30%

ITV (ITV) 172.80p -1.26%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Acacia Mining (ACA) 182.10p 3.29%

Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 5,710.00p 2.42%

TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 1,664.00p 2.09%

Hastings Group Holdings (HSTG) 326.50p 1.49%

Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 423.70p 1.49%

Polymetal International (POLY) 917.00p 1.38%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 317.20p 1.21%

Indivior (INDV) 405.10p 1.20%

Daejan Holdings (DJAN) 6,450.00p 1.18%

Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 742.00p 1.02%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Ladbrokes Coral Group (LCL) 123.50p -3.59%

Sanne Group (SNN) 732.00p -2.40%

Grafton Group Units (GFTU) 766.50p -2.23%

Essentra (ESNT) 539.50p -2.18%

Aldermore Group (ALD) 216.90p -1.90%

Big Yellow Group (BYG) 749.50p -1.38%

FirstGroup (FGP) 115.30p -1.37%

Serco Group (SRP) 109.40p -1.35%

Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 1,125.00p -1.32%

Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 414.70p -1.26%
Security company G4S said it had appointed Barbara Thoralfsson as a non-executive director of its board with effect from 1 July 2016.

Thoralfsson will become a member of the board's nomination and remuneration committees, G4S said.

She was chief executive of NetCom ASA, Norway's second largest mobile network operator, between 2001 and 2005; and a non-executive director of Tandberg ASA, a supplier of video conferencing systems, from 2006 until 2010, Telenor ASA, a mobile operator in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia, from 2009 until 2015 and Cable & Wireless Plc in 2015 and 2016.
Retailer Ted Baker posted a 7.3% jump in revenue for the 13 week period from 13 August 2017 to 11 November on Thursday, despite challenging conditions across some of its global markets.

During the period, retail sales were up 4.6%, or 5.1% in constant currency, while e-commerce sales rose 30.5% and represented 19.2% of total retail sales. Wholesale sales for the period were up 14.2%, reflecting good performances from both the UK and North American businesses and Ted Baker said it now expects low double-digit wholesale sales growth for the full year.

Meanwhile, average retail square footage rose by 5.6% to 404,864 and the company opened a new store in Oxford and further concessions in premium department stores in Canada, Germany and the UK. It also opened an outlet in Chicago and relocated its Bicester outlet.

Founder and chief executive Ray Kelvin said: "The group's continued growth in the period, despite challenging trading conditions across some of our global markets, has again been underpinned by our business model and the unwavering focus on product quality and design that are central to everything we do.

The reactions to our Autumn/Winter collections have been positive. Whilst the group's full year results will, as ever, be dependent on trading conditions over the important Christmas period, we remain confident of meeting our expectations for the full year and continuing to develop Ted Baker as a global lifestyle brand."

George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: A more difficult October may not be too damaging in itself, but it does mean the group is sauntering rather than sprinting towards the all-important Christmas period.

"However, we remain long-term fans of the Ted Baker business model. Its quirky designs offer something different, and its aspirational yet affordable garments fill an attractive niche in the market. The careful approach to expansion reduces the risk of over-saturation, and so far the roll-out has delivered a stream of steadily increasing dividends for investors, with the share price largely following suit.

At 0945 GMT, the shares were up 0.3% to 2,570p.
Global banks and international bond strategists have been left stunned by revised ONS figures showing that Britain is 490bn poorer than had been assumed and no longer has any reserve of net foreign assets, depriving the country of its safety margin as Brexit talks reach a crucial juncture. A massive write-down in the UK balance of payments data shows that Britains stock of wealth  the net international investment position  has collapsed from a surplus of 469bn to a net deficit of 22bn. This transforms the outlook for sterling and the gilts markets. - Telegraph

Theresa May and David Davis will make a surprise visit to Brussels for a private dinner with the EU commission chief, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the EUs top Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, in a diplomacy blitz before a crucial summit this week. May and Davis will visit Juncker and Barnier in the Belgian capital on Monday evening, where they are expected to make the case for EU leaders to agree to move on negotiations, to pave the way for discussions of Britains future relationship with the EU. - Guardian

Philip Hammond is planning a Budget raid on older workers to pay for tax breaks for younger people as he battles to save his job. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is understood to be examining ways to link tax to age to promote intergenerational fairness in next months Budget. Tax breaks would be offered to workers in their 20s and 30s, paid for by cutting reliefs for older and better off workers. - Telegraph

Philip Hammond is pushing for an international trade agreement in services to rehabilitate globalisation in the West to counter recent populist surges in Europe and America. The chancellor used his platform at the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington to urge countries to redouble their efforts to build a global framework in services, such as banking, healthcare and transport, that would match the long-established arrangement for goods. - The Times

Confidence among chief financial officers has rebounded from a low point after the election, but Brexit is still expected to hit investment and hiring. The latest quarterly survey of finance officers, undertaken by Deloitte, has found that just under two thirds expect leaving the European Union to harm the business environment, down from nearly three quarters.

A Norwegian entrepreneur and investor who is seeking to oust the chairwoman at Johnston Press has set his sights on a wider shake-up the British media scene, with ambitions to buy the Metro newspaper and the Evening Standard. Christen Ager-Hanssen, owner of the Swedish Metro newspaper, is set to go head to head with Camilla Rhodes at an extraordinary meeting to determine the future of one of Britains oldest newspaper groups. -The Times

One of the UKs biggest energy companies is allowing its customers to fall as much as 1,600 into debt on their energy bills before intervening to help them repay it. The energy regulator, Ofgem, said the big-six firm npower, along with the smaller suppliers Utility Warehouse, Ecotricity, iSupplyEnergy, and First Utility, let customers accrue an average of 800 of debt for electricity before acting. In some extreme cases, debts rose to more than 1,000. - Guardian

Profits fell at half of Britains law firms last year as pay rises and hiring sprees at the larger players took their toll. Research being published today reveals that firms were hit by falling profit margins, with about 70 per cent of legal practices registering relatively small fee income growth over the past year. - The Times

Tesla Motors fired hundreds of workers after completing its annual performance reviews this week, even though the electric automaker is trying to ramp up production to meet the demand for its new Model 3 sedan. The Palo Alto-based company confirmed the cuts in a statement on Saturday but did not disclose how many of its 33,000 workers were jettisoned. - Guardian

The people of Canvey Island in Essex are planning a Catalan-style revolt to break away from mainland Britain. The island, which covers seven square miles and has a population of almost 40,000, is governed by the Conservative-run Castle Point council. However, 14 of the islands own 17 councillors are members of the Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP). - The Times
Sandy Brown is passionate about sharing her Native American history and culture with younger generations. She and her daughter, Wahlalah Brown, plan to do that Nov. 28 and Nov. 29 as part of National Native American Heritage Month.

The UNG Press is also celebrating the month by spotlighting four different influential Native American authors. It highlighted the works of Leslie Silko on Nov. 3 and N. Scott Momaday on Nov. 10. The two others featured will be Zitkala-Sa on Nov. 17 and Sherman Alexie on Nov. 24.

Sponsored by the Multicultural Student Affairs, the Browns' presentation will include a history of Native Americans along with demonstrations of finger weaving, cordage and twining from noon to 2p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, on UNGs Dahlonega Campus and noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, in the Student Center on the Gainesville Campus. The Native American exhibit will be on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Great Room in Hoag Student Center on the Dahlonega Campus.

"We tell stories and sing songs sometimes. We talk about the artifacts we bring," said Brown, mentioning she and her daughter dress in period attire. "Sometimes we talk about modern-day issues. We talk about the culture and how it is still alive."

Brown, who is a living history cultural educator, conducts these educational sessions for a few reasons. She wants young children and adults to know the true history of Native Americans. She strives to break down the stereotypes about her ancestors. Brown also aims to inform youth about the current issues Native Americans face.

"I talk about a whole race and culture from the past to the present and into the future," said Brown, who lives on the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina.

She said it is "awesome" that the indigenous people are recognized for a full month in November and acknowledged that they are still here.

"Students today and the public don't always see them as still being here and alive," she said. "They seem to think they are no longer here. But they are here."

November became National Native American Heritage Month in 1990 through a joint resolution approved by President George H.W. Bush.

Dr. Billy Wells, a retired U.S. colonel and senior vice president of Leadership and Global Engagement at UNG, explained Native Americans have made important and critical contributions in the U.S. military, deserving of recognition.

"From Indian scout to combat infantryman and from fighter pilot to code talker, their story exemplifies how diversity unified can ultimately work for the greater good of all in the face of incredible challenges both at home and abroad," he said. "For those in the American Armed Forces, this month  which includes Veterans Day  is an opportunity to commemorate the service and sacrifice of fellow Americans whose ancestry is or includes that of the First Americans."

Wells said 29 Native Americans from 10 different tribes have been awarded the nations highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. Of these, 26 were Army; two, Navy; and one, Marine. Historically closer to home for North Georgians, five were Cherokee, with three from the Eastern Band.

"The Armed Forces of the United States place great value on the contributions of Native Americans to our nation as a whole and especially to our military," he said.
Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station are enlarging and diversifying the states economy and are making a profound economic impact in communities across the commonwealth, according to a new analysis of the agencies.



Agency 229, which provides funding to Extension and VAES, has vast and diverse impacts that touch every sector of Virginias economy. Innovative, fundamental, and applied research; education and training; and direct assistance to Virginians have led to nationwide recognition of Virginia as a producer of superior agricultural products, better business management practices, and environmental stewardship that improves quality of life and attracts millions of tourists annually, the report said.



The analysis, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development, highlights a number of examples of industry impacts and community developments made possible by the people, programs, and volunteers supported by Agency 229. The report also makes a number of recommendations on how increased state investment in Agency 229 infrastructure and programs would increase its impact around the state.

There are many examples of Agency 229s impact throughout the commonwealth, said John Provo, the director of the Office of Economic Development. In addition to the numbers and analysis presented in the report, citizens provided concrete examples detailing how their lives and communities would not be the same without the outreach and research provided by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station.

From putting more money in the hands of cattle producers to coordinating more than 30,000 volunteers to run educational programs, the impact of Agency 229 funding touches every county and corner of the state. The summary of report can be found online.

The Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station includes faculty members from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Eleven Agricultural Research and Extension Centers strategically located around the state provide research and outreach in partnership with industry to propel local and state economies. Virginia Cooperative Extension has 107 offices across the state that provide research-based information to the public to help communities flourish.



Agriculture is the largest industry in Virginia and agriculture and forestry have a combined impact of more than $91 billion. Extension and VAES are integral to this success, the report said. The report includes the story of a producer in a county with $170 million in annual agricultural exports who was asked about the impact of Extension.



I dont know if agriculture would exist in the county without Extension. It certainly wouldnt thrive, he said in the report.

The General Assembly charged Agency 229 with developing a strategy to leverage state investment with industry partnerships that result in technological and scientific advancements needed to grow the states agricultural and natural resource economy.

The Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development was commissioned to conduct a study of current impacts of VAES and Extension on the economy and to gather recommendations from industry on how funding could be leveraged to drive more innovation and advancement. The office spoke with more than 200 stakeholders from private industry, local and state government; VCE agents, specialists, volunteers, and clients; VAES researchers; and many of the agricultural councils and commodity groups that fund and benefit from Agency 229 research and Extension.



From improving water quality to helping producers increase crop yields, the research conducted by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station faculty is purpose-driven and focused on how to help Virginia continue to grow and prosper, said Saied Mostaghimi, director of VAES and associated dean of research and graduate studies in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

We are able to take the research that VAES does and turn that into real and practical knowledge that helps our communities flourish and grow, said Ed Jones, Virginia Cooperative Extension director.



The report represents a snapshot of findings with a focus on five key agriculture and forestry industries and four communities. The five industries chosen include: beef cattle; poultry and hogs in vertically integrated production systems; food and beverage manufacturing; forestry/wood products/timber; and row crops. These industries each represent a large share of the Virginia agricultural economy and are supported by Agency 229 in different ways.



Some highlights of Agency 229s impact on industry include:

Placing an additional $1.5 million of revenue into the operations of Virginia feeder cattle producers. Virginia is known as the premier producer of feeder calves in the U.S.; calves certified through an Agency 229 program receive $100 more than non-certified cattle.



Saving hundreds of millions of dollars for the poultry industry. Existing facilities are vulnerable to disease but Agency 229 helps create disease-prevention and risk-management protocols to ensure companies do not lose hundreds of millions in revenue.



Developing a new food safety process for a major meat processing company, which led to a $36 million investment and 200 jobs in Southern Virginia.

Assisting landowners in receiving up to twice the return on investment for their forestland through sustainable management and protection of this valuable asset from invasive species and low-bid buyers.



Delivering research in row crops provides producers with an extra $10 million annually and has led to large-scale yield increases.



In the report, Pittsylvania County, Prince William County, Washington County, and the City of Virginia Beach were selected as representations of urban and rural populations in four Virginia regions. The report found:


One of the professors receiving a suit is Robin Queen, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics in the College of Engineering and director of the Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Laboratory.

Queen plans to use the suits on patients in clinics and athletes in the field for her work in injury prevention and restoration of bodily function. The inertial-based suits are quicker than the typical optical motion capture Queen uses with cameras set up around her lab.

More importantly, the suits donated from Marraccini are mobile. They can be taken to the patient, rather than having to bring the patient to the lab.

Thats the goal, to see what we can do with these suits to really be able to interact with [the patients] to provide them a little feedback on what theyre doing and how theyre moving  let them be able to visually see movement as opposed to spoken feedback  and really bring the science to them instead of them having to come to us here on campus. Hopefully this will allow us to be able to work with a wider variety of populations than we can right now, Queen said.



John Kook, of Burke, Virginia, a sophomore studying computer science, wore the suit during one of two training sessions Marraccini hosted on Virginia Techs campus. Kook, who works on FutureHAUS, said the suit will be helpful in studying ways humans can interact with a home of the future  such as making gestures that control the homes technology, like lights.

I plan to be in this project until I graduate. So within the next two years I really look forward to what we can do with [the suit] and how much more we can improve our FutureHAUS, Kook said.

For Marraccini, who was seeking out opportunities to be more involved with his alma mater  he already supports the Hyperloop at Virginia Tech team and is involved with the Apex Systems Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship  donating these suits to researchers at Virginia Tech was a win-win that was largely influenced by Pat Artis, a College of Engineering professor of practice who reached out to Marraccini.

We have many ties to Virginia Tech. Our interns are Hokies, we employ several Hokies, our investors are Hokies, and our advisors are Hokies. Donating the equipment just seemed to go hand-in-hand with that: to get more involved with the university to try and make a difference for them as well as to help us grow our product, Marraccini said.

One additional perk? Attracting Virginia Tech students to Inertial Labs. Marraccini hopes the exposure to an Inertial Labs product will influence students to look to his company for a job when they graduate.

This will be especially helpful for Marraccini in a major goal of his: continuing to grow his company using only Virginia Tech talent.

When youre a small business, you have to make good hires. Theres no room for error, Marraccini said. You know more of what youre getting if the person graduates from Virginia Tech.

Written by Erica Corder
Michael Leib, professor of internal medicine in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the university community since 1983, Leib is an internationally respected small animal gastroenterologist whose skills in endoscopy are widely recognized. He was the principal or co-principal investigator on 45 grants researching small animal gastroenterology and internal medicine. He co-edited one textbook and authored or co-authored more than 83 peer-reviewed journal articles, 37 book chapters, and multiple reviews.

Leib is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He received the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award in 1987, and was the colleges first William E. Wine Award for Teaching Excellence recipient. His clinical excellence was recognized in 2001 with the colleges Dorsey Taylor Mahin Award. He also received the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award.

He has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicines certification examination committee  including as small animal chairman  credentials appeals committee, and nomination committee; the North American Veterinary Conference small animal program co-chair; the American Animal Hospital Association student committee; three terms as the Western Veterinary Conference GI program coordinator; and the American Veterinary Medical Association internal medicine program coordinator.

Leib also served on 16 master's degree student and two doctoral student committees.

He received his bachelors degree from Emory University, a masters degree from Colorado State University, and a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Georgia.


Dril-Quip, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services engineered drilling and production equipment for use in deepwater, harsh environment, and severe service applications worldwide. The company's principal products include subsea and surface wellheads, subsea and surface production trees, mudline hanger systems, specialty connectors and associated pipes, drilling and production riser systems, liner hangers, wellhead connectors, diverters, and safety valves, as well as downhole tools. It also provides technical advisory services, and rework and reconditioning services, as well as rental and purchase of running tools for use in the installation and retrieval of its products; and downhole tools comprise of liner hangers, production packers, safety valves, and specialty downhole tools that are used to hang-off and seal casing into a previously installed casing string in the well bore. The company's products are used to explore for oil and gas from offshore drilling rigs, such as floating rigs and jack-up rigs; and for drilling and production of oil and gas wells on offshore platforms, tension leg platforms, and Spars, as well as moored vessels, such as floating production, storage, and offloading monohull moored vessels. It sells its products directly through its sales personnel, independent sales agents, and representatives to integrated, independent, and foreign national oil and gas companies, as well as drilling contractors, and engineering and construction companies. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
If someone is having a bad day or is down in the dumps or agitated, well give them the cat or the dog, she said. It really changes their mood.

A 2013 study found that New Zealand nursing home residents who interacted with a robotic seal showed improvement on the UCLA Loneliness Scale compared with a control group.

Hasbros two-year-old line of robotic Joy for All Companion Pets are now in use in thousands of senior care facilities, according to Ted Fischer, the vice president of business development. While developing the robotic animals, the company sought input from older people. The robotic cats are designed to vibrate as they purr, for example, because seniors mentioned experiencing that sensation with real cats.

Brown University researchers, with help from a $1 million National Science Foundation grant, recently announced a partnership with Hasbro to add artificial intelligence to robotic pets so they can help older people with tasks.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.  Bond has been set at $1 million for a man accused of breaking into the home of a 94-year-old Scottsdale woman and stealing cash before kidnapping her.

Scottsdale police say Ian Michael Nielsen was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery and aggravated assault.

The 25-year-old Nielsen didnt have an attorney at his initial court appearance Wednesday.

Police say a man broke into the womans home on Nov. 7 about 6 a.m. and demanded money.

He bound her before locking her inside her cars trunk, then drove around before parking the vehicle in a lot at a mall.

The woman told police she eventually freed herself from the trunk.

Police say the woman was treated at a hospital for an injured sternum. Her name hasnt been released.
SALT LAKE CITY  A polygamous groups dwindling control of a remote Utah-Arizona border town that it has called home for a century slipped further after four people not tied to the sect took over the mayors office and other leadership posts.

Donia Jessop, who left the sect several years ago over discord with leaders, has become the first female mayor of Hildale, Utah, and the first person to hold the post who isnt a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Three city council seats also went to non-members.

The group is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism, which disavowed polygamy more than 100 years ago.

The competitive elections were another sign of the major changes the community has undergone in recent years. In the past, the sect picked mayors and council members behind the scenes who would run unopposed.

Jessop defeated incumbent Mayor Philip Barlow with 61 percent of the 210 votes cast in the all-mail election, according to final results unveiled Tuesday.

Jessop said shes hopeful the transition will be smooth after Barlow and council members graciously accepted the results during a meeting she attended.

She said she wants to give residents better water and roads and explore using fiber optics already in place to offer internet.

Big changes are heading our way, Jessop said. Theres so many things lined up and ready to roll.

Barlow, who was looking to win a second term, wasnt immediately available for comment. He said last week after initial results showed he was likely to lose that he will accept the will of the people and move on to other opportunities.

Maha Layton and Jared Nicol won four-year council seats, while JVar Dutson won an election to fill the final two years of the term of a councilman who left early. Two other members of the five-person council werent up for re-election.

The new town leadership is the latest sign that the communitys demographics are shifting as it begins to resemble a typical town in the U.S. West, not a cloistered religious community.

Government-ordered evictions of sect families from nearly 150 homes forced many to seek refuge in trailers around town or in different cities. The town government and police are being watched closely by court-appointed monitors after a jury found them guilty of civil rights violations. Also, a food-stamp fraud case led 10 people to plead guilty and exacerbated a leadership void.

People like Donia Jessop with past ties to the group have returned to buy the evicted homes and in some cases, open new businesses. She other former sect members consider the changes progress that will help the community break free from the reign of Warren Jeffs, who is serving life in prison in Texas for sexually assaulting underage girls he considered brides.

But sect members believe the town they built and love is being ripped away from them. They still believe Jeffs is their prophet and that he was wrongly convicted.

Lori Barlow said Tuesday that she believes the evictions were accelerated this year to change the electorate so the outsiders could win.

It hurts. Its like losing anything you love, Barlow said. Its heartbreaking, but under these circumstances, it was to be expected.

Donia Jessop and the others are expected to take the oath of office in early January. She left the sect four years ago with her husband and 10 kids over unrest about how Jeffs was running the group.

She and her husband later brought a sister wife into the family, and the two women now raise their children and run the family business together.

She and others in the new political group they call RISE are already setting their sights on winning elections next year in Hildales sister city of Colorado City, Arizona, including the mayors seat.

Theres people already standing up saying theyre ready to do this, Jessop said. Hopefully, this has shown people this can happen.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump dodged questions about the turmoil in the Alabama Senate race on Wednesday, declining to join national Republicans whove called for Roy Moore to abandon the race amid allegations of sexual impropriety with teenage girls. Far from surrendering, Moores camp challenged the credibility of one of the accusers.

Trump, who withstood allegations of sexual assault weeks before his own election, was uncharacteristically silent when faced with questions about the scandal, which has rattled the party and left Moores would-be colleagues threatening to expel him should he win. Republicans had looked to Trump as one of the few remaining hopes for pushing a fellow political rebel from the race.

Moore, meanwhile, offered fighting words in a tweet addressed to the top Senate Republican: Dear Mitch McConnell, Bring. It. On.

Chris Hansen, executive director of the national GOPs Senate campaign committee, fired back, Bring It On is a movie about cheerleaders.

In Alabama, Moores campaign chairman and personal attorney did address reporters, trying to undercut the story of one of the women who has accused Moore of sexually accosting her when she was in high school.

The attorney, Phillip Jauregui, demanded that Beverly Nelson release the yearbook she contends Moore signed. The lawyer questioned whether the signature was Moores and said it should be submitted for handwriting analysis. Neither the attorney nor the campaign manager addressed the original allegations from Leigh Corfman who says that Moore initiated sexual contact with her when she was 14. They did not take questions.

Gloria Allred, Nelsons attorney, later said her client would allow the yearbook to be examined only if Moore is questioned under oath by a Senate committee.

The unusual news conference suggested Moore, a judge twice removed from his post as state Supreme Court chief justice, was digging in, leaving his party with two damaging potential election outcomes. His victory would saddle GOP senators with a colleague accused of abusing and harassing teenagers, a troubling liability heading into next years congressional elections, while a loss to Democrat Doug Jones would slice the already narrow GOP Senate majority to an unwieldy 51-49.

Its too late to remove Moores name from the ballot, so fielding a Republican write-in at this point would almost certainly hand the election to the Democrats unless he should withdraw and persuade his supporters to vote for that substitute.

According to internal polling conducted by the Senate GOP campaign arm and reviewed by The Associated Press, Moore trails Democrat Jones by 12 points  39 percent to 51 percent  in the survey conducted on Sunday and Monday. Moore led by 9 points the week before in the National Republican Senatorial Committees internal numbers.

Behind the scenes, aides described Trump as vexed by the Moore issue. Even if he should speak out, he might make an uncomfortable critic: The allegations against the bombastic former judge echo Trumps own political problems when he was accused weeks before the 2016 election of more than a dozen instances of sexual harassment. The Trump aides would not be named discussing the matter because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations.

To a great extent, the anti-establishment forces that propelled Trump to the White House are now strongly behind Moore, and Alabama Republican leaders are reluctant to enrage his loyal conservative supporters. State GOP leaders are highlighting party rules that could allow them to crack down on Alabama officials who support anyone else.

Alabama Republican officials convened in person and by phone late Wednesday to discuss the situation. The 21-member party steering committee did not take a final vote after an hours-long meeting, which took place before new allegations of misconduct surfaced. For now, the committee is expected to maintain support for Moore, according to three people familiar with the meeting who werent authorized to speak publicly.

The state GOP has the power to revoke Moores GOP nomination and ask election officials to ignore ballots cast for him, but that would risk a lawsuit and backlash from Moore supporters. The party has little interest in alienating Moores followers a year before elections in which the governors office and entire state Legislature will be in play.

A regional GOP committee representing the states 5th congressional district approved a new resolution of support for Moore and asked the state GOP to do the same.

Trump backed Moores unsuccessful rival, Sen. Luther Strange, in the Republican primary. Moore has the backing of Trumps former chief strategist, Steve Bannon. And Bannons conservative news site, Breitbart, has led the charge in trying to discredit the allegations against the candidate.

GOP officials cautioned that the actions of Washington Republicans, including the president, were unlikely to affect Moores decision-making  and that any moves against him could backfire. For example, calling for Moore to exit the race could risk embarrassment if, as expected, Moore defied the request. Officials said the White House did sign off on the Republican National Committees decision to cut ties with Moore.

Republican leaders were openly discussing a write-in candidate, although they had not yet agreed on who it should be. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has encouraged Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step up. But Sessions, whose former Senate seat is at stake, has indicated he has no interest in that.

Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby said Wednesday that hell write in another name on Election Day and Sessions would be an ideal candidate. But he also said I dont see any movement toward an effective effort with the election less than a month away.

One prominent conservative voice  Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity  eased off on Moore Wednesday. On his Tuesday evening show, Hannity gave Moore 24 hours to explain inconsistencies in his response to allegations of child molestation or else exit the Alabama race.

Moore responded in a letter Wednesday: I adamantly deny the allegations of Leigh Corfman and Beverly Nelson, did not date underage girls, and have taken steps to begin a civil action for defamation. Because of that, at the direction of counsel, I cannot comment further.

Hannity noted Wednesday night that things appeared to be worsening for Moore, but said only that Alabama voters would ultimately make the best decision for their state.

Corfman and Nelson have said Moore molested them in the 1970s when one was 14, the other 16 and he was a local deputy district attorney in Gadsden in his 30s. Three other women have said he pursued romantic relationships with them around the same time.

Moore faced fresh allegations Wednesday.

Gena Richardson told The Washington Post she agreed to a date with Moore in 1977, around her 18th birthday, when Moore was 30. Richardson said the date ended with giving her an unwanted, forceful kiss. I never wanted to see him again, Richardson told the Post.

Becky Grey, who worked in the same mall as Richardson in 1977, said Moore was so persistent about asking her out that she complained to her manager. Grey was 22 at the time.

Tina Johnson told AL.com that Moore flirted with her during a 1991 meeting in his law office and afterward grabbed her buttock. He didnt pinch it; he grabbed it, she told the Alabama outlet.

Ivanka Trump weighed in, saying to the AP: Theres a special place in hell for people who prey on children. Ive yet to see a valid explanation and I have no reason to doubt the victims accounts. She did not call for Moore to exit the race.

____

Peoples reported from Birmingham, Alabama. AP reporters Alan Fram, Catherine Lucey, Andrew Taylor and Matthew Daly in Washington, Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama, and Kimberly Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama contributed to this report.
PHOENIX  A polygamist who fled to Mexico about 15 years ago with his wives and kids while facing child molestation charges in Arizona is now free after the charges were dropped months ago.

Orson William Black Jr. was arrested by Mexican authorities in the northern state of Chihuahua and handed over to U.S. officials in El Paso, Texas, last week. He was briefly held on an Arizona fugitive warrant before being released because no agency would extradite him, El Paso County sheriffs spokeswoman Chris Acosta said.

The Arizona attorney generals office charged Black in 2003 with molestation over allegations he persuaded two teenagers who later became his wives to impregnate themselves with his sperm. A review prompted by a federal inquiry led to a decision to drop the charges for lack of evidence, office spokeswoman Mia Garcia said.

The women were of legal age when they were interviewed by authorities in 2003 and said they had impregnated themselves, Garcia said. The women refused to cooperate, and because they had married Black and fled with him, state prosecutors decided in May that they didnt have enough evidence to pursue charges.

We needed the girls to testify or in some way help us with the evidence, Garcia said. Thats really the only evidence.

Black, 56, is a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a sect that began after the mainstream Mormon church disavowed polygamy. The sect advocates plural marriage, and its members commonly have legal marriages with their first wife and spiritual marriages with other wives.

The group is mainly based in the twin towns of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. Its leader, Warren Jeffs, is serving a life sentence in Texas after being convicted of sexually assaulting girls he considered brides.

Records from the 2003 case show Black had been estranged from the polygamous community since the 1980s but still followed its teachings. The case was the first in a series of efforts to crack down on men in the sect and the communitys police, which refused to arrest Black, said former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, who brought the charges.

Goddard lamented that Black is apparently not going to face consequences.

If somebody can just skip the country and then avoid what I believe was a very legitimate child molestation rap, thats a very sad development, he said Tuesday.

The prosecutors office in Chihuahua, Mexico, says Black, 56, was captured in an area largely populated by Mennonites and was under investigation for the deaths of three Americans aged 15, 19 and 23 on Sept. 10. But they turned him over to U.S. authorities days later without announcing he had been cleared.

Prosecutors did not say why Black was a suspect in their deaths, but a Mexican official said Tuesday that the case remains under investigation.

Blacks whereabouts are not known. He is not in federal custody, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Mexican authorities also handed over to U.S. officials 26 others, including Blacks wives, said Pennie Petersen, sister of the two women in the molestation case. The family is supposedly on the way to the Arizona-Utah border communities where the sect is based.

Petersen, who is estranged from her sisters, said the men who were killed were two of Blacks sons and his stepson. She said she was told by members of her extended family that the deaths were a drug cartel hit, possibly because Black either stole money or drugs. He wasnt home and the cartel killed the others instead, she said.

They told the family when they killed those boys, if William doesnt turn himself into us, were going to come back, kill everybody over the age of 6 and were going to take everyone under the age of 6, Petersen said.

Mexican prosecutors didnt immediately respond to questions about Petersens story.

She has started a change.org petition to try to persuade Arizona prosecutors to file charges again.

Garcia, the Arizona prosecutors spokeswoman, said they had not given up on the case.

Weve remained in contact with (Peterson) over the years. We just need more evidence, Garcia said. We fully intend to speak to the victims again.

___

Associated Press reporter Mark Stevenson in Mexico City and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday accused Bernalillo County of refusing to share information about immigration enforcement, and a senator from New Mexico wrote to the Department of Homeland Security asking it to reconsider rejecting DACA applicants whose extension requests were submitted on time but delayed in the U.S. mail.

At least a dozen of those applying for renewal of their legal immigration status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals are from the Las Cruces-El Paso area, according to the office of Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a warning to 29 local governments around the country Wednesday, including Bernalillo County, saying their status as sanctuary cities means that they view that the protection of criminal aliens is more important than the protection of law-abiding citizens and of the rule of law. If found in violation of the statute, the cities and counties could risk losing Justice Department grants.

I urge all jurisdictions found to be potentially out of compliance in this preliminary review to reconsider their policies that undermine the safety of their residents Sessions wrote in part.

The ongoing dispute stems in large part from the refusal of local jurisdictions to detain arrestees who are foreign nationals until ICE agents can deport them. Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry and other city officials around New Mexico and parts of the U.S. contend it is the federal governments responsibility to detain and deport those who are in the country illegally.

Meanwhile, Heinrich wrote to DHS on Wednesday asking it to reverse its rejection of applications from so-called Dreamers seeking to renew their legal immigration status by an Oct. 5 deadline.

The U.S. Postal Service conceded that there had been an unintentional temporary mail processing delay in the Chicago area that delayed applications, even those that had been mailed weeks in advance. But U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has refused to accept the delayed paperwork.

Although the Postal Service has acknowledged that a mail processing delay affected some unknown number of DACA renewal applications, the Department still refuses to accept those applications, Heinrich and other Democratic senators, including Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico, wrote to DHS. We encourage you to weigh the life-changing consequences many will face in the absence of action by the Department.

The White House and Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.
Several large New Mexico companies have launched a campaign aimed at making it easier for the states smaller businesses to work with them.

WeConnectNM, a group funded by Public Service Company of New Mexico, DaVita Medical Group, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, will officially launch Thursday.

Theres a lot of money being spent by the larger organizations here that the smaller ones dont necessarily know about, said Arellana Cordero, CFO of Southwest Capital Bank and a member of WeConnectNMs advisory board. We want New Mexicos small businesses to know they are capable of meeting big business needs.

WeConnectNMs website currently highlights each companys impact on the New Mexico economy. PNMs profile includes a link to the companys procurement portal; the profile for Blue Cross Blue Shield contains information about the organizations grant and fundraiser sponsorship programs.

A statement provided by the company said the second phase of the campaign, to be launched next year, will include proprietary software that connects companies of varying sizes with (New Mexico-based) contractors and vendors.

The statement described WeConnectNM as an effort to build up New Mexicos economy via increases in local investment.

PNM spokesman Dan Ware said the word investment was being used broadly to refer to business opportunities between the states larger and smaller operators.

We want businesses to think about staying to closer to home, first, said Ware.

A news release announcing the launch was sent to the Journal by a public relations firm based in Philadelphia, Penn. Cordero said the firm was chosen because they had a track record of building similar groups elsewhere.
Travelers in New Mexico opened their wallets a little wider last year.

Direct visitor spending in New Mexico hit $6.4 billion statewide in 2016, a 2.1 percent increase over the previous year, the state Department of Tourism said Wednesday.

The department said 92,000 jobs, or one in 12 statewide, is sustained by visitor spending, and tourism generated $642 million in state and local taxes in 2016.

Since 2010, jobs have grown in the sector by nearly 6,000 positions, according to data from the department. In the same time period, direct visitor spending grew by $1.2 billion.

Tourism plays a vital role in diversifying our states economy, said Gov. Susana Martinez in an announcement touting the seventh consecutive year of growth in the sectors economic impact. More people visiting New Mexico means more dollars going into our communities  and that means more jobs and better opportunities for our families.

In July, Martinez said the states tourism numbers broke records in 2016 with 34.4 million trips, beating the 2015 record by 1 million. Of 2016s trips, roughly 24.3 million, or 70 percent, were by out-of-state visitors.

That figure could include the same travelers more than once. For example, an El Paso resident who went to Las Cruces four times last year would count four times.

The department said the three largest sectors for visitor spending in 2016 were lodging at 31 percent; food and beverage at 23 percent; and retail at 17 percent. On average, each visitor spent $183.50 per trip, with leisure travel still the primary reason for travel in New Mexico.

Latham said lower gas prices may have positively affected travel in the state last year. Gas prices likely played a factor, along with additional advertising in our target markets and promotional campaigns like Find Your New Mexico True Park, a coordinated effort with State Parks, Historic Sites and the National Park Service centennial to raise awareness and increase visitation.

From 2015 to 2016, Otero County saw the largest jump in visitor spending with a 5.1 percent increase, followed by Colfax County at 5 percent. Bernalillo County saw a 3.5 percent increase, claiming $2.1 billion of the $6.4 billion statewide. In 2016, visitor spending supported 32,000 jobs in Bernalillo County, contributing $956 million in income.

Bernalillo County is the site of one of the states largest tourism draws: the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. In 2016, the event had 839,309 visits.

State Tourism Secretary Rebecca Latham said tourism dollars and jobs can be found in every New Mexico community. She lauded efforts to promote visitation through the New Mexico True advertising campaign.

I am thrilled to see the positive trend of record-breaking economic impact continuing in our beautiful state, Latham said. Tourism is an industry worth investing in. Every dollar spent on New Mexico True advertising delivers $7 back to the tax base and offsets the household tax burden for hard working New Mexican families.

Of the departments general fund appropriation of $12.6 million for the current fiscal year, $9.8 million is deployed toward advertising.

The departments top fly markets are Denver, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Phoenix, San Diego and Chicago; primary drive markets are Southern Colorado, Eastern Arizona and West Texas.
SANTA FE  Former state Sen. Phil Griego acknowledged ethical violations before resigning two years ago.

Next a jury will decide whether he committed a crime.

The prosecution and defense each delivered closing arguments Wednesday in Griegos corruption trial, now in its third week.

And the case will go to jurors Thursday for deliberations. They have more than 100 exhibits, testimony from two dozen witness and hours of legal arguments to consider.

Griego, a 69-year-old Democrat from San Jose, faces up to 23 years in prison and as much as $33,000 in fines.

District Judge Brett Loveless told jurors that any verdict they reach on each of the eight charges against Griego must be unanimous.

They will deliberate on two counts of ethical misconduct, two counts of fraud, and one count each of bribery, perjury, failure to make financial disclosures and unlawful interest in a public contract.

Prosecutor Clara Moran told jurors that Griego had orchestrated a criminal scheme throughout 2013 and 2014 to use his public office for personal profit.

The veteran lawmaker, she said, pushed for state legislation authorizing the sale of a historic state building near the Capitol, concealed his involvement in the deal and then made a $50,000 commission as a real-estate agent for the buyer.

This is abuse of power, said Moran, an assistant attorney general.

Tom Clark, the lead attorney for Griego, told jurors that the case is more complex than prosecutors made it out to be. The details matter, he said, and Griego never actually voted on the building-sale legislation, and he didnt become a broker on the deal until after the legislative session was over.

Just because they want so badly for you to believe Phil is a crook, that doesnt make it so, Clark said.

He also encouraged jurors to be skeptical about an agreement Griego signed in 2015, following an ethics investigation by a legislative committee.

In the document, Griego acknowledged ethical violations, but Clark said that isnt the same as admitting a crime, which requires a violation of law and other findings. Griego resigned before the Senate decided whether to discipline him.

These stipulated facts were regarding a procedure that never happened with a different set of rules, different standards of proof and, all in all, potentially different outcomes and consequences, Clark said.

Prosecutors had the last word. The defendant, they said, knew exactly what he was doing  scheming for a $50,000 payday.

Deputy Attorney General Sharon Pino said there are 50,000 reasons why he did what he did. Hes guilty.
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the average age of a New Mexico producer is 60.5 years, which is the second-highest number, behind only Arizona. These producers and, for that matter, the entire state of New Mexico, will undergo a transition in the near future that will shape our destiny for years to come. The next generation of agriculturists, with their energy, dreams and drive, will soon be in a position to take on the challenge of feeding their communities, the state and the world.

Or will they?

Congress is currently debating tax policy. Among the discussion is the estate tax. Proposals to raise the estate tax exemption or delete it altogether will have a profound impact on the next generation of agriculturists. Farming and ranching enterprises are asset rich and cash poor. These enterprises operate as a unit, one part relying on the other. They are valued as a whole, and splitting them up may cause the entire business to fail, which is a position that many in agriculture face when dealing with estate tax situations.

The farm and ranch property often has to be split and sold to satisfy estate taxes upon the death of a family member. This predicament leads to the next generation having to take family assets to satisfy the tax in order to preserve the enterprise as a whole, leaving these individuals in a position in which they cannot succeed financially, eventually losing the family business.

As I meet with agriculturists across New Mexico, most who have been on a single place through multiple generations, the message is clear. They are most concerned about whether they will have the ability to pass on the agriculture business to the next generation without having to break it up and make it an unviable entity due to perceived asset appreciation triggering an estate tax.

New Mexico agriculture will witness a great transition in the next few years. If the estate tax continues in its current format, that transition could lead to less local food production. Lets encourage Congress to repeal the estate tax or, at a minimum, raise the exemption to protect our family farms and ranches.
Open up that cupboard and fill a bag for pickup Saturday during the annual letter carriers food drive that will deliver meals to hungry New Mexicans.

Roadrunner Food Bank officials are inviting all throughout the state to participate in the event hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the Rural Letter Carriers Association and the U.S. Postal Service.

Just fill a bag with nonperishable food items and leave it near mailboxes on Saturday. In Albuquerque, letter carriers will pick up the donations for Roadrunner to distribute through its statewide hunger relief network. Post office box customers may also participate by bringing food directly to their nearest post office, organizers said in a news release.

As the holiday season approaches, we encourage the community to join in and provide important meals for our neighbors in need. Thank you to our wonderful community for taking the time to collect and place food items at your mailbox this Saturday, said Melody Wattenbarger, president and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank.

Feeding Americas Map the Meal Gap report shows New Mexico with one in four children at risk of hunger, according to a news release. More than 332,000 New Mexicans, or 16 percent of the population overall, is at risk of hunger. New Mexico is second among all states for childhood hunger.

Letter carriers will distribute blue bags in mailboxes this week with information about how to participate.

Types of nonperishable food items needed include canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice, boxed meals and cereal.

We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com.
HARARE, Zimbabwe  In the first round of negotiations over how President Robert Mugabe will leave power, the Zimbabwean leader met Thursday with the army commander who put him under house arrest and mediators, including South African Cabinet ministers and a Catholic priest.

Meanwhile, an emergency summit of heads of state of regional countries was called by the 16-nation Southern African Development Community and is expected to formalize the terms of Mugabes exit.

The summit puts regional leaders who have worked with the 93-year-old Mugabe for decades into the difficult position of either supporting what appears to be a coup or keeping the unpopular president, the worlds oldest head of state, in office.

In the first images of Mugabe after the military moved in earlier this week, Zimbabwes state-run Herald newspaper published photos of him smiling and shaking hands with army commander Constantino Chiwenga. The photos also showed South African Cabinet ministers and a Catholic priest whom Mugabe has used as a mediator before.

First lady Grace Mugabe was not pictured, however, amid speculation over the future of a woman whose rapid political rise had alarmed many who feared she could succeed her husband after he fired his longtime deputy last week.

This is political theatre. Chiwenga and the army want to give Mugabe a soft landing, a dignified exit, said Piers Pigou, southern Africa expert for the International Crisis Group.

They are working on the choreography of how this will be done. By calling a full summit, (the regional leaders) are showing respect for Mugabe, the last of the liberation war heroes, Pigou said. Mugabe wants the full fanfare as he exits stage left. The regional leaders will be showing deference to Mugabe, even though they cant wait to see the back of him.

As Zimbabweans waited anxiously for details of a deal, South African President Jacob Zuma told parliament Zimbabwes political situation very shortly will be becoming clear.

Seizing on the political limbo, Zimbawean opposition leaders and civil society groups urged Mugabe to step aside after 37 years in power and for the country to have a transition period leading to free and fair elections.

Mugabe has been in military custody, reportedly with his wife, since the army seized control of the capital late Tuesday.

There has been no sign of former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose firing last week angered supporters in the military amid concern that Grace Mugabe would replace him at a party meeting next month. Mnangagwa, who fled Zimbabwe saying he had received threats, is widely tipped to be brought back to lead Zimbabwes transition.

A joint statement by more than 100 Zimbabwean civil society groups urged Mugabe to peacefully step aside and asked the military to respect the constitution. A joint statement by churches also appealed for calm.

Knox Chitiyo, an analyst with the Chatham House think tank, said he believed the negotiations have pretty much reached an end point to get Mugabe to step aside and that it was a matter of hours or days.

He said the aim was a peaceful, managed transition and a dignified exit for Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from white minority rule in 1980 and remains widely known, even praised, in Africa as a liberation leader.

Chitiyo said he doesnt know where the ailing Mugabe would go but that the destination is likely driven by his health. Mugabe frequently seeks medical treatment in Singapore.

Meanwile, opposition leaders added their voices to those calling for Mugabe to step down.

Morgan Tsvangirai, who shared power with Mugabe between 2009 and 2013, said Mugabe must resign, adding that his party would participate in talks on a transitional mechanism if approached.

He pointedly referred to Mugabe as Mister not president.

A former vice president who was fired in 2014, Joice Mujuru, called for free, fair and credible elections following a transition arrangement that draws from a range of communities.

And the Rev. Evan Mawarire, the Zimbabwean pastor whose #ThisFlag social media campaign last year led to the largest anti-government protests in a decade, said of the unfolding events: Should we just sit and wait or shall we at least be part of this transition process?

Zimbabwean newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube summed up the dilemma facing the nation over Mugabes exit, saying in a Twitter post: How do you ask your Head of State and Commander-in-Chief that you recognize and salute to step down? You find answer to this puzzle then you are good to go.

Across the country, Zimbabweans long frustrated by crackdowns on dissent and a collapsing economy were enjoying freedoms they hadnt had in years. Soldiers manning the few checkpoints leading into downtown Harare greeted motorists with smiles, searching cars without hostilities and wishing motorists a safe journey.

Human rights groups urged respect for rights as the drama played out.

Amid persistent questions about the whereabouts of first lady Grace Mugabe, one Namibian newspaper, the New Era, reported that the countrys foreign minister denied she had fled there.

The U.S. Embassy advised citizens in Zimbabwe to limit unnecessary movements as political uncertainty continues. The British government also urged its citizens to avoid large gatherings and any demonstrations.

___

Meldrum reported from Johannesburg. Associated Press writer Cara Anna in Johannesburg contributed to this report.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus  co-chaired by Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico  today voted to reject the application of a Florida Republican, saying their group is at odds with Curbelos values.

Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Florida, complained that the group was excluding him from joining despite his ethnicity. The conflict stemmed primarily from disputes over immigration policy.

The CHCs decision was based at least in part because of a private argument between Curbelo and Lujan Grisham in which he accused her and the CHC of discrimination, according to a Politico report today.

After due consideration, the CHC determined not to accept Rep. Curbelos request to join the Caucus, CHC spokesman Carlos Paz, Jr. said in an email to the Journal. The CHC isnt just an organization for Hispanics; it is a caucus that represents certain values. This vote reflects the position of many of our members that Rep. Curbelo and his record are not consistent with those values.

Paz told the Journal the balloting on Curbelo was done in private. He also said he had no comment on the reported spat between Curbelo and Lujan Grisham.

We will not be releasing the vote count or how individual members voted, he said.

Curbelo called the decision shameful.

It is truly shameful the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has decided to build a wall around the organization to exclude Hispanic-Americans who arent registered in the Democratic Party, he said. This sends a powerful and harmful message of discrimination, bigotry, and division. Unbelievably, petty partisan interests have led the CHC to formally endorse the segregation of American Hispanics.

Lujan Grisham said earlier this month she was open to accepting Curbelo but that the matter needed to be put to a vote of the members. There are currently no Republican members of this particular congressional caucus.

Lujan Grisham and other members of the CHC have said Curbelos exclusion wasnt due to his being a Republican, but his opposition to some CHC priorities, such as comprehensive immigration reform or the Democratic version of the Dream Act for young people who were brought to the country illegally by their parents.
SANTA FE  In a new process for reviewing use of deadly force by police, a Santa Fe Police Department officer has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing when he shot and killed an auto theft suspect in April.

Officer Leonardo Guzman shot Andrew James Lucero once in the abdomen around 10 p.m. near Eldorado, southeast of Santa Fe, on April 30.

Chaotic police video from the shooting shows Lucero initially following orders to approach Guzman with hands up. But he then runs and gets into Guzmans patrol car and engages in a vicious struggle with the officer in the front seat. Eventually, Lucero drags Guzman a short distance as the car moves forward and crashes into a tree. The shooting apparently takes place a moment after the car hits the tree.

Lucero was pronounced dead at the scene and Guzman was treated for a leg injury.

Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna, who took office this year, requested that the New Mexico District Attorneys Association form a committee of five different district attorneys from around the state to determine if the shooting was justified. Las Vegas District Attorney Richard Flores was selected to write a letter to Serna with the committees findings.

In a letter to Serna dated Nov. 9, Flores said the committee reviewed police reports, statements made by officers at the scene and Luceros autopsy report and found the force was justified.

After review of the aforementioned materials, the committee unanimously agreed that Officer Guzman acted in the lawful discharge of his duties and that the killing of Mr. Lucero was a justifiable homicide by a public officer as such, the committee recommends that no criminal charges be filed, Flores wrote.

Flores did not return a phone message from the Journal.

Serna said Thursday that he is going to follow the recommendation and close the case.

He had promised during his election campaign last year to use a committee of prosecutors from outside his own judicial district to review police shootings. Serna said he wanted to avoid investigating an agency, like the Santa Fe police, that the local district attorneys office depends on to prosecute other cases.

SFPD officers began pursuing Lucero through Santa Fe streets after determining he was driving a stolen car. Lucero fled to Eldorado but was located by Guzman and State Police Agent Jeremy Stricklin.

State Police investigated the shooting.
NEWARK, N.J.  The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday with the jury hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. Prosecutors did not immediately say whether they plan to retry the lawmaker.

U.S. District Judge William Walls declared a hung jury after more than six full days of deliberations that had to be re-started midway through when a juror was replaced.

Outside the courthouse, a choked-up Menendez fought back tears as he blasted federal authorities and thanked the jurors who saw through the governments false claims and used their Jersey common sense to reject it.

Certain elements of the FBI and of our state cannot stand, or even worse, accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County could grow up to be a United States senator and be honest, said Menendez, the 63-year-old son of Cuban immigrants.

Juror Edward Norris said 10 jurors wanted to acquit Menendez on all charges, while two held out for conviction. Norris said that after the prosecution rested, in my gut I was like, Thats it? Thats all they had?'

The inconclusive end to the 2-month trial could leave the charges hanging over Menendez as he gears up for an expected run for re-election next year to the Senate, where the Republicans hold a slim edge and the Democrats need every vote they can get.

On Capitol Hill, the top Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, called on the Ethics Committee to immediately investigate Menendez for possible violations of the public trust and the Senate code of conduct.

Menendez was accused of using his political influence to help Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for luxury vacations in the Caribbean and Paris, flights on Melgens private jet and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to organizations that supported the senator directly or indirectly.

Prosecutors said Menendez, in return, pressured government officials on Melgens behalf over an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute and a stalled contract to provide port screening equipment in the Dominican Republic, and also helped obtain U.S. visas for the 63-year-old doctors girlfriends.

According to prosecutors, Melgen essentially put Menendez on the payroll and made the politician his personal senator, available as needed.

The defense argued that the gifts were not bribes but tokens of friendship between two men who were like brothers. In Menendez attorney Abbe Lowells closing argument, he used the words friend, friends or friendship more than 80 times.

Menendezs lawyers contended also that the government failed to establish a direct connection between Melgens gifts and specific actions taken by the senator.

The two men faced about a dozen counts each, including bribery, conspiracy and the most serious charge, honest services fraud, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The senator was also charged with making false statements in failing to report gifts from Melgen on his financial disclosure form.

In a statement, the U.S. Justice Department said it will consider its next step.

After the mistrial, Menendezs political adviser, Mike Soliman, said all things indicate the senator will run for re-election and an announcement will probably be made in the coming weeks. Menendez, who has been under indictment for 2 years, has already raised more than $2.5 million this year.

Menendez himself warned outside the courthouse: To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I wont forget you.

The Republicans have a 52-48 edge in the Senate as they try to push through President Donald Trumps agenda.

The jury deliberated most of last week, then restarted on Monday with an alternate after a member was excused because of a long-planned vacation. The jurors also said on Monday that they couldnt agree on a verdict, but the judge asked them to keep trying.

This time, the jurors said in a note that that had reviewed all of the evidence in great detail and tried to look at this case from different viewpoints, but they were not willing to move away from our strong convictions.

Melgen is already facing the possibility of a long prison sentence after being convicted in April of bilking Medicare out of as much as $105 million by performing unneeded tests and treatments.

The last sitting senator convicted of a crime was Ted Stevens of Alaska, a Republican found guilty in 2008 of concealing more than $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts. His conviction was later overturned because of prosecutorial misconduct, and he died in a 2010 plane crash.

The Menendez case was the first major federal bribery trial since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 threw out the conviction of Republican former Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and narrowed the definition of bribery.

In recent months, the McDonnell ruling led judges to overturn the convictions of at least three other public officials, including a former Louisiana congressman. Menendezs lawyers had likewise hoped to get the case against the senator dismissed, but the judge refused.

Menendez served in the House from 1993 until he was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in 2006. He has chaired the Foreign Relations Committee and was a major player in the unsuccessful bipartisan Gang of Eight effort to overhaul the nations immigration laws in 2013.

More recently, he drew the ire of some fellow Democrats when he opposed President Barack Obamas nuclear deal with Iran and efforts to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.

___

Contact Porter at https://www.twitter.com/DavidPorter_AP

___

Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Newark, N.J., contributed to this story.
Hope that the Albuquerque Police Department reform effort improves under the next mayoral administration was a common theme that echoed through the courtroom on Thursday.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Brack held a hearing Thursday concerning the independent monitors sixth report on Albuquerque police reform, which accused the city of deliberate noncompliance with a court-enforceable settlement agreement the city agreed to after negotiations with the Justice Department.

City officials pushed back against that characterization, saying they are committed to reform but have struggled at times, often because a lack of manpower has made it difficult to comply with issues like timely use-of-force investigations.

There has been no deliberate effort taken by the department in any way, in any form to not comply, Police Chief Gorden Eden said.

City Attorney Jessica Hernandez said having to wait six months between reports from the monitor on police progress makes it hard for the department to know if its on the right track.

Six months is a long time to steer the ship and not know if youre going in the right direction, she said.

As indicated by his latest report, independent monitor James Ginger said he and his team were somewhat shocked at how long the reform process was taking.

Ginger is overseeing a yearslong reform effort by APD, which was launched after the Department of Justice found that Albuquerque police had a pattern of excessive use of force.

Paul Killebrew, an attorney for the Department of Justice, said during the hearing that APDs progress with reforms has slowed. The sixth report showed that police made less progress during that reporting period compared with some of the monitors previous reports.

He also spoke at length about the problems the department is having in recognizing and investigating use-of-force cases, including cases where police violate policies.

Killebrew described one scenario where an officer smashed a handcuffed subject against a wall, giving the man injuries to his face, because the man was rude to the officer.

He said that occurred in May 2016, but police didnt discuss the incident at the Force Review Board until June 2017, more than one year after it happened.

This was an easy one, he said. They should have caught it. And they could have caught it immediately.

Throughout the hearing on Thursday, Brack heard from numerous groups who advocate for police reform. Many expressed hope that the reform effort would improve during the next mayoral administration. Mayor-elect Tim Keller takes office Dec. 1.

This is the worst mess Ive ever seen, said attorney Peter Cubra, who represents people with mental illnesses at the county jail. Leaders must be committed (to reform). That is lacking in the people who are currently running our city and police department.

Judge Bracks order on the federal monitors neutrality by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd
In recent years, the economic development conversation in New Mexico has focused on attracting new business to the state and creating a vibrant startup community here.

But one of the top economists in the state says officials often overlook a crucial key to New Mexicos recovery.

Where we really lag behind neighboring states is expanding our existing businesses to where they employ 250 to 500 people, said Jeffrey Mitchell, director of the Bureau of Business & Economic Research (BBER) at the

University of New Mexico. Were actually doing a pretty good job of creating new jobs by new businesses, which is where most of our attention is.

Mitchell made the remarks at a economic data conference hosted by BBER. He said understanding this trend has significant implications for the way New Mexico handles economic development.

Businesses here, said Mitchell, open at a rate commensurate with Colorado, Arizona, California and Texas. The state begins to diverge from its neighbors, however, once a business starts to grow.

We create businesses, they get to five employees or so, they need second or third round capital, so what do they do? said Mitchell. They move to San Diego or Boston.

The states net migration a measure of the people who leave the state in comparison with the people who move here has changed dramatically in recent years. BBER data shows that from 2005 to 2010, the states population gain was a net positive of 39,500 people moving into New Mexico. From 2011 to 2015, the net migration was a net negative of 42,000 individuals leaving the state.

Mitchell said that much of the change in the migration pattern can be attributed to two things. First, fewer people are moving to New Mexico from Midwestern and Southern states. Secondly, the people leaving New Mexico are primarily young families.

Losing young families is a double hit for the economy, because you are losing both productive young people and families that buy a lot of things, said Mitchell.

Mitchell said that despite those circumstances, there does seem to be at least some good news in the states forecast: its economy is stabilizing somewhat. The oil market, on which New Mexicos economy is heavily reliant, appears to be recovering, and the state has absorbed the healthcare-related economic gains created by the Affordable Care Act.

Perhaps were in a situation now where we cant look outside ourselves for an excuse or a savior, said Mitchell.
SANTA FE  State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn has chosen developers for the Garretts Desert Inn property in downtown Santa Fe, with plans to update hotels interior and exterior and keep the popular Santa Fe Bite restaurant in place.

In an announcement Wednesday, Dunn announced that Arizona-based GreenTree Hospitality Group will partner with Albuquerques Peak Hospitality to lease and redevelop the 1950s-era hotel on Old Santa Fe Trail at Alameda, alongside the Santa Fe River and across the street from the State Land Office headquarters. The Land Office put out a bid for developers and announced four finalists in January. The office acquired the 2.7-acre site in 2016 through a land exchange with Cochiti Pueblo.

The winning bidders plans for the hotel, which will stay open during redevelopment, include remodeling the lobby, its main building, guest rooms and other areas with improvements like updated technology and furniture. Exterior renovations include replacing the portico, or roofing at the hotels entrance, and improving curb appeal.

According to a renovation summary provided by the State Land Office, the developers intend to take two separate small buildings on hotel property and turn one into a suite or extended stay room and the other into a spa. The summary also says the developers intend to remodel the hotel with a sense of responsibility and respect for Santa Fes historic downtown area. Theres been at least one court ruling that the city cant impose its historic district architectural rules on state-owned land.

The Land Office said the GreenTree group made the highest and best offer  $300,000 annual base rent, a $100,000 bid bonus and 5 percent of annual gross revenues, more than $10 million over the 20-year term of the lease. The companies will have two optional 20-year renewal periods.

The money goes to the state land trust and will benefit the University of New Mexico, according to the land office. National firm HRV Hotel Partners also bid on the project.

I welcome GreenTree and Peak to Santa Fe and appreciate their commitment to create a special destination for visitors and locals alike, Dunn said in the Wednesday announcement.

Santa Fe Bite, the diner housed within Garretts Desert Inn and has received national recognition for its green chile cheeseburgers, will remain in the hotels street-corner restaurant space, the news release said. Co-owner John Eckre said he was happy to hear that the restaurant was invited to stay. Hes remaining cautiously optimistic because he has yet to meet with GreenTree about new subleasing terms and hopes the rent remains affordable. Santa Fe Bites current lease is up in December.

We want to be here, and everyone we know (wants us to be here), and were happy not to disappoint them if our terms are okay, said Eckre.
With the 2018 Call for Entry in full swing, the Asia Pacific Effie Awards has announced the first two Heads of Jury  David Porter and Ruth Stubbs.

David Porter is the Vice President of Global Media at Unilever Asia, Africa, Middle East, Turkey & Russia. In his role at Unilever, Porter is responsible for one of the largest media budgets in a diverse region spanning 14 time zones. He is responsible for driving the companys innovation in communications channel planning with a strong focus on Unilevers development as a major force in digital marketing in the region.

David spent 25 years in UK agencies before a 7-year stay in the Asia Pacific with Mindshare, where he managed the agencys multimarket relationship with Unilever. He joined Unilever in 2010 and has managed its media operations in multiple markets including APAC.

On his appointment, David Porter said, I am honoured and delighted to continue Unilevers long association with the Effies, which are such an important part of recognising excellence in brand-building. I am sure we will see more incredible work from all around the region this year.

Ruth Stubbs has 27 years of experience in Advertising, Media and Digital Marketing. As the Global President of iProspect, Dentsu Aegis Network, Stubbs is responsible for the global iProspect proposition, business growth strategy and brand development across 55 markets and 91 locations. She joined iProspect Asia Pacific in 2011 as regional CEO.

Prior to joining Dentsu Aegis Network, Stubbs held leadership roles with IPG, WPP and Havas. She is based in Singapore and has lived in New York, Hong Kong and Sydney.

Stubbs also serves as executive sponsor of Female Foundry, a Dentsu Aegis Network Global Accelerator Programme that recruits, mentors and provides access to funding for young, female entrepreneurs from emerging markets with a focus on technology and sustainability.

As the digital economy has evolved, Asia Pacific has established itself as a global leader in innovation. The work we are seeing come out of the region is truly inspiring. Im honoured to accept a Head of Jury role at this years APAC Effie to recognise outstanding work across our industry, Ruth Stubbs said.

The APAC Effies award Ideas that Work, and continue to champion marketing effectiveness in the Asia Pacific region. The remaining Heads of Jury and full jury line-up will be announced progressively.
The Forbes India Leadership Awards, trusted as among India's most prestigious business recognition events, with an emphasis on excellence, innovation and transformational leadership, honoured some of India Incs biggest and brightest personalities at a high-profile ceremony on Tuesday.

Commenting on the occasion, Joy Chakraborthy, CEO  Forbes India & President  Revenue, Network18 said, Leaders with their vision, foresight, grit to walk the talk, to take others along, with a spirit of business ethics achieve phenomenal results, inspiring many along the way. The 2017 FILA edition seeks to honor this transformational leadership that goes on to build great organizations. Our winners are outstanding achievers each reflective of such transformational leadership. Through the Forbes India Leadership Awards platform we attempt to recognize contributions of those making a mark with their commitment to society and its betterment, touching lives of those less fortunate. In its 100th year, the Forbes magazine and brand continues to pursue excellence in path defining business & entrepreneurship through its various platforms, making inroads with ever evolving patrons globally as well as the Indian subcontinent.

The awards, across ten categories, acknowledged the outstanding contributions of CEOs, entrepreneurs and business leaders who have built enterprises that have had a deep and enduring impact on the wider society. The nominees and winners represented diverse backgrounds: from start-ups and mid-sized firms to the more mature organizations of global scale.

Over the past decade, India has emerged as one of the most sought after destinations for investment and nurturing entrepreneurial talent. Since their inception in 2011, the Forbes India Leadership Awards have attempted to recognise outstanding talent and performances during this journey of change. Our winners this year are risk-takers who have transformed their companies through bold decisions and worked to ensure their vision is realised. We have also recognised individuals or firms creating a deep social impact through their entrepreneurial ventures, empowering thousands in the process, said Sourav Majumdar, Editor, Forbes India.



The achievements of this years winners assume significance since many of the business leaders felicitated have braved challenging economic conditions over the past year, to steer their organisations towards operational excellence.



Here are the winners of the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2017:

Outstanding Startup

Sumant Sinha  ReNew Power Ventures



GenNext Entrepreneur

Anant Goenka  CEAT

Entrepreneur with Social Impact

Chetna Sinha  Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank

Conscious Capitalist Company for the year

Zoho Corp

Best CEO  Multinational Company

Varun Berry  Britannia Industries



Best CEO - Public Sector

Abhaya Prasad Hota  National Payments Corporation of India



Best CEO - Private Sector

Suresh Narayanan  Nestle India

Value Creators

Avanti Feeds



Lifetime Achievement Award for the Year

Adi Godrej  Godrej Group

Entrepreneur for the Year

Hari Mohan Bangur  Shree Cement



Methodology

The process started almost six months ago, with extensive research on qualitative and quantitative parameters. The long-list of names for each category was whittled down by August and was narrowed down to a strong set of three to five nominees for each category. In September, a high-powered jury headed by Mr Harsh Mariwala, chairman of Marico Ltd, examined the nominations and came up with the set of winners. The other eminent members of the jury were Zia Mody, Founder and Senior Partner, AZB & Partners; Manish Sabharwal, Co-founder and Chairman, TeamLease Services; Ashu Suyash, MD & CEO, CRISIL; Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder & Chairman, UpGrad; and Sanjay Nayar, CEO, KKR India. Together, they bring years of experience in the corporate sector to the jury. KPMG, Forbes Indias knowledge partner for the event, helped with the number crunching so essential for the process.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and the whos who of states political leadership, bureaucracy and industry are set to grace News18 Networks Rising Bihar event on November17. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will be the Chief Guest.

Rising Bihar will bring together the top leadership of the state to discuss the roadmap for developing the state. Industrialists and artists will also share their perspective on how to drive economic and cultural leadership for the state. The popularity of the Rising series is anchored in the fact that it provides an open platform for discussion with those in the highest echelons of power and this will be remain a mainstay feature at the Bihar event as well.

The event will commence with an interactive session with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who will comment on his vision for the development of the state. This will be followed by an interaction with the deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi who will further delineate the governments plans for driving all round growth in the state.

Rising Bihar will also focus on the Center-State relations and its overall importance in the helping the state achieve its developmental goals. Senior Central Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ramvilas Paswan and Radha Mohan Singh will also be present at the event and will share their thoughts on this critical aspect of governance in a federal set up and their views on making Bihar a prosperous a state.

Caste has historically played a pivotal role in the politics of Bihar. Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, states former Education Minister Ashok Chaudhary and former Union Minister Rajeev Pratap Rudi to share their views on the subject and debate the impact of the same on the states polity and future.

The event will also have top business leaders such as Basudeo Narayan Singh (Alkem Laboratories) R.K Sinha (Rajya Sabha MP, SIS Securities) and Neetu Chandra who will put forth their ideas for transforming the state into one of the best in the country.

Rajesh Raina, Group Editor of ETV News Network said that he is confident that Rising Bihar will be an exemplary success and will help in outlining an actionable vision for the accelerated growth of Bihar.

Avinash Kaul, President - Network18, expressed his satisfaction over the success of the Rising Series. He also said that the Rising Series has evolved into a robust and effective platform for politicians, bureaucrats and other stakeholders to discuss, debate and identify triggers for driving development in their respective states.

The event will be aired LIVE on ETV Bihar/Jharkhand from 5pm onwards on November17.
November 15, 2017

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  In his shop in the middle of the Old City market in Jerusalem, Hagop Antreassian sits among an array of colorful ceramic pottery and tiles, a craft that has been practiced by Armenians for 100 years in Jerusalem.

Antreassian, 73, is Armenian-Palestinian and lives in the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. For 40 years, he has taken great pride in the craft he taught himself, although he fears that the ceramics and tile-making, the mark of the Armenian presence in Jerusalem, may now be disappearing.

Antreassian explains that his family, came from Zeitoun in Turkeys Marash province to escape the Ottoman Empires Armenian genocide during World War I. Now, in southwest Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter, their descendants coexist with Palestinians in the holy city. During the British mandate in 1920, three renowned Armenian families  the Balians, Karakashians and Ohannesians  were recruited to repair the tiles on the Dome of the Rock, a shrine that dates back to the seventh century. Ever since, the Armenian families that settled in Jerusalem have continued the crafts that first made them famous back in the Ottoman Empire, not only as a source of livelihood but as preservation of heritage.

Antreassian told Al-Monitor in a phone call from his Jerusalem residence that he is determined to revive the art form, though the residents of Jerusalem and larger Palestinian cities such as Al-Bireh and Bethlehem do not seem very interested in ceramics. Fortunately, the tourists who come to the Old Market and the Armenian Quarter flock to the tile shops that are part of the historical heritage in this part of town, which includes a closed Armenian monastery and several ancient churches.

Armenian ceramics are some of Palestine's many famous ancient handicrafts such as mosaics, pottery, embroidery, soap and glass, all the mixed heritage of the civilizations that came to Palestine throughout the ages such as the Romans, Canaanites, Byzantines and Phoenicians.

Foreign tourists from various countries such as France, America, Germany and others come to my small shop to buy Armenian ceramics, which they see as part of the heritage of ancient civilizations in Palestine. But the Arabs and residents of Jerusalem have no interest in buying ceramics, he said.

He explained that the work is laborious, saying, Several stages are involved in the making of Armenian ceramics. I start by drawing patterns on the piece, then I use coal for engraving or marking the ceramics. I move to the coloring stage. The completed ceramic piece is then displayed for everyone to see its beauty and glittering brilliance.

Antreassian said making Armenian ceramics gives him a sense of comfort and peace. His motifs are inspired by old Armenian manuscripts and Armenian decorative arts.

Antreassian is fluent in Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew and English, which he uses to speak with foreign customers. His shop is often filled with tourists. I make various forms of ceramic pieces at different prices. The smallest pieces are sold for $20, while large prices start at $200 up to $1,000, he said.

In foreign countries, they use Armenian ceramics in various sculptures and decorative pieces, but mostly these are not very appealing. They are machine-made ceramics, not handcrafted. When visiting Jerusalem, foreigners rush to buy handmade Armenian ceramics reminiscent of old times.

Correction: Nov. 17, 2017. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated when Antresassian learned his craft, the town his family hails from in Turkey, one of the names of the families involved in repairing tiles on the Dome of the Rock, his statements regarding memories of his grandfather, the scenes depicted in his work, the material used in his work, and the languages he speaks. Apologies.
November 15, 2017

When a long-awaited law on building and restoring churches went into effect in Egypt in September 2016, several Christian members of parliament hailed it as a step in the right direction. Members of Egypts Coptic Christian community  the countrys largest religious minority  celebrated the landmark legislation they hoped would ease restrictions on church building, some dating back more than 150 years, to the days when Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire.

Before the law, a presidential permit was required to build or renovate churches, and requests for church building or renovation licenses were open-ended. The 2016 legislation set a time limit of four months for provincial governors (instead of the president) to respond to requests to legalize churches that had been built without permits.

Nevertheless, the law is not without flaws. Religious rights advocates have criticized the law for limiting the size of the church to the number of Christians in the area where the church is being built  a condition that does not apply to the building of mosques in the predominantly Muslim country.

More than a year after the issuance of the law, there is widespread disappointment and concern among Egypts Coptic Christians, who accuse the government of stalling on its promises to end discrimination against them. The closure of four churches in two southern Egyptian provinces (three churches in Minya and one in Sohag) by the authorities since mid-October has further fueled the frustration of Egypts Coptic Christian minority, which makes up about 10% of the country's population.

The authorities are appeasing extremist Muslims by closing churches under the pretext that [the churches] pose a threat to social peace and stability, columnist Youssef Sidhom, himself a Christian, wrote in a Nov. 11 op-ed for the Coptic Solidarity website, a portal advocating equal citizenship for Egypts Coptic Christians.

Security forces shuttered the three churches in Minya over fears of imminent terrorist attacks, according to Archbishop Makarios of Minya governorate, who has denounced the closures and exhorted the government not to succumb to the fundamentalists. Essam Badawi, the governor of Minya, has denied that the closures were prompted by security concerns, saying they were closed to worshippers because they were unlicensed, according to the Associated Press.

The southern Egyptian governorates of Minya and Sohag have long been flashpoints for sectarian tensions, which have flared sporadically in recent years. The worst of the violence occurred immediately after the July 2013 overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. The mass protests that overthrew Morsi were backed by the military and by Christians, who were wary of Islamist rule. The situation has worsened in recent weeks in Minya, according to a statement released by Minyas Coptic Orthodox Diocese on Oct. 30. Citing an attack by an ultraconservative mob on a church and on Christians homes in Minya the previous week, the statement urged the authorities not to give in to the fundamentalists.

We remained silent after the closure of one church in the hope that officials would intervene," the statement read. "However, this closure was followed by others, as if praying is a crime and Copts should be punished for it.

The statement added, The constitution guarantees Christians the freedom to exercise religious worship; it is a major concern that extremists have imposed their will on state institutions.

The constitution guarantees Christians the freedom to exercise religious worship; it is a major concern that extremists have imposed their will on state institutions.

The 2014 Egyptian Constitution describes freedom of belief as absolute and provides adherents of the three monotheistic religions  Muslims, Christians and Jews  the right to practice their religion freely and to build houses of worship. In practice, however, Egypts Coptic Christians continue to suffer persecution. During the past year, this persecution has manifested itself in a series of violent attacks on Coptic Christians and in unfair policies that treat Christians as second-class citizens, according to rights lawyer Nabil Ghabrial.

On April 9, at least 44 people were killed in twin bomb attacks at St. Marks Cathedral in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria and St. Georges Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta. The attacks took place moments apart as worshippers attended Mass marking Palm Sunday. Six weeks later, on May 26, as the country was still reeling from the shock of the deadly attacks, a third attack on a bus convoy killed at least 29 Christians and injured around 20 others. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, prompting President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare a three-month state of emergency that has since been renewed twice. The government also vowed to step up security at churches across the country and promised to protect Christians  a pledge that some Christians say has yet to be fulfilled.

The government has restricted our movements, canceled our religious activities and is now shutting down churches that were previously open for worship, under the pretext that it is protecting us. Coptic Christians feel increasingly marginalized as a result of the biased policies, Ghabrial complained, citing the authorities defiance of the church building law as an example of what he called the unfair treatment and grievances endured by Copts on a daily basis.

The law on building and renovating churches is no more than ink on paper; it has not been enforced despite the formation by the Cabinet of a committee earlier this year tasked with determining the status of unlicensed churches, Ghabrial told Al-Monitor.

On the heels of the recent church closures in Sohag and Minya, the Electricity Directorate cut power to Pope Kyrillos Church in the working class district of Shubra el-Kheima, north of Cairo, on Nov. 9, sparking fears among Christian residents of the area that the church would be shut down. Worshippers have since barricaded themselves inside the church, defying calls by Bishop Morcos of Shubra el-Kheima to evacuate the premises. They were still there when Al-Monitor visited the church Nov. 14. One worshipper said a weekly prayer service was canceled on Nov. 10 after Morcos warned of an imminent security threat by extremists.

A security source in Qalyubia who requested not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press said clerics at the church had asked police to beef up security outside the church after the clerics received threats from extremists warning them against conducting prayer services.

Father Kozman, who leads prayers at the church, told Al-Monitor that the new church had only been open for a week when the threats came.

We have not placed any religious symbols outside  not even a cross on the rooftop  so as not to provoke the ire of the ultraconservatives, he said, adding that a request to legalize the church submitted a couple of months earlier was still under review by authorities.

Successive governments in Egypt have placed crippling restrictions on church construction," Ghabrial said. "The current government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is no different. He is confident that he will get the votes of Christians in next years presidential elections regardless of the recent church closures. Their support for him is guaranteed: Not only did he rescue them from Muslim Brotherhood rule but he also continues to raise the specter of terrorism to spread fear in the society. Christians have to yet to realize that the presidents slogans of a united Egypt and equality for all citizens are no more than empty rhetoric. The massive number of unlicensed churches in Egypt bears testament to that.
November 16, 2017

CAIRO  The Egyptian government's approval Oct. 25 of a new health care draft law has sparked fears within the Egyptian Medical Syndicate (EMS) and among local health specialists over the government's tendency to privatize public hospitals, especially those that might not meet the quality standards set by the new law. The draft law has now been referred to the House of Representatives for discussion and approval.

In a bid to get rid of the old system wherein Egyptians pay high prices in return for hospital and clinical treatment, the government approved the new health insurance law. This draft law, media reports say, also aims to improve the conditions of government hospitals suffering from several problems, as it stipulates a health care system whereby citizens should enjoy excellent health services.

Under Law No. 79 of 1975, which is currently in force, citizens contribution to health insurance accounts for 4% of their monthly wage  3% of which is covered by employers and 1% by employees. Under the new draft law, citizens contribution accounts for 5% of their monthly wages, with 4% to be paid by employers and 1% by employees.

Egyptian Minister of Health Ahmed Emad Eddin said during a press conference held Oct. 25 that the standards set by the quality control body established by the new system should be met by all of the hospitals. Otherwise, he said, these would not be included in the system.

For its part, the EMS said the fate of government hospitals, doctors and medical staff is nebulous and voiced concerns that these would not be included in the new system. The privatization of public hospitals would infer high treatment costs. Mahmoud Fuad, a doctor, told al-Wafd newspaper on Oct. 28 that only 20% of the 660 government hospitals are committed to safety and infection control standards, meaning that many government hospitals would not be included in the new law.

Mona Meena, the EMS representative, voiced concerns over the state of uncertainty surrounding the health care law when it comes to the fate of government hospitals that do not meet the quality standards set by the law.

The draft law that we have been informed of did not tackle the fate of the hospitals that do not meet the quality standards set by the law. Will they be shut down after having treated patients for years and years? What about the doctors, technicians and other people who work at those hospitals? These are questions that need to be answered, she told Al-Monitor.

There is a media campaign hailing the positive aspects of this law, but the government has yet to answer several questions. This law seriously affects the lives of Egyptians and will be relied upon in the medical services provided [to citizens], and we have to get answers to these questions, she added.

"This law seriously affects the lives of Egyptians and will be relied upon in the medical services provided [to citizens]."

In the same context, Ehab el-Taher, the EMS secretary-general, described the negative aspects of the draft law in a Facebook post on Oct. 31. He pointed out that the new health care system will only contract public and private hospitals that have quality certificates.

The law, according to Taher, also fails to tackle the salaries of doctors and workers, and this will repel doctors and deepen the shortage of medical specialists.

Doctors earn low salaries, ranging from 1,218 Egyptian pounds ($69) to 6,365 Egyptian pounds ($361) per month, which leads them to emigrate at a time when [Egyptian] hospitals are suffering from a shortage of doctors. There is only one doctor for every 800 citizens.

Alaa Ghannam, a member of the governmental committee tasked with preparing the health care law, told Al-Monitor that the law aims to eliminate the disadvantages of the current system and is designed to reform the health care system in general. He stressed that the quality control body to be established under the new draft law will start reforming and including government hospitals in the new health care system once parliament approves the draft law. He denied rumors about those being sold to the private sector and said, These hospitals are state-owned, so why would the state let go of them?

Ghannam pointed out that government hospitals in five governorates will be contracted as part of the first phase of the health care law, and their conditions will be adjusted in accordance with the health requirements of the new law, knowing that the government will provide them with the necessary funds to do so.

Abdul Hamid Abaza, the head of the governmental committee tasked with preparing the health insurance law, told Ad-Dustour newspaper Nov. 1 that the idea of contracting hospitals is very ordinary and is not intended to exclude government hospitals that do not meet the quality standards set by the law, nor is it aimed at privatizing them. Of course, the law provides for the development of hospitals, and this is one of the reasons the law was attacked for a long time based on concerns whereby hospitals that cannot enter the fray will be privatized, but this is not true. There is no privatization intention. The hospitals that do not meet the new quality standards will be given a chance.

The new health insurance law in Egypt will be implemented in six phases, the first of which  from 2018 to 2020  starts six months after parliament approves the law. It will be implemented in five governorates: Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, North and South Sinai. The law will be fully implemented across all governorates in 2031.

Mohammed al-Ammari, the head of the Health Committee in the House of Representatives, told Al-Monitor over the phone that the committee will start holding sessions with specialists, the EMS and civil society institutions to develop the health insurance law, explain the law details and answer the questions of all concerned parties and specialists.

Ammari said, The new law is a quantum leap, as it provides the necessary health care to citizens. It goes in line with the Egyptian Constitution, which provides for the Egyptian citizens right to health care. This law will eliminate the negative effects of the current system amid depleted hospitals and poor health services.

A source at the Egyptian Ministry of Health told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that those who drafted the law will participate along with several ministry officials in sessions to be held by the Health Committee of the House of Representatives in the coming days, in a bid to explain the details of the law articles and answer all the questions that the people have raised.

In an interview on Hona al-Asema on CBC on Oct. 29, Ali Hijazi, the head of the General Authority for Health Insurance, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Health, pointed out that the new law is binding on all citizens and said it allows everyone to have a health card at any hospital they choose, provided the hospital meets the quality standards. In order to get this card, citizens would have to pay a monthly contribution accounting for 1% of their monthly salaries.

Despite the importance of the new health insurance law for Egyptians currently suffering from bad health services, doctors are waiting for the government to dispel fears over their status and that of government hospitals that are incompatible with the new standards.
November 15, 2017

Picking up where the Senate left off, the House today continued to dilute the impact of a bill intended to cut off US economic aid for the West Bank and Gaza in retaliation for the Palestinian Authoritys (PA) payments to convicted terrorists and their families.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the newest version of the Taylor Force Act by voice vote in a sign that Democrats are on board with the latest revisions. The initial version of the bill, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., generated significant Democratic opposition as it would have completely cut off US economic assistance to the West Bank unless the PA ended its so-called martyrs' fund.

Graham got Senate Democrats on board by limiting the aid cuts to funding that the United States determines directly benefits the PA and putting withheld funds in an escrow account for two years. Now he tells Al-Monitor that hes concerned with some of the latest revisions in the House, which go even further.

Weve got probably 90 [Senate] votes for our version, but well talk with our House colleagues, said Graham. Im glad theyre making progress.

Current US law already requires a dollar reduction in US economic assistance to the West Bank for every dollar the PA spends on the martyrs' fund. Furthermore, although the bill would cut funding that directly benefits the PA, the United States does not currently provide direct budgetary support to the PA itself; instead, much of the US economic assistance is used to pay off PA debts to Israel.

The latest revisions in both the Senate and the House have garnered Democratic support in what was originally a strictly partisan endeavor.

The wholesale defunding of the [PA] is a misguided approach to address problems with Palestinian governance that undermine an ultimate resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said in a statement before todays vote. This bill limits assistance to the West Bank and Gaza to programs that do not directly benefit the PA and includes exceptions for payments to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network and assistance for wastewater treatment projects.

Connolly sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and successfully added an amendment to include an exemption to funding cuts for child vaccination programs.

The Senate version of the bill already included the exemption for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which provides specialty health care unavailable to Palestinians elsewhere in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the House bill ensures that the aid cuts wont extend past 2023.

While the Donald Trump administration declared its support for the Senate version of the bill in September, Jewish Insider reported this week that Jason Greenblatt, Trumps envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, lobbied the House to include the wastewater project and public health exemptions. The Trump administration regards its success with water-sharing programs between the PA and Israel as helpful for restarting the peace process.

Graham named his bill after the dead son of two of his constituents. Taylor Force was a US Army veteran who was killed by a Palestinian assailant last year. According to Graham, the PA paid $144 million in stipends last year to Palestinians convicted of terrorism by Israel.

In his capacity as chairman of the Senate panel overseeing foreign aid appropriations, Graham tucked the revised Senate version of the bill in must-pass spending legislation in September.

While House Republicans agreed to vote the Taylor Force Act out of the Foreign Affairs Committee, paving the way for a full vote on the House floor, many of them voiced their displeasure with the new exemptions. As recently as Tuesday, 152 House Republicans had signed on to co-sponsor the original Lamborn bill, which contained neither the Senate nor the House exemptions.

The Taylor Force Act, while I believe that we should not allow for exceptions and carve-outs in this legislation, should be supported, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee panel overseeing the Middle East, said ahead of todays vote. Because that flexibility will be used once again to circumvent the spirit of the law and congressional intent.

"We should not allow for exceptions and carve-outs in this legislation ... because that flexibility will be used once again to circumvent the spirit of the law and congressional intent."

Indeed, the exact amount of economic assistance cuts that Palestinians stand to lose remains unclear, as the criteria for determining what aid directly benefits the PA is unspecified. As such, the administration will have considerable discretion in determining the extent of the cuts. The House version of the bill requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress of the criteria used to determine which aid directly benefits the PA within 15 days after the bill becomes law.

Weve been engaging with all the relevant parties [on] that number, and no one is fully aware of how much this will affect us, Husam Zomlot, the Palestine Liberation Organizations envoy to Washington, told Al-Monitor in October. But we realize, given the wording of the law, that it could affect most of it or it could affect very little. The wording is very general. The PLO has been lobbying Congress against the bill for the past several months.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) spent roughly $260 million in economic aid for Palestinians in fiscal year 2017, and the State Department is seeking $215 million in funding for economic assistance to the West Bank and Gaza for the current fiscal year.

The potential cuts come at an especially inconvenient time for the PA, as it endeavors to form a unity government with Hamas in the Gaza Strip by December. Additionally, the House Foreign Affairs Committee also moved legislation today to tighten the screws on Hamas.

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., spearheaded a bill that would sanction countries for direct or indirect support for Hamas or Islamic Jihad, a Gaza-based Islamist group, by suspending US assistance and loans as well as US munitions exports. In addition to Iran, the bill singles out Qatar and accuses it of openly [financing] Hamas.

When the bill was introduced [in May], Qatar was hosting senior Hamas terrorist Saleh al-Arouri, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., said before todays vote. Two weeks after this legislation was introduced, he, along with other Hamas terrorists, was expelled from Qatar.

An October report from the Congressional Research Service notes that Qatari officials say that [hosting Hamas officials] has had the tacit blessing of US officials who see the benefit in being able to engage Hamas.

Lastly, the committee advanced a bill introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., which would sanction members of Hamas involved in using civilians as human shields. However, Hamas is already subject to US sanctions as a result of its designation as a terrorist group.
November 15, 2017

KERMANSHAH PROVINCE, Iran  Across Irans western Kermanshah province, tents can be seen in parks and along roadsides. Some tents are for people who lost their homes in the Nov. 12 earthquake, and other tents are for those who fear that another earthquake might strike. The city of Sarpol-e Zahab was the most affected by the powerful, 7.3 magnitude quake that has killed at least 452 people, but other cities and towns, such as Eslamabad-e Gharb and Qasr-e Shireen, were also hit hard.

Upon entering Eslamabad-e Gharb, the first thing one sees are white tents in the main park. While the devastation in this city, which has a population of around 80,000, is less than elsewhere in the province, the facade of its main hospital and some buildings in the western part of the city were badly damaged. This building was only finished two years ago, said a resident of a damaged apartment building. It was Gods mercy that none of the 15 families living here were killed.

His neighbor, Mr. Mohammadi, was celebrating his daughters birthday when the quake hit. Traces of the party could be seen along the apartments cracked walls, where balloons and decorations still hung. We were in the living room when everything started to shake," he said. "We felt as if the building was falling on our heads. It was just the kids everyone was concerned about.

Some residents of Eslamabad-e Gharb complained that they weren't treated as a priority. The government is focused on Sarpol-e Zahab, and they forgot about those in other cities," said a man who had taken refuge in the city park. There are thousands of people in the streets. We know the tragedy in the other city is big, but we too need help. A man with a bandaged arm smiled at these comments, saying, Just go there and you yourself would forget about here. The ground has turned upside down there.

The road to Sarpol-e Zahab runs alongside high cliffs. When the quake struck, rocks fell from the cliffs and onto the main roads, damaging them. Upon approaching the stricken city, the scene was of tents and people in shock. The Iranian Red Crescent provided some of the tents, but other tents were just regular ones used for camping. Closer to the outskirts of town, the scene became clearer: The city had become a giant refugee camp.

We still need more tents, more food, more water, blankets, said a man whose apartment was destroyed by the quake. I have nothing to return to. My family had a few seconds to leave. It was a miracle that we made it, but we are without a home anymore. I would rather have died than to see myself and my family in a tent.

In the center of the city, the scenes of destruction were more obvious. Entire neighborhoods had been wiped out. Some people wandered among the rubble, searching for their belongings, mostly valuable items like jewelry, electronics and rugs. While accompanying a family to their home, Al-Monitor heard a woman shouting, There might be someone alive here! Soldiers and members of the Red Crescent rushed to the scene: a three-story building turned to rubble. A rescue dog was brought to the scene to check for signs of life, while others searched among the rubble for documents that might provide residents' phone numbers or identification. Scattered certificates and papers revealed that a 25-year-old woman named Fatemeh lived there, but no phone number was found.

On the ground nearby was a drawing of an Iranian flag with a note in Persian, How beautiful is our Iran? Other scattered items attracted Al-Monitors attention: a book written by slain Syrian cleric Mohamed Ramadan al-Bouti; a magazine with a picture of Sayyid Qutb, a prominent Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood figure who was executed in the 1960s; an excerpt from an Arabic text by late Lebanese poet and author Mikhail Naimy. The search continued.

At the scene, Al-Monitor met Mohammad Zaeri of the Iranian Red Crescent. He explained that his organization went on alert during the first hours of the disaster. We mobilized all our teams in the region and from far away," he said. "In a few hours, we were ready and doing our duty. Still, its a big operation. The number of affected people is big, but we are able cope with the situation with the help of the army, the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and other governmental institutions.

The Red Crescent and the National Emergency Center, with the help of the army, set up a field hospital by the citys main hospital, which was heavily damaged by the earthquake. Dr. Motamedi, the health officer of Kermanshah province, told Al-Monitor that the field hospital was ready in less than six hours and had received more than 6,000 patients in 48 hours. People are in need of medical help," he said. "This helped keep the medical situation under control. We are distributing thousands of medications and attending to people with different situations, from nervous breakdowns to surgeries.

Ordinary Iranians also rushed to the quake-hit areas to help their fellow citizens. Several initiatives on social media succeeded in gathering money to help those affected. In an Instagram post, famous Iranian actress Niki Karimi called on people to donate, as did social media celebrity "Mr. Taster," who managed to raise thousands of dollars for earthquake relief.

The final toll of the quake is not yet clear. But given the extent of destruction and the power of the earthquake, its clear that Iran narrowly avoided a disaster that could have echoed the 2003 earthquake in Bam that claimed up to 30,000 lives.
November 16, 2017

Facing a court case, Hamid Baghaei, the vice president under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has taken refuge in a holy shrine in Iran, a centuries-old form of protest undertaken by those seeking to escape oppression at the hands of rulers. On Oct. 15, Baghaei, along with former Ahmadinejad officials Ali Akbar Javanfekr and Habibollah Joz-Khorasani, took refuge at the Shah Abdol-Azim shrine in the historic city of Rey, just outside of Tehran.

A statement by the three individuals said there is extreme judicial pressure to issue oppressive sentences against them. The statement said the legal cases against them are based on untrue and baseless accusations. They said they faced long periods of solitary confinement and hundreds of hours of intensive interrogations to acquire false confessions.

Explaining why the three took refuge at the Shah Abdol-Azim shrine, the statement said that legal and reasonable pursuits and repeated legal protests until now have been fruitless. The statement accused the judiciary of taking illegal actions and of making predetermined decisions. The trio hopes that their sit-in at the shrine will result in an awakening and awareness for those who feel they have absolute power, meaning the judiciary.

Among the three, Baghaei is the most well-known and is the closest confidant of Ahmadinejad. Baghaei tried to run in the 2017 presidential election, but the Guardian Council rejected his candidacy. Baghaei was first arrested in June 2015, though the charges against him were never disclosed. He was arrested again in July of this year and spent 18 days in prison. It is believed that Baghaei is likely facing some form of corruption charges.

With one former vice president already serving time for corruption, and another  Baghaei  likely to be sentenced soon, Ahmadinejad and his former close advisers went on the offensive and attacked the integrity of Irans judiciary, whose head is appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ahmadinejad and Baghaei both complained of ill treatment of prisoners, claiming that all Iranians understand their criticisms of the judiciary.

Tehran prosecutor Gholam Hossein Ismaeili said that Baghaei's not attending his third court appearance was a promotional stunt, but that his lawyers did attend. The prosecutor said Baghaei's absence from court is indicative of someone who does not want to defend himself in the legal framework and regulations or does not have a defense.

Baghaei's move to take refuge at the Shah Abdol-Azim shrine surprised many, given the historical role the shrine played under the Qajar rule in Iran, from 1785-1925. Those who took refuge at the shrine often did so as a last resort, and as a protest against corrupt and unaccountable leaders. They were often seen as having a just cause, rather than just seeking to avoid jail time over corruption charges. Having no legal recourse, those taking refuge at Shah Abdol-Azim shrine were in essence seeking protection under the clergy  the only other sector of society that could challenge the monarchy.

Many Iranians said Baghaei's sit-in was motivated by personal and political reasons. Political analyst Alireza Namvar Haghighi tweeted, Ahmadinejad knows that with the summoning and arrest of [Esfandiar Rahim] Mashaei and Baghaei that his left and right wings are being cut. BBC political analyst Hossein Bastani commented on the historical significance of Baghaeis protest, tweeting, Seeking refuge in the traditional religious institutions from the appointed institutions [judiciary] has been an unwritten red line in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, the former vice president under Reformist Mohammad Khatami, summed up the general feeling online that Baghaeis gesture seemed hypocritical, tweeting, God willing everyone is removed from oppression. But too bad they didnt take Saeed Mortazavi. He knows the area well. Its the same direction as Kahrizak. Mortazavi, who held a number of positions under Ahmadinejad, was the head of Kahrizak prison, where a number of 2009 post-election protesters were tortured and killed.
November 15, 2017

Without directly naming the kingdom, Irans President Hassan Rouhani slammed Saudi Arabia for its reported role in recent developments in Lebanon.

At a Cabinet meeting Nov. 15, Rouhani said that direct intervention in the internal affairs of an independent country such as Lebanon and asking a person to resign and be replaced by someone else is unprecedented. Rouhani was referring to the recent resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia.

At the Cabinet meeting, Rouhani then addressed Saudi Arabia, without naming the country, saying, "Who are you, what power are you relying on in doing such things? How much do you think money can do?"

He added, That a Muslim country in the region asks and begs the Zionist regime to bomb the Lebanese people is very shameful and embarrassing. We havent seen an Islamic country do such [a thing] in history, and this indicates that inexperienced figures have come [to power] in these countries.

Mentioning the Saudi-led war in Yemen, Rouhani said, Why does a country that is Muslim and knows itself as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques pressure the innocent and Muslim people of Yemen, and why doesnt it express regret and sorrow? Why does it continue to commit its crimes?"

He continued, The United Nations has kept its silence in the face of these crimes and has taken no decisive and binding position, and the Western powers support these crimes.

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's foreign policy adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, responded to Hariri's remarks about his and Hariri's meeting in Beirut in the days prior to Hariri's departure and subsequent resignation in Riyadh.

In an interview with al-Mustaqbal TV on Nov. 12, Hariri claimed he had told Velayati that Iran shouldnt meddle in Lebanons internal affairs.

Velayati met with Hariri on Nov. 3. Following Hariris resignation in Riyadh on Nov. 4, various reports linked Hariri's quitting to Velayati.

In a press conference Nov. 14, Velayati said, He [Hariri] pointed at an issue that stems from being inspired by the Saudis. Mr. Hariri said that in the meeting he had with me, he had told me not to meddle in Lebanons internal affairs. But he didnt say such a thing, and our talk wasnt harsh, tough or threatening at all.

Referring to the various reports about the details of his meeting with Hariri, Velayati added, I didnt threaten Mr. Hariri, and we discussed the ongoing developments in the region.

Velayati said, He was seeking in a way to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and I emphasized that we dont have any problem with Saudi Arabia. But the Saudis have been bombing the people of Yemen for two years and have surrounded the country, and 700,000 [Yemenis] have caught cholera." He said the Saudis "should negotiate with Yemenis on humanitarian matters."

Mentioning Hariris interview, Velayati continued, Mr. Hariri said, 'Velayati didnt threaten me.' Yes, there was no reason to threaten him. We welcome the unity of the March 14 Alliance and March 8 Alliance ... [which] have succeeded in placing Lebanon among the safe countries due to the understanding of the people and the Islamic resistance.

Velayati said he hopes Hariri will return to his job, adding, We dont have any problem with negotiating with the Saudis, but negotiating doesnt mean the endorsement of the oppression of Saudi Arabia in some Islamic countries and their support for takfiris. We seek to live alongside each other based on good neighborliness, but we are against any illegal and un-Islamic action.
November 14, 2017

BAGHDAD  Islamist parties in the Iraqi parliament are pushing an amendment to the personal status law that would allow men to marry girls as young as 9. Human rights activists decried the proposal, which would transfer civil matters to the jurisdiction of clerics.

National Iraqi Alliance parliament member Hamed al-Khodari submitted the amendment bill Nov. 2. A more extreme version of the proposal was withdrawn in 2014 because of public pressure, and public anger is even more intense this time. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) voiced its concerns and encouraged "widening the scope of consultations about the amendment  to ensure the respect and protection of women's rights."

During a Nov. 9 briefing, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert condemned the proposal.

"We are completely against and oppose the idea of children marrying adults," she said. "And let's remember, it was not that long ago that we called out the depravity of [the Islamic State] for taking child prisoners, child brides, and the sort. Some of this will be an internal Iraqi matter, but we remain firmly opposed to the idea that any adult would attempt to marry a child in that fashion."

The proposed amendment basically shakes the foundations of the old law. The bill indicates that when issuing decisions on personal status issues, the court should follow the rulings of religious scholars for Sunni or Shiite sects, depending on the husband's faith. The Scholars' Congregation at the Shiite Endowment Diwan undertakes answering the court's questions per the common Shiite jurisprudence. In its absence, the Supreme Religious Authority in Najaf is consulted. The Scholars' Fatwa Council commits to answering the court based on common Sunni jurisprudence.

Critics say the proposed amendment would breach the constitution's principles of separation of powers and judicial independence. The amendment would also contradict Article 14 of the constitution, which says all Iraqis are equal before the law, without any discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, origin, color, religion, sect, belief, opinion or economic or social status.

The proposed legislation also contradicts recommendations of a committee charged with ensuring the application of a UN international treaty known as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which was adopted in 1979. Finally, critics say the proposal would violate UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the national plan to implement the resolution, which requires all discriminatory legislation against women to be amended.

However, Mohamad al-Massoudi, leader of the ruling National Iraqi Alliance party, is optimistic the bill will be approved. "Only some secular parties in the Iraqi parliament oppose the personal status amendment bill," he told Al-Monitor. "The bill will be passed this electoral session, or the next at most, because it is one of the laws whose legislation was stipulated by the constitution."

Pointing to inconsistencies in the constitution, he said, "No law can stop a Sharia principle, and the Iraqi Constitution forbade the legislation of any text that contradicts Islamic Sharia."

Despite the civil opposition and the UNAMI, which have called for further consultations, the Islamic current seems bent on moving forward with the amendment. It will try to implement Sharia as long as the Iraqi Constitution continues to allow for a new personal status law. The constitution, which has many contradictory articles, would have to be amended.

In other words, the amendment bill is the most recent step in an apparently endless battle between Islamizing the Iraqi state and secularizing it. For example, the Iraqi Governing Council issued a draft law in 2003 citing constitutional articles in an attempt to make Salafi regressive amendments. The 2003 decision stated the need to implement Islamic Sharia provisions in matters of marriage, engagement, marriage contracts, eligibility, proof of marriage and prohibitions and other areas.

Massoudi said the current proposal "has many benefits."

He said, "It gives women and families Islamic rights and grants each individual the freedom to choose the religious provisions in their sect. The bill also limits the number of marriages [that have been] happening outside courts for years." Regarding the marriage of minors, Massoudi said, "Some Muslim sects have allowed such marriages."

Zikra Sarsam, a civil activist and vice president of the nongovernmental organization Burj Babel for Media Development, said civil parties objecting to the amendment bill are banking on public pressure and the stance of the supreme Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who was against the proposal that was withdrawn in 2014. Sarsam told Al-Monitor, "During the next few days, massive protests will take to the streets to demand the withdrawal of the amendment bill from parliament. We will also try to show Sistani's stance on the matter."

Sarsam added, "The amendment bill aims at enslaving Iraqi women and taking the country back to a primitive era. It contains constitutional and legal violations, mainly discriminating against Iraqis based on sect or belief, establishing a religious state and fighting the civil current."

Opponents say Islamist parties will probably withdraw the personal status amendment bill, as they did before, due to public pressure and perhaps following a Sistani intervention. Still, the early electoral propaganda has earned these parties some gains, as they succeeded in addressing their public base before the elections set for spring. But unless the religious law is passed or the constitution is permanently amended, the battle will extend to the next electoral session.
November 16, 2017

We are turning Israel into a rising global power, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bragged on Nov. 13 in the Knesset plenary. There has never been anything like this in our history. Indeed, let us look at what Israel's illustrious statesman has done in just one week, as he outlined in his speech.

He met with an envoy of Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe who brought with him an invitation for Netanyahu to visit his country. He received a warm missive from another friend, US President Donald Trump, who thanked Israel for its support of his position on the Iranian nuclear program. Netanyahu received a congratulatory note from Chinese President Xi Jinping for the burgeoning special relationship with Israel. He also made preparations for a visit to India and spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition to all of the above, Netanyahu had time for a call to the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss important security matters, of course. What else could they talk about? A Palestinian state? Renewed negotiations with the Palestinians?

Netanyahus dialogue with Sisi was conducted over secure phone lines. Netanyahu and his ministers are not welcome in Egypt. It took the assassination of an Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, in November 1995, for an Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, to visit unified Jerusalem, to take part in the funeral. The Egyptian government is even refusing to dispatch a senior envoy to mark the 40th anniversary of the historic visit by President Anwar Sadat to Israel. His widow, Jehan Sadat, announced that she has no interest in taking part either. Israel will have to make do with the Egyptian ambassador, Hazem Khairat, at a Nov. 22 event at the official residence of President Reuven Rivlin.

In Israels view, Sadat was the first Arab leader in the modern era who came to the Jewish state bearing a message of peace. From Egypts perspective, Israel led Sadat astray, and he sold Israel peace with the largest Arab nation in return for a pittance. From the Palestinians' perspective, Sadat sold them out.

Forty years have passed since Sadat declared in his landmark Knesset speech, Even if peace between all the confrontation States and Israel were achieved, in the absence of a just solution to the Palestinian problem, never will there be that durable and just peace upon which the entire world insists today.  In all sincerity, I tell you that there can be no peace without the Palestinians. Nonetheless, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories continues and even deepens, while the Egyptian flag is hoisted daily under the Tel Aviv sky. Four decades after Sadat announced from the Knesset podium that he had not come to make a separate peace, it turns out that mighty Egypt and little Jordan have forged peace with Israel, leaving the Palestinians behind.

Yet, Israel complains about the cold winds blowing from its southern neighbor. Rarely does one hear an Israeli diplomat pointing an accusatory finger at his countrys leadership, but it happened at a Nov. 8 conference sponsored by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University and the Foreign Ministry to mark the 40th anniversary of Sadat's visit. Shalom Cohen, a former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, said, Even as we rail against Egypt for a lack of normalization [in ties with Israel], we must look inward, at ourselves as Israelis, and ask what the Israeli government has done to change this state of affairs. Cohen then lashed out, I dont recall that we did much.

The only thing that could fundamentally change the state of the Israeli-Egyptian relationship for the better would be an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which would extricate the flags of Egypt and Jordan from their isolation in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu, however, is doing everything in his power to perpetuate the Israeli occupation as well as the separate peace with Egypt and Jordan. He is even mobilizing the peace agreements with them in the struggle against the Palestinians.

At his historic June 2009 speech at Bar-Ilan University, Netanyahu praised the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, which resulted in an end to various disputes with Israel and of the conflict with them. He called on Arab leaders and the Palestinians to follow the road taken by Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin and by Rabin together and Jordans King Hussein. Netanyahu neglected to mention that Sadat had insisted that the article regarding the West Bank and Gaza precede the article on Egypt in the Framework for Peace in the Middle East agreed to in the September 1978 Camp David Accords.

The agreements preamble sets out that the agreed upon basis for the peaceful resolution of Israel's conflict with its neighbors is UN Security Council Resolution 242, in all its parts. The resolution, which marks its jubilee on Nov. 22, stipulates that Israel must withdraw from territories  as per the English version, or the territories, in the French version  that it conquered in June 1967. Professor Mati Steinberg, a Palestinian affairs researcher and Middle East expert, underscores that there was good reason that Resolution 242 referred to Israels neighbors and not between Israel and the Arab states. The language was designed to denote that the resolution includes the Palestinians too.

In the same breath in which Netanyahu called on the Palestinians to follow in the footsteps of Egypt and Jordan and end the conflict with Israel, he added a fundamental precondition for ending the conflict with Israel's occupied neighbors: the public, binding and sincere Palestinian recognition of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people. Steinberg believes that if Israel had demanded of Egypt and Jordan to recognize it as the state of the Jewish people, peace agreements with them would not have been achieved. Steinberg reminds that Begin removed from his agenda the demand that Egypt severe its alliances with Arab states and grant clear preference to its agreement with Israel, a demand that Israel repeatedly raises in talks with the Palestinians.

At the conference on the Sadat visit, Ambassador Khairat said, The entire region has undergone many changes, and there are interests of various players who are taking advantage of the situation of chaos and terrorism for their own ends. Despite this, at these moments, there is a chance for important cooperation.

The envoy further asserted, In Egypt we learned that it takes a statesman, not a politician, to make peace. Some of his listeners thought the Egyptian ambassador was referring to an Israeli politician, Netanyahu. They remembered a prime minister standing in the same place on June 2009 to reveal to the world that his vision of peace is for two free peoples living side by side in this small land, with good neighborly relations and mutual respect. During the bad eight years since that event, the politician Netanyahu has turned the statesman Netanyahus vision of peace into unrealistic dreams. Israel could very well be, as Netanyahu said, a rising global power. It is too bad that he is not interested in using this global power and finishing what the statesmen Sadat and Begin started.
November 15, 2017

Israel revealed on Nov. 14 that it has deployed Iron Dome anti-missile batteries along its border with the Gaza Strip and in the greater Tel Aviv area. The move follows assessments that Gaza-based Islamic Jihad is planning reprisals against Israel for blowing up a tunnel dug for conducting terror attacks in Israel and for Israel holding the bodies of those killed during the tunnel's destruction.

On Nov. 11, in a bid to deter Islamic Jihad, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, head of Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, recorded a video for uploading to YouTube in which he delivered a warning in Arabic: We advise the leadership of the Islamic Jihad in Damascus to be careful and to control matters. The commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Damascus and leaders of the organization  Ramadan Shalah and Ziad Nakhale  take quick control of things, because you will be held responsible. In his urging, Mordechai clearly marked Israels target. In short, if Islamic Jihad dares attack Israel, its leadership will be wiped out. Plan and simple.

The other side got the message, loud and clear. The Al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihads military wing, issued a statement, saying, The enemys threats to harm the organizations leaders are a declaration of war, and we will deal with them. These threats reveal the true intentions of the Zionists.

On Nov. 2, the organization had issued a video showing its fighters setting up missiles and conducting observations of maintenance work by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the border fence with Gaza designed to prevent, or at least make it harder, to tunnel from Gaza into Israeli territory. The clip ended with a message, in Hebrew: Time is running out. While the time frame is unclear, it could mean that the groups response to Israels Oct. 30 bombing of its tunnel is near.

An Israeli security source told Al-Monitor that the assessment that an Islamic Jihad strike is near was not the result of the groups video. He noted that the organization had posted the video soon after the tunnel bombing, suggesting that it was aimed at public opinion in Gaza, lest the groups supporters perceive its silence on the tunnel attack as a sign of weakness.

After it was revealed that Israel had the bodies of Islamic Jihad activists, the source said, there were clear indications that the Al-Quds Brigades were planning to retaliate despite a warning by Hamas to refrain from doing so. This led Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue a clear threat two days after Mordechais warning. There are those who still amuse themselves these days by trying to renew attacks against Israel, Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, adding that Israel would hold Hamas primarily responsible for any attack emanating from Gaza.

The bragging and threats notwithstanding, Islamic Jihads leadership is well aware of the groups weakness. The organization is small, with a few thousand supporters. Its armed membership numbers less than 1,000, according to Israeli intelligence sources who spoke with Al-Monitor. By comparison, Hamas military force numbers 20,000 armed recruits.

Islamic Jihad is in constant competition with Hamas over which of them is more loyal to the cause of armed struggle. Their competition over public opinion in Gaza intensified after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 and was forced to rein in its own activities and that of other, smaller militant groups. Whereas Hamas has a broad-based organizational infrastructure that includes an institutionalized political leadership and an armed wing that has developed into a quasi-army, Islamic Jihads capabilities remain limited. Hamas made sure that the group would not develop into a threat to its hegemony, so Islamic Jihad has had no choice but to adhere to Hamas terms and limits or risk annihilation.

The Hamas leadership is preserving the smaller organization primarily because it is identified with and funded by Iran, but Islamic Jihad also serves Hamas' interests. Hamas' military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has often used the group as what Israel calls subcontractors. In the past, when the Qassam Brigades feared Israeli retaliation for rocket attacks, Islamic Jihad would take responsibility for the firing. Cooperation between the two organizations was also evident in the tunnel exposed two weeks ago. Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas activists were killed inside it.

The current head of Islamic Jihads military wing is Mohammed al-Hindi. He was named to the post after Israel assassinated his predecessor, Mohammed Sheikh Khalil, in September 2005. The IDF also killed quite a number of the organization's other central figures during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 in Gaza. Israel has not, however, harmed the heads of the groups political department in Gaza, who are considered in Gaza to be low level and devoid of influence. The center of gravity, as Mordechai noted, is the groups leader, Shalah, and his deputy, Nakhale, headquartered in Damascus.

Since its a small organization, every significant attack on its leadership is fatal, an Israeli defense source told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity. That is why an Israeli threat against its leadership is considered the most effective. The elimination of its heads in Damascus would completely undermine the groups standing in Gaza.

Hamas will not shed a tear if the organizations top leaders are eliminated, because despite the cooperation between them, Islamic Jihad is a thorn in their side, a Palestinian security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Islamic Jihad is constantly trying to challenge Hamas, and the leadership in Gaza has no choice but to swallow the bitter pill and keep quiet.

Nonetheless, the Palestinian source believes Egypt and Hamas wield great influence over the organization, and Islamic Jihad would not dare take offensive action against Israel despite pressure by its Gaza supporters and militants. He too said the group's threats are for the benefit of a domestic audience, in a bid to show supporters at home that it has an impressive ability to retaliate for the blow it took, but that Hamas is forcing it to refrain for its own strategic reasons. This is intended to portray Hamas as the weak, subservient link and Islamic Jihad as strong and threatening.

The heads of Islamic Jihad, however, know the truth: It would be a fatal mistake for them to attack Israel.
November 15, 2017

CAIRO  Khaled Ali announced at a Nov. 6 press conference at the headquarters of Egypts Dostour Party his candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for March 2018, saying he has started forming his campaign team.

Ali is a human rights lawyer and politician, a member of the Coalition of Socialist Forces and the director of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights. He is the co-founder of the Front for the Defense of Egyptian Protesters, which has been providing legal support to peaceful protesters since April 2008.

Ali ran in the 2012 presidential elections, one day after his 40th birthday, thus becoming the youngest ever candidate to run as soon as he reached the minimum age of candidacy. However, he came in seventh place, getting just 0.5% of the vote.

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has hinted that he intends to run for a second term. In an interview with CNBC on Nov. 7, he said he would not seek a third term. I am in favor of preserving two four-year terms and not to change it.  I am saying that we have a new constitution now and we are working on making new laws to abide by it in the country of Egypt. I am not in favor of any amendments to be made to the constitution in this period.

During a discussion on womens role in decision-making positions, at the World Youth Forum that was held in Sharm el-Sheikh from Nov. 4-10, Sisi mentioned the 2018 presidential elections. He said that empowering women is not only achieved by having access to jobs and positions in society, but by truly appreciating every woman, girl, man and boy. I do not want any man getting me wrong here, particularly since the elections are approaching, he jokingly added.

At his press conference, Ali tried to highlight the crises that have taken their toll on Sisis popularity. They said no one is feeling the suffering of the Egyptian people, then crushed it with price increases. They vowed to protect the land, then generously gave up Egypts islands, he said. Ali was referring to the floating of the exchange rate in accordance with supply and demand mechanisms on Nov. 3, 2016, which led to a significant rise in prices. Also, Sisi ratified on June 24 the maritime demarcation agreement, known as the Tiran and Sanafir Agreement with Saudi Arabia, disregarding the mass demonstrations in protest against it.

This agreement had an important role in making Ali the famous man he is today. He was the one to defend the Egyptian identity of both islands, and filed a lawsuit to nullify the agreement and keep Saudi Arabia from taking over. Indeed, his efforts were an initial success and the Supreme Administrative Court issued a final ruling Jan. 16, nullifying the agreement and preserving Egyptian sovereignty over the two islands, before parliament discussed and approved the ruling.

On May 30, several political parties and movements issued a statement saying they were continuing with preparations to enter the presidential elections, despite all the authorities attempts to block them. They said it has become imperative to provide a democratic alternative to existing policies, as the current authority is ineffective and no longer has any means other than oppression.

Practically speaking, Alis chances in the presidential race are slim. Article 142 of the constitution stipulates, To be accepted as a candidate for the presidency, candidates must receive the recommendation of at least 20 elected members of the House of Representatives [where the pro-Sisi Egypts Support Coalition has a majority of seats] or endorsements from at least 25,000 citizens who have the right to vote, in at least 15 governorates, with a minimum of 1,000 endorsements from each governorate.

Besides, a misdemeanor court has accused Ali of offending public decency, following a photograph circulated on social media showing him making an obscene hand gesture after the nullification ruling; his hearing has been postponed to Jan. 3. Should he be found guilty, he could be prevented from running in the elections, since the constitution stipulates that a presidential candidate cannot be convicted in any public indecency cases.

Meanwhile, opposition figures are being marginalized in Egypt's political life, with zero presence on the political scene and barely any in the street. Former candidate Hamdeen Sabahi, Sisis biggest rival, announced May 5 that he would not run in the next elections, while Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a former candidate and defector from the Muslim Brotherhood, is completely out of the picture, given the social hostility toward the Islamic political current. As for Judge Hisham Geneina, the former head of the Central Auditing Organization, there are legal obstacles to his nomination, due to his wifes Palestinian citizenship, which is a violation of the constitution.

Ahmed Darrag, a member of the National Association for Change, told Al-Monitor that the regime is deliberately isolating and marginalizing the opposition. But he also believes that if the election guarantees equal chances for all candidates, in terms of campaigning, media appearances and international supervision of the elections, the result will not be in Sisis interest, given the regimes tendency to suppress freedoms and force people to keep quiet.

However, many think that Sisi, in addition to having a built-in institutional advantage, will win many votes because of his removal of the Muslim Brotherhood from power.

Darrag said, We will ask for international supervision of the presidential elections. It is a basic demand for the opposition to continue in the race, particularly since there are signs that candidates do not have equal chances of winning, which violates the constitution. For instance, the So You Can Build It campaign visits government institutions, newspapers and all media outlets, distributing pamphlets calling on Sisi to run for a second term. Certainly no government institution would allow any other candidate to distribute similar pamphlets to its employees, encouraging them to vote for him.

Because the oppositions voice is barely heard in Egypt, Ali's chances likely depend on his winning a unified endorsement from civil parties and forces, running a campaign that is as good as Sisis propaganda and the presence of international supervision that would ensure the integrity of the presidential election.
November 16, 2017

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he must either agree to US President Donald Trumps peace plan or resign, according to reports from earlier this week.

Abbas headed to Riyadh on Nov. 6, amid the sudden domestic developments in Saudi Arabia, including the arrest of 11 princes and ministers implicated in corruption cases Nov. 5.

Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Minister of Civil Affairs Committee Hussein al-Sheikh, Chief of the Palestinian General Intelligence Majid Faraj, Presidential Adviser for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi al-Khaldi and General Director of Crossings and Borders Nathmi Muhanna accompanied Abbas on his visit.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said Nov. 7 that Abbas met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud to fill him in on the developments of the Palestinian cause, Washingtons efforts for the peace process and the reconciliation situation.

Abdullah Abdullah, a member of Fatahs revolutionary council and head of the political committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council, told Al-Monitor, King Salman and President Abbas are old friends, since 1968, and they speak the same language. The Palestinian cause was the main motive behind the visit, to brief Riyadh on what has been achieved on the national unity and the reconciliation levels, and to inform the king of the attempts to create an Arab front to evaluate any new ideas that are aligned with ending the Israeli occupation and gaining Palestinians legitimate rights.

However, a Palestinian official told Donia al-Watan on condition of anonymity Nov. 11 that the Saudi visit seems to have troubled Abbas, who feels that some Arab parties are trying to unseat him or push him to resign. The official condemned the summoning of Abbas and called it questionable.

The Israeli i24News said Nov. 8 that Abbas might resign under Saudi pressure to accept Trumps plan for the peace process with Israel and normalization of Arab-Israeli ties in exchange for firm support from the Arab states, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, for the Palestinian Authority.

Matthew Levitt, US researcher and director of the Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, tweeted Nov. 8, In Riyadh, Abbas urged to take a hard line on Iran and Hamas weapons.

In turn, Ahmed Azm, an instructor of international studies and political science at Birzeit University, told Al-Monitor, The members of the delegation that visited Riyadh urgently could indicate the underlying meaning of this visit, which coincided with the PA announcing Nov. 8 that it would intensify work on the crossings between the Palestinian territories and Jordan around the clock. During the most recent meeting between Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Israeli Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon on Oct. 29, the two discussed Gazas crossings and the movement of Palestinians between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip crossings. Abbas visit to Riyadh might have been about reopening the border crossings between the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel to improve Palestinians living conditions.

In an article published Nov. 7 by Haaretz, Jack Khoury reported that Abbas, on his visit, was expected to discuss "economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority and rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip post-Palestinian reconciliation," adding, "The Saudis are also likely to raise the issue of Iran's involvement with Palestinians, particularly in light of senior Hamas officials' recent trip to Iran and after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah cited a united front between Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah."

Palestinian political analyst Saleh al-Naami told Al-Monitor, There are indications that Abbas sudden and unplanned visit to Riyadh, upon the kingdoms urgent invitation, is linked to arrangements that US advisers Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt agreed on with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their visit to Riyadh at the end of October. These arrangements serve the US, Israeli and Saudi interests. Saudi Arabia might ask Abbas to call for the disarmament of Hamas and to convince Gazans that they have a lot to lose if Hamas keeps its military power. Saudi Arabia could offer to contribute to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and to take steps to improve the living circumstances there.

Presidential Adviser for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi al-Khaldi said in an interview with Arabi21 on Nov. 7 that Abbas visit reflects Saudi interest in the developments of the Palestinian cause and national reconciliation. He added, We have discussed the calls between the US and the other parties involved in the political process.

The Palestinian Napaa press agency reported Nov. 9 that Saudi Arabia had summoned Fatahs defected leader Mohammed Dahlan on the same day of Abbas visit to hold a bilateral meeting involving Fatahs internal reconciliation.

But Imad Mohsen, spokesman for the Democratic Reformist Current led by Dahlan, told Al-Monitor, We are not in the loop on Saudis arrangements for such a meeting, despite the kingdoms interest in Fatahs internal reconciliation and its reconciliation with Hamas. But it seems Abbas wants to leave political life without uniting Fatah.

Ibrahim Habib, dean of scientific research at the Ribat University College affiliated with Gaza's Interior Ministry, told Al-Monitor, Abbas is under Arab and international pressure to settle the Palestinian cause. But he is smart, stubborn and elusive. He will not raise the white flag, even if he fails to face Saudi pressure. He might even mix cards to confuse all parties without giving Israel a chance to impose its political solution. He would rather weaken Israels position globally without resigning to prevent any party from taking steps to strip him of his legitimacy.

Despite remarkable Palestinian interest in the goals behind Abbas visit to Riyadh, silence prevails, perhaps due to the delicacy of the deliberations.
November 15, 2017

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) is currently preparing to open the Palestinian Central Bank, as soon as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signs the Central Bank of Palestine law. This comes as the PMA fulfilled the requirements for transitioning into an integrated central bank. The preparations included restructuring the PMA, building the Central Bank headquarters in Ramallah, developing Palestinian banks, developing new control systems and finalizing the Central Bank of Palestine law.

In 2006, the PMA drafted a strategic plan to establish a central bank in Palestine in order to achieve the monetary policys ultimate objective in the Palestinian state. But it faced several obstacles.

PMA Governor Azzam Shawa told Al-Monitor, The PMA was originally formed as the nucleus of the Central Bank of the State of Palestine. The PMA law No. 2 of 1997 is bound by the provisions of the 1994 Paris Protocol, which made the Palestinian economy dependent on Israel, given the latters control over the crossings and ports. A strategic plan to convert to the central bank system was developed in 2006 with the assistance of experts in global central banks and international institutions.

Shawa said that ever since the PMA was founded, it has been in the process of gradually shifting from an institution with responsibilities mainly limited to banking oversight and some traditional technical functions to an institution with broader competences. He explained that the PMA has always sought to become a full-fledged central bank, subject to the long-term monetary policy considerations, to achieve the ultimate goal of the future Palestinian states monetary policy.

He added, Ever since it came up with the 2006 plan, the PMA has been developing the capacities and capabilities of its human resources. It also addresses weak banks and immunizes them against expected and unexpected risks by raising the banks minimum capital, introducing oversight and credit regulations, and advanced payment systems, particularly after the establishment of the Palestine Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Shawa noted that Abbas will sign the final draft of the Central Bank of Palestine law before the end of 2017, thus completing the legal framework for the establishment of the Palestinian Central Bank. A law will also be laid down for the PMAs powers in terms of exercising monetary policy and assuming its role in achieving monetary and financial stability in Palestine, and the PMA law would stop existing, he said.

Speaking about the changes that will occur during the process of turning the PMA into a central bank, Shawa said the Central Bank of Palestine law stipulates clear and measurable objectives, sufficient powers to achieve these goals in an exemplary manner, as well as proper mechanisms of accountability and oversight.

He noted that the PMA law No. 2 of 1997 explicitly prevents the bank from providing loans to the government and grants it immunity and independence from accepting any instructions from other parties in terms of its basic responsibilities in accordance with international standards, as set by the International Monetary Fund. However, Article 36 of the current PMA law allows it to provide advances and loans to the government.

The new draft law includes provisions regulating the process of issuing and managing local currency, aims to fill the existing gaps and address the inconsistencies in the current laws and implementing regulations, so as to provide an integrated and harmonized legal framework to ensure financial and monetary stability. Shawa said the draft law includes provisions on modern payment systems, electronic offset and clearance, and credit information systems. The draft law details the central banks relationship with banks and provides mechanisms for addressing any disputes between them.

This is a true transition process and not only a change of name, Shawa said, pointing out the obstacles faced by the PMA such as the political circumstances in Palestine, not to mention the absence of a Palestinian currency and the multiplicity of traded currencies. He noted that this impedes the PMAs ability to do its job in achieving monetary stability and properly managing the monetary policy.

As for the issuance of a Palestinian currency, Shawa added that the approval of the Central Bank of Palestine law is in no way related to issuing a Palestinian currency, saying, The PMA has stressed in various reports and in full transparency that this is not the right time to issue a Palestinian national currency. This could be very risky, but the PMA is nonetheless ready to take all necessary measures in the event of a national decision to issue [a currency].

Although the national currency is considered one of the symbols of economic and political independence, the PMA believes that should the currency be issued without adequate preparation, it may harm the Palestinian economy, since this step needs balance, stability and sustainability in the public finances of the Palestinian government. This requires relying on the economys internal resources to ensure the independence and success of the economic policy in general, and this is not currently available in Palestine, Shawa said.

Economic analyst Amen Abu Aisha told Al-Monitor that the PMA has completed all the requirements to become a central bank, considering that it is one of the Palestinian governments strongest institutions.

However, he hopes for a Palestinian currency, since its issuance is one of the most important tasks of the central bank, praising the initiative of using the Palestinian pound in school cafeterias, in the context of strengthening the sense of belonging to the Palestinian identity.

Abu Aisha said that the Paris Protocol, which limits the economic independence of the Palestinians, stops them from issuing a local currency and prevents them from controlling the crossings, since Israel is the one in control of all crossings and ports, and thus all exports and imports.

He called for canceling all agreements that impede developing the Palestinian economy and attracting foreign investments, and reducing the number of domestically traded currencies, until a national currency is issued. Palestinians use the US dollar, the Jordanian dinar and the Israeli shekel, all of which negatively affect the local economy, according to Abu Aisha.

He pointed out that issuing a national currency requires an appropriate economic and political environment, in which the PMA would be able to gain confidence at the local and international levels.

The government is suffering from a financial crisis. It is still dependent on international aid amid the insufficiency of available reserves, and relies on assets  which does not protect the financial system, he said.

This is why, Abu Aisha believes, Israel will not allow the issuance of a Palestinian national currency at this time.
November 14, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have seen a lot of each other this year. And when they're not meeting, they seem to be constantly talking with each other on the phone  so often that Russian journalists joke Putin speaks more frequently with Erdogan than with Russia's closest ally, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.

The most recent get-together came Nov. 13 in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi in Russia. It was their fifth meeting this year.

The men have a lot to talk about  mostly related to Syria. But during the joint press conference afterward, they talked mainly about trade and lifting the remaining sanctions Russia imposed after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet in November 2015. One of the sanctions still in place is visa restrictions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said after the meeting that the issue had been raised, but he was vague: "These, lets say, concerns of the Turkish side are taken into account, [and] work on them continues."

Before he departed for Sochi, Erdogan said he would discuss the Syria situation with his Russian colleague, paying special attention to the Syrian Kurds issue and a planned Moscow-backed Syrian congress.

Russia had been planning to hold the Syrian Congress on National Dialogue on Nov. 18 in Sochi. Moscow had invited 33 Syrian groups and political parties, including Kurds and other rebel groups. However, Russia postponed the congress after Turkey balked at the Kurds being invited, particularly the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara considers extensions of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported. "It's an imposition. We have immediately conveyed our reaction. Its unacceptable," said Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin. Some members of the Syrian opposition also were against the congress, saying Russia is working on behalf of the regime.

However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov announced Nov. 14 that the congress has been rescheduled for early December. It wasn't clear if Turkey or the opposition members who criticized the meeting would attend. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who was also in Sochi, had said just the day before that, though Turkey doesn't oppose such a meeting, "No terrorist groups should be included in the congress."

During the Sochi meeting, Turkeys president also called on Russia and the United States to move their troops out of Syria and said he was "having trouble understanding Putin's recent agreement with US President Donald Trump on Syria. Erdogan said that since Russia and the United States both agree a military solution won't work, they should pull their troops out of Syria and work harder on a political solution. Erdogan didn't mention Turkeys own military presence in Syria.

As both Putin and Erdogan spoke more about bilateral relations than the Syrian settlement after the meeting, it raised speculation over whether the two leaders had actually agreed on something that would soon produce actions on the ground or had failed to find themselves on the same page. Erdogan did say after the meeting that Turkey and Russia would focus on a political solution in Syria. Putin noted that joint work on Syria among Russia, Turkey and Iran continues successfully, and the level of violence in Syria has decreased thanks to these efforts.

Yuri Mavashev, head of political research at the state-run, Moscow-based Center for Modern Turkish Studies, believes that even though the men didn't have a lot to say to the press about the sensitive topics of Syria and Kurdish groups, these topics  especially the congress  most likely prevailed during the talks.

"This congress is an important political option for a peace settlement in Syria, as [are] talks in Geneva and Astana [Kazakhstan]," he told Al-Monitor. According to the expert, Russian-Turkish relations have reached an unprecedented level of cooperation. It is very important for both countries to coordinate their actions in Syria, paying attention to the growing influence of the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] in Syria, he added. Turkey believes that weapons the United States has supplied to the SDF wind up in the hands of the PKK, which Turkey considers a terrorist group.

The strong cooperation was also mentioned several times by Russian Middle East experts during a Nov. 8 panel discussion on Russian-Turkish relations and developments in the Middle East, organized by the Moscow-based International Institute of the Development and Science Cooperation, which Al-Monitor attended. The institute is allegedly affiliated with the political movement of Erdogan's arch-rival, US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for the July 2016 coup attempt.

The agreement with Turkey on Syria has lately become the biggest achievement of Russian diplomacy, panel member Veniamin Popov said at the gathering. Popov is a retired Russian ambassador to Yemen, Tunisia and Libya; coordinator of the group Russia-Islamic World; and Putin's special representative for relations with the Saudi Arabia-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The operation Russia launched in Syria in September 2015 has become a new milestone, not only in the development of the Middle East but also because, according to Popov, it marked the end of the unipolar world. Russia is now a key country in the Middle East, he said.

However, Russias new role in the region demands more active and cautious diplomacy and an ability to support good relations with the key regional countries. In this respect, Russian-Turkish relations, which survived the jet crisis, are an example of a partnership of uneasy compromise. The Syrian Kurds issue continues to be an apple of discord between Moscow and Ankara. While Moscow wishes to include them in the Syrian peace process, Ankara will do everything possible to prevent that  and it hasn't ruled out military intervention.
November 15, 2017

Leaders from the Middle East, Central Asia and the Far East are showing a lot of interest in Turkey's defense companies. For example, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, during his recent visit to Ankara, personally participated in a test flight of a T-129 attack helicopter manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Pakistan is thinking of spending $1.5 billion to replace its worn-out Bell AH-1F and AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters with 30 T-129s from Turkey.

Technology transfer from TAI to Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) would allow for joint production. If Pakistan approves the deal, and it is expected to by July, this will be the biggest single sale made by the Turkish defense industry. Also, Pakistan is closely interested in Hurkus trainer aircraft, also manufactured by TAI, and Anka drones.

Turkey's search for markets in South Asia is not confined to Pakistan but includes Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Turkish defense companies participated in the Bangkok Defense and Security Fair, held Nov. 6-9, and touted T-129 helicopters, MILGEM Class corvette warships, armed and unarmed drones, Hurkus training aircraft and armored combat vehicles. It also promoted its weapons systems, rockets and missiles, border security solutions, night and thermal observation systems, radars, smart munitions and much more military hardware.

Low-intensity clashes in Thailand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have made those countries aware of Turkeys counterterror experience. Its locally manufactured weapons and systems are the kinds most needed in counterterror and counterinsurgency operations against violent nonstate actors. There is particularly heavy interest in Turkey's devices to counter roadside bombs, such as jammers and compressors, armed and unarmed drones, border surveillance systems, armored tactical vehicles and personnel carriers.

Nowadays, Ankara is very pleased with the marketing success stories and sales of Turkish defense products abroad.

Defense industry expert Arda Mevlutoglu underlined that the rapid expansion of Turkey's defense industry increased export revenues; about 50% to 60% of these sales are part of offset agreements. Mevlutoglu said there are several factors driving Turkeys increasing defense-industry footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.

"First, social, cultural and religious commonalities help Turkey easily develop business, establish long-term relationships and build trust. Second, many Asian countries have ambitious regional goals that require strong and effective military capabilities. These countries seek advanced, high-quality military equipment with high standards and few, if any, political strings attached. Turkey, therefore, becomes an ideal source for such systems and solutions: It is a NATO member, meaning [it has] very high standards and requirements for platform design, manufacture, training, doctrine and operation, Mevlutoglu told Al-Monitor.

"The Turkish armed forces are also actively engaged in a number of operations and conflicts, some of which are within the context of NATO and UN efforts," he added.

One important thing that sets Turkey apart from its South Korean and Israeli rivals in the South Asia market is that Turkey's entire range of defense products comply with NATO standards. Another factor that makes Turkey very competitive is Turkish companies' willingness to agree to technology transfer and joint production. This openness encourages many South Asian companies, especially those new to the field that are looking for easy contacts and meetings, not companies that just sell their products off the shelf.

But Mevlutoglu underlines an important fact: Turkey's defense industry is currently at a junction: So far the industry has expanded rapidly and produced many impressive platforms and systems. Now the sector should enter the sustainability phase in which it should manufacture, maintain, upgrade and export these products. Export of defense systems has never been a straightforward business: It is genetically infected with implications of political relations and also the effects of [technological] advances. Given that the Turkish defense sector can cope with these, the result is many impressive export successes.

Mevlutoglu also stressed that for Turkey to be competitive globally, it must develop its human capital, significantly increase funds for research and development, and create a serious political vision.

This sector is a business ecosystem that requires flexibility, long-term planning and continued focus on total quality. Putting effort into immediate export results might make Ankara smile for two or three years, but it can't be the sole criterion for Turkey's success in the defense industry.
November 16, 2017

Relations between Turkey and the United States hit another bump this week when Ankara issued a diplomatic note formally requesting information from US officials on the whereabouts of a Turkish gold trader jailed in New York in a case that has roiled ties between the NATO allies.

Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian facing charges for allegedly violating US sanctions on Iran, is at the center of a political tug of war. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the United States of having ulterior motives in bringing the case against the businessman who once fraternized with ministers in his government.

The Foreign Ministry sent the note Wednesday after Zarrabs lawyer was unable to contact him and the US Federal Bureau of Prisons website indicated he had been released from prison. The New York attorney generals office said Zarrab remains in custody, newspapers reported.

The latest twist comes just as the two countries seemed to be trying to mend a relationship that hit bottom last month when the United States halted non-immigration visa services in Turkey following the arrests of local consular staff members. The State Department partially restarted issuing visas on the eve of a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

Yildirim, who met US Vice President Mike Pence last week, helped stop a slide in relations with the two men agreeing the sides would avoid taking unpredictable steps and work to rebuild trust, reported Turkiye newspaper.

But Erdogan was reportedly unhappy with the results of the trip, specifically Yildirims failure to clinch any guarantees in the Zarrab case. Yildirims remarks that both the United States and Turkey are governed by rule of law also upset Erdogan, because it contradicted the presidents efforts to depict the case as politically motivated, said Yenicag newspaper, citing presidential sources.

Yildirim came and seemingly got worse than nothing. Pence calling on Turkey regarding not only US citizens and consular staff but also journalists and rights defenders was a big shift for the Trump administration, Howard Eissenstat, a Turkey researcher at St. Lawrence University and a senior nonresident fellow at the Project on Middle East Democracy, told Al-Monitor.

Until now, President Donald Trump has avoided overtly criticizing Turkey for its checkered human rights record and at a September meeting with the Turkish president extolled their friendship.

What Yildirim could have possibly achieved on Zarrabs behalf is unclear, now that he is part of US special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into whether Trumps presidential campaign colluded with foreign powers. Mueller is probing Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser who was allegedly offered millions of dollars to effect Zarrabs release and the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania that the Turkish government says was behind a failed military coup last year.

US news outlets have reported that Zarrab may have switched sides to cooperate with federal prosecutors after lawyers for his co-defendant, a manager at Turkeys state-run Halkbank, said their client is likely the only defendant who will appear at the trial, slated to begin on Nov. 27.

US officials have responded to Turkeys diplomatic note with verbal affirmations that Zarrab is in good condition, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters on Thursday.

Turkey is worried that the Zarrab case means revelations will come out that will personally embarrass President Erdogan and his close associates by highlighting corruption at the highest rings of government, said Eissenstat, but added he doubted anything that emerges in the trial would come as a surprise to Turks after a 2013 corruption scandal exposed Zarrabs alleged links with the government.

Turkish officials may be more concerned about penalties against Halkbank and other Turkish lenders for alleged sanctions-busting that could destabilize shaky financial markets, he said.

For its part, Turkey issued an arrest warrant last week for American scholar Henri Barkey, a former State Department official who was born in Turkey, accusing him of playing a central role in orchestrating the attempted coup because he was in Istanbul when it occurred, the pro-government Star newspaper claimed. The daily outlined a litany of misdeeds including that Barkey was a CIA agent and mastermind in the plot against Turkey, as the government has stoked suspicions that the United States was involved in the bungled putsch.

These accusations are so ludicrous that they do not even deserve the term science fiction. Yet the Turkish press, such as it is, and government officials, including the judiciary and security services, seem to be seized with it, Barkey, a professor of international relations at Lehigh University, told Al-Monitor.

The Turkish leadership is encouraging this for two purposes: They accuse their domestic critics, imprison them and thus intimidate a larger group into submission and, two, they fan the flames of anti-Americanism at home while trying to succor favor with Washington, he said.

If Turkey thought it could pressure the US government, it's wrong, Barkey continued. There is a serious backlash developing in Congress. Turkey used to count many lawmakers as friends on the Hill. They have all but disappeared.

In addition to two consular workers, Turkey jailed American preacher Andrew Brunson for alleged links to the coup plot and other US citizens, mainly those holding dual citizenship, under a post-coup state of emergency that has imprisoned tens of thousands of people.

Jonathan Cohen, a deputy assistant secretary at the State Department, told Congress on Wednesday that chief among US concerns are the security of and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for U.S. citizens in Turkey and locally employed staff at the U.S. Mission in Turkey, a number of whom have been arrested on dubious terrorism charges under the state of emergency.

Cohen said, We will not rest until all of their cases are resolved.
November 16, 2017

The Pentagon more than doubled US refueling support for the Saudi-led mission in Yemen over the past year, a spokeswoman told Al-Monitor, despite mounting public and congressional concerns about the operation.

Amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, the US Department of Defense provided about 480,000 gallons of aviation fuel to the mission at a cost of more than $1 million in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, a 140% increase over the previous year. The disclosure comes as Yemen suffers the worlds worst cholera epidemic and the Saudis face international pressure to lift their blockade of the countrys ports.

This revelation should be a wake-up call to every policymaker and every American that this country is literally fueling the largest humanitarian crisis in the world and the worst cholera outbreak in recorded history, said Kate Gould, a lobbyist with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker group. The [United States] is operating these gas stations in the sky to fuel Saudi and UAE bombers as they rain down terror on Yemeni water and other sanitation infrastructure  the last safeguards Yemen has against these disease outbreaks sweeping the country.

Though top Pentagon officials say that the United States no longer assists the Saudi-led coalition with targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the refueling mission has continued to expand under President Donald Trump. The Pentagon buys its fuel from the Defense Logistics Agency, an in-house organization that provides supplies to the US military and then sells it to individual military services, including the US Air Force, which is spearheading the refueling mission. The United States has conducted 2,363 refueling sorties in the Horn of Africa since the Saudi-led campaign began in March 2015, but US Central Command, which tracks that data, does not break out figures by country.

Lawmakers opposed to US support for the operation were quick to criticize the refueling figures. The House of Representatives on Monday adopted a nonbinding resolution that is highly critical of Iran and the Houthis but also notes that Congress has not enacted specific legislation authorizing the use of military force against parties participating in the Yemeni civil war.

The House resolution passed Monday makes it clear that the United States is unauthorized in providing the Saudis with any support in their war against the Houthis, the resolutions sponsor, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., argued in a statement to Al-Monitor. Khanna said he hopes the Pentagon will cease any refueling activity for operations against the Houthis.

Their actions must be limited to counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda, he said, and there must be full transparency.

Human rights groups agreed.

It's absurd that it [has] taken almost 2 years to receive honest answers, said Kate Kizer, director of the Yemen Peace Project.

The new data, Kizer says, speaks to an even greater urgency for Congress to end this unauthorized military support for the coalition that has largely created the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN says more than 10,000 Yemenis have died since the start of the war. The Saudi coalition has come under particular criticism for bombing civilian infrastructure and blockading Yemeni ports, a move Saudi Arabia took in retaliation for a failed Houthi ballistic missile strike against Riyadh earlier this month.

Backed by Gulf allies, Riyadh first intervened more than two years ago to restore the UN-backed government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Since then, the United States has provided the Saudi coalition with targeting assistance, aircraft refueling and intelligence, though Washington has scaled back some of that support recently.

Speaking at the Dubai Air Show last week, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, the top US Air Force commander in the Middle East, said that the Pentagon had stopped providing targeting assistance to Saudi-led forces in the conflict, but that US advisers in the border region continued to support operations. US forces regularly target al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants throughout the war-torn country.

The United States also supports the operation through weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and its partner the UAE, with the State Department approving more than $3 billion in bomb sales to both countries since March 2015. The US Senate narrowly approved a $500 million sale of precision-guided munitions to the Saudis in June in a sign of increasing congressional frustration.

Even as it continues to support the Saudi coalition, the United States remains the largest humanitarian aid donor to Yemen, providing $467 million in the fiscal year that just ended.
November 16, 2017

The 11 black-and-white portraits that were part of the Dawn of Recovery exhibition Nov. 7-9 at Gallery Ras Aid in Amman, Jordan, showed the tragic faces of war and violence: burned skin and lips, missing fingers and hands, and disfigured faces. Next to each portrait, a colored photo showed the same person after reconstructive surgery  still scarred, but showing at least a glimmer of hope and joy.

[The surgeries] have given them the opportunity to return to a life that is almost normal, Faris al-Jawad, the communications manager at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders, or MSF) hospital in Amman, who organized the exhibition, told Al-Monitor.

From Yemen to Syria, from Iraq to Palestine, innocent civilians have consistently borne the brunt of conflicts that have swept through the Middle East. Some of them, such as the 11 people portrayed in the photo exhibition, found their way to the MSF hospital in Amman. The exhibition opened Nov. 7 as part of a belated celebration of the 10th anniversary of the hospital, which was established in May 2006. Its original aim was to help Iraqi war victims who were unable to access needed medical treatments, but with conflicts and wars raging in the Middle East, the hospital has been treating patients ever since.

The color photographs, along with the explanations next to them, show the patients not just as victims but also as living, breathing individuals, doing things such as playing a guitar or riding a bike. The portraits show that the children and adults have regained, at least partially, their lives.

"Patients arrive at the hospital from different conflict zones in the Middle East," Jawad said. He said their injuries are caused by "burns, bullets, shelling and blasts, and patients come [to us] because the health facilities in their countries are unable to provide adequate care.

Marc Schakal, MSF's head of mission in Amman, believes the high quality of reconstructive surgeries benefit many patients in the region. MSF, the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is known for its emergency response during medical crises, whereas the hospital focuses on dealing with the long-term consequences of war by improving lives, not only saving them.

Schakal said that after patients have received emergency treatment for their injuries in the [conflict zone], we [MSF branches or doctors in the various countries] refer them to Amman to undergo reconstructive surgery. The objective of the program is to help patients recover functionality, movement and autonomy.

Because of the complexities of the patients' injuries, doctors with various surgical specialties often continue to work with the same patient and provide orthopedic, maxillofacial and plastic surgery. The treatments last from several months to several years, so the patients travel back and forth to Amman. According to Schakal, the hospital performed 10,332 surgeries on 4,165 patients, with roughly 20% arriving as children, between 2006 and 2016.

Although the hospital specializes in reconstructive surgery, the cornerstone of its work lies in its holistic approach. This includes physiotherapy  helping patients learn to walk, speak and eat again  psychosocial counseling and following up with the patient for a year after the end of the treatment. The follow-up is done by the local MSF doctor who referred the patient for treatment in Amman.

The full treatment expenses are covered by MSF, which also pays for plane tickets to and from Amman, visa expenses and a small allowance for personal expenses during the stay in Jordan.

The photos were taken by photographer Alessio Mamo and the accompanying texts were prepared by journalist and Al-Monitor contributor Marta Bellingreri, who spent several weeks at the MSF hospital in the spring of 2016 and again in the summer of 2017 meeting with patients and listening to their stories.

The black-and-white photographs were taken inside the hospital, while the color photos were taken in a place or during a situation linked with the patient's life. Since Marta speaks Arabic, it was easy to convey [to the patients] the importance of the project. We asked about the incident that injured the patient, about their work and life before and after the explosions and bombs; we asked them about their daily life at the hospital, and how they imagine their future after all the surgical operations, Mamo told Al-Monitor.

One of the patients photographed is Yousef (patients are only referred to by their first name in the exhibition), a 17-year old Iraqi who had been set on fire by thieves who stole his motorbike in Baghdad. He arrived at the hospital with his arms stuck to the side of his body and his chin fused to his chest, Jawad said. Over the course of six months, Yousef underwent eight plastic surgeries that allowed him to once again use his arms and neck to get dressed and feed himself.

Qatada, one of the people in the portraits, drove over a mine in Aden, Yemen. He was fitted with prosthetic legs and underwent orthopedic surgery on both arms at the MSF hospital in Amman seven months after the accident. After multiple operations, including a nerve transplant, he can now dress himself. When asked how he feels about being interviewed by journalists, he said, "I am very happy."

Physical therapist Aliette Petitjean, who attended the Dawn of Recovery exhibition, told Al-Monitor, In the color photos, they are all smiling. It just represents hope.
Officials from the Florida Gulf Coast port and trade representatives from Ecuador met earlier this week to discuss the potential for increasing South American imports to Central and Southwest Florida markets.



Discussing trade opportunities between Port Manatee and Ecuador are, from left: Daniela Munoz, business development manager for Pro Ecuador; Manuel Echeverria Castro, Ecuadors trade commissioner for the southern United States; and Carlos Buqueras, executive director of Port Manatee.

Port Manatee could soon be getting a boost from Ecuadorian import cargoes.

Officials from the Florida Gulf Coast port and trade representatives from Ecuador met earlier this week to discuss the potential for increasing South American imports to Central and Southwest Florida markets.

Opportunities are really growing for reaching Central and Southwest Florida by way of Port Manatee, said Manuel Echeverria Castro, Ecuadors trade commissioner for the southern United States. We have a very high interest in Port Manatee. We are looking to increase awareness that ports on the Gulf of Mexico, such as Port Manatee, offer great opportunity, in addition to traditional South Florida gateways.

Echeverria said that about 30 percent of Ecuadors non-oil exports go to the United States, with 40 percent of those products currently entering through Florida ports. Past shipments into Port Manatee from Ecuador have included bananas and fertilizer, but Echeverria said other goods such as mangos, shrimp, cocoa beans, chocolate and apparel could enter the port as well.

Growing trade with Ecuador and other Latin American countries seeking ready access to Central and Southwest Florida markets bodes to significantly enhance Port Manatees already impressive position as a critical economic engine for our region, said Vanessa Baugh, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority.

The port has had visits from several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the Domincan Republic and Chile. According to the port, the International Trade Hub at Port Manatee has played an integral role in attracting for such activity since its opening in 2014.

We greatly appreciate the interest shown in Port Manatee by Ecuadorian trade officials and we look forward to working together to advance mutually beneficial commercial ties, said Carlos Buqueras, Port Manatees executive director.

According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, Port Manatee is called by two services from Mexico and Central America. Other Florida ports, including Miami and Port Everglades, offer a combined three services to and from Ecuador.
Google has introduced Actions on Google to its users in Canada to let them gain access to different apps and services right through the Google Assistant. The service is now available in English and French for developers in the country looking to build apps for the Google Assistant, the tech giant confirmed on Wednesday.

Brad Abrams, Group Product Manager for the Google Assistant, said that Google Assistant users in Canada can now verbally instruct their personal assistant to connect them to a specific app or service on various devices including the Google Home, Google Home Mini, or any Pixel phones without having to download the app in question. In practice, users can e.g. schedule their holiday trip via any app available on the Google Play Store directly through the Google Assistant while simultaneously saving local storage space on their devices. Currently, only a few apps have Google Assistant support, though the search giant vowed to roll out more localized apps in the near future, without providing more concrete details on the matter. On the other hand, to access apps already supported by the Google Assistant, simply open the app directory in the digital assistant on a mobile device, which can be accessed from the Explore tab. This can alternatively be done directly from the Google Home Android app.

For developers, Actions on Googles developer portal contains a number of resources such as development tools, documentation, and a simulator to test apps before rolling them out. Third-party developers have been able to access Actions on Google since late 2016, and since then, Google has been working to expand the availability of the voice-activated artificial intelligence companion to more consumers. The Canadian launch of Actions on Google comes seven months after the Mountain View, California-based internet giant announced that the platform, along with connected devices that host the Google Assistant, will extend its language support beyond American English. This August, Actions on Google gained support for British English as all Google Assistant apps have become available to users in the United Kingdom. The latest expansion of the service in Canada is gradually rolling out to users in the country and should be available on a nationwide level shortly.
CHOETECH is a bit well-known for its charging products, which include Quick Charge 3.0, fast charge wall adapters, car chargers and even Qi Wireless chargers. The company has just come out with a brand new charging stand, which is using the model number T522-S, and it comes in at a much cheaper price than the charging stand that Samsung offers to its customers. Since it is using the Qi standard it will work with just about every device out there that can be charged wirelessly  this includes the LG G6, LG V30, Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus and even the new Galaxy Note 8.

First things first, the build quality on this wireless charging stand from CHOETECH is top notch. Even though it is not made of metal, and it is made of plastic, it still looks great and feels high quality. While a metal charger would definitely look better and feel like its more premium, metal is not a good material for wireless charging, not to mention it would make the charger and the phone that is being charged, hotter. And thats not a good idea, so using plastic is definitely the right route here.

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Now on the front, youll see a slight lip, which is there to hold your device in place. Youll also see the outline of where the phone should be placed which has rubber around it to keep the phone from moving around while being charged, which is there coils are for wireless charging. There are vents around the back, and some on the front, which is where the air from the 0.7-watt cooling fan pushes out the heat, this is what keeps the charger cool. Seeing as wireless chargers (and Qi-enabled smartphones) do get sort of a bad rap for getting quite warm and in some cases, very hot. Around the back, theres not much to see there, except for the micro USB port. This one uses a micro USB port for power and there is also a micro USB cable included  whats interesting is that there is no wall adapter included here perhaps to keep the price down. But thats not a big deal, many of us already have a ton of wall adapters laying around that we can use for this wireless charger. And the good news here is that this does work with virtually any adapter, even those desktop USB hubs that many of us have laying around these days.

Charging your smartphone is as easy as placing it on the charger  theres no setup involved here, other than plugging it into the wall. On the front of the wireless charger, youll find a small, thin light. This light will turn blue when you place your phone down on it before it recognizes that it can be wirelessly charged. Interestingly here, this wireless charger only turns green when its charging. Instead of being red when the device is not fully charged and then turning green when its fully charged. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but it does make it a bit more difficult to glance over and see when it is fully charged. With this wireless charging stand, you do have the option of placing your phone in either portrait or landscape  but most people will likely keep it in portrait, as it looks better and its the more natural way of placing your smartphone down on the charger.

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There is fast wireless charging here, however the caveat there is that only Samsung smartphones support it. Which include the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8. If you are looking to wirelessly charge something like the LG G6 or V30, youll be stuck with the slower wireless charging. Now if you are charging it overnight, that likely wont be much of an issue for you, as itll still be fully charged when you wake up. But if you are looking for a quick boost in battery life during the day, it could be an issue. Fast wireless charging is about 1.6x faster than regular wireless charging. So its not life-changing fast, but you will notice a difference.

Most cases will be fine, for wirelessly charging on this fast wireless charging stand. We tested it with a few different cases on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, and they all appeared to work quite well. However, larger cases  particularly OtterBox cases  will need to be removed before you place the smartphone on the charger, otherwise it wont work. That is actually to be expected, since those cases are much thicker than the normal cases that are available for these smartphones. And this pretty much goes for every wireless charger out there right now, so not a real surprise.

This wireless charger from CHOETECH might be one of the best stand style wireless chargers out there. And with it being a fast wireless charger, its a great one to pick up if you have a Samsung device. Unfortunately, Samsung is still the only manufacturer that is using fast wireless charging, over the regular wireless charging speeds. And the addition of a cooling fan built into the wireless charger is also a big deal. As anyone who has used a wireless charger knows, these chargers can get quite warm and even downright hot. And that goes for both the smartphone being charged and the charger, so having a cooling fan built in is a pretty big deal, as it keeps everything nice and cool and you dont have to worry about your phone getting too hot to handle.
Insurance Back UNIQA Austria and UNIQA International expand Management Board

UNIQA Group Austria announced two new appointments for the new created "digitisation" and "customers and markets" management portfolios within UNIQA Austria and UNIQA International.



Alexander BOCKELMANN will head up the newly created "digitisation" executive portfolio at UNIQA Austria and UNIQA International from 1 January 2018, while Sabine USATY-SEEWALD will become the director of the also new "customers and markets" portfolio at UNIQA Osterreich Versicherungen AG from the same date. The contracts for both Management Board appointments run until 30 June 2020.



The Vienna-based insurer pointed out following the merger of the four operating companies in Austria and the launch of the extensive innovation and investment programme last year, "the UNIQA Group is taking the next organizational step in its journey from being an insurance product provider towards being an integrated service provider from the start of the New Year".



Alexander BOCKELMANN, who has a doctorate in environmental sciences, joined UNIQA in 2013 as the Head of Group IT after previously working for the BOSTON Consulting Group in Munich and at insurance companies in Germany and the US. From the middle of 2016, as the Chief Digital Officer, he was responsible for creating the Group's new "Digital Team", which develops the Group's solutions in the field of mobile apps, customer portals, chatbots and big data.



"Alexander BOCKELMANN's appointment as the Management Board's Director of Digitisation at UNIQA Austria and UNIQA International marks UNIQA's even stronger focus on digitisation throughout the Group. In addition to the ongoing development of the digital business model, his Group-wide responsibility also comprises digital cooperations and investment in the digital environment".



The academic insurance clerk Sabine USATY-SEEWALD studied business at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. After holding management positions in industry and at financial service providers throughout her career, in 2006 she joined the UNIQA Group as the Managing Director of UNIQA Leasinggesellschaft. In 2011 she was made the head of Alternative Sales and, since 2016, has been in charge of Customer and Sales Management.



"Her new position on the Management Board of UNIQA Austria as the Director of Customers and Markets gives her responsibility for launching products and services on the Austrian market. A key aspect of her work will be which innovative answers and solutions UNIQA Austria can offer its customers in the face of rapidly changing customer expectations and market requirements".





Author: Vlad BOLDIJAR on 16.11.2017





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Tech giant Foxconn has a vested interest in seeing self-driving cars succeed, and is thus studying the possibility of rolling out dedicated lanes for such vehicles, starting with Interstate 94, a major highway that runs through Wisconsin. According to local transit authorities, this is one of many proposals that are currently being evaluated regarding how to integrate fully autonomous vehicles into normal traffic in the state. Foxconns proposal in particular is currently only in the research stage; all involved parties are conducting research and weighing out the proposal to see how feasible it may be, and how it stacks up to other proposals of a similar sort.

The goal of the proposal is twofold; not only would a dedicated lane for self-driving cars make things safer and faster for riders, who would not have to mingle with human drivers in traffic, but it would also provide a perfect testing ground for benchmarking self-driving cars as they cruise through I-95 unimpeded. Self-driving cars are made to handle the hazards of everyday city driving, but flying down the highway is an area where test data has thus far been plentiful, but not exactly varied. There are, of course, obvious setbacks. For starters, this would mean less lanes for human drivers. That means that the amount of people taking advantage of the self-driving cars in the special lane would have to outweigh the loss of that lane, or it would make traffic on I-95 slower and more chaotic in general by packing drivers that would previously have used the lane into the other lanes. Another possible setback is the very real probability that a frustrating traffic jam will cause a driver in the normal lane to cheat by swerving into the autonomous lane, if not multiple drivers, which could throw self-driving cars off by presenting an element that goes against expectations.

For its part, Foxconn is ready to commit 13,000 employees to a stretch of I-95 to help convert it. The proposal is feasible to execute, but the real question is how much benefit it will hold for motorists. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce president Tim Sheehy said that the entire association was dumbstruck at the very idea of the proposal at hand, but will be giving it a fair chance among the many other potentially viable solutions that are increasingly being submitted as the advent of the publicly usable self-driving car grows nearer and nearer.
Update: AT&T responded to some of Mr. Rays remarks and suggestions by providing the following statement:

The claim that AT&T isnt willing to accept the responsibility of advancing mobile communications standards couldnt be further from the truth. Were serving in leadership positions across the industry, joining with other tech leaders and working to resolve key standards issues early to bring 5G to market sooner.

The original story is as follows.

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T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said Thursday that the third largest carrier in the United States will commercialize 5G networks on a national level by 2020, thus reiterating the companys commitment to the next generation of wireless technologies. While speaking at a Barcelona, Spain-based investor conference, Mr. Ray pointed out how neither Verizon nor AT&T were willing to publicly accept the responsibility of advancing mobile communications standards throughout the country in three years time like T-Mobile did, adding that the Bellevue, Washington-based company is presently planning to continue its 600MHz deployment in order to build a strong basis for 5G in the 2020s.

The 54-year-old also reflected on the millimeter-wave technology and its potential for 5G deployment while speaking to investors earlier today, indicating that while initiatives dedicated to surgical, tactical deployment of the fifth generation of mobile networks arent irrelevant, they are unlikely to directly translate into nationwide commercialization of 5G technologies. Mr. Rays remarks were meant to paint T-Mobiles 600MHz focus in a more positive, scalable, and ultimately commercially viable light compared to AT&T and Verizons approach to 5G deployment. The carriers endeavors related to its recently won spectrum remain somewhat limited in nature for the time being, with the mobile service provider still being in the early stages of leveraging its holdings which it only started utilizing with a small number of sites that started going live in August. T-Mobile isnt entirely dismissive of high-band spectrum utilized by fixed wireless technologies pursued by Verizon and AT&T yet remains adamant that the rest of the industry isnt paying enough attention to lower airwaves and mid-band frequencies.

The airwaves that presently make the bulk of T-Mobiles 5G focus have lower capacities than high-frequency bands but are significantly more capable of penetrating solid objects like walls, with the self-proclaimed Un-Carrier claiming that such technology is hence pertinent to deploying a functional 5G network meant for commercial use. The companys small cell-oriented approach is set to continue come early 2018 as T-Mobile starts putting more such sites in operation while simultaneously increasing the number of smartphones and tablets on its network that are capable of utilizing the new technology. Two such Android handsets are scheduled to be released tomorrow in the form of the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active and LG V30 Plus, with the base variant of the latter already supporting the wireless carriers 600MHz network and becoming the first mobile device to do so after hitting the U.S. market in early October.
L'HospitaletCatalonias education community has responded with a wealth of data to the accusations of student indoctrination and Madrids warnings of a tighter grip on Catalan schools. In less than twenty-four hours Somescola, a Catalan platform that brings together many groups involved in education, has come out to refute Madrids arguments and categorically deny any evidence that Catalonias school system fosters pro-independence views. Nothing in the research we have conducted so far endorses those accusations and there is no evidence to cast doubt on the work thats been done, remarked Monica Nadal, the research manager at Fundacio Bofill.

A manifesto was unveiled at an event held in the Tecla Sala library of LHospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona, in an effort to send a message of unity. The document calls on Catalan society to respond to any present and future attacks. According to the document, those who publicly advocate a homogenising regression in education, ideological indoctrination, casting doubt and encouraging legal action and language-based segregation in schools are looking to jeopardise Catalonias education model, which is committed to providing equal opportunities.

The Somescola manifesto argues that Catalan schools have contributed to creating society as we know it today, one that is plural, diverse, principled and with solid foundations that support social cohesion and makes an appeal to safeguard this heritage. To that effect, Somescola whose steering group includes over 50 organisations insists that joint efforts to consolidate, protect and improve Catalonias education model must be renewed. Abdoulaye Fall, a spokesman for the Platform of Associations of Senegalese in Catalonia, stated that this education model has made a very positive contribution to the upbringing of our children. He also emphasised that by avoiding language-based segregation, the coexistence with and integration of migrants is guaranteed in Catalonia.

The power of language immersion programmes in Catalan schools to bind society together has been cited as one of the strongest arguments in support of the Catalan education system which has resulted in a fully bilingual society. Evidence of that is the study published by Fundacio Bofill using data provided by Spains Education Ministry, which proves that Catalan schoolchildren obtain similar scores in Spanish and Catalan language tests, regardless of their mother tongue. While a familys socio-economic status does have an impact on their childrens performance at school, their place of birth does not.

Another report by the same foundation, also from data provided by Madrid, shows that Catalan children are as proficient in verbal communication in Spanish as children outside Catalonia. In fact, Catalan students score two points higher.

One of the most recurrent criticisms against Catalan schools is that they allegedly promote secession from Spain. Such denunciations increased following the October 1 vote on independence, when unionist voices accused a number of Catalan schools of imposing partisan political debates in class. In fact, eight teachers from La Seu dUrgell were summoned to court over an alleged hate crime after three families sought legal action. Despite the accusations, the Fundacio Bofill report states that there is no correlation between growing independence support and having been schooled in Catalonia. The conclusion stems from a survey conducted by Dr Maria Jose Herrero on this subject, which indicates that the factors that determine the national identity of an adult who was schooled in Catalonia are the context of their neighbourhood and their familys national affiliation.

Somescola brings together several parents associations, the main teachers union (Ustec) and Catalonias Institut dEstudis Catalans (IEC), and their response comes a day after the Spanish government announced new plans to give Spains School Inspectorate a higher profile in Catalonia to ensure that Catalan schoolchildren are able to study in Spanish. This is yet another push by PM Rajoys government to make the most of the interim period resulting from Article 155 to intervene in the day-to-day running of Catalan schools. If confirmed, the Spanish government would be able to take action in Catalan schools without violating the Statute. This strategy would allow the PP to show some muscle on a subject which so far has been the domain of Ciudadanos, the party that has traditionally waved the flag of student indoctrination by teachers in Catalonia.
MoscowMoscow chimed in on Wednesday concerning statements made by Alfonso Dastis, Spains Foreign Minister, and PM Mariano Rajoy in which they denounced a campaign of "manipulation and disinformation" coming from Russia after Catalonias independence referendum on October 1st.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied any interference by his country in the Catalan independence process, and said that these accusations are an example of the "rampant anti-Russian hysteria in the West", as well as the inability of the countries in question to deal with their own internal problems.

"We are used to it. According to some observations, some of our partners in Europe and the United States appear to have nothing better to do than to make accusations against our media and label them foreign agents", said Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs. He added: "This sensationalist hysteria has probably been created to distract their voters attention from their inability to resolve those internal problems".

Almost at the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also rejected the accusations and assured that there is not even a single piece of evidence to support them. "Neither the Spanish authorities, nor NATO, nor the media have presented any argument that gives credibility to these accusations. Thus, we consider these statements to be unfounded, as they appear to be an extension of the same hysteria that currently exists in the USA and some other countries", insisted Peskov.

The reaction from the Russian government officials comes after Dastis said that Russian intervention in the Catalan crisis "had been proven", as there were "data showing how network traffic following the referendum (of October 1st) passed specifically through networks located in Russia and in other countries". In recent weeks and days, however, both the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, and the Russian ambassador to Spain, as well as official Russian media outlets, had already denounced what they consider a campaign of false accusations by some Spanish media against Russia over the Catalan crisis.

Russia maintains the official position that the Catalan crisis is an internal Spanish affair that must be resolved within the framework of the law and the Constitution.
Ashurst has been named Australias healthiest workplace for 2017 in AIA Vitalitys Australias Healthiest Workplace survey.



The award is recognition for the firms programs and policies to improve the health and wellbeing of employees and how the firms people embrace and drive these initiatives, said Phil Breden, Ashursts Australian regional head.



Conducted by RAND Europe, the comprehensive science-backed survey aims to provide employers and employees with useful strategies to improve health and wellbeing, the firm said. RAND Europe and partner educational institutions analysed data from 32 companies with 2,449 employees participating across Australia on issues including employee lifestyle, clinical indicators, stress, and mental health.



Profusion Group won the award for healthiest employees, while Announcer Group won the healthiest employer nod.



The study found that about half of Australians reported at least one dimension of work-related stress. Two in three Australians get more than 150 minutes of physical activity each week, while three in four get more than seven hours of sleep a night, the survey found.



It also found that Australian organisations have less productivity loss at 45% due to health-related issues when compared to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. However, that figure is higher than in the UK.



More than 120 Ashurst employees participated in the study. The firm offers its staff numerous health and wellbeing programs, including an employee assistance program, subsidised gym memberships, and access to wellbeing officers and mindfulness training.





Related stories:

Complex food deal succeeds with firms aid

Global firm acts in major mining financing in Canada
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To be honest, we weren't that excited until we saw this rendering. After all, Hyundai dropped the ball big time with the first generation. But the Korean company is no one to give up on an idea, no matter how asymmetrical it is.And while the MINI Clubman now has two doors on either side, the Veloster will still have just one for the driver side. The Koreans will get the last laugh, as the Veloster R will undoubtedly be more powerful and dynamic than any John Cooper Works model.The rendering made by KKS Studio focuses on the N version and as such includes a sportier bumper, bigger wheels, beefy brakes and a trunk wing which you can just about make out. That thing is going to be as impressive as the one on the Focus RS.When the Veloster came out, it was primarily aimed at the Scion market in America. However, that brand is now gone, and so is the VW Scirocco in Europe.We think the chief rival for the Veloster N will be the Civic Si and, to a lesser degree, the Type R. We know that the i30 N undercuts its Japanese rival in price and the same will be true for this asymmetrical coupe.But beyond the powerful 2-liter engine, this will be a design-led project. Remember, Hyundai doesn't have any other projects where its designers can cut loose. It's going to feel like a more grown-up car though, thanks to a longer wheelbase and adaptive suspension setting. But good luck trying to convince the wife that it's suitable for the whole family!
The Dubai Airshow on Wednesday provided the setting for two enormous aircraft purchase orders, totaling billions of dollars for Airbus and Boeing. Airshow organizers called it one of the most exciting days in recent aviation business history. Airbus unveiled its largest single announcement ever, a $49.5 billion deal with Indigo Partners to purchase 430 aircraft in its A320neo family. Meanwhile, Boeing completed a $27 billion deal with carrier flydubai for 225 aircraft in its 737 MAX family, the largest-ever single-aisle jet order  by number of airplanes and total value  from a Middle East carrier. Overall, customers in the region announced orders and commitments for 296 Boeing airplanes at the show including 50 options  with a total value of about $50 billion at list prices, Boeing said.

This has been a very successful show for Boeing, said Bernard Dunn, president of Boeings regional office. We signed agreements with key airline partners including Emirates, flydubai, Azerbaijan Airlines, ALAFCO and Ethiopian Airlines. In addition, Egyptair became a new customer for the 787. The 430 new Airbus aircraft will be allocated among Frontier Airlines (U.S.), JetSMART (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) and Wizz Air (Hungary), Airbus said. Also at the show, Boom CEO Blake Scholl said in a news conference on Monday his company is in discussions with about 20 airlines around the world that are interested in his companys supersonic jet. Boom is working to bring to market a 55-seat supersonic airliner, with the first flight of a piloted scaled test aircraft expected next year. Five airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, have placed preorders for 76 airplanes, according to the company.
Pilots who just cant get enough of aviation have two new media options to choose from this week. AARP Studios has launched a new video series on YouTube called Badass Pilot, an original unscripted series that features Art Nalls, age 65. Nalls, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, owns a British Sea Harrier fighter jet, the only one owned and flown by a private citizen. He flies it at airshows around the U.S. The five-episode series follows Nalls as he travels to England to purchase the Harrier, transports it home in more than5,000pieces, and then relies on his team of retired pilots and aircraft mechanics to help rebuild it. And with his own flying career coming close to an end,Nalls hunts for a highlyskilledyounger pilot who can one day replace him.

Podcast fans can find a new offering from Miles OBrien on iTunes, titled Miles To Go. OBrien, a private pilot, has long covered aviation and aerospace for CNN and PBS, and is now an independent producer with a variety of clients. In the first episode, he and guest Lars Perkins discuss the recent incident in San Francisco when an Airbus crew nearly landed on a taxiway by mistake  the worst airline accident that nearly happened. Future episodes will focus on science, technology and space, as well as aviation. AVwebs Paul Bertorelli spoke with OBrien last year about drones; click here for the podcast. AVwebs Russ Niles visited with Nalls and his Harrier at EAA AirVenture back in 2010; click here for the video.
Sens. Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, have written to Jared Kushner noting that he received emails last September about a "Russia backdoor overture and dinner invite" and about Wikileaks, and failed to disclose them to the committee, Politico reports.

Why it matters: Kushner has a history of not disclosing information and filling out forms incorrectly. Grassley and Feinstein wrote, "If, as you suggest, Mr. Kushner was unaware of, for example, any attempts at Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, then presumably there would be few communications concerning many of the persons identified."

UPDATE: Kushners lawyer has released this statement: "Mr. Kushner and we have been responsive to all requests. We provided the Judiciary Committee with all relevant documents that had to do with Mr. Kushner's calls, contacts or meetings with Russians during the campaign and transition, which was the request. We also informed the committee we will be open to responding to any additional requests and that we will continue to work with White House Counsel for any responsive documents from after the inauguration. We have been in a dialogue with the committee and will continue to do so as part of Mr. Kushner's voluntary cooperation with relevant bi-partisan inquiries."
Alabama's Republican nominee for Senate Roy Moore called for Mitch McConnell to step down today, saying McConnell and "his cronies" wanted to steal the election from the people of Alabama.

He also said he looks forward to serving as a U.S. Senator, and that he wants to see unity in the country: "I never dreamed I would succeed even before I got elected. But I have united the Democrats and the Republicans in fighting against me, because they don't want me there."
16 November 2017 10:06 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 120 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on November 16.

The Armenians 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.

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16 November 2017 16:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

An Armenian student Robert Grigoryan, one of the protesters against the notorious restriction of students right to defer military service, was detained during the march to the National Assembly of Armenia on November 15.

We stood near the Opera Hotel when three men came up and dragged Robert into their car. They only said they were law enforcers. Roberts phone is out of range, a participant of the protest told the Armenian media.

Later, Gegham Asatryan, member of the initiative "For Science Development," told media that Grigoryan participated in the action, but he was not among the initiators.

Why did they take him away? In case they would have taken me away in the first place, Asatryan added.

Under the newly adopted law, a male student desiring to continue his education and delay serving in the army, must sign a contract with the Defense Ministry of Armenia in order to get a draft deferment. In this case, the person will have to serve three instead of usual two years in the military after completing his studies at the location chosen by the ministry. Moreover, during his study period the student will have to undergo military training.

After a week-long boycott of classes and on the second day of the hunger strike at the Yerevan State University, the protesting students  following a closed-door meeting with Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan and the Press Secretary of the Republican Party Eduard Sharmazanov  declared that they are stopping the boycott and hunger strike. The students said they agreed with the authorities to hold a round table on November 22 to discuss the issue.

"From the very beginning we stated that the boycotting of classes is a means of asserting ourselves. We will understand what to do next after the round table and discussions, member of the initiative "For Science Development" David Petrosyan told Armenian media. Representatives of the authorities told us: If you can convince us otherwise, the law will be repealed.

Thus, the Armenian students managed to draw attention of the government to the important issue. Currently, Armenia is among the Top 3 most militarized countries in the world and now the authorities, apparently, want to even more expand the militarization among the countrys population. Armenians do not enjoy this policy of the government, as well as many other decisions by the authorities that complicate their life in the country. Due to this, there are frequent protests in this South Caucasus country and the outflow of the already small population of Armenia is accelerating.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 November 2017 16:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyans notorious statement in May, in which he claimed that the population of the country will reach 4 million by 2040, has become a object of hot discussions and ridicule in the public and expert community in Armenia.

Analysts continue noting that the population of the country is sharply declining and there are no prerequisites for a possible increase. Currently the population is even less than 3 million and given the trend, it will probably be under 2 million by 2040. However, Sargsyan still continues to believe in his pipe dream.

Last week, he held a meeting on demographic problems where again stated the objective to increase the population of Armenia to 4 million. He, however, admitted the problems of security caused by relations with neighbors, which, of course, have a negative impact on the demographic situation in Armenia.

Currently the country is not involved in a war, but people continue to leave abroad. This is the clear indicator of their dissatisfaction with the government and its activity. At this rate, the regions of Armenia will become completely empty in a few decades.

Official statistics confirm this. The indicators published in October show that Armenias demographic situation has worsened even more in 2017. As much as 14,300 people left the country during the past year, according to the National Statistical Service, and in the last five years the number of permanent residents of Armenia decreased by 302,400. In addition, 2017 shows the lowest birth rate in the last five years.

Estimations say that if the current trends of births, deaths, and leaving of the country continue, Armenias population will decrease by 860,000, thus becoming about 2.14 million by 2040, by far not Sargsyan's desired 4 million.

Obviously, the problems of Armenia in relations with neighbors are the main trouble that affects the social and economic situation in the country, and thus causes the outflow of population. Because of these problems, Armenia misses the opportunity of participation in different regional projects, and the country has long turned into the black sheep of the region. The main of these obstacles, which prevents the well-being of the Armenian population, is, of course, the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and illegal occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijans territories.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 November 2017 11:34 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The mechanisms have been prepared for providing the exporters operating in Azerbaijan's districts with tax privileges for the next 3 years, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Taxes said in a message on November 15.

This was said at a meeting of the countrys Ministry of Taxes dedicated to the implementation of measures reflected in the strategic roadmap on the prospects for the national economy.

The entrepreneurs working in Baku, Sumgait, Khirdalan and Absheron district will be unable to use the mechanisms. The entrepreneurs who privatized state property will receive property tax benefits.

Samira Musayeva, director general of the tax policy and strategic research department of the countrys Ministry of Taxes, delivered speech at the meeting.

She said that the ministry has prepared a project on tax benefit monitoring, their effectiveness and a number of other amendments to the legislation.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 November 2017 12:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Aygul Salmanova

Azerbaijan has been named as the world-ranked number 65 country on International Telecommunication Unions ICT Development Index 2017, a unique benchmark of the level of ICT development in countries across the globe.

The country ranked the place among 176 countries in the development of information and communication technologies.

This year's report shows that ICTs have the potential to make the world a better place and contribute immensely to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Iceland became the leader in the ICT development rating. The Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Denmark, and Great Britain are also in the Top 5.

Russia ranked 45th, Kazakhstan - 52nd, while Moldova - 59th. Armenia took 75th place, while Georgia is on the 74th line of the rating. Among the CIS countries the leading position was taken by Belarus (32nd place), while Azerbaijan leads on the South Caucasus.

The top-10 also included Hong Kong (China), the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg and Japan.

ICT is considered to be one of the crucial spheres for the further development of the economy and an integral part of the economic and political reforms which are currently implemented in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan, which is a regional leader in the ICT sector, intends to expand its international cooperation to further develop the sector. The income obtained in the sector in the republic is projected to hit $9 billion by 2020.

The Ministry of Communication and High Technologies is the body responsible for designing and executing policies related to Information and Communication Technologies, as well as startups by young entrepreneurs.

Overall, the ICT sector has intensively developed in the country over the past years. Creating and developing of the e-government system, expanding the broadband internet services, launching the telecommunication and low-orbit satellites, and many other steps are the evidence of Azerbaijans success in this sphere.

In 2016, the country announced Strategic Road Map for development of various areas of economy including telecommunication and information technologies. Additionally, a special Fund under the Ministry  State Fund for Development of Information Technologies operates in the country.

For the next years a strategy for the development of information and communication technologies has been prepared in Azerbaijan, according to the concept and forecast indicators of economic and social development for 2018-2021. It is based on the national strategy for development of information society in Azerbaijan for 2014-2020, which envisages the formation of an effective mechanism to carry out reforms for the future development of industry.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 November 2017 13:08 (UTC+04:00)

By Aygul Slmanova

Baku hosted the Azerbaijan-Bosnia and Herzegovina business forum, with participation of about 60 businessmen from both countries.

Co-organized by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and supported by the Economy Ministry on November 15, the event brought together businessmen engaged in agricultural, food, industry, finance, ICT, construction, textile and service sectors.

During the meeting Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina stressed they are keen to expand cooperation in various spheres with a particular focus on alluring fields of economy for investing.

Speaking at a business meeting, Head of AZPROMO Rufat Mammadov highlighted the measures taken to expand non-oil exports and promotion of investments in Azerbaijan, emphasized the importance of export support mechanisms in expanding the foreign economic relations of the country and increasing export opportunities.

It was noted that favorable conditions were created in the country for the activities of foreign companies and businessmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina could benefit from these opportunities.

Djemal Memagic, Mayor of Bosnia and Herzegovinas Olovo town, made remarks on the importance of cooperation between the two countries. He said his country offers Azerbaijan to cooperate in several spheres.

He added that the purpose of the visit of Bosnia and Herzegovinas delegation is to reveal spheres in which both countries could cooperate in the future.

Olovo town is widely known for its metallurgy, textile industry and construction, Memagic said. Bosnia and Herzegovina can offer Azerbaijan to cooperate in economy, tourism, as well as in some other spheres.

Moreover, Azerbaijan carried out several successful reforms that we could apply in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said. We are also trying to develop our economy and our country is very attractive for investment-making.

The data of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee shows that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina amounted to about $713,000 for 10 months of 2017.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 November 2017 12:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and Stadler Rail Group have agreed to further expand cooperation, said the Azerbaijani company in a message on November 16.

The agreement was reached during the meeting of the Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov and Stadler Rail Group CEO Peter Spuhler.

During the meeting, Gurbanov spoke about the projects of international and regional transport corridors, being implemented by Azerbaijan Railways.

The parties also discussed the construction of 30 sleeping cars ordered from Stadler for use on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway.

Thirty cars for BTK include cars of five different types: 18 of them  sleeping cars of the second class for 32 seats in 4-person compartments, 3 cars of the first class for 16 berths in 2-person compartments, 3 cars of the first and 3 cars of the second class with 20 couchettes per each and 3 cars of the second class with 18 couchettes, including one coupe for disabled people, and a dining car for 28 seats.

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16 November 2017 15:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced his plan of visiting Baku and Yerevanearly next week at a press conference held on November 14.

Azerbaijani political scientist Fikret Sadikhov believes that Nagorno-Karabakh will remain high on agenda during his forthcoming visit.

Sergey Lavrov, as the representative of Russia, the OSCE MG co-chair state, will visit the region to probe the situation, ascertain the positions of the parties on the conflict settlement and, perhaps, again put forward some proposals and ideas that meet the interests of Russia, the expert said.

Sadikhov noted that the position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unchanged: It is quite principled, and for all the past years, it has not been subjected to corrosion or deformation, and there can be no changes or compromises in this matter. Moscow and Yerevan realize this fact.

The Azerbaijani authorities have long stated that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved within the territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

Sadikhov said that Azerbaijan is ready for some constructive proposals and ideas that will come from Moscow, as Russia is the leading state of the region interested in close strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan and which has very close military and political ties with Armenia.

Given all these important nuances and in the context of development of our relations with Russia, the Karabakh problem should be resolved in the interests of Azerbaijan  as of the side that suffered from occupation, the expert noted. If Russia is really interested in developing bilateral relations and strengthening partnership with our country in future, it must take into account our position and our interests on this particular issue.

Russia, along with the U.S. and France, is a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker a peace to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The country can be called the most active co-chair of the MG, as the Russian president and FM have numerously held trilateral meetings with Azerbaijani and Armenian heads of state and foreign ministers in order to accelerate the settlement of the long-standing conflict.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 November 2017 10:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I sincerely congratulate you and your people on the occasion of national holiday of your country - Independence Day, Ilham Aliyev said in his letter.

I believe that the expansion and strengthening of relations between Azerbaijan and Palestine will continue to serve the interests of our people. On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health, success in your activities and the brotherly people of Palestine peace and prosperity, said Azerbaijan's president.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz




1. Director General Kelly, permit me to begin this interview with a confession. I have long admired the IP jurisprudence in Australia. Without getting in hot water with Kat readers, my sense has been that your IP case law avoids both the "litigation on steroids" nature of US litigation and the heavy weight of the judicial past in UK judgments. Is this just a fantasy of mine?

2. The Productivity Commission Report seeks to address what it calls intellectual property arrangements against the backdrop of the particular circumstances of Australia. One factor that is mentioned multiple times is that the country is a net importer of IP. What other major factors can you point to that define the context in which IP in Australia takes place?

3. The Productivity Commission Report emphasizes the need to achieve a more balanced role for IP within the broader context. What would you say to those who might claim that in effect the Report adopts a low protection approach to IP, such as proposing users rights in copyright and seeking to address patent rights that are tipped too much in the direction of the patent owners?

4. There are a large number of proposals in the Report. How will you prioritize them, and have you developed metrics to evaluate their effectiveness?

5. What kind of role does Australia want to play in the international IP community? Aspirations aside, to what extent can Australia play a leadership role in international IP issues?

6. Having regard to Australia's initiative regarding the plain packaging requirements for cigarettes, how much can Australia be expected to engage in such IP initiatives in the future, as opposed to primarily incorporating elements of IP law taken from other jurisdictions?

7. I cannot help but notice that trademarks receive only scant attention in the Productivity Commission Report. Given that Australia is not usually thought of as a large exporter of international brands, what does this say about the state of trademark law in the country?

Im sure Australias IP courts and judges would be pleased with that assessment and you may be in a better position to compare and judge than I am. It is true that in general Australians are not as litigious as their US counterparts. Our legal system is a common law system, as in the UK, where precedent is observed, however, in my experience that has not led to anomalous outcomes.Rather than the outcomes of the judicial process with regard to IP, recent focus has been on improving access to the judicial system to pursue IP issues. The Australian Productivity Commission (PC) recently made international comparisons suggesting that Australia has robust IP enforcement arrangements, but that more can be done to improve the ability of rights holders to utilise Australias enforcement infrastructure, in particular for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). We have recently seen both the Federal Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia make efforts to improve accessibility and efficiency.IP Australia is also committed to helping SMEs to understand that alternative methods of dispute resolution are available outside of the courts. We have recently launched an IP Mediation Referral Service, and we are working with the insurance sector to explore possibilities for trade mark defense insurance. It is early days for these initiatives and we continue to look for ways to assist in the enforcement area.While Australia is a net importer of IP, this is the case for the vast majority of nations. IP Australia made comment, in its submissions to the Productivity Commission, on the fact that the Australian Government is striving to expand and accelerate domestic innovation (through its National Innovation and Science Agenda) and that we would want to have IP settings that encourage and reward our innovators. It is also worth noting that the importation of IP per se is not a bad thing. It suggests strong adoption and diffusion of technology, which is a positive for the economy.During the inquiry, there was commentary on this issue by the WTOs Chief Economist suggesting that Australia should not view itself as an island of IP and instead view itself more in a global context and how its position might evolve. I think that is good advice. Much of the context for IP development in Australia stems from global developments. The advent of global value chains, the development of global brands and the rise of the internet as a trading platform all shape the business models and opportunities available to Australia and have implications for the IP system. We are also on the cusp of a huge and disruptive wave of global technological change. Technologies including artificial intelligence, big data, the internet of things, advanced robotics and biomedical advances such as CRISPR technology promise to reshape business, markets and the workforce. These have implications and challenges for our IP system.Within governments there is also an increased awareness that IP is an important economic asset which can generate growth and jobs. This leads governments to focus on developing and implementing policies to attract and retain IP and capture benefit. We see this reflected in the international trade agenda where IP is increasingly a focus of negotiations. A counter to these developments comes from those who challenge the overall benefits and impact of the IP system to community welfare. Globalisation has generated a significant backlash and that includes anti-IP sentiment. To secure community and ultimately ongoing political support, the IP system overall must be seen as balanced and fair. This issue of balance between the interests of rights holders and the public was indeed a pivotal consideration in the Productivity Commissions report.All of these global issues set the context for the development of IP arrangements in Australia. That said, a well-functioning and effective IP system is recognised as important to underpin Australias innovation, trade and investment efforts. For Australia, predicted to remain the 13th largest world economy in 2017, having access to the latest technology and developing cutting-edge innovation relies on a world-class system for IP protection. As mentioned above, Australias IP system needs to also be viewed in light of the Governments National Innovation and Science Agenda, which recognises that innovation and science are critical for Australia to deliver new sources of growth, maintain high-wage jobs and seize the next wave of economic prosperity.As noted above, I think its broadly recognised that the IP system is all about striking the right balance. It is true that the Productivity Commission suggested that the balance in the current Australian system was tipped too far in favour of rights holders. However the final recommendations that have been accepted by the Government will, in my view, not make a dramatic difference to the protection available to rights holders in Australia.The change to inventive step is designed to ensure consistency with international best practice and put beyond doubt that Australia adopts a standard comparable with the EPO. In practice, following changes to our law in 2012, we believe we already apply standards comparable with the EPO and thus I expect the practical impact of this change to be limited. The introduction of an objects clause into the Patents Act will provide overt guidance for the judiciary in IP cases and hopefully contribute to a continuation of the balanced approach which you so kindly comment on above.While the phase-out of the innovation patent could be seen as a diminution of rights, this decision was driven in large part by IP Australia research which demonstrated that the innovation patent was not providing net benefit to the group it was designed to assist, i.e. SMEs. The changes are designed to contribute to the overall integrity and balanced reputation of the Australian IP system, however under these changes Australia remains a country with strong protection for rights holders and a world standard IP system.It is relevant to note that IP Australia is not responsible for all the reforms recommended in the Productivity Commissions report. IP Australia is responsible for implementing the changes in relation to patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeders rights. We are taking a two-phase approach to the legislative changes endorsed by Government in response to the Productivity Commissions report. With respect to the innovation patent (where there has already been extensive consultation) and some of the more straightforward reforms relating to trade marks and plant breeders rights, we have released draft legislation for comment For phase two, we will consult further on the implementation approach for a number of matters including inventive step reform and introduction of an objects clause, plus issues raised by the Productivity Commission in its 2013 review of compulsory licensing, as highlighted in the Governments response to the 2016 inquiry. Consultation papers on these matters are on our website As is standard practice, we are developing an evaluation plan for the legislation which will include looking at impacts on the quantum of patent applications and grants; changes in the nature or characteristics of these; and use of the objects clause in judicial interpretation. However, it will require 3-5 years of data collection post-implementation to provide a solid basis for evaluation. On prioritisation of policy changes more generally, I would like to mention that IP Australia has recently released an online register of IP policy issues and proposed changes under consideration, including the priority we assign to them. This allows anyone to review and provide feedback on IP policy issues and their priority for action. I encourage you to take a look at IP Australias policy register On the international front we support a more harmonised IP system. As a country that fundamentally relies on exports and which is transitioning away from a reliance on commodities towards more knowledge-based products and services, Australia, or more accurately Australian businesses, would benefit from a simpler, more harmonised global system. As such, in WIPO and other relevant forums we support international harmonisation, work sharing and adoption of best practice. We are currently playing a lead role in Group B+ efforts to achieve progress in the patent harmonisation agenda (I currently chair this group).We are also active in capacity building in less developed countries. Our geographic location puts us in a unique position as a mature IP office within a region of rapidly evolving IP systems. We have been proactive in mentoring and providing guidance to other offices and working towards basic standards of IP protection across the region. We are also playing a leading role in WIPO in efforts to develop an international agreement on recognition of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. (Ian Goss from Australia chairs this group.) While we need workable solutions in this space, there is clearly a gap in the system here which denies rights to some of the least well-off groups and, while the gap remains, it provides ammunition to those who point to a lack of balance in the IP system.Australia continues to work through WIPO and support a multilateral approach to international IP issues and administrative systems, as we see this as the best way to maximise benefits from the system. However we recognise the practical limitations here, and Australia also continues to actively negotiate free trade agreements with our trading partners, in particular in the Asia-Pacific region. By agreeing with our trading partners to provide fair and transparent processes for obtaining and enforcing IP rights, particularly through use of the multilateral treaties, we can ensure that there is certainty in the IP system for businesses operating in a global environment. In prioritising its international engagement efforts, IP Australia looks for opportunities where it can add value and influence the global IP system in the directions outlined above.Plain packaging is not primarily an IP initiative, but rather a key element in Australias comprehensive package of tobacco control measures, aimed at improving public health. So the question is really how do we ensure the IP system develops in a way that complements other areas of public policy, including health, competition, trade and of course innovation policy.While IP relies on sovereign rights, the IP system is essentially a global system underpinning world trade, investment and technology transfer. In recognition of this, Australia generally seeks to align its IP arrangements with those of our major trading partners and international best practice. This will continue to be the dominant trend; however overall the IP system must serve the public interest and align with key public policy priorities. As demonstrated by our active role in the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on IP and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore, Australia is also prepared to contribute to the development and evolution of the IP system. We are also exploring domestic initiatives in this area.I think it is fair to say that there are more contentious issues raised around patent law and policy than around trade mark law and policy in Australia. This is despite the fact that we have far more domestic trade mark rights holders than patents rights holders.The Productivity Commission had a lot of ground to cover in its report and it tended to focus on the more contentious issues and those highlighted in its terms of reference. It did however devote a chapter to trade marks, and, in line with its recommendations, the draft legislation we are currently consulting on includes provisions to clarify the rules around parallel importation of trade marked goods and reduce the grace period for challenging trade mark non-use.Weve seen steady growth in both resident and non-resident filings for Australian trade marks since 2009, with a 26 percent increase over that period. In contrast to patents, around two-third of trade mark applicants are Australian residents and the vast majority of these domestic applicants are small to medium enterprises and private individuals, who filed more than 90 per cent of domestic applications in 2016. Many of our new customer-oriented services are targeted at this group. Weve also seen strong growth in the number of trade marks filed abroad by Australians in recent years, with China and the United States the main destinations. Latest WIPO figures indicate a 20 percent increase in trade mark classes filed by Australians abroad in 2015. Our decision to establish an IP Counsellor at the Australian embassy in Beijing earlier this year was primarily aimed at assisting Australian exporters navigate the Chinese IP system, especially around trade marks.photo on lower left by Thomas Steiner licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.5 Generic License
16 November 2017 11:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The next meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan, chaired by CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov, was held on November 15.

The composition of a number of district election commissions was changed during the meeting.

Moreover, the protocol of the CECs previous meeting, held on July 28, 2017, was approved, and it was decided to prepare and publish a compilation of the history of elections in Azerbaijan.

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16 November 2017 15:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a priority for Russia, said Russian Foreign Ministrys Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at a briefing on November 16.

This issue is one of the priorities for us, because we are talking about our neighbors, said the spokeswoman.

She added that Russia closely cooperates with other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and continues to assist Azerbaijan and Armenia in search for peaceful, mutually acceptable solutions.

Russia, along with the U.S. and France, is a co-chair state of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker a peace over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The country can be called the most active co-chair of the MG, as the Russian president and FM have numerously held trilateral meetings with Azerbaijani and Armenian heads of state and foreign ministers in order to accelerate the settlement process of the long-standing conflict.

Moreover, Russia brokered a truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan on April 5 last year to stop the April clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh between the conflicting countries, which are also called the four-day war.

Zakharova also noted at the briefing that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on November 20.

He is expected to have talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. During the meeting, it is planned to exchange views on a wide range of issues of the bilateral, international and regional agenda, added the spokeswoman.

Zakharova further said Azerbaijan is Russias important strategic partner in the Caucasus region.

This year we mark the 25th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, she said. Not only the long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual respect, but also the coincidence or proximity of positions on key issues of the regional and international agenda stand on the bases of the Russia-Azerbaijan cooperation.

The spokeswoman added that the regular friendly contacts between the Russian and Azerbaijani presidents set high dynamics to the development of bilateral relations and allow to promptly resolve any emerging issues.

Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries were established in 1992. The strategic partnership relations are based on old traditions of friendship and good neighborliness, as well as equality, respect for each others interests, and common history and culture.

Azerbaijan is one of the main economic partners of Russia among the CIS countries. Interregional cooperation plays an important role in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani trade and economic relations and the increase in trade turnover, which amounted to $951.32 million in January to June 2017.

At present, enterprises of some 71 regions of the Russian Federation cooperate directly with Azerbaijan. Fifteen regions of Russia have relevant agreements with Azerbaijan on trade and economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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16 November 2017 12:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The meeting of Azerbaijani, Pakistani and Turkish foreign ministers is expected to be held in Baku November 30, Pakistani ambassador to Azerbaijan Saeed Khan Mohmand told Trend.

He noted that the issues of common interest will be discussed during the meeting.

Earlier, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that this meeting is very important in terms of discussing all challenges, issues and threats that the three countries face, adding that this meeting is a very useful tool.

Azerbaijan organizes many meetings at the level of foreign ministries  with Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and now Pakistan is joining. There are many other countries wishing to join to such a format. In my opinion, this is a very convenient and right format, Mammadyarov added.

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16 November 2017 17:06 (UTC+04:00)

By Aygul Salmanova

President of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev talked about the plans and made remarks on a number of projects carried out by the company during the reception of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku on November 16.

Abdullayev noted that SOCAR plans to earn $140-150 million annually as result of the operation of its carbamide plant in Sumgayit, which is expected to release its first products during the first quarter of 2018.

SOCARs president said that the carbamide plant will be constructed in late 2017.

The carbamide plant construction project is worth $750 million, he said. Production will be launched at the plant in January-June 2018.

The plant will have a capacity to produce 1,200 tonnes of ammonia per day and 2,000 tonnes of urea per day. A quarter of products is planned to be supplied to the domestic market. The remaining volume will be exported, in particular to Turkey, Georgia and the markets of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd. won the tender for the carbamide plant construction. The company acts as a general contractor, but it has no license for ammonia production, which will be an intermediate product in the carbamide production process. Therefore, the corresponding licensing agreements have also been signed with Danish Haldor Topsoe company concerning ammonia production and Netherlands Stamicarbon B.V. concerning carbamide production.

The plant will consume electricity in the volume of 25-26 megawatt per hour. Meanwhile, 1.3 million cubic meters of gas will be required per day for the full operation of the carbamide plant.

At first, construction work was financed through the state budget funds. Around 205 million manat ($120 million) was allocated till early 2015. But later a decision about project financing was made and negotiations with banks were launched.

As a result, a 500 million euro credit line was opened by Korea Eximbank under the state guarantees of Azerbaijan to complete the construction. Eximbank directly allocates 251 million euros. Moreover, 249 million euros are allocated by three commercial banks UniCredit, Societe Generale and Deutsche Bank with Eximbanks support.

Speaking about the revenues from the export of products within the framework of the SOCAR Polymer, the project being implemented in the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP), Abdullayev said that the revenues for the whole period of the plants' activity are forecasted at the level of $8 billion.

SOCAR Polymer is the largest petrochemical project in Azerbaijan in the last 40 years, according to Abdullayev.

The project, which will be launched in the first half of 2018, will reduce the dependence on imports of such products, increase export potential and will allow diversifying the export routes. Some 30 percent of the products will go to the local market, and the remaining 70 percent to Turkey, Europe and other markets, he said.

Total cost of the SOCAR Polymer project is $750 million. At the first stage, its production capacity will total 120,000 tons of polyethylene and 180,000 tons of polypropylene. The total capacity may reach 570,000 tons by 2021.

Abdullayev went on speaking about Petkim petrochemical complex, which is a subsidiary of SOCAR in Turkey, saying that its profit grew 169 percent for three quarters of 2017 compared to the same period last year and amounted to $266 million.

Since 2008, when Petkims controlling stake was acquired by SOCAR, and by 2016 we managed to increase the complexs revenues by 4.8 times, assets by 3.7 times, and share capital by 2.6 times, he noted.

It is noteworthy that SOCAR began its activity in Turkey after privatization of Petkim Holding in 2008 and has been operating under brand name of SOCAR Turkey. The company was acquired by SOCAR as a result of a tender of privatization.

Petkim shareholders include SOCAR Turkey Petrokimya A.S. with a share of 51 percent, SOCAR Turkey Enerji A.S. with 1.32 percent and 47.68 percent within free float.

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16 November 2017 17:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The US works with Azerbaijan to boost global energy security, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta told reporters in Baku on November 16.

"The US has been working with Azerbaijan and with other countries to boost global energy security for a long time," he said.

As President of Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev stated today in his speech, the US companies have been and are active in the development of the hydrocarbon sector and in the oil and gas sector of Azerbaijan, noted Cekuta.

"We work with Azerbaijan to boost regional, global and European energy security," added the ambassador.

Europe pins high hopes on Azerbaijan with relation to the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.



At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.



As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

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16 November 2017 10:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

About $ 300 million of private investments were attracted from China for a big project, the head of the Akmola region of Kazakhstan, Malik Murzalin, said at a press conference on November 15.

He noted that through these investments, a paper production plant will be built in the Akmola region. The construction of the 500,000-ton plant will begin next year together with a Chinese company.

"About $ 300 million of private investment was attracted from China. Thus, straw will be processed, as a result we will receive paper, cardboard, organic fertilizers, electricity, methane, " Murzalin said.

Also in 2018, the Makinsk poultry plant with a capacity of 50,000 tons per year will be commissioned in the region. It is also planned to build a meat processing plant with a capacity of 5,000 tons a year (LLP "Erementau-Kulan") and a pig breeding complex for 2,000 pigs with processing capacity of 5,500 tons per year (LLP "Bavaria Product") in the Astrakhan district.

China is one of the main trade and investment partners of Kazakhstan. The total volume of China's investment in the economy of Kazakhstan exceeded $42.8 billion, and lending - in total more than $50 billion.

The parties identified 51 projects of cooperation in the field of production facilities, which is designed to significantly promote the industrialization of Kazakhstan and create new jobs in the country.

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16 November 2017 12:32 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov held meetings with his counterparts from Qatar and the UAE in Ashgabat, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message on November 15.

According to the message, Qatar's delegation was led by Secretary General of the countrys foreign ministry Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi.

The sides discussed the process of implementing the reached agreements and the issues of further development of relations in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

"The energy sector was mentioned among the areas of mutual interest," the message said.

The UAE delegation was represented by the countrys Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash.

The sides discussed the current political, trade and economic relations.

"One of the vectors of Turkmenistan's foreign policy is the strengthening of friendly relations with the UAE," the message said.

The UAE delegation expressed support for Turkmenistans positive neutrality and international initiatives regarding sustainable energy, security, transit and transport.

Turkmenistan is interested in discussing the issues related to the participation of Qatars big financial and investment organizations in the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said at the high-level talks in Doha during the state visit on March 15-16.

The UAE companies are prominently represented in Turkmenistan's energy market. Dragon Oil has been operating in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea since 1999 as part of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). This company is one of the biggest foreign investors in Turkmenistan.

Petrofac company took part in the implementation of a big service project for the development of the Galkynysh gas field in the Mary province of Turkmenistan, the second biggest field in the world.

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16 November 2017 11:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The Week of Kazakhstan's Economy kicked off in Germany November 13 and will run until November 16 on the eve of the first visit of Chairman of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Wolfgang Buchele to Astana in December 2017.

A round table dedicated to the expansion of Kazakhstans investment opportunities was held with German businessmen within the Week of Kazakhstan's Economy.

The Kazakh delegation led by the countrys Deputy Minister for Investments and Development Timur Toktabayev spoke about the investment climate in Kazakhstan, joint projects in the transit and transport sector, the opportunities for German companies participation in the implementation of the state privatization program.

German businessmen also shared their further plans. Thus, President of Regional Division Europe at BASF SE Markus Kramer spoke about the companys adoption of the Strategic Plan for Business Development in Central Asia.

Chairman of Board at Bilfinger SE Thomas Blades expressed interest in modernizing industrial facilities in Kazakhstan within industrialization by using advanced German technologies, as well as participation in infrastructure projects in the country and the privatization program.

Managing director of ThyssenKrupp AG Klaus Potthoff informed about the advantages of the technological partnership between Kazakhstan and Germany.

The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Germany increased by 36 percent over 5 months of this year and reached more than 2 billion euros.

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16 November 2017 13:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Several banks of Uzbekistan plan to purchase more than 200 ATMs for cash payments by late 2017.

The first deputy chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) Timur Ishmetov announced this at a meeting of the International Press Club on November 15.

"The banks are working to import ATMs, and by the end of the year we expect slightly more than 200 units for several banks," Ishmetov said.

"You know that this segment was not developed in our country and has not been developed yet, since we had some cash-related problems. So if banks have cash problems, then it makes no sense to buy and install these ATMs," he said, adding that the problem has since been solved.

Ishmetov stressed that the Central Bank does not interfere with the purchase of ATMs. The regulator regards this as a business process where banks themselves must decide when to implement the product.

"Banks decide on investing in a particular instrument based on their operational needs and economic feasibility, where they will earn more," Ishmetov said.

Ishmetov further added that Uzbek banks will launch a service to transfer money abroad in soums since Dec. 1.

"As a result, people who want to send foreign currency abroad, but who do not have it in stock, will be able to do it in soums. They will have to come to banks with national currency, banks will accept it and automatically convert it into foreign currency and send it abroad " , Ishmetov noted.

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16 November 2017 13:28 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistans National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity has reached loan agreements with leading German banks in the amount of 950 million euros, the bank reported.

The agreements were signed during the visit of a governmental delegation of Uzbekistan led by Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov to Germany on November 14-17.

The Uzbek-German business forum was held in Munich on November 15, as part of which a package of agreements was signed with the leading financial institutions.

The largest agreement was signed with Deutsche Bank AG in the amount of 500 million euros aimed at supporting large-scale investment projects in Uzbekistan.

Agreements with Commerzbank AG worth 350 million euros and AKA Bank worth 100 million euros were also signed. The agreements provide for the financing of investment projects, as well as projects for small businesses and private entrepreneurship, according to the bank.

The signed loan agreements are considered non-guaranteed, as they do not require a government guarantee.

Earlier, the National Bank of Uzbekistan signed an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the allocation of $100 million credit line to small business projects, Russian Gazprombank to finance investment projects worth $153 million, as well as with Turkish export credit Turk Eximbank worth $44 million.

The National Bank was established by the Decree of the first President of the country Islam Karimov in September 1991 and today it is the largest financial institution of the country.

Germany remains one of the main trade and economic partners of Uzbekistan in Europe. The mutual trade turnover between Germany and Uzbekistan for 2016 amounted to $520.1 million. Germany took the 7th place in the overall commodity turnover of Uzbekistan with other countries in 2016.

As many as 123 enterprises operate in Uzbekistan with the participation of German companies, capital and advanced technologies.

Large investment projects involving German banks are being implemented in various sectors of the economy. Investment projects for a total of more than 1 billion euros have been implemented in Uzbekistan jointly with German leading companies.

---

Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
"Ladies and gentlemen.

After Brexit, we have to decide which language to use. Some European countries have English, but not as the first language.



Charles the fifth said that there are four languages to consider. I speak  he said  Spanish to God, French to men, Italian to my lovers, and German to my horses. What to choose among these four?



The problem of language is serious. For instance, Robert van Peursem wrote a beautiful report on Equivalents, but unfortunately in Dutch. Robert, do you have a translation in one of these four languages? (Van Peursem answers: Yes, German).

So Robert, please send it to me and I will give it to my horse. Better, you may send it directly to horse@franzosi.com.

I think the most appropriate (to stay closer to our evicted British friends) would be Anglo-Norman, a dialect of the langue d'oil, that was spoken in Normandy in 1066.

There is a poem that wonderfully describes our situation:

Halt sunt li pui e tenebrus e grant,

Li val parfunt e les ewes curant.

Sunent cil graisle e derere e devant

E tuit rachatent encuntre lolifant.

(High are the mountains, dark and majestic; deep are the valleys and the waters running. Sounds are heard here and there, but the Oliphant of Angela Merkel answers to all of them).

Here we are, at a turning point of our enterprise to set up a truly European patent judicial system. When judge Scuffi had the idea (to which I most humbly participated) of creating a forum for European judges, so that they could make their systems converging, we thought that the establishment of a Unified Patent Court would had been the crowning of this initiative, but also the end. Therefore, we considered the attainment of the UPC with mixed feeling, as an exaltation, but possibly a termination, of our Venetian venture. I am happy to say that the mission of our Venetian enterprise, as a preparation of a future European patent court, will continue for decades and decades.



But first: do we really need a unified patent court? It was said (by a most experienced authority) that in America 10% of the patents granted are litigated; while in Europe 2 out of 1000. Therefore, on the basis of this authoritative data we can make a simple calculation. According to these numbers, that I do not dare to question, in America there are about 30,000/40,000 patent cases every year. Since the average cost of a patent case is (AIPLA data) 5 million dollars per party, namely 10 million dollars, patent attorneys receive about 300 billion dollars. This is a little more than the gross national product of Croatia, Slovenia and Czech Republic combined. I esteem an additional number of 500.000 attorneys is needed in America. This is why I personally got the green card. Nevertheless, America still needs 499.999 attorneys.



By contrast, it is said, in Europe only two patents per thousand are litigated. This means that in Europe there are about 140 patent cases per year, which is the number of patent cases in Milan. Therefore, it is clear to me that we do not need the UPC, since everything is dealt with in the Court of Milan. I would suggest to pack up and go home.



Ladies and gentlemen. I will handle a subject where probable truth will hardly gain assent. I know that the bosom of the earth (the humble soil here corn grows together with weeds), is the proper ground of illustrious men, the most clever and proud, and of those who cultivate philosophy without enervating the mind. I have the earth in high consideration. Therefore, if the UPC does not go to the sky and is interred, instead, in the earth, then it will have the destiny of even the most illustrious men.

In the soil, either the spirit is annihilated, and has no sensation of anything, or death is a certain change of status, a passage to a better status. I believe so, and I believe the UPC will live with Orpheus and Musaeus, with Hesiod and Homer: most noble companions. It will live with Ajax, the son of Telamon and all the others that had lived a life of honor, and have died of an unjust sentence. If so, the UPC will remain a bodiless dream of nature, living in a more dignified and noble ether. I am sure the UPC will discuss with Ajax of the difference between Kort geding, Einstweilige Verfuegung, Procedure en Refere, Anton Pillar Order, Misure Provvisorie.



Which status is better, either to drag a useless life of useless preparation, or live in the world of the dead, with Orpheus and Homer, is unknown to everyone but God.



Ladies and gentlemen. We have undertaken a mission for which we had no allies but our good will and our valor. Our cause was and is just. Even if our resources are limited, our will is unconquered. Nothing is lost, apart from our patience. As it is said in the Chanson de Roland:

Li empereres chevalchet ireement

E li Franceis curucus e dolent;

Ni ad celoi ni plurt e se dement,

E prient Deu quil guarisset Rollant

(Angela Merkel rides furiously, and the French army sad and worried, and everybody cries and loses head, and ask God to save the UPC).

For the UPC there is a sumptuous variety of meditation, something that compels the strangers admiration, and regret. We have counted in the course of the years several variations of humor in relation to the system: each which a simple version and with a complex version. There are several versions of the Rules of Procedure: eighteen, if I correctly remember, or are they eighty? I think it will make the fortune of the man who really wants to investigate the human mind.

Josque il vengent el camp cumunement

Ensembl od lui i ferrunt veirement.

De co qui calt ? car ne lur valt nient.

Demurent trop, ni poedent estre a tens.

(At the battlefield, they will fight furiously. But all this is vain, all is useless. Too much they delayed: they cannot arrive on time. China and India are pressing.)



Ladies and gentlemen. Patent people are by nature patient and forbearing. Do not despair, also because you do not know how the world changes. You have no vision of the future, and do not even know what the weather is going to be.

If one could look into the seeds of time And say which grain will grow and which will not,

There is no substitute for wisdom, and the second best after wisdom is silence.

Therefore, I take a seat and do not utter further words. But first, let me recite a sonnet that I have written when travelling on the vaporetto tonight, going from Venice main island to San Servolo (a small island, the place of the hospital  in the old good time- for insane persons, but only of noble descent) and that I have finished only a few moments ago. It was written with the help of judge Marina Tavassi, President of the Court of Appeals of Milan; Gabriella Muscolo, of the Italian Competition Authority; Robin Jacob, who you know well; Klaus Grabinski, of the German Bundesgerichtshof (somehow unhappy with the initial consideration of the German language by Charles the Fifth, but cooperative, nevertheless). Here is the result of our brains:

Noble Britain, proud and wise

Do not trade your life with dice

T ake it easy, take a sit

And dont do, dont do Brexit.

No, my Britain wake you up

Stay with us, and raise the cup.

Take it easy, take a sit

And dont do, dont do Brexit.

Choose Venezia, and not May

Its not time to run away

Like brave soldiers, close the rank.

But Sir Robin, lets be frank

We will put (just to be short)

In Milan the Central Court. "
16 November 2017 13:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The first truck with 20 tons of tomatoes from Turkey arrived in Russia following the introduction of an agreement on the volume of tomatoes supply from this country.

Fura with 20 tons of tomatoes from one of the three authorized enterprises of Turkey arrived today, according to the territorial department of the Rosselkhoznadzor for the Bryansk and Smolensk regions, RIA Novosti reported.

The department informed that standard procedures for checking cargo by the veterinary and customs services are now in progress.

The samples of the goods are taken, the documents are examined, the compliance of the declared (goods - ed.) with the documents is checked, according to the agency.

Round tomatoes of Bandita variety were produced and exported by Agrobay agro group, while Galafrut LLC is the importer. The tomatoes were packed on November 8 and their shelf life is 30 days.

Russia has officially allowed the import of Turkish tomatoes on quotas set by the Agriculture Ministry in late October. From November 1, Russia lifted a strict ban on the import of tomatoes from Turkey. Nevertheless, certain restrictions still remain in place. Ankara will be able to deliver 50,000 tons of tomatoes to the Russian market by the end of the year.

Previously, the Russian Agriculture Ministry has submitted to the Government its proposals on the mechanism for the resumption of tomato imports from Turkey.

Russia levied an embargo on the imports of certain products from Turkey because of the jet-downing crisis in late 2015. Many have been resolved, except the tomato ban, which is the most serious for the Turkish suppliers.

Rosselkhoznadzor, which has recently inspected several Turkish tomato producers, announced earlier that it can consider only large manufacturers for issuing permits for the tomato import.

Currently, there are two types of restrictions with respect to Turkish tomatoes. One of them was introduced by the government of the country. The second is a technical ban, introduced by the Rosselkhoznadzor in connection with the detection of contaminated quarantineable products coming to Russia from Turkey.

The ban on the tomato import is considered to be the most negative for Turkey since Russia was the largest market for the Turkish tomato export with annual profit amounting to billions of dollars.

After the tomato ban, the amount of Turkish tomato exports to Russia decreased by 10.3 percent while their value dropped by 34.3 percent in 2016.

Turkey exported 541,000 tons of tomatoes to Russia in 2015, however, the amount fell to 486,000 tons. The value of tomato exports to the country was $365.3 million in 2015 and later decreased to $239.9 million, Daily Sabah reported.

However, during the first seven months of the current year, the amount of tomatoes exported to Russia increased by 9.4 percent and the value of tomato exports also surged by 24.7 percent.

During the period of January-July, Turkey's tomato exports to Russia reached $198.3 million from last year's $159 million. Moreover, last year, the amount of tomato exports were recorded at 322,000 tons while it reached to 353,000 tons this year during the first seven months.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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16 November 2017 16:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

A long-awaited food festival "Sweet November" will open its doors for foodies on November 23.

The food festival, supported by the State Historical and Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher" and the culinary project "Meal for Real" will take place near the symbol of Baku, Maiden Tower.

The organizers of the festival present a gastronomic map for visitors. The rich four-day program will offer diverse and delicious food .

More than 20 restaurants and cafes, many culinary experts will surprise guests with all kinds of national and foreign dishes.

Guests will also be able to take part in special gastronomic master classes, meet with famous chefs and barista, and enjoy high-quality music.

Sweet November Food Festival will last until November 26.

Notably, the first ever large-scale open air food festival in the City of Winds "Baku Street Food Festival " was held in the Old City on May 19-21, and aroused great interest of Baku residents and tourists.

Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, Azernews.az

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Here are three practices and hospitals making headlines this past week.

Rome (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital bestowed Physician of the Year honors on Ajay Goel, MD.

Fred Rosenberg, MD, of Gurnee-based Illinois Gastroenterology Group spoke to Becker's ASC Review about the Digestive Health Physicians Association and how it's advocating for independent gastroenterologists.

University Medical Center of El Paso (Texas) physicians began using the C2 Cryoballoon to treat Barrett's Esophagus.
David O. Barbe, MD, president of the American Medical Association, touched on the trade organization's health IT priorities during his Nov. 11 address at the 2017 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in Honolulu.

"We are fighting to prevent IT vendors from blocking information or making it expensive for physicians to share data, and we are making progress," Dr. Barbe said.

The emphasis on reducing information blocking by health IT vendors is part of the AMA's effort to fight physician burnout, which Dr. Barbe listed as one of the organization's top concerns. The AMA adopted policy measures in June to fight physician burnout, such as encouraging research into how to identify risk factors of depression.

"We are fighting physician burnout and the time crunch by working to improve EHRs, mobile devices and interoperability, and again, those efforts are showing signs of success," he said. "Our work to improve physician satisfaction by reducing these headaches and making the practice environment more satisfying is at the heart of the AMA's shared strategic vision."

To access Dr. Barbe's address, click here.
Vermont Medical Society selected Trey Dobson, MD, to serve as president at its annual meeting Nov. 4, in Woodstock, Vt.

Here are six points:

1. Dr. Dobson is the medical director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians, a multispecialty physician group based at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.

2. He is also CMO of Southwestern Vermont Health Care in Bennington.

3. A practicing emergency room physician, he will lead the medical society's public policy and advocacy efforts.

4. The society also named Stephen Leffler, MD, president-elect and Catherine Schneider, MD, vice president.

5. Dr. Leffler is CMO of University of Vermont Medical Center and a professor of surgery at the Larner College of Medicine at UVM, both based in Burlington.

6. Dr. Schneider is CMO of Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor, Vt.
SynerMed, a Monterey Park, Calif.-based company that manages physician practices across California, is shutting down.

The company is closing after audits by health plans revealed "several system and control failures within medical management and other departments," SynerMed CEO James Mason wrote in a Nov. 6 internal email, obtained by Becker's Hospital Review.

In the email to employees, Mr. Mason said due to the issues identified in the audits, a few "significant health plans" are telling SynerMed clients to contract with another management services organization. "Alpha Care Medical Group and EHS [Medical Group] have terminated their contract with us. I anticipate that our other clients will terminate their contracts with us as well," he said.

The company is closing all operations and attempting to transfer its clients to another firm within the next 180 days.

SynerMed is also facing scrutiny from the California Department of Managed Health Care. The agency confirmed it is investigating SynerMed, but told Kaiser Health News the details of the investigation are confidential.

SynerMed is a subsidiary of PAMC, Ltd., which also owns Los Angeles-based Pacific Alliance Medical Center. The hospital agreed in June to pay $31.9 million to the federal government and an additional $10 million to the state of California to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.

Pacific Alliance Medical Center is set to close Dec. 11. The hospital, which has provided care for more than 150 years, cited the costs of retrofitting its facilities to meet California's seismic standards as the reason for the closure.
Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kaleida Health, which owns and operates the newly rebranded John R. Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo, reportedly issued a policy restricting pediatric nurses from wearing printed scrubs, according to WKBW Buffalo reports.

Instead, nurses will only be able to wear solid-colored scrubs at the facility, according to a recent union letter cited by WKBW Buffalo.

The change will allegedly take effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Several children's hospital nurses told WKBW Buffalo they received a memo outlining the policy change in October. They said they did not agree with the change because the printed scrubs made for good conversation and eased the anxiety of pediatric patients receiving treatment at the hospital.

However, a spokesperson for Kaleida Health told WKBW Buffalo the alleged ban on certain scrubs "isn't true." He said nurses' uniforms are negotiated during labor agreements, which are not set to be renegotiated until late 2018, the report states.

Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review reached out to Kaleida Health for comment and will update the article as more information becomes available.
Employees of Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health have a handful of days left to receive flu shots if they have not already. Come Monday, Nov. 20, employees who are not immunized, have no intent to receive flu shots and lack an exemption run the risk of termination.

The red letter day is part of Essentia's new mandatory flu shot policy. This is the first year flu shots are a requirement for working at the health system, save for employees who obtain religious or medical exemptions. The rule applies to students who train and vendors who operate at Essentia facilities, as well as volunteers who give back through Essentia programs.



Essentia employs more than 14,000 people across four states. As of Wednesday midmorning, the system reported 97 percent of employees had either received flu shots or were approved for exemption. At that rate, roughly 420 people run the risk of termination Monday unless they express intent to receive the flu shot that day.

"We don't want to lose any valued employees through this," Miranda Anderson, director of communications for Essentia Health, told Becker's. "We've been vaccinating employees daily. If someone comes to work Monday and says they'll get the flu shot, we'll give it to them. We're very hopeful. We value our employees and we need them."

Ms. Anderson said that those employees who state they will not receive a flu shot are saying they do not want to work at Essentia Health.

Earlier this month, a judge upheld the policy and rejected the United Steelworkers' request for an injunction to halt it, according to Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

Separately, the Minnesota Nurses Association has also taken issue with the new flu shot policy. The union on Nov. 2 filed an unfair labor practices charge against Essentia with the National Labor Relations Board. As of Tuesday, no action had been scheduled in that case, reports the Pioneer Press. Ms. Anderson told Becker's the system does not comment on pending legal affairs. The MNA represents about 2,000 Essentia nurses.
Employees at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street in Pottsville, Pa., are asking the National Labor Relations Board to overturn a ruling they claim forced them into union representation.

The union dispute follows Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network's September 2016 merger with Pottsville-based Schuylkill Health. At the time of the merger, workers at the South campus were already unionized. The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation claims workers at the East campus rejected unionization attempts, although the union disagrees, saying a number of workers from the previously unorganized East campus have voluntarily submitted union cards to join SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania.

About a year after the merger, NLRB Regional Director Dennis Walsh cited the NLRB's 'accretion' policy when he ordered workers on the East campus join the South campus monopoly bargaining unit, said the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, charitable organization, via news release.

Now, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation has filed a claim requesting NRLB reverse the order. The motion claims workers were placed under Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania representation without their consent, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation said.

According to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Mr. Walsh was previously suspended by the NLRB after the NLRB Inspector General conducted an investigation into him "using his position with the NLRB to solicit contributions to a pro-union scholarship fund from union officials from unions with cases at the labor board."

Now employees seek a review of Mr. Walsh's decision.

"This case demonstrates how the National Labor Relations Act, which is ostensibly about the rights of employees, has been weaponized against independent workers who wish to remain free of union bosses' so-called representation," said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. "These employees successfully opposed an SEIU organizing campaign at their workplace only to have a union partisan at the NLRB force the union on them without a vote or any showing of interest."

But Amelia Abromaitis, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania spokesperson, disagrees.

"The National Right to Work Legal Foundation is an out-of-state special interest group working on behalf of corporate billionaires to suppress the hard-earned wages and job security of everyday Americans. We know people from Lehigh Valley Health want to join with their co-workers in the union to create a better future for themselves and their children," she said.

"Instead of spending more money on needless legal fees, the Lehigh Valley Health System should invest in better jobs for its workforce and better care for the community.

"That includes abiding by the law and honoring the decision of the National Labor Relations Board to extend the same union rights and benefits to all workers in the same health system. It's time to move forward."

A spokesperson for LVHN said the system does not have a reaction about the motion being filed.

More articles on human capital:

Only 44% of hospice workers document their own end-of-life wishes, study finds

200 healthcare workers, supporters to protest alleged understaffing at City of Hope

4 findings on first responders and mental health
A man who allegedly killed a woman decades ago escaped from a Hawaii psychiatric hospital and was captured in California, according to ABC News.

The Honolulu Police Department said Randall Saito left the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe Sunday morning and did not come back.

Following the escape, police said Mr. Saito took a taxi to Honolulu, then took a private flight to Maui, where he boarded another flight to San Jose, Calif., according to the report.

In the report, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said Mr. Saito was arrested in Stockton, Calif., Wednesday morning "as the result of a tip received from an alert taxi cab driver."

Authorities have been investigating the incident and searching for Mr. Saito.

In an earlier statement obtained by ABC News, the Hawaii Department of Health had said, "The incident is under investigation and details about a patient's status are restricted by state and federal privacy laws specific to individuals receiving mental health and substance abuse treatment. The Hawaii Department of Health recognizes the public's need and right to know more information, but we ask for their patience as this is an ongoing criminal investigation."

Mr. Saito was described by police as "extremely dangerous," according to the report.
Trumbull, CT  November 15, 2017  TMC announced Digium has signed on as a diamond sponsor for ITEXPO being held February 13-16, 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. Collocated with ITEXPO, Digium also hosts Asterisk World which is focused on Asterisk business users and potential users who are interested in getting more in depth experience with Asterisk, and who also want to learn more from Asterisk adopters and see what's happening in the Asterisk market.

The 2018 event will mark the tenth year, Digium has supported ITEXPO and its been amazing to see the innovations theyve turned out and the community theyve built in that time, said Rich Tehrani, TMC CEO and conference chairman. On the exhibit floor and in Asterisk World sessions, attendees can count on Digium to showcase reliable and ground breaking solutions and skills that transform companies.

Digium, Inc. provides Asterisk software, telephony hardware, and on-premises and hosted Switchvox business phone systems that deliver enterprise-class Unified Communications (UC) and UC as a Service (UCaaS) solutions at an affordable price. Digium is the creator, primary developer and sponsor of the Asterisk project; the worlds most widely used open source communications software. Asterisk turns an ordinary computer into a feature-rich communications server. A community of more than 80,000 developers and users worldwide uses Asterisk to create VoIP communication solutions in more than 170 countries. Since 1999, Digium has empowered developers to create innovative communications solutions based on open standards and open source software, providing an alternative to proprietary phone systems. Digium Switchvox Cloud and other cloud-based products and services are offered through Digium Cloud Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Digium, Inc. Digiums business communications products are sold through a worldwide network of reseller partners.

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.



For the latest ITEXPO news, updates and information follow the event on Twitter at @ITEXPO.

About TMC

Global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers.

TMCs Marketplaces:

Unique, turnkey Online Communities boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking.

Custom Lead Programs uncover sales opportunities and build databases.

In-Person and Online Events boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads.

Publications, Display Advertising and Newsletters bolster brand reputations.

Custom Content provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and

overall marketing efforts.

overall marketing efforts. Comprehensive Event and Road Show Management Services help companies meet potential clients and generate leads face-to-face.



For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com.

Media and Analyst Contact:

Jessica Seabrook

Marketing Director

TMC

203-852-6800 x 170

[email protected]

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Edited by Mandi Nowitz
In light of a contract impasse between Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare and Anthem, Connecticut's lead Democrat may reintroduce a bill aimed at governing payer-provider negotiations, the Hartford Courant reports.

The legislation, first introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, in 2015, would establish a binding arbitration process to amend contract disputes hospitals and payers fail to resolve independently.

The president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut recently emailed the CEO of Hartford HealthCare requesting a new contract. The request followed a story published by Hartford Courant detailing how chronically ill Anthem members are postponing surgeries and rationing medication and physician visits due to the companies' break. However, no resolution has surfaced.

Hartford HealthCare left Anthem's provider network after the organizations failed to negotiate a new contract by a Sept. 30 deadline.

Sen. Looney's 2015 bill met opposition from the Connecticut Hospital Association and the Connecticut Association of Health Plans, according to the report.



More articles on payer issues:

Humana elects former ONC chief to board of directors: 5 things to know

Anthem president to Hartford HealthCare CEO: It's time for compromise

BCBS of Alabama appoints president, COO; CEO to step down in 2018
UnitedHealthcare is slated to hire 400 employees in Iowa, according to We Are Iowa.

The hires will triple the payer's Iowa workforce to meet new client demand. UnitedHealthcare is among the insurers managing Iowa's Medicaid managed care program.



Earlier this month, managed care health plan AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa announced it will leave the state's Medicaid program at the end of November. The company will lay off 400 employees by the end of this year as a result of the exit.



Iowa's managed care insurers  AmeriHealth, Amerigroup Iowa and UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley  all posted significant financial losses managing the program during its first year, which began in spring 2016. AmeriHealth posted the largest loss at roughly $300 million, followed by Amerigroup at $133 million and UnitedHealthcare at more than $100 million.



More articles on payer issues:

Humana elects former ONC chief to board of directors: 5 things to know

Anthem president to Hartford HealthCare CEO: It's time for compromise

BCBS of Alabama appoints president, COO; CEO to step down in 2018
Here are nine device company mergers, acquisitions and agreements that took place in July.

K2M signed a long term exclusive distribution agreement with Japan Medicalnext for the distribution of K2M's spinal technologies.

Dallas-based CTL Medical signed a partnership agreement with G-21 to market G-21's bone cement, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty technology.

Olympic sprinter James Ellington partnered with Invibio Biomaterial Solutions and CarboFix Orthopedics to support patients recovering from traumatic injuries.

Tissue Regenix reported a proposed acquisition of CellRight Technologies.

The medical device accelerator ZeroTo510 partnered with Smith & Nephew.

LongueVue Capital acquired Zavation Medical Products, a designer and manufacturer of spinal implants, instruments and biologics.

Globus Medical acquired KB Medical, a robotic developer based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

K2M acquired the exclusive license to an expandable spine implants product portfolio, including 17 interbody technology patents.

DePuy Synthes entered an exclusive agreement with Medical Enterprises Distribution.
Vladimir Sinkov, MD, of Manchester-based New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, highlights reimbursements, regulations and lawsuits as the three greatest obstacles currently impacting independent spine surgeons. He also considers whether independent spine surgeons will be able to remain so moving forward.

Dr. Sinkov will be speaking at the Becker's 16th Annual Future of Spine + The Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference. To learn more and register, click here. Contact Maura Jodoin at mjodoin@beckershealthcare.com or Kristelle Khazzaka at Kkhazzaka@beckershealthcare.com for further information about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

Question: What are the greatest challenges independent spine surgeons are facing today?

Dr. Vladimir Sinkov: By far the greatest challenge is financial; it is the persistent decline in reimbursements in the face of increasing costs of running a practice. In no other industry that I know of a professional gets paid less every year to do the same job, while doing it better, with more experience. Just this year the major insurance companies decided that they will no longer pay spine surgeons for nerve decompression when it is done with a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Those are two separate procedures and both benefit the patient. We will, of course, still continue doing the surgery that is right for the patient, but will get paid less to do it.

At the same time, the wages we have to pay our employees and costs of supplies are getting higher every year. If the trend continues, it will eventually be impossible to run an independent medical practice as a business or we will have to stop accepting insurance contracts and go out-of-network, which will limit patients' access to care.





The second challenge is the ever-increasing burden of government and insurance regulations that require an independent surgeon to spend more time on clerical duties (instead of taking care of patients) and to hire more staff to deal with complexities of documentation, compliance and pre-certification requirements, none of which have been shown to be of any benefit to our patients. To make it worse, the rules and regulations are constantly changing based on current political whims and not medical science, requiring independent practices to scramble every January to revamp their office procedures and policies just to keep up.





And of course, there is an ever-present threat of a frivolous lawsuit. While sometimes true medical malpractice is committed, the majority of malpractice lawsuits in the U.S. are eventually dismissed or won by the defendant. This means that the current system fails to identify if there is merit in a suit most of the time and does not protect patients. It forces physicians to order more unnecessary tests (significantly increasing the costs of healthcare) and degrades doctor-patient trust. Such lawsuits, no matter how "winnable" and frivolous, still take away a lot of physician's time from running a practice and providing care to patients.

Q: Do you think independent physicians will be able to remain so as competition escalates in the industry?

VS: Innovative and entrepreneurial physicians who value their independence will continue to thrive and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of medicine in the U.S. If things continue as they are, however, and if the government passes more laws that are aimed at destroying private practices (such as "Obamacare"), less and less physicians are going to be willing to keep up the fight.

Ironically, the demise of private practice will not be due to competition; it will be due to the reasons listed above. Competition is actually good, and makes everyone try harder and be better at what they do. This ultimately provides better care for patients and more efficient healthcare with fewer costs. The current system is anti-competitive. It provides an unfair legal and financial advantage for non-for-profit tax-exempt large hospital systems and insurance companies.
Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Nov. 16, 2017.

Jury finds neurosurgeon Dr. Sonjay Fonn & fiance owe $1.6M to Medicare, Medicaid for false claims

A federal jury in St. Louis found neurosurgeon Sonjay Fonn, DO, of Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based Midwest Neurosurgeons, violated the False Claims Act, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The jury found Dr. Fonn and his fiance, Deborah Seeger, submitted 228 false claims, for which the defendants received a statutory penalty of $5,500 to $11,000 for each claim, according to Southeast Missourian. Read more about the case, here.





10 states with the highest annual bonus for orthopedic surgeons

Orthopedic surgeons receive annual bonuses of around $50,000 to $60,000 on average, according to Salary Expert. Click here to see which 10 states house orthopedic surgeons with the highest annual bonus based on salary survey data collected from employers and employees in each state. New Jersey tops the list at $63,817.





Medicrea brings lawsuit against K2M Spine

The Medicrea Group filed a lawsuit Nov. 8 against K2M Spine in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Medicrea also filed the lawsuit against "several other defendants," according to the press release. The case regards the defendants' alleged unlawful acts, occurring during the past year.





New England Baptist Hospital to create spine institute with $3M donation

Boston-based New England Baptist Hospital plans to establish a new spine institute. New England Baptist will open the new institute with a $3 million donation, the largest in the hospital's history. A hospital trustee, Jeffrey Libert donated the money to create the Libert Family Spine Institute.





Titan Medical reports $4M in research, development expenses in Q3 2017

Titan Medical reported its 2017 third quarter financial results, with research and development expenses totaling over $4 million. Third quarter net and comprehensive loss, including adjustment for warrant liability, was $13.9 million, compared to $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2016.





Trump nominates Alex Azar to lead HHS

President Donald Trump nominated Alex Azar, II, to lead the HHS. He previously served as president of Lilly USA, affiliate of drug company Eli Lilly. Mr. Azar finds fault in the ACA, calling it a "fundamentally broken system" during a television interview, Medscape reports. The new HHS secretary will replace Don Wright, MD, who stepped into the HHS acting secretary role following the resignation of Tom Price, MD, in September.





Cervical disc replacement increases 190% in 7 years, fusion up 5.7%

A new study published in The Spine Journal examines cervical disc replacement and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion resource utilization across the U.S. The average number of spinal fusions increased 5.7 percent from 2006 to 2013, averaging around 132,425 procedures per year. Over the study period, cervical disc replacements increased 190 percent from 540 in 2006 to 1,565 in 2013.





Virtua Brain and Spine Institute holds ribbon cutting

Virtua cut the ribbon at the new Virtua Brain and Spine Institute at Mount Holly, N.J.-based Virtua Memorial Hospital. The new facility brings together Virtua orthopedic surgeons and Penn Medicine neurosurgeons to deliver spine and brain care. The specialists will treat trauma, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, scoliosis fractures and other disorders at the new facility.




Bombardier's C Series programme is "gaining momentum" following a deal with EgyptAir with another African customer tipped to sign up, an aviation industry analyst has said.

It comes as the European Commission vowed to support the UK in its fight against potential US tariffs on the C Series, the wings of which are made in Belfast.

And the Belfast workforce of the Canadian-owned manufacturer received a further boost from an order for two Q400 turboprops to be flown by an airline in Kenya.

The deal with Nordic Aviation Capital - which will lease the aircraft to Jambojet in Kenya - was announced at the Dubai Airshow yesterday.

The Belfast team designs and manufactures the wing-mounted flight components for the Q400 turboprop, while around 1,000 of its 4,000 workforce makes wings for the C Series.

Fred Cromer, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said: "The demand for turboprop aircraft worldwide is tremendous and the Q Series aircraft are ideally positioned to meet the needs of regional airlines as they offer a unique ability to serve diverse and challenging environments."

And this week, IraqiAir has also firmed up a 2013 deal to buy five CS300s, the larger of the two planes in the C Series programme.

However, the ambitious C Series programme suffered a setback in September when it was slapped with tariffs of up to 300% by US trade authorities.

But it's now hoped that a tie-in between Bombardier and Airbus announced last month will enable Bombardier to circumvent the impact of the tariffs.

Ernie Arvai of airinsight.com said EgyptAir's deal for up to 24 jets, announced at this week's airshow, signalled deepening confidence in the narrow-bodied passsenger jet.

An unnamed European airline signed up to buy up to 61 C Series last week.

EgyptAir is the second African airline to sign up - and Mr Arvai said the industry rumour mill suggested a third airline from the continent will soon sign on the dotted line.

He said: "While clearly both of these negotiations began long before the Airbus takeover of the programme, each closed after the programme was acquired.

"With Airbus now in the programme, any threats of Bombardier facing future financial difficulties or the programme not being well supported over the longer term have evaporated, increasing the comfort level of airlines with the programme.

"This bodes quite well for the future of the programme, as these orders help build the backlog to justify increasing production and reaching the levels of success initially forecast. The impact of Airbus association with the program is subtle, but deep."

And he added that airinsight.com now forecast a "positive future" for the Belfast Bombardier plant.

Meanwhile, according to the Financial Times, the European Commission has hit out at the US move to impose tariffs on the C Series.

The commission vowed to help the UK fight the case - and was insisting that the proposed duties had no basis in law.

According to the Financial Times, an EU source has said Brussels intervened "to defend both the Belfast plant and aerospace suppliers across Europe that stood to be affected by the US crackdown".
Northern Ireland's construction sector stagnated for a second quarter in a row as a lack of public spending continued to have an impact on the industry, according to survey today.

In the latest research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) research and law firm Tughans, members of the profession said the lack of a functioning Executive at Stormont was dragging the sector down.

Not having a functioning devolved government was hitting confidence as well as resulting in a lack of funding for projects.

As a result, in the third quarter of the year, growth in the Northern Ireland construction sector was significantly lower than the rest of the UK, which saw relatively steady growth, RICS said.

Of all sub-sectors, only private housing and private commercial sectors were reported to have grown in the quarter.

Public housing and private industrial workloads fell, as did infrastructure workloads - though the latter had fallen at a more gradual rate.

And looking ahead, surveyors in Northern Ireland were much less optimistic about the future than their UK counterparts.

Jim Sammon, RICS Northern Ireland construction spokesman, said: "Weakness in public sector activity has led to a stagnation in the local construction sector, with infrastructure, public housing and public-non-housing activity falling back.

"A lack of investment in infrastructure in Northern Ireland is a long-standing issue, but anecdotal evidence from chartered surveyors suggests the current political situation is a factor.

"However, there are a number of other factors impacting on local construction as well, including uncertainty in relation to Brexit and challenges in the planning process."

The separate Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin from the Department for Communities this week said there had been a 19% increase to 2,444 in new dwelling starts in the province from April to June, compared to the previous year.

Tim Kinney, construction partner at Tughans Solicitors in Belfast, said: "Whilst the overall picture is one of stagnation, it is encouraging to see that private house-building activity has continued to rise, contributing to housing supply as well as delivering important economic benefits."

He added: "The construction sector remains crucial to the local economy in terms of employment, its supply chain, and the benefits it delivers to society, and government must play its role in creating an enabling environment so that essential investment, including in infrastructure, can happen."
Four noodle restaurants in Northern Ireland have been snapped up by a rival chain for an undisclosed sum.

Yangtze restaurants located in shopping centres around the province have been swallowed up by the Chopstix Group, which owns 75 noodle bars in the UK and Ireland.

Yangtze, which was owned by Belfast-based The Wok Ltd, was set up in 2006 and has nine units, including CastleCourt and Connswater Shopping Centre, Belfast, AbbeyCentre in Newtownabbey and Foyleside in Derry.

The purchaser was advised by property firm GVA NI.

A spokeswoman confirmed that 70 staff who are employed in the four Yangtze venues will be transferred to Chopstix Group.

Wok Ltd directors Kwai Choi Pang and Chui Wah Yuen have now resigned.

But the restaurants will still be called Yangtze, the spokeswoman confirmed.

Chopstix Group, which was founded in 2001, operates five company-owned outlets and five franchised restaurants in Northern Ireland. The acquisition means it will have nine company-owned restaurants in the province.

Liam McAuley, associate director at GVA NI, said: "We have been working closely with Chopstix for a number of years, and last year helped the brand secure its fifth Northern Ireland location at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena.

"Our role within this particular acquisition was to ensure a cost-effective and beneficial deal for both parties and we look forward to helping the Chopstix Group expand their network further within the UK and Ireland," he added.

Chopstix Group director Sam Elia said: "We have been keen to extend our restaurant interests in the 'food to go' sector for a number of years.

"However, we were prepared to wait until the right proposition presented itself," he commented.

"With this acquisition, we are pleased to add a second premium brand to our portfolio, and fully intend to maximise the potential of both Chopstix and Yangtze in the months and years ahead."

Menashe Sadik, also a director of Chopstix, said it would consider further acquisitions in future and would not limit itself to the Oriental sector.

The company recently opened up in Manchester's Arndale Shopping Centre.

It has also opened up at an Emo Express fuel forecourt at Belfast International Airport.

It has also taken over Yangtze's branches in England, which are located in Birmingham's Merryhill Centre, Broadway Centre in Bradford, Intu's shopping centre in Derby and in Meadowhall Centre in Sheffield.

Chopstix said its outlets had doubled in number over the last 18 months.
The Belfast Christmas Market returns to City Hall this weekend to kick off the festive celebrations for 2017.

Inside the gates visitors will find a selection of hand-painted pottery, continental food, fancy festive decorations, and a wide range of festive arts and crafts from across Europe and beyond.

So if you're excited about the upcoming spread of festive cheer - here's everything you need to know about this year's market.

When does the Belfast Christmas Market kick off?

The Belfast Christmas Market opens from 12noon on Saturday, November 18 on the grounds of City Hall.

How long is the Market sticking around?

It will remain in the city centre until 6pm on Saturday, December 23.

What are the opening times?

Opening times are as follows:

Monday - Wednesday: 10am-8pm

Thursday - Saturday: 10am -10pm

Sunday: 12noon- 6pm.

Will Santa be hanging out at this year's Market?

Of course - Santa will be at his grotto throughout the duration of the Christmas Market's stay in Belfast and good girls and boys can visit him at the following times:

Monday - Wednesday: 3pm - 6pm

Thursday - Friday: 2pm - 7pm

Saturday: 11am - 7pm

Sunday 12 noon - 6pm

Visitors to the gingerbread themed grotto - which is supporting the Childrens Cancer Unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children - will receive a present and a picture with Santa for 10.

What local stalls are pitched at the Market this year?

Local food and craft stalls will include Rossis of north Belfast who stole the show last year with their ice cream chimneys.

Traders from The Dock Market including Baked in Belfast will also be donning their tinsel and Santa hats - as will The Belfast Beard Company, previous winners of the Markets Pitch Perfect new business initiative after a very successful boost to their business in 2016.

Will there also be stalls from our European friends?

Of course! The Christmas Market has 32 nationalities from all over the world bringing all sorts of unusual foods and gift ideas.

This includes crepes from France, Dutch pancakes, Belgian chocolates, an exotic selection of ostrich, wild boar and crocodile burgers, giant bratwurst from the iconic Schwenkegrill, Spanish paella and sweets from Italy.

Visitors can also treat themselves to the well known Hug in a Mug of Gluhwein and end the day in one of the bars serving local and continental drinks, taking the chance to dig through those shopping bags, look over their purchases and get even more into the Christmas spirit.

What's new at this year's Christmas Market?

This year the new additions to the Market include: a food court with bench style seating where visitors can take a break from the busy walkways as they eat their grub, plus a vintage helter skelter offers stunning views right across the Market and of course a wonderful whizzing experience for the kids.

For more information, visiit www.belfastcity.gov.uk
Trumbull, CT  November 16, 2017  TMC announced Business Communications Essentials Track at ITEXPO, to be held February 13 -16, 2018 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. ITEXPO is the communications and business transformation event where influential buyers gather to make their purchase decisions. The enterprise mid-market, resellers and service providers attend for 4 days full of content, collocated events and training opportunities, powerful keynotes, an interactive exhibit floor and hours of dedicated networking time.

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What Can I Really Do with Collaboration?

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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.

For the latest ITEXPO news, updates and information follow the event on Twitter at @ITEXPO.

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Edited by Mandi Nowitz
The RHI Inquiry has heard opting for a different renewable heating scheme could have been better value for money by as much as 200m.

The inquiry heard on Wednesday alternative schemes had originally been considered, and on Thursday heard further details of a scheme that would have offered up-front grant payments, rather than ongoing subsidies.

Alternatives to RHI were originally put forward as part of the economic appraisal of alternatives by consultancy firm Cambridge Economic Policy Associates (CEPA), who were contracted by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).

The BBC reports it was shown in the CEPA report an up-front grant scheme would have delivered slightly more renewable heat, and would have cost the taxpayer in the region of 200m less.

It was also noted with a subsidy scheme - which the RHI was - there was a risk the tariff could be set too high or too low.

Evidence was put forward by Donal Lunny, junior counsel to the inquiry, who was examining the approach by civil servants who set up the scheme.

Appearing at the inquiry, Mark Cockburn from CEPA said it was the decision of the DETI to select RHI over an up-front grant option.

At Thursday's hearing it was also said Arlene Foster will be asked about whether she had questioned or reviewed documents sent to her about the scheme.

The RHI Inquiry began las week and is being chaired by Sir Patrick Coghlin, a retired Court of Appeal judge who has been given full control over how it operates.
Safety systems in the Dunmurry tower block acted as they should and it was right that communal fire alarms did not sound, the Northern Ireland Fire Service has emphasised.

Fire Service Group commander Geoff Somerville emphasised the safety systems worked correctly. He said in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy in London his officers reviewed the safety of every high-rise building in Northern Ireland meeting over 2,000 residents face-to-face.

Speaking to the BBC he said he understood resident's concerns, but said those living in high-rise buildings across the country should have no concerns. Mr Sommerville said everyone should check they have a working fire alarm.

The fire broke out on Wednesday evening at Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill. A toaster was to blame. Around 100 tenants from 56 flats were evacuated with two people taken to hospital. One flat has been destroyed with 14 damaged, most by water.

The scar of the blaze was evident at day break on Thursday up the side of the building.

Fire-fighter Somerville said smoke alarms should not sound in unaffected flats as access for his firefighters to get to the origin of the blaze was vital.

"It is very important to reassure the public the fire alarm system did work correctly as it should have and was configured correctly.... the fire should not spread."

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He said in each flat there was three smoke alarms which in this case alerted the resident of the fire. He was then able to evacuate to the lobby and when smoke went into that area the separate communal system activated triggering venting systems.

Mr Somerville said the communal system is not supposed to sound.

"That is the correct configuration because only when smoke enters another flat should other residents be evacuated. The fire should not spread beyond that flat. The incident last night developed as we would expect.

"Memories of Grenfell are very raw but it was unprecedented. There is a risk, as there is with any fire. The resident was able to self-evacuate and the fire service was able to take four people away to safety.

"The other residents did not have to evacuate as we need to get our firefighters in and use those common stairwells free so that we can tackle the fire.

"Residents need to be aware that if there is no smoke in their flat they are not at risk. Once their fire alarm activates then they need to evacuate."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The flats at Seymour Hill . Pic: Crowded Space Drones The flats at Seymour Hill . Pic: Crowded Space Drones A fire has broken out at a high-rise block of flats in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast. Firefighters and ambulance crews were sent to Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill, as flames and smoke hit multiple floors of the tower block Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 15/11/2017 A fire has broken out at a high-rise block of flats in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast. Firefighters and ambulance crews were sent to Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill, as flames and smoke hit multiple floors of the tower block Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 15/11/2017 A fire has broken out at a high-rise block of flats in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast. Firefighters and ambulance crews were sent to Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill, as flames and smoke hit multiple floors of the tower block Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press The blaze in Dunmurry Repairs and cleaning up starts after the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry. Pic: Freddie Parkinson Presseye Freddie Parkinson Repairs and cleaning up starts after the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry. Pic: Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye  Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye  Wednesday 16 November 2017 Repairs and cleaning up starts after the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry. Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye  Wednesday 16 November 2017 Repairs and cleaning up starts after the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry. Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye  Wednesday 16 November 2017 Repairs and cleaning up starts after the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry. Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye  Wednesday 16 November 2017 Repairs and cleaning up starts after the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry. Freddie Parkinson PACEMAKER BELFAST 15/11/2017 A fire has broken out at a high-rise block of flats in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast. Firefighters and ambulance crews were sent to Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill, as flames and smoke hit multiple floors of the tower block Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson PACEMAKER BELFAST 15/11/2017 A fire has broken out at a high-rise block of flats in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast. Firefighters and ambulance crews were sent to Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill, as flames and smoke hit multiple floors of the tower block Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 15/11/2017 A fire has broken out at a high-rise block of flats in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast. Firefighters and ambulance crews were sent to Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill, as flames and smoke hit multiple floors of the tower block Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 15/11/2017 A fire has broken out at a high-rise block of flats in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast. Firefighters and ambulance crews were sent to Coolmoyne House flats on Seymour Hill, as flames and smoke hit multiple floors of the tower block Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson  Wednesday 15 November 2017 All services attend the fire at Coolmoyne House in Dunmurry Freddie Parkinson / Facebook

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The Housing Executive said a review of the incident would be carried out.

Chief executive Clarke Bailey said after the Grenfell disaster extensive work went into ensuring each of its tower blocks were safe in the event of a fire.

"When an incident like this happens you review every single piece of information. We will act on the best possible advice," he said.

"It is vital residents have confidence in us."
DUP leader Arlene Foster has called on Theresa May to focus on ensuring a positive Brexit.

Mrs Foster acknowledged the "febrile" atmosphere at Westminster made it difficult, but said it was important to bring stability and address the major issues.

Her party agreed a deal with the Conservatives in June whereby the DUP's 10 pro-Brexit MPs support the minority Government on key issues like leaving the EU.

Mrs Foster said: "I think what Theresa May and her Government need to do now is to focus on the big issues of the day.

"That is why we got into this confidence and supply arrangement - to focus on our exit from the EU, to do that in a positive way, and to bring stability to the nation.

"It's so important that she focuses on the big issues and doesn't get thrown off. I know that's very difficult when there is so much noise going on, but that's exactly what she must do."

The Prime Minister is coping with ministerial resignations and a Westminster sexual harassment scandal amid the ongoing debate around Brexit.

Mrs May has been warned by a senior German MEP that talks on a trade deal with the EU may not be given the green light next month.

Mrs Foster has repeatedly criticised Jeremy Corbyn as being beyond the political Pale due to his past support for republicans and said she was concerned about the impact of a Labour Government on the peace process.

She told The House political magazine: "He would be very clearly partisan towards republicanism.

"It would be disastrous for Northern Ireland, because of his previous utterances in relation to Northern Ireland, and his support for the IRA at a time when nobody else was supporting the IRA."

Earlier this year Mr Corbyn said he had wanted the violence to stop, but refused to single out the IRA for condemnation.

Following endless negotiations with Sinn Fein on reforming the stalled power-sharing administration, Mrs Foster said there had been a hardening of attitudes.

She claimed Sinn Fein wanted devolution on its terms.

"Do I think there will be devolution back? Yes, I do.

"But it involves people compromising and bringing their own people to a place where they feel comfortable, and that sometimes takes a little longer," she said.

Meanwhile, a hard border post-Brexit could impact efforts to deal with a major emergency on the island, a Westminster committee has been warned.

Bernie McCrory, chief officer at Co-operation and Working Together, an organisation that manages a range of cross-border health service link-ups, also told the Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee that physical border checks could hamper daily provision of life-saving care in Ireland.

She was outlining the potential impact of a hardening of the border on the growing number of health services that treat patients on both sides of the frontier, many initiated with EU funding.

Cancer and cardiac care and ENT surgery are among those now provided on a cross-border basis in certain areas.

Ms McCrory told committee members in London that emergency services and military on both sides of the border also currently worked together on planning for major incidents.

"We facilitate a lot of inter-agency emergency planning work with the British Army, with the Irish Defence Forces, with the Irish Air Corps, with the RAF and we train together usually once a year to prepare for an emergency, be that an emergency in Ireland or some humanitarian relief abroad," she said.

"We are now in a good state of preparedness to do that and if, for example, we had a hard border and emergency vehicles could not freely cross the border, that would be a huge impediment."

And the UK faces a repeat of the 2015 cross-Channel transport chaos if the Government botches plans for post-Brexit customs arrangements, a parliamentary report has warned. A Commons committee claimed failure could see lorry drivers and holidaymakers facing enormous queues and long delays the day after the UK's departure from the EU.

MPs cited the summer disruption seen two years ago following a strike by French workers and a dramatic surge in attempts by migrants to reach Britain from Calais.
The 34-year-old was told by Judge Miller that he will spend half his sentence in prison, followed by a year on licence.

A father-of-two who was caught by police dealing heroin in south Belfast was handed a two-year prison sentence on Thursday.

Lithuanian man Artiomas Cerepanovas - who at the time of his arrest was homeless and sleeping on the street - was caught with a total of 30 wraps of the Class A drug, each of which was worth 25.

Passing sentence, Judge Geoffrey Miller QC said: "The amounts were small, but the defendant was prepared and was dealing hard drugs whose pernicious effect is felt by many in this city and whose lives have been blighted by that association."

The 34-year-old was told by Judge Miller that he will spend half his sentence in prison, followed by a year on licence.

Belfast Crown Court heard Cerepanovas travelled from Cork to Belfast to sell heroin, and as a result of his arrest the Home Office has started deportation proceedings.

Prosecuting barrister Gareth Purvis told Belfast Crown Court that police were attended an incident in the university area of the city on March 13 when they noticed two men acting suspiciously in an alleyway.

As an officer approached the pair, they left the scene. However, the constable spotted another man in a second alleyway, who was seen to bend down and work with a loose brick.

Mr Purvis said as the officer approached this man, he noticed he was holding money in his hand. A search was conducted and after a loose brick was removed, police located a bag containing 30 wraps of heroin.

The prosecutor said the wraps were .72 grams each, and that a total of 8.34 grams were found which amounted to a street value of 750, as the wraps were 25 each. When arrested Cerepanovas was found to have 162 in cash.

During interview, Cerepanovas said he had come to Ireland from Lithuanian with the promise of work. He told police that after spending his life savings and failing to get a job, he found himself on the streets.

Cerepanovas said it was never his intention to become involved in drugs, but after spending time in Cork he was offered employment selling drugs in Northern Ireland.

When questioned by Judge Miller about whether or not Cerepanovas was part of a criminal gang, Mr Purvis said it was the Crown's view he was "at the very bottom level of an organisation."

Defence barrister Joel Lindsay said that before coming to Belfast via Cork, Cerepanovas had never been involved in drugs.

Revealing Cerepanovas was a builder by trade with two children back in Lithuania, Mr Lindsay said his client's original intention was to "come to Ireland and gain legitimate work" which didn't materialise.
Prominent loyalist Mark Harbinson succeeded on Thursday in having his tag and curfew conditions removed, but only with the added restriction of now signing for his bail with police on a daily basis, instead of three times a week.

The bail conditions of 50-year-old Harbinson were 'relaxed', as they were in the past, after his Belfast Crown Court trial on firearms offences, had to be adjourned yet again, this time until the end of January next year..

He was due to go on trial earlier this month for possession, under suspicious circumstances, and without Firearms Certificates for a 9mm Makarov type pistol, a silencer and 28 rounds of 9mm ammunition found in a biscuit tin, uncovered in outbuildings at his Sheepwalk Road home on outskirts of Lisburn on December 21, 2015.

Crown barrister David Russell told Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland it was still felt the bail conditions were necessary to deal with the "risk of flight" by Harbinson who was arrested in England after fleeing the country. However, it was accepted that the conditions could be looked at again because of futher delays in dealing with his case.

Defence barrister Tom McCreanor, who initially applied for both the 11pm curfew and tagging conditions to be scraped, claimed that Harbinson has had ample opportunity in the last 16 months to abscond since being granted bail.

"If he really wanted to avoid detection and his trial, there is nothing to stop him, "said Mr McCreanor.

He added that Harbinson wanted "to be at liberty" to visit friends, or go to functions, whenever he wanted anywhere in Northern Ireland, instead of having to return at specific times to meet his curfew.

Judge McFarland said that if he were to remove the main condition of curfew, he would want Harbinson to be signing at a police station on a daily basis, which he initially was required to do. He added later that if he were to abscond, his failure to sign his bail would alert the authorities to that fact.

Following a consultation with his solicitor, Mr McCreanor said that the 'seven day requirement' was Harbinson's preferred option.
Family and Friends comfort each other as the funeral of twin brothers Waldemar and Krzysztop Kropidlowski from St Peter's church in Lurgan. Pic by Peter Morrison

Family and friends comfort each other at the funeral

The tight-knit Polish community in Lurgan came together yesterday for the joint funeral of twin brothers who died within hours of each other after battling cancer.

They had both been diagnosed with the disease on the same day in September.

A small group of family and friends followed two hearses carrying Waldemar and Krzysztop Kropidlowski along the town's North Street, where a Requiem Mass was held in St Peter's Church.

The twins, who were originally from Gdansk, moved to Northern Ireland eight years ago.

The pair lived just half-a-mile apart, and were on the same ward in Craigavon Hospital when told the devastating news.

Krzysztop was diagnosed with breast cancer, and just two hours later Waldemar was told he had stomach cancer.

The brothers passed away at the weekend.

Krzysztop died on Friday afternoon, followed just a few hours later on Saturday morning by Waldemar.

Waldemar's daughter Beata told the Irish News: "My uncle Krzysztop was told he had breast cancer and two hours later we learned my dad had stomach cancer while they were being cared for in the same ward, even the hospital staff couldn't believe it.

"We were told that treatment would not be an option for my dad, but my uncle was given a bit more hope and returned home to his flat where he was doing okay.

"Two weeks before he died Krzysztop fell down the stairs and suffered bleeding to his brain.

"He was admitted to hospital and quickly went downhill.

"My uncle died last Friday after 5pm and my dad died the following morning shortly before 11am.

"It has come as such a shock as my dad hadn't been really that sick. They were very close and saw each other every day.

"They were just typical twins."

She revealed that her father had been cared for in Southern Area Hospice in Newry but died at home. The family have asked for donations to be made to the hospice in lieu of flowers.

Krzysztop, who lived on his own and worked in a local factory, had a passion for pet snakes, while his twin loved fishing.

The brothers had a bond so close that when one of them was ill, the other would feel pain.

Beata said that her father once broke a bone in his spine and got a call from her uncle telling him to hurry up and get better as he couldn't sit down properly.

She added: "There was a time in Poland when they hadn't seen each other for a few months and met up to find they had both grown moustaches for the first time without the other knowing it."

Her father and mother Halina, who has three daughters and four grandchildren, were due to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next year.

Following Requiem Mass in Lurgan yesterday the men's remains were taken to Roselawn Crematorium in Belfast.
A man accused of imprisoning and choking a girlfriend allegedly attacked and threatened to kill his mother when she tried to stop him, the High Court heard on Thursday.

A man accused of imprisoning and choking a girlfriend allegedly attacked and threatened to kill his mother when she tried to stop him, the High Court heard on Thursday.

Patrick Johnston, 22, brandished knives before exiting the house in Castledawson to search for his partner, prosecutors claimed.

He faces a total of 24 charges linked to an alleged outburst of violence during a night out on July 28.

Refusing bail, a judge warned: "This is the kind of background where somebody does end up killing someone."

Johnston, of Park View in the Co Derry town, is accused of launching the first attack at a Chinese takeaway.

He then allegedly followed his girlfriend to the memorial park, throwing her to the ground repeatedly.

Prosecution counsel Breige Gilmore claimed Johnston kicked a young woman in the chest when she spotted him carrying his partner away.

Further alleged attacks were carried out when the couple arrived at the home of Johnston's mother.

She was pushed to the ground, punched and kicked when she attempted to intervene, according to the prosecution.

Mrs Gilmore claimed Johnston took two large kitchen knives, headed upstairs, and threatened his mother and father.

The court was told he also allegedly pulled his girlfriend by the hair, ripped off her top and bra, and bit her foot.

She exited and went to an elderly neighbour's house, with the defendant in pursuit, it was contended.

Johnston allegedly instructed that woman to leave her own home before ordering the victim into a smaller bedroom.

"He told her she would have to stay there until Monday," Mrs Gilmore said.

"Several hours later the applicant left and then returned again.

"It's alleged by the girlfriend that he choked her with both hands around her throat for several minutes, rendering her unable to call out or breathe."

Johnston is charged with multiple counts of threats to kill, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, criminal damage, false imprisonment and attempting to choke with intent to render his girlfriend insensible, unconscious, or incapable of resistance.

Defence barrister Conn O'Neill confirmed his client denies the charges, arguing that he should be released on bail having spent three months in custody.

But denying the application, Sir Richard McLaughlin said: "Prisons are not just for punishment, they are meant to protect people from those who don't behave themselves."
Brian McIlhagga was killed in Ballymoney in 2015 (PSNI/PA)

A 30-year-old man has been released unconditionally by police investigating the murder of father-of-five Brian McIlhagga in Co Antrim in 2015.

He had been arrested on Wednesday area in the Portrush area.

The had been held under the Terrorism Act.

Under this legislation individuals must be charged, released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service or released unconditionally.

Bail is not permitted.

Brian McIlhagga, 42, was beaten and shot by a group of masked assailants who dragged him from a house in Riverview Park in Ballymoney in January 2015.

A 33-year-old woman who lived in the house was also assaulted by the gang and four children in the property were left traumatised.

Police said the man was arrested in Portrush on Wednesday.

He was taken to Belfast for questioning.
The Irish border is one of the key issues under discussion during EU exit talks in Brussels

Urgent decisions are needed over the impact of Brexit on the Irish border, a committee of MPs said.

The effect on areas such as customs operations will be "severe" without specific solutions to the complex issues affecting the island, the Home Affairs Committee said.

The Irish border is one of the key issues under discussion during EU exit talks in Brussels.

The committee said: "Decisions on the way forward are needed as a matter of urgency including on infrastructure improvements, systems and capacity."

Witnesses giving evidence to the committee were clear that the Northern Ireland border presents particular challenges for post-Brexit customs arrangements.

In January Jack Semple, policy director at the Road Haulage Association, told the group of MPs the companies he represented struggled to see how the proposed models for post-Brexit customs arrangements could work on the island of Ireland and that "we cannot see... an easy solution".

He said the problem was exacerbated because "the economic integration of trade" between Northern Ireland and the Republic "is at a far more advanced level than it is between the UK and continental Europe".

In unrelated proceedings recently, Brexit Secretary David Davis told the Committee on Exiting the EU that "one of my aims in this is to try to get an outcome that does not do harm to Ireland".

He confirmed that it remained the Government's intention to ensure that there is no physical border and no infrastructure at the border.

He also pointed out that Ireland is the EU country most dependent on the UK for trade with a value of "about a one billion euro a week" in both directions, and through the UK to the continent.

Separately, a leaked European Commission document has suggested that the Republic is now pushing hard for concrete reassurance on the border question ahead of the crucial EU leaders' summit in December at which Theresa May hopes to gain a green light for trade talks to begin.

Along with the question of expat citizens' rights and the UK's "divorce bill", the Irish border is a key issue in the first stage of Brexit talks, on which "sufficient progress" must be made before the leaders of the remaining 27 EU states will give the go-ahead for trade talks.
When I was cutting my teeth in journalism, I decided one day to take myself off to Rhodesia, the former Zimbabwe, where a war was being waged by the majority black people against their white minority rulers.

There were six million blacks, the whites just 250,000. The Patriotic Front guerillas of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo were engaged in a bloody conflict with the soldiers of Premier Ian Smith, a veteran British Second World War fighter pilot who had unilaterally broken from British rule in the early Sixties.

I can still recall the sounds and the smells and the scorched red earth that first day I set foot on African soil in 1977.

All I had back then was a raw enthusiasm and 'some' nerve to venture into a war zone, with a token guarantee of work for Ireland, Scotland and the odd stint for Associated Press (AP).

This 40-year-old photo of a very young me (right, forefront) covering the downing of an airplane found me in the thick of it.

Look closely and you can see part of the fuselage on the left, soldiers in the background. Air Rhodesia Flight 825 was a scheduled passenger flight shot down by guerrillas on September 3,1978.

The Viscount, named The Hunyani, was flying from Victoria Falls to the capital Salisbury (now Harare). Guerrillas scored a hit to its starboard wing with a Soviet-made Strela 2 surface-to-air missile, critically damaging the aircraft and forcing an emergency landing. An attempted belly-landing was foiled by an unseen gully, which caused the plane to cartwheel and break up.

Of the 52 passengers and four crew, 38 died on impact. To this day, I still have the odour of burnt and putrefied flesh in my nostrils.

Insurgents then rounded up the 10 survivors they could see and massacred them with automatic gunfire. Three passengers survived by hiding in the bush, while a further five lived because they had gone to look for help before the guerrillas arrived.

I remember the Rhodesian Army officer who led the journalists' convoy to the scene was ex-British Army, had served in Belfast, and did not count Catholic Paddies among his favourites - but we hit it off.

Earlier in 1978, in the middle of this war one day arrived Conor Cruise O'Brien. The Cruiser, as he was known, was no stranger to controversy and as onetime Minister for Posts & Telegraphs in the Republic had put a gag on Sinn Fein members being interviewed by RTE.

Seventeen years previously, in September 1961, a company of 155 Irish UN troops found themselves surrounded by a force of heavily armed warriors outnumbering them 20 to one in what was then Belgian Congo. This was supposed to be a peacekeeping mission: instead they found themselves ordered on to the offensive by the UN's most senior diplomat on the ground, Cruise O'Brien.

The Irish held out for six days in the Siege of Jadotville before then spending months in captivity.

When they arrived home, they were dismayed to learn that the UN and Dublin were anxious to sweep the sorry episode under the carpet.

In 1978, a so-called internal settlement was reached between Ian Smith and the moderate Bishop Abel Muzorewa, with a concessionary nod to a future, unspecified, independence. Cruise O'Brien was then editor-in-chief of London's Observer.

In the Press Club at the Ambassador hotel in Salisbury (Harare) I got wind that he was coming out to write an overview on this internal deal. The Irish Press in Dublin asked me to interview The Cruiser, given his legacy in the Congo. As it happened, he decamped at the Ambassador, where I had had a brief dalliance with the young woman in reception.

I got The Cruiser's room number and rang him. No interviews, he said, he was there as a working journalist.

I said to my friend, I'll be in the Press club. If he calls for room service, let me know.

He ordered Earl Grey tea and cucumber sandwiches.

At the pass, I cut off room service and knocked on The Cruiser's door. He was expecting a black face.

Please sir, I pleaded, just give me 20 minutes of your time. He objected to my intrusion quite vociferously but eventually relented.

I got my story - and half a cucumber sandwich - and sold it halfway around the world.

About a year before that I was in a convoy travelling from Salisbury to Bulawayo in the southern region of Matabeleland when we came under fire.

We hit the decks of our 4x4: I peed my pants and, in the fire, was hit by shrapnel.

Nothing dramatic, I hasten to add, and the shrapnel was only about a quarter the size of the nail of your little finger. But it was lodged in my chest and occasionally caused me irritation and you could see the tiny hole where the skin had never fully healed.

In 2010 I underwent open-heart surgery for a congenital murmur and the good surgeon afterwards presented me with a clean bill of health ... and also the said shrapnel.
The PSNI is supporting the officer as well as another who has been wrongly implicated.

The PSNI's Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris has branded posters which appeared around Belfast with a private image of a female police officer "despicable and shameful".

He said it is "appalling that these images have been displayed in public places" around republican areas of Belfast.

Police are investigating after the image, understood to be that of a constable, appeared on social media.

DCC Harris added: "The posting and re-posting of this material across various social media platforms and now in a public space, is causing deep hurt and distress to both officers.

"This is an attempt to victimise and bully two women, who happen to be police officers, who are doing their duty to keep people safe".

On Wednesday posters appeared around various locations of the city of the officer purportedly unclothed alongside a picture of her in uniform.

It is understood the image was leaked on messaging app WhatsApp and had been shared over 1,000 times.

The officer at the centre of the incident does not hold a senior rank in the PSNI.

Earlier, DCC Harris said a second, higher-ranking, officer had been wrongly linked to the picture and both are receiving support.

"The posting and re-posting of this material across various social media platforms over recent days has regrettably re-traumatised the victim in this already difficult case," he said.

"It has also unfortunately implicated a second officer erroneously."

Mr Harris added: "Whilst we continue to offer our full support to both officers, we would urge sensible and sensitive reporting around this matter and afford time for an investigation to take place."

Police are working to establish how the images were obtained and who posted them across social media.

PSNI officers have been warned previously to be aware of their online safety to prevent their details falling into the hands of terrorists or becoming a blackmail risk.

Although there is no official PSNI code of conduct for officers when using social media there is a corporate policy which warns of the risks accompanied with online use.

The PSNI has also launched a number of internet safety awareness messages for the public.

The organisation also provides guidance on its website which includes a warning against sharing personal information or images with strangers or posting anything online that people would be unhappy to be shared, particularly nude or nearly nude images or videos.

"It may seem like a bit of fun with friends at the time but there is always a chance those images could be shared or get into the wrong hands and could lead to harmful situations such as stalking, abuse or blackmail," the guidance continues.

The PSNI encourages anyone who may have had, or is aware of, a worrying or disturbing interaction online to contact police or a trusted adult.
A Queen's University researcher has secured a 200,000 prize for designing a new wireless communications system that can withstand natural disasters.

Dr Trung Duong, who is originally from Vietnam, is based at the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology in Belfast.

Yesterday in his home country he was among just five winners from across the world to receive the prestigious Newton Prize, which champions work that helps developing countries.

His scientific breakthrough is capable of transmitting during extreme weather conditions.

It's hoped this could become a lifesaver emergency service to co-ordinate large scale rescue efforts during power cuts and signal blackouts.

In Vietnam, 70% of the population is at risk from natural disasters, especially the rural and urban poor.

In the past 20 years alone disasters have claimed more than 13,000 casualties and cost around 5.2bn in damage.

Dr Duong's invention is officially known as an integrated heterogeneous wireless system (IHWS).

The device is tailormade for natural disasters and able to handle problems like the destruction of telecommunications networks, lack of power supply and network congestion.

Incredibly, the system also provides an early warning of natural disasters by detecting water level, vibration and wind.

When used in cities, the IWHS can detect increases in dust, temperature, noise and carbon dioxide levels.

Dr Duong will use the prize money to continue his research, which he hopes will assist telecommunications providers in Vietnam.

"I am very happy that I have been able to make a positive impact in Vietnam and to give something back to the country that I grew up in," he said.

"Our research at Queen's University Belfast is helping to solve many problems for the citizens of Vietnam.

"I am so pleased to have won the 2017 Newton Prize.

"Natural disasters are a big problem not just in Vietnam but throughout the whole world, and the impact is worse for those in remote and isolated areas with no access to the ICT facilities that are essential to providing vital warning information and aiding in rescue missions."

Professor James McElnay, acting president and vice-chancellor of Queen's, said: "I am delighted that Dr Trung Duong has been awarded the prestigious 2017 Newton Prize.

"Dr Duong's work is a great example of the world leading research taking place at Queen's University Belfast and the Newton Prize is a strong endorsement of the important role our researchers play in tackling major global issues."

"Dr Duong's research is making a positive impact on the lives of many people in Vietnam and I am proud that his innovation and expertise has been recognised on the world stage."

British Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever said: "By working together and leveraging each other's strengths, we can achieve more than what we would achieve alone.

"I am excited to think about the future possibilities, and look forward to a bright future for the Newton Fund Programme Vietnam."

The UK's Minister for Universities, Science and Research Jo Johnson will also host an event in London in early December to celebrate the first year of the Prize and to announce the 2018 Newton Prize countries.
Two men have been arrested over an altercation in east Belfast that left a number of people injured.

The incident happened in the Dee Street area on Sunday night.

The men, aged 38 and 39, were arrested in east Belfast on Wednesday evening. They were released on Thursday pending further investigation.

Two properties were searched as part of the police operation.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact them in Musgrave Police Station on 101 quoting reference 547 13/11/17, or if they wish to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Ulster Bank is to close 11 branches across Northern Ireland.

The move, the bank said, was down to the "radical" change in banking and the increase in reliance on digital technology to carry out transactions.

The bank has said 40 jobs will be lost in the restructure. There will be 44 branches remaining open and its 'Bank on Wheels' service will be expanded to serve 17 locations.

Sean Murphy, managing director, personal banking, Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland said: Ulster Bank will close 11 branches in Northern Ireland in May and June 2018. Banking has changed radically in recent years.

"More and more of our customers are using digital technology and fewer are using our branch network. While we continue to keep our network under review in response to changing customer demand, we still have Northern Irelands largest bank branch network.

As a result of this process, we will be seeking a reduction of 40 roles and we remain committed to managing this on a voluntary basis."

He added: "Closing a branch is never an easy decision and one we do not take lightly. Recognising that customers expect different services from their bank, we continue to invest in a range of channels to improve access in a sustainable way, such as our 24/7 telephone banking, online and mobile banking, and our services available through the Post Office.

"Ulster Bank still has Northern Irelands only Bank on Wheels service, with new stops being added. We are also providing ongoing education for customers in how to make best use of these alternatives. We will also be introducing additional digital and community support roles to assist with this transition.

Those branches to close include Ballyclare, Dromore, Moira, Draperstown, Dungiven, Portrush, Killyleagh, Rathfriland, Castlederg, Irvinestown and Stewartstown.

Mr Murphy added: In line with the industry-agreed UK protocol on branch closures, we are writing to customers of these branches to inform them of alternative branch locations in their area and the range of banking services available on their mobiles, online, telephone and in post offices. We are also communicating directly with staff in those affected branches.
Two men were arrested over cannabis and cocaine seized by gardai in Co Meath as part of an international operation

A seven million euro haul of cannabis and cocaine has been seized in an international police operation targeting the Kinahan crime cartel.

The drugs were recovered when industrial units near Ashbourne, Co Meath were raided on Wednesday by specialist garda units tackling traffickers linked to the organised crime gang.

At least 10 people have been arrested in Ireland and the Netherlands as part of the wider crackdown on the outfit.

Two men in their 30s were arrested at the scene of the multimillion-euro drugs bust, gardai said.

In Amsterdam a series of searches were carried out by Dutch police and five people were detained.

And in subsequent raids in Dublin's south inner city under Operation Thistle, which targets the Kinahan network on the ground, another three people were arrested.

A quantity of drugs, believed to be heroin, was seized in the city along with a number of weapons and suspected replica firearms, gardai said.

Several thousand euro in cash was also recovered.

Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll, who is in The Hague for meetings with Dutch counterparts and others at Europol, said a number of organised crime gangs in a number of countries may be linked to the wider operation.

"The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has brought to fruition an operation targeting drug trafficking, which has an international dimension," he said.

"This has resulted in a significant seizure of cannabis herb and cocaine and the arrest of a number of suspects."

The top officer said the Irish and Dutch ends of the operation were coordinated.

The raids began on Wednesday in Ashbourne and continued on Thursday in at least nine locations in Dublin's south inner city and a number of places in Amsterdam.

Dutch Police said their end of the operation led to seizures of cocaine, cash, phones and computers while a number of Irish people were detained.

The Kinahan crime cartel is alleged to have operations in Spain, Ireland and other countries and has been embroiled in a bitter gangland war for several years which has claimed at least 10 lives, a number of them innocent victims.

Gardai have previously said that the unprecedented spate of underworld-ordered killings - as part of a feud between the Kinahan network and the Hutch family - was being directed from Spain, the Netherlands and the UK.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said : "The illicit drugs trade is a highly destructive international business and I am pleased to see An Garda Siochana continuing to partner effectively with law enforcement in other jurisdictions.

"This seizure is very significant and results from a great deal of painstaking work. I want to congratulate all those involved for their professionalism and dedication to duty.

"The effective policing operation will prevent these drugs from reaching the streets and harming individuals, families and communities."

Later, gardai said the Dublin end of the operation netted almost 400,000 euro worth of heroin, cocaine and cash.

During a search at a house at Kilmainham Bank, heroin valued at 25,000 euro and 6,000 euro cash was seized along with three imitation firearms.

A man in his 50s was arrested at the scene.

Heroin with a street value of 1,000 euro was found in another search at Basin Street and a man in his 40s was arrested.

The third arrest took place at McCarthy Terrace.

And in a fourth search, at Berry's Close in Inchicore, 3.5 kilos of drugs, believed to be heroin or cocaine and wrapped in plastic was found.

It has been valued at 350,000 euro. A car has also been impounded.
MATTOON -- Trinity Episcopal Church of Mattoon will celebrate the centennial of its Reuter organ with the fifth and final concert in a series at 3 p.m. Sunday, 100 years to the day after this organ was played for the first time.

The concert will be presented by Ron Krebs, vice president of Reuter Organ Co. of Lawrence, Kan. Reuter, which began in Trenton, is also celebrating its centennial. Reuter had the Opus I organ ready to ship to Trinity Episcopal in Mattoon when a tornado blew out a wall of the factory and destroyed the organ. Being insured, Opus II was built and shipped to Mattoon.

Krebs primary responsibilities include sales and communications, and he assists with project oversight and design. He also serves as one of Reuter's two artists-in-residence. He received bachelor's and master's of music from the University of Michigan, where he studied organ with Robert Glasgow.

Before coming to Reuter, Krebs held church positions in Grand Rapids, Mich at Central Reformed Church and Second Congregational United Church of Christ. He served as convention coordinator for the American Guild of Organists Region V Convention in Grand Rapids and subsequently was appointed director of the guild's regional conventions Committee.

Krebs has presented concerts in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands. His live performance of Leo Sowerby's "Comes Autumn Time" opens National Public Radio Pipedreams Program 442  "Autumn Comes Again." His recording credits include "The Art of Two Manuals," a CD on the Raven label that is now in its second printing.

Trinity Episcopa is located at 2200 Western Ave. in Mattoon. Krebs' performance will be followed by a reception at the church.
Scotlands international reputation has been damaged by Alex Salmonds decision to host a talk show on state-funded Russian television, Willie Rennie has claimed.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader said the former first ministers choice of RT as a platform for his latest venture should turn our stomach.

Mr Rennie called on the Scottish Government to distance itself from Mr Salmond during First Ministers Questions at Holyrood.

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But Deputy First Minister John Swinney, standing in for Nicola Sturgeon, accused opposition parties of hypocrisy.

The exchange followed comments by Tiina Intelmann, the Estonian ambassador to the UK, at the parliaments Europe Committee describing RT as a Kremlin arm of propaganda.

Mr Rennie questioned whether Mr Salmond, who is seeking to become chairman of the newspaper group Johnston Press, was a fit and proper person to own newspapers.

He said: Newspaper regulation is devolved so its reasonable to ask whether Alex Salmond would be a fit and proper person to own the Scotsman when he is being paid by President Putins propaganda channel.

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We should remember, this is the TV channel that seeks to undermine western democracy and ignore human rights abuses at home.

It should turn our stomach that a former first minister of this country is giving it credibility and legitimacy by launching this show this very day.

Scotlands reputation abroad has been damaged. Countries, small countries, particularly along the Russian border, will be deeply concerned by this decision. Alex Salmond does not speak for Scotland on this.

So what is this government doing to actively distance themselves from Alex Salmond?

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Mr Swinney highlighted that Ms Sturgeon had made clear RT would not have been her channel of choice.

Guests on the first broadcast of The Alex Salmond Show on Thursday included deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, Tory MP Crispin Blunt and Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy.

He said: I understand, although Ive not seen it myself, that on the programme that has been broadcast today Mr Salmond had guests from both the Labour party and the Conservative party on his programme. So I suspect that reflects the plurality of choice that will be in his guests.

Pointing out that UK Lib Dem leader Vince Cable had also appeared on RT in 2015, he added: This is an issue that Alex Salmond, who is not currently an elected politician, is free to take forward as he wishes.

But I think what is also fair for me to say in all of this is that the whole debate has been struck by a stinking reek of hypocrisy from every other political party.

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Mr Salmond recorded an interview with Mr Puigdemont at an undisclosed location in Belgium, where the Catalan leader fled when Spanish authorities decided to press charges against him after the independence referendum in Catalonia.

The Madrid government  which opposed the referendum taking place  dissolved the regional Catalan parliament after it voted in favour of a unilateral declaration of independence, and called snap elections for December.

During the interview, Mr Puidgemont said there was an an intellectual incapacity on the part of the Spanish government to admit the possibility, the real possibility, that Spain could be different in future.

He said: The message is to be confident, passionate and resilient because we will win. We will succeed. Finally, democracy will prevail.
Hundreds of people are due to protest outside the Foreign Office calling for Boris Johnson to intervene in the case of a British man arrested in India who campaigners say has been tortured by police.

Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, was detained in Jalandhar in the state of Punjab on November 4.

The Sikh Federation UK said no official charges have yet appeared, but local media reported Mr Johals arrest was linked to the killing of Hindu leaders in Punjab.

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Mr Johal, who got married in India in October, has told lawyers he has been tortured with body separation techniques and electrocution to body parts.

The federation said up to 1,000 people will protest outside the FCO building on Friday, calling for Mr Johal to be given more consular assistance.

They will also ask for Mr Johnson to meet with the family and make representations to his Indian counterpart demanding his immediate release and return to the UK.

Speaking about the case previously, an FCO spokesman said: We are in contact with the family of a British man who has been detained in India. Our staff have requested consular access from the Indian authorities so we can be assured of his welfare.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth will serve as a floating military base for the F-35B stealth fighter jets (Steve Parsons/PA)

Britains biggest and most powerful warship can be used to strike fear into the hearts of our enemies  including Russia and North Korea, the Defence Secretary has said.

The newly-appointed Gavin Williamson stepped on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, the 280-metre, 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier, while the behemoth was completing the latest round of sea trials off the south coast.

Landing on the 3 billion carrier, marking his first time on a Royal Navy vessel, Mr Williamson said youd have to have no heart or soul not to be moved by such an amazing and impressive ship.

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When questioned about the relevance of the aircraft carriers in protecting the UK from emerging threats over the coming years, he said it gave Britain an amazing capability.

Lets not underestimate the growing threat from Russia and North Korea. These are countries that want to damage Britain, these are countries that want to undermine Britain, he said.

When Russia sees this aircraft carrier  they have nothing like it in the world. This is the finest aircraft carrier in the world  it is leagues ahead of any other nation.

We should take a great amount of pride in that, and we can use this to strike fear into the hearts of all our enemies and that is what it is designed to do, and I am sure that is what it will do.

Embarking on to the four-acre flight deck on Thursday, Mr Williamson was met by commanding officer Captain Jerry Kyd, before enthusiastically touring the ship and speaking to the crew.

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Whilst on board he announced that the Queen would formally commission the ship into the Royal Navy on December 7, something he said was a statement to the world about Britains ambition.

This is very much about how Britain can project its influence and its power right across the world, Mr Williamson said.

It is how we can say to the rest of the world, we are not a nation in retreat, we are a nation that wishes to play a significant part in world affairs.

During her working life the ship can be pressed into action for various tasks such as high intensity war fighting or providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

She will also serve as a floating military base for the F-35B stealth fighter jets that will launch from the deck to undertake missions.

The UK currently has 13 F-35s in the United States being tested ahead of flight trials off the ship next year, with one more plane being delivered by the end of 2017.

Capt Kyd said he and the ships company were delighted to host the Defence Secretary and give him the full exposure of the best the Royal Navy has to offer.

Clearly he is a new pair of eyes and hes been intrigued to meet a lot of the ships company and get a sense of the culture and the philosophy of the ship  and to see what the nation has bought, he added.
Donald Trump has agreed to lift a federal ban on elephant trophies imported from two African countries, reversing a decision imposed during the Obama administration three years ago.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a written notice on Thursday saying that allowing elephants in Zimbabwe and Zambia to be killed will boost conservation efforts.

The US president himself tweeted in 2015 about the need to hunt elephants because they are so abundant that they are devastating the National Forest.

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The reversal comes as longtime president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe was placed under house arrest this week by the nations military, plunging the West African nation into political uncertainty.

Heres everything you need to know:

Why is the ban being reversed?

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The FWS said in a statement that the hunting and management programs for African elephants will enhance the survival of the species in the wild.

It added: Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation.

The agency is advising on checking the requirements of the foreign country before making the decision to import or export animal trophies.

The change overrides a ban imposed by Barack Obama in 2014 and applies to the remains of African elephants killed between January 2016 and December 2018.

Why was it imposed in the first place?

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African elephants are listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act.

According to conservation charity WWF, their population has declined in the last decade by 111,000, with poaching being the main driver.

The ban on imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies was part of the Obama administrations national strategy for combating wildlife trafficking.

The team said at the time that additional killing of elephants wasnt sustainable and didnt support conservation efforts that contribute towards the recovery of the species, despite being legal in those countries.

What has the reaction been?

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The change was welcomed by Safari Club International (SCI), an international organisation of hunters, which filed a lawsuit in 2014 challenging the ban.

SCI president Paul Babaz said: These positive findings for Zimbabwe and Zambia demonstrate that the FWS recognises that hunting is beneficial to wildlife and that these range countries know how to manage their elephant populations.

The Humane Society (THS), an international animal protection organisation, criticised the move, with its president Wayne Pacelle writing in a blog post: Lets be clear: elephants are on the list of threatened species; the global community has rallied to stem the ivory trade; and now, the US government is giving American trophy hunters the green light to kill them.

What kind of message does it send to say to the world that poor Africans who are struggling to survive cannot kill elephants in order to use or sell their parts to make a living, but that its just fine for rich Americans to slay the beasts for their tusks to keep as trophies?
China has reiterated its call for an agreement between North Korea and the US under which the North would gain concessions if it freezes its nuclear weapons programme.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang Geng said China's position has not changed and the "freeze-for-freeze" initiative, under which the US and South Korea would suspend large-scale military exercises in return, remained a "first step".

"We believe that the freeze-for-freeze initiative is the most viable and reasonable plan against the current backdrop, which cannot only alleviate the current tensions but also addresses the most urgent security concerns of all sides," Mr Geng said.

Such an agreement would "create opportunities and conditions for the resumption of peace talks and find breakthroughs to get out of this stalemate", he added.

The US has long dismissed the proposal, saying North Korea must unilaterally cease its programme before negotiations can begin.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump told reporters China had agreed with the US on that point during his 12-day trip through Asia that included a state visit to China, where he was hosted by President Xi Jinping.

"President Xi recognises that a nuclear North Korea is a grave threat to China and we agreed that we would not accept a so-called freeze-for-freeze agreement, like those that have consistently failed in the past," Mr Trump said.

China and Russia have proposed the agreement, also known as "dual suspension," as a way to restart long-stalled negotiations.

China, North Korea's only major ally, said on Wednesday that it would send a high-level special envoy to the North's capital, Pyongyang, amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbours.

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MATTOON -- The First Presbyterian Church in Mattoon played hosted a crowd of adults and children during its LOGOS Halloween party on Oct. 25.

A total of 36 church members took part in this event. Pizza and tacos were served before trunk or treat.

LOGOS, an inter-generational ministry, is held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday, with a meal at 5:30 p.m. followed by Bible study time and recreation. During LOGOS, children learn more about God and how to grow in their faith and also experience fellowship with others their age.

Children from the entire community are invited to join every Wednesday evening. Adults who wish to stay can enjoy the evening with other adults during a relaxed time of fellowship led by Pastor Matthew. For further information, call the church at 217-234-6722 or visit http://www.fpcmattoon.org/.

On the evening of Oct 29, the church's annual wiener roast, potluck and hayride was held at the Daily Feed & Seed store and was hosted by Paul and Barb Daily. The church thanks them for organizing this event.
The startup will use the funds to bolster its operations in Bengaluru besides strengthening its critical customer management technology, marketing and brand building efforts.

A Bengaluru-based enterprise, ElderAid Wellness Pvt. Ltd, has raised an undisclosed amount of angel funding from Rugmini Menon, a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur.

ElderAid provides at-home healthcare services and social care support for senior citizens. The startup will use the funds to bolster its operations in Bengaluru besides strengthening its critical customer management technology, marketing and brand building efforts.

The startup was founded by Vandana Nadig Nair and Santosh Abraham in 2015. The company provides a range of at-home healthcare services including caretaker support, emergency assistance and doctor home visits besides social care supports such as accompanying the elder to the hospital and social events, supporting volunteering interests and hobbies, making bill payments and managing properties.

The startup offers services as different packages such as comfort pack at Rs 1,900 per month, get-well pack at Rs 4,200 per month and premium pack at Rs 7,200 per month. The services include emergency assistance, medical history documentation, weekly telephonic check-in, monthly BP check-up and social-cum-errands visits.

Other related health, concierge and wellness services like accompanied hospital visits, nursing staffing support, bill payments, shopping assistance, at-home tech support, accompanied travel and social visits are offered as add-ons on a pay-as-you-use basis.
Om Shanti Om To start with, we have chosen Deepika Padukone's first movie where with her 'Ajab si Ajab si adaayein' she stunned all of us. She looked marvellous in Shantipriya's character, wearing all the classic Bollywood vintage looks. That day and now, she has never failed to amaze us with her celluloid looks.

Cocktail The next thing we did after grooving into the "daru desi" song was to drool over the looks of Deepika's from the movie. This is the movie where she carried some of the best looks of her Bollywood career. She mostly wore beachwear and party casuals and with each of them, we got floored. Agree?

Chennai Express Apart from SRK, lungi dance and Rohit Shetty's signature style, what was the most iconic thing about this movie? Of course, Deepika Padukone's Tamil avatar. From the typical way of draping Kanjeevaram sarees to the jewellery she wore in the movie, she did not fail to stun us all.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Even if you feel shy to agree, every other guy in this country has fallen for the Chashmish Naina from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Her orthodox old-school style books have all impressed us. Turning from conservative chashmeesh Naina to the 'balam pichkaari' and 'battameez dil' girl in the movie, we loved the style transfer of DeePee.

Tamasha Once again, Deepika paired opposite Ranbir, and again, carrying some incredible looks. If you ask us what made us choose Tamasha over the in-between movies of Deepika, it was solely the multiple strapped bras she wore in the movie, giving some real beachwear goals.

Finding Fanny One of the underrated movies of Deepika's, she had carried some really pretty dresses in the movie. She acted as the Goan girl and donned typical Portuguese style statements. From dresses to shrugs, this movie showed some of the best looks Deepika has ever carried.

Piku "Cchotto tip and halka lipstick," a popular Bengali phrase which means, 'a small bindi and light lipstick,' sums up an authentic Bengali girl's look. That was exactly shown in the movie Piku. The typical kurta with jeans or skirts style with the tiny bindi carried by Deepika in the movie totally portrayed a Bong's look, which we loved.

Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ramleela Talking about carrying regional looks, Deepika has always been on top. In the film, Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ramleela, she played a typical Gujarati girl wearing the gorgeous ghagra cholis with traditional jewellery. She totally went into the character by wearing the Gujarati looks, from casual ghagras to Garba attires, she covered it all.

Baajirao Mastaani Her first historical movie was Baajirao Mastaani where she played the role of princess Mastaani, decked up in simple yet ethereal looks, just like the original Mastani Bai. From the pastel-shaded royal attires to the Nizam-i jewellery, she looked totally like a flawless diva.
Mysterious Messages People Found In Bottles Life oi-Syeda Farah

People have been writing messages in paper and putting them in bottles and throwing them in the oceans with a hope that in some part of the world, somebody would read it.

Lucky are those who have discovered a message in a bottle, as their lives have changed forever in a positive way, while there are those messages of people too, which have haunted the ones that have found it and read it.

Though most of the floating letters are real messages in bottles, some of these are even sometimes sent as a joke.

Some of the messages that are found in bottles might offer good news or bad, while a few can express their emotions of a longing state for love or friendship and all of them offer a sense of wonder and wishfulness.

So, we are here to share some of the bottled messages that people have found in the past, take a look.

Message From The Titanic People have always wondered if the passengers had time and presence of mind to write notes from the sinking Titanic. In the recent times, people found a note from the sinking Titanic, which was written by a young Irishman named 'Jeremiah Burke', who was travelling with a cousin to join their family in Boston. Sadly, he could not make it and perished along with the sinking boat. The message read:

"From Titanic, goodbye all, Burke of Glanmire, Cork." A Message From The Sinking Boat The person who would have written this message must have realised that he only had a few moments left to roll up the note and secure it in a bottle and seal it before tossing it into the sea just in time. Hence, the message was incomplete...

"Still on deck with a few people. The last boats have left. We are sinking fast. Some men near me are praying with a priest. The end is near. Maybe this note will..." A Bottle From The Infamous Nazi Concentration Camp There are some bottles that have messages saved in them and they are found even on the land apart from water. The bottle held a message dated September 9, 1944, and it was discovered in 2009. It had a desperate camp inmate who had recorded the names and the camps that had assigned numbers, and hometowns of seven male prisoners. numerology How Numerology Can Reveal The Secret Of Your Love Life; Read Here! The Last Message A young British soldier named Pvt. Thomas Hughes had written a lovely message for his wife while he was on duty. He threw the bottled message in the ocean and it never reached his wife. Apparently, Thomas died 2 days after he wrote the message. The message read:

"Dear Wife, I am writing this note on this boat and dropping it into the sea just to see if it will reach you. If it does, sign this envelope on the right hand bottom corner where it says receipt. Put the date and hour of receipt and your name where it says signature and look after it well. Ta ta sweet, for the present. Your Hubby." A Message From A Grieving Mum A woman named 'Maurice' had lost her son who was only thirteen years old. To overcome her grief, she wrote a message and threw it in the ocean. The message read:

"Forgive me for being so angry at your disappearance. I still think there's been some mistake, and I keep waiting for God to fix it... Forgive me for not having known how to protect you from death. Forgive me for not having been able to find the words at that terrible moment when you slipped through my fingers."

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 18:08 [IST]
When Doctors Removed 30 Maggots From A Woman's Ear! Pulse oi-Syeda Farah

A human body is such a thing that it reacts to the smallest of stimuli. For example, even an ant bite or a little prick can make us feel uncomfortable. And what happens if you feel a fly is lodged in your ear??

We're sure the thought of having a fly in your ear might be disturbing, but there are so many reports of such cases that happen around the world.

You May Also Like To Read: Man Played Guitar While Undergoing A Brain Surgery!

Here, we bring to you the case of a woman who complained of ear pain and the doctors examined the same and they were shocked when they found live maggots dwelling in her ear!

Check out more details on this...

The Lady Complained Of Ear Pain The 70-year-old woman from China complained of severe ear pain and she revealed to the doctors that she started feeling the pain after a fly entered her ear. She assumed the fly was stuck inside. Also Read:Most Bizarre Things Doctors Have Removed From Humans; #3 Is Shocking! The Fly Did The Needful The fly had apparently entered the ear and laid eggs. This lead to the growth of maggots in her ear and this lead to severe discomfort and pain. The doctors got a shock when they examined her ear. The Family Ignored Her Pain According to the sources, the patient started suffering from chronic supportive otitis media. This is a kind of disease that causes pain in the middle ear, and it causes a pus-like discharge to come out of the ear. Apparently, the family ignored her cries about the fly incident and hence did not seek any medic's help for the same at that instant. The Maggots Were Fully Grown Apparently, when the fly had got inside the woman's ear, it had laid eggs and the maggots were fully grown. The doctors could pick the maggots with their fingers alone, as they were dwelling in a fully fledged state! She Was Finally Operated Doctors have claimed that it was a successful operation and the patient is recovering. We wish her a speedy recovery from our side as well!

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Story first published: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 11:04 [IST]
The world faces the prospect of more tension with China over trade, security and human rights after Xi Jinping awarded himself another five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party and called for self-reliance in technology, a stronger military and protection of core interests abroad. At a party congress, Xi gave no sign of plans to change the "zero-COVID strategy that has frustrated Chinas public and disrupted business and trade. He called for faster military development and announced no change in policies that strain relations with Washington and Asian neighbors. Xi is tightening control at home and trying to use Chinas economic heft to increase its influence abroad.
MATTOON -- The bones of an unidentified murder victim that were featured on a 1993 episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" were recently found to be the remains of a man with Mattoon and Decatur ties.

The identification of Joseph J. Mulvaney, Jr., who was killed in 1960, resulted from efforts by his granddaughter, Shelley Statler of Waukee, Iowa, and other family members to learn about his fate. Statler is continuing to research her grandfather, including seeking information about his years in Mattoon and Decatur and about whether she still has any family members in this area.

A press release from the Hot Springs County Sheriff's Office in Thermopolis, Wyo. reported that the case originated on March 31, 1992 when a skeleton was located in a footlocker trunk in their jurisdiction. According to the release, investigators later determined that the person who had been placed in the trunk had been shot in the head.

"Unsolved Mysteries" featured the investigation into the bones during a Feb. 24, 1993 episode. The Hot Springs sheriff's office, with the help of the Wyoming State Crime Lab, continued to investigate this case and try to identify the victim over the years. The sheriff's office reported that a DNA sample was obtained on Oct. 19 and this led to a DNA match and the bones being identified on Oct. 26 as the remains of Mulvaney.

Statler said the desire to learn about her grandfather motivated her family to submit this DNA sample to investigators.

"Personally, I really wanted to get to the bottom of it," Statler said. "I just felt like I had to do this."

Statler said her mother, Kathryn Guynn Mulvaney, was about 6 years old in 1960 when she saw her own father for the last time. Statler said her grandfather was a railroad worker in California at the time and had traveled to visit his children in Des Moines, Iowa, where his ex was living.

Mulvaney's three children never saw him again and his family never filed a missing person report with the police, Statler said. His children had grown up suspecting that their father became the victim of foul play during his visit to Des Moines, she said.

The Hot Springs sheriff's office reported that investigators suspect that Mulvaney was killed by a male family member who buried the body in a trunk in Iowa. The suspect reportedly later dug up this trunk and moved it with him to Wyoming. This suspect reportedly committed suicide years later. Statler said she still has questions about this suspect, who had a murky relationship with her family and was known to use different aliases.

Statler said she never got to know her grandfather and her mother lost him at a young age, so she has been trying to fill in their extensive gaps in knowledge about him. Statler said her research has determined that he was born in Mattoon on Jan. 3, 1921, the son of Joseph Henry Mulvaney and Kathryn Goar Mulvaney. She added that Kathryn Goar Mulvaney had grown up in Mattoon.

Mulvaney later moved with his family to Decatur and they resided at 835 S. Stone St. Mulvaney attended high school in Decatur. Statler found a March 27, 1939 Decatur Daily Review newspaper article reporting that Mulvaney was saved by two friends, Carl Draper Jr. and Robert Conant, after the side of a gravel pit caved in on him.

In addition, Statler said her research has found that Mulvaney enlisted in 1941 and served with the Illinois National Guard's 130th Infantry, 33rd Division out of Decatur. His service included time in the Philippines. Statler said she and her mother are making arrangements for the burial of Mulvaney's remains with full military honors.

Still, Statler said there is a lot that she does not know about her grandfather. Statler said she hopes that Mattoon and Decatur area residents will be able to provide additional information about him and help her get in contact with any remaining family in the area.

"There are so many unanswered questions at this point. It's frustrating, there are a lot of different things I can't find," Statler said. "I need as much help as I can get at this point."

Those with information about Mulvaney and his family can contact Statler at shellbear90@gmail.com or 1-515-202-0486.
CHARLESTON -- The late Nell Wiseman was remembered Wednesday as a "treasure" who helped students and her fellow teachers during her 58 years at Charleston High School.

Illinois State Board of Education member Kevin Settle attended the Charleston school board's meeting to honor Wiseman, presenting a copy of an ISBE proclamation to her husband Bob.

The state board adopted the resolution on Oct. 18, eight days after the longtime English teacher died, Settle said.

The resolution recognized Wiseman for reaching her "childhood goal" of becoming a teacher and for having a "passion for teaching students and mentoring teachers."

Settle said he was a high school junior 47 years ago when he had Wiseman as an English teacher. He added that his wife did her student teaching with Wiseman and his mother worked with her as a school aide.

He also noted that Wiseman worked with the state board on state testing standards and that she and her husband were involved in community activities.

"We knew what a treasure she was," Settle said. "She was a teacher who nurtured everyone to do their best."

The board also honored Wiseman during Wednesday's meeting, voting to name the CHS media center for her.

Superintendent Todd Vilardo said he joined in the district Memorial Committee's recommendation to approve the naming of the media center.

Retired CHS teachers Tina Winings, who was one of several former and current teachers at the high school who attended Wednesday's meeting, submitted the request to the committee.

On a similar note, the board also approved the Memorial Committee's recommendation to allow an engraved bench and tree to be placed on the CHS grounds in honor of Jordan Holly.

Holly, who would have been a high school junior this year, was killed in an automobile accident on May 23.

Vilardo said the bench and tree will be placed near the northeast corner of the high school grounds, near the Smith Drive entrance. He said memorial donations will cover the cost of the project.

The board's other votes Wednesday included adopting the district's annual property tax levy, which Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett said is "slightly higher" than the last few years.

The $13.5 million levy, which is basically a request for property tax revenue, is based on a 4.99 percent increase from the amount of taxes the district received this year.

However, restrictions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law mean the actual increase can be no more than 5 percent or the most recent Consumer Price Index. Last year's CPI was 2.1 percent.

Burgett said he based the expected revenue change on the CPI being the highest it's been since 2011. Also, he said, there's been about a $3.2 million increase in the district's property values because of new construction, which isn't subject to PTELL restrictions for the first year they're recorded.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/11/2017 (1827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eight people have been arrested for drug trafficking and two more arrest warrants have been issued as a result of a police investigation into cocaine trafficking in Brandon and the Westman area.

The Brandon Police Service Crime Support Unit and Blue Hills RCMP conducted the joint investigation dubbed Project Dejure, which targeted individuals responsible for trafficking cocaine.

Operations were launched in June, 2017 and recently concluded in November, during which police seized a total 54.1 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $5,400.

Those who produce and traffic illicit drugs destroy lives, homes and communities, Sgt. Dave Andrew said in a statement. Manitoba law enforcement agencies remain fully committed to enforcing laws against illicit drugs to their fullest extent.

A total of 21 cocaine trafficking charges have been laid, as well as possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of proceeds of a crime.

Trent Stokes, 29, James Nepinak, 26, Owen Stevenson, 25, Harley Malcom, 25, Emma Nankivell, 34, Tyson Surminsky, 27, and Crystal Larose, 34 were arrested and released from custody with future court dates.

Nelson Berard, 39, was also arrested and lodged to appear in court.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Chelsea Brazeau, 22, and Parker McDonald, 22. Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of these two individuals to contact the Brandon Police Service.

 The Brandon Sun
In Europe, Norges Bank Investment Management is among the top 10 shareholders in each of the continent's biggest oil companies. Its largest stake is 2.3 per cent of Shell, followed by 1.7 per cent of Eni. If the sale is approved by Norway's Finance Ministry, it could bring millions of shares to the market and test the appetite of other investors for companies that are striving to show they've seen off the worst of crude oil's slump. But the sell-off is also likely to create an enormous liquidity event in Australia, especially if the fund was to dump its investments wholesale. Norges has more than US$431 million ($567 million) in Australian oil and gas investments across 11 companies, as well as more than US$224 million stakes in the energy companies AGL, Origin, and Infigen. The local oil companies impacted by this decision would include Woodside, Santos, Oil Search, and AWE. An AWE spokesperson declined to comment on the investment fund's divestment strategy, despite the fact it is one of its substantial shareholders.

"It's a big sale," but the market will be able to absorb it, said John Roe, head of multi-asset funds at Legal and General Investment Management. "There are reasonable fundamentals behind energy companies. Many are already focusing on how to cope with future changes in the energy mix, including reducing investment." Oil industry shares have gained in recent months, with the 88-member MSCI World Energy Sector adding more than 9 per cent from this year's trough in August. Oil prices have increased as OPEC production cuts help to shrink global inventories and demand strengthened. Major oil companies have also started to demonstrate they can live with prices at $US50 to $US60 a barrel by cutting spending. Bracing for peak oil Still, the index is the worst performing sector in the overall MSCI World Index. The industry's future is being questioned like never before as electric vehicles and the fight against climate change prompt some forecasters to predict that within a decade demand could peak for petrol and diesel -- the backbone of the industry in the past century.

Fat Prophets analyst David Lennox said the Norwegian fund's decision was little surprise for the market considering the current role Norway is taking in environmental sustainability. "It makes sense if Norges Bank is following their lead on this," he said. The fund has forecast its investments in oil and gas will generate dividend returns of about 4000 billion kroner ($645 billion) for the country, however, this figure is highly dependent on continued oil market stability. Environmental groups have welcomed the move to offload fossil stocks. "Norway has taken action to protect its sovereign wealth fund assets from the consequences of the coming peak in oil demand," said Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive of ShareAction, an activist group. "We would expect pension funds and other long term investors to follow suit." Oil and gas equities reacted negatively to the announcement. Shell's B shares led the declines, dropping 2.1 per cent, while Eni dropped 0.9 per cent and BP lost 0.7 per cent.

The Norwegian fund's decision to sell is "further reason to be cautious for oils relative to broader markets over coming one to three years," said Jason Kenney, an Edinburgh-based analyst at Banco Santander. Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis director of finance, Tom Sanzillo, said the move as a reminder that ongoing low oil prices were a continued risk. "The Norges Bank recommendation that the Norwegian Fund remove oil and gas stocks from its benchmark indexes reflects the long-term deterioration of these stocks," Mr Sanzillo said. "Oil and gas stocks are no longer stable providers of cash or value added contributors to institutional investment funds. The bank's decision now incorporates the risks from these increasingly speculative investments. New opportunities

Yet, some investors saw Norges Bank's proposal as a chance to make a buck. The sell-off prompted by Thursday's announcement "is a great opportunity to buy Shell stocks again," said Danilo Onorino, fund manager at Dogma Capital in Lugano, Switzerland, who owns stock in several European oil majors. "This announcement is extremely bad for Norges. Not only will they be selling at minimal levels," but they will also give up very high dividend yields, he said. Others saw a different opportunity. "From a financial point of view this makes perfect sense" because Norway's economy already has considerable exposure to oil and gas, said Jan Erik Saugestad, Chief Executive Officer of Storebrand Asset Management, Norway's largest private pension fund with $US80 billion under management.
Miranda Kerr is expecting her second child.

The Australian model announced she was expecting an arrival in the new year with her husband, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, on Thursday morning.

Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel, seen here at a White House function, were married in the garden of their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, in front of close family and friends in May. Credit:AP

"Miranda, Evan and Flynn are looking forward to welcoming the newest member of their family," the family's statement read.

The baby will be the couple's first. Kerr has a six-year-old son, Flynn, from her previous marriage to British actor Orlando Bloom.
I'm being lazy this week, so I'm going to let The Associated Press amuse you.

Some of their stories are funnier than mine -- they just don't always mean to be.

Dry Utah town to keep alcohol ban despite tourist influx

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  One of Utah's last "dry" communities will keep its prohibition on alcohol sales.

The southeastern city of Blanding appeared to vote down Tuesday a proposal to allow beer and wine sales for the first time in more than 80 years.

Unofficial results Wednesday showed residents in the town of 3,500 voted by a margin of more than 30 points to continue making it illegal to sell booze.

Blanding has seen an influx of visitors in recent years, especially with the naming of the new Bears Ears National Monument in the town's backyard. Some restaurant and hotel owners say even though most locals are Mormon and avoid alcohol, Blanding needs to accommodate drinkers.

Others say the town's ban on alcohol is key to its identity, important for public health and safety and prevents out-of-control tourism.

***

"Out-of-control tourism," huh. When's the last time you heard a town complain about too much tourism? Seems like looking a gift horse in the mouth...whatever that old saying means, anyway.

Jury backs graffiti artists who sued over destroyed work

NEW YORK (AP)  A federal jury has sided with a group of New York graffiti artists who sued over the destruction of their work.

A judge will now decide whether the artists must be compensated for the loss of their whitewashed murals.

The jury's advisory ruling came Tuesday in the lawsuit over a site in Queens known as 5Pointz.

Owner Jerry Wolkoff allowed the spray-paint artists to use his buildings for decades but said they always knew the buildings would be torn down someday.

The graffiti was painted over in 2013, and the buildings were torn down in 2014.

The artists sued Wolkoff under the Visual Artists Rights Act, a 1990 federal law that protects artists' rights even if someone else owns the physical artwork.

A jury in federal court in Brooklyn heard three weeks' worth of testimony, but the attorneys for the two sides agreed last week to have Judge Frederic Block render a verdict and use the jury's ruling only as a recommendation.

Block has asked the attorneys to submit papers over the next few weeks, after which he will rule.

Wolkoff's lawyer, David Ebert, declined to comment on the trial.

Eric Baum, a lawyer for the 21 artists who sued Wolkoff, said that because the case involves "complex issues of fact and law" he believes it is important "to have input from members of the community on all issues but ultimately have the court make a final decision."

***

"Grafitti: writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place," according to online dictionaries. I'd think the very definition here would erase the plaintiffs' case ... but what do I know?

Police: Thief didn't get far in motorized grocery store cart

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP)  A man accused of stealing a motorized shopping cart from an Alaska grocery store didn't get very far or go very fast before his low-speed getaway attempt was foiled by police.

The battery-operated cart with a basket mounted behind the handlebars has a top speed of 1.9 mph.

Authorities say Rondell Tony Chinuhuk of Anchorage is charged with felony theft for attempting to take the cart early Tuesday from a Safeway store in Fairbanks.

Police say they stopped Chinuhuk while he was crossing a thoroughfare following a 10-minute joyride that consisted mostly of trying to leave the expansive store parking lot.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Chinuhuk was charged with felony theft of the $2,500 cart. Assistant public defender Jennifer Hite says in an email the office doesn't comment on cases.

***

I am still laughing while picturing this one. It's like a scene right out of "Seinfeld." Imagine a 1.9-mph "joyride." Oh my.

Imitating 'Curb,' St. Louis man ticketed for honking at cop

ST. LOUIS (AP)  A St. Louis man is feeling pretty ... pretty ... pretty ... pretty miffed over a recent traffic ticket.

In an instance of life imitating art  in this case a recent episode of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm"  computer programmer Scott Smith says he was ticketed for honking his horn at a police officer.

Smith told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he repeatedly honked at the officer in an unmarked car Friday because the light had turned green and the officer wasn't moving.

He was pulled over and used his cellphone to record the heated exchange with the plainclothes officer, who asked, "Is your horn stuck?" Smith replied: "Is your brake stuck?"

Smith was ticketed for excessive noise from a vehicle. He plans to file a formal complaint.

In the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode, Larry David's character was ticketed for honking at a police car at a stoplight.

***

Now that sounds to me like the cop just couldn't take the audible criticism of his poor driving skills. Give that guy Smith a brake ... er, break.

Screams of "Help!" draw 911 call, but parrot is the screamer

CLACKAMAS, Ore. (AP)  A deliveryman in Oregon who heard a woman's screams for help had his wife call 911, but when a deputy showed up it turned out the screamer was a parrot, not a woman.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Tuesday that when Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputy Hayden Sanders showed up, all he found was Diego the Parrot.

The green-and-yellow bird was in good health and no humans were involved.

Sheep can recognize Baaaa-rack Obama's face, new study shows

LONDON (AP)  A new study shows that sheep have the ability to recognize human faces from photographs on computer screens.

The Cambridge University study published Wednesday also shows that sheep can recognize the faces of their human handlers without any prior training.

It had been known that sheep can recognize familiar faces of other sheep and of humans.

The researchers say this study of the ability of sheep to recognize faces may be useful in research into Huntington's disease and other human brain disorders that affect mental processing.

Lead scientist Professor Jenny Morton says sheep have advanced face-recognition abilities comparable to those of humans and monkeys.

Among the faces they were trained to recognize were Barack Obama and Harry Potter actress Emma Watson.

The research was published in Royal Society: Open Science.

***

Well, there are some funnies for your day. They kind of make the animals sound smarter than the humans, don't they? Ought to make us all feel a little sheepish.

The end.
A young Canberra student has won a national young inventors' competition and a trip to NASA, thanks to her drive to make toys more environmentally friendly.

Bella Winfield, 11, who attends St Anthony's Parish Primary School in Wanniassa, entered the fourth year of Origin's Little Big Ideas competition, which encourages children to think creatively about solutions to real world problems.

Bella Winfield, 11, who is a finalist in a national competition of budding engineers. Credit:Jamila Toderas

From more than 1000 entries, Bella's sugarcane plastic toys idea was chosen as the winner of the Grade 5-6 category.

"I was really surprised because I didn't think it would happen," she said.
An auction house is blaming a paid, deliberate attack that originated from Ukraine for a computer meltdown that shelved a multimillion dollar sale of artwork on Tuesday night.

Scores of people had gathered at Chifley Tower in Sydney's CBD for an art auction hosted by online start-up Fine Art Bourse, created by Tim Goodman, a former chairman of Sotheby's, and Adrian Newstead, the founder of Cooee Art.

Adrian Newstead and Mirri Leven with Earth's Creation #1 by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, which was expected to fetch at least $2 million at auction until an epic IT meltdown. Credit:Christopher Pearce

Buyers were competing for more than 80 artworks, including Emily Kame Kngwarreye's Earth's Creation I, which was expected to fetch at least $2 million.

But the auction was postponed after what was described as "an unusually high surge of traffic" overloaded the auction site's server, which is based in Hong Kong.
A former Australian Army soldier has been acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife and her new partner, a convicted paedophile, on the Gold Coast almost three years ago.

Christopher Robert Carter walked free from the Brisbane Supreme Court late on Thursday after the jury deemed he killed Renee Carter and Corey Croft in self- defence in January 2015.

Former soldier Christopher Carter leaves the Brisbane Supreme Court in Brisbane. Credit:AAP

There were relieved tears from supporters in the public gallery when jurors came into the court shortly after 4pm on Thursday to clear him of all charges.

They had been deliberating Carter's fate since the previous day, having heard evidence Carter went to his former wife's Upper Coomera home to talk to her when she "came at (him) with a knife".
Banana lovers rejoice! Queensland researchers have developed Panama disease-resistant bananas, which could save the breakfast staple in Australia.

Queensland University of Technologys Distinguished Professor James Dale and his team built a line of Cavendish bananas with a resistance to the devastating soil-borne fungus by adding a gene found in a wild south-east Asian banana.

Distinguished Prof James Dale has developed a Cavendish banana that is resistant to Panama Disease. Credit:QUT

We cant make the assertion that the RGA2 gene is the gene responsible for the resistance in the original wild diploid banana, because in the modified Cavendish we significantly increased the genes expression  the level of its activity  over its activity in the wild banana, Professor Dale said.

But weve established a correlation, and weve found that the RGA2 gene occurs naturally in Cavendish  it just isnt very active."
A teenage boy has died after the car he was driving slammed into a tree in Melbourne's south-east.

The 17-year-old from Glen Iris was killed when he lost control of the car, veered off the road and smashed into a tree in Moira Street, Malvern East, about 1am on Friday.

Paramedics rushed to the scene but the teen was dead when they arrived.

His passenger, an 18-year-old man from Ashburton, suffered hand and leg injuries and was taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.
The final few weeks of this political year will be tricky for both sides. The two issues that dominated the second half of the year  dual citizenship and same-sex marriage  refuse to go away.

Each must be treated carefully by Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten. The "yes" result for the same-sex marriage survey means Turnbull now needs to make good his promise of legislation before Christmas. A private member's bill backed by the government will be put to the Parliament, with all MPs to have a free vote. That sounds easy and should pass comfortably on the back of the resounding "yes" vote. Yet Turnbull will still need to negotiate his own crossbench, including a cabal of conservatives trying to hijack the process.

Turnbull ended up being on the winning side within the Coalition for a change, because he supported same-sex marriage, but he won't get much credit: he campaigned without much passion or determination. His Liberal deputy, Julie Bishop, didn't campaign at all.

Turnbull will try to manage the last stages of same-sex marriage while he has been reduced to minority government by the dual-citizenship fiasco, which cost him his majority in the House of Representatives through the resignations of Barnaby Joyce and John Alexander. His government will need to negotiate the final two House of Representatives sitting weeks of the year. Survival should be straightforward with the support of the crossbench on matters of confidence, but survival with his dignity intact will be harder.
Several Queensland electorates outside of Brisbane voted above the national average for the legalisation of same-sex marriage, showing greater support than their metropolitan counterparts.

The percentages of "yes" votes recorded in the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and far north Queensland were higher than the national yes vote of 61.6 per cent.

The seat of McPherson, which covers the southern parts of the Gold Coast, recorded a 65.5 per cent vote in favour, exceeding the yes vote tally in 10 of the 14 seats across the Brisbane urban area.

According to the Australian Electoral Commission, the Brisbane urban area extends north to Deception Bay, east to Stradbroke Island, south to Crestmead and west to Kholo.
Former Labor leader Mark Latham has claimed a defamation lawsuit brought against him by an editor of news and pop culture website Junkee is an attempt to "break" him financially after he spoke out against "anti-white racism".

Junkee's Osman Faruqi, a former Greens staffer and candidate, filed documents in the Federal Court in October seeking damages and legal costs from Latham for accusing him of encouraging terrorism.

Former Labor leader Mark Latham arrives at court on Thursday Credit:Ben Rushton

The comments were made on Latham's YouTube program, Mark Latham's Outsiders, which he set up after he was sacked by Sky News in March.

At a preliminary hearing in the Federal Court on Thursday, Faruqi's barrister, Bruce McClintock, SC, said the defence filed by Latham's legal team could be described in "neutral" terms as exhibiting "some peculiarities".
Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan was told his name would grace one of six new Sydney Harbour ferries alongside other prominent Australians, only to have the offer suddenly withdrawn in favour of a joke.

Three of the new Emerald class ferries have been named after Australian doctors: heart surgeon Victor Chang; obstetrician Catherine Hamlin; and ophthalmologist Fred Hollows.

Two have been named for the indigenous leaders Pemulwuy and Bungaree.

But Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced on Tuesday the last vessel would be given the joke name Ferry McFerryface following a public competition attracting 15,000 suggestions.
Students at Lincoln Public Schools were treated to live Shakespeare performances in October. The group performed Oct. 11 to a Lincoln science focus group, Oct. 13 at Lincoln High, Oct. 24 at Lincoln North Star (performance and workshop) and Oct. 25 at Lincoln Southwest.

Every year, a group of artists sets off across Nebraska to tackle a daunting task  to bring Shakespeare to thousands of students in dozens of schools and venues in a diverse array of communities.

For six weeks, this group of just nine (seven actors, a director and a stage manager) wears all the hats. They construct and break down the set in each new venue, perform the show and teach workshops on acting, Shakespeare, stage combat and more. In 2017, Nebraska Shakespeare performed Romeo and Juliet 45 times in communities from Omaha to Ord, Lincoln to Lexington and Humboldt to Hemingford.

Its a particular challenge for director Sarah Carlson-Brown, who is in her 16th year with Nebraska Shakespeare. In addition to directing the show, shes responsible for adapting the script to make the production both portable and accessible to students. She cut what would normally be a play that runs close to three hours into a tight 70-minute production, and set it in a futuristic dystopian society loosely based on the novel Station 11. She did this with the knowledge that many of the students theyd be performing for were not only unfamiliar with Shakespeare, but may never have seen a play before.

We worked really hard to give them not only the story but also an interesting theatrical experience ... so kind of challenge them in what theyre seeing visually as well as plot points of the story, Carlson-Brown said. What Im really excited about is that I decided to do this play in a Brechtian style, so all of the actors remain on stage the whole time. The students get to see the costume changes, props are handed off, things like that. I think thats something a lot of these kids havent been exposed to, but they totally buy into it and theyre really engaged with it.

Education features prominently in Nebraska Shakespeares mission, and in every performance of Romeo and Juliet. Teachers are provided with study guides to get students ready for the show theyre about to experience, and most performances include talk-backs and workshops afterward. Carlson-Brown says shes fascinated by the types of questions students have and the discussions that follow.

They ask a lot of questions about the text, especially, she said. We have a few female actors that are playing male roles, so they want to know about that. The portrayal of Juliet in this version is strong and smart and aggressive, and theyre interested in [why that is]. There are also a lot of weapons in the show, because I really wanted to put emphasis on the violence of this world. Shakespeares so fascinating because it can still be relatable 400 years later. This feud and this cyclical violence that you see in Romeo and Juliet is still prevalent in our society, and these kids are really aware of it.

Ultimately, Carlson-Brown hopes that students take away a sense that the magic of theater can be made anywhere. But she also hopes they see the connection of Shakespeares message to their lives today.

No matter how bad things get, no matter how out of control your life may feel, you dont need to act immediately, she explained. If one character [in Romeo and Juliet] took a moment and thought about how their actions would affect their community or how it would affect their loved ones, it would end really differently.
Mike Howard was Microsofts chief security officer (CSO) for 16 years.

He was in charge of security for a global team of almost 200,000 people, including the companys executive team, its 90,000 employees, and approximately 90,000 contractors in the companys 700 facilities spread across 100 countries.

He set industry standards like incorporating security into all employee training programs and making security an integral part of company culture.

This article is for business owners and security professionals who want to learn from a top CSO who managed Microsofts security protocols for more than a decade.

Mike Howard is a former CIA operations officer with 22 years of experience who led Microsofts global security operations as the chief security officer (CSO) from 2002 to his retirement on August 31, 2018. During his time at Microsoft, Mike ensured that the company instated protocols tailored to work for any type of physical or cybersecurity threat. These protocols are intended to support the company not only before and during an attack, but also after it has impacted employees.

Protocols rooted in tradition

Although Microsoft is considered one of the pioneers in the technology industry, Howard once said that much, if not all of the security protocols imposed by Microsoft, are still rooted in the traditional ways of ensuring security in many corporations.

Cybersecurity is a big issue on everyones mind as weve become more globalized as a society, and businesses have expanded their footprints and everything is digital, Howard told us in a previous interview. But, traditional security issues of theft, violence against employees, terrorism and natural disasters are all still paramount in terms of being the big security challenges for businesses.

Howard believes that while technology advances faster every day, large companies like Microsoft should still base their security protocols on blueprints created decades ago. The fundamentals of security are the key to managing a company as big as Microsoft, but they also apply to smaller organizations.

Whether you have over 700 offices scattered in a hundred countries globally, like Microsoft, or are a small business looking to improve your cybersecurity, you need to focus on the common security problems encountered across all levels of management.

How Microsoft handles security

Its worth noting that Microsoft invests a total of $1 billion annually in making sure that their own data, as well as their clients, is well protected. However, this is not the only aspect of security the company invests in. It also makes sure that maximum security is upheld in every corner of the workspace. Microsofts security incident management relies on the fundamental processes of mitigating security risks: preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication and recovery, and post-incident activity.

Even though Microsoft spends huge amounts of money on security, the savings it gets from preventing and mitigating the effects of attacks as a result of having exceptional security protocols in place, are more than what they spent.

For example, without proper security protocols, intellectual property could be compromised and it can affect the companys brand reputation or lead to lawsuits, Howard said. Both can result in heavy losses for the company. Security isnt so much an additional expense for the company as it is an investment.

This is especially important with the rise of data privacy laws, a trend that began just before Howard left Microsoft, when the European Union (EU) adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). GDPR opens companies to financial liability should a data breach compromise the personal identifiable information of any users in the EU. Similar laws, like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), have also emerged in the wake of GDPR and require companies to plan their security protocols meticulously.

Examples of Microsofts security practices

As part of the companys security protocol, Microsoft has released the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report every six months since 2006. This report summarizes all the threats that have entered Microsofts system, and each of these threats is assessed to help mitigate the risk of data breach and other possible problems.

Another security feature employed by Microsoft is their Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence platform, which a security analyst can use to analyze and prioritize signals or threats that need the highest level of attention.

It functions much like an AI designed for cybersecurity, enabling Microsoft to send personalized emails to users whenever a threat arises. These communications advise users about certain links that should not be clicked, emails that seem suspicious, and other cyberspace actions that might be flagged as threatening.

Mike Howards role as a security evangelist

Beyond the developments he enacted at Microsoft to protect its users and clients data, much of Howards distinction as the man behind the companys stellar security measures is attributed to his role as an evangelist for others. Howard ensured that everyone in the company, from those who reside in the lowest level of management up to the executives and shareholders, understood the significance of security both in the physical and cyberspace worlds.

A lot of [Microsofts commitment to security] has to do with the evangelizing of security on several fronts within the last decade, Howard said. My IT security counterpart and I have worked diligently to really get the movers and shakers, the decision makers here to understand security and to support those security efforts and the pushing down of that message throughout the enterprise.

Imbuing the importance of these protocols onto the minds of every single worker in Microsoft is a continuous process. These workers are the ones who perform the everyday activities at the company. As such, they must keep business security in mind as they carry out their job functions.

Even when making plans with regard to Microsofts marketing efforts, Howard made sure to deliver information that would help the employees go about their responsibilities without compromising their integrity or that of the companys valuable information. That culture of security evangelism is Howards legacy now that he has departed the company.

Employee assistance as a way to ensure security

Howard believes that aside from technologys role in maximizing security at Microsoft, employees are key to ensuring that work is done with utmost vigilance and observance of adequate security guidelines.

Having a training program in place is essential to any security program, Howard said. Without it, you dont have a well-rounded security program. We have a certain amount of full-time employees and vendors to cover Microsoft globally; we could never cover the world adequately without educating and creating awareness programs that teach people what to look for.

There are certain security benefits to educating employees about security risks:

Employees become their own security personnel; they feel responsible for the welfare of their teams and look out for any possible threats.

Theyll bring their own experiences to consider factors that are not usually in the equation when optimizing security, making security protocols more inclusive and effective.

Employees are trained to be vigilant both in front of their computers and in their immediate surroundings, ensuring holistic security.

Why the HR department is paramount to security

Despite being an integral part of a business, HR is often overlooked when discussing how to optimize security. More often than not, the loopholes in a companys security system are found in areas that were otherwise treated as irrelevant, which makes them a breeding ground for different types of threats.

A bad economy, problems at home, even dealing with a sick relative can be things that can trigger [reasons for increased] security at work, and having a team in place to help solve those problems can prevent them from an incident of violence or theft, Mike said.

This shows that technology is not enough to handle security issues alone. The people who carry out even the simplest tasks at Microsoft should be considered when preparing for mitigating solutions if a threat arises. A team of professionals that is capable of assessing these types of risks from the HR department is what sets Microsoft apart from others. Its a lesson other companies should take note of.

How SMBs can learn from Microsofts practice

The biggest misconception SMBs have about Microsofts cybersecurity practices is that its a matter of how much money you are willing to spend to safeguard your companys information. However, the truth behind Microsofts success is not just the delegation of financial resources.

The reality behind Microsofts successful security practices is the proper orientation of the people who build the company from the ground up. Its about making sure they understand the importance of security protocols, no matter which department they work for, and training them to mitigate possible risks they might encounter in the course of their work. Paying attention to employees and proactively updating the information necessary to mitigate security risks is an effective way to preside over a companys cybersecurity.

Dont leave security up to chance

Mike Howards history as a former CIA security officer was a stepping stone to his role as Microsofts chief security officer, and his philosophy when it comes to security is rooted in the fact that all threats can be mitigated as long as proper protocols are in place.

Howards time at Microsoft emphasizes the importance of both technological and protocol protections for security, whether that means implementing a cybersecurity system and response plan, training individual team members, or offering them the resources they need to remain vigilant. Company security is everyones job, and it takes 24/7/365 dedication to get that job done.
Ikea have today launched their shop online service. This will allow consumers from all over Ireland to purchase IKEA products at the click of a button. This announcement marks the next phase of growth for the company in Ireland, as it strives to make IKEA products more accessible to people throughout the country.

Visitors will now be able to browse through thousands of IKEA products online via an easy-to-use customer interface, make their purchase and have their products delivered to their homes.

The current layout of the IKEA Ireland website will remain the same, and will now include a purchase button under each product, where items will then be added to an online shopping cart. In the 2016 financial year, IKEAs Irish website received over 12 million visits.

Speaking this week, IKEA Ireland Market Manager, Claudia Marshall said, "We know accessibility, convenience and value for time are critical factors in meeting our customers needs. Shop online gives customers across Ireland another way to shop with IKEA and allows them to choose how and when they want to shop with us. This launch will help create a seamless shopping experience from the digital right through to the physical meeting with our customers."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Music contributes more than 700 million to the Irish economy, according to a new report commissioned by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and produced by Deloitte.

The findings indicate a strong and growing music industry, which is contributing significantly to the economy and supporting more than 13,130 jobs. Based on the latest figures available, this updated report has found that the total contribution of the music industry, directly and indirectly, to the Irish economy is almost three-quarters of a billion euro annually  703 million  including music-related consumer expenditure and supply-chain impacts.

Unsurprisingly, the report also revealed that digital revenues (16.3 million) surpassed physical revenues (16.0 million) for the first time. However, growth in streaming revenues was particularly pronounced and overtook downloads for the first time.

The report underlines the opportunity for further growth in the sector through the development of a National Music Strategy, rooted in four key action areas:

 Coordination & collaboration through the establishment of a cross-Government music grouping to work with a cross sectoral Industry Advisory Panel to address barriers to growth in the sector.

 Concentration on copyright to help ensure a fair return for music creators, crucial at a time when the music copyright landscape has changed utterly as a result of technology and the industry is under threat from the extremely low level of return to writers and performers, from platform services.

 Creative skills development through advanced training and education services that will ensure musicians realise their potential, and that the business of music is understood.

 Compensation that is adequate to address income uncertainty associated with work in the creative and cultural industries  perhaps the single greatest barrier faced by entrepreneurs in the sector.

Commenting on the report, Chairperson of IMRO, Eleanor McEvoy said, "Music is part of our national identity, our psyche, and our way of life. Beyond its important social and reputational contribution, however, music is a vital economic driver  both directly and indirectly. As Chairperson of IMRO, I am pleased to present this report and to further shine a light on our members contribution  those music creators who write and perform musical works - to Irelands economy."

She added, "If we are to continue to maintain and grow the success of Irelands music industry, and increase its economic and social contribution, now is the time for the development of a National Music Strategy."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
It was announced today that PressReader will officially open its new offices in Dublin and will create 65 positions in Ireland.

The Canadian company is a global platform that allows people to read, share and talk about stories from over 7,000 top-quality publications online or via an app. It boasts 7 million monthly active users worldwide. Readers get unlimited access by subscription or they can get the entire experience sponsored by one of PressReaders 15,000 partners.

The company is currently seeking to hire a team of developers to round out its machine-learning capabilities.

Irish publications distributing their content through PressReader include the Irish Independent, The Sunday Independent, The Irish Times, The Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror as well as a number of regional publications and Hot Press magazine with more to be announced in the coming months. Other leading publications on the platform include The Washington Post, The Guardian, Le Monde, Bloomberg Businessweek, Popular Science and NME.

Speaking of the companys plans for the new office, CEO of PressReader, Alex Kroogman said, "We see a lot of great things happening in the tech sector in Ireland and were excited to be another large force thats pushing the industry forward. Now that weve opened our Dublin office were starting our search for top Irish tech talent. Our first goal is to hire developers to help build and enhance PressReaders machine learning capabilities. Initiatives like CETA, the Canada-EU trade agreement, make it possible for us to find the very best people to fill these high-skill positions and compete on a global scale."

Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin Michael Vickers added, "I am pleased to welcome PressReader to Ireland and to have them join the growing number of Canadian companies that have expanded to the country recently. With the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) provisionally applied, we expect to see more Canadian companies follow in PressReaders footsteps and take advantage of Irelands strong and growing tech sector, the access to the European market it offers, and the ever-growing commercial ties between our two countries. I would like to wish PressReader much success in its continued growth and global expansion."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The Republican-controlled U.S. Congress was approaching a major test on Thursday of its ability to enact sweeping tax cuts, as lawmakers prepared for their first full-scale vote on tax legislation.

Republicans in the House of Representatives were expected to take up their bill to cut federal tax rates on corporations, small businesses and individuals after an 11:30 a.m. meeting with President Donald Trump, who wants to sign a tax package into law before year end. House leaders say they are optimistic about mustering the votes to approve the bill.

"Big vote tomorrow in the House. Tax cuts are getting close!" the Republican president tweeted on Wednesday night.

But Trump's tax reform hopes have begun to encounter resistance in the Senate. That chamber's version of the tax bill has faced criticism from some Republican lawmakers, including Senator Susan Collins, who helped sink a Republican effort to repeal Obamacare earlier this year.

Senate Republicans have made the risky decision to tie their tax plan to a repeal of the mandate for people to get healthcare insurance under former Democratic President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, exposing the tax initiative to the same political forces that wrecked their anti-Obamacare push.

Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson said Trump called him Tuesday night after Johnson announced his opposition to the current Senate plan over what he said were unequal rates for small businesses and non-corporate enterprises known as "pass-throughs," versus corporations.

Still, Johnson said he was hopeful a final bill could be passed by year's end.

"I'm trying to fix it, and I want to vote yes," Johnson told CNBC, adding that Trump told him he would meet with Treasury officials on the issue. The president's public schedule did not list any Department of Treasury meetings for Thursday.

Republicans have long promised tax cuts and they see enacting the legislation as critical to their prospects of retaining power in Washington in the November 2018 congressional elections. So far, Republicans and Trump have no major legislative victories from 2017 to show voters despite controlling the White House and Congress.

"The American people have waited years for a fair, simple, and competitive tax code. Right now, in this moment, we stand on the doorstep of delivering," Kevin Brady, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said during the House tax reform debate.

Democrats have condemned both the House and Senate tax plans as giveaways to the wealthy and U.S. corporations, pointing to analyses showing that millions of Americans could end up with a tax hike because of the elimination of popular deductions. Repeal or reduction of some deductions is a way to offset the revenue lost from tax cuts.

"This is not a tax plan. This is a tax scam," said Representative Maxine Waters, a California Democrat.

The Senate and House tax plans must eventually be reconciled and merged into a final plan that can pass both chambers before it goes to Trump to sign into law.

The main challenge facing Republicans remains the 100-seat Senate, where they can lose no more than two votes from their 52-48 majority if they hope to enact tax reform.

"We'll find a middle ground and we'll get it to the president's desk ... This is a big deal for us," Republican Representative Tom Cole told MSNBC. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
As part of an organizational reshuffling, Lu Dongsheng has rejoined the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) as an inspector at its futures supervision department. Above, the CSRC headquarters is seen in Beijing. Photo: IC

Chinas securities regulator has recently named a new chief to supervise futures markets, sources said.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has promoted Luo Hongsheng to director of the futures supervision department, the sources told Caixin. Luo was previously an inspector at the regulators personnel and education department. He succeeds Ran Hua, who became deputy mayor of Nanjing in July.

Lu Dongsheng, previously deputy general manager of the China Financial Futures Exchange (CFFE), has rejoined the CSRC as an inspector at its futures supervision department, the sources said.

In 2006, Lu joined the CFFE from the CSRC, where he handled corporate affairs at the futures supervision department. In 2011, Lu was promoted to deputy general manager of the countrys major derivative trading and clearing platform.

Earlier this month, the CFFE picked a new leader internally after Chairman Zhang Shenfeng left for a senior role at the CSRC in August.

Hu Zheng, former general manager and one of the directors of the CFFE, was promoted to replace Zhang, according to an internal memo dated Nov. 6. Zhang left the futures exchange to become assistant chairman of the regulator.

In August, the CSRC ended all restrictions on exchange-traded derivatives, one and a half year after stock-index futures became the target of a crackdown as regulators saw futures trading had exacerbated the 2015 stock-market crash. Chinas stock market lost more than 40% of its value during that rout.

Contact reporter Dong Tongjian (tongjiandong@caixin.com)
Several legislative committees shifted membership Thursday to accommodate a departure and a new appointee, but it took some wrangling to get there.

The early resignation of Omaha Sen. Joni Craighead in September left openings on three committees: Banking, Commerce and Insurance; Government, Military and Veterans Affairs; and Planning.

The Legislature's Executive Board voted to put Omaha Sen. Burke Harr onto the Banking Committee, Omaha Sen. Theresa Thibodeau on the Government Committee, and Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn on the Planning Committee.

Government Chairman John Murante of Gretna had informally expressed interest in the Banking Committee opening.

Thibodeau is the newly appointed senator taking Craighead's seat. She was assigned to the General Affairs and Agriculture committees because Harr left those committees to take the Banking Committee position.

The wrangling the Legislature had last year with committee assignments continued Thursday. The vote on Harr's assignment was 7-2, with Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill and Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango voting no.

Larson said he wanted to open up the General Affairs and Agriculture spots for other senators to apply, and he continued to argue other points on why the board should wait on the appointments, potentially allowing the Committee on Committees to make the appointments. That's where a number of heated discussions on assignments took place at the beginning of the last session.

Executive Board Chairman Dan Watermeier said the committee openings could only be filled by senators from the 2nd District caucus.

And he reminded the board the rules allow the Executive Board to fill the committee positions when the Legislature is not in session in whatever way it chooses.

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers said the discussion had familiar political undercurrents.

"Our rules either mean something or they don't. We as the Executive Board, based on the rule that our chairperson read, are to fill this slot," he said.

"I don't like getting in these side arguments that go on and on. And I know what's behind all this, but I'm not going to bring it up."

The board approved the Thibodeau appointments on an 8-1 vote, with Larson voting no. The Planning Committee assignment was done with a secret ballot because multiple people had applied for it.
Punjab Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary launched an initiative to provide pre-primary education at all government schools in the state. Children of ages 3 to 6 can now attend nursery and kindergarten classes at government primary schools free of cost.

The schooling will be provided in three groups- nursery classes for children aged 3 to 4, lower kindergarten for children aged 4 to 5 and upper kindergarten for children aged 5 to 6.

"Deliberations are going on to form a separate cadre for the border areas in order to fulfill shortfall of teachers in those regions," Aruna Chaudhary said during the launch, adding that this will aid in strengthening physical, intellectual and creative faculties of children. It would also aid young students to be more conversant in school environments.

About 1,50,000 students have sought admissions at various schools in the state and this process will carry on until the end of November. In order to ensure that every teacher has a shot at promotion, the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) will meet four times annually.

In order to keep the project going, Anganwadi workers have been assured that they would have secure jobs and that their services will be used to the highest extent, Chaudhary said. Punjab education secretary Krishan Kumar encourages all teachers in the state to put in more vigor, zeal, and zest to make sure that the project is a success.

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A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is a gold-embossed paper certificate bearing the official signature of the President of the United States. It honors the memory of a deceased Veteran and expresses the country's grateful recognition of his or her service in the Armed Forces.

This program was initiated in March 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and has been continued by each subsequent President. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the PMC program through the National Cemetery Administration.
Vietnam 10M17 exports rise 23% YoY

ICR Newsroom By 16 November 2017

Total cement exports from Vietnam rose to 15.12Mt in the first 10 months of 2017, representing a 22.9 per cent YoY increase. The countrys export earnings were up 13.9 per cent when compared with the year-ago period, reaching US$532.4m, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.



Bangladesh, the Philippines, Taiwan and Peru were among major importers of Vietnamese clinker and cement, taking a 74.8 per cent share of the countrys total cement and clinker exports in the period.



Bangladesh remained the largest importer of Vietnamese cement and clinker in the 10M17, importing some 6.16Mt to the value of SU$181.47m. This represents YoY increases of 61.1 and 57.9 per cent, respectively.



The Philippines was the second-largest importer, purchasing 3.71Mt (US$165.04m) and representing an increase of 17.5 per cent YoY in terms of volumes. The value of product imported rose 10.5 per cent YoY.



Taiwan came third with US$28.99m, up 14 per cent YoY, while Peru ranked fourth with US$22.63m, advancing 6.6 per cent.





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Votorantim Cimentos reports stable 3Q revenues but drop in adjusted EBITDA

16 November 2017

In its third-quarter 2017 results announcement Brazils Votorantim Group reported a one per cent increase in the net revenues of Votorantim Cimentos to BRL3.208bn (US$968.2m) from BRL3.19bn in 3Q16. Adjusted EBITDA fell 27 per cent YoY to BRL521m in 3Q17 from BRL715m in the year-ago period. The companys EBITDA margin stood at 16 per cent.



Brazilian results were negatively impacted by a BRL134m non-recurring tax adjustment, leading to a fall in adjusted EBITDA of 45.4 per cent YoY, according to the companys 3Q17 earnings release.



While the domestic market remained down, the US construction sector continued to perform well and cement consumption increased 1.7 per cent. Moreover, in the markets of Votorantim Cimentos North America (VNCA) such as the Great Lakes region, strong price increases of around 10 per cent were noted, offsetting a softening of demand due to weak public spending in Illinois and Michigan. In Canada the company was also able to improve its sales volumes. As a result, VNCA posted a 4.7 per cent rise in 3Q net revenues, boosted by higher sales volumes and prices in Canada and high single-digit price growth in the US. Adjusted EBITDA for the companys North American operations advanced 12.7 per cent YoY.



Meanwhile, in the Europe, Asia and Africa region, where Votorantim Cimentos Europe, Asia and Africa (VNCEAA) is active, the Spanish domestic market returned more positive figures while improved market conditions were also reported in Turkey, particularly in the Anatolia and Black Sea regions, supported by government infrastructural spending. In Tunisia competition intensified amid geopolitical instability of the border countries while in Morocco the delay in infrastructure projects due to the political stalemate impacted 3Q demand. However, the company expects Moroccos improving forward scenario to have a positive impact on cement consumption. Furthermore, the outlook in India looks to be improving as the country leaves the issues caused by demonetisation behind. In China, Votorantim has benefitted from rising prices as the country consolidates its cement industry. However, overall, VNCEAA posted a 6.4 per cent rise in revenues and a 13.7 per cent increase in adjusted EBITDA in 3Q17.



Votorantim Cimentos Latin America (VCLatam) saw sales volumes rise considerably as the company enjoyed an increased domestic market share in Bolivia in addition to exporting from its ramped-up Bolivian plant as well as Uruguay to Argentina. This led to a rise in adjusted EBITDA of 63.8 per cent in 3Q17 when compared with 3Q16.

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Lincoln police have arrested a Crete man accused of embezzling more than $1.1 million from a local contractor.

Mark M. Ackerman of Crete was taken into custody in the case Thursday. He is charged with theft by unlawful taking of more than $5,000, a felony.

The alleged embezzlement was reported to Lincoln police Oct. 15 by Ackerman, according to the probable cause affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Ackerman told police that while working as the office manager, he diverted funds from the contractor's bank accounts into his personal accounts, through electronic transfers and, on a few occasions, paper checks.

LPD's investigation showed that more than $1.1 million may have been deposited in Ackerman's account, the affidavit said.

Ackerman appeared in court on Wednesday and Judge Timothy C. Philips set his bond at $15,000, of which he needed to pay 10 percent to be released. He bonded out shortly after the hearing.

Last month, Vertical Horizons Contracting Inc., or VHC, filed a lawsuit against Ackerman, which has since been amended, asking a Lancaster County District judge to order him to repay $1,640,950.11.

Based on statements Ackerman made to police, VHC officials believe the company's loss may be more than $1.64 million, the company's attorney, Adam Prochaska, said in the lawsuit.

Owned by Carl Whittle, the contractor at 500 W. South St. services the telecom, manufacturing, oil and gas, and utility industries, according to its website.

Ackerman began working there in October 2007 and was fired Oct. 13, two days shy of his 10th work anniversary, the lawsuit said.

Ackerman's responsibilities included collecting and managing company funds, bookkeeping and payroll, purchasing and overseeing the financial day-to-day operations, the lawsuit said.

Prochaska alleges the theft began in January 2008 and continued until last month.

VHC officials allege Ackerman used VHC funds for personal reasons, transferred them into his personal bank accounts and misappropriated its assets, the lawsuit said.

Prochaska asked the court to order Ackerman to repay the losses and for any damages deemed appropriate.

On Friday, Ackerman's attorney Justin Kalemkiarian said his client had no comment on the allegations at this point.
'Amazing grace': Family that lost 9 in Sutherland Springs shooting encourages forgiveness at tearful funeral

A family that lost members of three generations in the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church shooting earlier this month asked around 3,000 mourners at a funeral yesterday to reject anger and instead bask in the love showed by the victims.

Friends and relatives of the Holcombe family, which suffered the death of nine members in the attack that killed 26 people at the Texas church on November 5, choked back tears as they spoke from a stage above a line of flower-adorned caskets.

Frank Pomeroy, the church's pastor whose daughter also was among the shooting victims, said the deaths had cast a pall over the area. But he said his spirit rejoiced knowing the Holcombe family members and others who perished had been reunited in heaven and that better days were ahead.

'Our day of joy is going to come,' said Pomeroy, who was out of town when the attack occurred.

Authorities have said the attack stemmed from a domestic dispute. The shooter, identified by authorities as Devin Kelley, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a failed getaway attempt.

Among those killed in the church were John Bryan Holcombe, who was leading services, and his wife Karla. Their son Marc 'Danny' Holcombe died along with his 18-month-old daughter Noah.

His sister-in-law Crystal Holcombe and her three children from her first marriage, Emily, Megan and Greg Hill, also died.

Crystal Holcombe was several months pregnant. Under Texas law, her unborn child, named Carlin Brite Holcombe, is considered a victim.

John Holcombe, Crystal's husband and a survivor of the attack, described her as a beautiful person inside and out and said he was blessed for the time he had with his stepchildren.

'Crystal's life is a reminder to all of us that love never fails,' he said. 'She was a virtuous woman who served God with all her heart.'

As the funeral closed, her casket and those of her family members were taken out of the auditorium while 'Amazing Grace' was played on bagpipes.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
'Pearl of Scotland': The nation-shaping Christian leadership of Saint Margaret

Today is the feast day of a Hungarian princess-turned Queen of Scotland  Saint Margaret  who became not only a national treasure to Scots but a spiritual inspiration to Christians across the world.

Margaret was born in exile in 1045 in the Kingdom of Hungary, the daughter of English King Edward the Exile, who had fled England following the defeat of his father by the Danish Canute the Great.

Growing up in an educated and religious, Catholic home, she and her family returned to England in 1057, but fled once again after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. They eventually came to the Kingdom of Scotland  where (according to legend) a storm-induced-shipreck left Margaret at what's now known as the coastal village of St Margaret's Hope.

Margaret was welcomed by Scotland's King Malcolm III, with whom she fell in love and married. Having eight children together, the couple formed a pious family, with Margaret supposedly having a wise and decisive influence on her husband's leadership, staying the temper of the Scottish King. She led in her own right too, urging ecclesial reform of the Church, challenging its corruption and promoting conformity with Catholic Rome. She re-opened key monasteries like the famed Iona Abbey, and opened the historic 'Queen's Ferry' route at the Firth of Forth to enable pilgrims visiting St Andrews in Fife.

Margaret worked hard on behalf of orphans and the poor and needy as well as attending to a committed life of prayer and devotion to God. Through her public spiritual and political work on behalf of the nation she became known as the 'Pearl of Scotland' and an archetype of the 'just ruler'.

Made weak by an ascetic life of fasting, Margaret died, soon after the death of her husband, on this day in 1093. Though she was buried at Dunfermline, such was her saintly legacy (she was canonised by Pope Innocent IV in 1250) that Mary Queen of Scots acquired Margaret's head in 1560 since she believed  as a saintly, miracle-working relic  it would protect and assist her in childbirth. The head was eventually taken to France before being lost for good.

Queen Margaret became to many a powerful icon of an ideal Christian woman: a loving mother, a wise wife and a virtuous, visionary leader.
Zimbabwe: Who is the Catholic priest behind Robert Mugabe?

Father Fidelis Mukonori, a Catholic priest in Zimbabwe and close confident to Robert Mugabe, is leading the mediations between the 93-year-old ruler and the military chiefs who have taken control this week.

The aim of the talks is to ensure Mugabe's peaceful exit and the installation of his former deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was fired last week, according to Reuters' sources. But the president, who has been in power since British colonial rule ended in 1980, is refusing to negotiate after signalling he wants his wife Grace to succeed him.

Father Mukonori is a Jesuit priest and has been chaplain to Mugabe and his family since he came to power. Their friendship goes further back to the 1970s after the former guerrilla fighter was released from prison under Ian Smith's regime in what was then Southern Rhodesia.

During the struggle against Smith, Father Mukonori would travel around the country as part of his role in the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Rhodesia, documenting the details of the civil war. That information was then passed to Mugabe.

Since independence, Father Mukonori has worked with The Center for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) and has given the blessing at each anniversary celebration, adamant in his support and approval of the leader. In his 2012 book, The Genesis of Violence in Zimbabwe, Mukonori describes Zimbabwe's history since 1879 and argues the country must be honest about the tragedies in its past if it is to become peaceful.

Describing one of his first meetings with Mugabe in 1974, Father Mukonori wrote in Zimbabwean newspaper The Sunday Mail: 'I saw a simple, unassuming person one could listen to intently. This person before me was totally different from the one described in the Rhodesian media.'

He said: 'One would have imagined that President Mugabe and Vice-President Joshua Nkomo were man-eaters, but to the contrary, I met a soft-spoken gentleman.'

Later in their friendship, he described when he realised Mugabe should be leader.

'President Mugabe was his usual calm self. He never displayed anger or vengeance despite having spent 11 years in prison fighting the unjust system.

'He once said, "The evil is in the system. These white people happen to be the ones in charge and to be offshoots of a generation that colonised us. But it is the system that we are fighting. The fight is not about colour or race."

'That impressed me very much.'

As a spiritual leader to Mugabe Father Mukonori saw his faith side which he insisted was genuine.

'Robert Mugabe moved in the battlefield with the rosary in his pocket. Robert Mugabe would be saying his rosary sitting in the car, Robert would say his rosary flying on the plane. He flew thousands of miles every year during the war. He was a moving target all the time but he always prayed,' he said in an interview with Zimbabwe's national newspaper, The Herald.

'I don't think people knew how much he dedicated himself to the spiritual life which he still believes very fervently, very strongly today. The number of attempts on his life, the number is incredible; during the war, after the war: is it his own cleverness, is it the excellence of his State security apparatus? I am sure it is God who has saved his life.'

Despite his chaplain's involvement, Mugabe is refusing to co-operate and insists he will stay on until the elections next year.

'It's a sort of stand-off, a stalemate,' a source told Reuters. 'They are insisting the president must finish his term.'

The army's takeover signalled the collapse in less than 36 hours of the security, intelligence and patronage networks that sustained Mugabe through 37 years in power and built him into the 'Grand Old Man' of African politics. But the 'Old Man' is proving difficult to displace, and despite Father Mukonori's efforts, little progress has been made.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has invited 2,750 candidates in the Express Entry pool to apply for Canadian permanent residence in a draw that took place on Nov. 15. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of the lowest-ranked candidate issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) was 439.



All candidates with a score above 439 were invited to apply. While some candidates with a score of 439 received ITAs, IRCC said a tie-break procedure was necessary, meaning only those candidates with a CRS score of 439 who entered their profiles in the Express Entry pool prior to a specified date and time were invited to apply. In this case, that time and date was October 19, 2017, at 12:02:28 UTC.

Todays cut-off CRS score of 439 is 19 points lower than last weeks draw, which had a cut-off score of 458.

It is interesting to note that this latest draw was the fourth in three weeks, which has only happened once before since Express Entry was introduced. Canada announced new three-year immigration targets on Nov. 1 and more frequent draws could have the effect of increasing the number of ITAs issued and lowering the CRS cut-off score as candidates with higher scores are removed from the pool.

Under its recently announced Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is planning to welcome nearly one million new permanent residents between 2018 and 2020. Nearly 250,000 of those newcomers to be admitted through programs managed under the Express Entry system, namely: the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The number admitted through these programs is set to increase year-on-year.

This latest draw was the 78th draw to take place since the Express Entry system was introduced on Jan. 1, 2015, and the 28th since the start of 2017. So far this year, 80,523 ITAs have been issued.

With fluctuating CRS thresholds, it is helpful to look at which sorts of candidates are receiving ITAs following the latest draw. The following examples below are entirely hypothetical.

Mary is 36, has a Masters degree and recently wrote her IELTS and obtained a score of 8 in each category (reading, speaking, writing and listening). She has been working as a university professor for 4 years. Her CRS of 440 would have been sufficient to obtain and ITA during the most recent draw from the Express Entry pool.

Jose is 32 has been working in Canada as a retail manager for 2 years. He studied commerce in Canada and obtained a bachelors degree. Jose has an intermediate English language proficiency. Before coming to Canada to study, Jose worked as a retail manager overseas for two years. His CRS of 441.

Rupa is a 29 year old who has been working as a computer programmer for five years. She has a bachelors degree and an advanced English language proficiency. Rupa has never worked or studied in Canada. Her CRS of 441 would have been sufficient to obtain an ITA during the most recent Express Entry draw.

This latest draw is a good sign for the coming year, said Attorney David Cohen. More frequent draws from the Express Entry pool and a greater number of ITAs could have the effect of lowering the minimum CRS score required. As Canada strives to achieve a higher target, were hoping more ITAs being issued continues into 2018.

The CRS Calculator

The CRS Calculator allows you to find out what your score would be under the CRS.

To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, fill out a free online assessment form.

Candidates who receive an ITA and want to learn more about the next steps may complete this short form.

 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Manitoba restructures its Provincial Nominee Program Stephen Smith Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Manitoba has announced a number of changes to its Provincial Nominee Program, including the creation of an in-demand occupations list and a new pathway aligned with Canadas Express Entry system.

The measures are part of a broad restructuring and renewal of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) to provide newcomers with new pathways to permanent residence in the province. The changes include the restructuring of three existing immigration streams  MPNP-B business immigration stream, Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream and Skilled Worker Overseas Stream  and the creation of a new International Education Stream.

One of the key changes is the introduction of a new in-demand occupations list that will be used to prioritize Expressions of Interest (EOI) for inviting applications from the new Skilled Worker Overseas stream. That stream will now be subdivided into two pathways  the Manitoba Express Entry Pathway and the Human Capital Pathway.

The Express Entry Pathway, which is due to come into effect in January 2018, will allow Manitoba to nominate qualified applicants who meet the criteria for Canadas Express Entry system and have an active Express Entry profile. Among other criteria, priority will be given to candidates who have a minimum of six-months experience in an in-demand occupation as well as a close friend or relative in Manitoba or a valid Invitation to Apply issued by the MPNP.

The Human Capital Pathway is for international skilled worker applicants with skills and training covered by the In-demand Occupations list, and who demonstrate a high potential for establishing themselves in their chosen occupations sooner after arrival in Manitoba. Family connections or previous post-secondary or work experience in Manitoba in the last five years are required to qualify for this stream, among other criteria.

Changes to MPNP-B and Skilled Workers in Manitoba

The MPNP-B stream has been renamed the Business Investor Stream (BIS), effective immediately, and it has been sub-divided into the Entrepreneur Pathway and the Farm Investor Pathway.

A government news release said the BIS will prioritize applicants who start a business within the first 12 months of their arrival in Manitoba, especially those who want to establish their business outside Winnipeg. Applicants in the Entrepreneur Pathway would receive a temporary work permit and rather than provide a good-faith deposit of $100,000, they would sign a business performance agreement to purchase an existing business in the province or start a new one. The province says the new criteria is scheduled to come into effect in the first quarter of 2018.

The new Skilled Workers in Manitoba Stream will also be subdivided into two pathways: the Manitoba Work Experience Pathway and Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway.

The Manitoba Work Experience Pathway is for applicants currently working in Manitoba with temporary work permits and whose jobs are not found on the In-demand Occupations list. The Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway is for international applicants with job offers from pre-approved Manitoba employers.

International Education Stream

Finally, the new International Education Stream is designed to provide faster pathways to provincial nomination for international students graduating in Manitoba and whose skills meet the needs of the provinces employers.

Effective in April 2018, the new stream will target graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs who are completing internships that support industry innovation in their fields of study. Under the new stream, Manitobas provincial government says international student graduates from Manitoba institutions who have found a long-term job in an in-demand occupation will no longer have to work for six months before applying for the MPNP.

The new International Education Stream will make it easier for international students with a Manitoba education to build their careers and settle here in the province, said Manitobas Education and Training Minister, Ian Wishart.

To find out if you are eligible for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, or any of the available Canadian immigration programs, please fill out a free online assessment today.

 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Republican Like Me: How I Left the Liberal Bubble and Learned to Love the Right, by Ken Stern (HarperCollins, 304 pp., $27.99)

Call it the woke mans burden: in the year since Donald Trump unexpectedly won the presidency, many liberal journalistsin search of answers and disturbed by an election result that they saw as impossible, rather than merely improbablehave felt duty-bound to venture out to the parts of the country that elected the 45th president. The dilettante anthropology that has followedmemorably characterized as decline porn by Commentarys Noah Rothmanhas, in the main, been unimpressive. Many of the insights gleaned dont require a plane ticket to suss out (coal miners, it seems, dont enjoy losing their jobs). And the reporting usually suffers from a superficial, drive-by quality. Perhaps one can divine the secrets of the Trump phenomenon by exploring the rhythms of daily life in, say, Youngstown, Ohioa city that has earned profiles from the Washington Post and the New York Times, despite not actually voting for Trump (though the Times report was pre-election)but you certainly cant do it over the course of just a few days.

Ken Sterna man whose liberal bona fides include nearly a decade as an NPR executive and a stint with the 1996 ClintonGore campaignsets out to overcome those limitations in his new book, Republican Like Me: How I Left the Liberal Bubble and Learned to Love the Right. His method? As Stern himself recently described in a New York Post column, For an entire year, I embedded myself with the other side. But thats not quite true, at least under any coherent definition of embedded. Readers expecting a detailed tour of Trumps America are in for a disappointment.

Stern organizes the book by topic, making a good-faith effort in each chapter to contrast how conservatives actually think about a given issue versus how liberals caricature their views. He considers gun control, religion, the problems besetting the white working class, climate change, science (in a somewhat discursive chapter that covers everything from creationism to electric vehicles), anti-poverty policy, and media bias. Sterns fieldwork, however, comprises relatively little of the book, and makes only modest contributions to its goal of fostering a better understanding of the Right. His interviewees provide insights that will be revelatory only to the most insulated progressives: that evangelicals care about issues beyond gay marriage, for instance, or that conservatives believe that success in the war on poverty should be measured by how many beneficiaries become self-sufficient, rather than by how many dollars are spent. This is a remedial education in conservatism, though one that likely serves a worthwhile purpose in a political atmosphere where each side assumes the worst about the other.

Given the authors claim to have immersed himself among the MAGA-hat-wearing masses, its surprising how narrow his travels turn out to be. Yes, there are occasional Red state set pieces: Stern visits a hunting ranch in Texas, an evangelical conference in Missouri, and a declining coal town in Kentucky. Even the ubiquitous Youngstown makes a cameo. But otherwise, Stern visits places that are not exactly hotbeds of conservatism (he makes trips to Baltimore and New York City for the poverty chapter) or stays curiously close to his Washington, D.C. home. The author is endearingly straightforward about this. At one point, he cops to attending an Assembly of God service in Fredericksburg, Virginia50 miles from Washingtonrather than in Springfield, Missouri, because of travel fatigue. Such compromises may have been unavoidable, but they hem in the books ethnographic ambitions.

Perhaps thats for the best, because Republican Like Me is most valuable when it departs from the ideological tourism motif. In virtually every chapter, Stern has a conservative intellectual sherpa or two to lead him through the issue at hand, and here one finds insights much richer and more nuanced than the bullet points that dominate conservative talk radio and cable news. (Stern seems to grasp intuitively the point that frustrates every right-of-center think-tanker: theres a world of difference between the conservatives who do the reading and the conservatives who do the talking). One really does think differently about gun control upon learning that nearly two-thirds of American gun deaths are suicides, with the remaining balance largely coming from urban violence related to gangs and drugs. Climate change no longer seems apocalyptic upon learning that a Yale model shows the estimated cost of disruption to ecosystems and human health represent[s] the difference between the world being 6.5 times wealthier [in 2100] than in 2015 or 6.7 times wealthier. As a readers digest of the most thoughtful scholarship coming from conservative intellectuals, the book is invaluable.

A tension underlies this dual-track approach, however, and Stern mostly elides it: understanding the intellectual subtleties of conservative policy scholarship and understanding the cultural subtleties that brought Donald Trump to the commanding heights of American politics are two very different pursuits. In fact, much of the rancor within the Republican Party these days owes precisely to the fact that the conservative intellectual vanguard and rank-and-file voters so frequently find themselves out of sync. As a result, Stern has set for himself an unachievable goal: how do you understand a party that, at the moment, doesnt understand itself?

To his credit, Sterns efforts to take the Right on its own terms appear to be in earnest. Unlike many liberal journalists who have undertaken similar projects, he is not primarily looking for Republicans with an axe to grind against their own party or conservatives who can serve as easy foils. In fact, its easy to imagine this book struggling to gain traction with liberals because Stern seems so enamored with his subjects. To the extent that he voices progressive objections to the messages he hears, they are mostly marginal and cosmetic. Its hard to resist the suspicion that Stern himself has become a crypto-conservative in the course of the writinga delight to the right-leaning reader, but a threat to his ability to influence the critics of conservatism who are the books ostensible audience.

In a heartfelt denouement, Stern argues that Americas civic health will improve if more effort is put into trying to understand those whose political views differ from our own. With Republican Like Me, he has made a valuable contribution to the supply side of that market. What ought to worry himand usis the prospect that the deficit is on the demand side.

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A former Waverly man has been arrested and accused of sexually abusing a girl over the course of several years, according to Lancaster County Court records.

William P. Gilliam, 44, who now lives outside Joplin, Missouri, was arrested there in May and extradited to Lincoln on Tuesday.

In August, Lancaster County prosecutors charged him with first-degree sexual assault of a child in connection with abuse allegations. The allegations were first reported in Louisiana and were forwarded to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office in May.

A girl who knows Gilliam reported that he sexually abused her at a home near Waverly between 2012 and January 2017, investigators said in an affidavit for Gilliam's arrest.

The girl was younger than 12 when the abuse started, according to the affidavit.

If convicted, Gilliam faces 20 years to life imprisonment.
Democrat Phil Murphy won the New Jersey gubernatorial election last week with the support of many of the states public-sector unions, including the powerful New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). Now Murphy must tackle the states biggest problem: New Jerseys deeply underfundedand costlypublic-employee pension system. Without cost-saving reforms, New Jersey taxpayers will have to cough up billions of dollars annually to bail out the system.

Murphys problem, however, is that his biggest allies, especially the teachers union, contributed mightily to the pension mess over the years by winning plush benefits, acquiescing to accounting gimmicks that made the system look well-funded, and fighting against cost-saving reforms. Murphy has already proposed $1.3 billion in new taxes, and without making the changes to the pension system that the unions oppose, the states taxpayers face years of additional tax increases and spending cuts to pay the pension bill.

New Jerseys public-pension system currently holds less than 38 percent of what the state owes its retirees, which amounts to a $135 billion shortfall. Adding to this unfunded liability, the state also owes retirees $67 billion for future health-care payments, and has set aside no money for that obligation. Thats a combined tab of $202 billion. The entire state budget, by contrast, is $35 billion. To fund its obligations properly, the state would have to put aside $4.8 billion a year, or almost 15 percent of the budget; those costs are expected to grow to $11.3 billion by 2027. Unreformed, the cost of these benefits is unsustainable. During his campaign, Murphy promised to fix the pension system by fully funding it, though he wouldnt give specifics.

Murphys pledge helped win endorsements from the NJEA and other public-sector unions. By law, public school teachers must join the NJEA or, if they decline, pay a so-called agency fee to the union representing 85 percent of dues. The money is deducted from their paychecks, which are largely funded by local property taxes. Last year, the NJEA took in over $120 million in union dues and agency fees. Since 1994, the union has collected $1.85 billion, and it has invested much of this money in New Jersey politics: since 1994, the NJEA has spent $874 million on political activities, or about 56 percent of its annual operational expenditures, an average of $38 million a year.

While the NJEA often blames the states pension problems on politicians, the union bears significant responsibility for the crisisin part because of the disconnect between the state, which funds teachers pensions, and local school districts, which actually employ teachers and pay their salaries. This dichotomy drove pension costs higher because local districts were free to hire more workers and pay them more, without having to bear their higher retirement costs. When former Democratic governor James Florio tried to shift pension costs to local districts in the early 1990s, the NJEA fought back furiously. In the 1991 legislative elections, the union endorsed 46 Republicans and three Democrats, helping to flip the legislature from a Democratic majority to a Republican super-majority. Neither Democrats nor Republicans forgot that message.

During the ensuing decade, the NJEA lobbied for many of the laws that have undermined the state pension system. In 1997, the union won their members the non-forfeitable right to pensionsmeaning that current workers could never see any benefit cuts, even for work they hadnt yet done, as long as they worked for the state. One result, according to the 20142016 state pension and benefits commission, is that when Governor Chris Christie signed 2011pension reforms into law, the cost savings did not apply to 89 percent of all teachersmuting the impact of the legislation. Also in 1997, the NJEA supported a disastrous state scheme to use debt to bolster the pension system. To win union support, Governor Christie Whitman gave workers a reduction in their pension contributions, in exchange for backing the gimmick. The legislature later banned such borrowing.

In 2001, the NJEA was the driving force behind one of the great swindles in New Jersey legislative history. The union had persistently pushed for pension enhancements, and with a compliant legislature and governor, unions won a 9 percent retroactive increase in all pensions. The legislature reached back to 1999 to value pension assets when they were billions of dollars highereven though the legislature was fully aware that by 2001, a market crash had severely reduced the systems assets. In 2010, when the Securities and Exchange Commission cited the state for misleading investors about the state of the pension system in its bond documents, it highlighted this accounting trick as a key misrepresentation.

The NJEA also fought and largely blocked all serious efforts at reform, notably the changes recommended in 2005 by a pension commission appointed by acting-governor Richard Codey (led, ironically, by now Governor-elect Phil Murphy), and those recommended by the 2006 special legislative session called to deal with the crisis. The union has also been instrumental in opposing the recommendations of the most recent state pension and benefits commission.

Now Murphy, who surely can do the math, has promised unions that he will fully fund this broken pension systemwithout reforming itthus rewarding the interests that helped create the crisis. Bowing to the teachers union may be a good way to get elected, but it doesnt bode well for New Jersey taxpayers.

Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
Charity representatives have said that they are looking forward to working with the government on a new civil society strategy, which was announced today.

Tracey Crouch, minister for civil society said that the government would launch a listening exercise in the new year, and so far charity leaders have indicated that they will be keen to contribute.

NCVO: were looking forward to taking part

Karl Wilding director of public policy and volunteering at NCVO, said:Making sure people are supported to get involved in their communities is one of the most important things any government can do. And making sure voluntary organisations are valued and supported by the government will mean they can do even more across society. Its very positive that the government are looking at how they can do this together across departments.



The consultative approach that the minister has set out is absolutely the right one to get the best results, and were looking forward to taking part in helping to create a successful strategy.

Acevo: we hope it will provide a platform to develop the sector

Vicky Browning, chief executive of Acevo, said: It's good to see Tracey Crouch's commitment to producing a civil society strategy which will protect the sustainability of the vital work our sector does. We look forward to engaging Acevo's network of leaders with the minister as she formulates her plan, which we hope will provide a platform to support and develop our sector and its impact in the years ahead.

CFG: needs to be backed up by funding

Andrew OBrien, director of policy and engagement of Charity Finance Group, said: It is good to see the government recognising the strategic value of the sector and we look forward to engaging with it on the strategy.

It is important, however, that this strategy is backed up with funding and a beefed up Office of Civil Society to implement it. Without this any strategy has the risk of becoming merely words on paper and have no impact on the operating environment for charities. Given the tough times ahead, we cannot afford to waste the potential of the sector.

IoF: good fundraising needs to be part of it

Daniel Fluskey, head of policy and research for the IoF, said that it is a good opportunity and that promoting and supporting good fundraising needs to underpin a strategy for civil society.

SCC: make sure small charities are heard

Mandy Johnson, chief executive of the Small Charities Coalition, also welcomed the announcement, and said that she looks forward to engaging with DCMS to make sure small charity voices are heard.

NPC: 'will be a test of how powerful the Office of Civil Society'

Patrick Murray, head of policy and external affairs at NPC, said: For many organisations working with government their strongest relationships with the state are around the areas of they work in such as health, employment, criminal justice or housing.



There is much that can be done within existing resources to support charities to make a greater impact, as NPC has set out previously  targeting funding and regulation on impact, levelling the playing field in commissioning, supporting the sector to embrace digital, and opening up government data.



The goal of strengthening broader civil society is important too. As we outlined at the Lords Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement yesterday the government can support local areas to map existing physical and social assets, and redress imbalances of social capital by channelling funding from dormant assets to areas in greatest need. Its important too that the listening exercise goes beyond the traditional sector voices, and includes efforts to engage with beneficiaries of charities and people with lived experience who are often missed out.



Ultimately this new strategy will be a test of how powerful the Office of Civil Society is now its not in a cross-cutting department such as the Cabinet Office. At such a challenging time for the sector warm words need to lead to action. The ambition is right, but the proof will be in the pudding.

Lloyds Bank Foundation: 'chance for the government to get fully behind the charity sector'

Paul Streets, chief executive Lloyds Bank Foundation, said: We welcome todays announcement of a new strategy for civil society and look forward to working with the government to develop its proposals. Any strategy must give its focus to those that make up the majority of the sector  small and medium charities.

Charities with a turnover of less than 1m make up 97 per cent of the sector. They are delivering vital support and services in our communities  often going unrecognised and undervalued for it.

Day in and day out we see the role that these charities play in our communities, using their knowledge and experience to help those most in need. They too are the ones facing the biggest challenges. Funding is reducing as demand and complexity increases and what public funding there is from central and local government is increasingly routed through large contracts that effectively cut out small charities.

Todays announcement is a chance for the government to get fully behind the charity sector and to listen to and learn from the small and local charities which make it what it is. It is also a chance to build on the important work already done by the House of Lords and Civil Societies Futures Project and to further strengthen charities to not just survive but thrive.

Now the government must play its role to help them to flourish and give them and those they support the chance of a brighter future. Most importantly we encourage the government to recognise its own role in supporting the sector, particularly small and local charities, as a valued partner in policy making and service delivery, right across government.

We will play our part  we hope government will seize this opportunity with both hands.

Social Enterprise UK: 'real proof of the pudding will be to see how we feature in the industrial strategy'

Peter Holbrook, chief executive of SEUK, said: On Social Enterprise Day, its great to see the minister recognise the need for a Civil Society Strategy that includes social enterprise and recognises the important role they play. However the real proof of the pudding will be to see how we feature in the industrial strategy, which is where social enterprise should and must be recognized as having the untapped potential to make a much more significant difference, not just within civil society, but in every aspect of Britains future economy.

Locality: 'needs to focus on how government can harness the power of community

Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Locality said: Our country faces huge challenges, but we have huge resources within our communities to tackle them. The new civil society strategy needs to focus on how government can harness this power of community, proving a much clearer strategy for how it will convene government action, maximise limited resources and build strong local partnerships.



We believe that that now is a crucial moment for government to create a more supportive policy environment for community organisations to respond to local need and drive their own neighbourhoods forward. The Grenfell Tower tragedy showed both the devastating consequences when communities voices are not heard; but also their incredible resilience and capacity to respond. The civil society strategy needs to truly put communities in control. It can do this by providing greater support for communities to take on ownership of important local buildings; reshaping public service commissioning, so that it enables local organisations to deliver person centred services that keep public spending local; and reinvigorating the localism agenda and putting neighbourhoods at the heart of devolution."

ACF: 'Foundations will be keen to share insights'

Carol Mack, chief executive of the Association of Charitable Foundations, said: "I'm pleased to see today's announcement from DCMS that the government will develop a new civil society strategy. I'm particularly glad that the minister has committed to consult widely with the sector and to involve other government departments. Foundations have seen significant shifts in civil society over recent years and will be keen to share their evidence and insights with DCMS."

National Youth Agency: 'opportunity to listen to young people'

Leigh Middleton, manging director of National Youth Agency, said: I am pleased that the Minister has launched consultation on a strategy for civil society and welcome the opportunity to continue our dialogue with DCMS. My hope is that this is a real opportunity to get young people listened to and their needs focused on by government.




In the wake of last weekends mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Dallas Morning News reporter Lauren McGaughy wrote a widely shared op-ed taking to task the news media that swarmed the town of just under 700 people. She described how the massed ranks of regional, national, and international journalists overwhelmed the traumatized local community with TV trucks, microphones, and invasive, repetitive questions. At the prayer vigil Sunday night, mourners clutching candles hugged each other and sobbed. The pictures were beautiful, McGaughy says in her open letter to the town. What you didnt see was the scrum engulfing your friends and loved ones, photographers and reporters with iPhones jockeying to capture an image that didnt also include the media melee.

McGaughy ended her piece with an urgent call for newsrooms to discuss how they might better approach the aftermath of mass traumaespecially in small towns where nearly every resident is in some way personally affected, and where the invasion of the global media can double the population overnight. McGaughy says shes received many messages in response to her op-ed suggesting ways for the press to still get the story while treating grief-stricken communities with respect. She also got pushback from reporters grumbling that they were just doing their jobs.

ICYMI: Site sparks uproar on social media with Vegas massacre headline

Its important for the media to cover mass shootings in as much detail as possiblebecause such atrocities tie into critical debates on gun laws, and because no murder or act of terrorism should be normalized or forgotten. People in the affected communities often agree, and many of them want to tell the world what happened. But they want to do so on their own terms, not at the whim of pushy reporters. Many journalists understand the moral quandaries of on-the-ground reporting in the wake of trauma. But the pressing imperative to get a scoop or quote sometimes gets in the way, while the horrifying regularity of gun violence in America can have a broader desensitizing effect.

Debates on how best to cover mass shootings arent new, but they rarely propose concrete steps newsrooms and reporters could take to avoid overwhelming grieving communities. In that vein, CJR spoke with reporters, editors, and experts on how the press might do better. These ideas are points for discussion, not ready-to-implement panaceas. But the conversation has to start somewhere. As Nicole Dahmen, an expert on mass shootings and the media at the University of Oregon, puts it: We hear from every single community, every single time one of these shootings happens, that the media coverage was a second trauma.



1. Better training for journalists on the ground

The easiest way to improve interactions with grieving communities would be for newsrooms to provide reporters with better training before putting them on the beat. In Sutherland Springs, McGaughy says residents she spoke to felt common decency and manners went out the window.

Were taught in this profession that persistence is important, and I think thats true when we talk about public corruption, politics, and the like, she tells CJR. But when were talking about a grieving community, the playbook changes.

ICYMI: A feud between two media giants

Beyond intuitive sensitivity and basic manners, newsrooms could lay out clear protocols for staff. If a survivor or bereaved relative doesnt want to talk, offer them a number to call if they change their mind, but dont try back later. If they do grant an interview, take a moment to apologize for their loss before you start asking questions, and let them know they can back out any timebut dont feign understanding or sympathy. Outside organizations like the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School already offer tip sheets that newsrooms could use as a starting point.

Reporters who themselves feel emotionally supported are likely to be more respectful, and more effective, when interviewing victims and their families.

As well as laying down rules for reporters, outlets should check with staff regularly to make sure theyre okay, and rotate them out if theyre showing signs of strain. This is partly an ethics question about how we treat the public, but it also has an occupational health association, says Dart Center Executive Director Bruce Shapiro. The two imperatives are linked; reporters who themselves feel emotionally supported are likely to be more respectful, and more effective, when interviewing victims and their families.

2. Cooperating with local media

Newspaper, TV, and radio networks could lean more heavily on local affiliates and correspondents, who are often first on the scene, but are then expected to take a back seat as weightier names from higher up the food chain fly in. Outlets should show more faith in their local talent. If editors feel local affiliates are falling short, they could send in an experienced producer, rather than an extra reporter to shove a microphone in peoples faces.

Mass shootings are huge news events that can have divergent local and national strandsso it is often necessary to send in reinforcements from other bureaus. This works best when parachutes work under or in equal partnership with their affiliates. We were working very closely with Texas Public Radio in Sutherland Springs, coordinating our efforts to make sure we werent doubling up and knocking on the same doors, says NPRs Southern Bureau Chief Russell Lewis. We made sure each of the people were covering different events and different services, and we were sharing tape and information so we didnt end up at the same places.

RELATED: An analysis of Las Vegas shooting headlines reveals unsettling trends

Even in the absence of a corporate relationship, national media could work more closely with independent local news organizations, which often have a better understanding of the context of a crime, as well as better access to official information due to long-term relationships with authorities. National outlets could coordinate reporting efforts, with local editors serving as sherpas for the local environment, or simply link out to great work in lieu of sending extra reporters to the scene. As improbable as this scenario might sound, theres a benefit beyond pure altruism. National outlets talk frequently about the sad decline of local news; they could earn industry kudos by supporting it.

3. Pooling reporters and resources

Even where local outlets are poorly resourced or simply dont exist, national news outlets dont all have to flock to the scene en masse. Its long been a principle of political reporting, for example, that outlets take turns sending a pool reporter to cover a presidential trip overseas.

Its highly unlikely that major news outlets would agree to stand down their reporters in the absence of official limits to access; after all, knocking on a bereaved relatives door isnt like boarding Air Force One. And there are other arguments against the strategy. While Reuters Editor in Chief Stephen Adler is sympathetic to the difficult consequences of the swarm effect in small towns, he says any sort of organized pool system in such cases would be dangerously close to self-censorship. What if youre keeping the most insightful journalist out of the location? he asks. (Adler chairs CJRs Board of Overseers.)

But a pool system could be in news outlets self-interest. Racing to send reporters and resources to unfamiliar terrain can be an expensive operation. Its the most ridiculous thing, from a cost point, says California public radio host John Sepulvado, who has reported on several mass shootings. All the press is doing is overwhelming people, and then theyre all competing with each other, and thats when the objectification [of local people] comes.

At the very least, newspaper photographers and TV and radio stations could share pictures and tape from the ground to avoid clogging up parking lots with satellite vans and cramming into memorial services in pursuit of the same scene. Sharing TV equipment, in particular, would significantly reduce the medias footprint, given the disproportionate numbers of support staff needed to run a live broadcast.



4. Just dont go

Its a journalism school truism that the best reporting is always done from the scene. But effectiveness diminishes when subjects are so overwhelmed that they dont want to talk to the press. Its not uncommon for residents to get out of town the few days after a shooting to avoid the inevitable procession of reporters with identical questions.

Much would be lost if every outlet worked remotely, but that doesnt mean individual organizations shouldnt ask themselves, on a case-by-case basis, whether their presence would add anything to the publics understanding of what happened. Some newsrooms have shown themselves capable of reflective self-restraint around shootingsweighing whether and when to name perpetrators after studies showed doing so could inspire copycats.

Much real-time coverage of mass shootings is driven by central newsrooms already, meaning it wouldnt be a radical move for a news organization to unilaterally make all its coverage of an event remote. Residents can be reached on social media and by phone almost as easily as in person, in a way that can feel less immediately intrusive if done with sensitivity and without insistence.

Covering shootings from a distance could also breathe new life into citizen journalism. Newsrooms already look for, verify, and link out to social media videos and posts showing what happened on the ground, even if the model is less in vogue than in years past. Its a way to get authentic local voices into a story without literally going and pounding on their doors and getting a quote theyve already put on Facebook, says Justin Peters, a former CJR staffer who now writes for Slate.



5. If you go, look for the deeper story

The news cycle in the aftermath of a mass shooting can take an eerily repetitive tone: Journalists turn up to the scene, piece together what happened, get emotive interviews, file, and leaveall as a circular debate on gun control swells then fades in their wake. Even if news organizations cant or wont take action to end the swarm effect, they could serve distraught communities better than rehashing a cliched news cycle for a week then moving on to the next thing.

Rather than insisting on a set formula for a story, outlets could give their reporters more leeway to follow their instincts on the ground. Instead of getting a set number of quotes or a scoop to beat an immediate rival, reporters could usefully hang back, observe rather than intrude, then write up a more naturalistic assessment of citizens response to tragedyas Peters did for Slate in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.

Embed from Getty Images

Journalists could wait for sources to come forward to tell their stories, without making first contact or applying pressure. Sepulvados suggestion that reporters stand outside trauma centers with signs inviting people to talk might seem farfetched at first impression, but it isnt so different from the way the press was cordoned off at funerals following Sandy Hook. People could choose to go over and speak to the press if they wanted to, and that was the audio that I got, says Craig LeMoult, who covered the shootings for WSHU Public Radio. My approach in Sandy Hook was not to reach out directly to the families of victims.

People respect when you dont treat these shootings like some sort of grim routine, but as uniquely horrific.

Like many local reporters, LeMoult didnt stop covering Sandy Hook at the end of the initial news cycle. Once parachutes pack up their vans to go back to New York or LA or DC, its the papers and stations on the ground who ensure tragic stories arent forgotten. Some national reporters should consider sticking around, tooand not just dropping back in to cover a trial or one-year anniversary.

The Washington Post often sends Eli Saslow to write features on how communities cope once the glare of media attention fades. Our attention span as a country is so short that the wave of interest ends really quickly, and the people feel, first, relieved, but then a little bit abandoned, he says. People respect when you dont treat these shootings like some sort of grim routine, but as uniquely horrific.

Staying put isnt an option for many reporters, of course. But if even one or two national journalists stay, it could help members of the community feel, in the final count, that the news media respects them and takes their grief seriously. Its an action, Saslow says, that breeds reciprocal respect for the reporter. You stop becoming part of this huge media apparatus, and you start becoming a person.

RELATED: The phrase journalists used to describe Vegas shooter, and the unspoken implication

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
This week on The Kicker, Meg talks with John Biewen, audio program director at Dukes Center for Documentary Studies, about how his podcast Seeing White examines Americas deep history of white supremacy. Then Pete is joined by CJRs Christie Chisholm and Jon Allsop to discuss the right-wing media response to Roy Moore, some good journalism from Fox News, and how to fix the way we cover mass shootings.

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SHOW NOTES:

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Meg Dalton and Pete Vernon are CJR Delacorte Fellows. Find Meg on Twitter @megdalts and Pete @ByPeteVernon.
An unspeakable tragedy strikes an American town, and its residents spend the next several days not only numb with grief, but coping with an invasion that turns their home into a media circus. Its a scene thats played outfrom Sutherland Springs to Newtown to Littletonover and over again. As Dallas Morning News reporter Lauren McGaughy, one of the first to arrive in Sutherland Springs earlier this month, wrote, there should bethere must bea better way to cover a tragedy like this.

In an open letter to the people of the town, McGaughy reflects on the prayer vigil held the night of the shooting. Mourners clutching candles hugged each other and sobbed. The pictures were beautiful, she writes. What you didnt see was the scrum engulfing your friends and loved ones, photographers and reporters with iPhones jockeying to capture an image that didnt also include the media melee.

ICYMI: A notable difference in the coverage of the Florida school shooting

The day after the Sutherland Springs shooting, I spoke with the top editor at a major outlet who suggested we shouldnt devote so many resources and so much airtime to mass shootings, given that the current political reality means nothing will change. New York Times reporter Eric Lipton had a similar reaction.

Part of me wonders if the news media should try to significantly reduce covering these events. https://t.co/pi7C8VVDB8  Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) November 5, 2017

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Discussions on the chaos and discomfort caused by media coverage of mass shootings are nothing new, but the influx of reporters into Sutherland Springs, a town of just 700, presents an especially pointed case study. In response to McGaughys piece, CJRs Jon Allsop went in search of solutions to the issue. Allsops reporting led to five suggestions about how the industry could adjust its coverage. His list includes practical steps like better training for journalists on the ground and increased cooperation with local media to shrink the footprint of a national swarm, to more ambitious ideas like utilizing pool reporting in the manner of White House coverage.

ICYMI: Five ideas for more respectful media coverage after mass shootings

The prevalence of guns in American society means mass shooting events are a sad part of our way of life. Before the next one, media organizations should look to their coverage of Sutherland Springs and question whether we can do better.

Below, more on how journalists cover mass killings.

Adding to a towns pain: Ive covered gruesome events around the worldearthquakes, hurricanes, fires, writes The New York Timess Simon Romero. But none of those experiences prepared me for the media maelstrom in Sutherland Springs.

Ive covered gruesome events around the worldearthquakes, hurricanes, fires, writes The New York Timess Simon Romero. But none of those experiences prepared me for the media maelstrom in Sutherland Springs. Tools for covering shootings: The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma has a comprehensive list of resources for journalists covering mass killings and reporting on guns.

The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma has a comprehensive list of resources for journalists covering mass killings and reporting on guns. Naming the shooter: CNNs Anderson Cooper is one of several journalists who have openly decided not to name mass shooters in their reporting. In the wake of Sutherland Springs, the Los Angeles Timess Michael McGough criticized that approach.

CNNs Anderson Cooper is one of several journalists who have openly decided not to name mass shooters in their reporting. In the wake of Sutherland Springs, the Los Angeles Timess Michael McGough criticized that approach. An ongoing conversation: Quartzs Corinne Purtill was on this story two years ago, writing after a gunman killed 10 people at Oregons Umpqua Community College that its time to change the way the media cover mass shootings.

Other notable stories

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani launched an investigation Tuesday into why government housing built by his hard-line predecessor collapsed while others withstood a powerful earthquake near the border with Iraq that killed more than 530 people.

In the Kurdish town of Sarpol-e-Zahab, which was reconstructed in the decades since the 1980s war with Iraq, the outer walls of apartment complexes tumbled away in the magnitude 7.3 earthquake Sunday night. The housing was built as a part of the Mehr or kindness project of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Some now-homeless survivors simply wept outside, while others angrily showed Associated Press journalists the destruction done by the quake.

Other buildings near our apartment are not damaged as much because they were built privately, said Ferdows Shahbazi, 42, who lived in one of the Mehr buildings.

She sarcastically added: This is kindness as the name suggests very well!

Rescuers used backhoes and other heavy equipment to dig through toppled buildings in Sarpol-e-Zahab, home to more than half of the dead. The apartment complexes sit next to lush pastures in the almost entirely Kurdish province of Kermanshah, nestled in the Zagros Mountains along the border with Iraq.

Both rescuers and residents stood on the remains of homes, looking through the rubble. Searchers used dogs to comb the debris  just as they have since Irans 2003 earthquake in Bam that killed 26,000 people  although some clerics insist the animals are unclean.

The quake badly damaged the Sarpol-e-Zahab hospital, forcing the army to set up field clinics. The quake also reportedly killed an unspecified number of soldiers in an army garrison.

Aside from the 530 people killed in Iran, 7,817 were injured, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, who visited Kermanshah on Tuesday, warned that the death toll probably would rise.

My feeling is that number  will increase since victims were buried in many villages that their exact statistics will be announced in coming days, he said, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Rouhani inspected the damage in the province and offered his support.

This was a pain for all Iranians, he said. Representing the nation of Iran, I offer my condolences to the people of Kermanshah, and tell them that all of us are behind Kermanshah.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif thanked foreign countries offering to help but wrote on Twitter: For now, we are able to manage with our own resources.

Also touring the area was cleric Abdolhossein Moezi, a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Moezi said there was a need for more relief material and security.

That was echoed by Nazar Barani, the mayor of the town of Ezgeleh, who told state TV his constituency still had a deep need for food, medicine and tents. He said 80 percent of the buildings in the town had been damaged.

The temblor hit about 19 miles (31 kilometers) outside the eastern Iraqi city of Halabja, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and struck 14.4 miles (23.2 kilometers) below the surface, a somewhat shallow depth that can cause broader damage.

Nine people were killed in Iraq and 550 were injured, all in the countrys northern, semiautonomous Kurdish region, according to the United Nations.

The disparity in casualty tolls has drawn questions from Iranians, especially because so much of Sarpol-e-Zahab was new. Initial Iranian government estimates suggest the quake destroyed 12,000 apartments and free-standing homes, and damaged another 15,000.

Some immediately pointed to the Mehr homes. About 2 million units were built in Iran, including scores in Sarpol-e Zahab, as part of a populist program by Ahmadinejad, who also offered cash payouts and other incentives to appease the public while Iran faced crippling economic sanctions over its nuclear program.

But after the housing was built, some didnt have paved roads or water going to them. Many warned that the low-quality construction could be a problem in Iran, which faces near-daily earthquakes and sits on many major fault lines.

Ahmadinejads official channel on the messaging app Telegram, which is popular in Iran, called the accusations media slander and said those who circulated photos and videos of damaged Mehr homes were clumsy charlatans.

Ahmadinejad adviser Ali Akbar Javanfekr also wrote on a website for allies of the former president: Heavy waves of propaganda against Mehr are aimed at covering up the weakness and inefficiency of the (Rouhani) administration in helping quake-hit people.

In May, a magnitude 5.7 quake in the northeastern city of Bojnourd heavily damaged similar Mehr projects there. Many still sit uncompleted across the country because the program ran out of cash.

Rouhani said in Sarpol-e-Zahab that the government would look into what went wrong at the Mehr homes, some of which his administration handed over.

The faults and shortcomings in the construction of these buildings should be investigated, he said. And the government will surely follow up on these issues and identify the culprits and introduce them to the people.

Rouhani added: We saw what happened to the Mehr buildings though even a single window was not broken in peoples privately built homes.

He promised cash payments and loans to those affected so they can build new homes with contractors of their choice. He also urged local officials to be generous with disaster relief.

Damage wasnt limited to housing. In the nearby Kurdish town of Eslamabad, a hospital only recently inaugurated by the government collapsed, killing several people there, lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said.

Several became victims of treason, the lawmaker said, according to a report by the semi-official ILNA news agency. The death toll could have been much less if the hospital was not destroyed. The citys old hospital, some 30 years old, did not suffer serious damage.

(Karimi reported from Tehran. Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.)
The House on Tuesday backed legislation that will increase flood insurance premiums for many property owners to help firm up a program under stress from ever-more frequent and powerful storms.

The bills passage was secured when sponsors made a variety of changes to accommodate lawmakers determined to protect constituents from even steeper rate hikes or from being booted out of the program altogether. The vote was 237-189.

Just last month, the insurance program needed a $16 billion bailout to continue paying claims from people hard hit by Hurricane Harvey. Critics said that demonstrated the need for a major overhaul as Congress considered a long-term extension.

The program is the only flood insurance available to most Americans. Homeowners who live in areas that have a 1 percent chance of being inundated by flood waters in any given year must purchase flood insurance as a condition of having a federally backed mortgage.

But the premiums paid by policyholders are not keeping up with the expense of flood claims. Massive storms such as Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy generated huge expenses, and with climate change, the scope of flooding seems only to get worse.

The House Financial Services Committee passed legislation in June reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program for five years. Some of the changes sought had strong bipartisan support, such as clarifying that flood insurance policies written by private carriers satisfy the governments requirements when it comes to obtaining a federally backed mortgage.

Yet, other aspects of the bill would have increased costs beyond what some Republicans could accept.

Behind the scenes, Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, the Republican chairman of the Financial Services Committee, negotiated with Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., on a compromise. The final legislation removed a provision that would have prohibited the program from insuring newly constructed structures after 2021 as well as a provision prohibiting insurance for houses with replacement values exceeding $1 million.

The lawmakers also agreed that the program would account for frequently flooded properties by increasing premium rates based on future flood claims rather than on past flood claims.

This bill is important. It has really good reforms for taxpayers. It gives real certainty to policyholders, said Scalise, whose congressional district covers most of southeast Louisiana and was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Im still very proud that when we get this done, itll represent in many respects the greatest reform in the history of the program, Hensarling said.

Opposition largely came from Democratic lawmakers.

In the wake of one of the most disastrous hurricane seasons in history, this bill would make flood insurance more expensive, less available and less fair for millions of Americans, said California Rep. Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee.

Still, how lawmakers viewed the bill often had more to do with regional differences than political party.

Rep Garret Graves, R-La., called the higher premiums a tax increase.

You cant charge people for things over which they have no control over. You cant charge people whenever they stepped up and did exactly what the government told them to do when they built a home or built a business, Graves said.

Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., said he understood the program has problems, but hes sick and tired of having to defend the people in my district and the people in the Northeast from policies that dont mean the right thing for us.

Im angry and Im disappointed I have to fight with my own party on these issues, LoBiondo said.

Meanwhile, liberal Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., spoke in favor of the bill. He said he sympathizes with those who will face higher costs, but the answer was not to continue policies that he said put people in harms way and encourage them to rebuild in areas that put their property and families at risk.

Its important we dont lose an opportunity to start changing this, Blumenauer said.

In the end, 14 Republicans voted against the bill while 15 Democratic lawmakers voted for it.

The Senate has yet to take up a long-term extension of the program, which expires on Dec. 8.

Congress passed legislation in 2012 to shore up the program. But an outcry from property owners hit by increasing premiums prompted Congress two years later to give them a reprieve.

Steve Ellis, vice president at Taxpayers for Common Sense, said he didnt want to go through that again and that the House bill represented an evolution, not a revolution for the flood insurance program.

I recognize we have to take this in steps. We cant make leaps if we want it to be durable, Ellis said.

(Associated Press Writer Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was blamed in three lawsuits filed Tuesday for negligence in the wildfires that killed more than 40 people and destroyed over 8,000 homes in Northern California last month.

The lawsuits allege the San Francisco-based utility and its parent PG&E Corp. put profits over safety by failing to trim trees and vegetation around power lines and didnt maintain aging equipment that contributed to the deadly series of wind-driven fires that broke out Oct. 8 and raged across several counties, including the heart of wine country.

The suits were filed on behalf of three couples who lost their homes in the fires, including former San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan, and a couple hospitalized after surviving the fire by floating in their swimming pool for hours and dunking underwater repeatedly to escape the extreme heat as flames blew around them and destroyed everything they owned.

This calamity was preventable, attorney Frank Pitre said.

PG&E spokesman Donald Cutler said the lawsuit was based on assumptions because the investigation into the cause of the fires isnt complete. He also said the companys brush clearance meets or exceeds federal and state requirements and the company inspects power lines at least once a year.

The state Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention has not determined the cause of the fires yet, but said electrical equipment is one potential source. PG&E has said the state is investigating whether its power lines and equipment were a possible cause.

In response to previous suits from the fire, PG&E said in a court filing that a private power line may have sparked the fire that killed 21 people and destroyed more than 4,400 homes in Sonoma County. Another 22 people were killed and at least 4,500 more structures were destroyed in other fires in the region.

Pitre said PG&E had provided no support for its claims that a third-party may have been involved and he criticized the legal filing that garnered a front-page headline in the San Francisco Chronicle.

We are outraged at the most recent PG&E submission, which captured a headline where PG&E seeks to shift and deflect blame to an unknown person based on unknown facts, Pitre said. Thats not transparency in our view. Thats secrecy. And, frankly, were tired of it.

Pitre said the lawsuits were aimed at getting the utility and state investigators to turn over materials that will pinpoint the cause of the fires.

One of the plaintiffs, Gregory Wilson, who rode out the fire in his Santa Rosa swimming pool, spoke in a whisper as he discussed the frightening ordeal that put him and his wife, Christina, in an intensive care unit for 10 days with smoke inhalation and burns.

We watched everything burn around us, said Wilson, who hasnt been able to speak in a normal voice since the fire. Its a nightmare you cant even imagine.  Were hoping they can shed light on this so no one will ever have to go through this and, hopefully, no one else will have to die.

(Associated Press writer Brian Melley in Los Angeles contributed to this story.)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Two Lincoln police officers shot by a man in a struggle two years ago have filed a lawsuit against his estate seeking damages for their injuries, according to court documents.

Zachary Grigsby, 29, of Central City, was killed in the Nov. 29, 2015, incident after injuring Lincoln Police Officer Angela Sands and then-Officer Matthew Gilleland.

Grigsby, who had outstanding warrants, was being taken into custody by a third officer when he resisted, then pulled out a .380-caliber automatic handgun and began firing, police said.

Gilleland was shot in the arm. Sands' bulletproof vest deflected a bullet from Grigsby's gun into her radio microphone, which shattered and caused her facial and oral injuries, according to a report on the shooting by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

A grand jury convened to investigate Grigsby's death cleared the officers involved of wrongdoing.

Sands has since become the department's spokeswoman. Gilleland underwent several surgeries but ultimately had to medically retire from the force.

The officers and the City of Lincoln first filed claims against Grigsby's estate in a separate probate case, with city attorneys seeking $65,000 to recoup workers' compensation benefits that covered Sands' and Gilleland's medical expenses.

Grigsby's brother and mother, who represent his estate, denied the claims.

Sands and Gilleland filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Lancaster County District Court. The city is listed as an interested party.

The officers' attorneys said in the lawsuit that "the willful, malicious, intentional and violent assault" by Grigsby caused them permanent injury, temporary and permanent disability, medical expenses, physical pain and mental suffering.

Sands and Gilleland are seeking a judgment for unspecified medical expenses, lost wages and damages, according to the lawsuit.

Their attorneys declined additional comment on the case Wednesday.

Osceola attorney Brian Beckner, who represents the Grigsby estate, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The city would be able to recoup the cost of medical bills paid in workers' compensation from the estate if the officers' lawsuit is successful, City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick said.
Gov. Pete Ricketts and a number of other Republican state officials lined up Thursday in support of GOP congressional tax reform legislation while saluting President Donald Trump for leadership on the issue.

"I applaud the president and congressional leadership for making tax reform a top priority this year," Ricketts said.

"Providing relief will put more money back into the pockets of hard-working families and unleash economic growth in communities across our nation."

Lt. Gov. Mike Foley said Trump is "following through on his commitment to help grow America's middle class with federal tax reform."

The Republican plan would "provide a significant reduction in the tax burden for the average family and substantially streamline the filing process," Foley said.

State Auditor Charlie Janssen said "fairness and simplicity" are hallmarks of good tax policy.

"President Trump's tax reform efforts seek to simplify the tax code and provide relief to families and job creators across the nation," he said.

Also joining in the statement of support for tax reform were Sens. Jim Smith of Papillion and Lydia Brasch of Bancroft, both members of the nonpartisan Legislature who are registered Republicans.

"Tax reform is essential to returning jobs to the U.S. and to helping our employers create more opportunities at home," said Smith, who is chairman of the Legislature's Revenue Committee.

"The lower rates and higher standard deductions will greatly benefit large numbers of our middle-class taxpayers and ag producers," said Brasch, chairwoman of the Legislature's Agriculture Committee.
A J-10 jet fighter performs during the International Army Games on August 13, 2017 in Changchun, Jilin Province of China.

China is building the world's fastest wind tunnel to simulate hypersonic flight at speeds of up to 12 kilometres per second.

A hypersonic vehicle flying at this speed from China could reach the west coast of the United States in less than 14 minutes.

Zhao Wei, a senior scientist working on the project, said researchers aimed to have the facility up and running by around 2020 to meet the pressing demand of China's hypersonic weapon development programme.

"It will boost the engineering application of hypersonic technology, mostly in military sectors, by duplicating the environment of extreme hypersonic flights, so problems can be discovered and solved on the ground," said Zhao, a deputy director of the State Key Laboratory of High Temperature Gas Dynamics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

The ground tests will significantly reduce the risk of failure when test flights of hypersonic aircraft start.

The world's most powerful wind tunnel at present is America's LENX-X facility in Buffalo, New York state, which operates at speeds of up to 10 kilometres per second  30 times the speed of sound.

Hypersonic aircraft are defined as vehicles that travel of speeds of Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, or above.

The US military tested HTV-2, a Mach 20 unmanned aircraft in 2011 but the hypersonic flight lasted only a few minutes before the vehicle crashed in to the Pacific Ocean.

In March China conducted seven successful test flights of its hypersonic glider WU-14, also known as the DF-ZF, at speeds of between Mach 5 and Mach 10.

Other countries including Russia, India and Australia have also tested some early prototypes of the aircraft, which could be used to deliver missiles including nuclear weapons.

"China and the US have started a hypersonic race," said Wu Dafang, professor at the school of aeronautic science and engineering at Beihang University in Beijing who received a national technology award for the invention of a new heat shield used on hypersonic vehicles in 2013.

Wu has worked on the development of hypersonic cruise missiles, a near space vehicle, high-speed drones and other possible weapons for the People's Liberation Army.

He said there were a number of hypersonic wind tunnels in mainland China which had helped ensure the high success rate of its hypersonic weapon tests.

The new wind tunnel will be "one of the most powerful and advanced ground test facilities for hypersonic vehicles in the world", said Wu, who was not involved in the project.

"This is definitely good news for us. I look forward to its completion," he added.

More from the South China Morning Post:

China tests new spy drones in near space 'death zone'

How Beijing and Taipei are teaming up in space to track earthquakes

Replace pictures of Jesus with Xi to escape poverty, Chinese villagers urged

In the new tunnel there will be a test chamber with room for relatively large aircraft models with a wing span of almost three metres.

To generate an airflow at extremely high speeds, the researchers will detonate several tubes containing a mixture of oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen gases for a series of explosions that could discharge one gigawatt of power within a split second, according to Zhao.

This is more than half of the total power generation capacity of the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in Guangdong.

The shock waves, channelled into the test chamber through a metallic tunnel, will envelope the prototype vehicle and increase the temperature over its body to 8,000 Kelvins, or 7,727 degrees Celsius, Zhao said.

That is nearly 50 per cent hotter than the surface of the Sun.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit Daci'en Temple on May 14, 2015 in Xi'an, China. Sheng Jiapeng | CNSPHOTO | VCG | Getty Images

If you go by official Indian government figures, Chinese direct investments into the country this century hit a paltry $1.6 billion in March 2017. That's a weak showing compared to President Xi Jinping's 2014 promise to spend $20 billion over five years in India, one of the fastest growing Asian economies. But while there's yet to be big bang investments accompanied by political fanfare, the Chinese have steadily and quietly been investing in Indian companies over the past few years. In fact, people in India who work closely with Chinese businesses estimate that China's investments into the country could be at least five times greater than official numbers. "Chinese investments have doubled in the last two years. I have no reason to doubt that it will not continue as they have already tasted blood. If you are a Chinese company today with a limitless amount of capital and you look at the whole world and ask 'where is the big bet you can play?' the answer is India," said Santosh Pai, a partner at Link Legal, a law firm with offices throughout India. For his firm, Chinese clients are the growth drivers, and since 2011 he has helped about 150 of them get a foothold in the Indian market. Typically, investments come in from Chinese-owned companies based in the U.S., Singapore or elsewhere in the world, and therefore cannot be classified as "Chinese" investments. Also, official data only tracks investments made by companies based in mainland China and not even those out of Hong Kong and Macau, experts said.

Low key, high returns

While businesses are happy to get Chinese money, it is in no one's interest to publicise those investments given the history of Indo-China relations. The two countries have fought a war and have regular skirmishes on their shared border. "If a Chinese company says, 'We have entered the Indian market,' they will attract more scrutiny. If Indian companies say, 'We have Chinese investors,' they may lose some goodwill. It is not a conspiracy to hide these things, but the question is: Who does it benefit to stand on the roof and shout out?" Pai told CNBC. A case in point is the recent investment of $1.1 billion by Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group for a 74 percent stake in India's Gland Pharma. The Chinese major that had struck a deal in July last year to buy an 86 percent stake in the Indian generic injectable drugmaker, reduced its stake size in a bid to save the stalled deal. The deal had raised concerns among some in the Indian government, Reuters reported. India allows foreign investment of up to 100 percent in its pharmaceutical sector, anything above 74 percent requires government clearance. "Investments that are not administered or influenced by government perception are pouring in," Aravind Yelery, assistant director at the New Delhi based Institute of Chinese Studies, told CNBC. "The Indian state governments are wary of the Chinese, so they are now doing [mergers and acquisitions] and [joint ventures] in the private sector. No mainstream, huge infrastructure investments."

Boosting start-up morale

Instead, Chinese investors are coming into India with bite-sized deals of as little as $1 million for start-ups. The big spenders on that front have included Tencent and Alibaba . The two have invested $1.2 billion and $650 million, respectively, in venture capital and private equity deals over the past two years, according to data from tracking firm Venture Intelligence. That influx of funds has had a notable result in the Indian start-up community. "The Chinese are boosting morale. There is a sudden change in the perception of Indian investors as well. If the Chinese are putting money into Indian start-ups, so will I, is the feeling," said Rishabh Lawania, co-founder of Xeler8, a start-up bought by a Chinese fund in January this year. Xeler8 was a data mining company, but after the buyout it functions as a venture capital fund and incubator for start-ups. "The Chinese are here with deep pockets. It is not uncommon for them to write a million dollar check for a first stage investment. An Indian angel investor is not going to do that. He will invest one fourth that amount," said Sunil Kalra, a veteran investor in Indian start-ups. About $3.5 billion has been invested in companies less than 10 years old so far in 2017, according to Venture Intelligence. The Chinese have contributed a little less than 10 percent of that.

watch now
Express Scripts , the largest pharmacy benefits manager in the U.S., has struck a deal with a Bay Area start-up to better treat patients with chronic respiratory problems.

The start-up, called Propeller Health, has an FDA-approved set of apps and tools for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, such as a connected inhalers that are synced up to a user's smartphone.

The idea behind the program is to help patients avoid over-using their so-called "rescue inhalers," which could worsen symptoms over time, and to make sure they don't neglect their controller medications that can be taken at anytime to prevent flare-ups. Essentially, it's about saving money by helping patients prevent bad and expensive outcomes, like trips to the emergency room.

Propeller also provides insight into other factors that might make symptoms worse for people with these conditions, like weather changes. And as part of the deal, Express Scripts has said it will provide dedicated pharmacists to support patients by reviewing the data and providing real-time feedback.

The companies plan to launch the service to patients enrolled in Express Scripts' Pulmonary Care Value Program in early 2018.

The goal is to make a dent in the estimated $1.3 billion annual cost of treating asthma and COPD, said Express Scripts' chief innovation officer Glen Stettin.

It's unclear how many patients will sign up to the program, he said, but about 5 million are eligible -- and about 12 to 15 percent of those are likely afflicted with one of these conditions. So it could be as many as 750,000 people.

This partnership comes at a time when many suspect that Amazon will someday compete with Express Scripts and other pharmacy benefits managers, as it moves into the multibillion dollar pharmacy market. Express Scripts sits between payers, like employers, and the rest of the health system, and will negotiate prices with drug manufactures.

Some believe that Amazon can undercut this set of companies, automate processes and ultimately bring down drug prices.

But Express Scripts, which currently counts Amazon as a customer, said the timing is purely coincidental. "Considering that we've been working on this for the past three years, I wouldn't say it's related to any recent news events," said Stettin.

Express Scripts CEO Tim Wentworth has also stressed that becoming a pharmacy benefits manager is "a lot more than dispensing drugs," and therefore, it has a strong position in the market.

Both companies declined to share the financial terms of the deal. But they did say that Express Scripts will pay Propeller as patients start to use its offering, rather than the insurers themselves.

The partnership is part of a broader trend of insurance companies, employers and pharmacy benefits managers looking for ways to reduce health costs by leveraging digital tools from Silicon Valley companies, like apps and sensors. Propeller is one of a small group of start-ups that refer to themselves as "digital therapeutics," meaning they use technology to augment or replace traditional medicines.

"Through this partnership we're getting to a size and scale we haven't before," said Propeller Health CEO David Van Sickle.
A Leonardo da Vinci painting sold for more than $450 million on Wednesday, according to auction house Christie's, which said that it topped a world record for any work of art sold at an auction.

Christie's tweet

The painting, called "Salvator Mundi," Italian for "Savior of the World," is one of fewer than 20 paintings by Leonardo known to exist and the only one in private hands. It was sold by Christie's auction house, which didn't immediately identify the buyer.

The highest price ever paid for a work of art at auction had been $179.4 million (152 million euros), for Picasso's "Women of Algiers (Version O)" in May 2015, also at Christie's in New York. The highest known sale price for any artwork had been $300 million (253 million euros), for Willem de Kooning's "Interchange," sold privately in September 2015 by the David Geffen Foundation to hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin.

Christie's says most scholars agree that the painting is by Leonardo, though some critics have questioned the attribution and some say the extensive restoration muddies the work's authorship.
Technological developments are having an impact on banking, even though the finance sector won't be revolutionized by automation just yet, the chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley said on Thursday.

The much-discussed increase in automation was just one of the "evolutions" taking place in the financial sector, James Gorman, chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley , told CNBC. He cited the digital transformation and increased prevalence of cryptocurrencies as examples of other developments in his space.

"[A]ll of the evolutions that are taking place in our sector ... [are] coming at us not in onesies and twosies, but these are five or six major forces of work in the sector," Gorman said.

Despite that, Gorman expressed confidenec that the financial sector would not be completely changed by automation just yet.

"In terms of industries that are going through massive transformation from automation, I wouldn't put banking at the top of the list," he said.

Other top executives in the field, such as Deutsche Bank CEO John Cryan, have warned in the past that technology will result in plenty of banking jobs becoming obsolete as automation replaces roles once occupied by people.

Gorman, however, said that, while retail branches of banks could face those issues, Morgan Stanley was in a different position.

With its focus on the institutional and high net worth wealth management business, automation alone would not be able to completely substitute employees at Morgan Stanley, he said.

"A lot of what we do in finance is very sophisticated and requires human intellect and judgement, so I'm not at a point where I think the whole thing is being transformed," Gorman explained.
Four previously unknown women came forward on Wednesday to allege that they were the targets of disturbing sexual advances by Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore.

The four new allegations come in the wake of two separate allegations from women who said that Moore sexually assaulted them when they were teenagers. Another three women have described how Moore pursued romantic relationships with them while they were teens and he was in his early 30s.

Moore has so far denied all the allegations, calling them a politically motivated witch hunt staged by Democrats and establishment Republicans. The new allegations Wednesday were reported by two separate outlets, The Washington Post, which published two of the accounts, and AL.com, which published another two.

Moore has yet to directly address any of the four new accounts, although his campaign told the Washington Post in a statement on Wednesday, "If you are a liberal and hate Judge Moore, apparently he groped you. If you are a conservative and love Judge Moore, you know these allegations are a political farce."

Speaking to the Post, Alabama resident Gena Richardson recalled how Moore first started pursuing her at the Gadsden Mall in Gadsden, Ala., during her senior year of high school, when he was 30 years old.

When Richardson wouldn't give him her number, she says Moore called her high school, where the principal pulled her out of trigonometry class to answer his phone call. She said the two eventually went to a movie, after which Moore offered to drive Richardson to her car.

From the Post:

She says he parked by her car and began chatting with her, and she says she told him again about her dad. "I just explained to him that my dad's a minister, and you know, I just can't sneak around because that's wrong," she recalls. "So I thanked him and started to get out and he grabbed me and pulled me in and that's when he kissed me. "It was a man kiss  like really deep tongue. Like very forceful tongue. It was a surprise. I'd never been kissed like that," she says. "And the minute that happened, I got scared then. I really did. Something came over me that scared me. And so I said, 'I've got to go, because my curfew is now.'"

Another woman, Becky Gray, worked in a different part of the mall, and also recounted to the Post how Moore made her feel uncomfortable:

She says Moore kept asking her out and she kept saying no. "I'd always say no, I'm dating someone, no, I'm in a relationship," says Gray, now 62, a retired teacher and a Democrat who supports Moore's opponent in the Senate race. "I thought he was old at that time. Anyone over 22 was just old." Gray says he was persistent in a way that made her uncomfortable. She says he lingered in her section, or else by the bathroom area, and that she became so disturbed that she complained to the [store] manager, Maynard von Spiegelfeld. Gray says he told her that it was "not the first time he had a complaint about him hanging out at the mall." Von Spiegelfeld has since died, according to a relative.

In addition to Gray and Richardson, two other accounts were published on Wednesday in AL.com, one of Alabama's leading news sites. The first woman, Tina Johnson, said Moore groped her at his law office in 1991, where he was handling a custody matter for her. Johnson was 28 and married at the time.

From AL.com

According to Johnson, [Moore] asked questions about her young daughters, including what color eyes they had and if they were as pretty as she was. She said that made her feel uncomfortable, too. Once the papers were signed, she and her mother got up to leave. After her mother walked through the door first, she said, Moore came up behind her. It was at that point, she recalled, he grabbed her buttocks. "He didn't pinch it; he grabbed it," said Johnson. She was so surprised she didn't say anything. She didn't tell her mother.

The fourth woman, Kelly Harrison Thorp, said Moore asked her out in 1982, when she was 17 and he was in his 30's. At the time, she said, she worked as a hostess at the Red Lobster restaurant in Gadsden, Ala.

From AL.com:

Thorp said Moore asked her if she'd go out with him sometime. "I just kind of said, 'Do you know how old I am?'" she recalled. "And he said, 'Yeah. I go out with girls your age all the time.'" Thorp said she turned him down and told him she had a boyfriend. She said he then walked away.

Wednesday's new allegations came after a week that has upended the race for a Senate seat in a state long considered a safe Republican stronghold.

In Washington, Senate Republicans led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have denounced Moore, calling him unfit to serve in the United States Senate, and threatening to remove him from the upper chamber if he is elected in the Dec.12 special election.

President Donald Trump has yet to weigh in on the allegations personally, save for a statement from White House press secretary nearly a week ago, saying that if the initial allegations were true, that Moore would "do the right thing" and step aside in the race.

Moore, meanwhile, shows no signs of stepping aside. On the contrary, he has remained steadfast in his denials, insisting that he has never acted inappropriately with any women. If he did date teenagers while he was in his 30s, then he does not remember doing so, Moore told conservative commentator Sean Hannity in an interview last week.

In that same interview, Moore emphasized that he never took any "young ladies" out without first getting their mothers' permission.
Detained Azerbaijani businessman Reza Zarrab (C) is surrounded by journalists as he arrives at a police center in Istanbul on December 17 ,2013.

The release of a well-connected Turkish-Iranian businessman from federal prison in New York earlier this month could signal a new phase in the ongoing investigation into former White House national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has expressed interest in a December 2016 meeting between Flynn and representatives of the Turkish government, in which Flynn was reportedly offered $15 million to deliver a political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from the United States to Turkey. Flynn denies the allegations and his attorney has called them "outrageous."

According to NBC News, citing three sources, the probe is also investigating whether Flynn discussed ways to free Reza Zarrab, a wealthy gold trader with dual Iranian and Turkish citizenship and personal ties to Erdogan. Zarrab was indicted in 2015 in federal court for allegedly circumventing U.S. sanctions on the Iranian regime by facilitating millions of dollars worth of unlawful transactions. He was set to go on trial in New York later this month.

The Daily Beast reported Thursday that Zarrab was removed from the Metropolitan Correctional Center, a federal facility in New York City, though a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office said Zarrab remained in federal custody.

The Bureau of Prisons inmate locator shows that Zarrab was released Nov. 8, three days after NBC News reported that the special counsel had enough evidence to bring charges against Flynn.

A spokesperson for the special counsel declined to comment.
Check out the companies making headlines after the bell on Thursday:

Shares of 21st Century Fox surged more than 6 percent after the bell. Comcast has approached the New York-based mass media company to express interest in buying major assets, sources say. This news comes after weeks of highly publicized talks of mergers and acquisitions in the media sector. Most recently, Fox executive were in talks to sell most of the company to Disney.

Shares of Ross Stores surged more than 7 percent after the bell Thursday. The "off-price" clothing and home goods retailer posted third quarter earnings and revenue that blasted past Wall Street expectations. Executives also increased guidance for the full year and quarter ahead.

Gap shares climbed more than 7 percent after the bell Thursday, after the retail company beat on third quarter earnings and saw their third straight quarter of same-store sales growth. Given Gap's performance, executives raised guidance for both the holiday season and the year ahead.

Applied Materials stock rose 2 percent in extended trading, following a 3.7 percent gain during the regular session. The semiconductor production company posted earnings and revenue that beat Wall Street expectations.

Shares of Williams a nd Sonoma plunged more than 7 percent in extended trading, after the high end home and kitchen outfitter posted earnings that just missed analyst expectations, and announced a deal to buy a 3D imaging and augmented-reality company. Sales suffered from an estimated $7 million in losses from hurricane damages, and bad publicity throughout the year stemming from pricing and quality issues.
Sen. Ben Sasse has urged his fellow members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider the broad support for Omaha attorney Steve Grasz in Nebraska as they consider whether to recommend the Senate confirm his nomination to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Nebraskans of all partisan and ideological stripes have stood up in defense of Steve's nomination," Sasse said in a written statement filed with the committee.

The nomination by President Donald Trump has attracted wide national attention in the wake of the American Bar Association's assessment that Grasz is "not qualified" for the position, citing concerns about whether he could separate his personal views from his role as a judge.

Sasse said he was "shocked and disappointed" by the ABA rating.

Grasz's record, including his years as chief deputy attorney general in Nebraska, make his qualifications clear, Sasse said.

"But it is the breadth and depth of Steve's support from his fellow Nebraskans that make him stand out as a particularly impressive choice for this seat," the senator argued.

Sasse cited endorsements that included statements from former Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson and Deborah Gilg, who had been U.S. attorney for Nebraska under the Obama administration.

"When faced with the choice of whether to trust the ABA's completely unverifiable claims produced by its biased, black-box process, or the considered judgment of the hundreds of Nebraskans of all viewpoints and backgrounds who have taken a stand in support of Steve Grasz, there is no doubt in my mind that I trust my fellow Nebraskans," Sasse told the committee.
American Express and Santander have partnered with financial technology firm Ripple to speed up cross-border payments between the U.S. and the U.K. by using blockchain technology.

Payments made by American Express' business customers on its FX International Payments (FXIP) platform will now be routed through Ripple's enterprise blockchain network, RippleNet.

Blockchain  otherwise known as distributed ledger technology  allows vast amounts of data to be stored on a dispersed network of computers around the world, rather than on one centralized server.

It was originally used to record all bitcoin transactions but increasingly businesses are finding alternative uses for the technology, such as payments, trade finance and identity verification.

A number of other financial institutions have been experimenting with distributed ledger projects, including JPMorgan , UBS , Credit Suisse , Barclays and HSBC .

"This collaboration with Ripple and Santander represents the next step forward on our blockchain journey, evolving the way we move money around the world," Marc Gordon, executive vice president and chief information officer at American Express, said in a statement Thursday.

American Express' blockchain project will initially allow customers in the U.S. to connect instant, traceable cross-border non-card payments to U.K. Santander bank accounts.

"This blockchain solution opens up a new channel between the U.S. and the U.K. and presents significant opportunity for payments globally", Jose Luis Calderon, global head of global transaction banking at Santander, said in a statement Thursday.
Baidu's Raven H smart home speaker comes with an LED display touch controller that can be detached from the base of the device and used independently to voice control other Raven compatible devices.

Chinese internet search giant Baidu on Thursday introduced a speaker and two robots as part of its Raven series in a serious push into the highly competitive smart home market.

The products, introduced at the Baidu World conference in Beijing, are powered by the company's DuerOS conversational artificial intelligence technology. That system is similar to virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa, the Google Assistant and Microsoft's Cortana.

The smart speaker is called Raven H and will be available for purchase in December for about 1,699 yuan ($256). Design-wise, the speaker looks like a stack of thin, colored square blocks and it comes with a touch-sensitive light-emitting diode (LED) display controller.

The controller can be detached from the speaker base and used as a voice-powered remote for all Raven-compatible smart home devices.

The speaker was designed by Raven Tech, a start-up that Baidu acquired in February, and Swedish consumer electronics manufacturer Teenage Engineering. It also has components from Danish high-end audio systems maker Tymphany.

The DuerOS allows the device to carry out other voice-based commands and tasks such as looking up information, playing music and hailing a taxi, according to Baidu.

The idea behind the Raven H is to make the interaction between man and machine as seamless as possible, according to Jesse Lyu, the founder of Raven Tech, who joined Baidu's intelligent hardware unit as general manager.

"Its adjustable design lets its [users] move through their home or workspace, while remaining connected to both the Raven H system and their personal world," Lyu said in a statement.

That said, the Raven H will face stiff competition in the smart home speaker market, which according to Strategy Analytics, is currently dominated by Amazon.

Baidu also introduced the Raven R, a multi-jointed robotic arm that can move in response to user commands and to express emotions.

A second robot  still in development  is Raven Q, which will eventually incorporate various technologies, such as simultaneous localization and mapping, computer vision, voice recognition and natural processing.

Baidu did indicate any pricing or availability details for the Raven R and Raven Q robots in the announcement.

"Each product in our new Raven series is integrated with Baidu's latest AI technologies, including facial recognition, computer vision and even our Apollo autonomous driving technology," Lyu told the conference audience.

"These smart speakers and AI home robot may sound like a small step in the history of technology  but they will help people's everyday lives and bring them an experience once only seen in sci-fi movies," Lyu said.
Republicans passing a tax reform bill would be nice for stocks, but strong earnings are really what will take the market higher, closely followed strategist Bob Doll told CNBC on Thursday.

Tax reform "is important, but it's not the whole ball game," said Doll, Nuveen Asset Management's chief equity strategist. "The ball game is earnings. And earnings have kind of been off the charts. And that's why stocks have gone up 40 percent in the last 20 months."

U.S. stocks were higher on Thursday after falling in their previous two sessions. The Dow rose more than 150 points after Dow components Cisco and Wal-Mart reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings.

"Yeah, the tax bill would be icing on the cake, no doubt about it," Doll told "Squawk Box." "I think Republicans know if they don't do something it is a political suicide."

The Senate unveiled their tax reform plan last week, and the House is expected to vote on their version of the bill later on Thursday. On Wednesday, GOP Sen. Ron Johnson said he would not back the Senate plan in its current form. Republicans hold only a two-seat majority in the Senate, so the GOP has little margin for defections because Democrats are uniformly opposed to the plan.

"They have to come together," Doll said. "If it's a simpler bill, watered down from what it is ... and the president will sign whatever comes across his desk."

Doll predicts the plan will take some "tinkering" and Republican lawmakers won't pass a bill until next year. "I don't think anything happens this year. A lot of noise," he said. "They can't lose too many votes."

Regarding the market, Doll said there will be some down months along the way, but believes, "we're shifting from a gallop-higher market to a grind-higher market." The bull market is not over, he added, because "the earnings environment is still good."
A year ago, China accounted for 90 percent of all bitcoin trade. But since Beijing banned initial coin offerings (ICOs) and regulators started to crackdown on bitcoin exchanges in September, another Asian powerhouse has swooped in to embrace the crypto movement.

Japan recognized bitcoin as a legal form of payment earlier this year, and bitcoin trade in the country now accounts for about half the volume of global trade, compared with about a quarter in the U.S.

Now big retailers are joining the movement, as the cryptocurrency's legalization has encouraged them to partner with bitcoin exchanges and begin accepting the digital currency as payment.

There's already more than 4,500 stores in Japan that let you pay with bitcoin, and the Nikkei says that number could increase fivefold by the end of the year.
A copper factory in Nantong, China. VCG | Getty Images

Chinese traders on the Shanghai Futures Exchange are increasingly influencing the price for copper, rather than on the London Metal Exchange, analysts say. "We're seeing the center of gravity in the metals pricing shift to China," said Dane Davis, commodities research analyst at Barclays. China accounts for nearly half of the world's consumption of copper, according to Reuters. While traders for years have looked at Chinese data as an indicator on future copper demand, pricing typically followed trading in copper futures contracts from the London Metal Exchange and Chicago-based CME . In the last three years, analysts said increased trading activity on the Shanghai Futures Exchange has made it more and more important for global markets. The Shanghai market also has a timing advantage, since it begins the trading day ahead of London and Chicago. "LME is the global benchmark, but the Shanghai center [has] increasing input in how the LME price trades," said Colin Hamilton, managing director, commodities research at BMO Capital Markets. Asia metals trading is growing so rapidly for CME, the world's largest futures exchange, that it is planning to launch on Nov. 20 a futures contract settled against spot copper prices in Shanghai. CME said its contract will be the first financial settled exchange-traded futures product for hedging exposure to Chinese copper.

A rising competitor

"We believe this new contract, which will complement CME Group's existing physically delivered benchmark COMEX copper futures, will become a reference price for copper traded in or delivered to China," Young-Jin Chang, executive director of metals products and global head of metals at CME Group, said in a statement. Year-on-year trading volume in CME's copper futures contract is up 31 percent, while that of the LME is down 7 percent, Chang told CNBC. On Thursday, open interest for copper was greatest on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, at 125,994, followed by CME's COMEX at 96,023 and 84,215 on the LME, according to Thomson Reuters data. Copper has surged more than 22 percent this year, to a three-year high, as traders have bet on greater demand from China. More from Global Investing Hot Spots:

Trump's China trip is a test for US natural gas exports and his 'America First Energy Plan'

World capital of blockchain is now rising in the Middle East

Surging Japan ETFs ride new tailwind In a sense, China already has business control of LME. In 2012, Hong Kong's stock exchange and futures market operator HKEX acquired LME for 1.4 billion pounds ($2.2 billion at the time). LME's parent HKEX said trading volume comparisons between base metals exchanges "can be misleading," since LME volumes come mostly from the physical market, while mainland Chinese volume comes mostly from retail traders and Chinese hedge funds. Already in July, Citi analyst Tracy Xian Liao noted in a report that "Activity in Chinese commodity futures markets has exploded over the past three years, and should keep expanding over the next few years, with Beijing set on China playing a larger role in global price discovery." Liao noted that total open interest in local Chinese commodities futures exchanges nearly doubled from around $155 billion in 2014 to $265 billion at the end of this past June. Source: Citi Some are trying to tap into the Shanghai market in order to tap into the arbitrage, or price difference, opportunities in all three markets. London-based Arion Investment Management, which launched a Raptor Commodities Fund in late October, is working to gain access to the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which will likely occur sometime in 2018, according to founder Gerardo Tarricone, formerly of Morgan Stanley.

Chasing a hot sector
The stock rose about 5 percent Thursday after about a dozen Wall Street analysts listed in FactSet raised their earnings expectations for Cisco going forward.

Cisco also said it expects 1 percent to 3 percent year-over-year revenue growth next quarter, the first inkling of an increase after 8 quarters of declines.

That's the same earnings-per-share figure as Cisco reported this time last year, although last year's first-quarter revenue was higher, at $12.4 billion.

Cisco's profit margins were pressured by higher pricing and legal settlements, but sales were boosted by the company's growing security business and subscription software. The company is investing in long-term growth and profits, Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kramer said in a statement. Cisco has made several recent acquisitions and is working on a hybrid cloud project with Google .

Daniel Ives, chief strategy officer and head of technology research at GBH Insights, said he expects Cisco to make more significant acquisitions in emerging businesses like security and cloud.

"You've seen the transition there, more of a subscription-model, software approach," Ives told CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Wednesday evening, after the earnings report was released. "They're starting to make that shift to a more software-centric model .... That sort of transformation starting to happen, I think investors have something to hang their hat on here."
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt delivers a video message during the Heartland Institutes America First Energy Conference in Houston, Texas. Tom DiChristopher | CNBC

HOUSTON  Clips of President Donald Trump extolling the virtues of fossil fuels played over a bed of soaring music, in the well-appointed hotel ballroom, as images of coal miners and the Statue of Liberty flashed across the screen. When the video came to a close, the audience erupted in applause and the conservative energy conference began. But over the next 12 hours of panels and speeches, one thing quickly became clear: The organizers and audience were not satisfied with the nation's flight from the frontlines of climate change under Trump. They want him to retreat much further, much faster. The movement, deeply skeptical of climate change and influential in the White House, reaffirmed its vow to keep pressure on the president to finish dismantling his predecessor's legacy and reshape the Environmental Protection Agency. About 250 members of the movement last week attended the conservative Heartland Institute's America First Energy Conference, named for Trump's broad energy plan. They gathered to celebrate and take stock of Trump's progress rolling back Obama-era regulations and his blueprint for achieving U.S. "energy dominance."

We need to support everything that the Trump administration is doing that's moving toward less regulation and more freedom, and we need to oppose them when they start going bad and the swamp starts taking over. Myron Ebell former leader of President Trump's EPA transition team

Two big objectives

Perhaps the biggest goal is overturning the EPA's endangerment finding, a 2009 determination that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. A 2007 Supreme Court ruling that classifies greenhouse gases as pollutants obligates the EPA to regulate them. Conservatives believe rescinding the endangerment finding is the key to further deregulation and worry rollbacks currently underway will stall unless EPA overturns the determination. Pruitt has so far declined to take up the issue, which would require the EPA to challenge the scientific evidence the agency marshaled before he assumed office. The Heartland Institute dedicated a conference panel to discussing pathways that would make it possible for Pruitt to scrap the finding.

watch now

Another objective that loomed large over the conference was shrinking the EPA's footprint. Heartland proposes replacing the EPA with a committee that represents the 50 state-level agencies responsible for environmental protection within their borders. David Stevenson, another former EPA transition team member, advocates closing the EPA's 10 regional offices, which would allow the agency to lay off thousands of employees. Both efforts appear unlikely. The Trump administration proposed slashing the EPA's budget by nearly a third, but Congress has largely shielded the agency, which supports jobs and economic activity at the state and local level. But the movement is also focused on measures that would handcuff the EPA in its current form. Stevenson, a fellow at the free market think tank Caesar Rodney Institute, says the EPA should no longer seek to improve air quality and instead focus on maintaining the current quality. He claims bureaucrats want to identify new pollutants to regulate so they can maintain the status quo. Steve Milloy, an author who runs the climate denial website junkscience.com, laid out an eight-point plan to reform the EPA. His proposals include requiring Congressional approval and judicial review of major EPA regulations. Milloy, also an EPA transition team member, lauded Pruitt's decision to ban scientists who receive EPA grants from serving on the agency's science advisory panels. Critics contend the rule was engineered to sweep away qualified scientists and clear spots for industry-friendly members that Pruitt has appointed to the boards.

Conservatives' work not done

In the coming years, the movement will push Trump to completely scrap fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles, which the president has only sought to scale back. It also wants to wipe out subsidies for renewable energy that the Republican tax plan merely seeks to reduce. Conservatives will continue efforts to get rid of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires oil refiners and importers to blend biofuels like ethanol into gasoline and diesel. Under pressure from agriculture state lawmakers, the EPA under Trump has kept it in place. The Heartland Institute also wants the White House to establish a council on climate change that would conduct a review to justify "dramatically" reducing government funding for climate change research. They would also require the remaining funds to be split evenly for studying man-made and naturally occurring climate change.

Myron Ebell Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images
MEzairi Artworks | Moment | Getty Images

The world we live in would look a whole lot different without electricity. If humans had not found a way to harness and exploit its potential, everything from today's cell phones and televisions to traffic lights and tablets wouldn't exist. Here, CNBC takes a look at electricity: what it actually is, why it's so important, and how it impacts the environment.

The basics

Electricity can be described as "the flow of electrical power," as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) puts it. The DOE classes electricity as a secondary energy source that is produced by the "conversion of primary sources of energy." These primary sources include everything from fossil fuels to wind and solar.

The uses

"Electricity is the backbone of our society," Peter Palensky, from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, told CNBC. "Health, transport, food, information: all of that relies on electricity nowadays." The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says that U.S. electricity consumption amounted to around 3.85 trillion kilowatt hours last year. To put things in perspective, the EIA said that electricity use in 2016 was "13 times greater" than in 1950. Breaking the figures down further, the EIA estimates that "space cooling"  in other words, air conditioning  was the single biggest use of electricity in the U.S. residential sector. In the U.S. commercial sector, the EIA estimates that refrigeration was "the largest single end use" of electricity.

The grid

As we've seen, a number of sources can generate electricity. Getting it to customers so that they can watch TV and freeze food requires the use of a grid, a crucial part of infrastructure. The DOE describes the grid as an "interconnected group of power lines and associated equipment."



It's used to move electric energy at "high voltage between points of supply" and points where it is either delivered to other electric systems or "transformed to a lower voltage" and sent to consumers. The scale of grids is considerable. To give one example, the U.K.'s National Grid  which operates the electricity transmission network in England, Wales and Scotland  says its networks are made up of approximately 4,474 miles of overhead line, 932 miles of underground cable, and 342 substations.

The impact
Facebook hoping to court more video creators to its platform with the launch of a new app.

The Facebook Creator App will make it easier for users to create original video and livestreams via their mobile devices. It will also give them new tools, including the ability to add intros or outros to live broadcasts, different camera effects, and designed frames around videos. Users will also have access to data and analytics about their videos. Facebook first announced plans to launch an app for creators at in June.

The company is also introducing a hub where video creators can learn more about creating video for Facebook as well as get questions answered. Website members will also be considered for early access to new video features.

"To help creators grow on Facebook, it's important that we continue building tools for them to be successful, which is why I'm really excited about two new updates launching today for creators," Facebook vice president of product Fidji Simo said on her Facebook page. "We're rolling out a new app that will be a one-stop shop for creators of all sizes, which will let creators easily make original videos, go live with exclusive features, and connect with their community on Facebook. We've also launched a new website dedicated to providing creators with inspiration, support, and education."

Facebook has been attempting to get more people and companies to move their videos to its platform. It introduced a hub for original shows called Watch in August and added ways to monetize video like ads that play in the middle of livestreams earlier this year. It also allows users to have sponsored content.

However it has yet to widely roll out the ability to add commercials to all videos like its competitor YouTube . Though today's announcement isn't related to allowing users to make money on their videos, it does make the path to creating content for the platform a lot smoother.
Mehmet Oz of ABC's The Dr. Oz show; Vicente Fox and Marta Fox, former President and First Lady of Mexico; Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL; and Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

watch now

While many in Silicon Valley focus on futuristic technology  ranging from cryptocurrency to drone delivery  a quiet movement is afoot among young entrepreneurs that have audacious ideas to change the world and help society. To help these start-ups take flight, the $25 million Kairos Fund was launched Thursday. It will provide $250,000 to $1 million in seed financing to fledglings, as well as management guidance to help scale up their business.

Ankur Jain of the Kairos Society at the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images

"The idea is to focus on key areas in need of disruption in the life cycle of all consumers: Student debt; affordable housing; child care; worker retraining and post-retirement living," said Ankur Jain, founder of Kairos, a global organization that is a peer-to-peer community of some 1,000 student entrepreneurs from 50 countries. It runs a fellowship program for top-flight entrepreneurs selected to address global issues. The new fund will help these aspiring innovators finance their big ideas. "We kept hearing from entrepreneurs in Kairos that they were getting frustrated with investors in Silicon Valley who were not interested in solving problems for people who need it most. That's why we decided to launch this fund," Jain said. He added, "We are in a critical juncture. If Silicon Valley ignores the challenges squeezing our youth and middle class there will be a backlash. A lot of the tech ventures being funded will actually hurt the workforce and people's livelihoods. We want to back founders that can rethink business models that leave everyday people financially strapped."

We are in a critical juncture, if Silicon Valley ignores the challenges squeezing our youth and middle class there will be a backlash. Ankur Jain co-founder and co-CEO of Kairos Society

The Kairos fund has an impressive board of directors that includes: Mark Thompson, CEO of The New York Times; Mehmet Oz of ABC's The Dr. Oz show; Ronan Dunne, president of Verizon Wireless; President Vicente Fox and Marta Fox, former President and First Lady of Mexico; Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL; Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics; Michael Dubin, founder of Dollar Shave Club and David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines.

"What caught my attention was how these 25 year-olds are not fearful to swing for the fences on shockingly big ideas," said Dr. Oz, a Wharton business school graduate and a surgeon who co-founded Sharecare, a health and wellness platform. "They are focusing on many of the big challenges not being addressed and left behind by major venture capitalists. It is exhilarating to mentor the next generation of leaders."

Dr. Mehmet Oz of ABC's The Dr. Oz Show is now a board member of the Kairos Fund Source: Dr. Oz

Oz said he will be focused on mentoring entrepreneurs tackling health care, elder and child care, all areas in need of new business models. "There are huge demographic shifts taking place in America that will radically determine our future. We need to focus on these really big challenges we face," he said.

The fund's first challenge: Making baby food without toxins
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services began releasing more details Wednesday about the lethal injection drugs it has on hand for a potential execution of death row inmate Jose Sandoval.

The department supplied limited information through a Freedom of Information Act request from the ACLU of Nebraska filed in late October.

Corrections Director Scott Frakes served notice to Sandoval last week of the lethal injection drugs that would be administered to cause his death if an execution takes place. That combination of drugs has never been used in an execution.

No request to the Nebraska Supreme Court for an execution warrant has been made, but could be made in 60 days from last week's notice.

The ACLU request detailed the inventory of drugs obtained by the department, a letter from Pfizer seeking the return of any diazepam or fentanyl the state might have in its possession, and letters sent in July and August to Frakes from the Association of State Correctional Administrators.

Those letters contained requests from Nevada and Mississippi departments of corrections asking other states to share specific lethal injection drugs and information.

The ACLU also obtained copies of the Nebraska department's controlled-substance registration certificate from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration, issued Sept. 19 and good for about a year.

The department has on hand twenty-five 2-milliliter units of fentanyl, which expire in July 2019; ten 10-milliliter units of diazepam, set to expire in July 2018; ten 20-milliliter units of cisatracurium, set to expire in October 2018; and twenty-five 30-milliliter units of potassium chloride, set to expire in August 2018.

Federal DEA inventory sheets show two units of cisatracurium were sent to a drug-testing laboratory in late October, and a unit of potassium chloride was sent for testing on Oct. 31.

A letter from Pfizer Vice President Robert Jones sent Oct. 4 informed the department that diazepam and fentanyl had been added to the company's list of restricted products from lethal injection for capital punishment. He requested the return of any Pfizer or Hospira products intended for that purpose.

"Pfizer makes its products to enhance and save the lives of the patients we serve," Jones said in the letter. "Consistent with these values, Pfizer strongly objects to use of its products as lethal injections for capital punishment."

It is unknown if the state purchased either of those drugs for that purpose from Pfizer.

Also among the documents obtained by the ACLU were two letters from departments of corrections in Mississippi, sent Aug. 7, and Nevada, sent July 28, that show the difficulties states are having obtaining lethal injection drugs.

Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Pelicia Hall was asking any states to supply pentobarbital, used in its three-drug protocol, or at least a contact for where it was purchased. Nevada wanted to obtain midazolam, hydromorphone sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride or pentobarbital.

Six of the requests for information to the Nebraska Corrections Department from the ACLU were not supplied Wednesday, the department saying it had no records responsive to the request. That included documents showing the use of public funds, or communications with the governor, his office, advisory committees or private political consultants, related to efforts to purchase the drugs.
Lloyd Blankfein, the head of Goldman Sachs, has come out in favor of a second vote on Britain's membership of the European Union.

In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Blankfein, an American, said that in the U.K. many chief executives were wanting a confirmation vote.

The Goldman boss said: "So much at stake, why not sure make consensus still there?"

Tweet 1

It isn't the first time that Blankfein has caused a stir over Brexit.

In October the Goldman chief hinted that London would lose out to the German city of Frankfurt as a financial center.

In the tweet, Blankfein said: "Just left Frankfurt. Great meetings, great weather, really enjoyed it. Good, because I'll be spending a lot more time there."

Just in case anyone missed the point, Blankfein ended the tweet with "#Brexit".

Tweet 2

Germany's Frankfurt and Paris, France, have both pushed themselves hard as a replacement location for London-based firms in the financial industry worried about the effect of Britain leaving the European Union.

In June, Goldman Sachs said it would "very probably" at least double its headcount in Frankfurt, where it currently employs 200 people.
The House Republican tax plan includes a $1.5 trillion corporate tax cut and a giant tax hike on graduate students. Tamar Oostrom, who is currently earning her Ph.D. in economics at MIT, has been crunching the numbers to determine how the current House Republican bill would affect the taxes paid by graduate students. "This bill would increase our tax by 300 or 400 percent. I think it's absolutely crazy," she tells NPR. "The past week this is what I've been talking about with other graduate students, with classmates. I think we're all shocked." Grad students like Oostrom often afford advanced degrees by earning a tuition waiver. In these instances, graduate students will work for the university by teaching classes and/or conducting research in exchange for free tuition. According to the American Council on Education, roughly 145,000 graduate students receive this kind of tuition reduction.

Sainaniritu | Getty Images

Some programs provide graduate students with a modest stipend for food and housing. For instance, Ryan Hill, a fourth-year Ph.D. student at MIT, receives a $30,000 living stipend and a tuition waiver allowing him to forego paying $50,000 in tuition. He currently pays taxes on his $30,000 stipend, but under the proposed House tax bill, his tuition waiver would also be taxed  meaning he would be taxed as if he was earning $80,000 a year. "I wish we didn't have to stress about money as much as we already do," Hill tells NPR. "It's been already very hard to just emotionally get through this time of life because we have to be so frugal." Hill, a former Republican and current Independent, says that he and his wife are saving money by eliminating their dental insurance and sewing clothes for their newborn baby.

Amanda Coston, a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon tells Wired reporter Robbie Gonzalez that her taxes would increase by almost 400 percent. Coston conducts research and teaches for the university in exchange for a $32,400 stipend and attends classes thanks to a tuition waiver worth $43,000. Under the proposed tax plan, her taxable income would increase from $32,400 to $76,234. "It was just such a shock," she tells Gonzalez. "It really changes the calculus on my finances. This suddenly makes a lot of things like rent, car payments, groceries, all that stuff, no longer affordable."
House Republicans on Thursday passed a monumental bill to cut taxes on businesses and individuals, the biggest step yet in the GOP's once-in-a-generation effort to overhaul the American tax system.

The tax reform plan passed the chamber with 227 votes in favor and 205 against.

To pass the bill, the House GOP had to overcome opposition from several of its members who live in high-tax blue states. Those lawmakers objected to the proposal's curb on popular state and local tax deductions.

The House plan would permanently chop the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent and make other tweaks aiming to make businesses more competitive. It would reduce individual tax brackets to four from seven and make changes to several tax breaks. Among them, the bill would limit state and local deductions and the mortgage interest deduction, eliminate the personal exemption and nearly double the standard deduction.

The vote marks a significant achievement as Republicans push to put a tax bill on President Donald Trump's desk by Christmas. Trump, who along with most congressional Republicans ran on a pledge to trim taxes, went to Capitol Hill to push GOP lawmakers to support the bill before the vote.

Later Thursday, Trump called the vote "a big step toward fulfilling our promise to deliver historic tax cuts for the American people by the end of the year."

The Senate version of the bill cleared the Finance Committee late Thursday night. Despite passage of the House bill Thursday, pitfalls await the party.

Senate Republicans hope to pass their own bill as soon as the week after Thanksgiving. One GOP senator  Ron Johnson of Wisconsin  opposes the chamber's bill as written.

Several other Republicans in the Senate, where the GOP holds a slim two-seat majority, have expressed doubts about the upper chamber's version. The budget deficits generated by chopping tax rates, the expiration of individual tax cuts in 2025, and the effective repeal of Obamacare's individual mandate could all turn into sticking points in the Senate plan.

Should the Senate GOP pass its bill, the two chambers will have to craft a joint plan before Congress can pass final legislation. Agreeing on legislation carries its own challenges, like raising the money to comply with Senate budget rules without alienating Republican lawmakers.

Complicating matters for the Senate is a Joint Committee on Taxation analysis released Thursday, which says that average taxes for all income groups would go up by 2027 after initially dropping under its plan.

The most significant difference between the chambers' plans is the treatment of state and local tax deductions. The Senate plan would eliminate those deductions entirely. The measure could alienate some House Republicans who voted for the chamber's bill that would allow up to $10,000 in property tax deductions.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan told CNBC that keeping some type of state and local deduction would be "necessary" to make sure middle-class taxpayers in high-tax states like New York, California and New Jersey get relief.

After the bill's passage, Rep. Dan Donovan, R-NY, told CNBC that he voted no because of the elimination of the ability to deduct state and local taxes.

"This is unfair to New Yorkers. I am in favor of reforming our tax code. It's over-burdensome, it's complex, it's unfair. But the one thing that we have to do is make sure that all Americans receive a tax cut," he said.

Donaovan said he believes New Yorkers "deserve the same break that the rest of America is going to get and not pay for the tax cut that the rest of the nation is going to see."

Before the vote on Thursday, four New York Republican lawmakers who announced they would oppose the House bill said they would fight to keep the deductions when they are debated in the conference committee.

Most Americans would see taxes reduced under the plan as passed by the House Ways and Means Committee, according to the Tax Policy Center. But roughly a quarter of Americans could have their taxes hiked by 2027, the analysis said.

The Republican plan is expected to get no Democratic support throughout the process. The party, which already criticized the GOP bill as a giveaway to the wealthy, got more fuel for its opposition when the Senate added the Obamacare individual mandate repeal to its bill.

Getting rid of the provision would lead to an estimated 13 million more people without health insurance by 2027, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Doing so could also hike health-care premiums for many Americans by about 10 percent, the CBO projected.

Republicans say their plan will trim the tax burden on the middle class and push businesses to create jobs and boost wages. The message, so far, has not resonated with voters, according to a recent public opinion poll.

Most Americans disapprove of the Republican tax plan, according to a Quinnipiac poll. A majority also believe it will help the rich at the expense of the middle class and say it will not lead to more jobs and better economic growth.

 CNBC's Christine Wang and Michelle Fox contributed to this report.
If you've been thinking about taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cuba, you haven't missed your chance. In June, President Donald Trump promised tougher travel restrictions for American visitors to Cuba, and on Nov. 9, those regulations went into effect. But while tighter rules may make it harder to visit, experts say it is still perfectly possible to enjoy a trip to the island's shores. Here's the deal: Tourist travel to Cuba has been banned by the U.S. embargo since 1962. (Authorized categories of travel are mostly for specific reasons, like family visits or journalistic activity.) But in 2014, during the Obama administration, regulations were loosened for Americans around a category called "people-to-people" travel, which requires an educational exchange element. Now, the regulations enacted by Trump once again restrict this category of travel for individuals, though it is permissible in group, according to CNBC. Trump also restricted Americans from doing business with 180 hotels, stores, marinas and other organizations that are associated with the Cuban military.

Havana, Cuba Danita Delimont | Getty Images

"Any American can legally travel to Cuba under the people-to-people category, they just have to now arrange their trip with an authorized [tour] company," Tom Popper, president of Insight Cuba, which books these kinds of trips, tells CNBC Make It. This will likely increase the cost of the trip, The New York Times reports. Still, it is a good option, and the group you travel with can be your friends or family. What's a people-to-people trip like? "On a typical day on a people-to-people trip, we might go on a walking tour of Old Havana, but when we go to Old Havana, we might go up to an artists' studio on the second story of a flat with a group and meet different people and learn about their style of art," Popper explains, which is not only interesting, but fulfills the requirement of activities dedicated to sharing culture between Americans and Cubans. Another example he gives is an afternoon spent meeting with the elderly or young children. Jose Pineda, the founder of travel agency AC Journeys, structures his people-to-people trips to Cuba the same way. A morning might be spent touring the city with an architect and, after lunch, the group "could see a dance troupe rehearse and have a conversation with the dancers about what it means to be a dance artist in Cuba," he explains. Insight Cuba offers package trips where the itinerary is set, but you can also create your own. AC Journeys also offers signature experiences or the ability to customize your trip. If you are planning to go your own way exploring Cuba, here are some unrestricted top Havanna spots to eat, drink and play that Popper and Pineda recommend.

Where to stay:

1. The Melia Cohiba Hotel

A recommendation from Popper, guests at the Melia Cohiba Hotel in Havana can find spa services, a fitness center and a large freshwater pool. According to Insight Cuba, the hotel is tended to by "an exceptional staff," and "boasts a cigar bar for connoisseurs (or amateurs wanting to feel like one)." 2. Hotel Parque Central

Popper also points to the Hotel Parque Central, which features sweeping rooftop views of the city. It is made up of two different buildings, a "colonial section and modern tower, linked by a stylish, underground tunnel. Both sections have independent lobbies, restaurants, and rooms," according to the hotel's website. The modern tower is described as sleek and contemporary, while the colonial side is traditionally Cuban. Both sides feature rooftop pools. The Kardashians were spotted in this hotel's lobby during their trip to the island. 3. The Hotel Nacional de Cuba

The Hotel Nacional de Cuba is another hot spot, and was recommended by both Popper and Pineda. "It has a great location, it is really in the heart of the city," Pineda says. "It is right on the water, so all of the rooms have beautiful views of the ocean as well as the landscape of the city." Vogue recommends the hotel too, and points to its glamorous history, citing visits from Frank Sinatra, Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, and Marlon Brando. The hotel opened in 1930, and Pineda does warn that the rooms were last updated in the 80's, but emphasizes the true Cuban charm.

What to eat:

1. Atelier

At Popper's recommendation, Havana travelers can venture to Atelier, a private restaurant located inside a home in the Vedado neighborhood. The ever-changing menu, photographed by diners as handwritten on paper, offers fresh seafood and beef. Restaurants operated from homes are common in Cuba, and are called "paladares." 2. El Cocinero

Pineda recommends El Cocinero for the atmosphere and sweet treats. "The food is great," he says. "I have been there just to have dessert and ordered three of the same dessert within an hour. They have a frozen chocolate tart that is to die for." 3. Le Chansonnier

Another of Pineda's picks, he describes this restaurant as more of a "white tablecloth" kind of place, with upscale courses featured on the menu, like terrine of duck, pork tartare and spare ribs.

Things to do:

Cuba is internationally known for cigars and rum. When the Kardashian clan visited Cuba in 2016, they found both at the Museo del Ron Havana Club. Located in the historic Old Havana area, the museum houses aging oak barrels of liquor in its cellars as well as "a real-time experience of the rum-making process," according to its website.
With a wave of sexual misconduct allegations hitting Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, Republicans in the upper chamber have largely withdrawn support for him and appear to be searching for a way to oust Moore if he is able to pull off a win in the December special election. Leadership is even threatening to expel him from the chamber by a two-thirds vote. A look at the paltry history of congressional expulsions suggests that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will have a real challenge if he is forced to go that route.

Only fifteen senators have been formally expelled from the Senate, and of those 14 were Civil War era members who were tossed for supporting the Confederacy. The only other expelled Senator was William Blunt from Tennessee way back in 1797 for treason. Since the Civil War, the Senate has held three separate votes on expelling members  for charges ranging from being a Mormon in 1909 to speaking in opposition to America's entry in WWI to conflict of interest. In each case, the Senate voted against expelling the member.

In lieu of expulsion, the Senate has managed to force members to resign when faced with serious ethical clouds or actual criminal convictions. McConnell himself was very active in the last two such efforts - Nevada Senator John Ensign (R) who resigned in 2011 following an investigation into conflict of interest charges during his cover-up of an affair, and Oregon Senator Bob Packwood (R), who resigned in 1995 before facing an expulsion vote for multiple sexual harassment charges.

The House of Representatives has a similar record with expulsions. Only two have been expelled for non-Civil War related reasons. In 2002, Representative James Traficant (D) in 2002 was kicked out following convictions of racketeering and bribery and Rep. Michael Myers (D), who was convicted in the Abscam sting.
Devin Shomaker, founder of Brooklyn-based Rooftop Reds, plans to become the first vinter to make a bottle of wine from rooftop-grown grapes. And he's betting that owning a bottle of Rooftop Red will be worth $1,000 to collectors.

New York City boasts some of the most expensive food and beverage items in the country, but when the $1,000 bottle of wine Devin Shomaker is vinting is ready, it will be known for more than just the price. The grapes are being grown on a rooftop in Brooklyn, New York, the first attempt ever in the world to create a commercially viable rooftop vineyard. Shomaker, the founder of Rooftop Reds, knows that Brooklyn is not where most people would expect a new wine-growing region to take shape. But he is betting that understanding the science of wine will lead to success in a nonconventional geography. "There is a whole mysticism around wine culture, but how many people know what vines need to grow and prosper? Viticulture management comes down to science, and that is what we are proving out on the rooftop," said Shomaker. Shomaker began studying viticulture in 2012 at Finger Lakes Community College in upstate New York, the largest wine-producing region in New York State. Even though he was surrounded by wine trails, lakes and waterfalls, Shomaker kept thinking of New York City. He wanted to do something that has become common in cities: open an urban winery.

Baby grapes being grown on a rooftop in Brooklyn. The first-ever rooftop vineyard brings the idea of urban agriculture to the wine industry. Rooftop Reds expects 30 cases of the bottles to be ready in 2019. Photo: Rooftop Reds

Urban wineries typically have the winemaking facility located in the city, but the grapes are sourced from existing wine regions. Within the last decade, Brooklyn has opened several successful wineries, including Red Hook Winery and Brooklyn Winery. But Shomaker envisioned something that went well beyond that business model: a Brooklyn vine making Brooklyn wine. He began teaching himself about urban agriculture. "I started getting into how people were developing container farms and raised-bed farms on rooftops," he said, and through his research discovered that no one had applied rooftop urban agriculture practices to growing grapes for wine. Before getting his degree in viticulture, Shomaker had built several businesses, including a swim school in China, and he had also worked for several start-ups in sales and marketing jobs. "All that experience culminated in saying, 'Hey, I'm going to go for this,'" Shomaker said. He founded Rooftop Reds while still enrolled in wine school. In addition to his full course load at Finger Lakes Community College, Shomaker worked in a grape vine nursery and in a wine cellar. By the time he graduated in 2014, Shomaker had pilot-tested the concept, raised thousands of dollars, secured a temporary lease and been written up in several local newspapers. "This is Entrepreneurial Hustle 101," he said. "That is what you have to do if you're an entrepreneur." As a student entrepreneur, the first skeptical audience he had to win over were his professors. "They knew I was investing money and time into making the business a reality. They knew I was traveling back and forth to Brooklyn. They knew I was meeting with leaders in urban wineries. They knew I was entering pitch competitions in New York City and applying for grant funding. It became clear that this was not a pipe dream," Shomaker said.

Finding space for his vineyard in New York City was another big challenge. Still a student, he pitched the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a 300-acre industrial park that is home to many small manufacturing companies and where he wanted to rent space on a building roof.



We are the first movers in the rooftop vineyard space, and we are four years ahead of anyone who tries to copycat us. Devin Shomaker Rooftop Reds founder

Shomaker, along with his brother Thomas and classmate Chris Papalia, had already conducted a pilot planting 50 grapevines on the roof of Thomas' apartment in Windsor Terrace. The grapes survived a New York winter, and he used that as part of his marketing effort. "I leveled with the Navy Yard. I told them I didn't have money but I had a plan to raise $15,000 on Kickstarter." The Navy Yard agreed to lease the land if he met his goal. Shomaker raised $16,820, and in the spring of 2014, he started a nursery vineyard in a temporary space on the roof of a Navy Yard building. More from iCONIC: The story behind Boston Beer's $200 bottle

The email pitch that got Mark Cuban's money

The coffee soda can that Whole Foods got hooked on Once he had the first grapes planted, Shomaker turned his attention back to money. He met with John Rodenhouse, the owner of award-winning Point of the Bluff Vineyards in upstate New York. "I was able to show him what I had put together. He could see the space at the Navy Yard and the grape vines. The fact that this was off the ground made it easy for him to say, 'This looks like it has merit.'" Rodenhouse invested $500,000 in the business. Once Rooftop Reds received the investment, it was able to move into a larger, permanent 14,800-square-foot rooftop space. The vineyard contains 42 planters, holds 168 grapevines and has sweeping views of New York City. Those views made the setting perfect for a tasting room.

Brooklyn-based Rooftop Reds plans to become the first premium vineyard to grow its own grapes on a roof. While waiting for its first bottles to be ready in 2019, it is generating revenue through a rooftop tasting room that features wine with grapes sourced from other New York State regions. Photo: Bryan Coppede
Former General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt said Thursday he regrets the company's practice of having an empty jet follow him on trips.

"It's a practice that, in retrospect, I wish we hadn't done," Immelt told Axios' Mike Allen at an event. (2:03 of video)

"It was never something I approved. I never talked to the guy in corporate air, really," Immelt said.

The Wall Street Journal reported in October that Immelt had an empty business jet follow his corporate plane on several trips around the world. The Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that the extra jet was utilized in case there were any mechanical problems with the one Immelt was in.

This was not a standard practice, sources familiar with the matter told CNBC at the time. The people said a second plane was kept on standby on the ground in certain locations while Immelt was visiting for security purposes or in case his GE-owned plane had mechanical issues. For example, this was done on some parts of a multistop trip in Africa and another trip that included Mexico.

Immelt told Allen that he stopped the company's practice "as soon as I found out about it."

When pressed about why he never noticed an extra plane, Immelt said it was not something he was paying attention to at GE.

"I never really thought about it, looked for it, knew what it was  I was totally focused on the job," Immelt added.

The practice was ended in 2014, sources said. At that time, Immelt changed the policy to use locally sourced planes. Those people familiar with the matter emphasized that this was done especially for added security after 9/11. Business-critical purposes, sources said, included time-sensitive meetings with leaders of countries.
Lawyers at the Supreme Court in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 14, 2017, ahead of a hearing on October 26's repeat presidential election.

Kenya's Supreme Court has until Monday to decide whether it will uphold last month's disputed presidential election result, a ruling that could put an end to the country's political crisis.

The East African country has witnessed two presidential elections in less than three months, following its judiciary ruling that August's disputed presidential vote be re-run. The second election, held October 26, saw incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta once again victorious with 98 percent of the vote  although less than 40 percent of Kenyan's electorate showed up at the polls.

Earlier in November, former lawmaker Harun Mwau filed a petition to the Supreme Court to overturn October's result on the premise that Kenya's electoral commission did not conduct fresh nominations for the vote. Hearings began this week.

In the unrest that followed the second election result, the opposition National Super Alliance encouraged its supporters to boycott several key companies in the country.

Communications firm Safaricom, which operates popular payment platform M-Pesa, as well as products by Brookside Dairies and consumer goods company Bidco Kenya, are all being targeted due to their ties to the government.

Safaricom declined CNBC's request for comment. Local press have reported M-Pesa's national chairman as saying that the boycott could result in the loss of 1 million jobs.

But Jacques Nel, senior economist at NKC African Economics, told CNBC that the companies targeted "have or are close to having monopoly positions," meaning that "Kenyans would really have to go out of their way to partake in the boycott." "I think the impact on the economy won't be that significant precisely because it would be very inconvenient and disrupt the daily lives of Kenyans," he added.
A North Korean soldier who staged a dramatic escape to South Korea may potentially have useful insights about dictator Kim Jong Un's administration.

The individual reportedly drove a vehicle near the military demarcation line  the border separating both Koreas  on Monday and proceeded to run towards the South Korean side, attracting a hail of gunfire from North Korean guards.

The man, who is currently on life-support at a hospital near Seoul, could have been a driver for a high-level North Korean official, the Chosun Ilbo, a major South Korean newspaper, reported on Thursday.
CEO Xiaochuan Wang and company Chairman Charles Zhang of China-based Sogou Inc ring the opening bell to celebrate their company's IPO at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, November 9, 2017.

The IPO market is heating up again, but some fatigue may be setting in.

Six IPOs are set to price Thursday night, one of the busiest days of the year. The most widely known of the new crop: e-commerce apparel darling Stitch Fix, and Enterprise Security firm Sailpoint Technology.

But signs of fatigue are starting to set in:

1) The Wall Street Journal reported a short while ago that Stitch Fix may have to lower the deal range from $18-$20, citing concerns about competition and the company's long-term growth prospects.

2) Three companies have postponed their IPO this week: Workspace Properties, a suburan office REIT, postponed on Monday. Last night MPM Holdings, a specialty chemical company, postponed (it already trades in the Pink Sheets), and Thursday morning Molino Canuelas, an Argentinian food company, also postponed. As usual, the dreaded "market conditions" are typically cited.

3) Several recent highly touted Chinese IPOs are trading below their IPO price. Consumer finance group PPDAI Group, search engine Sogou, and education firms Four Seasons and Rise Education were all trading below their IPO prices at the close yesterday.

Is the market starting to push back on the IPO rush?

"We had a pretty good run," Cindy Profaca, who tracks IPOs for IPFinancial, told me. Indeed, it's been a very active fall for IPOs. So far in 2017, there have been 144 IPOs, way ahead of the 105 at this time last year, according to Renaissance Capital.

As for the Chinese IPOs, Profaca noted that with more than a dozen that have gone public in the U.S. this year, "We have seen so many of them that are investors are becoming much more discerning when evaluating them."

She cited Chinese search engine Sogou, which priced at $13, well above the price talk of $10-$12. It broke below its IPO price yesterday and is trading near its initial price of $13 today.

She advises investors to be particularly suspicious of Chinese deals, due to problems with their finances in the past. In the initial rush of Chinese IPOs in the mid-2000s, many Chinese companies listing in the U.S. ended up being delisted when their financials did not meet accounting standards. "When I look at these financials, the first question I ask is, is this real?"

But Kathleen Smith, who tracks IPOs at Renaissance Capital and runs the IPO ETF (IPO), a basket of the most recent IPOs, says that this crop of IPOs is different: "This is not Internet bubble 2.0 - back then, 70 percent were unprofitable and many had no revenue at all."

She notes that eight of the twelve that have priced this year are profitable, and four of the twelve are backed by Alibaba or Tencent. Others are backed by notable venture capital firms.

If you want one IPO to take a look at that is pricing tomorrow, my choice is Sailpoint Technologies (SAIL), which is in the red-hot security space. It's well-known that some of the biggest security problems facing corporations are thieves using stolen credentials, or authorized users engaging in unauthorized activities, or former employees accessing the corporate network without permission.

Sailpoint works in a part of the security space known as identity and access management. Simply put, they track users on networks. They provide visibility into which users have access to resources, who should have access and how that access is being used.

Here's an extreme example: a couple months ago, a former Honeywell employee was arrested by the FBI. The man had been in charge of administering a satellite location tracking system for Honeywell that was used by government and corporate clients. The system could be used to track aircraft, vehicles, and vessels. The employee was fired, but apparently retained login credentials that enabled him to continue to access the satellite system. The man turned around and tried to sell access to the system to a Mexican drug cartel. Except the cartel turned out to be FBI undercover agents.

OK, it's an extreme case, but you get the point. Tracking who is authorized to get into your system--and at what level of access they are authorized for--is critical for network security. And Sailpoint plays in this space.
OMAHA  A year and a half after a jury said Gage County and two sheriffs deputies owed six people $28.1 million for time they spent in prison for another mans crime, an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel pelted the attorneys with questions.

The three judges will decide whether the verdict should stand or if the county should get a new trial, as its seeking, in the case that sought to hold investigators responsible.

Joseph White, Thomas Winslow and Ada JoAnn Taylor each spent nearly 20 years in prison before, in 2008, DNA testing confirmed Bruce Allen Smith, a lone drifter who by then had died in prison in Oklahoma, was to blame for Helen Wilsons brutal rape and murder in her Beatrice apartment in 1985.

James Dean, Kathleen Gonzalez and Debra Shelden each had served about five years in prison for the crime.

It is among the largest false-confession cases in the country.

Attorneys for the six say the lead investigator, Deputy Burt Searcey, recklessly tainted the investigation by feeding details of the crime scene to co-defendants, who feared facing the death penalty.

And they say a reserve deputy, Dr. Wayne Price, who worked with mentally fragile co-defendants, told at least two that details of the crime could come back to them in dreams. Soon after, they miraculously "remembered" the crime, said Jeff Patterson, an attorney for the six.

The six sued, saying the investigation had been so shockingly reckless that it violated their constitutional rights.

Last year, a jury in U.S. District Court in Lincoln agreed and awarded them $28.1 million.

In court Thursday, the complicated verdict, which included 60 questions, was under the microscope.

"This is a confusing set of verdicts, Judge Duane Benton said.

Jurors found Gage County liable for the reckless investigation, as well as Searcey, who since has retired, and Price.

But the jury also found there had been no conspiracy and said then-Gage County Sheriff Jerry DeWitt, who since has died, wasnt liable for anything.

In order to find the county responsible, by law, the jury had to find evidence of a conspiracy or that it had happened at the direction of a county policymaker.

"Tell us how we reconcile that, Benton asked Patterson.

Another of the judges, Bobby Shepherd, called the verdict "arguably inconsistent."

Patterson said the jurors were very careful in deciding the questions before it, and he believes they determined that DeWitts conduct was secondary.

The real cause of this was the conduct of the investigators, he said.

The county was liable because the sheriff had directed, authorized and accepted the conduct, even having read reports that didnt match up with the crime scene evidence, Patterson said.

At any point in time he couldve done exactly what the Beatrice police did and say none of this is adding up, he argued.

Attorney Melanie Whittamore-Mantzios, who represents Gage County, argued that the judges must narrow their path to what the jury found, which included the absence of a conspiracy.

Would negligence be enough? Benton asked her.

No, she argued; neither was it enough that he was reading reports.

DeWitt had to understand that a constitutional violation was taking place and agree to it, Whittamore-Mantzios said.

Where was the specific thing they did that was reckless? she asked, adding there was no indication Searcey or Price hid any evidence.

Patterson countered her argument.

Any reasonable officer in 1989 would know that you cannot frame six innocent individuals for a murder. And thats exactly what they did here, he said.

Patterson said they ignored every bit of clear evidence that exonerated White, Winslow and Gonzalez, and pressured extremely vulnerable individuals to go back to their cells and try to remember in dreams.

He said the information they later came up with bore no semblance to the facts, but the deputies ignored it and kept pressing forward to get their convictions.

They had gathered unreliable and false evidence recklessly without heed or concern in a death penalty case, Patterson argued.

On rebuttal, Patrick OBrien, another of Gage Countys attorneys, got the last word, saying Patterson didnt say what in particular DeWitt did to act as a policymaker, which would make the county liable.

The fact that there was no conspiracy makes a county verdict clearly inappropriate, he argued.

The judges  Benton, Shepherd and Jane Kelly  took the case under advisement and could rule sometime in the next six to eight weeks.

If it were sent back for a retrial it would be for the third time. The first ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked.

Outside the courtroom after arguments, current County Sheriff Millard Gustafson said he never had anything to do with the case and keeps his opinions about it to himself.

Regardless, he and the rest of Gage County's property owners are nervous about what happens if the $28.1 million verdict stands.

I just cant see how wed ever be able to afford that. Thats a concern of everybody, Gustafson said.

He said it would be devastating to the county and would affect how it does business.

I hate it for everybodys sake," Gustafson said, including for the Beatrice 6: Its just bad for everybody."
One of the key Democratic Party complaints about the GOP tax reform plan has been the argument that it doesn't do enough for small businesses and the middle class. And now we have a potential game-changer with Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson essentially joining in the same chorus and vowing he won't vote for the bill in its current form.

Johnson's main objection is the fact that the Republican tax reform bills in both the House and Senate do not cut tax rates as generously for smaller businesses that are taxed at so-called "pass-through" rates. To be specific, the current GOP tax reform bills in both houses of Congress slash the corporate rate from 35 to 20 percent. But sole proprietors, partnerships, and S-corporations currently taxed at individual income-tax rates as high as 39.6 percent, would only see a reduction to 25 percent in the House bill and an even smaller reduction in the current Senate version.

A report surfaced Wednesday that the Senate GOP will make further changes to the "pass-through" tax cuts, but Johnson is clearly not happy with the process so far.

Johnson is trying his best not to appear to be a spoilsport about this. Appearing on CNBC's Squawk Box Thursday morning, he talked repeatedly about how he wants to fix the problem to get a bill passed. He even said that President Donald Trump promised him to address the issue, quoting the president as saying "I will work my tail off over the weekend to fix this problem."

But nobody really needs to work anyone's tail off here. The best move for the White House and the congressional GOP is to simply call the Democrats' and Johnson's bluff and just cut the rate on pass-throughs to 20 percent, and find one or two more places to cut individual middle class taxes too.

And when they do that, they can sit and watch as the Democrats and maybe a few wary Republicans like Johnson have the audacity to move the goal posts again. I'd give the chances of that happening even money.

That's right. Here's what they'll say: How can the Republicans further cut taxes without facing a major backlash from conservative deficit hawks and non-partisan fiscal watchdogs? Won't more tax cuts reduce revenues more and add to the already scandalous $1.7 trillion the CBO estimates the Republican tax reform will add to the debt?

Can we get real please?

All this hand-wringing and crying about reduced tax revenue is really beside the point. Revenue is not the problem. Even if record amounts of it came pouring into the Treasury say, right now, government spending would not be able to balance the books anyway. How do we know this? Because it just keeps happening. It happened again last month as the federal government took in a record, as in record high, $235.3 billion in tax revenue. But it still ran a deficit for October of $63 billion.

Have a nice day.

With record inflows still not stemming the tide of irresponsible spending, worrying about revenue is like worrying about whether an alcoholic is getting enough booze.

When members of Congress from either party focus on revenues without promising major spending cuts and reforms it's just a distraction technique. The problem is spending and out of control liabilities Washington refuses to reform like Social Security and Medicare. The government needs to learn some fiscal restraint.

Good luck with that.

With that in mind, let's get back to the current realities facing the Republicans and this tax bill. They can keep pretending that the tax reform battle is about revenue balance sheets and deficits or they can start to realize they must do a better job of convincing the public to get behind the idea.

Speaking of the public, the latest polls show they basically hate the GOP tax reform plan. When the voters are telling the pollsters they don't believe or like the tax cuts Washington is promising them, it's time to make a different and more believable promise.

The Republicans almost got there with the doubling of the standard deduction that the overwhelming majority of tax filers would enjoy. But then they messed much of that up by eliminating many other deductions that benefit a lot of those same non-itemizing tax filers. The simple fix for that is to keep that plan to double the standard deduction and stop messing with everything else.

But doing that, along with allowing smaller businesses to get in on that 20 percent corporate rate still won't be enough if people like President Trump, Speaker Paul Ryan, and other Republicans don't do a better job of selling the plan to the public. To do that, they'll have to make those middle class tax cuts the first and last thing they talk about in every interview, rally speech, and tweet. Otherwise, the Democrats, the news media, and plenty of Republicans will still see it as a giveaway to the rich.

Both parties have an ugly not-so-secret secret that they do not really do very much for the middle class. But when they stop even pretending to put the middle class first, they really fall flat on their faces. Every other concern the GOP tax reformers have about the fate of their bill pales in comparison to losing the argument about middle class tax cuts. Senator Johnson is doing them a favor really in pointing this out. They ignore him, and the polls, at their great peril.

Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson told CNBC on Thursday he wants to fix the GOP tax reform bill so he can support it.

However, he said he doesn't have enough information about the measure to even propose an amendment to change what he doesn't like.

"In the current form, I wouldn't vote for it," Johnson said on "Squawk Box," a day after becoming the first Senate Republican to explicitly say he would not back the plan.

"It's not a real good process," the Wisconsin lawmaker said. "The House is voting on theirs today. We're going to be voting on ours right after Thanksgiving."

After another day of debating the Senate tax plan, the Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote on whether to advance their measure on Friday.

Johnson said he's been working for months behind the scenes to make changes, but he added that he's not going to let his "version of perfect" sink tax reform. "I want to get this thing fixed, and vote for pro-growth tax reform that makes all American businesses competitive globally," he said. "I care deeply about this country, I care deeply about this deficit."

As a former small business owner, Johnson said he's particularly concerned about the so-called pass-through rate, in which the profits and losses of sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S-corporations "pass through" to their owners who are then taxed at individual income-tax rates, currently as high as 39.6 percent.

"We can't leave anybody behind, which is why they came up with the 25 rate for pass throughs," he said. "The problem is, neither the House or the Senate version really honored that commitment to pass-through businesses, which I argue are a huge engine of economic growth."

"I don't have the information on how much it would cost, how many pass-through businesses are being left behind that do compete globally. I can't get the information. I've been asking. They don't give it to me," said Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Johnson said President Donald Trump called him on Wednesday night about pass throughs and told him that he's "meeting with Treasury officials today."

"'I will work my tail off over the weekend to fix this problem,'" Johnson quoted Trump as saying.

Johnson appeared on CNBC before the Joint Committee on Taxation released on Thursday its latest look at the GOP Senate bill.

Republicans hold only a two-seat majority in the Senate, so the GOP has little margin for defections because Democrats are uniformly opposed to the plan. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Bob Corker of Tennessee and John McCain of Arizona have also voiced concerns over the tax plan. They refused to say whether they would ultimately vote for the bill.

The Senate's tax plan, unveiled last week, includes cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent and making broad tweaks to the individual tax system.

 Reuters contributed to this report.
Sen. Ron Johnson told CNBC on Thursday that President Donald Trump personally promised to "'work my tail off'" to win the Wisconsin Republican's vote on the Senate's tax overhaul plan.

A day after becoming the first Senate Republican to explicitly say he would not back the plan, Johnson said on "Squawk Box" that he would not vote for the bill in its current form.

He said he's concerned that there isn't enough information available to make an informed vote. He also said the plan may benefit corporations more than other smaller businesses.

"I don't have the information on how much it would cost, how many pass-through businesses are being left behind that do compete globally. I can't get the information. I've been asking. They don't give it to me," Johnson said.

"I got a call from President Trump last night. He's telling me 'I'll get the information. I'll meet with Treasury officials today. I will work my tail off over the weekend to fix this problem so we can move forward with pro-growth tax reform,'" Johnson added.

Johnson appeared on CNBC before the Joint Committee on Taxation released on Thursday its latest look at the GOP Senate bill.

Trump has been pushing lawmakers to pass a tax bill, which he says would ease the burden on middle-class Americans and give U.S. businesses incentives to invest at home.

Johnson said the process for working on the bill has not been transparent. "It's not a real good process," he said. "The House is voting on theirs today. We're going to be voting on ours right after Thanksgiving."

Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Bob Corker of Tennessee and John McCain of Arizona have also voiced concerns over the Senate's tax plan. They refused to say whether they would ultimately vote for the bill.
watch now

Some of the cybersecurity best practices for advisors are smart moves for consumers, too. "Don't make the mistake of thinking of [cybersecurity] as a technology thing. It's not," Adam Moseley, managing director of Schwab Business Consulting and Education at Charles Schwab, told advisors Tuesday at Schwab IMPACT 2017 in Chicago. Much of protecting yourself is about behavior and education, he said. (See infographic below for tips.) Advisors are right to be worried about cybersecurity. The broader financial services sector has been attacked more than any other industry, according to the 2017 IBM X-Force Intelligence Index.

It is no longer a matter of if, but when, you're going to be compromised. Adam Moseley Charles Schwab

The number of attacks on financial services companies rose 29 percent in 2016, to a total 1,684, according to IBM. Over the same period, the number of records breached jumped 937 percent, to 200 million from roughly 20 million  ranking the financial services industry third in number of records compromised. "It is no longer a matter of if, but when, you're going to be compromised," Moseley said. Advisors and consumers can both benefit from improvement in these areas:

Email habits

"I don't think there's a single greater threat to your organizations outside of email," Moseley said. "We don't hesitate to click a link, to open an attachment." Ransomware, malicious links, social engineering and other common scams all come in via email, he explained. One smart thing a financial advisor can do is hire an outside firm to send employees test spam, to see what they are opening or clicking when they shouldn't, he said. It helps firms see how to focus their efforts educating employees. Be suspicious of any links or attachments in an email, Moseley said. If the email seems to be from a legit source, call the sender to make sure it's legit before clicking. It also helps to rethink that information you're sending in emails, he said. Try to keep personal and sensitive data out of email altogether; if you must send it, look for a more secure method. For example, if you're reaching out to your financial advisor, many have secure client-access portals where you could submit that tax return or account statement.

Linus Strandholm | EyeEm | Getty Images

Passwords
Question for Republicans: If you believe the women now, why didn't you believe the women then?

Specifically, if you believe the women accusing Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, why did you ignore the women who accused presidential candidate Donald Trump? If you're troubled by Moore's alleged behavior, why were you so nonchalant about Trump's?

I'm waiting.

Since the Harvey Weinstein story broke almost six weeks ago, the matter of Trump's conduct has been festering beneath the surface of most public discussion. Indeed, Trump's reported behavior is more like that of Weinstein than Moore. Both businessmen were accused of using their power in the marketplace to obtain -- or coerce, especially in Weinstein's case -- sexual favors.

By contrast, notwithstanding Trump's creepy interest in barging into beauty-pageant dressing rooms to ogle young contestants and his even creepier comments about dating his own daughter, Trump, unlike Moore, faces no allegations of improperly pursuing teenagers, including those beneath the age of consent.

Trump's alleged conduct is unacceptable; Moore's is even more appalling.

But the Trump-Moore comparison is unavoidable, painful as this may be for Republicans and, even more, for the White House. In both cases, Republican candidates stand accused of sexual misconduct. In Moore's, a growing chorus of Senate Republicans have chosen to believe the women -- and with good reason. The similarity of their accounts, the absence of evident partisan or other improper motive, and the existence of contemporaneous corroboration all argue in favor of their credibility.

And in Trump's case? Much the same.

Consider the account of Kristin Anderson, who told The Washington Post that, at a Manhattan nightclub in the early 1990s, Trump reached under her skirt and touched her vagina through her underwear -- much as Trump described behaving in the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Consider the account of former People magazine reporter Natasha Stoynoff, who described how, while on a 2005 reporting trip to Mar-a-Lago to interview Trump and his then-pregnant wife, Trump "shut the door behind us ... and within seconds he was pushing me against the wall and forcing his tongue down my throat."

Trump's response, as characteristic as it was unconvincing, was the same as Moore's: total denial. "Every woman lied when they came forward to hurt my campaign," he said in October 2016. "Total fabrication. The events never happened. Never. All of these liars will be sued after the election is over."

Waiting on that one, too.

The Moore situation backs Republicans, and the Trump White House, into an even more uncomfortable corner.

As with the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings in 1991, the country is going through another national teach-in on the prevalence of sexual harassment and the systemic pressures on women to remain silent. Our collective understanding of the perniciousness of this behavior is greater than it was six weeks ago; our collective tolerance for it is, I believe, lower.

So what do Senate Republicans do now? Argue that Trump's accusers are less believable than Moore's? That doesn't seem persuasive. Argue that Trump's behavior wasn't as bad? Perhaps, but, again, not the strongest argument in the wake of Republicans having condemned Weinstein et al.

Of course the most credible explanation is both obvious and unspeakable in public: Republicans can afford to throw Moore under the bus, as difficult as it would be to narrow their already-thin Senate majority. They could not risk losing the presidency, even if it meant electing Trump.

If Republicans as a whole are in a difficult spot, imagine the White House pickle. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, with others in tow, has sided with Moore's accusers. Having deployed the if-then approach with Moore -- if he behaved as alleged, then he should withdraw -- what does Trump now say? "I'm unconvinced, even if McConnell & Co believe them"? Or, "OK, I'm convinced, too," in which case the question arises: And so what about the women who accused you?

One last point, for the what-about-ists out there. Yes, there are serious questions about Bill Clinton's behavior with women. I said they were fair game back in the campaign, when he was deployed as a chief surrogate for Hillary Clinton and she was complaining about Trump's "penchant for sexism."

But now, give it a rest. Bill Clinton is not the president. Hillary Clinton is not the president.

Trump is. He's the one whose conduct, present and past, remains relevant, and for which he and his party should finally be held to account.
Spire Global has been launching small satellites to keep watch over the Earth's oceans and remote lands since 2014. The start-up now has $70 million in fresh capital to fuel its expansion, which includes opening a new office in Luxembourg, CNBC has learned.

At least 100 times each day, Spire satellites take a reading of what's happening on Earth. The company uses radio frequency technology instead of cameras to hear how many ships are sailing and where they are, and how many planes are flying over remote locations.

It all feeds into an engine for better predicting things like weather patterns.

"My greatest hope is to make weather forecasting as accurate as Swiss train schedules," said Peter Platzer, the company's co-founder and CEO. "We just lived through such a horrible hurricane season. If we knew which way Irma would go, or not, we could have helped tens of thousands of people."
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Wal-Mart  The retail giant earned an adjusted $1 per share for the third quarter, beating estimates by 3 cents a share. Revenue also beat forecasts, with comparable-store sales rising more than analysts had anticipated.

Best Buy  The electronics retailer matched Street forecasts with adjusted quarterly earnings of 78 cents per share, but revenue and comparable-store sales fell below estimates. Best Buy's results were impacted by the quarter's hurricanes, among other factors.

Viacom  The media company missed estimates by 9 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 77 cents per share. Revenue topped forecasts. Viacom's results were impacted by the loss of some cable subscribers, although it did post a revenue rise on the strength of improved theatrical results.

J.M. Smucker  The food company came in 12 cents a share above estimates, with adjusted quarterly profit of $2.02 per share. Revenue beat expectations, as well. Smucker also raised the upper end of its full-year guidance by 5 cents, now forecasting adjusted earnings of $7.75 to $7.95 per share compared to the consensus estimate of $7.72. Results were helped by improved results for pet food and Dunkin' Donuts coffee, among other factors.

Rockwell Automation  Emerson Electric has raised its bid for Rockwell, now offering $225 per share in cash and stock, or a total of about $29 billion. The prior offer, rejected by Rockwell, was worth $215 a share.

Pandora  BMO upgraded the online music service to "outperform" from "market perform," noting better-than-expected subscriber numbers and positive results from audio ads, among other factors.

Cisco Systems  The networking equipment maker reported adjusted quarterly earnings of 61 cents per share, 1 cent a share above estimates. Revenue also beat forecasts, and Cisco also gave an upbeat forecast, thanks in part to a jump in sales of software applications.

Procter & Gamble  The company's proxy fight with investor Nelson Peltz re-emerged as a recount showed Peltz had won by 43,000 votes out of 2.6 billion. The consumer products giant has not yet conceded, however, and said those results are still subject to review and a possible challenge.

L Brands  L Brands reported quarterly profit that was in line with Wall Street forecasts at an adjusted 30 cents per share. The Victoria's Secret parent's revenue topped forecasts, however the company reported a drop in comparable-store sales, including a 4 percent decline at Victoria's Secret.

RH  RH raised its current-quarter guidance to an adjusted $1.02 to $1.04 per share, compared to the consensus estimate of 80 cents a share. The operator of Restoration Hardware furniture stores said the increased forecast reflects the success of its new membership model and more efficient operations.

NetApp  NetApp beat estimates by 12 cents a share, with quarterly profit of 81 cents per share. The data storage solutions company's revenue also topped Street forecasts and NetApp gave an upbeat current-quarter outlook.

Mattel  Mattel has rejected Hasbro's latest takeover approach, according to a Reuters report. Mattel is said to have told its rival toymaker that its bid undervalues the company and also does not take into account possible antitrust issues with regulators.

GlaxoSmithKline  The drugmaker won approval from European regulators for its new three-in-one inhaler drug for chronic lung disease.

Time Inc.  Time is in talks to sell itself to Meredith Corp. , according to multiple reports, with several banks and the billionaire Koch brothers set to lend financial support to Meredith for its pursuit of its rival magazine publisher.

BHP Billiton  BHP is hoping to sell off its U.S. shale business in two years, with the mining giant also seeking to sell its Australian nickel business. The intention to divest those assets came at BHP's annual meeting in Melbourne, Australia.

Dollar General  Dollar General was upgraded to "buy" from "hold" at Deutsche Bank, which thinks the discount retailer's third-quarter comparable sales will come in above the Street consensus of a 2.6 percent gain and also sees momentum continuing into 2018.

Regions Financial  Regions was added to the "Conviction Buy" list at Goldman Sachs, which sees the regional bank performing better than consensus forecasts.
Earlier this year, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk made history upon successfully completing the first commercial rocket launch from the NASA launch pad which also sent astronauts to the moon. Although Musk studied physics and economics in college, he actually first learned about rockets by reading books.

In fact, Musk's connection with books goes beyond his latest successes.

"I was raised by books. Books, and then my parents," Musk said in an interview with reporter Neil Strauss for Rolling Stone's latest cover story.

Up until Musk was 8, he lived with both of his parents Maye and Errol Musk in South Africa, Strauss reported. But he did not see them much and mostly lived under the watch of a housekeeper, who Musk said was mainly there to make sure he didn't break anything.

"She wasn't, like, watching me. I was off making explosives and reading books and building rockets and doing things that could have gotten me killed," Musk told the magazine. "I'm shocked that I have all my fingers."

Throughout his childhood, books have played a crucial role in fueling Musk's ambitions. It's said that he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica at age nine and would pore through science fiction novels for more than 10 hours a day.

When Musk's parents separated, Musk said he felt sad for his father and decided to move with him. In an interview in 2015, Errol told Forbes about how young Elon would have the most fun when reading books.

"Elon has always been an introvert thinker," Errol said. "So where a lot of people would go to a great party and have a great time and drink and talk about all sorts of things like rugby or sport, you would find Elon had found the person's library and was going through their books."

From his adolescence through today, here are eight books that shaped the revolutionary entrepreneur:
The states driving most of Overstock 's purchases via cryptocurrency aren't your typical tech havens.

The top five states for cryptocurrency purchases are Alaska, Delaware, Oregon, Wyoming and Hawaii have , the company told CNBC. Overstock got this statistic by looking at the percentage of overall revenue from each state that came from cryptocurrency purchases. (Absolute cryptocurrency revenue is highest in the most populous states --- California, New York, Texas, and Florida.)

Overstock began accepting its first cryptocurrency, bitcoin, in 2014. Today it allows payment from about 50 different cryptocurrencies. The company does about $300,000 worth of sales through cryptocurrency each month, said Overstock board member Jonathan Johnson.

"We saw from the 2013 banking crisis is Cyprus that bitcoin was a good store of value and could act as a currency," said Johnson. "We like the pro-freedom aspect of Bitcoin." (Johnson is also the president of Overstock's Medici Ventures division which invests in blockchain technology companies.)

People paying with cryptocurrency don't buy anything drastically different from other customers. However they do tend to be male and buy twice as much as those paying with regular currency, Johnson said.

Because cryptocurrency does not rely on banks or government-issued currency, it's popular among libertarians and others who distrust government intrusion and big institutions, Johnson said. It also may allow Overstock to expand in areas where many people don't have bank accounts, like Africa.
TransCanada has shut part of its Keystone pipeline after 5,000 barrels of oil leaked in Amherst, South Dakota, the company said on Thursday, four days before the state of Nebraska was due to decide on an expansion of the system.



The pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, to Cushing, Oklahoma, and to Wood River and Patoka in Illinois, has been shut, while the southern leg of the system to the Gulf Coast remains operational, the company said.



TransCanada has not given a reason for the incident, which occurred days before the Nebraska Public Service Commission was due to announce a decision on Keystone XL, a 830,000-barrel expansion through the state.



TransCanada said in a statement it discovered the leak 6 a.m. on Thursday after systems detected a drop in pressure, and that it was working with the authorities as it investigates.



Western Canada Select heavy blend crude for December delivery was trading at $14.50 below the West Texas Intermediate benchmark at late afternoon on Thursday, down slightly from $14.20 the day before
President Donald Trump is considering naming Mick Mulvaney, currently the White House budget director, as interim head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a source confirmed to CNBC.

While the decision is not finalized, an announcement could come as early as Friday, the source said.

News about Mulvaney's possible appointment comes a day after Richard Cordray announced he will be stepping down from the position before the end of the month.

Mulvaney, 50, is a former congressman and state senator from South Carolina and is a favorite of the Republican tea party wing. He has headed OMB since Feb. 16.

Trump is seeking to remake the bureau as part of his effort to ease regulation in banking and business in general. He was a frequent critic of Cordray's, whose exit likely paves the way for a restructuring of the CFPB and a less centralized power structure.

Mulvaney likely will retain his OMB post and name a committee to run the CFPB, which was created as part of the post-financial crisis Dodd-Frank banking reforms.

Candidates under consideration for the full-time director's position include Todd Zwyicki from George Mason University, former congressman Randy Neubarger, former Fannie Mae general counsel Brian Brooks and Keith Noreika, acting comptroller of the currency, according to a Bloomberg report.

The White House did not return a request for comment.

 With reporting by Eamon Javers.
The Twitter Inc. logo is seen behind a phone displaying the company's mobile application. The blue badge with white tick is the sign that an account is verified.

Twitter has revoked the verified status of white supremacists on its platform after changing the rules around who gets a blue badge.

The aim of verification is to let people know that an account of public interest is legitimate. But Twitter admitted in a tweet from November 9 that it is "interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance." At the time, the microblogging site that this was causing "confusion".

In a series of follow-up tweets, Twitter said the problems around verification were worsened when it allowed the public to submit requests for certain accounts to be verified.

The technology firm said it was no longer accepting public submissions and released new guidelines on verification. It also said it was reviewing and removing verification badges from accounts that did not meet the rules.

TWEET

Some of the first accounts to lose the blue badge were those of noted white supremacists.

Richard Spencer, seen as one of the leading figures of the so-called alt-right movement, had his verification revoked. Spencer was involved in a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in October that led to violent clashes and the death of one woman. He questioned Twitter's move to remove his verification.

TWEET

Another far-right figure, Jason Kessler, also had his blue badge revoked. Kessler planned the "Unite the Right" rally in August in Charlottesville. Kessler claimed Twitter changed its policy to "censor" him.

TWEET

Tommy Robinson, a Briton who is the former leader of the English Defense League, a far-right group, also tweeted that his verified status has been removed.

TWEET

Twitter posted a number of reasons why people could have their blue badge removed. One of those is "promoting hate and/or violence against, or directly attacking or threatening other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease."

Other reasons also include violence or dangerous behavior.
Art experts, dealers and collectors are all stumped about who made the purchase, which set a record by far for any artwork and included $50 million in buyer fees.

"We do not comment on the identities of the buyers, I'm sorry," said Christie's CEO Guillaume Cerutti. "The bids came from every part of the world."

Christie 's, which sold the work Wednesday, is bound by the usual confidentiality agreements and can't say anything about the buyer.

The $450 million sale of Leonardo da Vinci's "Salvatore Mundi" has touched off an epic guessing game in the art world: Who would pay so much for a painting?

Some dealers say the buyer is likely an American, since there is only one da Vinci in the U.S.  currently at the National Gallery in Washington  and it would make sense for a billionaire to buy it and donate it to a museum in New York or L.A.

Others say the price suggests it was a foreign buyer willing to pay anything to have a da Vinci in, say, China or the Middle East.

"This feels to me like it was someone who wanted to bring the only Leonardo to Asia," said one major collector. First, the sheer price of the painting rules out most everyday billionaires. Anyone who pays nearly a half billion for a painting is likely to be worth at well over $5 billion and most likely over $10 billion. That rules out all but around 150 of the world's more than 2,000 billionaires, according to wealth experts.

And while there are no credible reports on who the buyer might be, some of the most obvious candidates can be ruled out.

There has been some speculation that the buyer was hedge-fund billionaire Ken Griffin, who purchased a de Kooning and Jackson Pollock for a combined $500 million and lent them to the Art Institute of Chicago. Griffin wouldn't comment but sources in the art world say he was not the buyer of the da Vinci.

Another American candidate was Alice Walton, the Wal-Mart heiress who has spent hundreds of millions to fund the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas. The museum didn't immediately comment, but people close to the museum said "not likely."

With overseas buyers, some have speculated that it could have been Liu Yiqian, the Chinese billionaire who purchased a Modigliani for $170 million in 2015 to put in his new Shanghai museum, called the Long Museum. But on Thursday, Liu posted a message on WeChat saying he wasn't the buyer. "Congratulations to the buyer. Feeling kind of defeated right now."

One other possibility is the world's richest man, Jeff Bezos. He certainly has the cash. Aside from being worth $95 billion, Bezos sold $1 billion worth of stock in early November and didn't announce a use of the proceeds. Of course, the cash could be going to fund his Blue Origin aerospace company or a new philanthropy initiative. But that cash would have also been able to easily buy the da Vinci, which he could then donate to a museum in Seattle or wherever Amazon decides to put its new headquarters. As a fan of history and other geniuses, Bezos would see the piece as far more than a painting.

A spokesperson for Amazon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Whoever purchased the painting isn't likely to be able to keep it a secret for long. Such a high profile purchase in the age of social media and gossip is hard to keep under wraps. And the price suggests that the buyer is likely to want to put it in a museum for all the world to see. More than 27,000 people flocked to see the piece as it made its way around the world as part of Christie's marketing campaign. Let's hope the new buyer opens it up to the public again.
According to the Boston Globe , Zuckerberg and Chan are granting Harvard University $12.1 million to encourage low-income undergraduate students to pursue jobs in public service. As part of the grant, the school's Stride scholarship program for public service will be renamed after Chan, who participated in the program and is a 2007 graduate of the university.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan want to use their wealth to increase opportunities for the next generation.

"As a student on financial aid, it was Harvard's Stride program that made it financially feasible for me to choose service over traditional work study," Chan said in a statement. "It's my hope this gift will give many more students the ability to choose service."

The couple's grant, funded through the Chan Zuckerberg initiative, will provide financial support for up to 2,300 students over the next 15 years. In his earlier this year, Zuckerberg spoke about the impact financial freedom can have on career choices.

"If I had to support my family growing up instead of having time to code, if I didn't know I'd be fine if Facebook didn't work out, I wouldn't be standing here today," said Zuckerberg, whose father was a dentist.

In an interview with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, claimed that he's actually more anxious about not changing the world for the better than he is about potentially mismanaging his behemoth company.

"I am much more motivated by making sure we have the biggest impact on the world than by building a business or making sure we don't fail," he said.

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Announced in 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a far-reaching series of initiatives aimed at eradicating poverty, addressing climate change, and creating more peaceful, equal, educated and inclusive societies worldwide by 2030. While this is a United Nations program, its not solely governments that are backing the UNSDGs  corporations are also throwing their weight behind these important objectives.

One group mustering corporate support for the UNSDGs is the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. This organisation of more than 200 leading companies including Apple, BMW, Bridgestone, Coca-Cola, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and Yokogawa, is dedicated to shaping a more sustainable world, guided by the UNSDGs. Member companies have committed to achieving these ambitious aims, in addition to the anti-climate change goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Coca-Cola, for instance, has made great strides in terms of water stewardship (with 221 billion litres of water replenished through community and watershed projects internationally in 2016) and waste prevention (last year, 60% of bottles and cans, relative to what the company introduced into the market, were recovered and recycled or refilled with the companys support). Apple, meanwhile, now relies predominantly on cleaner, renewable energy sources and uses 99% recycled and responsibly sourced paper in its packaging. 100% of energy used at its data centres and 96% of energy at its facilities worldwide are drawn from sources such as hydro-electric, solar and wind power.

Fellow member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Yokogawa Electric Corporation  a leader in advanced industrial instruments, automated control technology, and digital control and data analysis solutions  has identified three key areas where it feels it can add greatest value in furthering the UNSDGs.

1. Tackle climate change by working toward net-zero emissions, via accelerated use of renewable energy and more efficient use of energy.

2. Speed the transition to a circular economy, where resources are circulated without waste, and assets (including safe drinking water) are utilised more effectively.

3. Increase the populations wellbeing and quality of life by creating safer, cleaner workplaces, promoting human resource development and employment creation in local communities where Yokogawa and its partners are present, and foster greater diversity and inclusion.
With the fifth round of negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement set to begin Thursday, Nebraskans whose livelihoods are in or tied to agriculture have reason to be nervous.

Uncertainty surrounding the fate of the pact between the United States, Canada and Mexico  from which President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to withdraw, possibly as a last-ditch bargaining chip  has caused Mexican buyers to begin searching for other sources in case they lose access to the American producers theyve long trusted.

If Trump truly wants to put America first, as he reiterated during his recent visit to Asia, hed be best served by doing so in a manner that protects the financial interests of Americas farmers and ranchers, whose output benefits the country as a whole  particularly at a time of strain in their industry.

Canada and Mexico have been the biggest customers of American farm commodities, with the Washington Post reporting agricultural exports more than quadrupled from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38.1 billion in 2016.

For as much as Trump frets about and equates a trade deficit as being unfair, giving short shrift to agriculture would only compound matters. Nebraska alone recorded a $2.8 billion trade surplus in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with $6.4 billion in goods exported  more than half sold to Canada and Mexico  compared to $3.6 billion in imports.

Without the market access that currently exists for Canada and Mexico, the current slump in U.S. agriculture would be even worse. High supply has depressed commodity prices; NAFTA has served a critical role in mitigating it, at least somewhat, by making it easy to export within the continent.

And, in a state where agriculture supports one in four jobs, the timing to potentially pull the rug out from the leading industry couldnt be worse.

Nebraskas personal income has declined by 0.3 percent through the first two quarters of 2017, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. The country as a whole, meanwhile, has seen 1.3 percent growth in that time. Among the 10 states to see declines, seven are in the central U.S.; Colorado and Missouri are the only states bordering Nebraska to report growth.

This spring, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue convinced Trump not to withdraw from NAFTA by showing him an electoral map, Politico reported. With farm and ranch country being among the presidents most loyal strongholds, a move to leave the pact could endanger the livelihoods of many who supported Trump.

With only two more rounds of negotiations scheduled, the upcoming meeting carries significant weight for Nebraska and the Midwest  and the president must heed their concerns about the potential damage a senseless exit would do to agriculture.
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
Garvan Walshe is a former National and International Security Policy Adviser to the Conservative Party. He now runs Brexit Analytics.

What to make of the mysterious news that Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, announced his resignation  not from his office, but from abroad, in Saudi Arabia, the country in which his father had made his fortune, and which had so long backed his anti-Syrian and later anti-Iranian faction in Lebanons indefatigably complex politics?

The first instinct was that he had somehow been forced to leave the country by an increasingly assertive Hezbollah. Buoyed by its experience and success protecting the Assad regime in Syria, the Iran-backed militia would have seized their moment of power to push their sectarian rival aside.

But first instincts can be mistaken. This seemed hard to square with Hariris recent meeting with Ali Akbar Velayati, a powerful confidant of Irans Supreme Leader.

Soon, a more elaborate conspiracy theory emerged: that Hariri had been summoned by Riyadh and was being held there against his will. A strange TV interview, in which he appeared uncharacteristically nervous for a man who had supposedly cast off the cares of office, only reinforced suspicions that something was afoot. His promises to return to Lebanon to resign in person (his resignation not being valid until he does so) soon did not clear things up.

Observers began to suspect another power play by Mohammed Bin Salman, the restless Saudi Crown Prince. Fresh from an anti-corruption purge in which senior members of the royal family, unable to escape after the private jet airport was closed, have been imprisoned in the Ritz Carlton, the prince looks to have embarked on another foreign adventure to complement his expensive military quagmire in Yemen.

Could he have decided to raise the temperature of conflict with Iran by extending open confrontation to Lebanon (Saudi has been in covert conflict with Iran and Syria since Saad Hariris father, Rafik, was assassinated on Damascuss orders on Valentines Day in 2005)?

If this power play has an aim, it is surely to show that Iran  despite keeping Assad in power (with Russian help), supporting Shia rebels in Yemen, and exercising hegemony over the government in Baghdad  cannot have it all its own way.

As Julian Barnes-Dacey, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council of Foreign relations, warned me, there is real risk that the combination of domestic and foreign initiatives could lead to overextension with possibly destabilising consequences.

But concern for stability is hardly one of bin Salmans priorities. His temperament seems to be that of a revolutionary in a hurry. From his domestic economic transformation plans, his denouncing of the Saudi religious establishments role in promoting extreme Islam, his purge and shakedown of previously leading members of the royal family, to the war in Yemen, he appears determined to shake things up first and ask questions later. He believes this is time for change, and hes had enough of experts who think they know better.

Undoubtedly, there is scope for Riyadh to apply more pressure on Lebanon. Most obviously, it could squeeze an economy already adjusting to millions of Syrian refugees. But this is one of those threats that only works as long as it isnt followed through. Cutting off economic support could trigger resentment and weaken, rather than strengthen, the Saudis hand. To make its plan work, the kingdom needs a new, more reliable Lebanese ally, but one which does not yet seem to be too much in their pocket since Lebanons Prime Ministers are appointed by consensus. Perhaps the former head of Lebanons Internal Security Forces  and, until he resigned in protest at Hezbollahs dominance, justice minister  Ashraf Rifi, might fit the bill. His support has been strongest in the predominantly Sunni city of Tripoli. Saudi patronage might be able to help him to extend it.

This ease with which it is possible to speculate, and the difficulty of saying anything definite, shows how volatile the situation has become.

Normally, one would expect the United States to calm things down, as the last thing Washington needs is a further headache in this region, of all regions. But the Trump administration scarcely has a foreign policy. Secretary of State Tillerson is content to allow the senior ranks of the State Department to thin out. As the young boy plays with matches, the fire brigade is off sick.

MbS, as the Saudi crown prince is known, is in need of adult supervision. If he once had a Sir Humphrey to warn that his conduct is too courageous for his own good, he is no longer being listened to. Perhaps such a mandarin exists, but has been dispatched to rest up at the Ritz Carlton hotel.
CORNWALL, Ontario  The Ontario Labour Relations Board announced on Thursday, Nov. 16 that striking college faculty members have rejected the latest offer from the College Employers Council (CEC).

Talks between the CEC and the union representing college faculty, the Ontario Publuc Service Employers Union (OPSEU) broke down earlier in November after OPSEU rejected the latest deal and the CEC wanted to go directly to faculty to vote on their offer.

The CEC claims that their offer included measures to address concerns over part-time faculty workers, increased benefits and a pay increase of 7.75 percent.

Voting took place over three days from Nov. 14-16. The vote needed 50 percent plus one to pass.

No one is surprised that college faculty rejected the Councils forced offer. It was full of concessions and failed to address our concerns around fairness for faculty or education quality, said JP Hornick, chair of the faculty bargaining team for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). We stand with hundreds of thousands of college students when we say enough already.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne addressed the strike when the news of the rejection broke.

Students have been in the middle of this strike for too long, and its not fair, she wrote in a statement. This afternoon I will be meeting with representatives of the CEC and OPSEU to discuss how we can resolve this situation immediately and get students back to class where they belong. We are looking at al of our options, but I am hopeful that an agreement to get students back to class immediately can be reached by the parties.

The strike is now in its fifth week.
CORNWALL, Ontario  Local businesses and organizations in Cornwall are giving residents every reason to shop local.

If you have not seen them, the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Cornwall Economic Development has produced t-shirts with the slogan Shop Local emblazoned across the front.

Our small businesses employ hundreds of local people and give back to the community by supporting local charities and minor sports, says Rory McLennan, President of the Chamber. We hope that area residents will return the favour by continuing to support our local stores and restaurants.

Two of these snappy t-shirts are being given away weekly. Anyone who snaps a selfie while dining or shopping or being active in Cornwall can be entered to win if they share the photo on the We Shop in Cornwall Facebook page.

Mayor Leslie OShaughnessy explained how shopping local helps your neighbours.

It is important to pause and think about the impact each one of us can have in our community, he said. The people who work in local stores and restaurants are our neighbours, and by supporting local business, you are really strengthening the community.

Both the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and the Cornwall Downtown Business Improvement Area and the Le Village Business Improvement Area have been working to further encourage the local economy.

Todd Lihou, Centretown Coordinator, petitioned the City of Cornwall on behalf of the BIAs to have parking enforcement lifted starting at 4 p.m. for the month of December in both areas. Council liked the idea so much that on their Nov. 14 meeting they voted to begin the program the next day and looked into the possibility of lifting parking enforcement for the whole month of December.

Local merchants can quickly bring in a product that you have found online, or may already have it in the store, said Lihou. Shopping locally also makes it easier to exchange, repair or return a product.

Rory McLennan explained that shopping local helped not only local business, but local charities too.

Lots of local businesses donate to charities, he said. If we dont generate local business, we cant support local charities.

Anyone who wants to get their hands on a Shop Local t-shirt right away, can purchase one from the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce on the corner of Second and Sydney streets for $20.
CORNWALL, Ontario  Rachel Chrysler, 26, and Sherynn Chrysler, 27, both of Cornwall were arrested and charged with assault.

It is alleged while at the Cornwall Square on Oct. 10, 2017 the women assaulted a youth known to them and police were contacted to investigate. As a result of the investigation both women were taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court at a later date.

CRIMINAL HARASSMENT

CORNWALL, Ontario  Nathanael Hutchinson, 31, of Cornwall was arrested on Nov. 15, 2017 and charged with criminal harassment X2. It is alleged on more than one occasion in 2017 the man was responsible for unwanted interaction with a woman not know to him. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. On Nov. 15, 2017 the man attended police headquarters to deal with the matter. He was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing

There were 53 calls for service in the City of Cornwall in the last 24 hours (8am the previous day to 8am the day of the release). To see whats happening in your neighbourhood visit our Crime Plot Map @ http://www.cornwallpolice.ca/ . CCPS reserves the right not to post all calls for service in order to protect the identity of the victims.
SHIRE PROVIDES MUSIC

The Rev. Don Shire, an internationally known trumpeter and recording artist, will join the congregation of Christ Church, 5109 Washington Ave., for the church's single worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. The congregation's annual Thanksgiving turkey dinner will follow the service.

Christ Church will also have a Thanksgiving Eve worship service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22. The Chancel Choir will sing.

MUSICAL, ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATED

United Voices For Christ will host a musical at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church, 424 N. Memorial Drive. Various groups from around the city will join the worship service.

The United Voices For Christ is celebrating its Annual Day at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, at the church. The Rev. Joseph Pipes of Greater St. Luke's Baptist Church will speak. He will be joined by his choir and congregation.

THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE

A Thanksgiving Eve service begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at First Reformed Church, 7110 Old Spring St. The Rev. Dave Van Buren, guest pastor, will lead the service which includes Holy Communion.

LIFELONG LEARNING SESSION

A Lifelong Learning session begins at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, in Vogel Hall at St. Richard of Chichester Catholic Church, 1509 Grand Ave. The Rev. Allen Bratkowski will facilitate a discussion on questions about the Catholic Church or other faith topics as submitted by the audience. Coffee, juice and treats will follow the presentation with a social time.

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Gregg Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2237 Howe St., will celebrate its 40th church anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. Willie F. Dockery Jr., presiding elder of the Milwaukee District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, will be the guest speaker. Guest choirs will be from Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Milwaukee and United Faith Baptist Church. Other musical guests and praise dancers have been invited.

BAHA'I INTERFAITH GATHERING

The November Baha'i Interfaith Gathering and Devotional "On Gratitude" begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, in the home of Barry and Loralee Uhlenhake, 3223 Wright Ave. People of any faith or none at all are invited to explore this month's interfaith devotional and spiritual gathering.

SPECIAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE

Raymond Christian Fellowship, 8638 Highway K, will host a special Thanksgiving service followed by a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, Nov. 19. The worship service begins at 10:45 a.m. with the dinner to follow. Call the church at 262-835-1154 by Nov. 18 if planning to attend the dinner.

Raymond Christian Fellowship is serving as a drop-off point for Operation Christmas Child this year. People may drop off filled shoe boxes between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday, Nov. 18; 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19; or 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 20.

JOINT WORSHIP SERVICE

A joint Thanksgiving eve worship service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at Faith United Methodist Church, 1013 Harmony Drive.

Faith United Methodist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church will combine congregations to give thanks for their many blessings. The Rev. Dr. Don Francis will deliver the sermon and Holy Communion will be celebrated.

ANNUAL FALL MUSICAL

The annual fall musical will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 2049 Summit Ave. The musical will feature groups of the city, choirs, solos and a male chorus.

HARVEST DAY PROGRAM

The annual Harvest Day Program begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, at Christ Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. for the community.

THANKSGIVING WORSHIP SERVICES

A Thanksgiving eve worship service begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, and a special Thanksgiving Day worship service begins at 10 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 23, at Grace Lutheran Church, 3700 Washington Ave.

THANKSGIVING SERVICES

A Thanksgiving service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 2921 Olive St. The service will be followed by an old-fashioned pie and ice cream social.

READING ROOM EXPANDED HOURS

The Reading Room, 302 Sixth St., is a quiet place for prayerful study, research and perusal of the Bible, science and health with key to the scriptures and other writings of Mary Baker Eddy, discoverer and founder of Christian Science. Reading Room hours are 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

These books, and other christian science literature may be read, borrowed or purchased. An attendant is available to answer questions. The Reading Room is an outreach of First Christ of Christ, Scientist.

SIENA RETREAT CENTER PROGRAMS

These programs are being offered at the Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie St., Caledonia:

Catherine of Siena (Becoming Mystics and Prophets series), Monday, Nov. 27, presented twice: 10-11:15 a.m. and 6:30-7:45 p.m. St. Catherine of Siena lived only 33 years, yet she influenced her times by speaking out about injustices she saw in her country and in her church. Sister Nancy Murray travels across the country and throughout the world portraying St. Catherine of Siena, the 14th century saint, patroness of the Dominicans and doctor of the church. Through her one-woman show, Murray transforms herself into the colorful, strong, passionate and enthusiastic woman of God. An offering will be accepted.

Gods Heart, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. The Rev. Byron Haaland will lead this Advent Day of Reflection program. Cost to attend is $45 including $10 non-refundable deposit and a noon meal.

For more information or to register for a program, go to www.SienaRetreatCenter.org or call 262-898-2590.
UNITED COUNTIES of SD&G, Ontario  Environment Canada is warning that there could be a significant precipitation event in Cornwall and the surrounding area this weekend.

A low pressure system is expected to track over Southern Ontario on Saturday, reads a special weather statement from Environment Canada. This low pressure system has the potential to bring significant snow or rain to the area through the weekend.

Environment Canada says that they cannot yet predict what kind of precipitation the region is in for.

At this time there is uncertainty as to the exact track of this low pressure system and as a result there is uncertainty in the type of precipitation that will fall, the statement reads. At this time the most significant snowfall is expected for areas north of a line from Lake Simcoe to Ottawa. South of this line, precipitation is expected to fall mostly as rain. The heaviest precipitation is likely to fall during the day Saturday and into Saturday night. Precipitation is expected to taper to scattered flurries on Sunday, the statement continues.

The Weather Network is calling for a high of 4 degrees in Cornwall on Saturday with 5-10mm of rain with that turning into snow on Sunday.
MAN PrimeServ announced today that it will provide Norwegian Cruise Line with SOLAS insulation upgrades for nine ships, totaling 44 engines.

The order covers the equipping of all engines with an output of over 375 KW with heat insulation, spray protection and resistance to flammability and fluid density, according to the SOLAS 220 convention. MAN 48/60B, 48/60A and 58/64 engine types will receive the upgrades, which represent the first such order from the Miami-based company. The project will be completed in 2018.

Giovanni Canu, vice president of technical operations for Norwegian,underlined the importance of safety aboard the companys fleet of vessels and employing the use of the modern solutions available. Paolo Mele

Safety is the top priority at Norwegian Cruise Line and we use all the tools available to ensure the safety of our guests, crew and ships and do so in a transparent fashion such that customers and crew can clearly see it, and in advance of regulatory requirements," he said.

Dr Thomas Spindler, head of upgrades and retrofits, MAN PrimeServ Four- Stroke, said: Planning the execution of the insulation upgrade  such that it takes place without disruption to normal cruise schedules  is a key element of this order; indeed, we have already started with the first Norwegian Cruise Line vessel. This is a very significant order for MAN PrimeServ, and I am certain it will not be the last as we are currently holding negotiations with other parties within this segment.

Hot spots can affect and damage other engine components, while splashing fuel-oil has the potential to result in engine-room fires as well as serious accidents to a ships crew.

In order to ensure conformity with SOLAS, MAN PrimeServ has carefully examined engine insulations and heat shielding after certain service periods over many years. Results have shown that the MAN engines original SOLAS insulation displayed neither abrasive spots from operation nor any spots soaked with fluid or impermissible heat leakages. Especially ships that were built before 2003 are not SOLAS-compliant and have to be upgraded through tailor-made solutions.
SkySea Cruise Line announced the completion of an extensive drydock on the Golden Era and the start of its new homeport operation in Shenzhen which will run through the end of the year.

The ship entered Cosco Shipyard in Zhoushan on Oct. 25 and emerged on Nov. 11.

We were set to drydock in January, with an extensive plan to do both a marine and hotel refurbishment, said Ken Muskat, CEO of SkySea.

We moved it up by a couple of months because there were a few things we wanted to do. There were some things that needed attention earlier," Muskat said, in an interview with Cruise Industry News.

We had good business opportunities come up in January and February. The drydock was available and we were able to get about 90 percent of everything we wanted to do get done early.

It was the first major project to use a turn-key Chinese interior refit company, as SkySea partnered with China State Shipbuilding Corporation and G-Art on interior renovations.

The drydock included routine work and equipment maintenance as well as a number of hotel projects including the addition of two new conference rooms.

The new SkySea Board Room located on Deck 7 can hold up to 50 guests and the new SkySea Conference Room located on Deck 12 can hold up to 100 guests, the company said.

In addition, the Grand Restaurant was renovated with a new Chinese look and feel.

Also, in partnership with international beauty brand PhiSkin there is a new hair and beauty salon. As well, the company added expanded retail shops and a pharmacy was added to the retail offerings.

The Golden Era will now sail 13 cruises from Shenzhen, sailing to Miyakojima and Okinawa in Japan and Da Nang and Halong Bay in Vietnam.

Scenes from Golden Era's Drydocking:
Poseidon Expeditions 2017-2018 Antarctic season is off to a successful start with the completion of its first voyage of the austral summer.

This season is shaping up to be an exceptional one for our company, said Nikolay Saveliev, president of Poseidon Expeditions. We are at 95% occupancy for the current season, with just a few cabins remaining for the late-booking crowd.

Our industry travel partners as well as prospective travelers who have done their research recognize the premium level of service and accommodations they will receive aboard the Sea Spirit. Our experienced guides are international and multi-lingual, ready to provide travelers from all over the world an informed and expertly curated experience to the Seventh Continent, he added.

For the first time, the company has also added packages that allow guests to spend several days in Buenos Aires pre or post cruise.

Since taking over operations of the 114-passenger expedition ship Sea Spirit in May 2015, Poseidon Expeditions have led more than 20 successful expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

All staterooms aboard the Sea Spirit were renovated in 2017, with all new soft goods  carpeting, draperies, upholstery, bed linens  some furniture and fixtures as well as complete replacement of all bathrooms. The beautiful bathrooms feature all-new tile work throughout, stone vanities, new fixtures and shower modules. The 2017 updates conclude a three-year schedule of overall improvements.
The 2017-2018 cruise season officially kicked off on Wednesday Nov. 15 as the Crystal Serenity called in Tobago.

It was the first call for the Serenity in Scarborough, Tobago, which is expected a strong winter cruise season.

The 2003-built ship received an official welcoming ceremony as Captain Birger Vorland was greeted by Secretary for Tourism Nadine Stewart-Phillips .
As the House begins debate on its tax reform bill, members will be prohibited from offering any amendmentsincluding changes to the credit union tax exemption.

Voting 235 to 191, the House approved the rule for debate on the bill Wednesday afternoon, with a vote likely Thursday.

Following tradition for such contentious legislation, the bill will go to the House floor under a closed rule, which prohibits amendments from being offered. Debate on the bill was to begin Wednesday afternoon. The rule calls for four hours of debate.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee continued to slog through amendments to its tax reform bill Wednesday afternoon.

So far, no senators have signaled their intention to offer an amendment affecting the credit union tax exemption.
Michael Phelps is the most decorated swimmer in history and hes heading to the THINK 18 stage to share his insights on how setting your sights, working your hardest and competing with conviction can help you win the day.

Where Speed + Excellence Takes You

Phelps is sure to set the tone for THINK 18, where the credit union industrys most forward-thinking innovators take on the challenges of the future. This years theme, Race to Excellence, centers around the twin demands of rapid change and an intensifying need for intelligence.

How fast does the digital world spin? Consumer expectations, technological breakthroughs and a culture of change demand a constant whirlwind of innovation and action. Yet, its never been more critical to develop a deep understanding of where the world, your members and your organization are heading.

THINK 18, the premier credit union innovation conference, May 7 to 10, 2018, at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Arizona, will feature an action-packed four days of all-star keynotes, lively dialogue and debate, and collaborative strategizing in an unparalleled setting of natural beauty.
What's going on in and around Somerset County?

lifestyle
By yet again blocking a move to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar at the United Nations, China has sent a clear message. For now, it is not likely to pressurise Pakistan to take action against JeM. This is the fourth time that China, a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has refused to support Indias demand.

On this decision, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, We raised a technical hold so as to allow more time for the committee and its members to deliberate on this matter. But there is still absence of consensus on this matter.

It would be pertinent to point out that 14 other members of the UNSC are backing India. Washington, of late, has been the most vocal in backing Indias demand for imposing the ban on Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar. Commenting on the issue, a US state department spokesman, said, We certainly think that he is a bad guy. We would like to have him on that list."

After agreeing to mention Pakistan-based terror groups in the BRICS Summit, it was believed that China may change its mind about Pakistan. The BRICS declaration, without naming Pakistan directly, referred to the actions of the groups harboured in Pakistan.

In its statement, it expressed concerns over the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH (Islamic State), the Al-Qaida and its affiliates, including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ) and Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The mention of these terror groups was all the more important, given the fact, that in the previous BRICS Summit (October 2016) China had not agreed to refer to terrorism. It only agreed to mention disputes within South Asia, alluding to Kashmir.

China doesnt want to upset Pakistan

First, after China President Xi Jinping got a second five-year-term as the Communist Party leader, he will now concentrate on strengthening his position in a broader geo-political context.

Second, it is the ever-burgeoning relationships between the India and the US, and India and Japan but also the emerging Quad between India, the US, Australia and Japan which caused discomfort to China. Representatives of the Quad, who met on the eve of Prime Minister Modis arrival in Manila stated, The discussions focused on cooperation based on their converging vision and values for promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected region that they share with each other and with other partners."

Interestingly, there was also a reference to democracy as a commonality. This, too, was a clear message to China.

China not happy as Asia Pacific becomes Indo-Pacific

The term Indo-Pacific, which has been increasingly used by the Americans, too, has caused discomfort in Beijing. US President Donald Trump used this on more than one occasion during his recent visit to the Asia Pacific. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson, in a speech, spoke about greater cooperation between India and the US in the Indo-Pacific, while also taking a jibe at China. Said Tillerson, We need to collaborate with India to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is increasingly a place of peace, stability, and growing prosperityso that it does not become a region of disorder, conflict, and predatory economics."

Similarly, US President Donald Trump, too, used this term during his recent Asia visit and did away with the earlier reference of Asia-Pacific.

What should India do in such a scenario?

First, its strengthening of ties with the US, Japan and the talk of a Quadrilateral with Australia makes perfect sense. For way too long, India has paid attention to Chinese sensitivities and been reticent about joining hands with other countries. While India needs to have an independent policy, and should not blindly follow any one country, its foreign policy cannot be driven by Chinese sensitivities.

Second, the real leverage which India enjoys over China is in the economic sphere. India should focus on reducing its dependence on Chinese goods, and also send a clear message to the Chinese that if it does not stop supporting Pakistan-based terror groups, India is capable of taking punitive steps in the economic sphere. This certainly does not mean a boycott, but gradually reducing its dependence. As it is, there is an increasing dip in sales of Chinese goods. On Diwali, for instance, there has been a significant dip in sales. While last year, there was a dip of 30 per cent, this year the dip in demand for Chinese goods was estimated at 40 percent.

India should befriend Taiwan

Apart from becoming more pro-active in the Indo-Pacific, India should also strengthen its ties with Taiwan. Trade between both the countries has witnessed a significant rise and is estimated at six billion USD (2016). Both the countries have also been working towards an FTA-like agreement to boost the economic relationship. Taiwanese investment in India, too, has significantly risen, though this is way below potential. There are over 90 Taiwanese companies in India and most of them have invested in information and communications technology. One of the major investors has been Foxconn. In fact, Foxconn has been the first to respond to Indias Make-in-India scheme. Of late, there has been a delay in Taiwanese investment in Maharashtra, owing to tensions with China. In 2015, Foxconn had committed an investment of five billion USD. India should seek to address the reasons for the delay.

Given the interest of the current Taiwan government in wanting to improve bilateral ties, through its southbound policy, India should seek to strengthen bilateral ties with Taiwan. President Tsai Ing Wen, in her inaugural speech stated, "We will broaden exchanges and cooperation with regional neighbours in areas such as technology, culture and commerce, and expand in particular our dynamic relationships with Asean and India."

There is immense scope for India and Taiwan to work together in numerous areas; infrastructure, science and technology, education and tourism. New Delhi should, thus, seek to accelerate bilateral ties with Taiwan. Visits by representatives from the state governments, especially states where Taiwan has invested or has interest, should be encouraged along with greater people-to-people contact.
After a flurry of meetings across Asia among world leaders, the question on everyones lips is: just what does the United States President Donald Trump stand for? In Beijing, Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping who was on his best behaviour. Xi gave Trump red carpet treatment and promised to work together for a terrorism-free South Asia. The loud chuckles from the Generals in Rawalpindi could be heard as far away as in Beijing.

Rhetoric

The moment he left Beijing for Vietnam and then Manila for back-to-back summits with the leaders of ASEAN, Trumps tone changed. He criticised China for unfair trade practices and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for doing an astounding job to make India a major global economy. Trump said: Since India opened its economy it has achieved astounding growth and a new world of opportunities for its expanding middle class. PM (Narendra) Modi has been working to bring that vast country and all of its people as one. And he has been working at it very, very successfully indeed.

The Trump-Modi meeting in Manila though was long on rhetoric, short on substance. Can Trump back his talk of a new South Asia policy that reins in Pakistan-sponsored terrorism? The short answer: no. There are multiple reasons for this. At home Trump is under enormous pressure. Democratic party victories last week in Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have been seized by the anti-Trump US media as a decisive turning point in the Trump presidency.

Special counsel Robert Mueller is meanwhile likely to charge Trumps former national security advisor (NSA) General Michael Flynn over illegal Russian collusion as well as an alleged $15 million (about Rs 98 crore) payoff deal to forcibly seize Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen and hand him over to Ankara which accuses him of masterminding last years failed coup in Turkey.

The US media, which hasnt reconciled to Trumps electoral victory last November, is circling over him like vultures sighting prey. Last week The Washington Post ran a story on Republican candidate Roy Moore, a former judge, virtually destroying his chances in a Senate race for the Alabama seat vacated by attorney-general Jeff Sessions.

If the Republicans lose their majority in the House of Representatives in the biennial 2018 elections, Trump faces the real prospect of impeachment. Mueller has widened his probe against Trump to include obstruction of justice, a lower bar to prove the Russian collusion in the 2016 Presidential election which requires proof of malicious intent.

Fighting multiple fires at home, Trump is hemmed in abroad as well. After Syria recently signed the Paris accord, the US is now the only country which has refused to ratify the climate change agreement.

All this at least partly explains Trumps often contradictory positions on China, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the Saudi Arabia-Iran proxy conflict currently roiling the Middle East. Pakistan, left out of major world summits, is meanwhile chafing at the bit.

Desperate to win back a measure of respectability, it suggested a SAARC meeting to discuss pollution across north India and Pakistan Punjab. India has ruled out a SAARC summit as well as direct talks with Pakistan till terrorism from Islamabad backed jihadis ends.

Decision

Trumps decision to change the narrative from Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific deeply worries Islamabad. The US-proposed quadrilateral between the US, India, Japan, and Australia, whose four leaders met in Manila this week, has also unsettled Pakistan.

It sees its options limited to China. In order to keep US trade sanctions at bay following its failure to rein in North Korea, Beijing will be compelled to show it is at least reining in Pakistan. This is part of Xis commitment to Trump last week in Beijing to make South Asia terrorism-free.

Complicating matters is the ongoing crisis in Saudi Arabia. Emboldened by Trumps visit in May 2017 followed by his son-in-law Jared Kushners several under-the-radar trips to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is upending decades of settled Middle East politics. Apparently with Trumps blessings, Kushner has held long meetings in Riyadh, often past midnight, with Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias crown prince who is destabilising the Middle East with his demonic antipathy towards Shia Iran.

Alliance

On one side are ranged Shia powers Iran, Iraq, Syria and Hezbollah-backed Lebanon. On the other side is a powerful Saudi-led Sunni alliance of Gulf states and Riyadhs covert ally Israel. Trump has unwisely backed the covert Saudi-Israel alliance while Russias Valdimir Putin, who helped the Syrian government defeat, US-backed insurgents, fighting to overthrow Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, is firmly behind the Iran-led alliance. These global flashpoints threaten to overturn the balance of regional power in an arc from Lebanon in the west to North Korea in the east.

Right in the middle of this geopolitical theatre lies the longest running war America has fought outside its borders: Afghanistan. Trump knows Pakistan sponsored terrorism is the cancer at the heart of Afghanistan. But he cannot administer chemotherapy because Islamabad controls access to landlocked Afghanistan. Last month, the first Indian shipment of wheat left Chabahar port in Iran for Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

When Modi exchanged his trademark hug with Trump in Manila, he would have offered him wiser counsel than the American President has received from the silver-tongued hustlers in the ISI. That advice can be summarised thus: if you want a terror-free Afghanistan, treat Pakistan as part of the problem, not as part of the solution.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, surprised some in his party Wednesday when he stated that he opposes the current form of the tax reform bill.

In a statement, Johnson said it is important to maintain the domestic competitive position and balance between large publicly traded C corporations and pass-through entities.

These businesses truly are the engines of innovation and job creation throughout our economy and they should not be left behind, Johnson said. "Unfortunately, neither the House nor Senate bill provide fair treatment, so I do not support either in their current versions.

"I do, however, look forward to working with my colleagues to address the disparity so I can support the final version.

After the statement came out, Johnson participated in a telephone/online town hall conversation in which he responded to several questions about his stance on tax reform.

I dont want to be against anything  I havent said I wont vote for the final bill, Johnson said. He added that he is working with congressional leaders to improve the bill. Were already making some changes in some respects," he said.

In an Oct. 28 Journal Times story, Johnson told the newspaper's Editorial Board he was close to a bill that would change how corporate tax is paid. He said that has interest in the White House and across the aisle.

However, Johnson also told the Editorial Board hes been frustrated with how tax reform is being put together.

To be quite honest, my concepts havent been acted on or taken seriously, he said.

Ryan confident of House passage

Johnson is one of the first Republicans to voice some opposition to the current tax reform bill.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has been vocal about a need to pass tax reform.

Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said Ryan is confident tax reform will pass the House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the House will pass our tax reform bill to provide tax relief for families across Wisconsin and the country, Strong said.

We are confident Senate Republicans will also find agreement on their tax reform bill and pass it in the coming weeks so we can go to conference and then get it to the President for his signature.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, who has also opposed the current tax reform bill, said the tax system needs to be simpler and fairer.

The Republican plan is largely a tax giveaway to the wealthiest few and big corporations, while millions of middle-class families would get a tax hike, Baldwin stated.

Powerful corporations get permanent tax breaks and 13 million Americans making less than $200,000 a year will see a tax increase in 2019," Baldwin continued. "The top 1 percent gets their tax breaks and they want to pay for it by ripping health care away from 13 million people, increasing health care premiums by up to 10 percent.
Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets a range of disposable protective apparel, infection control, and building supply products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Disposable Protective Apparel and Building Supply. The Disposable Protective Apparel segment provides shoe covers, bouffant caps, coveralls, frocks, lab coats, and gowns, hoods, as well as face masks and shields. The Building Supply segment offers construction weatherization products, such as housewrap and housewrap accessories, including window and door flashing, and seam tape, and synthetic roof underlayment, as well as other woven material. The company markets its products under the Alpha Pro Tech brand name, as well as under private labels. Its products are used primarily in cleanrooms; industrial safety manufacturing environments; health care facilities, such as hospitals, laboratories, and dental offices; building and re-roofing sites. The company distributes its products through a network of purchasing groups, distributors, and independent sales representatives, as well as through its sales and marketing force. Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada.
EDGERTON  A Wisconsin businessman has created a fund that awards grants to nonprofits trying to move toward solar energy.

Cal Couillard created Solar for Good, which awards the grants with the help of the advocacy group RENEW Wisconsin, according to media reports.

Couillard is president of Componex. He had solar panels installed at the Edgerton-based manufacturer this year. Hes also contributed $125,000 to start the fund and plans to give more over the next few years.

I cant guarantee it forever but Im hoping that I can continue to do that and stay at that level, he said. And Id like to see if maybe other people might like to do this as well.

Couillard said the price of going solar has dropped, so it makes financial sense for organizations to turn to solar energy. He said transitioning to renewable energy is also good for the environment.

The idea is that if we can install on churches and other nonprofits then all the people that are going there will also see this happening, he said. So basically I want to spread the message that solar is not just green for the environment, its green monetarily. You can actually save money doing it. It pays for itself. And I want to get that word out because I dont think a lot of people know it.

Ten nonprofits have applied for a grant and the first set of recipients will be announced soon. The next batch of applicants will be considered in the spring.
Moog Inc. designs, manufactures, and integrates precision motion and fluid controls and controls systems for original equipment manufacturers and end users in the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets worldwide. The company's Aircrafts Controls segment offers primary and secondary flight controls for military and commercial aircrafts; aftermarket support services; and ground-based navigation aids. Its Space and Defense Controls segment provides controls for satellites, space vehicles, launch vehicles, armored combat vehicles, tactical and strategic missiles, security and surveillance, and other defense applications; and gun aiming, stabilization, and automatic ammunition loading for armored combat vehicles. This segment also offers controls for steering tactical and strategic missiles, and naval surface ships and submarines; and weapons stores management systems for light attack aerial reconnaissance, ground, and sea platforms, as well as slip rings, fiber optic rotary joints, and motors. The company's Industrial Systems segment provides components and systems for applications in injection and blow molding machinery, metal forming presses, and heavy industry customers in steel and aluminum production; supplies electromechanical motion simulation bases for the flight simulation and training applications; and supplies solutions for power generation applications, as well as custom test systems and controls for automotive, structural, and fatigue testing. This segment also offers systems and components for applications in oil and gas exploration and production; components for wind turbine applications; components and systems for diagnostic imaging CT scan medical equipment, sleep apnea equipment, oxygen concentrators, infusion therapy, and enteral clinical nutrition; and hydraulics, slip rings, rotary unions and fiber optic rotary joints, motors, and infusion and enteral pumps. The company was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in East Aurora, New York.
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 capacity to capture the wider public. A December 1959 India visit generated gigantic warm welcoming crowds, despite bitter Cold War policy differences between New Delhi and Washington, D.C. Nevertheless, even Ike ran into trouble.

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 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 Japan history.

There is no shortage of problems domestic and international to occupy Tokyo, including the 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 Koreas 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, by careful design his last major overseas trip during the Obama administration. A highlight was touring the new Izumo, Japans largest military ship since World War II. On December 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.

Last February, Japananese Prime Minister Abes visit to the United States underscored the vital importance of the strong alliance between our two nations. Military defense and economic integration 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. Japan-U.S. military cooperation is now imperative. Diplomacy and strength join.

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.

Ikes talents include remarkable capacity for sheer hard work, on demanding projects that resulted in success. The highest-stakes 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. Ikes instructive example continues to be timely.
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BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California.
The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group Public: 360 Connect S.A., 3@ Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus  Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way  Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U.  Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited  Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal  Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V..

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AAR Corp. provides products and services to commercial aviation, government, and defense markets worldwide. The Aviation Services segment offers aftermarket support and services; inventory management and distribution services; and maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as engineering services. This segment also sells and leases new, overhauled, and repaired engine and airframe parts, and components; and provides inventory and repair programs, warranty claim management, and outsourcing programs for engine and airframe parts and components, as well as performance-based supply chain logistics programs in support of the U.S. department of defense and foreign governments. In addition, it offers airframe inspection, maintenance, repair and overhaul, painting, line maintenance, airframe modification, structural repair, avionic and installation, exterior and interior refurbishment, and engineering and support services; and repairs and overhauls components, landing gears, wheels, and brakes. The Expeditionary Services segment provides products and services supporting the movement of equipment and personnel by the U.S. and foreign governments, and non-governmental organizations. This segment also designs, manufactures, and repairs transportation pallets, and various containers and shelters; and provides engineering, design, and system integration services for command and control systems. The company serves domestic and foreign passenger airlines; domestic and foreign cargo airlines; regional and commuter airlines; business and general aviation operators; original equipment manufacturers; aircraft leasing companies; aftermarket aviation support companies; and domestic and foreign military customers. It primarily markets and sells products and services through its employees and foreign sales representatives. AAR Corp. was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois.
100 Banke vote stations highly sensitive

A meeting of security officials in Banke has identified 100 of the 136 polling stations in the district as highly sensitive and the remaining 36 as sensitive in terms of security.
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. no longer investing. It is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in expansion financings, growth capital, management buyouts, recapitalizations, industry consolidations, corporate spinouts, growth stage, and early stage financings. It initially invests in a Series A-C round and opportunistically in a seed round. The firm prefers to make investments in companies engaged in the technology, financial services, and healthcare sector. Within the technology sector, it invests in software as a service, adtech / digital media, Internet of Everything, enhanced security, predictive analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, technology enabled services, internet/new media, financial technology, cloud, mobile, social, big data, in memory, and selected business services with capital requirements of up to $25 million. Within healthcare sector, the firm invests in molecular and point-of-care diagnostics, medical devices, regenerative medicine, medical technology, digital health, healthcare technology, specialty pharmaceuticals, and selected healthcare services. It invests throughout the United States with a focus on Mid-Atlantic region, and Southeastern Canada. The firm primarily invests between $5 million and $25 million in growth equity financing and between $5 million and $10 million in early-stage financing. It typically invests in the capital structures including owner financed and bootstrapped companies, corporate division or business unit, and venture capital-backed seeking a growth partner. The firm prefers to be the largest shareholder in its portfolio companies, with ownership in the range of 20 percent to 50 percent. However, it may occasionally take a majority or smaller stake in its portfolio companies. It prefers to invest in companies having proprietary technology and intellectual property. The firm prefers to take a Board seat in its portfolio companies. The company was founded in 1953 as Lancaster Corporation and changed its name to Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. in 1981. Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. is based in Radnor, Pennsylvania with additional office in Weston, Massachusetts.
Banc of California, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California, National Association that provides banking products and services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, retirement, and interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing demand accounts, as well as certificate of deposits. It also provides various commercial and consumer loan products, such as commercial and industrial loans; commercial real estate and multifamily loans; construction loans; single family residential mortgage loans; warehouse and indirect/direct leveraged lending; home equity lines of credit; small business administration loans; and other consumer loans. In addition, the company offers automated bill payment, cash and treasury management, foreign exchange, card payment, remote and mobile deposit capture, automated clearing house origination, wire transfer, direct deposit, and internet banking services; and master demand accounts, interest rate swaps, and safe deposit boxes. Further, it invests in collateralized loan obligations, agency securities, municipal bonds, agency residential mortgage-backed securities, and corporate debt securities. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated 29 full-service branches in Southern California. The company was formerly known as First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. and changed its name to Banc of California, Inc. in July 2013. Banc of California, Inc. was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.
2 TSC officials appear before SC

Four months after a graft case was filed, two accused officials of Tax Settlement Commission (TSC) appeared before the Special Court (SC).
Benchmark Electronics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides product design, engineering services, technology solutions, and manufacturing services in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The company offers engineering services and technology solutions, including new product design, prototype, testing, and related engineering services; and custom testing and technology solutions, as well as automation equipment design and build services. It also provides electronics manufacturing and testing services, such as printed circuit board assembly and test solutions, assembly of subsystems, circuitry and functionality testing of printed assemblies, environmental and stress testing, and component reliability testing; component engineering services; manufacturing defect analysis, in-circuit testing, functional testing, and life cycle testing services, as well as environmental stress tests of assemblies of boards or systems; and failure analysis. In addition, the company offers precision machining and electromechanical assembly services; and subsystem and system integration services, including assembly, configuration, and testing for various industries. Further, it provides value-added support systems; supply chain management solutions; direct order fulfillment; and aftermarket non-warranty services, including repair, replacement, refurbishment, remanufacturing, exchange, systems upgrade, and spare parts manufacturing throughout a product's life cycle. The company serves original equipment manufacturers in the aerospace and defense, medical technologies, complex industrials, semiconductor capital equipment, telecommunications, and advanced computing industries. It markets its services and solutions primarily through a direct sales force. The company was formerly known as Electronics, Inc. Benchmark Electronics, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.
Best Buy Co., Inc. retails technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products. The company's stores also offer appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry, ovens, refrigerators, blenders, coffee makers, and vacuums; entertainment products consisting of drones, peripherals, movies, music, and toys, as well as gaming hardware and software, and virtual reality and other software products; and other products, such as baby, food and beverage, luggage, outdoor living, and sporting goods. In addition, it provides consultation, delivery, design, health-related, installation, memberships, repair, set-up, technical support, and warranty-related services. The company offers its products through stores and websites under the Best Buy, Best Buy Ads, Best Buy Business, Best Buy Health, CST, Current Health, Geek Squad, Lively, Magnolia, Best Buy Mobile, Pacific Kitchen, Home, and Yardbird, as well as domain names bestbuy.com, currenthealth.com, lively.com, yardbird.com, and bestbuy.ca. As of January 30, 2022, it had 1,144 stores. The company was formerly known as Sound of Music, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota.
PVH Corp. operates as an apparel company worldwide. The company operates through six segments: Tommy Hilfiger North America, Tommy Hilfiger International, Calvin Klein North America, Calvin Klein International, Heritage Brands Wholesale, and Heritage Brands Retail. It designs, markets, and retails men's, women's, and children's apparel and accessories, including branded dress shirts, neckwear, sportswear, jeans wear, performance apparel, intimate apparel, underwear, swimwear, swim-related products, handbags, accessories, footwear, outerwear, home furnishings, luggage products, sleepwear, loungewear, hats, scarves, gloves, socks, watches and jewelry, eyeglasses and non-ophthalmic sunglasses, fragrance, home bed and bath furnishings, small leather goods, and other products. The company offers its products under its own brands, such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Van Heusen, IZOD, ARROW, Warner's, Olga, Geoffrey Beene, and True&Co., as well as various other owned, licensed, and private label brands. It also licenses its own brands over various products. The company distributes its products at wholesale in department, chain, and specialty stores, as well as through warehouse clubs, mass market, and off-price and independent retailers; and through company-operated full-price, outlet stores, and concession locations, as well as through digital commerce sites. It markets its products to approximately 40 countries. PVH Corp. was founded in 1881 and is based in New York, New York.
4 arrested for gang rape of 16-yr-old

Police have arrested four men for the gang rape of a 16-year-old adolescent girl in Janakpur.
Public Storage is a REIT focused on acquiring, developing, owning, and operating self-storage facilities in the US and Europe. The company is a member of the S&P 500 and the FT Global 500 and is the worlds 4th largest REIT by market cap. Along with its holdings of self-storage facilities, the company owns a 42% stake in business park company PS Business Parks and is also in business selling packing and storage supplies. The company is headquartered in Glendale California.

The company was founded in 1972 by B. Wayne Hughes and Kenneth Polk who used the leverage of investments from RELPs to grow the business. The original plan was to use the storage warehouses as a means of generating income until the properties were more valuable. The surprise is that demand for storage space was high and led to unexpected profitability.

The company has more than 1,000 locations by 1989 and then, in 1995, it transformed itself into a publicly traded REIT. The transformation was spurred by tax changes that made RELPs obsolete. The transformation was done via a merger with Storage Equities which gave up its name in favor of Public Storage. The company grew again with the acquisition of Shurgard in 2006 but it has since been spun off as its own publicly traded company. Public Storage retains 36% ownership in Shurgard.

As of September 2022, the company owned and operated 2,807 self-storage facilities in 39 states. The total area of rental space exceeded 2 million square feet serving nearly 2 million customers and generating close to $3.5 billion in annual revenues. Shurgard lays claim to another 239 facilities in the EU which amounts to another 13 minion square feet of storage space. PS Business Parks, Inc, which trades under the ticker (NYSE: PSB) owns and operates 28 million square feet of commercial space.

Advantages of Public Storage include scale, leverage, and the balance sheet. The companys size and scale mean that more than half the US population lives within driving distance of a Public Storage facility. The company gives leverage through its three-pronged acquisition, development, and redevelopment strategy which are all supported by the balance sheet. The companys balance sheet is set up for growth and is able to self-fund most new projects.
Cantel Medical Corp. provides infection prevention and control products and services for the healthcare market. The company's Medical segment offers automated endoscope reprocessing systems; disinfectants and sterilants; detergents; leak testing and manual cleaning products; storage cabinets and transport systems; manual cleaning products; endoscope process tracking products; other consumables, accessories, and supplies for use in disinfect rigid endoscopes, flexible endoscopes, and other instrumentation; and technical maintenance services. Its Life Sciences segment provides dialysis water purification and bicarbonate mixing systems; hollow fiber filters, and other filtration and separation products; liquid disinfectants and cold sterilization products; dry fog products; room temperature sterilization equipment and services; and clean-room certification and decontamination services for the dialysis and other healthcare, research laboratories, food and beverage, and commercial industrial customers, as well as microbiological testing services. The company's Dental segment offers hand and powered dental instruments, instrument reprocessing and sterility assurance products, towels, bibs, tray liners, sponges, nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation equipment and related single-use disposable nasal masks, face masks, and shields. It also provides hand sanitizers, germicidal wipes, disinfectants, surface disinfectants, waterline treatment products, saliva ejectors, evacuator tips, plastic cups, prophy angles, and prophy paste. The company's Dialysis segment provides hemodialysis concentrates and other ancillary supplies; medical device reprocessing systems; and sterilants and disinfectants. The company sells its products through its direct distribution network in the United States; and directly or under various third-party distribution agreements internationally. Cantel Medical Corp. was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Little Falls, New Jersey.
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation provides a secondary market for various loans made to borrowers in the United States. It operates through four segments: Farm & Ranch, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Guarantees, Rural Utilities, and Institutional Credit. The Farm & Ranch segment purchases and retains eligible mortgage loans that are secured by first liens on agricultural real estate; securitizes eligible mortgage loans, and guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on securities representing interests in or obligations secured by pools of mortgage loans; and issues long-term standby purchase commitments (LTSPC) on designated eligible mortgage loans. The USDA Guarantees segment purchases portions of certain agricultural and rural development loans guaranteed by the USDA. The Rural Utilities segment purchases and guarantees securities that are backed by loans for electric or telecommunications facilities by lenders organized as cooperatives to borrowers; and purchases eligible rural utilities loans and guarantees of securities backed by those loans, as well as LTSPCs for pools of eligible rural utilities loans. The Institutional Credit segment guarantees and purchases general obligations of lenders and other financial institutions that are secured by pools of loans eligible under the Farmer Mac's Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, or Rural Utilities lines of business. Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.
Credit Suisse Group AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. The company offers wealth management solutions, including investment advice and discretionary asset management services; risk management solutions, such as managed investment products; and wealth planning, succession planning, and trust services. It also provides financing and lending solutions, including consumer credit and real estate mortgage lending, real asset lending relating to ship, and aviation financing for UHNWI; standard and structured hedging, and lombard lending solutions, as well as collateral trading services; and investment banking solutions, such as global securities sales, trading and execution, capital raising, and advisory services. In addition, the company offers banking solutions, such as payments, accounts, debit and credit cards, and product bundles; asset management products; equity and debt underwriting, and advisory services; cash equities, equity derivatives, and convertibles, as well as prime services; and fixed income products, such as credit, securitized, macro, emerging markets, financing, structured credit, and other products. Further, it provides HOLT, a framework for assessing the performance of approximately 20,000 companies; and equity and fixed income research services. The company serves private and institutional clients; ultra-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and affluent and retail clients; corporate clients, small and medium-sized enterprises, external asset managers, financial institutions, and commodity traders; and pension funds, hedge funds, governments, foundations and endowments, corporations, entrepreneurs, private individuals, financial sponsors, and sovereign clients. As of December 31, 2021, it operated through a network of 311 offices and branches. The company was founded in 1856 and is based in Zurich, Switzerland.
5 cadres of Chand-led CPN Maoist arrested

Police on Thursday arrested five cadres including district In-Charge of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist.
Walker & Dunlop, Inc., through its subsidiaries, originates, sells, and services a range of multifamily and other commercial real estate financing products and services for owners and developers of real estate in the United States. The company offers first mortgage, second trust, supplemental, construction, mezzanine, preferred equity, small-balance, and bridge/interim loans. It also provides multifamily finance for manufactured housing communities, student housing, affordable housing, and senior housing properties under the Fannie Mae's DUS program; and construction and permanent loans to developers and owners of multifamily housing, affordable housing, senior housing, and healthcare facilities. In addition, the company acts as an intermediary in the placement of commercial real estate debt between institutional sources of capital, including life insurance companies, investment banks, commercial banks, pension funds, CMBS conduits, and other institutional investors, as well as owners of various types of commercial real estate. Further, it advises on capital structure; develops the financing package; facilitates negotiations between its client and institutional sources of capital; coordinates due diligence; and assists in closing the transaction. Additionally, the company offers property sales brokerage, underwriting and risk management, and servicing and asset management services. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.
The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC.

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Bomb hurled at State Minister Pun in Rolpa

A bomb was targeted towards State Minister for Irrigation Amar Singh Pun in Rolpa district on Thursday.
GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. The company offers pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology. It also provides consumer healthcare products in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health categories. The company offers its consumer healthcare products in the form of nasal sprays, tablets, syrups, lozenges, gum and trans-dermal patches, caplets, infant syrup drops, liquid filled suspension, wipes, gels, effervescents, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, denture adhesives and cleansers, topical creams and non-medicated patches, lip balm, gummies, and soft chews. It has collaboration agreements with 23andMe; Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.; Novartis; Sanofi SA; Surface Oncology; Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.; Alector, Inc.; and CureVac AG., as well as strategic partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. The company was formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline plc and changed its name to GSK plc in May 2022. GSK plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Brentford, the United Kingdom.
Break off the downfall

Higher education, as a capital investment, is of paramount importance for the socio-economic, cultural and technological development of a country.
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment offers forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems, struts/pylons, nacelles, and related engine structural components; and wings and wing components, including flight control surfaces, as well as other structural parts. This segment primarily serves the aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or engine OEMs of large commercial aircraft and/or business/regional jet programs. The Defense & Space segment provides fuselage, strut, nacelle, and wing aerostructures primarily for U.S. Government defense programs, including Boeing P-8, C40, and KC-46 Tanker. This segment also engages in the fabrication, bonding, assembly, testing, tooling, processing, engineering analysis, and training on fixed wing aircraft aerostructures, missiles, and hypersonics works, such as solid rocket motor throats, nozzles, re-entry vehicle thermal protections systems, forward cockpit and cabin, and fuselage work on rotorcraft aerostructures. The Aftermarket segment offers spare parts and MRO services, repairs for flight control surfaces and nacelles, radome repairs, rotable assets, engineering services, advanced composite repairs, and other repair and overhaul services. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. has a strategic partnership with Sierra Space to enhance access to commercial space economy of the future. The company was formerly known as Mid-Western Aircraft Systems Holdings, Inc. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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Deuba courts Nepalgunj Mayor Rana to boost NC-led alliance

The ruling Nepali Congress has been working in tandem with its partners in democratic alliance, going to lengths in devising strategies at local levels to outscore their chief rivalsthe left alliance of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre).
Everest Re Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Insurance Operations segment writes property and casualty insurance directly, as well as through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents in Bermuda, Canada, Europe, South America, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company also provides treaty and facultative reinsurance products; admitted and non-admitted insurance products; and property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability, directors' and officers' liability, medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health, and workers' compensation products. In addition, it offers commercial property and casualty insurance products through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers, and program administrators. Everest Re Group, Ltd. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products in Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, papers, and cigars; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, oral nicotine, and heated tobacco products. The company sells its products under various brands, including Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, West, L&B, Winston, Parker & Simpson, blu, Pluze, Zone-X, Kool, Horizon, Backwoods, Skruf, Golden Virginia, Rizla, and Dutch Masters. It also engages in the distribution of tobacco and NGP products for tobacco and NGP product manufacturers; and various non-tobacco and NGP products and services. In addition, the company is involved in the management of a golf course; distribution of pharmaceuticals, POS software, and published materials and other products; printing and publishing activities; and provision of long haul transportation, industrial parcel and express delivery, advertising, and support management services. Further, it owns the trademarks; and retails its products. The company was formerly known as Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and changed its name to Imperial Brands PLC in February 2016. Imperial Brands PLC was founded in 1901 and is based in Bristol, the United Kingdom.
EC concerned about secret financial dealings

The Election Commission (EC) is concerned about possible secret financial dealings during the elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said on Wednesday, calling for support from government agencies, civil society and media to curb such activities which could influence the elections.
Fertiliser shortage worries farmers in Bardiya

Budhu Ram Tharu of Madhuban-6 has gotten into the daily routine of scouring the Agriculture Inputs Company (AIC) in Gularia for chemical fertiliser. However, he is forced to return home empty-handed every time.
It takes 8 hours for Siddara locals to vote!

Many voters of Siddara region in Arghakhanchi district have complained about the voting centre being too far away from their area.
Block, Inc. is the parent company to a host of digital financial solutions including Square. The company was founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey (also founded Twitter) and Jim McKelvey as a solution to a problem faced by McKelvey. Mr. McKelvey was unable to complete a transaction because he was unable to accept credit cards and that provided inspiration for Mr. Dorsey. The firm was founded in St. Louis but now has no official headquarters, instead choosing to do most work remotely or from one of several key hubs. That decision was made in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic when it became clear telecommuting was a solution that worked.

The original Square app provides a multitude of payment and POS solutions that include hardware and software. The hardware includes the iconic Square card mag-stripe reader that can be plugged into any tablet or smartphone as well as many other solutions. The software enables sellers to turn their smart devices into POS on a temporary or permanent/dedicated basis.

The company went public in 2015 when it IPOd on the NASDAQ stock exchange and then later decided to change its name to Block to better represent the business. Today, Block, Inc. operates as a network of businesses that are working together to expand access to the economy. The core brands are Square, CashApp, AfterPay, Weebly, Tidal, Spiral, and TBD.

The Square brand encompasses all the core business including but not limited to hardware and its related software. The CashApp business is a money transfer solution that is working to make money more available and universally acceptable. Afterpay is a buy-now-pay-later service. Weebly is an eCommerce and web hosting service for small and medium-sized businesses. Tidal is a platform for musicians and artists to connect with fans and monetize their brands. Spiral is the firm's cryptocurrency division and TBD is a division focused on crypto, specifically building a crypto platform.

Block, Inc. stunned the market in 2020 when it began to purchase Bitcoin. Then Square, the company purchased Bitcoin in two transactions for a total of $210 million. The holdings amount to 8,027 Bitcoins which were worth $154.75 million in October 2022. The purpose of Spiral is to fund open-sourced applications that encourage and facilitate the use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Mr. Dorsey remains the CEO and chairman of Block, Inc. The company employs more than 8,500 individuals across its footprint and netted $17.66 billion in revenue for 2021. Mr. Dorsey is also the companys largest shareholder with about 10% of the shares.
Landmine targets left candidate Shrestha in Gorkha

A landmine was detonated on the path used by left alliance candidate Narayan Kaji Shrestha near Sarvi River in Gorkha Municipality-10 on Thursday. However, no casualty was reported in the incident.
STERIS plc provides infection prevention and other procedural products and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, Life Sciences, and Dental. The Healthcare segment offers cleaning chemistries and sterility assurance products; automated endoscope reprocessing system and tracking products; accessories for gastrointestinal (GI) procedures, washers, sterilizers, and other pieces of capital equipment for the operation of a sterile processing department; and equipment used directly in the operating room, including surgical tables, lights, and connectivity solutions, as well as equipment management services. It also provides capital equipment installation, maintenance, upgradation, repair, and troubleshooting services; preventive maintenance programs and repair services; instrument and endoscope repair and maintenance services; and custom process improvement consulting and outsourced instrument sterile processing services. The Applied Sterilization Technologies segment provides contract sterilization and testing services for medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers through a network of approximately 50 contract sterilization and laboratory facilities. The Life Sciences segment designs, manufactures and sells consumable products, such as formulated cleaning chemistries, barrier and sterility assurance products, steam and vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilizers, and washer disinfectors. This segment also offers equipment installation, maintenance, upgradation, repair, and troubleshooting services; and preventive maintenance programs and repair services. The Dental segment provides hand and powered dental instruments, infection control products, personal protective equipment, and water quality products for dental suite. The company serves its products and services to hospitals, other healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company was founded in 1985 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.
NC defends move over Budhi Gandaki project

The ruling Nepali Congress on Wednesday defended governments decision to scrap the deal with China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) on the construction of the 1,200MW Budhi Gandaki Hydroelectricity Project.
The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc..

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TransUnion provides risk and information solutions. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Markets, International, and Consumer Interactive. The U.S. Markets segment provides consumer reports, actionable insights, and analytics to businesses. These businesses use its services to acquire new customers; assess consumer ability to pay for services; identify cross-selling opportunities; measure and manage debt portfolio risk; collect debt; verify consumer identities; and mitigate fraud risk. This segment serves various industry vertical markets, including financial services, insurance, tenant and employment, collections and services, technology, commerce and communication, public sector, media, and other markets. The International segment offers credit reports, analytics, technology solutions, and other value-added risk management services; and consumer services, which help consumers to manage their personal finances and consumer credit reporting, insurance and auto information solutions, and commercial credit information services. This segment serves customers in financial services, retail credit, insurance, automotive, collections, public sector, and communications industries through direct and indirect channels. The Consumer Interactive segment provides credit reports and scores, credit monitoring, identity protection and resolution, and financial management solutions that enable consumers to manage their personal finances and take precautions against identity theft. This segment offers its products through online and mobile interfaces, as well as through direct and indirect channels. The company serves customers in approximately 30 countries and territories, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, India, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as TransUnion Holding Company, Inc. and changed its name to TransUnion in March 2015. TransUnion was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Nepal on track to hit magic figure of 1 million arrivals

Nepal tourism is on track to reach the magic figure of 1 million arrivals by the end of the year, industry watchers said. Analysts have based their projection on arrival trends for the first 10 months (January-October) of 2017 when the number of visitors jumped 25.47 percent to 757,448 individuals.
Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail.

Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories.

The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name.

Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022.

Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG).

The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients.
The following companies are subsidiares of Continental Aktiengesellschaft: A-Z Formen- und Maschinenbau GmbH, ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH, ALPHALOR 3 EURL, AZ-CZECH s.r.o., Adam Touring GmbH, Advance Tyre Company Ltd., Advanced Imaging Technologies, Advanced Imaging Technologies (Pty) Ltd, Advanced Scientific Concepts, AlMutlak Continental Company Limited Liability Company, Application Solutions (Electronics and Vision) Ltd., Argus Cyber Security Ltd, BENECKE-KALIKO S.A., BENECKE-KALIKO S.A., BEST DRIVE CTM S.A. de C.V., BV Environmental Limited, BV F1rst Limited, Bandvulc Tyres Limited, Belt Concepts of America Inc., BeltTrade Inc., Benecke Changshun Auto Trim (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., Benecke Changshun Eco Trim (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Benecke-Kaliko AG, BestDrive LLC, BestDrive Sverige AB, Bestdrive Benelux B.V.B.A., CAC Philippines Inc., CAS Munchen GmbH, CAS UK Holding Ltd., CAS-One Holdinggesellschaft mbH, CGH Holding B.V., CGT Referral Resources Inc., CONTINENTAL CPM S. DE R.L. DE C.V., CONTINENTAL ENGINEERING SERVICES PORTUGAL UNIPESSOAL LDA, CONTINENTAL IBERIA SALES AND SERVICES S.A.U., CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES S A (Pty.) Ltd., CONTINENTAL SURFACE SOLUTIONS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, CONTITECH Chile S.A., CPT Automotive Changchun Co. Ltd., CPT GUADALAJARA S. de. R. L. de C.V., CPT MANUFACTURING MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., CPT MAQUILA MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., Carrel Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH Co. Vermietungs KG, Changshu ContiTech Trading Ltd., Conseo GmbH, Conti Automotive Servicios S.A. de C.V., Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Conti Trade Australia Pty. Ltd., Conti Trade Italia S.r.l., Conti Versicherungsdienst Versicherungsvermittlungsges. mbH, Conti-Gummi Finance B.V., ContiTech (Shandong) Engineered Rubber Products Co. Ltd., ContiTech AG, ContiTech AVS France, ContiTech Africa (Pty.) Ltd., ContiTech Anoflex SAS, ContiTech Antriebssysteme GmbH, ContiTech Australia Pty Ltd, ContiTech Belgium BVBA, ContiTech Canada Inc., ContiTech China Rubber & Plastics Technology Ltd., ContiTech Consulting Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Dae Won Airspring Systems Ltd., ContiTech Elastomer-Beschichtungen GmbH, ContiTech Finland Oy, ContiTech Fluid Automotive CZ s.r.o., ContiTech Fluid Automotive Hungaria Kft., ContiTech Fluid Automotive Maroc SARL, ContiTech Fluid Distribuidora S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Korea Ltd., ContiTech Fluid Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Mexicana Servicios S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Monterrey Servicios S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Oil & Marine Middle East FZE, ContiTech Fluid Serbia D.O.O., ContiTech Fluid Shanghai Co. Ltd., ContiTech Fluid Technology (Changchun) Co. Ltd., ContiTech France SNC, ContiTech Global Holding Netherlands B.V., ContiTech Holding (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ContiTech Holding Netherlands B.V., ContiTech IMAS A.E., ContiTech India Pvt. Ltd., ContiTech Japan Co. Ltd., ContiTech Kautschuk- und Kunststoffvertriebsges. mbH, ContiTech Kuhner Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, ContiTech Kuhner GmbH & Cie. KG, ContiTech Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH, ContiTech MGW GmbH, ContiTech Magyarorszag Kft., ContiTech Maroc SARL, ContiTech Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ContiTech North America Inc., ContiTech Oil & Marine Corp., ContiTech Power Transmission (Ninghai) Ltd., ContiTech Power Transmission (Sanmen) Ltd., ContiTech Power Transmission Korea Co. Ltd., ContiTech Print Service (S) Pte. Ltd., ContiTech Printing Blanket Shanghai Ltd., ContiTech Roulunds Rubber A/S, ContiTech Rubber Industrial Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, ContiTech Scandinavia AB, ContiTech Schlauch GmbH, ContiTech Services (Pty.) Ltd., ContiTech Shanghai Rubber & Plastics Technology Ltd., ContiTech Singapore Pte. Ltd., ContiTech Slovenija druzba za proizvodnjo gumenih tehnicnih izdelkov d.o.o., ContiTech South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., ContiTech Techno-Chemie GmbH, ContiTech Thermopol LLC, ContiTech Thermopol Romania S.R.L., ContiTech Tianjin Conveyor Belt Ltd., ContiTech Transportbandsysteme GmbH, ContiTech USA Inc., ContiTech United Kingdom Ltd., ContiTech Vibration Control France SAS, ContiTech Vibration Control GmbH, ContiTech Vibration Control Slovakia s.r.o., ContiTech Vibration Control s.r.o., ContiTech-Universe Verwaltungs-GmbH, ContiTrade (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ContiTrade Africa (Pty) Ltd, ContiTrade France Rechapage, ContiTrade Services s.r.o., ContiTrade Slovakia s.r.o., Conticlub SAS, Continental - Industria Textil do Ave S.A., Continental Adria pnevmatike d.o.o., Continental Advanced Antenna Automotiva LTDA, Continental Advanced Antenna GmbH, Continental Advanced Lidar Solutions US LLC, Continental Aftermarket & Services GmbH, Continental Aftermarket GmbH, Continental Automotive AB, Continental Automotive Aguascalientes S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Austria GmbH, Continental Automotive Bajio S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Bangkok Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Benelux BVBA, Continental Automotive Brake Systems (I) Private Limited, Continental Automotive Changchun Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Components (India) Private Ltd., Continental Automotive Components Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Automotive Corporation, Continental Automotive Corporation (Lianyungang) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Czech Republic s.r.o., Continental Automotive Electronics LLC, Continental Automotive Engineering (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive France SAS, Continental Automotive Funding Corp., Continental Automotive GmbH, Continental Automotive Grundstucksges. mbH, Continental Automotive Guadalajara Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Automotive Holding Netherlands B.V., Continental Automotive Holding Spain S.L., Continental Automotive Holdings UK Ltd., Continental Automotive Hungary Kft., Continental Automotive Inc., Continental Automotive Instruments Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Automotive Interior Wuhu Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Italy S.p.A., Continental Automotive Japan K.K., Continental Automotive Jinan Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Korea Ltd., Continental Automotive Lithuania UAB, Continental Automotive Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Automotive Maquila Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Automotive Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Automotive Occidente S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Parts (Suzhou) Co. Ltd, Continental Automotive Rambouillet France SAS, Continental Automotive Romania SRL, Continental Automotive SLP S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Singapore Pte. Ltd., Continental Automotive Spain S.A., Continental Automotive Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems Changsha Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems Changshu Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems Costa Rica S.A., Continental Automotive Systems Inc., Continental Automotive Systems SRL, Continental Automotive Systems Slovakia s.r.o., Continental Automotive Trading France SAS, Continental Automotive Trading Italia S.r.l., Continental Automotive Trading Nederland B.V., Continental Automotive Trading UK Ltd., Continental Automotive Trading Osterreich GmbH, Continental Automotive UK Ltd., Continental Automotive Wuhu Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive d.o.o. Novi Sad, Continental Automotive do Brasil Ltda., Continental Barum s.r.o., Continental Benelux SPRL, Continental Bicycle Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Continental Bicycle Systems Verwaltungs GmbH, Continental Brake Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Brakes Italy S.p.A., Continental Brasil Industria Automotiva Ltda., Continental Caoutchouc-Export-GmbH, Continental ContiTech de Chihuahua S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental ContiTech de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Daek Danmark A/S, Continental Dekk Norge A/S, Continental Digital Services France SAS, Continental Dack Sverige AB, Continental Engineering Services & Products GmbH, Continental Engineering Services GmbH, Continental Engineering Services Ltd., Continental Finance GmbH, Continental France SNC, Continental Global Business Services Manila Inc., Continental Global Holding Netherlands B.V., Continental HT Tyres s.r.o., Continental Holding China Co. Ltd., Continental Holding France SAS, Continental Hungaria Kft., Continental India Private Limited, Continental Industrias del Caucho S.A., Continental Industria e Comercio Automotivos Ltda., Continental Industria e Comercio de Pecas de Reposicao Automotivas Ltda., Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems LLC, Continental Investment Ltd., Continental Italia S.p.A., Continental Lemmerz (Portugal)-Componentes para Automoveis Lda., Continental Llantera Potosina S.A. de C.V., Continental Mabor Industria de Pneus S.A., Continental Matador Rubber s.r.o., Continental Matador Truck Tires s.r.o., Continental Middle East DMCC, Continental Opony Polska Sp. z o.o., Continental Pneus (Portugal) S.A., Continental Pty Ltd, Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH, Continental Rengas Oy, Continental Rubber of America Corp., Continental Safety Engineering International GmbH, Continental Secure Data Germany GmbH, Continental Secure Data Headquarter B.V., Continental Secure Data USA LLC, Continental Servicos de Vulcanizacao do Brasil Ltda., Continental Suisse S.A., Continental Temic Electronics (Phils.) Inc., Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG, Continental Teves Portugal - Sistemas de Travagem Lda., Continental Teves UK Ltd., Continental Tire Andina S.A., Continental Tire Canada Inc., Continental Tire Chile SpA, Continental Tire Colombia S.A.S., Continental Tire Corporativo S.A. de C.V., Continental Tire Holding US LLC, Continental Tire Japan Co. Ltd., Continental Tire Korea Co. Ltd., Continental Tire Sumter LLC, Continental Tire West Africa Limited, Continental Tire de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Continental Tire the Americas LLC, Continental Tires (China) Co. Ltd., Continental Tires (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Tires Espana S.L., Continental Tires Holding Singapore Pte. Ltd., Continental Trebbin GmbH & Co. KG Sondermaschinenbau, Continental Trebbin Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungs-GmbH, Continental Tyre AS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Group Ltd., Continental Tyre Investment UK Ltd., Continental Tyre Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Management Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Marketing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre North Africa SARL, Continental Tyre PJ Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Services Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Continental Tyre Technology Centre Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyres (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Continental Tyres Ltd., Continental Tyres of Australia Pty Ltd, Continental UK Group Holdings Ltd., Continental VUK s.r.o., Continental do Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., Continental of Taiwan Co. Ltd., Continental vyroba pneumatik s.r.o., Contitech Argentina S.R.L., Contitech Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Contitech do Brasil Produtos Automotivos e Industriais Ltda., Contitrade Espana S.A.U., Contitrade Holding, Contitread Renovado Morelia S.A. de C.V., Correx Handelsgesellschaft fur Kautschukprodukte mbH, Custom Machining Services Inc., DRUST, Dekkmann A/S, Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd., DynaGen Inc., EPD Holdings Inc., Eddelbuttel + Schneider GmbH, Elektrobit, Elektrobit Austria GmbH, Elektrobit Automotive Americas Inc., Elektrobit Automotive Finland Oy, Elektrobit Automotive GmbH, Elektrobit Automotive Korea Limited, Elektrobit Automotive Romania SRL, Elektrobit Automotive Software (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Elektrobit France SAS, Elektrobit India Private Ltd., Elektrobit Nippon K.K., Emitec Denmark A/S, Emitec France SAS, Eu-Retec (Private) Ltd., FSC Franchising Service Company S.p.A., Formpolster GmbH, General Tire International Company, Granite Investments Limited, Holding ContiTech SAS, Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., Hornschuch (Shanghai) Surface Technology Co. Ltd., Hornschuch Consulting GmbH, Hornschuch Group GmbH, Hornschuch Italia S.r.l., Hornschuch Stolzenau GmbH, Hornschuch UK Ltd., Hornschuch-Markt GmbH, INTECH Thuringen GmbH, Kathrein Automotive, Kathrein Automotive Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Kathrein Automotive North America Inc., Kathrein Automotive Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kim Holdings Scotland Limited, Kolubara-Univerzal D.O.O., Konrad Hornschuch AG, Konrad Hornschuch International GmbH, Legg Company Inc., Libra Associates (Properties) Limited, MISA GmbH & Co. KG, MISA-Beteiligungs GmbH, Merlett Belgie B.V.B.A, Merlett Benelux B.V., Merlett Deutschland GmbH, Merlett France SAS, Merlett Group, Merlett Iberica 2016 S.L., Merlett Norway As, Merlett Plastics UK Ltd., Merlett Polska Sp. Z o.o., Merlett RUS LLC, Merlett Tecnoplastic S.p.a., Noviteck SA, O'Sullivan Films Inc., OOO "ContiTech Rus", OOO "Continental Automotive RUS", OOO "Continental Automotive Systems RUS", OOO "Continental Kaluga", OOO "Continental Tires RUS", OOO Hornschuch RUS, OTA Grundstucks- und Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH, OTA keys, OTA keys S.A., Omitec Group, Otomotiv Lastikleri Tevzi AS (OLTAS), POWERTRAIN MAQUILA MEXICO S. DE R.L. DE C.V., PT Continental Tyre Indonesia, PT Quantum Inventions Indonesia, Parkpocket, Phoenix Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Phoenix Compounding Technology GmbH, Phoenix Conveyor Belt India Private Ltd., Phoenix Conveyor Belt Solutions Inc., Phoenix Conveyor Belt Systems GmbH, Phoenix Fluid Handling Industry GmbH, Phoenix Oil & Marine Ltd., Phoenix Service GmbH & Co. KG, Phoenix Shanxi Conveyor Belt Co. Ltd., Phoenix Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Pneu Egger AG, Profi Reifen- und Autoservice Gesellschaft mbH, Prazisionstechnik Geithain GmbH, QUANTUM INVENTIONS SDN. BHD., Quantum Inventions, Quantum Inventions Private Limited, R & J Strang Tyre Services Limited, REG Reifen-Entsorgungsgesellschaft mbH, REPARATION PNEUMATIQUES DU SUD EST (REPNEU) SAS, ROSEA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Hannover-Stocken KG, Reifen Apel GmbH, Reifen Kauffmann GmbH, Reifen-John GmbH & Co KG, Reifen-Service Clemens & Hegel GmbH, Rengasmaailma Oy, Road-Broad Automotive Electronics (Qufu) Co. Ltd., Rundpneu Beteiligungsges. mbH, S.C. ContiTech Fluid Automotive Romania S.R.L., S.C. ContiTech Romania S.R.L., S.C. Continental Automotive Products SRL, SAS CONTITRADE FRANCE, STEINEBRONN BETEILIGUNGS-GMBH, Semperit (Ireland) Ltd., Semperit (UK) Ltd., Semperit Reifen Gesellschaft mbH, Senior Experts Services GmbH, Siemens VDO Automotive S.p.A., Specialised Belting Supplies Ltd., Specialty Fabrics & Converting Inc., Specialty Yarn & Converting Inc., Stable One Insurance Company LLC, Synerject Taiwan Co. Ltd., Syrma A.E., TON Tyres Over Night Trading GmbH, TOO "Continental Matador KZ", Temic Automotive (Phils.) Inc., Tikka Spikes Oy, Tyre Maintenance Limited, Tyre Reinsurance (Ireland) DAC, Tyre and Auto Pty Ltd, UMG Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Union-Mittelland-Gummi-GmbH & Co. Grundbesitz KG, Unterstutzungskasse mbH der Goppinger Kaliko- und Kunstleder-Werke GmbH, VIVAX Trading GmbH, Vanvulc Tyres Limited, Vaysse SAS, Vergolst GmbH, Veyance Distribuidora de Produtos de Engenharia Ltda., Veyance Hong Kong Co. Ltd., Veyance Industrial Services Inc., Veyance Qingdao Engineered Elastomers Company Ltd., Veyance Technologies, Veyance Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd., Veyance Technologies Canada (NS) ULC, Veyance Technologies Hong Kong Co. Ltd., Veyance Technologies Zambia Ltd., Viking Tyres (UK) Ltd., Vitesco Technologies (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Vitesco Technologies 1. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Vitesco Technologies 1. Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies 2. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Vitesco Technologies 2. Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Automotive Cuautla S.A. de C.V., Vitesco Technologies Canada ULC, Vitesco Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Vitesco Technologies Delavan LLC, Vitesco Technologies Eisenach Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Emitec GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Engineering Romania SRL, Vitesco Technologies France S.A.S., Vitesco Technologies GDL S. de R.L. de C.V., Vitesco Technologies Germany GmbH, Vitesco Technologies GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Group Aktiengesellschaft, Vitesco Technologies Holding 1 Canada Inc., Vitesco Technologies Holding 2 Canada Inc., Vitesco Technologies Holding China Co. Ltd., Vitesco Technologies Holding Netherlands B.V., Vitesco Technologies Hungary Kft., Vitesco Technologies India Private Limited, Vitesco Technologies Italy S.R.L., Vitesco Technologies Japan K.K., Vitesco Technologies Korea, Vitesco Technologies Lohmar Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Vitesco Technologies Roding GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Romania SRL, Vitesco Technologies Singapore Pte. Ltd., Vitesco Technologies UK Ltd., Vitesco Technologies USA LLC, Vitesco Tecnologia Brasil Automotiva Ltda., Vogtlandische Reifenwerke Sitz Bad Nauheim GmbH, Vulcanite Holdings Pty Ltd, Vulcanite Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Vulcanite Pty Ltd, Wohlfahrtseinrichtung fur die Arbeiter und Angestellten der Semperit Reifen AG GmbH, Zonar, Zonar Systems Inc., Zytek Automotive, Zytek Automotive Ltd., Zytek Group Ltd., balance GmbH Handel und Beratungsservice im Gesundheitswesen, co-pace GmbH, inotec Innovative Technologie GmbH, and kek-Kaschierungen GmbH.

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Nepali students enrollment among highest in US varsities

Nepali students studying in US universities are the fastest growing international student population studying at colleges and universities in the United States, according to a report.
NHRC calls for security for campaigners

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed its concern over the growing attacks on candidates and obstructions during the election campaigns in various parts of the country.
Nova 2i to go on sale from Sunday

Call Mobility Pvt Ltd, the authorised distributor for Huawei has launched the new Nova 2i on Wednesday in Nepal.
Canada, along with the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, is opening a new front in the international communitys fight against the use of children as weapons of war with the launch of the Vancouver Principles.

The principles, announced at the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver this week, will be critical in ensuring that peacekeepers are prepared to face and ultimately prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The principles have been signed off on by more than 50 countries so far.

Without effective training, peacekeepers who face child soldiers will either underreact, overreact or not react at all, said LGen Romeo Dallaire, founder of the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. The Vancouver Principles pushes the international community boldly forward on issues related to peacekeeping and protecting children used as weapons of war and ensure peacekeepers are prepared.

Preventing recruitment and use



The purpose of the Vancouver Principles is to prioritize and further operationalize child protection within UN peacekeeping with a focus on preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The principles ensure that children are no longer relegated to the margins on the international peace and security agenda, but are central to it.

Learn more: Vancouver Principles



The Vancouver Principles were conceived by the Government of Canada in partnership with the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative  based at Dalhousie University  and developed in consultation with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, UNICEF, the Special Representative to the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, child protection actors and civil society partners, and UN Member States.

The Vancouver Principles represent the culmination of years of hard work and advocacy by the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative and its staff said Shelly Whitman, executive director of the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. Today marks an historic day, a day we will mark as central to our mission to ensure that we can prevent the use of children as weapons of war.

Working towards a better future



The Vancouver Principles represent a busy year for the Dallaire Initiative and the Canadian Government on promoting the protection of children. The Vancouver Principles builds off earlier steps that includes Canada signing the Safe Schools Declaration and the creation of the Canadian Armed Force Joint Doctrine Note on Child Soldiersboth supported through the work and advocacy of the Dallaire Initiative.

"A future where children are no longer used as weapons of war is within our grasp  but only if we choose to make children a priority to achieve peace and security," said Dr. Whitman.

Learn more about the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative at its website.
Oli, Dahal accuse govt of working on a whim

The left alliance of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) on Wednesday criticised the government for scrapping a deal with a Chinese firm to construct the Budhi Gandaki hydroelectricity project.
Mkango Resources has secured backing for its Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi by giving away a 49% stake to Noble Group's Talaxis subsidiary.

Talaxis has agreed to fully fund a bankable feasibility study for the the project, with a 12m investment in three tranches that will begin with a 2m slice once regulatory approval is granted.

The Noble Group unit will also have the option to acquire a further 26% interest in the Songwe by arranging funding for project development.

AIM- and Toronto-listed Mkango also tempted Talaxis with another 49% interest in a new venture to be established by Mkango focused on neodymium alloy powders, magnet and other technologies, including Mkango's collaboration with Metalysis, which the Noble unit can gain by investing another 2m.

If all the above investments are completed as planned, Mkango will retain a 25% interest in Songwe, free carried to production, and a 51% in interest in the new venture.

Mkango chief executive William Dawes said it was a "transformational" deal for Mkango and for Malawi.

"This agreement significantly strengthens our balance sheet whilst ensuring that the company is fully funded to progress Songwe and our collaboration with Metalysis."

He said the deal comes at a "pivotal time", with expected strong demand for rare earths such as neodymium and praseodymium for use in magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean technology applications.

Daniel Mamadou, executive director at Talaxis, said: "The global push to decarbonize the economy is creating pressure on the supply of critical elements to the green tech sector. Environmental regulation and the policy changes are driving the price of technology metals. Supported by our access to global logistics capabilities, an extensive marketing network and a team of experienced professionals, Talaxis is pleased to enter into this agreement, which further strengthens our supply chain specialized in tech metal products."
The floor coverings manufacturer and designer, Victoria , has completed the purchase of Keraben Grupo , a substantial European manufacturer of branded floor and wall ceramic tiles, its board announced on Thursday.

Following the issue of 22.99m new shares to part finance the all-cash transaction, Victoria said the company's issued share capital will comprise 114m ordinary shares of 5p each.

The new shares were placed at 783p each, Victoria explained in a separate statement.

Earlier, the company had announced that it had agreed to purchase Keraben for a total consideration of 274.1m (246,5m) from Tensile-Keraben Holdings, with expectation that the deal would be significantly accretive to earnings per share for its shareholders in the first full year of ownership.
Floor coverings manufacturer and designer Victoria has agreed to buy Keraben, a European manufacturer of branded floor and wall ceramic tiles, for a total consideration of 274.1m from Tensile-Keraben Holdings.

The consideration, which is payable in cash on completion, will be satisfied in part through a placing of just under 23m shares at 783p each, to raise to raise gross proceeds of around 180m. The balance of the consideration will be funded from a new 178m banking facility provided by the company's existing group of lenders.

Victoria said the deal is expected to be significantly accretive to earnings per share for its shareholders in the first full year of ownership. In the year ended 31 December 2016, Keraben generated audited revenues of 118.3m, adjusted EBITDA of 36.4m and adjusted EBIT of 27.5m.

Chairman Geoff Wilding said: "We believe that Keraben is a high-quality addition to the group. Notwithstanding its further strong organic growth prospects, the acquisition of Keraben will be materially earnings accretive in the first year of ownership and continues to increase our geographic diversity. Post-completion, over 50% of Victoria's earnings will be generated from outside the UK - continuing our transformation into a genuinely international flooring business.

We are delighted by the level of support we have received from both existing and new investors, with the placing oversubscribed by a multiple of the funds sought."

At 1250 GMT, the shares were up 7.3% to 849.88p.
Kepler Cheuvreux has upgraded Centrica to 'buy' after shares of the energy provider fell past the broker's valuation of the business.

In a note to investors, Ingo Becker, Kepler Cheuvreux's head of utilities, said Centrica's low share price had created an opportunity for investors to "jump in".

Kepler Cheuvreux cut Centrica to 'reduce' in early 2016 when the shares were at 211p. Since then the shares have fallen 22% to well below Becker's price target of 190p. At 11:52 GMT the shares were trading at 166p.

Centrica's shares have dropped due partly to regulatory pressures and the government's decision to impose a cap on prices paid by households on variable tariffs. Centrica owns British Gas, the UK's biggest energy provider for consumers.

Nevertheless, Becker stuck by his original valuation and advised clients to take advantage of the buying opportunity.

Becker wrote: "Political and regulatory scrutiny of the industry [] might be pulling some of the pressure forward, but the overall intensity of pressures already modelled by us back then are now well covered by the share price. We currently see a market opportunity and recommend that investors jump in here."



Berenberg took an axe to its target price for Dignity, telling clients it is waiting to see how the firm responds to the competitive threat to its pricing power from new entrants into the market.

In a nutshell, death may be a certainty but sustained pricing power is not.

Unfortunately, the German broker's investment case for the shares was predicated on the company's long-term growth potential which in part relied on its ability to continue being a price-setter, as opposed to a price-taker.

So for the time being, its analysts lowered their target price from 2,950p to 2,350p, albeit while keeping their recommendation at a hold.

Nonetheless, the company's track record in delivering or beating consensus expectations was "strong", Berenberg said, and its delivery since IPO "exceptional".

Indeed, the analysts were very confident of Dignity's ability to meet or beat consensus in both fiscal year 2017 and 2018.

However, competition was building as the firm's 'good fortunes' attracted competitors.

"Increasing competition means that the companys ability to continue raising prices at 5-6% pa looks uncertain. With management now examining various new pricing and service options, we see a risk that it is forced to moderate its pricing to chase lower-margin business. As a result, we reduce our long-run margin assumptions."
Analysts at Berenberg upgraded their view on Marshalls from an initial 'hold' to a 'buy' on Wednesday, citing its strong domestic performance after acquiring precast concrete manufacturer CPM in October as its reasoning.

Berenberg initiated coverage on Marshalls in May with a 'hold' rating, saying that although it "appreciated" the group's high returns, resilient growth and the prospects for further acquisitive growth and cash returns, it felt the valuation was "demanding" given the difficult climate in the UK for the repairs, market and improvement (RMI) market.

However, Marshalls's outperformance in the domestic market, plus the acquisition of CPM, led Berenberg to up its recommendation and to up its target price from 420p to 510p.

Marshalls's domestic business outgrew the underlying market by 12% in its first half of trading, with Berenberg saying it believed the outperformance was likely to continue to be driven by strong upselling of higher margin products, an increased number of homeowners investing in their properties, and a heightened use of the pension withdrawal scheme over the coming half.

Going forward, Berenberg said, "Along with being 9%-accretive to operating profit initially, we believe the group will be able to extract revenue synergies from the cross-selling of Marshalls' surface drainage kerbs and CPM's underground storage. We also believe further acquisitions are likely after integration of CPM is complete given the groups strategy as part of its 2020 plan to further expand in water management, eg treatment, street furniture and mineral products."

Within the construction sector as a whole, Berenberg saw only two other British companies that had greater upside than Marshalls's 12%, reiterating its 'buy' ratings on Ibstock and Kingspan projecting upside of 32% and 13%, respectively.

"Overall, we remain positive about new build residential construction, neutral on RMI activity and negative on non-residential construction. In terms of stocks, we upgrade Marshalls to Buy (from Hold) and maintain our Buy recommendations on Ibstock, Forterra and Kingspan. We remain holders of Grafton and SIG."

As of 1515 GMT, Marshalls shares had gained 1.50% to 459.70p.
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe remains under house arrest in the capital of Harare as citizens of the country wait on the next move of the army.

Military leaders seized control of the country on Wednesday but denied that the action was a coup, and said that Mugabe had been placed under house arrest.

Mugabes wife Grace, who had been tipped to succeed the 93-year old leader as President, at 41 years his junior, is reported to not be with her husband.

South African government officials travelled to Harare on Wednesday to facilitate a meeting between the army and political parties in Zimbabwe.

Military troops have secured government offices, the parliament and the countrys main airports while Zimbabwe remains in political symbols.

Army officers said on Wednesday that their action was temporary and did not represent a permanent takeover by the armed forces.

"We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes [...] that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," Major General Sibusiso Moyo said on state broadcaster ZBC.

"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."

A bitter feud has erupted in recent months over who Mugabes successor will be, with the longstanding leader reportedly in ill health.

Mugabe has dominated the countrys politics since it became independent from the UK in 1980.
London stocks were set to edge higher at the open on Thursday following losses in the previous session, as investors eyed the release of the latest UK retail sales figures.

The FTSE 100 was expected to open eight points higher at 7,380.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: Todays retail sales for October could well show further weakness after Septembers disappointing performance of -0.8%. Expectations are for a figure of 0.1%, though even this might be optimistic with consumers preferring to keep their powder dry ahead of the potential bargains in November Black Friday numbers, or ahead of the pre-Christmas sales in December.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney will also be speaking, along with a number of his colleagues later today at various public events in the north of England later today.

UK retail sales are at 0930 GMT.

In corporate news, underlying profits at Royal Mail improved in the first half of the year, though the costs of transforming the business saw reported operating profits plummet more than 80%.

UK parcel volumes increased 6% and letter volumes declined 5% to leave the UKPIL business with flat revenues for the half-year, while the overseas focused GLS business grew volumes and revenues 9%.GKN has parted company with Kevin Cummings, who was due to step up to be chief executive at the aircraft and vehicle parts maker.

Cummings, who heads GKN's aerospace business, was due to take over from Nigel Stein, the current chief executive, when he retires at the end of December. But GKN said Cummings had left the company and that Anne Stevens, a non-executive director, would do the job until a replacement for Stein is found.

Mediclinic revenue grew 10% in the six months to 30 September, it announced in its interim results on Thursday, to 141bn.

The company said underlying EBITDA was ahead 5% to 232m in the six months period to 30 September, although it dropped 5% at constant currencies. Its underlying operating profit was up 3% to 161m, while its reported operating profit fell 21% to 133m, which was impacted by exceptional items.

Private equity and venture capital firm 3i Group reported continued progression in its net asset value per share for its first half, rising to 652p from 604p at the start of the period, after payment of the 18.5p FY2017 final dividend, and a total return of 655m or 11% of opening shareholders' funds.

The group said its private equity business performed well in the six month period to 30 September, with strong performances from Action, Scandlines, ATESTEO, Audley Travel, Basic-Fit, Q Holding and Aspen Pumps contributing to a gross investment return of 715m.
A UK house-building surge is on the cards as Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to take "personal charge" of fixing the housing market, while a significant technical change is expected to produce a major boost in output from housing associations.

May and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid led a dual push on the housing sector on Thursday, a week ahead of what is expected to be an important Autumn Budget.

"We must get back into the business of building the good quality new homes for people who need them most," May said.

"That is why I have made it my mission to build the homes the country needs and take personal charge of the Government's response."

Javid said a 15% increase in the number of new homes in England over the past year was a step in the right direction, but he wanted to see "a giant leap, and hundreds of thousands more homes. We owe it to our future generations to fix this broken housing market and help them find a home of their own."

Jostling with May somewhat, he said he was "stepping in" to make sure more local councils produce a plan to set out how and where new homes can be built in the area.

Last month Javid said the government would consider increasing borrowing to help fund a serious increase in housing output, though it remains to be seen whether the Chancellor includes such measures in next week's Budget.

Against the current new homes output of around 150-160,000 per annum, he indicated an annual output of up to 300,000, a level of housing output not seen in the UK since the 1960s, using a plan to "sensibly borrow more to invest in the infrastructure that leads to more housing".

SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FOR HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

Housing associations have been restricted from investing as much as they would like over the last two years after they were classified as public bodies by the Office for National Statistics.

But in move with twin benefits for the government, the ONS has been persuaded to agree to reclassify these social housing providers as private bodies, removing their 70bn debt from the government's ledger, a change that the providers also said would allow them to build more homes.

Analyst Robin Hardy at Shore Capital said any increase in rival channels of supply would be a threat to the quoted house builders such as Barratt Developments, Berkeley, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey.

"The housing associations are possibly the worst rival they could have because 1) they are very good house builders 2) they do not need to make a margin. This means that they can be willing and able to pay more for land.

"So, supply of housing goes up and that could be deflationary and competition for resource (land, labour and materials) does up which is creates a perfect storm for margins," he said, pointing to existing pressure on margins from rising build costs.

Hardy said the "bad news" for house-builders may be exaggerated. "If the government is thinking in this way they might even consider some of Javids borrow to build ideas to provide more public sector and crossover output and they might even throw out some help for the SME house builders too.

"Just cutting stamp and tinkering with planning will not be enough in the Budget (in fact that would be both useless and unhelpful). They need to get bold and May might actually mean what she says about fixing housing as she could come out of it looking like a hero. Saving your own skin and doing some real good is political Nirvana."

After a review in 2015, the ONS classified private registered housing associations as 'public non-financial corporations', in accordance with the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, as the government had consent powers over disposals of social housing assets, and power to direct the use of disposal proceeds, as well as powers over the management of a registered provider through the HCA.
Animal genetics specialist Genus is trotting confidently towards full year growth targets after a "generally favourable" first four and a half months of its financial year.

Volumes, revenues and adjusted operating profits for the four months to 31 October all swelled compared with the prior year in both its porcine and bovine legs, PIC and ABS. Adjusted profits before tax were also higher, despite planned strategic investments in research and development.

One target of investment has been in Sexcel, Genus's new sexed semen offering, since its global launch at the start of September to an "encouraging" early customer reception.

Market conditions for livestock farmers were "generally favourable", Genus said ahead of its annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, with pigs profitable in most major markets apart from some price weakness in China, which had been strong last year.

Dairy prices globally were higher than the same period in the prior year which enabled more farmers to be profitable.

Beef prices stabilised in the US following their fall in the earlier part of the year, but conditions for Brazilian producers have remained challenging.

On Tuesday, Genus said it had agreed to begin working in partnership with Danish porcine specialist Mllevang Genetics from next July.

"Once the relationship commences, Mllevang Genetics will become an elite porcine genetics production partner for PIC in Denmark and will continue to distribute elite genetics to the Danish market and certain other countries."
GKN has parted company with Kevin Cummings, only two months after saying he would step up to be chief executive at the aircraft and vehicle parts maker, and warned of further issues at its aerospace business.

Cummings, who heads GKN's aerospace business in North America, was meant to take over from Nigel Stein, the current chief executive, when he retires at the end of December.

But on Thursday GKN said Cummings, who was given the promotion in September, had left the company and that Anne Stevens, a non-executive director, would do the job until a replacement for Stein is found.

Cummings has left after a profit warning in October caused by two unidentified claims costing $53m and weak performance at his aerospace division, with the company now also revealing further problems at the business along with the abrupt departure.

GKN shares fell as much as 10% and were down 6.3% to 291.3p at 11:00 GMT.

The FTSE 100 company said: "The GKN board has concluded that the next stage of GKNs development is best delivered under alternative leadership. As a result, Kevin Cummings, previously CEO-designate, will leave the board and GKN with immediate effect."

GKN announced Cummings had left as it predicted a further write-off of between 80m and 130m at its aerospace plants in North America. In October GKN said it would take a 15m charge at its aerospace facility in Alabama to cover reduced estimates for inventory and payments due.

The company said: "In light of the issues communicated earlier in relation to Alabama, a review of working capital has been initiated across other Aerospace plants in North America."

Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, said: "A much bigger charge following a review of its Alabama facility will fuel real concern about more skeletons in its North American aerospace closet. Shareholder patience is threadbare with so much bad news."

Hans Buthker, who joined GKN when it bought Fokker Technologies in 2015, will become chief executive of the aerospace division with immediate effect. The board will start a search for a new boss immediately, GKN said.

Stevens has experience in the aerospace and car industries, GKN said. She spent 16 years at Ford, including as chief operating officer for the Americas, and then ran Carpenter Technology, a metals producer for the aerospace, transportation, medical and energy industries.
One held with pistol in Dhangadhi

Police here have arrested a man in possession of a country-made pistol from Dhangadhi Village in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City on Wednesday night.
Londons FTSE 100 was up 0.2% to 7,387.65 in afternoon trade on Thursday as investors mulled the latest retail sales figures.

Specialty biopharmaceutical company Shire was boosted by an upbeat note from Bernstein, while budget carrier easyJet flew higher after Dart Group, the owner of Jet2, posted a rise in first-half revenue and pre-tax profit.

British Land advanced as its net asset value increased 2.6% in the first half to 939p, which stands at a sizeable premium to its shares.

Engineering services company Babcock was a high riser after saying it has been awarded three significant new regional contracts by the UK Ministry of Defence to provide technical support services to the Royal Air Force.

Private equity firm 3i Group was up after it reported continued progression in its net asset value per share for the first half, rising to 652p from 604p at the start of the period and on track for year of strong growth.

Going the other way, GKN suffered the heaviest losses after saying it has parted company with Kevin Cummings, who was due to step up to be chief executive at the aircraft and vehicle parts maker.

Marks & Spencer and Shell were weaker as their stock went ex-dividend.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Shire Plc (SHP) 3,694.50p 4.65%

easyJet (EZJ) 1,297.00p 3.68%

Convatec Group (CTEC) 196.40p 3.48%

British Land Company (BLND) 617.00p 3.44%

Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 8,665.00p 2.97%

Babcock International Group (BAB) 762.00p 2.83%

3i Group (III) 920.00p 2.39%

G4S (GFS) 258.20p 2.06%

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 600.50p 1.95%

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,580.00p 1.94%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

GKN (GKN) 295.90p -4.79%

Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 2,338.00p -2.64%

Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,382.50p -2.20%

Experian (EXPN) 1,551.00p -2.08%

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,298.00p -2.04%

Mediclinic International (MDC) 585.50p -1.51%

Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 303.90p -1.49%

BT Group (BT.A) 244.40p -1.11%

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 898.00p -0.99%

BP (BP.) 491.20p -0.77%
UNDP, Himalayan Consensus join forces for crisis prevention

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nepal and the Himalayan Consensus Institute (HCI) have entered a partnership to collaborate in the areas of crisis prevention and conflict mitigation.
Unsecure

At least five candidates have become the target of bomb attacks since last Friday. The latest attack was on CPN-UML leader Sher Dhan Rai in Bhojpur, on Tuesday.
Broadband boost for businesses

Businesses to benefit from grants of up to 3000 to get gigabit broadband installed as part of a 2 million trial taking place in four areas around the UK.

Suppliers will be offering vouchers worth between 500 and 3000 each to local businesses which can then be used to pay for the installation of gigabit speed connections. The aim of the pilots is to encourage the market to extend full fibre infrastructure in the UK by increasing demand and reducing the cost to customers.

The many benefits of a full fibre gigabit connection include:

allowing businesses to upload and download massive files in a matter of seconds

enabling widespread use of videoconferencing throughout an organisation

providing an unprecedented level of reliability whilst greatly enhancing resilience

future proofing - making sure that businesses have the technology in place to deal with the ever increasing demands for internet speed and connectivity

allowing businesses in remote communities to compete on a technologically level playing field with those companies based in major cities who may already have full fibre connectivity

Minister for Digital Matt Hancock said:

A world-class digital communications network is essential to ensure the UKs future competitiveness in the global market and its ability to attract investment. Faster and more reliable connections are transforming the way we live and work, and better broadband supports businesses to grow and become more productive.

These voucher pilots, alongside a range of other actions, are testament to Governments ambition for full fibre infrastructure across the UK to underpin our digital economy.

Four areas across the UK have been carefully selected to test the market conditions and infrastructure conditions we aim to help to create through the wider Local Full Fibre Network programme. The areas are:

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Bristol, with Bath and North East Somerset

Coventry and Warwickshire

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield and York)

This programme comes as part of the governments 23 billion National Productivity Investment Fund aimed at improving productivity, which is key to raising living standards. This fund has already earmarked 740 million specifically for improving Britains digital infrastructure, ensuring the UK is match-fit for the future.

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Jones MP, said: We are determined to provide the infrastructure needed for British businesses to thrive and prosper. The rollout of next generation, full-fibre broadband will help do that.

Lightning internet speeds and unprecedented reliability will boost trade and ensure our firms can connect effortlessly to their customers and suppliers.
Will become PM for 7 times, claims Deuba

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has claimed that he will become PM for another two terms.
By Michaela Mujica-Steiner

President Donald Trumps fossil fuel agenda was met with disdain Monday evening at COP23. The only official White House event was titled, The Role of Cleaner and More Efficient Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power in Climate Mitigation. Everyday people from across the world attended it, but they were not there in support of the event, but rather in protest.

As a young person from the United States and a youth delegate with SustainUS, I felt a personal responsibility to hold the United States government accountable for continuing to block progress on the Paris agreement via their ties to a small handful of fossil fuel billionaires. I could feel my palms sweating as I waited in the security line to the get into the event.

I was so nervous, but it helps to know that youre not aloneseven out of ten Americans support urgent climate action and staying in the Paris agreement. Everyday Americans and people from across the globe were standing with me at that very moment. And young people have always been at the forefront of social change movements, pushing the boundaries of what our societies believe is possible. Doing so helps to create space beyond the status quo, which is necessary to advancing the needle in favor of progressive values. By disrupting the status quo, we help to define its boundaries, and by establishing the limits, we determine and set the terms of the debate.

So thats what I set out to do on Monday evening: set the terms of the debate on fossil fuels at COP, disrupt the Trump administrations lies, inspire people back home, and most importantly, stand on the right side of history. I know that Ill remember Mondays action for the rest of my life, and I hope it will forever be a defining point throughout history when the people declared No More to being bullied by corporate elites for profit.

We the people stood in our full dignity and power, filling the U.S.-backed event with at least a hundred voices. Midway through our song, I looked back at the administrations baffled faces, as I quickly unfurled a banner that read We the People with the words fossil fuel CEOs crossed out at the top of it. And even when we were escorted out, we continued to sing a beautiful rendition of God Bless the USA. Walking out of the event doors into a 200+ crowd, I started to tear up.

I have always looked up to the social movement leaders of the past whose work carries into the present. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi are my heroes. On Monday night, I imagined all the social change makers of the past right by my side as cosmic companions. Theyve left a legacy, and this generation can follow in their footsteps. Never in my life have I ever considered myself to be a hero, and thats because, in these dire times, we all have to step up to the plate in being the heroes in this tragic story that is the reality of climate change.

Local action has global implications. When I come back from these talks, Im getting straight to work back home to ensure that my governor in Colorado, Governor Hickenlooper, does not succumb to the interests of the one percent by increasing hydraulic fracking. Together, we can build local movements that have the strength to create a peoples uprising outside of this panel event.
By Ercilia Sahores

On Nov. 6, the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) kicked off in Bonn, Germany, the nations former capital. Germany is one of the worlds worst offenders when it comes to pollution. Its also the largest polluter in all of Europe. But Germany is not alone in the polluting businessand countries are not the only big polluters.

The worlds top 20 meat and dairy companies emitted more greenhouse gases in 2016 than all of Germany, according to a report published by GRAIN, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) and Heinrich Boll Foundation.

Let us briefly go back to COP23, where Big Meat and Dairy are also participating. Several statements have been made so far at the meeting and there have been a few surprises. Unfortunately, it seems that COP23 will not be particularly innovative, especially when it comes to agricultural policies.

COP23 Started Under the Following Premises:

1. There is no time to waste and the Paris agreement must be implemented as soon as possible.

2. The climate disasters we experienced in 2017 (devastating hurricanes and floods, long droughts and extreme temperatures) are not isolated, random events. Rather, theyre directly connected to climate change and unless we do something about it, theyll become more and more frequent.

3. With or without the U.S. being part of the negotiations, those countries that have signed up must commit to reaching the goal of making sure warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally, 1.5 degrees Celsius.

4. Rich countries must compensate poor countries, which are the most vulnerable to climate change, even when they have been the least responsible for it. The financial commitment agreed upon in Paris is now being reviewed to see if it is sufficient and adequate. Its also crucial to determine how the funding that would have come from the U.S. will be covered once it officially leaves the agreement in 2020.

COP23 Surprises

1. Syria, the only country that had not signed the Paris climate agreement after Nicaragua joined in late October, has finally agreed to be part of it. As a result, the U.S. has become increasingly more isolated as its now the only nation on Earth that does not recognize the agreement.

2. The general mood (COPs halls are usually the best place to get an idea of what people are really thinking aboutbeyond protocol) is that the U.S. governments decision to leave the agreement has only created a stronger sense of solidarity among nations, which can now implement and lead the charge to reverse climate change. Many nations are competing to be the recipient of international recognition, as well as the distribution of copious amounts of funding, which in turn will pave the way for the creation of a number of agencies, departments and many other intermediate bodies.

COP23 As Usual:

1. The negotiation of agreements behind closed doors while civil society organizations and NGOs host side events. This is a way to prove that during COPs, there is civil society participation, but without ever really having to compromise.

2. Giving more relevance to controversial solutions to which much capital has already been invested and promised, such as geoengineering and nuclear energy. Its not a coincidence that despite saying the U.S. will not be part of the negotiations, the Trump administration sent a team to COP23 to advocate for more fossil fuel use.

3. Pushing existing projects that have proven effective for fighting climate change, but dont seem to have the same financial incentive.

4. Unfortunately, from what weve seen so far, the negotiations seem to ignore regenerative agriculture as being the solution to climate change. While predictable, this is actually a greater setback than other COPs, which have at least mentioned agriculture, desertification and soil restoration as being key factors in reversing climate change.

Why Agriculture?

As previously mentioned, last year the worlds top 20 meat and dairy companies emitted more greenhouse gases than all of Germany. Industrialized agriculture, which doesnt account for the 500 plus million small farmers and 200 million herders that exist in the world, is a type of production that pollutes the atmosphere, our soils and waterways.

Industrialized agriculture has huge negative impacts on human health too. While producing and selling poison, Big Agriculture ruins not just local economies, but also the means of life and survival of thousands of farmers who rely on a healthy environment for their production.

At Regeneration International, we know that industrial agriculture is a critical part of the problem. But we also know that agriculture, done the right way or rather the regenerative way, is a fundamental part of the solution.

The conversations at COP23 would be entirely different if Big Meat and Dairy giants like Cargill, Tyson or JBS were held accountable for the health and environmental destruction they have causeda significant portion of which has been funded by government subsidies.

COP23 negotiations could actually focus on real solutions if polluting corporations acknowledged their contribution to climate change, and transitioned away from chemical- and factory farm-based agriculture to a system focused on soil health, animal welfare, nutritious food and farmworker rights.

Instead, the negotiations have thus far focused on whether or not the Paris agreement is achievable, a lack of funding and Trumps latest insult. A genuine effort to hold polluting corporations accountable would shift the mood at COP23 from the same corporate rhetoric we so often hear to one centered on human health, environment and climate-related solutions.
Dakota Access Pipeline owner Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) paid a private security firm to build a massive racketeering suit against green groups opposing the pipeline, three former employees confirmed to the Intercept this week.

Documents leaked to The Intercept in May reveal that ETP hired TigerSwan, which was originally founded as a State Department contractor working to execute the war on terror, to conduct counterterrorism measures on activists, including aerial surveillance on protesters, infiltrating activist groups and developing counter-information campaigns.

ETP employed a law firm headed by Donald Trumps personal attorney to file a blanket lawsuit in August alleging eco-terrorism against Greenpeace, Earth First, and the divestment group BankTrack. The lawsuit used information specifically gathered by TigerSwan, the Intercept confirmed in its latest report.

As reported by The Intercept:

The case was filed under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, passed in 1970 to prosecute organized crimeprimarily the mob. Greenpeace says it amounts to a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or SLAPP, designed to curtail free speech through expensive, time-consuming litigation.

It grossly distorts the law and facts at Standing Rock, said Greenpeace general counsel Tom Wetterer. Well win the lawsuit, but its not really what this is about for ETP. What theyre really trying to do is silence future protests and advocacy work against the company and other corporations.'

The federal government is also continuing to chase down #NoDAPL protesters: the AP reported that a woman seriously injured at the protests last year is still under investigation by the FBI, who applied for a warrant to search her Facebook account.

For a deeper dive:

ETP: The Intercept. FBI: AP

For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News.
Indigenous communities claimed a victory at COP23 in Bonn Wednesday, as governments acknowledged their leadership role in protecting forests and containing climate change.

Despite comprising 370 million of the worlds population and having communal ownership of more than 20 percent of the worlds tropical forest carbon, indigenous groups were sidelined at past international climate talks. Often forced to defend their land against the encroachment of agribusiness, loggers and oil corporations, indigenous peoples have long sought international recognition of their rights, autonomy and participation in negotiations.

Emphasizing their new, internationally enshrined role, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, met with indigenous representatives. The new international procedures working in their support oblige governments abiding by the framework to talk to indigenous communities when they go to the drawing board over carbon emissions. Experts are cautious, however, about the effectiveness that the new procedures bring in terms of including indigenous voices in mainstream debates.

This is an important step forward but only if it really does mean that indigenous and local communities are listened to and their knowledge recognized, Clare Shakya of the International Institute for Environment and Development told the Guardian.

The 2015 Paris accord established a platform for the exchange of experience and sharing of best practices on mitigation and adaptation in a holistic and integrated manner. The document approved in Bonn, however, goes beyond that, saying that countries should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

Since 2015, 132 environmentalists have been killed in Brazil alone, most of whom were working against illegal logging in the Amazon. Many of the victims belonged to indigenous communities. An average of four environmental defenders are killed each week around the globe.

In 2016, a study by the Rights and Resources Initiative found that expanding tribal land rights is the most cost-effective measure to protect forests and sequester carbon. The paper also encouraged governments to recognize tribal land rights and bring tribal input into the fold of national action plans.
Even though the

Trump administration used its only public forum at the COP23 climate talks in Bonn to promote coal, its clear that many individual U.S. businesses, cities and entire states would rather keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Oregon and Washington state have joined a new global alliance to phase out coal and switch to cleaner power sources to avoid dangerous

climate change and to stay below the 2C target set by the landmark Paris climate agreement two years ago.

The Powering Past Coal Alliance,

launched Thursday at the climate talks, involves more than 20 nations including Angola, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue, Portugal and Switzerland, according to Reuters.

Notably, the worlds biggest coal usersChina, India, the U.S., Germany and Russiahave not joined the new pact.

Members of the new alliance will take actions that include setting coal phase-out targets and barring further investments in coal-fired electricity in their jurisdictions or abroad.

The U.S. member states have already made efforts to phase out coal. In 2016, Oregon passed the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Act to transition off the polluting fossil fuel. And in 2014, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee signed an executive order to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the use of electrical power produced by coal.

Reducing global coal consumption should be a vital and urgent priority for all countries and states. Unabated coal is the dirtiest, most polluting way of generating electricity, Claire Perry, Britains Minister for Climate Change and Industry, said. The Powering Past Coal Alliance will signal to the world that the time of coal has passed. The UK is committed to completely phasing out unabated coal-fire power generation no later than 2025 and we hope to inspire others to follow suit.

The plan is to grow the alliance to 50 or more members by the next years climate talks in Poland.

Phasing out coal power is good news for the climate, for our health and for our kids. Coal is literally choking our cities, with close to a million people dying every year from coal pollution. Im thrilled to see so much global momentum for the transition to clean energyand this is only the beginning, Catherine McKenna, Canadas Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said.
By Ken Kimmell

On Monday, Nov. 13, a bi-partisan group of seven states (New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware and Vermont), and the District of Columbia announced that they will seek public input on how to craft a regional solution to greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, now the largest source of CO2 emissions in the region. An announcement to conduct listening sessions may not sound like a big deal, but it is. Heres why:

First, this region has been successful at reducing emissions from the electric sector, but transportation is lagging behind, as this graph shows:



Energy Information Administration Data

All of these states have committed to economy-wide goals that will be impossible to reach without ambitious policies to reduce pollution from transportation. Mondays statement demonstrates that policy leaders understand that transportation is the next major frontier in the fight against global warming in the Northeast.

Second, a public conversation is necessary. For several years, these states have talked internally through their departments of energy, environment and transportation, about how to cut transportation emissions. When I served as a commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, I was part of those conversations, and they have yielded a number of promising ideas.

But policies that are truly worthy and lasting cant be hatched in isolation from the public. Public engagement is needed to get the best ideas out on the table, test assumptions, gauge political support and persuade the skeptical. The states announcement shows that the states are serious, and that they are going about this in the right way.

Third, once the states announce a goal (as they have done here), and encourage the public to provide input to it, they create the expectation that action will follow: doing nothing becomes a much harder option. Once these listening sessions begin region wide, as they already have in Massachusetts, state leaders will see that their constituents want clean, affordable transportation, and that they are prepared to invest in that. Thus, the conversation will change from whether to implement a regional solution to how to do so.

In this regard, it is intriguing that on the day of the announcement, the states also released a white paper on one particularly promising approacha regional cap and invest program. A cap and invest program would build upon this regions success with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which has helped to dramatically lower emissions from the electric sector while creating jobs and reducing consumer costs.

The program would set an overall cap on regional transportation emissions, require fuel distributors to purchase allowances for the right to sell polluting fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel, and re-invest the proceeds in improved mass transit, electric cars and buses, affordable housing located near transportation centers, and other proven ways to make clean transportation available to all. The white paper does an excellent job of identifying how such a scheme would work under our existing fuel distribution network. (For more information on this approach, read my op-ed and the blog by my colleague Dan Gatti).

I encourage Union of Concerned Scientists members and the public to attend these listening sessions and publicly support a bold regional solution. And I applaud the leaders of these states for taking a critical next step. State leadership, particularly when it is bi-partisan, is the way that the U.S. can best stay on track to meet its climate goals and assure an anxious world that we are still in the fight, notwithstanding the Trump administrations abdication of leadership.

Ken Kimmell is president of the Union of Concerned Scientists and has more than 30 years of experience in government, environmental policy, and advocacy.
Last month, former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush separately issued bipartisan calls to abandon divisive language . Both railed against the current polarized nature of our nations political discoursewhich, in the past year, has been lacking in nuance and filled with racial invective, gender insults, and other hate speech. Characterized by binaries, this language constructs our nation as a conglomerate of factions.

In such a climate, some educators may shy away from discussing controversial issues with students, especially when, for many of them, the political has become deeply personal. But educators should recognize the powerand opportunities for student empowermentin these discussions.

Words can be used for disagreements without being divisive. Language is a formidable tool for helping us make sense of the world around us, allowing us to explain to others what we think and feel, andwhen we know how to listengiving us a window into how others understand abstract issues. Language also gives us a medium through which to make sense of the current political turbulence and cultural disquiet. There is power in recognizing and labeling instances of racism, sexism, and discrimination. There is even greater power in giving our students the language to reflect, to question, and to resist negative voices.

As education professors, we have spoken to many teachers who are grappling with how to support diverse learners in a polarized climate. In a survey released last month, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, asked more than 1,500 teachers whether the national political discourse during the first months of President Donald Trumps administration has affected public high school students . Seventy-nine percent of teachers reported that students have expressed concerns for their familys or their own well-being because of discourse on hot-button issues such as immigration and LGBT rights, and 44 percent said these concerns have affected students ability to focus on schoolwork.

Teachers must model respectful dissent by reiterating important ideas and pushing students to explain their thinking."

The Southern Poverty Law Center also documented a post-election increase in bullying incidents of children who are members of linguistic, racial, and religious minority groups. This behavior is linked in part to a lack of precision in our collective discourseone that reduces individuals to stereotypes.

Making language a mechanism for empowerment rather than division begins by honoring the skills students bring to the classroom and identifying those that are necessary to teach. Over the last six years, in partnership with three U.S. public school districts in Maryland and Massachusetts, weve conducted studies examining the language skills of nearly 7,000 students in grades 4-8. Our research suggests that the majority of middle school studentsregardless of whether English is the primary language spoken at homeare still developing the skills necessary to discuss complex issues and ideas with nuance, to disagree, and to make their thinking visible to peers.

Even students who are persuasive communicators have not yet learned language helpful for clarifying connections between ideas (such as as a result and however) or for disagreeing with others (some think ... but I believe ...). This kind of language isnt just window dressing. It helps students to say what they mean more precisely, reducing miscommunication and overgeneralization.

If educators wish to turn discussions about current affairs into a powerful learning opportunity, fostering precise language skills is necessary not only to support the understanding of content, but also to support students to better understand themselves and others. Teaching language builds students awareness of language choices and invites them to consider their own linguistic choices.

We have researched effective practices for developing students language skills in collaboration with colleagues at Boston University, Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Education, the Strategic Education Research Partnership, and Vanderbilt University. In classrooms where we have observed discussion of current events using these guidelines, students demonstrate the capacity to disagree respectfully and to engage with uncertainty at a time when our country is witnessing adults inability to do the same.

One of the most important steps is to introduce a few words or phrases at a time and purposefully revisit those new pieces of language. Terms that are transparent to adults often require explicit teaching to children, such as those that cue thinking processes (summarize and conclude) or signal how ideas connect (in conclusion and on the other hand). Equally important is how educators motivate students to use the language they learn. Students who want to be understood are more apt to try out new language, but this means that teachers have to give them something worth talking about. Its helpful to begin with a controversial question.

Educators should then recast themselves as listeners and facilitators. This encourages students to speak up and sharpen their ideas. At the same time, teachers must model respectful dissent by reiterating important ideas and pushing students to explain their thinking. Finally, teachers should help students agree on a few norms for discussion. The goal is not to reach a resolution, but to learn to hold competing narratives in ways that are respectful and move beyond simplistic binaries.

The ongoing national conversation about political and social issues is an important instructional moment for teachers. A central piece of this instruction is helping students to become more skilled at talking, writing, and thinking about issues from multiple perspectives. Teachers would do well to remember the power of language as they help children find their voices in a complex world.
The study's authors analyzed data for nearly 18,000 companies and found that female-founded start-ups have a harder time gaining investor interest and raising money Short headline: Male investors prefer male-run companies

A new study is highlighting one possible reason women aren't making more headway in Silicon Valley: men prefer to invest in companies run by other men. With men making up 90 percent of venture capitalists, that preference is a bottleneck that keeps women out of the ranks of tech entrepreneurs.

The study's authors, Michael Ewens of Caltech and Richard Townsend of UC San Diego, analyzed nearly 18,000 start-ups to identify the "chicken and egg" situation faced by women entrepreneurs. Because female-led start-ups face tougher funding prospects than male-led start-ups, fewer women enter the tech entrepreneur pipeline that ultimately feeds the ranks of venture capitalists. Without an adequate supply of female venture capitalists, women-founded start-ups continue to struggle to find funding.

"Women are treated differently than their male counterparts. They receive less interest and, in the end, less funding from male investors," says Ewens, a Caltech professor of finance and entrepreneurship.

To reach that conclusion, the authors analyzed data from 2010 to 2015 on the fates of start-ups with profiles on AngelList, a website that connects start-up companies with investors. Data collected by the site showed how much interest companies were garnering from investors as well as the gender of the founders and interested investors. Ewens and Townsend combined those data with other information they collected about whether the start-ups ultimately found funding, failed, went public, or were purchased by another company.

They found that male-led companies were almost twice as likely to receive funding from male investors than were female-led companies. Male-led companies also had a higher chance of being asked to meet with a male investor and of being "shared" from AngelList onto other platforms like Facebook or Twitter by a male investor.

Among the start-ups seeking funding on AngelList, 16 percent were founded by women. However, Ewens and Townsend found that female-founded companies only made up 13.5 percent of companies that had success finding funding on the platform.

Why were female-founded companies treated differently? Ewens and Townsend explored a few possible explanations that ultimately the data didn't support.

Do men build better companies?

One possibility is that start-ups founded and led by women have undesirable characteristics that investors are responding to that were not obvious to the researchers. If this were the case, potential investors of both genders would have good reason to prefer companies founded by men. However, the data revealed that women-founded companies were less desirable only to male investors. Female investors actually slightly preferred women-founded companies, suggesting that the women-founded companies did not have uniquely undesirable characteristics.

Ewens and Townsend also explored the possibility that women investors were partnering with women founders out of a desire to help other women succeed regardless of the start-up quality. "We wondered if maybe women investors are investing in women because they want to make money and help women," Ewens says. "That would result in women-women pairings that underperform."

To account for potential differences in the ability of investors to pick good investments, the researchers compared outcomes of companies against others within the same portfolio, asking the question, "When an investor funds a company founded by someone of their same gender, does the company perform differently than the same investor's other investments?"

The data revealed, however, that the worst performers were in fact male-founded start-ups that paired with male investors. Female-female, male-female, and female-male pairs all performed better.

A matter of focus?

Ewens and Townsend also wondered if sector focus--the field in which the start-ups operate--was playing a role. That is, if a female-founded company is focused on makeup, and a male investor isn't familiar with this sector, he might shy away and opt to invest instead in a male start-up that sells facial-hair grooming products.

To account for such possible preferences, the researchers developed a subsample of "gender-neutral" start-ups without a clear masculine or feminine focus--biotech firms, for example. They found that even among these start-ups, male investors were more likely to pair with male-founded companies.

Risk and reward?

A third idea possibility that men and women prefer different levels of risk, both on the start-up side and the investment side, and that same-gender pairings between entrepreneurs and investors are driven by that preference.

"There is some experimental evidence that women are more risk averse," Ewens says. "So, female-founded firms may be less risky or the founders may pursue different growth strategies than male-founded firms do."

Female-run companies with more conservative business plans that present less risk--but also less chance of a big payoff--might align better with the interests of a risk-averse female investor. On the other hand, male-founded companies, which tend to take more business risks--but have a higher potential for financial reward--might appeal more to male investors.

To test the hypothesis, the researchers looked at cross-gender pairings of male founders and female investors.

If female investors are more risk averse, the argument goes, they should be more likely to choose male-founded companies with safer business approaches--and, because of their conservatism, those same male-founded companies should have a harder time attracting male investors.

But these patterns are not observed in the data, Ewens and Townsend found. Male-run companies that paired up with female investors still garnered significant interest from male investors.

A matter of taste

With company quality, sector focus, and risk aversion ruled out, Ewens and Townsend were left with only one likely explanation: taste-based discrimination. That is, male investors simply prefer to fund male-founded companies for reasons that may include outright sexism as well as subtler factors, such as a desire among male venture capitalists to mentor young entrepreneurs who remind them of themselves.

Because investment preferences are personal and not easily identified, Ewens says it would be difficult, if not impossible, to create laws or regulations that would prevent discrimination in investments. A more successful approach would include efforts to increase the number of women investors, though that will take some time to begin paying off.

"There's no quick fix; however, if we continue to lower the barriers to becoming an investor, the pool of venture capitalists will begin to look more like the general population, and the gender gap will shrink," he says.

The paper is titled "Are Early State Investors Biased Against Women?"

###
Researchers at CeMM and the Medical University of Vienna presented a preliminary report in Lancet Hematology on the clinical impact of an integrated ex vivo approach termed pharmacoscopy. The procedures measure single-cell drug responses of millions of individual cells to hundreds of possible treatments in small biopsies from cancer patients. The interims analysis of the first-ever clinical trial with the approach, published in the current issue of the journal The Lancet Haematology, highlights the potential of the method: 88.2% of patients receiving pharmacoscopy-guided treatment achieved partial or complete remission, compared to 23.5% to their own previous treatment. Further, the median progression-free survival increased four-fold. Retrospectively, pharmacoscopy also predicted the response of AML patients to first-line treatment with 90% accuracy. These results show that pharmacoscopy can assist decision-making of the responsible clinicians effectively and thus represent a powerful tool for practical precise and personalized medicine.

(Vienna, November 13, 2017) Patients suffering from refractory and relapsed blood cancers often have few treatment options and short survival times. At this stage, identifying effective therapies can be challenging for doctors. Even state-of-the-art genetic analyses, due to the high heterogeneity of cancer cells and the impact of the various mutations on their drug response, do often not suffice to instruct personalized treatments. Pharmacoscopy, a technology developed by scientists at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and tested for its clinical efficacy by clinicians of the Medical University of Vienna, offers a functional approach: hundreds of drug options can be quickly pre-tested ex vivo in small liquid biopsy samples collected from individual patients.

The effects of each drug on the individual cells are quantified using high-throughput and high-content automated confocal microscopy. In combination with specially developed analysis methods and machine learning and other unique algorithms, pharmacoscopy allows quantification of never-before visualized phenotypes. The method was first presented last April in Nature Chemical Biology (doi:10.1038/nchembio.2360).

The multidisciplinary team publishing the current study is spearheaded by Giulio Superti-Furga, Scientific Director of CeMM and Professor at the Center for Physiology and Pharmacology of Medical University of Vienna together with Professor Philip Staber, Program Director for Lymphoma, Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia, and T-cell Lymphoma of the Medical University of Vienna.

While the clinical study is still recruiting, interim analysis of the program showed that 88.2% of the patients recruited (15 out of 17) who received pharmacoscopy-monitored personalized therapies achieved partial or complete remission, while only 23.5% (4 out of 17) responded similarly well to their previous respective treatments.

In addition, the median progression-free survival of patients who were treated in accordance to pharmacoscopy-guided therapy increased from 5.7 week to 22.6 weeks compared to their last line of treatment. Further, in a retrospective study organized to specifically determine the ability of the method to stratify responding and non-responding newly-diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), resulted in 90% accuracy. Before, such accuracy in prediction of treatment outcome was unachievable, with or without genetic assays.

"Having a robust, fast, and reliable predictive test at our disposal during the patient treatment process, especially at the time of relapse where a new intervention must be selected quickly, will change how medical doctors prioritize drugs to use for late-stage patients" says Philipp Staber, principal investigator of the clinical trial.

"Evidence that the pharmacoscopy approach is helpful for clinical evaluation of therapy is wonderful. Single-cell functional analysis of primary material gives unprecedented resolution and precision that we are sure to further develop in the future to address yet more diseases", adds Giulio Superti-Furga, whose goal at the beginning of activities of the Research Center for Molecular Medicine ten years ago was to create scientific advancements able to positively impact medical practice.

###

Explanatory video of the Pharmacoscopy-method: https://vimeo.com/229561929

The study "Image-based ex-vivo drug screening for patients with aggressive haematological malignancies: interim results from a single-arm, open-label, pilot study" was published in The Lancet Haematology on November 13, 2017. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(17)30208-9

Authors: Berend Snijder*, Gregory I Vladimer*, Nikolaus Krall, Katsuhiro Miura, Ann-Sofie Schmolke, Christoph Kornauth, Monika Sabler, Oscar Lopez de la Fuente, Hye-Soo Choi; Emiel van der Kouwe; Sinan Gultekin, Lukas Kazianka, Johannes Bigenzahn, Gregor Hormann, Nicole Prutsch, Olaf Merkel, PhD; Anna Ringler; Georg Jeryczynski, Marius Mayerhofer, Ingrid Simonitsch-Klupp, Katharina Ocko, Franz Felberbauer, Leonhard Mullauer, Gerald W Prager, Belgin Korkmaz, Lukas Kenner, Wolfgang R Sperr, Robert Kralovics, Heinz Gisslinger, Peter Valent, Stefan Kubicek, Ulrich Jager, Philipp B Staber, and Giulio Superti-Furga.

The study was supported by the European Research Council (ERC), the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Austrian National Bank, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, the National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development, the MPN Research Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

The mission of CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is to achieve maximum scientific innovation in molecular medicine to improve healthcare. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues free-minded basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment of outstanding medical tradition and practice. CeMM's research is based on post-genomic technologies and focuses on societally important diseases, such as immune disorders and infections, cancer and metabolic disorders. CeMM operates in a unique mode of super-cooperation, connecting biology with medicine, experiments with computation, discovery with translation, and science with society and the arts. The goal of CeMM is to pioneer the science that nurtures the precise, personalized, predictive and preventive medicine of the future. CeMM trains a modern blend of biomedical scientists and is located at the campus of the General Hospital and the Medical University of Vienna. http://www.cemm.at

The Medical University of Vienna is one of the most traditional medical education establishments with nearly 7,500 students and approximately 5,500 staff members, and one of the most important top-level biomedical research institutions in Europe. Its international outlook is one of its most important pillars and the research focus is centered on immunology, cancer research, imaging, brain research and cardiovascular diseases. https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en

For further information please contact

Mag. Wolfgang Dauble

Media Relations Manager

CeMM

Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences

Lazarettgasse 14, AKH BT 25.3

1090 Vienna, Austria

Phone +43-1/40160-70 057

Fax +43-1/40160-970 000

wdaeuble@cemm.oeaw.ac.at

http://www.cemm.at
A new study in Heliyon suggests that Neanderthals survived at least 3,000 years longer in Spain than we thought

London, Nov. 16, 2017 - Neanderthals survived at least 3,000 years longer than we thought in Southern Iberia - what is now Spain - long after they had died out everywhere else, according to new research published in Heliyon.

The authors of the study, an international team from Portuguese, Spanish, Catalonian, German, Austrian and Italian research institutions, say their findings suggest that the process of modern human populations absorbing Neanderthal populations through interbreeding was not a regular, gradual wave-of-advance but a "stop-and-go, punctuated, geographically uneven history."

Over more than ten years of fieldwork, the researchers excavated three new sites in southern Spain, where they discovered evidence of distinctly Neanderthal materials dating until 37,000 years ago.

"Technology from the Middle Paleolithic in Europe is exclusively associated with the Neanderthals," said Dr. Joao Zilhao, from the University of Barcelona and lead author of the study. "In three new excavation sites, we found Neanderthal artefacts dated to thousands of years later than anywhere else in Western Europe. Even in the adjacent regions of northern Spain and southern France the latest Neanderthal sites are all significantly older."

The Middle Paleolithic was a part of the Stone Age, and it spanned from 300,000 to 30,000 years ago. It is widely acknowledged that during this time, anatomically modern humans started to move out of Africa and assimilate coeval Eurasian populations, including Neanderthals, through interbreeding.

According to the new research, this process was not a straightforward, smooth one - instead, it seems to have been punctuated, with different evolutionary patterns in different geographical regions.

In 2010, the team published evidence from the site of Cueva Anton in Spain that provided unambiguous evidence for symbolism among Neanderthals. Putting that evidence in context and using the latest radiometric techniques to date the site, the researchers show Cueva Anton is the most recent known Neanderthal site.

"We believe that the stop-and-go, punctuated, uneven mechanism we propose must have been the rule in human evolution, which helps explaining why Paleolithic material culture tends to form patterns of geographically extensive similarity while Paleolithic genomes tend to show complex ancestry patchworks," commented Dr. Zilhao.

The key to understanding this pattern, says Dr. Zilhao, lies in discovering and analyzing new sites, not in revisiting old ones. Although finding and excavating new sites with the latest techniques is time-consuming, he believes it is the approach that pays off.

"There is still a lot we do not know about human evolution and, especially, about the Neanderthals," said Dr. Zilhao. "Our textbook ideas about Neanderthals and modern humans have been mostly derived from finds in France, Germany and Central Europe, but during the Ice Ages these were peripheral areas: probably as much as half of the Paleolithic people who ever lived in Europe were Iberians. Ongoing research has begun to bear fruit, and I have no doubt that there is more to come."

###

Notes for editors

"Precise dating of the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Murcia (Spain) supports late Neandertal persistence in Iberia" by Joao Zilhao et al. (DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00435). The article appears in Heliyon (November 2017), published by Elsevier.

For a copy of this paper, please contact Victoria Howard at v.howard@elsevier.com or newsroom@elsevier.com. In online coverage of this paper, please mention the journal Heliyon and link to the paper at http://www.heliyon.com/article/e00435/.

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Author Contact

Joao Zilhao

35-1-963-02-9935

joao.zilhao@gmail.com, joao.zilhao@ub.edu

Institution Contact

University of Barcelona

Rosa Martinez Fernandez

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Objects scattered to the inner region of the Solar System by Jupiter's growth brought most of the water now found on Earth

Equipped with Newton's law of universal gravitation (published in Principia 330 years ago) and powerful computational resources (used to apply the law to more than 10,000 interacting bodies), a young Brazilian researcher and his former postdoctoral supervisor have just proposed a new physical model to explain the origin of water on Earth and the other Earth-like objects in the Solar System.

Andre Izidoro, from the School of Engineering of Sao Paulo State University in Guaratingueta, Brazil, explains that the novelty does not lie on the idea that Earth's water came predominantly from asteroids. "What we did was associate the asteroid contribution with the formation of Jupiter. Based on the resulting model, we 'delivered to Earth' amounts of water consistent with currently estimated values," said Izidoro, who is supported)by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) through its Young Investigators Grants program.

His explanation lies in the article "Origin of water in the inner Solar System: Planetesimals scattered inward during Jupiter and Saturn's rapid gas accretion", jointly signed with the American astrophysicist Sean Raymond, who is currently with the Bordeaux Astrophysics Laboratory in France. The article was published in the planetary science journal Icarus.

Estimates of the amount of water on Earth vary a great deal. If the unit of measurement is terrestrial oceans, some scientists speak of three to four of them, while others estimate dozens. The variation derives from the fact that the amounts of water in the planet's hot mantle and its rocky crust are unknown. In any event, the model proposed covers the full range of estimates.

"First of all, it's important to leave aside the idea that Earth received all its water via the impacts of comets from very distant regions. These 'deliveries' also occurred, but their contributions came later and were far less significant in percentage terms," Izidoro said. "Most of our water came to the region currently occupied by Earth's orbit before the planet was formed."

Pre-history of the Solar System: water-rich protoplanets

To understand how this happened, it is worth restating the scenario defined in the conventional model of the Solar System's formation and then adding the new model for the advent of water. The initial condition is a gigantic cloud of gas and cosmic dust. Owing to some kind of gravitational disturbance or local turbulence, the cloud collapses and is attracted by a specific inner region that becomes a center.

With the accumulation of matter, at about 4.5 billion years ago, the center became so massive and hot that it began the process of nuclear fusion, which transformed it into a star. Meanwhile, the remaining cloud continued to orbit the center and its matter agglutinated to form a disk, which later fragmented to define protoplanetary niches.

"The water-rich region of this disk is estimated to have been located several astronomical units from our Sun. In the inner region, closer to the star, the temperature was too high for water to accumulate except, perhaps, in very small amounts in the form of vapor," Izidoro said.

An astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun. The region between 1.8 AU and 3.2 AU is currently occupied by the Asteroid Belt, with hundreds of thousands of objects. The asteroids located between 1.8 AU and 2.5 AU are mostly water-poor, whereas those located beyond 2.5 AU are water-rich. The process whereby Jupiter was formed can explain the origin of this division, according to Izidoro.

"The time elapsed between the Sun's formation and the complete dissipation of the gas disk was quite short on the cosmogonic scale: from only 5 million to, at most, 10 million years," he said. "The formations of gas giants as massive as Jupiter and Saturn can only have occurred during this youthful phase of the Solar System, so it was during this phase that Jupiter's rapid growth gravitationally disturbed thousands of water-rich planetesimals, dislodging them from their original orbits."

The traumatic birth of gas giants

Jupiter is believed to have a solid core with a mass equivalent to several times that of Earth. This core is surrounded by a thick and massive layer of gas. Jupiter could only have acquired this wrapping during the solar nebular phase, when the system was forming and a huge amount of gaseous material was available.

The acquisition of this gas by gravitational attraction was very fast because of the great mass of Jupiter's embryo. In the vicinity of the formation of the giant planet, located beyond the "snow line", thousands of planetesimals (rocky bodies similar to asteroids) orbited the center of the disk and, simultaneously, attracted each other.

The rapid increase of Jupiter's mass undermined the fragile gravitational equilibrium of this system with many bodies. Several planetesimals were engulfed by proto-Jupiter. Others were propelled to the outskirts of the Solar System. In addition, a smaller number were hurled into the disk's inner region, delivering water to the material that later formed the terrestrial planets and the Asteroid Belt.

"The period during which the Earth was formed is dated to between 30 million and 150 million years after the Sun's formation," Izidoro said. "When this happened, the region of the disk in which our planet was formed already contained large amounts of water, delivered by the planetesimals scattered by Jupiter and also by Saturn. A small proportion of Earth's water may have arrived later via collisions with comets and asteroids. An even smaller proportion may have been formed locally through endogenous physicochemical processes. But most of it came with the planetesimals."

Model simulates gravitational interference suffered by icycle objects

His argument is supported by the model he built with his former supervisor. "We used supercomputers to simulate the gravitational interactions among multiple bodies by means of numerical integrators in Fortran," he explained. "We introduced a modification to include the effects of the gas present in the medium during the era of planet formation because, in addition to all the gravitational interactions that were going on, the planetesimals were also impacted by the action of what's known as 'gas drag', which is basically a 'wind' blowing in the opposite direction of their movement. The effect is similar to the force perceived by a cyclist in motion as the molecules of air collide with his body."

Owing to gas drag, the initially very elongated orbits of the planetesimals scattered by Jupiter were gradually "circularized". It was this effect that implanted these objects in what is now the Asteroid Belt.

A key parameter in this type of simulation is the total mass of the solar nebula at the start of the process. To arrive at this number, Izidoro and Raymond used a model proposed in the early 1970s that was based on the estimated masses of all the objects currently observed in the Solar System.

To compensate for losses due to matter ejection during the formation of the system, the model corrects the current masses of the different objects such that the proportions of heavy elements (oxygen, carbon, etc.) and light elements (hydrogen, helium, etc.) are equal to those of the Sun. The rationale for this is the hypothesis that the compositions of the gas disk and the Sun were the same. Following these alterations, the estimated mass of the primitive cloud is obtained.

The researchers created a simulation from these parameters, available in the link . A graph is shown in the video; the horizontal axis shows the distance to the Sun in AU. The objects' orbital eccentricities are plotted along the vertical axis. As the animation progresses, it illustrates how the system evolved during the formative stage. The two black dots, located at just under 5.5 AU and a little past 7.0 AU, correspond to Jupiter and Saturn respectively. During the animation, these bodies grow as they accrete gas from the protoplanetary cloud, and their growth destabilizes planetesimals, scattering them in various directions. The different colors assigned to the planetesimals serve merely to show where they were to begin with and how they were scattered. The gray area marks the current position of the Asteroid Belt. Time passes in thousands of years, as shown at the top of the chart.

A second animation adds a key ingrediente, which are the migrations of Jupiter and Saturn to positions nearer the Sun during their growth processes.

All calculations of the gravitational interactions among the bodies were based on Newton's law. Numeric integrators enabled the researchers to calculate the positions of each body at different times, which would be impossible to do for some 10,000 bodies without a supercomputer.

###

About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. For more information: http://www.fapesp.br/en.
Scientists have elucidated the Zika burden in a Brazilian metropolis. Their data indicate: the outbreak may be coming to an end and further outbreaks in the region seem unlikely.

In 2016, news about the Zika virus in Brazil made the headlines in Europe for the first time. With approximately 65 million people affected, it is one of the largest epidemics in the last few years. The Olympics additionally fuelled fears that the virus could spread globally. When the first cases of newborns with microcephaly, i.e. malfor-mations of the brain, were observed in connection to Zika, it became apparent that further research was called for. The DZIF responded to this global challenge and, under the leadership of Jan Felix Drexler, Charite - Universitatsklinikum Berlin, initiated a German alliance project with Brazilian scientists, which investigates the pathogenesis and epidemiology of Zika.

Population immunity is giving the virus less and less latitude

"The spread of the Zika virus in northeastern Brazil has been so intense that the current Zika epidemic could soon be over," explains Drexler. People who have undergone Zika virus infections usually become immune against the virus. Consequently, fewer and fewer people can now contract Zika virus infections and subsequently serve as a source of the virus for mosquitoes. According to the authors of the study, "Outbreaks in the same region are therefore rather unlikely." The Zika virus is currently spreading from Brazil to the neighbouring countries but, according to Drexler, may gradually fade out on its own. However, to date it is still unclear as to whether the virus can hide in other animals to then cause new outbreaks in humans.

Laboratory-based data on the spread of the virus available for the first time

The study is the first laboratory-based epidemiological study since the start of the Zika epidemic. Samples from 910 humans in Salvador, northeast Brazil, were tested for Zika virus antibodies as well as for other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes--such as Chikungunya and dengue. The samples were obtained before, during and after the peak of the Zika outbreak. An infection rate of over 60 percent was observed in this metropolis. With mathematical modelling and sociodemographic data alongside the laboratory values, the scientists used a multidisciplinary approach to elucidate the speed of virus spread, areas most affected by Zika and the link to malformations in newborns.

Link between Zika and microcephaly

"The increased number of newborns with microcephaly observed during the Zika outbreak in Brazil is linked to Zika infection of the mother during early pregnancy," explains Drexler. Data from the Brazilian metropolis have confirmed this suspicion and, together with other studies, enable the researchers to estimate the absolute risk of microcephaly upon infection of the mother during pregnancy: approximately one out of 100 mothers infected during early pregnancy will bear a child with microcephaly.

Link between Zika and poverty

Analysis of geospatial data and socioeconomic status demonstrated a connection between the likelihood of Zika infection and increased poverty. "We can see that poorer regions are more severely affected by Zika," confirms Drexler. "Reasons for this can currently only be assumed." The scientists suspect that living conditions contribute to the situation. "Mosquitoes can more easily access these homes and people are more exposed." According to the authors of the study, these findings could be taken into consideration for developing future intervention measures, such as ensuring that people living in poorer regions have better access to protection against mos-quitoes. In addition, more targeted use of the potential vaccines and drugs that scientists are currently working on intensively could be planned.

Tackling global challenges jointly

The University of Cologne, Heidelberg University and the Heinrich Pette Institute in Hamburg were involved in the study through the ZIKApath project which was initiated by the DZIF. Further support was provided by the EU-funded project ZIKAlliance. The German researchers worked together closely with partners from the University of Salvador in Bahia, Brazil, as well as with partners from the University of Bonn Medical Centre, the Fraunhofer Institute in Leipzig, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Health and Aix-Marseille University.

###

Publication

Eduardo Martins Netto, Andres Moreira-Soto, Celia Pedroso, Christoph Hoser, Sebas-tian Funk, Adam J. Kucharski, Alexandra Rockstroh, Beate M. Kummerer, Gilmara Sou-za Sampaio, Estela Luz, Sara Nunes Vaz, Juarez Pereira Dias, Fernanda Anjos Bastos, Renata Cabral, Thomas Kistemann, Sebastian Ulbert, Xavier de Lamballerie, Thomas Jaenisch, Oliver J. Brady, Christian Drosten, Manoel Sarno, Carlos Brites, Jan Felix Drexler:

High Zika Virus Seroprevalence in Salvador, Northeastern Brazil Limits the Potential for Further Outbreaks. mBIO November 2017, 8 (6); doi: 10.1128/mBio.01390-17.

Contact

Prof Jan Felix DrexlerDZIF research field "Emerging Infections"Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin49-30-450-525461

Press contact

Karola Neubert and Janna Schmidt

DZIF Press Office

49-531-6181-1170-1154

presse@dzif.de

At the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) approximately 500 scientists and doctors from 35 institutions throughout Germany jointly develop new approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. The aim is to translate research results into clinical practice quickly and effectively. With this, the DZIF paves the way for developing new vaccines, diagnostics and drugs against infections. You can find more information at http://www.dzif.de.
Key Takeaways:

Nrf1 acts as a molecular guardian, helping to maintain cholesterol levels within a safe, narrow range

This protein acts within cells and both directly senses and responds to an increase in cholesterol by launching protective countermeasures

Nrf1 could form a potential new therapeutic target in diseases where cholesterol metabolism is disrupted

Boston, MA - A team of researchers at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health has illuminated a critical player in cholesterol metabolism that acts as a molecular guardian in cells to help maintain cholesterol levels within a safe, narrow range. Known as Nrf1, it both senses and responds to excess cholesterol, and could represent a potential new therapeutic target in a multitude of diseases where cholesterol metabolism is disrupted.

The study will be published online November 16, 2017 in Cell.

"We've uncovered a key missing piece in our understanding of how cells can precisely control their cholesterol levels," said senior author Gokhan S. Hotamisligil, J.S. Simmons Professor of Genetics and Metabolism and head of the Sabri Ulker Center for Nutrient, Genetic, and Metabolic Research at Harvard Chan School. "That piece forms part of a molecular yin-yang that is critical for keeping cholesterol levels in proper balance and ensuring proper cellular function."

It has been accepted for decades that high cholesterol in the blood can set the stage for cardiovascular disease and other significant health problems. But elevated cholesterol is even more dangerous at the cellular level, leading to toxicity, inflammation, and eventually cell death. "The cell must guard against any rise in cholesterol -- it cannot tolerate levels that are too high or too low," said Hotamisligil. While there are well known cellular factors that send and receive signals when cholesterol is in short supply (orchestrated by a protein called SREBP2), it has been unclear how cells handle some crucial aspects of the converse problem of too much cholesterol.

To explore the mechanisms that defend cells against cholesterol, first author Scott Widenmaier, research fellow in the Department of Genetic and Complex Diseases and Sabri Ulker Center, and colleagues focused their attention on an area of the cell known as the endoplasmic reticulum or ER, which is surrounded by a membrane notoriously low in cholesterol -- lower, in fact, than any other cellular membrane. "This would be a particularly vulnerable place in the cell, where a small increase in cholesterol would make a significant impact," explained Hotamisligil. As an intracellular structure, the ER requires fluidity, and adding more cholesterol to its membrane makes it more brittle.

Based on their assumption, the scientists set out to find molecules that reside in the ER membrane and that might play a role in detecting or responding to cellular cholesterol levels; they homed in on a handful of likely suspects. In initial experiments, Nrf1 protein stood out because it responds to cholesterol -- when cholesterol is added to cells, the levels of Nrf1 increase, indicating that the protein can react to high cholesterol. And when Nrf1 function is disrupted in mice, the liver becomes dramatically enlarged and overrun with excess cholesterol, suggesting that it normally acts to protect the liver from cholesterol accumulation.

To dig more deeply into Nrf1's protective role in cholesterol metabolism, the researchers set out to determine how it works at the molecular level. They discovered that Nrf1 has the capacity to bind to cholesterol directly, and pinpointed specific regions of the protein that mediate this binding. Moreover, the binding of cholesterol triggers a cascade of molecular events that suppress inflammation and promote cholesterol removal from the cell.

Taken together, these findings highlight a novel program for responding to high cholesterol in the cell that operates alongside other molecular components that guard against low cholesterol.

"This discovery really teaches us a lot about how cells maintain cholesterol homeostasis," said Hotamisligil. "Now, we demonstrate that there is a molecular yin-yang-- formed by NRF1 and SREBP2 -- that together keep cellular cholesterol within a safe, narrow range. That's an exciting finding that could have broad, new therapeutic applications."

This study was supported in part by a grant from Servier Research Laboratories.

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"NRF1 Is an ER Membrane Sensor that Is Central to Cholesterol Homeostasis," Scott B. Widenmaier, Nicole A. Snyder, Truc B. Nguyen, Alessandro Arduini, Grace Y. Lee, Ana Paula Arruda, Jani Saksi, Alexander Bartelt, Gokhan S. Hotamisligil, Cell, online November 16, 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.10.003

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.
A mountaintop observatory about four hours east of Mexico City, built and operated by an international team of scientists, has captured the first wide-angle view of gamma rays emanating from two rapidly spinning stars. The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory offers perspective on the very high energy light streaming from our stellar neighbors and casts serious doubt on one possible origin for a mysterious excess of anti-matter particles near Earth.

In 2008, a space-borne detector measured an unexpectedly high number of positrons--the anti-matter cousins of electrons--in orbit. Ever since, scientists have debated the cause of the anomaly, split over two competing theories of its origin. Some suggested a simple explanation: The extra particles might be coming from nearby collapsed stars called pulsars, which spin around several times a second and throw off electrons, positrons and other matter with violent force. Others speculated that the extra positrons have an exotic origin, perhaps coming from as-yet undetected processes involving dark matter--the invisible but pervasive substance seen so far only through its gravitational pull.

"This new measurement is tantalizing because it strongly disfavors the idea that these extra positrons are coming to Earth from two nearby pulsars, at least when you assume a relatively simple model for their propagation," says Jordan Goodman, professor of physics at the University of Maryland and the lead investigator and US spokesperson for the HAWC collaboration. "Our measurement doesn't decide the question in favor of dark matter, but any new theory that attempts to explain the excess using pulsars will need to match the new data."

Using this new data from the HAWC observatory, researchers made the first detailed measurements of two pulsars previously identified as possible sources of the excess. By catching and counting particles of light streaming from these nearby stellar engines, the HAWC collaboration showed that the two pulsars are unlikely to be the origin of the positron excess. Despite being the right age and the right distance from Earth, the pulsars are surrounded by an extended murky cloud from which positrons can't escape in great numbers, according to results published this week in Science.

Petra Huentemeyer, associate professor physics at Michigan Technological University and founding member of the HAWC collaboration, started working with her former PhD student, Hao Zhou, on the related analysis of HAWC data while he was a postdoc at Michigan Tech in 2016.

"Our analysis does not support previous claims that the two nearby pulsars are responsible for the excess of positrons detected by two space-born telescopes, the Italian-lead PAMELA project and the AMS-02 detector of NASA," she says.

Some researchers posit that the positrons are produced in dark matter interactions.

"There are all kinds of efforts all over the globe to detect dark matter directly," she says. "Dark matter is difficult to detect. Dark matter is elusive. We don't see it. The reason we think it exists is because if you take what we know about gravitation and then look at the velocity of stars traveling around the center of disk galaxies, they are not traveling at the speeds we expect from visible matter. There must be dark, non-light emitting mass somewhere that causes this from what we understand about gravitation."

While the results in the Science paper do not affirm the detection of dark matter, they do confirm that positron excess is not explained by a pulsar nebula throwing off the particles.

Looking for Answers

The HAWC Observatory sits at an elevation of 13,500 feet, flanking the Sierra Negra volcano inside Pico de Orizaba National Park in the Mexican state of Puebla. More than 300 massive water tanks sit waiting at the site for cascades of particles initiated by high-energy packets of light called gamma rays--many of which have more than a million times the energy of a dental X-ray.

When these gamma rays smash into the upper atmosphere, they blast apart atoms in the air, producing a shower of particles that moves at nearly the speed of light toward the ground. When this shower reaches HAWC's tanks, it produces coordinated flashes of blue light in the water, allowing researchers to reconstruct the energy and cosmic origin of the gamma ray that kicked off the cascade.

This measurement wouldn't have been possible without HAWC's wide view. It continuously scans about one-third of the sky overhead, which provided researchers with a broad view of the space around the pulsars.

"Thanks to its wide field of view, HAWC provides unique measurements on the very-high-energy gamma-ray profiles caused by the particle diffusion around nearby pulsars, which allows us to determine how fast the particles diffuse more directly than previous measurements," says Hao Zhou, now a scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and Michigan Tech alumnus.

Zhou, one of the paper's corresponding authors, is responsible for developing the particle diffusion model and calculating the gamma-ray emission morphology around the two pulsars in HAWC data. He fit this model to the data to constrain the physical parameter about these sources, which describes how fast a particle diffuses away from its source.

As with an ordinary camera, collecting lots of light allows HAWC to build sharp images of individual gamma-ray sources. The highest energy gamma rays originate in the graveyards of big stars, such as the spinning pulsar remnants of supernovae. But that light doesn't come from the stars themselves. Instead, it's created when the spinning pulsar accelerates particles to extremely high energies, causing them to smash into lower-energy photons left over from the early universe.

The size of this stellar debris field, measured by the patch of sky that glows bright in gamma rays, tells researchers how quickly matter moves relative to a local astrophysical engine--in this case, the nearby pulsars. This, in turn, enables researchers to estimate how quickly positrons are moving and how many positrons could have reached Earth from a given source. Using the most complete catalog of HAWC data to date, scientists have determined that the nearby pulsar Geminga and its unnamed sister are not sources of the positron excess. Even though the two pulsars are old enough and close enough to account for the excess, matter isn't drifting away from the pulsars fast enough to have reached the Earth.

Even with the energy's source becoming clearer, Zhou says there are still questions left unanswered.

"There are still questions left before we can draw more concrete conclusions on the origin of positron excess," he says. "How does the morphology depend on energy? Are there more pulsars like these two in the sky that we have not detected? With more data and dedicated analysis, we will work on answering these questions."

###

Chris Cesare at University of Maryland contributed to this press release.
Like an earthquake that ruptures a road, traumatic spinal cord injuries render the body's neural highway impassable. To date, there are neither workable repairs nor detours that will restore signal flow between the brain and limbs, reversing paralysis.

"The problem with spinal cord injuries is that nerve cells do not regenerate," explains Treena Arinzeh, director of NJIT's Tissue Engineering and Applied Biomaterials Lab, who has proposed a solution: a scaffold, made of an energetic polymer, that will coax nerve cells to extend their axons over the spine's damaged section.

Earlier this month, Arinzeh and her lab team, former graduate student, Yee-Shuan Lee, Ph.D. '10, and George Collins, an adjunct professor, won an Edison Patent Award from the New Jersey Research and Development Council for their invention. Their repair strategy combines a piezoelectric scaffold with neural cells to regenerate nerve tissue in spinal cord injuries. Piezoelectric material, which produces an electrical charge in response to a mechanical force, is also used in sonar and sound technologies. The advantage of this "smart" material is that it generates its own charge and does not require an external power source.

"Axons - the fibers that transmit messages - can potentially travel long distances if given the right cues to regrow. We knew that an electrical charge could direct this growth," Arinzeh says, adding, "Some tissues in the body are naturally piezoelectric. What we did was to create a fibrous material that is similar, but with a higher charge to stimulate growth."

Her scaffolds caught the attention of the Department of Defense (DoD), which seeks remedies for traumatic battle injuries. "There is no effective treatment for severe spinal cord injuries, and soldiers can remain completely paralyzed for the rest of their lives," she notes.

With funding from the agency, the technology is being put to the test in preclinical studies at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where Arinzeh is working with Mary Bunge, a neuroscientist, and her former student. They are testing the efficacy of injecting Schwann cells from the peripheral nervous system, which produce the myelin sheath around nerve axons, in combination with the piezoelectric scaffold, for spinal cord repair. The Schwann cells' job is to restore existing cells by stimulating them to extend their axons.

The Miami Project is currently in phase I clinical trials with humans as well, using Schwann cells for spinal cord repair. By combining those cells with piezoelectric scaffolds, "we hope to improve the cells' survival and their effectiveness when implanted into the spinal cord," Arinzeh says.

"The nice thing about Schwann cells is that they're readily accessible from low-risk sites like limbs. I think of them as 'facilitator cells' because they provide the signals that prompt axons to grow and reach their targets - other neurons," she adds.

In the pre-clinical studies, Arinzeh found that implanted scaffolds with Schwann cells would extend over a five-millimeter gap in the spinal cord. "The cells survived and were getting good growth - wrapping themselves around the growing axons as the axons extend along the scaffold."

The primary conventional remedy to spinal cord trauma is to reduce inflammation with drugs. There have also been regenerative medicine strategies which involve injecting cells with growth factors, or growth factors alone, into the spinal cord in the hopes of stimulating new growth, but they have not been successful. Arinzeh says that engineering approaches are gaining more acceptance.

"No technology has been effective so far, and so we're taking it a step further, introducing biomaterials with an electrical charge. We've known in the biomedical world that electrostimulation can cause nerve cell growth - we've seen this with bone and cartilage tissue - so we set about to identify a polymer with piezoelectric properties. We found it in a material used for sutures, which is biocompatible and promotes nerve growth," she explains. "We're looking for some recovery of function. If we can show that, it would be a significant leap."

Arinzeh has creatively borrowed techniques from other engineering sectors to advance tissue regeneration, including for bone and cartilage repair. The polymer fibers that compose the framework of her scaffolds, for example, are formed by electrospinning, a technique developed by the textile industry.

For the community of scientists, engineers and clinicians determined to treat paralysis, the stakes are high. Success will hinge upon contributions from all of their domains.

"With bone and cartilage, we're relying on the scaffold to stimulate the body's own cells to regrow tissue, but the biological factors driving the formation of neural tissue in the spinal cord appear to be more complex," Arinzeh notes. "To induce nervous tissue to not only regrow across the lesion, but to reconnect with the rest of the spinal cord, may require a combination of scaffolds, cells and growth factors."

###

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.
When our Sun erupts with giant explosions -- such as bursts of radiation called solar flares -- we know they can affect space throughout the solar system as well as near Earth. But monitoring their effects requires having observatories in many places with many perspectives, much the way weather sensors all over Earth can help us monitor what's happening with a terrestrial storm.

By using multiple observatories, two recent studies show how solar flares exhibit pulses or oscillations in the amount of energy being sent out. Such research provides new insights on the origins of these massive solar flares as well as the space weather they produce, which is key information as humans and robotic missions venture out into the solar system, farther and farther from home.

The first study spotted oscillations during a flare -- unexpectedly -- in measurements of the Sun's total output of extreme ultraviolet energy, a type of light invisible to human eyes. On Feb. 15, 2011, the Sun emitted an X-class solar flare, the most powerful kind of these intense bursts of radiation. Because scientists had multiple instruments observing the event, they were able to track oscillations in the flare's radiation, happening simultaneously in several different sets of observations.

"Any type of oscillation on the Sun can tell us a lot about the environment the oscillations are taking place in, or about the physical mechanism responsible for driving changes in emission," said Ryan Milligan, lead author of this first study and solar physicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the University of Glasgow in Scotland. In this case, the regular pulses of extreme ultraviolet light indicated disturbances -- akin to earthquakes -- were rippling through the chromosphere, the base of the Sun's outer atmosphere, during the flare.

What surprised Milligan about the oscillations was the fact that they were first observed in extreme ultraviolet data from NOAA's GOES -- short for Geostationary Operation Environmental Satellite, which resides in near-Earth space. The mission studies the Sun from Earth's perspective, collecting X-ray and extreme ultraviolet irradiance data -- the total amount of the Sun's energy that reaches Earth's atmosphere over time.

This wasn't a typical data set for Milligan. While GOES helps monitor the effects of solar eruptions in Earth's space environment -- known collectively as space weather -- the satellite wasn't initially designed to detect fine details like these oscillations.

When studying solar flares, Milligan more commonly uses high-resolution data on a specific active region in the Sun's atmosphere to study the physical processes underlying flares. This is often necessary in order to zoom in on events in a particular area -- otherwise they can easily be lost against the backdrop of the Sun's constant, intense radiation.

"Flares themselves are very localized, so for the oscillations to be detected above the background noise of the Sun's regular emissions and show up in the irradiance data was very striking," Milligan said.

There have been previous reports of oscillations in GOES X-ray data coming from the Sun's upper atmosphere, called the corona, during solar flares. What's unique in this case is that the pulses were observed in extreme ultraviolet emission at frequencies that show they originated lower, in the chromosphere, providing more information about how a flare's energy travels throughout through the Sun's atmosphere.

To be sure the oscillations were real, Milligan and his colleagues checked corresponding data from other Sun-observing instruments on board NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory or SDO, for short: one that also collects extreme ultraviolet irradiance data and another that images the corona in different wavelengths of light. They found the exact same pulses in those data sets, confirming they were a phenomenon with its source at the Sun. Their findings are summarized in a paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on Oct. 9, 2017.

These oscillations interest the scientists because they may be the result of a mechanism by which flares emit energy into space -- a process we don't yet fully understand. Additionally, the fact that the oscillations appeared in data sets typically used to monitor larger space patterns suggests they could play a role in driving space weather effects.

In the second study, scientists investigated a connection between solar flares and activity in Earth's atmosphere. The team discovered that pulses in the electrified layer of the atmosphere -- called the ionosphere -- mirrored X-ray oscillations during a July 24, 2016, C-class flare. C-class flares are of mid-to-low intensity, and about 100 times weaker than X-flares.

Stretching from roughly 30 to 600 miles above Earth's surface, the ionosphere is an ever-changing region of the atmosphere that reacts to changes from both Earth below and space above. It swells in response to incoming solar radiation, which ionizes atmospheric gases, and relaxes at night as the charged particles gradually recombine.

In particular, the team of scientists -- led by Laura Hayes, a solar physicist who splits her time between NASA Goddard and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and her thesis adviser Peter Gallagher -- looked at how the lowest layer of the ionosphere, called the D-region, responded to pulsations in a solar flare.

"This is the region of the ionosphere that affects high-frequency communications and navigation signals," Hayes said. "Signals travel through the D-region, and changes in the electron density affect whether the signal is absorbed, or degraded."

The scientists used data from very low frequency, or VLF, radio signals to probe the flare's effects on the D-region. These were standard communication signals transmitted from Maine and received in Ireland. The denser the ionosphere, the more likely these signals are to run into charged particles along their way from a signal transmitter to its receiver. By monitoring how the VLF signals propagate from one end to the other, scientists can map out changes in electron density.

Pooling together the VLF data and X-ray and extreme ultraviolet observations from GOES and SDO, the team found the D-region's electron density was pulsing in concert with X-ray pulses on the Sun. They published their results in the Journal of Geophysical Research on Oct. 17, 2017.

"X-rays impinge on the ionosphere and because the amount of X-ray radiation coming in is changing, the amount of ionization in the ionosphere changes too," said Jack Ireland, a co-author on both studies and Goddard solar physicist. "We've seen X-ray oscillations before, but the oscillating ionosphere response hasn't been detected in the past."

Hayes and her colleagues used a model to determine just how much the electron density changed during the flare. In response to incoming radiation, they found the density increased as much as 100 times in just 20 minutes during the pulses -- an exciting observation for the scientists who didn't expect oscillating signals in a flare would have such a noticeable effect in the ionosphere. With further study, the team hopes to understand how the ionosphere responds to X-ray oscillations at different timescales, and whether other solar flares induce this response.

"This is an exciting result, showing Earth's atmosphere is more closely linked to solar X-ray variability than previously thought," Hayes said. "Now we plan to further explore this dynamic relationship between the Sun and Earth's atmosphere."

Both of these studies took advantage of the fact that we are increasingly able to track solar activity and space weather from a number of vantage points. Understanding the space weather that affects us at Earth requires understanding a dynamic system that stretches from the Sun all the way to our upper atmosphere -- a system that can only be understood by tapping into a wide range of missions scattered throughout space.

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A research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a soft, flexible and stretchable microfibre sensor for real-time healthcare monitoring and diagnosis. The novel sensor is highly sensitive and ultra-thin with a diameter of a strand of human hair. It is also simple and cost-effective to mass produce.

Wearable and flexible technology has gained significant interest in recent years, leading to tremendous progress in soft and wearable sensors. In tandem with this trend, microfluidic devices using conductive liquid metals have been increasingly employed as wearable pressure and strain sensors. However, current devices have various limitations - for instance, they may not fit well on the skin or are uncomfortable to wear.

"Our novel microfibre sensor can hardly be felt on the skin and conforms extremely well to skin curvatures. Despite being soft and tiny, the sensor is highly sensitive and it also has excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical deformability. We have applied the sensor for real-time monitoring of pulse waveform and bandage pressure. The results are very promising," said Professor Lim Chwee Teck from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS Faculty of Engineering, who is the leader of the research team.

Real-time monitoring of pulse waveform

The smart microfibre sensor developed by the NUS Engineering team comprises a liquid metallic alloy, which serves as the sensing element, encapsulated within a soft silicone microtube. The sensor measures an individual's pulse waveform in real-time, and the information can be used to determine one's heart rate, blood pressure and stiffness in blood vessels.

"Currently, doctors will monitor vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure when patients visit clinics. This requires multiple equipment such as heart rate and blood pressure monitors, which are often bulky and may not provide instantaneous feedback. As our sensor functions like a conductive thread, it can be easily woven into a glove which can be worn by doctors to track vital signs of patients in real-time. This approach offers convenience and saves time for healthcare workers, while patients can enjoy greater comfort," added Prof Lim.

The microfibre sensor could also be beneficial for patients suffering from atherosclerosis, which is the thickening and stiffening of the arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty streaks. Over time, these streaks accumulate into plaques which may completely block off blood flow or break apart, resulting in organ failure or may trigger a heart attack or stroke.

Existing methods of detecting plaque in blood vessels - such as computerised tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging - would require expensive and bulky equipment. Such tests need to be done in hospitals by trained medical professionals.

As plaque will change the stiffness of the blood vessel and hence the pulse waveform, the novel sensor developed by the NUS Engineering team could be easily used to detect plaque before it accumulates to a size big enough to block or rupture the blood vessel.

Earlier this year, the NUS team published the development of the microfibre sensor and its application for pulse monitoring in scientific journals Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and Advanced Materials Technologies, respectively.

Bandage pressure monitoring

Another clinical application of the smart microfibre sensor is for the management of venous ulcers, which are caused by poor blood circulation. They occur when the veins in the legs could not push blood back to the heart as well as they should. As blood pools in the veins, there is increased pressure in the veins, causing progressive skin damage over time.

Compression therapy is a common treatment for venous ulcer. Depending on the severity of the ulcers, bandages with varying amount of pressure have to be applied on the legs of patients for months to even a year. If the bandage is too tight, it could result in tissue damage, but if the bandage is too loose, the healing could be ineffective. Currently, healthcare workers tend to estimate the pressure in the bandage at the point of application, based on training and experience.

As the pressure provided by the bandage could change over time due to movements by the patient, accurate and continuous measurement of the bandage pressure in real-time is therefore important to ensure that healing takes place effectively.

Being ultra-thin and highly flexible, the NUS Engineering team's microfibre sensor can be easily woven into bandages to monitor the pressure that is being delivered and maintained. This could potentially improve the effectiveness of the treatment and reduce the time required for healing. In future, patients could also track the bandage pressure using an app, and the information could be shared with doctors who could remotely monitor the progress of the treatment.

The team is currently collaborating with the Singapore General Hospital to test the application of the microfibre sensor for bandage pressure monitoring.

Commercialisation and further research

"Our microfibre sensor is highly versatile, and could potentially be used for a wide range of applications, including healthcare monitoring, smart medical prosthetic devices and artificial skins. Uniquely designed to be durable and washable, our novel invention is highly attractive for promising applications in the emerging field of wearable electronics," said Prof Lim.

The team has filed a patent for its smart microfibre sensor. Researchers are currently refining the sensor design and reducing the size of its accessories to improve the user-friendliness of the device. The NUS team had recently won the Most Innovative Award at the Engineering Medical Innovation Global Competition held in Taipei in September 2017.

While the NUS researchers continue to explore new applications of the microfibre sensor, they are also keen to work with commercial partners to bring their novel sensor to market.

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Researchers have uncovered a sequence of biological processes that occur in humans infected with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the infection progresses to pulmonary tuberculosis, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens.

M. tuberculosis infects about a quarter of all people worldwide. Some infected people remain healthy, but five to 15 percent eventually develop active tuberculosis disease, which can be deadly. The most common form of the disease occurs in the lungs and is known as pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis can be cured, but little is known about how it develops from the initial infection.

To better understand the mechanisms that underlie development of tuberculosis, Thomas Scriba of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and colleagues followed 150 adolescents infected with M. tuberculosis for several years. 106 of the study participants remained healthy, but 44 went on to develop pulmonary tuberculosis within a few years of initial infection.

During the study period, the researchers took regular measurements to monitor and compare immune system activity between individuals who remained healthy and those who eventually fell ill. They found that some differences were detectable as early as one to two years before diagnosis, while some were only detectable just before active disease began.

Eighteen months before diagnosis, the researchers found, individuals had elevated activity of immune system signaling molecules known as interferons, which aid in fighting infection. They also had elevated activity of the complement system, another immune system component. In the days just before diagnosis, additional immune changes occurred, including increased activity of white blood cells.

The scientists also analyzed which genes were expressed in T cells (a type of white blood cell) purified from study participants' blood. They found that certain genes associated with T cells' response to infection were suppressed in those who later developed pulmonary tuberculosis.

Overall, these findings lay out a clearer timeline of biological events that occur along the path from infection to disease. With further research, this knowledge could aid development of new strategies for diagnosis, vaccination, and treatment.

###

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Pathogens: http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1006687

Citation: Scriba TJ, Penn-Nicholson A, Shankar S, Hraha T, Thompson EG, Sterling D, et al. (2017) Sequential inflammatory processes define human progression from M. tuberculosis infection to tuberculosis disease. PLoS Pathog 13(11): e1006687. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006687

Image Caption: Progression from quiescent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, via incipient and subclinical disease, to active pulmonary tuberculosis disease in humans.

Image Credit: Scriba TJ, et al (2017)

Funding: This work was supported by grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Global Health grants OPP1021972 and OPP1091720 and the National Institutes of Health (RO1-AI087915 and U19-AI106761). The ACS study was also supported by Aeras and BMGF GC6-74 (grant 37772) and BMGF GC 12 (grant 37885) for QuantiFERON testing. The Adult BCG Revaccination trial was supported by Contract No.NO1-AI95383 and HHSN266200700022C/NO1-AI-70022 from the US National Institutes of Health. APN and SS were supported by Postdoctoral Research Awards from The Carnegie Corporation of New York. APN was also supported by The Claude Leon Foundation and the Columbia University-Southern African Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) through the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (grant # 5 D43 TW000231). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests: TJS, APN, EGT, AA, WAH, and DEZ are co-inventors on a patent of the 16-gene transcriptomic correlate of risk of TB. DS, MAdG, TH and UAO are current or former employees of or hold stock options in SomaLogic, Inc. and received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1091720). This does not alter our adherence to all PLOS Pathogens policies on sharing data and materials. All other authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Coastal erosion may release waste from ten per cent of England's historic coastal landfills in the next forty years, according to research from Queen Mary University of London and the Environment Agency.

Coastal erosion may release waste from ten per cent of England's historic coastal landfills in the next forty years, according to research from Queen Mary University of London and the Environment Agency.

There are at least 1,215 historic coastal landfill sites in England, mostly clustered around estuaries with major cities, including Liverpool, London, and Newcastle on Tyne. An investigation by researchers, published today (Thursday 16 November) in WIREs Water finds that 122 sites are at risk of starting to erode into coastal waters by 2055 if not adequately protected.

Historically it was common practise to dispose of landfill waste in low-lying estuarine and coastal areas where land had limited value due to the risk of it flooding. Historic landfills are frequently unlined with no leachate management and inadequate records of the waste they contain, which means there is a very limited understanding of the environmental risk posed if the waste erodes into estuarine or coastal waters.

The researchers show that more than one-third of England's historic coastal landfills are in close proximity to designated environmental sites, and half of them are in or near to areas influencing bathing water quality. Some historic coastal landfills, such as the East Tilbury landfill in the Thames Estuary, have already started to erode.

Dr James Brand, Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London and lead-author of the research, said: "Although the majority of England's 'at risk' historic coastal landfills are currently being protected from erosion, some have already started to erode and release waste. Climate change effects, e.g. sea level rise and more intensive storms, are likely to increase the number of historic coastal landfills that erode."

Strategies to mitigate the risk of contaminant release from historic landfills such as excavation and relocation or incineration of waste are prohibitively expensive.

James added: "Currently obtaining funding for remediation works is challenging and very limited. We need to understand the risk of pollution from historic coastal landfills and determine appropriate management options for the future. It's essential to identify which sites pose the greatest pollution risk in order that resources can be prioritised."

Kate Spencer, Professor of Environmental Geochemistry at QMUL, added: "Unfortunately, there are a lot of unknowns here. Our research helps with the first piece of the puzzle: we now know where the high-risk sites are. What we know less about is what will happen when these landfills fail. Some of these sites include everything from coal ash, to micro plastics, to household waste. We don't necessarily know what's in there, and we can't say with confidence what will happen when the contents are exposed." Professor Spencer led the Environment Agency funded project into historic landfills at QMUL.

###

- Paper available on request

- Images available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/qmulgeog/albums/72157686989984966

- Full list of affected sites available on request

Press office contact

Mark Byrne

Public Relations Manager

Queen Mary University of London

T: 020 7882 5378

M: 078 1590 2560

E: m.byrne@qmul.ac.uk

Queen Mary University of London

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is one of the UK's leading universities with 23,120 students representing more than 160 nationalities.

A member of the Russell Group, we work across the humanities and social sciences, medicine and dentistry, and science and engineering, with inspirational teaching directly informed by our research. In the most recent national assessment of the quality of research, we were placed ninth in the UK amongst multi-faculty universities (Research Excellence Framework 2014).

As well as our main site at Mile End - which is home to one of the largest self-contained residential campuses in London - we have campuses at Whitechapel, Charterhouse Square, and West Smithfield dedicated to the study of medicine and dentistry, and a base for legal studies at Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Queen Mary began life as the People's Palace, a Victorian philanthropic project designed to bring culture, recreation and education to the people of the East End. We also have roots in Westfield College, one of the first colleges to provide higher education to women; St Bartholomew's Hospital, one of the first public hospitals in Europe; and The London, one of England's first medical schools.

Today, as well as retaining these close connections to our local community, we are known for our international collaborations in both teaching and research. QMUL has an income of 400m and a research income worth 137m (2015/16) and generates employment and output worth in excess of 700m to the UK economy each year.
PHILADELPHIA (Nov.16, 2017) - Researchers identified a new way to lower the risk of complications after joint surgery, using a simple blood test. Patients with diabetes are more likely to need joint replacement surgery but also have a greater risk of serious complications after surgery, including heart attack, stroke, and wound infections, because of their underlying diabetes. Current guidelines suggest testing diabetic patients for stable glucose control prior to surgery, but the recommended blood test or marker is slow to detect change, and does not correlate well with risk of surgical complications. Now, Thomas Jefferson University researchers have found that a different blood-sugar marker is able to predict patients - both diabetic and non-diabetic -with highest risk of complications more accurately, and detect changes in glucose control much faster, which could potentially change clinical practice.

"This study gives us a better method for identifying patients who need intervention prior to surgery. It could be immensely useful in preventing life-threatening post-surgery complications," said senior author Javad Parvizi, MD, Vice Chairman of Research and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University. The research was published November 15th 2017 in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Many diabetic patients are familiar with the HbA1c blood test. It is often given at the doctor's office to measure how well blood glucose is maintained over a period of 2-3 months. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a patients' HbA1c levels stay below seven percent to prevent general complications from diabetes. However, there are no current guidelines governing glucose levels prior to surgery, and there has been little evidence to showing that staying within this level will help prevent complications from surgery. In addition, using this test can delay surgery by many months while the patient's HbA1c levels come into range.

The investigators tested the blood levels of a similar glucose-monitoring compound called fructosamine. Its rapid detection of change in glycemic control (14-21 days versus 120 days for HbA1c), made it an intriguing candidate for use in the surgical setting. "To our knowledge, this is the first study to test whether blood fructosamine levels could give us better information about glycemic control before surgery," said Dr. Parvizi.

In order to test its ability to predict patients with a higher risk of complications, Dr. Parvizi and colleagues enrolled 829 patients who had a planned total joint replacement between 2012 and 2013, and assessed their glycemic levels via the traditionally used maker called HbA1c, side by side with fructosamine.

By using the same relative cut-off level for both HbA1c and fructosamine (seven percent HbA1c correlated to 292 micromolar/liter of fructosamine) the researchers examined whether patients who tested above these thresholds had higher likelihood of complications.

The results showed that high HbA1c levels did not predict an increased risk of complications. However, high fructosamine levels were associated with a greater risk for deep infection, readmission, and reoperation. In addition, 35 percent of patients with fructosamine levels higher than the cut-off, had no history of diabetes, indicating increased risks in patients who might not otherwise have been identified.

"The fact that we can use this test to detect poor glucose control in non-diabetic patients may be significant, and could help us improve outcomes for non-diabetic patients as well," said first author Noam Shohat, MD, a research fellow affiliated with the Rothman Institute at Jefferson. Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that even short-term spikes in blood sugar can impair the immune system (specifically innate immunity) and the body's ability to fight infection. The short-term changes detected by fructosamine are also associated with changes in cytokine levels, another factor in promoting strong immune responses to infection.

"Because of its promising role in determining who has poorly controlled glucose levels, we have already begun to use the fructosamine test, at our institution to determine who is at high risk of complications and allocate resources to optimizing the glycemic control in these patients" said Dr. Parvizi.

There was no external funding for this research. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

###

Article reference: N. Shoat, et al., "Serum Fructosamine: A Simple and Inexpensive Test for Assessing Pre-Operative 2 Glycemic Control" the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.17.00075, 2017. Accompanying Commentary.
Groundwater recharge in the Western U.S. will change as the climate warms--the dry southern regions will have less and the northern regions will have more, a University of Arizona-led research team reports.

"Our study asked what will be the effect of climate change on groundwater recharge in the Western U.S. in the near future, 2021-2050, and the far future, 2070-2100," said first author Rewati Niraula. The research was part of his doctoral work in the UA Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences.

The new study covers the entire U.S. West, from the High Plains states to the Pacific coast, and provides the first detailed look at how groundwater recharge may change as the climate changes, said senior author Thomas Meixner, UA professor and associate department head of hydrology and atmospheric sciences.

"For the southern region of the Western U.S. there will be a reduction in groundwater recharge, and in the northern region of the Western U.S. we will have an increase," said Niraula, now a senior research associate at the Texas Institute of Applied Environmental Research at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.

Groundwater is an important source of freshwater, particularly in the West, and is often used to make up for the lack of surface water during droughts, the authors note. In many areas of the West, groundwater pumping currently exceeds the amount of groundwater recharge.

"The portions of the West that are already stretched in terms of water resources--Arizona, New Mexico, the High Plains of Texas, the southern Central Valley--for those places that are already having problems, climate change is going to tighten the screws," Meixner said.

Niraula said, "2021 is pretty close, so we need to start acting now. At the individual level and water-manager level there are many things we can do."

The researchers tested how future precipitation and temperature projections would interact with aspects of the land surface such as vegetation and soil type to affect groundwater recharge during two time intervals: 2021-2050 and 2071-2100.

Although generally the dry areas are going to get drier and the wet areas will get wetter under climate change, the new research indicates that future changes in groundwater recharge are more complex.

"Changes in recharge don't necessarily map onto changes in precipitation even at a very local scale," Meixner said. "The geology and the ecology of the landscape have an effect."

The paper, "How Might Recharge Change Under Projected Climate Change in the Western U.S.?" posted online and is scheduled for publication in Geophysical Research Letters this week. A list of the authors is at the bottom of this release. The U.S. Geological Survey's John Wesley Powell Center and the National Science Foundation funded the research.

Because the various climatic regimes in the West will affect recharge differently, the team divided the West into five hydro-climatic regions: south (Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas), southwest (Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico), west (California and Nevada), northwest (Washington, Oregon and Idaho), and the northern Rockies and Plains states (Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska).

To estimate groundwater recharge for the baseline period of 1971-2000, the researchers used a model known as VIC (Variable Infiltration Capacity). Information from VIC is available for the entire coterminous U.S. on a grid of about 7.5 miles (12 km) on a side.

In addition to temperature and precipitation, VIC's groundwater recharge estimates take into consideration a particular location's land surface, vegetation and soil type. Those factors influence whether water on the landscape evaporates, runs off or soaks into the ground and recharges the aquifer.

For projections of future temperature and precipitation during the near future (2021-2050) and the far future (2071-2100), the researchers used 11 different global climate models. The scientists then plugged the future climate estimates from each of the 11 models into the VIC model to generate projected groundwater recharge scenarios.

For each region and time period, the researchers compared the projected groundwater recharge with the recharge during 1971-2000.

For the near future, the majority of models projected that recharge will increase in the northern Rockies and Plains region. The models agreed that groundwater recharge would decrease for the west and southwest regions. For the south and northwest regions, the projections were more uncertain and decreased and increased, respectively.

The difference among the recharge projections from the 11 global change models reflects the difference in future regional precipitation that the models project, the authors write.

This new research provides a broad picture of how climate change may alter groundwater recharge in the future, Meixner said.

"Groundwater represents a bank. We can store water from decade to decade, and arguably millennium to millennium--but when we take a withdrawal from that bank, we have to hope there are deposits making up for our withdrawal," Meixner said. "If there aren't deposits making up for the withdrawals, we have less water in the future to face water resource challenges with."

Managing groundwater now and in the future is the role of management and policy, Meixner said.

"The future is saying there's going to be less recharge. That doesn't mean you drain the aquifers dry," Meixner said. "Whether we drain the aquifers dry is a management decision."

###

Niraula's and Meixner's co-authors are Francina Dominguez of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Nishan Bhattari of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Matthew Rodell of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland; Hoori Ajami of the University of California, Riverside; David Gochis of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; and Christopher Castro of the UA Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences.

Researcher contact:

Thomas Meixner

University of Arizona

520-626-1532

tmeixner@email.arizona.edu

Rewati Niraula

Tarleton State University

254-968-9897

niraula@tiaer.tarleton.edu
The passenger pigeon is famous for the enormous size of its historical population in North America (estimated at 3 to 5 billion) and for its rapid extinction in the face of mass slaughter by humans. Yet it remains a mystery why the species wasn't able to survive in at least a few small, isolated populations.

One theory, which is consistent with the findings of a new study published November 17 in Science, suggests that passenger pigeons were well adapted to living in huge flocks, but poorly adapted to living in smaller groups, and the change in population size happened so fast they were unable to adapt.

"Passenger pigeons did really well for tens of thousands of years, and then suddenly they went extinct. Paradoxically, their enormous population size may have been a factor in their extinction," said corresponding author Beth Shapiro, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz.

Shapiro's team looked at the genetic diversity of passenger pigeons, using DNA recovered from museum specimens. The researchers confirmed earlier observations of remarkably low genetic diversity in the passenger pigeon population. But where previous researchers saw evidence of an unstable population that had fluctuated between highs and lows, the new study reached very different conclusions.

"What we did, which the previous study didn't do, was to look at variation in diversity across the genome. We found that it wasn't just lower than expected overall, it was also more variable, and we were able to see where those regions of high and low diversity are in the passenger pigeon genome," said first author Gemma Murray, a postdoctoral researcher in Shapiro's Paleogenomics Lab at UC Santa Cruz.

The analysis revealed patterns in the passenger pigeon genome indicating that the species' low genetic diversity was the result of natural selection causing the rapid spread of beneficial mutations through the population and the elimination of bad mutations. The researchers did not find the same patterns of genetic diversity across the genome in the closely related band-tailed pigeon, which has a relatively small population of about 2 million native to western North America.

"When we looked at rates of adaptive evolution and purifying selection in both species, we found evidence that natural selection had resulted in both a faster rate of adaptive evolution in passenger pigeons and a faster purging of deleterious mutations," Murray said. "That is exactly what you would expect to see if selection is causing the differences in genetic diversity."

When a beneficial mutation spreads through a population, it carries along with it adjacent stretches of DNA, so subsequent generations carry not only the good mutation but entire sections of identical DNA. These regions of low diversity can be broken up by recombination, the process in which paired chromosomes exchange sections of DNA during the formation of eggs and sperm (which explains why parents don't pass on exact copies of their chromosomes to their offspring).

Recombination tends to happen less frequently in the middle of chromosomes than at the ends, a tendency that is especially pronounced in birds. In the passenger pigeon genome, the researchers found that areas of low genetic diversity were in the middle of chromosomes, while higher diversity regions were at the ends.

"At the ends of the chromosomes, nothing gets dragged along with the beneficial mutation because of the high rate of recombination," Shapiro explained.

When the researchers looked at what types of genes showed evidence of adaptive evolution, they found many that could be related to aspects of passenger pigeon ecology and the demands of living in large flocks. Among the 32 genes with strong evidence of adaptive evolution were genes associated with the immune system and stress reduction (large, dense populations tend to have a high burden of disease and social stress) and with the ability to eat lots of certain foods.

These findings are consistent with the idea that the passenger pigeon's adaptation to large populations may have become a liability when their population was reduced. "Our findings fit with that story, and we don't find any evidence that the population was unstable before people started to hunt them," Murray said.

The study also has important theoretical implications for population geneticists. Population theory predicts that species with large populations should have greater genetic diversity than those with smaller populations, but this prediction assumes that most of the genome is evolving "neutrally" through genetic drift, accumulating random mutations with neither beneficial nor deleterious effects. Population geneticists often use models that assume neutral evolution to make inferences about a population's history.

"It's a common assumption that if a species has low genetic diversity, it went through a population bottleneck at some time in the past," Murray explained.

But theoretical predictions about the relationship between population size and genetic diversity are not borne out in the real world. This is known as Lewontin's paradox (after evolutionary biologist Richard Lewontin), and according to Shapiro, it may be because natural selection is more efficient in larger populations and can swamp the effects of random changes, making the assumption of neutral evolution invalid.

Natural selection is predicted to have a greater influence on large populations both because strongly beneficial mutations are more likely to arise, and also because in small populations, random events have a greater effect on what gets passed on to the next generation.

Evidence in support of this explanation of Lewontin's paradox was presented in a 2015 paper by Russell Corbett-Detig, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz and a coauthor of the new paper. The passenger pigeon and the band-tailed pigeon, similar species with very different population sizes, offered a perfect opportunity to test the idea, Shapiro said.

"The interaction between the recombination landscape and the enormous population size of passenger pigeons allows us to see what's behind Lewontin's paradox," Shapiro said. "In most species, it is probably safe to assume the majority of the genome is evolving neutrally, but for species with very large populations we might want to hesitate. These tools that use genetic diversity to make inferences about historical changes in a population's size don't work at all for the passenger pigeon."

###

In addition to Murray, Shapiro, and Corbett-Detig, the authors of the paper include co-first author Andre Soares, Ben Novak, Nathan Schaefer, James Cahill, Tara Fulton, Peter Heintzman, Brendan O'Connell, Edward Rice, Samuel Vohr, and Richard Green at UC Santa Cruz, and researchers at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, University of Copenhagen, Pennsylvania State University, and Rochester Museum & Science Center in New York.

This research was supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and Revive and Restore.
Mothers are the main victims of parental abuse by children, so this kind of abuse should be legally considered as violence against women. That is the conclusion of a research paper written by Sandra Jimenez Arroyo as a result of her doctoral thesis, co-directed by UGR professors Maria Jose Jimenez Diaz from the Department of Criminal Law and Francisco Javier Garrido Carrillo from the Department of Procedural Law. Moreover, the researcher proposes alternative terms for this phenomenon, such as for example 'maternal abuse by children' instead of the accepted 'parental abuse by children', which hides the main victim.

The goal of her research is to give an answer to the problem of this kind of abuse not having a common definition. Besides, there are very few scientific studies about it, especially in a legal framework. In fact, parental abuse by children is the least studied among the different kinds of abuse within the family. A lot of definitions are ambiguous as a result of those determining factors.

The current definition is even worse if one takes into account that parental abuse by children is nowadays the fourth most common crime committed by minors. Jimenez Arroyo notes how, from the public sphere, victims are not sufficiently encouraged to report aggressions committed by their underage children.

Parental abuse by children is not a new problem. Despite the shortage of a theoretical body and protocols of action against this type of violence, the 'battered parent syndrome' was already described in 1957. What has been done since, despite being essential for progressing in the reduction of the violence, seems insufficient. In order to adopt mitigating measures for this problem it is necessary to further research about it, especially from a legal perspective, according to Jimenez Arroyo.

The first step is identifying the victim. The researcher analyzes almost all of the studies carried out in Spain and other countries, and she concludes that the mother is the victim in most of the cases, although she's not the only one. The father is also a victim sometimes, but he's rarely the only victim: in most of the cases he's a victim along with the mother.

While trying to establish the origin of the violence against the mother, the study has shown that even though minors think that men and women should be equal, in practice they are not coherent with that thinking and discriminate against their mothers.

Therefore, gender roles imply that this kind of violence is more pronounced against women. Abusive minors show that tendency by adopting a patriarchal stance. Thus, from the results of several Spanish and international researches, Jimenez Arroyo states that the abuser profile is that of the male son and the victim profile is that of the mother, and therefore she refers to parental abuse by children as a type of violence against women.

"It is essential" -Jimenez Arroyo says- "to carry out more researches analyzing this violence from a gender perspective including gender-segregated studies and going into detail about the influence that this violent phenomenology could have on other women present in the household", not just the mother.

The UGR researcher keeps analyzing this type of violence. Her article "Violencia filio parental: tratamiento juridico y respuestas desde la jurisdiccion de menores" (Parental abuse by children: legal treatment and responses from the jurisdiction over minors), in which she addresses that phenomenon from the perspective of the legal responses that are most suitable for dealing with said violence, won the academic award Premio Academico Jose Luis Perez Serrabona y Sanz. Moreover, the Banco Sabadell Foundation has granted her a scholarship for finishing her doctoral thesis about this same subject matter.

###

Bibliographic references:

1. JIMENEZ ARROYO, S. "Madres victimizadas. Analisis juridico de la violencia filio parental como un tipo de violencia hacia la mujer". Anales de Derecho, vol. 35, num. 1, 2017.

Available at: http://revistas.um.es/analesderecho/article/view/289231/216471
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A genomic study of Puerto Rico's Africanized honey bees - which are more docile than other so-called "killer bees" - reveals that they retain most of the genetic traits of their African honey bee ancestors, but that a few regions of their DNA have become more like those of European honey bees. According to the researchers, these changes likely contributed to the bees' rapid evolution toward gentleness in Puerto Rico, a change that occurred within 30 years.

The findings, reported in the journal Nature Communications, could lead to advances that will bolster honey bee populations in the Americas, the researchers said.

Africanized bees are the offspring of African honey bees and their European counterparts. In the late 1950s, these aggressive "killer bees" escaped from an experimental breeding program in Brazil. That program had set out to produce a desirable mix of traits from the gentle European bees and their African counterparts, which were more aggressive, disease-resistant and adapted to a tropical climate.

Ironically, what scientists failed to do in the laboratory was eventually accomplished by happenstance. Africanized honey bees arrived in Puerto Rico (most likely on a ship, by accident) in the 1990s, and within three decades had evolved into the gentle, yet hardy, Africanized bees that dominate the island today. Biology professor Tugrul Giray, of the University of Puerto Rico, first reported on the gentle Puerto Rican bees in the journal Evolutionary Applications in 2012. Giray is a co-author of the new study.

To gain insight into how the bees became gentle, the researchers sequenced the genomes of 30 gentle Puerto Rican bees, 30 Africanized bees from Mexico and 30 European honey bees from central Illinois.

"The benefit of having these three populations is that you can compare and contrast between the three," said University of Illinois postdoctoral researcher Arian Avalos, who conducted the research with U. of I. entomology professor Gene Robinson; crop sciences professor Matthew Hudson; and Guojie Zhang and Hailin Pan, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "We asked, 'How is the genome of the gentle Africanized bee different than other Africanized populations? What parts of the genome are similar to European bees?'"

The team discovered that, for the most part, the genomes of the gentle bees resembled those of their Africanized forebears. Specific regions of the DNA, however, had shifted in the gentle bees, reflecting more of their European heritage. These regions appeared to be under "positive selection." This means that something in the bees' environment was favoring these genetic signatures over others.

The scientists hypothesize that the bees evolved to be more docile as a result of living on a very densely populated island from which they could not easily escape. Humans likely eradicated the most aggressive bees, aiding their more docile counterparts.

"Evolution involves changes in the frequency of gene variants across a population, and that's what we're seeing in Puerto Rico," said Robinson, who directs the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. "Now we know that these gentle Africanized bees can be genetically distinguished both from other Africanized honey bees and from European honey bees."

The new findings offer a bit of hope for the beleaguered beekeeping industry, the researchers said. European honey bees tend to have less genetic diversity than Africanized bees, which carry both European and African honey bee genes. European honey bees also are more susceptible to a host of debilitating parasites and pathogens. Their rapid decline since 2005, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder, is disrupting agriculture around the world.

"The fact that we've shown that the genetics of these Puerto Rican bees are very distinct from the European bees, and the fact that they are demonstrably gentle, makes it very interesting as a potential way to mitigate pollinator decline," Hudson said.

In particular, the Africanized bees are highly resistant to the varroa mite, a parasite of bees that undermines their health and spreads disease. The mites - along with pesticides used to treat infested bees - are believed to be major factors in the widespread decline of honey bees across the globe.

In previous research in the Giray laboratory, scientists showed that Puerto Rico's gentle Africanized bees groom themselves aggressively when infested with varroa, removing the mites almost as soon as they appear.

"Infestation of European honey bees with the mites elicits very little response," said Avalos, who previously worked with Giray in Puerto Rico. "This could be good news for beekeepers who want to develop a gentle honey bee that is also varroa-resistant."

###

The National Science Foundation, the Beijing Genomics Institute and the University of Illinois supported this research.

Editor's notes:

To reach Arian Avalos, email aavalos@illinois.edu.

To reach Gene Robinson, call 217-265-0309; email generobi@illinois.edu.

To reach Matthew Hudson, call 217-244-8096; email mhudson@illinois.edu.

The paper "A soft selective sweep during rapid evolution of gentle behavior in an Africanized honeybee" is available from the U. of I. News Bureau
A mountaintop observatory in Mexico, built and operated by an international team of scientists, has captured the first wide-angle view of gamma rays emanating from two rapidly spinning stars. The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory provided the fresh perspective on high-energy light streaming from these stellar neighbors, casting serious doubt on one possible explanation for a mysterious excess of anti-matter particles near Earth.

In 2008, astronomers observed an unexpectedly high number of positrons--the anti-matter cousins of electrons -- in orbit a few hundred miles above Earth's atmosphere. Ever since, scientists have debated the cause of the anomaly, split over two competing theories of its origin. Some suggested a simple explanation: The extra particles might come from nearby collapsed stars called pulsars, which spin around several times a second and throw off electrons, positrons and other matter with violent force. Others speculated that the extra positrons might come from processes involving dark matter -- the invisible but pervasive substance seen so far only through its gravitational pull.

Using new data from the HAWC observatory, researchers made the first detailed measurements of two pulsars previously identified as possible sources of the positron excess. By catching and counting particles of light streaming from these nearby stellar engines, HAWC collaboration researchers found that the two pulsars are unlikely to be the origin of the positron excess. Despite being the right age and the right distance from Earth, the pulsars are surrounded by an extended murky cloud that prevents most positrons from escaping, according to results published in the November 17, 2017 issue of the journal Science.

"This new measurement is tantalizing because it strongly disfavors the idea that these extra positrons are coming to Earth from two nearby pulsars, at least when you assume a relatively simple model for how positrons diffuse away from these spinning stars," said Jordan Goodman, professor of physics at the University of Maryland and the lead investigator and U.S. spokesperson for the HAWC collaboration. "Our measurement doesn't decide the question in favor of dark matter, but any new theory that attempts to explain the excess using pulsars will need to account for what we've found."

Francisco Salesa Greus, the lead corresponding author of the new paper and a scientist at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, Poland, added that "we are closer to understanding the origin of the positron excess after excluding two of the main source candidates."

An Eye in the Sky

As with an ordinary camera, collecting lots of light allows HAWC to build sharp images of individual gamma-ray sources. The most energetic gamma rays originate in the graveyards of big stars, around stellar remains like the spinning pulsar remnants of supernovae. But that light doesn't come from the stars themselves. Instead, it's created when the spinning pulsar accelerates particles to extremely high energies, causing them to smash into lower-energy photons left over from the early universe.

The size of the debris field around powerful pulsars, measured by the patch of sky that glows bright in gamma rays, tells researchers how quickly matter moves relative to the spinning stars. This enables researchers to estimate how quickly positrons are moving and how many positrons could have reached Earth from a given source.

Using a recently published HAWC catalog of the high-energy sky, scientists have absolved the nearby pulsar Geminga and its sister--the pulsar PSR B0656+14--as sources of the positron excess. Even though the two are old enough and close enough to account for the excess, matter isn't drifting away from the pulsars fast enough to have reached the Earth.

"The gamma rays HAWC measures demonstrate that there are high-energy positrons escaping from these sources," said Ruben Lopez-Coto, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany and a corresponding author. "But according to our measurement, they could not be significantly contributing to the extra positrons seen at the Earth."

This measurement wouldn't have been possible without HAWC's wide view. It continuously scans about one-third of the sky overhead, which provided researchers with a broad view of the space around the pulsars. Other observatories watching for high-energy gamma rays with a much narrower field of view missed the extended nature of the pulsars.

The HAWC Observatory sits at an elevation of 13,500 feet, flanking the Sierra Negra volcano inside Pico de Orizaba National Park in the Mexican state of Puebla. It consists of more than 300 massive water tanks that sit waiting for cascades of particles initiated by high-energy packets of light called gamma rays--many of which have more than 10 million times the energy of a dental X-ray.

When these gamma rays smash into the upper atmosphere, they blast apart atoms in the air, producing a shower of particles that moves at nearly the speed of light toward the ground. When this shower reaches HAWC's tanks, it produces coordinated flashes of blue light in the water, allowing researchers to reconstruct the energy and cosmic origin of the gamma ray that kicked off the cascade.

"Thanks to its wide field of view, HAWC provides unique measurements on the very-high-energy gamma ray profiles caused by the particle diffusion around nearby pulsars, which allows us to determine how fast the particles diffuse more directly than previous measurements," says Hao Zhou, a scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and a corresponding author of the new paper.

It's possible that a new insight about the astrophysics of these pulsars and their local environments could account for the positron excess at Earth, but it would require a more complicated theory of positron diffusion than physicists in the collaboration think is likely. On the other hand, dark matter may provide the right explanation, but more evidence will ultimately be needed to decide.

###

For more information about the HAWC Observatory:

https://www.hawc-observatory.org/

http://jqi.umd.edu/news/podcast/jqi-podcast-episode-12

In addition to Goodman, UMD co-authors of the paper include graduate students Kristy Engle and Israel Martinez-Castellanos; postdoctoral researchers Colas Riviere and Daniel Fiorino; research scientist Andrew Smith; and visiting faculty Robert Ellsworth and David Berley.

The research paper, "Extended gamma-ray sources around pulsars constrain the origin of the positron flux at Earth," A.U. Abeysekara et al., was published in the journal Science on November 17, 2017.

The National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and Los Alamos National Laboratory provided funding for the United States' participation in the HAWC project. The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) is the primary funder for Mexican participation. The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.

Media Relations Contact: Matthew Wright, 301-405-9267, mewright@umd.edu

University of Maryland

College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences

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College Park, MD 20742

http://www.cmns.umd.edu

@UMDscience

About the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences

The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland educates more than 7,000 future scientific leaders in its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. The college's 10 departments and more than a dozen interdisciplinary research centers foster scientific discovery with annual sponsored research funding exceeding $150 million.
ANN ARBOR--LED light bulbs are getting cheaper and more energy efficient every year. So, does it make sense to replace less-efficient bulbs with the latest light-emitting diodes now, or should you wait for future improvements and even lower costs?

A new study from University of Michigan researchers recommends replacing all incandescent and halogen light bulbs in your home now with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LEDs.

But immediate replacement is not advised for existing CFLs and LEDs, unless your main concern is helping to reduce power-plant emissions, according to the study scheduled for publication Nov. 15 in Environmental Research Letters.

"Estimating the right time to switch over to LEDs is not a straightforward problem. If your goal is to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, then maybe you should switch to LEDs now," said Lixi Liu, first author of the study and a doctoral student at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and at the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

"But if your main concern is lowering costs and home energy use, then holding on to existing CFLs and LEDs, and waiting until LEDs use even less energy and are even lower in cost, may be desirable."

For a CFL that's used an average of three hours per day, it may be best--both economically and energetically--to delay the adoption of LEDs until 2020, she said.

Lighting accounted for 10 percent of U.S. residential energy use in 2016. Home lighting upgrades are an easy way to lower your utility bill, reduce energy use and help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

LEDs are long-lasting light bulbs that use less energy than incandescent, halogen or fluorescent bulbs to provide the same light output. But the initial purchase price for LEDs is higher than other types of bulbs, so many consumers haven't made the switch.

Previous studies have noted that LEDs reduce spending on energy over time and are a cost-effective alternative to other light bulbs. But those studies did not look at the best time to replace an existing bulb.

In their newly published study, the U-M researchers examined cost, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for different types of 60-watt-equivalent bulbs and created a computer model to generate multiple replacement scenarios, which were then analyzed.

Specifically, they used a method called life cycle optimization to construct a lighting replacement optimization model. The life cycle optimization method has previously been used by researchers at U-M's Center for Sustainable Systems to study replacement of automobiles, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners.

"Replacement decisions can be complex and often confusing," said Gregory Keoleian, director of the center and a co-author of the Environmental Research Letters lighting paper.

"Research at the Center for Sustainable Systems over the past dozen years has focused on helping consumers navigate this complexity and identify opportunities for cost savings and lower environmental impact," said Keoleian, who is also a professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability.

In the lighting study, the U-M researchers considered factors such as how often the current bulb is used and its condition. And they looked at trajectories for lighting technology and energy generation: light bulb technologies are improving, costs continue to drop, and electricity generation in this country is becoming cleaner.

By 2040, the share of U.S. electricity from natural gas is expected to increase by 6 percent, and the share from renewables is expected to increase 13 percent. By 2040, the share of U.S. electricity from nuclear power is expected to decrease by 4 percent, and the share from coal is expected to decrease 15 percent.

The new lighting study provides specific replacement strategies for maximizing the cost, energy and emissions savings from home lighting.

"It was a challenging optimization problem to solve accurately," said Kazuhiro Saitou, a U-M mechanical engineering professor and the other co-author of the Environmental Research Letters paper. "Because it involved various types of decision variables--years of use, number of replacements and type of lighting technology--and multiple objectives--cost, energy and emissions--that can compete with each other."

In addition to the previously mentioned results, the study finds that:

In general, bulbs that are used more often should be replaced first to maximize energy savings.

Replacing a bulb before it burns out may seem wasteful, but consumers can cut energy use by doing so.

Strategies for replacing light bulbs vary from place to place, depending on regional energy costs and the power-generation mix (i.e., coal, natural gas, nuclear and renewables).

In general, LED upgrades should be made earlier and more frequently in places--such as California, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii--where electricity costs are high.

###

The work was supported by the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
The University of Strathclyde has announced that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Professor Patricia Connolly, of Strathclyde's Department of Biomedical Engineering, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, which offers a way to monitor premature and at-risk babies without the need for blood samples.

Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) supports innovative thinkers worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mould in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. Professor Connolly's project, titled Neo-PATch: Plasma Analyte Transdermal Wearable Sensor for Newborns, is one of 51 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 19 grants announced today by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

To receive funding, Professor Connolly and her colleagues, Dr Neil Patel and Dr Helen McDeviit at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow and other Grand Challenges Explorations winners, demonstrated in a two-page online application a bold idea in one of four critical global heath and development topic areas. The foundation will be accepting applications for the next GCE round in February 2018.

The Neo-PATch prototype will take the form of a skin-worn gel patch that will act as a needle-free, blood-free and low-cost sensor for babies born prematurely or otherwise at risk, enabling them to be easily monitored through a smartphone or small meter, without disturbing normal maternal care; this could be of particular benefit in remote regions where access to heathcare can be difficult. It has been developed with input from partners from the Royal Hospital for Children and Strathclyde spinout company Ohmedics and builds on previous collaborations with the Royal Hospital for Children funded by the Glasgow Children's Charity.

Professor Connolly said: "Metabolic disturbance is a key finding in all of the main preventable causes of neonatal mortality. Accurate and timely detection of such disturbance allows early treatment and keeps newborn babies safe with their mothers; however, this currently requires direct blood sampling and has major disadvantages, including pain and distress to the child, anaemia caused by repeated blood loss, disruption to maternal care and infection risk. Neo-PATch could overcome all of these problems. The discrete skin patch will detect plasma analytes on the skin surface without any needles, skin puncture or blood sampling and in the future this will allow reporting of important blood parameters to a smartphone or meter. This is a multidisciplinary project requiring clinical and technical input. Strathclyde and the Royal Hospital for Children will work closely with our spinout company Ohmedics Ltd and will have day to day support from the University's Strathclyde Institute of Medical Devices to deliver our objectives. We are confident we can deliver the objectives of the Phase 1 award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, paving the way for the deployment of this technology in neonatal use in the future."

Dr Neil Patel and Dr Helen McDevitt, Consultant Neonatologists at the Royal Hospital for Children, said "We are delighted to be working with Professor Connolly on this exciting and innovative project. This tremendous support from Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) will strengthen our existing collaboration between clinical and biomedical engineering teams at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the University of Strathclyde. Combining the expertise of these teams, we aim to develop a new skin sensor, the Neo-PATch, to improve management for premature and at-risk babies globally."

###
The inappropriate or excessive use of anti-microbial agents in past decades has propelled the emergence and spread of multidrug resistant microbial pathogens. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency, each year about 25.000 patients in the EU die from infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria. Globally, 700.000 people per year die due to antimicrobial resistance.

The rise of superbugs

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report on anti-microbial resistance, with a special emphasis on antibiotic resistance of so-called "superbugs". Such bacteria pose the greatest threat to human health due to their resistance to several different antibiotics. Among these superbugs is Klebsiella, which can cause severe and often fatal infections of the bloodstream and lungs. Klebsiella has been reported to be resistant to common classes of antibiotics and to a great extent also to carbapenems, the last resort to treat severe nosocomial infections.

Treatment options beyond common antibiotics

The researchers around Pavel Kovarik at MFPL and Jose Bengoechea at Queen's University Belfast now discovered how immune cells arriving at the site of infection communicate and join forces to eradicate Klebsiella during lung infections. Their study suggests that future therapies of severe Klebsiella infections could target the immune system, rather than the pathogen itself.

Natural killer cells keep bacterial growth in check

The scientists report the mechanism of how natural killer cells, important cells of the innate immune system, control the growth of Klebsiella during lung infection.

Klebsiella induces critical immune response regulators, type I interferons (IFNs), which act as middlemen in the crosstalk between alveolar macrophages (immune cells that engulf and "eat" microbes) and natural killer cells. Type I IFNs help activate natural killer cells, which in turn license macrophages to launch an antibacterial program.

"Type I IFNs are used by the immune system to transport messages between immune cells to orchestrate a perfect defense. Natural killer cells represent the conductor of the defense orchestra, whereas macrophages are the bacteria-killing instruments," explains Masa Ivin, first author of the study and PhD student in the Kovarik lab at the MFPL.

Future perspectives

Pavel Kovarik and his team are optimistic that their new found results will contribute to the development of urgently needed novel therapeutics against multidrug resistant pathogens. "If drugs fail to kill the pathogen, we should help the immune system do the job. Our current study identifies new and feasible ways how to support the immune system in fighting superbugs."

###

The research was supported by the Marie Curie Initial Training Network INBIONET, a part of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme, and the Austrian Research Fund FWF.

Publication in PLOS Pathogens

Masa Ivin, Amy Dumigan, Filipe N. de Vasconcelos, Florian Ebner, Martina Borroni, Anoop Kavirayani, Kornelia N. Przybyszewska, Rebecca J. Ingram, Stefan Lienenklaus, Ulrich Kalinke, Dagmar Stoiber, Jose A. Bengoechea and Pavel Kovarik: Natural killer cell-intrinsic type I IFN signaling controls Klebsiella pneumoniae growth during lung infection. PLOS Pathogens. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006696
On Nov. 11, 2017, the eve of his 80th birthday, a book about Professor Tommy Koh and his achievements and exploits for Singapore and the World was launched at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Singapore.

The book launch was attended by some 200 guests, including Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung, lawyers, members of the arts community and Prof Koh's friends and family.

Published by World Scientific Publishing, Tommy Koh: Serving Singapore and the World testifies of Prof Koh's masterful ability to distil complex issues and interests into actionable decisions and plans; disarm opponents with a soothing turn of phrase and direct the energies around the negotiating table towards achieving what is right, good and ultimately, to the mutual benefit of all parties concerned-whether in the realm of domestic or international diplomacy, culture and the arts, or local and international law.

MASTER NEGOTIATOR

Prof Koh who was first appointed Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York in 1968 at the age of 31 is known internationally for helping to establish what is the equivalent of the constitution of the world's seas by presiding over the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea from 1981 to 1982, and for chairing the Preparatory Committee for and the Main Committee of the UN Conference on the Environment and Development in Rio, which set out the global blueprint for sustainable development between 1990 to 1992.

Speaking as Guest-of-Honour at the launch (and surprise advanced birthday celebration) Mr Tharman attributed the diplomat's success to a distinctive mix of qualities that included his humility, ability to master complex facts, and "disarming way of winning people over".

FIRMLY ROOTED TO HIS VALUES

The stories told in Tommy Koh capture the spirit of Singapore's pioneer generation who shaped the Singapore that we know and celebrate today-and who many believe Prof Koh represents well; Namely their determination and tenacity, belief in the power of the individual, and collective sense of agency, all channelled towards building a progressive and inclusive nation.

One contributor, journalist Ms Chua Mui Hoong, describes Prof Koh as someone who has the courage of his convictions and is ready to state them publicly, "enlarging the scope of what is normal for public discourse and expanding the boundaries of what is permissible" (p.217). She cites his debate with Western critics on Asian Values, with peers in the world of diplomacy on the future of ASEAN integration, and with the broader public on whether Singapore should consider adopting a minimum wage policy if existing policy measures do not improve the lot of low-wage, low-skilled workers.

###

Media coverage of the event included The Straits Times and http://tinyurl.com/ProfKohWSPC2) and TODAY.

Edited by Dr Yeo Lay Hwee, Peggy Kek, Dr Gillian Koh and Chang Li Lin, the volume comprises 46 chapters written by public and people sector leaders who have worked with Prof. Koh through his lifelong service to the country and the world, as well as his personal friends. To know more about the book visit http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/10499.

ABOUT THE EDITORS

Dr Yeo Lay Hwee is Director of the European Union Centre in Singapore since 2009. She is also Council Secretary and Senior Research Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), and Adjunct Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). Since 2011, she has also taken on the role of Co-Editor in Chief for the Asia-Europe Journal.

Lay Hwee sits on several Academic Advisory Boards - Centre for European Studies at the Australian National University (ANUCES), the KU Leuven's Master in European Studies (MAES) Programme, and the Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies, Tallinn University of Technology.

An international relations expert, her research interests revolve around comparative regionalism, principles of multilateralism and governance networks. She has written extensively on issues pertaining to Asia-Europe relations in general, and in particular, the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) process, relations between the European Union and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). She participates actively both in policy dialogues and academic workshops and conferences, and contributes regularly to commentaries and journals. She has also been involved in several EU-funded initiatives and actions such as the EU and Asia - Integration of Policy and Practice and the Jean Monnet Network funded under the Erasmus Plus Programme. She has also worked with various agencies on policy advocacy programmes related to governance, ASEAN and ASEM.

Peggy Kek first met Tommy Koh in 1997 when he hired her as the founding Director of Public Affairs at the Asia-Europe Foundation. There they discovered a common passion for the arts. In 2002 after her graduate studies in London, she returned to Singapore and worked with Tommy again, this time at the Institute of Policy Studies. Peggy left IPS in 2004 for Washington DC, to work at the World Bank, but continued to collaborate with Tommy on the Programme of Seminars for the 2006 World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings that were held in Singapore. Their paths continued to cross when she was Acting Executive Director of the Singapore International Foundation, Director of External Affairs and Partnerships at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and currently Director of Development and Partnerships at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Peggy worked with the United Nations Children's Fund in the 1990s and early 2000s and is the co-author of Singapore and UNICEF: Working for Children (2016). She obtained her MA in International Studies at SOAS, University of London, on a Chevening scholarship.

Dr Gillian Koh is Deputy Director (Research) at the Institute of Policy Studies and Senior Research Fellow and Head of its Politics and Governance research cluster which focuses on analysis of electoral politics, the development of civil society, state-society relations, and citizen engagement in Singapore.

Gillian has led the research teams that generated the IPS Presidential Election Survey (POPS5, 2011), and three IPS Post-Election Surveys (2006, 2011, 2015). Other surveys she has conducted include the focus on Singaporeans' sense of identity, rootedness and resilience. She has published and co-published articles on civil society and political development in Singapore. She was co-editor of Migration and Integration in Singapore: Policies and Practice (Routledge, 2015) as well as State-Society Relations in Singapore (IPS & Oxford University Press, 2000).

Gillian gained her PhD in Sociological Studies from the University of Sheffield (UK) in 1995 and has been at IPS and acquainted with Professor Tommy Koh, the subject of this volume, since.

Chang Li Lin is a civil servant. Prior to this appointment, she was Deputy Director for Public Affairs at one of Singapore's think tanks on national issues, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. In the first half of her career at IPS, she covered policy research in the area of international relations. Later, she took over the public affairs portfolio which included managing donor and media relations, and special projects. Receiving her BA in Sociology and International Relations (IR) at the University of Reading, Li Lin subsequently obtained her Masters in IR at the University of Kent at Canterbury, in the United Kingdom. She has written articles and edited a number of publications on Singapore's foreign policy, peacekeeping and domestic politics including The Little Red Dot Series (co-edited with Tommy Koh), The UNITAR-IPS Conference Series (co-edited with Nassrine Azimi), and 50 Years of Singapore and the United Nations (co-edited with Tommy Koh and Joanna Koh).
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
Thursday, November 16, 2017

Rob Gregory, President of Sales and Marketing, WHOSAY

Paul Alexander is proud of the financial institution he works for. The Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Eastern Bank told Erin Andrews, sportscaster and TV host, during an exclusive interview that his organization has stood up for inclusion since day one, when a female became the banks client number one.

[embedded content]

The banks first customer was a woman, back in 1818, he said. So from that point on Easterns always been forward-thinking in terms of helping veterans, immigrants, and in fact next year our focus is going to be about advancing women.

Alexander went on to explain Easterns three-part focus to help not only women but other underprivileged groups. The three primary things are: women on boards, so thats one point of focus. Another is pay equity. And then, women in senior management positions, he said. Easterns been doing this for a long, long time and my boss is a proponent of it. His boss before him and really two CEOs ago thats where it started. So I would say for the last 30 years its been core of what Eastern is about.

Aside from actually walking the walk, Eastern also talks the talk. Alexander shared with Andrews how the bank also advocates for these initiatives through their marketing and advertising. The new advertising campaign that we launched back in March is working really, really well, he said. The idea is about doing good things to help people prosper. We wanna start a movement around helping communities that have been undeserved about folks who are rising in terms of voice and we wanna make sure that their needs are met.

For Alexander, it all comes down to brand purpose. From empowering women to helping veterans is all about being a good corporate citizen. This year is [also] about helping immigrants, he told Andrews. So we just provided a fund, where people who have to reapply for DACA benefits can get some assistance.

But, perhaps, one of Alexanders most impactful initiatives is his push to encourage entrepreneurship among underserved communities, especifically among developing

black and Latino-owned businesses. Boston is one of the worst cities in terms of wealth gap between the majority and minority communities, he explained. So Eastern is contributing $10 million over the next three years to create what its called a Business Equity Initiative.

The goal is to take first stage black, Latino and women-owned companies and take them from $250,000 in sales to a million or above. Cause thats really where the challenge is; there are a lot of small businesses that get started but getting them to scale is difficult. And so we wanna provide capital funding, resources, consulting expertise to help them get to the next level.
Earlier this month at the Web Summit in Lisbon, there was a panel discussing the skills needed to survive in the coming technological revolution. The panel was covered in an article in ITU News. The technology evolution



Think for a moment about how many jobs did not exist 10 years ago? There are even more that did not exist 20 years ago. Researchers forecast that as technology evolves, many jobs that exist today will vanish in 20 to 30 years; in fact, they forecast that 65 percent of children in primary school will take jobs that we do not have yet. So how do we future proof our job skill set? Coding skills highly valued



According to Apple CEO, Tim Cook, in today's marketplace, computer programming skills are both valued and in demand. Cook even added that learning to code is more important than learning English as a second language. Yet, change is coming. Within 20 years, we may have Artificial Intelligence (AI) engines that can write code. Soft skills---still most important for the future workforce



Every time we have a technological revolution, we hear dire warnings of wide-scale unemployment. However, up to this time, every technology revolution has created more work for human beings, in new jobs that required the same intellectual and interpersonal skills. Communication skills, teamwork, and critical thinking are the skills that are always valued, as are problem solving and social skills. Digital skills---keys to sustainable growth



In today's economy, digital skills seem to be keys to sustainable growth. "They lead to more jobs and higher pay." Nevertheless, the high speed of technological change has left massive skills gaps. Many openings for positions remain unfilled for months at a time. European skills shortages



Europe has a huge problem with youth unemployment; 43 percent of Europeans don't have basic digital skills. Moreover, 10 to 25 percent of teachers are not trained to teach these skills either. Currently, 1.5M people work in Europe's digital economy; plus, due to rapid technological change by 2020, Europe will have a 750,000 shortfall of skilled people. (This fact reminds me of the title of our most recent business bestseller Impending Crisis: Too Many Jobs, Too Few People.) Continentally addressing the issue



The European Community (EC) has addressed this issue by bringing together government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the goal of training some one million people by 2020. There is an agreement that each of the 28 member states will develop a digital skills strategy, including mainstreaming digital skills in education. What has been needed---and still is



What is needed is a global emphasis on workforce development---a global support for teaching hard, digital, and soft skills, worldwide. Only then may we reverse the significant workforce shortages and truly address the issues of growing unemployment. Special thanks to Lucy Spencer and ITU News for articles on these important topics.
HERSHEY, Pa.  Pennsylvania Farm Bureau hosted their 67th annual meeting at the Hershey Lodge in Hersey, from Nov.13-15.

Butler County resident Nikole Stuchal was selected the recipient of the Distinguished Local Affairs Leader.

The award recognizes an individual, whose local affairs efforts and activities have helped solve problems and improve rural living for county Farm Bureau members.

Stuchal and her husband Cory farm about 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans and other grains in Butler, Mercer and Venango counties and also operate a custom field drainage service in Slippery Rock.

Nikole was recognized with this award for her leadership and hard work in promoting a new grain bin rescue program in Butler County.

Stuchal was Butler County Farm Bureaus lead representative in working with volunteer fire companies and emergency medical services personal to educate them about grain bin safety.

Stuchal worked with farmers and others in the community to organize several educational sessions and on-farm training demonstrations in Butler County.

Woman in Agriculture

Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus Womens Leadership Committee selected Nancy Midla of Washington County as the recipient of the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award.

Midla manages a 500-acre purebred Hereford beef operation near Marianna, with her husband.

Midla oversees the artificial insemination program, calving 60-80 head annually, and takes care of all breed documentation and processing of financials on the farm.

The family also grows corn, silage and hay to feed their animals and sell extra hay on the open market.

Midla began farming in 1973 and was a driving force in bringing the Ag in the Classroom movement to Western Pennsylvania.

During the 1980s, she visited elementary schools to teach some 400 students per year about agriculture through educational materials and slide presentations featuring her farm.

NAFTA

During the annual meeting Pennsylvania Farm Bureau emphasized that international trade plays a major role in having a strong agriculture economy and that is why farmers are alarmed that President Donald Trump continues to threaten a U.S. withdrawal from the North America Free Trade Agreement.

Under NAFTA, agricultural exports from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico increased by more than $29 billion, from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38 billion in 2015.

Complete withdrawal from NAFTA is not a desirable option for American agriculture or Pennsylvania farmers, especially when you consider that 37 percent of all Pennsylvania agriculture products exported to foreign countries goes to Canada and Mexico, said PFB President Rick Ebert, during a news conference at PFBs annual meeting in Hershey.

Farm Bureau is urging trade negotiators to work through their differences to reach an agreement that benefits all three nations.

Were encouraging President Trump and his trade negotiators to continue working toward an agreement that protects NAFTAs strong agricultural component, while creating new opportunities for businesses across the nation, added Ebert.

Meanwhile, PFB is encouraged that the issue of federal tax reform is being seriously considered in Washington D.C., following the approval of legislation by the House Ways and Means Committee.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) includes a significant number of changes to the federal tax code.

Although the tax reform plan shows promise and touches on some key areas relevant to farmers who file taxes as individuals or businesses, some details of the plan need to be further refined in order to provide long-term relief, said Ebert.

Our main emphasis moving forward is to make sure that revisions to the tax code have a positive impact on the effective tax rate for farmers, which will determine whether reform efforts help or hurt our family farms.

The full House of Representatives is expected to consider the tax reform bill later this week.

Dairy industry

PFB also recognizes that many farm families across the Commonwealth are facing challenges, including the dairy industry, which is the largest segment of Pennsylvanias agriculture industry, contributing more than 35 percent of all agricultural income and generating more than $5 billion in revenue to the states economy.

An oversupply of milk in the Northeast and across the nation, which has resulted in lower milk checks, has placed a significant economic strain on dairy farmers in Pennsylvania, continued Ebert.

The reality is that milk consumption in the U.S. is flat and has significantly dropped compared to levels from four decades ago. The decline in milk consumption by Americans, a strong U.S. dollar and a drop in foreign trade of dairy products over the past couple of years, have all negatively impacted the bottom line of milk producers.

Farm Bureau has been working with a variety of stakeholders in the dairy industry to identify and create new opportunities and tools to assist dairy farmers.

We cant control the price of milk, but we can strive to develop policies and products that aim to protect dairy farmers during hard economic times.

Minimum royalties

At the state capital, Farm Bureau is continuing to engage with members of the state General Assembly to garner support for legislation that would guarantee farmers and other landowners a minimum royalty of 12.5 percent for gas extracted from their land, regardless of the cost associated with getting the gas to market.

Barnraiser

Retired administrative secretary for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Louis Lou Sallie, was honored with the Barnraiser Award

The Barnraiser Award, which is PFBs highest honor, recognizes individuals who have spent a lifetime in dedicated leadership to the agricultural community.

Sallie, from Cumberland County, spent 25 years as PFBs administrative secretary and more than 40 years working for Farm Bureau.

Prior to working for PFB, he was an area director for the Northeast with the American Farm Bureau Federation and the director of member relations for the New York Farm Bureau.

Distinguished service

John Yocum, who spent more than four decades as the scientist-in-charge of a Penn State University research farm in Lancaster County, was honored with the 2017 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.

Excellence in Agriculture

Corey and Heather Grove of York County as winners of the 2017 Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Award.

The Groves, who both grew up on family farms, were chosen based on their overall involvement and leadership in agriculture and Farm Bureau, even though they do not derive the majority of their income from an agriculture operation.

Corey currently works full-time as an environmental consultant assisting farmers with their nutrient management plans and conservation planning, while Heather works as an administrative assistant for the York County Fire School, which trains emergency responders.

Corey and Heather both work part-time on their parents farms. The couple also grows vegetables and raise chickens and steer on their two-acre farmette near Stewartstown.

Discussion meet

Kaleb Long of Lancaster County was named the 2017 Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet.

Long has a small swine breeding operation and custom butchers some of the animals he raises. Long did not grow up on a farm and works full-time for Crop Production Services.

VP re-elected

Juniata County farmer Chris Hoffman has been re-elected as vice president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau by the delegates.

Hoffman raises hogs and chickens on his farm near McAlisterville. Hoffman has been heavily involved with Farm Bureau for more than a decade, serving on the state board of directors for eight years and as a member of the boards executive committee.

County awards

The Susquehanna County Farm Bureau won four awards, including Farm Bureau Premier County Award. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon a county Farm Bureau among Pennsylvanias 54 county Farm Bureaus.

Total awards for up to 400 members: Susquehanna County, four; Juniata County, two; Cambria County, one; Crawford County, one; Mercer County, one; and Snyder County, one.

Total wards for 401 members or more: Wayne/Pike County, three; Chester/Delaware County, 3; Bedford County, two; and Butler County, two.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau annual meeting Retired Penn State Researcher, John Yocum, is recognized with Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. (Submitted photo) < > < > 1 View Pennsylvania Farm Bureau annual meeting Retired Penn State Researcher, John Yocum, is recognized with Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. (Submitted photo) 2 View Pennsylvania Farm Bureau annual meeting Former Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Administrative Secretary Lou Sallie (right) with wife Sue, receives the Barnraiser Award from PFB President Rick Ebert. (Submitted photo) 3 View Pennsylvania Farm Bureau annual meeting Corey and Heather Grove of York County, center, receive the Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Award from state YF&R Chair David Bentrem, left, and PFB President Rick Ebert, right. (Submitted photo) 4 View Pennsylvania Farm Bureau annual meeting Washington County farmer Nancy Midla, middle, accompanied by her husband Dr. Leslie Midla, is presented the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award from PFB state Womens Leadership Committee Chair Lisa Wherry, right. (Submitted photo) 5 View Pennsylvania Farm Bureau annual meeting Butler County farmer Nikole Stuchal was named the winner of Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus Distinguished Local Affairs Leader Award for her leadership in promoting a new grain bin rescue program in Butler County. (Submitted photo) 6 View Pennsylvania Farm Bureau annual meeting Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet winner Kaleb Long, center, of Lancaster County, is congratulated by state YF&R chair David Bentrem (left) and President Rick Ebert (right) during PFB's 67th annual meeting.
Case IHs new ActiveDrive 8 version of its latest Maxxum Multicontroller tractor range has been awarded the Machine of the Year title for 2018 at Agritechnica.

Judged by a panel of European agricultural magazine editors, the accolade has been given in recognition of the performance and cost-saving benefits the new transmission and other range developments bring to this tractor market segment.

The Machine of the Year award, one of the key events on the Agritechnica agenda, is judged by journalists from the German agricultural publications agrarheute, traction, Agrartechnik, Land & Forst, Bayerisches Landwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt and from other international agricultural publications.

The journalists make their overall selection from 14 categories ranging tractors and other self-propelled equipment to implements. The winners of each category are then revealed in mid-November, before the overall MOTY winner selected is revealed at Agritechnica.

An entry into the MOTY mid-class tractor bracket, the latest Maxxum Multicontroller models feature a new semi-powershift transmission offering eight powershift steps in each of three ranges.

Named ActiveDrive 8, it joins the existing four-speed semi-powershift and continuously-variable transmission options available on Maxxum tractors, which respectively have been renamed as ActiveDrive 4 and CVXDrive.

We are delighted to win the Machine of the Year award for 2018 with the Maxxum Multicontroller with ActiveDrive 8, said Andreas Klauser, Case IH brand president.

With ever-higher input costs meaning economy is increasingly important to todays farmers, it is good to have recognition of the fact every business has different requirements, and that, while a simple powershift or a CVT may be what farms at either end of the spectrum are seeking, a more advanced semi-powershift is what some require. That is what we have sought to provide with ActiveDrive 8 versions of the Maxxum Multicontroller range.
A farmer has described how he felt "gobsmacked" as 800 people gathered on his land to object to plans to build 1,000 new homes.

Hertfordshire farmer Charlie Wray said Dacorum Borough Council initially told him 300 homes were to be built on the 160-acre land owned by the council, where Mr Wray has kept his cattle for the last 37 years.

It is part of the council's Local Plan consultation to build new homes. Wayside Farm in Kings Langley, is one of those Green Belt sites being considered.

But Mr Wray now fears for his own future. The council has revealed the figure for new houses could be closer to 1,000, which means he could lose his livelihood.

Hundreds of angry villagers gathered on the land on Tuesday (14 November) to object to the house building plans. Mr Wray said he was "gobsmacked" by the level of support shown by the people of Kings Langley.

Mr Wray told Watford Observer: I was gobsmacked at the amount of support and the number of people who turned up to the meeting.

Im a lot more confident now, as it shows how strongly people feel about this. Never seen anything like it in any meetings I have been to in the village.

Huge numbers of people walk through the farm every day and we have our own shop on site where we sell items including vegetables and milk, so it will be devastating to lose our livelihood.

One local resident, Chelsie Harvey, told the local paper that the community is proud of Mr Wray's dairy farm, one of the last remaining in the area.

The consultation for the local plan closes at midnight on Wednesday, December 13.
Some of the eggs found to have been contaminated during the recent fipronil crisis may have been clear of the chemical, new analysis has found.

The revelation that some test results may have been wrong comes in a European Commission report following an assessment of the performance of labs involved in the fipronil testing.

Whilst 94 per cent of the laboratories passed the assessment, six laboratories were found to be unsatisfactory and the assessors found that positive tests for fipronil declared at one laboratory may have been wrong.

"It should be noted that one participant with a very unsatisfactory result for fipronil sulfone analysed 100-500 egg samples since July 2017, which might have resulted in false positive results," the assessors said in their report. The identity of the laboratory involved has not been made public.

The report is the result of a proficiency test carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commissions science and knowledge service, following a request by the Belgian Government.

The fipronil scandal arose when the chemical was found in hens in the Netherlands that had been treated for red mite with a treatment that included the toxic substance.

Fipronil is banned from use on animals in the food chain. The chemical is thought to have arrived in the Netherlands from Belgium.

Millions destroyed

Millions of hens have been culled, millions of eggs have been destroyed, eggs and prepared foods recalled and two people were arrested following a criminal investigation in the Netherlands.

Lawyers acting for supermarkets and food companies have warned Dutch farmers that they will be seeking damages from them.

Eric Hubers, chairman of the country's egg industry association, Ovoned, told FarmingUK that the companies wanted not only the cost of egg and product recalls covered, but they also wanted damages for loss of profits.

Eggs and products containing eggs have been withdrawn from stores across Europe, including the UK, following the discovery of fipronil.

In the UK the Food Standards Agency (FSA) says about 700,000 potentially contaminated eggs from Europe are thought to have been imported into the UK for use as egg product and four supermarkets withdrew some foods from their shelves as a precaution.

However, it says there is no evidence to suggest that the banned chemical has been used on British poultry farms.

British farms clear

Whilst tests on British farms have shown the UK layer flock to be clear of fipronil, the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) still intends to amend its code to include an approved list of pesticides for use on the farm.

Anyone producing eggs under the Lion label will only be able to use pesticides from the approved list.

The assessment on the laboratories involved in fipronil testing was requested by the Belgian Government on August 16, some weeks after the crisis arose.

The authors of the resulting report said in their paper: "The aim of this PT (proficiency test) is to assess the competence of official control laboratories (OCLs) and national reference laboratories (NRLs) in the EU member states for the determination of the content of the insecticide fipronil in eggs around the regulated maximum residue level (MRL).

"Two well-characterised, homogeneous and stable sets of samples of frozen liquid eggs were prepared and distributed to participants for analysis, in order to evaluate their capability to identify properly non-compliant food commodities."

They said that a total of 85 NRLs and OCLs were assesses from 22 EU member states, as well as Norway, Serbia and Albania.

Each laboratory received two plastic screw cap vials containing 40 grammes of frozen egg. Sample A was spiked with fipronil and fipronil sulfone. Sample B was unaltered. The participating laboratories were allowed to choose their own method of analysis.

"The performance of the participating laboratories in determining fipronil in the test material was expressed as z scores," said the authors.

"The vast majority of the participants (94 per cent) obtained satisfactory z scores, thus confirming the analytical capability of most of the participating NRLs and OCLs to enforce the European Regulations."

Poor performing

The poor performing laboratories have been advised to identify why they had failed to meet the standard in order to avoid inaccurate results in the future.

In their report, the assessors said that contaminated eggs and egg products had spread throughout EU member states and also outside Europe.

"According to the RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) alert triggered by the Belgian authorities, chicken eggs were found to contain from 0.0031 to 1.2 mg/kg fipronil in eggs," they said. "Several hundred farmers, food producers and supermarkets pulled millions of eggs off the shelves."

Whilst fipronil was a broad spectrum insecticide for use as a plant protection product, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had classified it as a moderately hazardous class II pesticide, they said.

It was toxic by oral, inhalation and dermal acute exposure. It was currently banned by the EU to treat animals destined for human consumption.
A new study has concluded that there is no link between exposure to glyphosate and cancer, scientists said on Thursday.

The large long-term study taken as part of the Agricultural Health Study and published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute on Thursday (9 November), looked into the use of the world's most commonly used herbicide by US agricultural workers.

It monitored the health of nearly 90,000 people in Iowa and North Carolina from 1993 to 2010, including farmers licensed to apply pesticides to their crops, and their spouses.

The researchers said that among more than 54,000 pesticide applications taken into account in the study, 83 per cent contained glyphosate. Yet they found no significant increase in cancers among those exposed to the chemical.

However, among applicators in the highest exposure quartile, there was an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), though this association was not "statistically significant".

The study comes into conflict with the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancers (IARC), which in 2015 decided to class glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans.

But in the same year, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans, showing the contradictory nature of the debate.

David Spiegelhalter, a professor of public understanding at Cambridge University who has no link to the Thursday's research, told Reuters he believes that the most recent analysis has been large and careful and shows no significant relationship between glyphosate use and cancer.

The news could impact a decision expected in the EU by the end of the year as to whether or not the herbicides license should be renewed.

The European Commission has once again postponed its decision on the vote for the renewal of glyphosate on Thursday (9 November) after Member States could not agree on it.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has urged the European Commission to take "decisive action" to reauthorise the use of glyphosate to stop the politicisation of the process.
More than 1,800 farm animals have been killed by dog attacks in the space of four years, according to a new report which highlights the blight of livestock worrying.

The report, released by the influential All Party Parliamentary Animal Welfare Group on Thursday evening (16 November), calls for more action to tackle the growing problem of livestock worrying.

This involves dogs off leads chasing and attacking sheep and cattle. The report shows that 1,866 farm animals have been killed, 1,614 have been injured and 92 dogs have been shot in worrying incidents from September 2013 to September 2017.

The report has called to make livestock worrying a recordable crime to ensure more accurate records, as the farming industry fears that the statistics are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. Dog owners could face harsher penalties under new legislation proposed by the cross-party group.

Farmers have described how they constantly deal with the problem of livestock worrying, with incidents recorded on an almost daily basis around the UK. Sheep are valuable assets and any harm to them harms a farmers livelihood.

On Wednesday (15 November), an out-of-control dog killed three sheep and injured six others in a three hour ordeal whilst its owner frantically searched for it. The dog has had to be euthanised.

On Monday (13 November), a Welsh farmer had to shoot a dog dead which ran havoc on his land and savaged six of his sheep.

A case of livestock worrying went viral on social media when a farmer, who protected his sheep from a dog attack, was fined by the police for "breach of the peace" after a spat with the dog owner.

By law, dogs must be controlled so that they do not scare or disturb livestock or wildlife, but a farmer has the right to shoot the dog if it holds a credible threat.

However, the National Sheep Association (NSA) said it recommends that farmers only shoot dogs as a last resort, as the legality of a shooting depends on whether a farmer had a lawful excuse for shooting the dog in that individual circumstance.

Common-sense measures

Indeed, landowners and farmers have frequently called out for more common-sense measures to battle the growing problem.

One of those measures include allowing them to divert footpaths on a temporary basis where there is a risk of harm to the public, dogs or livestock.

Rural organisation the CLA has welcomed the report. It also suggests that urgent action is taken to give landowners and local authorities the power to put in place temporary diversions of public footpaths and bridleways to reduce the risk of harm when the land is being used for animal grazing.

CLA Legal Adviser Andrew Gillett said: Diverting footpaths temporarily is a common-sense measure that could make a major difference for farmers and the general public. We will continue to press for this to be available as an option where the risk of harm is apparent.

We want people to be able to enjoy the countryside, especially dog walkers, but it is vital that people and animals are kept safe.

The CLA said it supports the Countryside Code and urges dog walkers in particular to think carefully about how they look after their animals, especially keeping them on a lead when around livestock.

'Emotional impact'

The pressing issue has prompted Police Scotland to launch a month-long campaign to raise awareness among dog owners about the devastating effects of livestock worrying.

Inspector Jane Donaldson, Police Scotland Rural Crime Co-ordinator, said: Rural dog owners and those who choose to exercise their dogs in the countryside must ensure they are under control at all times and try to avoid going into fields where livestock is grazing.

The worrying of sheep and other livestock by dogs not only has an obvious financial and emotional impact on farmers when their animals are killed or injured, but also has an effect on the animals themselves, their productivity and welfare.

We are encouraging farmers and landowners to engage with dog walkers and to help keep them informed by putting up signs on gateways and on key roads and paths alerting them to the presence of sheep and other livestock in their fields and suggesting alternative routes, added Inspector Donaldson.

The National Sheep Association has applauded Police Scotland's campaign, and said it is every dogs instinct to chase, even if they are usually obedient and good with other animals.

"Chasing by dogs can do serious damage to sheep, even if the dog doesnt catch them. The stress of worrying by dogs can cause sheep to die and pregnant ewes to miscarry their lambs," the group said.

Staying legal in England and Wales

The NSA has given a summary of the key points of legislation affecting dogs around sheep in England and Wales, to help walkers feel confident are staying within the law when in farming areas.

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence. The Act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep, chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, abortion or loss of produce or being at large in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.

The Countryside and Right of Way Act (CROW Act) sets out public rights of access to open land and the restrictions to these rights. The Act states that the public can only go on this land if they keep dogs on a fixed lead of 2 metres or less near livestock

Staying legal in Scotland

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence. The Act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep, chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, abortion or loss of produce or being at large in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.

Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, access rights do not allow members of the public on to land with a dog which is not under proper control.

Staying legal in Northern Ireland

Under the Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, members of the public are not allowed onto open country with a dog that is not under proper control.

A Guide to Public Rights of Way and Access to the Countryside published by the Northern Ireland Environment Agencys Environment and Heritage Service states that members of the public shall not be permitted to bring dogs onto open country unless the dogs are held on a lead at all times.

Under the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, it is an offence to allow a dog on any land containing livestock unless the dog is under control. The Order defines under control as restrained by a chain or other sufficient leash held by a person exercising proper control over the dog.

The Order also states that if a dog worries sheep (attacks or kills sheep or chases them in a way that may cause injury, suffering or financial loss to their owner) the person in charge of that dog is guilty of an offence.
MPs have voted to reject the inclusion of animal sentience into the EU (Withdrawal) Bill this week, with one group saying the move undermines Michael Gove's high animal welfare pledge.

Eighty percent of current animal welfare legislation comes from the EU, but after March 2019, European law will no longer apply in the UK.

While most EU law relating to animals will be automatically brought over into UK law, this will not apply to the recognition of sentience.

Under EU law, animals are currently recognised as being capable of feeling pain and emotion. But MPs have this week voted to drop the inclusion of animal sentience into the Withdrawal Bill.

One of the arguments put forward by the Government during the debate was that animal sentience is covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The RSPCA, which said the move is "disappointing", said this is not the case; the term sentience or sentient being doesn't appear once in that Act, and, the animal welfare charity said, doesn't cover all animals.

It also said the decision by MPs "flies in the face" of the Defra Secretary Michael Gove's pledge for high animal welfare standards post-Brexit.

'Backward step'

RSPCA Head of Public Affairs David Bowles said it is a "truly backward step" for animal welfare.

Its shocking that MPs have given the thumbs down to incorporating animal sentience into post-Brexit UK law, Mr Bowles explained.

Animal sentience is never mentioned in the Animal Welfare Act and, crucially, only domestic animals are really covered by the provisions of the Act anyway and animals in the wild and laboratories are expressly exempt. It is simply wrong for the Government to claim that the Act protects animal sentience.

In the EU, we know that the recognition of animals as sentient beings has been effective in improving animal welfare across the region. If the UK is to achieve the Environment Secretarys objective of achieving the highest possible animal welfare post-Brexit, it must do the same.

Since the recognition of animals as sentient beings, the EU has banned the use of barren battery cages and ended animal testing for cosmetics.
Phuong Nguyen Duy/123RF

A post shared by i iie (@olare777) on Nov 16, 2017 at 4:36am PST

Drenched in history and old-world charm, Hanoi is among Asias most graceful and exotic capital cities  a place of grand old boulevards and ancient pagodas where locals practise their Tai chi moves beside peaceful lakes. Beyond all this, Vietnams capital city is also a 21st-century metropolis.Whether you choose to see Hanoi by cycle, on foot or by kayak, the city is a gem to explore. Packed with museums, temples and pagodas, the citys relaxed pace of life is best experienced on foot or by cycle.Some of thes tiny, congested and thriving streets are named after the products that were traditionally sold there. For instance, P Hang Gai sells silk and embroidery, while P Hang Quat is where you must go to buy pretty candlesticks and flags. The meandering streets are best explored at a slow pace  just get wandering and, soon enough, youll come across knick-knacks that youll want to carry home.
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Padmavati Controversy: Rajput Karni Sena supporters vandalised Mall in Kota | Filmibeat

The protests against Bollywood movie Padmavati spread to the south as Rajput community members staged a demonstration and held a rally alleging that the film distorted history.

A large number of people from the Karni Rajput Sena turned up at the Town Hall in the heart of the city (Bengaluru) and marched in a procession to the Freedom Park protesting against the period film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The protesters claimed the movie was fictitious and portrayed in a poor light, Rani Padmavati, the legendary 13th century queen of Chittor, whom they worship as a Goddess.

They alleged that the film starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone ignored the religious sentiments of the people of Rajasthan.

Leading the protest, the national president of Shri Rajput Karni Sena Sukhdev Singh said the movie, set to be released on December 1, should either be banned or screened after removing the controversial portions.

"We want the film to be screened first. It should be released only after we approve it. What we have learnt is that there is lots of distortion of historical facts. Till our objections are addressed, we will not let the movie to be screened anywhere," said Singh addressing a gathering.

A section of pro-Kannada organisations too came in support of the Karni Sena.

The protests against Padmavati had till now been confined to the northern and western parts of the country.

Bhansali has been facing trouble since he started shooting for the movie.

The set of the movie was vandalised twice -- in Jaipur and Kolhapur -- and the director was roughed up by members of the Karni Sena during the Jaipur schedule of the film earlier this year.

The Supreme Court had recently refused to entertain a plea seeking a stay on the release of Padmavati, saying the censor board was yet to certify the movie. PTI
A Film Cannot Ruin A Culture

Richa said, "Whatever I will say will be blown out of proportion. But I will say it in the most polite way. With all due respect, I am also a Hindu and I don't believe that faith and religion is so weak that it will break with a film."

Hail Democracy

She further added, "I feel that the best thing about our country is that we are a democracy. So, first watch the film and then if there is any objection... There is a body in our country that certifies films. I have belief in my faith, culture and tradition that it won't shake up of a two-three hour film."

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Salman Too Have Openly Extended His Support To Padmavati

In an interview with a leading news channel, he had said, "I want to say that you have Censor Board there to take a decision. Sanjay [Leela Bhansali] makes very beautiful and excellent films. Heroines look very nice and beautiful. His films never have any vulgarity. Looking at his previous track record, one should know that he will never portray any character in bad light."

Shahid Kapoor's Take

The actor who is a part of Padmavati was quoted as saying, "I've been saying this since a long time. Watch the film and then decide. Give the film a chance and don't form preconceived notions. We have tried to keep everyone's feelings and interests in mind. We have tried to make film as best as we could. We will respect whatever people think of the film but you should see it first."

Deepika Condemned The Violent Protests & Called It A Regressive Act

In an interview with IANS, Deepika who plays the title role said, "It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed. The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film. This is not about Padmavati... We're fighting a much bigger battle."
Naira & Kartik In Greece

We saw in the previous episode, that Naira gifts Kartik the tickets to Greece. Manish is happy to send them to Greece, but Dadi looks upset.

Kriti & Naksh In Greece

Dadi and Naira both gift the Greece tickets to Kriti and Naksh as well. Mohsin-Shivangi and Mohena-Rishi are seen shooting for their honeymoon sequences in the beautiful locales of the Mediterranean country.

When Kartik Met Naira For The First Time

Mohsin shared a few pictures on his social media account. Sharing this picture, the actor wrote, "#YRKKHinGREECE So What if Kartik & Naira met for the first time here.... aaaahhhh !!! hint hint."

Mohsin & Gaurav

Mohsin shared a picture snapped with Gaurav Wadwa (who plays the role of Aryan), and wrote, "BIG Drama comingup guys... !!! #YRKKHinGREECE."

Mohsin Khan

Sharing a picture snapped with a kid, Mohsin wrote, "Big Tight Hugs to all the Children evrywhere...Let there be Innocence ! #YRKKHinGREECE #greecediaries."

Mohsin With His Team

Posting this picture, Mohsin wrote, "#YRKKHinGREECE Goofying around... Bus rides to the set..."

Mohsin & Shivangi In Greece

Mohsin shared a picture snapped with Shivangi and wrote, "#YRKKHinGREECE Last Day in Santorini... Ohh its Heaven !!!"

Gaurav, Rishi & Mohena

Gaurav and Rishi too, shared a few pictures from their Greece shooting. Gaurav posted this picture with Mohena and Rishi and wrote, "Upcoming twist ."

Mohena & Rishi

No doubt Naira and Naksh make a lovely couple, but we can't ignore Kriti and Naksh as well. In this picture, KeeSh look adorable, don't they?

Gaurav With His YRKKH Co-actors

Gaurav shared this picture snapped with his co-actors, Mohsin, Shivangi, Rishi and Mohena and wrote, "Greece  #yehrishtakyakehlatahai #yrkkh."

YRKKH New Promo: KaIra

Coming back to the show, the makers have released a fresh promo. In the promo, Naira is seen telling Kartik, "Naira meets Kartik." Kartik tells Naira, "Kyon na hum phir se ajnabi ban jaye." Later, Kartik is seen flirting with Naira!

Aryan

But, Aryan too, follows them to Greece! So we can expect some twist. In the promo, Aryan is seen telling that he will end Kartik and Naira's love story.

How Will Kartik & Naira Escape?

It will be interesting to watch the fresh start of Kartik and Naira. Also, it has to be seen as to how they escape from Aryan's trap!

KeeSh

The promo gives us a glimpse of Kartik and Naira's love track in Greece, what about the newly married couple, Kriti and Naksh?